The Orlando theme parks are always busy debuting brand new shows and attractions during the fall months. That goes for the Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom as well! The hype continues to build surrounding The Princess and the Frog! We love to write about it here at OrlandoFunTickets.com because it’s almost a sure thing this new movie, and new princess, will be a Disney hit for many years to come! Disney has been releasing wonderful merchandise based off of the new movie. We recently told you about the Tiana bridal gown and the gorgeous Halloween costumes for your own little princess. Tiana dolls and figurines are already lining the store shelves and the latest Disney DVD releases all have special features for The Princess and the Frog including sneak previews and featurettes on the making of the picture.

Tiana is the first princess in nearly a decade, the last princess being Mulan. She is also the first Black princess in Disney history! Disney surprised guests by debuting Tiana a bit earlier than they had planned. It’s perfect timing considering the busy holiday season is coming up and thousands of Disney princess fans will be coming to the parks in see Tiana. Just this weekend, the other planned part of the new movie’s promotion debuted as well. Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee debuted at the Magic Kingdom.

The parade begins in Liberty Square as the American colonial-influenced area of the park turns into a Mardi Gras party. Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen and Louis the Alligator, along with the evil Dr. Facillier, walk toward the Liberty Belle steamboat which is docked by the Haunted Mansion. The parade dancers are decked out in green, gold and purple. The girls were wearing saloon-style dressed as they dance with umbrellas and tambourines to the beat of a live jazz band. As the parade boards the Liberty Belle the boat takes off for a tour around the river as songs from The Princess and the Frog play and performers dance with sashes and women’s tambourines. The parade is a great addition to the Magic Kingdom and a wonderful way to promote the film. Make sure you try to catch a performance if you’re in the parks during this time of year.

You can expect to lots of brand new merchandise hitting the Disney theme parks pretty soon! OrlandoFunTickets.com has been writing about Disneys upcoming movie The Princess and the Frog, we also wrote about Toy Story 3 and touched on the upcoming Disney version of Rapunzel. Now we have yet another animated film to announce, and fans of a certain loveable bear will be ecstatic to hear it! At a press conference in London’s Leicester Square, Walt Disney Animation/Pixar COO John Lasseter announced the next film after The Princess and the Frog will be about the adorable characters from The Hundred Acre Wood—Winnie the Pooh! This will be the first time in 35 years that the Winnie the Pooh characters have been part of a feature animated film, so it’s about time we get to see Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet and Rabbit come back for more adventures.

John Lasseter said: "Winnie the Pooh has already been one of my favorite characters. Everyone always thinks Winnie the Pooh is for little kids but I screened original prints of the two Disney films and what's interesting was how they made a theatre full of adults laugh so hysterically."

The movie will be based on five original stories by the creator of Winnie the Pooh, AA Milne. Pooh is reportedly the second most licensed character after Mickey Mouse. While Disney has released certain Pooh movies in the recent past, they haven’t been successful. The 3D animation style wasn’t well received with fans used to the traditional Pooh cartoons of the 1960’s. So when Lasseter announced the new feature film, he made sure to point out they would be returning to traditional animation for the loveable animal characters. While the movie won’t come out until the Spring of 2011, you can still enjoy Winnie the Pooh characters at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is an adorable ride where you travel in a “hunny” pot through the forest with Pooh’s friends. Though there was a bit of a ruckus caused when Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride had to close for this ride, but the Pooh ride has been successful ever since! It seems like traditional Disney animation is back and so is Winnie the Pooh.

There are plenty of awards ceremonies for certain aspects of the Orlando theme parks. The Golden Ticket Awards are just one of the ways parks are honored for achievements like best dark ride, friendliest staff and best rollercoaster. The Disney Company has its own way of honoring the people behind the parks. It takes thousands of people to make sure the Disney theme parks run smoothly for the guests that go through the gates every day, but it takes an even larger crew to create the Disney parks people visit and the movies people see. Those crews are honored by the Disney Legends Awards.

The awards were created in 1987 by Robert Iger and Roy E. Disney at The Walt Disney Studios to honor animators, songwriters, actors, Imagineers and business leaders that help the Disney machine run smoothly year after year. In 1997 Disneyland Paris got its own version of the awards to honor the European Disney leaders. There are three elements to the Disney Legend award’s statue. The spiral represents the imagination and the power of ideas. The hand represents the gifts of skill and the discipline required for good craftsmanship, and the wand and star represent the magic of imagination and skill combined to form a new dream.

There are plenty of Disney legends already inducted into this hall of fame. 2009 brought in a new class of equally talented Disney stars. Two men that voiced classic Disney characters are part of the list this year. Tony Anselmo, the voice of everyone’s favorite cranky bird Donald Duck, was inducted alongside Bill Farmer, the voice of Goofy. Inductee Robin Williams, famous for his variety of acting roles in movies like Night at the Museum, Jumanji and The Bird Cage, was also the voice of the Genie in Disney’s Aladdin. America’s Golden Girls were also inducted. We lost Estelle Getty, who played Sophia on the Golden Girls, last year. This year we lost Bea Arthur, who played Dorothy. Rue McClanahan (Blanche) and Betty White (Rose) survived Bea and Estelle, but all four of them still received their Legends award. New people are inducted into the Disney Legends group every year and the list of legends grows. It’s great to see the talented members of the Disney community honored for their achievements, even if a lot of them are behind the scenes!

