Are you often found engrossed in cheering and jeering for your favorite team or athlete battling it out on your TV, tablet, PC, or phone? Are you the sports enthusiast who prefers to go beyond observation to participation?  Are you known to spend your free-time engaged in recreational activities?  If any or all of these apply to you, it is likely that you regularly catch yourself daydreaming about one or both of the following:  1) making a pilgrimage to your favorite team or athlete’s battleground, or 2) embarking on a trip that offers endless opportunities to participate in sports and recreation activities.  However, much to your chagrin, your traveling companions want to go to Walt Disney World.  So what do you do? Fight for your right to tailgate and/or play to your heart’s content or give-in to the theme park fans?  Don’t put your jersey, golf clubs, racket, or tennis shoes away too quickly.  There are more than a few ways to get your sports on at Walt Disney World.   (Note: Any opportunities that lean more toward the enjoyment of the great outdoors have been held over for a later post.)

Included with Admission

It isn’t unrealistic to state that sports enthusiasts—intent on a recreation based getaway—can easily fill an entire WDW vacation with activities and events without ever setting foot inside the four main theme parks.  Even so, it is a safe bet that some or all of the members of your travel party will want to take in the parks at some point, so it becomes very important to select the ticket package that will meet all your needs.  When it comes to the sports and recreation enthusiast, it is essential that you purchase a Magic Your Way Ticket with the Water Park and More Option included.  This choice gives the ticket holder the opportunity to visit Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, ESPN’s Wide World of Sports, Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course, Winter Summerland Miniature Golf, Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf, and Disney Quest.   This ticket allows the barer the number of visits equal to the length of his or her ticket (e.g. 4 day ticket = 4 visits).

Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon are world renowned water parks offering water slides, wave pools, and lazy rivers designed to lure, relax, and thrill water-lovers of all ages.   While both parks afford visitors wide-ranging levels of adventure, 56-acre Typhoon Lagoon offers the opportunity to snorkel with sharks in a coral reef surrounding a sunken tanker.  Those who enjoy a little less water with their sports activity may want to consider going to a golf course that was designed for everyone to play.  Disney’s Oak Trail 9-hole, par-36 walking course was created for beginner to pro level golfers (preschoolers, kids tweens, teens, and adults).  Maybe you want to share your passion for golf with your family but not everyone is ready to hit the links.  If that’s the case, Winter Summerland Miniature Golf, situated next to Blizzard Beach, and Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf, near the Epcot resorts both offer two 18-hole courses with varying degrees of difficulty.  If other waterless excitement appeals to you, the 220-acre ESPN Wide World of Sports is the place to be. There guests can attend a wide array of amateur events such as baseball, basketball, softball, field hockey, football, lacrosse, martial arts, soccer, track & field, volleyball, cheer,  and more.  (Note: For professional event opportunities, see the “Something Extra” section.)

If you are a sports enthusiast, there’s a good chance you also enjoy shopping for team and sports related merchandise.  There are several must stop shops scattered throughout WDW.  Two are located in the Downtown Disney:  Team Mickey Athletic Club—with its locker room feel—offers sports clothing, active wear and sports equipment (some can be customized) and Curl by Sammy Duvall, which is a shop for everyonein search of the ultimate in watersport related apparel, accessories and equipment.  (Just a quick note for the non-waterskiing aficionados, Sammy Duvall is the world famous eighty-time water-skiing champion hall of famer.)  

For more sports merchandise, a trip to the dock of Disney’s Boardwalk Inn (near Epcot) is well worth a boat ride or stroll.  On the boardwalk you will find The Yard, which is attached to the ESPN Club.  This shop offers an impressive selection of authentic ESPN merchandise.  If you venture to the other side of the “World” into the Magic Kingdom, be sure to stop by the Main Street Athletic Club.  This shop’s décor harkens back to the by-gone days of the turn of the century athletic clubs.  Here patrons can enjoy shopping for sports related gifts and apparel all while being tempted by baseball-themed Casey’s Corner specialty hot dogs (whoa… that’s discussed in the What to Eat section).

