Don Grady, Mouseketeer, 'My Three Sons' star, dies at 68

LOS ANGELES - Don Grady, who sang and danced as a Mouseketeer on "The Mickey Mouse Club," played son Robbie on the long-running family sitcom "My Three Sons," and later became a composer and songwriter, died Wednesday. He was 68.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-don-grady-obit-20120628,0,7475801.story?track=rss

At Disney, Holder touts record in speech to Hispanic group

BAY LAKE -- U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was in Central Florida on Thursday preaching civil rights, voting rights and justice but saying nothing about Congress' prospects of holding him in contempt.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-eric-holder-at-lulac-disney-20120628,0,6267313.story?track=rss

Walt Disney World monorail voice has changed

That voice you've been hearing on the monorails at Walt Disney World has changed.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-monorail-voice-20120628,0,6109937.story?track=rss

Disney's Animal Kingdom welcomes baby okapi

Disney announced recently the birth at Animal Kingdom of a female okapi, a hoofed mammal with stripes related to the giraffe.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-animal-kingdom-baby-okapi-20120628,0,2156902.story?track=rss

Don Grady dies at 68; Mouseketeer, 'My Three Sons' star

Don Grady appeared on 'The Mickey Mouse Club' before playing Robbie on the popular family sitcom 'My Three Sons.' He later became a composer and songwriter.

Don Grady, who sang and danced as a Mouseketeer on "The Mickey Mouse Club," played son Robbie on the long-running family sitcom "My Three Sons," and later became a composer and songwriter, died Wednesday. He was 68.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/la-me-don-grady-20120628,0,1671783.story?track=rss

Disney Soccer Academy sees sport as way to kick-start growth

Even among the hordes of British travelers who annually descend on Walt Disney World, these three U.K. athletes stand out: the former captains of the national soccer teams in Wales and Northern Ireland, and the starting goalkeeper from England's 2006 World Cup squad.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-soccer-20120627,0,164542.story?track=rss

Dumbo-struck: 'New' ride soars at Disney World

The beauty of the newest bit of the Fantasyland expansion at Magic Kingdom is the blending of old and new

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-dewayne-bevil-disney-dumbo-20120628,0,3544734.column?track=rss

Taking the Kids -- and hitting Orlando's parks like the 1 percent

I wish everyone could have Charlie Hall along on their first trip to Walt Disney World.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/sns-201206280000--tms--takekidstp--f-b20120628-20120628,0,1369585.story?track=rss

Former Disney park exec hired to run amusement-park trade group

A former top Walt Disney Co. theme-park executive has been hired to run the trade association representing the amusement-park industry.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-exec-iaapa-20120627,0,1754579.story?track=rss

Fantasyland update: Disney reveals Be Our Guest menu

Disney World has previewed the menu for its Be Our Guest restaurant, which is expected to open later this year as part of the ongoing Fantasyland expansion.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-be-our-guest-restaurant-menu-20120627,0,3973521.story?track=rss

Wreck-it Ralph video game is coming to Nintendo systems this fall

OK, this has to be a first. A video game is being made out of a movie about a video game.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-wreckit-ralph-video-game-is-coming-to-nintendo-systems-this-fall-20120626,0,1821919.story?track=rss

Walt Disney's birthplace draws interest, but no buyers

Northwest Side two-flat has been up for sale for more than a year

Not only do prophets lack honor in their native land, some don't do much for real estate values -- at least to judge by Walt Disney's childhood home on Chicago's Northwest Side.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/ct-met-disney-home-20120624,0,7013540.story?track=rss

Disneyland's retooled Matterhorn ride a cool blast

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Steps away from the honking traffic jam of humanity crushing into the grand opening of Cars Land last week, Disneyland quietly welcomed back one of its icons - the Matterhorn Bobsleds.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/vs-travel-disneyland-matterhorn-20120625,0,3367732.story?track=rss

New Key to the World cards coming to Disney World resorts

On-property resorts at Walt Disney World will be switching to a wireless door lock system.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/General_Disney_News/New_Key_to_the_World_cards_coming_to_Disney_World_resorts.htm

Disney testing flying dragon for Avatarland?

