Big Expansion Announced for Tokyo Disneyland; Details on Disney Pin Celebration 2016 Pixar Party

Big Expansion Announced for Tokyo Disneyland:

Today, a huge expansion was announced by Tokyo Disneyland and the expansion is expected to be completed by 2020. What are the details you may ask of this amazing expansion? A new Beauty and the Beast-themed area that will expand Fantasyland is possibly the biggest part of the expansion. A new attraction in Tomorrowland based off "Big Hero 6." A new character greeting facility will be built at the entrance to Toontown. Finally, across the way at Tokyo DisneySea a new version of Soarin' will be built. Here are the full details:

The major attraction being built in the new Beauty and the Beast-themed area will have the newest technology and last for a genuinely incredible 8 minutes. According to the press release, guests will board enchanted serving dishes that will dance in rhythm to the film's well-known music. It will follow Belle on a romantic musical journey inside the Enchanted Castle where she dances into the heart of Beast, just in time to break the fateful spell. Also included in the new themed land will be a new shop and restaurant, details on both were not announced. 

The new land isn't all that's coming to Fantasyland as a new 1,500-seat live Fantasyland Theaters will be built. It will be the first full-scale indoor theater for live entertainment at Tokyo Disneyland. According to the press release, the theater will be, "Signature Disney entertainment unique to Tokyo Disneyland and featuring the Disney Friends will be presented in this storybook theater environment." 

The theater will be built near the Beauty and the Beast-themed area, towards Space Mountain and behind the new Tomorrowland attraction. That new Tomorrowland attraction will be based off of Disney's Academy-Award winning film "Big Hero 6." The first attraction based off the film inside a Disney Park.

The attraction will be much like Mater's Junkyard Jamboree at Disney California Adventure. It will be an exciting musical 'whip ride' that will swing guests unpredictably round and round. The ride should last for about a minute and a half. The attraction will tentatively open in Spring 2020. 

Besides the "Big Hero 6" attraction a new outer space-themed shop will open, a first for Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, will be selling multiple flavors of popcorn. The story behind the popcorn at Tokyo Disneyland is that throughout the park that sells popcorn with crazy flavors that are supposedly amazing.

Guests will be able to meet Minnie in the new character greeting facility being built at the entrance to Toontown. Announced in the press release, "After walking through Minnie’s design studio and her work area with interactive elements, guests can meet Minnie in person, take pictures with her, and generally spend a memorable time together." Again it is set to tentatively be completed by Spring 2020. 

Soarin' will make its debut across the way inside the Mediterranean Harbor section of the park and will open by fiscal year 2019. The attraction will premiere with original scenes and the newest visual images. If you notice though in the concept art the ride vehicle is much different that previous Soarin' attractions that use a hang glider. It almost looks like the flying machine developed by Leonardo Da Vinci. The attraction will be located across from Mysterious Island that is home to the iconic attraction, Journey to the Center of the Earth. 

Elsewhere inside Tokyo DisneySea, "newer versions of current attractions and entertainment programs" are also being developed. Who's ready to book a trip to Tokyo Disneyland in 2020?

Details on Disney Pin Celebration 2016 Pixar Party at Disney World:

Let's celebrate 30 years of Pixar magic with a party. The Disney Parks Blog today released details on this year's Disney Pin Celebration 2016 Pixar Party. The event will take place August 26-27, 2016 at World Showplace in Epcot. Here are the details from the Disney Parks Blog:

This “totally wicked” event is slated to take place August 26 (from 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.) and August 27, 2016 (from 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.) at World ShowPlace in Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort. Join us as we celebrate 30 colorful years of Pixar Animation Studios! This award-winning studio has produced a myriad of full length feature films, shorts, (Car) Toons, and television specials full of colorful characters that we love and cherish. The pins for the Pixar Party will feature characters from “Cars” to “Brave” to “infinity and beyond.” The event team shared as many details as they could with me, so here’s the scoop!

Admission to Pixar Party is $140 per guest and includes the following:

• Trading Board Games (four (4) vouchers per day)
• Pixar Party Scavenger Hunt
• Auction Opportunity (includes pre-production pins, artist proof pins and more)
• Meet Disney Pin Merchandisers
• Artist Signings with Disney Design Group Artists
• One (1) $30 Disney Gift Card

Other event offerings include:

• First opportunity to pre-purchase select themed Pixar Party merchandise via the Random Selection Process 
• Limited Edition Commemorative Gifts 
• Welcome Pin
• Pixar Party Scavenger Hunt Six (6) Pin Gift Set (previously found on trading boards)
• Goodbye Pin Set

Here’s a look at the Pixar Party event merchandise catalog. Some of these designs are absolutely “incredible!”

