LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – In 2010, Disney sports becomes more invigorating than ever, Disney Cruise Line introduces new entertainment and activities, new dining adventures come to the Vacation Kingdom, one of the most beloved entertainment productions in Disney theme park history returns to help light the nights, and Walt Disney World theme parks and Downtown Disney present 2010 editions of popular festivals and events.
Here’s a brief look at 2010 'beginnings' past, present and to come …
Fantasyland expansion – An early-2010 groundbreaking marked the beginning of a three-year construction project that will result in a vastly expanded Magic Kingdom Fantasyland. When the project is completed (tentative timetable is 2013), guests will be able to:
- Visit a Disney princess in her castle, cottage or chateau to share a dance with Cinderella; celebrate Sleeping Beauty’s birthday with the Good Fairies; or join Belle in an enchanting story performance in the Beast’s castle library.
- “Be Our Guest” and dine in one of three enchanted rooms inside the Beast’s castle.
- Fly with Dumbo high above brand-new circus grounds, twice the size of the existing attraction with a new interactive, three-ring circus tent.
- Journey under the sea with Ariel, the Little Mermaid, in her very own attraction.
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex relaunch (February 2010) – A re-imagining project involving ESPN and the Disney sports complex, the leading multi-sport venue in the nation, aims to create immersive and entertaining sports experiences for athletes, coaches and fans by incorporating signature elements of ESPN in ways that will connect athletes and coaches with their favorite ESPN programs, personalities and elements. Guests will discover a new welcome center, a digital center where video captured by 44 cameras across the 220-acre sports campus is edited for display on 40 video screens and two “jumbotrons” throughout the complex as part of a veritable “Wide World of SportsCenter,” and the new ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, technical staff will continue work in the Innovation Lab to develop ground-breaking ESPN on-air products – using the action throughout the complex as a real-world testing environment.
"Main Street Electrical Parade" lights the nights (summer 2010) – Disney’s “Main Street Electrical Parade” lights up the streets of Magic Kingdom, showcasing floats and characters appearing at Walt Disney World Resort for the first time. Disney’s “Main Street Electrical Parade” returns to Magic Kingdom with its joyous sights and sounds. Direct from Disneyland Resort and marking its first engagement in Florida since 2001, the cherished parade is led by Tinker Bell waving from the basket of a magical balloon aboard a new float. Pinocchio and Snow White join the parade aboard bright new floats.
Table set for dining additions at Epcot (fall 2010) – Two exciting additions at Epcot World Showcase feature culinary expansions at the Italy pavilion and Mexico pavilion:
- In Italy, an authentic Neapolitan pizzeria has opened in time for the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, featuring wood-burning ovens – and imported water from a source that most resembles the water in Naples, Italy, home of some of the world’s best pizza dough. The menu at Via Napoli also features pastas, salads, sandwiches and Italian wines. Operated by Patina Restaurant Group, the same restaurateurs who run the pavilion’s Tutto Italia Ristorante, the 300-seat pizzeria is inspired by Naples 45, another Patina Restaurant Group pizzeria on East 45th Street in New York City.
- At Mexico, the popular Cantina de San Angel restaurant is expanding to feature 400 seats with al fresco seating for lunch and a perfect place for viewing “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” the nightly Epcot fireworks spectacular. The restaurant will feature south-of-the border creations from the culinary team at San Angel Inn LLC, who have run both the outside eatery and the pavilion’s San Angel Inn for more than 25 years.
Upscale dining goes … MORE upscale (February 2010) – True Disney foodies know you haven’t arrived until you’ve dined at the crème de la crème of restaurants – Victoria & Albert’s in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World Resort. But now the top-rated dining room has a new “must do”: the gorgeous Queen Victoria’s Room. Queen Victoria’s Room, behind closed doors just off the main dining room, features just four tables, and restaurant manager Israel Perez promises attention to your every whim. His staff has brought back French gueridon service, which involves a fancy rolling cart (a gueridon) that moves from table to table for customized service and “wow” factor – a flourish of Himalayan sea salt atop your filet, a decadent wine sauce or a lavish display of cheese, for instance.
