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TWENTY YEARS OF DISNEY VACATION CLUB® spring2012 Volume21 Number1

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Page 1: spring2012 Volume21 Number1 - Disney Vacation · PDF filelighthearted guide to making an online reservation ... anticipated addition to the Member experience since the introduction

TWENTY YEARS OF DISNEY VACATION CLUB®

spr ing2012 • Volume2 1 • Number1

Page 2: spring2012 Volume21 Number1 - Disney Vacation · PDF filelighthearted guide to making an online reservation ... anticipated addition to the Member experience since the introduction

The House of Mouse has long been home to celebrated characters with insulting monikers. Names like Dopey, Dumbo and Foulfellow. They aren’t bad. They’re just named that way. (Okay, so Foulfellow’s a little shady.) If that friendly fraternity of negatively named characters has a class clown, it’s got to be Goofy. The artist formerly known as Dippy Dawg is animation’s king of comedy, having amassed a resume of screen credits unlike any other in Hollywood. So to help celebrate the debut of Goofy’s re-imagined Magic Kingdom attraction and to embrace the irreverent spirit of April Fool’s Day, Disney Files Magazine is pleased to dedicate this issue to Max’s dimwitted Dad. A one-on-one interview with Disney Legend and Goofy voice actor Bill Farmer (pages 3-4) begins our appropriately distinguished salute, which continues with a subtle nod to Goofy’s famed series of “How To” animated shorts in the form of a lighthearted guide to making an online reservation at a Disney Vacation Club Resort (pages 5-6). Arguably the most highly anticipated addition to the Member experience since the introduction of the trading pin, this recently launched tool gives new meaning to the notion of Disney magic starting with a mouse. Goofy’s aforementioned Magic Kingdom attraction grabs the spotlight on page 18, delivering the inside scoop about a kid-friendly coaster that now casts our foolhardy friend in the high-flying role of The Great Goofini. A rite of passage for young thrill-seekers since 1996, The Barnstormer returns this spring with its daring new storyline as Storybook Circus emerges as part of the ongoing Fantasyland expansion project. Goofy must be feeling confident about his daredevil act, as he’s already pumping money into one of his overseas homes and will soon ask Guests to help him redecorate (page 22). Add a Goofy-resume retrospective from Disney Heritage columnist Jim Korkis (pages 27-28) and a photographic look at one of Goofy’s earlier Walt Disney World stunts on our back cover, and you have a magazine that, like its staff, is as goofy as it is informative. Welcome home,

Ryan MarchDisney Files Editor

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Information contained in this magazine is subject to change without notice

Update your mailing address online at www.dvcmember.com

Contact Member Services from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Eastern daily Toll Free: (800) 800-9800 Local: (407) 566-3800Fax: (407) 938-4151Email: [email protected]

VOL. 21 NO. 1

Disney Files MagazineDisney Vacation ClubP.O. Box 10350Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Please recycle this publication

Illustration of Ryan by Keelan Parham

Cover mosaic comprised of Member family photos

For Member Services in Japanese,call 0120-98-4050 Tuesday-Sunday, noon-8 p.m. (Japan Time)

Follow us on Facebook atfacebook.com/disneyvacationclub

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I must say, my first months on the job at Disney Vacation Club have been absolutely incredible! Every meeting I attend and every conversation I have in the hallway sheds more light on how dynamic this vacation-ownership community is, and how much enjoyment it brings to our Members. In my more than two decades with Disney, I’ve never felt so inspired. I’m truly honored to be part of this hard-working team, dedicated to creating cherished family memories. Of course, my most meaningful experiences so far have been my interactions with Members, whether it’s one-on-one dialogue or part of a larger gathering. Two recent events afforded me the opportunity to really immerse myself in this unique Disney community and made me even more excited about our future together. While many of you may have experienced one of these gatherings in the past, the two over which I presided in Florida and Hawai‘i in December were my first, and they were arguably the most variety-filled gatherings I’ve ever attended. We shared news, reviewed and approved budgets, answered Member questions, celebrated milestones, ate cookies – always a sign of a good meeting – and even enjoyed live entertainment. I’m talking about the annual meetings of Disney Vacation Club Condominium Associations. They were part business update, part town hall and part Member reunion. Hundreds of you joined us in person for the Florida meeting, while others of you tuned in by phone from

Anaheim or attended the separate session on O‘ahu for Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas, Ko Olina, Hawai‘i. Of course, lots of you couldn’t attend, so I wanted to take this opportunity to share some of the exciting news we covered

at the meetings. Perhaps most welcomed was word that the long-awaited online booking system has become a reality. You’ll find more details about this new Disney Vacation Club Resort reservation option in this edition of Disney Files Magazine, and I hope

you’ll agree it’s a tremendous enhancement to the convenience of Membership. In other news, we shared that Disney Vacation Club Resorts now feature a broader lineup of satellite television networks; we’re expanding inventory at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa by making traditional hotel rooms at

that location available again on vacation points beginning later this spring; and an

unprecedented pair of S.S. Member Cruise sailings will allow more Members than ever

to enjoy this signature event. We’ll share more information about these and other new offerings as the stories develop.  Looking even further down the road, we also confirmed that Disney Vacation Club is moving forward with plans to develop villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa! I look forward to seeing you at the 2012 meeting, scheduled to take place on Dec. 13 at the Walt Disney World Resort. In the meantime, best wishes for the most magical and memorable of Disney vacations!

By Claire Bilby, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Disney Vacation Club

ABOVE: Crews are developing an estimated 147 Disney Vacation Club villas near Disney’s Wedding Pavilion at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The resort is estimated to open in late 2013.

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Some kids take offense at being called goofy. Bill Farmer took it as professional advice.Born with the gift of comedic gab, Bill turned his ability to channel stars both real and imagined

into an illustrious show-business career as a comedian and voice actor. While the Kansas native has voiced a colorful array of animated characters since moving to Hollywood in 1986, none are nearer or dearer to his heart than Goofy. More than providing Goofy’s voice, Bill has long been the character’s soul. From exploring the dim-witted Dad’s emotional depth in the standout film A Goofy Movie to engaging a new generation of Goofy fans through his Emmy-nominated performances in the hit television series “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” Bill’s immeasurable contributions to one of Disney’s most iconic stars have been recognized with everything from the immortalizing Disney Legend award to the prestigious Friz Freleng Award for Excellence in Animation. As Goofy prepares to star as the Great Goofini in his re-imagined attraction (see page 18), Disney Files Magazine Editor Ryan March sits down for a visit with the legendary funnyman, fresh off the 25th anniversary of his Goofy career.

Ryan: While you’ve been doing funny voices since you were a kid, your career didn’t begin in the world of comedy.

Bill: That’s true. I graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Kansas. While working at a radio station as an engineer, I was looking at a manual for a piece of equipment and saw a warning that read, “Caution: Death On Contact.” I thought to myself, “Hmmm, I’d better go learn more about this stuff,” and decided to study electronics at the Elkins Institute in Dallas. Later, while still in Dallas, I started to pursue commercial acting and stand-up comedy, all while working overnights repairing and testing computers. I’d sometimes be up for 24 hours straight. My lovely fiancée, Jennifer, said she didn’t want to marry a zombie, so it was time to focus on one career path. It was actually the day before we got married that Jen and I both quit our jobs to focus full time on my career in comedy.

Ryan: That must’ve thrilled the in-laws.

Bill: Oh yes, it’s what every father-in-law wants to hear before the wedding. Here was this intimidating military man hearing that his daughter’s husband-to-be was quitting a perfectly steady job to start telling jokes. I think his actual quote was, “Why doesn’t he do something worthwhile, like taking out the trash?”

Ryan: Obviously, that proved to be a wise decision, as your

eventual move to Hollywood quickly led to an audition that would change your life.

Bill: Absolutely. The Disney studio was looking for actors to voice some of its core characters, so my agent sent me on the audition. My Donald Duck impression was pretty much limited to a single sound and my Mickey was a bit off, but Goofy was right in my wheelhouse, and I got the gig. My life has never been the same since.

Ryan: And how long after that did Jennifer’s Dad warm up to your career choices?

Bill: Well, fast forward a few years, as I’m getting him backstage access to Walt Disney World attractions and inviting him to private parties with celebrities, and the tide definitely turned. I’ll never forget going with him to an event at his church in Melbourne, Fla., and having him introduce me to his friends. Here’s exactly what he said: “I’d like you to meet my son-in-law, Bill…and his wife, Jennifer.” I had arrived!

Ryan: Speaking of Jennifer, she’s fond of saying that Goofy isn’t just your career; it’s a way of life. Care to share a story of your Goofy-like behavior around the house?

