Disney Food Blog Guidebook
Click here to plan your Disney Dining with ease.Tour the Parks
Buy from Garden Grocer
Get the scoop on Disney Food
Our web guys
Category Archives: D23
D23 News & Updates for December 2011 and Beyond
D23 has just added a very special episode of “Armchair Archivist” to its website, and I wanted to share it with you – http://www.youtube.com/watch?
The video will give you a great idea of where Walt Disney vacationed and re-charged his creative batteries. The website also has a story on Disneyland Golden Horseshoe Revue alumnus Dana Daniels, who will present his award-winning comedy and magic act during the Smoke Tree Ranch Roundup, and regale guests with tales of working at the legendary Golden Horseshoe Saloon. You’ll find that story at http://d23.disney.go.com/news/
Both of these links illustrate just some of the fun in store for D23 Members and their guests who experience the first-of-its-kind Smoke Tree Ranch Roundup, created just for D23 Members.
For Disney film fans, it’s also worth noting that FREE tickets will be available on Monday (Dec. 19) for the first “From the Vaults” film series at the Walt Disney Studios – presenting the inimitable “Newsies” on the big screen. (Tickets are free, but there is a $5 processing fee per ticket.) For those lucky folks who were in Pasadena in August 2009 for the special D23/ArcLight presentation of “Newsies,” you know it was an absolutely electrifying experience. We think it’s going to be an amazing time at the Studios for this presentation, too, especially with the “breaking news” that “Newsies” is coming soon to Broadway!
Related articles
- D23 Sprinkles Disney Magic Across The Country With A Year Of Spectacular Events (chipandco.com)
- D23 Events Go Coast to Coast and Park to Park (chipandco.com)
D23 Brings Magic and Merriment to Walt Disney World Resort
This past weekend members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club enjoyed two full days of holiday happenings at Walt Disney World Resort during the club’s annual Magic and Merriment event. In fact, the event was so popular in past years that D23 doubled the capacity this year by offering the event two times. And the excitement was capped with a royal engagement.
The merriment kicked off inside World Showplace at Epcot where guests were treated to presentations that offered an insider’s look at the holidays around the resort. Imagineer Alex Carothers and Holiday Services manager Lisa Borotkanics revealed some of the secrets to transforming Walt Disney World Resort, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, and the Disney Cruise Line fleet into wintery wonderlands. Walt Disney Archivist Steven Vagnini looked at the history of the Candlelight Processional at Disney Parks (later that day, guests enjoyed reserved seating to see the spectacle for themselves). And Disney Legend Kathryn Beaumont (who gave voice to Wendy in “Peter Pan” and Alice in “Alice in Wonderland”) talked about her history with Walt Disney working with Walt on 1951’s Walt Disney Christmas Show.
Imagineer Gary Landrum explored the creation of the Cinderella Castle Dream Suite – and the following day, guests all received a tour of the rarely seen accommodations. It was inside this regal room that D23 Member Amanda Richards received a royal proposal from her now-fiancé, Ben Doughan. Congratulations!
“The Dream Suite was more magical than I expected,” said D23 Member Debbie Bingham who had traveled from New Jersey to attend the event. “It was even more impressive after hearing the presentation the day before where the Imagineer described all the details.” Guests also got a glimpse backstage, visiting the Holiday and Scenic Services buildings as well as the Parade Barn. “It doesn’t ruin the magic,” added Debbie’s husband Gary. “It makes it even more impressive.”
Also included during the weekend were Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and a spectacular holiday feast at Disney’s Animal Kingdom after the park had closed to guests. While Magic and Merriment marks the end of another year of extraordinary experiences, D23 has unveiled an impressive slate of events for 2012 that will bring Disney delights to D23 Members across the country. Stay tuned for even more exciting announcements coming soon from D23: The Official Disney Fan Club regarding exclusive events, opportunities and benefits just for D23 Members.
Related articles
- Save Up to 30 Percent on Select Walt Disney World Resort Stays This Spring (chipandco.com)
- Fun facts about Christmas at Walt Disney World Resort (chipandco.com)
Holiday Gift Idea from D23: The Official Disney Fan Club
What’s a holiday gift that will surprise and delight the Disney fan on your list throughout the year? The gift of membership in D23: The Official Disney Fan Club! A Gold-Level Membership to D23: The Official Disney Fan Club brings the incredible history and legacy of Disney to life, while offering exclusive peeks into Disney’s amazing future.
Additional D23 membership details are attached as well as Gold Level membership imagery including:
- The quarterly Disney twenty-three magazine
- Collectible gift (accompanies magazine)
- An annual gift for new and renewing members
- Personalized membership certificate
- Personalized membership card.
In 2012, D23 Members will also have the opportunity totake part in amazing events all over the country.
Related articles
- D23 Sprinkles Disney Magic Across The Country With A Year Of Spectacular Events (chipandco.com)
- D23 Members Save at Retailers and Attractions Including Brookstone, THQ, SuperShuttle and More (chipandco.com)
D23 Presents the Smoke Tree Ranch Roundup
For the first time ever, Disney fans are being invited to the historic Smoke Tree Ranch to experience the splendor of the California desert and the charms of “The Ranch” just like Walt Disney did over 50 years ago.
Smoke Tree Ranch has been likened to Walt’s own “Laughing Place”—a peaceful retreat in beautiful Palm Springs that he and his family frequented and spent many weekends and holidays, which has been named one of the world’s 10 “exclusive hideaways” by the Robb Rebort. In 1954, Walt sold his vacation home at Smoke Tree Ranch to help finance Disneyland, later purchasing another home in the community in 1957.
