| Happy 78th Birthday Donald Duck! |
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DisneyDan
Saturday, June 9, 2012 1:58:48 AM |
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Today is the 78th Birthday of the adorable, if flustered, Donald Duck!
Starring in more roles than his best pal Mickey, Donald Duck is hot tempered but ever lovable. His very human, and often hilarious, frustration with the more irritating side of life has provided entertainment to his fans since his debut in the Silly Symphonies in 1934. Donald Duck’s ever suffering love interest is Daisy Duck, who along with her short temper, make the perfect match.
A very keen traveller, Donald is also friends with Jose and Panchito whom he met on his exploits to South America.
While something very small can make him flip, Donald's down to earth approach to life means he is adored by generations of fans world over.
Happy 78th Birthday Donald Duck! |
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| Happy 10th Birthday Kim and Ron! | |
DisneyDan
Thursday, June 7, 2012 1:12:54 PM |
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Today is the 10th anniversary of the Disney Channel premier of Disney's Kim Possible!
Kim and Ron (along with Rufus) saved the world from evil for 5 years before - much to many peoples sadness - leaving our screens in 2007.
Happy Birthday Kim and Ron!
Dan. |
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Hi all,
We have been busy as always here at Character Central, but here's this weeks roundup of all the latest character news.
There has been lots of PIXAR news this week.
We start with the news that the West Coast Cruises this Fall will feature a lot of favourite PIXAR Pals. There will be special meet and greets and events on board.
The picture posted by the Parks Blog shows fairly standard characters, and I doubt very much any real neat ones will show up.
What do you all think of this? Have you already booked a DCL Cruise for these dates? Would you have liked to have known it was going to be PIXAR centric?
Staying with PIXAR, some new PIXAR stamps were launched in the US this week, and the PIXAR pals were at the brand new Art of Animation Resort in WDW for a special launch event.
That leads me to talk about the new Art of Animation Resort... It opened this week with a character filled ceremony and a speech by the fan love her/hate her head of Parks and Resorts, Meg Crofton. Characters in attendance included Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, Timon, Ariel, Eric, and Chip 'n' Dale - and the Fab 5 friends were the talking head versions! Also there were puppeteers commanding Sebastian and Flounder alongside Ariel and Eric.
Continuing the PIXAR theme, and Downtown Disney in WDW has been hosting the Car Masters Weekend, and of course Disney took the opportunity to have some very famous stars there... Mater, McQueen and Finn McMissile! Although Mater and McQueen already meet in the Parks, Finn is a cool addition for those visiting this weekend.
Over in California, the PXAR Play Parade made it's return in "soft opening" mode, and will return officially on June 15th - DCA's official re-launch date.
The only float we can see that is missing currently is the Remy and Emile one, and that's probably due to the rats bouncing wires being too tall for the new overhead lines along Buena Vista Street.
Staying with DCA, and the Disney Parks Blog announced a few new cool things there. I thought I had mentioned these previously, but obviously completely forgot! So these are a bit late, I apologise lol.
When the new Buena Vista Street opens, some of the Fab 5 friends will get some fantastic new outfits to meet fans in the new land. We just LOVE Chip and Dale's outfits!
Also, as expected, but now confirmed, Mater and McQueen will be meeting Guests in Cars Land daily.
On top of all that, and I think maybe inspired by DLP's daily fountain shows that utilise the new Dreams technology, Goofy will be making appearances in his tux throughout the day at Paradise Bay, conducting the World Of Color fountains to music!
Finally for DCA (!), the Parks Blog also said that a character dance party will take place daily though the summer in Hollywood Land, and "you never know who might show up!"... We'll see whether that ends up being regular pals, or some more random ones (we of course hope the latter!).
We look forward to seeing all these new things this year!
Two last things, which aren't PIXAR related!
Rapunzel and Flynn have apparently been added to the day Parade in the Magic Kingdom, on the finale Castle float, which makes for a nice addition. As we all know, they are immensely popular, and so adding them makes sense - especially in the MK's ailing parade.
Finally, it has been announced (and confirmed by various sources) that place-making will begin at the Walt Disney Studios in Paris, alongside the new Ratatouille ride (scheduled to open 2014), and will continue through 2018!
I know this isn't character related, but it is a much welcomed announcement, and we can only hope that it will be along similar lines to the new DCA, and in turn will mean new character shows, greetings and entertainment!
Ok, that's all for now! Let us know your thoughts by hitting the Discuss button below and commenting on the forum!
Dan. |
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| Philippe and Mickey | |
DisneyDan
Sunday, June 3, 2012 3:33:36 AM |
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I thought I would share this picture I uploaded today from our April trip to DLP for their 20th Anniversary launch.
It shows Mickey and Philippe Gas on Main Street USA, casually enjoying a moment, right before the Cast Member Flash Mob and all massive celebrations begin.
I thought it was cute :)
Dan. |
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| Happy 1st Anniversary Soundsational! | |
DisneyDan
Sunday, May 27, 2012 2:31:18 AM |
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Hi all,
Today marks the 1st anniversary of the day that a brand new - and long anticipated - parade hit the streets of Disneyland Park at the Disneyland Resort in California.
Soundsational was a much welcomed, brand new parade, following 2 years of the anti-parade, Celebrate! A Street Party, which had run for 2 years since the departure of the much loved Parade of Dreams.
So, let's celebrate now with some of our favourite shots from our trips to Disneyland last year.
Happy 1st Anniversary Soundsational!
Dan. |
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Hi all,
Sorry it has been a while again, but we have been ever busy, and to be honest, there hasn't been too much character news out there!
But, nonetheless I thought I'd just mention a few things that have happened in recent days.
At Disneyland Paris, the new Meet Mickey opened in Fantasyland at the former Fantasy Festival Stage location. We don't have any of our own pictures to share right now, but from what I have seen of the inside, it is really neat! I think that they did a much better job of it than Town Square Theatre in the Magic Kingdom, that's for sure!
Disneyland Paris also released the new Winter brochure for this year, and it provides some small (very small) details about what to expect this Halloween and Christmas seasons.
Characters in themed outfits seem to be returning to both celebrations, and at Halloween the Villains too.
As we already knew, but now confirmed, the MNSSHPs are not returning (sadly), but the Soiree will.
At Christmas, Mickey's Winter Wonderland will return, and the description uses a plural - shows - so we expect that the Tree Lighting will return, and a new, reworked Castle Lighting (seeing that Central Plaza Stage has now gone).
Find a out a few more details, including dates, on our forum here (Christmas) and here (Halloween).
Over in Walt Disney World, Star Wars weekend began last week, and have, as always, been featuring all the best loved characters from the movies. I haven't heard of anything exceptional this year, or anyone new, but if I do I'll of course post it here.
Staying with the US Parks, both WDW and Disneyland launched Princess Merida from PIXAR's Brave last week. Merida now meets at the Fairytale Garden in the Magic Kingdom, and near "it's a small world" in Disneyland.
Finally, last week I had posted a Happy Birthday Goofy post... I had done this because, according to numerous sources - including the Disney Parks Blog itself! - that it was indeed Goofy's Birthday. Now, according to Disney, it is Goofy's Birthday today!
I have double checked against various different sources, and most places seem to agree it is today, but some places still record it as the 12th of May!
Well, anyway, what ever the actual date (and my suspicion it is indeed today), we'll wish Goofy Happy Birthday again! Check out last week's post for a photo filled tribute to our favourite goof in action at the Parks and Resorts!
Ok, that's all for now,
Dan. |
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| Happy Birthday Carl, Russel and Dug! | |
DisneyDan
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 12:05:20 PM |
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Today is the 3rd anniversary of the world premiere of Disney/PIXAR's feature, UP!
So, in true Character Central style, let's celebrate with a photo filled tribute of the characters - Carl, Russell and Dug - at the parks!
Happy Birthday Carl, Russell and Dug!
Dan. |
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| Happy Belated Birthday Fantasmic! | |
DisneyDan
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 12:00:17 PM |
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Hi all,
I have been a little behind this week, but May 15th was the 20th Anniversary of Fantasmic! at the Disneyland Resort.
A special event was held for selected AP holders. They had an exclusive showing, which featured some really neat characters on the Mark Twain t the finale - including Roger Rabbit! yes, Roger Rabbit!!
The characters then went to the Train Station on Main Street to wave goodnight to fans as they exited.
So, here's our photo filled tribute to the awesome character filled show that is Fantasmic!
Happy 20th birthday Fantasmic!
Dan. |
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| Happy Belated Birthday Goofy! | |
DisneyDan
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 11:41:21 AM |
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Hi all! I have been very busy this last week, and so have missed some key dates, including Goofy's Birthday!
Goofy first made his starring debut in the Mickey Mouse short, Mickey's Revue on the 12th May 1932.
So here is a belated photo tribute to that loveable but clumsy dog!
Happy Belated birthday Goofy!
Dan. |
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| Happy Birthday J. M. Barrie! | |
DisneyDan
Wednesday, May 9, 2012 11:26:39 AM |
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Hi all,
Today would have been James Barrie's 152nd Birthday. JM Barrie is best known for creating Never Never Land, and it's most famous inhabitant, the Boy Who Never Grew Up, Peter Pan!
It was nearly a hundred years after Barrie's birth that it was made into a motion picture by Walt Disney, but it was worth the wait.
Walt Disney's masterpiece, Peter Pan, is one of Disney's most treasured films and has given the world of Disney much to play with over the years, from attractions, shows, characters and more.
Of course, this is a character website, so let's take a look at some of the characters that have featured in the Parks, inspired by the original plays written over a hundred years ago by J. M. Barrie.
Happy 152nd Birthday James Barrie!
Dan. |
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