The Disney World Blog

Disney Sports Complex to Become ESPN-Branded Immersive Sports Venue

Aligning the world's No. 1 family vacation destination with the worldwide leader in sports, Walt Disney World Resort and ESPN are joining forces to re-brand Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex with the ESPN brand, creating an entertaining and immersive experience for the nearly 2 million athletes, coaches and spectators who come through the Disney sports complex each year.

Plans for the re-branding initiative -- which was announced today during the ESPN upfront presentation to advertisers and sponsors -- are still in the development stage, but initial concepts involve renaming the sports complex and incorporating the signature elements of ESPN throughout the 220-acre facility, which is a leading venue for amateur and professional sports in the country. The project aims to enhance the experience of both athletes and spectators by connecting them to their favorite ESPN programs, personalities and elements. It also will provide advertisers new sponsorship opportunities at the grass roots level.

"This is a natural and exciting pairing of two powerful brands to create a one-of-a-kind, immersive sports venue that will enable athletes, coaches and guests to experience sports in a whole new way," said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Disney Parks and Resorts. "This project builds on our collaborative successes and positions us to explore more opportunities with ESPN to create new experiences for guests at Walt Disney World Resort."

"Our involvement in the Disney sports complex will provide greater opportunities for us to connect directly with athletes, coaches and fans in a highly immersive way," said George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN Inc. and ABC Sports, and co-chairman of Disney Media Networks. "Our involvement also provides us with a unique and exciting new media platform that will enable our advertisers and sponsors to reach new customers and bring their products and services to life.''

The re-branding of the Disney sports complex is the latest initiative in the growing sports business at Walt Disney World Resort. In December, the sports complex debuted additional outdoor playing fields for football, soccer, lacrosse and field hockey competitions. And this summer the sports complex will open Jostens Center, a new state-of-the-art field house that will allow Disney to accommodate twice as many indoor sports events each year. Additional expansion plans are being explored.

The Disney sports complex annually hosts more than 180 events in 50 different sports involving athletes from more than 70 countries. Among those events are the Atlanta Braves spring training season, a Tampa Bay Rays regular-season series, the Major League Baseball Draft, the NBA Pre-Draft Camp, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp, Chelsea Football Club events, the Pop Warner Super Bowl, AAU National Championships, Varsity All-Star Cheerleading competitions, USSSA events and the Walt Disney World Marathon, one of the top marathons in the nation. ESPN televised 20 sporting events from the complex in the last year. Walt Disney World Resort and ESPN also annually work together to host the popular ESPN The Weekend event at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Bob Varley - a Valued Member of the Disney Community

I struggled with whether I should do this or not and eventually settled myself to the fact that I needed to do it.  As many of you may know, I am an avid podcast listener. Over the past few weeks, my job has kept me very busy and I haven’t had as much time to listen to podcasts or post on my blog,

I am downloading episodes last week and I noticed there wasn’t a new episode of the “DIS Unplugged” which is one of the podcasts I subscribe to. I didn’t think much of it until I listened to WDW Radio this Monday and found out that Bob Varley has passed away.

I couldn’t believe how much this affected me. I was deeply saddened by this news and still am today. Apparently, he thought he had food poisoning, but whatever it was turned out to be a lot worse and we have lost a great member of the Disney community.

For those of you who don’t know Bob, he was the comic relief on the show. He was constantly being ribbed for the way he spoke, the amount of paper he wasted, or the amount of time he took for segments. I felt bad for Bob sometimes for the teasing he took, but I knew inside that the other members of the show did it out of love and I really believe Bob enjoyed it. You could tell Bob had a huge heart and genuinely enjoyed helping people.

I didn’t know Bob personally but I really felt like we were friends. For those of you that listen to podcasts, you know that these people bring us into their lives every week and we feel like we really know them. It was like the first time I met Lou Mongello at Magicmeets. I felt like I was seeing and old friend again even though it was the first time we met. That is how I felt about Bob. I felt like he was an old friend and I’m sorry I never had the honor to meet him.

Bob was truly a lucky man. He had the fortune to have great friends and had the fortune of doing something he loved. His love of Disney was obvious and his supporters in the community were many. You can really see Bob's effect on people when you look at the posts on the DIS boards.

