Author: Nate

Walt Disney’s Rare Personal Items Going Up For Auction

If you’re a big fan of Walt Disney and history then you’ll be excited to find out that you can bring home a little magic with you when Van Eaton Galleries auctions off some of Walt Disney’s Personal items next month.

The auction includes some of the most closely related artifacts to the life of Walt Disney that have ever been offered for public sale. Collectors will be able to bid on one of Walt Disney’s business cards, a 1953 construction plot plan that Walt Disney drew on to show the boundary for Disneyland, an extremely rare Walt Disney signed “Laugh-O-Gram” stock certificate from Walt’s early animation studio and even a piece of Railroad Track from Walt Disney’s own backyard railroad.

Other rare highlights include a complete set of exceptional personal photographs of Walt Disney and the Rancheros Visitadores social club. The photo archives depict Walt Disney riding on horseback and camping during one of the Rancheros Visitadores’ yearly excursions through the Santa Ynez Valley. This set includes several never-before-published photos of Walt Disney who took part in the excursions in the late 1930s and into the 1940s.

“The ‘A Brief History of the Walt Disney Studios’ auction doesn’t just tell the story of the Studio, but it tells the story of Walt and his team of talented artists and individuals who helped build the company,” says Mike Van Eaton, Co-Owner of Van Eaton Galleries. “We consider this one of the rarest opportunities we have had to show the world a side of Walt Disney that few have ever seen, through personal photographs and personally-signed or hand-drawn items. Many of these items have never come to auction before and are among the only such examples of these items that we have ever seen. To say we are excited about this auction is an understatement. Anyone who recognizes the incredible value of such items from Walt’s personal life will understand how significant this auction is.”

Nearly 600 items will be offered in the “A Brief History of the Walt Disney Studios” auction that range from furniture from the 1940’s Walt Disney Studio in Burbank, original Disneyland props, animation art from Disney cartoons and films from the 1920s through the 1980s, and much more.

The “A Brief History of the Walt Disney Studios” auction will take place on July 7, 2018 at Van Eaton Galleries located at 13613 Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks, California. Starting bids will range from $50 all the way to $100,000.

June 24, 2018
Japan Airlines Launches New Disney-Themed Boeing 767

Japan Airlines Co. on Friday commenced flights of a passenger jet featuring Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters in commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the opening of Tokyo Disney Resort.

Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck also feature on the exterior of the 252-seat Boeing 767-300ER, with beverages served to passengers in Disney paper cups.

The special aircraft will only fly on domestic routes. The first flight bound for Fukuoka took off from Tokyo’s Haneda airport shortly after noon. It is the first time since 2015 that JAL has operated a Disney-themed plane.

Yuji Akasaka, JAL president, said he was satisfied with the way the plane looks and wants to further celebrate the 35th anniversary of the amusement park.

Kyoichiro Uenishi, head of Oriental Land Co., which operates Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, said he was happy that the design on the aircraft was “highly colorful.”

JAL has been an official sponsor of Tokyo Disney Resort since its opening in 1983. In 2015, the airline introduced four passenger planes featuring Duffy the Disney Bear.

June 24, 2018
Disney Names New Animation and Pixar Chiefs After John Lasseter’s Announced Exit

Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn announced last Tuesday that Jennifer Lee and Pete Docter will be succeeding Disney animation and Pixar chief John Lasseter, who is leaving the company at the end of the year amid allegations of misconduct.

Both Oscar-winners and veterans of the Walt Disney Company, Lee, who co-directed “Frozen,” has been named chief creative officer for the Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Docter, who is best known for “Up” and “Inside Out,” is now the chief creative officer for Pixar Animation.

Despite being credited with reviving Disney’s animation offerings and helping create film classics such as “Up” and “The Incredibles,” Lasseter is leaving the company under a cloud. Last fall, he took an extended sabbatical after allegations broke that he engaged in inappropriate workplace behavior. Earlier this month, Disney announced that Lasseter would leave the studio at the end of the year. He is consulting for Disney, but will not have an office at the animation headquarters.

In announcing their appointments, Horn said, “Jennifer Lee and Pete Docter are two of the most gifted filmmakers and storytellers I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. Pete, the genius creative force behind Up, Inside Out and Monsters, Inc., has been an integral part of Pixar almost since the beginning and is a huge part of its industry-leading success. Jenn, in bringing her bold vision to the boundary-breaking Frozen, has helped infuse Disney Animation with a new and exciting perspective. Each of them embodies the unique spirit, culture and values of these renowned animation studios, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have them to lead us into the future.”

Lee won an Oscar for co-directing Frozen with Chris Buck, and since joining the company in 2011 as the co-writer of Wreck-It Ralph, she’s worked on Disney projects like Zootopia and A Wrinkle in Time. She’s currently in production on Frozen 2, which is scheduled to hit theaters Nov. 27, 2019.

