Follow the history of Marvel Comics from the birth of the Marvel Universe into an age of expansion! Featuring the Avengers, Spider-Man, Thor, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, the X-Men, Black Widow, Daredevil, Black Panther, Ghost Rider, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and many more!
Halloween season has returned to Disney Parks. Disney Parks’ Merchandise Communications Manager, Steven Miller, visited Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort to check out some of his favorite Disney Halloween items. You can find select items by visiting the Disney Store online: http://di.sn/gp2
They’re soft, cuddly and adorable, and they’re making kids go gaga. No, the Beanie Babies from the ’90s haven’t made a comeback, but Disney’s new Tsum Tsum are inspiring a similar craze. Tsum Tsum are plush, bean-stuffed Disney characters inspired by a popular smartphone app of the same name in which players need to match similar icons to score points (think Candy Crush, or Bejeweled).
Villains Unleashed, a mischievously fun after-hours event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The special ticket event featured appearances by more than 50 Disney villains, dance parties, meet-and-greet opportunities, Oogie Boogie’s Freaky Funhouse Show, “Villainy in the Sky” Fireworks and more.
Now that Disney Infinity has announced various Marvel characters for its second generation release next month, some people might be wondering when Disney’s other massive movie franchise — the one with lightsabers, wookiees and stormtroopers — might be added to the video game that already allows players to mix and match characters from its animated movies, Pirates of the Caribbean series and The Lone Ranger, among other properties. The answer, apparently, is “next year.”
This past weekend we had the opportunity to attend WIZARD WORLD CHICAGO COMIC CON at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. To begin, the location is terrific. The venue is literally right off the interstate across from O’Hare International Airport. (There are some toll fees to exit so be prepared with some change.) Once we exited, it was merely a few blocks to reach the parking deck. I knew we were in for a great experience because it was packed. It took some maneuvering and some patience, but we finally got a spot and were ready to roll. Our teenage daughter came with us and was ready to do some serious CosPlaying. She went the Anime route this time (Ouran HighSchool Host Club), but pretty much anything goes.
As we approached the main entrance, we saw people representing Doctor Who, Star Trek, Star Wars, Marvel superheroes, The Walking Dead “walkers” and main characters, Jake and Finn from Adventure Time, SpongeBob, Ghostbusters, Transformers, and more. The list could go on and on. My favorite was “Carl” from The Walking Dead who was carrying around a huge can of pudding. (If you do not watch the show, that will make no sense to you, but believe me it was outstanding). I also loved the guy dressed like the Rick Moranis character in Ghostbusters. So clever! I actually felt pretty simple in my t-shirt and shorts. It is clear from the first few moments that we found “our people.” Others may think Comic Cons are nerdy or for weirdoes who dress up, but if we judge it by the crowds, this Comic Con would outnumber many of the largest sports and music events in the country. Clearly there is something pretty cool going on here. After doing some people watching we stopped by the official merchandise booth and picked up some t-shirts, a sticker for our van travel topper, and a koozie (Herds of Nerds!). The prices were reasonable and the selection was good.
Security did a quick scan for our passes and we were in the main hall. WOW! There was awesomeness as far as the eye could see. We did our best to stay the course and go row by row in an orderly route, but with so much cool stuff to check out, we ended up doing some twisting and turning and double- backing. It was so worth it. We took photos with other CosPlayers, saw incredible artwork, met some up and coming authors, and spent some cash. The trick is to try not to spend it all in the first five minutes! In other parts of the venue there are opportunities to attend panel discussions on all sorts of topics. There was also a horror film festival throughout the weekend. Celebrities appear at various times for autograph and photo sessions. These often included an extra cost so if you plan to attend next year, start saving up now for your favorites like Stan Lee, William Shatner, Matt Smith, Norman Reedus, Dave Bautista, and John Cena.
WIZARD WORLD CHICAGO COMIC CON is so much more than just a bunch of stereotypical nerds hanging out together. It is an experience for all walks of life. It is a chance to become someone else for the day,and have strangers ask to take a selfie with you because your CosPlay is so amazing. It is the opportunity to view outstanding fan art and original characters. It is something that you might not understand at first, but then come to respect and love. Comic Cons can bring people together who may not always fit in with the “norm” at work or the “populars” at school. Comic Cons have taught our artsy daughter that it is ok to be yourself and to march to your own beat. WIZARD WORLD CHICAGO COMIC CON is an event that both young and old, rich and poor, cool and geeky can all share some pretty amazing moments. Check one out in your area. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
For the third year in a row, D23 will hit the road with D23 Disney Fanniversary Celebration presented by Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection, visiting cities across the U.S. to commemorate dozens of magical Disney milestones celebrating landmark anniversaries this year.
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS TO THE D23 FANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION IN CHICAGO SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
Hosted by Disney archivists and the D23 Team, Fanniversary 2014 will revisit beloved theme park attractions, animated and live-action films, characters, TV series, and more than 90 years of Disney history including Donald Duck, the 1964-65 New York Worlds Fair, Sleeping Beauty, Haunted Mansion, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, The Little Mermaid, and many more. The event, which runs approximately 105 minutes, will also feature the never-before-heard track “Evil Evil” from Walt Disney Record’s The Legacy Collection Sleeping Beauty and a demo recording from Walt Disney Record’s The Legacy Collection The Little Mermaid. Fanniversary events will be open to the public, with special admission prices for D23 Members in attendance.
In addition, following each show, two rare items from the Walt Disney Archives will be on display for guests to see and photograph:
•A hat worn by Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins recently discovered by the Walt Disney Archives. This black straw hat with faux cherries and flower blossoms was featured in the film as part of Mary’s instantly recognizable “traveling costume.”
•A “Duckster” award. Created 1952, this rare, bronze-colored award in the image of Donald Duck, honored those who had been of service to Disney over the years. Notable recipients include Clarence Nash (the original voice of Donald Duck) and Donald Duck comic artist Carl Barks. Roy Disney even presented one to Walt Disney, who proudly displayed it in his office.
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS TO THE D23 FANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION IN CHICAGO SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
NOTE
Available only to D23 Members in good standing. Members may reserve a ticket for themselves and one (1) guest. There are a limited number of tickets available. Ticketed members who do not attend the event forfeit their place as well as all experiences, benefits, and gifts associated with the event. If you wish to request for sign language interpreting services for this event, please submit your request to GuestRelations@D23.com at least two weeks prior to the event date. All D23 Special Events are subject to change without notice. There are no cancellations or refunds, tickets are not transferrable.
When Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue launched on June 30, 1974, the high-energy dinner show at Pioneer Hall at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground was created in the heyday of dinner theaters for Walt Disney World guests with a summer college intern cast. The foot-stompin’, hand-clappin’ musical starred six young actors and offered endless buckets of fried chicken and ribs.
“Hoop-Dee-Doo was upbeat, and guests came for the corny jokes, good food and lots of fun,” said Forrest Bahruth, show director, Disney Parks & Resorts Creative Entertainment and the original choreographer for the dinner show. “Forty years later, the heart is still in it, the energy is still there.”
As that first summer ended and guests were clamoring for more, Walt Disney World Entertainment already was auditioning a full-time cast, and Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue opened as a permanent show on Sept. 5, 1974. Today, it’s one of the country’s longest-running dinner shows and has presented more than 37,000 performances. More than 10.5 million guests have seen the high-spirited show.
And while Hoop-Dee-Doo has been fine-tuned over its 40-year run, the heart of the show never has changed: a slice of Americana, old-fashioned family fun and heaping helpings of good, down- home food. “Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue exemplifies everything that Disney stands for,” said show director Tom Vazzana. “It’s interactive fun for families and stellar entertainment – six performers put on a show that’s 90 minutes of pure enjoyment.”
The first Ant-Man Easter Egg has been spotted, and it is adorable. Mild spoilers ahead! Thanks to ComicsBlog, we have a look at the first ever Ant-Man movie Easter Egg, and it was spotted in the wild.
As soon as Disney Infinity’s development was underway, people at Disney Interactive knew the possibilities. Now, with the slightly clumsily titled Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes (2.0 Edition) (most seem to just call it Disney Infinity 2.0 for shorthand purposes), they and fans are getting their wish upon a star, and will see Marvel’s Avengers, Spider-Man and his amazing friends, and Guardians of the Galaxy come to the endlessly customizable world of Disney Infinity.