Rumors about a flying dragon created by Walt Disney Imagineering that was spotted in California.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/Theme_Parks_Attractions/Disney_testing_flying_dragon_for_Avatarland.htm

SeaWorld rescues pregnant manatee

SeaWorld Orlando rescued a manatee on June 8, and later discovered she is pregnant.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/seaworld/SeaWorld_rescues_pregnant_manatee.htm

SeaWorld still needs summer employees

SeaWorld Orlando is hosting their third hiring event of the year to find summer employees.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/seaworld/SeaWorld_still_needs_summer_employees.htm

Double Dumbo: Some guests seeing ride from both sides now

The new doubled-up Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride has entered the "soft opening" stage at Magic Kingdom. For the first time, both of the side-by-side, up-and-down carousels, were operated with guests on board Wednesday.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-fantasyland-new-dumbo-queue-20120620,0,3267571.story?track=rss

Disney Pixar's Brave: How to throw a Scottish-themed party

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/orl-sl-disney-pixar-scottish-theme-party-food,0,1639943.storylink?track=rss

Scotland: 'Brave' tour of Merida's homeland with a Disney touch

Will Merida become the next Belle? The red-haired heroine of the Pixar animated film "Brave," set to open Friday, has the same pluck and determination to control her fate and fight her own battles. Like Belle of "Beauty and the Beast," she has the potential to become a kiddie super-star.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/la-trb-adventures-by-disney-brave-tour-20120619,0,7661916.story?track=rss

On Location: Disney starts production of 'Maleficent' in London

Walt Disney Studios has begun filming its live-action fairy tale "Maleficent," starring Angelina Jolie, in London.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/la-et-ct-maleficent-20120619,0,6398425.story?track=rss

Disney World importing its park souvenirs through Jacksonville

Walt Disney World said Tuesday it has begun importing the mouse ears, princess gowns and other souvenirs sold throughout the giant resort directly into Florida.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-jacksonville-port-20120619,0,3711589.story?track=rss

Central Florida theme park injury report

The 2012 first quarter injury report has been reported for the major theme parks in Central Florida.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/General_Disney_News/Central_Florida_theme_park_injury_report.htm

New glowing Disney ears make visitors part of show

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/la-fi-mo-disney-ears-20120618,0,4182839.story?track=rss

Be 'Brave' with new iPhone and iPad apps

If your kids are excited about the upcoming release of the Disney Pixar animated film "Brave," you can give in to their excitement in different ways.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-be-brave-with-new-iphone-and-ipad-apps-20120618,0,5996838.story?track=rss

Cars-themed rooms open at Disney's new Art of Animation Resort

While it's not quite the same as "Cars Land" -- the 12-acre attraction that debuted last week at the Disneyland Resort in California -- Walt Disney World is unveiling its own Cars-themed addition: A wing of hotel rooms.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-cars-opens-at-art-of-animation-20120618,0,4702470.story?track=rss

Disney California Adventure: How we got here and what's next

After more than a decade in existence and $1.1 billion in renovations, Disney California Adventure still probably needs another billion dollars in improvements before it can be worthy of the Disney name.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/la-trb-disney-california-adventure-retrospective-06201217,0,7029212.story?track=rss

Man arrested at Disney resort for indecent exposure

A 68-year-old man was arrested at Walt Disney World last week for exposing himself to two young girls.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/General_Disney_News/Man_arrested_at_Disney_resort_for_indecent_exposure.htm

How to keep the excitement of Disney Pin Trading going after you go home!

We recently spent some time at Walt Disney World were we spent everyday of our trip trading pins with cast members and guests, and even were lucky enough to go to a Pin Trading Night at the Contemporary Resort.  Well we came home with a lot of broken sets and were left with a hole in our excitement for Pin Collecting and Trading.

