Month: October 2015

Retail Magic Bands on Demand Opens in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom

Magic Bands to Order

Guests now have a new option to create and personalize retail MagicBands at Walt Disney World Resort. We recently opened a new retail MagicBand on Demand station inside the Tomorrowland Power & Light Co. location near Space Mountain in Magic Kingdom Park. This new option for guests is similar to the D-Tech on Demand boutique first introduced in June 2014 at the Marketplace Co-Op in Disney Springs Marketplace (as seen in this video).

At the Tomorrowland location, you may choose to create either a retail MagicBand or a D-Tech phone case. If creating a retail MagicBand, we offer your choice of eight different MagicBand colors including purple.

There are also approximately 40 graphics to apply to your custom MagicBand. There will be a few MagicBand graphics that will only be found in this location that salute classic Magic Kingdom Park attractions and icons (the first image in this story has a few examples).

In addition to artwork, the retail MagicBand can be personalized with a name printed on the outside.

Once designed, the retail MagicBand is printed in the location. The printers use UV ink which dries immediately and requires no cooling time.

For the final step, the custom retail MagicBand can be either associated to your My Disney Experience account, or you can give it as a gift to friends or family who may be visiting Walt Disney World Resort soon.

Retail for a custom retail MagicBand is $21.95 while a personalized retail MagicBand is $29.95.

Disney Chairman and CEO Robert Iger Enters ‘Broadcasting & Cable’ Hall of Fame

Bob Iger

For 25 years, the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame has served as a gold standard within the broadcast industry, honoring the outstanding individuals whose influence will continue to be felt for generations to come. We’re proud that this year—the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame’s 25th anniversary—The Walt Disney Company Chairman and CEO Robert A. Iger has joined this extraordinary group of pioneers, visionaries and stars of the electronic arts.

Mr. Iger, whose career began at ABC in 1974, was honored for his stewardship of The Walt Disney Company and his strategic vision focused on generating the best creative content possible, fostering innovation and utilizing the latest technology and expanding into new markets around the world. Mr. Iger officially joined the Disney senior management team in 1996 as Chairman of the Disney-owned ABC Group, where he oversaw the broadcast television network and station group, cable television properties, and radio and publishing businesses and also guided the complex merger between Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. and The Walt Disney Company. During Mr. Iger’s years with ABC, he obtained hands-on experience in every aspect of the television business—including news, sports, and entertainment—as well as in program acquisition, rights negotiations, and business affairs.

“I was lucky enough to know what I wanted to do at a very early age—thanks to watching the nightly news every single night with my parents. And I decided I wanted to be Walter Cronkite,” Mr. Iger said at the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame Awards last night in New York City. “I eventually grew out of that—somewhere during my fourth or fifth month as a weatherman in Ithaca, New York. After making it through one winter, I figured I’d had enough experience giving people bad news and shifted my career goals… smartly. But, I never outgrew my fascination for television—which remains such a powerful storytelling medium in the world, even in this era of such vast change.”

Disney Legend Frank Gifford, who passed away August 9, was also honored with Broadcasting & Cable’s Lifetime Achievement Award. “He was an exceptional man who is missed by everyone who had the joy of seeing his talent on the field, the pleasure of watching his broadcasts, or the honor of knowing him,” Mr. Iger said.

Nearly 400 professionals have been inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame to date. The 2015 Hall of Fame class includes:

• Ed Carroll—COO, AMC Networks, Inc.

• Michael T. Fries—president and CEO, Liberty Global

• Don Garber—commissioner, Major League Soccer; CEO, Soccer United Marketing

• Chris Geraci—president of National Broadcast, OMD

• Kathie Lee Gifford—cohost, fourth hour of NBC’s Today

• Robert A. Iger—chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company

• Lou LaTorre—president, advertising sales, Fox Cable Networks (Retired)

• Alfred C. Liggins III—chairman and CEO, TV One

• Philip J. Lombardo—CEO, Citadel Communications Company, L.P.

