Disney Interactive launched Disney Gif, a mobile keyboard extension that lets users easily send gifs and emojis of their favorite stories and characters via text, email, and other messaging and social platforms. Featuring content from Disney’s “Frozen,” “Star Wars”, ABC’s “Scandal,” Disney•Pixar’s “Inside Out,” classic Disney films, and much more, Disney Gif has something for every fan.
Whether they’re feeling happy, sassy, or villainous, users can find the perfect gif in the keyboard’s curated galleries, which are categorized by emotions and Disney films and shows. More than 200 gifs are live now and more will be coming soon – keep an eye out for new additions in the featured and recently added sections. The trending category will also give users a pulse for Disney Gif’s most popular content.
With this app, Disney is enabling fans to express themselves using beloved Disney characters and stories both through text and email messaging as well as on the increasing number of social platforms that support gif content. Disney emoji have been incredibly popular, with the #StarWarsEmojis generating more than 1 billion impressions on Twitter in the two weeks after their reveal at Star Wars Celebration. Gifs and other social content have also helped grow Disney’s social network, which has more than 1.5 billion “likes” across character and film pages on Facebook. Disney Gif extends these content offerings and makes it even easier for fans to bring them into everyday conversation.
To bring the magic to your keyboard, download Disney Gif for FREE from the Apple App Store.
If you are going to be in Walt Disney World over the Fourth of July, then get ready for a magical patriotic celebration like no other. This year Walt Disney World will be offering not one, not two, but three different firework shows in several different parks. Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios will each feature a special firework show for the holiday. Not sure which show to see? Don’t worry, because Walt Disney World will be presenting these shows on both July 3rd and July 4th! Guests can show off their patriotic Disney side in this two day celebration to honor America.
A 14-minute fireworks spectacular rockets into the air above Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom both nights at 10 p.m. with “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky.”
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the “Coolest Summer Ever” Dance Party leads up to a “Rockin’ Fourth of July Celebration” fireworks show, a pyrotechnic, rock ‘n roll trip across America, where the DJ kicks things off at 5:45 p.m. and keeps the party going until fireworks time at 10:15 p.m.
Epcot’s awe-inspiring nighttime spectacular “Illuminations: Reflections of Earth” features a special finale with a bit of red, white and blue flare at 9 p.m. on July 3 and 4.
Epcot features a few additional fanfare festivities on July 4 to add to the flag-waving spirit of the holiday. The Voices of Liberty perform a Fourth of July concert at the America Gardens Theatre at 12:30, 1:45, and 3 p.m., and in the American Adventure pavilion at 4:15 and 5 p.m. The celebration proceeds on a high note with the Sounds Like Summer concert series onstage at the America Gardens Theatre featuring “Don’t Look Back – A Boston Tribute Band,” with performances at 5:15, 6:30, 7:45 and 9 p.m. Special patriotic character greetings also are available at various times throughout the day.
Walt Disney World’s Fourth of July firework displays are definitely a special, more elaborate production compared to the already spectacular nighttime shows. Any of its three festive displays are not-to-miss experiences.
Independence Day festivities cannot be complete without a few star-spangled souvenirs, including USA shirts, trading pins and red, white and blue socks. A few festive treats also will be available in various merchandise locations.
The Fourth of July fun continues at the Walt Disney World resort hotels. They will host patriotic poolside activities throughout the day for resort guests, including Fourth of July-themed crafts and games, pool parties and movies under the stars at select resorts.
Gmail, Google’s immensely popular web-based email service, is coming to your Mac as a desktop app. Designed by Zive Inc., the Kiwi for Gmail app offers a pure Gmail experience from the comfort and convenience of your desktop.
Watch the video below to see the App in Action:
Founded by Eric Shashoua and Ryan Shetley, the folks at Zive set out to create a product that could make a real difference in some of the tools people use most often by making them beautiful, seamless and effortless – and so the idea to simplify Gmail was born.
You see, as it stands, there is no good way of accessing all of the various productivity features that Gmail offers outside of your web browser, and while mail clients like Apple’s own Mail or Microsoft’s Outlook are able to connect and download email from Gmail’s servers, they often lack the sorting, labeling, and prioritizing features that make Gmail such a powerhouse. Enter Kiwi for Gmail.
Kiwi for Gmail allows users to have unfettered desktop access to all of Gmail because it isn’t another app trying to work with every other email service know to man; Kiwi only does Gmail, and it does it well. Using Kiwi, you’ll be able to access many of the features you’ve already come to know and love, including,
Quick and Easy composition
In-app account switching
Powerful Search
Google Drive
Inline Buttons
Priority Inbox
Google Calendar
And much, much more
Kiwi for Gmail will be available on June 23rd from the Mac App Store, however at the time of this writing, you can pre-order Kiwi for 50%off the list price of $9.99 on the Kiwi for Gmail website. Additionally, Zive will launch “Kiwi for Gmail Lite”, a free version of the app that will give you a taste of what Kiwi has to offer, with some reduced functionality. Our recommendation is to buy the full version to really experience the full functionality of the app, and with the discount, it’s $5 well spent.
The new Fast & Furious – Supercharged ride at Universal Studios Hollywood can be summed up in two words: Fast and Furious. There are many other adjectives to describe this thrilling new 3D experience, but I think the ride creators picked the best two.
Officially opening to the public on June 24, this technologically-advanced attraction reunites stars from the popular film series of the same name in a groundbreaking, 3-D explosion of fast cars, helicopters, drones, big guns, and good guys vs. bad guys. During my preview of the ride I was literally ducking and dodging in my seat as Vin Diesel (Dominic “Dom” Toretto), Dwayne Johnson (Luke Hobbs), and they rest of their team raced through the city at speeds in excess of 120 mph to help protect a witness – all while being relentlessly chased by an evil gang.
“I get a chance to become Luke Hobbs and kick-ass…all in 3D,” said Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, after shooting the making of the ride.
Fast & Furious – Supercharged, which is part of the theme park’s legendary back lot Studio Tour, is described as a dynamic hydraulic motion-based ride that fuses sophisticated hyper-realistic special effects with a state-of-the-art 3D audio system and 3D-HD imagery, projected onto the world’s longest and most expansive 360-degree screen. Spanning nearly 400 ft in length, the sprawling custom-built screen completely encircles guest, while employing 34, 4K projectors and a sophisticated projection configuration system to envelop guests in unprecedented realism.
Adding to the fun of the ride are “Fast & Furious” cast members who are broadcast “live” on tram monitors to provide updates of the action ahead. Along the tram route guests will also get a few glimpses numerous prop cars from the movies, including Dom’s iconic Dodge Charger.
Fast & Furious – Supercharged is the new grand finale to Studio Tour. As far as thrills and 3D action, it equals or possibly even surpasses the tram ride’s other highlight, King Kong 360 3-D. Created by film producer Peter Jackson, this adventure begins when the tram enters a darkened soundstage on Skull Island and guests are caught on a bridge, in the middle of a mega-fight between a menacing 35-ft-tall T-Rex and massive King Kong. I got so close to the action on this attraction, that I could feel the breath of the monsters and water as it flew from their bodies. To create King Kong 360 3-D, the studio surrounds the tram with two 187-ft-wide by 40-ft-high curved screens, representing the equivalent of 16 movie theatre screens.
The narrated Studio Tour also includes a behind-the-scene drive past the neighborhood of the eerie plane crash from the movie War of the Worlds, the Bates Motel from the classic movie Psycho and the set of Jaws for an up-close look at the mechanical monster from the 1975 thriller.
Besides the Studio Tour, Universal Studios is also full of world-class theme park attractions. One of my favorites is Transformers: The Ride-3D, an immersive expedition, blurring the line between fiction and reality. Fusing HD 3D media and flight simulation technology, Transformers takes guests into a futuristic world where alien robots from the planet Cybertron fight it out on earth. Based on the popular movies, this mind-blowing attraction allows visitors to fight alongside Optimus as he tries to protect the AllSpark from Decepticons over four stories tall.
Another classic attraction is Jurassic Park The Ride, that takes guests back to the era of dinosaurs. Beginning with a peaceful boat trip through the park to get look at gentle herbivore giants such as the brontosaurus, the ride quickly gets out of control when the raft plunges 84 ft and crashes into a building full of vicious meat-eating monsters like a 50-ft-tall T-Rex.
Universal Studios Hollywood is located at 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608. The Studio Tour is included with park admission. For more information, visit: www.universalstudioshollywood.com
Busch Gardens Tampa has announced the opening of a new coaster coming in 2016. “Cobra’s Curse” will put a spin on family thrill rides. The spin coaster will be one of a kind, taking riders on vertical lifts and dizzying adventures all at once. On Cobras Curse, located in the Egypt area of the park, explorers will come face-to-face with an 80-foot snake icon, trek over the park’s Serengeti Plain® and discover the mysteries of an Egyptian archaeological excavation.
“This isn’t your ordinary spin coaster. In true Busch Gardens style, we’re putting a twist on this attraction and taking riders on an unforgettable and exciting journey,” said Busch Gardens Park President Jim Dean. “The addition of a family spin coaster complements the selection of thrill rides Busch Gardens offers, and we know it’s an attraction that guests from across the globe will enjoy,” Dean added. “We continue to find new and exciting ways to offer thrills for the entire family, and we know Cobra’s Curse will even further solidify Busch Gardens as Florida’s Thrill Leader.”
Cobra’s Curse will appeal to both the thrill seeker and the family group alike. With a new and diverse ride concept, the spin coaster will truly offer a one-of-a-kind experience to its riders. Want a look at what to expect? Check out this video!
A celebration of Disney•Pixar’s original film “Inside Out” has started at Disney California Adventure park with special, pre-parade appearances by the movie’s main characters, the five Emotions: Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness.
Watch our full video coverage below of the pre-parade:
Arriving just ahead of daily performances of Pixar Play Parade, the “Inside Out” pre-parade brings these five new characters and their colorful, curious world right through the heart of Disney California Adventure park, allowing them to experience for the first time all the sights, sounds, smells and excitement of a day in a Disney park.
Bringing an innovative storytelling approach to audiences, the film “Inside Out” ventures inside the mind of Riley and introduces us to the Emotions that guide her. Based in Headquarters, the five Emotions are hard at work, led by lighthearted optimist Joy, whose mission is to make sure Riley stays happy. “Inside Out” is directed by Academy Award® winner Pete Docter (“Monsters, Inc.,” “Up”) and produced by Jonas Rivera (“Up”) with an original score by Michael Giacchino (“The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” “Up”).
The “Inside Out” pre-parade continues daily all summer long, and you can also catch Disney•Pixar’s “Inside Out” in theaters everywhere!
Part of the Disney Channel Original Movie franchise, “Teen Beach 2″ is the highly anticipated sequel to “Teen Beach Movie,” the #2 movie in cable TV history in Total Viewers.
TEEN BEACH 2 – “Teen Beach 2” is the highly anticipated music- and dance-driven sequel to “Teen Beach Movie,” premiering FRIDAY, JUNE 26 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel. (Disney Channel/Francisco Roman) GRACE PHIPPS
Continuing the fantastical music-driven saga, “Teen Beach 2″ is set months after surfer sweethearts McKenzie (“Mack”) and Brady return from a summer adventure that transported them into Brady’s favorite 1960s beach party movie, “Wet Side Story,” only to receive a surprise real-world visit from Lela, Tanner, Butchy and their other newfound surfer and biker buddies. Knowing first-hand that the “real” world and the movie world don’t mix, Mack, Brady and all of the “Wet Side Story” friends must quickly devise a plan and use the magic of Lela’s necklace to get everyone back to their movie world before it’s too late.
TEEN BEACH 2 – “Teen Beach 2” is the highly anticipated music- and dance-driven sequel to “Teen Beach Movie,” premiering FRIDAY, JUNE 26 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel. (Disney Channel/Francisco Roman) PIPER CURDA, MAIA MITCHELL, ROSS LYNCH, KENT BOYD, JORDAN FISHER
The television premiere of “Teen Beach 2,” sponsored by Best Western International, Famous Footwear and BAND-AID Brand, is FRIDAY, JUNE 26 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel U.S. followed by telecasts on Disney Channels around the world. It will be available one week earlier, Friday, June 19, to verified users on the WATCH Disney Channel app and WATCHDisneyChannel.com.
Located in the new Harambe Market, Zuri’s Sweet Shop is bringing a delectable selection of sweets exclusive to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Patrice Guy, Merchandiser for Disney Theme Park Merchandise said;
“We have created approximately 80 new items that range from decorative candy apples to uniquely flavored chocolate bars to delicious popcorn,” explained Patrice. “With Zuri’s Sweets Shop, we wanted to offer highly-themed goods inspired by the sights, sounds and flavors of Africa. Many of the items will be unique to this location making them delicious gifts for loved ones, or something special to enjoy during a visit to the park.”
All the treats will feature one of three fun themes. One can find Lion King inspired treats such as , paw shaped , Chocolate Crocodiles, and animal crackers. All of the Lion King themed snacks and treats feature some of your favorite characters including Simba, Timon, and Pumba! The second snack Another theme incorporates colorful patterns and whimsical animals. This theme can be seen in many of the shops snacks including the Rice Krispies, chocolate-dipped coconut patties, and of course an assortment of mouse shaped delights.
The store will also feature some special exclusives such as the five chocolate bar set including flavors such as milk chocolate with spicy cinnamon and banana chip. Another unique item is the African Spice popcorn with a hint of cardamom.
Finally, the store will also feature African spice rubs and a gourmet cocoa set. Guests will now be able to take home a bottle of there favorite “Flame Tree Barbecue Sauce!”
In 2016, one of the most successful animated franchises in the world returns with its biggest comedy adventure yet, KUNG FU PANDA 3. When Po’s long-lost panda father suddenly reappears, the reunited duo travels to a secret panda paradise to meet scores of hilarious new panda characters. But when the supernatural villain Kai begins to sweep across China defeating all the kung fu masters, Po must do the impossible—learn to train a village full of his fun-loving, clumsy brethren to become the ultimate band of Kung Fu Pandas!
KUNG FU PANDA 3
Animation, in 3D
Release: January 29, 2016, in 3D
Directors: Jennifer Yuh Nelson and Alessandro Carloni
Producer: Melissa Cobb
Cast: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, James Hong, Randall Duk Kim, Bryan Cranston, Rebel Wilson
There is an ancient planet at the center of the LEGO Multiverse inhabited by an evil mastermind, Lord Vortech. It is said that he who controls the Foundational Elements that this planet is built upon, controls all of the Multiverse. Lord Vortech has vowed to be that ruler, summoning characters from a variety of LEGO worlds to help him find these building bricks of LEGO civilization. Some have agreed. Others have rebelled. And only the combined powers of the greatest LEGO heroes can stop him.
When a mysterious and powerful vortex suddenly appears in various LEGO worlds, different characters from DC Comics, The Lord of the Rings and The LEGO Movie are swept away. To save their friends, Batman, Gandalf and Wyldstyle bravely jump into the vortex. As they journey to locations beyond their wildest imaginations in search of their friends, they soon realize that Lord Vortech is summoning villains from across different LEGO worlds to help him gain control. As his power grows, worlds mix, unexpected characters meet and all boundaries are broken. Our heroes must travel through space and time to rescue their friends before the vortexes destroy all of LEGO humanity.