Over the years, Walt helped his daughters learn how to ride horses, enjoyed recreational activities, and enjoyed a peaceful desert environment where he could retreat from his busy work life.
Walt’s love for the resort was symbolized by a stylized “STR” emblem emblazoned on his necktie, as seen today in the beloved “Partners” statue found in the Disney Parks. (Read more on Smoke Tree Ranch.)
Event Information
DATES
Monday, January 23 through Wednesday, January 25, 2012
LOCATION
Smoke Tree Ranch, 1850 Smoke Tree Lane, Palm Springs, California, 92264
Time
Check-in begins at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, January 23. The welcome reception will begin at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets
Click here to buy tickets.
Cost
$825 per person for a party of two, staying in a single cottage, with a cost of $450 for each additional guest in each cottage, up to four people, based on availability. (Single person occupancy, one person in one cottage, is $1,200)
Related articles
- D23 Events Go Coast to Coast and Park to Park (chipandco.com)
- D23 Sprinkles Disney Magic Across The Country With A Year Of Spectacular Events (chipandco.com)
D23 Sprinkles Disney Magic Across The Country With A Year Of Spectacular Events
In 2012, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will take the show on the road as it kicks off a year-long celebration for D23 members with a bold lineup of fantastic events.
Throughout the year, D23 will delight Disney fans from Boston, New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Palm Springs to Orlando, Burbank and even Marceline, Missouri — Walt Disney’s boyhood hometown — with the thrill and excitement of uniquely magical Disney experiences.
“To help D23 celebrate its third ‘fanniversary,’ we developed the most exciting lineup yet of special events to bring our members truly one-of-a-kind Disney experiences,” said Steven Clark, head of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club. “We’re excited to visit our fans all around the country, and to create events we hope will surprise and delight them.”
Starting the year are two new extraordinary experiences: D23’s JOURNEY TO MARCELINE and D23 PRESENTS THE SMOKE TREE RANCH ROUNDUP.
For the first time ever, a special tour of Walt’s boyhood hometown — Marceline, Missouri — will take place for D23 members on March 14. Led by Disney archivists, the daylong Journey to Marcelineexplores this small town (pop. 2,221) in ways that will have special resonance for Disney fans.
In his later life, Walt found unique inspiration at Smoke Tree Ranch in Palm Springs, and during the incredible, three-day Smoke Tree Ranch Roundup (January 23-25), D23 Members can experience this exclusive retreat in a completely unique way. In another first-of-its-kind, immersive experience, Disney fans will get to see what Walt called “my own laughing place,” taking part in screenings, presentations, activities and delectable meals, all while staying in a Smoke Tree Ranch cottage.
In the spring, D23 takes the party on the road with the D23 ‘FANNIVERSARY’ CELEBRATION. It commemorates more than 40 unforgettable Disney magical milestones, each celebrating an anniversary in2012. Hosted by Disney archivists, D23 Fanniversary Celebration events will be held in Orlando, New York, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco and Los Angeles and revisits some of the most beloved Disney theme park attractions, animated and live-action films, TV series and more from 85 years of Disney history. Fanniversary events will be open to the public, with special admission and surprises created especially for D23 Members in attendance.
In the summer, D23 will offer an all-new “Destination D” event – DESTINATION D: 75 YEARS OF DISNEY ANIMATION, held over two days at the Disneyland Resort in California (August 11-12). As Disney marks the 75th anniversary of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, D23 marks the occasion by gathering many renowned Disney animation legends along with topDisney animators, voice talent (past and present) and composers — plus interesting demonstrations, fascinating presentations, autograph sessions and the chance to see entertaining animation rarities from the Disney vaults —all in celebration of 75 years of Disney feature animation.
Throughout the year, D23 will continue its popular series of movie screenings at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. With a new series, FROM THE VAULTS, D23 will bring favorite live-action films back to the big screen, including special 20th anniversary screenings of Newsies (February 25) and Sister Act (May 26), plus the classic Disney adaptation of Treasure Island (September 22). D23’s 50 AND FABULOUS series also returns in 2012, with In Search of the Castaways (June 23).
The year also includes four special weekends of member-only tours of the Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney Archives in Burbank, which are planned for February 11-12, April 28-29, September 8-9 and November 10-11 — doubling the capacity of these consistently sold-out D23 events.
In the fall, during Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival, D23’s popular Sip & Stroll event get a Halloween twist and becomes SIP & SCREAM (October 2012). And during the holiday season D23 will again hold back-to-back presentations of its popular holiday offerings — DISNEY AND DICKENS (in Burbank in December) and MAGIC & MERRIMENT (at Walt Disney World Resort, tentative dates: December 7-8 and 9-10), doubling your Disney holiday fun.
Look for more D23 events to be announced throughout the year including details on an Epcot 30th anniversary celebration and a fun-filled D23 third anniversary party at the Disneyland Resort. Full details on D23’s lineup of 2012 special events can be found on the Fan Club’s website at http://www.Disney.com/D23. All events and dates are subject to change.
D23: The Official Disney Fan Club celebrates the remarkable past, present and future of Disney, taking its name from 1923, the year Walt Disney founded his world-famous company. D23 brings its members ahost of exclusive benefits, including a bi-weekly email newsletter; a host of discounts and special offers; and free gifts throughout the year. Disney fans can join the world’s only Official Disney Fan Club by visiting www.Disney.com/D23, or at select shops at the Disneyland® Resort, the Walt Disney World® Resort and www.DisneyStore.com/D23.
Related articles
- Disney Twenty-Three Magazine Goes Behind The Scenes With The Muppets (chipandco.com)
- D23 Members Save at Retailers and Attractions Including Brookstone, THQ, SuperShuttle and More (chipandco.com)