Bill: One story that’s quintessentially Goofy unfolded when I was outside our house hanging Christmas lights. To set

with bill farmer

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the scene, you had me, a bunch of tangled lights, a ladder and a pair of thorny rose bushes. Perfect setup for a Goofy moment, and you can probably see where this is going. But I didn’t just slip and fall into a rose bush. That would be too easy. I managed to snag my sweatpants on the first rose bush and fall bare-butted into the second. That, my friend, is taking your work home with you.

Ryan: So you’re a method actor.

Bill: Or just clumsy. But sure, let’s call it method acting.

Ryan: All kidding aside, voicing an animated character is more than just doing an impression. This is acting in its purest form.

Bill: That’s true. Even when the material isn’t serious, the acting is. Animation is all about creating believable worlds, and voices are a big part of that.

Ryan: Your acting chops helped give Goofy some surprising depth in the 1995 film A Goofy Movie. What do you remember most about that project?

Bill: Of all the great projects I’ve been fortunate enough to take on in my career, A Goofy Movie has been my absolute favorite. It was the first feature-length film to star one of the Fab Five characters, so that was a great honor. But I’m most proud of the depth you mentioned. The movie wasn’t just about Goofy’s goofiness. It was about a father struggling to connect with a son who wasn’t so little anymore. I remember taking my son, Austin, to an advance screening of the film for Disney executives in

Walt’s old screening room on the lot in Burbank. Austin was pretty little at the time, and he seemed to be a bit shaken as we left the theater. I said, “What’s wrong, buddy?” And he answered, “When you and Max were about to go over the waterfall, I thought you were going to die.” So either we’d created a film of such emotional depth that even my own son had suspended disbelief, or my kid just couldn’t tell the difference between Dad and Goofy.

Ryan: Well, with those thorn scars on your backside...

Bill: Okay, fair point.

Ryan: Austin’s now 21, and he was able to join you and Jennifer on last year’s S.S. Member Cruise aboard the Disney Dream ship. That was actually your third Member cruise. What keeps you coming back?

Bill: You mean besides the buffet? Seriously, I love that event. Disney Vacation Club Members are such enthusiastic fans, and performing for an audience like that is a genuine pleasure. I got to return to my show-business roots on last year’s voyage and perform stand-up comedy. The audience was so gracious, and I just had a blast. There’s a great sense of community on that voyage.

Ryan: One final question before I let you go. Goofy has performed a number of jobs through his films, and

he’s about to take on the role of circus daredevil with his re-imagined Magic Kingdom coaster.

What job would you like to see Goofy take on next?

Bill: Neurosurgery.

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He taught us how to ski, how to ride a horse and how to hook up our home theaters. So as we continue our editorial tribute to the goofiest star in show business, Disney Files Magazine is pleased to channel our inner narrator and present the new Disney Vacation Club Resort online booking system* in the style of the classic Goofy shorts. (Changing the silent-reading voice in your head to that of actor and frequent Goofy animated-shorts narrator John McLeish will substantially enhance your experience.)

*Note that the online booking system is available only for Disney Vacation Club Resort reservations using vacation points. Call Member Services for other reservations.

Step 1: Logging onto the website

The home computer has become a staple of the modern traveler. Plugged into a wall outlet or powered by battery and linked to the information superhighway through a wireless connection, today’s desktop and laptop computers put the world at one’s fingertips. Well accustomed to enjoying the comforts of home wherever they go, the modern Disney Vacation Club Member may now book accommodations at Disney Vacation Club Resorts with just a few keystrokes on their home computer. Our modern Member arrives quickly at DVCMember.com, enters his or her (hopefully) easy-to-remember username and password, and takes the first step toward that next vacation.

Step 2: Locating the booking system

Vacation planning begins as the Member scans the section categories atop the website’s home page and clicks the category cleverly labeled “Vacation Planning” to reveal a drop-down menu containing, among other helpful items, a link to the new online reservation tool (labeled “Book Disney Vacation Club Resort Online”). Behold the beauty of simplicity.

Step 3: Checking availability As Disney Vacation Club Resort accommodation inventory online is the same inventory available by phone, the interactive tool now glowing in the face of our travel-planning Member brings the unbridled power of Member Services into the living room. Or bedroom. Or kitchen. Perhaps even the bathroom. No longer limited by Member Services operating hours, any time is now a good time to book a vacation (except for 2-2:30 a.m. Eastern, when the system’s scheduled to undergo daily maintenance). After checking their available vacation points and reviewing key dates conveniently displayed on the page, the Member makes a wish by entering desired travel dates, party size, resort name and room type into simply labeled boxes. Once again, no trick questions.

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Step 4: Selecting an offer

This, you might say, is the fun part. Like a genie freed from the confines of his lamp, the site grants your wish or offers a friendly alternative. It’s here that our modern Member may choose to reserve available dates or join a wait list should their requested dates be unavailable. One might be tempted to perform a celebratory dance after choosing from the available dates...perhaps a samba or a waltz or even a rhythmic sashay. The prudent Member resists such temptation, as a few quick steps remain to complete the transaction.

Step 5: Selecting a contract

As the modern Member may own multiple contracts, this is an important step. A handy chart illustrates available contracts and vacation points, including those available for the current use year and those available for borrowing from the year ahead. The Member makes selections accordingly, managing the family vacation

points as only a Member can.

Step 6: Providing the details

Just who will be enjoying this dream vacation? It’s time to make some dreams come true by listing the loved ones – or even the begrudgingly tolerated ones who managed to talk their way into this trip – who will make up one’s travel party.

Step 7: Reviewing and booking the reservation

Ah, yes. The terms and conditions. The highlight of any transaction. The chance to scroll through complex words conveying simple messages. Words like herein and wherefore. Like flossing one’s teeth, this step is admittedly more necessary than enjoyable. The modern Member powers through, checks the box indicating comprehension of both said terms and said conditions, and then…in a moment that makes it all worthwhile…clicks the most glorious of all online buttons: “Book This Accommodation.”

Step 8: Sealing the deal

It’s done! It’s all right there in front of you. The resort accommodations. The travel dates. The party size, room type…the names of everyone in your party. Even a breakdown of how vacation points were taken. (Dissatisfied with how those points were taken? This step also offers

a final opportunity to cancel without penalty.) This is the time to rejoice. Time to round up the family and share the good news. Time to dance that celebratory dance!

This new reservations tool also lets Members add Disney Dining Plans; access the Disney Online Check-in Service; add Magical Celebrations; view past and upcoming reservations (including waitlists) and more!

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EVENTSMore dates. More cities. More magic.

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More dates. More cities. More magic.

*Offer valid for new D23 Memberships only and therefore doesn’t apply to renewals.

is more than an expo in Anaheim. It’s our company’s official fan club; a dynamic community of magazine-reading, website-exploring, Theme Park-hopping, merchandise-collecting, event-attending enthusiasts who share a common affinity for all things Disney (not to mention a remarkable ability to look good in a pair of swanky mouse ears). As that description also happens to match a certain vacation-ownership community, it’s no surprise that a growing number of fans now carry both Disney Vacation Club and D23 Member ID cards in their wallets, purses or fashionable satchels. “The relationship between Disney Vacation Club and D23 dates back to 2008, the year before D23’s launch, when we met with Steven Clark (head of D23) and his team in Steven’s Burbank office to get a sneak peek at plans for the club,” recalled Disney Files Magazine Editor Ryan March. “We immediately recognized the connection between our respective Member communities, and our teams became fast friends – like Tod and Copper without the complications of hunting instincts. I remember leaving that meeting really excited to tell Disney Vacation Club Members about all the cool stuff the D23 team had in store. I also remember really liking the couch in Steven’s office.” Today, with numerous collaborations under our belt (including a show-development partnership through which rare Disney treasures have sailed on the past two S.S. Member Cruise voyages), Disney Files Magazine is pleased to report that Disney’s official fan club is dramatically expanding its events in 2012, taking their unique brand of magic to places both with and without castles. “Over the last three years, D23 has created some truly memorable events and experiences at Disney destinations and around the country,” Steven told Disney Files Magazine by phone (probably from that awesome couch). “Thanks to Member feedback and interest, we have a remarkable 2012 events schedule that has D23 traveling coast-to-coast, bringing Disney magic to even more of our fans in

their hometowns.” That expanded slate of D23 events kicked off in January with a Member trip to Palm Springs’ Smoke Tree Ranch – a vacation destination Walt Disney once affectionately referred to as his “laughing place” – and continues on March 14 with a day-long, archivist-led tour of Walt’s boyhood hometown of Marceline, Mo. Throughout the spring, D23 “Fanniversary Celebration” events will commemorate more than 40 unforgettable Disney milestones, each celebrating an anniversary in 2012. Hosted by Disney archivists, the touring celebration is scheduled to make stops at the Walt Disney World Resort, New York, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco and the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, Calif. Tickets will be available to the public, with special admission offers and surprises for D23 Members. Looking ahead to summer, D23 will present an all-new “Destination D” event celebrating 75 years of Disney feature animation over the course of two days at the Disneyland Resort in California (Aug. 11-12). Disney Legends are scheduled to join top Disney animators, voice actors, composers and more at this highly anticipated, diamond-anniversary event. Other events planned throughout the year include D23’s popular series of film screenings at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank (including a new series of live-action films from the Disney vault), D23 Members-only tours of the Burbank studio, the newly named Sip & Scream (an October gathering that’ll put a Halloween twist on D23’s hit Sip & Stroll event as part of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival) and two festive December celebrations – Disney and Dickens in Burbank and Magic & Merriment at the Walt Disney World Resort. Additional events are in the works as this edition of Disney Files Magazine hits the press, including an Epcot 30th-anniversary celebration and a D23 third-anniversary party at the Disneyland Resort. To learn more about these events and other perks of D23 Membership, visit www.disney.com/D23.

