President Barack Obama will visit Walt Disney World during a planned trip to Orlando this coming Thursday, January 19. There, he will give a speech and "unveil a strategy that will significantly help boost tourism and travel." Disney is planning heavy security around the Magic Kingdom and has imposed parking restrictions at the Contemporary Resort. Main Street, U.S.A. will be closed to guest traffic from park opening to late afternoon. When you arrive at the Magic Kingdom Main Entrance, you will be directed via an alternate route to other areas of Magic Kingdom. The Pirates League, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Crystal Palace, and Cinderella's Royal Table will all be open and honoring reservations, but allow extra time to reach these locations due to expected foot and vehicle traffic. (Harmony Barber Shop will be closed.) If you have reservations for a tour or at the Plaza Restaurant for that day, you will be contacted with instructions on how to proceed. In addition, Walt Disney World theme park hours for January 19 have been significantly changed as follows:

-- The Magic Kingdom will not have Extra Magic Hours as originally scheduled. Instead, park hours will be 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. The afternoon parade will be at 3:30 p.m., the Main Street Electrical Parade at 7 p.m. and Wishes at 8 p.m.

-- Disney's Animal Kingdom will have morning Extra Magic Hour from 8 to 9 a.m. Park hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

-- Epcot will have evening Extra Magic Hours, from 9 p.m. until midnight. Regular park hours will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

-- Disney's Hollywood Studios will be open 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., and will host a special fireworks presentation called "Rock the Night!" at 7 p.m. Extra Magic Hours will be held afterward from 7 to 10 p.m.

In addition, due to the expected crowds and potential inconvenience caused by the visit of President Obama, Walt Disney World is allowing Base Ticket holders without the Park Hopper option on their tickets (but excluding cast members), to move between parks on 1/19. Simply present your admission ticket when you enter the park.

Disney will update its nighttime show "The Magic, The Memories and You!" for Valentine's Day, to highlight romantic Disney moments. The nighttime show runs each evening, just before the evening fireworks. At Walt Disney World, images are projected on Cinderella Castle as part of the show. (At Disneyland Resort, the images are projected onto the "it's a small world" attraction.)

An all-new interactive experience, "Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom," has been testing sporadically the last few days in Walt Disney World. In the new game, Merlin the magician will recruit guests as apprentice sorcerers to undertake missions to subdue villains and ne'er do wells. Armed with magic spells in the form of special cards, guests must search for the magic symbols that lead them to animated villains' hiding places. By casting different magical spell cards, players can do battle with Yzma, Kronk and other "baddies" hiding throughout the land. From fireballs to frantic frogs and cyclones, there are spells to bring down each and every villain, with a simple flick of the wrist. This immersive role-playing adventure will be included with park admission.

As the opening date for Disney's new Art of Animation Resort nears, more photos both of the construction, and of the room models, have become available. Be sure to check the site periodically for additional photos and behind-the-scenes video of this new resort.

Several additional "Operating Participant restaurants" will now accept the Disney Dining Plan in 2012: Rainforest Cafe (at both Downtown Disney and Disney's Animal Kingdom), T-REX, House of Blues Restaurant, Bongo's Cuban Cafe, Paradiso 37, Fulton's Crab House and Portobello.

The list of eligible snack items has expanded and includes a large variety of single-serving food and beverage items at carts, kiosks, quick-service and select merchandise locations across property. (The Dining Plan snack symbol is posted on menu boards and next to many of the eligible products in merchandise shops.)

ALL Disney Dining Plan packages include a Resort Refillable Drink Mug allowing free refills, only at quick-service locations at the Disney resort where you are staying for the length of your current stay.

The Quick-Service Dining Plan (QSR) now includes 2 QSR meals and 1 snack per guest, per night.

The Disney Wine and Dine Plan add-on is no longer available.

-- One More Disney Day for Free! Spend an extra night for free at either a Disneyland Resort Hotel or a Walt Disney World Resort hotel when you book a Room and Ticket Package for 3 nights or more, between February 26 and March 10, 2012. Purchase before January 31, 2012.

-- You Could Win One of 60 Vacation Packages: Starting January 1, 2012, enter every day through February 29, 2012 for a chance to win one of 60 vacation packages for 4 to either Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort.