The Haunted Mansion is certainly one of the most well known attractions at Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

Here are a few interesting facts:

• The Haunted Mansion has been at the Magic Kingdom since it opened in October of 1971.
  
• In the stretching room the floor does not move. It is the ceiling that moves upward. At the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland the stretching room is actually an elevator that goes down.
  
• The Haunted Mansion is the only attraction that is duplicated at multiple Disney Parks only to be placed in a different land in each park. The Disney World Haunted Mansion is located in Liberty Square.
  
• The outer facade of each mansion was designed to fit in the land in which it resides. The Disney World version owes its inspiration to two sources:

The first is the Harry Packer Mansion in Jim Thorpe, PA. You can learn more about it at: http://www.murdermansion.com/











The second is a Victorian sketch found in: "Decorative Art in Victoria's Era" by Frances Lichten. This book was used by the Disney designers to find Victorian style design elements.


If you compare these pictures to those of the final product you can definitely see elements of both. The overall look has created a Victorian influenced mansion that fits in this American Colonial inspired land.

Here is a brief video clip by Disneyparks to whet your appetite for this scary, but fun attraction that is loved by so many:

Throughout the Walt Disney World Resort the details bring out the magic that separates it from all other mere amusement parks.

Earlier I posted about some of the details seen in the Asia section of Disney's Animal Kingdom: http://www.onlywdworld.com/2009/03/disneys-animal-kingdom-makes-you.html

















Shown here is one of these little details that helps tell the back story of this building also in the Asia section of the Animal Kingdom.

This simple sign tells you that this building that now houses the Yak and Yeti restaurant has been a part of the mythical village of Anandapur since June 8, 1924. The sign was posted by the Ministry of Economic Development.

















If you look closely in the above picture, the small sign from the first picture is on the right side of the entrance doorway, below the Yak & Yeti Restaurant sign.

Although you may know that the building was actually constructed in the last two years, the "story" for the region has it being a long standing part of this area's history.

Little by little, layer by layer these special details tell the story of the realm that you are visiting. As a guest you can choose to take in as much or as little as you wish.

The more time that I spend in the various parks at Disney World, the more of these wonderful details that I happen to notice. There is much to see that is never noticed by the typical guest.

You may not notice all of the details that are there, but you would surely notice if they were not there.

Disney World's Free Dining Package is now available to everyone. What was initially only available to Disney Visa cardholders can be obtained by the general public.

This offer is for stays from 8/16/09 - 10/03/09.

The free Dining Package entitles everyone in your party the ability to get Disney's Dining Plan for free. This is a great deal. The Dining Plan normally costs $39.99/day for adults (ages 10+)and $10.99/day for children (ages 3-9).

If you have two adults and two children that are 10 or older this is a savings of $159.96/day. That is more than the cost of a Moderate Resort room.

Think of it this way, if you were going to purchase the Dining Plan, you now can get your Resort Room for FREE.

The Dining Plan also allows you to try many of the Disney Resort Restaurants without having to worry about the prices on the menu. It really does allow you to relax and just enjoy your vacation.

You can get this great deal by calling Disney at(407)-939-7603 or your Travel Agent and ask for booking code TBV.

Some of the details include:

• This is a package offer.
• You must book a Walt Disney World Resort room.
• Free Dining for all who stay in the room is included for each night you reserve,
• You must purchase at least a single day MYW park ticket for each person.
• No other discounts may be used.
• There are a limited number of rooms available at each resort with this offer.
• You must have a 3 night stay minimum.

You have until June 21st to book this offer, but don't wait if you want to get the best selection of room options.

Just announced today, Disney Visa Card Members can now book a Walt Disney World Resort vacation for stays between 8/16/09 - 10/3/09 and receive the Disney Dining Plan for FREE!

Here are the details:

• For now the offer is only available to current Disney Visa Cardholders.
  
• Book a vacation between now and June 21st for the dates shown above.
  
• Offer is good for all resort classes, but a limited number of rooms are available with the deal.
  
• You must purchase at least 1 Day MYW tickets as part of the package.
  
• This cannot be combined with other discounts.
• The Standard Disney Dining Plan is included for free. This entitles each person to One Counter Service Meal with drink and dessert, one snack, and one table service meal with drink and dessert for each person for each day of your stay.
• You can upgrade to the Deluxe Dining Plan for an extra fee.
  

This is really a great deal. The Dining Plan costs $39.99/day + tax for adults (10 years old +) and $10.99+ tax (ages 3-9). If you have a family of 4 where the kids are 10 or older then the Free Dining is worth $159.96 + tax per night of your stay.


Here are some example package costs from Disney Visa:


















Book directly through Disney at (407) 939-7708 or use rate code RYI with your travel agent.

Currently this offer is only available to Disney Visa cardholders, but a general public version of this deal is expected to be available starting on March 30th. I will post this information as soon as it is available.

One of my favorite times of the year is when Star Wars Weekends comes to Disney's Hollywood Studios each summer. For a few brief weekends the park is transformed into a fun battle of good vs. evil and even the casual fan of Star Wars gets to enjoy all it has to offer.

This year Star Wars Weekends will be held from May 22nd to June 14th. Between now and then I will be sharing different aspects of this wonderful event.

As you can expect you will see all of your favorite characters like R2D2, 3CPO, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, and Darth Vader. You will also get to see some of the lesser known characters as well.


If any of you have been watching the Star Wars Clone Wars episodes you may have seen the character Aurra Sing who is a bounty hunter.

Here is the Star Wars Clone Wars version:

The character also appeared briefly in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

Here is Aurra Sing at Star Wars Weekends:

This is just a small taste of what you will see if you attend Star Wars Weekends this year.

....more to follow soon. Until then,"May the Force Be With You!"

At Disney World's Animal Kingdom, they do a marvelous job of adding the extra touches and details to make you believe you are far away from central Florida.

The photos shown here are from the Animal Kingdom's Asia section. The Imagineers go to great lengths to create the proper settings and back stories for each land and attraction. The Asia section is no different. They build a cohesive flow to the land, tying in all of the attractions, so that they belong.

To give the land a real feel for "Asia" they created the mythical village of Anandapur - which means "Place of all delight" in Sanskrit. It incorporate real artifacts and native artworks and carvings to add to the effect.

















The prayer tree shown here is a representative of a common sight along roadways and trails throughout Asia. The ribbons represents prayers left by passing travelers. The fact that the tree appears to be growing out of the ruins of the statue is part of the message of the Animal Kingdom that nature will overcome what man puts in front of her.

















Throughout Asia you can also notice the crazy electrical wiring that runs through the village. This is just another detail to convince you that you are far away from the modern cities.


















During the development of the park, the Imagineers spent a lot of time researching the areas that they were designing, taking field trips, cataloging pictures, and collecting artifacts to be used to create their version. Great care was taken to make sure that the details make you believe in the story that they created.


The next time that you visit the Animal Kingdom and head to ride Expedition Everest and Kali River Rapids, take the time to notice all of the signs and details that make up Anandapur. Allow yourself to enjoy the magic of Disney and escape to this mystical place.

When you plan a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort, the theme park tickets are often the most expensive component of your trip. It is important to understand how the system works so that you plan your vacation accordingly.

Sorting your way through the Magic Your Way tickets and choosing the best value for your family can be difficult if you are not familiar with the system.

Magic Your Way is Disney World's term for their ala carte system for purchasing theme park tickets, allowing you the flexibility to choose the number of days and types of options that you want to pay extra for.

Here is a table of current prices (without taxes) for Magic Your Way Base tickets:





















If you look closely at the average cost per day information in the table you will see that it starts to go down dramatically starting with 4 days. Disney has made the park tickets extremely expensive for short trips.


The Base tickets allow you to attend one of the four Disney World theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, or Disney's Animal Kingdom) each day with unlimited entry and re-entry to that same park during that day's operating hours. The Base ticket also will expire 14 days after the use, which pretty much limits it to being used during only one trip.


