Posted on Tue, Jul 14, 2009 @ 06:58 AM
White Rhino Born in Uganda with Disney World Roots
Do you remember those two white rhinos sent to Uganda from Disney World's Animal Kingdom. Well now the first white rhino born in 27 years has come from one of those animals. Congratulations to Disney's Animal Program and the whole team for this success.
First-time mother Nande, a 10-year-old female white rhino born at Disney's Animal Kingdom, gave birth June 24 to a healthy male calf at the Ziwa Sanctuary in Uganda after a 16-month gestation period.
"We are thrilled to contribute to the sustainment of this critical species in Uganda," said Jackie Ogden, Ph.D., Vice President of Animal Programs and Environmental Initiatives with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "We are joining with the Government of Uganda and Rhino Fund Uganda in celebrating this milestone birth, which represents a significant accomplishment for wildlife conservation."
Nande is one of two white rhinos transferred in 2006 as part of the first-ever reintroduction of white rhinos from the United States to Africa. She was joined by Hasani, also born at Disney World's Animal Kingdom, to help re-establish a white rhino population that has been extinct in Uganda since 1982 as a casualty of civil unrest in the region. There are an estimated 11,000 white rhinos remaining worldwide, with 190 in North American zoos.
Walt Disney World's commitment to conservation and rhinos goes beyond this first-ever rhino transfer. The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund has supported more than $250,000 in rhino protection and research projects in partnership with non-profit organizations throughout the world. For more information on the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund visit www.disney.com/conservation
Still haven't got your tickets to Animal Kingdom? Then check out our website at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com for all your Orlando Vacation needs to Disney World.
Posted on Sat, Jul 04, 2009 @ 06:48 AM
Over 1,000 Immigrants Become US Citizens at Disney World Magic Kingdom
On July 3rd, over 1,000 immigrants gathered on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disney World Magic Kingdom early that morning to become American citizens.
The following courtesy of Disney World press release & photo's courtesy of Orlando Attractions Magazine
From more than 100 countries and ranging in age from 18 to 82, the immigrants took the Oath of Allegiance to the United States during a morning ceremony jointly hosted by Disney Parks and Resorts and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
Here is a video summary of the event, including the Oath, clips from Garcia's speech, and Mickey Mouse showing up for a unique photo opportunity in front of Cinderella Castle before leading the new citizens to the recently updated Hall of Presidents attraction:
USCIS's highest-ranking official, Acting Deputy Director Michael Aytes, presided over the ceremony on the forecourt of Cinderella Castle. The event featured a welcoming address by Walt Disney World Resort President Meg Crofton, the presentation of the colors, the national anthem, the Oath of Allegiance and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Actor Andy Garcia - a naturalized citizen himself - delivered a keynote address during the ceremony. Garcia, originally from Cuba, is an acclaimed actor known for roles in films as diverse as The Untouchables, The Godfather: Part III and Ocean's Eleven. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Tampa-based Senior Airman Brenda Langdon of the U.S. Air Force, an immigrant from Columbia who became a United States citizen during the ceremony.
Still haven't got a chance to visit Disney World and all of the Disney Theme Parks? Check out our Orlando Vacation Packages at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com for your next Disney World Vacation.
Posted on Sat, Jun 20, 2009 @ 07:56 AM
Stitch Celebration Closing at Magic Kingdom
With the recent announcement that Disney World's Stitch's SuperSonic Celebration at Magic Kingdom would be permanently going away on June 27, less than two months after its official premiere, I decided to check in on the show while it's still around to see how popular it is. Around 5 minutes before the 3:30pm show began, here's what the gathered crowd looked like:
Around thirty people crammed into every available nearby shaded area, trying to avoid the midday extreme heat while waiting for the show to begin.
As the show began, I spotted a Disney cast member wheeling a cart nearby filled with ice-cold water and fan spray bottles. After standing out there for a few minutes, I was quite tempted to purchase one. Very smart.
The nearby Carousel of Progress let out a couple of minutes into Stitch's SuperSonic Celebration. I'd estimate around 70-80 people exited the Carousel theater, though only around 10 stopped to watch Stitch's show. But a surprisingly large amount of guests wandering through Tomorrowland did gather once the outdoor show began.
In the end, around 75 people decided to take the time to watch Stitch's SuperSonic Celebration. But as you can see, most of the group crowded underneath the shade provided by the Tomorrowland Transit Authority track. I can only assume that this is one of the major reasons why Stitch's Supersonic Celebration will be coming to an end so soon. No one wants to sit on the hot pavement for 30+ minutes in the summer heat in Florida. I wonder if the show would have continued longer had it been featured in the now-demolished Galaxy Palace Theater, which included seating and some shading.
Still haven't got your tickets for Disney World and all the Disney Parks yet? Check out our website at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com for all your Disney World Vacations.
Posted on Thu, Jun 11, 2009 @ 06:41 AM
Space Mountain at Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World is now more than a month into the seven-month rehab of Space Mountain, and details are trickling out about the changes in store for the venerable roller coaster.
The resort last week filed a construction notice thought to be tied to the Magic Kingdom's indoor coaster; it calls for the installation of an "interactive queue" and audio-visual upgrades. The notice has touched off speculation that Space Mountain could be in line for an electronic-game-filled queue similar to the one Disney World installed at Epcot's Soarin' in 2007.
Disney World officials, who have been relatively tight-lipped about the Space Mountain changes, previously had said only that the 34-year-old attraction would get a new queue enclosure. They also have said the renovations will include new track - though the layout will remain the same - and a new ceiling.
The Reedy Creek Improvement District puts the rehab's value at $12.3 million. The ride is scheduled to reopen Nov. 21.
Still haven't got your Disney World Tickets or Vacation Package yet? Check out all our Orlando Vacation Packages to Walt Disney World at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com
Posted on Tue, Jun 09, 2009 @ 08:44 AM
Disney World & Disneyland T-Shirts for the NBA Finals
Tonight is Game 3 of the Fairytale series aka the Disney World vs Disneyland NBA Finals. Here are the Disney themed t-shirt designs that are available for purchase at the STAPLES Center and Amway Arena, Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World and online at www.nbastore.com, www.orlandomagicshop.com and www.lakersstore.com.
Still looking for the first shots of these in the wild. They didn't have any of them at Downtown Disney on Sunday.
Still haven't got your Orlando Vacation Package yet? Check out our website at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com for all your Disney World Vacations.