Join for less!Remember that Disney Vacation Club Members get a 10 percent discount off the purchase of a new Gold or Silver D23 Membership*. Visit www.disney.com/D23, click “Join D23,” add a new D23 Membership to your cart and enter the promotional code D23DVC2012 during checkout.

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communityMore to see than can ever be seenResorts welcome expanded television lineups

Sometimes, even on vacation, you can’t help but wonder what Bobby Flay’s grilling on the Food Network or who Bill O’Reilly’s grilling on Fox News. We all love TV. That’s why we’re so pleased to report that, as part of the company’s commitment to continually improving the Member and Guest experience, all Disney Resort hotels in the U.S., including all Disney Vacation Club Resorts, are scheduled to have introduced an expanded lineup of in-room television channels by this spring.

So whether your viewing habits involve following “The Millionaire Matchmaker” on Bravo or cheering on HGTV’s next “Design Star,” your home resort will feel even more like home. While lineups are always subject to change, here’s a look at networks available* at all resorts as we send this magazine to press. Note that every Disney Resort location features a unique collection of channels in addition to those displayed here, so be sure to check local listings during your stay.

*Note that TV Japan was available at press time at Walt Disney World Resorts and at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai‘i, and plans call for the TV Japan to join other resort locations in the future.

Networks

News

Sports

Entertainment & More

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-lemmas

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Members love a parade (particularly if they’re in it).Poll question: Would you rather be the grand marshal in a Disney Park parade or see your favorite big leaguer do the honors after winning the World Series?

Responses: 92 percent would rather be the grand marshal, 8 percent would rather see their favorite big leaguer parade victoriously and one guy cheated the system by asking if he could co-grand marshal with Prince Fielder. (Very clever, Michael.)

Members love staying connected – to friends and family.Poll question: When on vacation, would you rather have strong cell service so you can stay connected to home or no cell service so you can fully escape?

Responses: While 81 percent preferred strong cell service, many specified that they like to stay connected with friends and family, not work.

Members value pampering in all forms.Poll question: Who would you rather have at your service in your villa: a professional chef or a professional massage therapist?

Responses: In our tightest vote, 51 percent preferred the massage therapist. (Not counted in these figures are 23 Members who prefer “and” to “or” and voted for both.)

Members enjoy quality over quantity.Poll question: Would you rather have unlimited vacation points or unlimited vacation days?

Responses: An overwhelming 85 percent would rather have unlimited vacation points, making the most of whatever vacation days they have.

Members slightly prefer facing seatbacks and tray tables to steering wheels and dashboards.Poll question: Would you rather take a three-hour road trip or a three-hour flight?

Responses: 56 percent would rather spend three hours in the air than behind the wheel.

Members prefer lines that don’t involve plastic bins, body scanners or the removal of one’s shoes. Poll question: Which would you rather skip: the security line at the airport or your first attraction line at a Theme Park?

Responses: 57 percent would rather skip airport security. Several Members commented that they’d be happier waiting at airport-security if the queue was themed like a Disney attraction.

Members are night owls.Poll question: Would you rather enjoy Extra Magic Hours in a Theme Park before it opens to the public or after it closes?

Responses: 76 percent of Members prefer to enjoy those Extra Magic Hours after dark.

Members weighed in on a variety of vacation dilemmas through our Facebook page as 2011 came to a close. So now, as you dream about your vacations in 2012 and beyond, Disney Files Magazine reveals what your responses have taught us (or confirmed) about the Member community, along with the numbers that helped us reach those conclusions. Follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/DisneyVacationClub.

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Walt Disney World Resort: Today’s Walt Disney World vacations can be as exotic as they are magical. From exotic foods to exotic animals, the vacation kingdom has become an exotic feast for the senses. So why not drive an exotic car? That’s the admittedly rhetorical question posed by our friends at Petty Holdings, the owners and operators of the Richard Petty Driving Experience, who have made Guests’ stock-car dreams come true with white-knuckle driving and ride-along experiences at the Walt Disney World Speedway since 1997. Today, as Guests continue to enjoy those all-American thrills in the shadows of the Magic Kingdom Park, the speedway has added some decidedly global flair in the form of the new Exotic Driving Experience. If the Richard Petty Driving Experience lets you drive like Petty, the Exotic Driving Experience lets you drive like Clooney (or any Hollywood hotshot whose ride you envy). We’re talking “supercars” by automakers like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Audi and Porsche. The kind of cars that keep valets motivated at five-star restaurants from Rodeo Drive to Ocean Drive. Cars worth more than the house sheltering this magazine’s editor. Cars that…okay, you get the idea.

Guests started living this dream in January, paying $199 to drive six laps around the circuit in one of the exotic new beauties (a bargain compared to the speeding ticket one may receive by attempting these speeds on I-4) or $99 for thrill rides with a professional driver. Of course, Disney Vacation Club Members are a different matter altogether, so for these longtime supporters of the speedway, a 15 percent discount is in order. To book your Exotic Driving Experience, call 1-855-822-0149, mention that you’re a Disney Vacation Club Member and get ready to drive like a superstar! (In the meantime, please drive normally.)

Driving programs require participants to be 18 years old or older and to have a valid driver’s license. Ride-along programs require participants to be 14 years old or older, and participants younger than 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Drive your dream

Member PerksNew experience offers Member discount

the icing on the cake

Visit the Member Perks section of DVCMember.com to learn about other special offers available at the Walt Disney World Speedway.

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Making magic since 1987Disney Store presents Silver Anniversary offer

Disney Store: A lot of cool stuff happened in 1987. One world leader convinced another to “tear down that wall.” A baby got rescued from a well. A Super Bowl champion became the first to shout, “I’m going to Disney World!” And buying all things Disney no longer required a Theme Park ticket. Yes, it’s been 25 years since the Disney Store changed the retail landscape with that first location in Southern California’s Glendale Galleria. Packed with products inspired by Disney Parks, characters, films, television shows and more, Disney Store locations across the country—and now around the world—have brought a little bit of magic and imagination to your doorstep, or at least to your neighborhood. Innovative store designs, exciting products and friendly Cast Members all contribute to achieving Disney Store’s goal of delivering what it calls, “the best 30 minutes of a child’s day.” Now, to help celebrate their Silver Anniversary, our Disney Store friends are offering Disney Vacation Club Members 10 percent off purchases of $50 or more or 15 percent off purchases of $75 or more (in store only) through May 15, 2012.* To take advantage of this limited-time offer, bring your Member ID and the barcode below to your local Disney Store. If you don’t have a Disney Store near you or simply prefer to shop from the comfort of home, visit DVCMember.com for details about an offer that’ll be available to use on your DisneyStore.com order from April 1-30, 2012.

What was hot in 1987? Disney Files Magazine wondered what Disney fans were buying back in the year of the Disney Store’s debut. Here’s what history would suggest was making the registers ring in 1987:

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*In-store-only offer is valid Feb. 1–May 15, 2012 on any single purchase at Disney Store Retail locations in North America. Excludes Theme Park passes, limited-edition items, Duffy the Disney Bear Collection, gift cards or certificates, gift boxes, publications and memberships, DVDs, videos, CDs, video games, electronics, Blu-ray Discs, phone orders and shipping.  Not valid in combination with any other dollar/ percentage off offers or prior purchases.  Not valid at Employee Centers. Employees of The Walt Disney Company and its subsidiaries, and their immediate families, are NOT eligible. Coupon has no cash value, may not be copied and must be relinquished at time of purchase. Not valid on purchases from DisneyStore.com.  Limit one coupon per Guest. Returns and exchanges subject to discount taken at time of redemption. Prices subject to change without notice. Products subject to availability. Coupon may not be purchased, traded, or sold. Internet distribution strictly prohibited. Void where prohibited. 

