A whole new world

Popular Disney immersive experience to host special sensory-friendly viewings in Dallas

The event takes guests inside favorite Disney films.

Image courtesy of Lighthouse Immersive

The "Disney Animation: Immersive Experience" on view now at Lighthouse ArtSpace Dallas, will be extra inclusive for Disney fans at special viewings this summer.

On Saturday, June 24, the venue will host three sensory-friendly viewings of the popular immersive experience. The schedule is:

Sunday, June 24 – 9 am
Saturday, July 22 – 10:15 am
Sunday, August 27 –10.15 am

As sensory-friendly viewings, the volume of the show will be reduced for a more comfortable viewing experience for guests with special needs.

Other accommodations include comfortable gallery lighting (and no blackouts like there are in the regular showings), reduced guest capacity, sensitivity warnings at certain potentially agitating moments in the show, and quiet areas outside of the gallery (where the show takes place) so guests can take a break if the noise is too overwhelming.

"Disney Animation: Immersive Experience" made its Dallas debut at Lighthouse ArtSpace Dallas (507 S. Harwood St.) in April.

The experience brings to life Disney classics like The Lion King and Aladdin, as well as newer favorites such as Encanto, Frozen, and more. Interactive features include responsive floor projection design that "moves" with the audience, custom bracelets that light up in sync with the projections and based on the audiences’ movements, and galleries that fill with bubbles.

"Inclusion is important to us with all of our offerings, but all the more so with 'Immersive Disney Animation,' which is truly an exhibit where everyone should feel welcome," says Lighthouse Immersive producer Corey Ross in a release. "These viewings reduce the sensory output of the show to offer a relaxed environment and judgment-free zone where the wonderful worlds and characters of Disney Animation Studios can be enjoyed by all.”

Tickets for the show, including specific sensory-friendly performances (starting at $21) are available here.

Disney Animation Immersive Experience Sensory-friendly Viewings families

RIP Joe

Texas country music singer-songwriter Joe Ely dies at 78

Joe Ely/Facebook

Joe Ely was a major figure in Texas' progressive country scene.

Joe Ely, the legendary songwriter, singer, and storyteller whose career spanned more than five decades, has died from complications related to Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and pneumonia. He was 78.

According to a statement posted to his Facebook page, Ely died at his home in Taos, New Mexico, with his wife Sharon, and daughter Marie, at his side.

Born February 9, 1947, in Amarillo, Texas, Ely was raised in Lubbock and became a central figure among a generation of influential West Texas musicians. He later settled in Austin, helping shape the city’s reputation as a hub for live music.

"Joe Ely performed American roots music with the fervor of a true believer who knew music could transport souls," said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

In the 1970s, Ely signed with MCA Records, launching a career that included decades of recording and touring around the world. His work and performances left a lasting impact on the music scene and influenced a wide range of artists, including the Clash and Bruce Springsteen, according to Rolling Stone.

"His distinctive musical style could only have emerged from Texas, with its southwestern blend of honky-tonk, rock & roll, roadhouse blues, western swing, and conjunto. He began his career in the Flatlanders, with fellow Lubbock natives Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock, and he would mix their songs with his through 50 years of critically acclaimed recordings."

Read the full story at KVUE.com.

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