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DISNEY SPRINGS GRAND OPENING SUMMER CELEBRATION CONTINUES!

If you are headed to Walt Disney World® Resort this August, be sure to check out the Disney Springs™ Grand Opening Celebration, where you can shop at over 50 spectacular new stores (including some of the biggest, hottest brands around), indulge at more than 10 fresh new eateries and enjoy exhilarating daily entertainment!

The Disney Springs Grand Opening Summer Celebration continues this month with new amped-up offerings, including “Art in August.” Every weekend (Thursday through Sunday) in August, new artisans will be featured with tents set up throughout the promenade. Painters will sit alongside niche craftsman who sell items that include giftable plants, handmade soaps and beauty products, and decorative house and garden flags.Guests can also expect to find jewelry made from recycled beads and decorative Italian masks. Pop Gallery, the eclectic art haven on the West Side, will have a booth featuring unique pieces, as will Name Works. And on select dates, these diverse artists will be joined by photographer Carlos Cuba, Precious Moments figurine sculptor Hiko Maeda, and game designer Quynh Kimball. Whether you prefer your art “fine” or simply “fun,” there’s something for everyone!

Plus, don’t forget that on any given night, there are more than 20 different entertainment acts performing throughout the four Disney Springs neighborhoods. And every afternoon, the Marketplace Fountain gives Guests young and old the chance to splash the day away during the Beat the Heat DJ Party.

With even more live entertainment for summer, special décor, sales at many retailers, and fun warm weather-inspired enhancements, now is the perfect time for you to discover Disney Springs.

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Disney-Based Sprinter LaShawn Merritt Earns Bronze in 400-meter Final at Rio Games

US Olympic Team sprinter LaShawn Merritt, who prepared for the Rio 2016 Games at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, is off to a medaling start after his third-place finish in the men’s 400-meter final on Sunday.

Merritt secured the bronze medal with a time of 43.85 seconds, crossing the finish line after Grenada’s Kirani James (43.76), who had won gold in the event at the London 2012 Games, and South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk, who ran a blistering 43.03-second race to win gold and set a new world record.

Former American sprinter Michael Johnson’s previous world record (43.18 seconds) had stood since 1999.

While Merritt fell short of his gold-medal goals for the 400-meter, he still has two more chances to earn medals for Team USA, with the men’s 200-meter and 4×400-meter relay.

Merritt, who regularly trains at Disney with other world-class sprinters under former US Olympic track coach Brooks Johnson, qualified for this year’s Olympic team after having missed the London Olympic Games in 2012 due to injury. At the 2008 Beijing Games, the veteran sprinter won the gold medal in the 400-meter and 4×400-meter relay.

 

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The Walt Disney Company Acquires Minority Stake in BAMTech

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) today announced that it is acquiring a 33% stake in BAMTech, a leading technology services and video streaming company previously formed by Major League Baseball (MLB). As part of the transaction, BAMTech was separated from MLB’s broader digital business, MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM).

Under the terms of the transaction, Disney will pay $1 billion in two installments, now and in January 2017, and has the option to acquire majority ownership in the coming years.

Disney’s investment in BAMTech – already a global leader in direct-to-consumer streaming services, data analytics and commerce management with nearly 7.5 million total paid subscribers to its clients’ OTT products – will provide capital to accelerate growth of its proprietary video-delivery platform, deliver greater flexibility to clients and develop new technologies and capabilities.

As part of the transaction, BAMTech will become a key partner for Disney in the delivery and support of streaming video and other digital products from Disney|ABC Television Group and ESPN, as well as future digital initiatives across the Company.

“Our investment in BAMTech gives us the technology infrastructure we need to quickly scale and monetize our streaming capabilities at ESPN and across our company,” said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. “We look forward to working closely with BAMTech as we explore new ways to deliver the unmatched content of The Walt Disney Company across a variety of platforms.”

Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred, Jr. stated, “Every day the powerful partnership of technology and content becomes more important to consumers. We are excited to get to work with Disney and our longtime partners at ESPN in the important and ever-changing area of content distribution.”

BAMTech will also collaborate with ESPN to launch and distribute a new ESPN-branded multi-sport subscription streaming service in the future. The direct-to-consumer service will feature content provided by both BAMTech and ESPN, and include live regional, national and international sporting events.

Current content on ESPN’s linear networks will not appear on the new subscription streaming service. More details about the new service will be announced in the months ahead.

“Bringing a multi-sport service directly to fans is an exciting opportunity that capitalizes on BAMTech’s premier digital distribution platform and continues ESPN’s heritage of embracing technology to create new ways to connect fans with sports,” said John Skipper, ESPN President and Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks. “As WatchESPN continues to grow and add value to the multichannel video subscription, this new service will be an outstanding complement.”

Following Disney’s acquisition of a stake in BAMTech, the National Hockey League received a minority interest in BAMTech, as the result of a previous agreement.

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That Disney’s ‘Pete’s Dragon’ Is Great Is More Important Than If It’s A Box Office Hit

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…

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DESTINATION D: AMAZING ADVENTURES ADDS JAMES CAMERON, JON LANDAU, AND BOB CHAPEK TO EVENT ROSTER

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:

  • Welcome to Adventureland: Set off on a journey through “Adventurelands” at Disney Parks around the world, beginning with a rare look at artist Harper Goff’s exotic concepts for Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
  • Tales from the Jungle Cruise: Fans of “the backside of water” unite! Discover the legendary history of the world-famous attraction with a panel of wisecracking experts, including a behind-the-scenes look at recent holiday overlays and the new Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.
  • Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort’s 45th Anniversary: From tropical hideaways to enchanting entertainment, celebrate the spirit of aloha as D23 looks back at 45 years of the classic South Pacific-themed getaway.

 

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.

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Disney stock could get some zip from video streaming

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.

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Carrie Fisher, ‘Back to the Future,’ ‘X-Files,’ ‘Daredevil’ Q&As Highlight Programming At Wizard World Chicago, August 18-21

2015-WW-Logo.jpg

Charlie Elden STL 2016.jpgROSEMONT, 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/comiccon/chicago/programming-chicago.html (subjects, guests, times and rooms subject to change).

 

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.

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Photo – Pete’s Dragon Actor Oakes Fegley Visits Walt Disney World

Pete’s Dragon Actor Oakes Fegley Visits Walt Disney World

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)

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Walt Disney World Fun Facts – Horticulture

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

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Disney California Adventure Park Offers Something for Everyone

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.

  • Toy Story Mania! opened in 2008, inviting guests into an interactive, ride-through, attraction where they enter a 4-D carnival midway hosted by characters from the Disney●Pixar movie “Toy Story.”
  • “World of Color,” the nighttime water spectacular, debuted in 2010 and the popular show has been seen by more than 10 million guests. The fountains and special effects can be programmed, creating new and special “World of Color” shows for Holidays and special events.
  • In 2011, the park introduced The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, a ride-through attraction based on the Disney animated classic movie.
  • Additional highlights include restaurants such as Paradise Garden Grill and the enhancement and re-theming of Grizzly Peak Airfield as well as attractions such as Mickey’s Fun Wheel, Silly Symphony Swings and Goofy’s Sky

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.

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