Adventures by Disney

ADVENTURES BY DISNEY

Are you starting to plan your summer vacation? Have a student graduating school or celebrating a milestone? So, you have been to Southern California and Disneyland on your own. This vacation needs to be a vacation with Adventures by Disney!
Your Adventure begins when you are picked up at the Los Angeles International Airport. You will board a private motor coach to the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel. There you will meet your fellow Adventurers! You will enjoy Hollywood Tour seeing landmarks, restaurants, shopping and entertainment centers you have seen in pictures and movies. After your first amazing day, you go back to the Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood for the Welcome Dinner.
Your second day is filled with several private tours you will remember for a lifetime! You will see The Jim Henson Company Lot Tour, where you will enjoy a privately guided VIP Tour of the historic studio. How about lunch at Tam O' Shanter? One of Walt Disney's favorite "hangouts" and one of Los Angeles' oldest restaurants. You will also tour the Walt Disney Studios. You will do all of your touring of "Old Hollywood" aboard an open-air vehicle.
On your third day, you will arrive at the Disneyland Resort. Where you will be staying at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa.
While you are at the Disneyland Resort, you will experience VIP Custom Tours of Disneyland Park. You will visit areas that are off limits to other park guests, learn the history of Walt Disney, see Walt Disney's personal apartment, reserved seating for the afternoon parade, and special Disney FASTPASS service.
At Disney's California Adventure, you will have a privately guided VIP experince. Your adventure begins before the park opens to regular guests. You will have a behind-the-scenes look at the workings of the park. You will also experience the World of Color at a VIP Viewing Area.
During your Adventure, you will enjoy Character Dining, Breakfast inside Disneyland Park, several lunches, Welcome Dinner and Farewell Dinner. You will have the services of two Adventure Guides, accommodations, luggage service, transportation within your adventure, VIP access, exclusive activities, special fun for the kids, and surprises along the way.
Let me help you plan your next adventure with an Adventures by Disney vacation for your family!

Disney's World of Color

I am so excited to share with you some exciting details about Disney's...

...the newest show to premier at Disney's California Adventure Park in California.

As a Special Guest, I was invited to view the show at the World Premier along with Disney celebrities and movie and television personalities.

From the official program I received on June 10th, I've detailed

World of Color - By the Numbers

26 – Minutes of length for the show
15 – Months to transform Paradise Bay
Almost 1,200 – Powerful and programmable fountains
Nearly 1 – Acre of engineered superstucture rises out of Paradise Bay
6 – Number of dome projection screens
120 yards – Length of Paradise Bay stage (longer than a football field!)
30 ft. to 200 ft. – Range of Fountain heights (Mickey's Fun Wheel is 150 ft. tall)
18,000 – Points of control on the underwater grid
50 ft. HIGH, 380 ft. wide, 19,000 sq. ft. in all – Size of one of the world's largest projected WATER SCREENS
79,241 – Approximate number of musical notes during the show
200+ – Musicians and vocalists who perform the music for the show
36 – Firing cannons of varying sizes
12 – Cannons mounted on swivels 50 – Animators from Disney and Pixar who created the elements of the show
9-24-1961 – The date Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color first aired on TV
100,000+ – Images are featured in World of Color ~ Can you see Dory?
8 – Decades of Classic Disney music and songs included in the show
28 – High-Definition projectors, 14 of them are submersible
5 – Months it took to program the show
6 – Techinal Directors it takes to run the show
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Disneyland Part 1

Disneyland

How it all began ~ Part 1

As I prepared to write this piece I took time to research the initial idea of Disneyland, the plans and preparation that took place before it's opening on July 17, 1955 and the plans and preparations that still take place causing the Disneyland Resort to be a magical vacation destination for millions of visitors each year. I look forward to sharing with you what I've learned in my research and my 15+ visits to Disneyland

'To all who come to this happy place, Welcome...'

-Walt Disney

(Welcome speech-Opening Day-July 17, 1955) 

Disneyland was originally created from an idea that Walt had while spending time with his daughters each Sunday. He would watch his girls whirling on a beautiful carousel at a local park and imagine a place where children and their parents could enjoy a safe, clean entertaining experience together. He considered creating an amusement park adjoining his studio in Burbank with a train running around on a track around the park, a river, and a little Western street. Research was the key to Walt's success. He spent a lot time visiting other amusement parks around the country to learn about them-what worked and what didn't. He spoke to children to ask them what they liked? Walt met with his designers. Ideas were discussed, plans were drawn up and soon Walt realized that the land near the studio was not large enough to contain all of the dreams had for a family amusement park. He knew he needed a major piece of land since his research had helped to decide that his park wasn't going to be tiny. It was going to be big! More research; freeways, population growth, temperature differences. Ten possible sites were considered, three were preferred. In 1954, more than 160 acres covered in orange groves, was purchased in the sleepy town of Anaheim, California.

