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Saturday June 27, 2009

Over 1000 Immigrants to be Sworn In as U.S. Citizens in Magic Kingdom
Walt Disney, technologist
CD review: “Disney/Pixar Greatest”
Reporter recalls Jackson and his mania for Disney
New attractions add more magic to Disney's worlds
Don't worry, be happy at Walt Disney World

Over 1000 Immigrants to be Sworn In as U.S. Citizens in Magic Kingdom

Disney News - In a stirring celebration of citizenship, more than 1,000 immigrants will gather on Main Street, U.S.A. July 3 to be “sworn in” as American citizens.

And as the country kicks off Independence Day weekend, these brand-new Americans will attend a premiere performance of the newest Walt Disney World attraction, a re-imagined Hall of Presidents, now featuring a lifelike Audio-Animatronics figure of President Barack Obama.

From more than 100 countries and ranging in age from 18 to 82, the immigrants will take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States during a Friday morning ceremony jointly hosted by Disney Parks and Resorts and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

USCIS’s highest-ranking official will preside over the ceremony on the forecourt of Cinderella Castle. The event will feature a welcoming address by Walt Disney World Resort President Meg Crofton, the presentation of the colors, the national anthem, the Oath of Allegiance and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Actor Andy Garcia – a naturalized citizen himself – will deliver a keynote address during the ceremony. Garcia, originally from Cuba, is an acclaimed actor known for roles in films as diverse as “The Untouchables,” “The Godfather: Part III” and “Oceans Eleven.”

“This year, Disney parks are asking our visitors, ‘What will you celebrate?’ ” Crofton said. “And on a weekend when our entire nation celebrates its independence, we are honored to host – and celebrate – 1,000 individuals who are embracing American citizenship.”

New Citizens to Preview Revised Hall of Presidents
To cap a star-spangled morning, the new citizens and their family members will get to preview the Hall of Presidents attraction – which reopens July 4 in the Liberty Square area of Magic Kingdom. The attraction has been closed since Election Day last November for a makeover that included installation of a lifelike Audio-Animatronics figure based on President Obama.

The figure of the country’s 44th chief executive – which comes to life with recognizable mannerisms and makes comments that were recorded recently at the White House – is part of an eight-month makeover so significant that the iconic attraction has been retitled Hall of Presidents: A Celebration of Liberty’s Leaders. Other updates to the “re-Imagineered” attraction which has been entertaining Magic Kingdom guests since 1971:

* A re-programmed Abraham Lincoln delivers arguably the greatest speech in the history of the presidency – the Gettysburg Address.
* For the first time in the attraction’s history, George Washington stands and delivers a stirring speech.
* Developed with the assistance of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, the show now tells a moving story of the bond between the presidents and “We, the People,” focusing on the chief executives who have guided America through trying, turbulent times.

“Our goal with every major Disney attraction is to completely immerse our guests in a compelling story,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “The stories associated with the American presidency are some of the most engaging and relevant our guests will hear while they are with us. And, like all great stories, these stories inspire, motivate and teach us to appreciate the challenges and personal triumph that comes with overcoming adversity.”

Presentations of the Hall of Presidents show will take place daily beginning July 4 and are included with Magic Kingdom admission.

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Walt Disney, technologist

Los Angeles Times - Walt Disney - the man, not the company - was known for his imagination, his artistry and even his business acumen. But it turns out he also had a huge appetite for technology.

He pushed the envelope at his own firm, developing new gadgets to help in the making of his movies. He had a passion for the future, promoting ideas through places like his Epcot Center in Orlando, Fla. And he often engaged with engineers from other companies, such as Ford Motor Co. and General Electric Co., particularly as he developed exhibits for the New York World's Fair of 1964.

The geeky side of Disney is one of the elements that will be on display at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco when it opens in October.

Museum organizers — particularly Disney's daughter, Diane Disney Miller, and his grandson and namesake, Walter E. Disney Miller — gave the press a preview today, showing off the state-of-the-art $110-million facility in San Francisco's Presidio National Park.

The museum itself makes heavy use of modern processing power, from admissions to displays. To keep tight control of the number of visitors, the museum will sell tickets on the Web for specific times. One could just show up and buy a ticket, "but I wouldn't recommend it," executive director Richard Benefield said.

Inside, what Benefield called "every kind of monitor known to man" will be on the walls. And curators have taken advantage of 19 hours of recordings of Disney's voice to provide a guided tour through his life — his childhood, his early work as a bankrupt cartoonist in Kansas City, Mo., and his most notable achievements, including the creation of Mickey Mouse, "Snow White" and "Fantasia" and his television and theme park operations.

Also on view will be a two-story multiplane camera that Disney used for such effects as rooftop shots in "Pinocchio" and an optical printer used to blend real-life characters with animation in "Mary Poppins."

Although the museum is not formally affiliated with Walt Disney Co., the company has provided many artifacts and may even provide some technical expertise. After all, its Pixar animation unit is based right across the bay in Emeryville, and a Disney executive told Benefield that the company is stepping up volunteer efforts by employees.

The company even offered to help the museum teach animation classes, Benefield said.

A 110-seat theater in the museum's lower reaches will open with a three-week screening of "Fantasia." Later, for the 50th anniversary of "Snow White," Disney plans to re-release the film, "and we'll be showing it in Blu-Ray in our theater," Benefield said.

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CD review: “Disney/Pixar Greatest”

NewsOK - Over the past 14 years, the filmmaking geniuses at Pixar Animation Studios have proven they know how to punctuate great storytelling with just the right music.

The studio has compiled 25 songs and instrumental tracks from their first 10 movies - from 1995’s “Toy Story” to the new release “Up” - for the brilliant collection “Disney/Pixar Greatest.”

Pixar’s movies have been nominated for an astounding 11 Oscars in the best original song and original score categories, and all those honorees are represented on the collection.

The eclectic compilation matches the diversity of Pixar’s films, which delve into a variety of subject matters, tones and genres. The nine songs range from Randy Newman’s folksy “Toy Story” theme “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” to Peter Gabriel’s soulful “Down to Earth” from “WALL-E.”

Sarah McLachlan breaks hearts with “When She Loved Me” from “Toy Story 2,” while Sheryl Crow gets engines revving with “Real Gone,” the opener to “Cars.” “Monsters, Inc.” stars Billy Crystal and John Goodman charm with their Oscar-winning in-character duet “If I Didn’t Have You.”

Country trio Rascal Flatts, which includes Joe Don Rooney of Picher, contributes its hit cover of Tom Cochrane’s “Life Is a Highway” from “Cars.”

The CD also features 16 memorable instrumentals, various pieces of film scores ranging from the superheroic theme to “The Incredibles” to a soaring snippet from “Up.”

As with any compilation, the album has its missing pieces, especially Newman’s evocative “I Will Go Sailing No More” from “Toy Story,” Brad Paisley’s heartfelt “Find Yourself” from “Cars” and Robbie Williams’ solid cover of the Bobby Darin standard “Beyond the Sea” from “Finding Nemo.” And of course, the best musical elements of “WALL-E” aren’t Pixar originals but Jerry Herman’s wonderful songs from “Helly, Dolly!,” which play such a pivotal role in the film.  

Pixar fans of all ages will be able to easily identify the movie and often even the cinematic moment the tracks come from. Like the films themselves, the music collection provides quality entertainment for the whole family.

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Reporter recalls Jackson and his mania for Disney

AP - "Hello, Bob, this is Michael."

The wispy voice caused me to review the Michaels I knew. I was stymied until the voice asked, "Did you write a book about Walt Disney?"

I admitted I had authored "Walt Disney, An American Original." I also recognized the voice by now — Michael Jackson — remembering he had a passion for all things Disney.

"I'd like to talk to you about Walt," he said urgently, and I agreed. The date was set for the following evening at his family compound in the San Fernando Valley community of Encino, which is just a few blocks from my house.

I arrived at the property and announced myself to a receptionist on the other end of an intercom. A massive gate opened slowly and I drove down a narrow passageway and stopped in front of a building containing offices. I looked around and thought I saw a tall tree nearby. I looked again; it was a real-life giraffe.

An assistant said Jackson would be ready soon, and I spent 20 minutes inspecting a wall full of Jackson photographs with Frank Sinatra, Ronald Reagan, Elizabeth Taylor, Elvis Presley and other celebrities.

Finally, Michael was ready. I was introduced to him in an elaborate dining room and then followed him upstairs to the library, which featured a life-sized studio portrait of Walt Disney.

"Do you mind if I record our talk?" he asked.

"Not if you don't use it commercially," I replied.

He started by asking a few questions and I explained how I approached an interview with Walt. When he ran out of queries, I provided some memories of Walt.

Toward the end of the conversation, Michael hesitantly asked whether Walt ever used a certain expletive. Without thinking, I replied I had never heard him utter it.

The interview was over and Michael escorted me to the photographs I had already perused.

He was busy in the mid-1980s and I didn't expect to see him again. Yet a few months later he called. "Hello Bob, this is Michael," he said. "Do you think Hazel George is still alive?"

I said I didn't know but would find out. George was Disney's longtime nurse who also exchanged studio gossip with him. I found out that Hazel was retired yet still living near the Disney lot in Burbank.

"I'd love to talk to her," Jackson said. "Can you arrange it?"

I did, and a few days later, Jackson picked me up at my house in his chauffeured limo and I directed the driver to Hazel's bungalow.

Hazel had aged since I interviewed her for the biography and I found that I would have to prompt her. I had recorded the stories she once gave me and had brought the tapes along, so I played them back and let her deliver the punchlines.

Jackson was fascinated but scarcely said a word. When we finished, Hazel said to Jackson, "Come back and see me, and don't bring him." She meant me.

A few months passed and then another call: "Hello Bob, this is Michael."

He wanted to know more about Walt Disney and wanted me to join him at a San Fernando Valley recording studio. I arrived on time and waited an hour until he finished a session. We sat down in an office and he again asked questions about Walt, most of which he had asked in our first visit.

He also asked again whether Walt had ever used a certain expletive. This time I remembered that he had on at least one occasion and I proceeded to explain the humorous circumstance.

"Oh," he said.

I never saw Michael after that.

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New attractions add more magic to Disney's worlds

StarPhoenix - Being known as one of the most magical places on earth means the magic needs to stay fresh.

It's a prerequisite Walt Disney World Resort has no problem meeting and its latest array of new attractions celebrates the magic in everything from birthdays to Barack Obama.

For visitors looking to make a special celebration truly "special," Disney offers new promotions to mark any noteworthy day. First and foremost, on your birthday you can gain free admission to any Walt Disney World theme park (or Disneyland) in 2009. Preregistration can be done online, and proof of your birth date is required when you arrive.

"Birthdays are the one occasion that we all share every year," notes Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "We thought a free birthday ticket would be the icing on the cake as we extend this new 'celebration vacation' trend to Disney Parks. . . . Sharing a milestone at Disney connects families, friends and generations." In addition to birthdays, Disney offers packages and suggested activities for people celebrating everything from anniversaries, honeymoons, weddings and proposals to reunions and personal triumphs.

A highlight of the Disney World food scene is the recent announcement that celeb chef Cat Cora will be opening a Mediterranean-style family restaurant at Disney's Boardwalk Resort. Cora was the first female Iron Chef on the show of the same name.

American Idol is still one of the most popular television shows on the air, so it's no surprise that its creators have partnered with the folks who run the world's most popular theme park. The result is an attraction called The American Idol Experience.

Guests 14 years of age and older can audition for one of several singing slots on the day they visit. (Go early if you want to secure one of the audition spots.) Audience members vote for their favorite singers and the best of the day appear for a finale evening show at the attraction, at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The shows take place in a 1,000-seat theatre with a set that is reminiscent of the real American Idol stage and includes a confetti-filled moment for the day's top singer.

"Disney parks are all about making dreams come true, and that's exactly what will happen at The American Idol Experience," says Rasulo. "Whether they are onstage singing or in the audience cheering on their favorite performer, our guests will feel immersed in a world of instant stardom."

 
Don't worry, be happy at Walt Disney World

Charleston Gazette
 - Disney. The mere mention of the word projects a sense of magic and imagination. Dominating the world's entertainment industry by a landslide, the Walt Disney Company brings happiness to millions each year.

Disney has created some of the most beloved characters ever to grace the silver screen. Imagine the world without Snow White, Peter Pan, Cruella De Vil or the one that started it all, Mickey Mouse. 

As well as contributing to the film, TV and music industries, Disney has another way of bringing smiles to people's faces: theme parks, the largest of which -- Disney World -- is located in Orlando.

Walt Disney parks are promoted as the "Happiest Place on Earth." From its Magic Kingdom filled with fantasy and adventure to its animal wonderland brimming with exotic wildlife, the Walt Disney Company does indeed make dreams come true. Millions flock yearly to Disney's legendary theme parks seeking enjoyment and the wonders of imagination.

Disney World was built in 1971 as an East Coast counterpart to Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. Upon entering the gates, a walk down Main Street U.S.A. leads you directly to the Cinderella Castle, modeled after the one in Disney's 1950 masterpiece, "Cinderella." Inside, you will find that the beautifully tiled walls portray scenes from the film. You can also dine with Disney royalty there.

From the drawbridge of the castle, the park branches off into six lands: Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, Mickey's Toontown Fair and Tomorrowland. Each offers a variety of attractions appealing to all ages.

Visit the Flying Carpets of Aladdin in Adventureland, or take a ride on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority to enjoy the breeze and aerial views of Tomorrowland. Browse Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square, and from there, pick a shady spot nearby to watch the "Celebrate a Dream Come True" parade at 3 p.m. Visiting Peter Pan's Flight and Snow White's Scary Adventures in Fantasyland is a must, and definitely catch the fireworks spectacular, "Wishes," before you leave the Magic Kingdom.

South of Magic Kingdom is Epcot, a park filled with futuristic experiences and foreign displays situated around the World Showcase Lagoon. The attraction that identifies Epcot is Spaceship Earth, a large structure that some refer to as "The Ball." Inside is an air-conditioned journey that goes into the past and provides a glimpse into the future.

The high-flying Soarin' Over California ride takes you on an open air tour of the Sunshine State, and the World Showcase transports you to countries like Mexico, France, Norway and Japan, all of which boast charming shops and delicious restaurants. You can catch The Beatles in concert in the United Kingdom or the Mo'Rockin' Band in Morocco. The soft pretzels in Germany are to die for.

The third park at Disney World is Disney's Hollywood Studios, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Reminiscent of ''30s and ''40s art deco Hollywood, it has movie- and TV-themed attractions. Go to an exact replica of the world-renowned Chinese Theatre and marvel at Hollywood stars' hand and footprints before going inside to The Great Movie Ride, which takes you through well-known scenes of classic films. (Keep an eye out for an appearance by Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West in Munchkinland.)

Take the studio backlot tour and discover moviemaking techniques. Sit on the left side of the tram if you want to get wet! Dine at the reincarnated Hollywood Brown Derby, where Lucy Ricardo gawked at celebrities in "I Love Lucy." Attend a performance of "Beauty and the Beast -- Live on Stage," from which the Broadway show was derived. The nightly showing of "Fantasmic!" is a treat in which the famous mouse battles Disney villains.

Disney's newest park is Animal Kingdom. It boasts serene vistas and views of Asian and African wildlife. Travel underneath the impressive Tree of Life and watch "It's Tough to be a Bug" as insects invade the theater. The Kilimanjaro Safaris are a must if you want to see giraffes, lions, hippos and other African wildlife up close and personal. Cool off on the Kali River Rapids or in an air-conditioned theater for "Festival of the Lion King." Walk the Maharajah Jungle Trek and see eye-to-eye with striped tigers. For thrill seekers, Expedition Everest is the adventure of a lifetime as you race through the Himalayas.

Accompanying their world-renowned parks system, Disney accommodates guests with top-notch resorts, quality shopping and an unbelievable array of eateries. Each Disney resort has a different theme; for example, Animal Kingdom Lodge mirrors an African village complete with a savanna where giraffes and zebras roam. The elegant Grand Floridian represents a Southern seaport, while the Polynesian celebrates with rhythms of an island luau. At the top of the Contemporary Resort, you can dine at the Californian Gill and be dazzled by views of the Magic Kingdom.

The Walt Disney Company's slogan this year is "Celebrate a Dream Come True." With West Virginia airports offering direct flights to Orlando this summer and all sorts of Disney World ticket discounts to be found (plus Disney's offer of free admission on your birthday), it's easy to make your dream come true and spend your time at the "Happiest Place on Earth." What will you celebrate?

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Friday June 26, 2009

Disney World was a second home for Jackson in the 80s
Tickets for the 2009 MEAC/SWAC Challenge Presented by Disney Go on Sale Wednesday, July 1
New Relationship Brings Disney Institute Programs to Key Business Markets
W-A-L M-A-R-T… M-O-U-S-E!
Disney Signs Up Three New Summer Sponsors
An open letter to Disney officials
DreamWorks, 3D drive plan for Disney
Key Walt Disney World land broker passes
Parragon to expand reach, to bring out 100 Disney titles
Did Disneyland Try Viral Video Promotion Of Summer Nightastic?
Disney's "Swiss Family Robinson" works for young and not-so-young

Disney World was a second home for Jackson in the 80s

Orlando Sentinel - In the prime of his solo career, the Michael Jackson of "Thriller" and "Beat It" retreated to a public place that he made into his private fantasy land: Walt Disney World.

Jackson, who died Thursday at age 50, made the Magic Kingdom his second home in the mid-1980s.

Working at Disney during that time was almost like being a member of Jackson's extended family. He was like the rich, eccentric uncle who used to pull into town at the most unexpected moments.

I was one of those Disney employees then. In that job, and later as a journalist, I was lucky enough to ever-so-briefly encounter one of the planet's iconic stars at two distinctive points in his arc.

He was already unaccountably weird, yes, but he was also unassailably cool. When I was piloting a boat between Disney hotels, Jackson sightings sparked a minor commotion.

Jackson would be spotted on Bay Lake in a float boat with TV actor Emmanuel Lewis. Or he'd be seen in one of those secret underground tunnels, checking out the intricacies of the Disney magic.

The ultimate sign of his devotion was the famous Michael Jackson suite in the Royal Plaza hotel at Lake Buena Vista. My boat-pilot pals and I used to hoist beers in the Giraffe Lounge downstairs. He never joined us.

Four years ago, I revisited memories of the Jackson suite in writing a story about Orlando's bygone musical landmarks. Phil Wright, general manager of the Royal Plaza during the Jackson era, recalled the four-room suite in detail:

The twinkling lights in the ceiling. The trophy case insured for $1 million. The Marilyn Monroe collectibles and (then) state-of-the-art laser-disc player equipped with lights that sparkled to the beat.

Wright remembered that Jackson's pet chimp, Bubbles, liked to flush the toilet. "He liked to hear it gurgle."

He recalled the singer fondly, too.

"When I knew him at the hotel, he was kind, generous and unbelievably shy," Wright said. "We wanted to offer a place where he could feel at home."

My own Jackson memories could be characterized in one word: silence.

Picking up tickets for a cast holiday party once, I happened upon Jackson strolling Disney's cast-services building. In a lime-green sweater and fedora, he was wordlessly looking at scale models of the park attractions as a small crowd of employees gathered silently around him.

It went on for about 20 minutes, no one saying anything, until Jackson walked back to his white limo, turned and silently waved.

It was odd.

Flash-forward to the early 1990s, and I'm again face-to-face. The Sentinel had sent me, as a cub reporter, to follow Jackson and pal Macaulay Culkin around what is now Disney's Hollywood Studios for the day.

The TV crews and I hustled around the park in a vain attempt to engage the King of Pop in conversation. When he suddenly emerged from a backstage entrance, I asked the first thing that came to mind:

"How you doing?"

It was an idiotic question. I think he said "Fine," but all I can really tell you is that his lips moved.

And so it went for the rest of the afternoon. Run, stop, stare. I must have written something, but it wasn't laden with expressive quotes.

Yet I'm still talking about it.

Jackson had started to morph from cool quirkiness to disturbing strangeness, with his hyperbaric chamber and his troubling relationships with children. Yet, like the hotel manager, I focus on only the good stuff now. That's because, for all his idiosyncrasies, Michael Jackson was perhaps the planet's most gifted pop star.

Didn't you love the Jackson 5? Wasn't "Thriller" amazing? How about the moonwalk?

A legend is gone. I'll mourn with a moment of silence.

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Tickets for the 2009 MEAC/SWAC Challenge Presented by Disney Go on Sale Wednesday, July 1

Disney News - Tickets for the 2009 MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney will go on sale Wednesday, July 1, through Ticketmaster and Anthony Travel.

This year, the event owned and operated by ESPN Regional Television (ERT) will pit MEAC defending champion South Carolina State University against 2008 SWAC title winner Grambling State University for the first time since 1994. The game will return to Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Fla., and will air on ESPN2/ESPN2 HD and ESPN360.com on Sunday, Sept. 6, at 2 p.m. ET. This will mark the first time this event will be televised in high definition.

