There will be plenty of familiar faces when Walt Disney World opens Toy Story Land on June 30, but there’s more to look forward to than Woody, Buzz and the rest of Andy’s cherished belongings.
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI Blu-Ray Review
Attention all Star Wars fans…..STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI will be released in Blu-Ray and Digital formats on March 27! The famous saga continues with some of our favorite characters like Luke Skywalker, General (Princess) Leia, Chewbaca, and C-3PO plus our new heroes Rey, Finn, and Poe. For those of us who literally grew up with the legendary icons, it was awesome to see them on the big screen once again.
I was only 6 years old when Star Wars: A New Hope (what I call the first Star Wars) was in theaters so to have a memory of when Luke and Leia first met was amazing while watching the incredibly moving scene when they meet again so many years later. Both characters are older and have been through literal battles, but the chemistry is still there. In the bonus The Directory and the Jedi there is behind-the-scenes footage of the filming of this scene. If you don’t get goosebumps and the chills then you are not a true fan, especially knowing this was Carrie Fisher’s final role before her death. As soon as the opening music starts, you know you will be in for an adventure through the galaxy that entertains generations.
From youngsters who are getting into the franchise for the first time to those who have watched every feature film and all of the animated series, no one will be disappointed. STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI is a must-see while we await the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. To be able to be immersed in the world we have only seen on the screen will be an experience like no other. While you wait for its debut in 2019, decide if you will be part of the Resistance or if you will join Kylo Ren and the First Order. If you are like me, you will want to watch the movie over and over.
Be sure to spend some time with the Blu-Ray Bonus Extras. I loved The Director and the Jedi-Full Length Documentary. I am a sucker for behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the cast and crew. Director and writer Rian Johnson looked like he had so much fun making this movie. Be sure to keep an eye out for the clip when Johnson goes over to Mark Hamill and quietly shares the title STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI with him. It is such a touching moment between the star and the director. I also enjoyed Andy Serkis Live! (One Night Only). We rarely get to see this incredible actor as himself because he is such an expert at motion capture acting. In this Bonus Extra we get the chance to watch Serkis in raw on-set performances before he gets digitally changed into Supreme Leader Snoke. It is so cool to see the acting, even if he is covered with white dots.
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI has all of the action, adventure, and emotion that we have come to expect with the franchise. Add the Blu-Ray to your collection and the force is sure to be with you.
31 Disney Character Names Parents Are Giving Their Babies
Disney movies are so popular that they are inspiring thousands of new parents. After “Frozen” premiered in 2013, the number of newborns named Elsa in the U.S. doubled ― from 566 in 2012 to 1,138 the following year. The number of baby Moanas increased from 18 in 2015 to 56 in 2016, the year Disney released the film of the same name.
Pixar Characters Will Greet Guests in Toy Story Land at Walt Disney World Resort
Guests will have the chance to encounter some of their favorite characters from the Disney•Pixar “Toy Story” films, including Sheriff Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl, at Toy Story Land – opening June 30 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®.
Toy Story Land guests can also walk through a new carnival game box to experience Toy Story Mania!, which has been a guest-favorite attraction at the park since it opened in 2008. Now expanded with a third track, the popular attraction will allow even more guests to take aim at 3D objects – using everything from baseballs to cream pies – in a variety of whimsical, fast-paced games.
Stay tuned for more updates as we move closer to the opening of Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Broadway Review: Disney’s ‘Frozen’
As Princess Elsa says in this snowy, showy stage adaptation of the popular Disney movie, “I’m not as cold as I seem.” Credit the thawing trend in Broadway’s “Frozen” to the lovable characters of Jennifer Lee, who wrote the film and now writes the book for the stage musical, and to the warmly human cast assembled by director Michael Grandage.
Disney Music Group Set To Release First 6 Remastered Star Wars Original Motion Picture Soundtracks On May 4
Since the release of the first Star Wars movie 40 years ago, the Star Wars saga has had a seismic impact on both cinema and culture, inspiring audiences around the world with its mythic storytelling, captivating characters, groundbreaking special effects and iconic musical scores composed by John Williams.