Blu-ray revolutionized the way people watch movies. DVD was a step up from VHS and now Blu-ray has been a giant leap up from the DVD system. Crystal clear quality, incredible sound and beautiful images are all worth the more expensive Blu-ray discs and players available on the electronics market. Disney recently began to release its classic movies on the Blu-ray format, starting off with Sleeping Beauty. Pinocchio, Fantasia, Fantasia 2000 and Beauty and the Beast are all in the supposed lineup of Disney’s next Blu-ray offerings. When Sleeping Beauty was released on the high definition format the reviews were unanimously positive. What is already considered one of Walt Disney’s most beautiful films was restored to a clarity and quality never seen before. As with every special release there were never-before-seen featurettes regarding the making of Sleeping Beauty and other unique content.

Now for Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, fans of the original Disney princess will get a chance to see the movie restored to Blu-ray quality and get amazing inside looks on the classic Walt Disney film. Snow White fans will get to see new storyboards, two deleted scenes and a music video for “Someday My Prince Will Come.” Along with those extras they will be able to get a sneak peak at what is sure to become the next Disney classic, The Princess and the Frog. Right here in Orlando, Walt Disney World is gearing up for the release of the classic on Blu-ray with special events at the parks.

Over at the Disney theme parks, especially the Magic Kingdom, you will be able to get an extra dose of Snow White as Disney prepares for the movie’s release. The Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort is now holding a “pre-parade” where Snow White and Prince Charming lead the “Celebrate a Dream Come True” parade in order to promote the Blu-ray edition of the 1937 film. Along with Snow White on Blu-ray Disney is also promoting Toy Story 3 and The Princess and the Frog. This is a great season to check out the Disney theme parks. There are special events happening everywhere!

Disney is going for a double-hitter this holiday season. Not only are they releasing The Princess and the Frog, they are also releasing their version of A Christmas Carol. Starring Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, and Colin Firth, the film was directed by award-winning filmmaker Robert Zemeckis. In order to promote the movie, Disney will be sending a custom-made vintage replica train around the nation to bring the Disney’s A Christmas Carol experience to 40 cities in 36 states.

This is a great activity for families of all ages and best of all it’s free! Everyone is going through tough times in this economy and this special Disney event is a great way to experience the Disney magic without having to fork over any cash. This train tour will be both a moving museum and theatre. Dolby will be providing Dolby Digital 3D Cinema for people that visit the touring exhibit to get an exclusive sneak peek at Disney’s A Christmas Carol on DP2000 digital projection. Along with getting the sneak preview of the movie, the exhibit will feature authentic artifacts from the Charles Dickens Museum of London. Artwork, props and costumes will be featured along with contests to win HP computers and wireless printers. As you explore the wonderful exhibit you will be surrounded by 'snow,' carolers and Christmas decorations. Dick Cook, the chairman of the Walt Disney Studios, thinks this is a great way to introduce families to the upcoming film.

"Disney's A Christmas Carol Train Tour is an incredibly fun way to introduce families across the country to the wonders and spectacle that is Robert Zemeckis' unique and spectacular new holiday film…From Los Angeles to New York, and all points in between, guests are going to have a fabulous time discovering things about the making of this extraordinary film, participating in their own festive fantasies, and getting into the holiday spirit all year round. Disney's A Christmas Carol is great entertainment for moviegoers of all ages, and this is the perfect introduction to a fun and exciting new holiday classic."

Along with The Princess and the Frog this is going to be a great movie year for Disney. We can’t wait to see both films.

Over at the Walt Disney World Resort Magic Kingdom, fans of classic Disney characters like Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Pluto can visit Mickeys Toontown Fair. This adorable section of the Magic Kingdom, located near Fantasyland, has a country fair theme and features adorable décor that fits the Toontown name. The Toontown Fair takes up 2 acres of the Magic Kingdom and was opened in 1988 to celebrate Mickey Mouse’s 60th birthday. Since then it has gone through a few name changes before arriving at its current Toontown Fair name.

In Toontown you can visit both Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse’s house. Each of the adorable homes has oversized, brightly colored furniture that your kids are allowed to climb on. As you wind through the adorable houses and see the famous mouse couple’s personal belongings, you eventually make it out into the backyard where Mickey and Minnie await you in a cute gazebo. Here you can take pictures with the famous Disney figures and get your autograph book signed.

If you want to take a ride you can visit Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm to go on the kid-friendly Barnstormer Coaster. Families may also appreciate the Walt Disney World Railroad, where you can take a 15-20 minute ride around the park on an authentic steam train that stops at Frontierland and Main Street USA. Along with shops, a fruit stand and the Toontown Hall of Fame where you can meet Disney heroes and heroines, Toontown is a popular Magic Kingdom spot. But with the upcoming Fantasyland expansion, what will happen to it?

Dumbo’s Circus is going to take up most of the land where Toontown is. Goofy’s Barnstormer will most likely be re-themed into a Dumbo-related ride, but Mickey and Minnie will have to relocate! Their new home will be at the Town Square Exhibition Hall at Main Street USA. Sure the cute houses won’t be there, but fans will be able to meet the mouse couple indoors in a more comfortable atmosphere. Orlando can have some crazy weather from pouring rain to weird cold snaps, so it will be great to meet the Magic Kingdom’s mascots indoors.

We all know how important it is to volunteer and serve your community to help those that need it in this tough world. Now Disney is trying to get the entire country to realize how important it is to volunteer…by giving potential “VoluntEARS” one of the best incentives around! Starting January 1, 2010, citizens can sign up for one day of volunteer service. Once you complete your day of volunteer service and have proof of your efforts, you will get one day’s admission to one park in Disneyland or the Walt Disney World Resort. So not only will you get the reward of a job well done and helping someone in need, you’ll get the reward of getting into Disney for free - awesome, right?

