There’s something about the magic of Disney World that keeps people coming back for more. And for those who simply can’t get enough of the magic, Disney offers a variety of extra separate ticket tours that go beyond the average day in a theme park.

Disney’s Backstage Magic Tour

You don’t have to be a Disney employee to discover some of the secrets behind the magic of Walt Disney World Resort. Disney’s Backstage Magic Tour offers an inside look at some of the creative and technical operations utilized behind the scenes. This is a unique opportunity to see how Disney utilizes innovative special effects to create world-class entertainment while bringing elaborate attractions to life.

At Epcot, the tour reveals some of the details that make The American Adventure such a popular attraction. Tour guests will also get a different view of Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom when guided through a hidden world - the park’s legendary underground “Utilidor” tunnel system.

After a family-style lunch at the Whispering Canyon Café at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, guests will visit the Disney World Nursery & Tree Farm to see how horticulture and landscape design are to create an endless variety of uniquely themed environments.  

The tour continues to Disney’s Hollywood Studios where you’ll see how Disney Imagineers combined cutting-edge design with breakthrough technology to create the popular Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

You’ll also discover how wardrobe plays such an important part of the Disney magic. See how the Creative Costuming team outfits show and parade performers. And then complete your 7-hour long tour with an up-close look Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

The Backstage Magic Tour is open to guests 16 years and older who carry government-issued photo identification. Lunch is included with the tour. Theme Park admission is not required or included.

Disney’s Family Magic Tour

For a shorter family tour, you might want to try Disney’s Family Magic Tour. Guests are invited on a 1 ½ to 2-hour guided interactive quest to save the Magic Kingdom from the dastardly plans of a Disney Villain.

Although guests of all ages are welcome, this tour is ideally designed for those 4 to 10 years of age. Led by a tour guide, you’ll be asked to search for and follow clues throughout the Magic Kingdom, solve diabolical puzzles and participate in a fun-filled scavenger hunt.

Magic Kingdom theme park admission is required and is not included in the price of this tour.

Keys to the Kingdom Tour

Who wouldn’t want the keys to the Kingdom… the Magic Kingdom! This unique tour highlights the long and fascinating history of Walt Disney World Resort while offering backstage access to secret areas of the theme park.

Guests must be at least 16 years of age to participate in this 4.5-hour walking tour. You’ll explore some of the stories behind the Magic Kingdom while learning how Walt Disney’s innovative ideas, revolutionary visions and creative philosophies made it all possible. The tour includes stops at backstage facilities and a number of favorite attractions.

One special highlight is a trip below Magic Kingdom theme park into the legendary service tunnels referred to as Utilidors, or utility corridors. Guest accessible areas of Magic Kingdom are actually on the “second floor” of a massive structure. The first floor, called the Utilidors, allows Cast Members, deliveries and even trash to be unknowingly transported without disturbing the guests’ experience in the theme park.

Magic Kingdom theme park admission is required and is not included in the price of this tour.

Being a Leap Year, 2012 brings us an extra day on Feb. 29. And to celebrate, Disney will keep two of its parks open for a full 24-hour period from 6 am on Feb. 29 thru 6 am on March 1.

The “One More Disney Day” promotion is the first of its kind for Disney which will keep Orlando’s Magic Kingdom as well as Disneyland Park in California open on Feb. 29.

Disney also announced that its theme parks will extend their “Let the Memories Begin” campaign throughout 2012. By staying open 24 hours on Feb. 29, Disney is aiming to give guests an opportunity to take advantage of every minute of that extra day to make special Disney memories.

Santa Claus is coming to town.

Guests at Walt Disney World Resort can find Santa at multiple Disney locations, starting today.

Here’s where you can find Santa:

Santa’s Chalet at the Downtown Disney Marketplace

Nov. 18-24, open from 5 to 10 p.m. through Thanksgiving.

