Disney ‘D23 Magazine’ Summer 2011 Issue Sneak Peek; On Newsstands May 3
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The summer issue of Disney twenty-three magazine hits stands May 3, filled with features that will take readers from the depths of the sea to the edges of outer space. In the swashbuckling cover story on Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, director Rob Marshall and actors Geoffrey Rush, Ian McShane and Richard Griffiths take D23: The Official Disney Fan Club into the action-packed world of the highly anticipated film.
The piece gives readers the inside scoop on Captain Jack Sparrow’s latest adventure with an eight-page spread of gorgeous images from the film and fascinating nuggets from the set. Readers will discover what select cast and crew have to say about Johnny Depp returning to his iconic role; learn what inspired the screenwriting team behind the earlier Pirates films as they reunited to lace together legends of the fearsome Blackbeard, the Fountain of Youth and sirens of the sea; and uncover why director Rob Marshall says of the 106 days of shooting: “You’re undergoing your own adventure as you’re filming one.”
Disney twenty-three’s summer issue also includes an exclusive interview with George Lucas, the force behind Star Wars and Indiana Jones, discussing his participation in the various park attractions inspired by his films. Readers can expect to be immersed in the creative process as Disney twenty-three reveals multiple concepts for rides that were never made. More specifically, readers will be privy to the unique brainstorm that brewed the new Star Tours ride and learn about a distinctive new twist in the experience.
In “What a MARVELous World!,” Stan Lee talks about his excitement to be working with Disney Imagineers. “It’s great for Marvel to have access to Disney’s brains, because they’re pretty smart, and it’s great for Disney to have all these characters, with their built-in audience. It’s one of the wisest things that either company could have done.” Readers will also find a comprehensive look at Stan’s history that might well serve as a Marvel 101 class. The article’s glimpse into future plans for this historic team-up shows why Disney, Marvel and fans alike are looking forward to super hero-sized results.
Just in time for summer road trips, John Lasseter introduces readers to Cars 2, in which Lightning McQueen, Mater, and a whole fleet of new characters race across the country on an international adventure. In true Pixar fashion, Cars 2 will zoom to the big screen alongside the brand new animated short Hawaiian Vacation featuring characters from the Toy Story films. This issue also celebrates Walt Disney’s own motor mania with a look back at some of Walt’s personal cars as well as a few favorites that have played special roles in Disney history.
There’s much more in the summer issue of Disney twenty-three , including:
- THAT WILLY NILLY SILLY NEW BEAR: Voice actor extraordinaire Jim Cummings is a natural when it comes to voicing Winnie the Pooh. He’s been doing it ever since he was a kid and is adding to his resume with the upcoming Winnie the Pooh movie.
- JUSTICE FOR ALL: Disney Legend Bill Justice, who passed away in February, left a big imprint at Disney working on projects ranging from Bambi and Mary Poppins to the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland.
- ARIEL’S TRIUMPHANT RETURN: Legendary Disney animators Glen Keane, Mark Henn and Andreas Deja see their characters come to life in 3D at The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, coming soon to Disney California Adventure.
- PASSING THE TIKI TORCH: From the Enchanted Tiki Room to the blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean films, the work of two laid-back Southern California craftsmen is carved into Disney lore.
- A WALK WITH WALT 1940: WISHING UPON A STAR: The first year of the new decade saw creative and celebrated breakthroughs, including the release of Fantasia. But there were storm clouds on the horizon.
- D SOCIETY: Disney President and CEO Bob Iger takes to the skies to photograph the Disney Dream, John Stamos and the Massey brothers get onboard, and Super Bowl champ Aaron Rodgers visits Walt Disney World.
- PHOTOfiles: Disney twenty-three ‘s 10th installment of rare pictures from the Disney Photo Library shows Walt embracing Audio-Animatronics ® at the Enchanted Tiki Room , Sean Connery “bonding” with Autopia, and Daryl Hannah making a big splash!
- GOOD MOUSEKEEPING: Now in each issue of Disney twenty-three , this new column features classic Disney comics originally published in the 1930s and early 1940s in Good Housekeeping magazine. This month’s featured cartoon is from July 1937 and portrays the trio that sailed off in a wooden shoe: Wynken, Blynken and Nod.
And there’s even more for Disney fans to explore. As with every issue of Disney twenty-three , Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club receive an added bonus. This issue comes with one of two scented Cars 2 air fresheners featuring either racing star Lightning McQueen or his devoted best pal Mater. These limited-edition gifts will be sent only to members. To become a D23 Member, and learn more about membership and the spring issue of Disney twenty-three, visit www.disney.com/D23.
Beginning May 3, Disney twenty-three is available at select retail locations for $15.95.
