Category: News

Disney Filing Discloses Fox’s Reasons For Rejecting Comcast Bid

In a filing made by Walt Disney Co with the Securities and Exchange Commission today, in their efforts to acquire Fox’s film and TV assets, we now know Fox’s reasons for rejecting Comcast’s offer.

Walt Disney Co announced the purchased most of 21st Century Fox’s assets back in December in a deal worth $52.4 billion. At the time it was well-known that Comcast Corp had also been bidding on the assets, but they eventually bowed out.

In documents filed with the SEC today, Disney disclosed Fox’s reasons for rejecting the rival offer without disclosing the bidder.

The documents state that Fox rejected a deal with another entity — that multiple sources have identified as Comcast Corp — due to higher regulatory risks.

April 18, 2018
All-New Interactive ‘Play Disney Parks’ App Launching This Summer

Today, 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. With the all-new Play Disney Parks app guests can soon explore Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort in a whole new way.

This new, free to download, interactive app allows guests to access exclusive experiences at both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World through activities that interact with the surrounding environment. Coming this summer on iOS and Android, guests can play in the parks like never before using this soon-to-launch mobile app.

With the touch of a button, wait time turns into play time with family and friends at certain locations. And the more you explore in Disney parks, the more there is to discover on the app. This is just the latest way we are making a visit to our parks even more fun and memorable in new and innovative ways.

Since the launch of My Disney Experience at Walt Disney World Resort in 2013, we continue to reinvent digital offerings at our parks around the world. The My Disney Experience app, our guests’ go-to vacation companion, has continued to evolve – including the Get Directions feature, Online Check-In and the recently launched Digital Key.

Guests are also loving the Disneyland App, Disney MaxPass and soon mobile order at Disneyland Resort – currently available at Walt Disney World – and we’re excited to bring this latest innovation to the parks!

April 18, 2018
Toy Story Land Fast Passes NOW Open With New Tier System At Hollywood Studios

Are you ready to “shrink” to the size of a toy and play with your favorite Toy Story characters in Andy’s backyard? Well construction is nearly complete on Toy Story Land and you can now begin booking your fast passes for the new land starting today at Hollywood Studios in a new tier System.

Toy Story Land opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on June 30 and FastPass+ reservations are now open for guests staying at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels.

The new fast pass tier system for the park has been confirmed and there are only two tiers for the park. One for tier Toy Story Land and then one tier for all of the other rides.

Effective today, FastPass+ reservations are available for attractions in the land. Guests who are up to 60 days from their Walt Disney World Resort hotel check-in can choose one FastPass+ reservation for one of the Toy Story Land attractions, plus two other attractions in the park such as Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and more, depending on availability.

But FastPass+ reservations are just one of the ways guests can experience Toy Story Land. Beginning July 1, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will also operate from 8 a.m-10:30 p.m. for a limited time. In addition, even more Extra Magic Hour opportunities will be available including daily morning Extra Magic Hours, plus evening Extra Magic Hours offered once per week.

April 17, 2018
Florida Teacher Killed In Car Accident Returning From Disney Trip

A magical trip to Disney World ends in tragedy after a teacher at Middleburg High School in Florida was killed in a car accident over the weekend while returning home.

Melanie Blodgett and her husband Les Blodgett were on their way back from Walt Disney World in Orlando when their car was struck from the side, according to family members. Melanie worked in the high school’s worked in the Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program, Bronco Building Blocks and Les is part of the schools custodial staff.

The couple spent the day at Disney World on Saturday, just hours before she died. She spent the day doing the thing she loved the most with the person she loved the most, according to friends.

The high school made the announcement to students and staff on Monday via their official Facebook page.

“I think all parents who had children touched by Melanie can all say how genuine and loving she was. She loved my baby like her own and was a huge influence in her decision to teach. She always put her kids first and never knew a stranger. She will be greatly missed. I am so thankful that my daughters path crossed hers.” one parent commented on the post.

Friends and family knew Melanie as a loving wife, beautiful daughter, loyal sister, and a wonderful friend. As students and teachers returned to school yesterday, they honored their beloved teacher by wearing different Disney character t-shirts.

Today Middleburg High School students wore Disney shirts for Mrs. Blodgett — before she died she was able to spend the day at her favorite place with the person she loved. pic.twitter.com/qBA1HyjsxO

— Amber Krycka (@AmberANjax) April 17, 2018

Middleburg High School has counselors on campus to help students and staff. The family has set up a Go-Fund-Me to help with the funeral expenses.

