We know it might seem a bit early, but the Disney theme parks are already getting ready for Christmas! We have been talking about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party for awhile now, but it seems that the parks are finally setting up for the big holiday season boom! The Orlando theme parks are always gorgeous around the holiday times. The staff members really take extreme care in decorating the parks with wreaths, lights, topiaries, Christmas trees and other holiday decorations representing the holiday beliefs of people from around the world. Aside from the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s Hollywood Studios also takes on a huge endeavor in decorating their park and preparing for some amazing holiday parades and their famous Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights.

The light decorations, put up in the back lots of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, are said to contain a million lights, turning the back of the park into a holiday wonderland. Beautiful music plays as “snow” falls to the ground. You’ll see angels, Santa, trees, holiday greetings spelled out in lights and many other gorgeous seasonal images in this famous Hollywood Studios event. The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights originally came to the park in 1995 from Arkansas, where Jennings Osborne decorated his house to please his little girl. The display kept getting bigger and bigger until it moved to the House of Mouse.

Along with the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights, which will run at Disney’s Hollywood Studios from November 10th to January 3rd, Hollywood Studios also puts on the “Hollywood Holly-Day Parade.” This great parade runs down Hollywood Boulevard and features all of your favorite Disney characters dressed up in holiday wear as they parade down the street singing holiday songs and waving to the Disney fans. For those of you that love Fantasmic! you’re also in luck, because the amazing fireworks and water show now has extra performances thanks to the extended hours the parks feature during the holiday season. If you’re planning a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort and want to experience the holiday joy make sure you head to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and experience the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights.

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.

68 years ago this week, the heartfelt tale of Dumbo was released in theatres. Dumbo was Walt Disneys 4th animated film, and although it was his shortest (only 64 minutes) it has long been considered one of Walt Disney’s most legendary pieces of animation. After the studios did poorly with Pinocchio and Fantasia, in which Disney was accused of being too complicated with his animation, Dumbo saw a return to a more simple style of animation. Dumbo is based off of a children’s book written by Helen Aberson and illustrated by Harold Pearl.

The movie featured the voice talents of Sterling Holloway (the voice of Winnie the Pooh), Cliff Edwards (the voice of Jiminy Cricket) and Verna Felton (the voice of Cinderella’s fairy godmother, Alice’s Queen of Hearts and Flora the Fairy from Sleeping Beauty.) But their voice work was not credited in the film. That doesn’t mean that the film went unnoticed by the movie community. Dumbo won the Oscar for Original Musical Score and received a nomination for “Baby Mine,” the sad song we hear when Dumbo goes to meet his real mother. Although “Baby Mine” did not win, Dumbo was considered a hit and helped the Disney studios regain some of their financial losses.

Fans of the floppy-eared elephant will love the upcoming Fantasyland expansion at the Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom. While Dumbo only has one ride at the moment, he will soon have a circus of his own. As part of the planned Fantasyland additions, which will feature brand new meet and greet spots for the princesses, Tinkerbell’s Pixie Hollow and even a dark ride based on The Little Mermaid, Dumbo will also get his own spot. To go with the theme of the movie there will now be a beautiful circus tent environment featuring all sorts of games and not one, but two Dumbo rides. Instead of waiting in line to go on the flying elephant attraction you will be able to play games until it’s your turn to get on and go for a spin. The new additions won’t be done until 2013, but you can get to the store and pick up Dumbo on DVD and Blu-ray to help you get your dose of Dumbo until 2013.

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!

Even though Toy Story 3 does not come out until June 18, 2010, Disney is already releasing goodies for the loyal Toy Story fans that have been waiting for new info. In the third installment of the popular Pixar franchise, Andy has grown up and is ready to head off for college, leaving the toys in a panic. Their biggest fear is that they will be thrown away and forgotten, but what really happens is that Andy decides to keep Woody and get rid of his other toys. The rest of the crew, including Jessie, Buzz, Rex, Hamm and Slinky Dog, are given to a daycare and decide to plan their escape while Woody tries to find his friends. As usual there are some comedic twists thrown in, including Buzz Lightyear being reset into Spanish mode, as the toy crew tries to find a new home for themselves. As for what happens to them, we’ll have to wait until next year to find out, but there are many ways to get your Toy Story fix early.

Disney has already released teaser posters featuring your favorite Toy Story characters holding a “3” in the signature Toy Story font. There are also plans for a Nintendo Wii game called Toy Story Mania which features a number of shooting gallery games and even exclusive 3D levels to go with the third movie’s IMAX and 3D release. If you’re familiar with the name, it’s probably because you rode the attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The 3D enhanced attraction is suitable for riders of all ages and takes you through a fun carnival-like atmosphere where you can shoot at targets to get points. Over at the Magic Kingdom, the ever-popular Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin sends you on a mission into outer space right alongside Buzz as you shoot at evil aliens and try to get the most points out of all the space rangers on the ride.

Recently, Disney held a successful special double-feature showing of Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3D to promote the upcoming installment in what is now a trilogy. In between the two movies, a trailer of Toy Story was shown to get the crowds ready for Toy Story 3. Are you ready for the Woody and Buzz’s latest adventure?

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.

Fans of the Disney/Pixar hits Toy Story and Toy Story 2 are in for a special treat this week as Disney brings the computer animated films back to theatres for a very special event. For two weeks both Toy Story and Toy Story 2 will be playing to audiences across the nation in 3D. Not only will they be in 3D, but the movies will be shown back to back in a rare double feature event. The best part is one movie ticket gets you access to both movies!

In between the two movies, audiences will get an intermission of about five to ten minutes. You might want to think twice about going to the bathroom or heading out for extra snacks, because Disney has some special things prepared for that break. Audiences will get a chance to play Disney trivia, view scenes of the Toy Story characters speaking to each other with new dialogue and get a very special preview of Toy Story 3. It took over a year for both movies to be converted to 3D format, but Disney is very excited about the new opportunity they’re presenting their fans.

"What is most exciting is that a whole new generation of moviegoers can see both films in the way that they are meant to be seen, in a shared audience environment," says Pixar co-founder John Lasseter, head of Disney animation and the director of both films. If you can’t get enough of the Toy Story franchise then head over to either of the two Orlando theme parks with Toy Story rides: Disney’s Hollywood Studios or the Magic Kingdom.