Nov. 25-Dec. 24, open from noon to 10 p.m. through Dec. 24

Dec. 25-Jan. 1, open from 3-10 p.m. (featuring Santa Goofy).

The American Adventure at Epcot

Nov. 25-Dec. 24.

Each country in the World Showcase also features storytellers who describe local holiday traditions. In many countries, the storyteller is a representation of Santa, such as Pere Noel in France or Father Christmas in England.

Magic Kingdom

Santa will appear in Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Party dates include: Nov. 18, Nov. 27, 29, 30 and Dec. 2, 4, 6, 7, 9,11,13,14,16 and 18. (Dec. 18 is sold out.)

Santa will also appear in most Disney hotel lobbies from 5-9 pm on Christmas Eve. At Fort Wilderness, he will be on the porch at Crockett’s Tavern.

 Another epic blockbuster is coming to Orlando’s theme parks. Disney has announced plans to create a multiple attraction land at Animal Kingdom based on the mega hit movie Avatar.

Construction of the Avatar adventure is expected to begin in 2013 and be completed in about five years at a cost of $500 million. Disney’s new Avatar land would incorporate elements from the 2009 Avatar movie that grossed $2.8 billion at the box office, as well as elements from Avatar sequels scheduled to hit movie screens in 2014 and 2015.

The Avatar land would consist of multiple attractions associated with the film’s fictional world called Pandora while also including themed shops, restaurants and entertainment.

Disney could also eventually build additional Avatar lands at its other theme parks worldwide.

Avatar marks the first new attraction at Animal Kingdom since the opening of the $100 million roller coaster, Expedition Everest.

For details on discount Disney tickets and discount Orlando theme park vacations, go to http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

London is preparing for another Royal celebration - this time, Disney style.

The Walt Disney Co. has announced that its popular character Rapunzel will become the 10th official Disney Princess at a high-profile celebration at Kensington Palace in London on October 2, 2011.

Rapunzel will join Disney’s illustrious royal court and stand alongside the other recognized princesses - Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Mulan, Pocahontas, Snow White and Tiana. Celebrities and little princesses from around the world will be invited to participate in a royal celebration that will include a special party and a procession through Hyde Park.

The star of Disney’s animated hit movie, Tangled, Rapunzel will eventually marry her true love Flynn Rider in a short Disney animation special to be broadcast on the Disney Channel in spring 2012. Tangled has already become one of the Top Ten biggest-grossing Disney movies of all time - surpassing Toy Story, Beauty and the Beast, Cars and Toy Story 2.

Once officially recognized as a member of the Disney Princess court, Rapunzel will get her own Disney Princess line of products and she will appear at Disney parks wearing the royal tiara that was stolen by Flynn in the Tangled movie.

For additional information about Disney World parks and discount Orlando vacation packages, visit http://www.orlandothemeparkvacations.com/ or http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

The former Playhouse Disney live stage show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has been updated and is now called, Disney Junior - Live on Stage!

While some of the popular interactive stage show remains the same, including segments starring Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins and Handy Manny, a new crew has been added. Jake and the Never Land Pirates can now be seen battling the villains, Captain Hook and Mr. Smee.

As part of the show, children are asked to help get rid of Hook and Smee by making “crocodile arms.” Then, when the Never Land Pirates finally succeed in fighting off the villains and defending their treasure, gold coins are released from the rafters. It’s all part of the interactive fun that also includes children clapping, dancing and catching bubbles, as well as character meet & greets in the Animation Courtyard following each show.

For more information on Disney’s Hollywood Studios, visit http://www.orlandothemeparkvacations.com/. Or go to http://www.westgatereservations.com/ for information on Disney and Orlando vacation packages and discount Orlando accommodations such as the beautiful Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa.

Why just tune your TV to ESPN when you can live it!ESPN the Weekend 2011 returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, March 3-6.

Featuring a long list of athletes and ESPN personalities, this annual weekend sports celebration will also include a full slate of live telecasts including “NFL Live” and “Baseball Tonight.”