Building Walt's dream, Disneyland, continued to grow.

To be continued...

The Magic Kingdom’s History

by Erin Santamaria
Erin@wdwtravels.com
toll free 877-377-0505


The Magic Kingdom - Everyone knows what it is. It’s THE theme park at Walt Disney World…the original park…the first one built. It’s “The Most Magical Place On Earth” for children and adults alike. But have you ever wondered about the history of the Magic Kingdom? If you’re anything like me, you would find it interesting to know some of the ins and outs of the park.

Walt Disney worked for many years on “The Florida Project”. Wanting to build a park bigger and better than Disneyland, he focused on how he could improve on its design. Building underground tunnels (utlidors) was the most important improvement to Disney. Unlike Disneyland, cast members could use the utilidors to walk freely and get around the park…unseen by the guests. Disney felt it ruined the “illusion” for guests to see such things as garbage collection, food delivery and costumed cast members cutting through the different lands of the park. Because of Florida’s high water table, the utilidors could not be built underground as planned(every hold dug filled with water). They had to be on ground level, forcing them to build the Magic Kingdom on the second story. That’s right, the Magic Kingdom is “upstairs”!

I have taken a tour of the Magic Kingdom where guests were allowed guided access to parts of these tunnels. Aside from food delivery and garbage collection, there are also many offices and cafeterias underground. You would be surprised to know just how much action is going on down there during the course of the day.

Sadly, Walt Disney did not live to see the completion of his project. He did not see the opening of the Magic Kingdom, as well as the Contemporary Resort and the Polynesian Resort (collective known as Walt Disney World), in 1971. With twenty-three attractions and six themed lands on opening day, the Magic Kingdom has more than doubled it attractions and now has 7 themed lands. Shaped like a bicycle wheel with the center right in front of Cinderella’s Castle, the pathways to these lands branch out like spokes across 107 acres.

To say there was much attention to detail in designing the Magic Kingdom would be the biggest understatement I could make. It’s amazing how truly different each and every land is from the other. It was Disney’s intention to take guests to another world upon entering each one.

Main Street USA was inspired by Walt Disney’s childhood and has an early 20th century America décor. Walking down Main Street is very symbolic to guests as this is the first glimpse many get of Cinderella’s Castle, which is at the very end of Main Street.

Adventureland is themed after the jungles of Asia, the Middle East, South America and the South Pacific. It is the home of Pirates of the Caribbean, many people’s favorite attraction in WDW.

Frontierland is very much like the Wild West. It’s home to cowboys, Indians, Goofy in a cowboy hat and spurs…
Liberty Square is meant to resemble colonial America. Here is where you’d find the very popular Haunted Mansion attraction, a replica of the Liberty Bell and Liberty Tree.

Being in Fantasyland is like being at a medieval carnival. The entrance to this land is through the castle. This is where the attractions are based on such Disney Classic movies as Snow White, Peter Pan and Dumbo (among many others). Fantasyland is a child’s dream come true (and mine, although I’m just a tiny bit older than a child). In late 2009, it was announced that Fantasyland will expand to include more Disney Princesses, Disney Fairies and a Dumbo area with a 3-ring circus. It’s expected to be finished by 2013 and I can’t WAIT!

Tomorrowland offers a peak into the future. This intergalactic land is home to Buzz Lightyear, Space Mountain and the Astro Orbitor.

At first, Mickey’s Toontown Fair was supposed to be temporary. However, it was so popular that it was made permanent Have you ever wondered where Mickey and Minnie live? You’ll find their houses here…but not for long. This area will soon be demolished to make room for the huge expansion in Fantasyland. Never fear, Mickey & Minnie won’t be homeless, they’ll just have a new Magic Kingdom address.

To give a complete description of the park, I’d have to write a book…maybe even several. If you’ve never been to the park, or haven’t in some time, it’s time for a visit! The Magic Kingdom is my favorite park. I spend at least 2 days there when visiting WDW…sometimes even 3. I’ve known people to visit Florida just for a weekend and only visit the Magic Kingdom. If you are interested, contact me for information on a truly magical experience. Once you’ve been, you will see just why the Magic Kingdom is the most visited theme park in the world.

