03/21/08 1st issue

new attractions:
* Disney’s Pirates and Princess Party is back in March 2008! Become a pirate or a princess in the place where dreams come true! Grab your adventure map and treasure pouch as you embark on a quest for treasure through Magic Kingdom Park. Immerse yourself in pirate coves and princess courts. Be dazzled by Disney's Enchanted Adventures Parade. Experience the Magic, Music and Mayhem fireworks spectacular. If you wish, you can even come to the party dressed in your favorite pirate or princess costume*!
* Toy Story Mania is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios during the summer of 2008. Once inside, you’ll reach Andy’s toy box to see who can rack up the most points? Using sprint action shooters, guests will launch darts at balloons, rings at aliens, eggs at barnyard targets, and more.

News
* Spaceship Earth will be reopening March 11 after undergoing an extensive refurbishment. There is a whole new theme and a post show. The ride is now interactive. From what I understand, you have a screen in front of you in your ride vehicle to make the ride interactive on your descent. There is a new post show is interactive as well with games to play. If someone gets the chance to ride anytime soon, check it out and give me a review!

* Hollywood Studios has a new “meet and greet” that just opened next to The Great Movie Ride for the characters Cruella De Vil and 101 Dalmations in anticipation of the new 2-disc DVD coming out March 4th.

* Disney is now offering a Disney Resort Collection Catalog. You can find it in your guest room at WDW or in the comfort of your home online, you can purchase some of the guest room amenities, such as décor, and accessories inspired by the WDW rooms such as linens and soaps that are typically found in the higher end Deluxe resorts. I personally didn’t see anything I couldn’t live without, but go to http://www.disneyresortcollection.com/ to check it out anyway.

* It’s almost official that the construction next to the Contemporary Resort is going to be a DVC resort called the Kingdom Tower. It will have 281 units and will have all the deluxe resort amenities. It will connect to the Contemporary Resort through some sort of bridge. It will be on the monorail line and looks to be very close to MK, possibly the closest resort.

Watch the Travel Channel
* On April 11th at 9pm the Travel Channel is going to air Samantha Brown’s favorite Disney attractions, restaurants, and characters for both Disney Land and Disney World.

* April 18th at 9pm Disney on A Dime will give you money saving tips from travel experts. They will actually put their theories to the test by having actual park guests try their money saving remedies.

* April 25th at 9pm Disney Luxury Celebrations will take a few unexpecting park guests through luxurious, unique tours Disney style. Some of the celebrations will be a honeymoon fantasy celebration, a castaway dream celebration (sounds like a cruise to me). The Disney royal treatment, and enchanted wedding and queen for a day (yes please! Sign me up!).


Fun facts
* MGM Studios name was changed to Hollywood Studios in late 2007. I think the contract with MGM had ended, and I’m surprised Disney didn’t rename the park “Pixar Studios”!

* Go through the parks counter-clockwise for lighter crowds.
To read more about park crowd control, go to Len Testa’s http://www.touringplans.com/


Hidden Treasures
* As you approach the Magic Kingdom, notice the Walk Around the World engraved hexagonal bricks that make a pathway on the ground. The brick E00-250 belongs to Roy E. Disney and his wife Patty and is located on the east path section 00, brick #250.