On Wednesday, The Walt Disney Co. reassigned several of their senior theme-park management personnel, including appointing a new president for Walt Disney World.
George A. Kalogridis, currently the president of Disneyland Resort, will make the move to the east coast to take over as president of Walt Disney World Resort. He will take over for Meg Crofton, who will now focus on her position as president of all Disney theme parks throughout the U.S. and Europe. This position was created about a year and a half ago, when the company went through …

A leading Disney executive has confirmed that plans for “Avatar Land” in Disney’s Animal Kingdom are still under way.
The media giant has said little about the anticipated project since its announcement nearly a year ago, but Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs says the project is definitely moving forward. Says Staggs:
We’ve gotten more excited about Avatar as we’ve gone through development. Because we are finding that really playing around with this notion of allowing guests to visit Pandora can be very magical. We’re not in construction yet. We’re still in …

The newest section of Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, New Fantasyland, is now officially opened.
Amid of ceremony led by  Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs, guests on hand for the celebration also enjoyed face time by actress Ginnifer Goodwin of ABC’s Once Upon a Time.  Singer Jordan Sparks sang, while Disney characters and fireworks also heralded the special occasion.
Although guests have been treated to “dress rehearsals” since October, and a “soft opening” since November 19, today marks the official date that the new area, which doubles in size the popular …

For the past month and a half, audiences all over the world have been flocking to see The Avengers in theaters, giving the film the distinction of the highest grossing Disney film of all time. This week, however, it was revealed that these famous superheroes could be making an appearance at Disney’s theme parks in the not-so distant future. In a recent interview, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts chairman Tom Staggs revealed that the company is stepping up its efforts to bring these Marvel characters into the parks as a …

Yesterday marked a major milestone for Disneyland, as Disney California Adventure finally completed its five-year expansion and renovation project. The major expansion, which included such exciting additions as World of Color, Toy Story Mania, and The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, was finally completed upon the grand opening of Cars Land and Buena Vista Street.
The exciting occasion was celebrated with a special opening ceremony, which took place in front of the Carthay Circle Theatre, the brand-new restaurant and exclusive lounge that serves as the park’s new centerpiece. Thousands of …

Yesterday, Tom Staggs, the chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts announced that the 5-year expansion of Disney California Adventure will be complete this June.
On June 15, Cars Land, Buena Vista Street and Carthay Circle Theatre will finally open. In addition to four new attractions, including Radiator Springs Racers, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, Luigi’s Flying Tires and the Red Car Trolley, guests will be able to enjoy additional dining and shopping opportunities.
In order to put the final touches on the opening, as well as host a media preview, Disney California Adventure …

She has performed at Disney many times during her career, and now superstar and native New Yorker Mariah Carey adds another Disney title to her list:  godmother.
In a lavish, star-studded ceremony Thursday, Carey christened Disney’s latest cruise ship, the Disney Fantasy, which will begin voyages to the Caribbean later this month.
After the ship’s construction was completed at German shipyard Meyer Werft, the Fantasy made its first transatlantic crossing, and was welcomed in New York earlier this week.  Carey uttered the traditional words “I christen thee Disney Fantasy.  May God bless …

Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, hinted that a new scene could be added to Disney California Adventure’s “World of Color” show.
During his speech at the Orange County Business Council meeting last week, Staggs told attendees “you shouldn’t be surprised to see something from ‘Brave’… in the not too distant future.”
Brave, the upcoming Pixar film that follows a courageous princess named Merida, is scheduled to debut in theaters June 22. However, a Disney spokeswoman said no date has been set for an addition to “World of Color.” …

With new additions such as the renovation of Disney California Adventure, the creation of Shanghai Disneyland, and the Fantasyland expansion in Walt Disney World, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is currently experiencing the largest expansion period in its history. While this expansion has obvious benefits in terms of its effect on guests, another important benefit is the new jobs that these expansions will bring.
Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Tom Staggs delivered a speech Thursday evening to the Orange County Business Council in Irvine, CA, in which he announced …

Happy New Year! Disney ushered in 2012 last night with a special announcement of what park guests can look forward to this February. To celebrate Leap Day 2012, Disney will hold “One More Disney Day” and keep the parks open for 24 hours straight.
From 6:00 AM on February 29, 2012 to 6:00 AM March 1, 2012, Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park and Disneyland Park will be open for park guests to celebrate their extra Disney day. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts chairman Tom Staggs says about the new announcement:
“We’re …