”The Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special”

Comedy Warehouse Returns For the Holidays at Walt Disney World Resort posted on December 9th, 2011 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager

What says “holidays” better than laughter? At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, laughter will ring out thanks to a special family comedy show scheduled for a limited run at the ABC Sound Studio (theatre) in the heart of the park.

From December 25 through December 31, “The Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special” will present the best of improvisational comedy as performers – including alumni from the Comedy Warehouse on Pleasure Island – take suggestions from Guests and add their own brand of humor, right on the spot.

The performers hilariously reinvent holiday classics based on suggestions they solicit from the audience, including holiday songs, stories, poems and movie scenarios. Show times (subject to change) are 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 4:45 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. daily.

”The Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special” is included in park admission.

Happy Birthday Disney Legend Dick Van Dyke

December 13, 1925: Emmy Award-winning actor Dick Van Dyke, best known to Disney fans as Bert the Cockney chimney sweep in the 1964 musical feature Mary Poppins, is born in West Plains, Missouri. He hosted such TV specials as Florida's Disney Decade (1981), Donald Duck's 50th Birthday (1984), and Walt: The Man Behind the Myth (2001). Van Dyke's Disney credits also include the features Dick Tracy, Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N., and Never a Dull Moment. He has also taken part in Disneyland's annual Christmas Candlelight Procession - in particular Disneyland's 1965 version ... the last Candlelight ceremony that Walt Disney himself attended. (With a career spanning 6 decades, fans know Van Dyke as Rob Petrie from the 1960's TV comedy series The Dick Van Dyke Show, Caractacus Potts in the 1968 feature film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and as Dr. Mark Sloan on the television series Diagnosis Murder.) A fan of barber shop quartets, Van Dyke has his own singing group The Vantastix, who performed at the 2011 D23 Expo.

"Mickey was my first introduction to humor and comedy. Mickey's character was always visually funny to me. He was the good guy." -Dick Van Dyke

“I thought he (Walt Disney) hired me because I was such a great singer and dancer. As it turns out, he had heard me in an interview talking about what was happening to family entertainment. I was decrying the fact that it seemed like no holds were barred anymore in entertainment. … He knew about the “Van Dyke Show,” about our little sitcom, but that’s why he called me in, because I said something he agreed with. And I got the part.” - Dick Van Dyke on how he got the role of Bert in Mary Poppins

Galveston FAM Weekend

Renee & Alan in front of cruise terminal & the Magic

This past weekend Alan and I went on what they call a FAM weekend in Galveston. This is a trip for travel agents to become more familiar with the products they represent.

The biggest cruise line in Texas right now is Carnival. For most people this is their first experience cruising. Carnival offers a low cost vacation that is comfortable for someone who wants to discover what cruising is like.

My first cruise was on Carnival in the early 90’s with a friend. We were young and single and this was the perfect vacation for us to safely travel to new countries and be entertained along the way. Our table companions were all young and single too and we really had a fun trip. My next cruise was my honeymoon 10 years later. It was on Royal Caribbean and a very different experience, but still a vacation I really enjoyed. We went out of Galveston and it was a good experience.

When our first child was born we discovered how easy it is to travel with young children on a cruise ship! The babies did great! We went on Carnival with Anna when she was four months old. The ship we were on was new and beautiful, but honestly I don’t think Carnival has it going on for infants. We paid regular third person rate for our infant, stood outside in the cold in December with our little baby for several hours waiting to get on the ship and getting off the ship was equally challenging - this was in LA, not Galveston, but the impression was formed.

Moody Gardens Festival of Lights

We spent the next seven years being Disney Cruise Line fans! I know they cost more, but I think they are an incredible value for young children - especially for the under 3 yr. old group where they only charge port fees and taxes! So now my children are 5 & 7 and I am willing to consider the other options out there - especially since I have so many clients that sing Carnival’s praises. With the cost and time of getting to Florida it is good to know the options.