History of Walter Elias Disney

Why is Disney so magical?  What makes us feel like we are wrapped up in inviting arms when we travel to Disney destinations?  The only way to answer these questions is to take a look at the history of Walt Disney the man.

Walt Disney was born in 1901 in the Midwest and moved to Kansas City with his parents as a child.  In the early 1920’s he began his first cartoon drawings called Laugh-O-Grams and eventually moved to California where he started up the Disney Bros Studio with brother Roy and married wife, Lillian.  In 1927 Walt had developed a character called Oswald the Rabbit, whose rights were later stolen from him by Charlie Mintz of Universal Pictures.

On the train home from the meeting in which he lost his signature Oswald Rabbit, Lillian helped him come up with Mickey Mouse… and a star was born! Walt went on to build a successful studio with Mickey Mouse, silly symphony and feature movies like Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.

In the early 1940’s Walt would take his girls out to play every Sunday and wondered why no one had created a place that both parents and kids could go to have fun together.  Only July 20th, 1955 his dream finally became a reality when Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California.  The opening day was featured on TV and brought quite a crowd.

Walt continued to make movies such as The Shaggy Dog, and in 1964 Mary Poppins.  He began to develop the well known Animatronics for The 1964 Worlds Fair also.  The prime attraction was The Carousel of Progress which documented American progress through the decades.  Today an updated version of the original is in Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World in Florida.

During the 1960’s Walt also bought up lots of land all over the nation, but his most important project was known as The Florida Project.  Under several names he bought up parcels of land in swampy central Florida in order to build a new theme park.  He didn’t want to make the same mistake with Disneyland and allow the outside world to infringe on his magical world, and so bought up enough land to isolate the theme park.

While developing his new Magic Kingdom in Florida and his Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, or EPCOT, Walt fell ill with lung cancer and died on December 15, 1966.

The company Walt had founded with brother Roy picked itself back up and opened Walt Disney World in 1971 with The Magic Kingdom.  Later they opened Epcot, but not as Walt had envisioned (an actual community people would live and work in), but rather as a theme park that focused on the Future and a World’s Fair theme, two things Walt loved very much.

Walt was dedicated to entertainment and as a Dad wanted somewhere to take his kids that everyone would enjoy.  His movies, animated shorts and theme parks showed his joy for life.  That joy has entered  our hearts and gives us that tingly fuzzy magical feeling we come to expect at Disney destinations.  Walt is truly an inspiration to enjoy life and  have fun!

Give a Day Get a Disney Day

By Angel Lanier
1-877-DIS-KNEE
angel@wdwtravels.com

I am very excited to share with you a new promotion from Disney!
Give a day. Get a Disney day.

Beginning January 1, 2010, you can volunteer at one of several official participating organizations and receive a certificate for a one-day FREE admission to a Walt Disney World or Disneyland Park! Children as young as 6 years old can participate. However, children ages 6-17 must be accompanied by an adult when volunteering. Volunteer opportunities are available in The United States, including Puerto Rico, and Canada. You must reside in either of these as well in order to sign up. You can receive 1 ticket per person for the year regardless of how many days you volunteer. But hurry, the tickets are limited, and could possibly run out before the deadline of December 15, 2010.

You can sign up online and select from a list of eligible volunteer opportunities with participating organizations. After you complete your volunteer activity, your service will be verified and you will receive email instructions to print vouchers that can be redeemed for your free ticket to a Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme park.

As with promotions in the past, if you already have a multi-day pass or annual pass, you can either receive Disney's Special FASTPASS cards for certain attractions for you and up to 5 additional members of your party, receive a collectible Ear Hat figurine with exclusive trading pins, or you can choose to donate your free ticket to a non-profit organization designated by Disney Parks. You can also upgrade your free ticket to another ticket type of greater value, like a multi-day pass or annual pass.

Most participants will receive their redeemable certificates within 2 weeks of completion of service. However, it is always a good idea to apply in advance. There are a few block-out dates as shown below:
• Walt Disney World Resort: March 29 - April 8 and July 4, 2010
• The Disneyland Resort: February 13-14, March 21, June 21-22, July 4, November 21, December 11-12, 2010.

There are many opportunities for you to serve your community. If you don’t find what you are looking for, expand your search to your closest big city. Donating blood is even an option for those over 16! Opportunities are limited for children, so hurry and volunteer today!

