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Recognizing the Women Who Make Magic for Disney Magic Makers

Walt Disney World has been a place of joy and magic for the past 50 years, and that’s because our cast members are at the heart of it all. Throughout Disney Parks, Experiences & Products, we are celebrating Global Recognition Week, taking time to recognize and thank our cast members for all the magic they make year-round. So, to continue the festivities (and honor the start of Women’s History Month!), we’re introducing you to some of the women on the Cast Activities, Recognition & Experience Team (CARE for short) who do just that – they plan events and activities for our cast that reward and celebrate our magic makers each and every day.

Click here to read the full article.

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A Recipe for Success: Chef James’ Story

At Walt Disney World, our culinary team has perfected the recipe for dreaming up all our tasty treats: a dash of creativity, a pinch of passion and a generous helping of magic. This secret formula has touched the hearts of both our Disney culinarians as well as aspiring chefs in the Orlando community, and it will continue to flourish as long as there are curious minds in the kitchen. With dozens of dining locations spread throughout the resort, Walt Disney World chefs have the opportunity to learn from each other and cook dishes from all different cultures. And Chef James Kleinschmidt is a testament to this fact.

View the article and accompanying video here.

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Surprising Cast Members with Pixie Dust and Prizes

One of my favorite Disney mottos is, “All you need is a little faith, trust and pixie dust,” from Walt Disney’s “Peter Pan.” As a child, I remember running around my bedroom, arms outstretched, pretending to fly above the skies of London on my way to Never Land.

In “Peter Pan,” pixie dust is tangible. But I think pixie dust symbolizes much more—it’s anything that fills you with surprise, joy and wonder. And, if there’s one group of cast members at Walt Disney World Resort who know all about the meaning of pixie dust, it’s the Magic Backstage team.

View the full article and accompanying video here.

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Stay Safe From Romance Scams

AARP is committed to keeping your heart (and your finances!) safe from scammers this February. Read on for tips about how to protect yourself from romance scams.

With health officials still recommending social distancing and staying at home, online dating has become more popular than ever. The Match Group, home to dating websites such as Match.com, saw a 15% increase of new subscribers in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But, while an increase in subscribers may mean more potential love connections, it can also mean there’s a higher chance for romance scams. Fraudsters often target Americans ages 50+ due to their chances of being alone. To keep yourself safe from scams while swiping or matching with others online, here are some basic tips:

View the full article here.

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How Dungeons & Dragons Bonded One Serious All-Girl Team

I’m about to get very real: the first time someone told me about Dungeons & Dragons in high school, the only thing I could picture was a group of gangly, acne-faced teenage boys hunched over a table in someone’s basement. My friend Alex had the same picture come to her mind. Little did either of us know that our final summer together before our senior year of college would be spent huddled over a table of our own.

It all started with a text message from Alex. She asked if I was interested in joining a campaign with our other friend from high school, Clara. I was hesitant at first to agree, but I decided to give it a try. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a nerd. I love the idea of fantasy roleplaying. But Dungeons & Dragons always seemed like a boy game. Something that three college-aged women couldn’t possibly get into, let alone commit to because we all go to different schools. But I was wrong—very wrong. After our first campaign, I realized that not only is Dungeons & Dragons a game that women could thrive at, but it’s also one that’s making our friendship stronger with each session. And, at a time when our lives are about to change, it’s a way for us to always stay close no matter what’s in our future.

Check out the full article here.

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“Avengers: Infinity War:” Marvel’s Crowning Gem…or Infinity Stone

It’s finally here. From the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) inception in 2008, fans have embraced 19 films worth of superheroes beginning with “Iron Man” and continuing all the way to “Black Panther.” But each film, each character journey thus far has led to this very moment: a cosmic threat so dangerous, so life-threatening that it would take every single hero banding together to stop it. This isn’t your average Marvel movie. This is the climax. This is “Avengers: Infinity War.” And was it worth the wait? Yes. Yes, it was.

We all know what to expect from Marvel by now: an action-packed film with convincing, genuinely lovable heroes and wit — lots of wit. But “Infinity War,” directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, is Marvel to the nth degree, the studio playing its best cards to make you laugh, cry and gasp over and over again. The characters everyone learned to love are now at risk, and each and every one of them is tested to their very limits. The result is emotion at every corner, because for once there’s a very plausible chance that the heroes may not actually make it out of this one alive.

Continue reading ““Avengers: Infinity War:” Marvel’s Crowning Gem…or Infinity Stone”

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Make your dreams come true like Bright Bazaar founder Will Taylor (Article & Video)

NEW YORK, New York (WABC) — No matter what your dreams are, you can make them come true. Take it from Will Taylor. He is “a self-confessed gentleman hooked-on-hue” as he describes on his popular lifestyle blog Bright Bazaar. He is proof that what some people can consider a setback, can be turned into an opportunity.

Taylor always loved to write. He graduated from college with a degree in Journalism and got a job at the BBC, but when the recession hit in 2009, he decided to take matters into his own hands and create his own blog. His subject matter? Design.

“Design is the fabric of our life. If it’s not done right, it can ruin a multitude of experiences,” said Taylor.

Maryanna wrote this article and created the video as part of the Social Superstar series. Check it out here.
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Sweet spot in NYC offers dessert bar with six-course tasting menu (Article & Video)

CHELSEA, New York (WABC) —

In New York City, it’s fairly easy to find a fine dining experience, but what about a six-course dessert tasting? At Dessert Bar at Patisserie Chanson, it’s real and delicious.

In the basement of the Chelsea eatery lies the “Dessert Bar,” a renovated speak-easy that is meant to give guests a sampling of desserts ranging from sweet to savory.

Maryanna Antoldi wrote the article, produced and edited the video, and produced the slideshow for this piece. Check it out here.

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Virtual Reality Dominates at 2017 Tribeca Film Festival

While many may associate the annual Tribeca Film Festival with its incredible selection of movies, the two-week long event has also become notable for its appreciation of technological advancements in storytelling—particularly through virtual reality (VR). For the past few years, the festival has hosted a Virtual Arcade featuring groundbreaking developments in storytelling that make the impossible a reality. This year’s display did not disappoint, showing moving stories in the most interesting ways.

The Virtual Arcade was held in the Festival Hub on the 5th floor, a narrow room covered from side-to-side with a plethora of curtained-off partitions showcasing the latest in interactive storytelling. Each activity utilized state-of-the-art technology such as Oculus headsets, subwoofer backpacks and sound-inhibiting headphones to create as immersive of an experience as possible.

Continue reading “Virtual Reality Dominates at 2017 Tribeca Film Festival”