Moody Gardens outdoor ice skating rink

I went on this weekend to be better able to tell you all about options and what is the best choice for your vacation. We had a wonderful time in Galveston. In fact, after this weekend we think it would be fun to spend more time there! They are in the process of adding a pier with rides that will be done by summer 2012. Moody Gardens is incredible and could occupy a day or two of fun and Schlitterbahn next door is rated the #1 indoor water park in the U.S. so Galveston offers year round fun! There are also some great places to eat and stay. We came away from the weekend being big fans of sailing out of Galveston.

Hotel Galvez

Our view from the Galvez



Hotel Galvez view at night

We stayed at the Galvez, which was very nice. The Galvez is a great hotel for the history buff with a museum in the basement and rumors of ghosts in the hallways! We talked to a man who worked there whose mother also worked there during the prohibition. He told stories of the mob and a bakery where they hollowed out the bread for the bottles. Although the rooms are smaller than modern hotels, they are clean and well kept. It has the feel of an old bath house. We had a wonderful view.

Casey's great food on the sea wall!

Breakfast on our first day was the Saint Louis hotel. The Saint Louis was beautifully decorated, had an incredible pool area and was very up scale. The food was exceptional with thick crisp bacon and well seasoned hash browns and fresh fruit. I wasn’t planning on eating that much with lunch on the ship, but I did clear my plate! We watched a great video on Galveston that I will share with you and also watched some cute films Carnival has put together for the first time cruiser.

Carnival Triumph - crew dancing on the tables

We toured the Carnival Triumph after this incredible breakfast. This is a well decorates ship with some nice areas. Our lunch on the ship was exceptionally good! The Triumph is currently sailing the shorter trips and has some nice public spaces and entertainment areas. I found the room layouts and the kids areas to not be as family friendly as I have become spoiled to with Disney. The children’s areas seem more like a lower budget daycare and your children spend more time out of the club area and about the ship than in the dedicated facilities. There are no adults only spaces on the ship until 10:30 PM. Although the ship was nice, I was not tempted to book.

The positive points were the ship was nice and had some great areas and food. The down side was the programs for the young children and room layouts. Now, this would be great for singles or families with teens. Also, this would be the cheapest cruise out of Galveston due to the older ship and the shorter sailings.

Carnival Magic - crew gets down!

The next day we toured Carnival’s newest ship, the Magic. I will tell you now that I was very tempted to book a cruise on this ship! It is beautiful, has some great floor plans for the rooms and has triple the kids space! The kids stay in this club and it did look like fun with big screen TV and lots of games. The public areas were all fantastic with a DJ pumping music from the main lobby that went up for many levels. It had a very fun feel the moment you walked on. A couple features I really liked were the Spa rooms - these come with spa access, are totally non-smoking including the balcony areas (one year we spent a lot of money for a large balcony and then couldn’t use it much due to the chain smoker next to us!) and the adults only area of the ship with hot tubs and big loungers. This ship not only has a party atmosphere, but some areas to get away! The specialty dining areas were very nice as well - and on Carnival the children can eat in the specialty areas too (which is not allowed on Disney) - I’m not sure if I like that or not, but my kids sure would! This ship has rooms with two bathrooms that sleep a family of five. The floor plans are generous. Even the inside rooms seemed spacious. The food on the ship was very good as well. I would recommend this ship for families with children of all ages. It seems to have something for everyone.

Great chocolate lava cake and ice cream...yummmm!