When we got home I started looking for other avenues of trading pins and I found a good one in Pinpics! Pinpics.com is a totally free site, that allows you to catalog your disney pin hoard and a great way to meet new friends.  We've had a lot of fun trading with other people from all over the United States.

We just got done inventorying our pins with Pinpics exhaustive database of over 90,000 disney pins.  Our collection has grown to 960 pins that we want to keep, 247 pins that we want to trade, and if you are like us 1418 pins that we WANT!

To date we have mailed about a dozen parcels all over the country. The biggest multiple single trade we've done so far was for 5 pins.  It's been great fun so far. And if your like me you have a paypal account so you can create postage right from your desk and mail right out of your mailbox like the good old days. Paypal shipping is great, you can create postage with tracking (one caveat first class parcel has to be atleast 3/4" thick or the post office will charge your delivery address for priority mail which is usually a couple of dollars more). 

Please take a moment to look over Pinpics.com's quick tour. Come join the community and learn about your disney pins that you are coveting so closely.

So look us up on Pinpics.com our username is vangoshen maybe we can work out a trade.

Walls removed around Double Dumbo, Casey Jr. Splash Station at Disney World's Magic Kingdom

Construction walls came down around two new Magic Kingdom attractions today.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-double-dumbo-fantasyland-20120615,0,1839636.story?track=rss

As it opens new attraction, Disney prepares to cut capital spending

In Anaheim, Calif., today, next door to the first theme park it ever built, the Walt Disney Co.will unveil one of its most ambitious attractions in years: a canyon-lined, neon-lit complex based on the 2006 animated film "Cars" and filled with an assortment of new rides, shops and restaurants.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-parks-capital-spending-20120614,0,7260737.story?track=rss

Indoor Air-Conditioned Character Meet and Greet Coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom

This fall, Disney's Animal Kingdom will open an indoor, air-conditioned character meet and greet location.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/Theme_Parks_Attractions/Indoor_Air-Conditioned_Character_Meet_and_Greet_Coming_to_Disney_s_Animal_Kingdom.htm

Disney park braces for 'carmageddon' as Cars Land opens

An onslaught of visitors eager to see the new Cars Land area could force periodic closures of Disney California Adventure over the next two weekends.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/la-trb-disney-cars-land-carmageddon-06201214,0,1439451.story?track=rss

Olivia Newton-John set for Epcot's Candlelight Processional

Disney has unveiled a partial list of its narrators for this year's Candlelight Processional, a holiday tradition at Epcot. The new name that pops out:Olivia Newton-John.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-epcot-candlelight-processional-20120614,0,117157.story?track=rss

Disney's Victoria & Albert's earns 13th AAA Five-Diamond Award

Victoria & Albert's Restaurant at Walt Disney World has received the distinction of earning a AAA Five-Diamond restaurant for the 13th time.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/General_Disney_News/Disney_s_Victoria_Albert_s_earns_13th_AAA_Five-Diamond_Award.htm

Review: Disney's Cars Land feels like walking into a movie

Like opening the door to Oz, walking into Cars Land at Disney California Adventure is like stepping into a real-life version of the fictional town of Radiator Springs from the 2006 animated movie.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/la-trb-disney-cars-land-review-06201213,0,3973553.story?track=rss

Club Penguin to feature Marvel Superhero Takeover tomorrow

Hulk smashes and Thor wields a mighty hammer. This week, they both get a little help from … penguins?

