2014 Disney Parks Christmas Day Special To Get a Frozen Makeover

WDWNT on December 30, 2014

Frozen has not only found its way into many aspects of Walt Disney World Resort, but this Christmas, Disney will put a Frozen twist on its 31st annual Christmas Day telecast, appropriately renamed the Disney Parks Frozen Christmas Celebration airing December 25, 2014, on ABC-TV.

Disney Parks Frozen Christmas Celebration Logo

Robin Roberts of ABC’s Good Morning America will host the reimagined television special inspired by the blockbuster hit’s message of uniting family and loved ones. Roberts will lead the telecast from Walt Disney World Resort in Florida with support from ESPN and SEC Network personality Tim Tebow.

ÒGood Morning AmericaÓ Anchor Robin Roberts Hosts the 2014 Disney Parks Frozen Christmas Celebration TV Special

ABC’s Robin Roberts hosts this year’s Disney Parks Frozen Christmas Celebration.

They will be joined by Rob Marciano, senior meteorologist of ABC’s Good Morning America from the “The Happiest Place on Earth” at Disneyland Resort. Sarah Hyland, star of ABC’s Emmy award-winning show Modern Family, joins the fun from Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai‛i.

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Sarah Hyland performs from Aulani.

The festivities will also feature a special appearance by Miss America 2015, Kira Kazantsev, making this year’s Christmas special a magical Frozen celebration not to be missed.

Miss America 2015 Kira Kazanstev Tapes Disney Parks Frozen Christmas Celebration TV Special

Miss America 2015, Kira Kazantsev

Disney Parks will celebrate this Christmas with more than a parade, but with a heartfelt wish for the holiday season, the coming together of loved ones and family. In keeping with the spirit of Frozen where two sisters are united through the power of true love, Disney will bring together three groups of families and friends who have been apart or separated for the holidays, providing the ultimate Christmas gift. The reunions will take place at three magical Disney destinations – Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, and Aulani – making these reunions bigger, brighter and merrier.

The joyous occasion will fittingly include a special rendition of the Frozen hit single, Let It Go, as performed by 12-year-old YouTube sensation, Lexi Walker.

YouTube Sensation Lexi Walker Tapes Disney Parks Frozen Christmas Celebration TV Special

Lexi Walker performs Let It Go.

There will also be festive performances from some of today’s top musical talents at each of the various Disney locations:

  • Ariana Grande will regale Walt Disney World Resort guests with her new Christmas single Santa Tell Me and the Christmas tradition Last Christmas
  • Prince Royce adds to the merriment with I Want to Wish You a Merry Christmas/Feliz Navidad
  • The spotlight also will shine on special performances from the X Factor USA third and final season winners Alex and Sierra singing Love is an Open Door from Frozen
  • Yuletide cheer will be brought to the Hawaiian Islands by Gavin DeGraw, performing his latest single Fire and the holiday standard I’ll Be Home for Christmas
  • Laura Marano, of Disney Channel’s Austin & Ally, entertains viewers with her version of Do You Want to Build a Snowman? as posed by Princess Anna in Frozen

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Laura Marano also performs.

  • Trey Songz, Lucy Hale and Train will serenade audiences at Disneyland Resort in California with holiday favorites such as All I Want for Christmas is You, Mistletoe, and Shake Up Christmas

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Train entertains the Christmas Day special in Disneyland.

  • Country music superstar Trisha Yearwood will perform her hit single, Prizefighter, and the holiday classic, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Celebrate the most wonderful time of year with familiar Disney friends and holiday characters as they spread Christmas joy and cheer at Disneyland Park in California and along parade routes at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida:

*characters/floats subject to change

  • The Frozen stars of the parade, Elsa and Anna, return from Arendelle to join the royal court and ring in the holidays on Main Street, U.S.A. at Walt Disney World Resort
  • Olaf, the summer-loving snowman from Frozen, joins hundreds of Dance the Magic youth performers in front of Cinderella Castle for a musical number to In Summer
  • Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty makes her holiday debut as the steampunk-inspired fire-breathing dragon, as featured in the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade
  • A new Club Penguin float joins the procession highlighting the holiday special, We Wish You a Merry Walrus
  • The superheroes of  Big Hero 6 take a break from saving the world to wish onlookers happy holidays
  • The National Cheerleaders Association and National Dance Alliance Performance Cheer Team, featuring 800 members from 41 states, entertain park guests lining Main Street, U.S.A.
  • Boys and Girls Club National Youth of the Year winner, Maryah Sullivan, appears in the regal coach from the upcoming live action film, Cinderella
  • Traditional Christmas favorites such as Toy Soldiers and Gingerbread Men get their time in the spotlight to make the season merry and bright
  • After a long night of delivering presents, the jolly man in the red suit, Santa Claus, finishes his route on Main Street, U.S.A.

The Disney Parks Frozen Christmas Celebration airs December 25, 2014, on ABC-TV at 10:00 a.m. EST.  Other airtimes vary; check local listings in your market.

 

“Taste of Hollywood” Returns to Hollywood Studios for the Holidays

WDWNT on December 30, 2014

This Christmas season, Taste of Hollywood to Go at Disney’s Hollywood Studios returns with a delicious meal-to-go and a reserved seat for Fantasmic! From December 24 to 31, the popular Taste of Hollywood To Go option will be returning with a few new entrees, all of which include a reserved seat for Fantasmic!.

The adult menu features a choice of a vegetable sandwich served with ginger-marinated tomatoes and cucumbers, quinoa salad and chocolate cake; shrimp salad served with pita, ginger-marinated tomatoes and cucumbers and mandarin orange cheesecake; golden fried chicken served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, sweet corn and carrots and warm apple crisp; cold-cut roast beef sandwich with creamy horseradish served with classic potato salad, grilled asparagus and chocolate cake; or California sushi tuna roll served with avocado, orange and tomato salad, ginger-marinated tomatoes and cucumbers and spicy pecan-chocolate cluster.

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Kids’ choices include a power pack with strawberry yogurt, apple wedges, carrot sticks with ranch dip, fish crackers, an organic apple cinnamon and oatmeal snack-size sandwich bar or a turkey and American cheese wrap with strawberry yogurt, apple wedges, carrots with ranch dip and a seven-layer cookie bar.

Reservations are now open, and can be made by calling 407-WDW-D407-WDW-DINE up to 24 hours in advance. If you do not have a reservation, you can check the day you are in the park for availability. Meals can be picked up from Min & Bill’s Dockside Diner from 11:00a.m. to 8:00p.m. Choice of Fantasmic! showtime is based on availability, with the number of seats based on the number of meals purchased.

PHOTOS: Maelstrom Attraction Currently Being Gutted, FROZEN Ride at Epcot Is More Than An Overlay

WDWNT on December 30, 2014

If you had your doubts about the budget or just how extensive the work on the new Frozen attraction at Epcot might be, you may want to look at this…

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Photos from @JohnCFSS on twitter

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Photos from @JohnCFSS on twitter

The photos above were taken under the door at the attraction’s entrance, the former lobby of the Maelstrom ride in Norway of Epcot’s World Showcase. The word demolition comes to mind as it looks like they have in many places ripped walls out or at least stripped them down to the structural steel.

Since the announcement of the ride earlier this year, there has been much debate about the budget and how extensive the attraction update might be. These photos are the first real proof that at least the entrance and exit of the ride will be vastly different from Maelstrom. It is still unknown if the boat flume will remain, but some sources have claimed that the ride will be entirely new, and these photos may make that easier to believe. However, it is still possible that a boat ride is behind these walls. Only time will tell.

Photos from @JohnCFSS on twitter.

Frank Oz To Voice “Yoda” in “Star Wars Rebels”

WDWNT on December 30, 2014

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When I first saw this story, I kind of just brushed it off as no big deal. I kind of figured at some point the crew from Rebels would end up on Dagobah and meet up with Yoda (not that it is needed). Then I realized that “Frank Oz”, who was the voice and the man behind Yoda (that last part pertains to the Original Trilogy), is actually coming back to voice the character that he first helped give life to in The Empire Strikes Back.

In the previous series, The Clone Wars, Tom Kane provided the voice of Yoda. To have Oz come back is a bit of a big deal. Many people love imitating Yoda, but no one can voice Yoda like Oz does. A few months ago, James Earl Jones also came back to voice Darth Vader for Rebels. I just find it interesting that some of the original cast is contributing to the series.

The episode, “Path of the Jedi” will air Monday, January 5th, 2015 at 9PM on Disney XD. It will also be available a week before online through the Watch Disney App on Monday, December 29th.

Source: TVGuide.com

RUMOR: “Star Tours: The Adventures Continue” To Add Planets & Characters from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”

WDWNT on December 30, 2014

The site Star Wars Underworld is claiming that an inside source has informed them that the first Star Wars additions coming to Disney theme parks post-purchase will be additions to Star Tours: The Adventures Continue at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Tokyo Disneyland  based on characters and locations from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”.

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Star  Tours: The Adventures Continue was designed by Disney Imagineers and members of Lucasfilm to easily insert new destinations and characters at any time. With the current iteration of the attraction, any new film sequences could be created and programmed separately and then exported to the ride. meaning any addition would result in little-to-no downtime for the attraction. We have speculated about these additions several times on our podcast, but this is this first outside report.

Recently, we reported that Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed that there will be a much larger presence of Star Wars themed attractions based on the new sequels and spin-offs. Adding new destinations based on “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” to Star Tours would seem to go along with his plans.

Stay tuned as more information becomes available

Character Names Revealed For “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”

WDWNT on December 30, 2014

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Today EW.com received and exclusive reveal of some of the new characters that were seen in the “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” trailer. J.J. Abrams, the film’s co-writer and director, and Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, decided to reveal the identities of some of their new characters exclusively to EW—and they did it in a retro fashion that should bring a smile to anyone familiar with the phrase “Collect ‘Em, Trade ‘Em.” EW was presented with a mocked up version of the original Topps Star Wars trading cards that debuted in 1977.

Here are the cards revealed in card number order, which according to J. J. Abrams, the numbering of these cards bears significance:

Card #11: “BB-8 on the move!” 

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Card #53: “Poe Dameron in his X-Wing”

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Card #67: “Kylo Ren ignites his Lightsaber!”

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Card #74: “Rey on her speeder”

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Card #76: “Finn on the run!”

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Card #81: “Stormtroopers prepare for battle!”

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Card #88: “X-Wings in formation!”

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Card #96: “The Millennium Falcon”

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VIDEO: Trailer for PIXAR “Inside Out” Available

WDWNT on December 30, 2014

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures has released a new trailer for the upcoming Disney/Pixar animated feature Inside Out. Academy Award®-winning director Pete Docter has taken audiences to unique and imaginative places. In Inside Out,  he will take us to the most extraordinary location of all—inside the mind.

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Have a look at the new trailer:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRUAzGQ3nSY]

Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it’s no exception for Riley, who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Like all of us, Riley is guided by her emotions:

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Joy (Amy Poehler)

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Fear (Bill Hader)

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Anger (Lewis Black)

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Disgust (Mindy Kaling)

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and Sadness (Phyllis Smith).

The emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley’s mind, where they help advise her through everyday life. As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco, turmoil ensues in Headquarters. Although Joy, Riley’s main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive, the emotions conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school.

Inside Out debuts in theaters June 19, 2015.

New Concept Art and Details Revealed for “Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows”, Part of the Disney Vacation Club

WDWNT on December 30, 2014

Today, disney released concept art and details on the Disney Vacation Club expansion of the Polynesian Village Resort, now known as “Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows”.

The bungalows will be the first of their kind on any Disney property. The 20 Bungalows will sleep up to eight guests each and be just steps away from the new plunge pool overlooking Seven Seas Lagoon, not to mention an unparalleled view of the Magic Kingdom’s nightly fireworks.

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The Polynesian bungalows

On the mainland, the villas will feature largest Deluxe Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort. The 360 Deluxe Studios will sleep up to five guests each and have the ability to connect to another Deluxe Studio, the first time this has been done at a Disney Vacation Club Resort. Similar to Disney Cruise Line ships and The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the rooms will each have a bathroom separated into two areas, one with a shower and sink and the other with a sink and tub/shower. Plus, they also will have kitchenettes and enhanced storage space for convenience and comfort.

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Inside the rooms at the Polynesian villas

The first phase of the Polynesian Villas and Bunglaows will open in early 2015.

Disneyland Park to Serve Alcohol to Guests at New 21 Royal Street Upscale Restaurant

WDWNT on December 30, 2014

As soon as work wrapped up on the new Club 33 at Disneyland earlier this year, work began on a new establishment on the other side of the Club’s kitchen, located at 21 Royal Street in New Orleans Square. The location was originally intended to be part of Walt Disney’s apartment, but was most recently used as an executive dining room before the remodel.

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The restaurant is expected to be the first in Disneyland history to serve alcohol to non-Club 33 members. Andrew Sutton will be the executive chef for the restaurant in what will also be the first true upscale restaurant open to regular park guests in Disneyland Park’s 60 year history.

No official announcement has been made by Disney yet.

UPDATE: Disneyland has since responded to this story and has stated the space will be a new private dining space for executives and Club 33 members only.

AVATAR at Animal Kingdom: New Details on Banshee Attraction; Boat Ride Canned?

WDWNT on December 30, 2014

Bob Iger was certainly busy telling everyone about the plans for the Disney Parks yesterday, and the long-running, controversial, and enormously-budgeted AVATAR project wasn’t left out. Iger recently scaled some scaffolding at Walt Disney Imagineering and took a test-ride on a mock-up of the Banshee ride for the new Animal Kingdom theme park land.

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“It felt so real, so lifelike, there’s never been anything like it.”

The vehicles will be the banshees themselves, with movements that should “mimic a breathing beast”. Think of it as a next-generation Soarin’, but the environment on-screen will be presented hi-def 3-D as you ride in a giant alien creature.

The boat ride attraction for the AVATAR land was not mentioned as many report rumors that it may no longer be part of the project.