Month: July 2016

Disney Interactive Shuts Down Playdom Forums Over Data Breach

Disney announced on Friday via a statement on its website that it has shut down the Playdom Forums after it detected a data breach earlier in the month.

According to Disney’s statement, the company had learned on July 12 that an attacker breached the playdomforums.com servers on July 9 and then again on July 12.

The Playdom Forums are Disney Interactive’s official forums for games such as Star Wars: Commander, Marvel: Avengers Alliance (MAA), Marvel: Avengers Alliance Mobile (mMAA),and Disney Hidden Worlds (HW).

According to the forum’s latest statistics section, over 355,000 people are registered on the platform.

Disney reported that the attacker had accessed sections of the server that allowed him to steal user data such as usernames, email addresses, and passwords.

The attacker also made off with the IP addresses of users that they used to register for the forums. Fortunately for affected users, Disney did not store any other personal information such as IP addresses or Social Security numbers.

The company has contacted authorities and has shut down the forums while it investigates the breach. Playdom Forums ran on the vBulletin forum software, and by the looks of an older Internet Archive snapshot, the forum seemed to be running on the old v4 platform, considered insecure.

Disney said it had invalidated all user passwords and launched new forums with better security features. Two separate forums have been made available for players of Marvel Avengers Alliance and Star Wars Commander.

It is currently unknown if the Playdom Forums will make a comeback, or Disney will continue with the separate forums it had set up in the meantime.

Since password reuse is a recurring issue among Internet users, Disney recommends that all Playdom users that reused their password on other platforms go through the process of updating those accounts to avoid any potential issues.

From Softpedia

Marvel’s ‘Avengers 3’ Gets Official Title With Temp Name Hung On ‘Avengers 4’

Marvel Studios has decided on a title for the in-development Avengers 3, making official that the film will be called Avengers: Infinity War. Avengers 4, meanwhile, has been given the placeholder name Untitled Avengers.

Infinity War

Infinity War is the first installment of a two-part story that concludes with Untitled Avengers; the two films were announced together at an event in October 2014 as Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 and Avengers: Infinity War Part 2. Their respective release dates of 5/4/18 and 5/3/19 have not been changed.

Both films are being helmed by Anthony & Joe Russo, who directed Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War and were handed the reins of Marvel’s flagship franchise following the departure of Joss Whedon, who directed 2012’s The Avengers and last year’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, both of which are among the seven top-grossing films of all time worldwide. The Russos confirmed in May that Avengers 3 and 4 were being retitled in part to put to rest speculation that the two films were merely one large film split in half.

Widely believed to be inspired by the 1991 Marvel Comics miniseries Infinity Gauntlet, Avengers: Infinity War and Untitled Avengers has been described by Joe Russo as an event in which the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe up to that point will unite “to battle the greatest threat to the world and universe that you’ve ever seen.” The miniseries saw the Marvel Comics universe faced with doom when archvillain Thanos the Mad Titan, in love with/obsessed with the (female) physical incarnation of Death, assembles all six “Infinity Gems,” granting him godlike power over the universe. (For those keeping score, the gems control Time, Space, Mind, Soul, Reality and Power.) Believing she’ll reciprocate his feelings if he delivers enough souls to her, his plan is to kill half of all living things.

Thanos, played by Josh Brolin, has been established as a major behind-the-scenes player in the events of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. First seen in a voiceless cameo in the stinger to Avengers, where the obsession with Death was teased, he showed up again as a major supporting character in Guardians of the Galaxy and later in the stinger for Age of Ultron. As with the comics, the Infinity Gems — called stones in the MCU — have played a major role, factoring into the plots of Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World, Guardians of the Galaxy and Age of Ultron.

While the plot and casting have been kept largely under wraps, Robert Downey Jr (Iron Man), Chris Pratt (Star-Lord), Chris Evans (Captain America), Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch) have been confirmed to appear in the films, with the assumption being that Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johannson, Samuel L. Jackson, and other longstanding Marvel cast members also will appear. The Russos also have teased appearances by Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange as well as Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel, though Marvel Studios has clarified that Captain Marvel will debut first in a stand-alone film to be released between Infinity War and Untitled Avengers.

From Deadline.com

Disney Infinity Releases Timetable for Shutdown

According to an email sent to all Toy Box builders today, Disney Infinity’s servers will be shutdown on March 3, 2017.

Since announcing the discontinuation of production on Disney Infinity, the team has been exploring timelines for the closure of the game’s online versions and community features. The goal has been to offer extended access to these services, while also providing clear communication about what players can expect. It’s important to note that:

  • The console versions of Disney Infinity will continue to operate as usual with full access to figures and play sets only with the exception of community content features and online multiplayer
  • Until September 30, 2016, Community Content will still be available and players will be able to upload and download any of their favorite Toy Box creations

The email outlines the plans for the three different iterations of Disney Infinity across all platforms, including when certain online functionality will cease for each.

Here’s a full rundown of what’s happening with Disney Infinity, straight from Disney Interactive, over the next eight months.

July 29, 2016

  • No in-game purchases can be made within the PC, Steam version of Disney Infinity 2.0, iOS, Google Android, Amazon Android and Apple TV versions of the game as this feature has now been removed
  • You can continue to make in-game purchases within the Steam version of Disney Infinity 3.0.

Sept. 30, 2016

  • You will no longer be able to log in to play the PC, iOS, Google Android and Amazon Android versions of Disney Infinity, these will no longer be available on the respective app stores
  • The Steam versions of Disney Infinity 2.0 & 3.0 will remain operational with the exception of all online services and community features as these will be discontinued
  • Apple TV versions of Disney Infinity will be removed from the AppStore
  • The Disney Infinity Community team will no longer be reviewing or approving any new Toy Boxes that are submitted to Disney for all console, mobile and PC versions of the game. However if you are playing on any console, Apple TV or Windows 8/10 versions of the game, you can continue to download your favorite Toy Boxes from the Community Content section until March 3, 2017

Jan. 3, 2017

  • No in-game purchases can be made within the Windows 8/10 versions of the game as this feature will be removed

March 3, 2017

  • Apple TV and Windows 8/10 versions will no longer be available, supported or playable
  • All Disney Infinity online services and community features for all versions will be discontinued

More details on the closure of Disney Infinity’s online services is available at the company’s support website.

 

Disneyland Railroad and Rivers of America Attractions to Reopen Summer 2017 at Disneyland

Over the past few weeks, The Disney Parks Blog has been sharing stories about the original Disneyland park attractions that guests have loved for more than 60 years. Today, Disney announced that the Disneyland Railroad and Rivers of America will reopen summer 2017 at Disneyland park.

This includes all attractions along the Rivers of America:

  • “Fantasmic!”
  • Mark Twain Riverboat and Sailing Ship Columbia
  • Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
  • Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes

DL Mark Twain

The new northern bank of the Rivers of America is the latest in a 60-year evolution of this classic waterway. This Disneyland original has been taking guests on a journey along four iconic American rivers since it opened on July 17, 1955. On opening day, there was just one way to travel the rivers … on board the Mark Twain Riverboat.

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One year later, in 1956, traffic on the Rivers of America picked up significantly with the addition of Indian War Canoes (now known as Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes) and Tom Sawyer Island Rafts (which took guests to the newly opened Tom Sawyer Island).

DL Rivers of America Columbia

Then in 1958, another large watercraft joined Mark Twain Riverboat on trips around the Rivers of America. Sailing Ship Columbia is an exact replica of the 18th century merchant vessel, Columbia Rediviva, the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe, and the namesake of Oregon’s Columbia River.

The next significant change to the Rivers of America came in 1966 with the addition of New Orleans Square. Now guests could take a genteel stroll along the banks of the Mississippi River (one of four sections on the waterway), enjoying live music along with a lovely view.

DL Rivers of America Fantasmic

In 1992, the quiet New Orleans Square nights were replaced by a fantastical journey into Mickey Mouse’s imagination with the debut of “Fantasmic!” Quickly a guest favorite, the show went on to also delight guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort.

And next year, history will be made on the Rivers of America once again with a gorgeous new riverbank and an elevated trestle over which the iconic Disneyland Railroad will travel. For now, be sure to stop by the Main Street and New Orleans Square stations now to get an up-close look at the steam engines of the Disneyland Railroad, and we’ll be back with a look at how the railroad has changed through the years while remaining a Disneyland icon.

Get ready to hit the rails and the water again when Disneyland Railroad and Rivers of America attractions reopen, summer 2017!

Disney Reportedly Working on Reboot of ‘The Rocketeer’

The Rocketeer is ready to blast off once again.

Walt Disney Studios is developing a reboot of the 1991 action adventure movie, hiring Max Winkler and Matt Spicer to pen the script, which is being titled The Rocketeers.

The project, in the early development stages, is considered a sequel-reboot and, in a modern-day twist, will be headlined by a black female character.

Brigham Taylor, who produced The Jungle Book with Jon Favreau, is producing along with Blake Griffin of the L.A. Clippers and Ryan Kalil of the Carolina Panthers. Griffin and Kalil are partners in a new venture called Mortal Media and approached Taylor with the idea for the reboot.

Rocketeer was based on the popular 1980s indie comic by Dave Stevens and, like Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark, was a loving homage to the serials of the 1930s and 1940s.

The story followed Cliff Secord, a stunt pilot who discovers a rocket pack and suit to die for and become embroiled with mobsters and Nazis, as well as Howard Hughes and the FBI.

The Joe Johnston-directed movie starred Billy Campbell as Secord, Jennifer Connelly as his aspiring actress (a Betty Page homage) girlfriend, Timothy Dalton as an Errol Flynn-type actor who is a Nazi spy and Alan Arkin as Secord’s mechanic.

When the movie was released, it grossed only $46.6 million and came in fourth in its opening weekend (it was pummeled by Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, City Slickers and Dying Young). Its performance was considered a disappointment by the studio and its creative team.

But a rare thing happened: The movie took on a life of its own, engendering a massive following who loved its un-ironic, bright and straightforwardly heroic take on characters, all abetted by a score by James Horner.

When Disney hosted a 20th anniversary screening of the movie in Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre in 2011, fans — many in Rocketeer costumes — lined up for blocks.

It was around that time that the studio began mulling a reboot of the movie, but sources said it sought a way to differentiate it from another rocket-propelled flying hero: Iron Man.

The new take keeps the story in a period setting and offers a fresh view on the characters. Set six years after the original Rocketeer and after Secord has vanished while fighting the Nazis, an unlikely new hero emerges: a young African–American female pilot, who takes up the mantle of Rocketeer in an attempt to stop an ambitious and corrupt rocket scientist from stealing jet-pack technology in what could prove to be a turning point in the Cold War.

Tendo Nagenda and Chaz Salembier are overseeing the project for Disney.

Winkler, the son of Fonzie actor Henry Winkler, wrote and directed the 2010 indie comedy The Ceremony,which starred Michael Angarano and Uma Thurman. He has also directed episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine,and New Girl.

Spicer is Winkler’s producing and writing partner. The two have a coming-of-age drama titled Flower, with Zoey Deutch and Adam Scott, in postproduction, which Winkler directed. They also wrote Magic Camp for Disney and The Adventurer’s Handbook for Focus.

From The Hollywood Reporter

The Muppets Are Coming to Walt Disney World Resort This Fall in an All-New Show

Beginning this fall, the Muppets will be visiting Magic Kingdom Park, where they’ll take part in an all-new live show, “The Muppets Present… Great Moments in American History.”

Sam Eagle, the fiercely patriotic American eagle who is forever trying to set a high moral standard for the Muppets, will join Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, The Great Gonzo and James Jefferson, town crier of Liberty Square, as they gather outside The Hall of Presidents to present historical tales in hysterical fashion as only they can. From the midnight ride of Paul Revere to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Muppets appear throughout the day to share with Guests, their own unique take on the founding fathers and the birth of the United States of America.

Featuring an original song and plenty of wacky Muppets humor, “The Muppets Present… Great Moments in American History” will make its debut in October 2016.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex To Become New Epicenter of Cheer and Dance

Disney is giving us a look at the design of the new state-of-the-art venue that was announced back in February that they will be building at the ESPN World of Sports Complex.

The new indoor sports venue, which will be adjacent to the Jostens Center, will feature a flexible design that can morph from one large competition space capable of seating more than 8,000 fans to as many as four separate competition areas. It will be so flexible that it can be configured to host a variety of other sports, such as basketball and volleyball, as well as concerts.

It will be the only venue of its size in America that is specifically designed with cheerleading and dance competitions in mind, offering special warm up and practice areas as well as spaces for judges and officials.

The facility, expected to be complete within the next 18 months, will perfectly complement the growing number of prestigious cheerleading and dance events at Disney. Currently, the sports complex plays host to nine cheerleading and dance competitions, including six elite Varsity-produced events such as the USASF Cheerleading and Dance Worlds held each spring.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex was already a major player in the cheerleading and dance world, but the construction of this massive new indoor venue means that the sports complex is poised to become the epicenter of cheerleading and dance events in this nation. And that’s enough to make any cheerleader do a round off Arabian into a round off double back tuck.

Dining at Magic Kingdom Quick Service Locations Earns Discount Coupons for Disney Springs Marketplace Shopping

Beginning July 26th, when guests dine at select Magic Kingdom quick service restaurants they will earn discount coupons to use at Disney Springs Marketplace stores.

MK 18 - Gaston

The following Magic Kingdom restaurants are participating, with the coupon printed on the receipt.

  • Aloha Isle
  • Auntie Gravities
  • Casey’s Corner
  • Cheshire Café
  • Columbia Harbour House
  • Cool Ship
  • Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café
  • Gaston’s Tavern
  • Golden Oak Outpost
  • Lunching Pad
  • Pecos Bill’s Café
  • Pinocchio Village Haus
  • Sleepy Hollow
  • Storybook Treats
  • Sunshine Tree Terrace
  • Tomorrowland Terrace
  • Village Fry Shop

The coupon is worth 10% discount at the following Disney Springs Marketplace stores.

