News From Around the World

News Bites 5/6/08

Flower and Garden Festival UPDATE: This weekend, May 9-11, the festival's theme is Coming Up Roses. Members of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs exhibit a spectacular display of floral arrangements at the Garden Town festival center.

Families can celebrate mom at the Mother's Day Brunch on Sunday, May 11, at World ShowPlace (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Guests can make reservations at 407/WDW-DINE (939-3463).

The Tokens rev up concert audiences with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" (5/9-10); Flower Power great Davy Jones makes moms swoon during Mother's Day concerts on 5/11 (and he'll be there through 5/15). Shows at 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m. at America Gardens Theatre.

Guerlain perfume specialist Raymond Western talks about the intimate relationship between perfumes and plants like those displayed at the France pavilion's Fragrance Garden. Great American Gardener series 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. at Garden Town.

Children can craft a dried-rose-petal "dream pillow."

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Rehab News:

-- Jungle Cruise will be closed for refurbishment May 11-24, 2008.
-- Pirates of the Caribbean will be closed for refurbishment June 5-18. 2008.

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Restaurantosaurus at Disney's Animal Kingdom is now offering its own brand of chicken nuggets and french fries, rather than McDonalds Chicken McNuggets and fries. In addition, starting Wednesday, the counter service restaurant will begin offering a new dessert menu and new children's meals.

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The Diamond Horseshoe in the Magic Kingdom's Frontierland will be open for quick service lunch (sandwiches, chips, and snacks) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 17, 24, 25, 27, and 30.

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The 13th annual ABC Super Soap Weekend presented by Colgate Total will be held in Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park November 15-16, 2008. Stars from the ABC Daytime dramas "All My Children," "One Life to Live" and "General Hospital" will participate in meet-and-greet autograph and photo sessions, celebrity motorcades, star conversations, interactive games and more. No further details have been confirmed as yet.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Although this fan event has been held Veteran's Day weekend in the past, all official releases so far indicate that it has been moved this year to the weekend of November 15-16.

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The 33rd annual Festival of the Masters will feature the works of more than 150 visual artists November 7-9, 2008, at Downtown Disney. Event hours are 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Admission and parking are complimentary. For more information, contact 407-824-4321 or visit disneyworld.com/artfestival.

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The Inaugural 2009 Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend will be held March 6-8, 2009. The Disney Princesses are the inspiration for the weekend's events, designed for women of all ages, focusing on the attributes every princess possesses: commitment, courage, determination, fantasy, perseverance, and strength. The weekend includes: Disney's Fit for a Princess Expo, a Family 5K, Kids' Races and the Disney's Princess Half Marathon. Entry fee for the half marathon is $120, and is non-refundable and non-transferable. Race day registration is not available. Two-Person Team Entries for Mother/Daughter; Sister/Sister; Open Division are $10 team fee plus the cost of each individual registration. Half Marathon finishers will receive a special Princess Tiara medal. The half marathon will follow a new course, including the Richard Petty Speedway, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Epcot. Entry fee for Disney's Princess Family 5K is $40; for the Kids' Races is $10. Registration opened yesterday, May 5. More information is available at disneysports.com under "Headline Events."

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This Labor Day weekend, Walt Disney World will offer a "Royal Quinceanera Weekend" , for Hispanic girls celebrating their 15th birthdays. (In Latin America, a girl's 15th birthday, or quinceanera, marks the transition to becoming a young woman.) Several special events will be held at Epcot August 29-September 5, including a quinceanera ball on August 30, along with a private viewing of IllumiNations. Disney began offering quinceanera party packages last year, ranging in price from $1,800 to $20,000. With this formal, themed weekend Disney will compete with similar quinceanera-themed cruises and other specific-timed events offered by some cruise lines and other vacation resorts. Packages for the weekend will include stays at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. For more package details, visit www.disneyworld.com/quinceanera

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The Orlando Sentinel reports that the acting U.S. Surgeon General, Rear Adm. Steven K. Galson, presented Walt Disney World with an award today in honor of its efforts to offer more healthful food options for children. For the past two years, Disney has been offering more healthful alternatives to french fries, such as carrots or apple slices. In addition, Disney has been working toward eliminating trans fats from all of its foods, and is committed to reducing calories, fat, sodium and sugar in its offerings of items such as chicken nuggets and ice cream.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/business_tourism_aviation/2008/05/walt-disney-co.html

