The waiting period between planning an exciting Disneyland vacation and actually going on the vacation can be excruciating, especially for families who book months or years in advance in order to take advantage of exclusive discounts and special offers.
In What to Watch Before Disney World, I recommended one way to while away the weeks leading up to a Disney World vacation: watch all of the films and TV shows which inspired – or were inspired by – attractions at the four major Disney World theme parks. As a companion piece to that entry, below is a chart of all the rides at Disneyland and California Adventures and the movies and TV shows that inspired them. Attractions that have closed are designated with an asterisk(*).
Try catching one or two movies per week while gearing up for your trip. Enjoy – and happy watching!
Read More: http://www.disney-blog.com/?p=1613
While it’s entirely possible to plan a last-minute fantasy vacation to the Disney World Resort in Orlando, most families spend months or even years planning and saving for their Disney World trips. Last year I started planning my September honeymoon visit in April, and the six months of waiting I had to endure was agonizing.
One idea I had to while away the weeks was to watch all of the films and TV shows which inspired – or were inspired by – attractions at the four major Disney World theme parks. I didn’t end up committing to this last year as I was too busy planning my wedding, but I think it’s a great way to get amped for a Disney visit, and it’s the perfect excuse for a marathon of Disney’s best!
Depending on how long you have until your trip, try watching one or two films per week. Movies that aren’t already in your home video collection can be rented through Netflix.com or purchased on Amazon.com. Films that are currently in the Disney Vault may be tricky to get your hands on without paying premium prices from online dealers selling used copies. If you’ve been to the parks before and have a soft-spot for attractions that have previously closed (Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, etc.), challenge yourself by watching those films too, in homage to the rides that once were.
Read More: http://www.disney-blog.com/?p=1571
At the box office, Cars 2 is far from Pixar’s most well-received film, being ranked dead-last in critical appeal (37% on Rotten Tomatoes), and performing sluggishly both domestically and worldwide, with a current total haul of $317.3M, as compared with mega-hits like Up ($731.3M), Finding Nemo ($867.8M), and Toy Story 3 ($1,063.1M). But Cars merchandise continue to be some of Disney’s best-selling, and the characters are featured in a multitude of new products that can be found in bedrooms, bathrooms, and classrooms around the globe.
Lightning McQueen speeds through the flowerbeds at the 2011 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. Photograph by Mandy Chorman
Read More: http://www.disney-blog.com/?p=1560
July 15th is sure to be a day of nostalgia for movie goers, thanks to two major releases from family-friendly franchises.
This Friday marks the end of an era when the eighth and final Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011), makes its theatrical debut almost ten years after the magical trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione (played by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson) first journeyed to Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s [Philosopher’s] Stone (2001).
Screenshot from Winnie the Pooh (2011), copyright Disney
While Harry Potter‘s epic showdown between good and evil is sure to wow the millions of fans who grew up with the beloved children’s series, movie goers looking to revisit their childhoods in a more mellow fashion can mosey on over to the theater next door for another visit to the charming Hundred Acre Wood, home of Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, and Tigger too.
Read More: http://www.disney-blog.com/?p=1481
The start of the 2012 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival is still nine months away, and with the heat of summer or the cold of winter upon us now (depending on your hemisphere), I thought it would be a nice treat to share more gorgeous springtime photos from 2011’s event. A special “thank you” to our two photographers, Samantha McElhaney and Mandy Chorman. Enjoy!
A Sheriff Woody topiary is posed in front of Epcot's Spaceship Earth. Photograph by Samantha McElhaney
Read More: http://www.disney-blog.com/?p=1178
