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Halloween Horses Strike a Pose at Circle D Ranch

While Circle D horses and the cast members that care for them are used to having fun at the Disneyland Resort, current conditions called for a creative way to conjure up something wickedly wonderful to celebrate Halloween. So just in time for the spookiest day of the year, the majestic steeds of Circle D Ranch dressed to impress in costumes designed by their human cast member handlers. Oh hay!

Photographed in front of the vista of the Circle D ranch house, the horses donned various “looks” ranging from a Disney hero to an exotic mammal, as well as traditional amusement park steeds and even a tasty treat! Let’s take a look at the Disney equine fashion show:

Percheron Draft Horses, Chief and Chad

First up above are Percheron Draft Horses, Chief and Chad, ridden by cast members Shana Miner and Jordan Nelson. These gracious grey beauties bedecked with flowers represent the traditional carousel horses loved around the world. 

Jack, a Percheron and Belgian Draft Horse mix dons the stripes of the African mammal known as the okapi

Next, Jack, a Percheron and Belgian Draft Horse mix, dons the stripes of the African mammal known as the okapi. Jack is accompanied by his zookeeper, cast member Alyssa Denison. Fun fact: although the okapi has striped markings reminiscent of zebras, it is most closely related to the giraffe!

Maximus, a Clydesdale Draft Horse, is dressed to appeal to baked potato lovers everywhere

Snack time! Maximus, a Clydesdale Draft Horse, is dressed to appeal to baked potato lovers everywhere. Accompanying this equine spud are cast members Cindy Palacios, Margaret Escobedo and Alyssa Lambert. 

Val, a Percheron Draft Horse, is dressed to deck the halls and spread good cheer

Anticipating the upcoming holiday season, Val, a Percheron Draft Horse, is dressed to deck the halls and spread good cheer to all as the ultimate Christmas horse. Val is with cast member Jill Borges.

Finn, a Brabant Draft Horse, and cast member Tara Parker

Representing beloved Disney characters Flynn Rider and Rapunzel from “Tangled” are Finn, a Brabant Draft Horse, and cast member Tara Parker.

Gracie, a Percheron Draft Horse, and cast member Hanna Richter

Last up in this frightfully fun costume cavalcade is Gracie, a Percheron Draft Horse, and cast member Hanna Richter. Could there be a sweeter ending than a Bumble Bee with its flower?

A big thank you to the staff of Circle D who care for the beloved horses of Disneyland Resort. Happy Halloween!

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com
Filed Under: Disneyland Resort, DLR

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‘Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom’ Showcases Animal Care Team Springing into Action

I’m a big fan of super hero movies and absolutely love it when groups of heroes come together to tackle a worthy cause. These types of scenes actually play out in my day-to-day life. I’m incredibly proud to work with some real-life super heroes – experts on Disney’s animal care team who come together at a moment’s notice to care for the 5,000+ animals at Walt Disney World Resort. “Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom” shows viewers something I get to witness firsthand – an excellent team springing into action to do what’s best for the animals in their care. To say this team is passionate about their work is putting it lightly. They are fully devoted to providing outstanding care for our animals – and the way in which they do it hopefully inspires others to want to do the same. 

This week’s episode, “Peri’s Prickly Pregnancy,” shows how teamwork is essential for success when providing care for an animal’s health and well-being. While some of this work occurs in our park’s state-of-the-art veterinary hospital, the magic extends beyond those four walls – it requires around the clock care – on land, in the water and even in the air.

Dr. Deidre, our veterinary operations manager, has spent 20 years on our team, and we often talk about how teamwork with a holistic approach to animal health care is what makes working at Disney special. You’ll see that dynamic shine through in this week’s episode of our show, as the team provides care for pregnant prehensile-tailed porcupine Peri, and her porcupette. It takes a lot of relationship building and trust to get an animal to participate in their own medical care – our team is on point with this, and the work isn’t as prickly as you might imagine.

Care for Peri starts with animal keepers, like Ashley, who observe and monitor her daily, provide a balanced diet from our nutrition team and train with Peri so she’ll participate in her own care. Ashley has a special bond with Peri that goes all the way back to Ashley’s first day with our team. Peri was the first animal Ashley got to work with at Disney, and the two of them just clicked.

Veterinary hospital manager Shelley also has a unique relationship with Peri. She trained Peri to voluntarily participate in ultrasounds and did such an incredible job that the Conservation Station animal care team felt it was fitting to name Peri’s baby after Shelley! Thanks to the prep work done by the team, veterinarians, like Dr. Natalie and Dr. Diedre can easily examine Peri and her baby and use their decades of veterinary training and medical expertise to see mom and baby are developing well on track and thriving.

Curious to learn more? Keep your eyes on Dr. Mark’s Instagram account (@DrMarkAtDisney) for a special #AskDrMark series on animal health care in the coming days. And the learning doesn’t stop here. This week’s activity page includes a lot of fun facts about several of the animals in our care, from steenbok to manatees, and it’s a great guide to keep handy whenever you tune into Disney+ to watch more of “Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom,” now streaming.