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-club-penguin-to-feature-marvel-superhero-takeover-20120612,0,1737850.story?track=rss

Blizzard Beach to host World's Largest Swimming Lesson

Disney's Blizzard Beach will be holding the World's Largest Swimming Lesson on Thursday, June 14.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/General_Disney_News/Blizzard_Beach_to_host_World_s_Largest_Swimming_Lesson.htm

92 sommeliers on staff at Disney's Carthay Circle Restaurant

There are 92 sommeliers on staff at the Carthay Circle Restaurant at Disney California Adventure.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/disneyland/92_sommeliers_on_staff_at_Disney_s_Carthay_Circle_Restaurant.htm

SeaWorld hosts Summer Nights celebration

"Summer Nights" at SeaWorld Orlando will run June 23 - August 12th and offer nightly entertainment for guests.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/seaworld/SeaWorld_hosts_Summer_Nights_celebration.htm

New iPhone and iPad storybook app captures the magic of Disney's 'Aristocats'

For a company that owes its success to a mouse, you'd think any mention of a cat would be frowned upon.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-new-iphone-and-ipad-storybook-app-captures-the-magic-of-disneys-aristocats-20120611,0,2951279.story?track=rss

Purchase Disneyland tickets from your smartphone

Guests at Disneyland can now use their smart phones to buy their park tickets.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/disneyland/Purchase_Disneyland_tickets_from_your_smartphone.htm

Disney's new Dumbo queue aims to relieve the waiting game

On a recent trip to Walt Disney World to check out the opening of Storybook Circus part of the new Fantasyland, I was excited to try out the new Dumbo with my two children.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/orl-disney-dumbo-queue-fantasyland-061112,0,3928853.story?track=rss

D23 planning sessions to celebrate Epcot's 30th birthday

D23, the official Disney fan club, is preparing a day of Epcot-related activities to salute the Disney World theme park's 30th anniversary this fall.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-epcot-30th-d23-20120607,0,6794962.story?track=rss

Disney bans junk-food advertising on programs for children

First Lady Michelle Obama, who has been fighting the childhood obesity epidemic, hails Disney's healthful-food initiative.

Walt Disney Co., acknowledging the powerful role that television can play in influencing children's behavior, announced that it has instituted a junk-food advertising ban on programs for kids.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/la-fi-ct-disney-food-ads-20120606,0,6593875.story?track=rss

Disney World raises one-day ticket price to $89

A little more than a week after Universal Orlando raised its theme-park ticket prices, Walt Disney World followed -- by boosting the price of its most basic ticket to $1 more than its smaller rival.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-raises-ticket-prices-20120602,0,6629529.story?track=rss

Can a $100 Disney ticket be far off?

Walt Disney was a master at appealing to the masses.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-beth-kassab-disney-ticket-prices-060312-20120603,0,7241802.column?track=rss

Royal Plaza at Disney World to rebrand as a B Hotel

The companies behind a new, upscale hotel brand based in South Florida have decided to add the Royal Plaza Hotel at Walt Disney World to the fledgling chain.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-b-hotel-disney-world-20120604,0,7321735.story?track=rss

Report: Popular Disney sign suffers electrical outage

The popular Magic of Disney Animation sign at Disney's Hollywood Studios has suffered an electrical outage, according to a Central Florida News 13 report.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-sign-electrical-outage-20120610,0,7330861.story?track=rss

Disney squeezes more cash out of annual passes

Two years after Walt Disney World rolled out monthly payment plans designed to make its annual passes more affordable to a wider pool of consumers, the giant resort is now aggressively raising the prices of those same passes.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-annual-pass-prices-20120609,0,7529876.story?track=rss

Disney right, New York wrong when it comes to food rules

New York can banish supersized sodas the same way it pushed smut out of Times Square, but it won't make a pound of difference when it comes to obesity.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-beth-kassab-big-gulp-ban-061012-20120609,0,2545215.column?track=rss

New nighttime celebration at Disney's Animal Kingdom

The Sundowner Celebration will take place at Disney's Animal Kingdom through June 30.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/Theme_Parks_Attractions/New_nighttime_celebration_at_Disney_s_Animal_Kingdom.htm

Universal raises ticket prices again - by $1

Universal Orlando has raised ticket prices for the second time in less than two weeks.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/universal/Universal_raises_ticket_prices_again_-_by_1.htm

D23 planning sessions to celebrate Epcot's 30 t h birthday

D23, the official Disney fan club, is preparing a day of Epcot-related activities to salute the Disney World theme park's 30 t h anniversary this fall.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-epcot-30th-d23-20120607,0,6794962.story?track=rss

