The Walt Disney World Resort will celebrate its 40th Anniversary on October 1, 2011.  One of the best places to learn more about the formative times that lead to the development of Disney's Project X is inside of One Man's Dream at Disney Hollywood Studios.

Within this mock-up you can see several of the drawings and proposed layouts that were created.

Welcome to a little bit of Florida here in California.  This is where the planning is taking place for our so called Disney World Project...So the sketches and plans you will see today are simply a starting point--our first overall thinking.  Everything in this room may change time and time again as we move ahead.  But the basic philosophy of what we're planning for Disney World is going to remain very much as it is right now.  We know what our goals are: we know what we hope to accomplish.  And believe me, it's the most exciting and challenging assignment we have ever tackled at Walt Disney Productions.

Today I want to share with you some of our thinking about Disney World.

As the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is set to start the 2011 rendition on September 30th, it is appropriate to think back to past Food & Wine Festivals to discuss favorite features from past festivals that are not part of the upcoming festival.


Samuel Adams History Of Beer
For year after year, one of my personal favorite attractions of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival was the Samuel Adams History Of Beer presentation and complementary beer tasting.  Having been and still continuing to be a fan of Samuel Adams Beers I always looked forward to these presentations that shared some basics of beer making and allowed for tasting of 4 of the Samuel Adams brews.  Each year you could count on finding the Samuel Adams presentation adjacent to the America Pavilion.


In the early days, the Epcot Food & Wine Festival was much more focused on wine tasting and wine education and the Samuel Adams presentation helped give craft brewing a presence at the festival.  It was a welcome site each year to attend the presentation to taste and hear about what Samuel Adams was creating, whether it was their landmark light beer or one of their new seasonal offerings it was always a must do when visiting Epcot during the F&W Festival.

Unfortunately the Samuel Adams History Of Beer presentations stopped being offered after the 2009 Festival.  Although you can still find and taste a wide variety of Samuel Adams beers at the Festival, the FREE beer tasting is no more.  It now joins the ranks of other defunct Epcot attractions, parades, and traditions.

The changes will not keep me from attending the 2011 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival as there continues to be new features and events to looks forward to, but this is certainly one that I miss.

Dining at the Walt Disney World Resort is for many as important as the Disney Characters or Attractions.  There are so many choices at a multitude of unique restaurants that no two vacations have to be the same. 

The Disney FREE Dining Promotion often opens doors to many restaurants that may have been out of a Disney World Guest's budget and gives them the opportunity to explore the varied dining options.  That being said it is important to be able to take full advantage of the Disney FREE Dining opportunity.

Here are some guidelines to follow for those staying in a Disney World Moderate, Deluxe, or Deluxe Villa Resort and receiving the Disney Dining Plan for FREE:


■Eat what you and your family like. Although eating the most expensive items on the menu, make your savings sound impressive, if you don't enjoy the meal it’s not worth it.

■MAKE DINING RESERVATIONS AHEAD OF TIME! This cannot be stressed enough. With nearly everyone getting this deal the restaurants will be crowded and many will not have available space for walk-ups. Call 407-WDW-DINE to make reservations (or go online at: Disney Dining Reservations) before you get to Disney World. Currently you can make them up to 180 days prior to your arrival.

■You will receive 1 Table Service credit, 1 Quick Service Credit, and 1 Snack credit for each person in your room for each NIGHT you are staying.

■Top Table Service Restaurants to consider when using the Disney Dining Plan: Le Cellier (Lunch only), Le Chefs de France, Coral Reef, ‘Ohana, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Crystal Palace, 1900 Park Fare.

■The Dining Credits are given to you as a lump sum when you check in. You may use them as you wish. You are not limited to using just one credit of each type per person per day. If you want to have two Table service meals the first day and zero the next that is fine.

■After each Dining Plan purchase, your receipt will let you know how many of that type of credit you still have remaining.

■You get the most value out of your table service meals if you can use them for dinner.

■If you have young children consider eating at one or more character dining meals. These not only have personal character interaction, but they are buffet style meals. This reduces the wait time for hungry, impatient children.

■Look at the restaurant menus prior to your trip. You can look at: Allears.net for frequently updated menus for Table Service and Quick Service locations.

