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Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (June 27, 2008) – Walt Disney World Resort today unveiled a new vision for Downtown Disney, with extraordinary new shopping, dining and other experiences including a completely re-imagined Pleasure Island. Also planned are numerous enhancements to popular Downtown Disney locations, as well as additional theming and storytelling brought to life by Walt Disney Imagineers.

“We are committed to offering guests new and exciting experiences they can only have at Walt Disney World Resort,” said Downtown Disney Vice President Kevin Lansberry. “Our bold new vision for Downtown Disney reflects the feedback we receive from our guests each and every day and will enable us to continue to offer the high-quality entertainment that is our hallmark.”

Over the next year, the 120-acre entertainment-shopping-dining complex will add a number of one-of-a-kind, immersive experiences for guests. Downtown Disney will even get its own iconic attraction, in the form of a giant, tethered balloon that will take guests 300 feet into the air to view the amazing vistas of Walt Disney World Resort. Other new experiences include:

·In fall 2008, guests will enter a world of prehistoric creatures at T-Rex: A Prehistoric Family Adventure. The dinosaur-themed family eatery will serve up pizzas, pastas, seafood and more, and will feature life-size animated dinosaurs that dwell among bubbling geysers, waterfalls and a fossil dig site.

*Also this fall, a design-your-own t-shirt store from Hanes will add to the growing collection of merchandise guests can personalize at Downtown Disney.

*E-brands Restaurants, an Orlando-based, multi-concept restaurant group, will premier its newest concept at Downtown Disney in spring 2009. The high-energy, casual eatery will feature authentic Central and South American cuisine, specialty drinks and live music along the waterfront.

Guests also will enjoy a brand new mix of shopping and dining experiences at Pleasure Island as it is transformed over the next two years.

“Our guests tell us they want additional shopping and dining experiences at Downtown Disney,” added Lansberry. “We are currently considering a number of unique concepts from around the globe as we re-imagine Pleasure Island and look forward to sharing our progress over the coming months.”

To make way for the new offerings, all of the clubs currently on Pleasure Island will close on Sept. 27. Other locations on Pleasure Island, including Raglan Road, Fuego by Sosa Cigars, Curl by Sammy Duval, Orlando Harley-Davidson and outdoor food and beverage locations, will remain open during the transition.

To complement these new experiences, many popular Downtown Disney locations will undergo enhancements.

*Beginning this summer, Portobello Yacht Club will be transformed into a Tuscan Country Trattoria. The refreshed menu features authentic Italian dishes and signature favorites and a re-designed interior along with an outdoor dining space.

*This fall, Goofy’s Candy Company will add a special new room that will enable families to host one-of-a-kind birthday parties at Downtown Disney.

*The Marketplace Stage will be completely replaced with a larger, covered stage this fall to welcome even more entertainment to Downtown Disney and serve as a new premier venue for Disney Magic Music Days.

*Fulton’s Crab House will update its interior fixtures and furnishing and exterior in Spring 2009. The enhancements include a refreshed third floor deck dining area to offer additional Disney guests and larger private parties the traditional Fulton’s experience.

*Next year, Wolfgang Puck Café will update its interior fixtures and furnishings and will feature an enclosed glass patio offering guests a year-round outdoor dining experience.

These efforts come on the heels of recent enhancements at World of Disney, Wolfgang Puck Express, Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop, Earl of Sandwich and Cap’n Jack’s Restaurant.

June 29th, 2008 | Tags: Adventurers Club, closing, Comedy Warehouse, Downtown Disney, Earl of Sandwich, Fulton’s Crab House, Ghirardelli Soda Fountain, Marketplace, Pleasure Island, Portobello Yacht Club, T-Rex, Walt Disney World, Wolfgang Puck Express, World of Disney | Category: Disney News | Leave a comment

June 21st, 2008 | Category: Disney News | Leave a comment

Hi everyone! Today I am again featuring some Walt Disney World update photos from partner site MouseSteps. In addition, I am giving my visitors a chance to get in on a contest to win a free DVD of your choice from my store!

The photos above are of the new Dumbo/Circus themed Disney Vacation Club kiosk in Fantasyland, and the Fan*Ta*Sea, a VIP type boat recently spotted at Epcot.

The above construction shots are the latest progress of the new DVC Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort (formerly the Kingdom Tower).

Finally an updated view of the new T-REX restaurant going up at Downtown Disney plus a look at Spaceship Earth’s missing paperboy I had read about at the WDWMagic message boards. Where did he run off to?

