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Ears the News with Richard


Disney has announced another Star Wars celebrity who will be attending this year's Star Wars Weekends at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Actor Billy Dee Williams is known for his portrayal of Lando Calrissian in the Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. He will attend Weekend 4 on 6/7-9/2013. 
As of today, this is the current celebrity appearance schedule.
  • Ray Park (plays Darth Maul) - will attend Weekends 1 and 2.
  • Warwick Davis (plays Wicket W. Warrick) - will attend Weekends 2 and 3.
  • Billy Dee Williams (plays Lando Calrissian) - will attend Weekend 4.
  • James Arnold Taylor and Ashley Eckstein will be your celebrity hosts for all 4 weekends


MO'ROCKIN has relocated to a new temporary stage due to the construction now taking place on the new 'Spice Road Table' restaurant at the Morocco Pavilion. The new stage is located on the side of the pavilion closest to France. The Aladdin meet and greet has also been relocated to the market area at the rear of the pavilion.

The official Disney Parks Blog has released a video sneak peek at the upcoming 'A Pirate's Adventure - Treasures of the Seven Seas'. This interactive game takes place in the Magic Kingdom's Adventureland, and is expected to open in the summer of 2013.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kUZOEV_k46I
Video from the Disney Parks blog

Disney has today announced plans to mark the 15th anniversary of Disney's Animal Kingdom on Earth Day, 4/22/2013.  Here is what you can expect (from the official Disney Parks Blog):
*Special opening ceremony – Meet at the Tree of Life at 8:40 a.m., to hear from Josh D’Amaro, Vice President of Disney’s Animal Kingdom; Dr. Jackie Ogden, Vice President of Animals, Science and Environment; and Joe Rohde, Senior Vice President of Walt Disney Imagineering Creative. Make sure you arrive early for this!
*Earth Day “Party for the Planet” festivities – Special interactive activities that focus on animals and nature will take place throughout the park from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
*Artists and other vendors will present their work on in Africa and on Discovery Island, with their work available for purchase.
*Opportunity to purchase special 15th anniversary merchandise, available in limited quantities.
*Special food & beverage. 

The new meet and greet attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom is looking set to open in mid-May 2013.  Called 'Adventurers Outpost,' the new location will give you a chance to meet Mickey and Minnie in a new indoor environment. Around the same time, Daisy and Donald Duck will both be moving to the Discovery Island boat dock area to appear together. Making way for their arrival, the Winnie the Pooh characters will be moving to Camp Minnie-Mickey.
Nearly the complete left-side of Africa in Disney's Animal Kingdom is now walled off as construction begins on building the new Festival of the Lion King Theater. The relocation of the theater from Camp Minnie-Mickey to Africa is part of the expansion plans for Animal Kingdom, which have so far been based around the AVATAR project announcement. It is expected that the show will continue to be performed in Camp Minnie-Mickey until the new theater is ready, minimizing any downtime for the popular show.

The Maji pool bar at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village now offers a hot food menu daily from 11am to 5pm. Menu items include a Turkey Panini, South African-style Cuban Sandwich and Vegetarian Falafel.  The full menu can be viewed at WDWMagic.

The Anandapur Ice Cream Truck located along the walkway to Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom will be closing for a refurbishment from 4/14/2013 to 5/23/2013.


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