Epcot to celebrate Pixar's 25th Anniversary

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

From the Disney Parks blog...

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Honors Pixar May 13-15

posted on April 21st, 2011 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager

Heads up Pixar fans ? we?re breaking an exciting announcement this morning on the Disney Parks Blog.

Pixar's 25th Anniversary Weekend May 13-15 at Epcot

The 18th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will celebrate all-things Pixar, including the upcoming release of ?Cars 2,? during Pixar?s 25th Anniversary Weekend May 13-15 at Epcot.

Mater from Disney?Pixar's 'Cars' and 'Cars 2'

Mater from ?Cars? and ?Cars 2? leads the celebration, which will include special Pixar character meet and greets, kids activities, informational discussions by Pixar filmmakers and more.

Characters from Disney?Pixar's 'Up'

World Showplace (located between the Canada and United Kingdom pavilions), will serve as the celebration headquarters. Inside, families can enjoy meet and greets with characters from ?The Incredibles,? ?Toy Story 3,? ?Monsters, Inc.? and ?Up,? or browse a photo gallery that calls out some of Pixar?s best Easter eggs from past films. There also will be an art gallery that displays the creative work that went in to Pixar films.

'Cars' Franchise Guardian Jay Ward

World Showplace also will be the setting for informational discussions by Pixar filmmakers: Composer Michael Giacchino, Producer Jonas Rivera and ?Cars? Franchise Guardian Jay Ward (pictured above). Discussions will take place May 14-15 (times are still TBD).

Remy from Disney?Pixar's 'Ratatouille'

And the Pixar fun will continue throughout World Showcase, where characters from ?Toy Story,? ?Ratatouille? and ?A Bug?s Life? wait to greet guests. Kids also can play the ?Cars 2? Race Around the World Showcase game by picking up a booklet with clues that send them on a journey to specific World Showcase pavilions, where they?ll receive more clues, and receive a reward at the end. (All entertainment is subject to change).

Now, who?s coming?

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/04/epcot-international-flower-garden-festival-honors-pixar-may-13-15/

[WhitShores 1]

That sounds awesome. Love PIXAR. I'm really afraid my 6 year old has grown out of Cars and won't be interested in Cars 2. Maybe not, but if so, DH and I are totally prepared to see it by ourselves. :facepalm:

[~Kristina~ 10]

That is so cool!

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

More info from WDW Magic...

Full line-up and schedule for the Pixar Weekend at Epcot's International Flower and Garden Festival

Apr 26, 2011

Here is the full line-up and schedule for the Pixar Weekend at Epcot's International Flower and Garden Festival, taking place May 13-15 2011.

Pixar Celebration Headquarters

World Showplace (located between the Canada and United Kingdom pavilion), will serve as the celebration headquarters. Inside, families can enjoy meet and greets with characters from The Incredibles, Toy Story 3, Monsters, Inc. and Up, and browse a photo gallery that calls out some of Pixar?s best Easter Eggs from past films. There also will be an art gallery that displays the creative work that went in to Pixar films.

Pixar Character Meet and Greets

- Future World

Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story at Mission: SPACE

Mater from Cars and Cars 2 at Test Track

Living Coral Stiltwalkers at The Seas with Nemo and Friends and Crush at Turtle Talk with Crush

- World Showcase

Woody, Jessie and Bullseye from Toy Story at the American Adventure

Flick, Atta, Gypsy Moth and stilt walking Slim from A Bug?s Life at the Art of Living Garden

Remy and Emile from Ratatouille at France

- World Showplace

Mr. & Mrs. Incredible and FroZone from The Incredibles

Lotso from Toy Story 3

Mike, Sully, Boo and Smitty from Monster?s Inc.

Carl, Russell and Dug from Up

Guest Speakers

A special speaker series featuring talks by Oscar?-nominated Pixar producer Jonas Rivera, Oscar?-winning composer composer Michael Giacchino and Cars Franchise Guardian Jay Ward will also take place at World Showplace Saturday and Sunday.

Daily Speaker Series Schedule: May 14 ? 15, 2011

Noon: Jay Ward

2:00 PM: Jonas Rivera

4:00 PM: Michael Giacchino

6:00 PM: Special Presentation by Jay Ward, Jonas Rivera and Michael Giacchino

Activities

Kids also can play the Cars 2 Race Around World Showcase game, by picking up a booklet with clues that send them on a journey to specific World Showcase pavilions, where they?ll receive more clues, and receive a reward at the end.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/Events/Epcot-International-Flower-and-Garden-Festival/News/26Apr2011-Full-line-up-and-schedule-for-the-Pixar-Weekend-at-Epcot%27s-International-Flower-and-Garden-Festival.htm

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

From the Disney Parks blog...

Register to Attend a Pixar Speaker Session at Epcot May 14-15

posted on April 28th, 2011 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager

Just a heads up to all you Pixar fans who plan to attend Pixar?s 25th Anniversary Weekend May 13-15 at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival: Registration is now open for the ?Presenting Pixar? speaker sessions, featuring special guests who will give you an inside look at Pixar Animation Studios.

Speakers will take the stage May 14-15 at the following times:

    * Noon ? Jay Ward: ?Cars 101 ? Inspiration for all of the CARacters you know and love?

    * 2 p.m. ? Jonas Rivera: ?Pixar: Celebrating 25 Years of Animation?

    * 4 p.m. ? Michael Giacchino: ?Behind the Music: A Score is Born?

    * 6 p.m. ? Special presentation by Jay Ward, Jonas Rivera and Michael Giacchino

Oscar-winning Composer Michael Giacchino began studying music composition at Julliard and UCLA, eventually becoming a producer for Disney Interactive Division, writing music for video games. His work grabbed the attention of Television Producer JJ Abrams, who hired him to write the score for ABC?s ?Alias,? and ?Lost,? the latter of which Michael earned an Emmy.

Michael?s more recent composition credits include Disney?Pixar?s ?The Incredibles? and ?Ratatouille,? as well as ?Up,? which earned him an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and two Grammy Awards. He?s currently working on Disney?Pixar?s ?Cars 2.?

Oscar-nominated Producer Jonas Rivera joined Pixar Animation Studios in 1994 as a production office assistant on the studio?s first feature film, ?Toy Story.? Working on almost every Pixar feature film to date, Rivera?s ability and expertise has enabled him to advance in his role on each of the studio?s subsequent productions. Some of his film credits include: ?A Bug?s Life,? ?Toy Story 2,? ?Monsters, Inc.,? and ?Cars.? He most recently served as producer on the Academy Award-winning feature ?Up.?

?Cars? Franchise Guardian Jay Ward came to Pixar Animation Studios in December 1998 to work as an art department production assistant on the 2001 feature film, ?Monsters, Inc.? In 2001, he began early development work on the 2006 film, ?Cars.? During production, Jay?s knowledge of the automotive world allowed him to perform different roles on the film, including character team manager and consultant to the film?s director and co-director, John Lasseter and Joe Ranft. Ward continues to contribute his enthusiasm for cars and his artistic passions to the creation of any and everything within the ?Cars? franchise.

As you can see, preparations are already underway for the celebration, which also will feature themed topiaries, Disney-Pixar character meet-and-greet experiences, kids? activities and more.

Visit http://www.pixarweekend.com/ to register for the ?Presenting Pixar? sessions and to learn more.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/04/register-to-attend-a-pixar-speaker-session-at-epcot-may-14-15/