D23 Announces Details on Florida "Alice in Wonderland" Celebration, New Quick-Service Offer for WDW, & More

D23 Announced Details on Florida "Alice in Wonderland" Celebration:

D23 Gold Members are going to celebrate 65 years of "Alice in Wonderland" at AMC Disney Springs 24 on March 19. Tickets are $25/person plus a $5 processing fee, tickets will go on sale on February 2 at 10 a.m. PT. Link to purchase the tickets will be available at D23.com.

Here is the release from D23:

OVERVIEW

Celebrate the upcoming release of Alice Through the Looking Glass with a look back at Walt Disney’s Alice in Wonderland with D23’s Steven Vagnini. Following the behind-the-scenes presentation, enjoy a screening of the 1951 animated classic in honor of its 65th anniversary!

DETAILS

Experience begins at 10 a.m. at AMC Disney Springs 24. Check-in will begin at 9 a.m. Please do not arrive before 9 a.m.

Available to Gold and Gold Family Members

You will be required to show a photo ID. Members will be required to show their D23 Membership Card.

Come join us for a very important date! As we look forward to the May 2016 release of Alice Through the Looking Glass, D23 pays tribute to Walt Disney’s original Alice in Wonderland at AMC Disney Springs 24 at Walt Disney World Resort.

D23’s Steven Vagnini will kick off the event with a look back at the development of the 1951 animated classic using rare, archival photography and footage. The presentation will offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the Disney Studio’s efforts to bring Lewis Carroll’s classic story to the big screen, while also highlighting additional and imaginative ways Wonderland has been depicted in other Disney productions. Plus, learn the history behind the classic Fantasyland dark ride attraction that opened at Disneyland in 1958!

Afterward, sit back and enjoy a whimsical trip down the rabbit hole while enjoying Alice in Wonderland (1951)! Celebrate the film’s 65th anniversary with the Mad Hatter, March Hare, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Cheshire Cat, the Queen of Hearts, and more unforgettable characters—all on the big screen.

This one-of-a-kind event will also include an exclusive gift created just for you!

NOTE

D23 Gold Members may reserve a ticket for themselves and one (1) guest; D23 Gold Family Members may reserve tickets for themselves and up to three (3) guests. D23 Members will be required to provide their membership number when reserving tickets. Tickets may be picked up only with a valid photo ID AND D23 MEMBERSHIP CARD. D23 Members who do not bring their membership card may not be admitted to the event. Ticketed members who do not attend the event forfeit their place as well as all experiences, benefits, and gifts associated with the event. All D23 Special Events are subject to change without notice. There are no cancellations or refunds, and tickets are not transferable. Video or audio recording of any kind will not be permitted during the presentation and screening. PLEASE BE ADVISED: Filming, photography, and other recording will take place at Walt Disney World during the event you will be attending. The Walt Disney Company will be taking photos and filming at AMC Disney Springs 24 located at 1500 Buena Vista Dr., Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830. By entering the premises, you irrevocably consent to and authorize The Walt Disney Company, its affiliates, successors, and assigns (collectively “Producer”), to photograph you, make sound recordings of you, and use such photographs and recordings throughout the world, for any purpose whatsoever in perpetuity, including, but not limited to, television broadcasts and home entertainment products, including, but not limited to, home video and DVD. All such photographs and sound recordings will be the sole property of Producer.

Photos courtesy: D23

New Quick-Service Offer for Walt Disney World:

A new offer has been released by Walt Disney World today. While it is not free dining that usually is offered during the fall, guests when booking a trip for most nights during May 29-June 30 and July 5 through August 13 at a Value Resort will receive one free quick-service meal per person, per night. The offer must be booked by February 29.

Exclusions include campsites and the Little Mermaid Standard View Rooms at Disney's Art of Animation. Everyone in the room must be on the same package and advance reservations are required. Alcoholic beverages and gratuities are excluded. Minimum 3-night stay required, minimum 2-day park ticket required. All discounts are subject to availability, certain restrictions apply. 

Celebrate National Popcorn Day with New Popcorn Buckets at Disney Parks:

How are you celebrating National Popcorn Day today? Disney Parks is celebrating with new popcorn buckets at its parks. At Disney's Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World a brand new popcorn bucket in the shape of a lotus will be available later this year. The lotus will light up and become a beautiful luminary.

At Disneyland a second edition of the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration 60th Anniversary bucket is available now. The bucket is now available in red, blue, and purple with the famous "Disneyland" banner that everyone loves on Mickey Popcorn Balloons.

Now I'm hungry for some popcorn, how about you?

Star Wars Launch Bay at Hollywood Studios Rumored Opening Date; Alice Through the Looking Glass Teaser

Star Wars Launch Bay Rumored Opening Date at Hollywood Studios:

Since it was announced during August's D23 EXPO along with Star Wars Land, Star Wars Launch Bay has had a December opening date on the map for Disney's Hollywood Studios. Now we can say, that Disney Cast Members have been telling insiders to expect an November 27 soft opening and a December 6 official opening.

What does a soft opening mean? It means it will be a test and open at certain times and then be closed  at certain times as well. We will get a look at Disneyland's Star Wars Launch Bay in just 10 days when it opens along with Seasons of the Force that begins on November 16.

Star Wars Launch Bay will feature interactive exhibits, live video games, and opportunities to meet and greet with your favorite Star Wars characters. Launch Bay is just the stepping stool as we all await the opening of Star Wars Land and Toy Story Land in the near future.

"Alice Through the Looking Glass" Teaser Released:

Disney's "Alice Through the Looking Glass", a sequel to its live-action remake of "Alice in Wonderland", is due out May 27, 2016. Today the teaser was released for the film. The film's plot is Alice returns to the whimsical world of Underland and travels back in time to save the Mad Hatter. The film is directed by James Bobin and written by Linda Woolverton.

The film returns its all-star cast in Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska, and Helena Bonham Carter. The voice cast also returns with the likes of Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen, and Timothy Spall. The movie also introduces some new characters include Zanik Hightopp played by Rhys Ifans and the Mad Hatter's father and Time himself, a peculiar creature that is half human and half clock played by Sacha Baron Cohen.

Here is the teaser for "Alice Through the Looking Glass":

Just in time. Here's your first peek at Alice Through the Looking Glass. 🕛 https://t.co/7kKl9CC4aL

— Disney (@Disney) November 5, 2015

Tokyo Disney Reveals Expansion Plans and Concept Art

Tokyo Disney Reveals Details and Concept Art for Expansion:

Today, Tokyo Disney revealed details along with some concept art for its major expansion of its theme park due to be completed in 2017. The expansion includes the building of the "Frozen" city of Arendelle in Tokyo DisneySea as well as mini-themed lands dedicated to "Beauty and the Beast" and "Alice in Wonderland" in Tokyo Disneyland.

Arendelle will be located in Tokyo DisneySea in between the current locations of Lost River Delta and Port Discovery lands. All concept art released in today's details is courtesy of Oriental Land Co., the owner of Tokyo Disney.

Concept Art for Frozen's Arendelle at Tokyo DisneySea

Although Tokyo Disney has promised new original attractions for its Fantasyland expansion of the park there are similarities to what has been built in other Disney parks. For the "Beauty and the Beast" themed land it looks much like the entrance to Disney World's entrance to Be Our Guest restaurant. With the Arendelle land a lot of the details look like what is being done to Epcot's Norway pavilion and the conversion of the former attraction of Maelstrom. Tokyo Disney's Alice in Wonderland themed area looks much like Disneyland Paris' Alice's Curious Labyrinth. Here is the remaining concept art released by Oriental Land Company.

Concept Art for Beauty and the Beast Land at Tokyo Disneyland

Concept Art for Alice in Wonderland Land in Tokyo Disneyland

Walt Disney World Testing 4th Fastpass+ Option and Disney Plans Live-Action Film of Mulan 3/31/15

It is March 31 and guess what winter will just not go away here in Pennsylvania, it's snowing. I just want warm weather and sunshine to come already as I am sure everyone here in the northeast does to. Anyways, let's get on to your news from around Disney.

Walt Disney World Testing 4th Fastpass+ Option:

It appears as Disney World is testing a fourth fastpass+ option at all 4 theme parks. While it appears the test is only going on for a short time, guests can book a fourth fastpass option for the next few days. It has now been a year since the Fastpass+ has debuted at the parks where you could only book 3 fastpasses for each day. Disney then announced a few months after the debut of Fastpass+ and the magic band system that guests were able to book a 4th fastpass after using up the first three that they had booked.

As stated above the fourth fastpass option is just a test and cast members have been confirming that when asked about it. Guests are only able to book four fastpasses up until tomorrow, April 1. This just goes to show that Disney is listening to guests that they want more fastpasses. It is only a matter of time that this won't be test and guest will be able to book four fastpasses at once.

Disney Announces Next Live-Action Film in Mulan:

Disney's next live-action film of another one of its animated classics will be "Mulan." The film will be based off a script by Elizabeth Martin and Lauren Hynek. The project itself has been setup with Chris Bender and J.C. Spink. The original "Mulan," released in 1998, was about Mulan disguising herself as a man to take her father's place in the Chinese Army joined by here dragon friend, Mushu. The film grossed over $300 million worldwide back in 1998. 

"Mulan" will join Disney's successful live-action remakes that already include "Alice in Wonderland"(2010), "Maleficent"(2014), this year's remake of "Cinderella." Disney already plans for releases of other live-action films like "The Jungle Book" and a sequel to the "Alice in Wonderland" film for next year. In March 2017, Disney's live-action remake of the animated classic "Beauty and the Beast" starring "Harry Potter" star Emma Watson is in development. Disney has also announced that a live-action remake of "Dumbo" is in the works as well, but no release date has been announced.

No released date for "Mulan" has been announced. The news of Disney's next live-action film in "Mulan" was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

This Day in Disney History:

On this day in 2004, Disney's Military-only resort Shades of Green is reopened by the U.S. Army after a $92 million expansion.

Also on this day in 2012, Disney Cruise Line launches its newest ship, the Disney Fantasy, out of Port Canaveral, Florida.

Daily Disney Quote:

"Animation is different from other parts. Its language is the language of caricature. Our most difficult job was to develop the cartoon's unnatural but seemingly natural anatomy for humans and animals."

Walt Disney

Disney is always changing and it truly is a magical place. Disney will continue to develop live-action films of its animated classics as long as they continue to be box-office hits. That is all I have for today, tomorrow will be another story. As always in the words of Mickey Mouse, "See Ya Real Soon."