On May 4th, Walt Disney Records is set to release the original motion picture soundtracks for the first six Star Wars films: A New Hope (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Return of the Jedi (1983), The Phantom Menace (1999), Attack of the Clones (2002) and Revenge of the Sith (2005). With scores composed and conducted by Academy Award®-winning composer John Williams, each album has been remastered, features new artwork and a collectible mini-poster. The soundtracks were reconstructed from new hi-resolution (24/192) transfers supervised by Shawn Murphy and Skywalker Sound. In addition to physical, each soundtrack is also available digitally.
John Williams is well known for scoring all eight of the Star Wars saga films to date, beginning with 1977’s Star Wars: A New Hope for which he earned an Academy Award® for Best Original Score. His score for Star Wars: The Force Awakens was nominated for an Oscar® and most recently, Star Wars: The Last Jedi received an Oscar nomination.
Williams has won five Academy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, seven British Academy Film Awards, five Emmy Awards and 23 Grammy Awards. With 51 Academy Award nominations, Williams is the Academy’s most nominated living person and the second most-nominated individual in history, after Walt Disney. In 2005, the American Film Institute selected Williams’ score to 1977’s Star Wars as the greatest American film score of all time. The soundtrack to Star Wars also was preserved by the Library of Congress in the National Recording Registry, for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Williams was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl’s Hall of Fame in 2000, and he received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2004, the National Medal of Arts in 2009, and the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2016. Williams has composed the scores for eight of the top 20 highest-grossing films at the U.S. box office (adjusted for inflation).
Pre-orders are available at:
A New Hope: http://disneymusic.co/ANewHopeCD
Empire Strikes Back: http://disneymusic.co/EmpireStrikesBackCD
Return of the Jedi: http://disneymusic.co/ReturnoftheJediCD
Phantom Menace: http://disneymusic.co/PhantomMenaceCD
Attack of the Clones: http://disneymusic.co/AttackoftheClonesCD
Revenge of the Sith: http://disneymusic.co/RevengeoftheSithCD
The Star Wars: A New Hope 40th Anniversary 3-LP Collector’s Edition hologram vinyl is available at Disney Music Emporium, http://disneymusic.co/SWNewHopeDME.
For more information on Walt Disney Records’ releases, like us on Facebook.com/disneymusic and follow us at Twitter.com/disneymusic and Instagram.com/disneymusic/. For more information on Disney Music Emporium, please visit DisneyMusicEmporium.com, become a fan at Twitter.com/DisneyMusicEmp and like us on Facebook, Facebook.com/disneymusicemporium
AN INCREDIBLE SUMMER AWAITS – SAVE UP TO 25% ON ROOMS AT SELECT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT HOTELS
Clients can save up to 25% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels for stays most nights June 11-Aug. 1, 2018 when they book by May 22, 2018. Plus, discover other savings for stays most nights May 28-Jun. 10, 2018 and Aug. 2-30, 2018.
The number of rooms allocated for the offer is limited. Length-of-stay requirements may apply. Additional per-adult charges may apply if more than two adults per room at Disney Value, Moderate and Deluxe Resorts. Cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotions. Advance reservations required. Offer excludes 3-bedroom villas, campsites, Cabins at Disney’s Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort—The Little Mermaid standard rooms. 25% savings based on the non-discounted price of the same room for select Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts. Lower savings may be available at other select Disney Resort hotels.
Contact Travel Agents, Scott and Becky Donahue, of Wish Upon a Star With Us to plan and book your vacation.
SUPER HERO-THEMED LAND COMING TO DISNEYLAND RESORT IN 2020
Disney Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products shared a sneak peek at highly anticipated new areas coming to Disneyland Resort in California, Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland, inviting guests to become part of a bigger universe filled with epic adventures.
Developed in partnership with Marvel Studios and Marvel Themed Entertainment, these three new areas will champion the next generation of Super Heroes, representing just one of the ways Disney continues to bring immersive worlds to life for guests around the globe.
