Archive for Scott

Photos – Disney Wonder Becomes First Passenger Vessel To Transit New Panama Canal Locks

Today, the Disney Wonder transited the Panama Canal as the first passenger vessel to go through the canal’s new set of locks, marking a milestone for the cruise industry. The Disney Cruise Line 2,713-passenger ship was transformed in late 2016, expanding the length of the Disney Wonder to 984 feet. Headlining the ship’s enhancements are new imaginative spaces for children – including areas themed to the Marvel Universe and Disney’s “Frozen” –  a jazzy restaurant inspired by Disney’s “Princess and the Frog,” and an authentic neighborhood English pub with subtle nods to classic Disney films. The Disney Wonder Panama Canal crossing is part of a 14-night voyage from Port Canaveral, Fla., to San Diego, where the ship will sail cruises to Baja, Mexico, before a summer season from Vancouver to Alaska.

Share this:

Awe-Inspiring Adventure! Avatar Flight of Passage is Thrilling Centerpiece on Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Imagine straddling the back of a wing-flapping banshee, darting and swirling through the canyon updrafts, free as the wind. Below you: the otherworldly planet of Pandora – grand in its vastness, surreal in its bioluminescence.

Hold on tight! You can ride this beast. You can sense its banshee breath. That’s because you’re high-flying in an immersive new adventure, Avatar Flight of Passage, set to open May 27 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

A shining star of the theme park’s all-new land, Pandora – The World of Avatar, this 3-D expedition transports travelers on a sweeping, simulated flight over Pandora’s colorful landscape. Guests soar around floating mountains, plunge through ancient caverns and skim across roaring oceans, culminating in a realistic encounter with the fiercest king of the air, the Great Leonopteryx that boasts a 45-foot wingspan.

“In Flight of Passage, the sensation of flying is really visceral, really believable,” said Joe Rohde, Walt Disney Imagineering portfolio creative executive. “Not only do you have the more obvious aspects of flying – the swooping and curving – but we’ve put in crosswind, air density and banking.”

Three Experiences Folded Into One
The journey begins in the queue as guests begin an uphill trek around a massive root structure, over a land bridge above waterfalls to an authentic totem garden. Meandering passageways lead to a cave-like structure where the great–winged banshees, or Ikran as the Na’vis call them, are celebrated in paintings and majestic totems. Next, guests enter an old, once abandoned RDA facility with a laboratory partially restored. Here, there are scientific experiments in progress with references to habitat restoration, the ecosystem, water purification and the connection of all living things.

Next stop is the genetic matching room where explorers are scanned and genetic material is sampled to connect them to personal avatars in preparation for a flight experience. Once matched, adventurers board link chairs, don flight visors and prepare for the flight.

Next stop: a mystical world like no other.

Flying on the back of a banshee represents an important rite of passage for the Na’vi and as visitors to the alien world, guests will have a chance to be tested and guided through the wondrous journey. After entering a state-of-the-art theater, each guest straddles a single-seat simulator (like a motorcycle) that delivers a realistic sensation of riding a living creature. Guests will experience the swift and graceful movements of flight and even feel the banshee breathing beneath them. The multi-sensory experience uses cutting-edge technology and intricate special effects like never before.

This heart-pounding adventure transports explorers through the alien world of Pandora, offering lifelike encounters – splashing whale-like creatures, blowing wind, roaring banshees, and a threatening encounter with a flying predator. The exhilarating 4-minute flight through the sci-fi world of bioluminescence and floating mountains is orchestrated to a complex musical score recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra.

“All of the mechanics behind it, all of the engineering, all the stuff that goes into the imagery is amazing,” said James Cameron, whose blockbuster film AVATAR inspired Disney’s new land. “You know, riding the Ikran is a thrill. You’re going to plunge. You’re going to dive. You’re going to swoop. It’s like dreaming with your eyes open.”

Avatar Flight of Passage will be a FastPass excursion at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Only explorers 44 inches or taller can fly on the back of these flying creatures.

The 12-acre Pandora – The World of Avatar will dazzle guests with its bioluminescent forests, floating mountains and glowing alien-like flora. Its May 27 opening comes in time for the summer vacation season at Walt Disney World Resort.

