Annual Passholder Previews of Sunset Seasons Greetings Begin Today at Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is hosting an annual passholder exclusive preview of their new “Flurry of Fun” beginning tonight, November 5th, 2017.

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The preview event takes place 8:30-9:30PM and primarily features the all-new Sunset Seasons Greetings experience. Passholders will also have access to the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Rock ‘ N’ Roller Coaster during this event. Select food & beverage and merchandise locations on Sunset Boulevard will also be available.

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A wristband is required to attend and are being distributed at the Annual Passholder entry line to park while supplies last.

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This event is likely to happen on additional nights between now and November 9th when the offerings officially debut.

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New Disney Twenty-Three Issue Features Pixar’s Coco and More

November’s issue of the Disney twenty-three magazine will take readers into the Land of the Dead with its sneak peak for Pixar’s upcoming film, Coco.

This extensive sneak peak will give readers an in-edepth look at the film’s story, which follows Miguel on his quest to become a musician, despite his family’s disapproval.

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Next up, readers will get a look at Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, which will premier before Coco in theaters this Thanksgiving. Members of the cast and production team discuss the featurette, and the importance the story places on family and traditions. “A movie like this taps into more than just the holiday spirit—it explores the meaning behind that spirit, the traditions that bring us all together as family. It’s very powerful,” says Josh Gad (voice of Olaf).

Of course the latest issue will cover Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which we can safely assume will be the holiday’s biggest movie release. Director Rian Johnson talks about the next chapter in the Skywalker saga, and newcomer Kelly Marie Tran reveals what she loves about Rose, the character that she portrays in the film.

Disney twenty-three will go behind the scenes of the new Big Hero 6 show on Disney XD, as well as Toy Story Land coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World, and Pixar Pier coming to Disney California Adventure at Disneyland Resort.

Disney twenty-three’s editor has also included a tribute to the late Disney Legend Marty Sklar.

The winter issue of Disney twenty-three also has so much more, including:

  • A look back at 23 magical moments from D23 Expo 2017
  • The heroic women of Star Wars
  • 25 years of The Muppets Christmas Carol with Sir Michael Caine and Brian Henson
  • A droid-filled edition of “From the Desk of” with Star Wars Creature and Droid FX CreativeSupervisor, Neal Scanlan
  • Regular features including A Walk with Walt, D Society, and Ask Dave

The winter issue of Disney twenty-three should be sent out in mid-November. For more on Disney twenty-three magazine and how you can sign up, head to D23.com.

BREAKING: California Screamin’ to Become Incredicoaster, Disney Shares Full Plans for PIXAR Pier at California Adventure

Summer 2018 will bring a transformed land for guests to experience at Disney California Adventure park when Pixar Pier opens along the southern shore of Paradise Bay, with newly themed attractions, foods and merchandise throughout. This new, permanent land in the area that is now Paradise Pier will introduce four new neighborhoods representing beloved Disney·Pixar stories.

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PIXAR PIER (ANAHEIM, Calif.) –Summer 2018 will bring a transformed land when Pixar Pier opens for guests to experience at Disney California Adventure park, featuring the new Incredicoaster inspired by Disney•Pixar’s “The Incredibles.” This artist concept illustrates the four new neighborhoods that will represent beloved Pixar stories and the newly themed attractions that will be found throughout the permanent land of Pixar Pier. (Disney•Pixar)

The first neighborhood is inspired by Disney·Pixar’s “The Incredibles” and it will open in summer 2018 with the Incredicoaster. Permanently transformed from the attraction that is now California Screamin’, Incredicoaster will invite guests into a mid-century-modern-style loading area where they board vehicles with a distinctive, new look. New character moments, new scenes and special effects, and an exciting musical score will connect the attraction’s story to Pixar’s “The Incredibles 2,” which opens in theaters June 14, 2018. To prepare for this transformation, California Screamin’ will close January 8th, 2018.

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PIXAR PIER (ANAHEIM, Calif.) – Summer 2018 will bring a transformed land when Pixar Pier opens for guests to experience at Disney California Adventure park, including the new Incredicoaster, inspired by Disney•Pixar’s “The Incredibles.” Pixar Pier also introduces four new neighborhoods representing beloved Pixar stories. This artist concept captures a scene from one of the neighborhoods inspired by “The Incredibles.” Here, guests will find the new Incredicoaster featuring a mid-century-modern-style loading area, new character moments and a new look for the ride vehicles. ( Disney•Pixar)

Toy Story Mania will anchor the “Toy Story”-inspired neighborhood. A neighborhood inspired by “Inside Out” will be found on the western side of the boardwalk and will welcome a new family-friendly attraction, scheduled to open at a later date.

The fourth neighborhood will be a celebration of many Pixar stories. In this neighborhood, Mickey’s Fun Wheel will have a new look, with each of the 24 gondolas featuring different Pixar characters and the iconic face of Mickey Mouse remaining on the Paradise Bay side of the wheel. At the Games of the Boardwalk, which already includes the Bullseye Stallion Stampede game, all of the midway games will be inspired by Pixar characters. New games are expected to include characters from “A Bug’s Life,” “La Luna” and “WALL·E.” Mickey’s Fun Wheel, Games of the Boardwalk and Sideshow Shirts will close January 8th to begin this transformation.

Ariel’s Grotto restaurant and the Cove Bar will be transformed into a new lounge and grill offering sparkling views of Paradise Bay and the new Pixar Pier. Both locations will close January 8th, with Cove Bar reopening briefly in April before closing again for its permanent transformation. Guests wishing to reserve “World of Color” dining packages after January 7th may consider Carthay Circle Restaurant or Wine Country Trattoria.

The remaining areas of the land that is now Paradise Pier, including Paradise Gardens, Silly Symphony Swings, Jumpin’ Jellyfish, Goofy’s Sky School, Golden Zephyr and The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, will become a new land called Paradise Park.

Pixar Pier will open during the limited-time Pixar Fest celebration, which begins April 13th.

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SHOP: $14 Disney-Fan Tees and More, TeePublic Sale On Now!

Now that Halloween is out of the way, it’s time to start thinking about Christmas! TeePublic decided to kick things off early this year and is having a sale running through Sunday. It’s the perfect chance to get some early holiday shopping done in our WDWNT store!

Deal Details:

    • T-Shirts – $14
    • Mens V-Neck – $18
    • Tanks – $18
    • Zip Up Hoodie – $38
    • Hoodies – $35
    • Crew necks – $30
    • BaseBall Tees – $17
    • LongSleeve Tees – $15
    • Scoop Neck – $21
    • Infant Onesie – $15
    • Kids Tees – $14
    • Prints and Canvas 25% Off
    • Mugs – $12
    • NoteBooks – $10
    • Laptop Cases – $30

Featured TeePublic Disney Shirts

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Epcot 35th Anniversary List

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“That’s All Folks!” Universe of Energy at Epcot Farewell T-Shirt

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Save Figment – Journey Into Imagination at Epcot T-Shirt

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IPA – Indigenous Pandora Ale – AVATAR Land Inspired Shirt T-Shirt

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Magical Forecast T-Shirt

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Best Day Ever T-Shirt

There are hundreds more designs in the store than we can share here, so check it out!

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TONIGHT on WDW News Tonight (11/2/17) – The Map Game, Ranking Magic Kingdom Table and Quick Service Restaurants, & More!

Tonight! The Map Game is back, we’re ranking every restaurant at the Magic Kingdom, and nothing will likely work because we aren’t using the radio studio…

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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.

Coming up on this week’s show:

  • A recap of the week’s news (with a WDWNT comedic twist)
  • An in-depth discussion ranking every restaurant at the Magic Kingdom
  • The Wonderful World of Psychotic Comments
  • “WDWNT: The Map Game” for prizes provided by WDWNT: The App
  • And more!

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

If you missed last week’s show, you can watch it below:

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BREAKING: OtterBox to Bring New Phone Cases to U.S. Disney Parks

OtterBox and Disney announced today that OtterBox will be the “Official Protective Case” of Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort as part of a new multi-year strategic alliance.

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Whether Mickey Mouse or Minnie Mouse is your favorite character, or you just love all things Disney, OtterBox has you covered with its exclusive Symmetry Series Classic Disney Collection. (PRNewsfoto/OtterBox)

Whether Mickey Mouse or Minnie Mouse is your favorite character, or you just love all things Disney, OtterBox has you covered with its exclusive Symmetry Series Classic Disney Collection.

This will bring OtterBox cases to several D-Tech locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort and eventually expand OtterBox’s in-park presence, offering guests a way to protect their vacation memories with the No. 1-most trusted mobile case brand.

“The collaboration between OtterBox and Disney allows us to combine the trusted protection of OtterBox with the magic of Disney Parks,” OtterBox CEO Jim Parke said. “Not only can we help protect guests’ precious memories inside the park and beyond, but we can help them express their passion for Disney with cases that represent some of their favorite characters and attractions.”

OtterBox will also collaborate with Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media to offer a wide variety of brand new case designs. The first will be a signature series called the Classic Disney Collection, featuring timeless Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse designs on OtterBox Symmetry Series for iPhone 8, iPhone 7, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone 7 Plus.

“This alliance joins two companies that share a commitment to providing high-quality products and experiences,” said Carlos Castro, vice president of Disney Corporate Alliances. “We are thrilled to collaborate with OtterBox and look forward to introducing a variety of new Disney-inspired merchandise for our guests to enjoy.”

Symmetry Series Classic Disney Collection cases are available now for iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus on otterbox.com and are coming soon to D-Tech retail locations at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. For more information, visit otterbox.com.

About OtterBox:

OtterBox innovates bold products that deliver confidence and trust in any pursuit. From its humble beginnings with a drybox in a Fort Collins, Colo., garage, OtterBox has honed and leveraged its expertise in manufacturing and design to become the No. 1-selling smartphone case brand in the U.S. and a leader in rugged outdoor lifestyle products.

Disney Offers An Update on Sumatran Tiger Cubs at Animal Kingdom

It’s been a couple of months since we last saw the precious Sumatran tiger cubs that were recently birthed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Now that the cubs are two months old, Disney has shared an update on the cubs’ growth and habitat. Below we have Jeda (male cub on the left), and Anala (female cub on the right).

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The cubs are continuing to develop a strong bond with their mother, Sohni, and are beginning to display their own unique personalities. Jeda is very laid back, as is his father, Malosi. The name Jeda means “pause” in Malay, and is representative of the two parallel stripes on his head that resemble a pause button.

Anala loves to explore and has a more independent spirit. Her name means “fiery, sizzling” in Hindi.

Here is some additional information about the cubs from the Parks Blog:

“The cubs wrestle with each other constantly and love jumping on plants and logs,” said Erin Heavey, an animal care specialist who cares for the tigers. “Jeda in particular loves ripping the bark off the logs and playing with all the pieces that come off. Anala is becoming more adept at sneaking and pouncing and loves hiding behind things (even when she isn’t entirely hidden) and trying to surprise attack Sohni or her brother. This is actually something she gets from Sohni, who loves to “hide and sneak” even though she isn’t always very covert about it.”

It is still too soon for the cubs to make their way to the Maharajah Jungle Trek for the public to see, but the parents are still out on stage in the meantime.

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Okay, this one is too cute…

PHOTOS: Limited Edition Jingle Cruise Pin Released at Magic Kingdom

With the 2017 seasonal return of the Jingle Cruise today at the Magic Kingdom, a limited edition pin was released to mark the occasion.

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The pin features the recently-returned rhino from the attraction, with fruitcake stuck to his horn of course.

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The pin is $14.99 and has an edition size of just 2000. It is available at the Frontierland Trading Post shop. The usual purchase limits of 2 per guest apply.

PHOTOS: New Outdoor Seating Area Opens at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, Magic Kingdom

After months of work, the new outdoor covered seating area at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe at the Magic Kingdom is complete.

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The new seating area features quite a few seats, which should help out the popular restaurant. It also has fans installed for the warmer times of year.

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In recent months, Cosmic Ray’s has also gone to a single menu for all bays and opened completely remodeled restrooms.

Disney•Pixar’s “Coco” Celebrates A Host Of Brands In Far-Reaching Promotional Campaign

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DISNEY•PIXAR’S “COCO” CELEBRATES A HOST OF BRANDS

IN FAR-REACHING PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN

Film Opens in U.S. Theaters Nov. 22

Pixar Animation Studios’ all-new original film “Coco” welcomes a host of brands to the family for an in-depth promotional campaign, including Airbnb, Ancestry, Chatbooks, Guitar Center, the Herdez® Brand, Purple, Southwest Airlines, Subway® and SunRype. 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.

According to Lylle Breier, senior vice president, global marketing partnerships for The Walt Disney Studios, the story itself is the campaign’s greatest strength. “‘Coco’ celebrates family, chasing your dreams and the power of music,” said Breier. “The film’s themes really resonated with each of these extraordinary brands, inspiring them to create compelling programs.”

The “Coco” promotional campaign features the following brands.

  • Airbnb is set to launch its promotion this month to inspire family travel in Airbnb listings around Mexico. The campaign will be shown in both Mexican and US national TV, and on Airbnb’s digital and social platforms. Founded in 2008, Airbnb’s mission is to create a world where people can belong when they travel by being connected to local cultures and having unique travel experiences. Its community marketplace provides access to millions of unique accommodations from apartments and villas to castles and treehouses in more than 65,000 cities and 191 countries.
  • Ancestry will launch an integrated marketing campaign centered around discovering your past to inspire your future, just as main character Miguel does in “Coco.” This includes custom cinema and digital videos telling the story of Miguel’s journey in unlocking his family story to pave way for his future, a digital video of the “Coco” filmmakers getting their AncestryDNA revealed, an interactive Rivera family tree experience on com, and an influencer screening with top Disney influencers prior to film release. Ancestry harnesses the information found in family trees, historical records and DNA to help people gain a new level of understanding about their lives. With more than 2.6 million paying subscribers across its core Ancestry websites and more than 6 million people in the AncestryDNA network, Ancestry is the global leader in family history and consumer genomics.
  • Chatbooks is an app to create fast and affordable photo books directly from your phone’s camera roll or social media. The family-founded company offers an easy solution for people (especially parents!) who don’t have time to make photo books. Fans of the film can use Chatbooks to create an interactive “Coco” photo book that encourages everyone from children to the young at heart to celebrate their own unique family story.
  • Guitar Center is working with Cordoba Guitars and “Coco” to inspire a new generation of musicians. Guitar Center is the world’s largest retailer of musical instruments, recording, live sound, DJ and lighting equipment. With more than 280 stores across the U.S. and one of the top direct sales websites in the industry, Guitar Center has helped people make music for more than 50 years. Guitar Center also provides customers with various musician-based in-house services, including Guitar Center Lessons, where musicians of all ages and skill levels can learn to play a variety of instruments in many music genres. With an unrivalled in-store experience, an industry-leading online presence and passionate commitment to making gear easy to buy, Guitar Center is all about enabling musicians and non-musicians to experience the joy that comes from playing an instrument.
  • The HERDEZ®Brand campaign combines the world of “Coco” and the vibrant flavors of HERDEZ® Their new television commercial focuses on the joy of bringing families together through food. The animated commercial takes fans to the “Coco”-inspired colorful lands, filled with the great traditions of Mexico. The spot also captures the qualities of Miguel’s family from the movie and combines food, tradition and fun through HERDEZ® -inspired Mexican dishes and family moments. HERDEZ® Brand is the No.1 selling salsa brand in Mexico and a growing staple in homes across the United States. In addition to Salsa Casera, the product line includes Salsa Verde and Guacamole Salsa. HERDEZ® authentic Mexican salsas are available nationwide at major grocery stores. Visit www.herdeztraditions.com/DisneyPixarCoco.
  • Purple launched in January 2016, quickly becoming an emerging leader in the development and manufacturing of innovative comfort products, including the world’s first No Pressure™ Mattress. Purple helps the world sleep and sit more comfortably with patented cushioning technology made from 20 years of innovation and a little bit of pixie dust. Purple pairs advanced products with world-class digital marketing to stand out as the world’s only comfort technology brand. No matter how you sit or sleep, Purple is here to help you feel and live better.
  • Southwest Airlines,the largest domestic carrier, serving more than 115 million passengers yearly, is connecting customers to Disney•Pixar’s all-new adventure “Coco,” celebrating the culture and traditions of Mexico. The airline is showcasing the beauty of the film in a high-flying way with the “Coco”-themed Boeing 737-700 aircraft flying among the carrier’s fleet throughout the United States, Mexico and Caribbean through the end of 2017. Customers can enjoy the airline’s Disney•Pixar “Coco” OnDemand Channel onboard WiFi-equipped flights beginning Nov. 1.
  • Subway® restaurants will offer six collectable backpack tags featuring the vibrant artwork from “Coco”—one in every Subway® Fresh Fit for Kids Meal. Broadcast and digital video creative integrate core themes from the film, including a passion for music and the importance of family, with the Subway® Fresh Fit for Kids Meal. The program will also feature creative assets across owned and paid digital platforms along with in-store merchandising in over 26,000 restaurants. Guests in 113 countries have easy access to a fresh lineup of vegetables for their made-to-order sandwiches and salads at more than 44,400 franchised locations. Sandwich Artists™ serve 7 million sandwiches a day around the world. The company, founded over 50 years ago by then 17-year-old Fred DeLuca and family-friend Dr. Peter Buck, is still a family-owned business with thousands of dedicated franchisees in neighborhoods around the world. subway.com.
  • SunRype, the maker of healthy snacks, will place co-branded displayers in the produce departments of grocers across the country. Their digital sweepstakes* will award a trip for a family of four to see the film’s Hollywood premiere as well as other great weekly prize packages. SunRype’s featured product Fruit to Go fruit strips are a convenient portable snack made of simple ingredients: apple purees and juice concentrate—natural flavors with nothing artificial. SunRype grew out of the fresh fruit business in 1946, and have since continued to find the perfect balance of great taste and healthy goodness. Their philosophy is to use simple, straightforward ingredients. SunRype goodness is shared with families all across the USA and other parts of the world. *Sweepstakes’ abbreviated rules: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited.  October 2nd, 2017 at 8:00am PT and ends on October 20, 2017, at midnight PT for the Premiere Trip Sweepstakes & October 23rd through to November 24th, 2017 for the weekly prize packages. US only. 18+