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WALT DISNEY ARCHIVES RESTORES WALT DISNEY’S OFFICE SUITE AS PERMANENT EXHIBIT SPACE

The Walt Disney Company Chairman and CEO Bob Iger, joined by members of the Disney family, dedicated Walt Disney’s newly restored office suite on the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank today. To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Burbank studio, the Walt Disney Archives restored the space, located in the original Animation Building, to include Walt’s formal and working offices, along with original furnishings, some items from his collection of miniatures, awards, and his piano.

“We put this permanent exhibit together to serve as a source of inspiration,” said Iger during the ceremony, “a reminder to have great ambition, to take bold creative risks, to constantly innovate and push the limits of possibility, to relentlessly pursue perfection, and to tell fantastic stories that touch peoples’ hearts. That was Walt Disney.”

Walt Disney’s granddaughters Joanna Miller, Jennifer Goff, and Michelle Lund were on hand for the event, along with special guests including Richard Sherman (composer of Mary Poppins, “It’s a Small World,” and many Disney classics), Kathryn Beaumont (the voice of Alice from Alice in Wonderland and Wendy in Peter Pan), and former head of Walt Disney Imagineering Marty Sklar.

In 1970, when Disney Legend Dave Smith founded the Walt Disney Archives, Walt’s furnishings from his offices were removed, and, for the last 45 years, they were safely cared for by the staff of the Walt Disney Archives. Through exhibitions and loans from the Archives, millions of guests have seen special displays of items from the office at Disney’s theme parks in California and Florida and in museums around the country.

This new, permanent exhibit is dedicated to the creative genius of Walt Disney and presents the history of the man and the company he founded through artifacts and images. There will also be rotating exhibits on various Disney subjects to celebrate anniversaries, films, and events throughout the Company’s history from 1923 to the present day. The first exhibit is dedicated to Kem Weber, the architect who designed the look and feel of the Studio lot, which opened in 1940. Weber also designed furniture for the Studio, and his designs, along with concept artwork, will be showcased for a limited time.

Walt Disney’s office will be open to Disney employees, cast members, and studio visitors. In 2016 it will be added to tours of the Studio lot and Archives that D23: The Official Disney Fan Club regularly offers to its Gold Members.

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‘Star Wars’ Carries Its Own Marketing Weight for Disney

As Walt Disney Co. planned its campaign for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” Chief Executive Robert Iger had a question for his marketing team: How much do we really need to do?

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Star Wars: The Big Difference Between The Empire And The First Order

Say what you will about the evilness of the Galactic Empire in Star Wars, but it’s hard to argue that they weren’t a tremendously organized bunch.

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Announcing the Walt Disney Family Museum’s New Website

The Walt Disney Family Museum is proud to announce a completely reimagined website at waltdisney.org, launching in celebration of Walt Disney’s birthday.

The museum’s Board and staff have collaborated with the Presidio-based agency Swirl, Inc. to bring you a vastly enhanced website experience. The site includes many new features, including an innovative multimedia section on Walt Disney, and showcases an enticing virtual preview of the museum’s galleries. The website provides content-rich, interactive resources for students, historians, and Disney fans around the world. Viewers can visit the site to learn more about Walt Disney, Diane Disney Miller, and their family legacy, and discover their own creative inspiration in Walt Disney’s story.

Please, come take a look—explore, discover, imagine, and find inspiration at the newwaltdisney.org. Continue the celebration of Walt’s birthday at the museum, offering free admission to all on the eve of Walt’s birthday, Friday, December 4. Limited capacity; tickets issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional paid exhibition ticket required for Disney and Dali: Architects of the Imagination.

If you don’t see the new website right away, please clear your browser’s cache. Some systems may take up to 48-hours to show the new website.

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Want to know what to give a Disney theme park fan for Christmas? Here are some suggestions

Stumped about what to buy the theme park fan in your life? Or are you a theme park fan wondering what to put on your holiday wish list this year?

