A few lucky folks at Disney World got quite a surprise over the weekend when Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson decided to commandeer the theme park’s Jungle Cruise ride. (Wonder if anyone reacted like this fan?)
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The 10 Highest-Grossing Disney Movies of All Time
Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS) casts a large shadow over the movie industry. Four of the 10 highest-grossing movies of all time come from the House of Mouse, according to data from Box Office Mojo. The studio owns the market for children’s movies outright, including the entire top 10 of domestic G-rated titles.
STAR WARS ROGUE ONE – Final Bonus Clips
We have some final bonus clips to share with you today from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The below clips feature some of the hidden easter eggs in the film as well as a inside glimpse at the “darker side” of the film. Have a great weekend and as always, May the Force Be With You!
ROGUE ONE | Easter Eggs: Connections Clip 1
ROGUE ONE | Easter Eggs: Connections Clip 2
ROGUE ONE | Vader
ROGUE ONE | Death Troopers
New Attractions, Experiences and Dining Debut This Spring at Magic Kingdom
Starting May 12, Magic Kingdom Park guests will be treated to the most spectacular fireworks display in the park’s history with a brand new show called “Happily Ever After.”
Featuring more lasers, lights and projections than any Magic Kingdom Park show before it, “Happily Ever After” will take guests on an inspiring journey filled with heart and humor. Cinderella Castle itself will become part of the story, with dazzling projections bringing more than 25 heartfelt Disney stories to life on and around the iconic castle.
The 18-minute spectacle will feature moments from beloved Disney films such as “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin,” as well as modern blockbusters “Moana” and “Zootopia.”
“Happily Ever After” will be presented nightly. Show times vary based on park hours.
Disney Cruise Line Port Adventures Invite Guests to Experience Rich Culture and Adventure on Europe and Norway Sailings
Disney Cruise Line invites families to explore culturally rich and exciting locales with Port Adventures like only Disney can do during its Europe and Norway sailings, beginning May 2017 when the Disney Magic returns to Europe for the summer.
Guests exploring these ports will be treated to richly diverse destinations showcasing iconic locations, tantalizing cuisine and unrivaled experiences.
To enhance guests’ experiences while at port, Disney Cruise Line Port Adventures entertain and inspire both children and adults—in true Disney fashion—with an extra dash of pixie dust.
Experience the Inspiration for Disneyland at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark
Exclusive to Disney Cruise Line, a behind-the-scenes tour invites guests to walk in the footsteps of Walt Disney and experience Tivoli Gardens as he did during his visit in 1950. The age-old amusement park inspired Walt to imagine the beginning of something grand and magical – the plans and designs for Disneyland Resort. With a variety of attractions – everything from merry-go-rounds and whimsical rides to a 100-year-old roller coaster – Tivoli Gardens inspires visitors with the beauty and enchantment that sparked the beginning of Disneyland and beyond.
See the Ceremonial Necklace Worn by Princess Leia in Helsinki, Finland
New to Disney Cruise Line in 2017, guests have the unique opportunity to see the ceremonial necklace worn by Princess Leia in the legendary final throne room scene in “Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope.” Chosen by Star Wars creator George Lucas, the necklace is an iconic piece that is sure to awe Star Wars fans as they experience an up-close look at this movie history icon. Art aficionados can admire other impressive works of Finnish artist, jewelry designer and sculptor Björn Weckström as they’re greeted by the artist himself in his private residence.
Encounter Brave Adventures at Edinburgh Castle in Greenock, Scotland
An adventure to the medieval Edinburgh Castle gives Disney Cruise Line guests an exclusive opportunity to meet the courageous Princess Merida from the Disney-Pixar “Brave” film and feel the excitement while they interact with the fearless young heroine. While visiting the iconic Scottish landmark, nestled high atop Castle Rock with views of the Old Town, guests can tour the former royal residence and fort, dazzle at the magnificent great hall and admire the Scottish crown jewels, first used for the coronation of Mary Queen of Scots in 1543. Exclusive for Disney Cruise Line, courageous kids can join Youth Counselors from the ship for an exciting shield-decorating activity during this day-long adventure.
Get a Glimpse of 18th Century Royal Luxury in St. Petersburg, Russia
Guests are invited to partake in an extravagant royal ball inside Catherine Palace during the Disney Magic’s visit to St. Petersburg. Complete with a live orchestra and dances with royal courtiers, the gala offers regal festivities to all who attend. In a setting of gilded walls, hand-painted ceilings and period artwork, guests are immersed in 18th century palace life as they experience what it was like to live like royalty in 1750s Russia.
