Tag: Olaf

Walt Disney World is Adding Character Meet & Greets to Genie+

Walt Disney World has announced that three popular character meet and greet locations will be joining Disney Genie+ this week.

The three character meet and greets that will be added to Genie+ on January 26th will be –

  • Mickey at Town Square Theater in Magic Kingdom
  • Princess Tiana and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall in Magic Kingdom
  • Cinderella and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall in Magic Kingdom
  • Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Currently the meet and greets are standby only, but they will now be moving to offering Lightning Lane access with Genie+ and a standby line.

Land of “Frozen” Aboard Disney Cruise Line This Summer

In summer 2016, Disney Cruise Line guests can immerse themselves in the animated hit “Frozen” with exciting experiences inspired by the film, including a spectacular deck party, storybook adventures ashore, a three-song stage show production number, character meet and greets, and more.

A Day of Frozen Fun, Including New Deck Party 

On select Disney Magic and Disney Wonder sailings to Europe and Alaska, Disney Cruise Line guests are transported to the land of “Frozen” when the ship is transformed into a winter wonderland and a day of frozen fun culminates with an extravagant celebration with friends from the Kingdom of Arendelle.

On one special morning, guests will awake to discover a magical freeze has overtaken the atrium lobby with sparkling icicles adorning the grand staircase, resembling the majestic mountain-top ice palace of Queen Elsa.

Icy adventures and fun for the entire family throughout the day include all-new meet and greets and themed experiences:

  • Memorable moments with Anna, Elsa, and for the first time in forever, Kristoff and Olaf
  • “Anna’s Chocolate Chase” scavenger hunt for those who share Anna’s sense of adventure, with a special surprise for finishing the game
  • “Do You Want to Build a Snowman” activity where kids take on Elsa’s magical powers to make snow and ice
  • “Oaken’s Maypole Swirl and Twirl” for families to learn a traditional Scandinavian dance spinning and braiding giant ribbons
  • “Frozen” themed dining experience, including a menu inspired by traditional Nordic fare and special dishes inspired by the film

The evening fun kicks off with “Freezing the Night Away with Anna, Elsa and Friends,” a family-friendly interactive deck party featuring the famous royal sisters of Arendelle and their fun-loving Nordic companions. By now, the freeze has spread to the upper decks of the ship, with giant snowflakes, icicles and snow-covered rocks.

The celebration begins with a high-energy line dance, set to the movie’s ice cutting scene, featuring the arrival of Kristoff, impressively twirling his ice picks, and Princess Anna.

Anna and Kristoff’s beloved companions, Sven, the trolls and Olaf, make virtual appearances at the party. Sven engages the crowd in reindeer games like “Sven Says” and the “Troll Stroll,” and Olaf leads a sing along to his signature song, “In Summer.”

Elsa arrives with a snowy gust of wind, calling on guests to sing “Let it Go” with her as she conjures up a wintry spectacle to cool things down for Olaf. In true Disney fashion, Elsa unleashes her magic, sending a chill through everyone as the powerful Academy Award-winning song echoes from the ship.

The evening concludes with more family dancing on the pool deck, followed by fun just for adults in the nightclub featuring dance performances and frozen specialty drinks.

Adventures Ashore in Norway

Disney Cruise Line guests who travel aboard the Disney Magic to Norway, the land that inspired Arendelle from “Frozen,” have the opportunity to join exciting Port Adventures that bring this fairytale setting to life. One signature adventure ashore in Ålesund, Norway, created exclusively for Disney Cruise Line, immerses guests in the splendor and charm of Norway, with the help of Anna and Elsa, in an enchanting storybook village.

Other shore excursions take Disney Cruise Line guests to discover the breathtaking natural wonders, stunning architecture and rich Scandinavian culture depicted in the film. Seven-night voyages begin May 29, 2016, sailing through Norwegian fjords and calling on ports including Stavanger, Ålesund, Geiranger, and Bergen, Norway.

In Summer and Beyond

Adding to the excitement, offerings debuted in 2015 continue this summer and beyond.

Aboard the Disney Magic, Anna, Elsa and Olaf are part of the line up of beloved Disney characters who together teach a young girl the power of her dreams in the Disney Cruise Line original production, “Disney Dreams … An Enchanted Classic.” Scenes featuring “Frozen” characters include renditions of three popular songs: “Let it Go,” “For the First Time in Forever” and “In Summer.” The show segment is a heartfelt, humorous and memorable tribute to the “Frozen” film, preserving its endearing and playful tones with an inspiring message. Special effects are magical, with a snowfall throughout the theatre and a breathtaking transformation of the young girl’s room into her own ice palace.

