Disneyland is in the midst of the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history, which will nearly double the size of Fantasyland. And we’re thrilled about the expansion because it’ll allows our neighbor to tell their treasured stories in new ways and give you the opportunity to interact with some of their beloved characters like never before. Today, we’d like to give you a first glimpse of the progress they're making in bringing these stories to life and a look at some of the art they will be sharing.

First, work is already well underway on many of the experiences we’ve already told you about, so let’s start with Under the Sea: Journey of The Little Mermaid. In this attraction, Ariel and all her friends will entertain you in a ride-through adventure featuring favorite songs from the popular animated feature.

Not too far from Ariel’s new home, construction is underway on Beast’s castle which will stand majestically upon a hill. You will cross over a stone bridge as you arrive at Be Our Guest Restaurant. Set in the halls of the Beast’s Castle, this location will seat up to 550 guests and offer “great food fast” service by day and full table service dining in the evening. Just outside the restaurant, you will also be able to explore Belle’s Village, which includes Gaston’s Tavern and Bonjour! Village Gifts.

Nearby at Belle’s cottage, a magical mirror is the doorway to a captivating new kind of experience, where Belle, Lumiere and guests participate in a lively re-telling of the “tale as old as time.” In Enchanted Tales with Belle, the adventure begins at Maurice’s cottage, where you’ll step through an enchanted mirror that magically transports you to Beast’s library for an interactive storytelling session with Belle.

Just across the way is the brand new Storybook Circus, where we’re doubling the fun by adding another carousel to Dumbo the Flying Elephant. While you wait to board this Fantasyland favorite, you’ll have a chance to join the circus and step inside the Big Top for fun-filled interactive experiences for kids of all ages. Alongside Dumbo the Flying Elephant, the existing Barnstormer is getting a new look as well, featuring Goofy as The Great Goofini. This exciting attraction will take you on a twisting, turning, daredevil, roller coaster “flight” high above the circus fun.

The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will take you on a rollicking, musical ride into the mine “where a million diamonds shine.” The coaster will feature a first-of-its kind ride system with a train of ride vehicles that swing back and forth as they whisk along the track. The journey will be accompanied by music from the classic Disney film and animated figures of Snow White and the Dwarfs.
Our other Disney princesses will also be getting a new home (actually, they prefer to call it a castle) in the all new Princess Fairytale Hall. Aurora, Cinderella and other Disney princesses, such as Tiana and Rapunzel, will greet you in an elegant royal court at the location where Snow White’s Scary Adventures is today. This new experience will be in place of some of the earlier plans we shared regarding opportunities to interact with your favorite princesses.

And Tinker Bell and her fairy friends will be joining the cast at Epcot where they will have special roles bringing the flora and fauna to life during the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival.
The New Fantasyland will be constructed in phases with most new experiences open by 2013. We look forward to sharing more with you as our work progresses.

Orlando Architecture

As you travel through our city, whether on business or pleasure, keep in mind there are some great works of architecture in our great city. We have some smaller artistic buildings as well as some monstrous designs that add to our skyline!


Check out some of these buildings as you peruse our city and don’t forget your camera so you can capture their brilliance!!

Hogwarts

Magical and current withthe release of the final instalment of Harry Potter!  Great stuff!!

Classic Cinderalla!

Need I say more??  Every little girls' dream!

Only in Orlando... See you HERE!!!

Classic Cars

Summer time is perfect for cruizin’!!!  Remember George Lucas’ American Graffiti and the nostalgic feeling that comes with cruising?  Especially if you have an old school ride!  Those are the cream of the crop when it comes to slippin’ down the street. 

Well we may not have the cruising spot like we did back in the day but you can still take advantage of our car show(s).  Classic Car Shows in Kissimmee at Old Town, about 12 miles from here.  The Saturday Nite Cruise® is the largest weekly car cruise in the United States, with over 300 classic cars, hot rods, street rods and antiques from 1974 (and older) began in 1990! These are events that kids from 6 to 96 will enjoy!

http://myoldtownusa.com/saturday-night-car-cruise/

Traveling and Keeping to Your Diet

There are plenty of temptations on the road to divert you from your diet - but with some planning, you can stay committed.
Difficulty:
Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need

·         Bottled Water

·         Granola Bars

·         Hot Cereal Packets

·         Individual Boxes Of Cereal

·         Individual Cans Of Fruit

·         Camping Utensils

o        1  Avoid "road food" if you can by bringing along your own food on trips. Convenience foods such as granola bars, canned fruit, bottled water, single-serving boxes of cold cereal and packets of hot cereal require no refrigeration.

o        2  Carry around your own utensils so that you're not forced to rely on restaurants for meals. If you must dine out, have your own menu in mind without looking at the restaurant's. Think healthy, such as steamed vegetables, fish and grilled chicken.

o        3  Keep in mind methods of food preparation, calories and portions.

o        4  Give the airline 24 hours' notice and order a special meal if you're flying - you can usually select from a variety of foods. If not, eat before you get to the airport, or consider step 1.

o        5  Keep yourself busy to avoid excess snacking. Do you have an extended wait between connecting flights? Walk the magazine aisles. Anticipating long lines? Bring a book.

