Do You Believe in Magic?

“Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” Walt Disney’s message continues to impact the development of Disney parks and resorts around the world today.
Since the opening of Disneyland in 1955, Disney’s Parks and Resorts division has grown to include six theme parks spanning three continents.
Lately, Disney has undertaken numerous expansion projects, including a massive development in California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort. The project has a budget of over $1 billion, which funds both new attractions and the re-theming of many existing attractions.
Much of the expansion has already begun. California Adventure recently introduced Toy Story Midway Mania, a 4-D shooting attraction featuring characters from the Toy Story franchise. Another addition to the park was World of Color, a nighttime spectacular incorporating advanced water and lighting effects to display scenes and music from classic Disney films.
One of the largest additions to California Adventure is Cars Land, set to open in 2012. This area will feature multiple attractions based on the movie Cars, including Radiator Springs Racers, a ride with an estimated $200 million price tag featuring top-of-the-line vehicle technology.
The next addition to California Adventure will be The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, a dark ride depicting the escapades of The Little Mermaid’s protagonist, Ariel. The attraction will officially open on June 3, 2011. It will also be installed in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in 2014 as part of a sizable expansion to Fantasyland.
Walt Disney World’s Fantasyland extension replaces what was once Mickey’s Toontown Fair with a much larger area for princesses at play. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, a tame roller coaster the whole family can enjoy, takes the place of Snow White’s Scary Adventures. In addition, Dumbo the Flying Elephant will gain a second ride mechanism and a re-themed waiting area, doubling the ride’s capacity and improving the guest experience while waiting in line.
Also new to Fantasyland is the Beast’s Castle, a recreation of Belle and the Beast’s home from Beauty and the Beast. Inside the castle will be a full-service restaurant and a meet-and-greet with Belle. An additional meet-and-greet location will be created near the Beast’s Castle for all the other princesses.
Among all the new developments for Disney Parks and Resorts, by far the most ambitious is the plan for an entirely new park in Shanghai, China. The Shanghai Disney Resort, scheduled for a 2016 opening, will be quite different from other theme parks in the Disney franchise. Unlike all the other Magic Kingdom-style parks, it will not contain a Main Street area. Instead, there will be an 11-acre park-style area at the entrance for parades and activities.
Another departure from traditional Disney is the insertion of Chinese culture into the attractions, by request of the Chinese government. While only one theme park is currently in development on the Shanghai property, there will eventually be three different parks.
Disney has not yet disclosed which classic attractions will be in the park, but will release more information as the park’s opening date approaches. What lies in the future for the Shanghai Disney Resort is not known, but we can be sure of one thing: Disney won’t be slowing down anytime soon. In the words of Walt Disney, “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”

Princess and the Frog Hops Into Theaters

A handsome prince, endless riches, and a huge castle. What more could a young girl hope for? In the past, many Disney princesses have given the impression that the answer is nothing. But with their first animated heroine since Mulan, The Princess and the Frog defies many Disney stereotypes and gives young girls a proper role model.

Set in New Orleans before World War I, the movie’s heroine is a young woman named Tiana. Hard-working and kind to all, Tiana, voiced by actress Anika Noni Rose. has grown up with the ambition of opening her own restaurant. With the memory of her father to guide her, Tiana works hard all day to save up for a building in which to set up shop. Meanwhile, the spoiled Prince Naveen of Maldonia, cleverly voiced by Bruno Campos, comes to New Orleans in search of a rich bride to support his expensive tastes. During his visit, Prince Naveen runs into the sorcerer Dr. Facilier, voiced by Keith David, who turns him into a frog and puts royal assistant Lawrence in his place.

In an attempt to return to his human state, Prince Naveen convinces Tiana, who is dressed up as a princess for a party, to kiss him. She is turned into a frog herself, and the two new acquaintances are forced to head into the bayou for shelter. There they come across the usual challenges of Disney heroes, but they also meet some new friends. The trumpet-playing alligator Louis, voiced by Michael-Leon Wooley and Ray, a firefly who is in love with a star, voiced in a unique Cajun accent by Jim Cummings make spectacular additions to the cast. The four then set off in search of Mama Odie, priestess of the bayou, hilariously voiced by Jenifer Lewis.

The Princess and the Frog takes its audience on a magical journey. With vibrant color and music that would make even the stiffest want to dance, it doesn’t matter that you’re watching an animated movie. You’ll get pulled into the entrancing story no matter what. The cast of characters is diverse and entertaining, further enhancing the flick. Despite his selfish tendencies, Prince Naveen provides comic relief throughout the movie. Louis and Ray are the type of friends anyone would want, and Mama Odie gives the rest sound advice that eventually leads Tiana and Naveen back to humanity.

Unlike some Disney princesses who sit around waiting for someone to give them what they want, Tiana goes after what she wants. Through all her hard work she manages to keep a smile on her face and a song in her heart. It is women like this that young girls should look up to. She teaches us to be strong and to work for what we believe in, which is truly the best lesson any little girl could learn.

Another important lesson this movie teaches us is that money is not what is most important in life. In the end, Prince Naveen forsakes his dreams of marrying a rich girl because of his love for Tiana. The happy couple then works hard and eventually opens a great restaurant. If we could all follow this example, we could all lead happier lives. And if Disney comes out with more films like this, girls everywhere can grow to their full potential.