• Dave Lougee—president, Tegna Media

• Dr. Phil McGraw—host and executive producer, Dr. Phil

• Donna Speciale—president, Turner Broadcasting Ad Sales

– See more at: https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/blog/disney-chairman-and-ceo-robert-iger-enters-%E2%80%98broadcasting-cable%E2%80%99-hall-fame#sthash.MlOQL4jW.dpuf

Chef Rick Bayless to Open Frontera Fresco at Disney Springs

Chef Rick Bayless

Chef Rick Bayless, a six-time James Beard Foundation award winner, is the latest chef to sign on to open a new restaurant at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort. Known for his authentic Mexican cuisine, Bayless is opening Frontera Fresco, featuring specialties such as hand-crafted tortas, tacos, salads, fresh-made guacamole and classic Mexican braised meat entrees, all crafted with his time-honored recipes. And, of course, margaritas (plus cocktails, beers and wine).

“I’m thrilled to bring Frontera Fresco to Disney Springs and share my passion for Mexican cuisine with the families who visit Orlando every year,” Bayless said.

Bayless is probably best known for winning the title of Bravo TV’s “Top Chef Masters,” and his highly rated National Public Television Series, “Mexico–One Plate at a Time,” is in its 10th season. His popular Chicago restaurants include Frontera Grill (which received a Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant in 2007); Topolobampo; Xoco, and several locations for Frontera Fresco.

Those six James Beard Foundation Awards, by the way, are for two cookbooks; Midwest Chef of the Year; National Chef of the Year; Humanitarian of the Year, and Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America. Welcome to Disney, Chef Bayless.

Ribab Fusion Now Appearing at Morocco Pavilion for Limited Time

Ribab Fusion

North-African band Ribab Fusion are currently appearing at Epcot’s Morocco Pavilion for a limited engagement.

Ribab Fusion is a band that celebrates Morocco’s Amazigh (Berber) culture as it moves from ‘70s-style funk to Afropop dance vibes and featuring the one-stringed bowed ribab.

See the in-park Times Guide for performance times, typically Wednesday through Sunday until January 2 2016. The band has replaced B’net Al Houwariyate.

Moroccan Entertainment Act that Replaced Mo’Rockin’ No Longer Performing at Epcot

B'net Al Houwariyate

B’net Al Houwariyate, the Morocco Pavilion’s live entertainment act, is no longer performing at Epcot.

Originating from Marrakesh, the group played instruments, with song and dance – drawing from many generations of Moroccan traditions, including rural Berber chants and Chaabi festival rhythms.

The group debuted in October of 2014 as the replacement for Mo’ROCKIN’ as part of a wide-sweeping clear-out of existing Epcot entertainment.

A new musical group is expected in the near future.

Disney to Launch Subscription Streaming Service in U.K.

Tom Hanks as Woody and Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear in "Toy Story"

 

Disney is to launch next month a subscription streaming service in the U.K., which will offer its movies, television series, books and music direct to the consumer online.

The service, DisneyLife, will make available a wide range of titles, including the complete Pixar catalog, which includes the “Toy Story” franchise, and classics such as “Snow White,” “Lady and the Tramp” and “The Jungle Book,” the Financial Times reported Wednesday. DisneyLife will cost £9.99 ($15.43) a month.

“This is the future, in many respects,” said Bob Iger, Disney’s chief executive. “We’re seeing more and more opportunities to reach consumers directly and not through middlemen, and we’re seeing consumers wanting product in different ways.”

Disney will roll out the service across Europe next year, with the aim of launching in France, Spain, Italy and Germany. There are no plans to launch the service in the U.S., but Iger would not rule it out. “The technology platform that this sits on is scalable to the U.S. and is scalable to our other brands,” he said. Netflix has pay TV window rights to Disney theatrical releases for the U.S., kicking in at the end of next year, and Canada, starting with 2015 theatrical releases.

New content will be added to DisneyLife as it becomes available. Movies produced by Marvel and the Lucasfilm “Star Wars” franchise will not be included, but “Star Wars” and Marvel subscription services could be launched in the future, Iger said.

Iger saw apps, not linear television, as the future. “There’s a general sense that the world is going in this direction,” he said. “There will be multichannel TV and we will be part of it, but the app experience offers many more layers (and) much more richness in content than a channel, where one program follows another program.”

