What's New at Walt Disney World
Toy Story Mania, Playhouse Disney, Restaurants & More
Walt Disney World--with its mega theme parks, resorts and shopping areas--unveils loads of new experiences, rides and attractions in 2008.
For families planning a vacation to Florida's Walt Disney World, loads of new attractions await you at the family-friendly resort "where dreams come true."
Disney-MGM Studios now called Disney's Hollywood Studios
As of the beginning of January, one of the Walt Disney World theme parks underwent a name change to better reflect today's modern entertainment that is Hollywood today. (The days of Metro Goldwyn Mayer and the monopolizing movie studios are long-gone; not to mention, Disney is affiliated with Pixar Studios, not MGM!)
And with the name change come new attractions at Disney's Hollywood Studios:
- Toy Story Mania opens this summer, with interactive midway-style games hosted by favorite Toy Story characters, like Woody, Hamm and Rex.
- Block Party Bash is a new parade (replacing the Disney Stars and Motor Cars parade) debuting this spring, with more than 20 Disney-Pixar characters taking to the streets.
- Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage reopens in February with a new cast of friends from Little Einsteins and Handy Manny.
- High School Musical 2: School's Out, formerly known as High School Musical Pep Rally, was revamped in fall 2007 with new songs and even more spirit. Performers dance and sing in the streets, and encourage viewers to "catch Wildcat fever," too!
New theme restaurants
Eating at Walt Disney World is an experience in itself. The resort has always been known for its incredible themed restaurants, not only found throughout the four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios) but at its waterparks, hotels and the fun Downtown Disney shopping area.
Here are some new eateries scheduled to open in 2008:
- T-Rex: A Prehistoric Famil Adventure, A Place to Eat, shop, Explore and Discover combines sit-down meals and retail in an otherworldly prehistoric scene. (Think dinosaurs set among fire, water and ice.)
- The Wave opens at Disney's Contemporary Resort, featuring American cooking fused with world flavors.
- Tutto Italia Ristorante ("Everything Italy") debuts in the Italy pavilion at Epcot.
- A new Chinese restaurant replaces Nine Dragons at Epcot, where guests select their meals from different stations and interact with chefs from China.
2008 Year of a Million Dreams (a.k.a. Disney Dreams Giveaway)
Perhaps the coolest promotion Walt Disney World Resorts has ever launched, the Year of a Million Dreams (2007) is back in 2008, better than ever. The company is giving away more than a million prizes valued at more than $13 million over the course of the year--and all you have to do to win is be in the right place at the right time.
Throughout their Orlando and Anaheim (Disneyland) properties, the "Dream Squad" will be pulling folks from ride lines, or simply approaching them on the theme-park streets, and giving away low-cost items like Disney pins or FASTPASSES, as well as amazing prizes, like a trip to the High School Musical 3 film premiere, a private stay at Disney's Castaway Bay, a chance to sleep inside Cinderella's Castle and much, much more.
Some prizes are only available to folks who are visiting the parks on a certain day (such as special holiday events). But you can also enter to win prizes simply by mailing in a postcard. Enter daily all year long! Check out the rules and regulations (and all the legalese) here.
And to learn about the multi-year overhaul of Disneyland's California Adventure, check out this article.