Share this:

RESERVATIONS NOW OPEN FOR ‘THE MUSIC OF PIXAR LIVE!’ DINING PACKAGE AT DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

Reservations are now available for “The Music of Pixar LIVE!” Dining Package, a delicious way to reserve your seats for the new “The Music of Pixar LIVE!” a limited-time concert event featuring memorable music from beloved Pixar films, which will take place three times nightly at Disney’s Hollywood Studios® beginning May 26, 2017 at Walt Disney World® Resort. With the Dining Package, guests will receive a voucher for reserved seating to redeem at the theater.

Guests evenings are even more magical by combining “The Music of Pixar LIVE!” and “Fantasmic!” Dining Package, which will include reserved seating for both the concert as well as the popular “Fantasmic!” nighttime spectacular.

Participating locations include Hollywood & Vine (Disney Junior Play ‘n Dine and Minnie’s Seasonal Dine), The Hollywood Brown Derby and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano. Dining must occur no later than 2.5 hours prior to show time or 1.25 hours after show time; vouchers can be picked up at the restaurant (if dining prior to show time) or at the theater (if dining after the show). “The Music of Pixar LIVE!” Dining Package is Disney Dining Plan eligible and counts as one (1) table-service entitlement for Hollywood & Vine and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, two (2) table-service entitlements for The Hollywood Brown Derby.

Reservations are now available for dates beginning May 26 for The Music of Pixar LIVE! Dining Package, and can only be made by calling 407-WDW-DINE.

Share this:

Photos – Limited Edition ‘Wishes” Items Available

Take a look at some Limited Edition items available for ‘Wishes’ at Magic Kingdom.  The show will only be featured for a few more weeks and these souvenirs will make a great collectible for any Disney fan.

Share this:

Photos – Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, Pluto Topiaries at Epcot Entrance

Check out some photos of the Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, Pluto Topiaries at Epcot Entrance.

Share this:

Disney gives release dates to live-action ‘Lion King,’ ‘Frozen 2’ and other films

Walt Disney Co. DIS, on Tuesday announced the release dates for a handful of future films, including its live-action remake of “Lion King” (July 19, 2019), “Star Wars: Episode IX” (May 24, 2019) and the sequel to its 2013 animated hit “Frozen” (Nov. 27, 2019).

Full Story

Share this:

‘Cars 3’ Footage Reaction: 50 Minutes Screened

At the end of last month, Pixar Animation invited /Film out to their campus in Emeryville, California to watch footage from Cars 3 and take part in their big press day event with presentations from the filmmakers who are bringing Lightning McQueen to the big screen again this summer.

Full Story

Share this:

Details of The Walt Disney Studios, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts at D23 Expo 2017

D23: The Official Disney Fan Club has announced the lineup of the most highly anticipated presentations at D23 Expo 2017, July 14–16. The Disney Legends Awards Ceremony, hosted by Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger, will kick off the Expo on Friday morning, July 14. Later that same day, The Walt Disney Studios will give fans a sneak peek at all the latest from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar. On Saturday morning, The Walt Disney Studios will preview the coming slate of live-action films from Disney, Marvel, and Lucasfilm. Then, on Saturday afternoon, fans will get a preview of what’s in store at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts during a presentation hosted by Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek. Sunday afternoon, Disney Legend Alan Menken will take fans on a musical journey during an all-new concert.

These Expo favorites will take place in “Hall D23,” the 6,800-seat venue located in Hall D of the Anaheim Convention Center. The schedule of Hall D23 Events and Presentations are as follows (all events subject to change):

The Disney Legends Awards Ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, July 14. The ceremony, hosted by Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger, will once again honor those visionaries and artists who have made significant contributions to the Disney legacy. This year’s recipients are: Carrie Fisher, Clyde “Gerry” Geronimi, Manuel Gonzales, Mark Hamill, Wayne Jackson, Stan Lee, Garry Marshall, Julie Taymor, and Oprah Winfrey.

The Walt Disney Studios will present a behind-the-scenes look at its blockbuster collection of upcoming films in two jam-packed Hall D23 sessions. At 2:30 p.m. on Friday, fans will discover what’s on the drawing board for the acclaimed filmmakers at Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios. On Saturday at 10:30 a.m., Disney, Marvel, and Lucasfilm showcase the Studios’ exciting slate of live-action films. As always, attendees will be treated to exclusive footage, special guest appearances, and more!

On Saturday, July 15, at 3 p.m., step into the worlds of magic of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts with Chairman Bob Chapek to find out what’s new and what’s next for resorts around the globe.

