Topiary Tour 2014: Mater's Garden

We are heading to our second top on the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Topiary Tour.This stop is Mater's Parts, Plants & Playin' Garden near the The Test Track. Here you see Lightning McQueen and Mater.Follow along here on the topiary tour.© Steven Liebman© Steven Liebman© Steven Liebman© Steven Liebman© Steven Liebman© Steven Lieb...

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Topiary Tour 2014: Entrance to Flower & Garden Festival

The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is well underway. There are so many topiaries out there that we wanted to break them down and give a more complete view of all the topiaries, so we decided on a little topiary tour.Join us this week, as we head around the and focus on the various topiaries. The first stop is the entrance. This is what guests see as they come into the main entrance. Donald Duck, Daisy Duck and Goofy try to capture...

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The Walking Disney: A Disney and 'Walking Dead' mashup

Ever wonder how Disney characters would handle themselves in the world of "The Walking Dead?"French artist Kasami-Sensei came up with these answers in his series "The Walking Disney" with characters Pocahontas and John, Tiana, Esmeralda, Clopin and Djali, Rapunzel and Flynn and Kristoff and Sven. The Walking Disney : Pocahontas and John by Kasami-Sensei on deviantARTThe Walking Disney : Tiana by Kasami-Sensei on deviantARTThe Walking Disney : Esmeralda, Clopin and Djali by Kasami-Sensei on deviantARTThe Walking Disney : Rapunzel and Flynn by...

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New Star Wars combat game lets you assemble your own team

Disney has introduced a new Star Wars combat game letting players assemble a powerful team of heroes.Courtesy of starwars.comStar Wars: Assault Team is a new game for iOS, Android, and Windows devices, according to Starwars.comThe features of the game allow players to: Collect hundreds of character cards to create the ultimate team using the saga's most iconic heroes, including Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Boba Fett, and more.rain, improve and...

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Disney D23 Expo 2015 tickets go on sale this August

The next D23 Expo in Anaheim is scheduled for the summer of 2015 with ticket to of on sale in August.The fourth event is expected to be larger than the 2013 D23 Expo which drew more than 65,000 Disney fans during the three-day event,The 2015 D23 Expo event will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center the weekend of August 14–16. Each of Disney’s worlds -- theme parks, television, music, games, and films, including Pixar, the Muppets, Star Wars...

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Pirates of Caribbean movies will be focal point of new ride at Shaghai Disneyland

Rendering from Disney of Treasure CoveThe Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise will play a large role in the new Shanghai Disney resort.This first-ever Pirates-themed land in a Disney park, to be named Treasure Cove, will be one of a kind to Shanghai Disneyland, according to a Disney press release. The Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle of the Sunken Treasure is an all-new high-technology boat ride attraction.Guests will take a trip down the ocean...

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Disney company to discuss final second quarter 2014 financial results

The Walt Disney Company will hold a live audio webcast in May to discuss the final second quarter 2014 financial results.The webcast will go live at 5 p.m. EDT on May 6, 2014 at www.disney.com/investors.The discussion will be available via replay through May 20, 2014 at 5:00 p...

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Dr. Doofenshmirtz being chased at Disney World

There are a lot of different surprises at Disney World.One can be found at Epcot during the Agent P's World Showcase Adventure. Usually at the end of each adventure there is something special to see. In Germany, if you are lucky you might get a chance to see this (see belo...

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Disney Cruise Line announces summer 2015 cruise schedule

Bookings for the 2015 Disney Cruise Line summer schedule begins on March 27.Disney publicity photo of the Norwegian FjordsThe new schedule includes the Norwegian fjords, Iceland and the Faroe Islands for the first time. In addition, will be sailings to the Baltic, Copenhagen, Denmark and St. Petersburg, Russia. Cruises to the Mediterranean, Alaska, Caribbean and Bahamas also are included in the summer lineup.Here are some specifics, according...

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Disney World event in November focuses on closed-down attractions

A special D23 event at Disney World in November will bring together Disney archivists, Imagineers and legends to talk and celebrate some former attractions.D23 Destination D: Attraction Rewind will take place Nov. 22 and 23, 2014 at the convention center at the Contemporary Resort, according to a news release. Rarely seen concept art and image, vintage video clips and hours of stories will focus on fan favorite rides like Adventure Thru Inner Space,...

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Disney World breaks ground for new state-of-art laundry facility

Disney publicity photoDisney World has started construction on a new laundry facility to deal with the additional resort hotel rooms and new types of linens being used at the hotels, according to a Disney news release.This will be the fourth laundry facility at the resort and is being touted as one of the most technologically advanced facilities of its kind in the U.S. “The new facility will showcase some of the textile industry’s most cutting-edge...