April 17, 2018
New Monorail Fleet Could Be Headed To Walt Disney World Resort

Speculation about Disney upgrading the monorail fleet at Walt Disney World has been going on for sometime. There has been a series of recent mishaps with the current fleet and after a video of a monorail transporting guests with the door open made headlines, it seems that Disney may finally be making a move to purchase a new monorail fleet.

Internal sources are reporting that Disney has ordered a new fleet of monorails to replace the fleet currently in operation, according to a report from WDWNT .

The fleet currently in operation — known as Mark VI monorails — has been in use since 1989, when Disney started replacing the Mark IV. The final Mark IV monorails were finally replaced in 1991 after having been in operation for twenty years starting with the opening of the resort in 1971.

Bombardier of Canada — the same company that built the Mark VI trains for Walt Disney World —will be building the new fleet, according to the report. The mark VI cost the company about $3.5 million per train when they last replaced the fleet in 1989.

Bombardier’s current line of monorails is called the INNOVIA 300 series, but if Disney continues with the current numbering system the new monorail fleet would be the Mark VIII. Mark VII is currently the model used at Disneyland Resort in California which were put into operation in 2008.

The infamous open door incident on Monorail Red back in January may have been what sparked the decision, but the fleet has been under scrutiny since the automation system failed back in 2009 causing a crash that killed Monorail pilot Austin Wuennenberg. That started a long list of problems that this fleet has weathered in recent years. Last summer a piece of Monorail Blue just fell of while it was in transit above the parking lot at Epcot. Also multiple breakdowns last summer plagued the fleet, at times leaving guests to have to find alternated transportation to their destinations.

With the current fleet approaching 30 years of usage it’s no wonder they’re in major need of replacement. They held up for quite some time, longer than any other Disney Parks monorail fleet, but it is definitely time for them to make their way into the history books.

April 16, 2018
The Walt Disney Company Makes $1.5 Million Investment to ‘Meet Me at the Park’ Program

This April, NRPA, in collaboration with Disney, ESPN and ABC, will provide 16 communities with resources to improve local parks through projects that connect kids to nature, inspire kids and families to live healthier lifestyles, and increase access to sports for youth through the Meet Me at the Park Earth Month campaign. The Walt Disney Company will make a $1.5 million contribution to the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) to support the Meet Me at the Park program.

As part of the program, NRPA and Disney will provide local park and recreation agencies in all 50 states, U.S. territories and Washington, D.C. with the opportunity to apply for a grant that will help increase the amount of time children and families spend at their local parks and improve access to safe, fun and unique play spaces.

Additionally, this is the fourth year Meet Me at the Park has come to life to celebrate Earth Month when Disney and NRPA team up to help fund local park improvement projects in 16 U.S. cities.

That’s where you come in. YOU and your friends can get involved in the Meet Me at the Park Earth Month campaign by voting for projects in 15 select cities, including Los Angeles, Orlando and New York, to receive $20,000 in grant funding. You also can nominate any city or town for the chance to receive a separate $20,000 grant to support a local park within that community.

Voting is taking place now and will continue through April 30. You can vote daily online at www.nrpa.org/DisneyMeetMeAtThePark. The park project with the most votes in each city at the end of the month will receive $20,000 in grant funding. Similarly, the write-in-city with the most nominations at the end of the month will also receive $20,000.

Parks benefit everyone in the community. They benefit the economy. They provide important habitats for many animals. As more people move to urban areas, it’s more important than ever to have green spaces where kids, families, and friends can enjoy time with each other and connect with nature.

April 15, 2018
Pixar Fest Begins Today at the Disneyland Resort

The first-ever Pixar Fest begins today at the Disneyland Resort, bringing the playful spirit of Pixar to life!

Through September 3, you can celebrate beloved Pixar characters and stories in new and exciting ways. Pixar Fest is the first-ever Pixar celebration to come to Disney Parks, bringing guests together to celebrate friendship and beyond!

In Disneyland park, an all-new fireworks spectacular will take guests on an emotional journey through Pixar stories, as they illuminate the skies and streets in “Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular.”

Beloved Pixar friends will roll down Main Street, U.S.A. in the popular Pixar Play Parade, which will also feature three new parade story elements. One popular Pixar story coming to Pixar Play Parade is “Inside Out.” Perched atop colorful memory orbs, Joy and Sadness take flight aboard Bing Bong’s rocket wagon, with Bing Bong himself cheering them on!

The electric “Paint the Night” parade will return, making its Disney California Adventure park debut with brilliant lights and catchy tunes.