Bees Knows

As we constantly strive to give the best service we can to all of our guests, you’d be surprised where you can find inspiration.  Bees are wonderfully organized and seem to always have an answer for everything, just what we want to provide each guest.  I’m an Animal Planet fan an I’m going to summarize some of these bees truths for you.

Plan
Bees leave nothing to chance. When forager bees have found a lucrative patch of pollen and nectar, they don’t rest on their laurels. They continue to scout for others.

Not only that, they carefully plan for succession. Heirs-apparent to the queen are fed a special diet – copious amounts of royal jelly.

When a new queen emerges there’s – guess what – a period of transition. Not until she’s proven herself by laying her first eggs does she take over the reins.

Communicate
Bees are “wired for sound” – and sounding out. They give and receive clear messages. Foragers perform dances to guide other workers to rich sources of nectar. They leave trace hydrocarbons on petals to indicate flowers have already been “tapped.” They “perform a tremble dance and emit a piping sound” when they’ve more nectar than they can handle and need more receiver bees.

Invest in your team(s)
Bees are ruthless in the collective interest. Drones that’ve past their sell-by dates and can no longer mate with queen are tossed out of the hive.

But they look after each other, too. They cleanse each other of dust and ectoparasites, carriers of infection, etc. Older bees emit a chemical that prevents teen bees from venturing out too soon, and they “school” the young in the art of foraging.

The hive invests in its “bee capital.” Career progression – from basic tasks such as hive cleaning, through nursing, comb-building and guarding to foraging – ensures things run smoothly. So, too, does talent spotting. Workers forage according to their individual sensitivities: some collect water, some pollen, some nectar and some propolis, a resin that seals cracks in the hive.

What’s more, bees know that excessive hours are bad for business. They seek out patches that are lucrative but close to home. The hive won’t thrive if workers are exhausted.

Move from “me” to “we”
O’Malley advises, “Promote community, sanction self-interest.” Bees are so committed to the collective interest, so “socially programmed” that they forgo self-gratification. Cargoes of nectar are not “tested” en route to the hive: they’re unloaded intact, for the enjoyment of all.

Things that upset the balance of the hive are dealt with by “bee police,” who destroy surfeits of the eggs that develop into males. The last thing you want is hive full of idle, libidinous drones.

So, there you have it. Ego and individualism bad. Team energy and team commitment good. It’s the wisdom of bees.

Royal Wedding

I did not see the wedding but I know a lot of people that did. 

Whether you tried to avoid, watch every minute or throw a party for this event this was a happy occation that shut England down.  What a momentous occasion for Will and Kate!  And a few billion of their friends thanks to television and internet coverage.

Prince William and Catherine Middleton sealed their wedding vows with a traditional kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace Friday as people in London and around the world roared their approval. I too found myself caught up in the euphoria.

The short peck — and a slightly longer smooch a couple of minutes later — followed a glittering service at Westminster Abbey in which the prince and the newly created Duchess of Cambridge were pronounced husband and wife.

The kisses were followed by a traditional fly-by of vintage and modern planes from Britain's Royal Air Force.  I couldn’t even afford doves at my wedding but I’m not jealous.

About two hours later, the couple surprised crowds gathered outside the palace by emerging in a blue convertible Aston Martin and driving around for a few minutes. The car was decorated with a multicolored ribbon across the hood and dragged what appeared to be tin cans, a traditional British touch. 

William said "I will" in a clear confident voice, when asked if he would "love, comfort, honor and keep" Middleton, 29. She appeared slightly emotional as she repeated her vows.  The prince was spotted winking at his new bride — the first "commoner" to marry a prince in close proximity to the throne in more than 350 years — after they exchanged vows. 

My well wishes are with the new bride and groom and may they live their “Happily Ever After!”

How long Before a Space Hotel?

With NASA's shuttle Program
coming to an end and commercial activity growing  Maybe Port Canaveral and Orlando can be pre and post stays just as Cruises! 

As the space tourism race ramps up, how long will it be before this becomes mainstream?  The international Space Holiday Inn and Suites was buzzed today by the Virgin Galactic.  If you think hotel rates are high what do you think the rates up there will be?  As airlines continue to crack down on what you luggage weighs you don’t have to worry about that because up there it weighs nothing!  Of course I hope you like the look of a space suit because that’s what you’ll be wearing the whole trip.

The notion of an ordinary person taking a trip beyond Earth’s atmosphere is no longer the stuff of science fiction.  Several already have gone, and hundreds more have paid for trips that could begin as soon as next year.  Even as NASA’s shuttle program is drawing to a close – it’s next to last launch is scheduled for Friday, when the shuttle Endeavour is to begin a two-week mission to the International Space Station (soon to be a Homewood… maybe) – private companies are soliciting passengers for commercial trips to space. 

Ten years ago businessman Dennis Tito became the first private person to pay to fly in space on April 28, 2001, doling out $20 million to travel on the Soyuz, a Russian rocket, to the International Space Station.  Now space travel is beginning to mirror the airline industry, with its own travel agents, carriers and hubs.

Ok so if you use the same calculations to figure out the cost and also bringing down the cost of the flight due to others sharing the experience (approximately 12 others) you are looking at $1.6 million for a weeks vacation in the sky.  Don’t worry your meals are included in that… hope you like Tang.