Fallen light pole temporarily closes Expedition Everest coaster at Disney's Animal Kingdom

A light pole fell onto a roller coaster car at Disney's Animal Kingdom Wednesday, forcing the closure of the ride for more than an hour, a company spokeswoman said.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-animal-kingdom-everest-20120607,0,1498174.story?track=rss

Missing Walt Disney World guest found safe

A man who went missing from Walt Disney World two days ago was found safe this morning, June 6.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/General_Disney_News/Missing_Walt_Disney_World_guest_found_safe.htm

Junk food ads will be banned from Disney media

Disney is putting a stop to the junk food ads on their TV networks, radio stations and websites for kids.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/General_Disney_News/Junk_food_ads_will_be_banned_from_Disney_media.htm

Whale dies at SeaWorld Orlando

SeaWorld Orlando's only "false killer whale" died Monday, June 4.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/seaworld/Whale_dies_at_SeaWorld_Orlando.htm

Girl dressed as Tinkerbell not allowed into Disney theme park

A 15-year old girl dressed as Tinkerbell was asked to change clothes at Disney's Animal Kingdom on Sunday, June 3.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/General_Disney_News/Girl_dressed_as_Tinkerbell_not_allowed_into_Disney_theme_park.htm

Report: Disney makes teen Tinker Bell change outfit

Clickorlando.com is reporting that authorities at Disney World told a 15-year-old dressed as Tinker Bell to change her outfit before entering one of their parks because she looked too much like the character.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-tinker-bell-teen-20120605,0,719849.story?track=rss

Interior of Dumbo's Interactive Big Top Queue

New details about the interactive queue at Dumbo the Flying Elephant.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/Theme_Parks_Attractions/Interior_of_Dumbo_s_Interactive_Big_Top_Queue.htm

Airlines increase overhead bin space

Several airlines are changing their overhead bins to better accommodate extra carry-on baggage.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/General_Disney_News/Airlines_increase_overhead_bin_space.htm

Disney's still biggest theme-park owner, but others are growing

The Walt Disney Co. is still the theme-park industry's 800-pound gorilla, but the 200-pound gorillas behind it are growing quickly.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-cfb-tourism-theme-parks-0604-20120603,0,1945209.story?track=rss

Disney donating California Adventure memorabilia

As part of the Disney California Adventure (DCA) expansion over the last five years, Disney is donating several key artifacts to different California organizations.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/disneyland/Disney_donating_California_Adventure_memorabilia.htm

New Disney-Pixar stamps released

Disney-Pixar stamps were released by the U.S. Postal Service to celebrate the opening of Disney's Art of Animation Resort.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/General_Disney_News/New_Disney-Pixar_stamps_released.htm

New rulings in death of SeaWorld trainer

New rulings have been made in the case regarding the death of SeaWorld Orlando trainer Dawn Brancheau.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/seaworld/New_rulings_in_death_of_SeaWorld_trainer.htm

Walt Disney World ticket prices to go up June 3

Walt Disney World ticket prices will go up Sunday, June 3.

URL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/General_Disney_News/Disney_World_ticket_prices_to_go_up_June_3.htm

Orlando Sentinel restaurant review: Epcot's Tutto Italia

Disney opened Tutto Italia at Epcot's Italy Pavilion in 2007, replacing L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante, which had an impressive 25-year run.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-dining-tutto-italia-disneys-epcot-20120603,0,135664.story?track=rss

Report: Squirrel outruns Disney monorail | Video

A squirrel delayed the Walt Disney Monorail this week but managed to outrun the train and live to scamper another day, clickorlando.com is reporting.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-squirrel-disney-monorail-20120531,0,6834319.story?track=rss

Deputies: 3 men scammed $15,000 from Disney hotels

Three Florida men are accused of taking magical vacations of a lifetime -- all on Walt Disney World's dime.

URL: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-hotel-scam-20120531,0,2063880.story?track=rss