Your Daily News from Around Disney 2/9/15

It's Monday and I returned to work today after a 10 day vacation of going nowhere. It was nice to be off but it was back to reality. That's enough about me though as I'm here to report another day full of Disney news. I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend, so let's dive into your daily news from around Disney.

Animal Kingdom's Tree of Life Grows New Roots:

After there had been walls around Animal Kingdom's Tree of Life for a while, those walls finally came down on Saturday to reveal the tree had grown new roots. The roots now have grown into the central hub area. Within the new roots on the tree are carvings of new animals from the circle of life from tiny bugs to large crocodiles and much more the Disney Parks Blog reported. With the addition of these new roots its gives guests a wonderful view of the Tree of Life as well as a widened walkway for guests going to Discovery Island. Here are some pictures that Disney released of the new roots that have grown from the Tree of Life. 

Disney's D23 Releases Lineup of Events for 2015:

Today, Disney's D23 released its lineup of events for 2015 for all around the country. It has added some new events and experiences for its members in San Francisco, Dallas, Boston, Los Angeles, New York City and more. D23 said it will release dates, ticketing information, and even more events, including in Orlando, will be announced throughout the year. All events and dates are subject to change and here is your list of D23 events for 2015:

• February 25: D23 Member Night at Newsies—On Tour, San Francisco (sold out)
• March 12: Cinderella Lights Up the Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco
• March 13: A Taste of Disney at Silverado Vineyards, Napa, Calif.
• March 14: Breakfast on Broadway, New York City
• March 15: The Hunchback of Notre Dame VIP Experience, Millburn, N.J.
• Spring 2015: Lunch with a Legend, Burbank, Calif.
• Spring 2015: D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives, Burbank, Calif.
• April 14: D23 Member Night at Newsies—On Tour, Los Angeles (sold out)
• April 30: D23 Member Night at Newsies—On Tour, Dallas (sold out)
• May 9: The Parent Trap, Burbank, Calif.
• May 29: VIP Studio Tour with Disney Legend Dave Smith, Burbank, Calif.
• June 10: D23 Member Night at Newsies—On Tour, Washington, D.C. (sold out)
• June 20: D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives, Burbank, Calif.
• June 25: D23 Member Night at Newsies—On Tour, Boston
• July 15: D23 Member Night at Newsies—On Tour, Toronto
• July 18: Disneyland U.S.A., Burbank, Calif.
• August 14–16: D23 Expo 2015, Anaheim, Calif.
• Fall 2015: Lunch with a Legend, Burbank, Calif.
• September 26, Pinocchio, Burbank, Calif.
• November 6, VIP Studio Tour, Burbank, Calif.
• November 7: D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives, Burbank, Calif.
• December 4: Light Up the Season, Burbank, Calif.

Disney Hotels are Reaching Occupancy Plateau:

Today, the Orlando Sentinel reported that Disney is reaching the hotel-occupancy plateau after their stellar first quarter results. Disney reported a hotel-occupancy rate of 89% up from 81% at this time last year. CFO Jay Rasulo stated it would be hard to see it going any higher. He is quoted as saying, "I think hoteliers in general will tell you that to try to fill a hotel up past 89 percent, 90 percent, 91 percent, is extremely difficult. He also points out that there are many hotels outside of Disney who aren't experiencing such high occupancy rates. According to Visit Orlando, the region's occupancy rate for the final quarter of 2014 was only 72.2%. Disney has dropped the amount of rooms it has with the conversion of 360 suites at the Polynesian Village Resort for its newest vacation club shares. Disney also has 3 hotels at its Disneyland Park as well as about 361 hotel rooms at it resort in Hawaii, Aulani.

This Day in Disney History:

On this day, February 9, in 1996 The Disney Institute opens at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Also on this day in 2006, Disney reacquires the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit back from NBC Universal along with sports considerations for ESPN. The considerations include sports play-by-play analyst, Al Michaels, to contract with NBC.

Daily Disney Quote:

"I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter."

Walt Disney

Well that is all for today, tomorrow is another day looking forward to sharing the Disney news again tomorrow. You can now contact me with any suggestions for the blog at allstartedwithamouse5689@gmail.com. As always in the words of Mickey Mouse, "See Ya Real Soon."