Individual tickets for the game are $20 (plus tax and fees) and will be available through Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com. Fans who want to attend this event can also purchase travel packages through Anthony Travel’s Web site or by calling 888-632-6951.

Each year, the game is played at a neutral site within the footprint of one of the conferences. The inaugural MEAC/SWAC Challenge in 2005 showcased the MEAC’s South Carolina State vs. Alabama State of the SWAC, with South Carolina State prevailing, 27-14. In 2006, the contest went into overtime with the MEAC’s Hampton University defeating the SWAC’s Grambling State, 27-26. The SWAC earned its first MEAC/SWAC Challenge trophy in 2007 as Southern defeated Florida A&M, 33-27. Last year, the event moved from Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., to Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium, where the MEAC reclaimed the MEAC/SWAC Challenge crown, as Hampton defeated Jackson State 17-13. The MEAC leads the series 3-1. Teams for future games are determined on an annual basis.

For more information about the MEAC/SWAC Challenge and for access to the event’s Facebook page, please visit www.meacswacchallenge.com.

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New Relationship Brings Disney Institute Programs to Key Business Markets

PR Newswire - Disney Institute professional development programs will soon be offered at Learning Tree Education Centers in select cities throughout the U.S. The programs are part of a new relationship between Disney Institute -- the professional development arm of The Walt Disney Company -- and Learning Tree, the world's leading vendor-independent management, business skills and IT training company.

Beginning August 2009, the relationship will bring a broad range of Disney Institute content to Learning Tree Education Centers in Atlanta; Reston, Va.; Rockville, Md.; Alexandria, Va.; Chicago; and New York City. A variety of course topics and formats will be offered, enabling individuals and intact work teams to select content that is ideally suited to meet their organizations' needs.

"Disney Institute and Learning Tree are great complements to one another, and these new programs will deliver innovative Disney content into these exceptional education centers," said Jeff James, vice president for Disney Institute. "Both organizations share a commitment to providing outstanding service, which ensures that the learning experience will be as powerful as the program content."

Nick Schacht, CEO and President of Learning Tree International, said, "Disney Institute brings an entirely new kind of professional development experience to Learning Tree customers. Participants in Disney Institute courses will learn business practices that have been proven through decades of successful application at Disney. Furthermore, they can begin using these same practices immediately in their own organizations. This real-life approach is a wonderful addition to our portfolio of hands-on training courses and another example of the innovative content that Learning Tree provides worldwide.

Disney Institute curricula cover business practices that have transformed Disney into a global benchmark and one of the world's most admired brands. Programs offered at Learning Tree Education Centers will include in-depth studies of the Disney approach to:

  • Leadership Excellence
  • People Management
  • Quality Service
  • Brand Loyalty
  • Inspiring Creativity

In addition to hosting the Disney Institute programs, Learning Tree will support the relationship with its world-renowned sales, marketing and customer service capabilities. Learning Tree clients will also have access to special Disney Institute Web casts, which highlight core topics from the Disney's Approach Series. As with all Disney Institute programs, the Web casts showcase innovative ways to drive business results and top-box satisfaction levels.

Regardless of the topic or format they select, participants will get an insider's look at proven Disney best practices that are easily adaptable to their own organizations. Content is delivered in engaging style by Disney leaders whose experience and professional backgrounds bring added dimension and richness to the program experience.

For information on how to register for a Disney Institute program at Learning Tree Education Centers, please visit www.learningtree.com.

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W-A-L M-A-R-T… M-O-U-S-E!

The New York Times - Wal-Mart Stores is stepping up its push for a new line of home furnishings aimed at teenagers by joining forces with Walt Disney for an online promotion.
The promotion is called “Rock Out Your Zone,” after the name of the new line, Your Zone. The merchandise — bedding, rugs, furniture, lamps, shelves and other bedroom mainstays — is intended to give Wal-Mart, the nation’s biggest retailer, a bigger piece of the private-label market in a growing category. (Others entrants include the PBteen line from the Pottery Barn division of Williams Sonoma.)

Wal-Mart is teaming up with disney.com for the promotion, centered on what Disney calls U Rock 2, a contest that invites fans to create music video clips based on songs by popular Disney artists and upload them to disney.com. (Is any resemblance between U Rock 2 and U2 coincidental?)

A section of the Disney Web site is devoted to Your Zone and the contest. The content includes an online game, offering a free download of a song from the popular Disney series “Hannah Montana”; a quiz; a guide for parents; and information about Your Zone that includes an “augmented reality” 3-D room planner.

The Wal-Mart/Disney partnership also includes commercials on the new Disney XD cable channel, aimed at teenage boys, and ads in Disney Family Fun Magazine.

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Disney Signs Up Three New Summer Sponsors

Broadcasting and Cable - Travel and tourism category advertisers are using Disney Channel and its sister properties to reach decision making kids. Marketers including Best Western, Choice Hotels and film company Kodak have signed up for summer marketing programs around Disney personalities including the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato.

Disney Media Ad Sales Group Executive-V.P. Tricia Wilber, said: "This is interesting because it's the travel category which doesn't typically target kids. In this environment kids are certainly becoming more important in the decision making process."

Best Western is launching a marketing campaign involving Jonas, the Disney original series which features the boyband in a show similar to The Monkeys. Alongside its national TV campaign the hotel chain is also launching a program called "Rock the Road Summer 09," which kicked off this week, part of that involves 15 billboard messages on Jonas on Disney Channel and other shows on Disney XD. Disney Channel does not carry spot advertising but does carry sponsorship.

The Best Western deal also encompasses ABC Kids, Disney Online and Disney Mobile, the mobile app for Disney online. According to a Disney press release, for the week of June 15-21, Jonas was the number one program in the time period for kids aged 6-11 years, with a 5.4 rating and 1.3 million viewers, and was also number one in tweens aged 9-14, the show attracted a 4.5 rating and 1.1 million viewers.

Separately, Choice Hotels which operates Comfort Inns, is the sponsor of Demi Lovato's concert tour. Lovato appears in Disney Channel's Sonny with A Chance, Camp Rock and upcoming movie Princess Protection Program. The deal spans Disney Online, Radio Disney and other properties.

As part of a separate brand extension, Disney Channel is working with Kodak and Disney Cruise Line to create a series of themed cruises during the summer in which guests travel with Disney Channel stars such as Hannah Montana actor Mitchel Musso.

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An open letter to Disney officials

Newsweek - Being bargain hunters, we've loved 2009's "What Will You Celebrate?" campaign. After all, free admission on a person's birthday to your Florida and California theme parks is what budget travel is all about. And getting to act like a little kid certainly takes the sting out of turning another year older!

Which is why we urge you to please extend this program into 2010. You've extended campaigns like this before. (The "Year of a Million Dreams" was supposed to end in 2007, and you took it through 2008.)

Sure, we're cautiously optimistic that the worst of the recession will be over by next year. But we also know that a lot families will continue to struggle. During hardship, every little bit of sunshine helps. Walt knew that better than anyone.

So we hope you'll extend the free-admission-on-your-birthday promotion to next year. Because there's a little bit of Peter Pan in all of us!

Sincerely,
Your dearest fans at Budget Travel

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DreamWorks, 3D drive plan for Disney

The Hollywood Reporter - Disney may be the most bullish Hollywood major when it comes to 3D, and the Burbank studio put several three-dimensional entries on its film slate front-and-center Wednesday in a Cinema Expo presentation.

Trailers were shown from Robert Zemeckis' motion-capture animated feature "A Christmas Carol," set for November release, and next summer's Pixar sequel "Toy Story 3." But glimpses of Tim Burton's live action-and-motion capture fantasy "Alice in Wonderland" were limited to production stills, while May opener "Prince of Persia" from Jerry Bruckheimer was teased in a sizzle reel, and a early visual-effects shot was used to whet exhibs' appetite for Disney's as-yet-unslotted remake of "Tron."

Disney international distribution president Anthony Marcoly noted that Disney has agreed to distribute pics for Steven Spielberg's newly private DreamWorks, aiming to add to Disney's own recently downsized release slate.

"There will be fewer films, but you can count on them being bigger and better than ever," Marcoly said. "And you can expect four to six DreamWorks films per year, starting in 2010-2011."

After its 75-minute slate promo, Disney screened in its entirety the 3D family feature "Up." The Pixar-animated pic already has produced $255 million in worldwide boxoffice, including $23 million from its fledgling international campaign.

Execs noted the "Up" tallies feature an estimated $36 million in extra coin from exhibs' marking up ticket prices in 3D venues. "Up" is playing in a mix of 2D and 3D venues, due to an insufficient installed base of 3D auditoriums.

Those attending the "Up" screening were asked to wear both 3D glasses and audio headsets, lending an especially high-tech appearance to the audience. Disney used the headsets to offer the film in several language versions, with the special gear needed even for the English track.

Most films screened here are offered only in English.

Meanwhile, various 3D vendors have been seeking a bit of the promo spotlight at Cinema Expo, where the fledgling technology has been a hot topic of discussion.

Masterimage touted its participation in the Disney presentation. On Tuesday, RealD helped Fox screen 3D clips from James Cameron's upcoming "Avatar."

RealD on Wednesday announced a new product for use by theater owners in programming live events as alternative programming for their cinemas. When added onto RealD's 3D projector systems, ReadD Live can receive and convert broadcast signals for theatrical 3D presentation.

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Key Walt Disney World land broker passes

AP - Nelson Boice, a land broker who played a key role in the acquisition of the land which would become Walt Disney World, has passed away. Co-founder of Florida Ranch Lands with partner Craig Linton Sr., Boice acted as a middleman between local small-time land owners and Disney. "Their fingerprints were all over the growth and changes in Central Florida, and Nelson clearly had a very innovative mind and was very instrumental in structuring complicated transactions," said Linton's son, Craig Jr. Boice died Sunday at his home in Maitland, FL from natural causes. He was 88.

For those unaware, much of the land for what would become Walt Disney World was purchased in secret. Unhappy with the developments that were taking place literally across the street from his Disneyland park, Walt wanted to gain more control over the guest experience when building his next park, which he decided to build in Central Florida. As a result, Disney purchased adjoining lots of land, both large and small, under the names of dummy corporations and through individuals in an effort to keep the project secret and keep others from being able to purchase land close to the property on which the park was to be built.

All told, the company purchased 43 square miles of land. In October of 1965, the truth about the property's owner was leaked to the Orlando Sentinel, and a press event scheduled for November. At the event, Walt laid out his plans for the property, including Disney World and EPCOT -- not the park, but the community, concepts of which would be integrated in the Celebration development many years later. Unfortunately, Walt died on December 15, 1966; his brother Roy O. Disney took over construction and completed the first phase of the project, which he renamed "Walt Disney World," after his late brother.

"Walt Disney World is tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney... and to the talents, the dedication, and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney's dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring joy and inspiration and new knowledge to all who come to this happy place... a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn -- together." - Roy O. Disney's Opening Day Speech for the Magic Kindom, given on October 1, 1971. Roy died less than three months later.

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Parragon to expand reach, to bring out 100 Disney titles

Business Standard
 - UK-based Parragon Publishing is looking at increasing its presence to another 25 cities across the country this year, besides bringing out around 100 titles from the Disney stable. 

The company, which specialises in books which have more visuals than text for both kids and adult categories, also plans to make a foray into bilingual medium as it seeks to reach out to more readers in the country.     

"We are already present in 42 cities through both bookstores and modern retail lifestyle outlets and we plan to penetrate deeper into the country by adding another 25 cities to our list," Parragon Publishing India Managing Director Vineet Sharma told PTI.     

Parragon, which will soon complete its third year of operation in the country, has tied up with Walt Disney under a licensing arrangement.     

"In the last three-four months, Disney titles have done quite well. We will be bringing out around 100 more titles of Disney in 2009-10," Sharma said.     
The company is looking for more such licensing agreements with Indian and international brands.     

"We believe that licensed books has a great potential and two years down the line it will contribute about 25 per cent to our business," he said, adding that the company is venturing into bilingual books this year.

"The bilingual segment will be mostly for educational products, work and activity books," Sharma added.     

Parragon is present in over 35 countries in 18 languages. In India, the company markets its publication from book retail chains like Odyssey, Landmark and Crossword, besides modern retail chains such as Reliance Retail, Pantaloons and Archies.

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Did Disneyland Try Viral Video Promotion Of Summer Nightastic?

OC Weekly - The YouTube video above supposedly captures a young man proposing marriage to his girlfriend in the middle of Disneyland's Main Street USA. But as one news site points out, the whole thing reeks of a stunt to promote the new Summer Nightastic spectacular by hoping the "amateur" video goes viral.

There are several clues the proposal was staged:

-The would-be groom is obviously a professional performer.

-The area the crowd is giving up is too perfectly shaped.

-No crowd is that polite, not even at the Happiest Over-Your-Credit-Card-Limit Maker on Earth.

-Harbor Boulevard hobos break into song unprovoked. Prickily heated tourists do not.

-The dance folks just happen to break into was obviously choreographed.

-The lighting appears to have been hauled in from the set of a Disney Channel tween sit-com.

-MousePlaneteers identified many "spectators" as members of Disneyland's entertainment department.

-Rooftop cameras were used to capture wide-angle shots.

-The street-level camera crew is visible at different points in the video.

-Wireless microphones worn by participants are exposed.

But, as MousePlanet so astutely points out, the video may have had an unintended side effect: "A cast member tells us that the resort has seen a recent increase in the number of people who call the Guest Relations and Fairy Tale Weddings departments to inquire about staging their own proposal at Disneyland, but, as MousePlanet reader 'MrZombie' discovered when he called, the options are limited."

In other words, don't except to be offered use of roof cams, wireless mics and the chorus line from the Aladdin stage show.

Meanwhile, if the idea was to turn video viewers on to summer programming, the reaction to "Disneyland Musical Marriage Proposal" was mixed on YouTube. Some select comments:

"Fake and staged." -SupremeEffort

"So fake it is not even fun watching." -Rastamut

"This dude is not straight, and you're nuts if you think this was real." -lixthatsit

"And they did the whole thing all over again the next day." -Yulyu89

"They lived happily ever after . . . until John fucked the ticket girl at admissions." -landyl

However, as usual, the Mouse gets the last laugh. The video had 643 additional comments to those and 82,645 YouTube views at last count.

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Disney's "Swiss Family Robinson" works for young and not-so-young

Denver Post
 - It was at an American amusement park in Tokyo that we couldn't stop talking about the Swiss.

Disneyland has that effect: Disorienting, in a jolly sort of way. Three of us were exhausted at the end of a long and happy day trying all the big rides, but our girls, though deep into teenage life, insisted we climb up the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse and look around.

At 14 and nearly 17, the girls are nostalgic already for one of their childhood favorite Disney movies. At about ages 7 and 10, they would replay "Swiss Family Robinson" on a snowy afternoon, squealing at the pirates and giggling over the ridiculous animal race.

And the tree house did indeed turn out to be magical that humid June day in Japan, with its carefully crafted re-creation of the family's ingenious survival strategies. We climbed up and up with our 5-year-old boy, admiring the hammocks and the salvaged ship furniture and the hardworking water wheel. The girls vowed to show their little brother the movie upon return to the States.

Then another moment of serendipity guaranteed "Swiss" would be this week's movie recommendation: Oblivious to what we'd been talking about, my dad sent me a beautiful copy of the "Swiss Family Robinson" novel that my late grandmother had given me when I was 14. He was emptying shelves, had found her inscription and wanted to pass it on.

The spirit of exhilarating adventure that's not really dangerous permeates the Disney version of "Swiss," as it did so many of the studio's family movies in the 1960s. Since then things have gotten smarter, but also gloomier, and kids often long for the simple silliness of castaways outwitting buccaneers. Leave it to the words of Robert Cushman Murphy in the introduction to my grandmother's gift copy:

"The Swiss Family Robinson should be read [or seen] at least twice — the first time when one is so young as to want to believe it all, the second in much later years when its heart beats more loudly than the nonsense on the surface."

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Thursday June 25, 2009

Expansion deal reached on Hong Kong Disneyland
Ahoy! Pirates League to set sail at Magic Kingdom on Monday
Celebrate Fourth of July at the Walt Disney World theme parks

Have a stress-free Disney World vacation
New iPhone app can cut wait times at Disney, Universal

'Christmas Carol' train with HP high-tech effects rolls into Bay Area
EU OKs Walt Disney, GE, News Corp To Get Joint Control Of Hulu

Expansion deal reached on Hong Kong Disneyland -source

Reuters - Hong Kong has reached a deal with the Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) to expand the local Disney theme park, seen as necessary to bolster the park's long-term prospects against a Shanghai rival, a government source said on Thursday.

The agreement is expected to be announced by June 30, with details of the deal to be laid out to local legislators in a special meeting next Tuesday.

The government source, who asked not to be named, said the meeting's agenda would include the Disneyland deal and that a media report on the imminent announcement "was largely accurate".

The Hong Kong Economic Times on Thursday reported that the deal was expected to be worth HK$7 billion ($903.3 million) of which HK$4 billion would be used for expansion.

But a Disney spokeswoman in the United States told Reuters that discussions were ongoing and that there was "no" deal yet.

The size of Hong Kong Disneyland, the smallest of Disney's magic kingdoms, is expected to almost double, with construction to begin within a year, pending approval from the city's legislative council in July, the newspaper reported.

The Hong Kong government, which owns 57 percent of the underperforming resort, desperately needs the expansion to boost flagging attendance, with a much larger rival Disneyland expected to be built in Shanghai in 2014 that could draw much visitor traffic from the burgeoning mainland China market.

"At this stage, we have to support the expansion, otherwise it will be very difficult to compete with Shanghai in five to six years time," said legislator Fred Li of the Democratic Party, who said his party backed the expansion as long as Disney boosted its financial transparency in future on attendance figures.

Hong Kong's Financial Secretary John Tsang travelled to Los Angeles in May, where he met senior Disney executives. The trip is seen to have paved the way for the breakthrough after Disney earlier said it would stall any expansion amid the credit crunch.

The Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) earlier indicated it would likely invest more capital in Hong Kong Disneyland and allow the Hong Kong government to convert its loans to equity to maintain its majority share of the theme park, a source involved in their talks told Reuters earlier.

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Ahoy! Pirates League to set sail at Magic Kingdom on Monday

Theme Park Rangers - The Pirates League, a sort of Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for swashbuckling, opens up shop Monday, June 29, at Magic Kingdom. The attraction, paired with the classic Pirates of the Caribbean ride, gives guests whole new buccaneer identities and looks -- for a price.

Disney has the pirate look down -- for humans and for buildings. The theming of the Pirates League area, snuggly set between the entrance and the gift shop/exit of the ride, is thorough and absorbing. Dan coleman, manager of merchandise operations, guided me through the outlet.

And of course, it has its own storyline. Captain Jack's crew has taken over the local office of the East India Trading Co. and installed their own haphazard decor. "Pirates didn't plan anything," notes Alex Caruthers of Walt Disney Imagineering.

Step one for guests is podium check-in outside the attraction, where they will see that pirates have altered the East India sign above the door. Folks enter the reception area, where they are greeted by a lot of "ahoys" (get used to the pirate-y jargon) and begin the process of getting a new pirate name through a roll of the dice.

The pirates' plundering is evident here as well: they've blasted a hole into the next room, where folks -- boys, girls and adults -- are seated to begin their makeoverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs. (Sorry.)

The main room is stacked with um, "borrowed" loot from the pirates. In every corner and cranny are chests of jewlry, pirate flags, armor, paintings, swords and silver goods -- all sorts of booty. There's big clunky furniture and historical references.  

There are 10 chairs (more genteel types might call them salon chairs), but they are all different types and styles, representing various adventures by the pirates. They are flanked by cast members in pirate garb ready to transform customers ready to be inducted into the Pirates League.

The atmosphere is further enhanced by background music from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, the second of the three Disney films in the series. Two "dragon cannon" film props from that movie can be seen as well -- one only from inside the dressing room.

There are three packages to purchase, ranging from $49.95 to $124.95. (Remember that the Magic Kingdom is the only Pirates League location, so theme-park admission is also required.) With these come options that include bandanas, "scars," fake stubble, swords, tattoos, darkened eye treatments and the ilk.

Three base pirate looks are offered: the cursed pirate (ghostly), Captain Jack (Johnny Depp-y) and Captain Hook (think very arched eyebrows).

Upon completion of the look, participants take the pirate oath ("Then you are officially in the Pirate League," Coleman says.) Next: Enter the secret chamber.

Let's not spoil that room, which is equally remarkable in its theming. Let's just say that certificates (with that pirate name) are given and the photo sounds awesome. Moody. "It feels a little more museum-like," Caruthers says. "We tried to re-create the candlelight look."

