WDW Daily News

Take a look at construction of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.  The attraction is set to open in Spring 2014.

This past week Cinderella Castle has been getting some touch ups to make it shine for the spring and summer months.

Take a look at the latest construction photos from the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Attraction area at Magic Kingdom.  The ride is set to open in Spring 2014.

FamilyFun magazine announced today the winners of the 2014 FamilyFun Travel Awards, an annual search for the best kid-friendly locations and vacation spots as chosen by real families from across the country. For the second year in a row, U.S. family travel destinations were ranked in a variety of categories, including kid-friendly cities, zoos and aquariums, and theme parks. All of the winners will be featured in the April issue of FamilyFun, including the top 12 overall winners, which represent the highest-scoring destinations from each category.

“This year’s travel award winners offer worlds of discovery and adventure for families across the map,” said Ann Hallock, Editor-in-chief, FamilyFun magazine. “Family vacations are all about having fun, and while many of the families in our survey seek that out through attractions like theme parks and zoos, it’s clear that families are also looking for learning and outdoor experiences.”

Orlando, Florida, swept this year’s family travel destinations, with Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and the City of Orlando taking the top three overall spots. The Strong Museum, located in Rochester, New York, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial, in South Dakota, round out the top five Travel Awards winners of 2014. Museums, historic sites, and national parks and preserves also had a strong presence in the awards, with the top five in each category listed below:

Top 5 Family Museums

1. The Strong Museum (NY)
2. Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago (IL)
3. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis (IN)
4. American Museum of Natural History (NY)
5. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (DC)

Top 5 Historic Sites

1. Mount Rushmore National Memorial (SD)
2. National Mall and Memorial Parks (DC)
3. The White House (DC)
4. Lincoln Home National Historic Site (IL)
5. World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument (includes Pearl Harbor Visitors’ Center and 8 other sites in 3 states) (HI, AK, CA)

Top 5 National Parks and Preserves

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (NC, TN)
2. Yellowstone National Park (WY, MT, ID)
3. Mammoth Cave National Park (KY)
4. Yosemite National Park (CA)
5. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (MN)

Additional categories include kid-friendly cities, zoos and aquariums, and theme parks. To view the full list of FamilyFun Travel Awards winners for 2014, check out the April issue of FamilyFun magazine in print or on the iPad, or visit familyfunmag.com.

To learn more about FamilyFun, visit facebook.com/familyfun, pinterest.com/familyfunmag, or follow @FamilyFun on Twitter.

Take a look at the latest construction photos from the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Attraction area at Magic Kingdom.  The ride is set to open in Spring 2014.

Here is a list of the 2014 performers:

September 5, 2014

• Hillsong United
• Chris Tomlin
• Matthew West
• for KING & COUNTRY
• Mandisa
• Building 429
• Matt Maher
• The Neverclaim

For more information on tickets, please call (407) 939-7679.

September 6, 2014

• Casting Crowns
• Mercy Me
• Britt Nicole
• Israel Houghton & New Breed
• Colton Dixon
• Rhett Walker
• We As Human
• 1 Girl Nation

Parade Designer Richard Improta from Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Creative Entertainment and Tony Award-winning Production Designer Michael Curry discuss the inspiration behind this show-stopping Maleficent float in the “Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade” at Magic Kingdom Park.

This performance of “it’s a small world” comes from musician Michael Antoine from Trinidad, where his father taught him how to play the instrument.

The phrase “time flies when you’re having fun” has never been more appropriate! It’s hard to believe, but the whimsical clock in front of “it’s a small world” has now been ticking for almost 50 years. Join the anniversary celebration on smallworld50.com. Here you can record yourself singing the iconic song to share with your friends, create your own custom doll and watch Disney fans from around the globe come together to remind us all that “it’s a small world.” On April 10, 2014, the “happiest cruise that ever sailed” celebrates a half-century since it originally debuted at the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair.

To participate in the “it’s a small world” 50th Anniversary visit: http://www.smallworld50.com/en/home

Disney has released the logo for the upcoming attraction, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, at Magic Kingdom.

The attraction is slated to open in Spring 2014.