With the ticket pricing strategy that Disney World has chosen, you are much better off scheduling one longer trip as opposed to two shorter trips.

With a budget in mind, it is usually in your best interest to skip the options (Park Hopper, Water Parks & More, No Expiration ) that are available. This is especially true is your are planning your first Disney World trip. There is plenty to see in the four main theme parks to fill your time, so there is no need to add the extra expense for these additional activities.

Best Value
Based upon ticket pricing alone, I would recommend an ideal trip length to be 6-7 days. This allows you to get to an average Ticket cost of around $35 per day vs the $70+ per day for the 3 day or less visit.

Where to Purchase?

A common question is where to purchase your Magic your Way Tickets. Since Disney World does not provide much in the way of park ticket discounts, there are limited options.

Here are the ways to get your best deal:
1. Check the pricing on the Disney Website ( http://www.disneyworld.com/) make sure you get the pricing with taxes, so that you have a good price to compare. Buying online is usually slightly less expensive than buying at the gate.

2. Check AAA. If you are a AAA member you should check their ticket pricing. They typically do not have the full range of tickets available, but you may be able to save a couple of dollars.

3. Check Undercover Tourist (see link on this website). They are one of the very few legitimate Disney World ticket resellers. I recommend them, but be very wary of any other reseller you find on the internet. It is very difficult to tell a fake ticket until you try to use it at the park entrance. As a general rule if the deal is too good to believe, you should stay away.

No matter which you choose the savings will be minimal. Disney World offers regular discounts on Resorts and packages, but not tickets.


Conclusion
When you are spending as much money as it takes to visit Disney World, it pays to do your homework and be prepared. The 6-7 day vacation length will dramatically lower your per day cost for one of the most expensive parts of your trip.

Later I will be posting advice for those who wish to consider puchasing the Magic Your Way Options.

A good touring plan for your visit to a Walt Disney World Park can make the difference between a long, tired, frustrating day, and the best vacation ever.

What is a touring plan?

A touring plan is a strategy or gameplan for visiting the attractions in a park. It takes into account the potential wait times and popularity of various attractions, and it also looks at trends for typical park going crowds. A good touring plan will allow you to see the attractions that you want to see with minimal time spent waiting in lines during the day.


If you wish to have a detailed, customizable touring plan here are three web sites that charge a fee, but have these available for Walt Disney World Theme Parks. You can check out their site for details as to what they offer.

http://www.touringplans.com/
http://www.ridemax.com/
http://www.tourguidemike.com/

I have not personally used any of these, but they are all reputable sites.

If you are looking for a Touring Plan developed through 25+ visits of experience that is free of charge, here it is:

The Only WDWorld Hollywood Studios Touring Plan

Strategy

Hollywood Studios currently has 3 extremely popular attractions (The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Toy Story Mania, and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith) and 2 live action shows (Lights, Motors, Action! and Indiana Jones Eric Stunt Spectacular) that your visit should be planned around.

The other attractions will be worked in around these in order to minimize wait time and walking distance.

Starting Point

In order to minimize wait times it is important to arrive at the park prior to opening. Familiarize yourself with the layout of the park and find out the schedule for the live shows.

If we use this week as an example, Hollywood Studios opens at 9:00 am each day. Lights, Motors, Action! has 2 shows each day at: 1:20pm & 4:30 pm. Indiana Jones has 5 shows each day with the first at 11:30 am and the last at 5:30 pm.

The Plan

• The plan is to hit the 3 most popular attractions first, as soon as the park opens. I would recommend heading to Toy Story Mania first. Get a FastPass (to learn more about FastPasses click: here ), and if the regular line is not long get in it. That way you can ride the newest, most popular attraction twice.
  


• If the wait time is 30 minutes or more, skip it and head to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Ride that and then go to Tower of Terror. After riding both, check the time to see if you can go back to Toy Story Mania to use your FastPass.
  


• If any of these attractions has a wait time posted over 30 minutes skip it and get a FastPass later to ride it. Do not waste your time in line if you do not have to.
  


• After riding the “big” 3 you want to work your way around the park to get to Lights, Motors, Action! by 1:00 pm for the 1:30pm show.
  


