Thanks to glamorous movie premieres, red carpet events, and tabloid magazines, movie stars always get a lot of attention, and everyone knows a star’s drawing power can make or break a film at the box office. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (and subsequent franchise sequels) wouldn’t have made as big of a splash in theaters without the hugely talented Johnny Depp, and it is unlikely Disney’s Bedtime Stories would have surpassed $100 million at the box office without likable star Adam Sandler.
Disney DVD Sequels, image copyright Disney
The success of animated films is less dependent on its stars than live action films, but that hasn’t kept Disney and Pixar from filling their such famous talents as Robin Williams, Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Eddie Murphy, John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Whoopi Goldberg, Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Glenn Close, Alfre Woodard, Paul Newman, Bob Newhart, Eva Gabor, Jeremy Irons, Danny DeVito, Michael J. Fox, Minnie Driver, and Angela Lansbury.
Read More: http://www.disney-blog.com/?p=1925
Disney animated sequels are generally considered to be inferior to the originals (some substantially so), and most go straight to home video instead of receiving theatrical releases. In the past fifteen years, Disney has produced sequels to Pocahontas (1995), The Lion King (1994), Fantasia (1940), The Little Mermaid (1989), Lady and the Tramp (1955), Cinderella (1950), 101 Dalmatians (1961), Peter Pan (1953), The Jungle Book (1967), Mulan (1998), The Fox and the Hound (1981), Bambi (1942), and even a planned sequel to Dumbo (1941) that was later scraped.
Screenshot from Bambi II, image copyright Disney
Bambi II was first released on home video in the United States in February, 2006, 64 years after the original Bambi (1942) premiered in theaters. The film is actually a midquel, meaning that the events of the story take place within the timeline of the original film, in this case when the young, newly motherless Bambi is getting to know his father, the Great Prince of the Forest.
Read More: http://www.disney-blog.com/?p=1902
When I was twelve years old, my family visited Walt Disney World during its 25th anniversary celebration. That year, Cinderella’s Castle was dramatically transformed into a giant pink candy cake topped by candles and gummie lifesavers. I rode Space Mountain for the first time (and almost lost my glasses on a sudden track drop), and I rode Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride for the last time before it closed two years later to make way for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
Walt Disney World Entrance, photograph by Valerie Champagne
Now, fifteen years later on October 1st, 2011, the Walt Disney World Resort is celebrating another milestone: its 40th Anniversary!
When the Magic Kingdom Park first opened in 1971, there were 23 total attractions in six themed lands: Main Street U.S.A., Adventureland, Liberty Square, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrow Land. Over the years, attractions have come and gone, and many have been renovated to keep up with technological advancements and the sophistication and diversity of park visitors.
Read More: http://www.disney-blog.com/?p=1874
Calling all Disney Fairies fans! For those of you who can’t get enough of Tinker Bell and her friends, you’ll be happy to know that the fairies are starring in a brand new animated feature, Tinker Bell and the Pixie Hollow Games, which is set to debut on the Disney Channel in October, followed by a DVD and Blu-ray release later this year.
Introducing the Garden Fairy Chloe, screenshot from disney.go.com/fairies/
In The Pixie Hollow Games, all of the fairies of Pixie Hollow are gathering to compete in an Olympic-style sporting event which will pit the garden fairies, tinker fairies, sparrow men, and others against the reigning champion storm fairies. At the games, the garden fairies are plagued by a legendary losing streak that new fairy Chloe (voiced by The Suite Life‘s Brenda Song) is determined to end. Find out more about Fairy Chloe here.
Read More: http://www.disney-blog.com/?p=1850
With limited (if any!) paid vacation days, most families can’t afford to take more than one vacation a year, and one of the toughest decisions to make is where to go. How do you choose between a tropical paradise and a Disney adventure? What if you don’t have to?
Aulani Resort & Spa, image from resorts.disney.go.com/aulani-hawaii-resort/
Yesterday, Disney’s Aulani Resort & Spa celebrated its grand opening in Ko Olina, Hawaii, welcoming its first guests with a special sunrise ceremony and visits from popular Disney characters including Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Stitch. Aulani is Disney’s eleventh Vacation Club Resort and the first Disney property located on the beautiful Hawaiian Islands.
Read More: http://www.disney-blog.com/?p=1839