Where to Stay

               The amenities and opportunities offered to guests of the deluxe level Contemporary Resort put it at the top of the list for the sports and recreation enthusiasts.  While this may not seem like the obvious choice; a closer look at the recreation offerings and transportation accessibility give it a clear advantage over the rest.  The Olympiad Fitness Center along with two tennis courts, a beach volleyball court, jogging trails and two swimming pools are only the beginning of what the Contemporary has to offer.  The marina is home to Sammy Duvall’s Watersports Centre where guests pay by the half hour or hour to Jet Ski, waterski, wakeboard, tube, waterskate or parasail.  Beyond these recreational opportunities, the Contemporary Resort boasts a unique benefit—its location makes it the ideal choice for traveling around the entire Walt Disney World Resort.  While there are many recreational options available at other resorts on the WDW property, transportation between resorts and parks is not as quick or easy as is offered at the Contemporary.  Within walking distance of the Magic Kingdom, guests can take advantage of all resort-bound buses as well as the Magic Kingdom monorail resort loop, which is direct to the Transportation and Ticket Center, where a quick monorail transfer can take you to Epcot, which (with park entry) is a walk, bus or boat ride to the aforementioned ESPN Club and The Yard.

For sports lovers who prefer to stay, play and save, the value level All-Star Sports Resort is the one for you. This resort boasts five themed areas: football, basketball, baseball, tennis and surfing.  There are two resort room buildings for each theme that are decked out with three-story helmets, basketball hoops, baseball bats, surfboards and tennis balls.   Guests of this resort can enjoy fun-in-the-sun and fitness on a one-mile jogging path as well as in either of two sport-themed pools.

While either of these resort options is excellent for the sports and recreation enthusiast, every WDW resort offers opportunities and access to sporting events, activities, and fitness for the casual fan and fanatic.

Where to Eat

There are three dining locations that the Sports and Recreation Enthusiast should not miss.  The award-winning Shula’s Steak House at Disney’s Dolphin Hotel is themed to celebrate the 1972 Miami Dolphin’s perfect season under Coach Don Shula.  Here the menu—which is painted on a football—includes crab cakes, lamb chops, filet mignon, lobster tail and more.  No steak restaurant menu would be complete without a porterhouse offering.  At Shula’s, it comes in the form of a 48-ounce challenge to patrons.  Everyone who can finish the monster steak is eligible to join the now 35,000+ member Shula’s 48oz. Club®.  While there are no 48-ounce hot dogs (thank goodness) at Casey’s Corner on Main Street at the Magic Kingdom, this small restaurant does offer specialty hot dogs, French fries, nachos, brownies and soft drinks, and is named after the title character of the classic poem “Casey at the Bat”.  Ragtime music and old-time ballpark décor offer patrons a glimpse of the early days of America’s greatest pastime.  There is seating available outside; however, for the full experience, enter the back room and find a seat in the bleachers facing the movie screen scrolling vintage baseball cartoons.  If viewing sports while you dine completes your ultimate meal experience, do not skip the ESPN Club at the Boardwalk Inn near Epcot.  With 100 screens, a global satellite feed and a 108 square foot video wall, patrons will not miss a second of any live sporting event.  Menu items include Red Wings, Macho Nachos, Tailgate Pulled Pork and much more.  The Club is also home to the Sports Central television and radio studio that has been host to live broadcasts of shows like Mike & Mike in the Morning, Sports Reporters and Up Close. 

Something Extra

               If you are willing to spend extra money, opportunities abound for those wanting to ramp up their sports and recreation experience at WDW.

