Theme park and attraction news, rumors and videos.
Disney is helping to amplify your summer fun with new Star Wars, Marvel, National Geographic, Disney, and Disney Princess merchandise. From backpacks and games to swimwear and cookbooks, there may be something to intrigue you on shopDisney.
Over the past week, Disneyland Paris found itself in “deep, deep, deep, deep snow.” The park was entirely blanketed in ice and snow, something most guests would believe was the work of Queen Elsa of Arendelle. [Read more…]
Starting on Nov. 10, Disney Springs will bring the holidays to life with sparkling decor, unique gift ideas, treats, special entertainment and more. [Read more…]
Everyone’s favorite blue alien is back to cause mayhem for the summer, as the seasonally-operating attraction Stitch’s Great Escape will be open now through August 19. [Read more…]
Actor Daniel Dae Kim, star of the ABC series Lost and currently starring on the new CBS series Hawaii Five-0, posed today with Lilo from Disney’s animated film Lilo and Stitch at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Kim, who was born in South Korea and grew up in New York and Pennsylvania, currently lives in Hawaii. [Read more…]
We previously brought you video and photos from Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration, a new video and stage show playing daily in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom. Our upcoming Summer 2009 issue also features a story and a one-on-one interview with Stitch himself about the show. Now that issue is already something of a collector’s item. Just after the issue is officially released, Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration will be closing for good.
A Disney spokesperson confirmed today that June 27 will be the last performance of the show. The cast has all been notified and there are no plans to rework or reopen the show or for any other shows at that location. The spokesperson added that the stage will most likely be used for special events.
When asked what prompted the closing of the show, they said they are regularly evaluate the entertainment offerings to provide the best possible experience for their guests. They also emphasized that Magic Kingdom’s many other exciting and interactive attractions will continue.
The Summer 2009 issue of Orlando Attractions Magazine is now available for preview and pre-order.
It’s our first quarterly issue and the first of our new and improved editions featuring nearly 20% more pages, thicker paper, more high-quality photography, and more articles than ever before.
Feature articles in this issue include:
• COVER STORY: Hitch a Ride on a Giant Stingray
with SeaWorld’s Manta, Florida’s First Flying Roller Coaster.
• Slip Slide Away at Disney’s Water Parks
Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach offer cool retreats year-round.
• Skipper Ben’s Top 10 Ways to Beat the Heat
• Magical Memories
Contest winner looks back at his year as Disney’s Chief Magic Official.
• Africa, Animals and Art
Kidani Village expands upon the culture found at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
• Africa meets India at Sanaa
Disney’s newest restaurant dishes up African cuisine with Indian flavors.
• Stitch invades Tomorrowland in Stitch’s SuperSonic Celebration.
And if you subscribe now at our new low price of $19.99, you’ll be among the first to receive the new Summer 2009 issue when it begins to mail out next week. But hurry or you’ll miss it!
Again, you can preview and pre-order the Summer 2009 issue here.
Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration is a new video and stage show playing daily in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom. Before the show begins, the Tomorrowland News Network (TNN) plays on the newly-constructed stage’s large video screen and tells of a Galaxy Day celebration.
Here’s a video summary of the new show, followed below by a photo report:
For the “live broadcast” from Tomorrowland, newsman Tip Trendo and his Galactic Girls take to the stage for a musical number – or three. This gang certainly likes to dance.
After strutting their stuff, Tip tunes into a video transmission from Stitch, who appears on the big screen, apparently having “borrowed” a space cruiser assigned to cover the Galaxy Day festivities.
Stitch banters back and forth with Tip and also speaks directly to some of the audience members, picking them out of the crowd by shirt color or head accessory (hat, antenna, Mickey ears, etc.). The interaction is similar to that found at Turtle Talk with Crush at Epcot, though that attraction seats guests comfortably inside an air-conditioned theater rather than on the hot pavement of Tomorrowland. Plus, at sunnier times of the day, it’s rather difficult to see Stitch on the screen (as you can see -or can’t- above).
As a gift to an audience member, Stitch eventually orders two custom robots. Keen eyes will note that he places his order on-screen from a subsidiary of X-S Tech, the corporation formerly featured in the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter attraction – which the Stitch’s Great Escape attraction replaced a few years ago. Nice touch.
The “robots” (pictured above) appear on stage and start dancing, (doing the robot, naturally, and even some break dancing), to tunes like Mr. Roboto and other ’70s and ’80s pop hits.
In the end, Stitch wants to join in the fun on stage and decides to beam himself into Tomorrowland to join the Galaxy Day celebration. He proceeds to teach everyone his own personal dance and encourages everyone to get up and join in, jumping around and waving hands in the air. Children seem to enjoy it a whole lot more than the adults with them. Finally, Stitch and the gang head off into the stage doors, preparing for their next Galaxy Day celebration. The show is currently performed six times each day.
Visit our Photo Gallery for more photos from Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration.
You can also read more about the making of Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration in the upcoming Summer 2009 issue of Orlando Attractions Magazine. Although he’s hard to track down, we’re also trying to get an interview with the alien himself.
Subscribe today to be among the first to get a copy.
I spent a few hours in the Magic Kingdom the other day and kept my eyes peeled for anything new or interesting. Here’s what I found:
Space Mountain is closed for refurbishment officially until Winter, though signs point to a November opening. Disney is making it very clear to all Tomorrowland visitors that the famous ride is not operating with signs like this found leading up to the attraction’s entrance, along with several cast members stationed outside diverting approaching guests. In addition, signs leading into and out of Tomorrowland tell the same story:
Despite all of these signs, I observed many guests approaching Space Mountain, disappointed to find out that it was, indeed, closed. I’m not sure if they didn’t believe the signs or simply didn’t see them. [Read more…]
Here are a few of the more interesting photos I took yesterday at the FX! International Show at the Orange County Convention Center. Today, April 19, 2009, is the last day for the show this year.
Above is one of the many artist decorated vinyl Stitchs that were on display. They’re part of the Stitch Experiment 626 Project. Smaller versions of some of them were available for purchase. Check out our full FX photo gallery for more custom painted Stitchs.
I guess this Barbie is MIB – Mint In Box. Many guests came to the show in costumes, but not as many as at the MegaCon show earlier this year.
I’m not sure what the story is behind this figure or what his name is but I call him Mario Mouse.
The biggest star at the show was Leonard Nemoy from Star Trek.
James Marsters from Buffy The Vampire Slayer also had a long line to meet him.
James Kyson Lee from Heroes.
Sitting next to Leonard Nemoy was another Star Trek alumn, Jonathan Frakes.
You may not recognize him as an adult, it’s Scott Schwartz from A Christmas Story. You know, the kid who gets his tongue frozen on a flag pole.
• For more pictures from the show, including more celebrities, costumes and some pro wrestling stars, visit our FX! International Show 2009 Photo Gallery.