Today, Disney shared additional details about new Star Wars products launching this month at both Star Wars Celebration 2017 and at select locations in Disney Parks.
This month, Disney is rolling out a limited release, boxed set with four Astromech droid action figures inspired by characters from the animated series, “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.”
Additionally, three limited release action figures are making their debut including C1-10P “Chopper” from Disney XD’s animated series “Star Wars Rebels;” a two-pack featuring R2-D2 and C-3PO celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Star Wars: A New Hope; and a red Protocol droid, R-3D0, that was briefly seen in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
This will be the introduction of protocol droids to the Droid Factory line at Disney Parks. There has been no word as of yet if you will be able to build them in addition to Astromech Droids at the Disney Parks locations somewhere down the line, but it seems likely.
Other products include three emitters for the popular Star Wars Build-Your-Own Lightsaber experience at Disney Parks. These items were inspired by lightsabers seen in Star Wars Rebels.
Finally, look for a plush Ewok scout named Paploo as seen in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. This is the 12th character from the limited release Ewok plush collection, and was created especially for Star Wars Celebration 2017.
These products will debut in Booth 3463 at Star Wars Celebration, a Star Wars fan event coming to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida from April 13-16, 2017. On April 17, guests may find action figures and the Build-Your-Own Lightsaber parts in select merchandise locations at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts.
When the Satuli Canteen opens with Pandora: The World of AVATAR on May 27th, 2017, it will be one of the first restaurants at Walt Disney World to offer mobile ordering through the My Disney Experience app. For those unaware of this new service:
Mobile ordering allows you to pay for meals on-the-go with the My Disney Experience app, bypassing the queue to order in the restaurant. Using the app, you can select any of the menu items, customize them as you wish, and pre-pay for the meal. Arriving at the restaurant, guests will simply tap “I’m Here”, which will notify cast members to prepare the meal. When it’s ready, you will be alerted in the app to pick up the food at a designated service window. Only credit card payments will be accepted for this service, with Dining Plan guests still having to use the normal queue, at least as of right now.
Mobile ordering will be also apparently be available for the following counter service locations at the four Walt Disney World theme parks and Disney Springs:
ABC Commissary
Backlot Express
Columbia Harbor House
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
D-Luxe Burger
Electric Umbrella
Flame Tree Barbecue
Liberty Inn
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe
Pinocchio Village Haus
Pizzafari
Restaurantosaurus
Satu’li Canteen
Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant
Tortuga Tavern
An exact start date for the service at all of these restaurants is still unknown, but we do know that at the very least Satuli Canteen will be using mobile ordering starting in May. More restaurants may be added in the future should the program prove successful
Please stay tuned to WDWNT.com for more information on this rollout as it becomes available.
DISNEY FANS AND D23 MEMBERS ENJOY SPECIAL DISNEY MAGIC AT D23 EXPO 2017
From Priority Seating at Select Events to a Lounge Themed to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Guests Will Enjoy More Benefits Than Ever Before
BURBANK, Calif. (April 11, 2017) – Disney fans and members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will enjoy more benefits than ever before at D23 Expo: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. There are new and returning opportunities for D23 Gold and Charter Members, including priority seating at the Expo’s premiere events, as well as other benefits for Disney fans of all ages during the event, July 14–16 at the Anaheim Convention Center. These special offers from D23 include:
D23 Fan Lounge: The D23 Fan Lounge, which will be located in the heart of the show floor, will feature décor inspired by one of Walt Disney’s first animated characters, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, who celebrates his 90th anniversary this year. The lounge will include photo opportunities, complimentary charging stations, and the chance to learn more about D23, Disney’s official fan club. Open to all guests at the event, the lounge is located directly in front of Center Stage, which will host events, musical performances, and special appearances all weekend.
D23 Gold Member Benefits: Guests who are Gold or Gold Family Members will enjoy the following benefits at this year’s D23 Expo:
Priority seating for presentations in Hall D23 and the D23 Expo Arena
A complimentary Expo-exclusive print
Special offers and discounts from Disney partners including Havaianas, Ozobot, Steiff, and Thomas Kinkade.
D23 Charter Member Lounge: Once again, D23 Charter Members (who joined in 2009 and have maintained their Gold Membership status) will have access to a private lounge off the show floor, where they can relax and purchase food and beverages.
Offers are subject to change. There are a limited number of priority seats available in Hall D23 and the D23 Expo Arena. Additional details are available at D23expo.com.
Ticketsfor D23 Expo 2017 are available for $81 for one-day adult admission and $59 for children 3–9. Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club can purchase tickets for $72 for a one-day adult admission and $53 for children 3–9. Multi-day tickets are also available. For more information on tickets and D23 Expo 2017, visit D23expo.com.
AboutD23 Expo 2017
D23 Expo—The Ultimate Disney Fan Event—brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. For the latest D23 Expo 2017 news, visit D23expo.com. Presentations, talent, and schedule subject to change. To join the D23 Expo conversation, be sure to follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube, and use the hashtag #D23Expo.
AboutD23
The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s 90-plus-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication, Disneytwenty–three; a rich website at D23.com with members-only content; member-exclusive discounts; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.
This morning on Good Morning America, Mark Hamill and Daisy Ridley announced the newest fundraising campaign for Star Wars: Force For Change.
STAR WARS: FORCE FOR CHANGE CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF STAR WARS WITH EPIC FUNDRAISING EVENT
PRIZES INCLUDE A VISIT TO A STAR WARS MOVIE SET, TICKETS TO THE PREMIERE OF STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI, AN OVERNIGHT STAY AT SKYWALKER RANCH, AND MORE!
Star Wars: Force For Change in collaboration with Omaze will launch the Star Wars “Past, Present and Future” fundraising campaign to benefit UNICEF and Starlight Children’s Foundation. The campaign is themed around the timeless appeal of Star Wars, with experiences inspired by the saga’s past, present, and future. Lucky winners will receive prizes, like the chance to appear in the upcoming Han Solo movie, tickets to the world premiere of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, or, an overnight stay at the fabled Skywalker Ranch.
Over the course of four weeks between April 11th and May 11th, 2017, fans may enter at Omaze.com/StarWars for a chance to win these once-in-a-lifetime Star Wars experiences, with each week bringing a new prize to be awarded to a randomly-selected winner. Additionally, at the end of the campaign, one randomly-selected grand prize winner will be awarded all three amazing experiences.
Starlight Children’s Foundation is joining Star Wars: Force for Change as the initiative’s newest charity beneficiary in 2017. Through a $1 million grant, Star Wars: Force for Change supports the foundation’s core programs which are designed to bring comfort and joy and comfort to hospitalized kids through Starlight’s network of more than 700 children’s hospitals, clinics, camps and other partners across the US. Star Wars: Force for Change and fan donations through this campaign will also provide new Starlight programs, like fun, comfortable Star Wars-themed Starlight Brave Gowns, to tens of thousands of hospitalized children across the country.
Since 2014,Star Wars: Force for Change and UNICEF have joined together to help improve the lives of children around the world. With the support of Star Wars fans, thecollaboration has raised more than $9 million to help the world’s most vulnerable children. To date, Star Wars: Force for Change has helped UNICEF save the lives of over 30,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition through the distribution of over 4 million packets of Ready to Use Therapeutic Food Packets (RUTF) around the world.
“In a year that we celebrate 40 years of the Star Wars saga, I continue to be inspired by the incredible generosity and charitable efforts of our fans,” said Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. “We are so proud of their tireless dedication to positively impact the lives of children and others around the world, and hope this year’s Force For Change campaign will offer a few of those wonderful fans an experience they will never forget.”
Star Wars “Past, Present, and Future” Winner Experiences:
Past – Stay at Skywalker Inn, tour of the archives & the Ranch, and a screening of Star Wars: A New Hope
Present – Join the cast and attend the Star Wars: The Last Jedi premiere and exclusive after party
Future – Visit the set, meet the directors and have the chance to appear in the untitled Han Solo movie
Grand Prize – One winner will receive the Past, Present AND Future prizes!
Fans are encouraged to follow the campaign at Omaze.com/StarWars for exclusive updates each week.
No purchase necessary to enter or win. Void where prohibited. Promotion begins 12:01 AM Pacific Time (PT) on April 11, 2017 and ends at 11:59 PM PT on May 11, 2017. Must be at least eighteen (18) years old and a resident of an eligible domicile to enter and win prizes. Residents of of Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Malta, North Korea, Singapore, Sudan, Syria, or Thailand are not eligible to enter. Sweepstakes consists of four (4) prize drawings; odds of winning a prize depend on number of entries received for each drawing. For free entry: (i) send postcard to Sponsor at P.O. Box 866, 9942 Culver Blvd, Culver City, California 90232 and write the following statement: “I have read and agree to the Star Wars: Force For Change Official Rules” and send by applicable mail date; or (ii) visit www.omaze.com/starwars. Prizes that include being filmed in a movie scene do not guarantee that such footage will be included in the final movie. Travel and accommodations are at Sponsor’s discretion and subject to availability and change. Winner and guest may be required to pass a background screening or security check to receive a prize and/or reward. Visa conditions may apply. All taxes are winner’s responsibility.
Rewards are separate from sweepstakes prizes. Some rewards are limited in quantity. Not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook®. Residents of certain territories may be required to successfully complete a trivia question to qualify. For full sweepstakes entry requirements, methods & entry periods, prize details, list of rewards and all limitations & restrictions, see Official rules at www.omaze.com/starwars. Sole Sponsor: Omaze, Inc., P.O. Box 866, 9942 Culver Blvd, Culver City, California 90232.
ABOUT STAR WARS: FORCE FOR CHANGE
Star Wars: Force for Change, a charitable initiative from Lucasfilm and Disney, harnesses the strength of Star Wars to empower and improve the lives of children around the world. Born in 2014, it was inspired by Star Wars fans, and the countless hours they have dedicated to philanthropy over the past four decades. To date, over $13 million has been raised for charitable causes around the world on behalf of Star Wars: Force for Change, including
$9 million towards UNICEF’s programs to put children first. This year, Force for Change is proud to announce Starlight Children’s Foundation as its newest charitable beneficiary. As a founding sponsor of Starlight Children’s Foundation’s VR program, Force for Change will continue to empower and improve the lives of children around the world. With a bright future ahead, and new Star Wars stories to be told, Force for Change aims to continue collaborating with causes and encouraging others to be forces for change in their own community. To learn more, please visit ForceForChange.com.
ABOUT LUCASFILM LTD.
Lucasfilm Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is a global leader in film, television and digital entertainment production. In addition to its motion-picture and television production, the company’s activities include visual effects and audio post-production, cutting-edge digital animation, interactive entertainment software, and the management of the global merchandising activities for its entertainment properties including the legendary STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES franchises. Lucasfilm Ltd. is headquartered in northern California.
ABOUT STARLIGHT CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION
Starlight creates moments of comfort and joy and comfort for hospitalized kids and their families. For 35 years, Starlight’s programs have positively impacted more than 60 million critically, chronically and terminally ill or injured children in the US, Canada, Australia and the UK. With your help, kids and their families will enjoy Starlight VR, Starlight Brave Gowns, Starlight Fun Centers and other Starlight programs at a children’s hospital or facility near you. Support Starlight’s work by visiting www.starlight.org and by following Starlight on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
ABOUT UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org. Follow UNICEF on Twitter and Facebook.
ABOUT OMAZE
Omaze is an online fundraising platform that offers once-in-a-lifetime experiences and exclusive merchandise to support nonprofits around the world. Omaze is disrupting the charitable giving space by offering creative opportunities that make it fun and easy for anyone to give. Each of our fundraising and awareness campaigns brings together influencers, nonprofits and people across the globe and enables real, lasting impact. Since launching, Omaze has impacted more than 200 charities and received donations from over 175 countries.
Disney has released an official lineup for this year’s Night of Joy event. Night of Joy is a 2 night event that features some of the best Christian Contemporary music all at Disney World and features such artists this year as Amy Grant, Colton Dixon and Toby Mac. This year, the event is returning to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Concert Lineup:
Friday, September 8th, 2017: MercyMe, TobyMac, Natalie Grant, Danny Gokey, Matt Maher, Colton Dixon, Rend Collective, Zach Williams
Saturday September 9th, 2017: Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, Kirk Franklin, Jordan Feliz, Crowder, Jeremy Camp, Tye Tribbett
All of these artists are subject to change, but as of right now these are the artists performing each night. Tickets will go on sale early June.
Welcome back to Neverland! We will continue our tour of Disney’s newest theme park, Neverland. If you are joining us for the first time on this tour, welcome! If you didn’t join us on our first tour, to Failed California, back in February, you can go back and check out our inaugural visit. And earlier this week we arrived at the Land of Forgotten Countries, where we’ll continue our tour today. What is Neverland, you ask? Here’s the explanation from our first visit:
Neverland is a fictional place in Disney’s “Peter Pan,” where pirates rule the seas, mermaids lurk the waters, fairies are real, and you never grow up. It’s a place of “never.” For a moment, let’s pretend that it is the year 2078. In this time period, Disney has just announced plans for their 6th theme park which would be 500 acres – their biggest park yet. This park would be called Neverland. This park is filled with shows, rides, concepts, ideas and many other things that Disney had plans for, but never fully put into effect. Let me be your VIP tour guide and show you what would be in this fictional Disney park of things that have “never” happened.
On today’s tour, we will journey across the world and explore lost continents. Pack your suitcase, get your passport, and buy your plane ticket, because we’re heading to the Land of Forgotten Countries! This particular tour will be separated into multiple parts to ensure you don’t get jet lag!
Land of Forgotten Countries (World Showcase, EPCOT)
MT. FUJI COASTER (JAPAN)- The Mt. Fuji roller coaster was one of the attractions planned for the Japan pavilion. EPCOT’s Mt. Fuji would have been a replica of the actual mountain in Japan, and would have been located in the back of the pavilion. The ride would predominantly take place inside of the mountain, but also have some parts outside. As we have discussed last time, budget and sponsorships are important for EPCOT attractions to get build. You might imagine that a Mt. Fuji ride might have a perfect sponsor in a company of the same name, FujiFilm. However, the official film and camera sponsor of Walt Disney World was Kodak. At this time, Kodak was still solvent and not interested in giving up sponsorship rights, nor sharing with another film company. Thus, FujiFilm was denied the opportunity to sponsor the ride, and that is why we have no Mt. Fuji. If this plan did come to fruition, it would have been the first roller coaster at Epcot. However, that title may go to the highly rumored Guardians of the Galaxy Roller Coaster.
BULLET TRAIN (JAPAN)- The Bullet Train ride was another ride planned for the Japan pavilion. This would not be an actual train ‘ride.’ It would have been a film-based ride that simulates a train ride through Japan. Riders would enter a compartment of the bullet train, and as the ride begins the floor would vibrate to simulate the motion of the train. Out the panoramic windows of the ‘train car’ riders would be treated to scenes of Japan. Again, this attraction was most likely cut due to budget/sponsorship issues.
Japan Bullet Train Concept Art
This was the original plan for the design of the Japan Pavilion. As you can see in the picture, you would enter the train at the very tip.
