Disney says it generates $18.2 billion annual ripple effect in Florida

Walt Disney World and its related businesses in Florida generate an estimated $18.2 billion a year in economic activity and are responsible for more than one of every 50 jobs in the state, according to an impact study paid for by the giant resort.

The report, released Wednesday, found that Disney's theme-park operations in the state — which include Disney World, Disney Cruise Line and its Disney Vacation Club time-share business — account for 2.5 percent of Florida's cumulative gross domestic product.

"It was 40 years ago, in the fall of 1971, that we opened the gates of Walt Disney World. And we've been growing ever since," Disney World President Meg Crofton said at a Disney-organized breakfast in the Orlando Museum of Art to present the results to local government, business and civic leaders.

The eye-popping numbers stem from a report prepared by Arduin, Laffer & Moore, a Republican consulting firm whose partners include a budget director to former Gov. Jeb Bush, an economic adviser to former President Ronald Reagan, and the founder of the conservative Club for Growth political group. The firm examined data from Disney's 2009 fiscal year, which ended Oct. 3, 2009.

Disney released a two-page summary of its findings. The company would not release the full report because, it said, the report includes proprietary financial information.

The researchers found that Disney paid out nearly $1.8 billion in compensation to more than 59,000 workers in 2009. That equates to an average annual salary of approximately $30,508.

Disney said the researchers did not determine the median — or midpoint — salary for its workers. The average salary can be distorted by a small number of exceptionally high or low earners; Disney's senior-most executives in Florida are paid annual bonuses that in some cases have exceeded $1 million in a single year.

In addition to the wages paid, Disney purchased $2.3 billion worth of goods and services during the year, according the report, including an estimated $900 million from vendors in Florida. And third-party businesses operating on Disney property generated almost $600 million in sales, while vacationers to Disney spent another $1.7 billion at off-site businesses.

In all, that amounted to a cumulative direct economic impact of $6.3 billion. When researchers used computer models to include additional, "indirect and induced" impacts from Disney's operations, they said the total economic effect swelled to $18.2 billion and approximately 161,000 jobs.

For as big as Disney's presence has become in Florida since opening the Magic Kingdom four decades ago, the look of the company's growth has changed dramatically in recent years.

The company hasn't built a new theme park in Orlando since 1998, when it opened Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney World's fourth park. It has in recent years focused instead on wringing more revenue from its existing assets — capturing more of its guests' total vacation spending and luring new travelers to its parks — and moving into new businesses, such as cruises.

Disney executives say there is still ample room to grow through those strategies.

"I can tell you, it will still be significant, the potential future impacts," Al Weiss, the president of global operations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said in an interview after the presentation.

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http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-economic-impact-20110413,0,7480432.story

Walt Disney World's Fantasyland gets a massive facelift

In a new retooling of a major expansion project announced last fall and expected to open in phases starting in late 2012, the Fantasyland section of Walt Disney World 's Magic Kingdom will add an indoor roller coaster and scuttle a proposed fairy-themed "Pixie Hollow" greeting area.

The moves are part of what Disney expert Jim Hill calls "more boy-friendly plans" by the Orlando theme park. which has gotten some amped-up competition from Universal Orlando's new Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

The Magic Kingdom revamp will double the size of Fantasyland by its completion in 2013. According to the Orlando Sentinel, the moderately intense "Seven Dwarfs Mine Train" attraction (shown above) will feature music from the animated classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and a first-of-its-kind ride system in which vehicles swing back and forth along a twisting track.

"Disney will scrap a pair of elaborately themed areas where guests could dance with Cinderella or celebrate a birthday party with Sleeping Beauty's Aurora. Instead, the two characters will be given a new home together — along with some of the company's other animated heroines — in a new set dubbed 'Princess Fairytale Hall.' The meet-and-greet area will replace an original Disney World attraction, 'Snow White's Scary Adventure,'" the paper says.

Among the features remaining from the original expansion plans: A Beauty and the Beast -themed restaurant, the dueling Dumbo flying elephants ride and "Under the Sea — Journey of the Little Mermaid," an indoor ride with animatronics identical to an attraction being built at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, Calif.

