MICHAEL VARGO NAMED VICE PRESIDENT, D23, SPECIAL EVENTS AND DISNEY CORPORATE CREATIVE RESOURCES

Michael Vargo has been named Vice President, D23, Special Events and Disney Corporate Creative Resources, it was announced today by Zenia Mucha, Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, The Walt Disney Company.

A 24-year Disney veteran, Mr. Vargo will oversee D23: The Official Disney Fan Club and the Walt Disney Archives. He will also lead production and digital technology operations at Disney Corporate Creative Resources, the in-house creative agency that serves Disney’s Corporate departments. Mr. Vargo, who previously served as Director, Corporate Special Events and General Manager of D23 Expo, will report directly to Ms. Mucha.

“Mike has displayed superb leadership and talent in producing special events that showcase the very best of Disney, from our Annual Meeting to the spectacular D23 Expo that draws tens of thousands of fans from around the globe,” Ms. Mucha said. “His deep knowledge of the Company and understanding of the Disney brand make him perfectly suited to lead D23 and the Walt Disney Archives to even greater achievements.”

“I am thrilled and honored to be working with the talented teams at D23, the Walt Disney Archives, and Disney Corporate Creative Resources as we deliver creative and innovative content, produce first-class special events, and share our company’s rich history with our fans and audiences worldwide,” Mr. Vargo said.

Rounding out the D23 and Archives leadership teams are Kristin Rodack, Director of D23 Membership and Marketing, Jeffrey Epstein, Director of D23 Communications and Creative Content, and Rebecca Cline, Director of the Walt Disney Archives.

Mr. Vargo began his career at Disney in 1992 at Disneyland Entertainment. He served as Senior Production Manager, Walt Disney Special Events Group & Disney Live Family Entertainment from 1998 to 2004, before being named Director, Corporate Special Events. He graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications.

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Disney Will Stop Printing Disney Dollars This Week

When I was a kid I loved Disney Dollars. For those unfamiliar, they’re Disney’s paper notes that look like real money and feature cartoon characters such as Mickey Mouse and Dumbo on the front.

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THE GOLDEN CAMELS OF ALADDIN BY SAM ALLEN

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Ever since “Aladdin” first hit the big screen, fans of the film have imagined what flying on a magic carpet would be like. In 2001, a new Adventureland attraction offered Magic Kingdom guests a taste of the soaring, tumbling, and freewheeling experienced by Aladdin and Princess Jasmine. While a variation on the classic “Dumbo” spinner ride, “The Magic Carpet of Aladdin” offers a few new twists on the familiar experience.

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How to Pull Off a Magical Proposal at Disney

Disney has long been a place for brides-to-be to make their fairy tale wedding dreams come true, but before saying “I do” many people are saying “yes” at the Happiest Place on Earth.

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A tangent on storytelling and Epcot Center by Scott Shindeldecker

A comment on my last blog post regarding music and radio got me going off on a tangent today.  The comment made mention of Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, which put my brain off and running on a semi-related path.  And I haven’t even had the chance to write up my post on the importance of music in the original Epcot Center, have I?  I can’t remember.  Anyway.

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Invictus Games Orlando 2016 Celebrates Competitors with Electrifying Closing Ceremony

thousands joined almost 500 servicemen and women from around the world to celebrate the conclusion of the Invictus Games Orlando 2016, presented by Jaguar Land Rover, during an electrifying Closing Ceremony. Celebrities, dignitaries, and musical guests joined the competitors and their family and friends at Champion Stadium. For many competitors, the Closing Ceremony was the culmination of years of training and intense dedication to their recovery.

The ceremony was also the final opportunity to cheer on the men and women who have exemplified the true meaning of Invictus. To start, each team paraded across the stage for the Medallion Ceremony.

The medallions, which were given to each competitor by the Invictus Games Foundation, were distributed by Prince Harry; Ken Fisher, Chairman of Invictus Games Orlando 2016; Dr. Jill Biden and Chairman of the Invictus Games Foundation, Sir Keith Mills. Competitors smiled from ear to ear, beaming with excitement as they took a lasting photograph with both Prince Harry and Dr.Jill Biden.

To celebrate four days of competition, world renowned musical artists took the stage to tell their Invictus stories through music.Jordan Smith, Season 9 winner of hit show, The Voice, performed Adele’s, “Set Fire to the Rain,” and accompanied by a gospel choir, sang “Somebody to Love.” Following Smith’s performance, the first nationally recognized wounded warrior band, Vetted, performed “No Man Left Behind.”  American Idol Season 11 winner, Phillip Philips performed, “Gone, Gone, Gone,” among other songs.

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Learn to Draw Dozens of Disney and Pixar Characters in Disney Art Academy

Calling all budding artists and Disney fans! In the Disney Art Academy game, launching exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems on May 13, you can use a wide variety of tools to learn to draw more than 80 Disney and Pixar characters in 2D. By setting your own pace through multiple easy-to-follow lessons, characters like Mickey Mouse, Nemo fromDisney Pixar Finding Nemo, Elsa from Disney Frozen, Buzz Lightyear from Disney Pixar Toy Story and Simba from Disney The Lion King come to life on your Nintendo 3DS screen.

“Even if you don’t consider yourself an artist, you will be surprised by what you can create in Disney Art Academy,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “The game uses fun lessons to teach drawing skills to artists of all ages and skill levels.”

In Disney Art Academy, Disney and Pixar characters can be sketched or painted in many different ways. Using nine art tools like pastels, paintbrushes or markers, you can discover your inner artist by participating in lessons inspired by Disney art and animation. These art lessons are absolutely intuitive and, most importantly, fun! Each lesson guides you through a step-by-step progression to draw a single character. What starts as a series of lines and shapes will gradually evolve into a familiar character using your new art skills! If you ever want to take a break, lessons can easily be saved to continue from the same spot at a later time.

You can even add some extra flair with the Magic Brush, a new addition to the Art Academy series. With the Magic Brush, magical additions like stars, bubbles, and glitter can be added to your masterpieces – all easily accessed by using the touch screen on Nintendo 3DS.

As your art skills improve and you create more and more Disney and Pixar characters, you may very well want to share your creations with others. That can easily be accomplished directly in the game by connecting to the Internet and sharing through Miiverse or social media via Image Share. Completed artwork is also saved to the Nintendo 3DS system’s SD card, allowing you to upload your creations to a personal computer and print them out. Refrigerators around the country are about to get a lot more colorful (and a lot more magical!) once families start printing their favorite drawings.

If you want to create outside the game’s numerous lessons you’re in luck, as Disney Art Academy includes a Free Paint mode that lets you draw even more characters any way you choose. In Free Paint, you can put your newly learned skills to the test by drawing on a blank canvas, or you can select from more than 80 Disney images to use as reference as you add to your virtual gallery. All completed artwork can be viewed at any time in the game’s Clubhouse, where you can also select your favorite pieces to be viewed in a personal showcase slideshow.

Disney Art Academy launches on May 13, and can be purchased in stores, in Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS and at Nintendo.com at a suggested retail price of $29.99. For more information about the game, visit http://artacademy.nintendo.com/disney/.

Remember that Nintendo 3DS features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.

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One Of Infinity War’s Writers May Have Just Accidentally Confirmed A Guardians Of The Galaxy Appearance

Who knew that the weirdest characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe would go on to become some of the most endearing? James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy blew audiences away two years ago, and we’ve clamored for their return ever since. We know that a sequel to Guardians will hit theaters next year…

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Life in the Magic Kingdom: Disney’s Golden Oak Resort Community Expands

What’s more exclusive than living inside the Magic Kingdom? Disney’s Golden Oak community, an upscale residential and resort community within the boundaries of Florida’s Disney World, offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to those willing to put down millions for a custom home. It’s quaint, quiet, and three miles from the Magic Kingdom.

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Prince Harry Makes Private Visit to Disney World

Prince Harry returned to Walt Disney World Tuesday on a private visit nearly 22 years after he visited the theme park with his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

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