It took the stage version of Disney's "The Little Mermaid" quite a while to finally find its sea legs. When the original Broadway production opened at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater back in January of 2008, the critics were not kind. Ben Brantley of the New York Times was particularly vicious, calling "Mermaid" an " ... unfocused spectacle" which saddled its cast with " ... ungainly guess-what-I-am costumes" and then forced them to perform in front of "...

James Monroe Iglehart , 2014 Tony Award winner for his performance as Genie in Disney's Aladdin , will co-host ABC's Emmy® Award-winning talk show "The View" on Friday, July 25, 2014. "The View" is broadcast live weekdays from New York City from 11:00am - 12:00pm ET. Copyright 2014 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Disney's Aladdin , the Tony Award-winning new musical comedy based on the Academy Award®-winning animated film, opened...

You've no doubt already heard about all of the box office records that " Frozen " has broken over the past eight months (With the most recent one being the 16 weeks that this Walt Disney Animation Studios production spent as the No. 1 film in Japan. "Frozen" sold over $240 million worth of tickets in that country before it was finally knocked out of the top spot . Ironically enough by another Disney movie, " Maleficent "). But were you aware of how well the "Frozen"...

BURBANK, Calif. – ( July 23, 2014 ) - Marvel’s next summer blockbuster film is coming to Disney Infinity . Today, Disney Interactive officially announced the latest Play Set for Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes (2.0 Edition) –Guardians of the Galaxy, inspired by the upcoming film Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy , in theaters August 1 . The Guardians of the Galaxy Play Set follows Star-Lord and his fellow Guardians as they arrive at Knowhere, having just stolen a powerful...

© 2014 Universal Orlando Resort. All rights reserved. On July 21, 2014, television actress Jennette McCurdy stopped by Universal Orlando Resort to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. After enjoying some delicious Butterbeer ice-cream at Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour and experiencing the brand-new attraction Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Jennette enjoyed the rest of her visit at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. Jennette...

If you're a regular reader of JHM, then you might already be familiar with The Aquabats . A band of five spandex-wearing middle-aged men who live out of a van and travel the land to fight crime, sing songs & stuff. And, if you're an Adventure Time , Yo Gabba Gabba , or just a cute-and-cool-things-in-general fan, then you're most likely already familiar with Toddland Started in 2009 by " ... a few friends that liked rad stuff, and wanted to make rad stuff to give to our friends...

With all the heart and humor audiences expect from Walt Disney Animation Studios, "Big Hero 6" is an action-packed comedy-adventure about robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada, who learns to harness his genius-thanks to his brilliant brother Tadashi and their like-minded friends. When a devastating turn of events catapults them into the midst of a dangerous plot unfolding in the streets of San Fransokyo, Hiro turns to his closest companion-a robot named Baymax-and transforms the group into a band...

"Do your research." That is the lesson that John Lasseter -- Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney & Pixar Animation Studios -- has repeatedly drilled into the artists that he works with. That before they jump feet-first into developing a brand-new animated feature, these filmmakers must first understand the world that this movie's characters are supposed to occupy. CalFire crew members jump out of a plane as part of a training exercise. Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights...

Fan Reward Program to Include Helpful Tips, VIP Access to Panels & Events, Free Rides & Online Access to Network Panels Adult Swim fans will be in for a real treat at 2014 Comic-Con ® International: San Diego - both literally and figuratively - thanks to unique activations from its sponsors that will combine to provide the most comprehensive fan experience both on and off the convention floor. The network announced today activations with Intel, Lexus and State Farm designed to tap into...

How would you like a chance to enjoy a classic travel experience? Not only that, but what if it was one that Walt & Lillian Disney enjoyed on a cross-country excursion? Saturday, August 16th is the date that just such an opportunity awaits. Roger Colton of Private Car Service will be taking a select group of guests on a vintage railroad car excursion from Los Angeles to San Diego that day. The great news is that there are still some seats aboard that you can reserve. Step back to the summer of...

New York, NY - July 15 th , 2014 - Marvel is excited to announce an all-new era for the God of Thunder in brand new series, THOR , written by Jason Aaron ( Thor : God of Thunder , Original Sin ) complimented with art from Russell Dauterman ( Cyclops). This October, Marvel Comics evolves once again in one of the most shocking and exciting changes ever to shake one of Marvel's "big three" - Captain American, Iron Man and Thor - Marvel Comics will be introducing an all-new THOR, GOD OF...

