UPDATE: Disney Automatically Locking All Accounts That Attempt to Cheat FastPass System Beginning Today

WDWNT on June 12, 2017

As we told you earlier this week, Disney is cracking down on anyone who tries to cheat the FastPass+ system at Walt Disney World. Today the new policies have gone into use, as well as a more effective way of stopping guests from doing such activities again than we had even speculated.

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Beginning today, any guest who uses a FastPass under tickets not used for that day’s theme park admission will have their associated MyDisneyExperience account and the ability to book any further FastPasses locked at the end of that day. The system will apparently run through all accounts to find any culprits overnight, and then lock the account should it find a FastPass was booked illegitimately. Guests with these infractions will have to visit guest relations in order to unlock their accounts. Guest relations will only unlock the accounts if the act was deemed to not be malicious.

“Mary Poppins Returns” Headlines This Week’s Entertainment Weekly

WDWNT on June 12, 2017

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Entertainment Weekly has provided us with our best look yet of Emily Blunt as everyone’s favorite nanny from “Mary Poppins Returns”.

The latest issue of Entertainment Weekly takes you behind the scenes to visit stars Emily Blunt and Lin Manuel Miranda on the set of “Mary Poppins Returns”. You can pick up this very special issue this Friday when it hits newsstands but until then read the new synopsis of the film below.

From Entertainment Weekly:

Mary Poppins Returns, directed by Rob Marshall (Into the Woods), picks up 25 years after the events of the first film, fast-forwarding to London’s mid-1930s economic slump, the actual time period of Travers’ books. Number 17 Cherry Tree Lane has become the warm, loving home that banker and artist Michael Banks (Ben Whishaw) shares with his wife and three children. But after the sudden death of Michael’s wife, the Banks family is shattered — even enthusiastic aunt Jane (Emily Mortimer), now a fervent union organizer, and long-time housemaid Ellen (Julie Walters) can’t help lift spirits — and so in time, the once-blossoming home is on the verge of foreclosure.

Cue the arrival of prim and peculiar Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt), who leads Michael’s wayward children (and Jane and Michael themselves) on a series of unbelievable adventures — to the top of Big Ben, the bottom of the ocean, into magical encounters with animated dancing penguins and upside-down cousins (hey, Meryl Streep!). If anyone can help this family find the light they’ve lost, it’s Mary Poppins.

Source: EW

“Mary Poppins Returns” opens December 25, 2018.

Celebrate the Disneyland Classic “America Sings” with WDWNT’s Latest Limited Release Shirt for 4th of July 2017

WDWNT on June 12, 2017

We have yet another limited release t-shirt for you, and this one will ship just in time for July 4th, 2017…

Click here to purchase

Click here to purchase

Available for only the next 9 days, “Make America Sing Again” celebrates the classic Disneyland attraction America Sings. This show was created by legendary Disney Imagineer Marc Davis and ran in the Carousel Theater in Tomorrowland from 1974 until 1988. Most of the animatronics from the show were recycled into Star Tours and Splash Mountain at Disneyland Park.

America Sings at Disneyland, 1974-1988

America Sings at Disneyland, 1974-1988

The shirt is available now and is guaranteed to arrive by July 4th, 2017 for all domestic purchases.

TONIGHT on WDW News Tonight (6/7/17) – Disney Parks Pursuit, Water Parks, Thank You Notes, and More

WDWNT on June 12, 2017

Tonight on WDW News Tonight, Disney Parks Pursuit is back, Tom writes out some thank you notes, and we take a rare trip to the Disney Water Parks: Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach…

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If you are in the Orlando area, you can tune in to 105.5 FM or AM 1520 WBZW at showtime. For those outside of the Orlando area, the show can be watched via video stream at listen.WDWNT.com on your computer or mobile device. You can also use WDWNT: The App to watch and chat along. The show also utilizes a live chat and the ability to call-in to interact with the show. WDW News Tonight is hosted by Tom Corless and Nick LoCicero, but also features appearances by a number of other WDWNT correspondents and announcer Michelle Wargo.

Coming up on this week’s show:

  • A recap of the week’s news (with a WDWNT comedic twist)
  • An In-Depth Discussion of the Disney Water Parks
  • The Wonderful World of Psychotic Comments
  • “The Disney Parks Pursuit” for prizes provided by WDWNT: The App
  • Who Hates Tom Now?
  • And more!

We hope that you will tune in tonight at 9PM ET for a very special episode of WDW News Tonight!

If you missed last week’s show, be sure to watch it:

Seas Pavilion at Epcot Hosting World Ocean Day Event on June 8th

WDWNT on June 12, 2017

If you are a guest traveling to Epcot on June 8th, you are in for a nice treat. Epcot will be celebrating World Ocean Day which is on June 8th and the festivities will be taking place inside of The Seas With Nemo and Friends.

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Special displays as well as activities will be happening throughout the pavilion. Education Instructors as well Conservation Specialists will be on hand for you to ask any questions you may have about wildlife in the ocean. You can also head on over to the Coral Reef restaurant next door and pick up an exclusive white chocolate ocean-themed dessert developed just for World Oceans Day.

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Walt Disney World Raises Prices on Memory Maker Photo Packages

WDWNT on June 12, 2017

Starting today, guests will have to pay new higher rates to obtain a Memory Maker package at Walt Disney World.

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An advance purchase of Memory Maker now costs $169 (this purchase must be made at least 3 days prior to use), while same-day purchase will now cost $199.

Advance purchase was formerly $149, while same-day was $169.

Memory Maker allows guests to obtain digital downloads of photos and videos taken by Disney PhotoPass Photographers and on-ride cameras at select attractions for their entire vacation.

Disney & Pixar Animation Studios Bring 3 Days Of Film Sneak Peeks, Presentations, Major Announcements And Immersive Show Floor Experiences To D23 2017, July 14-16

WDWNT on June 12, 2017

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WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS AND PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS BRING THREE DAYS OF FILM SNEAK PEEKS, ENGAGING PRESENTATIONS, MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND IMMERSIVE SHOW FLOOR EXPERIENCES TO D23 EXPO 2017, JULY 14–16

Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios are once again teaming up to bring a jam-packed weekend of announcements, presentations, displays, and giveaways to this year’s D23 Expo in Anaheim, California.

On the show floor, the two studios join forces for a must-see animation experience at D23 Expo. Artist demonstrations, autograph signings with top filmmakers, fan giveaways, and interactive displays featuring the latest films, including Cars 3, Coco, Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, and Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2, make this booth one to visit over and over again.

The lineup of presentations begins with an Expo tradition no animation fan should miss:

FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2:30 P.M. – HALL D23

Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films, Hosted by John Lasseter

Were you there in 2015 when Ellen DeGeneres and Dwayne Johnson wowed the crowds? When Zootopia’s sloth scene screened for the very first time? And when Randy Newman, Buzz Lightyear, and Woody celebrated the 20th anniversary of Toy Story? Then you know the Animation presentation at Hall D23 is a MUST. Join host John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, as he presents Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films. Never-before-seen footage from Pixar’s upcoming feature Coco and Disney Animation’s Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 will be unveiled, as well as surprise announcements, musical performances, and appearances by star voice talent. Cell phones, cameras, and all recording devices will be checked for this presentation.

Additional animation-focused panels include:

SATURDAY, JULY 15, 10:30 A.M. – STAGE 28

The Power of the Princess

Walt Disney Animation Studios invites you to The Power of the Princess, featuring Jodi Benson (Ariel), Ming-Na Wen (Mulan), Anika Noni Rose (Tiana), and Auli‘i Cravalho (Moana)—the talented actresses who brought these iconic characters to life—as they share stories of making their films and the impact of their characters on people around the world. Hosted by Walt Disney Animation Studios animators Amy Smeed and Kira Lehtomaki.

SATURDAY, JULY 15, 12:15 P.M. – STAGE 28

Creating the Worlds in Pixar’s Universe

Pixar’s films are filled with beloved characters living in relatable yet previously unimagined worlds. Join Pixar production designers and artists who have created the mountain tops, oceans, and “monstropolises” in which your favorite characters live. These artists create the setting and cultivate the mood of every scene using extensive research, incredible imagination, and each individual director’s vision, giving life to the amazing worlds in Pixar’s movies.

SATURDAY, JULY 15, 2:30 P.M. – STAGE 28

Olaf’s Frozen Adventure: A Sneak Peek at the New Frozen Short Film

Be among the first to see both exclusive and behind-the-scenes footage from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ newest Frozen holiday short film event, the highly anticipated Olaf’s Frozen Adventure. The film, which features the talents of the original Frozen cast, as well as brand-new songs, is directed by the Emmy®-winning team Stevie Wermers-Skelton and Kevin Deters (Prep & Landing) and produced by Oscar®-winning producer Roy Conli (Big Hero 6, Tangled).

SATURDAY, JULY 15, 6 P.M. – STAGE 28

The Evolution of Pixar’s Characters

From the waves in their hair to the shoes on their feet, Pixar characters are designed to be full of personality and to tell a story. Hear from the legendary Pixar artists who have created the most memorable characters in Pixar’s history. These are the visionaries who start with an initial doodle and see the evolution of a character through to final animation—the people who let technology influence the art and make the impossible, possible.

SUNDAY, JULY 16, 11:30 A.M. – WALT DISNEY ARCHIVES STAGE

Bambi’s 75th Anniversary

Join us as we commemorate the 75th anniversary and Walt Disney Signature Collection release of Bambi, the endearing, timeless tale of a wide-eyed fawn that has touched generations. Audiences can look forward to hearing personal stories from the voice cast, anecdotes behind the making of this film and its exquisite hand-drawn artwork, and much, much more. It’s groundbreaking animated classics like Bambi that were created or inspired by the imagination and legacy of Walt Disney and still influence many great visionaries and animators today.

Tickets for 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.

About Walt Disney Animation Studios

Combining masterful artistry and storytelling with groundbreaking technology, Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS) is a filmmaker-driven animation studio responsible for creating some of the most beloved films ever made. Located in Burbank, WDAS continues to build on its rich legacy of innovation and creativity, from the first fully animated feature film, 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, to 2013’s Academy Award®-winning Frozen, the biggest animated film of all time. Among the studio’s timeless creations are Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, The Jungle Book, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Big Hero 6, and Zootopia. 

About Pixar Animation Studios

Pixar Animation Studios, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is an Academy Award®-winning film studio with world-renowned technical, creative and production capabilities in the art of computer animation.  The Northern California studio has created some of the most successful and beloved animated films of all time, including “Toy Story,” “Monsters, Inc.,” “Cars,” “The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” “WALL•E,” “Up,” “Toy Story 3,” “Brave,” and “Inside Out.” Its movies have won 32 AcademyAwards® and have grossedmore than $10 billion at the worldwide box office to date. “Cars 3,” Pixar’s 18th feature, will open in theaterson June 16, 2017.

About D23 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, which will take place July 14–16 at the Anaheim Convention Center, 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 schedulesubject 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.

Pixar Announces Voice Cast For “Coco”; Official Poster Released

WDWNT on June 12, 2017

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CHARACTER & TALENT LINEUP REVEALED

MEET THE EXTENDED FAMILY FROM DISNEY·PIXAR’S “COCO”

Upcoming Film Features Generations of Characters and All-Latino Voice Cast

Disney·Pixar’s “Coco,” a multi-generational story about the power of family relationships, features characters from the Land of the Living, and their loved ones who’ve moved on to the Land of the Dead. Joining aspiring musician Miguel, voiced by Anthony Gonzalez; charming trickster Hector, voiced by Gael García Bernal; and musical icon Ernesto de la Cruz, voiced by Benjamin Bratt; are a host of colorful characters and the voice talent behind them that bring both worlds to life. Directed by Lee Unkrich (“Toy Story 3”), co-directed by Adrian Molina (story artist “Monsters University”) and produced by Darla K. Anderson (“Toy Story 3”), “Coco” opens in U.S. theaters on Nov. 22, 2017.

“These parallel worlds couldn’t be more different,” said Unkrich. “One is the Rivera family’s charming and hardworking hometown of Santa Cecilia, and the other is the vibrant, rich land where loved ones go when they’ve passed. ‘Coco’ introduces characters from both worlds on the eve of Día de los Muertos—one extraordinary night when a living boy named Miguel gets a glimpse of the other side.”

Added Molina, “Our voice cast is incredibly talented, helping to shape our eclectic group of characters. Each actor has told us they find something relatable in this film, so they’re finding it easy to capture the heart of this story—it’s all about family, so we hope that these characters will resonate with everyone.”

FROM THE LAND OF THE LIVING

  • ANTHONY GONZALEZ (“Ice Box,” TNT’s “The Last Ship”) lends his voice to MIGUEL, a 12-year-old aspiring musician who struggles against his family’s generations-old ban on music. When a magical mishap lands him in the Land of the Dead, Miguel seeks out his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz, to help him return to the Land of the Living before it’s too late.
  • ANA OFELIA MURGUÍA (Amazon’s “Mozart in the Jungle,” “Bandidas”) voices Miguel’s cherished great-grandmother MAMÁ COCO. She is very old and fragile, but that doesn’t stop Miguel from sharing his daily adventures with her.
  • RENÉE VICTOR (“Weeds,” “The Apostle”) provides the authoritative voice of ABUELITA, Miguel’s grandmother and the ultimate enforcer of the Rivera family’s ban on music. She loves her family very much and will do anything to protect them. But when she gets angry, she wields a mean slipper.
  • JAIME CAMIL (CW’s “Jane the Virgin,” Disney Junior’s “Elena of Avalor,” “Secret Lives of Pets”) is the voice of PAPÁ, Miguel’s supportive father who hopes that someday Miguel will join him in the family shoemaking business.
  • SOFÍA ESPINOSA (“Gloria”) provides the voice of Miguel’s loving MAMÁ who gently encourages her son to embrace their family’s traditions.
  • LUIS VALDEZ (“Which Way Is Up,” director “La Bamba” & “Cisco Kid”) is the voice of TÍO BERTO, Miguel’s uncle, a hard worker in the Rivera family shoemaking business.
  • LOMBARDO BOYAR (“Happy Feet,” TNT’s “Murder in the First”) lends his voice to a friendly MARIACHI who Miguel encounters in Santa Cecilia Plaza.

