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New Fantasyland Concept Art Vividly Features Princesses in Enchanted Forest

Via an email to Disney Travel Agents regarding the newly made announcements regarding the Enchanted Forest portion of the New Fantasyland Expansion at the Walt Disney World Resort on December 6, 2012 (soft opening November 19), a few pieces of concept art were released. They appear to be new, but it is quite possible they’ve been released previously and we just missed them, but even if they are old news they are beautiful enough to warrant sharing again.

The first image features Belle as she reads one of her favorite books outside the cottage belonging to her father Maurice while the Beast’s castle looms in the far off distance, ‘miles’ away.

The castle of the Beast stands majestically upon a hill and houses the Be Our Guest Restaurant (reservations open for November 19 on August 20 at ~~12 pm~~ 7 AM ET), which will feature a lavish dining experience in the elegant ballroom, gallery and mysterious ‘West Wing’ of the castle. With seating for 550, this eatery promises a French bistro flavor, offering ‘great food fast’ service by day and full table service dining in the evening.
Maurice’s Cottage (decorated with a few of his wacky contraptions!) is situated in Belle’s Village amongst a French countryside setting complete with a wishing well and rustic foot bridge. The inventor’s humble workshop welcomes guests into the first scene of Enchanted Tales with Belle and Lumiere, a lively retelling of the ‘tale as old as time.’
Nearby in Belle’s Village, guests will find the rousing Gaston’s Tavern and Bonjour! Village Gifts.

In the second piece of concept art, it’s Ariel in mermaid form as she gazes longingly at the castle which belongs to Prince Eric.

Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid is a major new attraction that takes guests on a ride with Ariel and her friends through their exciting adventures above and below the waves – all against a musical backdrop of songs from the classic film.
Ariel’s Grotto provides a way to meet and greet with The Little Mermaid herself.

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WDW Candlelight Processional Update: Geena Davis, Andy Garcia, Amy Grant, James Denton

Walt Disney World has announced some changes to its lineup of narrators for its annual holiday event, the Candlelight Processional, held at the America Gardens Theatre, beginng November 23 of this year.

As we previously noted on Twitter, Isabella Rossellini will no longer be performing from November 23 – 25. We know her spot to be filled by actress Geena Davis. In addition, Andy Garcia has signed on for December 2 – 4, James Denton for December 8 & 9, Jodi Benson extended to December 10 – 13 and music singer Amy Grant from December 26 – 28. The full narration schedule as it currently stands is as follows:

Schedule & Narrators
American Gardens Theatre (5:00 p.m., 6:45 p.m., 8:15 p.m.)
November 23 to November 25, 2012 — Geena Davis
November 26 to November 29, 2012 — Neil Patrick Harris
November 30 to December 1, 2012 — Whoopi Goldberg
December 2 to December 4, 2012 — Andy Garcia
December 5 to December 7, 2012 — TBA
December 8 to December 9, 2012 — James Denton
December 10 to December 13, 2012 — Jodi Benson
December 14 to December 16, 2012 — Olivia Newton John
December 17 to December 19, 2012 — TBA
December 20 to December 22, 2012 — Trace Adkins
December 23 to December 25, 2012 — Gary Sinise
December 26 to December 28, 2012 — Amy Grant
December 29 to December 30, 2012 — Marlee Matlin / Jack Jason

Although the event is free (with park admission), lunch and dinner packages are available in which diners will also receive reserved seating (with remaining seats to be filled in via standby line) as well as access to a reserved viewing area for Illuminations.

Lunch Packages range from $32.99–$55.99 for Guests 10+, and $12.50–$17.99 for Guests 3–9 at restaurants including: Biergarten Restaurant, Coral Reef Restaurant, Le Cellier Steakhouse, Les Chefs de France, Nine Dragons Restaurant, Restaurant Marrakesh, Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room, San Angel Inn, Teppan Edo, Tokyo Dining, Tutto Italia Ristorante and Via Napoli.

Dinner Packages range from $49.99–$66.99 for Guests 10+, and $14.50–$26.99 for Guests 3–9 at restaurants including: Biergarten Restaurant, Coral Reef Restaurant, The Garden Grill Restaurant, La Hacienda de San Angel, Les Chefs de France, Nine Dragons Restaurant, Restaurant Marrakesh, Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room, San Angel Inn, Teppan Edo, Tokyo Dining, Tutto Italia Ristorante and Via Napoli.

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‘Epic Mickey 2′ ‘Power of Characters’ Featurette, Frontierland Screenshots and Concept Art

Disney Epic Mickey 2 Concept Art - Fort Wasteland

Disney Interactive has released a new featurette for its upcoming ‘Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two,’ titled ‘The Power of Character.’ In the video, the creative team at Junction Point talk about the importance of choosing elements and the attributes of the characters that appear within the game. In addition to talking about Mickey and Oswald’s special abilities, Warren Spector discusses the influence that Oswald’s galpal, Ortensia, will yield in the game (including some great looks of her in action — no samples of her speaking yet, unfortunately) and the internal struggles of the Mad Doctor who marks his return in the game’s sequel.

Disney also provided us with new screen shots and even some concept art which take a look at Disney Gulch, a new land that debuts in ‘Epic Mickey 2′ and is reminiscent of Frontierland. The concept art also demonstrate the wealth of Disney references that inhabit the game, such as Jiminy Cricket’s disturbing appearance at the Disney Gulch train station.

Disney Gulch concept art:

[View with PicLens]

‘Disney Epic Mickey 2′ Screenshots (newest at beginning of gallery)

[View with PicLens]

‘Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two’ is scheduled for release on Mickey’s birthday, November 18, 2012 and is currently available for pre-order for Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3. Windows and Mac platforms will also be available

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VIDEO: ‘Partysaurus Rex’ Sneak Peek; Bruce Delivers Warning to Moviegoers

Disney/Pixar has just released this sneak peek at its upcoming Toy Story Toon short, Partysaurus Rex, which is playing ahead of Finding Nemo 3D in theaters starting September 19, 2012.

As the only available toy with limbs, Rex puts his tiny arms to good use by turning on the water and getting the party going for those dried-out toys on his own – which leads to a sort of bubble-filled rave, complete with glow-in-the-dark toys making disco lights under an overturned colander and dance music by Grammy-nominated electronica musician BT.

Speaking of Finding Nemo 3D, Disney/Pixar also released this etiquette trailer which is being shown at AMC theaters in which Bruce kindly reminds moviegoers that cell phones are food, not friends:

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New DisneyStore Arrivals and Sales for August 15, 2012 (3 Items)

New DisneyStore.com arrivals and sales for August 15, 2012

Below is a list of new items and sales now available for purchase at DisneyStore.com. Clicking on a product’s image or description will launch the product’s page on DisneyStore.com in another window.

Note that this list is generated and posted automatically. Stitch Kingdom should not be held responsible for any inaccuracies, misinformation or item availability.

Sequin Mickey Mouse Scarf – SALE $7.99 — SAVE 55%!

Accessorize any outfit with this soft Mickey Mouse scarf. The decorative sequin design features Mickey icons, adding sparkle to this elegant scarf that comes in a variety of colors to suit any occasion.

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Mickey and Minnie Mouse Tunic and Legging Set for Girls — 2-Pc. – SALE $19.99 — SAVE 50%!

Those stars of the silver screen are featured in silver screen art on this Mickey and Minnie Mouse Tunic and Legging Set. The sweethearts celebrate their romance on this coordinating set that includes a top with ruffled skirt and black leggings.

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Hooded Glass Slipper Cinderella Tee for Women – SALE $19.99 — SAVE 56%!

Have a royal ball wherever you go wearing Cinderella’s glittering glass slipper on our hooded long sleeve tee. This lightweight top with dashing details is perfect for fashion-forward princess-istas who like adding a little magic to their wardrobe.

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‘Phineas and Feb & You’ Virtual Experience to Debut at Walt Disney World for Limited Time

Starting this fall, Walt Disney World Resort guests will become the stars of ‘Phineas and Ferb & YOU: A Brand New Reality.’ The virtual experience will allow guests to play with animated characters from Disney’s Emmy Award-winning animated series ‘Phineas and Ferb.’ The fun happens at Downtown Disney West Side, next to Bongos Cuban Café from September 1 through December 1, 2012 from 2 pm – 9:30 pm daily.

How it works: As many three guests are invited to stand inside the virtual experience set, and out of 20 randomly pre-determined animation segments, Phineas and Ferb, Agent P or even Dr. Doofenshmirtz will magically appear to play and dance alongside them. It all happens in a virtual (on-screen) 30-second experience. But the fun doesn’t end there! Guests may visit a special website to download and share with family and friends a complimentary souvenir photo of their starring role. To complement this limited time engagement, special Phineas and Ferb merchandise will be available at a nearby merchandise stand.

For more Phineas and Ferb fun at the Walt Disney World Resort, guests may go undercover with Agent P—the alter ego of Perry the Platypus—on a fun-filled quest around World Showcase at Epcot or meet and greet Phineas and Ferb at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

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Speculation: Disney’s Hollywood Studios Prepping for FASTPASS+ NextGen Technology

After starting the roll out of FASTPASS+ technology at the Magic Kingdom, which not only included the installation of temporary (and subsequent permanent) RFID readers at return lines at select attractions, along with limited tests, as well as pilot programs to enter the theme parks via RFID and — most recently — pay for purchases and unlock hotel rooms using embedded RFID chips in the Key to the World (KTTW) cards at the Contemporary Resort, it appears Walt Disney World (NYSE:DIS) is steadily pushing on to establish its NextGen technology at the Resort, this time at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Within the past 24 hours (give or take), Walt Disney World has filed construction commencement notices with the Orange County Comptroller’s office, for virtually all of the theme parks’ attractions and shows. Citing a very generic ‘provide labor, material and/or electrical for construction’ reason, all of the documents list Disney’s own Buena Vista Construction Company as the contractor, as was the case for all recent work performed on Haunted Mansion, to cite an example.

Attractions referenced so far in the paperwork include Star Tours, Great Movie Ride, American Idol Experience, Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage, Disney Junior Live on Stage, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Rock’n'Roller Coaster, Toy Story Mania, Tower of Terror, Muppet*Vision 3D, and Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show.

FASTPASS+ is an enhanced version of the FASTPASS attraction reservation system which will allow select guests to schedule opportunities to visit attractions and character meet and greets in advance of their visit to the Walt Disney World Resort. It is part of a larger program, MAGIC+, or ‘My Disney Experience’ which will allow the guest to customize and interact with the theme park environments way beyond what is possible today. Walt Disney World recently released an app titled My Disney Experience for Apple iOS devices which will provide the foundation of the new opportunities, which include allowing guests to integrate their mobile activity with their online accounts to share information and perform new tasks such as creating dining reservations from virtually anywhere. To aid with using the new app, the company has already rolled out free WiFi inside the Magic Kingdom Park and its resorts, with the rest of the theme parks expected to follow suit.

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Disney Parks Seeking New Management for Walt Disney World Spas

It appears that after decades of providing spa services to guests of the Walt Disney World Resort, the ‘Vacation Kingdom’ may be preparing to part ways with Niki Bryan Spas and go with a partner it may find more agreeable — itself. Thanks to a tipster, we’ve learned that Walt Disney World has begun listing senior-level positions on its job site for titles such as ‘Spa Director,’ ‘Senior Spa Manager,’ and ‘Spa Guest Service Manager,’ suggesting the company is looking to manage the resort spas from the inside, as they are currently doing with Laniwai at Disney’s Aulani in Hawaii.

Currently the Orlando-based Niki Bryan manages the spas at the Walt Disney World Resort exclusively, while Steiner Leisure operates the spas on board the Disney Cruise Line Ships as well as the Mandara spas at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin (a Starwood property) and Disney’s own Grand Californian at the Disneyland Resort.

A representative from Niki Bryan declined to comment on the situation but offered instead to defer to Walt Disney World who has not responded as of this time.

The ’30-year itch’ may not be entirely lost on Niki Bryan, however, as she recently announced the creation of Marilyn Monroe Spas, ‘a company formed to launch Marilyn Monroe branded spas, salons, nail boutiques and more around the globe.’ And in the spa business — like most other industries — it all comes down to who you know. Take for example Bryan’s new partner: none other than ‘immediate past president World Wide Operations, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts,’ Al Weiss, who serves as co-chair.

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New DisneyStore Arrivals and Sales for August 14, 2012 (36 Items)

New DisneyStore.com arrivals and sales for August 14, 2012

Note that this list is generated and posted automatically. Stitch Kingdom should not be held responsible for any inaccuracies, misinformation or item availability.

