By Don Gworek Let’s take a look at Disney’s progress so far in converting Pleasure Island to Hyperion Wharf. For more details on the project, Click Here. On Jan 30, 2011, demolition was underway for two former Pleasure Island nightclubs. On April 2, a temporary grassy lawn was in place. Work continues …

It’s time to take another look at the construction progress for the Magic Kingdom’s new Fantasyland. Watch the video below and keep scrolling down for more aerial photos of Fantasyland, the former Toontown, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Pleasure Island, Epcot during the Flower and Garden Festival and a unique look at the Haunted Mansion. [...]

Feb. 17, 2011 – Join hosts JD Trussell and Samantha Sanders as they bring you the latest Orlando theme park and attraction news and more on this week’s episode. httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYPX_qvT8UM This week’s show covers these topics and more: • Epcot Flower and Garden Festival • Hard hat tour of the new Cheetah Hunt Roller Coaster [...]

By Don Gworek Changes are well underway to transform Pleasure Island to the Hyperion Wharf restaurant district, and the Characters in Flight balloon ride is a terrific way to see the progress. The top photo shows the demolition of two former nightclubs at Pleasure Island is nearly complete. Disney’s plans for the area were announced [...]

Dec. 31, 2010 – This week’s show brings you 2010 in review. Join hosts Samantha and JD as they bring you all the Orlando theme park and attraction highlights of the past year, with some news thrown in. We’ll review all the big news at Disney World, Universal, Busch Gardens and SeaWorld. Then they’ll let [...]

The Winter 2011 issue of Orlando Attractions Magazine is now available to order. The magazine is at the printer and will be shipping out within the next week or two. Look for it in our iPad app soon, and in major bookstores nationwide sometime in January. Subscribers should receive their copy within the next four [...]

Many of the theme parks and attractions are holding special events to welcome the new year on Dec. 31. Some are included with your park admission and some cost extra. Here’s a look at what’s happening. Universal Orlando Multi-platinum rock artist Bret Michaels will be in concert at Universal CityWalk. Known for being the lead [...]

Column by Derek Burgan Hearing that McDonald’s was leaving Downtown Disney was enough of a shock, but to discover it was being replaced by three smaller venues, including one based around fresh salads and another being a vegan bakery, a betting man like myself would consider putting good money on the End of the World [...]

Dec. 16, 2010 – Join hosts JD Trussell and Samantha Sanders for Episode Three of Orlando Attractions Magazine – The Show. They’ll bring you this week’s theme park and attraction news, viewer feedback, fan videos and more. httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uozPnoghr0 This week’s topics include: • Celebration Concert and interview with Kicking Daisies and Allstar Weekend. • Clarion [...]

Guest Review by Don Gworek Cirque du Soleil, the Orlando Ballet and Downtown Disney teamed up on Monday night to present A Choreographers Showcase, which could also be nicknamed “Cirque du Ballet”. The one-time-only performance was partly a fundraiser for the Orlando Ballet, and partly an opportunity for new talent to present artistic skill and [...]

There’s a new store within a store in the Downtown Disney Marketplace. The Spice & Tea Exchange recently opened inside Mickey’s Pantry. As a complement to the kitchen-ware available in Mickey’s Pantry, the new addition offers 42 different blends of tea, many spices and different flavored salts and sugars. Some of the flavored sugars include [...]

Today the Disney Parks Blog announced details on their plans for the mostly shuttered Pleasure Island area. The 120-acre area will be rethemed as a restaurant district called “Hyperion Wharf.” Disney describes it as a nostalgic yet modern take on an early 20th century port city and amusement pier. Nighttime will be when the area [...]

The Pollo Campero restaurant is opening today at Downtown Disney. Sharing the space are Fresh A-Peel and Babycakes NYC. This is a fitting time to take a look back at the McDonald’s restaurant that used to be here. The Festival of the Masters also started today. A festival vendor who hadn’t been to Downtown Disney [...]

The 35th Festival of the Masters will be held this Friday through Sunday at Downtown Disney. The open-air art festival will feature nearly 150 award-winning artists and more. Showcasing one-of-a-kind and limited edition painting, photography, sculpture, jewelry and more, this prestigious show is ranked among the country’s finest outdoor art festivals. There’s a lot more [...]

Article, photos and video by Don Gworek Disney held their first ever fund raising sale throughout Downtown Disney early Saturday morning to benefit the United Way. Entitled The Benefit Sale, shoppers purchased entrance vouchers for $5 in advance and exchanged them for wristbands on arrival. The event began at 5:30 a.m. and hundreds were line [...]

It’s time for the Christmas decorations to start popping up all around Walt Disney World. You may be saying to yourself, “Wait a minute … Wasn’t it just Halloween?” Yes, but forget about all that scary stuff, Mickey’s first Christmas Party starts in less than a week. The current Fall 2010 issue of Orlando Attractions [...]

Phineas, Ferb and Agent P AKA Perry the Platypus from the Disney Channel cartoon Phineas and Ferb were at Once Upon a Toy at Downtown Disney to celebrate the opening of The Wonderful World of Gaming section of the store. Although the newly remodeled section (the section with videos and music) has been open for [...]

When you’re in Orlando and don’t want to miss your Sunday worship, instead of seeking out a local church, head to the Gospel Brunch at House of Blues. Not only will you get a powerful message with great musical performances and food, but through November, you’ll get a little something extra. Each Sunday through Nov. [...]

Disney has been testing some new entertainment options at Downtown Disney for the past few weeks. It seems the Celebrate Tonight show in Pleasure Island which featured DJs and stilt walkers is no longer running. There are some new entertainment options in the area. During a trip to Pleasure Island last night, many different acts [...]

It was a grand opening befitting Disney’s new D Street store at Downtown Disney mixing music, art and pyro. Disney describes D Street as where urban-inspired product “intersects” with a Disney creative edge. The store’s main focus is on the collectable Mickey Mouse Vinylmation figures. First up, speed painter Rock Demarco created his version of [...]