Cast Member: Scan bar code at any time during transaction

©Disney•Pixar

• Disneyland Guests shop for all things associated with a new Tomorrowland attraction called Star Tours and later buy fine art at the new Disney Gallery in New Orleans Square (perhaps paying with Disney Dollars, which also debuted at the Park that year).

 • The animated classic Sleeping Beauty debuts on LaserDisc. That’s right, LaserDisc! • Tokyo Disneyland Guests begin sporting magically glowing rainbow T-shirts after experiencing

Michael Jackson’s “Captain EO” for the first time. Those same Guests start buying new hats and glasses after losing theirs on a new Westernland thrill ride called Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. 

•Teen girls buy any magazine featuring a young Patrick Dempsey, with whom they’ve become obsessed while watching Touchstone Pictures’ 1987 film Can’t Buy Me Love. (They’ll fall in love all over again when Dempsey stars decades later in ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy.”)

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ANSWERS: (1) top row, third plate has changed from 1286 to 1288, (2) second row, third full plate has swapped places with the third row, first plate, (3) an okina now appears in the word Hawai‘i on the fourth row, second full plate, (4) fifth row, second plate has changed from HAWAII to AULANI, (5) the registration year on the fifth row, third plate has changed from 76 to 11 – the magazine staff’s way of honoring Aulani as the 11th resort in the neighborhood (6) sixth row, first full plate has changed from TRAILER to TRACTOR and (7) sixth row, third full plate registration month has changed from JAN to AUG – our salute to the month the resort opened.

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picture thisDisney Vacation Club Members have a sharp eye for detail. Put that skill to the test by spotting the seven things we’ve altered in this photo of a Hawaiian license-plate art installation at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai‘i.

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Dish Chinese writings as far back as 2800 B.C., tell of people’s love of cinnamon, which once was more valuable than silver. Used in days of old as everything from medicine to food preservative to currency, the wonder spice has even provoked wars. Today, most of us can enjoy the simple luxury of cinnamon without hawking our flatware or invading an unsuspecting nation. To help put your pantry’s container of granulated goodness to creative use, we return to our celebrity-chef friend Cat Cora, who offers up this recipe for the Cinnamon Stewed Chicken dish served at Kouzzina by Cat Cora at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort.

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

1 chicken (ideally 2 1/2-3 pounds), cut into 8 pieces1 teaspoon ground cinnamon2 teaspoons kosher salt1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper5 garlic cloves

Cinnamon Stewed Chicken

Did you know?Some studies suggest that a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon a day can help lower LDL cholesterol, while others suggest it can help regulate blood sugar.

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil4 cups coarsely chopped yellow onions1/2 cup dry white wine2 cups water3 12-oz. cans of crushed tomatoes

Steps: 1. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. 2. Mix cinnamon, salt and pepper in a bowl and thoroughly rub the mixture on all sides of your chicken pieces. 3. Mince three of the garlic cloves and set aside. 4. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over high heat (or two skillets if you don’t have one big enough

to accommodate all eight chicken pieces, as it’s important to not overly crowd the chicken). 5. Add the chicken to the oil and brown for about 4-5 minutes on each side. Remove chicken when

well browned. 6. Reduce the heat to medium-high, and add the onions and your three minced garlic cloves to the

pan (which no longer contains chicken). Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the onions have softened and are a rich golden brown. Add the wine and scrape the bottom of the pan with a spatula to deglaze, loosening any tasty browned bits.

7. When the wine has evaporated, add the water, crushed tomatoes and remaining two garlic cloves (also minced).

8. Return the chicken to the pan. (The liquid should cover about 3/4 of the chicken.) Cover and simmer over low heat for about an hour until the chicken is tender and thoroughly cooked. (Should the sauce become too thick, simply thin with water.)

9. Season finished dish with kosher salt and pepper to taste, and serve with buttered noodles, rice, orzo or macaroni. Grating cheese over the top of each serving is optional (but fantastic).

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Disney Vacation Club Resorts: Guest rooms at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels, including all Disney Vacation Club Villas, now offer wireless Internet access for Members and Guests at no additional cost. Wireless access previously debuted at Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort and Disney’s Vero Beach Resort. That service continues to be available to Members at no additional cost.

Disney Vacation Club Resorts: Several resorts that contain Disney Vacation Club villas earned recognition through Conde Nast Traveler magazine’s latest Readers’ Choice Awards, determined by more than 8 million votes in a variety of categories. Properties honored among the top mainland U.S. resorts included Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney’s BoardWalk Resort, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disney’s Vero Beach Resort and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa also earned honors in the category, and Disney Cruise Line drew recognition among the standouts at sea.

Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas, Ko Olina, Hawai‘i: Members may book advance reservations for Aulani dining experiences and excursions without picking up the phone. Simply log onto DVCMember.com, click the Aulani link under the “Plan My Vacation” section headline at the right side of the home page, and you’ll find links to online reservation tools for these offerings.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas: A new okapi calf should be roaming the Pembe Savanna during your next trip “home” to Kidani Village. Born at the resort in October, the healthy female was still bonding with her mother backstage under the watchful eyes of Animal Care experts as this magazine went to press. Okapi births are cause for celebration in the 23 North American zoological facilities that house these relatives of the giraffe, as the species is classified as “Near Threatened” due to poaching and habitat loss in the wild. As the species’ solitary and secretive nature makes them difficult to observe in the lowland rainforests of Central Africa, Kidani Village offers a unique opportunity to admire these animals in a mixed-species habitat throughout the day and into the night.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Disney’s Contemporary Resort: In naming the best Theme Park restaurants in Central Florida, Orlando magazine readers gave Disney Vacation Club neighborhood hot spots two of the top three positions, placing Boma – Flavors of Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge in second place and California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in first. Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa finished third in the category.

neighborhood notesnew and newsworthy in our magical community

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Disney’s BoardWalk Villas: There’s more than coffee brewing along the shores of Crescent Lake at Boardwalk Joe’s, which has debuted a variety of new menu options from over-the-top margaritas to hot pretzels to glazed nuts. Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort: Recent studies show that one in six American adults treat themselves to at least one massage a year. That figure may be even higher among Members at Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort, where you don’t even have to leave your villa to partake in the pampering. To learn about the resort’s in-room massages, or to make reservations for the service, call the Recreation Department at (843) 341-4133.

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa: There’s an extra dose of “Disney” in the new look coming to villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. Crews are beginning to install new drapes, carpets, upholsteries, accessories and more in vacation homes throughout the resort as this magazine mails, with work scheduled for completion by spring 2013. Among the Disney Files Magazine staff’s favorite new elements are those celebrating Disney’s connection to the equestrian world, from bedspread patterns depicting horses in a forest inhabited by characters from The Fox and the Hound to throw pillows honoring scene-stealing horses from Disney-animated films. Look for more details in the summer edition of Disney Files Magazine.

Disney’s Vero Beach Resort: A new meeting space has surfaced along the Treasure Coast and another has unveiled a fresh look. New to the resort is the Galleon Room, equipped with a flat-panel TV, wireless Internet access, DVD player, speaker phone, a smart board and white board, flip charts and seating for as many as 14 Guests. The more expansive Sea Grape Room, meanwhile, is sporting an updated look with new carpet, seating and modern colors. Call (772) 234-2076 to book your meeting or event at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort.

Disney’s Vero Beach Resort: Members’ supply of seafood is particularly plentiful on Thursday evenings (5-9 p.m.), when the resort’s all-you-care-to-eat seafood buffet serves up a bounty of shrimp, crab legs, mussels, a fish of the day, conch chowder and even items for those who prefer that their food came from dry land (including addictive cheddar biscuits!). Call (772) 234-2180 for reservations. And to help work off those calories, be sure to check the activities calendar you receive upon check-in for details about an additional daily hour of pool party games hosted by the resort’s Recreation team.

The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa: The happiest place on earth is about to get even happier for the Member community, as Disney Vacation Club is preparing to once again make traditional hotel rooms at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa available to Members using vacation points beginning later this spring. While removing those hotel rooms from the Disney Collection upon opening Disney Vacation Club villas at the property was consistent with other Disney Vacation Club mixed-use resorts, the high demand for, and limited supply of, Disneyland Resort accommodations has prompted this rare exception to the rule.

Condo Meeting: The 2012 Disney Vacation Club Condominium Associations Meeting is scheduled to take place on Dec. 13 at the Walt Disney World Resort. As plans are subject to change, be sure to watch DVCMember.com for updates and more details as they become available.

