Toy Story Mania! Sneak Preview

I just received my Spring 2008 copy of Mickey Monitor, which features a sneak preview of Toy Story Mania!, the new attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios that is scheduled to open in the summer of 2008. Inspired by Disney-Pixar's immensely popular Toy Story movies, Toy Story Mania! will provide a combination of "colorful, ride-through excitement, 3-D technology and full-on competition!" Riders will take a unique journey through a "Midway Games playset" and stop at various carnival booths along the way where they will use their "spring-action shooter to launch virtual darts at balloons, rings at aliens and eggs at barnyard targets," states Walt Disney Imagineering Show Producer Chrissie Allen in the Mickey Monitor. To learn more about Toy Story Mania, visit toystorymania.com.

Toy Story Mania! Sneak Preview Video

Last Chance for Disney Stars and Motor Cars

The Orlando Sentinel gave a heads up today for those wishing to check out the Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade. It will be replaced soon, even as early as next month, by the Block Party Bash. Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade features characters from some of Disney's best-loved animated films such as Toy Story, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Lilo & Stitch, Ratatouille and much more.

For more information about discount tickets for Disney's Hollywood Studios, visit Orlando-Florida.net.

Blast from the Past: Disney World 1971

Julie Andrews sings "When You Wish Upon a Star" during the Grand Opening Special for Walt Disney World, October 1971.

Spend a Magical Night in Cinderella Castle!

A select few Disney World guests will be lucky enough to spend the night at the Cinderella Castle Suite at Disney's Magic Kingdom as part of Disney's "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration.

The Cinderella Castle Suite features three exquisitely decorated rooms: The Royal Bedchamber, Royal Bath and Royal Salon. The Royal Bedchamber boasts two queen-size beds with custom-designed mahogany headboards. Check out the Cinderella Castle Suite video below . . .

Disney World Year of a Million Dreams Video

Here is a Year of a Million Dreams video I have never seen before that covers both Disney World and Disneyland. Enjoy!

Top 10 Disney World Day Trips

While Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando are all essential ingredients for any family’s Orlando itinerary, you will definitely want to take at least a day trip during your vacation to escape from all the crowds, hectic pace and total madness of these world-class theme parks. Fortunately, Orlando lies within an hour or so of a variety of diverse attractions where you can spend an afternoon far from the madding crowd. The following list features 10 of the best Orlando day trips:



1. Busch Gardens Africa: Sure Busch Gardens in Tampa is another theme park but it draws fewer visitors (4.3 million in 2006) than Disney World, Universal Orlando or SeaWorld Orlando. In addition, Busch Gardens features some eclectic thrill rides and attractions such as SheiKra, Florida’s first dive coaster, which boasts two 90º drops at 70 miles per hour.

2. Cypress Gardens Adventure Park: Opened in 1936 as Florida’s first theme park, Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven still features its beautiful botanical gardens and spectacular water-ski shows, but has added thrill rides, live concerts and the Splash Island Water Park over the past few years.

3. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex: Just 45 minutes East of Orlando, the Kennedy Space Center gives you and your family the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore the incredible history of American space flight and view rockets and exhibits, tour launch areas, watch a 3-D space movie at an IMAX theater and much more.

4. Silver Springs: Billed as “ Florida’s Original Theme Park,” Silver Springs lies near Ocala and boasts colorful botanical gardens, animal habitats, live shows, rides, specialty shops and the world-famous glass bottom boat rides.

5. Florida Aquarium: Opened in 1995, the Florida Aquarium in Tampa is home to more than 10,000 aquatic animals and plants from all over the world such as alligators, tropical fish, sharks, stingrays and sea turtles, as well as interactive exhibits.

6. Lowry Park Zoo: Approximately 1,600 animals can be viewed in their natural habitats at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, which also features a Florida wildlife center, aviary, petting zoo, live shows and more.

7. Canaveral National Seashore: One of just 10 National Seashores in the United States, Canaveral National Seashore is the longest stretch of undeveloped beach along Florida’s East Coast. Popular activities here include sunbathing, swimming, surf fishing, surfing and hiking.

8. Central Florida Zoological Park: Just a short drive up Interstate 4 in Sanford lies the Central Florida Zoological Park, which is home to hundreds of animals, including alligators, cheetahs, leopards, elephants and monkeys.

9. Daytona USA: Adjacent to the Daytona International Speedway, Daytona USA features racing exhibits, motion simulator rides, the World Center of Racing Visitors Center and behind-the-scenes tours of the speedway.

10. Salvador Dali Museum: Nestled in downtown St. Petersburg, the Salvador Dali Museum boasts the most comprehensive collection of permanent works by famous surrealist painter Salvador Dali.