On all four Disney ships, Olaf is giving warm hugs alongside Anna and Elsa. Children and families have the opportunity to meet and take photographs with their favorite “Frozen” friends on their royal tour of the Disney Fantasy, Disney Dream, Disney Wonder and Disney Magic.

To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, visit disneycruise.com, call Disney Cruise Line at 888-325-2500 or contact a travel agent.

 

New Character Meet & Greet Experiences with Olaf and Mickey & Minnie Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Olaf Meet and Greet

Two new character greeting experiences debut this spring at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where you can step into scenes with some of your favorite Disney characters, as they live out their Hollywood dreams. Coming in spring 2016 to the Echo Lake district at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the all-new Celebrity Spotlight, the perfect place for a dream encounter with one of Disney’s latest stars. At opening, you are invited into the Celebrity Spotlight to meet lovable snowman Olaf, from Disney’s blockbuster film “Frozen.” Olaf will be living his dream “In Summer,” chilling on the beach and ready with warm hugs for all his friends.

Also opening this spring is “Mickey and Minnie Starring in Red Carpet Dreams,” located just off Commissary Lane near the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant. Here you can join Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, as they’re living the dream as A-list Hollywood stars. You’ll walk the red carpet and step into a scene with Minnie, where she appears as a Tinsel Town starlet in a ritzy setting straight out of a lush and colorful musical extravaganza. Nearby, you will find Mickey portraying his iconic role of the Sorcerer’s Apprentice from “Fantasia.”

For Disney character fans, this spring at Disney’s Hollywood Studios promises to be a dream come true!

Olaf MagicBand Now Available at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Olaf Magic Band

As the “Frozen” Summer Fun celebration continues at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a new, limited edition retail MagicBand, featuring Olaf from Disney’s “Frozen”  is now available at Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The shop is located between Toy Story Midway Mania and Studio Backlot Tour. I spoke with Kevin-Michael Lezotte, merchandiser for retail MagicBands, about this latest addition.

“We saw a great response from guests when we released two limited edition MagicBands during Star WarsWeekends earlier this year,” explained Kevin-Michael. “This new MagicBand is pre-printed with an image of Olaf ‘chillin’ in summer, and will be presented in a specially designed packaging. These pre-printed MagicBands are another great way guests can show off their Disney Side while visiting Walt Disney World Resort this summer.”

This limited edition retail MagicBand will have an edition size of 5,000, and will have a retail of $29.95 (plus tax).

This new MagicBand will join three open edition MagicBands inspired by Disney’s “Frozen,” which are currently offered in Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post.

As with all retail MagicBand purchases, guests must present one of the following for the MagicBand to be linked to at the time of purchase: valid theme park admission, Memory Maker card or another MagicBand.

These specific “Frozen” MagicBands will not be offered on the Disney Parks online store or via Merchandise Guest Services team.

Guests, however, can find other select MagicBand accessories, like MagicBandits and MagicSliders, online at DisneyParks.com/Store.

Disney to Release Frozen Themed iPhone Cases and MagicBands

Frozen Magic Bands

Disney will be releasing a new D-Tech on Demand cases for iPhone 4/4S and iPhone 5/5S on Saturday at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This artwork will also be added to the D-Tech on Demand boutique inside the recently opened Marketplace Co-Op in Downtown Disney Marketplace. The Marketplace Co-Op location will have a few designs not found anywhere else, while the “Frozen Summer Fun” design will only be found at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Next week Disney will release three open edition, retail MagicBands at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with pre-printed images of Elsa, Anna and Olaf. As with all retail MagicBand purchases, guests must present one of the following for the MagicBand to be linked to at the time of purchase: valid theme park admission, Memory Maker card or another MagicBand. These items will not be available for purchase online or via Merchandise Guest Services.

‘Frozen’ Experiences Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios This Summer

Anna & Elsa

Like Olaf, have you ever closed your eyes and imagined yourself in another place? In summer, maybe? At Walt Disney World Resort? Or perhaps in the snow-covered kingdom of Arendelle, from Disney’s instant classic, “Frozen.” Why not all three?! After all, the hot and the cold are both so intense, if you put them together it just makes sense! And that’s just what we’re doing as part of an incredible new experience.

This summer, the world of “Frozen” takes center stage at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We’re opening up the gates July 5 for a summer-long happening, featuring a full day of all-new, immersive “Frozen” experiences you won’t want to miss, every day through September 1!

