Luigi’s Garage is located where Al’s Toy Barn used to be.  Only the facade and decorations have changed.  Otherwise, the area looks the same as it used to.  However, instead of meeting Woody and Buzz Lightyear, guests can now meet Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater all day!  Check out the pictures below!

Images: Susan Gunelius

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The new Luigi’s Garage is now open in Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

I think we’re taking the kids to Disney’s Hollywood Studios tomorrow (although with 4-year old triplets, there is always the chance they’ll change their minds and we’ll be off to the Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom instead).  If we make it there, I’ll take some pictures and post them on The Disney Traveler later this week!

Images: Flickr 1, 2

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The picture shows Disney Imagineers testing the new Toy Story Mania ride vehicle. According to WDWNews.com, riders will wear 3-D glasses then “shrink” to the size of toys where they’ll follow a midway-themed route. At each game booth, riders will use the spring-loaded guns on their ride vehicles to shoot at animated targets. It sounds like fun!

Toy Story Mania is scheduled to open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this coming summer and at Disneyland later this year.

What do you think of the new picture of Toy Story Mania?

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The decor of the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater screams “drive-in” from top to bottom.  As your family is escorted to the dining area, you’ll immediately feel like you are at a 1950s drive-in movie theater complete with waiters and waitresses on rollerskates! 

A huge movie screen is mounted high on the wall at one end of the restaurant, and the lights are low to simulate an evening under the stars (and stars do shine above).  In front of the movie screen sit rows of dining cars that look like they were driven right off the streets of the 1950s.  Each convertible car includes 3 rows of seats for diners to enjoy their meals while watching 1950s sci-fi movie clips on the big screen.  Additional dining cars are available which are set up as tables rather than 3 rows of seats, and umbrella tables are available in the back of the restaurant to accomodate different party sizes and needs.

If you’re visiting Disney-MGM Studios, I highly recommend that you enjoy a meal at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater for a one-of-a-kind experience.  Kids love this restaurant because it’s so unique.  The menu includes American cuisine with sci-fi movie inspired names for the menu items, and reservations are a must.  In fact, this restaurant fills up very quickly, so if you think you’d like to dine there during your Walt Disney World vacation, you should call 407-WDW-DINE well in advance of your trip to ensure you can get a reservation at the time you want.

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I was at Disney-MGM Studios on June 10th, and took some time walking around the park to see what the event offered guests.  My triplets are still too young to appreciate Star Wars, so we were only able to see the events peripherally, but if you or your kids enjoy the Star Wars movies, books, etc., you’ll have a great time at the Star Wars Weekends. 

As we circumnavigated the park, we saw special tents set up for celebrity autograph signings and photo opportunities with cast members dressed as Darth Vader, Chewbacca and Jedi Mickey Mouse.  We spent a few minutes watching the “Padawan Mind Challenge” which was a trivia game for children held outside of the Star Tours attraction, and we passed by a special Star Wars merchandise shop. 

The Walt Disney World website lists a variety of other events as well as celebrities and characters scheduled to appear at the 2007 Star Wars Weekends.  I can’t wait for my kids to get a bit older, so they can try the Jedi Training Academy!

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I started bringing by triplets to this show when they were approximately 1 1/2 years old.  They enjoyed the music and puppets then, but now, they love everything about this show.   At nearly 3 years old, they constantly ask to go see, “the Bear” show.  In fact, we’re going to see it tomorrow!

The Playhouse Disney Live on Stage show is hosted by a Disney cast member (always named Jamie) who introduces Bear in the Big Blue House and his friends Ojo, Tutter, Treelo, Pip and Pop.  When the music starts and everyone starts to dance, Tutter feels shy and doesn’t want to join the fun.  In order to help him feel “less shy,” Jamie presents three stories to Tutter.  The first features characters from Jo Jo’s circus.  The second features Stanley and his pet goldfish, Dennis, and the third story features Winnie the Pooh and his friends from the Hundred Acre Woods. 

It’s a fun, interactive show complete with music, dancing, streamers and bubbles falling from the ceiling.  Your kids will help Jo Jo scare away Goliath’s hiccups, say hi to a gorilla with Stanly and Dennis, bounce with Tigger and sing the goodbye song with Bear and Luna.  Warning, all seating is on the floor, but small children are encouraged to get up and dance.  It’s a show truly made for preschoolers!

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A crowd gathered quickly to enjoy the show, which turned out to be very high-energy and interactive.  The cast members danced in the style made popular in the “High School Musical” movie and sang a medley of songs from the movie as well.  Throughout the performance, guests were invited to join in by shooting basketballs into several hoops on the float’s stage and huge inflatable basketballs were tossed among the audience.  Guests were also encouraged to dance with the cast members and learn some of the popular steps from the movie.

As the mother of two-year old triplets, I don’t get to watch much television other than Playhouse Disney, so I’ve only had the opportunity to see bits and pieces of “High School Musical.”  The portions of the movie I have seen appeared to be perfect for young teens, and the addition of the “High School Musical” Pep Rally at Disney-MGM Studios will be a must-see for girls and boys in that age range.  We just happened to be sitting in the right place at the right time to participate in the pep rally yesterday, and it was a lot of fun.  My triplets loved the music and dancing, and everyone in the audience seemed to have a great time.

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