Looking to escape the cold weather this Winter? Escape to sunny Southern California and the Disneyland Resort for a few days! Save up to 25% on rooms at a Disneyland Resort Hotel most Sunday-Thursday nights between Jan. 5-Apr. 10, 2014. This offer is valid for the 3 Disneyland Resort Onsite Hotels only: Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, Disneyland Hotel and the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Offer must be booked by Jan. 28, 2014 and as with most Disneyland Resort offers, discounts are available on a first come first serve basis. Be sure to book early for best availability! Visit Cars Land and ride the Matterhorn while paying a more affordable price for your vacation.
Add Disneyland Resort park tickets and a Dine in the Magic Dining Plan to upgrade your discounted Disneyland Resort room into a package. You can also add excursions to the beach, Hollywood, Universal Studios Hollywood, Legoland, San Diego and more to your Disneyland Resort vacation package!
When Heather isn’t busy sharing Planning tips about Walt Disney World, the Disneyland Resort, and more, you can find her planning Disney and Universal Orlando vacations. Contact her on Facebook at Heather Abbott-Agent with Destinations in Florida. For more info and to book your travel, use the Price Your Vacation Form in the Sidebar or click here. You can also call 877-918-8941 and ask for Heather to book. Make sure to mention that you were referred by Socalthrills.com! Safe travels everyone!
Here is a list of deals available at the Walt Disney World® Resort, the Disneyland® Resort, Disney Cruise Line®, Aulani, Adventures by Disney®, Sea World and Universal Orlando Resort, courtesy of Destinations in Florida. Feel free to contact them for a free quote today or use the Price Your Vacation form in the Sidebar.
Disney Discounts
Walt Disney World® Resort
● Play Stay and Dine…and Save Up To $600 at the Walt Disney World Resort®: Discounts room, tickets and dining plan. Must have tickets for length of stay to get that portion discounted (staying 4 days/3 nights must have 4 day ticket, etc) For Most Stays January 5-March 5 2014 3 Night Minimum Stay Required. Offer excludes campsites and 3-bedroom villas and is not valid at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort or The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. MUST BOOK BY DECEMBER 31st
● Save Up To 35% on Stays at Select Walt Disney World Resort Hotels: For stays most nights Jan. 5 – March 5, 2014 and March 14 – April, 12, 2014: Values 20% off, Moderates 25% off, Deluxe 35% off, Deluxe Villas 35% off. Excludes 3-bedroom villas and campsites and is not valid at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – The Little Mermaid rooms or The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. MUST BOOK BY DECEMBER 31st
● Florida Resident Fall & Winter Rates: Florida Residents can take advantage of great rates on rooms at select Walt Disney World® Resort hotels for stays through December 14, just in time for the holiday season.
● Military Discount: Active duty and retired members of the US military can get specially discounted rooms at Official Walt Disney World® Resort Hotels most nights from Sept. 29 2013 through Sept. 27 2014 time-frame. Service members can also get up to six 4-Day Magic Your Way Tickets with Park Hopper® Option for just $169.00, Four-Day Water Park and More Tickets for $169.00 or Four-Day Park Hopper Tickets plus the Water Park and More Option for $198.00 at their base ticket sales office.
● Intro to Disney: purchase a 3-night, 2-day Magic Your Way Room and Ticket Package PLUS Quick Service Dining at a select Disney Value Resort hotel (in a standard room, excluding Disney’s Art of Animation Resort) for $999* for stays most nights Jan. 5 – Feb. 12, 2014 (based on a family of 3). Ask about other great rates for other lengths of stay, alternative family configurations and other Disney Resort hotels for stays most nights Jan. 5 – March 5, 2014. Book by Dec. 31, 2013.
Disneyland®
• NEW!! Save Up to 25% on Rooms at a Disneyland® Resort Hotel: Save up to 25% on rooms at a Disneyland® Resort Hotel most Sunday through Thursday nights from Jan. 5 – April 10, 2014. Check for offers for other days. Book through Jan. 28, 2014.
Disney Cruise Line®
● Two Disney Vacations in One; US $789 Per Person: It’s all the Magic of Disney Cruise Line®. All the Enchantment of Walt Disney World Resort. And all of your dreams come true! Package components include: 3-Night Disney Magic® sailings from January 17 – February 7, 3-Night resort stay at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort (other resorts are bookable but will affect the price per person), 3-day Park Hopper® Theme Park Ticket, Transfers between Orlando International Airport, Walt Disney World Resort and Disney Cruise Line terminal. Book through December 31, 2013
● Special Castaway Club Member Offer: Disney Cruise Line® Castaway Club Members can receive a US $100 onboard credit when they book a 4- or 5-night Disney Magic® cruise departing from Miami Nov. 1 – Dec. 18, 2013 (excluding Nov. 24 and Dec. 8, 2013). They can use their credit for a variety of onboard activities and experiences, including spa treatments, shopping, adults-only dining and more!
● NEW!! Disney Cruise Line Canadian Resident Offer: Canadian residents save 20% off prevailing rates (as quoted on the Disney Cruise Line® website) on 3 and 4 night Bahamian sailings aboard the Disney Magic for most sailings from Jan. 10 – Feb. 28, 2014 (excluding Jan. 17, 20, Feb. 14, 17, 2014) for categories 4A – 11B.
Aulani
● Get 4 nights for the price of 3 plus breakfast daily for 2 at the newly expanded Aulani: For a limited time, when you purchase a minimum 4-night stay at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, you’ll get the 4th night free* – including breakfast daily for two adults at the new Ulu Cafe. Book this offer by Jan. 15, 2014, for stays most nights Jan. 5 – April 7, 2014.
For more info and to book your travel, use the Price Your Vacation Form in the Sidebar or click here.
Universal Orlando Resort Discounts
● Save up to 30% on Universal Resorts: Discounts begin at 3 nights at any of the three Universal Orlando® Resort deluxe hotels during the best days to vacation. Plus take advantage of $150 in hotel savings including discounts on food, drinks, spa treatments and more! Vacation dates include: 11/11 – 12/19, 2013.
● 3rd Night & Day FREE: Limited time vacation offer. Stay at a nearby Universal Partner Hotel you’ll receive your 3rd Night & 3rd Day FREE, 3rd Night FREE† accommodations at a nearby Universal Partner Hotel. 2-Day Base Ticket with 3rd Day FREE (Must be used by 5/22/14) Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ one hour before the theme park opens. FREE scheduled transportation between hotel and Universal Orlando. Purchase10/10 – 12/15/13. Valid for travel 11/1 – 12/22/13. U.S. and Canadian Residents only.
● NEW!! SAVE UP TO 25% AT UNIVERSAL’S NEWEST ON-SITE HOTEL – OPENING EARLY 2014: Discounts begin at 4 nights at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, opening early 2014. Travel back to the 1950’s and 60’s for endless family fun at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort. With its ideal location and fun retro atmosphere. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy everything Universal Orlando® Resort has to offer. The value and moderate accommodations feature family suites (sleeping up to 6) with kitchenettes, and standard rooms (sleeping up to 4). Rates valid for travel 9/1 – 10/2/14 and 11/30 – 12/11/14
● Universal 1-Day or 2-Day Pass with Shuttle Transportation: Take a day away from the Disney World Parks to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Book a 1-Day or 2-Day Pass to Universal Studios with shuttle transportation included in the ticket. This special ticket is only available with select companies including Destinations in Florida.
Sea World Discounts
● Add a day at SeaWorld Orlando for just $10: Add a second day at SeaWorld Orlando for just $10 more within 7 days of your first visit.
● SeaWorld Orlando $50 Weekday Ticket: Enjoy 1 visit to SeaWorld Orlando weekdays Monday thru Friday beginning August 1, 2013 through December 20, 2013. Advance purchase only. Not available at the park. Valid for 1 visit to SeaWorld Orlando on weekdays only. Ticket expires December 20, 2013.
● Expedition Antarctica at SeaWorld®: Experience the Freeze! Package includes free Quick Queue (front-of-the-line) at SeaWorld’s Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin™, dining at the Expedition Café, a free photo and a third hotel night FREE!
● SeaWorld + Aquatica Add Aquatica for just $40: Enjoy unlimited access to the sights and splashes of SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark™ during your vacation.
● Free Food: Book your Sea World Package at a partner hotel and get the All Day Dining for FREE. Add a day at Aquatica and eat there free, too!
● Kids Free, PLUS 2nd Visit Free, through 12/25: SeaWorld is the place for families this holiday season. And now, enjoy one free kid’s admission (ages 3-9) with each full-paid adult admission ticket.
● Save $10 on Sea World Tickets: Pre-order your Sea World tickets and save $10 off per ticket. You can also print your Sea World tickets, so you do not have to wait in any lines once you arrive to the park. Plus, even better, your 2nd day at Sea World is free!
● 5 Incredible Parks, 1 Ticket, Orlando’s Best Vacation Value: See more for less! This package features the Orlando FlexTicket, offering unlimited admissions to SeaWorld, Aquatica, Universal Orlando, Islands of Adventure and Wet’n Wild during your stay. Perfect for your Orlando vacation. Stay at least 5 nights and enjoy the best of Orlando! Plus, free transportation and other great benefits available when you choose an Official Hotel of SeaWorld. Package requires a 10-day advance purchase. Stay a minimum of 5 nights and as an added value, your 5th night is FREE!
For more info and to book your travel, use the Price Your Vacation Form in the Sidebar or click here. You can also call 877-918-8941 to book. Make sure to mention that you were referred by Socalthrills.com! Safe travels everyone.
Imagine the building of absolute excitement you experience once walking through the entrance of Disneyland Park and onto Main Street. The music, the people, the Cast Members, and the sound of laughter engulf you with an overwhelming sense of happiness. That is the same feeling you get from being given the opportunity to watch Mary Poppins digitally remastered on the big screen surrounded by Disney actors, actresses, and some of the people who helped make Mary Poppins one of the most iconic films of the 20th century.
The buzz could be felt on the Red Carpet for Mary Poppins AFI Fest 50th Anniversary Commemoration Screening at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on Saturday November 9th. We got the chance to interview a few ABC and Disney stars on the Red Carpet such as Jacob Bertrand (Rise of the Guardians, Paranorman)and Albert Tsai (ABC’s Trophy Wife) whom were both super excited with being able to experience Mary Poppins on the big screen for their first time ever viewing the film. Another claimed it was like seeing a 50-year old movie premier but most were more excited to be able to see it on the big screen for the first time.
We also had the chance to speak with Rowan Blanchard who will be playing Riley Matthews in the much anticipated Girl Meets World which starts filming on Monday, November 11th and set to air on Disney Channel in 2014. She was able to give us a bit of a tease insight into Girl Meets World, when asked if the cast of Boy Meets World would make any appearances she said that “what I’ve heard from the executive producer is that hopefully everyone on Boy Meets World will be on Girl Meets World.” Maitland Ward of Boy Meets World was also present for the screening. Rowan was excited to see the Mary Poppins again as she states that she has seen it many times. Her favorite song of the film is ‘Feed the Birds’ which she said she sang a lot when she was 6 years old.
Interestingly enough when we caught up with Richard Sherman who won 2 Oscars for his musical work on Mary Poppins, we asked what song in the film had the biggest impact on his life, he said “Feed the Birds. It was Walt Disney’s favorite song, it was a song that really told the story of what Mary Poppins was all about. But the parents learn that from Mary Poppins that they have to pay attention to their kids. Both parents were so busy and that’s why Mary Poppins was needed.
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Others present at the screen included: Karen Dotrice who played Jane Banks in Mary Poppins, Dick Van Dyke, Sandra Currie (The Hangover Trilogy), Charles Fleischer (Roger Rabbit), Breann Johnson (Red Wing, The Appearing), Calum Worthy (Austin & Ally), Hal Sparks (Lab Rats), Austin North (I Didn’t Do It), Kathryn Beaumont (Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland), Victoria Summer (Saving Mr Banks) and many more!
Disney Interactive has released the winners of the Disney Infinity “Toy Story Challenge” for Toy Box creations that are inspired by one of the most iconic movie franchises and the newest Play Set – Toy Story in Space. Disney Infinity players are clearly big fans of the Toy Story films as this week’s winning Toy Boxes were some of the best overall creations submitted yet. The top global Toy Box of the week is “The BIG Room,” which is a recreation of Andy’s room filed with enemy toys, a mini soccer game and even a racetrack.
Winning submissions include:
– The BIG Room: When the kids are away, the toys will play! A truly remarkable recreation of Andy’s room from Toy Story.
– Woody’s Roundup: Experience the Toy Box mode from Toy Story 3: The Video Game… but this time with Disney Infinity characters!
– Capture Zurg!: Alien invasion! Drop them in the ship’s pen, then capture Zurg at his secret lab and bring him back to the asteroid pen.
– Saving Mr. Rex: Battle the way through Zurgbots and help Mr. Rex escape from Zurg… Be on the look-out for secrets along the way!
– The City Dump: You’ve been thrown away by mistake and must escape the dump. Beware of Lotso’s trickery, or face a fiery demise.
When you’re ready to submit your Toy Box for consideration, follow these directions: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U
· Bring up the Pause Menu and select “Online/Multiplayer.”
· Then select “Toy Box Share” > “Disney’s Toy Boxes” > “Submit to Disney.”
· Follow the prompts. You’ll be asked to give your Toy Box an original name and description. Choose carefully – they will be shown to everybody if your Toy Box is featured.
iPad
· Bring up the Pause Menu and select “Toy Box Share.”
· Then select “Disney’s Toy Boxes” > “Submit to Disney.”
· Follow the prompts. You’ll be asked to give your Toy Box an original name and description. Choose carefully – they will be shown to everybody if your Toy Box is featured
How to download new Toy Boxes:
· Select “Toy Box” from the Disney Infinity Main Menu
· Select “Toy Box Share” and “Disney’s Toy Boxes.”
· There will be a list of all the featured Toy Boxes for players to download.
Fans can rejoice…Marvel Studios has done it again. While many anxiously awaited the return of Tony Stark earlier this year in “Iron Man 3,” the storyline that may be more important to follow is the one that started in 2011’s “Thor.” Here we were introduced to the God of Thunder himself, along with his brother-turned-villain Loki, the main antagonist of that film and “Marvel’s The Avengers” the following year. When we last saw them, Thor was taking the now captured Loki back to their home world of Asgard, which is one of the Nine Realms. Loki had attacked New York City with the help of a powerful weapon called the Tesseract and an extraterrestrial army of Chitauri. But the Avengers defeated him, closing the wormhole into space that allowed the invaders into our atmosphere and seizing Loki in the process. While many on Earth wanted to bring Loki to justice, his brother Thor promised that he would be punished under Asgardian laws for his treasonous acts. They were transported off planet, back to their own realm with the Tesseract in hand. And we, the audience, waited patiently to learn what would happen next.
The release of “Thor: The Dark World” is significant for many different reasons. For starters, it is the first non Iron Man sequel to be released under the Marvel multiphase tentpole. Why is this important you may ask? While “Iron Man 3” was hugely successful earlier this year (currently the highest grossing film of 2013 and #13 all time domestically), it did not do much to advance the overall story arc of the Avengers. Do not get me wrong, I greatly enjoyed the movie. But other than Tony Stark grappling with anxiety issues after the events of New York, I feel as though that film did not do much to build upon the existing plot. Secondly, the settings in which “Thor: The Dark World” and its predecessor take place open up countless opportunities for other Marvel franchises. The scene in the middle of the credits is our first glimpse at 2014’s “Guardians Of The Galaxy,” which many consider to be Marvel’s most ambitious film yet.
Most importantly though, this film brings back the villainous trickster Loki. While everyone roots for the hero in a typical comic book film, it is really the villain we enjoy watching most. Played brilliantly for the third time by Tom Hiddleston, Loki’s personality and motives are even more difficult to pin down this time around. After Asgard is attacked by the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim and their leader Malekith, Thor (played again by Chris Hemsworth) must turn to his recently enslaved brother for help. Although he is hesitant to do so, fearing his brother may betray him again, he is left with no choice. The relationship between Thor and Loki is what makes this franchise work. Hemsworth’s attempts to display his power over others is constantly overshadowed when Hiddleston uses sarcasm and deceit to mess with his plans. It makes it difficult to tell just which side he plays for and what his motive truly is. You can tell that Hiddleston truly enjoys playing the character, as his own natural comedic ability shines with every snarky retort. And Hemsworth really seems to come into his own in this film more so than before, bringing emotion to the title character that many felt was missing.
Thor and Loki are not the only familiar faces returning to the screen in the sequel. Many of the characters that we came to barely know in “Thor,” on both Earth and Asgard, get the chance to grow and develop. In our realm, we get the return of Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) as Thor’s love interest, along with her assistant Darcy (Kat Dennings) and Dr. Eric Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård). Back on Asgard, we are reintroduced to the Allfather Odin and his wife Frigga (Anthony Hopkins and Rene Russo), both of which were very strong in their roles. Idris Elba was also given a significantly bigger role as Heimdall, the guardian of the Bifrost entry to Asgard. I was glad to see his character have more than just a few lines, but be an active part in the plot. Also returning were Jaimie Alexander, Ray Stevenson and Tadanobu Asano as Thor’s crew of warriors. New to the cast was Zachary Levi, who replaced the previous actor Josh Dallas. And playing the Dark Elves Malekith and Algrim are Christopher Eccleston and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje.
“Thor: The Dark World” was not devoid of faults, but I felt the strengths far outweighed the weaknesses. For instance, director Alan Taylor took the experience he gained on HBO’s “Game Of Thrones” to greatly expand the world of Asgard, and this was something I really enjoyed about the film. It looked as though many influences were drawn from that show, as well as the “Star Wars” prequel trilogy, “Lord Of The Rings” and J.J. Abram’s “Star Trek.” The story introduces new environments and locales, expands upon the Asgardian mythology, and places the audience in the middle of some fantastic aerial battle and destruction sequences. However, I feel the film takes a misstep in its overly complex plot. While the Dark Elves’ attempt to bring all Nine Realms together in an effort to destroy them sounds exciting, it did not translate well at the end of the film. I found myself struggling to keep up with what was happening rather than being engrossed in the scene. It was a great idea, but not visually executed well. But this semi-lackluster finale is completely redeemed with the final scene of the movie, a cliffhanger ending that will keep the fan base thirsty for more. Overall, “Thor: The Dark World” is another satisfying entry in the ever-growing Marvel universe. For fans of the previous film as well as “Marvel’s The Avengers,” do not miss it.
Art is an expression, not only that of the heart and mind, but also of the body. In Diana Vishneva: On the Edge, two beautifully choreographed programs takes the stage and leaves the art loving audience member’s hearts pumping with exhilaration.
In “Switch” choreographed by Jean-Christophe Malliot, with music by Danny Elfman, it’s hard to miss the passion that dancers Diana Vishneva, Bernice Coppieters, and Gaetan Morlotti paint on stage. The expression of art bleeds through the stage’s canvas, while the heroine in this act is caught between love, envy, and art. An obvious rift leaves her caught in a struggle of desire and passion. The synergy of Danny Elfman’s scores, the set’s ambiance, along with the choreography illustrates the struggle by the heroine. Her artful dance combined with the symphony of sounds leaves you breathless, an experience that must be had.
After the intermission, you get to experience the wonder of solitude and introspection in “Women in a Room” choreographed by Carolyn Carlson, with music by Giovanni Sollima and Rene Aubry. This act feels very familiar, as no matter who you are, the emotion of the performer is raw and real. Everyone in life has had moments of contemplation, thought and wonder, and Diana Vishneva gives you that feeling in dance. Without words, she expresses that of regret, hope, excitement and sadness. The marriage between the music and dance is definitely on par with what you would expect in those moments of solitude.
Many argue that the complexity of these performances can give the viewer a free range of interpretation allowing the art to depict whatever form they choose, and I must agree. These performances are one for the viewer to interpret, the emotion felt can leave one breathless and wanting more. If you’re ready to have your mind blown full of thought and wonder, while enjoying a night out appreciating art, come and see Diana Vishneva On the Edge.
Diana Vishneva: On the Edge is playing at Segerstrom Center for a world premier dance event 11/6/2013 – 11/10/2013. Get your tickets now by calling the Center’s box office at 714.556.2787 or by visiting the Box Office. Running time (approximate): 1 hour and 36 minutes
Gearing up for the December 13, 2013, release of “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), fans got the chance to meet new cast members joining the highly anticipated second film in “The Hobbit” Trilogy, including Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace and Luke Evans, as part of a global fan celebration that was held on Monday, November 4, at 5:00 pm EST, and simultaneous times around the world. At each of the satellite-linked cinemas in four host cities—Los Angeles, New York, London and Wellington—Jackson and members of his cast and filmmaking team gathered with fans to show exclusive footage from “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” and answer questions in front of a live audience, as well as offer a few surprises.
CNN Anchor Anderson Cooper, who served as special host for the entire event, was based in New York, where he welcomed Richard Armitage, the film’s Thorin Oakenshield, and Orlando Bloom, who returns to the role of Legolas from “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy. Evangeline Lilly, who joins the cast as a new Elf warrior, Tauriel, will be based in Los Angeles. London hosted new cast member Lee Pace, the film’s Elf King Thranduil; Luke Evans, who joins the cast as Bard the Bowman; and Andy Serkis, a member of Jackson’s filmmaking team and the first film’s Gollum. Peter Jackson joined the celebration from Wellington, New Zealand.
Each cinema was connected by satellite, allowing audiences to participate in a simultaneous Q&A among participants in all four host locations. Additionally, in cities across the globe—including Brussels, Belgium; Hamburg, Germany; Madrid, Spain; Mexico City, Mexico; Miami, Florida, USA; Paris, France; Rome, Italy; Sydney, Australia; and Toronto, Canada—fans were invited to gather at select cinemas to be among the first to see the extended footage debut and watch the festivities unfold live.
To celebrate the release of Saving Mr. Banks and the upcoming 50th anniversary of Mary Poppins, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club has dedicated the entire winter issue of its flagship magazine, Disney twenty-three, to our beloved nanny. The publication, available exclusively to Gold Members of D23, includes exclusive interviews with Saving Mr. Banks stars Tom Hanks, Emma Thompson, and Bradley Whitford, as well as director John Lee Hancock. It takes readers behind the scenes of the making of this spectacular new film, which opens this Christmas and looks at the creation of Disney’s Mary Poppins and the sometimes combative but respectful relationship between the character’s creator, P.L. Travers (Thompson), and Walt Disney (Hanks).
Disney twenty-three’s Winter issue also offers a look inside the fascinating life of P.L. Travers, with a personal reminiscence by her friend, author Brian Sibley, whom she once told, “I don’t feel for a moment that I invented her. I feel visited by her.” And original film composer Richard M. Sherman, visual consultant Tony Walton, and choreographers Marc Beaux and Dee Dee Wood offer exclusive insight into the creation of the 1964 Disney classic, which will officially celebrate its 50th anniversary next August.
Also included in the Winter issue of Disney twenty-three:[unordered_list style=”bullet”]
A first-person account of the creation of the stage musical Mary Poppins from Disney Theatrical Productions president Thomas Schumacher
“Elements of Fun,” looking at 50 years of unique “Mary merchandise”
An in-depth look at the film’s groundbreaking special effects
A walk down the red carpet for the Mary Poppins premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
[/unordered_list]
All D23 Members are invited to visit www.D23.com, where the fan club is kicking off its year-long celebration of Mary Poppins’ 50th anniversary with a unique video reconstruction of the Mary Poppins world premiere, containing five minutes of never-before-released material. Although the original telecast of the event appears to have been lost forever, this 22-minute segment includes audio from the premiere’s two separate interview locations, combined with all the surviving color film and black-and-white newsreel footage—re-creating the excitement and glamour of this stellar premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on August 27, 1964.
Other features planned for D23.com’s online celebration include:[unordered_list style=”bullet”]
Extensive Mary Poppins galleries, including a look at the film’s breathtaking matte paintings.
An interactive map of the Walt Disney Studios with photo locations from Saving Mr. Banks
Rarely heard audio files from the making of Mary Poppins
An in-depth Mary Poppins production timeline
A look at the sodium screen/traveling matte process, which gave the film its unique visual look
An exclusive interview with Mary Poppins visual consultant Tony Walton
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Also in the Winter issue, D23 Gold Members will receive a reproduction of the ticket mailed to invitees for the Mary Poppins premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.
Disney twenty-three, which is delivered directly to fans’ doorsteps, is offered exclusively to D23 Gold Members as a benefit of their membership.
We had the opportunity to sit down with Directors Chris Buck & Jennifer Lee as well as Producer Peter Del Vecho during a press conference to learn more about Disney’s newest Animated film “Frozen,” coming to Theaters in 3D on November 27.
Chris Buck made his directing debut on the 1999 Disney animated blockbuster “Tarzan,” and is back at the helm for this new production. Buck began his career with Disney in 1978, and has made important contributions as an animator, supervising animator, character designer and director. He also worked on a Sony Pictures Animated film “Surf’s Up” in 2007, which garnered an Oscar Nomination.
Jennifer Lee, joined Walt Disney Animation Studios in March 2011 as one of the screenplay writers of this year’s hit arcade adventure “Wreck-It Ralph,” is also a writer of the “Frozen” screenplay and co-directs the comedy adventure. Lee’s screen adaptation of John Steinbeck’s “The Acts of King Arthur and His Nobel Knights” is being produced by Troika Pictures. Lee was excited to work on “Frozen” with such talented Cast and Crew.
Peter Del Vecho (Producer) joined Walt Disney Animation Studios in 1995 and came to the studio with a wealth of production experience in theater. As the production manager of “Hercules,” Del Vecho was responsible for guiding a production team of 300 artists. He also served as the associate producer of the 2002 animated film “Treasure Planet,” which received an Oscar nomination for best animated feature. In addition, he was the associate producer of the 2005 animation adventure “Chicken Little.”
Q: Tell us the origin of the story behind Frozen. Has it changed?
The Original Pitch was about a snow queen type person and is still inspired by Hans Christian Anderson. It’s about character that has a frozen heart and some other person would warm that heart up. It was also about two women but they were not sisters, after making them sisters they had that emotional bond between them in the story and everything, everybody go it. They can understand how these two sisters if they break apart, they want them to get back together.
Q: When you were voice Casting, did you look for people who can sing as well as act?
Yes. Part of it was that when you hear those voices you knew that they just belonged. Even the male parts are all great singers.
Q: Can you talk about the tone of the film?
We always wanted the film to be entertaining. People are funny and do awkward things. You care about their journey which feels like real life. The humor helps you get through it, which makes it big and epic. As Filmmakers its always difficult to find the tone. It’s usually all over the place. It’s our job to find the balance to keep the audience entertained.
Q: Can you talk about your challenges?
Some of the challenges was that we originally had a later release date, and was asked if we can release the film in 2013 which made it a compressed schedule. The greatest challenge was that we kept pushing on the story even it that meant holding up on production. And we found that balance. We owe a lot to the story and production crew. We also had to re-animate scenes and the animators had to push themselves to meet the deadline. A challenge on every movie, is to always to give the rest of the artists a good story. Because everyone was working well together, to make this movie come to life.
Q: How do you deal with upholding the pressure of Disney Princesses? By the same time making them different?
We didn’t have any pressure to make them a Disney Princess or Queens. We were free on this film. When people see the whole film, them being princesses has to do with those responsibilities. It makes Disney happy to make them princesses. In the whole development of the story, we never thought of them that way.
Q: Was the film originally going to be hand-drawn vs. CG?
Yes, it was going to be hand-drawn, but that was years ago. But as time went on and the success of Tangled and the CG of the characters was incredible we went that route. It was more of the environment of the Ice and Snow that made our decision. To do that in CG it would be make it look amazing.
Q: Can you talk about Olaf? What was the idea in creating him?
Olaf has changed a lot, he was originally a guard, the first one that was created. Olaf become a little more integral to the plot he also represents innocent love. He has a lot of personality of little Anna as well.
We want to thank the Directors and Producer for taking the time to chat with us. We had a great time at the Disney Animation Studios learning about this amazing film. And don’t forget to catch “Frozen” coming to theaters November 27!
Disney Interactive is releasing the winners of the “Disney Movie Challenge” for Toy Box creations that best capture the look of some of Disney’s most iconic films. Check out the latest episode of the new web series, “The Disney Infinity Top 5 Toy Box Countdown,” for a look at the winning submissions.
Winning submissions include:
– Swiss Family: Explore the treehouse, swim in the grotto and fend off the pirate invasion on the beach.
– 100 Acre Wood: Find 10 hidden Winnie the Poohs in the 100 acre wood.
– The Pride Lands: Inspired by Disney’s classic The Lion King, explore the wild Pride Lands and climb the Tree of Life.
– Fantasia: Visit Yensid’s magic work shop. Fetch water and prove your magic prowess against 100 enchanted brooms!
– Tangled Hunt: The queen has fallen ill! Players will need to find the Golden Flower in time to save the day.
When you’re ready to submit your Toy Box for consideration, follow these directions: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U
· Bring up the Pause Menu and select “Online/Multiplayer.”
· Then select “Toy Box Share” > “Disney’s Toy Boxes” > “Submit to Disney.”
· Follow the prompts. You’ll be asked to give your Toy Box an original name and description. Choose carefully – they will be shown to everybody if your Toy Box is featured.
iPad
· Bring up the Pause Menu and select “Toy Box Share.”
· Then select “Disney’s Toy Boxes” > “Submit to Disney.”
· Follow the prompts. You’ll be asked to give your Toy Box an original name and description. Choose carefully – they will be shown to everybody if your Toy Box is featured
How to download new Toy Boxes:
· Select “Toy Box” from the Disney Infinity Main Menu
· Select “Toy Box Share” and “Disney’s Toy Boxes.”
· There will be a list of all the featured Toy Boxes for players to download.
Most teenage students at some point were afforded the chance to read Orson Scott Card’s critically acclaimed world-wide best seller, Ender’s Game. I for one had elected to read it while studying literature in middle school and although at the time, may not have been in a position to appreciate fine literature like Ender’s Game (I skimmed most of the chapters and read just enough to pass the weekly tests) I still remember from what I read that it was a fantastic story. Since then I have picked up a hobby for reading, and this title is among those on my list to sit down and read through thoroughly. That all being said, I was pleasantly surprised with the film adaptation.
The movie picks up the action right from the opening scene where we see the first attack on earth from a formidable enemy known simply as “the formics”, an insect-like alien race bent on colonizing and consuming earths water supply.
After a long war, the earth and the human race are victorious in taking the formics down but at great cost. In an attempt to defend the earth from future attacks, an academy is created to train young children through rigorous tasks in zero-gravity, virtual simulations, and physical and mental competitions against one another. Among those newly accepted is Andrew Ender Wiggin, a child unlike any other with a genius intellect and unparalleled strategical tactics that nearly always make him victorious against his typically much larger opponents.
Ender’s confidence and brilliance move him forward in the ranks, but at the cost of being despised by his fellow cadets. He is soon isolated away from them only to realize he is a tool in a much larger set of schemes and games than he had realized.
Asa Butterfield (Ender) is immediately likable as the title character. It took only a few scenes for the young actor to show his skills on screen and truly step into the role of Ender Wiggin and establish a strong connection with the audience. Asa is accompanied by the likes of Harrison Ford who plays Colonel Graff, the officer responsible for enlisting Ender into battle school, and Ben Kingsley as Mazer Rackham, a legend and war hero. The latter of which does not make an appearance until late into the second half of the film, but rest assured, Ford and Kingsley both carry their weight in the movie. Adding to the more well known names, the movie has a few familiar faces in lesser roles such as Abigail Breslin and Hailee Steinfeld among others, all of whom really solidify the movie into a strongly cohesive and well-rounded group of characters that fit nicely into the movies premises.
This may sound somewhat crazy, but this may very well have been the first time I was quite literally on the edge of my seat for the entire duration of a film. Not since Marvel’s Avenger’s have I had this much fun going to the theater. In questioning myself if I was the only one who felt this way, I looked around to notice my fellow theater patrons all covering their mouths during intense moments and biting their knuckles in anticipation with what would come next in following scenes.
A few of the more impressive pieces to take note of in the movie were the battle rooms and usage of zero-gravity. Most of the characters competed in a wide-open room where they were tested in combat against teams in the absence of gravity. It was absolutely stunning to watch these scenes play out and Asa’s execution of his character in each and every one of these scenes could quite possibly put him on the hot list for future movies to come. Having not heard of the young actor prior to the announcement of his casting, his fine work in Ender’s Game will surely not be the last we see of him.
With all the above said and done, my final note is that if you do get around to seeing this film, see it in IMAX if possible. You’ll be glad you did. This could be the perfect movie-going experience complete with fun, excitement, suspense, well-written dialogue, and just the right amount of humor.
Here is the Official Trailer in case you missed it:
Disney Interactive is bringing Disney Infinity’s Jack Skellington to retailers everywhere following an exclusive run at GameStop stores nationwide. Just in time for Halloween, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town is ready to show off his unique charm to Disney Infinity players just days before All Hallow’s Eve.
In order to celebrate the character’s wide availability, Disney Interactive has also released a special video (above) showing Jack Skellington attempting to scare his fellow Toy Box inhabitants including Mr. Incredible, Buzz Lightyear and Sulley before seemingly meeting his match with Vanellope Von Schweetz.
Jack Skellington is now available for an MSRP of $13.99 at all participating retailers. Or get yours now in our Online Store!
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