In addition to the videos, some of which are hidden for fans to find, the site features character bios, descriptions of the Star Tours planet destinations and behind-the-scenes footage from the attraction. For intergalactic fun the whole family will enjoy, fans can download exclusive Star Tours crafts, printables, recipes and more, from DisneyFamily.com!

Star Tours® is a registered trademark of Disney/Lucasfilm, Ltd.

There is a new "British Invasion" occuring at the United Kingdom Pavilion in Epcot and at the heart of it is a new band called the British Revolution.  After over 15 years of hearing the Beatles tribute band playing in the gazebo in the back of the United Kingdom Pavilion, it is difficult picturing a new band being successful so soon after the departure of the well-liked British Invasion. Remarkably, after hearing a few songs from the British Revolution, it is hard not to like them.



British Revolution
This four person, guitar heavy band doesn't contain themselves to just the music of the Beatles or even Beatles era.  They play a wide variety of music from Britsh artists and bands ranging from Herman's Hermits, The Who, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney & Wings, and much more even reaching into songs from the most recent decade.  Each of the 4 members of the band took turns singing lead vocals on the various songs in their sets.

Great Addition To Epcot's Live Music Line Up
The British Revolution are a great addition to the live music line up at Epcot.  You can listen to them play Sunday-Wednesday and Friday-Saturday at 3, 4:30, 6, 7 and 8 p.m during July and August. 

During this Summer you can now catch performances by British Revolution, Off Kilter, Mo Rockin', and the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series.  That is a great way to spend your evening in Epcot's World Showcase.

One great way to memorialize your thrill seeking moments at the Walt Disney World Resort is to purchase one of the Ride Photos conveniently taken at some of the most thrilling attractions.  In this edition we look at the Top 6 Disney World Ride Photo Attractions to help you choose the best one to remember your daredevil exploits.
Disney World Top 6 Ride Photo Attractions
The Ride Photo is an under appreciated souvenir that has been around long before the PhotoPass Photographers lined the Disney World Theme Parks.  At a special hidden location, during the height of excitement, you will notice a flash of light as your picture has just been taken.  Whether or not you purchase it is up to you.  Here are your Top 6 Choices for getting that special souvenir.


2. Expedition Everest
Expedition Everest is another favorite at Disney's Animal Kingdom, as this picture is taken just as you start down the steep decent that takes you outside and can be viewed from the area outside the Serka Zong Bazaar.  This ride puts 6 people in each train, but the first two rows are the most visible.  This is better than the previous attractions in that if you are sitting in the front of the car, the other people are less noticeable.

1. Rock 'N' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
The Top Disney World Ride Photo Attraction goes to the Rock 'N' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith found in Disney's Hollywood Studios. This is the best photo to feature your group of 2 up to 4 people.  The picture is taken right at the beginning of the attraction just as your launch begins as you enter the initial dark area.  This allows you to pose however you choose in order to make the picture memorable.  This also means to have to watch out that the guy in the seat behind you didn't get a little carried away with his best "Rock Star" pose and ruin your picture.

Summer 2011 again brings the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series to Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort.  Throughout the Summer, accomplished tribute bands play 3 sets nightly at the America Gardens Theatre.  Hotel California - "A Salute To The Eagles" are one of the fine bands that is performing this year.


Hotel California - "A Salute To The Eagles"
Hotel California is made up of 5 members: Dicky, Wade, Scott, Steve, and Ken.  Each has enjoyed a successful musical career before becoming part of Hotel California.  The band plays 150 - 200 performances each year.  The band has attempted to fill the void formed when the original Eagles disbanded the first time in 1982.

They play The Eagles classics like: "Take It Easy", "Heartache Tonight", "Hotel California", and "Witchy Woman."  They also include songs from the solo careers from Don Henley, Glen Frey, and Joe Walsh.

Hotel California puts on a great show that really sounds like The Eagles.  If you are a fan of The Eagles, you will enjoy their show.  It was a great trip back to the 70's and 80's to hear these great songs performed live.


