Part of the fun of having representations of countries from the around the world in Orlando’s backyard, is that you get to experience some of their national holidays. Few are more festive, or more tasty, than Octoberfest. The Munich Oktoberfest, a 16-day traditional German festival,… Read More »Octoberfest returns to EPCOT’s Germany Pavilion
One of the features I really like about my camera, a Canon SX30, is its 35x optical zoom. I had an occasion to put it to a test last week when we dined at California Grill. It was nearing dusk and a huge rainstorm had just added significant amounts of water to the area and sending steam into the air. After walking out to the edge of the viewing platforms outside the restaurant on top of the Contemporary Hotel, I was able to get these images.
First is an image of a Magic Kingdom set in a reflection of light upon the water. It looks so beautiful I had to share.
On the other side of the water, the Grand Floridian DVC tower is coming together nicely.
Photos of New Fantasyland and more below the jump:
Maker Camp is a month-long virtual DIY camp put on by Maker Faire. Hundreds of teens participate and learn about science, technology, engineering, and math and how to put them together to make useful things. These lucky kids recent got a virtual field trip that… Read More »Walt Disney Imagineering participates in Google+ Hangout with Maker Camp
Downtown Disney in Orlando is getting into the spirit of Frankenweenie as it hosts a weekend of special fun for fans of Tim Burton and his films. Experiences inspired by the new movie, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Alice in Wonderland” will take place at… Read More »“Frankenweenie Weekend” Takes Over Downtown Disney Sept. 28 – 30, 2012
In the great tradition of other Tim Burton stop-motion animation films Frankenweenie will take over your local cinema starting Oct 5th. Based on what I’ve seen so far, I expect this film to be very popular right through the holiday season.
A new featurette takes us behind the movie, introduces the story, the main voice actors, and talks with key figures in the production.
It’s great to have Tim Burton back in the Disney fold, isn’t it. Follow us below the jump for some fun facts from Frankenweenie:
EPCOT Center, the first Disney theme park to break the Magic Kingdom mold, turns thirty on October 1st. While the mission has shifted from the original vision for the future and the name is now just Epcot, it’s still spectacular in many ways. The 1st… Read More »EPCOT Center Celebrates 30th Anniversary With Small Event, Talks
(RtoL) Julie Andrews, Walt Disney and P.L. Travers
We’re still waiting for our Walt Disney bio-pic, but production has finally begun on a movie that focuses on one of the most interesting chapters in Walt’s life, his 20-year courting of P.L. Travers in order to secure the movie rights to her popular novels and the character Mary Poppins, and the testy partnership the upbeat filmmaker develops with the uptight author during the project’s pre-production in 1961. Walt knew he had a good thing there and the success of Mary Poppins allowed the Walt Disney Company to make many more innovations, including financing most of the 1967 expansion at Disneyland and transportation at WDW. This will be the first time Walt Disney has been portrayed in a dramatic movie production.
Two-time Academy Award-winner Tom Hanks (“Philadelphia,” “Forrest Gump”) will portray the legendary Disney alongside fellow double Oscar-winner Emma Thompson (“Howard’s End,” “Sense and Sensibility”) in the role of the prickly novelist. Before actually signing away the book’s rights, Travers’ demands for contractual script and character control circumvent not only Disney’s vision for the film adaptation, but also those of the creative team of screenwriter Don DaGradi and sibling composers Richard and Robert Sherman, whose original score and song (Chim-Chim-Cher-ee) would go on to win Oscars at the 1965 ceremonies (the film won five awards of its thirteen nominations).
“Saving Mr. Banks” will film entirely in the Los Angeles area, with key locations to include Disneyland in Anaheim and the Disney Studios in Burbank. Filming will conclude around Thanksgiving, 2012, with no specific 2013 release date yet set.
When Travers travels from London to Hollywood in 1961 to finally discuss Disney’s desire to bring her beloved character to the motion picture screen (a quest he began in the 1940s as a promise to his two daughters), Disney meets a prim, uncompromising sexagenarian not only suspect of the impresario’s concept for the film, but a woman struggling with her own past. During her stay in California, Travers’ reflects back on her childhood in 1906 Australia, a trying time for her family which not only molded her aspirations to write, but one that also inspired the characters in her 1934 book.
Read More »Production Begins on “Saving Mr. Banks” starring Tom Hanks as Walt Disney
A bit of history was made in Central Florida today. The Space Shuttle Endeavour launched from the Space Coast one last time. Although it was perched aboard a specially built NASA 747, it looked just as majestic and inspiring as it always has. Before heading… Read More »Video of Final Flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour Soaring over Walt Disney World