Free DVD contest and future release poll:

JeffLangeDVD partner site MouseSteps is running a promotion for a Free DVD of your choice from my website store for one lucky winner! The contest is for one week and it ends on Friday, May 23rd at midnight EST. All you need to do is email MouseStepsContest@JeffLangeDVD.com. with your name and city! Your information will not be added to any mailing list, it is only for the drawing. There is also a POLL on the site for what you would like to see as my next DVD. Please take the time to cast your vote. The DVD topics are as follows:

* Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival

* Disneyland Resort After Dark

* Walt Disney World Tomorrowland Classics

* Complete Main Street Electrical Parade (WDW, DL, DCA)

* Walt Disney World Resorts

* Walt Disney World Class of 1971

* Disneyland Resort Top 10

* Walt Disney World Top 10

* Disneyland Resort Thrills

* Walt Disney World Thrills

As always, if you want to request a future DVD idea, Photo Memory topic or comment on anything, just drop me a line at suggestions@JeffLangeDVD.com.

Click here to browse the JeffLangeDVD store.

May 16th, 2008 | Category: Disney News, Promotions | Leave a comment

Hi everyone!

I’m just back from another fantastic trip to Orlando! The weather was perfect, and I kept busy with a wide variety of parks and activities. I’m very excited about upcoming DVD releases that will stem from my
visit!

The main purpose of my trip was the “Wild Decade” event for the 10th anniversary of Disney’s Animal
Kingdom. It did not disappoint! Just as I witnessed on the opening day, Joe Rodhe and Jane Goodall were a large part of the opening activities.

Both Joe and Jane spoke eloquently about the park, and Joe also gave a wonderful presentation later in the Theater of the Wild. I was later treated to a VIP viewing of the Lion King show, complete with a meet with many of the performers. What a great day!

Thanks again to everyone at WDWCelebrations, It was a pleasure to meet all of you and I look forward to the “World Wide Weekend” in September!

I also enjoyed 2 and a half full days of Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival, taping for an upcoming DVD release. I am very excited about this project as I have not done anything like it before and it was challanging but fun to work on! (If you want to see even more great photos on these topics please visit friends of this site MouseSteps.com).

Not only did I spend time at Disney – Aquatica and Cypress Gardens helped fill out my schedule. Aquatica is a great addition to the Sea World parks, and Cypress Gardens is a wonderful slice of old Florida (don’t miss the ski show!) The trip to Disney’s Wilderness Preserve didn’t go as planned – they were having a controlled burn that day, and the Preserve was closed.

Please check back soon for more information on my upcoming releases. As always, if you want to request a future DVD idea, Photo Memory topic or comment on anything, just drop me a line at suggestions@JeffLangeDVD.com.

Click here to browse the JeffLangeDVD store.

April 26th, 2008 | Category: Disney News, Whats Happening | Leave a comment

Welcome back for another update! I have been working hard on a yet-to-be
announced release that I’m very excited about – keep checking back for
more details. In the meantime, here is some information on upcoming
Disney events that I plan to take part in!

Upcoming Disney Fan Events:

The first event is from WDWCelebrations (the folks who put
together the big
Epcot 25th Anniversary fan event). I will be attending this event with my
good friend Jim Hill (he also
has an article about it
HERE). I look forward to it as we were both in attendance on opening day
and have many interesting memories about this unique Disney park. If you
are thinking of attending please note that as of last week there were
only 30 spots left for the event! More information is below.

A Wild Decade:

WDWCelebrations is pleased
to announce its first Commemorative Event, "A Wild Decade,"
in honor of Animal Kingdom’s 10th Anniversary on April 22, 2008.
Building on the success of Celebration 25, "A Wild Decade" will focus on
unique experiences, including group rides, photos, meals, and other
special events designed to bring Disney fans together to celebrate and
enjoy each other’s company. For more information be sure to visit the
Official WDW Celebrations homepage.

Another great event I look forward to each year is the
National Fantasy Fan Club Disneyana Convention. Some preliminary
information has just been released (see below).

First Look at the NFFC 2008 California Convention Event Schedule:

The 2008 California Convention is still a few months away, but the
Special Events Committee (SEC) is already busy getting things ready for
what promises to be an exciting few days.

Here’s what we can tell you so far. The dates of the California
Convention are July 15th through July 20th. However, just before the
Convention begins on Sunday July 13th, we have an event that is open to
all NFFC members – the "Disneyland Tour of Downtown Los Angeles" with
our good friend Charles Phoenix. For a more detailed description
of this event and links to pictures and a video, check out
this link. You will find the registration form
here and in the February issue of the Fantasyline Express. Remember, seats
are limited to the first 50 people who send in their registration.