Springs 11 - Disney Christmas

  • Disney’s Days of Christmas
  • Disney’s Design a Tee
  • Disney Pin Traders
  • Disney’s Wonderful World of Memories
  • Goofy’s Candy Company
  • Marketplace Co-Op
  • Marketplace Fun Finds
  • Mickey’s Pantry
  • Once Upon a Toy
  • Tren-D
  • World of Disney

The offer will be available from July 26th through September 4th and redeemable through to September 5th. Terms and conditions apply, including not to be used in combination with other discounts, and not valid on certain items such as ticket media, DVDs and CDs and Gift Cards – check with a Cast Member before purchase.

There is also an offer available for a 15% discount at Disney’s Days of Christmas by shopping or dining at the following:

  • DisneyQuest Emporium
  • DisneyQuest FoodQuest
  • Candy Cauldron
  • Cirque du Soleil
  • Exposition Park Food Trucks
  • Star Wars Galactic Outpost
  • Super Hero Headquarters

As with the first offer, the coupon will be printed on the receipt and is available for the same dates.

Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! Coming to Disney California Adventure Park Summer 2017

Today at San Diego Comic-Con, Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, announced to a packed house of fans that the Guardians of the Galaxy are coming to Disney California Adventure park!

 

Beginning in summer 2017, the outrageous and irreverent gang will appear in Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! – a comically high-energy, rocking new adventure. Guests will be right in the mix with characters from the blockbuster “Guardians of the Galaxy” films.

 

Deep inside his fortress-like collection, the mysterious Taneleer Tivan (aka The Collector) is displaying his newest acquisitions, the Guardians of the Galaxy. They are trapped in customized display cases, suspended over a vast abyss. Unbeknownst to their unscrupulous captor, the intrepid Rocket has escaped and is enlisting the Collector’s VIP guests for help. Guests board a gantry lift, which launches them into a chaotic and hilarious adventure as they join Rocket in an attempt to break his fellow Guardians out of captivity.

 


The new attraction will anchor a broader universe of Super Heroes that will grow over time at Disney California Adventure park. This exciting new presence will transform the structure currently housing The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ (scheduled to close in early 2017) into an epic new adventure, enhancing the breathtaking free fall sensation with all-new visual and audio effects to create a variety of ride experiences. Guests will experience multiple random, unique ride profiles in which the rise and fall of the gantry lift will rock to the beat of music inspired by the film’s popular soundtrack.


Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! opens summer 2017 at Disney California Adventure park. Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog as we’ll bring you more details as the attraction develops as well as opportunities to celebrate The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ before it closes in early 2017.


The Twilight Zone® is a registered trademark of CBS, Inc. and is used with permission pursuant to a license from CBS, Inc.

Stay and Save at the Disneyland Resort with Special Hotel Offer

Disneyland Resort guests might be chillin’ at the all-new “Frozen – Live at the Hyperion” at Disney California Adventure park this summer, but it’s Southern California so there’s plenty of warm weather to go around for the remaining weeks of the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration. It’s also the perfect time of year to grab a hotel room and stretch out vacations by a few more days!

grand-californian

For instance, guests can save up to 25 percent on premium rooms at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Disneyland Hotel and save up to 10 percent at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, on select Sunday through Thursday nights between August 14 and September 29, 2016. Book through September 15, 2016.*

paradise-pier-hotel

By staying at one of the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort, you’ll have easy access to both Disneyland Resort theme parks, as well as Extra Magic Hour, an early morning admission option, on select mornings (separate theme park admission and valid hotel key card required).**

*Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same room at the same hotel. Travel must be completed by 9/30/16. Savings on premium rooms are available on Premium, Deluxe and Woods/Garden/Courtyard rooms; select Concierge rooms; and Paradise, Artisan and Regal suites. Not valid on previously booked rooms. Advance reservations required. Subject to availability as the number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Excludes applicable fees and taxes. Limit two (2) rooms per reservation and five (5) people maximum per room. Not valid in combination with any other hotel discounts or offers. Subject to restrictions and change without notice. Separate Theme Park admission required to enjoy the Parks.

**Disneyland Resort Hotel Guest Extra Magic Hour currently allows registered Disneyland Resort hotel guests admission into select attractions at Disneyland Park on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and Disney California Adventure Park on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday before the applicable park opens to the general public. Check disneyland.com for schedule of when each park offers Extra Magic Hour. Each registered hotel guest (ages 3 and older) must have a valid theme park ticket and active hotel room key card. To enhance the Extra Magic Hour experience, it is strongly recommended that guests arrive at least one hour and 15 minutes prior to regular park opening. Applicable theme park, days and times of operation and all other elements including, but not limited to, operation of attractions, entertainment, stores, restaurants and appearances of characters may vary and are subject to change without notice. Subject to capacity, cancellation and other restrictions.