Pool hopping: Whenever you’re using your Membership to stay at a Disney Vacation Club Resort at the Walt Disney World Resort or at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, you and any Guests staying with you are permitted to pool hop to other eligible pools if they’re not at capacity. Due to expected high occupancy, pool hopping isn’t available Feb. 19-25, March 31-April 14, May 26-28, June 29-July 7, Aug. 31-Sept. 3, Nov. 19-25, and Dec. 16, 2012-Jan. 5, 2013. Pool hopping is never available at Bay Cove Pool at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the pools at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, the pool at Disney’s Beach Club Villas or at the Disneyland Resort in California. Further block-out dates may be added based on capacity issues. Full details are available in Portable Perks and at DVCMember.com.

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destinationsSorcerers wantedGuests can cast spells, save Park from evil

Walt Disney World Resort: Troubling news has broken at the Magic Kingdom Park. Hades, the literally hot-headed Lord of the Underworld, has recruited a veritable who’s who list of Disney villains (including Cruella De Vil, Scar, Yzma, Jafar, Ratcliffe, Dr. Facilier, Maleficent and Ursula) to help him turn the Park into some kind of summer home for evildoers. Our old pal Merlin has some protective spells up his sleeve, but it’s going to take a lot of Sorcerers to save the place. Here’s how you can help. On your next visit to the Park, stop by one of Merlin’s two Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom training centers (one’s located behind Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square, and the other’s cleverly disguised as a recruitment station for “the Citizens Brigade to Protect the Magic Kingdom” within the Main Street, U.S.A. firehouse). Once inside, Merlin will train you to be a Sorcerer, even turning himself into a troll so you can hone your new craft with a bit of mock combat. (Don’t worry; it’s painless, and it’s included with Park admission.) You’ll leave the training center with some important spell cards and an equally valuable map that’ll identify 20 mystic portals (plus a few training portals that’ll further sharpen your skills) hidden throughout the Park. (Each mission will involve five of the 20 portals.) Invisible to common Guests, the portals may be disguised as anything from brick walls to jungle shields and will reveal themselves only to card-carrying Sorcerers. Some portals house heroes with helpful hints, while others house villains with whom you’ll battle. Exactly how you engage in that battle depends on the powers of your

particular spell cards. (You’ll have received five of 70 available cards, each with its own unique power.) The cards may just be snazzy souvenirs when you get home, but they’re powerful weapons against evil while you’re in the Park. Use them to defeat villains. Trade them with fellow Sorcerers to wield new powers. Just don’t lose them. The more you use these tools of the sorcery trade, the more powerful they’ll become! You may be wondering just how much time you’ll spend in battle. Well, that’s really up to you. Merlin’s people tell Disney Files Magazine that a good Sorcerer can spend 20-30 minutes finding and conquering any given villain. With nine missions standing between you and an epic final battle with Hades and his minions of darkness, you’re looking at more than four hours of interactive magic at your fingertips (not counting meals, bathroom breaks, Space Mountain flights and anything else on your Magic Kingdom itinerary) should you decide to take on every mission. There’ll be other Sorcerers in the Park, of course, so take your time, and hit as few or as many portals as you’d like. Fight the occasional villain at your leisure or engage in an intense, back-to-back battle. Fly solo or cast spells with your friends. Take on one evildoer or defeat them all. You’re in charge, and there’s really no wrong way to approach this unpredictable mission. All of us at Disney Files Magazine thank you for your service to the Park. (Oh, and if you do see Hades, you may want to mention that Disney Vacation Club offers a far less sinister way to own a piece of the magic.)

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Walt Disney World Resort: Some of Disney’s best attractions start with goofy ideas. Flying an elephant. Entering a canyon named “Catastrophe.” Time-traveling to an unsafe time of the Cretaceous period even though Phylicia Rashad just told you not to. So it’s no surprise that when Walt Disney Imagineers set out to re-imagine The Barnstormer (the kid-friendly coaster that formerly barreled through Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm at the Magic Kingdom Park), they started with an exceedingly goofy idea. “Some of Goofy’s most memorable moments happen when he takes on tasks for which he’s grossly under-qualified,” Walt Disney Imagineer Chris Beatty told Disney Files Magazine. “That includes just about everything, so it was pretty much a blank canvas as we dreamed up new angles for an attraction that serves as many kids’ first thrill ride.” Enabled by the Goof’s limited skill set and inspired by the Big Top theme of the new Storybook Circus “mini-land” taking shape as part of the Fantasyland expansion project, Imagineers settled on a perfectly imperfect circus job for their

intellectually challenged star. “Every good circus needs a good stunt performer,” Chris said. “And who better than Goofy to be our resident daredevil? As The Great Goofini, he’ll invite Guests to board his stunt plane for a quick flight around Storybook Circus. Most performers would be discouraged by unfortunate endings to previous stunts, but not Goofy. He’s the ultimate optimist, and he’s sure that this time, everything’s going to be great.” The attraction’s daring new storyline complements – in irreverent fashion – a new, tree-lined area that, upon completion, will celebrate classic Disney storytelling and romanticized circuses of the 1930s with an expanded Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction, the “refreshing” Casey Jr. Splash & Soak Station, a revamped Fantasyland Train Station, silly sideshows and more. Watch Disney Files Magazine for continuing coverage of the project as Storybook Circus and the nearby Fantasyland Forest materialize in the months ahead. Meanwhile, The Barnstormer starring Goofy as The Great Goofini is scheduled to take flight this spring. What could possibly go wrong?

Dare tacticsRe-imagined coaster casts Goofy in new role

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Street of DreamsPark’s “first scene” to celebrate Walt’s “second chapter”

Disneyland Resort: A cardboard suitcase and $40 cash. That, along with the clothes on his back and the ideas in his head, is about all Walt Disney brought with him to California when he arrived in Los Angeles from Kansas City in 1923. Capturing the sense of optimism and adventure Walt felt as he stepped off that train was the ambitious goal of the Walt Disney Imagineers who are turning the entrance plaza of Disney California Adventure Park into Buena Vista Street. Scheduled to open this summer, the new street aims to transport Guests to another time and set the tone for adventures ahead. “Buena Vista Street is the ‘second chapter’ to Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland in the sense that, if Main Street represents a romanticized version of Walt Disney’s childhood hometown of Marcelline, Mo., Buena Vista Street represents Los Angeles as a young Walt Disney may have found it in the time period of 1923-1937,” Imagineer Ray Spencer told Disney Files Magazine. “It sets the tone for his and our Guests’ own ‘California Adventure.’” While Disneyland Park’s Main Street U.S.A. leads to Sleeping Beauty Castle, the shop-lined Buena Vista Street will lead to a place more closely associated with another member of Disney’s royal family. “The Carthay Circle Theatre, where the Disney animated classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered in 1937, serves as the icon,” Ray said. “Housed inside will be a high-end restaurant and lounge in which artifacts and display items will tell the Disney Studio story.” While most Guests will arrive at the theater by foot, others will do so by Red Car Trolley. “Southern California once had the largest electric

interurban railway in the world, the Pacific Electric Railway, with 1,000 miles of track and the ability to take people from the mountains to the deserts to the sea, including most points in between,” Ray explained. “When a young Walt Disney stepped off the train from Kansas City, one of the first things he likely saw was a Red Car Trolley waiting in front of Santa Fe Railroad’s La Grande Station. This is an icon of early Los Angeles, and a natural form of transportation and nostalgia for our Guests.” The Park’s version of the trolley system will feature four stops, taking Guests from the Buena Vista Street entry to the Carthay Circle Theatre, down Hollywood Boulevard into Hollywood Land, and then on to Sunset Boulevard with the final stop at the Hollywood Tower Hotel (the one with the “faulty” elevator). Among the highlights along the way will be a statue of an optimistic Walt and Mickey, with their lives and California dreams in front of them. Dubbed “Storytellers” and positioned on a sidewalk to allow easy access for photo-snapping Guests, the statue celebrates the enduring spirit of dreaming and doing. “As a student of history, a native of Los Angeles, a train enthusiast and a Disney enthusiast, it doesn’t get better for me,” Ray said of working on the Buena Vista Street project. “The great, passionate people involved in bringing this to life have been equally inspirational across the board. The frosting on the cake is to share all of this with our Guests, who deserve the best and hopefully will be inspired and entertained.”

