Those of you who have ever considered being a costumed theme park character might want to read this story at the Orlando Sentinel first. You’ll probably have second thoughts. Costumed characters were back in the public eye after prosecutors recently found a Pennsylvania man guilty… Read More »So you want to be Mickey Mouse, eh?
Update: New Video of the Star Tours II 3D footage that was shown at the expo below. The eventually arrival of Star Tours 2.0 was worst kept secret over the last few years. From artists at Lucasfilm talking about their work to Anthony Daniels reporting… Read More »Star Tours 2.0 In 3D Arriving in 2011
The leaked plans for the Magic Kingdom Fantasyland expansion appear to be mostly, if not totally, true. This based on announcements from Jay Rasulo at the D23 Expo today. There’s some good detail of the plans at my previous post looking at the blueprints. Now we also have some gorgeous concept art to go with it. (click for larger versions)
Update: download 2.5 mb larger version here.
This concept art shows the expanded area from the POV of above Cinderella Castle. In the front left you see the ‘castle walls’ from which you will travel through into the various Princess Realms. Belle, Sleeping Beauty, Ariel all have their own castles (aka meet and greet areas). The Beauty and the Beast realm will also have a new dinner show.
Ariel’s castle will contain the Little Mermaid attraction that’s also being installed at California Adventure.
At this point the Fantasyland Expansion concept art differs a bit from the blue prints we saw. Tinker Bell and the fairies still get their Pixie Hollow (which will be phase two of the expansion), but the Dumbo attraction (see concept drawing below) is moved to the other side where Goofy’s Barstormer and Donald’s boat is now. There is also a coaster in the back that is not on the blue prints. I’ll be curious to see how this all turns out in the final version.
The new Dumbo attraction will have two spinners and, apparently, more of a circus theme. The blue prints specify an ‘interactive queue’ which, based on this art, would appear to be more living character initiative animatronics. Think Mr. Potato Head in the Toy Story Midway Mania queue.
All this, Jay says, will be open in 2012. A year late for the 40th Anniversay of the MK. But not too shabby a schedule. I would like to have seen another solid ‘ride’ type attraction, something aimed at the whole family instead of another meet and greet/mini-show. But the dinner show and the themeing look pretty outstanding.
Follow below the jump for the full press release related to all of Jay’s park announcements:
Ever since Walt Disney’s Imagineers started working on EPCOT Center, they’ve purposely hidden Mickey Mouse’s iconic silhouette shape around the Walt Disney World resort both as a way to entertain themselves and to reward curious guests who pay attention to the details. Fast forward 30… Read More »Hidden Mickeys Book Updated Anew
Participants in the fourth annual Disneyland Half Marathon wound through the Disneyland Resort area and out into Anaheim itself. Some wore costumes and even paused for character interaction along the way.
Jaeyung Hyung, 38, of Las Cruces, N.M., (see below) celebrated his first-place finish Sunday, crossing the finish line with a time of 1:10:44 to lead the estimated field of nearly 12,000 participants.
“I really enjoyed running the race here,” Hyung said. “There were so many people, and Disney made it a lot of fun.”
Read More »Jaeyung Hyung, of Las Cruces, NM, Wins Fourth Annual Disneyland Half Marathon
So last night wast the debut of ‘Murphy’ the new Fantasmic! Dragon at Disneyland. Murphy got her name because of the problems Disneyland Entertainment experienced trying to get the huge effect to work properly. As such it took quite a ribbing from Disney fans, even during its debut. I have to say I love this particular response:
Although the supposedly impressive fire didn’t work, follow belong the jump for actual video of Murphy’s debut performance:
Read More »Leave Murphy Alone (also new Fantasmic Dragon debuts at Disneyland)
A couple of announcements today about Disney Authors setting up their own booths at the D23 Expo in Anaheim. Disney travel and trivia authors Steven Barrett and Lou Mongello will greet fans at the first Expo for Disney’s Official Fan Community. You’ll also be able to find the folks from Tales from the Laughing Place Magazine at their own booth.
Congratulations to all involved. Full press release info is below the jump:
The Walt Disney Company is rolling out the red carpet and a whole lot more for its fans at the inaugural D23 Expo. They’ve just released the Event Schedule with lots of great details for this amazing Disney Fan event. Plan to be in Anaheim September 10-13 to check everything out.
