20 October 2013

Disney This Week - 20 October 2013

This WeekOn the Main Street Gazette

 It is time to dream about what Disney's Animal Kingdom at night could look like!

 We remembered a few postcards from the bygone days of Fort Wilderness.

Silent Saturday set twilight afire with American Gardens Theatre.


This WeekAround the Disney Blogosphere

FoxxFur steps up at Passport to Dreams Old & New and weighs in on the classically creepy question, “Is this haunted room actually stretching or is it your imagination?”

Festival of the Lion King rumors are discussed at Jambo Everyone by Safari Mike.

AJ Wolfe has scared up some spooky treats just in time for Halloween on The Disney Food Blog.

The décor of the Happiest Celebration on Earth is remembered by Estelle Hallick at This Happy Place Blog.

Sarah Holodick is still investigating the International Food & Wine Festival and stops by for some Craft Beers in Eating WDW.

The brioche ice cream sandwich is sampled by Adam and Andrew for the Disney Hipsters Blog.


This WeekWorld News Roundtable

Roundtable Contributors: Estelle Hallick (This Happy Place Blog), Alan Mize, and Blake Taylor (BlakeOnline.com).


Go Wild After Dark

Alan Mize 

By now, we’ve all heard about the Avatar project coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  And we’ve all heard that some details were finally revealed in the last week documenting exactly what we may experience when Pandora comes to Orlando.  Somewhat lost in the Avatar news however, was information about Disney’s Animal Kingdom finally becoming a night time park.  New experiences including a special night safari ride on Kilimanjaro Safaris as well as a nighttime parade will be coming to the park along with Avatar.

The Animal Kingdom has a reputation for being a “half day” park.  Part of this is because there are seemingly not enough attractions to keep guests entertained all day.  Another part of this is due to the fact that the park generally closes much earlier in the day than the other three Walt Disney World parks. The Animal Kingdom generally operates on an eight hour schedule where other parks are open for ten, eleven, twelve, or more hours per day.  There is literally nothing to do in that part after dark, because the park usually isn’t open.  That’s why the news of a new night time parade, new performers, and a new night time Kilimanjaro Safari are excellent news for those that want to spend more time in the Animal Kingdom.  Those new entertainment offerings combined with a new land with new attractions will definitely turn a “half day” park into a definitive full day park.


Frozen Trailer Elicits Chills

Blake Taylor (BlakeOnline.com)

It's one thing to build healthy anticipation for a movie. It's another thing altogether to urge your target audience to "experience the greatest Disney animated event since The Lion King." That's what the newest trailer for Disney's Frozen, in theaters November 27, boldly proclaims, and it might just be right.

From all angles, Frozen's got the makings of a Disney classic: fairytale inspiration (from Hans Christian Andersen, no less), princesses, funny sidekick characters, gorgeous animation, and (perhaps most important of all) music. Not to mention its creative team is an all-star roster of Disney veterans that includes directors Chris Buck (Tarzan director) and Jennifer Lee (Wreck-It Ralph writer), songwriters Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez (Finding Nemo: The Musical and Winnie the Pooh), score composer Christophe Beck (The Muppets and Paperman), and producer Peter Del Vecho (The Princess and the Frog and Winnie the Pooh).

I personally thought Tangled would be the peak of this era of Disney animation, with the way it swept families by storm and the popularity Rapunzel has in the parks. But now, seeing how well the public is responding in anticipation of Frozen over a month before it even releases... PLUS the clear high standard Disney apparently believes this film has... it seems that Tangled were merely the opening act. Frozen will be the film that defines Disney magic for this generation. And I can't wait.


Muppets and Monsters

Estelle Hallick (This Happy Place Blog) 

I can barely contain my excitement for the upcoming holidays. While I wait, it seems my December television calendar is filling up with awesome TV specials and movies spotlighting my favorite season. Most exciting? An upcoming TV special on ABC with the Muppets and Lady Gaga! There are basically no details so I'm not sure if the special is the Muppets WITH Lady Gaga or Lady Gaga WITH the Muppets. Two very different stories. Either way, I'm so excited about all the excitement surrounding the Muppets lately. A new movie in March, the success of the Jim Hension bio by Brian Jay Jones, and now a few more sleeps until a new holiday special of some kind.

So much to look forward to!

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