Special Offer on Park Hopper Tickets for Passholder Friends and Family

By

-

August 12, 2016

Friends and family of a Walt Disney World Passholder can experience the magic for less from August 12 through September 30, 2016. A one day Park Hopper ticket is just $79 each for same-day admission to all 4 theme parks under this special offer.

The Passholder must be present with a valid pass and can bring along up to 6 guests to enjoy the savings. Friends and family tickets are only available at Walt Disney World theme park ticket windows and must be used on the day of purchase.

Be sure to take advantage of this special offer and visit Magic Kingdom to watch the Main Street Electrical Parade before it’s final performance on October 9th!

Contact [email protected] or visit my Facebook page here to start planning your next Disney Destination vacation. All of my vacation planning services are 100% FREE and can help save you both time and money.

Disney’s “Newsies” Comes Back To The Big Screen

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

August 11, 2016

From the 1992 movie with Christian Bale and Bill Pullman to the Tony Award-winning musical, and now “Newsies” is headed back to theaters in early 2017. Better yet, Jeremy Jordan will be reprising his Tony Award-nominated performance as Jack Kelly.

Other actors from the original Broadway cast will be Kara Lindsay, Ben Fankhauser, and Andrew Keenan-Bolger. Joining them from the North American tour, Steve Blanchard and Aisha de Haas.

“From the very beginning, the stage adaptation of Newsies has had an exciting and entirely unexpected journey, propelled by the show’s passionate fan base,” said Thomas Schumacher, President and Producer, Disney Theatrical Productions. “We are thrilled to be working with Fathom Events and to have Tony nominee Jeremy Jordan and member of the original Broadway company join the North American touring cast as we take Newsies on it next exciting chapter, reaching new audiences around the world”.

There will be a single performance at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. “This special cinema event will entertain audiences across the country by reuniting the show’s original Broadway stars and creating the ultimate Newsies experience at the movie theater,” said John Ribey, CEO of Fathom Events. “When this production hits the big screen in 2017, Newsies fans will definitely want to ‘seize the day!’”

Updates, news on tickets sales, and when they’ll be announced will be on the website: www.newsiesthemusical.com

Cheerful Disney Jim Shore Figures to Add a Smile to Your Home

By

Danielle

-

August 11, 2016

Disney movies have some of the greatest friendship duos ever. So many of these friendships always bring a smile to my face. I love that the Jim Shore Figures Disney Traditions collection has sculptures that feature some of my favorite pals, to bring some cheer to the home, like the ones below.

Disney Traditions by Jim Shore Chip and Dale Figurine

The rascally duo of Chip and Dale come to life in this carved sculpture. Bonding over an acorn I’m sure was won in an hilarious escapade against Donald Duck!

Disney Traditions by Jim Shore Tigger and Roo Figurine

All great things come in two… especially friends like Tiger and Roo! Get ready to bounce away, with the bounciest pair ever.

Disney Traditions Mowgli and Baloo Figurine

Mowgli and Baloo float down a River of fun and friendship in this fanciful scene from the Disney classic Jungle book. They prove that all you need is the bare necessities to have a happy friendship.

Disney Traditions Little Mermaid Figurine

Through thick and thin, land and sea, Flounder and Sebastian have always stood by Ariel in all of her adventures, and the three all care for each other, even if an evil sea witch is after them!

Disney Traditions Mickey & Pluto Figurine

A smiling Mickey and Pluto pose arm and paw in this colorful tribute to the most classic Disney pals!

Which cheerful Disney pals Jim Shore Figures are your favorite best friends?

Watch a Performance of “The Royal Welcome of Princess Elena of Avalor”

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

August 11, 2016

Princess Elena of Avalor made her debut at Magic Kingdom this morning in a special coronation ceremony that took place on the Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage. Disney Parks Blog provided a live stream of the first performance of the daily live show called “The Royal Welcome of Princess Elena of Avalor.” A replay is below for those who may have missed it.

The royal welcome for Elena of Avalor will be presented several times daily at Magic Kingdom beginning August 12th. Showtimes are currently listed as 9:05am, 10:00am, 12:20pm and 1:35pm but be sure to grab an updated Times Guide when you arrive at the park.

Princess Elena inspired merchandise is now available throughout Walt Disney World. A variety of apparel, toys and other products featuring Elena and some of her magical friends such as Mateo, a wizard-in-training, and Skylar, a magical flying creature can be found at Disney Parks.

