If you are an iPhone user and like to find out cool facts and insider secrets when you visit the Orlando theme parks, you will enjoy TimeStream’s Walt Disney World Secrets Gold notescast. Kind of like a podcast, a notescast delivers information straight to your iPod, iPhone or iTunes account. But the great thing about Walt Disney World Secrets Gold is that it can be used as a handy, electronic tour guide that will give you information on the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

The latest update in the Walt Disney World Secrets Gold notescast is the addition of pictures and more information. It only costs $1.99 at the App store but the updates are free and this little gem of an app keeps getting better and better every time new information is added. Another plus: Hidden Mickeys! Hidden Mickeys can be found in every Walt Disney World Resort theme park and even the hotels. A Hidden Mickey is a Mickey Mouse head carefully hidden in décor and even floor patterns. This practice was originally started by Disney Imagineers as a joke. But now, the hunt for Hidden Mickeys has spawned plenty of websites and even guidebooks. Your Walt Disney World Secrets Gold notescast features Hidden Mickey Tour with over 80 certified Hidden Mickey spots.

This notescast has over 200 secrets about the Walt Disney World theme parks and resorts. Learn about the tricks Imagineers used to make the World Showcase Pavillion’s “Eiffel Tower” look true-to-scale. Or find out secrets about Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom. With this great app you can look up anything you want to know in an instant. It definitely beats having to pull out a guide book and search a long index as you thumb through page after page for one little fact. With walking tours, WDW secrets, and the ability to receive frequent updates on all of the latest news from the Disney theme parks, this little app is a great tool to have on hand. If you’re not an iPhone user you can still download the information onto your iTunes and check it out there before heading to the parks.

With four theme parks and over 35 years of history behind it, there is so much to learn about Walt Disney World. And even if you have been to the parks a thousand times, chances are there’s still plenty of interesting Disney World facts you may have never heard before. We ourselves are learning new ones all the time! (See our first ‘Did You Know?’ blog.) So in honor of one of our favorite Orlando theme parks, or rather, several, here’s a sprinkling of even more Disney knowledge to brighten your day.

Magic Kingdom’s Secret Underground Lair

Originally considered a Disney urban legend, the intricate maze of service tunnels underneath Magic Kingdom is a sight that few guests ever get to see. But the Utilidors are 100% real, and they’re responsible for many of the seamless operations that go unseen by guests in the park. For example, have you ever wondered how cast members and characters seem to just randomly appear? They travel through the park via these tunnels, which were first created because Walt Disney was bothered by the sight of a cowboy walking through Disneyland’s Tomorrowland on his way to his post in Frontierland. Today, the Utilidors are also used deliveries and even collection of trash. It all happens under guests’ feet in what is actually the ground floor of Magic Kingdom – the park, unbelievably, is the second level of a massive structure!

Beastly Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom focuses on animals, obviously, but even more specifically, it focuses on three classifications of animals: those that exist today, those that did exist but are now extinct (dinosaurs), and those that exist in legend and mythology. And in the original designs for Animal Kingdom, there was supposed to be an area specifically devoted to this third category called Beastly Kingdom.

The area was supposed to feature mythical creatures like unicorns, dragons, and sea monsters, split into two different realms of good and evil creatures. The plans were all drawn up and the attractions all mapped out, but regrettably, budget limitations prevented the area from being built. In its place, Camp Minnie-Mickey was constructed, and rumor has it that the Imagineers who thought up Beastly Kingdom were laid off and rehired at Universal Islands of Adventure, where they created the coaster Dueling Dragons. Today, however, you can still see remnants of the Beastly Kingdom plans in the form of dragon figures throughout the park, as well as the Unicorn parking lot.

In the Movies

As many older Disney lovers know, Disney’s Hollywood Studios used to be called MGM Studios, and in the heart of those fans, the name change never took place. What many younger folks also might not know, however, is that the park really was a functioning TV and motion picture production facility back in the day – and that that was the Walt Disney Company’s original intention for the Studios. In the late 80s, feature-length films such as Ernest Saves Christmas and Newsies were filmed there prior to its completion and opening as a theme park.
From the early 90s to early 2000s, MGM Studios was also the birthplace of Disney animated films like Mulan, Lilo & Stitch, and Brother Bear, in addition to other Disney projects like the Mickey Mouse Club and Adventures in Wonderland, and many more third-party productions. Even a radio studio is located on the lot, appropriately behind “Sounds Dangerous.”

If you want to learn more about your favorite Disney theme park, one of the best and most fun ways to do that is to visit! Score your Walt Disney World tickets at OrlandoFunTickets.com, and you’ll be on your way to becoming a Disney expert. And in the meantime, stay tuned to our blog for more interesting Disney factoids.

Walt Disney World knows it can be hard to leave your furry friend behind when you come on vacation; that is why the parks offer several kennels for dogs and cats so that guests can enjoy the parks while knowing their pets are safe. Kennels are located at Magic Kingdom (the Ticket and Transportation Center), Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground.