“With the incredible popularity of Iron Man Experience at Hong Kong Disneyland and Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! at Disneyland Resort, we know our guests love experiencing epic action and adventure alongside the Avengers and their heroic friends,” said Bob Chapek, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products. “We are excited to take the next step by immersing our guests in this ever-expanding universe – and this is only the beginning!”
At Disneyland Resort, the new themed land will be anchored by the popular Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! at Disney California Adventure park, which has become the highest-rated attraction at Disneyland Resort since its 2017 opening. The Guardians of the Galaxy will be joined by Spider-Man and the Avengers in what will become a completely immersive Super Hero universe. This expanded presence will begin recruiting guests in 2020, furthering the evolution of Disney California Adventure park.
As part of the transformative multi-year expansion announced for Disneyland Paris, the new Marvel-themed area at Walt Disney Studios Park will include a reimagined attraction where riders will team up with Iron Man and their favorite Avengers on a hyper-kinetic adventure in 2020. That same year, Disney’s Hotel New York® will be reimagined to become Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, the first Disney hotel to showcase the inspiring world of the Avengers, Spider-Man and more. All of this will follow an epic experience launching this summer, when Disneyland Paris hosts Marvel Summer of Super Heroes from June 10 to September 30. Favorite heroes will take the stage for a brand new, live-action production featuring cutting-edge special effects and spectacular projections.
Multi-year expansion plans are also underway at Hong Kong Disneyland, including a new Marvel-themed area that will include an exciting attraction where guests team up with Ant-Man and The Wasp to fight Arnim Zola and his army of Hydra swarm bots. This new attraction will join the Iron Man Experience, which opened in 2017 and is already the most popular attraction at the resort. The expansion at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort will bring a new attraction or entertainment offering almost every year through 2023.
With so much underway, Disney parks all over the world continue to elevate the guest experience with one-of-a-kind attractions, lands, entertainment and lodging. For more information, please visit http://aboutdisneyparks.com. Marvel characters: © 2018 MARVEL
Tickets on Sale for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party & Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom Park
We’re excited to announce the dates for two favorite Magic Kingdom® Park events!
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Dates
- August 17, 24, 28, 31
- September 3, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30
- October 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31
Returning treats include the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular stage show in front of Cinderella Castle featuring the mischievous Sanderson sisters from the hit Disney film “Hocus Pocus,” Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade and “Happy HalloWishes,” the fall spectacular led by the infamous Disney villains!
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party tickets start at $75 in advance or $85 at the gate, if available.
When the seasons change, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will transform the Magic Kingdom Park into a winter wonderland for the most magical 22 days of the year!
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Dates
- November 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 25, 27, 29, 30
- December 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21
Returning favorites for the holidays include Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade; “Holiday Wishes,” fireworks spectacular; “A Frozen Holiday Wish,” featuring Queen Elsa using her incredible powers to present a gift to everyone in the kingdom—transforming Cinderella Castle into a sparkling, icy centerpiece for the celebration; and the jubilant show, “Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration.”*
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party tickets start at $95 in advance or $105 at the gate, if available.
Applicable Dates for 2018 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Tickets:
- August 17, 24, 28, 31
- September 3, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30
- October 2, 4, 8, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25
Applicable Dates for 2018 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets:
- November 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 25, 27, 29, 30
- December 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20
*Entertainment subject to change.
Pirates of the Caribbean at Walt Disney World Resort Reopens March 19 with New Auction Scene
When Pirates of the Caribbean reopens at Magic Kingdom® Park March 19, 2018, guests will be introduced to the new version of the attraction’s auction scene first announced last summer.
Just as Walt Disney embraced and encouraged Disney Parks to “keep moving forward” since the opening of Disneyland Park in 1955, Walt Disney Imagineering has introduced many new characters at Pirates of the Caribbean attraction over the years.
As we previously shared, the auction scene in the attraction at Disneyland Paris received a similar revision last year. Disneyland® Park will also receive similar updates to its Pirates of the Caribbean attraction later this spring, with work beginning April 23, 2018.
