Brandon Struve made a trip to the Magic Kingdom this morning to catch the “coronation” of Princess Tiana (Disney’s newest princess from the upcoming animated film “The Princess and The Frog”) and the official debut of Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee. The Showboat Jubilee will be performing 4 to 5 times daily from now until January 3, 2010. Here is a video of today’s events taken by Brandon, accompanied by some Disney press photos:
A few weeks ago, we showed you the concept art for a 2010 monthly Walt Disney World pin series called “Then and Now”. The “What’s HapPINing Blog” was updated today with a look at two of the actual pins in the series. From the “What’s HapPINing Blog“:
As a follow up to a preview we presented in August, we received pin samples for the upcoming Walt Disney World® Then & Now series and they look great!
You’ll notice that the “then” side is in a metal finish with no color, and the “now” side is in full color. It’s been great to revisit some of our favorite older attractions in this series and we think the series will be a fun way for Guests to discover the history of the Theme Parks.
WDWNT Reporter Jose Eber spotted the re-branded Monorail Teal backstage, behind the Magic Kingdom and has photos and a video to share with us:
This winter, The Walt Disney Company is going back to their animation roots with the debut of “The Princess and the Frog”, opening at the Ziegfield Theater in New York and the Walt Disney Studios in Los Angeles on November 25 and in theaters nationwide on December 11. Those familiar with Frontierland at Walt Disney World and Disneyland will see something familiar in the film… something looking vaguely familiar… the riverboat.
This holiday season at the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Park, on the Liberty Belle beginning October 26 and on the Mark Twain beginning November 6 respectively, guests will be treated to a special experience, Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee.
Read More about “The Princess and The Frontierland” by Chuck Mirarchi
The D23 Twitter account today posted the news that the refilling of the Paradise Bay lagoon has well and truly begun. Here are two pictures from D23’s Twitter account showing the progress so far:
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Oct. 16, 2009) — The ESPN Innovation Lab officially opened today at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort. The Innovation Lab provides ESPN a real-world testing ground to continue developing new ground-breaking on-air products.
“The ESPN Innovation Lab is an extension of ESPN’s commitment to being a leader in technology,” said Chuck Pagano, executive vice president, technology, ESPN. “This cutting-edge production house will foster creativity and the development of new tools to provide fans the best on-air coverage of sporting events.”
The mission of ESPN’s state-of-the-art facility is to enhance the viewer’s experience by utilizing the world-class playing fields and the 250,000 youth and pro athletes who use them annually to develop new products during actual game conditions. This working research facility will also be open at certain times of the year for visitors to view the company’s emerging-technology staff at work and get a sneak peak at upcoming technological advancements.
This past summer, the lab produced two innovative production elements, Ball Track and ESPN Snap Zoom. Ball Track is a Doppler radar hit-tracking system that has the ability to track home runs showing the distance and height of the ball in-flight, updating continuously during the ball’s flight. It debuted on the 2009 “MLB Home Run Derby” telecast on July 13. ESPN Snap Zoom debuted on “Monday Night Football” on Sept. 28 and is a freeze-frame technology that brings the fan closer to the play by zooming in an area of interest and providing insight to a current action on the field, thus giving the viewer a different view on a particular focus of play.
The ESPN Innovation Lab is the first major piece of a re-imagining project involving ESPN and the Disney sports complex, which is already the leading multi-sport venue in the nation. The project aims to create an immersive and entertaining sports experience for athletes, coaches and fans by incorporating the signature elements of ESPN in ways that will connect athletes and coaches with their favorite ESPN programs, personalities and elements. The project is expected to be completed early next year and will provide a one-of-a-kind experience that athletes, coaches and fans can’t get anywhere else except Walt Disney World Resort.
“The versatility of the complex and the enormous diversity of sports events we have there make it the perfect place for ESPN or any company to develop and test their latest product innovations,” said Ken Potrock, senior vice president of Disney Sports Enterprises. “We are thrilled to provide our athletes and coaches with the opportunity to potentially be a part of the development of ESPN’s newest and most exciting on-air products. It’s just one of the many ways this ESPN re-imagining project will help take our youth sports experience to a new level.”
The Disney sports complex has hosted more than 200 annual events in 60 different sports involving athletes from more than 70 countries since opening in 1997. Among those events are the Atlanta Braves spring training season, Chelsea Football Club events, the Pop Warner Super Bowl, AAU National Championships, Varsity All-Star Cheerleading competitions, USSSA events, ESPN RISE Games, Old Spice Classic and the Walt Disney World Marathon, one of the top marathons in the nation. ESPN televised 20 sporting events from the complex in the last year. Walt Disney World Resort and ESPN also annually work together to host the popular ESPN The Weekend event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Did you know?
· ESPN’s Active Player Tracking for the Arena Football League was first tested at the Wide World of Sports. The technology debuted during the 2007 Arena Football season but has also been implemented at the Summer X Games enabling ESPN to capture heights achieved by athletes in the BMX and Big Air event which are then displayed on the ESPN “Huck-o-Meter.”
· The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex was the testing bed for ESPN’s Ball Track technology that debuted at the 2009 MLB Home Run Derby. This was the first time that radar had been utilized to track a baseball in real-time in a broadcast environment.
· At ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, ESPN has access to 16 baseball fields, 25 football/soccer fields, two indoor basketball arenas, one baseball stadium and four tennis courts for real-world testing. Just a short distance from the facility there are lakes and golf courses also used in testing scenarios. Over the past three years, ESPN has taken full advantage of these facilities testing technologies for tennis, golf, baseball, basketball, football and even BASS fishing.
· The Emmy-winning EA Virtual Playbook was first tested at ESPN Wide World of Sports during the summer of 2008 in preparation of the 2008-09 NFL season. Its overwhelming success led the team to develop an NBA version utilized during the 2009 NBA playoffs.
About ESPN Technology:
ESPN Technology develops the ideas and applications that bring the fan closer to the game with new, innovative production enhancements. ESPN’s technology team designed and supports two of the most technologically advanced production centers in the world, the Digital Center in Bristol, Conn., and the Los Angeles Production Center which is the first 1080p capable production facility. In addition, the Emerging Technology Group has developed many on-air advancements over the past 30 years, including virtual graphics applications, “Huck-O-Meter,” and the Emmy-winning EA Virtual Playbook.
All photos by Garth Vaughan, copyright Disney
WDWNT Reporter Brandon Struve took a special trip to Epcot this morning to check out “The Sum of All Thrills”, a new Innoventions exhibit sponsored by Raytheon that we first told you about earlier this year:
“The Sum of All Thrills” opened inside of Innoventions East/Blue earlier today
Read More about Brandon Struve’s 10/14/09 Epcot Photo Report (featuring The Sum of All Thrills)
DLNT’s own Myrna Litt visited a very crowded Disneyland Resort yesterday, and she reports back to us with these photos:
A look around Big Thunder Ranch Halloween Roundup
WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee spent Thursday at the fabulous Walt Disney World Resort, starting his day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and then spending the evening at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party:
A new audition video plays on the big screen outside the American Idol Experience periodically. The sign underneath points to the new audition entrance
Today, D23 announced 3 new member events, 2 of which are taking place in California. The first event is D23’s Candlelight Spectacular at Disneyland:
For more than 50 years, Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional and Ceremony has heralded in the Christmas season at “The Merriest Place on Earth.” This year, Candlelight serves as the centerpiece of D23’s first holiday season celebration during a magical day of festivities created exclusively for our members and their guests.
The day begins at 10 a.m. when guests can begin checking in. Theme park admission is included so you can enjoy all the holiday splendor and merriment of Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure at your own pace. You’ll enjoy reserved seating at Disneyland’s perennial favorite, A Christmas Fantasy Parade, and expect a few more surprises as well!
As night falls, you’ll gather inside Stage 17 at Disney’s California Adventure where a winter wonderland awaits. Make sure you don’t eat too many holiday treats during the day, because Disneyland’s Executive Chef has prepared a dazzling, sumptuous holiday feast for you to enjoy with your fellow D23 members. As you dine, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Pluto and their pals — all decked out in their holiday finery — will keep you in the highest of holiday spirits with special entertainment that will have you humming and singing along!
Following dinner, you’ll be escorted to your reserved seats for the Candlelight Processional and Ceremony, where you’ll experience the breathtaking majesty of this retelling of the Christmas story. Hosted by a celebrity narrator and performed by the Disneyland Orchestra, the Disney Employee Choir (which makes up the ceremony’s iconic living Christmas tree), bell choirs, trumpeters and a chorus of hundreds, the ceremony’s powerful music, traditional carols and poignant words will leave you with an even greater appreciation for the true meaning of Christmas.
At the conclusion of Candlelight, the evening continues as you are escorted back at Stage 17 for more holiday merriment. As you enjoy a sweet treat and some warm cocoa, the magic-makers at Disneyland will offer our guests a very special “behind-the-candles” look at the history of holiday traditions at Disneyland, as well as the special care and work that goes into making the parks look their best for the season. The team responsible for producing the Candlelight Ceremony will also join us to share their experiences and a surprise or two, and the Disney Employee Choir will entertain you with a rousing sing-along of your favorite carols in a toe-tapping medley that will close the evening on the right note. As you depart from this truly wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime experience, remember that D23 members never go home empty-handed, especially during the holidays! ‘Tis better to give!
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Sunday, December 6, 2009
Time: Check in begins at 10 a.m.
Location: Disneyland, Anaheim, Calif.
Tickets: Tickets will be available Thursday, October 15 at 10 a.m. PST. Members may bring up to three guests.
Cost: $275 per personIncluded with the cost of your ticket:
- A one-day Disneyland park hopper ticket. (Ticket is good only for use on December 6, 2009 and must be used by ticket purchaser.)
- Private dinner and dessert inside Stage 17
- Exclusive holiday show featuring your favorite Disney characters
- Reserved seating for Candlelight Processional and Ceremony
- Behind-the-scenes presentation about Candlelight and Disneyland at the holidays — with a “sweet treat”
- Special gift for all guests from your friends at D23!
The second event, Disney and Dickens, will be held at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood:
Join Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim and your fellow D23 members for an evening of Dickensian delights as you meet at the historic El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood to experience the new Robert Zemeckis film Disney’s A Christmas Carol, starring Jim Carey, Bob Hoskins and an all-star cast in this new retelling of Charles Dickens’ timeless holiday favorite. As you settle into your reserved VIP seat, enjoying tunes from the mighty Wurlitzer, the festive holiday pre-show and the film itself, make sure you don’t get too full from the complimentary popcorn and soda because following the movie, you’ll re-join the group for a holiday feast at the classic Los Angeles eatery, the Tam O’Shanter in the city’s Los Feliz area.
The Tam O’Shanter was a favorite restaurant for Walt Disney and his animators, and was often referred to as the Studio Commissary when Walt’s fledgling company was located in the neighborhood. From the moment you pull up to this quaint, cottage-like Scottish establishment, you will be transported to another time and place. Decked out in its holiday finest, the Tam is a cozy, traditional Scottish restaurant where Christmas goose and succulent prime rib await. As you dine with your fellow D23 members and their guests, you’ll have the opportunity to see Walt’s table, take a look at the wonderful artwork created by Disney animators for the Tam, and be entertained by Dickens Carolers, as well as an ensemble from the Disney Employee Choir, who will sing their favorite Disney Christmas songs.
So come with your appetite and warm up your vocal chords, because this will be anything but a silent night. Oh, and don’t forget that Christmas is a time of giving and your friends at D23 would never let you leave without a special holiday gift to commemorate the evening!
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Thursday, December 10, 2009
Location: El Capitan Theatre and Tam O’Shanter Restaurant
Time: Check-in begins at the El Capitan at 6 p.m.; Screening begins at 7 p.m.
Tickets: Tickets will be available Thursday, October 15 at 10 a.m. PST. Members may bring up to three guests.
Cost: $95 per personIncluded with the cost of your ticket:
- VIP seating for the 7 p.m. showing of Disney’s A Christmas Carol
- Popcorn bucket and soda
- Three-course dinner at the Tam O’Shanter (includes soft drinks, coffee, and tea)
- Valet parking at the Tam O’Shanter
- Special presentation including a performance by the restaurant’s Dickens Carolers
- Surprise gift for all guests from your friends at D23!
The final new event announced isn’t for California, so I’m not going to put it up here, but here’s the link to it just in case you’re interested. Be sure to keep an eye on the D23 Expo and Events page for when tickets go on sale October 15th.
