What are you going to do next? I'm Going to Disney World!

Chances are, many of you have heard this popular phrase at one point or another. When someone wins a big game, graduates from college, or hits the lottery, there something inside them that yearns to ride on "Its a Small World" and get a hug from the coolest mouse on the planet, Mickey. But where did this tradition come from? Was it organic? Did people just start saying it because that's how they really felt? The answer may surprise you.

What if I told you the origin of the phrase was created by none other than two people who had just completed one of the greatest accomplishments of their time? That's right. Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, who are most known for piloting the first aircraft to fly around the world without stopping or re-fueling, were greeted right after they landed and asked "What are you going to do next?" Their answer was simple, "Well, we're going to Disneyland."

Seeing as how this was a very popular interview (heard by people all over the world), the phrase immediately caught the attention of Jane Eisner, wife of then Disney CEO Michael Eisner. Once she heard it, a light bulb went off. She immediately called her husband and told him the phrase would make an excellent advertising campaign.

Wasting no time, Michael Eisner decided that Superbowl XXI on January 25, 1987 would be the perfect time to showcase their new campaign. Starting with former NFL superstar Phil Simms (who received a reportedly $75,000 for his participation) as the first athlete to ever be a part of this infamous advertising campaign, the rest was history.

Since then, the campaign has targeted the best of the best in every sport (even some non-athlete celebrities), and upon winning, had them say "I'm going to Disney World!"

Here are a few of the people that also participated over the years:

• Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA Finals (1987)
• Al MacInnis, Calgary Flames, Stanley Cup Finals (1989)
• Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls, NBA Finals (1991)
• Mark McGwire, St. Louis Cardinals, Major League Baseball home run record (1998)
• Tom Brady, New England Patriots, Super Bowl XXXVI (2002)
• David Cook, Season 7 American Idol winner (2008)
• Bruce Springsteen, Super Bowl Half-Time Show (2009)

So next time you see see a celebrity answer the question "What are you doing next?" with "I'm going to Disney World", you'll know exactly how that campaign started and what they're getting out of it. (FYI In subsequent years, Disney reportedly has offered $50,000,000 to athletes and other stars for participating in the ads and appearing at one of its theme parks).

-Florida Orlando Tickets Team

Disney Marathon Weekend

(photo by mjkmjk)

This past weekend, Walt Disney World hosted the Disney Marathon weekend and with it came some great stories, actions and accomplishments. Here are some of the highlights:

• Adriano Bastos of Sao Paulo, Brazil, won his fifth consecutive Disney Marathon men’s championship Sunday
  
• Lisa Mizutani of Tsukuba, Japan won her first title in the women’s division. 
  
• The event begins and ends at Epcot Center
  
• The Orlando Sentinel has video from the winners on their YouTube page
  
• "Kiddie Korner"was unveiled where kids can play games, watch movies and get their faces painted. Runners and fans had the ability to attend a magical breakfast or dinner with many of Disney's famous characters on Friday or Saturday at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.
  
• Jeff Civillico attempted to juggle 3 balls while running the entire 26.2 miles of the Disney Marathon. It's called JOGGLING (jogging + juggling). We are unsure if he made it! He was running to support Team ASK Athletes for Special Kids.  
  
• 45,000 people registered for the events during the weekend from the 9-11th. 
  

If you have any other fun stats or interesting tidbits about the Disney World Marathon weekend we would love to hear from you. Please leave your thoughts in the comments. 

-Florida Orlando Tickets

Disney Plays Host to Holiday Wishes

11 year old Brock Waidman, a High School Musical and Make A Wish Foundation Recipient from Oregon, got to bring his family across the country to Orlando for the holidays. The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon aims to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions and to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Since its inception, the chapter has helped to grant the wishes of more than 2,000 local children, including Brock.

This was a joyous experience as Brock got to see behind the scenes action and meet cast members from Hollywood Studios and the High School Musical show. He also got to share Christmas with Mickey, Minnie, Santa and the whole Disney gang.

For more information about the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Oregon, visit www.orwish.org.

