Tag: disney

Festival of Pirates and Princesses Begins at Disneyland Paris

Mischief and magic is afoot at Disneyland Paris! As part of the 25th Anniversary celebration, guests can now create their very own adventure story and participate in the Festival of Pirates and Princesses with an exciting new show called “Disney Pirate or Princess: Make Your Choice!”

The interactive show starts at opposite ends of the park – a blossoming, colorful Disney Princesses float journeys through Fantasyland while a huge galleon boarded by scallywags sails down Main Street, U.S.A., accompanied by an acrobatic crew of pirates.

Both worlds come together at Central Plaza in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle for the finale. Guests are then invited to choose a side and take part in one of two routines alongside their favorite Disney characters, all to the same playful melody for one grand ending. The entire show takes place several times a day, so guests can switch sides for a different experience later in their visit.

During the Festival of Pirates and Princesses, guests will see sequences from Pirates of the Caribbean during the new Disney Illuminations show and may even spot Jack Sparrow in Adventureland with his pirate crew. Pirates and princesses alike can take part in face painting or even create an entirely new look with transformations in Adventureland and Fantasyland, not to mention meeting their favorite pirate or princess (or both!).

There’s so much to do and see at Disneyland Paris during the 25th Anniversary celebration! Stay tuned for more on the new Marvel Summer of Super Heroes starting June 10.

April 7, 2018
OFFICIAL: Disney Announces Toy Story 4 Set to Hit Theaters June 21, 2019

Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang are coming back to a theater near you! Disney-Pixar’s “Toy Story 4” is coming to theaters June 21, 2019, according to a post on the movies Facebook page on Friday.

Josh Cooley is now helming the film after John Lasseter stepped down from the project and Stephany Folsom has been tapped to pen the next instalment of the franchise that put Pixar on the map.

Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger today announced that plans are underway to bring Toy Story 4 to the big screen back in 2014, but there have been some bumps along the way and the film kept getting pushed back.

Lasseter announced the date back in July at the D23 expo, but this confirms it.

April 7, 2018
Disney Cooks Up Some Magic Launching New Kitchenware Line

Ready, set, Cook! If you’re looking to add some Disney magic to your kitchen then you’re going to want to take a look at the all-new exclusive collection of kitchenware from Disney Eats on shopDisney.com This new line is designed for cooking pros and rookies of all sizes so grab your little sous chefs, and get ready to cook up serious fun!

The new collection includes items such as themed sandwich cutters, food storage containers, coffee mugs, and aprons complete with matching chef’s hats! Take a look below at just a few of their magical new wares.

Mickey Mouse Apron and Oven Mitt Set for Adults – $29.95
Be a fa-mouse chef in your own kitchen with this colorful Mickey-inspired set. With an apron and glove-shaped oven mitts, making and baking magic will be easy. Your little Mouseketeers can cook alongside you, too, with our Kids’ Set, sold separately.

I Am Minnie Mouse Kitchen Towel Set – $19.99
Add a little fun and magic to your kitchen collection with this charming dish towel set inspired by Minnie Mouse and the Disney Parks. Part of the ”I Am Minnie Mouse” Collection, these towels are sure to steal the show at clean-up time.

Mickey Mouse Silicone Breakfast Mold Set – $14.95
Start the day in the most fun way – with Mickey! This silicone breakfast mold set from Disney Eats makes it easy to create delectable shapes from eggs and pancake batter. It’s a moust-have!

Minnie Mouse Plate and Lid – $18.95
Whether you’re serving chips and dip or storing tomorrow’s lunch, this expandable three-part plate will surely put a smile on your face, just like Minnie on the lid. Her bright pink bow makes your favorite dishes stand out among the rest.

Mickey Mouse Frying Spatula Set – $14.95
You’ll be frying up fun in no time with this silicone spatula set from Disney Eats! Mickey lends his iconic outfit and fun expressions to the bold handle design.

Mickey Mouse Measuring Cup Set – $9.95
Mickey cooks up a fun mood for measuring with these expandable silicone cups! Mickey makes a different expression for each size, so fractions are easy to memorize.

Aluminum Mickey Mouse Trivet – $16.95
A friendly face will protect your table and countertops when something hot comes off the stove or out of the oven. Mickey can take the heat with our Aluminum Mickey Mouse Trivet. Plus, he looks mighty cute hanging around the kitchen.

