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Annika Sorenstam Tees Up Students for Success at Walt Disney World

Earlier this week, Fifty high-school students from The First Tee had some help getting their head in the game at the fifth annual Future Leaders Forum sponsored by The Toro Company and Walt Disney World Resort. The three-day event was designed to help students broaden leadership skills, prepare for college, and explore career disciplines within the golf industry.

Learning how lessons from the game of golf have real-life applications, participants gained insights from World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam and other industry leaders. Sorenstam, also the spokesperson for The First Tee Nine Healthy Habits, led participants in an interactive session highlighting the importance of incorporating healthy choices into all areas of their lives. The First Tee Nine Healthy Habits is a collaborative effort among The First Tee, ANNIKA Foundation and Florida Hospital for Children to promote healthy, active lifestyles for young people.

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Feds Test Communicating Cars at Walt Disney World

Pixar’s Cars characters are no longer the only talking cars at Walt Disney World, the U.S. Department of Transportation sponsored a special test at the Walt Disney World Speedway last week, where cars communicated with each other to improve roadway safety. On hand was U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who received a firsthand look at “connected vehicle” technologies that have the potential to improve safety and help drivers avert crashes.

“Thanks to the efforts of automakers and the safety community traffic fatalities have reached historic lows. Despite these great strides though, more than 32,000 people are still killed on our nation’s roads every year. That’s why we must remain vigilant in our effort to improve safety,” said Secretary LaHood. “This research should bring us a step closer to what could be the next major safety breakthrough.”

Analyses by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show connected vehicle technology could potentially impact approximately 80 percent of vehicle crash types involving non-impaired drivers. Specifically, NHTSA research shows these technologies could help prevent a majority of kinds of crashes that typically occur in the real world such as crashes at intersections or while switching lanes.

I’m sure Disney finds this potentially useful technology given the size of the bus fleet they operate in and around the resort.

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Walt Disney World Sends 2011 out with a Party and a Bang

It’s time to start thinking about your plans for New Year’s Eve. As usually, Walt Disney World presents one of the biggest fireworks evenings of the year, but there are also other events to enjoy. Here’s the list so far: Magic Kingdom presents a double helping… Read More »Walt Disney World Sends 2011 out with a Party and a Bang

Group Targets Disney’s Theme Parks for Potential Lead Poisoning

I’m not going to pretend to know much about California or Florida consumer safety laws, especially when it comes to safe lead levels in paint and other materials. However, the group known as the Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation claims they do know and that Disney’s… Read More »Group Targets Disney’s Theme Parks for Potential Lead Poisoning

More Art of Animation Details – Phase One Opens May 31st, 2012

The Art of Animation resort will offer 1,120 family suites (bedroom, living room, and kids sleep area) themed after “The Lion King,” “Cars” and “Finding Nemo” animated films, as well as 864 guest rooms inspired by “The Little Mermaid.” The current timeline has the “Finding… Read More »More Art of Animation Details – Phase One Opens May 31st, 2012

Chimpanzees Receive Emergency Support from the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund

The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund has acted quickly to meet the needs of the Jane Goodall Institute and the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance who are working to protect endangered chimpanzees in Africa. Disney’s ties with Jane Goodall go back to before Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened.… Read More »Chimpanzees Receive Emergency Support from the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund

Woman Sells Baby to Pay for Family Disney Trip

Okay, I know the nation’s economy is in the pits, but if you absolutely must have that family vacation to Walt Disney World, there are other things you can sell besides your newborn son. Yet, that’s exactly what a new Mom from Delaware is accused… Read More »Woman Sells Baby to Pay for Family Disney Trip

Walt Disney World Cast Members Share Opening Day Memories


(left to right) Charles Ridgway, Forrest Bahruth, Heather Will-Browne, Darlene Kennedy, Kevin Myers.

On October 1st, 2011 I had the immense privilege to interview four Magic Kingdom opening day cast members. Each brings their own interesting stories and passion for making the magic.

Author Charles Ridgway, former Director of Walt Disney World Public Relations and Disney Legend for four decades of service to “the Mouse” (Hometown: Chicago) – Before moving from California to head the Walt Disney World publicity staff, Charlie Ridgway worked for Walt Disney himself at Disneyland in Anaheim, where he hosted media interviews and set up photo shoots with Walt and Mickey. When the Magic Kingdom first opened, Ridgway says, there was still some tweaking and problem solving to do. The parking lot trams “didn’t have enough power to go up the hill to the Ticket and Transportation Center arrival area,” he recalls. “There was lots of construction yet to go, wires hanging, walls not finished.” And he remembers the Flag Retreat ceremony brought to the Magic Kingdom from Disneyland: each evening a flock of pigeons flew in a white cloud from Town Square to Cinderella Castle and back. “Walt liked to say at Disneyland, ‘If you have pigeons and balloons, you can’t go wrong.’ Park officials eventually ended the tradition out of concern for the birds and the environment.

Three more below the jump:

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