There will also be a fun-filled Interactive Zone, special events, motorcades, athlete Q & A sessions, and a 5K race. All ESPN the Weekend activities are included in the regular theme park admission.

Athletes and celebrities scheduled to be in attendance include Chad Johnson, Donald Driver, Anquan Boldin, Brandon Jacobs, Joba Chamberlain, Tony Dorsett, Darrell Green, Mia Hamm, Alonzo Mourning, Darrelle Revis, Karl Malone, Bart Scott, Frank Thomas, Roddy White, Bernie Williams, DeAngelo Williams, Jason Whitten, Larry Firzgerald, Julius Erving, Gary Payton, Mariano Rivera, Kevin McHale, Cal Ripken, Jr., LaDainian Tomlinson, Greg Jennings, Bert Blyleven, Rashard Mendenhall, Mike Singletary, Mike Golic, Colin Cowherd, Derrick Brooks, Ron Jaworski, Dana Jacobson, John Kruk Linda Cohn and Dick Vitale, plus others.

For more information on discount Orlando theme park tickets and vacation packages, go to http://www.orlandothemeparkvacations.com/ or http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

Cruises can be a great vacation option for the entire family. Virtually every cruise line offers plenty of activities to keep kids of all ages happy and entertained.

One of the most popular activities on today’s cruises is the addition of favorite characters from animated films and TV shows produced by Disney, Nickelodeon and others.

Kids delight in on-board experiences with their favorite characters whether it be a passenger meet and greet or a special character dining event.

Disney Cruise Line remains a leader in the character experiences. Mickey Mouse is a popular attraction as he regularly poses for photos in his captain’s uniform while walking on deck or in the ship’s lobby. Kids will also delight in Minnie Mouse who appears in a sailor’s outfit while participating in deck activities.

Every Disney cruise also offers several character meet-and-greet sessions that include additional characters such as Snow White, Cinderella, Goofy, Pluto, Donald Duck, Captain Hook and others. On cruises of 7 nights or longer, Disney also offers a character breakfast and a character tea party.

Disney’s animated films are regularly shown in the ships’ movie theaters and Disney characters also appear on the ships’ stage shows.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers activities and entertainment with popular Nickelodeon characters, as well as a live onboard game show titled “Slime Time LIVE!”

The Nickelodeon fun continues with interactive games by the pool, a Music Party with Dora the Explorer, and even a Breakfast with Nickelodeon where kids can meet Dora, Diego, Spongebob Square Pants, and other favorites.

Royal Caribbean cruises offer up character interactions with characters from Dreamworks Animation such as popular favorites from Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon.

For information on Orlando discount vacation and cruise packages, go to www.WestgateReservations.com or www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com.

Two attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park in Orlando are scheduled to close temporarily for refurbishment in the near future.

The first is Jim Henson’s MuppetVision 3-D which will close from April 24 through May 14, 2010. The second is the popular Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster: Starring Aerosmith. That ride is slated to close briefly for refurbishment from May 15 through May 20.

The Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster, which opened in July 1999, puts riders into an immediate thrill with initial acceleration from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 2.8 seconds. Each of the coaster trains feature a different Aerosmith song and those songs contain some new lyrics written specifically for the attraction. For example, “Love in an Elevator” is sung as “Love in a roller coaster.”

For additional information about Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or any of the other Disney World parks in Orlando, FL, visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com. Or go to www.WestgateReservations.com for details on discount Disney vacation packages and hotel or resort accommodations.

Get ready Disney fans. You can now double your Disney pleasure.   

Disney has announced that it is selling new annual passes good for admission to both Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando and Disneyland in Anaheim.

The new annual ticket, called the “Disney Premier Passport” costs $700 plus tax and includes admission to all four Orlando theme parks and both Orlando water parks, PLUS both Disney theme parks in California.