Disney to Use Theme Parks and Disney+ Tracking Data to “Customize” Guest Experience

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Disney+, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

When you take a Walt Disney World vacation, you know that it will be pretty easy for Disney to know what you are up to. They know where you are staying, what Parks you are visiting on what days, and even what attractions you are riding — between Disney Genie+, PhotoPass, and the Disney MagicBand. Disney also keeps track of your watching habits when you use its streaming platform, Disney+.

However, what if you were told that Disney plans on actively tracking you, then combining the data that they have from you — from your time in the Parks and your Disney streaming habits — to customize both your Disney vacation and Disney+?

Well, according to a recently leaked investor call, that is exactly what Disney is planning on doing. Disney CEO Bob Chapek was on a call with Disney shareholders and said:

If we can have a universal Guest experience, recognize that a person who spent seven days in the Park, 24 hours a day, and we know all that information about them, is the exact same person who watches XYZ on Disney+. We can identify that person as the same one and they give us the ability to use the data that way, we can now customize and personalize an experience way beyond anything we’ve ever been able to do before, bringing now the two pieces of the Walt Disney Company into one for one common Guest experience that will give us a competitive advantage. Because who else has got the physical, deep physical data that you get on somebody if they spend 7 days and they essentially live with you for a week? And then how does that affect what they see on Disney+? 

So, Disney+ will be conscious of what you do in a Park and will then feed you information, not on people that look like you in terms of viewing habits, people that watch this watch that, therefore, we’ll feed you this — we’ll do it specifically on what you did during your seven days and visca versa. What you watch on Disney+ will have an impact on your Guest experience at the Parks. 

And I think that’s going to put us in a tremendous position of competitive advantage. 

You can listen to the actual audio clip below, which was shared on Twitter by theme park insider, Scott Gustin:

Even though Disney is capable of tracking your movements in the theme parks and your watching habits on Disney+, the company has not said how they will combine the two to customize the Guest experience.

Tim Allen Questions ‘Santa Clause’

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+

Via DisDining.com

It’s been over 15 years since we last saw Santa Claus and his family at the North Pole in the popular Disney Christmas franchise, The Santa Clause. If you’ve forgotten what the story is about, no worries, we’ve got you. The Santa Clause — which premiered in 1994 — told the story of Scott Calvin, a self-centered toy executive who accidentally scares Santa off of his roof and has to take over as the legendary Father Christmas.

Eight years later, The Santa Clause 2 came out, and Scott — who has since embraced his Santa job — must get married in order to remain Santa. Enter Carol — a no-nonsense high school principal — who falls for Scott’s charm and becomes Mrs. Claus. Four years after that, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, showed Scott having to fight to become Santa Claus once again when the job is stolen by the willful and malicious (or is it skillful and delicious?) Jack Frost.

The Santa Clause Christmas movies are some of the most popular holiday movies Disney has ever done. That led to the early 2022 announcement that Disney would be releasing a new series on Disney+, following up with our favorite Christmas family in a new series called The Santa Clauses.

During the D23 Expo, the cast of The Santa Clauses sat down and spoke about the new series. During the panel, Tim Allen — who is the star of the series and plays Scott Calvin — asked a critical question that you may not have thought of before.

Why weren’t the elves concerned when Scott Calvin showed up as Santa Claus?

The Santa Clause

I’ll admit, I had never actually thought about it until Allen brought it up. It’s a great question. Tim Allen’s Santa Claus is very close to the elves, and in the trailer, you can see that they all get very upset when he announces that he is retiring. If the other Santa was as close to the elves, wouldn’t they be upset when he didn’t return? Even if he wasn’t super close to them, wouldn’t they have at least asked what happened?

The other Santa basically had to die for Scott to get the job, so you would think that maybe they would want to know how it happened.

The Santa Clause

According to Allen, the series will answer this question. Along with why Mrs. Claus doesn’t have a first name. Yes, her name in the world outside the North Pole is Carol, but Mrs. Claus doesn’t actually have a first name.

If you haven’t seen it yet, you can watch the trailer for The Santa Clauses below.

The Santa Clauses will premiere on Disney+ on November 16. The series will star Tim Allen as Scot Calvin/Santa Claus, Elizabeth Mitchell as Carol Calvin/Mrs. Claus, Kal Penn as Simon Choski, Austin Kane as Cal, Elizabeth Allen Dick as Sandra, Matilda Lawler as Betty, and Devin Bright as Noel. David Krumholtz will also return to the series in his role as Bernard.

Trailer AND a Premiere Date For ‘The Santa Clauses’!

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+

It may just be September, but it is never too early to start getting excited about the holiday season. It’s always fun to think about the gifts you’ll buy, the delicious food you’ll indulge in, and the Christmas shows and movies that will make your days merrier.