• As previously noted, Sammy Duvall’s Watersports Centre does offer a wide range of activities; however, for those who enjoy spending time in the water without watercraft involvement, I encourage a trip Typhoon Lagoon for surfing lessons.  At a cost of $150 per person, certified instructors offer 30 minutes of out-of-water instruction along with 2 hours of in-water instruction prior to park hours.  The combination of certified instruction and a wave pool with consistent waves every 90 seconds provides a great opportunity for those who have never surfed.  One of the largest wave pools in the world, Typhoon Lagoon’s Surf Pool can be fun for all skill levels.
• The recently opened Splitsville Luxury Lanes at Downtown Disney, is a retro inspired two-story bowling alley that boasts 30 lanes, live music, dancing, billiard tables and upscale dining options.
• In addition to the numerous amateur sporting events held at ESPN Wide World of Sports, you can also take in several professional sporting events throughout the year.  The 2013 Atlanta Braves Spring training games start on February 22 with tickets from $10 to $49.  The Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic also takes place in February.  This event typically features eight pro teams with per person tickets priced at $20 for a single session, $30 for two sessions, and $99 for the entire Classic.
• There are several runDisney opportunities throughout the year on the Walt Disney World property.  These character or park attraction themed races are offered in distances from 5K to full marathon.  For more information on cost and registration visit www.rundisney.com.
• In addition to the aforementioned 9-hole Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course, there are four 18-hole courses on the WDW property.  All five of the courses are under Arnold Palmer Golf Management.   Each of the 18-hole courses—which include: Disney’s Lake Buena Vista, Disney’s Magnolia, Disney’s Osprey Ridge, and Disney’s Palm —are rated at 4 stars or above by Golf Digest.  The Palm and Magnolia courses are home to the PGA Tour: Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic held in November each year.  Tickets for this event are available at a cost of $20 per day or $30 for the week.  For tweens, teens, and adults who would rather be playing on the fairways than observing from behind the ropes, reservations can be made in advance at any of the five courses.  (Note: Fees vary depending on the course and time you choose.)

This month, my goal is to provide you with plenty of information to get your Sports and Recreation Enthusiast Disney Skeptic to beg you to go with them to Walt Disney World for a “sports” vacation.  Your goal—after sharing this information with them—is to resist the urge to tell them, “I told you so.”

If you have any questions or comments regarding the topics discussed, please leave them in the comments section below.  Have you participated in any of these events or activities?  Please let readers know what you thought of your experience.  Be sure to check in next month for More to the “World” for Those Who Prefer the Comforts of Home.

Kendall began visiting Walt Disney World in 1991 with her family and has continued to visit the resort with her husband.  As a child, she and her family filled vacations with challenges such as “How many times can we ride Splash Mountain during SpectroMagic and the fireworks?” (Answer: 7)  Now, after marrying a converted Disney skeptic, she and her husband enjoy challenges such as “How many hours can we eat nonstop at the Food & Wine Festival?” (Answer: 4)

The post More to the “World” for a Sports and Recreation Enthusiast appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

by Don Myers

The witching hour has finally passed, as Halloween is now in the rear view mirror. That means it’s full steam ahead into the Holiday Season…time to start thinking about turkeys and trees! And if it’s the Holiday Season, you know the parks and resorts are overflowing with a plethora of newsbits to report. So let’s waste no further time and dive right in to the latest edition of the WDW Radio Newswire…….

We begin this edition of the Newswire inside Magic Kingdom, or more specifically, Adventureland. It’s here where one of the park’s most beloved attractions, Pirates of the Caribbean, recently saw a few minor additions introduced into the show sequence. Playing off elements from the franchise’s fourth film: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, the attraction now features several mermaid references. There is now a skeleton of a mermaid washed up on the beach, and the water ripples and splashes in various places, insinuating there are playful mermaids swimming about. But your sight isn’t the only sense stimulated, as you can also hear the ominous sounds of a singing mermaid. But don’t get confused…this is definitely not Ariel! One final element was also introduced, and this one plays off a similar feature that was previously brought to the attraction back in 2006. Projectors are now in place to give off the effect that there are actually mermaids swimming around the boats! This use of projectors first debuted in the summer of 2006 when the image of Davy Jones first appeared in the mist. It was revised again in 2011 when Captain Blackbeard’s image was brought in as a replacement. When you combine all the new features together, you really get some pretty clever visual effects at the attraction. In addition, no major elements of the classic show were compromised with these introductions. So really, you get a “win-win” situation here as far as I’m concerned. What do you think about it? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section!