■By reviewing menus ahead of time you know what kind of food is available at each location and you can plan where you want to eat your Quick Service meals.

■There is much more to eat for quick service meals than hamburgers and fries. For an article about some of the best Quick Service Options: Maximizing Disney World Counter Service Credits.

■Many of the best Quick Service Options provide a lot of food for one credit. Consider sharing a meal at lunch, so that you will have extra Quick Service credits to use for breakfast.

■Snacks are very useful - Don't forget about them. Many people use them for breakfast items - like pastries and danishes. Others love the mid-day desserts and treats. A good rule of thumb is to use the credits instead of using cash whenever the credits can be used.

■If you want to maximize your snack buying power check this article: Maximizing the Disney World Snack Credits.

■Lastly, planning ahead (like you are doing now!) can take the stress out of the Dining Plan and make it what it should be: A great way to enjoy the great Dining experiences that Disney World has to offer.

When Disney held a press conference on Tuesday, September 20th to announce their partnership with James Cameron to bring the fantasy world of AVATAR to the Disney Parks, the Internet was buzzing!  With the specific mention of Disney's Animal Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida specifically targeted to host an entire land based on AVATAR emotions ran high from euphoric to strongly disappointed.

Disney World Fans have a strong loyalty to "their" parks and each has his or her own opinion as to the best way to preserve the elements that "Walt would have wanted" and continue to move forward to keep Disney World as a destination that they want to visit year after year.  This kept fans posting rapidly on Twitter and Facebook sharing the news and their opinions.

The reaction to the AVATAR partnership announcement may have been unprecedented.  The mixed reaction was much different than the one that came after the news of the major Fantasyland Expansion.  That news focused on taking well known Disney Properties and giving them greater exposure utilizing new technologies.  The biggest complaint is that it focused too much on girls, and this was later addressed with modifications that showed the addition of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Ride to appeal to boys as well.

The AVATAR addition brings a foreign element to the world of Disney.  Immediately people will react to that.  One group will recognize the possibilities of embracing a new world (Pandora) and bringing those elements into a Disney Theme Park.  The fact that the story for AVATAR is still evolving since it was mentioned that there are at least two additional movies to be made in the series.  For the optimistic Disney Fan, who trusts in the powers of the Disney Imagineers, they see this as a wonderful addition to broaden the spectrum of was can be experienced at a Disney World Theme Park.

The other side of the coin are those who either did not see the original AVATAR film or were put off by the violence in the film and do not see the fit with Disney.  The unknown is always a concern, but it was pointed out that Disney signed up with George Lucas and his "Indiana Jones" and "Star Wars" franchises relatively early in their developmental phases before they had their own universal appeal.  The joint venture paid off for Disney and their theme park guest in terms of having some great attractions based on those themes.

AVATAR was a visually stunning film, but the story had a mature theme that is not suitable for families with young children to watch together.  Much of the story of the world of Pandora is yet unknown.  This is a different situation then the well defined world of Harry Potter that Universal Studios incorporates into their theme park.

The largely unknown story of Pandora is what creates both excitement and anxiety.  This leads to interesting Internet conjecture.

Tom Skaggs, Chairman of the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, did have some interesting comments posted on the Disney Parks Blog in response to Disney Fan Questions over the announcement:

• "While we’re still in the very early stages of design and planning, we expect this land to be anchored by multiple attractions, entertainment, merchandise locations, restaurants and other immersive elements. Our AVATAR lands will give guests the chance to see, hear and touch the world of Pandora and we can’t wait to dive in with James Cameron and his team as we create new experiences that will delight and thrill our guests."
• "At its core, AVATAR is a film that embraces strong, positive themes of family, loyalty, living in harmony with nature and belief in oneself – all values that we share at The Walt Disney Company. You can be sure that these are the same themes that we will explore throughout our AVATAR lands. They will be places where friends and families can spend time together getting lost in a fantasy world, one of the true hallmarks of any Disney theme park experience. And with two sequels in the works, we feel this is a creative property whose potential is limitless."
• 
  "AVATAR is a uniquely powerful franchise that has global appeal with audiences of all ages. With its spectacular settings, intriguing characters, imaginative creatures and strong themes of family and loyalty, it’s a great fit for the Disney brand and our parks.
  
