Disney Movie News & Reviews

Marvel’s The Avengers GIVEAWAY! [CLOSED]

25 April 2012 by Suzannah Otis 140 Comments

Avengers, Assemble! I’ve just now caught up on all the Avengers films leading up to the May 4th release of Marvel’s The Avengers and couldn’t be more excited to see the film tonight at a media screening. I’ll be sure to share my thoughts in an upcoming review, but until then, I have a fun giveaway to share with Zannaland readers!

The good folks at Marvel were nice enough to put together a gift pack containing:

– MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS t-shirt in adult sizes of S, M, L, XL

– MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS set of 6 buttons

– MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS one pair of limited edition 3D glasses

Avengers buttons — Avenger's buttons - these are really cool!

Avengers 3D glasses themed to your favorite characters!

~~The giveaway starts NOW and ends May 9, 2012 (11:59pm EDT) when a winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here. Open to U.S. and Canadian residents only.~~

~~To Enter:~~

Comment below with your favorite Marvel character.
LIKE Zannaland on Facebook. (Comment below letting me know)
Follow Zannaland on Twitter. (Comment below letting me know)

~~Additional entries may be earned by:~~

Sharing the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook – feel free to tweet or share the following: “I just entered to win a Marvel’s The #Avengers Giveaway from @zannaland and you can too! http://bit.ly/J97Yur “.
~~Following Zannaland at another social network (subscribe on YouTube, follow on google+, follow on Pinterest).~~
~~LIKE Marvel’s The Avengers on Facebook.~~
~~Follow Marvel’s The Avengers on Twitter.~~

Giveaway has ended, thanks to all who entered! Congrats to Jim who was chosen from random.org as our winner!

Good luck and see you in theatres May 4th!

Maleficent Starring Angelina Jolie To Hit Theatres on March 14, 2014

9 April 2012 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

The Walt Disney Studios has announced a U.S. release date of March 14, 2014, for Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie in the title role as pDisney’s ultimate villain. The live-action film explores the origins of the evil fairy Maleficent and what led her to curse Princess Aurora in Disney’s animated classic Sleeping Beauty. Leading a team of visionary filmmakers known for creating and transporting audiences to new and exciting worlds, Academy Award®-winning production designer Robert Stromberg (Avatar, Disney’s Alice in Wonderland and Oz The Great and Powerful) will direct with a script by Linda Woolverton (Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Alice in Wonderland). Maleficent is produced by Joe Roth (Disney’s Alice in Wonderland and Oz The Great and Powerful).

{These are not official images, just ones I found on the interwebs. Stay tuned for official images from Disney}

Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion Gives Nintendo 3DS A New Coat of Paint

4 April 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

My house is full of gamers. My husband collects every video game console and system as it’s released (back to Atari times), and of course games as well. My son is an xBox 360 fanatic. My daughter loves puzzle games. Actually just the other day, my husband was discussing wanting to get a Nintendo 3DS and now, I’m pretty sure this will put him over the edge. We were already excited about Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two and now can’t wait for this Nintendo 3DS release either. The fact that it pays homage to the Sega Genesis game “Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse”? Bonus points. Check out the official press release below:

BURBANK, Calif. – (April 4, 2012) – Disney Interactive Media Group today announced the development of “Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion,” the first Nintendo 3DS™ title in the “Disney Epic Mickey” franchise. The title features an interactive combination of painting, dual screen integration and 3D transformation capabilities designed to give players the unique ability to create objects and even characters they can place in the world of Wasteland.

DEM 3DS Alice in Wonderland Illusion Concept Art — Alice in Wonderland concept art for Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion (click to enlarge)

In “Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion,” Reality is What You Paint of It. The game offers a special drawing and painting function that allows players to create rough versions of objects that magically transform into classic Disney-style 2D illustrations. Utilizing the game’s unparalleled dual screen integration, players then move their creations to the top screen where they are further transformed into full-color, fully-rendered 3D visuals.

DEM 3DS Peter Pan Jolly Roger Illusion Concept Art — Peter Pan concept art for Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion

Paying tribute to the classic Sega Genesis title “Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse,” “Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion” focuses on the fabled Castle of Illusion, which has fallen into Wasteland, an alternate world filled with 80 years of forgotten Disney characters and theme park attractions – and now forgotten video games. The evil witch Mizrabel, villainess from the classic “Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse,” finds herself an unwilling inhabitant of Wasteland, and unleashes a plot to escape using the Castle of Illusion to imprison and drain the cartoon essence from currently famous Toons. Players will take on the role of Mickey Mouse as he utilizes his magical brush to wield paint and thinner to confront Mizrabel and save the Toons.

DEM 3DS Rapunzel Fortress Room Concept Art — Rapunzel Fortress Room Concept Art

“The original ‘Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse’ changed the face of video gaming by allowing players to play as Mickey Mouse in a side-scrolling adventure full of dynamic environments,” said Warren Spector, vice president and creative director, Junction Point. “We’re honored to be able to pay tribute to this classic video game by creating a title that truly takes advantage of the unique capabilities of the Nintendo 3DS, putting the magic of Disney and the historic Castle of Illusion in the palm of your hands.”

Epic Mickey 3DS screenshot — Screenshot from Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion

“Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion” is being created by critically acclaimed DS developer DreamRift, in collaboration with Disney Interactive’s Junction Point. The game is slated for a fall 2012 release on the Nintendo 3DS. For more information, go to www.disney.com/disneyepicmickey, or check out this month’s issue of “Nintendo Power” magazine which features an exclusive cover story on the upcoming game.

Avengers LEGO Movie Poster Previews LEGO figures

2 April 2012 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

I have loved the LEGO/movie collaborative figures since the first LEGO Star Wars game came out and of course, was thrilled to see the Avengers LEGO stars. Check out the movie poster comparison below:

The LEGO Avengers sets will be in stores everywhere soon!

And really, who doesn’t need a Robert Downey Jr. LEGO figure? Or Chris Hemsworth…or Scarlett Johansson for that matter? 😉

“Like” MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MarvelsTheAvengers

Follow MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS on Twitter: twitter.com/avengers

MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS hits theaters everywhere on May 4^th!

Disney Movie and Video Game News and Releases

2 April 2012 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

Disney has been so busy creating and updating apps and video games and dvds that I’d be posting 10 times a day to keep up, so I thought I’d throw all of this news into one convenient post in case you hadn’t seen the announcements:

First up – Brave: The Video Game. Disney Pixar’s Brave premiers in June and the game will follow suit this summer. I like that this will be a video game that appeals to girls, without being about puppies or Barbie, and I have high hopes that Disney Interactive Media Group will do it justice!

BURBANK, Calif. — (March 19, 2012 ) – Disney Interactive Media Group announced today that “Brave: The Video Game” is currently in development for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii™ system from Nintendo, Nintendo DS™ handheld system and Windows PC/ MAC. Inspired by “Brave,” the upcoming Disney•Pixar animated fantasy adventure movie, the video game invites players to run, jump and battle their way through the rugged landscape of mythical and mysterious Scotland. By using their wits and bravery, gamers will also be able to wield a sword and bow to defeat fierce enemies, break a magical curse and save a kingdom. The video game will release summer 2012, in conjunction with the film.

A third person action-adventure, “Brave: The Video Game” expands the tale beyond the movie’s storyline. Gamers can play as Merida, an expert archer and heroine, and in the console versions, players can also play as other entertaining characters from the film. In addition, they will be able to go on quests through a magical world and solve puzzles to uncover secrets.

“We’re excited to offer a compelling game across multiple platforms for fans of the upcoming Disney•Pixar film ‘Brave’. Whether gamers want to play on their own or with others, they can relive highlights from Merida’s journey and go on new adventures inspired by the legends of Scotland and Disney•Pixar storytelling,” said Javier Ferreira, senior vice president of publishing, Disney Interactive Media Group. “With Kinect™ for Xbox 360 and Move on the PlayStation®3, gamers will feel like they are using a bow and arrow in an archery range and have a truly immersive experience.”

The console versions of “Brave: The Video Game” offer a variety of gameplay, including single-player, co-op for family and friends, and a special Bear mode, where players will be able to play as a bear. Several new opponents created exclusively for the game will challenge the player throughout the experience, culminating with an ultimate boss battle to complete the adventure. The Nintendo DS game is filled with its own exciting missions and a myriad of characters to engage single players.

“Brave: The Video Game” launches Summer 2012 for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii™, Nintendo DS™ and Windows PC/MAC.

Next up, Disney Interactive launches original web series for gamers “Power Up” hosted by Christina Grimmie and presented by Kinect for Xbox 360

Power Up, Disney Interactive’s new original web series gives families an inside look at the exciting world of video gaming. Presented by Kinect for Xbox 360, the weekly show on Disney.com is hosted by YouTube and musical sensation, Christina Grimmie, who will cover a wide range of game-related topics, including reviews of popular console, mobile, social and casual games. The series will also feature comedic game-based skits with other popular YouTube stars, as well as original songs and music by Grimmie. Fans can also check out Power Up on Disney’s network on YouTube, Disney Mobile and Xbox LIVE.

To celebrate the launch of Power Up and the highly anticipated “Kinect Rush: A Disney•Pixar Adventure” video game, players can enter the “Power Up Sweepstakes” for a chance to win a family trip to San Francisco, for a private tour of Pixar Animation Studios, behind-the-scenes look at the making of the game, as well as the opportunity to play “Kinect Rush: A Disney•Pixar Adventure” with Christina Grimmie. To enter the sweepstakes, guests can visit Disney.com/PowerUp or text “POWERUP” to 347639 (DISNEY).

And lastly, a new release in the Tinker Bell and friends series – Tinker Bell and the Secret of the Wings:

BURBANK, Calif., March 23, 2012 – The Walt Disney Studios unveils an all-new, original full-length CG-animated feature film, “Secret of the Wings,” starring Tinker Bell, one of Disney’s most beloved and iconic characters, along with her fairy friends (Fawn, Iridessa, Rosetta, Silvermist and Vidia) and introducing a sparkling new winter fairy, Periwinkle. Debuting on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD and Digital on October 23, 2012, the film marks the first time ever Tinker Bell will fly on Disney Blu-ray 3D.

For Tinker Bell and the other warm season fairies, the Winter Woods remains a mysterious and forbidden place. “Secret of the Wings” takes audiences on an amazing journey of discovery with Tink, into this forbidden world where she discovers a magical secret that changes her life forever.

A magical fairy adventure for the whole family, “Secret of the Wings” features a spectacular voice cast including Academy Award®-Winner Anjelica Huston (TV’s ‘Smash’), Timothy Dalton (TV’s ‘Chuck’, The Living Daylights), Lucy Liu (TV’s ‘Southland’, Charlie’s Angels), Raven-Symoné (TV’s ‘That’s So Raven’), Megan Hilty (TV’s ‘Smash’), Pamela Adlon (TV’s ‘Californication’), Matt Lanter (TV’s ‘90210’), Debby Ryan (TV’s ‘Jesse’) and Mae Whitman (TV’s ‘Parenthood’), and introducing the sparkling new winter fairy, PERIWINKLE, voiced by Lucy Hale (TV’s ‘Pretty Little Liars’). A DisneyToon Studios production, the film is directed by Peggy Holmes, co-directed by Bobs Gannaway, and produced by Michael Wigert. John Lasseter serves as Executive Producer.

“Secret of the Wings” is Disney’s highly-anticipated all-new movie in the Tinker Bell Disney Fairies film franchise. These beautifully-animated films have ranked at the top of the home entertainment charts every year they have been released.

In addition to the all-new feature film, the spectacular animated release includes a host of exciting bonus features that extend the viewing experience, taking audiences deeper into the magical world of Disney Fairies. (More details forthcoming)

To celebrate the upcoming release of “Secret of the Wings,” Disney has launched a new destination in Facebook for parents to stay updated on Disney Fairies news as well as receive the best new content and activities that they can share with their children. Audiences can become a fan now at: https://www.facebook.com/DisneyFairies.

For the latest information on “Secret of the Wings,” fans can head to www.Disney.com/SecretofTheWings to view film clips, and more.

I’ll share more news and releases as they come in!

Orlando Bloggers Tour the City Beautiful With Chevy of Florida

27 March 2012 by Suzannah Otis 11 Comments

The fleet of cars, at Leu Gardens: Volt, Cruze, Sonic, Cruze Eco, and Malibu

Those of you following me on twitter and facebook may have been wondering why I was tagging my photos last Saturday with #ChevyOrlando. I was invited to join a group of Orlando area bloggers as we toured Orlando – “The City Beautiful” in brand new Chevy vehicles, provided by GM in the Southeast and Chevy of Florida. Put together by fellow blogger and media maven extraordinaire Joscelyn Ramos Campbell, we set out to tour the “real” Florida, away from the crowds and tourists of the theme parks.

As you know, I am a huge Orlando theme park fan, however I am also a big nature-lover and anything that gets me back into the real world, looking up at trees, down at flowers, or surrounded by water, makes me happy. So I was thrilled to be on this day-long tour, visiting the Scenic Winter Park Boat Tour, historic Leu Gardens and other Orlando sites as we traveled in style in brand new Chevrolet vehicles: The Chevy Cruze, Cruze Eco, Malibu, Volt and all-new Sonic.

Along the way we enjoyed lunch at the beautiful and delicious Prato in downtown Winter Park, made our own chocolates at Farris and Foster in Baldwin Park, and dined at that newly opened Fogo de Chao on International Drive. It was a whirlwind day of non-stop fun and friendship and I was honored and grateful to be a part. Perhaps the best part of all is that the 12 of us – tweeting with our #ChevyOrlando hashtag – made #ChevyOrlando the number 3 trending topic by around 1pm that day!! That’s the power of bloggers, my friends!

I will be posting my experiences and reviews from the various locations we visited in the coming days and weeks, but for now I wanted to highlight the fun photos of the cars and blogging ladies from the day.

Amanda Tinney about to drive the Chevy Cruze Eco

We loved having OnStar in the cars because we could just call for directions, or put the address into the navigation system and we were on our way!

Bloggers on the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour

Gorgeous Winter Park canal on the Scenic Boat Tour

Driving the Chevy Cruze

This car had some great pick up and was comfy too. Loved having xm satellite radio built in as well.

Prato Winter Park - review coming soon, but it was SO good!

Making peanut butter cups at Farris and Foster's Chocolate Factory

Chocolate creations at Farris and Foster's

The #ChevyOrlando blogging team at Farris and Foster's

Chevy Cruze dashboard

The Chevy Malibu was also great to drive, so roomy and beautiful inside. It’s come a looong way since the one my husband drove in 1995!

Angel Trumpet flowers at Leu Gardens

After Leu Gardens, we were given an hour to tour the city and take some photos to tweet about the City Beautiful and Chevy. Here are our photos – they won me a gift bag and one to give away here, so keep reading for details! When we teamed up into cars, our ‘team’ was Amanda Tinney, Amanda Nethero and me and we drove the Volt. It was such a fun car, whisper quiet and had 3 charging ports for phones!

Chevy Volt at one of the scenic Orlando lakes - "Hey City Beautiful! We're electric in the Chevy Volt!"

Chevy Volt at the old Church Street Station - "Going to Church...Street is heavenly in the Chevy Volt!"

Chevy Volt at the Amway! - "Drivin' a Chevrolet in the USA at the Amway!"

Fun with the Chevy Volt at the Orlando precinct! 😉 "It should be illegal to drive a car that looks this good!"

Chevy Volt at Lake Eola - "Enjoying the views of The City Beautiful AND the Chevy Volt"

I think we’re ready for a Chevy commercial, don’t you?? 😉 Next we drove to Fogo de Chao for an amazing dinner.

Our blogging team at Fogo de Chao

On the way back after dinner, we drove the Chevy Sonic. While this is the smallest car we drove, it didn’t feel like it, and we were actually shocked when told that. The interior was really stylish and comfy too. Starting at $14,000, it’s a great first car, second car, or any car!

Huge thanks to Joscelyn and the Chevy of Florida team for putting this day together and letting it happen. It was a real treat to ride around in style and experience some lesser known attractions throughout the city. As I mentioned above, our fun photos garnered me a winning gift bag to give away here on the site. It’s a beach bag full of all the essentials for a trip to any one of Florida’s gorgeous beaches, or just a sparkling pool!

Beach Bag Giveaway! Contents include a Chevy reusable bag plus the actual beach bag, beach towel, tumbler, sunscreen and lip balm, and some snacks too!

~~To enter to win the beach bag:~~

~~Comment below with which Chevy vehicle you’d love to drive for weekend getaway in Florida.~~
~~LIKE Zannaland’s facebook page: facebook.com/zannaland~~

~~Optional entries:~~

Share the giveaway on twitter or facebook and comment here with a link. Be sure to include the @zannaland so I can see it too! (Sample tweet: “I just entered to win a Beach Bag of goodies from @zannaland and @ChevyFlorida and you can too! #ChevyOrlando http://bit.ly/GXHLTh “

Giveaway ends April 3 and winner will be announced April 4 here on this post. Winner will be contacted via email and mailing address must be given for prize to be mailed. Open to US residents only, thanks! Good luck!

Congrats to commenter #6, chosen at random.org as the winner of the beach bag! Thanks everyone for entering!

You can watch for more photos from the event, news and upcoming events with Chevy of Florida here:

Facebook.com/GMintheSoutheast

Twitter: @ChevyFlorida

@GMSoutheast

Tween Movie Must-Sees: Geek Charming and The Three Musketeers

26 March 2012 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

I love sharing movie reviews of films I love, such as Disney classics or newly released masterpieces. Sometimes there are a few that aren’t exactly Oscar-worthy, but are still fun DVDs to have in stock – especially if you have a tween or teen in the house and need to keep them and their friends entertained. Two such cases are the recent DVD releases of Geek Charming and The Three Musketeers. I thought I’d give you a quick review of each.

First let me say that I have a soft spot for all teen-angst/coming of age films, so I was actually excited to sit down and watch Geek Charming with my daughter. I also love the actress in the lead roll on Modern Family (Sarah Hyland), so I was looking forward to see her in a feature-length film. Geek Charming is the classic coming of age story of: girl has old friends, girl makes new popular friends, girl sees the error of her ways and it all works out in the end. Sort of a Clueless-meets-Mean Girls, with a Disney twist. My daughter loved it, I thought it was cute…if you have a tween girl, she’ll want it!

Check out a clip below:

Next up is The Three Musketeers. When I saw the trailers for this movie, I was super excited to see it. I’m a sucker for 17th century France, what can I say. I never did get around to seeing it in theatres, but was happy when the DVD arrived in the mail to review. When it did arrive, my daughter was the one who couldn’t wait, since it featured Logan Lerman from Percy Jackson. Orlando Bloom and Milla Jovovich didn’t hurt either. 😉

As predicted, she loved the film. I wasn’t really that impressed with the acting, but the special effects and costumes made it worth watching alone. You can tell by the ending of the film that they were probably hoping to capitalize off of this franchise into a series, but I’m not sure that the box office returns supported that hope. Either way, the two films together make for great must-watch films for a tween or teen sleepover or party and are great to have on hand for family-friendly viewing.

Here’s a clip with the lovely Milla Jovovich:

Both films are now available on DVD or Blu-Ray. Thank you to Disney, who provided me with DVDs to review.

Fogo de Chão Upscale Brazilian Steakhouse Opens in Orlando

23 March 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

I was excited to hear about this new restaurant opening, and even more excited because I will get to dine there this Saturday as part of the Chevy Florida “Cruze the City Beautiful” blogger event I’ll be participating in. I’ll be writing up a full review of my experience, but until then, let’s learn a little more about this Brazilian steakhouse:

Fogo de Chão (pronounced fo-go dèe shoun), an authentic Southern Brazilian steakhouse that’s been named one of Zagat’s top U.S. restaurants, opened last week on International Drive. The restaurant’s dining experience is based on the centuries-old gaucho tradition known as churrasco, the art of roasting meats over an open charcoal fire. A prix fixe menu features freshly grilled meats carved tableside, as well as an extensive salad bar and authentic Brazilian sides.

Fogo de Chão specializes in espeto corrido, or “continuous service,” in which a team of Brazilian-trained gaucho chefs prepare and serve 15 different cuts of beef, lamb, chicken and pork. Guests dictate both the pace and the portions of their dining experience by using a small, double-sided disc that signals to the gaucho chefs that they are ready for additional service.

Although meats are the primary focus, the restaurant also features a gourmet salad and sides bar with more than 30 selections, including smoked salmon, sun-dried tomatoes, hearts of palm, tabbouleh salad, jumbo asparagus, cured meats, artisan breads and imported cheeses.

The restaurant offers a 200-label wine list, for which it has received Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence for the past eight years. Guests may also sample the Caipirinha, made from Brazilian liquor cachaça, as well as Guarana Brazilian soda and zesty Brazilian lemonade. Desserts include the restaurant’s signature Papaya Cream, made with fresh papaya, vanilla ice cream and Crème de Cassis liqueur, as well as South American Flan, Crème Brule, Turtle Cheesecake, Molten Chocolate Cake and Key Lime Pie.

While the menu and service are traditional, the architectural elements are strikingly contemporary, with a rich color palette of terracotta, oxblood red, tan and cream. Red clay tile roof accents and crisp, black awnings frame the restaurant’s centerpiece: a multi-storied, cobalt-blue tile tower entrance with a glass-enclosed open flame rotisserie at its foundation.

Fogo do Chão Orlando is located at 8282 International Drive, a quarter mile south of Sand Lake Road and about a mile north of the Orange County Convention Center.

Operation hours and prices are as follows:

Lunch
$26.50 (Salad Bar Only – $19.50)

Monday – Thursday: 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Friday: 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

$35.50 (Salad Bar Only – $19.50)

Sunday: 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Dinner
$42.50 (Salad Bar Only – $19.50)
Monday – Thursday: 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Sunday: 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Children five years of age and under enjoy complimentary dining. Children six to 10 years of age dine at half the prices listed above. Beverages, desserts, taxes and gratuity are additional.

Known as the premiere Brazilian steakhouse, Fogo de Chão was founded in 1979 in Porto Alegre, Brazil and expanded into the United States in 1997. Orlando is the 18^th U.S. location; there are seven restaurants in Brazil. For more information, visit www.fogo.com.

Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two-Screenshots & Images!

23 March 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

I was a huge fan of Epic Mickey, as I think so many Disney buffs were so I can’t wait to see what the second installment brings to life! Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two will release on multiple gaming platforms this fall and this time around, Oswald is a playable character! Here is the official press release, with game images and official trailer too:

BURBANK, Calif. – (March 23, 2012) – Disney Interactive Media Group today announced the development of “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two”, the sequel to the critically acclaimed and commercially successful “Disney Epic Mickey” video game. In “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two”, gamers will play as Mickey Mouse and for the first time ever, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Walt Disney’s first cartoon star, in an all-new adventure of creativity and discovery. Created by video game industry luminary Warren Spector and Disney Interactive’s Junction Point game development studio, “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two” returns the franchise to the Wii™ system from Nintendo, and expands it to new HD consoles including the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

“As a life-long Disney fan, working with Mickey Mouse in the original ‘Disney Epic Mickey’ was a truly humbling experience,” said Warren Spector, creative director and vice president, Junction Point. “Millions of fans fell in love with Mickey as a video game hero and I know they’ll experience similar emotions when they get to interact with and actually play as Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in ‘Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two.’”

“Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two” returns Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit to Wasteland, an alternate world filled with 80 years of forgotten Disney characters and theme park attractions. But for the first time, Mickey and Oswald will join forces as true partners – Mickey with his magical paint brush that allows him to wield paint and thinner, and Oswald with his powerful remote control that allows him to command electricity. This new co-op play further enhances the idea that “PlayStyle Matters” – a unique approach to gameplay pioneered by Warren Spector where players dynamically tackle different challenges in order to explore all possibilities and storylines, but with consequences for their chosen actions.

Image gallery: (click to enlarge)

Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two game box

Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two gameplay

Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two Oswald and Mickey

Staying true to Disney’s rich musical heritage, “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two” is the first video game that can be described as a “musical.” At many points throughout the adventure, characters will advance the plot by expressing themselves in song, with all-original music and lyrics. In addition to this distinctive musical approach to storytelling, players will hear tunes and instrumentation that change based on their personal choices, ultimately allowing each player to “conduct” their own unique soundtrack. Disney Interactive has enlisted the help of Emmy award-winning composer James Dooley and noted lyricist Mike Himelstein to create these musical gameplay elements.

The magic of Disney will not only resonate through the game’s musical numbers, but also through the introduction of authentic Disney Character Voices talent who provide player direction through genuine character dialogue. In “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two,” all characters—most notably Oswald The Lucky Rabbit whose voice will be heard for the first time—will communicate by speaking to the player.

“In the first ‘Disney Epic Mickey title,’ fans embraced Mickey as a true video game hero and welcomed Oswald back into the Disney family with open arms,” said John Pleasants, co-president, Disney Interactive Media Group. “Now, as the vision for the “Disney Epic Mickey’ franchise advances, fans and gamers across all platforms will experience completely new ways to embrace the immeasurable vault of Disney characters and attractions.”

Development for “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two” is being led by Disney Interactive’s Junction Point. Supporting the latest technology, the game will also feature full support for the PlayStation Move. The game currently is unrated by the ESRB. For more information, go to www.disney.com/disneyepicmickey.

I can’t wait to see and learn more. Zannaland will be sure to bring you any upcoming images, news or extended trailers for Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two!

VIDEO: Tour the Gorgeous Royal Guest Rooms at Disney’s Port Orleans

21 March 2012 by Suzannah Otis 6 Comments

I was given an amazing opportunity to stay at one of the brand new Royal Guest Rooms at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort. I had a sneak preview of a room mock-up last June, when I also saw the refurbished Port Orleans French Quarter rooms, so I was thrilled to see the finished product in person. To sum up the experience, I was blown away. The rooms are SO gorgeous. After having seen the Cinderella Suite inside Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom last December, I can say that staying in this room would be the next best thing for me. I love all the little details and touches which make it a truly special experience. Rather than just talk about what I loved, I thought I’d create a video highlighting some of the magical embellishments that await guests.

First, let’s go over the back story of the room designs. Princess Tiana, hailing from New Orleans, has invited her royal friends to visit her home. As royalty often do, Tiana’s guests have left behind gifts for her over the years, which she has incorporated into these guest rooms. I’ve captured these gifts and nods to other royal guests in the video. Let’s see if you can find them all!

In addition, things like the wallpaper border in the main room and bathroom area pay homage to the little animal helpers featured in each Princess’s story, the bedspread features their crowns, and of course, some hidden Mickeys can be found here and there. My favorite part by far, is the dazzling fiber-optic effects on each headboard. I am not joking when I say I pressed the button to make it light up all night. I have a soft spot for fiber-optics, going back to the sparkling tiles over at Epcot, so this fun surprise made me insanely happy. I captured the effect on video too, so let’s watch!

The Royal Guest Rooms are now available for booking at only $189 per night, sleeping four. The brand new mattresses were super comfy too, not to mention the delightful “new hotel room scent,” we loved being there! There are 512 Royal Guest themed rooms at Port Orleans Riverside, which join the 384 Pirate Rooms over at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, featuring swashbuckling details including pirate ship beds and buccaneer accessories. Rooms may be booked by calling 407-W-DISNEY. I cannot wait to stay there again!

Special thanks to the folks at Disney Destinations and Laura Spencer for this opportunity. My family and I were truly grateful! Review of our dinner at Boatwright’s Dining Hall coming soon!

*If you’d like the run-down of the gifts from other princesses, here you go: Wooden carved frame from Snow White, Magic Carpet from Jasmine, Pumpkin Coach coat rack from Cinderella, Pooch foot rest/ottoman from Belle, Genie’s Magic Lamp is the faucet, look for the dinglehopper and snarfblatt from Ariel on the shower curtain…those are the ones I found anyway!