D23 has just sent over some great news! Next year, 2020 will be a year to celebrate the Walt Disney Archives and its 50th anniversary. As you may know from my previous post “D23 and You (and Me!)” and our first Up the Waterfall podcast episode, the Walt Disney Archives are my favorite part of anything D23 related. This is the true reason we are Disney fans, and any and all info and treasures from the Archives are why we keep going back to D23 events and remaining members.
Destination D – Fantastic Worlds – Walt Disney World 2020
Along with some news about a traveling Archives exhibit, we also get some Destination D news, which will take place at Walt Disney World in the Fall of 2020. UPDATE: We now have an official date for Destination D – Fantastic Worlds in Walt Disney World – November 20-22, 2020! Destination D will honor Disney’s many magical places, from the extraordinary to the fantastical.The exhibit will include 50 iconic treasures, each representing a year that the Archives has been in existence. And Walt Disney Imagineering’s store, Mickey’s of Glendale, will once again open a pop-up shop featuring exclusive items, just for the weekend. Additional details, including special hotel rates and ticketing information, will be announced in late spring. I can’t wait to attend and peruse all of these bits of history. Keep reading below for the official press release from D23:
The Walt Disney Archives celebrates its 50th anniversary next year, and to kick off the festivities, the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, Calif., will host Inside the Walt Disney Archives: 50 Years of Preserving the Magic, offering a rare look at some of the treasures from the Archives. The 10,000-square-foot traveling exhibit opens to the public on March 7, 2020.
Plus, on June 22, the actual anniversary of the founding of the Archives, D23 will hold a special “birthday party” at the Bowers Museum. And next year, D23 will offer two exclusive D23 Behind-the-Scenes Experiences: A Day at the Studio Lot, for an exciting look behind the incredible work that goes on every day at the Walt Disney Archives.
Guests are invited to step into the Walt Disney Archives as they walk through a dazzling display of more than 400 objects, including original artwork, costumes, and props that tell the story of the Archives, The Walt Disney Company, and Walt Disney himself. Artifacts include never-before-displayed production art from Fantasia, Walt Disney’s office set from Saving Mr. Banks, the original pitch portfolio used to secure investors for Disneyland, maquettes from animated films such as Peter Pan and Frozen, and much more.
Gold Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will be invited to enjoy an exclusive look at the exhibit before it opens to the general public during a special preview night where they can chat with Disney archivists while exploring the exhibit, which runs through August 30, 2020, before heading to other locations around the country (to be revealed in 2020). D23 Gold Members will also receive a discount on tickets to the exhibit, as well as a discount on merchandise in the museum store. Bowers Museum is one of Southern California’s finest museums, showcasing exquisite examples of art and culture from around the world since 1936.
In addition to the exhibit, Disney fans will be able to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Archives throughout 2020:
The Archives will partner with the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood for special El Cap Throwback screenings during the year.
WALT’S MARCELINE: Walt frequently cited this charming Missouri town, where he spent his early childhood, as one of his greatest influences. In fact, its lovely main thoroughfare was an inspiration for Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A. D23 Members will have a chance to explore the Walt Disney Hometown Museum, enjoy local treats, and mingle with special guests during this full-day event.
D23’s Behind the Scenes Experience: A Day at the Studio Lot events in 2020, held exclusively for Gold Members of D23, will offer a rare glimpse into how the Archives preserves the magic of The Walt Disney Company.
All Official Walt Disney Studios Tours in 2020, presented by D23, will include a special gift for guests themed to the 50th anniversary.
For nearly five decades, the Walt Disney Archives has carefully safeguarded the most treasured items from The Walt Disney Company’s history, including original scripts, movie props and costumes, Walt Disney’s correspondence and script notes, theme park artifacts, merchandise, millions of archival photographs, and many of Walt’s personal effects. Founded by Disney Legend Dave Smith in 1970, the Walt Disney Archives is a vital resource for every part of Disney, as well as an important research center for Disney scholars, researchers, and writers. The Archives also shares its countless pieces with Disney fans everywhere through its exhibitions and close association with D23: The Official Disney Fan Club.
Hello! Well, it’s all finally happening. If you’ve been following along these recent Zannaland.com changes, we’ve been talking about all the things that were coming up. With the addition of our video producer-extraordinaire, Christian (my son, who’s basically grown up with Zannaland), we’ve added more videos, vlogs, and now, a project I’ve been wanting to do basically ever since getting married to @otisney and realizing the amount of Disney history we wanted to discuss and share, a podcast! Since podcasting has grown and changed and morphed over the last 15 years, we have decided to share ours as both an audio and video podcast. We aren’t doing any fancy effects at this point, but if you want to follow along and see our faces while we talk and any props we may use as an example along the way, feel free to watch vs. just listen.
I explain this in our first episode, but we will go into it more in the future too, but the name, “Up the Waterfall” comes from Walt Disney’s Tencennial show for Disneyland’s 10th birthday. And seeing him explaining things to Julie Reihm, the first Disneyland Ambassador, just always made me instantly smile…even just watching the clip at the end of our first show put a smile on my face again. So that’s the sort of feel I wanted to have with our podcast. It’s not just a historical podcast, it’s not a news podcast, it’s a combination of all of our experiences, thoughts, and yes, knowledge (which I will admit is mostly on Scott’s side of the desk!) about Disney parks and all the made them what they were and are today. We hope you’ll listen in on our journey as we explore this podcasting path.
We’re no podcasting or even broadcasting experts, so keep that in mind as I say “um” 27 times 😛 But we’ll keep figuring things out and hopefully make a great show that keeps you wanting more.
You can listen to the podcast right here on Zannaland, there is a Podcast tab at the top of the site now, or you can (eventually, it’s not quite searchable there yet but it is there!) search “Up the Waterfall” on iTunes, or you can watch on Zannaland’s YouTube channel. You can also visit UpTheWaterfall.com for the latest show too, but everything will be shared here as well. Thank you so much for supporting all of these updates and new ventures that we’ve wanted to do for so long, and a HUGE thanks to Christian for making it all happen and pushing us to just do it, and of course Scott for his patience when it took me 5 years to get it going. 🙂
I was planning to update my D23 Expo post with all the Parks, Experiences, and Products news announced on Sunday, August 25, but there ended up being SO much EPCOT news, it needed its own post. For those who were not following along on social media or at the Expo itself, there were about 13 new announcements or opening dates revealed yesterday, so it was a bit overwhelming to take it all in! In previous years, we have been given some exciting news, like New Fantasyland, Galaxy’s Edge, and Toy Story Land among others, but 13 things about ONE park alone is unprecedented! Let’s break down all the news with the official Disney releases – and I’ll add some commentary along the way – all images are in most cases concept art released by and copyright Disney, some were taken at the presentation at the Expo by Scott, who was there representing Zannaland, but the content is of course, still Disney’s images:
Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is undergoing an historic transformation, bringing the next generation of immersive storytelling to life through a plethora of new attractions and experiences. The park’s entrance will be transformed with a reimagined fountain, new pathways, and sweeping green spaces that beautify the entryway while paying homage to the origins of Epcot.
“Epcot will be unified with four neighborhoods that each speak to important aspects of the world
and its people: World Showcase, World Celebration, World Nature and World Discovery.
These neighborhoods will be filled with new experiences rooted in authenticity and innovation
that take guests to new destinations, where the real is made fantastic in a celebration of
curiosity, hands-on wonder and the magic of possibility.”
World Showcase
• World Showcase will continue to be a celebration of culture, cuisine, architecture and
traditions – infused with new magic.
• The United Kingdom pavilion will welcome the first attraction inspired by Mary
Poppins. Guests will step in time down Cherry Tree Lane past Admiral Boom’s house,
then enter Number 17, home of the Banks family, where their adventure will begin.
So this was probably the most shocking and exciting of the announcements. Many had speculated what the last “to be revealed on Sunday” attraction poster would be, since most of us assumed one of the two would be Brazil, which was NOT announced at Expo at all. Whether it will be announced in the future remains to be seen. Maybe at the WDW 50th celebrations? Maybe in another 37 years? Anyway, the Mary Poppins announcements were suitably vague in classic Disney style. Will it be a dark ride? A show? An interactive walk-through experience? Nothing official has been announced except the above, so we’ll just have to wait and see. It is interesting to note that the images in the poster and concept art both seem to be referencing the NEW 2018 version of Mary Poppins…hmmm.
Additionally, as an EPCOT Center kid and purist, it is strange to me to see a fictional place represented in World Showcase, which was supposed to be a World’s Fair-esque sort of cultural exploration of other countries and their traditions, food, and shopping…but that time has long passed, especially with the addition of Frozen to Norway, and of course Remy is on his way to France as well. So, as Bob Chapek shared both at this Expo and 2017’s, they are making EPCOT into a place where families “can see their favorite Disney stories come to life”. And yes, I would love to say “But that’s not what EPCOT is all about,” but as we all know, it hasn’t been about what it was about in 1982, for a long, long time. I think what is so difficult for us, as EPCOT Center diehards, to let go of; we know EPCOT *could* have been updated and plussed and kept current throughout the past 35+ years. Disney had the technology, the wherewithal, and yes, the money, to keep the heart, the soul, and the vision of EPCOT Center alive. Sure, some things would have had to change over time, but the message and the hope for the future could still have been there, instead ripping bits and pieces out over the years, and making it so the story of Future World no longer made sense. And that’s why we were all on pins and needles with these announcements, because it could have been the final crushing blow for a park we still held out hope for, or it could’ve been an amazing salvation and promise for the future of EPCOT. And what we got was a kind of “hmmm, oookaaay?” So without being too much of a Debbie Downer about this overall theme/feel change to my beloved EPCOT Center, I am cautiously optimistic about this and other changes to the park…but let’s move on, there’s a lot left to share!
• In 2020, following the limited-time run of “Epcot Forever,” the new “HarmonioUS” will
debut as the largest nighttime spectacular ever created for a Disney park. It will
celebrate how the music of Disney inspires people the world over, carrying them away
harmoniously on a stream of familiar Disney tunes reinterpreted by a diverse group of
artists from around the globe. “HarmonioUS” will feature massive floating set pieces,
custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics, lasers
and more.
I am hopeful for the new HarmoniUS show, but most excited for EPCOT Forever. I realize Disney didn’t HAVE to give us any tribute to anything from the original EPCOT, so I am very grateful that they are, and plan on crying non-stop and going to as many EPCOT Forever shows as I can get to. I AM excited for the updated technology that will no doubt be featured in HarmoniUS, and look forward to seeing what unfolds.
• In summer 2020, the France pavilion will offer even more for guests to discover,
including the much-anticipated attraction Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, where guests
will shrink to the size of Chef Remy and race through Gusteau’s restaurant on a wild
adventure. Summer 2020 will also see the debut of a delicious new restaurant in the
France pavilion, La Crêperie de Paris, offering both table- and quick-service options
featuring a menu from celebrity chef Jérôme Bocuse.
I will admit, I’m very excited for the Remy ride. Mostly because I’ve seen clips of how cute it is in Disneyland Paris, and I’m not heading there any time soon. I realize I’m being totally hypocritical about bringing Disney IP’s into EPCOT, but again, it’s a lost cause at this point. I’m excited for the Creperie, and think this will make France have the MOST food offerings in any pavilion?? Chefs de France, Monsieur Paul, Les Halls, Artisans de Glace, and now the Creperie. Is there another pavilion with more than 5? Let me know if I’m forgetting any. I also hope they have something I can enjoy there as a recent convert to a vegan diet from vegetarian. But France isn’t exactly known for healthy options haha.
• Also in the France pavilion, the classic Impressions de France film will be joined by the
new “Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along,” debuting in January 2020 and directed by
Don Hahn, producer of both the animated and live-action versions of this tale as old as
time.
Excited for Don Hahn’s involvement, but NOT happy about any remote possibility of Impressions de France being edged out over time. I will be heartbroken if that happens, but I hope it sticks around for us EPCOT Center fangirls and boys.
• “Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360” will debut in January 2020 in the Canada
pavilion with new scenes and a new story.
I’m totally ok with this. The other 360° movies in World Showcase have never really stood the test of time because they always had people in them and really showed things which easily looked out of date, whereas Impressions de France was always more of an art piece, sure parts are outdated, but it’s a beautiful time-capsule, not a caricature.
• In the China pavilion, “Wondrous China” will take guests on a spectacular journey
across the country, filmed and presented in a completely seamless 360-degree digital
format.
Again, I’m okay with this. SOOO much has changed in China since the early 80’s (or late 70’s when it was probably filmed – I know they updated it once but still). I’m excited to see the modern look at China mixed with the historical past and cultural aspects.
World Celebration
• World Celebration will offer new experiences that connect guests to one another and the
world around them.
Ok, first of all, I’m really not a fan of these new names. World implies, well, the World, like World Showcase, but not everything relates to the entire world like that, especially if it’s going to involve Disney animated feature characters, but I guess their definition of “world” can be interpreted in many ways, like “the magical worlds of Disney animation…”. Anyway, I dunno, Celebration just seems the most out of place of those names. Nature and Discovery I get. Maybe Celebration could’ve been lumped in to Discovery and that way keeping Imagination and Spaceship Earth in that group would’ve made more sense? More on Celebration later…
• The iconic Spaceship Earth will remain a voyage through time as the journey
transforms to reflect the power of storytelling to unite the human experience. New
narration and an entirely new musical score will focus on the moments and ideas that
define the story of humanity. Guests will follow a magical “story light” that brings the
entire experience to life in dynamic ways, giving each scene energy and beauty that ties
the entire journey together.
So this is another curious update, because we can all agree that Spaceship Earth needs some TLC and major updates, however, what’s most beloved about it is that it retains many of its original scenes and concepts. So I think the destruction of any of those will be very sad, but if those areas can truly be “plussed” with updated technology or effects that BLEND with the existing scenes, and maybe update the ending which is pretty much non-existent, that would be good. I’m also okay with having a ‘guide’ because Disney has certainly done that and done it well before, however, I don’t think there needs to be any Disney IP or characters within the ride. We all know the stories that Disney movies have to tell, but I’d be fine (and interested in) an historical view of storytelling in general, and how that’s changed over time. So I’m again cautiously optimistic with this one.
• A new pavilion will be the perfect place for live events, and the home base for Epcot’s
signature festivals. It will provide a stunning elevated view of the entire park and an ideal
spot to witness Epcot’s nighttime spectacular. This beautiful three-level structure will
have one of the most remarkable architectural designs at any Disney park, featuring a
plaza level, a middle expo level, and a park that sits in the sky on the top level.
Ok so this is concerning to me. I mentioned right when I saw this concept art, I said, “Hmm, looks like that top area will be prime dessert party real estate…” and yes, it looks amazing, and yes, I’d love to go up there and get sweeping views of whatever’s happening at EPCOT, or watch fireworks. But let’s be real here, look at the last 5 years, separate ticketed, upcharge events have been more and more prevalent and I’m SURE this was designed with that in mind. I mean, what do I know, but that’s what I think anyway. It just makes sense. I hope that I’m wrong, and everyone can enjoy this new green space with spectacular views, but it just seems a little toooo perfect given Disney’s upcharge event tendencies lately. Time will tell (which seems to be the mantra with all of these updates)
• As guests exit Spaceship Earth, they will discover a breathtaking new view of World
Showcase from Dreamers Point. World Celebration will also feature a new statue
celebrating the legacy of the original dreamer, Walt Disney, plus beautiful natural
environments and global design elements filled with Disney magic and surprises,
including a wishing tree in an enchanted forest and a story fountain celebrating the
power and music of iconic Disney storytelling.
Ok, I actually love the statue. I think perhaps it was put there to ensure that any naysayers of these new changes will be appeased by “Uncle Walt” but I’m still okay with that, true or not. I think there is a risk of people taking very weird photos if they are able to basically climb all over Walt (we all know no one reads the “do not climb” signs), but I just like the statue itself, the age of Walt they chose, his pose, etc. Does it belong in EPCOT? Probably not, because “Walt’s EPCOT” is not and never has been this EPCOT, but it IS created with his ideals in mind, so I get it. I like that it’s casual, a reminder that he was a real, human guy, with visions and dreams, like all of us.
As far as these other updates, I’m all about wishing trees and story fountains, y’all. That seems very EPCOT Center to me, both visually and description-wise. (Feels like it could’ve gone in an Imagination area but…)
• Epcot’s entrance plaza will be transformed with new experiences that connect guests
with the world around them, welcoming them with a reimagined fountain, new pathways
and sweeping green spaces that beautify the entryway. The design will pay homage to
the origins of Epcot.
Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana” at Epcot will be the first attraction inspired by the hit Walt Disney Animation Studios film. This lush exploration trail will invite guests to meet and play with magical, living water. (Disney)
World Nature
• World Nature is dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty, awe and balance
of the natural world. It will include The Land and The Seas with Nemo & Friends
pavilions.
• Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana” will be the first experience inspired by the hit
Walt Disney Animation Studios film. This lush exploration trail will invite guests to meet
and play with magical, living water. The water will have a life of its own – just like
Moana’s friend, the ocean – and guests will learn about the importance of the natural
water cycle.
• The Land pavilion’s new film, “Awesome Planet,” which showcases the beauty, diversity
and dynamic story of the planet, will begin welcoming guests in January 2020.
I don’t have too much commentary on World Nature. It makes sense, it goes with the existing pavilions of The Land and Seas (with Nemo and Friends), and I think the Moana Journey of Water will be a nice addition, but again, I love any sort of water feature, and I think there are some great uses of technology that would work here, while sharing a conservation and ecological message as well. I’m hopeful, and excited.
World Discovery
• In World Discovery, stories about science, technology and intergalactic adventure come
to life.
This makes sense and works with the existing science/space theme that exists over on that side of things.
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be the first “other-world” showcase
pavilion at Epcot. The adventure starts in the “Galaxarium,” a planetarium-like exhibition
that explores the similarities and mysteries of the formation of Earth’s galaxy and
Xandar. Guests will be invited to learn more about the treasures Xandar has to share –
until the moment when the Guardians of the Galaxy arrive, and adventures across the
cosmos ensue. The attraction will feature a new innovation from Walt Disney
Imagineering – a storytelling coaster that rotates 360 degrees to focus guests on the
action, including the first reverse launch on a Disney coaster.
This really speaks for itself, and all that’s left is for me to wonder how I will ever survive riding this attraction.
• An expansion of the Mission: SPACE pavilion, the new restaurant Space 220 will be a
culinary experience featuring the celestial panorama of a space station, including
daytime and nighttime views of Earth from 220 miles up. Guests will board a special
elevator for a journey to a space station that is home to an incredible dining experience.
Along the way, viewports will give guests real-time perspective as they travel high above
the planet. Once they arrive, guests will enjoy fantastic meals and drinks while taking in
views that are truly out of this world. Opening this winter, Space 220 will be operated by
the Patina Restaurant Group.
I’m excited for this. I hope it’ll be like a space version of the Good Turn, or Garden Grill restaurant. Very “vision of the future in a movie” kind of feel to it, and I like it.
• The PLAY! pavilion will open in time for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World. In
this digital metropolis, guests will discover an interactive city bursting with games,
activities and experiences that connect them with friends, family and beloved Disney
characters – both real and virtual – like never before. As part of this new pavilion, guests
will have the chance to help legendary fashion icon Edna Mode on her quest to rid the
world of uninspired style, or make a splash competing in a water-balloon fight hosted by
Huey, Dewey, Louie and Webby.
I mean, anything is an improvement to Wonders of Life’s current state. This definitely has an early Communicore if they had the technology feel to it, and I’m totally okay with it (I hope it goes without saying that I realize me saying “I’m okay with it” is not to imply me not being okay with anything would have any effect at all on things, but simply sharing my opinions on each of the updates.)
Guests will be able to visualize these exciting plans for Epcot when doors open Oct. 1, 2019, for
Walt Disney Imagineering presents the Epcot Experience in the Odyssey Events Pavilion.
They will discover engaging and interactive exhibits that showcase the relentless innovation,
energy and excitement driving the park’s future throughout this unprecedented period of
transformation.
While “Walt Disney Imagineering presents the EPCOT Experience in the Odyssey Events Pavilion” is perhaps the longest title we’ve gotten to date, I am excited for this space. I’m glad the Odyssey name is staying on that building, hopefully the exterior design will remain in all its 80’s glory, and I love a good preview center with models and concept art and all that good stuff. I anticipate spending a lot of time in here over the next few years.
And with that, we complete our EPCOT updates have drawn to a close. It’s a LOT right? Honestly, it took me writing all of this out to really process all of the info and digest the changes. It’s very easy to get excited by “NEW UPDATES FOR EPCOT” and not stop and realize what it means and how it fits into the overall feel and message of the park. So that’s what I tried to do here. My opinions are, as always, my own, and may differ greatly from yours. I’d love to hear your thoughts on all of this news. What are you most excited about and what are you most worried about? If you don’t want to leave a comment here, feel free to track me down on instagram, twitter, facebook, youtube, my cell if you have it…haha I kid, but I’d love to hear from you and what you think. Thanks as always for reading, and for visiting Zannaland. <3 If you need to say goodbye to EPCOT Center, read my Love Letter to EPCOT, written in 2013, and updated today. Because we all need to remember.
Well if nothing else, the D23 Expo always keeps us on our toes…or Disney in general does. Even though the 2019 D23 Expo doesn’t begin until today (Friday 8/23), and the Disney Parks & Resorts session isn’t happening until Sunday, Disney sent us a surprise update last night on twitter and the Disney Parks Blog with some Parks announcements. We will share them all below, and update this post throughout the Expo. So bookmark this or keep it up in a tab, and keep checking back for details as we get them – and add your comments, predictions and opinions below too!
DISNEY PARKS & RESORTS:
Disney Parks Pavilion at D23 Expo 2019
Disney Parks Pavilion at D23 Expo 2019
STAR WARS HOTEL –
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser (Star Wars Hotel)
We now have a name for the new “Star Wars Hotel” we heard about at the last Expo: “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will be a new, first-of-its-kind vacation experience where guests will check in for a two-night adventure aboard a glamorous starship. Once onboard, guests will interact with characters and become active participants in stories that unfold around them on their galactic journey.” – Disney Parks Blog
This is a very interesting twist, and the rumored price-points of this unique experience were also shared on twitter earlier last week…coming in at a whopping $3300 for the required 2-night stay with a cabin for 5 running $7200 (pricing as seen on WDWNT.com fansite). Again, these prices are just rumors and may (and probably will) change when they are officially announced. The pricing is all-inclusive, but we aren’t sure what exactly that means at this point.
We’ll have more on this as our Zannaland correspondent gets a view at this display within the Expo show floor and after the Parks & Resorts presentation on Sunday!
EPCOT
Boy oh boy, EPCOT is such a valuable and precious place to so many (myself included), and the rumors and plans and conjecture on what will be changing are keeping all of us die-hard fans on the edge of our seat and probably creating a bit of an ulcer in some cases. The bottom line is, Disney could, at any moment, just change everything. Get rid of Imagination and Figment, change it all to IP attractions, all beer, all merch, all festivals all the time…We are of course hoping that that does NOT happen, and the promise 2 years ago of attention and refresh of EPCOT to some form of its former glory, gave us all hope. We have now been given some updates that keep that hope alive. The fact that we are now reverting to spelling it EPCOT makes my tiny 80’s heart sing!
EPCOT 2019 Concept Art Updated
EPCOT ATTRACTIONS POSTERS –
Some folks were granted access early to the D23 Expo show floor, and one Disney Twitter fan captured photos of all the new EPCOT attractions posters – there will be a couple revealed on Sunday but have a look now:
AMAZING, right? Which is your favorite?
MOANA WATER PAVILION –
Announced last night on the Parks Blog – “The reinvention of Epcot will include Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana.” This first-ever attraction based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios hit film, “Moana,” will let guests interact with magical, living water in a beautiful and inspiring setting.” If it’s one thing we love here at Zannaland, it’s Disney and water features, so this is very exciting and promising. We will share more as we learn it!
Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana” at Epcot – Concept Art
I’m also excited that we will get a new preview center at the Odyssey Pavilion (formerly the Odyssey restaurant and festival event space) so we can check on EPCOT’s coming soon projects and “…discover engaging and interactive exhibits that allow you to step inside the relentless innovation, energy and excitement and see some never-before-revealed details driving the future of Epcot all throughout this unprecedented period of transformation.” I do love a good model, so can’t wait to see this in person! Read all the EPCOT updates here.
Walt Disney Imagineering presents the Epcot Experience at the Odyssey Pavilion
AVENGERS CAMPUS – DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE –
The Disney Parks Blog shared, “When guests visit Avengers Campus, they will become part of an interconnected, global story that spans from California to Paris to Hong Kong with the Avengers recruiting new extraordinary people to join them.” We’ll have more on this as we get updates!
Avengers Campus Concept Art
DISNEY+:
Last night at D23 Expo, Ricky Strauss, president, Content & Marketing for Disney+ and Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts announced One Day at Disney, a spectacular collaboration between Disney Publishing Worldwide and Disney’s new streaming service. The new, 224-page coffee table book and the documentary series will both arrive on December 3, highlighting the talented men and women who bring life to some of Disney’s most beloved stories.
On February 21 of this year, 76 unique photo shoots took place around the world, as Disney dispatched photographers to capture images of the employees and cast members who drive creativity and innovation at The Walt Disney Company. From Shanghai Disneyland and ESPN to Pixar and the set of Modern Family, these spectacular photographs—and the stories behind them—will be featured in the hardbound, collectible book, written by Bruce Steele, which is now available for pre-order.
On December 3, the same day the book arrives in stores, Disney+ will debut its new, 52-episode short-form series One Day at Disney, launching with a feature-length documentary. This exciting new series takes an in-depth look at the unique and surprising roles these men and women call their daily jobs. The series and documentary are from Endeavor Content’s Non-Scripted Division and executive produced by Michael Antinoro and David Chamberlin and produced by Victoria Chamlee.
Following the debut of the special, which features such talent as Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts and legendary animator Eric Goldberg, more than 50 One Day at Disney shorts, ranging in length between 4 to 7 minutes long and each profiling a single remarkable person and their fascinating job, will debut each week.
Disney+ Programming Line-up –
Lucasfilm’s Untitled Obi-Wan Kenobi Series Starring Ewan McGregor
New Marvel Studios Series “Ms. Marvel,” “Moon Knight,” and “She-Hulk,”
New “Lizzie McGuire” Series Starring Hilary Duff,
“The Muppets” Short-form Series
The above series join the lineup of originals from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic that have been previously announced. We’re really excited for some of these and will have more updates and photos soon!
World Premiere Trailers Released for Launch Titles:
“The Mandalorian” – this looks very promising. I’m excited. see the trailer!
“Lady and the Tramp” – I seriously teared up just at the TRAILER, I can’t wait for this full movie!!
“Noelle”- um, this is ADORABLE and I can’t wait to watch it with my daughter (and the whole family)- see the trailer!
“High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” – I will admit to having little to no interest in this but I was too old for the original and the new one is not for my age bracket anyway lol – see the trailer!
“The World According to Jeff Goldblum” – this needs NO explanation – see the trailer!
“Encore!” a reality series where high school theatre kids are now adults and re-create their musical performances. I swear I saw a show that did this same thing but can’t remember what it was now. Anyway, this is very much in my wheelhouse! – see the trailer!
Disney+ releases November 12, 2019 and you can learn more at DisneyPlus.com.
While our roving movie reviewer Christian may not have felt The Lion King2019 edition was worth spending your money on, Disney IS putting their money to good use with several initiatives sending money to where real-life lions need it the most and Protect the Pride. And while I will be the first to admit, Disney tends to go overboard with the merchandise and promotion of all of their films, in this case, it is actually doing good along with the usual profits.
Disney recently invited us out to see some of the in-park celebrations and programs they have coordinated with the July 19th release of The Lion King. They hosted us for a day in the park and treated us to lunch as we experienced some of these offerings. As always, my opinions and views are my own, and I am posting about these initiatives because animal conservation is something near and dear to my heart, as is Animal Kingdomin general (and I get a bit defensive when people don’t enjoy the park on its own!).
Protect the Pride
It’s hard to believe, but in the 25 years since The Lion King first came out, half the lion population has been lost, and only 20,000 remain. To counter these facts, Disney launched The Lion King “Protect the Pride” campaign in conjunction with the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Lion Recovery Fund in an effort to double the lion population by 2050.
But this isn’t a new effort for Disney – since 1995, the Disney Conservation Fund has directed up to $75 million ($13M to projects across Africa) to save wildlife and protect the planet. Disney has already donated more than $1.5 million to the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Lion Recovery Fund and its partners. Now to celebrate the newest release of The Lion King, Disney is asking fans to help by taking part in The Lion King Celebration happening at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and The Lion King Protect the Pride campaign.
So How Can You Help?
Disney’s Animal Kingdom – For every guest who rides the Kilimanjaro Safaris Expedition at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park in Florida during opening week of The Lion King film (July 19 – 25, 2019), Disney Conservation Fund will donate $2 (up to $350,000) to the Wildlife Conservation Network in support of the Lion Recovery Fund’s efforts to help double the number of lions across Africa by 2050. (Theme park admission is required.)
Disney Stores & U.S Parks – 40,000 Special Edition The Lion King 2019 Simba and Nala plush lions are available for purchase at Disney stores across the globe. Each of the 40,000 plush represents one of the lions for which Disney and the Lion Recovery Fund are working to ensure a future. For each Special Edition lion sold, Disney will donate US $5 to the Wildlife Conservation Network in support of the Lion Recovery Fund and its local partners. Visit Disney.com/LionKingProtectThePride to learn more.
More Lion King Celebrations
The Lion King fun doesn’t end there. In addition to Protect the Pride, there are a lot of new offerings at Disney’s Animal Kingdom to help celebrate and really commemorate the spirit of The Lion King. The Hakuna Matata Time Dance Party (which is REALLY fun and I’m not usually a dance party kind of girl), photo opportunities featuring dimensional backgrounds (some you can see in this post), and “Rivers of Light: We Are One,” which is now reimagined with familiar animals from Disneynature films and classic moments from Disney animation. I have not personally seen the new show yet, but did love the original Rivers of Light when it first debuted.
Lion King Merchandise
A new Dooney & Bourke collection will be available at Mombasa Marketplace and Discovery Trading Company. The collection includes a satchel, crossbody and tote with a pattern featuring beloved characters such as Simba, Nala, Timon and Pumbaa. These handbags are available now while supplies last.
And of course, those adorable Simba and Nala collectible plush where $5 goes toward saving lions:
The Lion King Scavenger Hunt
With the great success over in Epcot, there is a new hunt themed to, you guessed it, The Lion King. Characters from The Lion King are hidden around Harambe Village. We saw some on our visit and they are really cool but I won’t spoil their locations! Each time you spot one, add the corresponding sticker to your map. The map is available at the Outpost Shop, Discovery Trading Company, Island Mercantile, and Mombasa Marketplace for $6.99. Return your map to Mombasa Marketplace or The Outpost Shop by 9/28/19 or while supplies last for a “savanna surprise”. (which is actually a really cool hand-painted collectible!). If you just want to get the prize at the end, you can purchase the three for $6.99 a piece.
I’m shocked by this Simba Swirl of pineapple Dole Whip with coconut, watermelon, and strawberry syrup!
Shaved ice topped with watermelon and passion fruit-mango syrup.
Vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two chocolate chip cookies and decorated with a chocolate tail and an image of Simba.
Lion King latte art from Joffrey’s Coffee
Chocolate soft-serve ice cream in a green cone with cookies and cream “dirt” crumbles, gummy worms, and a chocolate beetle — at the Anandapur Bus and Trilo-Bites.
Also recently added to Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the return of Animation Academy, which we all miss from Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The “new” Disney’s Animation Experience is over in Rafiki’s Planet Watch, accessible by train from Harambe and a short walk from the station. This is now the only thing in the building, so you must wait for the next session to start before being let in to choose a seat and a clipboard with paper and pencil. The seating is very tight and cramped but if you’re lucky, they’ll let you spread out so you have a little elbow room.
During our session, we drew Simba and it was much “easier” (if that’s possible for a total non-drawer like myself) with some lines and the main face circle already printed on the paper. If you love to draw, and love to pet animals like goats and pigs and llamas, definitely head over to Rafiki’s Planet Watch and stop by the petting zoo while you’re there.
How’d we do?
All in all, I think this is a great example of Disney synergy used for good. Yes, there are new purses and snacks and even an extra ticketed event. [Circle of Flavors: Harambe at Night – an after-hours progressive dining event where each course is themed to a different African animal, with amazing desserts, and the opportunity to enjoy a Virtual Reality experience with the resident lions from Kilamanjaro Safaris – for $125 per adult on select nights]. Despite all of that, Disney is also highlighting the importance of conservation of lions and all endangered animals. What these new offerings did was allow me to experience Animal Kingdom in a whole new way. This is always great for a jaded local who was there on opening day. If it helps Protect the Pride, all the better.
What about you? Will you experience any of these Lion King Celebration activities? If you can’t make it down for the summer, what’s a favorite memory you have from Animal Kingdom? I’d love to hear it!
Disclosure: As mentioned above, Disney invited us to this event. They provided admission to the park, lunch, and gift cards to purchase snacks. Again, my opinions are my own. I think it’s important to note that I have an annual pass. Ihave also paid on my own to dine at Tiffins many times. If I didn’t like something, you’d know. But I also have to assume, if you are reading this, you are probably a Disney parks fan too. Thanks for reading!
Walt Disney World’s Newest Resort Option – Gran Destino Tower
As I’m sure you’ve heard and seen by now, Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs is now open. We shared video and photos over on our social channels and Christian and I discussed our thoughts on the highlights of this amazing new resort in our latest resort video. But there is something else you must see before you visit or check-in to Gran Destino Tower…
Two Artists Combine Their Vision
Salvador Dalí first met Walt Disney at a Warner Brothers studio party in 1945. He had come to Hollywood to work on a dream sequence in Alfred Hitchcock’s Spellbound. The pair struck up what may seem to some as an unlikely friendship, but in reality made perfect sense. Disney had already been pushing the boundaries of art and animation for years. Pink elephants on parade from Dumbo, and the frightening forest scene from Snow White to name a few. Of course, Fantasia itself was a lesson in taking feature animation to a higher plane. So a common bond of creative envelope-pushing, combined with boundless self-promotion, naturally brought these two men together. The next logical step was to collaborate on a project combining Dalí’s surreal vision and Walt Disney’s gift for animation.
Here is an excerpt from Salvador-Dali.org about the origin of the Destino project:
On January 14, 1946, Salvador Dalí signed a contract with Walt Disney to make a short animated film entitled Destino. To work on the project, the painter installed himself in the Disney Studios in Burbank, California, where he set about drafting the screenplay and creating a series of drawings and oil paintings. The main characters, a dancer and a baseball player who is also the god Chronos, develop Dalí’s original concept, which revolves around the importance of time when we are waiting for destiny to enter into our lives. The song chosen for the soundtrack of the film, ‘Destino’, by the Mexican Armando Domínguez, was a major inspiration for Dalí in the development of his work.
The short, intended as part of a package film, was to have a running time of between 6 and 8 minutes, but only 15 seconds were made and it was not until 2003 that Disney resumed and completed the project on the basis of Dalí’s first ideas and original sketches.
A Found Treasure
Despite having 135 storyboards and 22 paintings from Dalí’s eight months in the studio, the project was abandoned when the Disney Studios could not continue funding it. The project was shelved and forgotten until Roy E. Disney, Walt’s nephew, discovered the artwork while working on Fantasia 2000. He secretly sent the project to be completed in France by a team of animators and a director, Dominique Monféry, who attempted and succeeded in continuing the story that Dalí and Disney (and Imagineer John Hench, who is credited as a writer as well) set out to tell. It was released in 2003, and nominated for an Oscar that year for Best Animated Short. If you haven’t seen it before, here it is below in its (2003) entirety:
If you happen to own theFantasia/Fantasia 2000 Blu-Ray + DVD Movie Collection set, there’s a bonus. Destino is actually on the Fantasia 2000 disc! Also included is an 82-minute documentary, Dalí & Disney: A Date with Destino. There you’ll hear more about the collaboration between these two artistic geniuses.
Additionally, the always-impressive Taschen has published a few books on his elaborate dinner parties. Taschen Diners de Gala and the Wines de Gala, if you want to delve deeper. And of course, The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida is an amazing place to explore Dalí ‘s life and work. It’s also not too far from Walt Disney World, if you want to extend a vacation and see something new.
Inspiration for Gran Destino Tower
Getting back to Gran Destino Tower, when you first approach the tower from either the parking lot or the Lago Dorado side, the inspiration of Destino is more than apparent. The shapes and designs throughout the resort come straight from the art in the short. Dahlia, and her morphing into a bell shape in the film, is directly represented in the lamps in guest rooms, and the designs in the Dahlia lounge on the 16th floor. The Dahlia lounge in particular is entirely inspired by the film, with Dahlia’s hair represented in waves on the ceiling, the dandelion images in a painting on the wall, and the seed heads floating away and becoming the light fixtures on the ceiling.
So before you head to this gorgeous new resort, watch the 6 minute short, and then see how many representations you can see as you explore and discover. Whether Surrealist art is your thing or not, the artistic vision and creativity is undeniably impressive. Gran Destino is enjoyable and breathtaking even without viewing Destino, but seeing it and the inspiration, is, in my opinion, worth your time. I’m sure Disney history buffs, animation and art fans will agree. Kudos to the Disney team for transforming art into function and honoring the work of Salvador Dalí as well as Walt Disney. I’m so excited that Destino has been brought to life for all to see and enjoy in a new way.
Have you visited Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort? What was your favorite part of this newest area of Walt Disney World?
*Disclosure: some links above are affiliate links.
Before I begin, I think it’s important I say that, like all of the most recent films produced by Disney, I wanted this to do well. I want nothing less than the next great film from the most successful media company there has ever been. That being said, these are my opinions.
To start this review, I actually want to digress into a quick anecdote. One of my favorite new modern bands is a group called Greta Van Fleet. They’re a rock band that sounds pretty similar to Led Zeppelin. However, to quite a lot of people – including one notably scathing review on Pitchfork – they’re just a cheap Zeppelin knock-off, mooching off the successful sound of Robert Plant and the like. I personally like the band, and didn’t really understand why these people had such a strong hatred for them. That is, until I saw 2019’s The Lion King.
There’s no need to worry about spoilers in this review, as this is, beat-for-beat, exactly the same movie that was released 25 years ago. Visually, it obviously does look very different (and we’ll get to that in a second), but at least 95% of the scenes in this are unchanged from the original, even going down to random establishing shots that could have been completely unique.
Before we get much farther, it’ll be important to note that this review is much harsher than those I usually write. This movie made me mad that it exists. This is equally as much a review of The Lion King as it is a review of Disney’s presence in the modern box office. I can justify that because very little changed between this and the original, leaving very little to review – though I’ll go over what I can.
The vocal performances (acting-wise) feel very lazy. This is embarrassing, because this has got to be one of the most expensive casts for any movie outside of the MCU lately. Something about this movie makes the completely star-studded cast feel like a B-Team. This is not without exceptions though. Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen steal the show every time they’re on screen. But notable greats like James Earl Jones and Chiwitel Ejiofor feel like they delivered one pass on their lines and left the studio. Everyone else falls very flat.
Song-wise, I really can’t complain. The songs are good regardless of who’s singing them, and since the two leads double as Grammy-winning vocalists, it’s no surprise that they’re good. The songs are actually where I would have wished they’d stayed true to the original. The original soundtrack is fantastic, and the Broadway score only brings more life and material to it. I did enjoy the new Beyoncé track, I just thought it was oddly placed. And the lyric changes to Be Prepared weren’t really terrible, it was just weird that they chose to change that, but leave in the exact same shot of Simba walking past a spiderweb in the Elephant Graveyard.
The animation is something that will come up often in discussions about this film. I recently watched Jon Favreau’s The Jungle Book for the first time, and it felt weird to me because of the juxtaposition between a human actor and uncanny valley animated creatures. The Lion King feels as weird somehow, without the use of a human actor.
I want to pause and say that while I have studied and practiced a bit of animation, I am by NO MEANS a professional. I didn’t care much for this movie, but I do give all the credit in the world to the incredible animation team. A lot of this movie does look absolutely amazing. I kept thinking that this would be a great demo reel for Samsung displays or something in the future. That being said, animators, please don’t kill me for the next section.
A lot of the problems I had with the vocal performances were that they were delivered as if it were a typical animated film. If you closed your eyes while watching this movie, I don’t think it would really feel out of place. The problem becomes introduced when the characters are hyper-realistic animals, which in the end, cannot convey complex emotion very well. The original Lion King works as an emotional experience (as do all hand-drawn films) because of how expressive the characters can be, even if they’re animals, or sometimes inanimate objects. When you take all of that facial expressiveness and cartoon performance out, it can be very difficult to connect.
Undoubtedly, people will feel emotions while watching this. Baby Simba is cute. Mufasa dying is sad. But that’s just the nature of animals themselves. I could have walked into the theater and been shown just a still-image of a baby lion, and still would have said, “Aw, cute”.
I really don’t understand why this was made the way it was, or who it’s for. Most of the audience watching this movie will remember the entire plot of the original, whether they grew up watching it, or just because it’s a big enough piece of pop culture to be ingrained in the minds of anyone who knows its name. So why, then, is it just exactly the same as the original?
My lasting impression was that it was just to make money off of people’s nostalgia, in the laziest (from an executive standpoint) way possible. The acting felt lazy and half-done. The screenplay was just copy/pasted by a temp. The score was legitimately just the original score with one or two new songs, which were moved to the credits.
There have been “live action” remakes in the past, and no, none have really been very good. But this one just feels like the most cruel of all. But they make them because they do make money. There definitely is an audience for these movies (whom I have not met). All I’ll say is that you vote with your wallet. Seven years ago, before it was even announced, I never thought I would be advising people against seeing a remake of one of my favorite Disney movies, but here we are.
Ultimately, this movie felt, to me, like a film-student’s final project. The animation is nice to look at, but it serves more as a weird gimmick than an entertaining movie. I could imagine myself scrolling through reddit and finding a post where someone re-animated The Lion King in Cinema 4D, and then it’s just the entirety of The Lion King (2019).
It’s been about 6 years since I’ve had a home office set up, despite my working at home for the last almost 7 years. After I moved, and moved again, I just had too much other stuff going on to worry about setting up an actual workspace for myself. We moved into this house that we had built right behind Cinderella Castle a little over 3 years ago, and we’ve slowly…very slowly worked on decorating various spots (with the help of my adult children who still live here and are great with projects).
We recently converted a mess of a “game room” (where we had an old living room set, my 10 year-old’s Disney Infinity collection, and our board games stored) into an actual home theatre. While it’s not quite model-home standard, it was done 100% by the kids, a little bit by me, and even Scott helped. So every time we go in there, I think of the fun few weeks of crazy trips to Lowe’s and IKEA and realizing we broke yet another drill bit or discovering that the platform has a few soft spots in it…but loving all those memories.
I snagged this from an ebay listing, because my map is still in a box somewhere 😛
EPCOT Center Inspiration
The impetus to start these projects was because one of the reasons we picked this house was the glorious upstairs loft space, and it had become a catch-all for years of accumulated boxes of random stuff, and somewhat an extension of my 10 year-old’s room, so he could run around and play in a bigger space. Creating a dedicated movie room made me realize we really owed it to ourselves to make the rest of the upstairs something to be proud of, and useful, rather than piles of boxes and toys. So, next up was the office nook.
The difference between this space and a normal office with a door, was it is completely open to the upstairs, and slightly visible from downstairs looking up. So I wanted something that didn’t clash with anything else in the house. The teal/blue color is probably the one carried through most of the house, so it was a good starting point. I had hopes of making it a personal space for all of *my* random Disney collected items and things that generally make me happy, so I wanted it to be bright and colorful. Naturally, my thoughts turned to the original 1982 color pallette of…EPCOT Center.
While it’s not a direct “EPCOT-themed room” the colors and some choices were definitely inspired by that original EPCOT Center guide map that has stuck with me all these years. Back at the EPCOT 30 celebration that D23 put together, I painted my nails to match the guide (my friends did their own tribute in nail polish as well). Most of EPCOT Center, including its various color and design schemes has just stuck in my brain all these many years. So when I had a chance to start over and create the office I really wanted, it was a natural choice.
Without further ado, here is the finished office:
Bonus cat cameo by Luna Lovepaws
I was initially going to paint a wall that teal/turquoise blue color, but I decided to go with curtains instead so I could finally get some of my many prints up on the wall. I’m sure I’ll add more to it as I uncover more boxes full of things I carefully stored away over the years, I’ve already added to it since taking these photos. Also, I am *fully* aware that I have the office decor of a 12 year old’s room, but really, that’s where my brain is most of the time. I may not play with all my toys I’ve collected, but it makes me very happy to look at them. (Which is probably some sort of sad psychological statement about me, but I’m ok with owning that.)
I’ll post the rest of the photos in a gallery, including a before photo so you can see how much had to happen to get to this point. Feel free to click to enlarge any of the photos to see any details and scroll through the gallery. After seeing previews of the gallery, it looks like a lot of the details were lost in the resizing and uploading, so I’m going to add the original photos to flickr for anyone that wants to see higher quality versions of the photos below.
Overview
These toys on the right are from my childhood or my siblings
Kitten cameo!
night view
Some of the collection
Orange Bird came to roost
I had these Shag prints up in another part of the house, but stole them for the office because the colors went well
Stella the kitten cameo
Those top prints are now framed and on the walls
With the light on
Found more books to put out
Those prints now up
The carpet reminded me of both EPCOT and Morocco in World Showcase
Before – a mess!
Where to Buy
90% of the office comes from IKEA, including all the desk pieces and frames. Cheap is good. Here’s a rundown of specific pieces – if I could link to them, I did, and NONE of them are affiliate links haha.
IKEA Linnmon Table Top – I got the 39″ and a 78″ top along with the corner piece all in white
IKEA Linnmon Table Legs – in white and blue (I hoped the blue would match more but I’m ok with it 😛
IKEA Alex Drawer Unit – 2 of these in white – everything comes in other colors if white isn’t your thing I almost did all black but had the bookcase in white already so wanted to keep it clean looking.
IKEA KALLAX Storage Unit – This is actually an old EXPEDIT piece, but they’ve now discontinued that and made it KALLAX. I think the EXPEDIT just had wider edges on the outside. This also comes in multiple colors.
In addition to the different colors, you can usually add on wheels to the smaller storage units if you want, or the drawer units, but I’m using them in place of table legs so didn’t need to move them around a lot. There are also different styles of legs as you’ll see. I really sound like an IKEA commercial.
The curtains are from Target:
Windsor Light Blocking Curtain Panel – Eclipse – I wanted to match the accent chair, and this was as close as I could come. I also wanted to keep it a solid color because of the bold pattern on the rug.
The desk chair, area rug, accent chair, and floor lamp are from Wayfair:
Laverty Conference Chair in Orange – I knew I wanted to invest more than $40 on the cheapest desk chair, and I knew I wanted it in a fun color. I was hoping to find a mid-century look, which I think is achieved by the chrome along with the color. This was actually the first thing I decided on, and everything else was planned around this color.
Orange Indoor/Outdoor Area Rug – Part of the reason this office took so long is I am terrible at making decisions. I would scroll through area rugs on Wayfair, on Target, on Pier 1, World Market…and never make a decision. Once I had finally decided on the color pallette and chosen the orange chair, I could narrow it down a little, and I think this was on page 44 of my filtered list of “orange or blue geometric style area rugs” on Wayfair and it just popped out and spoke to me. I have to say tho, in person, it is not as bright as in the photos on Wayfair (or here), and much more muted colors of orange and teal and red. But it still works with everything and ties it all together nicely, I think.
Eytel Side Chair in Turquoise – I knew I wanted a mid-century Eames-inspired accent chair, and once I had the desk chair and rug, I was able to narrow down to a nice teal/turquoise color and this one spoke to me.
Craftsbury 56″ Floor Lamp – At this point in the process I was delirious from scrolling through too many options and styles and colors. I thought this was a nice, orange canvasy shade that would match everything, but when it arrived, it was a cork lampshade. I was kind of meh about it, but didn’t want to deal with returning it because Wayfair’s free shipping does not extend to returns, and it was my own fault for not reading the description better. But when it’s on, it does have a nice orange glow, and it works.
I’m kind of obsessed with accent pillows, so I figured I’d tie some things together with those. I really thought the red in the rug was a dark pink when I ordered that pillow, but it all worked out in the end. The pillows are from Pier 1 because they are always having a pillow sale:
Sunbrella 20″ Knife Edge Pillow in Canvas Sunflower – these seem to be no longer available, but they came in a set of two. I got them solely for the size (lumbar) and color, they are technically outdoor pillows, so they won’t fade in the non-existent direct sunlight of this office.
The table next to the chair is just old and put there because I thought it needed a table but didn’t want to buy one. It’s a little big and the wood doesn’t match but eh, I think it works. If anyone has any questions on anything else specific, the prints or collectibles, just ask, I’m happy to explain details, artists, etc.
I hope any EPCOT Center fans out there appreciated my attempt at capturing the colors and in turn the feel of such an inspirational place. Many thanks to my son Christian for going on IKEA runs, helping me assemble furniture and putting the prints in frames (and pushing me to work on the office to begin with!) I hope you enjoyed the tour – if you did, I’d love for you to share it! Thanks for visiting my office of future past.
The newest offering in the hard-ticketed after-hours events at Disney Parks is the Villains After Hours event at the Magic Kingdom. This is sort of a combination of the existing After Hours events, the various villains events that have happened in the past such as “Club Villain” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy is currently housed, the villains parties that took place a few years back also at the Studios, and even a little Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party thrown in for fun. But what makes this new event different, and is it worth it?
Let’s start with that last question – is it worth it? At $144 per person for day-of tickets, it’s one of the more pricier after hours events, with 3 hours in the park, that comes out to a little under $50 an hour to experience. But, tickets are $133 if purchased in advance, and available even more discounted for annual passholders and DVC members at $109. All those prices do not include tax. And what exactly is included in that ticket?
TIME!
Well first off, you can enter the park with your Villains After Hours ticket as early as 7pm, giving you essentially 3 EXTRA hours to your 3 hour party. However those extra hours are with regular park guests, so you can enjoy all the rides and dining etc, but you won’t have the park pretty much to yourself, as you will after 10pm.
SNACKS!
Once 10pm hits, you can now enjoy complimentary popcorn, ice cream novelties (Mickey Bars!) and select bottled beverages throughout the night. (You always think you can eat 5lbs of popcorn or 27 Mickey bars until they are free, then suddenly that’s really hard to do! 😉 ) There are specialty food and drink items sold at the event too, if you want to get that perfect insta-food photo, this is a great place to do that.
Disney Villains After Hours Map
SHOW!
Also included in Villains After Hours is an all-new villains stage show, hosted by the king of the underworld himself, Hades. This is a new spin on the villains stage shows we’ve seen in the past, this time focusing on what each villain has to offer to take over the world. So less singing, more fire and ax spinning and that sort of thing. But it’s a fun show, which runs three times during the party. You can watch the full Villains Unite the Night show here:
FIRE BREATHING DRAGON!
Also unique to this event is “Maleficent at Night” which happens twice throughout the night. This gives you a chance to see the fire-breathing dragon at night, which looks amazing against the night sky and with Cinderella Castle as a backdrop. The first time, Maleficent departs from Frontierland and circles the hub in front of the castle, and on the second visit, she goes all the way down Main Street, U.S.A. A definite must-see and really makes me miss a night-time parade in the Magic Kingdom!
EXTRAS!
Lastly, there are special photo-op backdrops happening throughout the park, but no character meet and greets. (They are all practicing their moves for the show!). There is also limited release merchandise exclusive to the event, along with more villainy fun items available to purchase at the event.
BOTTOM LINE:
So is it worth it? I’ll say what I’ve said before regarding the After Hours parties. If you are able to afford it and use one less regular ticket on a day you’re doing this hard ticketed event, it totally is, for the ride times alone, along with all the specially themed fun going on around you. It’s a good time, but it does come at a price, so if it works for your next visit, great. If not, that’s what YouTube is for!
Disclosure: Disney invited us out to this event so it was complimentary to us but our opinions, thoughts, and reviews are, as always, our own.
Now that the D23 2019 Expo is a little over 2 months away, the updates are increasing. Today we received some of the line ups and locations for the main presentations of the Expo. The most anticipated of the presentations at Expo are always The Walt Disney Studios and Disney Parks presentations, which area always packed, at capacity, and pretty much what keeps twitter going while they take place – the news and updates are fact and furious! Here’s what we know so far:
The Disney Legends Awards Ceremony, hosted by Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger, will kick off the Expo on Friday morning, August 23. Later that same day, Disney+ will showcase its exciting slate of original films and series coming to the streaming service, set to launch in the U.S. on November 12. On Saturday morning, The Walt Disney Studios will give fans a sneak peek at their collection of world-class film labels, including Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, and Lucasfilm. And on Sunday morning, fans will get a preview of what’s in store at Disney Parks during a presentation hosted by Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Bob Chapek.
These Expo favorites will take place in “Hall D23,” the 6,800-seat venue located in Hall D of the Anaheim Convention Center. The schedule of Hall D23 Events and Presentations is as follows (all events subject to change and additional events to be announced in the coming weeks):
The Disney Legends Awards Ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 23. The ceremony, hosted by Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger, will once again honor those visionaries and artists who have made significant contributions to the Disney legacy. This year’s recipients are: Wing Chao, Robert Downey Jr., Jon Favreau, James Earl Jones, Bette Midler, Kenny Ortega, Barnette Ricci, Robin Roberts, Diane Sawyer, Ming-Na Wen, and Hans Zimmer.
On Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m., the highly anticipated streaming service Disney+ will give guests a first look at some of its original content including Lady and the Tramp, The Mandalorian, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, and many more during this star-studded presentation.
The Walt Disney Studios will present a behind-the-scenes look at its blockbuster collection of upcoming films on Saturday, August 24, at 10 a.m. Fans will see what’s on the drawing board for the acclaimed filmmakers at Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios and get a peek at the exciting slate of live-action projects, from Disney to Marvel Studios to Star Wars. As always, attendees will be treated to exclusive footage, special guest appearances, and more!
On Sunday, August 25, at 10:30 a.m., step into the magical world of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products with Chairman Bob Chapek to find out what’s new and what’s next for resorts around the globe, including more about the transformational plans for Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
As the D23 Expo gets closer, you’ll be able to download the D23 Expo app (or it will be updated if you never deleted it from your phone like me), which will list all of the presentations and sessions in multiple formats, along with all the info you need to have a fun and (mostly) stress-free Expo experience.
Single-day tickets for Friday and Sunday of D23 Expo 2019 are available for $89 for one-day adult admission and $69 for children 3–9. Gold Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club can purchase tickets for $77 for a one-day adult admission and $59 for children 3–9. Single-day Saturday tickets and three-day passes are sold out. For more information on tickets and D23 Expo 2019, visit D23Expo.com.
AboutD23 Expo 2019 D23 Expo—The Ultimate Disney Fan Event—brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. For the latest D23 Expo 2019 news, visit D23expo.com. Presentations, talent, and schedule subject to change. To join the D23 Expo conversation, be sure to follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and use the hashtag #D23Expo.