Disney is partnering with the HandsOn Network. This is the largest volunteer group in the nation. The HandsOn Network has 250 Hands In Action Centers that will be helping Disney facilitate this great program. Even Annual Pass holders will be able to benefit from this great program. You will be eligible to receive a Disney FastPass, an Ear Hat figurine with special trading pins or you also have the option of donating your ticket to a non-profit organization.

To further promote this great program, Disney is launching a “Cheers to Volunteers” sweepstakes. Five day trips for four will be given away for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World with Southwest Airlines pitching in for the transportation section of the contest. With President Obama calling on Americans to volunteer and give back to the community as well, it seems all of America is trying to get into the giving spirit. Jay Rasulo, the chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, wants to get as many volunteers invested in serving the community as possible.

“In 2010, we want to recognize and add one more reason for celebration: the contributions people make to their communities every day,” said Jay Rasulo. “We want to inspire one million volunteers – people who will invest time and energy to make their own communities and neighborhoods a better place.”

The Give a Day Get a Day program sounds like a great way to start. Where will you be volunteering?

When you think of glamorous cities, does Orlando come to mind? We are sure you probably think of New York and Paris before the theme park capital even comes close to popping up in your head. Well thanks to the legendary Waldorf Astoria hotel from New York, Orlando will be getting a dose of luxury over in Bonnet Creek. Nestled close to the Walt Disney World Resort, this beautiful hotel will provide visitors a decadent escape from the Orlando theme park madness, theme restaurants and theme hotels.

Going to the parks is great, but knowing you get to go home to a luxurious hotel room after a long day of riding fun attractions (and having to deal with their long lines) is even better. Orlando’s Waldorf Astoria is only the second Waldorf Astoria in the world and the first of the hotels to be a resort. Much like the New York Waldorf Astoria on Park Avenue, you will find beautiful rooms and décor including a marble floor lobby with sky blue domed ceilings and a replica of the clock in the New York location. This clock made of wood and nickel also chimes every 15 minutes and uses the same tone as the original clock in NYC.

The prices of the hotel rooms aren’t a bad deal either. Prices this fall will start at around $200, much cheaper than in New York. While this lucky price streak reverses in March (the Orlando Waldorf Astoria will have rooms starting at $330 while the NYC rooms will be $240) you can’t beat that price for the chance to stay in the hotel of hotels. There are a few unique Florida features at the Bonnet Creek Waldorf. For example, the patio and its furniture are built to withstand hurricanes and instead of getting views of New York City you’ll get incredible views of the hotel’s multiple golf courses and beautiful pools.

The Waldorf Astoria’s general manager thinks this is the best time to open the Orlando branch considering the additions of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Universal Studios Orlando and the massive expansion of Fantasyland over at the Magic Kingdom.

"The next foreseeable five or six years are going to be dynamic in Orlando," said General Manager R. Michael King. "We're here at an opportune moment when that's happening." This is sure to be a hit with luxury travelers!

We are a long way from Anaheim here in Orlando, but we can still get in on the Disney fun at the Walt Disney World Resort. But now even Anaheim Disney fans will have to make a trip up to San Francisco to see the newest addition to the Disney family of attractions, the Walt Disney Family Museum. No there aren’t any rides or parades at this formal museum, but for fans of the man that created Mickey Mouse himself, getting to Walt Disney Family Museum is going to be a trip worth taking.

The Walt Disney Family Museum is gearing up for its grand opening on October 1st of 2009. Like any museum there will be permanent galleries and touring exhibits of personal artifacts from Walt Disney’s life and his family’s life. Of course, you can’t think of Walt and not think of the mouse, so there will be a great element of Disney characters featured in the museum—just not in the way you may think. Unlike the Disney theme parks you will find less bright colors and more of a learning environment. Expect to see Walt’s early sketches of Mickey as well as learn about his journey toward becoming one of the most legendary animators and creators of all time.

The Presidio will be the location of this great new venture. With five barrack buildings featuring exhibits, a museum store and a museum café with organic, local foods catered by Wolfgang Puck this is going to be a Disney experience with a high level of sophistication. Perhaps the coolest part of the new Walt Disney Family Museum is the Museum Campus. This building is a huge 20,000 square foot space of glass and steel that connects three floors of educational opportunities. Guests of the museum will get to take classes on computer animation as well as learn the art techniques that made the classic animated Disney films the legends that they are today. The Walt Disney Family Museum has been a long time coming and it’s going to be great to get to learn about the man that made the mouse from a different perspective. Now we just need to get to San Francisco!

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.

Mother knows best, right? Well at the Walt Disney World Resort moms definitely know best with the Walt Disney World Moms Panel. Going to Disney for the first time can be a daunting experience especially for those with young children. Trying to figure out what to pack or thinking of something as simple as figuring out where to eat is hard to do when you have to please a family—so why not let the moms help you out?

The Disney Mom’s Panel has an online forum where they offer advice about all sorts of things related to the Disney parks, hotels, shopping and even the Disney Cruise Line. Every year a new panel of moms is selected to work as correspondents for the Walt Disney World Resorts. They can be your source of info if you don’t want to speak to a travel agent and would rather speak to someone who knows, first hand, what traveling to the Disney parks is all about.

