Disney Movie News & Reviews

SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular Creates Oceans of Family Fun

14 October 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Pumpkin carving, jumping in raked leave piles, and.. SeaWorld? This marine life theme park may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Fall but SeaWorld has a unique offering for the spooky season. SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, celebrated weekends in October, is an added experience to a regular price park ticket with trick-or-treating, sea characters and bubbles. Lots of bubbles.

Spooktacular feels geared toward the wee ones but my boyfriend and I thought it was a cute addition to a day at SeaWorld. We did a little trick-or-treating ourselves and I really loved the plethora of bubbles that filled the park. It was the most bubbles I’ve seen at once and I told my boyfriend I wouldn’t be surprised if a million bubbles were made and popped there in a day. They are in multiple places around the park and in full swing with lots of machines sending waves of bubbles in and over guests.

Now for the characters. I’d say SeaWorld is mostly known for Shamu. However I was really impressed at the amount of aquatic and Halloween character meet and greets that were around for Spooktacular. Princesses, mermaids, witches, fish and more, all in brightly colored, elaborate costumes with high energy interaction. Every character area I saw was more than just ‘wait in line and take a photo’. For example, the witches and their tiny audience members ‘baked up a Halloween tweet recipe’ in a small area that looked like a kitchen with a cauldron actually brewing. Kids seemed to really enjoy playing a long.

Nicole Siscaretti at SeaWorld Spooktacular

There are also uniquely themed Halloween decorations, featuring the ever adorable pumpkin fish, and lots of interactive experiences for kids. One that grabbed our attention was a button board that squirted fountains in a lake when you pushed different buttons.

This is all in addition to all the attractions, shows and experiences SeaWorld offers regularly. One that really took our breath away was the Blue Horizons show featuring dolphins, divers and aerialists. We also really enjoyed the excellent of the 3D in Turtle Trek. To see more from SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, watch this video:

SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular takes place weekends in October: 5-6, 12-13, 19-20 and 26-27, from 12 to 8 p.m., leaving the littlest of trick-or-treaters wide-eyed for all of the fun-filled activities. Halloween Spooktacular is included with park admission.

Spooktacular Highlights Include:

NEW this year: Spooktacular Dance Party

Princess Penelope and her undersea friends invite guests to join the Spooktacular Dance Party, where children can dance along to a Spooktacular mix of line-dancing favorites as clouds of bubbles fill the evening air. The party will kick off at the front of the park every event night an hour before SeaWorld’s park closing time.

Waves of Trick-or-Treat Fun

Offering more than two million pieces of sweet treats, costumed youngsters can trick-or-treat “under the sea.” Each trick-or-treat station features an assortment of ghoulish goodies including Tootsie Roll, Jelly Belly jelly beans, Airheads and other candy favorites.

Penelope’s Party Zone

Located at SeaWorld’s Bayside area, this dynamic underwater environment comes to life each day with a live DJ, a variety of interactive crafts to choose from, countless bubbles floating overhead and colorful pumpkin fish gliding around!

Sweet Treat Decorating

Kids and parents alike can have a “splash” creating their own sweet treats at the cookie decorating station. Kids will be able to decorate and devour their spooky cookie when they purchase a kit that comes equipped with a cookie, frosting and toppings.

Jelly Belly® Bean Art to Come to Life at Spooktacular

Jelly Belly artist in residence, Kristen Cumings, will use more than 10,000 Jelly Belly jelly beans to create a portrait of rockhopper

penguins, reflecting SeaWorld’s all-new, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin. Guests can watch as this handmade jelly bean creation comes together in front of their eyes during the final weekend of Halloween Spooktacular, Oct. 26 and 27. Kids can join in the fun too, with the opportunity to decorate a Halloween Spooktacular mural with a variety of Jelly Belly jelly beans.

