The Magic, The Memories, and You!
Video of The Magic, The Memories, and You projection show which debuted on January 27th at Disneyland Park . Taken by Max Guggenheim.
Coral Rivera’s 1/29/11 WDW Photo Report
Today we have the first photo report from our newest WDWNT Reporter Coral Rivera! Coral brings us park hopping for a few newsworthy pictures in her very first update:
A limited release ear hat available, retailing at $79.95
“The Magic, The Memories, and You” Premiers Tonight On Small World
From the Disney Parks Blog:
I’m going to tell you about a new show at Disneyland park that takes the façade of “it’s a small world” and does some amazing things. It turns it into an animated, coloring pad; it coaxes the singing dolls from inside the attraction to appear outside in the show; and it weaves hundreds of guest photos into a giant, surprise mosaic.
Even after I tell you about it, and we share a video sneak-peek of tonight’s first show, I must admit the real thing is so much better.
If you can get here, quit reading now and get here to see “The Magic, The Memories and You!” The nightly, 10-minute spectacular utilizes projection technology and animation to transform the architecture of “it’s a small world” in ways that will make you wonder what happened to the walls.
For those of you who can’t see the show right away, I’ll share a few more details. Also, check out Show Director Alan Bruun’s post about the same type of show he created for Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.
The nightly show combines guest photos from that day in Disneyland park with photos and videos taken from Disney’s “Let the Memories Begin” online hub. Classic Disney music is woven into the new “Let the Memories Begin” theme song, creating a musical and visual journey that traces the family vacation experience from surprise announcements through arrival and fun at the Disneyland Resort.
The show finale features a burst of fireworks over “it’s a small world.”
That’s what it looks like. It’s harder to tell you what the show feels like. Watching the photos will remind guests of all ages of their most cherished Disney memories, as a kaleidoscope of images is projected onto the “it’s a small world” attraction.
WHO: As part of the thousands of photographs projected each night, roughly 500 photos will be of guests who made memories in Disneyland park that day – resulting in a different “The Magic, the Memories and You” presentation each night.
WHERE: An ideal place to see the projections will be from the Fantasyland esplanade, which runs from the front of “it’s a small world” to the entrances of the Matterhorn Bobsleds and Mad Tea Party attractions.
WHEN: Tonight’s 6 p.m. “preview” show is a special preview, followed by the official debut at 7:30 p.m. The current show schedule is:
- 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday
- 8 p.m. and 9:10 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Show times are at www.disneyland.com and are subject to change or cancellation
HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Your photo will be considered for that night’s unique show if you have your photo taken by a PhotoPass photographer during the day. You will have the option to decline participation in the show.
Tell us about some of your favorite photo moments at the Disneyland Resort.
And here is the official press release for “The Magic, The Memories, and You:”
ANAHEIM, Calif., January 27, 2011 – Starting tonight, the façade of “it’s a small world” in Disneyland park is being transformed each night into a breathtaking display of moving, ever-changing photography, video, animation and music as Disneyland celebrates guests’ memories with an innovative new show – “The Magic, The Memories and You!”
Guests of all ages will be reminded of their Disney memories, and may even see themselves in the nightly show, as a kaleidoscope of larger-than-life images is projected onto the classic Fantasyland “it’s a small world” attraction. Included in the thousands of photographs each night will be approximately 500 photos of guests who made memories in Disneyland that very day – resulting in a different “The Magic, The Memories and You!” presentation every night.
“Disneyland has been making very special memories for families and guests of all ages for more than 55 years,” said Disneyland Resort President George A. Kalogridis. “Now guests recalling and cherishing those memories will become stars of the show as well.”
After the sun goes down, the 10-minute spectacle combines that day’s photos with photos and videos taken from Disney’s “Let the Memories Begin” online hub, and brings them to life with the help of amazing new projection technology that transforms the architecture of “it’s a small world” in never-before-seen ways. Classic Disney music is woven into the new “Let the Memories Begin” theme song and, via some magical effects, even the singing dolls from inside the “it’s a small world” attraction find their way outside to appear in the show. The finale features a burst of fireworks over “it’s a small world.”
“We’re really taking it to the Nth degree and we’re doing it for our guests,” observes show director Alan Bruun, associate creative director, Disney Destinations Entertainment. “Some guests will spot their own photographs in the show, and yet our goal is for everyone watching the show to be able to say, ‘These are my memories. I recognize that moment, that emotion.’ ”
The visual and musical journey that takes place in “The Magic, The Memories and You!” traces the family vacation experience, from planning and travel all the way through arrival and fun in Disneyland. The show closes, appropriately, with a classic Disney memory. A similar show featuring guest images projected onto the soaring spires of Cinderella Castle premiered Jan. 18 in the Magic Kingdom park, Walt Disney World Resort, Florida.