FROM THE LAND OF THE DEAD

  • GAEL GARCÍA BERNAL (Amazon’s “Mozart in the Jungle”) helps bring to life HECTOR, a charming trickster in the Land of the Dead who is forced to enlist help from Miguel to visit the Land of the Living.
  • BENJAMIN BRATT (FOX’s “Star,” “Doctor Strange”) is the voice of Miguel’s idol ERNESTO DE LA CRUZ, the most famous musician in the history of Mexico. Revered by fans worldwide until his untimely death, the charming and charismatic musician is even more beloved in the Land of the Dead.   
  • EDWARD JAMES OLMOS (“Blade Runner,” “Stand and Deliver”) lends his voice to CHICHARRÓN, a curmudgeonly friend of Hector’s who is sadly being forgotten—an unfortunate condition in the Land of the Dead.
  • ALANNA UBACH (“Meet the Fockers,” Bravo’s “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce”) provides the voice of MAMÁ IMELDA, Miguel’s great-great-grandmother, the matriarch of the Rivera family and the founder of their successful shoemaking business. Miguel meets Mamá Imelda in the Land of the Dead and discovers she does not share his passion for music. 
  • SELENE LUNA (“My Bloody Valentine,” “Celebrity Wife Swap”) voices TÍA ROSITA, Miguel’s late aunt who resides in the Land of the Dead.
  • ALFONSO ARAU (“Three Amigos,” director/producer “Like Water for Chocolate,” director “A Walk in the Clouds”) is the voice of PAPÁ JULIO, Miguel’s late great-grandfather who he meets in Land of the Dead.
  • HERBERT SIGUENZA (“Larry Crowne,” “Ben 10: Alien Swarm”) lends his voice to both TÍO OSCAR and TÍO FELIPE, Miguel’s late identical twin uncles who he meets in the Land of the Dead.
  • OCTAVIO SOLIS playwright “Lydia, Santos & Santos”) is the voice of an ARRIVAL AGENT in the Land of the Dead’s Grand Central Station.
  • GABRIEL IGLESIAS (“Planes,” “The Nut Job,” “The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature”) provides the voice of the HEAD CLERK in the Land of the Dead’s “Department of Family Reunions.”
  • CHEECH MARIN (“Cars 3,” “Tin Cup,” CBS’ “Nash Bridges”) is the voice of a CORRECTIONS OFFICER in the Land of the Dead.
  • BLANCA ARACELI (“The Bridge”) voices the EMCEE for a colorful talent show in the Land of the Dead.

Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (voice of newcomer Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (voice of Benjamin Bratt). Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself magically transported to the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector (voice of Gael García Bernal), and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history. Directed by Lee Unkrich (“Toy Story 3”), co-directed by Adrian Molina (story artist “Monsters University”) and produced by Darla K. Anderson (“Toy Story 3”), Disney•Pixar’s “Coco” opens in U.S. theaters on Nov. 22, 2017.

Star Wars Shows Moving to Rollaway Staging for Better Viewing of Studios’ Nighttime Shows

WDWNT on June 12, 2017

In order to give guests a better view of Disney Movie Magic and Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular in the evenings, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be presenting Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away and the March of the First Order on temporary staging starting June 16th.

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The new staging will go up in the morning for the daytime shows, but then be folded up and rolled away every evening for better viewing of the projection-heavy nighttime shows.

VIDEO: Episode Two of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy – The Telltale Series is Out Now

WDWNT on June 12, 2017

The second episode in Telltale’s Guardians of the Galaxy adventure game is now available for download.

Episode two, Under Pressure, is all about Rocket Raccoon, and will have players making choices that will reveal much about the character’s origin. Play to discover why Rocket wants the ancient artifact for himself.

http://https://youtu.be/Zzww06SYxRE

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series – Episode Two: Under Pressure is out now for PS4, Xbox One, PC, iOS, and Android. The episode is included in the $25 bundle, and can also be downloaded separately for $5.