Part of the fun of having representations of countries from the around the world in Orlando’s backyard, is that you get to experience some of their national holidays. Few are more festive, or more tasty, than Octoberfest. The Munich Oktoberfest, a 16-day traditional German festival,… Read More »Octoberfest returns to EPCOT’s Germany Pavilion
One of the features I really like about my camera, a Canon SX30, is its 35x optical zoom. I had an occasion to put it to a test last week when we dined at California Grill. It was nearing dusk and a huge rainstorm had just added significant amounts of water to the area and sending steam into the air. After walking out to the edge of the viewing platforms outside the restaurant on top of the Contemporary Hotel, I was able to get these images.
First is an image of a Magic Kingdom set in a reflection of light upon the water. It looks so beautiful I had to share.
On the other side of the water, the Grand Floridian DVC tower is coming together nicely.
Photos of New Fantasyland and more below the jump:
Snuck in at the bottom of a blog post on the Disney Parks Blog is a huge piece of news. When the Beauty and the Beast themed Be Out Guest restaurant opens as part of the New Fantasyland expansion it will serve beer and wine as part of its dinner menu. Outside of private parties, this will be the first time alcohol has been served at the Magic Kingdom, breaking a tradition that goes back to an edict from Walt Disney himself.
Walt did not want adult beverages served at Disneyland. He didn’t think it belonged in a family theme park. He did allow beer at the Holidayland corporate party pavilion, but it was outside the berm. Even then, the park had repeated issues with guests leaving for lunch and then re-entering a few sheets to the wind. Before Walt died, he did approve alcohol sales at Club 33, but went pretty far to make it a private club where the day guest would not be able to get served a drink.
We know that Walt was still against general sales of alcohol in his parks because of his attempt to build a second theme park. After Disneyland was a success, Walt looked east for a great place to build another park. After a lot of research, Walt settled on St. Louis, but when city founders insisted that Walt allow Annheuser Busch to sell beer in the park, Walt declined to build there. Instead he headed south for a little crossroads he remembered from an earlier trip to Florida – Orlando.
Read More »Magic Kingdom to Serve Adult Drinks Starting This Fall
Walt Disney World is attempting to drive up a little virtual excitement for New Fantasyland via a new micro-site. The site claims there is a curse preventing all the information about the new land from being revealed and a hero is needed to remove the… Read More »New Fantasyland Minisite Hides Mystery
The family of the 9-year old boy who died after riding his bike off the sidewalk and into the side of a Disney transport bus near Fort Wilderness has reached a settlement with Disney that will keep this case out of the courts. Disney’s spokesperson… Read More »Disney Settles With Family Whose 9-year old Boy Died in Accident with Disney Bus
In part one of this week’s Magic Kingdom Photo Update, we explored the changes installed in Fantasyland since our last visit. Today we spend a bit more time in Fantasyland before venturing out to Storybook Circus and beyond. Let’s get right to it:
Above and below we peek over the walls to see some of the fantastic detail work done on the roofs and facades in Gaston’s Village. I can’t wait to get over there and explore it myself
Often unheralded, but used every day, Walt Disney World has top of the industry support and services for accommodating guests with disabilities. So it’s nice when they get recognized for it. The most recent award has come from across the pond. The Gold Autism Award was presented to Disney on behalf of The United Kingdom Autism Foundation for Disney’s efforts supporting and accommodating autistic guests.
The Gold Autism Award, accepted by Greg Hale, Chief Safety Officer and Vice President of Worldwide Standards and Auditing, was presented by Ivan Corea, father of an autistic child, Charin Corea. The award recognizes Disney’s initiatives to help guests with disabilities navigate the Walt Disney World Resort properties in an easy and effortless way.
Charin has inspired an entire autism movement in the United Kingdom. His parents initiated 2002 as Autism Awareness Year and they founded Autism Sunday which is now a massive international event celebrated in many countries including the United States. The inspiration behind all of this is Charin, a teenager with autism spectrum disorder and a communication disorder, who has inspired world leaders to speak up for people with autism and Asperger syndrome.
Read More »Walt Disney World Receives Award for Autism Awareness
You know you’ve always wanted to live in a Disney theme park, admit it. Well, you can’t quite move into Cinderella Castle, but Disney’s Golden Oak development is the next best thing. The luxury home complex is situated right on Walt Disney World property and… Read More »Interview with Page Pierce, VP at Disney’s Golden Oak Development