WDW Daily News

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:DLB) and The Walt Disney Studios today announced that Star Wars: The Force Awakens, in theatres December 18, will be available as a Dolby Cinema™ experience. Dolby Cinema, featuring Dolby Vision™ and Dolby Atmos^®, is a premium cinema offering for exhibitors and moviegoers that combines spectacular image and sound technologies with inspired design to make every visit a completely captivating cinematic event.

Dolby Cinema begins with the filmmaker’s vision—using the full storytelling capabilities that Dolby offers in image and sound production to transform the way movies are made and presented. Combined with state-of-the-art image, sound, and acoustic capabilities, the movie comes alive to deliver cinema in its purest form.

“Dolby Cinema technology is an epic, premium way to go to the movies,” said J.J. Abrams, the writer, producer, and director of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. “I am honored to be a part of the continuation of the Star Wars saga, and can’t wait for people to see The Force Awakens through the power of the Dolby experience.”

“Dolby has been deeply involved with Star Wars since the release of Star Wars: A New Hope in 1977,” said Kevin Yeaman, President and CEO, Dolby Laboratories. “Star Wars:The Force Awakens is one of the most highly anticipated movies ever, and we are excited to continue our legacy of delivering the most advanced filmmaking and playback capabilities to bring Star Wars audiences an experience that only Dolby Cinema can offer.”

Dolby Cinema features the Dolby Vision projection system, which uses state-of-the-art optics and image processing to deliver high dynamic range with enhanced color technology and a contrast ratio that far exceeds that of any other image technology on the market today. The result is a richer, more detailed viewing experience that delivers strikingly vivid and realistic images that make viewers feel like they are in the movie’s world.

Dolby Cinema also includes the award-winning Dolby^® sound technology Dolby Atmos, which moves audio around the theatre, even overhead, with amazing richness and depth. The lifelike sounds of music, people, and ambience flow all around the theatre in sync with the action to create a more immersive and moving experience.

At Disneyland® Park in Southern California, we’re preparing to celebrate the excitement around all things Star Wars with brand-new themed experiences in Tomorrowland beginning Nov. 16, 2015. Season of the Force will take your Clients to a galaxy far, far away with special experiences:

This new area will offer opportunities to visit with favorite Star Wars characters, special exhibits, peeks at the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens and much more.

Choose Your Destiny with Special Character Experiences

• Dark Side – Encounter one of the most iconic villains from Star Wars, Darth Vader
• Light Side – Fly casual at this makeshift Rebel base, and meet the most famous co-pilot in the galaxy, Chewbacca.

Explore the Dark and the Light in Themed Galleries

• Dark Side Gallery – Get a look at authentic pieces of stormtrooper armor as well as famous Sith lightsabers once wielded by masters of the dark side.
• Light Side Gallery – Explore a gallery filled with Rebel flight helmets and lightsabers once wielded by Jedi Knights.
• Preview Gallery – See items built exclusively for Star Wars Launch Bay by the same prop makers who worked on the upcoming film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Starship Gallery – Discover models of famous starships from throughout the Star Wars saga.

Join the Battle in the Star Wars Game Center – Play the latest games from the Star Wars galaxy, including Disney Infinity 3.0 – featuring park-exclusive Toy Box levels.

Hyperspace Mountain

Guests will launch into a galaxy far, far away aboard Hyperspace Mountain, finding themselves in an action-packed battle between Rebel X-wings and Imperial TIE fighters.

Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

This popular attraction will feature a new scene inspired by the upcoming film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Galactic Grill

Choose the dark side or the light at this new themed food and beverage location. In the space that currently hosts Tomorrowland Terrace, the Galactic Grill will serve up specialty menu items inspired by both sides of the Force. Here is a look at some of the menu options:

Breakfast

• Darth Tamale – Blue corn tamale with scrambled eggs and chorizo, red chili sauce and tomatillo

Lunch and Dinner

• First Order Specialty Burger – Angus beef and chorizo patty topped with fried cherry peppers, spicy-lime aioli on dark bun

Desserts

• The Pastry Menace – Éclair with milk chocolate filling and a hint of cayenne pepper

Collectibles

• BB-8 sipper
• TIE Fighter premium popcorn bucket

Star Wars: Path of the Jedi

Relive Luke Skywalker’s path to becoming a Jedi in a film that recaptures favorite

Star Wars moments on the big screen. The Tomorrowland Theater presents Star Wars: Path of the Jedi, an exclusive cinematic event.

Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple

Opening Dec. 8, 2015, Guests will experience a twist on the Jedi Training experience when they encounter new characters and a new villain from the popular Disney XD series, Star Wars Rebels.

It’s one of the most controversial elements of ‘Star Wars 7’… and now it seems we have an official explanation for Kylo Ren’s lightsaber.

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Many of us have been counting down the days until Star Wars: The Force Awakens. With the premiere mere weeks away, there’s plenty to look forward to in the new upcoming trilogy.

