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Nation’s First LEGOLAND Hotel Opening Summer 2013

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NATION'S FIRST LEGOLAND® HOTEL OPENING SUMMER 2013!!
LEGOLAND® California Resort
announces expansion at press conference


CARLSBAD,
Calif. (Aug. 25, 2011)

"LEGOLAND® California
Resort is ready to grow
again," announced General Manager of LEGOLAND California Resort Peter
Ronchetti. "In the summer of 2013, right where you are sitting, we
are opening LEGOLAND® Hotel" he announced to invited guests and media at today's press conference.

The three-story LEGOLAND Hotel is being designed to give guests the interactive family experience
that has brought success to LEGOLAND California, SEA LIFETM Carlsbad Aquarium and LEGOLAND® Water Park. Created to bring
children's imaginations to life, the 250-room LEGO® themed hotel will feature brightly colored LEGO décor, a pool area and
restaurant. LEGOLAND Hotel will be the first of its kind in North America and construction is set to begin in October.  

The announcement was made at the site where the hotel will be built
which is to the right of
LEGOLAND California's entrance in an area currently used for bus
parking. Icons from each of the Resort's attractions flanked the
background as Ronchetti spoke to each one's success. Ride cars from
Safari Trek and Volvo Driving School and the costumed character
"Buddy" represented LEGOLAND California which opened in 1999 and
continues its stellar growth streak by having the most successful year
in
the history of the family theme park in 2010. A 12-foot acrylic shark
along with two Aquarists represented SEA LIFE Carlsbad Aquarium which
opened in
2008 and focuses on educating children on the wonders of the underwater
world in a way specifically designed for their understanding. Two
lifeguards
wearing customized Build-A-Rafts represented the world's first LEGOLAND
Water Park which opened last year and was honored with the World Water
Park Association's prestigious Industry Innovation Award. And lastly, a
six-foot tall model of a hotel bellhop built out of more than 37,000
LEGO bricks was revealed – the first model built for LEGOLAND Hotel.

Mayor Pro Tem Ann Kulchin from the City of Carlsbad congratulated
Ronchetti on the announcement after she rode in on LEGOLAND California's
whimsical "Brick Mobile" pulling behind it a queen-sized bed decked out
with colorful bedding and LEGO brick graphics. "We've
been waiting for this and now it's finally happening and I'm so
pleased," said Kulchin. "Carlsbad has the reputation of being
family oriented and this is the piece of the puzzle that really needs to
be here."  With that declaration, more than 28,000 thousand
multi-colored DUPLO® bricks (a DUPLO brick is exactly twice
the dimension of a standard LEGO brick) weighing more than one-thousand
pounds were poured out of a big front loader onto the bed below.
Children invited from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Carlsbad wore pajamas
to the press
conference to get in the "hotel mood" and squealed with delight as the
bricks came pouring down on to the bed.

The City of Carlsbad Planning Commission approved LEGOLAND
California Resort's request for
permission to build a hotel on Resort property in 2009. "Once the rest
of the proper approvals were attained, we had to consider many factors
including economic recovery, before establishing the perfect opening
date for this remarkable hotel," Ronchetti explained. "But now, we
are ready to move forward in our development and I can't wait to bring
the LEGOLAND experience to the next level for our guests."

Like LEGOLAND California and the SEA LIFE Carlsbad Aquarium, the
hotel will be
designed for families with young children and will feature rooms and
suites themed after the most popular LEGOLAND areas. The LEGOLAND Hotel
joins the
Sheraton Carlsbad Resort and Spa and the Grand Pacific Palisades already
on Resort property.

While this is the first LEGOLAND Hotel in the United States, it will be the third in the world following LEGOLAND Windsor Hotel
opening in 2012 and LEGOLAND Billund which opened a 176-room LEGOLAND Hotel in 1991.

To follow the progress of LEGOLAND Hotel, visit  www.LEGOLANDhotel.com. For more information on LEGOLAND California Resort, visit
www.LEGOLAND.com or call 760-918-LEGO.