Disney World Thrill Ride Guide

One of the most popular and newest Orlando-area thrill rides, Expedition Everest, can be found in Asia at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Expedition Everest, which towers nearly 200 feet high, is a thrilling train adventure through icy canyons and mountain caverns toward a terrifying encounter with the ferocious Yeti or abominable snowman. You must be at least 44 inches tall to ride Expedition Everest.

At Disney-MGM Studios, thrill seekers have their choice of Rock ‘n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, a classic indoor roller coaster that features classic songs from the legendary rock group; and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, which features a scary, 13-story plummet aboard a faulty elevator within a decrepit, 199-foot-tall Hollywood hotel. You must be at least 48 inches tall to ride Rock ‘n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith and 40 inches tall to ride The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

Epcot is home to Mission: SPACE, which opened in 2003 and takes you on a simulated space flight to Mars (complete with motion sickness bags) at the “ International Space Training Center.” Each member of the four-person crew is assigned a specific role – pilot, commander, navigator and engineer. Adjacent to Mission: SPACE lies Test Track, a six-passenger vehicle that cruises onto 50-degree banked curves at speeds up to 65 miles per hour. You must be at least 44 inches tall to ride Mission: SPACE and 40 inches tall to ride Test Track.

Space Mountain, the original thrill ride at Walt Disney World, still draws huge crowds in Tomorrowland. Two roller coaster tracks wind their way through the 183-foot mountain at speeds of 28 miles per hour in total darkness. You must be at least 44 inches tall to ride Space Mountain.Two other classic thrill rides at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, lie within Frontierland. Splash Mountain takes you on a wild flume ride as you visit characters such as Brer Rabbit, Brer Bear and Brer Fox from Disney’s 1946 classic, Song of the South. However, the real highlight of Splash Mountain is the five-story free fall at a 45-degree angle into the splash pool below at 40 miles per hour. Adjacent to Splash Mountain lies Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, a “runaway train” that winds its way through an Old West mining town around mountains, through caves and over sulfur pools. You must be at least 40 inches tall to ride both Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Splash Mountain Video

Epcot's National Treasures

I'm looking forward to visiting the new National Treaures exhibit inside The American Adventure at the U.S.A. Pavilion in Epcot. Apparently, the exhibit contains some of Abraham Lincoln's personal effects such as one of his stovepipe hats, the book of Lord Byron poetry that inspired his Second Inaugural Address and his dressing room mirror "where he probably took his last glimpse of himself before he went off to Ford's Theatre," according to the press release. Other artifacts at the National Treasures exhibit include George Washington Carver's microscope, the Purple Heart awarded to Japanese-American World War 2 hero Sen. Daniel Inouye and the flight vest of Native American Commander John Herrington, as well as several of Thomas Edison's original inventions. The fascinating collection of artifacts at the National Treasures exhibit will be continually changing, so you will never know what to expect during each of your Epcot visits.

New Disney World Eateries to Open in 2008

Several new Disney World restaurants are on schedule to open in 2008. In fact, Landry's Restaurant just opened the new Yak & Yeti Restaurant at Disney's Animal Kingdom (which received a scathing review from Scott Joseph in the Orlando Sentinel today: Yak & Yeti: It's Not Just Bad, It's Insultingly Bad. Sounds great! Also, T-Rex: A Prehistoric Family Adventure is scheduled to open in Downtown Disney (near the McDonald's) later this year. At Epcot, Nine Dragons in the China Pavilion will closed in early 2008 to make room for a new, as yet unnamed dining experience to open in the fall of 2008. The Wave is a new restaurant scheduled to open at Disney's Contemporary Resort in the spring of 2008. Finally, Tutto Italia Ristorante ("Everything Italy") will open at the Italy Pavilion later this year.

How to Save Up to $1,000 at Disney World

Here are some tips I've compiled over the years that have helped some of my friends and family save up to $1,000 on a week's vacation at Disney World:

Plan Ahead
Don't just wing it! Research the destination thoroughly before you arrive and sketch out your Disney World itinerary. Don't make it too rigid (you'll want to leave some room for spontaneity). Check out comprehensive online vacation guides to Orlando and Disney World such as Orlando-Florida.net, which provides detailed information on Walt Disney World Resort such as theme park attractions, live entertainment, restaurants, resorts and specialty shops, as well as great deals on discount theme park tickets, hotels and vacation packages.