To round out the weekend, Disney Legend Alan Menken will perform his exciting new one-man show, A Whole New World of Alan Menken. The eight-time Oscar®-winner introduced new generations to musicals through such box office hits as Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Enchanted, and Tangled, as well as the Broadway shows Little Shop of Horrors, Sister Act, Newsies, and A Bronx Tale, as well as the ABC television series Galavant. Menken will perform his own music and share entertaining anecdotes about his unrivaled career during the show, which will be performed Sunday, July 16, 2017, at 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. in Hall D23 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Tickets for D23 Expo 2017 are available for $81 for a one-day adult admission and $59 for children 3–9. Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club can purchase tickets for $72 for a one-day adult admission and $53 for children 3–9. Multi-day tickets are also available. For more information on tickets and D23 Expo 2017, visit D23expo.com.

About D23 Expo 2017

D23 Expo—The Ultimate Disney Fan Event—brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event, which will take place July 14–16 at the Anaheim Convention Center, provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. For the latest D23 Expo 2017 news, visit D23expo.com. Presentations, talent, and schedule subject to change. To join the D23 Expo conversation, be sure to follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube, and use the hashtag #D23Expo.

About D23

The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s 90-plus-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; a rich website at D23.com with members-only content; member-exclusive discounts; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.

Fans can join D23 at Gold and General Membership levels at D23.com and at DisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.

Share this:

Freeform Makes Wedding Dreams Come True with Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings’ Special Premiering May 7

“The Bachelor” alumni Ben Higgins and Lauren Bushnell take you behind the scenes of some truly fabulous weddings in Freeform’s “Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings” special, airing on SUNDAY, MAY 7, at 8:00 – 9:30 p.m. EDT. To get a sneak-peek look, click here.

Getting married is one of the most special days of your life and one you will never forget. For three exceptional couples, their weddings will include some Disney magic and elegance, as well as a few surprises thrown in, to give them the wedding they always dreamed of and more. And while three couples are entering wedded bliss, one lucky couple is just about to start their wedding journey with a proposal of a lifetime. Hosted by “The Bachelor” alums Ben Higgins and Lauren Bushnell, “Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings” will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the one-of-a-kind weddings, including a surprise performance by the multiplatinum-selling a cappella group Pentatonix and magical engagements that take place at Disney Destinations around the globe.

The four couples featured in the special are:

Ruby and Eric from Oxnard, California
Ruby and Eric quickly got married at the courthouse seven years ago before Eric was deployed overseas. During his two deployments, Eric always vowed to give Ruby the wedding of her dreams and now he is finally able to deliver on this promise. With a breathtaking setting in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Resort in California, an unexpected carriage ride down Main Street U.S.A., and an even bigger surprise wedding serenade by Pentatonix, Ruby and Eric’s wedding is one for the history books.

Carolina and Isaiah from Phoenix, Arizona
Carolina was Isaiah’s “seventh grade girl of his dreams” and will now soon be his wife. This adventurous couple knew a traditional wedding wasn’t their style and decided on a “wedding-moon” in the Bahamas. With family and friends in tow, Carolina and Isaiah sail off on Disney Cruise Line for a romantic and fun Disney’s private island wedding adventure.

Taylor and Tyler from Dallas, Texas
Taylor and Tyler spend their magical day at Epcot in Florida. Taylor’s family has a deep history with The Walt Disney Company, with her father working for the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and her sister as a voice actor on Disney Channel’s “Star Wars Rebels.” With this family legacy, Taylor’s dream wedding has always been a Disney wedding. With a choreographed first dance and Taylor’s goal of making Tyler cry, this is sure to be a wedding viewers will never forget.

Melanie and Greg from Peoria, Illinois
Melanie thinks her boyfriend Greg is taking her on a fun vacation to the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida to get away from the stresses of their life. The couple heads out on a sunrise safari ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, but unbeknownst to her, Melanie is in for the surprise of her life as Greg has prepared an unforgettable wedding proposal.

“Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings” is a T Group and Roberts Media production and executive produced by Jenny Daly, Ann Lewis Roberts and Simon Lythgoe.

Share this:

The Guardians of the Galaxy Arrive May 27 at Disney California Adventure Park

Whether guests know the quirky characters from Guardians of the Galaxy through comic books, animated television series or films, they have yet to step into their story – until now! Beginning May 27, this popular gang of misfits arrives at Disney California Adventure Park in the irreverent, new attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! In addition, guests will come face to face with Groot for the first time in a Disney theme park, and they’ll discover some of his pals in live entertainment shows and heroic encounters.

