Animal Kingdom's Avatar Land is Now On Constructi​on

 

 

By Beemerboyz803

Earlier this week, leaders from Disney Parks and Lightstorm Entertainment kicked off the largest expansion in Animal Kingdom's history, with a ceremonial ground breaking for the park's Avatar Land, based on the popular movie directed by James Cameron. 

Avatar Land will be a unique area of the park. It will replace Camp Minnie-Mickey. Guests will experience the wonders of Pandora when they fly with banshees and explore an environment with floating mountains and plants that glow at nighttime. 

 

At the D23 Expo in Japan, Disney revealed two confirmed attractions for Avatar Land. The first is a flying E-ticket simulator attraction, where guests will learn to fly with a mountain banshee. The second is a boat ride similar to Jungle Cruise that will showcase Pandora's flora and fauna (flowers and trees). 

 

Just a few months earlier, we were able to speak with some of the imagineers about Avatar Land.

 

 

Avatar Land is expected to open in 2017. They still have a LONG way to go!!!

 

Disney Channel in 2014

By Beemerboyz803

Millions of kids all over the world watch Disney Channel on their TV. Well, I just received word that Disney Channel is receiving MAJOR updates in its 2014 year. Three of the most popular shows on the network are going off the air, and Disney Channel is scheduled to welcome four new shows to its programming block.

Airing on January 17, 2014, is I Didn't Do It. Featuring Kickin' It's Olivia Holt, the show is about two fraternal twins (brother and sister) who spend their high school years with their three best friends. 

Another show scheduled to premiere in early 2014 is Girl Meets World, the sequel series to Boy Meets World. The series stars Spy Kids 4: All The Time in The World star Rowan Blanchard and her best friend, Maya, as they start seventh grade. 

The next show is scheduled to air in Spring 2014. Disney is recycling its old game show: Win, Lose, or Draw. The show features a celebrity and two regular children, who have to guess a phrase, title, or thing that another person has drawn on a white board.

 

 The final show scheduled to air is Star and The Forces of Evil. The show is supposed to air in Fall 2014. The show's main character is Star Butterfly, and her adventures as she moves to Earth and lives with the Diaz family. 

 

Lastly, Disney Channel is going to air the final episodes of three favored shows this year. 

The first of which is the popular Good Luck Charlie. Just six episodes left of the show, which aired in 2010, the show was cancelled in June 2013. But the show is continuing to bring surprises to Disney Channel. It is said that one of the final episodes is set to featured a lesbian couple, a Disney first! The show, loved by many, will be missed. 

 

 

The second Disney Channel show scheduled to end is Fish Hooks. The show, only in its second (but long season, aired in 2010 and is scheduled to end this year.

 

The final Disney Channel show that was announced to end was the popular ANT Farm. Taking place at a boarding school in central California, music prodigy Chyna Parks and her best friends go on wacky adventures with their friends. China Anne McLain, lead character on the show, announced the show's cancellation via Twitter, stating that she is sad her show is about to end but was "excited about my secret projects and keeping you guys [Disney Channel viewers] happy". 

 

Information courtesy of Disney Wiki and classicalite.com.  

The Meaning of Songs: Disney Movies

By Zach Cooper

Over the last few weeks, I have seen 2 really amazing Disney movies. This post will talk about what I learned in each film though many of the songs.

"FROZEN"

This Disney Animation movie is about a young princess named Elsa who is gifted with magical powers that can create a winter wonderland. She sadly has to live in secret, as no one (not even her sister Anna) can know about the powers. If so, she and her family could be in great danger.

 

Throughout her childhood, Elsa has to stay locked in her room. Anna doesn't know why she is in there, so would always sing outside the door and ask to come in and play. This song is called "Do You Want to Build A Snowman". The song shows Anna growing up asking her sister to play. A reply of, "Go away Anna" forces her to live without a real friend. This song really sets the scene on where Anna and Elsa's friendship is.

 

Not too long after, we hear another song called "For The First Time In Forever." It is about Anna finally being able to be with someone, not along locked in the castle. The song is completely different than "Do You Want to Build a Snowman," as it is more hopeful and uplifting.

