MICHAEL VARGO NAMED VICE PRESIDENT, D23, SPECIAL EVENTS AND DISNEY CORPORATE CREATIVE RESOURCES

Michael Vargo has been named Vice President, D23,  Special Events and Disney Corporate Creative Resources, it was announced today by Zenia Mucha, Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, The Walt Disney Company.

A 24-year Disney veteran, Mr. Vargo will oversee D23: The Official Disney Fan Club and the Walt Disney Archives. He will also lead production and digital technology operations at Disney Corporate Creative Resources, the in-house creative agency that serves Disney’s Corporate departments. Mr. Vargo, who previously served as Director, Corporate Special Events and General Manager of D23 Expo, will report directly to Ms. Mucha. 

“Mike has displayed superb leadership and talent in producing special events that showcase the very best of Disney, from our Annual Meeting to the spectacular D23 Expo that draws tens of thousands of fans from around the globe,” Ms. Mucha said. “His deep knowledge of the Company and understanding of the Disney brand make him perfectly suited to lead D23 and the Walt Disney Archives to even greater achievements.”

“I am thrilled and honored to be working with the talented teams at D23, the Walt Disney Archives, and Disney Corporate Creative Resources as we deliver creative and innovative content, produce first-class special events, and share our company’s rich history with our fans and audiences worldwide,” Mr. Vargo said.

Rounding out the D23 and Archives leadership teams are Kristin Rodack, Director of D23 Membership and Marketing, Jeffrey Epstein, Director of D23 Communications and Creative Content, and Rebecca Cline, Director of the Walt Disney Archives. 

Mr. Vargo began his career at Disney in 1992 at Disneyland Entertainment. He served as Senior Production Manager, Walt Disney Special Events Group & Disney Live Family Entertainment from 1998 to 2004, before being named Director, Corporate Special Events. He graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications.

*Source D23 Press Release

DISNEY TWENTY-THREE UNLOCKS THE GATES TO SHANGHAI DISNEY RESORT (SPRING 2016 Edition)

On June 16, Disney will officially open Shanghai Disney Resort, and Disney twenty-three is giving fans an advance peek at this breathtaking one-of-a-kind destination. From its opening pages, with a welcome from Disney Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger, to the back cover, featuring a map of the park—in Chinese—the issue is packed with exciting details about this new resort that celebrates everything guests love about Disney, while honoring China’s distinct cultural heritage.

The issue, exclusively for Gold Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, provides a detailed look at how Shanghai Disney Resort was built from concept to concrete, including fascinating insights into the partnership between Walt Disney Imagineers and the incredibly talented artisans of mainland China. Readers will be able to explore all the exclusive attractions opening at the park including Voyage to the Crystal Grotto, which recreates moments from beloved Disney animated films as riders travel by boat through, around, and under the Enchanted Storybook Castle—the largest castle in any Disney park. The thrilling adrenaline rush of TRON Lightcycle Power Run puts guests in the driver’s seat of a high-tech race, and the high seas adventures of Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure boasts some of the most advanced technologies of any Disney attraction.

More than 30 pages of exclusive interviews and vibrant photography come together to highlight this jewel in the Disney Parks crown, from all-new shows, experiences, merchandise, and dining options to a rare glimpse behind the scenes of the creation of the resort.

Plus, Disney twenty-three turns up the heat with its annual summer movie preview. Highlights include exclusive interviews with Ellen DeGeneres discussing the upcoming Finding Dory as well as her first trip to Disneyland, Bryce Dallas Howard talking about the reimagining of Pete’s Dragon, and Academy Award^® winner Steven Spielberg revealing details about his Disney directorial debut, The BFG.

Also included in the summer issue of Disney twenty-three is a look at how The Reluctant Dragon, celebrating its 75th anniversary, gave audiences a peek at the making of Disney animated films, while paving the way for the Disney Studio’s respected documentary films.

Disney twenty-three, which is delivered directly to fans’ doorsteps, is offered exclusively to D23 Gold and Gold Family Members as a benefit of their membership. The latest issue will begin arriving in late May. 

*Source D23 Press Release