Exciting details about the activities and events planned for the four days of Disney’s inaugural D23 EXPO have just been announced. There is so much to see you’re going to have to plan carefully. The D23 EXPO is open to the public. Tickets for individual days or the full four days of this Ultimate Disney Fan Event are available at the website.
Exclusive Screenings & Sneak Peeks
The D23 EXPO will offer guests the chance to get sneak peeks of upcoming Disney movies like The Princess and the Frog, TRON: Legacy, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Rapunzel, Disney’s A Christmas Carol, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland and many others. The D23 EXPO also will present the U.S. premiere screenings of Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in Disney Digital 3D™. More than that, the D23 EXPO will present several classic movies on the big screen, including the original Tron, Sleeping Beauty, The Shaggy Dog, Darby O’Gill and the Little People, along with other exciting screening events. The ABC House Screening Room will present screenings of new television entertainment, including ABC’s vibrant new fall schedule.
Special Presentations and Panels
The D23 EXPO will offer fascinating explorations of the past, present and future of Disney. Throughout the four days, scores of special panels and presentations will bring new insight into Disney history, let guests go “behind the magic” of Disney theme-park attractions and movies, and get fans up close and personal with the Disney legacy of unforgettable entertainment.
D23 EXPO Show Floor
A giant show floor filled with incredible pavilions and interactive areas assembles the entire world of Disney under one roof. From Disney’s global theme parks to the Company’s environmental initiatives, the show floor includes a collector’s area, a gathering of Disney licensees, an eight-room “home” showcasing an amazing array of Disney merchandise, and new technologies being developed by Walt Disney Imagineering. The show floor is the heart of the D23 EXPO. It will also be home to the “ABC House Screening Room,” a sign-up area for the “Lost University,” and kid-friendly play areas that make the D23 EXPO an exciting event for all ages of Disney fans.
“Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives”
The legendary Walt Disney Archives will assemble a never-before-seen collection of more than 100 props, costumes and one-of-a-kind items from more than eight decades of Disney creativity. For the first time ever, the Archives also will present a retrospective of props and costumes from the classic “Captain EO” attraction in which Michael Jackson thrilled theme-park audiences in 3D.
Arena Presentations
The 4,000-seat Anaheim Convention Center Arena will be home to spectacular presentations throughout the four days of the D23 EXPO. Disney President and CEO Bob Iger will kick off the entire event with an unforgettable presentation that includes a 30-minute glimpse at the upcoming animated feature The Princess and the Frog and a live performance by its vocal star, Anika Noni Rose. Other Arena presentations will incorporate surprise celebrity appearances as D23 EXPO guests learn about the future of ABC, Disney movies, theme parks, animation and more.
Celebrity Appearances
Celebrities from both current and classic Disney projects (both on screen and behind the scenes) will be on hand throughout the D23 EXPO, and are currently scheduled to include: X Atencio, Jake T. Austin, Kathryn Beaumont, Richard Bellis, Tom Bergeron, Bruce Broughton, Cheryl Burke, Maria Canals-Barrera, Marge Champion, Ron Clements, Mary Costa, Alice Davis, David DeLuise, Joseph Fiennes, Michael Giacchino, Blaine Gibson, Selena Gomez, Kelsey Grammer, Don Hahn, David Henrie, Patricia Heaton, Tommy Kirk, Steve Lisberger, Joel McNeely, Brendan Milburn, John Musker, Ed O’Neill, Marty Sklar, Jennifer Stone, Valerie Vigoda and many more.
Family Activities
Disney Consumer Products will give D23 EXPO guests the chance to explore a host of activities for the entire family, including a Disney Creativity Center hosted by Crayola, the Disney Princess Storytime and Royal Manners event, the Baby Einstein World of Discovery Center, and a magnificent live LEGO building event in which Master Builders will invite guests to join them to construct a life-sized mural of Disney characters, paying homage to the innovation of Disney and LEGO. There will be appearances by best-selling authors, fine artists, and toy designers. There will also be a series of fashion shows featuring the latest styles from Disney Couture, Disney Couture kids and the Wizards of Waverly Place collection. Guests will have the opportunity to tour the first-ever Disney Dream Home and to go “behind the fairy tale” at the Disney Fairy Tale Weddings showcase.
Schedule Highlights are below the jump:
Read More »D23 Expo Schedule Updated, even more amazing stuff packed in