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Thanks to everyone who took the time to answer the Picture This! Photo Blog survey. Your feedback is instrumental in understanding who our readers are and because of that we will be making some fun improvements little by little over time. Thank you for your support. Barrie, Lisa and Scott, the Picture This! Photo Bloggers

Actress Julianne Moore, Swimmer Michael Phelps Live Out Their Disney ‘Fantasea’ In Ariel-Inspired Annie Leibovitz Photography

Celebrities Flip Their Fins in Latest Installment of Disney Dream Portrait Series

BURBANK, Calif. -- For the latest image in the portrait series of celebrities living out their Disney dreams, photographer Annie Leibovitz followed a simple recipe: Just add water.

Continuing the "Disney Dream Portrait Series" that has put stars in all kinds of Disney fantasies, Leibovitz trained her famous lens this time on the undersea world of Ariel, heroine of "The Little Mermaid." To get there, she dressed actress Julianne Moore and American swimming icon Michael Phelps in tails and scales.

"Yes, Julianne has a big mermaid tail; it's interesting," Leibovitz recalled from the shoot. "Michael, too. His movements were so graceful and beautiful you just felt like you were watching a real merman."

The latest Leibovitz photography is part of her acclaimed series as Disney Parks continue, through 2008, the "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration on both coasts.

In the finished image captioned "Where another world is just a wish away," shafts of light pierce the blue depths as Ariel (Moore) sits in her undersea world amid wavy coral and darting sea life. In the foreground of the frame, Phelps slips past, flipping his fins.

Inside The Shoot - Leibovitz worked her mastery on soundstages on both coasts.

Fitted in his silvery fishtail, Phelps was lowered into a backlot tank in Los Angeles used for underwater movie scenes. Leibovitz was on the outside, snapping away, communicating her instructions to Phelps via members of her crew.

"One of the most complicated shots I have ever done," said Leibovitz. "I didn't know if it was going to work, what to expect. I have to tell you, he was beautiful. Michael put on that tailand . . . he just became like a modern dancer. He just took to it and enjoyed himself and swam through this tank. I was blown away."

For the four-time "World Swimmer of the Year" (as designated by Swimming World Magazine), donning flippers was worlds away from the swimming competitions he's used to.

"It was kind of weird to be able to put on a tail and swim around in a tank," Phelps admitted. "To work with Annie and try these crazy sorts of ideas is really an honor and something I won't forget."

A host of swimming stars, past and present, joined Phelps in the water and final image: Janet Evans, Rowdy Gaines, Brendan Hansen and Cullen Jones.

At a New York soundstage, Leibovitz perched the fishtailed Moore on a rock as the starry-eyed Ariel.

"There's a moment in the shoot where Julianne is sitting on a rock in her mermaid tail and her young daughter comes in, and there is not a dry eye in the house," Leibovitz recalled. "She sat in her mother's lap. Her jaw just dropped. She could not believe her mother was Ariel."

When Moore was asked to play Ariel, she recalls, "I leapt at the chance."

"Ariel is my daughter's favorite princess, so I was just really so excited to do it," Moore said. "All the images I've seen that Annie's shot so far -- Cinderella and Alice and the prince one -- are absolutely exquisite. They are so beautiful and so kind of wonderfully emotional. So I was really thrilled to be asked to work with her and do this."

Star-Studded Series - The latest image -- planned for the June issue of Vanity Fair magazine -- continues the renowned Leibovitz series of putting celebrities inside their Disney fantasies.

Released in separate flights since January 2007, these have included:

Scarlett Johansson as Cinderella, Beyoncé as Alice in Wonderland and David Beckham as the gallant Prince Phillip from "Sleeping Beauty."

Rachel Weisz as Snow White, Roger Federer as King Arthur from "The Sword in the Stone," Julie Andrews as the Blue Fairy from "Pinocchio" with Abigail Breslin as Fira from "Disney Fairies."

Jennifer Lopez as Jasmine, Marc Anthony as Aladdin and Whoopi Goldberg playing the Genie; Giselle Bündchen as Wendy Darling, Mikhail Baryshnikov as Peter Pan and Tina Fey as Tinker Bell; and Jessica Biel as Pocahontas.