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Disney World adds new Disney Princess Cup soccer event this fall

Disney World is adding a new soccer event this fall featuring girls ages 9 to 14 called the Disney Princess Cup.The event, scheduled for Oct. 10-12, 2014, at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will feature 6 versus 6 player format, according to a press release.The cup will be open to teams and individual players, will also include a pep rally featuring a Disney Music recording artist, an awards ceremony, a speaker series geared towards empowering...

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'Frozen' soundtrack again tops the Billboard 200 for seventh week

The "Frozen" soundtrack is again in the top slot on the Billboard Top 200 album chart.For the seventh week, the soundtrack ended up on the top of the list and has sold over 1.6 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The soundtrack features eight original songs from Oscar-winning songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and songwriter Robert Lopez.The album also peaked at No. 1 on the iTunes Overall Chart (and in 31 countries), plus Amazon's...

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Six Disney and Marvel movies to be released in IMAX theaters

Disney and IMAX have announced a deal to release six movies over the next two years in IMAX theaters, including all of the Marvel superheroes and new Star Wars film."For the last several years, Disney and IMAX have worked together to deliver extraordinary cinematic experiences to audiences around the world," IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond said in a press releaseThe movies to be released in IMAX(R) theaters include:  "Captain America: The Winter...

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Walt Disney Company purchases Maker Studios

In an effort to expand its online video content on YouTube, The Walt Disney Company is purchasing Maker Studios.Maker has more than 55,000 channels, 380 million subscribers and 5.5 billion views per month. “Short-form online video is growing at an astonishing pace and with Maker Studios, Disney will now be at the center of this dynamic industry with an unmatched combination of advanced technology and programming expertise and capabilities,” Robert...

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Warning: Theme park price inflation at Disney World

We all know we spend a lot of money at Disney World, starting with $2 bottles of water and $50 t-shirts. We know what we're getting into.But this is extreme even for Disney. I've been ogling a silver bracelet online at the Disney Store for a while now, and I thought if I lucked into a 20 percent off shopping coupon on our recent Disney trip I might splurge. But when I found it at the World of Disney -- and at a couple of other Disney World stores...

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How did reviewers like 'Aladdin' on Broadway?

It's a whole new world for "Aladdin," which opened on Broadway last week to warm, if not adoring, reviews.Aladdinthemusical.comAdam Jacobs gets top billing as Aladdin, but the reviews agree that James Monroe Inglehart steals the show as Genie -- much as Robin Williams did in the 1992 movie.The show was directed and choreographed by Casey Nickolaw, who also choreographed and co-directed "The Book of Mormon." Chad Beguelin wrote the book and provided...

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Easter Egg hunt returns to Disneyland and Disney World in 2014

Disney is bringing back one of its Limited Time Magic events from last year - The Easter Egg.From April 10 to 20 at Epcot, California Adventure you can search high and low for 10 special eggs sprinkled around the park, the Disney Parks Blog announced.© Steven LiebmanLast year, we were at the park for this event and at first, it seemed a little silly. But we decided we were on a mission. As we headed to the Canada pavilion, we noticed several other...

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Photos: Magic Kingdom construction and Cinderella Castle paint job

One of the most lovely views at the Magic Kingdom is Cinderella's Castle. And one of the best photos to take of the castle is from the walkway near the Liberty Square entrance.There, the castle reflects beautifully in the water around the moat. If there is water. The moat around the castle is dry as various construction is under way for the expansion of the hub area and the painting of the castle. Ha, Spring maintenance.© Steven LiebmanCinderella...

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Special look at 'Maleficent' preview at Disney Parks on April 18

Those heading to the Disney Parks in April will get s special look a the upcoming film “Maleficent” starring Angelina Jolie.Starting April 18, a special extended trailer will be playing at Hollywood Studios in the ABC Sound Studio and at the Bug’s Life Theater in the California Adventure, according to the Disney Parks Blog. The new movie is looking at the “untold story” of Maleficent, the iconic villain from “Sleeping Beauty” who turns into...

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Photos: Downtown Disney construction (March 2014)

Construction of Downtown Disney continues in its transformation to Disney Springs.The new area doubles the number of shops and restaurants. There will be four areas,The Town Center, The Landing and Marketplace and West Side. The entire area should be complete by 2016.The parking lot is being changed into a massive parking garage. These photos show what is happening along the waterfront on the Marketplace side, including construction of a new walkway...

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Celebs at Disney Parks March 9-16 including Tina Fey, Jerry Seinfield and Katie Holmes

It's time to take our weekly look at celebrities visiting Disneyland and Disney World, this time including Katie Holmes, Tina Fey, Jerry Seinfeld and Johnny Galecki from "Big Bang Theory."This time we take a look at who showed up at the parks from March 9 to March 16, 2014.First, we visit Hollywood Studios at Disney Word, where Katie Holmes gives Minnie Mouse a little hug . . . Disney publicity photo. . . and Tina Fey cozies up to Sweetums from...

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'Frozen' and 'Saving Mr. Banks' being released on Blu-ray and DVD this Tuesday

Tuesday is a big day for Disney DVD and Blu-ray releases. Two big movies, "Frozen" and "Saving Mr. Banks," are coming out in addition to the "Jungle Book 2." Here's a quick look at what is being released.FrozenThe Oscar-winning movie was released on digital download on Feb. 25. It is now coming out on DVD and Blu-ray combo pack. is released"Frozen" is released on Blu-ray combo pack and was released on digital download Feb. 25. The release includes...

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Take a ride on Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin (Video)

Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin opened at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World on Nov. 3, 1988.During this ride, you can take aim with your space cannon and fire your laser to try and defeat the Evil Emperor Zurg.In this video you are part of Star Command. Take a ride through of the attracti...

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'Frozen' is now one of the top 15 highest grossing movies of all time

"Frozen" has now moved up the Disney box office earning list to sixth place, outperforming the 2014 "Alice in Wonderland" and now ranks15th on the all-time worldwide box office gross list.The film has grossed $396.4 million in North America and $630.2 million overseas. The movie is less than $400,000 away from surpassing "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace."Here is a look at the Top 10 highest grossing Disney films:1. "Marvel's...

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New comic book starring Figment from Journey Into Imagination being released in June

One of Disney World's beloved characters, created specifically for the theme park, will get his own comic book from Marvel.Figment #1 cover by John Tyler ChristopherThe Disney Kingdoms line of Marvel comics will featured Figment from Journey into Imagination from Epcot, according to Marvel.com. The comic debuts June 4."Expanding the story of Figment has been intimidating, but I’m genuinely enjoying it," Skullkickers creator Jim Zub kavich, who will...

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5th Annual Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic scheduled for October

This fall the The Swan and Dolphin at Disney World will hold its 5th Annual Food & Wine Classic.The event will take place Oct. 31 - Nov. 1, 2014 and will include beer and wine, spirits and food pairing seminars. There will also be live entertainment during the program.A two-night package, including two-night room accommodations for two adults and two causeway event passes for two nights at check in to enjoy unlimited food and wine tastings and...

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Special Nightmare Before Christmas merchandise event at Disneyland in June

Jack Skellington and gang are coming to Disneyland a few months before the Halloween and Christmas holidays.On June 13 and 14, 2014 at Disneyland, there will be a special "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas" event.  The $90 pin trading event includes Disneyland event themed merchandise, according to the Disney Parks Blog.The event schedule runs:June 13, 2014 (12 p.m. – 8 p.m.)Early RegistrationEvent Store & Random Selection Process...

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Special photos of the 'Captain America: Winter Soldier' red carpet premiere

The "Captain America: Winter Solider" premiere took place at the El Capitan Theatre on March 13, 2014 in Hollywood. The movie opens nationwide on April 4. During the red carpet photographer Charley Gallay decided to document the event in black and white. Here are some of the photos. The cast of the movie stand in front of the world premiere poster. Chris Evans, Captain America himself, signs autographs. Cobie Smulders and Scarlett Johansson. Samuel L. Jackson, Nick Fury himself. Anthony Mackie, who plays The Falcon. Jeremy Renner who plays...

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Anna and Elsa from 'Frozen' are moving from Epcot to the Magic Kingdom in April

Disney publicity photoAnna and Elsa from "Frozen" will join their fellow Disney royals at Princess Fairytale Hall in Disney World next month.The sisters will move from Epcot to the Magic Kingdom on April 20 where they will appear together every day until early evening, according to Disney. Disney FastPass+ will be available at Princess Fairytale Hall. At night other Disney Princesses will be available to greet guests. Cinderella and Rapunzel will...

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Guide to vegetarian foods at Disney World resort

There are more than 200 places to dine around Disney World from theme parks to resorts to Downtown Disney and more than 6,000 different foods served.If you're vegetarian or vegan there are numerous options around Disney World from full-service and quick-service restaurants and portable food carts. Here is a sampling of some vegetarian meals from the Disney Parks Blog and some resources to check out. Remember, before heading on your visit when making...

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Alicia Keys song is featured in new Spider-Man movie

The upcoming "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" movie will feature the song "It's On Again" by Alicia Keys featuring Kendrick Lamar.The song is part of "The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" coming out April 22. The movie is being released internationally on April 16 and in the U.S. on May 2, 2014."We were looking for just the right song to close out the film – a song that would be upbeat and exciting, but also contain a note of foreboding....

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