KO OLINA, Hawaii. (January 21, 2010) – Walt Disney Parks & Resorts today announced the name of its new Hawaii Resort along with a new website for travel agents to visit to stay connected to the resort’s development. Reflecting the discovery, understanding and belonging of the culture, the resort will be called Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai‘i. It is Disney’s first stand-alone family destination resort and it is scheduled to open in 2011.

"Once completed, the beautiful Aulani resort will be another unique Disney experience for travel agents to sell, and one which surrounds clients in the lore of Hawaii and its rich stories," noted Randy A. Garfield, executive vice president of worldwide sales and travel operations for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. "We anticipate opening sales for the resort in summer 2010, and we are kicking off our trade education program concurrent with this naming announcement. This promises to be an outstanding family experience, and one only Disney can deliver."

The new preview website, available through www.disneytravelagents.com, provides travel agents with updates and background information on the resort now under construction. The site also details some of the unique features under development and includes conceptual art, descriptions of resort highlights, regularly updated resort information and photos of Aulani as it nears completion.

"We want this resort destination to reflect the vibrant culture that surrounds it. The name ‘Aulani’ expresses a connection to tradition and deep story-telling – and its roots are in this land right here," said Joe Rohde, senior vice president, creative for Walt Disney Imagineering. "We’re so grateful to the local Hawaiians who led us to the discovery of this name, and our goal is to live up to its meaning."

Rohde noted that Aulani means "the place that speaks for the great ones" or "the place that speaks with deep messages."

Nearby to historical sites on the western side of Oahu, Aulani will be located on 21-acres of oceanfront property in the Ko Olina Resort & Marina development. The Resort is planned to have 360 hotel rooms and 481 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club villas. Design plans call for amenities to engage every member of the family, a hallmark of a Disney vacation. Among the recreational highlights planned for the resort are pools and sunset facing hot tubs, a snorkeling lagoon, a variety of Kids Club and other play programs for children; and a river, suitable for tube floating, running through a specially created volcanic outcropping. The resort will also include an 18,000 sq ft spa that will provide a tranquil escape for our adult guests to enjoy. Also nearby are a golf course and marina. The Resort, built adjacent to a crystal blue lagoon and a white-sand beach, will also have two restaurants and generous ballroom, meeting space and event lawns.

"We are looking forward to introducing the travel industry to this exciting new property," stated Garfield. "Disney is known for providing clients with immersive and transformational vacation experiences, and soon we can offer those experiences with the combined beauty and culture of Hawaii."

For more information on all Disney Destinations, including the new Aulani resort, travel agents can visit www.disneytravelagents.com.

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ABOUT WALT DISNEY PARKS AND RESORTS

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts are where families experience and enjoy the magic of Disney’s beloved characters and where dreams come true. More than 50 years ago, Walt Disney created a new kind of entertainment families could experience together, immersed in detailed atmospheres and vibrant storytelling. His vision now includes a collection of five of the world’s leading family vacation destinations - Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, Calif.; Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; Tokyo Disney Resort, Urayasu, Chiba, Japan; Disneyland Resort Paris, Marne-la-Vallée, France; and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, located on Lantau Island. In addition, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts includes the world-class Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, with ten resorts and more than 420,000 members; Adventures by Disney, a guided group vacation experience to some of the world’s most popular destinations; the World of Disney stores; and Walt Disney Imagineering, which creates and designs all Disney parks, resorts and attractions.