Summary
Highlights
Disney won a court case in Shanghai against a Chinese movie released in July 2015 called "The Autobots." The movie's characters and posters were deemed too similar to Disney's 'Cars' franchise, specifically characters like Francesco and Lightning McQueen. This ruling is significant as China has historically been a challenging environment for copyright protection, and this action signals a potential shift towards stronger enforcement to encourage foreign investment.
The Characters in Flight balloon at Disney Springs will be closing from January 9th to the 14th for an overhaul, receiving a new color scheme. This update might integrate with the new theming of Disney Springs or simply be regular wear-and-tear maintenance to refresh its appearance.
Disney is expected to release an album featuring music from Animal Kingdom's River of Light and Tree of Life shows in 2017. Although not officially confirmed, sounds and covers have been seen online. This release, potentially delayed due to River of Light's own delays, is anticipated to be popular given Disney's engaging music.
Walt Disney World will host NFL Pro Bowl week, with 88 AFC and NFC players, including stars like Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Odell Beckham Jr., Dak Prescott, and Ezekiel Elliott. The Pro Bowl week starts on January 25th at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, featuring team practices, youth football events, a skills showdown, and a Dodgeball match. Additional activities are planned for Epcot and Disney Springs, including a Pro Bowl 5K run. A parade down Main Street USA in Magic Kingdom will take place on January 27th.