I know that Pete, John, Kevin, Corey, and Julie must be absolutely devastated and my message to them is “take your time.” We will all be here when you are ready to continue. We know it will never be the same without Bob but we also know that the five of you will still make it the great podcast that we have come to know and love.

We will miss you Bob, but I’ll always think of you when I see “Interventions” at Epcot…..

A nice tribute can be found here.

Toy Story Mania! Fun Facts

As we get ready for the opening of Toy Story Mania!, here are some fun facts about the attraction for you to ponder.

Each ride vehicle weighs as much as 8,580 Woody dolls.

It would take 5,026 toy soldiers lined up end-to-end to make up the total track length.

Toy Story Mania! is the first time that Walt Disney Imagineering is creating an attraction for two Disney Parks simultaneously.

It has been estimated that, each day, guests may break over one million virtual plates using the spring-action shooters.

Riders in the Sky, the award winning group that wrote the songs that Mr. Potato Head performs as part of the attraction, is the same group that wrote "Woody's Roundup" for the "Toy Story" feature films.

This is the first attraction that Walt Disney Imagineering designed where the Imagineers had to wear 3-D glasses to art direct all the black-light paint elements.

The murals located in the load area at Disney's Hollywood Studios are the biggest murals painted since Epcot was built.

In order to create a show that responds not only to every pull of a guest's spring-action shooter, but also every move their midway tram makes, there are over 150 computers communicating over multiple networks throughout the attraction.

At Toy Story Mania! every guest gets to experience life at the size of a toy. So in Andy's room, a 5 foot 6 inch person will feel about 14" tall.

More time was spent programming Mr. Potato Head than for any other Audio-Animatronics figure ever created by Walt Disney Imagineering.

Mr. Potato Head will be able to say more lines of dialogue than any Audio-Animatronics figure ever created by Walt Disney Imagineering.

The Mr. Potato Head Audio-Animatronics figure is the first time that an Audio-Animatronics figure can remove a body part and re-attach it (in the case of his ear).

The Mr. Potato Head Audio-Animatronics figure has new, highly expressive and animated eyes that can look directly at a particular guest in the queue when speaking to him/her.

Mr. Potato Head marks the first Audio-Animatronics figure whose mouth appears to form words and vowel sounds.

Book Review - "Around the World with Disney"

I picked up a book on Ebay last week and thought I would write a mini review on it.  The book is title "Around the World with Disney" by Kevin Markey. It is basically a pictorial book that chronicles a lot of attractions at the various Disney parks that are similar and/or the same. It was released in 2005 and is hard cover bound.

As I said above, the book is mostly a pictorial with some beautiful pictures of attractions at each park accompanied by a paragraph to describe the pictures. The book begins with the Happiest Celebration on Earth which celebrates the 50th anniversary of Disneyland and then we get into the chapters.

Some of the chapters include "Castles of Dreams", which shows us all of the various castles at the Disney parks, "Riding the rails" (monorails, trains, etc) and "Water, water Everywhere (focusing on boat rides and the two water parks).

I did enjoy looking through this book, however I was disappointed in one way. I found the book focused too much on the US parks, especially WDW and not enough on the parks outside of the US. I was hoping for more pictures from Hong Kong, Tokyo and Paris, and although some were there, I just didn't think there were enough.

This is a good book to add to your collection especially if you are a fan of pictorials. As I stated earlier, there are some beautiful pictures here and for that I would recommend getting this book. There is not a lot to read here but it is a great book to browse and appreciate for what it is.

You can find this book on Ebay and Amazon if you want to pick it up.

From ‘Not So Scary’ to ‘Very Merry,’ September to December

Pick your passion: Whether it's food, wine, music, art, sports, stargazing, celebrating a milestone birthday, holiday mirth or Mickey Mouse, September through December 2008 is a season when vacation wishes and dreams come true for Walt Disney World guests of many interests as Disney's "Year of a Million Dreams" showcases nearly a dozen special events.

Here's a snapshot of what's in store:

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: Delectable foods and stellar wines and beers from some of the best "foodie" cities in the world -- places such as Lyon, France; Bologna, Italy; Cape Town, South Africa and trendy Cork, Ireland -- will tempt Walt Disney World guests Sept. 26-Nov. 9 at the 13th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. New festival flavors representing great "Cities in Wonderland" will deliver blissful bites with wine and beer pairings ($2 to $5 each) at more than 25 international and regional marketplaces surrounding the park's World Showcase. Cultural exhibits along the promenade will showcase entertainment and traditional crafts of several countries.

