We bring you a lot of stories every single day. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up. So in case you missed anything from our feed, we have rounded up all our stories in one place to get the news at a glance. Here is your Daily Recap for Friday, May 19, 2023.
In a recent Instagram post, Auli’i Cravalho announced she would not be reprising her role as Moana in the recently-announced live-action remake based on its eponymous 2016 source material.
When I was cast as Moana at 14, it wonderfully changed my life and started my career. In this live-action retelling, I will not be reprising the role. I believe it is absolutely vital that casting accurately represents the characters and stories we want to tell. So, as an executive producer on the film, I cannot wait to help find the next actress to portray Moana’s courageous spirit, undeniable wit, and emotional strength. I am truly honored to pass this baton to the next young woman of Pacific Island descent, to honor our incredible Pacific peoples, cultures, and communities that helped inspired her story. And I look forward to all the beautiful Pacific representation to come. Mahalo.
Auli’i debuted the wayfaring protagonist’s character in the animated feature, and additionally provided Moana’s Hawaiian-language voice in a partnership with the University of Hawai’i system, especially its West O’ahu campus. She also portrays the titular role in “Gone Fishing” (a 2017 short) and joined several other Disney Princess cameos in “Ralph Breaks the Internet.”
Cravalho has maintained an active career in television & film, on stage, and in various other media — and is currently involved in a motion picture adaptation of “Mean Girls: The Musical.”
‘Moana’ Comes to Life
At Disney’s April shareholders meeting, Dwayne Johnson appeared with his two daughters and a massive Maui hook, revealing the new film was in the works with his direct involvement.
The original film grossed almost $683 million worldwide, placing it among the top five financial performances for a Walt Disney Animation Studios film since 1994. A musical with intricate artistry and adventurous spirit, it also prioritized a respectful and culturally immersive celebration of people and environments across the Pacific Ocean’s countless islands. The two leads embodied this: Dwayne Johnson spent much of his life in Hawai’i and has family heritage rooted in Sāmoa, whilst Auli’i Cravalho is both kamaʻāina (someone of the land, referring to those who have called Hawai’i home regardless of ancestry) and kānaka (referring to someone who is of Native Hawaiian ancestry).
The ʻāina (land) is central to Hawaiian culture and life, reflected in the motto of Hawai’i first uttered by King Kamehameha III: Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono — the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness. It will be interesting to see how a live-action re-telling of this story incorporates the landscape of the islands and the message of ensuring their health and well-being.
How do you feel about a remake of this film so soon after its original premiere? Are you excited to see what new opportunities and experiences may arise in a live-action version? Let us know in the comments.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Glen Gilzean has been added to the list of defendants in an ongoing lawsuit between Disney and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Earlier this month, Gilzean was chosen by the CFTOD Board to serve as the district’s Administrator, a role he accepted and officially began on May 10. The job comes with a $400,000 annual salary, bumped up significantly because of ongoing legal fights. Few details are yet known about his goals or the full scope of what his actions will be , other than one of his stated ambitions upon taking the role:
Perhaps the most important new initiative of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, and one that’s closest to my heart is the commitment to hire an independent urban planner to make sure that our district can grow via the addition of affordable workforce housing for our community.
Critics worry the role and its new incumbent could be weaponized for further orchestrated attacks, fines, and intentionally disruptive impediments on Walt Disney World, and that Gilzean himself is essentially receiving compensation to be an ally and be aligned with the Governor. Daniel Langley, special general council for the District, alternatively describes the Administrator as “another tool in the toolbox for enforcement.”
Currently, Gilzean is the Chair of Florida’s Commission on Ethics, a position Governor DeSantis appointed him to. The Commission “renders legally binding advisory opinions interpreting the ethics laws and implements the State’s financial disclosure laws.”Recently, it rejected a complaint from the MAGA Inc. Super PAC backing Donald Trump, which claimed Governor DeSantis was violating campaign finance laws and running a “shadow” campaign for President (via AP News).
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gilzean also served on the Governor’s Re-Open Florida Task Force alongside various business and government leaders, including Josh D’Amaro (President of Walt Disney World at the time).
Outside of governmental functions, he is President and CEO of the Central Florida Urban League, with a stated goal of ending “generational poverty by empowering Central Floridians to achieve social and economic equality through education, employment and entrepreneurship.”
Lawsuits Galore
The Florida Governor and Walt Disney Company initially clashed over the corporation’s opposition to a much-debated and controversial Florida law regarding classroom instruction and discussion on sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools, alongside various other recent state laws and proposals in a similar vein.
After heated exchanges and dramatic actions taken by Governor DeSantis in an apparent and self-described act of retribution, The Walt Disney Company sued the Governor and his newly handpicked board, citing a “targeted campaign of government retaliation — orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech.” The plaintiff argues that this chronology of events “threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights.”
The CFTOD Board of Supervisors voted to file their own countersuit against Disney, essentially seeking to void and de-legitimize agreements Disney made with the previous Reedy Creek Improvement District before its forced dissolution. The new 188-page complaint names the Board itself as plaintiff against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. The district is asking the court to render Disney’s development agreement with the Reedy Creek Improvement District as unenforceable, null, and void. They also ask the same be done of the restrictive covenants, which notably set the benchmark for expiry at 21 years after the death of the last living descendant of King Charles III, living as of the date of the document.
While Disney’s lawsuit is through federal court, the Board’s lawsuit is through Florida’s state courts.
