Announcement for Disney Consumer Products Presentations and Pavilions at D23 Expo

More news today was released about the upcoming D23 Expo in August. Today, Disney Consumer Products released details on the unique product experiences and exclusive merchandise that they will bring to this year's D23 Expo. The pavilion will reflect a 'Tradition Meets Innovation' theme and will provide interactive opportunities for fans of all ages to explore exciting stories and engaging experiences and products celebrating everyone's favorite Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars stories. The pavilion will highlight Playmation, Marvel Universe, the evolution of the Stormtrooper, #TeamMickey, Rock Your #MinnieStyle, D-Style, Make It A Tink Moment, Disney Junior 'Fun Spot', Unlock Your Inner Disney Princess, The Breadth of Frozen, Pixar Storytelling, and Discover Disney's  Descendants.

• Playmation Marvel’s Avengers—EXPO attendees will have the chance to see if they have what it takes to gear up and join the Avengers! Be among the first to experience the recently announced Playmation product, a groundbreaking new system of connected toys and wearables that uses smart technology to inspire kids to run around and use their imaginations, as they become the hero or heroine of Marvel stories.
• The Marvel Universe—Fans of all ages collect across the ever-expanding Marvel Universe, and at D23 EXPO they can experience more of their favorite Super Heroes with a preview of the newest large-scale statues, action figures and more. Additionally, attendees will get a first-hand look at how the attributes of Marvel characters—cool, strong, relatable—come together in fashionable apparel and accessories. Attendees are encouraged to follow @StyledbyMarvel on Instagram and to share their own passion for MARVEL with the #StyledByMarvel hashtag.
• Evolution of the Star Wars Stormtrooper—Explore the design evolution of the armor-clad legions of Clone Troopers and Stormtroopers that have fought for the light side and the dark side throughout the Star Wars
• #TeamMickey—Fans can show off their #TeamMickey spirit and commemorate their visit at a fun-filled Mickey photo booth.
• Rock Your #MinnieStyle—The Minnie lounge will feature a nail bar and surprise product giveaways along with an inspired fashion and accessories statement.
• D-Style—EXPO attendees will be the very first to preview D-Style, an all-new, curated assortment of fashion items and accessories debuting at DisneyStore.com this fall.
• Make it a Tink Moment—Straight from Never Land, #TinkStyle will land at D23 EXPO. Guests can visit the ‘Bun Bar,’ where professional hair stylists will be on hand to give attendees the iconic Tinker Bell topknot while they peruse a glittering Tinker Bell product display.
• Disney Junior ‘Fun Spot’—Fans can experience galactic play with new stellar toys from Miles from Tomorrowland and have the chance to meet Doc McStuffins and Sofia the First at the Disney Junior ‘Fun Spot.’
• Unlock Your Inner Disney Princess – D23 EXPO attendees can unlock their inner princess by leaving an empowering message on a special ‘Keys to the Kingdom’ gate.
• The Breadth of Frozen—Fans will have the opportunity to check out Frozen products for the whole family and engage in fun activities held throughout the day.
• Pixar Storytelling Comes to Life—Pixar films have delighted audiences for more than 20 years with memorable characters that have been brought to life in equally delightful product. Explore some of the newest products from everyone’s favorite Pixar films. Additionally, fans will be able to see the exciting new app from Disney—Cars: Daredevil Garage—that allows you to take your favorite Mattel diecast cars into the virtual world, using them to perform extreme stunts in crazy environments.
• Discover Disney’s Descendants—EXPO attendees will get an exclusive look at the wicked world of fashion and toys inspired by Disney’s Descendants, the teenage progeny of Disney’s most infamous villains.

Disney Store:

The Disney Store will have a shop in the Disney Consumer Products pavilion and will offer an array of merchandise not yet available to the public. The 3000 sq. ft. retail space will launch new collections and Limited Edition items throughout the weekend. The Disney Store will be launching the "Disney 3D Print Studio" and will give fans the chance to put their facial likeness on a Disney Mouseketeer, Star Wars Stormtrooper, and Marvel's Iron Man. This will be the Disney Store's first foray in 3D printing, the figures sold at the EXPO will feature unique packaging with a special D23 Certificate of Authenticity. 

