Following accusations of Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man committing a #JanetVanCrime by not including fan-favorite character The Wasp, director Peyton Reed has confirmed that not every important woman connected with the character has been lost in the transition from page to screen.
There are no two ways about it: James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy turned out to be an absolutely massive hit. Not only did it earn some of the best reviews of 2014 so far, it also turned out to be massively popular with movie-goers and a box office smash.
Walt Disney looking back on the day he arrived in California, with a cardboard suitcase: “It was July 1923 … With that wonderful audacity of youth, I went to Hollywood, arriving there with just $40. It was a big day, the day I got on that Santa Fe California Limited. I was just free and happy.”
Overview: Buena Vista Street opened June 15, 2012, as part of a five-year expansion of Disney California Adventure Park. It depicts a typical Los Angeles neighborhood where a young Walt Disney lived and worked after arriving in Southern California in 1923. This idyllic version of the City of Angels is captured with quaint “mom-and-pop” shops and markets, a big city department store and corner cafe. The two Red Car Trolleys providing transportation up and down the boulevard are a nostalgic reminder of Los Angeles in the 1920s and 1930s. The architecture draws on Los Angeles Spanish/Mexican roots, inspired by actual buildings of greater Los Angeles.
Don’t miss: The entrance to the park is a nod to the old Pan Pacific Auditorium, an L.A. landmark built in the 1930s. Carthay Circle Theatre, the iconic center of Disney California Adventure, honors the place where Walt premiered his first feature-length animation “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” in 1937. The Red Car Trolley, inspired by the “Big Red Cars” of the Pacific Electric Railway, provides service between Buena Vista Street and Hollywood Land. On Cathay Circle guests often pose for photos at “Storytellers,” a bronze statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse. It reflects the beginning of a great partnership between the two; a time of great hope and boundless optimism in the life of the up-and-coming filmmaker and his famous creation.
Has Disney stumbled across the new Beanie Baby?
Last month, a smattering of Disney Stores started selling a pellet-filled toy the size of a Twinkie. Priced at $4.95 apiece, the little oblong blobs, called Tsum Tsum, look like various Disney characters and are intended to be purchased in groups and stacked like firewood. (Tsum, pronounced tsoom, translates as “stack” in Japanese, according to Disney.)
Now that “Guardians of the Galaxy” has smashed the August record for an opening weekend at the U.S. box office, it’s safe to say Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS ) has another franchise ripe for development.
As a well known Disney addict in my circle of family and friends, I often get strange looks when I tell people that I don’t love Walt Disney World for its attractions. Sure, I race with the rest of the crazies at rope drop to get that amazing early morning ride on Seven Dwarves Mine Train or Soarin’. And yes, I obsess 60 days out to pick just the right fastpass+ options to optimize my time in the parks and to give me the ability to enjoy as much Disney magic as I can squeeze into a 16 hour park day. I, like other WDW park frequent fliers, can get caught up in commando touring- trying to pack in every ounce of magic that I possibly can before my body betrays me and I have to sleep. However, upon reflection at the end of each Walt Disney World visit, I find that the memories that I treasure the most are not from the attractions, but from the moments in between. These include fun or touching cast member interactions, peeks “behind the curtain”, unplanned periods of relaxation, and glimpses into the way that Disney magic brings joy into the hearts of others both young and old. As any good Disney theme park fan does, I keep an extensive Disney Bucket list. I noticed recently that the items on my list are not attractions, but instead are special experiences (both free and fee) that bring me such Disney joy. Recently, I had the chance to check one of these magical experiences off of my bucket list: the Untamed Lunch with an Animal Specialist at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.
The Untamed Lunch with an Animal Specialist at the Animal Kingdom Lodge is held at Kidani Village in its beautiful restaurant, Sanaa, on Wednesdays and Saturdays at noon (lasting 90 minutes). This special dining experience has a fee of $50 for lunch with a small group of attendees and an Animal Specialist from the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The attendees also get the opportunity to get an up close and personal introduction to one of the tortoises living there at Kidani Village after the amazing lunch.
When arriving at Sanaa, I was led to our table after a short wait, which was in an unpopulated area of the restaurant with a great view of the savannah. I was introduced to my fellow lunch companions (a family of 3), the wait staff, and the 2 Animal Specialists- yes, 2! Chris was the veteran Animal Specialist, and he was training Jessie, who had only been a cast member at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for a few weeks. As a solo traveler, this lunch was a wonderful way to experience a delicious and unique dining situation without feeling the awkwardness of sitting alone. The dishes that we would be enjoying were described in detail, including the cooking methods, and the fun began! Immediately, the Animal Specialists put us all at ease, by giving extensive personal introductions and asking us to give brief introductions of ourselves.
As the introductions progressed, our first course arrived.. and yes, it was the notorious Sanaa bread service! If you have never had the opportunity to experience this, it is a delight- and as good as everyone says. There are 3 types of bread offered with 9 different sauces, ranging from sweet and cool to very spicy (I tried the first 6 of the 9…). After the bread service, we were served 3 different cold salads: a watermelon cucumber salad, a chickpea salad, and a tomato salad. Let me say this here- don’t be scared off by the style of cuisine at Sanaa. I am a reasonably picky eater and loved all of the food offered! The entrees were a butter chicken and a shrimp in green curry sauce with basmati rice. I do not eat shrimp, and the chef was very accommodating, offering me a serving of short ribs instead of the shrimp. The dessert trio topped off the very filling, delicious meal perfectly!
During the entirety of the meal, Chris and Jessie described what their daily responsibilities with the animals entailed. They took turns sharing interesting information about what it takes to care for the animals at the Animal Kingdom Lodge around the clock (there is no “closing time” for them!). They detailed how the animals were monitored, fed, kept safe, moved from the savannah to the barn (for only a few hours each day), and received veterinary care. The importance of the breeding program was another very interesting topic. I especially loved their stories about individual animals’ personalities, and funny happenings around the savannah (like stolen candy from the golf cart!). Chris and Jessie also encouraged us to ask questions throughout, which led to us learning some fun facts that they might not have thought to share otherwise. Both Animal Specialists were great speakers and delightful lunch companions!
After lunch, we headed outside to meet one of the resident radiated tortoises (I can’t believe I have forgotten his name..but I do know that he is named after one of the chefs at Sanaa!). Chris and Jessie gave us great information about the radiated tortoise and we were given ample opportunities for photos of our new friend.
All in all, this was a remarkable educational dining experience. When participating in these types of “additional fee” experiences, I always ask myself, “is it worth the time/money spent away from the parks?” The answer in the case of the Untamed Lunch is a resounding “YES”! Between the delicious (and large) lunch, the totally unique setting, the educational opportunity, and the intimate exposure to the animal keepers of the Animal Kingdom Lodge, I would highly recommend this experience in a heartbeat. It was well worth its cost and time commitment (and as a bonus, a portion of the cost goes to the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund) . The Untamed Lunch with an Animal Specialist is right at the top of my all-time favorite Walt Disney World experiences. Looks like I cross off one more item from my ever-growing Disney bucket list!
Disney Channel has ordered a second season of the comedy series “Girl Meets World.” It was announced today by Adam Bonnett, Executive Vice President, Original Programming, Disney Channels Worldwide. Since its June premiere, “Girl Meets World” has ranked as television’s number one series among Kids 2-11, Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14. To date, it has generated 4.7 million views on the WATCH Disney Channel app for mobile devices. “Girl Meets World” was created by Michael Jacobs and April Kelly and is executive-produced by Jacobs. It stars Rowan Blanchard, Sabrina Carpenter, Ben Savage, Danielle Fishel, August Maturo, Peyton Meyer and Corey Fogelmanis. Production resumes in Los Angeles in November.
Disney Parks Blog author Steven Miller caught up with Cody Reynolds, Creative Design Manager with Disney Design Group, to talk about the new art program called “Haunted Mansion Authentic” that was designed especially for Disney Theme Park Merchandise.
As teachers across Central Florida prepare to ring the bell opening a new school year, Mickey Mouse and VoluntEARS from Walt Disney World Resort provided a ringing endorsement for the community’s educators today – 2.5 million back-to-school supplies and cash donations benefiting more than 70,000 local students.
Disney VoluntEARS visited A Gift For Teaching (AGFT) to stock shelves and assist as the nonprofit opened its Free Store to Orange County teachers for their first day of shopping. The event was the culmination of DisneyCast Members’ annual back-to-school supply drive, which included more than 2,000 hours of collecting, sorting and helping distribute supplies such as paper, pencils, composition books and markers.
“Our Cast Members support education in a variety of ways, but one of the most rewarding is helping Central Florida’s children get ready for a successful year of learning,” said Nancy Gidusko, director of corporate citizenship for Walt Disney World Resort. “For more than a decade, our back-to-school supply drive has been a fun way to help local families, while making an investment in our community’s future.”
Learn more about the props and costumes of Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” with Prop Master Barry Gibbs and Costume Designer Alexandra Byrne, then see “Guardians of the Galaxy,” in theaters now!
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