Hungry for more? There’s even a “Little Chef” Breakfast you can sign up for, which includes a breakfast buffet, trading time inside the Pixar Party venue (from 8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.) and a limited-edition commemorative gift pin – available only to breakfast attendees. Keep in mind this package sells out fast.

Sign up for the Pixar Party beginning Thursday, April 28, 2016. Ticket Sales begin at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on DisneyParksMerchandise.com. Reminder: Event admission does not include theme park admission to Epcot but theme park admission is required to attend the event. Package limited to availability. No discounts will be offered in conjunction with this package.

So “just keep swimming” towards the Pixar Party date and in no time, you will be saying … “mine, mine, mine.”

Thirsty River Bar & Trek Snacks Now Open at DAK; Steakhouse STK at Disney Springs Will Now Open in 2016; and More

Thirsty River Bar and Trek Snacks Now Open at Disney's Animal Kingdom:

In the shadow of Expedition Everest, a new snack and bar was being built for tired and hungry guests at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Today, the Thirsty River Bar and Trek Snacks are now open. At Trek Snacks the menu will vary throughout the day with delicious pastries in the morning and more substantial bites like sushi and sandwiches during the afternoon and evening. 

Pastries will include assorted muffins and danishes, croissants, and an indulgent chocolate twist. Healthful snacks like fresh fruit, crudité and hummus, edamame and an Asian noodle salad are available. The Smoked Turkey Sandwich, Bahn Mi (roasted pork topped with pickled vegetables, cilantro and sriracha dressing), Som Tam (Thai shrimp, green papaya salad, crushed peanuts and chilis) and sushi are a perfect meal for the weary traveler. For dessert, cookies, brownies and ice cream treats (including the popular Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar) are on the menu.

The Thirsty River Bar represents the cultural collision that has become of hallmark of the villages that serve as base camps for Everest trekkers. The story behind the bar is that it was originally the home of a popular Sherpa family, mementos have been tacked on the walls by travelers, but the rest of the decor is sparse and functional aside from the stable stack.

Specialty cocktails at the bar will include:

• Khumbu Icefall - guava rum blended with coconut and raspberry puree
• Himalayan Ghost - Snow Leopard vodka, guava, and Odwalla lemonade
• Durbar Margherita

Non-Alcoholic drinks:

• Flying Yak - mango puree blended with coconut water and pineapple juice
• Pink Lotus - strawberry puree, lychee and Odwalla lemonade

Steakhouse STK at Disney Springs Will Now Open in 2016:

Steakhouse STK at Disney Springs was supposed to be opening by the end of this year, now the opening date has been pushed back to early 2016. The steakhouse has been under construction in the new Landing section of Disney Springs. It is at the footprint where the Comedy Warehouse stood in the old Pleasure Island. 

The Disney Springs location will be 14,000 square feet and have two floors of seating. It will also have an outdoor patio and an in-house DJ. The chain restaurant which has locations in Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, New York, Las Vegas, Washington D.C., London, and Milan will be open for both lunch and dinner.

More Time Needed For Tokyo Disney Resort Expansion:

The Oriental Land Company, which owns the Tokyo Disney Resort under licensing of the Walt Disney Company, today announced that it would need more time for the resort's expansion. The expansion plans include a new and improved Fantasyland featuring Beauty and the Beast  and Alice in Wonderland as well as a new 'port of call' in Tokyo DisneySea themed to Scandinavia and Frozen.

The press release said this:

“Oriental Land Co., Ltd. announced that it will extend the period to study the two-large scale development plans, the redevelopment of Fantasyland at Tokyo Disneyland® Park and development of the new themed port at Tokyo DisneySea® Park.

Oriental Land Co. has been examining these two major development plans including revisiting some of the plans and concluded that it requires the extension of the consideration period, which was originally scheduled to end during 2015, in order to create a long-term and sustainable value of the theme parks.

Oriental Land Co. aims to create a long-term and sustainable value of the theme parks and will continue to examine the development plans to bring completely a new value to Tokyo Disneyland Park and Tokyo DisneySea Park and offer more wonderful experiences to Guests.”