So what kinds of questions can the Disney Mom’s Panel help you out on? How about starting with the parks themselves. Whether you are visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Epcot or the Magic Kingdom, the moms will help you figure out what’s the best way to navigate the parks and where to begin. Because the moms help guests through an online forum, you can ask whatever question you want and you will receive a number of replies, not only from official panelists, but from other guests of the forum as well.

If you’re looking to make a reservation at one of Disney’s fantastic restaurants, the moms can help you on questions regarding dietary restrictions and which restaurant is the most kid friendly. Thinking of catching a fireworks show but not sure if you will be able to bring your stroller? Ask the moms panel. Don’t know if The Haunted Mansion is too scary for the little ones? Ask the moms panel. This valuable resource has become a mainstay in the Disney community.

If you would like to be a Disney Mom, applications for new panelists are accepted every year. As a panelist not only would you get to work on the forum, you would also get to attend special Disney events and report on them for the site. Just recently, the Disney Moms were at the unveiling of the new Hall of Presidents and the opening of the new Animal Kingdom restaurant Sanaa. If you would like to apply for the Disney Mom’s Panel, check out the applications and see if it’s a job for you!

Disney theme parks are incredibly fun, but they are also incredibly big! The Walt Disney World Resort parks are huge and can take up an entire day if you plan to see every attraction possible. But the size of these theme parks can create many safety issues that can affect the entire family. So we’re here to bring you some tips to keep the entire family safe while on your visit to the Orlando theme parks whether you visit Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld or any other attraction.

One of the best things to do once you enter the park is pick up a map. Take some time with your group to get oriented on where everything is and pick a spot where you can meet up in case the group becomes separated. Nowadays it’s easier to find each other thanks to technology like cellphones, but for children that don’t have these tools picking a meet up spot is important. If your child is very young, you can put a sticker on the meetup place and instruct the child to tell a cast member their parents are waiting for them at that spot in case they get lost.

When you are entering busy lines try to keep your family together. It’s easy to separate while everyone is making the rush toward the ride entrance. A lot of this has to do with being polite. A simple “excuse me” or asking someone to let your group enter in an orderly fashion goes a long way. If there is a taller member of the group or you are traveling in a family unit, have one person assume the responsibility of letting the younger ones in first before entering the line and as always, thank the people around you.

Thanks to modern technology, strollers have become an even safer option to transport your kids within the park. Big Leap GPS has partnered with Orlando Stroller Rentals to provide you with the ultimate experience in safety technology. If anything were to happen to your stroller you would be able to utilize the GPS tracking system to locate it. But technology can only do so much.

Common sense plays a big part in park safety. Don’t leave small children unattended. Make sure you pay attention to all safety regulations provided by the parks before going on a ride. If you have health conditions or you are pregnant, getting on thrill rides is the worst possible thing you can do! To make sure your trip to the Orlando theme parks is fun, follow the rules and stay together—that’s the best safety tip of all.

Not everything in the Walt Disney World Resort has to be done early. Unlike other Orlando theme parks, the Walt Disney World Resort takes advantage of their customers wanting to spend as much time in the parks as possible. Most people come to Orlando on vacation and who likes to wake up early during their vacation when you can sleep in and charge up for the day? For the night owls out there, the Disney parks have Extra Magic Hours available to all guests of the Walt Disney World Resorts.

Here’s how it works. If you’re staying in a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you’ll be given special access to stay at the park three hours after it closes. Just approach a cast member at the wristband locations set up throughout the parks with your hotel key and admission ticket for a wristband. Once the park closes during its official hours, everyone without a wristband must leave. This will weed out a large majority of the crowd and make certain park attractions easier to visit. Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom and EPCOT all participate in the Extra Magic Hours. Many times you will be able to ride your favorite attractions back to back as the lines are greatly diminished.

Most of the parks most popular attractions remain open at this time. At EPCOT, rides like Soarin’, Mission Space and the Gran Fiesta Mexico ride remain open. Tower of Terror, Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster and Star Tours are open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom maintains Splash Mountain, It’s A Small World and the Haunted Mansion operating for the Extra Magic Hours time. If you aren’t sure what is open during your time in the parks, just ask a Disney cast member for assistance.

Another great bonus of staying late is the characters. The lines for character greetings and photo opportunities will be far shorter than they are during the day. Nights also provide relief from the warmer day temperatures one might experience in Orlando, so waiting in line will be a lot less troublesome. You’ll be able to get photos with many characters you don’t see in the parks earlier during the day. Late night Extra Magic Hours are a great way to experience the Disney parks without the larger crowds, so make sure you check out the Walt Disney World Resort hotels to ensure you can get in on the fun.

Making sure you get the best photos out of your Orlando theme parks vacations is an essential element of making a good trip great. Thanks to the PhotoPass system, getting the best pictures from your trip is a breeze! Participating in the PhotoPass system at the Walt Disney World Resort is as easy as tracking down any Disney cast member with a camera around their neck. Usually located around the best spots for a snapshot in the parks, this cast member will offer to take a free photo of you and your group. Instead of handing you a slip and directing you to a certain shop to go pick up your family picture, you are given a credit card-sized PhotoPass. This handy item is your ticket to an array of photo options later on in the day.

Thinking of riding Test Track at Epcot or Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom? Most of the larger rides in the parks now contain kiosks that allow you to swipe your PhotoPass and save your souvenir photo directly onto the card. With one quick swipe you are ready to go off to the next ride, so the PhotoPass saves you a lot of time since you no longer have to wait in line.