"It is about bringing great stories to life," Leibovitz says of the series. "Working with great actors -- these are stories that they know. It's embedded in them. And when they start to have their own children it means even more to them.

"These are the stories that are passed on and on, from generation to generation. We just want to do the stories justice. To me it's a lot of play acting, it's a lot of dress-up, that's the joy of it."

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Marks 10th Anniversary

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., April 22, 2008 – A ceremonial rope drop in front of the Tree of Life kicked off today’s celebration of the 10th anniversary of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Hundreds of 10-year Cast Members joined young adults from six continents attending Jane Goodall’s Global Youth Summit to lead a processional and herald in the theme park’s next decade.

Since opening in 1998, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has entertained millions of guests with world-class stage shows and attractions, unique shops, distinct restaurants and amazing adventures with wild and legendary animals and lovable Disney characters.

Over the years, Disney has expanded the theme park and strategically invested in new and exciting experiences. Some of the additions include:

Asia, an entire new land opened in 1999 as the home of Kali River Rapids, a white-water raft adventure; Maharajah Jungle Trek with tigers, gibbons, Komodo dragons and other creatures; and "Flights of Wonder," an exotic bird show.

DinoLand, U.S.A. expanded with new attractions and activities, including Dino-Sue in 2000, Triceratop Spin and the Fossil Fun Games in 2001 and Primeval Whirl in 2002.

Expedition Everest debuted in 2006 as a thrilling runaway train adventure that combines a high-speed race through the Himalayas and a frightening encounter with the yeti.

Finding Nemo -- The Musical premiered in 2007 and is a musical stage show that immerses Walt Disney World guests in the story of Marlin and Nemo – an overprotective clownfish father and his curious son – through a dazzling production that combines puppets, dancers, aerialists and animated backdrops.

“From incredible attractions to Broadway-style stage shows to character encounters, Animal Kingdom has all the elements that make a great Disney park,” said Val Bunting, Vice President of Operations for Disney’s Animal Kingdom. “I’m particularly proud of the Cast Members who take a sincere interest in our guests, making sure they have an incredible experience during their visit, while inspiring them to care about wildlife and wild places.”

Commitment to Wildlife and Wild Places

Some of the most remarkable accomplishments at Disney’s Animal Kingdom have taken place behind-the-scenes, through the efforts of Disney’s Animal Programs team, which oversees the health and well-being of approximately 7,000 birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects. Responsible for almost 400 species, including 35 that are endangered or threatened, the team is committed to ensuring excellence in animal care, nutrition and welfare through an integrated approach.

Over the years, many of Disney’s 550 animal care experts have traveled around the globe, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to conserving wildlife and wild places. These veterinarians, scientists, educators, curators, and zookeepers have enhanced the world knowledge base of animals and bettered the lives of animals and their habitats in Central Florida and in the most remote areas of Africa, Asia, North America and South America. Some of their most significant work includes sending two Disney-born white rhinos to Uganda, becoming the first-ever to repatriate from the United States to Africa; delivering more than 29 million conservation messages to inspire guests to care about wildlife and wild places; and breeding many endangered species, including approximately 25 percent of the total world population of the Micronesian kingfisher through a successful, long-term captive breeding program.

Disney also has been at the forefront of efforts to better understand and care for endangered elephants. Through the development of a sophisticated elephant transmission collar, Disney scientists discovered two new vocalizations that had never been reported for elephants in the wild or in zoological settings. In addition, three African elephants have been born to date at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, adding to the largest herd in North America. And during the past three years, veterinarians from Disney’s Animal Programs led a coalition of experts to Africa to help manage the elephant population. Their work has since resulted in the creation of a new surgical procedure and device that effectively sterilizes male elephants with little trauma or side effects.

About Jane Goodall’s Global Youth Summit

Jane Goodall’s Global Youth Summit will take place April 19 – 25 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Over the course of one week, 100 young people, personally invited by Dr. Jane Goodall, will convene and explore how each individual can make a difference in protecting the future of our planet. For more information about the Summit, please visit www.globalyouthsummit.org. To learn more about the work of the Jane Goodall Institute, click on www.janegoodall.org. Information about Roots & Shoots, the Institute’s global humanitarian and environmental youth program is located at www.rootsandshoots.org.

The Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund Gets a New Name

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., April 22, 2008 -- As part of the 10-year celebration, Disney introduced a new name and logo for its conservation fund. Moving forward as the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF), the name more accurately conveys the organization’s mission to support wildlife, including both ecosystems and community conservation around the globe.

Established in 1995 on Earth Day, DWCF provides annual awards to U.S. nonprofit conservation organizations working alongside their peers in other countries. Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund projects focus on science, but also on people -- combining education and inspiration to make a difference in the lives of local citizens and communities and ultimately ensure that conservation efforts are sustained. A special emergency fund also helps animals and people in times of environmental crisis. In 1998, as Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park opened, DWCF made its first grants. Since then, DWCF has supported 650 projects with more than $11 million in grants to organizations and individuals working in 110 countries.

On-Site Health and Wellness Center for Walt Disney World
Cast Members to Open this Fall

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., April 17, 2008 – Progress continues on the construction of an on-site health and wellness center for Walt Disney World Cast Members and their families, with the grand opening anticipated this fall.

"We have made considerable progress since we announced our intention to build a state-of-the-art primary care facility for Cast Members and their families just four months ago," said Walt Disney World President Meg Crofton. "It is exciting to see our dream of providing Cast Members with an additional health care option coming true as the building starts to take shape and we make important decisions about the facility’s operation."

Walt Disney World Resort has selected CHD Meridian Healthcare to operate and provide medical and pharmacy services at the state-of-the-art, 15,000-square-foot facility. "For more than 40 years, we have provided on-site healthcare services for some of the country’s largest and most respected employers," said R. Dixon Thayer, chief executive officer of CHD Meridian.

"We’re thrilled to combine our experience and our commitment to personalized care, patient privacy and technology, to provide the highest-quality services for Walt Disney World Cast Members and their families." The new health and wellness center will be staffed by primary care physicians and other medical professionals and will include a pharmacy, lab, basic radiology, and wellness and behavioral health resources. It will offer eligible Cast Members and their families access to: high-quality care facilitated by credentialed medical professionals who can meet the diverse needs of Disney Cast Members; enhanced access to services through extended hours, weekend availability, proximity to work and same-day care for more immediate needs; and coordinated treatment made possible by relationships with specialists and other facilities throughout the region, referral scheduling support and the latest in medical technology, including electronic medical records and prescriptions and digital radiology.

CHD Meridian will begin the recruiting process for the approximately 40 jobs the center will create, including primary care physicians and other medical professionals, as well as administrative staff. Walt Disney World Resort continues to offer a variety of other programs and services designed to promote healthy living among Cast Members including: a choice of health care plans that enable eligible Cast and their dependents to select the plan that best meets their needs; preventive care benefits that are generally available at no additional cost to plan participants and their covered dependents; on-site health and wellness offerings, such as educational and screening opportunities, health fairs and discounts on weight loss programs and gym memberships; access to online tools and resources, such as a personal health assessment and a prescription drug price comparison tool; and programs to support health plan members with chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

Cast Members will continue to be able to access other Central Florida health care providers as defined by the health plan they select. Currently, more than 40,000 Walt Disney World Cast Members, plus their dependents, are eligible for health benefits.

News Bites 4/29/08

Congratulations to Justin Muchoney , of Seven Fields, Pennsylvania, who was named Disney's first Chief Magic Official at a ceremony last Tuesday morning. Justin, a 28-year-old music director, took the top honor by amassing 200,000 online votes, after competing against 1,300 candidates nationwide. After completing Disney Traditions cast member training, Justin will begin his official duties with the grand opening of Toy Story Mania at Disney's Hollywood Studios in a few weeks.

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Flower and Garden Festival UPDATE: This weekend, May 2-4, the festival's theme is Florida Farmer's Market. Visit the ultimate Florida Farmer's Market at Garden Town. From Zellwood to Apalachicola, the bounty is vast.

Arlo Guthrie strikes a nostalgic note for music fans (5/2-3) and The Searchers (5/4) make their Flower Power concert debut. Shows at 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m. at America Gardens Theatre.

Central Florida gardening celebrity Tom MacCubbin piques interest with talks on edible landscapes. Great American Gardener series 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. at Garden Town.