Guests can find a cute fashion knit top, a skirt set, and Elena’s signature red dress with matching tiara and sparkle wand. There is also an enchanted scepter that lights up and plays sounds when you press the bejeweled handle. Other items include a Princess Elena doll, a mini doll set, a figurine playset and plush of Elena and Skylar.

There are also two open edition pins of Elena for guests who collect or trade Disney pins. Elena artwork is available at the Retail MagicBand on Demand kiosks in the Marketplace Co-Op at Disney Springs Marketplace and in Tomorrowland Light & Power Co. at Magic Kingdom. Artwork is also available in select D-Tech on Demand stations at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts to create and personalize phone cases.

Select Elena of Avalor items can also be found on the Shop Disney Parks app or on DisneyStore.com

Contact [email protected] or visit my Facebook page here to start planning your next Disney Destination vacation. All of my planning services are 100% FREE and can help save you both time and money.

Photo Credit: Disney Parks Blog

New Parking Deck and bridge coming to Disneyland Resort in 2018

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

August 11, 2016

A new arrival point at Disneyland Resort called the Eastern Gateway is scheduled to open in late 2018. The project will include a new parking structure with 6,800 parking spaces, a new transportation facility and an elevated pedestrian bridge located on the east side of the Disneyland Resort.

The largest infrastructure project in the Anaheim Resort Area in the last 20 years, the Eastern Gateway will make it even easier to get to the Happiest Place on Earth by providing an east-side entry point to the Anaheim Resort Area. The new transportation facility will be the arrival point for buses, taxis, bicycles and various shuttles that currently use the existing transportation facility located on the west side of Harbor Boulevard. The new pedestrian pathway and elevated bridge over Harbor Blvd. will directly link guests arriving at the parking structure and eastern transportation facility with the main entrance plaza.

Contact [email protected] or visit my Facebook page here to start planning your next Disney Destination vacation. All of my vacation planning services are 100% FREE and can help save you both time and money.

Photo credit: Disney Parks Blog

Jack Hanna to Host “Wild Weekend” at SeaWorld Orlando

By

Lisette R

-

August 11, 2016

“Jungle Jack” Hanna is headed back to SeaWorld Olando for another weekend of excitement and storytelling on August 20th and 21st. Jack Hanna’s “Wild Weekends” at SeaWorld Orlando make for a fun and interactive time with family and friends. The internationally known conservationist, author, television personality and lifelong adventurer will share animal facts and his travel tales during captivating and interactive presentations inside the Nautilus Theater.

Jack Hanna shows are included with theme park admission. SeaWorld Orlando will also have several opportunities for guests to personally interact with Jack Hanna at the park including meet-and-greets, autograph signings, and exclusive dining packages.

Here is the schedule of events:

Meet Jack Hanna (Saturday, August 20th)~Reserve space now to meet Jack Hanna and receive reserved seats to his show at SeaWorld Orlando. Jack will entertain guests with animal facts, stories, and will be available to answer questions from you. Package includes a seat in the reserved section to the 1:00pm show. Pricing begins at $39 per person and Pass Members receive a 10% discount.
Dine with Shamu Jack Hanna Dinner (Saturday, August 20th)~Enjoy a delicious dinner and mingle with Jack Hanna at the Dine with Shamu location. This package includes dinner at Dine with Shamu, meet-and-greet with Jack Hanna and a seat in the reserved section at the 3:00pm show. Dinner is at 5:30pm. Pricing begins at $59 per person and Pass Members receive a 10% discount.
Dine with Shamu Jack Hanna Brunch (Sunday, August 21st)~Enjoy a delectable brunch with all of your breakfast favorites and interact with Jack Hanna at Dine with Shamu. The package includes brunch at Dine with Shamu, meet-and-greet with Jack Hanna and special reserved seat to the 11:30am show. Brunch is at 10:00am. Pricing begins at $49 per person and Pass Members receive a 10% discount.

Not a Pass Member? Visitors can enjoy a wild weekend at SeaWorld Orlando with Jack Hanna for just $69 with the purchase of a limited-time single day admission at SeaWorldOrlando.com.

Are you ready for a Wild Weekend at SeaWorld Orlando? Please leave your comments in the box below.

Disney’s 3rd Quarters numbers are in, park attendance has fallen!