Disney's
Paradise Pier Hotel
a boardwalk-themed hotel at the Disneyland Resort

In the past 3 years my family and I have visited the Disneyland Resort 5 times and stayed at Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel during 4 of those visits. Originally I looked into staying at this 3rd hotel of the 'Hotels of the Disneyland Resort', due to the fact that my family and I were visiting the 'Happiest Place on Earth' on a budget and Disney's Paradise Pier offered room rates that were reasonable. Although there are many hotel choices outside the Disneyland Resort, we have been spoiled at each of the Disney hotels by the simple fact that we feel the 'Magic of Disney' even while we are away from the theme parks; Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure Park. We have definitely grown attached to that feeling!! When I visit the Disneyland Resort, I want that magical feeling every minute of my visit!!

During our 4 visits to Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel we have had the chance to experience much of what the hotel offers.

Here are a few points that we think are important:

Cost: As a 3-star hotel, Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel offers 481 reasonably priced rooms with many amenities.

Rooms: 5 Room choices are available: Standard View, Upper Level Theme Park View, Concierge Standard View, Concierge Theme Park View and 1 Bedroom Paradise Suite. Rooms sizes range from 360 sq. ft. to 740 sq. ft.

View from the rooms: When choosing a room with an Upper Level Theme Park View, you are assured an amazing site just outside your hotel room window.

Disney's California Adventure Park

Disney's Grand Californan Hotel

Proximity: The hotel is walking distance to Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure Park, Downtown

Disney and the Monorail, the Disneyland Hotel and Disney's California Adventure Park.

PCH Grill: The on-site restaurant, decorated in an Hawaii, beach-theme offers a character breakfast featuring Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Max and Lilo and Stitch.

Meals can also be ordered from their restaurant menu and are very reasonably priced.

Rooftop Pool and Waterslide: This is perfect place to cool off during those warm California summer days, or even October afternoons, and relax before returning to the parks for more fun, fireworks, Fantasmic, etc.

When planning your next trip to the Disneyland Resort, I hope you'll consider staying at

Disney's

PARADISE PIER HOTEL

Please contact me if you have any questions about this hotel, the other Hotels of the Disneyland Resort,

Disneyland or Disney's California Adventure Park.

Disneyland Halloween Time

Let me start of by saying Halloween has never been my holiday. I have no idea why, because I enjoy getting dressed up and I love candy, but nevertheless, I have never really liked Halloween. It’s not like I hate the holiday or have some sort of objection to it, I’m just not a big Halloween person. If I had to eliminate a holiday, Halloween would be the one I cut. Well, I guess I should say that until last year Halloween would have been the holiday I could have lived without. But last year everything changed. Last year I went to Halloween Time at Disneyland and my feelings about the holiday did a 180. I actually liked Halloween Time so much that this year, I made a return trip to Disneyland at Halloween.

So what’s so great about Halloween at Disneyland? Well for starters Disneyland is decorated for the holiday. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and Donald greet guests at the front entrance as pumpkins, and the pumpkin theme continues throughout the park with Jack-O-Lanterns everywhere, even on the lampposts. You can even visit Big Thunder Ranch Halloween Roundup to see pumpkins transformed into Jack-O-Lanterns. And just in case you haven’t gotten your fill of pumpkins, a giant Mickey Jack-O-Lantern sits at the beginning of Main Street, waiting for you to pose with him.


When guests Park Hop over to Disney’s California Adventure, the pumpkins and Jack-O-Lanterns stay but the main theme switches over to something much sweeter, Candy Corn. Candy corn has invaded every square inch of California Adventure, even the iconic CALIFORNIA letters have been turned into candy corn. There’s Candy Corn Acres, where guests can see the candy corn being grown and harvested. Who knows, you might even spot a character or two helping harvest all that candy corn.


Of course, a Disneyland Halloween is more than amazing decorations. Disneyland has also redone two rides for Halloween. Jack Skellington has transformed the Haunted Mansion into a Nightmare Before Christmas themed ride. New this year, Space Mountain has also been transformed into Ghost Galaxy. I don’t want to give away too much, but both attractions Halloween makeovers make them into completely different rides. I’m not a big Haunted Mansion fan, but I absolutely love what Jack Skellington has done with the place. My brother has never seen The Nightmare Before Christmas, but he still enjoyed the ride. And unbelievably, Ghost Galaxy is much scarier than Space Mountain, keep an eye out for ghosts, you never know when one might surprise you.

Also new to Halloween Time this year is a Halloween themed fireworks show called Halloween Screams. Halloween Screams differs from other Disneyland firework shows because Tinkerbell does not start it; instead Zero flies above Sleeping Beauty’s castle to start the show. Halloween Screams mixes fireworks, pyrotechnics, a large video screen, lighting, Disney villains and even ghost fireworks into one incredible show. The soundtrack is a combination of Disney songs like “Heffalumps and Woozles”, with new songs like “Happy, Happy, Happy Halloween” which is still stuck in my head, weeks later. This show is not to be missed. Although, parents with small or easily startled children should be aware that a very loud group scream a long concludes the Halloween Screams fireworks show.

