Adventures by Disney has some really exciting and (icy) cool news to share with travel enthusiasts all across the globe!
Adventures by Disney is known for bringing unique travel opportunities and experiences to Guests of all ages at locations all around the world. And their newest opportunity is no different. And then again, maybe it’s delightfully different! In one of the most unique offerings from Adventures by Disney, Guests can book a spot on an upcoming expedition cruise to Antarctica!
And travelers who join the expedition will be in good company. Per Disney Parks Blog:
“Roy Conli, a Disney Animation Studios Academy Award winner and a producer on Disneynature’s Penguins feature film, is joining our upcoming expedition cruise to Antarctica and Patagonia!
“This trip with Roy is available only through Adventures by Disney and is a can’t-miss adventure for anyone who has dreamed about visiting this destination. Imagine experiencing Antarctica and penguins not only in person and with guidance from our expert naturalists, but also through the lens of an award-winning Disney producer! Roy will inspire Guests with his onboard special lecture on Penguins.”
A cruise to Antarctica is bucket list fodder by itself, but a journey with Roy Conli onboard will take the experience to the next level!
Disney Parks Blog details parts of the itinerary:
This amazing journey begins in the beautiful city of Buenos Aires, where upon arrival at the hotel, guests are greeted by the Disney-trained Adventure Guides, who magically take care of all the details throughout the trip. Next, the group travels to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in South America, before boarding the ship and setting sail to Antarctica. Immediately, magnificent panoramic views are seen from vantage points on deck, through the expansive windows as well as up-close when stepping onto the famed continent. Days are carefully planned to respect the environment while adventurers enjoy Zodiac cruises or kayaking through ice caps and past glaciers, hiking, observing penguins, whales, seals and other wildlife, marveling at the bird life flying above and learning from expert naturalists every step of the way.
It seems so hard to believe, but 2022 is now in the rearview mirror and the excitement and potential of 2023 are laid before our feet. I don’t know about you, but my 2023 definitely involves a lot of Disney! Trips to Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, or any other Disney theme park are always memorable, but they are expensive. However, there’s another way to get your Disney fix that’s much cheaper. That’s right, we are talking about Disney movies!
2023 is going to be a big year for Disney films. Let’s take a look at some of the most anticipated Disney movies of the year!
The Little Mermaid
Release Date: May 26
Disney’s new live-action remake of one of its most classic tales may be THE most anticipated Disney movie of the year. The Little Mermaid live-action film will stick heavily to the original animated movie, but there will be unique additions. In the new movie, Prince Eric will have more character development, and his mother will be introduced. Disney Legend Alan Menken and Hamilton creator Lin Manuel Miranda will also write new music.
The Little Mermaid will star Halle Bailey as Ariel, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Awkwafina as Scuttle, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, and Daveed Diggs as Sebastian.
Peter Pan & Wendy
Release Date: March 10 (Disney+)
What makes this Disney movie great is that you can watch the premiere from the comfort of your own couch!
It’s been a while since Disney has given us a fresh, new look at the boy who never wanted to grow up. But, come this March, we will no longer be able to say that. At this time, we don’t know much about the story that Disney will tell with Peter Pan & Wendy. However, it will most likely be close to the original story that most of us know and love. Select Guests who attended Disney’s D23 Expo this past September were given an exclusive trailer, which featured the Lost Boys, a look at Peter Pan, with a closeout on the villainous Captain Hook.
Peter Pan & Wendy will star Alexander Molony as Peter Pan, Ever Anderson as Wendy, Yara Shahidi as Tinker Bell, Jim Gaffigan as Smee, and Jude Law as Captain Hook.
The Haunted Mansion
Release Date: August 11
Okay, I’ll admit it. I am most excited to see this movie, not only because of the phenomenal casting, but also to see if Disney can come back from the 2003 disaster version that starred Eddie Murphy. This new live-action remake will take place in New Orleans, where the spirits definitely love to come out to socialize. The Haunted Mansion will tell the story of a single mom, Gabbie, who moves into the old Southern mansion with her son. As you may have guessed, the mansion is haunted and Gabbie hires a priest, a historian, a tour guide, and a psychic to help her expel the spirits.
