World's Fastest Painter - Rock Demarco
Rock Demarco, who is known as the world's fastest painter, recently appeared at the Walt Disney World Resort. In conjunction with the grand opening of the D-Street store in Downtown Disney, Demarco shows off his speed painting prowess by creating this Mickey Mouse portrait in approximately 6 minutes. The video speeds this up even further to about 60 seconds.

The Epcot 17th Annual Flower & Garden Festival which runs now through May 16th at the Walt Disney World Resort is one of the best annual events at Disney World.

The festival features millions of blooms and over 100 topiaries decorating Epcot. The Disney World horticultural staff does a wonderful job each year preparing the park and designing these magnificent displays and gardens.

This is a Disney World event that every Disney Fan should plan on seeing in person.

There is a new spontaneous form of entertainment to be found in the Magic Kingdom of Disney World.

The new entertainment is called the Frontierland Hoedown. It starts with just one Cast Member starting to dance by themselves. Soon thereafter they are joined by more and more Disney Cast Members until the Hoedown is in full swing.

This is not the kind of entertainment you can plan to see, you just have to be lucky enough to be in Frontierland when the Hoedown begins.

Video by DisneyParks on YouTube.

Super Bowl XLIV MVP Drew Brees made his appearance today at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World to be honored for winning the Super Bowl.

Shortly after the New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in the Super Bowl, Drew Brees was chosen to say those magical words "I'm Going To Disney World!" in the 42nd installment of this great line of commercials.

Dating back to the Super Bowl in 1987 when Phil Simms of the New York Giants was the first to utter that famous line, the commercials have been the reward for champions ranging from Super Bowl winners to American Idol champions.

As is customary, the person honored in the commercial gets to come to Disney World to be honored in a special parade and given the royal treatment. For Drew Brees, his parade at Disney World happened a little over 12 hours after he brought a first ever Super Bowl Championship to the Saints and the city of New Orleans.

Enjoy the dream Drew, as many people out there envy you, and wish that they could truthfully say: "I'm Going To Disney World!" also.

Walt Disney World Resort Vacation Package
Act now to take advantage of a great new package discount offer at the Walt Disney World Resort.

If you book a 5-night / 6-day Package at a Disney World Deluxe Resort between now and March 27, 2010 you will receive a $750 Disney Gift Card for FREE at check-in!

This Disney gift card can be used for Dining, Special Event Tickets, Tours, merchandise, and more at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Details:
You must purchase a non-discounted 5 Night/6 Day Walt Disney World Resort Package including a Deluxe Resort room and Magic Your Way Park tickets for the length of your stay.

The offer is good for the following dates:

Valid for arrivals on 1/3-1/11/10, 1/19-3/27/10 and 4/11-6/3/10.

You can book your stay online , or call (407) 939-7939 or your Travel Agent today and ask for booking code QGX.

Other Walt Disney World Resort Package Discounts
There are similar offers for 5 night/6 day stays at Disney World Moderate Resorts ($500 Disney Gift Card FREE) and Disney World Value Resorts ($300 Gift Card FREE).

All of these offers can be booked online at http://www.disneyworld.com/ or by calling (407) 939-7939 or your Travel Agent today and ask for booking code QGX.

In 2010 Disney has come up with a new way to earn a free ticket to a Disney World or Disneyland theme park: Volunteer!

Disney has partnered with HandsOn Network to develop a large scale program aimed at getting 1 million people to volunteer their time in 2010.

Even children as young as 6 years old are eligible to volunteer along with their family.

To participate in this program you must first go to the Disney Parks Website to register.

After you register, you can use your zip code to seek out volunteering activites that you can sign up for.

The volunteering may take as little as 2 1/2 hours to qualify for the Free 1 Day Park Ticket depending upon the activity you sign up for.

After completing your volunteering service and getting it validated, you can print a vocher from the website that you can take to the Disney World or Disneyland  to get your free ticket and gain entrance to the theme park or your choice.

There are a number of program regulations and stipulations, including Black Out days, so please go to the website to check out all of the details.

Feel good about helping others out through your volunteer service and enjoy a day at your favorite Disney World theme park.  How great is that?

Video by DisneyParks on YouTube.