• Visit Little Mermaid, Great Movie Ride, and Back Lot Studio Tour as you work your way to the back of the park. Grab lunch before the 1:30pm LMA! show if there is time.
  


• After the show head towards Star Tours and Muppet 3-D. Get a FastPass at Star Tours if necessary and then go see the Muppet 3-D Show.
  


• Target the 4:15pm show for Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, if you are running late then catch the 5:30pm show.
  


• If you are an American Idol fan they have 7 shows daily with the Finale at the 7:00 pm show pitting the winners from the earlier shows against each other for the day’s grand prize winner.
  

The Fallback

During busy times use the FastPass to avoid the long waits in lines. Use 30 minutes as your guide whether to wait or to get the FastPass and come back later.

Visit the other attractions that I didn’t mention, get character autographs, watch the spontaneous entertainment that goes on throughout the day as you make your way around the park. If you see something that looks interesting, stop and check it out.

If you race your way around the park to get to each attraction and try to keep to an exact schedule, you WILL MISS what Disney World is all about.

It is about noticing the details, taking in the atmosphere, and relaxing while you become immersed in this fantasy world. It is about having fun!

If you miss an attraction due to excessive lines, don’t worry about it. You can hit it next time.

Conclusion:

Have a basic plan in mind, but be willing to deviate if something interesting catches your eye. Having an enjoyable time is more important than keeping a strict schedule. Starting with the most popular attractions when the park opens and utilizing FastPasses will go a long way towards making sure you are able to see what you want to see.

New Disney World Resort Discounts are now available to the general public!

Here are the details using booking code RYD:

• For Value resorts during most nights (Sunday - Thursday) from April 19th - June 4th rates are just $68 + tax.
• For Moderate resorts during most nights (Sunday - Thursday) from April 19th - June 4th rates are just $104 + tax.
• For the Animal Kingdom and Wilderness Lodge (Deluxe Resorts) during all nights from April 19th - June 6th rates are just $179 + tax for standard rooms.
• For Studio Rooms at Disney's Saratoga Springs and Old Key West Resorts: From April 19th - June 6th, Rates are: $209 + tax Sunday through Thursday, and only $169 + tax on Friday and Saturday nights.

These rates can be obtained through the Disney World Website , Disney World Reservations at (407) 939-7603, or through your favorite Travel Agent using the rate code given above.

Some restrictions may apply. Refer to the Disney Web site for any additional information.

Hi, I’m back! This week I’m going to tell you about some free entertainment.

Have you ever been in Epcot and found that your feet are taking you to China?

Suddenly, you see a flash of color and a twirl of a Chinese streamer. Then an announcer’s voice boomed, “The youngest acrobats ever from China and it’s free to see” (or something like that). They call the act the “Dragon Legend Acrobats.”

Wow! You’ll think: Acrobats would be fun to watch. Soon you’ll be hypnotized with their outfits. Sometimes you will even think a girl is a swan, with her graceful movements.

Your heart will thump so loudly in amazement you might think that people in the real China could hear it. You’ll admit that their handstands and cartwheels and twists are magnificent.

Suddenly, when you think its over, the music has lowered, and the girls have gone. Then the boy acrobats come with jump ropes. Watch in amazement as they do double dutch, flips, and lift each other on their shoulders at the same time. Their bodies twist in every position possible to humans. These kids are strong and flexible.

Then it really is over. As you head on you think that was so good, I can’t believe it’s free!

That’s my Kid’s Eye View of Epcot’s Dragon Legend Acrobats. Enjoy this video from ru42 on YouTube showing the Dragon Legend Acrobats in action. See you next time!

Disney has announced the creation of "D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans."

In order to provide their expansive fanbase with the information that they crave, Disney has created this new community.

The group got its name from the fact that Walt Disney opened his initial Hollywood Studio in 1923.

There will be a membership opportunity that will have many benefits, including a new Quarterly publication: Disney twenty-three , and other special members only opportunities. The membership subscription is $74.99.







