Today, Walt Disney World welcomed the newest member of the Animal Kingdom Family! A newborn Masai giraffe calf arrived today around 2 p.m. on the Kilimanjaro Safari Savanna.
Mom, Mara, gave birth to the newest member to the park who stands at about 6 feet tall.
It will nurse for about a year, and then, as a herbivore, it will move to the lush vegetation available throughout the savanna. When full grown, it will use it’s 18-inch tongue to strip leaves off thorny branches from the tops and sides of trees to consume up to 75 pounds of food a day. That’s a tall order!
The Masai giraffe is a vulnerable species found primarily in Kenya and Tanzania. There are believed to be roughly 32,000 Masai giraffes left in the wild, and their population continues to decline because of poaching and habitat loss.
The calf’s gender has not been determined yet, but the mother and offspring are already within view of Animal Kingdom guests.
Two giraffe calves were born at Disney World last year. Lilly gave birth to Aella in July, and Amira was born to mom Kenya in October
Walt Disney World Resort has always been a place where couples go to celebrate their love so it’s no wonder that Tim Tebow made it his first stop after announcing his engagement to Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters Thursday.
With friends and family along for the ride on Friday, Tebow, a professional athlete and sports analyst, and Nel-Peters took flight on Dumbo at Magic Kingdom Park and stopped in front of Cinderella Castle to meet another pair of lovebirds, Cinderella and Prince Charming.
“It’s special being able to celebrate here at Walt Disney World with her family and my family,” Tebow said. “Every day with her is more than I could have ever wished for.”
It was the first visit to Walt Disney World for Nel-Peters, a native of South Africa.
Get Your Ears On – A Mickey and Minnie Celebration is kicking off soon and it will be the biggest celebration of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in Disneyland history. As part of celebration, exclusive food and merchandise is coming to Disneyland Resort.
For a limited-time, specialty food, beverage, novelty items and merchandise will be available for guests to celebrate the beloved duo in fun, new ways. Take a look below at a sneak peak of what’s coming!
On the apparel front, t-shirts, baseball caps and cinch bags celebrate 90 colorful years with everyone’s favorite mouse. Items are available in men’s, women’s and youth sizes, so you can coordinate with your friends and family.
Keep an eye out for other new merchandise, including celebration drinkware, pins, plush, and of course, Mickey and Minnie ears. In the Downtown Disney District, PANDORA will debut a limited-edition Disney dangle charm with a 14-karat gold “90,” Dooney & Bourke will feature new Mickey Mouse bags and a special Mickey Through the Years dress will be available at The Disney Dress Shop.
Of course, what’s a celebration without food? There will be a whole host of eats and treats celebrating our favorite pals, ranging from specialty churros and Mickey beignets to Get Your Ears On Funnel Cake Fries and Celebration Cake. On the savory side, you can chow down on unique items like the Share Your Ears Cheeseburger with ears made out of mini cheeseburger sliders or the Spectacular Mickey Cheesy Pizza with Mickey pepperoni and confetti of peppers and onions.
The festival takes place Jan. 18 through Feb. 25 and on your first visit to the festival, receive a complimentary Passholder magnet that will feature Figment for the first time. Just stop into Mouse Gear or Port of Entry and show your valid annual pass card and photo ID.
Passholders can complete their “Figment” look by receiving a 20% Passholder discount on a Festival of the Arts MagicBand, which will feature the playful, purple dragon, plus a Figment spirit jersey, T-shirt, ornament and more. They can also pick up Passholder-exclusive festival merchandise that will include a t-shirt and coaster set featuring Mickey Mouse, a pin featuring Pluto – and an exclusive Figment cookie available for purchase at Taste Track from Jan. 18 through Jan. 26.
Passholders can also enjoy a 10% discount for dining packages for the Disney on Broadway Concert Series throughout the festival, and a special 20% discount on dining packages at Biergarten Restaurant and Coral Reef Restaurant for lunch and dinner through Jan. 31. The Disney on Broadway Concert Series returns this year with live performances seven nights a week and features six new performers!
As we previously reported, Epcot’s nighttime spectacular “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” will be ending next year. To commemorate the occasion Disney is bringing a new ‘IllumiNations’ dining package is coming to Epcot.
The IllumiNations Dining Package is $85 per adult (ages 10 and up) and $35 per child (ages 3 to 9), tax and gratuity included. Separate Epcot admission is also required.
You’ll dine on fine cuisine, seated at a lagoon-side patio, and enjoy specially-reserved viewing for the farewell season of “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.” Beginning Jan. 18, 2019.
With the “IllumiNations” Dining Package, you can sit back and relax on the patio of the Rose & Crown Dining Room, located in the United Kingdom Pavilion, while dining on classic British fare and enjoying sweeping views of World Showcase Lagoon. The Rose & Crown patio offers a unique view of the nighttime spectacular – while it’s true that there are fantastic views of “IllumiNations” from all around World Showcase Lagoon, this location offers a unique perspective that is perfect for a romantic night out or a delicious end-of-the-day finale with family and friends. The package includes a prix fixe menu that features a selection of Rose & Crown favorites, as well as unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
You’ll start your meal off with a Scotch Egg or the United Kingdom Cheese Platter, and follow up with popular entrées such as Rose & Crown’s signature Fish and Chips, Corned Beef and Cabbage, Pan-roasted Scottish Salmon, or Bangers and Mash. And for dessert, you’ll love this Pudding Platter Trio featuring Sticky Toffee Pudding, English Trifle, and Chocolate Nougat Bar. Kids can enjoy a soup or salad with their choice of Cheese and Turkey Flatbread, Turkey Meatball Pasta, Cheesy Pasta, or Fish and Chips as well as either Fruit Salad or Trifle for dessert.