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the brand new Toy Story Mania ride will send you on an adventure through a carnival where you shoot at various targets, like balloons, just like you would at a real carnival. At the Magic Kingdom, you can ride the highly popular Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and help Buzz defeat the enemy aliens in an adventure kids of any age can enjoy. October is going to be a great month for Toy Story fans.

Are you excited for Disneys return to 2D animation? Fans all over the world have December 11th marked on their calendars as they eagerly await the arrival of Disney’s first African-American princess, Princess Tiana. Disney’s 49th animated film will take place in beautiful New Orleans, Louisiana and follow the story of Tiana, a 19 year old waitress with dreams of having her own restaurant and Prince Naveen, a man who is cursed by a voodoo doctor and turned into a frog. When Naveen searches for the beautiful girl that will reverse his curse with a kiss, he finds Tiana who agrees to kiss him, only to get turned into a frog herself. Naveen and Tiana then have to head out on an adventure through the swamps of Louisiana to find a way to revert back to their human forms. As always, they will encounter lovely animal friends to help them on their journey as well as an evil witch doctor and a good voodoo priestess that allies with Tiana and Naveen to help them both.

This story is going to be great and will hopefully get Disney back onto the 2D animation ball. The parks and the Walt Disney Company are going full speed ahead to promote this movie. Not only will Princess Tiana get her own riverboat show at both Disney parks this October, merchandise for the movie is already on shelves and tickets are being sold for the limited November 25th release in select cities. If you aren’t lucky enough to live in a city that is having the November 25th showing, Disney still has a treat for the rest of us that will have to anxiously await December 11th,2 009.

Starting October 5th, everyone over the age of 10 that visits Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will all receive a special certificate. Guests will then be able to redeem these certificates at various locations throughout the parks for a voucher of $8 off a child admission to the movie theatre when you purchase a regular price adult ticket. This is yet another great reason to get your discount Disney tickets and make it out to the parks this fall to get a head start on your The Princess and the Frog movie experience!

Some people just are not roller-coaster enthusiasts. The idea of huge loops, drops, inversions and crazy speeds make them queasy just thinking about it. But thanks to the Walt Disney World’s “family friendly” coasters there are plenty of ways to have some fun on a coaster without having to worry about losing your lunch. You’ll see little kids dragging their parents to rides like Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain because they’re all fun and give you just the right amount of “thrill” and no spill…if you get what I mean.

Space Mountain is getting ready to reopen this November just in time for the holiday season. You and fellow riders hop into a rocket that takes you through “space” as you race by shooting stars and comets. It’s great to wait in line at Space Mountain and feel like the galaxy is right above your head as you hear the distant screaming of guests riding the space coaster. Don’t let the fact that there are no loops or inversions on Space Mountain fool you: this is an intense and FAST ride! The “mountains” usually have the longest lines of any of the Magic Kingdom’s attractions, but thanks to the Fast Pass system you can plan ahead and not have to wait too long.

Over in Frontierland we have the other two mountains in the park: Splash Mountain and the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (or Thunder Mountain for short). Splash Mountain is a silly adventure with Br’er Rabbit and Br’er Bear on a log flume ride that will leave you soaked—you’ve been warned! It’s great on a hot summer day but might not be a good idea when the temperatures start to drop in Orlando. Over at Thunder Mountain you’ll take a trip through the Wild West on a runaway train that takes sharp turns and dips into dark caves as you hear banjos and train whistles going off around you. This is a nice attraction to reserve for night time as you take many curves outside and the breeze is excellent (as is the brief glimpse you can catch of Cinderella’s Castle through the trees).

So these may not be huge coasters like SeaWorld’s Manta or Busch Gardens’ Kumba…but the mountains at the Magic Kingdom can be thrilling for all ages.

If you cannot get enough of the Disney Princesses you are in store for an incredible surprise. Fantasyland at the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom will soon become a princess paradise for fans of Cinderella, Belle, Aurora and Ariel. As part of the D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center, Jay Rasulo, the Chairman of the Walt Disney World Resort and Parks, finally announced what Disney fanatics and internet experts already knew: Fantasyland is getting a major makeover.

Don’t fret! Peter Pan, the teacups and rides like “It’s A Small World” will all still be there, it’s the area behind Dumbo and Ariel’s Grotto that will change. Unfortunately for Toon Town fans, that area will most likely be gone, but what will take its place promises to be worth the change. Fantasyland will be doubling in size to include many wonderful interactive princess attractions and eventually Tinkerbell’s Pixie Hollow. But first, let’s get started with the classics.

Guests will be able to visit Cinderella’s country chateau and watch her transform from servant to princess. Knights and princesses in training (young guests) will get to help Cinderella practice for her big ball event with her prince. Do you love the classic Sleeping Beauty? You will be able to meet the three fairies Flora, Fauna and Merryweather to help plan a surprise 16th birthday party for Princess Aurora in her cottage. If you’re ready to do some acting, you will love visiting Belle’s village where you can re-enact the story of Beauty and the Beast for Princess Belle and the Beast himself. All that acting will surely work an appetite and the “Be Our Guest” dinner show is set to be a big crowd pleaser in Beast’s Castle.

You will then go under the sea in “Ariel’s Adventure” where guests will relive the magical journey of Ariel and Prince Eric in a ride set to the incredible music of The Little Mermaid. Meet and greets will be a big part of this Fantasyland expansion. Even Dumbo is getting a makeover with a fantastic circus setting and two Dumbo rides operating at the same time. You won’t have to wait in a line anymore; this new ride will let you play interactive games before hopping on for a ride with the adorable elephant.

This expansion is set to be completed by 2012 and 2013 will bring a special treat for Tinkerbell fans. With Pixie Hollow guests will be “shrunken” down to Tink’s size as they wander through a giant world of oversized plants and blades of grass with Tinkerbell and her friends.

Fantasyland is going to be bigger and better than ever—we can’t wait!

The Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Park is known for its incredible fireworks shows. Most recently, their newest show, Wishes Nighttime Spectacular, has been a big hit and one of the most elaborate and beautiful fireworks shows the Magic Kingdom has ever put on. There are a variety of great spots to watch the fireworks from, but after wandering around this Orlando theme park all day, you might find yourself wanting a bit of a snack before heading back to your hotel. Food is another thing the Magic Kingdom definitely doesn’t lack. You can have a great hot dog at Casey’s or a satisfying meal at The Crystal Palace, but there’s nothing like watching an incredible fireworks show from a special, private viewing terrace surrounded by the best Disney desserts.