•June 19 – June 25: Stayin' Alive — A Tribute to the Bee Gees
•June 26 – July 2: Slippery When Wet — The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute
•July 3 – July 9: Little Queen — The Music of Heart (NEW!)
•July 10 – July 16: Frontiers — A Tribute to Journey (NEW!)
•July 17 – July 23: Karin Lawson — A Tribute to Janet Jackson
•July 24 – July 30: 2U — A Tribute to U2

Great Free Entertainment
This special concert series is FREE with your paid admission to Epcot each evening from June 12 - July 30, 2011.  Each of these bands is amongst the best you will find.  These are not your neighborhood "cover bands."  If you enjoy the music from the band or singer that they are emulating then you most likely will enjoy these shows.  The America Gardens Theatre is a relatively small venue that is a great place to watch live music on a Summer Evening. 

If you are visiting the Walt Disney World Resort during the summer you are in luck.  Fantasmic!, the spectacular night time show at Disney's Hollywood Studios will be shown nightly from July 3rd through September 30th.  No longer will you have to worry whether this incredible show will be presented on days that you are visiting Disney's Hollywood Studios.


Fantasmic!
For those of you who are not familiar with Fantasmic!, it is a 25 minutes show that occurs in the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater (a specially built outdoor theater exclusively for this show that seats 1,500 people.)  It uses a combination of live action, water fountains, pyrotechnics, fireworks, lasers, and more to present this show of good versus evil starring none other than Mickey Mouse himself.


Fantasmic! is a great show that you should strongly consider making part of your must do list for your Disney World Vacation.  The show is filled with your favorite Disney Characters, both good and evil.  This show is much different than the "Wishes" fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom or the "Illuminations: Reflections Of Earth" Show at Epcot, making it enjoyable and unique.  This is the only one of the 3 night time shows that has actual characters (besides Tinkerbell) take part in the presentation.

Which One To Choose?
It is a tough call to know which one to choose.  We would suggest that you consider seeing the Magic Kingdom Show on July 3rd, since it is the only one that is shown twice and then go to Disney's Hollywood Studios to catch their show on the Fourth Of July.  The reason we suggest Disney's Hollywood Studios is the fact the Disney rarely does fireworks presentations there any more except for special events, so it is a rare treat to see them there.  Also, we are big fans of Mulch, Sweat, and Shears and would not pass up a chance to see them perform this special concert.

Star Tours - The Adventures Continue is the much anticipated upgrade to the 20 year old Star Tours Attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios.  This collaboration between Lucasfilm (including George Lucas himself), the creators of the Star Wars Movies and the Disney Imagineers delivers an amazing attraction for fans of all ages.


Star Tours - The Adventures Continue
Star Tours originally opened at the then MGM Studios in 1989.  It operated for over 20 years until September of 2010 before the major overhaul took place.  The changes to the ride itself are amazing and any Star Tours and/or Star Wars Fan is certain to enjoy it.  They have added an element of variation to the ride with a total of 54 different combinations of scenes that you may enjoy including scenes on 6 different settings that will be familiar to Star Wars fans.  You randomly visit two of those setting plus enjoy one of 3 different openings and one of 3 different closing scenes.

The physical changes start from the outside.  The signage as depicted above has changed to reflect the added "The Adventures Continue" to the name.

Disney World recently released information about the 2012 Disney Dining Plans and there were some notable changes that affect two of the most popular Disney Dining Plan Options.

Disney Dining Plan Changes For 2012

There are three notable changes announced thus far to the 2012 veriosn for the Disney Dining Plan Options:

1. The base Disney Dining Plan has added a Refillable Resort Drink Mug for each member of your party to the plan.  The mug can be used for unlimited refills of soft drinks, coffee, tea, or hot chocolate at the designated stations at the resort you are staying at.  Usually they are located at the food court and by the main pool.  You get to keep the mug as a souvenir, but it is only good for free refills for the duration of the trip.
2. The Quick Service Dining Plan had a reduction in entitlements.  Instead of receiving 2 snacks per person per day, you will only receive 1 snack per person per day.  For those of you that have become addicted to all of the Disney World Snacks this is a real set back for this Disney Dining Plan Option.
3. Currently there is not a listing for the Wine Add-on to the Disney Dining Plans.  It may be added later or it could be dropped as an option.

