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ATLANTA BRAVES’ 20TH ANNUAL SPRING TRAINING SCHEDULE AT WALT DISNEY WORLD ANNOUNCED

For the 20th straight season, the Atlanta Braves will hold spring training at  ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex  at Walt Disney World® Resort.

The spring schedule once again includes some matchups against Major League Baseball’s marquee teams, including four opponents – the Toronto Blue Jays (Feb 25), the American League East champion Boston Red Sox (March 3), the Baltimore Orioles (March 28) and the New York Mets (March 10, 25 and 29) – who each reached the post-season earlier this year.

On top of that, the New York Yankees (March 9) are on the 18-game home schedule along with the Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals, Miami Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles.

The Braves players begin arriving at Walt Disney World Resort in mid-February and then open up the spring season here against the Blue Jays on Feb. 25. Tickets go on sale on Dec. 12 at braves.com/springtraining, as well as through Ticketmaster outlets (800-745-3000) and at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Box Office.

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NEW AMENITIES COMING SOON TO DISNEY’S WILDERNESS LODGE

The Disney Vacation Club accommodations previously known as The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge now have a new name – Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. This new name more accurately reflects the railroad theming of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and complements the storyline of the resort.

And more changes are ahead at this Walt Disney World® Resort hotel, including a re-imagination of the former Hidden Springs Pool area that will help tell the backstory of Boulder Ridge. Scheduled to open in summer 2017, Boulder Ridge Cove will feature an expanded sun deck and zero-depth-entry pool in what appears to have been an abandoned rock quarry.

Beyond the new pool space, scheduled enhancements to the resort include a brand-new bar & grill, in addition to a quick-service restaurant. Geyser Point Bar & Grill will be located in the heart of the feature pool area of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, where guests can grab a bite to eat as they lounge by the resort’s main pool.

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‘Inner Workings’: 15 Things You Should Know About Disney’s New Animated Short for ‘Moana’

From first-time director Leo Matsuda (story artist for Big Hero 6, Wreck-It Ralph) and producer Sean Lurie, the approximately six-minute long short film Inner Workings (in theaters now and running before Moana) is the story of the internal struggle between the brain and the heart.

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Disney’s The BFG on Digital HD, Blu-ray and Disney Movies Anywhere November 29

Disney and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Walden Media, present the fantasy adventure film “The BFG,” the first-ever motion picture adaptation of Roald Dahl’s resonant tale of childhood, the magic of dreams and the extraordinary friendship between a young girl and a big friendly giant. Directed by three-time Academy Award® winner Steven Spielberg, the film reunites the director with his Oscar®-nominated collaborator on “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” Melissa Mathison, who adapted the children’s author’s timeless adventure for the big screen. This magical tale of an extraordinary friendship loaded with exciting extras will brighten the holidays for the whole family! “The BFG” comes to Digital HD, Blu-ray™ and Disney Movies Anywhere November 29.
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PREFERRED RESERVATION ACCESS FOR DISNEYLAND RESORT HOTEL GUESTS

If guests are staying at a Disneyland® Resort hotel, they can enjoy access to a limited number of reservations for select dining venues and for makeover transformations at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and Anna & Elsa’s Boutique. Reservations can be made by calling Disney Dining at 714-781-DINE (3463) no more than 60 days and no fewer than 2 days in advance of their stay.

Participating Restaurants include:

  • Ariel’s Grotto
  • Blue Bayou
  • Carthay Circle Restaurant
  • Catal Restaurant
  • ESPN Zone
  • Goofy’s Kitchen
  • La Brea Bakery Cafe
  • Napa Rose
  • Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria
  • Plaza Inn
  • Rainforest Cafe
  • Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen
  • Tortilla Jo’s

Participating Boutiques include:

  • Anna & Elsa’s Boutique
  • Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at the Disneyland Resort

Preferred access reservations are limited and subject to availability. Dates, times and locations of the reservations are not guaranteed. Valid Disneyland Resort hotel reservation in Guest’s name is required for Guest to make preferred access dining and boutique reservations, and such reservations may only be made for the dates of the Guest’s hotel stay. Multiple reservations for the same date and time period are not allowed. A credit card is required at the time of booking; cancellations policies and fees apply. Reservations may not be transferred. May not be booked online. Separate Theme Park admission may be required. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.

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TIANA’S RIVERBOAT PARTY ICE CREAM SOCIAL & PARADE VIEWING LAUNCHES AT MAGIC KINGDOM PARK NOV. 29

“Tiana’s Riverboat Party Ice Cream Social & Parade Viewing” will make its debut launch on the Liberty Belle Riverboat at Magic Kingdom® Park on Nov. 29, 2016. The fun starts at the boat dock, where guests can enjoy hand-dipped ice cream and soft drinks while they visit with Princess Tiana and Naveen.

Guests will then board the riverboat to enjoy an incredible birds-eye-view parade viewing for the park’s “Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade” and a cruise around Tom Sawyer’s Island. Princess Tiana and Naveen will join the group on the Liberty Belle Riverboat after the parade concludes for photos. Please note during the holiday period Dec. 23-31, 2016, Guests will view the “Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade” instead.

This offering is part of the new Enchanting Extras collection, which offers guests a variety of options to enhance their Walt Disney World® Resort vacations.

Tiana’s Riverboat Party Ice Cream Social & Parade Viewing is available for $49 per adult and $29 per child age 9 and under (includes tax). Reservations can be made now by calling 407-WDW-DINE. As usual, entertainment is subject to change without notice.

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What I’m Thankful For – Disney Edition by Scott Donahue

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I wanted to focus on something beyond what we all are most thankful for, such as a healthy and safe family, a good job, etc…

I wanted to write about things that I am thankful for, Disney style. Disney has created so many wonderful memories for my family I thought it would be fun to create a list. After reading my list I would like to hear your thoughts via Twitter.

I am thankful for….

  • Walt Disney having the vision to create a place where families could have fun together in a safe environment
  • The Walt Disney Co. continuously expanding and improving their parks, resorts, and service
  • Being able to travel to Walt Disney World several times a year to get a different experience each time
  • Having a wife and kids who love Disney as much as I do
  • Minnie Mouse opening up her arms to greet my youngest daughter on a pathway at Animal Kingdom and giving her a HUGE hug, which is something she still remembers to this day
  • The look of amazement the first time my daughters stepped foot into Magic Kingdom
  • The look of joy the first time my daughters meet a Princess
  • The look of bewilderment on my face when Belle picked me to play Beast at “Storytime with Belle”
  • The ability to have two sets of grandparents who “get” what Disney is about and love to vacation with us
  • Being able to help others maximize their time during their Walt Disney World vacations
  • Being able to see my daughters reaction when she finally reached the magical 48” height mark
  • Blizzard Beach’s Summit Plummet helping me overcome my fear of heights
  • Disney Vacation Club allowing our family to have accommodations that we otherwise might not be able to afford
  • The smell of the Pop Century lobby after a 20 hour drive
  • Entering my resort room, turning on the TV, and hearing the sounds of Walt Disney World Today Channel
  • The time we were able to experience riding in the front of the monorail
  • My youngest daughter, who has Polycystic Kidney Disease, to be healthy enough to ride most attractions that she wants to
  • Being able to “scream like a little girl” on Expedition Everest and fitting right in with everyone else
  • Not looking like a fool wearing a crazy Disney hat around the parks
  • Having a place where I can make a wish and truly believe it will come true
    Imagineers always wanting to “plus” an attraction
  • Being old enough that my teenage daughter has just been accepted into the Disney College Program
  • Being fortunate enough to start planning another Disney trip
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‘Moana’ has some of Disney’s best music ever

Don’t call it a princess movie: Disney’s latest may feature a girl with royal lineage, but she’s more into boats than ball gowns in this crowd-pleaser of a musical, scored by the ever-more-versatile Lin-Manuel Miranda.

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With Moana, Disney’s third golden age gets its Aladdin

You’ll hear a lot over the next few days about how much Moana, Disney’s new South Seas–set musical adventure, resembles the company’s classic The Little Mermaid. There’s the nautical theme, of course, and the singing crab, and the heroine with an intimate connection to the sea.

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FLAVORS OF NEW ORLEANS NOW AVAILABLE AT SASSAGOULA FLOATWORKS AND FOOD FACTORY AT DISNEY’S PORT ORLEANS RESORT

Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory, located at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort at Walt Disney World® Resort, recently reopened after being reimagined. And now, this hidden gem features even more flavors inspired by New Orleans, including jambalya, po’ boys, gumbo and more.

Home-style favorites such as create-your-own pasta, salads and pizza are still available for lunch and dinner, in addition to new flavors inspired by New Orleans. Specialty burgers include a Cajun King Burger with Andouille sausage, Cheddar Cheese and Creole mustard aioli and a Crawfish Mac & Cheese Burger. Guests can also enjoy Jambalaya or a create-your-own rice bowl with pulled pork, catfish or shrimp, red or black beans, and Cajun, dirty or white rice.

New breakfast items have also been added to the menu, and include Crispy-Fried Chicken on a Biscuit with maple-bacon jam, Molasses-Cream Cheese Cinnamon Roll and a Jumbo Sweet Potato Belgian Waffle topped with toasted pecans, whipped cream and apple-cranberry compote.

And, signature made-to-order beignets are now available with new dipping sauces, including raspberry, caramel and chicory-coffee ganache. Of course, no visit to “The Big Easy” would be complete without a Louisiana-style King Cake, perfect for celebrating Mardi Gras anytime.

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