LEGOLAND®
California Resort includes LEGOLAND California and SEA LIFETM Carlsbad
Aquarium, both geared for families with
children between the ages of 2 and 12. At LEGOLAND California, you'll
find more than 60 rides, shows and attractions including the 5.5 acre
LEGOLAND Water Park and the all-new Star WarsTM Miniland. SEA LIFE
incorporates LEGO® models into a child's voyage to the
depths of the ocean and features play zones, fun facts, quiz trails and the new Octopus Garden. For more information, log on to www.LEGOLAND.com or
call (760) 918-LEGO.

MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS is the leading name
in
location-based, family entertainment, and has seen the most successful
and dynamic growth of any company in the sector over the last five
years.
Europe's Number 1 and the world's second-largest visitor attraction
operator, Merlin now operates 77 attractions, six hotels/two holiday
villages in 17 countries and across four continents. The company aims to
deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its 43.6 million
visitors
worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the
commitment and passion of its managers and more than 16,000 employees.
Merlin
Entertainments operates the following attractions – SEA LIFE, Madame
Tussauds, LEGOLAND, The EDF Energy London Eye, Dungeons, Gardaland,
LEGOLAND
Discovery Centres, Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, Thorpe Park,
Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Heide Park, Earth Explorer,
Sydney
Aquarium, Sydney Wildlife World, Sydney Tower Observatory and Skywalk,
Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter Underwater World, Oceanworld Manly
and Hamilton Island Koala Gallery.  All brands which are distinctive,
challenging and innovative – and which have great potential for
growth in the future. Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.

 

Prices,
times
and schedules subject to change without notice. LEGO, the LEGO
logo, the Minifigure and LEGOLAND are trademarks of the LEGO Group.
©2011 The LEGO Group.
LEGOLAND CALIFORNIA RESORT AND SEA LIFE ARE A PART OF THE MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS
GROUP.

 

 


 

Jim Hill is an entertainment writer who has specialized in covering The Walt Disney Company for nearly 40 years now. Over that time, he has interviewed hundreds of animators, actors, and Imagineers -- many of whom have shared behind-the-scenes stories with Mr. Hill about how the Mouse House really works. In addition to the 4000+ articles Jim has written for the Web, he also co-hosts a trio of popular podcasts: “Disney Dish with Len Testa,” “Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor” and “Marvel US Disney with Aaron Adams.” Mr. Hill makes his home in Southern New Hampshire with his lovely wife Nancy and two obnoxious cats, Ginger & Betty.

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News & Press Releases

Disney Will Bring D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event to Anaheim, California in August 2024

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Expanded Disney Fan Experience Will Feature New and Exciting Events Across Multiple Locations, Including a D23 Takeover of the Happiest Place On Earth, Evening Entertainment at the Honda Center, D23 Day at Angel Stadium, and Much More

Fan Favorites Including Exhibits, Panels, Shows, and Shopping Will Dazzle Disney Enthusiasts at the Anaheim Convention Center

D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is a one-of-a-kind fan experience like never before with spectacular shows, new venues, and multiple days of entertainment that will bring together the best of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and more!

Highlightswill include:

  • Sunday, August 4: D23 Day at Angel Stadium, where D23 fans are invited to attend the Los Angeles Angels vs. New York Mets game. 
  • Thursday, August 8: D23 kickoff celebration at Disneyland Resort.
  • Friday, August 9 – Sunday, August 11: Shopping, exhibits, panels, and presentations will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center during the day, with the fun extending into the evening at the Honda Center, the bigger home to marquee shows.

Tickets for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event will go on sale in Spring 2024, with ticketing options to be announced later for access to the Anaheim Convention Center and the Honda Center. Admission for D23 Day at Angel Stadium and the D23 kickoff celebration at Disneyland Resort will be available as separate ticketed events. Additional details for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event will be announced in early 2024.

You can get updates by staying connected to D23 via social media (@DisneyD23 on FacebookInstagramX), D23.com, and our weekly D23 FanFare email (sign up for free as a D23 General Member at JoinD23.com).

