Disney’s first Winnie the Pooh animated short, “Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree”, was released on February 4, 1966. To celebrate the short film’s 55th anniversary, shopDisney has a new round of Winnie the Pooh merchandise, including plushes, toys, apparel, and more!
We have been waiting for a while on Sister Act 3 and now we know it is in development which makes us super joyful. Whoopi Goldberg will be coming back as will Kathy Najimy who recently talked about the film to Sirus XM.
“For a long time, they kept saying no one wanted to see [Sister Act 3]. And then quite recently, it turns out, that that may not be true. People may want to see it. So we’re working diligently to try to figure out how to get the gang together and come back… It’s a really fun movie and it feels good. And you know, nobody’s mad. It’s just, listen-bad singing, great singing, okay singing and then nuns. What’s better than that?”
Thomas Kinkade is known for his stunning art work that features iconic scenes from beloved Disney films. Now, Kinkade has added The Mandalorian to his collection and they are breathtaking.
Currently on Kinkade’s website there are four different pieces featuring The Mandalorian. These four pieces are called, “The Mandalorian- Child’s Play”, “The Mandalorian- The Escort”, “The Mandalorian-The Mudhorn” and “The Mandalorian-Turning Point”. Each of the four pieces represents a unique moment from the Disney+ series.
A sure-to-be fan favorite is “The Mandalorian- Child’s Play”. It is described at “After helping save the Sorgan™ village from raiders with an AT-ST Raider™, the Mandalorian™ takes a moment to consider the possibility of a peaceful life with them as the Child plays by a pond. Whereas the appeal of this sanctuary is tempting, deep inside Mando knows that if he and his charge are ever to be safe, they must find a way to outrun, or outsmart, the pursuers who are tracking them.”
See all the paintings and descriptions by Kinkade on the website today.
Big news as Walt Disney World is about to get a neighbor that just announced their vision for a 1,100 acre project currently underway! The new Evermore Orlando Resort brings a new approach to the traditional vacation home rental experience and debuts the latest addition to contemporary luxury hotel brand.
As shared via EvermoreResort: Dart Interests, a leading developer and owner of groundbreaking, large-scale real estate projects announced on January 11 the launch of their latest project, Evermore Orlando Resort, a comprehensive redevelopment of the former #1 Tripadvisor rated Villas at Grand Cypress. The 1,100-acre resort complex bordering Walt Disney World brings a new approach to the traditional vacation home rental experience and debuts the latest addition to the Conrad Hotels & Resorts portfolio, Hilton’s contemporary luxury hotel brand.
“With the launch of the Evermore project, Dart is introducing an entirely new hospitality category that will change the landscape of vacation rental homes,” says Christopher Kelsey, President of Dart Interests. “We are creating the first-ever wholly-owned, large-scale community of purpose-built vacation rental homes and operating them with hotel-quality standards and world-class resort amenities. Our approach solves the #1 problem for vacation renters: uncertainty in the quality of the home. Almost all vacation rentals are owned by individuals, each with their own unique tastes and willingness to maintain the properties. Our centralized ownership model makes it possible for our guests to be certain that they are getting a first-class home with superior safety standards. Our scale also means that we can deliver a wider array of services to our guests making their visit easier and more enjoyable. Plus, our range in sizes – from 2 bedrooms to 11, makes us the perfect destination for any group, including large multi-generational or multi-family gatherings,” he adds.
Accommodations: At full buildout, the massive 10,000-bedroom resort represents an equity investment well in excess of a billion dollars and arguably creates a new institutional-grade asset class. Evermore’s first phase will open with nearly 1,500 bedrooms spread among an array of stay experiences, from single homes to villas, flats and hotel guestrooms. The plans include 69 houses ranging in size from five to eleven bedrooms. Beyond vacation homes, the resort complex will also offer 76 four-bedroom flats, 41 two and four-bedroom villas and a luxury Conrad hotel which will offer sophisticated design, best-in-class amenities and intuitive service to provide an exceptional travel experience in Orlando.
“We are incredibly excited to expand on our strong presence in the Orlando market and introduce the Conrad brand to a new city,” said Danny Hughes, Executive Vice President and President, Americas, Hilton. “Conrad Orlando at Evermore will undoubtedly be a sought-after destination for Orlando travelers and will provide guests with outstanding service and impactful experiences when they visit the city.”
Conrad Orlando at Evermore will debut with 433 rooms, including 51 impeccably designed suites and 10 spacious family suites offering oversized accommodations that deliver all the comforts of home. Other features include 40,000 sq. ft. of indoor meeting space, a tranquil spa and numerous dining options including a signature rooftop experience. The hotel will open with Hilton CleanStay, Hilton´s industry-defining standard of cleanliness and disinfection in properties around the world. The elevated processes and Team Member training have been developed with RB, maker of Lysol and Dettol, to help Conrad Orlando guests enjoy an even cleaner and safer stay from check-in to check-out.
“The signing of Conrad Orlando marks a significant milestone for the brand as we continue to grow our portfolio in iconic locations around the world to better meet the needs of our discerning travelers,” said Nils-Arne Schroeder, global head for Conrad Hotels & Resorts. “This hotel’s ideal location within Orlando and near Walt Disney World, along with Conrad’s prestigious reputation for delivering intuitive service, infinite connections and modern design will ensure guests leave feeling truly inspired by their stay with us.”
Amenities: At the heart of the resort, all guests will enjoy a massive 20-acre tropical beach complex and Evermore Bay, an 8-acre crystalline water amenity by Crystal Lagoons®. This proprietary design incorporates unique, environmentally sustainable technology that uses up to 100 times less chemicals and only 2% of the energy used by conventional swimming pool filtration systems, creating ideal conditions for guests of all ages to enjoy the water year-round.
The surrounding beach areas will feature zero-entry swim areas, bars, cabanas, private fire-pits and an aquatic adventure area with a waterslide, rope swing and watersports of all kinds. Other amenities will include a lively food hall & gourmet market, a casual resort restaurant featuring views overlooking both the golf course and bay and a two-story Boathouse that will serve weddings and private events. While the Scottish links style ‘New Course’ will remain open for play throughout construction, a new 18-hole Nicklaus Design course will open with the resort and pay homage to the legacy of golf excellence at Grand Cypress.
Meetings & Events: Orlando currently ranks as Cvent’s No. 1 meeting destination in the country and the resort complex will offer event professionals over 150,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor event space for groups seeking a change from the traditional conference room. The Boathouse and garden lawn nestled on the bay’s edge will provide a sophisticated Orlando wedding and event locale with a classic Chris-Craft boat for private use.
With Central Florida previously reaching 75 million annual visitors, the announcement of Evermore Orlando Resort comes at a time of measured reopening for the tourism industry in America’s most visited destination and the hospitality industry worldwide. “Our willingness to go forward with Evermore in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic is testimony to the resilience of the Orlando market, its talented workforce and our unique Disney-adjacent location,” said says local leader David Pace, President of Dart Interests Florida. “Our owners have been invested in this project long before COVID-19 and we’re embracing new group travel trends through a lens of innovation. Our commitment to Orange County and a strong belief in the power of tourism give us renewed energy to build a resort that will elevate the current hospitality landscape and position Evermore to become one of Orlando’s most desired vacation destinations.”
Bookings for Evermore Orlando Resort are slated to launch in 2022 with the grand opening for the first guests anticipated for summer 2023.
Rene Bardeau, Chief Photographer at Disney from 1975 to 1998, passed away on January 4th at 86 years old due to kidney failure complications related to COVID-19. He was best known as the photographer of some of Walt Disney’s most iconic Disneyland portraits.
Bardeau’s illustrious career began at Disneyland in 1959, covering the opening of the Tomorrowland expansion. He was promoted to Disneyland’s Chief Photographer in 1968, before becoming the Walt Disney Company’s Chief Photographer in 1975. He retired in 1998, and was honored as Disney Legend and with a Main Street Window at Disneyland the following year.
Perhaps Bardeau’s most iconic photo is this shot of Walt Disney walking the grounds of Disneyland in 1964, entitled Footsteps. The Disneyland Resort issued the following statement in the wake of his passing:
We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Renie Bardeau, who will long be remembered for some of the most iconic Disneyland photography ever published.
His most memorable work also stretches to this iconic portrait of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse aboard a Disneyland Fire Department car. As it happens, this was the final picture taken of Walt Disney at Disneyland before his 1966 passing.
Bardeau is survived by his daughter, son, stepson, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