He added: “There’s so much more texture to (using the app) and it takes advantage of what technology is enabling these days — whereas a linear channel doesn’t. There’s nothing wrong with linear television but that’s one of the reasons why the app experience is going to grow.”

From Variety

Disneyland Begins First MagicBand Tests

Image Courtesy of Inside the Magic
Image Courtesy of Inside the Magic

Guests at Disneyland were taken aback recently as the technology from Walt Disney World’s Magic Band system appeared to be undergoing a test at the Space Mountain entrance in Tomorrowland.

FastPass-holding guests were ushered through a newly-roped-off queue and instructed to press the barcode of their FastPass against one of the two readers on either side. The lights on the readers turned green in a very familiar way when the passes were validated. Normally, guests at Disneyland show a print-out ticket displaying their return time to ride an attraction.

At this time, there is no other information available as to future plans for this technology at the Disneyland Resort.

Cast members would not comment on how long the test would run or even whether Magic Bands themselves would make their way to the California parks.

From Inside the Magic

Minnie’s Seasonal Dine at Hollywood & Vine is Now Year Round

Hollywood & Vine - Minnie

Minnie and pals will continue to host dinner at Hollywood & Vine year-round!

Minnie’s fabulous dinner parties celebrate the cheerful togetherness of the holidays, the glamour of Hollywood, the delight of spring, the excitement of summer and the frightening fun of Halloween. With each new season, look for unique music, décor, all-new costumes, menu items and interactive musical moments.

Reservations open October 27 for the next seasonal dine. From January 4 to March 20, Minnie will be hosting a dinner party celebrating the magic of the movies and the glamour of Hollywood.

Make your night even more magical by adding the Fantasmic! Dinner Package to your meal. For reservations, visit DisneyWorld.com/dine or call 407-WDW-DINE.

Soarin’ at Epcot Temporarily Closing for Refurbishment in January

Soarin'

Soarin’, the king-sized simulator ride that lets Epcot visitors virutally glide over California scenery, will begin its refurbishment on Jan. 4, according to the official Walt Disney World website.

The ride “shall reopen in the summer of 2016,” the site says.

In March, Disney said the ride, which opened in 2015, would be expanded from its original two theaters to three. In August, the company said the content would be updated and called Soarin’ Around the World at Epcot at the sister attraction at Disney California Adventure theme park. The changes will also happen on the technological side with the installation of digital screens and projection systems.

The new Soarin’ will “take guests on a journey to far-flung lands,” according to the official Disney Parks Blog.

From the Orlando Sentinel

‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Opening Night Event Planned for Disney Springs AMC Theater

Star Wars Force Awakens

Are you counting down the days to the opening of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”?

Today Disney is sharing details of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” Opening Night Event, a special ticketed event that’s planned for Thursday, December 17 at the Walt Disney World Resort for those who want to be among the first to see the new film and celebrate with fellow fans.

Starting at AMC Disney Springs 24 between 7 and 8 p.m., guests of the Opening Night Event will have a confirmed seat at the first few public showings of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and then enjoy a private after-hours party at Disney’s Hollywood Studios until 2 a.m. The party will include access to the new Star Wars Launch Bay exhibit, the Star Tours – The Adventures Continue attraction, and a DJ dance party. The night will be highlighted with the preview of a new fireworks spectacular set to the iconic “Star Wars” score. Event attendees will also get a commemorative souvenir event ticket. Guests of the Event are encouraged to come dressed in costume showing allegiance to the light side or dark side of the Force. Please see the Costume Guidelines in the FAQs.

The newest “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” trailer will debut in ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” Monday, October 19, during halftime of the National Football League (NFL) game between the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles. Tune in to ESPN to watch the premiere of the final trailer or join your fellow Star Wars fans at Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA to watch the trailer on a giant screen outside AMC Downtown Disney 12 theatres. The fun begins at 5:00 p.m. counting down to the trailer release.

Following the trailer launch, tickets to the “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” Opening Night Event will be on sale. For tickets to the “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” Opening Night Event at Walt Disney World Resort, visit amctheatres.com/starwarswdw to purchase.

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