Spring 2014 Brings Added Magic to Walt Disney World Resort
Marvel’s Avengers Academy in Disney’s Oceaneer Club on the Disney Magic invites young crime-fighters into a high-tech command post used by The Avengers for special missions and operations training. Throughout the base, displays featuring some of the equipment that make The Avengers the earth’s mightiest heroes – Iron Man’s suit of armor, Captain America’s shield and Thor’s hammer — inspire super hero “recruits” through their academy missions. Avengers Academy opens on the Disney Magic after the ship undergoes dry dock this fall. AquaDunk on the Disney Magic is a thrilling three-story body slide that begins with a surprise launch, sending guests on a near-vertical drop and through a translucent tube that extends 20 feet over the side of the ship. This new water feature will take guests for a swift and splashy ride on the Disney Magic after the ship undergoes dry dock this fall.
Runners pass by Epcot on Feb. 24, 2013 during Disney’s Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The 13.1-mile course led 26,000 runners across Walt Disney World Resort, including the Magic Kingdom and Epcot theme parks. A record 36,000 athletes took part in a variety of Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend events, including a 5K race, kid’s races and a health and fitness expo. Disney’s Princess Half Marathon is part of the “runDisney” series of endurance events that take place throughout the year at both Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. (Todd Anderson, photographer) The Braves have called ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex home since 1997. The team annually plays 16-18 spring training home game at Disney from late February through March, hosting other Major League Baseball clubs, such as the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies.
Richly-hued flowers adorn the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival presented by HGTV. The festival, which runs 75 days March 6-May 19, 2013, at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., features dozens of character topiaries, stunning floral displays, workshops, the Flower Power concert series and presentations by HGTV personalities – all included in regular Epcot admission. Syndicated radio and television personality Steve Harvey inspires high school students to follow their dreams March 10, 2013 at Epcot during the commencement ceremony of Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and Essence Magazine in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The sixth annual event, taking place March 7-10 at Walt Disney World Resort, is a career-inspiration program for 100 high school students from across the U.S. (Gregg Newton, Photographer) Construction is under way on the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history – aimed at nearly doubling the size of Fantasyland. As part of the multi-year expansion, The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will be a swerving, swaying train of mine cars taking Walt Disney World guests on a wild ride through the diamond mine of the Seven Dwarfs. The expansion will begin opening in phases by late March 2012 at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. MAY THE MOUSE BE WITH YOU: The Power of the Force and the Magic of Disney combine for a “Star Wars” fan-fest like no other each year during “Star Wars Weekends” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The largest gathering of official “Star Wars” characters is always a highlight of the event, as (pictured) even Mickey and Minnie Mouse get into the fun, dressing like their favorite “Star Wars” characters, a Jedi Knight and Princess Leia. This year’s event takes place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 17-June 9, 2013. The event features “Star Wars” parades, celebrity appearances, live entertainment, limited-edition merchandise releases, behind-the-scenes presentations and special editions of Jedi Training Academy. Most ”Star Wars Weekends” event activities are included in regular theme park admission. (Disney)