New York, NY - July 14 th , 2014 - Marvel is excited to announce that on Tuesday, July 15 th , at 11AM EST, it will be announcing its latest explosive title live on the Emmy-Winning, daily talk show "The View." Tweet #theview during the live broadcast as select viewer tweets will appear live, on screen, during the show. Follow Marvel on Facebook at www.facebook.com/marvel and be sure to stop back throughout the day to see what everyone is saying about Marvel's latest news. Join Marvel...

In my career as a radio reporter, I have had the opportunity to interview many fascinating people. In the past 30 years, I have talked with legislators, authors, movie directors, actors and actresses and -- yes -- even Disney Legends. Such was the case in 2009 when I had the chance to speak with Dick Jones . Now you may ask who is Dick Jones. He was a child star who had many roles in those so-called B-Westerns. But perhaps he is best known as the lead voice in a classic Disney animated movie. Dick...

Sony Pictures Animation confirmed yesterday they are producing a new stop motion/live action hybrid feature project named SUPERBAGO. SUPERBAGO will be directed by ROBOT CHICKEN's John Harvatine and Eric Towner and produced by NAPOLEON DYNAMITE helmer Jared Hess along with Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Eric Robinson. The film is being written by Ricky Blitt; Jared Hess, Hubbel Palmer, and Chris Bowman. Michelle Raimo Kouyate, president of production at Sony Pictures Animation, commented: "SUPERBAGO...

The Official Disney Fan Club Brings Roadshow Event to Burbank, San Diego, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, Orlando, and Washington, D.C. Guests Will Celebrate Favorite Disney Movies, Attractions, Music, Television Shows, Characters, and More. Tickets are now on sale to the general public for the D23 Disney Fanniversary Celebration presented by Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection . The live event will bring Disney magic to 11 cities across the U...

With everyone else looking forward to tomorrow's grand opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley , it might seem kind of strange that Tom Williams -- the Chairman and CEO of Universal Parks & Resorts -- is using this exact same moment to look backwards. "But you have to understand that I was part of the opening team for Universal Studios Florida . I was here back in 1987 when this was all still snake-filled marshland. And to see what it's become -- Central Florida's...

So when Disney Television Animation decided to build a show around the Seven Dwarfs, how did they give this new animated series its own identity? Make sure that people wouldn't confuse this program with the classic animated feature that the Dwarfs debuted in back in 1937? Well, DTA did this by giving this new Disney Junior series a somewhat edgy title, " The 7D ." They also gave the Dwarfs a bold new look & different personalities. And then -- to make sure that today's kids...

I realize that everyone out there in Online-land is already getting ready for the long Fourth of July Weekend. But before you plunge into three straight days of backyard barbeques & fireworks, I wanted to direct your attention to something cool that the Disney History Institute just posted: Project Fair Winds . Jeremy Marx spent the past 8 months putting together a CG version of the Tower of the Four Winds. Which recreates all 52 of the mobiles which decorated that 120 foot-tall, 100 ton structure...

HOT DOG HALL OF FAME NOW OPEN AT UNIVERSAL CITYWALK New Venue Debuts as Part of the Historic Expansion to the Entertainment Complex ORLANDO, Fla. (July 3, 2014) - Hot Dog Hall of Fame officially opened today at Universal Orlando's CityWalk, becoming the latest venue to debut as part of this year's historic expansion to the entertainment complex. Hot Dog Hall of Fame , located across from Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food, features stadium-style seating and iconic hot dog creations from across...

So what did you think of "Maleficent" ? This past weekend, that Robert Stromberg film blew through the $200-million-in-domestic-ticket-sales barrier. Which makes this Walt Disney Pictures a blockbuster by modern Hollywood standards. That -- coupled with the $383.7 million that "Maleficent" has earned overseas to date -- means that this reimagining of "Sleeping Beauty" will ultimately be a very profitable enterprise for the Mouse. Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All...

Well, it's July 1st. And you know what that means. Only 177 shopping days 'til Christmas. Mind you, when you head out to the mall this coming holiday season, you may discover something entirely new. Which is the DreamWorks DreamHouse. "And what is the DreamWorks DreamHouse?," you ask. Well, it's a whole line of business for that Glendale, CA-based animation studios. One that DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg talked up last month during his keynote address at the 2014 Licensing...