That’s what you’ll get at the Wishes Dessert Party. This great event takes place in the Tomorrowland Terrace’s Noodle Station and requires a prior reservation. The Wishes Dessert Party began back in June and was only supposed to run until August, but thanks to popular demand the party will now be running until November 1st! The Wishes Dessert Party is a great addition to Tomorrowland. Recently, the area has been a bit quiet due to some of the renovations being done on the area.

Space Mountain has been closed for quite some time now. The popular ride is reportedly getting a big facelift that will include new video and effects along the track and even a rumored alien mascot. The Tomorrowland Transit Authority has also been closed for renovation, making the futuristic section of the Magic Kingdom more like a ghost town. That’s why the Wishes Dessert Party is such a great addition to the area.

With the Wishes Dessert Party, you will have access to an entire buffet of desserts and beverages. From chocolate covered strawberries to crème brulee, this event is a sweet tooth paradise. You’ll get a sweet treat and the best view of the fireworks you can find. We can’t think of a better way to end a great day at the Magic Kingdom than with a night of incredible desserts and the wonderful Wishes Nighttime Spectacular!

September and October mean one thing at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom: Mickeys Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! You have got your hotel booked, your discount Disney Halloween party tickets purchased and you’re all ready to go, right? Don’t forget one very important fact! At Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party, you’re allowed to dress up!

There are tons of great ideas for families, kids and even teens or young adults when it comes to dressing up. We’re sure to see plenty of girls dressed up as the new princess on the block: Princess Tiana! Disney’s first African-American princess is sure to be a hit with little girls of all backgrounds. If your little girl is into fairies, Disney has expanded way past Tinkerbell. Why not dress up as one of her friends from Pixie Hollow? Along with Tinkerbell, you can be Rosetta, Silvermist, Fawn or Iridessa.

Pirates are always popular with both girls and boys. Parents, why not be Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swan while your children dress up as your little swashbucklers? Or if you don’t mind being a bit goofy, dress up the whole troupe Dalmatian style. Your tween kids might not want to do a family dress-up gig, but there are plenty of ideas for them as well.

High School Musical is still going strong. Be an East High School cheerleader or couple up as Troy Bolton (played by Zac Efron) and Gabriella Montez (played by Vanessa Hudgens). If you’re a loyal Hannah Montana fan, dressing up like the starlet just requires a blonde wig and a cute rocker outfit. Couples have plenty of options; just pick your favorite prince and princess from Disney history and you’re sure to find a great costume online.

If you would rather make your own costume or keep the price low, you can still keep it Disney related. Why not be a super Disney fan? Get the Mickey ears you’ve kept in your closet and all of your pins and put everything on at once. Or, if you want to be more traditional with your Halloween attire, use black eyeliner to paint on a cat nose and whiskers and keep your clothes dark. Cat ears and tails are usually one of the cheaper items at the Halloween shops. There are a variety of great Disney costumes on sale if you have some extra cash. But making your own costume or putting a unique spin on traditional Halloween items is easy if you’ve got a little bit of imagination and a bit pixie dust! Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party runs until November 1st.

The holiday movie season is fast approaching and both Walt Disney fans and the news media are buzzing about The Princess and The Frog. Not only does this movie mark Disney’s return to hand-drawn 2D animation, but it heralds the arrival of Disney’s first black princess, Princess Tiana. Hints of merchandise have already come out including pictures of the adorable Princess Tiana doll and promotional “fortune cards” that go with the voodoo and magic theme incorporated in the New Orleans-based story.

The Princess and the Frog brings together the winning creative team that brought us classics like Aladdin and The Little Mermaid. With gorgeous animation and a variety of jazz-infused songs that are sure to get stuck in your head, Disney is hoping the magic of 2D animation returns with the re-telling of this classic fairytale. But until the movie’s holiday release, both Walt Disney World and Disneyland are gearing up for a series of promotional events to let everyone know Disney is ready for a new princess—and they want you to be too!

One of the first things the Disney company did was formally introduce the Princess Tiana cast member to the press. While she is voiced by Anika Noni Rose, a Tiana cast member will now appear at both Disney parks in California and Florida, greeting fans of all ages and races in her elegant princess dress and crown. Herown “Prince Charming” is the frog-turned-human Prince Naveen, who will also be making appearances and signing autographs for fans of the movie starting this fall.

Tiana will officially be introduced into the princess merchandise lineup in early 2010 after the movie’s release, and then we will see her next to Aurora, Jasmine, Cinderella and all of the other princesses in Disney’s products. As for events at the Disney theme parks, fans can expect to see Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee for the 2009 holiday season. This promotional show will debut at Disney World on October 26, 2009 and will run through January 3, 2010.

Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee will be a “Mardi Gras-style” musical show that utilizes the gorgeous Liberty Belle show boat in Frontierland next to the Haunted Mansion attraction. The show begins with a procession of jazz musicians heading over to the Liberty Belle as the crowds follow along to the docks. Once there, a small group of pre-selected guests will be selected to board the Liberty Belle with characters from the movie including Tiana and Naveen as the boat then takes off performing songs from the feature’s soundtrack along the river.

With all of these great promotional events going on at the Disney theme parks, The Princess and The Frog is going to be a hit this holiday season. Princess Tiana’s reign has only just begun!

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.

At the end of the day when your feet can not take anymore walking and your head can no longer support your Mickey ears, the Walt Disney World theme parks offer the best ending to your day with their fantastic fireworks shows. Out of the four Walt Disney World theme parks in Orlando, EPCOT and the Magic Kingdom fireworks are the best around.

Unfortunately, many tourists visiting the parks know this, so the usual spots can get extremely crowded. Even though you have to look up, not ahead, to see the massive display of fireworks, the last thing anyone would want is to be squished between the spectators as the dazzling colors light up the sky. So, OrlandoFunTickets.com is here to provide you with a few secret spots to check out the fireworks.

The Magic Kingdom is now running their Wishes Nighttime Spectacular. It’s one of Disney’s brightest and best displays yet. We recommend staying as late as possible in the theme park to catch the last show of the night. Many folks are usually on their way out of the park and try to catch the show from the Main Street USA area of the Magic Kingdom. Your best bet is to do the opposite. Head to Fantasyland right by the Mad Tea Party teacups ride and have a seat on the stone barrier surrounding the landscaping near the ride. The view of the sky is usually clear and free of any large trees or buildings to block your view. If you’re a photographer there will be plenty of space to set up your tripod and experiment with nighttime photography to get the best shots around.

If you’re over at the EPCOT theme park, you’ll be treated to the IllumiNations fireworks show on the big lake in the World Showcase. Illuminations not only features fireworks but a lovely laser light show that goes with the multi-cultural theme and promotion of unity the World Showcase at EPCOT endorses. The Rose & Crown Pub in the United Kingdom pavilion is a great spot to check out the show. There is an outdoor dining area perfect for viewing IllumiNations. Walk up to the order window outside and order yourself the great fish and chips before taking a seat for a great view.

If you’re looking to watch the fireworks from a hotel, the beach at the Polynesian Resort is a great spot to check out both of the park’s fireworks shows. The location can get a bit crowded but nowhere near the level of the parks. If you’re hungry, then the California Grill at the Contemporary also offers a fantastic view of the show as you dine.

Whichever you choose to do, make sure you get to your spot an hour early to pick out your viewing spot. As always, check out OrlandoFunTickets.com for the best offers on Disney tickets around. The best fireworks in Orlando are only a click away.

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!

Disney World is known for making magical memories. Every day people from across the world visit the Walt Disney World Magic Kindgom Park for a chance to meet Mickey Mouse and zoom through space on Space Mountain. The Magic Kingdom is the place where wishes come true, and it was always the dream of Walt Disney himself that every visitor to the park experience the joys of being a kid again at any age. Over the July 4th weekend, the dream of American citizenship became a reality for over 1,000 new citizens at the Magic Kingdom. People ages 18-82 from over 100 countries experienced the opportunity of a lifetime as they became American citizens at the Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom.

This patriotic event fits the environment and ideals of the Disney name. Walt Disney was an avid patriot of the US and listed Abraham Lincoln as his hero. It was his love of America that created the “One Nation Under God” attraction at Disneyland, an attraction that was reborn as “The Hall of Presidents” in Orlando’s Magic Kindgom. The recently “re-Imagineered” Hall of Presidents now features the addition of Barack Obama and a crisp new audio presentation of The Gettysburg Address by an animatronic Abraham Lincoln.

The citizenship ceremony was led by actor Andy Garcia. Originally from Cuba, Garcia is now famous for starring in hit movies like The Untouchables, The Godfather III and Ocean’s 11. Garcia delivered the key-note address to the new citizens in front of Cinderella’s castle. 25 Disney employees were among those naturalized at the ceremony, reciting their Oath of Allegiance to the United States amidst a backdrop of red, white and blue décor and Disney characters dressed in American revolutionary wear.

After the naturalization ceremony, the new American citizens originally were treated to a presentation at the grand re-opening of the Hall of Presidents, now titled The Hall of Presidents: A Celebration of Liberty’s Leaders. The attraction is open to anyone with Disney tickets to the Magic Kingdom park. Showings of the new presentation now narrated by Morgan Freeman are held daily in Liberty Square.

If the glitter and ringlets experience of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is not your childs idea of fun, then look no further than the Adventureland for the newest experience at Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom: The Pirate’s League. This is a new experience for pirate fans young and old at the Magic Kingdom.

The Pirate’s League is perfect for any child with a yearning for their own pirate adventure. Located in the gift shop adjacent to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, The Pirate’s League lets your child channel their inner Captain Jack Sparrow for a swashbuckling good time. Leave the Mickey ears and sunglasses behind, it’s time for pirate beards and eye patches! The Pirate’s League is accessible to anyone with theme park admission, so get your discount Disney tickets with OrlandoFunTickets.com.

After choosing their very own pirate name and receiving their treasure maps, junior buccaneers are whisked off into the land of endless exploration and treasure through their choice of three packages. The Pirate’s League provides First Mate, Captain’s and Empress Packages.

Using various costume choices and makeup techniques, Walt Disney World cast members will transform your child into a Cursed Pirate, Captain Hook or Captain Jack Sparrow. With the First Mate Package your child can pick from the above three choices and add the option of fake teeth, a reversible bandana and one 5x7 souvenir photo.

The Empress Package is perfect for little lassies that prefer ships and buried treasure over castles and glass slippers. A cast member will provide glamorous makeup, nail polish and a face gem to girls ready to explore Adventureland with fellow pirates.

The Captain’s Package provides the biggest pirate experience for your child. They can choose their own pirate costume along with the options in the First Mate package with three souvenir photos. Reservations for The Pirate’s League are a must, and our OrlandoFunTickets.com customer service representatives are waiting to assist you with booking your Pirate’s League experience. You can reach a representative via e-mail or by calling us directly at 1-866-225-4712.

If the pirate’s life is for you, then make sure you get your discount Disney tickets to the Magic Kingdom and other Orlando theme parks through OrlandoFunTickets.com.

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!

Magic Kingdom Park and Disney officials have been keeping the recent refurbishment details of Space Mountain relatively quiet, but OrlandoFunTickets.com has some of the inside scoop on some of the recent developments in this iconic attraction.

Originally opened in January of 1975, Space Mountain has since been an iconic ride staple at Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom Park. As the oldest operating roller coaster in the state of Florida and not having any work done on the ride since its last closure in September 1999, the ride was due for a face-lift. And, that is exactly what the ride will be getting, until its reopening date of November 21, 2009.

“We’re retaining many of the classic elements that made Space Mountain a rite of passage at the Magic Kingdom that’s been enjoyed by generations,” says a spokesperson for Walt Disney World.

Rumors have been flying about what his actual “face lift” will entail, but it seems as if it will be getting some extra work done, as well. During the first week of June, a construction notice was tied to “an attraction at Magic Kingdom Park” that called for an installation of an “interactive queue” and audio-visual upgrades. With the re-opening of the Hall of Presidents right around the corner and too little time left to make those changes, what else could they possibly be talking about other than Space Mountain?!

This construction notice has spurred a whirl wind of ideas to what could possibly be going on within that Mountain. The queue area of the ride has been rumored to feature new projections and, even, interactive games (such as in the queue area for Soarin’ at Epcot). The ride loading area will be enclosed, so that guests cannot get a sneak peek of what lies inside. The rocket trains will remain relatively the same, with added soundtrack enclosed. The track will definitely be replaced with higher gauged steel, but the layout of the ride itself will not change. We have heard that the actual attraction inside will be getting darker, definitely adding to the scare factor while on the ride. Digital projections are rumored to be being added to the inside of the ride, as well. Also, a rumor of the rethemeing of the unload area is also possible, making you feel like you just pulled into a real space port.

