Author: Nate

Comcast Tops Disney’s Bid For Fox With $65 Billion All-Cash Offer

The bidding war for 21st Century Fox has started. Today, Comcast made a $65 billion all-cash offer for the bulk of 21st Century Fox’s TV and studio assets, topping a previous $52.4 billion bid made by Walt Disney Company.

If successful, the move would bring together Comcast’s NBC broadcast network and the Universal movie studio with 20th Century Fox, the FX cable network and the regional Fox sports networks. The offer is valued at $35.00 per share in cash, representing a premium of approximately 19% to the value of Disney’s all-stock offer, according to Comcast.

“We have long admired what the Murdoch family has built at Twenty-First Century Fox,” Comcast CEO Brian Roberts wrote in a letter to Fox’s controlling Murdoch family, telling 21st Century Fox Executive Chairman Rupert Murdoch and his sons Lachlan and James that Comcast “would be the right strategic home” for the parts of the company that are for sale.

The financial bidding war comes just a day after a U.S. District Judge gave his blessing for AT&T’s to by Time Warner, without any conditions on the $85.4 billion deal. That approval signaled that Comcast might have less trouble getting the deal approved than previously expected.

If Disney comes out on top of the bidding war, the acquisition could cement Disney CEO Bob Iger’s legacy. Sealing a deal for Fox would cap off a slew of massive acquisitions under his aegis at Disney, which include a $4 billion buy of Marvel Entertainment in 2009; a $4 billion purchase of Lucasfilm in 2009; and $2.58 billion over three years for BAMTech, the streaming-video unit that is meant to power Disney’s various subscription-based video outlets.

But a deal would benefit Comcast similarly, adding new strength to its Universal movie production operations, its NBC Sports unit, and its cable programming operations.

Comcast’s $65 billion all-cash offer for Fox’s entertainment businesses is higher than the $60 billion that pundits had been predicting. Experts are expecting Disney to make a counter offer.

The battle for Twenty-First Century Fox comes as traditional entertainment companies try to amass more properties to compete better with technology companies such as Netflix for viewers’ attention — and dollars.

June 13, 2018
Star-Spangled Americana Collection Now Available for Summer Fun at Disney Parks

With Flag Day being celebrated on June 14 and Independence Day only a few weeks away, guests visiting Disney Parks this summer have plenty of options for getting into the patriotic spirit. Recently, Disney Parks Merchandise joined the star-spangled, summer celebration by releasing the Americana merchandise collection. Bathed in red, white, and blue, these new products are the latest on-trend offerings created especially for Disney Parks.

“Mixed with images Mickey and Minnie Mouse, this brightly colored assortment is the perfect accent to summer fun,” explained Katie Thompson, Global Merchandise Strategy manager at Disney Parks Merchandise.

Guests looking to add Americana flair to their homes will find drinkware, a dessert plate, mugs, pillows, dish towels and more. Each item contains little details such as Mickey Mouse-shaped silhouettes or stylish embroidery. Eagle-eyed Guests may spot a red hidden Mickey icon in the star-shaped dish filled with white stars.

From T-shirts and dresses to striped Spirit Jerseys and pullovers, adults and kids will discover fresh and fashionable apparel and accessories painted with a patriotic color palette.

New headwear joins the mix with a wide-brimmed straw hat complete with embroidered lettering, or a baseball cap which features a metal bottle cap with bottle opener on the bill.

Fans of handbags by Dooney & Bourke will love the Crossbody bag, wallet and tote, each containing patriotic stylings and images of Mickey Mouse in red, white and blue.

Adorable plush of everyone’s favorite sweethearts and collectible Disney pins round out this collection of Americana “must-haves.”

Look for these products in shops at Disney Springs in Walt Disney World Resort including World of Disney, Marketplace Co-Op and Disney’s Pin Traders. Guests may also find the collection at the World of Disney in Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort, and via ShopDisney.com.

June 13, 2018
First Teaser Trailer For Tim Burton’s Live Action Dumbo Released

Disney has unveiled the first teaser trailer for Tim Burton’s live-action “Dumbo” remake and it will warm your heart.

The reimagined story expands on the beloved classic story where, as Disney puts it, “differences are celebrated, family is cherished and dreams take flight.” The trailer, which features Norwegian popstar Aurora singing Baby Mine, features clips of Dreamland as well as Dumbo taking flight for the first time.

Tim Burton helms the live action “Dumbo” which is inspired by the 1941 animated film. It’s written by Ehren Kruger and has an all-star cast including Eva Green, Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Alan Arkin, and Danny Devito.

The story begins when circus owner Max Medici played by Danny DeVito who enlists former star Holt Farrier played Colin Farrell and his children to care for a newborn elephant. “We’re all family here,” they tell a frightened Dumbo. “No matter how small.”

Disney has continued its dominance at the box office in with a slew of live-action remakes of its animated classics, including “Alice in Wonderland,” “The Jungle Book,” and last year’s $1.25 billion worldwide grossing “Beauty and the Beast.”

