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Tag Archives: 2010s

December 4

December 4, 2015 – The Star Wars Launch Bay Opens in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

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“Clear your mind and choose wisely, as one path may lead to Darth Vader while the other leads to Chewbacca.”

On December 4, 2015, new Star Wars-themed offerings were unveiled at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, including the Star Wars Launch Bay. The Launch Bay is the main area where guests can see different exhibits of Star Wars props and replicas of iconic ships. Guests are also given the opportunity to pick either to follow the Dark Side or the Rebels, with the chance to meet Darth Vader or Chewbacca. There is also a large merchandise section where guests can buy authentic costumes, artwork, and models.

December 3

December 3, 2010 – Disney Announces Ben Sherwood as New President of ABC News

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“It’s a great honor and privilege to be asked to lead this amazing news organization and I am humbled by the opportunity.”

On December 3, 2010, the Disney/ABC Television Group released an announcement that journalist and author Ben Sherwood would take over as the president of ABC News. Sherwood, a former executive producer of Good Morning America and best-selling author of The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud, began working with ABC News in 1989 as an investigative associate producer and producer for PrimeTime Live, leaving in 1997 to join NBC’s Nightly News with Tom Brokaw as a broadcast producer. He returned to ABC in 2004 to serve as the executive producer of Good Morning America, leading the programs to two of its most successful seasons in the show’s history.

December 2

December 2, 2013 – WestJet and Disney’s Magic Plane is Unveiled

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“Keep an eye to the sky for Sorcerer Mickey…”

On December 2, 2013, airline WestJet unveiled their newest aircraft known as the Magic Plane, featuring Sorcerer Mickey on the tail. The plane is a custom-painted Boeing Next-Generation 737-800, and was painted and unveiled in Calgary, Canada. The entire plane, inside and out, is designed to tell a story and bring guests Disney magic. The plane started flying the next day on December 3, with the inaugural flight from Calgary to Orlando, Florida.

November 26

November 26, 2014 – Disney Announces Deal with Turner Classic Movies

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“Disney films and other programming have been seen a little bit on TCM, but not much. It will be exciting to dig into the vault and see classic Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, [and] ‘The Wonderful World of Disney.’”

On November 26, 2014, the Walt Disney Company formally announced an agreement with Turner Classic Movies (TCM), creating a deal that would benefit both media companies. TCM would help update and sponsor the Hollywood Studios attraction The Great Movie Ride, while Disney would present vintage shows and movies from the Disney Vault in a special programming block on the classic cable channel called “Treasures from the Disney Vault.” Disney and TCM have worked together in several situations prior to the deal, including a TCM Classic Cruise on the Disney Magic cruise ship, as well as a joint hosting of the screening of Mary Poppins at the El Capitan Theatre; however, this was TCM’s first foray into experiential marketing, particularly with their inclusion in The Great Movie Ride attraction.

November 17

November 17, 2011 – Toy Story Land Opens in Hong Kong Disneyland

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“And you can experience the feeling of being shrunk to the size of a toy in Andy’s backyard to play with your favorite Toy Story friends.”

On November 17, 2011, the Toy Story themed area Toy Story Land opened in Hong Kong Disneyland. It was the first of three themed areas of the park, with Grizzly Gulch opening in 2012, and Mystic Point opening in 2013. Based on the hit series from Pixar, the area gives guests the feeling of being one of Andy’s toys. There, guests can meet characters Woody and Jessie, join the Toy Soldiers in a “boot camp,” or ride RC on a fast-paced roller coaster ride.

November 7

November 7, 2014 – The Animated Short Film Feast is Released to Theaters

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“Adopt a new best friend at your nearest animal shelter (and feed them responsibly!)”

On November 7, 2014, the Disney short film Feast premiered in theaters, alongside the animated feature film Big Hero 6. The short originally premiered at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival on June 10, 2014. It was directed by Patrick Osborne.

The short begins with a puppy trying to find food on the street, when a man offers him a French fry. The puppy, now named Winston, is brought home to by the guy, who feeds Winston well, complete with human food. Winston is living the good life, when his owner meets a waitress. Suddenly, Winston’s supply of human food runs dry, as the waitress eats health, and gets Winston’s owner to do so as well. The relationship between the couple goes sour, and Winston is once again given his favorite foods while his owner falls into a depression. Seeing his owner in pain, Winston runs out of the house to the restaurant, on a mission to reunite the couple. The pair make up, and eventually get married, with Winston at the wedding. It is once again a happy home, with Winston back to eating dog food, but content that his master is happy. However, when the couple has a baby, Winston can once again eat his favorite human foods, thanks to his new pal.

October 27

October 27, 2015 – The Live-Action Series Wicked City Premieres on ABC

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“Feels like the very first time…”

On October 27, 2015, the live-action procedural series Wicked City premiered on ABC. Set in Los Angeles in 1982, the series follows two detectives on the trail of a pair of serial killers running loose on the Sunset Strip. However, due to poor reviews from critics and little interest from viewers, only three episodes aired before the series was pulled and cancelled, with the five remaining episodes made available on Hulu later that year. The series was created by Steven Baigelman, and starred Jeremy Sisto as Jack Roth, Taissa Farmiga as Karen McClaren, Gabriel Luna as Paco Contreras, Jaime Ray Newman as Allison Roth, Evan Ross as Diver Hawkes, Ed Westwick as Kent Grainger, Anne Winters as Vicki Roth, Karolina Wydra as Dianne Kubek, and Erika Christensen as Betty Beaumontaine.

October 25

October 25, 2011 – Tribute Album In the Key of Disney by Brian Wilson is Released

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“The Beach Boys sound and the Disney people make a fantastic collaboration. I tried to do justice to all their songs.”

On October 25, 2011, the tenth studio album by recording artist Brian Wilson, titled In the Key of Disney, was released through Walt Disney Records. The second album for Disney, Wilson took his distinctive Beach Boys style and applied it to a variety of Disney staples, ranging from “The Bare Necessities” from The Jungle Book to “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story. Disney had approached Wilson with an idea for a Disney tribute album in 2009, but Wilson wished to create a Gershwin tribute album first, which he released in 2010.

October 21

October 21, 2011 – Google Honors Mary Blair on 100th Birthday

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“Her work was and continues to be a major source of inspiration for a large number of artists working in animation, illustration, and fine art…and the Google Doodle team.” – Artist Mike Dutton

On October 21, 2011, search engine Google celebrated the work and life of artist and Disney Legend Mary Blair on what would have been her 100th birthday. Blair, known for her colorful, whimsical illustrations, artist Mike Dutton chose to honor her in her own style rather than painting her more representationally. Blair’s reach extended outside of her Disney projects, though she is arguably most known for her stylized look of the popular attraction it’s a small world.

September 15

September 15, 2012 – The Little Mermaid Wing of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Opens

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“Be surrounded in the artistry, enchantment, and magic of Walt Disney and Disney-Pixar movies.”

On September 15, 2012, the fourth and final wing of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort in Walt Disney World opened. The wing, themed after the animated feature film The Little Mermaid, joins areas themed as The Lion King, Cars, and Finding Nemo. The Little Mermaid wing features 864 rooms designed in the animation style of the “Under the Sea” sequence from the film, and also has a giant pool known as the Flippin’ Fins pool.