The sommelier happily will pair something delicious with each of the 10 courses. Yes, 10 courses, but they’re small. Still, plan on three to four hours of leisurely dining. You’ll float out the door with a long-stemmed rose for women and personalized menus for everyone to carry home. Cost for Queen Victoria’s Room is $200 per person, plus $95 for wine pairings. The restaurant has its own reservation line, 407/939-3862. There is just one seating nightly.
Downtown Disney adding offerings – As part of its overall revitalization plan, Downtown Disney, the 120-acre entertainment-shopping-dining complex at Walt Disney World Resort, is welcoming several additions during 2010:
- RIDEMAKERZ has opened a limited-engagement retail entertainment experience at Downtown Disney West Side (now through fall 2010). This store integrates full-sized cars and a supercharged interactive experience that lets guests build, customize and trick out their very own radio-controlled vehicles. Kids of all ages can satisfy their need for speed with over 649 million ways to create a mean machine.
- D Street, an apparel store where urban-inspired product “intersects” with a Disney creative edge, opened in April, showcasing a mix of products for both men and women – edgy apparel, pop culture novelties, Vinylmation figures and collectibles, artwork, handbags, accessories, jewelry and more. The store features a raw, unfinished industrial look and provides a great venue to showcase Disney art created by local artists.
- AMC Entertainment completed upgrading auditorium one to be the first Enhanced Theater Experience (ETX) in the United States – just in time for the March premier of "Alice in Wonderland" in 3-D. The ETX auditorium includes a 20 percent larger, floor-to-ceiling screen, 3-D technology, and 12-channel audio and digital projection that delivers higher resolution than HD.
- Pollo Campero, opening in fall 2010 at Downtown Disney Marketplace, is an international Latin chicken quick-service restaurant offering savory combinations of freshly prepared Campero Latin chicken, flavorful side dishes such as yuca fries and sweet plantains, and Latin drinks including horchata and tamarindo. And for the more nutritious minded: chef-prepared salads, sandwiches and wraps, as well as sugar-free, gluten-free, low sodium, and organic offerings.
World-renowned juggler joins La Nouba (February 2010) – Anthony Gatto, who holds 11 world records in juggling, has become a permanent part of La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil at Downtown Disney. In the nine-minute act, Gatto juggles balls, hoops and clubs in unprecedented numbers at amazing speed with seemingly impossible accuracy. Gatto joins the ranks of professional athletes, dancers, vocalists, musicians and comedic performers in the cast of 67 artists in the incredibly creative and dynamic gem La Nouba.
Disney Cruise Line Castaway Cay enhancements (summer 2010) – Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line's private island paradise in the tropical waters of the Bahamas, is getting an extra dose of pixie dust – providing guests with more water-based family fun, additional conveniences and a slice of beachside luxury, all designed to complement the idyllic island setting. Here's a snapshot of what's in store:
- Guests can slide and splash at a new water feature called Pelican Plunge, a 2,400-square-foot floating platform located within swimming distance from shore and featuring an enclosed corkscrew waterslide, a 140-foot-long open waterslide, a giant water-filled “bucket dump” and four water cannons.
- A brand-new, 2,400-square-foot water play area called Spring-a-Leak helps guests cool off while immersing them in what appears to be the remnants of a washed-away beach dwelling. The watery fun begins as guests enter the storm-ravaged structure, greeted by dripping pipes, broken plumbing and hissing misters, exposed and twisted by the tropical tempest that wiped out the original structure.
- The Castaway Family Beach is being extended by more than 700 feet for families to enjoy the pristine white sand, build sand castles, relax in the shade under an umbrella and take a dip in the warm azure waters of the lagoon. Dotting the expanded Castaway Family Beach are 16 new family cabanas offering the privacy and luxury of a deluxe beach retreat.
