Walt Disney World cuts its funding to local Boy Scouts of America

Walt Disney World has cut its funding to the Boy Scouts of America through the company's employee volunteer program over the Boy Scouts ban on openly gay leaders, according to a published report.Last year, the Boy Scouts national organization voted to allow openly gay youth scouts, but kept the ban on openly gay leaders.Since then, UPS, Merck and Lockheed Martin have cut their funding to the the scouts.A Disney spokesperson had no official comment...

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Soundtrack for 'Muppets Most Wanted' coming out March 18, see complete list of songs

The latest Muppets soundtrack will be released three days before the the new movie "Muppets Most Wanted." The songs in the movie follow the Muppets' musical reputation, according to Brett McKenzie, who wrote the songs and won an Oscar for the original song "Man or Muppet" from the 2011 "The Muppets.""'I'm Number One' is about the bad frog Constantine being the number one criminal and his sidekick Dominic, played by Ricky Gervais, being number two,"...

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Marvel releases a Captain America feature before upcoming movie 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier'

Marvel has released a new featurette focusing on Captain America just five weeks before the April 4 release of  "Captain America: The Winter Soldier."Captain America himself, Chris Evans, Robert Redford and Scarlett Johansson discuss the underlying story and conspiracy behind the sto...

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Disney Parks to remain open for 24 hours again in May

Disneyland and Disney World resorts will again stay open for 24 hours, this time to mark the beginning of summer.Disney publicity photoKicking of the Memorial Day Weekend, guests at the Magic Kingdom in Florida and California Adventure in California will be open Friday from 6 a.m. May 23 to 6 a.m. May 24, local time, Disney announced.The celebration will feature events showcasing good-vs.-evil classic Disney stories including character meet-and-greets...

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Watch a ride-through on the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller-coaster

Disney Parks BlogWith every tree it plants and rock it paints, Walt Disney Imagineering comes closer to opening the long-awaited Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride in New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom.The ride has been described as both a "family-friendly coaster" and a dark ride -- but not a thrill ride. What sets it apart from other coasters is that the cars swing from side to side.To give us a taste, Disney released a video this week of the real...

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Smile of The Day: Inside Dinosaur

The queue of the Dinosaur ride at Animal Kingdom in Disney World has a great central attraction - the skeleton of an actual Carnotaurus.© Steven Lieb...

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New Disney movie digital download service debuts

It is now possible to digitally download Disney, Pixar and Marvel movies.The Walt Disney Studios has debuted a new app, Disney Movies Anywhere, for the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and web. iTunes is the digital movie provider for Disney Movies Anywhere.The release of the app coincides with the digital release of "Frozen" and features Disney's library of over 400 active digital titles, according to a Disney news release."The beauty of this technology...

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Avengers Half Marathon Weekend coming to Disneyland in November

If you see yourself as more superhero than princess, runDisney has added a race weekend that might be right up your alley: Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend, Nov. 14-16 in Disneyland.In addition to a half-marathon, the weekend will include a 5K and kids events. It also will be eligible for runDisney's Coast-to-Coast Race Challenge.The courses run through Disneyland Park and California Adventure.Registration for the races opens March...

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New Disney World parade - Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade - will debut on March 9

The new "Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade" will debut at Disney World on March 9, the Disney Parks Blog announced.More than 100 performers will be marching down Main Street, U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom with with a new musical score and featuring never-before-used technology for the floats. The parade is a tribute to Fantasyland. Mark Hammond, known for his work on World of Color at Disney California Adventure and the Flights of Fantasy parade at...

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New Alex and Ani bracelets at the Disney Store online

Fans of both Disney and Alex and Ani jewelry could soon have bangles from wrist to elbow. The Disney Store has restocked its collection, adding a little color and a chance to personalize your collection a bit.Put a personal stamp on your collection with a silver Initial Bangle ($21.95) with a small Mickey Mouse icon. Also available in  brass ($31.95).Commemorate a trip to Walt Disney World with Cinderella's Castle, available in...

