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Magic Kingdom — 1 Comment
02
Aug 12

Canoe Races Inside the Magic Kingdom

Olympians or not, more than 800 Cast Members on 75 teams paddled their hearts out in the recent Canoe Races of the World event–commonly referred to as C.R.O.W–in Magic Kingdom.

Surrounding Tom Sawyer’s Island on the Rivers of America, the racers started near Country Bears Jamboree, passing by Big Thunder Mountain and Haunted Mansion, rounding the corner near Liberty Square’s Riverboat to the finish line.

The annual two-week event began at Walt Disney World in 1973 after the tradition was started in Disneyland in 1963. C.R.O.W. is the only Cast event with similar races held in Disney Parks around the globe.

“Tradition is very important to our company”, said Paige McCalmon, events and operations delivery manager at Walt Disney World. “It is a great team and camaraderie builder, and it is uniquely Disney.”

To be a crew, eight to 10 people must be on the roster. Generally, the team name is derived from work location or area of expertise.

The Grand Champion of C.R.O.W. 2012 was the Industrial Engineering Oars 3 team which took home the coveted title and bragging rights for the coming year.

The Spirit Award was given to the “Tough Cookies” team for showing tremendous support for their fellow competitors and cheering them on from start to finish.

Walt Disney World Roller Coaster Mountains Wedding Cake

The bride and groom show their Disney thrill ride pride with this 3-tier wedding cake. The bottom layer representing Space Mountain. Topped with a layer from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Rounding out the cake is Mt. Everest from Animal Kingdom‘s Expedition Everest. This Yeti topper seems to be frozen just like Disco Yeti in the actual attraction. Photo comes straight from the Disney Weddings Blog.

Hong Kong Disneyland / Video Blog — No Comments
14
Jul 12

All New Video Commercial of Grizzly Gulch at Hong Kong Disneyland

It’s the wildest ride in the Himalayas! Well at least that’s what it looks like. A cross between the Magic Kingdom‘s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Animal Kingdom‘s Expedition Everest attractions.

Disneyland Paris — No Comments
08
Sep 11

Explore the Wild West in Frontierland at Disneyland Resort Paris

photo via David Jafra

The Eurodisney Paris theme park is divided into five magical lands, each offering a range of attractions. Bordering Adventureland and Main Street USA, Frontierland takes you back to the Wild West with cowboys, saloons and ranches around every corner.

photo by David Jafra

Out of all the Disney Frontierlands in the world, the one in Paris Disneyland is the largest, so rides can get pretty busy. You can avoid these long queues by visiting them early in the morning or right at the end of the day. Frontierland’s major attraction is Big Thunder Mountain (a runaway mine train), which offers a free FASTPASS® system at its entrance, which gives you a ticket with a scheduled return time. Return to the ride at this time and you can skip the queue line!

In the meantime, head to Frontierland’s spookiest attraction, the Phantom Manor for a mysterious adventure, or take aim on the Rustler Roundup Shootin’ Gallery. Queuing times are usually incredibly short here so it’s a great time-filler before having playground fun in the Pocahontas Indian Village or joining Goofy Summer Camp at the Chaparral Theatre.

If all this action leaves you feeling peckish, head to the Cowboy Cookout Barbecue in the Cottonwood Creek Ranch for tasty Tex Mex cuisine. The Last Chance Café serves turkey thighs, sandwiches and fries and is perfectly situated in Thunder Mesa for one last meal before entering Phantom Manor. The nearby Lucky Nugget Saloon offers an all-you-can-eat buffet or you can tuck into deliciously cooked meats at the Silver Spur Steakhouse – yum!

Thunder Mesa at Disneyland Paris by David Jafra

Photo by David Jafra

With three shops under one roof, the Thunder Mesa Mercantile Building is ideal when waiting for a specific time on your FASTPASS® ticket (it’s just opposite Big Thunder Mountain). Choose from leather belts and wallets, to a selection of western garments including boots, jeans and jackets.

Once the sun has set on your epic Frontierland adventure, jump on a train from the Frontierland Depot and travel towards your next Disneyland Paris adventure.

This post brought to you by Holiday Discount Centre…

Disneyland Paris — No Comments
02
Aug 11

A Mom’s Guide to Disneyland Paris

Listen up Moms! A trip to the Eurodisney Paris Resort with kids doesn’t have to be stressful. Forward planning and a sound knowledge of the park make Disneyland Paris holidays as magical for parents as they are for kids.

Before setting off, make a note of which attractions the kids will enjoy most and exactly where they are. The amazing Disneyland Paris iPhone app can help you do this with its interactive map, information on queuing times and preferred itineraries depending on your tastes. Additionally, those staying in Disney Hotels are given a two-hour head start to certain rides in Fantasyland and Discoveryland, which open to day-trippers at 10am.

Don’t despair if traveling with toddlers. Baby Care Centers can be found along Main Street USA, with baby changing facilities, microwaves for heating milk and high chairs on offer. Pushchairs are also available to rent, which makes getting around the park much easier.

Fantasyland is perfect for little ones. Marvel at ‘It’s a Small World’, take a ride on everyone’s favorite elephant, Dumbo or visit Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. For some eerie fun, bravely step inside Frontierland’s Phantom Manor and unravel the mystery of the bride who waited for her groom in vain…

Moms can relax with a coffee and look after the bags at Café la Brousse in Adventureland or the Last Chance Café in Frontierland, while Dads join older kids for some of the bigger adventures. The swash-buckling Big Thunder Mountain and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril are both exhilarating attractions for thrill-seekers.

One thing for certain during Disneyland Paris holidays is that hunger can strike at any point. Enjoy hot and cold international style dishes at the Plaza Gardens Restaurant or head to Buzz Lightyear’s Pizza Planet Restaurant with an all-you-can-eat buffet, pizzas, pastas and salads. For an evening meal, tuck into Pasta Pinocchio or Mushrooms Fantasia at Café Mickey in the Disney Village.

After a long day with the kids, take advantage of the baby-sitting service in many Disney hotels and escape and unwind inside the luxury Celestia Spa at the Disneyland Hotel before enjoying a romantic dinner. Pure bliss…