Time to park hop over to Animal Kingdom now, where there’s some news to report on Kilimanjaro Safaris. Back in the February 21st edition of the Newswire, I reported that the area containing the attraction’s finale scene was being completely revamped, and would thus result in the removal of Little Red. Well, the baby Audio-Animatronic elephant was indeed removed from the area in the spring, and the section of savanna has undergone quite a transformation. The modifications to the savanna were recently completed, and the new occupants have finally moved in, as the area is now home to a group of plains zebras.

Let’s stop by the water parks now for some news on Typhoon Lagoon. Last week the lagoon closed up shop for a lengthy refurbishment. However this is nothing new for Typhoon Lagoon, as the park always sees a period of downtime at this time of year. The park is slated for a January 6th re-opening, which will put its total closure time at just over two months. And for those of you who may be wondering, when Typhoon Lagoon opens back up on Sunday January 6th, WDW’s other water park, Blizzard Beach, will be closing down for its annual refurb.

Our final stop on today’s adventure takes us to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. It’s that time of year again. Time for NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball to invade the HP Field House for the Old Spice Classic. The 2012 edition of the 8-team tournament will take place over Thanksgiving weekend, beginning Thursday November 22nd and concluding on Sunday November 25th. This will be the 7th edition of the Old Spice Classic, an event that has called WDW Resort its home from the beginning. High profile conferences have been featured in years past, and 2012 will be no exception. This years field boasts its share of heavy hitters from some of the nation’s top conferences, including the SEC, ACC, and Big XII. The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) will hold the distinction of being the tournament’s sponsoring conference, an honor it’s held since the Old Spice Classic’s inception back in 2006. The MAAC’s representative for this years tourney will be the Marist Red Foxes. They’ll be joined by two preseason Top 25 teams, the #19 Gonzaga Bulldogs (WCC) and #22 Vanderbilt Commodores (SEC). The other five teams rounding out the tourney this year will be the Clemson Tigers (ACC), Oklahoma Sooners (Big XII), West Virginia Mountaineers (Big XII), U-TEP Miners (Conference USA), and Davidson Wildcats (Southern Conference). Twelve games will be played over the course of the weekend, with the action set to tipoff Thanksgiving Day at noon with Marist vs. West Virginia. Vanderbilt and Davidson will hit the hardwood next, as their matchup is set to begin at 230pm. An intermission for dinner will follow, then Oklahoma and U-TEP will get the evening session going at 7pm. The final first round matchup will tip at 930pm, as Clemson will battle it out with Gonzaga for a coveted spot in the semifinals. All four of the first round games can be seen on espn2, and the rest of the tourney can be found on either espn, espn2, espn3, espnU, or WatchESPN. For more info on the 2012 Old Spice Classic, visit here.

Well, that’s gonna do it for today’s update. But before we call it a wrap, let’s take a look back at the results of our previous poll. The question was:

Who is your favorite Disney Villain?

. Maleficent

. Captain Hook

. Wicked Queen (Snow White)

. Cruela de Vil

. Ursula

. Jafar

. Gaston

. The Big Bad Wolf

. The Headless Horseman

. Hades

. Lady Tremaine

. Dr. Facilier

. Shere Khan

. Prince John

. Pete

And the winner is…..

Ladies and Gentleman…we have our first-ever TIE, as Captain James T. Hook and Maleficent both finished in a dead heat atop the poll with 25% of the total vote! 2nd place was also a tie between Gaston, Jafar, and the Wicked Queen from Snow White, as they each garnered 7% of the votes. 3rd place saw yet another tie between Ursula and Dr. Facilier, as they both captured 5% of the total vote. This was a very fun and exciting poll question, and the results reflect that, as we saw the biggest voter turnout to date with this one! We even had write-ins for Scar and Zurg! Naturally, I wanted to include each and every Villain in the poll. But unfortunately, it had to be limited to fifteen choices. I hope everyone was satisfied with the Villains I chose, and I want to thank all of you for taking the time to vote! Okay, on to this week’s question:

The post WDW Radio Newswire: New Feature Introduced At Pirates Of The Caribbean And Magic Kingdom Restaurants Poll Question appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Summer 2012 brings a splash of fun for the whole family at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach water parks, with new entertainment and dining options at Typhoon Lagoon and Extra Magic Hours at both parks.

New Entertainment

The relaxing atmosphere at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon is enhanced with new sounds of summer. For the first time, Calypso band “Tropicals” brings Caribbean steel drums to the park from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Friday through Sunday until July 15. The band can be found near the Crush ‘n’ Gusher water coaster pool area. Returning this year every day through September 8, characters Lilo and Stitch can be found just outside of the High N’ Dry sundries shop at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon; at Disney’s Blizzard Beach, guests can chill out with Goofy, who can be found roaming the water park.

New Dining Option

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon guests looking for summer fare beyond the normal park offerings may visit Tropicalamity. The new temporary food and beverage tent, located near Crush ‘n’ Gusher water coaster pool area, features a variety of eats, including chicken jerk pita wrap, citrus chicken salad, hot meatball sub and cold Italian sub. 

Summer Extra Magic Hours

Guests staying at Walt Disney World resort hotels can take advantage of Extra Magic Hours on select days and times at both Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach through late August.

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon

• Currently, Wednesday mornings before the park opens, from 8-9 a.m. through August 22.
• Starting July 7, guests can take advantage of additional extra magic hours Saturday mornings before the park opens, from 8-9 a.m. through August 18.

Disney’s Blizzard Beach

• Currently, Thursday mornings before the park opens, from 8-9 a.m. through August 23.
• Starting July 3, guests can take advantage of additional extra magic hours Tuesday mornings before the park opens, from 8-9 a.m. through August 14.

About Disney’s Water Parks

Walt Disney World guests visiting Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park escape to a tropical paradise left behind by a storm. Surfboards, fishing gear, boats, including the iconic shrimp boat, Ms. Tilly, once strewn about by a typhoon, add to the ambiance.

Guests visiting Disney’s Blizzard Beach will discover a melting wonderland where a freak snowstorm hit Florida. Icicles, ski gear and steep slopes grace the ski resort landscape, home to some of the most thrilling water rides in the United States.

For more information about Disney’s Water Parks, guests can visit disneyworld.com/waterparks.

What is your favorite Disney Water Park memory?  Share yours in the comments below!

The post Disney’s Water Parks Dive Into Summer 2012 with New Entertainment, Eats and More appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Just in time for summer, Disney guests can dive into the magical worlds of Disney animation at a brand-new resort, make a splash aboard the first summer sailings of the Disney Fantasy, fly with Dumbo in the new Fantasyland, “hang 10″ at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and plunge into some water park fun.

Summer happenings at Walt Disney World Resort also include the opening of a resort food court, the AAU Basketball National Championships, Star Wars Weekends and more theme park fun—all while guests can rack up rewards with the new Disney’s Premier Visa Card from Chase.

Here’s a look at what’s in store…

Dumbo Flies Again as First Phases of the New Fantasyland Stir to Life

New fun is in store with the first stirrings to life of the new Fantasyland, representing the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history. When the multiyear project is complete, Fantasyland will nearly double in size and immerse guests in Disney stories as never before. Fantasyland will deliver a new home for Ariel, new ways to interact with favorite Disney princesses, offer an exciting new family coaster, a double dose of Dumbo, “be our guest” at the Beast’s Castle and much more.

Greeting guests now will be some of the first attractions to come on line.

• Dumbo the Flying Elephant. A real Fantasyland icon, everybody’s favorite pachyderm is aloft again in Fantasyland, bringing the fun of the midway to Storybook Circus. This first-ever Dumbo flying clockwise will be joined later this year by a second Dumbo, flying counterclockwise, in an expanded attraction that doubles the fun for Fantasyland guests.
• Next door in Storybook Circus, the classic Barnstormer now featuring Goofy as the Great Goofini takes families on a rollicking coaster “flight” above the circus fun.
• Fantasyland Train Station follows a “country cottage” style with a thatched roof, and wood beam and plaster walls. It makes Fantasyland once again a stop for the nostalgic Walt Disney World Railroad, encircling the Magic Kingdom on 20-minute journeys.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Puts Guests in the Middle of the Story with Enchanting Tales

To kick off the summer vacation season, Walt Disney World Resort will open the doors to its newest resort hotel with Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, a value property consisting primarily of family suites that immerse guests into the magical worlds of classic Disney and Disney•Pixar films.

Opening in phases, each of the four wings celebrates rich storytelling, spirited characters and playfulness with colorful icons and whimsical theming inspired by each beloved film depicted.  Three family suite wings will showcase Finding Nemo, Cars and The Lion King, with elaborate storytelling both inside and out. Standard guest rooms make up The Little Mermaid wing, the final phase to open.

The three-story resort will immediately put guests into the worlds of favorite Disney characters and animated films beginning at check-in as pixilated patterns and wavy ribbons of color decorate the resort’s exterior. Pencil drawings of Ariel, Lightning McQueen, Nemo and Simba adorn the entryway, and a cleverly created chandelier composed of animation storyboards enhances the lively and modern lobby.

Giant sketchbooks filled with favorite characters seem to come to life as they pave the way to each storyline revealed.

Scenic settings, icons—including a brightly-colored coral landscape, a 35-foot-tall model of King Triton, a towering Mufasa and more—immerse guests into the playful world of animation.

At the Cars wing, a freshly paved road leads to the Cozy Cone Motel complete with a Cozy Cone pool and cone-shaped cabanas. It’s a journey through an African landscape in The Lion King complete with an elephant graveyard play area that invites youngsters to seek hakuna matata time. Treasures from the human world fill Ariel’s grotto in an under the sea kingdom in Little Mermaid courtyard.

From linens and carpeting to fixtures and furniture, all details of the guestroom tie to the storyline. In Finding Nemo, there’s coral-shaped chairs and bubble ceiling lights; Zazu takes center stage on the headboards in The Lion King, while Pumbaa and Timon decorate the shower curtain.

Kids of all ages can make a splash at the “Big Blue” pool, the largest resort swimming pool at Walt Disney World Resort measuring 11,859 square feet. Guests enter scenes from the animated world and can explore the colorful reef with a giant-sized Mr. Ray whose wings span 27 feet, pose for a picture with Crush or frolic with Squirt in the Righteous Reef, a children’s play area. An arcade and two additional pools round out the fun.

The whimsical property, situated adjacent to Disney’s Pop Century Resort, will open in phases beginning May 31, 2012 with rates from $248 per night. The 1,120 family suites include two bathrooms, a kitchenette and three separate sleeping areas that can sleep up to six.

The Cars wing will now open June 18 instead of earlier-announced July 31; The Lion King will open August 10 instead of September 30. Value rooms at The Little Mermaid wing open on September 15 instead of at the end of this year.

The 864 conventional rooms in the Little Mermaid wing sleep up to four. Rates as low as $94 include complimentary transportation, Extra Magic Hours and other benefits available to a Disney Resort guest.

For reservations, guests can call 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or contact their travel agent.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Features Customized Dining Options

“Better-for-you” options at five mini shops serving breakfast, lunch and dinner is the theme of the Landscape of Flavors food court at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. The new restaurant will be adjacent to the lobby.

“The idea is that you customize your choices,” says Chef Ed Wronski, Director, Food & Beverage Concept Development, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “From burgers to pasta, salads, ethnic flavors, omelets, even parfaits and gelatos, everything is made fresh as you order.”