  
  Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the perfect place for our first AVATAR land because at its core, the park gives guests the opportunity to experience the worlds of animals and nature – real and mythical – in whole new ways. With AVATAR, we’ve found the perfect opportunity to let our guests explore one of the most compelling mythical worlds ever conceived. Animal Kingdom also celebrates adventure, living in harmony with nature and environmental stewardship – themes that are deeply rooted in the story of AVATAR."

Let Optimism Reign Supreme
Disney Fans can choose to be upset and dismissive or treat this announcement with optimism over what the Disney Imagineers can dream up to embrace these new characters and new world.  Personally, I am interested to see what the target age group of these new experiences will be.  Will it be suited for the teens and thrill seeking fans that sometimes feel left out at Disney, or will it be something that families with young children will put at their top of their list to explore this new world?

Disney's Animal Kingdom needs its "Beastly Kingdom" to complete its original vision.  Time will tell if AVATAR provides the setting that exceeds what could be accomplished in the originally thought up land of unicorns and dragons.

Be optimistic and trust in the magic.  Let's all look forward to 2013 as construction begins.

Disney World Guests can discover the Robo-Newz when they visit Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom.  As part of "The Future That Never Was" the Robo-Newz is a robot that claims to have the news  "Up To The Minute" & "Printed While U Wait."

BREAKING NEWS: Disney has just announced that they have reached a long-term creative partnership with James Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment and Fox Filmed Entertainment to bring AVATAR to Disney World!

Plans are being made to created an entire land within Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park dedicated to the world of AVATAR.  Construction will begin by 2013.

Here is an excerpt from the announcement at the Disney Parks Blog:

James and his producing partner Jon Landau and their team at Lightstorm Entertainment will serve as creative consultants on the project and will work side-by-side with our Walt Disney Imagineers as we dream up experiences that will take our guests deep into worlds of AVATAR like never before. There are also two sequels to the record setting first film in the works, which will offer more fascinating stories, characters and locations to explore in the AVATAR universe. Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort is planned as the site of the first AVATAR-themed land with construction expected to begin by 2013.


We believe Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a great fit for this project because it was created to give guests the opportunity to experience the worlds of animals and nature – real and mythical – in new ways. Disney’s Animal Kingdom also celebrates adventure, living in harmony with nature and environmental stewardship – themes that are deeply rooted in the story of AVATAR.

Beastly Kingdom - Re-Imagined!
Since the beginning of Disney's Animal Kingdom there was always intended to be another land based upon the "mythical" creatures tentatively named Beastly Kingdom.  This partership with James Cameron and his fantasy world of AVATAR appears to be the land that we have been waiting for.

Stay tuned to Only WDWorld for further updates and news as it develops.

The Walt Disney World Resort is full of hidden details that few visitors ever notice, but are often right in front of our eyes.  With careful observation (and a ready camera) you can unearth some of these Hidden Details.  Today we look at one of these Hidden Details located in The Great Movie Ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

The Great Movie Ride
The Great Movie Ride is full of hidden details that often take many rides to see and notice.  One such detail is located in the Alien set that recreates a scene from Ridley Scott's 1979 Classic thriller starring Sigourney Weaver.


On one of the monitors located at a low level as you enter the scene, it looks initially like a screen filled with diagnostic numbers and diagrams meant to add authenticity to the spaceship set.


Upon closer inspection, you will discover that the Disney Imagineers sometimes like to have some fun when they put these realistic looking props together.

In looking at the text on the screen we find the following:

"The Nostromo Welcomes All Aliens Today Visiting From The Glendale Galaxy. We hope you have a pleasant stay with us."

The headquarters for Disney Imagineering is headquartered in Glendale, CA for this little inside joke.

Reading further you find this humorous information:

"Goo Viscosity: Very Gooey /  Remarks:  EEEEOOOOO  / Engineer: G. Koch
Time To Next Special Effect Failure:..........45.8 Years"

G. Koch is one of the Imagineers that worked on the attraction.

Hidden Details
This is just one example of the hundreds of Hidden Details throughout the Walt Disney World Resort.  We will continue to bring them to you at Only WDWorld, so that you can find them and point them out to your friends and family during your next Disney World Vacation.

