The new FROZEN scene debuted a day early on the Storbookland Canal Boats at Disneyland Park. Disney has shared photos of the scene which includes Elsa’s castle, the kingdom of Arendelle, and Wandering Oaken’s:
After several months behind walls, the lobby at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort was unveiled today. While not officially finished, the lobby is now functional, but will not be considered complete until the spring when the entire remodel of the hotel is finished.
The tiki icon will be added in the center when the project is completed in the Spring
New furnishings
The hidden Mickey remained
From the second floor
Some great new art in the lobby, this piece from the Disneyland Submarine Voyage
“it’s a small world”
Some art is near the elevators
Enchanted Tiki Room
The remodeling of the lobby is part of a multi-year refurbishment of the resort leading to the opening of the Polynesian Resort Villas and Bungalows in 2015.
So, what do you think?
Photos found on @Schmoofy on twitter.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla – Featuring authentic flavors of Italy’s diverse regions – wood-fired pizzas, house-made pastas, hand-crafted mozzarella, imported charcuterie and cheese and a 100 percent Italian wine list – Trattoria al Forno at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort is inspired by farms in the Italian countryside with an open kitchen and family-friendly dining rooms.
Trattoria al Forno opens Dec. 18, 2014, at Walt Disney World Resort.
“Trattoria al Forno is true Italian cooking,” says Chef Lenny DeGeorge, executive chef, Concept Development, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. “We’ve challenged ourselves to come up with authentic recipes that will wow our guests – this restaurant is the next chapter in Disney dining.”
The space along the popular boardwalk is completely new, including several smaller dining spaces and a new wood-and-gas burning oven for grilling meats and fish and creating crisp Neapolitan-style pizzas. “Al forno” is Italian for “food baked in an oven,” and Trattoria al Forno will feature pizzas in the classic style of Naples, Italy, with simple tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella.
It’s the attention to quality and detail that sets Trattoria al Forno apart, says DeGeorge. “We’ve got an authentic prosciutto slicer, we’re making cavatelli pasta in-house, pickling peppers, making mozzarella, and serving spectacular pizza pies.”
Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Parks Food & Beverage Concept Development have crafted a backstory that builds upon the Disney legacy of storytelling and originality.
“The Trattoria al Forno story was inspired by the authentic Italian menu and the rich storytelling of the turn-of-the-century boardwalk setting,” says Missy Renard, Walt Disney Imagineering resorts art director.
The story holds that an Italian family ran a modest tavern and boarding house on the boardwalk, which expanded over the years into a popular restaurant. The menu’s mix of authentic and innovative dishes supports the story of the restaurant being handed down, with each generation adding their own touches to the meals and the restaurant’s design.
The new restaurant is arranged as a series of separate rooms, starting with the original Entrata, or entrance, where the story begins. An arched brick wall with an aged keystone medallion anchors the room and introduces the traditional building materials used throughout the restaurant. Along the back wall, a custom wine cabinet displays authentic regional wines offered on the menu. Vintage family photos line the walls and introduce the generational story. The color palette throughout is inspired by the fresh ingredients used to make the flavorful dishes.
“As the restaurant was growing, boardinghouse rooms were converted into additional dining spaces,” explains Renard. “There are four distinct dining rooms, with furnishings, finishes and lighting relating to the character of each original boarding house room.”
The first room, the Cucina, is designed as the eat-in kitchen for the boarding house guests. The forno, or oven, with its rustic wood mantle and copper hood, is the centerpiece. Next is the Sala da Pranzo, the formal dining room, which showcases the family’s fine silver, glassware and eclectic china in a grand hutch, with two crystal chandeliers above in the vaulted ceiling.
“The finishes are more opulent – carpet, draperies, settee-style seating and a communal table in front of the show kitchen,” says Renard.
The Sala da Pranzo leads into Salotto, or living room, of the old boarding house, now a dining area with tufted circular booths and upholstered chairs, and photos of vintage Italian market scenes decorating the walls. Finally, the Taverna is a secluded dining area located in the structure’s original tavern, where the mirrored back bar still hangs in front of exposed brick walls.
“The three main dining rooms are open to the show kitchen and to each other, but the styling differences in each create individual dining experiences,” says Renard. “The result is a combination of intimate and lively dining spaces with a tailored progression of storytelling.”
Trattoria al Forno showcases Old World techniques, including handcrafted mozzarella made daily and served with local heirloom tomatoes, cavatelli pasta (small shapes that resemble hot dog buns) and genuine Neapolitan-style pizzas baked in wood-burning ovens. A beautiful Italian flywheel slicer slices paper-thin Italian meats, served with a variety of olives and crisp bread.
Italy is just half the size of Texas but has wonderfully diverse cuisine, and Trattoria Al Forno will showcase dishes from Italy’s various regions – for instance, veal Marsala from Sicily, pizza from Campania, spaghetti alla carbonara from Lazio, Parmigiano Reggiano from Emilio-Romagna and risotto from Lombardy. Add classic Italian desserts with an after-dinner cappuccino for a perfect ending.
Chef Dee Foundoukis, who heads up the kitchen, says the chicken Parmesan is thinly pounded, cooked to order and served with fresh tagliatelle pasta. Whole fish is grilled and fileted tableside. The 16-ounce T-bone steak is served Florentine-style with a simple brush of herb oil. Ciabatta is made in-house. “We’re sourcing locally and making as much in our own kitchen as possible,” says Foundoukis.
Foundoukis says she is most proud of her “Sunday gravy,” a simple tomato sauce made with tomatoes, chicken stock, fennel, herbs and a dash of red pepper flakes – the perfect base for spaghetti and 100 percent beef meatballs. The restaurant’s beef Bolognese is a tender, stewed pot roast.
Waffles with espresso-mascarpone cream . . . caramel apple crumb pancakes . . . poached eggs with fennel sausage, Parmesan and tomato gravy over soft polenta . . . press-pot coffee . . . the breakfast menu at the new Trattoria al Forno offers American favorites along with some classic Italian tastes.
“Fresh ingredients are key,” says Foundoukis. “You can get a classic American breakfast with bacon and eggs, but we wanted to offer some Italian tastes, too.” Like the frittata and the scrambled eggs with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil. Or cured Italian meats with tomatoes, hard-boiled egg and cheese with fonduta, a warm, cheesy sauce for dipping bread.
Simple flavors include vanilla-blueberry steel-cut oatmeal with maple syrup, seasonal fresh fruit and a granola yogurt parfait with berries.
Wine with food is a way of life in Italy, and Trattoria al Forno’s wine list “takes guests on a historic journey through the Italian wine regions,” says Jason Cha-Kim, beverage manager for Disney Parks & Resorts.
“It’s unusual to have a 100 per cent Italian wine list,” says Cha-Kim, who curated a list of about 70 wines from Italy’s 20 wine regions. “From Tuscany, we describe Chiantis and Super Tuscans,” says Cha-Kim. “From Piedmont, Barolo and Moscato d’Asti . . . and we offer wines from regions that some guests may not be familiar with, so we add a description for every single wine, along with the region and grape varietal.”
Signature cocktails and Italian beers and sodas round out the drink menu, with a signature-blend Italian coffee roasted just for Trattoria al Forno.
Trattoria al Forno is open 7:30 a.m.-11 a.m. for breakfast, 5 p.m.-10 p.m. for dinner, and accepts the Disney Dining Plan. For reservations, call 407-WDW-DINE or www.disneyworld.com/dine.
John Favreau recently posted on Instagram some very famous actors providing the voices of characters for the new live action version of “The Jungle Book”. John Favreau is directing the movie for Disney and some of the actors involved:
It’s interesting to note that Favreau, Johansson, Kingsley and Elba have all starred in Marvel movies.
“The Jungle Book” is an all-new live-action epic adventure about Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi), a man-cub raised in the jungle by a family of wolves, who embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery when he’s forced to abandon the only home he’s ever known. “The Jungle Book” will be released on October 9th, 2015.
Kermit Ruffins and Bill Murray
Bill Murray, John Favreau, Christopher Walken and Dr. John
Scarlett Johansson
Dr. John and John Favreau
A behind the scenes shot of Neel Sethi as Mowgli
NEW YORK, NY – Dec. 17, 2014 — The ONE Group Hospitality, Inc. (“The ONE Group”) (OTCQB:STKS), known for developing upscale, high-energy restaurants, today announced plans to open a STK in Disney Springs at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. STK Orlando is expected to open in The Landing at Disney Springs in 2015, with the full completion of Disney Springs expected in 2016.
The new STK will be located within the waterfront setting of The Landing at Disney Springs, a completely re-imagined shopping, dining and entertainment complex that will double the number of shops and restaurants currently found at Downtown Disney. The Landing is the first phase of Disney Springs and will be home to unique and memorable dining experiences such as STK, Morimoto Asia and The BOATHOUSE, plus a number of still-to-be-announced innovative restaurants and boutique shops.
STK’s unique ambiance blends the elements of a modern steakhouse with a sleek lounge, including a DJ, emphasizing a social, fun environment. At approximately 14,000 square feet, the Orlando outpost will be one of the largest STK locations. STK Orlando will have two dining floors—including a main level and the only rooftop dining venue in Disney Springs.
“We are thrilled to join the Disney Springs family with the launch of STK Orlando,” said Jonathan Segal, CEO of The ONE Group. “The combination of an innovative menu and high-energy atmosphere has driven the success of STK, and we believe it will be an ideal addition to Disney Springs, and will help further cement its status as a place for friends and family to gather for fine dining and entertainment.”
Segal added, “Our entrance into the Orlando market represents another example of our continued growth strategy. We remain on track with our expansion plans for 2015 and hope to continue to partner with exciting world-class brands like Walt Disney Parks and Resorts moving forward.”
“STK Orlando is a welcome new addition to Disney Springs. With its innovative, high-energy atmosphere, STK is the perfect complement to our growing array of dining, entertainment and shopping offerings,” said George A. Kalogridis, president, Walt Disney World Resort.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (aka Episode VII) will be released on December 18th, 2015. Unfortunately, Star Wars fans will have to wait another two years until the sequel, Episode VIII, is released in 2017. The good news for Star Wars fans is that there will be another Star Wars movie released in between Episode VII and VIII in 2016. The only facts that we currently know is that it is a Star Wars spin-off movie and that it will be directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla). Today /Film.com heard from their sources what the possible plot of the spin-off may be and it sounds a lot more intriguing then I could have ever imagined.
According to the /Film, the Star Wars spin-off movie is about a group of people out to pull off the ultimate heist, the theft of the first Death Star plans. That really sounds like a great idea because most fans would like to know exactly how did those plans make it’s way to Princess Leia before she downloaded it into R2-D2. The story gets even better: instead of the Rebel Alliance, it could be a group of Bounty Hunters that is hired to pull of the heist.
This could bring in all of the Bounty Hunters that we first saw on Darth Vader’s Star Destroyer in The Empire Strikes Back, including Boba Fett. The style of the movie is said to be similar to The Magnificent Seven or maybe The Ocean’s Eleven movies, but taking place in the Star Wars universe.
The opening crawl of A New Hope says the following:
Bounty Hunters go where the money is and I can see the Rebel Alliance hiring a bunch of Bounty Hunters to steal the Death Star plans from the Empire. That sounds more interesting than to have some heroes go in and take them.
It is also mentioned that the Millennium Falcon is in the movie and that the main character of this movie will be introduced in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. With the Millennium Falcon being in the movie it makes you wonder, how did they get it? Han Solo will not be in this movie but Han was not the original owner of the Falcon, Lando was. And the mission can include a good guy or two. Maybe Lando? As for the character that first appears in The Force Awakens, they imply it may be Max Von Sydow’s character. At first I though Max Von Sydow’s character was a Commander for the Empire or maybe even a Sith. He did play Ming The Merciless in Flash Gordon, but then again, he also played Jesus in The Greatest Story Ever Told, but lately there has been a lot of talk that his character is working with Daisy Ridley’s character and may be some kind of cyborg.
Leaked concept art shows us a character that kind of looks like Van Sydow:
This plot has not been confirmed but multiple reliable sources have stated that this is possible and may have some truth to it. I guess only time will tell but I would love to see something like this come to fruition.
Source: /Film
Update: Star Wars.com is reporting that the teaser trailer is not exclusive to Regal Cinemas and will be seen in 30 select theaters. See an updated list of participating theaters below.
Regal Theaters just announced that they will premier the first trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens at “select” Regal Theaters this Friday, November 28th. It appears that this will be the only way to see the trailer, for now. From their statement, it sounds like this will be exclusive to Regal Cinemas until November 30th, so expect to see an official trailer online shortly after that date or hopefully sooner if possible.
Official statement from Regal Entertainment Group:
This Friday, the world premiere of Star Wars Episode VII trailer will be revealed at select North America theaters.
Be one of the first to experience the trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens at the Regal locations. The trailer will debut before all movies starting November 28 – November 30.
From Starwars.com:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iMK5cch4SY]
“Strange Magic,” a new animated film from George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd., is a madcap fairy tale musical inspired by “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Popular songs from the past six decades help tell the tale of a colorful cast of goblins, elves, fairies and imps, and their hilarious misadventures sparked by the battle over a powerful potion. Some of the new versions of hit pop songs sung by the cast includes Heart’s “Straight On”; Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger”; Deep Purple’s “Mistreated”; the ’50s classic “Love is Strange”; “Say Hey,” a Michael Franti song chosen by George Lucas for the film; and a so-far undisclosed castmember singing Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love.”
Lucasfilm Animation Singapore and Industrial Light & Magic bring to life the fanciful forest turned upside down with world-class animation and visual effects. Directed by Gary Rydstrom (“Toy Story Toons: Hawaiian Vacation,” “Lifted”) from a story by George Lucas, “Strange Magic” will be released by Touchstone Pictures on Jan. 23, 2015.
On the eve of Destination D: Attraction Rewind, D23 has announced that it will be making a few changes to its membership lineup for 2015. To begin, D23 will be introducing a new “D23 Gold Family Membership” which will allow you to bring up to three additional guests to D23 events. Additionally in 2015, D23 will be bringing new special pricing for Gold level memberships though as of this writing those prices have not been announced. In order to make way for all these special Gold privileges, D23 will be phasing out the D23 Silver Membership and during renewal those members will have the opportunity to upgrade to D23 Gold, D23 Gold Family, or to become General Members.
In the midst of all of the work happening at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, we finally know what’s happening behind those constructions walls in Africa:
As you have probably seen if you’ve been by Mombasa Marketplace and the entrance to the Wildlife Express Train, construction work is taking place and even more new structures are under way. The Africa Marketplace, as the new area will be known, will open next Spring and expanded merchandise offerings, offer an alternate pathway to travel to Asia and a new quick service restaurant. The quick-service restaurant, the Harambe Marketplace, will feature a number of different food offerings at walk-up windows. This themed colonial-era marketplace will offer produce and raw goods that come straight from Harambe by train. Based on Guest feedback, you’ll see plenty of shade to enjoy while guests relax and eat during their visit.