It's time to find out what's new at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

You will hear about the newest attractions like the American Idol Experience at Disney's Hollywood Studios and the newest Disney Vacation Club Resorts: Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort and the Tree House Villas found at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort.

Video by Disney Parks on the Disney Parks Blog

Similar to the video created for Disney World's Magic Kingdom, this Day at Epcot used Tilt-Shift Photography to create the miniature looking effect.  This is video of the real Epcot, it just looks different due to the unique filming techique.

The real challenge for this video came with the filming of the Illuminations fireworks show that occurs each night at Epcot.  To capture the fireworks they filmed at a rate of 1 frame per second and the result is magnificent.

Hats off to David Roark, manager of creative photography for Yellow Shoes Creative Group, who was able to figure out how capture the fireworks.

The video does a great job of capturing the key elements of a day at Epcot.  It starts with people entering the park and views of the Monorail bringing people to the park. 

The first attraction of the day is the Land Pavilion. Ride "Living With The Land", and then head to the Living Seas with Nemo and Friends and watch Scuba Divers in the tanks. Don't miss Mickey Mouse himself scuba diving.  Then it off to race around Test Track, Epcot's high speed thrill ride.  The visit to Epcot's Future World concludes with a walk by The Universe of Energy, home to Ellen's Energy Adventure.

The next part of the day is spent exploring the Epcot's World Showcase.  Travel through Canada, window shop in Great Britain, then catch a Mariachi Band playing in Mexico.

Next its time to wach the Dragon Legend Acrobats in China and then take a relaxing cruise across the World Showcase Lagoon.  The busy can continues in Germany, watching a Belly Dancer and Mo 'Rockin perform in Morocco, and then visiting Japan.

Your trip around the World showcase continues by seeing the Fife & Drum Corp perform in America, stroll through Italy, and shopping in France.

As night time approaches you go back to Future World to ride Mission Space and then get settled in to watch the Amazing Illuminations: Reflections of Earth Fireworks Show.

A wonderful day spend at Epcot.

Video by DisneyParks on the Disney Parks Blog.

Learn about the 6 week long process that transforms Cinderella's Castle at the Magic Kingdom into the sparkling spectacle that it becomes for Christmas.

Over 200,000 LED lights that are attached to over 40,000 square feet of fisherman's netting are attached at night after the park is close by teams of workers with giant cranes.  It takes 18 miles of electrical cables to tie it all together.

After it is all in place then extensive testing occurs to get all of the controls programmed to be able to turn them on and off on command and sychronized with the music.

Amazingly all of these lights are operated with the same amount of electricity that it takes to power 3 clothes dryers.

If you have not seen this display in person, I can tell you that it is truly amazing.  It is a sight to behold.  Cinderella's Castle has never looked so magical before.

This interactive storybook is brought to you by DisneyParks on YouTube.

The Disney World Christmas celebration starts on November 10th this year. That is the day of the first Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party for 2009. In all there will be 19 MVMCP events held in the Magic Kingdom on select nights.

The party is held from 7:00pm - 12:00 am and is full of special Holiday activities. You will see the "Once Upon A Christmas Time Parade", Holiday Wishes Fireworks, your favorite Disney Characters dressed up for Christmas, Cinderella's Castle lit up with over 200,000 LED lights, a new rockin' stage show in Tomorrowland with Stitch, Buzz Lightyear and other friends, free cookies & hot chocolate, and so much more.
Plus, since there are only a limited number of tickets sold to each Party, the lines will be short for your favorite Magic Kingdom rides and attractions.

Enjoy the interactive storybook with scenes from Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, Holiday Wishes. Disney World's favorite barbershop quarter, "The Dapper Dans", the "Once Upon A Christmastime Parade", Cinderella's Castle Dream Lights, "Celebrate The Season" stage show, and hear Christmas favorites sung by Pirates.
For more details about Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and ticket information, please visit: http://www.disneyworld.com/holidays

Video by DisneyParks at YouTube.

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, aka MNSSHP, is the official Halloween Celebration of Disney World.

For selected nights from September through November 1st, the Magic Kingdom at Disney World is transformed into a Halloween celebration filled with costumed characters, special shows, and lots of candy for all.