There’s a big focus on beverages, too. Fresh fruit smoothies are made to order, as well as lemonade and pomegranate limeade. Organic teas, beer (including gluten free), wine, coffee and juices also will be stocked.  Half bottles of wine are paired with cuisine from the food shops.

Menu highlights:

• Create a salad at the Soup-Salad-Sandwich Shop, including a caprese sandwich with fresh mozzarella and tomatoes on focaccia, or a Buffalo-style turkey sandwich with arugula and a blue cheese-Buffalo sauce-mayo spread. Both served with house-made potato chips.
• The World Flavors Shop adds Indian-African flair to breakfast, with scrambled eggs, tandoor potatoes, Portuguese sausage, slab bacon and a mini-naan; or a veggie flatbread sandwich on naan with cauliflower, spinach and paneer. Lunch and dinner is a choice of tandoori chicken or shrimp, Mongolian beef with vegetables, mahi mahi, Portuguese sausage or roasted acorn squash served with sides and naan bread.
• The Pizza Shop features make-your-own pasta, cheese and pepperoni pizzas and meatballs on ciabatta bread. Room delivery is an option, too.
• The Burger Shop includes a breakfast burger with chicken breakfast sausage, cheese and scrambled eggs on a multi-grain bun, and a steak-and-eggs breakfast burger with a burger topped with fried eggs, cheese and bacon.  Besides the traditional burgers, lunch and dinner includes a surf and surf burger with crab cake and fried popcorn shrimp, and a pastrami cheeseburger topped with pepper jack cheese and a slice of fried green tomato.
• The “grab ‘n go” Market Shop offers drinks, yogurt, bagels, pastries, gourmet cupcakes, cookies and gelato.

The food court is part of the Disney Dining Plan.

Disney Phineas & Ferb: Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure Coming this Summer to Epcot

Debuting in June at Epcot, Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure is based on the wily secret-agent alter-ego of Perry the Platypus – faithful pet to the title characters from Disney’ Channel’s animated series “Phineas & Ferb.” Transforming into secret agents, Epcot guests will use a “high-tech secret agent device” to scour World Showcase for clues, evil “Inators” and – with a little bit of luck – help Agent P defeat his nemesis Dr. Doofenshmirtz.

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom Weaves a Special Spell for Guests

This is the first summer of fun for Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort, featuring a brand-new interactive experience enabling guests to defeat the Disney Villains. Armed with magic spells in the form of special cards, players must search for the symbols that lead them to the animated villains’ hiding places. Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom is included as part of park admission.

Wookiees, Jedi and Droids, Oh My! Star Wars Weekends Returns to the Walt Disney World Galaxy in May-June 2012 

Star Wars Weekends returns to the Walt Disney World Resort during May and June 2012, as Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park celebrates the Star Wars film saga and the hit animated television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

The annual special event, included in regular theme park admission, will be held every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 18-June 10, 2012.

The power of the Force and magic of Disney combine as more than 60 Star Wars characters – including Wookiees, droids, Rodians, Ewoks, bounty hunters and Jedi – roam the streets of Disney’s Hollywood Studios for meet-and-greet opportunities with guests.

Star Wars celebrities highlight the event, appearing in themed parades, talk shows, star conversations, behind-the-scenes presentations and autograph sessions.

Disney Fantasy Takes Fun to High-Water Mark on 7-Night Caribbean Cruises

As the Disney Fantasy, the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet launches into service, it achieves the high-water mark for family cruise vacations. This ship, Disney’s fourth, offers entertainment, activities and dining experiences purpose-planned for seven-night cruises.

The Fantasy fun includes:

• Two new Broadway-style musical stage shows - “Wishes” and “Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular” in the lavish Walt Disney Theatre

• Magical princess makeovers at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and during pirate nights, swashbuckling transformations at The Pirates League
• The Muppets are coming to the Disney Fantasy in an interactive detective adventure game using the ship’s Enchanted Art
• “Animation Magic” – a new dinner show in Animator’s Palate restaurant that brings guests’ cartoon drawings to life

• Europa - a nighttime entertainment district for adults featuring sophisticated bars and trendy lounges inspired by the very best in European travel

 To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can visit disneycruise.com, call Disney Cruise Line at 888/DCL-2500 or contact their travel agent.