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Walt Disney Co and Nintendo Join Forces in E-Sports

Disney and Nintendo are teaming up to launch a new e-sports special called Clash of Karts: Mario Kart 8 on Disney XD.

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Has Harrison Ford Dropped A Massive Star Wars: The Force Awakens Spoiler?

Now this could all be a horrible mistake… but if not, Harrison Ford might just have dropped a whopper of a spoiler about ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’.

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WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT HOTEL GUESTS CAN COUNTDOWN TO MIDNIGHT AT DISNEY’S YACHT & BEACH CLUB RESORT

If guests are staying at a Walt Disney World® Resort hotel this holiday season they can ring in the New Year with the exclusive Countdown to Midnight event at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort.

Countdown to Midnight will have event Guests rocking and rolling among three different themed party experiences. With cocktail of choice in hand, guests can enjoy an interactive comedy reunion at the Adventurer’s Club; hop over to Club Live to rock out with a nine-piece dance band; or take a spin at Club Vinyl where a seven-piece band will celebrate the golden age of music with a modern twist. Guests can also indulge on tasty bites from buffet action stations and decadent desserts. Then, as the balloons drop for the final countdown, they can raise their keepsake champagne glass and toast to 2016!

This special event begins at 8 p.m. at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Convention Center and is available to Guests of Walt Disney World Resort hotels only. The price is $300 per person (tax and gratuity included). Beer, wine, mixed drinks and a champagne toast are included, as well as the all-you-care-to enjoy menu. Package availability is limited and non-commissionable. Advance reservations are required and can be made by calling 407-WDW-DINE.

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens Original Motion Picture Soundtrack From Oscar®-Winning Composer John Williams

Five-time Academy Award®-winning composer John Williams has composed and conducted the score for the original motion picture soundtrack Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The soundtrack is available worldwide for pre-order digitally at http://smarturl.it/swtfaa1, physically at http://smarturl.it/swtfap, and at Disney Music Emporium (http://smarturl.it/swtfadme).

Lucasfilm and visionary director J.J. Abrams join forces to take you back again to a galaxy far, far away as Star Wars returns to the big screen with Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Star Wars: The Force Awakens releases in U.S. theaters on December 18, 2015. The limited edition first run of the physical soundtrack, featuring premium digipak foil packaging, will be released wherever music is sold onDecember 18. The soundtrack will also be available at all digital download, streaming and hi-res services on Dec. 18.

Also available at DisneyMusicEmporium.com is an exclusive bundle, which includes the Star Wars: The Force Awakens CD and a special Star Wars poster http://smarturl.it/swtfadme. The vinyl version of the soundtrack, expected in early 2016, is also available now for pre-order. Fans who order the vinyl will receive a digital copy of the album on December 18th.

For more information on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, please visit http://www.theforceawakens.com. For more information on Walt Disney Records’ releases, like us on Facebook.com/disneymusic or follow us at Twitter.com/disneymusic. For more information on Disney Music Emporium, please visit, DisneyMusicEmporium.com, become a fan at Facebook.com/disneymusicemporium or follow us at Twitter.com/DisneyMusicEmp.

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The Force Awakens at Disney Parks with New and Enhanced Star Wars Experiences at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort

The Force awakens at Disney Parks with the addition of new and reimaginedStar Wars experiences debuting in both California and Florida just in time for the Dec. 18 release of the new movie, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Celebrating all things Star Wars, the exciting experiences at Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Floridawill entertain fans of the movie saga and guests who are looking forward to future Star Wars-themed lands.

New experiences debuting on both coasts include:

Star Wars Launch Bay

Location: Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park in California now open; Animation Courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida now open.

Star Wars Launch Bay is the central location within the parks for fans to celebrate all things Star Wars. In this multi-sensory space, guests will interact with iconic Star Wars characters, tour galleries featuring treasured memorabilia and detailed replicas of Star Warsprops, play the latest Star Wars interactive video games and have access to special Star Wars merchandise.