Janet from Another Planet sent me a note this past weekend, saying: I thought you were going to tell us more about what you saw at this year's Licensing Show in Las Vegas. What happened to that article? Photo by Jim Hill Nothing, actually. It just took me a while to wade through the hundreds of photos that I took at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center earlier this month. You gotta understand that the Licensing Expo kind of redefines sensory overload. As soon as you make your way onto the show...

All day long, I've been getting e-mails from JHM readers about "Frozen Summer Fun: Live at Disney's Hollywood Studios," which kicks off on July 5th and then runs straight through September 1st. What people most seem to want to know is this really Disney's response to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley (which -- not-so-co-incidentally -- officially opens to the public on July 8th)? Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved Well, while I enjoy a good...

A year after the showcasing of Disney Infinity at E3 in Los Angeles, the parent company returned with a much stronger identity for the franchise. Disney Infinity 2.0 was an improvement in every sense of the word. The original Disney Infinity debuted in stores just before Black Friday 2013. It got the drop on the competition, most notably Activision's Skylander series. Yet Infinity was not without its faults on launch. Players reported random freezes, crashes and other glitches on the Disney online...

A celebration of life through the hand-drawn line, DUET is the latest in a series of Google ATAP's Spotlight Stories, interactive short films made exclusively for mobile devices Acclaimed animator Glen Keane unveiled a first look at his latest and most personal project to date, DUET, as part of a special ATAP (Advanced Technology and Projects) Session this morning at the Google I/O Conference in San Francisco, California. Presented together with Regina Dugan, who leads the ATAP group, Glen gave...

Academy Award-winning actor Ben Kingsley has been cast as the voice of Bagheera in Disney's upcoming The Jungle Book . Kingsley (Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Iron Man 3) joins: - Scarlett Johansson (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Avengers, Iron Man 2) as the voice of Kaa - Idris Elba (Thor, Thor: The Dark World) as the voice of Shere Khan - Lupita Nyong'o (Star Wars: Episode VII) as the voice of Rakcha. Directed by Jon Favreau from a script by Justin Marks, The Jungle Book...

IN AN NBC NEWS PRIMETIME EVENT, "HARRY POTTER: THE MAKING OF DIAGON ALLEY," MEREDITH VIEIRA EXPLORES THE CULTURAL PHENOMENON OF HARRY POTTER WITH EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO ITS LATEST INCARNATION AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT Harry Potter: The Making of Diagon Alley Airs Monday, June 30th at 8 pm/7c NEW YORK - June 26, 2014 - In anticipation of the July 8th Grand Opening of Universal Orlando Resort's newest theme park experience, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley, Meredith Vieira...

This summer, it's all about "Hakuna Matata" and the fiercely feisty lion cub, Simba! To celebrate the 20 th anniversary of "The Lion King", Wet Seal has launched a fashion-forward collection of apparel and accessories including tanks and tees, dresses and leggings, beanies and scarves to totes and cell phone cases that incorporate artwork pulled from the Disney archives. The price points span from $11.99-36.99 and will be available in Wet Seal stores and www.wetseal.com beginning...

No. 1 selling American band of all time - The Beach Boys - Performed at Grand Opening Celebration of Fourth On-Site Hotel ORLANDO, Fla. (June 19, 2014) - Universal Orlando celebrated the official Grand Opening of its fourth on-site hotel - Universal'sCabana Bay Beach Resort - this evening with a beach bash featuring a surprise performance by The Beach Boys. The brand-new hotel features a total of 1,800 moderate and value priced rooms that evoke the classic, retro-feel of iconic beach resorts...

EuroDisney S.C.A. (i.e., the financial company behind Disneyland Resort Paris) has a lot at stake with the opening of its brand-new multimillion attraction, "Ratatouille, l'avventure totalement toque de Remy" (which -- for all of you English-speaking Disney fans out -- translates into "Remy's Totally Crazy Adventure"). It's also worth noting here that the word "toque" in French means both "crazy" but also stands for chef's hat, "the toque...

Greetings from Las Vegas, where Licensing Expo 2014 officially gets underway later this morning. Photo by Jim Hill As you wandered through the upper floors of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center yesterday, you couldn't help but notice the folks who were hurrying to get the hall ready for today's events. Photo by Jim Hill Either by hanging banners or by using forklifts to carefully put heavy three-dimensional promotional pieces into place. Photo by Jim Hill Mind you, not everyone was willing...

Newsies , The Tony Award ® -Winning "Critics' Pick," To Play Final Broadway Performance on Sunday, August 24, 2014 Prior to National Tour Launch in October Originally Set for 101 Performances, Newsies Run to Reach 1005 Performances at the Nederlander Theatre Newsies , the Tony Award®-winning new American musical (featuring a score with music by eight-time Academy Award® winner Alan Menken and lyrics by Jack Feldman, with a book by four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein...

I know that stateside Harry Potter fans have been focusing on the upcoming opening of Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida ... Copyright Universal Orlando. All rights reserved ... while folks overseas have been counting down the days 'til The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens at Universal Studios Japan . But it's also important to remember that Universal Studios Hollywood will soon be getting its own Wizarding World. And as I toured the Upper Lot yesterday ... Photo by Jim Hill ...

So how do you know Jim Dale ? To be honest, it kind of depends on which decade you grew up in. If you were in the UK back in the 1950s, maybe you were lucky enough to catch Dale's stage debut where -- at the tender age of 17 & a 1/2 -- he became the youngest professional comic to work the English Musical Hall circuit. If you're a child of the Sixties, perhaps you know Jim as the lyricist for "Georgy Girl" (which Rolling Stone -- back in 2002 -- said was No. 36 on that magazine's...

When Earth is taken over by the overly-confident Boov, an alien race in search of a new place to call home, all humans are promptly relocated, while all Boov get busy reorganizing the planet. But when one resourceful girl, Tip, (Rihanna, who also contributes a song) manages to avoid capture, she finds herself the accidental accomplice of a banished Boov named Oh (Jim Parsons). The two fugitives realize there's a lot more at stake than intergalactic relations as they embark on the road trip of...

Disney Television Animation has begun production on "The Lion Guard," an animated television movie and series that continues the story introduced 20 years ago in the acclaimed Disney animated film "The Lion King." Geared towards kids aged 2-7 and their families, "The Lion Guard" television movie will premiere in fall 2015 and the subsequent series will debut in early 2016 on Disney Junior and Disney Channel. The wildlife education experts at Disney's Animal Kingdom...

THOSE WHO ARRIVE, SURVIVE... Back by popular demand: The Walking Dead returns as the largest maze in Halloween Horror Nights history, with more characters in a single haunted house than ever before ORLANDO, Fla. (June 9, 2014) - After rave reviews from fans, Universal Orlando Resort & Universal Studios Hollywood is bringing back AMC's "The Walking Dead" to Halloween Horror Nights for an unprecedented third consecutive year. Horror-hungry fans will experience an all-new terrifying...

When it comes to the Walt Disney Parks & Resorts , it's kind of a tradition that good enough isn't really good enough. Case in point: " Pirates of the Caribbean ." When Walt Disney first envisioned bringing buccaneers into his first theme park in the late 1950s, he was thinking more of a walk-through attraction. A place where Disneyland Guests would first descend from street level in New Orleans Square and then stroll past this elaborately-themed dungeon which was to be filled...

WEASLEY FAMILY OUTING: HARRY POTTER FILM STARS ENJOY A SNEAK PEEK OF THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER - DIAGON ALLEY AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT Today, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps and Bonnie Wright from the popular Harry Potter film series enjoyed a sneak peek of the highly anticipated, spectacularly themed environment, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. The actors - who portrayed siblings Fred, George and Ginny Weasley in the films - toured the new...

Guests Will Enjoy New Entertainment and Shows in Diagon Alley, Featuring Puppetry from Emmy Award-Winning Designer Michael Curry, and Other Interactive Experiences ORLANDO, Fla. (June 4, 2014) - Imagine wandering up the cobbled street of Diagon Alley, turning into nearby CarkittMarket, and enjoying a live performance by one of the wizarding world's most popular singing sensations or seeing stories from The Tales of Beedle the Bard come to life right before your eyes. Today, Universal Orlando...

Soak up summer with Pixar Summer Movies To Go exclusively on Disney Movies Anywhere, the free app that lets you stream and download Disney, Pixar and Marvel films anywhere. Beginning June 3, log on for new Pixar surprises coming each week throughout 13 weeks of summer. With Pixar Summer Movies To Go , a different fan favorite film will be featured each week and you can unlock exclusive bonus content like special filmmaker introductions, film trivia and morePixar surprises! Additionally, in the Discover...

New Venues to Debut in June as Part of the Historic Expansion to the Entertainment Complex ORLANDO, Fla. (June 2, 2014) - This month, three new venues will debut at Universal Orlando's CityWalk as part of this year's historic expansion to the entertainment complex. Menchie's is now open and is located on the second floor promenade of CityWalk. This popular frozen yogurt shop provides guests a unique and fun frozen yogurt experience with an expansive, self-serve toppings bar that is guaranteed...

Merida: With her untamed fiery red locks, this headstrong Princess will definitely leave her mark in Disney Infinity . Between her sharp sword and bow combo attacks with ricocheting arrows, she can upgrade her aim with elemental freeze arrows, freezing enemies in front of her then following up with rapid shots showing off her impressive athletic skills as an archer and sword fighter. Maleficent: The wicked title character from the upcoming Walt Disney Studios film employs numerous magical powers...

"Maleficent" explores the untold story of Disney's most iconic villain from the classic "Sleeping Beauty" and the elements of her betrayal that ultimately turn her pure heart to stone. Driven by revenge and a fierce desire to protect the moors over which she presides, Maleficent cruelly places an irrevocable curse upon the human king's newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Aurora is caught in the middle of the seething conflict between the forest kingdom she has grown...

After having dealt with those record low temperatures that this past Winter's Polar Vortex whipped up, I have to admit that I am genuinely enjoying this year's belated (but much appreciated) Spring. But that said, I recognize that late 2013 / early 2014 wasn't the only time that things got really, really cold here in the US. One other time that immediately comes to mind is January 21, 1985. Which is when things got so cold in Washington D.C. that then-President Ronald Reagan was forced...

Disney Legends Charlie Ridgway, Ron Logan, Bill Sullivan, and a host of Walt Disney Imagineers join previously announced guest such as Marty Sklar, Bob Gurr, and Alice Davis for the salute to beloved Disney attractions and entertainment of yesteryear. BURBANK, Calif. - May 27, 2014 - The roster of talent continues to grow for D23 Destination D: Attraction Rewind presented by H2O Plus . The event will take place November 22 and 23 at Walt Disney World Resort. D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will...

Four-day race weekend is first collaboration with Lucasfilm; Aerospace company Sierra Nevada Corporation to be inaugural event's presenting sponsor; Race registration opens June 10 ANAHEIM, Calif. (May 27, 2014) - Joining forces with one of Hollywood's most iconic brands, run Disney is creating another transportive race weekend - the Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend presented by Sierra Nevada Corporation at Disneyland Resort. The intergalactic journey begins January 15 and runs through January...

Back when our grandparents used to visit the Sunshine State, there was always one place that they had to visit. And that was Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, Florida . Started back in 1936 by Dick Pope Sr. and his wife Julie, this 170-acre park quickly became world-famous for its lush botanical gardens & elaborate water skiing shows. But with the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971, the center of gravity for Florida tourism suddenly shifted over to Orlando. And with fewer & fewer folks now...

Given that the Memorial Day Weekend is traditionally when Americans take their first road trip of the year, it's entirely appropriate that Disney Movies Anywhere has just rolled out a brand-new " Cars " short, "Radiator Springs 500 1/2." Copyright Disney Pixar. All rights reserved This film is the first in a brand-new series of Car Toons from Disney*Pixar, "Tales from Radiator Springs." And when I asked Rob Gibbs -- the director of "Radiator Springs 500 1/2"...

So how do you follow Disney "Frozen," the top grossing animated film of all time ? That Academy Award-winning motion picture which then went on became a pop culture phenomenon ? The movie that taught people around the planet to "Let It Go" ? The quick answer is: You don't. Borrowing a page from Walt himself (i.e. " You can't top pigs with pigs "), Disney decided go in a very different direction with its "Frozen" follow-up. Which is why -- much in the...