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American Idol Experience Opens to Junior Performers for Limited Time Magic

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The Walt Disney Company has a long tradition of supporting youth performers, from the original Mickey Mouse Club showcasing some of Hollywood’s best talent to Magic Music Days giving school kids the chance to perform in a Disney theme park. For one week during its Limited Time Magic promotion, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is extending that idea to the American Idol Experience.

The age limit for performing at American Idol Experience has always been tied to the TV shows eligibility requirements. If the winner got a dream ticket they couldn’t use, that would make no sense right?

From August 12-18, Disney will have one Juniors Show, where contestants aged 6-13 can perform. They won’t get a dream ticket, but they will get an amazing experience.

The special taste of showbiz will begin with an audition in front of a Disney producer, just like the regular show. The three contestants chosen for the Juniors Show will get a Hollywood-style showbiz treatment including cosmetology, a vocal training session and walk-through rehearsal before taking the stage in front of the live audience. The three finalists will also get feedback from the panel of judges. It’s not mentioned if the audience will vote for a winner or if some other ending will be involved.

If your child wants to enter, we’ve included the list of songs choices below the jump. Better get rehearsing right away.

Read More »American Idol Experience Opens to Junior Performers for Limited Time Magic

Interview with Former 70s Mouseketeer Lisa Whelchel who Returned to Disney World

I am a child of the 70s, which means the “Mickey Mouse Club” with bright clothes, bellbottoms and velour shirts was my “Mickey Mouse Club.” Among that group was a teenage Lisa Whelchel. She went on to have a short but very high profile Hollywood… Read More »Interview with Former 70s Mouseketeer Lisa Whelchel who Returned to Disney World

Gaither Quintuplets Celebrate their 30th Birthdays at the Magic Kingdom

They say Walt Disney World is the place for celebrations. I think it’s true and so do a very famous set of quintuplets. The five Gaither siblings were the world’s first African-American born in the U.S. to survive. They’re now celebrating their 30th birthdays at,… Read More »Gaither Quintuplets Celebrate their 30th Birthdays at the Magic Kingdom

18th EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival – The Marketplace Menus

Want to know what delicious goodies are being cooked up for the 18th EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival marketplace kiosks? Disney has released what looks like a complete list of all the marketplace menus. I remember reading somewhere that we were getting scotch eggs, but I don’t see them on the list. Anyone know what happened there?

The Kalua Pork Slider (not the liqueur Kahlua but the Kalua barbecue method of cooking) returns to the Hawaii tasting marketplace

The Kalua Pork Slider (not the liqueur Kahlua but the Kalua barbecue method of cooking) returns to the Hawaii tasting marketplace

Brazil (All-New Menu)

Seared Scallop with Ragout of Tomatoes, Peppers, Hearts of Palm and Steamed Rice
Crispy Pork Belly with Black Beans, Onions, Avocado and Cilantro
Cerveharias Kaiser Brewery Xingu Black Beer
Carnaval Moscato White
Frozen Caipirinha featuring LeBlon Cachaça

Scotland (New)

Seared Scottish Salmon with Cauliflower Puree, Watercress and Malt Vinaigrette
Vegetarian Haggis with Neeps and Tatties-Griddled Vegetable Cake with Rutabaga and Mashed Potatoes
Scottish Banoffee Tart with Bananas, Scottish Whisky Toffee, Walkers Shortbread Crumbles and Sweet Cream
Innis & Gunn® Original
Loch Lomond featuring Glenfiddich® 12 year
Glenfiddich® Scotch Flight (12, 15 and 18 year)

Read More »18th EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival – The Marketplace Menus

Why do you love EPCOT Center?

Over the last few years The Daily City has grown into one of Orlando’s real treasures. It’s as close to a hyper-local news blog as we’ve got in the town and it continues to deliver great content on a daily basis (not to mention its… Read More »Why do you love EPCOT Center?

New Official Albums for Disneyland and Walt Disney World

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Between the family’s annual trips to Disneyland, I used to listen to my official Disneyland album over and over again. If closed my eyes, it was almost like I was there. That’s the transporting magic of Disney parks music.

It seems like its been forever since Disney last released an official album for Disneyland and Walt Disney World. In 2005 there was a CD celebrating Disneyland’s 50th anniversary. And there was my favorite park’s CD issued for the Millennium celebration.

The good news is that Disney Parks has just announced that two new 2-CD sets will be released in the parks on August 20 with both Disneyland and Walt Disney World getting their own official albums (although to be fair, WDW should get four CDs). I know I’ll be adding these to my collection.

The track listing for the new albums is below the jump:

Read More »New Official Albums for Disneyland and Walt Disney World

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Construction Update – July 2013

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Here’s an updated look at the construction on New Fantasyland’s Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller coaster at the Magic Kingdom. There is still a long way to go on one side, but when you turn around the back to where Prince Eric’s Village will be, it looks nearly finished. Current plans call for it to be open sometime in 2014, but it’s hard to tell if they’re on pace or not.

As before we have both video and photos of the area

Photos are below the jump:Read More »Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Construction Update – July 2013

Festival of The Lion King decamping to Africa in 2014

Disney once famously refused to acknowledge that they were building a new Disney Vacation Club resort next to The Contemporary even-though the blueprints had leaked months prior and everyone who flew by on the monorail every day could plainly see a multi-story building going up,… Read More »Festival of The Lion King decamping to Africa in 2014