“I am deeply grateful to everyone at Walt Disney Animation Studios and The Walt Disney Company for this opportunity,” Lee said in a statement. “Animation is the most collaborative art form in the world, and it is with the partnership of my fellow filmmakers, artists and innovators that we look ahead to the future. My hope is to support the incredible talent we have, find new voices and work together to tell original stories. The great films of Disney Animation — the films I loved as a kid and my daughter has grown up loving — are magical, timeless and full of heart, and it is our goal to create films that carry on and grow this 95-year legacy for future generations.”

Docter is also an Oscar winner, for Up and Inside Out, and he’s a longtime Pixar employee who joined the studio in 1990 and has contributed to hits like Toy Story, Monsters Inc., and WALL-E.

Docter said in a statement of his own, “I am excited and humbled to be asked to take on this role. It is not something I take lightly; making films at Pixar has been my chronic obsession since I started here 28 years ago. I am fortunate to work alongside some of the most talented people on the planet, and together we will keep pushing animation in new directions, using the latest technology to tell stories we hope will surprise and delight audiences around the world.”

Despite the bad headlines involving Lasseter, Disney’s animation team continues to deliver hits. Last weekend, “The Incredibles 2” opened to rave reviews and scored the biggest animated debut in history, earning a massive $182.7 million.

June 24, 2018
Disney and TOMS New Princess Collection Has Fans Royally Obsessed

Disney and TOMS shoe company have released a Cinderella-inspired collection that has Disney Princess fans going crazy!

The Cinderella collection is the first of a series of Disney x TOMS collections, with Sleeping Beauty and Snow White collections to follow in July and August. Toms says, the 30-piece capsule collection is “for those who break glass ceilings in glass slippers”

The collection honors the female artists who worked behind the scenes on classic Walt Disney films by bringing never-before-seen sketches from Disney’s former all-female Ink and Paint Department to life. The California-based company dug deep into the storied Walt Disney archives to create a 30-piece capsule of women’s and kids’ shoes featuring original never-before-seen character sketches from the classic films.

All of the Toms and Disney products will come in specially designed packaging. Retail prices will range from $64.95-$75 for women’s footwear, $49-$59 for kids’ footwear, $170-$190 for women’s eyewear and $90 for kids’ eyewear.

As is the case with all TOMS products, for every pair of shoes you buy, a new pair will be donated to a child in need. The brand has already donated more than 75 million pairs of shoes to children in need around the world.

The Cinderella inspired shoes and glasses debuted on June 21. Sleeping Beauty styles will follow on July 19, and then Snow White styles will be available on August 23. In addition, a special six-piece holiday capsule collection of shoes will be unveiled on Oct. 18.

June 23, 2018
Nintendo And Disney Team Up For Switch Family Showdown Competition TV Show

Nintendo and Disney have announced that the two companies will be teaming up together to create a Switch-focused competitive game show, titled Nintendo Switch Family Showdown.

Nintendo Switch Family Showdown, hosted by the Disney Channel, will pit families against each other in a fun and friendly competition, according to a release. On a colorful Nintendo-themed set, families will compete in a series of challenges in Nintendo Switch games, like searching for collectibles in Super Mario Odyssey, competing in head-to-head matchups in Mario Tennis Aces and participating in dance-offs in Just Dance 2018.

Families can apply for the contest by submitting an original video, up to one minute in length, explaining why they are the ultimate Nintendo fans. Selected families will win a trip to Los Angeles to meet their favorite Disney Channel stars and compete in the Nintendo Switch Family Showdown for a chance to win even more prizes.

Entries are open until July 1, and the competition will be held in August. The competition will be aired on the Disney Channel, Disney XD, and streamed on the DisneyNOW app.

For more information about and to enter for a chance to be a part of the Nintendo Switch Family Showdown, visit http://nintendoswitchshowdown.com/.

June 23, 2018
Pixar Pier Now Officially Open to Guests at Disney California Adventure Park

Pixar Pier, the reimagined land along the shores of Paradise Bay in Disney California Adventure park, officially opens to guests today! Check out what’s in store for your first visit to Pixar Pier!

As you enter Pixar Pier, you’ll pass under the dazzling marquee. On the right hand side, the new Lamplight Lounge is a stylish, fun place to hang out with the whole family. Lamplight Lounge serves a new menu of California casual gastro-pub cuisine that is playfully presented, along with unique signature cocktails.

On the other side, Knick’s Knacks offers an assortment of goodies and souvenirs based on Pixar film favorites.

At Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats, you can enjoy cones and cups with tasty towering soft serve, available in chocolate, vanilla, and non-dairy lemon, as well as specialty treats like the Pixar Pier Parfait and the It’s Snow-Capped Lemon.

At Incredibles Park, the inviting plaza features mid-century modern design aesthetics. Anchoring the area is the new Incredicoaster, a thrilling adventure with “The Incredibles!”

Adjacent to Incredibles Park is Toy Story Boardwalk, a neighborhood that includes the popular Toy Story Mania!, with Jessie’s Critter Carousel coming in 2019. Be sure to check out food spots, including Señor Buzz Churros and Poultry Palace!