Whether you’re looking for an Instagram-worthy lunch to make for your family, curious about the latest food craze from Tokyo Disney, or an aspiring chef who wants to cook the perfect Ratatouille – Disney Eats gives you access to a world of culinary adventure.

April 5, 2018
Crown Prince Discusses Disney’s Future in Saudi Arabia With Bob Iger

A delegation of Saudi officials, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, met with Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger on Wednesday to pitch his bold new plans to build an entertainment industry largely from the ground up to about 250 representatives from major Hollywood financiers and players.

Saudi Arabia has been undergoing a massive economic and social transformation under the ambitious Vision 2030 reform plan launched by the crown prince two years ago, according to a report from Arab News. A handful of deals have already been secured including one with AMC, the world’s largest movie theater company which as been granted the first licenses to operate movie theaters in the Middle Eastern country after the lifting of a 35-year-old ban on cinemas in the Middle Eastern country.

At the meeting they discussed potential cooperation in the entertainment, culture and film-making arenas. The meeting highlighted the massive opportunities which exist in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where a solid infrastructure and a massive demand for Disney products and services exist.

In addition to re-opening cinemas, the country has announced it is lifting the ban on women driving and that it has curbed the powers of its religious police. Women now can also attend sporting events, and Saudi officials are loosening dress-code restrictions for women, who have traditionally been required to cover most of their bodies and faces and be accompanied by male chaperones. The country has established the General Authority for Entertainment (GEA), a government body empowered to meet the massive demand for entertainment in the Saudi kingdom

The Saudi kingdom, which boasts a population of 32 million and receives millions of Muslims every year for Hajj and Umra pilgrimage, is strengthening its non-religious tourism sector and has plans to issue new guidelines for visas which will open-up the country to visitors from around the world. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has just signed an agreement with Six Flags to develop and design an amusement park in Riyadh and one might wonder if Iger and the crown prince might be considering a Disney theme park for the country as well.

Feld Entertainment and the new GEA are entering a long-term relationship to produce international events, including “Disney on Ice,” “Disney Live,” “Marvel Experience,” and “Monster Jam.” This collaboration also gives Saudis an opportunity to receive training as professional performers.

The crown prince also met with a group of heads of US entertainment and media companies and discussed areas of cooperation and partnership in the media and entertainment sectors, and reviewed the latest technologies in this regard.

April 5, 2018
Disney And Pixar Join Forces On New Mobile Game Disney Heroes: Battle Mode
Want to create your own fab five and battle them against other Disney and Pixar characters? Well now you can as Disney announced Monday that it has partnered up with PerBlue to create a new mobile role-playing adventure called Disney Heroes: Battle Mode.

Disney Heroes: Battle Mode is a new, action-packed mobile role-playing game that features Disney and Pixar heroes battling together in the same universe in all new ways. Players will experience fun, unexpected 5v5 match-ups with fan-favorite characters from The Incredibles, Wreck-It Ralph, Pirates of the Caribbean and much more. Pre-registration has already started on Google Play, and the game will be available on the App Store and on Google Play later this year.

The came takes place in the digital City where a wicked virus is corrupting every pixel, turning even the heroes’ own friends and family against them! You will pull together the best teams for the job, equip powerful gear, and battle against incredible odds to save your fellow heroes.

“Disney Heroes: Battle Mode brings together Disney and Pixar characters in an all-new, original universe,” said Lisa Anderson, vice president, Games, Disney. “PerBlue has done a great job of bringing our characters to life in authentically Disney ways, and players will be surprised and delighted as they mix and match hero team-ups.”

Only YOU can win the day! No cape required.

Key Features Include:
- Deep Bench of Characters: Collect and transform 30+ Disney and Pixar heroes into battle-ready big shots, including The Incredibles, Frozone, Wreck-It Ralph, Vanellope von Schweetz, Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde and more.
- Missions and Friend Campaigns: Team up unlikely Disney and Pixar characters to battle together in the same universe to earn exclusive bonuses.
- A New Digital World: Lead characters through a corrupted digital world that they’re charged with saving from an evil virus.
- Epic Abilities and Gear: Activate skills, equip gear, and level up characters to take on bigger and badder enemies.“We’re excited to be working with some of the most recognizable characters and brands in the world and to bring them together in the new universe we’ve created,” said Justin Beck, CEO, PerBlue. “Disney and Pixar have been great collaborators that have shared our vision for creating a fun, multiplayer experience that can be enjoyed by all gamers.”Disney Heroes: Battle Mode marks the first game developed between Disney and PerBlue since the deal was announced earlier this year.
You can download and play this game for free. The game also allows you to play using virtual currency, which can be acquired as you progress through the game or by paying with real money. Purchases of virtual currency using real money are performed using a credit card, or other form of payment associated with your account.

Pre-registration for Disney Heroes: Battle Mode begins today on Google Play. Pre-registered players will receive a free hero of their choice at game launch. Heroes to choose from include Mr. Incredible, Fix-It Felix, Jr., Nick Wilde, Jessie and Sulley with Boo.
April 4, 2018
Disney Imagineering and NVIDIA Team Up To Develop New Tech For Millennium Falcon Attraction

Walt Disney Imagineering teamed with NVIDIA and Epic Games to develop new technology to drive the Millennium Falcon attraction that will be part of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort and the Walt Disney World Resort when it opens in 2019.

When it launches, riders will enter a cockpit powered with a single BOXX chassis packed with eight high-end NVIDIA Quadro P6000 GPUs, connected via Quadro SLI.

When the attraction opens next year, park guests will visit the planet of Batuu, a remote outpost that was once a busy crossroads along the old sub-lightspeed trade routes. But you don’t have to wait another year to get a glimpse of it.

An in-progress animated sequence from the Millennium Falcon attraction was unveiled Wednesday. Produced by ILMxLAB and running in real-time, it gives fans the first ever glimpse of the incredible detail and immersion the attraction will offer.

Quadro Sync synchronizes five projectors for the creation of dazzling ultra-high resolution, perfectly timed displays to fully immerse the riders in the world of planet Batuu.

Working with NVIDIA and Epic Games, the Imagineering team created a custom multi-GPU implementation for Unreal Engine. This new code was returned to the Epic Games team and will help influence how multi-GPUs function for their engine.

“We worked with NVIDIA engineers to use Quadro-specific features like Mosaic and cross-GPU reads to develop a renderer that had performance characteristics we needed,” says Bei Yang, technology studio executive at Disney Imagineering. “Using the eight connected GPUs allowed us to achieve performance unlike anything before.”

Yang and Principal Software Developer Eric Smolikowski dove into more details during their GTC talk, “Walt Disney Imagineering Technology Preview: Real-time Rendering of a Galaxy Far, Far Away,” and discussed how Disney Imagineering took advantage of the latest NVIDIA technology and the technical modifications they made for the Unreal Engine, which allows eight GPUs to render at unprecedented quality and speed.

March 31, 2018
New Must Have Millennial Pink Ears and Spirit Jersey Arriving at Disney Parks

Millennial Pink is the new Black and now you can sport the trendy shade with a variety of stylish new merchandise from Disney Parks; including Millennial Pink Ears and Spirit Jersey this April and the already released MagicBand.

A millennial pink headband will first debut exclusively at World of Disney in Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort this Sunday.

Additional locations at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts will carry the sequined headband starting in mid-April.

“We experiment with popular color trends when designing merchandise for Disney Parks,” explained Jeanne Lewis from the headwear development team. “With its soft, blush hue, millennial pink is one of the hottest colors in the market, making the new headband an on-trend, must-have item for springtime visits.”

The colors popularity is rivaled only by the rose gold trend, which Jeanne was also the driving force behind. The wildly popular rose gold headband introduced last fall, which inspired apparel, jewelry and even tasty treats created especially for Disney Parks. The new sequin-filled headband gives a nod to the rose gold-dusted original, while setting the stage for additional color-trend headbands arriving later this year.

In mid-April, the headband will be joined by another beloved apparel item at Disney Parks, a new millennial pink Spirit Jersey.

“We know Guests enjoy creating fashionable looks using products designed to complement each other. We closely aligned the launch of [Spirit Jerseys] with the headband so Guests could make fun outfits for spring,” said women’s apparel merchandiser Angelique Vu.

These 100% cotton, pullover tops have theme park logos printed on the front. Pink glitter puff ink lettering of the respective Disney Resort destination is emblazoned across the back of these long sleeve shirts.

Guests visiting Walt Disney World Resort have one additional millennial pink accessory to complete any outfit—a retail MagicBand 2 currently available in select merchandise locations.

With the innovation of MagicBand 2, guests can use this MagicBand and others to unlock the magic of a Disney vacation—from skipping the front desk and going directly to your resort room, effortless theme-park entry, to FastPass+ redemption and Disney PhotoPass association.

While the retail MagicBand is currently available online, look for the millennial pink headband and Spirit Jerseys to be added to ShopDisney.com and Shop Disney Parks at a future date this spring.

March 29, 2018
Planned Parenthood Deletes Tweet Calling For Disney Princess Abortion

A Pennsylvania branch of Planned Parenthood said a tweet declaring the need for a Disney princess who’s had an abortion was not appropriate and the organization has taken it down.

The tweet read:

“We need a disney princess who’s had an abortion. We need a disney princess who’s pro-choice. We need a disney princess who’s an undocumented immigrant. We need a disney princess who’s actually a union worker. We need a disney princess who’s trans.”

An executive for Planned Parenthood Keystone says the group believes pop culture plays a “critical role” in educating the public and sparking “meaningful conversations about sexual and reproductive health issues and policies, including abortion.”

However, Melissa Reed, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Keystone, says the seriousness of the point they were trying to make was not appropriate for the subject matter. Though the tweet was taken down in the end, a Planned Parenthood executives said it is still shedding light on real-world issues.

“Today, we joined an ongoing Twitter conversation about the kinds of princesses people want to see in an attempt to make a point about the importance of telling stories that challenge stigma and championing stories that too often don’t get told.,” Reed said in a news release. “Upon reflection, we decided that the seriousness of the point we were trying to make was not appropriate for the subject matter or context, and we removed the tweet.”

March 28, 2018
Free Dining for Kids with Disney World Packages Announced

Disney has released a new vacation package and you can get a FREE dining plan for kids ages 3 to 9 when you buy a non-discounted 3-night/3-day Magic Your Way package for you and the kid(s) that includes a room at a select Disney Resort hotel, theme park tickets and a dining plan.

The offer is valid for arrivals most nights from May 28 through August 30, 2018 when you book through August 1, 2018.

All 3 dining plans—Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan, Disney Dining Plan and Disney Deluxe Dining plan—are eligible with this offer, but everyone in your reservation must be on the same package. For instance, if you purchase a package with the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan, then your kid(s) (ages 3 to 9) will receive a Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan.

Have preschoolers in tow? Consider turning your getaway into a magical “Kindermoon.” It’s the perfect way to celebrate togetherness before your little ones spread their wings and head off to kindergarten. And this summer couldn’t be a better time to embrace this milestone as there’s new family-friendly entertainment debuting at all 4 parks—including Toy Story Land, which officially opens on June 30, 2018 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited so book it while you still can. Everyone in the same room must be on the same package. Tickets and options must be used within 14 days of first use. Some table-service restaurants may have limited or no availability at time of package purchase.

March 22, 2018
Splitsville Luxury Lanes Promises Chef-Driven Menu at Downtown Disney District

Disneyland has bowled a perfect game with this menu! Splitsville is now open to guests visiting at the Disneyland Resort, it is quickly becoming the go-to destination for not only bowling and entertainment, but also delicious dining!

The dynamic menu includes bowling alley favorites along with creative entrees and top-notch sushi. Here’s a sampling of new tasty items exclusive to the Downtown Disney District location:

Macho Nachos: Loaded with seasoned ground beef, shredded cheddar jack cheese, queso, black bean corn salsa and pickled jalapenos. Nachos are then drizzled with avocado ranch and served with a side of sour cream.
Chicken Thigh High Sliders: Two crispy chicken thigh sliders tossed in Asian barbecue sauce and topped with slaw.

Poke Bowl: Your choice of salmon, ahi tuna or tofu with pickled radish and avocado over bamboo rice. Bowls are topped with spicy mayo, Nori threads, sesame seeds, scallions and Togarashi spice.

Sweet N’ Spicy Chicken Bowl: Tempura-battered chicken, broccoli, red and green peppers are tossed in spicy Thai chili sauce and served over sushi rice.

And if you’re craving classic crinkle-cut fries, burgers and pizza, you won’t be disappointed! In the hands of Splitsville’s culinary team, bowling alley mainstays will take an artisanal twist with herbed dips, premium cured meats and grinds.

March 21, 2018