Disney Parks guests also are becoming the stars of television commercials. For the first time, Disney Parks is featuring the home videos and snapshots of real guests telling their own Disney stories in television ads and other marketing.
At the online memories hub that launched Sept. 23, guests have been celebrating their only-at-Disney memories by sharing their stories and by uploading photos and videos. To access the site, visit www.DisneyParks.com/memories.
Vacation memories hold a special place in the hearts of families, according to a recent survey of Americans and Canadians conducted by Ypartnership, a leading research firm that tracks consumer insights and trends in travel. Nine out of 10 parents polled said they plan their vacations with the express hope of creating a lasting family memory. And most memories don’t fade with the passage of time. Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed said they think back “often” or “very often” on their most cherished vacation memories.
Zach Larson’s 1/15-1/18/11 WDW Photo Report
WDWNT Reporter Zach Larson roamed all over Walt Disney World last weekend and has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us of all the latest happenings:
New clothing at Hollywood Studios features characters with clapboards
Tom Corless’ 1/15-1/18/11 WDW Photo Report
I was visiting Walt Disney World for the premiere of PIXAR Pals: Countdown to Fun and “Let the Memories Begin” last week and managed to find some time to take some newsworthy photos, so let’s take a look at what’s new around the parks:
We begin at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Gnomio & Juliet was going to be a Disney movie, now it’s just a Disney promoted movie…
Video of “What’s New? What’s Next?” for Walt Disney World 2011
The Fantasyland Forest is now “New Fantasyland”, the Disney Dream is setting sail, and the memories have just begun at Walt Disney World! WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee brings us to the media presentation from January 18th inside the Mickey’s Philharmagic theater:
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Video of “The Magic, The Memories, and You” Castle Show Debut
WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee attended the media preview of the new (and might we add incredible) “The Magic, The Memories, and You” castle show on January 18th at the Magic Kingdom and has a video of the “Let the Memories” begin centerpiece to share with us:
Disney press release:
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – In a dramatic new projection show filled with special effects and magic, Cinderella Castle will transform into a shimmering canvas for images of Walt Disney World guests and the memories they made that day at Magic Kingdom.
In the nighttime spectacle, photos of guests captured that very day in the park will be projected larger-than-life among the spires and turrets of Cinderella Castle. In similar fashion, guest images will be projected onto “it’s a small world” on select nights at Disneyland Park in California, beginning Jan. 27.
The ten-minute experience – called “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” – will dazzle park guests on both coasts in ways never before experienced, themed to beloved Disney stories and with playful animated sequences that seem to defy the architecture of the buildings. The spectacle is scheduled most nights with up to two shows per night depending on theme park operating hours and other special ticketed events.
As many as 500 images shot that day will project onto the castle each night the show is presented, producers estimate. Disney PhotoPass photographers will capture guests creating new memories as they “smile for the castle.”
“Disney parks create family vacation memories to last a lifetime,” said Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort. “What better canvas for those memories than Cinderella Castle, one of the most photographed icons in the world.”
After the sun goes down, 16 high-powered state-of-the-art projectors will bring the castle to life as that day’s photos (and videos taken from Disney’s “Let the Memories Begin” online hub) seem to dance about the famous facade, explained Alan Bruun, associate creative director, Walt Disney World Entertainment.
As classic Disney music weaves in and out of the new “Let the Memories Begin” theme song,turrets spin while the castle shimmers and magically transforms itself in playful and exciting ways to accompany the guests’ memories of fun, adventure and family experiences.
“The images dance to the music and culminate in a spectacular finale punctuated by animated and actual fireworks,” Bruun said.
As Disney Parks encourages families to “Let the Memories Begin,” guests have been celebrating their only-at-Disney memories by sharing their stories and by uploading photos and videos online at DisneyParks.com/memories.
Vacation memories hold a special place in the hearts of families, too, according to a recent survey of Americans and Canadians conducted by Ypartnership, a leading research firm that tracks consumer insights and trends in travel.
Nine out of 10 parents polled said they plan their vacations with the express hope of creating a lasting family memory. And most memories don’t fade with the passage of time. Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed said they think back “often” or “very often” on their most cherished vacation memories.
BY THE NUMBERS: ‘The Magic, The Memories, and You!’ Nighttime Spectacle
* Height of Cinderella Castle: 189 feet
* Number of shows: up to two per night (select evenings)
* Length of each show: ten minutes (approx.)