Pixar Fest will also feature many limited-time experiences throughout the Disneyland Resort, including live entertainment, delicious treats, themed merchandise and more! Here’s a look at the festivities:

April 13, 2018
Millennial Pink Treats Have Arrived at Walt Disney World Resort

Slow your roll Rose Gold, because Millennial Pink in the new kid on the block! Just like the rose gold merch and snacks, Millennial Pink has now gotten in on the action. In addition to those popular millennial pink Spirit Jerseys, Headbands, and MagicBands, this fab new pop color now has a variety of exciting sweet millennial pink treats available at Walt Disney World.

At Magic Kingdom Park, you’ll find a Millennial Pink Milkshake at Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies. This strawberry milkshake comes topped with fluffy cotton candy and house-made Mickey-shaped marshmallows.

Right next door to Magic Kingdom Park, say “aloha” to this Millennial Pink Cupcake at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Found at Capt. Cook’s, this vanilla cupcake is filled with guava cream and topped with buttercream icing and fondant Minnie ears.

Epcot is serving up a Millennial Pink Cupcake at Fountain View. This fabulous vanilla cupcake is filled with strawberry pastry cream and topped with vanilla buttercream and fondant Minnie ears. It also goes perfectly with all of the beautiful flowers currently decorating the park for the International Flower & Garden Festival!

On the other side of International Gateway, Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts are offering a Millennial Pink Raspberry Cream Puff. Found at The Market at Ale & Compass and Beach Club Marketplace, this delicious cream puff is filled with raspberry Bavarian cream and glazed with sugar icing and will be available starting April 12.

Just across the lake at Disney’s BoardWalk, you’ll find this super cute Millennial Pink Pop at the BoardWalk Bakery starting April 19. This crispy treat dome is dipped in white chocolate and topped with pink crispy pearls and millennial Minnie ears.

At Disney Springs, Amorette’s Patisserie is pouring a sweet sip beginning next week – the Millennial Pink Celebration Toast! Enjoy a tall glass of Fairy Tale Celebration Cuvee topped with adorable millennial pink chocolate ears.

The Ganachery at Disney Springs has a couple perfectly pink offerings, too! Here you’ll find a Millennial Pink Piñata, a dark chocolate dome filled with vanilla bean marshmallows and strawberry crispy pearls and topped with edible white chocolate ears. There’s also the Millennial Pink-Berry Ganache Square, with strawberry-lemon ganache covered in milk chocolate.

Then there’s the Millennial Pink Chocolate Cupcake with raspberry marshmallow filling and topped with raspberry buttercream. This cupcake can be found at a variety of locations, including Riverside Mill Food Court at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, the food courts at Disney’s All-Star Resorts, Landscape of Flavors at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, The Artist’s Palette at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, and Everything POP Shopping & Dining at Disney’s Pop Century Resort.

Finally, we have the Millennial Pink Raspberry Chocolate Cupcake at The Mara at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. This chocolate devil’s food cupcake is filled with raspberry mousse and topped with millennial pink buttercream, fondant ears, and edible glitter.

Not only are all of these snacks perfectly pink and delicious, but they make for the CUTEST photo ops with friends and with your millennial pink Disney merchandise, which may be found in merchandise locations across Walt Disney World Resort. So put on those Spirit Jerseys, headbands, and retail MagicBands and come on out to try one of these limited-time millennial pink treats!

April 13, 2018
Disney Launches Its Sports Streaming Service ESPN+ Today
Disney has taken its first step into the world of video streaming today with the launching of its new streaming video product ESPN+.

The new ESPN App has been completely re-imagined experience and includes the seamless integration of ESPN+, the first-ever multi-sport, direct-to-consumer premium subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International group, in partnership with ESPN.

ESPN+ is available for a seven-day free trial, followed by a subscription fee of just $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year, with the ability to cancel at any time. During the first week of launch (April 12–18), fans are being offered a special extended 30-day free trial subscription backed by American Express.

The innovative new app elevates the digital sports experience and becomes the premier, all-in-one digital sports platform for fans, giving them easy access to all of ESPN’s news, scores, analysis, video and audio content. With enhanced design and mobility in mind, the new ESPN app and ESPN+ are available across mobile and connected living room devices—with an optimized experience for each platform.

“This next-generation app is ESPN’s most sophisticated and elegant digital product experience, and a central piece of our next era of innovation,” said James Pitaro, ESPN President and Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks. “No one is in a better position than ESPN to serve sports fans. With this launch, fans will find a re-imagined, easy to use and increasingly personalized experience that puts all of ESPN’s incredible content at their fingertips like never before. With the exciting introduction of ESPN+, they’ll also get more sports content than ever, with direct access to thousands of live games, incredible original programs and an unmatched on-demand library, all at a great price.”

On mobile devices, sports fans will enjoy a highly personalized content experience that begins on the home screen, which features a dynamic feed of relevant ESPN content and coverage—including scores, news, video clips, live events, statistics and more—that balances what is important to each individual fan and the most compelling content that ESPN knows sports fans need. The mobile app also offers three tiers of video access, all powered by BAMTECH Media’s best-in-class video platform: video clips and highlights for all users; “TV Everywhere Streaming” of live and on-demand content from ESPN’s U.S. linear and digital networks for pay TV subscribers; and ESPN+, for the direct-to-consumer streaming service’s subscribers.

Kevin Mayer, Chairman, Direct-to-Consumer and International, The Walt Disney Company, added, “The launch of ESPN+ marks a new era of innovation for The Walt Disney Company, defined by a direct and personal relationship with our consumers. This product reflects our new direct-to-consumer strategy focused on combining our incomparable brands and unmatched content with industry-leading technology to give users an unparalleled digital experience. With BAMTECH Media’s state-of-the-art video platform, ESPN+ delivers an incredible experience for fans with a rich slate of content only ESPN can deliver.”

ESPN+, which is backed by American Express at launch, leverages BAMTECH Media’s video and commerce platform to offer fans thousands of additional live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks. ESPN+ delivers an unparalleled programming lineup powered by four key pillars of content that includes live sports events from MLB, NHL, MLS, college sports, Top Rank Boxing, PGA Tour golf and more; high-quality original shows and films, including the 30 for 30 documentary “The Last Knight,” the first in the award-winning series to appear exclusively on ESPN+; exclusive studio programs, such as Detail, written, produced and hosted by NBA legend Kobe Bryant; and an unmatched on-demand library that includes the entire 30 for 30 archive, the best of ESPN’s award-winning newsmagazine program, E:60, and storytelling brand, SC Featured, and The Masters films, annual recaps of 57 years of The Masters, beginning with Arnold Palmer’s 1960 victory, and going right up until 2017.

“For the launch of ESPN+, our focus has been on applying the innovations in direct-to-consumer technology we’ve built at BAMTECH over the years to create an all-new best-in-class consumer experience that brings sports fans more of the content they love, wherever, whenever they want,” added Michael Paull, President, BAMTECH Media. “ESPN+ launches with several exciting product features, including an upgraded HD stream quality to make the action crisper and cleaner, and decreased video load time, getting fans into the live action faster.”

ESPN+ subscribers will receive app and streaming experience enhancements such as HD streaming; functionality that allows users to pause, rewind, restart and even multitask while streaming; limited advertising throughout the entire ESPN App or website; as well as the ability to also subscribe to additional premium streaming services like MLB.TV (and NHL.TV, beginning in 2018–19), all within the ESPN app environment.

The new ESPN App delivers a unique experience to every fan, while also enabling meaningful curation and presentation from ESPN’s unmatched storytellers, journalists and content creators. The app’s new design delivers a rich, easy-to-use interface that enhances personalization and discoverability—presenting content in a myriad of ways to customize it to each individual fan. The powerful technological platform surfaces ESPN content based on favorite teams, sports and leagues, as well as ESPN’s award-winning journalism and personalities.

The new ESPN App, which is presented at launch by Audi, delivers a dynamic and comprehensive sports streaming experience on digital living room devices, as well—including a dedicated ESPN+ section surfacing the best live, upcoming, on-demand and library content available to subscribers; as well as access to ESPN’s entire library of available on-demand content.

The ESPN App with ESPN+ launches today on the following devices and platforms, with more to follow:
- Amazon: Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Fire TV smart TVs and Fire Tablets (4th generation and newer)
- Apple: iPhone, iPad and Apple TV. The ESPN App with ESPN+ will also be supported in the Apple TV App on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV.
- Google: Android phones, Android TV and Chromecast
April 12, 2018
Disney Unveils New Purple Wall Design at Magic Kingdom
The paint has dried and the selfie taking has begun! On Monday, Disney unveiled it’s new purple wall in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park in Walt Disney World. The newly redesigned wall now features an updated purple color scheme in still makes for an Insta-worthy photo-op.

For Disney it may have “all started with a mouse”, but for Instagrammers, the #DisneyWall trend all started with a wall – a purple wall to be exact… So many guests found the purple pigment of this wall to make an ideal Instagram background that the wall quickly earned its own hashtag – #purplewall – and became a sought-after photo stop for guests visiting the park.

If you’re looking to get a picture with the new purple wall you can find it just down the ramp from Tomorrowland Terrace toward the entrance to Tomorrowland. Right when you hit the turn into the land, you’ll see the Purple Wall on your right.

See the posts below for more on #DisneyWalls around Disney Parks:
April 10, 2018