Making “magic” at Disneyland and its sister parks takes a big team. More than 130,000 employees work at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts around the world — each of whom is called a “cast member.”
Archive for
George Lucas Has Seen Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and “Really Liked It”
‘Star Wars’ creator George Lucas may get a raw deal from fans and critics nowadays after the special editions and the prequels – but surely his blessing on the new movies counts for something.
The Dazzling Adventures of the Disneyland Resort Come to Pasadena in a Float Entry for 2016 Rose Parade
The magic of the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration will come to life as a float in the 127th Rose Parade, broadcast live from Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 1, 2016. The parade will step off at 8 a.m. (PST) with the theme “Find Your Adventure,” and the Disneyland Resort float honors some of the most exciting adventures awaiting guests at the Happiest Place on Earth.
At the heart of the float will be a sparkling recreation of Sleeping Beauty Castle, complete with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse welcoming everyone to the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration. Flanking the castle are two adventures that are brought to life at the Disneyland Resort. The first comes from the world of “Frozen” and depicts Elsa’s ice castle – straight out of Arendelle – accompanied by Anna, Elsa, Olaf and Kristoff. A separate adventure depicted on the float makes the jump to hyperspace and travels to a galaxy far, far away for a thrilling adventure dedicated to the Star Wars films and exciting new Star Wars experiences at Disneyland Park.
Since its premiere in spring 2015, the 60th Anniversary Diamond Celebration has thrilled resort guests with sparking décor and spectacular entertainment, including the after-dark “Paint the Night” parade, “Disneyland Forever” fireworks and “World of Color – Celebrate!’ The celebration will continue to dazzle Disneyland Resort guests through Sept. 5, 2016.
Since the blockbuster success of the Disney animated motion picture “Frozen” in 2013, Disneyland Resort guests have enjoyed multiple opportunities to relive the adventures of Anna and Elsa – in character encounters at Disney California Adventure Park, on floats in “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade” and “Paint the Night” in Disneyland, in a live “Frozen” show at Fantasy Faire in Disneyland, and in a “Frozen” sing-along celebration. An all-new “Frozen”-inspired stage musical will open in summer 2016 in the Hyperion Theater at Disney California Adventure.
The recent debut of Season of the Force in Tomorrowland at Disneyland has taken guests into the Star Wars galaxy with new experiences as well as enhancements to popular attractions. Star Wars Launch Bay immerses guests in familiar Star Wars-inspired locations where they may encounter favorite characters, take a peek behind-the-scenes of the Star Wars films, and find special exhibits and collectibles. Hyperspace Mountain and a new Star Tours destination from Star Wars: The Force Awakens take guests on thrilling journeys. Additional highlights include “Star Wars: Path of the Jedi,” a short film connecting iconic scenes from the Star Wars saga, and a reimagined “Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple” show featuring new characters and a new villain. Star Wars fans are anxiously awaiting the Dec. 18 release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, as well as the new Star Wars-themed land coming to both Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts. Work on the new land will begin in 2016.
The appearance of the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration float in the 2016 Rose Parade marks the continuation of a tradition Disney relationship with the Tournament of Roses that began in 1938.
- The relationship began when characters from the newly premiered “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937) were prominently featured in the parade.
- Each year since 1960, the Rose Queen and her Royal Court, along with the competing Rose Bowl football teams, have visited Disneyland Resort.
- In 1966, Walt Disney served as Grand Marshall of the parade. Roy E. Disney, Walt’s nephew and the head of Disney Animation, served as Grand Marshall in 2000. Members of the Disney creative team from Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Entertainment have served as float judges numerous times.
- In 2004, Disneyland Resort presented “A Sudden Drop in Pitch.” At the time, it was the tallest float in Rose Parade history (110 feet, with live performers at the top). The float’s title played off that year’s theme of “Music, Music, Music,” and the float was inspired by The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror” attraction, which opened in Disney California Adventure that spring.
- In 2005, the 50th Anniversary of Disneyland was celebrated with both a dazzling Rose Parade Opening Show and a spectacular castle float called “The Happiest Celebration on Earth.” Mickey Mouse served as Grand Marshall.
- In 2006, the longest float (150 feet) in Rose Parade history, entitled “The Most Magical Celebration on Earth,” celebrated Disney Parks around the world.
- In 2013, the characters and fun of Cars Land raced into Pasadena for “Destination: Cars Land,” a float showcasing the landmarks of the newly opened land in Disney California Adventure. The 125-foot long float featured replicas of Lightning McQueen and Sally recreating their fun-spirited road race from the first “Cars” movie. Mater, the tow truck, followed along behind the float.
- In addition to Rose Parade float entries, Disney has presented many Rose Parade Opening Shows through the years, celebrating such milestones as the 35th Anniversary of Disneyland in 1990, the debut of the Indiana Jones Adventure in Disneyland in 1995, and the motion picture premiere of “Fantasia 2000,” in 2000.
For more information about the Disneyland Resort, see www.Disneyland.com or visit www.DisneyParksBlog.com. These sites are updated regularly.
