Ralph McQuarrie, the man credited with bringing director George Lucas’ vision for “Star Wars” to the big screen, has died at the age of 82.
Ralph McQuarrie (June 13, 1929 – March 3, 2012) was a conceptual designer and illustrator who designed the original Star Wars trilogy, the original Battlestar Galactica TV series, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Cocoon, for which he won an Academy Award.
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of such a visionary artist and such a humble man. Ralph McQuarrie was the first person I hired to help me envision Star Wars. His genial contribution, in the form of unequaled production paintings, propelled and inspired all of the cast and crew of the original Star Wars trilogy. When words could not convey my ideas, I could always point to one of Ralph’s fabulous illustrations and say, ‘Do it like this.’
“Beyond the movies, his artwork has inspired at least two generations of younger artists—all of whom learned through Ralph that movies are designed. Like me, they were thrilled by his keen eye and creative imagination, which always brought concepts to their most ideal plateau. In many ways, he was a generous father to a conceptual art revolution that was born of his artwork, and which seized the imaginations of thousands and propelled them into the film industry. In that way, we will all be benefiting from his oeuvre for generations to come. Beyond that, I will always remember him as a kind and patient, and wonderfully talented, friend and collaborator.”
—George Lucas
Check out more about the life as well as a video tribute at JediMouseketeer.com.
Disney has released a 10 minute clip from John Carter which opens this Friday. The clip helps set up the movie and helps you get familiar with Andrew Stanton’s adaptation. Having watched the movie this weekend at a passholder event, I think anyone who is not familiar with Edgar Rice Burrough’s work enjoy getting a head start on the plot and becoming familiar with some of the characters.
In the clip, you meet the fictional version of Burrough’s as he arrives at John Carter’s estate. Carter (Taylor Kitsch) narrates the story as Burrough begins to read his journal. I don’t want to give away too much in case you don’t want to watch the clip, but it is a great part of the movie.
John Carter opens in theaters March 9th. You can check out Chip and Company’s full review of the film here.
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Anyone who has been to Walt Disney World knows that Disney specializes in the details; and I’m always on the look-out for new details or hidden Disney magic that isn’t so easy to find! Today I’m sharing with you my favorite Epcot hidden details that I have discovered on my visits to the park. Enjoy!
1. Club Cool-Located near the Fountain of Nations in Future World, this indoor spot offers cool Coca-Cola merchandise and soda fountains offering soft drinks from all over the world. Grab a paper cup and feel free to sample all you want for no cost at all!
2. Stave Church-At the Norway pavilion, you will see an tall, old wooden structure that is actually a replica of the old stave churches in Norway. While many guests see this building, they don’t realize that you can go inside! Go ahead and open the door and learn about Norway’s history in the mini-museum you find inside.
3. Timeline of Discovery-If you head towards The Land pavilion from Innoventions West, look down to find a large circle in the pavement with names and dates of those who have made scientific discoveries or accomplished great things.
4. Outpost Coca-Cola Coolers-Located at the World Showcase’s Outpost, take some time to explore the area next to the quick service counter. Open up the Coca-Cola cooler, listen, and then get refreshed! Just do it!
5. Lighted Sidewalks-Near park closing, after Illuminations, look down as you walk between Innoventions Plazas and Spaceship Earth towards the exit. You will find that the sidewalk twinkles in cool designs with fiber optic lights! Kids are sure to enjoy this!
Have you discovered any of these Hidden Details during your visit to Epcot? Let us know!
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While not as big as some of the other parks, and featuring more on Movies, Music, and Animation Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a great balance of thrill rides and family shows. Also I feel this park is one of the harder ones to move around in if its packed. Don’t believe me try navigating down Sunset Blvd when it’s wall to wall people in the middle of July. Here is how we like to Tour Hollywood Studios so lets jump right in..
Let me start off by saying:
Hollywood Studios is one of the harder parks to visit. When you are looking at the Disney Park on the map it is pretty scattered. I am unsure the layout structure here as both the Magic Kingdom and Epcot are circular and more fluid, Hollywood Studios on the other hand is more jumbled and not the greatest park to navigate.
Also this park is much harder to plan a Touring Plan as most of the park is made up of shows and depending on how long it takes you to view them and when the next available showtime is it makes this park very tricky. Hopefully this touring plan will help you minimize your wait times and make for an enjoyable day.
The basics – Get there early
Like the other parks you want to get there at rope drop.I tell my wife all the time you can sleep when you get home so we make it a point to be there before the park opens. They are also doing a early admission so some days they will let you in 15 minute early and other days not. Be sure to grab a times guide on which rides are open early.