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An update to the previously published guest roster for 2008's Star Wars Weekends at Disney's Hollywood Studios this summer. Jake Lloyd, who played Anakin Skywalker in Episode I, will be joining Clone Wars director Dave Filoni on the weekend of June 27-29.

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As mentioned in last week's AllEars® Hears, The Chapeau, the hat store located near the entrance of the Magic Kingdom, now offers you the chance to design your own Mouse Ears. There are 19 different bases to choose from, along with 19 sets of ears. The hats can then be decorated with stickers and various other design elements, such as fake fur. The bases cost either $4.95 or $5.95, while the ears are $2.50 and $3.50. The add-on stickers are $2.95 each. Names can also be embroidered for $3. Traditional Mouse Ears are still available for $9.95. A similar shop is due to open at Disneyland in California next month.

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Actress Julianne Moore and swimmer Michael Phelps live out their Disney "Fantasea" in Ariel-inspired Annie Leibovitz photography. Look for the photo in the June issue of Vanity Fair magazine.

http://allearsnet.com/news/hnews.htm#042508

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Several special activities for children will be discontinued in the coming weeks:

-- Junior Fishing Excursions at Old Key West, Saratoga Springs and Downtown Disney will no longer be offered as of June 1, 2008.
-- Junior Fishing Excursions at the Contemporary and Polynesian Resorts will end May 1, 2008.
-- Grand Adventures in Cooking at the Grand Floridian will no longer be offered as of September 27, 2008.

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According to the Orlando Business Journal, E-Brands Restaurants, LLC plans to open a new location and concept at Downtown Disney next year. Reportedly, the restaurant will feature a tequila bar as well as outdoor seating.

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Due to rising fuel prices, Disney Cruise Line is implementing a fuel surcharge. The surcharge is $8 per person, per day for the first two guests in a stateroom, and $3 per day for all others. It is effective for new bookings only made on or after May 28, 2008. Additionally, the surcharge will be capped at $112 each for the first and second guests in a stateroom and $42 each for all other guests in the stateroom.

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ATTENTION AllEars.Net Readers: Our Internet Service Provider will be performing network maintenance this weekend, which may result in interrupted service. On Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4, between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. both days, AllEars.Net may be unavailable or "down" when you visit. We expect the downtime to be minimal, but please be patient and try again later if you find you can't get onto the site.

News Bites 4/22/08

Flower and Garden Festival UPDATE: This weekend, April 25-27, the festival's theme is I Dig Bugs! Guests discover that bugs are fun and keep gardens healthy.

Beekeepers meet guests and share the buzz on bees with displays and free honey samples.

Disney's Animal Kingdom bug specialists appear to give guests a close-up look at caterpillars, spiders and other creatures.

The Ventures bring "Hawaii Five-O" sizzle to the Flower Power concert stage (4/25-26) and B.J. Thomas keeps raindrops from fallin' on your head (4/27). Shows at 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m. at America Gardens Theatre.

Author of award-winning Passalong Plants, Felder Rushing shares secrets to year-long garden beauty with herbs, flowers and even "designer" veggies. Great American Gardener series 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. at Garden Town.

Jiminy Cricket and friends make special appearances in Future World throughout the weekend at various times.

Ladybugs will be released more frequently throughout the I Dig Bugs Weekend at Green Garden and Growing Future Gardeners.

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REMINDER: Grad Nites will be held at the Magic Kingdom this Friday and Saturday, April 25 and 26. The Magic Kingdom will close at 7 p.m. these nights.

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The Orlando Sentinel reports that Radio Disney will be giving out tickets to the upcoming Disney Channel Games concert that will be held 7 to 10:30 p.m. on May 3 at Disney's Wide World of Sports. A family four-pack of tickets will be handed out every 15 minutes at the following Rooms To Go locations:

Orlando: Saturday, April 26, 3 to 4 p.m., 1657 Sun Life Path

West Palm Beach: Saturday, April 26, 11 a.m. to noon and Sunday, April 27, 2035 Okeechobee Blvd.

Miami: Saturday, April 26, 3 to 4 p.m., 7360 N. Kendall Dr.