The Haunted Mansion will star Rosario Dawson as Gabbie, Chase Dillon as Gabbie’s son, Owen Wilson as Kent the priest, Danny DeVito as the historian, Tiffany Haddish as Harriet, and LaKeith Stanfield as Ben Matthias. There will also be some classic attraction characters thrown into the mix — Jamie Lee Curtis will play Madame Leota, and Jared Leto will play the Hatbox Ghost.
Elemental
Release Date: June 16
Much like Inside Out, Elemental will take viewers on a journey they have not been on before. This movie will tell the story of a land where the elements — Earth, Air, Fire, and Water — live together. As with many places, those who are alike tend to stick together, and one element group doesn’t really interact with the other elements. However, fiery Ember and go-with-the-flow Wade will soon realize that they have more in common than they ever would have imagined.
At this time, we don’t have much to share on casting news. All Disney has shared is that Wade will be voiced by Mamoudou Athie as Wade and Leah Lewis as Ember.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Release Date: June 30
This will most likely be the last time we see legendary actor Harrison Ford don his iconic fedora and take on the role of famed archaeologist Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones. Dial of Destiny will see Indy and his goddaughter, Helena, go up against Nazis once again, but this time during the height of the space race. However, this time, the U.S. government has hired former Nazis to help them beat the Soviet Union into space, as well as be the first country to land on the moon.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will star Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena, Mads Mikkelsen as Jürgen Voller, Antonio Banderas as Renaldo, Toby Jones as Basil, and Johnathan Rhys-Davies as Sallah. Shia LaBoeuf will not return as Mutt Williams, but audiences will learn what happened to Indy’s son.
Wish
Release Date: November 22
This movie is the most recent announcement from Walt Disney Animation. Disney has not given us too many details on what story Wish will tell, but director Chris Buck has said that the film will be “Blending this beautiful, timeless watercolor style with 3D animation, ‘Wish’ has a look and feel all its own, unlike anything Disney Animation has created.” What we do know is that viewers will learn how the iconic wishing star came into existence.
As with Disney movies of the past, Wish will have a selfless hero, a ruthless villain, and a talking goat. Okay, so maybe it won’t be just like the Disney movies we have seen before. Not much casting information has been released, but we do know that Alan Tudyk will voice Valentino and Ariana DeBose will voice Asha.
Of course, if you are a Marvel fan, there will also be several movies released for you to love, including Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3, and The Marvels.
The former Disney CEO Bob Chapek is out, and Bob Iger has returned to take charge of The Walt Disney Company as the new/returning CEO of the business. Iger’s Chief Executive Officer predecessor, Michael Eisner, has taken to social media to reveal his honest thoughts on The Walt Disney Company.
With Disney CEO Bob Iger back, there is a strong sense of optimism returning to Disney fans and Cast Members that had slowly been diminishing during Chapek’s time in office.
While Iger has already diagnosed Disney’s issue as the company was losing its “soul” under Chapek, now the well-liked former Disney CEO, Michael Eisner, is speaking up.
@Michael_Eisner took to social media to share, “The Walt Disney Company has suffered in recent years. This is a good time for us to remember the words of Walt Disney who said, “Everybody falls down. Getting back up is how you learn to walk.”
The Walt Disney Company has suffered in recent years. This is a good time for us to remember the words of Walt Disney who said, “Everybody falls down. Getting back up is how you learn to walk.”
The tweet comes a few days after Eisner tweeted a welcomed return for Bob Iger. The first tweet caused a slew of Disney fans begging for Eisner to join Iger… to become the Walt and Roy Disney duo that the company so desperately needs right now.
Why is it important to listen to what Eisner has to say? Michael Eisner was with The Walt Disney Company as CEO from September 1984 to September 2005. The duration of Eisner’s career still upholds his strong reputation among Disney fans and stockholders.
Much of what Bob Chapek dissolved was actually what Michael Eisner fought to establish for the company, particularly in the Disney Guest experience platform.
Eisner is credited with the complimentary FastPass+ system (now the upcharge Disney Genie+ service), Disney’s Magical Express complimentary airport transportation (now completely gone), and much more.
Eisner was also credited for his hand in additions to the Disney Parks platform, including MGM Studios (now Disney’s Hollywood Studios) at Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s California Adventure Park at Disneyland Resort, Typhoon Lagoon Water Park at Disney World, and more.
Unlike Bob Chapek’s run as Disney CEO, both Michael Eisner and Bob Iger have continued to be well-liked and well-respected for their contributions to The Walt Disney Company.
With Eisner tweeting his support for the Disney company as it gets back on its feet, the tweet is once again sending Disney fans hoping and dreaming that Eisner will return to join the company.
While neither Bob Iger nor Michael Eisner have said anything further about the possible CEO duo working for the company jointly again, we understand why Disney fans think they would make a great team.
It has been a rough time lately for Disney animation. In the past, Disney’s animated features were almost always a guaranteed success, from hits like Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella to more modern tales like Frozen and Encanto. However, the animation studio has been struggling more and more; in the past year, most of its films have underperformed. These include films from Pixar as well, like Turning Red, Lightyear, and the live-action/animated film Pinocchio.
Unfortunately, Disney’s newest animated film, Strange World, is faring even worse than its recent predecessors. Strange World premiered in theaters on November 23, but tanked at the box office over Thanksgiving weekend.
Now, according to a new report from Variety, Strange World is projected to lose at least $100 million at the box office during a time when Disney films have typically performed well.
“Normally this time of year, a Disney family film is the big draw,” says Paul Dergarabedian, a senior Comscore analyst. “It shows we’re still recovering and adapting to the constraints of the pandemic.”
Unless its business rebounds dramatically in the next few weeks (and that seems unlikely given the film’s moderate reviews, lackluster audience reception and minimal buzz), sources estimate that “Strange World” will lose at least $100 million in its theatrical run. Even with proper attention on Disney+ and home entertainment platforms, box office experts suggest it’ll be difficult to get the big-budget film into the black. Since “Strange World” cost $180 million to produce and tens of millions more in global marketing and distribution fees, the film needs to gross roughly $360 million to break even, sources say.
Not only has Strange World not performed well monetarily, but it also received the lowest audience scores a Disney movie has ever received from CinemaScore. Even Disney flops like Chicken Little and The Good Dinosaur received low As. Strange World, on the other hand, only gained a B audience score.
However, it’s always encouraged that fans watch a film regardless of ratings so that they can make their own judgment. Here’s more on Strange World.
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ original action-packed adventure “Strange World” introduces a legendary family of explorers, the Clades, as they attempt to navigate an uncharted, treacherous land alongside a motley crew that includes a mischievous blob, a three-legged dog and a slew of ravenous creatures. The voice cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal as Searcher Clade, a family man who finds himself out of his element on an unpredictable mission; Dennis Quaid as Searcher’s larger-than-life explorer father, Jaeger; Jaboukie Young-White as Searcher’s 16-year-old son, Ethan, who longs for adventure; Gabrielle Union as Meridian Clade, an accomplished pilot and Searcher’s partner in all things; and Lucy Liu as Callisto Mal, Avalonia’s fearless leader who spearheads the exploration into the strange world.
Even though it seems unlikely that Disney will break even with its new movie, there is still some hope for Strange World. That hope lies in Disney’s streaming platform, Disney+. Movie theaters are still struggling since the pandemic, and many people will wait for a movie to be available to stream. At this time, no Disney+ premiere date has been announced for Strange World.
Disney films have been averaging about 45 days in the theater before they head to Disney+, so it is possible Strange World will be streaming early in the new year.
On a warm summer day in July of 1998, the Disney Magic embarked on its maiden voyage, introducing the world to a new kind of cruise vacation where families are immersed in Disney storytelling, dazzling entertainment and unparalleled hospitality at sea. For 25 years, Disney Cruise Line has been a porthole through which guests experience global destinations and create cherished memories onboard a one-of-a-kind fleet of enchanting ships.
In 2023, new magic will unfold on the high seas as Disney Cruise Line celebrates its 25th anniversary, bringing special entertainment, merchandise and celebratory experiences to select summer sailings. Guests are invited to take part in limited-time “Silver Anniversary at Sea” offerings across all five Disney Cruise Line ships from May through September of 2023.
“For two-and-a-half decades, Disney Cruise Line has built an incredible legacy of creating unforgettable vacation memories for families around the world,” said Sharon Siskie, senior vice president and general manager, Disney Cruise Line. “Of course, at the heart of this anniversary celebration are our dedicated cast and crew members who continuously deliver legendary service and create magic at sea for our guests every day. Whether returning as a member of our Castaway Club or sailing with us for the first time, we are thrilled to invite guests of all ages to be a part of our very special anniversary festivities next summer.”
Summer Sailings Offer Celebratory Surprises
The “Silver Anniversary at Sea” celebration will be featured on summer cruises aboard all five Disney Cruise Line ships. Guests will encounter new entertainment, limited-time enhancements, eye-catching decor, whimsical merchandise and other delightful surprises, all imbued with the magical spirit of this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Captain Minnie Mouse and Captain Mickey Mouse will don dazzling new ensembles to mark the occasion. Their coordinated looks will feature shimmering, multi-toned fabric and swirling designs reminiscent of ocean waves. The iconic duo will make appearances in their festive attire exclusively aboard “Silver Anniversary at Sea” sailings across the Disney Cruise Line fleet.
Disney Cruise Line will debut a signature song to serve as the soundtrack of the celebration, tunefully threading nostalgic memories of vacations past with the of anticipation of new family adventures to come. The uplifting new melody will manifest in a variety of ways during summer sailings.
New family entertainment and activities will culminate in shimmering evening experiences created exclusively for the anniversary celebration.
Throughout their voyage, guests will discover themed culinary creations, from fanciful desserts to inspired craft cocktails and beyond.
Guests can commemorate Disney Cruise Line’s “Silver Anniversary at Sea” with the Shimmering Seas Collection, a line of dedicated merchandise featuring a new signature color. Inspired by the magical glow of sunshine reflecting upon turquoise waters, the Shimmering Seas Collection will include an assortment of apparel, accessories, drinkware, keepsakes and more.
Even more magic lies in store for guests aboard sailings that include “Silver Anniversary at Sea” offerings. Additional details about new entertainment, merchandise and other celebratory experiences will be announced at a later date.
Castaway Club Introduces a New Membership Tier
The anniversary of Disney Cruise Line also heralds the unveiling of a brand-new membership tier for Castaway Club, which recognizes returning Disney Cruise Line guests with exclusive rewards and perks.Honoring 25 years of Disney magic at sea, members will now earn the distinction of Pearl status after 25 Disney Cruise Line vacations. As the line’s biggest fans, Pearl members will unlock new at-home and onboard benefits, which will be announced in early 2023.
Enchantment-filled Voyages Sail to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Europe and Alaska
Cruises featuring the “Silver Anniversary at Sea” celebration will sail to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Europe and Alaska during the summer of 2023.
Departing from Miami May 24 to Sept. 4, the Disney Magic will visit destinations in the Bahamas and Caribbean, including Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.
The Disney Wonder will depart on Alaskan voyages from Vancouver, Canada May 15 to Sept. 11 with stops in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and more.
From May 7 to Sept. 17, the Disney Dream will sail transatlantic and European itineraries, including the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Greek Isles.
The Disney Fantasy will set sail from Port Canaveral, Florida May 6 to Sept. 2 to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, each with a day at Castaway Cay.
Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Disney Wish, will depart on sailings to Nassau, Bahamas and Castaway Cay May 1 to Sept. 8 from Port Canaveral.
