Disney News

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  • “Millennial Pink” MagicBands are the Next Disney Must Have

    A new solid colored pink MagicBand will be arriving at Walt Disney World in a couple of weeks and these are totes adorbs. The new MagicBands dubbed “millennial pink”, may be ‘light’ pink but they will for sure be a ‘hot’ seller.

    This according to a couple of YouTubers who posted it on their Instagram account recently. It’s unknown how they actually got a hold of them, but we can’t wait to see them in person and sport one around the parks. As a solid color they will probably cost $12.99, but you never know with a new MagicBand as cute as this one.

    Keep an eye out in the coming days on shopDisney.com and in Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts.

  • Disney Developing Fireworks You Can Feel For The Visually Impaired

    Disney Developing Fireworks You Can Feel For The Visually Impaired

    With the new year right around the corner fireworks certainly come to mind and we all know that no one does fireworks like Disney Parks and Resorts. In an effort to make their fireworks spectacular inclusive for everyone, Disney recently announced they are working on a way for visually impaired guests to ‘Feel’ fireworks.

    Known as Feeling Fireworks, Disney Research has been hard at work developing a prototype of a unique haptics-supported fireworks display experience specially tailored to visually impaired users.

    Unveiled at the User Interface Software and Technology conference held in Quebec City, Canada back in october, the low-cost technology is still in very early stages, but it has a 66 percent success rate and is making good progress. The team plans to continue improving the experience and believes that the day will come when everyone will be able to enjoy the thrill of fireworks shows.

    Tactile effects are created using directable water jets that spray onto the rear of a flexible screen, with different nozzles for different firework effects. The approach is low-cost and scales well, and allows for dynamic tactile effects to be rendered with high spatial resolution. A user study demonstrated that the tactile effects are meaningful analogs to the visual fireworks that they represent, with sighted users able to label the correct correspondence of tactile-to-visual effects by a large margin over chance. Beyond the specific application, the technology represents a novel and cost-effective approach for making large scalable tactile displays, with the potential for wider use.

    As Disney continues to take more steps to find creative solutions—with the use of new technology—for ensuring the most inclusive experience possible for all the visitors to its parks, we look forward to hearing about even bigger and more innovative designs in the future.

  • Transformation Details Revealed for Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

    Transformation Details Revealed for Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

    It’s day three for Disney’s 12 Days of Disney Parks Christmas and it’s time for another exciting new announcement.  Earlier this year we found out that Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort at Walt Disney World would undergo some transformations. Today we have new colorful details about those enhancements debuting late this summer.

    Caribbean Beach Resort
    Old Port Royale at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort will be reimagined as the port of entry where guests will check in before embarking on their island vacation. This centralized location will offer resort guests more convenient access to services, amenities and dining, including an all-new Centertown Market for casual eats, an all-new Shutters restaurant offering waterfront dining adjacent to the new Banana Cabana outdoor bar and lounge, and Calypso Trading Post for shopping.

    Caribbean Beach Resort
    Centertown Market will be expanded and enclosed, creating a quick-service restaurant with an indoor street market vibe. Guests will enter the space under a large palapa-like structure, accented with glowing colored light pendants made from glass bottles. The market will feature open shutters, wooden light posts, awnings, ornamentation and unique seating areas. Guests will also have access to the Grab n’ Go market for a specialty coffee and quick bites.

    Shutters, a Caribbean-inspired table-service restaurant, will be located on the waterfront of Old Port Royale, transporting guests to a beachfront home in the tropical islands. Large open shutters will allow the sun to cast a warm light into the space adorned with handmade items that appear as they’ve been found on the islands. Leaves and floral design motifs will fill the space, celebrating the natural beauty of the Caribbean.

    Caribbean Beach Resort
    A festive poolside bar, Banana Cabana will be a great place to gather for food and drinks, immersing guests into the fun and relaxation of island life. Cabana-style drapes will flank seating areas and re-purposed steel drums will illuminate a central communal table made from a wooden boat.

    Forget something? No worries! With its history of being the port’s import and export facility, Calypso Trading Post will offer shoppers Disney merchandise and other vacation essentials.

  • Hot New Walt Disney Limited Release MagicBand

    Hot New Walt Disney Limited Release MagicBand

    A special new MagicBand was released Wednesday for Walt Disney’s Birthday. This beautiful purple magic band features Tinker Bell and a black-and-white photo of Walt Disney on one side and his signature on the other.

