Things To Do at Disney World for Summer 2008
May 22nd, 2008
Lake Buena Vista, FL - Walt Disney World Resort unwraps a toy chest full of fun for summer 2008 with a new toy-themed street extravaganza plus a breakthrough attraction putting guests in a joyous, midway-themed romp among the characters of the “Toy Story” films.
With a series of special events also sprinkled throughout the period from May through August — plus the continuation of Disney’s “Year of a Million Dreams” — it adds up to an unforgettable summer at the Florida Vacation Kingdom.
Toy Story Mania! Ride-Game Sensation Bows at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Guests don 3-D glasses and enter a wild and wooly 4-D world of Woody, Buzz and other favorite Toy Story characters in Toy Story Mania! making its debut as part of Disney’s “Year of a Million Dreams” in late May at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (renamed in January from Disney-MGM Studios).
Inspired by the Disney-Pixar films “Toy Story” and “Toy Story II,” Toy Story Mania! raises the bar for interactive ride-game attractions. It’s a high-energy, immersive adventure that puts guests right in the action as their game play triggers fun surprises that provide a fourth dimension of fun.
Past a welcoming and wisecracking Mr. Potato Head, guests put on 3-D glasses, “shrink” to the size of a toy and board Toy Story Mania! carnival tram ride vehicles, entering the world of “Toy Story” characters. As vehicles move among Toy Story Mania! game booths — high-tech yet rooted in classic midway games of skill — guests aim for 3-D animated targets using their own on-board spring-action shooters. Players pair up and sit side-by-side, scoring points in a friendly competition that delivers an ever-changing variety of targets and surprises.
As they play, guests can actually see the “virtual objects” they’ve launched leave their spring-action shooters and hit (or miss) the targets. And thanks to 4-D special effects technology, they may sense objects whirring past them as they pop out of the 3-D scenes.
The Toy Story Mania! games — five of them, plus an introductory practice round — are designed to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages and skills, from beginners to experienced gamers. Play is energized by the spirit of the “Toy Story” characters cast in games that best suit their very animated personalities — from launching virtual plastic eggs in the “Hamm & Eggs” booth, hosted by Hamm, to breaking plates with virtual baseballs in the “Green Army Men Shoot Camp.”
A final “Woody’s Bonus Roundup” encourages guests to fire their spring-action shooters as rapidly as possible at one last super-target for extra points. When scores are tallied, players’ skill levels are identified and they can see how they’ve done compared to the high scores.
Guests Join Disney-Pixar Characters in Wild “Block Party Bash”
Disney’s Hollywood Studios fun is nonstop with “Block Party Bash,” a new traveling show featuring favorite Disney-Pixar characters, performing daily. The high-energy extravaganza cranks up the music and excitement to the max, putting guests in the middle of the wildest Disney spectacle ever — a musical block party that doubles as a fun-filled interactive street spectacular, enticing guests to dance, play and party. The “block party” transforms into major choreographed sections starring characters including Woody and Buzz from “Toy Story,” Mike and Sully from “Monsters, Inc.” and Flik and Atta from “A Bug’s Life.”
Interactive Fun: Curtain Up on “Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage!”
Stars from “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” “Handy Manny,” “Little Einsteins” and more entertain Walt Disney World guests with animated graphics, music and songs in a new interactive, fun stage show, “Playhouse Disney–Live on Stage!” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. An onstage host leads the audience in a variety of dance and sing-along activities, encouraging little ones to join in the fun. The stars of the entertaining new show are characters from the Disney Channel’s hit Playhouse Disney programming block geared to preschoolers. “Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage!” is performed several times daily.
Disney Diners Catch The Wave
This summer, The Wave debuts at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Located on the first floor with a “superlounge,” the upscale restaurant will offer “bold American cooking with flavors from all over the world.” The seasonal menu will feature local and regional products when possible, organic beers and trendy cocktails such as the “antioxidant cosmo” with açai juice. The innovative wine list has a quirky claim to fame — all screw caps, no corks. Cutting-edge wines from around the globe will be showcased.
Disney Indoor Sports Events Double with Opening of Jostens Center
The all-new Jostens Center represents the latest expansion project at the 220-acre Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex, which is widely regarded as the leading sports venue for amateur and professional sports in the nation. The new multi-sport fieldhouse will include 45,000 square feet of competition space that will accommodate basketball, volleyball, wrestling, martial arts, gymnastics, cheerleading and dance, team handball, roller hockey and more, as well as locker rooms and meeting rooms. With the opening of the new facility in summer 2008, Disney has the ability to double the number of indoor sports events that it can accommodate.
More Disney World Summer 2008 Events
Star Wars Weekends returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from June 6-29, 2008.
Pirates and Princesses Invade Magic Kingdom this Summer With After-Hours Party Fit for All May 26, 31 and June 4.
Information and tickets are available online at disneyworld.com
