Walt Disney’s Pete’s Dragon is not going to be the Mouse House’s biggest hit of the year. With a $21.5 million opening weekend, the arguable best case scenario is that the live-action adaptation of the 1977 animation/live-action hybrid is going to leg it like Planes back in 2013 or The Princess Diaries: Royal Engagement back in 2004…
The roster of talent and panels continues to grow for D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures presented by Ethan Allen | Disney, taking place November 19 and 20, 2016 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World Resort. AVATAR creators James Cameron (writer, director, producer) and Jon Landau (producer) will join Imagineer Joe Rohde for Pandora – The World of AVATAR, a presentation where they will unveil new details about the immersive, 12-acre land coming soon to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. In addition, the event will include a conversation with Bob Chapek, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Plus, Moana screenwriter Jared Bush (co-writer/co-director Zootopia) will be on hand to provide guests an exclusive advance look at the making of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ newest animated feature.
Cameron, Landau, and Chapek join previously announced Disney Legends Marty Sklar and Tony Baxter; Walt Disney Imagineers Rohde, Chris Merritt, Jason Grandt, and Wyatt Winter; producer Don Hahn (The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast); and Walt Disney Archives Director Becky Cline. The event, exclusively for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, celebrates landmarks of the past, present, and future, from the Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean to the planet of Pandora.
The Walt Disney Archives will present a special exhibit created exclusively for the event: Walt’s Great Adventures, featuring photographs, props, and models that showcase Walt Disney’s personal voyages, including his trip to South America in 1941, as well as some of his most memorable creations for television, film, and theme parks, such as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Additionally, during the weekend, guests will be among the first to see the new Ethan Allen | Disney home furnishing line in person.
Additional D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures presentations announced include:
The weekend event will take place in the convention center at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Tickets, currently on sale, are $190 each for D23 Gold and Gold Family Members. Tickets are also available to D23 General Members for $250 per ticket. All guests will receive a special gift created exclusively for the event, and attendees are guaranteed seats at all panels and presentations. Mickey’s of Glendale, the famed Walt Disney Imagineering store, returns with a pop-up shop at the event for attendees, featuring a selection of exclusive Walt Disney Imagineering merchandise as well as limited-edition pins, apparel, and collectibles themed to the event.
Further details about the program and tickets for D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures presented by Ethan Allen | Disney can be found atD23.com/Events. Additional details about the schedule will be shared in the coming months.
Events and talent are subject to change.
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; member-exclusive discounts; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.
Fans can join D23 at Gold Membership ($74.99), Gold Family Membership ($99.99), and General Membership (complimentary) levels at D23.comand at DisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube.
Even as Walt Disney (DIS) reported positive results last week for its latest fiscal quarter, support for its stock on Wall Street has been wavering lately. Disney shares have been on the ropes since last year when they hit a 52-week high of more than $120 a share. The stock is currently trading just under $97.
ROSEMONT, Ill., August 12, 2016 – Q&A sessions with Star Wars star Carrie Fisher, Back to the Future standouts Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, and Lea Thompson, X-Files headliners David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, and William B. Davis, and “Daredevil’s” Charlie Cox, Rosario Dawson, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, and Elodie Yung, costume contests, comics-themed sessions, screenings, gaming and more are among the programming highlights at Wizard World Comic Con Chicago, Thursday through Sunday, August 18-21, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Most programming is included as part of the standard event admission.
Some highlights of the more than 150 panels scheduled include:
Interactive Q&As with Back to the Future standouts Fox, Lloyd and Thompson (Saturday, 1 p.m.); “X-Files” stars Duchovny, Anderson, Pileggi, and Davis (Saturday, 2 p.m.), “Daredevil’s” headliners Cox, Dawson, Woll, Henson and Yung (Sunday, 11:30 a.m.)
Solo Q&A sessions with Fisher (Sunday, 12:30 p.m.); “Ash vs Evil Dead’s” Bruce Campbell (Saturday, 3 p.m.); “Heroes” Milo Ventimiglia (Friday, 3 p.m.); “Arrow’s” Colin Donnell (Saturday, 11 a.m.); “iZombie’s” Rose McIver (Saturday, noon); The Karate Kid’s Macchio (Sunday, noon); Boondock Saints stars Sean Patrick Flanery and David Della Rocco (Friday, 6 p.m.); Clerks’ Jason Mewes (Friday, 6 p.m.); Bill & Ted’s William Sadler (Friday, 4 p.m.); “The Librarians’” Christian Kane (Sunday, 11 a.m.); and Power Rangers Megaforce Andrew Gray (Saturday, 2 p.m.)
“In the Ring” with WWE® Superstars Becky Lynch™ (Friday, 2 p.m.), Seth Rollins™ (Thursday, 6:30 p.m.), Dean Ambrose™ (Friday, 4 p.m.), Bayley™ (Thursday, 7:30 p.m.), and The Bella Twins™ (Saturday, 1:30 p.m.)
Learn everything about Back to the Future with Michael Klastorin , author of “Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History” (Friday, 4 p.m.)
