Month: November 2014

Disney Movies Anywhere Now Available Through Walmart’s VUDU Digital Video Service

Disney Movies Anywhere

Walmart’s VUDU service joins Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) as a participating retailer, further enhancing U.S. consumers’ ability to manage and enjoy their digital collections of Disney, Pixar, and Marvel movies at home and on the go.

Consumers who purchase eligible Disney, Pixar and Marvel titles in Walmart stores or digitally on VUDU can now take their movies anywhere when they unlock their digital copies and connect their Disney Movies Anywhere and VUDU accounts. With VUDU’s availability across a wide array of connected entertainment devices and smart TVs, Disney Movies Anywhere users will find it easier than ever to enjoy their movie collections from the comfort of their living room and across their devices and operating systems.

The launch coincides with the release of the sing-along edition of “Frozen,” the #1 animated film of all time, available digitally and as a special DVD plus digital copy for a limited time. Today also marks the early digital release of this year’s biggest domestic hit, Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy.”

“We’re thrilled to expand Disney Movies Anywhere with Walmart and VUDU,” said Janice Marinelli, President, Disney Studio In-Home and Digital Distribution & Disney-ABC Content Distribution. “In addition to its robust digital video service, Walmart is a top destination for Blu-ray and DVD purchases, and bringing Disney Movies Anywhere to VUDU enhances the value of those purchases to create an outstanding entertainment experience that consumers can take from their living room to their mobile devices.”

“Disney Movies Anywhere is arriving at Walmart and VUDU just in time for the holidays, making Walmart the leading destination where customers can buy the physical or digital versions of their favorite Disney, Pixar and Marvel titles and enjoy it anywhere,” said Jeremy Verba, general manager of VUDU, a Walmart company. “VUDU’s availability across in-home entertainment devices like smart TVs, Roku 3, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 as well as Apple and Android smartphones and tablets means Disney fans can now enjoy their movies on more devices than ever.”

Over 400 Disney, Pixar, and Marvel titles are currently available in Disney Movies Anywhere, and for a limited time, users who connect a new participating retailer account will receive a free digital copy of Disney’s hit animated film “Wreck-It Ralph.”

Check out Disney Movies Anywhere on VUDU at VUDU.com/DMA. U.S. consumers can sign up and access Disney Movies Anywhere for free on DisneyMoviesAnywhere.com and through the Disney Movies Anywhere iOS and Android apps. Users can then simply connect their VUDU, Google Play, and/or iTunes accounts to begin enjoying their Disney, Pixar, and Marvel digital movie collections across platforms and devices.

Flame Tree Barbecue Closing in January for Extensive Remodel at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

flame-tree-barbecue

The Flame Tree Barbecue at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is scheduled to be closing for a major remodel in January 2015.

The restaurant will be closing on January 5th.  The remodel will bring a number of improvements to the restaurant’s outdoor seating area. More covered areas will be installed, including covering the walkways between the seating areas. The ordering area will also see an expansion of its roof, covering guests placing orders.

The remodel is expected to take approximately three months, with a reopening in early April of 2015.

During the closure, some of the menu items will be available at kiosks throughout the park.

New Experiences Coming to Epcot’s Holidays Around the World

Epcot - Holiday Illuminations:Christmas Tree

One of the favorite traditions of guests each year is to visit Epcot during Holidays Around the World, where time-honored traditions come alive through the sights and sounds of the countries of World Showcase. We enjoy learning about the customs of Hanukkah and Kwanzaa and listening to the tales of characters like the kind-hearted witch La Befana.

For the 2014 holiday season, new Holidays Around the World experiences in Mexico, Morocco, and China join returning favorites such as “Joyful! A Gospel Celebration of the Season,” the Canadian Holiday Voyageurs, and of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus.

In Mexico, guests will enjoy the songs and traditions of “Fiesta de Navidad,” featuring colorful dancers and mariachis, who celebrate the holiday customs of Mexico in an interactive, musical performance. A Moroccan storyteller invites guests to join her on a journey to experience the gaiety of festivals, holiday traditions, and celebrations that are like the “spice of life” across Morocco. And the China pavilion bursts to life with the vibrant Chinese Lion Dance, bringing good fortune and happiness to all in honor of major holidays such as the Lunar New Year and Lantern Festival.

Holidays Around the World at Epcot starts November 28 and continues through December 29, 2014.

Disney Infinity 2.0 All Set to Roll Across Walt Disney World Soon

Disney Infinity 2.0 WDW Bus

Disney has some exciting news for fans of Disney Infinity. To celebrate the release of Disney Infinity 2.0, guests will soon find five Walt Disney World Resort busses with specially designed wraps. Our partners with Walt Disney Imagineering created these new wraps featuring characters from the game. They are the same team that designed the previous Walt Disney World monorail wraps like my favorite one created for Disney’s “TRON: Legacy“.

Once Upon a Toy in Downtown Disney Marketplace is the headquarters for all things related to Disney Infinity 2.0.

Mad T Party Ending at Disney California Adventure on November 30th

DCA Mad Tea Party

Attention, hatters and hares! Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum have asked me to pass an important message to you … Mad T Party will leave Disney California Adventure park to step back through the looking glass after its November 30 performance.

This is your chance to travel through the Rabbit Hole one more time and experience all your favorite mad things – the White Rabbit DJ, the Mad T Party band and those colorful concoctions. If you’re curiouser and curiouser about what’s coming in its place, stay tuned!

ABC Christmas Day Parade – ‘Disney Parks Frozen Christmas Celebration’ Taping Scheduled

Disney-Parks-Christmas-Day-Parade-Title-Card

The taping days for the ABC Christmas Day Parade has been announced to be on December 8th and 9th at the Magic Kingdom.

Guests in the park during the filming days will be able to take part, although special tickets will not be made available to guests.

As reported earlier, this year’s parade marks a departure from previous years, and is expected to be heavily based around the ‘Frozen’ movie. The title for this year’s parade is “Disney Parks Frozen Christmas Celebration.”

The Disneyland Resort in California filmed its segments last week.

MagicBands Bring More Pixie Dust to Disney Infinity

IASW - Disney Infinity

Disney Interactive’s gaming platform Disney Infinity joined with Disney Parks to offer Walt Disney World Resort guests with a MagicBand a special surprise. In the recently released edition of the game, Disney Infinity (2.0 Edition), only guests with a MagicBand can unlock the enchanting charm of the “it’s a small world” attraction into their very own Toy Box creation.

Guests unlock the download of “it’s a small world” for their Toy Box by placing a MagicBand over the Disney Infinity Base. The Base will detect the presence of a MagicBand, and then will instantly unlock the “it’s a small world” download with no online connectivity required. Additionally, you’ll be able to enchant other players with the iconic music from the “it’s a small world” attraction in the background. Once you’ve created a saved game, you will always have access to the new content.

Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom Opening Early Thanksgiving Week

walt-disney-world-thanksgiving-events-1

For those who will be at Walt Disney World around the Thanksgiving holiday the Magic Kingdom operating hours for the extremely busy Thanksgiving week have been extended with early park opening.

From November 22nd to November 29th, the Magic Kingdom will now be opening at 8 AM instead of the previously scheduled 9 AM. This of course means that Morning Extra Magic Hours move to beginning at 7 AM rather than 8 AM.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will now be opening at 8 AM instead of 9 AM November 23rd to November 28th.

Cinderella Dining at Citricos During Cinderellla’s Royal Table Rehab

Citricos

Beginning January 8, 2015, the Disney princesses will welcome guests to Cítricos at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa while we spruce up Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom Park. Reservations are available for Walt Disney World Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members beginning December 3. Reservations open to all guests on December 4.

Cinderella will be there to greet guests as they arrive, and the Disney princesses will visit each table for photos and autographs during the dining experience. Diners also can participate in an interactive “Magical Wishing Ceremony” with Cinderella and the Disney Princesses, with “wishing wands” and “wishing swords” for little ones.

Breakfast and brunch hours are 8 a.m.-2:20 p.m., and cost is $49.99; $31.99 ages 3-9. The experience is on the Disney Dining Plan (2 entitlements). For reservations call 407-WDW-DINE. Online reservations and information will be available at a later date.

Walt Disney Records to Release “Into The Woods” Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Deluxe Edition on December 16th

Into the Woods

Walt Disney Records is set to release the Into the Woods original motion picture soundtrack and the Into the Woods Deluxe Edition on December 16, 2014. Into the Woods features 20 songs from the film and the 2-disc Into the Woods Deluxe Edition also includes score. Both versions are available for pre-order beginning today. The film will be released in theaters December 25, 2014.

“Into the Woods” premiered on Broadway on November 5, 1987, at the Martin Beck Theatre. The production, which ran for 764 performances, won Tony® Awards for Best Score, Best Book of a Musical and Best Actress in a Musical. Among other awards, the musical received five Drama Desk Awards, including Best Musical. “Into the Woods” has been produced around the world, including a 1988 U.S. tour, a 1990 West End production and Broadway and London revivals, in addition to a PBS television production and a 10-year-anniversary concert.

The big-screen adaptation welcomes songs from the stage musical, including “Finale/Children Will Listen,” “Giants in the Sky,” “On the Steps of the Palace,” “No One Is Alone” and “Agony,” among others.

Starring Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine and Johnny Depp, “Into the Woods” is a modern twist on several beloved fairy tales, intertwining the plots of a few choice stories and exploring the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests. This humorous and heartfelt musical follows the classic tales of Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), Jack and the Beanstalk (Daniel Huttlestone), and Rapunzel (MacKenzie Mauzy), all tied together by an original story involving a Baker and his Wife (James Corden and Emily Blunt), their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the Witch (Meryl Streep), who has put a curse on them. Rob Marshall, the acclaimed filmmaker behind the Academy Award®-winning musical “Chicago” and Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” directs the film, which is based on the musical stage production by legendary eight-time Tony®, Grammy® and Oscar-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim and Tony® winner James Lapine, who also wrote the screenplay. The film was produced by John DeLuca, Marshall, “Wicked” producer Marc Platt and Callum McDougall.

The Into the Woods track list follows:

1. “Prologue: Into the Woods” – Company
2. “Cinderella at the Grave” – Cinderella’s Mother
3. “Hello, Little Girl” – Wolf, Little Red Riding Hood
4. “I Know Things Now”– Little Red Riding Hood
5. “A Very Nice Prince” – Cinderella, Baker’s Wife
6. “Giants in the Sky” – Jack
7. “Agony” – Cinderella’s Prince, Rapunzel’s Prince
8. “It Takes Two” – Baker’s Wife, Baker
9. “Stay With Me” – Witch
10. “On the Steps of the Palace” – Cinderella
11. “Careful My Toe” – Stepmother, Florinda, Lucinda
12. “Ever After” (Instrumental)
13. “Witch’s Lament” – Witch
14. “Any Moment” – Cinderella’s Prince, Baker’s Wife
15. “Moments in the Woods” – Baker’s Wife
16. “Your Fault” – Jack, Baker, Little Red Riding Hood, Witch, Cinderella
17. “Last Midnight” – Witch
18. “No One Is Alone” – Cinderella, Baker, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack
19. “Finale/Children Will Listen (Part 1)” – Baker, Baker’s Wife, Witch, Company
20. “Finale/Children Will Listen (Part 2)” – Company

The Into the Woods soundtrack, 2-disc Deluxe Edition and the digital Deluxe Edition soundtrack are set for release from Walt Disney Records on December 16, 2014. The albums will be available for pre-order on November 10:

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