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“Join Disney’s Hollywood Studios as we welcome famed Star Wars Author, Timothy Zahn for his debut appearance at the Walt Disney World® Resort! On Friday, October 14, Timothy Zahn will be signing his latest Star Wars novel, Choices of One at The Writer’s Stop at Disney’s Hollywood Studios from 1:00pm – 3:00pm.  In addition to signing copies of the Choice of One, Timothy will also be available to sign the 20th Anniversary edition of  the #1 New York Times Best Selling Novel, Heir to the Empire. Copies of Choices of One and Heir to the Empire will be available for purchase at The Writer’s Stop.”

http://psc.disney.go.com/eventservices/artofdisneyparks/event/wdw_choiceofone_booksigning.html

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Disney Cruise Lines

Walt Disney World’s Fantasyland Expansion

DCA’s Carsland

DCA’s Buena Vista Street

Mickey’s of Glendale store

There will be 20 attractions/games in Kinect: Disneyland Adventures being released November 15th. Six game were confirmed and being shown at the D23 Expo. Those games were:

• Matterhorn
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Alice in Wonderland
• Big Thunder Railroad
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Jungle Cruise

I did ask about Star Tours being part of the game. Unfortunately it seems Star Tours is one of those things they are not commenting on at this time. However we were shown some of the characters  and scenery in Fantasyland and Main Street U.S.A..Monstro the whale at the entrance to Storybookland was a cool surprise!

I shared time touring the game with Mark Goldhaber from Mouseplanet.com. Jen Yi, Global Product Marketing Manager had us choose a couple attractions to play/tour. We selected Big Thunder and the Matterhorn. On Big Thunder you will see familiar scenes and characters like the famous dynamite chewing goat. While playing the Matterhorn game you will guided down the mountain by a skiing Goofy (inspired by the 1940s cartoon)  and trying to avoid several Yeti.

• Kinect: Disneyland Adventures is controller free.
• You can change the appearance of your avatar.
• Shopping at Disneyland is part of the game.

If you have any questions about the game please post them in the comments and I will forward them along and try to get answers for you.

Mark and Jen playing the Big Thunder game.

Mark interviews Jen Yi, Global Product Marketing Manager

Special thanks to Alyssa Odle, Breanna Wilson and Jen Yi

One of the true highlights at the D23 Expo 2011, for us especially, was The Making of Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, presented by Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald.  Much of what was shown to the audience was previously revealed in our interview with Tom back in June but during the presentation there were more details, more stories, and most importantly, more concept art to go along with them.   It was a joy to experience the linear backstory of the attraction and for those who weren’t able to attend, we have a summarized version and many of the concept art as well.

Read the full article in our Special Features archive here.

Welcome to the 2011 D23 Expo!

On Friday Mater and Lightning McQueen were greeting fans at the entrance to the Expo.

The Black Pearl

Dharma van from “Lost”

Robert Olszewski Disneyland miniature

A booth was selling the Jungle Cruise station and a few of the remote control boats that were recently removed from the Disneyland Hotel.

Animatronic figures on display at the Garner Holt booth.

Imagineering legend Bob Gurr

Billy Dee Williams meeting one of his fans.

A large area with props and costumes displayed from POTC: On Stranger Tides.

Hallmark

Mattel Toy Story 3 figure display

Lego Lightning McQueen made of 250,000 bricks. It took seven master builders 2,000 hours to build!

“Don’t you remember? You was there, too!”

There were 41 lots in the auction and “Winning bids ranged from $700 to $38,000″.

Jungle Cruise Zebra

Ride vehicle from Peter Pan’s Flight

Hitchhiking Ghosts

Star Tours Experience
with Walt Disney Imagineer, Project Manager & Producer
Steve Roach
(Bidder, plus up to FIVE (5) Guests)

Pirates of the Caribbean Parrot “Barker Bird”

Walt Disney Signed and Framed Personal Check (1941)

Additional information can be found here

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/05/the-force-is-strong-with-star-wars-weekends-merchandise/

Image © Disney/Lucasfilm