The Walt Disney World Resort is known for its stunning Resort Hotels that are vacation destinations unto themselves.  Not the least of which are the Disney Vacation Club Resorts.  In this article we will look at the Top 6 Disney Vacation Club Resorts located at Disney World.

Disney World Top 6 Disney Vacation Club Resorts
The Disney Vacation Club, aka DVC, is the unique Disney version of timeshare ownership that has become very popular.  Along with this popularity has come a multitude of Resorts that each have qualities to make them people's favorites.  Ranking them is not easy and is sure to delight some and upset others.  Without further adieu here is the Top 6:


6. Old Key West Resort - The original Disney Vacation Club Resort is still home to the most relaxing DVC Resort.  They have truly captured the laid back atmosphere of the Florida Keys.  It is hard to believe that you are still in the center of Disney World.  It really is a 'Home Away From Home."
5. Bay Lake Tower At Disney's Contemporary Resort - The newest DVC Resort At Disney World is the first to be just a monorail ride away from the Magic Kingdom and affords spectacular views of Disney World's first theme park.  Rooftop Lounge is only open to DVC Members staying at this resort and provides a magical way to view Wishes.


4. Boardwalk Resort - The east coast feeling of the Boardwalk has been recreated at this favorite resort of many.  Its close proximity to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios cuts down on the time spent riding the Disney World Buses.  Night Time entertainment on Disney's Boardwalk is literally just outside your door to enjoy.


3. Wilderness Lodge Villas - The feeling of the great American National Park Lodges of the Northwest has been magically created in this beautiful resort.  The imagery is spectacular both inside and out.  The pool area even has its own geyser.  You can't help feeling special when you get to stay somewhere as wonderful as this.


2. Beach Club Resort - Two words: Stormalong Bay!  This eastern seaboard themed resort not only is a short walk from Epcot, but also has what many people consider to be Disney World's 3rd Water Park as its resort pool.  This makes the resort a favorite of families with children during the summer months.  Also a close walk to Disney's Boardwalk and a boat ride to Disney's Hollywood Studios.


1. Animal Kingdom Villas - The Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas provide a unique experience to Disney World and anywhere else.  The masterful architecture of the buildings creates an experience that transports you to Africa in the grandest fashion.  The Resort has its own savannahs populated with Zebras, Giraffes, Ostriches, Ankole Cattle, and more.  The restaurants: Boma, Jiko, and Sanaa are all top notch and provide African flavors that complement the surroundings.  When you are here you may forget about the theme parks at Disney World, it is an amazing resort throughout and worthy of the top spot on our rankings.

At Disney's Hollywood Studios you can have a real dining experience that transports you back to the 50's into the world of Mom's Kitchen and when the TV was still a relatively new invention.  The 50's Prime Time Cafe combines detailed theming to go with a menu filled with comfort food and family favorites like Fried Chicken and Meatloaf.

• Dad's Brownie Sundae
• No Sugar Added Cheesecake
• 50's Boston Cream Parfait
• Seasonal Cobbler
• Ice Cream Sundaes
• S'Mores

It is time again to think about Halloween and Disney World is not waiting for October to get the party started.  Actually September 13th marks the first of 23 Halloween parties that will take place in the Magic Kingdom between now and November 1, 2011.  For those of you will young children don't worry, this party is called Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.  It may not be big on scares, but it sure is big on fun and trick-or-treating for candy!



Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
In what is now a fall tradition Disney World has expanded the Halloween season to the middle of September to allow more Disney World Guests to partake in this fun event.  Party goers young and old are encouraged to dress up in costume and have fun along with all of your favorite Disney Characters who are also in costume for the party.


The Magic Kingdom certainly gets a "Halloween" make-over that is apparent during the day, but it looks extra special at night as the decorations, jack-o-lanterns, and other effects look their best in the night time lighting.  Even the night time fireworks presentation is re-worked to the Halloween theme (called Happy HalloWishes) that makes it extra special.


Boo To You Parade
The highlight of the evening is the Boo To You Parade which is shown twice at each party.  Here you will see special floats and the Disney Characters in special Halloween Costumes.  The Haunted Mansion also gets special representation in this parade with multiple floats.