After the chamber, new League members are set onto other adventures in the Magic Kingdom with wishes of "Smooth Sailing."

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Celebrate Fourth of July at the Walt Disney World theme parks

Examiner - And the rockets red glare…magical fireworks bursting in air…It's Fourth of July magic as only Disney can do it at Walt Disney World. Come celebrate the party with three special fireworks displays rarely seen throughout the year except on special occasions and this year's Fourth of July, is one not to miss!

The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney's Hollywood Studios will each present pyrotechnic displays that will surely dazzle Disney guests in each of the three theme parks with all of the patriotic fanfare that Disney can muster. This year, guests have their choice of three celebrations:

  • Lighting up the skies over the Magic Kingdom will be the "Celebrate America Fireworks" spectacular. And because of the holiday falling over the weekend, guests will be able to enjoy the special show on both July 3 and July 4 at 9:00 p.m. Following the fireworks will be "SpectroMagic" light parade at 10:30 p.m. The night will surely be a spectacle of dazzling lights!
  • At Epcot, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, the nightly fireworks show over World Showcase Lagoon, will add a special patriotic overlay at the end of the lights, lasers, and fireworks extravaganza! This special edition will be shown only on the night of July 4 at 10:00 p.m. when the park stays open for an extra hour for more Epcot fun!
  • Disney's Hollywood Studios will feature a bonus addition to the "Fantasmic!" and offer two shows at 9:00 and 10:45 p.m. only on July 4 so guests will have two opportunities on the same evening to catch the show.

With three magical ways to celebrate the birth of our nation at Walt Disney World, how does one choose? Remember, the Magic Kingdom is the only park to offer the special fireworks show on July 3 and July 4.

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Have a stress-free Disney World vacation

msnbc - I want my kids to get the most out of their visit—and I want the most out of my money. So what's the perfect age for our first Disney trip?
To an infant, a trip to Target is as exciting as riding on It's a Small World. That is to say, some kids are just too young to fully appreciate the Disney experience. Even toddlers are amazed by simpler things—a petting zoo, the county fair, a bug on a stick. Go when your kids will be capable of walking (and walking and walking); when they understand that the payoff for a 75-minute line just might be worth it; when they won't be freaked out by enormous cartoon characters who have come to life and want to give them hugs; and, perhaps most important, when they'll remember both the trip and what wonderful parents you were for taking them there. Cut to the chase: The perfect age for the trip is 8.

Should we go with a package or book all the components of our trip separately?
Unfortunately, the only way to figure out whether a "deal" is a deal is to research what each component would cost separately, tally up the total, and compare that with the package price. A few tips:

1. There are no freebies. Promotions claiming to include "free" airfare, meals, or admissions are deceptively alluring. Remember that what matters is the package's overall cost.

2. Many packages are good values compared to paying à la carte—but only if you're actually interested in everything in the package. Chances are you won't want admission tickets on your arrival and departure days, for example, and you may be ready for a day off from the parks in the middle of your trip. But many packages automatically include the maximum number of passes for a trip's duration.

3. Disney's Web site is, well, difficult—not least because it pushes extras and never lays out all the options and details you need to make an informed decision (actual prices, anyone?). Calling a Disney agent is better (407/939-6244).

What sort of tickets should we get? One-day or multiday? Park Hopper or one park only?
People 10 and up pay $75 for a one-day pass, but the average daily cost goes down sharply on multi-day tickets. A seven-day pass, for example, averages out to $32 a day. There are many add-ons, too, including the popular Park Hopper feature, which lets you visit more than one park in a day. The feature tacks a flat $50 onto an adult multi-day ticket, so ask yourself if you really have it in you to do that much in one day. Finally, don't wait until you get to Disney to decide on a pass. Buy in advance, either as part of your vacation package or through a discounter like Undercover Tourist (800/846-1302), which can save you several dollars per day.

Should we stay inside the park or outside?
Disney has made it hard to argue for staying outside the park, even though it's way cheaper. Among other perks, Disney hotel guests enjoy extra hours in the parks and complimentary airport transfers via the Magical Express bus. As for where to stay inside Disney, ease is as much a factor as price. We like the Contemporary Resort (the only hotel within walking distance of the Magic Kingdom); Fort Wilderness Resort (the faux-rustic cabins fit six comfortably); and the All-Star Movies Resort (rooms are small but cheap, from $82). If Disney's value resorts are booked, the only other options on-site may run $300 a night or more. Outside the park, you'll find tons of hotels at a quarter of that rate—and there are always house rentals. While three-bedroom units at vacation rental site vrbo.com go for about $150 a night, the equivalent inside Disney would easily cost $700.

Are the meal plans worth it?
Basically, they're only worth it if you eat a lot (the portions tend to be hefty) and if you were going to have the bulk of your meals in the parks anyway. Note that the pricier plans include sit-down meals that'll take up a lot of time—time that might be better spent riding rides or enjoying laser shows. Better to stick with the two most basic plans (Quick-Service or the standard Dining plan, which cost $30 to $40 per day per adult and about $10 per day per kid). Or just forget the meal plan and do the following:

1. Get a fridge in your hotel room. Disney charges $10 a day at some properties, but it's worth it.

2. Have groceries delivered ahead of time from gardengrocer.com (866/855-4350).

3. Have breakfast in your room every morning.

4. Bring snacks and a picnic lunch like everybody else. Disney allows small coolers, but no glass, in the parks. Freeze juice boxes ahead of time so they'll still be cold for lunch; they'll also keep sandwiches cool and fruit fresh. 5) Figure on buying some hot dogs and mouse-ear-shaped ice cream here and there, and expect to pay inflated, ballpark-level prices.

Do we need a stroller? Should we bring one or rent one?
Yes, you need a stroller. Heck, a lot of adults wish they could have someone wheeling their tired bones around. Bring your own stroller, preferably a sturdy umbrella type that folds up easily and quickly. Disney's strollers can't be taken outside the park gates, and chances are good that you're going to wish you had one in the parking lots or at the hotel or airport. And Disney's rentals are pricey: $15 a day for a single or $31 for a double, with a small discount ($2 to $4 off) for multi-day use.

How do we pack in all of the things we want to see and do?
You don't. You can get up early, rush around, and strategize to beat the crowds all you want, but remember: You're on vacation. Relax. And assume that you'll be back.

Suprisingly free stuff

Make a race car
Outside the Lego Imagination Center in Downtown Disney is a 3,000-square-foot area with bins and bins of Legos. Kids can build whatever they want—like race cars that speed along a sloping track. Huge Lego sculptures, including a dinosaur, a robot, and a dragon emerging from a lake, are the work of professionals.

Learn to use the force
At Hollywood Studios, there's a stage that several times a day hosts a Jedi Training Academy, in which two dozen or so kids are picked to learn the Jedi arts from a full-fledged master. It's worth showing up early to make sure your child gets picked.

Gather 'round the campfire
Be sure to catch the nightly sing-along and outdoor movies at Fort Wilderness Resort. Bring marshmallows for toasting or purchase a s'mores kit at the nearby Meadow Trading Post.

Captain the monorail
Before boarding, ask a cast member (a.k.a. a Disney employee) if your child can ride with the driver. Four people are allowed per trip.

Walk right in
Throughout 2009, get in free on your birthday. Register in advance at disneyparks.com and bring ID.

Princess time!

Get up close and personal with your kids' heroes at "character meals" around the parks. What you pay varies based on whom you dine with, and when. (Starting prices for all characters based on kids 10 and up.)

Goofy $14, breakfast at Vero Beach Resort
Mickey Mouse $19, breakfast at Animal Kingdom
Jasmine $29, breakfast at Epcot Norway Pavilion
Ariel $31, lunch at Epcot Norway Pavilion
Cinderella $32, dinner at Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

More tips
Especially sunny day? Go to Animal Kingdom, which was designed to have more shade than any other park.

Psst! There's a black market for rental strollers from families leaving early. Don't pay more than $5.

Buy tickets through AAA and you can park right by the front gate in a AAA Diamond Lot.

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New iPhone app can cut wait times at Disney, Universal

Brandon News and Tribune - An iPhone app called Wait Watchers, which can help Disney and Universal theme park visitors cut their wait times, is being rolled out with a display that shows how long it will take to get on a theme park ride.

The app, which costs 99 cents on the online iTunes App Store, makes it easier for users to decide which attraction to ride next, creator Brent Pope said. Users can view and post wait times on a message board list of all the parks' attractions.

Pope plans to attend the Orlando theme parks to enter wait times himself this summer. The more users, the better the information, he reasons.

Pope said he built in safeguards against the potential for malicious users to post bogus wait times such as automatic GPS validation. He will disable the app of any users who show a pattern of inaccurate updates.

The Wait Watchers Magic Kingdom edition has been on sale since June 9.

Versions for Disney's other non-water parks, the two Universal parks in Orlando and the Disney and Universal parks in California will be available Friday.

In a separate operation, Disney last year announced a partnership with Verizon Wireless to provide information, including real-time attraction availability, on Verizon customer cell phones. Guests without Verizon service can get show times and dining locations.

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'Christmas Carol' train with HP high-tech effects rolls into Bay Area

Silicon Valley - Hear that whistle blow? Christmas is coming to town early this year, folks.

High tech meets the 19th century when "Disney's A Christmas Carol" train pulls into Oakland's Middle Harbor Shoreline Park this weekend replete with faux snow flurries, Victorian-era carolers and a cavalcade of high-tech spectacles from the wizards at Hewlett Packard.

It's all part of an unprecedented publicity stunt to plug Robert Zemeckis' new 3-D movie version of Charles Dickens' 1843 cautionary tale of the haves, the have-nots and the haunted starring Jim Carrey as the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge. It's arguably one of the most elaborate promotions ever staged by Disney or any studio. And that's no humbug!

"The challenge for us was to come up with a promotion as memorable and groundbreaking as the movie," says Bob Gault, vice president of special events at Disney, "something that would do it credit."

The holiday flick doesn't hit the big screen until Nov. 6, but Disney is betting the vintage four-car Amtrak choo-choo, which has been decked out with eye-popping interactive displays, will be novel enough to stoke the interest of the family demographic in general and the generation weaned on Thomas the Tank Engine in particular.

HP, for its part, gets to show off its technological razzle-dazzle. Tis always the season for savvy marketing, no?

"This project is particularly exciting because it is the first time HP has partnered with Disney to support a film," says Michael Mendenhall, chief marketing officer for Palo Alto-based HP. "The HP technology used in the making of 'A Christmas Carol' has enabled Disney to push the boundaries in performance capture technology."

For the record, Disney will not disclose the price tag for this rolling theme-park attraction that uses a homespun 19th-century gimmick (the whistle-stop tour) to sell a movie stuffed with cutting-edge technology (face morphing, anyone?). The locomotive is slated to chug 16,000 miles through 36 states before making its final stop at New York's Grand Central Station on Oct. 30.

Oh, and did we mention that it's free? In hard times, that's a price even a penny-pincher like Scrooge can get behind.

"It's fabulous, it's fun and it's free. In this economy, that's a winner," says Gault, whose office was also responsible for the aircraft carrier screening for "Pearl Harbor." "It's a two-hour experience for the whole family."

Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it, but the sunshine draws the crowds. In Los Angeles, where the barnstorming tour kicked off in May, almost 50,000 people showed up, causing huge lines and a five-hour wait. Disney estimates that 1.5 million people will come onboard nationwide.

Of course, the bottom line is the box office, and the train tour includes a 10-minute 3-D sneak preview of the movie (screened in an inflatable bounce house-like theater).

But high-tech addicts may be most jazzed by the behind-the-scenes look at performance capture techniques. This process takes a live actor's expressions and transforms them into animated renderings with 360-degree visceral impact. The computer nails every last twitch and flutter down to the pores on an actor's face.

"The HP wizards of technology came up with this amazing performance capture process that's right on the cutting edge," Gault says. "This is like 'Polar Express' on steroids. It's a cross between animation and live action that is like nothing you have ever seen before."

In one car, there's a virtual reality studio, dubbed "Mission Control," with a mannequin in a rubber suit and a Borg-like helmet bearing four cameras that illustrates the working environment behind motion capture (the actors call it "mo cap"). It's this high-tech alchemy that allows Carrey to shape-shift through seven roles (from Scrooge to the spirits of Christmas past, present and future). There's also a digital portrait gallery showcasing how the characters were developed, from digital tableau to big screen.

For tykes and teens the must-see may be the face-morphing photo booths (24 in all) where you can have your face blended with cute little Tiny Tim, the fearsome Ghost of Marley ("There's more of gravy than of grave about you!") or Scrooge himself. Colin Firth fans (read: the women on board) may be disappointed that Fred Scrooge, Old Ebenezer's kindly nephew, is not an option. The portraits are then e-mailed to your home as a souvenir.

"The HP TouchSmart computers can make anything look real," says Gault. "It's a big hit with kids. Now you can morph your face like Jim Carrey."

Great expectations led Elizabeth Aguilar, 21, a Sacramento State University student, to sign up as a temp worker for the train's recent stop in quaint Old Sacramento. She hit the face-morph kiosk three times: "You know if it's from Disney, it's going to be good, but this is hecka cool."

Like Aguilar, 77-year-old Lewis Ellison is also a Disney trainee, riding the rails to learn how to guide visitors. Unlike her, he prefers the costumes to the whiz-bang effects. He's also a little nostalgic for the days when Dickens' words could stand on their own.

"People today just don't know how to use their imagination," says the Lodi man as he checked out the glowing bank of LCD screens. "If you have everything right in front of your face, you don't have to use what's in between your ears."

Indeed, literature buffs may most delight in the richly appointed museum car, which showcases artifacts from the venerable Charles Dickens Museum in London. Among the small but priceless collection are a first edition of the original novel, hand-scrawled notes by the author and his feather-tipped quill pen.

If you know your Fagin from your Fezziwig, it's an exhibition guaranteed to put a little holly in your heart.

Authenticity is precisely the point of the whole enterprise, according to Gault: "The technology allows us to bring the words to life as vividly as Dickens intended."

Plugging the movie, not to mention HP gizmos and gadgets galore, doesn't hurt either.

"The train tour offers an innovative way for guests to interact with HP's technology," Mendenhall says. "They get to see firsthand how HP technology can create meaningful experiences in their lives."

Connoisseurs of the Dickens canon, meanwhile, will note that the author was famed for his love of train travel and the freedom it afforded him to crisscross the country reading from his collected works (not to mention holding secret assignations, as some scholars suggest). God bless us, every one!

Disney"s "A Christmas Carol" Train

When: June 26-28; Friday and Saturday (9 a.m.-7 p.m.); Sunday (9 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Where: Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, 2777 Middle Harbor Road, Oakland
Tickets: Free; www.christmascaroltraintour.com

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EU OKs Walt Disney, GE, News Corp To Get Joint Control Of Hulu

Wall Street Journal
 - The European Commission cleared Thursday General Electric Co. (GE), News Corp. (NWS) and The Walt Disney Company Co. (DIS) to take joint control of Internet entertainment provider Hulu.

Hulu.com is an online-video site. General Electric's NBC Universal and News Corp. jointly controlled the company, before Walt Disney bought a stake of almost 30% earlier this year.

News Corp. owns Dow Jones & Co., publisher of this newswire.

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Wednesday June 24, 2009

Details emerge from Hall of Presidents at Magic Kingdom
Will New Disney Cruise Ships Call U.K. Home?
ABC = All Barack Channel?

College of Business, Disney to hold workshops in July
Summer and Disneyland make Magic Together!
Walt Disney World - Off the Beaten Path - Bet you didn't know Disney offered these (Part 2)
Create Your Own Music Vids With Disney.com's U Rock 2
Walt Disney World - Off the Beaten Path - Bet you didn't know Disney offered these (Part 3)
Disney without Tears? It's possible - here's how
Pixie Hollow Summer Vacation Sweepstakes Details!

Details emerge from Hall of Presidents at Magic Kingdom

Theme Park Rangers - Had a mini-sneak-peek at the revamped Hall of Presidents this afternoon at Magic Kingdom. Showing us around -- but not the whole presentation -- was Eric Jacobson, senior vice president at Walt Disney Imagineering. Here are some tidbits he shared about HoP, which is set to reopen officially on July 4:

+ The front room/pre-show has been reorganized a bit. Some of the presidential portraits have been replaced, and the imagery has quotations beneath them. A new display area features dresses from three first ladies: Elizabeth Monroe, Edith Roosevelt (Mrs. Teddy) and Nancy Reagan. (The silk dresses of Monroe and Roosevelt are reproductions).

+ Reagan sent a selection.  "Mrs. Reagan actually -- at the Reagan Library -- picked out six dresses for us to rotate through the collection," Jacobson says. "She picked them out herself." Her outfit will change every six months, but she'll start off in a black-sequined number. The gown area is flexible. "Maybe some day we'll have one of Michelle Obama's outfits in here," Jacobson says.

+ New wording has been placed on an interior wall. It now reads "Welcome to the Hall of Presidents, a Celebration of Liberty's Leaders." Outside, the building gets its first marquee (still covered, as seen in photo above. Photo by Joe Burbank, shot Tuesday.) (Previously, there was merely a sign in the planter.)

+ The film, now narrated by Morgan Freeman, is a bit trimmer, and the Animatronic section expanded. "That's what they [park guests] come to see," Jacobson says.

+ The emphasis of the attraction is more about the history of the presidency and the presidents as people. Before, it was more of a history lesson, and this change will help distinguish the Hall from the American Adventure presentation at Epcot.

+ The film still will end with the Space Shuttle as the curtain rises to reveal the presidents.

+ Barack Obama stands to Abraham Lincoln's right. Lincoln sits front-and-center still. Obama wears a dark blue suit and burgundy tie.

+ Obama recorded the oath of office and a speech prepared by Disney (with minor changes) in the Map Room of the White House.

+ The Obama model is the next level of Animatronic, Jacobson says. "He has more facial expression than we've ever done before. He's our most advanced figure we've done, but he's not a completely new generation with everything starting over," he says. "The challenge is that everyone see him every day on television. Everyone's an expert on Obama."

+ George Washington stands and speaks for the first time in the Hall of Presidents. He is voiced by David Morse, who portrayed Washington in the HBO series John Adams. His lines are an actual quote from Washington, on how he felt as he was sworn in.

+ The roll call is at a more leisurely pace than the previous version. And some of the men have been repositioned to lessen the "ping-pong effect" of the roll call. All have been reprogrammed, but you won't necessarily notice, because of the changes in the scene and the new pacing.

+ Alas, no photos allowed yet. Disney is not ready for Obama's close-up yet. "We're sort of in dress rehearsals right now," Jacobson says. "We haven't had any audiences other than ourselves."

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Will New Disney Cruise Ships Call U.K. Home?

Cruise Critic
 - With two new ships on order and a recent history of dabbling in Europe cruises, Disney Cruise Line is the focus of much speculation from cruise fans and industry watchers alike. The question on everyone's lips is: What is the family cruise line's next big move? (As we reported earlier this year, Alaska's not it.)

The news coming out of last week's U.K. Cruise Convention in Dover is that Disney Cruise Line might be expanding its cruise program from that British homeport.

Disney Magic is already on tap to sail a first-ever series of 12-night Baltic voyages from Dover in the summer of 2010, but according to ttglive.com, the Web site for the U.K.'s Travel Trade Gazette, the line has alluded to a future in Europe for at least one of its two upcoming ships. (Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream are due out in 2011 and 2012, respectively.)

"In the next few months we will be sharing information about what these two new ships will be doing," Peter Welch, Disney U.K. vice president, is quoted as saying. "Needless to say we are here in Dover so that gives you a clue as to what might be happening."

But wait -- not so fast. Disney Cruise Line spokesperson Jason Lasecki tells us today that, at least at the onset, Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream will be based in the U.S. He says the cruise line has already struck an agreement with Port Canaveral for both ships and that infrastructure, down to the parking garage, is being readied to accommodate them. (Lasecki wasn't sure of the duration of the agreement.)

So with the newer, larger vessels likely serving Disney's bread-and-butter Caribbean or Bahamas trips, will Disney Magic or Disney Wonder perhaps be freed up to sail more European cruises? Maybe. "Having two new ships definitely gives us a great degree of flexibility when it comes to itinerary planning. We haven't gone much further than 2010 when Magic will be in Europe ... [but] Europe as a whole is a market that we know that our guests are interested in. It's a possibility but nothing is finalized."

Lasecki tells us that like West Coasters (Disney Wonder will sail again from Los Angeles in 2011), Brits have a "high Disney affinity," having spent time at locations from Disney World in Orlando to Disneyland Paris -- and having Disney Magic in their backyard next summer will be an opportunity for them to find out what the Disney cruise experience is all about.

Though no specific numbers are available yet, the line anticipates a higher percentage of international guests on those voyages; generally, less than 10 percent of passengers on Disney cruises are sourced from outside of the U.S. "We are putting together more of a sales presence in the UK. You will see the mix skew a little bit more British." But, again, there are no official plans as yet to homeport a ship in the U.K. beyond the Dover-based sailings scheduled for next summer.