About D23

The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s nearly 100-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic year-round through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; the latest news and stories on D23.com; member-exclusive offers and discounts; the popular D23 Inside Disney podcast; and special experiences for D23 Members throughout the year.

Fans can join D23 at Gold Membership ($99.99/year), Gold Duo Membership ($129.99/year), and General Membership (complimentary) levels at D23.com. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube.

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Star Wars Spoof: Space Robots in Outer Space Ep X: Battle for the Halcyon: The Last Starcruiser

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Sure, Star Wars is cool and all. But let’s not forget about that other multi-part sci-fi cinematic spectacular, “Space Robots in Outer Space.” In fact, Hank Lonely (Hollywood’s ultimate hyphenate — actor / producer / director / writer / guy who makes sure the Porto Potties are kept squeaky-clean) just announced that there’ll soon be a 10th installment of this … Well, not exactly beloved. How about we say “admired from afar” instead? … series coming to a theater near you. In fact, here’s the highly anticipated teaser trailer for that project. Which is supposed to be titled “Space Robots in Outer Space X — Battle for the Halycon: The Last Starcruiser.”

Okay. Now the real story … In honor of Star Wars Day (i.e., May 4th. As in “May the Fourth Be With You”), Len Testa and I are sharing something that we produced with the help of all the nice folks who joined us last month aboard the Halycon.

We turned the Galactic Starcruiser as well as Black Spire Outpost into the backdrop for an affectionate send-up of all things Stars Wars. We hope that you (more importantly, the legal team at Lucasfilm) take this faux trailer in the spirit with which it was intended. Special thanks to Aaron Adams for so skillfully stitching all of this footage together. Also thanks to the team at Storybook Destinations, Touring Plans and the talented cast & crew aboard the “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser” for making this “Disney Dish” fan event so memorable.

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Disney’s New Trailer Reveals How Ralph & Vanellope Get to the Internet in “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2”

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Wreck-It Ralph 2

When “Wreck-It Ralph” opened on Nov. 2, 2012, it turned in the highest opening weekend ever for a Walt Disney Animation Studios film at the time of release. Now Disney is hoping Ralph will not only break the Internet but the 2018 Thanksgiving boxoffice records as well.

The film re-teams the original director, producer and co-writer behind “Wreck-It Ralph.”  The screenplay is currently being written by Phil Johnston and Pamela Ribon. Director Rich Moore, producer Clark Spencer, and co-writer Phil Johnston partnered with fellow director Byron Howard and co-writer/co-director Jared Bush to create the Academy Award®-winning blockbuster feature “Zootopia.”

ROYAL REUNION – In “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck It Ralph 2,” Vanellope von Schweetz-along with her best friend Ralph-ventures into the uncharted world of the internet. When she finds herself surrounded by Disney princesses, she’s surprised to learn that she actually has a lot in common with them. The scene, highlighted in a new trailer for the film (below), features several of the original princess voices, including Auli’i Cravalho (“Moana”), Kristen Bell (Anna in “Frozen”), Idina Menzel (Elsa in “Frozen”), Kelly MacDonald (Merida in “Brave”), Mandy Moore (Rapunzel in “Tangled”), Anika Noni Rose (Tiana in “The Princess and the Frog”), Ming-Na Wen (“Mulan”), Irene Bedard (“Pocahontas”), Linda Larkin (Jasmine in “Aladdin”), Paige O’Hara (Belle in “Beauty and the Beast”) and Jodi Benson (Ariel in “The Little Mermaid”). Featuring Sarah Silverman as the voice of Vanellope, “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck It Ralph 2” opens in theaters nationwide Nov. 21, 2018. 

 

“RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WRECK-IT RALPH 2”

WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS

https://disney.com/ralphbreakstheinternet

https://www.youtube.com/user/disneyanimation

https://www.facebook.com/WreckItRalph/

https://twitter.com/wreckitralph

https://www.instagram.com/wreckitralph/

 

U.S. Release Date:  Nov. 21, 2018

Voice cast: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Taraji P. Henson, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk

Directors: Rich Moore, Phil Johnston

Producer: Clark Spencer

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