So what happens once you’ve taken a few photos and want to take a look at them? Located at the center of every Walt Disney World park is a photo center headquarters, so make sure you check your maps or ask a cast member for the photo center closest to you. Your pictures are good for 30 days after they are taken, so these photo centers allow you a number of options for printing and saving your pictures from the card.

Along with prints, you can make and order a variety of lovely souvenir items with your photos. The Disney PhotoPass system is constantly updating their custom souvenir website with new and unique options. Make a puzzle out of your Cinderella Castle snapshot, or a calendar out of your meetings with Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. Of course, regular prints of various sizes are available to order as well.

If you want more traditional options, Kodak Picture Maker Kiosks are also located in the parks, usually within the photo centers themselves. You can burn up to 120 photos from your PhotoPass or even your camera’s memory card onto a CD, or directly print out 4X6 prints on the spot.

Whichever option you choose, the Disney PhotoPass is a great addition to Walt Disney World Resort. Thanks to the PhotoPass, making unique souvenirs out of your gorgeous photos is as easy as swiping a credit card!

When visiting the Orlando theme parks for your Fourth of July vacation, there is no better place to feel patriotic than the Hall of Presidents at Magic Kingdom Theme Park. After months of high-tech renovations and the addition of one very special figure, you will want to make sure you head to Liberty Square within Magic Kingdom this upcoming weekend!

The Hall of Presidents is BACK, and better than ever! With a refreshed look and feel, the Hall of Presidents will reopen this Fourth of July weekend with some spectacular new updates. After having its biggest make-over in its 38-year history, guests will be awed by the newest and most life-like addition yet to this famous attraction, the 44th President of the United States Barack Obama. The current president has been added to the other "living" audio-animatronic presidents, from throughout history - Washington, Lincoln, Bush, Clinton, and all of the other historical figures. But, the Obama figure is in a true league of its own!

Obama's animatronic figure has set some new standards for the Presidents in this hall. President Obama, himself, actually has a very hands-on approach to helping to create this life-like figure. Obama not only provided his voice, as did other Presidents such as George Bush and Bill Clinton, but he actually got measured for the part! From his mannerisms to his expressions to his overall body-type, Disney measured Obama to a "T" to get the perfect replica of this historically iconic president. "The audio-animatronic Obama purses its lips to pronounce it's b's and p-'s in a way frighteningly evocative of the real one, and raises its hands, open-palmed, while shruggling its shoulders, in a way that can only be described as Obamaesque. Even the president's wedding ring, with its braided design, has been recreated," wrote Jacques Steinberg.

The animatronic Obama will come to life on the Fourth of July along with the rest of the redesigned attraction. New music, multi-speaker sound systems, visual techniques, and a brand new storyline (narrated by famous actor Morgan Freeman), will all add to this tribute to the American Presidents. Also adding to the overall experience will be a completely new dialogue for President Abe Lincoln. At the opening, Abe Lincoln will recite the Gettysburg Address in its entirety for all to hear. Also, President George Washington will have a speaking role for the first time.

For a true patriotic experience this Fourth of July, make sure you stop by Magic Kingdom Park's Hall of Presidents. Get chills as you hear the life-like, first-ever black President, Obama recite his oath of office, former President Abe Lincoln recite the Gettysburg Address, and as all of the past and present Presidents of the United State state the Constitution in unison. To see this patriotic reopening of this famous attraction get your Disney tickets ahead of time with OrlandoFunTickets.com! Have a great Fourth of July!

Have you ever visited Walt Disney World, opted not to get a great souvenir or toy, and then regretted it later? Or perhaps you wanted to make a visit to the park already decked out in Mickey ears and a fun Disney shirt, but you couldn’t find the right apparel online or in stores. Well, Disney fans can now rejoice - Walt Disney World is now offering its famous theme park merchandise online.

“We are delighted to be able to offer this great experience and convenience to our loyal guests who can now go to DisneyStore.com and purchase that forgotten item, one that was too large to carry or one that will make their Disney vacation all that more magical, like autograph books, which are great to have in advance,” said Edward Kummer, senior vice president of Disney Global E-Commerce. “Many of these products are among the most frequently asked for by our guests and now they are available to them at the click of a mouse.”

Before, you could only visit in-park spots like Epcot’s Mouse Gear, Magic Kingdom’s Emporium, Hollywood Studios’ Mickey’s of Hollywood, and Animal Kingdom’s Mombasa Marketplace to find particular character souvenirs, unique park apparel, and other fun park merchandise like Disney pins. Now, however, Disney lovers can simply visit DisneyStore.com (formerly DisneyShopping.com) to peruse more than 100 top-selling products previously available only at U.S. Disney parks. These include customizable novelty hats, birthday gifts, exclusive art, collectibles, toys, and plush items. And the products available will only grow throughout the year as the store adds special Disney theme park items just in time for the holidays.

At DisneyStore.com, guests can find a gift, shop by category, shop by character, and even personalize and create their own park merchandise. Guests can also locate Disney stores across the U.S. and have address and phone information sent to their e-mail address or cell phone.

Of course, just because you can now visit DisneyStore.com doesn’t mean park visitors should completely bypass the fun of shopping for souvenirs while visiting the parks. However, knowing that you can go online later and purchase an item, should you need time to consider whether you want it or not, definitely takes the pressure off Walt Disney World shopping.

And just as a heads up, you don’t have to pass up getting that special Walt Disney World gift for yourself or someone else just because the package is heavy. At each of the four parks, merchandise can be moved to the front entrance of the park for pick up at no charge, and it can also be delivered to Walt Disney World resorts at no charge as well. Shipping is also available for an additional charge at time of purchase.

So don’t hesitate to go on a shopping spree – whether it’s from the comfort of your computer or from within the Disney theme parks! We especially recommend logging on to get a pair of personalized Mickey Mouse ears, which you can rock on your next visit to Walt Disney World. And be sure to get your Walt Disney World tickets for said visit right here on OrlandoFunTickets.com, your #1 online shopping destination for discount Orlando theme park tickets.

Do not panic - but hurricane season is upon us Floridians, bringing with it the potential of rainy and windy days in Orlando. The hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 with the rainy season generally lasting all summer and bringing a daily afternoon shower. It’s not a reason to forgo your summer vacation or trade in your Disney tickets, but it’s always a good idea to be prepared for ugly weather when you’re traveling to the Sunshine State, which, rain or shine, is always fun.

First, it’s not rare for showers to last all day in Central Florida during the summer, but as long as you’ve got the right equipment, it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun at Walt Disney World. When visiting the parks, it’s a very good idea to have a backpack where you can store umbrellas, ponchos, and an extra set of dry clothes and shoes. However, if you’ve forgotten to bring these, don’t fret; the park has ponchos a plenty, and we especially recommend them as the best armor against the rain. Ponchos are available in child and adult sizes and even come in fun Disney character designs. Once you’ve bought one, slide it on and go on about your fun as if it wasn’t raining at all!

When it rains, there are certain attractions that close down, such as Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom, Test Track at Epcot, and most outdoor shows, among others. However, there are plenty of indoor shows, rides, and exhibits to keep you busy when this happens, such as Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom, The Art of Disney Animation at Epcot, and Muppet Vision 3D at Hollywood Studios. Plus, you can always enjoy a sit down meal at a Disney restaurant while you wait out the rain, or go shopping for souvenirs.

Now, there’s one time when we don’t recommend running around in the rain at Walt Disney World, and that’s when there’s a hurricane warning. If - knock on wood - Florida does happen to be affected by a hurricane, Disney resort guests can take some comfort in the fact that they can call in advance to reschedule or cancel their reservations within 7 days of their arrival, should the National Hurricane Center issue a hurricane warning for the Orlando area.

If you’re already in town when a hurricane is about to hit, rest assured that Disney is #1 when it comes to hurricane preparedness. It was even the first theme park to be recognized by the National Weather Service as a StormReady Community in 2006.

When a hurricane approaches, the parks and hotels put their emergency plans into place, closing down the parks and tying everything down. Hotel guests are asked to stay in their rooms, or they are evacuated to a more secure location, as is the case with the Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Then it’s just a matter of hunkering down and enjoying some complimentary Disney movies on TV while the storm blows over.

The most important thing with inclement weather in Orlando, however, is never to let it ruin your vacation. After all, rain isn’t all bad – just recently, for example, storm clouds provided the cover for a rare daytime hatching of loggerhead sea turtles near Disney’s Vero Beach Resort.
So if you plan on coming to Orlando this summer, pack an umbrella or poncho, but get ready to have just as much fun as you would any other time of the year. Even wet days at the Disney parks are great – so get your Walt Disney World tickets from OrlandoFunTickets.com today!

One Mans Dream, an exhibit at Disney Hollywood Studios documenting the life of Walt Disney and his legacy through photos, artifacts, and film, is a longtime favorite of park-goers at Walt Disney World. Located in the Animation Courtyard area of the park, this museum-like attraction takes guests on a trip through time from Disney’s 1901 birth in Chicago to his creation of some of the most innovative inventions and visions that still continue to touch us today. And just as Disney’s dreams come to life, the parks, keep improving, One Man’s Dream has gotten a fresh makeover thanks to D23, a new Disney community created especially for fans.

Now sporting a sign on its marquee that reads, “D23 Welcomes You,” the exhibit’s change of hands to D23 signals that One Man’s Dream will now celebrate the fans, who are equally important to the Disney legacy.

“D23 is the ultimate Disney fan community and One Man's Dream is the ultimate attraction tribute to Walt Disney in our parks, so they fit together perfectly,” explained Eric Jacobson, senior vice president of Walt Disney Imagineering, whose team thought of partnering with D23 on the endeavor. “One Man's Dream showcases the history of Walt Disney and The Walt Disney Company and gives our Guests a look at what is new around the world and a sneak peak at what's coming. D23 has a similar mission for its members.”

But the result of this partnership isn’t just the addition of a new sign. Along with new D23 theming, the exhibit will now offer a new display case featuring the room of a Disney fan, adding to the extensive collection of Disney history on display.

The new display case features items that have been pulled from the Walt Disney Archives, but which are real pieces a Disney fan might own. There’s the Ultimate WALL·E, a “Treasures of the Archives” lithograph, and the five-Mickey pin set, which was the very first Walt Disney Archives Collection item.

“Plus, a lot of the books are favorites for us in the Archives, like Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, The Disney Poster Book, and of course from the Disney Archives, Disney A to Z by our very own Dave Smith!” said Becky Cline, manager of the Walt Disney Archives and a D23 team member.

Other artifacts from the Archives on display in One Man’s Dream include Jimmie Dodd's Mouseguitar from the 1955 Mickey Mouse Club, original props from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and Walt Disney's working office, in addition to his second-grade school desk.