Lasecki says that the line expects to know more about new deployments through 2011 later this fall.

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ABC = All Barack Channel?

Fox News - Conservatives are outraged about the special access given to ABC News to broadcast a series of programs from the White House on Wednesday. ABC is scheduled to broadcast "Good Morning America" from the White House lawn, "World News" its nightly news show from the Blue Room and a special prime time "Questions for the President: Prescription for America" on President Obama's health care reform proposal from the East Room.

Many fear objective and balanced coverage of the president controversial health care plan will be the casualty of "ABC day" at the White House. The transformation of a major news network from watchdog to Obama lapdog would threaten the very nature of an independent press that is vital in maintaining liberty and a civil society.

Co-opting corporations, especially media giants such as ABC News, to promote his policies appears to be part of Obama's political strategy. General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt, for example, is a member of the president's Economic Recovery Board (PERB) and the company's media units NBC News, CNBC and MSNBC frequently advance Obama's energy policy through its programming and news coverage which would also benefit GE's investment in green technologies.

While financial opportunism may be the driver of GE's favorable media coverage of Obama's energy policy, ABC's interest in health care may represent a deep seeded liberal bias that goes to its parent company, The Walt Disney Company.

Disturbingly, Disney CEO Bob Iger has shown a willingness to put his personal political views over company profits. Under his direction, Iger refuses to sell the DVD or its distribution rights of the ABC miniseries "The Path to 9/11," a program that was based on the federal government's "9/11 Commission Report." The miniseries was criticized by liberal politicians and advocacy groups when it aired in September 2006 because they felt it made President Clinton look responsible for the terrorist attacks in 2001.

Despite losing about $ 40 million on the project because the left-wing generated controversy intimidated commercial sponsorship, Iger keeps the production under lock and key thus denying shareholders an opportunity to recoup their investment in the miniseries.

Disney can't claim the controversial nature of "The Path to 9/11" as a reason to not profit from the film. Disney profited from Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" -- a highly politicized view of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. According to Slate, Disney "booked a $46 million net profit" while "it paid Moore a stunning $21 million" for his documentary.

Because of concerns that Iger's political views are harming its investors, a mutual fund I'm affiliated with filed a shareholder proposal with Disney to increase transparency of the company's political donations.

At Disney's annual meeting, shareholders applauded my explanation of the political basis for the company's refusal to sell "The Path to 9/11" but it clearly upset Iger. When I approached Iger to shake his hand after my presentation, he rejected my offer and instead launched what some in media circles refer to as an "F-bomb."

In response to our shareholder proposal, Disney tried to save face by saying it was indeed willing to sell the distribution rights of the miniseries but I have recently learned that a new, legitimate offer to buy the miniseries was rejected by the company. Previously, inquiries from our company to Iger, and Disney's chairman about purchasing the rights of the miniseries went unanswered.

Iger has impeccable liberal credentials. He gives about 90 percent of his personal political contributions to Democrats and special interest groups; his wife, former news anchor Willow Bay, has a senior position with the Huffington Post.

Disney also has connections to Obama through PERB. Monica C. Lozano, CEO of La Opinion, a major Spanish-language newspaper in the U. S., is a member of Disney's board of directors and the president's economic board.

Given today's volatile political climate and the diverse array of media sources including the Internet and cable TV, Disney/ABC's liberal bias could backfire on the company. After all, a reputation for credibility and trustworthiness is a news organizations only asset.

Moreover, if conservatives, frustrated over Obama's assault on liberty and his coziness with ABC rally against the company, they could pressure its sponsors not to advertise on the network.

Plus, why would conservatives want to attend Disney theme parks and movies if their hard earned money is going to be used to support policies and politicians that are opposed to their values?

Why would conservatives support Disney when it promotes government run health care and Michael Moore's biased view of the 9/11 terrorist attacks while silencing "The Path to 9/11?"

Choosing politics over profits is a dangerous game. If the president is using corporatism to advance his policies, public backlash against Disney and other corporate members of Team Obama may find themselves feeling the heat of an increasingly frustrated and disenfranchised public.

The mid-term elections are still more than a year away but Americans may choose to vote with their wallets by punishing companies that threaten their principles.

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College of Business, Disney to hold workshops in July

The Daily Beacon - Next month, representatives from the Walt Disney Company will visit UT's College of Business Administration to reveal the magic behind successful business practices.

The Disney Keys to Excellence program, offered through the college's Center for Executive Education, is a one-day workshop designed to teach participants business practices and philosophies that have helped Disney become a success.

"This information is not available in textbooks or videos," said Donald Berlin, director of program development for Solution Infusion, a logistics and management company. "It's real insider information and very affordable."

Berlin said the program covers a wide range of information that will be valuable to those either in mid-level management or those at the CEO level.

Participants will attend four learning sessions that will provide valuable insight into Walt Disney's four cornerstones of business: leadership, management, customer service and loyalty.

Berlin said his company arranged for the program to visit UT because of the business school's reputation for excellence.

"Disney's philosophy is complementary to the programs taught through the Center for Executive Education," said Beth Maples, the program's coordinator. "(The Center) saw this as an excellent opportunity to be a part of a program that could bring Disney's world-class vision to Knoxville."

Maples said programs like the Disney workshop, as well as the Professional MBA lunchtime lecture series, are important to the college's outreach efforts and provide professional expertise in the areas of leadership and operation excellence.

"We have high expectations for its success, which normally draws over 250 attendees per session," Maples said.

The workshop will be held on July 21 at the UC. For more information on the program, visit www.keysknoxville.com.

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Summer and Disneyland make Magic Together!

Disney Insider - Beaches, backyard barbecues, and picnics at the park ... these are great daytime activities for when the school year ends, but what can a family do to make summer nights sizzle? Try checking out Disneyland Resort's newest thrills for an exciting alternative to movies and popcorn. Cast Members have been busy sprinkling a little extra pixie dust around the Park for the premiere of "Summer Nightastic!" -- a 10-week entertainment extravaganza that offers something for everyone. From June 12 to August 23, some of your favorite Park attractions will feature special surprises that promise to heat up summer nights in a very cool way -- no Fast Pass required!

First stop, Fairy fun. Nestled between Fantasyland's Matterhorn Bobsleds and Sleeping Beauty Castle, Pixie Hollow Enchantment is the place to meet 'n' greet Tinker Bell and her Fairy friends. Be sure to stick around for the brand-new music, light, and water show after dark. Disney Entertainment Productions Producer Ray Coble describes what Guests can expect. "The show is fully orchestrated with musical variations representing the light, garden, animal, water, and tinker talent Fairies. Guests are whisked away to the Fairies' enchanted world all night long (beginning every 15 minutes) and Tinker Bell is available for photos until 8 p.m. Pixie Hollow's pond twinkles with submerged LED lights, fountains, and spray jets that bring the water to life."

Igniting the night with half a million lights, Disney's Electrical Parade is back with an enhanced score from music producer Bruce Healey. "We have three new floats -- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' Diamond Mine, Pinocchio's Funhouse Face, and Pleasure Island -- returning to the parade. They were retired and sent to other Parks, but we're thrilled to have the new versions for our Guests. We're also very excited that Tinker Bell's leading the parade on a brand-new float and leaving a pixie dust trail behind," laughs Ray. Line up along the parade route in Disney's California Adventure each night at 8:45 p.m. to watch one of the Park's most dazzling spectacles.

"'Fantasmic!' has added a few new faces to its mix of live actors, 3-D animation, video, pyrotechnics, water fountains, and animatronic figures. Maleficent returns bigger and better than ever. Just like in 'Sleeping Beauty,' the Character transforms into a towering, 40-foot-tall fire-breathing dragon. While battling Mickey, she sets the Rivers of America ablaze with flames. It's an amazing combination of effects," Ray explains. Ursula's henchmen, Flotsam and Jetsam, are making their slithering summer debut along with a revamped Tick Tock the Crocodile. Centrally located in Frontierland on Tom Sawyer's Island, you can catch the action at locations from the Haunted Mansion to The Golden Horseshoe nightly at 9 and 10:30 p.m.

"Magical" guides the night from flames to a brilliant fireworks display featuring a special flyover appearance by Dumbo. Tinker Bell's on hand to celebrate as classic Disney tunes fill the air every night at 9:25 p.m. We asked Ray for the inside scoop on the top viewing spot. "No matter where Guests are, they can look up and see the show ... it's designed to be viewed anywhere in the Park. There's also a new glow-in-the-dark confetti finale, which takes place in Fantasyland and Main Street, U.S.A."

The high-energy TLT Dance Club opens its outdoor dance floor in the heart of Tomorrowland, just across from Space Mountain, Innoventions, and the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. From 7 to 11 p.m., parents, kids, teens, and tweens can dance the night away to the latest hits, hosted by local radio DJs Monday through Thursday. Weekends heat up when the club welcomes live local bands Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. "Families can hang out and dance, text their favorite songs, enter contests, and play games," adds Ray.

He doesn't hesitate to mention his favorite attraction in "Summer Nightastic!" "I'd have to say 'Fantasmic!' because I was a performer in the show when it opened back in 1992. Now as part of the creative development team, things have really come full circle ... and that's why I absolutely love what I do!"

From "Fantasmic!" to Pixie Hollow Enchantment, "Summer Nightastic!" proves Disneyland's the place for fireworks, fantasy, and fire-breathing dragons to light up your nights! 

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Walt Disney World - Off the Beaten Path - Bet you didn't know Disney offered these (Part 2)

Examiner - This is the second in three articles on things to do at Walt Disney World that most people aren’t aware of.  We’re not talking about the ‘new’ attractions.  These are the ones that are ‘off the beaten path’ at Disney World.

* Take the ultimate dive in a 5.7-million-gallon indoor aquarium with more than 65 species of marine life, including sharks, turtles, eagle rays and diverse tropical fish. DiveQuest at Epcot offers guaranteed calm seas, no current, unlimited visibility, incredible marine life and bright coral structures.  Additionally, you become part of the show. Your family members and friends (with Epcot admission) can view your dive through any of the 56 giant acrylic windows at The Seas with Nemo & Friends. Guest must be at least 10 years of age and must provide proof of SCUBA certification to participate. Price of $140/person includes a limited edition T-shirt, refreshments, dive certificate and a dive log stamp. Call 407/WDW-TOUR for information.

* The Land at Epcot mixes science and entertainment to grow one-of-a-kind plants -- Behind the brightly colored, mosaic façade of The Land pavilion at Epcot sits offices where greenhouse magic takes place. “Horti-tainment,” a mix of horticulture and entertainment, creates some of the most visually interesting fruits and vegetables found under one roof anywhere in the world. Among the highlights: a world-record harvest from a single tomato vine (see next bullet point); Mickey Mouse-shaped cucumbers, watermelons and pumpkins; nine-pound lemons, and more.

* 'Tomato Tree' sets record with 32,000 tomatoes -- The Tomato Tree at The Land pavilion at Epcot has blossomed into a record-setting plant. The tree recently was recognized as an official Guinness World Record Holder, with a one-year harvest of more than 32,000 tomatoes and a total weight of 1,151.84 pounds. Guests can spot the tree during the pavilion's Living with the Land boat ride.

* Epcot is a World Showcase for art lovers -- Epcot World Showcase has been a “showplace” of nations since its grand opening in 1982. But beyond the pagodas in Japan and the longboats in Norway lies a whole other world, treating art lovers to museum-quality galleries. Current exhibitions include: The Vikings: Conquerors of the Seas at Norway, Tomb Warriors at China, “Tin Toy Stories” Made in Japan at Japan, and Gallery of Arts and History at Morocco. Admission to the exhibitions is included with general park admission.

For more information about Walt Disney World Resort, guests can visit disneyworld.com or phone 407/824-4321.

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Create Your Own Music Vids With Disney.com's U Rock 2

TeenMusic - Disney.com announced today the launch of U Rock 2, a unique promotion that gives fans the opportunity to create their own music videos set to songs from popular Disney artists and post their original videos on the U Rock site (www.Disney.com/URock).

The most popular U Rock video finalists, voted on by fans, will win the ultimate rock star experience including a trip to Los Angeles, an in-studio "take over" at Radio Disney, a visit to the set of a Disney Channel show, and more.

Songs that can be downloaded include "One And The Same" by Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez, "Paranoid" by Jonas Brothers, "Hey" by Mitchel Musso, and "Ready to Rock" by Steve Rushton.

Fans can upload videos on Disney.com now through July 12, 2009. Finalists in each of the U Rock 2 categories will be announced on July 17, 2009 and fans can then vote for their top video picks through July 31, 2009.

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Walt Disney World - Off the Beaten Path - Bet you didn't know Disney offered these (Part 3)

Examiner - This is the third in three articles on things to do at Walt Disney World that most people aren’t aware of.  We’re not talking about the ‘new’ attractions.  These are the ones that are ‘off the beaten path’ at Disney World.

* Discover the magic backstage -- A “must do” for any true Disney fan, the Backstage Magic tour unveils the fine points behind the artistic, technical, and scientific operations found throughout the theme parks.  This 7-hour behind-the-scenes adventure guides guests through the magic of one man's dream, Walt Disney.  Highlights may include a journey beneath the Magic Kingdom theme park to view support systems located in the “tunnel,” the opportunity to observe the unique technology that brings the story of the American experience to life at The American Adventure at Epcot, or a peak into the Disney's Hollywood Studios Creative Costuming area to examine the process of Disney costume design and fabrication. A family-style lunch at Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano is included. Guests must be 16 years of age to participate; $199 per person. 407/WDW-TOUR for more information.

* Build your own roller coaster at DisneyQuest's CyberSpace Mountain attraction -- Bill Nye the Coaster Guy walks guests through the design process where they choose from three different speeds, three world settings (fire, ice or outer space) and an infinite number of track combinations. The roller coaster of your dreams (or nightmares!) can do flips, corkscrews and even wild maneuvers such as a loop that flies off the tracks. A digital card tracks guests' personal coasters and the simulator re-creates it both visually and physically. Guests must be 51” to ride, 407/938-6253 for more information.

 * Wonder of wonders -- The Disney Wonder, the most magical ship afloat, received an extra dose of pixie dust recently, adding major enhancements that appeal to all members of the family. Adults will enjoy the expanded fitness center and new spa villas -- an industry-first spa treatment room with private outdoor verandah complete with hot tub. Families can gather for poolside movies with the new 24-by-14-foot Ariel Vision jumbo screen, and the youngest cruisers will delight in a brand new toddler splash zone.

* Learn to hula dance at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, where complimentary classes take place most days in the resort’s lobby. Auntie Kaui, a hula dancer and instructor with 50 years experience, leads most of the classes offered Monday through Saturday at 3:45 p.m., and Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. until noon. Weekday classes are geared toward the younger set, with leis and grass skirts aplenty, while the Saturday morning lessons encourage guests of all ages to do the hula shake. And whether guests stay for five minutes or the full two-hour Saturday classes, they’ll learn a variety of chants and dances from such tropical locales as Hawaii, Tahiti and more.

* The Archery Experience at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground – Whether novice or expert marksman, an archery guide offers training and tips on how to hit the bulls-eye.  Open to resort guests and non-guests alike, the 90-minute experience costs $25 (plus tax) per person, includes equipment and instruction and can be booked up to 90 days in advance by calling 407/939-7529. Offered Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons.

For more information about Walt Disney World Resort, guests can visit disneyworld.com or phone 407/824-4321.

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Disney without Tears? It's possible - here's how

Enterprise News - 
They don’t call it the Magic Kingdom for nothing. The Disney theme park might be pushing 40, but it hasn’t lost its charm or magic. Like many of us on the wrong side of 35, the park is starting to wrinkle and sag (Tomorrowland has always been the weak link), but for the most part it’s well preserved. Among trips with family, friends and spouse, my visits to Disney are in the double digits. I keep going back because it’s a destination that makes me feel like I’m unplugged and in another world. Some folks will tell me I need to pick better places, but, hey, I’m low maintenance and low brow, and Disney’s never let me down.
Now, I’m a Mickey Mouse mom and was hell-bent on creating Disney memories with my son. Certainly I was discouraged against bringing a 2-year-old to Disney World – the cost, the travel, limited age-appropriate activities and attractions, and so on. It’s not as if he knows Mickey, Minnie or any of the characters. He’s more of a Curious George and Thomas the Tank Engine guy. Characters aside, I wanted him to just hang out in the place where I’ve had such magic moments. (In my younger days, I even got a Mickey tattoo, but that’s a story for another time.)

Did I mention I was hell-bent? My smart husband agreed, albeit reluctantly, to a weekday getaway, to avoid the weekend crush.

With that OK, I go into full reporter mode, researching anything and everything that an active toddler with his father’s patience for crowds and long lines would want to do. I map out routes, check parade schedules, memorize park hours, print transportation guidelines, compare hotel amenities, digest the dining plans and the list goes on.

I got stressed.

Can I really make Disney happen for a 2-year-old and simultaneously keep my marriage intact over the four days?

The answer is, yes. To get there, though, you have to do the legwork beforehand. You also have to take your child’s personality and penchants into consideration. It’s along the lines of “know thy enemy.”

My son might not remember it, but when he’s older we’ll tell him (and show him the video) of his first of what Mom hopes become many Disney visits. Otherwise, how will I ever explain the tattoo?

The advice that follows isn’t gospel but hopefully practical. Going into battle well-armed is the best insurance.

Where to stay

For most adults the hotel is just a place to sleep and shower. Throw children into the mix and the hotel selection suddenly becomes important because you can’t spend every minute of every day at a theme park and still have happy kids and husbands. They need downtime, nap time and time to splash in the pool – you can’t escape from a New England winter and just blow off the pool in favor of another ride on “The Pirates of the Caribbean” or “Space Mountain.” We bunked on the Disney campus at the Coronado Springs Resort in the most economical (read: bare-bones) room offered. I had to search high and low just to find a pen.

Everything in Disney has a theme, and Coronado is no exception with its American Southwest design. One of Disney’s moderately priced resorts, Coronado is a good option for families, but we did wish we’d gotten a bigger room. We did, however, love the mini-fridge because we brought our own snacks and juice to avoid Disney’s infamous astronomical food prices. And, we loved the Mayan pyramid-themed pool, waterslide and hot tub.

We didn’t love the location, though. Coronado isn’t near anything, and that’s probably why it has a ton of amenities – including five restaurants, three pools, a spa and seasonal water sports. If you stay here, you’re at the mercy of the shuttle bus – we waited as little as 10 minutes to as much as 45 minutes. Especially with young and excited kids, it’s better to pick a location within walking distance of the theme park or attraction, or a more reliable form of transportation like the monorails, which run every 5 to 7 minutes and travel between Epcot, some hotels and the Magic Kingdom. To get to the Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, you’ll have to take your chances on the buses, which run more frequently from park to park than from hotel to park.

Geographically speaking, pick an Epcot-area hotel, such as the Disney Beach Club Resort. You can walk to Epcot and Disney Boardwalk, and it’s near Hollywood Studios. It’s a deluxe resort (read: most expensive) but it’s money well spent for the convenience alone. I stayed here pre-baby and would again in flash. Likewise for the Grand Floridian for its monorail service and proximity to the Magic Kingdom, and the Animal Kingdom Lodge for the pleasure of shacking up with wild animals for a few days.

Quick Tip: Disney owns and operates 20 resorts on its Orlando digs, and that’s a lot to digest. Staying there does have its perks – extended theme park hours, free parking, free airport shuttle, free luggage delivery service and the option to purchase the dining plan.

Theme-park savvy

Magic Kingdom

I made a list before we left of what we wanted to see and what we’d skip. I wasn’t overly ambitious, either; I wasn’t going to try to visit all four theme parks. That would’ve been a recipe for disaster.

Given my son’s age, I narrowed it to the Magic Kingdom and the Animal Kingdom Park. Those offered the most age-appropriate rides and attractions: I knew my son would love riding the trains. I knew the characters would scare him. I knew he’d love seeing the animals.

Armed with that knowledge, we headed off to the Magic Kingdom and hopped on the Walt Disney World Railroad, disembarking at Mickey’s Toontown, an area of amusements geared toward the younger set. We took a ride on Dumbo, the Teacups, Cinderella’s Carousel (twice) and saw Mickey’s Philharmonic 3-D show. I ruled out Snow White’s Scary Adventures because my son was a bit freaked by the 3-D show, so anything with “scary” in its title was out. A quick lunch and we returned to the hotel for a poolside nap.

After dinner we headed back to the Magic Kingdom and Pooh’s Playful Spot, a play area with tunnels, slides and a tot-sized house.

Later, while the “Spectromagic” was starting, we took advantage of the smaller lines and dashed onto It’s a Small World and the race cars at Tomorrowland Indy Speedway. Afterward, we locked in a spot for the fireworks show.

