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Merida Meet & Greet Soft Opens at Magic Kingdom

While word of Disney’s first Scottish princess greeting guests inside a Disney themepark makes its way around the world to Scotland’s papers (she sounds Irish, they say), the Magic Kingdom has completed the transformation of the space originally created for Belle’s Story Time and subsequently used by Rapunzel and Flynn is now playing host to Merida.

Update: The Disney Parks Blog shared this photo on their Facebook page:

I didn’t have time to stand in line and get up close with Princess Merida myself, but you can get a general idea of the set up from the following pictures. Note the tartan and kilt worn by the cast member, is that a first outside of performing groups? There’s also a lot of fun new merchandise available (although I’m not too sure about the Merida sippy cup where you drink from a straw in the back of her head.. brains, I need brains… it’s Zombie Merida).

Can’t make it to the parks? Some of the above merchandise is available at the DisneyStore.com too.

Below the cut is a video from Ricky of Inside the Magic:

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Virtual Cars Land Map Online

Disneyland has put together a really fun interactive map of the soon to open Cars Land at California Adventure. It’s not exactly a virtual world (you can only move forward and backward) but three is a lot to explore. It’s also a great preview of… Read More »Virtual Cars Land Map Online

Alice Davis finally gets her Window on Main Street at Disneyland

Finally things are starting look right at Disneyland. That empty window next to Marc Davis’ has its pairing. Disneyland has honored Alice Davis with her own window on Main Street USA at Disneyland which serve as the ‘credits’ to the full experience of the park. There ceremony was star studded as far as Disneyland luminaries go.

Alice Davis was inducted as a Disney Legend in 2004 and is known for her work on the costumes for “it’s a small world” and “Pirates Of the Caribbean,” however, her accomplishments also include live action films, developing WDI standards, and is a brilliant artist and imagineer in her own right.

I’ve been writing about the need to correct this injustice since at least 1999. I mentioned the lack of windows for Alice Davis and Mary Blair in the 2nd month of this blog and later added in Lillian Disney as another major oversight. Davis joins Harriet Burns, Cicely Rigdon, and Mary Anne Mang as the fourth woman to be honored with a ‘credit’ on Main Street USA at Disneyland. Let’s hope that number quickly rises to six and higher as the company finally starts to recognize the contributions made by women in their cast, not just the men.

A full video of the ceremony is available below the cut:

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Mother’s Day comes early to Animal Kingdom

Just in time for Mother’s Day, a 13-year-old white rhino named Kendi is a proud mom after giving birth to her fourth calf Friday, May 4 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The yet unnamed newborn male represents the third generation of the line, which began with Kendi, the first white rhino born at the theme park.

“The birth of a white rhino calf is certainly something to celebrate since the population of this species is endangered in the wild,” said Jackie Ogden, Ph.D., vice president of Animals, Science and Environment for Disney Parks. “It’s encouraging that with protection and careful management, the global population of white rhinos continues to grow.”

The calf and mother doing well and are currently off the savannah bonding at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Guests will be able to see them when they return to the herd in the coming weeks.

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Videopolis: Home on the Range as sung by Donald Duck and Goofy

Today’s Videopolis is a little bit of a departure. Instead of amateurs singing Disney we have two old Disney pros singing for a bit of fun. Here are Tony Anselmo, the voice of Donald Duck and Bill Farmer, the voice of Goofy performing “Home On… Read More »Videopolis: Home on the Range as sung by Donald Duck and Goofy

Expressions – Behind The Seeds

Expressions is my series of videos where I attempt to capture some of the wonder of Walt Disney World via atmospheric footage. This new episode features scenes from the Behind The Seeds tour in The Land Pavilion at EPCOT. Disney researches a variety of techniques… Read More »Expressions – Behind The Seeds

Hopeful thoughts about California Adventure Re-envisioning

If you’ve read this blog, or my writings at LaughingPlace.com, for any length of time then you know that I have been critical of the weak effort Disney put forth to build a second gate to compliment the original theme park, and the only Disney… Read More »Hopeful thoughts about California Adventure Re-envisioning

Disney California Adventure Adds New Entertainment to Fuel Cars Land & Buena Vista Street


From “Mad T Party” to the “Red Car News Boys,” a new lineup of characters and shows will offer something for everyone as they celebrate the grand re-opening of the California Adventure with the new Cars Land, Buena Vista Street and Carthay Circle Theatre, featuring a restaurant and lounge.

The new lands will be home for new characters and street performers, while “Pixar Play Parade” will return for twice-daily performances throughout the summer and the long-running hit “Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular” is expected to add extra performances. The nighttime spectacular “World of Color” continues to satisfy guests with fire, water, lasers, animation and new story elements.

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