Quick Tip – If you can get into Hollywood & Vine for breakfast before the park opens you can sneak down Hollywood Blvd for a quick picture of Sorcerers Mickey’s Hat.
To Infinity and Beyond
As soon as the rope drops we make a B-Line straight to Pixar Place and Toy Story’s Midway Mania. Normally we don’t dash to the biggest ride in the park when the rope drops but here you have to. If you notice you will see 2 clusters of people at rope drop, the ones headed to the all new Star Tours and the other Heading to Tower of Terror/Rock-n-Roller Coaster area. Once you ride Toy Story once or twice grab a fast pass for later.
Quick Tip – Usually by lunch time all the fast passes for Toy Story Mania are completely gone. This has happened every time we have been at the park.
Rock the Tower
With Toy Story Fast Pass in hand head over and ride Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Rock n Roller Coaster. There probably won’t be a line yet and you can get right on both rides. If there is a line it will be no more than 10 minutes. Most times your safe as people are getting off these rides and heading to Toy Story Mania which you have already ridden 🙂 Go you!
Toy Story Mania Again?
Yes go back and cash in your fast pass for Toy Story Mania. You can pick up another fast pass if you really love the ride or just let it go for now.
Star Tours
If you done with Toy Story Mania walk all the way on the other side of the park to take in all that is Star Tours. All the Star Wars Nerds should be done riding it 10 times by now. If your into the Jedi Academy check to see if it is running right now otherwise just enjoy the ride. I do recommend riding it more than once if you can stand the motion!
Quick Tip – If you have a little one who wants to do Jedi Academy I would head this way as soon as the park opens and get your name on the list.
Quick Tips – If you have younger children I would avoid going to The Magic of Disney Animation. Maybe when they get older they will enjoy it. It’s a good show for adults. Animation Academy is great for young and old not to mention you get to see some Disney Characters!
Snack-time
After a busy morning it is getting close to lunch time. We like to take an early lunch and Starring Rolls Cafe is on the way to Streets of America our next area to visit. This is my absolute favorite snack location in all of Walt Disney World!
Quick Tip – Try the Butterfinger Cupcake!!!!!!!!
Check the show times
If your picked up a showtime guide with your park map you can start to coordinate times to see Indiana Jones, Lights Motor Action, Studio Backlot Tour, American Idol and anything else you might have missed. We like to fill in wait times with the Muppets Vision 3D show, and the Great Movie Ride. There is no set schedule to follow here just be sure to not go past 3pm because you don’t wait to miss…
Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun!
Check out the all new Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun Parade. We have found the best spot to see the show is near where Hollywood & Sunset Blvd come together. There are some trees there that offer some shade and seats. Being in this location will help after the parade.
Make a Mad Dash
After the parade since you are near Sunset Blvd make a mad dash to Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage for the 4pm showing. Most of the prime seats will be taken but you can squeeze down front and off to the sides still.
Dinner Time
Most times we have a snack for lunch so after Beauty & the Beast we are getting hungry. There are several great food options here in DHS and we usually book Sci Fi Dine In Theater or 50’s Prime Time Cafe. Also they have a ferry that will take you to Epcot or Disney Boardwalk so there are even more options for dinner. Nothing like a relaxing boat ride to dinner.
Playtime
After dinner the temps have come down a few degrees and if you have little ones now is a good time for them to head over to the Honey I shrunk Kids Movie set. Which is in need of an upgrade. If you don’t have kids you could always get some character autographs & pictures, do some shopping, or revisit some of your favorite rides.
Fantasmic
If you planned your day right you should be here on a night they are running Fantasmic. We like going to the 9pm showing and find ourselves just killing time walking around and relaxing after dinner.This late in the day we have done everything we wanted to do and like to walk around exploring and taking pictures. Watch many of the street performers and if you can find him Leeroy Smalls. Check out a video of him picking on me here. Fast Forward it to 1:45 for the abuse.
Well that is about it for my Hollywood Studios Touring Plan. If there is something I missed or if you want to share yours with us let us know in the comment section below.
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Making the rounds on the internet this morning is something that should have happened years ago! For the life of my I don’t know why Disney has not installed refrigerators in all the value resorts already.
According to many websites and even a post from Chump Chip on the Chip and Co Facebook page, Disney will be installing Fridges in all the Value resorts to be completed by the end of April 2012.
According to Mouseplanet Disney has filed a permit for carpentry work related to refrigerator installations in all guest rooms at the Pop Century Resort. This is welcome news for all those who stay at the Value resort.
But what I have heard from Allears is that Disney World Value resorts will ALL have free refrigerators in the rooms by the end of April 2012.
So great news for anyone renting a fridge. Now everyone can load up at places like Garden Grocer!
Don’t forget to take advantage of the Free Dining Special that is going on right now.
Anywho that is all the Disney Gossip I have right now. For my past Gossip articles be sure to check them out here.
This weekend Drew and I attended the special passholder screening of John Carter at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I was really excited about this event for a couple of reasons. One, I was getting to see a movie I was really looking forward to a week in advance and two, it was going to be in Hollywood Studios. How cool is that!
The event was held at the Premier Theater which is located near the Streets of America. It seemed to be pretty popular since we saw sever people lined up the day before and there was already a line when we arrived a little after 9:00 AM. Disney didn’t provide snacks but unlike other movie theaters you could bring in whatever you wanted. We brought breakfast from the Writers Stop but lots of people had bags of popcorn and drinks they brought from home.
When we checked in we had to provide our vouchers and show our Annual Pass. They also had a stand by line for people who had not signed up in advance but could get in if someone didn’t show up. Once you checked in you had to go through security. If you brought a cell phone or camera it had to be checked and would be returned to you once the movie was over. After that you received your goody bag which had a pair of John Carter 3D glasses, a lithograph, and information about the upcoming John Carter vinylmation series.
I had never been in the Premier Theater before but it was a great venue to watch the movie. Before the movie started they played a few previews for upcoming Disney films (I can’t wait to see Frankenweenie) and there was a short introduction and welcome from the director, Andrew Stanton. Real 3D provided the projector and I thought the 3D looked amazing. I won’t give a full review since Patrick pretty much summed it up better than I ever could in his review but I really, really enjoyed John Carter. I will probably be paying to see it again this weekend. I thought Andrew Stanton did an amazing job and you can tell how much he loved the material.
I hope Disney has more passholder events like this one. There was an excitement in the air since you knew you were getting to see John Carter before most people. Although next time it would be nice to get some popcorn.
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Travel between August 25, 2012 – September 27, 2012
Offer is not valid for Campsites, Art of Animation or All-Star Music Family Suites
Minimum 2-day ticket
Minimum 3-night stay
Book this offer until May 18th
Free Plus Dining Plan for moderate and deluxe resorts
Free Quick Service Plan for value resorts
Details are just coming in and will likely be updated throughout the day.
Here are a few tips:
Remember, if you have an existing reservation and you meet the above criteria, you can add this promotion.
Treat this like it’s the only offer you’ll see for this time period. I know some people are waiting for annual passholder discounts or for room discounts (which often work better at the deluxe resorts), but we can’t predict if Disney will release those. Purchase this package now and change it later if something better comes out.
Phone lines will be extremely busy today. If you’re not booking a hard-to-get location such as a villa or Pop, wait until later today.
Can’t get the resort room you want? If you’re definitely going, book what fits your budget and then wait: More rooms and categories usually show up on the second day of the promotion.
Best of luck!
Chris writes here and at Everything Walt Disney World. She’s also a member of the Mouse Chat podcast and a travel agent. Email her at [email protected] or call 919-889-5281 to find out how you can get a free Disney gift card when you book your next vacation.
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Animators may be the masterminds behind the theming of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, but Imagineers who designed the resort are making their own “suite” magic. There’s enough space in the resort’s family suites for the entire family to chill out, spread out, and feel like they are part of the story. Get this – the table even folds down to reveal a comfy bed that sleeps two!
Take a peek at this second in a series of videos with the inside scoop. And stay tuned – there’s more to come!
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ABC Family’s hit show JANE BY DESIGN: VOLUME 1 will be releasing on DVD on Tuesday, March 20, 2012. Starring Erica Dasher (The Lake) and Andie McDowell (Groundhog Day, Shortcuts), JANE BY DESIGN: VOLUME 1 tells the story of sixteen year-old Jane (Dasher), who when mistaken for an adult finds herself working for a high-powered executive (Andie McDowell) at a hip fashion house. From classes to couture, relive all the drama, romance and non-stop excitement as Jane juggles her life as a regular teenager and her job in the cutthroat world of fashion…all while trying to keep her true identity a secret.
Volume 1 of the Hot New ABC Family Show Available on DVD March 20
Relive all the Drama and Excitement Just Two Weeks After the Season Finale Synopsis:
When mistaken for an adult, sixteen year-old Jane (Erica Dasher) finds herself working for a high-powered executive (Andie McDowell) at a hip fashion house. From classes to couture, relive all the drama, romance and non-stop excitement as Jane juggles her life as a regular teenager and her job in the cutthroat world of fashion…all while trying to keep her true identity a secret. Bring home ABC Family’s Jane By Design: Volume 1, available on DVD March 20th, just two weeks after the season finale!
Cast:
Erica Dasher (The Lake) as Jane Quimby
Andie MacDowell (Groundhog Day, Shortcuts) as Gray Chandler Murray
Nicholas Roux (Lemonade Mouth) as Billy Nutter
Rowly Dennis (TV’s “Desperate Housewives”) as Jeremy Jones
India de Beaufort (TV’s “One Tree Hill”) as India Jourdain
Meagan Tandy (10 Things I Hate About You) as Lulu Pope
Matthew Atkinson (TV’s “CSI”) as Nick Fadden
David Rogers (TV’s “Cougar Town”) as Ben Quimby
Executive Producers:
Gavin Polone (TV’s “Gilmore Girls”), John Ziffren (Melissa & Joey) and April Blair (Lemonade Mouth)
Street Date: March 20, 2012
Rating: TV-14 DLSV in U.S. Feature Run Time: Approximately 430 minutes Suggested Retail Price: 2-Disc DVD = $29.99 (U.S. only release) Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1/Widescreen Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound Languages: English
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Children can build and race cars at the LEGO Imagination Center, Downtown Disney.
If you’re taking young (ish) children to Downtown Disney Marketplace at Walt Disney World, you may find yourself surprised at how much there is for them to do. Sure, Downtown Disney (DTD) features a lot of options for adults interested in shopping and dining, but kids will find things to entertain them as well.
Of course, there are plenty of shopping opportunities at DTD Marketplace guaranteed to attract children, such as The World of Disney super-size store and Once Upon a Toy for Mr. Potato Head and Build-a-Lightsaber fun.
But if you’re wondering what else DTD Marketplace has to offer young children, here are my recommendations for “must-sees” at DTD for children and the young at heart.
What are your favorite ways to spend a Downtown Disney day with children?
Carousel and Kiddie Train: The DTD Marketplace area has two attractions designed to appeal to younger guests. They are conveniently located near each other.
Carousel at Downtown Disney.
DTD Marketplace has a small Italian carousel, offering 19 horses, a tea cup and two carriages. To ride alone, children must be 42” or taller. But the elegant carousel – decorated with images of DTD – is so charming that it’s worth taking a family ride – $2 each, using a token –just to capture the moment on camera. The carousel is located near Mickey’s Pantry/The Spice & Tea Exchange.
Special note: The carousel allows one adult (18 years or older) to ride free in order to accompany a child who is under 42” tall.
If your young children are more interested in the choo-choo (and who wouldn’t be, as it’s so fun to say), try the miniature train. It’s located near Disney’s Pin Traders and Trend-D. While the train isn’t especially Disney-themed, it is brightly colored and an ideal size for toddlers. Adults may ride as well, but only one per car and not in the engine or caboose. Like the carousel, it costs $2 to ride.
Water Play Fountains and Stitch: Kids love to run through water fountains on a hot day – or any day, really. And Disney has almost made an art form out of its water play fountains and water fun. Bring along their bathing suits or a change of clothes and let them frolic in the water fountains near the entrance of the DTD Marketplace, near The Art of Disney and The Days of Christmas store. Just interested in a quick squirt? Let them dodge waterdrops at World of Disney, where Stitch “spits” at unsuspecting guests.
LEGO Imagination Center: Even before the LEGO store expanded, this was a must-stop for me and my childlike ways let along parents with children. And why not? Even before you enter the building, the store promises to be fun, with its life- and over-sized LEGO sculptures perfect for photo opportunities and racing-car area where kids build LEGO cars and send them speeding on a track.
Inside, the store offers LEGO kits to fit almost every flight of fancy, the store offers computer stations where guests can design structures and play games. And while the remodel also removed an outside play area, a new room inside offers air-conditioned comfort for such experimentation. And for a true custom souvenir that will change and grow, kids can fill a bucket of LEGOs at the “Pick a Brick” wall.
Rainforest Café or T-Rex Café restaurants: If your DTD day is about the kids, consider dining at either Rainforest Café or T-Rex Cafe, the themed chain restaurants at the Marketplace. The food is fairly standard fare, burgers and chicken, pastas and salads, and the restaurants know how to cater to picky eaters (if that’s a concern).
But the real appeal here is the kid-oriented theming and family-friendly ambiance, with lots of entertainment and lively atmosphere for the younger set.
