VIDEO: Meet “The Big Friendly Giant” In The International Trailer For “The BFG”

WDWNT on April 20, 2016

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A new international trailer for “The BFG” has been released and in it we get our first look at Giant Country and the giants that inhabit it, including The Big Friendly Giant himself!

The talents of three of the world’s greatest storytellers – Roald Dahl, Walt Disney and Steven Spielberg finally unite to bring Dahl’s beloved classic “The BFG” to life. Directed by Spielberg, Disney’s “The BFG” tells the imaginative story of a young girl and the Giant who introduces her to the wonders and perils of Giant Country. The BFG (Mark Rylance), while a giant himself, is a Big Friendly Giant and nothing like the other inhabitants of Giant Country. Standing 24-feet tall with enormous ears and a keen sense of smell, he is endearingly dim-witted and keeps to himself for the most part. Giants like Bloodbottler (Bill Hader) and Fleshlumpeater (Jemaine Clement) on the other hand, are twice as big and at least twice as scary and have been known to eat humans, while the BFG prefers Snozzcumber and Frobscottle. Upon her arrival in Giant Country, Sophie, a precocious 10-year-old girl from London, is initially frightened of the mysterious giant who has brought her to his cave, but soon comes to realize that the BFG is actually quite gentle and charming, and, having never met a giant before, has many questions. The BFG brings Sophie to Dream Country where he collects dreams and sends them to children, teaching her all about the magic and mystery of dreams. Having both been on their own in the world up until now, their affection for one another quickly grows, but Sophie’s presence in Giant Country has attracted the unwanted attention of the other giants, who have become increasingly more bothersome. Sophie and the BFG soon depart for London to see the Queen (Penelope Wilton) and warn her of the precarious giant situation, but they must first convince the Queen and her maid, Mary (Rebecca Hall), that giants do indeed exist. Together, they come up with a plan to get rid of the giants once and for all.

“The BFG” opens July 1st.

Source: Entertainment One UK

PHOTOS, VIDEO: Take an Aerial View as Demolition Begins at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

WDWNT on April 20, 2016

Say goodbye to Catastrophe Canyon and the Premier Theater as Disney has wasted no time in starting to clear land for Toy Story Land and the 14-acre Star Wars themed land at Hollywood Studios. We are happy to give you this exclusive, bird’s eye glance at the now closed backlot area and the work that has already been done:

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As you can see, most of the Premier Theater has been leveled already

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Catastrophe Canyon is GONE

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The Earfful Tower still stands, but ground is being broken next door

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We also have a video flyover to share with you as well:

TONIGHT on WDW News Tonight (4/6/16): Win a Haunted Mansion Variant Comic, Rides Announced But Never Built, #ThanksShanghai

WDWNT on April 20, 2016

Tonight on WDW News Tonight, we continue to push the envelope with an entire evening of giving thanks to Shanghai Disneyland, and you can even win a Disney Parks Variant Cover Haunted Mansion comic book!

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WDW News Tonight is hosted by Tom Corless and Nick LoCicero, former hosts of WDW News Today: The Radio Show, but also features appearances by a number of other WDWNT correspondents.

If you are in the Orlando area, you can tune in to AM 1520 WBZW at showtime. For those outside the Orlando area, the show can be heard (and now watched via video stream) at Listen.WDWNT.com on your computer or mobile device. The show also utilizes new interactive avenues for our audience, including a live chat, the ability to call-in to the show, and live polling.

The show will also be available for streaming and download the very next day at WDWNewsTonight.com. While this won’t offer the interactive features and excitement of listening live, it offers those who can’t catch the show on Wednesday night a chance be a part of the fun.

Coming up on this week’s show:

  • A discussion of the current state of the Walt Disney Company thanks to Shanghai Disney project
  • #ThanksShanghai
  • A recap of the week’s news (with a WDWNT comedic twist)
  • A new game called “Find 999” where the winner gets the brand new Marvel Haunted Mansion #1 Disney Parks variant cover!
  • “What did we just eat?” – A Disney dining review featuring Writer’s Stop Lounge and Crew’s Cup lounge
  • “Tom and Nick are Angry About Things”
  • An in-depth discussion and historical retrospective on things announced for Walt Disney World (or any Disney Parks), but never built
  • And much more!

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

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

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iGfILYqumI?rel=0]

First Photo Of Pixar’s Newest Short, “Piper”

WDWNT on April 20, 2016

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Entertainment Weekly has provided us with the first look of “Piper,” which is the new short that will debut before Pixar’s “Finding Dory”.

Before this summer’s Finding Dory plunges you back into the ocean, the new Pixar short film preceding the Finding Nemo sequel will offer you a prime spot on the beach alongside what could possibly be the studio’s cutest character creation yet: the big-eyed, diminutive little beach-dwelling bird, the eponymous Piper.

The inspiration for the six-minute short — about a hungry baby sandpiper learning to overcome hydrophobia — came from less than a mile away from Pixar Studios in Emeryville, California, where veteran Pixar animator and Piper director Alan Barillaro would run alongside the shore and notice birds by the thousands fleeing from the water but returning between waves to eat.

“Seeing the way these sandpipers react to waves and run, I always felt, ‘Gosh, that’s a film, that’s a character,’” says Barillaro, who began toying with animation software as a personal challenge to design a non-speaking character who was afraid of the water yet had to venture into it to eat. “It’s always fun to show a world we’re familiar with but from a different perspective. We’ve all been to the beach, but have we ever viewed water from just an inch off the sand? That could be very fearful from a bird’s perspective.”

Source: Entertainment Weekly

PHOTOS, VIDEO: Disney Parks Introducing New Merchandise Line for Women, Kingdom Couture

WDWNT on April 20, 2016

Created especially for Disney Parks, the Kingdom Couture collection was designed using luxurious fabrics and intricate details. The result is elegant yet comfortable apparel and accessories in the first “premium” line of apparel and accessories for Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

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Castle imagery can be found throughout the line.

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The Kingdom Couture spring collection arrives in select merchandise locations in mid-April. Additional Kingdom Couture items will be introduced later this year. This means that select apparel and accessories from a particular season may only be available for a limited period of time at Disney Parks.

If you are visiting Walt Disney World Resort, look for this collection at World of Disney in Disney Springs Marketplace. At Disneyland Resort, you’ll find this collection at Vault 28 in Downtown Disney District; Fortuosity Shop in Disneyland park; and Elias & Co. in Disney California Adventure.

Select items may also be found on the Disney Parks online store or via the Shop Disney Parks mobile app.

D23 Destination D Returns to Walt Disney World with “Amazing Adventures” in 2016

WDWNT on April 20, 2016

DESTINATION D: AMAZING ADVENTURES CELEBRATES THE EXCITEMENT OF DISNEY’S PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE, FROM TRUE-LIFE ADVENTURES TO PANDORA – THE WORLD OF AVATAR

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Disney Legends, Luminaries, and Special Guests Will Take Fans on an Incredible Journey November 19 and 20 at Walt Disney World Resort

BURBANK, Calif. — April 7, 2016 — Since Walt Disney first brought his groundbreaking True-Life Adventures to the big screen, adventure has played a pivotal role in Disney entertainment, from the Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean to the new planet of Pandora, which will soon be unveiled at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This year, members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club are invited to join the excitement at D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures, a celebration of these landmarks of the past, present, and future. The two-day event will take placeNovember 19 and 20, 2016 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World Resort.

Presenters and panelists include Disney Legends Marty Sklar and Tony Baxter; Walt Disney Imagineers Joe Rohde, Chris Merritt, Jason Grandt, and Wyatt Winter; producer Don Hahn (The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast); and Walt Disney Archives Director Becky Cline—plus more to be announced.*

Mickey’s of Glendale, the famed Walt Disney Imagineering store, returns with a pop-up shop at the event for attendees, featuring a selection of exclusive Walt Disney Imagineering merchandise as well as limited-edition pins, apparel, and collectibles themed to the event.

Highlights of D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures will include*:

  • New Walt Disney World Adventures: From Soarin’ Around the World to Rivers of Light—Get an insider’s glimpse into the latest experiences across Walt Disney World Resort, as Disney Imagineers provide a behind-the-scenes look at new and upcoming entertainment.
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Evolving a New Species of Theme Park—Explore the origins and incredible evolution of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, from early concepts to new experiences to be discovered at the park.
  • Magic Journeys: 45 Years of Walt Disney World Adventures—Celebrate the 45th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort with a nostalgic journey through some of the Vacation Kingdom’s most unique and fondly remembered adventures!
  • A Look Back at Walt Disney’s True-Life Adventures—Join Disney historians on an expedition through the landmark True-Life Adventure series, which earned the Disney Studio eight Academy Awards®!
  • The Art and Adventures of Marc Davis—Discover the adventurous artwork of artist, animator, and Disney Legend Marc Davis with Walt Disney Imagineering Senior Production Designer Chris Merritt, who is authoring a new book on the Disney Legend.

The weekend event will take place in the convention center at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Tickets go on sale April 21, 2016, and are $190 each for D23 Gold and Gold Family Members. Tickets are also available to D23 General Members for $250 per ticket. All guests will receive a special gift created exclusively for the event, and attendees are guaranteed seats at all panels and presentations. A limited number of Wilderness Explorer VIP tickets will be available, which includes early shopping, an exclusive evening experience on November 18, reserved seating for all presentations, a special gift bag, unique collectibles, and more.

Further details about the program and tickets for D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures, can be found at D23.com/Events. Additional schedule announcements will be made in the coming months.

About D23

The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s 90-plus-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; a rich website at D23.com; member-exclusive discounts; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.

Fans can join D23 at Gold Membership ($74.99), Gold Family Membership ($99.99), and General Membership (complimentary) levels at D23.com and at DisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube.

Ample Hills Creamery Ice Cream Shop to Open at Disney’s Boardwalk This Spring

WDWNT on April 20, 2016

A re-imagined take on the turn-of-the-century ice cream parlor is set to open this spring at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn & Villas. Ample Hills Creamery, a Brooklyn-based company known for their creative approach to all things ice cream, will open its first location outside of New York City at Walt Disney World.

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The new creamery will be located on Disney’s BoardWalk (next door to the ESPN Club), overlooking Crescent Lake—a short walk from Epcot and a relaxing boat ride from Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Guests will be able to peek into the promenade-facing kitchen windows, where ice cream and mix-ins will be handcrafted the old-fashioned way.

Inside, guests can sample as many flavors as they’d like, including signature creations like Ooey Gooey Butter Cake, Coffee Toffee Coffee, Malty Salty Pretzel Punch, Cotton Candy, and more. They’re even working on a special one-of-a-kind flavor developed exclusively for Walt Disney World Resort.