You don’t need to be a D23 member to enjoy the exhibit, but if you’re interested in joining, a one-year charter membership costs $74.99. Members receive the special Disney Twenty-Three quarterly publication, a membership card and certificate, a surprise collectible gift, offers for exclusive special events and merchandise throughout the year, a subscription to the bi-weekly D23 FanFare e-newsletter, and an invitation to the D23 Expo, the ultimate Disney fan convention taking place in Anaheim, California on September 10, 2009.

Many Disney fans, however, will instead opt to visit the One Man’s Dream exhibit, a fascinating collection of Disney history that really puts a day at Walt Disney World in perspective. After all, it all started with a mouse.

So be sure to check out the new additions to Hollywood Studios’ One Man’s Dream, a great attraction for any Disney fan. Book your Walt Disney World tickets at OrlandoFunTickets.com, and you’ll be on your way to stepping inside one great man’s world.

For the past few months, Disney Typhoon Lagoon has been taking advantage of the chilly winter temperatures and has been closed for some refurbishment and rehab. But the weather is now heating up, and the park is ready to open its doors for summertime fun in the sun. One of two water parks at Walt Disney World, Typhoon Lagoon is packed with fun for the whole family, and it will finally open for the 2009 season this Sunday, March 22.

When guests come across the 56-acre Typhoon Lagoon, they’ll find an island getaway that, according to Disney legend, has been turned topsy-turvy by a raging typhoon. During the disturbance, surfboards were hurled into palm trees, and the hapless Miss Tilly shrimp boat was swept onto Mount Mayday, which to this day, still sits precariously impaled at the top of the volcano. Ever since, Typhoon Lagoon has become a tropical retreat full of waterslides, rivers, rapids, and slides surrounding the mountain. Adding to the fun and mystique, every half hour, Miss Tilly’s whistle blows and the volcano attempts to dislodge the boat, causing an enormous geyser of water to shoot into the sky.

Nine waterfalls, a children’s play area, a Surf Pool with 6-foot waves, and a Shark Reef with real sharks and colorful fish are just some of the amazing attractions at Typhoon Lagoon. Guests can beat the heat on the winding waters of Castaway Creek, take the plunge down 3 different exhilarating waterslides, and relax on the white shores of Sandy White Beach. The whole family can even slide down a huge raft on Gang Plank Falls, a 300-foot long waterslide passing down the mountain. Just watch out for the rock formations and special effects!

And while before, guests could enjoy only body surfing in the waves at Typhoon Lagoon, the park will now offer reservation-only surfing sessions with boards before and after park hours. With Cocoa Beach Surf School, guests can learn the basics of surfing from professional instructors during a 2.5 hour early-morning class on select days. Instruction begins on land and then moves into the water on boards provided by the surf school. Each class is limited to 12 to 14 participants.

The Lagoon will also now be available for private surf events; accomplished surfers can hold events with custom surfing waves either on mornings with Cocoa Beach Surf School isn’t in session or after normal operating hours.

Though the 2.75-million gallon wave pool is definitely a centerpiece of Typhoon Lagoon, you’ll want to explore every inch of this incredible water park, from its rollercoaster-like water slides to the exciting waterfalls and raft rides. And the experience will be even more fun when you save on your Typhoon Lagoon tickets from OrlandoFunTickets.com. Or, add the Water Park Fun & More option to your Walt Disney World tickets for even more summer fun savings. No matter how you go about it, a day at Typhoon Lagoon is a guaranteed to give you a fun, refreshing, and wild ride.

There doesn not seem to be anything that can not be done on the internet these days. A person can buy stocks, groceries, and furniture, take an art class, and find a date for Saturday night. And now, Walt Disney World is jumping onto the internet convenience bandwagon with new services and tools that makes planning and taking a Disney vacation even easier.

One such service is online check-in, which was launched earlier this week for Disney resort. A completely free service available to all guests staying at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels and Disney Vacation Club resorts, online check-in is designed to simplify and streamline guest arrivals.

Here’s how it all works: within ten days of their arrival, guests go online and provide check-in information, let the resort know what time they’ll be arriving, and give their room preferences (though they can’t always be guaranteed). Guests can also provide the names of all the people in their party as well as a credit card to cover resort charges. Then when they arrive, instead of proceeding to the check-in desk, guests visit a special welcome location where their room keys and other registration material are waiting. Should they have any questions when they arrive, Disney cast members will be available to provide information.

“Our new Online Check-In Service offers added convenience and time savings for Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests,” said Kevin Myers, vice president of Resort Operations for Walt Disney World Resort. “It’s the latest benefit created as part of our continuous effort to provide a seamless and hassle-free arrival experience for our guests as they begin their Disney vacation.”

And if that wasn’t hassle-free enough, Walt Disney World also recently launched a new element on its website to make planning a Disney trip a little easier and more memorable. Now, guests can go online and use a new Web planner to learn about what fun experiences are available at Disney and even customize their own “celebration vacation” itinerary. With everything from fireworks cruises to street parties and specialty birthday cakes and parties, this interactive online celebration planner asks soon-to-be Disney guests “What Will You Celebrate?” and then tells them how they can celebrate it.

All guests have to do is go online and tell the planner what they’re celebrating – a birthday, reunion, personal triumph, romantic occasion, or even a first visit. Based on the occasion, the online planner gives a list of ideas, such as a Sweetheart Dinner for Two at Victoria & Albert’s or a trip to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Magic Kingdom.

Now if only you could get your Walt Disney World tickets online…oh wait, you can! And you can get them at discount, too. Simply check out the tickets on OrlandoFunTickets.com, which you can even have delivered to your Disney resort, to which you can check-in online, after planning your Disney vacation on the internet. What will they put online next?