Join in “Frozen” Festivities and Viking Ventures in Ålesund, Norway
Disney Cruise Line guests join Anna, Elsa and Kristoff from the animated hit “Frozen” in Norway, the land that inspired their story. Disney guests are invited to revel in an exclusive Norwegian summer celebration at the Sunnmøre Open Air Museum where the festivities culminate in the grand arrival of the beloved sisters and their ice-loving companion. After being personally greeted by their “Frozen” friends, and surrounded by the idyllic beauty of Norway, guests dance to local musicians and sample tasty Norwegian specialties, including svele, a traditional sweet pancake from the region.
Another Ålesund adventure exclusive to Disney Cruise Line includes a quest to a Viking village on the island of Giske, where guests head back in history to meet the village chieftain and experience the Viking world. Adventurers find themselves in the middle of daily Viking life and mingle with members of the Norse families, experiencing first-hand the traditions, authentic food and games that come with being a Viking. Guests also learn traditional Viking handiwork and put it to practice by crafting their own leather bags.
Experience the Great Outdoors of Geiranger, Norway
From the port of Geiranger, the crowning jewel of the Norwegian fjords, comes an experience exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests – a visit to the Gjaera Mountain Farm where a local family provides an up-close look at daily life. Children join Disney Cruise Line youth counselors to create one-of-a-kind decorative pillows in the farm’s printing studio using handmade wooden stamps that have been passed down through the family’s many generations. Meanwhile, adults explore the farm and its microbrewery, sampling fresh brews. After building up an appetite, everyone reunites for a taste of traditional Norwegian foods produced at the farm including juices, breads, creams and cured meats.
Another journey brings Disney Cruise Line guests to the Herdalsetra Mountain Farm, where on the way to a nearby scenic valley they will enjoy a spectacular view of the Geirangerfjord and the Seven Sisters waterfall made famous in Norwegian folklore. Guests tour the enchanting farm brimming with 30 farmhouses and more than 450 sprightly goats scampering around the property. They also sample the farm’s fresh cheeses including Norway’s famous brown cheese – similar to sweet fudge.
Those looking for even more adventure will find it kayaking through the Geirangerfjord. Gliding over dazzling turquoise waters, guests will get an up-close look at stunning waterfalls roaring down into the fjord and the majestic mountains along the water’s edge.
The Disney Magic sails to destinations throughout Europe and Norway throughout the summer.
Details on all Disney Cruise Line shore excursions can be found on the Port Adventures section of disneycruise.com.
To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, visit disneycruise.com, call Disney Cruise Line at 888-325-2500 or contact a travel agent.
Garden Rocks Concert Series Hits High Notes with Band Favorites at Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Between March 3 and May 29
Sixteen music acts of multiple genres with hits spanning the past five decades will play the Garden Rocks Concert Series at the 24th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Running 90 days and kicking off March 1, this year’s festival launches the concert series March 3 to showcase performers every Friday through Monday until Memorial Day, May 29. It’s the first year the Garden Rocks acts will appear every festival Monday.
Simple Plan, Exposé and Berlin featuring Terri Nunn will rock Epcot audiences for the first time. Jon Secada, who first played the Garden Rocks stage in 2015, will kick off the concert series March 3.
Guests can dance in their seats each festival weekend to classic tunes at the park’s outdoor America Gardens Theatre overlooking the World Showcase Lagoon. An eclectic mix of Flower & Garden Festival fan favorites includes 1960s icons Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone, ’70s-’80s chart-toppers The Pointer Sisters and ’90s hit-makers Gin Blossoms. On Memorial Day, The Spinners will close the 90-day festival with their R&B repertoire of Billboard top hits.
Performances are at America Gardens Theatre at 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m. every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival and are included with Epcot admission. Here is this year’s lineup (subject to change without notice):
March 3-4 Jon Secada “Just Another Day”
March 5-6 Dennis DeYoung: The Music of STYX “Grand Illusion”
March 10-13 The Pointer Sisters “I’m So Excited”
March 17-18 Simple Plan (NEW!) “Welcome to My Life”
March 19-20 Plain White T’s (NEW to Garden Rocks series)“Hey There Delilah”
March 24-27 Night Ranger “Sister Christian”
March 31-April 3 Little River Band “Reminiscing”
April 7-10 Blood, Sweat & Tears featuring Bo Bice “Spinning Wheel”
April 14-17 Gin Blossoms “Hey Jealousy”
April 21-24 The Orchestra starring former members of ELO “Evil Woman”
April 28-29 Exposé (NEW!) “Point of No Return”
April 30-May 1 Berlin featuring Terri Nunn (NEW!) “Take My Breath Away”
May 5-8 STARSHIP starring Mickey Thomas “We Built This City”
May 12-15 The Guess Who “American Woman”
May 19-22 Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone “I’m Henry VIII I Am”
May 26-29 The Spinners “Working My Way Back to You”
Upcoming Disney film ‘Coco’ draws excitement, tension from Latino, Hispanic fans
Disney-Pixar released its first feature film “Toy Story” in 1995. Since then, audiences have reunited fish families, befriended the monsters in our closets and got our kicks on Route 66. On March 15, Disney-Pixar released a teaser-trailer for yet another feature film, “Coco,” coming to theaters this November.
