D23 Expo News

ANAHEIM, Calif., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Chairman Jay Rasulo detailed plans for future lands, attractions and
adventures that will be delighting Disney guests for years to come, at the
first D23 Expo. Most notable among the announcements were the confirmation of
an all-new Star Tours attraction and the largest expansion in the history of
the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

"Storytelling is the DNA of Disney dreams and we're always exploring new ways
to tell new stories in new places," Rasulo told a crowd at the Anaheim
Convention Center in California before taking them on a "behind-the-magic"
tour of their favorite Disney destinations.

Rasulo announced that a new 3-D version of the tremendously-popular "Star
Tours" attraction will debut at the Disneyland Resort and Disney's Hollywood
Studios in 2011. Based on the iconic Lucasfilm "Star Wars" films, the
attraction will include immersive new elements that will take guests to many
familiar places in the Star Wars galaxy.

For Walt Disney World in Florida, Rasulo outlined plans for the largest
expansion in the history of the Magic Kingdom, vastly increasing the size of
Fantasyland by 2013. Guests will soon be able to:

-- Visit their favorite Disney Princess in her castle, cottage, or
chateau
to share a dance with Cinderella; celebrate Sleeping Beauty's
birthday with the Good Fairies; or join Belle in an enchanting story
performance in the Beast's castle library.
-- Be Our Guest and dine in one of three enchanted rooms inside the
Beast's castle.
-- Fly with Dumbo high above brand new circus grounds, twice the size of
the existing attraction with a new interactive, three-ring circus
tent.
-- Journey under the sea with Ariel, The Little Mermaid, in her very own
attraction - also opening at Disney's California Adventure in
Anaheim in 2011.

-- Meet Tinker Bell and her friends in the magical world of Pixie Hollow.


Rasulo provided updates on the multi-year expansion of Disney's California
Adventure including the new "World of Color" attraction slated to open in the
spring of 2010 and the addition of the 12-acre Cars Land scheduled to open in
2012 where guests will literally step into the town of Radiator Springs and
its six acres of hand-carved rockwork.

Rasulo noted the progress of several other recently-announced projects
including the three new lands coming to Hong Kong Disneyland by 2014; the
Disney Dream, the new ship being built by Disney Cruise Line; the many diverse
itineraries being offered by Adventures by Disney that take guests on 19
unique, once-in-a-lifetime guided vacation experiences; and Disney's first
family destination resort on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.

One of the Magic Kingdom's most beloved attractions, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, is completely re-imagined when the circus comes to town. Guests are invited to step into the big top and join the circus before their magical flight over Fantasyland. The attraction will be part of the expanded Fantasyland that was announced at the D23 Expo on Saturday by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo. Disney © 2009

Fans of Disney's animated classic, The Little Mermaid, will journey under the sea to meet Ariel and her friends on an exciting new musical adventure. This new attraction will take guests through beautifully rendered scenes featuring classic songs from the popular animated feature. The attraction will be part of the expanded Fantasyland that was announced at the D23 Expo on Saturday by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo. Disney © 2009

Story Courtesy Of Reuters.com