I was just sent these clips and they’ve made me even more excited to see the all-new The Muppets movie opening on November 23rd! The second clip in particular is a perfect example of classic Muppet humor –
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Duffy the Disney Bear Passholder Exclusive T-shirt
Since first learning of Duffy the Disney Bear‘s popularity in Japan’s Tokyo Disney Sea, I’ve been a huge fan and supporter of his presence here in the US Disney parks. I love reporting on Duffy’s new outfits and special edition Duffy bears already in costume.
So of course I was in attendance today when 750 Walt Disney World Annual Passholders received a special t-shirt commemorating Duffy’s one-year anniversary in the parks here. Also part of this event was a Duffy book release and signing by the illustrator, Monty Maldovan. This new story book tells the tale of Duffy the Disney Bear and is sure to be a favorite around these parts. The illustrations are simply darling.
I’m continually amazed at what Disney gives back to its guests and annual passholders and today was no exception. Of course, the best part was walking through the door to my little guy and giving him Duffy’s new shirt and book. He was SO excited. As you can see, so were Duffy and friends:
Thanks once again to Disney Parks for a memorable day!
*This photo scene is an homage to one of my very favorite children’s books – Edith and Mr. Bear
by the talented Dare Wright.
Disney Parks Blog Trick-or-Meet Up a Spooky Success!
You’re probably used to coming here and reading about how great Disney is in some way or another. Well, after a special event last night, be prepared for me to gush about Disney. I’m speaking of the Disney Parks Blog “Trick-or-Meet Up” which took place last night in the Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square after park closing. This was the Disney Parks Blog team’s second-ever tweet-up, the first being the after-hours Star Tours grand re-opening event. I have been lucky enough to attend both and while I had a wonderful time at the Star Tours tweet-up, I have to say, the team really outdid themselves for this Treat-Up.
Guests were encouraged to dress in costume for the event, and many obliged the request. Lots of fun costumes from both attendees and cast members. It was so fun to see creativity in full-force. We all checked in at Blizzard Beach and awaited the all-clear so we could head over in luxury – Disney Cruise Line buses – for the Treat-Up to begin. We were shuttled backstage and entered by the Splash Mountain Frontierland parade gate. Even as a former cast member, these special chances to get behind the magic are always exciting. Of course no photos of this out of respect for the show.
We were ushered over to the Hall of Presidents, where those in costume could pose for formal photos before taking a seat. This was a perfectly organized event and I loved the way it was presented. Getting to hear Director of Social Media, Leanne Jakubowski, speak and introduce members of the Disney Parks Blog team in attendance was wonderful. Gary Buchannan, ever the jokester, was dressed as a giant Disney turkey leg, complete with nametag. Also present were Thomas Smith (aka Indiana Jones), Laura Spencer, Marissa May (as Boo!) and Jennifer Fickley-Baker as well as Steven Miller who escaped the Grid for the night in his TRON: Legacy costume. I sometimes take for granted the names and faces I know through my experiences with the Walt Disney World Moms Panel and this blog, but it was so nice to see the team interacting with guests.
Jason Surrell, gifted Imagineer and Haunted Mansion fanboy all rolled into one, was our first ghost-host for the evening. Inside the Hall of Presidents, he recounted some of Walt Disney World’s Haunted Mansion history and differences in the other Haunted Mansion attractions at Disney Parks world-wide. He let us know how important it was for current Imagineers to honor the work of the original designers of the Mansion, noting that Pete Carsillo, who apprenticed under Imagineer Blaine Gibson, took the designs to Mr. Gibson to get his blessing before proceeding. Jason then took questions from the audience which provided more laughs and entertainment for all.
After the presentation, we were each given a pre-filled trick-or-treat bag with a schedule of the evening’s events. We could then head over for drinks and a dessert buffet in the form of Mickey rice krispie treats, chocolate-covered brownie spiders and white chocolate cheesecake eyeballs. Ghoulish delights!
Small tours were given of the new interactive Haunted Mansion queue and by two of its designers, Pete Carsillo and Eric Goodman. So far this year, I’ve had the opportunity to meet five Imagineers. I’m not sure what I expected (other than me not being worthy?), but I am consistently shocked by how down to earth, welcoming and genuine they all have been. Pete and Eric are no exception. It was a treat to see how excited they both were by the details, homages and hidden connections within the queue. I can’t wait to go back in the daylight and see some of the details they described.
Throughout the night various characters were roaming Liberty Square: costumed Donald, Daisy, Mickey and Minnie, Dr. Facilier, who is my new favorite face character at Magic Kingdom, a couple of Mansion ghost sisters, Dapper Dans in Ghoulish form, and extra spooky Haunted Mansion cast members. Trick-or-treat stations were also set up in the square giving us even more treats than we’d already received.
Randomly selected guests were given blue wristbands at check-in which provided them with a Haunted Mansion hitchhiking ghost poster, signed by the artist, Tom May. I was one of those selected, as was my friend and cohort, Nicole! While picking up our posters, we got a chance to speak some more with Jason Surrell, whose parents and wife were there with him. Again proving how down to earth and real these amazing creative forces are. The fact that Disney has facilitated these experiences is just wonderful and truly how Walt would have wanted it, I feel. To see the number of young high school and college kids on twitter inspired by these Imagineers makes me excited and confident for the future of Walt Disney’s legacy.
The evening ended with a private viewing of the Headless Horseman trotting through the square, which is always a thrilling sight. On our way back to the busses, we were each gifted with a hitchhiking ghost poster and a Nightmare Before Christmas Pumpkin King Vinylmation. I was blown away by the generosity of Disney at this free event. The personal level of interaction, the behind-the-scenes tours and feeling like the Disney Parks team was just as happy to be there as we were, made for an A+ event from start to finish. Thank you again, Disney Parks Blog team, Imagineers, and everyone that made last night a thrilling success. I know I’m not alone in hoping there will be a similar holiday tweet-up in the next few months!
The Disney Parks Blog recently launched their facebook page, with behind-the-scenes videos and tidbits. Be sure to “Like” the page and follow on twitter to get the latest news and updates.
Harvey’s Handbags in Disney Halloween Prints at Disneyland
I caught this little bit of news from the Orange County Register’s site and thought some of my readers might be interested. I know the Harvey’s seatbelt bags we’ve seen around the parks (see below for past designs) are a big hit with some guests and definitely give the Disney Dooney & Bourke designs a run for their money. Now Disneyland is set to receive an all-new set of Harvey’s bags with Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas prints for Halloween as well as two other collections with a Halloween theme. The collections will debut this Saturday, September 10, 2011. I may have to bribe some of my California friends to pick me up all of them one!
Here’s the story from the OC Register (emphasis mine):
Disney Vault 28, a women’s clothing and accessory store for women in Downtown Disney, is debuting a new line of specially-designed handbags inspired by “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” on Saturday.
Disney spokeswoman Michelle Harker said the latest offering of Harveys Seatbeltbags will feature scenes from the Tim Burton movie. Additionally, two other collections featuring Halloween-themes of skulls and bats will be available.
Harveys are made from seat belt material, woven together to create bags, wallets and other accessories.
The popular handbag company, based in Santa Ana, debuted a Disney-inspired line of bags and wallets in 2008. Harveys spokeswoman Ashley Cope said the “Nightmare Before Christmas” line is the fifth Disney-inspired collection.
The bags will range in price from $128 to $238 and carry a lifetime guarantee.
Cope said Dana and Melanie Harvey, who started the handbag company, will attend the launch at Disney Vault 28 from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday.
Here are some photos from Harvey’s of the prints used in the Nightmare Before Christmas designs —
EDIT: Here are photos from the bags, now available at Harvey’s site:
No word right now as to whether these new designs will reach Walt Disney World stores any time soon, but I’ll keep you posted. Currently, most stores carrying the Disney Dooney & Bourke bags also carry these Harvey’s designs (which I’ve been meaning to post about since April – my photo files are a scary place!) —
As much as I love Jack Skellington, there IS something about Minnie’s bow design that really appeals to me. I think it’s the polka dots, they always get me!
Aulani, Halloween and Epcot Food & Wine Festival Duffy the Disney Bear!
A reliable source (aka one of my amazing Disney cast member friends) has just let me know that an all-new Duffy Bear will be released for the 16th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival! The design of the Duffy must remain secret for now, but hopefully he’ll be released a little before the opening day of the Festival, September 30th.
