Disney News

Author: Nate

  • New Princess Leia Bun-Inspired Minnie Ears Coming to Hollywood Studios

    New Princess Leia Bun-Inspired Minnie Ears Coming to Hollywood Studios

    These are the Minnie Ears you’re looking for! This Princess Leia Bun-inspired design from Ashley Eckstein is the newest edition to the Disney Parks Designer Collection and it’s landing in a galaxy near you on October 4. 

    As if that wasn’t exciting enough, Eckstein will be on hand at Launch Bay Cargo in Disney’s Hollywood Studios to sign the newest Minnie ear headband on October 4 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

    Known to Star Wars fans as the voice of Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, actress and entrepreneur, Ashley Eckstein, also founded Her Universe – the groundbreaking fangirl fashion company and lifestyle brand. 

    Wristbands will be distributed to guests at store open on the day of the signing with the purchase of the ear headband designed by Ashley. A wristband from the appearance location is required to meet Ashley Eckstein and allows the guest to get two items signed.  A limited number of wristbands will be available the day of the signing. Once the wristbands have been distributed, the line to meet Ashley Eckstein will close.

    Merchandise available while supplies last. Only two (2) items will be signed per guest, per time in line. No personal items will be signed. Valid Walt Disney World Resort receipt may be required. Artist signing is subject to space and time availability and is not guaranteed. Theme park admission is required. Event information subject to change without notice.

  • New ‘Epcot Forever’ Nighttime Spectacular Debuts Today at Epcot

    New ‘Epcot Forever’ Nighttime Spectacular Debuts Today at Epcot

    Across the canvas of a darkened sky, the new “Epcot Forever” nighttime spectacular debuting today at Walt Disney World Resort celebrates the past, present and future of Epcot.

    The new show is a showcase of soaring fireworks, inspiring music, lasers and colorful glowing kites flying above and around the park’s World Showcase Lagoon.

    As the dramatic curtain-closer to each theme park day, the show takes guests on an emotional journey set to stirring renditions of Epcot music that guests will know and love. It will stoke fond memories from the park’s history and spur excitement for the bright future of Epcot – a future filled with new attractions and experiences as part of a multiyear transformation already underway.

    “Epcot Forever” exemplifies the park’s founding principles – innovation, exploration, imagination and celebration. Children sing of “one little spark of inspiration” as guests marvel at fireworks that pinwheel, corkscrew and explode in giant aerial starbursts. As colorful pyrotechnics dance across the heavens, the Epcot story plays out to a grand orchestral soundtrack. Noted conductor and composer Don Harper produced new arrangements of classic Epcot tunes to thread through the show.

    Future World pavilions past and present inspire familiar themes, building to Epcot’s grandest moments. In one sequence, uplifting music from Soarin’ Around the World cues dazzling LED kites to crisscross the sky in a kaleidoscopic effect. Guests also will recognize cherished music from Epcot spectacles of the past, including the “Tapestry of Nations” parade.

    Approaching its dramatic conclusion, the show pivots from the park’s familiar music to a new verse of “One Little Spark” celebrating the future of Epcot yet to come. As the music and fireworks build, “One Little Spark” transitions to a spectacular finale that brightens the sky one last time with fireworks and special effects.

    “Epcot Forever” is set to perform into 2020, leading to the park’s next nighttime spectacular, “HarmonioUS.”

  • Disney’s Live-Action ‘Snow White’ Reportedly Beginning Production Next Spring

    Disney’s Live-Action ‘Snow White’ Reportedly Beginning Production Next Spring

    Disney has been turning out live-action remakes like a machine and now the company will reportedly begin production on an updated version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in the spring.

    Disney will go into production on its latest animated to live-action remake next March in Vancouver, Canada, according to TheDisInsider.

    News of a Disney live-action adaptation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs dates back to 2016 when the project was first confirmed by Disney. Updates were scarce until earlier this year, when it was reported The Amazing Spider-Man helmer Marc Webb was being eyed to direct the project using a screenplay from The Girl on the Train screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson.

    The report says Disney is now seeking actors for its central roles, including the titular princess, the Prince, the seven dwarfs and the Evil Queen, who doubles as an Old Hag.

    Also possibly on board are Academy Award-winning duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman), who created new music for Aladdin with Alan Menken. That film won Disney a magical $1.048 billion globally, making it the sixth highest-grossing film of the year. Disney followed Aladdin with another winning remake — the Jon Favreau-directed The Lion King — that roared to $1.63 billion worldwide, making it the second highest-grossing film of 2019 behind only Disney’s own Marvel Studios blockbuster Avengers: Endgame.