The Twilight Zone® is a registered trademark of CBS, Inc., and is used with permission pursuant to a license from CBS, Inc. ©Disney/CBS, Inc
Holiday Fireworks Making Spirits Bright During Annual Christmas Bricktacular Celebration at LEGOLAND Florida Resort
This December, LEGOLAND® Florida Resort will celebrate the holidays in a uniquely LEGO® way with the return of Christmas Bricktacular Presented by Shutterfly®, the theme park’s annual seasonal celebration for kids. This year, the festivities expand with an exclusive yuletide fireworks spectacular presented each night, plus a more than 30-foot-tall Christmas tree made entirely of LEGO and DUPLO® bricks, a life-size LEGO model of Santa, his reindeer and sleigh, themed scavenger hunts and more.
Included with park admission, Christmas Bricktacular takes place on select dates through December and provides a fun and interactive place for kids to enjoy holiday festivities in a playful way only LEGOLAND Florida Resort could imagine. In addition to creative holiday photo opportunities and festive décor throughout the park, activities will include:
- Meet-and-greets with LEGO Santa and LEGO Toy Soldier
- A LEGO Christmas mosaic guests can assemble with our Master Model Builders
- Holiday-themed scavenger hunts in Miniland USA and DUPLO Valley with a chance to win a LEGO prize pack
- A station where kids can write a LEGO letter to Santa and send it to the North Pole
- A Jingle Jam to kick off the event, dance and celebrate with LEGO Santa and LEGO Toy Soldier
- A competition build in DUPLO Valley with another chance to win a LEGO prize pack
The wintertime fun concludes each night with a holiday-themed fireworks show presented only during Christmas Bricktacular. For the best viewing location, guests should head for the spacious Ski Stadiums in Pirates’ Cove or the grass lawn in between.
Looking for a special LEGO gift? Select stores will stay open for an extra hour of holiday shopping each night after the park closes. Guests will find a dizzying variety of LEGO-branded toys and souvenirs throughout the park, including hard-to-find LEGO sets, children’s and adult apparel, and great stocking stuffers.
Guests can share their favorite Christmas Bricktacular photos with #ChristmasBricktacular on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and tag @LEGOLANDFlorida for a chance to win a special LEGO prize.
For even more fun, guests can book a spot at LEGO Santa’s Christmas Workshop, a special VIP experience. The workshop includes a playful interaction with holiday characters, tasty seasonal treats and the chance to meet a Master Model Builder and create an exclusive Christmas decoration to keep.
2015 Christmas Bricktacular Presented by Shutterfly® Dates:
- December 5-6 (Saturday & Sunday)
- December 12-13 (Saturday & Sunday)
- December 19-20 (Saturday & Sunday)
- December 26-30 (Saturday-Wednesday)
On Thursday, Dec. 31, ring in 2016 at the high-energy Kids’ New Year’s Eve celebration, which features a LEGO brick-drop countdown to midnight Kid Standard Time (that’s 8 p.m. to moms and dads), a kid-centric dance party and a dazzling fireworks display to end the year with a bang. It’s all included with park admission.
For more about everything there is to do and see at LEGOLAND Florida Resort, including the brand-new, onsite LEGOLAND Hotel, visit http://florida.legoland.com and our official blog at www.llfblog.com.
WATCH: San Francisco Giants’ Hunter Pence got engaged at Disney World and it was adorable
Fellas, Hunter Pence just raised the proposal bar.
During a recent trip to Disney World, Pence proposed to his girlfriend Alexis
Disney’s SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS on Digital HD Jan 19th & Blu-ray Feb 2nd
Available for the First Time Ever on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) January 19th
and on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack February 2nd
Marking the launch of The Walt Disney Signature Collection
Featuring In-Depth Brand New Bonus Material Including “In Walt’s Words: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Iconography,” “@DisneyAnimation: Designing Disney’s First Princess,” “The Fairest Facts of Them All: 7 Facts You May Not Know About Snow White,” “Snow White in Seventy Seconds,” “Alternate Sequence: The Prince Meets Snow White” and Much More!
A GOOFY GHOST STORY BY SAM ALLEN
With Christmas now less than a month away, special holiday decorations can now be found all over Walt Disney World. One holiday tradition on display in many department stores around the world is elaborate holiday window displays, and The Emporium at Magic is no exception.
The Walt Disney Company Declares Semi-Annual Cash Dividend of $0.71 Per Share
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) Board of Directors today declared a cash dividend of $0.71 per share for the second half of fiscal 2015, payable January 11, 2016 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 14, 2015.
Disney began paying dividends on a semi-annual basis this past July with a dividend of 66 cents a share, and combined with today’s declaration, the total fiscal 2015 dividend payment increased 19% on an annualized basis from fiscal 2014 to $1.37 per share. Going forward, we plan to review the dividend payment annually following the end of the fiscal year, and plan to continue paying dividends on a semi-annual basis.
“Thanks to our unparalleled portfolio of global brands and franchises and our unique ability to leverage creative success to drive value across the entire company, Fiscal 2015 marked Disney’s fifth straight year of record performance, and we are pleased to raise our dividend by 19% on an annualized basis,” said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company.
The Company also announced that it has scheduled its annual shareholders’ meeting for Thursday, March 3, 2016, in Chicago.
Surprise! Now we know who has Vader’s helmet in ‘The Force Awakens,’ leading to a new theory
If you’ve been paying even cursory attention to what little of the “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” plot is known, you know the Kylo Ren is the newest Sith* on the street.
These are the real faces behind every Disney princess
Beauty, grace, bravery, and wits may be the makings of a Disney princess, but there’s a lot more beneath the surface. Over the years, 14 women have lent their voices to bring Cinderella, Belle, Ariel, Mulan, and others to life.
