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Rare Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Published November 4, 2013 by Disneyways.com

There’s a new baby at Animal Kindgdom Lodge. A rare Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra…the proper term for her is a “filly”…and she was born in October 2013. I am hearing through the grapevine that her name is Prima, although this has not been confirmed by Disney. Her photo is below, isn’t she a cutie?!

Photo credit: Disney Parks Blog

Prima the baby zebra

Prima’s mom was pregnant for a whole year, so you know she is probably as overjoyed as the rest of us for this new arrival. The filly and her mother are bonding well and doing fine.

Typically found in mountainous regions of southwestern Africa, the Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra is characterized by a striking pattern of narrow vertical stripes covering its head and body. They can weigh up to 800 pounds and grow up to eight and a half feet. This species is considered endangered, with only 50 of Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra in the United States and an estimated 7,000 throughout the world. Disney’s Animal Programs team is actively involved in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan for this critical species. The team is proud to have a successful birth of a rare species.

It might be fun to head over to the mara and celebrate the new baby with a zebra dome – or by doing some of the free activities that Animal Kingdom Lodge offers! I know I can’t wait to head out there to see if I can get a photo of Prima.

Photo property Disney

Photo property Disney

Some fun zebra facts:

There are three species of zebra, two of which live on the savannas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. You can see plains zebras as well as Hartmann’s mountain zebras during your stay. The Hartmann’s Mountain zebras (Prima and her mom) have thinner stripes that don’t extend around the belly.

Just like snowflakes, no two individual zebras look exactly alike.

Most scientists believe that the zebra’s stripes may serve to break up the outline of the zebra’s body in the herd and provide some camouflage when the zebra is standing in tall grass.

Mountain zebras eat mostly grass, bark, leaves and tree and shrub shoots. Though they prefer mountainous regions for their habitat, they are known to move to lower elevations to graze in cold weather and seek shelter in caves or wooded areas.

Photos: Christopher Cross Featured During Food and Wine Festival

Published November 3, 2013 by Disneyways.com

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To read more about Epcot’s Eat to the Beat Series during the International Food and Wine Festival – click HERE.

Solving the Mystery of the Disney World Turkey Leg

Published November 1, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Disney World turkey legs…are they really made of turkey?

What gives them that unique taste?

Do we really want to know?

turkeyleg

Next to Dole Whips, School Bread, and Mickey Bars – the Turkey Leg has trotted it’s way into the lineup of iconic Disney foods. Please join me this month as we explore the subject of the Disney Turkey Leg (and more!) in the November edition of the Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free at Walt Disney World newsletter!

Special thanks to Sarah Norris for allowing me to guest post. I am thrilled to be a part.

Just click on the photo below to get all the turkey talk and remember – if you are doing Disney on a special diet –

do not miss the Gluten and Dairy Free at Walt Disney World site!

Have a magical day!

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Review! Illuminations Special Diets Dessert Party 2013

Published October 31, 2013 by Disneyways.com

You heard us talk about it all year, and the day finally came for the annual Special Diets Dessert Party in 2013!

Click HERE to read the review that I did for WDW News Today. Keep watching DisneyWays and GFDF at Walt Disney World for news on when the next event will be coming!

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Prize Giveaway and an Interview with Jeff Bahm: Owner of Doombuggies.com

Published October 30, 2013 by Disneyways.com

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Check out show #74 with the impressive Jeff Baham! Jeff has had a long history with Disney which is very interesting. Besides all of that though, I think Jeff is SO cool. You know how you get to talk to someone and from that day on – you just think wow…that person is SO cool? Yeah…that is Jeff.

You will hear on the show that he is amazingly humble and knowledgeable. I don’t listen to a lot of other Disney podcasts but Jeff’s podcast – Moustalgia is on my list. I love learning about Disneyland since I have never been there. The team has great chemistry on the show, and each podcast ropes me in from beginning to end! It’s no surprise that Mousetalgia was nominated for the Podcast Awards this year. You can vote for them here.

Jeff is the author of THE Unofficial History of Disney’s Haunted Mansion. He has years of involvement with his award-winning Disney fan sites, such as Doombuggies.com – AND he hosts the Moustalgia Podcast. You can also check out Doombuggies.com for a link to listen to his brand new podcast all about the Haunted Mansion. He has served a term on the Disneyland Creative Advisory Council, and has worked closely with Disneyland and Walt Disney World to help develop and promote special events, including a re-creation of Disneyland’s Tahitian Terrace in 2012. This guy has even rubbed elbows with some of Disney’s greatest legends– including Richard Sherman!

For a limited time, you can enter here to win a free autographed copy of Jeff’s book!

 

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Highlights of this awesome interview with Jeff include:

  • My terrible impression of the ghost host (OK that’s NOT a highlight…)
  • How Jeff got to go to Richard Sherman’s birthday party
  • Here is a link to buy your copy of “The Boys” – a fantastic movie produced by the children of the Sherman brothers about their Dads – and what really happened in their career
  • The story of how a family got to sleep in the Haunted Mansion one night
  • How Jeff and his team celebrated the 10th anniversary of Doom Buggies – wow what a party!!
  • How Jeff got to serve a term on the Disneyland Creative Advisory Council
  • Learn about all the cool stuff they do at Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion for Halloween
  • If both were falling off a cliff – would Jeff save Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion or Disney World’s Haunted Mansion? Find out here!