    This one’s already wildly popular as it’s the first ever MagicBand with Walt on it available for purchase and not promotional use. You’ll feel like the king of Walt Disney World Resort when wearing this limited release MagicBand 2. With a simple touch, redeem FastPass+ selections, enter parks, charge purchases to your room, and much more.

    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.

    This beauty is available at shopDisney.com for $27.99 and is a very good price for a Limited Edition.  Especially when it has the face of Walt himself.

  • Bob Iger Could Remain CEO in Disney and Fox Deal

    Bob Iger Could Remain CEO in Disney and Fox Deal

    The Disney-Fox deal is heating up once again with new details and this may put investors and the public more at ease. Bob Iger may extend his contract and remain CEO beyond 2019 if the deal goes through.

    It was reported Tuesday that Fox-head James Murdoch could wind up succeeding Iger if the deal went through, but according to multiple sources it’s likely that if it does goes through, Disney CEO Bob Iger will likely remain with the company. He would stay at Disney to oversee any potential merging of Disney and Twenty-First Century Fox assets.

    Iger is no stranger to bringing in new assets and integrating them into the Disney family. After taking over in 2005 he led the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilms giving him experience like no one else. He has the most experience and makes the most sense if the deal is to succeed. The deal is valued at more than $60 billion and a smooth transition is exactly what investors want.

    It will take time to get the necessary federal approvals for the acquisition and even time to integrate the assets after that, which could leave Iger at the helm through 2020, maybe even later. It is still possible the deal would see James Murdoch as a replacement after the integration is complete and Iger steps down.

  • Fox Boss James Murdoch Could Be Next Disney CEO If Disney Fox Deal Goes Through

    Fox Boss James Murdoch Could Be Next Disney CEO If Disney Fox Deal Goes Through

    It’s no secret that Disney is actively seeking Bob Iger’s replacement in preparation of his pending 2019 departure.  Now in the midst of Disney and Fox negotiations, 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch has been “suggested” as a candidate to succeed the Disney CEO, when the storied executive eventually retires, according to The Financial Times, which cited “people briefed on the talks” in a report published Tuesday.

    This after recent reports have stated that Disney Parks Chief, Bob Chapek, Might Be next in line as Bob Iger’s Successor, but this deal is bigger than that as a deal of this nature would reshape the media landscape and if Disney pulls it off and it could land Murdoch at the helm of The Mouse House.

    This news came the same day that a CNBC report said Disney was close to a deal to acquire parts of Fox’s studio and television production business, valued at more than $60 billion.

    According to the report, Rupert Murdoch and his younger son, James, could take senior roles at a combined company if a deal is struck. Iger, 66, is due to retire in 2019 and James Murdoch, 44, currently chief executive of 21st Century Fox and chairman of the satellite broadcaster Sky, is a possible successor… (Read More)

  • Disney and Fox Deal Could Come As Soon As Next Week

    Disney and Fox Deal Could Come As Soon As Next Week

    Disney and Twenty-First Century Fox are closing in on a deal, and it could come as soon as next week, according to sources familiar with the matter. While this doesn’t confirm that the deal will go through and the Federal Trade Commission could try to block it, but it is very apparent the companies are interested in the acquisition.

    While certain Fox properties may not be sold to Disney, including Fox Sports, there are a number of smaller properties where Disney could acquire stakes. Disney would get Fox’s 30 percent stake in Hulu. Disney already has a 30 percent stake in Hulu, so that arrangement would give it majority ownership of the streaming platform. Could this be the foundation for which to build the Disney streaming service?

    It would appear that the two studios are nearing a deal that might have some in Hollywood a little nervous but it would be super exciting for fans that have long waited to see both the Fantastic Four and X-Men within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    It’s the film rights have kept the X-Men from joining the MCU as of yet, but one X-Men producer would love to see the crossover happen. A recent Vanity Fair article explained how X-Men producer Lauren Shuler Donner threw in her support to have the mutant icons team up with the Avengers in theaters. “Well, I wish. I would love it, I would love it. But it’s not for me to say,” she said. Too bad it’s not up to her.

    If the deal goes through, the Murdoch family will continue to maintain ownership over the sports and news divisions while Disney would get the studio rights to everything on the film side according to the report.

    There is so much more at stake here for Disney than the obvious rights to the X-Men and Fantastic Four brands. They also want distribution rights for the original Star Wars trilogy and prequel trilogy. Most of those rights revert back to Disney in 2020, but the original 1977 film’s rights will remain at Fox.

    Another bonus is the Avatar franchise. Earlier this week director James Cameron commented on how any sale of Fox’s TV and film operations would impact the Avatar sequels. He noted it probably wouldn’t affect the Avatar series and explained that “at this point in time Disney has a bigger investment” in the franchise than Fox, referring in part to Disney World’s Pandora: The World of Avatar attraction.

    Disney would love to get its hands on the FX channel. And of course they want the vast, impressive, lucrative library of Fox movies and TV series from past and present, to add to their upcoming streaming service and, probably, to deny those movies and series to Netflix, along with the Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Lucasfilm properties.

    While in the midst of negotiations Disney is really hoping that Sony doesn’t out fox them on the deal. It was recently noted that Sony Entertainment had shown interest in purchasing 21st Century Fox along with a few other companies, including Comcast and Verizon. However, if rumors are true those talks have since reverted to Disney.

    Much of this is speculative, but the talk of Disney purchasing Fox is much more than a big rumor. Deadline’s new report makes a good point that, if this deal does happen, we’ll probably find out about it in a pretty out of the blue way. We may not know when that announcement could come, but don’t be too surprised to hear that Disney has officially purchased Fox in the near future.

  • Disney Receives 35 Nominations for 45th Annie Awards

    Disney Receives 35 Nominations for 45th Annie Awards

    Nominations for the 2018 Annie Awards were announced Monday and Disney has recieved 35 Nominations for 45th Annie Awards.

    Coco has topped the 45th annual list of nominees with 13, including Best Animated Feature, followed closely by The Breadwinner with 10, including Best Animated Feature – Independent.

    The Annie Awards will be held Feb. 3, 2018, at UCLA’s Royce Hall. Tickets are on sale now.

    Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Disney Television Animation, Walt Disney Imagineering, Lucasfilm, and Marvel Studios were all nominated for awards. The complete list of Disney nominations are below

     

    Best Animated Feature

    CARS 3
    COCO

    Best Animated Special Production

    OLAF’S FROZEN ADVENTURE
    TANGLED BEFORE EVER AFTER

    Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Preschool Children

    MICKEY AND THE ROADSTER RACERS
    Episode: Goofy Gas!

    Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Children

    TANGLED THE SERIRES
    Episode: Queen for a Day

    Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an Animated Production

    AVATAR FLIGHT OF PASSAGE
    Production Company: Walt Disney Imagineering, Weta Digital, Lightstorm Entertainment
    Sr. VFX Supervisor: Richard Baneham
    VFX Supervisor: Thrain Shadbolt
    Compositing Supervisor: Sam Cole
    CG Supervisor: Pavani Rao Boddapati
    CG Supervisor: Daniele Tosti

    CARS 3
    Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
    Development & Effects Artist: Amit Baadkar
    Effects Lead: Greg Gladstone
    Effects Lead: Stephen Marshall
    Effects Supervisor: Jon Reisch
    Effects Lead: Tim Speltz

    COCO
    Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
    Effects Artist: Shaun Galinak
    Effects Lead: Dave Hale
    Effects Artist: Jason Johnston
    Effects Artist: Carl Kaphan
    Effects Lead: Keith Daniel Klohn

    OLAF’S FROZEN ADVENTURE
    Production Company: Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Head of Effects: Christopher Hendryx
    Effects Animator: Dan Lund
    Effects Animator: Mike Navarro
    Effects Animator: Hiroaki Narita
    Effects Animator: Steven Chitwood

    Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in an Animated Feature Production

    COCO
    Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
    Animator: John Chun Chiu Lee
    Character:All characters

    COCO
    Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
    Animator: Allison Rutland
    Character: All characters

    Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Live Action Production

    GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2
    Production Company: Marvel Studios, Walt Disney Pictures.
    Animation Supervisor: Arslan Elver
    Lead Animator: Liam Russell
    Lead Animator: Alvise Avati
    Lead Animator: Alessandro Cuicci

    Outstanding Achievement for Character Design in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

    TANGLED: THE SERIES
    Episode: Tangled Before Ever After
    Production Company: Walt Disney Television Animation
    Co-Executive Producer: Shane Prigmore
    Character: Rapunzel, Eugene, Maximus, Cassandra
    Character Designer: Bobby Pontillas
    Character: King Frederick, Queen Arianna, Landy Caine, Fidella
    Character Designer: Taylor Krahenbuhl
    Character: Pub Thugs
    Character Designer: Mayumi Nose
    Character: Pascal

    Outstanding Achievement for Character Design in an Animated Feature Production

    COCO
    Character Art Director: Daniel Arriaga
    Character: All characters
    Additional Character Art Direction: Daniela Strijleva
    Character: All characters
    Character Design/ Sculptor Greg Dykstra
    Character:All characters
    Character Modeller: Alonso Martinez
    Character: All characters
    Character Designer: Zaruhi Galstyan
    Character: All characters

    Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

    DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE
    Episode: The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular!
    Production Company: Walt Disney Television Animation
    Director: Dave Wasson
    Director: Eddie Trigueros
    Director: Alonso Ramirez-Ramo

    TANGLED: THE SERIES
    Episode: Tangled Before Ever After
    Production Company: Walt Disney Television Animation
    Director: Tom Caulfield
    Director: Stephen Sandoval

    Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Feature Production

    COCO
    Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
    Director: Lee Unkrich
    Co-Director: Adrian Molina

    Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

    DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE
    Episode: The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular!
    Production Company: Walt Disney Television Animation
    Composer: Christopher Willis

    LEGO STAR WARS: THE FREEMAKER ADVENTURES
    Episode: Trouble on Tibalt
    Production Company: The LEGO Group, Lucasfilm, Wil Film
    Composer: Michael Kramer

    Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature Production

    COCO
    Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
    Composer: Michael Giacchino
    Composer/Lyricist: Kristin Anderson-Lopez
    Composer/Lyricist: Robert Lopez
    Composer: Germaine Franco
    Lyricist: Adrian Molina

    OLAF’S FROZEN ADVENTURE
    Production Company: Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Composer/Lyricist: Elyssa Samsel
    Composer/Lyricist: Kate Anderson
    Composer: Christophe Beck

    Outstanding Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

    BIG HERO 6 THE SERIES
    Episode: Baymax Returns
    Production Company: Walt Disney Television Animation
    Production Design: Mark Taihei
    Production Design: Ben Plouffe
    Production Design: Chris Whittier
    Production Design: Sylvia Filcak
    Production Design: Amy Chen

    DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE
    Episode: The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular!
    Production Company: Walt Disney Television Animation
    Production Design: Jenny Gase-Baker
    Production Design: Justin Martin

    Outstanding Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Feature Production

    COCO
    Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
    Production Design: Harley Jessup
    Production Design: Danielle Feinberg
    Production Design: Bryn Imagire
    Production Design: Nathaniel McLaughlin
    Production Design: Ernesto Nemesio

    Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

    DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE
    Episode: Bee Inspired
    Production Company: Walt Disney Television Animation
    Storyboard Artist: Eddie Trigueros

    Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production

    COCO
    Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
    Storyboard Artist: Dean Kelly

    COCO
    Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
    Storyboard Artist: Madeline Sharafian

    Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

    DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE
    Episode: The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular!
    Production Company: Walt Disney Television Animation
    Voice Actor: Chris Diamantopoulos
    Character: Mickey Mouse

    Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production

    COCO
    Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
    Cast: Anthony Gonzalez
    Character: Miguel

    Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

    DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE
    Episode: Locked in Love
    Production Company: Walt Disney Television Animation
    Writer: Darrick Bachman

    MILO MURPHY’S LAW
    Episode: The Island of the Lost Dakotas
    Production Company: Disney Television Animation
    Writer: Joshua Pruett

    Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production

    COCO
    Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
    Writer: Adrian Molina
    Writer: Matthew Aldrich

    Outstanding Achievement for Editorial in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production

    PICKLE AND PEANUT
    Episode: Bear-I-cade
    Production Company: Disney Television Animation
    Nominee: John Roye

    Outstanding Achievement for Editorial in an Animated Feature Production

    COCO
    Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
    Nominee: Steve Bloom
    Nominee: Lee Unkrich
    Nominee: Greg Snyder
    Nominee: Tim Fox

  • You Can Now Give a Disney Vacation as a Gift

    You Can Now Give a Disney Vacation as a Gift

    Want to put some ‘real’ magic in someone’s stocking this year? Give the gift of Disney!  That’s right, you now actually give a Disney vacation as a gift through their new website.

    Just in time for the holiday shopping season, Disney has made it easier than ever to give magical Disney vacations, theme park tickets or special Disney experiences as gifts for those lucky friends and family on your gift list. The new GiveDisneyVacations.com website is the way to unwrap Disney memories that will last a lifetime. It takes the guesswork out of what to give. And there’s no worry about size, color or some assembly required.

