Disney World Unveils New "Million Dreams" Attractions

New technologies, interactive online tools and in-park experiences are making Walt Disney World vacations more personal and taking guest service to a new level during "The Year of a Million Dreams" celebration. New attractions introduced last week as part of the "Year of a Million Dreams" promotion include "The Seas with Nemo & Friends" attraction at Epcot. Guests can engage in live, unrehearsed dialogue with Crush, the turtle from the film "Finding Nemo." New technology enables other stars from the movie to appear to swim with the marine life in the 5.7-million-gallon aquarium.

Through immersive and interactive features, guests at "Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club," opening this spring in Magic Kingdom, will be able to participate in the show by text messaging jokes from their cell phone for possible use in the show. This live, unscripted entertainment experience currently in development is the next generation of real-time animation that uses digital projection and voice-activated animation.

Unused space within the Magic Kingdom originally envisioned as in-park accommodations for the Disney family has been transformed into Cinderella Castle Suite -- a place where Walt Disney World guests can now spend a night amid surroundings that hark back to the 17th century fairytale and the French chateaus that inspired the design of Cinderella Castle. Eligible Walt Disney World guests will be selected randomly at one of the theme parks or Downtown Disney, as part of the "Year of a Million Dreams" promotion, by early afternoon most days now through the end of 2007. The guest and up to five members of their party begin their evening at Cinderella's Royal Table, the restaurant located in Cinderella Castle before settling into their suite, located four stories above the surrounding Magic Kingdom. The suite includes a salon, bedchamber and bathroom off a private marble-floored foyer, all replete with rich details.

New concepts designed to help tailor guests' vacation experiences include: Disney's new PhotoPass albums with online scrapbooking tools and the ability to combine personal photos with professional photos taken by Disney's PhotoPass team as well as add different backgrounds and personalize text. Disney's online concierge at Disney's Contemporary Resort lets vacationers order room service, play games, make tee times and more right from their own hotel rooms. This interactive service is currently in pilot testing. Through advances in wireless communication, Pal Mickey, a huggable plush toy, acts as a tour guide at each of the four theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort. Offering timesaving tips, trivia, fun facts and more, Pal Mickey helps navigate the parks so guests get the most out of their time in the parks.

A new Walt Disney World after-hours event began in Magic Kingdom Jan. 22, 2007, with Disney's Pirate and Princess Party, a treasure hunt for items like chocolate doubloons and colorful beads. Guests can explore pirate coves and princess courts filled with themed entertainment, participate in character meet-and-greets and enjoy Magic Kingdom attractions open throughout the evening. Guests are invited to dress up in a favorite princess gown or pirate garb to add to the fun. Adding to the magic of the immersive event will be two new nighttime entertainment spectaculars, "Disney's Enchanted Adventures Parade" and "Magic, Music and Mayhem," a fireworks display orchestrated to an original musical score. Other party highlights include a dance party, haunted riverboat, court musicians, jugglers and more. Day-of tickets are priced at $42.95 plus tax, for ages 10 and over, $35.95 plus tax, for ages three to nine. Advance tickets for all nights are $36.95 plus tax, for ages 10 and over and $29.95 plus tax, for ages three to nine. Party nights: Jan. 22, 26, 29, Feb. 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 23, 26 and March 2, 5, 8 from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Also new at the Disney World is the "High School Musical Pep Rally," a new immersive show for the whole family now at Disney-MGM Studios as part of "The Year of a Million Dreams." Throughout the park, a multi-talented team of entertainers re-creates the world of East High. Theme park guests may find themselves shooting hoops or joining in as the whole street turns into a rockin' party while great songs fill the air, from "Breaking Free" and "Getcha Head in the Game" to "We're All in This Together.  Book today!  Call 800-913-7245 or visit www.planmycruise.com