Disney Cruise Line spectacle “Villains Tonight!” (March 27 premiere) – The first full-scale musical production dedicated to the Disney villains, the show is a family-friendly, fun-filled musical extravaganza that places these famous characters in some irreverent funny moments. “Villains Tonight!” features a “Who’s Who” of the Disney villains, including Disney’s newest crook, Dr. Facilier from “The Princess and the Frog.” The show also features classic divas and scoundrels such as Ursula (“The Little Mermaid”), the Evil Queen (“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”), Captain Hook (“Peter Pan”) and Scar (“The Lion King”). The revue-style show initially will be showcased on the Disney Magic and then will delight guests aboard the new Disney Dream cruise ship in early 2011.
Disney Cruise Line European Season Port Adventures (summer 2010) – To help families better explore the culture and wonder of Europe, Disney Cruise Line worked closely with local tour operators to create family-friendly Port Adventures for 10- and 11-night Mediterranean voyages and 12-night Northern Europe cruises in summer 2010. Developed specifically for Disney Cruise Line guests, these adventures feature Disney touches designed to entertain and inspire both children and adults while providing an impeccable level of guest service that pays close attention to the special travel needs of families. While every port of call offers Port Adventures for families to enjoy together, many tours integrate separate activities for children and adults. While kids are engaged in age-appropriate activities supervised by youth counselors from the ship, parents are given the opportunity to explore cultural sites and points of interest in greater depth. Examples, depending on voyage:
- A Prince and Princess Ball in St. Petersburg, Russia, at the majestic Catherine Palace hosted by Disney princesses such as Cinderella, Snow White and Belle. Arriving by horse-drawn carriages, the princesses and their princes entertain guests in the gilded Grand Ballroom. Live musicians and royal courtiers resplendent in period costumes and powdered wigs add to the ambiance and lead guests in song, dance and regal revelry.
- Sidi Bou Said Treasure Hunt in Tunis, a family-friendly quest that brings to life the culture, sites, sounds and flavors of this destination by following a series of clues. During this adventure, families visit a traditional Tunisian house, learn about the origin of Sidi Bou Said from a local storyteller, receive a hand-painted henna tattoo, bargain with local merchants for a keepsake water vessel, sip freshly prepared mint tea and get their name written in Arabic as a souvenir.
- Tuscan Cooking School in La Spezia, where an Italian chef provides one-on-one instruction and guides the hands-on preparation of an authentic Tuscan meal. Guests enjoy their culinary creations such as antipasto, grilled meats, pasta, focaccia and cantucci – traditional Tuscan almond biscotti – while sampling wines bottled onsite at the farmhouse.
Walt Disney World “signature” events and festivals (throughout 2010) – The 2010 editions of eight guest-favorite theme park special events and the longest-running Walt Disney World special event, at Downtown Disney, plus the return of marquee sports events will dot the calendar throughout the year. In fact, there will be at least one special event happening on more than 160 days. Guest celebrities – from horticultural gurus to culinary wizards to national recording artists to stars of the stage and screen to heroes of courts and fields – participate in events such as ESPN The Weekend, Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, Star Wars Weekends, Night of Joy, Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, and Holidays Around The World. More than 100 award-winning visual artists from across the country will “show off” at the 36th annual Festival of the Masters at Downtown Disney. Disney’s iconic “big cheese” will host Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party on select evenings. Stars from the top tier of professional baseball, professional golf and college basketball will compete when Walt Disney World Resort plays host to the Atlanta Braves’ baseball spring training, the Children’s Miracle Network Classic for PGA TOUR players, and the Old Spice Classic college basketball tournament.
Guest information about Walt Disney World Resort is available at www.disneyworld.com or by calling 407/824-4321. Reservations are available by calling 407/W-DISNEY, through travel agents and online at www.disneyworld.com.
To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can visit disneycruise.com, call Disney Cruise Line at 888/DCL-2500 or contact their travel agent.
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