    It’s Easy to Gift an Entire Disney Vacation

    For the first time ever, guests can select from a full portfolio of Disney destinations and experiences to gift — all in one, easy-to-navigate place. Guests can explore GiveDisneyVacations.com and open a dedicated feature page profiling each Disney destination available. From an unforgettable escape on an Adventures by Disney trip or a voyage aboard Disney Cruise Line, or a vacation at the sun-drenched beaches of Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina Hawai’i to exciting Disney Vacation Club properties, the vacation gifting options are endless. Or gift them the experience of a lifetime with a visit to the enchanting world of magic and make-believe at the Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort.

    Disney Park Tickets and Gift Cards Offer More Gifting Options

    The gift of Disney is the most magical gift of all. Big things – magical things – can come in small packages. GiveDisneyVacations.com offers guests a quick and easy option to gift just about any Disney experience with the purchase of Disney Gift Cards1. Imagine the joy on Christmas morning, birthday, anniversary, graduation, new baby or any occasion gifting a Disney experience. Disney Gift Cards can be redeemed for practically all-things Disney including merchandise, theme park tickets, dining experiences, entertainment, resort stays and experiences onboard Disney Cruise Line ships. And with the convenience of email, it makes for a great last-minute gift idea, too.

    Guests can simply choose a Card design, activate and give the gift of Disney magic. Cards themselves are like a Disney vacation in your pocket, colorfully designed in Disney themes from Mickey at Christmas to Minnie and Mickey for Valentine’s Day, Goofy to Donald, Pirates to Princesses.

    Cards may be purchased in set amounts of $25 up to $150, plus denominations of $200, $300 and $500. The activated Card with amount specified can even be e-delivered to the gift recipient or for a memorable unwrapping moment sent via traditional mail, enclosed in a themed gift card holder. The Card ships free to any U.S. address, when standard shipping is selected.

    Regardless if mailed or shared as an eGift, senders can pair the Card with a personalized message. And because the Disney Gift Card charges no fees and never expires, senders can gift friends and family worry-free and let the magic begin.

    For a Limited Time Only:

    At Walt Disney World Resort, it easier than ever this holiday season to unwrap the magic of a Disney vacation with a gift beyond belief. Through Nov. 15, guests may purchase a Walt Disney World Resort vacation – a 6-night/7-day room and ticket package for a family of four for travel throughout 2018 — with rates as low as $96 per person, per day at a select Disney’s All-Star Resort2. And you’ll get a specially designed gold-trimmed gift box that includes limited-edition Magic Bands for your group to mark the special occasion3. What an exciting time to make it a Walt Disney World vacation, too, with the much acclaimed Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and exciting openings on deck, including Toy Story Land coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in summer 2018.

    At the Disneyland Resort, guests continue to enjoy the thrilling, new Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! at Disney California Adventure Park, and the beloved nighttime spectacular “Fantasmic!” at Disneyland Park, now more brilliant than ever. This holiday season, anyone can give the gift of a Disneyland experience to family or friends with a special offer to visit early in the new year. A package priced from $144 per person, per day, for a family of four includes a 3-day/2-night hotel stay, along with park tickets and hotel dining certificates4. Guests also receive a fun surprise prior to arrival. Booking is available from Nov. 16 to Nov. 27, 2017 for travel on select nights from Jan. 7 to Feb. 1, 2018. And even more magic is on the way in 2018!

    Beyond the theme parks, there are even more magical offerings to make your family’s holiday wishes come true. Enjoy winter in paradise at Aulani Resort with savings up to 30 percent on 5-night stays in select ocean view rooms, plus receive $50 resort credit per night when you book your stay before Oct. 25, 2017. Or, why not give your family something they can enjoy for years to come – the gift of Disney Vacation Club Membership. Now through Oct. 31, 2017, you can save $2,600 or more on membership at select Disney Vacation Club Resorts.  

  • 12 Days of Disney Parks Christmas

    12 Days of Disney Parks Christmas

    Over the next 12 days you can expect an exciting new announcement from Disney each day. That’s right!  It’s like a new Christmas gift everyday! A dozen announcements over 12 days about exciting new offerings coming to Walt Disney Parks & Resorts in 2018 and beyond.

    Starting Dec. 5 and continuing daily through Dec. 16, the Disney will unveil exclusive new details about events, entertainment, attractions and more at the Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, as well as new offerings aboard Disney Cruise Line.

    This magical “12 Days of Disney Parks Christmas” news will give fans a first look at the stellar line-up of projects and updates coming to Disney Parks & Resorts, including:

    • Never-before-seen images and video
    • New resort hotel experiences
    • Delectable new dining options
    • Special events
    • Updates about new attractions announced at the 2017 D23 Expo

    We’re so excited for the first announcement! Stay tuned to Disney Dorks for the announcements and you can expect the first one tomorrow.