Florida Homes & Travel

Disney’s Favorite Pixie, Tinker Bell, Introduces Magic Kingdom Guests to Her New Fairy Friends

To celebrate the animated film “Tinker Bell,” Disney’s most famous fairy and four of her best friends are featured in a meet-and-greet experience in Mickey’s Toontown Fair at Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort.

To meet Tinker Bell and her fairy friends, guests enter a magical forest called “Pixie Hollow,” a special place deep in the heart of Never Land.

Tinker Bell, made famous in the 1953 Disney animated classic “Peter Pan,” for her “hostess” role in Disney television specials and for “flying” above the Disney theme parks, is joined inside Pixie Hollow by four fairy friends: Fawn, an animal fairy; Iridessa, a light fairy; Rosetta, a garden fairy; and Silvermist, a water fairy.

In addition to meeting the Fairies at Magic Kingdom, guests can learn more about the Disney Fairies at disneyfairies.com.

And if Tinker Bell doesn’t “ring a bell” or jog a memory, here are some “fun fairy facts” about the sprightly pixie:


* Tinker Bell debuted at Walt Disney World Resort in 1971, as the classic attraction Peter Pan’s Flight opened in Fantasyland. The beloved attraction immerses guests in the “Peter Pan” story as passengers board flying pirate ships bound for Never Land.
* Tinker Bell began “flying” from high atop Cinderella Castle in 1985. Since then, she has taken her flight thousands of times to light the sky with magical fireworks.
* Tinker Bell made her Walt Disney World parade debut in 2007. She made that premiere appearance atop a float in “Disney’s Enchanted Adventures Parade,” an entertainment extravaganza during Disney’s Pirate and Princess Party.
* Tinker Bell merchandise continually ranks among the top sellers of character-based merchandise at Walt Disney World Resort.

American Idol is coming to Disney

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts will create an "American Idol" attraction that will bring the television and pop culture phenomenon to life at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, according to Jay Rasulo, chairman of Disney Parks and Resorts; Simon Fuller, CEO of 19 Entertainment; and Keith Hindle, executive vice president of FremantleMedia Licensing.

The attraction, slated to debut January 2009, will be located at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park and will follow the model of the high-energy show. Disney guests will be able to experience the challenge of auditioning, the rush of performing on stage in competition, or the thrill of judging the performances in a live interactive entertainment setting with all the glitz and glamour of the distinctive "American Idol" set.

That experience will include an audition process, open to all eligible to register, where guests perform “live” in front of a Disney’s Hollywood Studios producer for the chance to be cast in a theme park show. If shown to have that star quality during the screening process and after backstage preparation -- working with a vocal coach, hair and make-up -- it’s lights up and showtime for the lucky guest in front of a “live” audience and a panel of judges.

Guest performers with the highest votes will compete in an end-of-day Grand Finale show at Walt Disney World, and the winner of the Grand Finale show will receive a guaranteed reservation for a future regional stadium audition -- to ensure no waiting in long lines -- for the "American Idol" TV show. But when it comes down to the television show auditions, everyone is treated equal.

"Millions of people have imagined themselves standing on the ’American Idol’ stage," said Rasulo. "We’re excited that we will be bringing this dream to life every day at Walt Disney World."

Added Fuller, "One of the most remarkable elements about ’American Idol’ is that for a brief moment each week, we can provide TV viewers the opportunity to imagine life as America’s next superstar. Disney’s new attraction perfectly captures what we at ’American Idol’ feel is the heart and soul of this brand, real people getting a shot to make their dream a reality."

"This partnership," noted Hindle, "brings the number one show on television, watched in over 100 countries, to the number one theme park destination in the world. It’s a perfect combination and opportunity to offer everyone a taste of the ’American Idol’ experience."

The coming “American Idol” attraction will reflect the best and brightest of the TV show, giving starry-eyed park guests a chance to become a star on the attraction’s stage. It joins an all-star lineup at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a celebration of today’s Hollywood in movies, television, music and theater. Among the new adventures that debuted in 2008: Toy Story Mania!, immersing guests in a 3-D interactive ride-through video game starring popular Disney•Pixar “Toy Story” characters; “Block Party Bash,” an interactive and moving Disney•Pixar spectacle filling the theme park streets; and “Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage!” featuring a whole new cast of friends from “Playhouse Disney.”

New Ultra-Interactive Attraction at Epcot Immerses Walt Disney World Guests In the High-Tech World of Disney’s Kim Possible

Epcot guests at Walt Disney World Resort will be treated to a brand new, highly interactive attraction inspired by Disney Channel’s Emmy Award-winning animated series, Disney’s Kim Possible. The new experience is slated to premiere in late 2008.

Using the latest technology, Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure invites guests of all ages to become secret agents, teaming up with members of Team Possible to save the world from various comical villains and their mad inventions.

As guests embark on this international adventure, they will receive an official “Kimmunicator,” at kiosks throughout Epcot. The interactive, handheld device is designed to help them maneuver through the mission. Using state-of-the-art technology, the interactive device connects guests with a variety of Kim Possible characters who provide clues to stop villains from taking over the world. The highly interactive devices also allow guests to control top-secret equipment hidden inside the World Showcase pavilions, creating an ultra-interactive adventure jam-packed with mystery and excitement.

Guests can play Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure in seven of the World Showcase pavilions: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Japan, France and United Kingdom. Each pavilion features a unique mission including distinctive visual events and a different super villain from the animated series.

"Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure is an exciting new experience that offers fun and excitement for the entire family," said Jim MacPhee, Epcot vice president. "We are constantly exploring new ways to provide immersive experiences to Epcot guests, and this new offering will add to our dynamic portfolio."

“Today’s emerging generation expects more immersive, personal and interactive experiences in every facet of their lives, including their entertainment choices,” added Bruce Vaughn, chief creative executive of Walt Disney Imagineering. “As leaders in family entertainment, Disney theme parks push the envelope by combining state-of-the-art technology with creative storytelling to enhance the overall Disney vacation experience.”

Epcot is a place of innovation, imagination, human achievement and endless possibilities. The park encompasses two “lands” of discovery: Future World, a showcase of new ideas and technology, and World Showcase, a kaleidoscope of nations celebrating cultural heritage, arts and entertainment. For more information, guests may call 407/824-4321 or visit disneyworld.com.

Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure will open at Walt Disney World Resort during “The Year of a Million Dreams” celebration.

A worldwide hit for kids and families, Disney’s "Kim Possible" is an Emmy Award-winning animated series from creators/executive producers Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle and Walt Disney Television Animation. It tells the story of an average high school cheerleader, Kim Possible, who, in her spare time, happens to save the world from super villains. With the aid of her enthusiastic pals, this contemporary heroine is capable in ways few high school students ever imagine. On the flipside, she realizes that defeating the bad guys comes easier than coping with the typical teen pressures of schooling and socializing. Viewers’ connection to "Kim Possible" led to a successful off-TV franchise for The Walt Disney Company including Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable characters at Disney Parks & Resorts, DVDs, books, video games and Disney Consumer Product’s line of "Kim Possible" branded products available at mass retailers nationwide.