by Don Myers

The Newswire is ablaze, as the confirmed opening date for the next Phase of the Fantasyland Expansion has been announced! So let’s dive right into the latest edition of the WDW Radio Newswire…..

We start this edition with some major news out of Magic Kingdom. Last week, Disney officially announced the opening date for the next Phase of the Fantasyland Expansion. Up to this point, “Holiday Season 2012″ had been the only official word given. But it has now been confirmed that both Under the Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid and Enchanted Tales with Belle will be making their “Grand Opening” on Thursday December 6th! Belle’s Village, which includes both Gaston’s Tavern and Bonjour! Village Gifts will also be debuting on Thursday December 6th as well. In addition, the gates of Beast’s Castle will finally be open to the public, as the Be Our Guest Restaurant is also set for a December 6th Grand Opening. And if you’re going to be visiting the “World” over the Thanksgiving Holiday, you may be able to catch a preview, as it was also confirmed that there will indeed be “Soft Openings” which are slated to begin on Monday November 19th. The press release also talks about Princess Fairytale Hall opening in 2013 and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Coaster in 2014. These opening dates were previously announced, so there’s nothing new there. However, in the paragraph about Princess Fairytale Hall, the press release does mention several Princesses by name, including Cinderella, Aurora, Tiana, and Rapunzel. Speculation has been ongoing as to exactly which Princesses will be appearing inside the meet and greet for quite some time, at least now there’s a few names officially out there.

Now let’s head from Fantasyland over to Frontierland for a reminder about the Country Bear Jamboree. Back in the June 12th edition of the Newswire, I talked about an August 22nd closure to the attraction for a two month refurb. Well, we’re now just one week away from that date, so if you want to see the likes of Big Al and Liver Lips McGrowl before the October 16th re-opening, you’ve got until Tuesday August 21st to do so.

Before Park Hopping out of Magic Kingdom, let’s make a quick stop in Adventureland, where there’s a tiny bit of news to report on Pirates of the Caribbean. The attraction is scheduled to be closed on Tuesday October 9th. As of now, this is only scheduled to be a one day closure, as the attraction is slated to be re-open on Wednesday October 10th. If plans happen to change, I’ll be sure to report it.

Okay, time to venture over to EPCOT now for a follow-up on Bistro de Paris. Back in the May 7th edition of the Newswire, I talked about a three month refurb at the restaurant which was to begin in July and conclude in October. Construction is indeed well under way now, but unfortunately it looks as if the downtime is going to be extended by a couple months. Instead of an October opening for Bistro de Paris, it now appears as if we’re looking at a re-opening date of Saturday December 1st.

Our final bit of news today comes out of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where it’s never too early to start talking about the upcoming Holiday Season. And if you’re talking about Christmastime at the Studios, it can only mean one thing…the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights! I know it’s only August, but the dates for the 2012 incarnation of the Dancing Lights have just been officially announced, so let’s take a look. This year, the festivities kick off on Friday November 9th and are scheduled to run all the way through the Holiday Season and into the new year, with the final performance slated for Friday January 4th 2013. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit the Studios the last two Decembers, and I can personally say that the Osborne Lights are something you will never forget. Stepping onto the Streets of America and seeing those lights dance in unison to the Holiday music, it’s absolutely breathtaking. Words honestly can do it no justice…it’s a “Must See!”

Well, that’s gonna do it for today’s update. But I’ll be back again soon with another edition of the WDW Radio Newswire……

The post WDW Radio Newswire: Confirmed Opening Date For Next Phase of Fantasyland Expansion appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

If a Christmas spent in Disney World teaches you anything, it’s that you don’t need snow to have a magical holiday. The holiday decorations that can be found all over the parks and resorts in Disney World are sure to incite even the least ambitious home decorator to recreate some of that Disney magic in their own abodes. So, which Disney Christmas decorations are most likely to inspire your own holiday decorating skills? Answer the quiz below to find out!