Be warned: the park closes after the fireworks and there is a mass exodus for the gates. It’s dark and crowded and you have to be on guard so you’re not run over by overtired kids and grumpy grownups vying for the quickest lane out. Either you leave before the end of the show and increase the chance of catching a bus back to your hotel or stick around and let the crowd dissipate. (This is an example of why it’s better to lodge at closer digs. It took more than a hour for us to get back to the Coronado.)

Quick tip: Fast Pass – learn it; use it; love it. This feature allows guests to make reservations for a popular ride to avoid waiting in long lines. We hit up the Kilamanjaro Safari ride at the Animal Kingdom, which had a one-hour wait. We grabbed fast passes at 11 a.m. that were valid between noon and 1 p.m. In the meantime, we took a train ride to the petting zoo, hung out with Lilo & Stitch, took a snack break, and within the hour were waltzing onto the safari ride soon to be face-to-face with a rhino.

To stroller or not to stroller

The majority of guests were families with stroller-age kids. You need trams that fold up easy for the buses, monorails and some rides. I brought my Maclaren umbrella stroller and it was the perfect Disney accessory – so perfect they should market it that way.

Don’t be freaked if you park your stroller outside a ride and it’s gone when you return. Cast members might move it to keep lanes clear, but it’s surprisingly safe; just don’t leave valuables.

You can rent strollers, too. But it’s pricey: $15 a day for a single and $31 for a double. Besides the cost, another downside to renting is all the strollers are the same so it’s hard to recognize yours. And, they’re hard plastic. Not too comfortable for the kids, but easy to spray down with a hose when cleaning.

Odds and ends

The best time to hit a chunk of rides is during the parades. Everyone stops to watch the parade, leaving the rides free.

Hundreds of thousands of guests visit Disney on any given day, but the parks remain clean. Vacuum cleaners were sucking up debris almost before it hit the ground.

When overstimulation and weariness strike, it’s good to have a Disney joke stashed away: Why does Tigger bounce? So he doesn’t step in poo.

Schedule a park-free day to fully enjoy the amenities at your hotel. It’ll make your stay more enjoyable and give your feet time to heal. Most hotels have fantasy pools, hot tubs, dining, shopping. The pools are usually most crowed in the late afternoon and the evenings.

From shopping at the Once Upon a Toy store and the Lego Imagination Center – with the world’s biggest “pick-a-brick” wall – to rides on a mini-carousel and mini-train, we found lots to do in the Downtown Disney area, including grabbing a cold beer for Mom and Dad. They don’t serve alcohol in the Magic Kingdom.

Most of the rides at Magic Kingdom empty into, or pass right by, a gift shop. Find a way to distract the kids on the way out or you’ll be loaded down with pricey souvenirs.

Bring a good backpack to fill with water, snacks, wipes, diapers, sunscreen, video and digital cameras. You can bring food into the parks, so stock up on snack packs, sandwiches, juice boxes and water – just don’t feed the animals.

Meal plan: For most stays between Aug. 16 and Oct. 3, certain Disney resorts are offering a free Disney Dining Plan when you buy a five-night room and theme park package. (The package has to be booked by Sunday.)

Do use the Disney Photo Pass option. You can get professional portraits shot at iconic spots in all the parks, Cinderella’s Castle in the Magic Kingdom and the Tree of Life in the Animal Kingdom Park, for example. Later, log onto the Web site and enter your code to view your photos. Buy them if you like them.

For more information: disneyworld.disney.go.com/

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Pixie Hollow Summer Vacation Sweepstakes Details!

Disney News - Enter for your chance to meet Tinker Bell and see the Disneyland Resort in a whole new light as SUMMER NIGHTASTIC! generates high-energy excitement, from June 12 through August 23!

Fairies fans will be mesmerized by Pixie Hollow Enchantment, an after dark, twinkling light show that unites the Fairies' hidden talents in a celebration of summer. Watch in awe as pixie dust cascades across the landscape and playful fountains spring to life. This special summertime event features favorite nighttime entertainment re-imagined with spectacular state-of-the art effects – plus an all-new fireworks show.

Fairies fans will delight in a more-dazzling-than-ever Disney's Electrical Parade, led by Tinker Bell in a brand-new scene, and with two classic scenes making their triumphant return!

ENTER NOW for your chance to win a family vacation for four to experience SUMMER NIGHTASTIC*. One lucky winner will enjoy:

  • A special meet-n-greet with Tinker Bell
  • Four 4-day Disneyland® Resort Park Hopper Tickets
  • Accommodations at a Disneyland® Resort hotel
  • Round-Trip airfare for the winner and three guests

For the full contest rules and to enter for a chance to win, visit www.PixieHollow.com (click on the "News and Events" tab and then the "Contests" button) and then log in between now and June 29, 2009 11:59 AM PST.

* Travel must be completed by August 23, 2009, to experience the Summer Nightastic! offerings.

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Tuesday June 23, 2009

Business soaring at Oakland's Fenton's, thanks to Pixar hit 'Up!'
Confessions of a Shopaholic on DVD and Blu-ray
Disney's Hollywood Studios Presents Luxo jr.
Fast-growing Spil Games site adds Disney’s Club Penguin
Remember: Time running out on Stitch
Could Disney bring back its 7-for-4 hotel deal later this year?
Disneyland Paris looks to London for new recruits
BSkyB shares climb after ESPN signs U.K. soccer rights deal

Business soaring at Oakland's Fenton's, thanks to Pixar hit 'Up!'

San Jose Mercury News - At first glance, Dug stands as the only visible indicator of Fenton's newfound stardom.

The cerebrally challenged talking pooch from "Up!" obediently stays atop a case in a corner of the landmark Piedmont Avenue ice cream parlor. Of course, he's stuffed, which makes it easier to take photos.

But his presence hasn't been missed by fans of Pixar's animated summer hit. Business has been up — so to speak — at Oakland's 115-year-old ice cream parlor and restaurant ever since late May when "Up!" audiences noticed Fenton's, which plays a small, but key, role in the film.

The line was once again out the door Saturday as it has been since late May, with plenty of former Fenton's lovers 
coming back to join the regulars that often spill onto the patio.

When they take their kids to "Up!" old-timers remember the taste of cold vanilla mixing with hot fudge, while sitting on iron-backed chairs at marble tables. They remember seeing the man in the white hat near the back, pouring gum balls into a humming machine to make bubble gum ice cream.

And as the dig into their Black & Tan, they're talking about "Up!" in which an 8-year-old chubby, overeager Boy Scout named Russell muses about sitting on the curb outside Fenton's, counting red and blue cars with his estranged father. Later, he recreates the moment with grandfatherly Carl Fredrickson (voiced by Ed Asner) and his loyal dog, Dug. As the camera pans up, Fenton's famous facade fills the screen.

It caught at least one longtime Fenton's fan by surprise.

"I had no idea it was in the movie until we spotted it there," says Dave Anderson, who brought wife Cathy and his three grandkids from Clovis to Fenton's after seeing the film. "It's a tradition. I'm 65, and I've been coming here since I was 10."

Owner Scott Whidden doesn't think the store has become a tourist attraction yet. But the past few weeks have brought a lot of faces from years gone by.

"I don't know if out-of-towners connect with it, but for people who know Fenton's, they see the name and there's something magical about the connection," says owner Whidden, whose family has owned Fenton's for decades. He says the store is expanding across the street later this year, with a soda fountain where kids can get involved in the making of their own treats.

The ice cream parlor is the most recent in a long line of local connections integrated into animated films. "The Incredibles" featured a police chase down San Pablo Avenue, which runs from Oakland to West Contra Costa. Much of "Monsters vs Aliens" took place between San Francisco and Modesto. Even the flying house from "Up!" is based on a Victorian in West Berkeley.

The film's director Pete Docter lives nearby and is a longtime Fenton's customer. Groups of Pixar employees regularly frequent Fenton's for lunch and special events. So it was only natural for Fenton's to be cast when the script called for an ice cream store.

"I've seen a lot of people sitting on the curb, eating their ice cream," says manager Jeffrey Unverserth. "Kids come in and want to see Dug the dog and want to know how many red and blue cars have come by today."

The store is being careful not to exploit the its newfound fame; there's nothing inside indicating the movie tie-in. Other than Dug, which was a gift from Pixar, the only other memento is a framed picture of Fenton's appearance in the film hangs in the manager's office.

Fentons does, however, offer a free ice cream scoop to ticket stub-wielding customers, many of whom take pictures in front of the building.

"It was fun," says Joel Gonzales, who sat in a booth with his 3-year-old son Diego. "We were talking to Diego about coming to Fenton's. Then we saw it in the movie and I said 'Hey, that's where we're going.'"

Grant and Garner Hendrick saw the movie and brought their 11-year-old, banana-split-devouring son Graham from San Carlos for a taste of the real thing. "It was a while since I'd been to Fenton's, but I remembered it," Garner said. "That was really cool to see. That's why we came here."

Unverserth says the movie shows how the community feels about Fenton's. "Some of our employees said when they saw the movie and Fenton's came on, the whole movie theater started applauding. This is a global movie, so for people who don't know what Fenton's is, it has that connection."

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Confessions of a Shopaholic on DVD and Blu-ray

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment - A flat broke fashion junkie is hired to dispense monetary advice in the stylishly funny romantic comedy Confessions of a Shopaholic, coming to BlurayTM Hi-Def and DVD on June 23, 2009 from Touchstone Home Entertainment. Legendary producer Jerry Bruckheimer (the Pirates of the Caribbean and National Treasure franchises) presents a lighthearted, feel-good romp based on Sophie Kinsella's best selling novels about a fashion forward New Yorker who trades frocks for finance and finds fulfillment in the most unexpected place. Available in 1-disc DVD plus 2-disc DVD and Blu-ray editions that include Digital Copy, Confessions of a Shopaholic sports bonus features including bloopers, deleted scenes, and a music video. The Blu-ray has even more bonus features, including a look behind the making of this season's must-have accessory for anyone who loves to laugh.

Confessions of a Shopaholic's strong ensemble cast includes Isla Fisher (Wedding Crashers), Hugh Dancy (The Jane Austen Book Club), Krysten Ritter (What Happens in Vegas), Joan Cusack (Friends with Money), John Goodman (Speed Racer), John Lithgow (Dreamgirls) and Kristin Scott Thomas (The Other Boleyn Girl). Directed by P. J. Hogan (My Best Friend's Wedding) with a comic touch as light as the rarefied air of the fashion world, Confessions of a Shopaholic also features costumes by iconic designer Patricia Field (Sex and the City, The Devil Wears Prada) that give New York's Fashion Week a run for its money.

Confessions of a Shopaholic has a suggested retail price of $29.99 (US) and $35.99 (Canada) for the 1-Disc DVD, $44.99 (Canada) for the 1-Disc BD Edition, $32.99 (U.S.) and $40.99 (Canada) for the 2-Disc DVD and $39.99 (U.S.) and $49.99 (Canada) for the 2-Disc BD.

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Disney's Hollywood Studios Presents Luxo jr.

Disney Shawn - The Pixar Studios district at Disney's Hollywood Studios opened last summer with the debut of Toy Story Midway Mania. The entire area is full of many exquisite details (such as the multi-colored brick pattern duplicated from Pixar's campus in Emeryville, California) and fun surprises (like the Green Army Men playing Scrabble). Although the main focus is on characters from the Toy Story films, a certain little lamp can also be found here. His name is Luxo Jr., and he has become the unofficial mascot of Pixar Animation Studios, appearing at the start of every Pixar film.

Luxo Jr. was the title character of Pixar's first computer animated short film (image below ©Pixar). The film grew out of John Lasseter's desire to learn how to model an object on the computer. He chose as his subject the Luxo brand lamp on his desk. Further inspired by a coworker's young son, John wondered what a child lamp would look and act like. Luxo Jr. was born. "Luxo Jr." had its public debut at SIGGRAPH in 1986 and was met with rapturous applause. Never before had such personality and life been seen from a computer-generated image. It was the beginning of a journey that would culminate in Toy Story, the first full-length computer animated feature, and lead to a successful run of wonderful stories and characters.

Now, Luxo Jr. has been given new life in the form of an incredible new Audio-Animatronics figure on Pixar Place at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Throughout the day, just outside the facade for the Luxo Jr. Lighting Department, the little lamp hops out to have a little fun. Music starts playing in the area, and Luxo Jr. can't help but dance along. The music changes, and he responds accordingly. At night, Luxo Jr. discovers a connection with the trees around him, each shimmering with hundreds of twinkling lights. As Luxo Jr. calls to them, the lights in the trees react, dancing and changing color with him.

Luxo
Jr. appears intermittently (approx. every 15-20 minutes), weather permitting. Of the two vignettes, "dancing" runs during the day. "Dancing" and "conducting" alternate with one another after dark. Additional vignettes may be added in the future, so stay tuned!

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Fast-growing Spil Games site adds Disney’s Club Penguin

The Industry Standard
 - Games said today it is adding Disney’s Club Penguin kids virtual world to the collection of games accessible via its online gaming portals. This move will extend Club Penguin’s reach to popular game portals in France, Brazil and the UK., and it essentially means Disney is giving its blessing to the fast-growing casual web games market.

Based in Hliversum, Netherlands, Spil Games is the parent of more than 50 casual game portals with 4,000 games; collectively those portals draw more than 100 million unique visitors a month. It has such a big following that even huge sites such as Club Penguin are seeking out new users by making themselves accessible on Spil Games.

Prediction: Dell announces a smartphone in 2009?

Club Penguin will now be available on French site jeu.fr, Brazilian portal ojogos.com.br, British tween (older kids) site mygames.co.uk, and American tween portal agame.com.Yes, we’ve come to the age where we have game portals within game portals. It means that companies are no longer religious about where they’re getting their gamers from; they want to find them wherever they are, even if that means sharing them with rivals.

Club Penguin itself is a virtual world with a snow-covered theme. Kids can gather there, interact with friends, explore and play games. Disney bought Club Penguin, which launched three and a half years ago, for cash and bonuses that could potentially add up to $700 million. Spil Games has more than 50 casual game portals in 20 languages worldwide.

In related news, SuperSecret, another kids virtual world, said its site will be available via Spil Games portals as well.

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Remember: Time running out on Stitch

Theme Park Rangers - If you want to catch an odd footnote in Disney history, head to Tomorrowland ... quickly. Remember, "Stitch's Supersonic Celebration" closes Saturday after a run of less than two months. It must be one of Disney's shortest-lived shows ever. Anyone know of anything with a shorter run?

At Disneyland, of course, there's the (in)famous Light Magic parade, which replaced the beloved Main Street Electrical Parade. After creating the whole extravaganza and making structural changes to Disneyland itself to accommodate it, Light Magic was met with emotions ranging from indifference to hostility and the whole shebang was shelved after about four months, never to return.

Disney World also invested a lot in structural changes in Tomorrowland for the Stitch show -- a new stage, technical booth, video screen -- making the show's cancellation more puzzling, especially right before the busy summer season. And with Space Mountain and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority closed and Galaxy Theater replaced with a parking lot, it means half of Tomorrowland sits empty. Poor Carousel of Progress is left marooned in a corner of emptiness.

I had heard "Stitch's Supersonic Celebration" was terrible, but when I checked it out I found it not as bad as that. It's not great, but it's serviceable -- and certainly could have been improved with a little tweaking and editing. My suggestions: Cut down on the time spent watching Stitch on the video screen (it's like a boring cartoon); trim the songs back a verse (we have short attention spans); make the humor a little more geared toward kids. (Disney likes its shows to register with kids and adults, but in this one the adults were more interested than the kids. Jokes about free shipping, big-box stores, Elvis... the adults were laughing, singing along to "These Boots Are Made for Walking" and doing a lively "Neutron Dance." The kids had no idea what it was about.)

The cast is energetic and fun (my Tip Trendo was, well, a stitch). The Galaxy Girls' wigs and costumes are eye-catching. And I admit I did enjoy the "Boots" number. Starrrt walking...

Much has been made about the show's lack of shade and seating and the heat factor. To be fair, it's like the castle stage show: you can sit on the pavement for Stitch's show. And there is actually more shaded viewing than for the castle show (huddle under the TTA tracks).

Shows are scheduled until the final performance Saturday at 10, 11:10,  12:20, 2:15, 3:30 and 4:45.

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Could Disney bring back its 7-for-4 hotel deal later this year?

Orlando Sentinel - Could Walt Disney World bring back its seven-for-four hotel-night promotion later this year? One analyst thinks so.

Disney earlier this year stopped accepting bookings for the popular promo -- which has helped Disney World prop up attendance but at the cost of lower profit margins -- and replaced it with a free dining offer that travelers can book until late July. But Richard Greenfield, an analyst who follows the Walt Disney Co. for Pali Capital, wrote in a recent post on the firm's research blog that "we sense" that the free dining promo has not been as successful as the hotel discount was.

The seven-for-four travel window runs until mid-August; the free dining travel window is from mid-August to early October.

"We suspect Disney will need to go back to a 7 for 4 or better promo in the near future to sustain attendance levels" for the final three months of 2009, Greenfield wrote. The final three months of the calendar year are also the first three months of Disney's 2010 fiscal year.

Greenfield added, "Our thesis remains that without a notable pick-up in the economy, Disney will need to significantly discount pricing in 2010, further pressuring margins…or experience a substantial decline in attendance given how much vacation share they took within the Orlando market over the past year and how many vacations they have pulled forward by aggressively discounting."

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Disneyland Paris looks to London for new recruits

Human Resources - HR staff from the resort are visiting the Walt Disney Company's UK office in Hammersmith London to source employees for positions in sales, hotel and hospitality roles.

Last year Disneyland Paris took on 9,000 new staff and British staff at the park represent the third largest community after French and Italian employees. More than 300 Brits currently work in the resort.

Employees recruited this week can sign contracts for the summer, Halloween or Christmas as well as open-ended contracts from September 2009.

Jean Noel Thiollier, director of employment and remuneration at Disneyland Paris, said: "Disneyland Paris is a unique and diverse company where 14,000 professionals from more than 100 nations work in a single site. To reinforce our activity we are constantly seeking new talents in more than 500 vocations.

"Working at Disneyland Paris is a chance to gain professional experience in an international environment, learn and grow."

The organization has launched a new website on which anyone, who is over 18 and can speak conversational French, can apply.

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BSkyB shares climb after ESPN signs U.K. soccer rights deal

MarketWatch - British Sky Broadcasting (UK:BSY 444.50) (BSY 29.23) saw its shares climb 4.1% in a broadly flat London equity market on Tuesday afternoon.

BSkyB is 39% held by News Corp., which also owns MarketWatch, the publisher of this report.

The gains for BSkyB followed news that Walt Disney's (DIS 22.86) ESPN sports-television network has acquired the U.K. broadcasting rights to some of England's Premier League soccer games.

ESPN will acquire the rights to broadcast 46 soccer matches for the 2009/2010 season for 100 million pounds ($163.5 million) and the rights to 23 matches per season up to 2012/2013 for 150 million pounds ($245.2 million), noted analysts at Jefferies International.

The rights were acquired from Setanta Sports, the struggling broadcaster which recently failed to meet a payment deadline for the rights.

BSkyB paid 1.62 billion pounds ($2.6 billion) in February for its rights packages, which run to 2013. It has the right to broadcast 92 games in the coming season and 115 games in seasons after that.

"Bears will argue ESPN is a stronger financial competitor than Setanta, which is true. But ESPN is also a rational competitor - an important difference in Sky's favor," noted analysts at Deutsche Bank.

They believe that ESPN won't bid for what they can't monetize. Setanta did, they argued, which put upward pressure on rights costs.

Meanwhile analysts at Jefferies International said there are other positives for Sky from ESPN's rights acquisition.

"The re-auctioning of the rights posed potential risks to Sky, notably the threat of a free-to-air broadcaster such as the BBC acquiring the rights and hence devaluing Sky's pay proposition," they said.

Similarly, if Sky decided to buy the rights, then there was the possibility of an earnings-per-share downgrade, they noted.

"Hence we see this as a positive outcome and note also that BSkyB will retail ESPN as an a la carte option, unlike Setanta which sold its channels using its own call center and billing system," they added.

BSkyB derives the bulk of its revenue from its satellite television service.

Deutsche Bank analysts said that this part of the deal means that Sky will be able to control pricing, with ESPN taking a margin.

"Come 2013, there is a risk that ESPN changes its model to one less dependent on Sky distribution. But it hasn't done it anywhere else. And given the U.K. market structure, it wouldn't be the obvious place to start," the analysts added.

Citigroup analysts added: "In opting for a lower risk wholesale model, ESPN is in competition with BSkyB only for rights going forward, and not in building a subscriber base."

BSkyB's main pay-television rival is the cable operator Virgin Media which said it's holding talks about broadcasting ESPN's new offering.