The charming Pixar Promenade celebrates the heartwarming stories and beloved characters from all of Pixar’s films. Test your skills and win a prize at the Games of the Boardwalk, listen to music and meet favorite Pixar characters at the classic band-shell stage or take a spin around Pixar Pal-A-Round.

Later this summer, discover the treasure trove of candies, souvenirs and trinkets at Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff.

The fourth neighborhood in Pixar Pier is Inside Out Headquarters. As we announced yesterday, the whimsical family-friendly Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind will debut in 2019!

For more details on the neighborhoods, check out the story here.

June 23, 2018
BREAKING: First Disney Skyliner Gondola Cable Car Seen Arriving at Disney World

Construction on Disney’s new Skyliner gondola system is moving along rapidly and the progress is clear as the first gondola cable car was spotted making its way into Walt Disney World today.

Thanks to a twitter user who was quick to snap some pics, we get a really great idea of exactly what these gondolas look like and the size of them.

Gondola Delivery 59 @WDWToday?@WDWNT @wdwmagic @disneyziggy pic.twitter.com/pSvsEmcaIn

— Kono In Orlando (@kono_in_orlando) June 22, 2018

As you can see in the pictures, the gondola cars are currently unthemed, but once they are installed the exterior will be covered with various Disney characters.

When it’s finished, the transportation system will connect Disney’s Art of Animation, Pop Century and Caribbean Beach resorts and other locations with Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the International Gateway at Epcot.

There is no official date, but the Disney Skyliner project is expected to be completed by 2019.

June 22, 2018
New Inside Out Ride To Open in 2019 at Disney California Adventure

Pixar Pier opens tomorrow in Disney California Adventure park and today, Disney released some exciting details on a new “Inside Out” ride set to open in 2019 at the Inside Out Headquarters.

Located on the western end of the pier, the lush and colorful Inside Out Headquarters will be the future home of Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind! When it debuts, this whimsical family-friendly attraction inspired by “Inside Out” will be—not surprisingly—full of emotions.

There will be four exciting neighborhoods to discover at Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure park —Incredibles Park, Toy Story Boardwalk, Pixar Promenade and Inside Out Headquarters.

Also joining Pixar Pier in 2019 is Jessie’s Critter Carousel. Inspired by Jessie’s wilderness friends in the “Woody’s Roundup” television show from “Toy Story 2,” this reimagined attraction is a classic boardwalk carousel with a rootin’ tootin’ spin.

In the meantime, visit Pixar Pier when it opens tomorrow, June 23 to discover many new experiences, including the Incredicoaster and Pixar Pal-A-Round attractions, Lamplight Lounge, Pixar-themed food locations and more!

June 22, 2018
Toy Story Land Digital Maps Officially Added To My Disney Experience App
With the opening of Toy Story Land in Hollywood Studios just days away, anticipation is at an all time high! You may not be able to explore the new land in person yet, but you can now explore it digitally, right from your fingertips. Disney has officially added the digital map of Toy Story Land to the My Disney Experience app and DisneyWorld.com.

When Toy Story Land debuts on June 30, guests will get a “toy’s-eye-view” of the fun Woody, Jessie, Buzz, and Andy’s other beloved toys are having in Andy’s backyard. Guests can ride Slinky Dog Dash, a roller coaster Andy has assembled from his Mega Coaster Play Kit, take a spin on Alien Swirling Saucers, walk through a new carnival game box to experience Toy Story Mania!, grab a tasty snack at Woody’s Lunch Box – and meet some of the characters “from the Toy Story films”!

The new land will debut on in-park maps beginning June 30, the land’s opening day.

Check out the list below for updates on a few of the new Pixar experiences coming to Hollywood Studios.
June 22, 2018
OFFICIAL: ABC Announces ‘Roseanne’ Spinoff ‘The Conners’ Without Roseanne Barr

ABC has greenlit a spinoff series of the now-canceled “Roseanne.” The new show currently has the working title “The Connors” and will air without the show’s embattled star.

Today, the network announced that much of the cast of “Roseanne,” including John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert, Lecy Goranson and Michael Fishman, are set to reprise their iconic roles in the new show.

Roseanne,” ABC’s hit revival sitcom, was canceled back in May, just hours after the show’s star Roseanne Barr’s posted a racist tweet about former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett — who is African-America — and compared her to an ape.

According to the network, Roseanne Barr will have no financial or creative involvement in the new series

“The Conners’ stories demonstrate that families can always find common ground through conversation, laughter and love. The spinoff will continue to portray contemporary issues that are as relevant today as they were 30 years ago,” ABC shared in a statement.

In a joint statement, the announced cast members of the spinoff said they have received a “tremendous amount of support” from fans.

“We have received a tremendous amount of support from fans of our show, and it’s clear that these characters not only have a place in our hearts, but in the hearts and homes of our audience,” the statement read. “We all came back last season because we wanted to tell stories about the challenges facing a working-class family today. We are so happy to have the opportunity to return with the cast and crew to continue to share those stories through love and laughter.”

ABC has given a 10-episode series order with Tom Werner as executive produce on the show. “The Conners” will air on Tuesdays at 8 p.m.

June 21, 2018