The “IllumiNations” Dining Package is a great new way to experience “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” before the show takes its final bow at the end of summer 2019. Reservations are available starting January 17 for reservations starting on January 18.
The experience, showtimes, and menu items are all subject to change without notice, and alcoholic beverages will only be served to guests 21 and up with valid ID.
If you need help booking your magical vacation, contact Enchanted Kingdom Vacations with Vikki for help. My services are completely free and I will always find you the lowest rates. Let me do all the work so you don’t have to!
The Walt Disney Company is expanding its recent purchase of land in Osceola County, FL. The company has now acquired another 1,500 acres of property for $11 million.
The land borders the previously purchased BK Ranch, located on Old Tampa Highway west of the Poinciana SunRail station. According to the GrowthSpotter, Disney paid $23 million in mid-December for the 965 acres of land southeast of Celebration back in mid December.
Jerry McGratty, owner of Westhampton Realty and the court-appointed receiver for the property, said Disney was primarily interested in using the land for water management needs and conservation.
Although the previous purchase of the BK Ranch had been envisioned as a community with homes and commercial space similar to Celebration, McGratty told GrowthSpottter, “I do not believe they will ever develop it.”
The land was purchased just after the start of the new year from the family of cattle rancher Oren Brown, who refused to sell land to Disney for the original theme park. GrowthSpotter reports that Disney has been trying to purchase the land for more than 50 years.
You will soon be able to bring one of Disney’s most popular park treats home. Thanks to Nestle, Mickey Ice Cream Bars will be coming to grocery stores near you!
It’s all part of the Mickey “The True Original” 90 Years of Magic campaign and this park and cruise favorite will hit store freezers in February 2019, but they will only be available for a limited time.
These Mickey Ice Cream Bars are reported to be slightly smaller than the originals found in the parks and on Disney cruise ships. Six bars come in each box as you can see in the picture below.
The Disney “must-have” treats will be available in select stores across the country.
The boxes are already starting to show up on the websites of Kroger owned grocery chains, including Kroger named stores, Dillions, Ralphs, and Frys.
You might remember Kevin as the lovable thirteen foot tall giant tropical bird from Disney•Pixar’s ‘Up!’ and if you’re a fan then we have some great news. Friday, Disney announced that Kevin is Headed to Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Disney World.
In the film, which debuted in 2009, Kevin who doesn’t speak is befriended by Russell while on an adventure with Carl (voiced by Ed Asner). Kevin.
Senior Wilderness Explorer Russell and his furry friend Dug are also at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, greeting guests and discovering various species of birds from around the world in the show “UP! A Great Bird Adventure.” You can visit them daily on Discovery Island and catch their show at the Anandapur Theatre.
Our chocolate-loving feathered friend, Kevin, is not expected to be incorporated into the bird show, which features exotic birds in flight, but it’s anticipated that Kevin will arrive at the park sometime next month.
So be on the lookout for Kevin. We’ll update you here on Disney Dorks as soon as we spot her, and remember, adventure is out there!
New year, new you and a new fab color to sport in the parks! Potion Purple Minnie Ears are already a smash hit and soon Disney will be releasing a new Purple Potion Spirit Jersey that will make your wardrobe complete!
This new jersey is a vibrant purple shade of purple and it is totes adorbs! When you match it with your Purple Headband and one of the many purple portion inspired treats Disney Parks has created it will make that perfect Instagram shot.
You’re already rocking the Potion Purple Minnie Headband, but on January 11th get ready to complete your entire purple-look with new treats, drinks, and even a Potion Purple Spirit Jersey: https://t.co/m8Rd6KCivvpic.twitter.com/uCpT6h2dHF
Back in March, Jeanne Lewis from the headwear development team explained, “We experiment with popular color trends when designing merchandise for Disney Parks.”
Disney Parks has been on a streak of releasing all sorts of merchandise in the trendiest news colors including; Iridescent, Millennial Pink and Rose Gold.
The Purple Potion Spirit Jerseys will be available starting on January 11 and like most of the trending color spirit jerseys, this one will probably run around $64.99.
After a fiery crash on a Florida highway on Thursday involving two semi-trucks and at least two passenger vehicles five children bound for Disney World are among the seven dead, according to Florida Highway Patrol.
FHP officials said in a press release that the crash began when a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle traveling northbound collided.
According to the press release, after the collision, both vehicles crashed through the guardrail into the southbound lanes. That’s when a second semi-truck and a passenger van, both southbound, collided with the first semi-truck. The van overturned, ejecting some occupants, and both trucks caught on fire.
Five of the children, ranging from about 8 to teenagers – from a Pentecostal church in Marksville, Louisiana – and the two truck drivers died. At least eight others were injured, some seriously.
“It is a heartbreaking event,” Lt. Patrick Riordan said Friday. Identities of the victims have not been released, but the children were from the Avoyelles House of Mercy. Church officials did not immediately respond to phone calls.
The accident occurred on a clear day along a straight, flat stretch of Interstate 75 outside Gainesville, the home of the University of Florida.
The cause of that crash remains under investigation.
