Celebrity Chef Rick Bayless to Open Frontera Fresco Restaurant at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World

Chef Rick Bayless, a six-time James Beard Foundation winner, is bringing Frontera Fresco, his table-service Mexican restaurant concept, to Disney Springs, the new dining, shopping and entertainment district at Walt Disney World Resort.

Opening in Summer 2016, Frontera Fresco will showcase the gourmet Mexican cuisine that has made Chef Bayless a culinary legend.

“I’m thrilled to bring Frontera Fresco to Disney Springs and share my passion for Mexican cuisine with the families who visit Orlando every year,” Bayless said.

The new restaurant will feature authentic Mexican specialties such as hand-crafted tortas, tacos, salads, fresh-made guacamole and classic Mexican braised meat entrees, all prepared from time-honored recipes with natural, locally sourced ingredients. Frontera Fresco also will serve an extensive selection of margaritas, cocktails and craft beers and wine.

“Working with Chef Bayless to bring this fresh dining concept to the new Disney Springs is a joy for us, and we can’t wait for guests to experience it,” said Richard Debler, president and chief executive officer of Vista Springs.

Philadelphia-based Daroff Design is designing the nearly 6,000-square-foot space, which will seat 200 guests. Vista Springs LLC will be the restaurant operator.

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VIDEO – B-Roll & Soundbites: ABC’s “The Chew” at Walt Disney World Resort

B-Roll:

  • Shots of “The Chew” hosts filming the show at Epcot
  • Shots of “The Chew” hosts Carla Hall and Clinton Kelly on Kilimanjaro Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
  • Shots of “The Chew” hosts Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly, Mario Batali and Michael Symon riding Test Track at Epcot

Soundbites:

  • “The Chew” hosts Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly, Mario Batali and Michael Symon

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The Magic of ‘Tangled’ Shine Onstage in Brand-New ‘Tangled: The Musical’ Stage Show Aboard Disney Cruise Line

In November 2015, the endearing characters and captivating music of the animated film “Tangled” will enchant audiences once again, this time as an original stage show spectacular at sea aboard the Disney Magic—the first time the beloved Disney tale has been adapted for the stage.

“Tangled: The Musical” will immerse audiences in Rapunzel’s fairytale world through lavish production numbers and spellbinding music. Three new songs created exclusively for this show by Academy Award-winning composer Alan Menken and Grammy Award-winning lyricist Glenn Slater will bring the story to life onstage.

Elaborate costumes, groundbreaking puppetry and stunning set designs will transform the 977-seat Walt Disney Theatre into a fanciful Bavarian kingdom, immersing audiences in Rapunzel’s world and making them feel a part of her story. Disney assembled an all-star creative team to develop this extravagant production, with a bevy of top-notch theatrical talent joining Menken and Slater.

“Tangled: The Musical” will premiere during the Nov. 11 four-night Bahamian sailing aboard the Disney Magic. The Disney Magic will sail four-night Bahamas and five-night Western Caribbean cruises from Miami beginning Sept. 30 through the new year.

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.

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Disney to Start Direct-to-Consumer Video Service in the U.K.

Walt Disney Co. is introducing its first standalone streaming service, a video and music product in the U.K. that highlights the media company’s effort to reach viewers outside of the traditional cable TV package.

Full Story

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Star Wars lightsaber colors, explained

What lightsaber color would you choose? This chart shows all of the known colors in theStar Wars universe, along with what we know about the characters who typically use them.

Full Story & Chart

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AVENGERS AGE OF ULTRON Digital Movie Review

I have to say I was a little skeptical about the whole digital movie format.  Ok, so I apparently am officially an old person.  Seriously though, I enjoy my large screen, surround sound at-home movie experience.  I decided, however, to give this digital movie a try.  First of all, it was super easy to use on DisneyMoviesAnywhere.com. We already had that on our ipad so all I needed to do was enter a code and unlock my movie, Marvel’s AVENGERS Age of Ultron.  From here I was able to watch the full length film as well as the bonus features.  I am always a sucker for the gag reel and behind-the-scenes footage/interviews with the cast and crew. I spent quite a bit of time just going through the bonus material so don’t skip over that.  Learning about the locations and the many Marvel character connections was really interesting.  It was also amazing to see how the motion-capture technology has improved since the first Avengers movie.  I highly recommend getting the digital copy of Marvel’s AVENGERS Age of Ultron ,especially if you commute on a train, have a flight coming up, or have a Marvel fan in your household. I guess when we visit Walt Disney World this winter I will have to lay claim to our digital devices on the plane so I can kick back and watch Ironman, Thor, Hulk, Hawkeye, and Black Widow protect our planet.

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PHOTOS – WestJet Reveals New, Custom-Painted Aircraft Inspired by Disney’s Frozen

A new, custom-painted Disney “Frozen”-themed plane featuring Anna, Elsa and Olaf from the beloved Disney film just joined the WestJet fleet. Disney artists, cast members and WestJetters collaborated to design the “Frozen”-themed aircraft.

(Oct. 18, 2015): There’s a new aircraft joining the WestJet fleet today. It’s a special, custom-painted Disney “Frozen”-themed plane featuring Anna, Elsa and Olaf from the beloved Disney film. Disney artists, cast members and WestJetters collaborated to design the “Frozen”-themed aircraft. Similar to the earlier Magic Plane, the outside of the aircraft tells a story. While the Disney “Frozen”-themed plane is inspired by Walt Disney World Resort, it will operate flights throughout WestJet’s network, not just to Orlando.

Similar to the earlier Magic Plane, the outside of the aircraft tells a story. On the tail of our aircraft, Anna and Elsa celebrate sisterhood and the magic of snow. From the aircraft tail along the fuselage, the magic travels to warm the front of the aircraft where Olaf can be found enjoying a summer day on the beach. The inside of the plane has a design that matches the outside. In the rear of the aircraft, the overhead bins and headrest covers have a cold theme. As you move towards the middle of the plane, the interior decoration transitions to become warmer, ultimately arriving on a warm, sunny theme at the front of the plane.

(Oct. 18, 2015): There’s a new aircraft joining the WestJet fleet today. It’s a special, custom-painted Disney “Frozen”-themed plane featuring Anna, Elsa and Olaf from the beloved Disney film. Disney artists, cast members and WestJetters collaborated to design the “Frozen”-themed aircraft. Similar to the earlier Magic Plane, the outside of the aircraft tells a story. While the Disney “Frozen”-themed plane is inspired by Walt Disney World Resort, it will operate flights throughout WestJet’s network, not just to Orlando.

While the Disney “Frozen”-themed plane is inspired by Walt Disney World Resort, it will operate flights throughout WestJet’s network, not just to Orlando.

(Oct. 18, 2015): There’s a new aircraft joining the WestJet fleet today. It’s a special, custom-painted Disney “Frozen”-themed plane featuring Anna, Elsa and Olaf from the beloved Disney film. Disney artists, cast members and WestJetters collaborated to design the “Frozen”-themed aircraft. Similar to the earlier Magic Plane, the outside of the aircraft tells a story. While the Disney “Frozen”-themed plane is inspired by Walt Disney World Resort, it will operate flights throughout WestJet’s network, not just to Orlando.

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ENJOY MINNIE’S SEASONAL DINE AT HOLLYWOOD & VINE YEAR-ROUND

We recently told you about Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood & Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®. Now, we’re excited to share that Minnie and friends will continue to host dinner at Hollywood & Vine year-round.

Minnie’s fabulous dinner parties celebrate the cheerful togetherness of the holidays, the glamour of Hollywood, the delight of spring, the excitement of summer and the frightening fun of Halloween. Each season, this dining experience will feature unique music, décor, all-new costumes, menu items and interactive musical moments.

Celebrating the magic of the movies and the glamour of Hollywood, the next seasonal dining experience will take place Jan. 4- March 20, 2016. Reservations open Oct. 27, 2015 and are available by calling 407-WDW-DINE or online at Disneyworld.com/dine.

And, if guests are looking for even more magic, they can add the Fantasmic! Dinner Package to their meal.

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6 questions about Disneyland’s new Star Wars Land

Disney’s announcement of a new Star Wars Land has raised questions, especially with the recent disclosure of plans to temporarily close the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island and the Disneyland Railroad during construction.

Full Story

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PHOTOS – Star Wars: The Force Awakens on the Great Wall of China

“The Force“ is strong in China! The much anticipated “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” debuted its new trailer on the Great Wall of China on the evening of October 20.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens on the Great Wall (PRNewsFoto/The Walt Disney)

Star Wars: The Force Awakens on the Great Wall (PRNewsFoto/The Walt Disney)

The grand campaign entitled “The Force Awakens on the Great Wall” was organized by the Walt Disney Company on the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall of China, bringing together numerous media representatives and fans to experience “The Force.”

Star Wars: The Force Awakens on the Great Wall (PRNewsFoto/The Walt Disney)

Star Wars: The Force Awakens on the Great Wall (PRNewsFoto/The Walt Disney)

The premiere of the official Chinese trailer for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” brought the event to an exciting climax with a spectacular scene. Five hundred iconic Stormtroopers from the Star Wars saga appeared on the wall by surprise, and four Chinese characters, pronounced in English as “yuan,” “li,” “jue,” “xing” and meaning “The Force Awakens,“ shone brightly on top of four beacon towers along the Juyongguan section of the wall. The entire evening’s events brought great cheer and applause from fans, heightening expectations for the global release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” at the end of this year.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens on the Great Wall (PRNewsFoto/The Walt Disney)

Star Wars: The Force Awakens on the Great Wall (PRNewsFoto/The Walt Disney)

Star Wars: The Force Awakens on the Great Wall (PRNewsFoto/The Walt Disney)

Star Wars: The Force Awakens on the Great Wall (PRNewsFoto/The Walt Disney)

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