2012 Disney Dining Plan
The original and still most popular option is the base Disney Dining Plan.  In 2012 this option will get each member of your party the following for each night of your stay:

1 Table-Service Meal
Each (adult or child) table-service meal includes:
•1 entrée
•1 dessert (lunch and dinner only)
•1 single-serving, non-alcoholic beverage
Or
•1 full buffet

1 Quick-Service Meal
Each quick-service meal includes:
•1 entrée or 1 complete combo meal
•1 dessert (lunch and dinner only)
•1 single-serving, non-alcoholic beverage

1 Snack
Examples of snacks are:
•1 frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle, fruit bar, popcorn scoop (single-serving box), single-serving bag of snacks, single piece of whole fruit, 20-oz. bottle of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite or Dasani water, 22-oz. fountain soft drink or juice, 12-oz. coffee, hot chocolate or hot tea, single-serving prepackaged milk or juice

Children ages 3-9 must order from a Children's Menu where available. Plan must be purchased for entire length of stay and for the entire party (ages 3+). Meals are non-transferable between party members and expire at midnight on day of check-out.

1 Resort-Refillable Drink Mug Per Person
Bring your Resort mug to any quick-service restaurant at your Disney Resort hotel and refill it as often as you like!

2012 Quick Service Dining Plan
The next most popular Disney Dining Plan Option is the Quick Service Dining Plan.  For 2012 the Quick Service Dining Plan will entitle each member of your party to receive for each night of your stay:

2 Quick-Service Meals
Each quick-service meal includes:

For Breakfast
•1 entrée or 1 complete combo meal
•1 single-serving, non-alcoholic beverage

For Lunch and Dinner
•1 entrée or 1 complete combo meal
•1 dessert
•1 single-serving, non-alcoholic beverage

Children ages 3-9 must order from the Children's Menu (if one is available).

1 Snack
Examples of snacks are:
•1 frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle, fruit bar, popcorn scoop (single-serving box), single-serving bag of snacks, single piece of whole fruit, 20-oz. bottle of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite or Dasani water, 22-oz. fountain soft drink or juice, 12-oz. coffee, hot chocolate or hot tea, single-serving prepackaged milk or juice

Plan must be purchased for entire length of stay and for the entire party (ages 3+). Meals are non-transferable between party members and expire at midnight on day of check-out.

1 Resort-Refillable Drink Mug Per Person
Bring your Resort mug to any quick-service restaurant at your Disney Resort hotel and refill it as often as you like!


More Details To Come
As more details are made available and confirmed (like the 2012 Disney Dining Plan Prices) we will post them on Only WDWorld.  The addition of the Refillable Mug is a nice addition to the base Disney Dining Plan and it is now a part of all of the Disney Dining Plan Options. 

The biggest disappointment is the reduction in the number of snacks for the Quick Service Dining Plan.  Speaking from experience, finding the best way to use the snacks with the Quick Service Dining Plan was one of the best parts of the plan and made it a lot of fun. 

Work continues on the new attractions slated to open in phases starting in 2012 in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom.  Each month there is more to see as the buildings and structures now are taking shape and beginning to look like the drawings and renderings that have been shared by Disney.


Magic Kingdom Fantasyland Expansion
Perhaps it is best to start with a drawing of what the expanded Fantasyland will look like, so that the buildings under construction make more sense.




From the above view you can see how close this attraction is to the Pinocchio Village Haus.


Nearby is Beast's Castle which already has the features at the top in place.

The building shown above is part of where the new Double Dumbo The Flying Elephant attraction will be housed.

Wait Impatiently For 2012
Magic Kingdom fans will need to wait until 2012 until these new Fantasyland attractions will start to open.  Tentative opening dates have not been announced yet, but it has been declared that the attractions will open in phases and not all at once.

Stayed tuned to Only WDWorld for updates and news regarding the Fantasyland Expansion and opening days for the attractions as they become available.