Inside The Mouse Castle 08-31-2015 - Disney Infinity 3.0, Star Wars and Disneyland Half Marathons, Force Friday

By Tim Callaway

Twilight of the Republic in Disney Infinity 3.0.

The Force is strong with us Inside The Mouse Castle this week. Just about every story Anthony and I bandy about has some connection to Star Wars. This wasn't by design. It's just how the news stream happens sometimes. We like it.

I start (I'd say "we," but Anthony wants none of it) with my first impressions of Disney Infinity 3.0 and the Star Wars play set that comes with it: Twilight of the Republic. With the help of my grandkids, we gave it a good run over the weekend. They loved it. I liked the look of TOTR--and certainly the Star Wars characters are welcome--but I couldn't help but feel this was just more of the same from Disney Infinity. Quest, destroy bad guys, rinse, repeat.

Here's what else we've got on today's show. It's more fun than shooting womp rats in Beggar's Canyon:

• How many box office records will Star Wars: The Force Awakens break after it opens on December 18th? We're pretty sure its opening weekend number are going to be through the roof. Industry analysts are predicting a $615 million opening--the biggest ever. It's certain to be bolstered by a huge presence on IMAX screens around the world.
• To make way for Star Wars Land at Disneyland, Big Thunder Ranch will close its gates on January 11, 2016. The ranch's petting zoo will close on January 10th.
• Disneyland has a Star Wars Half Marathon event in January. Next April, Walt Disney World will get one as well. Star Wars Half Marathon - The Dark Side will be held April 14-17, 2016. The event will include half-marathon, 10K and 5K races. Registration at runDisney.com starts September 22nd.

The Disneyland Half-Marathon.

• On Sunday, I'll be running my first half-marathon ever--at Disneyland, of course. The Disneyland Half-Marathon Weekend starts this Thursday. Will you be there? Look for me in my usual Mouse Castle garb. My feet hurt already.

• Ready for a global unboxing of Star Wars toys on YouTube? Yeah, we're not sure what to make of it either. But visit the Star Wars YouTube channel this Thursday for a preview of merchandise from Star Wars: The Force Awakens--much of which will start appearing in stores September 4th, dubbed "Force Friday." (Note: On ITMC, we got our dates confused. The worldwide online unboxing begins on September 3rd. The products will launch on September 4th. Click on the graphic above for the unboxing schedule).
• Hannibal's Mads Mikkelsen is reported to be in talks to join the cast of Marvel's Doctor Strange. With Benedict Cumberbatch, Tilda Swinton and Chiwetel Ejiofor already on board, this is going to be one star-studded MCU installment.
• And finally, whose side are you on?

Enjoy!

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Inside The Mouse Castle 07-20-2015 - Disneyland's Diamond Celebration, Shanghai Disney Resort and New Disney Legends

By Tim Callaway

I'm back from a fun-filled weekend in Anaheim where I not only wished Disneyland Happy Birthday on Friday, but I also attended a benefit for the Walt Disney Birthplace where the guest of honor was none other than Bert the Chimney Sweep himself, Dick Van Dyke. Dick performed with his a capella group, the Vantastix. Here's a little taste of what they did:

Disneyland was unsurprisingly crowded for Friday's official Diamond Celebration, but it was totally worth it to get my "I was there" button and join thousands of guests to sing "Feed the Birds" and "Happy Birthday" with Richard Sherman and Ashley Brown. Michael Colglazier, hosted the rededication ceremony in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. And while the Disneyland president hit all the proper notes as far as thanking guests, cast members and assorted Disney Legends, his delivery left a bit to be desired. Let's just say he's not personality plus delivering an overly-rehearsed, pre-written speech. He needed to inject a lot more excitement and spontaneity into the festivities. Thank goodness for Sherman, Brown and the welcome cast of costumed Disney characters.

Anthony and I polished our presentation skills for this week's episode of Inside The Mouse Castle. Here's what else is going on:

• Bob Iger revealed some of what guests can expect when Shanghai Disney Resort opens in China next year.

• Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland will be held on 17 different nights between September 11th and November 1st this year. Tickets to the late-night event will go on sale for annual passholders, DVC members and Disney Visa cardholders beginning July 22nd. The rest of the world can have at them on July 29th.
• Marvel's Ant-Man opened at number one at the box office over the weekend, taking in $58 million in the U.S. Neither Anthony nor I have seen it yet. We offer our deepest apologies. What did you think of it?
• Tilda Swinton has been cast as "The Ancient One" in Marvel's upcoming Doctor Strange. Apparently the white, middle-aged woman will play an elderly, Asian man.
• Annnnnd......Aladdin is the latest winner in the Disney animation-to-live-action-movie lottery. A prequel is in the works on how the genie ended up in his bottle and got that horrible crick in his neck. 

The 2015 Disney Legends.

• We approve of the newly-named Disney Legends who will be honored at this year's D23 Expo: Andreas Deja, Susan Lucci, Danny Elfman, Julie Reihm Casaletto, George Bodenheimer, Eyvind Earle, Carson Van Osten and George Lucas. They will all be officially inducted on August 14th at the D23 Expo.
• Disney and Lucasfilm are not amused that GQ appropriated (without permission) a handful of Star Wars characters to join comedian Amy Schumer in a racy photo spread. We're not sure what annoyed them more, Schumer in bed with R2D2 and C3PO or Schumer drinking with the droids and Chewbacca at a biker bar. Regardless, we think all the pics are pretty freakin' funny.

Enjoy!

BTW, this show marks the one-year anniversary of Inside The Mouse Castle. Hooray!

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Inside The Mouse Castle 12-08-2014 - 'Guardians' on Blu-ray, 'Frozen Fun' at Disneyland and 2015 'Star Wars' Weekends at Walt Disney World

Guardians of the Galaxy on Blu-ray

Crank up your Awesome Mix Vol. 1 because Guardians of the Galaxy is out on Blu-ray this week. And while Anthony didn't hesitate to snag the digital download when it came out last month, I've been holding out for the Blu-ray because, well, Blu-ray.

I've got a thing for shrink-wrap packaging. What can I say?

The number one movie at the box office this year comes with a decent assortment of bonus features, including deleted scenes, making of featurettes, a gag reel and audio commentary by director James Gunn. It also offers up a sneak peek behind the scenes at Marvel's upcoming Avengers: Age of Ultron. Anthony and I talk it all up plus a lot more in this week's edition of Inside The Mouse Castle. It's a dance off, bro!

• In casting news, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson  will voice Maui, the South Seas demigod who helps a young navigator in Disney's Moana, set for release in November 2016. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Benedict Cumberbatch will play the title role in Doctor Strange, hitting theaters the same month. We like both choices, but wonder why--as good as we think Cumberbatch is going to be--Marvel ever considered Joaquin Phoenix for the part.

Anna and Elsa are set for some Frozen Fun at Disneyland.

• The Frozen frenzy continues with a fresh slate of shows and activities debuting at Disneyland through January. Most of it is overkill and none of it is surprising, but it will certainly please many of a fan of Anna and Elsa. We are disappointed, though, that "Freeze the Night! A Family Dance Party" will replace Mad T Party at Disney California Adventure. <sigh> I still miss ElecTRONica.

• Frozen Fever, a new short film from Frozen directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee will open Disney's live-action Cinderella in theaters beginning March 13th. The story will be about Elsa and Kristoff's plans to give Anna the best birthday celebration ever. Frozen Fever will include an all-new original song by Frozen songwriters Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez.
• The 2015 dates for Walt Disney World's annual Star Wars Weekends have been announced. Get your Jedi on with special events and guest appearances every weekend from May 15 - June 14.
• We love all our friends, fans and followers in The Mouse Castle, but we get a real kick when one of our followers turns out to be a celebrity. Actress Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Clarissa Explains it All) started following The Mouse Castle (@disneytim) on Twitter this week. I only obsess about it a little bit on today's show. BTW, you can follow Melissa @MelissaJoanHart. 

Enjoy!

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Inside The Mouse Castle 07-29-2014 - Comic-Con, 'The Avengers: Age of Ultron,' 'Once Upon a Time' and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster

Comic-Con has come and gone and Tim and Anthony have all the news from San Diego, plus plenty of other cool stuff from the world of Disney:

• Marvel didn't offer any new hints on their unnamed movie release dates that span through 2019, but they did provide a heaping helping of Avengers fun. Most of the gang was there, including producer Kevin Feige, Robert Downey Jr., Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Colby Smulders, Samuel L. Jackson, and Chris Evans. Newcomers to the Marvel Cinematic Universe were also part of the Hall H panel: Aaron Taylor Johnson (Quicksilver), Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch) and James Spader (Ultron).
• The new Frozen story line in the upcoming season of ABC's Once Upon a Time continues to have fans buzzing. This week, it was announced Tyler Jacob Moore will join the cast as Hans, the good/bad prince from the Southern Isles. John Rhys-Davies will also provide the voice of Pabbie the Troll King because trolls are a thing in Norway (see also: Maelstrom, World Showcase). To our knowledge, there will be no boats floating backwards in Once Upon a Time.
• In a touch of strange casting, Joaquin Phoenix is said to be in negotiations with Marvel to play the title character in Doctor Strange. The film is slated for release in July 2016.
• We still think a movie reboot of The Jungle Book is questionable at best, but that still doesn't mean we aren't intrigued by the casting. Oscar-winner Christopher Walken will voice King Louie and Giancarlo Esposito will voice alpha wolf Akela. The head-scratcher remains Scarlett Johansson providing the voice of Kaa. No, really.
• Happy Birthday to the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. The excellent indoor coaster is holding up well after 15 years. So is Steven Tyler, who hasn't aged a day in the attraction since it opened at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Backstage passes for everyone!
• Disney twenty-three, D23's quarterly magazine, will release it's 23rd issue next month. The issue will have an international feel with stories about the new Ratatouille attraction at Disneyland Paris, the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit touring Japan, and the Asian influences that will bring San Fransokyo to life in the upcoming Big Hero 6. What we like best about the issue, though, is the terrific vintage cover featuring Walt Disney, Roy Disney and Margie Gay, one of the star of Disney's early Alice Comedies.

Enjoy!

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