Disney4me

I hope you’ve enjoyed my last few posts about some of the Port Adventures we’ll be offering guests in Europe this summer. Today I’ll give you a glimpse at what you can see and do when we call on the picturesque island of Santorini, Greece. View the full article

Some of our favorite stories on the blog involve firsts - whether it’s meeting a character, riding a special attraction or just experiencing the magic of Disney Parks for the first time in a unique way. View the full article

Sometimes living in Florida can seem like one perfect, endless summer. One of my favorite ways to mark the seasons though, is Spring Training baseball. The weather is perfect, the crowds aren’t too big, and atmosphere is decidedly relaxed. View the full article

As Thomas Smith just announced, we are celebrating the 50th Anniversary (link to post) of the debut of “it’s a small world” at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. This, of course, means a trip to the archives! We found historical footage from both the 1964 New York World’s Fair and the attraction’s opening day here at the Disneyland Resort, two years later on May 28, 1966. Imagineer Kim Irvine takes us down memory lane, along with co-composer of the attraction’s unforgettable theme song, Richard Sherman. View the full article

As you may have just heard on Good Morning America, you’re invited to join a first-of-its-kind, online global sing-along at SmallWorld50.com to celebrate the 50th anniversary of “it’s a small world,” - the classic Disney Parks attraction that opened as a tribute to peace and hope at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. View the full article

His most famous film character has destroyed the Death Star, received the Medal of Bravery following The Battle of Yavin and resisted a turn to the dark side, so what is he going to do next? View the full article

Walt Disney World Resort hotels are offering up to 35 percent summer travel discounts on select rooms through June 6. View the full article

If you’re observant, you’ll notice many unique numbers around Disney Parks. And if “984673” looks familiar, you’re in luck - it’s our latest mystery puzzler. This string of numbers can be seen somewhere, but where? Please put your answers in the comments and we’ll update the post with the answer later today. View the full article

I love when we can have a Disney Parks Blog series that spans both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts, so many thanks to my fellow author, Nate Rasmussen, for the excellent story on the Mark IV Monorail. Today, we return to the Disneyland Resort to continue our look at the history of the Disneyland Monorail with the Mark V. View the full article

"What color is a giraffe's tongue?" asked Eric, our guide. "I'd guess purple," said Aidan, our 13-year-old grandson. "I know it's definitely not pink," said grandson Julian, 10, his eyes riveted on the giraffe eating leaves near our safari vehicle. "It's grayish-purple," Eric said. View the full article

After this long, harsh winter, it's impossible to begrudge our Northern friends for wanting to spend time in our Florida sunshine. So, in the spirit of a warm welcome, here's a guide to what's new at the parks, including the attractions that have hatched since last year's spring break. We've grouped them by types of visitor. View the full article

Are you thinking about planning a summer vacation at Walt Disney World Resort? Our latest offer, available now, gives you 30% off select resort rooms when you stay for five nights, and 35% off when you stay for six or more nights. Plus, you could save even more when you upgrade to a Magic Your Way room and ticket package with minimum 6-day tickets. View the full article

This photo was taken a few months ago - in the middle of January - on a night with an almost full moon and one of the clearest night skies that I’ve seen in a long time here at Disneyland park. The moon was so bright that, instead of trying to get detail in the moon, I thought I would use a setting called the F-22 star. By setting the aperture somewhere between F-11 and F-22, any bright light source will result in a large “starburst.” I ended up using F-18 at 15 seconds with an ISO of 800. The camera was a Canon1DX with the 24-105mm lens set at 40mm and mounted on a tripod. While I was taking the photo along Big Thunder Trail, many guests stopped to comment to me about how beautiful the moon looked, take photos of the moon themselves and tell me how much they loved Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. View the full article

Finally, it’s the first day of spring! While everyone up North begins to officially thaw out (hopefully), it’s the perfect time to celebrate the place at Walt Disney World Resort that was created by thawing out - Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park. View the full article

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disneyland Hotel & Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel each earned an environmentalist certification from the California Green Lodging program! The environmentalist certification represents the state’s top rating for travelers seeking green lodging. Fewer than 1% of Orange County hotels share this level of certification with the Disneyland Resort hotels. View the full article

Stars of stage and screen were spotted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this week, with Katie Holmes and Tina Fey each making visits to Walt Disney World Resort. View the full article

Last year around this time, I shared a first look at the Disney Collection by Vera Bradley. Since then, these colorful handbags and accessories, developed especially for Disney Parks, have been a hit with Guests who want a splash of color in their everyday lives. As spring arrives, I'm delighted to announce a new event titled, "A Perfect Petals Brunch featuring the Disney Collection by Vera Bradley," is coming to World ShowPlace at Epcot on Sunday, May 4. This ticketed event will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and will feature the release of a brand new color called "Mickey's Perfect Petals." I recently spoke with Cathy Dawson, merchandiser for accessories at Disney Theme Park Merchandise, to learn more. View the full article

The next destination on our Mediterranean voyages I want to tell you about is Crete, the largest island in Greece. The port is in the capital city of Heraklion, where you'll be surrounded by lively Greek culture and spectacular island scenery. View the full article

Looking to have some fun during your spring break? Here’s a glimpse of the merchandise events happening this April at the Disneyland Resort! View the full article

How cute is this Lightning McQueen souvenir bucket we found at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – and best of all, you can get it filled with healthful Mickey Check goodies: Dannon Danimals Yogurt, apple wedges, carrot sticks, goldfish crackers, apple-cinnamon snack bar and choice of lowfat milk or water ($11.99). View the full article

Cinderella Castle has a new look, but it's only temporary. View the full article

Our friends at Tokyo Disneyland just announced that a new version of Jungle Cruise - Jungle Cruise: Wildlife Expeditions - will debut at the park this fall. View the full article

Last week, we celebrated the arrival of the “Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade” at Magic Kingdom Park. Our Maleficent dragon wallpaper was so popular that today we’re sharing the second in that series with you. This design is inspired by the Bubble Girl costume from the parade. View the full article

Disney's film plans include sequels to "The Incredibles" and "Cars." The company also confirmed all 10 board members who were up for reelection. Walt Disney Co. held its annual meeting in Portland, Ore., on Tuesday and used the occasion to reveal a few tidbits about its forthcoming film projects, including a pair of animated sequels and the company's first "Star Wars" picture. View the full article

Do you have your brackets penciled in yet? What are some of your favorites to advance to the finals? View the full article