But rumors are rumors for a reason…no one really knows what is going on in there! Kudos to Disney for being so tight-lipped about these exciting new changes and keeping them under wraps! It makes the reopening on November 21st that much more exciting, so I guess we will just have to wait and see on the opening day! But, if you want to be the first to see these new and exciting changes to Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom, make sure to get your Disney tickets ahead of time; the line wait time will be long! So, save time and money with discount Disney tickets before you head off to the park for the day!

You arrive at Magic Kingdom Park and anxiously walk down Main Street U.S.A. You walk past all of the surrounding shops, balloon-carting cast members, and the delicious smell of popcorn floats through the air. Everything seems to be going swimmingly, until you see the wait times! YIKES! A 90 minute wait for Thunder Mountain Railroad here and a 60 minute wait for Pirates of the Caribbean there! Where do you start? How will you know the wait times for rides, all the way across the park, when you get off your first ride? Well, simply said…”There is an App for that!”

Brent Pope, age 44 of Jacksonville, Florida, has come up with the perfect application for Walt Disney World Theme Park lovers toting an iPhone along with them on their Orlando vacation. He has developed “Wait Times,” a downloadable App for the Apple iPhone. By selecting from a list of rides in the park, guests use “Wait Times” to see how long lines are at Magic Kingdom Park. The App solely relies on guests inputting wait times to the App in their iPhone, as they experience ride wait times. For the program to be successfully accurate, only a handful of guests need to be inputting information for wait times. It takes as little as 12 people in a ride line to make it completely accurate!

“Every time I go to the parks, I walk off a ride and think, What do we do next?” says Pope to the Sun Sentinel. “The one thing that is so frustrating is you have to walk all the way across the park and when you get there, it’s a 90-minute wait.”

Verizon and Disney have joined forces to create a cell phone App for Verizon users to see official wait times within the parks, find shows in the park, restaurants, and character meet and greets to be launched at the end of the year. But, for now the “Wait Time” iPhone App is the one main solution to this common problem. Disney does post their wait times for rides throughout their theme parks, but the company doesn’t post any of that information online. Same goes for all of the other Walt Disney World Theme Parks, Universal Orlando, and the California theme parks. If the App is successful, Pope hopes to create Apps for those theme parks, as well. But, how will Pope get the App off to a good start? Pope will be visiting at least one Disney Park a day for the entire 2009 summer, in order to begin adding in wait times to the App. “Basically, it will be bring-your-kids-to-work day every day for me,” says Pope.

iPhone owners can add the “Wait Times” App for as little as 99 cents! And, here on OrlandoFunTickets.com, you can continue to save time and money by getting your Discount Disney World Tickets ahead of time. So, download the App and head to Magic Kingdom for a time and money-saving day filled with fun!

If you dream of a life of pillaging, sailing, and adventure, or if you just want to develop a notorious reputation as the scourage of the seven seas, then you just might find your dream coming true at Walt Disney World.

This summer, those with pirate ambitious can actually sign up to join the crew of the Black Pearl. Believe it or not, the vessel made famous in Pirates of the Caribbean will be dropping anchor in Adventureland at Magic Kingdom in late June, where Captain Jack will be looking for a few good men - or rather, some scoundrels, rogues, and ne'er-do-wells.

The Black Pearl will be recruiting for The Pirates League, which will train Walt Disney World guests in the scurrilous ways of the buccaneer. Doing for would-be pirates what the Bippidi Boppidi Boutique did for little princesses, The Pirate League will transform guests into swashbucklers, providing them with a new identity and an assortment of pirate ware.

The process starts with each guest checking in at the plunder-filled pirate's lair in Adventureland, where they'll receive an official pirate name. Then, it's off to the Muster Station where they'll receive beards and eye patches, scarves and scarsm earrings, and gold teeth, all applied by a seasoned pirate who'll share tales of his own sea-faring adventures.

After they're outfitted with pirate gear, the new buccaneers will recite a sacred pirate oath, making them an official part of Captain Jack's crew. Then they'll make one last step into the treasure room to have their "pirate portrait" taken before being turned loose on an unsuspecting Magic Kingdom.

The Pirate League comes in three packages for aspiring scurvy sea dogs. The First Mate Packages includes a bandana, choise of facial effects, scars, tattoos, fake teeth, earring and eye patch, sword and sheath, pirate coin necklace, one 5x7-inch photo, and a personalized pirate oath for $49.95. The Empress Package, also $49.95, is for female pirates and includes a bandana, shimmering makeup, a face gem, tattoos, nail polish, earring and eye patch, sword and sheath, pirate coin necklace, and the photo and oath.

And for a little more, guests can really go all out with the Captains Package, which provides the above options in addition to a choice of pirate costume, and three 5x7 pictures. The package costs $124.95.

Once ready for the priate life, guests can venture out on the streets of Adventureland with a trasure map and seach for clues and treasures. Mateys who want to continue their training can also check out Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Tutorial, which takes place several times daily outside of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.

The Pirate League will open for business on June 29, so if you have a little pirate in the family or are nursing some dreams of piratehood yourself, be sure to drop by Magic Kingdom next month. Take a look at the Walt Disney World tickets on OrlandoFunTickets.com to begin planning your swashbuckling adventure.

Typically, Magic Kingdom, like other Walt Disney World parks, opens at 9 am and closes at 10 pm. But thanks to a rare schedule change last week, guests could take advantage of the amazing childhood wonderland into later hours of the night - an especially cool thing given how packed with crowds Magic Kingdom has been lately during the day. And with Extra Magic Hours, Disney resort guests were especially able to take advantage of extra time at their favorite park early in the morning.

From Wednesday, April 15, through Sunday, April 19, Magic Kingdom’s usual closing time was be pushed back until midnight for all park guests. As for guests staying at select Walt Disney World resorts like the Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Grand Floridian Resort, they were able to pack on even more time at the park with Extra Magic Hours from 8am to 9 am on Thursday and Saturday, and from 7 am to 9 am on Friday. On Sunday, Extra Magic Hours tacked on to the already late closing hour of midnight kept the park open for resort guests until 3 am.

