Beginning May 9, “Lotso” will be greeting Guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the meet-and-greet area inside The Magic of Disney Animation and he’ll be part of the “Block Party Bash.” He will also be joining “Disney’s Pixar Play Parade” at Disney’s California Adventure. Let us know when you spot him.
Article comes to us from the LA Times:
I recently got a rare tour of the Disney archives (you’ll be reading a lot more about that visit very soon), and I can’t tell you how fascinating it was to see such a vast collection of artifacts and “lost” art. These costumes, props, animation cels, posters, documents, paintings, models, etc. are more than the ultimate cache of pop-culture collectibles — they chart the history of America’s most amazing entertainment success story.
We’re going to be digging a bit into that archive over the months to come to bring you glimpses into these treasures, and we start off with some compelling images that date back to “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” Disney’s landmark 1954 live-action film.
These are preproduction drawings from 1953 that show early visions of the famous battle against a giant squid that plays out atop Capt. Nemo’s Nautilus. These drawings have been meticulously preserved by the archive staff but never published in any form, anywhere, before now.
Right in the heart of the Magic Kingdom is Casey’s. Celebrating their love for America, Baseball, and Hot Dogs Casey’s is a Disney World Cornerstone. No fancy foods here just steaming hot dogs with all the fixins, golden french fries, and mouth watering chili.
The sounds of old timey piano can be heard as various times in the day and this is an excellent spot to see the fireworks. Also don’t forget to use your snack credits on some cracker jacks and a ice cold Coca-Cola.
Toby Jones, the British actor best known for playing real-life characters such as Truman Capote in “Infamous,” will co-star as a villainous scientist in Marvel Studios’ “Captain America.”
Jones is in final negotiations to portray Arnim Zola in the production, which already has Hugo Weaving as another bad guy, the Red Skull. The movie shoots this summer in England.
In comics lore, Zola was a genetic engineer who created clones and various monstrosities for Hitler. He also captured his own mental self, inserting it into a robot, and survived the war.
Joe Johnston is directing the World War II-set movie, which sees Chris Evans as the famed superhero. Sebastian Stan is playing sidekick Bucky Barnes, while Hayley Atwell is the hero’s love interest, Peggy Carter.
Jones also is known Stateside for playing Swifty Lazar in “Frost/Nixon” and Karl Rove in Oliver Stone’s “W.” He also does voice work for the “Harry Potter” movies, playing Dobby the House Elf, and will soon shoot “The Rite” with Anthony Hopkins. He will next be seen in Universal’s comedy “Your Highness” with James Franco and Natalie Portman.
Where to find it – Kusafiri Bakery at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
What is it – Yellow cake with butter cream icing and swirls of white and chocolate shavings.
Why you want it – Handmade chocolate is so sweet and delicious you will savor every bite.
Picture credit – disneyparkblog.com
Hey Marvel fans!
We’ve got a couple great deals from the world of Marvel being put forth to celebrate the opening of Iron Man 2!!!
First up, (WOW!) Marvel is offering 30% off their Digital Comics yearly subscription! It’s normally $60 for the year, but with this discount it’s only $41 for a whole year of access to their entire digital library. That’s THOUSANDS of comics to read for only $41! Just put in the promo code IM2Movie10 during your checkout process! Here’s a link to the promo ad: Marvel Digital Comics Promo.
Considering the cost of comic books now days, that’s one awesome deal if you want to read them without collecting everything! Link to Marvel Digital Comics.
Next we have Free shipping on your entire order at DisneyStore.com if you purchase anything Marvel (toys, clothing, etc.)! Put in the promo code MARVEL during checkout for free shipping. As always be sure to read the terms. Link: Marvel Store.
Some great Marvel deals today! Happy Iron Man 2 opening day!
Club 33, a new app available for the iPhone and iPod touch, takes users on a picture tour of the famous Club 33 at Disneyland. Touch the images to explore over 12 different scenes from inside Walt Disney’s exclusive and private club above the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at New Orleans Square. Users can discover ‘hotspots’ within each scene which trigger popups containing detailed information and images about the artwork, features, and decor of this restaurant few will ever get the chance to visit.
Club 33 officially opened in May 1967, only a few months after Walt Disney’s death. Designed to entertain VIP’s and dignitaries, the club now operates as a members-only restaurant. Club 33 is not only notable for its fine dining and exclusivity, it is also known as the only location where alcohol is served inside the Disneyland theme park.
