Disney's Oz The Great and Powerful Balloon Tour Begins!

Disney announced on February 2nd the launch of the “Journey to Oz Balloon Tour,” sponsored by HSN and IMAX Corporation, in support of its upcoming fantastical adventure Oz The Great and Powerful, opening in U.S. theaters and IMAX on March 8, 2013.

The colorful Oz The Great and Powerful hot-air balloon began its tour on Tuesday morning from the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, California.

The first stop was the Oz The Great and Powerful red carpet premier at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood on Wednesday, and there will be three more stops before Disney's Oz The Great and Powerful opens in theaters on March 8th, 2013.

Stops for the “Journey to Oz Balloon Tour” to date include:

• Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif. (February 17)
• Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla.  (February 20)
• Central Park in New York City (March 5 & 6)

How I wish that I was able to drive up to Daytona Beach to see the Oz The Great and Powerful balloon at the Daytona International Speedway! Unfortunately, it's quite a drive from Miami. Boo!

On February 15, the Journey to Oz Balloon Tour app will go live on the official Oz The Great and Powerful Facebook page. Once the Oz Ballon Tour app is live, you can unlock screenings in cities near you! Users will vote by Tweeting with a custom hashtag for their city (for instance: #DisneyOzSeattle) or by sharing on Facebook!

About Oz The Great and Powerful

Oz The Great and Powerful, directed by Sam Raimi, imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved wizard character. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot - fame and fortune are his for the taking!

That is, until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting.

Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great wizard but into a better man as well.

ABOUT HSN

HSN is a leading interactive multichannel retailer, offering a curated assortment of exclusive products and top brand names to its customers. HSN incorporates entertainment, inspiration, personalities and industry experts to provide an entirely unique shopping experience. At HSN, customers find exceptional selections in Health & Beauty, Jewelry, Home/Lifestyle, Fashion/Accessories, and Electronics. For more information, please visit HSN.com, or follow @HSN on Facebook and Twitter.

ABOUT IMAX CORPORATION

IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you’ve never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX’s network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.

More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).