Tag: Disneyland

Geekscape Comics: Marvel Announces ‘The Haunted Mansion’ #1

by J.C. Marquez

Disneyland’s The Haunted Mansion is one of the theme park’s longest running attractions. Since 1969, many foolish mortals, aboard their doom buggies, have braved dark hallways, witnessed seances from levitating heads, participated in swinging wakes, and have taken part in the graveyard shenanigans along with the 999 happy haunts. Now, writer Joshua Williamson (Ghosted) and artist Jorge Coelho (Loki: Agent of Asgard) invite fans to discover more about their beloved ghost hosts in the upcoming The Haunted Mansion limited comic book series beginning March 2016.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Williamson says, “There are running themes throughout the whole series that we’re going to be doing, but I think when people read all five issues, I want them to have that same feeling they have when they get off the ride. If I can accomplish that, then I really feel like I’ve done something with it. Whether you’re a Marvel fan, a Haunted Mansion fan, a Disney fan, or even a comics fan, if you can get that feeling – that rush of fear and happiness — I think that would be great.”

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Jorge Coelho
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Joshua Williamson

Haunted Mansion

“The Haunted Mansion is one of the most iconic and beloved attractions at Disney Parks the world over,” says Marvel SVP, Sales & Marketing David Gabriel. “And the Disney Kingdoms line is the perfect way for fans of comics and fans of the attraction to explore the mansion’s hidden secrets and meet some of its many memorable characters.”

In addition to the limited comic book series run, a book dedicated to the numerous Haunted Mansion attractions across all Disneyland Parks will be released in July 2016 entitled Disney Parks Presents: The Haunted Mansion--including a CD containing the ‘Grim Grinning Ghosts‘ song heard on the latter part of the Disneyland Haunted Mansion ride. Also in 2016, a new chapter book series entitled Tales from the Haunted Mansion, will feature stories from some of the 999 ghosts (please let it be The Bride!).

Haunted Mansion fans, are you excited? Sound off in the comments and let us know what you’re looking forward to from the new comic and novel series!

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Source: Marvel press release December 4, 2015

Gallery: Disney’s ‘Star Wars: Season Of The Force’ Is A Wonderful Way To Ring In The Holiday Season!

by GeekscapeStaff

Briefly: It’s times like these that I wish I didn’t live all the way up in Canada.

Star Wars: Season of the Force is now on at Disneyland in California, and ever-growing crowds and Star Wars fans have been headed to the park in droves. A variety of new and adapted attractions are currently  on display at the Happiest Place on Earth, including:

– Star Wars Launch Bay – This new area will offer opportunities to visit with favorite Star Wars characters, special exhibits, peeks at the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens and much more.

 

– Star Tours – The Adventures Continue – This popular attraction will feature a new scene inspired by the upcoming film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

 

– Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple – Coming in December, a twist on the Jedi Training experience will introduce new characters and a new villain from the popular Disney XD series, Star Wars Rebels.

 

– Hyperspace Mountain – For a limited time, guests will join an X-wing starfighter battle in this reimagining of the classic Space Mountain attraction.

 

– Other limited-time experiences include:An opportunity to revisit favorite scenes from classic Star Wars films at Tomorrowland Theater.

 

– Special themed food and beverage, merchandise and entertainment.

The sights and sounds were all absolutely incredible, and we’re happy to bring some photos from our pal Andrzej’ phenomenal visit to a galaxy (not that) far, far away.

Take a look at the gallery below, and let us know if you’ll be visiting Disneyland this holiday season.

D23 2015: ‘Star Wars’ Disney Theme Park Announced!

by jake108

D23 has gotten off to a fantastic start this Saturday with several announcements regarding the Star Wars franchise. Perhaps one of the most exciting of the bunch was the announcement of a Star Wars theme park set to open at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Disney chairman Bob Iger described the park as a place where guests can “truly become part of their favorite Star Wars Stories.”

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This new theme park is also being hailed as the largest single-themed expansion to date. These new lands will also be occupied by droids, aliens native to the setting you’re in, Tatooine’s cantina, and a Millennium Falcon ride.

“These new lands at Disneyland and Walt Disney World will transport guests to a whole new Star Wars planet, including an epic Star Wars adventure that puts you in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance.”

– Bob Iger

Iger also promises that “nothing in the land will be out of character or stray from the mythology.” Obviously this is good news for any Star Wars fan. There’s no word on when the 14-acre park will open, but you can count on us to keep our ears open!

Tom Hanks Playing Walt Disney In ‘Saving Mr. Banks’

by Shawn Madden

Some fantastic news for Disney fans today. Disney has announced that production has started today for the upcoming film Saving Mr. Banks, this film follows Walt Disney’s fourteen-year courtship to acquire the film rights to P.L. Travers popular novel, Mary Poppins.

Oscar winning actor Tom Hanks will be portraying the man behind the mouse himself in the upcoming film. This will actually be the first time we see the portrayal of Walt Disney on screen in a dramatic film. Actress Emma Thompson will be playing P.L. Travers, the Australian author behind Mary Poppins. Collin Farrell is also reported to appear in the film as Travers father. Most likely we will see him in make-up and flashback scenes I am assuming.

When Travers travels from London to Hollywood in 1961 to finally discuss Disney’s desire to bring her beloved character to the motion picture screen (a quest he began in the 1940s as a promise to his two daughters), Disney meets a prim, uncompromising sexagenarian not only suspect of the impresario’s concept for the film, but a woman struggling with her own past. During her stay in California, Travers’ reflects back on her childhood in 1906 Australia, a trying time for her family which not only molded her aspirations to write, but one that also inspired the characters in her 1934 book.

None more so than the one person whom she loved and admired more than any other—her caring father, Travers Goff, a tormented banker who, before his untimely death that same year, instills the youngster with both affection and enlightenment (and would be the muse for the story’s patriarch, Mr. Banks, the sole character that the famous nanny comes to aide). While reluctant to grant Disney the film rights, Travers comes to realize that the acclaimed Hollywood storyteller has his own motives for wanting to make the film—which, like the author, hints at the relationship he shared with his own father in the early 20th Century Midwest.

The film also features Jason Schwartzman, BJ Novak, Paul Giamatti, Bradley Whitford, Kathy Baker, Rachel Griffiths and many others. Saving Mr. Banks will be directed by John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side, The Rookie) based on a screenplay by Kelly Marcel. You should definitely expect this one to be one of those heart felt movies. A 2013 release date is expected but no specific date has been set.

Source: Examiner

Disney Bringing Marvel Attractions To Disneyland?

by Shawn Madden

“Walt Disney Co’s design team has increased its efforts to bring the Marvel superhero team “The Avengers” to the company’s theme parks after the film’s smashing success, the head of Disney’s parks unit said on Thursday.”

Well this rumor has been floating around for quite some time now. These rumors have included changing rides to have Marvel characters and even turn Innoventions into a Stark Expo (yes…please). Well it looks like it just may be coming true and coming to a theme park near you. Well…that is if you live in California.

“We were hard at work on attractions using Marvel characters previously, and that work has only intensified given (the film’s) great success,” Staggs, chairman of Disney’s parks and resorts division, told Reuters in an interview at the park’s Golden Vine Winery.

Now while Disney cannot bring the characters to their Orlando park where they are contractually restricted due to them being licensed to Comcast Corp’s Universal Studios.

The big reason behind this seems to due to the massive drop in California Adventure’s attendance since its 2001 opening. Disney is probably seeing the huge success in ‘The Avengers’ as a chance to revitalize the park and expand the franchise.

Will you assemble at the happiest place on earth if so?

Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride Latest Disneyland Attraction To Get The Movie Treatment

by Eric Diaz

Of all the rides in Disneyland’s Fantasyland section, one of the oddest (and coolest) has got to be Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. Oddest because Disney’s adaptation of The Wind in the Willows was only a segment in the package film The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr.Toad, and not really a well remembered full length classic like Peter Pan and the like. And coolest because the ride literally ends with your Mr. Toad driven car getting hit by a train and you and your fellow passengers being sent to Hell.  Yes, there is a Disney ride that ends with dying and going to Hell. I’d like to see that concept get past Walt Disney Imagineering these days.

Since opening day in 1955, the ride has remained a beloved fixture at Disneyland (although it was removed from Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World and replaced with Winnie the Pooh. I know, lame.) According to Deadline, Disney has announced plans to make a  feature film of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. Pete Candeland, director of many music videos and commercials, has been hired to develop a live-action/CGI mix movie. Justin Springer (one of the producers on TRON: Legacy) will produce Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, and the studio is currently looking for a writer.

Disney’s track record with theme park ride adaptations has been very hit and miss; obviously Pirates of the Caribbean is a juggernaut that can’t be stopped, but anyone remember Eddie Murphy’s Haunted Mansion disaster? Or The Country Bears? Aside from Mr. Toad, Disney has revealed in the last few years a slew of ride-to-movie plans, like The Jungle Cruise, a Guillermo Del Toro reboot of Haunted Mansion and the Jon Favreau movie set in Disneyland itself called Magic Kingdom. Now add Mr. Toad to that growing list. The real question is which of this will get made first, if any? And why haven’t they announced a Space Mountain movie??