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Millennium Falcon sneakers and more new Star Wars stuff

"Star Wars" is one of those things that make all of us feel like kids again. If only we could still fit into kids' sizes. That's because Disney and Stride-Rite are making the coolest shoes ever: light-up Millennium Falcon sneakers. The boys' shoes sell for $54.95. The toes light up on every step, so you might want to leave them at home the next time you go to the movies:  If your kid is more anti-hero than hero, there's a Darth Vader hooded...

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New gallery-wrapped prints for Disney fans

Disney released 33 gallery-wrapped giclées on canvas today celebrating many of its classic characters and iconic images, from Mickey Mouse to Maleficient, "Snow White" to "Up." All are limited editions of 1,500, and all are priced at $149.95. Here's a selection: "All Their Wicked Ways," by Tim Rogerson, 9"H x 18"W"Carl's New Adventure," by Rob Kaz, 28"H x 7"W"Royal Reflection," by Rodel Gonzalez, 18"H x 12"W"We're in This Together," by Manuel...

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Smile of The Day: Pascal's friend

Don't forget when you get to the Tangled Rest Area in the Magic Kingdom at Disney World to stop and search for the some of Pascal's friends.© Steven Lieb...

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3-time Olympian wins Disney World's Princess Half Marathon with new record

Disney publicity photoKim Smith crosses the finish line at the 2014 Princess Half Marathon.Three-time Olympian Kim Smith shattered the Princess Half Marathon at Disney World record by nearly six minutes today. Running the race for the first time Smith, a 32-year-old New Zealand native who lives in Rhode Island, ended the event with a time of 1:11:49.Last year's record was 1:17:38.In 2011, Smith ran the fastest half marathon ever by a woman in...

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Disney World increases ticket prices; single-day to Magic Kingdom is $99

It's now going to cost more money to get into Walt Disney World.Less than eight months since ticket prices were increased at the Florida theme parks, the company hiked prices today by about 4 percent. It will now cost $99 to enter the Magic Kingdom for one day, according to the Disney World website.The price increased by $4 for all the parks. The single day cost to get into Epcot, Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios is $94. The company last year...

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Smile of The Day: Hidden Mickey at Tangled rest area

We know there are tons of Hidden Mickeys around Disney World. Some are placed on purpose and some just may happen. Take a look below. This can be found at the Tangled rest area in the Magic Kingdom.© Steven Lieb...

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Orlando City Soccer Club schedule at Wide World of Sports at Disney World

Orlando City Soccer Club will play its regular-season home games at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World.This will be the Lions’ final United Soccer League season before becoming the 21st Major League Soccer franchise in 2015.Here is the 2014 home schedule:Saturday, March 29, 7:30 p.m. vs. PittsburghSaturday, April 5, 7:30 p.m. vs. RochesterSaturday, April 12, 7:30 p.m. vs. CharlestonSunday, May 4, 7:30 p.m. vs. OKCWednesday, May...

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Disney blog to host live chat on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

© Steven LiebmanSeven Dwarfs Mine under construction.The Disney Parks Blog will hold a live chat Monday with an imagineer about the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.On Feb. 24, 2014, from 2:30 p.m., Dave Minichiello will share an exclusive video of the mine train and answer questions about the attraction."We’ll also be answering questions you may have about the attraction and talking about the completion of New Fantasyland at the Walt Disney World Resort,"...

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Disney adds extra weekend to Star Wars Weekends this Spring

Disney publicity photo.Disney has added a fifth weekend to the Star Wars Weekends at Hollywood Studios this year at Disney World.From the middle of May to June, celebrities, characters and special shows will take place each night as well as a fireworks show featuring Star Wars music.The weekends this year are:Weekend I: May 16 – 18, 2014Weekend II: May 23 – 25, 2014 Weekend III: May 30 – June 1, 2014Weekend IV: June 6 – 8, 2014Weekend V: June...

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Kinsey Collection at Epcot getting new exhibits

The "Re-Discovering America: Family Treasures from the Kinsey Collection” at Epcot is being updated this Spring, Disney has announced.Untitled, 1951 by artist Hughie Lee-Smith.Additional images, artwork and artifacts related to watershed moments in American history will soon be on display at the collection housed in the American Adventure pavilion.“Representing more than 400 years of African-American achievement and history, the Kinsey Collection...