Categories: Publishing Tags: Cars, CARS2, D23, D23 Magazine, On Stranger Tides, OST, Pirates of the Caribbean, POTC, POTC4, Star Tours
‘Star Tours’ Flight #1401 Details Revealed – Could it be a Trap?
The power of the Force and the magic of Disney have combined to create “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue,” a new 3-D attraction set to open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park on May 20, 2011. The attraction also will open at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Calif., on June 3, 2011.
Based on the Star Wars films, Star Tours will take Walt Disney World Resort guests to multiple Star Wars destinations where they will interact with characters from throughout the Saga. And it will all be in 3-D.
With eye-popping 3-D digital filming, a dramatic musical score and motion simulator-based technology, guests will be immersed in the Star Wars galaxy like never before on a theme park attraction. Walt Disney Imagineering worked with Lucasfilm, Ltd. and Industrial Light & Magic – the groundbreaking visual effects division of Lucasfilm – to bring the out-of-this-world attraction to life.
Star Tours, which had thrilled Disney Parks guests since the 1980s, was “powered down” at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2010 so Imagineers could begin work on the new attraction.
And in a new twist, guests may be able to enjoy the attraction multiple times without ever experiencing the same adventure. More than 50 story combinations are possible for guests to experience aboard Star Tours.
Just as the Star Wars films immerse movie-goers in storylines that keep them on the edge of their seats, Star Tours will feature multiple stories and scenarios that will hurtle park guests throughout the Star Wars galaxy. And all of the storyline’s twists and turns will be random, affording guests the chance to ride the attraction multiple times.
Whether it’s a battle with Darth Vader and his legion of stormtroopers or a plea from Princess Leia to help her save the Rebellion, guests will find themselves in the middle of the action – literally – in the 3-D, multi-sensory attraction.
Entering the attraction queue area, Star Tours guests walk into a bustling spaceport. The famed Star Wars droid duo, C-3PO and R2-D2, greet them as the Starspeeder 1000 is prepped for service. Anthony Daniels, the voice of C-3PO and the only actor to appear in every theatrical chapter of the Star Wars Saga, reprises his role as the golden protocol droid. Daniels worked with Walt Disney Imagineering to record new dialogue for the attraction. Guests also are introduced to AC-38, a hotshot droid pilot known simply as “Ace,” and Aly San San (voiced by actress Allison Janney), the “spokesbot” for the spaceport.
After winding through the spaceport, guests board the Starspeeder 1000 spacecraft and prepare for Star Tours Flight #1401. Through a series of mishaps, however, C-3PO finds himself in the pilot’s seat instead of Ace, and it’s up to him and R2-D2 to navigate their passengers through the galaxy. However, the tyrannical Empire is out to stop the Starspeeder at all costs. C-3PO and R2-D2 take the controls and try to outwit and outrun the Imperial forces and a galactic bounty hunter hired to pursue the spaceship and its passengers.
Utilizing the 50+ random story combinations, the Starspeeder then embarks on a wild trip through the galaxy, visiting several planets made famous in the Star Wars films. Among the locations that might provide haven from the Empire’s pursuit are the icy planet of Hoth, the lush jungles of Kashyyyk and the underwater Gungan world of Naboo. And along the way guests may encounter Star Wars characters that offer to help (or hinder) their journey, including Yoda, Admiral Ackbar, Darth Vader and Boba Fett. “Skytroopers,” a legion of stormtroopers created just for the Star Tours attraction story, might even join in the chase.
In fact, with multiple ways to experience each flight, guests will never know where the Force will take them.
At Walt Disney World Resort, Star Tours opens May 20, 2011, the same day the annual Star Wars Weekends event begins at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park. Star Tours and Star Wars Weekends event activities are included in regular admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park.
Categories: Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disneyland Resort, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Star Tours
Speculation: Will ‘Star Tours II’ be Disney’s PhotoPass Enabled?
Yesterday, Disney Parks announced that new destinations in the newly revamped ‘Star Tours: The Adventure Continues’ attraction include Naboo, Kashyyyk, Hoth and the Death Star, in addition to previously announced Tatooine and Coruscant, but it’s what wasn’t publicly announced that caught our attention.
Recently, Disney Parks and Resorts registered several domain names, all of which variations on STARTOURSPHOTOS.COM (STARTOURSPHOTOS.NET, STARTOURSPHOTOS.ORG, STARTOURPHOTO.COM, STARTOURPHOTOS.COM) and even the Spanish equivalent, STARTOURSFOTOS.COM (FOTOSSTARTOURS.COM, FOTOSTARTOURS.COM, STARTOURSFOTO.COM).
