Disney World

Disney World Employee Arrested On Child Pornography Charges

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Wed, 12/19/2012 - 17:38

Orlando, FL -

The Orange County Sheriff's Department has arrested 28-year-old Ruben Ferrer on multiple charges of child pornography and distribution. Investigators say that Ferrer was actually downloading images just a few minutes before he was arrested at his brother's house, where he lives.

According to police, Ferrer was caught during an undercover sting operation in which he sent and received images of children between the ages of 4 and 12. They also say he had been trading videos of children doing sex acts.

Miami Man Tries To Impersonate Federal Officer To Get Into Disney's EPCOT For Free

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Mon, 11/05/2012 - 13:55

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. -

Police arrested 74-year-old Emerito Pujol of Miami after they say he impersonated a federal officer to get into Disney World's EPCOT for free on Saturday.

According to the report, Pujol flashed a badge at the entrance to the theme park to a park employee who asked to see the badge again. He told the employee he was working an undercover case and needed to be let in.

After Disney security arrived, Pujol reportedly stated he was working a VIP mission in which he was protecting someone.

Disney's Theme Park EPCOT Turns 30 Today And Celebreates

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Mon, 10/01/2012 - 09:50

The second park of four to open at Disney World in Orlando, Florida turns 30 today and will be holding celebrations starting at 3:00pm and will have an extended fireworks and light show tonight.

When Disney built Epcot, it cost between $800 million to $1.4 billion and was the largest construction project on earth at that time. Epcot's parking lot is 141 acres, and Epcot itself is double the size of the Magic Kingdom, just a few miles away on the Walt Disney Word Resort which spans 42 square miles, or larger than the state of Rhode Island.

DEDICATION

Orange County Deputy Kirk Smurawa Arrested For Armed Burglary While On Duty In Uniform

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 21:16

Orlando, Fla. -

Orange County Deputy Kirk Smurawa has been arrested following a sting operation in which the deputy was video taped stealing a purse at Disney World while on duty, in uniform with his department issued Glock handgun.

Investigators said they had received information that promoted them to investigation Smurawa and set up an undercover surveillance operation in which he was caught.

Disney's Epcot Park Opens New Tutto Gusto Restaurant As Part Of Its Italian Pavilion Renovation

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 11:30

Lake Buena Vita, Fla. -

Disney World's Epcot has opened its new Tutto Gusto restaurant and a new wine cellar as part of the Italian Pavilion's renovation at the World Showcase Lagoon section of the theme park. Epcot is one of four major theme parks located at Disney World, the others being the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.

Chef Joachim Splichal, founder of Patina Restaurant Group, was on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony while guests got a chance to go inside for sparkling water, a little bubbly and the chance to explore Tutto Gusto.

San Jose Calif Women Booked Into Jail For Deadly Hit And Run Near Disney World That Kills Chinese Tourist

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 10:48

[Updated: 9:02pm Apr-18-12]
Lake Buena Vista, Fla. -

Jennifer Gerette Toth, 43, of San Jose California has been arrested and booked into the Orange County Jail for a deadly hit and run that happened last night around 11:30pm on SR 535, just south of the Hotel Blvd. entrance to Disney World.

Toth was in Florida on vacation and was on her way to the Waldorf Astoria Resort when witnesses said she was speeding and ran a red light and hit a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Witnesses stopped to give aid and call fire/rescue crews and said Toth "just kept going."

Popular GM Test Track Ride At Epcot To Close Monday

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Wed, 04/11/2012 - 09:01

Orlando, Fla. -

Disney World has announced that the popular "Test Track" ride at its Epcot park will close Monday to undergo a complete makeover of the ride, its first major overhaul since it opened in 1999. The ride is sponsored by General Motors, GM.

The Test Track takes users on an adventurous ride simulating the various testing phases GM cars go through while being designed and built and and then into a high speed run around the outer ring reaching speeds up to 65mph in the high bank.

Disney Cruise Lines Shifting Ships Around, Add Miami And Barcelona Spain To Home Ports

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 12:00

Disney Cruise Lines has announced they are shifting their operation and moving ships around with Miami to become home port to the Disney Magic and Barcelona Spain to become home port for the Disney Wonder in 2013.

Port Canaveral will remain home port with its newest and largest ships, the Disney Dream (pictured above) and the Disney Fantasy will launch in March of this year.

President Obama To Give Speech At Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Orlando Today About Tourist Visas

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Thu, 01/19/2012 - 09:11

Orlando, Fla. -

President Obama will arrive in Orlando today to give a speech about changing the visa process for foreign tourist to make it easier to come to Florida. He is due to land at Orlando International around 11:30am and will give his speech at Disney's Magic Kingdom at noon and will then return to the airport to board Air Force One and depart.

The announcement of the visa process is welcomed news by many businesses in the Central Florida region who depend on tourism, along with businesses that serve the hospitality industry.

Ex-Disney World Employee Wilbert Brookins Acquitted of Rape

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 15:19

Orlando, Fla. -

An Orange County jury has acquitted former Disney World employee Wilbert Brookins of rape following closing arguments.

After the prosecution put on its case, the defense attorney did not mount a defense, and gave an oral statement during closing arguments recapping that the alleged victim had been sending text messages to Brookins after the alleged rape happened and never called 911.

Brookins was a Reservations clerk at Disney World but no longer works for Disney.