Uncle Walt's Insider Page 224 – Uncle Walt's Insider

A rare photograph of Animal Kingdom's newest mom. By Quarax (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

Animal Kingdom announces first Yeti born in captivity

Just weeks after the arrival of a baby hippo, Disney celebrates another rare birth. It's an historic month for Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park and its team of animal specialists. Still elated over the birth of a baby hippopotamus on January 13, the park announced Sunday the arrival of the first Yeti born in captivity. Worldwide conservation efforts Disney animal care experts have worked closely in the past with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which oversees a Species Survival Plan for endangered animal ...

News Brief: Alien, Klinger and more are official Disney Princesses!

News Brief: Alien, Corporal Klinger now Disney Princesses

Disney's purchase of Fox brings many new princesses into the family. BURBANK, CA -- The Disney Company's acquisition of 21st Century Fox's assets brings a stunning array of well-known characters into Mickey's domain, and today the company made official what many predicted: the title of "Disney princess" has been granted to many of those characters. Newly-crowned princesses include Olive from Little Miss Sunshine, Corporal Max Klinger from M*A*S*H, Scrat the prehistoric squirrel from the Ice Age movies, the robot from Lost In Space, Mary Richards from ...

January 27, 2018 by Marty in Other

The real Hogwarts Castle at Universal Orlando. Photo credit: David Broad [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

Six little-known facts about Universal Orlando

Some things you know about Universal Orlando may be wrong -- #3 will surprise you! Everyone knows the Universal Orlando Resort as the biggest, best, and most-attended theme park complex that is actually within the city limits of Orlando. But how well do you know it? Here are some cool facts about this incredible Florida entertainment destination: #6. Islands of Adventure was originally going to be called "Thousand Islands." When Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park was in the planning stages before its 1999 ...

January 26, 2018 by Marty in Florida

News Brief: Knott's Berry Farm hosts Peanuts celebration; allergy warnings posted.

News Brief: Allergy warnings posted for upcoming Peanuts Celebration

Reminder: Guests with Peanuts allergies may wish to avoid Knott's Berry Farm starting this weekend. BUENA PARK, CA -- As Uncle Walt's reported recently, signs have gone up at the entrances to Knott’s Berry Farm advising guests who may have allergies or sensitivities to avoid the new Peanuts Celebration. The Celebration, which will occur on weekends starting on January 27 and running through February 5, is sponsored by Planters and will feature food stands and restaurant menus that incorporate the nut (actually a ...

January 25, 2018 by Marty in California

A fake Legacy Award name tag? Photo credit: Cory Doctorow via Flikr, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0), modified.

Cast member grants Legacy Award to self using blue magic marker

Disney's highest employee award is just one arts-and-crafts project away! We here at Uncle Walt's Insider love and appreciate Disney cast members and other dedicated theme park employees. As such we especially watch out for cast members who have won the highest award available to them: the Legacy Award, which allows the cast member to wear a special white-on-blue name tag. Imagine our surprise, then, on encountering one such winner who appears to have made his own Legacy Award name tag using ...

January 24, 2018 by Marty in California