1. It’s the holiday season, and you’re lucky enough to be in Disney! What do you want to see first?

a) Main Street, USA

b) Epcot’s World Showcase

c) Resort Decorations

d) Osbourne Lights

2. Which Disney experience helps put you in the holiday spirit?

a) A Very Merry Christmas Party

b) The Candlelight Processional at Epcot

c) The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights

d) Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade

3. At Christmastime, which resort would be your number one choice of lodging?

a) Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

b) Disney’s Polynesian Resort

c) Wilderness Lodge

d) The Yacht and Beach Club

4. If you could only have one holiday decoration in your home, other than a Christmas tree, it would be:

a) White Christmas lights

b) Colorful Christmas lights

c) Nativity Scene

d) Santa figurines

5. Your favorite Disney Christmas ornament would be:

a) The Victorian Egg Mickey and Minnie Mouse ornament

b) The Broadway Musical Zazu Ornament

c) The Icon Mickey Mouse Ornament in Silver

d) The Cinderella Ear Hat ornament

Had enough? Now let’s score your answers: Give yourself the points below according to the choices you made:

• For number one, if you chose a) 1 point; b) two points; c) three points; d) four points.
• For number two, if you chose a) 4 points; b) three points; c) two points; d) one point.
• For number three, if you chose a) three points; b) four points; c) one point; d) two points.
• For number four, if chose a)two points; b) three points; c) one point; d) four points.
• For number five, if chose a) one point; b) two points; c) three points; d) four points.

Now, break out your abacus and add your score.

• If you scored between five and nine, you prefer traditional Christmas decorating.
• If you scored between ten and fourteen, you prefer Christmas decorating with an international flavor.
• If you scored between fifteen and nineteen, you prefer Christmas decorations with a modern flair.
• If you scored twenty or above, you prefer your Christmas decorations to be inspired by fantasy.

What does it all mean??

Traditional:  The influence of Currier & Ives can be found throughout Main Street in Magic Kingdom, where you feel most inspired during a Disney Christmas. You’ll find ideas in everything here, from the Candy Cane Garden to the toy soldiers that can be found throughout the park, to the colorful Christmas lights twinkling in wreaths. Think pointsettias, red and white stripes, Santa Clause figurines and anything Americana or Victorian in nature when choosing your own decorations. You might also find your decorating imagination tickled by the giant tree featured in the lobby of The Wilderness Lodge, where you’ll find surprising flourishes like plaid ribbons and tiny teepees.

International:  You’re so worldly! Your favorite holiday touches in Disney World are the ethnic-inspired surprises that can be found everywhere from the countries in Epcot Center (no surprise there!) to the giant tree in Animal Kingdom Lodge’s lobby. To bring in a touch of this international flavor to your own holiday decorating, mix more traditional aspects of holiday decorating with splashes  of African or Native American art. You might add African baskets to your tree or proudly display Santa figurines from around the world.

Modern: Your tastes run more toward the chic and streamlined – and you probably stay at The Contemporary whenever you visit Disney. Chances are that you like to keep your Christmas decorations relatively simple with high impact pops of decorating throughout your home. Think of the Christmas tree outside of The Contemporary during holiday season, adorned with just a few colorful ornaments here and there, or the white twinkling lights of Mickey’s silhouette hanging from the building. Or maybe you’d prefer to add a mid-century modern touch to your decorating with a silver tinsel Christmas tree, like one that can be found in the Pop Century Resort.

Fantasy: If you’ve earned enough points to fall into this category, you like your decorations bold, bright and magical – think Hollywood Studio’s Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, or the way Cinderella’s Castle literally sparkles with the glow of hundreds of thousands of white twinkling lights. If you’d like to take a cue from these magical Disney experiences and recreate them in your own home, you might try adding sheets of lights to the front of your home, or string lights over a pagoda to craft your own version of a starry night sky in your backyard.

What were your results? What do you think? Would you add anything to our questions? Post your thoughts in the comments below!!

The post What Kind of Disney Holiday Fan Are You? TAKE OUR QUIZ!!!! appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.