As always, our meal events promise to be a highlight of the Convention.
On Tuesday evening, July 15th, we will kick things off with our
Welcoming Reception. This year, the entertainment will be provided by
our own members, as we bring back an event from a few years ago: "
Puttin’ on the Disney Hits". This is where you get to lip sync to your
favorite Disney songs or pay homage to a Disney Park attraction. (Who
could forget the Electrical Parade tribute and of course our own Eric
Roque and his special presentation of "Great Moments with Mr.
Lincoln"?). Get your "act" together and plan to be a part of the show!
For further information, please contact Eric Roque at
hartrock@psend.com.

The Collectors Breakfast will start our day on Wednesday, July 16th. At
this event we will be celebrating "85 Years of Disney Magic
". 2008 marks the 85th Anniversary of the founding of the Walt Disney
Company; since we are a group of collectors and enthusiasts, we are
encouraging people to bring along a special piece from their collection,
share a picture, or tell a story of something special you have or
remember from the company founded by Walt Disney.

Thursday, July 17th marks the 53rd birthday of "The Happiest
Place on Earth", Disneyland. We will take the day off from regular
convention activities to enjoy the day just being a kid again and riding
all of our favorite attractions.

Friday evening, July 18th, we’ll hold the Celebration Banquet. Our theme
for this event will be a celebration of the 80th birthday of the little
guy and gal that started it all — Mickey and Minnie Mouse. This year’s
entertainment will be Dick Hardwick, an alumnus of the Golden Horseshoe
Revue; with Dick providing the entertainment, the Banquet promises to be
an evening filled with a lot of laughs. Dust off those ears and get
ready for a great event! For more information on Dick Hardwick,
check out his website at

http://www.dickhardwick.com/.

Our Luncheon with a Disney Legend will be held on Saturday, July 19th.
Then, on Sunday, July 20th, we will wrap things up with the biggest
Disneyana Show and Sale in the country.

The SEC is hard at work confirming speakers and seminar topics for the
California Convention; we’ll have more details for you as speakers and
seminars are confirmed.

So, there you are — a little taste of what’s in store for you during
the 2008 California Convention. Start making your plans now to
join us in California in July!

Production Update and Poll:

As I mentioned above I am working on a new project and doing preliminary
work on a few upcoming titles including: ‘Disneyland Classics 4′, ‘WDW’s
Tomorrowland Classics’ and ‘Walt Disney World’s Class of 1971′. I’m also
considering doing a DVD on Epcot’s Flower & Garden festival. I am
curious to know if there is any interest in such a project and what you
would expect to see on the disc. If anyone would like to share any
thoughts please email me at
Suggestions@JeffLangeDVD.com. I appreciate all input and really would like
to hear from you (and any ideas on what you would like to see on the
Disneyland Classics 4 or WDW Tomorrowland Classics as well).

As always, if you want to request a future DVD idea, Photo Memory topic
or comment on anything, just drop me a line at
suggestions@JeffLangeDVD.com.

Click here to browse the
JeffLangeDVD store.

April 2nd, 2008 | Category: Disney News, Whats Happening | Leave a comment

ANAHEIM, Calif. – January 29, 2008 – For the first time in
history, lucky guests will have the chance to spend an unforgettable
night inside Disneyland Park during the Year of a Million Dreams, most
nights starting January 31, 2008, as part of the 2008 Disney Dreams
Giveaway.

A guest will be escorted on the same day awarded into the most
extraordinary accommodations at Disneyland Resort: the Disneyland Dream
Suite, an in-park apartment with special-effects surprises and vintage
design elements in each room.

The overnight stay in the Disneyland Dream Suite will be a highlight
among the more than a million "dream come true" experiences awarded
through random process to eligible Disneyland Resort guests and mail-in
participants in the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway. Mail-in winners of
prizes that require use on day awarded, such as the Disneyland Dream
Suite, will receive a prize of comparable value.

Disney Imagineers have devoted months of hard work toward remodeling the
suite of rooms above New Orleans Square in the Park, conceived by Walt
Disney as a private apartment for his family and closest friends. The
rooms, which most recently housed The Disney Gallery, have been restored
to Disney’s original vision of deluxe living quarters. Vintage design
illustrations, created under Disney’s personal direction, were recovered
and used as inspiration for the look, furnishings and other décor
elements in the Suite. Special design touches have been incorporated to
evoke memories of Disney’s diverse interests and the rich heritage of
Disneyland.