As our fun weekend ended, I had to do a comparison in my head with Disney. We have sailed on the Disney Magic six times for 7+ day cruises, so I know that ship very well. Before touring the Carnival Magic I thought it would be hard for me to push Disney’s older ship with Carnivals new ship in Galveston, but I can honestly say that both have different merits. At this point, Carnival is at a much lower price point. This would change if you travel with children under 3. Disney does not charge for sodas - other ships charge around $5 per day per person. You can bring your own drinks on both Carnival and Disney. Disney has the Characters and lots of them if you want them. They also offer more adults only areas and they do strictly enforce this. Disney hands down has the better children’s club areas. They are a big feature on the ship where it seems like Carnival’s are an afterthought. Disney offers tubs in all the rooms and the rooms have split bathrooms with a sink on the tub side and a sink on the potty side. Carnival offers larger rooms with both a tub and shower - two complete bathrooms, but the smaller rooms have the smaller one bathroom. The shows on Disney are Broadway quality with great sets and musical numbers for the whole family. Carnival’s shows are more like stand up comics, so not as much for the young children. I didn’t see a movie theatre on the Carnival ships - Disney offers first run Disney movies in 3D all day and night. Both have a large screen TV on the pool deck - Disney shows movies mainly - not sure what type programming is normal there on Carnival - there was a football game on when we were there. There is not a casino on the Disney ship.

I hope this helps you if you are trying to decide on a ship out of Galveston. I really did like the Carnival Magic and am tempted to sail on it! I think it would be fun for the whole family. I can honestly also recommend the Disney Magic. Although it is an older ship and not going to Disney’s island from Galveston, it is still a great family vacation that brings a bit of the Disney quality to Galveston!

Galvez bathroom

Alan relaxing at the Galvez

Closet space at the Galvez

TV in Galvez (Is it just me, or does that look like a younger Alan on the TV?)

Our room at the Galvez

I know what we should celebrate today....

December 9, 1960: Jeff "Swampy" Marsh, co-creator of Disney Channel's Phineas and Ferb, is born in Santa Monica, California. A television director, writer, producer, and storyboard artist, he and co-creator Dan Povenmire conceived the series Phineas and Ferb, based on their similar experiences of childhood summers spent outdoors.

Marsh was raised in a large and complicated blended family, which included his stepfather Bill. Growing up, he never felt the dynamic was treated in the media coherently enough to make it seem "normal," which Marsh felt was unjustified since the majority of his friends were from either divorced or blended familial structures.
Marsh spent his summer vacations being active, going outside and digging trenches and tunnels, building tree houses, and constructing forts. He and his family were engrossed in several musical activities, with musical background dating back to Les Brown, Marsh's grandfather. His household was filled with several different musical instruments and over the years, Marsh learned to play the banjo, trombone, trumpet, and guitar. As Marsh recalls, he would "sing into fake microphones and create full rock bands with [his] friends and family."

In both high school and college, Marsh took architectural drawing courses and also took part in a few theater productions, which each helped him understand the view of a set builder. Marsh is also the voice of Major Monogram.

Phineas and Ferb is one of my favorite shows on TV! It is a family favorite. If you have not had the opportunity to watch it - give it a try!

Phineas and Ferb is an American animated television comedy series. Originally broadcast as a preview on August 17, 2007, on Disney Channel, the series follows Phineas Flynn and his English stepbrother Ferb Fletcher on summer vacation. Every day the boys embark on some grand new project, which annoys their controlling sister, Candace, who always tries to bust them (but never succeeds - except once). The series follows a standard plot system; running gags occur every episode, and the B-Plot almost always features Perry the Platypus acting as a secret agent ("Agent P"), to fight an evil scientist named Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz. The two plots intersect at the end to erase all traces of the boys' project just before Candace can show it to their mother. This usually leaves Candace very frustrated.

Creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh worked together on the Nickelodeon series Rocko's Modern Life. The Creators also voice two of the main B-plot characters: Major Monogram and Dr. Doofenshmirtz. Phineas and Ferb was conceived after Povenmire sketched a triangular boy—the blueprint for the eponymous Phineas—in a restaurant. Povenmire and Marsh developed the series concept together and pitched to networks for 16 years before securing a run on Disney Channel.

