As Disney opens its Avatar-themed attraction in Orlando later this year, the company is also looking to officially debut its new Mobile One system along with this launch.
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What to expect from Disney’s new ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ ride
The “Guardians of the Galaxy” ride opening May 27 at Disney California Adventure will replace the venerable Twilight Zone Tower of Terror as the anchor of a new Marvel themed land.
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Celebrates 20 Years
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex celebrated its 20th anniversary on Tuesday, March 28th. Disney Sports executives Maribeth Bisienere and Faron Kelley marked the occasion with a special on-field moment during the Atlanta Braves-Baltimore Orioles spring training game at the sports complex.
Reggie Williams, former Cincinnati Bengals star and founding executive of the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Braves game, which also featured 20th anniversary merchandise and music and trivia from 1997.
Since its opening on March 28, 1997, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex has remained a preeminent multi-sport facility for professional, collegiate and youth sports events of all levels, from AAU Basketball National Championships to the NFL Pro Bowl Week.
In its 20-year history the sports complex has hosted more than three million athletes, including some of the biggest names in sports – Muhammad Ali, Venus and Serena Williams, Tiger Woods, Derek Jeter, Shaquille O’Neal, Tom Brady, Lionel Messi and Mia Hamm. The complex hosts 100 annual athletic and entertainment events featuring 70 different sports and over the years has hosted major events such as NFL Pro Bowl Week (2017), the Invictus Games (2016), the inaugural World Baseball Classic (2006) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp (2002-2008).
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex was one of the first major sports facilities in the country, blazing a new trail in youth sports tourism. In its wake, countless other youth sports complexes have emerged around the country to meet the increasing demand, as 27-percent of all travel taken in the U.S. is solely for organized sporting events.* ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and others comprise what is now an estimated $7 billion youth sports industry.*
While the celebration kicked off on March 28, there will be more tributes throughout the year to commemorate the anniversary and emphasize the positive impact of youth sports. Additionally, there will be new sports-related initiatives announced that will continue Disney’s long-standing support of youth sports nationally and that will continue to drive tourism in Central Florida for the next 20 years and beyond.
*Data sourced from a May 2014 National Association of Sports Commission Study
Disney At CinemaCon: ‘Wreck It Ralph’ Sequel Now Titled ‘Ralph Breaks The Internet’
The studios’ panels here at CinemaCon can last hours. Literally. There’s typically a lot of preamble, an exhibitor honor of sort of a legendary vet before the clips and stars start flying.
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Why Disney Cruises Aren’t Just for Kids
If you want to know what life is like for adults inside the cult of Disney, step aboard one of its cruise ships. Yes, Princess Elsa is onboard doing arts and crafts, and cartoons play on a poolside Jumbotron. But go a little farther into the ship and you’ll stumble upon a British pub with worn-in leather armchairs, fine dining reserved just for the grownups, and a blissfully quiet adult pool deck that will make it hard to believe you’re sharing a ship with hundreds of children.
Disney is looking at creating ‘another decade and a half of Star Wars stories’ after Episode IX
At the Scale: The Future of Tech and Entertainment conference in Santa Monica, California, Disney CEO Bob Iger spoke on a variety of topics, from his tenure at Disney, the next installments of the Star Wars franchise, and that the company is looking at what comes after 2019’s Episode IX.
STAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MAGIC THIS SPRING AND ENJOY SPECIAL SAVINGS AT DISNEYLAND RESORT
Our Clients can stay in the middle of the magic and save up to 20% on premium rooms at select stays at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa or Disneyland® Hotel from April 23-June 15, 2017 on select Sunday-Thursday nights when they book through May 25, 2017.
When our Clients stay at a Disneyland Resort hotel, they’ll stay where the magic never ends. With Disneyland® Park, Disney California Adventure® Park and the Downtown Disney® District just steps away, they’ll enjoy convenient access to all the fun! Plus, they can take advantage of exclusive benefits, including early access to the Theme Parks and Disney Character wake-up calls. And, throughout their stay, our Clients will experience legendary Disney service.