Click HERE to listen to the show directly from your computer. Look for the small grey circle with the sideways white triangle inside. Click on that circle and make sure your speakers are on. The show will begin immediately.

Thanks for listening and be sure and send us your feedback! Have a magical day!

Video: Your Questions Answered – The Reimagined Disney Magic Cruise Ship

Published October 29, 2013 by Disneyways.com

I asked some friends to send me their questions about anything they wanted to know about the newly reimagined Disney Magic, and these wonderful folks really delivered! Thank you all so much for these awesome and fun questions – I hope my answers are worthy!

My husband and I were very fortunate to spend 2 wonderful nights on the beautiful Disney Magic. It was our first ever Disney cruise – and cost us way too much money – but we really enjoyed it!

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This is my first time making a video like this. I am a total nerd – nervous – and the video itself is of pretty poor quality. I apologize for all of that, but I hope you find the information helpful. I found out the hard way that YouTube only gives you the ability to load 15 minutes of video – so I had to separate mine into one 7 minute segment and one 8 minute segment.

Thanks for tuning in and muddling through all of this with me as I embark on this new method of sharing the Disney magic with you! Please send me your thoughts and feedback. I would love to hear from you!

Have a magical day!

My Embarrassing Character Secret – and Some Tips For Seeing and Meeting the Characters on Your Disney Cruise

Published October 28, 2013 by Disneyways.com

I have something to confess. Meeting characters in the Disney Parks is not on my top 5 list of favorite things to do. I could never really put my finger on exactly why that is. I promise I am not a character snob. I adore Disney characters with all my heart, I love getting hugs, I love watching other people meet them – so what the heck is my problem? It took going on my first Disney cruise to figure it out. I am pretty sure my problem is the walking, the waiting in the heat, and the fact that the LAST thing I want is my picture taken after the humidity attacks my hair and makeup. I think I just didn’t want to admit any of this to myself and it’s still a bit embarrassing to admit it to you now.

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But, guess what? Getting on the cruise ship with it’s shorter lines, variety of characters close together…and glorious AC converted me into a full-fledged character person. This means there is hope for anyone! So if you are having that awkward moment when you realize character meet and greets aren’t your thing…give it a try on a Disney Cruise. All of a sudden I was excited and wanting to meet every single character I possibly could! In the process I learned some things about the best ways to see the characters — and also how character meet and greets work on the Disney Cruise Line.

Much to my surprise – characters started appearing before we even boarded the ship! So my first tip is to keep a watchful eye before and during your cruise!

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To begin, your cruise will kick off with an awesome character party. You don’t get to meet and greet but you might get to dance and sing along with some of your favorite characters. It’s super fun to see them in their cruise wear!

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Just like in the parks, if you want to meet the characters, you need a plan. So your first step is to check out the cruise program. The program is called the Personal Navigator – and it’s delivered each night to your room automagically.

Your Personal Navigator shows you which characters are slated to make an appearance and where. If you find a character that the family wants to meet, be sure to get to the spot a little early to get ahead of the crowds. If you are late, the lines can get long…but it’s all good. Making friends is super easy on a Disney Cruise, even when you are in line.

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My next tip might be more like a secret. Check your Navigator for open house times at the kid’s clubs. My husband and I dropped in to see all the cool new stuff they are offering. While we were there – Tiana came in to tell the kids a story. I don’t think it was formally announced that she would be there. For whatever reason, she took me by complete surprise. I felt pretty ridiculous for having such a hard time choking back the tears – but I was so excited to see her! Princess Tiana was just so lovely! The kids were absolutely enthralled with her and hanging on to her every word. There was a feeling in that room that I just can’t describe. Beyond sweet and beyond magical.

Tiana

Our cruise did not have any stops but most of them do. Obviously, the Disney theme continues offshore, too. When you disembark at a Disney cruise port, so do a number of Disney characters. Check your Navigator for the names of characters joining you on land so you can plan ahead.

The ship will offer Disney PhotoPass photographers at most of the character greeting locations, and they will take photos with your personal camera if you want them to. Prefer taking your own pictures? Be sure to check out our 4 quick tips for capturing great character photos!

Last but not least do NOT miss the Broadway style shows that the ship offers. They absolutely bring the fairytales and the characters to life right before your eyes. Disney Dreams–An Enchanted Classic is one of 2 musical live shows that played in the Walt Disney Theatre onboard the Disney Magic ship for our cruise.  It is the BEST Disney show I have ever seen in my life.

love meeting characters

I grew up 30 minutes from Walt Disney World, and still live here in Orlando, so this is saying a lot. We were not allowed to take video or pictures unfortunately…but trust me on this. I saw more characters than I could count through my tear-filled eyes.

