In Disney News...

Time for a look at some of the latest Disney News!

...It goes without saying that the biggest news of all was last week's announcement of Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm. It will take a while to sort out what it all means, but we do know that Disney promises STAR WARS EPISODE 7 is coming in 2015. As a huge fan of the three original STAR WARS films who was bitterly disappointed by Episodes 1 and 2 -- I refused to even go see Episode 3 -- I'm not sure whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, but hopefully Disney will have more success with a new episode than Lucas had.

...Disney's new cartoon WRECK-IT RALPH (2012) opened to positive reviews last week, though not necessarily raves. I hope to check it out soon. The superb short PAPERMAN (2012), which I got to see last summer at Destination D, plays before WRECK-IT RALPH.

...The Winter issue of Disney Twenty-three magazine, featuring WRECK-IT RALPH on the cover, will be available on November 13th. The edition will also cover the SNOW WHITE exhibit at the Walt Disney Family Museum, which opens November 15th, and features an interview with SNOW WHITE live action model Marge Champion. I've admired Marge Champion's dancing in MGM musicals for years, and it was a huge thrill to speak with her and receive her autograph at Destination D in August.

...Here's a story and videos on Annette Funicello and her life today with multiple sclerosis. This is a sad but touching article which includes information on new treatments.

...MiceChat has photos of construction underway for the RATATOUILLE ride coming to Disneyland Paris.

...A new book on a Disney star from Bear Manor Media: FESS PARKER: TV'S FRONTIER HERO by William R. Chemerka.

...SlashFilm has a first look at Tom Hanks as Walt Disney in SAVING MR. BANKS (2013), which is filming this week at Disneyland.

...Florida's Magic Kingdom has added creepy mermaids to their version of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

...Speaking of Pirates, glad to see they've departed from Disneyland's Court des Anges in New Orleans Square.

...The official Disney Blog shared a sketch (seen at right) of plans for Christmas decorations on California Adventure's new Buena Vista Street. Disneyland Live has beautiful photos of the tree -- love the trolley car ornament! Hope to have a peek at this in person this coming weekend -- as well as pick up the new Circle Sessions CD, which consists of jazz renditions of classic Disney tunes which are played in the Carthay Circle Restaurant.

...SamLand has an interesting article at MiceChat about Disneyland's river system and "private places" such as Club 33 and Walt's apartment atop the Main Street Fire Station.

...Coming to TV in 2013: TOY STORY OF TERROR.

...Disney is sponsoring a Cars Land float for the January 1, 2013 Rose Parade.

...Over at MiceAge, Al Lutz warns that Disneyland may be planning to charge extra to see their Christmas parade and fireworks in future years, along the lines of the Halloween Time parties.

...Also at MiceAge, a report on D23's 30th Anniversary celebration for Epcot, held on September 30th.

...For Southern Californians: WRECK-IT RALPH will be playing at Disney's El Capitan Theatre until December 18th. That will be followed by MONSTERS, INC. (2001) in 3-D until January 6th.

...I'm most definitely going to be visiting the El Capitan in January, when PETER PAN (1953) will be playing from January 11th to 31st. I saw a reissue in a theater as a child and look forward to the chance to see it on a big screen again.

...For more recent Disney links, please visit last month's Disney news roundup.