Let creativity be the guide to a building and gaming adventure – journey through unexpected worlds and team-up with unlikely allies on the quest to defeat the evil Lord Vortech. Play with different minifigures from different worlds together in one LEGO videogame, and use each other’s vehicles and gadgets in a way never before possible. LEGO Bad Cop driving the DeLorean Time Machine…why not?! The LEGO® Ninjago Masters of Spinjitsu fighting alongside Wonder Woman…yes, please! Get ready to break the rules, because the only rule with LEGO Dimensions is that there are no rules.
The LEGO Dimensions Starter Pack is all players need to begin – build the base and embark on a fantastic quest. Included in the LEGO Dimensions Starter Pack:
LEGO Dimensions videogame
LEGO Toy Pad
Bricks to build the LEGO Gateway
3 LEGO minifigures (Batman, Gandalf, and Wyldstyle)
LEGO Batmobile vehicle
Build the minifigure heroes and fire-up the game to start the experience, then follow the in-game build instructions to assemble the loose bricks into the LEGO Gateway, and place the structure on the LEGO Toy Pad. Expand the adventure by collecting more minifigures, vehicles, gadgets, and new levels with the purchase of three different types of expansion packs. Use whatever minifigure with whichever vehicle or gadget – go ahead… break the rules!
Level Pack: Want more to explore? Expand the gaming experience with a level pack which contains a whole new mission-based game level, along with a minifigure, a vehicle and a gadget to build and use in- game.
Team Pack: Want the biggest collection? Get a dynamic pair of minifigures and a vehicle or gadget for each, all with their own unique in-game abilities.
Fun Pack: Want the best variety? Extra fun comes in each pack containing one minifigure and a vehicle or gadget.
Pre-order The LEGO Dimensions Starter Pack Now from our online store, as well as NEW expansion packs (click the button below)
Relive nearly 60 hits from the Motown Records catalogue and organized to tell the story of the man behind the music, BERRY GORDY. It’s the story of an independent record producers tribulations separating business from personal, and his challenges in an effort for racial-integration in popular music. He’s behind such iconic tunes as “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”, “My Girl”, “War”, “I’ll Be There”, and even “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”. It’s a concert of a musical that requires constraint from every muscle to not jump up and sing every song! MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is for just about everyone that’s insanely fun from the first note to the final curtain call.
Let’s get the required part out of the way, shall we? Directed by CHARLES RANDOLPH-WRIGHT, MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is the all American dream story from wannabe championship boxer to music mogul who launched the careers to the likes of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, and yes, even more!
Through Berry’s creation of Motown in 1959 to his attempt to keep the soul of the record company alive through the 80’s, he was able to break-through difficult obstacles our society had in in the way. His array of number one hits have been enjoyed by all and allowed for the entire country to dance to the same beat. These were not “black person songs”, but songs sung by black people that related to everyone, no matter their color of skin.
I am not going to bore you about the amazing talent that brought this musical to life besides making sure everyone understands that MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is based on the book To Be Loved by Berry Gordy himself. Every aspect of this production is on point. It isn’t to not pay credit where credit is due, but to make sure I get across why you should see this show. Stat!
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is every catchy cliche quote in the book. It’s really that sensational, riveting, engaging and electrifying! It’s catchy (well duh), it has almost 60 popular hits we all know, but it’s eye-popping, bright and big, emotional, and in every way satisfying. So what I’m really trying to get at, I liked it.
There are plenty of performances by The Temptations in their garish multi-solid color suits and The Supremes in their shimmering gold dresses. The Jackson 5 arrive in their groovy 70’s entire and Stevie Wonder gets escorted in braided and all. For a moment you will feel as if it’s really them right in front of you.
The entire first Act is a marathon of countless songs that have probably already found their way to your heart, yet now you get to see them as if your seeing them performed by the artists in that era of time. The story is zippy as is the show, but it must be at approximately a 2 1/2 hour running time. The audience cheers at every start of a song as it becomes recognizable nearly at an instant, and then even more so when it’s one of those more meaningful hits, i.e.: “My Girl”.
It starts with the ear-piercing music coming from the orchestra pit and then it’s boom boom boom and BAM… things start to get serious, which leads to the second Act. Act I is happy-go-lucky with barriers being hurtled over quickly and every resolution sung to a lighter tune. As the story progresses however, the audience is faced with more serious events of the times like the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, then later the introduction of the Black Panthers, and onto the people against Berry Gordy’s brand of music.
Each of Act feels entirely different from each other, yet fits perfectly with the progression of the music. Mind you most songs are just barely snippets of their entirety, but explainable due to the number they must perform. Berry Gordy, JULIUS THOMAS III (Original Broadway cast, Xanadu, Shrek), actually only performs 4 songs with several being original tracks written by Berry, but he wasn’t an actual singer himself. However, the musical is the telling of the story seen through his eyes and nothing feels forced. The audience is treated with songs sung in a way to progress the story as well as done in a concert-like fashion. This concept allows for the audience to transport different decades pretending as if they are in that audience at the Ed Sullivan Show to being in Vegas watching young Diana Ross perform to a small audience.
I must mention one of The Diana Ross performances, played by ALLISON SEMMES, and truly one of the key players in MOTOWNTHE MUSICAL, as it was something truly special. SEEMES plays the strong diva with a large presence and vocal pipes for days, but it was a faux concert that takes places that had a very memorable moment. Without giving too much away, she calls members of the audiences up to help sing one of her key songs. The first was your typical shy young lady that seemed nervous and excited to share this moment, but the second invitee was tall black gentlemen, a silver fox as she put it, that ended up having pipes of a god! He belted out the lyrics only to the surprise of the audience causing for a momentous standing applause with people shouting in praise.
Throughout the entire show there seemed to be more hootin’ and hollerin’ than one may expect from a class act musical like this. However, that’s the type of show this is. People are too attached and too excited for nearly every song to just hold back. It creates a fun, exciting night at the theater.
This was a passion project for Berry Gordy and eats a little too much into the idea that he never felt he received enough credit nor enough praise from family and his artists. It has a proper overall conclusion, but may be a tad narcissistic. Nevertheless, I still found myself enjoying every moment of the musical.
The characters were all well-rounded and fitting to their role. The production has to be careful as the entire show is based around non-fictional characters, many still alive today. The show hangs around many of the same characters with most playing other roles due to the nature of so many famous singers being represented. Costume changes and wigs do the trick perfectly along with many spot on impersonations.
It’s rare that I find a musical that I wish I could see again right away, but MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is one of those. It’s mostly upbeat, lively and filled with nostalgia. Younger audiences should still be familiar with most songs and appreciate getting to see these performed as originally meant to be seen. The story is simple and moral straight forward. It’s an important story of our nation through rapid change that every audience should get as well as value. The catchy tunes help forget about the serious undertones, but the message remains clear. Berry successful gets the respect he deserves.
Kids and adults alike will be delighted with creative twists to a classic favorite at Taste Track, a new food and beverage location at Epcot. Taste Track is serving up a few surprises on the favorite grilled cheese sandwich. These specialty grilled cheese sandwiches are as creative as the cars you can design at nearby Test Track.
For a deliciously grown-up version of the grilled cheese sandwich, try the Gruyere and Applewood smoked bacon. You can also Try adding Fontina and tomato basil to really shift your sandwich into the next gear. For a sweet take on the classic sandwich, try the Canadian cheddar and apples grilled cheese sandwich on cinnamon raisin bread. The crisp apple slices perfectly complement the melted cheese.
Each sandwich comes with your choice of tomato bisque soup or a side salad. Other menu items include roasted chicken salad and a kid’s grilled cheese sandwich.
Located in the new Harambe Market, Zuri’s Sweet Shop is bringing a delectable selection of sweets exclusive to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Patrice Guy, Merchandiser for Disney Theme Park Merchandise said;
The store will also feature some special exclusives such as the five chocolate bar set including flavors such as milk chocolate with spicy cinnamon and banana chip. Another unique item is the African Spice popcorn with a hint of cardamom.