Extra Magic Hours after normal park closing provides everyone at least two extra hours to witness their favorite attractions, experience their favorite thrills, and see all the magic that they didn’t get a chance to see earlier in the day. Haunted Mansion is particularly fun at night since the darkness outside makes this mysterious tour even spookier. The Wishes Nighttime Spectacular is obviously another nighttime favorite as one of the brightest and biggest fireworks extravaganzas in the history of Magic Kingdom. And when the park closes extra late, guests have additional time to sit down and enjoy a leisurely meal at tasty dining spots like the Crystal Palace, Cinderella’s Royal Table, Tony’s Town Square, or the Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station.

In addition to providing more opportunities to see beloved attractions, Magic Kingdom’s later hours last week meant a second chance to see the SpectroMagic Parade. Usually appearing once at 9 pm, this dazzling nighttime procession filled with brilliantly lit Disney characters and floats appeared for a second time through Sunday at 11 pm. Known for putting miles of smiles on guests faces, the SpectroMagic Parade features 500,000 lights and miles of twinkling fiber optic cables.

So if you want to get the most magic out of a trip to Magic Kingdom, keep an eye out on the park schedules for last minute changes and Extra Magic Hours! Extended hours at the parks are rare, but when they happen, you won’t want to miss a chance to stay up late at the most magical place in the world. Get your Walt Disney World tickets from OrlandoFunTickets.com today and have a good night at Magic Kingdom.

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.

Sure, everyone sees them when they enter the park, but chances are that most guests do not really know the many purposes of the Guest Relations centers at Walt Disney World. If you have special needs, however, are young, old, lost, speak a different language, or are allergic to peanuts, the Guest Relations center can provide you with a lot of help to make your Disney experience better. Here are a few of the things you can score through Guest Services at Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

First of all, Guest Relations has every kind of map you could possibly need in Walt Disney World. For families traveling with little ones, Guest Relations has special guide maps pointing out all the best kid stuff. They’re especially handy for finding characters, though they also make it easier to find attractions, entertainment, and interactive activities that are of special interest to young children. There’s also the Guidemap for Guests with Disabilities, which provides a detailed overview of services and facilities available for guests with disabilities – including those with mobility, hearing, visual, and non-apparent disabilities.

Theme park guidemaps are also available in six languages, including English, French, German, Japanese, and Portuguese. Visitors can also find times guides for shows, character greetings, parades, and fireworks in their language of choice.

Guest Relations is also the place to go if you’ve become separated from your party, or if you’ve lost a member of your party. If you need to exchange your foreign currency for US dollars, Guest Relations can help you out; they can even provide you with Disney Dollars. And let’s say you need to score a special gift for someone – try giving a Walt Disney World Gift Certificate, available for purchase at Guest Relations.

What if you want to stay or eat someplace really special within Walt Disney World? At Guest Relations, you can arrange your Disney Resort reservations and even make advanced reservations for dining. Speaking of dining, if you have a specific diet or food allergies that need to be taken into account, just make a mention of it and Disney will make sure your culinary needs are met.

And don’t forget that the guest services at Walt Disney World don’t end at the Guest Relations center. Throughout each theme park, guests can also find Baby Care Centers, ATMs, First Aid, Lockers, Wheelchair and Pushchair rentals, and even Camera Services. The latter is particularly cool – let’s say you’ve filled up all the memory on your digital camera. Simply head to one of the camera services spots within the park and you can burn all your photographs to a CD, leaving you free to wipe your camera’s memory card and continue photographing your fun at Disney.

There’s no end to the help you can find at Disney; they’ve thought of nearly everything a guest might possibly need to make their day at the parks a great one. But if, perchance, you can’t find what you’re looking for on a map or have a different kind of special request not listed here, Guest Relations will bend over backwards (as far as they can) to assist you.

So if you’ve been making excuses not to go to Walt Disney World because of some special circumstance, give Disney Guest Relations a chance to make that circumstance a non-issue. Start your Disney adventure today by checking out Walt Disney World tickets at OrlandoFunTickets.com.

This Friday will coincide with a date that is nationally known as unlucky and horrifying - Friday the 13th. But instead of cowering under your bed or surrounding yourself with lucky rabbits’ feet, we have a better suggestion for spending this unholy holiday – pay a visit to Magic Kingdom, where you can have a hauntingly good time worthy of Friday the 13th at the Haunted Mansion.

This Walt Disney World attraction, located in Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square, has provided spooky gags and silly thrills for the past 38 years. The 19th century mansion, which was an original concept of Walt Disney’s first created in Disneyland, was recreated for Walt Disney World and two other Magic Kingdom parks in Tokyo and Paris – though in Paris, it’s known as Phantom Manor.

In Orlando’s Magic Kingdom, the Haunted Mansion is a replica of the original except for its exterior, which matches the Colonial architecture of the surrounding area. About the mansion’s pristine outer design, Walt Disney once said, “We’ll take care of the outside and let the ghosts take care of the inside.”

And what can you expect to find on the inside? None other than 999 grim-grinning ghosts – but the secret is that these spooky encounters are more funny than fearsome. The not-so-scary ride, which is narrated by a Ghost Host, takes guests on a “Doom Buggy” through some of the mansion’s dusty rooms, where ethereal awakenings await and ghost stories unfold. Eventually the guests are introduced to the mansion’s resident medium, Madame Leota, who eerily commands the mansion’s ghosts and ghouls to appear. The result is more than visitors bargain for, and riders just might find themselves in the company of some hitchhiking ghosts as they leave the mansion.

Here are a few fun facts about the Haunted Mansion we bet you never knew: first, there really are 999 ghosts! 95 are human figures and 45 are animal figures inside the mansion, and 13 are gargoyles on the exterior. The rest of the specters are hidden throughout the wallpaper and other adornments. Secondly, the Haunted Mansion is one of the attractions that coined the term “Imagineers,” and some of the Imagineers responsible for creating the mansion are enshrined on tombstones in the graveyard. Finally, one of the most classic details Haunted Mansion is famous for – that creepy ‘Stretching Room’ – is achieved by a pretty nifty illusion. Though passengers may think the room is moving or stretching, the ceiling is actually ascending, creating the appearance that the walls are stretching.

If you’ve never experienced the Haunted Mansion before, we can’t think of a better way to celebrate one of the spookiest days of the year. Check out this classic Magic Kingdom attraction by scoring your Walt Disney World tickets at OrlandoFunTickets.com.

There is no doubt that one of the highlights of Walt Disney World that puts smiles on the faces of guests on a regular basis are its incredible parades. Filled with music, dancing, and incredible floats, each parade has a personality and a theme all its own, suited to fit the particular park it strolls through. And in the coming weeks, Disney will add a few more parade spectacles to its roster, with new delights and surprises that are sure to thrill any Disney lover.

First up is the "Disney Dreams Come True parade" at Magic Kingdom, which will be revitalized with a whole new name and new fun. Beginning January 23rd, the afternoon parade will be known as the "Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade" to go along with Disney’s new What Will You Celebrate promotion, which began earlier this month. The new parade will make more stops as it winds through Main Street USA and Frontierland, during which party dancers will perform to get guests into the celebratory spirit. There’ll also be new costumes, new music, and all-new float décor to go along with the new theme.

In addition to this parade, the "Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It! Street Party" will debut in mid-February with a high-energy cast of Disney characters, stilt walkers, and other performers processing down Main Street USA toward Cinderella Castle. Combining the floats and décor of a parade with the spirit of a street party, characters will dance to high-energy tunes such as “I Like to Move It” and contemporary hits like “Breakout” by Disney protégé Miley Cyrus.

Five floats decked out as gift-wrapped packages will be part of the procession, and near the castle, Mad Hatter (from Alice in Wonderland), Genie (from Aladdin), Lumiere (from Beauty and the Beast), and Sebastian (from The Little Mermaid) will pop out of huge four gift boxes. They’ll join about a dozen other Disney characters lead by the master mice of ceremonies, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. Visitors will be encouraged to mix, mingle, and dance in the street with performers during this 12 to 15-minute parade, which is scheduled to take place three times daily.

“That is the main idea of the show,” said Disney Entertainment Producer Gary Gutierrez, “to have the opportunity to play and dance with the characters.”

While the "Move It, Shake It Celebrate It! Street Party" will have several performances on most days, the "Celebrate a Dream Come True parade" will continue as the main, once-daily parade; guests can check the daily schedule when they arrive the park to find out parade routes and performance times.

For classic Walt Disney World fun, there’s nothing like a good parade, and Magic Kingdom makes it its business to put on some of the best! Don’t miss out on the fun when these two new parades make their debut; score discount Disney tickets at OrlandoFunTickets.com to get in on all the street party, celebrating action.

If you have ever been curious as to the life of a princess, or more pragmatically, if you have ever wondered what the inside of a castle looked like, you’ll have more of a chance to find out this year as the Walt Disney World Resort will be keeping open its Cinderella Suite in 2009.

This three-room suite located at the top of Cinderella’s Castle at Magic Kingdom was refurbished in 2007 as a Grand Prize for the Year of a Million Dreams promotion. Since the promotion, which selected a lucky guest at random each day to spend a night in the suite, is now over, Disney will continue to use the room as a prize for other promotions, including some by outdoor companies. A sweepstakes by Orbitz called “Inside Your Celebration” was the most recent outside promotion to feature the Cinderella Suite as a prize.

Originally, the room at the top of Cinderella’s castle was intended to be an apartment for Walt Disney and his family when they were in Florida. But after Disney died in 1966, the apartment was left unfinished until 2006, when Disney announced its decision to completely redecorate and reupholster the “royal bedchamber.” Now, the suite features a salon, bedchamber, and bathroom off a private marble-floored foyer. The Royal Suite combines 17th century French style with state-of-the-art luxuries and classic Cinderella décor.

The bedchamber invites sweet dreams with two queen beds underneath a regal canopy. The stone bedchamber floor features a mosaic design inspired by the masterpiece at the castle’s entrance to Fantasyland. A parlor sofa is perfect for cozying up with a book (of which the suite has a few), and stone walls, hardwood paneling, and stained-glass windows complete the castle setting. A few magical additions include Cinderella’s famous glass slipper, which adorns a cove in the foyer, and a 17th century-style portrait of Cinderella in the bedchamber, which magically transforms into a flat screen HDTV.

The suite also features original Cinderella concept art by renowned Disney artist Mary Blair. A whirlpool tub and copper vanity basins complete the luxurious bathroom. The suite also comes with a personal concierge ready to assist with any special requests (though he’s also there to make sure no one goes wandering around Magic Kingdom at night).

Since the Cinderella Suite was opened for special Disney guests, there’s been widespread speculation about what Disney would do with it once the Year of a Million Dreams promotion was over. The most fervent hope among Disney fans has been that Disney would open the suite to guests much like a regular hotel suite. Others have speculated that the room would be donated to philanthropic causes. It’s still possible that all these options are in play, though the most popular rumor is that the Cinderella Suite is open to anyone with enough funds to enjoy the princess lifestyle.

“Other uses and opportunities for the suite are still to be determined,” said Disney spokesperson Rick Sylvain. “We will continue to evaluate all options.”

One of the newest rumors among Disney fans is that a stay in the Cinderella Suite will be awarded to some lucky birthday boy or girl as part of the new What Will You Celebrate? Promotion. Until we get the official word from Disney, however, it’s all speculation – but fun speculation, nonetheless. After all, can you think of any better gift than a night in Cinderella’s Castle? Plenty of dreams come true outside the castle – we can only imagine how magical it would be on the inside.

With all the incredible holiday attractions to choose from at Orlando theme parks, the decision of where to spend your Orlando vacation can be a hard one. We at OrlandoFunTickets.com are committed to making your decision just a teeny bit harder with every blog as we continue premiering all the hottest holiday events and celebrations. In that spirit, here are some more holiday hot spots that we think are particularly neat and a fun treat for your family this season.

Over at SeaWorld Orlando, the park will soon be holding one of their frequent sleepover events, during which the whole family can learn about marine wildlife while snuggling up in the actual animal exhibits. With the Frosty Friends Sleepover, your family will specifically be getting cozy with animals from the Arctic and Antartic, and you’ll all be camping out on sleeping bags in the Penguin Encounter area.

This cool overnight adventure includes seasonal games and activities, animal interaction, a pizza dinner, and a continental breakfast. This overnight adventure will take place from December 4th into December 5th, and the sleepover can be packaged with next-day entry into SeaWorld for extra fun and savings. Be sure to reserve the sleepover early, as this event happens only a few times a year at SeaWorld and is an experience to remember.

