PHOTOS, VIDEO: New Star Wars Character Shows Debut Early at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

WDWNT on April 20, 2016

Originally slated to debut today, Sunday saw the soft opening of two new Star Wars entertainment offerings at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

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The first show features Captain Phasma leading a battalion of First Order Stormtroopers through the park, leading them to the Center Stage for a short show:

While short, this show is very well put together and sure to delight fans of The Force Awakens. It’s quick, accurate to the film, and a really nice touch several times throughout the day. My suggestion is to stand by the Launch Bay restrooms around the time of this show and simply follow the march once they pass you. They will lead you all the way up to the stage and a great viewing location in the very center.

Then there is Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away…

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This show is bad, real bad. Other than a few really great photo-ops and an appearance by a cool, new BB-8 character, this show falls flat. It’s just a series of film clips followed by quick character appearances:

I feel like guests standing in the hot Florida sun will not think their time was well-spent waiting for this disaster to happen. Hopefully it isn’t too late to re-tool this, otherwise I foresee a lot of disappointed guests this summer.

Early Reviews For “The Jungle Book” Are Overwhelmingly Positive; Best 3D Since “Avatar”

WDWNT on April 20, 2016

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Early reviews for Disney’s “The Jungle Book” have come out and the critics seem to be really loving it. Right now it has 100% critic consensus rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Most critics seem to be praising the film saying that it even surpasses the original Disney animated classic.

Even more surprising is that a lot of critics are saying that the movie must be seen in 3D! Ever since “Avatar” was praised for it’s innovative 3D technology, most studios jumped on the 3D band wagon but nothing came close to the quality of “Avatar”. It sounds like “The Jungle Book” is not using 3D as a cash grab but it is a truly immersive 3D experience that if you have the opportunity to see it in 3D, choose the 3D version.

From /Film:

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TheWrap’s Alonso Duralde:

This “Book” might lack the post-vaudeville razzamatazz of its predecessor, but director Jon Favreau and a team of effects wizards plunge us into one of the big screen’s most engrossing artificial worlds since “Avatar.” (Not to mention the most convincing conversational creatures since “Babe.”) I don’t know where the fakery stops and the real animals, waterfalls and veldts begin in this movie, and I don’t really want to.

Uproxx’s Mike Ryan:

Within five minutes, I had already mouthed a few “holy *!*?” at the 3D I was seeing. It’s so beautiful! It stinks how 3D has been misused since its 2009 resurgence with Avatar. It’s become something we all try to avoid if the non-3D showing fit in our schedule. The Jungle Book is one of those handful of movies that belongs in 3D. The 3D legitimately enhances the experience. I don’t like 3D as an industry tool to milk money out of us poor schlubs just so we can watch a slightly darker screen, but if you see The Jungle Book, you should see it in 3D. This is one of those movies they should never release on Blu-ray and just re-release it every few years in 3D.

The Telegraph’s Robbie Collin:

The voice-casting of his animal companions is shrewd to the point of unnerving. Elba’s Shere Khan rings with magnificence. Lupita Nyong’o brings a gentle dignity to the role of Raksha, the mother wolf. Scarlett Johansson plays the bewitching python Kaa with a lounge-singer’s purr, while Bill Murray’s Baloo is so blissfully mellow, whenever he speaks, you’d almost swear you can hear ice cubes clinking in a glass of single malt.

Variety’s Andrew Barker:

But aside from investing in top-drawer digital craftsmanship, perhaps the canniest move Disney made on this film was hiring Jon Favreau to helm it. Maintaining the buoyant heartbeat beneath all the digital flash, Favreau never loses sight of the fact that he’s making an adventure story for children — no small matter in a kid-pic landscape flooded with inappropriately gritty reboots and frenetic distraction devices — and when positive word of mouth arrives to buttress Disney’s all-out marketing efforts, the studio should have a substantial hit on its hands.

