PHOTOS: ‘Happiness Is Here’ Parade from Tokyo Disneyland
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This Monday, April 15, the Tokyo Disney Resort will officially kick off its year-long celebration of its 30th anniversary. One of the exciting new elements joining the line-up is a brand new parade titled ‘Happiness is Here,’ with massive and dynamic floats designed by Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily. Although the parade doesn’t officially start until Monday, Tokyo Disneyland has been offering a soft opening to guests, inviting them to preview things to come.
There have already been some videos out there since the parade began, so I opted to take photos of the parade when I had my chance to see it yesterday morning. Below are some of the images from ‘Happiness Is Here.’ Click on any of the thumbnails to see a larger version of the image.
For more fun from my ongoing visit to Tokyo Disney Resort as well as the Tokyo area in general, be sure to follow @stitchkingdom on Twitter.
Categories: Theme Parks, Tokyo Disneyland Tags: Happiness Is Here, Japan, Parades, TDR, Tokyo, Tokyo Disney Resort, Tokyo Disneyland
Disney D23 Announces First International Expo in Japan, October 12 – 14
The Walt Disney Company Japan announced today that it will stage the first-ever D23 Expo Japan, a special event for Disney fans created by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club. D23 Expo Japan, the first Expo to be held outside the U.S., will feature an array of engaging presentations, hosted by senior Disney creative executives, showcasing what’s on the horizon from across The Walt Disney Company, including theme parks, movies, television, music, and interactive gaming. Fans will enjoy unique experiences; have the opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind merchandise and collectibles; meet many of their favorite Disney characters; and delight in countless other surprises. D23 Expo Japan will take place October 12–14, 2013, at the Tokyo Disney Resort® in the Maihama area. Expo ticketing and program information will be announced in March.
D23 Expo Japan will also feature two special exhibitions celebrating landmark Disney milestones. First, to pay homage to The Walt Disney Company’s 90th Anniversary, D23 and the Walt Disney Archives will present Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives, featuring nine decades of treasures from the Archives’ vast collection. Plus, the Tokyo Disney Resort will celebrate its 30th year with a special retrospective exhibit.?This special exhibition, presented by OrientalLand, operator of Tokyo Disney Resort, celebrates this milestone year by making D23 Expo Japan possible. Further details will be posted at http://disney.jp/D23 as they become available.
“We are thrilled to host this extraordinary, three-day event where all the wonderful worlds of Disney come together,” said Paul Candland, president, The Walt Disney Company Japan. “2013 marks The Walt Disney Company’s 90th anniversary, Disney Channel’s 10th, Disney Mobile’s fifth, the Disney–JCB Card’s fifth, Dlife’s first, and Tokyo Disney Resort’s 30th! The D23 Expo Japan allows us to show Disney’s tremendous appreciation to its fans.”
This event is supported by JCB Co., Ltd, and The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company, Limited as official sponsors.
Disney fans from around the globe flocked to Anaheim, Calif., for the first D23 Expo: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, in September 2009, followed by a second in August 2011. The next D23 Expo will take place August 9–11, 2013, at the Anaheim Convention Center and will feature: the 2013 Disney Legends Ceremony; a special exhibit from the Walt Disney Archives; the Collectors Forum, where Disney fans can buy, sell, and trade Disney collectibles, memorabilia, and merchandise; an all-new Fan Art Contest themed to the upcoming 50th anniversary of Mary Poppins, and a massive show floor full of special opportunities to see what’s on the horizon for Disney around the world.
The Walt Disney Company Commits $2.5M+ to Japan Relief Efforts
The Walt Disney Company announced today that it will donate $2.5 million to the American Red Cross to support humanitarian aid efforts related to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. In addition, the Company will match Disney cast member and employee donations to the Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Fund and Save the Children, dollar for dollar, up to $1 million total.
“Our hearts go out to the people of Japan,” said Robert A. Iger, president and CEO, The Walt Disney Company. “We send our continued thoughts of support and encouragement as this great nation begins the long road to recovery.”
“We are truly grateful for Disney’s generosity to help those affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan,” said Gail McGovern, President and CEO of the American Red Cross. “Disney’s support is enabling the Red Cross to provide critical assistance and essential relief items in this time of urgent need.”
The Walt Disney Company is committed to working with humanitarian organizations to help rebuild stricken communities and assist families as Japan recovers from these devastating natural disasters.
Categories: Business Tags: Donation, Humanitarian, Japan
ABC News Announces Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Extended Coverage Plans
ABC News will provide viewers comprehensive coverage of the earthquake in Japan, the fifth largest earthquake in recorded history, and the aftermath of the tsunami that wiped out entire communities in Japan and reached the shores of the Hawaiian Islands.
“This Week” anchor Christiane Amanpour, “World News” weekend anchor David Muir and ABC’s Clarissa Ward are en route to Japan to report on the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. “Nightline” co-anchor Bill Weir is currently reporting from Santa Monica, California, and Akiko Fujita, ABC News’ Tokyo-based digital journalist, has been reporting from Japan.
Tonight, Diane Sawyer will anchor a special edition of “World News” from ABC News Headquarters. “Disaster in the Pacific” coverage will continue on “20/20,” with Elizabeth Vargas and Chris Cuomo anchoring a special hour of coverage, including the most up-to-date news of the day. Bob Woodruff, Jay Schadler and John Berman will contribute reports.