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Disney track hosts cars of the future Walt Disney World Resort: Lightning McQueen wasn’t the only talking vehicle in Central Florida when Disney Files Magazine rolled into the Walt Disney World Speedway on a recent afternoon. Building on Walt Disney’s vision of a vacation kingdom that would double as a testing ground for new technologies, the track welcomed the world’s leading automakers for an eye-opening demonstration of “connected vehicle” technology that could revolutionize transportation safety. U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was among those who made the trip to Florida to get a first-hand look at “vehicle-to-vehicle” communications systems designed to give drivers a 360-degree awareness of dangerous situations. “Thanks to the efforts of automakers and the safety community, traffic fatalities have reached historic lows,” Secretary LaHood said. “Despite these great strides though, more than 32,000 people are still killed on our nation’s roads every year. That’s why we must remain vigilant in our effort to improve safety. This research should bring us a step closer to what could be the next major safety breakthrough.” Disney Files Magazine Editor Ryan March went along for the ride during one series of demonstrations, buckling into a test vehicle and watching in awe (and relief) as the accelerating car avoided collisions in a variety of scenarios, alerted the merging driver to a car in his blind spot and more. “It’s like having air-traffic control under the hood,” said Kirk Steudle, Director of the Department of Transportation for the State of Michigan and the driver of Ryan’s vehicle. While detailed explanations from the engineer who joined Ryan in the vehicle’s back seat exceeded our Editor’s limited comprehension of the technical world, the basic idea

involves Dedicated Short Range Communications technology (similar to Wi-Fi) that essentially lets vehicles “talk” to each other. The driver remains an active and critical part of the vehicle’s operation, and the technology offers an invaluable assist, if you will. For example, as Steudle began moving into the left lane during our merging exercise, the system detected a similarly equipped vehicle in his blind spot and warned him by vibrating the left side of his seat, illuminating a warning light in his left-side mirror and sounding an audible alert. (He wisely stayed in his lane.) In our rear-collision test, Steudle was instructed to accelerate toward a slower-moving vehicle ahead on the track. (Insert Ryan’s panicked expression here.) Our Editor’s heart rate returned to normal as the warning system prompted Steudle to apply the brakes and avoid disaster. Future evolutions of the technology could take accident prevention to the next level, enabling the vehicle to take matters into its own hands (or brakes). “The long-term potential is to create cars that simply refuse to crash,” Steudle said. Having impressed reporters and researchers alike on the speedway, the project moved to Steudle’s home state of Michigan, where 2,800 cars, trucks and buses are scheduled to test the driver-warning technology on the streets of Ann Arbor through the end of the year. Information collected during this critical test period will help the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration determine whether to move forward with additional vehicle-to-vehicle communication activities, including possible legislation that could place this technology in new vehicles in the not-too-distant future. Somewhere, Walt Disney is smiling.

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Disney Parks: The Themed Entertainment Association’s 18th Annual Thea Awards, recognizing excellence in the creation of extraordinary visitor experiences, attractions, exhibits and places, will honor Disney Parks in a variety of categories during a March 17 black-tie gala at the Disneyland Hotel in California. With industry winners already announced, Disney Files Magazine can report that the Star Tours – The Adventures Continue attraction in California and Florida will take home the Attraction Refresh award, “The Magic, The Memories & You!” show at the Magic Kingdom Park in Florida will grab Show Spectacular honors, the Animator’s Palate Restaurant experience aboard the Disney Fantasy ship (as previewed at a May 2011 press event) wins for Ingenious Use of Technology, and Walt Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde will accept the prestigious Buzz Price Thea Award for a lifetime of distinguished achievements.

Disneyland Resort: Construction is underway on Fantasy Faire, an engaging new home for Disney Princesses at the site of the Carnation Plaza Gardens bandstand near Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Park. The elaborately themed medieval village, filled with Tudor cottages, turreted towers and draped pavilions, will invite Guests to meet Disney Princesses, enjoy stage shows and participate in a daily Royal Ribbon Parade around Tangled Tower. Fantasy Faire is scheduled to open in 2013.

Walt Disney World Resort: The 19th Annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, presented again this year by HGTV, springs to life from March 7-May 20. At the heart of this colorful festival (included with Epcot admission) are more than 100 elaborate topiary sculptures, including more than 75 inspired by favorite Disney characters. Beyond the topiaries, the festival aims to inspire Guests to do everything from planting their first garden to enhancing their homes’ curb appeal through special presentations from HGTV stars and Epcot gardening experts. HGTV stars planning to appear on select dates include John Gidding, Monica Pedersen, Jason Cameron, Brandon Johnson, Dan Faires, Antonio Ballatore, Genevieve Gorder and more. Learn more about the festival online at www.disneyworld.com/flower. Walt Disney World Resort: The America Gardens Theatre at Epcot will rock with the sounds of the 1960s and 70s during the Flower Power Concert Series on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from March 9-May 20. Part of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, this year’s lineup is scheduled to include performances by Jose Feliciano (March 9-11), Starship starring Mickey Thomas (March 16-18), The Guess Who (March 23-25), The Spinners (March 30-April 1), Chubby Checker & The Wildcats (April 6-8), Paul Revere & The Raiders (April 13-15), The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie (April 20-22), Chuck Negron formerly of Three Dog Night (new this year and performing April 27-29), The Orchestra starring former members of ELO (new this year and performing May 4-6), Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone (May 11-13) and Davy Jones (May 18-20).

Walt Disney World Resort: Aarón Sanchez, a Food Network fan favorite on such shows as “Chopped” and “Heat Seekers,” is the celebrity chef behind the new House of Blues restaurant menu now serving Guests at Downtown Disney West Side. Dubbed “Crossroads at House of Blues,” the new menu celebrates the spirit of a place at which food, music and art intersect.

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Tokyo Disney Resort: Goofy’s looking for a little help redecorating his pad, and Guests will answer the call this fall, when Goofy’s Paint ‘n’ Play House is scheduled to open in Toontown at Tokyo Disneyland Park. The attraction will let Guests paint a room in Goofy’s house by taking aim with special “paint applicators” that will transform spaces designed with beach, jungle and other remodeling themes.

Tokyo Disney Resort: Two spring events are scheduled to engage Tokyo Disney Resort Guests from April 3-June 30. Disney’s Easter Wonderland at Tokyo Disneyland Park will cast Mickey Mouse in the role of the Easter Bunny for a colorful parade and challenge young Guests to hunt for eggs hidden in the Park. Tokyo DisneySea Park, meanwhile, presents Mickey & Duffy’s Spring Voyage, celebrating the arrival of spring around the world with mini-shows in the themed ports of Mediterranean Harbor, American Waterfront and Arabian Coast.

Disneyland Paris: The official iPhone app of Disneyland Paris has inspired an Android version to let more Guests than ever enjoy the free mobile service. Available in both French and English, the interactive guide is designed to help Guests prepare for their Disneyland Paris visit with videos, attraction information, operating schedules and more. Once at the resort, Guests may use the app’s geolocation features to look up attraction wait times, set alarms to remind them of show times and locate points of interest.

Disney Cruise Line: Fresh off the milestone 70th anniversary of the 1941 film that made him famous, the big star with the adorably big ears continues to enjoy a very big year. Dumbo, whose Disney Blu-ray Disc debut preceded the re-imagination of his namesake attraction at the Magic Kingdom Park, is the latest character to grace the stern of a Disney cruise ship. Recognizing that few Disney images capture the spirit of fantasy like a flying elephant who befriends a mouse, Walt Disney Imagineers selected Dumbo and his pal Timothy Q. Mouse to grace the stern of the new Disney Fantasy ship. The striking sculpture builds on a proud tradition of Disney Cruise Line stern characters, following in the wake of Goofy, Donald Duck (with nephew Huey) and Sorcerer Mickey.

Disney Cruise Line: Two attention-grabbing water features – one for families and one for adults – are among the unique features primed to refresh Guests aboard the Disney Fantasy ship, scheduled to sail on its maiden voyage in March out of Port Canaveral, Fla. Huey, Dewey and Louie are the web-footed brainchildren behind AquaLab, an 1,800-square-foot space dedicated to the purposes of refreshment (and science). Donald’s ever-curious nephews have concocted a series of water experiments that’ll drench equally curious families with interactive pop jets, geysers and bubblers. Adults looking for a little tranquility with their refreshment may head upstairs to the Satellite Sun Deck, created exclusively for Guests ages 18 or older. It’s there that grownups will discover sun-soaked loungers, shaded canopy seating and Satellite Falls – a circular splash pool equipped with benches and a gently falling rain curtain.

Disney Cruise Line: While Enchanted Art on the Disney Dream ship challenges Guests to help Mickey solve crimes involving stolen paintings and puppies, similar art on the new Disney Fantasy ship will invite Guests to help the Muppets solve “The Case of the Stolen Show.” Guests holding unique game cards will unlock clues and locate the Muppets’ missing props so Kermit and company can take the stage for a big performance.

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diversionsAlien territoryAnimation veteran goes to Mars for live-action epic

Adventure. Romance. Political intrigue. Walt Disney Pictures’ John Carter is the story of a character that began capturing imaginations 100 years ago, and it’s something Andrew Stanton (pictured below) has been dreaming about since he was 10. Disney Files Magazine caught up with the Academy Award-winning director of such animated Disney∙Pixar hits as WALL-E and Finding Nemo to discuss his highly anticipated new live-action film, based on a series of Edgar Rice Burroughs stories that debuted in 1912. “I read the book (A Princess of Mars, 1917) when I was 10, having first discovered the John Carter stories through Marvel comic books,” Andrew told us. “Over the course of the next four-to-five years, I read all 11 books in the series, and I’ve been fascinated by those stories ever since.” The film, opening in U.S. theaters on March 9, follows former military captain John Carter, who inexplicably wakes up on Mars and becomes reluctantly embroiled in a conflict amongst the planet’s inhabitants, including the towering Tars Tarkas and the captivating Princess Dejah Thoris. This is the saga’s second pass through Disney hands, as the company owned production rights to the stories in the 1980s. But back then, like the filmmakers who held those rights before and immediately after that time, even the dream-makers at Disney deemed available technology incapable of properly telling the epic tale. “I remember seeing Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars: Episode 1 [1999] and Gollum in The Lord of the Rings [2001], and really being inspired,” Andrew recalled. “What struck me was that you could now do Tars Tarkas – the 9-foot-tall, green, four-armed, tusked main character in our film – and you could present him the way I’ve pictured since I was a kid. That’s when I got excited as a fan and knew it was

finally possible to do this story justice on the screen.” Fast forward to spring 2010 and Andrew found himself in alien territory – out of the animation studio and on location in the deserts of Utah – directing his first live-action epic. “A lot of people warned me that the big difference between directing animation and live action would be that, in live action, you work with real people,” Andrew said. “The truth is, it takes anywhere from 100-200 real people to make an animated film, and you work with them on a very intense, hourly basis, day in and day out ... So in that respect, animation and live action is the same sport, just played a little differently ... What was different for me was the laborious intensity of being on location. I wasn’t in the comforts of the animation studio anymore. I was outdoors. A lot! It’s a race against the clock and sunset. The stamina required to make it through those long days on your feet was the biggest shock to me.” The end result of that laborious production is a film that finally brings to the screen a story credited with inspiring a beloved genre of science-fiction and superhero film sagas from Superman to Star Wars. “The greatest superheroes, with all their extraordinary abilities, are relatable to ordinary people,” Andrew said. “In the case of John Carter, it’s about being lost in your life, finding your way through adversity and ultimately discovering that where you’re meant to be isn’t necessarily where you’d planned to be.”

“Home” field advantage: Disney Vacation Club Members were among the first to see John Carter during an advance (and complimentary!) screening of the film at the Walt Disney World Resort before its release to the public.

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Disney Editions has released the fourth installment of The Archives Series, a collection of coffee-table-worthy hardcover books chronicling the rich and diverse work of the Walt Disney Animation Studios. The latest edition, Layout & Background, is a bound gallery of artwork from decades of animated Disney films, from the earliest animated shorts to the most contemporary features. To help celebrate the new book, in stores now, Disney Files Magazine presents nine backgrounds and concept drawings, and challenges you to name the film in which they appeared. (Here’s a hint: they appear in chronological order.)

Book showcases the art of animation backgrounds

Images from the book Layout and Background. ©2011 Disney Enterprises Inc. Published by Disney Editions. Artwork courtesy of the Walt Disney Animation Research Library.

ANSWERS: (1) Bambi, 1942, (2) Johnny Appleseed, 1945, (3) Lady and the Tramp, 1955, (4) One Hundred and One Dalmatians, 1961, (5) Robin Hood, 1973, (6) Beauty and the Beast, 1991, (7) Pocahontas, 1995, (8) Hercules, 1997, (9) Tangled, 2010.

Behind the scene

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What kids are readingNew Disney magazines reaching young audiences

In a high-tech world where more young people play sports on screens than on fields, and where laughing out loud has largely been reduced to a trio of keystrokes, the Disney Files staff was delighted to discover that kids still read magazines. We’re talking genuine words and pictures printed on actual paper bound with real staples! And we aren’t just talking about this magazine. (Though we do love our young readers. Hi kids!) We’re talking about a popular series of kid-focused magazines from our friends at Disney Publishing Worldwide. Already a hit in more than 40 countries around the world, the highly interactive publications have now landed in the U.S., engaging young readers and proving that the written word still has a viable future. “Kids have really embraced this,” Disney Publishing Worldwide Creative Development Director Deanna Cook told Disney Files Magazine of the series, which currently includes Disney Phineas and Ferb Magazine, Disney∙Pixar Cars Magazine, Disney Junior Magazine, Disney Princess Magazine and Disney Fairies Magazine. Available on newsstands and by subscription, the magazines are designed to take readers deeper into the character worlds they’ve come to love on screen with stories, activities and more. Each edition of Disney Fairies Magazine, for example, delivers stories, comics, Pixie puzzles, games, coloring pages, cutouts and pullout posters.

“Disney Fairies Magazine is particularly popular with little girls ages 6-9,” Deanna explained. “It’s a very sweet magazine that really celebrates creativity and the outdoors with wonderful themes of nature and friendship.” While nobody on the Disney Files staff falls into the 6-9 age demographic, we didn’t let that stop us from enjoying the November edition of Disney Fairies Magazine. We learned the autumn-job responsibilities of our favorite Pixie Hollow residents (if you’re wondering who’s responsible for ripening ears of corn, it’s Rosetta); helped Clank, Bobble and Tink find missing elements of a scene from their comic adventure; discovered the secrets of woodpeckers (did you know the spotted woodpecker can peck 10 times a second?); learned cool stuff about pumpkins and gourds (the biggest pumpkin on record weighed more than 1,810 pounds!); found hidden fairies playing hide-and-seek; learned the nuances of the color brown in nature; colored Queen Clarion’s fall wardrobe (we were awesome at that, by the way) and analyzed a Tinker Bell invention, all before reaching page 26 (of 40). “I love knowing that, while Mom or Dad read the newspaper, kids can enjoy a publication of their own,” Deanna said. “It encourages reading and simple problem-solving in a really fun and engaging way.” To find out how you can save more than 50 percent on these magazines by subscribing before the end of May 2012, visit the Member Perks section of DVCMember.com.

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What kids are reading

Every iconic film has an iconic moment. For Lady and the Tramp, that moment involves pasta. So as Walt Disney’s 1955 animated classic gets ready to sparkle for the first time on high-definition Disney Blu-ray Disc this spring, Disney Files Magazine proudly presents a spaghetti-inspired idea from our clever friends at Disney FamilyFun magazine. It’s sweet, it’s a treat, and its visual trickery makes it the perfect meal for April Fool’s Day!

Sweet spaghetti

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Stuff: • Cupcake or pound cake

(homemade or store-bought)

• Butter cream frosting (again, homemade or store-bought)

• Strawberry sauce (the kind you use on ice cream)

• Butter knife

• Chocolate malt balls

• Blanched walnuts or almonds

• Coconut

• Shallow baking pan

• Blender

• Green sprinkles

• White chocolate chips

• Double boiler or microwave

• Spoon

• Lady fingers

• A frosting decorating tube (or zip-top sandwich bag with a tiny hole cut in one corner)

Steps: 1. Place half a cupcake (top or bottom, your choice) or a half slice of

pound cake in the center of a plate.

2. Spoon the butter-cream frosting into a decorating tube fitted with a large, circular tip and pipe it in a looping, spaghetti-like fashion around the sides of the cake, taking care to not frost the top. (Note: If you don’t have decorating tubes and tips, a small hole cut in the corner of a zip-top bag will do in a pinch.)

3. Spoon the strawberry sauce on top of the cake to cover, drizzling a bit over portions of your frosting spaghetti as well for added spaghetti-sauce effect.

4. For the meatballs, use a butter knife to rough up the surface of 2-3 chocolate-covered malt balls. Place them on top of the sauce.

5. For the parmesan cheese, crush a handful of blanched almonds or walnuts in a blender and then sprinkle the pieces over the assembled dish.

6. For the garlic bread, toast some coconut (for garlic) in a shallow baking pan at 350 degrees (Fahrenheit) for 8-10 minutes, stirring often for even toasting. For butter, melt 1/4 cup of white chocolate chips in a double boiler (or heat them in the microwave for about 90 seconds at half power) and stir until smooth. Spread the melted white chocolate on lady fingers and top with toasted coconut and green sprinkles (your sweet alternative to parsley).