    Disney’s president of production Sean Bailey — who has led the charge on mining Disney’s treasure trove of cherished animated films and translating them into modern reinterpretations that almost always go on to score big at the box office — has credited Walt Disney Studios Co-Chairman and Chief Creative Officer Alan Horn with Disney’s decision to re-imagine its animated library.

    “We were given an incredible opportunity to discover what we wanted to be as a live-action team. We were given a lot of latitude to think about what that was,” Bailey told Vulture in 2017. “We thought if Iron Man and Thor and Captain America are Marvel superheroes, then maybe Alice, Cinderella, Mowgli, and Belle are our superheroes, and Cruella and Maleficent are our supervillains. Maybe if there’s a way to reconnect with that affinity for what those characters mean to people in a way that gets the best talent and uses the best technology, that could become something really exciting. It feels very Disney, playing to the competitive advantages of this label.”

    Disney is now developing 101 Dalmatians prequel Cruella, starring Emma Stone and set for release in 2021, and The Little Mermaid, starring Halle Bailey and directed by Rob Marshall (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Into the Woods). Disney first releases its Angelina Jolie-starring Maleficent sequel, Mistress of Evil, Oct. 18 before debuting the live-action Mulan March 27, 2020.

  • 7-year-old boy Who Used Money to Help Hurricane Evacuees Gets His Disney World Trip

    7-year-old boy Who Used Money to Help Hurricane Evacuees Gets His Disney World Trip

    Jermaine Bell and his family were rewarded a VIP getaway to Walt Disney World after Bell used the money he was saving for a trip to help Dorian victims and over the weekend the 7-year-old finally made it to Disney World.

    Millions were moved by the story of this child’s generous spirit, and just a few days later, Mickey Mouse made a surprise appearance at Jermaine’s birthday party to personally invite him to visit Walt Disney World.

    Over the weekend, Walt Disney World Resort rolled out the red carpet for Jermaine and his family, as they visited all four Walt Disney World theme parks and even took in a Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park.

    For Jermaine, a highlight of his trip was visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where he experienced Kilimanjaro Safaris, received a private tour lead by Disney Animal Programs, watched “Festival of the Lion King” (and was surprised with a private meet and greet with the cast after the show), and also attended “Rivers of Light.”

    According to Jermaine’s mother, Lauren Creech, her son’s generosity came as no surprise – but the reaction to it did. 

    “In our family, we are givers and it just makes me overjoyed to see that at such an early age that he has grasped those values,” she said.

    A few park guests even recognized Jermaine during his visit, a fact that his mother said was a true highlight for her.

    “I think that’s the biggest thing,” Lauren said. “There’s no way we could’ve known that something as simple as him being generous would’ve blown up and affected so many people.” 

  • Spider-Man Returns to MCU as Disney and Sony Reach Deal for Third Tom Holland Film

    Spider-Man Returns to MCU as Disney and Sony Reach Deal for Third Tom Holland Film

    Spider-Man is swinging back into the MCU. After negotions between Disney/Marvel and Sony broken down last summer, the the two companies have come to an agreement to create another Spider-Man film. 

    On Friday, the two companies jointly announced that Marvel Studios and its president, Kevin Feige, will produce the third film in the “Spider-Man: Homecoming” series. It will once again feature Tom Holland reprising his role as the titular hero. 

    “I am thrilled that Spidey’s journey in the MCU will continue, and I and all of us at Marvel Studios are very excited that we get to keep working on it,” said Marvel topper Kevin Feige. “Spider-Man is a powerful icon and hero whose story crosses all ages and audiences around the globe. He also happens to be the only hero with the superpower to cross cinematic universes, so as Sony continues to develop their own Spidey-verse you never know what surprises the future might hold.”

    Disney will retain its merchandising rights and will put up roughly a quarter of the financing. As part of the arrangement, Spider-Man will also appear in one future Marvel Studios film.

    The film is scheduled for release on July 16, 2021. Amy Pascal will also produce through Pascal Pictures, as she has on the first two Holland-led films.

  • Virgin Atlantic Launches Millennium Falcon Themed Star Wars Plane

    Virgin Atlantic Launches Millennium Falcon Themed Star Wars Plane

    This is the airline you are looking for! Virgin Atlantic has given one of its Boeing 747 aircraft a major Star Wars themed makeover and it is out of this galaxy!