Everybody’s Gone Surfin’… at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon

At Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park, adventurous guests this summer can catch a wave and master the rush of shooting the curls as part of Craig Carroll’s Cocoa Beach Surf School.

Guests are invited to learn from professional surfers how to cut, carve and “hang 10″ in the water park’s 2.75-million-gallon wave pool. Every 90 seconds, the world’s largest wave machine blasts out walls of surf that can tower up to six feet high.

The 2.5-hour program is available by reservation for $150 per person on select mornings prior to regular park hours. Guests (ages 8 and older) can call 407/WDW-PLAY for more information.

And for those guests just looking to plunge into some water park fun, they can spend the day among the tropical oasis at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon or the mountain ski retreat at Disney’s Blizzard Beach. The two popular water parks feature thrill rides, family-style raft rides, play areas for little ones and cool lounging for grownups. For more information about Disney’s water parks, guests can call 407/824-4321 or visit disneyworld.com.

AAU Basketball National Championships

The AAU Boys and Girls National Championships are in full swing at Walt Disney World from July 3 through Aug. 4, 2012. The hoops action at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex involves competitors ranging from third through 12^th graders, featuring some of the top high school-age players from across the country. Known as a breeding ground for future NBA stars (LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade), the event attracts NCAA coaches from the top basketball programs, making it the premier collegiate recruiting event in the nation.

As part of the National Championship, the AAU U-17 Boys Basketball Super Showcase presented by Champion anchors the ESPN HS Games, a multi-sport festival featuring several elite high school sports events. The invitation-only tournament features marquee 17-and-under club teams from across the country.

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer sports organizations in the U.S. The AAU partnered with the Walt Disney World Company in 1995 and serves as one of the anchor tenants to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Fans of “All Things Disney” Make Memories, Rack up Rewards with New Disney’s Premier Visa Card

Making summer memories at Disney was never so easy – or rewarding – thanks to Disney’s Premier Visa Card from Chase.

The card offers Disney fans more ways to earn rewards twice as fast, plus the opportunity to redeem for airline travel making summer vacations all the more accessible, in addition to most everything Disney.

There’s more, including special Cardmember-only perks when visiting Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort and when shopping at more than 200 Disney Store locations in the U.S.

With Disney’s Premier Visa Card, Cardmembers earn 2% in Disney Dream Reward Dollars on card purchases at restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations and at most Disney locations at Walt Disney World Resort, the Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line and Disney Store.  Cardmembers earn 1% on all other purchases made with the card.

In addition to being able to redeem Disney Dream Reward Dollars for Disney hotel stays, Disney Theme Park tickets, Disney merchandise and cruise vacations aboard the ships of Disney Cruise Line, Disney’s Premier Visa Cardmembers also can redeem toward airline travel on any airline to any destination with no block-out dates. Cardmembers simply buy airline tickets with their card and then pay themselves back by redeeming reward dollars for a credit on their monthly statement.

Disney’s Premier Visa Cardmembers also enjoy year-round perks when visiting Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort, including a Disney Character Meet ‘N’ Greet at a private Cardmember location and special savings at Disney’s U.S. Theme Parks, Disney Store retail locations and at DisneyStore.com.  See www.DisneyVisaPerks.com for more details.

Cardmembers enjoy benefits galore with the new Disney’s Premier Visa Card, all for a low $49 annual fee.

New Cardmembers can apply at disneyrewards.com. Existing Disney Rewards Visa Card members can apply for an upgrade to Disney’s Premier Visa Card at disneyrewards.com or by calling the number on the back of their card.

For more information or to apply for a new card, please visit disneyrewards.com or call  (888) 752-3788.

Which of the summer events are YOU most excited about?  Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!!

The post Disney Season: Summer 2012 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.