Ever wonder what it would be like to spend the night in the super-exclusive Cinderella Castle Suite in the middle of Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom? For one thing, it’s by invitation only; there is no price tag for guests who wish to reserve the suite.

During 2007 and 2008, lucky guests were chosen randomly just about every day from the Disney theme parks to stay in the suite as part of the Year of A Million Dreams campaign. Since then, recipients mostly have been winners of charity auctions and various contests or specially chosen guests.

Here is one of those opportunities: a contest sponsored by Liberty Travel that you can easily enter with a grand prize that features a one-night stay on Sept. 10 in the suite for four people. The prize also includes three additional nights at a Disney World hotel, breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table the morning after the winner’s stay, four three-day Magic Your Way tickets with Park Hopper option and a $500 Disney gift card. Airfare is not included.

Deadline to enter is Friday, June 25. One entry per household is allowed; click here to enter.

Pictures:

• Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel
• Prince Charming Regal Carrousel

Pictures:

• Water Cover Mickey
• Water Cover Mickey – MOUSEovers

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is a beauty salon where little girls are magically transformed into little princesses at 3 locations: World of Disney Store in Downtown Disney Area, Sleeping Beauty Castle courtyard at Disneyland and Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Disney World.

When young princesses-to-be make their royal entrance at either Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, they are greeted by their very own Fairy-Godmother-in-Training who magically transforms them in the girl’s choice of hairstyles — Fairytale Princess, Disney Diva and Pop Princess — in 3 available packages:

• Coach Package includes hairstyling and shimmering makeup — starting at $49.95 plus tax.
• Crown Package includes hairstyling, shimmering makeup and nails — starting at $54.95 plus tax.
• Castle Package includes the Crown Package plus the Imaging Package (one 6″ x 8″ and four 4″ x 6″ photos in a princess-themed photo holder) and complete costume of your choice with accessories — starting at $189.95 plus tax.

The optional Imaging Package includes one 6″ x 8″ and four 4″ x 6″ photos in a princess-themed photo holder.

The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Magic Kingdom is open 8 a.m.-7 p.m. daily; theme park admission is required. The Downtown Disney Marketplace salon is open 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. daily. There is no admission or self-parking fee required at Downtown Disney.

Advance reservations are recommended for both locations, and can be made up to 180 days in advance by calling 407/WDW-STYLE (407/939-7895).

Duration:
30 to 60 minutes

Cool Dudes Package:
Boys over 3 years old have their own special Cool Dudes Package, which includes colorful hair gel and confetti for $7.50 plus tax.

Pictures:

• Entrance
• Disneyland Entrance
• Downtown Disney Entrance
• Inside

Cinderella Princess Costumes:

Infant	Child	Adult

If there was ever an undiscovered treasure in Walt Disney World, it’s Tom Sawyer Island and Ft. Langhorn, located in the Magic Kingdom.

Tom Sawyer Island is a lushly-landscaped outdoor playground in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom theme park where children of all ages can relive the rustic 19th-century adventures depicted in the novels of Mark Twain.

The wooded island is surrounded by the pastoral Rivers of America, and the only way to reach the island is aboard a raft that docks at Tom’s Landing near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Sail across the river to romp through dense forests, forge rugged trails, cross swinging suspension bridges, explore mysterious caves, take shelter in a frontier fort built from unfinished timber and embark on mischievous, playful adventures—just like Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.

Discover hidden treasures for those who care to do a little exploring; highlights include the mysterious jewels hidden deep in the dark caves, the creaky waterwheel at Harper’s Mill, the bouncy barrel bridge and Fort Langhorn with its twisting escape tunnel.

How do you get there?
To get to Tom Sawyer island, you’ll take one of four small rafts from Tom’s Landing located across from Big Thunder Rail Road. The rafts are all named for characters in the book: Injun Joe, Huck Finn, Becky Thatcher and Tom Sawyer. Each raft carries about 55 people and contrary to popular belief, they do not run on rails or tracks but are free floating vessels.

Early in the morning, cast members hide several paintbrushes for guests to find. If you find one, let a cast member know and you’ll be rewarded with a small prize, such as a soft drink or a pass to get to the front of the line of an attraction, for your entire group. The island is a great place for kids to stretch their legs and for parents to relax and since it’s Disney, it’s all very safe. Kids will love climbing up and down the stairs at Fort Langhorn and exploring all the rooms. From the lookout towers, they can fire popguns at imaginary targets.

Tom Sawyer Island usually opens at 10:00 a.m. and closes at Dusk. Be sure to check the daily schedule for the exact closing time. If you want to get a snack, Aunt Polly’s Place sells sandwiches and refreshments. It’s open seasonally. Even when it’s closed, Aunt Polly’s makes a great place to sit and relax; consider bringing a sack lunch and eating it there.

Foldable strollers are allow on the Island, but must be folded before boarding the raft. Most people will find strollers hard to use on the island as the paths are not made for them and there are a lot of steps. Still for some it is the only way to get around the large island.

Location:
Magic Kingdom Theme Park Frontierland

Height Requirement:
Any Height

Category:
Fun for Everyone Outdoor

Pictures:

• The Dock
• Raft
• Fort
• View
• Map

Walt Disney World is about to break ground on a three-year project to expand Fantasyland. Among the new features will be a separate village for each of the Disney princesses. The Dumbo ride will also double in size, and park guests will be treated to a three-ring circus and carnival games while they wait in line.

The theme park is also planning a special promotion during nights this summer. In early June, the Main Street Electrical Parade will return to the Magic Kingdom along with a new fireworks spectacular. There will also be new lighting effects and a new drop sequence at Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Disney Cruise Lines is adding two new ships: The Disney Dream will sail in 2011, and the Disney Fantasy will begin service in 2012.

One of the ships will feature an onboard watercoaster that allows guest to ride on rafts through glass tubes high above the ship. In addition, Disney will soon offer cruises that stop in the northern European capitals, as well as trips to Alaska. Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay, is also getting a makeover.

Disney also announced a new partnership between its Wide World of Sports complex and ESPN. The two will work together to relaunch the complex with more interactive exhibits.

Disney’s announcement of all its new projects comes just weeks before the much-anticipated opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando.

“Even the music is guaranteed to bring back Disney memories,” said Walt Disney World president Meg Crofton Wednesday evening.

The return of Electrical Parade, is expected to take place in June; it will run through the summer.

The parade debuted at Walt Disney World in 1977 and ran until 1991, when it was replaced by the SpectroMagic parade. It later returned for a limited engagement from 1999-2001.

Other changes around Walt Disney World: A new Magic Kingdom fireworks show, and new effects at Hollywood Studios’ Tower of Terror, including a change to the drop sequence.

Construction walls running along the boundry of the Fantasyland expansion area are now visible from guest areas within the current Fantasyland. A new wall is up that begins by Mickey’s Toontown Fair and then runs along the edge of the current Fantasyland behind Pooh’s Playful Spot along to Ariel’s Grotto.

In another sign of work ramping up, one of the backstage parking areas behind Toontown Fair has now been sealed off from cast use.