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Monday June 22, 2009

Disney Gets Second No. 1 in Month With $34.1 Million ‘Proposal’
Disney's ESPN wins English soccer TV rights
First look: What a weird 'Wonderland' Burton's made
Disney’s Toy Story Toys Get an Upgrade
ESPN to share La Liga's US TV rights with GOL
Sponsorship of Epcot's Test Track stuck in neutral
Disney Emergency Support will Help Move 60 Elephants in Africa to a New Home
Disney's 'Oso' sets return
Jonas Brothers' Disney TV show comes to the UK
Walt Disney World - Off the Beaten Path - Bet you didn't know Disney offered these
Bullock's 'Proposal' woos date crowds with $34.1M
Disney’s G-Force Brings 3-D to Gaming
The magic endures at Disneyland

Disney Gets Second No. 1 in Month With $34.1 Million ‘Proposal’

Bloomberg -  Walt Disney Co.’s romantic comedy “The Proposal” debuted as the top film in the U.S. and Canada over the weekend, as star Sandra Bullock’s best-ever opener gave the company its second No. 1 movie in a month.

“The Proposal” had $34.1 million in ticket sales, researcher Hollywood.com Box-Office said yesterday in an e- mailed statement. Time Warner Inc.’s “The Hangover” slipped to second with $26.9 million, while “Up” from Disney’s Pixar Animation Studios had $21.3 million in receipts.

The two Disney movies have brought in a combined $258.2 million since the animated 3-D feature “Up” opened at No. 1 four weeks ago. Bullock is identified with romantic comedies, and “The Proposal” gave audiences exactly what they went for, said Brandon Gray, president of Box Office Mojo in Sherman Oaks, California.

“Sandra is probably an underrated star, because she’s one of the few who can actually draw an audience when she’s in the right movie,” Gray said. “A lot of movies suffer from a lack of clarity or a lack of information in their advertisements, but ‘The Proposal’ was on point and promised a rollicking romantic good time for all.”

In “The Proposal,” Bullock plays an executive who faces deportation to her native Canada. She tries to fool U.S. immigration authorities by having her assistant, played by Ryan Reynolds, pose as her American fiancé. Gitesh Pandya, editor of Box Office Guru LLC, projected the film to earn as much as $22 million in its debut weekend.

‘The Hangover’

The top 12 films this weekend grossed $140.7 million, up 1.64 percent from a year earlier, Hollywood.com said. Ticket sales for all films rose 2.85 percent to $147 million.

“The Hangover,” a comedy about the aftermath of a bachelor party gone awry in Las Vegas, was the top film the two previous weekends. It has taken in $152.9 million since it opened on June 5.

“‘The Hangover’ is like a hangover; it just won’t go away,” Gray said. “It’s one of the great box-office successes of the year.”

“Up” is Disney’s most successful film this year with $224.1 million in receipts since its May 29 release and has helped lift the studio from last place among its Hollywood peers. The movie, featuring the voice of Ed Asner, drew family audiences with its story of an accidental friendship between a young boy and an elderly man who finally achieves his dream of foreign travel.

‘Pelham 1 2 3’

“Year One,” from Sony Corp., debuted in fourth place with $20.2 million. The film stars Jack Black and Michael Cera as hapless hunter-gatherers kicked out of their tribe for violating a taboo. Their wanderings lead to run-ins with Cain and Abel and other Old Testament figures. “Year One” was forecast by Pandya to generate $20 million in sales.

Sony’s “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3,” starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta, fell to fifth from third with $11.3 million.

Sony Pictures Classic’s “Whatever Works,” by director Woody Allen, took in $280,720 in nine theaters, the best limited-release opener this year, according to Paul Dergarabedian, an analyst at Hollywood.com Box-office. The per- theater average of $31,191 was triple the $11,163 for “The Proposal.” The film will expand into more than 300 theaters on July 3, according to Dergarabedian.

‘Transformers’

A comedy led box-office sales for a fifth consecutive weekend. That may end next week when Viacom Inc. releases “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” a sequel to 2007’s “Transformers.” Advance sales for the sequel were ahead of the first film by a 3-to-1 margin as of June 17, according to online vendor MovieTickets.com.

The movie, which opens June 24, has the potential to gross more than $200 million in its first seven days, nearing the record $238.6 million set by “The Dark Knight” in July 2008, Gray said.

The original “Transformers,” released in 2007, opened with $70.5 million and took in $708.3 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo, which tracks receipts.

The following table has figures provided by studios to Hollywood.com Box-Office. The amounts are based on actual ticket sales for June 19 and June 20, and estimates for yesterday.

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Disney's ESPN wins English soccer TV rights

Reuters - The Disney-owned (DIS.N) sports network ESPN has won the right to show 46 live English Premier League soccer matches for the 2009/10 season after picking up the broadcasting rights from troubled group Setanta.

Setanta was forced to hand back the rights to the games after failing to make a payment last week. ESPN will also show 23 games in the 2010 to 2013 season.

"The Premier League is extremely pleased to have added ESPN as a UK rights holder," Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore said.

"They have a formidable worldwide reputation and experience in sports and I am sure we will enjoy a long and fruitful relationship with them.

"I would like to thank ESPN, as well as all the other broadcasters who submitted bids, for their professionalism and effort in engaging in our sales process at such short notice."

British dominant pay-TV firm BSkyB (BSY.L) will show 92 games in the 2009/10 season and then 115 for the following three year contract.

Earlier on Monday Setanta lost the rights to show Scottish games after also defaulting on a payment.

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First look: What a weird 'Wonderland' Burton's made

USA Today - You might have gone down the rabbit hole before. But never with a guide quite as attuned to the fantastic as Tim Burton.

Those who have grown curiouser and curiouser about what the offbeat reinventor of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory might conjure up in his version of Alice in Wonderland can feast their eyes on this array of concept art and publicity images, due to hang in movie theaters this week to promote the March 5, 2010, release.

"It has been Burton-ized" is how producer Richard Zanuck describes the director's vision of the Lewis Carroll classic. Many elements are familiar, from the enigmatic Caterpillar (Alan Rickman) to the fierce Jabberwock (Christopher Lee). But none has been presented in this sort of visually surreal fashion.

"We finished shooting in December after only 40 days," Zanuck says. Now the live action is being merged with CG animation and motion-capture creatures, and then transferred into 3-D.

The traditional tale has been freshened with a blast of girl power, courtesy of writer Linda Woolverton (Beauty and the Beast). Alice, 17, attends a party at a Victorian estate only to find she is about to be proposed to in front of hundreds of snooty society types. Off she runs, following a white rabbit into a hole and ending up in Wonderland, a place she visited 10 years before yet doesn't remember.

Among those who welcome her back is the Mad Hatter, a part tailor-made for Johnny Depp as he collaborates with Burton for the seventh time. "This character is off his rocker," Zanuck says.

Aussie actress Mia Wasikowska, 19, best known for HBO's In Treatment, has the coveted title role. "There is something real, honest and sincere about her," Zanuck says. "She's not a typical Hollywood starlet."

There is the usual Burton-esque ghoulishness (Helena Bonham Carter's Red Queen, whose favorite retort is "Off with their heads," has a moat filled with bobbing noggins), but Zanuck assures most kids can handle it. "The book itself is pretty dark," he notes. "This is for little people and people who read it when they were little 50 years ago."

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Disney’s Toy Story Toys Get an Upgrade

Wired Blogs
 - With the upcoming re-release of Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3D, Disney is also giving the Toy Story line of toys an upgrade. Disney worked with John Lasseter to create what they are calling the definitive Toy Story collection. I recently had a chance to preview the line, and I was very impressed.

The Ultimate Buzz Lightyear Robot lives up to its name. Standing 16 inches tall and sporting seven motors, more than 100 phrases, and responding to voice, this goes beyond toy. When you first take Buzz out of the box, he thinks he’s a real Space Ranger. If you say “Star Command” he tries to contact Star Command for real. Once you say “You’re A Toy!” his behavior changes accordingly. You can control Buzz with a 15-function wireless remote control, and the controller can be used to play a laser game with Buzz. What really blew me away was the “Puppeteering Programming” function. This function allows you to program a series of moves simply by moving his head, arms and legs in the sequence you want. Buzz will record the movements and play them back, including phrases and laser blasts.

RC also got some robotic enhancements that has the car acting more like the movie version. For starters the toy has that peppy puppy bounce that RC had in the movie. The designers also gave the toy IR and bump sensors for collision avoidance. You can control RC using the normal controller, and you can call him to you by saying, “Come here RC !” Using dual audio sensors, RC can figure out where you are and head over to you.

Other toys in the Definitive Collection have been enhanced. Sensors on The Definitive Buzz tell when he’s “flying,” and the Mr. Potato Head has a feature that shoots all his parts off at the clap of your hands.

With all the sensors, motors and lights these toys are sporting, I predict hacked versions of these abound at the next Maker Faire. It was hard enough to keep my inner Sid from whipping out the Leatherman and going to town on these guys.

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ESPN to share La Liga's US TV rights with GOL

AP - Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka will get a wider distribution platform in the United States next season.

ESPN said on Monday that it will start sharing U.S. television rights to Spain's La Liga with GolTV, which has broadcast the league for the past six seasons.

ESPN2 will televise about 20 matches per season, and ESPN Deportes two or three per weekend of league play for a total of at least 95. At least 114 matches per season will be available online on ESPN360. ESPN's networks will also share rights to Spain's Copa del Rey.

It doesn't hurt that Real Madrid has acquired Kaka, the 2007 FIFA player of the year, from AC Milan and is in the process of obtaining Cristiano Ronaldo, the 2008 FIFA player of the year, from Manchester United.

"We're excited that, about getting a premier league in the world at probably at the most exciting time in its recent history," said Lino Garcia, ESPN Deportes' general manager.

La Liga is dominated by Real Madrid and Barcelona, the current European Champions League winner. The teams have split the last five La Liga titles and 21 of the last 25.

The league's most-watched games, the two El Classic matchups between Barcelona and Real Madrid, likely will be simulcast by GolTV and ESPN. Last season, Barcelona's 2-0 victory over Real Madrid on Dec. 13 was seen by 258,000 Hispanic television households in the U.S., and Barca's 6-2 rout on May 2 by 189,000, GolTV said.

"This was not driven by Ronaldo or Kaka," said Rodrigo Lombello, GolTV's chief operating officer. "That was a nice addition, but it would have happened without the two."

ESPN had held U.S. rights to the Champions League since 1994-95, but Fox Soccer Channel will take over next season under a three-year deal. Those matches are on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, while La Liga games are on weekends.

Barcelona's 2-0 victory over Manchester United in this year's Champions League final on May 27 was seen by 1,066,000 homes on ESPN.

"We've always looked at La Liga. One thing isn't totally dependent on the other," Garcia said. "It was always in the planning to look at a property like this."

GolTV also has had U.S. rights to the German Bundesliga since the 2006-07 season and last month extended them through 2011-12.

FSC has rights to England's Premier League and Italy's Serie A, sublicensing part of its Premier League rights to Setanta US.

ESPN is a unit of The Walt Disney Co.

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Sponsorship of Epcot's Test Track stuck in neutral

Orlando Sentinel - Three weeks after General Motors Corp. filed for bankruptcy -- and nearly three months after an internal deadline to resolve the issue -- the carmaker's status as sponsor of one of Walt Disney World's marquee attractions remains uncertain.

Executives for GM and Disney have continued to negotiate a possible contract extension to keep the beleaguered Detroit auto giant as sponsor of Epcot's Test Track. But so far nothing has been announced.

Neither side is talking, at least publicly. "We have nothing new to share," Disney spokeswoman Andrea Finger said recently.

A spokeswoman for GM did not return messages seeking comment.

The sponsorship of Test Track, a high-speed ride that carries guests through a series of simulated car-safety tests, has been the subject of speculation for months. GM's 10-year contract is thought to have expired at the end of March — which is also the public deadline GM had originally set for negotiating an extension.

GM has said it wants to remain Test Track's sponsor. But it is an expensive proposition for a company that this month became the second-largest industrial bankruptcy in U.S. history.

GM paid Disney $100 million for the sponsorship, according to a person familiar with the contract. The deal was front-loaded: GM paid nearly all of its sponsorship fees during the first five years of the 10-year pact, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on behalf of either company.

GM also spends between $1 million and $2 million a year operating a post-ride showroom inside the attraction, with more than a dozen vehicles on display and terminals that guests can use to order sales brochures.

The company's contract-extension talks with Disney have been further complicated by the involvement of the federal government, which has kept GM afloat with tens of billions of dollars in loans and is about to become majority owner of the iconic company. Some worry the company could face a public backlash if it is seen as using taxpayer money to underwrite a theme-park ride.

Still, the marketing appeal is obvious. Test Track — among the biggest draws in a theme park that lures 11 million customers each year — gives GM a unique platform from which to build goodwill for its brands.

Since March, rumors have circulated around Epcot that Disney was permitting GM to stay on a month-to-month basis while negotiations continued.

The person familiar with the contract, who said he had been briefed on the talks, said GM and Disney were poised to sign a six-month contract extension just days before the carmaker's June 1 bankruptcy filing. The deal would have allowed GM to forgo paying Disney a sponsorship fee but would have required it to continue paying for the post-ride showroom.

The agreement would have ensured that GM remained Test Track's sponsor through the end of 2009 — and spared both the carmaker and Disney the expense of erasing GM's presence from the attraction.

It's not clear, however, whether such an agreement was signed. Disney would not discuss the talks in any detail.

A sponsorship change any time soon appears unlikely. Experts say finding another car company to replace GM will be difficult for Disney, as the entire auto industry has been hammered by the global recession. Any new sponsor would also likely have to spend a significant amount of money to update and re-theme Test Track.

"We find it difficult to believe another manufacturer would be able to rationalize such an expensive partnership in today's environment," Richard Greenfield, an analyst at the stock-research firm Pali Capital, wrote in a blog post earlier this year.

Two of the companies often rumored as potential Test Track sponsors — Toyota and Honda — both said they were not interested.

"We have no plans to sponsor that," said Marcos Frommer, spokesman for American Honda Motor Co.

Added Toyota Motor Sales USA spokesman Joe Tetherow: "This is something that's not even on the radar."

A representative for Ford did not return a phone message.

While the fees at stake are a relatively minor amount for the Walt Disney Co., Greenfield said they are an example of the varied ways the recession has squeezed the Burbank, Calif.-based company.

Sponsorship uncertainty "illustrates how the economic meltdown is impacting aspects of Disney's businesses that we had not even thought about previously," he wrote.

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Disney Emergency Support will Help Move 60 Elephants in Africa to a New Home

Disney News -
The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF) is providing emergency support to Conservation Solutions (CS) to help translocate more than 60 elephants that are currently living amongst communal farming lands in the district of Mangochi, Lake Malawi. Due to increased competition between humans and elephants for natural resources there has been a dramatic upswing in illegal poaching, poisoning and other efforts to manage the animals.

CS has partnered with the Malawi government and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to move the entire herd of elephants from their current location to the Majete Wildlife Reserve located in Malawi and encompassing more than 172,000 acres of land. Already, CS has been able to relocate 18 elephants, with the intension to move more than 60 over the next few weeks.   DWCF Rapid Response funding will be used to cover transportation costs and road repair to move the elephants safely.  IFAW representatives reported that a crowd between of nearly 1,000 community members gathered along the road to celebrate the start of the elephants’ departure to a safe and secure area.

 

The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund has supported elephant conservation efforts in both Asia and Africa since the 1990s, providing almost $700,000 to 20 organizations including Fauna and Flora International, International Elephant Foundation and Save the Elephants.

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Disney's 'Oso' sets return

Variety - Disney Channel has picked up a second season of its animated preschool sleuth series "Special Agent Oso."

Sean Astin lends his voice to the lead character on "Oso," which the Disney Channel said is the fastest-growing preschool series ever for the cabler.

Riffing on classic secret agent movies, "Oso" revolves around a bumbling stuffed panda bear who works for UNIQUE -- "United Network for Investigating Quite Usual Events." Oso and his team help kids accomplish tasks such as using the library or cleaning their room.

Since its April 4 launch, "Oso" has been No. 1 in its 8 a.m. slot in the kids 2-5 demo, averaging 628,000 preschool viewers.

Walt Disney TV Animation is behind the show, which airs in 35 territories and in five languages, reaching a total of 23.7 million unduplicated viewers.

Ford Riley ("The Land Before Time") created and exec produces; Jamie Mitchell ("Hey Arnold") is director and co-exec producer. Show is produced with a mix of digital-cutout, 3-D and Flash animation, plus collage and papier-mache.

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Jonas Brothers' Disney TV show comes to the UK

Telegraph - Following on from the success of their concert-based reality show Living the Dream, the Jonas Brothers will return to television this September in their new series, the Disney Channel has been announced.

The new comedy show called Jonas from the Disney Channel sees the singing siblings, Joe, Nick and Kevin, play fictional versions of themselves called the Lucas Brothers.

In a similar vain to the Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana, the show follows the Lucas brothers who are famous music stars as they try to live ordinary lives.

Jonathan Boseley, VP, Programming, Disney Channels UK & Ireland, commented: "Jonas Brothers are incredible talents and we're delighted to bring their new show to UK fans. Our viewers are into music and comedy, and JONAS will give them both in spades."

The series is set in the Lucas's New Jersey home (a converted fire station equipped with technical gadgets), where the three rockers live with their parents, Tom and Sandy, and little brother Frankie.

When not on tour, they attend Horace Mantis Academy with their childhood friend, fashion crazy Stella Malone. She helps keep the brothers grounded while making sure they always look their best, re-styling her own and their school uniforms on a daily basis.

The theme song to the show, Live to Party, was written and recorded by the Jonas Brothers.

Last year comedian Russell Brand caused controversy for mocking the Jonas Brothers for being virgins and their purity rings while hosting MTV’s Video Music Awards.

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Walt Disney World - Off the Beaten Path - Bet you didn't know Disney offered these

Examiner - High-flying elephants and spinning teacups usually take center stage when a guest is thinking of Walt Disney World Resort. But did you know that nine-pound lemons flourish at The Land pavilion at Epcot, or that sunset safaris explore Africa-inspired savannahs in the middle of Florida? Guests who take a second glance find undiscovered gems within the 40-square-mile Vacation Kingdom. Here's a sample of "the unexpected":

Take a spin on a Segway Human Transporter -- The Segway HT, first displayed to the public at Epcot Innoventions in 2002, is the world's first self-balancing human transporter that uses advanced technology, gyroscopes and tilt sensors to emulate human balance. Guests can put these high-tech machines to the test in two tours offered most days at Epcot.

Around the World at Epcot is a two-hour tour that allows guests to operate the device throughout World Showcase before the area opens to park guests ($95/person; tours are daily at 7:45, 8:30, 9 and 9:30 a.m.).

Simply Segway is a one-hour program that gives guests a product overview, training and indoor riding time at Innoventions ($35/person; daily at 11:30 a.m.). For both programs, class size is limited to 10 guests. (407/WDW-TOUR)

Harmony Barber Shop a cut above the rest -- Sit back in the barber's chair and experience a good old-fashioned haircut at Harmony Barber Shop on Main Street, U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom. Located near the Emporium and with a signature candy-striped pole outside, the shop transports guests to a simpler time when barbershop quartets entertained and getting a haircut was a real treat. "First Haircuts," the establishment's specialty, treats young'uns to pixie dust, bubbles, Mickey Mouse stickers and an extra-special "My 1st Haircut" set of Mouse Ears. Haircuts for children are $14; adults are $17; first-come, first-serve.

Sunset Safari at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge offers up-close encounters with exotic creatures -- Club-level (concierge) guests can enter a serene animal reserve for an up-close encounter on the Wanyama Safari. Just before sunset three nights a week, guests board a specially designed vehicle that explores the resort's three savannahs. Guests get picture-perfect views of more than 200 mammals and exotic birds and then partake in a savory South African feast at the resort's signature restaurant, Jiko-The Cooking Place. The 3 ½-hour experience, including dinner, is $160 for guests ages 10+; $80 for guests ages 8-9. For club-level reservations at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, call 407/W-DISNEY.

New, fashionable Mickey Mouse ears "all the rage" -- Trendsetters and fashion gurus get ready to strut your stuff with a new line of Mickey Mouse ears. The new ears come in a variety of vibrant colors and styles to suit the pirate or princess in your family. Gal versions don pink veils, jeweled princess crowns or wild cheetah prints. For the boys, pirate scarves and hoop earrings adorn the headgear, plus Stitch-themed offerings and more. There's also gold-sequined, patriotic-themed, and a bride and groom version. The new Mouse ears are available in limited quantities at select locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort starting at $8.

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Bullock's 'Proposal' woos date crowds with $34.1M

AP - Movie audiences accepted a proposal from Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, who scored the summer's first big romantic comedy hit.