Rainforest Café offers a jungle home to Animatronic creatures: gorillas, big cats, elephants, tropical birds and so on, some of which move. The restaurant also showcases a gorgeous saltwater tank filled with colorful fish. To complete the rainforest effect, the restaurant’s sound effects include the sound of water and the occasional thunderstorm.
T-Rex Café takes guests a step back in time, prehistoric time to the land of the
Dinosaur Animatronics are the stars at T-Rex Cafe.
dinosaurs, as well as an eclectic mix of otherworldly visions – including an “under the sea” motif as part of the aquarium element. Among the dinos on display are a Tyrannosaurus Rex and a stegosaurus, while other areas offer a glimpse at a wooly mammoth. Like Rainforest, there are Animatronic creatures that move, and a noisy atmosphere to make the illusion seem all the more real to young eyes.
In addition to its dining areas (themed as Fern Forest, Geo-Tech Room., Ice Cave, Coral Reef, Sequoia Room) T-Rex also offers a Paleo Zone’s Discovery Dig. This play area encourages children to pan for fossils. There’s also a Build-a-Dino shop (related to the Build-a-Bear franchise).
A word of warning about Rainforest Café and T-Rex Café. These experiences might be overwhelming for some children. The restaurants include figures and are fairly loud. It’s easy to get over-stimulated by the environment. Many children love it, but family members with sensitive ears or who do better dining without distractions might choose other options.
World of Disney’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique: There’s something magical about being pampered as a Disney princess – and dressed up as one – at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in the Magic Kingdom. But there’s also a boutique located in the Princess Experience Room at the World of Disney store. It’s a great option for those days when you want to do something special but aren’t planning on visiting the theme parks. There’s even a makeover chair in a World of Disney window front.
For those who prefer to be knights, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique can make those wishes come true, too. Or…just for fun, visit World of Disney’s
Downtown Disney Budget Tip: for those looking for a less expensive “makeover” experience, consider face painting at Downtown Disney for approximately $12-$15 (dependent on designs).
Last but not least, it’s not a trip to DTD without some sweets. I recommend finishing the day with an ice-cream treat from Ghirardelli’s Soda Fountain or some goodies from Goofy’s Candy Company.
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If you have been to Disney World in the past ten years or so, you will know that Disney Pins are everywhere! Disney Pins feature characters, parks, attractions, restaurants, resorts, and much more so they make great souvenirs. Also, many of the pins are considered collectibles and trading with Cast Members and other collectors is serious business. Regardless of whether you’re just a fan of Disney pins or a avid collector, Disney pins make for a lot of fun at Disney World. So check out my Top 5 Places for Disney Pins at Walt Disney World!
1. Downtown Disney-At the Marketplace in Downtown Disney, you can find a huge covered pavilion selling nothing but Disney pins! This is the ultimate destination for Disney pins. In addition to the standard Disney pins you can find throughout the parks and resorts, you can find limited edition, special event, and resort pins, along with books and cases, and I have even seen a few Disney Cruise Line pins here. Also, just outside the pavilion, major pin traders often have their pins on display and some are willing to trade.
2. Frontierland Trading Post-In Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom, there’s a store called the Trading Post that sells mostly pins. Almost every wall of this shop displays all kinds of Disney pins making it easy to see the variety that’s for sale. This is also a great place to trade with Cast Members.
3. Sorcerer Mickey Hat-Underneath Hollywood Studios’ massive icon is an area where nothing but pins are for sale. This is a great spot because you get to see a large variety of pins at one location!
4. Special Events-Special Disney World events like Star Wars Weekends, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, the Grand Floridian’s Gingerbread House, Mickey’s not-so-scary Halloween party, the Osbourne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, and Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival, often have their special pins released only during the time of these events. Some events have pins that are relatively easy to find; but I noticed that at the Christmas events, Disney won’t sell them until right before it starts.
5. Epcot-I have found some different pins at Epcot that are hard to find anywhere else at Disney; and at World Showcase, the Cast Members who tucked back near the pavilions can have some great pins since not many people venture back there. You may also get to learn about their culture while you trade! Also don’t forget to stop at World of Disney in Epcot!
Are you a big fan of Disney pins and pin trading? What’s your favorite place to find Disney pins?
Fans of the Muppets can breathe a sigh of a relief to know that Disney is pushing forward with a sequel to last years ‘The Muppets’. While the movie didn’t break box office records, the movie was highly praised by critics and fans alike, and it was great to see these characters back on screen again. Unfortunately though, it looks as if the sequel is moving forward without Jason Segel on writing duties.
