WDW Daily News

The wait is over! Guests can finally experience Soarin’ Around the World, the newly reimagined attraction that whisks them on a journey above more than a dozen wondrous international destinations around the world.

The attraction is now open at three Disney Parks: Epcot® at Walt Disney World® Resort; Disney California Adventure® Park at the Disneyland® Resort; and at Shanghai Disneyland (where the attraction goes by the name Soarin’ Over the Horizon).

Soarin’ Around the World elevates Guests up to 40 feet into an 80-foot projection screen dome that fill’s a Guest’s entire field of vision that gives them the sense of flight. During their journey, guests can expect to spy jaw-dropping natural and man-made landmarks like the Great Wall of China, Sydney Harbor in Australia, and the Matterhorn in Switzerland. Not only that, but they may find that their other senses are engaged, feeling, smelling and hearing the new world around them.

In addition to the new attraction experience, the attraction at Epcot also added a third theater and reimagined its queue to feature a new game called “Soarin’ Challenge” that guests can play via smartphone while they wait. This complimentary travel trivia game allows Guests to join hundreds of other players to answer questions on geography, cuisine, languages and more. Guests can also unlock passport stamps for their digital collection and aim to up their personal score on the leaderboard. And, if guests don’t have a mobile device, they can look to one of the in-queue displays to participate.

On Thursday, Disney opened its sixth theme park location worldwide, in Shanghai, China. The park and resort cost about $5.5 billion to build and span an area more than 11 times the size of the original Disneyland, in Anaheim, Calif.

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Thirteen years is a long time to wait for a sequel, but that wait is finally over for fans of “Finding Nemo.” The latest release from Pixar Animation Studios, “Finding Dory,” may have been a long time coming, but that doesn’t mean that Nemo and friends have been out of the public eye all these years. Disney’s Parks and Resorts, for example, have continued these characters’ stories in a number of different ways.

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In recent weeks, two politicians invoked the Disney name when discussing the drudgery of waiting in long lines.

First in the queue was former Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey, who suggested two weeks ago that Disney, not the Transportation Security Administration, should manage airport security lines, because “nobody runs lines better than Disney.”

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Disney World’s Animal Kingdom turned 18 last month, but that’s not the only reason why the theme park giant should be thinking about adding a fresh theme park in Florida.

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When Walt Disney opened his famed Anaheim park in 1955, he turned to corporate sponsors to keep construction and operation costs under budget.

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At Disneyland® Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, guests can watch as younglings test their skills against the dark side during Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple. In this theme park offering, which takes place multiple times each day, Jedi Knights identify Force-sensitive children from throughout the galaxy and bring them to an ancient Jedi Temple to train in the ways of the Force. Under the guidance of a Jedi, these eager younglings learn how to use the Force and wield lightsabers, and are soon put to the test, coming face-to-face with Darth Vader or the Seventh Sister Inquisitor from the Disney XD series Star Wars Rebels!

If guests have a youngling of their own participating, this is an experience they’ll want to remember for a long time. That’s why a Disney PhotoPass Photographer is present at every show to capture the experience. Photos from the experience can be included in the purchase of a Memory Maker package at Walt Disney World® Resort or a Disney PhotoPass+ One Day package at the Disneyland® Resort.

Disney PhotoPass Service and Disney PhotoPass+ are subject to the Disney PhotoPass and Disney PhotoPass+ terms.Memory Maker is subject to the Memory Maker Terms and Conditions. Memory Maker includes photos taken during the applicable Memory Maker window. A MagicBand is required to receive certain attraction photos and other digital content at Walt Disney World. If Memory Maker purchased at the advance purchase price, any photos taken within 3 days from the date Memory Maker is purchased will not be included and must be purchased separately. Online registration required. Disney PhotoPass Photos in your account will expire pursuant to the Disneyland PhotoPass expiration policy and the Walt Disney World PhotoPass expiration policy, as applicable. Downloads are restricted to personal use only. Not responsible for missing, lost or damaged photos. Subject to restrictions and change without notice. Valid theme park admission and sign-up process required to experience Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple.

If your spring or summer plans include a stay at Disney World, you’re likely aware that there are a ton of tips and tricks for making the most of your stay. But beyond “hidden Mickeys” and trading pins with characters, here are a few smart insider hacks from the former Disney “cast members” (a.k.a. employees) themselves.

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Our Clients can get a FREE Dining Plan when they buy a non-discounted 5-night/6-day package that includes a room at a select Walt Disney World® Resort hotel and ticket with the Park Hopper® or Water Park Fun & More Option for arrivals most nights Aug. 23-Oct. 1, 2016, Nov. 15-21, Nov. 26-28 and Dec. 10-Dec. 21, 2016 when they book by July 8, 2016.

Contact Travel Agents, Scott and Becky Donahue, of Wish Upon a Star With Us to plan and book your vacation.

The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Tickets and options must be used within 14 days of first use. Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Advance reservations required. Offer excludes campsites, 3-bedroom villas, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort—The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms and the Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. Dining plan excludes gratuities and alcoholic beverages. Children ages 3–9 must order from children’s menu, if available. Some Table-Service restaurants may have limited or no availability at time of package purchase.

Contact Travel Agents, Scott and Becky Donahue, of Wish Upon a Star With Us to plan and book your vacation.

After finishing second at the runDisney Star Wars half marathon at Disneyland Resort last year, Jason Ryf summoned even more of The Force on Sunday to win the inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon – The Dark Side at Walt Disney World Resort.

Ryf, 45, from Oshkosh, Wisconsin won the 13.1-mile race through Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 1:13:39. Marc Burget of Jacksonville, Florida was second (1:14:38) and Chris Trebilcock of Tampa, Florida was third (1:15:27).

Katie McGrath was the first female runner to cross the finish line, covering the course in 1:24:05. Elizabeth Meadows-Harland of Nashville, Tennessee was second (1:26:36) and Kim Hunger of Antelope, California, was third (1:28:36).

For Ryf, conquering the race from a galaxy far, far away held a lot of sentimental value. Ryf said he grew up watching the Star Wars saga and is a real fan of the franchise. He finished second at the inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon at Disneyland Resort in 2015 with a time of 1:10:56. His time Sunday was a tad slower, yet he managed to land in the winner’s circle.

“I love Star Wars. I saw the original movies in the theaters. Ever since I was a kid, Star Wars has just been awesome,’’ Ryf said. “So coming here and winning is pretty good. Being able to celebrate Disney and Star Wars and the race all together is a pretty nice time.’’

The race was the newest addition to the runDisney series which involves nine races at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort and, for the first time later this year, Disneyland Paris. The next runDisney race weekend is the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend presented by PANDORA Jewelry (May 5-8) at Disneyland Resort.

The Star Wars Half Marathon – The Dark Side involved several family-friendly events, including a Health and Fitness Expo with the latest in fitness apparel, running gear and high tech gadgets, the Star Wars 5K, the Star Wars 10K and the Dark Side Challenge, which involved running the 10K and the half marathon on consecutive days. There were also Star Wars characters along the course and opportunities for runners to pose with them before and after the races.