Tim Burton’s Dumbo flies into theaters March 29, 2019.

June 13, 2018
2019 Disneyland Resort Grad Nite Dates Announced
Since 1961, high school seniors have been able to celebrate their accomplishments with fellow grads from around the country and create one final night of high school memories at the Disneyland Resort Grad Nite. Disney has just announced that in 2019, Grad Nite will return to Disney California Adventure park on select dates in May and June!

2019 Disneyland Resort Grad Nite Dates:
- May 10, 11, 17, 18, 21, 22, 28, 29, and 31
- June 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, and 14
Each event night, Disney California Adventure park will be transformed into an end of year party central! From grooving along Route 66 with a dance party in Cars Land, to dropping into thrilling attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! and the Incredicoaster, Grad Nite is the perfect way to cap off high school with an experience that will last a lifetime.

A variety of ticket packages allow students to make the most of the party, including options to give them the opportunity to choose a Grad Nite visit that includes the Grad Nite experience at Disney California Adventure park in the evening, a full day Disney California Adventure park experience or a full day to experience both Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure park.

Stay tuned, 2019 registration opens early this fall! For more information, visit
June 12, 2018
New ‘Incredibles’ Float to Join ‘Paint the Night’ Parade at Disney California Adventure
The fan-favorite “Paint the Night” parade at Disney California Adventure park is currently dazzling audiences during the limited-time Pixar Fest at the Disneyland Resort. Joining “Paint the Night” on June 23 is a new float inspired by Disney•Pixar’s “The Incredibles” and “Incredibles 2.”

The Parr family and their pal Frozone will make their debut in this spectacular parade with high-tech, pop-art effects. This electrifying parade uses more than 1 million brilliant lights, high-energy music and cutting edge special effects featuring many beloved Disney and Pixar pals.

Here’s how the fun and excitement of “The Incredibles” will be brought to life:
- The dynamic and colorful new float connects both “The Incredibles” and “Incredibles 2,” picking up where the first film left off and portraying the scene that shows the Parr family banding together against the supervillain known as “The Underminer.”
- Violet Parr uses her super powers to surround herself with a “force field.” It will come to life through a custom-built persistence-of-vision (POV) globe – the first and largest ever to be installed on a Disney parade float.
- Dash’s super-human speed is captured through an innovative system of 64 individually lit frames, flashing as he races in circles around the float.
- Mr. Incredible and Mrs. Incredible, along with their pal Frozone, light up the night in new super suits. The suits have been installed and wired by hand and are fully programmable to be in sync with the music and the float lighting.
- The super suits, designed by eccentric fashion designer Edna Mode, are illuminated with nearly 100 sheets of flexible, miniature LEDs. This is the first time these light-up suits will be worn by any Disney or Pixar character.
- The chest logos on the Incredibles’ glowing super suits are made up of 60 individually programmable LEDs.
This super float joins “Paint the Night” this summer during Pixar Fest, the limited-time celebration happening now through September 3. Pixar Pier will also welcome guests at Disney California Adventure park on June 23.

Be sure to catch “Incredibles 2” in theaters this Friday, June 15!
June 12, 2018
Preview Of New Play Disney Parks App Coming to Disneyland and Walt Disney World

Back in April, Disney announced that they have created a new app which will allow guests to interact with their environment depending on where they are in the parks. Now we’re getting a sneak peek at the all-new mobile app, called Play Disney Parks, coming to guests at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort this summer.

The Play Disney Parks app will allow guests to play with family and friends while waiting in line for some favorite attractions. There’s something for everyone to enjoy, from activities that interact with select attraction queues to games that bring favorite Disney stories to life in immersive new ways.

Guests can also earn and share digital collectibles when they receive themed achievements, earned for experiences both in the app and across the Disney parks. And with the Disney trivia feature, family and friends can band together to see if they have what it takes to become Disney trivia masters as they discover fun facts about their favorite theme parks.

While the popular My Disney Experience app at Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland App at Disneyland Resort will continue serving guests in their vacation planning before and during their visit, the all-new Play Disney Parks app will soon allow guests to discover even more ways to enhance their in-park experience. Get ready to explore Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort like never before.

The Disney Play Parks app is now available for pre-order on the App Store and Google Play.

June 12, 2018
VIDEO: New Kingdom Hearts 3 Release Will Feature Frozen World & Characters

Fans of the Kingdom Hearts series have been anxiously awaiting the next instalment in the franchise and after Microsoft’s E3 press conference yesterday we have some chilling new details. It was revealed that Kingdom Hearts 3 will feature a world based on Disney’s Frozen.

Kingdom Hearts III is an upcoming action role-playing game, developed by Square Enix and published by Disney Interactive Studios for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It is the ninth installment in the Kingdom Hearts series. The beloved game is a crossover of various Disney settings based in a universe made specifically for the series. The series’ plot centers on the main character Sora’s search for his friends and his encounters with Disney characters (and a few others) on their worlds.

