Any D23 Expo Announcements?

[magicofdisney]

If Toontown is out does that mean the train depot will be inactive for awhile? Also, will the removal of Toontown have any effect on the life expectancy of Toontown online?

[GrumpyFan]

The pictures and video look great! I can't wait to see this happen. Also, the Star Tours 2 announcement is equally exciting! Lots of good news here!

[Chescat]

Mufusa, were we sitting next to you in the Arena? We were by the cameras.

Which Star Tours poster did you get? Between 3 of us, we got Yoda, Darth Vader, and C3PO.

When we left tonight around 5:00, they were escorting Lassiter through the Celebrate area. We couldn't keep up with them, but got a side view picture.

[Lakin]

I am so excited! Too bad I'm too tired to read all the long plans.

Are the Fantasyland updates for Disney World or Disney Land?

[J9]

Are the Fantasyland updates for Disney World or Disney Land?

WDW!

[DisneyFanaticDargon]

I am so excited! Too bad I'm too tired to read all the long plans.

Are the Fantasyland updates for Disney World or Disney Land?

Disneyland's Fantasyland, while not nearly as massive as what WDW's project is going to be, is definitely leaps and bounds ahead of what WDW currently has in terms of aesthetics and number of attractions. Fantasyland is more clumped and more intimate at DL for sure, but it has a charm that the MK incarnation just never had.

[Mufasa]

Some of the items at the D23 Live Auction and what they went for:

First lot was a framed personal check signed by Walt Disney. It was endorsed to the Smoke Tree Ranch (Walt's Vacation Home in Palm Springs, California) and handwritten, signed and dated by Walt in 1943. Sold for $6,900

The big item of the night was Lot 39- a Peter Pan's Flight Attraction Ride Vehicle. Opening bids were $2,500 and the bidding was quick and intense and the final bid was $35,000.

Lot 23 was a Walt Disney Studios and Archives Tour with Dave Smith for the bidder and 1 guest. A personal tour of the Archives and Archives warehouse with Chief Archivist Dave Smith as your guide followed by lunch in the executive dining room, The Rotunda at the Studios Lot. Winning bid was $13,000.

A replica of the Hatbox Ghost from the Haunted Mansion (Lot 27) created by Disney artists Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily was another crowd favorite. It stands 5' 3" as a full scale replica and sold for $9,300.

Bidding was also spirited on Lot 21- the It's a Small World experience with Disney Legend Alice Davis which also included a visit with Alice to the Walt Disney Imagineering Library to learn about the costume design process for many of our attractions. Winning bid was $6,400

A few lots- a private Napa Rose cooking lesson for the bidder and 11 guests (along with 6 bottles of wine from John Lasseter's winery) and a painting based on Winnie the Pooh created by Disney Legend Peter Ellenshaw in 2002 entitled "Pooh Surrounded by Water" were among the items that failed to meet the minimum auction reserve.

And for those curious, the Dancing with the Stars VIP experience went for $4,300 and a costume from Hannah Montana along with a copy of a shooting script was $2,000 (seriously?)

[Mufasa]

Mufusa, were we sitting next to you in the Arena? We were by the cameras.

Which Star Tours poster did you get? Between 3 of us, we got Yoda, Darth Vader, and C3PO.

Hmm, I could possibly have been sitting near you but chances are better than I probably ran into you somewhere on the Expo floor.

As for the poster, at the Arena I got the Darth Vader poster, but practically have my choice of any of the available ones (personally I like the Vader one)

And I did like Vader's interaction with Jay Rasulo... if only we could have him around to use his Jedi mind tricks more often

*waving hand* this is the budget you want to approve

[2Epcot]

I was there Friday and really enjoyed the World of Color presentation ... That looks to be an amazing show. I'm also very excited about Mystic Manor after looking at the models and drawings. I can't wait to go back to Hong Kong and see this when it's opened.

The Parks & Resorts exhibit was really well done from the pre-show to the way everything was laid out. It was also great to talk to the Imagineers that were there. I talked to Kevin Rafferty who is one of the principal Imagineers on the new Radiator Springs Racer attraction for California Adventure. This is another attraction I'm very excited about.

I only had time to spend one day at D23, but made the most of it, and had a great time.

[DisneyFanaticDargon]

Also, will the removal of Toontown have any effect on the life expectancy of Toontown online?

Doubtful. Disneyland will still have Toontown, and in a far superior incarnation than they ever had at MK I might add.

[J9]

Here is some of the additional fantasyland concept art that was shown at d23 (screencapped from the presentation):




I am particularly excited about the new restaurant!!!

[beksy]

Janine,
Thanks for posting the pictures. They look awesome! I'm so excited, especially for Beauty and the Beast!

[J9]

Here's a liveblog from inside the John Lasseter presentation going on right now:

http://twitter.com/disneypictures

[magicofdisney]

How cool were those auctions? I wonder if you can incorporate the Peter Pan ride vehicle into livingroom decor? Might be better fitted in a rump, er rumpus, room.

[PirateLover]

Muppet Info (This makes me so happy!)

In addition to the announcement of "The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made," I found the following list of things that are in the work for our wacky friends:

# A brand new online Muppet cooking show with TV chef Cat Cora. (Presumably on Muppets.com.) Coming THIS Fall.
# More Muppet YouTube videos to hit the web in 2010. Including Muppet versions of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," Kansas' "Dust in the Wind," and "Stand By Me."
# Muppet Halloween Special slated for next year.
# The Muppets will appear on Andrea Boccelli's Christmas special THIS Christmas on PBS.
# Muppet*Vision 3D in Walt Disney World and Disneyland will be receiving an overhaul in Disney Digital 3D. Currently billed as Muppet*Vision 3D Remastered.
# Steiff plush of Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Fozzie coming soon.
# New line of Muppet merchandise coming to the Disney Store.
# More Muppet TV cameos and appearances coming next year.
# Muppet iPhone applications planned for 2010. Applications include, "Pepe's Love Meter," "Animal's Drum Set," "Gonzo Grams," and a movie application featuring Statler and Waldorf.
# Statler and Waldorf will be writing a book due out next year.
# Studio DC: Almost Live! on DVD in 2010.
# The Muppet Show: Season 4 on DVD in 2010. Gonzo will be on the cover.
# "Mobile Electric Mayhem Band" coming to Disney parks as part of Disney's "Living Character Initiative."
# New line of Muppet merchandise launches next year. Macy's is rumored to be the new licensing partner.
# The Muppet Whatnot Workshop will have branches in both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. New Whatnots with facial hair and "monster fur" are expected.
# Weezer to record "Rainbow Connection" with the Muppets for a CD due out next year.

[acetate]

I thought there was supposed to be some unveiling of the new Disney Store remodels at the Expo. Any news about the stores from D23 ?

[jenny1976]

That Star Tours II, will be in Disneyland only? Are there any other plans aside from the MK Fantasyland Refurb? (DHS, EPCOT,AK, Aventureland, Tomorowland, Frontierland) I am dying to know!!!!!!!!!

[Jeff G]

Thanks Mufasa and everyone else for the outstanding updates and the conceptual art!!!

The updates to Fanatasyland sound amazing. The Princess interactions sound so much better than a meet and greet. The announced renovations sound better than I was expecting and as mentioned earlier, it's almost like getting a whole new park.

Was it mentioned if Star Tours 2 planned for DHS as well?

[Ian]

Was it mentioned if Star Tours 2 planned for DHS as well?

Yes it is.

[Jeff G]

Yes it is.

Outstanding!