Tampa: Saturday, April 26, 1 to 2 p.m., 236 N. Dale Mabry Highway and Sunday, April 27, 2 to 3 p.m. 27923 SR 56

Jacksonville: Thursday, April 24, 6 to 7 p.m., 9278 Arlington Expressway and Sunday, April 27, 2 to 3 p.m. 11030 Phillips Highway

For more about the concert and the Disney Channel games visit http://allears.net/pl/events.htm#april

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The Gardens of the World tour has been reinstituted at Epcot for the duration of the Flower and Garden Festival. The tour, which was suspended last June, is now offered Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon during the Festival for ages 16 and older. Tour costs $59 PLUS your Epcot admission. Ask about any discounts (DVC, AP, Disney Visa, AAA) that may be available.

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An on-site health and wellness center for Walt Disney World Cast Members and their families is scheduled to open this fall. CHD Meridian Healthcare will operate the location and provide medical and pharmacy services at the state-of-the-art, 15,000-square-foot facility. The new health and wellness center will be staffed by primary care physicians and other medical professionals and will include a pharmacy, lab, basic radiology, and wellness and behavioral health resources. Cast Members will continue to be able to access other Central Florida health care providers as defined by the health plan they select. Currently, more than 40,000 Walt Disney World Cast Members, plus their dependents, are eligible for health benefits.

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Cruise News:

-- New smoking restrictions went into effect for all Disney cruises, beginning with the 4/19 sailing of the Disney Magic. Smoking is no longer permitted on the port side of the ship. Guests are allowed to smoke on the starboard side, on decks 4, 9, and 10 (outside only and excluding all areas around Mickey's Pool). Because it is on the port side of the ship, smoking is also now not permitted outside Cove Cafe, however, a smoking area will be available opposite the location of Cove Cafe on the starboard side. In addition, smoking is now prohibited in ANY indoor venue, such as Cadillac Lounge, Diversions, etc.

-- Disney Cruise Line is introducing an innovative pre-arrival planning service available to concierge guests sailing aboard the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder. Guests booking a concierge level stateroom have access to this one-of-a-kind service where Disney Cruise Line Concierge Services Specialists assist guests in planning every cruise detail before setting sail. Guests may contact dedicated Concierge Services Specialists 105 days prior to their sail date to begin planning their vacation. Specialists are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. via a toll-free number or e-mail.

-- The cast and crew of the Disney Magic are preparing for the Disney Cruise Line ship's return to the West Coast and a season of seven-night cruises to the Mexican Riviera. Brand new shore excursions exclusive to Disney Cruise Line, enhanced entertainment offerings and themed youth activities guarantee a summer of fun for guests sailing aboard the Disney Magic. Some of the highlights include: a Waterfall and Hot Springs Tour in Cabo San Lucas; an Ultimate Luxury Sail and Snorkel also in Cabo San Lucas; Minnie's Fiesta Grande, a brand new sail-away celebration departing the port of Mazatlan; and a children's Pinata Party.

FREE DINING PLAN RETURNS

There's a NEW Walt Disney World Resort Offer for Disney Visa Cardmembers: This Magic Your Way Package includes Walt Disney World Resort hotel accommodations, Walt Disney World Theme Park tickets and the Disney Dining Plan, which provides one quick-service meal, a select snack and one meal at a table service restaurant per person, per night of your package. Excludes gratuities and alcoholic beverages. Children ages 3-9 must choose from children's menu, if available. For stays most nights 8/24-9/20/2008. Book by 6/22/08.

Take advantage of this offer before it becomes available to the general public on April 10, 2008.

For details or to book call 407-939-7667 or contact our recommended Travel Agency MouseFanTravel.com. Ask for offer CMK.

News Bites 4/15/2008

Flower and Garden Festival UPDATE: This weekend, April 18-20, the festival's theme is Green. The Department of Agriculture hosts special activities for children.

Guests learn that it is easy being "green" at the new Green Garden and at the Lush Xeriscapes exhibit.

Peter & Gordon flex their Flower Power with hits like "A World Without Love" (4/18); Starship starring Mickey Thomas draws crowds for "We Built This City" (4/19-20). Shows at 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m. at America Gardens Theatre .

Tovah Martin, TV guest on PBS's "Cultivating Life ," serves up tips for going "green" in home gardens and landscapes. Great American Gardener series 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. in Garden Town.

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The Nestle Junior Chef program , held in the Land pavilion in Epcot, has been discontinued as of April 6.

