Imagineer previews the “Up”-inspired Wilderness Explorers experience headed to Walt Disney World this summer

Imagineer previews the “Up”-inspired Wilderness Explorers experience headed to Walt Disney World this summer

Set to debut within the next few weeks, the Wilderness Explorers experience is coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, inviting guests to experience the park in engaging and challenging ways. After taking the official pledge, guests explore the park at their leisure armed with field guides, earning sticker badges along the way as they complete challenges, all inspired by Disney/Pixar’s film “Up.”

The Wilderness Explorers experience is aimed at ages 7-10, but kids of all ages can participate, offering a chance to get up close with animal within the park, included with admission. The goal is to deepen the understanding of animals and the natural world.

More than 30 badges will be available to earn throughout the park’s Discovery Island, Asia, Dinoland U.S.A., Africa, and Rafiki’s Planet Watch, as shown on the map below.

Explaining more about the what the Wilderness Explorers is and how it will work in the video below is the experience’s field art director, Imagineer Alex Wright.


Wilderness Explorers preview with Imagineer Alex Wright (and cast member Colleen)


Colleen is seen here dressed in the official costume for the new experience, featuring the “WE” logo that guests will need to keep an eye out for in the park to identify opportunities to earn badges.

Unlike the Wilderness Explorer Camp in the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail at the Disney California Adventure Park, which features “Up” characters Russell and Dug, the Wilderness Explorers at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is not a character experience, instead simply offering a chance for guests to take a closer look at their surroundings while exploring the theme park.

No specific debut date has been announced yet for the Wilderness Explorers experience, but it is said to be open in time for summer.


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Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress completes $54 million renovation drawing Walt Disney World travelers with close-by amenities

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress completes $54 million renovation drawing Walt Disney World travelers with close-by amenities

The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress can easily be seen towering nearby Downtown Disney, but many Walt Disney World visitors don’t even realize this decades-old hotel is even there. Tucked away from the hustle of Walt Disney World, the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress now offers Orlando visitors a chance to stay close by all the theme park excitement while enjoying newly-upgraded rooms, amenities, and activities.

Located only one mile from Walt Disney World the 1,500 acre Grand Cypress resort features sprawling golf courses and a surprisingly large amount of greenery, preserved from being taken over by nearby strip malls. And within the grounds sits the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, having just wrapped up a $54 million renovation.

From upscale, but reasonably priced rooms with contemporary decor to elaborate new poolside experiences to a variety of dining opportunities, the whole hotel is just begging for a visit.

At its recent grand re-opening, hotel staff showed off their many upgrades, presenting a nice escape from the colorful, character-filled adventures of Walt Disney World into a more relaxed, serene, and modern environment, from the updated grand foyer to the exceptional balcony views from every room.

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Orlando

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Orlando

Rooms are equipped with modern technologies, like flat screen TVs, rain showers, and RFID locks along with comfortable bedding and furniture.

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Orlando

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Orlando

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Orlando

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Orlando


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Turner Classic Movies to set sail aboard newly-updated Disney Magic ship for third TCM Classic Cruise with celebrity guests

Turner Classic Movies to set sail aboard newly-updated Disney Magic ship for third TCM Classic Cruise with celebrity guests

Just two months after the Disney Magic cruise ship returns to the waters with extensive upgrades and enhancements, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is preparing to hit the high seas once again for the third TCM Classic Cruise.

From Dec. 8-13, 2013, the cruise will take place aboard Disney Cruise Line’s first ship, leaving from Miami with stops in Nassau and Castaway Cay.

TCM host Robert Osborne announced the news about TCM’s upcoming cruise during his closing remarks for the 2013 TCM Classic Film Festival, which welcomed 25,000 of movie fans from all 50 states and other countries for four days of screenings, guest appearances, panel discussions and much more.

“This past January, we had a wonderful time on our second TCM Classic Cruise, which featured special guests Debbie Reynolds, Mickey Rooney, Arlene Dahl, Sally Ann Howes and Norman Lloyd, along with the hilarious Rich Little and game show host Alex Trebek,” Osborne told the crowd just before the closing-night screening of Buster Keaton’s silent comedy classic The General (1926). “We chose the Disney Magic for our next cruise because of its state-of-the-art theater and other remarkable, newly renovated facilities. TCM fans should start making plans to join us for what it certain to be the trip of a lifetime.”
 
Along with Osborne, TCM host Ben Mankiewicz will also be on board the special cruise along with many yet-to-be-revealed special celebrity guests.


Video: A look back at the second TCM Classic Cruise from January 2013

Mickey Rooney

Alex Trebek

TCM Classic Cruise, January 2013


TCM hosts and Hollywood legends will be featured in panel discussions and Q&A sessions along with film screenings, music, dancing and classic movie trivia contests.

Prices per person start at $647 up to $2,145, depending on the room type and occupancy, and include access to all screenings, presentations, activities and entertainment in addition to the amenities of the Disney Magic.