Celebrate 40 years of the (Wizard World) Chicago Comic Con with Mike Gold, George Hagenauer, Larry Charet, and Maggie Thompson (Friday, 3:30 p.m.)
Sessions featuring superstar creators “Spider-Man’s” Danny Fingeroth, “Gargoyles’” Greg Weisman, “The Red Hook’s” Dean Haspiel, and “Dream Thief’s” Jai Nitz (Saturday, 6 p.m.), “SNL’s” J.J. Sedelmaier (Friday, 3 p.m.); and many others
Live painting demo with world-renowned ambidextrous artist Rob Prior (Thursday, 6 p.m./Saturday, 2 p.m.)
Cosplay instruction with Wizard World’s cosplay pro Brit Bliss (Saturday, 3 p.m.), and Mogchelle (Friday, 5 p.m.)
World famous Wizard World Costume Contest for adults (Saturday, 6 p.m., with pre-show concert by Critical Hit) and kids (Sunday, 3 p.m.)
Gaming tournaments featured: Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, Tekken 7, Street Fighter V (For more info, visit http://wizardworldgaming.com/)
Unless noted, programming events take place in the designated General Programming Rooms at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. VIP tickets or additional costs may apply to ensure access to select activities, as noted.
A full list of Wizard World Chicago programming is available at http://wizardworld.com/
Wizard World Chicago is 13th in the 2016 series produced by Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD). For more on the event, visit http://wizd.me/ChicagoPR.
Disney’s “Pete’s Dragon” star Oakes Fegley (left) rides Expedition Everest coaster with his brother Wednesday, August 3, 2016, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The actor visited Walt Disney World ahead of film’s nationwide opening on August 12. (Chloe Rice, photographer)
HORTICULTURE
Bloomin’ Beauty . . . Nearly 12 percent of Walt Disney World property — an area equivalent to nearly 3,000 football fields — is devoted to gardens and maintained landscapes. That’s 4,000 acres worth of beauty.
Well Grounded . . . Each year a horticulture staff plants 3 million bedding plants and annuals, and maintains millions of other plants including more than 4 million shrubs, 13,000 roses and more than 200 topiary.
A “Family” Tree . . . The “Liberty Oak,” which is the focal point of the Liberty Square area in Magic Kingdom, is the proud parent of more than 500 young trees. They all started out as acorns harvested from the majestic oak.
Mow Miles Per Year . . . 450,000 mowing miles, to be exact — that’s what it takes to maintain 2,000 acres of turf. For the record, those mower miles are the equivalent of 18 trips around Earth at the equator.
– See more at: http://wdwnews.com/fact-sheets/2014/10/31/walt-disney-world-fun-facts/#sthash.Kh49SCBV.dpuf
From the theatrical excitement of “Frozen – Live at the Hyperion” to the breathtaking adventure of Soarin’ Around the World and the thrills of Cars Land, Disney California Adventure Park is a testament to what Disney Parks does best–-connect guests to the iconic stories, characters and music they love, helping them make shared memories to last a lifetime.
A dynamic, new stage presentation based on the blockbuster Disney animated film, “Frozen,” and a new, airborne experience based on the classic Soarin’ Over California attraction are the latest additions to the family-friendly fun at Disney California Adventure.
“Frozen – Live at the Hyperion,” immerses audiences in the beloved world of “Frozen,” taking them on the heartwarming journey of Anna and Elsa, and delighting them with the dramatic effects of live theater. The show features elaborate costumes and sets, stunning special effects, and show-stopping production numbers. New technologies showcase the storytelling in creative and unexpected ways as the scenic design and large moving set pieces create a cinema-style energy. State-of-the-art projections create dynamic environments for the performers and, of course, there is snow throughout the interior of the theater–on stage and over the audience.
Soarin’ Around the World takes guests beyond the original Soarin’ scenes of California to locations worldwide, including the snowy peak of the Matterhorn, the Great Wall of China, the majestic buttes of Monument Valley, the Great Pyramids of Egypt, and spectacular Sydney Harbour. Guests don’t just see these gorgeous landscapes with their eyes. They use all their senses to feel, smell and hear the world through this thrilling immersive experience that could only be created by Disney.
Most guests enter Disney California Adventure through Buena Vista Street, a bustling center of entertainment and opportunity that transports guests to the 1920s-era California that attracted Walt Disney in his early days as an animation pioneer.
With its familiar shop names, period costumes and architecture, Buena Vista Street is inspired by the “city of dreams” Walt Disney found when he arrived by train in 1923.
The icon of Disney California Adventure, the Carthay Circle Theatre, is a majestic building that recalls, in name and architectural style, the great California movie palace where “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” premiered in 1937. The theater building is home to the Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge, which anchors the plaza at the end of Buena Vista Street. Upstairs, guests enjoy Southern California cuisine and the ambience of a post-gala party at Carthay Circle Restaurant, while the ground floor Carthay Circle Lounge offers appetizers and bar service, along with historic photographs and exhibits. The décor is reminiscent of a 1930s Hollywood movie premiere.