Groot, Rocket, Star-Lord and the rest of the Guardians are cosmic adventurers who travel the galaxy to defend it from those who wish it harm. They are a few of the characters guests will encounter during Summer of Heroes, starting May 27, only at Disney California Adventure Park.

Guardians of the Galaxy­ – Mission: BREAKOUT! is a thrilling, hilarious adventure that blasts guests into the story of these characters with all-new visual and audio effects, plus the attraction’s own “awesome mix tape” of music inspired by the films’ soundtracks. Guests will experience multiple, random ride experiences as they join Rocket, one of the galaxy’s most unusual heroes, in a daring plan to free the captive Guardians from The Collector’s Fortress.

Characters in Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!

Rocket (aka Subject 89P13)

Distinctive trait: Among his many quirks is an uncanny ability to break out of any confined space or prison.

A unique genetic creation, the tough-talking Rocket may resemble a certain Earth rodent, but it’s unlikely one of his kind could be found anywhere else in the galaxy. Rocket’s abrasive attitude sometimes causes friction with his partners, though his unparalleled genius in mechanics and engineering usually make up for any disagreeable tendencies.

Star-Lord (aka Peter Quill)

Distinctive trait: The leader of these cosmic adventurers likes to dance and has a passion for 60s and ‘70s music.

A headstrong intergalactic adventurer, Star-Lord (aka Peter Quill) was taken from his Earthly home at a young age, growing up in outer space alongside the pirate-like Ravagers. As the intrepid Star-Lord, Quill travels the cosmos in his spaceship, the Milano, seeking his fortune. Equipped with a high-tech blaster and a mix-tape of music from home, Star-Lord leads an unlikely team of interstellar misfits–the Guardians of the Galaxy–in their attempts to do a little good, a little bad, or a little of both.

Guests may also join Star-Lord in “Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Dance Off!” several times daily near Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!


Gamora

Distinctive trait: Highly skilled in hand-to-hand combat, martial arts and stealth techniques

A daughter of the evil Thanos, Gamora sought to escape her violent past and build a new life free from her prior sins. When an unlikely twist of fate caused her to join the Guardians, the one-time Most Dangerous Woman in the Galaxy found her skills put to a better use saving countless lives.

Guests also will see Gamora during “Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Dance Off!” several times daily near Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!

Drax the Destroyer

Distinctive trait: Super-human strength, stamina and durability

Drax is a headstrong warrior whose reputation as The Destroyer is both feared and respected throughout the sector. Despite his formidable outward appearance, the fierce fighter’s lust for battle conceals a compassionate heart. Though once scarred by the loss of his family, the peculiar Drax has found a new home with his equally eccentric allies in the Guardians of the Galaxy.

 

Groot (aka Flora Colossus)

Distinctive trait: Only says three words–“I am Groot!”

A tree-like creature of few words, Groot formed a bond with the creature known as Rocket. Joining the Guardians of the Galaxy, Groot and his best friend Rocket travel through space getting into trouble wherever they go.  Extremely powerful and resilient, Groot has the power of regeneration, allowing him to re-grow limbs and even his entire form very quickly.

Groot makes an appearance near the end of the “Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Dance Off!” show as he arrives for heroic encounters with guests.

The Collector (aka Taneleer Tivan)

Distinctive trait: Eerie obsession with collecting one-of-a-kind items, be they objects or species.

After foreseeing a vision showing the end of all life, Taneleer Tivan devoted his life to finding and preserving unique beings and artifacts from throughout the universe, which is how he became known as The Collector. He runs his large fortress like a dictator and threatens his employees if they do not comply. These employees have been “collected” from various planets throughout the galaxy. If The Collector is not pleased with their performance, they might find themselves as permanent parts of the collection.
Apheta

Distinctive trait: She is original to the. Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!  attraction.

A Krylorian female, Apheta is the director of operations for the Tivan Collection. Although this sounds somewhat important, she remains under the thumb of the Collector with her every order and every move scrutinized.


Mantis

Distinctive trait: Ability to sense the emotions of others

A strange alien, Mantis slowly ingratiates herself with the Guardians with the help of her empathic powers. These abilities allow her to read the underlying emotions at play within the group, which make for some embarrassing, hilarious, and touching moments in the new film, “Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2.” Mantis forms a special bond with Drax, who teaches her about the universe, and the meaning of family from his own unique perspective.

Share this: