National Video Games day is fast approaching on Sept. 12, and what better way to celebrate than with a day of Mario! He is, after all, one of the most recognized video game characters of all time.
Super Mario Maker launches exclusively for Wii U on the 11th of September, so it’s the perfect day to play, create and share the Super Mario Bros. levels of your dreams! Mario is one of the most iconic faces in video games, and this year marks the 30th anniversary of the launch of the original Super Mario Bros. on the NES.
To make your celebration of National Video Games Day complete, here are 10 fun facts about Mario and the Super Mario Bros. franchise that you might not know!
Fact 1: Mario has appeared in more than 200 video games.
Fact 2: Super Mario Bros. launched 30 years ago on Sept. 13, 1985.
Fact 3: In Super Mario Land, Mario has to pilot a submarine and an airplane to save Princess Daisy. Who knew he had his pilot license?
Fact 4: Nintendo composer Koji Kondo provided the iconic soundtrack to Super Mario Bros.
Fact 5: Since 1995, the voice of Mario has been provided by American voice actor Charles Martinet. He also voices Mario’s twin brother, Luigi, and nemesis, Wario.
Fact 6: Mario’s first appearance was in the 1981 Donkey Kong arcade game. And he wasn’t trying to rescue Princess Peach like in Super Mario Bros. It was actually his friend Pauline.
Fact 7: While the original Super Mario Bros. incorporated classic items like the Super Mushroom and Fire Flower, Super Mario Bros. 3 introduced a host of iconic power-ups for Mario to pick up like the Super Leaf, Tanooki Suit and Goomba’s Shoe. Ever since, creative power-ups and transformations have become a staple of the Super Mario Bros. series.
Fact 8: Mario was originally known as “Jumpman” in Donkey Kong.
Fact 9: Mario actually didn’t appear in Donkey Kong 3, but he did make his return to the series in Donkey Kong for Game Boy.
Fact 10: Some Mario games actually break the space-time continuum by having Mario interact with his younger baby self.
A new ongoing configuration of the Wii U console that includes a pre-installed version of the Mario Kart 8 game as well as a Nintendo eShop download card for the two Mario Kart 8 DLC packs is now on sale in retail stores across the country. The console is available at a suggested retail price of $299.99.
Also on September 11, Nintendo will launch Super Mario Maker for Wii U. Using the Wii U GamePad controller, players can quickly and easily create their own original Super Mario Bros. levels using items, enemies, graphical styles and even power-ups from four classic Mario games.
These levels can be easily uploaded online to share with players all over the world. Game concepts that were never possible before in a Super Mario Bros. game are now possible in Super Mario Maker – and players are in control of it all.
When someone first told me there was an historic presidential retreat in a small desert town near Palm Springs, I told them they must be seeing things. But it turned out they were right. I saw it myself, along with a host of exciting locations, on a recent trip to the town of Rancho Mirage.
My getaway began at the luxurious Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa (www.westinmissionhills.com), where I checked into a gorgeous suite overlooking the property’s championship golf course. Highlighted by soothing taupe tones with textured accents, the room featured a comfortable, king-sized “Westin Heavenly Bed;” a large flat screen TV; office station with complimentary Wi-Fi; mini-fridge and microwave; a bathroom area with double sinks and a rain forest shower head; and a private balcony overlooking said golf course.
Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa is pure luxury in the desert
After acquainting myself with the Westin, I began my Rancho Mirage tour with a great lunch at Babe’s Bar-b-que & Brewhouse (www.babesbbque.com) Founded in 2002 by Don Callender of Marie Callender fame, Babe’s is renown for its secret BBQ smoking process that brings in hungry customers from all over Southern California.
Menu favorites at Babe’s include the pulled pork sandwich, boneless short ribs, skillet cornbread, fresh pies and shortcake, and award-winning micro brews, made at the restaurant’s onsite brewery. My lunch featured a succulent and memorable plate of baby back ribs, accompanied by a tasty sampling of the Babe’s brew master’s latest beers.
Babe’s Bar-b-que & Brewhouse is Rancho Mirage favorite for succulent smoked meats
After lunch it was time for a presidential trip to Sunnylands (www.sunnylands.org), a sprawling West Coast “Camp David,” where US presidents and world leaders meet in seclusion to party in the desert, while mixing in a little work.
Also opened to the public, the retreat was created in the mid-1960s by philanthropists Walter and Leonore Annenberg. Sunnylands covers more than 200 acres of lush, tree-filled lawns, ponds and stately residences, designed by Los Angeles-based architect A. Quincy Jones (1913-1979) in a classic midcentury modernist style that fits in with existing Palm Springs area structures.
Sunnylands is a Westcoast Camp David in the desert for US Presidents
Signatures of Jones’ openness in design are seen in the many overhangs that shield interiors from direct sunlight, and glass walls that in turn, take advantage of the desert sun. The exposed theme continues with visible trellises, steel beams, and coffered ceilings. Some of the most dramatic architectural features can be found at the main house, where the Annenbergs lived between 1966 and 2009. Here, where Mayan accents add flair, there is a large, pink pyramid roof and a tall Mayan monolith fountain out front.
Inside the 25,000 sq-ft residence there is majestic sculpture of Eve by Auguste Rodin in the center of the atrium, surrounded by hundreds of priceless paintings, sculptures and art pieces from around the world, and scores of pictures and letters from all the presidents and world leaders that have visited the estate. And judging from the amount of Ronald Reagan pictures and letters, it seems he was a favorite guest of the Annenbergs. His notes and images dot numerous walls throughout the place. In fact, I read that he celebrated New Year’s Eve at Sunnylands 18 times.
In all, seven presidents were regulars to the estate. The most recent was President Obama, who last year met with ChinesePresident Xi Jinping, played golf, and enjoyed a dinner cooked by Chef Bobby Flay. Other celebrities to escape to Sunnylands include British royal family, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Stewart, Ginger Rogers, and more.
Famous art at Sunnlylands includes works by Rodin, Yaacov Agam, Harry Bertoia, Jean Arp, Emile Gilioli, and Pablo Picasso, along with important works of Chinese porcelain, Meissen vases, Steuben glass, and English silver-gilt objects.
Sunnylands’ Visitor Center is open to the public Thursdays – Sundays and officially opens for the season on September 24. Visitors can enjoy interactive educational kiosks, informational panels and videos, an orientation film in the theater, and paths that wind throughout Sunnylands Gardens. Tours of the estate are $40 and reservations are required. For more info visit: www.sunnylands.org.
Escaping to Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, is wonderful all year round, but guests visiting the Hawaiian resort during the fall will be delighted with a variety of seasonal experiences and special surprises, ranging from Halloween spooks to Christmas cheer. As a mahalo for staying at Aulani during this time of year, guests are invited to take part in a special offer. With Aulani Mahalo Season, the more nights you visit, the more you’ll save – with 30 percent on stays of five or more consecutive nights or 25 percent on stays of four consecutive nights!
Is your ‘ohana ready for some festive fall fun? On select Saturday evenings in October, the resort will host Aulani Ho`olaule`a, a Halloween Party with face painting, balloon artists, games, prizes, dancing and more on the Halawai Lawn. Disney friends including Mickey, Minnie, Chip and Dale appear in their best Halloween costumes for photos and character greetings.
For those choosing to celebrate Thanksgiving with their family at Aulani, the resort’s chefs take guests through a culinary journey with many dining options, including a celebratory meal, Aulani Thanksgiving Feast, featuring an all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet mixed with Disney fantasy. During the Holiday season, carolers sing various holiday songs in the Maka‘ala Lobby and Waikolohe Valley and for those lucky enough to stay at the resort on Christmas Eve, Santa Claus will visit Aunty’s Beach House throughout the day!
Stay tuned for updates on the festivities throughout the rest of the year on the Disney Parks Blog and visit DisneyAulani.com for more details on Aulani Mahalo Season. Book the special offer now through October 26, 2015, for stays most nights August 16 through December 21, 2015 (excluding November 25 through November 28, 2015). Click the button below to get a Free Travel Quote now!
Enjoy the Holidays at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, During Mahalo Season by Tyler Slater: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, the world’s largest regional theme park company, has announced a wide-ranging lineup of exciting and innovative rides and attractions coming to its parks in 2016, including high-thrill coasters, interactive rides, expanded family offerings, new twists on iconic favorites, and Northern California’s first-ever hybrid roller coaster.
“Our rides and attractions are consistently ranked as the most thrilling and innovative in the regional theme park industry and our 2016 lineup will build on that success,” said Jim Reid-Anderson, Chairman, President and CEO. “For five years we have maintained our strategy of introducing something new at every park, every year, delighting our guests with differentiated new attractions and experiences. It is clear our strategy is working – guests are thrilled by the continuous stream of exciting new attractions and park upgrades and we look forward to wowing them again next spring with our 2016 offerings.”
Here is what’s coming:
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom will open the most-anticipated new roller coaster in Northern California in over 10 years, The Joker. The villainous character’s personality is evident in this extreme hybrid coaster’s chaotic twists and turns throughout its 3,200 feet of dual-colored track. With a first ever “step-up under-flip inverted roll” that takes riders horizontal, The Joker ride will also feature the ultimate “fake-out” with a unique breaking wave turn, the only one of its kind on the west coast. Riders will experience a wild Zero G barrel roll plus 15 extreme airtime moments at maximum speeds of 53 mph.
Six Flags Great Adventure will dominate as the “king of chaos” in 2016 when the world’s largest theme park debuts its 14th coaster and the most unique scream machine in its history — Total Mayhem. After being lifted straight up a 12-story, 90-degree hill, this 4-D, free-fly coaster will wreak havoc as riders flip head-over-heels at least six times along the weightless journey. Thrill seekers will experience exhilarating leaps and dives along a horizontal plane, along with unexpected drops as they tumble from one level to the next. The wing seats amp up the pandemonium since riders will experience all of this chaos with no track above or below — just the sky, ground and adjacent lake churning around them. The sister ride introduced at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in 2015 was named among the Top 10 most anticipated new roller coasters by USA TODAY and FOX News.
Both Six Flags Great America and Six Flags Mexico, in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and DC Entertainment, will bring the next generation of interactive thrills to their parks with the debut of JUSTICE LEAGUE: Battle for Metropolis. This immersive, 4D virtual reality-like ride was named by USA TODAY readers as one of the Top Ten New Amusement Park Attractions in 2015 and was most recently awarded Best New Attraction by Theme Park Insider. Guests become members of the JUSTICE LEAGUE Reserve Team and engage in a full-sensory journey as they battle alongside BATMAN™, SUPERMAN™, WONDER WOMAN and GREEN LANTERN against Lex Luthor, The Joker and his henchmen. Traveling in six-passenger vehicles, riders must outsmart the villains to save the city of Metropolis.
Six Flags Magic Mountain, the Thrill Capital of the World, will commemorate its 45th operating season and the 40th anniversary of the world’s first 360-degree looping coaster, Revolution, which has delighted over 45 million guests during its 40-year reign at the park. The New Revolution will feature newly-created special ride effects, a new look, and newly designed trains that will deliver a smoother, sleeker ride experience for guests.
Six Flags Over Texas, the Thrill Capital of Texas, has plans for an impressive expansion to the GOTHAM CITY section of the park that will include three new rides in 2016. The area will become the ultimate battle of BATMAN™ versus villains with the opening of The Riddler Revenge — a new twist on thrills with guaranteed wicked high-flying fun; Catwoman Whip — a sinister spin and tilt ride that is much like its namesake; and Harley Quinn Spinsanity — a devious take on a classic spinning ride.