Most guests at Disneyland pass right by the nondescript door near the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction with the address “33” on it, never realizing what is hidden inside. The Club 33 app features 50 pictures and descriptions from inside the Club taken durning a private event.
Device Requirements:
* iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad (all generations)
* Requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later
* 10.7 MB
Pricing and Availability:
Club 33 Disneyland Tour 1.0 is only $0.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Travel category.
BE THE FIRST TO BE THE LAST, AS STAR TOURS PREPARES TO LAUNCH ITS…LAST TOUR TO ENDOR
On August 14, Fan-Favorite Disney Theme Park Attraction Gets the Ultimate, Out-of-this-World Send-Off
Exclusive Festivities Coincide with the Biggest Party This Side of the Galaxy – Star Wars Celebration V
After more than two decades of interstellar travel, Disney Parks’ Star Tours attraction is powering down to make way for its reimagining in 2011 – but Last Tour to Endor offers fans the opportunity to attend an out of-this-world, first-of-its-kind decommissioning party before Star Tours launches its final flights. Taking place on August 14 from 8:00pm – 1:00am at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Last Tour to Endor is a special event on the Saturday night of Star Wars Celebration V – THE official Lucasfilm fan convention and the biggest Star Wars™ party in the galaxy!
Fans and families attending Last Tour to Endor at the Walt Disney World Resort can enjoy a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience – including specially-themed intergalactic party zones, Star Wars shows, a Death Star Disco and much more. The evening will culminate with Symphony in the Stars – a Star Wars fireworks spectacular as only Disney Parks can create. Though the party begins at 8:00pm, Last Tour ticket-holders will also be allowed early entrance to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at 4:00pm – where they can be sure to secure a seat one of the StarSpeeder 3000’s final voyages!
Disney Parks will also have a prominent presence on the Celebration V show floor at the Orange County Convention Center – including Jedi Training Academy for younglings and Padawans and a Disney merchandise booth featuring a host of exclusive items as well as Star Wars items only previously available at Disney park stores. CV attendees will also enjoy special room rates at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels, specially-priced tickets with pre-arrival purchase savings for Walt Disney World parks and an exclusive, reserved room block at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – which will include complimentary round-trip transfers to and from the convention center.
To purchase tickets – and to take advantage of Last Tour to Endor special offers – visit www.starwarscelebration.com/Disney. For more information on Star Wars Celebration V visit www.starwarscelebration.com for the latest updates.
The Disneyland Resort is adding Marvel merchandise to its shelves — the first time that Marvel has appeared at the Anaheim property since Disney bought the comic-book powerhouse late last year.
The merchandise additions come as “Iron Man 2″ is set to open in theaters Friday (today), marking the first major Marvel movie release since the $4.3 billion acquisition was finalized Dec. 31.
For now, Disney is only selling the Marvel merchandise at D Street, a Downtown Disney store that offers edgier Disney products and other brands, including movie and rock-band T-shirts. The Marvel shirts are from the Junk Food label, which specializes in vintage and pop-culture designs. So, the D Street location is a “great place” to feature these kinds of products, said Betsy Sanchez, a Disneyland Resort spokeswoman.
Disneyland officials have yet to determine if Marvel products will be sold elsewhere, including within the theme parks, Sanchez said.
Ever wonder how Disney parks stay so clean? If you’ve stayed in the parks a bit after closing time, you’ve probably noticed custodial cast members starting to clean. Well, that goes on all night, as well as repairs, gardening, painting, and yes, taking care of the feral cat colony that lives at Disneyland. Rather than evict the cats,
“Park workers have also found a resourceful way to remove other unwanted guests — rodents.
Years ago — no one seems to know when — feral cats began to sneak into the park, living among the park’s trees and shrubs during the day. At night, they venture out, and an estimated 200 cats now prowl through Disneyland and neighboring California Adventure Park.
But instead of evicting the cats, Disneyland’s animal wranglers work to control the feline population by spaying and neutering the adult cats and finding homes for all kittens born in the resort. The cats eat at five permanent feeding stations installed throughout the two parks.”
I always say, Disney is a company that just gets things right, and I think this is one of those cases: A smart, humane solution. As an animal lover, this warms my heart.
If you want to read more about what happens in Disney parks after the guests go home, check out this article in the L.A. Times.
