Look Back at Disneyland Construction . . . Look Ahead to Diamond Celebration Pins!
We’ve been bringing you all of the details, as they emerge, about the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration beginning May 22. We’re looking ahead to the 24-hour kickoff event, the new nighttime entertainment, and all of the new merchandise and collectibles. But as we look ahead, we naturally can’t help but look back. And this week, the Disney Parks Blog did a little looking back for us, sharing the video above, a rare time-lapse video that shows Disneyland Park under construction.
The Parks Blog also revealed that pin collectors are going to need longer lanyards—there will be more than 100 pins released during the celebration! We’re always excited when new collections of pins are introduced, but these seem a little extra sparkly. This is going to turn pin trading into a “diamond celebration” by itself.
Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:
| D23 and Walt Disney Archives Fall 2014-2015 D23 Member Nights at Newsies—On Tour April 18 Waking Up with Sleeping Beauty April 25 D23 Day at Walt Disney Studios and Archives May 9 The Parent Trap Party at Camp Inch May 29 VIP Studio Tour with Disney Legend Dave Smith June 20 D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives August 14-16 D23 Expo 2015 returns to Anaheim, California Studios April 17 Disneynature’s Monkey Kingdom opens in theaters. May 1 Avengers: Age of Ultron opens in theaters. May 22 Tomorrowland opens in theaters. June 19 Inside Out opens in theaters (along with the short Lava). July 17 Ant Man opens in theaters. |
Parks March 4–May 17 22nd Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. May 15–June 14 Star Wars Weekends Returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. May 22–23 24-hour event kicking off Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration at Disneyland Resort May 22–23 24-hour event kicking off “Coolest Summer Ever” at Walt Disney World Resort September 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27; October 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31; and November 1Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park November 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 29; and December 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom Park Television April 3 Muppet Moments Premieres at 8:25 a.m. ET/PT |
Trader Sam’s Has Soft Opening at Walt Disney World
There’s much to celebrate in Orlando, too! The East Coast version of Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at the Disneyland Hotel, Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, is set to officially open in late April. But, lucky for Walt Disney World guests, Trader Sam’s recently had a soft opening on March 28. Located off the main lobby of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto offers a menu of “magical tropical drinks and food,” sharing a few small plates and cocktails with its West Coast counterpart. But the Walt Disney World Resort Trader Sam’s will feature exclusive drinks named “Castaway Crush” and “Dark & Tropical Stormy” and small plates that include kalua pork tacos with shredded cabbage and picked vegetables, as well as corn-battered Portuguese sausages with curry ketchup and a Headhunter Sushi Roll. Check it out now if you’re at Walt Disney World and have worked up an appetite. Then go back after it opens to check out the Tiki souvenir glassware!
Watch a New Featurette for Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron
May is a busy, busy month for Disney fans, and it starts with a bang on May 1 when Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron opens in theaters. This featurette serves to introduce two of the newest characters to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Quicksilver (played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), and writer/director Joss Whedon refers to them here as “massively important.” See these twins in action in the video above before you see them at a theater near you.
See Tomorrowland in May, But See a Preview at Disney Parks in April!
You know that moment in the Tomorrowland trailer when George Clooney—referencing Tomorrowland in the movie—asks, “Do you wanna go?” Well, Disney fans definitely want to go to Tomorrowland at Disneyland in April to see an exclusive preview of scenes from the film. For a limited time, this sneak peek will be presented with special in-theater effects at the Tomorrowland Theater at Disneyland park and at the Imagination Pavilion theater at Epcot. Tomorrowland opens in theaters May 22, 2015.
New Marvel Characters Joining Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes
Speaking of the Avengers, Captain America’s closest ally, Falcon (aka veteran Sam Wilson), and the God of Mischief himself, Loki, have both joined Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes. The final two Power Discs—Marvel Team-Up: Captain Marvel and Ultimate Falcon—are also available now as a Rare Power Disc Pack. With Marvel Team-Up: Captain Marvel, players can team up with Captain Marvel and activate her energy blasts and super strength in any battle, while Ultimate Falcon lets players gain the ability to collect sparks from far away and unlock the Ultimate costume for Falcon.
Zendaya to Host Radio Disney Music Awards
Actress and recording artist Zendaya has made herself known to Disney fans as one of the leads of Shake It Up and, currently, as the star of the hit series K.C. Undercover. She’s had a platinum single with “Replay,” she’s danced all the way to the finals during Dancing with the Stars’ 16th season, and she’s received multiple NAACP Image Award nominations. And now Zendaya will host music’s biggest event for families, the Radio Disney Music Awards, taking place Saturday, April 25 at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles, followed by a 90-minute televised special, Disney Channel Presents the Radio Disney Music Awards, airing Sunday, April 26 on Disney Channel. When the news was announced last week, Zendaya said, “We’re going to have a great show . . . a lot of fun and get to watch amazing performances, so I’m very, very excited. Plus, I’m nominated again for artist with the best style (You’re So Fancy!—Artist With The Best Style), so I better wear a good outfit!” We can’t wait to see what the RDMAs have in store!
Shadowhunters Coming to ABC Family
Fans of the bestselling young adult fantasy book series The Mortal Instruments will be eagerly awaiting the premiere of Shadowhunters, which has just been picked up by ABC Family as its first scripted-to saga series. The books, written by author Cassandra Clare, spent 122 consecutive weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, with more than 35 million copies in print worldwide. The books tell the story of 18-year-old Clary Fray, who finds out on her birthday that she is not who she thinks she is but rather comes from a long line of Shadowhunters—human-angel hybrids who hunt down demons. When her mother, Jocelyn, is kidnapped, Clary is thrown into the world of demon hunting with mysterious Shadowhunter Jace and her best friend, Simon. Now living among faeries, warlocks, vampires, and werewolves, Clary begins a journey of self-discovery as she learns more about her past and what her future may hold. The series begins production in May.
Disney Junior is Getting Fancy…
If you know any young kids, you can rest assured that they know Fancy Nancy, the beloved character from Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser’s bestselling book series of the same name. The Fancy Nancy books follow the adventures of a girl who likes to be fancy in everything from her very elaborate and creative attire to her very advanced and elegant vocabulary. And now Disney Junior—also known and loved by young kids and their parents—has optioned Fancy Nancy for an original animated TV movie and series, slated for premiere in 2017. This news isn’t just “great,” it’s marvelous… it’s superlative… it’s splendid! It really is fun to be fancy—as kids will see when the TV movie makes its debut.
The Cast of ABC’s black-ish Celebrates First Season Wrap at Walt Disney World
There’s a reason why football players all want to go to Walt Disney World after they win the Super Bowl—it’s an amazing place to celebrate a huge accomplishment! Last week, the four actors who play the Johnson family children on ABC’s comedy black-ish celebrated the wrap of their show’s first season with a trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Yara Shahidi (Zoey), Marcus Scribner (Andre), Miles Brown (Jack), and Marsai Martin (Diane), joined by their real-life parents, kicked off Walt Disney World’s “Coolest Summer Ever” a little early. The group met Mickey and Minnie, rode the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train together, previewed Frozen Summer Fun with Anna and Elsa, and enjoyed a “star moment” when Goofy took their picture in front of the black-ish billboard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