    The Millennium Falcom themed 747 will now transport you from London Gatwick Airport to Orlando, Florida, where you’ll be able to experience Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, at Walt Disney World Resort.

    The aircraft, which will be known as “The Falcon” – showcases the iconic Millennium Falcom – the famous spaceship once owned by Han Solo. It forms part of Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays’ celebrations of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which opened in Orlando in August.

    It’s part of a promotion that Virgin Holidays is doing in partnership with Walt Disney World. Virgin says the decal is 144 feet long from end to end and took three weeks to print.

    “It was a very exciting brief to be able to redesign our aircraft livery to represent something as iconic as the Millennium Falcon and it’s not something that you get to do every day,” Virgin Atlantic senior engineer Dave Napper said in a news release. “We have many Star Wars fans within the company who jumped at the chance to get involved in some way, and we cannot wait to see ‘The Falcon’ take flight.”

    The new plane wrap also comes as Disney World ramps up promotion for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on August 29.

  • New Heidi Klum Luxury Minnie Ears Debut at Disneyland for $600

    New Heidi Klum Luxury Minnie Ears Debut at Disneyland for $600

    Disney has released the newest set of Minnie ears from the Disney Parks Designer Collection, this time created by Supermodel Heidi Klum!

    The newlywed, 46, will debut her own design of a limited-edition Minnie Mouse ear headband at the Disneyland park and will be available to autograph at the Disney Dress Shop in Downtown Disney on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 2-4 p.m.

    “Bedazzling the most famous ears in the world is like a dream come true for me. I am still pinching myself,” Klum said in a post as you can see below:

    The new Minnie Mouse ears headband featuring more than 150 sparkling Swarovski crystals designed by “America’s Got Talent” judge Heidi Klum will comes with an jaw dropping price tag: $600.

  • New Farewell Illuminations Spirit Jersey Now Available Only at Epcot

    New Farewell Illuminations Spirit Jersey Now Available Only at Epcot

    After a dazzling 20-year run, we’ll soon be bidding a fond farewell to “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” at Epcot and to commemorate the occasion Disney has released a Farewell IllumiNations Spirit Jersey.

    If you love “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” too, you still have a few more nights left to catch this classic Epcot show before its final performance on September 30, 2019.

    Fans of the firework show will be able to purchase a Farewell IllumiNations spirit jersey at Mouse Gear, World Traveler, and the kiosk outside Port of Entry in Epcot starting today. There is no better way to remember this dazzling show after its 20-year run!

    Looking for a Minnie headband to top off your “IllumiNations” look? The light-up Minnie headband is the perfect addition for your farewell look.

    Illuminations Minnie Ears

    Keeping checking Disney Dorks for details on upcoming “Epcot Forever” merchandise available on October 1! All merchandise available while supplies last.

  • Dooney & Bourke Celebrates 10 Years of Disney Designs with New and Familiar Bags

    Dooney & Bourke Celebrates 10 Years of Disney Designs with New and Familiar Bags

    Dooney & Bourke is celebrating ten years of Disney-inspired designs with the release of new designs for the 10th anniversary bags.

    They are also celebrating with the re-release of “Disney Sketch” and “Mickey Balloons” – two original prints that were originally released ten years ago and will be available in new color combinations. Each of the anniversary patterns has a special hangtag and dustcover; plus, a few favorite silhouettes have been released from the vault.

    If you want to be among the first to purchase the latest Dooney & Bourke bags, make plans to visit Ever After Jewelry Co. & Accessories at Disney Springs on Friday, October 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

    Guests who make any Dooney & Bourke purchase during the event will receive a complimentary Dooney & Bourke small zip pouch, while supplies last, and will also have the chance to meet Ian Ray, the Creative Director for the brand. Not sure where to park? The Lime Garage is closest to the store, which is located in the heart of Town Center.

  • New Disney and Vera Bradley Collection Set to Debut at Disney Springs and shopDisney

    New Disney and Vera Bradley Collection Set to Debut at Disney Springs and shopDisney

    Today, Disney shared a sneak peek of the new Disney and Vera Bradley collection set to debut on Thursday, September 26.

    The new collection is called Mickey’s Whimsical Paisley and features a motif of large-scale paisley elements intertwined with full-body images of Mickey Mouse, Disney’s iconic theme park castle, Mickey-shaped balloons, and tossed confetti.

    This limited-edition pattern will be available at Vera Bradley at Disney Springs and online on shopDisney.com. You can also order by calling the store at (407) 828-0040 on Sept. 26.