ABC Network to Present Exclusive Screenings and Q&As on New Fall Shows at D23 Expo

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

Attendees at the D23 Expo August 9-11 in Anaheim will be among the first to view some of ABC’s highly anticipated fall series and animated specials, while at the same time learning how they were made.

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At “ABC’s Once Upon A Time: Behind the Fairytale” panel on Saturday, August 10, Executive Producers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz will discuss season three’s exciting developments of Once Upon A Time, as well as their new fall series Once Upon A Time In Wonderland, set in Alice’s Victorian England and the new land on the other side of the rabbit hole. D23’s Jeffrey Epstein will be the Q&A’s moderator.

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As a guest of the D23 Expo, board the Jolly Roger, Once Upon A Time‘s famous pirate ship and feast your eyes on original props from the set. Every swash-buckling pirate who boards the ship will get to visit the Evil Queen’s vault, where a surprise awaits those who unlock a box from Regina’s wall of hearts. In true pirate form, buccaneers won’t leave without some booty!

Guests will also have the opportunity to get a close look at some of the elaborate costumes from Once Upon A Time inside the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit on the second floor of the convention center.

Stay tuned to WDWNT for coverage of the D23 Expo August 9-11, 2013!

Getting in the Holiday Spirit with New Merchandise at Disney Parks

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

In conjunction with the Limited Time Magic’s “Christmas in July” celebration last week at Walt Disney World, let’s check out some of the new Holiday Merchandise being offered this upcoming holiday season:

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Pins are such a huge collectible at the Disney Parks, and the same holds true for holiday-themed pins. The holiday light bulb with Mouse ears featured above will be available everywhere, while the Hawaiian-themed “Mele Kalikimaka” pin will have an limited-edition size of only 2,000.

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Who wants another loud holiday sweater with a reindeer on it? No one! Why not choose one of these holiday t-shirts instead? Mike Wazowski  from “Monsters University” adorns the youth shirt, while Grumpy from Walt Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” impersonated Santa Claus on the adult shirt. Both shirts will be released at the Walt Disney World  Resort and the Disneyland Resort.

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While Grumpy may not be Santa Claus, you’ll wish Santa leaves this limited edition Ear Hat ornament set under the tree for you; this set contains a Snow White ornament, and seven dwarf hat ornaments. This ornament set will have a limited-edition size of only 600, and will have a price tag of $175 + tax. You’ll find these in select locations starting in August.

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Along with Grumpy, Duffy the Disney bear will also get a holiday-themed makeover. Duffy will get an elf costume!  Pictured above, the 17-inch bear will include the elf outfit and the smaller Mickey Mouse plush.

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Finally, for those Vinylmation fans this holiday season, you’ll find ice-skating Mickey and Minnie figures, designed by Maria Clapsis.

What’s on your holiday wish list?

D23 Expo App Now Available for Download

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

Great news if you are planning to head out to the D23 Expo this August, Disney has released an app to help Expo attendees stay organized:

Guests attending the D23 Expo: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event are now able to download the free D23 Expo app from the iTunes and Google Play stores. This multi-layered application will serve as a useful tool for those guests attending the event, which takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center August 9–11, 2013.

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The app is packed with features including: schedules, panel information, event calendar, last-minute alerts and fun features like trivia, videos, D23 photo booth and more! Not only does the app have a helpful schedule where you can save panels to your phone’s calendar but it also includes a fun section where you can find the trivia and scavenger hunt. I am looking forward to the scavenger hunt which is comprised of hunting down nine QR code with the given hints. The trivia game starts with the Expo on August 9th and Dave Smith will be asking attendees to answer some of his most interesting questions he has ever been asked. You can download the app here.

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Philips Lights the Way for Disney Storytelling

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

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Disney and Philips have teamed up to create unique and exciting lighting products, bringing Disney magic into the lives of children while they play, read and sleep. These amazing products were developed in The Netherlands at the Philips’ facilities, and they will first be introduced in Europe and the U.S. in September, followed by Asia near the end of 2013.

With StoryLight and Mickey, parents and children can enjoy eBooks connected to Mickey Mouse shaped lighting, transforming classic Disney stories with colored synchronized lights.

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Philips Consumer Luminaires CEO Philip Doorduijn had this to say:

“Philips and Disney believe in creating moments and environments that improve people’s wellbeing and happiness. By bringing our collective brand, knowledge and histories together, we have created a range of safe, innovative and dynamic lighting solutions for children, parents and everybody young-at-heart.”

There are other lighting products being introduced as well:

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  • SleepTime and Mickey – Helping children distinguish between sleep and wake time with sun and moon indicators
  • SoftPals and Monsters – Keeping kids comfortable at night with a soft subtle light
  • DisneyLivingColorsMicroCandle Light – Simulating the flicker of a candle with a warm glow
  • LivingColors – Giving children a means to enter an imaginary world through lighting

These creative lighting products are completely child friendly, with built-in safety features, such as lamps which are cool to the touch, allowing for increased usage and long life, and no sharp edges or small parts, and cables which can be tucked away using velcro.

So look for these innovative lighting products coming to your area soon, and create magical worlds for your children with light!

Visit here for more information on the Disney and Philips lighting partnership.
Images courtesy of Royal Philips and the Walt Disney Company

AT&T Becomes Official Mobile Provider For Domestic Disney Parks

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

ATT-MAGICLets take a step back for a second though, back in 2009 Disney partnered with Verizon Wireless to bring us the “Mobile Magic” app which allowed us to see Wait Times, FASTPASS return times, and information on where to meet and greet with characters. This was an exclusive service for Verizon customers only leaving out everyone else. In early 2012 Disney released Mobile Magic for iOS users on AT&T and Verizon. Even though the app was still branded for Verizon, you could use it with AT&T as well. In mid 2012, Disney launched “My Disney Experience” which wasn’t branded to any carrier and could be used on any iOS/Android device. Today, Disney announced a new partnership with AT&T.

Disney Parks has just signed an exclusive contract with AT&T to make them the official mobile provider for U.S. Disney Parks. With this new agreement, AT&T will have the opportunity to sponsor Disney-created soccer and runDisney events at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at The Walt Disney World Resort. In addition to this, Disney will join AT&T to educate Cast Members and guests about the “It Can Wait” campaign to educate consumers about the dangers of texting while driving.

AT&T and Disney will also collaborate to enhance the experience for the growing number of Disney guests using smartphones and tablets during their visit.  Furthermore, Cast Members will use new mobile devices on AT&T’s network to help deliver Disney’s legendary guest service. President of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, United States and France had this to say about the new partnership “This alliance joins two companies that share a commitment to providing quality experiences, and we look forward to the collaboration as we continue to leverage technology to enhance the experience for our guests.”ATT-logo

Included in this new partnership is the ability to enhance a variety of AT&T technologies in use at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. More than 25 new antenna systems will be installed to increase the wireless capacity in areas with high mobile traffic (i.e. The Magic Kingdom and Epcot), more than 350 small cells will be installed to extend network connectivity throughout, and more than 40 repeaters to further enhance the mobile experience for both guests and Cast Members.

As someone who has AT&T and visits Walt Disney World often, I can speak with experience that LTE service is really terrible at most of the theme parks and at times completely absent. If all the above is true, then I’m beyond excited to have excellent service while at the parks to continue to offer new updates, photos, and videos in the moment. With Disney now focusing so much on the MyMagic+ experience which relies so much of your smart phone, AT&T users will be able to experience it better with the new antennas.

VIDEO: A Look Back at Long-Lost Friends Week at the Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

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Last week as part of Limited Time Magic, the Magic Kingdom hosted Long Lost Friends Week, bringing back characters from Robin Hood, Chicken Little, Song of the South, and The Princess and the Frog to the park.In case you missed it, we have some video of all of the characters to share with you:

Disney Princess Dresses by Harrod’s to Make Debut at the D23 Expo

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

A display of exclusive handcrafted dresses inspired by Disney’s iconic princesses will make their U.S. debut at the D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center August 9-11, 2013.

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Included are works of world-leading designers inspired by the individual stories of the Disney Princesses by Ralph & Russo (Tiana), Versace (Cinderella), Elie Saab (Aurora), Marchesa (Ariel), Escada (Jasmine), Missoni (Mulan), Roberto Cavalli (Pocahontas), Jenny Packham (Rapunzel), Valentino (Belle), and Oscar de la Renta (Snow White).

The dresses were first displayed in an ultra-glamorous set of window displays at Harrod’s, the luxury store in Knightsbridge, London, during the 2012 holiday season.

Also during the D23 Expo, additional presentations have been announced:

  • As the 50th anniversary of “Mary Poppins” nears, Disney legend and  Walt Disney Archives Chief Archivist Emeritus Dave Smith will host “Behind the Scenes of  Walt Disney’s “Mary Poppins.” Guests will learn the whole story of how Walt Disney discovered the book, worked with author P.L. Travers on the script, hired the Sherman Brothers to write a memorable score, selected an unforgettable cast, oversaw the actual filming, and celebrated at a gala Hollywood premiere.
  • At “Secrets of the Lost Chords,” Grammy® Award-winning producer and resident Disney Music historian, Randy Thornton will share some of the secrets behind Disney’s “lost” songs that were written for several classic Disney films by legendary Disney composers, such as the Sherman Brothers, that were lost for several decades – until now. As a special part of this exclusive D23 event, attendees will be among some of the very first to hear songs currently in production for an upcoming “Lost Chords” release.
  • “Sounds Delightful: An Illustrated Audio Adventure,” will be hosted by Stacia Martin, Disney Artist and Historian. This presentation will take guests on an entertaining trip across decades via vintage Disney Vinyl Recordings from Martin’s personal collection. Forgotten favorites will be heard along with rare promotional and production tracks, including never-before-heard musical moments from Walt Disney’s own “journey down the Yellow Brick Road.”

For presentation times, dates, and locations (subject to change), please visit D23Expo.com.

Disney Fine Art Portraits Add Some Character To Your Family!

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

Looking for a totally unique way to capture your next Walt Disney World vacation? Check out the all-new portrait experience available with Disney’s Fine Art Photography and Video department; they will capture the memories of your visit and enable you to bring some Disney magic home with you.

Taken by a Disney photography artist, the exclusive portrait session places you and your family inside the artwork itself!

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Within the artwork, the letters spell out “DISNEY” or a beloved character’s name, while whimsical photos of your family are placed inside the letters.

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Finally, a chosen Disney character poses with your family, completing your Disney family art portrait, creating a memory that will last a lifetime.

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The mounting, packaging, prints, a double matte, acrylic glass and a wire frame hanger are all included in the price of the art portrait.

For more information on this new Disney experience visit disneyeventphotography.com or to book a session, call 407.934.4004.

Dessert Menu Revealed for the Revamped California Grill

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

Parting is such sweet sorrow, but the California Grill’s grand reopening will be much sweeter! Guests have been missing the California Grill for months now, but the re-opening date is close approaching (rumored to be around August 25th).

Pastry Chef Jeff Barnes gave a preview of a few of the new desserts for the California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The new dessert menu will feature several new additions that Chef Barnes and his artistic team have been creating.

“You’re going to see a big change with some new concepts. This is our chance to create a new menu with a fresh infusion of California, and it’s coming together nicely,” says Chef Jeff, stating that the new theme of the menu is “artful and playful.”

New to the California Grill menu is a dessert trio with a Coke float, strawberry sundae and caramel corn sundae, “too good and tempting to have such great flavors on one plate,” Chef Barnes says.

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The chocolate pudding cake is made with a 70% Dark Chocolate from Belgium

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Banana fritters, dusted with sugar, are served with chocolate and marshmallows

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And don’t forget the Lemon Meringue Cheesecake! Served with fresh fruit, it’s light and refreshing

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Keep checking with wdwnt.com for more details about the California Grill’s grand reopening date; we will be sure to update you as more information becomes available.

Guardians of the Galaxy Cast Revealed at SDCC’13

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

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During the Marvel Studios panel at San Diego Comic-Con this past weekend, the cast of the Guardians of the Galaxy was fully revealed. Up until recently, only Chris Pratt was officially on board as Peter Quill, aka Star Lord, but the rest of the cast “officially” appeared in person. They include Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Karen Gillian (with newly shaved head) as Nebula, Lee Pace as Ronan the Accuser, Michael Rooker as Yondu, Benecio Del Toro as The Collector, Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer and Djimon Hounsou as Korath.

The only one left to be announced is who will voice Rocket Raccoon. Many sources lead toward David Tennant being the VA for the crazy Raccoon.

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