What's coming to WDW? Jan./Feb. 2011
Here you are some of the highlights that will take place inside the Walt Disney World resort, the Disney Cruise Line and more! Take this as a recap of what has been announced in the past months:
Innovation and Technology Set Sail Jan. 26, 2011,
Aboard Disney Dream on Its Maiden Voyage
Aboard Disney Dream on Its Maiden Voyage
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – When the Disney Dream sets sail on its maiden voyage on Jan. 26, 2011, guests will be able to experience cruise industry firsts in true Disney style. Here’s a sampling of the innovative fun in store:
• Disney Cruise Line debuts the first-ever shipboard water coaster, AquaDuck, a thrilling water flume with twists and turns along a 765-foot course and swing-out loop beyond the side of the ship.
• Around the atrium lobby and throughout the Disney Dream, nearly two dozen pieces of Enchanted Art immerse guests in Disney storytelling in an all-new way. What looks like traditional hanging art is actually a framed LCD screen with technology that recognizes when a guest is present and activates several different sequences of animation – as though it comes to life.
• Each inside stateroom features a Magical Porthole – a wall-mounted monitor that displays real-time video views from high-definition cameras outside of the ship. Of course, Disney sprinkles some magic with animated Disney characters that “fly by” including Peach the starfish from the Disney•Pixar film, “Finding Nemo.”
• Young cruisers will enjoy an interactive Magic PlayFloor featuring the latest in gaming technology and storytelling activities in both the Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lab.
Whimsical Pixar Parade Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Favorite pals from the Disney•Pixar films will take to the streets with an all-new, high-energy parade scheduled to premier Jan. 16, 2011, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. “Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun” is an upbeat and fun-filled procession down Hollywood Boulevard with a whimsical musical track featuring the stars from “The Incredibles,” “A Bug’s Life,” “Ratatouille,” “Monsters, Inc,” “Up” and “Toy Story.”
Four Pixar characters not currently seen – Remy and Emile from “Ratatouille” and Carl and Russell from Disney•Pixar’s “Up” – will be part of the lineup.
To celebrate the last dance with favorites from the “Block Party Bash” parade, plan to be at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Jan. 1, 2011: It’s the day of the final performance.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Navigating a rickety footbridge suspended over a river chasm can be a white-knuckle experience. For explorers on an all-new Disney adventure launching Jan. 16, 2011, what lurks below their bridge may quicken their step to get to the other side: crocodiles!
A ravine of menacing-looking crocs, pools of hippos, bushwalks along untracked terrain and other thrills await guests on Wild Africa Trek, a unique wildlife experience into the deepest, most-remote reaches of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
The three-hour, expert-led adventure will immerse guests in the realms and wildlife thrills of far-off Africa – without leaving Walt Disney World Resort. In small groups, guests on Wild Africa Trek will enjoy an “up-close-and-personal” experience with African wildlife species that make their home in Pangani Forest as well as other areas of the park’s Harambe Wildlife Reserve. As part of the adventure, guests will clip onto a lifeline as they step to the very edge of a cliff to get amazingly close to the hippos and crocs waiting just below. Talk about cliff-hangers!
Wild Africa Trek will be offered several times daily for groups consisting of no more than 12 trekkers per safari. Reservations (ages 9 and up) can be arranged by calling 407/WDW-TOUR (939-8687). Pricing for this unique adventure will vary seasonally. Guests who wish to experience Wild Africa Trek between Jan. 16-Feb. 26, 2011, may take advantage of an introductory offer starting at $129 per person. Park admission is required for tour participants.
Defending Marathon Winner Adriano Bastos
Returns to Disney in Quest for Seventh Straight Title
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The ever-popular Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend returns Jan. 6-9, 2011, with opportunities for runners of all ages and abilities. Coming off a record-breaking event in January 2010 that drew 55,000 registered runners from all 50 states and 50 countries, the weekend includes kids’ races, a Family Fun Run 5K, the Goofy Race & a Half Challenge, the Disney Half Marathon and the Disney Marathon, plus the Health & Fitness Expo.
