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Ears the News with Richard

Ears the News is brought to you courtesy of our friends at WDWMagic.com.

Disney has confirmed the dates for this year's Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
The display will begin this year on November 6 2015 through to January 3 2016.
An update to Disney's PhotoPass service has added watermarks across images when viewed online at MyDisneyPhotoPass.com.
The copy protection watermarks cover a large amount of the image, a technique which is often used to dissuade people from copying an image without making a purchase.
Any photo that has not been purchased will show the watermark, both on the index screen, and during any editing (as shown above). If a photo is purchased, or is part of the Memory Maker package, the watermark is removed.
Along with the watermarking, Disney has made a couple of other changes to the PhotoPass site.
1.   If purchasing a digital copy of a PhotoPass image online, you will be able to download any copies you make of that image without additional charge. A copy image is made when an edit is made, such as cropping, adding a border or other special effect.
2.   If a print is purchased online, the digital version of that print can now be downloaded without additional charge.
D23 released information about its '60 Years of Innovation' exhibit at this year's D23 EXPO.
Guests will get an in-depth look at Pandora when they explore what’s to come for the AVATAR project, with models, images, and exhibits on display.
Here is the full release from D23.
The Walt Disney Parks and Resorts show floor pavilion will give D23 EXPO 2015 guests a look into the much-anticipated Shanghai Disney Resort, as well as a preview of the Avatar project coming to Walt Disney World Resort’s Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Plus, in addition to the previously announced Hall D23 presentation on Saturday, August 15, guests will have the opportunity to hear from executives, Imagineers, designers, Disney Legends and others directly involved with various projects for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts in five engaging panels.
On The Show Floor
Presentations and Panels
Friday, August 14
1:30–2:30 p.m. 60 Years of Disney Parks Merchandise (Stage 28)
3:15–4:15 p.m. Safari So Good—60 Years of the World Famous Jungle Cruise (Stage 23)
5–7 p.m. Imagineering 60 Years of Disneyland (Stage 23)
Sunday, August 16
10–11 a.m. Disney Kingdoms (Stage 28)
3–4 p.m. Experience the World with Disney: Adventures by Disney, Aulani, Disney Cruise Line, and Disney Vacation Club (Stage 28)

Located in Hall C, the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Pavilion is a 12,500-square-foot exhibit that gives guests a glimpse of the creative process in designing and building Shanghai Disney Resort, along with a preview of the Avatar project coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
In a celebratory exhibit on Shanghai Disney Resort, maquettes, artist illustrations, and media clips capture the designer's’ journey as the resort comes to life. Guests can learn about the show design process and discover the tradition and innovation infused into the resort.
Guests will also get an in-depth look at Pandora when they explore what’s to come for the AVATAR project, with models, images, and exhibits on display.
Additionally, Mickey’s of Glendale, the Imagineering-exclusive merchandise store, will open an outpost at the Pavilion where guests will have the opportunity to purchase merchandise specially designed for D23 EXPO 2015.

Join our talented Disney Design Group artists, merchandisers, and special guests as they take you from concept to reality with behind-the-scenes storytelling about classic Disney souvenirs and how they have become tangible lasting memories. Guests will get a first look at some of the exciting new merchandise coming to Disney parks.

Skippers from throughout the years reflect on their experiences at the Jungle Cruise, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary as one of Disneyland’s opening-day attractions. They will also discuss changes to the attraction over the years including recent holiday overlays and other additions.

In a two-part panel discussion about Disneyland with Disney Legends and current Imagineers, panelists will discuss how it all began, what it took to carry on Walt Disney’s legacy, and how Imagineers are continuing to deliver magic well into the future. The panel is moderated by Academy Award®- and Emmy®-nominated filmmaker Leslie Iwerks, who will present a new trailer from her forthcoming documentary about Walt Disney Imagineering.

Guests will learn about Disney Kingdoms, a joint collaboration between Marvel Comics and Walt Disney Imagineering. Guests will hear how these popular comic book series got started and discover the creators and theme park inspirations behind these popular titles, including Seekers of the Weird, Figment, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

This panel will provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how Disney is creating new vacation experiences for families all around the world. The first 400 guests in attendance will get a D23 EXPO-exclusive pin set.
Fantasmic! at Disney's Hollywood Studios has received an upgrade to its projection system and added a new animated sequence.
The old film based water screen projectors have been removed, and in their place comes a new digital projection system. Not only is the image brighter and more colorful, the digital system has benefits in the event of a show stop and restart.
During the animated bubble sequence projected onto the water screens, Anna and Elsa from Disney's 'Frozen' make an appearance. There is no change to the audio, and the appearance of the Frozen characters is quite brief.
The Garden Grill Restaurant at The Land pavilion in Epcot's Future World will begin offering breakfast and lunch later this year.
Since lunch was discontinued a few years back, the Garden Grill has only served dinner, but starting November 8 2015, the restaurant will also offer breakfast and lunch.
Operating hours will be 8am to 10:30am for breakfast, 11:30am to 3pm for lunch, and dinner 4pm to 8pm. All three periods will offer the family-style dining service, and will feature characters appearances by Pluto, Chip and Dale, and Mickey.
The Garden Grill will also be offering breakfast, lunch and dinner packages with seating at this year's Candlelight Processional.
Epcot's 20th International Food and Wine Festival is just under two months away, and reservations for the festival's premium ticketed events began on July 30 2015.
Reservations for all the premium events can be made by calling Disney at (407) 939-3378. For all events taking place inside Epcot, park admission is required and is not included in the event pricing.

A full list of events and prices is avaliable at WDWMagic.com

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