New Resort in Hawaii - Major Work Completed

Great news for Disney Fans that live in Hawaii (and for all those who will go to visit the resort over there)!

Disney has just announced that they've completed a big part of the work on the hotel's structures. Take a look at this fresh press release, which contains more info, along with great images from the hotel's location:

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It's "Time to Add the Magic!", at the New Disney Hawaii Resort KO OLINA, Hawai'i, April 21, 2011 – Today, in a ceremony on the lagoon fronting the site of Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai'i, local crew members from Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, Inc., joined with Disney cast members (employees) to celebrate the completion of major structural work on the Disney resort and the beginning of Disney’s “time to add the magic.”

 

 The event was a symbolic representation of the shared efforts of Disney and Hawaiian Dredging in building the new resort, which will welcome its first guests on Aug. 29, 2011. The construction crew and Aulani Disney team met on the beach to exchange gifts – lei from the construction workers to the Disney cast, and Mickey Mouse ears from the Disney cast to the construction workers. As part of the milestone moment, Hawaiian Dredging “handed over the keys” to the people who will add final detailing, theming, landscaping and all the other magical touches guests expect to find at a Disney resort. 

Djuan Rivers, vice president of Disney Vacation Club and Resort, Hawai'i, joined with Eric Hashizume, vice president of Hawaiian Dredging and Elliot Mills, managing director of Aulani, to bring the construction workers and Disney team members together to begin “adding the magic” to Aulani. They gathered on the sand to form the image of the trademark Aulani arch and then transformed it into the familiar silhouette of Mickey Mouse. Mickey, Minnie and their Disney character pals joined in the celebration.

As Walt Disney Imagineers continue adding the magic to Aulani, they are weaving Hawaiian stories into the buildings, interiors, art and gardens of the resort with the help of local architects, artisans and historians. The celebrated Disney magic, storytelling and service will create wonderful family vacation memories at the resort, drawing on the beauty, fun, enchantment and traditions of the islands.

Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa

Built on 21 acres adjacent to a crystal blue lagoon and a white-sand beach in Ko Olina, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, will feature 359 hotel rooms and 481 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club villas upon its completion. Rooms are housed in two 15-story towers with commanding views of the ocean, mountains and magnificent grounds. On-site are two restaurants, an 18,000-square-foot spa, a wedding lawn, a conference center and extensive water activities, including a central swimming pool, 900-foot tube floating watercourse, wading pool, body slides, sunset-facing hot tubs, a quiet adult pool, a snorkel lagoon, and a conservation pool. Aulani will also include a signature kids’ club – Aunty’s Beach House – where kids can explore Hawaiian culture through fun and games, arts and crafts, and many other experiences created just for them.

The resort will also offer excursions that invite families to discover the island of Oahu. Guests can enjoy one-of-a-kind adventures that blend the wonders and excitement of Hawaii with the Disney tradition of storytelling, choosing from a variety of experiences that include surfing, rainforest hiking and learning how to prepare Hawaiian cuisine.

Reservations for Aulani are now open. Guests may visit www.disneyaulani.com or call (866) 44-DISNEY.

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This is certainly a great news. I would love to be able to visit this spectacular hotel, but it's very far from Florida, so unfortunately, it looks like we'll have to just see the resort from the pictures that the Walt Disney Company will provide us... Anyway, is anybody planning on going there, once it will open?

New Disney Cruise Ports for 2012 unveiled

Yesterday, the Disney Parks Blog has made a major announcement about the new ports of call that will be added to the Disney Cruise Line in 2012! Read more about this news:

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New 2012 Disney Cruise Line Itineraries and Ports Unveiled

Hello from New York!

What are Captain Mickey Mouse and I doing in the Big Apple? Well, we just announced our itinerary line-up for 2012 and (drum roll, please) it includes three new homeports – New York, Seattle and Galveston! Do we have any Disney Cruise Line fans from those areas? Now, a Disney cruise is even more convenient for you, as you can depart for your dream vacation from your backyard.

From New York…

Beginning May 25, 2012, the Disney Magic will sail 20 cruises from New York – with three unique and

varied itineraries.

• Eight-night Bahamas cruises that include a day at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay; Nassau, Bahamas; and a stop at Port Canaveral, Florida, giving guests an opportunity to visit the nearby Walt Disney World Resort. As part of this itinerary, you’ll receive a one-day Walt Disney World Park Hopper ticket and roundtrip transportation between the port and resort.
• Five-night cruises up the New England coast that will call at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Saint John, New Brunswick. In these popular Canadian ports, you can soak in splendid natural vistas, explore historic sites, visit quaint cafés and charming shops and browse Canada’s oldest farmer’s market.
• Three two-night cruises (June 15, July 13 and August 10) that are perfect for families looking for a quick getaway and a sampling of the Disney Cruise Line experience with a day at sea over a weekend.

From Seattle…

Beginning May 28, 2012, the Disney Wonder will sail another season of Alaskan cruises including

seven-night voyages from the Port of Seattle to Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska, as well as Victoria, British Columbia.

These cruises will combine the natural wonder and adventurous spirit of Alaska with the unparalleled, family-friendly experience found on a Disney Cruise Line ship. We work closely with Alaskan tour operators to create exclusive Port Adventures that allow you to enjoy Alaska’s natural beauty, rich history and abundant wildlife.

From Galveston…

Beginning September 22, 2012, the Disney Magic will sail seven-night cruises from Galveston to the Western Caribbean. Ports of call include Grand Cayman and Mexico’s Costa Maya and Cozumel.

On this cruise, your family can enjoy a tropical getaway with world-class entertainment and impeccable guest service found only on a Disney Cruise Line vacation. You’ll have three magical days at sea to explore all of the fun aboard the Disney Magic and three days in port to lounge on warm, golden beaches, to swim and snorkel in azure waters or to shop to your heart’s content in exotic marketplaces.

If you want to secure your spot on one of these exciting new itineraries, bookings for 2012 open April 8, 2011, on disneycruise.com or by calling Disney Cruise Line at (888) DCL-2500.

We hope to see you onboard in 2012! Which itinerary are you most excited for?

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It is really great to see how Disney is finally able to expand its Cruise Line, in these last years! Two brand-new ships, new ports of call, new additions to the existing ships... All these things really make the Disney Cruise Line even better (even though the price may still seem inaccessible to most people) than ever. More info are coming later, with a specific look at each of these new ports.

New Disney Area for Children in the Florida Hospital

Walt Disney World has recently opened a new pavilion for children at the Florida Hospital. Read more about this great project, that aims to let children make their sickness a bit less frightening for them:

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'A Sanctuary of Healing, a Beacon of Hope'

The Walt Disney Company President and CEO Bob Iger offered a message of hope, comfort and thanks during the dedication of the new Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children in Orlando March 30.

Songs, confetti and inspirational stories also highlighted the celebration for the new seven-story pediatric care building that was made possible in part by a $10 million commitment by the Walt Disney World Resort and Disney Worldwide Outreach. Included in that gift was the creation of a unique family-friendly lobby designed by Walt Disney Imagineers.

Speaking before a large group of doctors, nurses, employees, family members and young, now-healthy patients on the lawn outside the hospital, Bob said Disney was proud to be part of "such a wonderful place of healing and hope."

He described the significance of our company's involvement in the hospital and the Central Florida community as a natural extension of our mission to make to magic daily.

"On behalf of the more than 62,000 of our cast members and their families who live in this community, we're all honored to lend a little Disney magic to support children during what can be such a difficult time," Bob said. "Disney makes special moments for millions of people every day, and it's especially important for us to share smiles and make magic with children in hospitals, where it's needed most. "

The new 200-bed facility boasts a unique interactive lobby designed by Imagineers that features several beloved Disney characters, including those from "The Lion King," "The Little Mermaid" and "Brother Bear." Much of the hospital showcases colors and themes taken from the lobby and designed to relieve the fear of young patients and their families.

"That's why we send beloved characters to make bedside visits; deliver care packages to help patients pass the time with toys and movies, and build a wonderful new facility that might make being sick just a little less scary for kids in Central Florida," Bob said.

The ceremony included brief introductions of youngsters who have been helped by Florida Hospital, an appearance by Mickey Mouse, performances by two-time Grammy Award nominee Wintley Phipps, Disney performer Andrea Canny and the Forest Lake Academy Children's Choir and greetings from Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.

Des Cummings Jr., Florida Hospital executive vice president, offered a prayer that "the Walt Disney Pavilion may be known as a sanctuary of healing, a beacon of hope and place for every hurting child."

Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, accompanied Bob and other Disney executives on a tour of the new hospital along with Florida Hospital leaders. They were greeted by children who thanked them for their commitment. 

"A hospital can be an overwhelming place, and we have worked very closely to learn how to make each experience special" said Marla Silliman, administrator of Florida Hospital for Children. "Our mission is to provide the best care possible for our patients. I believe that we have achieved our goal by creating a hospital that brings world-class physicians, top-of-the-line technology and a truly patient-centered experience for children all under one roof." 

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They have really done a great thing. This will truly make a difference for kids that have to pass weeks (if not months) in a hospital. Here's also a video of the area and more:



What do you think? If your child would become ill (we hope not), would you rather put him or her in a sad, white room, or would you rather choose an hospital that offers an interactive, Disney area that distracts them, and make them feel a little bit better?
We know that having an area like this will likely NOT speed up the healing process, but they will take the illness with more positivity. That'a great thing to do.

New "Brave" artworks and Mickey's new movie

The Disney, etc. website shared with us two interesting articles today.

The first one (that can be viewed HERE) unveils some of the artworks for a new Disney Animated film, known as "Brave". Here's one of the artworks:

Copyright of the Walt Disney Company.

About the second article, there has been a rumor about a new full-length film of Mickey Mouse and Friends.

You can read everything HERE. Here's an excerpt of the article:

"During an interview with Disney veteran Burney Mattinson, Bleeding Cool discovered that a feature-length project for Mickey, Donald, and Goofy is in the very, very early stages of development."

What do you think? I am personally a fan of Mickey Mouse cartoons, so for me this is a great news, and i hope they'll continue to work on this project.

D23 presents "Destination D" at Walt Disney World

In case you missed the news about Destination D, a special event that will be held at the Walt Disney World resort, here you are some info on this:

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D23 brings fun and festivities to the Wat Disney World Resort

D23 is living it up at the Walt Disney World Resort this May, offering two fantastic Disney-filled events on property.

Think you know the Walt Disney World Resort like the back of your hand? Put your knowledge to the test May 12 and 13 for "D23's Great Disney Scavenger Hunt: Walt Disney World!" The hunt - set to be the largest in Walt Disney World history - is a two-day, four-park event sure to be a blast for serious fans as well as families. On top of the fun participants will have exploring the parks in new ways, there will also be some incredible prizes to be won coming from virtually every corner of Disney.

The hunt is open to both D23 members (discounted price) and nonmembers. For tickets, complete rules and all the information you need, click here.

It also recently was announced that this year's D23 "Destination D" event will be held at Disney's Contemporary Resort May 14 and 15. "Destination D: Walt Disney World 40th" will feature Disney Legends, luminaries and Imagineers such as Marty Sklar, Dave Smith, Tony Baxter, Bob Gurr, Jack Lindquist, Eric Jacobson, Charlie Ridgway and Ron Logan - as well as Debra Browne, the 1971 Walt Disney World ambassador.