This strongly suggests that photos will become an option on the attraction, although exactly how, is unclear at this time. Certainly one of the key elements to a proper ride photo is a physical reaction to a moment of surprise such as sudden acceleration or drop, so that doesn’t immediately seem to lend itself to the Star Speeder vehicles we already know. Or, it may be possible that a special photo-op may be available involving some sort of special effect, only time will tell.
Time will also tell if the ride photo (should it even exist) will be part of the Disney’s PhotoPass system. Currently only two attractions between both the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort use PhotoPass, and both (Test Track, Space Mountain) are at Walt Disney World. As it were, Space Mountain initially used Kodak’s system which is completely separate and even now requires an additional purchase to place it on PhotoPass. The existing contracts and play-nice-with-Kodak mentality have made it difficult to incorporate PhotoPass on additional attractions, but if photos do come to Star Tours, the fact that its content is licensed from LucasFilm may give it additional leverage to be free of Kodak’s restraints. Then again, it may not. The fact that Disney has registered domain names specifically for this apparent functionality could also suggest that PhotoPass may not be involved at all, but that photos may be purchased separately online, post-vacation.
‘Star Tours II: The Adventure Continues’ is scheduled to re-open on May 20 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World (for Star Wars Weekends) and June 3 at Disneyland.
Categories: Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disneyland, Disneyland Resort, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: PhotoPass, Star Tours, Star Wars
Boba Fett Hunts Down StarSpeeder 1000 in New ‘Star Tours II’ Concept Art
In an email to annual passholders, Walt Disney World continued to spread news of the May 20th launch of ‘Star Tours — The Adventure Continues’ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Associated with the news item was this image which features the StarSpeeder 1000 tour shuttle on the run from Boba Fett who’s actively firing at the ship. In the background looms what will become the impenetrable Death Star.
The news nibble also alludes to a special annual passholder event to-be-announced tied to the re-opening of the attraction as well as links to the attraction’s official page which promises that a confrontation with the popular bounty hunter is just one of the promising opportunities in the attraction.
‘Star Tours — The Adventure Continues’ is scheduled to re-open at Disneyland on June 6.
Categories: Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disneyland, Disneyland Resort, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Star Tours, Star Tours II, Star Wars
D23 to Offer Star Tours ‘Final Flight’ Event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Sept. 7
Following in the footsteps of the ‘Final Flight’ event at Disneyland, in which D23 members were invited to enter the park after hours to ride Star Tours for the final time before it closes for its refurb and transition into Star Tours 2: The Adventure Begins, D23 has announced a ‘Final Flight’ for Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World on September 7. The attraction is currently scheduled to re-open on May 17, 2011.
Guests will check in at the main entrance to Disney’s Hollywood Studios beginning at 8:30 pm and will receive their commemorative boarding pass for their trip. According to the event’s page, the event will consist of just visiting the attraction.
D23 members may reserve tickets for themselves and one guest. Tickets for the event are required (but theme park admission is not) and are free, but there will be a $5 ticket processing charge. Tickets will become available online on a limited first come, first serve basis beginning August 26 at 1 pm ET. For more information on the event and to reserve tickets when available, click here.
Categories: D23 Expo, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Attractions, D23, Events, Star Tours, Star Wars
Photo: George Lucas and Jon Stewart are True ‘Star Tour de Forces’ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Star Wars creator and filmmaker George Lucas poses with a group of Star Wars-inspired Disney characters (left): Princess Leia-Minnie, R2-MK, Darth Goofy, Jedi Mickey and Stormtrooper Donald on Aug. 14, 2010 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Lucas is in central Florida for “Star Wars Celebration V,” the official Lucasfilm fan event that is taking place this week at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. He visited Walt Disney World Resort to attend Disney’s “Last Tour to Endor” special event.
“The Daily Show” host Jon Stewart poses Aug. 14, 2010 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. with Star Wars-inspired Disney characters Stormtrooper Donald Duck and Princess Leia Minnie Mouse. Stewart was in Orlando as a special host of “Star Wars Celebration V,” the official Lucasfilm fan event held this week at the Orange County Convention Center. At the convention center earlier in the day, Stewart took the stage with Star Wars creator George Lucas and interviewed him live in front of thousands of fans.
Photos by Todd Anderson, courtesy of Disney.
Categories: Disney's Hollywood Studios, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Celebrities, DHS, George Lucas, Jon Stewart, Last Tour to Endor, Star Tours, Star Wars
‘Star Tours II’ Previewed by Disney Parks in Queue Video First Look
On its official blog, Disney Parks and Resorts shared the following video today which was also shared at the Disney Parks panel at the Star Wars Celebration V convention currently taking place in Orlando.