The series is also known for its musical numbers, which have appeared in almost every episode since the first-season "Flop Starz". Disney's managers particularly enjoyed the episode's song, "Gitchee, Gitchee Goo", and requested that a song appear in each subsequent episode. The show's creators write and record each number, and vary musical tempo depending on each song's dramatic use. The music has earned the series a total of four Emmy nominations: in 2008 for the main title theme and for the song "I Ain't Got Rhythm" from the episode "Dude, We're Getting the Band Back Together", and then in 2010 for the song "Come Home Perry" from the episode "Oh, There You Are, Perry" as well as one for its score. The series has also been popular with adults. Phineas and Ferb is currently on its third season.

On August 25, 2011, the show was picked up for a fourth season on Disney Channel, a possible spin-off and feature film for the series. Disney Channel officially announced on November 9, 2011 that fourth season was in picked up with new episodes rolling out through 2014. Upcoming episodes include a musical featuring the one-hit wonder "Phineas and the Ferb-tones," commemoration of Platypus Day, and a winter vacation special featuring seasonal sports and a New Year's celebration.

Phineas and Ferb also have thier own meet and greet area in Disney's Hollywood Studios!

Holidays, theme parks with Neil Patrick Harris

12:47 p.m. EST, December 8, 2011 - http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-epcot-neil-patrick-harris-20111208,0,2920368.story


Neil Patrick Harris will narrate Epcot's Candlelight Processional Dec. 10-12. (Walt Disney Co. / December 8, 2011)

Actor Neil Patrick Harris breaks from his role of Barney on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother" to narrate Epcot's Candlelight Processional on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. (Performance times are 5 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. daily). It's his third time at Candlelight and his first since 2008. He chatted with Orlando Sentinel reporter Dewayne Bevil.

Was there a big surprise the first time you narrated Candlelight Processional? The surprise was the sheer volume of everything. It's sort of deafening, standing in the middle of the cacophony of sounds coming not only from the orchestra in front of you but also 500 full-throated vocalists all around you. That was a bit of an overwhelm. And when you do three in a row for three days, by the ninth show, you're mostly deaf.

To me, it looks like you're ready to break into song. Is that frowned on? I know that they say you're welcome to sing along, but I don't know if that's encouraged or just optional. I grew up singing in our church choir and they would sing the "Hallelujah Chorus," so my instincts are to sing, because I mostly know the song.

Do you have a favorite part or passage in the processional? My favorite Christmas carol has always been "O Holy Night." I really love that song, and it's a beautiful orchestration and arrangement of that one.

Is there a must-do, must-eat, must-see part of Disney World for you? Where to begin? We really love the Animal Kingdom. There's just so much great stuff there. I love the Kilimanjaro Safari, and we love the coaster [Expedition Everest] although it loses a couple of points with the Yeti not running anymore. I'm a big fan of old-school Audio-Animatronics, so I also am a big Spaceship Earth fan. Haunted Mansion is probably one of my favorite designs ever, so I always have to go see that. One of the main perks of being a narrator — and a theme-park enthusiast, Disney especially — is that I'm afforded the opportunity to go backstage. One early morning, we got to go tour the Haunted Mansion before it opened, which was very exciting. On another trip I got to go under the stage of American Adventure at Epcot and see all the pneumatics working and how those set pieces fold up into each other. It's that access I really get off on. Because you're based in California, do you get to Disneyland often? I have a special soft spot in my heart about Disneyland. I love the scope and the size of what Florida and Disney World is able to provide in just sheer quantity. You get giant flower beds that are amazing and topography. … Since they have such a finite amount of space in Disneyland, every single thing that you look at and glorify over is well designed, a little gem.

Has having children changed your holiday focus or planning? [He and his partner David Burtka are parents of 14-month-old twins.] It means we're allowed to travel less. It's two kids and a nanny and strollers and portable cribs plus gifts. It's just a lot. I'm anxious to root myself and start our own family traditions. It will be nice to just take a breath during the holidays and decorate and stay in.

dbevil@tribune.com or 407-420-5477

New Disney Fantasy stage show details revealed

Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel 4:50 p.m. EST, December 6, 2011 Disney Cruise Line announced the full spate of live shows planned for the Disney Fantasy when it debuts in 2012. New to the lineup is a show titled "Wishes," which will join "Disney Aladdin -- A Musical Spectacular" as signature shows only aboard the Fantasy. Also playing on the Fantasy will be "Disney's Believe" which also plays on sister ship the Disney Dream as well as a new welcome and farewell show. All five shows will be performed in the 1,340-seat Walt Disney Theatre, which spans three decks with orchestra and balcony seating. Details of "Wishes" were revealed today. It's a 45-minute show described as "a musical journey about three best friends who discover the secret to being a grown-up is staying connected to their inner child." The storyline features three high school grads who visit Disneyland, make a wish to go on the "Ride of Our Lives," the show's original opening song. The wish then takes them on a journey with songs from 12 Disney characters from the films "Tangled," "Lio & Stitch," "Mulan," "Hercules," "Pinocchio," "The Little Mermaid," "The Jungle Book" and "The Lion King." The show concludes with the song "Breakthrough" from Disney Channel movie "Lemonade Mouth" and an indoor-fireworks finale. Also unique to the ship will be the previously-announced "Disney Aladdin -- A Musical Spectacular." This Broadway-style production features Genie and the characters from the animated film. The storyline has Aladdin meeting the Genie, getting his three wishes, tussling with Jafar and falling for Princess Jasmine. Many of the songs from the film will be in the 45-minute production as well as an original song, "To Be Free," written by Alan Menken, who created the original film's soundtrack. The show "Disney's Believe" tells the story of a father married to his work who reconnects with his daughter while learning what's important in life. The storyline follows Dr. Cornelius Greenaway, a botanist with a plant obsession who misses daughter Sophia's birthday. Sophia makes a birthday wish, granted by Aladdin's Genie who takes the good doctor into the world of Disney stories featuring more than 20 Disney characters including Cinderella, Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, Belle, Rafiki and Princess Tiana. The ship will also put on a welcome show titled "A Fantasy Come True" and closing show titled "An Unforgettable Journey." The five shows complement a series of upper-deck performances with Mickey and the gang as well as Captain Jack Sparrow from "Pirates of the Caribbean." And of course, Disney being Disney, there's the signature Fireworks at Sea. The Fantasy's offering is titled "Buccaneer Blast," choreographed to songs from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films. The Disney Fantasy, currently under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany is set for its debut voyage on March 31, 2011. The Fantasy will sail out of Port Canaveral, offering alternating seven-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean with stops at Castaway Cay, the line's private island in the Bahamas. The 4,000-passenger ship is a sister to the Dream, also based at Port Canaveral, that debuted in January 2010 and will up the Disney Cruise Line fleet to four, with the line's two original vessels, the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. The Wonder is currently based on the Pacific Coast and the Magic will continue to sail out of Port Canavearl until Fantasy's arrival, when it will migrate to New York.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Plans

Warner Bros. Entertainment and Universal Parks and Resorts today announced a partnership to bring The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – the enormously popular themed entertainment environment which debuted in Orlando in June 2010 – to Universal Studios Hollywood. The two companies also announced their plans to significantly expand The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood will be as impressive as what has been created in Orlando – and is expected to transform tourism in Los Angeles for decades to come. It will be a fully immersive environment for the entire family that brings the stories of Harry Potter to life and is faithful to the visual landscape of the films, including a majestic Hogwarts castle to serve as the centerpiece of the themed environment. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood will be created with the same commitment to authenticity and the same level of talent and resources as its Orlando counterpart. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort opened in June 2010 and immediately captured global attention. It is a spectacularly themed land that includes Hogwarts castle, Hogsmeade and multiple themed attractions. Specific details of its expansion will be announced over time. "The announcement of our partnership with Universal to bring The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Hollywood and expand what already exists in Orlando is probably the best holiday gift we could give to the legions of Harry Potter fans worldwide," said Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. "Everyone involved with these projects is committed to continuing the enchantment of J.K. Rowling’s masterful books as they were brought to life on screen in our eight films and dedicated to extending the magic of the experience for generations of fans to come." "This is an incredible moment for Universal Studios and the millions of guests who visit our theme parks," said Ron Meyer, President & COO, Universal Studios. "The Harry Potter stories are some of the most powerful of our time and we are honored to expand our Orlando experience and bring The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Hollywood, forever changing family tourism in Los Angeles." "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is an entirely new level of themed entertainment that brings the stories of Harry Potter to life in incredible ways,” said Tom Williams, Chairman and CEO, Universal Parks and Resorts. “We are thrilled to be able to share this experience with our guests in Hollywood. And we are thrilled to take what has been created in Orlando to even greater levels."

Walt Disney would be 110 today

December 5, 1901: Sunday - Walter Elias Disney is born to Flora and Elias Disney in their two-story cottage at 1249 Tripp Avenue in a newly developed section of Chicago, Illinois. (In 1909, the address of the house will change to 2156 North Tripp Avenue.) The fourth Disney son is named to honor the family's pastor and friend Walter Parr, a preacher at St. Paul Congregational Church (located one block east and one block north of the Disney house). The pastor, in turn, will later name his son Elias, after Walt's father. (The Disney family will move to Missouri in April 1906 where Walt and his brothers and sister will grow up on a farm in Marceline, but the family will later return to Chicago in 1917.)

Decorating the Disney Dream Video

Disney News

Fun New Fantasmic! Dining Experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios  posted on December 1st, 2011 by Pam Brandon, Disney Parks Food Writer
Forget sit-down dining when you’re in a hurry to play – the new “A Taste of Hollywood To Go – A Fantasmic! Dining Experience” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios lets you enjoy an affordable picnic plus reserved seating for the fab Fantasmic!, the park’s nightly extravaganza that takes guests inside the dreams of Mickey Mouse – into a world where his magic creates dancing waters, shooting comets, animated fountains, swirling stars, balls of fire and other amazing wonders. Reserved viewing is first come, first served, so get there early! It’s just for a short while – Dec. 18–Dec. 31, with reservations starting Dec. 1 at 407-WDW-DINE (a credit card guarantee is required). Pick up is at Min & Bill’s Dockside Diner from 11 a.m. through 1 ½ hours prior to your selected show time. You choose which performance you’d like to attend when you order your meal. Pick up your meal at your convenience and then you’re on your own for an easy picnic lunch or dinner. You might want to try more than one of the picnic goodies, but your Fantasmic! seats are based on the number of guests in your party (entrées ordered must be equal to or greater than your party size). And, yes, it’s part of the Disney Dining Plan – a quick-service entitlement.

Here’s what you can order: •Fried chicken with maple-glazed sweet potato and baby spinach salad, broccoli and cranberry salad and cheesecake ($14.99) •Veggie wrap with avocado spread, tabbouleh, avocado and tomato salad with citrus vinaigrette and chocolate cake ($14.99) •Olive oil poached salmon with couscous salad with dried cranberries and peas, roasted beet and apple salad and Key lime pie ($14.99) •Teriyaki and orange marinated beef with udon noodle salad and caramelized vegetables and sesame mandarin vinaigrette, seaweed salad with gingered carrots and mandarin orange cheesecake ($14.99) •Fresh fruits, Brie, dipped strawberries and focaccia bread ($11.99) •Chocolate-dipped pretzels, strawberries and marshmallows with chocolate dipping sauce ($9.99) •Kid’s meal with turkey and American cheese wrap and strawberry yogurt, apples and carrots with ranch dip and seven-layer cookie bar ($5.49) •Kid’s meal Power Pack with Goldfish crackers, strawberry yogurt, string cheese, apples and carrots with ranch dip and a seven-layer cookie bar ($5.49)

The Muppets to star in interactive game aboard Disney Fantasy

One of the new interactive features on the Disney Fantasy will be an adventure game starring the Muppets. Kermit, Miss Piggie, Fozzie, Gonzo and Animal headline a Muppet cast in "The Case of the Stolen Show." The game takes cruises around the Fantasy looking for clues in more than a dozen pieces of Enchanted Art. (Disney Cruise Line)

By Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel

10:32 a.m. EST, November 29, 2011

Disney Cruise Line today announced one of the new interactive features aboard the forthcoming Disney Fantasy will be an adventure game starring The Muppets.

Kermit, Miss Piggie, Fozzie, Gonzo and Animal headline a Muppet cast in "The Case of the Stolen Show." The game takes cruisers around the Fantasy looking for clues in more than a dozen pieces of Enchanted Art.

Enchanted Art is artwork actually on LCD screens around the ship that magically come alive as guests stop to look at them.

The "Stolen Show" storyline has the Muppets preparing for a big show, but all sorts of items have gone missing: Kermit's banjo, Fozzie's squirting flower, Gonzo's crash helmet, Animal's drum sticks and the Swedish Chef's cleaver.

Designed for guests 9 and older, the game is a self-paced hunt to find the missing items and discover the culprit. The game features alternate endings and other random events, so you can play it more than once.

The Muppets game is just one of the interactive features that will be on the new Fantasy, many of which are also featured on its sister ship, the Disney Dream.

Enchanted Art is aboard both ships, but the more than 20 pieces aboard the Fantasy will be new including art featuring Dumbo, Alice in Wonderland, scenes from "Fantasia" and Walt Disney himself animating Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Pluto.

Fine art fans may appreciated "Pinkie Daisy," a take on the 1794 painting by Thomas Lawrence, "Sarah Barrett Moulton: Pinkie." Check out video of Pinkie Daisy here.

Other interactive features aboard the Fantasy include "Animation Magic" at the Animator's Palate restaurant, Living Characters, Magical Portholes, the Magic PlayFloor and the Skyline adults-only bar.

Animation Magic allows diners to draw a character on a special template that is then taken and actually added to an animated storyline at the conclusion of dinner.

Living Characters are a popular feature in which animated characters actually converse with the people watching them. Aboard the Fantasy, as it is on the Dream, kids in the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab can interact with Crush, the sea turtle from "Finding Nemo" and Stitch, the alien from "Lilo & Stitch" as they appear on a 103-inch plasma screen. Crush also does his interactive duties at the Animator's Palate restaurant.

The restaurant itself undergoes a transformation as diners are brought to the ocean floor through the use of more than 100 wall-mounted LCD screens to make the transition. The same technology is used at Skyline to transform the view from the bar to nine "windows to the world" with panoramas to places such as Paris, London, Barcelona, Florence, Athens, Budapest and St. Petersburg.

Another technological feature on board both the Dream and Fantasy is the inside stateroom portholes, which display a real-time video view from outside the ship, but enhanced with the occassional animated visitor doing a "fly-by."

Also on board both vessels is the Magic PlayFloor at the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab. The PlayFloor is 15-foot-square grid with motion detectors that allow the children interacting with the floor to play a variety of games.

The Disney Fantasy, currently under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany is set for its debut voyage on March 31, 2011. The Fantasy will sail out of Port Canaveral, offering alternating seven-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean with stops at Castaway Cay, the line's private island in the Bahamas. The 4,000-passenger ship is a sister to the Disney Dream, also based at Port Canaveral, that debuted in January 2010 and will up the Disney Cruise Line fleet to four, with the line's two original vessels, the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder.

The Wonder is currently based on the Pacific Coast and the Magic will continue to sail out of Port Canavearl until Fantasy's arrival, when it will migrate to New York.