When the Disney Magic relaunches this October, guests will see changes that make the staterooms even more family friendly. Hear about some of these enhancements and get a glimpse at the refreshed art deco-inspired design of the staterooms and suites on the Disney Magic.
Daily Disney Deal: Free Shipping on Select Disney Movies
Re-live those magical Disney movie moments on Blu-Ray or DVD, and get free shipping on select movies at Disney Store!
Quick Quotes: “Mickey and the Magical Map” and Fantasy Faire
Creative teams at The Disneyland Resort are excited to share two new experiences with guests in 2013: ”Mickey and the Magical Map,” a show in Fantasyland Theatre, and Fantasy Faire, a storybook village near Sleeping Beauty Castle. A few cast members share their thoughts on the new experiences and how they were developed.
Live Entertainment at Disney Parks
Kevin Eld, Head of Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment
- How a Disney story is different: “We are obsessed storytellers and we are obsessive about detail. … We all share a deep-seated passion about creating emotional moments. We get to touch people at the very core of their emotions. We want people to get lost in the story of ‘Mickey and the Magical Map.’”
“Mickey and the Magical Map,” Disneyland Park
Michael Jung, Theatrical Development Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment
- Ties to Disney animation: “We wanted to take our guests on a magical journey that allowed them to visit beloved characters, songs and story lines that would really touch their hearts and remind them of some of their favorite moments in Disney animation, but in a whole new way – a very theatrical way that doesn’t replicate the films, but actually underscores and brings them to life in an adventurous way.”
- Mischievous Mickey: “We really wanted to bring back the kind of playful, energetic and slightly mischievous Mickey Mouse, to get in touch with the heart of this little rascal. Mickey picks up the paintbrush and he decides to try to paint the unfinished spot on the Map, which of course magically comes to life. There’s a wonderful story about the magic of the Map, and the fact that the unfinished spot is just like our imagination. As long there’s imagination left in the world, there are always new places to go, new dreams to have, new journeys to pursue.”
- Technology serves the story: “The technology of the map is very exciting, but we are doing everything we can to make it feel very painterly, to make sure that it blends into the atmosphere of Fantasyland in a magical way, and doesn’t feel very technological. The way it tells a story, and the way it activates the world of the show and appears interactive with the performance, will be very captivating. It will draw our audience into a magical, visual illusion.”
- Guest reaction: “I look forward to seeing our incredibly special audience respond to this. We know how important it is for them to find ways to spend time together, connecting and creating magical memories. We hope ‘Mickey and the Magical Map’ will do that for them … And we hope they take away the moral Mickey learns, the power of being yourself and seeing what’s in front of you.”
Celebrate 100,000 D23 Twitter Followers With Cool Disney Giveaways
To thank Disney fans for helping them reach this amazing milestone on Twitter, they are giving away Walt Disney Archives merchandise, D23 limited-edition t-shirts, and more in the new “#D23Swag” sweepstakes series.
Here’s How it Works:
Starting on May 30th at 12:00 p.m., PT, Disney will send out a special message for their Twitter followers to “re-tweet.” You can re-tweet the message any time between when the message is originally sent from @DisneyD23 and 5:00 p.m., PT, that day. Those who re-tweet will automatically be entered into a randomized drawing to win cool D23 swag! For the full set of rules, click here.
Mark Your Calendar:
You’ll have a chance to participate every other Thursday after May 30 (don’t worry, they’ll remind you the day before so you don’t forget)! The sweepstakes series will include the following seven dates: May 30, June 13, June 27, July 11, July 25, August 8, and August 22.
Winning Cool Stuff:
Prizes will include Walt Disney Archives merchandise, D23 limited-edition t-shirts, and more! Winners will be sent a Direct Message via Twitter to verify eligibility—so make sure you’re following @DisneyD23 on Twitter!
Disney’s ‘The Lone Ranger’ – “A Masked Man” Commercial
The Lone Ranger opens in US theaters July 3, 2013.
From Videopolis to ‘Mickey and the Magical Map,’ A Fantasyland Theatre Timeline
The new, live theatrical presentation “Mickey and the Magical Map’ is the first full-scale stage show in the Fantasyland Theatre since “Snow White – An Enchanting New Musical,” which ran from 2004 to 2006. The new production brings technical enhancements to the theatre, which has entertained Disneyland Park guests in a variety of ways since its 1985 debut.
Today’s Fantasyland Theatre was known as Videopolis when it opened in 1985. Long before “Mad T Party” and similar nighttime events at Disneyland Resort, Videopolis was a rockin’ music club with DJs, a 5,000-square-foot dance floor and 70 TV monitors showing music videos and live cut-in shots of guests as they danced.
Disney’s ESPN Trims Fewer Than 400 Jobs Amid Company Cuts
Walt Disney Co. (DIS)’s ESPN sports television division fired several hundred workers today, part of a companywide drive to improve profitability.
The firings number fewer than 400 and include unfilled positions, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly and asked not to be named. ESPN, based in Bristol, Connecticut, announced the cuts in an e-mailed statement.
Last Chance to Enter The “Monsters University” Sweepstakes Presented By Time Warner Cable For a Chance to Win a Trip to Attend The World Premiere in Los Angeles!
There are only four days left to enter The “Monsters University” Sweepstakes for a chance to win a Delta Vacations trip for two to the World Premiere of Disney•Pixar’s Monsters University in Los Angeles on June 17. The Grand Prize package includes air and hotel accommodations as well as two tickets to the premiere. The Grand Prize winner will also receive a year of Time Warner Cable Digital TV and Internet service, a tablet PC and a Monsters University prize pack. Time Warner Cable collaborated with Disney•Pixar to the launch the Sweepstakes on Time Warner Cable’s Facebook page.
In addition, three First Prize winners will each receive a tablet PC and Monsters University prize pack, and five Second Prize winners will each receive Monsters University prize packs.
Pixar’s 22 rules of storytelling
These rules were originally tweeted by Emma Coats, Pixar’s story artist. Number nine on the list—when you’re stuck, make a list of what wouldn’t happen next—is a great one and can apply to writers in all genres.
1. You admire a character for trying more than for their successes.
2. Keep in mind what’s interesting to you as an audience, not what’s fun to do as a writer. They can be very different.
3. Trying for theme is important, but you won’t see what the story is actually about until you’re at the end of it. Now rewrite.
4. Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___.
5. Simplify. Focus. Combine characters. Hop over detours. You’ll feel like you’re losing valuable stuff but it sets you free.
Dazzling, New Live Show ‘Mickey and the Magical Map’ Opens May 25 in Fantasyland Theatre at Disneyland Park
Mickey Mouse and a cast of beloved Disney characters will embark on a series of musical adventures through the magical powers of a sorcerer’s map in “Mickey and the Magical Map,” the all-new live show coming to the Fantasyland Theatre in Disneyland Park May 25.
Created by Disney Creative Entertainment, “Mickey and the Magical Map” was conceived for children of all ages and represents the return of Disney storytelling to the newly refurbished Fantasyland Theatre, a venue that merges the tradition of live outdoor performances with theatrical technology.
Today is Talk Like Yoda Day!
Yes today is Talk like Yoda Day! It is celebrated on the the anniversary of the release of the “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empires Strike Back”.
Have fun today talking like Yoda and may be force be with you!
Disney Pumps the Brakes on David Fincher’s ‘20,000 Leagues Under the Sea’
Progress on David Fincher‘s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea has been pretty slow going. He’s been set to direct since before his last film (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) even opened, but Disney’s been hemming and hawing about what it wants to do.
As of today, it looks like they’re still not quite ready to move forward. The Jules Verne adaptation has been stalled yet again, which means we likely won’t see it until 2015 at the earliest.