EDIT: Thanks to the all-powerful StitchKingdom for letting me know that Food & Wine Duffy was actually at the D23 Expo! I actually walked right by him and didn’t take any pics. Oops, bad blogger. Can I blame being overwhelmed by Disneyland goodness? 😉 In any event, thanks to StichKingdom.com, I can now share photos of the Food & Wine Duffy NOW!
That’s right, not only is there a 2011 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Duffy, there’s an Aulani Resort Duffy and Halloween and Holiday Duffy’s too! Collect them all! 😉
Speaking of Food & Wine, did you know that the Disney Food Blog Mini-Guide to the 2011 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is on sale now? The best part is it’s all in a .PDF file so you can carry it on your smart phone or iPad where ever you go, while you dine around the world! I’ve seen this guide, and it is worth every penny.
See Photos of World Showcase Booths and Food Before You Arrive!
You’ll have access to menus and photos (including many food photos!) from the World Showcase booths. You’ll also get location, time, and price details for every single event, concert, and seminar at the Festival. Our exclusive and customized bonus sections will help make your trip to the Festival your best visit ever.
Take a look before your trip to decide what menu items and events your family will enjoy, then book early to make sure you’re one of the lucky attendees! Time is money on a Disney Vacation; get the most out of both!
Keep checking back for news on the Food & Wine-themed Duffy!!
New Disney Pixar Stamps 1 by 1
🙂
Jud
New Disney Pixar “Forever” Stamps from the USPS
My local Post Office suggested that I order from USPS.com, which I did, and I received the sheet I ordered today! I get the sheet because it usually has some sort of write up on the obverse side and this indeed did! It cost face value plus $1 for ordering on line, and is speedily delivered, and saves you the problem of wondering when, or even if, your local PO will get them!
🙂
Jud
Disney’s D23 Expo 2011: A Primer for All You Need To Know
I’ve been so busy lately with projects that I haven’t even had a chance to share the news that I’ll be attending the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California this week! (So if you’ll be there too, be sure to stop and say hello!) It is not only my first trip to Disneyland, but my first trip further west than Chicago and my first plane trip since 1997 (crazy, I know!). So I am, in a word, overwhelmed! I figured if I was overwhelmed, there were probably lots of other people wondering “What exactly IS this ‘D23 Expo?’” and even those attending might be a little confused by all the events, presentations and more. To help, I’ve enlisted Carrie Hayward, who I had the pleasure of meeting this year at the Disney Social Media Moms event. Carrie is not only the most famous Disney bride I know, she’s also an amazing writer. She attended last year’s Expo, so I knew she’d have all the ins and outs to help us newbies out. I’m honored to have her as a guest author here on ZannaLand. Without further ado, here’s Carrie —
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Billed as “The Ultimate Fan Event,” D23 Expo 2011 takes over the Anaheim Convention Center Aug. 19-21. Falling somewhere between the chaos of Comic Con and the intimacy of the All Disneyana Show & Sale, this official event is a chance for Disney to connect with fans and showcase the new and forthcoming products in all its business lines, from film, television, and radio to theme parks and consumer products. Whether you were at the inaugural D23 Expo in 2009 or this will be your first time, here is an overview of everything you need to know about D23 Expo 2011.
D23 Expo Show Floor
Located in Halls A, B and part of C, the D23 Expo Show Floor is where you’ll go to see Imagineering’s handiwork in the Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Pavilion, track down rare items in the Collectors’ Forum, purchase official Expo merchandise in the Dream Store, and visit the booths and exhibits of Disney’s various business lines. The show floor is open from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm daily, with a one-hour head start for D23 members beginning at 9:00 am.
Welcome Center
In addition to acting as an information booth and membership desk, the Welcome Center will host meet-and-greets with artists, authors, actors, filmmakers, and Disney celebrities including Don Hahn, Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry, Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence, and Dave Smith. Note that these take place in the Talent Round-up area across the aisle, not inside the Welcome Center itself.
Disney Consumer Products’ Disney Living Pavilion
This is where you’ll find a showcase of the latest Disney merchandise, appearances by celebrity designers and artists, story time with Disney Publishing, and a performance by American Idol‘s Constantine Maroulis and Rock Star Mickey. This massive pavilion, which spans the lower quarter of Hall A, also houses “pop-up” locations of the Disney Store and A Small World Village (more information on these in the Shopping section, below). Additionally, there will be toy demos, mini-beauty treatments at the Disney Beauty Lounge, and party ideas at the Disney Celebrations exhibit.
Disney Channel & Radio Disney Pavilion
You’ll hear this pavilion before you see it because it’s the site of a nonstop series of dance parties, concerts by Radio Disney favorites, appearances by Disney Channel stars, and meet-and-greets with Disney characters. This is also the place for “Perry-Oke” sing-alongs at the Phineas & Ferb Platy-Bus.
Disney Interactive Media Group
Check out the latest Disney videogames and meet Epic Mickey game designer Warren Spector on Friday and Saturday afternoon.
Walt Disney Studios In-Home Entertainment
This is the place to see Blu-ray 3D in action and learn about movie-viewing on mobile devices.
Inside Tides – Pirates of the Caribbean Film Prop Collection
Located next to the Walt Disney Animation Studios booth, this collection of props and costumes from the fourth film in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise offers the rare opportunity to actually photograph items from the Walt Disney Archives.
Disney Corporate Citizenship
The hub for Disney’s charity and environmental initiatives offers the opportunity to volunteer just a few minutes of your time at the Expo to make a big difference in the community.
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Carousel of Projects Pavilion
Probably the most entertaining area of the show floor, this pavilion spotlights the work of Walt Disney Imagineering at the parks around the world. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the work on Disney California Adventure’s Cars Land and the Fantasyland expansion in the Magic Kingdom and have a chance to talk to real-live Imagineers about the projects they’ve worked on. There will also be exhibits on the inner workings of Audio-Animatronics, and last time there were meet-and-greets with advanced AA figures Wall-E and Lucky the Dinosaur. Elsewhere in the pavilion, you’ll find displays by Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club and Adventures By Disney.
Collectors Forum
This area serves as a catchall for independent vendors of Disney art and collectibles, fan sites and message boards, and Disney travel agents. It’s also the place to meet Disney celebrities like Bill Farmer (Goofy), Paige O’Hara (Belle), Margaret Kerry (Tinker Bell), and Susan Egan (Megara, Belle on Broadway) at the Disneyana Fan Club booth. An outlet of the United States Postal Service will be handy for those who’ve gone on a D23 Expo shopping spree.
Disney Desk – Park Ticket Sales Center
Disney will be selling Expo attendees discounted “Twilight” tickets to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure that are good after 4:00 pm or 4 hours before the park closes, whichever comes first. Rates are $55 for a 1-day, 1-park Twilight ticket (vs. $80 for a full day) or $70 for a 1-day Twilight Park Hopper (vs. $105 for a full day). A full-day Park Hopper can be purchased at $8 off the regular adult or child price. Disney will also sell multiday Park Hoppers for $25 off the 3-day price, $30 off the 4-day price, or $35 off the 5-day price for adults and children.
D23 Arena
The 4,000-seat arena hosts all the major Expo events, from the Disney Legends Ceremony and 3-D screening of The Lion King to the presentations by Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. The Studios presentation is the one to hit for celebrity sightings, with Jason Segel, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, Willem Dafoe, Kelly Macdonald, Jennifer Garner, Sarah Silverman, and cast members from Marvel’s The Avengers on tap at press time. Fans of the Disney princesses will want to check out Friday morning’s 2011 Disney Legends Awards Ceremony, which honors the women who provided voices for Ariel, Belle, Jasmine and Tiana. The Walt Disney Parks & Resorts presentation will provide a look at upcoming projects at Disney parks around the world, although last time the promised surprises were the same information that had been floating around the Internet for weeks or months already.
You only need to wait in the ginormous arena queue if you absolutely have to get a seat in the first few rows. Also, attendees will be required to turn over their cell phones, cameras, and other recording devices on the way in to the Walt Disney Studios presentation. This creates long lines before and after the event; allow extra time or find another place to stash these devices so that you can skip the check-in lines.
Second Floor
You’ll need to travel upstairs to see the various seminars, panels, and events with Disney celebrities, plus the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives. For a complete schedule, click HERE to download the official D23 Expo 2011 Guide Book.
Stage 28
The majority of the historical and Imagineering seminars at D23 Expo 11 will take place inside Stage 28. These are the kinds of presentations found at D23’s Destination D events at Disneyland and Walt Disney World: in-depth examinations of the development of parks and attractions, plus interviews with the people who were there. Stage 28 was frequently packed to capacity at D23 Expo 2009, so be sure to get in line early.
Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives
Located in the middle of the second floor is the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit. This year’s will be twice as big as it was at the inaugural D23 Expo, packing in 12,000 square feet of costumes, props, artifacts, photos, and memorabilia from Disney films, TV shows, theatrical productions, and Walt Disney himself. Also inside the exhibit this year is the D23 Fan Art Gallery, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of the movie 101 Dalmatians. (Shameless plug: My husband created the winning art piece, Tiki de Vil!) Note that photography and videography are prohibited inside the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives.
D23 Expo Live Auction Preview Room
If you don’t want to pay $45 for a ticket to the D23 Expo Live Auction on Saturday night, you can preview the lots on the second floor of the convention center. Up for live auction are original attraction vehicles, props, art pieces, tours, and experiences—a complete list can be found at HERE. To see a few of the silent auction lots, click HERE.
Third Floor
There’s only one venue on the third floor of the convention center, and that’s…
Stage 23
Not to be confused with Stage 28, this theater hosts mostly screenings and events for the first two days of the Expo, including the Pixar shorts collection, the Dick Van Dyke & The Vantastix concert, the Ultimate Disney Trivia Tournament and the D23 Expo Live Auction. On Sunday it becomes home to the kinds of theme park history and Imagineering seminars found on Stage 28, like “Imagineering Cars Land” and “The Making of Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.” Although it can hold 1,500 people, Stage 28 (then known as Walt Disney Studios Theater) was often packed to capacity in 2009, so get in line early for hot-ticket presentations featuring popular names.
Shopping
Disney provides numerous “shopportunites” at the expo, including plenty of limited-edition and exclusive merchandise.
D23 Expo 2011 Dream Store
This is the place for limited-edition Expo merchandise, theme park products, jewelry, ACME art, and autograph sessions. Each day will see the release of items themed to a specific Disney classic: 101 Dalmatians on Friday, Dumbo on Saturday, and Alice in Wonderland on Sunday. Last time, Disney handed out tickets to those in the pre-opening line that allowed them to return at any time that day to pick up the limited-edition items they wanted. While certain products remained available throughout the Expo, others sold out to those at the front of the line, so be sure to get there early if these are important to you. A partial list of D23 Expo merchandise can be found HERE.
Mickey’s of Glendale
Although it has been a fixture at the Disneyana Fan Club’s All Disneyana Show & Sale for a few years, Mickey’s of Glendale makes its D23 Expo debut in 2011. This satellite location of the employee store at Walt Disney Imagineering will be inside the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Carousel of Projects pavilion selling WDI-exclusive apparel, accessories, pins, and art, plus merchandise inspired by the projects on display in the pavilion. Pin collectors, take note: There will be several limited-edition D23 Expo pins sold only at Mickey’s of Glendale. Also, they usually have a few bins of $4 and $5 WDI pins that make great traders.
Disney Store
The Disney Living Pavilion is the site of a 1,500-square-foot pop-up Disney Store, which will kick off its 25th anniversary celebration with a D23 members-only presentation at 9:00 am on August 19. The first 25 people in line will receive a commemorative pin. Additional members-only opening ceremonies will be held at the same time on Saturday and Sunday. Note that only 500 of the Disney Store 25th anniversary Vinylmation figures will be sold at the Expo, but 2,000 more will be available to D23 members online.
Walt Disney Archives Treasure Trove
Adjacent to the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit is the Walt Disney Archives Treasure Trove, which will sell reproductions of and pieces inspired by items in the archives, limited-edition merchandise from the 40th anniversary of Walt Disney World and 20th anniversary of The Rocketeer, and assorted other leftovers from previous D23 events.
A Small World Village
This pop-up shop features apparel and accessories for children, toddlers, and babies inspired by Mary Blair’s concept art for the “it’s a small world” attraction. Sponsor Nordstrom will also offer Basq NYC skincare for new moms and TOMS shoes for kids.
Dining
All concessions are handled by Aramark, whose food you may recognize from arenas, convention centers, and stadiums across the country. If you have special dietary requirements or are just a fan of fresh food, you may want to explore the options right outside the convention center in an area known as CenterWalk.
A complete list of dining locations and menu items can be found in my article “Dining Options at the 2011 D23 Expo” on The Disney Food Blog.
Touring Tips
- It’s a Disney convention, but it’s still a convention. Disney may have reinvented the amusement park business, but its approach to conventions is strictly by the book. Expect many of the less-than-thrilling aspects of a theme park visit (lots of walking, long lines, overpriced food) combined with familiar convention touchstones like counter-programmed seminars, bad fluorescent lighting, and huge corporate booths shilling the latest and greatest products.
- It may feel crowded. In 2009, D23 Expo drew almost 40,000 people over four days. This year, they’re expecting 45,000 people over three days. This may be especially noticeable at the two counter-service restaurants around lunchtime, so you might want to eat at off hours.
- Expect to wait in line. Unfortunately, Disney’s FASTPASS does not extend to D23 Expo. Lines form hours in advance for popular seminars (especially the ones featuring Imagineers), the sale of limited-edition merchandise, and presentations in the arena.
- Know when to get in line. Although D23 Expo officially opens to D23 members at 9:00 am (10:00 am for the general public), Disney is expecting lines to begin forming out front by 5:00 am. These will mostly be people waiting to line up for merchandise vouchers from the Dream Store and those who want floor seats in the arena. The first group will be ushered into the lobby at 6:45 am, with the rest entering by 7:00 am. At 8:00 am lines will be divided into one for the store and one for the arena, and at 8:30 am the latter will be allowed into the arena. There is no need to wait in either line if you’re not interested in limited-edition merchandise or don’t care where you sit in the Arena.
- You can’t see it all. D23 head Steven Clark has said that the Expo is scheduled so that fans will feel like there’s too much good stuff to see and do. This means that popular presentations are often counter-programmed so that it is impossible to see them all. Be prepared to make tough decisions between certain panels and presentations, especially those that require a long wait in line.
See you at the Expo!
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Carrie is the author of PassPorter’s Disney Weddings & Honeymoons, a guidebook and bridal organizer for weddings and honeymoons at Walt Disney World and on the Disney Cruise Line. You can read her account of the inaugural D23 Expo in D23 Expo The “All-Lines, No-Rides” Disney Experience! and follow her adventures at D23 Expo 2011 as @lurkyloo on Twitter.
NEW! Tokidoki Meets Marvel T-Shirts at Walt Disney World
While visiting Downtown Disney’s West Side last night, of course I had to stop in to D-Street, my favorite spot for fun merchandise. I was so excited when I spotted these new shirts from Tokidoki, featuring Marvel characters. I love Tokidoki, the Japanese inspired brand from Italian designer Simone Legno and his partners and have been known to covet their branded items from Sephora. I couldn’t think of a cuter collaboration to expand the Marvel line to those who may not otherwise be interested. For instance, my almost-11-year-old daughter instantly wanted the Incredible Hulk shirt and she has pretty much no interest in comic book characters. I may have to pick one or two up myself! Check them out below: (click to enlarge)
Each shirt is $28. I hope this is the first of many new designs we see. {There are actually quite a few on sale at Tokidoki‘s site!} Which is your favorite?
Final Official Muppets Movie Poster
We’ve seen all of the hype and the trailers, now it’s time to see the final official movie poster for The Muppets – opening November 23, 2011! Click to enlarge and view in high quality: Check out my Muppets Review HERE!
Some fun facts about The Muppets:
- Funnyman Jason Segel (TV’s “How I Met Your Mother,” “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”) stars in, co-writes and executive produces “The Muppets.”
- · “The Muppets” is directed by James Bobin, who was a director/writer/EP for HBO’s “Flight of the Conchords.”
- · Kermit received a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2002. His song “The Rainbow Connection” was nominated for an Academy Award®.
- · Bret McKenzie, who starred in, wrote for and served as composer for HBO’s “Flight of the Conchords,” is the music supervisor for “The Muppets,” as well as the writer/producer on some of the songs, which include big Muppet-style opening and closing numbers.
- · It’s been 11 years since the Muppets’ last big-screen feature film.