NINE NEW DISNEY LEGENDS TO BE HONORED DURING D23 EXPO 2017 IN ANAHEIM ON JULY 14
Oprah Winfrey, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Stan Lee, Julie Taymor, and other remarkable contributors to the Disney legacy will be honored as official Disney Legends during D23 Expo 2017. Hosted by Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger, the Disney Legends Award ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 14, in Hall D23 of the Anaheim Convention Center.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Disney Legends Awards. The first Disney Legend was Fred MacMurray (The Shaggy Dog, The Absent-Minded Professor, The Happiest Millionaire), who was honored in 1987.
“The Disney Legends Award is the highest honor our company can bestow on an individual, reserved for those few who have truly made an indelible mark on the history of The Walt Disney Company,” said Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger. “It’s a celebration of talent, a recognition of achievement, and an expression of gratitude to the men and women whose work has significantly contributed to Disney’s enduring reputation for creative excellence.”
The awards ceremony is just one of the dozens of spectacular events that Disney fans can enjoy during the three-day D23 Expo.
The 2017 Disney Legends Award honorees (listed alphabetically) are:
CARRIE FISHER became an overnight sensation in 1977 with her iconic performance as Princess Leia in Star Wars. But throughout her career, Carrie took on many roles—as an actress, author, playwright, screenwriter, and outspoken advocate for mental health awareness. For Disney, Carrie appeared in Scream 3 (2000) and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) for Dimension Films, and, in 2015, she returned to the role that made her famous, starring as General Leia Organa in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. She reprised the role for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which will be released in December.
CLYDE “GERRY” GERONIMI joined the Disney Studio in 1931. His first assignments as an animator were for several memorable Mickey Mouse, Silly Symphony, and Pluto cartoons, and he eventually contributed to more than 50 of the Studio’s shorts. Gerry made the leap to sequence director with 1943’s Victory Through Air Power, and he subsequently contributed to The Three Caballeros, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, Cinderella, Peter Pan, and One Hundred and One Dalmatians. He also directed segments for television’s Mickey Mouse Club and contributed to episodes of Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color. The apex of his Disney career came when he served as supervising director for the 1959 masterpiece Sleeping Beauty.
MANUEL GONZALES was one of 33 artists selected from thousands of applicants to join Disney in 1936. In 1938, he took over penciling duties on the Sunday Mickey Mouse comic strip from Disney Legend Floyd Gottfredson. He brought Mickey Mouse to newspapers nationwide for nearly 40 years. At its peak, his Mickey-starring comic strip appeared in 120 newspapers around the world with a collective circulation of more than 20 million readers each week. Manuel was presented a “Mousecar” award by Walt Disney in 1966.
MARK HAMILL began his career in 1970, appearing in numerous television series guest-roles and several TV movies, including a recurring role on ABC’s General Hospital and starring in MTM’s acclaimed The Texas Wheelers. He achieved worldwide attention as Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy, which included The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. He returned as Luke in The Force Awakens and will appear in the upcoming The Last Jedi. His stage career includes Broadway shows and the first national tour of Amadeus directed by Sir Peter Hall. A prolific voice-over actor, he has performed in countless animated television shows, feature films, documentaries, and video games. He appears on Disney’s Miles from Tomorrowland and Milo Murphy’s Law, and has also provided the voice of The Joker in the Batman animated series, a role that recently earned him a BAFTA Award.
WAYNE JACKSON began his career as a Walt Disney Imagineer in October 1965, and in the decades that followed he would put his technical skills and know-how to great use in the development and installation of Disney attractions around the world. Originally trained in aircraft tooling, he began as a technician and machinist assigned to rebuild the shows from the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair that were slated for installation at Disneyland. Instrumental in the early development of Audio-Animatronics® technology, Wayne would go on to help bring Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion to Disneyland. He went on to work on the construction and installation of attractions and show systems at Walt Disney World Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort, and Disneyland Paris.
STAN LEE got a job as an office assistant at a comic publisher in 1939 called Timely Comics—forerunner of the powerhouse we all know as Marvel. Stan made his debut with a Captain America story in 1941, and by the next year, at the age of just 18, he was promoted to editor. In 1961, Stan teamed up with Jack “King” Kirby to create the Fantastic Four and ushered in a spectacular new age of comics. Stan co-created an enormous roster of Marvel characters, including Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, the X-Men, Daredevil, and Falcon. He became Marvel’s editorial director and publisher in 1972, and eventually was named chairman emeritus. His well-known cameos in Marvel films began with 1989’s telefilm The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, and since the release of X-Men in 2000 he has appeared in nearly every Marvel film project. Outside the super-hero realm, he has even popped up as a wedding guest in Disney’s The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.
GARRY MARSHALL began his career in Los Angeles writing for a number of hit shows, including The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Lucy Show. But his big break came in 1970, when he produced The Odd Couple for ABC, the first of many big hits he created for the network. Beginning with Happy Days in 1974, he developed a shared universe of spinoffs including Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, and Joanie Loves Chachi. His other ABC sitcoms during these years included Angie, The New Odd Couple, and Blansky’s Beauties. Garry was also a successful movie director, with 18 films to his credit. At Disney, he made stars of two young actresses: Julia Roberts, in Pretty Woman, and Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries. He directed Bette Midler in Beaches, as well as in The Lottery, a short film that for years was a fixture of the Backstage Tour at the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park. Garry was known for his acting, as well, and he appeared in Disney’s Race to Witch Mountain, Chicken Little, and as the Devil in Hocus Pocus.
JULIE TAYMOR is a Tony®-, Emmy®-, and Grammy®-winning and Oscar®-nominated filmmaker who has changed the face of Broadway with her innovative direction. Her adaptation of The Lion King debuted in 1997, becoming the most successful stage musical of all time; 24 global productions have been seen by more than 90 million people. The show has played in more than 100 cities in 19 countries. It received 11 Tony Award nominations, earning Julie Best Director, Costume Designer, and Best Musical for the show. Her production of The Magic Flute is currently in repertory at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Her films include A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Titus, The Tempest, the Golden Globe-nominated Across the Universe, and the Oscar-winning Frida. Taymor is a recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship and an inductee into the Theater Hall of Fame for Lifetime Achievement. She is currently directing M. Butterfly on Broadway, opening Fall 2017.
OPRAH WINFREY is a renowned award-winning producer, actress, talk show host, and philanthropist. For 25 years she was the host of the award-winning talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show, which ran for 25 seasons on hundreds of stations domestically and in more than 100 countries around the world. Oprah is also an Academy Award®-nominated actress for her role in Steven Spielberg’s 1985 hit The Color Purple. In 1998, she starred in Beloved for Disney’s Touchstone Pictures, a film that she also produced. Oprah also produced and starred in ABC’s 1989 limited series The Women of Brewster Place, and would go on to produce many films for ABC, including Tuesdays with Morrie, Before Women Had Wings, and Their Eyes Were Watching God under the “Oprah Winfrey Presents” banner. She performed as Eudora in Disney’s The Princess and the Frog in 2009 and will co-star as Mrs. Which in Disney’s 2018 film A Wrinkle in Time.
Honorees receive a two-foot-tall bronze Disney Legends sculpture that signifies the imagination, creativity, and magic they have brought to the Company. Disney Legends Award recipients will also participate in a handprint ceremony at the end of the event, and their bronzed prints will be displayed in the Disney Legends Plaza at the Company’s Burbank headquarters.
Admission to the ceremony will be on a first-come, first-served basis and is included in the price of a ticket to D23 Expo 2017.
Including this year’s honorees, a total of 276 Disney Legends have been named. Past Disney Legends include Tim Allen, Julie Andrews, Beatrice Arthur, Howard Ashman, Regis Philbin, Annette Funicello, Peter Jennings, Johnny Depp, Estelle Getty, George Lucas, Angela Lansbury, Steve Martin, Rue McClanahan, Alan Menken, Hayley Mills, Fess Parker, Sir Tim Rice, Dick Van Dyke, Barbara Walters, Betty White, and Robin Williams. Beginning with the inaugural D23 Expo in 2009, thousands of Disney fans have been able to enjoy the Legends Awards ceremony live.
Ticketsfor D23 Expo 2017 are available for $81 for one-day adult admission and $59 for children 3–9. Membersof D23: The Official Disney Fan Club can purchase tickets for $72 for a one-day adult admission and $53 for children 3–9. Multi-day tickets are also available. For more information on tickets and D23 Expo 2017, visit D23Expo.com.
About D23 Expo 2017
D23 Expo—The Ultimate Disney Fan Event—brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. For the latest D23 Expo 2017 news, visit D23expo.com. Presentations, talent, and schedule subject to change. To join the D23 Expo conversation, be sure to follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube, and use the hashtag #D23Expo.
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 with members-only content; member-exclusive discounts; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.
Fans can join D23 at Gold and General Membership levels at D23.com and at DisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.