Unique presentations will cover topics such as bizarre and wacky moments in Walt Disney World Resort's past, Walt Disney's vision for Epcot, a peek at plans that never came to be and even a glimpse into the resort's future! The event's grand finale will be "Magic Journeys: Flights of Fancy through 40 Years of Walt Disney World Musical Memories" featuring Disney Legend and Academy Award-winner Richard Sherman. This event is open exclusively to members of D23. See the entire lineup and schedule here.

D23 is the official Disney fan club with multiple levels of membership available. Join the club that's made for you and me at www.d23.com. 

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All logos and info are subject to the copyright of the Walt Disney Company. All rights reserved.

A look at Waikolohe Valley (Disney's Aulani resort)

The Disney Parks Blog shares with us a very nice video (along with some information) of Aulani's majestic pool. The new resort is situated in Hawaii, and will open soon. Take a look:

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Waikolohe Valley Takes Shape at Aulani

It’s a pity, but I don’t get to spend all my time on Oahu. I did get to visit the site of Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa last week, and I brought back the latest video of construction progress.

This is really exciting for me because, for the first time, I think you can really see some of the key recreation elements taking shape in the Resort’s central Waikolohe Valley.

In the foreground you can spot Menehune Bridge, possibly the handiwork of the Islands’ legendary little people. When completed, it will be a 2,200-square-foot, interactive water play area for children.

Further in the background is one of the great landmarks of Waikolohe Valley, Pu‘u Kino. It means “hidden faces in the lava” and if you look closely, you may already be able to detect a few of the hidden images. Pu‘u Kino will be, among other things, the home of two water slides and a gateway to floating down Waikolohe Stream.

Between Pu‘u Kino and Menehune Bridge you can spot workers in Rainbow Reef, which will become a snorkeling experience where Aulani guests can have up-close encounters with an array of live marine life.

While I was at the Aulani site, Djuan Rivers, vice president of Disney Vacation Club and Resort, Hawai‘i, provided some great information about each of these Aulani features. I’ll share the video of his comments in upcoming posts.

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Wow! We have no words! The place really looks amazing, and that mountain looks realistic! We cant't wait to know more about Aulani, as the resort is really taking shape. We're glad that at least they were not affected by the Tsunami that was recently created by the disastrous earthquake in Japan.

The video and information are subject to the copyright of the Walt Disney Company. All rights reserved.

Technology for Disabled Guests Earns Award at WDW

The Walt Disney World and the Disneyland resorts have won once again an award. But this is not the unusual award as "The Best Places on Earth" or "The Nicest Environments". No, this award is very important, as it involves guests with certain disabilities. Disney has recently created a handheld device for people that have problems hearing. Here is the official word from Disney, explaining why these devices are so special:

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Disney's Technology for Visually Impaired Guests 

Earns National Award

A first-of-its-kind technology developed for visitors with disabilities at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts has received another national accolade. The Assistive Handheld Technology Device for visually and hearing impaired guests earned the American Foundation for the Blind’s (ABF) prestigious Access Award.

The nonprofit organization’s Access Award honors companies that foster equality by designing their services for all people. The foundation credited Disney’s Assistive Handheld Technology Device with creating “unprecedented freedom” for guests with disabilities.

Award-winning device helps guests with disabilities.

“Too often, swift advances in technology bring the rewards of convenience and entertainment to an eager world while inadvertently leaving those who are visually impaired behind,” said Carl R. Augusto, AFB president and CEO. “Each of this year’s Access Award winners displayed a real commitment to making sure their products and services are equally accessible to everyone. And with the growing number of people with vision loss, focusing on accessibility is not only the right thing to do, it’s also a savvy business decision.”

Initially debuted by Disney engineers in 2001, the Assistive Handheld Technology Device recently added ground-breaking, Disney-patented technology that expands guests’ accessibility through audio and visual descriptions at the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts. The 7.2-ounce device displays vivid audio narratives and descriptions of popular rides, attractions, and scenery. Utilizing wireless technology, an interactive menu allows users to access diverse information including architectural elements or the location of the closest restroom, and takes pre-programmed actions to fully immerse guests in the Disney experience.

