Tag: news

Disney’s Broadway Anniversary Concert To Stream For COVID-19 Assistance Fund

November 2019 Celebrating 25 Magical Years of Disney on Broadway concert will be live streamed April 13 at 7 PM ET to raise money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund.

Ryan McCartan (Frozen, Liv and Maddie) will host the event from his family’s basement and will interview Disney on Broadway stars from their respective homes throughout the evening. The stream will be available online at Playbill and on BroadwayCares.org.

“The event last November was such an unforgettable evening of Disney on Broadway magic,” Broadway Cares Executive Director Tom Viola said in a statement. “We are so grateful to all our friends at Disney Theatrical Productions for generously joining us in sharing this evening again, supporting our entertainment industry friends and colleagues who are out of work and facing serious health and personal challenges due to this devastating coronavirus pandemic.”

The show marks a reunion of 18 Newsies from the show’s Broadway and national touring productions and a performance from Broadway Inspirational Voices. Celebrating 25 Magical Years of Disney on Broadway was held at the New Amsterdam Theatre and raised $570,426 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

The concert also featured 79 performers, including Jelani Alladin (Hercules), Sierra Boggess (The Little Mermaid, School of Rock), Christian Borle (Little Shop of Horrors, Mary Poppins), Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins), Kerry Butler (Beetlejuice, Beauty and the Beast), Lauryn Ciardullo (Aladdin), Gavin Creel (Hello, Dolly!, Waitress), Merle Dandridge (Tarzan, Aida), Lindiwe Dlamini (The Lion King), Bongi Duma (The Lion King), Susan Egan (Beauty and the Beast), Andrew Barth Feldman (Dear Evan Hansen), Bradley Gibson (The Lion King), Whoopi Goldberg (The View), Mandy Gonzalez (Hamilton, Aida), April Holloway (Aladdin), James Monroe Iglehart (Aladdin, Hamilton), Adam Jacobs (Aladdin), Ramona Keller (Hercules), Nina LaFarga (Frozen), Tamika Lawrence (Hercules, Come From Away), Norm Lewis (Once on This Island, The Little Mermaid), Kara Lindsay (Newsies, Beautiful), Tshidi Manye (The Lion King), Sbusiso Ngema (The Lion King), Ashley Park (Mean Girls), Adam Pascal (Rent, Aida), Krysta Rodriguez (Hercules), Michael James Scott (Aladdin), Sherie Rene Scott (The Little Mermaid, Aida), Kissy Simmons (The Lion King), Josh Strickland (Tarzan), Katie Terza (Aladdin), Marisha Wallace (Aladdin, Something Rotten!), Rema Webb (Hercules, The Lion King), Alton Fitzgerald White (The Lion King), and Syndee Winters (Hamilton, The Lion King).

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund, administered by The Actors Fund, is helping those onstage, backstage, and behind the scenes impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

April 7, 2020
Temperature Screenings For Guests May Be Instituted When Disney Parks Reopen After Coronavirus Pandemic

As the world remains shuddered in their homes waiting for the global health crisis to end, Disney fans are looking forward to the day that Disney parks reopen and they can return to their happy place. This begs the question, what does returning to normal look like at Disney Parks?

Barron’s recently spoke with Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger about meeting the challenge of the virus, and how the entertainment industry might be left changed.

Take a look below at what he had to say:

“We’re studying very carefully what China has been trying to do in terms of their return to normalcy” Iger said. “And one of the things that’s obvious is they’ve conscripted a large segment of their population to monitor others in terms of their health. You can’t get on a bus or a subway or a train or enter a high-rise building there—and I’m sure this will be the case when their schools reopen—without having your temperature taken.”

Iger continued, “So we’ve asked ourselves the question, let’s prepare for a world where our customers demand that we scrutinize everybody. Even if it creates a little bit of hardship, like it takes a little bit longer for people to get in. Just as the case after 9/11 where people ultimately lived with the notion that in order for them to enter a building, if you’re in an office building you have to show a picture ID or get your picture taken and be screened. Or in order to enter a park you have to put your bags out there to be checked and you go through some kind of metal detector. Or certainly what’s going on in airports with the TSA.”

So if you’re looking to return “home” after your allowed back into the world again, be prepared for longer lines. It’s a small price to pay to get back to the magic and to keep everyone safe.

April 7, 2020
The Walt Disney Studios Announces Updated Release Schedule

Following the announcement in March that several titles would be delayed due to the global health crisis, The Walt Disney Studios announced updates to its upcoming release schedule.

Disney’s Mulan is now slated to open on July 24, 2020, with Disney’s Jungle Cruise moving to July 30, 2021; while Marvel Studios’ Black Widow will arrive in theaters on November 6, 2020, with The Eternals moving to February 12, 2021.

Below is the updated release schedule through 2022, beginning with Disney and Pixar’s Soul, opening June 19, 2020:

2020

Soul (Disney and Pixar)—June 19, 2020

Mulan (Disney)—July 24, 2020

Empty Man (20th Century Studios)—August 7, 2020

The One and Only Ivan (Disney)—August 14, 2020

The Beatles: Get Back (Disney)—September 4, 2020

The King’s Man (20th Century Studios)—September 18, 2020

Death on the Nile (20th Century Studios)—October 9, 2020

The French Dispatch (Searchlight Pictures)—October 16, 2020

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (20th Century Studios)—October 23, 2020

Black Widow (Marvel Studios)—November 6, 2020

Deep Water (20th Century Studios)—November 13, 2020

Raya and the Last Dragon (Walt Disney Animation Studios)—November 25, 2020

Free Guy (20th Century Studios)—December 11, 2020

West Side Story (20th Century Studios)—December 18, 2020

The Last Duel (20th Century Studios)—December 25, 2020 (limited)

2021

The Last Duel (20th Century Studios)—January 8, 2021 (Wide)

The Eternals (Marvel Studios)—February 12, 2021

Ron’s Gone Wrong (20th Century Studios)—February 26, 2021

Untitled Disney Live Action—March 12, 2021

Bob’s Burgers (20th Century Studios)—April 9, 2021

Untitled 20th Century—April 23, 2021

Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Marvel Studios)—May 7, 2021

Cruella (Disney)—May 28, 2021

Untitled Pixar Animation—June 18, 2021

Jungle Cruise (Disney)—July 30, 2021

Untitled 20th Century—August 13, 2021

Untitled 20th Century—September 10, 2021

Untitled 20th Century—October 1, 2021

Hamilton (Disney)—October 15, 2021

Untitled 20th Century—October 22, 2021

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (Marvel Studios)—November 5, 2021

Untitled Disney Live Action—November 19, 2021

Untitled Disney Animation—November 24, 2021

Untitled 20th Century—December 3, 2021

AVATAR 2 (20th Century Studios)—December 17, 2021

2022

Untitled 20th Century—January 7, 2022

Nimona (20th Century Studios)—January 14, 2022

Thor: Love and Thunder (Marvel Studios)—February 18, 2022

Untitled Pixar Animation—March 11, 2022

Untitled Disney Live Action—March 25, 2022

Untitled 20th Century—April 8, 2022

Black Panther 2 (Marvel Studios)—May 6, 2022

Untitled Disney Live Action—May 27, 2022

Untitled 20th Century—June 10, 2022

Untitled Pixar Animation—June 17, 2022

Captain Marvel 2 (Marvel Studios)—July 8, 2022

Untitled Indiana Jones (Disney)—July 29, 2022

Untitled Disney Live Action—August 12, 2022

Untitled 20th Century—September 16, 2022

Untitled Marvel—October 7, 2022

Untitled 20th Century—October 21, 2022

Untitled Disney Live Action—November 4, 2022

Untitled 20th Century—November 11, 2022

Untitled Disney Animation—November 23, 2022

Untitled Star Wars (Lucasfilm)—December 16, 2022

Untitled 20th Century—December 23, 2022

April 6, 2020
Disney Suspends Annual Passholder Payments During Coronavirus Closure

Walt Disney World and Disneyland annual passholders will see their payments refunded or waived during the remainder of the parks’ closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Effective April 5, 2020, for Annual Passholders on monthly payments, we will automatically stop and waive all upcoming monthly payments while the theme parks are closed.

Disney will also retroactively refund payments made between March 14 through April 4, 2020. Payments will resume on the Passholder’s regularly scheduled payment dates once the parks reopen. Please note, pass expiration dates will not be extended and passes will expire upon their originally scheduled expiration dates.

As an alternative, guests who are paying for Annual Passes using their monthly payment program may choose to have their monthly payments postponed starting with payments due April 5 through the park closure period, and then resumed on the Passholder’s regularly scheduled payment date once the parks reopen. Postponed payments will be collected in the months following the end of the Passholder’s currently scheduled payment term. The pass will be extended the number of days the parks are closed. The new expiration date will be reflected on the Annual Passholder’s account prior to the reopening of the theme parks. Information will be provided soon on how to choose this option.

If you have any questions, please contact V.I.PASSHOLDER Support at (407) 939-7277. We do anticipate heavy call volume and appreciate your patience as we answer all inquiries.

April 6, 2020
Delicious Disney Churro Bites Home Recipe
The parks are temporarily closed, but if your looking for a new way to bring the Magic of Disney home you can still enjoy a delicious Disney churro with this DIY recipe!

This recipe is inspired by the delicious snack that can be found at all of Disney’s parks across the globe. The recipe serves four people and is a perfect snack!