The MNSSHP features a new dance party with Stitch this year at the new outdoor theater in Rocket Tower Plaza. You will also find a special disney Villians show performed in front of Cinderella's Castle, a special Boo To You Halloween Parade, and each night is topped off with a special Halloween fireworks display.

This special event is a separately ticketed event that starts at 7:00 pm when the park closes to regular guests and runs until midnight.

This is your only chance to see these special shows and to see the Disney characters in special Halloween costumes. Children and adults are also encouraged to dress up for the event. There are several trick-or-treating locations throughout the Magic Kingdom where you can collect candy.

Always a fun time, this is an event not to be missed!

Video by DisneyParks on YouTube.

The Disney Cruise Line has released information about their newest cruise ship - Disney Dream which will sail on its maiden voyage January 26, 2011.

Water Coater

The most amazing feature of this ship may be the AquaDuck Water Coaster. The AquaDuck will sweep guests on a 765-foot high-speed flume ride with uphill acceleration and a swing-out loop letting you look down to the ocean 150 feet below.  This may be the best water coaster outside of Typhoon Lagoon's Crush and Gusher.

Virtual Portholes
Guests will also be treated to the latest in high definition technology. Those staying in inside staterooms will enjoy views of the ocean and sky through Virtual Portholes with hi-def views, live from cameras on the Disney Dream's exterior. The virtual portholes will also features Disney Characters swimming by the porthole from time to time.
Reservations Start Nov. 9th
The Disney Dream is scheduled to depart on its maiden voyage Jan. 26, 2011 and will sail alternating three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas and Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. During summer months, the ship will alternate four- and five-night itineraries with two stops at Castaway Cay. Guests can book their Disney Dream cruise beginning Nov. 9, 2009. To learn more about Disney Cruise Line, visit disneycruise.com.

Videos by WDWRadio (www.WDWRadio.com ) on YouTube.

Princess Tiana has arrived at Disney World! She is Disney World's newest Princess and the first since Mulan in 1998. Tiana is also Disney's First African American Princess.

Tiana is the star of the upcoming Disney Animated Feature "The Princess and The Frog" that will be coming to theaters in late November.

Princess Tiana appears 3 times a day at the Magic Kingdom in Liberty Square as part of the new "Princess Tiana Jubilee" show that involves a parade through Frontierland and then the show boards the Liberty Belle Riverboat and continues. The show brings the feel of New Orleans to the Magic Kingdom.

Not only does the show include musicians and dancers, but it also includes 30 randomly chosen park guests that become part of the performance. After the show these lucky guests get to participate in a special meet and greet with Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen.

Hurry to check out the show, since it is only scheduled to appear for 10 weeks, from October 26th - January 3rd, 2010.

Video by DisneyParks at http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/

This is an amazing video created by Disney utilizing Tilt-Shift Photography to create this incredible look. Real photographs were taken over the span of a day showing off the joy of a day at the Magic Kingdom at Disney World.

The day starts by arriving in the Magic Kingdom parking lot and the Ticket and Transportation Center. Cross the Seven Seas Lagoon to get to the entrance of the Magic Kingdom.

See the opening of the park complete with Character Filled Train. Visit Tomorrowland where you will see the Atro Orbiter and the Tomorrowland Speedway. Continue to Fantasyland to watch Dumbo the Flying Elephant. See the "Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It!" Parade come down Main St. Next comes Liberty Square and the Liberty Square Riverboat. In Frontierland you will ride the Thunder Mountain Railroad.

As evening comes it is time for the Spectromagic Parade as viewed from Main St. After all the guests have left Mickey Mouse and Friends say goodnight, concluding a magical day!

Video by DisneyParks at YouTube.

In order to promote the new "Give A Day. Get A Disney Day" program, Disney Characters traveled to 5 Cities across North America: Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles and Toronto on September 30th, 2009.

The goal of the program is to get One Million people to volunteer service for a day at a participating organization during 2010. Those that volunteer and complete the requirements will receive a FREE one day Disney Park Pass to either Disney World or Disneyland.

To learn more about the "Give A Day. Get A Disney Day." program and/or register go to: www.DisneyParks.com