The “Mad Tea Party” has been a favorite of Magic Kingdom guests (or at least those guests not prone to motion sickness) since the park opened in 1971. However, in spite of its name, there is actually no tea anywhere to be found at this party, just plenty of oversized teacups spinning. For those looking to get something to drink, there is another option not far away.
A nighttime spectacle unlike any other celebrating a space-based saga paints the skies above Disney’s Hollywood Studios with the awe inspiring Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular at Walt Disney Resort.
With galaxies not so far away for its canvas, Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular will light the night with Star Wars-themed fireworks, lasers, projections and other amazing special effects paired with Star Wars-themed music and iconic characters and scenes from the seven-film, pop culture phenomenon.
One of many magical highlights of the four-park summer line-up at Walt Disney World Resort is one of the biggest, boldest sky shows in the 27-year history of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, according to show director Michael Roddy of Disney Creative Entertainment.
Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular unfolds nightly in a series of acts in the skies and around the heart of the park. State-of-the-art effects projecting onto the Chinese Theatre and other buildings will transport guests to a galaxy far, far away.
Imagine gazing at the twin suns of the desert planet Tatooine, scavenging with Rey on Jakku, navigating through an asteroid field, soaring down the trench of the Death Star and delivering the final blow to destroy Starkiller Base.
The blockbuster show is punctuated by a tower of flame shooting tongues of fire skyward as well as powerful crisscrossing spotlight beams, creating lightsabers in the sky.
“It is a Disney sky show like none other,” Roddy said. “We are actually able to cast fireworks to tell different parts of the Star Wars story, in colors identifiable with the film whether it’s green for Yoda or creating a starfield up in the sky. Projection mapping technology allows us to dramatically overtake the buildings with images from the Star Wars saga. Custom animation delivers motion picture moments and perspectives never before experienced. And surround sound makes it seem like a TIE fighter just flew past and exploded next to you.
“So many of the things we love about Star Wars we were able to bring to life,” he said.
Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular is part of Star Wars-inspired entertainment throughout Disney’s Hollywood Studios including a new live stage show; stormtroopers march; Star Tours – The Adventures Continue attraction; a reimagined Jedi Training; themed food and beverage offerings; and Star Wars Launch Bay featuring themed galleries, artifacts, merchandise and Star Wars character encounters.
Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular at-a-glance:
Some of the last pieces of the transformation of Downtown Disney into Disney Springs have moved into place, and although a few parts are not completed, the flavor of the redesigned and expanded dining/shopping/entertainment complex and its new emphasis on its waterfronts are apparent.
On Thursday, July 14, at 10 a.m. PT, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will begin selling tickets for the next D23 Expo, which will take place July 14–16, 2017, at the Anaheim Convention Center. The largest Disney fan event in the world, D23 Expo celebrates all the wonderful worlds of Disney entertainment, uniting all parts of The Walt Disney Company under one roof, including The Walt Disney Studios (including Marvel, Pixar, and Lucasfilm); Walt Disney Parks and Resorts; Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media; and Media Networks (including ABC, Disney Channel, and Radio Disney). D23 Expo 2017 marks the fifth biennial event held in Anaheim.
Once again the Expo will celebrate the past, present, and future of Disney with live events, celebrity appearances, panels, presentations, sneak peeks, and immersive experiences. D23 Expo 2017 marks the return of fan favorites, including the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony, honoring the talented men and women who have made indelible contributions to the Disney legacy; an exhibit from the Walt Disney Archives, which spotlights costumes, props, and set pieces from Disney’s rich history; and the Mousequerade costume contest.
Tickets for D23 Expo 2017 will be available at a discounted price for a limited time. From July 14–December 31, 2016, tickets are $67 for a one-day adult admission and $46 for children 3–12. Tickets for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club are $57 for a one-day adult admission and $41 for children. Multi-day money-saving tickets are also available. D23 Members can save as much as $296 off the price of admission, based on the purchase of four three-day tickets at the D23 Member rate. For more information on tickets and the ticket pricing structure for members and general admission, visit D23Expo.com.
To celebrate the launch of ticket sales, D23 will be streaming select presentations from D23 Expo 2015 at D23Expo.com from Wednesday, July 13, through Sunday, July 17. Presentations include “Once Upon a Time: An Evening with Snow White & the Evil Queen” (featuring Ginnifer Goodwin and Lana Parilla), “A Goofy Movie 20th Anniversary Celebration!” (including stars Bill Farmer, Jason Marsden, and Jim Cummings), “Disneyland: Fond Memories of the Past” (with Walt Disney Archives Director Becky Cline), and “In Conversation with the Filmmakers and the Emotions Behind Inside Out” (featuring Pete Docter, Jonas Rivera, and a special appearance by Sadness herself, Phyllis Smith).
D23 Expo 2017 will showcase all of the latest stars in the Disney universe. In 2015, celebrity appearances included Johnny Depp, Harrison Ford, Ellen DeGeneres, Chris Evans, Lupita Nyong’o, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Dwayne Johnson. The event also featured performances by Ne-Yo, Sabrina Carpenter, the cast of Teen Beach 2, and stars of Disney’s shows on Broadway. Additionally, Disney executives and creative talent came together to deliver special presentations, announcements, and experiences to Disney fans throughout the three-day extravaganza.
A limited number of VIP Sorcerer Packages for D23 Expo 2017 will be available. The Sorcerer Package includes:
Sorcerer Package tickets are available exclusively to both D23 Gold and Gold Family Members at $2,250 per ticket. Members have the option to purchase up to two Sorcerer tickets. Additional details and benefits are highlighted at D23Expo.com.
D23 Gold and Charter Members will be entitled to special benefits throughout the weekend. Look for announcements about these opportunities in the coming months.
For the latest news and updates about D23 Expo 2017, visit D23Expo.com.
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 member-exclusive 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 atD23.com and at DisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube.
Against the majestic backdrop of Cinderella Castle, Mickey Mouse and his friends welcome favorite characters from some of Disney’s newest classics: “The Princess and the Frog,” “Tangled” and “Frozen” in “Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire” – a brand new stage show at Magic Kingdom® Park at Walt Disney World® Resort. The show celebrates the unique stories of the citizens who make up this magical kingdom and the wonderful moments that can
If you haven’t had a chance to check it out yet in person, head over to the Disney Parks blog on July 11, 2016 at 4:10 p.m. ET for a live stream of this new show.
New emojis are being released all the time, whether they’re a part of Unicode’s massive collection or through celebrities like Kim Kardashian.
And now, Disney is getting in on the action with a new collection of hundreds of Disney and Pixar emojis.
The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Disney Springs has moved to a new location near Once Upon a Toy.
As a reminder, all Disney PhotoPass photos taken at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique are included with the purchase of Memory Maker if captured during the applicable Memory Maker window.
Reservations for the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique are highly recommended. Appointments can be made up to 180 days in advance by calling 407-WDW-STYLE.
The Legend Comes to Life!
Disney presents the live-action epic adventure The Jungle Book, directed by Jon Favreau (“Iron Man,” “Iron Man 2,” “Chef”) and produced by Favreau and Brigham Taylor (executive producer of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” “Tomorrowland”), “The Jungle Book” is a live-action epic adventure based on Rudyard Kipling’s timeless stories, inspired by Disney’s classic 1967 animated film and centered on Mowgli (Neel Sethi), a man-cub who’s been raised by a family of wolves. But Mowgli finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan (voice of Idris Elba), who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat. Disney’s Groundbreaking, Live-Action Adventure arrives on Digital HD August 23 and on Blu-ray™ August 30.
Disney•Pixar’s record-breaking animated feature Finding Dory makes a splash this September inDisney On Ice presents Follow Your Heart, produced by Feld Entertainment, Inc. The action-packed adventure also brings Disney•Pixar’s Inside Out to the icy stage for the first time, together with other beloved Disney characters. Tickets are on sale now for a number of markets across the United States.
Follow Your Heart allows families to join in on the deep-sea adventure as Dory comes off the screen and onto the ice. With help from Nemo, Marlin and new pal Hank, Dory embarks on a life-changing excursion. The engaging atmosphere of Disney On Ice allows Dory’s humor to take center stage deepening the audience’s existing connection to their favorite forgetful fish. The production will dive into the extraordinary underwater world from Finding Dory,as a vibrant rainbow of digital projection will transform the ice floor into a colorful aquatic paradise.
“What makes this Disney On Ice production so special is the variety of stories about self-discovery, courage and compassion,” said Executive Vice President of Feld Entertainment and Producer of Disney On Ice presents Follow Your Heart Nicole Feld. “Each element of this show was carefully planned so our fans could experience favorite Disney moments while believing in their own destiny.”
Disney•Pixar’s Inside Out makes its Disney On Ice debut as Riley’s Emotions –Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust– reel the audience into the action to help her find the confidence to win the hockey championship and to experience the emotional rollercoaster of growing up alongside Riley. Families are provided the opportunity to easily discuss the feelings children face every day through this live interpretation of Inside Out.
From Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Fantasia to Toy Story and Frozen, Disney On Ice presents Follow Your Heart opens up the thrilling world of live entertainment by immersing families in an array of treasured stories. The athleticism of the performers shines through as they embody Rapunzel, Ariel, Tiana and the rest of the Disney Princesses, inspiring children around the world to dream big.
“One of the most magical things about Disney On Ice is the performers’ ability to authentically showcase the best qualities of Disney characters,” said Director Patty Vincent. “At our show, moms and dads are able to witness the production through the eyes of their children, allowing them to reconnect with their favorite characters and making them feel like a kid all over again.”
There’s something for everyone in a show that features 60 characters. The wintery world of Arendelle sets the stage for Olaf and Kristoff as they help reunite royal sisters Anna and Elsa and learn love is the most powerful magic of all. Audiences will celebrate friendship with Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and more pals from Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story. With Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse leading the way, this new Disney On Ice production will excite and amaze fans of all ages.
Tickets for Disney On Ice presents Follow Your Heart, along with the full line up of Disney On Ice productions for the 2016-2017 season are on sale now. Visit DisneyOnIce.com for the shows and dates coming to your hometown. Stay current on the latest developments through social media, including instructions on how to access presale codes for future Disney On Ice productions:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DisneyOnIce
A new lineup of popular celebrity chefs and a series of first-time Disney resort cooking and dining experiences will add culinary appeal to the 21st Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival when it returns to Walt Disney World® Resort Sept. 14-Nov. 14, 2016.
For a second consecutive year, ABC’s Emmy-Award-winning lifestyle series, “The Chew” will arrive to produce a full week of programs on the show’s exclusive Epcot festival stage.
And, for the first time, guests can enjoy the following festival experiences at Walt Disney World Resort hotels:
