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Movies & Books

NEW Wicked Feature Film Featurette

13 May 2024 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

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As a lifelong Broadway musical fan, and a fan of Wicked the musical, I’ve been very excited for all the news surrounding the feature film. This new featurette just released gives us the biggest glimpse so far into the upcoming film, releasing its first part this Thanksgiving. Keep reading to learn more and watch the featurette below!

 

After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining cinematic event this holiday season.

Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart.

Wicked movie still Elphaba Galinda

The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

The film also stars Oscar® winner Michelle Yeoh as Shiz University’s regal headmistress Madame Morrible; Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton, Fellow Travelers) as Fiyero, a roguish and carefree prince; Tony nominee Ethan Slater (Broadway’s Spongebob Squarepants, Fosse/Verdon) as Boq, an altruistic Munchkin student; Marissa Bode in her feature-film debut as Nessarose, Elphaba’s favored sister; and pop culture icon Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz.

Here is the latest featurette from the Wicked movie – it looks breathtaking!

The cast of characters includes Pfannee and ShenShen, two conniving compatriots of Glinda played by Emmy nominee Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live) and Bronwyn James (Harlots); a new character created for the film, Miss Coddle, played by Tony nominee Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman) and four-time Emmy winner Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) as the voice of Dr. Dillamond.

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights), Wicked is the first chapter of a two-part immersive, cultural celebration. Wicked Part Two is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 26, 2025.

Wicked is produced by Marc Platt (La La Land, The Little Mermaid), whose films, television shows and stage productions have earned a combined 46 Oscar® nominations, 58 Emmy nominations and 36 Tony nominations, and by multiple Tony winner David Stone (Kimberly Akimbo, Next to Normal), with whom Platt produced the blockbuster Wicked stage musical. The executive producers are David Nicksay, Stephen Schwartz and Jared LeBoff.

Based on the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked is adapted for the screen by the stage production’s book writer Winnie Holzman and by legendary Grammy and Oscar® winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz. The Broadway stage musical is produced by Universal Stage Productions, Marc Platt, the Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.

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Filed Under: Central Florida Family Entertainment, Disney News, Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Reviews, Top Stories Tagged With: Arianna Grande, Cynthia Arivo, Elphaba, Galinda, Jeff Goldblum, Jon Chu, Wicked, Wicked featurette, Wicked film, Wicked movie, Wicked trailer

Disney+ LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation Trailer With New Weird Al Song

21 June 2022 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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I feel like most of what I’ve been sharing lately in the Disney movie department has been the “_____ we didn’t know we needed” and it looks like this is definitely going to be the LEGO Star Wars…summer vacation?! movie we didn’t know we needed – and we’ve got the trailer. It’s coming to Disney+ so it’ll be fun and easy to watch no matter what your thoughts are on a limbo contest using Darth Vader’s light saber. It’s also no secret that we are LEGO fans around here.

You may be happy to learn that LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation features an all new song by Weird Al Yankovic, who also appears in LEGO form for the movie.

LEGO Star Wars Weird Al
Vic Vankoh in LEGO® STAR WARS SUMMER VACATION exclusively on Disney+. ©2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.

 

Here’s that limbo scene I mentioned above. I mean, worth it for Vader’s porg-filled beach hat alone, right?

LEGO Star Wars summer vacation
Darth Vader enjoying a Scarif beach party in LEGO® STAR WARS SUMMER VACATION exclusively on Disney+. ©2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.

Have I piqued your interest? Here’s the official LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation trailer:

The movie premieres on August 5th exclusively on Disney+. Here’s all the official Disney info:

Summer is here, and the trailer for “LEGO® Star Wars Summer Vacation” is about to heat things up! The all-new animated special from Lucasfilm and the LEGO Group and the newest entry in the popular signature branded cross-saga storytelling series that began with “LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special” and continued with “LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales,” will premiere August 5, 2022, exclusively on Disney+.

Finn is surprised by Obi-Wan Kenobi (Force Ghost) in LEGO® STAR WARS SUMMER VACATION exclusively on Disney+. ©2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.

“LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation,” which is set shortly after the events of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” features the voices of “Weird Al” Yankovic, Yvette Nicole Brown, Kelly Marie Tran, Anthony Daniels, Billy Dee Williams, and returning cast members from previous “LEGO Star Wars” specials, and includes the new original song Scarif Beach Party performed by “Weird Al” Yankovic.

Looking for a much-needed break from stormtroopers and TIE fighters, Finn arranges a surprise vacation for his friends Rey, Poe, Rose, Chewie, BB-8, R2-D2, and C-3PO, aboard the ultra-luxurious Galactic Starcruiser, the Halcyon. But Finn’s plan to have one last hurrah together quickly goes awry when he’s separated from the group. While searching for his friends, he encounters three Force ghosts: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Leia Organa, who each share their own unexpected stories of vacations gone wrong, helping him to understand that holidays are about more than just having fun.

(L-R): Rose, Rey, Finn, Chewbacca, C-3PO and Poe in LEGO® STAR WARS SUMMER VACATION exclusively on Disney+. ©2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.

“LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation” features the voices of: “Weird Al” Yankovic as Vic Vankoh; Yvette Nicole Brown as Colvett Valeria; Thomas Lennon as Wick Cooper; Paul F. Tompkins as Rad; Dee Bradley Baker as Boba Fett; Ashly Burch as the Tour Droid; Kyliegh Curran as Sidero; Anthony Daniels as C-3PO; Trevor Devall as Emperor Palpatine; Allie Feder as Sy Snootles; Jake Green as Poe Dameron; Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker; Ross Marquand as Han Solo; Omar Miller as Finn; Kevin Michael Richardson as Jabba the Hutt; Matt Sloan as Darth Vader; James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi; Kelly Marie Tran as Rose; Helen Sadler as Rey Skywalker; Billy Dee Williams as Lando (Holovid); Matthew Wood as Ben Solo; and Shelby Young as Leia Organa.

David Shayne is writer and executive producer, and the director is Ken Cunningham. James Waugh, Josh Rimes, Jacqui Lopez, Jill Wilfert, Jason Cosler, Keith Malone, and Jennifer Twiner Mccarron are executive producers. Produced in collaboration with Atomic Cartoons.

Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader enjoy the sands of Scarif in LEGO® STAR WARS SUMMER VACATION exclusively on Disney+. ©2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.

If you aren’t already a Disney+ subscriber, you can sign up today. We love our membership.

After watching the trailer, will you be adding LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation to your summer watch list on Disney+? 

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Disney News, Movies & Books, Official Disney, Top Stories Tagged With: Disney Plus, Disney Plus LEGO Star Wars, Disney Plus originals, LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation, LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation trailer, Scarif Beach Party, Vic Vankoh LEGO Star Wars, Weird Al LEGO Star Wars, Weird Al Yankovic

REVIEW: Lightyear is the Pixar Story We Didn’t Know We Needed

15 June 2022 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Lightyear posterOk, so no one really thought we needed a Buzz Lightyear backstory, right? I was of the same mind, and thought this was a very silly attempt at extending the Toy Story franchise beyond its natural life and wasting all of our time. At a recent Lightyear screening, I was proven very wrong. My Lightyear review will not contain major spoilers, but will discuss some on-screen things (which have previously been discussed in the press), so proceed at your own risk if you’d like to be surprised. I will not discuss the major reveal toward the end of the film, so that major spoiler is safe.

Going back to my initial frame of mind when I saw the first real trailer for Lightyear, as an extreme David Bowie fan, I was slightly offended that they used his “Starman“ in the trailer for what I thought was such a pointless film. At the end of the movie (which didn’t use the song at all by the way), I took back my offense. Like many, I assumed this was based on the life of the “real world” person Buzz Lightyear, and had nothing really to do with Toy Story at all. In the first frame, we are told that “…in 1995, a boy named Andy received a toy Buzz Lightyear, based on his favorite movie. This is that movie.” Already, that made more sense to me, and I wish they’d explained that going in, I think it would’ve been more accepted from the start.

The film itself is genuinely entertaining from start to finish. We learn briefly about Space Rangers and what they do. We see Buzz as a devoted ranger, his friend and fellow ranger Hawthorne, and their latest mission. Something goes wrong, and the entire team is stranded on a planet, which Buzz feels is his fault. He works to get them off the planet and test out the hyper speed crystal fusion fuel they need to get back home. The only problem with all of his attempted and failed tests, is that Buzz is gone for minutes, while years and years pass by on the planet he’s returning to.

Buzz Lighyear and Sox
© 2021 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

To help him with his guilt over stranding people on this alien planet, Hawthorne gives Buzz a “personal companion robot” named Sox. He is a robotic cat, who truly steals the show and gives it its heart. Even when things seem serious or dire, Sox can find a way to help and inject humor with his “loading” noises of just “meowmeowmeowmeow” or “beepboopbeepboop.” It really helps keep the movie firmly in the kids zone and something that Andy would’ve appreciated as a kid, I think. (Although I’m pretty disappointed we didn’t get Sox toys back in 1995 when Toy Story came out.) Sox is the friend and co-pilot we all need.

Lightyear review
Lightyear review
Lightyear review

Again, I won’t give anything more in this Lightyear review than what I’ve said above away, but suffice it to say, Buzz learns some valuable lessons about friendship, accepting help, and what life is all about. I will also note that there is a lesbian couple in the film, garnering its being banned in Saudi Arabia. The storyline is very subtly displayed, and portrayed as just “normal” which of course, is how it should be. I like to think about 1995 Andy watching this movie and thinking nothing of it as well, just a couple, no other adjectives needed. I wish Pixar had been so bold back in 1995, and I wish the world would’ve been as accepting as most of it is today. Strides are finally being made however, and acceptance and inclusion is becoming the norm.

Lightyear review

So while of course we didn’t need another Toy Story movie, I think we did need the lessons Lightyear doles out and I will happily add this to one of my favorite Pixar tales. And tails. I’m totally getting a plush Sox just as soon as I finish posting this Lightyear review. (Here are two options below!)

Sox the Cat on Shop Disney
Sox the Cat on ShopDisney

Lightyear opens in theaters on June 17. I highly recommend heading out to see it, if only for the Sox moments. Until then, you can also enjoy some backstory as Disney+ invites fans to explore the history of Buzz Lightyear and get a sneak peek at the making of the all-new film.

Pixar Animation Studios’ “Beyond Infinity: Buzz and the Journey to Lightyear” explores the evolution of an icon, tracing Buzz Lightyear’s route from toy to the hero featured in the new film. Check out the trailer celebrating the launch of the documentary on Disney+.

Featuring filmmakers, storytellers, artists and members of the “Lightyear” voice cast, “Beyond Infinity: Buzz and the Journey to Lightyear” details how Buzz’s original action-figure design was realized, and how that look was translated years later into a human hero. Delving into the cultural impact of the galaxy’s most famous Space Ranger and his significance to Pixar filmmakers, this doc grapples with what actually is beyond infinity. It is directed by Tony Kaplan and produced by Sureena Mann.

Opening in theaters June 17, “Lightyear”—the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear (voice of Chris Evans), the hero who inspired the toy—follows the legendary Space Ranger on an intergalactic adventure. The film is directed by Angus MacLane (co-director “Finding Dory”) and produced by Galyn Susman (“Toy Story That Time Forgot”).

I hope you enjoyed this Lightyear review and it wasn’t too spoilery, I couldn’t not talk about how wonderful Sox the robot cat is. Let me know in the comments below if you see Lightyear and what you think!

Thanks to Disney D23 for the screening of Lightyear, as always, my opinions and thoughts are my own. 

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate links above provide a very small commission toward the running of this site. Thank you for supporting zannaland. 

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Latest News, Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Reviews, Top Stories Tagged With: Buzz Lightyear, D23 Events, D23 screening, Disney movie review, lightyear, Lightyear movie review, Lightyear review, Sox the cat, Sox the robot cat

New Live-Action Pinocchio Trailer

31 May 2022 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Disney just released the first teaser trailer for their live-action update of Pinocchio which is coming to Disney+ on September 8. You can watch the trailer below. I’d love to know your thoughts too! When it started, I thought ‘wow this looks just like the ride in Disneyland!’ but then the cgi characters appeared and the similarities ended there. I’m sure I’ll watch it, but not sure it’ll become one of my favorites. Here’s the official announcement below from Disney, who will be celebrating Disney+ Day on September 8th, right before the D23 Expo!

Disney's Live-action Pinocchio Poster

LIVE-ACTION PINOCCHIO COMING TO DISNEY+

The global celebration of Disney+ Day will return on Thursday, September 8, 2022, leading into D23 Expo: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa in Anaheim, CA. In celebration, the streaming service will host special experiences for fans and subscribers, and will premiere new content from its marquee brands, including the return of the beloved Disney franchise in the all-new live action “Pinocchio” on Disney+ Day, September 8.

The teaser trailer and key art for the film, starring Tom Hanks, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Cynthia Erivo, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Keegan-Michael Key, Lorraine Bracco and Luke Evans, are available now. In addition to “Pinocchio,” Disney+ will announce more Disney+ Day premieres from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic in the coming months.

 

When you wish upon a star…⭐ Watch the trailer for the all-new live action #Pinocchio and stream the movie, a #DisneyPlusDay premiere, September 8 on @DisneyPlus. 🧚🪄 pic.twitter.com/D9x5FDKjBc

— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) May 31, 2022

Academy Award® winner Robert Zemeckis directs this live action retelling of the beloved tale of a wooden puppet who embarks on a thrilling adventure to become a real boy. Tom Hanks stars as Geppetto, the wood carver who builds and treats Pinocchio (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) as if he were his own son. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is Jiminy Cricket, who serves as Pinocchio’s guide as well as his “conscience”; Academy Award® nominee Cynthia Erivo is the Blue Fairy; Keegan-Michael Key is “Honest” John; Academy Award® nominee Lorraine Bracco is Sofia the Seagull, a new character, and Luke Evans is The Coachman. Also in the cast are Kyanne Lamaya as Fabiana (and her marionette Sabina), Giuseppe Battiston as Señor Stromboli and Lewin Lloyd as Lampwick.

Disney's live-action Pinocchio Tom Hanks trailer

Robert Zemeckis, Derek Hogue, Andrew Miano, Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz are the film’s producers, with Jackie Levine, Jack Rapke, Alexandra Derbyshire and Jeremy Johns the executive producers.

Will you be watching Pinocchio on Disney+?

Disney Plus

ABOUT DISNEY+ DAY

Disney+ Day is an annual celebration of the Disney+ global community that debuted in 2021 and features content premieres from the streaming service’s marquee brands, special experiences and offers for subscribers and fans, and more. This year, Disney+ Day returns on Thursday, September 8, leading into D23 Expo: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa in Anaheim, CA.

ABOUT DISNEY+ 

Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, along with The Simpsons and much more. In select international markets, it also includes the new general entertainment content brand, Star. The flagship direct-to-consumer streaming service from The Walt Disney Company, Disney+ is part of the Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution segment. The service offers commercial-free streaming alongside an ever-growing collection of exclusive originals, including feature-length films, documentaries, live-action and animated series, and short-form content. With unprecedented access to Disney’s long history of incredible film and television entertainment, Disney+ is also the exclusive streaming home for the newest releases from The Walt Disney Studios. Disney+ is available as a standalone streaming service or as part of The Disney Bundle that gives subscribers access to Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. For more, visit disneyplus.com, or find the Disney+ app on most mobile and connected TV devices.

Let us know what you think of the live-action Pinocchio trailer below!

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Disney News, Latest News, Movies & Books, Official Disney, Top Stories Tagged With: D23 Expo, Disney Plus Day, Disney Plus Pinocchio, live action Pinocchio trailer, Pinocchio, Pinocchio live action, Pinocchio trailer, Robert Zemeckis, Robert Zemeckis Pinocchio, tom hanks, Tom Hanks Pinocchio

First Look at Pixar’s LIGHTYEAR!

27 October 2021 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment

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Earlier this year, Disney/Pixar announced the new pseudo-prequel to the beloved Toy Story character, LIGHTYEAR. Today, we get our first look at the film in this exciting teaser!

The sci-fi action-adventure presents the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear—the hero who inspired the toy—introducing the legendary Space Ranger who would win generations of fans.

The film – which stars Chris Evans in the titular role – is scheduled to release June 17, 2022. No word yet on whether the film will debut on Disney+ Premier Access – something that Disney’s most recent releases have not been doing.

We know we’re excited to see what this story has in store, so be sure to stick around here for more updates on the film!

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Filed Under: Disney News, Latest News, Movies & Books Tagged With: animated disney movie, Buzz Lightyear, Disney Animation, Disney movie, Disney Pixar, lightyear, lightyear movie, lightyear trailer, Pixar, Pixar animation, pixar movie, pixar news, pixar trailer, Toy Story

Disney Book Review: A Portrait of Walt Disney World: 50 Years of the Most Magical Place On Earth

27 October 2021 by Scott Otis Leave a Comment

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A Portrait of Walt Disney World: 50 Years of the Most Magical Place On Earth 

 

By Kevin Kern, Tim O’Day & Steven Vagnini

“The boys and girls of the world regard a visit to Walt Disney World … as a must in their lives. It’s a magnet, it’s a mecca for the dreams of youth and for the inspiration of mature people.” Herb Ryman, Disney Legend, Imagineer and artist

 

When famed Disney artist and then-retired Imagineer Herb Ryman spoke these profound words in 1982, just after the opening of the brand new masterpiece EPCOT Center, little did he know just how prophetic he was, with Walt Disney World since growing to gargantuan proportions, with four full-fledged theme parks, two epic water parks, a massive shopping and dining district, more than two dozen themed hotels, a campground, and more leisure and recreational activities than one can possibly imagine.

 

It was right around this time, with the shiny futuristic Spaceship Earth beckoning me, that this Orange County California boy of 12, then fully devoted to the only thing he possibly knew or cared about, Disneyland, became fully aware of the wonders of Walt Disney World, and set his mind on getting his family, some way, somehow, to take a summer family vacation to the Most Magical Place on Earth. I finally got that trip in May and June of 1984, and my life changed forevermore, and I knew I’d spend the rest of my life here, in the other Orange County, in the shadows of the very Cinderella Castle that Herb Ryman so beautifully designed years before.

 

For its 25th Anniversary in 1996, noted Disney historian and author Jeff Kurtti graced the world with his amazing quintessential history of Walt Disney World up to that point, Since the World Began: Walt Disney World – The First 25 Years, and it has held a prominent place on the center bookshelf of my vast Disney book collection, and I’ve turned to that book time and time again in my never ending research of Walt Disney World.

 

As the 50th Anniversary was growing closer, I was hoping the Company would once again turn to Jeff to write a Part Two, the 2nd 25 Years of Walt Disney World. Alas, that did not happen. But instead, we Disney fans were in for a treat! Not one, not two, but THREE!! fully qualified Disney historians were tapped to author the companion book of Disney World’s Golden Anniversary. When I saw the names attached to this project, I knew it was in the right hands. 

 

Kevin Kern is a longtime Walt Disney Archivist and an accomplished Disney historian and writer; Tim O’Day is one of the foremost experts on Disney history and an amazing idea man who has worked on countless Disney special events; and my dear friend Steven Vagnini has been a constant champion of Disney heritage and history in his vast career with the Disney Archives, the official Disney fan club D23 and his current role in Walt Disney Imagineering.

 

And boy, oh boy… they did not disappoint.

 

This enormous 320-page volume is chock full of stories, nuggets, facts, quotes, photographs, captions, drawings, detailed renderings and top secret blueprints, current and historical, of all things Walt Disney World. Rather than the usual chronological format, the authors chose to organize the proceedings almost by using the famous Disneyland plaque “Here You Leave Today and Enter the World of Yesterday, Tomorrow and Fantasy” as their guide.

Before they get into that, though, the authors begin the book with a look at Disney’s history with the State of Florida, and the inner workings of the Company that led them to build their Resort destination there, as well as the purchase of the land tracts, and the massive construction project that turned the vast square mileage of swampland into The Most Magical Place on Earth. They detail the master plans of Project Florida, including the idea of EPCOT, the progress city of the future, that was initially planned for this land. There are extensive amounts of rare and never-before-seen photographs of the early planning stages and construction, with Walt surveying the Florida landscape just before his untimely passing in December 1966.

This section is followed by three short essays from some very important people, remembering their role in all of this, including: Dick Nunis, the former Chairman of Walt Disney Attractions and Disney Legend looking back at the vast job the Company had ahead of them to build and open this stupendous project; Debby Dane Browne, Walt Disney World’s first Ambassador, fondly recalling her early days at the Preview Center, becoming the first Ambassador and her memories of the Grand Opening of the Magic Kingdom and all of Walt Disney World; and Roy Patrick Disney, the grandson of Roy O. Disney, telling stories of his grandfather, who selflessly delayed his own retirement, literally spending the rest of his life to foresee and lead the Company to opening Walt’s greatest legacy, dying mere weeks after its Grand Opening.

 

This is where the meat and potatoes of the book begins, separating all the different Park areas, lands, attractions, shows and other bits of all of Walt Disney World into the four categories of Nostalgia (An Idealized Yesteryear), Fantasy (The Art of Make Believe), Discovery (Adventure and Exploration) and Tomorrow (A Step into the Future).

Nostalgia includes examinations of such things as Main Street U.S.A., Liberty Square, Frontierland, Hollywood Boulevard and the Grand Floridian Resort. The Fantasy chapter is where you’ll find Fantasyland (of course), Pandora: The World of Avatar, Galaxy’s Edge and Blizzard Beach.

Adventureland, Harambe, The Living Seas, major portions of World Showcase, Wilderness Lodge and much more can be found in the Discovery section. The pages of Tomorrow are where you’ll find stories on Tomorrowland, Spaceship Earth, Mission: SPACE, Contemporary Resort, and such unique concepts as transportation, solar energy, the utilidors and much more.

This is such a fun way to categorize all the distinctive individual ideas that make up the entire 50 year history of Walt Disney World, all with comprehensive quotes, captions and researched and notated footnotes (there are separate bibliographic and endnotes listings for the text, the captions and the quotes found throughout the chapters).

I very much enjoyed reading this incredible historical volume, and inspecting all the amazing images found within, examining the details of things I thought I knew so well. I recommend you take a closer look at this book by clicking the image below, or stopping by your local independent bookseller to pick up your own personal copy!

What a way to celebrate 50 years of the Most Magical Place on Earth! Thank you, Kevin, Tim and Steven! Also thank you to Disney Publishing for providing us this book for review. As always, our thoughts and opinions are our own.

Walt Disney 50th Books

There are quite a few other books that Disney has released for the Walt Disney World 50th celebration. I’ll link them here: (these are Amazon affiliate links, with a very small portion of the purchase going back to the site – we appreciate your support!)

You can see Scott’s previous reviews here, and we also discuss and review A Portrait of Walt Disney World and others on one of our Up the Waterfall  weekly LIVE shows (we have quite a few book discussions there so check them out and subscribe for more!):

https://youtu.be/5KqFR2AdXHA

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Filed Under: Books, Disney Movie News & Reviews, Guest Authors, Movies & Books, Reviews, Top Stories Tagged With: Disney book collection, Disney book review, Disney books, Disney history, Disney history books, Disney Publishing, Kevin Kern, Portrait of Walt Disney World, Scott Otis, Steven Vagnini, Tim O'Day, Walt Disney World 50th, Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary, WDW 50th book

New Featurette Released for DEAR EVAN HANSEN

26 August 2021 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment

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Musical fans rejoice! The film adaptation of the Tony phenomenon DEAR EVAN HANSEN is practically here! Today, Universal released a new featurette of the film. In the featurette, the cast talks about the meaning and impact of the track “You Will Be Found.”

 The breathtaking, generation-defining Broadway phenomenon becomes a soaring cinematic event as Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Ben Platt reprises his role as an anxious, isolated high schooler aching for understanding and belonging amid the chaos and cruelty of the social-media age.

In addition to the featurette, Universal also released two singles from the film’s soundtrack on music streaming services. “Waving Through A Window” and “You Will Be Found,” as well as the preorder for the film’s soundtrack are available here.

The film is in theaters September 24, and you can bet we “Will Be Found” first in line to see it. Stay tuned here for our review!

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Filed Under: Latest News, Movies & Books Tagged With: broadway, broadway show, dear evan hansen, dear evan hansen featurette, dear evan hansen trailer, featurette, musical, musical movie, musicals, soundtrack, tony award

Advance Tickets For FREE GUY On Sale Today

2 August 2021 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment

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In early December 2019, Twentieth Century Studios uploaded the first trailer for their new epic adventure comedy FREE GUY. Over a full year and three release delays later, the film is finally set for release this summer on August 13.

Today, Twentieth Century Studios announced that advanced ticket sales for the film are available for purchase at fandago.com. There’s also a strange new featurette of the film to view.

In “Free Guy,” a bank teller who discovers he is actually a background player in an open-world video game decides to become the hero of his own story…one he rewrites himself. Now in a world where there are no limits, he is determined to be the guy who saves his world his way…before it is too late.

I’m personally excited for the film, which also features cameos from several notable Twitch streamers. Those of you who agree can stay tuned for more updates from the film and an inevitable review by checking here.

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Filed Under: Latest News, Movies & Books Tagged With: free guy, free guy movie, free guy tickets, free guy trailer, movie, movie news, movie tickets, movie trailer, twentieth century, twentieth century studios

Teaser Trailer Released for Disney and Pixar’s TURNING RED

13 July 2021 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment

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Pixar fans who can’t get enough after last month’s Luca are in for a treat this morning as Disney and Pixar release the first teaser for their next project.

Slated for 2022, TURNING RED is the all new original feature film from Pixar Animation Studios’ director Domee Shi, who won an Academy Award for her 2018 short film, “Bao.” Young actress Rosalie Chiang lends her voice to Mei Lee, a 13-year-old who suddenly “poofs” into a giant red panda when she gets too excited. Sandra Oh (“The Chair,” “Killing Eve”) voices Mei Lee’s protective, if not slightly overbearing mother, Ming, who is never far from her daughter—an unfortunate reality for the teenager.

Check out the teaser below.

Fans of Bao, which released alongside Incredibles 2 in 2018 will recognize the director’s style immediately. And those excited for Turning Red after this teaser can expect the film in 2022. We’ll have more updates on the film as they are released!

Check out some of our other Pixar updates here.

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Disney News, Movies & Books Tagged With: bao, Disney, Disney Animation, Disney movie, Disney trailer, domee shi, Pixar, Pixar animation, pixar movie, pixar short, pixar teaser, pixar trailer, sandra oh, turning red, turning red trailer

Trailer and Posters for Disney’s Encanto

8 July 2021 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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I just watched the trailer for Encanto, and wow, what a feast for the eyes! I hadn’t really heard much about this movie since its first announcement but the visuals are completely amazing! The new Encanto posters and trailer are a must-see!

If you haven’t heard about it either, here is the official info from Disney: Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto,” the tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia in a magical house, in a vibrant town, in a wondrous, charmed place called an Encanto. The all-new original film features the voice of Stephanie Beatriz as Mirabel, an ordinary 15-year-old who’s struggling to find her place in her family. “Mirabel is a really funny, loving character who also deeply yearns for something more,” says Beatriz. “She’s also not afraid to stand up for what she knows is right—something I love and relate to very much.

Encanto poster

“I’m Colombian on my father’s side, and playing this role fills me with immense pride,” continues Beatriz. “As a Disney kid, I’d burn through my VHS tapes and adored every single magical story that the world of Disney introduced me to. I learned in those that stories that anything is possible, especially if you believe in magic and the goodness rooted deep inside us all.”

In the film, the magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift from super strength to the power to heal—every child except one, Mirabel. But when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she, the only ordinary Madrigal, might just be her exceptional family’s last hope. The voice cast also includes María Cecilia Botero, Wilmer Valderrama, Adassa, Diane Guerrero, Mauro Castillo, Angie Cepeda, Jessica Darrow, Rhenzy Feliz and Carolina Gaitan.

Encanto poster

“COLOMBIA, MI ENCANTO”

The new Encanto trailer includes an original song from the film, “Colombia, Mi Encanto,” performed by 17-time GRAMMY® and Latin GRAMMY winner, singer, songwriter and actor Carlos Vives, who’s a native of Santa Marta, Colombia. “This song is a celebration of the magical diversity of Colombia,” says Vives. “I can’t wait to see how the music will blend with the images and the characters inspired by the ‘encanto’ of Colombians.”

The film features all-new songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton,” “Moana”) and is directed by Byron Howard (“Zootopia,” “Tangled”) and Jared Bush (co-director “Zootopia”), co-directed by Charise Castro Smith (writer “The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez”) and produced by Clark Spencer and Yvett Merino. Bush and Castro Smith are screenwriters on the film. The filmmakers were deeply inspired by their research trip to Colombia during early development of “Encanto,” as well as their continuous work with a group of expert consultants assembled through the course of the film’s production. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto” opens in theaters November 24, 2021.

Follow along here, and of course stay tuned to Zannaland for more info and a review when it comes out! Are you excited to see this new Disney animated film? Let us know in the comments!

www.instagram.com/encantomovie

www.twitter.com/encantomovie

https://www.facebook.com/EncantoMovie

 

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Movies & Books, Official Disney, Top Stories Tagged With: Disney animated feature, Disney Animation, Disney Encanto, Disney movie, Encanto, Encanto poster, Encanto trailer, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Stephanie Beatriz, Walt Disney Animation

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