Tickets will go on sale to the public on Monday, June 3, 2013. More information can be found at TCMCruise.com.


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Universal Orlando ‘Backstage to Onstage’ exhibit summer update includes schedule of fireworks, stunts, other demonstrations

Universal Orlando ‘Backstage to Onstage’ exhibit summer update includes schedule of fireworks, stunts, other demonstrations

The year-long Orange County Regional History Center exhibit called “A Year in the Life: Backstage to Onstage at Universal Orlando Resort” has been updated for the summer season with new props, costumes, and interactive features along with a schedule of unique demonstrations.

Replacing the Mardi Gras area now that Universal’s celebration of that festive holiday is over is an area devoted to Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular lagoon show and Superstar Parade. Included are a screen that mimics the water screen at the lagoon show with movie clips projected onto it, a “fireworks” panel allowing visitors to press buttons to set off a light show projected on the ceiling, a chance to do the “Hop” dance from the parade Dance Dance Revolution-style and more.

A bit of theme park magic is also shared at the History Center as classic classic Universal movie posters come to life via Universal’s free augmented reality app called Universal ScreenPlay.


Video: Universal Orlando exhibit tour - A Year in the Life: Backstage to Onstage


Coming up throughout June and July is a series of special programs put on by Universal, included with admission to the History Center:

Saturday, June 8 - Universal Orlando Drumming Demonstration with Show Directors Richard Cravens and Lora Wallace

Saturday, June 22 - Universal Orlando Pyrotechnics and Special Effects Q&A with Pyrotechnics and Special Effects Manager Brad Ritti

Saturday July 13 - Universal Orlando Lighting and Water Technology Q&A with Lighting Manager Tony Humphry

Saturday, July 27 - Universal Orlando Stunt Demonstration with Manager of Entertainment, Environmental Health, and Safety Mike Mergenthaler and Creative Manager Rick Spencer

Each of these sessions will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The “Backstage to Onstage” exhibit will be updated two more times before it ends its run on January 26, 2014, once for Halloween Horror Nights in the fall and again for Christmas time in winter.


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Backstage with “Mickey and the Magical Map” costuming and music as Disneyland prepares new stage show

Backstage with “Mickey and the Magical Map” costuming and music as Disneyland prepares new stage show

This week Disneyland will debut the newest stage show to hit the Fantasyland Theatre featuring Mickey Mouse and a cast of beloved Disney characters. It’s called “Mickey and the Magical Map” and it will take guests on a series of musical adventures through the magical powers of a sorcerer Yen Sid’s map when it debuts on May 25.

“Mickey and the Magical Map” presents Mickey in his timeless role as the sorcerer’s apprentice as Yen Sid directs his Mapmakers, a singing-dancing ensemble cast that paints a giant map on stage, serving as the show’s backdrop.

In addition to featuring songs from “The Jungle Book,” “Pocahontas,” “Mulan,” “Tangled,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “The Little Mermaid,” and “Lilo and Stitch,” the show adds an original song, “Journey of the Imagination.”

“Mickey and the Magical Map” is produced by Ray Coble with music produced by Bruce Healey, supervised and arranged by Timothy Williams and supervised by Matt Walker.

A few weeks ago, we offered a first look at the newly redesigned Fantasyland Theatre and a preview of “Mickey and the Magical Map.”

Now, in the first video below, Coble offers a behind-the-scenes look at the recording of the orchestral music featured in the show as well as a trip backstage as Disneyland assembles the Mapmakers’ costumes and brings it all together through a rehearsal performance of ““I Wan’na Be Like You” featuring King Louie. Then see a few clips from an on-stage dress rehearsal leading up to this week’s official debut.


Video: Making-of “Mickey and the Magical Map”


Video: “Mickey and the Magical Map” dress rehearsal preview


“Each new show we create is a chance to push storytelling in a new direction,” said Michael Jung, Theatrical Development Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment. “At Disney, we love the challenge of continuously looking at our classic tales and most recent stories to see how we can bring live entertainment and excitement to today’s audiences.”

Fantasyland Theatre, a classic Disneyland venue, was inspired by the original Fantasyland Theater (former spelling) which showed Disney cartoons and Mouseketeer footage from 1955 to 1964. The current theatre debuted in 1985 as Videopolis, a dance location, which quickly drew crowds for stage productions including “One Man’s Dream,” “Dick Tracy Starring in Diamond Double Cross,” “Mickey’s Nutcracker,” and one of Disney’s first stage productions of “Beauty and the Beast.”

In 1995, the venue was renamed Fantasyland Theatre with the debut of “The Spirit of Pocahontas.” “Animazement – The Musical” enjoyed a popular three-year run and “Snow White—An Enchanting Musical” played for two years. The theatre was then converted to an area where guests could meet Disney Princesses.

Come back to Inside the Magic this Thursday, May 23 for a first look at the debut of “Mickey and the Magical Map” in a special preview performance.


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