Top Food Values at Disneyland Resort

Economy-minded vacationers will find plenty of choices for delicious dining that won’t break the budget.  Think beyond hot dogs and hamburgers.  Here are some interesting picks for inexpensive dining ($11 or less) at the Disneyland Resort:
At Disneyland Park

  • Village Haus Restaurant in Fantasyland (chicken sausage with sauerkraut on a pretzel roll  or apple and cheddar salad with red and green apples, cheddar cheese, fresh greens, Craisins Dried Cranberries, golden raisins, candied walnuts and honey-yogurt dressing)
  • The Bengal Barbecue in Adventureland (bacon-wrapped asparagus, vegetable, chicken or beef skewers)
  • Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante in Frontierland (three-cheese enchiladas with red chile sauce)
  • Carnation Café on Main Street, U.S.A. (a bowl of loaded baked potato soup)
  • The Golden Horseshoe in Frontierland (fish and chips)
  • Hungry Bear in Critter Country (fried green tomato sandwich, turkey and provolone sandwich, chicken salad sandwich)
  • Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port in Tomorrowland (slice of veggie pizza, tomato-basil pasta)
  • Royal Street Veranda in New Orleans Square (gumbo or creamy chowder in a sourdough bowl)
  • Tomorrowland Terrace (veggie sandwich, grilled chicken chop salad)

At Disney California AdventurePark

  • Wine Country Trattoria on Pacific Wharf (Caprese salad, chef’s soup of the day)
  • Lucky Fortune Cookery on Pacific Wharf (Asian rice bowl with beef, chicken, tofu or veggie)
  • Pacific Wharf Café (Vallejo vegetarian chili, clam chowder served in sourdough bread bowls)
  • Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill on Pacific Wharf (tamales and tacos)
  • Taste Pilots’ Grill in Condor Flats (grilled chicken salad or sandwich)

At Disneyland Hotel

  • Tangaroa Terrace (island fish and chips, kalua pork flatbread)

At Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel

  • Disney’s PCH Grill (brick-oven pizza, seasonal soups)

At Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

  • White Water Snacks (chicken or shredded beef nachos, personal pizzas)
  • Storytellers Cafe (corn chowder, chicken quesadilla, sticky ribs with soba noodles)

At Downtown Disney District

  • Crossroads at House of Blues (pulled pork sliders, Angus beef sliders, blackened chicken tacos)
  • Napolini (paninis, baked macaroni and cheese, pizza by the slice)
  • Rainforest Cafe (chicken tenders, chili con queso)
  • Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen Express (jambalaya, gumbo, po’boy sandwiches)
  • Tortilla Jo’s Taqueria (tacos, burritos, nachos)
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‘Frozen’ Warms The Hearts Of Voters, Wins Best Animated Feature At 41st Annual Annie Awards

Walt Disney Animation’s ‘Frozen’ took top honors as Best Animated Feature at the 41st Annual Annie Awards held Saturday, February 1 at UCLA’s Royce Hall. The Best Animated Special Production was awarded to ‘Chipotle Scarecrow’ (Chipotle Creative Department, Moonbot Studios); Best Animated Short Subject ‘Get A Horse!’ (Walt Disney Animation Studios); Best Animated TV/Broadcast Commercial ‘Despicable Me 2’ (Cinemark-Illumination Entertainment/Universal); Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production for Preschool Children ‘Disney Sofia the First’ (Disney Television Animation); Best Animated TV/Broadcast Production for Children’s Audience ‘Adventure Time’ (Cartoon Network Studios); Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production ‘Futurama’ (20th Century Fox Television); Best Animated Video Game ‘The Last of Us’ (Naughty Dog); and Best Student Film ‘Wedding Cake’ (Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg – Viola Baier, Iris Frisch).

Often a predictor of the annual Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, the Annie Awards honor overall excellence as well as individual achievement in a total of 30 categories ranging from best feature, production design, character animation, and effects animation to storyboarding, writing, music, editing and voice acting.

The ceremony was live-streamed again this year at www.annieawards.org/watch-it-live where animation enthusiasts and those who were unable to attend the event, could watch the show. A complete list of winners can be viewed at www.annieawards.org.

“Our industry waits all year for this event and it never disappoints,” said ASIFA-Hollywood President, Frank Gladstone. “This was a terrific night with something for everyone. It was fun to take a look back at our history as well as celebrating and honoring what we have accomplished over the past year.”

