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April 2015

Star Wars Weekends 2015 Celebrity Guest List to include Frank Oz and Ian McDiarmid

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It’s finally time for Disney to share who will be the guest celebrities at the 2015 edition of Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s a hugely popular event that practically takes over the park on the weekends it’s offered. Also, remember there are 5 weekends this year, so there is extra time for fun and more guests.

So without any further ado, here is the lineup (subject to change, of course):

Weekend I (May 15-17)

  • Ian McDiarmid: Senator/Emperor Palpatine (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace; Star Wars: Attack of the Clones; Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi)
  • Amy Allen: Aayla Secura (Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith)
  • Tiya Sircar: Sabine Wren (Star Wars Rebels)

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Weekend II (May 22 – 24)

  • Warwick Davis: Wald, Wicket W. Warrick (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace; Star Wars: Return of the Jedi)
  • Silas Carson: Ki-Adi-Mundi, Nute Gunray (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace; Star Wars: Attack of the Clones; Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith)
  • Vanessa Marshall: Hera Syndulla (Star Wars Rebels)

Weekend III (May 29 – 31)

  • Warwick Davis: Wald, Wicket W. Warrick (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace; Star Wars: Return of the Jedi)
  • Daniel Logan: Boba Fett (Star Wars: Attack of the Clones; Star Wars: The Clone Wars)
  • Steve Blum: Zeb Orrelios (Star Wars Rebels)

Weekend IV (June 5 – 7)

  • Ray Park: Darth Maul (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace)
  • Jeremy Bulloch: Boba Fett (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back; Star Wars: Return of the Jedi)
  • Ashley Eckstein: Ahsoka Tano (Star Wars: The Clone Wars; Star Wars Rebels)

Read More »Star Wars Weekends 2015 Celebrity Guest List to include Frank Oz and Ian McDiarmid

Is Disney rebooting The Muppet Show? A pilot episode is in the works

Ever since Disney bought the rights to The Muppets from the Jim Henson Company, there has been a call from fans to bring the Muppets back to prime time TV with a new variety show. There’s a whole new generation just waiting to see their… Read More »Is Disney rebooting The Muppet Show? A pilot episode is in the works

Learn to Draw Dopey from ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’

The Animation Academy is where you can learn to draw a Disney character and test your hand at the skills of a Disney Animator. Located inside The Magic of Disney Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Animation Academy used to be a hidden gem, but… Read More »Learn to Draw Dopey from ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’

Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron – New TV Spot and Behind The Scenes Featurette

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We’re now less than a month away from Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron opening on May 1st, I can’t wait. A new TV trailer for the movie focuses on the conflict between Ultron and the super heroes.

Marvel has also released a new behind the scenes featurette where it’s obvious they had a lot of fun making this movie. That’s usually a good sign that the movie will be enjoyable too.Read More »Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron – New TV Spot and Behind The Scenes Featurette

Tangled: The Musical Heading for The Stage and Sea.

“Tangled: The Musical” Coming to Disney Cruise Line

There have been whispers of a Tangled stage show being prepared as a new Disney attraction for a couple of years. I had assumed it would be installed somewhere at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but I was wrong. It’s being added to the Disney Magic, part of the Disney Cruise Line fleet.

“Tangled: The Musical” will feature new original music from Oscar winning composer Alan Menken and all the beloved characters from the animated feature. It’s the first time it’s been adapted for the stage.

As we’ve come to expect from Disney Cruises, the show will feature high value production and wonderful dancer numbers. Current plan is to add the show for the November 11th cruise of this year.

The show will stay true to the storyline from the hit feature film—with a few special twists to create a live staged production—featuring favorite characters like Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, the villainous Mother Gothel and Maximus the police horse.

The story follows the thrilling adventure of Rapunzel as she escapes the confines of her tower and the clutches of Mother Gothel, who wishes to shield the secret of Rapunzel’s magical golden tresses and royal roots. Rapunzel strikes up an unlikely friendship with the suave, crown-stealing bandit Flynn Rider, and together they face ruffians, thugs and a budding romance on a hair-raising journey filled with classic Disney playfulness and whimsy that will delight audiences of all ages.Read More »Tangled: The Musical Heading for The Stage and Sea.

An Introduction to Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village

We were lucky enough to have a brief introduction to the Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto by the food and beverage team at Polynesian Village. We even had an appearance by the Tiki Goddess Uh-Oa! Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is the latest addition to the newly… Read More »An Introduction to Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village

Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD Recap – One Door Closes

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This week we went back to the events of Captain America: Winter Soldier to see what Bobbi, Mack and their team were doing the day that S.H.I.E.L.D. fell. They, along with Agent Hartley, are on the air craft carrier, Iliad, in search of Gonzales. It was nice to see Lucy Lawless again. I’m glad they brought her back.

After finding him (and convincing him that they aren’t Hydra), Bobbi reveals that she was given a second mission from Fury (like Natasha in Winter Soldier). She’s been tasked with sinking the ship, destroying the cargo in the process. Realizing that this is a one-way mission, Mack and the rest of the team decide to join her before ultimately deciding to take back the ship instead of destroying it.

Back in the present, Coulson finally lets Mack take a look under Lola’s hood, but for the purpose of confronting him because Coulson suspects him to be a mole. Through the conversation, Coulson figures out that Bobbi is a mole as well. This revelation leads to a fantastic fight scene between May and Bobbi over Fury’s Toolbox.

Bobbi loses to May, but not before she uses an EMP to shut down S.H.I.E.L.D.’s power.Read More »Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD Recap – One Door Closes

Walk-Through Tour of Disney’s new Bora Bora Bungalows at the Polynesian Village DVC Resort

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The Polynesian Villas & Bungalows just opened as the 14th resort in the Disney Vacation Club. Join us as we tour one of the Bora Bora Bungalows. It sleeps 8 and features one of the most prime locations in all of Walt Disney World.

The villas are completely new, but they look and feel like they could have been there since 1971. Yes, there is new technology inside (flat screen TVs and a modern kitchen and bath), but you do feel transported back in time immediately upon entering.

As a fan of mid-century architecture and design, I love the look of the Villas. Add in the Tiki elements and I want to move in immediately. Disney recreated some great Mary Blair-esque graphics and brought in Jody Daily and Kevin Kidney to create a unique piece of art that includes the Orange Bird and other Walt Disney World icons. Plus there are other Tiki themed works from the Kidney’s in the kitchen.

I’ve also included a gallery featuring some of the details I wasn’t able to capture on the video tour.
Read More »Walk-Through Tour of Disney’s new Bora Bora Bungalows at the Polynesian Village DVC Resort