Disney News

Category: Disney

  • BREAKING: Disney Skyliner Gondolas Indefinitely Shut Down After Accident

    BREAKING: Disney Skyliner Gondolas Indefinitely Shut Down After Accident

    Guests on Disney World’s new Skyliner gondolas were stranded for hours Saturday night after several gondolas became stuck in the air and today, Disney confirmed the gondolas will remain closed.

    In a statement, Disney said that its new aerial cable car system would be closed indefinitely after it experienced “unexpected downtime” late Saturday night.

    The transport system, which was created to move guests between Disney’s hotels and resorts to Hollywood Studios and Epcot, opened just a week ago.

    “One of the three Disney Skyliner routes experienced an unexpected downtime Saturday evening,” Disney said in a release. “As a result, the Skyliner will be closed while we look into the details surrounding the downtime.”

    A Disney spokeswoman said there were no injuries in the incident. Disney didn’t say in its release how guests who were stuck would be compensated, but said it was looking into how the incident “impacts their visit with us.”

    Disney did not announce a timetable for the gondolas return to service.

    Credit: Ada

  • Petition Calls For Removal of Principal at Walt Disney Magnet School in Chicago

    Petition Calls For Removal of Principal at Walt Disney Magnet School in Chicago

    A petition calling for the removal of the principal at Walt Disney Magnet School on Chicago’s North Side has gained attention online.

    Walt Disney Magnet School is an eleven-acre site located on Chicago’s lakefront. It opened in the 1970’s and was the first magnet school in the City of Chicago. There are approximately 1600 students in Pre-K through 8th grades.

    The petition, posted online by Kathy Haggard, has gathered more than 1,100 signatures. In the petition, the principal, Dr. Kathleen Hagstrom, is accused of harassment, making inappropriate and racist comments and retaliating against people who’ve voiced concerns about her conduct.

    According to the online pentition, Dr. Hagstrom has repeatedly called the police on African American and Latino students, which the writer described as a “scare tactic to force families to transfer from Disney.”

    The mother of a student, who chose not to identify herself, said her fifth grade son has been severely bullied ever since he started at the school.

    “It’s the person getting bullied. It’s their fault. That’s kind of the message I got,” the mother said.

    Police reports filed on behalf of the boy outline numerous incidents involving doctor visits after every attack. The mother said Dr. Hagstrom suggested in an email that her son transfer schools.

    “Very vulgar. Very intimidating,” the boy’s mother added. “Cut you off. You don’t get to say what you need to say. Not an open, fair conversation. This is the way it’s gonna go, and that’s it.”

    The petition also included dozens of comments from alumni, parents and graduates who outlined their negative experiences with Dr. Hagstrom. A handful of commenters came to the principal’s defense.

  • Disney Store Launches Inside 25 Target Stores Nationwide Today

    Disney Store Launches Inside 25 Target Stores Nationwide Today

    Target wants to bring the magic of Disney to you! Today, The Walt Disney Company and Target Corporation launched the Disney store at Target in 25 select Target locations and a complementary online experience to help bring the magic of Disney to the joy of shopping at Target.

    Guests can now access items previously only available at Disney retail locations, along with select Target exclusive Frozen 2 and Star Wars merchandise, just in time for Triple Force Friday and Frozen Fan Fest.

    These new “shop-in-shop” locations have launched at 25 select Target stores, with 40 more opening by October 2020. The fun is also be available in a new digital experience at Target.com/Disneystore. Prices range from $2–$200, with many items under $20.

    The Disney store at Target features more than 450 items including toys, games, apparel and accessories—with more than 100 products that were previously only available at Disney retail locations. Guests will find favorites like Disney Princess, Star Wars, Marvel, Disney Junior characters, Classic Disney plush, apparel, home and holiday products, along with collectibles like the Disney Animators’ Collection.

    Target teams worked closely with Disney to co-develop and design the store experience with features like music, interactive displays, photo ops and a seating area where families can watch Disney movie clips.

    Adding to the excitement, They are also open a new Target store near the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando in 2021, to bring visiting families a little extra convenience.

    Target CEO Brian Cornell joined Bob Chapek, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, onstage at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, to announce this big news in front of a cheering crowd.

    Best of all, the news means guests will be able to take advantage of all of their favorite Target benefits and services as they shop these in-store and online experiences. Use your Target REDcard to save 5% on every purchase, and choose from their same-day pickup, same-day delivery and free two-day shipping options to get your products in a snap.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Sleepy Hallow Inspired Reusable Straw Now Available at Animal Kingdom

    Sleepy Hallow Inspired Reusable Straw Now Available at Animal Kingdom

    As part of Disney’s commitment to environmental stewardship they began eliminating single-use plastic straws at Disney Parks last April. The alternative, paper straws… And for those who aren’t fond of them, you’ll be excited to find out that Disney has released another reusable straw just in time for Halloween time.

