The highly anticipated “Finding Nemo” sequel, “Finding Dory,” will largely focus on … well, Dory.
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Archive for Scott
Frozen Soundtrack Ranked No. 1 Top Selling Album On The 2014 Year-End Billboard 200 Album Chart
Today, the Frozen soundtrack from Walt Disney Records was ranked the No. 1 best-selling album on the 2014 year-end Billboard 200 chart, for the period November 24, 2013 to November 16, 2014. It is the first soundtrack to reach No. 1 on the year-end chart since Titanic in 1998 and is the first Disney soundtrack to top the chart since Mary Poppins in 1965.
Released on December 9, 2013, the Grammy®-nominated soundtrack spent 33 weeks in the top 5 on the Billboard 200 chart, including 13 weeks at No. 1. It is certified triple Platinum, selling more than 3.6 million units to date. The soundtrack was also named iTune’s No. 1 best-selling album of 2014.
Featuring original songs from Oscar® winner Kristen Anderson-Lopez (“In Transit,” “Winnie the Pooh”) and Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony® winner Robert Lopez (“The Book of Mormon,” “Avenue Q”), and an original score by Christophe Beck (“The Muppets,” Oscar®-winning short “Paperman”), “Frozen” won two Academy Awards® (best animated film and best original song with “Let It Go”) and a Golden Globe® (best animated feature film). It is the fifth highest grossing film of all time and the highest grossing animated film earning more than $1.27 billion globally. Released wide domestically on Nov. 27, 2013, “Frozen” posted the No. 1 industry all-time Thanksgiving debut and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ biggest opening ever. The film’s Feb. 25 digital debut was the biggest digital release (sell-through) ever; its Blu-ray/DVD release on March 18 was No. 1 on the Nielsen overall disc charts for eight nonconsecutive weeks.
Last week the album received Grammy® nominations in the categories of Best Compilation Soundtrack, Best Score Soundtrack and Best Song Written for Visual Media.
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World-Class Technical Team Joins “The Marvel Experience” to Deliver State-of-the-Art Entertainment
Hero Ventures, a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, announced today that technical elements for “The Marvel Experience,” an epic-scale, immersive adventure experience in which guests step into and interact with the world of Marvel’s Super Heroes and Super Villains, are being led by entertainment event technology and service provider, Production Resource Group (PRG).
“The Marvel Experience has evolved into an amazing, premier touring experience, complete with unique technical elements such as 3D 360˚ video projection, first-person ‘live’ interactive gaming and a dynamic 4D motion ride. It became apparent early on that we needed an elite team of seasoned professionals in entertainment production that could offer us real solutions to help execute our complex vision – that’s why we went to PRG,” said Hero Ventures’ Chief Production Officer, Jason Rosen.
The team assembled by Jim Lehner, PRG senior Vice President, Special Projects, and Duke Durfee, PRG Creative Director and Design Manager, will be handling all the coordination and supervision of the design and construction for the project. While The Marvel Experience’s technical requirements pose a unique set of challenges, PRG’s global reputation has been built on its ability to bring innovative solutions to a wide range of projects including Broadway’s groundbreaking Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Olympic Opening & Closing ceremonies, key elements of Universal Studios’ Harry Potter attraction, Super Bowl Halftime Shows and an exhaustive list of global concert tours.
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Disney Announces Donation of $55 Million in Learning Apps and Books at White House Summit on Early Education
Today at the White House Summit on Early Education, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) will announce that it is donating $55 million in apps and books through First Book, a nonprofit social enterprise that provides new books and educational materials to educators and programs serving children from low-income families. Today’s commitment is part of President Obama’s Invest in Us initiative, a challenge to business leaders, philanthropists, advocates, public officials and the public to build a better nation through high-quality early childhood programs for children from birth to age five. The donation is part of Disney Publishing Worldwide’s launch of Disney Imagicademy, a new, innovative learning brand for families with children ages 3 to 8 designed to inspire a lifelong love of learning and creativity.
Disney Imagicademy offers parents a way to expose their children to fundamental educational concepts in a fun and uniquely Disney way, combining the Disney characters and stories families love, with a research-driven curriculum developed in conjunction with top academic and education experts.
“For almost 100 years, The Walt Disney Company has captivated generations of children through experiences that not only entertain, but inspire them to explore, create and imagine,” said Bob Iger, chairman and chief executive officer, The Walt Disney Company. “We are proud to help expand access to early childhood education in America through a $55 million in-kind donation—including hundreds of thousands of apps from our Publishing division’s newest brand, Disney Imagicademy.”
As part of the three-year commitment, Disney will provide $5 million in Disney Imagicademy apps to First Book and other non-profit organizations, and $50 million in books to help foster a love of reading in young children from low-income families. In addition, Disney will provide $1 million in funding to First Book to spread the magic of storytelling and help children in need gain access to critical resources around the country.
“We’ve worked hard to bring these types of learning tools to children in need, and now thanks to Disney and the strength of our network, Disney Imagicademy is accessible for free to kids in need throughout the country the same day it is available to the general public,” said Kyle Zimmer, president and CEO of First Book. “Disney’s in-kind donation over the next three years is First Book’s largest gift targeting early childhood programs.”
First Book research shows that the after-school programs, shelters and clinics, museums, libraries, Head Start classrooms and others that make up the First Book Network are in need of web-based tools and interactive learning programs that help children read, learn and achieve, both inside and outside of school. Through First Book, the first two Disney Imagicademy apps – Mickey’s Magical Math World and Disney Imagicademy Parents – will be available for free through the First Book Marketplace (www.fbmarketplace.org) for teachers and educators that serve children from low-income families at the same time these products become available to the general public.
First Book research also shows that tools used to encourage family engagement in the learning process are of primary need among their network of over 150,000 educators and nonprofits nationwide. As parents are an ever-important part of successful learning, teachers and educators will have the opportunity to share free download codes with the families of the children they serve, allowing families to bring lessons home and be more involved and engaged in their child’s learning.
Making learning a family experience is also reinforced by Disney Imagicademy Parents, a companion app especially designed for parents that connects with and extends their children’s learning experience. The Parents app provides them with a wealth of real-time updates about their children’s progress and the ability to reward accomplishments digitally and remotely.
Mickey’s Magical Math World, the first app available through the First Book Marketplace, is an iPad-exclusive app that features five robust math-focused activities in one app that engages children through creativity, customization and learning by doing. Each in-app experience invites children to explore, create, and discover, while practicing key early math concepts, including counting forward and backward, sort and classify, skip count, numbers and shapes recognition, reason and logic, and more.
Mickey’s Magical Math World and Disney Imagicademy Parents will be available on December 11 on the Apple App Store. For additional Disney Imagicademy mobile apps updates and information, visit www.DisneyImagicademy.com, Facebook at Facebook.com/disneyimagicademy and Twitter at @Imagicademy.
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James Gunn Pledges That ‘Guardians’ Sequel Won’t Be More of the Same
While the follow-up to this summer’s Guardians of the Galaxy still may be undergoing the writing process, James Gunn, who’s returning to helm the sequel, can make one promise about the second installment: it won’t be more of the same.
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Josh Brolin on His Marvel Future: “Ultimately, It’s Thanos Against Everyone”
How big is Avengers: Infinity War, the two-movie event from Marvel Studios that will begin with 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War Part 1? If you ask Josh Brolin, who plays the story’s villain, Thanos, the answer appears to be “very big indeed.”
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Video – Mapping Out the Holidays: Disney California Adventure
For this video, a map was created to feature the holiday festivities at Disney California Adventure park.
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Want to be a part of WDW Daily News?
Are you interested in sharing your Disney experiences, tips, and advice with others?
WDW Daily News is looking to add several writers who are interested in writing personal articles about Disney for our bi-weekly WDW Daily News newsletter. These are non-paid positions, but it does provide you with an outlet to share some magic with other Disney fans around the world. We are looking for articles that share your thoughts, experiences, and love for all things Disney.
If you are interested, please email our WDW Daily News newsletter editor, Aaron McElwee at aaron.mcelwee@icloud.com and let him know about your interest and any questions you have.
Thanks and we look forward to hearing from you!!
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Fun Facts, Figures and History: ‘World of Color’ and Holiday ‘World of Color – Winter Dreams’
“World of Color − Winter Dreams,” the holiday version of the after-dark spectacular, adds humor, inspirational music and merriment to Holidays at the Disneyland Resort. Presented on Paradise Bay in Disney California Adventure Park, the show features advanced technology and classic Disney animation, plus characters and music from the Walt Disney Pictures animated blockbuster “Frozen.”
Musical Wonderland
- “World of Color-Winter Dreams” unfolds in seven sequences, each one a dreamlike adventure:
- Wonder – Season’s Greetings: Guests join sisters Anna and Elsa from “Frozen,” as they play in a magical world created by Elsa’s powers of snow and ice.
- Snow – A Winter Wonderland: Elsa creates Olaf the snowman, who takes guests on a breathtaking winter sleigh ride, encountering Bambi, Thumper, Beauty and the Beast, and other classic Disney characters.
- Enchantment – The Toy Story Nutcracker: This familiar ballet is danced in some delightful, offbeat renditions by favorite “Toy Story” characters.
- Glow – A Season of Light: Holidays from around the world are celebrated with a magical pop-up holiday card, touching moments with Disney characters and a sky filled with luminaria from “Tangled.”
- Spirit – Olaf’s Sing-Along: Comical snowman Olaf returns to invite everyone to join in singing holiday classics, starting with “Jingle Bells.”
- Olaf’s Wish – In Summer: Olaf has always loved the idea of a warm summer. He innocently imagines himself enjoying the sunshine “In Summer,” before melting into two more favorite “Frozen” musical moments, “Love Is an Open Door” and “Let It Go.”
