Disney's Animal Kingdom Guests Will Find 'Nemo' in Dazzling Musical Spectacular

The undersea world that charmed audiences around the world in the Disney presentation of the Pixar Animation Studios film "Finding Nemo" will come to life in an all-new musical stage show debuting at Disney's Animal Kingdom in late 2006.

Featuring original songs by Tony Award-winning "Avenue Q" composer Robert Lopez and a cappella musical "Along the Way" composer Kristen Anderson-Lopez, "Finding Nemo--The Musical" will immerse guests of all ages in the story of Marlin and Nemo, an overprotective clownfish father and his curious son, through a dazzling production that combines puppets, dancers, acrobats and animated backdrops.

Produced by Disney Creative Entertainment, the 30-minute show represents the first time Disney has taken a non-musical animated feature and transformed it into an original musical production.

The theme park's newly enclosed Theater in the Wild will become a magical undersea environment through innovative lighting, sound, special effects and the theatrical puppetry of Michael Curry, who designed the richly detailed character puppets seen in the Broadway version of Disney's "The Lion King."

Principal characters such as Marlin, Nemo and Dory will be represented by live performers operating larger-than-life puppets. Peripheral characters will be realized by a diverse array of puppetry styles, including rod, bunraku and shadow.

"Finding Nemo--The Musical" will be staged several times daily.

The Seas with Nemo & Friends Brings Familiar Characters to Life Inside Epcot Aquarium

The Seas with Nemo & Friends, a whimsical and visually stunning attraction for guests of all ages, is scheduled to open at Epcot in Fall 2006. Featuring technology that for all appearances has the stars of "Finding Nemo" swimming amid the live marine life of the huge aquarium in The Living Seas pavilion, the attraction is an adventure that picks up where the motion picture left off.

The undersea voyage begins aboard "clamobiles" in a colorful coral reef setting. Guests first meet Mr. Ray and his class on a field trip and soon learn that Nemo has wandered off.

The journey to find Nemo continues as familiar characters such as Dory, Bruce, Marlin, Squirt and Crush help with the search along the way. These deep sea friends inhabit a variety of vibrant vignettes, including the actual aquarium -- one of the world's largest saltwater aquariums -- which contains more than 65 species of marine life.

In the musical finale of the attraction, Nemo is happily reunited with his class and friends.

Upon exiting the attraction, guests can explore the rest of the pavilion, which is home to "Turtle Talk with Crush," the smash-hit recent addition featuring the movie's laid-back sea turtle, who interacts with guests in real-time, unscripted conversations; Bruce's Shark World, an interactive area with colorful graphics and fun facts about sharks; and live marine life in both the large aquarium and specialized exhibits.

Captain Jack Sparrow Joining Audio-Animatronics Crew of Pirates of the Caribbean Attraction

First the theme park attraction inspired the movie. Now the movie is inspiring the attraction.

Pirates of the Caribbean, the classic Disney theme park adventure brought to the big screen in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," is adding new characters and features from the blockbuster entertainment franchise.

The Magic Kingdom attraction closed in March to complete the updates in time for the opening of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" on July 7.

The attraction will feature the addition of two of Hollywood's most infamous buccaneers, Captain Jack Sparrow and his nemesis Barbossa. Joining the wildest crew that ever sacked the Spanish Main, the pair add an exciting new twist to the attraction's original storyline as they race to be the first to claim a cache of treasure.

A similar makeover to Pirates of the Caribbean is taking place at Disneyland in California.

Be a Princess -- or a Pirate -- with Fun New World of Disney Experiences at Downtown Disney

World of Disney in Downtown Disney Marketplace has unveiled new interactive experiences to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the largest Disney shopping destination on Earth.

In the new Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, part of the 51,000-square-foot store's new Princess Room, youngsters can be made up pretty as a princess. And in the new Adventure Room, a world of pirates and heroes beckons.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique -- "owned" by the Fairy Godmother and "operated" by Fairy Godmothers-in-Training -- offers a menu of fancy up-do's, glitter makeup and dazzling nails designed to pamper princesses ages 3 and up. The boutique operates from 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. daily (the last appointment is at 5:30 p.m.), seven days a week. Walk-ins are accepted but reservations strongly are encouraged by calling (407) WDW-STYLE (939-7895).

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is part of the store's newly refurbished Princess Room. Resembling a great hall from medieval lore, the space is dedicated to the classic fairy tale stories of Disney Princesses, Princes and their castles. Other features include an Audio-Animatronics princess who sings to guests and interactive stations where little girls can create their own tiaras and wands, fill jewelry boxes and purchase princess makeup kits.