Travel During the Off-Season
Avoid the crowds! Walt Disney World theme parks are most crowded during Spring Break, from mid-June to mid-August, Easter weekend, Thanksgiving week, the week before Christmas through New Year's Day and on three-day holiday weekends such as Memorial Day and Labor Day. Value season typically runs from after Labor Day weekend through the end of September, the week after Thanksgiving until a week before Christmas and after New Year's Day until just before Presidents' week in February. For an added bonus, schedule your vacation around one of Disney's immensely popular annual events and festivals, many of which are included with the price of admission such as the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, ABC Super Soap Weekend, Holidays Around the World, Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival and Star Wars Weekends.

Seek Out Budget Accommodations
Believe it or not, you can still stay on Disney property without spending a fortune by booking a reservation at one of Disney's budget all-star resorts - Disney's All-Star Movies Resort, Disney's All-Star Music Resort and Disney's All-Star Sports Resort - all of which provide complimentary scheduled transportation to Disney World theme parks, as well as Downtown Disney. However, you will enjoy even more savings if you opt to stay off Disney property at one of the numerous budget motels and hotels that lie near the main entrance to Disney World along Highway 192 in Kissimmee or along world-famous International Drive. Before you book your reservation, check to see if the motel or hotel offers a complimentary continental or full breakfast each morning for guests. If you have a large family or are planning a family reunion, look into renting a vacation home - many of which offer private backyard pools, enclosed garages and washer/dryers.

Take Advantage of Complimentary Transportation
All Disney World resorts provide complimentary scheduled transportation to Disney theme parks and many area hotels, motels and resorts also offer free scheduled shutttle service to Disney World, as well as Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando. If you are staying at a Disney resort, enjoy free shuttle service to and from the Orlando International Airport aboard Disney's Magical Express (reservations are required).

Purchase Multi-Day Tickets
Believe it or not, a one-day, one-park ticket to Disney World is currently $71 plus tax! Fortunately, there are more Disney World multi-day ticket options than ever before. Look into Disney "Park Hopper" tickets, which allow you to come and go as you please throughout any of the four Disney World theme parks: Disney's Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Choose the appropriate Disney ticket deal based on your family's length of stay in Orlando and remember not to overdo it - you should definitely schedule time for rest and relaxation during your Disney vacation. Most importantly, do not purchase your Disney World tickets at the gate - seek out the best online deals for discount Disney World tickets before you arrive to the theme park.

Eat Out Wisely
If you plan to eat at one of the Disney World theme parks, make lunch your big meal of the day when prices are significantly lower than for dinner (especially at Epcot's World Showcase). Also, don't forget to bring along some water bottles and small snacks for the kids. In addition, you don't have to spend a fortune at one of the Disney Character Breakfasts for autographs and photo opportunities - just take your kids to one of the free character meet and greet areas throughout all of the Disney World theme parks such as Town Square at Disney's Magic Kingdom or Camp Minnie-Mickey at Disney's Animal Kingdom. If you have a large family, check out one of the many budget, all-you-can-eat buffets that lie just outside Disney property on Highway 192 and along International Drive. Also, pick up a copy of free publications such as I Love Orlando magazine, which contain discount coupons for Orlando restaurants. Finally, many motels and hotels with onsite restaurants offer "Kids Eat Free" deals (one child eats per paying adult).

Set a Budget for Souvenirs
Establish a budget for Disney souvenirs and, most importantly, stick to your budget! Check out some of the area factory outlet stores such as Orlando Premium Outlets for Disney merchandise at substantially lower prices. In addition, purchase such necessities as film and sunscreen before you arrive at the theme parks, since prices at Disney are more expensive for those items.

Take a Break from the Theme Parks
Plan some time to take occasional breaks from the Disney theme parks and you can unwind and save money in the process. Check out some of the free things to do at Disney World such as strolling around Disney’s Boardwalk and Downtown Disney, both of which offer theme restaurants and specialty shops. If you really want to get away far from the madding crowd, consider a hike through the scenic, 12,000-acre Disney Wilderness Preserve, which is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM. The entrance fee is just $3 for adults and $2 for ages 6-17.

Enjoy Membership Discounts
If you are an AAA or AARP member, make sure to take advantage of any special rates or discounts that are available during your Disney World vacation at hotels, restaurants and Orlando area attractions. Also, if you are a Florida resident, check with Disney World about any available discounts.

Book Your Disney Vacation Online
The best way to enjoy significant savings on your next Disney World vacation is to seek out the best online deals for discount Disney World tickets, budget accommodations on or off Disney property and individually tailored Disney vacation packages. Several leading online vacation providers such as HotelsCorp.com serve as comprehensive "one-stop" resources for incredible deals on Disney tickets, hotels and vacation packages.