For More SeaWorld Halloween Fun:

Count von Count’s Spooktacular Breakfast

1-2-3… Dine with me! Don’t walk around on an empty stomach, stay 1 step ahead of hunger! What goes great with your 2 morning eggs? How about infinite hugs from Count von Count, Elmo and his furry friends! Featuring a delicious buffet sprinkled with the hottest characters in town, the Count’s Spooktacular Breakfast is a fun-filled experience sure to delight kids and parents alike. You can “count” on it! Adults $24, Child (2-9) $14.

Disclaimer: Zannaland.com was provided with free tickets to SeaWorld to experience Spooktacular, but Nicole’s opinions are her own.

Disney On Ice Presents Princesses and Heroes Orlando Giveaway

24 August 2013 by Suzannah Otis 8 Comments

If you’ve ever been to any of the Feld Entertainment Disney on Ice shows, you know how spectacular they are. Well now you could win tickets for 4 to Disney on Ice presents Princesses & Heroes here in Orlando. This giveaway is super quick, so you can find out if you won in a matter of days and start planning!

Here is all the official info on the Disney on Ice presents Princesses & Heroes show:

Believing is Just the Beginning! Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes Comes to Central Florida

-Tinker Bell Whisks Audiences through Classic Moments from some of Disney’s most Beloved Stories of Beautiful Princesses and their Daring Heroes –

Through artistic skating and graceful acrobatics, Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes beautifully recreates the defining moments when eight Disney Princesses’ wishes are fulfilled with help from their devoted Princes. Tinker Bell guides guests through the inspiring stories of Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Tiana, Jasmine, Aurora and Snow White as their wishes are being granted and their dreams coming true.

In this new touring show produced by Feld Entertainment, audiences will go where imaginations soar and anything can happen if they just believe. Ariel’s dreams are unlocked from under the sea and, in one magical moment, Prince Eric breaks Ursula’s slithering spell to reclaim his one true love. In a race against time to rescue Sleeping Beauty’s Aurora, Prince Philip defeats the evil Maleficent as she transforms into a fire-breathing dragon. Rapunzel fulfills her dream to escape the tower and see the floating lights; Tiana celebrates her ambitions of owning a restaurant down in New Orleans; Jasmine discovers a whole new world with Aladdin; and Snow White finds her one true love. This beautiful presentation also reveals Cinderella and Belle’s deepest wishes.

“Before dreaming up this edition of Disney On Ice, we reflected on what makes Disney’s princesses and heroes so special,” said Producer Kenneth Feld. “It didn’t take long to realize that every princess had one thing in common: each embarked on an adventure to find their heart’s fondest wish, and through believing, they come true. We wanted to share that inspirational message with our audiences by celebrating the stories of these enchanting princesses and their heroic princes.”

Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes features the newest Disney Princesses, Rapunzel and Tiana, as well as their adventurous counterparts, Flynn Rider and Prince Naveen. “It’s always exciting to welcome new faces into the Disney family. Being able to include these fresh, enchanting characters from the Academy Award® nominated film Tangled as well as the lovely Tiana from Princess and the Frog keeps our shows current and ever evolving,” Feld said.

Adapting the inspirational moments to the ice presented an interesting challenge to the creative team that collaborated on Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes. To cause audiences to re-experience the emotions evoked by the films would take glittering sets, dramatic lighting, breathtaking choreography and a few surprises. Each member of the creative team approached this challenge with their own unique perspective.

For Director Patty Vincent, it was about realizing her goal for the overall vision of the show.

“My favorite part of this entire experience was actually piecing it together from my original dream,” she noted. “Starting with a blank piece of paper then gathering ideas, finding music, working out the choreography and costumes – I really loved creating it from scratch. One of the most perfect moments for me was when I found the song “If You Can Dream” on the Disney Wishes album. It just embodies the wishful and inspirational tone of the show. There’s nothing like seeing ideas that start with your imagination become something real – it’s an incredible experience.”

An example of this creative process is evident in Vincent’s favorite part of the show. “I love the ‘Under the Sea’ production number because I was able to combine bubbling special effects with the most fantastic costumes and high-energy skating. The scene is even more fun than I imagined it would be.”