And over at Walt Disney World, we’ve gotten word that the taping of the Christmas Day Parade at Magic Kingdom will be open to all visitors of the park this year. In past years, tickets for reserved sections of Main Street, USA and the areas in front of the castle were released in the beginning of November and scooped up immediately by eager fans. This year, the parade will reportedly take place on December 5th and 6th, and the word is that anyone with a regular admission ticket to the park will be able to be a bystander in the parade and watch amid the insanely crowded Main Street, space permitting.

The first day of taping will likely take place in front of Cinderella Castle, while the second day will probably film on Main Street. Though it’s fun to see, be warned that the taping is a lengthy process, since the parade/shows are often stopped and restarted in order for cameras to get all the material and angles that they need. Kids who aren’t patient enough to wait should probably pass up on this one. Nevertheless, the parade is an incredible annual special that includes appearances from all your favorite Disney characters, along with floats carrying celebrities, musical performances, marching bands from various schools and communities all over the country, and previews of shows and attractions at Disney theme parks.

This year, the two-hour television special will feature performances by Miley Cyrus and her dad Billy Ray Cyrus, High School Musical’s Corbin Bleu, American Idol winner David Cook, the cast of Broadway’s Mary Poppins, Sarah Brightman, the stars of Playhouse Disney’s Imagination Movers, and more. The Jonas Brothers will also appear in the Christmas Day Parade, but their segment was already taped in Disneyland Resort in California. This year’s special will celebrate its 25th anniversary, and Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa will reprise their role as hosts.

In order to catch all the holiday fun, be sure to get your discount SeaWorld tickets and discount Disney tickets at OrlandoFunTickets.com. We won’t tell you which fun holiday activity to choose – only that no matter which one it is, you’re bound to have a great time.

One of the lesser known Disney characters has been brewing a huge cult following over the years, and as a result of “earning her wings,” so to speak, she is now being given her very own attraction in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Visitors to the park can now meet the one and only Tinker Bell, Peter Pan’s sprightly and mischievous companion, along with four of her fairy friends at Pixie Hollow in Magic Kingdom.

The new Pixie Hollow takes the place of the Country Fair tent in Mickey’s Toontown Fair where Goofy, Pluto, and Donald used to meet visitors. Guests now have a chance to meet and greet Peter Pan’s partner in crime in her magical home, where they’ll shrink to the size of a fairy and explore the place where a baby’s first laugh brought Tinker Bell to life. Fairy fans will get to hear Tinker Bell speak for the very first time and meet her friends, including Fawn, an animal fairy; Iridessa, a light fairy; Rosetta, a garden fairy; and Silvermist, a water fairy. Each fairy signs autographs, poses for photographs, and chats with visitors. Pixie Hollow, which opened on October 24th, is now open for you to explore.

A symbol of the magic of Disney, Tinker Bell first appeared in the animated 1953 film, Peter Pan. Her signature flourish has been seen in numerous Disney productions, and she’s been a presence in Walt Disney World ever since it opened. And now, with the release of her very own animated DVD feature, Tinker Bell is done playing second fiddle to Peter Pan and is becoming a leading Disney character in her own right. The computer-animated film, which was released on October 28th, is the first of four fairy films in the works, with a new one being released each year.

The movies will feature Tinker Bell’s voice for the first time; in Peter Pan, Tinker Bell’s fairy language, which sounds like the tinkling of bells, is incomprehensible. Tinker Bell, which pre-dates Peter Pan, will also explain Tinker Bell’s origins and purpose, as well as introduce her friends, each with their own fairy purpose and distinct personality. For example, one fairy is a tomboy, one fairy loves nature, and so on. Pixie Hollow in Magic Kingdom was designed to tie into the film; visitors will hear its soundtrack playing in the background, and the fairy characters there can also be seen in the film.

With Tinker Bell and her fairy friends earning their own line of merchandise and films separate from the Disney Princesses, it’s safe to say that Pixie Hollow is the first of a lot more fairy fun at Walt Disney World. Who knows? Fairy wings may become just as popular an accessory as mouse ears! One thing is certain, though; every little fairy or princess at heart will love visiting Pixie Hollow and meeting these colorful pixies in person. Get your discount Disney tickets at OrlandoFunTickets.com, and you’ll be on your way to earning your fairy wings. Tell Tinker Bell we said hi!

The Christmas holidays are the happiest time of year, and the luckiest of vacationers get to spend them in the happiest place on earth. If you have a vacation planned during this joyous season, OrlandoFunTickets.com is your best source for cheap tickets to all of Orlando’s theme parks, including Walt Disney World and the Magic Kingdom. And this holiday season, the Magic Kingdom is going all out with brand new decorations adorning its famous icon, Cinderella’s Castle. The newest Disney spectacle of lights opens at the Magic Kingdom on November 12, and if you get your tickets at OrlandoFunTickets.com now, you can be basking in their festive glow in no time.

Cinderella’s Castle on a regular day is a wonderful spectacle to behold, but this Christmas season Disney Entertainment Show Producer promises the transformed castle will become a “new and eye-filling superstar” each evening at the Magic Kingdom. The sparkling beauty will bring a glowing finale to the new holiday “Show Before the Glow.” Mickey and Minnie will be joined by Cinderella and Prince Charming for this festive celebration on the Castle Stage each evening at 5:45 p.m. With some help from her Fairy Godmother, “Cinderella’s Holiday Wish” will come true. With a wave of the wand, Cinderella’s Castle will be suddenly bathed in bling as thousands of tiny, twinkling lights come to life.

Castle Dream Lights will brighten the Magic Kingdom sky nightly and park guests will be truly dazzled by the “sheer visual spectacle.” This dizzying array of brilliance took Magic Kingdom castmembers five weeks to complete, using 15 miles of cables, 500 strobes and 200,000 energy-efficient lights. Practically every inch of the castle is covered, and it is sure to be a favorite spot for photographs and mementos of the holidays at Walt Disney World.
The holidays are a special time for many people, and spending this extraordinary time of year in Orlando on vacation is truly an awesome gift. Speaking of gifts, give yourself one and make sure you get all of your discount tickets at OrlandoFunTickets.com. When it comes to Orlando theme park tickets, we are your number one source for cheap tickets and great discounts to all of the best Orlando attractions. At OrlandoFunTickets.com you will always find the best deals on the most popular tickets during the holidays and every other time of year!