Patrick Warburton, television, film and voice actor, lent his humor and talent as the ceremony’s Host. Joining him on stage were animation legend June Foray, voice actors Bill Farmer who portrayed animation great Winsor McCay, doing his animated ‘Gertie the Dinosaur’ vaudeville act, celebrating its 100th anniversary this month, Tom Kenny, Nancy Cartwright and actors Mariska Hargitay, Cloris Leachman, Josh Gad, Ariel Winter and director Rob Minkoff. Also providing presenter duties were Marion Ross, Max Charles, Tony Bancroft, Bob Bergen, Jim Meskimen and Mackenzie Foy.

Honored with the Winsor McCay award were Katsuhiro Otomo, Steven Spielberg, who made his video acceptance, and Phil Tippett. The Winsor McCay stands as one of the highest honors given to an individual in the animation industry in recognition for career contributions to the art of animation. Alice Davis was honored with the June Foray award for her significant and benevolent contributions to the art and industry of animation; Dragonframe received the Ub Iwerks award for technical advancements that made a significant impact on the art or industry of animation; and the Special Achievement award was presented to the CTN Animation eXpo. The Certificate of Merit award was presented to the documentary “I Know That Voice.”

ASIFA-Hollywood is the world’s first and foremost professional organization dedicated to promoting the Art of Animation and celebrating the people who create it. Today, ASIFA-Hollywood, the largest chapter of the international organization ASIFA, supports a range of animation activities and preservation efforts through its membership. Current initiatives include the Animation Archive, animation film preservation, special events, classes and screenings. Created in 1972 by veteran voice talent June Foray, the Annie Awards have grown in scope and stature for over the past four decades.  For information on ASIFA-Hollywood, please visit www.asifa-hollywood.org.  For information on the Annie Awards, please visit www.annieawards.org.

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Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade Puts Contemporary Touches on Timeless Favorites

This March, Walt Disney World Resort guests will feast their eyes on some of the most extravagant and elaborate costume designs in Disney Parks history when the cast of Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade dance through the streets of Magic Kingdom.

A new daytime parade, Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade is a celebration of New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom. The parade will bring beloved characters found in this enchanting land to Main Street, U.S.A. with innovative parade floats; a new soundtrack featuring classic favorites from Disney films and an original theme song; and an impressive array of stunning costumes.

From first sketch to final stitch, the production process took almost a year to complete. The creations transpired in 10 different costume houses across eight cities and two countries, with the Creative Costuming facilities in both Florida and California among the mix.

Costume designer Mirena Rada is no stranger to Disney Parks, as her body of work includes design projects for Disneyland Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. But when she was brought on to create costumes for Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade, Rada reached a new milestone – designing for a Walt Disney World Resort theme park.

“This was a personal first and it turned out to be a very different experience from other projects,” said Rada. “Everything here at Magic Kingdom is done on a considerably bigger scale and the resources are aplenty. I took every opportunity to avail myself of these specialties.”

From the Swing Thugs aboard the “Tangled” unit’s massive longship to the troupe of Scottish dancers announcing Merida’s arrival in the “Brave” unit, Rada carefully planned and executed the detail of each piece. Visual cues such as color and texture choices were taken from each float and incorporated in the costume designs. Additionally, she closely studied the style guide of each film for whimsical details and fabric patterns to capture the essence of each story.

Putting a modern spin on classic elements is a theme that resonates throughout Rada’s designs. From the swan neck collar and iridescent feathers on the Princess Garden unit’s Swan Court ball gowns to the sculpted conch shell headpiece and shimmering pastel dress that comprise “The Little Mermaid” unit’s Seashell Girl, the old and new are blended seamlessly – a trend that is ever present in today’s fashion world.

The production process mirrors current fashion trends, utilizing new technology to design and print custom fabrics in house. Rada partnered with Walt Disney World Resort costumers to select fabrics that would withstand the central Florida climate while also accommodating the needs of each performer.

After gathering the materials, she and a Creative Costuming graphic artist worked together to create almost 40 custom fabric prints. This includes the spandex swirls on the Finale unit’s bright and beautiful Bubble Girl, expansive fins of “The Little Mermaid” unit’s regal Lion Fish and furry plaids and tweed stripes worn by the “Newsies inspired” Lost Boys of the “Peter Pan” unit.

An innovative 3D printing technology brought to life even Rada’s most intricate concepts, with the hauntingly elegant beaks of the Ravens in the “Sleeping Beauty” unit being a prime example. Using a 3D origami program, a paper beak was created and placed on a performer’s head to obtain the initial scale and shape. A digital sculptor then worked on the filigree beak design, which was printed, fitted and refined to produce the final shape. Each piece was base coated, bronzed, lacquered and gilded with fiery Swarovski stones to complete the finished look.

In the true spirit of fashion, each look was not considered complete until complemented by the perfect hair, makeup and accessories. The Finale unit’s Cha Cha Girl is the queen of head-to-toe ensemble with her big top inspired fit and flare dress, bolero jacket embellished with sequins, star spangled tights and hair reminiscent of pulled taffy exuding the essence of Storybook Circus in New Fantasyland. However, simple touches that might elude guests, such as the elegant gold tones incorporated into eyelashes on the female Swan Court members, and in the custom socks worn by the Lost Boys were not overlooked – a testament to Disney’s attention to detail.

When the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade steps off this spring, Rada will see her creations truly come to life. This perfect collaboration between artists, craftsmen and engineers is what she calls “a designer’s dream.”

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D23 Unlocks the Magic of Disney with a New Year of Spectacular Member Events Across the Country

This year, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will reach out to fans across the country with a wide array of uniquely magical Disney experiences for members.

“Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.”

DESTINATION D: ATTRACTION REWIND presented by H20 Plus: Walt Disney once said, “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” It’s in that spirit that guests this summer will have the opportunity to visit—or revisit—some of the most beloved Disney attractions of yesteryear. Destination D: Attraction Rewind, held July 26 and 27 at Walt Disney World Resort, will bring Disney archivists, Imagineers, Legends and luminaries together to celebrate fan favorites such as Adventure Thru Inner Space, If You Had Wings, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea with rarely seen concept art and images; vintage video clips; and revealing stories. In addition, several presentations will be dedicated to the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair, which spawned beloved attractions like it’s a small world and Carousel of Progress.

MARY POPPINS 50th ANNIVERSARY SCREENING: On August 24, 2014—nearly 50 years to the day on which this beloved classic premiered—D23 will celebrate with a very special screening event.

D23’S DISNEY FANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: For the third year in a row, D23 will hit the road, visiting cities across the U.S. to commemorate dozens of magical Disney milestones celebrating landmark anniversaries this year. Hosted by Disney archivists and the D23 Team, D23’s Disney Fanniversary Celebration events will be held in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Orlando, New York City, Seattle, and other cities in fall 2014. Fanniversary 2014 will revisit some of the most 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 World’s Fair, Sleeping Beauty, Haunted Mansion, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, The Little Mermaid, and many more. Fanniversary events will be open to the public, with special admission prices and surprises created for D23 Members in attendance.

D23’S LUNCH WITH A LEGEND: A limited number of D23 Members will join Disney Legend Marty Sklar for a private luncheon on The Walt Disney Studios lot, where Marty will talk about his extraordinary 54-year career with Disney. Look for additional “Legendary” lunches later this year.

DISNEY STORE MEMBER MIXERS: After giving members a peek at the reimagined stores in Florida, Kansas, New Jersey, California, and Nevada in 2013, Disney Store will once again invite D23 Members for exclusive mornings of shopping, discounts, games and goodies.

MICKEY’S OF GLENDALE: The Walt Disney Imagineering employee store in Glendale, Calif., will open its doors to D23 Members on April 26, June 21, and other dates throughout the year, with special guests and surprises. Members will have an opportunity to purchase limited-edition merchandise and view the park-like grounds at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts’ creative “think tank.”

SCREENINGS ON THE DISNEY STUDIO LOT: Throughout the year, D23 will continue its popular movie screenings inside the historic Studio Theatre at The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. The 2014 roster includes Sleeping Beauty, The Jungle Book, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, and The Little Mermaid.

D23 DAY AT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS AND ARCHIVES: D23’s members-only tours of the historic Studio Lot and Walt Disney Archives in Burbank return, highlighting historic moments from Disney film, television, and theme parks—as well as showcasing many of the external locations used for filming Saving Mr. Banks. Tours will take place March 22, May 31, August 2, and November 8.

SIGNATURE EVENTS: Look for the return of some favorites, including the popular holiday offering DISNEY AND DICKENS (in Burbank in December), as well as other D23 traditions.

Dates, ticketing information, and more D23 events will be announced throughout the year. Full details on D23’s lineup of 2014 special events can be found on the Fan Club’s website at www.D23.com/events. All events and dates are subject to change.

Current event calendar:

  • January 31: D23’s Lunch with a Legend — Marty Sklar, Burbank, Calif.
  • February 15: The Jungle Book, Burbank, Calif.
  • March 22: D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives, Burbank, Calif.
  • April 26: Mickey’s of Glendale shopping event, Glendale, Calif.
  • May 31: D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives, Burbank, Calif.
  • June 21: Mickey’s of Glendale shopping event, Glendale, Calif.
  • July 26 & 27: Destination D: Attraction Rewind presented by H20 Plus, Walt Disney World Resort
  • August 2: D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives, Burbank, Calif.
  • August 24: Mary Poppins 50th Anniversary Celebration, Los Angeles Area
  • Fall: D23’s 2014 Disney Fanniversary Celebration, locations to be announced mid-2014
  • September 13: The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, Burbank, Calif.
  • October 11: Sleeping Beauty, Burbank, Calif.
  • November 8: D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives, Burbank, Calif.
  • November 15: The Little Mermaid, Burbank, Calif.
  • December: Disney and Dickens, Burbank, Calif.

About D23

The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his fledgling studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s more than 90-year history. D23 gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; a rich website at D23.com with members-only content; member-exclusive discounts and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.

Fans can join D23 at Gold, Silver, and Free Membership levels at D23.com and at www.DisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow us @DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube.

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Sweethearts Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Celebrate #DisneyVDay14 with New Valentine’s Day Collection

Disney’s eternal sweethearts, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, are celebrating Valentine’s Day with a lovable collection of fun fashion, accessories, and yummy sweet treats. Your loved ones will fall head over heels for the new Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse plush, chocolate-filled mugs, chocolate covered pretzels and more from the “So Sweet” collection available at Target. The packaging features vintage artwork from a new episode of Disney’s Emmy and Annie Award-winning “Mickey Mouse” cartoon shorts titled “Third Wheel.” Premiering on Disney Channel on Friday, February 14 (7:55 p.m. ET/PT), the hilarious short finds Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse trying to have a romantic date as the classically clueless Goofy continuously interrupts. See a sneak peek image from “Third Wheel” here.

Kids can show their Valentine’s Day style with the most adorable Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse graphic tees and accessories from Macy’s, Children’s Place, Target and Disney Store. Women can pair fashionable Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse tees from Delia’s, Wet Seal or Disney Store with a skirt and blazer for a flirty date night outfit or a pair of jeans for a more casual look. The Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse watch can be worn all year long as a reminder to celebrate love every day.

What better way to share love than with a Valentine’s Day card from Hallmark featuring Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. The Hallmark “itty bitty” plush collection will bring smiles to kids and collectors of all ages, and includes limited editions Happy Hearts Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.

Disney Valentine’s Day gifts featuring Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are available at national retailers, Disney Store and www.DisneyStore.com.

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The Walt Disney Company Announces Startup Accelerator Program

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) announced that it will select ten startup companies for a three-month mentorship and seed-stage investment program. Disney Accelerator, which will be based in Los Angeles and powered by Techstars, is now accepting applications from early-stage companies with innovative consumer media and entertainment product ideas.

“Disney has always been defined by innovation, leveraging the technology required to build the future of entertainment”

Participants will receive $120,000 in investment capital to develop their ideas, along with mentor support from top Disney executives, including Chairman and CEO Robert A. Iger, and leaders from Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, ESPN and Walt Disney Imagineering, among others. Mentors will also include other entertainment industry leaders, venture capitalists, and Techstars’ extensive network of entrepreneurs, investors and executives. Participants will have access to stories, characters, technology and other resources from across The Walt Disney Company. The program begins June 30, and it concludes with an Investor Demo Day in September where each team will present their company to industry leaders and investors.

“Disney has always been defined by innovation, leveraging the technology required to build the future of entertainment,” said Kevin A. Mayer, executive vice president, Corporate Strategy and Business Development, The Walt Disney Company. “Disney Accelerator offers a unique collaboration between some of the best creative minds in the entertainment industry and the modern-day visionaries who are starting businesses on the strength of exciting new ideas.” Overseeing the Disney Accelerator program is Michael D. Abrams, Disney’s senior vice president, Innovation.

Visit www.disneyaccelerator.com for details on the program and to apply by April 16, 2014.

 

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