Eat to the Beat! concerts at America Gardens Theatre, with three performances each evening, offer a lineup of classic rock, oldies, jazz and funk hit-makers such as Spyro Gyra, Kool & The Gang and Jon Secada.

Other festival highlights include:

The Festival Welcome Center, with a Champagne and Wine Bar, complimentary wine seminars, book signings and festival keepsakes.

Some 250 Disney chefs and guest chefs conducting culinary demonstrations and hosting elegant dinners and tasting events.

The weekly Party for the Senses grand tasting event featuring tempting tastes from eminent chefs, more than 70 wines and beers and live entertainment.

Music, dance, acrobatics and "improv" acts at Epcot pavilions.

Most activities, such as wine and beer seminars, concerts and cooking demos, are included with admission. Activities that require reservations and separate admission include Party for the Senses, Food and Wine Pairings at Epcot restaurants, Epcot Wine Schools, Regional Feasts and other specialty events.

Guests can call 407/WDW-FEST (407/939-3378) to make reservations for special events and programs. Festival details are available at: disneyworld.com/food.

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Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party: The Disney characters are decked out in their Halloween finest, and guests are invited to do the same on 25 evenings between Sept. 5 and Oct. 31 when Magic Kingdom hosts this popular after-hours event. There's trick-or-treating galore and a chance to experience popular attractions during a 7 p.m.-midnight party which features two scheduled entertainment extravaganzas guests can see at no other time: the "Boo-to-You" Halloween parade and the bewitching "Happy HalloWishes" fireworks spectacular.

Parties are slated for Sept. 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 28, 30 and Oct. 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 16, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31. For more details and to purchase advance tickets, guests can call 407/W-DISNEY or visit disneyworld.com/halloween now.

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Disney's Royal Quinceañera Weekend: For the first time, Walt Disney World Resort is offering a weekend dedicated to celebrating the most magical time in a Latina's life: turning age 15. The "weekend" (Aug. 29-Sept. 5 -- around Labor Day) will include a tradition-steeped extravaganza at Epcot that celebrates the passage from flat-soled shoes and dolls to high heels, elaborate gowns and young womanhood. Every young woman will walk into a breathtaking ball held in her honor and into a world of princesses, beauty and enchantment that only Disney can create, capped by a private viewing of the fireworks spectacular, "Illuminations: Reflections of Earth."

The exclusive Disney's Royal Quinceañera Weekend includes a 3-, 4-, or 5-night stay at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, theme park tickets and the Quinceañera celebration at Epcot. For more information, guests may visit www.disneyworld.com/quinceanera or call 321/939-4555.

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Night of Joy: Regarded as one of the top contemporary Christian music events in the country, Night of Joy is on the move to a new venue in 2008. Disney's Hollywood Studios will host two talent-packed evenings Sept. 5-6 featuring a total of 16 acts including Gospel Music Association Dove Awards winners such as 2008 Artist of the Year tobyMac, Male Vocalist of the Year Chris Tomlin, Group of the Year Casting Crowns and New Artist of the Year Brandon Heath plus 2004 Artist of the Year MercyMe and internationally popular Grammy Award winners Rebecca St. James and Marcos Witt.

Guests attending Night of Joy, which takes place from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. (after regular theme park hours), can combine an evening of rockin' Christian music with the thrills and chills of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith and The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror plus the shoot-'em-up fun of the newest Walt Disney World attraction, Toy Story Mania! For more information about the 2008 event and to purchase tickets, guests can visit disneyworld.com/nightofjoy or call 407/W-DISNEY. (Youth groups of 10 or more can visit www.nightofjoy.com/2008 or call 877/648-3569.) Guests are encouraged to buy tickets early as the event has sold out in recent years.

More than one million guests experienced Night of Joy from 1983 through 2007, a 25-year period during which the event was held in Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom.

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Festival of the Masters presented by Sharpie®: More than 150 award-winning national and local fine artists will showcase their diverse creations at Downtown Disney West Side Nov. 7-9 during Festival of the Masters. An art festival for all ages, the 33rd annual 'Masters' includes live music and entertainment, chalk art sidewalk displays at Downtown Disney Marketplace and a children's activity area where budding young artists can create their own masterpieces.

Event hours are 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. each day of the festival. Admission and parking are complimentary. For more information about Festival of the Masters, guests may contact 407/824-4321 or visit disneyworld.com/artfestival.

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Children's Miracle Network Classic presented by Wal-Mart: PGA TOUR tradition continues Nov. 6-9 when pro golf's top tier returns to Walt Disney World Resort and to Disney's Magnolia course for the 38th consecutive year -- the eighth longest streak of same-course use in pro golf. As the last official money event of the year, the Classic promises a scramble among players jockeying for positions in the final money standings, a key factor in determining who makes the fields of TOUR events in 2009. Stephen Ames is reigning champion. Ticket information is available by calling 407/824-2250 or by visiting www.childrensmiraclenetworkclassic.com.

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ABC Super Soap Weekend presented by Colgate® Total®: One of the largest annual soap opera fan events held anywhere in the world, ABC Super Soap Weekend presented by Colgate® Total®, returns to Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park Nov. 15-16. Stars from the ABC Daytime dramas "All My Children," "One Life to Live" and "General Hospital" step off the television screens and into the theme park in meet-and-greet autograph and photo sessions, celebrity motorcades, star conversations, interactive games and more.

Admission to the 13th edition of the soap fanfest is included in regular admission to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Fans will be able to visit disneyworld.com/SuperSoapWeekend for additional information.

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Old Spice Classic: NCAA "Sweet 16ers" Tennessee and Michigan State top an eight-team lineup that ESPN Regional Television is serving up as a Thanksgiving weekend feast of college basketball in The Milk House at Disney's Wide World of Sports and on ESPN2 and ESPNU Nov. 27, 28 and 30. The third edition of the Old Spice Classic also features five more teams that played in the NCAA and NIT tournaments in spring 2008.

Georgetown, Maryland, Oklahoma State, Gonzaga, Siena and Wichita State round out the lineup of teams that amassed a combined 181 victories during the 2007-08 season. They will play 12 games over the three days of the Old Spice Classic. North Carolina State won the tournament in 2007.

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Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party: On 18 select evenings in November and December, guests can experience the enchantment of "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade" and the excitement of a holiday-themed fireworks spectacular, "Holiday Wishes--Celebrate the Spirit of the Season," during a special after-hours party inside the Magic Kingdom theme park.

The jingle-jolly event also features live Disney character stage shows, like "Celebrate the Season," Mickey's "Twas the Night Before Christmas" Show and Fantasyland Pavilion Cotillion, character greetings, cookies and cocoa, and even "snow" on Main Street, U.S.A. Plus, the most-popular Magic Kingdom attractions are open to party guests.

Dates are: Nov. 10, 11, 14, 16, 20, 21, 30; Dec. 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19. Admission to this event requires a separate ticket. Guests can visit disneyworld.com/holidays or call 407/W-DISNEY now for advance tickets and information.

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Holiday Highlights: It was once suggested that while there's no place like home for the holidays, the next best place on the planet may be Walt Disney World Resort. The good news is that guests don't have to choose: They can experience the sparkling decorations and joyous seasonal entertainment throughout the Vacation Kingdom and still be home for Christmas, because the festivities begin weeks before December 25. Here's a sampling of what's in store:

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights -- As "snow" falls overhead, the Streets of America backlot cityscape at Disney's Hollywood Studios comes alive with millions of holiday lights that dance to music, animating sparkling displays to create twirling carousels, marching toy soldiers and even Santa and his reindeer taking flight. The synchronized music and light show is presented in collaboration with famed Arkansas businessman Jennings Osborne, who developed the dazzling display for his daughter more than a decade ago at his Little Rock, Ark., home. The spectacle is included with Disney's Hollywood Studios admission.

Holidays Around the World / Candlelight Processional -- An Epcot tradition continues with holiday customs from around the globe, international storytellers, a nightly tree-lighting ceremony featuring Disney characters, a stunning display of snow-white and colored lights, and Candlelight Processional. A beloved Disney tradition that began long before Epcot, Candlelight Processional features celebrity guest narrators accompanied by a mass choir and 50-piece orchestra for a retelling of the Christmas story. All of the Epcot holiday fun is included with regular theme park admission.

Castle Dream Lights A dazzling lighting spectacle transforms the iconic Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom into a glimmering, shimmering ice palace at holiday time. Bathed in more than 200,000 tiny white lights, the castle glows and glistens nightly. It's all a fulfillment of Cinderella's holiday wish, as guests learn during a special show that climaxes with the transformation of the famous Magic Kingdom icon. --

Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade A Disney's Animal Kingdom tradition, the procession results from Mickey Mouse's invitation to a special group of friends to join him on a holiday adventure. The parade is filled with gaiety -- the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and feelings of the season. Mickey and his friends are no exception. They've added holiday accessories to their safari costumes. Add in some special music and you have a combination that celebrates the holidays as only Disney's Animal Kingdom can.

The holiday fun begins as early as Nov. 10 with the first Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, which will showcase the Castle Dream Lights. Disney park officials are currently checking in with Santa's elves to find out when they'll have everything else ready to meet and treat Walt Disney World guests. Specific information will be available at www.disneyworld.com/holidays or from vacation planners at 407/W-DISNEY.

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Disney Parks is encoring its 2007 "Year of a Million Dreams" in 2008 with more dreams, even bigger dreams, more dreams money can't buy, dreams only Disney can make come true. Among the over-the-top experiences for the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway being awarded to eligible lucky guests in the right place at the right time is a New Year's Eve night stay inside Cinderella Castle Suite. Talk about a dreamy way to usher in 2009!

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Top 7 Attractions I Wish Disney World had never Removed

Welcome to the latest edition of the Top 7. Today I will focus on my personal list of the attractions I wish Disney had never removed. I really love the fact that Disney tries to keep their parks fresh by bringing in new attractions but I am also really sad about some of the attractions they choose to change and remove. So, here is my list.

1. Horizons - Wow, I miss this ride. What I really loved about the old Epcot is it tried to teach you something without making it obvious. This was a very entertaining look into the possibilities for the future. It was a fun ride that you never had to wait for and I loved the fact that it let you pick your own ending.

2. World of Motion - same as above. I miss things about the old Epcot and this is one of those attractions that educated you and entertained you at the same time.

3. Mr Toads Wild Ride - what a fun crazy ride. After riding this in Disneyland a few months ago, I really remembered how much I missed this attraction. A classic dark ride that in my mind was replaced for marketing reasons. I realize Pooh is more marketable but it would have been great if both attractions could exist like they do in Disneyland.

4. 20,000 Leagues under the Sea - really miss the subs. Yes, the effects were a little cheesy but the attraction was a lot of fun and very entertaining. Same as above, my trip to Disneyland really made me remember how much I enjoyed this attraction.

5. Superstar Television - this was an original idea that I believe really worked. It was one of those attractions that helped give the Studios the feel that it was a real working studio (which it was at the time). One thing that upsets me about the Studios now is all of the attractions seem to be getting away from teaching us about making movies and TV.  I wish they had kept this and just updated it with newere shows to keep the spirit of the Studios alive.

6. The Timekeeper - I'm typically not a big fan of Circlevision but I really enjoyed this one. Robin Williams really added to this and I really miss this entertaining attraction at the Magic Kingdom.

7. ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter -a really freaky attraction that was replaced by a really dumb attraction. The scare factor really added to the entertainment here and it was a little scary for the young ones but Stitch is a little scary for everyone if you catch my drift.

That's it for this edition. Life has really made me busy lately so my posts have not been as frequent. I hope to change that soon.

Thanks for reading.

Touring Tips - Walt Disney World with children

We all look forward to our first Walt Disney World trip with our children. It can be a joyous time that we remember for the rest of our lives. However, inevitably there will be bumps in the road and it will not always come off as the perfect trip that we envision before we go.

Walt Disney World can be very overwhelming for kids. As we all know, there can be a lot of walking and a lot of hot weather which can also cause a great day to turn into a not so great day. So, for all first time parents going to Walt Disney World, I have developed some tips for your to follow to help your trip be the best trip it can be.

- wait until your child is at least 5 to take them. This one can be controversial but I find that to be a good age as their stamina is a little better, they are not taking naps anymore, and they can get on a lot of the attractions that a 3 year old may not be able to get on.

- get a stroller if your child can still fit in one. This is critical and can really avoid issues. On my last trip, I rented a double stroller and my eight year old even sat in it. It made the trip much more enjoyable and gave the kids the rest and break from the sun that they sorely needed. Renting at Disney can be expensive, so bring your own if you can, or buy a cheap stroller at Wal-Mart that you can dispose of once the trip is over. The key is that there is a cover to protect children from the sun.

- Stay on property – if it can be fit in your budget, stay on Disney property. This is great as you can easily take a mid-day break back to your hotel if your child becomes tired. I always work a mid-day break into my day if at all possible. It gives everyone time to recharge and prepare for the evening. Aside, from the convenience staying on property, the theming of the Disney resorts will really add to the enjoyment of your family vacation.

- Use a touring plan – make a plan before you go and it will increase your enjoyment substantially. Kids get very impatient waiting in line, and a touring plan is a great aid to help minimize this. As well, a touring plan can help make sure you maximize your time and make the best use of the day possible. I recommend the Unofficial Guide or checking out www.touringplans.com.

- Set aside a day for characters – kids will inevitably want to meet and have their pictures taken with the characters. Set aside one day to throw all touring plans aside and take your children around to the various character appearances fitting in attractions as you can in between. This will allow you to focus on touring on the other days to maximize the attractions. I would also strongly suggest you arrange for a character meal or two. My favorites are Chef Mickey’s and Tusker House.

- Work in water parks and pool visits – we all know kids love the water and it can provide a welcome relief from the Florida sun. For at least a few days on your trip, work in a trip back to the hotel for the kids to swim in the pool. It will allow them to cool down, have fun, and recharge for the evenings activities. As well, work in a day to go visit one of Disney’s great water parks, Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach. I guarantee this day will be one of your children’s favorite days. My children always look forward to the water park day and I often have issues limiting it to only one day.

- Preview the scarier rides with your children – I recommend going onto Youtube and searching for some of the potential scary rides and show them to your children. I realize it is not the same as being there, but it can give you some indication of how they may react once you get there. You can usually tell the scarier rides by their names (Snow White’s Scary Adventures, the Haunted Mansion, etc). The Unofficial Guide provides a great list. As well, the Relive the Magic set is a great way to preview rides.

- Bring a backpack with all the essentials – sunscreen, water, wipes, snacks, etc. This will save you money and allow you to instantly protect your child from the sun, clean them up or fufill their hunger or thirst.

- Develop a plan in case you get separated – crowds can get heavy at times and although we all try to avoid it, we do sometimes get separated from our children. Go over a plan such as approaching a cast member if you get separated, and also decide on a meeting point.

I’m sure there are many more tips that people have, but these are some of my key tips to help you enjoy your vacation with your children. Please manage our expectations when traveling with your children. They do not have the stamina you do and have different priorities when visiting Walt Disney World. Keep in mind, it is your child’s vacation as well as yours and as much as you would like things to go perfectly, there will always be bumps in the road.

Enjoy your vacation….

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground Gets a Facelift

An outdoor adventure that has been a favorite with Walt Disney World guests since 1971 is receiving some enhancements. As part of a resort-wide renovation project, on now, changes are coming or already in place across the 700 acres of Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground.

"Over the last 37 years, the average length of an RV has increased by 27 feet," says Fort Wilderness spokesperson Darcy Cormier. "Many feature 'slide outs' that mechanically extend from the sides of the vehicle."

To address the needs of today's larger vehicles, an intensive effort will widen and lengthen the concrete parking pads while maintaining privacy and tranquility provided by natural vegetation. A new "Premium" campsite will be available that features extra large concrete pads for larger vehicles -- also upgrades to existing amenities such as picnic tables and grills.

The main pool at Fort Wilderness will be enhanced with a themed water slide, hot tub and children's wet play area. The pool's deep end has been made shallower.

Nestled in the woodlands, the resort's 409 Wilderness Cabins feature brand-new furniture, carpeting, fixtures and linens -- plus a fresh coat of paint. Each spacious cabin features more than 500 square feet of air-conditioned living space as well as a private patio deck with a charcoal grill and picnic table. The master bedroom sleeps four with a full-sized bed and set of bunk beds, while the separate living room sleeps two with a full-sized pull-down bed. All cabins also feature vaulted ceilings, color cable television, DVD player, telephone and a spacious oval dining table. Daily housekeeping service is provided to all Wilderness Cabins.