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Chase Card Services, a division of JPMorgan Chase & Co. [NYSE: JPM], and The Walt Disney Company [NYSE: DIS] today announced that all Disney Visa Credit Cardmembers will have access to an exclusive Star Wars^TMImperial Meet ‘N’ Greet at private Cardmember locations at the Disneyland^® and Walt Disney World^® Resorts.^{1, 2}

Beginning November 16, 2015, the exclusive Star Wars Imperial Meet ‘N’ Greet location for Disney Visa Credit Cardmembers will be offered daily from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. PST at the Star Wars Launch Bay in Tomorrowland in Disneyland Park. Cardmembers simply present their Disney Visa Credit Card to enter the Meet ‘N’ Greet.²

Scheduled to open December 1, 2015, the exclusive Star Wars Imperial Meet ‘N’ Greet location for Disney Visa Credit Cardmembers will be offered daily from 11a.m. to 4 p.m. EST at the Star Wars Launch Bay in Disney’s Hollywood Studios^® at Walt Disney World Resort. Cardmembers simply present their Disney Visa Credit Card to enter the Meet ‘N’ Greet.²

“With excitement at an all-time high for the next chapter in the Star Wars saga, we are delighted to unveil this new experience for our Cardmembers,” said B.J. Mahoney, general manager, Chase Card Services. “This immersive experience will delight fans and continues our efforts to bring the magic and wonder of Star Wars to Cardmembers.”

Earlier this year, new double-sided card designs featuring Darth Vader, Yoda and R2-D2 with C-3PO were introduced for the Disney Visa Credit Card portfolio. ³ In addition, all Disney Visa Cardmembers can enjoy savings on select Star Wars merchandise purchases at Disney Store, DisneyStore.com and select locations at Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Resorts.¹ Cardmembers also have the opportunity to take advantage of upcoming Star Wars-related limited-time offers.

¹ Offers and offer elements including, but not limited to, participating locations, are subject to availability and additional restrictions, and may change or be canceled without notice. Must use a valid Disney Visa Card and/or Disney Rewards Redemption Card to receive special offers. Merchandise discount may not be available for certain items and at certain locations including Disneyland^® Resort andWalt Disney World^® Resort Operating Participant locations and any other locations or kiosks that are not owned and operated by the owners of the Walt Disney World^® Resort and the Disneyland^® Resort. To receive a merchandise discount, you must mention the specific offer. For entry into the Disney Character or Star Wars™ Imperial Meet ‘N’ Greet Photo Opportunities, must present your valid Disney Visa Credit Card. Not valid in combination with other offers, discounts, promotions or with any previous purchase. Minimum purchase and/or separate admission may be required. Offers are for personal use only and may not be transferred or resold. Please visitDisneyRewards.com/ParkPerks for full terms and conditions for each offer. Chase is not responsible or liable for fulfillment of these Disney Theme Park perks.

² The Disneyland^® Resort Character Meet ‘N’ Greet Photo Opportunities are offered daily during set hours–the Disney Character Meet ‘N’ Greet is at Disney California Adventure^® Park and the Star Wars™ Imperial Meet ‘N’ Greet is at Disneyland^® Park. The Walt Disney World^® Resort Character Meet ‘N’ Greet Photo Opportunities are offered daily during set hours–the Disney Character Meet ‘N’ Greet is at Epcot^® and the Star Wars™ Imperial Meet ‘N’ Greet is at Disney’s Hollywood Studios^®. Separate Theme Park admission required for each Meet ‘N’ Greet Opportunity. Must present a valid Disney Visa Credit Card for entry for up to 6 people per cardmember account (each cardmember account may be used for entry only one time per day). Operating times, days of the week, locations and appearance of Characters may vary and are subject to restrictions and change or cancellation without notice. Not valid in combination with other offers, discounts or promotions. Offer is for personal use only and may not be transferred or resold. Please visitDisneyRewards.com/ParkPerks for additional information.

³ Card designs are subject to availability and may change without notice.

STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. And/or its affiliates © & TM Lucasfilm Ltd.

Luke Skywalker has gone from hero to MacGuffin.

Filmmaking aficionados know the term, popularized by Alfred Hitchcock, as being an object or mystery that drives the story – more Maltese Falcon than Millennium Falcon.

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Remember that one time like three trailers ago when JJ Abrams suggested they were done releasing new Star Wars: The Force Awakens footage?

Yeaaaah, not so much. Another Star Wars TV trailer just hit, and there’s more new footage.

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Soon, students can take their first steps into the larger world of Star Wars game design.

Today, Code.org unveiled a Star Wars-themed computer science tutorial,“Star Wars: Building a Galaxy with Code,” featuring Princess Leia, C-3PO, and R2-D2, as well as Rey and BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The online lesson kicks off the third-annual global Hour of Code campaign, in honor of Computer Science Education Week, December 7-13, 2015.

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Disney has just released a sneak peak of the new Starspeeder 1000 Experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.