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com
Filed Under: Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort, Animals, DAK, Video, WDW

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#DisneyMagicMoments: Create Your Own Disney Cruise Line Pumpkin Tree Book Nook at Home With Our DIY Tutorial

With Halloween approaching frightfully fast, we are bringing some ghoulish Disney Cruise Line fun to you at home. During our Halloween on the High Seas cruises, every Disney ship boasts its own signature Pumpkin Tree in the atrium lobby. Now, you can create your own pumpkin tree book nook at home using our DIY template. 

Disney Cruise Line Pumpkin Trees are inspired by Ray Bradbury’s classic tale about the traditions of Halloween, “The Halloween Tree.” The trees magically transform from eerie and barren into the life of the party, with sprouting Jack-O-Lanterns, flickering lights and a booming voice. Each Pumpkin Tree is unique and tended to by a mysterious caretaker, who tells stories of the haunted holiday.

Before you get started making your own, gather your family to watch this video and learn more about the eerie legend of the Pumpkin Tree!

Happy Halloween!

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com
Filed Under: Uncategorized, DCL, DIY

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Disney’s Hollywood Studios Piloting New Approach to Virtual Queue for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

It’s clear the Force is strong with Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Since its debut last year, this spectacular experience inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has proven to be one of the most popular attractions at Walt Disney World Resort. 

To better help guests visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios plan ahead for their day at the park, we’re piloting a new approach to the virtual queue system for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Starting Nov. 3, 2020, here’s how it will work: 

  • Guests with a valid ticket or annual pass and a Disney Park Pass reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be able to access the virtual queue system and check for an available boarding group starting at 7 a.m. on the day of their park reservation. This can be done before you leave your Disney resort hotel, or wherever else nearby you might be at that time. 
  • Just as we do today, the virtual queue will reopen daily at 2 p.m. for anyone who wasn’t already able to join a boarding group earlier in the day. Note: Guests must be inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios to access this second virtual queue opportunity, and access to a boarding group is subject to availability and not guaranteed. 

This new approach will make a day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios more enjoyable and relaxing, as guests no longer need to be inside the park each morning to request a boarding group for the first virtual queue opportunity. As a reminder, you need to be inside the park to request the 2 p.m. boarding groups. 

To try to maximize the number of boarding groups we’re able to accommodate while adhering to current health and safety guidelines, we recently added a clear barrier between the two rows of seats on each First Order Fleet Transport vehicle inside the attraction. This enables us to invite more guests to board Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance each day. 

The attraction’s virtual queue is only accessible via the My Disney Experience mobile app. To maximize your opportunity to secure a boarding group, here are some tips we recommend you check off your list prior to your day at the park: 

  • Register an account in My Disney Experience
  • Download the My Disney Experience mobile app on your smart device or ensure you’re using the most updated version of the app before you arrive at the park. 
  • Link and assign all park tickets in your party to a My Disney Experience account
  • Have a valid Disney Park Pass reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the day you’re visiting
  • Select one member of your party to access the virtual queue for everyone in your group; if multiple people in your party try to join the virtual queue simultaneously, that may complicate your ability to secure a boarding group
  • Remember, virtual queue boarding groups are limited and subject to availability 

This new pilot approach to the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance virtual queue is designed to give guests the best possible experience during a day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. We look forward to seeing you on your next trip to a galaxy far, far away.

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com
Filed Under: Uncategorized, DHS, Star Wars, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, WDW

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#DisneyMagicMoments: Set Sail with Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure at Shanghai Disneyland

There are certain #DisneyMagicMoments that instantly imprint on my brain – experiences so amazing I know right then and there I will never, ever forget them. The first time I rode Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure at Shanghai Disneyland was one of those times.

Building on the legacy of Pirates of the Caribbean attractions at Disney theme parks around the world, this new iteration reinvents the experience through a seamless blend of Disney storytelling and jaw-dropping technology. In this swashbuckling adventure, you embark on a thrilling journey with Captain Jack Sparrow as he attempts to steal a priceless treasure from the foreboding Davy Jones.

As you’ll discover in this new “Ride & Learn” video, Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure broke all kinds of new ground when it debuted with Shanghai Disneyland in 2016. Perhaps most astonishing among this attraction’s many innovations is its new, highly controlled ride system that allows your boat to spin, travel sideways and even move backward – it’s unlike anything you’ve ever encountered in Pirates of the Caribbean before!

Along this virtual ride, you’ll also learn much more about how Walt Disney Imagineering created the attraction, dive deeper into its story and gain insight into how this new version pays homage to its predecessors.

So avast, me hearties! Let’s set sail with Captain Jack!

If you’d like to learn even more about Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure, click here to visit its official webpage, which has all sorts of bounty about the attraction’s story and its inspiration. And be sure to keep checking back with us here at the Disney Parks Blog for more #DisneyMagicMoments!

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com
Filed Under: Shanghai Disney Resort