Thrilling family fun is in the works as Six Flags Over Georgia introduces the world’s first DC SUPER FRIENDS themed area and the all-new Bugs Bunny Boomtown. The two newly-themed children’s areas will feature 12 rides and attractions that families can experience together at the Thrill Capital of the South. This latest expansion is part of a multi-year plan to provide thrills for guests of all ages at the park and includes the addition of Hurricane Harbor in 2014, two new devious rides in Gotham City in 2015 and other exciting additions planned for the future.
It is off to the races to see who is the fastest in the family, as Six Flags White Water adds the new 60-foot tall exhilarating Wahoo Racer water slide. The multi-lane mat racing slide complex is the largest slide of its kind in the world at the South’s Most Thrilling Water Park. Riders will experience the thrill of racing against their friends and family members reaching speeds of up to 40 feet per second on six aero-dynamic designed water toboggans.
The Great Escape is introducing the hair-raising Greezed Lightnin’ in 2016. The all-new super looping thrill ride will rocket guests 360 degrees, reach exhilarating speeds and leave them hanging, waiting for more. Thrill seekers will be hurled a series of seven full inversions, both frontward and backward, experiencing suspenseful hang time at over 70 feet in the air. The new attraction will be located in one of the most historic and visible sections of the park, and its impressive lights and flames will transport guests back in time with its 1950’s theme and hot rod inspiration.
Six Flags America is adding Splashwater Falls — a giant interactive water playground that features dozens of slides, nets, sprays, geysers and thrills for the entire family to enjoy. To top off the fun, a super-sized tipping bucket atop the huge play structure will dump gallons of water on guests throughout the day. While the kids are splashing away, parents can relax on the deck area complete with new lounge chairs and umbrellas.
La Ronde in Montreal is set to bring guests exciting new adventures as it flips the trains on the iconic Vampire coaster to run backward, and adds two rides in an all-new section of the park: Avenue Aventure: Phoenix — a flying scooter ride that puts guests in control as they soar against the wind; and Gravitor — a fun adventure that lifts guests high above the ground as they turn around and around in an ocean of lights and sounds for a real dance party in the sky!
Six Flags St. Louis — the Coaster Capital of Missouri, and Six Flags New England — the Coaster Capital of New England are heating things up next season with the new seven-story tall Fireball looping thrill ride. Fireball features a single loop allowing guests to soar back and forth, pendulum style, as they build up speed to propel them head over heels. Traveling back to back in unique “face-off” seating, guests will rocket through a series of 360° revolutions stopping upside down for some insane, inverted hang time before reversing directions.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas — the Thrill Capital of South Texas is bringing three new thrill rides to the park along with an all-new boardwalk area. In addition to the looping excitement of Fireball, two other mind-bending rides will round out the park’s exciting new Fiesta Bay Boardwalk. On Hurricane Force 5, riders take on the power of a storm and swirl round-and-round while soaring high into the air; and Spinsanity will offer the ultimate whirling adventure for thrill-seekers.
Six Flags New England is thrilled to relaunch its iconic steel coaster Bizarro as Superman™ the Ride featuring superhero music and theming throughout this epic coaster. Riders will feel like Superman™ as they climb over 20 stories into the air and race down like a speeding bullet at 77 miles per hour. Guests will also experience twists, turns and weightlessness along the coaster’s one mile of track. Thrill-seekers will not want to miss this heroic coaster as Superman™ regains his title at the Coaster Capital of New England.
Then, prepare for the scare this fall as Six Flags parks unearth Fright Fest® — the biggest Halloween event in North America — with more ghouls, more haunted mazes and scarier experiences than ever before.
Later this year, the world’s largest regional theme park, Six Flags Great Adventure joins six other Six Flags parks by ringing in the holidays with Holiday in the Park® — a Six Flags signature event featuring a winter wonderland of all the beloved sights and sounds of the season along with rides and attractions for the entire family.
Six Flags is also announcing the start of 2016 Season Pass sales with its special Flash Sale through Labor Day weekend featuring the best deal of the year on 2016 Passes. From September 3 through 7, guests will receive a free upgrade to a Gold Season Pass with every Pass purchased. Gold Season Passes include admission to any Six Flags theme park, as well as free parking and special admission offers for friends. 2016 Season Passes provide unlimited visits any operating day for the rest of 2015, including park admission to Fright Fest, Holiday in the Park and all of 2016.
Passholders may also purchase a Gold Season Dining Pass, which includes a lunch, dinner, and snack during every park visit, plus they will receive a 2016 All Season Sport Bottle for unlimited drink refills. Gold Season Dining Passes may be used at any Six Flags theme park. Six Flags has the best regional theme parks on the planet and continues to deliver incredible value for its guests year after year.
Hulu is offering a commercial-free option to subscribers. Viewers now have the choice to watch Hulu commercial free for $11.99 per month or with limited commercials for $7.99 per month. Current Hulu subscribers will maintain their existing subscription, but will have the choice to switch to the commercial-free option at any time for an additional $4 per month. For viewers who choose to watch content with limited commercials, Hulu will continue to show fewer commercials than scheduled television.
“At Hulu, we pride ourselves on listening to our customers and giving them the best possible experience,” said Mike Hopkins, CEO, Hulu. “Many of our customers have asked us for a commercial free option, and so today we are excited to introduce just that. Providing more choice for consumers is fundamental to the Hulu experience, in addition to an array of choices in content and devices, our customers can now choose to watch with or without commercials.”
Over the last year Hulu has aggressively expanded its content lineup. Most recently, Hulu announced a landmark, multi-year agreement with EPIX that will bring premium and hit films from Lionsgate, MGM and Paramount to Hulu for the first time. Hulu also signed groundbreaking licensing deals with networks including AMC, FX and Turner, and acquired the exclusive subscription streaming rights to full libraries of hit broadcast and cable shows including Seinfeld, Empire, Fargo, South Park, CSI, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Nashville, Deadliest Catch, The Last Ship and more. Earlier this year, Hulu also became the only subscription video on-demand service to offer the SHOWTIME® premium service as an add-on directly to subscribers for an additional $8.99 per month.
In addition, Hulu has made a strong investment in its original programming and has greenlit an exciting slate of originals, including the event series 11/22/63 from Stephen King and J.J. Abrams starring James Franco; comedy series Difficult People produced by Amy Poehler with stars Julie Klausner and Billy Eichner; Casual, a comedy series from Oscar®-nominated Director Jason Reitman; The Way (wt), a drama series starring Aaron Paul and Michelle Monaghan from Jason Katims; the first long-form project from Freddie Wong and the RocketJump team; and season four of the critically-acclaimed comedy The Mindy Project, starring Mindy Kaling.
For viewers who choose the limited commercials viewing option, Hulu remains dedicated to providing a seamless and relevant ad experience by connecting viewers with the right advertisers. Most recently, Hulu announced strong investment in advertising technology with its programmatic offering to deliver the right ad to the right user at the right time.
Since its launch in 2008, Hulu has been at the forefront of entertainment and technology. In 2015, the company announced it had grown to nearly 9 million US subscribers, an overall 50% growth year over year.
McDonald’s enthusiasts throughout Southern California have a new way to enjoy food and beverage deals with the launch of a brand new McDonald’s Mobile App, offering national and local deals from the convenience of their smartphone.
Available for iOS and Android devices, the app will engage customers by providing convenient ways to interact with the McDonald’s brand, how and when they want. The app showcases McDonald’s commitment to meeting customers where they are and enhancing their lives by making McDonald’s offerings more convenient and valuable. To encourage participation, McDonald’s is offering a free large sandwich and a frequency program through which customers can earn a free McCafe drink after five McCafe drink purchases*.
“Digital has become a really big focus at McDonald’s,” said Julia Vander Ploeg, vice president of digital at McDonald’s USA. “The Mobile App will transform how our customers engage with us by removing physical boundaries so they can connect to McDonald’s any time or place. While McDonald’s and our franchisees have partnered to create strong, valuable national and local offers for our customers, the app is fundamentally local and a way for customers to interact and engage with their everyday McDonald’s restaurant.”
In addition to national offers, customers will have the opportunity to take advantage of local Southern California offers. Initial Southern California-specific offers include buy one, get one for Breakfast Sandwiches, Free Happy Meal with Premium Salad purchases, $4 off any purchase of $20 or more and $1 off any Premium Burger. New app specials will rotate each week.
“Connecting with our customers is always a priority and now we can do it digitally,” said Clay Paschen III, President, McDonald’s Operators’ Association of Southern California. “We look forward to gleaning insights that will allow for customized deals and exclusive promotions only available to users.”
The McDonald’s Mobile App is available for download in the app store for Apple devices and in the Google Play marketplace for Android devices. For more information, visit www.mcdapp.com.
*Available only for the first 8 million downloads. Customers who download the app must also register to receive national offers. Offers expire after redemption and by end of day on December 31, 2015.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts continues with its second year of participation in Disney Musicals in Schools, having recently selected four Orange County public elementary schools to embark in the 2015 program. Last year, Segerstrom Center was awarded a $100,000 grant from Disney to help bring the Disney Musicals in Schools program to Orange County, and the first year of the program resulted in a total of 250 students and 20 teachers from four elementary schools going on a musical journey that would find them discovering the world of musical theater, all while developing and honing various skills throughout the process. Their journey, from the school grounds to the big stage, culminated in a production of a Disney KIDS musical.
Through an application process, Segerstrom Center has selected four Orange County public elementary schools, new to this program, to participate during the 2015 – 16 school year: Agnes Ware Stanley Elementary (Garden Grove), Ethan B. Allen Elementary School (Fountain Valley), San Juan Elementary School (San Juan Capistrano) and Westmont Elementary School (Westminster).
The four selected schools will participate in a 17-week musical theater residency. Segerstrom Center will train and assign teaching artists to work with each school. At no cost to them, the schools will receive performance rights, educational support materials and guidance from the teaching artists. The role of the teaching artists is to help produce the chosen Disney musical and to create a sustainable theater program in the participating schools. The programs will culminate in 30-minute Disney KIDS musicals at each school site. On March 22, 2016, Segerstrom Center will host a Student Share Celebration, where each school will have the extraordinary opportunity to perform a selection from its show on the Center’s stage for an audience of fellow students, family members and friends.
Disney Musicals in Schools is an outreach program initiative developed by Disney Theatrical Group to create ongoing theater programs in local elementary schools. The after-school programs are completely free to participating schools. Disney Musicals in Schools helps to keep the arts in schools and utilizes the unique world of musical theater to build positive relationships between students, faculty, staff, parents and the community. Students work in teams to develop or restore self-confidence, strengthen communication and collaboration skills all while learning and enjoying the process of creating a Disney musical theater production.
Disney Musicals in Schools was launched in response to Disney Theatrical Group’s concern that lowincome students in urban, public schools were not afforded equitable access to the arts. After successfully offering the program in New York City schools, Disney Theatrical Group began partnering with organizations in other communities around the United States.
Disney KIDS musicals, created in partnership with Music Theatre International (MTI), are about 30 minutes in length and have been adapted from the classic Disney films, 101 Dalmatians, Aladdin, The Aristocats, Cinderella, The Jungle Book, The Lion King, Sleeping Beauty, and Winnie the Pooh.
If you like food, or wine, or both, then get ready for Food & Wine this year because it is going to be the biggest one yet! Just take a look at everything the festival is already offering. The 20th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival promises a tasting celebration of epic proportion Sept. 25-Nov. 16, 2015, with more global marketplaces than ever and a first-time culinary collaboration with ABC’s Emmy-Award winning lifestyle series “The Chew.”
For the first time in the festival’s 20-year history, guests can sip and sample at marketplace experiences — now numbering more than 30 – in the park’s new Future World tasting areas. Festival guests also can see “The Chew” tape five shows before an Epcot audience Oct. 7-9 to air Oct. 12-16.
Disney chefs and festival programmers are whipping up a feast of surprises to celebrate the 20th annual festival in style. New wine tastings, lively parties and other culinary experiences built around the 20-year milestone will unite loyal festival fans and first-timers.
During the 53-day festival, presented by Chase and recognized by the Travel Channel as one of America’s top food festivals, Epcot will brim with epicurean discoveries:
The new Artistry of Wine & Cheese area will feature the Cheese Studio and Wine Studio marketplaces where premium wines will be available on tap and cheeses will be served on an “artist’s palette” as part of a wine-and-cheese pairing.
At the new Next Eats area near the Epcot Character Spot, Sustainable Chew Marketplace will offer guests a taste of delicious dishes inspired by “The Chew” co-hosts. At Chew Lab, food science meets the hottest culinary tech trends with dishes like the Liquid Nitro Chocolate Almond Truffle with Warm Whiskey Caramel.
New marketplace dishes like the Grilled Sweet and Spicy Bush Berry Shrimp (Australia), Pepper Bacon Mac ‘N Cheese (Farm Fresh) and Seared Venison Loin with Wild Mushroom Marsala Sauce (New Zealand) will tempt taste buds. The Dominican Republic Marketplace will return with fresh flair and an all-new menu with dishes that include Pescado con Coco – seared grouper, pigeon peas with rice and coconut sauce.
With a 20th-year nod to guests’ favorite dining traditions, Disney chefs will bring back popular marketplace dishes like the New England Lobster Roll (Hops & Barley) and classic favorites like the Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup.
Two 20th-year celebratory wines were created just for this fall’s festival: a Napa Valley Festival Chardonnay and a Paso Robles Festival Cabernet Sauvignon. Guests can taste both wines at the Chew Lab marketplace or buy a bottle at the Festival Center Wine Shop.
A Tasting Sampler package gives guests the chance to try a variety of marketplace sips and nibbles, enjoy priority seating at an Eat to the Beat concert and receive a limited-release 20th-year festival pin. The Premium Package, available Monday-through-Thursday, includes a festival-themed Magic Band, access to exclusive marketplace areas, a culinary demo or beverage seminar, an IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party and other perks.
New premium events, including the “Rockin’ Burger Block Party” will offer a variety of tasting opportunities. The iconic Party for the Senses grand tasting will sizzle with on-stage cooking and beverage stations plus live entertainment each Saturday in October culminating in the first-ever Oct. 31 “Yelloween Masquerade” party.
Remy, the diminutive but determined star of Disney’s “Ratatouille,” will cook up family fun with Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt.
Nightly Eat to the Beat concerts kick off Sept. 25-27 with singer-songwriter David Cook. Four new acts in the concert series lineup – Tiffany, Everclear, Maxi Priest and Chaka Khan – will belt out chart-topping tunes. Other popular acts, including Wilson Phillips, Smash Mouth, The Pointer Sisters, Jo Dee Messina, Boyz II Men and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, will return to rock the America Gardens Theatre stage.
More than 250 chefs, including Disney chefs, and culinary stars from across the country will help celebrate the festival’s 20th Cat Cora, Robert Irvine, Jamie Deen, Rock Harper, Buddy Valastro and other top chefs will share their culinary know-how. Renowned chef and cookbook author John Ash, who participated in the inaugural festival in 1996, will return to celebrate the 20th year.
At the Chase Lounge at American Adventure, anyone with a Chase debit or credit card will find complimentary refreshments and interactive fun.
In Future World, the Ocean Spray Cranberry Bog returns for a fourth year to celebrate the cranberry’s rich agricultural heritage.
Included with Epcot Admission:
Back to Basics series, special book signings, Eat to the Beat concerts, cultural adventures, Marketplace Discovery Passport and attractions and park entertainment are included with regular Epcot admission.
If you’re keeping an eye on construction at Disney Springs, you may have noticed the 36-foot-tall building going up along the waterfront – it’s Morimoto Asia, set to open Sept. 30, a creative collaboration between world-famous Chef Masaharu Morimoto and Patina Restaurant Group. If you are a fan of Asian cuisine such as I, then you will not want to wait to try the menu!
It’s the first “pan-Asian” dining experience for Chef Morimoto, and includes his eclectic take on his favorite Asian flavors including moo shu pork, Peking duck, lobster chow fun, sweet and sour crispy whole fish, and spicy kung pao chicken. Weekends, dim sum will be served during brunch, with dumplings, shumai, bao, spare ribs and more. (Don’t worry there’s plenty for kids, such as chicken ramen, kakuni pork bao, and karaage fried chicken.)
The sushi bar, sculpted from hundreds of pieces of hand-selected ash wood that’s backed with a wall of hammered copper, has just 14 coveted seats, with global inspiration from toro, kanpachi, Japanese red snapper, uni, sea eel, hamachi, fluke, salmon and more – whatever is freshest. If you’re in the lounge or dining rooms, a selection of specialty rolls and sushi platters will be available.
The restaurant will serve sake, including the Morimoto signature line, wines from around the globe, signature cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks. Beers, bottled and draft, will be mostly Asian, including the Morimoto signature beer by Rogue Ales. (Beer fans, the collector’s edition Imperial Pilsner and Morimoto Soba Ale and the highly coveted Black Obi Soba will be available.)
The expansive restaurant includes beautiful lounges, dining spaces, open kitchen and a two-story outdoor terrace overlooking the water. The main entrance features a three-story glass corner, and the sculptural bar is one of the largest in the world, more than 270 feet long, connecting the grand dining room on the ground floor with the upper level Forbidden Lounge as it wraps around the staircase. Look for custom glass beaded chandeliers and glass mosaics based on ancient Japanese prints.
Morimoto Asia will begin to accept reservations on Sept. 16 through Open Table. Or beginning Sept. 30, you can make reservations through the restaurant at 407-560-6686. Reservations through 407-WDW-DINE begin Nov. 1. Hours are daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. serving lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.
By the time it’s complete in 2016, Disney Springs will double the number of shops and restaurants currently found at Downtown Disney and grow to more than 1 million square feet, including 350,000 square feet of new leasable space. Disney Springs will include four distinct, outdoor neighborhoods with a high-quality, diverse mix of retailers – including premium, affordable luxury and fast fashion options. Sophisticated restaurants will provide experiences for families and convention-guests alike.
Morimoto Asia Opens Sept. 30 at Disney Springs by Pam Brandon: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog
Disney Interactive has launched Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition, the latest installment in the highly successful Disney Infinity “toys-to-life” franchise, bringing together Star Wars™ with Disney, Disney•Pixar and Marvel for the ultimate family gaming experience.
Available at a suggested retail price of $64.99, the Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Starter Pack includes the Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition video game software and base, the Star Wars™ Twilight of the Republic Play Set piece, Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker character figures, and a web code card that unlocks
content for PC and mobile devices.
“Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition is the only video game that brings together the most iconic stories and characters from across The Walt Disney Company, offering a family gaming experience unlike any other,” said James Pitaro, Co-Chairman, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media and President, Disney Interactive.
In addition to new, original true-to-property experiences in the Play Sets, Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition features an updated and improved Toy Box mode where families can mix and match some of their favorite Star Wars, Disney, Disney•Pixar and Marvel characters and play with them together. A newly enhanced Toy Box Hub makes it easier for players to choose from a wider selection of gameplay experiences – including platforming, racing and farming simulation games.
“Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition completes a multi-year introduction of Disney Infinity, which is now positioned to serve as Disney’s family gaming platform for years to come,” said John Blackburn, SVP and General Manager, Disney Infinity. “This year’s edition offers one of the most complete Star Wars gaming experiences ever created, as well as a wider variety of gameplay than any previous edition of Disney Infinity.”
The following standalone Play Sets and figures are also available today for Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition:
Disney•Pixar’s Inside Out Play Set with Joy and Anger character figures included (MSRP: $34.99)
Disney•Pixar Inside Out character figures Sadness, Disgust and Fear (MSRP: $13.99 each)
Star Wars Twilight of the Republic Play Set (MSRP: $34.99) for players who choose to digitally download the Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Software
Star Wars Twilight of the Republic character figures Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi (MSRP: $13.99 each)
Star Wars Rebels™ character figures Kanan Jarrus, Ezra Bridger, Sabine Wren and Zeb Orrelios (MSRP: $13.99 each)
Disney character figures Mickey, Minnie, Mulan, Olaf, Sam Flynn and Quorra from “Tron: Legacy” (MSRP: $13.99 each)
Star Wars Saga Bundle (MSRP $114.99) – Sony Exclusive
Star Wars Twilight of the Republic Power Disc Pack (MSRP $9.99)
Tomorrowland Power Disc Pack (MSRP $9.99)
Additional Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Play Sets, Power Discs and figures will be available later this year.
Fans who already own Disney Infinity and Disney Infinity (2.0 Edition), but want to play Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition, will once again have the option to purchase and digitally download the Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition video game. Disney Infinity players with an Internet connection can digitally download the game on their PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, the Wii U™ system from Nintendo, Xbox One and Xbox 360 and use the Disney Infinity base, figures and Power Discs that they already own with the newly improved Toy Box 3.0 without having to purchase a new Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Starter Pack. The digital download for the video game is available for a suggested retail price of $29.99.
To expand the experience, players can also purchase separately all of the available Play Sets, Power Discs and figures for Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition. Additionally, user generated content is now available online for free download in the newly enhanced Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Toy Box mode. Players can continue to expand their Disney Infinity experience with Toy Boxes created by the Avalanche Software development team, Toy Box Artists and the Disney Infinity community.
The Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Starter Pack is now available in major North American retail stores for the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One and Xbox 360 and the Wii U™ system from Nintendo. Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition is rated E10+ by the ESRB and developed by Avalanche Software in partnership with Ninja Theory, Sumo Digital, Studio Gobo and United Front Games.
All character figures and Power Discs from the 1.0 and 2.0 editions of Disney Infinity will be compatible with Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition in the enhanced Toy Box 3.0.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa is gearing up for it’s 30th season! Next years 2015/2016 season will feature an incredible line-up of popular beloved classics along with exciting newcomers that surely will intrigue any theatergoer. The season promises to top years past with every series a strong contender for a reason to get to the theater. This is the first year that I truly want to see every show and that’s saying a lot!
While the seasons schedule has been announced for sometime, Segerstrom Center for the Arts recently held their annual season preview enticing the entire audience to subscribe to a season! The audience was buzzing with delight as every sneak peek and song performance delivered chills. It was an incredible line up with performances from five of the season’s hit shows: DISNEY’S THE LION KING, DISNEY’S NEWSIES, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, THE ILLUSIONISTS and RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA.
It was by far a superior preview from recent memory with a delightful playful banter from the presenters including EVP of Marketing for Broadway Across America Bob Bucci. The preview was a snappy show with performance after performance along with the now traditional “guess what Bobby is going to wear tonight” moment that always gets a good laugh. The Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall was packed with guests standing on the very top tier. With roaring applause the theater shined with glee as it’s easy to see this will be a tremendous season.
While the preview lacked the inclusion of dance numbers or jazz performances that The Center is also known for, this year focused on off-Broadway shows. While the following is all about the list of top-shows, do not forget that Segerstrom offers so much more including a jazz, dance, chamber-music and family-fun Discover series all within their beautifully facilities.
The evening began with the lights dimming, a shadowy figure walking to center stage in near darkness. Silence ensued, the audience stiffened up, and then it happened… that ear-piercing yet most welcoming note hit loudly within the the hall, it was TSHIDI MANYE performing that ever so familiar opening song of THE LION KING, “Circle of Life”.
The night also saw a performance from an all-new production of CABARET that has been completely re-staged and re-struck for their 50th Anniversary Season. SAM MENDES, yes the guy who directed SKYFALL, and ROB MARSHALL (INTO THE WOODS, CHICAGO) have completely reworked the show with Roundabout Theatre Company revitalizing a classic for a new audience.
Orange County is no doubt excited for the debut of DISNEY’S NEWSIES. While it has been at The Pantages for awhile, Segerstrom is beyond excited to bring it a little more south, and so was the crowd! We were treated with a moving performance of “Santa Fe” sung by ADAM KAPLAN as well as “Carrying the Banner” with him and company all dressed in their newsies best.
RIDGERS abd HANNERSTEIN also have a brand new production of CINDERELLA featuring lush new sets, magical transformations, and the return of many classic numbers. THE SOUND OF MUSIC also makes it OC debut with a production that’s truly it’s own entity with a soul we always knew was there but never saw. The song featured in the preview was a bit to melismatic, yet still beautiful.
Also coming next year is a show a bit different than your typical Broadway show. THE ILLUSIONISTS makes it debut in Costa Mesa and brings together 7 of the worlds best musicians. We were presented with one of the acts who absolutely stunned the audience with tear-jerking laughter. This flamboyantly showy comedian-musician was so outrageously funny that the crowd was laughing harder than any comedy show I have ever attended. I may not be one for a magic show today, but this act sold me! While not all acts of comedy acts, this guy had me nearly on the floor laughing with perfect timing and improvisation along with stepping close to the line that it created that perfect amount of shock value yet still being near family-friendly.
I myself surprisingly have yet to see the THE LION KING, but it’s coming up soon at Segerstrom with performances starting October 6th and I know I can’t miss it this time.
TSHIDI MANYE was on the original soundtrack for the Disney movie and later appeared on Broadway with the show in 1997. She is still with the production and it was a treat to see this South African native perform this song from so many childhoods.
We had the opportunity to speak with MANYE after the show who was nothing but an utter delight. Her charm must reflect well into her character of Rafiki in the musical and truly cherishes this role. Below is just an excerpt with our panel discussion with TSHIDI MANYE and ADAM KAPLAN (NEWSIES).
Why do you think this is the time for Newsies, why is resonates well with audiences today with people who haven’t seen the movie and have only seen the musical?
ADAM KAPLAN: Yeah, I think it’s such an underdog story and it also resonates I think with everything going on with social media today and world about how the younger generation is taking a stand trying to have their voices heard. That’s all this story is about, these underdogs that took a step forward and set this benchmark for the generation. But also I think that it’s such a great show for the teen base. …the ‘Fansies’ they love this show so much and I think Social Media has helped that. I claim to be ‘Instafamous’… even though it takes place in 1899, it has a lot of similar themes to what’s going on with inequalities.
Building off the previous question, it was asked how their shows are relevant to today’s society and why the shows still resonate with today’s audience.
TSHIDI MANYE responded stating that with THE LION KING it’s with the culture and the mixture of cultures the story tells. People relate to the story who have gone through some situations in their life and the show makes them think beyond them and what is a head of them and what they can achieve.
“The Center’s 2015 – 2016 Broadway and Curtain Call series is start to finish one legendary show after another. Each has made an indelible mark on Broadway history. Coming to the Center for the first time are Disney’s Newsies, If/Then and The Illusionists. In all new productions not seen at the Center before are 42nd Street, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella and The Sound of Music. Back by popular demand are Roundabout Theatre Company’s Cabaret and Broadway superpowers Disney’s The Lion King and The Book of Mormon. Two bonus shows include the dance blast Riverdance and, returning to the land of Orange County, Wicked.”
Broadway Series
Disney’s THE LION KING
42ND STREET Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA Disney’s NEWSIES THE SOUND OF MUSIC Roundabout Theatre Company’s CABARET
Curtain Call Series
IF/THEN THE ILLUSIONISTS – WITNESS THE IMPOSSIBLE™
THE BOOK OF MORMON
Bonus Options
RIVERDANCE – The 20th Anniversary World Tour
WICKED
Single tickets for shows will go on sale approximately six weeks prior to the engagement. More information can be found on SCFTA.org. All of us here at Socalthrills look forward to seeing you at the theater!
————————————————————————-
DISNEY’S THE LION KING
October 6 – November 1, 2015
Segerstrom Hall
Giraffes strut. Birds swoop. Gazelles leap. The entire Serengeti comes to life. And as the music soars, Pride Rock slowly emerges from the mist. More than 70 million people
around the world have experienced the phenomenon of Disney’s THE LION KING. Winner of six Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, this landmark musical event brings together one of the most imaginative creative teams on Broadway. Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor brings to life a story filled with hope and adventure set against an amazing backdrop of stunning visuals. THE LION KING also features some of Broadway’s most recognizable music, crafted by Tony Award-winning artists Elton John and Tim Rice. There is simply nothing else like THE LION KING. 42nd STREET | NEW PRODUCTION
November 10 – 22, 2015
Segerstrom Hall
The quintessential backstage musical comedy classic, 42nd Street is the song and dance fable of Broadway with an American Dream story and includes some of the greatest songs ever written, such as “We’re in the Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” “Shuffle off to Buffalo,” “Dames,” “I Only Have Eyes For You” and, of course, “42nd Street.” Based on a novel by Bradford Ropes and Busby Berkeley’s 1933 movie, 42nd Street tells the story of a starry-eyed young dancer named Peggy Sawyer who comes to New York to audition for the new Broadway musical Pretty Lady. When the star breaks her ankle, Peggy takes over and becomes a star. With a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Al Dubin, this sparkling new production will be directed by co-author Mark Bramble and choreographed by Randy Skinner, the team who staged the 2001 Tony Award-winning Best Musical Revival. RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA | NEW PRODUCTION
April 19 – May 1, 2016
Segerstrom Hall
Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA is the Tony Award- winning Broadway musical from the creators of The King & I and South Pacific that’s delighting audiences with its
contemporary take on the classic tale. This lush production features an incredible orchestra, jaw-dropping transformations and all the moments you love – the pumpkin, the glass slipper, the masked ball and more – plus some surprising new twists! Be transported back to your childhood as you rediscover some of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s most beloved songs, including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible” and “Ten Minutes Ago,” in this hilarious and romantic Broadway experience for anyone who’s ever had a wish, a dream… or a really great pair of shoes. DISNEY’S NEWSIES | CENTER PREMIERE
May 17 – 29, 2016
Segerstrom Hall
They delivered the papers, until they made the headlines…. Direct from Broadway comes NEWSIES, the smash-hit, crowd-pleasing new musical from Disney. Winner of the 2012 Tony Awards for Best Score and Best Choreography, NEWSIES has audiences and critics alike calling it “A MUSICAL WORTH SINGING ABOUT!” (The New York Times). Filled with one heart-pounding number after another, it’s a high-energy explosion of song and dance. It features a score by Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast) and Jack Feldman (The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride) and a book by Harvey Fierstein (La Cage Aux Folles), with choreography by Christopher Gattelli (South Pacific) and direction by Jeff Calhoun (Big River). THE SOUND OF MUSIC | NEW PRODUCTION
July 19 – 31, 2016
Segerstrom Hall
THE HILLS ARE ALIVE! The spirited, romantic and beloved musical story of Maria and the von Trapp family will once again thrill audiences with its Tony, Grammy® and Academy Award® winning Best Score, including “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “Edelweiss” and the title song. “We plan to look more closely at this remarkable work – to tear off the varnish of the past and reveal one of the great, fresh glories of musical theater,” says three-time Tony Award-winning director Jack O’Brien. THE SOUND OF MUSIC features music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, suggested by “The Trapp Family Singers” by Maria Augusta Trapp. CABARET
August 9 – 21, 2016
Segerstrom Hall
Direct from Broadway, the acclaimed masterpiece returns to Costa Mesa! As part of their 50th Anniversary Season, the critically acclaimed and award-winning Roundabout
Theatre Company is proud to present SAM MENDES (Skyfall, American Beauty) and ROB MARSHALL’s (Into the Woods and Chicago, the films) Tony Award-winning production of CABARET. Come hear some of the most memorable songs in theatre history, including “Cabaret,” “Willkommen” and “Maybe This Time.” Leave your troubles outside – life is beautiful at CABARET, JOHN KANDER, FRED EBB and JOE MASTEROFF’s Tony-winning musical about following your heart while the world loses its way. IF/THEN | CENTER PREMIERE
January 19 – 24, 2016
Segerstrom Hall
If/Then is a contemporary Broadway musical about living in New York today – and all the possibilities of tomorrow. With unforgettable songs and a deeply moving story by the
Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning creators of Next to Normal, this “fascinating, ambitious and original new musical” (New York Post) simultaneously follows one woman’s two possible life paths, painting a deeply moving portrait of the lives we lead, as well as the lives we might have led. “Thrilling! The best musical of the year,” according to New York Magazine. THE ILLUSIONISTS | CENTER PREMIERE
February 2 – 7, 2016
Segerstrom Hall
Having shattered box office records around the world, THE ILLUSIONISTS – WITNESS THE IMPOSSIBLETM is now coming to captivate Orange County. This mind-blowing spectacular showcases the jaw-dropping talents of five of the most incredible illusionists on earth. Full of hilarious magic tricks, death-defying stunts and acts of breathtaking wonder, THE ILLUSIONISTS has dazzled audiences of all ages. Creative Producer Simon Painter said, “We can’t wait to bring this electrifying show to Southern California for a truly entertaining experience for the whole family. THE ILLUSIONISTS is the most non- stop and powerful mix of outrageous and astonishing acts ever to be seen on the live stage.” THE BOOK OF MORMON
March 22 – April 3, 2016
Segerstrom Hall
Back by popular demand! Hailed by The New York Times as “the best musical of this century” and the winner of nine Tony Awards, THE
BOOK OF MORMON is the blockbuster Broadway smash from South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt
Stone and the Oscar-winning composer of Disney’s Frozen and Avenue Q, Bobby Lopez. This outrageous musical comedy follows the misadventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent halfway across the world to spread the Good Word. Now with standing room only productions in London, on Broadway and across North America, THE BOOK OF MORMON has truly become an international sensation. Contains explicit language. RIVERDANCE
January 1 – 3, 2016
Segerstrom Hall
The international Irish dance phenomenon is back by popular demand in Riverdance – The 20th Anniversary World Tour. Drawing on Irish traditions, the combined talents of the performers propel Irish dancing and music into the present day, capturing the imagination of audiences across all ages and cultures in an innovative and exciting blend of dance, music and song. Of all the performances to emerge from Ireland – in rock, music, theatre and film – nothing has carried the energy, the sensuality and the spectacle of Riverdance. Riverdance – The 20th Anniversary World Tour is composed by Bill Whelan, produced by Moya Doherty and directed by John McColgan and comes directly to North America from a sold out run across Europe and Asia. WICKED
February 17 – March 6, 2016
Segerstrom Hall
Back by “popular” demand. Variety calls WICKED “a cultural phenomenon,” and it continues to break box office records across North America. Winner of over 100 international awards, including a Grammy and three Tony Awards, WICKED is “Broadway’s biggest blockbuster” (The New York Times). Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two girls meet in the Land of Oz. One – born with emerald green skin – is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good makes for “the most complete – and completely satisfying – musical in a long time” (USA Today).
