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Disney's 'Year of a Million Dreams' Continues with Launch of Toy Story Mania!

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Walt Disney World Resort unwraps a toy chest full of fun for summer 2008 with a new toy-themed street extravaganza plus a breakthrough attraction putting guests in a joyous, midway-themed romp among the characters of the "Toy Story" films.
With a series of special events also sprinkled throughout the period from May through August -- plus the continuation of Disney's "Year of a Million Dreams" -- it adds up to an unforgettable summer at the Florida Vacation Kingdom.
Toy Story Mania! Ride-Game Sensation Bows at Disney's Hollywood Studios
Guests don 3-D glasses and enter a wild and wooly 4-D world of Woody, Buzz and other favorite Toy Story characters in Toy Story Mania! making its debut as part of Disney's "Year of a Million Dreams" in late May at Disney's Hollywood Studios (renamed in January from Disney-MGM Studios).
Inspired by the Disney-Pixar films "Toy Story" and "Toy Story II," Toy Story Mania! raises the bar for interactive ride-game attractions. It's a high-energy, immersive adventure that puts guests right in the action as their game play triggers fun surprises that provide a fourth dimension of fun.
Past a welcoming and wisecracking Mr. Potato Head, guests put on 3-D glasses, "shrink" to the size of a toy and board Toy Story Mania! carnival tram ride vehicles, entering the world of "Toy Story" characters. As vehicles move among Toy Story Mania! game booths -- high-tech yet rooted in classic midway games of skill -- guests aim for 3-D animated targets using their own on-board spring-action shooters. Players pair up and sit side-by-side, scoring points in a friendly competition that delivers an ever-changing variety of targets and surprises.
As they play, guests can actually see the "virtual objects" they've launched leave their spring-action shooters and hit (or miss) the targets. And thanks to 4-D special effects technology, they may sense objects whirring past them as they pop out of the 3-D scenes.
The Toy Story Mania! games -- five of them, plus an introductory practice round -- are designed to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages and skills, from beginners to experienced gamers. Play is energized by the spirit of the "Toy Story" characters cast in games that best suit their very animated personalities -- from launching virtual plastic eggs in the "Hamm & Eggs" booth, hosted by Hamm, to breaking plates with virtual baseballs in the "Green Army Men Shoot Camp."
A final "Woody's Bonus Roundup" encourages guests to fire their spring-action shooters as rapidly as possible at one last super-target for extra points. When scores are tallied, players' skill levels are identified and they can see how they've done compared to the high scores.
Disneyland Resort also welcomes Toy Story Mania! when the attraction debuts in late June at Disney's California Adventure.
Guests Join Disney-Pixar Characters in Wild "Block Party Bash"
Disney's Hollywood Studios fun is nonstop with "Block Party Bash," a new traveling show featuring favorite Disney-Pixar characters, performing daily. The high-energy extravaganza cranks up the music and excitement to the max, putting guests in the middle of the wildest Disney spectacle ever -- a musical block party that doubles as a fun-filled interactive street spectacular, enticing guests to dance, play and party. The "block party" transforms into major choreographed sections starring characters including Woody and Buzz from "Toy Story," Mike and Sully from "Monsters, Inc." and Flik and Atta from "A Bug's Life."
Interactive Fun: Curtain Up on "Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage!"
Stars from "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," "Handy Manny," "Little Einsteins" and more entertain Walt Disney World guests with animated graphics, music and songs in a new interactive, fun stage show, "Playhouse Disney--Live on Stage!" at Disney's Hollywood Studios. An onstage host leads the audience in a variety of dance and sing-along activities, encouraging little ones to join in the fun. The stars of the entertaining new show are characters from the Disney Channel's hit Playhouse Disney programming block geared to preschoolers. "Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage!" is performed several times daily.
Disney Diners Catch The Wave
This summer, The Wave debuts at Disney's Contemporary Resort, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Located on the first floor with a "superlounge," the upscale restaurant will offer "bold American cooking with flavors from all over the world." The seasonal menu will feature local and regional products when possible, organic beers and trendy cocktails such as the "antioxidant cosmo" with açai juice. The innovative wine list has a quirky claim to fame -- all screw caps, no corks. Cutting-edge wines from around the globe will be showcased.
Disney Indoor Sports Events Double with Opening of Jostens Center
The all-new Jostens Center represents the latest expansion project at the 220-acre Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, which is widely regarded as the leading sports venue for amateur and professional sports in the nation. The new multi-sport fieldhouse will include 45,000 square feet of competition space that will accommodate basketball, volleyball, wrestling, martial arts, gymnastics, cheerleading and dance, team handball, roller hockey and more, as well as locker rooms and meeting rooms. With the opening of the new facility in summer 2008, Disney has the ability to double the number of indoor sports events that it can accommodate.
Dive Into a Thrilling Disney Splash...On Your Cell Phone
It's sum-sum-summertime and Disney's world-famous water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, are the splash-tastic choice. Thanks to an all-new Disney WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) site, adults and their kids can immerse themselves in Disney water parks magic before, during and after they actually visit the parks -- and all it takes is their cell phones. Thanks to a new Web site customized for the mobile phone, users can download any of four exclusive wallpapers from artist Jesse LeDoux, get insider tips and take an interactive personality quiz and more. One feature stars actor-singer Corbin Bleu. He had such water parks fun he was happy to express his glee to his legions of fans through their cell phones.
How to get the fun rolling? Guests have three options:

In their Disney Resort hotel room, guests can view a video and text H20 to SPLASH (775274). Then their cell phone rings with a message from Corbin Bleu plus a link to the WAP.

Before arriving, a guest can text H2O to SPLASH on their cell and get a call from Corbin.

Guests familiar with texting on their cell phones can send a picture of their favorite attraction at the water parks to disney@splash.com to receive a special mobile wallpaper.
Guests can access a number of interactive features including tips to "surf" Disney's Typhoon Lagoon or "ski" at Disney's Blizzard Beach water parks. Other great tips for park-goers can be downloaded onto guests' cell phones, and more features are on the way.
Popular Events Add Extra Fun to May-August Period

Flower-lovers can enjoy the blooms and fun of the 15th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival daily through June 1, with Flower Power music filling evenings at the end of days that feature horticultural exhibits, seminars and demonstrations. The festival is included with Epcot admission.

Magic Kingdom's newest after-hours special event, Mickey's Pirate and Princess Party, offers fun after the sun on seven evenings in May and early June. Centerpiece of the event is the "Enchanted Adventures Parade" starring a 39-foot pirate ship with swinging and sword-fighting mates. The night's finale is the dazzling "Magic, Music and Mayhem" fireworks spectacular orchestrated to an original musical score. Information and tickets are available by calling 407/WDW-AHOY or by visiting online at disneyworld.com/pirateandprincess.

Guests can immerse themselves in the power of the Force during Star Wars Weekends, a family-friendly fan-fest scheduled for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays June 6-June 29 at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park. With the park's famous Star Tours thrill attraction serving as the centerpiece, the annual event features Star Wars celebrities on hand for autographs, photos, Q&A sessions and Hollywood-style motorcades. The special fun is included with regular admission to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Guests can access more information by visiting disneyworld.com/starwars or www.starwars.com.

What could be more summery than groovin' under the stars to classic hits? At America Gardens Theatre, Epcot again presents "Sounds Like Summer" featuring a lineup of rockin' bands covering timeless tunes from Elton John, The Eagles, The Supremes, Bon Jovi, U2, the Bee Gees and many more. Tribute bands begin performances June 9, with shows nightly through Aug. 10. Concerts are included in Epcot admission.

Skies above Walt Disney World Resort will be painted in "patriotic" as the Florida Vacation Kingdom presents special Fourth of July fireworks. Among planned spectacles, Magic Kingdom hosts special "Fantasy in the Sky" fireworks at 9 p.m. At Disney's Hollywood Studios, a patriotic July 4 salute includes 9 p.m. fireworks.

The NBA Pre-Draft, featuring many of the top pro basketball prospects, takes place May 27-30 inside The Milk House at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. NBA coaches, general managers and league officials, including marquee names such as Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing and Isaiah Thomas, are expected to attend. Draft prospects (last year's group included Joakim Noah, Kevin Durant and Greg Oden) will work out and compete in games.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are back for their seventh training camp at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex from late July to mid-August. Tampa Bay's daily practices are free and open to the public, with the schedule often incorporating two-a-day sessions in the morning and afternoon. Featuring one of the league's most animated head coaches, the Jon Gruden-led Bucs seek to build on their winning ways from 2007 with a collection of established stars such as quarterback Jeff Garcia, linebacker Derrick Brooks and cornerback Ronde Barber. A fertile breeding ground for success, the Buccaneers have produced three division titles and one Super Bowl championship since first arriving at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in 2002.

Several AAU National Championships, including basketball, volleyball, wrestling, baseball and track & field, return to Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex from June to August. Boys and girls of various age groups from around the nation will compete for national crowns in one of the most prestigious national youth sports competitions in the country. Current athletic stars such as Houston Rockets center Yao Ming, San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates and USC basketball player O.J. Mayo are among those who've competed previously in AAU National Championships at Disney.
"The Year of a Million Dreams" Marks Its Second Disney Summer
Disney Parks is encoring its 2007 "Year of a Million Dreams" in 2008 with more dreams, even bigger dreams, more dreams money can't buy, dreams only Disney can make come true. It's another "dreamy" summer with over-the-top experiences for the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway being awarded to eligible lucky guests in the right place at the right time (plus mail-in participants). Included is the chance for guests to stay inside Disneyland Park; a private day at Disney's tropical island paradise, Castaway Cay; a New Year's Eve night stay inside Cinderella Castle Suite at Walt Disney World Resort; a star-studded trip to the "High School Musical 3" film premiere; and a flight of fancy in a hot air balloon above a Disney theme park. Also among awards: hundreds of thousands of dreams in all shapes and sizes, including Dream FASTPASS badges, gourmet dining packages, special viewing for parades, Disney shopping sprees, or special Dream Mouse Ears or pin and lanyard sets. It all adds up to more than one million more dreams awarded in 2008.

traipsing down the happy side of the street
Ahnalira