A special edition of “Nightline” will be devoted to the earthquake and tsunami. Bill Weir anchors the broadcast from Santa Monica, CA and will bring viewers eyewitness accounts from Japan, as well as the latest on the tsunami warning that had been issued for the west coast.
ABC News will have continuing coverage from Japan throughout the weekend. Christiane Amanpour will anchor a live special edition of “This Week” from there with all the latest developments. David Muir will anchor “World News with David Muir” from Japan throughout the weekend and will contribute reporting to “GMA Weekend.”
ABCNews.com is providing up to the minute coverage from ABC News’ team of reporters, as well as live-streaming video from Japan and Diamond Head, Hawaii. Online users can get the latest information coming via social media sites Twitter and Facebook through special widgets on the ABCNews.com homepage.
ABC News is also working closely with its international partner, NHK Japan, to bring viewers the latest on the magnitude 8.9 earthquake that has left several hundred dead and caused the 23-foot tsunami. ABC NewsOne, the network’s affiliate news service, will provide reports for ABC stations as well as to all ABC clients and partners, including the BBC, Bloomberg, CTV Canada and Univision.
ABC News Radio is providing one-minute status reports twice an hour on the “Disaster in the Pacific.” From 7:45 a.m. through 9:00 a.m., ET, ABC News Radio provided live anchored coverage of the earthquake and tsunami. ABC News Radio correspondent Alex Stone will be traveling to Japan.
Categories: Television Tags: ABC, ABC News, Japan
Disney Vacation Club to Open International Sales Center at Tokyo Disney Resort
This summer, Disney Vacation Club is scheduled to open the doors of its first ever international sales preview center at Tokyo Disney Resort. The 15,000-square-foot interactive center will give guests a peek at Disney Vacation Club resort hotels as well as other vacation offerings Disney offers. Guests can see for themselves a two-bedroom model of the vacation home accommodations that DVC members and families can expect to find on the island of O’ahu at Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas, Ko Olina, Hawai’i. And kids won’t be bored because Disney designed a supervised play area and interactive family discovery zone within the space. Check out this first artist rendering.
[source]
Categories: Theme Parks, Tokyo Disneyland Tags: Disney Vacation Club, DVC, Japan, TDL
Disney to Assume Control of All Disney Store Locations in Japan
It was announced yesterday by The Walt Disney Company Japan that Disney Japan will acquire Retail Networks Co., the company that owns and operates the country’s Disney Store retail locations, from parent company Oriental Land. Talks of the acquisition began last year and the transition is expected to be finalized as of April 1, 2010, the eighth anniversary of RNC. RNC owns and operates 54 Disney Store locations throughout the country, although it’s expected to close six of them by March.
Financial details for the transaction have not yet been announced. Oriental Land is the parent company for the Disney Parks in Japan.
Categories: Business Tags: DCP, Disney Store, Japan, OLC, Oriental Land, TDS, The Disney Store
First Look: Inside the New ‘Timeless Beauty’ Exhibit at Epcot’s Japan Pavilion
A few months ago, the Tin Toy Exhibition at Epcot’s Japan pavilion gallery closed after several years without much notice to make way for a new exhibition. Expected to have opened in mid-October, reported delays in having the pieces shipped to Walt Disney World from Japan kept the gallery closed until very recently.
The Bijutsu-kan gallery now hosts a touring exhibition titled Timeless Beauty: World Heritage Sites of Japan. Featuring photographs by Kazuyoshi Miyoshi, the images pay homage to places designated as World Heritage Sites, locations around the world adopted by a 1971 United Nations international treaty to identify places that ‘belong to all people’ around the globe.
A Stitch Kingdom reader has provided us with photos of the space and exhibition and we are pleased to give you this first look and hope you are able to visit the exhibition yourself the next time you visit Epcot.
As a sidebar, the Kidcot station in the Japan pavilion appears to have remained outside of the gallery.
Categories: Epcot, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Japan, Kazuyoshi Miyoshi, Timeless Beauty, World Showcase
WDW Refurb Updates: Early Openings, Water Park Closures, Resort Pools, Golf Courses and More
I’ve got a HUGE refurb update here, so bear with me.
At the Magic Kingdom, Crystal Palace will be closed from January 3 through February 13.
At Epcot, Living with the Land is now scheduled to re-open on October 4, which is several weeks earlier than the original date of November 1. Also, the new exhibit in the Japan pavilion (which was the tin toy museum) is now slated to open on October 16.
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the Boneyard is now scheduled to be closed October 5 through October 18
Typhoon Lagoon is scheduled to be closed from November 1 through January 9 and Blizzard Beach will then close on January 10 and re-open on March 21.
There are also a couple of changes at the resorts. The Aruba pool at Caribbean Beach Resort will now be closed from October 13 through October 24 and the Computer Pool at Pop Century will now be closed from November 9 through November 20. In addition, the pool slides at Port Orleans will alternate being closed between October 19 and November 20.
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be the first to know when changes that potentially affect your trip occur by signing up with ReSearch!
Categories: Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Resorts, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Blizzard Beach, Boneyard, Caribbean Beach Resort, CBR, Crystal Palace, Dining, Japan, Living with the Land, POFQ, POP, Pop Century, POR, Port Orleans, Port Orleans French Quarter, Port Orleans Riverside, Refurbishments, Refurbs, Rehabs, Typhoon Lagoon, World Showcase
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