Adventures by Disney Introduces New Ways to Experience Europe in 2016

Adventures by Disney, a leader in guided group travel worldwide, continues to add remarkable vacation itineraries to their growing portfolio with the introduction of new European vacation itineraries for 2016, including a newly reimagined England and France vacation, as well as additional departure dates for the recently announced all-new Danube river cruise itineraries.

Starting June 10, 2015, adventure-seeking travelers can book an enhanced England and France itinerary for 2016 that now includes even more immersive activities, such as scone making, a dragon “hunt,” a speedboat journey down the River Thames and more.

This newly reimagined England and France itinerary joins the recently announced lineup of European river cruise vacations planned for 2016, which have proved so successful that additional sail dates have now been added. On these exciting new adventures, travelers will sail down the famed Danube River to experience iconic locations and hidden gems in eight destinations across four countries – Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary.

England and France Adventure

The newly enhanced 8-day, 7-night England and France adventure takes travelers to Paris to soak up art and culture in the City of Light, to London to visit the castles and cathedrals that have borne witness to historical moments both famous and infamous, and into the English countryside to enjoy splendor and serenity. From basking in striking scenery to discovering the remarkable culture of these two famous European countries, guests will be in awe of the beauty and authenticity that England and France have to offer.

Newly reimagined elements of this itinerary include:

Tales from a Beefeater at the Tower of London
Speedboat journey down the River Thames
All-new immersive experiences in the English Countryside, including a proper high tea, scone making activity, archery lessons, and an interactive hunt for dragons and knights at Windsor Castle

Danube River Cruise Adventure

The new Adventures by Disney 7-night, 8-day Danube River Cruise itineraries, sailing with AmaWaterways, the travel industry’s premier luxury river cruise line, offer guests the chance to discover the heart of Europe in a way that is active, immersive and easy. Now offering five sailings in the summer of 2016, as well as two holiday themed sailings in December 2016, these river cruises allow travelers to explore castle ruins in Slovakia, sip and savor wine from local vineyards in Austria, climb along a treetop path in Germany and more.

These sailings offer maximum port time in each city, arriving at dawn and departing late night. That means more time for travelers to discover the destination through guided activities and individual exploration for a customizable vacation experience.

Adventures by Disney guests will sail aboard the all-new, 170-passenger AmaViola, a river cruise ship being custom built by AmaWaterways with families in mind. New family-friendly features include specific room configurations, including six sets of connecting staterooms, as well as some rooms and suites that accommodate three- and four-person families, and other exquisite details that allow families to feel luxury and comfort while onboard.

Endless shipboard activities await guests of all ages. From wine tastings, dancing, and an onboard fitness center, along with some of the finest cuisine and services, adults will feel the charm and luxury onboard. Exciting and exclusive activities for Junior Adventures include activity nights, karaoke, movies, video games, relay games, life-size chess and more. Teens will also find activities and themed nights created specifically just for them.

Adventures by Disney exclusive sailings will take place July 7-14, July 14-21, July 21-28, July 28 – Aug. 4 and Aug. 4-11, 2016. Highlights of the 8-day/7-night adventures include:

Tour of Mirabell Gardens and adventures through a salt mine (Austria)
Nighttime Illuminations Cruise (Budapest)
Horse show at Lazar Equestrian Park (Hungary)
Private marionette performance and strudel making demo at Schonbrunn Palace (Austria)
Falconry show at Hohenwerfen castle (Austria)
Oktoberfest event at a local brewery (Germany)
Themed meals and culinary activities, such as interactive goulash and strudel making
Biking in every port

Special holiday themed sailings will depart Dec. 15 and Dec. 22, 2016.

Guests looking for even greater immersion into local culture can add an Adventures by Disney 3-day/2-night pre- or post-stay experience in Prague, Czech Republic, that includes a variety of additional active experiences.

These new itineraries join a lineup of more than 30 other Adventures by Disney vacations around the globe. From exploring storybook villages on the Austria, Germany & Czech Republic vacation, to visiting the sites that inspired films such Frozen and Brave on the Norway and Scotland itineraries, there is a trip for everyone.

On every Adventures by Disney vacation, specially trained Adventure Guides, along with local experts, ensure that every detail of the vacation is expertly taken care of, allowing guests to create everlasting memories without the stress of planning.

For more details and to book reservations, call 1-800-543-0865 or contact a travel agent. For more information on the itineraries offered and activities included on an Adventures by Disney vacation, visit AdventuresByDisney.com.

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Hollywood Icon Burt Reynolds To Attend Wizard World Comic Con Chicago, Saturday, August 22

Burt Reynolds, film and TV star and sex symbol for decades, will make his second Wizard World Comic Con appearance when he appears at Wizard World Comic Con Chicago at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center on Saturday, August 22, Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD) announced today. One of the all-time Hollywood greats, Reynolds has starred in dozens of popular films and TV series, making him one of the most recognizable entertainment figures of the past half-century.

Reynolds, 79, had his breakout role opposite Jon Voight in 1972’s Deliverance, followed by a string of blockbuster hits that included The Longest Yard, Smokey and the Bandit, Cannonball Run and Boogie Nights , for which he earned an Oscar nomination. He also earned acclaim—two Golden Globes and a Primetime Emmy—for his performance as the lead in the ‘90s comedy series “Evening Shade.” He is also a best-selling author, as his 1994 autobiography My Life reached the New York Times list.

A noted humanitarian, Reynolds received the prestigious “Children at Heart Award” for his humanitarian efforts benefiting and aiding the children of Chernobyl among numerous other causes.

He was a big hit at his first Wizard World show in Philadelphia in May.

Reynolds joins an all-star celebrity lineup at Wizard World’s largest and longest-running show, August 20-23, which also includes Norman Reedus (“The Walking Dead,” Boondock Saints), Nathan Fillion (Serenity, “Castle”), Stephen Amell (“Arrow”), Billie Piper (“Doctor Who”), David Morrissey (“The Walking Dead,” “The Reaping”), Ben McKenzie, (“Gotham,” “The O.C.”), Bruce Campbell (The Evil Dead , “Burn Notice”) and WWE® Superstar Undertaker®, Randy Orton ®, Sting™, Daniel Bryan ® and Diva Paige™and dozens of others.

Wizard World Comic Con events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, cosplay, comics, television, sci-fi, toys, video gaming, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. The 15th of 26 events currently scheduled on the 2015 Wizard World calendar, Chicago show hours are Thursday, August 20, 3-8 p.m.; Friday, August 21, 12-7 p.m.; Saturday, August 22, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, August 22, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Wizard World Comic Con Chicago, the Midwest’s largest pop culture convention, is also the place for cosplay, with fans young and old showing off their best costumes throughout the event. Fans dressed as every imaginable character – and some never before dreamed – will roam the convention floor and participate in the famed Wizard World Costume Contest on Saturday night.

For more on the 2015 Wizard World Comic Con Chicago, visit www.wizardworld.com/home-chicago.html .

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Here’s How Much Disney Could Lose on Tomorrowland

If ever there was a studio that could withstand a serious stumble, it’s Disney, home of Lucasfilm, Marvel, Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. And stumble it has with Tomorrowland, the Brad Bird-directed fantasy adventure.

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BROADWAY’S BEST LIGHT UP D23 EXPO WITH EXCLUSIVE CONCERTS

Following the incredibly warm and rousing reception from D23 EXPO fans in 2013, Disney Theatrical Productions is thrilled to announce a new concert presented exclusively for this year’s D23 EXPO at the Anaheim Convention Center entitled Disney on Broadway’s “THE ORIGINALS.” In anticipation of high fan-demand, two performances of the concert will be presented on Saturday, August 15^th at 11am and at 2pm in Stage 23.

Disney on Broadway’s “THE ORIGINALS” stars Broadway’s original “Mary Poppins” (Ashley Brown), “Tarzan” (Josh Strickland) and “Genie” (James Monroe Iglehart) from Aladdin. The “originals” will entertain and delight D23 EXPO attendees by performing favorite musical highlights from the Disney on Broadway catalogue. Tony Award®-winner James Monroe Iglehart will also serve as host for this 70-minute, live performance that features a five-piece band of Broadway’s best musicians with special behind-the-scenes videos and interviews that promise to enthrall Disney on Broadway fans of all ages.

Ashley Brown originated the title role in Mary Poppins on Broadway for which she received Outer Critics, Drama League and Drama Desk nominations for Best Actress. Ms. Brown also starred as Mary Poppins in the national tour of Mary Poppins where she garnered a Garland award for “Best Performance in a Musical”. Ms. Brown’s other Broadway credits include Belle in Beauty and the Beast, and she has starred in the national tour of Disney’s On The Record. Ms. Brown recently returned to critical acclaim starring in the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of Oklahoma. She previously played Magnolia opposite Nathan Gunn in Francesca Zembello’s Show Boat at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Ms. Brown has performed with virtually all of the top orchestras in North America including the Boston Pops, the New York Philharmonic, The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra at Disney Hall, the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall (four times), the Cincinnati Pops and the Philadelphia Orchestra (two times). Ashley starred in The Sound of Music at the St. Louis MUNY which garnered her a Kevin Kline award and her own PBS special called “Ashley Brown: Call Me Irresponsible” which received a PBS Telly Award. Other television credits include NBC’s The Sound of Music. Ms. Brown’s long-awaited album of Broadway and American Songbook standards is available on Ghostlight/Sony. Ashley is a graduate of the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.

Josh Strickland is a native of Charleston, South Carolina. In 2006, Strickland created the leading role of Tarzan in Disney’s Tarzan on Broadway. In 2009, he made his starring Las Vegas debut in PEEPSHOW at Planet Hollywood Casino & Resort while concurrently co-starring in the hit E! reality show Holly’s World. Strickland debuted his first single “Report to the Floor”, which skyrocketed to the top five on the iTunes Dance Charts the first week of its release, followed by “Last Dance”. Mr. Strickland is currently starring in Vegas! the Show at the Planet Hollywood Casino & Resort in Las Vegas.

James Monroe Iglehart won a 2014 Tony Award® for his performance in Aladdin. He originated the role of Bobby in the Tony-winning musical Memphis. Other NYC: The 25th Annual…Spelling Bee and The Wiz. Film/TV: “Gotham”, “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmitt”, “The Good Wife” and “The Electric Company” (the Silent E Soloist). James is a member of the hip-hop improv group Freestyle Love Supreme. His greatest gift is his wife, Dawn. This is an absolute blessing — a real-life wish come true!

Tickets for D23 EXPO 2015 are available at a discounted price for a limited time. Through June 30, 2015, tickets are $67 for a one-day adult admission and $48 for children 3–12. Tickets for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club are $58 for a one-day adult admission and $42 for children. Multi-day money-saving tickets are also available. D23 Members can save as much as $188 off the price of admission, based on the purchase of four three-day tickets at the D23 Member rate. For more information on tickets and the ticket pricing structure for D23 Members and general admission, visit D23EXPO.com.

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Sneak peek: ‘Zootopia’ pairs unlikely pals

It’s a jungle out there in the wild animated landscape of Zootopia.

Blending the anthropomorphism of classic cartoons such as Robin Hood with the buddy comedy vibe of 48 Hrs., the Disney movie (in theaters March 4, 2016)

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Walt Disney World Resort Offers Guests Magical Fishing Opportunities

World-class theme parks, resort hotels and attractions are not the only reasons for visiting Walt Disney World Resort. There’s fishing, too, with largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and catfish swimming in lakes and canals almost within casting distance of some of Disney’s most iconic landmarks.

From true beginners to expert anglers, thousands of Walt Disney World guests annually participate in fishing excursions sponsored by Take Me Fishing, the nation’s preeminent authority on the sport of fishing. Guests can venture onto any of Disney’s four lakes – Bay Lake, Seven Seas Lagoon, Lake Buena Vista and Crescent Lake – via marinas located at nine resorts across property. Popular catch-and-release excursions can provide guests with an unrivaled view of Cinderella Castle and Spaceship Earth, or they can take guests away from the theme parks for a unique opportunity to experience the natural wilderness that surrounds Walt Disney World Resort.

During construction of the Magic Kingdom theme park in the late 1960s, more than 70,000 bass fingerlings were released into Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon. Organized fishing tours didn’t start at Walt Disney World Resort until 1977, leaving bass to grow and breed undisturbed for years. Most trips catch five to 10 fish, usually weighing in around two pounds, depending upon time of day, number of people on board and, of course, luck.

Two- and four-hour catch-and-release tours led by experienced fishing guides are offered daily on an advance-reservation basis year round. Guests can choose from the Guided Bass Fishing Excursions, which include a 21-foot SunTracker pontoon boat that can accommodate up to five guests, and Bass Nitro Fishing, which features a tournament-style Nitro Bass boat for one or two people. Both boats are fully equipped with rods, reels, fishing gear and beverages. Take Me Fishing excursions provide guests with access to world-class equipment like Castaway Rods & Wave Spin Reels, as well as boats outfitted with Lowrance depth finders, Power-Poles and other professional-grade fishing equipment.

In addition to having access to some of the industry’s best equipment, exceptional guides and Disney’s well-managed lakes, all Take Me Fishing excursion participants at Walt Disney World Resort receive a one-year BASS membership, which includes 11 issues of Bassmaster magazine and other special discounts and benefits.

Guests looking to experience something a little closer to their resort can take advantage of the dockside fishing opportunities at Disney by renting casting-rod fishing gear from the Bike Barn at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground or opting for traditional cane-pole fishing at the Fishin’ Hole at Old Man Island at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside.

Reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance by calling 407-WDW-BASS.

For more information about the fishing opportunities at Walt Disney World Resort, visit www.disneysportsnews.com.

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Video – Evolution of Disney by Todrick Hall

Check out this video featuring the Evolution of Disney through songs performed by Todrick Hall.

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DISNEY CHANNEL, DISNEY XD, AND DISNEY JUNIOR STARS IN-PERSON AT DISNEY’S D23 EXPO

Fans can meet their favorite Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior stars, the biggest among a generation of kids and tweens, at D23 EXPO, the ultimate Disney fan event, FRIDAY, AUGUST 14 through SUNDAY, AUGUST 16, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. The schedule features “inside-the-magic” experiences including a weekend full of jam-packed Center Stage musical performances by Hollywood Records recording artists Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Holt and Radio Disney’s NBT Bea Miller; a dance party with stars from the Disney Channel Original Movie Teen Beach 2; a sneak peek at Disney Junior’s upcoming The Lion Guard; meet and greets with beloved characters from top-rated preschool series Sofia the First and Doc McStuffins; the premiere of an all-new Mickey Mouse cartoon short and more.

On FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, fans can attend a performance by Disney Channel star Olivia Holt.

On SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, Sofia the First’s Ariel Winter will be a special reader during Disney Junior story time. Plus, fans can catch performances by Girl Meets World star Sabrina Carpenter, Disney’s Descendants stars Dove Cameron and Sofia Carson, and Radio Disney’s NBT Bea Miller. Also, popular radio personalities from Radio Disney will be on site for a Radio Disney dance party. Then, fans can join creators of hit Disney XD animation series for the New Disney Storytellers panel, which will offer a glimpse into the vision and inspiration that go into a Disney XD animated series.

On SUNDAY, AUGUST 16, younger kids and their families can start off with Disney Junior story time featuring special guest reader Loretta Devine from Doc McStuffins, and then get up and groove with Radio Disney Junior at a special dance party. Later in the day, tweens, teens, and families can catch the debut of an all-new Mickey Mouse cartoon short entitled “Wishing Well,” then boogie at a Teen Beach 2 dance party, featuring stars from the movie and its choreographer, Chris Scott.

*Schedule is subject to change.

Throughout the three-day event, Radio Disney on-air personalities will be hosting electrifying Center Stage performances and events, while casts from fans’ favorite Disney Channel and Disney XD series and movies will be making special appearances and signing autographs in the Disney | ABC TV Pavilion. They include fans’ favorite stars from Disney Channel’s Descendants, Teen Beach 2, Liv and Maddie, Jessie, Dog With A Blog, I Didn’t Do It, Girl Meets World, K.C. Undercover, Austin & Ally, BUNK’D, and Best Friends Whenever as well as Disney XD’s Lab Rats: Bionic Island, Mighty Med, Kirby Buckets, and Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything.

Tickets for D23 EXPO 2015 are available at a discounted price for a limited time. Now through June 30, 2015, tickets are $67 for one-day adult admission and $48 for children 3–12. Tickets for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club are $58 for one-day adult admission and $42 for children. Multi-day money-saving tickets are also available. D23 Members can save as much as $188 off the price of admission, based on the purchase of four three-day tickets at the D23 Member rate. For more information on tickets and the ticket pricing structure for D23 Members and general admission, visit D23EXPO.com.

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