Here are some of the highlights:

  • Anna’s & Elsa’s Royal Welcome: Each day at 11 a.m., Anna and Elsa, riding in a horse-drawn sleigh, will travel in a royal procession down Hollywood Boulevard. Rugged mountain man Kristoff is along for the fun joined by a flurry of skaters, skiers and ice cutters, all dressed in their Arendelle best.
  • For The First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration: Inside the park’s Premiere Theater, Princess Anna and Queen Elsa join the Royal Historians of Arendelle for a fun and comedic retelling of the history of their kingdom amidst projections, lighting and special effects. Guests will be invited to join in special sing-along moments from the film’s chart-topping soundtrack. At the end of the performance, guests might find themselves becoming “Honorary Citizens of Arendelle.” The 20-minute show will be presented multiple times each day.
  • Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post & Frozen Funland: There’s a “big summer blowout” happening inside the park’s Soundstage One, where Oaken – the film’s trading post owner – and his cousins have created the “Frozen Funland” amidst a winter wonderland. Living up to its name, there will be plenty of frozen festivities inside the makeshift adventure park Oaken and his cousins built to make the most of the sudden snowstorm. Part of the Oaken’s Frozen Funland will be an ice skating rink with demonstrations by some of Oaken’s talented cousins on the Arendelle ice.

    In addition, icy artisans will put their talents on display, creating carvings of favorite “Frozen” characters from giant frozen blocks. Kids can enjoy frozen wintertime activities in the “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” area. For all of his Frozen Funland friends, Oaken has plenty of merchandise at his Trading Post, along with hot cocoa and sweet treats available for purchase.

    Guests can take pictures with the film’s animated characters in a virtual setting, and then email them or share on their social media channels.

    When guests want to escape the icy atmosphere of Oaken’s outpost, all they have to do is look for the door marked “Sauna,” where they once again will exit to the warm Florida sun.

  • Coolest Summer Ever Dance Party: From 5:30-9:30 p.m. each evening, a live band will take the stage to celebrate the Frozen summer fun with contemporary songs and a few familiar tunes from the film.
  • Take-Along Olaf: As a special feature before the fireworks, guests will have a chance to be a part of a pre-show celebration by hashtagging photos of themselves in the park with a “Take-Along Olaf.” Throughout the day, Take-Along Olafs will be distributed at various locations in the park. Guests are then invited to take Olaf along with them on their Disney’s Hollywood Studios adventures. By sharing their photos with the unique hashtag #OlafSummerVacation, their photos may appear on the big screen in this special pre-show feature.
  • Frozen Fireworks: At 9:45pm each evening, the giant Sorcerer Mickey Hat on Hollywood Blvd. gets the full Frozen treatment with special projections of snow and ice images, in an eye-popping spectacular above Hollywood Blvd. Set to the film’s soundtrack, the fireworks show will feature some special guests – including a very magical appearance from Elsa in which she will show how her powers flurry “through the air and to the ground” to produce magically icy blue and white gleaming fireworks.

If you’re somewhere in that zone, like me, you’re already bursting with anticipation for “Frozen Summer Fun – Live at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.” Starting July 5, the sky will be blue, and you guys will be there, too! It’s going to be a great summer for snowmen, royalty, and anyone who’s a fan of “Frozen!”

 

‘Frozen’ is Officially the Biggest Animated Film…Ever

Elsa-Frozen

Boosted by opening in the movie’s final overseas market of Japan over the weekend, Disney’s “Frozen” has just become the biggest animated film ever.

“Frozen” — which already has set sales records and won Oscars in March, ends the month by bringing its global gross total to $1.072-billion, according to box-office trackers.

The box-office record for an animated film had been held by Disney/Pixar’s “Toy Story 3” (2010), which grossed $1.063-billion “Frozen” has grossed more than $398-million in North America and $674-million in international markets.

“Frozen’s” $50-million-plus box office in Japan also helped the mega-musical crack the list of Top 10 films ever (not adjusted for inflation), according to BoxOfficeMojo.com. (Next in its sights: No. 9 “The Dark Knight Rises,” at $1.084-billion.)

The “Snow Queen”-inspired 3D musical, directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck, began the month by winning Oscars for Best Animated Feature and Best Song, for Idina Menzel’s omnipresent “Let It Go.”

On March 18, the film — on its debut day of home-video release — sold 3.2-million Blu-rays and DVDs. The previous month, “Frozen” had the biggest digital release ever.

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