During The Last Jedi panel at Star Wars Celebration, the first teaser trailer was released but what may be more interesting and telling is this first teaser poster.
I think it is obvious now that the red font in the “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” logo is intentional. Similar to “The Empire Strikes Back”, this second chapter of the trilogy looks like it will be the darkest entry. In the poster we see Rey holding the lightsaber of the Jedi, but that is the only sign of the Light Side of The Force that we see in this image. Everything else is red, which represents The Dark Side and The Sith. Luke, Kylo Ren, Rey and even the stars in the sky are covered in red. And if you look closely, you will see that the blue light of Rey’s lightsaber eventually turns red. And come on, Luke really looks evil in this poster and in the trailer he says, “It’s time for The Jedi to end”!
I really feel that this chapter of the Star Wars saga will focus on struggle. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Luke went into hiding to protect others from his powers. Luke may have realized that he was more susceptible to The Dark Side after Kylo Ren and The Knights Of Ren murdered his students. He may have been unable to control his rage from the event and felt the darkness within him was out of his control. From the scenes that we have witnessed in The Force Awakens, Kylo has struggled with with The Dark Side. He may have deep regrets from killing his father and he may be struggling with which side of The Force he should be on. We also dont know Rey’s past. Maybe she was left on Jaku for a reason. Maybe Luke fears that she too could turn to The Dark Side. Like his father and his nephew and maybe even Luke himself.
With just a week until Earth Day and the theatrical debut of the fun and breathtaking new movie “Born in China,” Disneynature reveals a sneak peek at its next movie, “Dolphins,” which comes out in time for Earth Day 2018.
From a year in the lives of a family of Alaskan brown bears to the plight of a baby chimpanzee who finds himself all alone, Disneynature blends state-of-the-art nature filmmaking with Walt Disney’s signature storytelling. In 2018, Disneynature dives under the sea to frolic with some of the planet’s most engaging animals: dolphins. Echo is a youngster who can’t quite decide if it’s time to grow up and take on new responsibilities—or give in to her silly side and just have fun. Dolphin society is tricky, and the coral reef that Echo and his family call home depends on all of its inhabitants to keep it healthy. But Echo has a tough time resisting the many adventures the ocean has to offer. Through the eyes of a carefree dolphin, enjoy Disneynature’s next True Life Adventure–coming Earth Day 2018.
“Dolphins” is directed and produced by the same team who brought “Bears” and “African Cats” to the big screen in 2014 and 2011.
You can see the trailer play in front of Disneynature’s “Born in China” starting April 21 in theatres nationwide.
Yesterday at Star Wars Celebration Orlando, we got a special look ahead at all of the awesome Star Wars merchandise coming to Disney Parks over the next year during a special panel. Below are photos and video of everything of interest that we saw. Enjoy!
Droid Factory
The droid Factory line, started a few years ago, has allowed guests to build their own Astromech Droids at locations at both the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts. Disney has also released one-of-a-kind droids in special packs, as pictured above.
Several pieces were released at Star Wars Celebration Orlando, including this two-pack with R2-D2 and C-390…
As well as Chopper from the television series Rebels. Not pictured above is the red protocol droid C-3D0 from The Force Awakens which was also released this weekend at the convention.
Starting Friday, April 14th at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, guests will be able to build protocol droids at the experience as well, with over 70 pieces to choose from. This will also be rolled out to additional locations and at the Disneyland Resort in the next few days.
Several more pre-packaged Astromech Droids are coming this year, with a D23 Expo exclusive…
A Halloween season piece…
A Christmas season piece…
And bb-8 will be introduced to the line at the Disneyland Resort during the week of the D23 Expo.
While they wouldn’t show us exactly what it looks like, guests will soon have a Jawa’s Sandcrawler as a playlet for all of their Droid Factory toys.
Upcoming Star Wars Events at Disney Parks
Next weekend, the Star Wars Half Marathon – The Dark Side will unleash a new line of merchandise.
These Imperial Dooney and Bourke bags titled “The Dark Side” will be released at the event.
With the first event taking place on April 14th (with more likely to be announced), Star Wars Galactic Nights has plenty of goodies for guests to bring home. NOTE: They blurred out the mug and shirt to keep the logo a surprise.
The 2018 Star Wars Day at Sea merchandise for Disney Cruise Line was also previewed.
On May 4th, 2017, Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will celebrate Star Wars Day with exclusive merchandise.
Other MerchandiseÂ
The 13th Ewok plush in the collection will be released at the D23 Expo this year.
Starting today, guests will find these phone cases celebrating 40 years of Star Wars at the D-Tech on Demand kiosks at Star Wars Launch Bay.
“I Love You” and “I Know” hats will join the t-shirts later this year.
The very first Star Wars Galactic Nights event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is taking place on April 14th, 2017 as part of Star Wars Celebration Orlando, but it is now expected that the event will become a regular offering for the park in the weeks to come. Disney has released a full schedule and list of events for the evening (finally) ahead of the debut just hours away:
Entertainment
Stars in Cars – 8:05PM
Motorcade Route (Stars near Main Entrance)
Grab your spot to view a star-studded motorcade featuring a galaxy of your favorite Star Wars celebrities. The motorcade begins at the front of Hollywood Boulevard and travels towards Star Tours: The Adventures Continue.
Inside the Saga – Celebrity Chat Show – 9:00, 10:00, 11:00PM
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Theater (Pre-show begins 10 minutes before show time)
Hear from host Vanessa Marshall and Star Wars cast members and go behind the scenes of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” to learn what it takes to make remarkable cinematic moments. 30 minutes long.
Celebrate the Saga – 9:15 & 11:15PM
Rebel Base
Take an interactive journey that chronologically celebrates the milestones of 40 Force-filled years of Star Wars
DJ Dance Party – 7-7:25PM, 9:45-10:25PM
Rebel Base
Sway the night away at a galactic dance party.
Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away – 7:45, 8:50, 10:50PM
Rebel Base
Experience a live stage show of high energy film clips that juxtapose action-filled character moments on stage, including Chewbacca, Darth Vader, Kylo Ren and many more! (Enhanced for Event)
Galactic Nights Epilogue – 11:40pm
Rebel Base
Prior to the evening’s grand finale, join our event hosts as you marvel at a spotlight of Star Wars Galactic Nights event highlights from the fans!
Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular – 11:45PM
Rebel Base
Watch the fireworks above bring the entire Star Wars saga to life in a spectacular multimedia experience! (Enhanced for Event)
Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple – 7:45, 8:45, 9:45, 10:45PM
Near Star Tours- The Adventures Continue
Witness the future of the Force, as younglings face their fears at the sacred Jedi Temple. 25 minutes in length. Visit Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost to reserve a spot in the training. Participants ages 4-12 must be present to register. Space is limited. (Enhanced for Event)
March of the First Order – 8:30 & 10:30PM
Hollywood Boulevard
Captain Phasma leads a unit of First Order Stormtroopers down Hollywood Boulevard to the Rebel Base, stopping for a demonstration of their power and strength.
Imperial March – 7:25, 9:25, & 11:25PM
Starts near Star Tours and travels to Rebel Base
The Sith Lord himself, Darth Vader, leads a battalion of Stormtroopers on a dramatic Imperial March to the Rebel Base.
Characters
The following Star Wars characters will be at the event to meet guests:
Darth Vader
Chewbacca
Kylo Ren
BB-8
Boba Fett
Jawas
Ewoks
Imperial Troopers
AWR Troopers
The following Disney characters will be available in their standard locations:
Mickey & Minnie Mouse
Olaf
Buzz Lightyear & Woody
Moana
Scavenger Hunt
Guests are invited to collect a piece of the saga at photo backdrops featured throughout the Park and affix each piece to your Star Wars Galactic Nights Credential! Disney
PhotoPass Photographers will also be at each location to capture your favorite moments.
Locations:
Jabba the Hutt’s Palace (Near Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster)
Han Solo Frozen in Carbonite (Near Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster)
Hoth Wampa Cave (Muppets Courtyard)
Trash Compactor (Left of Great Movie Ride)
Emperor’s Throne Room (Echo Lake)
Rogue One (Near One Man’s Dream)
Speeder Bike (Across from Star Tours)
Attractions
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster: Star Wars Edition is a special experience just for the event. Take a journey through hyperspace in this not-to-be-missed Star Wars experience. A version of this experience was run during The Force Awakens premiere hard-ticket event which was held in December 2015.
Other attractions that will be operating are:
The Great Movie Ride
Star Wars: Path of the Jedi
Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
Muppet-Vision 3D
Toy Story Mania!
Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream
Voyage of The Little Mermaid
Star Wars Launch Bay
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Food and Beverage
Skywalker Vineyards wines will be available at the bars located near the Rebel Base. Snack carts located throughout the park will feature specialty cupcakes, lightsaber churros, Chewbacca steins, and TIE Fighter popcorn buckets.
Merchandise
Special event merchandise will be available at the following locations:
Legends of Hollywood
Mickey’s of Hollywood
Keystone Clothiers
Launch Bay Cargo
Tatooine Traders
WDWNT will be on the scene tonight to bring you all of the action, so stay tuned for live streams on our social media counts and much more, as well as plenty of photos, videos and thoughts after the event concludes.
Ba ba ba bahhh bah, ba ba ba bahhh bah, ba ba ba bahhh bah, ba ba ba bahhhhhhhh!!
In a galaxy far far away … (ok, maybe not so far away) we are bringing you this special galactic edition of WDWNT’s Hostess with the Mostess. In honor of Star Wars’ 40th Anniversary I am bringing you my top five favorite Star Wars experiences in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
So grab your nearest furry co-pilot, warm up the sublight engines, and let’s make our jump to light speed! #InLessThanTwelveParsecs
5. Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple
I know what you are thinking … isn’t this just for kids? Yes, unfortunately it is. The Jedi Council will not accept a woman in her twenties … I have tried. But even though this experience is reserved for the younger Jedi, force wielders of all ages should stop by to enjoy this show at least once. Not only is it entertaining and often times hilarious to watch kids try and fight with lightsabers, but it is also so much fun to see Jedi Masters and their Padawans go up against Darth Vader and the Sith. Located right next to the Star Tours attraction, this training is conducted multiple times a day giving you plenty of opportunities to stop by and cheer the younglings on.
4. Star Tours: The Adventure Continues
Watching young Padawans learn to become Jedi is certainly fun, but for anyone else who is still itching to be a Jedi Knight, a Star Fighter Pilot, a Service Droid, or even a Rebel Spy, Star Tours is for you! With dozens of different combinations, Star Tours is a unique ride because you never get the same story twice. Each ride consists of a beginning, middle, and ending sequence that rotate for each new ride experience. You may find yourself being interrogated by Darth Vader, escaping to help the Wookies on Kashyyk, and skidding to safety in the hanger bay on Naboo. This ride is always so much fun and to top it off, you exit the attraction right into Tatooine Traders where you can build your own lightsaber!
3. Star Wars Launch Bay
Everything we have talked about so far is just scratching the surface. If you really want to immerse yourself into the galaxy of Star Wars visit the Launch Bay. Ever wonder what it would be like to interact with a Storm Trooper, see Rey’s speeder up close, shake hands with a Wookie, or relive the fateful meeting between Han Solo and Greto in the Cantina? #HanShotFirst You can do all of those things at the Launch Bay! Meeting Chewbacca and Kylo Ren was one of the coolest meet and greets I have done. And now I am very much looking forward to meeting BB-8!
You can also grab a seat in the Star Wars Launch Bay Theater to watch a short film on the creation and legacy of the Star Wars universe. Packed to the gills with props, decorations, scenes, and even characters, the Star Wars Launch Bay is a must do experience!
So far we have watched Star Wars, rode Star Wars, lived Star Wars, now (my favorite) let’s eat Star Wars. I bought this experience for my husband for our anniversary last year and he absolutely loved it. This party gives you VIP access to the Launch Bay and a special viewing area for the Galactic Spectacular show. We had an absolute blast at this thing! The desserts and drinks were out of this world with theming and taste.
Storm Troopers walked around heckling guests and Jawas were hanging out in the Cantina ready for pictures. And yes! We did get that awesome Chewbacca mug in the picture. To top the night off, we watched Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular from a VIP viewing area. And the show was soooo good, it received the number one spot on my list all by itself.
1. Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular
The force is truly strong with this one. This nighttime fireworks event includes projections, lighting, lasers, and pyrotechnics making it a unique and epic experience. Iconic images from the films play on the Chinese Theater and are accompanied by John William’s memorable score. This spectacle comes at you from all angles, immersing you into the action. When the X-Wings and Tie Fighters are engaged in combat, the lasers are coming right at you, making you feel like you are in the middle of the attack. #PewPew #ItsATrap
My husband and I were pleasantly surprised at how good this show really was. All of the special effects are orchestrated together so perfectly that the entire spectacle was amazing. I cannot wait to see it again on my next trip!
All of the Star Wars Experiences are so fun! Which made making this list so hard! But in the end, these are my top five favorites!
Now it is your turn to vote! Remember, if your favorite experience is not on the list, you can select “other” and comment below. I cannot wait to see how you vote! May the Force Be With You!
Extra Magic Tip: Be sure to go on Star Tours: The Adventure Continues more than once! With unique beginnings, middles, and ends, there are over 50 different combinations you can experience.
Last month, we covered a report by Yahoo Finance that RBC Analyst Stephen Cahall was speculating that Apple might use its $237 billion pile of cash to buy The Walt Disney Company. Today this story has resurfaced in many media outlets (Barron’s, Variety, /Film, TheStreet, and BusinessInsider, to name a few), after three RBC analysts released an extensive report on the possibility.
“We have seen increased discussions among investors regarding ‘How could AAPL gain scale in media/content and what could it do with potential cash repatriation?’ Media assets could be part of AAPL’s M&A strategy and [CEO] Tim Cook has noted that deal size isn’t a negating factor,” RBC analyst Amit Daryanani wrote in a note Thursday.
“AAPL’s focus on services and its inability (so far) to replicate its music/iTunes strategy into content/media make acquiring DIS logical in our view. This is particularly true if AAPL can access $200B+ offshore cash via repatriation holiday. There are plenty of factors to consider, but such a deal would create a tech/media juggernaut like no other and instantly scale AAPL’s services, content, and media portfolio, which would make the case for a higher valuation.”
Even though Disney stock hit a 52-week high today at $113 and change, and analysts predict Apple paying a 40% premium, the analysts conclude that while “odds are low,” the possibility of a takeover is “greater than 0%”. However, for Apple to be able to spend that $237 billion in cash, it will have to repatriate much of it from overseas. Under current tax laws, this would be prohibitively expensive (hence the cash is still overseas). However, if the US government provides a “tax holiday” for US corporations to repatriate cash to the US at a far smaller tax rate, Apple could end up with $220 billion in cash in the US to make an acquisition.
The analysts go on with the strategic rationale for the merger:
“The best justification for such a mega deal, in our view, is the ability to do things together that neither company, nor any other company, could do. The sheer scale of a combined company offers some unique opportunities, and we’ve tried to identify some of the more compelling ones below.
“More importantly, Apple and Disney are each not just industry leaders in their own right but titans of industry on a global scale with truly unique products and services. Few people on earth are not already familiar with both companies’ products, yet they don’t compete in any meaningful sphere at the moment. The question therefore becomes what can they do together that they can’t do apart? The answer is they can do just about anything given the technology and financial resources.”
So, while the “odds are low” at the present time, I fully expect this story to gain a lot of traction if there is a corporate tax holiday for US companies to repatriate overseas cash. Right now, investors want Apple to spend its cash, but it’s not a wise move at the current tax rate. If the tax rate ceases being a roadblock, investors are going to clamor for Apple to do something with its cash that will bring a greater return to the company. So even if it doesn’t buy Disney, expect Apple to make some major moves if it can access the overseas cash cheaply.
Lucasfilm has just released the tribute to Carrie Fisher that was shown during the “The 40 Years Of Star Wars” panel and introduced by Fisher’s daughter, Billie Lourd:
Later this Fall, the Walt Disney World Resort will present its own version of Club 33, the unique membership club founded by Walt Disney at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.
The former entrance to Club 33 at Disneyland
At Walt Disney World, members will enjoy the legendary guest service at four themed locations (one in each of the theme park) uniquely themed to Walt and Lillian’s world-wide adventures, in addition to other unannounced benefits.
Guests interested in joining can email WDWClub33@disneyworld.com for more information.
The membership will be site specific and will not include access to the other Club 33 locations worldwide.
More details will be revealed about the Club in the fall of 2017.
