The first D23 Expo concluded Sunday. The show was a huge success as Diney fans and big name guests came together to celebrate the magic that is Disney, including Johnny Depp, the Cast of Dancing with the Stars, John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Tim Burton and Miley Cyrus. There were a lot of announcements over the weekend. I already posted about President and Chief Executive Bob Iger’s promise not to Disneyfy Marvel. Now, I have scoured the web to find the rest of the announcements (at least the most interesting ones.) In part One We Look at The Theme parks.
More are after the jump:
More are after the jump:
No Captain EO
President and Chief Executive Bob Iger definitively stated, "There aren’t plans to bring back ‘Captain EO’ at this time. We are looking at it. It’s the kind of thing that, if we did it, would get a fair amount of attention and we’d want to make sure we do it right." With this announcement, Disney shoots down rumors of a return of the "Captain EO" 3-D film attraction, produced by George Lucas, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and starring Michael Jackson as the titular character as he and his group of intergalactic travelers travel to deliver a gift to the Witch Queen, played by Anjelica Huston. The film first opened at Disneyland in September 1986 and closed in April 1997. The movies also ran at Walt Disney World's Epcot from 1986-1994, Tokyo Disneyland from 1987-1996 and Disneyland Paris from 1992-1998.
For those of you who are nostalgic, enjoy the following clip:
President and Chief Executive Bob Iger definitively stated, "There aren’t plans to bring back ‘Captain EO’ at this time. We are looking at it. It’s the kind of thing that, if we did it, would get a fair amount of attention and we’d want to make sure we do it right." With this announcement, Disney shoots down rumors of a return of the "Captain EO" 3-D film attraction, produced by George Lucas, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and starring Michael Jackson as the titular character as he and his group of intergalactic travelers travel to deliver a gift to the Witch Queen, played by Anjelica Huston. The film first opened at Disneyland in September 1986 and closed in April 1997. The movies also ran at Walt Disney World's Epcot from 1986-1994, Tokyo Disneyland from 1987-1996 and Disneyland Paris from 1992-1998.
For those of you who are nostalgic, enjoy the following clip:
Disney World’s Fantasy Land Will Double in Size
Disney theme parks Chairman Jay Rasulo said the Fantasyland project, which will double the size of the current area will open in two stages in 2012 and 2013 and builds on the popularity of the Disney Princess and Fairies franchises.
Disney theme parks Chairman Jay Rasulo said the Fantasyland project, which will double the size of the current area will open in two stages in 2012 and 2013 and builds on the popularity of the Disney Princess and Fairies franchises.
From the press release:
Plans call for four Disney Princess characters -- Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle from "Beauty and the Beast" and Ariel from "The Little Mermaid" -- to be featured in "fantasy lands" where park visitors engage in dancing, storytelling or a birthday party with costumed characters from the films.
The expansion includes two new dining spots -- Gaston's Tavern and the 552-seat Beast's Castle. A new underwater ride based on "The Little Mermaid, will be built both in the Florida Fantasyland and at the ongoing expansion of California Adventure in Disneyland.
The second phase of the Fantasyland expansion will be an oversized world based on the fairy world of Pixie Hollow from "Peter Pan," but no other details were available because the attraction was still in early development stages, Rasulo said.
As part of the Fantasyland expansion, Disney plans to double the size of the popular Dumbo ride to add a covered "three-ring circus" waiting area with interactive games and a play area.
Disney Imagineers, who design rides and attractions, said the Toon Town attraction would be dismantled and its popular Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse houses relocated to another section of Walt Disney World.
Plans call for four Disney Princess characters -- Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle from "Beauty and the Beast" and Ariel from "The Little Mermaid" -- to be featured in "fantasy lands" where park visitors engage in dancing, storytelling or a birthday party with costumed characters from the films.
The expansion includes two new dining spots -- Gaston's Tavern and the 552-seat Beast's Castle. A new underwater ride based on "The Little Mermaid, will be built both in the Florida Fantasyland and at the ongoing expansion of California Adventure in Disneyland.
The second phase of the Fantasyland expansion will be an oversized world based on the fairy world of Pixie Hollow from "Peter Pan," but no other details were available because the attraction was still in early development stages, Rasulo said.
As part of the Fantasyland expansion, Disney plans to double the size of the popular Dumbo ride to add a covered "three-ring circus" waiting area with interactive games and a play area.
Disney Imagineers, who design rides and attractions, said the Toon Town attraction would be dismantled and its popular Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse houses relocated to another section of Walt Disney World.
Star Tours 2.0 is Coming Soon
Rasulo also announced an upgrade to the Star Tours rides at Disneyland in Anaheim and Disney's Hollywood Studio in Florida to open in 2011. Rasulo first announced that Star Tours would be closing in October 2010. below is a YouTube Reaction of the announcement:
Rasulo also announced an upgrade to the Star Tours rides at Disneyland in Anaheim and Disney's Hollywood Studio in Florida to open in 2011. Rasulo first announced that Star Tours would be closing in October 2010. below is a YouTube Reaction of the announcement:
Star Tours 2.0 will be a 3-D attraction and feature a podracing element as seen in "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace". Plans have the revamped attraction being unveiled in 2011 at both the Disneyland Resort in California and Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida. The original Star Tours ride debuted in 1987.
Other Park Information
Rasulo also provided an update on the multi-year expansion of Disney's California Adventure including the new "World of Color" attraction slated to open in the spring of 2010 and the addition of the 12-acre Cars Land scheduled to open in 2012 where guests will literally step into the town of Radiator Springs and its six acres of hand-carved rockwork.
Finally, Rasulo noted the progress of several other recently-announced projects including the three new lands coming to Hong Kong Disneyland by 2014; the Disney Dream, the new ship being built by Disney Cruise Line; the many diverse itineraries being offered by Adventures by Disney that take guests on 19 unique, once-in-a-lifetime guided vacation experiences; and Disney's first family destination resort on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.
Rasulo also provided an update on the multi-year expansion of Disney's California Adventure including the new "World of Color" attraction slated to open in the spring of 2010 and the addition of the 12-acre Cars Land scheduled to open in 2012 where guests will literally step into the town of Radiator Springs and its six acres of hand-carved rockwork.
Finally, Rasulo noted the progress of several other recently-announced projects including the three new lands coming to Hong Kong Disneyland by 2014; the Disney Dream, the new ship being built by Disney Cruise Line; the many diverse itineraries being offered by Adventures by Disney that take guests on 19 unique, once-in-a-lifetime guided vacation experiences; and Disney's first family destination resort on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.
RSS Feed