	Zip Fleece The Mickey Mouse Club Minnie Mouse Hoodie for Women — Plus Size- $42.50 Warm-up for roll call in our zippered The Mickey Mouse Club hoodie for women. With cozy, fuzzy fleece lining, soft knit hood lining and fashion detailing, Minnie’s Mouseketeer jacket will turn the girl-next-door into a leading lady! share this item
	D23 Disney twenty-three Fall 2012 Magazine — Membership Exclusive Cover- $15.95 Disney twenty-three Magazine is an all-access pass to the magic of Disney’s past, present and future for members of D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans. This Fall 2012 issue is dedicated to the expansion of Disney California Adventure. share this item
	Zip Fleece The Mickey Mouse Club Mickey Mouse Hoodie for Men — Plus Size- $42.50 Warm-up for roll call in our zippered The Mickey Mouse Club Hoodie for Men. This fun jacket with cozy, fuzzy fleece lining, thermal hood lining and raw-edge detailing will make your big Mouseketeer the leader of the Club. share this item
	D23 Disney twenty-three Fall 2012 Magazine- $15.95 Disney twenty-three Magazine is an all-access pass to the magic of Disney’s past, present and future for members of D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans. This Fall 2012 issue is dedicated to the expansion of Disney California Adventure. share this item
	Puerto Rico Mickey Mouse Plush Toy — 18” H – SALE $9.99 — SAVE 59%! Our Puerto Rico Mickey Mouse Plush salutes the tropical U.S. territory with his special tee that sports the local flag. Whether you live in Puerto Rico or love to visit, soft-stuffed Mickey is a smiling souvenir of this Caribbean island paradise. share this item
	”Cute As Can Be” Minnie Mouse Dress Set — 2-Pc. – SALE $14.99 — SAVE 23%! She can’t help it, she’s just as ”…cute as can be.” Minnie’s naturally adorable, as she shows on this Minnie Mouse Dress Set which features a 3-D appliqué bow. Ruffles and pleats make the dress ”…as cute as can be,” too. share this item
	Mini Disney Princess Doll Set #2 — 4-Pc. – SALE $9.99 — SAVE 49%! Once upon time there were four little princesses in one splendid gift box, bringing fairy tale dreams home to you. Our Mini Disney Princess Doll Set includes Mulan, Cinderella, Jasmine and Snow White in a delightful 5 1/2” scale with delicate detailing. share this item
	Medium Dumbo Plush — 15” H – SALE $12.00 — SAVE 38%! Your heart will soar along with the Big Top’s favorite flying elephant. Our super-soft and cuddly Dumbo Plush could be the cutest ever. With his bright blue eyes and oversized ears, this is one marvelous misfit everyone can love! share this item
	”Flowers and Trees” Silly Symphony Tee for Women – SALE $12.99 — SAVE 56%! Come alive with the animated magic of spring in our Flowers and Trees ”Silly Symphony” Tee for Women. Vintage movie poster art for Walt Disney’s first color cartoon is accented by dazzling golden gem music notes on this soft premium tee. share this item
	The Aristocats: Marie Mini Bean Bag Plush — 7” H – SALE $5.00 — SAVE 41%! Aristocats are never common kitties and our Marie Mini Bean Bag Plush is no exception. This cute stuffed kitten is sure to meet your highest standards. Best of all, she’s ready to cuddle whenever you are (but you provide the purr). share this item

AFTER THE JUMP: More new items from DisneyStore.com

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Report: Alan Menken Says ‘Aladdin’ Heading to Broadway

Last night, Alan Menken held an intimate performance as part of the ‘Destination D’ event at the Disneyland Resort, held by Disney D23, the official fan club of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS). After wowing the attending crowd with music from decades of his Tony, Grammy and Oscar-winning career (he holds the record for having the most Oscars (living)), he closed the show with ‘Proud of Your Boy,’ a song that was intended for the original 1992 film, but was cut due to story changes.

It was when introducing the song that Menken mentioned the musical is currently being tweaked for a Broadway run, according to reports from attendees. A new staged version of the musical was produced by Disney Theatrical and premiered at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle last year, but no aspirations for Broadway were anywhere to be found — at best, a national tour; at worst, licensing to regional theater. Howard Ashman’s sister, Sarah, wrote about the musical on her tribute blog, Part Of Your World, and some of the changes that were incorporated into it that deviate it from the beloved animated film. In addition to ‘Proud of Your Boy,’ three other songs that were initially cut have been reinstated along: Call Me A Princess; High Adventure; and Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim, which brings along the three non-Aladdin characters with it.

After a brief run at The Muny in July, the musical is now in production at the Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Utah through mid-October and has managed to incorporate the use of 3D glasses for the Cave of Wonders and Genie’s ‘Friend Like Me’ song, courtesy of former Walt Disney Imagineer Geoff Puckett, according to the fan-based Aladdin Musical blog.

Still, prior to last night, there wasn’t so much as an inkling that it would soon find itself on the Great White Way. Actually, an inkling may in fact have been all there was, as a thread on Broadway World points to a cryptic message at the end of a recent video update from 5th Avenue Theatre (UPDATE – The upcoming musical in question was ‘A Christmas Story,’ so video removed):

Photo by @jellicle0

UPDATE #1 – 8/17/12 – Since there is so much interest in the article, we are now adding an audio recording from that evening’s performance in which Menken mentions the shift to Broadway. Had most anyone else said it, we would chalk it up to confusing Broadway as a generic theatrical production, but Menken probably knows the difference by now. So without further ado, here is Menken performing ‘Somebody’s Got Your Back’ and ‘Proud of Your Boy’ from Disney’s Aladdin:

As a post script, we have also received reports that employees at Tuacahn are freely talking about working closely with Disney Theatrical to bring the musical directly to Broadway.

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