Bullock and Reynolds' "The Proposal" took in $34.1 million to open as the weekend's No. 1 movie, according to studio estimates Sunday. The Disney flick delivered the biggest opening ever for Bullock, nearly double that of her previous best of $17.6 million for the 2007 paranormal thriller "Premonition."

Bullock stars as a ruthless publishing executive who coerces her put-upon assistant (Reynolds) into a fake marriage so she can avoid deportation back to her native Canada.

"I think the market was ready for a really fun, broad romantic comedy," said Mark Zoradi, president of Disney's motion-picture group.

"The Proposal" took over the top spot from the Warner Bros. bachelor-party comedy "The Hangover," which slipped to second place with $26.9 million. A surprise smash hit, "The Hangover" raised its total to $152.9 million.

Disney's animated adventure "Up" was No. 3 with $21.3 million, lifting its total to $224.1 million and following Paramount's "Star Trek" as the second movie of 2009 to cross the $200 million mark.

Debuting in the fourth spot with $20.2 million was Sony's caveman comedy "Year One," starring Jack Black and Michael Cera as Neanderthals on a road trip after they are banished from their village.

It was summer's second big-name comedy set in prehistoric times to take a back seat to a wedding-themed romp. Will Ferrell's "Land of the Lost" opened at No. 3 in early June, the same weekend "The Hangover" pulled off a No. 1 upset.

"June is officially comedy month at the theaters. Comedy is really ruling things," said Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com.

Woody Allen's latest comedy, "Whatever Works," had a strong start in limited release, hauling in $280,720 in nine theaters for an average of $31,191 a cinema. That compares to an average of $11,163 in 3,056 theaters for "The Proposal" and $6,684 in 3,022 cinemas for "Year One."

Released by Sony Pictures Classics, "Whatever Works" stars Larry David as a misanthropic New Yorker who forges unlikely relationships with a conservative Southern family (Evan Rachel Wood, Patricia Clarkson and Ed Begley Jr.).

While some of June's comedies performed well, the month generally has been a downer for Hollywood, which tore through the first part of the year with a record box-office pace.

Revenues this weekend were up slightly compared to the same period a year ago, but that followed three straight weekends of declining box-office receipts.

For the year, revenue remains up a solid 10 percent, though summer ticket sales are dead even with last year's, Dergarabedian said.

That should turn around this coming weekend with the debut of the blockbuster sequel "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," which industry analysts say could deliver the year's first $100 million opening.

Paramount's "Transformers" sequel got off to a big start in Great Britain and Japan, where it opened this weekend in advance of its U.S. debut Wednesday, pulling in $14.1 million in Britain and $5.8 million in Japan.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. "The Proposal," $34.1 million.

2. "The Hangover," $26.9 million.

3. "Up," $21.3 million.

3. "Year One," $20.2 million.

5. "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3," $11.3 million.

6. "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian," $7.3 million.

7. "Star Trek," $4.7 million.

8. "Land of the Lost," $4 million.

9. "Imagine That," $3.1 million.

10. "Terminator Salvation," $3.07 million.

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Disney’s G-Force Brings 3-D to Gaming

Animation Magazine - First the movies went 3-D — now get ready to start wearing glasses to play the latest videogames.

Disney Interactive Studios’ G-Force game, based on the upcoming movie, hits in July and will support 3-D stereoscopic play in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 platforms, reports the U.K. gaming site MCV.

G-Force will be followed by Toy Story Mania, also from Disney, in the fall and Ubisoft’s Avatar game, based on the upcoming James Cameron movie, with 3-D support.

Both Disney games will come with 3-D glasses included — and also will allow viewers to turn off the feature if they choose.

“I’m very interested to see what the consumer reaction will be. So far the reaction from everyone who has played it has been very, very positive,” said Graham Hopper, executive VP and GM of Disney Interactive Studios.

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The magic endures at Disneyland

Canwest News - When my adventurous eight-year-old resorted to a sympathetic pep talk to convince me to ride Disneyland's Space Mountain with him, the role-reversal was too embarrassing to refuse.

On that magical, starlit, pleasantly disorienting plunge, with my son holding my hand, I had my Disneyland moment: the thrill of a great ride shared with an ecstatic child.

At its worst, Disneyland with kids, like any amusement park, can be hot, crowded and tantrum-inducing. At its best, on a quiet, January weekday when there are virtually no lineups for any ride, including Space Mountain, and the weather is California-cool, it's a great place to experience that famed Disney magic.

Having been many years earlier without children, back in the days before FastPasses, Finding Nemo and California Adventure (the sister park next-door), Disneyland was a different experience with kids. But in many ways, it was more fun to see the Magic Kingdom through the eyes of its target audience.

This time around, I missed the Indiana Jones ride because my younger son refused to get on. When we talked him into trying the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, assuring him it wasn't really scary, he was terrified and spent most of the time alternately covering his eyes and whimpering.

But without kids, I likely wouldn't have tried Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters, at least not seven or eight times. I wouldn't have seen my young pirate-phobe transform bravely into a Jedi Knight battling Darth Maul. And I might very well not have ridden Space Mountain, my new favourite Disneyland ride, though it's been around for more than 20 years. On my first visit, when I was wowed by Indiana Jones Adventure, Space Mountain must have been down for repairs, or I was too chicken to ride it -- I can't recall which.

With one thrill-seeking child and one thrill-averse, we split up for some of the time to satisfy each child's individual tastes. But because the park is more about the Disney "experience" than death-defying rides, there were enough special-effects-laden attractions to appeal to us all.

California Adventure, the smaller, newer Disney theme park next door to Disneyland, has the token big roller coaster (California Screamin'), a terrifying drop ride (Tower of Terror) and a few of the aforementioned, not-to-be missed experience rides such as Soarin' Over California (a hang-glider simulator) and Toy Story Mania (a new, 3-D, midway-game ride/experience) to make it worth a visit too.

It's that Disney experience and the impressive effects on many rides, such as the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, that keep people coming back. For the hardcore adrenaline junkie, there's always Six Flags.

The best guide to the park we found, particularly for the rides, was The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland by Bob Sehlinger. Skip over the beginning bits that offer militaristically precise park itineraries and a few ridiculous suggestions, such buying a wardrobe of matching T-shirts and shorts for the whole family so no one gets lost. Instead, go right to the detailed ride descriptions, which are a huge help in deciding what your kids might like. Many of the rides are configured so they can't really be seen from the queuing areas, making it hard to judge on the fly whether they're dark/scary/bumpy/loud or otherwise freakout-inducing for your child.

If you rent a car or drive, the parking setup at Disneyland is worthy of being called the Happiest Place on Earth. With the three-day, park-hopper passes we bought in advance, it was free. Smiling, endlessly efficient Disney staff showed us where to park, where to board the shuttle and then drove us to the park gate. Efficient shuttle buses also run from almost every hotel to the park.

If you want to avoid the crowds, aim to go mid-week and avoid school breaks. It really does make a huge difference when the lineup for each ride is measured in minutes instead of hours. Be sure to avoid U.S. holidays, too -- we arrived right after the reported madness of the Martin Luther King Day long weekend -- and find out when the huge conventions are going on in Anaheim, so you can miss their attendant crowds.

For hotels, we found a great deal on priceline.com, which lets you bid on hotel room rates in various cities. You can specify the general location (in Anaheim, near the park) and the star rating of the hotel, then put in an offer. The only catch is that if a hotel meets your criteria, you must take it and pay for the room in advance. Still, we got a nice, three-star hotel room for $50 US a night.

The oft-heard recommendations to bring your own food to the park should be heeded, even if it's just a backpack with water bottles and snacks to tide everyone over between rides. Food in the park is expensive, mediocre, and on busy days, can take a long time to get.

Still, the most remarkable thing about Disneyland is how, well, remarkable most of it remains. It is unfailingly spotless and well-maintained, the older attractions have managed to keep their appeal while enough new and impressive rides have been added to keep it feeling fresh.

HERE WERE SOME OF OUR FAMILY'S FAVOURITE RIDES:

- Space Mountain

- Indiana Jones Adventure

- Splash Mountain

- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

- Peter Pan's Flight (for younger kids)

- Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters (for everyone)

- Jedi Training Academy (a show in which kids chosen from the audience are invited to participate in Jedi training for your family's Star Wars fans)

AND AT CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE:

- California Screamin' and Tower of Terror (for the adrenaline junkies)

- Soarin' Over California and Toy Story Mania (for everyone)

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Sunday June 21, 2009

Sandra Bullock finally has top film at box office
Disney aware of issues with on-line dining reservation system
Magic Kingdom's Fireworks Dessert Party
Rich Ross had a Mouse ear for 'tween' talent The man behind Miley, Hilary and the Jonas Brothers
False myths about Walt Disney
Disney on a dime means eliminating extra costs

Sandra Bullock finally has top film at box office

Reuters - Sandra Bullock took the crown at the weekend box office in North America for the first time in 10 years with her latest romantic comedy, according to preliminary sales data issued on Saturday.

"The Proposal" sold $12.4 million worth of tickets across the United States and Canada on Friday, said Walt Disney Co.'s (DIS.N) Touchstone Pictures.

The film ended the two-week reign of the bachelor-party comedy "The Hangover," which earned $8.5 million on Friday, according to Time Warner Inc's (TWX.N) Warner Bros. Pictures.

Also reporting $8.5 million was the new Jack Black prehistoric comedy "Year One," which was released by Sony Corp's (6758.T) (SNE.N) Columbia Pictures.

A clearer picture will emerge on Sunday when the studios issue three-day estimates.

Bullock, 44, stars in "The Proposal" as a book executive who fakes an engagement to her lowly assistant (Ryan Reynolds) to avoid deportation to her native Canada. Inevitable hilarity ensues when she meets his parents. Reviews were mixed at best.

She last went to No. 1 in 1999 with "Forces of Nature," which co-starred Ben Affleck. Her most recent wide releases, 2007's "Premonition" and 2006's "The Lake House," ended their runs with about $50 million each. She generally does better with romantic comedies such as "Miss Congeniality" ($107 million) and "Two Weeks Notice" ($93 million).

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Disney aware of issues with on-line dining reservation system

Examiner - Just this past week Disney launched its new on-line Advance Dining Reservation system. The new system will allow guests visiting a Walt Disney World Resort to book their dining reservations on-line, up to 90 days in advance. The system allows those to search for restaurants by type, location and cuisine, giving them a glimpse of the restaurants before making their dining reservations.

As with any new system, there are always glitches. Disney Vacation Club members get a 10 day advantage when making dining reservations, however, this new system is not allowing DVC members to book in those 10 days prior to the 90-day window for other Disney World guests. Disney is well aware of these issues and is currently working on solutions.

According to DVCNews.com, DVC spokesperson Diane Hancock had confirmed these issues and the company is working on resolving issues with the new system. For now, DVC members can call Member Services to take advantage of their 90 plus 10-day booking period for dining. Members can still utilize the on-line dining reservation system as long as they are making reservations within the normal 90-day booking period.

For more information about Disney’s Advance Dining Reservation system visit http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/restaurants or call 407.WDW.DINE.

For more information about Disney’s Vacation Club visit www.disneyvacationclub.com or call 800.500.3990. For Disney’s Vacation Club Member Services call 800.800.9800.

For more information about the Walt Disney World Resorts visit www.disneyworld.com or call 407.WDW.INFO.

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Magic Kingdom's Fireworks Dessert Party

Disney News - You are invited to a new nightly celebration at the Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station that includes a dessert party and exclusive viewing of Wishes nighttime spectacular.

The Fireworks Dessert Party will open nightly to Guests one hour prior to the nighttime spectacular and includes a self-service buffet featuring a wide range of sweets and beverages. Offerings for Guests with special dietary needs will be available.

Guests are encouraged to call (407) WDW-DINE to make reservations. Reservations will be accepted beginning Monday, June 22. Reservations are not required but are highly recommended due to the anticipated popularity of this experience. Seating is limited. Space permitting, seating for walk-ups may be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The price for this experience is $17.99 for Guests ages 10 and over and $9.99 for Guests ages 3 - 9.

Park admission to Magic Kingdom Park is required. The Disney Dining Plan is not currently being accepted. Prepayment will be required reserving seats for this event in advance.

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Rich Ross had a Mouse ear for 'tween' talent The man behind Miley, Hilary and the Jonas Brothers

Los Angeles Times
 - As the Jonas Brothers took the stage at the Dallas Convention Center on Nov. 18, 2006, the group had little to sing about.

The band's advocate at Columbia Records had left and the label was dropping them. Few gigs loomed on the horizon. But the crowd at the Radio Disney 10th anniversary concert was oblivious to the Jonases' travails. As the group sang "Year 3000," a hit on the station, the audience responded with shrieking enthusiasm.
The reaction caught the attention of Disney Channel President Rich Ross, who had been listening to the performance backstage.

"He ran up to me and said, 'I've never seen anything like this in my life. I want you to know they could be so big,' " recalled Kevin Jonas Sr., the boys' father and manager. "To this day, I look at that moment as the turning point for the Jonas Brothers."

The Jonases, who now boast two platinum albums, their own Disney Channel show, "Jonas," and a 3-D concert movie, are among the youthful stars who owe their big break to Ross, the man who could be called the father of "Tween TV."
 
Since his arrival as senior vice president of programming in 1996, Ross has transformed Disney Channel from a cable television backwater that ran old films and educational fare into a reliable profit engine for the Walt Disney Co.

But more than that, he led TV's pursuit of the 9-to-14-year-old "tween" audience, creating wildly popular personalities and shows that not only dominate the age group's attention but have muscled their way into mainstream culture: Hilary Duff as "Lizzie McGuire," Miley Cyrus as "Hannah Montana," the "High School Musical" movies and now the Jonas Brothers.

Ross targeted a void in children's television -- the yawning gap between Tigger, Pooh and the Disney princesses, and innuendo-laced prime-time shows. Before Ross' efforts at Disney Channel, no network courted the age group, which influences roughly $43 billion in spending annually.

"They existed. They weren't programmed to," Ross said. "They were either forced to slum off younger stuff or watch what their parents thought was inappropriate." In creating programming for those viewers, Ross helped launch the careers of many of today's most celebrated figures in young Hollywood, including Shia LaBeouf, Zac Efron and Cyrus. He hopes two rising Disney Channel stars, Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez, will succeed Cyrus as tween phenoms.

"In the 20 years I have known Rich, he has always been recognized for his ability to spot talent," said Kevin Huvane, managing partner at Creative Artists Agency, who represents Cyrus. "Rich knows intuitively what is relevant to the marketplace and is tremendously savvy at building programming that resonates with audiences. In doing so, he has helped launch a generation of stars."

The actors and their parents describe him as remarkably approachable and concerned, and his personal touch was on display at the February film premiere of "Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience." He greeted by name not only proteges such as "Hannah Montana" costar Emily Osment and Madison Pettis, who appeared opposite Dwayne Johnson in Disney's movie "The Game Plan," but also the Jonases' head of security and a Disney photographer.

As the band's black SUV pulled up to the El Capitan Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard, Ross bristled with boyish enthusiasm. "About to be the bedlam," he predicted, flashing a broad smile as the crowd erupted in screams.

A TV for his room

Ross grew up in the 1960s in Eastchester, N.Y., at a time when most families had a single television set in the den and parents fretted about their children's exposure to the "idiot box." At the age of 9, he requested what then was considered taboo: a television for his room. He still remembers meeting his father's train one night and seeing him carrying a large TV box. When Ross ripped it open, he discovered not a television, but a puppy.

"I looked at it and said, 'This is a dog. Where's the TV?' " Ross said. "I was sort of inconsolable. So, within a couple of months, they got me the TV."

Each night, Ross would do his homework watching shows such as "Mayberry R.F.D." and fall asleep hearing "The Merv Griffin Show" echoing through the ventilation system from the den. He grew to share his father Marty's love of comedy and a curiosity about the New York end of the industry. While other kids at summer camp were reading Sports Illustrated, he received Daily Variety.

Merv Griffin would end up giving Ross his big break in television -- albeit indirectly. The entertainer's bookkeeper was a friend of Ross' mother, Harriet, and she arranged an interview for the 19-year-old Ross with Griffin's representative, the William Morris Agency in New York, where he was hired to work in the mail room.

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania and Fordham University Law School, Ross took a job in the talent department at Nickelodeon. Those early experiences -- especially with the young actors he cast in such live-action Nickelodeon series as "Hey Dude" and "Clarissa Explains It All" -- would shape his later work at Disney.

The norm for casting was to evaluate talent solely on the child's audition. "I broke some rules, like meeting the parents, because to me it mattered," Ross said. "If you understand who the families are, you understand what they need and they want. Then you're more apt to get it right and be able to support them."

Indeed, Disney Channel hosts what it calls a "family dinner" at the launch of every new series. The parents laud Ross and Disney Channel Entertainment President Gary Marsh for cultivating an environment where they feel comfortable enough to call or e-mail with questions or concerns.

"From Day 1 they take a hands-on approach in bringing you into the family," said Dianna De La Garza, the former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader whose daughter, Lovato, stars in the new Disney Channel series "Sonny With a Chance," now its highest-rated series.

The 47-year-oldRoss and his partner of more than 20 years, Adam Sanderson, live in the Hollywood Hills and have no children of their own. However, he maintains a close relationship with the 14- and 10-year-old daughters of his former roommate and best friend from Fordham Law, who serve as an informal focus group. He described Alexis and Dominique Teixeira as "truth meters."
 
Dominique Teixeira recently screened "Princess Protection Program," a new Disney Channel movie starring Gomez and Lovato that premieres Friday, at her birthday party. "My friends were like, 'Oh my God, that was one of the best movies I've ever seen,' " she said.

'A global force'

There were no marquee stars like Cyrus or the Jonases when Disney/ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney persuaded Ross to join her at Disney Channel. "He was one of my first, and most important, hires when I got to Disney Channel," said Sweeney, who had worked with him at Nickelodeon and later while launching FX Networks. "I knew he'd be critical to our ability to transform the channel into a global force."
 
Disney Channel's principal rival, Nickelodeon, had emphasized animation in the mid-'90s to compete with the Cartoon Network. Ross responded by creating live-action programs that featured teen protagonists who reflected the audience the network hoped to capture.

"While Nick was batting away one competitor, Disney started to get focused and started to move with consistency against another part of what had been Nick's universe: girl-driven sitcoms," said Herb Scannell, former Nickelodeon Networks president. "I give all of them a lot of credit."

By 2001, Disney had launched "Lizzie McGuire," about a 13-year-old middle-schooler who expressed her thoughts through a cartoon alter ego. The series was the network's breakthrough. That year, Disney Channel overtook Nickelodeon as the top prime-time network among children ages 9 to 14. The series, starring Duff, would become a template for future Disney Channel franchises to reach beyond television: The Lizzie McGuire soundtracks sold millions, setting the stage for Cyrus.

Music -- specifically Disney's revival of the break-into-song Broadway-style musical with its sleeper 2006 hit "High School Musical" -- catapulted Disney Channel into the cultural zeitgeist. An estimated 290 million viewers worldwide watched love bloom between the high-school basketball star and the brain.

"I have to tell you that making musical theater cool for kids has been a highlight of my career," Ross told Fordham Law School graduates in a 2008 commencement speech.

He no longer creates the shows that serve as star vehicles -- that responsibility falls to his creative partner, Marsh. As Ross' responsibilities include 100 channels worldwide, Judy Taylor runs casting, but he retains the final say on the selection of all lead characters.

It is still unclear whether the teen stars Ross has established will go on to long-term Hollywood success. Though LaBeouf ("Even Stevens," "Holes") has appeared in several hit movies without the Disney brand, Duff hasn't had a breakout role post-Lizzie McGuire. She split with Disney in 2003, after talks to move "Lizzie" to high school -- and the ABC network -- broke down over money. Duff did not respond to e-mailed questions.

Disney Channel maintains a prime-time edge over Nickelodeon. The network has had the occasional misfire, such as "Naturally, Sadie," about a 14-year-old aspiring naturalist. And Nickelodeon still has a larger audience than Disney throughout the day, according to the latest Nielsen ratings.

Nickelodeon has tried to steal some of Disney Channel's thunder: "iCarly," about a teen girl who hosts her own Web show, now draws an average of 2.7 million viewers, outperforming "Hannah Montana," according to Nielsen.

As the two networks compete for the affections of tween girls, Ross has set his sights on a new and notoriously elusive audience: tween boys. He renamed Toon Disney as Disney XD, which launched in February with the action-adventure show "Aaron Stone," in which a video-game virtuoso leads a double life as a crime fighter. It also added "Zeke and Luther," in which two best friends try to become world-famous skateboarders. He believes that if Disney can fill the vessel with the right content, the boys will get on board.

"Everybody says they're just going to play games, and certain age groups are going to go on MySpace, and oh, they have school and their homework," said Ross of the skeptics.