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More details have been released on June's Star Wars Weekend celebrity attendees. In addition to actor Warwick Davis , who will host all four weekends, the following will be featured (subject to change):

June 6-8: Jeremy Bulloch ("Boba Fett") and Daniel Logan (young "Boba Fett")
June 13-15: Peter Mayhew ("Chewbacca") and David Prowse ("Darth Vader")
June 20-22: Amy Allen ("Aayla Secura") and Matthew Wood ("General Grievous")
June 27-29: Dave Filoni (director of the upcoming "Star Wars: The Clone Wars")

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Reservations are now being accepted for arrivals June 30, 2008, and later at The Wave , located at Disney's Contemporary Resort. The restaurant, a casual dining table service restaurant that features American cooking blended with world flavors, will offer a classic American breakfast, a quick and casual lunch, and dinner. In addition, the stylish contemporary lounge will offer new world wines with a twist and trendy cocktails with natural flavors. The restaurant will accept one entitlement from the Disney Dining Plan and will honor the DVC, Passholder, Disney Dining Experience, and Cast Member discounts as currently accepted at Concourse Steakhouse.

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Performers and dates of the Sounds Like Summer concert series at Epcot have been announced. The shows, performed by tribute or "sound-alike" bands (subject to change) , take place daily at America Gardens Theatre at 5:45, 7 and 8 p.m., and are included with regular Epcot admission :

June 9-15: 2U -- A Tribute to U2
June 16-22: Stayin' Alive -- A Tribute to the Bee Gees
June 23-29: Hotel California -- Eagles Tribute Band
June 30-July 10: Bjorn Again -- ABBA Tribute Band

For more information about the Sounds Like Summer concert series, call 407-W-DISNEY or visit disneyworld.com.

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Florida residents are eligible this summer for discounted tickets for select seats at Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba , performed exclusively at Downtown Disney's West Side. The Florida Resident deal, which offers savings up to $17 per ticket, is valid from May 1 to June 28 on Category 2 Seats. Ticket must be purchased in advance by calling 407-WDW-SEAT. Proof of Florida Residency is required.

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Visitors at Epcot's Food and Wine Festival this year will be able to explore "Cities in Wonderland" -- from trendy Cork, Ireland, to the melting pot of Cape Town, South Africa -- around the World Showcase promenade while also discovering international and regional marketplaces brimming with exotic flavors and comfort foods. The six-week festival will showcase tastes from countries on six continents. More than 25 international marketplaces will serve tapas-sized portions of regional specialties at $2 to $5 each, and recommended wines and beers make perfect pairings at each kiosk. New festival flavors explore the culinary wonders of Lyon, France; Marrakesh, Morocco; Shanghai, China; Bologna, Italy; Tokyo and Mexico City. Exhibits along the promenade also will showcase entertainment and traditional crafts of several countries. The festival runs September 26-November 9, 2008.

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More Rehabs:

-- At All Star Movies , the Piano Pool will be closed May 12 - May 21, 2008.
-- At the Beach Club Villas, the Dunes Cove Pool will be closed April 28 - May 15, 2008.
-- Journey Into Narnia's rehab has been extended. It is now scheduled to reopen June 26, 2008, themed to the new Narnia film, Prince Caspian.
-- Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop at Downtown Disney Marketplace is closed through April 24 for routine maintenance.

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According to a recent article in the Orlando Sentinel , the Disney Cruise Line plans to open a London office this summer, sending some employees from Central Florida overseas.

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In addition to the creation of new premium campsites mentioned in last week's AllEars® newsletter (Issue #446, April 8, 2008), Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground is undergoing several other enhancements:

-- The main pool at Fort Wilderness will be enhanced with a themed water slide, hot tub and children's wet play area. In addition, the pool's deep end has been made shallower.
-- The resort's 409 Wilderness Cabins now feature brand-new furniture, carpeting, fixtures and linens, plus a fresh coat of paint.
-- An off-leash play area for dogs, Waggin' Trails Dog Park, recently opened.

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The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney's Hollywood Studios was recently voted "Best Ride in America" by users of Theme Park Insider Web site (www.themeparkinsider.com). The popular attraction at Walt Disney World Resort, which sends guests plummeting 13 floors in an out-of-control elevator, beat out 63 other attractions in a three-week "March Madness"-style match-up of favorite rides and attractions from theme parks across the country. Theme Park Insider Editor Robert Niles said users cited the attraction's "addictive random drop sequences, which reward repeat riders with unique experiences" as a contributing factor to the win.