Across the store, young adventurers can pretend to sail the high seas and hoist the Jolly Roger in the Adventure Room. Heroes and heroines can fill treasure chests and skulls with pirate plunder, create their own seafaring hat and interact with a new Audio-Animatronics pirate named Rusty Blade and his talking parrot pal, Pollyanna.

Dramatic New Interiors Coming to Guest Rooms at Two Classic Disney Resort Hotels

Guestrooms at Disney's Contemporary Resort and Disney's Polynesian Resort are receiving a dramatic new look including new décor, furniture, state-of-the-art entertainment technology, carpeting, lighting and bathroom fixtures.

At Disney's Contemporary Resort, room décor is being changed from the current style -- taken from the bold, bright colors of contemporary art masters of the 1950s and '60s -- to a more upscale, elegant design that incorporates muted color accents such as reds, greens and yellows with basic black and white.

Rooms at Disney's Polynesian Resort also are getting a new, more sophisticated look but will retain the classic South Seas style that has been the hotel's hallmark since 1971.

Both resorts will receive upgraded furniture elements such as flat-screen televisions and designer bedding. In addition to the room renovations, décor in the hallways and public areas also is being updated.

The renovation of both resorts, which began in May 2005, is scheduled to continue through the summer of 2006.

Select Guestrooms at Disney's All-Star Music Resort to be Remade into All-Star Family Suites

Families, friends or anyone just needing more "room to roam" will find it at Disney's All-Star Music Resort with the launch of new family suites beginning June 4. Nearly 400 guestrooms are being converted to 192 family suites at the value-priced resort.

Featuring two bathrooms and sleeping up to six people, each suite also will include a generously sized kitchenette with counter space, sink, microwave, coffee maker and under-counter refrigerator. Other amenities include a private "master" bedroom with its own flat-screen television, desk and lounge chair.

Construction of the new suites begins April 23; the first guests will be welcomed June 4. Completion of the rooms-to-suites makeover is set for Oct. 13.

Innovative Airport Shuttle, Luggage Delivery Service to Remain Complimentary

Since May 2005, guests of most hotels at Walt Disney World Resort have enjoyed an innovative amenity that helps take the hassle out of traveling between Orlando International Airport (OIA) and the Vacation Kingdom.

Disney's Magical Express offers complimentary airport shuttle and luggage delivery and -- on participating airlines -- check-in at guests' hotel for domestic return flights.

Launched as part of the "Happiest Celebration on Earth," which will conclude later this year, Disney's Magical Express will remain operating as a complimentary service, Disney announced today. The company recently reached an agreement with OIA to continue the program.

Participating guests check their bags at their hometown airport, bypass baggage claim at OIA and board state-of-the-art motor coaches to Walt Disney World Resort -- while their bags are transferred to their room.

While guests flying any airline in or out of OIA may take advantage of the motor coach transportation between the airport and their Walt Disney World hotel, guests departing on participating airlines (currently American, Continental, Delta, Song, United, Ted, Northwest and JetBlue) have yet another benefit through Disney's Magical Express: On domestic flights, they can avoid airport check-in lines by checking their luggage and receiving a boarding pass before departing their select Walt Disney World hotel.

Disney Cruise Line Offers First-Ever Mediterranean Cruises During Summer 2007

For the first time, Disney Cruise Line is adding a European flair to its itineraries, repositioning the Disney Magic for the summer of 2007 to the Port of Barcelona in Spain and offering 10- and 11-night Mediterranean cruise vacations to Europe.

With eight European ports of call that provide gateways to familiar cities such as Florence, Rome, Pisa and Cannes, the Mediterranean itineraries will deliver the family vacation of a lifetime with all the benefits Disney Cruise Line offers.

The four 11-night cruises will depart on Saturdays: May 26, June 16, July 7 and July 28; the four 10-night cruises will depart on Wednesdays: June 6, June 27, July 18 and Aug. 8. Both itineraries will depart from Barcelona.

In addition to the Mediterranean cruises, two 14-night trans-Atlantic sailings will bookend the 10- and 11-night adventures with the eastbound itinerary departing from Port Canaveral, Fla., May 12, 2007, and the westbound voyage starting from the Port of Barcelona on Aug. 18, 2007.

Starting rates for the Mediterranean itineraries range from $2,399 to $3,499 and are based on double occupancy. Guests interested in booking a Mediterranean cruise with Disney Cruise Line should call 1-877-4eztrips.