Theme park and attraction news, rumors and videos.
Penn Jillette, the vocal half of the illusionist/comedy duo “Penn and Teller,” tries to figure out how Thumper, the lovable rabbit from “Bambi,” came out of his hat. Appropriately, Penn and Thumper met in the Magic Kingdom today, as the magician vacations with his family. Thumper can regularly be seen in Camp Minnie-Mickey at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Photo by Garth Vaughan
After a couple of days delay, the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade television taping finished up yesterday at the Magic Kingdom. We brought you photos from the first day of recordings featuring Yanni and Kris Allen last Thursday, and the tapings were to continue the next two days, but Mother Nature had other ideas with constant rain.
On Friday, Celine Dion’s performance was moved to the Grand Floridian Resort, where she had fans packing all of the balconies. (Click here for more photos of her performance, courtesy of Robert Ashburn.)
On Sunday morning the show went on with a performance by the Jonas Brothers around Cinderella Castle. We weren’t able to make it to the park that early, but you can read more about it at The Daily Disney. The audience were taught some dance moves, as you can see in the video below.
Kelly Ripa hosted the street parade portion by herself. She filmed up and down Main Street at different spots. Here she’s pictured with one of the stars of the Disney DVD “Santa Buddies.”
Most of the floats and parade performers weren’t the usual ones you’ll see in the park. Here’s a look at the special Club Penguin float. (Club Penguin is Disney’s online game for kids.)
Our full photo gallery of photos from yesterday’s television taping is below. The full parade can be seen on the ABC network Christmas Day.
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Next spring, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay will feature an all-new, Sesame Street-themed playland featuring Elmo, Big Bird and all their friends. Sesame Street Safari of Fun will be filled with rides, shows and adventures that celebrate the spirit of Africa. This signature attraction can be found nowhere else.
Sesame Street Safari of Fun will include a new junior roller coaster designed for parents and children to ride together. “Air Grover” is full of mini-dives and twisty turns as families soar through the Sahara.
Other kid-sized rides include “Zoe-Patra & the Hippos of the Nile,” a splashy flume ride through the famed river; “Rosita’s Djembe Fly-Away,” a swing ride that sends kids whirling above the African canopy; “Elmo’s Safari Go-Round,” a tribal-inspired carousel with Elmo and his friends; and more. “Oscar’s Swamp Stomp” provides cool water fun, and “Bert & Ernie’s Water Hole” is a wet adventure filled with bubblers, geysers, jets, dumping buckets and more.
A photography studio gives kids the chance to share a hug and a smile with Sesame Street friends, and musical performances bring tales of adventure to life.
The new children’s play area will be created where Land of the Dragons now exists, and will double the area’s current size.
“Sesame Street Safari of Fun will be a fantastic addition to Busch Gardens,” said Donnie Mills, Busch Gardens’ executive vice president and general manager. “With Sesame Street Safari of Fun, Busch Gardens truly has something for all ages, and this new destination in the park is certain to be a hit among families and kids.”
In addition to the rides and play areas, families also will be able to watch their favorite characters on the big screen. “Sesame Street presents Lights, Camera, Imagination!” will run in the park’s 4-D theater, located in Timbuktu. And families can share breakfast and lunch with Elmo and the rest of the characters on select days at an outdoor dining facility adjacent to Sesame Street Safari of Fun.
Journalist and TV anchor Dan Rather visited with Mickey Mouse today, Aug. 16, 2009 at Epcot. Rather was on vacation at the Walt Disney World theme park.
Photo by Matt Stroshane
Brooke Shields took a break from her busy schedule to get up close and personal with SeaWorld’s biggest star, Shamu. Shields was on vacation with her husband and two young daughters. The family took a VIP tour of SeaWorld which included encounters with many different animals, including meeting penguins and dolphins.
Photo by Matt Marriott
Fans were able to meet former contestants from the reality TV shows “Survivor”, “Big Brother” and “The Amazing Race” yesterday (July 25, 2009) in downtown Celebration. It was $10 to get in to meet the stars. The money benefited Give Kids The World Village.
Here’s a video of the fans getting pictures and autographs followed by a photo gallery, which lists each contestant’s name and what show they were on. Click on the thumbnails to see a larger version.
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Want to see people try to lose weight by dancing? Want to try it yourself? A new dance/weight loss competition series on the Oxygen network called Dance Your A** Off will make a stop on their promotional tour this Friday and Saturday at Universal’s CityWalk. (I’m sure you can figure out what the **’s stand for. Let’s just call it DYAO.)
Guests will be able to dance with professionals on a giant stage shaped as a scale, create a customized video of themselves performing the official DYAO dance and generate their own DYAO animated dancer. The event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6 to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, June 12 and 13, 2009.
Oxygen’s new dance/weight loss competition series premieres at 10 p.m. on Monday, June 29 and features 12 full-figured contestants who dance to unleash their inner thin and a chance to win $100,000 grand prize. Each contestant will be paired with a professional dance partner who will train them for their weekly stage performances – ranging from hip hop, to ballroom and even pole dancing. Then they’ll shake and rattle their rolls in front of a live studio audience and a panel of expert judges: choreographer Danny Teeson, dancer/choreographer Mayte Garcia, and dancer/actress Lisa Ann Walter. Actress Marissa Jaret Winokur, well known for her role as plus-sized Tracy Turnblad in the hit Broadway musical Hairspray, serves as host.
None of the judges have been announced as being at CityWalk for the tour. Visit dyao.oxygen.com for more information about the show.
From orlandosentinel.com:
Wayne Allwine, the actor who voiced Mickey Mouse for more than 30 years, has died.
The Walt Disney Co. says Allwine died Monday of complications from diabetes, with Russi Taylor, his wife of 20 years and the voice of Minnie Mouse, by his side. He was 62.
“Wayne dedicated his entire professional life to Disney,” chief executive Robert Iger said in a statement Wednesday. “Over the last 32 years, (he) gave so much joy, happiness and comfort to so many around the world by giving voice to our most beloved, iconic character, Mickey Mouse.”
A Southern California native, Allwine joined Disney in 1966 when he took a job in the mail room. He went on to work in the sound effects department and began voicing the company’s main mouse in 1977.
Click Here to read the rest of the Associated Press story on the Orlando Sentinel’s Web site.
Kris Allen shouted the famous words “I’m Going to Disney World!” immediately after being crowned the newest American Idol in the show’s star-studded season finale on May 20, 2009 in Los Angeles.
Disney camera crews captured Allen’s celebratory pronouncement on the Nokia Theatre stage mere moments after American Idol host Ryan Seacrest announced the champion’s name to millions of viewers watching worldwide.
Not only does the newly crowned Idol shout “I’m Going to Disney World!” at the spot’s conclusion, Allen’s voice also is featured throughout the ad as he performs the iconic song, “When You Wish Upon A Star.”
And with the same immediacy that has made the Disney spot one of the most beloved commercials of all-time, the newest “I’m Going to Disney World!” commercial aired on television within hours of the American Idol finale.
Starring in a role usually occupied by sports stars – including Super Bowl heroes and World Series champs – Allen is the second singer to ever star in the Disney commercial in its 20 plus-year history. (2008 American Idol champion, David Cook, was the first.)
The American Idol champion’s role in the newest “I’m Going to Disney World” commercial celebrates “The American Idol Experience,” the new American Idol-themed attraction that had a February 2009 grand opening Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
You can read all about The American Idol Experience in the current issue of Orlando Attractions Magazine.