Booking Information:
Contact Travel Agents, Scott and Becky Donahue, of Wish Upon a Star With Us to plan and book your vacation.
*Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same room at the same hotel for most Sunday through Thursday nights. Valid for travel between 4/23/17 to 6/15/17. Book from 3/27/17 through 5/25/17, with travel completed by 6/16/17. Savings on premium rooms are available on Premium, Deluxe and Woods/Garden/Courtyard rooms. Offer excludes select Concierge rooms and suites, except Artisan and Regal suites. Ask about savings on other room types. Not valid on previously booked rooms. Advance reservations required. Subject to availability as the number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Excludes applicable fees and taxes. Limit two (2) rooms per reservation and five (5) people maximum per room. Not valid in combination with any other hotel discounts or offers. Subject to restrictions and change without notice. Separate Theme Park admission required to enjoy the Parks.
Disney’s Dilemma: Can Anyone Replace Bob Iger?
Disney’s (DIS) board of directors this week bought themselves more time before having to make the big, seemingly impossible decision as to who will succeed Bob Iger as CEO. In the coming weeks, legions of Disney watchers will attempt to read corporate tea leaves much as the CIA tried for years to gauge who would lead the Politburo during the Cold War.
D23 EXPO DISNEY FAN EVENT TO BE HELD IN JAPAN IN 2018
The Walt Disney Company (Japan) announced today that it will stage D23 Expo Japan 2018, a special event for Disney fans created by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, over three days from February 10 to February 12, 2018, at Tokyo Disney Resort in Maihama.
D23 Expo is held every two years in the U.S. for Disney’s most passionate fans. The first D23 Expo in Japan was held in 2013 and is unique to Japan while remaining true to the original vision of “The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.” D23 Expo Japan 2015 was themed to “The Power of Story.” Guests were treated to spellbinding stories from each of the four Disney brands—Disney, Disney•Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel. Fans enjoyed experiences, merchandise, collectibles, and endless surprises created exclusively for the event.
D23 Expo Japan 2018 will once again feature special exhibits and opportunities for the delight and enjoyment of guests. Further details will be posted at http://disney.jp/D23 as they become available this summer.
“We heard from a lot of fans about how delighted they were with the D23 Expo Japan 2013 and 2015．D23 Expo Japan 2018 promises to be even more spectacular,” said Paul Candland, President, Walt Disney Asia and President, The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd. “2018 marks The Walt Disney Company’s 95th anniversary and the 90th anniversary of Mickey Mouse’s screen debut. In Japan, it marks Tokyo Disney Resort’s 35th, Disney Channel’s 15th, and the Disney★JCB Card’s 10th. We’re very excited about being able to present this great event once again, and we know our guests will have an incredible experience during the three days we have planned for them.”
About Walt Disney Japan
The Walt Disney Company marked its formal move into the Japanese market by establishing a local subsidiary in 1959. In April 2000, several Japanese affiliates were integrated to form a new company, The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd., to oversee all Disney interests in Japan. Walt Disney Japan runs a diversified business building on synergies created by the following segments—Studio Motion Pictures, Television, Consumer Products & Interactive, Media Distribution, Disney Store Japan and Parks & Resorts.
About D23: The Official Disney Fan Club
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 fan club in Disney’s 90-plus-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the magical world of Disney through its quarterly magazine Disney twenty-three, information-packed website D23.com, member-exclusive discounts, and special events like the D23 Expo held in Anaheim, California.
About D23 Expo in the U.S.
D23 Expo: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event has been held in the U.S. four times to date, drawing Disney fans from around the world to Anaheim, California. D23 Expo 2017 will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center the weekend of July 14–16. Highlights include what’s new and what’s on the horizon from theme parks, television, music, gaming, and films, including Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel; the Disney Legends Ceremony to honor the talented men and women who have made significant contributions to the Disney legacy; an all-new exhibit curated by the Walt Disney Archives; the D23 Expo Emporium, where Disney fans can buy, sell, and trade Disney collectibles, memorabilia, merchandise, and more; and D23 Expo’s costume contest.