Disney twenty-three will be an advertisement free, keepsake quality publication with the following regular features:
A Walk with Walt: A look back at the trials and triumphs of the man who made dreams come true and whose imagination started it all.
D Society: From gala movie premieres and grand openings to candid Disney moments and memories, D Society takes readers backstage and onto the red carpet.
PHOTOfiles: The legendary Walt Disney Archives Photo Library houses millions of Disney's most cherished photographic memories, and the Archives team shares its Top 100, five in every issue. Let the countdown begin!
Where in D?: Try to identify where in the world of Disney each issue's mystery photo was taken.
The Funny Pages: For the first time in decades, enjoy the vintage newspaper comic strips that helped make many of Disney's most popular characters famous.
Making Magic: Crafts for children of all ages, inspired by Disney's favorite stories and experiences.
Recipes from Disney's most popular restaurants and eateries, past and present.


There is also a new website: Disney.com/23


















The website is free and available to all Disney fans, not just the members who pay for a subscription. The website promises to provide the kind of information that Disney fans crave including behind the scenes stories and the latest news and developments.

Here are some of the website's features (from the Disney Press release):
NEWS & FEATURES
Late-breaking news, press releases, and photos of interest to fans from every part of Disney.
"Twilight Bark" — inspired by the Disney animated feature 101 Dalmatians — offers up the latest tidbits and news "bites" from all around the world of Disney.
Feature articles and interviews on current Disney topics from theme parks and animation to television and motion pictures, as well as historical retrospectives.
Official Disney Bloggers — Get regular updates on films in production at Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, current Walt Disney Imagineering projects, and the Walt Disney Archives.
WALT DISNEY ARCHIVES
"This Day in Disney" — A daily walk down memory lane.
"What's Old Is News" — Go back in time and enjoy rare, vintage and classic articles, stories, interviews, press materials and other highlights from deep within the Disney Archives.
"Ask Dave" — Disney Legend and Chief Archivist Dave Smith answers your questions about Disney history.
"Archives Library" — helpful Disney reference tools including biographies, filmographies, award chronologies, Disney A to Z updates, historical profiles and other archival information.
DISNEY TWENTY-THREE
The online home of Disney twenty-three, D23's quarterly publication.
Expanded stories, interviews and imagery.
"D Society: Online Edition" — regularly updated photo gallery.
"The Funny Page: Daily Edition" — a delightful daily dose of vintage Disney comics that haven't been seen outside the Disney Archives in decades.
"Making Magic" — An archive of the unique crafts featured in Disney twenty-three.
"Disney Dish" — Always be able to find your favorite recipes from Disney twenty-three.
EXPO & EVENTS
"D23 Expo" — The official Web site for everything you need to know about "The Ultimate Disney Fan Experience" September 10-13, at the Anaheim Convention Center, including programming, show hours, celebrity appearances, keynote speakers, ticket information, vacation packages, and more.
"D23 Member Special Events" — Throughout the year, D23 hosts special events created just for its members. Members can find out which ones they want to attend and how to register.
BOUTIQUE 23
D23 merchandise and collectibles, including D23 member-only offerings from the Walt Disney Archives Collection
Hosted by Disneyshopping.com

Note: Most of this information was obtained from Disney's Press release on 3/10/09. You may see the original press release at: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/disney/37333/

There are many reasons to visit Epcot: rides, attractions, food, exposure to cultures from around the world, etc.

Today, the reason that I am going to write about is the live entertainment. Yes, I said live entertainment. Those might not be the two words that come to mind when you think about visiting Epcot, but maybe they should be.

Let’s take a visit around the World showcase and look at all of the live entertainment that is there for you to enjoy:

Off Kilter (Canada): This kilt wearing Celtic Rock band is always a fan favorite. They play a variety of cover tunes and original music as well. They are definitely a must see Epcot experience.

The British Invasion (United Kingdom): A Beatles look and sound alike band, will take you back to the 60’s to enjoy music from one of the greatest bands ever.

World Showcase Players (United Kingdom): This comedy troupe performs daily in the area outside of the Rose and Crown. They perform an audience participatory skit that is fun to watch.

Serveur Amusant (France): This comical French waiter act takes place outside of Chefs de France and combines comedy with incredible balancing as they build a tower of chairs and climb to the top.

Mo’Rockin (Morocco): An Arabic fusion rock band complete with belly dancer.

Maturiza (Japan): Japanese Taiko Drummers perform an impressive display of this traditional music.

Miyuki (Japan): Japanese Candy artisan creates animals and other shapes out of candy.

Spirit of America Fife and Drum Corps (America): They perform daily outside of the American Adventure.

Voices of Liberty(America): Talented a cappella singers perform American and patriotic classics inside the American Adventure lobby.

Sergio (Italy): Italian clown and juggler.

World Showcase Players (Italy): The comedy troop portrays a classic Italian story in a comedic audience participatory manner.

Oktoberfest Musikanten (Germany): Traditional German music and Alp horn entertainment during Dinner in the Biergarten in Germany.

OrisiRisi (Outpost): African Rhythms are performed.

Si Xian (China): Classical Chinese Music is performed.

Dragon Legend Acrobats (China): These young Chinese acrobats are incredible! This is another must see attraction.

Spelmanns Gledje (Norway): Traditional Norwegian folk music is performed.

Mariachi Cobre (Mexico): It’s not Mexico without this authentic Mariachi band.

Also in the Future World area be sure to catch:

JAMMinators: A ragtag group of Janitors that put on an impressive percussion show with ordinary objects. A lot of fun to watch!


Summary: As you can see, you can easily spend most of a day just trying to watch all of the live entertainment that is available at Epcot. Be sure to pick up a Times and Information Guide to find out when each of these groups performs.

The stars from the 60's & 70's who are coming to Disney World's Epcot to perform during the International Flower & Garden Festival have been announced for 2009. Each year one of the highlights of the festival is the collection of musical stars who perform.

Weekends during the festival there are 3 free performances nightly ( 5:15 pm, 6:30pm, & 7:45) in the Americas Garden Theater in the World Showcase. Seating is based on a first come first serve basis, but their are usually always seats available for most performances.

This year Flower Power concert veteran Davy Jones, best known for being part of the TV group the Monkees, will be kicking things off on March 20th. Tony Orlando will wrap things up on May 31st. In all there are 11 different act performing during the festival.

Here is the current planned schedule:

March 20-22 – Davy Jones “Daydream Believer”
March 27-March 29 – Paul Revere & The Raiders “Good Thing”
April 3-April 5 – The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie “Happy Together”
April 10-April 12 – Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone “I’m Henry the VIII, I Am”
April 17-April 19 – The Ventures “Hawaii Five-O”
April 24-April 26 – Harold Melvin's Blue Notes (NEW) "If You Don't Know Me By Now"
May 1-May 3 – Chubby Checker & The Wildcats “The Twist”
May 8-May 10 – Ricky Nelson Remembered featuring The Nelsons
“(Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection
May 15-May 17 – Jose Feliciano “Light My Fire”
May 22-May 24 – The 5th Dimension “Up, Up and Away”
May 29-May 31 – Tony Orlando “Tie a Yellow Ribbon”

These concerts are always a fun way to end your day at Epcot. If you are lucky enough to be at Epcot during the Flower and Garden Festival make sure you check out the Flower Power concerts.

Disney World wanted to create an iconic centerpiece to their Animal Kingdom Theme Park. The resulting product - The Tree of Life is nothing short of amazing.

The Tree of Life projects proudly 145 feet into the air with a full set of natural looking leaves. It was built to withstand hurricane force winds and it houses a 420 seat theater within it's trunk.















It's trunk consists of the core structure of an oil drilling platform and a series of diminishing diameter pipes are used to create the complement of branches. But beyond the architectural breakthroughs that were used to create this icon, I believe that the most amazing aspect is the intricate carving of 325 animals into the trunk and branches.

Click on the included pictures to get a better view and see how many you can identify. You'll be amazed how many there really are.

As I have mentioned before, the magic is in the details and this is where Disney World really excels.