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Goofy’s resumeBy Jim Korkis

In the spirit of April Fool’s Day, I begin this installment of my Disney Heritage column with a goofy little riddle: What time is it when your wristwatch runs backwards? If you said, “Time to get a new watch,” you probably aren’t wearing one of those limited-edition Goofy timepieces of yesteryear. You know, the kind with the numbers placed backwards on the dial and Goofy’s hands moving counter-clockwise? Okay, that was kind of a trick question. Let’s try another one. What time will it be when the first phase of the Fantasyland expansion project opens at the Magic Kingdom Park this spring? I’ll give you a minute to think about it … Ready? The answer is family fun time! I guess I should leave the comedy to Goofy, or at least to his current official voice, Bill Farmer, who is an accomplished comedian. I’ll stick to writing about Disney history. So where was I? Oh yes, phase one of the Fantasyland expansion. Well, Goofy fans will be happy to discover that Max’s dim-witted Dad has been cast as the Great Goofini in Storybook Circus, one of three Fantasyland neighborhoods Guests will explore when the expansion is completed. With a little assist from Walt Disney Imagineers, Goofy has turned his Barnstormer Multiflex Octoplane crop duster into a daredevil circus act, and he’s taking Guests along for the thrilling ride. As circus daredevil is just the latest job Goofy has tackled through the years, I thought I’d take this opportunity to more carefully examine his colorful resume. From sailor to sports star, and from gaucho to superhero, it’s been a gawrsh-darn memorable career that shows no signs of slowing down.

But first, let’s get the most burning Goofy question out of the way: Is he a dog or a man? It’s a common question that’s been debated for years. Here’s the scoop. When Goofy was originally called “Dippy Dawg” and voiced by Disney story man Pinto Colvig, he was much older and had a more, let’s just say “rural” personality. In comic strips and animation at the time, it was quite common for generic human beings in an anthropomorphic world to be drawn with dog-like faces. For example, a scowling bulldog-faced character might play the role of a tough policeman or a bullying thug. So while Goofy’s face might slightly resemble a canine, it was never Walt’s intention that he slurp out of a water dish or chase cats up a tree. Walt was merely following a comic-art tradition of using a cartoonish stand-in known in the world of cartooning as “dogfaces,” who take the place of a realistically drawn human. Goofy was essentially an avatar for a human while Pluto was clearly Mickey’s pet pooch. Walt Disney saw that Goofy immediately caught the attention and affection of a movie audience. Cleverly, he suggested making the character younger so that Goofy could team up more easily with Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck in their adventures. One of Walt’s favorite words when he was in story meetings for a Mickey Mouse cartoon and wanted something that was funny in an exaggerated, slapstick way was “goofy.” So the gangling, youthful klutz was re-dubbed “Goofy” and used that new name in his first solo cartoon “Goofy and Wilbur” (1939). One of the key animators who helped define Goofy’s physical personality was the legendary Art Babbitt. In a

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Goofy’s resumelecture to fellow Disney artists in June 1934, he said, “Think of Goofy as a composite of an everlasting optimist, a gullible Good Samaritan. No matter what happens, he accepts it finally as being for the best or at least amusing. He is willing to help anyone and offers his assistance even when it is not needed and just creates confusion. He very seldom, if ever, reaches his objective or completes what he has started. His brain being rather vapory, it is difficult for him to concentrate on any one subject.” Okay, back to his resume. As you may know, Goofy’s forthcoming turn as the Great Goofini in the Magic Kingdom Park won’t be his first flight experience. Goofy’s Sky School, for example, opened last year at Disney California Adventure Park. That re-imagined Paradise Pier attraction is inspired by the 1940 animated short “Goofy’s Glider,” in which the Goof’s outlandish attempts to build and launch his own homemade glider results in ever-escalating disaster. Animator Jack Kinney, who directed the short, recalled, “What makes Goofy funny is tying gags to his goodnatured and innocent personality. Goofy is very easy going. In ‘Goofy’s Glider,’ he takes a big fall out of the plane, maybe 25,000 feet. And he knows he has to count to 10 before he pulls the ripcord on his parachute. So we have him counting one…two…three and….kerbloom…he hits the ground. It’s too late. But he counts to 10 and pulls the cord. That’s the way he is…a slow thinker.” That’s all part of Goofy’s unique charm, finding life complicated but not threatening. Goofy thinks long and hard…before doing the wrong thing every time. His catastrophes are comic but never fatal, and his good nature has helped him survive for nearly 80 years. Goofy evolved over the decades as he moved into different careers. In the 1940s, he starred in a series of hilarious “How To…” shorts offering ill-advised instruction in everything from riding a horse to swimming to playing football. In the 1950s, at Walt’s own suggestion, Goofy became a family man, struggling with everything from dieting to training the family dog to trying to drive on a busy freeway. Today, audiences might know Goofy best from his television series “Goof Troop” and his feature length movies A Goofy Movie (1995) and An Extremely Goofy Movie (2000), following Goofy’s challenges in raising his son, Max. Goofy’s standout appearances in such contemporary hit series as “House of Mouse” and “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” and in video games like Kingdom Hearts and Epic Mickey have amused a whole new generation. Whatever the venue, audiences have laughed themselves silly at clumsy Goofy’s loose limbed, accident-prone, silent-comedy, slapstick antics.

What makes affable Goofy such a beloved character? He’s cheerful, sincere, loyal and never gives up.As director Jack Kinney told his animators, “Goofy is Mr. Common Man. Mr. Every Man. People can sympathize with him but be thankful they are not him.” Alright, one last riddle. What time is it when you come to the end of this article? Time to reveal one final extra special Goofy secret! Goofy’s familiar holler as he falls through the air (“yaaaaaaa-hoo-hoo-hoo-hooey!!”) was originally provided by Austrian skiing champion Hannes Schroll, who was a good friend of Walt Disney. Schroll was the founder of the Sugar Bowl ski resort in Northern California, where Walt sometimes vacationed. Schroll even re-named one of the mountains there “Mt. Disney.” As a favor to Walt, he supplied the yodeling in the Goofy cartoon “The Art of Skiing” (1941) and was the first person to do that classic yell. Today, the aforementioned Bill Farmer does the honors (and also barks for Pluto!). Come to think of it, you may have heard Bill do the yell live at sea on recent S.S. Member Cruise voyages. Talk about a Goofy career!

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1. Sasha, part of the Fagleman family of New York, Members since 2008, eyes her target without messing up her tiara.

2. Perhaps inspired by the helpful woodland creatures in Disney-animated films (or perhaps shielding himself from Sasha’s rifle), this squirrel does his part to keep the Theme Park neat and pretty. Kudos to the wildlife-photography skills of the Montgomery family of Florida, Members since 2008.

3. Amelia and Graham, part of the Wayne family of Minnesota, Members since 2008, are all ears at Kidani Village.

4. Jaya, part of the Longton family of Michigan, Members since 1999, exchanges waves with her hero along the Magic Kingdom parade route.

5. Tami Stancil of Florida, Member since 2007, takes her favorite (we’re assuming) magazine not to Adventureland, but rather to Cambodia’s Ta Prohm temple.

6. Tara Lenharth of New Hampshire, Member since 1999, sent this photo of a Menehune reading about his home resort in Hawai‘i.

7. Haley, part of the Dunn family of Japan (U.S. military base), Members since 2010, gets “Tangled” up with Rapunzel at Disneyland Park in California.

8. Aaron, part of the Fanjoy family of Illinois, Members since 2009, uses a Jedi mind trick on Darth Maul (before asking him for an autograph).

9. Cade, part of the Solich family of Idaho, Members since 2009, celebrates his first victory over his dad at Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.

Send your photos (keeping copies for yourself as we won’t return ours) to Disney Files Magazine, Disney Vacation Club, 1390 Celebration Blvd., Celebration, FL 34747. Remember to include your name, hometown and “Member Since” year, along with a signed release form for each person pictured. The form is available online at www.dvcmember.com/releaseform.

Better your chances of seeing your family in the magazine by capturing compelling, candid moments, which almost always beat posed photos. We do, however, enjoy when you pose with the magazine, particularly when you do so in exotic locations beyond the Disney Parks.

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Picture Pointers from

Don’t miss a memory. When traveling, remember to pack an extra camera battery, your battery charger and at least two media-storage cards. (Of course, if your vacation destination has Disney’s PhotoPass photographers, this becomes a bit less important.)

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As Goofy prepares to take flight as The Great Goofini at the Magic Kingdom Park, Disney Files Magazine and D23 present one of the Goof’s earlier Walt Disney World stunts, waterskiing behind a house boat with Pluto at the helm in 1973.

©Disney VCDFM0212A

Disney Vacation Club Members may take advantage of a 10 percent discount off the purchase of a new Gold or Silver D23 Membership*. Visit www.disney.com/D23, click “Join D23,” add a new D23 Membership to your cart and enter the promotional code D23DVC2012 during checkout.

*Offer valid for new D23 Memberships only and therefore doesn’t apply to renewals.