Although Bespin, Endor and Alderaan are mentioned in the promotional film for the Star Tours Travel Company that guests will see while in the queue for the upgraded classic attraction, the official blog makes the disclaimer that the destinations may or may not be featured in Star Tours II. It has long been expected since the initial announcement at the Disney D23 Expo in 2009 that Star Tours II will feature multiple destinations and will be in 3D. Rumors speculate that the destination will be voted on by the attraction’s riders per voyage.
Star Tours will be closing at Disney’s Hollywood Studions on September 8 and a re-opening date for the attraction is currently planned for May 17, 2011 while at Disneyland, which has already closed its clone, is scheduled to re-open on May 10, 2011 (with perhaps some speculation of a planned soft-opening for ‘May the 4th’).
Categories: Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disneyland, Disneyland Resort, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Attractions, Star Tours, Star Tours II
Star Wars Meets Indiana Jones in Special Presentation at ‘Last Tour to Endor’ Event at Walt Disney World
Walt Disney Imagineer and show writer Jason Surrell offers just a tad more information than he has already shared with us for The Last Tour to Endor hard-ticketed event taking place at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World on August 14.
One of the event’s festivities will be a ‘mash-up’ live-action stunt show in which Indiana Jones meets Star Wars. The show is appropriately titled ‘Raiders of the Lost Jedi Temple of Doom: A Fan Film of ‘Epic’ Proportions.’ The following clip from Walt Disney World provides the few details available:
So what happens when the 1940s and long time ago mesh together and Indiana Jones comes face to face with Han Solo? We may find out in another week, should the Universe manages to survive.
Categories: Disney's Hollywood Studios, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Events, Indiana Jones, Last Tour to Endor, Star Tours, Star Wars
Star Tours’ ‘StarSpeeder 1000′ Limited Edition Collectible Available at Star Wars Celebration V
Disney Theme Parks merchandise has posted a page advertising many of the Disney collectibles that will be available exclusively to attendees at the Star Wars Celebration V event taking place in Orlando, August 12-15.
Among the items is a limited edition (10,000 pieces) ‘sneak preview’ collectible of the Star Tours StarSpeeder 1000. As many Star Tours enthusiasts know already, the Star Tours company currently operates the StarSpeeder 3000, a descendant of the 1000 model. As Star Tours II includes material inspired by Episodes 1-3, the vehicle itself will also regress to the earlier 1000 model, so this collectible gives those attending Celebration V a sneak peek at the ‘new’ ride vehicle. It will retail for $24.95.
Among the many other items that will be available at Celebration V is a Donald Duck as Shadow Stormtrooper action figure (limited to 5,000 pieces) for $11.95 and the t-shirt commemorating the ‘Last Tour to Endor’ event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on August 14.
Disney Theme Parks will be located at booth #441 at the Celebration V event. For more information on the products that will be available exclusively at the show, visit this page.
Categories: Merchandise, Theme Parks Tags: Celebration V, Collectibles, Events, Merchandise, Star Tours, Star Wars
D23 Announces Star Tours and Scavenger Hunt Events at Disneyland, Mixer at Walt Disney World
On Tuesday, July 20, D23 will be hosting a member mixer event at the House of Blues at Walt Disney World’s Downtown Disney West Side from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. The event is free for members and does not require tickets attend the event. Proof of membership is required and easy D23 member may bring up to three non-members as guests. Each D23 member attending the event will also receive a coupon good for 15% off merchandise at the House of Blues as well as a special gift.
As a west-coast counterpart to the Last Tour to Endor event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, D23 will be sponsoring a Final Flight event at the Disneyland Resort on July 26, 2010 from 10 pm – midnight. Tickets for the event are free and will become available online on a limited basis on July 14 at 10 am PT. Guests will check in at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney and receive a commemorative boarding pass for their trip as well as a strand of ‘intergalactic beads.’ Once the park has been cleared, event attendees will be led into Disneyland where they’ll get to be the very last to ride Star Tours before it closes until May, 2011 to re-open as Star Tours II. More information on the event can be found here.
Finally, on September 26, the day after the Destination D event ends, D23 will hold the Great Disney Scavenger Hunt throughout the Disneyland Resort. Teams of 2 – 4 players each will compete for prizes as they’re sent throughout the resort on their scavenger hunt (a digital camera is required). Only the leader for each team needs to register for the event which is open to non-D23 members as well. Registration for a D23 member team is $50 while registration for a non-member team is $75 and is available on a limited basis beginning July 12. For full details on the event, click here.
Destination D tickets will also become available online July 12 and will cost $125 per individual or can be bundled with a D23 Great Disney Scavenger Hunt team for $165. The full schedule for the two-day event can be found here.
Categories: D23 Expo, Disneyland Resort, Downtown Disney, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: D23, Destination D, Events, Star Tours
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