The magical worlds inhabited by Disney characters have inspired children for generations, but did you know that the creative teams behind these visions were often themselves inspired by authentic villages, castles, and vistas? We took a journey through the Disney film archives, matching up enchanting fairy tales with their real-world locations.
New Graphic MagicBands Coming to Walt Disney World Resort
Beginning January 2015, guests can add a little “character” to their Walt Disney World® Resort vacation experience with a variety of new graphic MagicBands.
Guests can choose from the following options:
- Ariel and Cinderella Castle (available Jan. 16, 2015)
- Belle (available Jan. 23, 2015)
- Tinkerbell and Toy Story (available Jan. 30, 2015)
These open edition MagicBands will be available at select merchandise locations at Walt Disney World Theme Parks, as well as at Downtown Disney®. The MagicBands retail for $19.95 and will be sold in the new, standard retail packaging.
2015 Epcot Food & Wine Festival Dates Announced
The 2015 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will begin on September 23 and end November 16. More details will be provided as we receive them.
Disney Stakes Claim as U.S. Leader in ‘Toys to Life’ Games
Walt Disney Co. (DIS) said its Infinity video game for kids outsold a key title from competitor Activision Blizzard Inc. (ATVI), the company that invented the combination toy-and-video-game category.
Disney filing permits for more Avatar work at Animal Kingdom?
Walt Disney World may have filed some new paperwork with Orange County about its Avatar expansion at Animal Kingdom.
Inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend Blasts Off at Disneyland Resort
More than 23,000 runners from across the United States and 17 different countries are trekking to a galaxy far, far away for the debut of the Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend presented by Sierra Nevada Corporation at the Disneyland Resort this weekend. The new Star Wars-themed runDisney event will involve kids’ races, a 5K, a 10K and half marathon, plus several family-friendly events such as the Health & Fitness Expo and the Star Wars Wookiee Welcome Party.
Among the runners are LA-area military veterans Sandra Greenman and Jose Romero, who each struggled in their separate returns to civilian life, losing their jobs and their homes because of various addictions. Both were forced to live on the mean streets of metro Los Angeles, Sandra living out of her car starting in 2012 and Jose on the streets in 2013. But last year they became involved in the “Back On My Feet” program, the race weekend’s official charity which helps LA-area homeless people achieve independent living through running. Program participants run together three to four times a week at 5:30 am. As a result of the running program, both are beginning to live independently again, Sandra working in a government IT position and Jose off the streets and into his own apartment. Sandra and Jose, along with other program participants, are continuing their personal life development and training at the inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend at Disneyland Resort.
Weekend Events
Star Wars Half Marathon │ Sunday, Jan. 18, 5:30 a.m.
Star Wars 10K │ Saturday, Jan. 17, 5:30 a.m.
Star Wars 5K │ Friday, Jan. 16, 5:30 a.m.
runDisney Kids Races │ Saturday, Jan. 17, 9 a.m.
Star Wars Wookiee Welcome Party │ Thursday, Jan. 15, 9:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Disney CEO Iger’s gets larger bonus, and compensation climbs 27 percent to $43.7M in 2014
Disney Chairman and CEO Robert Iger’s compensation jumped to $43.7 million in 2014 as the company had a blockbuster year.
Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy Awesome Mix Vol. 1 Soundtrack Is Certified Platinum
Marvel Music and Hollywood Records’ Grammy®-nominated Guardians of the Galaxy Awesome Mix Vol. 1 soundtrack has certified Platinum by the R.I.A.A., selling over 1,000,000 copies. The album was No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in its second and third weeks of release, for the weeks ending Aug. 10 and Aug. 17. The album also peaked at No. 1 on iTunes in 60 territories.
One of the biggest films of 2014, Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” has earned over $773 million worldwide, including $333 million in North America. “Guardians of the Galaxy” opened domestically August 1 with $94.3 million to become the biggest August debut of all time and ultimately the biggest August release ever. After becoming the 10th straight Marvel Studios film to open at #1, “Guardians of the Galaxy” occupied the top spot domestically for four of its first six weekends in release.
The vinyl edition of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Deluxe soundtrack, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Awesome Mix Vol. 1, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Deluxe, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy digital score soundtrack are available wherever music is sold. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is now available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD.
‘Frozen’s’ Idina Menzel To Sing The National Anthem At Super Bowl XLIX On NBC
IDINA MENZEL will sing the National Anthem and JOHN LEGEND will sing “America The Beautiful” as part of Super Bowl XLIX pregame festivities at University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona on Sunday, February 1, the NFL and NBC announced today. The performances will be televised live on NBC prior to kickoff.
More than 112.2 million viewers in the U.S. watched last year’s Super Bowl, the most-watched television program in history. The pregame show, including the National Anthem and “America The Beautiful,” and Super Bowl XLIX will be broadcast worldwide.
In addition, actress TRESHELLE EDMOND will perform in American Sign Language the National Anthem and “America The Beautiful.”
Menzel will make her Super Bowl debut. She is among many great performers who have been honored with singing the Super Bowl National Anthem including: Renee Fleming, Alicia Keys, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Neil Diamond, Whitney Houston, Harry Connick, Jr., Garth Brooks, Natalie Cole, Vanessa Williams, Luther Vandross, Cher, Faith Hill, Mariah Carey, Dixie Chicks, Beyonce Knowles, Christina Aguilera and many more. (See below for a complete list of National Anthem performers from past Super Bowls.)
Legend joins VICKI CARR (Super Bowl XI), RAY CHARLES (Super Bowl XXXV), MARY J. BLIGE & MARC ANTHONY (Super Bowl XXXVI), ALICIA KEYS (Super Bowl XXXIX), FAITH HILL (Super Bowl XLIII), QUEEN LATIFAH (Super Bowl XLIV & XLVIII) and LEA MICHELE (Super Bowl XLVI) in singing “America The Beautiful” at Super Bowl. In 2013, JENNIFER HUDSON along with 26 children from the Newton, CT community sang the song in advance of Super Bowl XLVII.
The NFL previously announced that KATY PERRY will headline the Pepsi Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show. The pregame and halftime shows are an NFL NETWORK PRODUCTION and will be executive produced by RICKY KIRSHNER.
The Walt Disney Family Museum to receive Special Achievement Award at the 42nd Annie Awards
he International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, will be honoring The Walt Disney Family Museum at the 42nd Annie Awards™ with a Special Achievement Award for its unique and significant impact on the art and industry of animation. Ron Miller—Walt Disney’s son-in-law and the president of The Walt Disney Family Museum’s Board of Directors—will be attending the award ceremony to receive the honor.
The Annie Awards ceremony will take place at UCLA’s Royce Hall on Saturday, January 31, 2015, and can be viewed online at annieawards.org/watch-it-live.