"With all of the comforts of home, the Wilderness Cabins are perfect for guests who want to wind down in a tranquil, relaxing atmosphere after a fun-filled day at the theme parks," said Jean Gallagher, general manager of Fort Wilderness.

Fort Wilderness has always been the pet-friendly choice for guests to Walt Disney World Resort, and now dogs are getting a playground of their own at the newly opened Waggin' Trails Dog Park, an off-leash play area.

Of course there is plenty of recreation for humans, too, including horseback riding, fishing excursions, nature trail exploration, boat rentals, volleyball, tennis, bike rentals and the new Wilderness Back Trail Adventure, where guests can experience, first-hand, a Segway X2 Personal Transporter. Guests can unwind on a white sand beach, play a leisurely game of shuffleboard, take the little ones on a pony ride or enjoy an evening horse-drawn wagon ride around the resort.

Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground is located in the Magic Kingdom resort area on the banks of Bay Lake. Convenient boat transportation to Magic Kingdom and motorcoach transportation to all Walt Disney World destinations, including Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom, is provided.

Top 7 Table Service Restaurants at WDW

For this edition of the Top 7, I'll give you my Top 7 table service restaurants at WDW. Now, I have not been to every restaurant yet, especially most of the signature restaurants. Each trip, I try to get to a few new restaurants. For instance, this trip, I will be hitting Chefs de France and Coral Reef.

So, here are my Top 7.

1. Le Cellier- fantastic food and great service. I have always had a great time with the servers here chatting and they really make this experience enjoyable. I recommend the steak and maple creme brule for dessert. MMMM.

2. Yachtsman's Steakhouse - I'm a steak lover so this is a no brainer. The filet is fantastic.

3. Whispering Canyon Cafe - this place is a lot of fun. It's a bit noisy so if you are looking for a quiet meal, this is not the place. The kids will love it and the servers really add to this meal with their antics. I personally love getting the Canyon Skillet and sharing it.

4. Boma - a great buffet in a great hotel. I really enjoy all of the interesting flavors of Africa and love the fact you can try new things in small quantities. Some of my favorites are the Durban spiced chicken, sweet potato pancakes and the Zebra domes are one of the best desserts in WDW.

5. Crystal Palace - the buffet here is alway great. The character interaction is fun and the location can't be beat.

6. 'OHana - being a meat lover, this is of course is one of my favorites. Lots of food and a great time with the servers. It is a bit noisy but the food makes up for it.

7. Mama Melrose - this will probably surprise a lot of people but we have had great meal experiences here. We are not fancy eaters and the food has always been very good. Also, it is always fairly easy to get into and I like the location.

That's it. I welcome any suggestion you may have that I don't have on here.

Free Dining Announced for 2008

The moment we have all been waiting for. Details are below.

Magic Your Way Package FREE Dining Plan

A 5-night/6-day package includes: (longer and shorter stays are available)

• 5 nights at a select Disney Resort
• 6 Day Magic Your Way Base Ticket
• FREE Disney Dining Plan
• 3 night minimum length of stay - 14 night maximum
  
• Booking Dates:
  • 4/07/08 – 6/22/08 - Disney VISA Card Holders
  • 4/10/08 – 6/22/08 - Everyone
    
• Travel Dates: 8/24/08 – 9/20/08
  
• Prices start at:
  $57 per person, per day for family of 4 at select Value Resorts (std room)
  $73 per person, per day for family of 4 at select Moderate Resorts (std room)
  $104 per person, per day for family of 4 at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (studio)
  
• Booking Codes for Disney Visa:
  Magic Your Way Package plus Dining - CMK
  Magic Your Way Package plus Deluxe Dining - CMP
  Magic Your Way Package plus Dine with Wine - CMM
  Magic Your Way Package plus Deluxe Dining with Wine - CMS

• Booking Codes:
  Magic Your Way Package plus Dining - AYG
  Magic Your Way Package plus Deluxe Dining - AYI
  Magic Your Way Package plus Dine with Wine - AYH
  Magic Your Way Package plus Deluxe Dining with Wine - AYJ

*Offer available for stays most nights 8/24/08-9/20/08. Availability is limited and certain restrictions apply. Tickets are for one Theme Park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use.  No group rates or other discounts apply.