Disney World’s Hall of Presidents has a strange 60-year history, and soon, they’ll be adding a 44th robot commander-in-chief.
B. B.WOLF’S BIG BAD WEATHER VANE BY SAM ALLEN
During the transformation of Downtown Disney into Disney Springs, several celebrity chefs including Art Smith and Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto have opened up shop in the neighborhood.
FESTIVAL OF HOLIDAYS BRINGS DELIGHTFUL ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCES TO DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE PARK BEGINNING NOVEMBER 10
The holiday season kicks off at Disney California Adventure® Park with the debut of Festival of Holidays on Nov. 10, 2016. You are invited to come celebrate heartwarming holiday festivities inspired by cultural traditions from around the world. They’ll create new memories as they share in delicious food and drink, fun craft making and the universal language of music and dance.
- Blue13 Dance Company – The spirited performers of Blue13 Dance Company turn up the fun with traditional Indian dances that build to a Bollywood party for all.
- Mostly Kosher – Klezmer band Mostly Kosher showcases an entertaining and eclectic musical tapestry that weaves together jazz, Latin, rock and hip-hop.
- RAISE – This uplifting a cappella vocal group brings a powerful, harmonious R&B spin to new and popular holiday songs.
- Holiday Toy Drummers – The mischievous Holiday Toy Drummers march to their own merry beat as they perform precision drills with holiday cheer.
- Mariachi Divas – GRAMMY Award-winning Mariachi Divas showcase their signature repertoire of catchy tunes.
- Disney ¡Viva Navidad! – Your Clients can enjoy holiday foods, crafts, Disney Character greetings and Latin American bands. Plus, The Three Caballeros host a fun street party featuring folklórico and samba dancers, live musicians and Mickey and Minnie in their fiesta best!
- Princess Elena’s Musical Grand Arrival – Elena of Avalor makes her Disneyland® Resort debut during Festival of Holidays! Your Clients can welcome the adventurous and kind-hearted Crown Princess, her royal dancers and magical friend Skylar as they celebrate the holidays with an uplifting musical cavalcade.
All this, plus an array of Disney Character experiences and kid-friendly activities!
During Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure Park, you can stop by Redwood Creek Challenge Trail for Santa’s Holiday Visit, where you’ll meet Santa and see how his joyful elves have transformed the area into a jolly playground of holiday fun and games.
As the sun sets, you won’t want to miss the evening concert at Paradise Park, featuring performances from two of the festival’s musical groups. And, a day of celebrating the season wouldn’t be complete without experiencing the all-new, nighttime water and light spectacular, “World of Color – Season of Light,” combining classic holiday songs with beloved characters and heartwarming moments from Disney and Pixar animation to create a sparkling winter fantasy filled with magic!
Festival of Holidays kicks off Nov. 10, 2016 at Disney California Adventure Park and continues daily through Jan. 8, 2017.
2016 CANDLELIGHT NARRATORS AT HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD AT EPCOT
One of the most delightful ways for you to experience Epcot® is sampling the tasty treats found all around World Showcase. And now, Holidays Around the World is adding more food and drink for the winter celebration Nov. 25-Dec. 30, 2016.
- Prost! in Germany (artisan cheese plate or sauerbraten with red cabbage and spätzle)
- American Holiday Table in American Adventure Pavilion (slow-roasted turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce)
- Alpine Haus between France and Morocco (cheese fondue in a bread bowl with fresh steamed vegetables)
- Seasonal Southern Delights near World Showcase Plaza (blackened catfish with white cheddar grits with okra)
- Feast of Three Kings Feast near World Showcase Plaza (Three Kings Bread)
Also as a part of Holidays Around the World at Epcot, Candlelight Processional returns to present the story of Christmas in truly spectacular fashion – with a celebrity narrator, a 50-piece orchestra and a mass choir.
A few months ago, we shared a preview of the narrators scheduled for this favorite Walt Disney World® Resort tradition. And now, we’re excited to announce more narrators for 2016 Candlelight Processional.
Celebrity Narrators scheduled to make appearances this year include (subject to change without notice):
- Nov. 25-27 – Steven Curtis Chapman
- Nov. 28-Dec. 1 – Neil Patrick Harris
- Dec. 2-3 – Whoopi Goldberg
- Dec. 4*-6 – Edward James Olmos
- Dec. 7-9 – TBA
- Dec. 10-12 – Robby Benson
- Dec. 13-15 – Meredith Vieira
- Dec. 16-18 – Jim Caviezel
- Dec. 19-21 – Joe Morton
- Dec. 22-24 – Ming-Na Wen – NEW!
- Dec. 25-27 – Jodi Benson
- Dec. 28-30 – Cal Ripken, Jr. – NEW!
The processional is performed three times per night (5:00, 6:45 and 8:15 p.m.) during the holiday season at the American Gardens Theatre. Dining packages are available on select nights and include a delicious meal and a guaranteed seat for one of the Candlelight Processional performances. Availability is limited.
Candlelight Dining Packages for breakfast start at $27 plus tax per person for adults and $14 plus tax per person for children, ages 3-9. Candlelight Dining Packages for lunch and dinner start at $47 plus tax per person for adults and $20 plus tax per person for children, ages 3-9.
Book a Candlelight Processional dining package for your Clients by calling 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463) or visit Disneyworld.com/dine.
*Narrators and entertainment are subject to change without notice. Theme park admission is required. There is no 5 p.m. show on 12/4.
How Moana Closes the Gap Between Disney’s Past and Present
With films like Frozen, Zootopia, and Big Hero 6, Walt Disney Animation Studios is in the midst of a renaissance, much like it was in the early ’90s with films like Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, and Aladdin.
