Archive for September, 2009

Disneyland and Walt Disney World plan to add a Mardi Gras-style musical cavalcade called Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee for the 2009 holiday season, according to theme park officials.

The jazz-infused “riverboat extravaganza” will debut at Disney World on Oct. 26 and Disneyland on Nov. 6. Both shows will run through Jan. 3.

Tied to the upcoming “The Princess and the Frog” hand-drawn animated movie, Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee will feature a procession of jazzy musicians and performers parading through New Orleans Square at Disneyland and Frontierland at Disney World.

As the “second-line” procession reaches the Rivers of America dock, a group of pre-selected theme park visitors will board the waiting riverboat (the Mark Twain at Disneyland and the Liberty Belle at Disney World) where Princess Tiana and other “The Princess and the Frog” characters will greet them.

After departing, the riverboat will stop along the riverfront for a performance including songs from the film. The show will be repeated several times a day, with viewing areas along the waterfront.

Mice Age reports that the pre-selected riverboat riders will be able to pose for photos and get autographs from Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen and Louis the singing alligator after the performance.

“The Princess and the Frog,” a Jazz Age story featuring Disney’s first African American princess and set in New Orleans’ French Quarter, opens in theaters Dec. 11.

The latest movie promotion poster has been released by Walt Disney Animation Studios for “Princess and the Frog”. It is a very nice one with all characters on it and is lighter than the previous one.

A larger version can also be downloaded from the following website: http://justjaredjr.buzznet.com/photo-gallery/296301/princess-frog-poster-01/

The Frog Prince

One fine evening a young princess put on her bonnet and clogs, and
went out to take a walk by herself in a wood; and when she came to a
cool spring of water, that rose in the midst of it, she sat herself
down to rest a while. Now she had a golden ball in her hand, which was
her favourite plaything; and she was always tossing it up into the
air, and catching it again as it fell. After a time she threw it up so
high that she missed catching it as it fell; and the ball bounded
away, and rolled along upon the ground, till at last it fell down into
the spring. The princess looked into the spring after her ball, but it
was very deep, so deep that she could not see the bottom of it. Then
she began to bewail her loss, and said, ‘Alas! if I could only get my
ball again, I would give all my fine clothes and jewels, and
everything that I have in the world.’

Whilst she was speaking, a frog put its head out of the water, and
said, ‘Princess, why do you weep so bitterly?’ ‘Alas!’ said she, ‘what
can you do for me, you nasty frog? My golden ball has fallen into the
spring.’ The frog said, ‘I want not your pearls, and jewels, and fine
clothes; but if you will love me, and let me live with you and eat
from off your golden plate, and sleep upon your bed, I will bring you
your ball again.’ ‘What nonsense,’ thought the princess, ‘this silly
frog is talking! He can never even get out of the spring to visit me,
though he may be able to get my ball for me, and therefore I will tell
him he shall have what he asks.’ So she said to the frog, ‘Well, if
you will bring me my ball, I will do all you ask.’ Then the frog put
his head down, and dived deep under the water; and after a little
while he came up again, with the ball in his mouth, and threw it on
the edge of the spring. As soon as the young princess saw her ball,
she ran to pick it up; and she was so overjoyed to have it in her hand
again, that she never thought of the frog, but ran home with it as
fast as she could. The frog called after her, ‘Stay, princess, and
take me with you as you said,’ But she did not stop to hear a word.

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Disney is opening up its studios to the public for the first time in nearly seven decades for special screenings of its new animated movie.

Walt Disney Studios in Burbank will show “The Princess and the Frog” at its theater from Nov. 25 to Dec. 13. The last time the public was let in was for a special showing of the 1940 movie, “Fantasia.” Walt Disney had the theater built just in time for the movie viewing, according to a Disney press release.

The cost ranges from $20 to $50 per person, depending on the seats and package for “The Princess and the Frog” premiere events.

Tickets went on sale last week after the announcement. Carman Knight, a Disney studios spokeswoman, declined to release information about ticket sales.

“We’re welcoming families to our Studio to see where Walt Disney made real movie magic,” said Dick Cook, chairman of the Walt Disney Studios in a prepared statement. “Our Studio is not open to the public, so it’s an unprecedented opportunity for Disney fans to experience a movie right here on the Disney lot where we’ve filmed Disney classics like ‘Mary Poppins,’ ‘Princess Diaries,’ ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and many more.”

“The Princess and the Frog” opens nationwide Dec. 11

“The Princess and the Frog” marks Disney’s return to hand-drawn animation, after years of hit movies made with computer animation. Disney’s last hand-drawn movie was the 2004 “Home on the Range.”

Disney has been hyping the new “Princess” movie with this studio event, new merchandise and an upcoming parade-like show at Disneyland. Last week, the first 30 minutes of the unfinished film was shown to audience members at the D23 Expo, a Disney fan convention.

To buy tickets or find out more, go to the Disney “The Princess and the Frog” Web site.

Princess and the Frog isn’t yet released, but the excitement for the movie is already boiling to new highs. Several sellers of Halloween Costumes have already played into this theme by selling Princess Tiana costumes online. Toy’s R Us is selling the Princess Tiana Costume now for $39.99, but it is likely that many other sellers will follow through with costumes of the other character. Wouldn’t it be much fun to dress up like Dr. Facilier with Halloween or to freak people in your Louis or Madame Odie costume! We’ll keep you posted if more of these costumes will come on the market.

More pictures are available now of the Princess and the Frog fortune card set. We have better pictures now of Ray, Louis and Madame Odie. Hope you enjoy them!

Louis

Madame Odie

Ray

After the first look we gave you of the upcoming Disney animated film, The Princess and the Frog there’s more good news to share. Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California and Clearview’s historic Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City will open their doors for a limited engagement allowing fans to screen the film almost a month before it’s official  December 11th release date. Not only will you get to view the film, but an entire family fun event has been created for you to enjoy.

Starting on November 25th, Disney will open its doors for multiple screenings of The Princess and the Frog. The film will be shown several times a day on both coasts with viewing times of 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., with a 9:30 p.m. show available select dates. During this once in a lifetime event there will be several other activities you can enjoy besides just viewing the film.

Themed to the film’s setting, New Orleans, The Ultimate Disney Experience will feature something for everyone.

PRINCESS POWER — All nine of the Disney princesses will come together for the first time ever, welcoming Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Belle, Ariel, Pocahontas, Jasmine, Mulan and of course, Disney’s newest princess, Tiana.

FUN ‘N GAMES — The Experience will feature opportunities to swing on ropes, climb trees, play games and race through the Bayou Adventure, plus a New Orleans’s Bead Toss, Naveen’s Leap Frog, video games and more.

HOLLYWOOD HEIRLOOMS — Disney movie archives will be on display for the first time ever, including props and costumes from a variety of films like Mary Poppins, the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy and more.

MOVIE MAGIC – Guests can learn movie magic from real Disney animators who will be on hand teaching guests how to draw a character from the film.

PICTURE THIS – Guests can put themselves in the movie at Kodak photo locations. Kodak photographers will capture guests’ images and place them in a scene from the movie.

INSIDER’S GLIMPSE — Burbank guests will also have the rare opportunity to tour the Studio lot.

Tickets are on sale now for this limited engagement. Group general admission tickets (for groups of 20 or more) are $20 each, general admission tickets are $30 each, and royal seating (a reserved seat, The Princess and The Frog Mardi Gras beads and an exclusive limited-edition collectible lithograph from The Princess and The Frog) is $50 per ticket.

For more information on the event and how you can purchase your ticket, visit www.princessandfrogtickets.com or call 1-800-DISNEY-6.

Krystal Clark

Disney Animation Studios has released its newest trailer for “Princess and the Frog”, this trailer displays far more graphical footage of the movie than the first trailer, so definitely check it out!

Willem de Vocht

By George Roush,

Today during the Bob Iger presentation fans and media were treated to the first 30 minutes of the Princess and the Frog. The animation was 87% complete, but it was hardly noticeable.

The story opens with a young Tiana and her friend Charlotte sitting in a room while Tiana’s Mom, who is a seamstress for Charlotte’s father, reads them the story of The Frog Prince. This is where we’re first introduced to the character of Tiana. There are some really funny moments with Charlotte’s cat.

Next, Tiana and her mother take the trolley past the rich neighborhoods of New Orleans to the poor neighborhood where Tiana lives. She makes gumbo with her father and shares the meal and laughs with her neighbors. Later that night, her father tells her about the restaurant he plans on opening called Tiana’s Place. Her parents tell her that it’s ok to wish upon a star, but she also has to work hard to accomplish her dreams. She wishes upon a star, and a frog is on her window sill. She looks at the frog (thinking they’re creepy from the story she heard earlier in the day) and when the frog ribbit’s, she screams and runs out of the room.

Tiana re-enters her room, but it’s years later and she’s an adult working at Duke’s Cafe. She’s working double shifts to save up enough money to purchase a building so she can finish her now deceased father’s dream of opening the restaurant. We’re also introduced to Dr. Facilier, the Voodoo priest who is seen scaming people for money. In one scene, he gives a patron a full head of hair, only the man’s hair grows until it covers almost his entire body.

Tiana’s friend Charlotte comes into the restaurant, excited about the arrival of Prince Naveen. Since she’s royalty, she’s seeing wedding bells.
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