Since the beginning of 2008, all these Disney kennels have been taken over by an industry expert, Best Friends PetCare Inc. A national provider of pet hospitality in the US, Best Friends PetCare Inc. has 44 locations in 18 states. And soon, this leader in kennels will be able to add a luxury pet resort to their list, which is planned to open at Walt Disney World in late 2009.

Best Friends Pet Care Inc. recently signed an agreement to build and operate a full-service, luxury pet “resort.” This facility will cater to park and resort guests as well as Walt Disney World employees, providing a full range of pet hospitality services such as dog and cat boarding, day care and grooming services, and doggy day camp.

Pets will even enjoy luxury and amenities not available at any other Disney kennel. These include luxury suites with television and raised bedding, activities such as nature walks and playgroups, and pampering services including ice cream treats and bedtime stories. The new state-of-the-art pet resort will be located on Bonnet Creek Parkway, close to Epcot and Disney’s Dixie Landings Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort, and Disney’s Old Key West Resort.

"We are thrilled to have this opportunity to come to Walt Disney World Resort to create the premier vacation destination for pets," said Dennis Dolan, president and CEO of Best Friends Pet Care. "This project is still in the design phase, but our goal is to create a true resort destination for pets. This facility will be designed to fit into the Walt Disney World vacation experience and will be unlike anything else in the industry.”

Best Friends PetCare Inc. introduced the concept of a “pet resort” to the industry in 1996. They have been an innovator in services and care options such as luxury suites and doggy day camp programs, which provide opportunities for dogs to play, exercise, and socialize.

Currently, Disney’s kennels provide daytime and overnight boarding, though feeding and walking is only available at the Magic Kingdom, Fort Wilderness, and Epcot Kennels. At Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, guests are required to feed and walk their own pets. All dogs and cats must have proof of certain vaccinations and must be at least 8 weeks old in order to stay at Disney’s kennels. Pets are not currently allowed at Disney Resort hotels, except for designated service animals, of course.

As Disney takes steps to make sure our beloved pets have a nice vacation, don’t forget about your own! Start planning a 2009 trip to Walt Disney World for you and your Fido or feline and remember to save with discount Disney tickets at OrlandoFunTickets.com.

When you are not experiencing the rides or chasing your little one as he chases after Mickey, you should definitely take a moment to relax and enjoy one of the many world-class spas Disney has to offer. After all – it is your vacation too!

Spa treatments are available in many of the Disney resorts, including the Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Coronado Springs Resort in the Disney's Animal Kingdom area, the Boardwalk Inn and Yacht Club Resort in the Epcot area, and the Contemporary Resort and Wilderness Lodge Resort in the Disney's Magic Kingdom area. However, if you want to treat yourself to a special, out-of-this-world spa experience, definitely check out the Mandara Spa at the Walt Disney World Dolphin, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, or Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa.

At the Mandara Spa, you can choose any one of a 100 different treatments in this Balinese-inspired haven. Soak in your very own hydrotherapy Jacuzzi and have warm river stones rolled across your skin; have your skin nurtured by an exotic coconut rub and milk ritual wrap. And to cap off your spa experience, be sure to relax in the tea garden or meditation temple after getting yourself done up in the nail and hair salon.

If you have the teens in tow, don’t fret – Mandara also offers a unique YSpa just for them. Teens can enjoy one of the many treatments specially designed for teen skin and hair – whether it’s the Fabulous Fruity Facial or a Stylin’ Hair Session. The family can even bond at Mandara’s YSpa with special mom and daughter and father and son body treatments.

And at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, ranked one of the best in the United States, guests can experience all the luxury and class that the Disney flagship resort has to offer. Feel the stress of work just melt away with a Bamboo Harmony Massage, a Lavender Vanilla Aromatherapy Bath, or a Detoxifying Body Wrap. The spa also offers special facial, hand, and foot treatments, of course, and if you want to experience a variety of what the spa has to offer, we recommend selecting one of the packages. You can choose an energizing, relaxing, detoxifying, or rejuvenating package – just to name a few!

And if you feel guilty about leaving the kids with a sitter, the Grand Floridian Spa also offers mini-treatments for children ages 4-12 – so even they can get in on the fun and relaxation. They can learn about proper skin care with a My First Facial treatment, or get a mini-massage, manicure, or pedicure. In the meantime, couples can relax together with one of the special couples massage sessions. Receive one together, or sign up for the Couples Instructional Massage, where you’ll learn how to create your own romantic spa experience at home.

Finally, at Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, you’ll find an atmospheric recreation of the healing spas in Saratoga Springs, New York. The spa offers the ultimate in relaxing treatments, from the Adirondack Stone Facial to the Polaris Spring Hydro-Massage, both unique to the Saratoga Springs spa. Kids 4-12 can enjoy their first facial here as well, and mommies-to-be can receive the extra care and attention they need with a special massage therapy.

Best yet, when your day at the spa is done, you can take some of it with you to relive the experience at home; at the Saratoga Springs Spa boutique, you can get their signature Mystical Forest Bath & Body Collection, Amala Skin Care products, and Bath Products and Spa Apparel.

So during your next Disney World vacation, be sure to take advantage of all the Disney experience has to offer – it’s not all fun and games, you know. It’s relaxation and luxury with any one of Disney’s fabulous spas.