Press Release: Vinylmation Pixar Villains Series 5 Descend on Disney Store!

I've never been a big collector of the Disney Vinylmation characters, but there are quite a few that I've not been able to resist (usually ones related to my favorite theme park attractions). Disney has just released Villains Series 5 that contains eight villains from Disney Pixar films, including a mystery figure.

Each blind-boxed package contains one of eight different designs in this series. You won't know which one you've got until you open the box!

Figures in this series include: Syndrome - The Incredibles (Artist: Enrique Pita), Mordu - Brave (Enrique Pita), Thumper - A Bug's Life (Marvin Lao), Charles Muntz - Up (Gerald Mendez), Darla - Finding Nemo (Gerald Mendez), Waternoose - Monsters, Inc. (Marvin Lao), Dean Hardscrabble -Monsters University - with neck extension (Enrique Pita), plus Mystery Figure.

Do you collect the Vinylmation figures? Which one is your favorite of the Disney Villains Series 5?

Press Release and Review: Disney Movies Anywhere Debuts “Disney Drive-On with The Muppets" Free

I reviewed the latest Marvel Iron Man & Captain America: Heroes United film through Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA). It was my first experience with DMA and I have to admit that I was fairly impressed with it. Besides needing to use a laptop or iOS device, it was pretty seamless and I was surprised at the number of films we had in our account based on the digital copies from the Blu-rays we had.

I had to search for Disney Drive in order to pull it up on DMA on my iPhone. Currently, there are two episodes, with each one about seven minutes long. (As I was setting this article to post, Disney had released two additional episodes!)

They were hysterical!

Each one followed the classic Muppet Show format, with a guest star and some completely random (and awesome) Muppetness. It is well worth the time and effort to load the DMA app (iPhone or iPad) or just visit the website and watch it on your laptop. For the most part, the shorts were appropriate for any age; it's good to be a fan of the Muppets, regardless of your age!

It's really great to see the Disney Company finally making good use of the Muppets. I can't wait for more.

***

Disney Movies Anywhere Debuts an All-New Original Shorts Series “Disney Drive-On with The Muppets"

Exclusively Available on Disney Movies Anywhere for a Limited Time Beginning Today, August 1, 2014

In celebration of the home entertainment release for Muppets Most Wanted, Disney Movie Anywhere (DMA) is debuting a six-part original series called “Disney Drive-On with The Muppets” for a limited time beginning August 1, 2014. With two new episodes releasing each Friday, "Disney Drive-On with The Muppets" brings you everything you've come to love and expect from The Muppets, including special celebrity cameos! Be sure to visit the Discover Section within DMA each week to view new episodes of the series at www.DisneyMoviesAnywhere.com. 

After being left in charge of the Muppets’ office by Kermit, Pepe the King Prawn takes on the responsibility of “mentoring” Walter on the business of Hollywood. Still considered the “new guy” with the Muppets, Walter is given low-level jobs working alongside his fellow Muppets at their office in the famed Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. He quickly learns there is a lot more to making movies than he thought! Developing projects may not always be so glamorous, but Walter is still excited to tackle new challenges, and discovers life on the Disney Lot is certainly a fun and funny adventure.

Check out these two clips to whet your appetite!

ABOUT DISNEY MOVIES ANYWHERE (DMA): 

Disney Movies Anywhere is a cloud-based digital movie service that allows you to browse and watch your collection of Disney, Pixar, and Marvel movies along with bonus material and exclusive videos! You can easily manage your digital movie collection and instantly stream and download your favorite Disney movies across your devices. There are over 400 films available from Disney’s rich history and, for the first time ever, you can earn points towards great rewards with your digital purchases and enjoy special clips and features from your favorite movies. It's fun for the whole family! Access Disney Movies Anywhere on your computer through DisneyMoviesAnywhere.com or download the free Disney Movies Anywhere app for your iPhone or iPad, and iPod Touch (iOS 7 required) from the App Store. It's free and easy to sign up!

Press Release: Tickets For D23 Expo 2015: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Go On Sale Thursday, August 14, 2014

Disney just sent this press release about the tickets for the 2015 D23 Expo, which will go on sale Thursday, August 14.

A massive (and expensive) VIP Package is being offered, as well.

Are you going to purchase tickets to the 2015 Expo?

