Get Ready to Book Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa Ko Olina, Hawai‘i

Illustration (c) Disney

Last year I mentioned that Disney had bought property in Hawaii with a view to building a resort there... well plans are obviously coming to fruition, as it was announced today that we will be able to book this amazing family destination resort, starting at the beginning of August for travel starting in the fall of 2011.

The resort promises to showcase the culture and beauty of Hawaii, through the magic of Disney, offering kids programming, adult activities, cultural experiences and much more.

If you love Disney (and the way they do things) and/or if you are interested in exploring Hawaii, you should consider being one of the first families to travel to Aulani. As always when Disney launch a new travel product, there will be strong demand!

Bookings open the first week in August 2010 for Disney's new family resort on the shores of O‘ahu.

Aulani connects you to all that's magical about Hawai‘i through storytelling and amazing cultural experiences as only Disney can deliver.

Learn more at the Aulani's resort webpage.

Disney Unveils New Attractions, and Announces Expansion Plans

I am going to be uncharacteristically lazy today, and post a complete press release from Disney without my own comments - I am too far behind with all the necessary, boring paperwork (invoices etc.) that I just have to do... I also have another couple of posts of my own which are almost ready, and I'd rather work on them than re-invent this particular wheel. Anyhoo, some of this stuff looks pretty exciting!

So, over to you Jay Rasulo...

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts chairman Jay Rasulo detailed plans for future lands, attractions and adventures at the first D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, including the confirmation of a new Star Tours attraction and the largest expansion in the history of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Rasulo announced that a new 3-D version of the popular “Star Tours” attraction will debut at the Disneyland Resort and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2011. Based on the iconic Star Wars films, the attraction will include immersive new elements that will take guests to many familiar places in the Star Wars galaxy.

For Walt Disney World in Florida, Rasulo outlined expansion plans of the Magic Kingdom, vastly increasing the size of Fantasyland by 2013. Guests will soon be able to visit their favourite Disney Princess in her castle, cottage, or chateau to share a dance with Cinderella; celebrate Sleeping Beauty’s birthday with the Good Fairies; or join Belle in an enchanting story performance in the Beast’s castle library; dine in one of three enchanted rooms inside the Beast’s castle; fly with Dumbo high above new circus grounds, twice the size of the existing attraction with a new interactive, three-ring circus tent; journey under the sea with Ariel, The Little Mermaid, in her very own attraction -- also opening at Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim in 2011; and meet Tinker Bell and her friends in the magical world of Pixie Hollow. Rasulo also provided updates on the multi-year expansion of Disney’s California Adventure, including the new “World of Color” attraction slated to open next spring and the addition of the five-hectare Cars Land scheduled to open in 2012 where guests will literally step into the town of Radiator Springs and its 2.4 hectares of hand-carved rockwork.

Rasulo noted the progress of several other recently announced projects, including the three new lands coming to Hong Kong Disneyland by 2014; the Disney Dream, the new ship being built by Disney Cruise Line; the many diverse itineraries being offered by Adventures by Disney that take guests on 19 unique, once-in-a-lifetime guided vacation experiences; and Disney’s first family destination resort on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.

(Source: TravelPress.com http://www.travelpress.com/PHP/news.php?sid=9014)