Category — Walt Disney World

With a new season of American Idol underway it’s fun to note that one of the final 24 actually was a ‘Dream ticket’  winner at American Idol Experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In fact, Aaron Kelly won his ticket to the front of the audition line right during the first few days of the attraction.

If you remember, the American Idol Experience was launched with a huge Hollywood style premier, including appearances from all the past Idol winners and many other famous faces. The New York Times examines some court documents that reveal exactly how much Disney paid to have those performers at the premier and to film promotional spots.

An Idol winner’s riches extend beyond the recording contract. Last year the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida opened “The American Idol Experience,” an interactive attraction.

To promote it, Disney paid Mr. Allen $100,000 to turn to a camera and shout, “I’m going to Disney World” after winning the competition and to visit the park, according to the contracts. He stood to earn another $100,000 for spending a day filming scripted dialogue segments for use in the attraction and for taping a vocal performance for the Walt Disney World Christmas Parade television show.

More curious details at the NY Times.

It’s Monday morning and I’m sitting here sipping a cup of joe seeing what Disney news we may have missed over the weekend.

Redbook magazine profiles a family trip to Walt Disney World and highlights some very worthy planning websites while they’re at it.

Although the UK cinemas have worked it out with Disney we now hear that AMC Theatres is miffed and will possibly pass on Alice in Wonderland.

Jay Rasulo has control of the purse strings for the whole Walt Disney Company now. His hometown paper gives him a profile piece.

The Lion King ascends to be the eight longest running show on Broadway.

Didier Ghez updated the very valuable Disney Books Network this weekend.

When the aliens from “V” return to ABC on March 30th, they’ll be partnered with LOST on Tuesday nights. A good move on Disney’s part, I think.

Due to the increasing popularity of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel Web site, 22 panelists from 2008 and 2009 are joining 21 new panelists for the largest-ever group of Disney-savvy vacation gurus in 2010. They won’t all be answering questions at the same time, rather they will split the session taking shifts. As mentioned before, The Disney Blog’s own LOST recap writer Oh_Amanda is one of the new moms this year.

“Walt Disney World is so much more than a theme park, and being on the Moms Panel allows me to help people discover all that Disney has to offer,” said 2010 panelist Amanda Allen of Raleigh, N.C. “I’ve been traveling to Walt Disney World for over 35 years, and even after making countless trips there, my family still finds something new to experience.”

Chris Gildea, a teacher from Boston, Mass., feels that planning a trip to Walt Disney World Resort can be a once-in-a-lifetime event, and he has been helping people plan those kinds of trips for years. “Being a part of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel allows me a greater platform to expand the magic to others!”

The panelists work from home, helping answer guests’ vacation planning questions. Many panelists feel that in some ways they are helping spread Disney pixie dust all over the world. Florida resident Maria Marquez says, “I love knowing I help other families relax and take in the Disney magic and joy on their trips. I get to share my own perspective and it brings me that much more happiness!”

For Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney trip planning advice, visit www.DisneyWorldMoms.com.

If you’re ever walking through the town of Swindon in the United Kingdom and find yourself thinking, gee This is a lot like Walt Disney World then you can understand why Swindon has been officially honored at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. with a plaque marking the “twinning” of the Wiltshire town. A special guest at the twinning ceremony was The Mayor of Swindon (Cllr David Wren).

Pictured above is a plaque marking the twinning was placed in the United Kingdom pavilion at Epcot World Showcase. It will remain in place throughout 2010 for guests to see. (Photo Courtesy Disney. Diana Zalucky, Photographer)

Previously: Disney Hunting for Twin Town.

More Disney News you can use…

No vampire owners for Disney’s Miramax. Summit Entertainment pulls out of the bidding.

Disney’s Imagineers will be helping Orlando get its iconic Lake Eola fountain working again. It was laid low by a lightning strike last year. Estimated repair cost is $1 million.

Upcoming Pixar introduces us to the newest Toy Story 3 character – Buttercup.

Disney Interactive lays out their game plan for making great games.

Tour the changes underway at EPCOT as it prepares for the Flower and Garden festival via LP Lotion.

If you’ve not yet taken a visit to the Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World, what are you waiting for? The World Champions to show up? Well this year you’ll have your chance to see the Atlanta Braves take on the New York Yankees as part of their spring training.

Early reports are that pitchers have already been practicing at ESPN WWOS. With everyone else arriving soon for two weeks of workouts before the first game on March 3rd.

Read more and get the full pre-season game schedule below the jump:

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Must be the time of year, on Saturday we rode the Kilimanjaro Safari and were amazed at all the animal babies out on the savannah. Today we get news that a Baby White-Cheeked Gibbon has joined the family at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Guests visiting the Asia section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom are getting a glimpse of the latest addition to the park’s family – an endangered white-cheeked gibbon born Feb. 2. Isn’t he cute?

The yet-to-be named male and his mother, Melaka, are bonding well according to the animal experts who oversee the daily care of primates. Guests may see them and the baby’s two sisters, Suki and Tuyen, in their habitat near Kali River Rapids.

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