 

The movie later continues with more uplifting and hopeful songs. "Love Is An Open Door" is about Anna meeting someone she loves.

 

Then we get to my favorite song of the movie, "Let It Go." The song is about Elsa testing her magical powers and finding what good can it do for her. The song is really powerful in a way, and really upbeat. The ending is especially good. After building a giant snowcastle, she declaims "the cold never bothered me anyway."

 

There are many other good songs, but I think this is a good place to stop. Throughout the movie, there is controversy between Anna and Elsa, but in the end, we learn "True love will always heal a broken heart."
 

For my full review of Disney's Frozen, visit geekcentralblog.blogspot.com/frozenmoviereview.

 

 

"SAVING MR. BANKS"

Your might be surprised to hear that Saving Mr. Banks features a number of great songs. You have probably heard each of the songs before, as they are all from Marry Poppins. But in this movie, they sing it to you in a different way.

 

The movie is about Walt Disney trying to persuade Marry Poppins author P.L. Travers to make a film based off the book. In the movie, we learn that the book reflects on her childhood.

 

Two very famous songwriters Richard and Robert Sherman were assigned to write the lyrics to the many songs in Marry Poppins. They had a lot of trouble presenting some of the songs to P.L. Travers, but they made it work.
 

 

 

One very inspiring song in the film is "Let's Go Fly A Kite."
 

 

What's so special about this scene is the mood change of P.L. Travers. This is really the first time she was pleased with the movie progress. I also think Travers felt really comfortable with the song, as she was able to relieve all the stress.

 

Just like P.L. Travers, there is a song that Walt Disney 'favorites'. In the movie, one late evening, Richard Sherman decided to play a newly written song (that he and his brother wrote), called "Feed the Birds" to Walt. I sadly don't have the clip from the movie, but Inside the Magic has a video of Richard Sherman recently talking about the song at the 2013 D23 Expo.
 

I liked Saving Mr. Banks. Not my favorite movie, but still really good and meaningful. For my review, visit geekcentralblog.blogspot.com/savingmrbanksreview.
 

Original Club 33 at Disneyland Park

By Zach Cooper

You may already know that to start off the new year, Disneyland's private Club 33 restaurant will be closing to underdo a major renovation, later opening back in July. The renovation will be making major changes to the Club, so I decided to tribute the original Club.

For almost 50 years, Club 33 has welcomed many well known guests. The membership fee for Club 33 is very high and has a long waiting list. (people have been waiting 15+ years to get in)

I was lucky enough to know a friend who had a membership, so on October 18, 2011, I was able to have lunch at Club 33.

Club 33 is located in Disneyland Park's New Orleans Square. The entrance is a little door with '33' marked on it.


Walking inside, I was greeted by a cast member who welcomed me aboard a small elevator. One day, Walt was in Paris and saw a small nice elevator. He loved it so much, he had his team duplicate it and put it inside Club 33. Before I go on, I should mention Walt never saw the completion of Club 33, though he saw part of the building of it.


Throughout the Club, you can find many photos of Walt Disney himself.




After going up the elevator, the first room you see is the Trophy Room. One thing about Club 33 is Walt Disney really wanted to interact with the dining parties. Inside the room are hidden microphones, that would allow Walt to listen in on conversations. Then he would reply and his voice would come out though other speakers.





Club 33 has a very massive hallway. The hallway features many well-known things.

The hallway is a showcase to many artist renderings. A few of them are from the film 'Marry Poppins'.

They even have a few renderings for the original Pirates of the Caribbean attraction:

Speaking of Marry Poppins, Club 33 also has one of the tables that was in the Marry Poppins film. The frame above it is old Disneyland Park concept art.

And if you have some spare change, be sure to pick out a small ring, t-shirt or ring as a memento for this special occasion. (look at the price tag first.)

And that's the long and impressive hallway!

The main dining room is really nice and fancy. I love it.

I forgot to take a picture before I ate my food, but can tell you it was delicious. Best food I have ever had.

Because it happened to be my birthday, I was treated with a small Mickey cake. Just like the food, it was yummy.

One of my favorite parts of Club 33 is the balcony. This balcony looks over New Orleans Square. For sure a great place to catch 'Fantasmic'.

And that's the stairway down....

I had an amazing time at Club 33. I will hopefully be back for the remodel, but that's not a promise. It is a once in a lifetime chance to visit, and I was so lucky to know someone with a membership.

Be sure to watch my tribute to the original Club 33:

Disney INFINITY: Review

By Beemerboyz803

Though the game has been out since mid-August, I was able to receive the Disney INFINITY video game for Christmas. Disney INFINITY, in many ways, resembles the popular Skylanders series. Both games have a collection of figures, that, once placed on a platform, synchronize with the game. The game also resembles the popular game, Minecraft, with its Toy Box feature. The Toy Box is an open-world area that allows the players to build whatever they desire. The game does not come with all toys. On several occasions, the figure can spin a wheel and randomly receive a toy that they now can use, such as Pride Rock, Cinderella's Castle, or a shipwreck. 

INFINITY also has power discs, which come hexagonal or circular. They are also placed on the INFINITY Base and when activated in Toy Box Mode, can change the terrain of the land or enhance your character's abilities. Each starter pack comes with a Nemo power disc, which changes the terrain of the Toy Box to a a coral reef. 

Overall, when the commercial aired, I thought this game looked awesome. However, the game can be boring at times with just one player, and sometimes, in order to modify something, people have to go through so many steps in order to get to the thing they want. Also, the 10-minute introduction to the game is boring, and may be hard at the Pirates of the Caribbean scene for some people. 

My final score for this game, out of a 10, is a 9. I like the fact that the player can do anything they want, play with any Disney character they want, and modify their character or Toy Box any way they want, but my only problems are the difficulty to activate some features and the 10-minute intro.

Mr. Incredible, Jack Sparrow, and Sulley figurines are provided with the game, as well as a Nemo power disc. Additional characters include Vanellope von Schweetz, Anna, Elsa the Snow Queen, Jack Skellington, Violet, Tonto, Woody, and Davy Jones. Future releases include Phineas and Ferb. 

Mission Inn & Holiday of Lights: Trip Report

By Zach Cooper

Earlier in December, I was able to take a small day trip to the Mission Inn in Riverside, California. I did not stay the night at this luxury hotel, but was able to explore and learn the history of this hotel. During this time of year, the hotel also features "Festival of Lights," which hosts over 4 million sparkling bulbs.

I arrived at the hotel at around 2PM and had a small lunch at a nearby sushi restaurant. Walking into the hotel was amazing. Its such an amazing and beautiful hotel.

I


Inspired by the holiday season is the "Festival of Lights". The hotel is completely decorated with millions of lights, which usually are turned on at sundown.

Seeing the hotel before the night crowds was really nice. Its a beautiful hotel with so much history. To learn more about it, I took a 75 minute walking tour.



For just about $15, you can take a nice tour around the whole hotel, guided by a volunteer who knows much about the history and layout. I really enjoyed the tour. Our guide was excellent and kept all of us very entertained. Each tour group fits about 15 people and runs usually once an hour. You get to go in many private places, closed off to the general public. I really recommend taking the tour. Its amazing how much you will learn in just 75 minutes. Out of 10, I would rate the tour a 10. Well worth every penny.

After I got out of the tour, it was already dusk, so the Festival of Lights started.
  

 Its amazing how many lights are in the hotel's grounds. During the evenings, Mission Inn is packed with people going around and enjoying the festivities.

  

I really recommend visiting. I would like to stay sometime and experience it all, because it truly is great. To book your stay, visit www.missioninn.com.

Mission Inn Tour: Review

By Zach Cooper

For just about $15, you can take a nice tour around the whole Mission Inn Hotel, guided by a volunteer who knows much about the history and layout. I really enjoyed the tour. Our guide was excellent and kept all of us very entertained. Each tour group fits about 15 people and runs usually once an hour. You get to go in many private places, closed off to the general public. I really recommend taking the tour. Its amazing how much you will learn in just 75 minutes. Out of 10, I would rate the tour a 10. Well worth every penny.

 

For more information and to book your tour, visit www.missioninnmuseum.com/tour.com.


Here is a quick look at the Mission Inn and how its so unique.