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Walt Disney World Resort was honored with two Cheers Awards for Beverage Excellence by Cheers Magazine, a leading beverage industry trade publication. Top honors were bestowed in "Best Chain Overall Beverage Program" and "Best Chain Signature Drink" for the Blue "Glow-Tini."

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AirTran Airways will begin charging passengers $10 for a second checked bag effective May 15, 2008. For each fare -paying customer, the airline will allow one checked piece free of charge, with size and weight limitations. The excess baggage charge, for other than sporting equipment, will be $50 for each piece after the first two bags. Additional charges are applicable for bags exceeding the weight and size limits. Oversize baggage, with dimensions from 62 to 80 inches, will be accepted subject to an oversize baggage charge. Baggage with dimensions from 62 to 70 inches will be subject to a fee of $50. Baggage with dimensions from 71 to 80 inches will be subject to a fee of $65. Baggage over 80 inches in dimension (with the exception of some sporting equipment) will not be accepted.
http://www.airtran.com/policies/carry-on_checked.aspx

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AllEars® Photo Blogger Barrie Brewer is interviewed on the WDWToday Podcast, Episode 396 (Monday April 14) : The World in Focus.

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MEET DEB WILLS! Will you be in Epcot this weekend? If so, stop by to meet AllEars® Founder Deb Wills and Team Members Glo from Miami, Jack Spence and Linda Mac on Sunday, April 20, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. Deb will be greeting folks to the right of the entrance of the Journey into Imagination attraction in Epcot's Future World. After riding the attraction, folks are invited to join Deb over at the Land for lunch at Sunshine Seasons (Dutch treat!). RSVP optional to allearsnet@yahoo.com.

Two New Babies at Disney's Animal Kingdom

It's a Girl! And a Boy!

LAKE BUENA VISTA , Fla. , March 13, 2008 -- Disney's animal care team has been busy over the past two weeks with the births of two new bundles of joy -- a female baby giraffe named Makena and a male baby zebra named Kidani.

Born on March 8, Kidani is the first Hartmann's Mountain Zebra born at Walt Disney World Resort. The Hartmann's Mountain Zebra is an endangered species native to Angola, Namibia and South Africa. Kidani was bred through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Population Management Plan, which is a consortium of zoos and wildlife parks working together to conserve and breed animals.

Kidani was named for the new expansion of Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas, which will be named Kidani Village. The zebra currently weighs approximately 65 pounds and stands three and a half feet tall. Kidani's been known to kick up his heels and run around the yard, with his watchful mother Kari, nearby. As an adult male, Kidani could reach 800 pounds, and stand five feet tall.

Makena, which means "Happy One" in Swahili is the female giraffe born on Leap Day, February 29. At birth, she weighed 118 pounds and stood five feet, six inches tall. Makena was standing just one-and-a-half hours after birth and started nursing shortly after. Makena is the first calf for her mother, four-year-old Malaika, who was born at Disney's Animal Kingdom. When Makena grows up, she could be as tall as 15 feet. She is the eighth giraffe born at Disney since Disney's Animal Kingdom opened in 1998.

Both mothers and babies are doing well and are expected to rejoin their herds on the savannah at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge in the coming weeks.

BACKGROUND

Giraffes

The typical gestation period for a giraffe is approximately 15 months.

An adult giraffe's neck alone can measure up to seven-feet, and their tongues can be as long as 18 inches.

Giraffes also have their own set of unique skin markings, similar to a human fingerprint.

Zebras

The typical gestation period for a zebra is approximately 12 months.

Similar to the giraffe, each zebra has a unique coat pattern that herd members use to identify one another. One of the identifying characteristics of the mountain zebra is that their stripes do not meet under the belly, which is white with a central black stripe.

Hartmann's Mountain Zebras are also prone to frequent dust baths once or twice daily and are sure footed on rocky or rugged surfaces.

Disney Animal Kingdom's breeding program

Giraffes and zebras at the Walt Disney World Resort are bred through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Population Management Plan, which is a consortium of zoos and wildlife parks working together to conserve and breed animals.

Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park and Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge are accredited by the AZA. With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation.