“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” Takes You Back In Time With These New “Retro” Promotional Poster
Lucasfilm has released these new “Retro” posters for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”. Getting closer and closer each day!
Source: IGN
D23 Announces 2016 Calendar of Special Events for the United States
BURBANK, Calif. – December 1, 2015 – In 2016, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will expand member events with more experiences on the East Coast and new twists on current favorites.
D23 BEHIND-THE-SCENES EXPERIENCES: In 2015, D23 Members had the opportunity to explore hidden Disney gems—such as the Animation Research Library—while hearing stories from Disney luminaries such as Walt Disney Archives founder Dave Smith and animator Andreas Deja. In 2016, D23 will bring back this popular event with incredible guests and new locations, while adding even more surprises and a special gift.
SCREENINGS ON THE DISNEY STUDIO LOT AND AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT: In 2016, D23 will once again offer special screenings on both coasts of Disney favorites includingAlice in Wonderland, Finding Nemo, and Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Plus, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of The Reluctant Dragon, D23 will hold a special screening event on the Studio lot including special guests, picture spots, and more surprises.
D23’S LUNCH WITH A DISNEY LEGEND: Following a year that included exclusive luncheons with such luminaries as former Imagineer Orlando Ferrante and voice actress Kathryn Beaumont, D23 will be bringing back the popular event series on the Walt Disney Studios lot, as well as adding events on the East Coast. The first event will be at Walt Disney World Resort with Disney Legend Charlie Ridgway, who helped open Walt Disney World, Epcot Center, and Disneyland Paris.
D23 DAY AT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS AND ARCHIVES: D23 Gold Member-exclusive tours of the historic Studio lot and Walt Disney Archives in Burbank return, highlighting historic moments from Disney film, television, and theme parks—and in 2016 we will be enhancing the experience with a very special new location to be announced soon.
ADVANCE SCREENINGS: This year, D23 Members were able to attend previews of Cinderella and Inside Out in cities such as New York, Orlando, Chicago, San Francisco, and Philadelphia.Next year, in partnership with The Walt Disney Studios, D23 will screen a selection of upcoming releases. And for those guests who may not live in the cities where movies are screened, D23 Gold Members across the country will be selected at random to receive complimentary movie passes, which will be included in issues of Disney twenty-three, D23’s quarterly publication.
D23 MEMBER NIGHTS AT NEWSIES—ON TOUR: Disney fans are cheering for the Tony® Award-winning Newsies, now on tour. In 2016, guests in Salt Lake City, Portland, and other cities around the country are invited to see the show with premium seats on special nights and a talk-back with the cast following the show.
MEMBER MIXERS AROUND THE COUNTRY: After giving members a peek at the reimagined Disney Stores in Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, and Kentucky, in 2016, Disney Store will once again invite D23 Members for exclusive mornings of shopping, discounts, games, and goodies. Also this past year, D23 held mixers including Breakfast on Broadway in New York and Never Had a Friend Like D23 events to celebrate Aladdin in Phoenix, Sacramento, and Seattle. Look for more mixers in cities around the country in 2016.
MICKEY’S OF GLENDALE: The Walt Disney Imagineering employee store will once again offer shopping opportunities to D23 Gold Members at Walt Disney World Resort and in Southern California. Guests will be able to peruse collectibles and pick up official Imagineering merchandise. Dates to be announced in 2016.
D23 DISNEY FANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION—BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: Following D23’s first “Home Edition” of Fanniversary, celebrating the 60th anniversary of Lady and the Tramp, D23 in 2016 will bring fans around the world unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the spectacular, Academy Award®-winning animated feature Beauty and the Beast, which celebrates its 25th anniversary next year.
SIGNATURE EVENTS: Look for the return of some favorites, including SIP & SCREAM (a Halloween twist on D23’s Sip & Stroll event at Walt Disney World in the fall), as well as special holiday events on both the East and West Coasts. More details will be announced in 2016.
Dates, ticketing information, and more D23 events will be announced throughout the year. Full details on D23’s lineup of 2016 special events can be found on the Fan Club’s website atwww.D23.com/events. All events and dates are subject to change.
Current event calendar:
- January 29: D23 Behind-the-Scenes Experience, TBA, Burbank, Calif.
- February 20: Alice in Wonderland, Burbank, Calif.
- March 18: Lunch with a Disney Legend: Charlie Ridgway, Walt Disney World Resort
- March 19: Alice in Wonderland, Walt Disney World Resort
- April 8: Lunch with a Disney Legend: TBA, Burbank, Calif.
- April 9: D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives, Burbank, Calif.
- April 20: D23 Member Night at Newsies—On Tour, Portland, Ore.
- May 21: Finding Nemo, Walt Disney World Resort
- June 4: Finding Nemo, Burbank, Calif.
- June 8: D23 Member Night at Newsies—On Tour, Salt Lake City, Utah
- June 25: D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives, Burbank, Calif.
- July 18: D23 Behind-the-Scenes Experience, TBA, Burbank, Calif.
- August 20: The Reluctant Dragon 75th anniversary screening event, Burbank, Calif.
- September 23: Lunch with a Disney Legend: TBA, Walt Disney World Resort
- September 24: Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Walt Disney World Resort
- Fall: D23 Disney Fanniversary Celebration: Beauty and the Beast, more info coming in 2016
- October 8: Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Burbank, Calif.
- October 22: Sip & Scream, Walt Disney World Resort
- November 18: Lunch with a Disney Legend: TBA, Burbank, Calif.
- November 19: D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives, Burbank, Calif.
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 atD23.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.
PHOTOS: Star Wars Launch Bay Opens at Hollywood Studios, A Look at all of the Exhibits & Merchandise Inside
Star Wars Launch Bay opened today at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and our own Nick LoCicero was there to bring us photos of this brand new experience aiming to fill the gaps in Star Wars fun in the park until the Star Wars themed land opens later this decade:
Where the Magic of Disney Animation once stood, you’ll now find Star Wars Launch Bay
The line to get in got pretty long later in the day, but the meet and greet lines inside were also over an hour all day
The queue features a large mural and concept art from the seven existing episodes and Rebels
A map of the inside
What was the Mushu show is now used to show a short film about the Saga which is shown on a very small TV at Launch Bay in California
Guests will find multiple galleries inside featuring models, movie props, and replicas
An actual pod from Episode I on display
This speeder bike is also an actual movie prop
Guests will find two meet and greets inside, Chewbacca and Darth Vader. Both will eventually have FastPass+ offered.
Guests can answer trivia while they wait
There is also a roomed themed to a cantina
Not functioning though…
Jawas may pass through here from time to time
The preview gallery comes towards the end of the experience
Guests can play Disney Infinity in the gaming area
There are also some mobile games you can play
At the exit you’ll find the store, Launch Bay Cargo
You can enter this without waiting in the long line
D-Tech on Demand phone cases exclusive to Launch Bay are available here
As are exclusive create-your-own MagicBands that can feature your name in English or Aurebesh
At the end of the day, Launch Bay oofers a short film, two galleries, two meet and greets, some small diversions, and a shop. While this isn’t anything earth-shattering, I think it is at least equal to the final version of the Magic of Disney Animation it replaced. A permanent Star Wars exposition space and character meet and greets is an awesome idea and I’m sure it will remain popular until the opening of the Star Wars themed land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
PHOTOS: The Food Is Strong with New Specialty Star Wars Offerings at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
While the Season of the Force event is not coming by name to Hollywood Studios, it seems everything but the Fireworks show has come to fruition by December 1st at Walt Disney World, including a wide array of Star Wars themed food and beverage options around the park.
Backlot Express is running an entirely new menu from top to bottom, offering some of the items from the Rebel Hangar that was offered for Star Wars Weekends 2015.
The Death Star and Millennium Falcon glow cubes are back.
Yes, there is now a $24.99 popcorn bucket…
Two new cupckaes are being made now as well, in addition to the Darth Vader
Min & Bill’s also has some items, including the return of the Blue Milk Shake!
So, what are you going to be getting?
Coca-Cola to Operate New Establishment at Disney Springs, Coke Freestyle Coming?
While we don’t have many details at this point, it seems long time Disney partner and sponsor Coca-Cola will be doing something at Disney Springs according to recent documents filed.
Coke Freestyle being tested at Disney California Adventure this year
Our guess would be the location might offer something similar to Club Cool or perhaps a location including Coke Freestyle machines. Disney California Adventure introduced one location that offers Freestyle earlier this year and it has proved to be quite popular so far.
Nothing has been announced by Disney as of yet, but expect this location to open in the Town Center of Disney Springs in 2016.
VIDEO: Star Wars: “Force 4 Fashion” Red Carpet Launch Event
Disney Consumer Products joined forces with Bloomingdale’s in a new fashion-meets-fundraising initiative, Star Wars “Force 4 Fashion.” The New York City launch event, presented by Kay Jewelers and CoverGirl, showcased unique looks from 11 icons of fashion, inspired by characters from the highly anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
“Force 4 Fashion” is part of a global initiative celebrating the distinctive synergy between film and fashion, in the run up to an exceptional moment in the history of pop culture – – Star Wars: The Force Awakens release.
VIDEO: New “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” Legacy Featurette
A brand new Star Wars: The Force Awakens featurette premiered at Comic-Con Brazil during a presentation hosted by Producer Bryan Burk. Check it out!
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” comes to theaters December 18, 2015.
New Character Poster Released For “Poe Dameron” From “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”
The Official Star Wars Twitter account has just released a brand new character poster from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”. Poe Dameron, played by Oscar Issacs, is one of the Resistance’s best pilots and leader of the elite Black Squadron.
Source: Star Wars Twitter
Classic Images of Walt Disney Now Available From the Walt Disney Archives
Just in time for what would have been Walt Disney’s 114th birthday on December 5, 2015, Disney launched Photographs from the Walt Disney Archives, a new online print-on-demand photo service that allow fans to own vibrant images from Disney’s rich history, including classic images of Walt himself.
Iconic photographs, from a young Walt circa 1932 surrounded by more than a dozen plush Mickey Mouse dolls to a shot of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland on opening day in 1955, are available for purchase in an array of sizes and formats, including photographs and canvas. Each image tells a story, including a rare behind-the-scenes photograph of musicians during the filming of the concert epic Fantasia (1940), as well as a shot of Walt and his staff with the groundbreaking multiplane camera during the 1951 filming of Alice in Wonderland.
With multiple sizes and frames to choose from, individuals can customize their orders—from an 11’’ x 14’’ print on paper or gallery–wrapped canvas ($59.00) to a 20’’ x 20’’ print in a natural or black wood frame ($150.00).
All artwork comes from the photo library operated by the Walt Disney Archives. Comprised largely of original negatives, the roughly 4 million photos rarely leave their cold storage facilities to see the light of day. As more and more digital copies have been created, the Archives is offering this special opportunity to own a print from its one-of-a-kind collection.
Photographs from the Walt Disney Archives launched December 5, 2015 at DisneyPhotoArchives.com.
VIDEO: New Disney XD Promo For “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” Reveals “Maz Kanata”
This weekend, Disney XD aired a new promo for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and we got a glimpse of the elusive new character, Maz Kanata. She can be seen next to Finn as he ignites his light saber:
Maz Kanata is a new CGI character introduced in “The Force Awakens” and is played by actress Lupita Nyong’o. Similar to the marketing of Luke Skywalker, the character has been mostly under wraps in order to officially introduce her for the first time to audiences when they see “The Force Awakens”. You can see a small image of Max Kanata in the background of the official “The Force Awakens” poster and her voice-over is heard in a few TV spots.
Maz Kanata is a mysterious character which appears to be an integral part to “The Force Awakens” story line. So far what we know about Maz Kanta was revealed to us by J.J. Abrams:
Her history is that she was a pirate for a long time. She’s lived over a thousand years. She’s had this watering hole for about a century, and it’s like another bar that you’d find in a corner of the Star Wars universe.
I had some specific ideas about how she would work and what she would do. I had this pitch about these goggles that she wore. Her eyes are an important aspect of her character, and you’ll see how it plays out.
Source: Comic Book Resources