Recognizing the timeless nature of the stories, Creative Director Jerry Bilik sought a cast whose talent would make the stories more real and inspiring.

“To me, the most exciting part of the show is really the cast,” Bilik said. “These exceptional performers help make the stories translate to the ice magnificently. Their portrayal of the princesses and princes sweeps the audience away because they capture the essence of the characters’ hopes, dreams and heroism.”

For Costume Designer Ilona Somogyi, this experience was similar to her work on costumes for the hit Broadway production Spamalot, where she also used a very well-known film with many beloved characters as her primary resource. For Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes, she sought inspiration from the original films and some other, more unusual places.

“In addition to the films, specific scenes also had their own sources of inspiration,” Somogyi said. “For the Cinderella ball, Fabergé eggs were the basis for the full-flowing waltz gowns. My underlying inspiration was the little girls who go to Disney On Ice shows dressed as their favorite Disney princess. Seeing them made me nostalgic and took me back to what dazzled me as a little girl.”

Choreographer Cindy Stuart focused on crafting numbers that highlighted the unique story of each princess and her hero. For example, in the Aladdin segment, there is a busy, fast-paced opening scene in the marketplace where Aladdin is being chased by the guards. Then when he meets Jasmine, the scene gives way to a dreamy, magical escape from reality in “A Whole New World.”

Set Designer Robert Little’s goal was to create a set that would be as beautiful and surprising as the princesses themselves, but flexible enough to allow the telling of so many classic stories. The core setting is a cascading, multi-tier waterfall with actual flowing water. With a little pixie dust, Tinker Bell magically transforms the set into a different backdrop for each princess’s wish.

“We had this idea early on about wishes and the types of places where you’d be compelled to make wishes, and we hit upon the waterfall,” said Little. “Like Snow White, who wouldn’t be inspired to wish for their dreams to come true at such a beautiful, magical place in the woods?”

Little also had a hand at crafting the dragon from Sleeping Beauty, one of the most exciting and dramatic elements of the show. “The effect is truly magnificent – and there’s a thrilling surprise in store for the audience that will really ignite their interests and the ice itself.”

In this, his fifth ice show credit, Emmy® Award winning Lighting Designer Peter Morse sought to complement the set design with the appropriate lighting that would transition smoothly between the stories. For instance, Morse used leafy designs of greens and sepia tones to establish the forest where Snow White wishes by a well. He also recreates the night when Cinderella’s dreams come true with bursts of bright white stars.

“When telling eight distinct stories, it’s important to be able to create a new environment to set the stage for each tale,” said Morse. “Robert Little did this with the transformable set, and it was my mission to fill the rest of the ice with radiant lighting that would place the audience in the heart of these stories.”

Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes invites audiences to come along as Tinker Bell shows them the timeless tales of inspiring princesses and their heroes. Focusing on the moments where the princesses’ dreams come true, the show uses high-energy music, glittering sets and dramatic choreography to make a truly breathtaking experience.

If you don’t win the giveaway, you can also purchase tickets with a special discount: Get $4 off per ticket with promo code MOMDOI.

Valid for Sat 11am, Sat 7pm and Sun 5pm. Offer not valid on Front Row or VIP Seats. Not valid day of show. Click to purchase tickets.

You can also follow Disney on Ice on Facebook and Disney on Ice on Twitter.

Just follow the Rafflecopter instructions to enter the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disney Infinity Dragon Unlocked with MagicBand

22 August 2013 by Suzannah Otis 11 Comments

Reported first here at Zannaland: After hearing some suggestions from Tom Staggs, Chairman, Disney Parks and Resorts, that there just might be some things in store for Magic Bands and the newest Disney video game venture, Disney Infinity, I thought I’d do a little experimenting. Turns out, something pretty cool happens! You may remember talk of the Disney Dragon, an elusive creature, who even had his own blog for a time. He made one appearance, at the press event celebrating the opening of New Fantasyland in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Well, now you can see him whenever you like, if you have a Magic Band.