TICKETS FOR D23 EXPO 2015: THE ULTIMATE DISNEY FAN EVENT, GO ON SALE THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2014

Early Bird Discounted Tickets Available for a Limited Time

D23 Members Enjoy Additional Savings and Member-Only Benefits

BURBANK, Calif. – August 6, 2014 – On Thursday, August 14, at 10 a.m. PT, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will begin selling tickets for the next D23 Expo, which will take place August 14–16, 2015 at the Anaheim Convention Center. The largest Disney fan event in the world, the D23 Expo celebrates all the wonderful worlds of Disney entertainment, uniting all parts of The Walt Disney Company under one roof, including The Walt Disney Studios (including Marvel, Pixar, and Lucasfilm); Walt Disney Parks and Resorts; Disney Consumer Products; Media Networks (including ABC, Disney Channel, and Radio Disney) and Disney Interactive. D23 Expo 2015 marks the fourth bi-annual event held in Anaheim.

More than 65,000 Disney fans from around the world gathered at the Anaheim Convention Center in 2013 for the third D23 Expo. Once again, the Expo will celebrate the past, present, and future of Disney with live events, celebrity appearances, panels, presentations, sneak peeks, and immersive experiences. D23 Expo 2015 marks the return of fan favorites including the Disney Legends Awards, honoring the talented men and women who have made indelible contributions to the Disney legacy; and Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives, which spotlights costumes, props, and set pieces from Disney’s rich history. 

As in previous Expos, D23 Expo 2015 will showcase all of the latest stars in the Disney universe. In 2013, celebrity appearances included Angelina Jolie, Chris Evans, Billy Crystal, Natalie Portman, and Tom Hiddleston, with performances by Idina Menzel, R5 featuring Ross Lynch, and a once-in-a-lifetime concert with Disney Legends Richard M. Sherman and Alan Menken. Additionally, Disney executives and creative talent came together to deliver special presentations, announcements, and experiences to Disney fans throughout the three-day extravaganza.

Tickets for D23 Expo 2015 are available at a discounted price for a limited time. From August 14–December 31, 2014, tickets are $61 for a one-day adult admission and $42 for children 3–12. Tickets for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club are $52 for a one-day adult admission and $37 for children. Multi-day money-saving tickets are also available. D23 Members can save as much as $268 off the price of admission, based on the purchase of four three-day tickets at the D23 Member rate. For more information on tickets and the ticket pricing structure for members and general admission, visitD23Expo.com.

In addition to these special advance-purchase savings, an extremely limited number of D23 VIP Sorcerer Packages will once again be available. Based on fan feedback, even more benefits have been added this year including exclusive opportunities in the Walt Disney Imagineering pavilion and Mickey’s of Glendale.

The SORCERER PACKAGE includes:

·         Three-day admission ticket and commemorative Sorcerer credential

·         Reserved seating at all presentations in the main hall, Stage 23, and Stage 28

·         Limited-edition D23 American Tourister boarding bag

·         Pre-Expo tour of the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit

·         Special tour of the Walt Disney Imagineering Pavilion

·         Exclusive shopping time in the D23 Expo Dream Store, Disney Store, and Mickey’s of Glendale

·         Tour of the D23 Expo show floor the day before the Expo is open to the public

·         Welcome Reception on Thursday evening

·         Exclusive entrance to the Expo each morning

·         A voucher for an appointment with an on-site massage therapist

·         Exclusive D23 Expo gift pack including gifts from D23 and the rest of The Walt Disney Company

·         Saturday morning Meet and Greet Coffee with a special Disney guest

·         “Fond Farewell” reception on final day of Expo

·         Plus, access to the Sorcerer Member Lounge and other benefits

Sorcerer Package tickets are available exclusively to both Gold and Silver D23 Members at $2,000 per ticket. Members have the option to purchase up to two Sorcerer tickets. Additional details and benefits are highlighted at D23Expo.com.

D23 Gold and Silver Members are entitled to early admission to the Expo show floor and D23 will once again give a special thanks to D23 Charter Members, providing them special access to the Expo’s Charter Member Lounge.

Visit D23Expo.com to relive some of the extraordinary experiences from the first three Expo events and get a peek at what’s to come in 2015.

Press Release: D23 Celebrates Issue 23!

The latest D23 magazine will be hitting the newsstands soon with their 23rd issue! Take a look at the latest press release from Jeffrey Epstein.

D23: THE OFFICIAL DISNEY FAN CLUB CELEBRATES 23 ISSUES OF DISNEY TWENTY-THREE WITH AN AROUND-THE-WORLD ADVENTURE

READERS WILL JOURNEY TO FRANCE TO EXPERIENCE RATATOUILLE: THE ADVENTURE, JAPAN FOR A SPECIAL TREASURES OF THE WALT DISNEY ARCHIVES EXHIBITION, AND

SAN FRANSOKYO TO EXPLORE THE NEW UNIVERSE OF BIG HERO 6

D23.com sits down for exclusive interviews with Marvel icon Stan Lee and the creators of Once Upon a Time.

BURBANK, Calif. – JULY 29, 2014 – To celebrate 23 issues of its collectible publication, Disney twenty-three, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club circles the planet to experience Disney’s worlds from Europe, South America, and Asia to the fantastical fictional realms of San Fransokyo and Once Upon a Time’s Enchanted Forest. The cover of the issue features a spectacular photo mosaic with a classic image of Walt and Roy O. Disney with Margie Gay of the Alice Comedies shorts series, courtesy of images of D23 Members from around the globe.

Disney twenty-three’s Fall issue, available exclusively to Gold Members of D23, starts the journey with a visit to France for an in-depth look at how the creative team at Walt Disney Imagineering brought the spectacular world of Ratatouille to life at Disneyland Paris for Ratatouille: The Adventure. Then it’s off to Japan where Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives is touring the country with a dazzling exhibit featuring more than 70 props, costumes, images, and artifacts. In “It’s A Disney World After All,” D23 goes on a non-stop tour from Latin America to the Middle East to look at Disney’s indelible mark on the rich cultures of many nations. And, in true Disney fashion, we visit the stunning and sleek fictional city of San Fransokyo for a look at spectacular concept art that inspired the upcoming Walt Disney Feature Animation release Big Hero 6.

Also included in the Fall issue of Disney twenty-three:

• A rich look into Marvel’s remarkable 75-year history, including a season two preview of the ABC hit Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
• A chilling glimpse at Once Upon a Time’s upcoming Frozen-themed season with the series’ creators
• A dive into the Walt Disney Archives to view rarely seen concept art from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year
• A journey back in time to celebrate 89 amazing Disney milestones from 1989
• Regular columns including A Walk with Walt, D Society, Ask Dave, and our final edition of PHOTOfiles

All D23 Members are invited to visit www.D23.com for additional members-only content, including an in-depth video interview with Stan Lee who sits down to talk about Marvel’s 75-year legacy.

Other features coming to D23.com include:

• A soaring look at Academy Award®-winning composer Michael Giacchino, who used his initial score as inspiration for the soundtrack to Ratatouille: The Adventure
• More scoop on what’s to come this season on Once Upon a Time
• An extended gallery of concept art from the development of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

Disney twenty-three, which is delivered directly to fans’ doorsteps, is offered exclusively to D23 Gold Members as a benefit of their membership. The publication will begin arriving mid-August.

Marvel’s Iron Man & Captain America Unite to Save the World from Evil on July 29th!

Disney is releasing Marvel’s Iron Man & Captain America: Heroes United in digital format (no Blu-ray or DVD will be released). Jeff and I reviewed Marvel's Iron Man & Hulk United last December at the Disney Review at Mice Chat.

Iron Man and Captain America join forces in a new, original animated adventure, "Marvel’s Iron Man & Captain America: Heroes United” available only on Digital HD, On-Demand and Disney Movies Anywhere on July 29th. Iron Man and Captain America battle to keep the Red Skull and his triggerman, Taskmaster, from unleashing an army of Hydra Brutes on the world! Enjoy surprising twists and a special appearance by one of your favorite Marvel Super Heroes in this action packed feature featuring the voices of Adrian Pasdar and Roger Craig reprising their roles as Iron Man and Captain America, and Clancy Brown as the villainous Taskmaster.

Have you experienced Disney Movies Anywhere? What do you think about Disney releasing digital-only content?

WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM’S FIFTH ANNIVERSARY Programs, Activities, Screenings, and Special Events

Once again the Walt Disney Family Museum is presenting some amazing events and programs to celebrate the five year anniversary. If you've got the opportunity to visit the WDFM in October, go for it!

THE WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM’S FIFTH ANNIVERSARY

Programs, Activities, Screenings, and Special Events

This coming October, come celebrate our fifth anniversary here at The Walt Disney Family Museum! On October 1, 2009, Diane Disney Miller first welcomed guests to explore the life, work, and legacy of her father Walt Disney: an entertainer, risk-taker, and innovator who helped define 20th-century America. In recognition, we've planned a month full of special events, captivating programming, hands-on activities, after hour parties, and so much more. For more information, a full schedule of events, and tickets, please visit waltdisney.org/anniversary.

SPECIAL EVENTS

OUR FIFTH ANNIVERSARY!

Wednesday, Oct 1 | 10am–8pm (special extended hours)

$10 admission after 6pm

On the anniversary of our opening five years ago, we’ll be extending our hours to 8pm in celebration. Enjoy special programming all day long, in the galleries, and in the Learning Center. All galleries will be open and animated shorts will be featured in the theater. We’ll have something special exclusively for members, too. Beginning at 6pm, enjoy treats from food trucks and half-priced admission.

SPECIAL EVENT | Animate Your Night: Haunted Mansion Halloween

Friday, Oct 24 | 7–10pm

$12 members | $15 non-members

Pirates, ghosts, ghouls, and a New Orleans vibe inhabit the walls of the museum throughout this after-hours party. Celebrate our fifth anniversary in costume and enjoy the final weeks of our special exhibition, Marc Davis: Leading Ladies and Femmes Fatales, featuring a selection of Davis’ famous Haunted Mansion paintings. Creepy crafts and feisty food help conjure good spirits for the Halloween season. Look alive!

MEMBERS ONLY EVENT | Tinker Bell Tea with Mindy Johnson

Saturday, Oct 4 | 10am–3pm

$75 adults, includes book Tinker Bell: An Evolution

$40 children 9 years and under, includes a specially chosen book for younger readers

Meet, greet, and enjoy a lovely day with Mindy Johnson—author of Tinker Bell: An Evolution. This event begins with an intimate presentation and personalized book signing in the theater, followed by tea, lunch, and tasty desserts and conversation with our special guest. After lunch, you’ll be treated to reserved seating for an afternoon showing of Peter Pan.

BOOK SIGNING | Mindy Johnson, Author of Tinker Bell: An Evolution

Saturday, Oct 4 | 3–5pm

Books sold in the museum store. Signing is FREE and open to the public.

Mindy Johnson will be available book signing in our Awards Lobby. Our very special guest has achieved success as an author, historian, educator, musician, songwriter, playwright and much more. She will be signing copies of her critically acclaimed book, Tinker Bell: An Evolution (produced in conjunction with Disney’s Animation Research Library and Disney Editions), which was recently honored with a 2014 Family Choice Award.

MEMBERS ONLY EVENT | Anniversary Open House

Friday, Oct 10 | 6:30–10pm open house reception, 7pm presentation

$35 open house reception only | $45 open house reception & presentation

The museum opens its doors to members and their guests for a special evening celebration of our fifth anniversary. Enjoy the galleries after-hours, musical entertainment, food and drink, and an exclusive video retrospective of the making of the museum. Limited tickets are also available to join Disney historians and museum founding consultants Jeff Kurtti and Paula Sigman Lowery for a special presentation about the history of the museum and working with Diane Disney Miller to pull it all together, followed by a Q&A. Our Walt’s Circle donors and Supporter and Friend members are welcome to enjoy dessert during a private meet and greet with Jeff and Paula in the Learning Center at 8:30pm. Presentation tickets are limited.

LEARNING CENTER OPEN HOUSE
Monday–Sunday, Oct 13–19 | 1–6pm
FREE with special exhibition admission
Join us in the Learning Center to celebrate the art and animation created here over the past five years and try your own hand at some of our favorite activities.

Ron and Diane Miller tour the construction of the Walt Disney Family Museum.

SCREENINGS

FILMS OF THE MONTH

In celebration of our five years, enjoy a new screening in our theater every week in October.

Peter Pan

Oct 1–5 | 1:30 & 4pm

Fly away to Never Land with Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, and friends for adventures with pirates and a hungry crocodile.

The Best of Mickey Mouse

Oct 6–­12 | 1:30 & 4pm

Enjoy a compilation of shorts featuring America’s favorite mouse and ambassador of The Walt Disney Company.

Donald Duck and Friends

Oct 13–19 | 1:30 & 4pm

This entertaining collection of shorts stars one Disney’s most beloved cartoon characters and his partners in fun.

Hallowscreen!

Oct 20–31 | 1:30 & 4pm

A spoooooky line-up of hair-raising shorts featuring breakthrough animation techniques and some of Walt’s most memorable characters.

DISCUSSIONS

SPOTLIGHT TALKS | The History of The Walt Disney Family Museum

Wednesday - Sunday, Oct 1–5 | 11am, 1 & 3pm
FREE with special exhibition admission
Beginning October 1, 2009, visitors from around the world journeyed to the Presidio of San Francisco to experience the life story of Walt Disney in a new and inspiring way. On the occasion of our fifth anniversary, join our museum educators as they share the fascinating story of how the museum itself came to be.

TALK | The Walt Disney Family Museum: From Dream to Reality

Saturday, Oct 11 | 3pm

$18 members | $20 non-members | $15 youth (ages 17 & under)

During the crucial period of project development for The Walt Disney Family Museum, authors and Disney historians Jeff Kurtti and Paula Sigman Lowery worked closely with museum founder Diane Disney Miller in determining the overall story and content for the museum’s ten galleries. Join these two leading authorities for a talk about the creation of Walt’s museum, their experiences with Diane, and the challenge to bring her dream to life.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Walt’s Circle, Supporter, and Friend level members receive exclusive, early access to purchase tickets for all anniversary events until the public on sale date of Monday, August 4 at 10am. To reserve your tickets today, call 415.345.6829 or email membership@wdfmuseum.org; tickets are not available for purchase at the museum ticket desk until the public on sale date.

Don’t miss out! Join or upgrade your membership at the Friend level or above to secure your tickets now.

Press Release: Little Mermaid Look-A-Like Contest

The world of Cosplay at conventions has grown tremendously over the years. Now, the Burbank International Film Festival is holding a virtual look-a-like contest for Ariel from Disney's The Little Mermaid. Send in a photo of yourself in your best Ariel costume and  you could be invited to be part of the event!

WORLD'S LARGEST “ARIEL” FROM THE LITTLE MERMAID LOOK-A-LIKE CONTEST TO COINCIDE WITH EXCLUSIVE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SCREENING OF THE CLASSIC FILM IN WORLD FAMOUS BURBANK, CALIFORNIA. 

FANS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ARE INVITED TO SEND IN THEIR PICTURES OF THEMSELVES IN ARIEL “FAN” COSTUMES AND WIN PRIZES. SPECIAL GALA SCREENING HIGHLIGHTS FULL SCHEDULE OF SPECIAL EVENTS FOR 6TH ANNUAL BURBANK INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, WITH HONOREES INCLUDING THE WRITER/DIRECTORS OF "THE LITTLE MERMAID."

(July 8, 2014 - Burbank, California) The Burbank International Film Festival will be hosting the exclusive 25th Anniversary screening of "The Little Mermaid" on Saturday, September 6th at 12 noon at the AMC Town Center 6 Theaters. Prior to the screening, there will be a special "Ariel” Red Carpet with select fans in attendance invited to pose for a team photo with dozens of other Ariels. In lead up to the event, the hosts are posting pictures from throughout the world of fans' dressed as Ariel, with special prizes awarded to lucky fans.

“We are extremely honored and excited to be screening this timeless Disney classic that most children have never before seen on the big screen in a theatrical environment,” said Jeff Rector, Director of the Burbank International Film Festival, in a statement released today.

To submit your photos of yourself or a friend or loved one dressed as Ariel, please send your pictures to Mermaid@BurbankFilmFest.org

For questions about the event and the festival, check out www.BurbankFilmFest.org/

To purchase tickets for the screening, go to www.itsmyseat.com/events/166715.html

About the Festival:

Our mission is to promote up-and-coming filmmakers by providing a gateway to expand their careers in the entertainment industry. We shine a light on the unknown talent of today, helping them become the celebrated filmmakers of tomorrow. Not only do we actively champion independent filmmaking, we are one of the few, if not the only film festival in the world that offers film distribution seminars to help filmmakers guide their cinematic vision toward profitability.

The Burbank International Film Festival is a California non-profit organization operating as a 501C3 tax-exempt corporation.

Media contact: Daniel Bernstein/Bernstein Entertainment 310-902-2554 dbernsteinpr@aol.com

Press Release: StarWars.com Relaunches!

I've been a Star Wars fan since the first film was released in 1977 and patrolled my neighborhood with a yardstick as lightsaber. The prequels cooled the flames of my fandom somewhat and I admit that I was excited and nervous about Disney taking over the helm. Regardless, I'm glad to see Star Wars making a resurgence and I'm looking forward to the new content being released.

PRESS RELEASE

The new site features:

·      Long-form articles and videos that go behind the scenes of past, current and upcoming projects

·      Exclusive online videos, including a behind the scenes video of the making of Chopper from the upcoming series Star Wars: Rebels, and more to come in the following weeks

·      The immersive Databank, an encyclopedia of hundreds of pieces of Star Wars knowledge about characters, creatures, locations, droids and devices.

·      Details about upcoming fan events

·      Users can log in with their Disney ID to access upcoming special features and digital experiences

·      New, simple navigation and design

·      Rich, consistent experience across all platforms and devices using the same technology that powers the entire Disney Interactive Media portfolio

Droid Designs: Chopper from Star Wars Rebels Comes to Life on Star Wars Video

Press Release: Carowinds Opens New Water Slides

Have you had a chance to visit Carowinds, lately? It looks like they're about to add a large number of attractions over the next few years.

New waterslides to open at Carowinds June 20!

Dorsal Fin Drop, Surfer’s Swell bring new sliding thrills to Boomerang Bay!

Charlotte, NC- June --, 2014    Carowinds, Thrill Capital of the Southeast, is excited to open two new water slides in their waterpark Boomerang Bay Friday June 20.  The new slides will stand over 4 stories high and add 600+ feet of sliding fun, bringing new thrills and splashes to the popular water park.  

They’ll offer two distinctively different rides unique to Boomerang Bay.

Surfer’s Swell will travel a total of 263 feet; riders will plunge downward through a tunnel then swoop up onto an angled wall that mimics the sensation of catching an ocean wave.  Guests then gracefully enter a final tunnel for a fun ‘splash landing’ into a pool at the bottom of this 45 foot tall experience.  

Dorsal Fin Drop offers 351 feet of slide and takes riders on the whirl of a lifetime as they gain speed in a curved-tunnel that blasts them into a bowl.  Like a shark circling its prey, guests spin and swirl before sliding into the corkscrew exit.  

The slides open just in time for the first official day of summer and are the first phase of a multi-year, multi-million dollar, capital investment plan at the park initiated by its parent company Cedar Fair.  “Cedar Fair noted the growth in Charlotte and across the Carolinas, and saw an opportunity to grow our park as well” says Bart Kinzel Carowinds VP and General Manager adding “there are a lot of plans in the works to better serve our guests across all areas from infrastructure to new rides, it’s an exciting time.”  

The new slides will be the premier experience inside Boomerang Bay, the waterpark will now have 2 wave pools, 13 waterslides, and 2 kiddie splash pools with over 2 million gallons of water to help visitors have fun during the areas hot Carolina summers.  Riders will need to be 48” in bare feet in order to slide down, each rider will slide down on a single rider inner tube.   

First Riders

A group of special kids from the University City YMCA, a branch of the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, are eagerly anticipating opening day.   When the slides were announced in September 2013 they didn’t know how to swim, and never could have imagined themselves swooshing down the exciting twists and curves of Carowinds new slides.  Now after 9 months of weekly lessons sponsored by Carowinds the kids will become the honorary first riders down Dorsal Fin Drop and Surfer’s Swell.

“We are so grateful to Carowinds for providing the opportunity for these 15 children to learn to swim,” says Matt Fitzwater, University City YMCA Executive Director. “This is not just a fun activity but a life-saving skill. This group represents the confidence and safety that comes with swim lessons.”

Check out all the summer events, and new sliding fun on the parks social media channels http://www.facebook.com/carowindspark  , http://www.youtube.com/user/CarowindsPR, on  twitter and Instagram find them  @carowindspark .  For information on park schedule, prices and attractions head to www.carowinds.com .