Take look at the ingredients and instructions below:

Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 8 tablespoons butter
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 3 eggs
- 1 ½ cups vegetable or canola oil
- ½ cup sugar
Instructions
1. Combine water, butter, salt, and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon in 1 ½-quart saucepan over medium heat. Bring pot to rolling boil.
2. Reduce heat to low.
3. Add flour and stir vigorously until mix forms a ball. Remove from heat and let rest for 5-7 min.
4. Add eggs, one at a time, and stir until combined. Set aside.
5. Heat oil in medium skillet or 1-quart saucepan over medium-high heat or until temperature reaches 350˚.
6. Spoon dough into piping bag fitted with large star tip. Pipe 1-inch strip of dough over saucepan, cut with knife, and drop into hot oil. Repeat until churro bites fill saucepan with room to fry.
7. Fry churro bites until golden brown. Remove with slotted spoon or mesh spider strainer.
8. Drain churro bites on paper towel.
9. Mix sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon in medium bowl. Toss in churro bites until coated. Place on serving plate and serve with favorite dipping sauce.
April 5, 2020
Disney World to Pause Monthly Annual Passholder Payments

Thursday Disney announced that Disney World will “stop and waive” payments for its annual passes while the theme parks are closed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The company said previously that annual pass payments would continue during the closure.

With the updatied policy, Disney will stop collecting payments starting April 5. Disney will also refund payments that were collected between March 14 and April 4. Take a look at the announcement from Disney below:

Monthly passes, however, will not be extended and instead expire on their original expiration date.

For passholders who paid for their passes in full, they will be given the option of either extending their passes for the number of days the parks were closed or receiving a refund for those days.

This news comes a week after Disney said its U.S. theme parks would remain closed indefinitely.

April 3, 2020
Disney World Still Raising the Flag in an Empty Magic Kingdom Every Day

Walt Disney World is closed during the coronavirus pandemic, but cast members are making sure the flag at Magic Kingdom is still raised everyday.

Video shared by Walt Disney World Resort President Josh D’Amaro on Instagram shows the security team still on duty at the Magic Kingdom raising the American flag. It’s a traditional they have kept up daily despite the park being empty.

The video shows only the movement of the guards and the flag. Birds are heard in the background. Cinderella Castle stands at the far end of the street. Take a look at the video below:

“While our world looks very different today, one thing endures…the American flag still flies over Walt Disney World,” D’Amaro wrote. “I’m inspired how our Security Cast Members continue to raise it each and every morning at Magic Kingdom while they are on duty protecting the magic. It’s a symbol that we’re still here and will not falter. I hope this inspires you as well. We will be back. Thanks to all our incredible Cast Members who continue to maintain the magic until that day. Until then, please take care of yourselves and your families. We will see you soon.”

Disney World, which has been shut down only a handful of times in its 48-year history, is closed until further notice.

April 2, 2020
Disney Purchases More Land Near Magic Kingdom

More land has been purchased near Magic Kingdom by The Disney Company.

The land was bought last month by Celebration Company, a subsidiary of Disney, according to Orange County records and the 26.3 acres of land sits right next to Reedy Lake.

Disney purchased the land from Lake Reedy Development Group, LLC, the same company it purchased 235 acres of adjacent land from in late December.

Both pieces of property sit just west of Magic Kingdom and northwest of Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course.

Just like with that purchase, Disney hasn’t publicly said what it plans to do with the land.

April 2, 2020
Get $200 to Watch Your Favorite Disney Movie
The company Reviews.org is looking for 10 people willing to sit through their favorite Disney film one more time in exchange for $200 and a year-long subscription to Disney+.

It’s called their Disney+ Dream Job application. They previously launched a similar job application in October, asking people to binge watch Disney movies for 30 days.

They have re-launched this campaign to relieve some financial strain to 10 families who may be facing hardships due to the coronavirus outbreak. Take a look below for details and sign up information.

Here are the qualifications:
- Must be 18 years or older and a U.S. resident
If interested, applicants can send an email with the subject line “Dream Job”, your name and favorite Disney film to giveaways@reviews.org.

For more information: CLICK HERE.
April 1, 2020
Disney Parks Donate 100,000 N95 Face Masks to Hospitals

Since taking the unprecedented steps of closing U.S. Disney theme parks and stores and suspending cruises, Disney has continued to focus on ways they can make a difference during this time.

In response to requests from hospitals that are in need of additional protective garments and medical-related supplies, Disney Parks has donated 150,000 rain ponchos to MedShare, a humanitarian aid organization, for distribution to hospitals in need. The idea was inspired by nurses across the country who inventively found that rain ponchos can be an excellent way to protect their clothing and prolong the use of PPE, while also freeing up gowns when needed.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is unlike anything we’ve seen before,” said Charles Redding, MedShare CEO and President. “We have to find ways to pool our resources and work together to help the healthcare workers who are doing their very best to treat patients and contain COVID-19. We appreciate Disney partnering with us to support hospitals and healthcare workers on the frontlines.”

Disney Parks also recently donated more than 100,000 N95 masks to the states of New York, California and Florida, and is finding additional ways to give back.

These efforts follow the recent donation of more than 270 tons of food to local food banks from Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Paris, and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa. Since March, Disney Parks have provided nearly $3M in in-kind donations benefitting communities around the globe.

Disney Parks has a longstanding history of helping hospitals and communities, dating back to the 1930s, when Walt, himself, took Disney characters and animators on outreach visits. Sharing the magic of Disney continues today through contributions, collaborating with nonprofit organizations, in-kind gifts and employee volunteerism. These are some of the ways Disney brings positive, lasting change to communities around the world.

April 1, 2020