The new RFID bands are part of My Disney Experience, a next-gen project which allows resort guests to pre-book their FastPasses, and organize tickets, dining and more all on their wrist. I’ll have more on the MagicBands and My Magic + portions of My Disney Experience in a later post, as well as a full write up on Disney Infinity. Until then, please enjoy the game play capture of the special achievement unlocked with the MagicBand. We thought it was fun! *Edit, I realize the quality is less-than-stellar on this Wii video below. I did not know what I was missing until it was pointed out to me. We had an Xbox at home but my son used it upstairs, so I just got this for the Wii, not realizing a lot of the content was missing on this game. So I went out and got a Wii U. The difference was amazing! Check out the 3rd video below to see. I now a new video of Dragon Gate and the Dragons Keep world (not available in the Wii version) up from the Wii U, in HD. We also added some of the background sky and land power discs, so you could see the Dragon’s Keep in lots of different ways!

Disney Infinity is available now on all platforms with more figures and content coming out soon! I also captured the entire opening sequence for the game, after getting a Wii U and realizing a lot was missing from the Wii gameplay that is available on Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Wii U. It is simply gorgeous and I had to share it. If this doesn’t make you want to try out the game with your family, I’m not sure what will! (Wait, maybe the Tangled lanterns background sky would do the trick!) I’ll also have an updated Dragon Gate and Dragon’s Keep Toy Box World video coming soon, captured from the Wii U. Keep checking back and subscribe on YouTube for more!

Do you see the Disney Dragon shooting fire?

NEW: Official Poster for Saving Mr. Banks

25 July 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Piggybacking off the excitement from the first official Saving Mr. Banks movie trailer a few weeks back, Disney Studios has now released the first teaser poster for the upcoming film. It is perfect!

And if you happen not to know what Saving Mr. Banks is all about, here is the official synopsis:

Two-time Academy Award®–winner Emma Thompson and fellow double Oscar®-winner Tom Hanks topline Disney’s “Saving Mr. Banks,” inspired by the extraordinary, untold backstory of how Disney’s classic “Mary Poppins” made it to the screen.

When Walt Disney’s daughters begged him to make a movie of their favorite book, P.L. Travers’ “Mary Poppins,” he made them a promise—one that he didn’t realize would take 20 years to keep. In his quest to obtain the rights, Walt comes up against a curmudgeonly, uncompromising writer who has absolutely no intention of letting her beloved magical nanny get mauled by the Hollywood machine. But, as the books stop selling and money grows short, Travers reluctantly agrees to go to Los Angeles to hear Disney’s plans for the adaptation.

For those two short weeks in 1961, Walt Disney pulls out all the stops. Armed with imaginative storyboards and chirpy songs from the talented Sherman brothers, Walt launches an all-out onslaught on P.L. Travers, but the prickly author doesn’t budge. He soon begins to watch helplessly as Travers becomes increasingly immovable and the rights begin to move further away from his grasp.

It is only when he reaches into his own childhood that Walt discovers the truth about the ghosts that haunt her, and together they set Mary Poppins free to ultimately make one of the most endearing films in cinematic history.

Disney presents “Saving Mr. Banks,” directed by John Lee Hancock, produced by Alison Owen, Ian Collie and Philip Steuer, and written by Kelly Marcel and Sue Smith. Executive producers are Paul Trijbits, Andrew Mason, Troy Lum and Christine Langan. The film will release in U.S. theaters onDecember 13, 2013, limited, and open wide on December 20, 2013.

GIVEAWAY: Win a $50 GC to Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores for Back to School!

24 July 2013 by Suzannah Otis 5 Comments

Here’s a fun giveaway which Zannaland.com also participated in last year, perfect for locals doing some back to school shopping or visitors who love to shop and plan on being down here to enjoy the tax-free weekend coming up soon. Here are all the details below:

It’s almost August, and you know what that means: school bells will be ringing soon, and so will cash registers during back to school shopping. If you’re like most of the country, shopping smarter and stretching your budget will be a priority. The Florida Sales Tax Holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 2 and ends at 11:59 on Sunday, August 4. Local schools go back into session in mid-to-late August, so plan now to take advantage of that.

Image credit: Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores/Tom Hurst

Heading out to destinations like Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores, one of Central Florida’s best-kept shopping secrets where you’ll find savings up to 75% off at select stores, is a great choice. The village-style center offers a customer-friendly shopping experience and 50 spacious outlet shops with convenient store-front parking. Shoppers will find great deals at the area’s only Old Navy and G by GUESS outlet stores, newcomers Justice, Crocs, Calvin Klein and Levi’s® Outlet Store, as well as other well-known outlet stores include Aeropostale, Carters, Converse, Famous Footwear Outlet, Fossil, Gap, Izod, Nike Factory Store, OshKosh, Rack Room Shoes, and many more. Stop into the new Lindt Chocolate for a treat!

Here’s your chance to win a $50 gift certificate to the Center. (See entry rules below…)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Even if you aren’t selected for the gift certificate, you can get in on the savings by downloading a coupon from the Center’s web site, then bringing it to Travelpro at the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores to receive a coupon booklet valued up to $400 in savings.The Center is located at 15657 S Apopka Vineland Rd (SR 535), Orlando, FL 32821.

Happy shopping!

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress-Brand New Lagoon Pool and Family Recreation Amenities for Summer Fun

24 July 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

The award-winning Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, located one mile from Walt Disney World and close to other area theme parks, recently unveiled their renovated lagoon pool and enhanced recreation amenities for timeless family fun. It looks absolutely gorgeous and I hope to head over soon to check it out and report on it in person. In the meantime, here are some official details about their summer specials in celebration of their new renovations and more details on what’s been added:

Summer Splash Special Offer

Book your next vacation at www.HyattGrandCypress.com and use code SUMMER to receive a food and beverage credit for use during your stay now through September 30, 2013. Enjoy the resort’s award-winning restaurants including Cascade American Bistro, Hemingway’s, or the new On the Rocks pool bar. Rates begin at $169*.

Living up to its ‘cool pool’ designation, the lagoon pool is the signature attraction at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress surrounded by enhanced lush tropical landscaping, rock formations, modern lighting, and finishing touches. Located along the 1,000 feet of white sandy beach of private Lake Windsong, the 800,000 gallon, ½ acre, free-flowing lagoon pool boasts 12 waterfalls, heated and non-heated pools, two whirlpools.

The new Water Slide Tower Pavilion, new Water Jet Splash Zone, and new children’s Rock Climbing Stations, complement resort favorites including the rope bridge, walking paths, and expansive, wrap-around sundecks, Jack Nicklaus Signature Design golf, the Tennis and Racquet Club, and marked jogging, walking, and biking trails.

“The family vacation experience reaches new heights in Orlando with the new and enhanced activities just waiting for families to experience. Inspired by contemporary design matched with the simplicity of timeless fun, the resort features will make guests smile as they enjoy the moments that make memories,” said Paul Tang, vice president and managing director of Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress.

Family favorite recreation activities include; S’mores pit with fireside storytelling and classic family marshmallow roasting fun, beach volleyball, tether ball, lounge seating and hammocks, watersports with paddleboats, kayaks, hydro bikes, canoes, aqua cycles and sailboats, old-fashioned, canopied surrey bikes, and Camp Hyatt kids’ activity programs. The 1,500 acre Grand Cypress resort offers families an upscale travel experience with well-appointed guest rooms and suites and a host of new family amenities and activities.

The new pool bar, On the Rocks, is situated along Lake Windsong, offering views of the lagoon pool and beach. The new pool bar is the hub of outdoor activity with four 60″ TVs, relaxing, shaded seating with misting fans, 16 bar seats and table seating for 20 with full bar and food service options. From grab-and-go selections to popular grill station favorites and signature cocktails the pool bar offers convenience and value.

*Offer valid for stays through 9/30/13 at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. All hotel reservations are subject to availability and must be made in advance. Three-night minimum length of stay required and requires full prepayment/non-refundable. Offer is not valid with groups/conventions and may not be combined with other promotional offers. Food and Beverage credit based on length of stay: 3 nights – $100 food/beverage credit per stay; 5 nights – $200 food/beverage credit per stay; 7 nights – $300 food/beverage credit per stay. Food and Beverage credit not applicable to room rate, taxes, resort fee or gratuities. No refunds for any unused portion of package. Additional charges apply to room-type upgrades. Additional guests may be subject to additional hotel charges.

Promotional blackout periods may apply due to seasonal periods or special events, and normal arrival/departure restrictions apply. Hyatt reserves the right to alter or withdraw this program at any time without notice. Hyatt Hotels & Resorts® encompasses hotels managed, franchised or leased by subsidiaries and affiliates of Hyatt Hotels Corporation. The trademarks Hyatt Regency® and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation. © 2013 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved.

About Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

The award-winning Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is located one mile from Walt Disney World® and close to Universal Orlando® and SeaWorld® Orlando with a host of amenities and activities. Located along the 1,000 feet of white sandy beach of private Lake Windsong, the free-flowing lagoon pool boasts 12 waterfalls, heated and non-heated pools, two whirlpools, new Water Slide Tower Pavilion, new children’s Rock Climbing Stations, new interactive Water Jet Splash Zone, rope bridge, walking paths, and expansive, wrap-around sundecks. New features complement the resort’s favorite activities including; S’mores pit, beach volleyball, tether ball, hammocks, watersports and marked jogging, walking, and biking trails.

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is centrally located with convenient access to Orlando International Airport and Interstate 4 off Exit 68 in Lake Buena Vista. The resort’s address is One Grand Cypress Blvd., Orlando, Florida, USA 32836. For more information; call407.239.1234; visit www.HyattGrandCypress.com; like Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress on Facebook; and follow on Twitter at @HRGrandCypress.

See What Disney Interactive Has in Store for the 2013 D23 Expo!

12 July 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

I am a huge fan of all things Disney Interactive. I think they produce wonderfully fun apps, games, and always have cutting edge technology to share with Disney fans old and new. I’m super excited about the Disney Infinity and Fantasia: Music Evolved games, they look like so much fun. Disney Infinity has now released their presentations for the upcoming D23 Exp, which is less than 30 days away! Read all the official details below:

Disney Interactive is inviting fans to experience the latest digital offerings from Disney at the D23 Expo,August 9–11, giving fans hands-on experiences, first-look presentations, and exclusive D23 Expo giveaways. With an unprecedented lineup of upcoming games and products, including Disney Infinity, Fantasia: Music Evolved and more, Disney Interactive is turning up the excitement with its largest D23 Expo presence ever including a show floor pavilion, daily presentations, and the D23 Expo Arena.

Arena Presentation: On Sunday, August 11, fans won’t want to miss “To Infinity and Beyond: Disney Interactive Takes the Stage,” Disney Interactive’s first ever D23 Expo Arena Presentation. Kicking off at noon, Disney Interactive Co-Presidents, Jimmy Pitaro and John Pleasants, host an inside look at the division’s upcoming slate of games, apps, and online shows including:

· The world premiere of Blank: A Vinylmation Love Story, the highly anticipated upcoming web series based on the Vinylmation franchise.

· An Expo-exclusive demo of the just-announced video game Fantasia: Music Evolved, complete with a live performance from the Disney Chamber Ensemble.

· Disney Infinity will pull out all the stops with several surprises fans won’t want to miss, including un-announced character reveals, brand new game features and an exclusive giveaway of a never-before-seen Disney Infinity figure for every fan in the audience!

Pavilion Experience: Located in Hall B, the Disney Interactive pavilion lets Guests step into the world of interactive storytelling through hands-on experiences with the latest games and products from Disney Interactive. Gamers, fans and families will have the opportunity to discover Disney Interactive’s upcoming digital innovations bringing them closer to the characters and stories they love on the platforms and devices they use every day.

· Just days before Disney Infinity arrives in stores, attendees will be among the first to experience the new gaming platform that lets fans play in the worlds of their favorite Disney and DisneyŸPixar films.

· Fans can assume the role of the Sorcerer’s Apprentice in the upcoming game Fantasia: Music Evolved and transform classic and contemporary music through motion-controlled movement like never before.

· Guests can join the “D23 Expo Story Scavenger Hunt” by using Disney’s new personal storytelling app, Story, to share their favorite memories and moments from this year’s expo to win great prizes throughout the weekend.

· Attendees will have the chance to demo an un-announced premium tablet experience which gives Guests unprecedented access to Disney’s rich heritage.

· Catch exclusive trailers and sneak peeks from the latest online shows like Blank: A Vinylmation Love Story, apps, and games at the Disney Interactive Main Stage.

With exclusive collectible giveaways, still-to-be-announced panels and presentations, and first looks at the Fall’s hottest digital products, Guests won’t want to miss the surprises Disney Interactive has up its sleeve. Visit www.D23Expo.com and DisneyInteractive.tumblr.com for more updates leading up to the D23 Expo 2013.

First Official Trailer Plus Photos and Thoughts on Saving Mr. Banks!

11 July 2013 by Suzannah Otis 4 Comments

I cannot properly put into words how excited I am for Saving Mr. Banks. I have been saying, wishing, hoping for years that a movie about the behind-the-scenes-history of the Walt Disney Company. I have been fascinated since I was a small child with the man himself, Walt Disney, and since learning more and more as I grew up (well, physically anyway, mentally I’m probably still about 11 when it comes to Disney), I yearned for more and more knowledge about how things were done back then. It is rare that an empire is built who’s beginnings intrigue us so. I’m sure the first years of Coca-cola and Pepsi, and certainly Apple are interesting as well, but Walt Disney’s singular determination and devotion to making people happy and his never-ending drive to create new and never-been-experienced things is just a part of what makes him so well-loved.

Since no one is tackling his complete life story in movie-form, Saving Mr. Banks is the next best thing and when I first heard of its production, I believe tiny hearts formed in my eyes. I will admit I was a bit skeptical about Tom Hanks being able to step outside himself and become Walt Disney, and after seeing the trailer below, I kind of feel the same way, but I am still okay with it as I love Tom Hanks as he is. So if anyone was to portray the beloved Uncle Walt, I feel it is him. And after seeing Jason Schwartzman and B.J. Novak as the Sherman brothers, I am head over heels in love. Emma Thompson of course does an amazing job of the not-so-jolly P.L. Travers and I think is another perfect fit. Let’s watch the trailer below and let me know in the comments what you think!

Trailer: Saving Mr. Banks on Disney Video
Thoughts? Here are some more official photos released from the movie studio as well. It was fun to hear that many of the extras cast in the film are actual Disneyland cast members. A lovely touch. More than just excitement for the actors and the film itself, the story of Saving Mr. Banks seems to be a wonderfully heartwarming look at the inner workings of P.L. Travers resistance and final agreement to give over the rights for Mary Poppins. It’s such a wonderful look behind the scenes at a film beloved by all. It’s hard to imagine it almost never was, and knowing that only because of Walt Disney’s persistence and creativity in persuasion do we have such a classic, is a wonderful monument to the man he was. Saving Mr. Banks is set to release on December 20, 2013. See you at the movies!

P.L. Travers Saving Mr. Banks — This photo seems to be from the filming of the iconic Mary Poppins movie premier, with actors to the left and right of Emma Thompson representing Dick Van Dyke and Jule Andrews. (source: imdb.com)

Disney Infinity hitting the road for Multi-City Tour!

11 July 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Disney Infinity, Disney Interactive’s biggest and most ambitious video game to date, is embarking on a multi-city “Summer of

Endless Fun” tour to showcase the most anticipated game of the year. The cross country road trip, which is free to the public, kicked off on July 7 in the Downtown Disney District in Anaheim, Calif. Players will get an exclusive sneak peek at the game before it hits store shelves on Aug. 18.

Zigzagging across the country, fans will get the chance to play Disney Infinity – featuring the innovative Toy Box mode that truly brings every kids’ imagination to life. Who hasn’t thought about building a world where Mr. Incredible uses a Monsters University toilet paper launcher while driving around in Cinderella’s carriage with monster truck wheels? Now players can let their imaginations run free and create their own adventures.

The “Summer of Endless Fun” Tour will make stops in Chicago, San Diego, Boston, Detroit and Richmond, culminating with a

weekend of launch activities in New York City on Saturday, Aug. 17 and Sunday, Aug. 18. Activities at each tour stop include game demos, surprise guests, photo opportunities, giveaways, contests, entertainment provided by Radio Disney and more.

Disney Infinity is an all-new game platform that gives players the freedom to create stories and play experiences featuring characters from The Walt Disney Company and Pixar Animation Studios. Players can place real-world toy versions of beloved Disney characters onto a device called the Disney Infinity Base and transport them into the virtual game worlds of Monsters University, the Incredibles, Pirates of the Caribbean, Cars and The Lone Ranger, as well as into a giant Toy Box.

DISNEY INFINITY “SUMMER OF ENDLESS FUN” SCHEDULE AND LOCATIONS

July 13-14: Taste of Chicago in Chicago, Ill.

July 18-20: Gaslamp Quarter during San Diego Comic-Con, San Diego, Calif.

July 19-21: Revere Beach National Festival in Boston, Mass.

July 26-28: Coast Guard Festival in Detroit, Mich.

August 10-11: Prince William County Fair in Richmond, Va.

August 17: Nintendo World Store in New York City, N.Y.

August 18: Times Square in New York City, N.Y.

For additional information about Disney Infinity, please visit www.disney.com/infinity and www.youtube.com/disneyinfinity, join the Disney Infinity Facebook community (Facebook.com/disneyinfinity) and Google+ community (https://plus.google.com/+DisneyInfinity), and follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/disneyinfinity) and Instagram (instagram.com/disneyinfinity.

Disney Interactive

Disney Interactive, one of the world’s largest creators of high-quality interactive entertainment across all platforms, is the part of The

Walt Disney Company responsible for the global creation and delivery of interactive entertainment, multi-platform video games, and family-focused content across all current and emerging digital media platforms. Disney Interactive produces and distributes a broad portfolio of content from Disney Interactive Games and Disney Interactive Media. Products and content released and operated by Disney Interactive include blockbuster mobile, social and console games, online virtual worlds, #1 kid’s entertainment destination Disney.com and the #1 Family/Parenting portfolio on the Web.

Disney Interactive launches new Mickey Video App and Website!

11 July 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Mickey got his start in 1928 with the cartoon short “Steamboat Willie” – and now he’s starring in an all new short-form series of 19 comedy cartoons, titled “Mickey Mouse” which are now live on both Disney.com’s new Mickey & Friends website and Disney’s new Mickey Video app, available for iOS devices on the App Store . The new site and app give fans direct access to the new shorts and additional Mickey Mouse extras on all of their favorite platforms and devices.

After premiering on Disney Channel, each “Mickey Mouse” short streams on the new Mickey & Friends website, which is the digital home of Mickey Mouse and a comprehensive gateway to all Mickey games, videos and content on Disney.com. Upon debut, the shorts will also be immediately available in the new Mickey Video app.

The first four episodes, including “Croissant de Triomphe” set in Paris and “No Service” set in Santa Monica are live now. And to watch upcoming episodes of “Mickey Mouse” shorts:

· Download the Mickey Video app for FREE from the App Store: http://bit.ly/MickeyVideoApp
· Visit the official Mickey & Friends portal on Disney.com at: Mickey.Disney.com

You can also get a behind the scenes look at the making of “Mickey Mouse” with Disney Insider’s “Making a New Generation of Mickey Mouse Cartoons,” which delves into the inspiration of the cartoons with the series’ executive producer and legendary animator Paul Rudish.