Disney Legend to Speak at D23 Event

The following Press Release is from Intrepid Traveler about the Disney Legend and author Charlie Ridgway speaking at D23's Destination D event in Walt Disney World along with information on the event itself:

Disney Legend To Speak At 'WDW 40th' Celebration

Official Disney fan club will host gala weekend event

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. – Disney legend Charles Ridgway will take part in D23’s Destination D: Walt Disney World 40th event scheduled for May 14 and 15 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Charlie was a part of WDW from its inception, serving as press agent for the “Mouse Houses” for 40 years. He worked at Disneyland for seven years before moving on to Walt Disney World and was also involved with the Disney properties in Paris and Hong Kong. He details his experiences in Spinning Disney’s World: Memories of a Magic Kingdom Press Agent, published by The Intrepid Traveler. 

According to its sponsors, Destination D is the only public celebration of Walt Disney World’s milestone celebration. D23 members will be taken on a journey that begins with the purchase of the first parcels of land in Central Florida in 1964 through the opening of Epcot Center in 1982.
Charlie will be joined by other Disney notables including Marty Sklar, Bob Gurr (who shared the stage with Ridgway on the Podcast 2.0 Disney cruise last December), Jack Lindquist, Tom Nabbe, Bob Mathieson, Orlando Ferrante and Ron Logan, along with Debra Browne, the 1971 Walt Disney World Ambassador to the World. 

They will all take part in two days of special entertainment, retrospectives, screenings of rare and newly discovered film and TV footage, archival displays and presentations. There will also be a special exhibit from the Walt Disney Archives featuring items and artifacts that document the creation and evolution of Walt Disney World Resort.

Charlie will sit on a panel titled “Making the Magic Happen.” He and other Disney legends will talk about life during the opening of the Magic Kingdom through the debut of Epcot Center, describing the challenges, misadventures, creativity and excitement from those who carried out Walt Disney’s dream in Florida. Charlie will also be available to autograph copies of Spinning Disney’s World.

The highlight of the weekend will be a concert, “Magical Journeys: A Flight of Fancy Through 40 Years of Walt Disney World Musical Memories,” featuring Richard M. Sherman, Academy Award winner and another Disney legend.

D23 is the official Disney Fan Club offering unique experiences, special events, collectibles, a quarterly publication, Web site and opportunities to meet others who share a love of Disney. D23 offers fans an insider look at everything Disney: the parks, animation and stage shows, television and film, and the treasures of the Walt Disney archives. “D,” of course, stands for Disney and 23 marks 1923, the year Walt Disney arrived in California and founded his company.

To order Spinning Disney’s World by Charles Ridgway, click here.
 
Spinning Disney’s World:
Memories of A Magic Kingdom Press Agent
by Charles Ridgway
ISBN: 978-1-887140-67-6
256 pages • 6 in. x 9 in. • 11 photographs
Index • Hard cover original
USA: $24.95


Look for a review of Charlie's book, Spinning Disney's World: Memories of a Magic Kingdom Press Agent coming soon on my new site, www.WaltsWriters.com

Steve Barrett's Awesome Interview!

Chris, Jess and Steve with an Animal Kingdom Lodge Hidden Mickey

Back in June, when Chris and I went to Walt Disney World, we had the great pleasure of meeting many wonderful people.  Two of those wonderful people were Steve Barrett and his wife Vickie.  If you are a Disney fan of any sort, you probably know the name Steve Barrett from many areas; Celebrations Magazine, Cosmic Reid's Starlight Cafe, WDW Radio....but when you hear his name, there is one main thing he is associated with: Hidden Mickeys! His Hidden Mickeys books are very popular, so much, in fact, they are sold ON Disney Property! Not just there of course, you can also buy them at local bookstores and at the Intrepid Traveler website.

The reason I bring up Steve right now is because recently, he was interviewed by ABC/Travel about his beloved Hidden Mickeys! Here is the video interview that Steve did with Scott Mayerowitz:

There is also a written article on Steve and his Hidden Mickeys, which can be viewed by clicking here and if you would like to see some pictures of Hidden Mickeys, click here for a photo slideshow featured on ABC's website. 

Wonderful Book Release by Intrepid Traveler

Yes, I know this is a Disney blog, but that's no reason for me to not talk about one of my other passions.  I enjoy reading, especially fantasy books. One of my favorite fantasy novels is the Harry Potter series and because of this, I was naturally excited about the Wonderful World of Harry Potter opening up at Islands of Adventure, which has just recently opened. While I've not yet had the pleasure of visiting this park, I find reading information about it helps me to know more, and what better books to read than guide books, especially ones printed by a great publisher, Intrepid Traveler! Check out the amazing deal they have on the brand new Universal Theme Park Guide!

The Intrepid Traveler Celebrates the Opening of the
Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Half-price offer on 10th edition of Universal Orlando guidebook announced

(BRANFORD, CT) --- The Intrepid Traveler, the publisher of Universal Orlando: The Ultimate Guide To The Ultimate Theme Park Adventure, is celebrating the opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter with a pre-publication special offer on the guide’s tenth edition.

For a limited time, readers can get the book for just $7.98, including free media mail shipping within the United States, by visiting

http://www.intrepidtraveler.com/store/uoadvance/

The book is scheduled for publication in November, but those taking advantage of this offer will receive their copies in August.

“The book is at the printer now,” said Associate Publisher Sally Scanlon. “Once we have the book in stock, we will be taking down this special offer.”

The new edition contains the first eyewitness reviews of the new Harry Potter attraction at Universal’s Islands of Adventure including the ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, which introduces a unique technology using robotic arms on tracks to fly guests through an adventure with Harry and his friends at Hogwarts School.

For the tenth edition, the book has been completely redesigned inside and out, with 24 additional pages, including 16 pages of color photographs. The book is written by Seth Kubersky, an arts columnist and former Universal Orlando backstage employee, and Kelly Monaghan, a travel writer who has been covering Orlando attractions for over 15 years.

The Intrepid Traveler publishes a wide range of travel books, from Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide To Walt Disney World’s Best Kept Secrets, to Paris Movie Walks, to The Weather is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful, a collection of travel quotations. Their full line of books can be browsed at

http://www.intrepidtraveler.com/store/

For more information, to request a review copy, or to schedule an interview with either of the authors, call 203-469-0214 and ask for the publicity department.