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Guide to Disney World's 2014 St. Patrick's Day events

St. Patrick's Day at Disney World is more like St. Patrick's week in 2014.Disney publicity photo.From March 7-17 at Downtown Disney in Disney World St. Patrick's Day takes center stage with music, food and family events.Musical performances start nightly March 7-14 from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. and March 15-17 on stages indoors and out, guests can don their finest green duds and join in a jig or two.Here's the breakdown of the events:MUSICDaily March 7-17:...

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Build-A-Bear is now offering Spider-Man and Captain America bears

Build-A-Bear Workshop is introducing two new superhero bears - Captain American and Spider-Man.Spider-Man Bear is covered in a spider web pattern and Spider-Man logo on his paw. Captain America Bear has blue fur with a Captain America shield pattern and the Captain America logo on his paw. The two bears go for $...

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Smile of The Day: Fantasyland train station weather vane

The weather vanes around the Magic Kingdom at Disney World are always fun to look out. Earlier this month we gave you a little tour of those around the park.Here's another one, located above the Fantasyland train stop on the Walt Disney Railroad.© Steven Lieb...

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"Goodnight Darth Vader" book soon will be out

Goodnight room. Goodnight moon. Goodnight Darth Vader?Yes, there is now going to be a bedtime story featuring the the Sith Lord himself. Writer/artist Jeffrey Brown has written and illustrated the book. Brown also wrote "Star Wars: Darth Vader & Son," "Star Wars: Vader's Little Princess" and "Star Wars: Jedi Academy."According to starwars.com, in "Goodnight Darth Vader," little twins Luke and Leia want a bedtime story and who is better to tell...

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Guide to topiary locations at 2014 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

Every year Disney unveils new topiaries for the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. This year, it's Muppets.Kermit The Frog and Miss Piggy are joining the numerous Disney and Pixar characters around the park for the 21st annual event.Here are the locations of where the various topiaries will be during the festival lasting from March 5- May 18, 2014:© Steven LiebmanGoofy, Donald Duck and Daisy Duck: The front entrance. The topiaries...

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AT&T finishes network cell expansion at Disney Parks

AT&T has finished its network improvement at Disneyland and Disney World using a variety of small antennas.After taking over as The Official Wireless Sponsor for Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort AT&T announced its plan to expand its network. And it has, by using a variety of ways which are designed to blend "seamlessly into the aesthetics of the Disney Parks and Resorts, their impact has been easy to see," according to the AT&T...

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Anna and Kristoff meet in a deleted scene from 'Frozen'

Anna and Kristoff have a classic meet cute in "Frozen," when Kristoff arrives covered in snow and ice at Oaken's Trading Post (and Sauna) to buy carrots for Sven. But it almost didn't turn out that way.As part of the run-up to the release of "Frozen" on DVD, Disney yesterday shared a rough animation of a deleted first meeting between Anna and a much-more-mercenary Kristof. "Frozen" will be available for download on HD Digital Feb. 25 and on Blu-ray...

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Epcot International Food & Wine Festival to start early this year

This year you'll have an extra week to get your fill of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.The event will kick off Sept. 19 and run through Nov. 10 (otherwise known as the unofficial start of the Christmas season at Disney). That's 53 days to eat and drink your way around almost 30 food and beverage marketplaces, attend food and wine seminars and chill with the Eat to the Beat concert series.That makes 128 "days of yum" at Epcot this...

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Hong Kong Disneyland planning on building third hotel

Hong Kong Disneyland plans to build its third and largest hotel.The hotel will have 750 rooms and is expected to be finished by 2017, according to the Hong Kong Standard.The new hotel will be built between the two existing hotels, Disneyland Hotel and Hollywood Hotel, will have a rainforest and adventure theme with a pool and three restaurants, according to the website.The resort is aiming to have the hotel opened by 2017 to meet the demand expected...

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New Planes, Star Wars, Spider-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy toys unveiled by Disney

Disney is going after the boys toy market by storm this year hoping that toys inspired by "Planes: Fire & Rescue," "Star Wars Rebels" "Guardians of the Galaxy" and Sony's "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" will lead the way."We're excited to see these four properties take off at retail as we know these innovative products will resonate with kids and fans who want to create their own heroic stories," Josh Silverman, executive vice president, global licensing...

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