* Projectors: 16
* Same-day guest photos per show: up to 500
* Total number of images projected per show: more than 5,000
“Let the Memories Begin” Press Event Live Coverage
Our venerable CEO Tom Corless is attending tonight’s “Let the Memories Begin” press event at the Magic Kingdom, and we will be updating this post with the announcements live as they happen:
7:17 PM – Attendees are seated in the Fantasyland Theater; Al Weiss, President of Worldwide Operations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, has taken the stage to kick off the presentation.
7:20 PM – Weiss confirms Disney is “moving forward” with Shanghai Disneyland.
7:22 PM – WDW President Meg Crofton has taken the stage. “Let the Memories Begin” campaign officially begins.
7:27 PM – Recap of recent openings: The new Pooh queue, Tangled Meet and Greet, Via Napoli, La Hacienda de San Angel, and the Pixar Pals debut.
7:30 PM – Darth Vader and Stormtroopers on stage as Star Tours opening date announced as May 20 during Star Wars Weekends.
7:32 PM – Imagineer Eric Jacobson takes the stage to talk about the Fantasyland expansion.
7:34 PM – Fantasyland info as already reported this morning. Storybook Circus will take the space originally allocated to Pixie Hollow. Snow White Mine Train Coaster. Beast’s Castle will seat 550 guests, with counter service at lunch and table service at dinner. Goofy’s Barnstormer will transform into The Great Goofini.
7:38 PM – Princess Fairytale Hall (meet and greet) will replace Snow White’s Scary Adventures (an original 1971 opening day dark ride attraction).
7:43 PM – Show Director Alan Bruun talks about The Magic, the Memories, and You castle projections, saying that it is more than just a slide show on Cinderella Castle. Uses 16 projectors located around the hub, projecting 500 photos taken that day at the parks.
7:49 PM – An artist’s rendering of the castle projections, with hundreds of screaming fans filling the hub. A new song, “Let the Memories Begin,” will accompany the show.
7:51 PM – Al Weiss now takes the stage again to conclude the presentation.
Check back with WDW News Today as more information becomes available on all of today’s announcements.
Preview of Incredible Cinderella Castle “Memories” Show
Disney has released a video previewing the nighttime memories show that will be presented on select evenings in 2011. The projections are incredible to say the least, but you should really take a look for yourself:
Disney Parks Announce “Let The Memories Begin” Campaign
Official release from Disney Parks:
In 2011, Disney guests will become the stars of a nightly spectacular when photos taken in the park during the day become larger-than-life projections on Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort or “it’s a small world” at Disneyland Resort. This groundbreaking new experience will celebrate the family vacation memories created in Disney theme parks every day.
And this week, Disney guests will begin starring on television, too, as part of the new “Let the Memories Begin” campaign. For the first time, Disney Parks is featuring the home videos and snapshots of real guests in television ads and other marketing that will allow an audience of millions to share in true-life, heartfelt moments.
“A Disney vacation is the perfect way to create family memories that will last a lifetime,” said Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, at a media announcement Thursday in New York. “We’ll spotlight those ‘only-at-Disney’ moments with family and friends during our ‘Let the Memories Begin’ campaign.”
A just-released survey of U.S. and Canadian families conducted for Disney Parks by Ypartnership, a noted research firm that tracks consumer insights and trends in travel, showed that vacation memories hold a special place in family history.
Nine out of 10 parents said they planned their vacations with the express hope that they would result in a lasting family memory, the survey showed. And those memories stuck with them – nearly three-quarters said they think back “often” or “very often” on their favorite vacation experiences.
‘Memories in the Making’ to be Shared on Disney Park Icons
Beginning in January 2011, some Disney parks guests will find that the memory they just made has become a larger-than-life image during a “Let the Memories Begin” nighttime experience.
At Walt Disney World Resort, the guest photos will be projected on the soaring spires of Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom. At Disneyland Resort, the iconic façade of “it’s a small world” will be the canvas for the show.
In both locations, Disney PhotoPass photographers will capture guests caught up in the Disney experience – a memory in the making – and as many as 500 photos will be used in each location every day, producers estimate.
The nighttime show will use the latest in high-intensity projection technology to create vivid visuals that seem to defy the architecture of the building. A new song commissioned for the show will provide an emotional context for these images of the Disney guest experience.
For TV Ads and More, Disney Parks Issues a ‘Call for Memories’
Beyond seeing their own projected photos in lights, guests also could become the stars of Disney Parks television commercials, online campaigns and social media opportunities that will showcase to the world the power of memories.
The campaign kicks off this week with a TV commercial created from videos posted online in social media forums.
For future TV commercials and other advertising and marketing programs, Disney Parks is asking guests to share their memories by uploading photos and videos at a special “Let the Memories Begin” online hub at www.DisneyParks.com/Memories. From a first meeting with a princess to a laugh-filled watery touchdown on Splash Mountain, Disney Parks is looking for videos and photos that capture those never-to-be-forgotten experiences.
Some memories will be shared online, while others may be selected to share in print ads, brochures and other marketing – including television ads to air across the United States and Canada.
With real visitor images on iconic attractions and home video featured in commercials, the storytellers at Disney Parks are letting guests tell their own stories in 2011, Staggs said.
“We wanted to give our guests a powerful way to share the memories they create every day in our parks,” Staggs said. “Essentially, this becomes our first user-generated show and our first user-generated marketing campaign.
“A day at a Disney park is filled with magical experiences that become cherished and unforgettable memories – and now we’re helping our guests share those memories with the world.
More Ways to Make Disney Vacation Memories in 2011
To help make special memories last a lifetime, in 2011 Disney Parks is adding new theme park experiences in California and Florida, new vacation opportunities on the high seas with Disney Cruise Line, a new luxury resort on a breathtaking lagoon in Hawaii, and new ways to explore the world with Adventures by Disney.
Here’s a snapshot of what’s in store:
- “World of Color” (Disneyland Resort): “World of Color,” the new nighttime spectacular presented in Disney California Adventure park, brings classic Disney and Disney•Pixar animation to life with nearly 1,200 powerful fountains, larger-than-life projections, lasers, fire, music and special effects.
- Disney California Adventure Expansion (Disneyland Resort): Next up for the continuing expansion of the park is the first major attraction based on the modern Disney classic, “The Little Mermaid.” The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure will treat guests to a musical retelling of the classic motion picture as the best-loved songs come alive in magnificent scenes all around them.
- New Star Tours 3-D Adventure (Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort): Bridging that “long time ago” between the two “Star Wars” trilogies, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue will take flight in 2011 and take voyagers to thrilling destinations throughout the “Star Wars” galaxy. And it will all happen in brilliant, 3-D technology.
- Disney Cruise Line: The Disney Dream, the newest ship of the Disney Cruise Line, launching January 2011, will bring to life grand innovations and more, offering a cruise experience from stem to stern that caters to preferences of the entire family. The Disney Wonder cruise ship will “go west” in early 2011; and new West Coast itineraries for Disney Cruise Line will include, for the first time, Alaska cruises sailing from Vancouver.
- Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina Hawai`i: A first-of-its-kind Disney resort in Hawaii creates a perfect setting for family fun. The new resort, which includes traditional hotel rooms and Disney Vacation Club villas, is being built on 21 acres of oceanfront property, 17 miles from Honolulu International Airport and approximately 30 minutes from Waikiki.
Here’s how you can be a part of a Disney Parks ad:
You’ve made Disney vacation memories and captured them in photos or video. Now you intend to share them with the world by posting them online.
Disney Parks has created a place where you can share those memories and view the Disney memories of other vacationers – with the possibility that they’ll be shared with yet more people in a Disney television “spot” or in print or online communications.
As Disney Parks launches “Let the Memories Begin” with communications that acknowledge making memories as “the masterpiece of parenthood,” the company also has launched a website for sharing and viewing memories. Guests can upload their photos, videos and text-only memories at DisneyParks.com/Memories. They can even categorize their memories by theme, emotion and location.
The DisneyParks.com/Memories website (also available soon in Spanish and French) has a simple-to-use interface for uploading, viewing and searching Disney memories. The functionality also will be part of the Disney Parks pages on Facebook, YouTube and MySpace.
Memory submission is as easy as 1-2-3:
- Choose to share your memory on DisneyParks.com/Memories;Facebook.com/WaltDisneyWorld; Facebook.com/Disneyland;Youtube.com/DisneyMemories; or Myspace.com/DisneyParks.
- Describe your memory. Memories can upload as photos, videos or text-only.
- Then all it takes is hitting the “submit” box and, once reviewed, a lifetime Disney memory is stored and shared.
On the heels of a series of television commercials created with brief home video segments, Disney Parks is looking for more “user-generated content” for future TV commercial spots, print advertisements, newsletter articles and vacation-planning video segments relating to “Let the Memories Begin.”
Here are three of the ads for “Let The Memories Begin”:
Stay tuned to WDW News Today as we get more information on “Let the Memories Begin”!