Screen Daily’s Sarah Ward:

Transporting Rudyard Kipling’s beloved The Jungle Book, its dense wilderness surroundings and anthropomorphised animals into the live-action realm seems a difficult task; however with Jon Favreau in the director’s chair, a high-profile cast lending their voices to the tale’s iconic talking creatures, and — most importantly — the latest in special effects wizardry turning the movie into a photorealistic spectacle, Disney makes it look easy. Nearly half a century ago, the studio turned the author’s collection of stories into an animated hit. Given the visual wonder of its second adaptation, as well as the corresponding emotional resonance, it should easily be able to repeat the feat.

The Playlist’s Russ Fischer:

As an event film that thrives on creating a sense of wonder rather than rich story, “The Jungle Book” is more than an incremental step forward in the digital effects arms race, with spectacular end-game images establishing a new high bar for digital reproduction of real-world animals and environments. The strikingly realistic scenery is dappled with color, light and shadow to create dramatic stages for masterful character animations— if only the story played out on this impeccably-realized fantasy had the same persuasive command.

The Hollywood Reporter’s Todd McCarthy:

But even as the drama and its treatment become increasingly conventional and familiar as the film moves toward its patly (and arguably overly) audience-pleasing wrap-up, the exceptional visual quality and lifelike animal renditions remain stunning throughout. […] After having completely succeeded in transporting you to its primeval jungle setting, the pic concludes, at the very end of the lengthy final credits, with the cheeky note, “Filmed in Downtown Los Angeles.” At least one sort of movie magic is still very much at work here.

Source: /Film

CONCEPT ART: Cuts Made to Toy Story Land, Scenes Removed from Slinky Dog Coaster

WDWNT on April 20, 2016

As you know, plans change when building attractions for Disney Parks, and Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is no different:

Original Toy Story Land rendering, 2015

 

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2016 rendering

When walls went up near PIXAR Place on April 3rd, so did a new piece of concept art for Toy Story Land (which guests can now visit at the end of the street). Noticeable in the concept art were some changes to the Slinky Dog Coaster, most noticeably the loss of the portions of ground where Andy (or maybe Bonnie) had dug a path for the roller-coaster playset to travel through. As well, one of the large turns that was to travel over a guest pathway now simply travels through a wooded area.

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Among the other changes were the removal of a scene featuring the Green Army Men and a portion where guests would burst through a wall of some kind. Some other set pieces and scenes have also quietly disappeared, but it is hard to make out exactly what was lost in the concept art. The cuts are not being seen as budgetary, but likely to speed up the construction of Toy Story Land, which Disney hopes to have completed by late 2017/early 2018.

Even though there appears to have been cuts, some great details remain:

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Woody’s friend Mic makes an appearance…

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As does Mr. Spell…

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The second launch sends guests through a Hot Wheels-style device.

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There’s even a show scene with Jessie rescuing Rex from a tower of toppling Jenga pieces!

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Looking at the rest of the artwork, taking over what was the Studio Catering Co. space appears to be “Woody’s Round-Up”, a new counter service location.

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Looks like it may even recycle a few props from Hey Howdy Hey Take-Away. The entire building may not just be this small eatery, but this lunchbox and the seating area outside definitely are.

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Just beyond the borders of Toy Story Land is the heavily wooded new planet of Star Wars land. A tunnel will transport guests between the two realms.

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The Little Green Men Flying Saucer ride has its own concept art up on the walls as well. The ride is similar to Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, but there are Aliens in saucers pulling carts around instead while you avoid The Claw.

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Here you can see the ride has an expansive indoor queue area with two separate ride areas

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Guests enter past Buzz Lightyear, down a pathway, and under neath Buzz’s spaceship

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Down at the bottom you can find the new entrance to Toy Story Midway Mania, most likely with the new outdoor home to the Mr. Potato Head animatronic character.

Other details of the land seen in the original concept art aren’t seen here either, but they could just be out of frame (i.e. the Al’s Toy Barn and Woody’s western-style facades). While a few details of Toy Story Land seem to have fallen to time and budget, what’s left still looks to be an impressive and much-needed addition to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

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What do you think?

BREAKING: Bob Iger’s Heir Apparent, Tom Staggs to Leave Disney Company

WDWNT on April 20, 2016

From the Hollywood Reporter:

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Thomas Staggs, named the chief operating officer at Disney last February, is unexpectedly stepping down from the role, the company said Monday.

“Tom has been a great friend and trusted colleague for more than 20 years,” said CEO Bob Iger in a statement. “He’s made important contributions to this company, earning wide respect across the organization for his achievements and personal integrity. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together, immensely grateful for the privilege of working with him, and confident that he will be enormously successful in whatever opportunity he chooses.”

“Disney truly stands alone, not only because of the company’s phenomenal creativity, but also because of the thousands of remarkable people who make it such an extraordinary place,” said Staggs in a statement. “It’s been a privilege to work with them and be inspired by their creativity and commitment. It’s also been a great experience to work with Bob during this dynamic era of unprecedented growth and transformation. I remain grateful for that opportunity, and I’m confident that Disney’s future will be just as exciting as its legendary past.”

VOTE & WIN: “Elite Eight” of Jedi, Hero, Princesses Bracket That Pokes Fun at the Fact That Everyone Has to Have a Bracket to Vote On Bracket

WDWNT on April 20, 2016

Vote now in the next round of the Jedi, Hero, Princesses Bracket That Pokes Fun at the Fact That Everyone Has to Have a Bracket to Vote On Bracket as many times as you like, and each vote enters you in a random drawing for a Tsum Tsum, Star Wars & Marvel prize pack! To enter, fill out the Email field below, along with your ballot. You may vote as many times as you would like, and each ballot will count as an entry! An email will be chosen at random on April 14th, 2016 and that person will win the prize pack. Only one (1) winner will be chosen to win all the items pictured below. Only the winner will be notified by email.

(mobile device users, click here to take poll)

REVIEW: Writer’s Stop Becomes Lounge That Should Probably Just Stop

WDWNT on April 20, 2016

On Sunday, Writer’s Stop at Disney’s Hollywood Studios debuted a new lounge menu. Among a selection of fairly normal alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, the lounge offers three “plates”.

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The warm pretzel was good, but the sipping sauces were awful. The melted cheese tasted as if it had been sitting there for a long time and the mustard tasted off as well.

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The cheese plate was standard, nothing too crazy and everything tasted just fine.

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The spiced nuts weren’t bad, but shouldn’t be priced at $5.00. They had a nice spicy kick to them.

For being a lounge, there isn’t anything very lounge-y about this place. You have to go to the counter to order, the drink selection is the usual Disney selection, and the menu is abysmal. This is everything a “lounge” at Walt Disney World shouldn’t be. The menu is a lazy cash-grab to offset the loss of several establishments now closed in the overhaul of the park. If you want to stop in and grab a drink to go, this isn’t a bad idea, but removing all of the baked goods to serve three of the blandest dishes I have ever seen at any dining establishment at Disney World that doesn’t have wheels on the bottom? Yikes.

The idea of a lounge to serve guests waiting for Sci-Fi Dine-In is great, and the system works really well with 50’s Prime Time Cafe and the adjacent Tune-In Lounge, but this isn’t working. Why not just cart Sci-Fi appetizers over here? At least that give a better or real) menu. Who wouldn’t stop in for a Sci-Fi milkshake or dessert if offered here? There is a world of possibilities here, but instead, it’s a half-store, half-lounge with almost zero reason for you to visit it. Unless changes are made, Writer’s Stop is a place that you just shouldn’t stop at.

BREAKING: Rivers of Light & Nighttime Offerings at Animal Kingdom Delayed

WDWNT on April 20, 2016

Well, I’ll be the first to admit we were wrong (maybe I should claim April Fool’s joke on it), but it seems Disney admitted it first…

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With the expansion of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, we’re excited to give Guests even more opportunities to celebrate the magic of animals and nature as day turns into night. While we’d hoped to debut these offerings on April 22, unfortunately, they will not open as planned on that date as we give the team more time to bring these innovative experiences to life in a way we know will exceed our guests’ expectations.

We’ll share more information about timing by mid- to late May.

So, in short, Disney will not even share a start date until mid-to-late-May. Basically, the show is WAY behind schedule.

To tide you over until the new nighttime offerings are actually running, Disney did share this video of the Tree of Life testing out its new nighttime lighting effects:

Menu Revealed for Tiffins & Nomad Lounge at Animal Kingdom, Opens Memorial Day

WDWNT on April 20, 2016

Tiffins, the newest restaurant in the Discovery Island area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, opens Memorial Day weekend, and the Disney chefs have been hard at work to create inventive dishes inspired by the world travels of the park’s creators.

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From the familiar to something new, the menu offers something for everyone – from a berbere-spiced lamb chop to a New York strip steak or beef short rib with potatoes. Starters include a Lobster-Popcorn Thai Curry Soup with Basil and Peanuts (Asia/Africa) to marinated grilled octopus (Europe). Sustainable seasonal fish crudo (South America) and a salad of roasted baby beets and goat cheese with walnut granola and a sun-dried cherry vinaigrette Discovery Island (North America) round out international creations.

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Entrées include Berber-Spiced Lamb Chop with Mustard Greens, Lentil Stew and Mint Chutney (Africa); Berkshire Pork Tenderloin with Huitlacoche Tamale, Hominy Succotash and Red Mole Sauce (South America); Miso-glazed Black Cod with Forbidden Rice in Steamed Bok Choy with Turmeric Sauce (Asia), and Grilled Head-on Shrimp with Tomatoes, Roasted Fennel, Olives and Sea Urchin Butter Sauce (Europe). For vegetarians, the Roasted Market Vegetable Curry with Quinoa, Zucchini and Lime Chutney brings a taste of Asia.

Beverages focus on Africa, Asia and South America, including handcrafted cocktails and beers. Non-alcoholic beverages include exotic-fruit- flavored lemonades, Asian and African premium loose-leaf teas and coffee beans from Columbia, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Tanzania.

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“With a focus on South American and South African wines, the beverage program is very special – we don’t have another one like it at Disney,” said Master Sommelier Brian Koziol, Food & Beverage Concept and Development director for Disney Parks & Resorts. “The program will focus on environmentality: producers that focus on sustainability, organic wines, and bio-dynamic viticulture,” he explained. “Environmentality is a core value at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and this beverage program is a great way to share that with our guests.”

With 55 seats inside, and 46 seats in a covered outdoor area, Nomad Lounge offers a half- dozen small bites such as a vegetarian summer roll, a seared Wagyu beef skewer, honey-glazed coriander-spiced pork ribs, Indian butter-chicken wings, seasonal fish balls with shishito peppers and house-made head cheese and chicken liver pate with chutney.

Like Tiffins, the lounge offers handcrafted cocktails with African, Asian and South American flavors, imported beers and a South American and South African wine list. Non-alcoholic beverages include exotic-fruit- flavored lemonades, Asian and African premium loose-leaf teas and coffee beans from Columbia, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Tanzania.

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PHOTOS, VIDEO: Aerial View of Construction Progress on Pandora: The World of AVATAR at Animal Kingdom

WDWNT on April 20, 2016

It has been quite a while since we looked at the construction of Pandora: The World of AVATAR from the skies above Animal Kingdom, so with that being said, we are taking another exclusive look from above today:

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The floating mountains and vines are looking more and more realistic every day

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Props still being loaded into the massive theater for the flying Banshee simulator attraction

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Towards the back of the land, you can see the military hangar which will house the main dining establishment for Pandora: The World of AVATAR

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The multiple layers of mountain facade on the show building provide depth for the land’s massive backdrop

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LArge masses of exposed steel still remain at the base of the mountains

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We also have a video taken from the air to share with you as well: