Walt Disney World marked the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney’s birth with a variety of enhancements to its theme parks, accommodations and Downtown Disney Marketplace, along with a special celebration, 100 Years of Magic, featuring numerous special events and exciting live entertainment.
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Disney’s Animal Kingdom added three attractions last year – a new “mini-land” called Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama!; a dino-mite new coaster called Primeval Whirl; and TriceraTop Spin, where guests whirl around a giant spinning top that opens to reveal a dinosaur.

At Disney-MGM Studios, Stanley, Rolie Polie Olie and Disney Channel stars came to life in Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage!, with music, songs and stories of friendship.

Figment returned in Journey Into Your Imagination With Figment at Epcot. The playful purple dinosaur helps Dr. Nigel Channing of the “Imagination Institute” demonstrate how the five senses influence a person’s imagination.

Walt Disney World is enhancing attractions throughout its four theme parks by providing synchronized narration in French, German, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish. Equipped with wireless, palm-sized devices, international guests will hear translations and colorful narratives along with all the sound effects of the original English versions.

Downtown Disney Marketplace saw the opening of Once Upon a Toy, a 16,000-square-foot interactive superstore that combines the magic of Disney with the fun of Hasbro, and Disney’s Pin Traders – a huge facility where guests can trade pins.

New attractions currently under development include Mission: SPACE, a one-of-a-kind astronaut adventure, opening this year at Epcot. In the Magic Kingdom the 3-D film Mickey’s PhilharMagic orchestra is scheduled to open within the year.

The Disney Vacation Club continued to expand last year. The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge sold out in just over a year, setting a new record for Disney Vacation Club. Disney’s Beach Club Villas debuted in July with 40 percent of the inventory already sold.

Disney’s Pop Century Resort, themed to every decade of the 1900s, is under construction. An opening date has not yet been established.