2011 was a great year for the Walt Disney World Resort.  There were a lot of changes and additions to greet guests that visited Disney World this past year.  Let's take a look back at 2011 and check out some of the special shows, events, and attractions that occurred:


"Let The Memories Begin"
The celebration theme for the Walt Disney World Resort for 2011 was "Let The Memories Begin."  The biggest new addition in honor of this celebration was the night time projection show on Cinderella Castle called "The Magic, The Memories, and You!"  This innovative transformation of Cinderella Castle into a video screen went way beyond watching a simple image projected onto the castle.  This 10 minute show brought a multitude of elements to life including images taken each day of guests enjoying the Magic Kingdom.


ESPN The Weekend
This past March saw the final occurrence of the ESPN The Weekend Special Event at Disney's Hollywood Studios.  This was an opportunity for Disney World Guests to get to see and interact with ESPN personalities and star athletes from a number of sports. 

In the above picture you can see Dick Vitale talking to the crowd with a panel of NBA Hall Of Famers and Legends behind him: Kevin McHale, Karl Malone, Alonzo Mourning, & Gary Payton.  This was an example of one of the many sessions that took place that Disney World guests could get up close to see and here some of their sports idols.

Wild Africa Trek
Disney's Animal Kingdom introduced a new type of tour that takes you closer to the action than ever before.  The Wild Africa Trek literally gave guests a new perspective in viewing the animals throughout the Harambe Wildlife Reserve.


Disney Junior - Live On Stage!
Disney's Hollywood Studios updated their hit attraction for pre-school age guests by transforming "Playhouse Disney-Live On Stage" to "Disney Junior-Live On Stage!" thereby incorporating a new line-up of characters that your pre-schoolers know and love.  Now you can find Jake and the Never Land Pirates and favorites from the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny and the Little Einsteins performing in this great show for kids.


Star Tours - The Adventures Continue
Perhaps the biggest "new" attraction to hit Disney World in 2011, was the dramatic refurbishments done to Star Tours.  In what turned out to be the best updating of an attraction ever, Star Tours-The Adventures Continue became an attraction that now has guests clamoring to ride multiple times so that they can experience several of the multiple show sequences that are mixed randomly.  This makes each ride different along with the addition of 3-D effects, improved sound, and the inclusion of many of your favorite Star Wars characters.


Enchanted Tiki Room
Another change that Disney World Guests had been asking for finally came to fruition during 2011.  After an unfortunate fire damaged the Tiki Room, Disney Imagineers changed the show back to something closer to the original to the delight of Disney fans.  The annoying voice of Gilbert Gottfried is no longer part of this attraction!


Disney World 40th Anniversary
On October 1st, 2011 the Walt Disney World Resort celebrated its 40th Anniversary.  Special Ceremonies were held in the Magic Kingdom to mark the day.  Meg Crofton addressed the crowded that gathered around Cinderella Castle to pay tribute to Walt Disney and the Disney Company on this momentous occasion.

The best sights around the Magic Kingdom that day were actually all of the great Disney World fans and their homemade shirts and costumes honoring this special day.