By

Disney News

-

August 11, 2016

Disney’s 3^rd fiscal quarter finished on July 2 and the report is now in; the revenue for Disney Parks and Resorts has increased 6% to 4.4 billion dollars and the operating profit is up 8% to 994 million dollars. However, the US parks which include Walt Disney World, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure has seen a 4% drop in attendance.

The 3^rd quarter is from April to July, there are a number of reasons why park attendance may have been down including some of the areas being closed to rebuild new lands, the Easter Holiday didn’t fall in the time frame, the 60^th Anniversary winding down, and the fact that to make up for lost revenue Disney has raised admission, food and other costs.

Christine McCarthy, Disney’s chief financial officer said it was due to timing.

Shanghai Disney, which has been open since June has already had 1 million visitors according to Bob Iger, Disney’s CEO.

Disney’s cable networks including ESPN rose just a small 1%, however Disney bought 33% of BAMtach which was formed by Major League Baseball for 2 Billion dollars. This will give Disney the push to provide direct to customer streaming services, Disney will begin streaming service of EPSN this year. The service will complement ESPN with events such as Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, tennis and college sports.

We will see what next quarter shows, if it continues to show the same numbers we may be looking at discounts and offers we haven’t seen since 2009.

How do you see this playing out? Does the lower park attendance surprise you? Comment below!

Movie Review – Pete’s Dragon

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

August 11, 2016

This is not your Dad’s dragon. With the trend of live remakes of Disney animated classics, this Pete’s Dragon is a reinvention of the classic story released in 1977. Still live action, but a CG dragon instead of a cartoon one. There’s no singing, no Helen Reddy and no cartoon dragon. At its core, it is simply a story of a boy and his dragon, and it’s told wonderfully. Starring Bryce Howard, Karl Urban, Robert Redford and Oakes Fegley as Pete, this retelling touches on all emotions.

In a classic Disney fashion. the story starts out with a tragedy, but quickly turns, revealing the magic despite the situation. Pete and Elliot’s bond is tender and fun. When the real world moves into Pete and Elliot’s little sanctuary, all relationships get tested. Howard’s character Grace and her relationship with her father (Redford). Grace’s relationship with her fiancé Jack (Wes Bentley). Jack and his brother Gavin (Urban). Even the titular relationship between Pete and his dragon. Ultimately everyone reassesses their own thoughts about themselves and their actions.

I got the opportunity to watch it in Real 3D. If you get the chance to experience it, please do. The beautiful cinematography by Bojan Bazelli is breathtaking and in 3D it’s even more so. Shot in New Zealand, he takes full advantage of the landscapes and forest settings. He really does make every scene a painting. The look of Elliot is awesome, I loved the way they decided to make him a furry dragon instead of a scaly one. Somehow, he feels more relatable in looking more huggable.

David Lowery directs the performances with touching nuance. The relationship between Pete and Elliot is sweet but not cloyingly so. There are silly saccharine moments, but not enough to be a turn off. Script co-written by David Lowery and Toby Halbrooks is simple but that is the beauty of it. The concept of Elliot the dragon’s character, whoever was responsible, is what stood out for me. I LOVED what they did with Elliot. Not just the CG (which was phenomenal), but his personality and how he communicated.

I hope Pete’s Dragon gets all the kudos it deserves. It’s a feel good rollercoaster that will have you laughing at times and sometimes on the edge of your seat. Bring your tissues, and expect to want your own dragon by the time you leave the theater.

*UPDATE: “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” 3D Collector’s Edition is coming this November

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

August 11, 2016

Just in time for the holidays fans can bring home Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” for the first time in 3D, encased in collectible packaging.

The exclusive four-disc 3D Collector’s Edition contains the original theatrical release on Blu-ray 3D™, Blu-ray™, Digital HD and DVD, along with originally released bonus features and brand-new bonus material, including additional deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes conversations with cast and crew and revealing, never-before released audio commentary by director J.J. Abrams.

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” 3D Collector’s Edition is arriving in the United States and Canada on Nov 15.