The guests chosen through a random process to enjoy a "dream stay" in
the Disneyland Dream Suite will be following in the footsteps of Walt
Disney. His dedication to the constant growth and development of
Disneyland Park resulted in frequent overnight stays in a small private
apartment which remains today above the Fire House on Main Street,
U.S.A. In the 1960s, as plans were developed for the New Orleans Square
area, Disney brought in illustrator and designer Dorothea Redmond (Gone
with the Wind) and set decorator Emile Kuri (Mary Poppins, It’s a
Wonderful Life) to help him create a larger, more lavish apartment where
he could entertain friends, family, VIP guests and dignitaries.

Unfortunately, Disney passed away before the Suite was completed. Over
the years, the rooms were used as offices and to entertain visiting
business associates until, in 1987, the space became The Disney Gallery,
a unique venue displaying artwork originally created during the
development of various Disney movies and theme park attractions. Only
now, 40 years later, is Disney’s dream being fulfilled. The rooms have
been returned to their original intended purpose and, as Disney wished,
the Disneyland Dream Suite will be occupied by overnight guests.

"Our plan has been to use the renderings that Walt worked on with
Dorothea Redmond and to replicate those as exactly as we can," said Walt
Disney Imagineering Art Director Kim Irvine. "Her illustrations were
very specific, with a color and style for each room. "But to make it
special for the guests, we want it to be more than just a beautiful
suite. We want it to be filled with things that might have inspired Walt
as he dreamed of Disneyland."

Located above Pirates of the Caribbean in the New Orleans Square section
of Disneyland Park, the 2,600-square-foot Disneyland Dream Suite
includes a living room, open-air patio, two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
In addition to that night’s lodging in the Disneyland Dream Suite, each
selected 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway winner of the Disneyland Dream
Suite will also be celebrated as the Honorary Grand Marshal in that
day’s Disneyland parade. The winner and their guests will enjoy dinner,
late-night snacks and beverages, and the dazzling view overlooking New
Orleans Square and the Rivers of America, where a private balcony
provides an ideal vantage point on nights when fireworks or the
"Fantasmic!" spectacular are presented.

Guests may enter the Dream Suite by climbing the grand staircase outside
the entrance to the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. An elevator
will be available to accommodate guests with disabilities. Through the
doorway at the top of the stairs is the Living Room, designed in a
French Provincial style reflecting the New Orleans Square setting.
Unusual decorative items like a full-size carousel horse, a mechanical
songbird and original wall paintings of European castles will conjure up
memories of Walt Disney and the inspirations that went into creating the
magical world of Disneyland.

The Suite features not one, but two Master Bedrooms. In one, the spirit
of early 20th century innovation and the American frontier are summoned
with an earthy color scheme, leather furniture, a cast-iron stove, an
electric train and vintage mechanical toys. The other Master Bedroom is
on the side of the residence nearest Adventureland, and its lush décor
and atmosphere evoke the exotic flavor of jungle adventure stories as
told in the Victorian era.

The Bayou-themed Patio, central to the Disneyland Dream Suite and open
to the sky above, is filled with tropical vegetation, furnished with
comfortable chaises and illuminated by Chinese lanterns. Using a type of
Disney magic familiar to guests on Pirates of the Caribbean, the Patio
is also visited by fireflies.

As guests settle in for a stay in the Disneyland Dream Suite, they’ll
discover special effects surprises in each room. It could be a special
tune in a striking clock, a sunset or a starscape that appears when the
lights go down, subtle audio enhancements, or something totally
unexpected.

The Disneyland Dream Suite will be the supreme addition to the catalog
of "dreams come true" at the Disneyland Resort during the 2008 Disney
Dreams Giveaway as the Disney Dream Squad delivers dreams, large and
small, to eligible guests selected through a random process. For
information on how to enter by mail without visiting the parks, please
see below.

The 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway is part of the Year of a Million Dreams
at Disney Parks. At Disneyland Park, the popular immersive entertainment
experiences will continue to thrill guests at Disney Princess Fantasy
Faire, Jedi Training Academy and Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island. And
at Disney’s California Adventure Park, guests young and old will be
dancing to the beat of the new High School Musical 2: School’s Out!
street show, inspired by the megahit Disney Channel original movie. For
information on new attractions, the Year of a Million Dreams celebration
and vacations at Disneyland Resort visit www.disneyland.com, call (866)
60-DISNEY or contact local travel agents.

January 31st, 2008 | Category: Disney News | Leave a comment