For more information on how you can visit the place where memories are made and lives are changed, visit Florida Orlando Tickets online.

Disney's Create Your Own Santa Video

I was floating around Twitter, looking for people heading to Disney today and I cam across a link for Disney Family Santa's Nice List. The idea is simple, upload a photo of your child, friend, family member and you will receive a personalized video message from Santa.

This is a great little treat for kids to believe in the magical power of Disney and Santa Claus. The link also has some great holiday recipes and is Christmas Central, Christmas Cards and Winter Getaways for your Disney Family needs.

For those of you in Orlando and looking for a real Santa, the Orlando JobSpot has put together a little list of places to see Big Red around the city.

Miley Cyrus Helps Bring Santa to the Walt Disney World Parade

Teen and tween sensation Miley Cyrus is one of a star-studded cast that has helped to light up Walt Disney World for the upcoming Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade. The event was taped throughout the month, with Miley coming into town on December 6th to sing her rendition of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."

For those not as fortunate as to be in Disney World on Christmas Day (the parade is not live), you can enjoy Regis Philban and Kelly Ripa hosting the event on ABC at 10am on Christmas Day.

-Florida Orlando Tickets Team

Interesting Disney Tales From Twitter

A few days ago we reached out on Twitter to get some Disney experiences in 140 characters or less. Below are a few of them!

@liam_in_sf said:

@hollyrhoffman shared
then I asked what that was like and I got


@peggg shared an interesting story about G.I. Joe's, the Real American...whistlers?
If you want to let us know about your experiences at Disney and be featured on the official Disney Ticket Information Blog! Follow us on Twitter @FlOrlandoTix!

Have a great weekend.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party This Week

If you are thinking about coming to Orlando and visiting the Magic of Disney, don't delay. This Thursday and Friday, the 18th and 19th are the last 2 days to see Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. From the Walt Disney World Info site:

With Christmas Carols in the air, special holiday entertainment, and a spectacular version of the Wishes fireworks themed to the evening’s festivities, you’ll experience an unforgettable evening. Of course, the attractions are open for your enjoyment. The party begins at 7:00 and ends at midnight.

Grab your discount Disney tickets today and be a part of this excitement!

-Florida Orlando Tickets Team

Disney Hosts Tim Tebow and other College Football Greats

Last night ESPN and Walt Disney's Wide World of Sports hosted the College Football Awards and it was home to a star-studded packed house. Florida football hero Tim Tebow was the big hero from the night as he took home his 2nd Maxwell Award, a trophy given to College Football's best overall player. Tim was also acknowledged for his off the field actions with the Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award for his work in the community as well as that of overseas missions.

The rest of the winners include:
Maxwell Award -(Best all-around player)
Tim Tebow, Florida, QB
Chuck Bednarik Trophy -(Best defensive player)
Rey Maualuga, Southern California
Outland Trophy -(Best interior lineman)
Andre Smith, Alabama, OT

Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award -(Best Quarterback)
Sam Bradford, Oklahoma

Doak Walker Award -(Best running back)
Shonn Greene, Iowa

Fred Biletnikoff Award -(Best wide receiver)
Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech

Jim Thorpe Award -(Best defensive back)
Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State

Lou Groza Collegiate -(Place-kicker award)
Graham Gano, Florida State

Ray Guy Award - (Best punter)
Matt Fodge, Oklahoma State

The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award
Nick Saban, Alabama

Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award
Tim Tebow, Florida

NCFAA Contribution to College Football Award
Bobby Bowden, Florida State, coach

If you are fortunate enough to enjoy the cool weather Orlando is offering this weekend, you should head over to Disney and run into one of the greats that made this season a can't miss.

Go Gators!

-Florida Orlando Tickets Family

16 Things to Do In Orlando Not Named Magic Kingdom

So you've planned a week-long vacation with the family and you are heading to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. You've already got your Disney tickets and figure you are all set, that's all there is to do and see. The game plan is Disney, says dad. Well, contrary to popular demand, Orlando is a little bigger than the mouse. He has plenty of friends to spend some quality time with.

Here is a fun list of 16 things to do in Orlando after you have already conquered Disney.

