Disney World Opens - Life Magazine, October 1971

Contrary to popular belief, Disney World (later to be known as the Magic Kingdom) wasn’t actually the first Disney theme park to open, with Disneyland in California opening in 1955.

However due to the limitations in terms of the quantity of land available for development, Walt Disney soon found that original theme park had out grown the site and need a bigger area in which to fully realise all of his ideas. So he set his sights on Florida.

“Here in Florida, we have something special we never enjoyed at Disneyland… the blessing of size. There’s enough land here to hold all the ideas and plans we can possibly imagine.” – Walt Disney, 1965.

Sadly, Walt Disney never saw the opening of Disney World as he died in 1966, just 5 years before completion. His brother Roy Disney took over the project, and named the theme park Walt Disney World in memory of his brother.

Initially after the grand opening of Disney World in Florida, visitor numbers were few and far between, with many believing that the project was doomed to be a failure. However towards the end of the month came the Thanksgiving holiday. So many visitors tried to enter Disney World it that weekend that the park temporarily had to close its doors as it was unable to cope with the number of people!

Walt Disney World continued to grow, and quickly! The Epcot Center was built in 1982, Disney’s Hollywood Studios were added in 1989 and The Animal Kindom was opened in 1998.

Aside from theme parks, Disney World now also includes golf courses, hotels, restaurants and water parks. Disney World is like it’s own state within the US!

Happy Birthday Walt Disney World. Here’s to another wonderful 40 years entertaining people from all over the World!

For over 2,000 years, apparitions of the Virgin Mary and Jesus have reportedly appeared before thousands of people, usually in visions of bright light and accompanied by a profound message. Out of all of these recorded visions, the Roman Catholic Church and the Vatican have only sanctioned three of them.

However, recently the state of Florida has had a flurry of holy visions… in toast!

Holy Toast One

If you squint hard, in this slice of toast you can just about see the image of Jesus:

Holy Toast Two

To some people, this piece of toast resembles an image of the Virgin Mary:

Holy Toast Three

And if you look really carefully at this one, you can just about make out a cat’s face:

Star Tours 3D - Hollywood Studios

The new ride, Star Tours 3D, replaces the old Star Tours ride that closed in September 2010.

Star Tours 3D boasts cutting edge cinematic three dimensional special effects and motion simulator-based technology, along with 52 different ride scenarios and storylines that are run at random, meaning you get a different experience each time you ride!

“Whether it’s a battle with Darth Vader and his legion of stormtroopers or a plea from Princess Leia to help her save the Rebellion, guests will find themselves in the middle of the action – literally – in the 3-D, multi-sensory attraction” said a Disney World spokesperson.

Star Tours 3D - Opening Ceremony Stage Show

Many names and faces made famous through the Star Wars films took to the stage, including the creator of Star Wars, George Lucas himself.

See videos of the opening ceremony and in-ride footage below!

Ride Specifications:

Attraction Experience Time:
Approximately 7 minutes (including boarding at Starspeeder gate).
Actual show is approximately 4.5 minutes.

Height Requirement:
40 inches (102 cm) or taller

Attraction Designers, Writers and Creators:
Walt Disney Imagineering, working with Lucasfilm Ltd. and Industrial Light & Magic.

Some famous Star Wars film characters guests can encounter
(depending on which storyline they experience):
R2-D2
C-3PO
Darth Vader
Boba Fett
Yoda
Sebulba
Admiral Ackbar
Chewbacca
Jar Jar Binks
Princess Leia

Some famous Star Wars film planets and destinations guests can encounter
(depending on which storyline they experience):
Kashyyyk
Hoth
Naboo
Coruscant
Tatooine
The Death Star (above the planet Geonosis)

Video of the Opening Ceremony of Star Tours 3D

Full Walk-Through and On-Ride Footage

2010 Teaser Trailer

It was a sad day yesterday in Florida, as the Magic Kingdom waved goodbye to Mickey’s Toontown Fair at Disney World.

Where I hear you say? Well yes, poor old Mickey’s Toontown Fair was not one of the most popular lands at the Magic Kingdom, however it was great for the smaller kids amongst us. Toontown Fair was home to one of the best places to meet-and-greet all of the characters as well as having Mickey and Minnie’s Houses here for you to explore.

Mickey’s Toontown far is to close due to the expansion of the Fantasyland project.

History Of Mickey’s Toontown Fair

Mickey’s Toontown Fair was opened back in 1988 under its original name of Mickey’s Birthdayland to celebrate Mickey Mouse’s 60th birthday. In 1990 the land was renamed Mickey’s Starland up until 1996 when it received its final name of Mickey’s Toontown Fair.

So What’s Next?

Many families with young children will miss Mickey’s Toontown Fair for many reasons, none more so than its breath of fresh air from the rollercoasters and the fast pace of the other lands in the Magic Kingdom.

However, planners of the expanded Fantasyland have said that they are to be retaining all of the attractions for younger children that were present in the old Toontown, while introducing more rides and shops to cater for the older generations. So all is not lost!

The expanded Fantasyland is due to open 2013/14.

A woman is taking Disney to court over claims that Donald Duck groped her boobs at Disney World’s Epcot theme park in Florida.

A judge in Philadelphia said that Disney must defend Ms April Magolon’s accusations of post-traumatic stress, caused by the Donald Duck character in May 2008.

The 27-year-old woman from Philadelphia claims that she was holding her child at the Walt Disney World theme park in Florida when a staff member dressed as Donald Duck grabbed her breast and then joked about it.

Ms Magolon says that the shocking encounter left her with nightmares, digestive problems and other permanent injuries.

She also claims that Disney theme parks have a history of fondling complaints.