RHINE RIVER CRUISE- According to “Walt Disney’s EPCOT Center” by Richard Beard, the ride would have guests boarding a “cruise boat” for a ride down the Rhine and other rivers, with the trip affording a visual impression in miniature of the cultural heritage of Germany’s past and highlights of its present. Among the detailed models envisioned were scenes in the Black Forest, the Oktoberfest, Heidelberg, and the industrial Ruhr Valley. Of all the rides here in the Land of Forgotten Countries at Neverland, this is the one that came closest to actually being built. The ride was planned and green lit, and construction had almost started on the show building behind the Biergarten restaurant before the plug was pulled.
Rhine River Cruise entrance
If we take a look from the air at the Germany Pavilion at Epcot as it is today, we can clearly see where the show building was going to be placed. Notice the open space in the back right side of the otherwise rectangular pavilion?
Germany from the air
This open space would have contained the show building. Guests would exit the attraction overlooking the Biergarten restaurant and entertainment.
Rhine River Cruise planned ride path. The entrance would be on the right side and Biergarten is on the left. I thank ImagineeringDisney.com for allowing me to use their photos.
This ride’s front entrance was actually constructed, as shown by the photo below. During the 80’s, there were two highly visible giant wooden doors which were to be the ride entrance. Today, this area features a giant mural. That mural actually covers the location of those doors.
THAMES RIVER CRUISE- Not much is known about the Thames River Cruise other than that it was going to be in the United Kingdom Pavilion, it would be a boat ride possibly like the Rhine River Cruise, and riders would explore the landmarks and sights of London, include a replica of Big Ben. Concept art is pictured below.
Thames River Cruise Concept Art, UK Pavilion.
This concludes today’s tour in Neverland. I hope you have enjoyed this tour! If you have enjoyed this series so far, and are looking for more, fear not! In the coming weeks our Neverland tour will pay a visit to The Broken Kingdom – rides and lands never built at the Magic Kingdom!
Good Morning America just gave us a really big tease for tomorrow’s show as they promised that Mark Hamill and Daisy Ridley will appear on the show to make a big Star Wars announcement that has been 40 years in the making. Are we going to get our first look at “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”? Could it be the announcement of an Unaltered Original Trilogy Blu-ray set? Or could it be something else? Tune in tomorrow to find out!
Looks like Thor is having a really bad day and things are about to get worse as he has to face his fellow Avenger in a fight to the death. Check out this first teaser for “Thor: Raganarok!
Scheduled to debut on April 14th, 2017 at the Star Wars Galactic Nights event, the BB-8 character meet and greet experience inside of Star Wars Launch Bay debuted early on Sunday, April 9th, 2017.
The picture is dark because the signage points into the dimly lit cantina area in the Star Wars Launch Bay. This space was originally a hallway with a gaming area for Disney Infinity, which has since moved near the Path of the Jedi film and is what is now called the XBOX Game Port.
There isn’t much queue space because of this, so the line was spilling out into the cantina despite being fairly short. I expect that this will be a daily occurrence.
This is the first queue room, oddly lit from above in rainbow colors. I expect this will change before the formal debut.
The ceiling screams “office of the future” to me with the light panels that don’t seem like something you would see in Star Wars.
The second part of this queue is a hallway with a well-themed emergency exit.
I’m happy to report that the lighting in here is much better.
How cool is this door?
The infamous yellow line you wait behind until they bring you into the meet and greet is even themed. I know this is a small and stupid thing, but I love it.
You then get brought into a private room (which there appears to be two of behind closed doors) where you can have a short conversation with BB-8 and then get your picture taken. This was honestly one of the coolest character experiences I have ever had. While the cast member does have to translate for the droid, the extremely authentic and realistic movements, lights, and sounds that BB-8 emits will have fans young and old smiling.
To see him in action, please check out our video walkthrough of the experience, which includes my “conversation” with the Resistance hero:
As you can see, the backdrop is great as well, making for an awesome photo.
BB-8 will officially starting greeting day guests on April 15th, 2017, but guests at the now sold-out Galactic Nights event can meet him on April 14th, 2017.
