An iconic hotel at Walt Disney World Resort is getting a new name, actually its original name. The Polynesian Village Resort Hotel, a perennial guest favorite, continues a multi-year re-imagining with the renovation of its guest rooms, the resort’s feature pool and its centerpiece Great Ceremonial House. The “Poly” plans to add Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto with a highly-themed lounge area featuring tiki cocktails and Polynesia-themed small plates. (Disney)
Take a look at the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Ride from the Rear of the Train View.
Downtown Disney in 2014 continues its multi-year transformation into Disney Springs, a unique and vibrant shopping/dining/entertainment destination to be set amid beautiful open-air promenades, meandering springs and waterfront charm. Anchored by a signature water tower and grand entry, Disney Springs will boast four interconnected outdoor neighborhoods and be home to everything from shopping boutiques to flagship stores to great new restaurants and entertainment venues. The excitement has already begun! Newly opened in Downtown Disney West Side: Fit2Run serving both recreational runners and athletes. In 2014, Starbucks adds two locations: a storefront at Downtown Disney West Side and a kiosk near World of Disney at Downtown Disney Marketplace. Also in 2014: new retail — from women’s accessories to electronics, sportswear to girl’s fashions, home design accents to salon products — will open as the Marketplace Co Op (replacing Team Disney). With a planned completion in 2016, Disney Springs expects to double the number of venues, to more than 150.
Take a look at Part 2 of the Character Topiaries around the 2014 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
Take a peek inside at some of the hands-on fun guests can have when the attraction opens this spring.
The lineup of celebrity narrators for “The Lion King – Concert in the Wild” features stars from movies, TV, and Broadway. Those scheduled to appear each night of the event include*:
June 7 – Viola Davis: “The Help,” “Ender’s Game”
June 14 – TBD
June 21 – Montego Glover: “The Following,” “Memphis”
June 28 – David Alan Grier: “Porgy & Bess,” “In Living Color”
July 5 – Michael Beach: “ER,” “Third Watch,” “Sons of Anarchy”
July 12 – Harry Lennix: “The Blacklist,” “The Five Heartbeats”
July 19 – Joe Morton: “Scandal,” “American Gangster,” “The Good Wife”
July 26 – Alfre Woodard: “Desperate Housewives,” “Miss Evers Boys”
August 2 – Brian Stokes Mitchell: “Ragtime,” “Trapper John, M.D.,” “Glee”
August 9 – Patina Miller: “Pippin,” “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1”
Full Details on Harambe Nights
The rebellion has begun. This Star Wars Rebels full trailer offers an extended look at the upcoming animated series.
Starring a small band of heroes — Sabine, Kanan, Hera, Ezra, Zeb, and Chopper — Star Wars Rebels is set in a time where the Empire rules through fear and shrouds the galaxy in darkness. This trailer offers many new glimpses at sequences from the show, including the starship Ghost chased by TIE Fighters; young Ezra watching as a Star Destroyer looms overhead; Stormtroopers marching; a zero-g fight between our heroes and Imperials; and Kanan, a secret Jedi, assembling his lightsaber and preparing for battle. It ends, however, with an Imperial officer reporting to the Inquisitor — the Empire’s Jedi hunter, seen and heard here for the first time.
Star Wars Rebels takes place between Star Wars: Episode III and IV as the Empire tightens its grip on the galaxy and a rebellion begins to form. The series, executive produced by Dave Filoni, Simon Kinberg, and Greg Weisman, is scheduled to premiere in fall 2014 as a one-hour special telecast on Disney Channel and will be followed by a series on Disney XD.
The re-imagined Disney Magic has made quite the splash since her relaunch! Which of these top five experiences on our flagship vessel is number one for you?
Opening Ceremony, in collaboration with Disney, is launching a special capsule collection and celebrating the first Mickey Mouse animated film, Steamboat Willie. The fashion collection includes men’s and women’s ready-to-wear apparel, footwear, and accessories — all showcasing one of the most iconic and beloved characters in the world. Click here to view select pieces from the collection in a fun and innovative video.
The Mickey Mouse collection by Opening Ceremony features new and exciting prints inspired by Steamboat Willie artwork and film stills. The film prints are translated in vivid colors on button-down shirts, tees, sweatshirts, and plush-soft knit sweaters. To round out the collection, Opening Ceremony also collaborated with its renowned brand partners to create accessories: New Era for the classic 5950 caps and custom developed bucket hats, Vans for slip on, low-top and skate-high shoes, and Tabio for finely-crafted socks.
Steamboat Willie is celebrated for its introduction of Mickey Mouse to the world, and recognized as the first cartoon with synchronized sound. Directed by Walt Disney, the film was released at the Colony Theater in New York on November 18, 1928, the date used for the birth of Mickey Mouse. Music was an integral part of the film, opening with Mickey piloting the Steamboat Willie riverboat down a river, happily whistling along to the tune of “Steamboat Bill.” As a mischievous deckhand on a riverboat, Mickey also plays “Turkey in the Straw” utilizing an animal menagerie as his instruments. This groundbreaking film featured a 15-piece band on its soundtrack with squeaks by Walt Disney himself for Mickey, and debuted Minnie Mouse as Mickey’s love interest.
Mickey Mouse continues to influence pop culture through designer collaborations and new collections with fashion-forward specialty retailers. The Mickey Mouse collection by Opening Ceremony is available now exclusively at Opening Ceremony stores and www.openingceremony.us.