Morimoto Asia to Open in Disney Springs on September 30; Tokyo Disney Announces Plans for Fourth Hotel

Morimoto Asia to Open September 30 at Disney Springs:

In a collaboration with world-renouned Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto and Pantina Restaurant Group, Morimoto Asia will open in the newly renovated Disney Springs formerly Downtown Disney.  It is the first pan-Asian dining experience Chef Morimoto.

Some of the menu items will be an eclectic take on his favorite Asian flavors including moo shu pork, Peking duck, lobster chow fun, sweet and sour crispy whole fish, and spicy kung pao chicken. On weekends, dim sum will be served during brunch, with dumplings, shumai, bao, spare ribs, and more.

The sushi bar has been sculpted from hundreds of hand-selected ash wood that's backed with a wall of hammered copper, and has just 14 coveted seats. The sushi bar has a global inspiration feel to it with kanpachi, toro, Japanese red snapper, uni, sea eel, hamachi, fluke, salmon, and more of whatever is the freshest. A selection of specialty rolls and sushi platters will be available in the lounge or dining rooms.

For kids, there is plenty such as chicken ramen, kakuni pork bao, and karaage fried chicken.

The restaurant will serve sake including Morimoto's own signature line, wines from around the globe, signature cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks. Beers both bottled and drafts will be mostly Asian, including Morimoto's signature beer by Rogue Ales. For beer fans, the collector's edition Imperial Pilsner, Morimoto Soba Ale, and the highly popular Black Obi Soba will be available.

In the Disney Parks Blog post they gave this description on Morimoto Asia:

"The expansive restaurant includes beautiful lounges, dining spaces, open kitchen and a two-story outdoor terrace overlooking the water. The main entrance features a three-story glass corner, and the sculptural bar is one of the largest in the world, more than 270 feet long, connecting the grand dining room on the ground floor with the upper level Forbidden Lounge as it wraps around the staircase. Look for custom glass beaded chandeliers and glass mosaics based on ancient Japanese prints."

You can begin making reservations for Morimoto Asia on September 16 through open table and on opening day, September 30, you can make reservations through the restaurant at 407-560-6686. On November 1, guests may begin making reservations through 407-WDW-DINE. 

Morimoto Asia will be open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. serving lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. 

Tokyo Disney Resort Announces Plans for Fourth Hotel:

Tokyo Disney Celebration will be Tokyo Disney Resort's fourth hotel, the resort announced late last night. The fourth hotel will be developed in the Shin-Urayasu area where the current Palm & Terrace Hotel is located. The Palm & Terrace Hotel is slated close next February and the Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel is slated to open in June 2016. 

The Tokyo Disney Celebration will join the three current Disney Hotels: the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel,  the Disney Ambassador Hotel, and Hotel MiraCosta. While the three hotels are on-site of Tokyo Disney, the Tokyo Disney Celebration will not be on-site although it will still be an official Disney property. 

Christmas Offerings for Tokyo Disney Resort, Disney Junior's "Goldie & Bear" Set to Premier on Watch Disney Junior, and More

Christmas Offerings Announced for Tokyo Disney Resort:

This year at the Tokyo Disney Resort, they will be offering some new and exciting offerings this holiday season from November 9 through December 25.There will be a variety of offerings at Tokyo Disneyland Park, Tokyo DisneySea Park, and their 3 hotels.

At Tokyo Disneyland, families will be able to enjoy a "Christmas Fantasy" celebration with a theme this year of "Christmas Storybooks." The new afternoon Christmas parade will be called "Disney Christmas Stories" will bring life to Disney Christmas stories. There also will be pop-up Christmas storybooks and other decorations around the parks that will depict your favorite Disney characters celebrating the holidays.

At Tokyo DisneySea, they will celebrate "Christmas Wishes" with a new entertainment offering called "A Perfect Christmas." It will feature your favorite Disney characters sharing their dreams of Christmas. At night, the "Colors of Christmas" will return this year with its fantastically shining Christmas trees floating on the harbors. 

The signature Christmas tree will be decorated with snow crystals and will appear in front of the ocean liner, the S.S. Columbia. The Cape Cod area of the park will feature a tree decorated by Duffy, ShellieMay, and Gelatoni. The "Snow Crystal Illumination" in Waterfront Park at American Waterfront and "Fiesta De La Luz" (festival of lights) at Lost River Delta will light the park up at night. 

Disney Junior's "Goldie & Bear" Set to Premier on the WATCH Disney Junior App:

Disney Junior fans can get excited for the new series "Goldie & Bear" is set to premiere on September 12 on the WATCH Disney Junior App. They will premiere the first six episodes on the app every Monday through October 12. The animated series will premier on the Disney Channel in November. 

The show will be set in the magical world of Fairy Tale Forest and will focus on kids ages 2-7. It will reunite Goldie and Bear after the renowned porridge incident in the classic fairytale, "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." Each episode will have two 11-minute stories that shows off the new and unexpected friendship of the between Goldie and Bear, as they seek out fun and adventure along with their friends and neighbors, all of whom are drawn from classic storybook characters. 

"Goldie and Bear" stars Natalie Lander (The Middle) as Goldie and Georgie Kidder (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) as Bear. Recurring guest stars of the series will be Lesley Nicol (Downton Abbey) as Fairy Godmother, Isabella Day (Cristela) as little witch Rosie, Debbie Ryan (Jessie) as Thumbelina, and Miles Brown and Marsai Martin (black-ish) as Jack & Jill. "Goldie & Bear" is co-executive produced by Jorge Aguirre and Chris Gilligan (Frankenweenie) is executive producer and director. Joe Ansolabehere (Recess) is the story editor and Rob Cantor from the band Tally Hall is the songwriter. 

Sign Removed from Magic of Disney Animation at Disney's Hollywood Studios:

Guests today at Hollywood Studios noticed the Magic of Disney Animation Sign in front of the former attraction is now gone. The picture about is credit to Kristen from @Schmoofy on Twitter. The former Magic of Disney Animation building is supposedly set to become the new Star Wars Launch Bay that was announced at this past weekend's D23 EXPO. 

Star Wars Launch Bay is set to open at some point later this year. 

Tokyo DisneySea's 15th Anniversary, 'Zootopia' Teaser Released, and the Passing of Sir Christopher Lee

Tokyo DisneySea's 15th Anniversary Plans Announced by OLC:

Tokyo DisneySea will be celebrating their 15th anniversary which will be called "The Year of Wishes" which will begin April 15, 2016 and run through March 17, 2017. Today plans for the celebration were announced by Tokyo DisneySea's owners Oriental Land Co., Ltd.

The release by the ownership group said this:

"Since Tokyo DisneySea opened on September 4, 2001, and the only Disney Park themed to the sea, millions go guests have enjoyed the unique atmosphere and adventures offered at the Park. And for the anniversary year, guests will be able to share a wide variety of new experiences. "Wishes" are people's dreams for the future and give a feeling of hope and excitement. During the anniversary, guests will find that their wishes will shine even brighter with the help of their navigators - Mickey Mouse and the Disney friends - as well as all the Tokyo DisneySea Cast Members."

Outlined in the release today is the park will be decorated with crystals which will symbolize individual wishes. The crystals will even be on the Disney character's costumes. A brand new show called "Crystal Wishes Journey" will kick off the anniversary to be presented at Mediterranean Harbor. The show will outline Disney character's wishes as it celebrates the start of the guests' journeys of adventure, sparkling with hope.

A new version of "Big Band Beat" will also be part of the celebration. The popular show at the Broadway Music Theatre will debut new music, costumes, and scenes for the first time since it debuted in July 2006. A brand new musical show will also debut with projection mapping at the Hangar Stage in Lost River Delta in mid-2016. 

The Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta will be decorated for the anniversary will also start serving special menus at its restaurants and lounge beginning April 15, 2016.

"Zootopia" Teaser Trailer Released:

Just the other day Disney released details on its next animated feature, "Zootopia," and its main characters the sly con-artist fox, Nick Wilde, and rookie bunny cop, Judy Hoppes. The film stars Jason Bateman and Ginnifer Goodwin. The film premieres nationwide March 4, 2016. Here is the teaser trailer.

Sir Christopher Lee Passes Away at the Age of 93:

Today, we sadly report the passing of actor Sir Christopher Lee at the age of 93. The legendary actor died Sunday in London. Lee played many villainous roles such as the evil Sith Lord Count Dooku in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. Other famous villainous roles included Dracula in The Horror of Dracula (1958) and Sarumon in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies. 

Lee however was not only known for his close association with villains he played in comedic and heroic roles such as a mad scientist in the satyrical Gremlins II and Sherlock Holmes' brother in The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes. But Sir Christopher Lee was most known for his role as Count Dooku as one of his most famous scenes in an epic battle wit CGI Yoda in Attack of the Clones. The scene would go on to be one of the film's most popular and innovative scenes. 

StarWars.com wrote this about Lee, "With a commanding voice, towering height, and a powerful presence that combined nobility with a menacing flair, he brought some of cinema's most memorable antagonists to life in unique ways." 

We sure are going to miss Sir Christopher Lee. May he rest in peace.

Finding Nemo Attraction Coming to Tokyo DisneySea in 2017; Dream Store Returning to D23 Expo

New Finding Nemo Attraction Coming to Tokyo DisneySea in 2017:

Today, the Oriental Land Co. Ltd., owners of Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea announced a new Finding Nemo attraction is coming to Tokyo DisneySea in the Spring of 2017. The attraction will open in the Port Discovery area of Tokyo DisneySea. The attraction will be in the place of the current attraction of Storm Rider, which will permanently close Mid-May of 2016.

The attraction will last 5 minutes and will immerse guests in an underwater adventure that will feature the stories of "Finding Nemo" and the upcoming sequel to the film in, "Finding Dory." The indoor attraction will immerse guests into the stories with a ride system that will seamlessly blend visuals from the films with a motion system. The ride will "shrink" you to the size of fish as you board this 2-cabin submarine. Guests will be able to have the same viewpoint as Nemo and Dory while meeting characters and making new discoveries while they ride.

The Dream Store is Returning to D23 Expo 2015 with New and Unique Collectibles:

The Dream Store is making its return to the 2015 D23 Expo in August. Specialty merchandise and collectibles, both new and unique, will be on hand for guests to purchase. Merchandise will include official D23 Expo merchandise, Disney Theme Park Merchandise, Alex and Ani, Disney Dream Collection and D23 Expo-exclusive jewelry, Harveys, and Dream Store Autograph Sessions.

Here is what D23 released about the merchandise coming:

Official D23 EXPO Merchandise—Disney fans can take home a piece of the magic from this year’s Expo, with an assortment of official D23 EXPO 2015 merchandise including tees, fleece, baseball caps, novelty headwear, D-Tech, jewelry, drinkware, souvenirs, accessories, pins, and Vinylmation™. And for the first time, guests can bring home a selfie party-pack inspired by a few of our favorite Disney characters, as well as an “R4-D23″ droid and Princess Kneesaa the Ewok plush.

Disney Theme Park Merchandise: Showcasing some of its newest releases and exclusive offerings from ACME Archives Limited, ALEX AND ANI, Steve Adams, Dave Avanzino, Jasmine Becket-Griffith, David Bird, Britni Brault, Stephen Cargile, Bob Elias, Collector’s Choice, Disney Design Group, Disney Dream Collection, Disney Fine Art by Collectors Editions, Disney Parks│PANDORA, Dooney & Bourke, HARVEYS, Ink & Paint Artists, Rob Kaz, Jerrod Maruyama, Bridget McCarty, Miss Mindy, James Mulligan, Rick O’Brien, Robert Olszewski, Maggie Parr, Mike Peraza, Larry Nikolai, Precious Moments, Linda Rick, Tim Rogerson, Javier Soto, George Scribner, Sketch Artists, Michelle St.Laurent, Yakovetic, and more.

ALEX AND ANI will debut several new styles at D23 EXPO 2015. Fans can expect a variety of jewelry designs featuring everyone’s favorite, Mickey Mouse, and a very special “Celebrate” wrap.

Disney Dream Collection and D23 EXPO-Exclusive Jewelry: Guests can enjoy a sparkling selection of fine jewelry created for the Disneyland Resort Celebration.

HARVEYS—Created especially for D23 EXPO 2015, this new collection features historical “A, B, and C Ticket Media” on some of their most popular silhouettes.

Dream Store Autograph Sessions—Disney fans will get the chance to meet some of their favorite authors, artists, Disney Legends, and other notable celebrities inside the Dream Store. Autograph sessions will be posted daily via the D23 EXPO Mobile App (available later this summer) and daily at the D23 EXPO Dream Store.

The D23 Expo will take place August 14-16, 2015 at the Anaheim Convention Center. For more details and updates on the Dream Store, guests can visit www.D23Expo.com, www.DisneyParksBlog.com, and www.DisneyParksMerchandise.com.

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