What are some of your favorite tips for seeing and meeting the characters on a Disney cruise?

November Meetup with the Disney Parks Podcast

Published October 21, 2013 by Disneyways.com

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We always have a lot of fun – and it’s a great way to meet other Disney fans and make new Disney friends!

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Get up to the minute information on this event and more by following us on Facebook and Twitter!

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Saturday November 23rd come and join us as we set sail around Bay Lake and visit all the lounges along the way.

Blue Launch watercraft transportation ends at 11:30pm but route may vary depending on demand.
Times and places are subject to change due to weather and other factors:

We will begin at the TerriTONY Lounge (also known as the Territory Lounge in Wilderness Lodge!) 4PM – 5PM

We will then sail to Ft. Wilderness! Time permitting, we will head to Crockett’s Tavern in Ft Wilderness and from there – we will catch the bus to the Chip ‘n Dale meet and greet at the campfire sing-a-long.
(Fire lighting is at 6:30 with the sing-a-long starting at 7pm-7:30pm)
We will then sail to the Contemporary Resort to enjoy The Wave Lounge, and then board the boat back to the Wilderness Lodge some time before 11:30pm (The Wave Lounge closes at midnight.)

No park admission necessary, but drinks and food are on you.

Fun and games and other wild things we can think of can be enjoyed by all.

We are looking for individuals and small businesses to sponsor giveaways, s’mores supplies, and goody bags for this event!

Please contact me for information!

We hope you will join us so we can meet you!!

Get up to the minute information on this event and more by following us on Facebook and Twitter!

 

Disney Parks Podcast Interview with Mike Brassell Voice of TTA and Living with the Land

Published October 18, 2013 by Disneyways.com

mike brassell

You may recognize Mike Brassell as the voice of The Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover in the Magic Kingdom, or as the voice you hear as you relax and enjoy your boat ride through the Living with The Land attraction at Epcot. You may be surprised to learn he has actually done a LOT of additional work for Disney movies– and more. He is also a seasoned musical composer, now a THREE time Emmy winner, family man, all around great guy!

Besides Mike himself being fantastic – highlights of this interview also include:

  • Names of several Disney films that have included Mike in the process of being made
  • How Mike may be the only person on the planet who’s voice you will hear simultaneously with music he has composed on two separate Disney attractions
  • Mike’s dream job in a Disney movie or as a voice of another Disney attraction
  • Many of Mike’s Disney favorites and his answers to Tony’s rapid-fire questions
  • How Mike once found himself standing between two Disney legends at once – and what it was really like working with one of them on a regular basis
  • Mike SINGING a couple of bars for us from a very famous Disney song that you are sure to recognize
  • More about THIS LINK and why I am including it here.

disney parks podcast

This episode has excellent sound quality, but due to technical difficulties, a small section at the beginning of the interview was lost. During that time, we asked Mike what it is like to be immortalized on a Disney attraction. He joked that when he took his kids on the TTA for the first time – they were amazed and in a bit of disbelief that it was really him they were hearing! He is such a humble man – and he is very respectful of what Disney represents to so many of us.

On a personal note I have to admit that I was SO excited to have a chance to talk with Mike – as you will notice throughout the interview! I love his enthusiasm, drive, and I admire his amazing career. I was in total awe of being able to speak to this man who is and always will be a Disney legend to me.  I hope you will enjoy the show as much as we enjoyed conducting this interview!

You can catch this episode by visiting DisneyParksPodcast.com directly from your computer. Then just click “Listen Now!” From there, just look for the small grey circle with the sideways white triangle inside. Click on that circle and make sure your speakers are on. The show will begin immediately. For more ways to listen, click here. Thank you for tuning in, and have a magical day!

To read more about our relationship with the Disney Parks Podcast click here.

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MyMagic+ and MagicBands Explained in 3 Minutes

Published October 17, 2013 by Disneyways.com

MagicBand

Can MyMagic+ and MagicBands really be explained in just 3 minutes? Built to make things simple and streamlined – MagicBands are one of the most ambitious steps Disney has taken in more than 30 years. Imagine using a single source for tickets, room keys, credit cards, FastPASS tickets and even PhotoPass cards while you’re vacationing at the Walt Disney World Resort. Are you ready to learn more? Let’s add some magic to our day – shall we? Check out this video for an awesome 3 minute overview of Disney World’s  MyMagic+ and MagicBands!

Sid Gray is an award-winning freelance producer-director with a list of credits that includes ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, CNNfn, CNBC, Bloomberg, The Walt Disney Company, ITT, Kodak, Yahoo and numerous other organizations. I met Sid through Mouskejournals, a wonderful group of Disney bloggers and a fun site to check out when you want to get all your Disney fun, from many different perspectives, in one place. In addition to all of his professional credentials, Sid is an amazing, first-class kind of guy who truly cares for people. Thank you Sid, mostly for just  being who you are, but also for creating this wonderful video for the thousands of Disney fans who have enjoyed it!