This holiday season, Disney is bringing back the nostalgia and releasing a brand-new series based on the first family of Christmas — The Santa Clauses. The Santa Clauses follows Scott Calvin — AKA Santa Claus — as he goes on the search for the perfect person to replace him as Father Christmas.

Last weekend, at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, Disney shared more information on the new series, including a premiere date! The Santa Clauses will premiere on Disney+ on November 16.

If that wasn’t exciting enough, Disney also released the first official trailer for the series, which you can watch below.

Here is more information on the fun and festive new series coming to Disney+:

Scott Calvin is back! After being Santa Claus for nearly thirty years, he’s as jolly as ever. But as Christmas declines in popularity, so does his Santa magic. Scott struggles to keep up with the demands of the job, as well as being there for his family. Upon discovering there is a way to retire from his post, Scott considers stepping down as Santa Claus and finding a worthy successor so that he can become a better father and husband.

The Santa Clauses will also star Elizabeth Mitchell — reprising her role as Mrs. Claus — Kal Penn will play game designer Simon Choski, Austin Kane will appear as Cal, Elizabeth Allen Dick will play Sandra, Devin Bright will play Santa’s elf helper Noel, and Matilda Lawler will play Santa’s right-hand elf, Betty.

The film will also introduce a Christmas witch, played by Laura San Giacomo, and, much to the delight of fans, David Krumholtz will return to reprise his role as Bernard — the head elf in the first two films.

Again, The Santa Clauses will premiere on Disney+ on November 16.

First Look at New Live-Action ‘Peter Pan and Wendy’

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+

It can be difficult to recall just how many Peter Pan movies there have been over the years, as most fans tend to remember the original 1953 animated classic, which is based off the popular 1911 children’s book by author JM Barrie (which is adapted from his 1904 playwright).

Check out the tweet shared by the official Walt Disney Studios Twitter account below, which reveals the official poster for the film:

A trailer was also revealed at the event, however it has not yet been released to the public.

As per Wikipedia, here’s the official synopsis for the book “Peter Pan” (known also as “Peter & Wendy”):

A free-spirited and mischievous young boy who can fly and never grows up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood having adventures on the mythical island of Neverland as the leader of the Lost Boys, interacting with fairies, pirates, mermaids, Native Americans, and occasionally ordinary children from the world outside Neverland.

Peter Pan & Wendy is one of several major announcements from this year’s D23, along with the likes of the live-action reboot of The Little Mermaid (2023), The Lion King (2019) prequel Mufasa: The Lion King (2024), and many more.

There have been numerous big screen adaptations of Peter Pan over the decades, however, more popular live-action movies have included the likes of Hook (1991), Peter Pan (2003), and Pan (2015).

Peter Pan & Wendy stars Alexander Molony (Peter Pan), Ever Anderson (Wendy Darling), Jim Gaffigan (Mr. Smee), Yara Shahidi (Tinker Bell), Alyssa Wapanatâhk (Tiger Lily), Joshua Pickering (John Darling), Jacobi Jupe (Michael Darling), Alan Tudyk (George Darling), Molly Parker (Mary Darling), and Jude Law (Captain Hook),

The film will stream on Disney+ some time in 2023.

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

Sanderson Sisters Return in New Trailer for Hocus Pocus 2

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+

This Halloween Season, some legends never die. Hocus Pocus 2, an Original movie event, streaming September 30 on Disney Plus. Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy reunite for the highly anticipated Disney+ Original Movie “Hocus Pocus 2.” The live-action, long awaited sequel to the perennial Halloween classic, which brings back the delightfully wicked Sanderson sisters for more comedic mayhem, will debut on Disney+ on September 30.

It’s been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th-century sisters, and they are looking for revenge. Now it is up to three high-school students to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before dawn on All Hallow’s Eve.

“Hocus Pocus 2” also stars Doug Jones (“The Shape of Water”), Whitney Peak (“Gossip Girl”), Lilia Buckingham (“Dirt”), Belisa Escobedo (“American Horror Stories”), Hannah Waddingham (“Ted Lasso”), Tony Hale (“Veep”), Sam Richardson (“The Tomorrow War,” “Good Boys”), Juju Brener (“Vanquish”), Froy Gutierrez (“Teen Wolf”), Taylor Paige Henderson and Nina Kitchen. The film is directed by Anne Fletcher (“Dumplin,’” “The Proposal”), written by Jen D’Angelo (“Happy Together,” “Workaholics”) and produced by Lynn Harris (“King Richard,” “The Shallows”), with Adam Shankman (“Disenchanted,” “Hairspray”), Ralph Winter (“Hocus Pocus,” “X-Men” franchise) and David Kirschner (“Hocus Pocus,” “Chucky”) serving as executive producers.