1. Mini Golf - honestly, who doesn't love mini golf?
2. Shopping at the Outlets, Florida Mall, Mall at Millenia and more!
3. Wonderworks
4. Water parks- Aquatica, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, Wet 'n Wild
5. Ride the monorail and visit the different Disney Resorts. All of them have so much to offer.
6. Cirque du Soleil at Downtown Disney - If you have never seen this show, you need to stop what you are doing right now and look for some clips on YouTube, then buy a ticket!
7. Also at Downtown Disney…walk along the water and visit the shops, restaurants and especially Lego Land.
8. If you want to wander away from all the tourist filled places, check out the Orlando Science Center
9. Stroll along Disney's Boardwalk, a re-creation of a 1930s-style Atlantic coastal village. The 45-acre (18-hectare) waterfront district is known for its nightclubs and entertainment hot spots, but all visitors can enjoy the many street musicians, magicians, and performers for free.
10. In the evening, watch the fireworks. You don't even need a ticket since they can seen from outside the park. Leave your car in the main parking lot and take the free tram to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) for the best up-close views of the nightly fireworks. If you are staying in a Disney-operated resort, hop on the monorail for free and get off at the Magic Kingdom entrance to watch the show.
11. City Walk at Universal Orlando. Bars, shops, movies and more!
12. I-Max movies - If you missed BatMan on the iMax, boy did you miss out.
13. Blue Man Group at Universal - the ledgendary group has made a second home in the sunshine state. Be sure to see all their blue-ness and rock out with you and your family.
14. Orlando Water Sports Complex – Rent a boat or Jet Skis. Wakeboard on a rope or from a boat!
15. Arabian Nights or Pirate's Dinner Adventure. All you can eat meals and for the dad in your family, beer is included. Oh, and there is an awesome show to boot!

And last but not least….drum roll pleaseeee…

16. It's Magic season. Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic currently have the 4th best record in the NBA. Come see a game at the Amway Arena and be a part of the magical season.

-The Florida Orlando Tickets Team

*Have another idea or place that you visited while in Orlando? Let us know in the comments so we can add it to our next list!! Thanks!*

Former Disney Exec Releases "Creating Magic"

Orlando resident and former VP of Operations at Walt Disney World Resorts, Lee Cockerell has released a book, entitled Creating Magic - 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney through Doubleday publishing.

Lee led Disney and thousands of cast members that created millions of impressionable memories on the lives of guests from around the world. The book showcases the leadership principles that Lee helped to define and develop and leave as a legacy to the Disney Leadership Institute.

Lee is an avid blogger, talking about stories and ideas from his days at Disney to adding weekly leadership thoughts on the homepage of LeeCockerell.com.

To anyone visiting Disney this holiday season, and you encounter a smiling hotel worker, ride attendant, burger flipper or manager, you have Lee and his leadership strategies to thank! Grab a copy today over at Amazon, Barnes and Nobles or Borders Online.

-Florida Orlando Tickets Team

Disney's Best Dining Spots

Mouseplanet, a Podcast highlighting great topics from the Disney family has launched their latest episode telling the tale of the best dining experiences at Walt Disney World. Take a listen to Mike and Mark as they highlight Disney's

• Best Coffee
• Best Outdoor Seating
• Best Character Dining
• Best No-Wait Disney Dining
• Best Interactive Dining
• Best Overall Value and more.

Food and keeping refreshed are two of the main integral parts of a Disney vacation in the Orlando sun, so knowing where you can get the best food for your budget is always a great tip.

Download the Mouseplanet Podcast here!

-Florida Orlando Tickets Team

Disney in December

photo by Stuck in Customs

When planning your Disney vacation for the month of December, it is always helpful to know what types of special events are going on through the magical world of Disney World.

Mousefest - An International gathering of Disney fans at Walt Disney World and the Walt Disney Cruise Line.

