Disney+ Announces Drive-In Event in October

 by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

September 29, 2020

 

I miss drive-in movie theaters. Yeah, I know there are still some scattered around the country, but especially in suburban and urban areas, the value of land simply has driven the drive-in into near-extinction. 

Perhaps that’s why almost every visit to Disney World requires a stop at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater at Hollywood Studios. I love the entire experience, from the tables made like classic cars to the big screen serving up ‘50s sci-fi clips to the burgers and shakes.

 

A very minor benefit that emerged during this horrible pandemic has been the pop-up drive-in movie “theaters” offered by various organizations. A Catholic Church in my neighborhood put up a big screen in their parking lot, as did a VFW post not too far away.

 

Now, Disney is getting in on the drive-in game – at least for those fortunate enough to live in southern California. The Disney+ Drive-In Festival will run from October 5-12 at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California.

 

What’s on the schedule?

 

The Red Carpet Premiere of the Disney+/National Geographic show The Right Stuff will happen on October 5. It starts streaming on Disney+ on October 9.

 

Another Red Carpet Premiere will occur on October 12 for the Disney+ original movie Clouds. That will begin streaming on October 16.

In between these two premieres, the public will be able to enjoy an assortment of classics. For example, that will include celebrations of the 10th anniversary of Tangled, the 40th anniversary of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and The Sound Of Music Sing-A-Long marking the 55th anniversary of the Rodgers & Hammerstein film. Hispanic Heritage Month will be noted with the Pixar Animation Studio film Coco, and the International Day of the Girl will see Captain Marvel on the big screen. And some Halloween fun will be offered along with a viewing of Hocus Pocus. Disney notes, “Each night will get started with a classic animated short, fan-favorite episodes of The Simpsons or sneak peek trailers from Disney+ Originals on the big screen.”

 

Here’s the schedule according to Disney:

 

Monday, October 5 – The Right Stuff – World Premiere Screening (Invite Only)

 

Tuesday, October 6 – Tangled 10th Anniversary Screening (Open to the public. Register beginning September 28)

 

Wednesday, October 7 – Coco Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month (Open to the public. Register beginning September 28)

 

Thursday, October 8 – Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back 40th Anniversary Screening (Open to the public. Register beginning September 28)

 

Friday, October 9 – Hocus Pocus Disney+ Halloween Night (Open to the public. Register beginning September 28)

 

Saturday, October 10 – The Sound of Music Sing-A-Long 55th Anniversary Screening (Open to the public. Register beginning September 28)

 

Sunday, October 11 – Captain Marvel Celebrating International Day of the Girl (Open to the public. Register beginning September 28)

 

Monday, October 12 – Clouds – World Premiere Screening (Invite Only)

 

Disney also reported: “Capacity is extremely limited and reservations will be required to attend. Beginning Monday, September 28 at 10 a.m. PT, fans can register for complimentary tickets at www.disneyplus.com/drive-in. One registration is required for each vehicle, with a maximum of four guests per vehicle. Event capacity is extremely limited and reservations will be required.”

 

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

Also, get the paperback or Kindle edition of Ray Keating’s new book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York.

 

Chapek: The New Content Guy?

by Ray Keating

Commentary

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 5, 2020

Will Bob Chapek be more of a content guy than Bob Iger was as CEO of Disney?

I ask this question largely due to a feel I got listening to Chapek on the Disney earnings call yesterday.

Chapek’s excitement about the direct-to-consumer (DTC) future of the company was palpable. In particular, he seemed to get most animated talking about bringing new content to Disney+. As he put it, “new hot tentpole content” is what drives new subscribers.

That was a slightly different emphasis than what we largely heard from Iger since Disney+ was first announced and launched in November. No doubt that Iger recognized and spoke of the importance of new content for Disney+, but Iger also was somewhat cautious about overly emphasizing the importance of new content, usually preferring to reference the vast existing Disney library serving as a foundation for Disney+. 

Of course, Iger was right about the Disney library serving as the foundation for Disney+, but Chapek also is correct in understanding that while the existing library will make, and has made, Disney a top streaming player, that library must be expanded significantly in order to generate the excitement needed to push Disney+ into the same category as Netflix.

Chapek highlighted the arrival this fall of both the second season of The Mandalorian and the new The Right Stuff series to Disney+. He also mentioned that Marvel shows are ready to resume production. And we know that other Marvel and Star Wars projects will be coming to Disney+ as well.

While it might just be a stylistic difference between Chapek and Iger, Chapek came across yesterday as a streaming racehorse, anxiously waiting for this pandemic to pass so that the gates can spring open, unleashing his company’s considerable resources on new content. If that’s the case, Disney+ subscribers, and company shareholders, might have reason to be excited about the Chapek era.

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Also, get the paperback or Kindle edition of Ray Keating’s new book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York.