- Finale – Merry & Bright Holiday Lights: A dazzling display of lights blazes to life for a colorful finale around the lagoon, as Olaf makes one final appearance – along with a visit from a surprising Santa!
- “World of Color – Winter Dreams” features more than a dozen songs, including familiar holiday tunes such as “Jingle Bells,” “Feliz Navidad” and “The Dreidel Song” along with two new songs from “Frozen” – “Love is an Open Door” and “Do You Want To Build a Snowman?”
Technology
- Programming for the “Winter Dreams” show took three months.
- Visual projections are created with an ultra high-definition image playback system with more than four times the resolution of the original “World of Color” system.
- There are more than 17 million pixels in the “World of Color – Winter Dreams” screen. A high definition television image uses roughly 2 million pixels.
- Since 2012, guests have become part of the magic of “World of Color,” and other nighttime spectaculars at Disney Parks, thanks to the innovative interactive technology found in special Disney ear hats. Along with these ears, new “Made With Magic” merchandise items now allow guests to “glow with the show” and interact with experiences at Disney Parks around the world. New this year at the resort are a Minnie Bow Head Band and a magical Sorcerer Mickey wand.
- Each night before “World of Color – Winter Dreams,” guests may log on to play the Fun Wheel Challenge on their mobile devices. In this fun, interactive game, park guests compete against each other to match the color patterns and the winner gets to control the lights on Mickey’s Fun Wheel.
- For the dazzling finale of “World of Color – Winter Dreams,” 700 high-power, color, LED strobe lights were installed along the side of the California Screamin’ roller coaster. Each light has four individual control channels.
- Six snowflake generators within the viewing area produce giant snowflakes in six different shapes.
- Ten mirror balls, installed on the speaker and lighting towers, produce dazzling sparkle effects for the show.
- All of the technological effects added for “Winter Dreams” enhance the existing “World of Color” “stage: a platform composed of nearly 1 acre of engineered superstructure. It’s longer than a football field and capable of settling on three levels – one for the performance, one under the water surface and one for maintenance. There are nearly 1,200 powerful and programmable fountains and a vast underwater grid with more than 18,000 points of control. Each fountain has multiple points of control for lighting, color intensity, water angle and height.
‘World of Color’ Evolution
- Since its premiere on June 11, 2010, “World of Color” has been performed more than 2,600 times and been viewed by more than 11 million guests at Disney California Adventure.
- The show’s flexibility has made it possible to add and subtract special sequences since its 2010 debut, incluiding a July 4 Independence Day pre-show, a New Year’s Eve pre-show and scenes focusing on the films “TRON: LEGACY,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” and “Brave.”
- From 2011 to 2012, “World of Color” featured a special holiday season pre-show with characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Prep & Landing.”
- The fountains in “World of Color” can send water to heights ranging from 30 feet to 200 feet. By way of comparison, Mickey’s Fun Wheel reaches a height of 150 feet, some of it below the edge of the lagoon.
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Christmas by the Numbers at Walt Disney World Resort
Miles of garland, glitter, twinkling lights and ribbon transform Walt Disney World Resort into a winter wonderland during the holiday season. Here’s a sample of what guests will experience throughout the Vacation Kingdom:
- 1,300 decorated trees throughout Walt Disney World Resort
- A wreath 25 feet in diameter adorning the Cirque du Soleil building at Downtown Disney West Side
- 10 miles of twinkling rope lights in the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- 150 semi-trailer truckloads of decorations for 27 resorts, 4 theme parks, Downtown Disney and other locations
- 15 miles of garland strung and 1,314 wreaths hung throughout the Vacation Kingdom
- 300,000 yards of ribbon and bows draping over Christmas trees across property
- 8.5 million lights strung throughout Walt Disney World Resort
- 98 percent of the lighting used for holiday décor is LED, 2 percent is compact florescent
- 11 countries dressed for Holidays Around the World at Epcot World Showcase
- More than 800 performers each night during Candlelight Processional at Epcot
- More than 200 guest choirs during the entire run of Candlelight Processional
- A Christmas tree in Magic Kingdom with a base 26 feet wide
- One 70-foot-tall tree takes center stage in Disney’s Contemporary Resort entrance lobby featuring nearly 35,800 white LED lights
- The 45-foot-tall tree in the lobby of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge features authentic African decor of handmade baskets and reproductions of traditional African masks
- 365 days of the year that guests can shop for holiday merchandise at the Disney’s Days of Christmas shop in Downtown Disney Marketplace
- 170 Costumed performers and 15 floats dazzle Main Street, U.S.A. in Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade at Magic Kingdom
- 6 life-sized creations cooked up by Walt Disney World pastry chefs, including:
- One 16-foot-tall gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa baked with 1,050 pounds of honey and involving more than 160 hours of decorating
- One life-size gingerbread carousel at Disney’s Beach Club Resort featuring ponies made of chocolate and fondant, giant candy cane poles, handcrafted poinsettias and hand-painted portraits of famous Disney characters
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