MouseFest 2008 Park Schedule
Based upon last year's success, we've decided to repeat the same schedule as last year, as follows:

Thursday, 12/11/2008	Magic Kingdom (MouseFest 101, MouseFest Kickoff, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is optional in the evening)
Friday, 12/12/2008	Disney's Animal Kingdom/Disney's Hollywood Studios
Saturday, 12/13/2008	Mega Mouse Meet/Epcot
Sunday, 12/14/2008	Magic Kingdom (Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is optional in the evening)
Monday, 12/15/2008	Disney's Hollywood Studios/Epcot

Osbourne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney's Hollywood Studios - From November 28th through January 4th the Streets of America backlot again will sparkle brightly as millions of twinkling lights dancing to music illuminate the area November 28 through January 4, 2009, during the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights presented by SYLVANIA. Amid "Florida snow" flurries, the building facades, trees and streets of the Disney's Hollywood Studios backlot dazzle with three-dimensional and motion-based displays -- some originally created at the Osborne home in Arkansas by businessman Jennings Osborne as a holiday display for the delight of his daughter.

Holiday cheer continues with the daily "Hollywood Holly-Day Parade" decked with favorite Disney characters in their holiday best, parading down Hollywood Boulevard.


Epcot Center's Candlelight Processional - The tentative schedule of celebrity narrators for performances of Epcot's 2008 Candlelight Processional, the annual retelling of the story of Christmas that features a mass choir and a full orchestra, is as follows:
December 1-3 Neil Patrick Harris
December 4-6 Brian Stokes Mitchell
December 7-9 Virginia Madsen
December 10-12 Marlee Matlin
December 13-15 Monique Coleman
December 16-18 Chita Rivera
December 19-21 Abigail Breslin
December 22-24 Steven Curtis Chapman
December 25-27 Edward James Olmos
December 28-30 Angela Bassett and Courtney Vance

Walt Disney World presents Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party - Be enchanted by the all new Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade and thrilled by the fireworks spectacular, Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season.

This sensational celebration features:

* Castle Dream Lights
* Mickey's Once Upon A Christmastime Parade
* Live Disney Character stage shows
* Character greetings throughout the Park
* Complimentary Cookies and hot cocoa
* Snow on Main Street, U.S.A.
.
Dates include December 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 19th.

Doggie Disney Party - Dog owners can bring their pets to meet Santa at Downtown Disney and can pose for pictures at Santa's Christmas Chalet located near World of Disney now through December 24. You can take your own photos or use Disney's PhotoPass service. November 27 - December 24. Bring your dog in for great fun in the magical world of Disney.

ESPNU College Football Awards - The 18th annual Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards will be held at the Atlantic Dance Hall at Walt Disney World on Thursday, December 11, 7:30-9:30 p.m. ET and will be televised live on ESPN. University of Florida quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow will be presented with the Disney Spirit Award, given annually to college football's most inspirational figure, during the ceremony. Congrats Tim and good luck to our Florida Gators in the stretch run of the college football season.

Disney's Wide World of Sports presents the Pop Warner Super Bowl - December 6-13, the Pop Warner Super Bowl - The event will feature 64 football teams from across the country competing for National Championships in four different age/weight ranges (Jr. Pee Wee, Pee Wee, Jr. Midget, and Midget).

*If you know of a Disney event in the month of December and it is not on this list, please leave it in the comments so that we may credit you and add it to the post! Thanks.*

From all of us at Florida Orlando Tickets, we wish you and your family a fun and festive December and we hope to see you come by Orlando to share the holiday spirit with us.

-the Florida Orlando Ticket Team

What is Disney's Fast Pass?

In early 1999, Disney introduced the Fastpass system to allow theme park guests to bypass the waits on more popular attractions. By using the Fastpass, you can bypass most of the standby line in the busiest Disney attractions. This genius idea can be used by anyone in the park by simply:

1. Heading to the ride you want to "skip the line"
2. Look for the Fast Pass Box (pictured below)
3. Insert your Disney Park ticket, and that of everyone in your party
4. Grab the receipt
5. Head back to the ride during your allotted time!

This is a great way to experience the entire Disney park. For more information on the Disney Fast Pass, be sure to check out FastPass.info.

To get your Disney vacation started, grab some tickets today.

-Florida Orlando Tickets Team