*The bonus features include:

• Audio Commentary with J.J. Abrams – Enter the mind of visionary director J.J. Abrams as he reveals
the creative and complex choices made while developing the first film in the new Star Wars
trilogy.
• Foley: A Sonic Tale – Foley artists, consisting of old pros and new talent, unite to bring the world
of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” alive through the matching of sound to action.
• Sounds of the Resistance – Hear how the epic sound design of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” moves
the Star Wars legacy forward.
• Deleted Scenes – View never-before-shared scenes that didn’t make the film’s final cut.
• Dressing the Galaxy – Costume Designer Michael Kaplan reveals how the costumes of the original Star
Wars movies were re-envisioned for a new generation.
• The Scavenger and the Stormtrooper: A Conversation with Daisy Ridley and John Boyega – The two new
stars share the thrill of working together on the adventure of a lifetime and becoming part of
the Star Wars legacy.
• Inside the Armory – Take a fascinating tour through the design and creation of the weaponry in “Star
Wars: The Force Awakens.”
• Classic Bonus Features – These offerings from the April release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,”
include the complete story behind the making of the film, an unforgettable cast table read,
insights from legendary composer John Williams and deleted scenes, as well as features that dig
deeper into the creation of new characters such as BB-8, the design of the climactic lightsaber
battle between Rey and Kylo Ren, the film’s remarkable digital artistry and the Star Wars: Force
for Change global aid initiative.

LEGO Star Wars Days Takes Kids to a Galaxy Far, Far Away Sept. 10-11 at LEGOLAND Florida Resort

By

Chip

-

August 11, 2016

The Force is strong with LEGOLAND^® Florida Resort as the anticipation builds for LEGO^® Star Wars™ Days presented by LEGO Club. During this exclusive, one-weekend-only event, guests can release their inner Jedi or Stormtrooper as they participate in a variety of immersive, themed activities. No extra ticket or Jedi mind tricks required.

The event will feature the LEGO Star Wars™ Miniland Model Display — seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars™ movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™, all made out of 1.5 million LEGO bricks.

Fans are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite LEGO Star Wars™ characters and take part in an all-new parade. Those who dress the part will also have the chance to win a LEGO Star Wars™ prize pack. And, be warned, The Dark Side awaits those who stop in for a meet-and-greet with LEGO Darth Vader.

LEGO Star Wars™ set designer Jens Kronvold Frederiksen will host a live speaker session with an interactive Q&A and Master Model Builders will offer building tips. There will also be a LEGO Star Wars™ Mural Build and budding builders are encouraged to get creative during a competition build.

Each guest will have the opportunity to join LEGO Club and be the first to know all the new and exciting things coming from The LEGO Group and LEGOLAND Florida Resort. For more information on this #BuiltForKids event, visithttps://www.legoland.com/florida/.

Disney Confirms Main Street Electrical Parade ending on October 9th

By

Chip

-

August 10, 2016

As posted this morning by Anonymouse Disney has confirmed that The Main Street Electrical Parade in the Magic Kingdom will officially end its historic run at Walt Disney World Resort on October 9th and then head to Disneyland Resort for a limited-time encore engagement.

No word yet if Paint the Night is coming to the Magic Kingdom, well at least anytime soon as Disney posted this news just shortly after sharing news of the MSEP departure:

“Paint the Night” parade will continue nightly performances, just before “Disneyland Forever” fireworks, through September 5 as part of the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration. This popular parade will return on select nights during the holiday season later this year.

So it looks like after the holiday season either it is going to be retired like Main Street Electrical Parade or make the move across the country to Walt Disney World.

Are you sad to see it go? Let us know in the comment box below.

Photo credit Disney parks blog

Suspicious package found near Disneyland Paris causes evacuation

By

Disney News

-

August 10, 2016

Reports are coming in that there was a suspicious package found near Disneyland Paris this evening and the park has been evacuated. Park-goers and families had to leave the park due to the package found in a nearby principal train station, Marne la Vallee station. This is the 3rd time this train station has been evacuated in the past few weeks due to a suspicious package.

Recently there have been some warnings about an attack on Disneyland Paris from groups such as Al-Qaeda and Islamic State.

#Disneyland Paris evacuated. Police and army on scene.#France pic.twitter.com/SWxbgp6sqc

— Ahmed Hassan (@SHAWSHANK5) August 10, 2016

Hundreds of people including families with young children were escorted out of the park by Police and Army personnel after 8pm.

A Disneyland Paris spokeswoman said there is no immediate fear of terrorist.

Take a look at the video or this article for more information.

Photo Credit Ahmed Hassan on Twitter