“Working with our own team of experts and industry leaders, we continuously researched and tested new ways to achieve rich visual and audio descriptions for moving rides and outdoor scenery,” said Greg Hale, chief safety officer and vice president of Worldwide Safety and Accessibility for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “The unprecedented technology we introduced last year exemplifies Disney’s long legacy of commitment to innovation and heightens accessibility for guests with disabilities.”

The Access Award is the most recent honor bestowed the Assistive Handheld Technology Device. Last year, the technology earned the National Society of Professional Engineers 2010 New Product Award.

Through patents and licensing, Disney’s technology has helped expand accessibility for a wide variety of retail, commercial and industrial applications. Locations already employing the technology include the World of Coca Cola Museum, The Hall at Patriot Place and Dallas Cowboys Stadium.  

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Once again, lots of compliments to the Walt Disney Company for trying to provide excellent memories for every guest, including those that may have special needs!

Disney's Dreamers Academy returns

The Disney Dreamers Academy is another way with which Disney really make dreams come true, especially for young ones, like in this occasion. The Dreamers Academy helps high school students to look toward their future to see what they would like to do, and what the dream to do. Here you are more info about this special academy, from the Walt Disney World resort:

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Disney's Dreamers Academy Attendance 'Snowballs' in 2011; More than 100 Teens Going to Walt Disney World Resort March 3-6

Photo copyright of the Walt Disney World Resort. All rights reserved.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The 2011 Disney's Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and Essence Magazine continues a mission to annually bring together 100 high school students who want to ignite their lives, dreams and passions. However, the March 3-6 event at Walt Disney World Resort also will serve as a "make-up class" for 13 teens selected for the 2010 Academy which they were unable to attend due to winter-weather travel cancellations.

Combined with 100 high school students from 22 states and the District of Columbia selected for 2011, the class register this year will have 113 names on it, making it the largest in the four years of the program.

The program also has grown in other ways, including the participation of Essence Magazine for the first time.

Essence Communications President Michelle Ebanks said, “Essence is closely aligned with Disney and Steve Harvey in supporting the mission of Disney’s Dreamers Academy and its commitment to positively impacting our youth. Disney’s Dreamers Academy is helping teens take steps in the right direction, and we want to be right there with the students, both encouraging them and sharing their stories.”

Tracey Walters-Powell, executive champion of the program for Disney Parks & Resorts, said, “Disney’s Dreamers Academy is a perfect platform to further the goal, shared by Disney Parks, Essence Communications and – it goes without saying – by Steve Harvey, to inspire children. We are genuinely excited about the possibilities ahead.”

It will be a watershed year as the students, selected from among thousands of applicants across the country, embark on customized itineraries based on their individual interests and aspirations. During hands-on experiences, they will explore a world of career options -- from animation, through entrepreneurship, to zoology. They'll be engaged with motivational speakers, Disney experts and celebrities -- each with a special talent and an individual life story.

Photo copyright of the Walt Disney World Resort. All rights reserved.

Participants for the 2011 Disney’s Dreamers Academy class were selected by a distinguished panel of judges including: Steve Harvey; Yolanda Adams (Gospel Music Legend); Angela Burt-Murray (former editor-in-chief, Essence Magazine); Dr. Steve Perry (Education Advocate and CNN commentator); Dalonte Hall (DDA Dreamer, Class of 2010); Terrence J (MTV Personality); Carole Munroe (Director of Media Relations, Disney Parks & Resorts); Tracey Powell (Director of Pricing, Disney Parks & Resorts); Stella Ringer (Marketing Manager, The Coca-Cola Company); Lorraine Robertson (Blogger) and Stephen A. Smith (Broadcaster/Sports Analyst).mong the celebrities for the 2011 Dreamers Academy is musical and theatrical talent, including Raven Simone, Ruben Studdard and Cupid.

“Each year we strive to find young people who may have a will or passion, but may not have the courage to explore their dreams.” Harvey said. “So we hope to unlock the power that will allow them to pursue their hearts’ desires. Walt Disney World, Essence Magazine and I are excited to be a part of these young Dreamers’ experience that will encourage them to bring their dreams to life.”

Disney's Dreamers Academy is designed so that the teens can be inspired, discover possibilities and prepare for their future. For additional information, visit www.disneysdreamersacademy.com.

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Steve Harvey is the right person to put smiles on people's faces!! What do you think about this special "school"? I guess it should win the award as the most interesting school ever!

Tom Staggs reveals NEXT-GEN ideas

Yesterday, an important meeting has taken place, involving Tom Staggs, that is the chairman of the Disney Parks & Resorts. He talked about some project and their timeline (like the projects at Hong Kong Disneyland) and other interesting tidbits about the Disney Parks future. This includes some interesting details of the future way of queuing - that is - the Next-Generation queuing!

Read more about this exciting project, from the Disney Parks Blog: 

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Tom Staggs Offer Update on Disney Parks & Resorts

Today, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs gave an update on the growth at Parks & Resorts, how we’re leveraging technology and what’s happening to continue to transform the guest experience at Disney California Adventure, Disney Cruise Line, Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park, Hong Kong and other areas. 

Take a look at what was said (It's a long talk, so we're reporting only the part of the talk that is about next-gen project. To read the whole talk, you can download the PDF file here!):

Disney Investor Conference - Walt Disney Parks And Resorts

Tom Staggs – (Chairman, WD Parks & Resorts)

...We know that our guests love creating great Disney memories with their

friends and their families. We also know that they don't exactly relish

waiting in line, checking at the resort, worrying about missing their

favorite attractions or feeling uncertain how to best navigate and access

our properties. In the coming years, we’ll introduce a broad, integrated

set of systems and tools that will help us create a more seamless,

personalized experience, and help guests to get more out of their visit

with us. That’s our ultimate goal – to welcome more and more people,

while making their experience more satisfying, more personal and more

immersive.

We’ve launched a number of initiatives over the years, including

FASTPASS and Magical Express, and they’ve been incredibly popular

with our guests. But we plan to take these kinds of enhancements even

further. Giving our guests faster and better access to the fun is the

centerpieces of our investment in technology. As a result, we are

currently developing an innovative system that will, in essence, create a

version of FASTPASS for their entire Disney vacations. Now we define the

guest experience as beginning from the time a potential guest sits down

at a computer or picks up a phone to make a reservation. Our new tools

will help them better understand all that we have to offer and better plan

their time with us. They’ll be able to create a personalized itinerary that

gives them the exact Disney vacation they want.

Guests will be able to reserve times for their favorite attractions and

character interactions… secure seats at our shows and spectaculars…

make dining reservations… and pre-book many other favorite guest

experiences – all before even leaving their house. We also plan to simplify

the check-in process so that guests will arrive at the resort with room

key in hand. They will be able to go straight to their room or a theme

park – again, allowing them to get to the fun faster.

We are also creating innovative new ways to pull guests into our stories.

A picture with a Disney princess is a quintessential part of a Disney

experience for many of our guests. So, in Fantasyland at the Magic

Kingdom, our Disney princesses will soon have dedicated homes

complete with Disney magic. And the tools that we’re creating will allow

them to greet and interact with our guests in an immersive and highlypersonalized

way.

Disney Investor Conference 7

2/17/11 – WD Parks & Resorts – Tom Staggs

We are rethinking the queue lines at many of our attractions, and are

enhancing them in ways that make them part of the show, essentially

creating a new “Scene One” for the attractions, if you will. For example,

the Winnie the Pooh attraction in Florida we just opened has a new

hands-on area where our younger guests can explore and play in the

Hundred Acre Wood. It’s been so successful that we’ve heard kids asking

their parents NOT to use FASTPASS in order to enjoy the new first scene

that much longer. You know we are doing something right if kids are

asking to wait in line.

We’re also developing the means to better assess and manage guest

traffic throughout our theme parks so that we can use entertainment

experiences, characters, and other forms of Disney magic to help improve

the flow of guests during peak periods… and drive increased utilization

as a result for our parks. Through this work, we will put better

information into the hands of our cast, so they can deliver even better

and more personalized service for our guests. Now, it will be some time

before we roll out the bulk of these initiatives, but we are well into

development, and in fact have a number of patents pending on our

approach. So it’s too early for me to say much more than that… but our

vision here is clear, and we see a real opportunity to further enhance and

differentiate the Disney vacation experience.

We’re excited about our growth prospects at our existing sites...

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Well, what's your take on NEXT-GENERATION queues? Do you like the idea of reserving your ride... from home? Or being able to be called by name by the Disney Princesses? To me personally, it looks like a huge improvement of the normal way of waiting for a ride, but I'm afraid this method will affect people like me (Annual Pass holders and repeated visitors).

Indeed, if visitors decide to reserve their ride's Fastpass three months before, how can I find one IN the parks?? Of course, as some people brought up, maybe with then new interactive queues, people will want to skip the Fastpass service in many (if not all) rides.... but then, if most of the people decided to not use the Fastpass, what would be its use?

There are stll many things that need to be clarified on this matter. Maybe we're not ready yet, for this kind of technology... 

Disney ranks 12th on Barron's list

Barron is very famous to do researches and then write a list of all the most important companies, starting from the most successful to the least successful. Here's the news, directly from the Walt Disney World resort:

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Disney earns 12th place on Barron's most respected companies list

The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) earned high marks on Barron's recent ranking of the world's most respected companies.

The company landed first among entertainment-related businesses and nabbed the 12th spot overall among the 100 largest public companies in the world. That put Disney ahead of such globally recognized and well-respected companies as JPMorgan Chase, Cisco, Intel, Wal-Mart, Microsoft, Honda and Toyota to name just a few.

Barron's annual survey asked big investors around the country to rank the top 100 companies as determined by Dow Jones Indexes. The more than 90 respondents ranged from owners of small advisory companies to chief investment officers of firms that manage billions of dollars.

According to the Barron's report, the top two qualities that gained the respect of money managers were "sound business strategy" and "strong management."

The top 11 companies in order of ranking were Apple, Amazon.com, Berkshire Hathaway, IBM, McDonald's, Google, 3M, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble and ExxonMobil. Disney's 12th place finish was a nice leap forward from the 20th spot it held in

2010 ranking by Barron's  - the well-regarded business magazine owned by Dow Jones, publishers of The Wall Street Journal.

Disney's closest entertainment competitors finished well back in the list.

General Electric, which controlled NBCUniversal in 2010, ranked 48th. Comcast, which gained control of NBCUniversal this year, ranked 68th. Anheuser-Busch Inbev, which owned the SeaWorld parks until selling them to a private equity group in 2009, was ranked 34th. 

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You will have noticed that Disney referred to its "closest entertainment competitors" as being "well back in the list". It looks like, even though Universal and SeaWorld ended the year with a great rise in attendance and capital (especially Universal, for obvious reasons), they're still not considered companies as powerful as The Walt Disney Company. 

The only thing we would like to say is that Disney should be careful not to rest assured that it will always be like this. Its competitors are doing everything but remaining behind. They are continuously adding rides and shows, and this will only add more pressure to Disney. What do you think?

All logos are subject to the copyright of the Walt Disney® Company. All rights reserved.

Reminder: Important Press event TODAY!

Just a friendly reminder: today there will be a pretty big press event at the Magic Kingdom (that, as we said before, will close promptly at 6 p.m.) and among the new details that will be revealed, they may also include some interesting artworks of the new Fantasyland and more! Stay tuned, and let's hope for big news!!