Where does this ongoing dispute go from here? Let us know in the comments.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
May the 4th has come and gone, but we’re still feeling the Force strongly in a lot of the Disney and Star Wars merch we’ve been seeing like this watch that looks like C3-PO and this Loungefly backpack. We found some new deals online that might be perfect additions to your cart!
Amazon has loads of Star Wars merch like toys, clothing, and more, but we found some Amazon Echo Dot Bundles that were really full of the Force! Let’s have a look.
It includes an Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022 release) Charcoal and the Limited Edition, Star Wars Darth Vader Stand. Also, Darth Vader’s eyes light up when the Echo Dot is placed in the stand, and Alexa’s name is called.
It also includes an Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022 release) Charcoal and the Limited Edition, Star Wars The Mandalorian Stand. Also, Mando’s eyes light up when the Echo Dot is placed in the stand, and Alexa’s name is called.
It also includes an Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022 release) Charcoal and the Limited Edition, Star Wars Stormtrooper Stand. Also, the Stormtrooper’s eyes light up when the Echo Dot is placed in the stand, and Alexa’s name is called.
Wait, do you have Amazon Prime? If you don’t already have it, you can click the link below to sign up for a FREE trial and potentially save some coin in the process!
What do you think? Will you be purchasing any of these Star Wars Echo Dot stands from Amazon? We’ll continue to keep you updated with any and all Disney news, so make sure to follow along for more!
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you’re a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Bad news, Disney+ fans — some of the original content that the streaming service has churned out over the past three and a half years is being removed. While the list of content departing is apparently being finalized, we do have a decent idea of what shows and films will be getting the ax come […]
Halle Bailey, star of The Little Mermaid, surprised two families during a Disneyland visit after a video of their reactions to the film’s first trailer went viral, according to the Disney Parks Blog. McKenzie, Madison and Carter Lanier along with Mckenzie and Riley Fleming were invited to enjoy a Disneyland Resort vacation with their families after their […]
The recent paint job of Cinderella Castle will remain after the decorations have been removed. The castle was painted new shades of pink, royal blue, gold, and gray just before “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” began.
A crane parked behind construction walls in Fantasyland is being used to remove the turret toppers. The last two will likely be removed within a week.
As part of the effort to remove the 50th anniversary decorations, the moat around the castle was partially drained. Take a look here.
The 50th Anniversary celebration at Walt Disney World Resort officially ended on March 31, 2023. Since then, Walt Disney World has been celebrating 100 years of The Walt Disney Company.
Disney100 Anniversary Celebration
Across almost all six resorts and on a global scale, Disney is celebrating “100 Years of Wonder.” This celebration is the largest event ever thrown by The Walt Disney Company. The heart of the celebration takes place at Disneyland Resort, as it is “The Place Where it All Began.”
The party kicked off on January 27, 2023, in Disneyland Resort, and is expected to last through July 2024.
At Walt Disney World, Disney100 will mostly be celebrated at EPCOT with Mickey and Minnie in their new platinum outfits. A new Spectacle of Light will debut on Spaceship Earth, and in late 2023, a new Disney100 nighttime spectacular will replace EPCOT Forever. This show was brought back after the end of Harmonious in early April but has only returned as an interim replacement.
In addition, Journey of Water, CommuniCore Hall and Plaza, World Celebration Garden, and Dreamers Point featuring the “Dreamer” statue of Walt Disney are all scheduled to open in late 2023 at EPCOT.
With the help of Feld Entertainment, the magic of Disney on Ice presents Frozen & Encanto is now available for the first time through the Disney Movie Moments program at participating children’s hospitals. For generations, Disney has worked with children’s hospitals around the world to enrich the lives of patients through the wonder of Disney stories. […]
A new “Finding Nemo” 20th anniversary Dooney & Bourke collection will be available at Walt Disney World starting on Monday, May 22.
Finding Nemo Dooney & Bourke Collection
Three bags of the collection are currently on display in Uptown Jewelers at Magic Kingdom. The collection will include this tote, satchel, and crossbody, but may include more items, too.
The print features characters from “Finding Nemo” like Marlin, Dory, the sharks, jellyfish, and the seagulls in dark blue and orange against a white and light blue ocean-like background.
Are you hoping to take home a bag from this collection? Let us know in the comments and check out the recently released “Finding Nemo” Spirit Jersey.
Finding Nemo
Pixar’s “Finding Nemo” was released in 2003 and celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. It stars Albert Brooks as Marlin, a clownfish who goes on a journey across the ocean to find his lost son, Nemo, voiced by Alexander Gould. Marlin is joined by Ellen DeGeneres’ Dory, a regal blue tang with short-term memory loss. Willem Dafoe voices Gill, a moorish idol who mentors Nemo when the little fish is brought to a dentist’s fish tank.
The critically-acclaimed film won the Academy Award and Saturn Award for Best Animated Film. It’s certified fresh with a 99% critic score and an 86% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The 2016 sequel, “Finding Dory,” is about Dory’s search for her parents. Both films were directed and co-written by Andrew Stanton. Hayden Rolence voices Nemo in the sequel, with Gould making a cameo appearance as a delivery truck driver.
Though not as praised as its predecessor, “Finding Dory” still reached a 94% critic score and 84% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. It won Best Animated Film at the Saturn Awards.
At Disney Parks, “Finding Nemo” and “Finding Dory” are represented with Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at Disneyland, Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Nemo & Friends SeaRider at Tokyo DisneySea, and Crush’s Coaster at Disneyland Paris. “Finding Nemo” characters will be featured at Pixar Place Hotel at Disneyland Resort. A section of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort at Walt Disney World is dedicated to “Finding Nemo.”
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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