When most people come down to Walt Disney World, they do so for the sunshine, the rides, the unique attractions and shows, the characters, etc. – the list goes on and on. However, winter is the perfect season to try something that’s a little different from the Disney norm – camping! With the cooler temperatures in Orlando right now, nothing’s more fun than snuggling up to a campfire and roasting marshmallows at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground.

Since 1971, the campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort have offered classic outdoor fun right in the middle of Walt Disney World. This picturesque campground features more than 700 acres of lush pine and cypress trees, and the scenery is truly beautiful this time of year. Hike through quiet trails beside trickling water canals in a serene forest filled with ducks, deer, and rabbits. You’ll enjoy all the outdoor beauty that would normally be covered with snow in other states during the winter. And unlike other campgrounds that are close together and only have a few trees, you’ll really feel like you’re in your own private patch of forest at Fort Wilderness.

If you don’t want to rough it entirely, Fort Wilderness also features over 400 charming cabins with all the amenities of a typical hotel room. These wilderness retreats are complete with fully equipped kitchens and a charcoal grill. Six people can sleep comfortably in them, and along with the campgrounds, they come with a wood deck and a picnic table. Since Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground is the only pet-friendly resort at Disney, you can also bring along Fido or Kitty for the fun.

Though most people enjoy escaping to the parks for the day, Fort Wilderness has plenty of activities to keep you occupied if you opt to hang out at the resort/campground. Normally, swimming is a popular pastime, though the water might be a little too chilly at present. Horse riding is also available, as well as fishing, biking, several sports, and even an arcade for those needing a momentary escape from nature. You can also rent movies at the Meadow Trading Post, which also sells groceries, limited camping supplies, and other sundries.

And since one can’t subsist on marshmallows alone, Fort Wilderness features plenty of dining options. Check out the Trail’s End restaurant for classic American fare or Crockett’s Lounge for a relaxing quick bite. You can also combine dinner with an incredible show at Mickey’s Backyard BBQ or the Hoop-Dee-Hoo Musical Revue.

With rates starting at $43 a night, the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground is an inexpensive alternative to staying in one of the pricier Disney resorts, which means you’ll have more money left over for fun at Disney theme parks. Combine that with all the savings you’ll get when you purchase Walt Disney World tickets at OrlandoFunTickets.com, and the result is one sweet winter deal.

Many may not know it, but today is the 8th birthday of Disneys Mickey Mouse. So in honor of our favorite black and white mouse in red shorts (which he’s been wearing for a really long time), we’ve compiled a short Mickey biography, so that everyone can remember how it all started with a mouse.

Mickey has come a long way since he was born in Walt Disney’s imagination. First appearing in Steamboat Willie, a short black-and-white animated musical on November 18th, 1928, Mickey’s debut was the first cartoon to feature synchronized music and sound effects. The lovable mouse was an instant hit, and Steamboat Willie was soon followed by two other cartoons. By the end of the year, Mickey was a national fad, and it wasn’t long before Walt Disney started up a line of Mickey merchandise and a fan club for children, the Mickey Mouse Club.

By 1937, Disney Studios was in full swing, producing about 12 shorts a year in which Mickey got into all kinds of mischief and fun. Walt Disney did Mickey’s voice himself and oversaw the production of 87 shorts starring the mouse by the end of the decade. As Mickey continued his rise to fame, the Mickey Mouse Club eventually got its own TV show, and soon enough, Disneyland was born. Mickey moved to the theme park as its main host, greeting visitors and shaking hands, and the success of the park led to the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971. Mickey also appeared in a kimono and beret, respectively, for the openings of Tokyo Disneyland in 1983 and Disneyland Resort Paris in 1992. And as they say, the rest is history.

Now, Mickey continues to be Disney’s most popular symbol and beloved symbol. Appearing everywhere from celebrity T-shirts to Playstation video games, Mickey Mouse doesn’t ever seem to go out of style. And although Walt Disney World isn’t holding any extravagant birthday parties for Mickey this year, there’s no better way to celebrate his birthday than by enjoying all the Mickey fun at Walt Disney World theme parks.

For one amusing activity, try to hunt down all the Hidden Mickeys. What’s a “Hidden Mickey,” you ask? It started out as an inside joke among the Walt Disney Imagineers – they concealed images of Mickey (typically the silhouette of his head and ears) in the design of Disney attractions such as rides and resorts. There’s one hidden in the alien symbols on The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter at Magic Kingdom, and there are Mickeys hidden on the manhole covers at Epcot. Though Disney has no official list of confirmed Hidden Mickeys, it’s exciting to visit the park and see how many you can spot. A literal and figurative symbol of his mark on Walt Disney World, Mickey is hidden everywhere!

As a nod to Disney’s house mouse, you can also visit Mickey’s Toontown Fair in Magic Kingdom. Originally opened on Mickey’s 60th birthday as a temporary attraction called Mickey’s Birthdayland, the area was so popular with park guests that it was made a permanent attraction. Over the years, it has evolved into the Toontown Fair we know and love today, and it’s a place where you’re guaranteed to see Mickey and all his friends. Be sure to get your discount Magic Kingdom tickets here at OrlandoFunTickets.com, so you can rush out to the parks and start having fun with Mickey.

And to the most influential mouse in the world, the one and only Mickey Mouse, we wish you Happy Birthday! May you continue to warm our hearts for 80 more years.