“The Latest At The Land”: Star Wars – Season of the Force Debuts at Disneyland np

WDWNT on November 13, 2015

As what sometimes seems like the entire civilized world waits for the next installment of the Star Wars film juggernaut and theme park fans gaze into the night skies for a clues about the shape of the films’ brick and mortar edifies at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, a slight peek forward and long look back at the Lucas Universe, Star Wars: Season of the Force opened Monday November 16 at Disneyland.

This re-skinning of Disneyland’s Tomorrowland as Season of the Force, is certainly a placeholder for the full scale Star Wars land now beginning construction, but that doesn’t make this temporary fare insignificant. It uses the resources and rides of the area as a temporary exposition space, and arguably, the most ambitious movie promotion ever mounted.

This temporary fare elevates the area with the look and tone of the previous and upcoming films while building buzz for what is widely expected to be the highest grossing film of all time. It does that with a handful of “pavilions” and overlays at familiar Tomorrowland attractions.

Star Wars Launch Bay: Located in the former Innoventions/Carousel Theatre is primarily a photo meet & greet with Darth Vader and Chewbacca presenting considerable wait times. But not for lack of trying. Multiples of each of the characters, à la Mickey’s House, are tackfully deployed to at least double the capacity.  The rest of the downstairs area is essentially a “hardware” show. Here the wardrobe, weapons, and the vehicles, flying or ground-bound, of a galaxy far away, are on display in a fairly rich, art directed Star Wars environment.

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The Path of The Jedi: Taking up residence in the The Magic Eye Theatre (Yes, that really is the name again…) in the Space Mountain complex. The presentation is essentially a long film trailer, including material from all of the preceding Star Wars films and the upcoming The Force Awakens. It is light on new material, but if you have ever been a fan of the series, you may start to get that familiar feeling again.  Your milage may vary.

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Hyperspace Mountain: In what is certainly the best “Extreme Makeover: Space Mountain Edition” yet, this Disney Park classic get reconnoitered into an X-Wing space battle. It may be a little light on new scenes, and the additions probably wouldn’t pass muster on a long term basis. But when you are speeding through “outer space” at great speed, the new sights work pretty well.

Miraculously, this change was accomplished behind the scenes without significant downtime to the attraction, just a few late morning openings. This highlights Disneyland’s and Walt Disney Imagineering’s “out of the box” creativity, the blessing of proximity, and their willingness to use the So. Cal. Parks as a living laboratory. Lucky us!

Star Tours (with The Force Awakens themes): All Guests will see the new footage as a prelude to the normal randomized scenarios. Warning: This small change and the adventure that follows may serve to remind you that Star Tours is still one of the best simulator rides around.

Various Marvel Universe ephemera is on display on the upper level of the Tomorrowland Expo Center at Super Hero HQ, where guests can also now meet Thor or Spider-Man in meet and greet experiences.

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Giant movie promotion or not, Season of the Force brings a pulse to Tomorrowland, especially at night when dramatic lighting and the stars in the sky add to the atmosphere. And even for a minute, that awkward looking, sometimes rotating antenna/sculpture on the upper level where the Rocket Jets used to be looks okay… Maybe.

REVIEW: “Put Me in the Story – Star Wars: The Force Inside” np

WDWNT on November 13, 2015

Put Me in the Story is a popular line of best selling personalized books for kids. We had the chance to review Marvel’s The Avengers: Black Ops Field Guide a few months ago, and now, just in time for The Force Awakens, we had the opportunity to review a copy of Star Wars: The Force Inside.
The process for ordering any Put Me in the Story book is quick, easy and fun via the Put Me in the Story website. Just a few quick steps of typing your child’s name, adding a short book dedication and uploading two photos of your child and you are done. This can be done as either a surprise for your child, or include them in the process by having them choose two of their favorite photos!
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I decided to have Jedi Master Mace Windu write out a dedication to one of his favorite Jedi… me! The process of personalizing the book really adds to the excitement of waiting to receive it. And we have had a great experience with super fast shipping, so you will not have to wait long after ordering.
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The first photo you upload goes onto the dedication page. The second photo goes on a page in the middle of the book. When you receive the book, you will notice that it is a high quality hard cover book. Which it good, because if your kids are like me when I was a youngling, they will be flipping through it over and over and over again.
The best part in my opinion is that there are two sides to the book… “Path of the Jedi” and “Path of the Sith.” So depending on which cover you start with, you can choose the dark side or the light. The covers have well designed graphics on them with either Jedi or Sith characters. Your child’s name is also on both covers.
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Once you choose your side, you will go through a series of pages with characters and questions on the them. Luke, Yoda, Obi-Wan and more populate the Jedi side with Vader, The Inquisitor and Darth Maul among others on the Sith side.
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On one page you will find a character bio and attribute chart. On the opposite page, is a short quiz to test your dedication to the dark or light side. For each page, you add up the numbers next to the answers you choose, and at the book’s half way point, you total up your points for your Jedi or Sith score. On that middle page is also where your second photo appears.
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Overall, the presentation is wonderful. There are a ton of great graphics and character photos with a layout that invites repeated readings. Just that alone would have me flipping though the pages, but the fact that I can interact with the book by making up my own stories based on the quizzes inside is what makes this book a true winner. It is something I would reference and revisit over and over again as a young padawan in training for a life of Star Wars geekdom ahead.
Click here to check out the Star Wars: The Force Inside book for yourself.

CONCEPT ART & VIDEO: Disney Previews “Rivers of Light” and the Tree of Life Nighttime Projections for Animal Kingdom

WDWNT on November 13, 2015

Today, Disney is finally sharing more about the Rivers of Light nighttime spectacular coming to Animal Kingdom in 2016:

In “Rivers of Light,” a pair of mystical hosts come to the river bearing gifts of light. During the show, the hosts set out from the shore on elaborate lantern vessels for a dramatic dance of water and light to summon animal spirits. With the storytellers as your guides, the wonders of “Rivers of Light” builds to a stunning crescendo.

In addition to the show, you’ll also notice the park’s iconic Tree of Life will undergo an amazing awakening as the animal spirits of the tree are brought to “light” by magical fireflies, revealing moments of wonder and enchantment.

To create “Rivers of Light,” Imagineers and Creative Entertainment partnered with the talents of master puppet designer Michael Curry, composer Mark Mancina and the filmmakers at Disneynature. According to Imagineer Joe Rohde, the addition of “Rivers of Light” to the park’s offerings will serve as that huge “wow” moment that ends a guest’s visit to the park.

 

Disney also released a video with Imagineer Joe Rhode discussing the project:

Animal Kingdom Getting a New Table Service Restaurant in 2016:– “Tiffins”

WDWNT on November 13, 2015

We’ve been watching construction of a new restaurant at Animal Kingdom (just behind Pizzafari on the way to Pandora: The World of AVATAR) for quite a while now, but we now finally know what it will be…

Tiffins Concept Art

Tiffins Concept Art

The restaurant will be called Tiffins and it “will celebrate the art of traveling, featuring a diverse menu drawing from places that inspired the creation of Disney’s Animal Kingdom”. Serving lunch and dinner, Tiffins will also include waterfront views from indoor and outdoor seating areas. “Tiffin” is an Indian English word for a midday meal or a type of container used to carry food while traveling.

Tifins will open to guests in 2016 at Disney’s animal Kingdom theme park.

Mark Hamill Confirms Luke Skywalker Will Be In “Star Wars: Episode VIII”

WDWNT on November 13, 2015

Even though he gets credited in the official Star Wars: The Force Awakens poster and has appeared at a number of live events in celebration of the sequel, Mark Hamill recently admitted in an interview that he has never officially been allowed to say that he is in the movie. That changes today, as he used his Official Twitter account to confirm that he will once again reprise JediMaster Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode VIII, which kicks off the summer 2017 movie going season.

 

Source: Movieweb.com

 

Yacht & Beach Club Holding “Countdown to Midnight”, New Year’s Eve Event Including Adventurer’s Club Reunion

WDWNT on November 13, 2015

Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort is holding a new special event to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2015, one that includes an Adventurer’s Club reunion…

“Countdown to Midnight” includes “live music, comedy acts, and great food” according to Disney. There will even be a reunion of the long-shuttered Adventurer’s Club of Pleasure Island fame at the event, along with a dance area dedicated to music on vinyl, and much more.

Details are scarce so far, but the event is available only to guests with a resort reservation and the price per person is $300 (includes tax and gratuity). The event takes place between 8PM and 1AM starting on December 31st, 2015.