Disney Publishing:

Disney Publishing will take fans into the world of books, apps, and everything in between by showcasing how artists, storytelling, and innovative content come together to create stories full of magic and adventure.

• Disney Storytelling Pop-Up Shop—EXPO attendees are invited to take a magical journey into the world of storytelling featuring titles that span Disney’s fascinating history. Look behind the magic through Disney Publishing’s Disney Editions books that showcase a vast array of feature films, Disney Legends, and Imagineers, available for purchase at the Disney Store retail space.
• Discover the Magic of Learning with Disney Imagicademy—Dive into the world of technology-driven learning through apps designed to encourage children to learn by creating, doing, and making.
• Disney Publishing’s Digital Discovery Zone—Fans can immerse themselves in the exciting world of innovative storytelling through a collection of digital experiences that will engage the imagination of people of all ages.
• Whisker Haven Tales with the Palace Pets—Take a journey into a secret realm deep in a fairy-tale land between the Disney Princess kingdoms called Animal Royal Kingdom of Whisker Haven, where the Palace Pets characters can meet up with their friends, play, and save the day.
• Introducing Star Darlings—Coming this fall, the Star Darlings characters will encourage girls to make wishes from the heart and find their inner star. At D23 EXPO, fans can see a sneak peek into their world, with exciting Star Darlings giveaways being conducted throughout the weekend.

Disney Publishing will also have several presentations throughout the weekend, here are the details on each of the presentations:

Friday, August 14

• 3–4 p.m.: Stage 28: Exploring the Past, Present, and Future of Storytelling with Ridley Pearson and Marty Sklar 

New York Times bestselling author Ridley Pearson joins Disney Imagineering Legend Marty Sklar as they discuss their seemingly different careers and roles as storytellers, along with how their worlds pleasantly and serendipitously collided with the creation of Pearson’s Kingdom Keepers series.

• 4:30–5:30 p.m.: D23 EXPO Dream Store: Ridley Pearson autographing

Saturday, August 15

• 10–11 a.m.: Stage 28: One Little Spark—Mickey’s Ten Commandments and The Road to Imagineering—with Marty Sklar in conversation with Eli Erlandson, Shelby Jiggetts-Tivoni, Daniel Joseph, Dexter Tanksley, and Kevin Rafferty                                                        

From the acclaimed author of DREAM IT! DO IT!, Disney Imagineering Legend Marty Sklar joins five well-known Imagineers in a lively conversation about what inspired them to go into the arts, ultimately become Imagineers, and the advice they have for young creative talent who wish to do the same. Sklar will engage his fellow Imagineers in an inspiring discussion that will appeal to young and old alike—those who hope to take that “Road to Imagineering” someday, along with the parents and grandparents who encourage young people to follow their dreams.

• 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: D23 Autograph Central:  Marty Sklar signing
• 2:45–3:45 p.m.: D23 EXPO Dream Store: No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz autographing for The Isle of The Lost: A Descendants Novel

Sunday, August 16

• 1:30–2:30 p.m.: Stage 28: An Animator’s Gallery:  Presented by Dave A. Bossert and EricGoldberg 

Based on the book containing whimsical, deluxe Art Deco-themed art showcasing Walt Disney characters in a style reminiscent of caricatures from the famed walls of Sardi’s and The Brown Derby, join Disney Supervising Animator Dave Bossert and Director Eric Goldberg as they discuss the stylized images in the collection that first debuted as a display within the Roy E. Disney Animation Building in Burbank, California. Fans of all ages, and from all over, will learn what inspired Goldberg to create these playful portraits, starting with Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and Mickey Mouse through characters from Frozen and Big Hero 6.

• 3–4 pm: D23 Autograph Central: Dave Bossert and Eric Goldberg signing

Additional details and updates about Disney Consumer Products events and activities will continue to be updated on www.D23EXPO.com, on Facebook, and Twitter at “DisneyD23.” The D23 Expo is coming to the Anaheim Convention Center, August 14-16, 2015. 

