Take a look at the United World Soccer store at Downtown Disney Westside. The store features jerseys, apparel, and gear from countries all over the world. They also have apparel for the new MLS team, Orlando City. The store is temporary and is open through the World Cup in June.
Disney Channel launched a vibrant new channel logo and overall on-air graphics design on FRIDAY, MAY 23 in the U.S. and on each of the other 42 Disney Channels worldwide this year. All interstitial programming, identification spots and programming menus will feature the new logo, style and palette. The design provides the unified global business with a creative, contemporary new look that authentically celebrates the faces, families and environments of Disney Channel viewers throughout the world.
Richard Loomis, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Disney Channels Worldwide, said, “The new branding was an international collaboration between Disney Channel global and European teams and is crafted so our teams everywhere can customize it to create local stories, in familiar settings, featuring culturally identifiable storytelling.”
In addition to reflecting the Disney Channel audience with its new branding, the team also continues to leverage Disney’s history, notably Walt Disney’s signature as part of the logo design and the incorporation of the famous ‘D’ as a framing gesture used in all forms of media. The dynamic new logo is a combination of two classic Disney icons – the distinct signature stroke of company founder Walt Disney and the three-circle shape evocative of Mickey Mouse.
Ron Pomerantz, Vice President, Marketing and Creative, Disney Channel, said, “Our viewers have great affinity for two heritage elements that have long created a ‘story’ during our daily programming schedule — the four note music mnemonic and the beloved ‘wand ID’ in which our stars form our Disney Mouse ears with a wand. We are looking forward to introducing these elements in an exciting new package.”
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Imagine. You. Your family. And a group of adventure-seeking families exploring the most amazing places on the planet. And with you every step of the way are two Disney-trained Adventure Guides, making sure you don’t miss a thing. Choose from 28 vacations spread out over six continents—including the all-new Ecuador: Amazon & The Galapagos Islands adventure. So gather your family and friends and let’s adventure together.
When Academy Award®-winning actress Angelina Jolie got wind that a movie about Maleficent, her favorite Disney character, was going to be made, her interest was piqued. “I loved Maleficent when I was a little girl,” says Jolie. “I was afraid of her and I loved her. So, when I’d heard rumors that there might be a Maleficent movie, I asked around to find out what was going on. Then I got a call asking if I was interested and I said absolutely.”
Q: What attracted you to the role?
A: I loved Maleficent when I was a little girl; she was my favorite Disney character. I was afraid of her and I loved her. So, when I’d heard rumors that there might be a Maleficent movie, I asked around to find out what was going on. Then I got a call asking if I was interested and I said absolutely. I said I loved the idea of it but I didn’t know how one could turn that idea into a film because how could you make a film about somebody who curses a baby and what kind of film is that going to be? I said yes, but I didn’t really think they’d be able to figure it out. And then they did.
Q: When you first read the script, what did you think?
A: I was really moved by the script from first reading. It was like uncovering a great mystery. We all know the story of “Sleeping Beauty” and we all know Maleficent and what happened at the christening because we’ve all grown up with that. But what we’ve never known is, what happened before?
Q: What are some of the things that we can expect?
A: People will see that she’s the same wicked Maleficent. What I loved about the original Maleficent when I was little was that she had a wicked sense of fun. She enjoyed being evil and she reveled in it. She still gets to do that and she will satisfy, hopefully, the people that, like myself, are fans of the original. But you get to learn more about her and how she became evil.
I think that audiences will approach the christening scene differently. When you know what you know about her, by the time you get to the christening, if we’ve done it right, you may be on her side, which, if we can pull it off, would be extraordinary. Maleficent has a strong sense of justice; she has a strong heart and a strong sense of what she thinks is right and wrong and then she loses her way.
Q: What were some of the ideas you brought to this character?
A: I wanted to make sure we didn’t lose her sense of wicked fun because I think it’s a very beautiful story. It’s kind of a different but classic fairy tale and it has a lot of heart. We want to revel in that and that was very important for me as well as that she was somebody that was relatable.
When I first read the script, I was very moved by it, so I sat my girls down and told them the real story of Maleficent. Then the next day, my little boy got into a fight with one of my daughters because he was saying, “Maleficent’s evil. She’s scary and she’s evil.” And my daughter was saying, “You don’t understand. You don’t know everything.” I thought that was very interesting. Don’t we all wish we could say, “But you don’t know everything. You don’t know me completely; you don’t see the full picture.” So when I heard my little girls defending her, I thought that this would be a character that I would hope that young girls and boys would see and would relate to. I hope the girls, especially, will see the importance of having a sense of justice and a sense of what’s fair and what’s worth fighting for. They’ll see that they can be warriors and at the same time soft and feminine and deeply feeling, with all the complexities women have.
Take a look at some photos from around the exterior and interior of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom.
Thanks to our Orlando correspondent, Jill, for the photos.
For those of you who follow Official and Unofficial Disney news sites from around the internet, we highly recommend that you take some time and make sure you follow two of our favorite authors on the Disney Parks Blog, Erin Glover, and Steven Miller.
Below is a link to both of their blogs. We highly encourage you to bookmark their pages and stay up to date with the latest goings on at Disneyland Resort and with Disney Merchandise.
Erin Glover, Social Media Director, Disneyland Resort
Steven Miller, Merchandise Communications Manager
Take a look at the Character Banners all around Disney’s Hollywood Studios for Star Wars Weekends. The event will take every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through June 15.
Take a look at some photos from the Opening Ceremony at Rock Your Disney Side 24 Hour Party on May 23.
An updated look at the ongoing construction around the Castle Hub. Once completed there will be pathways for guests to travel around the main parade routes and provide for additional viewing for fireworks shows.
Disney Channel has brand new movies and a new series this summer. Are you ready?