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http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/dispatches/post/2011/01/walt-disney-worlds-fantasyland-gets-a-massive-facelift/139129/1

New look for Cinderella Castle

After nearly 40 years as one of central Florida's most recognizable icons, Cinderella Castle, is set to get a makeover on select nights. The new "The Magic, Memories and You,” is the name of what Disney is calling a “dramatic new projection show” starring park guests.

On average, 500 photographs taken during the day by Disney Photo Pass Photographers are set to end up on the towers, spires and face of Cinderella Castle each evening. Disney cast members will select the photos just hours before the nightly program. A computer will then “populate” them into the after dark production.

“It actually took a couple of nights to align all the of the projectors and then literally map every nook and cranny on the castle,”Alan Bruun, associate creative director for Walt Disney Entertainment told CFNews13.com. Alan explained this helped allow designers to make the images appear to be three denominational.

“There is only one area that we made flat,” Bruun explained. The area just above the main entrance to the castle has a screen that drops down just before show time. “That is what we call the 'sweet spot,” Bruun said. “That is where we run a lot of the video.”

The photographs and video segments are splashed across the face of the castle by 16 different projectors, each located on rooftops around Cinderella Castle. Two sets of projectors are hidden from guest view along the buildings on Main Street USA. Another set of projectors are pointed toward the castle from Frontierland and Tommorrowland.

The story of the show unfolds as guests are prepping for their vacation at home, and then culminates with a traditional Magic Kingdom fireworks show.

A new score called “Let the memories begin,” was composed for the new castle show. A dozen other Disney songs are woven in. With the story and music set first, Bruun said then animators and designers then began the chore of creating the visual concepts of the program through storyboards.

The show is expected to run for two years in Orlando and at Disneyland in California. Bruun also spearheaded the show on the west coast for the original Disney theme park. The main difference between the two shows are the canvas. In Disneyland, the iconic facade of the outdoor “it's a small world” attraction will host “The Magic, Memories and You,” rather than Sleeping Beauty Castle.

“We hope it becomes a lasting memory of all of our guests,” Bruun concluded.

Guests remembering their vacations or feeling “homesick” for Central Florida may add their own photos, videos and stories after their vacation by visiting DisneyParks.com/memories and those of you who wish to have such memories could seriously take a look at some of the Florida luxury villas in central Florida area

Disney Florida Resident Ticket Price Increasing, Too

According to the OC Register, that the price of the annual California “winter deal” ticket is increasing significantly – but with the price, guests enjoy additional flexibility. This afternoon, word is coming in that the Florida resident ticket comparable to the West Coast deal is also increasing.

The 2011 iteration of the deal – the “4 Day Wild 4 Disney” ticket – is now on sale for $119. The same deal in 2010, then called the “Play 4 Days” ticket, was $99. The pass is good for four days of single park admission between January 2 and May 22 (with blackouts around the Easter holiday.) There are no other restrictions on the ticket; guests can choose to go to all four parks, the same park four times, or any combination in between.

Guests can add a “park hopper” feature to the ticket, which enables them to hop from one park to another on the same day, for an additional $27. Likewise, admission to the water parks can be added on for the same amount. The cost of the child’s ticket is the same as adult ticket.

While the price hike is significant, Walt Disney World is still charging less for the pass than they did in 2008, before the global economy – and Orlando tourism – went soft.

Disney price increase does raise a few eyebrows but you can save enough to go to Disney world by holidaying in one of the discounted Florida luxury villas

To learn more about the deal, vist DisneyWorld.com and look for “Florida Resident Discounts.”

Chilean Miners Going to Disney World

The 33 Chilean miners who spent more than two months trapped underground in a Chilean mine are getting a free trip to Walt Disney World in the southeastern U.S. city of Orlando, Florida.

The miners and their families will spend a week at the resort, courtesy of Disney head Bob Iger. Their trip will place at the end of January. It includes not only lodging and admission to the popular resort, but also spending money.

Iger said the Disney Company is proud to welcome "these courageous men" and their families to Disney World.

The miners, who became trapped in early August, were rescued in October. Their ordeal captivated people all over the world, and their rescue was shown live on worldwide TV.

So join these heroes and make your trip to Disneyland to kick start an awesome year booking your orlando vacation villa soon