MOVIE REVIEW: 2016 PETE'S DRAGON #84

No! Not that one...

Yes This one, That is better.
Yesterday I finally decided to go see this new version of  Pete's Dragon, I have been putting it off after the 1st experience of the 1977 version.
I was hoping it wasn't a musical.
I was Not a fan of that movie.
This new version is not a sequel, Much better. The animation was unbelievable as Elliot looked like a real animal, he blended in great with the live actors.
we had bumped into old friends in theaters before we saw it. They said it is a tear jerker.
Yes Michelle and Brandon were correct. In Disney style, they get you coming and going. So if you go to see this movie, be sure to bring napkins to wipe your eyes.
This movie keeps you interested in it (No Singing) lol.
There was a family next to us, who had 3 children and I could see them smiling. They weren't trying to run around or no crying.
Robert Redford and the other cast did a really good job.
I wont give away the plot, The only thing I will say is that Pete is an Orphan, and this kind loving green furry dragon takes him in.
Pete is discovered and brought to a hospital to check him out, He escapes and the woman who finds him, takes him in.
This is pretty much the only thing I can see that is like the 1977 Version.
Pete wants to return to the forrest where Elliot lives.

There is one thing I don't understand, What happened to Elliot's Fang Tooth, as you can see it is badly chipped off and there is a scar on his muzzle on the same side of his face.
Maybe they will make a prequel.
All in all this is a Great new take on Pete's Dragon. I cannot wait until it comes out on DVD so I can add it to my collection.
Oh One more thing. Disneyland will be getting the Main Street Electrical parade back soon. I wonder if they will upgrade Elliot and Pete.

Now I am glad my wife got me to go see this movie. I give it a 6 on a scale of 1-6 Dragons.....
Go see it!

DESTINATION D: AMAZING ADVENTURES ADDS JAMES CAMERON, JON LANDAU, AND BOB CHAPEK TO EVENT ROSTER #83

DESTINATION D: AMAZING ADVENTURES ADDS JAMES CAMERON, JON LANDAU, AND BOB CHAPEK TO EVENT ROSTER

 

Additional panels include an exclusive look at Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana, Tales from the Jungle Cruise, and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort’s 45th Anniversary, happening November 19 and 20 at Walt Disney World Resort

 

BURBANK, Calif. — August 18, 2016 — The roster of talent and panels continues to grow for D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures presented by Ethan Allen | Disney, taking place November 19 and 20, 2016 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World Resort. AVATAR creators James Cameron (writer, director, producer) and Jon Landau (producer) will join Imagineer Joe Rohde for Pandora – The World of AVATAR, a presentation where they will unveil new details about the immersive, 12-acre land coming soon to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. In addition, the event will include a conversation with Bob Chapek, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Plus, Moana screenwriter Jared Bush (co-writer/co-director Zootopia) will be on hand to provide guests an exclusive advance look at the making of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ newest animated feature.

Cameron, Landau, and Chapek join previously announced Disney Legends Marty Sklar and Tony Baxter; Walt Disney Imagineers Rohde, Chris Merritt, Jason Grandt, and Wyatt Winter; producer Don Hahn (The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast); and Walt Disney Archives Director Becky Cline. The event, exclusively for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, celebrates landmarks of the past, present, and future, from the Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean to the planet of Pandora.

 

The Walt Disney Archives will present a special exhibit created exclusively for the event: Walt’s Great Adventures, featuring photographs, props, and models that showcase Walt Disney’s personal voyages, including his trip to South America in 1941, as well as some of his most memorable creations for television, film, and theme parks, such as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Additionally, during the weekend, guests will be among the first to see the new Ethan Allen | Disney home furnishing line in person.

 

Additional D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures presentations announced include:

• Welcome to Adventureland: Set off on a journey through “Adventurelands” at Disney Parks around the world, beginning with a rare look at artist Harper Goff’s exotic concepts for Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
• Tales from the Jungle Cruise: Fans of “the backside of water” unite! Discover the legendary history of the world-famous attraction with a panel of wisecracking experts, including a behind-the-scenes look at recent holiday overlays and the new Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort’s 45th Anniversary: From tropical hideaways to enchanting entertainment, celebrate the spirit of aloha as D23 looks back at 45 years of the classic South Pacific-themed getaway.

 

The weekend event will take place in the convention center at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Tickets, currently on sale, are $190 each for D23 Gold and Gold Family Members. Tickets are also available to D23 General Members for $250 per ticket. All guests will receive a special gift created exclusively for the event, and attendees are guaranteed seats at all panels and presentations. Mickey’s of Glendale, the famed Walt Disney Imagineering store, returns with a pop-up shop at the event for attendees, featuring a selection of exclusive Walt Disney Imagineering merchandise as well as limited-edition pins, apparel, and collectibles themed to the event.

 

Further details about the program and tickets for D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures presented by Ethan Allen | Disney can be found at D23.com/Events. Additional details about the schedule will be shared in the coming months.

 

Events and talent are subject to change.

 

 

About D23

The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s 90-plus-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; a rich website at D23.com; member-exclusive discounts; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.

 

Fans can join D23 at Gold Membership ($74.99), Gold Family Membership ($99.99), and General Membership (complimentary) levels at D23.com and at DisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube.

 

About Ethan Allen

Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. is a leading interior design company and manufacturer and retailer of quality home furnishings. The company offers complimentary interior design service to its clients and sells a full range of furniture products and decorative accessories through ethanallen.com and a network of approximately 300 Design Centers in the United States and abroad. Ethan Allen owns and operates nine manufacturing facilities, which include six manufacturing plants and one sawmill in the United States plus one plant each in Mexico and Honduras. Approximately seventy percent of its products are made in its North American plants. For more information on Ethan Allen's products and services, visit www.ethanallen.com. 

 

 

STAR WARS FANS VISIT DISNEYLAND TO SEE MOVIE PROPS IN TOMORROWLAND #82

If you are visiting Disneyland for the first time, or the 1000th time, There is always something new to see.
The last time I was in Tomorrowland, This was not there. It was just Marvel.
Me being a Star Wars Fan had to see what the hype was.
I am glad I went in as There are Movie props from 1977 - 2015 Star Wars Franchise.

You can see Rey's Speeder from Jakku Back to the Fastest Hunk of Junk in the Galaxy. Millennium Falcon.

Life size costumes such as Darth Vader, With or without his Helmut.

Maybe you are into robots,  you can see BB8 and R2-D2.

And a meet n greet of a hero or a villain.   Chewbacca & Kylo Ren.

Kylo was off fighting a battle, so his second in command was there.

X- Wing Fight ships and Star Destroyers, Rebel ships, Tie Fighters and various other star ships were on display,

 

Well worth a trip to the new Star Wars Seasons of the Force area in Tomorrowland. 

Sorry about the blurry photos, remember to click on the pictures to make them bigger.

DISNEY PARKS BLOG SHARED THIS TODAY: Main Street Electrical Parade Coming to Disneyland Park for a Limited Time; Last Chance to ‘Paint the Night’ #81

As we just announced, night time at Disneyland park will get even brighter with the return of Main Street Electrical Parade early next year! Twenty years since it last glowed down Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland park, this “spectacular festival pageant of nighttime magic and imagination” will return for a limited-time encore engagement.

The quintessential Disney Parks nighttime parade, the Main Street Electrical Parade began at Disneyland park in 1972, shining brightly in the memories of thousands of Disneyland park guests until the end of its initial run in 1996. It returned to the Disneyland Resort as Disney’s Electrical Parade, bringing magical Disney stories to Disney California Adventure park from 2001 until 2010, when it crossed the country to begin its most recent run at Walt Disney World Resort.
Before its half-million tiny lights return to illuminate the imaginations of a whole new generation of Disneyland park guests, there is still time enjoy the experience this beloved favorite inspired – “Paint the Night” parade.

“Paint the Night” parade will continue nightly performances, just before “Disneyland Forever” fireworks, through September 5 as part of the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration. And I’m excited to share today that this popular parade will return on select nights during the holiday season later this year. Be sure to keep an eye on the entertainment calendar at Disneyland.com for performance dates and times.
Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for more details — including dates — for this special engagement of Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland park next year!
I want to thank Erin Glover for sharing this news.

I am glad that the MSEP is returning to the Disneyland Resort. Just a note to the people on Facebook who thought the Paint the Night parade was heading to Walt Disney World, Not at this moment. It will still be at Disneyland for Special events and Holidays. 

DISNEYLAND RAILROAD RUMORED A RETURN OF NATURES WONDERLAND NEAR NEW STAR WARS LAND #80

We went to Disneyland this past Sunday 8/7/2016 and talked with some of the engineers, One had showed us how the track had looked before the renovation of the Rivers of America and new Star Wars Land area.

And showed us the new track layout as seen in the picture above.
He said the new layout with have a bit of a upward climb leading to a trestle where the railroad will cross over the river. I asked him if this will make it a shorter trip around the park. He said actually it will be a longer  and slower trip due to the turns and the climb. Did you know that the track has been changed a few times before? yes the original tracks back in 1955, ran right behind Casey Jr.s Railroad. and then was changed when they added The Haunted Mansion and It's a Small World. So I guess it is always changing as Walt Disney once said himself. "Disneyland will never be finished as long as there is Imagination still left in the world"

I asked the engineer if they would be building a tunnel under Star Wars Land, Like how they have it where you run through Splash Mountain. He said he wasn't sure, But had heard a rumor that they may have a tunnel that would run through the same area where Natures Wonderland once was. like the tunnel you could see when walking from Frontierland towards Fantasyland.

After that I got to sit in the cab of the #1  4-4-0 engine " C.K. Holliday and chatted with Engineer Cara, She was well informed about the steam engines that run on the tracks. she showed me all the gauges and switches that run the engine, She told me that the C.K. Holliday had just come back from being re-furbished 2 days after they closed the ride. so the engine has not been run and wont be until next summer 2017.

I have ridden in the coal car seat before and noticed the gauges were missing, they were set up to look like a Hidden Mickey. They now have a Tachometer in front of the older gauges. I have always wanted to pull the bell cord, But she said rules and regulations do not allow guests to do that, as there might be someone on the tracks that they cannot see. therefore they don't want to scare them, if the train might be running. she said there is a Train at each station, Main Street (where I was) New Orleans Square, and Tomorrowland. Not at Mickey's Toontown as that is too close to the construction area. I then got to get some up-close pictures of the engine.
I want to Thank my wife for getting me a birthday present of "The Lillybelle" Tickets.

We also had gone to Club 33 that day for our wedding Anniversary, later that day we ran into "George" and his friends who had been earlier that day at Walt Disney's Barn. I started talking to him and we traded. He gave me his sticker, and I gave him a napkin from Club 33. Thanks George

I want to thank all the Engineers who helped us on Sunday.
I would also like to dedicate this blog to one of the most beloved and friendliest Cast Members, who was a Train Conductor and a Motorcar and Omnibus driver on Main Street. He passed away a few months back, as Cancer cut his journey short. You will be missed. Vern P. Smith

remember to view larger pictures, just click on them.