Disney Living Announces Playmation, Disney in Concert at D23 Expo, and so Much More

Disney Living and Disney Consumer Products Announces Playmation:

The next generation of game playing was introduced by Disney Living and Disney Consumer Products in "Playmation." It is the next step of the evolution of play, where digital get physical and your children's imagination become real. The groundbreaking system of toys and wearables will use smart technology to inspire kids to run around and use their imaginations as the become their favorite hero or heroine from stories across the Walt Disney Company including Marvel, Star Wars, and Frozen. 

Leslie Ferraro, President of Disney Consumer Products said this on "Playmation:"

"Innovation and creativity are the driving forces behind Disney, and our goal is to inspire children to unleash the power of their imaginations through the stories we tell and the experiences we create. With "Playmation," we're taking the next step in that tradition - bringing the worlds of play, storytelling, and technology together - in a new and very exciting way. "Playmation" takes the best the digital world has to offer and uses it to create supercharged, real world play. This is play updated for today's kids - bringing their imaginations to life as they go on active adventures alongside their favorite characters."

The first system that is in development is the Playmation Marvel's Avengers system which is due out this coming October at a suggested retail price of $119.99. Pre-orders for the starter pack will begin July 7, 2015. The starter pack as seen above will include five connected toys: one piece of Avenger gear (Repulsor), two power activators and two smart figures - a Super Hero (Captain America) and a Super Villain (Iron Skull). Getting started will be easy, strap the high-tech Repulsor gear onto your arm (it will fit adults), and listen closely to JARVIS as he takes you through the tutorial on how to control your new Gear inspired by Iron Man technology. Other Playmation Avengers connected toys will be available at launch. Star Wars and Frozen systems are currently in development and are due to be released in 2016 and 2017. For more information on "Playmation" visit www.playmation.com.

Here is a trailer for Disney's "Playmation:"

D23 Announces Disney in Concert: A Silly Symphony Celebration for D23 Expo 2015:

D23, Disney's official fan club, announced some exciting news for the upcoming D23 Expo in August. Fans will be treated to an exciting Disney Music performance, Disney in Concert: A Silly Symphony Celebration, will be performed at a live concert at the expo by a 32-piece orchestra. The concert will honor the animated short films by Disney: "Silly Symphony" and will be hosted by Leonard Maltin. 

Fans will be delighted as they watch selected "Silly Symphony" shorts from Disney's archives while the music is performed live in synchronization with the picture, presented in high-quality, newly restored digital film masters. The music will be performed as it would have been recorded during those historic days at the Disney Studios on Hyperion Avenue in the 1920's and '30's. The very special concert will showcase the music of: "The Three Little Pigs," "The Old Mill" and many other classics. The concert will be performed in two 70-minute presentations on Sunday August 16 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in Stage 23.

Disney/Pixar's "The Good Dinosaur" Teaser Trailer Released:

Pixar Animation Studios today released the teaser trailer for its upcoming film, The Good Dinosaur, due out in theaters this Thanksgiving, November 25, 2015. They synopsis of the film is: What if the asteroid that forever changed life on earth missed the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct? Pixar takes you on a journey into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend. While traveling through a harsh and mysterious landscape, Arlo learns the power of confronting his fears and discovers what he truly is capable of. Here is the teaser of The Good Dinosaur:

Disney World's Wilderness Lodge to Add Waterside Log Cabins to DVC Offerings:

While not announced by Disney yet, it appears as plans to add waterside log cabins to Disney's Wilderness Lodge for its Disney Vacation Club offerings. While, the Wilderness Lodge already has villas at the resort as part of the Disney Vacation Club, plans discovered in permits by WDW News Today will expand and be completely different from what is offered. The permits which are publicly available show 26 waterside units on Bay Lake which are presumed to be themed like log cabins. The concept will be much like the just recently opened Bora Bora Bungalows at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort. Other permits for the resort filed appear that there will be remodeled dining and recreation areas, including pools. While Disney has not yet announced the new DVC offerings at the Wilderness, WDW News Today believes work should begin soon on the project.