Theme park and attraction news, rumors and videos.
With the debut of the all-new daytime parade, “Magic Happens,” approaching for the Disneyland Resort, a new look at three of the parade’s floats have been shared on the Disney Parks Blog.
This week, the Disney Wonder will set sail with a collection of brand-new enhancements inspired by the beauty of New Orleans.
This September, Disney On Ice will come skating to the new Amway Center with “Dare to Dream”. The show will feature several Disney princesses, including Rapunzel of “Tangled”, Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog”, and of course, Cinderella herself. [Read more…]
Disney held two princess related marathons on March 6 and 7, 2010, and Orlando Attractions Magazine subscriber Don Gworek ran along to bring you these two videos. While the races were designed for women, more than 400 men participated on behalf of the princesses in their lives.
The Princess and the Frog Royal Family 5K was held on Saturday at Epcot. It was a fun-filled event the whole family could participate in. Starting backstage, the race ran through all 11 countries in World Showcase, then through Future World, out the entrance, then back into Epcot and ending backstage.
The Princess Half Marathon was held on Sunday. The race started just outside of the Epcot parking lot. Runners then proceeded up World Drive towards the Magic Kingdom. Upon entering the Magic Kingdom, participants passed through Tomorrowland, Cinderella Castle and Frontierland. Participants then proceed down World Drive to make their return to Epcot. The course took participants through Future World and past Spaceship Earth on their way to the finish.
In a tight race, Gina Aalgaard Kelly bested more than 13,000 runners from around the world in the half marathon. Kelly (Lisbon, N.D.), 33, and second place finisher Heather Schulz of Orlando, overtook Nicole Falvo, of Grand Blanc, Mich., who led most of the race, as the women entered Epcot. Kelly crossed the finish line in 1:23:58 and Schulz, 35, came in with a time of 1:24:21. Falvo, 35, crossed only four seconds later (1:24:25) to finish third. In the Masters Division, Mary Pardi (Falmouth, Maine.), 40, won in a time of 1:25:10. Tricia Brookover-Brau from Palm Harbor, Fla. crossed at 1:27:51 to claim second place.
More than 18,000 runners, including 13,000 for the half marathon, were registered for the three-day event aimed at women’s health and wellness, making it one of the largest women-specific endurance events in the country and nearly twice as many runners as last year’s event.
Disney’s Royal Family Kids’ Races and the Fit for a Princess Expo were also held during the weekend.
In addition to being able to see Princess Tiana from Disney’s upcoming film “The Princess and the Frog” in her new show at the Magic Kingdom, Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee, little girls now have the opportunity to get made over like Tiana in the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.
Here’s a video of what a Princess Tiana makeover looks like:
The transformation can include a Princess Tiana costume, tiara, wand and more. Children must be at least three years or older to participate. The new option can be found at both the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in the Magic Kingdom as well as at the Downtown Disney Marketplace.
Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 407-WDW-STYLE.
A host of Disney characters welcomed Princess Tiana this morning following her horse-drawn carriage ride to Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom. Tiana is featured in the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures animated film “The Princess and the Frog” which marks Disney’s return to traditional 2-D hand-drawn animation.
Today’s special welcome was a one-time event in honor of Disney’s newest princess making her way to Walt Disney World’s most magical theme park. Here’s a video of the welcome ceremony:
Shortly thereafter, the official premiere performance of Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee took place. Following a jazz-filled procession through Frontierland and Liberty Square, Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen, Dr. Facilier, and Louis the alligator performed with dancers, musicians, and even park guests in a live musical production that takes place on board the Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Belle riverboat.
Here’s video of a complete show of Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee, including the processional beforehand:
Princess Tiana and several other characters from the upcoming Disney animated film “The Princess and the Frog” will be part of a new show premiering at the Magic Kingdom on Monday, Oct. 26.
After a music-filled processional down Main Street, U.S.A. Monday morning, Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee will premiere along the Rivers of America in Liberty Square. The show will feature Tiana, Prince Naveen, and a live jazz band along with the film’s villain Doctor Facilier and the trumpet-playing alligator Louis. Guests will be invited to join the characters aboard the riverboat. (You can click the concept art above to enlarge it.)
Check back here later in the day on Monday for video, photos, and interviews from the show’s premiere.