The defence say Ms Magolon sued the wrong Disney corporate entity, and asked the judge to dismiss the case or move it to a court in Florida.

However the judge refused, saying Ms Magolon can proceed with the case in Pennsylvania.

Good luck Donald. Let’s hope you duck the charges!

Businesses often launch deals with huge discounts or give away something for free to boost their sales, but Nick Ginetta, the owner of a car dealership in Florida, has come up with a crazy idea which has generated worldwide press interest;

He’s giving away a free AK-47 assault rifle to anyone who buys a truck from his dealership!

Mr Ginetta launched the Florida based AK-47 gun promotion in recognition of “Veterans Day” last week and since than he has seen his business sales triple. The increase in truck sales has not only come from the US, but from all over the world including France and the UK.

Nick Ginetta says that he launched the promotion to create a “buzz” for his business but he was not expecting this overwhelming response. He says that all the international customers unfortunately can’t get the AK-47 gun as they have to pass a Florida state and federal process, of which only American citizens can, so he is instead giving them a $400 discount…which is worth the amount of the rifle.

A young mother in the UK was stunned to find her two children watching porn on what she thought was a Disney video. Kirsty Carey had apparently popped The Little Mermaid on for Millie, aged 5, and Kaiden, aged 3, while she nipped to the loo.

“When I came back, I glanced at the TV and there was a man performing a sex act on a woman”, said Ms Carey.

She bought the video from a British Heart Foundation charity shop in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. The shop is investigating the incident.

In the northern Florida town of Madison, lies a magical place where cats roam free in a huge kitty-cat village. All 660 cats can visit a kitty Wal-Mart or attend the cat church. There are communal scratching posts and climbing places all over the place for all to enjoy. It reall is a paradise for pussies, and it’s all thanks to just one man who set out to give homeless cats a permanent place to live.

Caboodle Ranch, is a massive 30-acre cat sanctuary run by Craig Grant. Grant’s fascination with cats begin when his son lefgt home and left his pet cat. When he found out the cat was pregnant, his first instinct was to give the kittens away, but one thing lead to another and Grant ended up buying the Tree Farm in North Florida and transformed it into a luxury cat sanctuary.

Today, Caboodle Ranch has over 600 cats, all of them adopted, and none of them are wanting to leave anytime soon. Craig intends to care for the cats for the rest of their lives.

Despite some ecological concerns (excess waste, a negative impact on wild bird populations, etc), Craig has the approval of the Tallahassee Humane Society and the Tallahassee/Madison County Animal Control. He’s now looking for donors and volunteers to help him on his mission. Each cat costs about £350 ($550) a year to feed, shelter and care for. And yes, all the cats are spayed, neutered and up to date on their shots!

Watch feeding time at Caboodle Ranch:

Shopping time: Cats call in to Walmart

Polls Open: Cats arrive at the City Hall to vote

Some of the most amazing stunts and tricks ever caught on camera. People really are amazing! There are so many unbelievable stunts in this video I don’t know which one is my favourite! Absolutely mind-blowing…

[Stars Rich Shaw from Florida.]

Leave a comment below…which is your favourite??

Last night, in the early hours of the morning, Jose Roca heard a knock on the door of their Florida villa. When he answered, he was found a hungry seven foot alligator on his front porch.

Mr Roca was in bed when he heard banging coming from outside his Tampa, Florida villa and came face to face with the gator whose amazing capture was caught on camera.

Watch the full video at the end of this post.

When Mr Roca looked through the window before opening the door he was astounded to see the alligator sitting outside, waiting for the door to be opened.

He said: ‘I thought it was a burglar or something. Something was going on. I just wake up and look at the gator’.

Seven foot alligator on the front porch of a Florida villa

Mr Roca’s wife, Jenny, called 911 at 4.21am to get authorities to remove the large reptile. ‘I’m not sure if it’s an emergency but I have an alligator right in front on my house’, Jenny told the operator.

I hear somebody that is touching the door and everything, and when I just went out, I saw an alligator right in front on my house.’

When the Florida police arrived they were greeted by the gator that measured 6 feet, 7 inches, sheriff’s spokeswoman Vida Morgan said.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued a permit for a trapper to catch the alligator that is native to the Florida area.

Footage showing an ‘Alligator Dundee’ capturing the reptile shows the trapper working on his strategy on how best to safely trap the gator.

The trapper slowly approaches the alligator with a noose attached to a long pole as the gator loudly hisses.

As the trapper tried to lassoo the Alligator it hissed and jumped at him

But as he gets closer the gator senses danger and fiercely snaps back to ward off being captured.

As the trapper slowly puts the noose around the gator’s neck, the reptile is calm but once the noose snaps shut the gator viciously wriggled to try and free itself from the tight noose around its mouth.

It continued to flip back and forth, swinging its tail and performing the death roll – but it was all in vain as the trapper gains control and kneels down on the gator.

Grabbing the alligator’s mouth, he then sealed it shut with black tape and tied its hands behind its back.

The trapper said it was unusual to see an alligator out in the autumn months as he usually gets calls about gators during the spring; the mating season. He said the gator might have been targeting the family’s dogs.

A Commission spokesman said the alligator would be put to sleep and confirmed that when a gator which is 4 feet or larger is trapped, they ‘get harvested’ for their meat and hide.

Alligators are apparently only native to the United States and China. The majority of gators inhabit Florida and Louisiana, with over a million of the reptiles in each state.

However, there are many alligator farms in places like Australia and Cambodia that breed the animals for their meat and skin that is used to make items such as shoes and bags.

Alligator meat has long been a part of Southern cooking, especially Cajun cuisine, and is also used in some Asian and African dishes.

Chinese medicine considers alligator meat to be a curative food for colds and cancer prevention although this has not been scientifically verified.