  • Special Character Encounters: After entering a themed atrium complete with authentic replicas of Star Wars props, guests journey to the dark side and come face to face with Darth Vader in a 360-degree immersive area themed around the Star Destroyer, or they may choose the light side by stepping into a makeshift Rebel base to meet the most famous co-pilot in the galaxy, Chewbacca.
  • Launch Bay Theater – Guests hear directly from the creative minds behind the Star Wars saga in a short video that includes exclusive interviews with the directors, writers, producers, key movie crew members and Imagineers who bring the saga to life.
  • The Cantina – This setting, inspired by the unsavory “hives of scum and villainy” in the Star Wars galaxy, is a fun place to explore and take photos near elements of the cantina, such as a holochess game table.
  • Star Wars Game Center – Guests will play current and upcoming video games, including new Disney Infinity 3.0 content created exclusively for this location.
  • Themed Galleries – Special immersive galleries featuring authentic replicas of movie props, starships and more are located throughout Star Wars Launch Bay.
  • Launch Bay Cargo – Guests may bring home a variety of Star Wars merchandise, including original artwork and collector’s items.

Star Wars: Path of The Jedi 

Location: Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park in California now open; Echo Lake at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida now open.

Guests looking to relive – or discover – the stories from the Star Wars saga, or be introduced to the iconic characters, including ones from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, will watch an abridged, cinematic reel celebrating the Star Wars saga (episodes I-VII) in a theater setting. The movie connects iconic scenes from the movies in fun new ways, following the journey of Luke Skywalker.

Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

Location: Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park in California now open; Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida now open.

Fans of this popular attraction will experience journeys involving new characters and adventures from Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Based on the Star Wars movies, Star Tours takes guests to multiple Star Wars destinations where they interact with characters from throughout the saga. And it is all in Dolby 3D. With an eye-popping digital presentation leveraging Dolby 3D to deliver a vivid and realistic experience, a dramatic musical score and motion simulator-based technology, guests are immersed in the Star Wars galaxy like never before on a theme park attraction.

Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple

Location: Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park in California beginning Dec. 8; Echo Lake at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida now open.

This popular entertainment offering is being reimagined with new characters and a new villain to battle from Star Wars Rebels, the popular Disney XD series. Younglings will be magically transported to a secret and ancient Jedi temple where they will face villains such as Darth Vader and the Seventh Sister Inquisitor from Star Wars Rebels, and discover if they have the makings of a true Jedi.

Stormtrooper Patrols

Location: Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park in California; Animation Courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida.

As guests enjoy the sights and attractions, they may come face-to-face with First Order stormtroopers who patrol the area near Star Wars Launch Bay and Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.

Hyperspace Mountain at Disneyland Resort

Location: Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park in California now open.

The classic Space Mountain attraction is reimagined as Hyperspace Mountain, thrusting guests into the darkness for an action-packed battle between Rebel X-wings and Imperial TIE fighters.

More Galactic Adventures

Adding to the fun, guests at the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort will enjoy tasty food and beverages inspired by a galaxy far, far away. More unique Star Wars experiences will make their galactic debuts:

“Symphony in the Stars: A Galactic Spectacular” at Walt Disney World Resort

Location: Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida beginning nightly Dec. 18.

Guests will be treated to a spectacular finish to their park visit with a dazzling Star Wars-themed fireworks show set to memorable Star Wars music from throughout the saga.

The new experiences further expand the Star Wars presence ahead of the new Star Wars-themed lands coming to the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. Groundbreaking in California and Florida is expected in 2016.

For more information about the Disneyland Resort, see www.Disneyland.com or visit www.DisneyParksBlog.com.

For more information about the Walt Disney World Resort, visit www.Disneyworld.com or visit www.DisneyParksBlog.com.

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