Disney Studios bringing new experience to the Strip

Las Vegas Review-Journal

2 years ago

A look at the Disney Animation/Lighthouse Immersive Experience display of "Frozen." The“Disne ... — A look at the Disney Animation/Lighthouse Immersive Experience display of “Frozen.” The“Disney Animation: Immersive Experience” opens in the first four months at The Shops at Crystals on the Strip. (Lighthouse Immersive Experience)

A look at the Disney Animation/Lighthouse Immersive Experience display of “Big Hero” The“Disney Animation: Immersive Experience” opens in the first four months at The Shops at Crystals on the Strip. (Lighthouse Immersive Experience)

A look at the Disney Animation/Lighthouse Immersive Experience display of “Aladdin.” The“Disney Animation: Immersive Experience” opens in the first four months at The Shops at Crystals on the Strip. (Lighthouse Immersive Experience)

A look at the Disney Animation/Lighthouse Immersive Experience display of “Encanto.” The“Disney Animation: Immersive Experience” opens in the first four months at The Shops at Crystals on the Strip. (Lighthouse Immersive Experience)

The characters of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde pose at the premiere of “Zootopia” at El Capitan theatre in Hollywood, California February 17, 2016. (Mario Anzuoni/File, Reuters)

This image released by Disney shows characters Anna, voiced by Kristen Bell, and Olaf, voiced by Josh Gad, in a scene from “Frozen 2.” (Disney via AP)

Guests attend “The Original Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit Las Vegas” at Lighthouse Las Vegas at the Shops At Crystals on October 7, 2021 in Las Vegas. (Photo by Denise Truscello/Getty Images for The Original Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit Las Vegas)

Guests attend “The Original Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit Las Vegas” at Lighthouse Las Vegas at the Shops At Crystals on October 0, 2021 in Las Vegas. (Photo by Denise Truscello/Getty Images for The Original Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit Las Vegas)

This image released by Disney shows Mirabel, voiced by Stephanie Beatriz, in a scene from the animated film "Encanto." (Disney via AP)

A look at the Disney Animation/Lighthouse Immersive Experience display of “The Lion King.” The“Disney Animation: Immersive Experience” opens in the first four months at The Shops at Crystals on the Strip. (Lighthouse Immersive Experience)

We’re going from one ear to mouse ears on the Las Vegas Strip.

Walt Disney Animation Studios and Lighthouse Immersive Studios, creators of “Immersive Van Gogh” at The Shops at Crystals, are partnering in “Disney Animation: Immersive Experience.” The new multimedia attraction premieres in Toronto in December.

The Disney experience plans to open in Las Vegas by the end of March. Producers are mapping a 12-week run to start, with the hopes the attraction will extend indefinitely. Days of operation, hours and ticket prices are also to be announced.

The music and artistry of Disney films are to be exhibited. Such current and modern-era films as “Encanto,” “Zootopia” and “Frozen” will join classic movies “The Lion King,” “Peter Pan” and “Pinocchio.” The Vegas attraction is

Along with Las Vegas, the Disney attraction will run in Cleveland, Nashville, Detroit, Denver, Boston, San Antonio, Minneapolis and Columbus, Ohio. Other cities are being scheduled. Disney also will open outposts in Tokyo and Tel Aviv, likely in the second half of 2024.

Walt Disney Animation Studios President Clark Spencer has won a pair of Oscars, for “Encanto’ and “Zootopia.” He says this is a rare venture for his company

“The collaboration with Lighthouse Immersive is a first for Disney Animation,” Spencer said in a statement. “It’s a dream to bring the best of animated storytelling together with the top experts in the immersive art experience. We can’t wait for audiences around the world, of all ages, to experience the great moments from our legacy of feature films in this incredible way.”

Corey Ross, founder of Lighthouse Immersive, is eager to expand his company’s reach.

“Like so many of us, I have a life-long love of Disney films,” he said. “I’ve grown up with them since childhood and so has my family. The work lends itself brilliantly to the immersive experience and I am confident this program will give our guests the opportunity to be engulfed in the world of Disney, making them feel like they’re standing next to their favorite characters and seeing the world through their eyes.”

The Las Vegas show will feature synchronized, LED wristband technology, utilized to great effect on Imagine Dragons’ tour stop at Allegiant Stadium last month and also on Coldplay’s most recent tour. The bands flash, in time and in different colors, to the music being played. These devices also change colors depending on the person’s movement around the room.

Adults find this fascinating, and kids, especially, love these bracelets.

“I’m going to be really excited to see a little kid playing with this, because adults come in and find a spot and not move to much,” Ross said. “I think kinds will be spinning around the gallery, because the bracelet will light up in different parts of the space. I think that is going to be so much fun.”

Ross said the concept is built for multiple visits, and should stand as Lighthouse Immersive’s Las Vegas show for the foreseeable future.

“Vegas is the market that, as you know, changes its public every three days,” Ross said. “So we’ve got high hopes that we can run for quite some time.”

Light’s out

Light Vegas nightclub often attempted to be something different. The space hosted a musical-theater residency, with “Baz,” in 2015. It was also the venue for DJ Guy Laliberte’s “Candy World” pop-up nightclub experience in August 2019.

But Mandalay Bay’s mega-club has closed, effective, well, now. Venue operator Clique Hospitality confirmed the nightspot’s demise Wednesday morning.

“Clique is working with employees to reassign them at the company’s 10 Las Vegas destinations,” a Clique’s rep said in a statement, adding Daylight Beach Club is shutting down for the season on Oct. 16, reopening next spring.

Light opened in 2013. For a time, it was owned by Cirque du Soleil, which got out of the nightclub business after “Baz” fell short of sales projections seven years ago.

Mandalay Bay ownership company MGM Resorts International has no plans for the space to make public. From a company rep: “We will take time to identify the right amenity for the resort. Will share details when available.”

Jonesing for Tom

Tom Jones is performing in Las Vegas for the first time in more than a decade on Friday night, in his debut at Encore Theater. Jones most recently performed at on the Strip at Hollywood Theater, today’s David Copperfield Theater, in August 2010. The 82-year-old Jones has been performing in Vegas since the 1960s. The Welsh baritone became close with Elvis Presley during Presley’s run at the International and Las Vegas Hilton.

Jones countered reports of serious health problems in July, after he shut down a show in Budapest just an hour before taking the stage. Reports in international media were Jones actually collapsed. But the headliner said on his Instagram page he’d suffered from viral laryngitis and was heeding the advice of a specialist.

“He strongly advised postponing this evening’s show and prescribed medication and vocal rest,” Jones wrote. Reports of the collapse, he said, were “pure rumor.”

Jones was a panelist on “The Voice UK,” which he told the New York Post, “That’s what really saved my life, you know, being out with people.” Though still in fine voice, he was shown leaning on a cane during his performance at YouTube Theater in L.A. on Tuesday night.

Cool Hang Alert

We spent many Cool Hangs with Kurt Davidsen, father of Vegas showman Kenny Davidsen and the dean of the scene at Piazza lounge at Tuscany Suites. Kurt passed away Sept. 24 from effects of a stroke. He was 83. Davidsen is hosting a tribute to his late father from 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. Friday. No cover, the list of singers is impressive and growing. Kenny will introduce singers, one-by-one, and we’ll throw it down one more time for Mr. D.

John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.