    The Sleepy Hallow “Pumpkin Straw” is reusable and can be found at several ice cream carts throughout Animal Kimgdom.

    The straw has Ichabod Crane’s charred pumpkin head and is made of rubber. It has flashing lights inside the pumpkin head with three different settings and it will only set you back about $4.00.

    Last July, Bob Chapek, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences, and Consumer Products said, “Eliminating plastic straws and other plastic items are meaningful steps in our long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship.”

  • 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.

  • Disney X Spotted Zebra Launches Affordable Kids Clothing Collection on Amazon

    Disney X Spotted Zebra Launches Affordable Kids Clothing Collection on Amazon

    Spotted Zebra is launching its first Disney collection that incorporates kids’ favorite characters into affordable Tees and Leggings.

    This marks the first exclusive collaboration from Spotted Zebra and features key franchises including Mickey/Minnie, Frozen, Star Wars, and Marvel in tees and leggings with styles offered in multipacks of 2-4 pieces for easy stock-ups and mixing and matching. 

    The collection’s fun and playful prints are one of a kind and exclusive to Amazon customers, priced at $30 and under. Take a look at the entire collection below:

    Mickey Mouse Tees

    Boys’ Toddler & Kids Mickey Mouse 4-Pack Short-Sleeve T-Shirts – $30

    Boys’ Toddler & Kids Mickey Mouse 4-Pack Short-Sleeve T-Shirts – $30

    Frozen Tees and Pants

    Girls’ Toddler & Kids 4-Pack Disney Frozen Short-Sleeve T-Shirts – $30

    Girls’ Toddler & Kids 4-Pack Leggings – $30

    Star Wars Tees and Pants

    Boys’ Toddler & Kids 4-Pack Short-Sleeve T-Shirts – $30

    Girls’ Toddler & Kids 4-Pack Short-Sleeve T-Shirts – $30

    Girls’ Toddler & Kids 4-Pack Leggings – $30

    Marvel Tees

    Boys’ Toddler & Kids 4-Pack Short-Sleeve T-Shirts – $30

    Minnie Mouse Tees

    Girls’ Toddler & Kids Mickey & Minnie Mouse 4-Pack Short-Sleeve Tees – $30

    Girls’ Toddler & Kids Mickey and Minnie Mouse 4-Pack Leggings – $30

  • Disney Villain Makeup Palettes Coming Exclusively to Ulta

    Disney Villain Makeup Palettes Coming Exclusively to Ulta

    If Halloween is your favorite time of year, and the Evil Queen is your style icon, then get ready to rule the Villainous Season in style! Because Disney has partnered with Funko POP! and Ulta Beauty to bring you a sinister new make-up collection, featuring Cruella, Ursula, Maleficent, and the Evil Queen.

    Appearing on October 6th, each Villainess will have a Make-up brush and cosmetic bag set, which have already been released, and an eyeliner and high shine lip gloss designed in their honor. With names like Thorny, Sea Witch, and Mirror they pay homage to each villains evil deeds.

    The poisonously beautiful Evil Witch and the most magnificently evil Maleficent both have eyeshadow palettes named after them with colors like Bad Apple, One Bite, and Misunderstood. They’re designed to look like the Funko POP! version of each villain when closed, so you’ll feel like your favorite villain is with you all the time!

    Cruella gets a blush and bronzer set for setting off those razor sharp cheek bones, and Ursula, that crafty set sea witch who talked a mermaid out of her voice gets her own Highlighter set.

    Which villain will you be bringing home on October 6th? With sets this cute I think I might need all of them!

  • Spider-Man May Return To Marvel Due To Apple Potentially Buying Sony

    Spider-Man May Return To Marvel Due To Apple Potentially Buying Sony

    Spider-Man fans have been slung all over the place as negotions to keep the web-slinger in the MCU heated up and then broke down. Now, as Apple is considering buying Sony Pictures, Disney is waiting in anticipation as the they could end up regaining the rights to Spider-Man for free.

    If and when Sony winds up in a merger with a company like Netflix, Amazon, or Apple, the Spider-Man IP will revert back to Marvel — and it’s unlikely anyone currently involved with the IP at Sony will get a dime when that happens, according to Forbes.

    According to a report by Cosmic Book News, an investor analyst just recently claimed that Apple may be out for a major acquisition, and Sony has been listed as a potential candidate along with studios like A24, Lionsgate, Viacom/CBS, MGM, and Netflix.

    In early September, Sony CEO Tony Vinciquerra firmly stated that Sony Studios is “not for sale,” despite regular press coverage to the contrary, but things can change and money talks.

    The Sony boss also discussed the studio’s decision to stay out of the streaming wars thus far in terms of the general market, a decision which he said allows Sony to be “more transparent” with its creators by not becoming “beholden to any platform.”

    Amazon is also said to be considering purchasing Sony Pictures as well. The reason why both companies are suddenly interested is because they both have, or are working on, streaming sites, but neither has their own theatrical production or distribution model.