A new trailer, featuring the theme song “Don’t Think Twice” by Utada Hikaru, was released during the conference that showcased the new world. Watch it below:

In addition to Frozen, the confirmed Disney worlds in the game are Tangled, Big Hero Six, Hercules, Toy Story, and Monsters Inc. Some other characters you will get a chance to meet also include Wreck-it Ralph and Ratatouille.

The game was confirmed to be in development during E3 2013 and it is set to be released on January 29, 2019.

June 11, 2018
Disney World is Offering A Chance to Go Glamping In Animal Kingdom
Have you ever wanted to actually sleep in a Disney World Park? If you’re lucky, you just might get a chance! Oh My Disney is partnering with Walt Disney World Resort to bring you an amazing chance to glamp under the floating mountains of Pandora – The World of Avatar.

This is an experience like none other and done like only Disney could deliver. For the first and only time, one person and his or her plus one will get the chance to win it! The amazing experience includes catering, tents, and Park passes, people! Here’s what you and your plus one will get if you are the Grand Prize Winner:
- A 4-day, 3-night Walt Disney World Experience package, including round-trip airfare and accommodations.
- A 1-night tent stay with an exclusive VIP after dark experience at Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
- Two (2) 4-Day Magic Your Way® Tickets with a Park Hopper® Option, including access to Disney VIP Tour Guides.
- A $250 Disney Gift Card.
- One (1) Memory Maker Package including unlimited Disney PhotoPass® Service photographs.
This is all part of Disney Parks D-Camp: The Ultimate Escape to Your #HappyPlace. To enter for a chance to win, you simply need to share in a video why you want to win the ultimate glamping experience at Pandora – The World of Avatar. It’s that easy! Here’s some additional details you should know:
- You must be the only person appearing in the video.
- The video must be two (2) minutes in length or less.
- The video file size cannot exceed 200 MB.
- The video must be in one of the following formats: .avi, .mov, .3gp, .mp4, .mpg, or .m4v.
Once you’ve done that, if you’re a finalist, you will be scheduled for a phone or Skype interview on either July 9, 2018 or July 10, 2018. FYI the interview may be recorded for internal judging purposes or for use in advertising and publicity! And if you end up being the Grand Prize Winner, you must take your trip between July 28, 2018 and July 31, 2018. You should also know that if you win, portions of your Grand Prize Trip might be filmed for a segment to be shared on the Walt Disney World website or social channels, which is pretty great!

Check out disney.com/dcamp for more information on the prize deets and how to enter – hurry up and check it out now!
June 11, 2018
New Baymax MagicBand Is Ten On A Scale Of One To Ten

One of the first ever graphic MagicBands released back in the fall of 2014 was adorned with Baymax and Hiro from Big Hero 6 and it was a fast sell out. Ever since, fans have been hoping for Baymax to get his own MagicBand and now their wish has come true.

Just last week Disney released one of the newest additions to the collection and with this one, also inspired by Disney’s Big Hero 6, you’ll always have the personal healthcare companion close at hand.

The front features the face of Baymax and the backside of the band features the fictitious city San Fransokyo. This new band is for sale online, and is slowly making its way to stores throughout Walt Disney World.

The MagicBand is Open Edition and costs $22.99. You can find them in the parks and at on shopDisney.

MagicBands are colorful, waterproof wristbands – resembling a watch or bracelet – that you can quickly and easily touch to a sensor called a ”touch point.” You will receive a MagicBand 2 if you stay at a Disney Resort Hotel in Florida or you are a Walt Disney World Resort Passholder. They allow guests to connect the vacation choices they make in My Disney Experience – from effortless theme-park entry, to Online Check-In, Disney PhotoPass association and more.

June 10, 2018
Pirates of the Caribbean Returns to Disneyland with New Magic

Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland has been under refurbishment since mid April and the newly revamped ride will finally be back up and running beginning Friday June 8.

As we previously shared, guests now sailing will be introduced to a new scene, that’s familiar to those who have visited Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris, which features a pirate auctioneer overseeing a sale of the townspeople’s most prized possessions and goods. The familiar redhead figure, known as Redd, has also switched sides to become a pirate who’s just pillaged the town’s rum supply.

The redhead has been part of the auction scene in the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction since it first opened, but last year Disney announced that it would be reimagining that section of the ride. The attraction has already opened in Disney World with its new scene, but Disneyland guests are anxiously awaiting the reopening of the classic attraction.

Timed to coincide with the re-opening of the attraction, now you will actually be able to meet the redhead who has now turned pirate. Beginning Friday, June 8, the brassy buccaneer known as Redd will be arriving at Disneyland and you can meet her in person in New Orleans Square.

In the video below you can see another new bit of magic developed by Disney’s team of Imagineers. Kim Irvine, Art Director for Walt Disney Imagineering, gives a peek at what’s new inside Pirates of the Caribbean!

As Kim mentions, another fun element has been added, which fans from the attraction’s early days may recognize—but you’ll have to experience it for yourself and listen closely to find out!

June 9, 2018