Playing Tonight: Wishes

Happy New Year from Walt Disney World

A Christmas Castle

Christmas on Main Street U.S.A.

Happy Holidays at the Magic Kingdom

Pecos Bill Entrance

Considered by many as the meanest, toughest, roughest cowboy of them all, Pecos Bill has been credited for inventing all things Western from rodeos to cowboy dancing to spurs, hats, and lassoes. He can draw faster shoot straighter and ride a horse harder than any man alive.

Unfortunately, we don't know when and where he was born, just that he was raised by coyotes and that his name comes from the river in Texas. Over the years, Pecos Bill along with his trusty horse, Widowmaker, have made quite a name for themselves forging new trails and taming others.

Legend tells us several tall tales, like the time Pecos Bill jumped on a powerful twister and rode it like a bucking bronco. Then there was the time when Pecos Bill dug out a path to create the Rio Grande river during a severe drought that hit his beloved Texas. And then there was the day Pecos Bill was so bored that he took his handy six-shooter and shot out all of the stars in the sky except for one. That's why they call Texas the 'Lone Star State.'

In 1878, with the encouragement of his friends, Pecos Bill decided to open his own watering hole, a restaurant, whose motto very much reflects its one-of-a-kind owner, 'The Tastiest Eats and Treats This side of the Rio Grande.' Pecos Bill called it the Tall Tale Inn and Cafe and it quickly became a popular hang-out for some of his legendary friends.

As time went by, it became a tradition when each friend paid a visit they would leave something behind for Pecos Bill to remember them by. As you can see from the articles and artifacts that don the walls, many of which carry inscriptions, Pecos Bill had some mighty impressive friends.

Seems that every trail eventually led to the Tall Tale Inn and Cafe.

Ciinderella Castle View from Tomorrowland Entrance

Soldiers during the Christmas Parade [Magic Kingdom]

200,000 Lights Transform Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World

Christmas Tree on Main Street

Happy 176th Birthday to Mark Twain

 Born November 30, 1835

Writer & humorist Mark Twain is born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in the small town of Florida, Missouri. (He will be raised in Hannibal, Missouri.) Walt Disney admired Twain's writing and so the famous author's name and image can be found scattered throughout Disney theme parks all over the world.

 

Tom Sawyer Island - based on Twain's classic The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - is the only Disneyland attraction that Walt personally designed!

Disneyland also features the Mark Twain Riverboat, which takes guests on a 12-minute journey around the Rivers of America.

Both Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland have versions of the Mark Twain Riverboat as well.

In Florida, Mr. Twain appears in Epcot's Audio-Animatronic stage show The American Adventure, and the Magic Kingdom features a version of Tom Sawyer Island (located in Frontierland).

Disney's 1990 animated The Prince and the Pauper is loosely based on Twain's classic novel The Prince and the Pauper, first published in 1881.

In 1991 The Disney Channel aired the Disney Channel Premiere Film Mark Twain and Me, about a young girl who befriends the famous writer.

Cinderella Castle - Year of a Million Dreams

The Walt Disney World Dream

Enjoy the Original Coca-Cola Taste at the Magic Kingdom

Delicious, Refreshing and Uplifting!

Coca-Cola sponsored the first Disney television show, One Hour in Wonderland, which aired as a special on December 25, 1950. When Disneyland opened in 1955, Coke became a participant with the Refreshment Corner on Main Street, U.S.A., and remains a participant there today. Coca-Cola is now the global beverage provider for all of Disney's 11 parks in the U.S., Hong Kong, France and Japan.

Mickey Pretzel

"You can only find them one place: in Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom at Frontierland Pretzel Wagon between the Diamond Horseshoe and Pecos Bill Cafe (next to the turkey leg cart). Pair the twist with cheese and chocolate dipping sauces. Insiders tell us it’s still in “testing phase” at Walt Disney World Resort, but we bet it’s here to stay.

You also can find it at Disneyland park at Refreshment Corner, Bengal Barbecue, Frontierland Pretzel, Small World Pretzel and Tomorrowland Pretzel. At Disney California Adventure Park, they are sold at Bayside Brews, the Beer Truck and Hollywood Pretzel."

- Pam Brandon, Disney Parks Food Writer

A Haunted Mansion is Built [Vintage Picture]

Here is a look at The Haunted Mansion while it was still under construction on February 24, 1971.

Mickey’s Super-Stretch LiMOUSEine

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“Make it a stretch; in fact make it a super stretch.” You may not know but Rock 'n' Roller Coaster's limo wasn’t the first super-stretch limo to hit Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Mickey Mouse also had a limo of his own? Take a look at this beauty.

That’s a 40-foot LiMOUSEine that Mickey Mouse rode while on a 37-city tour promoting the opening of the Disney-MGM Studios in 1989.

LiMOUSEine’s features: Four cellular phones, a radio remote DJ booth, two Sony TVs with VCRs, and four sunroofs. But, the crown gem has to be that hood ornament: a 24-karat gold-plated Tinker Bell and a lot of pixie dust!

The LiMOUSEine was also equipped with a Sony RDSS Wayfarer Mobile Communication System, which allowed Minnie to pinpoint Mickey’s whereabouts on a personal computer back at home.

And just in time for the Walt Disney World Resort 25th Anniversary, the LiMOUSEine got a paint job.

* All pictures by Disney

Amazing Fireworks at the Magic Kingdom

Pictures by Cory Disbrow

Two Princesses Meet at the Magic Kingdom

"On this special morning, I photographed a darling little girl as she met Rapunzel for the very first time. Ava was nearing her fifth birthday (which she spent having breakfast with the princesses inside Cinderella Castle) and her autograph book lacked only one princess – Rapunzel. As a surprise, Ava’s parents took her to the Magic Kingdom early one morning and walked directly to Fantasyland to make sure she was first in line to greet Rapunzel. I hope these photographs speak for themselves."

- Gene Duncan, Photographer, Walt Disney World Resort

Main Street USA bustle

Walt Disney World Picture of the Day for 08.18.11 by Knell StudioWorks -

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