A returning favorite to Disneyland’s Halloween Time is Mickey’s Trick or Treat Party. A separate ticketed event that takes place on select nights in California Adventure Park. Mickey’s Trick or Treat Party is my favorite Disney event, at either park regardless of the season. Everyone is allowed to dress up for the party, and seeing everyone in their costumes, including the Disney characters is awesome. Once inside, guests can go trick or treating at Treat Stops where candy is given out in very large quantities. My 5 year old cousin received more candy trick or treating here then she did trick or treating at home. Characters are out and ready to pose for pictures. In my experience villains, princesses, Pixar characters and the Fab Five are out for you to visit with. The Pacific Wharf area is transformed in Pirate’s Wharf, an entertainment area with games, crafts and characters. Hollywood Pictures Backlot has also been transformed into Hollywood Bat-lot and if you visit the Bat-lot be ready to join in the dance party! Another kid favorite is Mickey’s Hide and Go Treat Trails, in the Redwood Creek area; treat stations are also back here. The twice-nightly parade, Mickey’s Trick or Treat On the Street, features Disney characters dressed up for Halloween, and is part parade/part dance party. We all got up and danced and we were rewarded with yet more candy and even special pins for our efforts. Of course you can also ride the rides during Mickey’s Trick or treat party, we rode Tower of Terror multiple times and with the whole Halloween thing going on, it was definitely spookier.
There’s more than enough Halloween to keep even the most spirited little kid amused and just in case special treats and merchandise is available also. I came home with a Mickey Jack-O-Lantern coffee cup and two Mickey Jack-O-Lantern trick or treating buckets. And trust me, leaving there with just those were difficult. So from a reformed Halloween critic, come visit Disneyland during Halloween Time for some new rides and shows, great food, a chance to catch Minnie as a witch and even see some villains. Happy Halloween.

What will you Celebrate???

What will you Celebrate?

The Disneyland Resort is the perfect place to celebrate your birthday

~ No matter how old you are!

Just a couple of months before my 40th birthday, I decided that I wanted to celebrate my big day at my favorite place, Disneyland, and I am so glad that I did. The memories of My Disneyland Birthday Party will remain in my mind for many, many, many years to come.

After arriving at the Plaza Inn on Main Street, my family and I were escorted to our table. Several other families and groups were seated around the outdoor area too. All of us where there to share in the group birthday celebration. At our table, we found for each of us, a party hat, a souvenir birthday cup filled with lemonade and a Mickey shaped plate with a plain, circle-shaped yellow cake in the large circle, 3 colors of frosting in one of the 'ears' and Mickey-shaped sprinkles in the other 'ear'.

Soon we were introduced to Pat E. Cake, our host for the party. He explained that we were each to decorate our own cakes as we competed to create the perfect 'mouse-ter piece'.
One of the 'mouse-ter pieces' would be chosen as the 'Winner'.

The entire time we were decorating our cakes, Pat E. Cake strolled around the party singing clever songs, he spoke kindly to the birthday guests, families and friends, making each of us feel special in the group birthday party. His presence at the party created that special 'Disney Magic' that can only be found at a Disney park.

After much thought I frosted my cake carefully and added sprinkles to just the right places in hopes that my uniquely decorated cake would be selected as the 'Winner'.

Of course, each guest was a winner and we were each awarded
A Birthday Mouse-ter Piece Ribbon.
I wore my ribbon proudly!

We all enjoyed eating our delicious 'Mouse-ter Piece and then were surprised by a special guest appearance by Mickey and Minnie! All the birthday girls and boys were asked to stand with Mickey and Minnie while the other guests sang 'Happy Birthday' to us.
Then we each got our picture taken with Mickey and Minnie!

My 40th birthday party at the Disneyland Resort was a great experience!
My children have asked if they can celebrate their birthday at Disneyland ~ they are 9 and 12 years old.
I had to wait until I was 40 to celebrate mine. Hmm, we'll have to see! He He!

Seating for 'My Disneyland Birthday Party' happens daily,
reservations are required and there is a small fee.

Contact me and I will be happy to help you arrange a magical vacation to the Disneyland Resort, including a memorable birthday celebration at the place Walt Disney called

'The Happiest Place On Earth'.