Disney holiday specials to feature Kelly Clarkson, Julianne and Derek Hough, more
Disney is here to make all your holiday wishes come true this season. ABC is set to air three musical specials across its various platforms between Thanksgiving and Christmas, featuring performances from Kelly Clarkson…
Disney notches its biggest global box office year on record with $5.85 billion
The House of Mouse has broken its own record. With two full months and three major releases left on its 2016 slate, Walt Disney Studios announced Wednesday it has posted its biggest year ever at the global box office, earning $5.851.4 billion as of Tuesday.
ADDITIONAL DATES NOW AVAILABLE FOR CLUB VILLAIN AT DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
Due to popular demand, Club Villain at Sunset Showcase in Disney’s Hollywood Studios® has been extended. This special-ticketed event is filled with fabulous performances, delicious food, bewitching cocktails and enchanting encounters with some of the greatest Disney villains. And now, more nights have been added through the end of the year for you to enjoy!
Club Villain provides a spellbinding evening for you to enjoy fiendish concoctions from the Potions Bar, savor culinary delights from New Orleans and beyond, mingle with the villains and dance the night away! The mysterious Dr. Facilier is host of Club Villain, welcoming his guests and friends from the other side to his parlor of mystical mishaps, with musical numbers and a wicked mix from his house DJ. Also stopping by to socialize are those divas of evil, Maleficent, Queen of Hearts, Cruella De Vil and the Evil Queen.
The price is $129 per person (tax and gratuity included) and includes decadent delicacies with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages . Advance reservations are recommended by calling 407-WDW-DINE or online at Disneyworld.com/Dine. A separate ticket admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is required.
Finding Dory – Power to the Octopuses – Fun Facts and Bonus Clip
Curious about all the details and weird facts about the work that went in to creating Finding Dory’s favorite Octopus, Hank? Well we have some great new Fun Facts and a bonus clip about Hank to share with you this week! Please feel free to share this with your readers and please send me a link if you do!
HANKS FUN FACTS
LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN – When designers were working on Hank, the cantankerous octopus in “Finding Dory,” they created tapered tentacles for the cephalopod. The tentacles were modeled separately from the body, but when they tried to attach them, only seven would fit. Filmmakers later decided that it made sense that Hank would have an affliction, so they worked it into the script.
350
suckers are found on Hank: 50 suckers on each of his seven arms.
11,041
rigging prims were created just for Hank’s simulation (the average character requires around 20).
118
weeks were required of the team of technical directors who were responsible for building and articulating Hank.
22
weeks were spent shading Hank to give him extra texture and color, as well as making it possible for him to camouflage himself. (An average character takes less than eight weeks.)
DISNEY TWENTY-THREE JOINS THE REBELLION TO CELEBRATE THE ARRIVAL OF ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY
On December 16, Star Wars fans will blast off once again to a galaxy far, far away—only this time, it’s with a new set of characters (save for one Sith Lord) in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The film’s stars Felicity Jones and Alan Tudyk, director Gareth Edwards, and producer Kathleen Kennedy give readers a glimpse into the making of the film, which is centered on a group of rebels determined to steal the plans for the menacing Death Star. Kennedy reveals the origins of this first “stand-alone” film, while Edwards discusses the detailed planning that went into bringing Darth Vader back to the big screen.
The winter issue, exclusively for Gold Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, also includes a look at the 30th anniversary of Disney Parks’ Star Tours, with detailed concept artwork and in-depth interviews. And Tudyk, who gives voice to droid K-2SO in Rogue One, talks about being a “lucky charm” for Walt Disney Animation Studios, having provided his vocal talents for such films as Big Hero 6, Frozen, Wreck-It Ralph,and this month’s Moana.
Plus, Auli‘i Cravalho talks about her star turn as the title character in Moana, and reveals she almost didn’t audition for the dazzling animated film, which opens November 23. The creators of the exhilarating new Iron Man Experience unveil details about the Marvel-themed attraction, which opens at Hong Kong Disneyland next January. And the team behind the enhancements on the Disney Wonder cruise ship gives fans an inside look at the unique experiences and exquisite details guests will enjoy when they next set sail.
There’s much more Disney magic in the winter issue of Disney twenty-three, including:
- An exploration of the new book Maps of the Disney Parks, which highlights stunning works of art that have gone into park cartography over the years
- The reunion of Newsies original Broadway cast members for a new filmed version of the hit musical
- Famous Disney characters from around the world that you (may) have never met
- The storytelling and artistry of Marvel’s Enchanted Tiki Room comic books
- A celebration of 60 years of the delightful Daisy Duck
- Regular features including A Walk with Walt, D Society, and Ask Dave
And starting December 1, D23.com will once again kick off the “D23 Days of Christmas.” Each day will include sweepstakes for incredible Disney prizes, dazzling photography, delicious recipes, original stories and videos, colorful crafts, and much more. D23 will also host several exclusive holiday events for members including: Light Up the Season with D23 on Sunday, December 4, at The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank and D23’s Disney Springs Holiday Celebration at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando on Tuesday, December 13. Visit D23.com/D23Days to unwrap the holiday fun.
Disney twenty-three, which is delivered directly to fans’ doorsteps, is offered exclusively to D23 Gold and Gold Family Members as a benefit of their membership. The latest issue will begin arriving in mid-November.
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 Membership ($74.99), Gold Family Membership ($99.99), and General Membership (complimentary) levels atD23.com and at DisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube.