The Red Car Trolley, based on Los Angeles’ historic Pacific Electric Red Car Line, transports guests from Buena Vista Street down Hollywood Boulevard, to the footsteps of the famed Hollywood Tower Hotel, home to The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror. Street characters and entertainers such as the “Red Car Trolley News Boys” and “Five & Dime” add to the lively fun along Buena Vista Street, engaging guests as they step back in time.
The expansion of Disney California Adventure, completed in 2012, produced a succession of new entertainment and attractions.
About the Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney California Adventure Park – plus three hotels and the Downtown Disney District, comprising unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The Resort’s hotels are the luxurious, 948-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, which also features 50 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club units; the magical, 973-room Disneyland Hotel – both AAA Four Diamond properties – and the 481-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel with its “day-at-the-beach” theme. For information on attractions and vacations at the Disneyland Resort, visit Disneyland.com, call (866) 43-DISNEY or contact local travel agents. Located in Anaheim, Calif., the Disneyland Resort opened July 17, 1955. Open daily, year-round.
Disney really wants families to watch its upcoming Pete’s Dragon remake and is turning to both virtual reality and augmented reality to help promote it.
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park is growing its roster of great guest experiences and embarking on a high seas adventure with a new family-friendly water attraction called Miss Fortune Falls expected to open in spring 2017.
Located near Crush ‘n’ Gusher, Miss Fortune Falls brings to life the story of the fictitious Captain Mary Oceaneer, a treasure-hunting heroine who got stranded at Typhoon Lagoon years ago by a rogue storm.
Once aboard their treasure rafts awaiting them at the ride’s entry point, guests will embark on a journey through Captain Oceaneer’s past before plunging into a white-water adventure where guests can see unique artifacts that she collected on her many treasure hunts around the world.
“We’re thrilled to add to our menu of great guest experiences at Disney’s Water Parks with Miss Fortune Falls,” said Faron Kelley, vice president of ESPN Wide World of Sports, Disney’s Water Parks & Miniature Golf. “We believe this new attraction will quickly become a favorite with our guests, who are always looking for new ways to enjoy our parks.”
With a ride time of two minutes, Miss Fortune Falls will be among the lengthiest at any Disney water park.
Miss Fortune Falls is yet another exciting addition to a series of expansion projects across Walt Disney World Resort as the property continues to grow in innovative and exciting ways. Within the theme parks this summer, guests can enjoy even more immersive experiences in Disney Parks including “Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire” at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park, “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular” Fireworks and Projection Show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and “Frozen Ever After” at Epcot. Longer-term expansion projects coming soon to Walt Disney World Resort range from Pandora – the World of AVATAR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom to Toy Story and Star Wars-themed lands at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon is a 60-acre themed water park – inspired by the legend of a typhoon, earthquake and volcanic eruption combining to create an inland sea with break waves (Typhoon Lagoon) and a towering watershed mountain (Mt. Mayday) atop which is a stranded shrimp boat (the Miss Tilly).
The park offers water activities suitable for all ages, including signature attractions such as Crush ‘n’ Gusher, a water-coaster that takes riders aboard inflatable rafts on a twisting, turning, up-and-down adventure; Ketchakiddee Creek, a water playground for children ages 2 to 5 (under four feet tall) and their parents; and Castaway Creek, where guests hop onto inner tubes for a meandering water tour through a misty rain forest and a hidden grotto.
An enduring Disney Parks classic, the Main Street Electrical Parade, will take its shimmering farewell trip through Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World in Florida on Oct. 9, 2016.
Since making its Florida premiere in 1977, the parade has become one of the most beloved entertainment spectacles anywhere. Watching the Main Street Electrical Parade has to become a rite of passage with parents and grandparents eager to share the nostalgic experience with their children. Families will have one more chance to see the parade and share this special memory, on select nights, before it departs.
The vibrant parade, a perennial favorite with Disney guests, will next travel cross-country to Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Calif., for a limited engagement beginning early next year.
Brought to light in the early 1970s, the original Main Street Electrical Parade helped establish a Disney Parks reputation for innovative, trend-setting live entertainment. As lights go down along the parade route, the parade brings a variety of beloved Disney animated feature films to life through three-dimensional floats covered with approximately half a million colorful LED twinkling lights. The parade’s iconic musical theme, the electrically synthesized “Baroque Hoedown,” is interwoven with favorite Disney themes. It all adds to the unique upbeat excitement of the procession.
Some of the parade’s most impressive scenes are the 23-foot-tall Clock Tower over Cinderella’s Ball, complete with elegant ballroom dancers in light-covered costumes; the smoke-breathing, tail-wagging Pete’s Dragon; and the 108-foot-long red, white and blue flag finale. Other characters who make appearances include Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and, of course, Mickey Mouse.
The Main Street Electrical parade at Walt Disney World Resort will not appear during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party nights. Walt Disney World guests interested in seeing the parade before it departs on Oct. 9 can check for the latest parade dates and times on WaltDisneyWorld.com or in the My Disney Experience app.
