Disney News, Discussion & an Element of Fun - 2023 Edition

[HokieRaven5]

More importantly, walls coming down and hopefully only surrounding Communicore Hall a within a week.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

World Celebration Gardens, ‘Walt the Dreamer’ Statue Debut Dec. 5 at EPCOT

In celebration of Walt Disney’s birthday on Dec. 5, guests visiting EPCOT will be able to visit Dreamers Point in the newly-opened World Celebration neighborhood and see our company’s original dreamer in a completely new light. Everyone is invited to imagine alongside Walt himself and look out over World Celebration Gardens together.

This new statue, entitled “Walt the Dreamer,” represents Walt later in his life when he was dreaming up the overall Florida Project and the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. He sits with a sense of fulfillment, enjoying the beauty of his realized dream: a park that represents pure optimism and truly celebrates the magic of possibility.

View attachment 814271


This new statue of Walt is one of many areas to visit as a part of World Celebration Gardens where guests will be able to relax, unwind, and connect – to EPCOT, to nature and to each other. Each of the gardens found in the center of World Celebration, including Dreamers Point, will connect back to the areas surrounding them, drawing on the architectural legacy of EPCOT, modern lighting elements and a variety of natural textures.

View attachment 814272

View attachment 814273

Really love how this looks.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

More importantly, walls coming down and hopefully only surrounding Communicore Hall a within a week.

View attachment 814274

About time.

 

[LSUmiss]

More importantly, walls coming down and hopefully only surrounding Communicore Hall a within a week.

View attachment 814274

Are there still other walls besides these at Epcot?

 

[Genie+]

More importantly, walls coming down and hopefully only surrounding Communicore Hall a within a week.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Are there still other walls besides these at Epcot?

The Canada pavilion is currently under construction so the entrance to Canada Far and Wide is temporarily rerouted to another location but it's not too intrusive.

 

[HokieRaven5]

Are there still other walls besides these at Epcot?

These are the only major thoroughfare blocking walls at this point in EPCOT left I think.

The rest are for general refurbishment

 

[HokieRaven5]

Disney Donation Provides 75,000 More Toys for Giving ‘Toys’ Day

In honor of Giving Tuesday—aka Giving “Toys” Day—The Walt Disney Company shared today that the Disney Ultimate Toy Drive, with the support of so many families and fans, has collected 16,125 toys so far this holiday season for the Marine Toys for Tots Program. To celebrate more than 75 years of collaboration with this wonderful organization, Disney announced that the Disney Ultimate Toy Drive has provided grants to Toys for Tots that will deliver an additional 75,000 toys to children in need.


The donation was announced today on ABC’s “Good Morning America” by host Ginger Zee, where Staff Sergeant (SSgt) James Caldwell, a true hero and volunteer with a decades-long connection to Toys for Tots, was on hand with fellow Marines to help start wrapping some of the donated toys.

SSgt Caldwell previously served as the coordinator of the local Worcester, Massachusetts, Toys for Tots chapter for the past two years, though his personal connection with the organization stretches back to his early childhood.

Born into the foster care system, James found his forever family at just 6 months old when foster parents Bill and Judith Caldwell took him in. At 4 years old, James was officially adopted, a day he describes as “winning the lottery” and “the greatest thing that ever happened” to him.

SSgt Caldwell remembers receiving Toys for Tots gifts every Christmas for the first decade of his life, and he credits receiving these gifts as part of the reason he was inspired to join the Marine Corps to serve his country.

Now, he embraces the opportunity to give back to other children in need, carrying forward the legacy that shaped his own life. SSgt Caldwell has been involved with Toys for Tots throughout the entirety of his career and says he doesn’t remember a time when it wasn’t a part of his life.

Since Toys for Tots was founded in 1947, the same year Walt Disney and his team of animators designed the Toys for Tots logo that is still used today, Marines and volunteers have distributed 652 million toys to over 291 million children. You can be part of these efforts to inspire hope when it’s needed most this holiday season.

There are two ways to donate toys:

• Donate a toy online at shopDisney.com through December 24, 2023. -OR-
• Donate a new, unwrapped toy in person at one of our drop-off locations now through December 15, 2023. For locations across the United States, visit Disney.com/toydrive.

Join the Disney Ultimate Toy Drive and help us deliver joy this holiday season. Learn more at Disney.com/toydrive.

 

[Ismo]

World Celebration Gardens, ‘Walt the Dreamer’ Statue Debut Dec. 5 at EPCOT

In celebration of Walt Disney’s birthday on Dec. 5, guests visiting EPCOT will be able to visit Dreamers Point in the newly-opened World Celebration neighborhood and see our company’s original dreamer in a completely new light. Everyone is invited to imagine alongside Walt himself and look out over World Celebration Gardens together.

This new statue, entitled “Walt the Dreamer,” represents Walt later in his life when he was dreaming up the overall Florida Project and the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. He sits with a sense of fulfillment, enjoying the beauty of his realized dream: a park that represents pure optimism and truly celebrates the magic of possibility.

View attachment 814271


This new statue of Walt is one of many areas to visit as a part of World Celebration Gardens where guests will be able to relax, unwind, and connect – to EPCOT, to nature and to each other. Each of the gardens found in the center of World Celebration, including Dreamers Point, will connect back to the areas surrounding them, drawing on the architectural legacy of EPCOT, modern lighting elements and a variety of natural textures.

View attachment 814272

View attachment 814273

Not me already crying over this statue.

 

[Douglas Dubh]

Are there still other walls besides these at Epcot?

There's the mural wall between Imagination and the Showcase Plaza, north of the bathrooms. Looks like they're redoing the garden/play area there.

 

[Q-man]

Latest look at the Disney Vacation Club tower construction site at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort

View attachment 814172

View attachment 814173

View attachment 814174

Well, that's one way to make the Poly look like present day Waikiki.

 

[HokieRaven5]

Zootopia Cast Member Costumes

Our imaginations have been running wild, dreaming up the costumes to be worn by cast members at Zootopia in Shanghai Disney Resort! Dream no more, because we have the inside scoop from both the Shanghai Costume Development and Disney Live Entertainment teams themselves.

Cast members working at Zootopia were recently invited to a cast-exclusive fashion show for the big reveal. Over 200 cast gathered in the land not only for a first look, but also to receive exclusive details from the Costume Development team on everything they will be wearing when the land opens on Dec. 20.

Costume Development Manager, Susanna Ching, revealed these details with the cast in Shanghai and now she’s here to share with us too! Beginning her journey at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort more than 10 years ago, Susanna joined Shanghai Disney Resort in 2016 for the grand opening initially in cosmetology and now on the costuming team.

Susanna has spent the last couple years in partnership with Senior Costume Development Manager, Lynn Kaufmann, and Costume Designer, Yonit Olshan, from Disney Live Entertainment, bringing the looks from on paper to reality in Shanghai. Lynn has been at Disney for more than 16 years and Yonit for six years, working most recently on the mix and match cast costumes for Mickey’s Toontown at the Disneyland Resort.

Now, who is ready to finally sneak a peek at the amazing cast costumes we’ve been teasing?

Costumes Made to be Versatile​

Versatility was key when it came to designing these costumes! While boarding Zootopia: Hot Pursuit and throughout the merchandise locations, you’ll notice most are sporting a Gazelle-themed shirt to celebrate the city’s annual Zootopia Day Concert. This is not just any shirt, it’s one of the more complicated designs created by Shanghai Disney Resort! This handmade silk screen print requires exact precision and 22 layers of ink pressing. The shirt also features “Gazelle” in both Chinese and English, which was important to include as not only will local guests visit the land, but many from around the world.

Over at Zootopia: Hot Pursuit, there are not one, but two looks to be worn with a reversible vest. This was a challenging design, but one that Yonit felt was quite rewarding as it allows cast to transform their look with a simple unzip and flip between loading and unloading areas.

For those helping guests board their police cruiser, this side of the vest is themed to the Zootopia Police Department — complete with a subtle animal print and paw-shaped buttons. Their badges also feature similar paws of various species.

And the iconic Zootopia Day T-shirt? You can spot it again on those helping guests off the attraction! As for the vest worn overtop, its alternate side features the same design and colors as seen in the Zootopia Day Concert poster.

At the various merchandise locations throughout Zootopia, including Fashions by Fru Fru, the costumes are a bit more “bohemian-chic” and casual. Although they are also wearing the Zootopia Day T-shirt, another reversible vest, with circles on one side and stripes on the other, is completely different. Susanna pointed out that if you look closely, you may even notice some pawprints incorporated throughout!

A Look Right Out of the Movie​

Over at Jumbeaux’s, you may recognize these costumes! The vintage soda fountain looks are just like the one worn by Jerry Jumbeaux Jr., the elephant, owner of the café, in the Walt Disney Animation Studios film, “Zootopia.” Each one is complete with a pinstripe pink shirt, black bowtie and a diner style hat, complimenting the whimsical, art deco design of the space.

Susanna shared that for a land to really come to life, it takes incredible cast members – the costumes are simply the cherry on top of what will be a completely immersive experience.

We can’t wait to see this all come together when Zootopia opens at Shanghai Disney Resort on Dec. 20.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Tick tock Hatbox Ghost....

 

[HokieRaven5]

Tick tock Hatbox Ghost....

 

[HokieRaven5]

Here's new on-ride footage of Zootopia: Hot Pursuit, the flagship attraction in the upcoming Zootopia land at the Shanghai Disney Resort. The land officially opens on Dec. 20.

*Click link to watch - Scott Gustin

 

[firefly_ris]

Here's new on-ride footage of Zootopia: Hot Pursuit, the flagship attraction in the upcoming Zootopia land at the Shanghai Disney Resort. The land officially opens on Dec. 20.

*Click link to watch - Scott Gustin

Re-themed Runaway Railway vibes.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Here's new on-ride footage of Zootopia: Hot Pursuit, the flagship attraction in the upcoming Zootopia land at the Shanghai Disney Resort. The land officially opens on Dec. 20.

*Click link to watch - Scott Gustin

Reminds me a lot of Runaway Railway. I think this looks better than that ride but still too many screens. Would fit in at a Universal park.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

Here's new on-ride footage of Zootopia: Hot Pursuit, the flagship attraction in the upcoming Zootopia land at the Shanghai Disney Resort. The land officially opens on Dec. 20.

*Click link to watch - Scott Gustin

Meh.

 

[Gusey]

I wonder if the vehicles themselves will simulate the screens movement. I will say that the animatronics look really good like the Gazelle animatronic and the Judy and Nick in the first car

 

[HokieRaven5]

Update: Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs at Disney's BoardWalk will now open in 2024. "This new location will have some favorites from Disneyland Resort as well as some brand-new ones exclusive to Disney's BoardWalk."

Scott Gustin