In addition to a tremendous sense of accomplishment, a magical reward will await everyone who completes the Walt Disney World Marathon presented by Cigna in 2011: a new Mickey Mouse race medal chosen through online voting.
Also, as part of Disney’s ongoing efforts to encourage guests to celebrate the milestones in their lives at a Disney park, finishers at the Disney Marathon on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011, will receive complimentary admission to a Walt Disney World theme park the Monday after the race.
Last year’s Disney Marathon Weekend was highlighted by Adriano Bastos’ sixth consecutive Disney Marathon victory and Lisa Mizutani’s second straight women’s title.
The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is a part of the new runDisney series. To learn more about endurance events at Disney, or to sign up for any of the runDisney events, go to www.runDisney.com.
New and Updated Disney Dining Offerings on the Menu
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – There are plenty of restaurant news from Walt Disney World Resort, including new menus, a new restaurant and “refreshes” of popular restaurants. Here’s what’s in store:
• Kouzzina by Cat Cora at Disney’s BoardWalk gets a facelift and new offerings. There’s new exterior signage and a new Cat Cora presence in the lobby with three video monitors with images and text that flow from one to the next, showcasing the celebrity chef’s views on food, family and her culinary journey. Chef Cat’s branded product line also is for sale in the lobby, including Greek olive oil, olives, tapenades and spreads.
In the main dining room, a new iconic olive oil display sets the stage for a new “olive oil tasting experience” for all diners – with the bread, servers will offer two varieties of Greek olive oils to taste and compare, as well as kalamata olives.
New artwork, marble finishes and soft drapes warm up the room, with a new “Coranation Room” at the back of the restaurant. The room has a more upscale décor and will offer a Chef’s Table prix fixe dining experience on weekends (still under development).
• Another facelift is at Fulton’s Crab House at Downtown Disney. Not only is everything on Fulton’s menu fresh, but the restaurant itself has just completed a “refresh” compliments of Matt Lorenz, 2007 winner of Bravo’s “Top Design” show. The refresh included a complete makeover of the lobby area, a one-of-a-kind crab map so guests can identify where their dish originated, a new and improved seafood display case, and renovations to each of the individual dining rooms on board. There’s more at www.fultonscrabhouse.com; reservations can be made at 407/WDW-DINE.
• While Pollo Campero has 300 restaurants in 12 countries, diners at Pollo Campero at Downtown Disney Marketplace get the first look at the restaurant’s new Fresh A-Peel concept, inspired by Disney’s commitment to offer guests great-tasting, healthful options. Fresh A-Peel offers all-natural burgers, salads and wraps, and delicious cupcakes, cookies and other sweets (the goodies are all gluten-free). The restaurant still serves the legendary grilled and fried chicken, thick yuca fries or french fries and their signature dip (a mayo-ketchup concoction), corn tortillas and sweet caramelized plantains. Dessert features goodies from Erin McKenna’s BabyCakes NYC – cookies, cupcakes, and vegan desserts with no gluten, dairy and eggs are her signature.
• Disney’s new cocktail menu (found in most bars and lounges) has a twist: all mixes are made from scratch, taking the art of cocktail “mixology” to a whole new level. Many of the new cocktails are made with “better for you” ingredients such as organic spirits, fresh fruits and herbs that have been procured locally when seasonally available, and lower calorie no-sugar-added fruit purees. The Raspberry Rain Cocktail, for instance, is made with Rain Organics Red Grape Hibiscus Vodka, Chambord, freshly muddled raspberries, lychee and fresh lemon juice. The Superfruit Martini features Van Gogh Acai-Blueberry Vodka, pomegranate liqueur, cranberry juice, organic agave nectar and fresh lemon juice. And plenty of cocktails come sans alcohol.
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