"Is it going to be like Disney Channel a week later? Disney Channel is 12 years in the making. It took seven years before we got 'Lizzie.' It was nine years for 'High School Musical.' We're the overnight 12-year sensation."

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False myths about Walt Disney

Examiner - Over the year’s rumors and myths about Walt Disney and his company have evolved into legends. Legends, which many guests and even some Disney Cast Members today have come to believe as a true part of Disney history.

While some of those legends are true, there are many that are false. Let us take a look at some of the more popular Disney myths.

Walt is frozen and stored at one of the parks

Walt was cryogenically frozen and is placed in a secret vault underneath the Pirate’s of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland. It is false, but is one of the longest running Disney rumors today. He was actually cremated Dec. 17, 1966, only two days after his death. Another version of this myth is, since he died before his vision of the “Florida Project” – now known at Walt Disney World - was complete, the secret vault where his body is located was placed underneath Cinderella’s Castle at the Magic Kingdom Park.

Guest looses head on Space Mountain

A guest’s head was severed from standing up on the Space Mountain attraction in the Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland. Though this did not happen to a guest, it did happen during testing of the ride when Imagineers placed a test dummy on the ride standing up. The dummy’s head was severed from its body.

Swan and Dolphin and the monorail

It has been told by many on a variety of forums and even some Disney Cast Members have been telling guests that the black glass on Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resorts can be removed to accommodate the path of a monorail from Epcot to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. One story says that there is nothing behind the black glass and another says that there are temporary rooms there, which can be removed easily. Neither are true. Actually the buildings were designed this way and there is no intention, and never was, of putting a monorail through the two resorts.

Cinderella’s Castle can be taken apart for a hurricane

I am not sure where this rumor began, but it is out there. Some say that Cinderella’s Castle is built in a way that allows for easy dismantling in case of a hurricane. This a false and the castle is not built that way, nor as it ever been dismantled.

Walt’s face appears on a bust in the Haunted Mansion

It has been rumored that Walt’s face appears on the bust, which is broken, in the Haunted Mansion attraction. Though there is a similarity, this is simply a myth. It is actually the face of Thurl Ravenscroft, who is known as the voice of Tony the Tiger. His voice has also been featured in the Country Bear Jamboree and in the several Disney animated films, including “Lady and the Tramp.”

Contemporary rooms are removable

I have been hearing this from transportation Cast Members for as long as I can remember. Though I have found no evidence proving they are removable, I have found information, which may have lead to this rumor. When Disney’s Contemporary Resort was being built, the rooms were constructed off site and then crane lifted into their place on the steel constructed A-frame. This was similar to how parts of Disney’s Polynesian Resort was built.

I am currently researching more Disney myths and legends.

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Disney on a dime means eliminating extra costs

Detroit Free Press
 - Disney World has been on our kids' minds this year, but it wasn't in our family budget
What's a parent to do?

With a disciplined approach to the Big Three expense categories -- food, lodging and admission fees -- it's possible to do Disney without piling up bills that are scarier than the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (a ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios that left my 6-year-old screaming to do it again, and me searching for my stomach).

With a little extra effort and planning, you can even avoid a lot of the killer extras -- like $31 a day to rent a double stroller.

If the economic meltdown has a silver lining, it's evident in the deals to be found in resort areas like Orlando. Disney itself is laying on more discounts and specials for Mouseketeers than travel experts can recall in recent history.

"It's a great time to go," says Bob Sehlinger, author of "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World" (Wiley, $20), which is not affiliated with the resort. "It couldn't be better."

But read no farther if your Disney vacation musts include first-class meals, brand-name Mickey and Minnie souvenirs and staying in the closest hotel to the monorail. This inside information is for penny-pinchers only.

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Saturday June 20, 2009

No News Today


Friday June 19, 2009

Pixar grants girl's dying wish to see 'Up'
'The Proposal' Should Bring Disney Box Office Magic
Importer lands Disney food and wine contract
Disney train event in Redwood City cancelled
Kobe Goes to Disneyland
Disney Rumored Forcing Selena Gomez to Keep Taylor Lautner's Romance Secret
Disney’s ABC Names Executives to Run Merged Operation
Hannah Montana the Movie comes to Blu-ray and DVD on August 18
Disneyland’s Matterhorn still packed at 50
Celebrate a Dream Come True nearly washed away
Disney Cast Members Sing to Support United Arts
Source: Knight out, Heigl in on `Grey's Anatomy'
Spider-Man to weave his web on Disney XD
Former Disney Cruise Line President Named CEO of ResidenSea, Ltd.

Pixar grants girl's dying wish to see 'Up'

OCRegister - Colby Curtin, a 10-year-old with a rare form of cancer, was staying alive for one thing – a movie.

From the minute Colby saw the previews to the Disney-Pixar movie Up, she was desperate to see it. Colby had been diagnosed with vascular cancer about three years ago, said her mother, Lisa Curtin, and at the beginning of this month it became apparent that she would die soon and was too ill to be moved to a theater to see the film.

After a family friend made frantic calls to Pixar to help grant Colby her dying wish, Pixar came to the rescue.

The company flew an employee with a DVD of Up, which is only in theaters, to the Curtins’ Huntington Beach home on June 10 for a private viewing of the movie.

The animated movie begins with scenes showing the evolution of a relationship between a husband and wife. After losing his wife in old age, the now grumpy man deals with his loss by attaching thousands of balloons to his house, flying into the sky, and going on an adventure with a little boy.

Colby died about seven hours after seeing the film.

With her daughter’s vigil planned for Friday, Lisa Curtin reflected about how grateful she is that Pixar – and "Up" – were a part of her only child’s last day.

“When I watched it, I had really no idea about the content of the theme of the movie,” said Curtin, 46. “I just know that word ‘Up’ and all of the balloons and I swear to you, for me it meant that (Colby) was going to go up. Up to heaven.”

Pixar officials declined to comment on the story or name the employees involved.

THE PREVIEWS

Colby was diagnosed with vascular cancer on Dec. 23, 2005 after doctors found a tumor in her liver. At the time of her death, her stomach was about 94 inches around, swollen with fluids the cancer wouldn’t let her body properly digest. The rest of her body probably weighed about 45 pounds, family friend Carole Lynch said.

Colby had gone to Newport Elementary School and was known for making others laugh, family friend Terrell Orum said. Colby loved to dance, sing, swim and seemed to have a more mature understanding of the world than other children her age, Orum said.

On April 28, Colby went to see the Dream Works 3-D movie "Monsters Vs. Aliens" but was impressed by the previews to "Up."

“It was from then on, she said, ‘I have to see that movie. It is so cool,’” Lynch said.

Colby was a movie fan, Lisa Curtin said, and she latched onto Pixar’s movies because she loved animals.

Two days later Colby’s health began to worsen. On June 4 her mother asked a hospice company to bring a wheelchair for Colby so she could visit a theater to see "Up." However, the weekend went by and the wheelchair was not delivered, Lisa Curtin said.

By June 9, Colby could no longer be transported to a theater and her family feared she would die without having seen the movie.

At that point, Orum, who desperately wanted Colby to get her last wish, began to cold-call Pixar and Disney to see if someone could help.

Pixar has an automated telephone answering system, Orum said, and unless she had a name of a specific person she wanted to speak to, she could not get through. Orum guessed a name and the computer system transferred her to someone who could help, she said.

Pixar officials listened to Colby’s story and agreed to send someone to Colby’s house the next day with a DVD of "Up," Orum recalled.

She immediately called Lisa Curtin, who told Colby.

“Do you think you can hang on?” Colby’s mother said.

“I’m ready (to die), but I’m going to wait for the movie,” the girl replied.

THE MOVIE

At about 12:30 p.m. the Pixar employee came to the Curtins’ home with the DVD.

He had a bag of stuffed animals of characters in the movie and a movie poster. He shared some quirky background details of the movie and the group settled in to watch Up.

Colby couldn't see the screen because the pain kept her eyes closed so her mother gave her a play-by-play of the film.

At the end of the film, the mother asked if her daughter enjoyed the movie and Colby nodded yes, Lisa Curtin said.

The employee left after the movie, taking the DVD with him, Lynch said.

“He couldn’t have been nicer,” said Lynch who watched the movie with the family. “His eyes were just welled up.”

After the movie, Colby’s dad, Michael Curtin, who is divorced from Lisa Curtin, came to visit.

Colby died with her mom and dad nearby at 9:20 p.m.

Among the Up memorabilia the employee gave Colby was an “adventure book” – a scrap book the main character’s wife used to chronicle her journeys.

“I’ll have to fill those adventures in for her,” Lisa Curtin said.


I know some people will cry publicity, But, Thank You Disney/Pixar

This Story Broke my Heart, Rest In Peace Colby. My Heart and Prayers go out to you and your Family, I know your Up there with the Lord.

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'The Proposal' Should Bring Disney Box Office Magic

Forbes - This weekend should be a happy one for the folks over at Disney. The studio's new romantic comedy, The Proposal, is expected to earn $26 million at the box office, according to Exhibitor Relations. That's almost as good an opening as February's He's Just Not That Into You, which went on to earn $165 million at the worldwide box office. And those opening numbers for The Proposal, which stars Sandra Bullock, could prove conservative based on some sneak previews the studio hosted last weekend.

"When a studio does an advanced screening, they obviously have great faith in their product, and The Proposal has been getting strong audience reactions for a romantic comedy," says Exhibitor Relations' Jeff Bock.
Disney moved the movie's release date up from September hoping to cash in on some of that rom-com green that women showered on Sex and the City and Mamma Mia last summer.

Disney's other current movie, Up, is expected to earn $20 million this weekend. That would bring the total U.S. box office for the Pixar film to $215 million. The movie has proved a huge hit for Disney even though many analysts predicted that a cartoon with a cranky old man as the lead would never live up to Pixar's previous successes.

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Importer lands Disney food and wine contract

Rome News Tribune
 - Emilia Imports has landed its largest account ever with a deal to supply wine and food to Disney World and EPCOT Center near Orlando, Fla., business owner Piero Barba of Rome said Thursday.

Barba would not disclose the value of the contract but said that it was “very great. It’s a huge account.” The first order is for 35,000 bottles of wine, he said. The wines will be opened at special events and also sold at the resort’s theme parks.

Barba said the wines and food items will come from the Puglia region in Southern Italy, on the “heel” of the country’s “boot,” along the Adriatic Sea. The food will include pasta, cheese, jams, artichokes, olive oil and olives. “It’s very unusual pasta,” Barba said.

The European Union is working to promote southern Italy, Barba said.

He also has brought the Puglia items to his restaurant, La Scala, on the second floor of 413 Broad St. He has ordered a Mickey Mouse figure to display the Disney wines in the restaurant.

Barba started Emilia Imports in 1985 to import fine wines and sell them to wholesalers. He said the Disney deal was two years in the making.

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Disney train event in Redwood City cancelled

San Jose Mercury News
 - A special Disney train on a national tour to promote the upcoming holiday movie "Disney's A Christmas Carol" will not stop in Redwood City next weekend as planned.

The train was set to appear at the port of Redwood City, its only Bay Area stop on the 40-city tour, but track construction near the port forced the event's cancellation.

Union Pacific Railroad is doing major maintenance on the tracks near the port and would not give Disney clearance to pass through, spokesman Malcolm Smith said.

"This unfortunate set of circumstances is a great disappointment and beyond the control of both Redwood City and Disney Studios," Smith wrote in an e-mail.

Families that are still interested in seeing the four-car vintage train — which boasts a 3D theater showing a sneak peek of the movie, props from the film, artifacts from the Charles Dickens Museum of London and other attractions — will have to head across the Bay to the port of Oakland.

The relocated event will take place June 26 through 28 at Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, 2777 Middle Harbor Road in Oakland. For more information, visit www.christmascaroltraintour.com.

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Kobe Goes to Disneyland

NBC Los Angeles - Los Angeles Lakers all-star Kobe Bryant, the most valuable player of the NBA Finals, enjoyed his second victory parade in as many days Thursday, this time riding a float along Disneyland's Main Street U.S.A., and waving at purple-and-gold-clad fans who chanted "MVP! MVP!"

The Lakers clinched the franchise's 15th NBA championship Sunday night by defeating the Orlando Magic -- a series that pitted the teams located near the nation's two Disney resorts.

"It's like a dream come true to be here and celebrate at Disneyland, coming down Main Street U.S.A. with all the fans cheering," Bryant said after the parade. "It's a tremendous honor to represent my team."

Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland glowed with Lakers purple and gold during the NBA Finals, and it will stay that way through Thursday night, Disney officials said. The castle at Walt Disney World in Florida was bathed in the colors of the Orlando Magic during the series.

The presidents of the two Resorts, Ed Grier at Disneyland and Meg Crofton at Walt Disney World, made good on their friendly wager on the NBA Finals. Crofton donned a pair of Lakers' purple and gold Mickey Mouse ears and walked down Main Street, U.S.A., in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

"I heard there was a little competition with Disneyland and Disney World and we won," Bryant said. "So our colors are staying up a little bit longer."

Laker fans were clearly ecstatic to have Bryant in their midst during their trip to Disneyland.

"It's incredible, indescribable. I can't even explain it," Alyssa Valdez told KCAL9. "To see him right there, waving at me ... It's awesome."

"It's just the greatest day I could ever see in my life," visitor Joe Gomez told Channel 9.

A parade with Bryant at Disneyland is just "more private, more personal and I want to be out with real Laker fans over here," Gomez said -- referencing the throng of people who turned out at the Lakers victory parade and celebration Wednesday in downtown Los Angeles.

Two Lakers fans were tapped to ride the Matterhorn Bobsleds with Bryant after the parade.

David Guerrero and his son Jonathan, 4, of Pomona, wore their team jerseys in celebration.

"They just picked us out of the crowd and said, 'Do you want to ride the Matterhorn with Kobe?"' Guerrero said as his son jumped up and down. "I'm shaking, this is so exciting."

"In Southern California, being a Disney fan and a Lakers fan, it just goes together and that's why we wanted to be here today," he said.

Bryant told Channel 9 that his roots are firmly planted in Southern California.

"I plan on staying here," Bryant said. "I really don't see myself going anywhere else, or playing with any other organization. I think the real goal that we have in mind is to make sure that all the pieces come back for next season. So we can make another run at it again. You don't see a team that is this young and so talented that's already won a championship."

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Disney Rumored Forcing Selena Gomez to Keep Taylor Lautner's Romance Secret

AceShowbiz
 - Star Magazine has reported that Selena Gomez is forced by Disney to keep her romance with Taylor Lautner under the radar in an attempt to prevent her career from decreasing. In a report run on the June 29 edition of the publication, it is claimed that Disney execs have asked Selena to deny reports she is dating the "Twilight" actor over concern that their relationship might ruin her good girl image.

"The network doesn't want parents to get the wrong idea and stop their kids from watching Selena's show," reports Star when referring to Selena's hit TV series "Wizards of Waverly Place". Selena, thus, has been "forced to downplay the relationship even though she's crazy about" Taylor, reveals a Disney turncoat.

"Disney wants all its stars to be wholesome and execs told Selena to deny she's dating Taylor because that might taint her squeaky clean image. She can be 'friends' with him, but nothing more than that," Star quotes its insider.

Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, both Selena Gomez and Taylor Lautner have repeatedly denied they are embarking on a love relationship. They insist they are just friends. Rumors of them dating first emerged in April this year after they were photographed enjoying some quality time together during break from shooting their films in Vancouver, Canada.

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Disney’s ABC Names Executives to Run Merged Operation

Bloomberg - Walt Disney Co.’s ABC television network completed the merger of its studio and programming divisions, an effort to produce more of its own shows, and named executives to lead the combined operation.

Jeff Bader was appointed executive vice president of ABC Entertainment Group for planning, schedule and distribution, the Burbank, California-based network said today in a statement. Barry Jossen will lead creative production at ABC Studios.

Fewer than 40 existing and unfilled positions at ABC were eliminated in the combination, said a person with knowledge of the decision who didn’t want to be named because the job cuts won’t be made public. ABC spokeswoman Hope Hartman declined to comment on them.

The company announced the merger plan in January, aiming to reduce costs and develop more programming for broadcast on ABC. ABC Studios, which produces “Desperate Housewives” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” also creates shows for other networks. Last year, ABC began airing “Scrubs,” a comedy about a medical resident that had aired on General Electric Co.’s NBC and is produced by ABC Studios.

Disney, the world’s largest media company, is reducing costs to cope with the U.S. recession and shrinking advertising sales. In January, the company cut 200 employees at ABC and at cable channels including SoapNet and eliminated 200 unfilled positions.

Disney rose 4 cents to $23.72 at 4 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading.

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Hannah Montana the Movie comes to Blu-ray and DVD on August 18

DVDTOWN - Teen superstar Miley Cyrus brings her wildly popular Disney Channel alter ego down home when Hannah Montana The Movie comes to Blu-rayTM Hi-Def and DVD on August 18, 2009 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. The first-ever full-length Hannah Montana theatrical movie is available for a limited time only in a Three-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack that includes the film in both Blu-ray and DVD formats, as well as Two-Disc and Single-Disc DVD editions. Both the Blu-ray Combo Pack and Two-Disc DVD include DisneyFile, a digital copy of the movie that can be viewed on an array of electronic devices.

In an industry first for Blu-ray technology, Walt Disney Studios' Hannah Montana The Movie Blu-ray Disc release will feature an interactive experience that allows viewers to create a wish list of items displayed in the film and move desired items onto the internet via BD-Live capabilities. Through "Hannah's Country Store" viewers will be able to click on the products in the movie, obtain information about the product, and purchase the merchandise. Also available is BD Radio Disney where fans can stream live Radio Disney audio through their home entertainment system, complete with artist and song
information and lyrics! Users can also quickly link to site offering their favorite songs for purchase.

Being a superstar as well as a normal teenager is getting even more complicated for Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus). Her crazy double life as pop sensation Hannah Montana is taking its toll on the teen and her family. So Miley's dad, Robby Ray Stewart (Miley's real-life father, Billy Ray Cyrus) decides a visit to the family farm in Tennessee to celebrate Grandma Ruby's (Margo Martindale) birthday will bring his little girl back down to earth. Far away from the bright lights and the big city, Miley reconnects with childhood friend Travis (Lucas Till). Their budding romance, along with the love of her family and friends, gives Miley some much-needed perspective on life. But when her pushy publicist (Vanessa Williams) comes calling and a smarmy reporter (Peter Gunn) tries to dig up the dirt on Hannah, Miley is forced to make the hardest decision of her life.

Hannah Montana The Movie stars Miley Cyrus as everyday high school girl Miley Stewart and her rock star alter ego Hannah Montana. Cyrus is joined in the film by her stellar cast mates from the hit Disney Channel series including Emily Osment, Moises Arias, Mitchel Musso, Billy Ray Cyrus and Jason Earles. In addition, fans will enjoy special appearances by Lucas Till (Walk the Line), Vanessa Williams ("Ugly Betty"), Tyra Banks ("America's Next Top Model"), Barry Bostwick ("Nancy Drew"), Melora Hardin (17
Again), and hit recording artists Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts.

ROCKIN' BONUS FEATURES
The Three-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack includes these exclusive bonus features:
• The HoeDown ThrowDown Home Experience--everyone in the movie has to learn to do it, and now you can too. Famed choreographer Jamal Sims and some of our cast members will show us all step by step how to do the dance everyone is talking about.
• The Hannah Montana Store--an interactive experience that allows viewers to create a wish list of items displayed in the film and move desired items onto the internet via BD-Live capabilities. Through "Hannah's Country Store" viewers will be able to click on the products in the movie, obtain information about the product, and purchase the merchandise.
• 7 Music Videos
• Find Your Way Back Home --Miley, Emily, Billy Ray, and other cast members share with us "THEIR" hometowns: the people, places & things that make 'em special. We'll go to a pottery class with Miley & her sister, visit their favorite ice cream shop, and other haunts around the Franklin Tennessee Town Square. Billy Ray saddles up his iron horse to show us home viewers a firsthand account of the beauty a country town like Thompson's Station Tennessee has to offer. But not everyone is from a small country town. Emily will show us what it's like to grow up in the entertainment Mecca we like to call Hollywood. Perhaps it will inspire us all to find a little reason to brag of our own hailing?
• Production 101: Jackson Style--Jason Earles is more than Miley's big brother on TV. He is quite the accomplished actor. Here he will put his talents to use by interviewing cast & crew and giving us a true behind the scenes look at how this movie was made. He'll cover the fashion, the music, the stars, lights, camera...action!
• Bloopers
• Deleted Scenes with Director Commentary
• BD Radio Disney--Fans can stream live Radio Disney audio through their home entertainment system, complete with artist and song information and lyrics! Users can also quickly link to site offering their favorite songs for purchase.

Both the Three-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack and Two-Disc DVD include the following bonus features:
• New Music Video
• Find Your Way Back Home
• Production 101: Jackson Style
• Bloopers
• Deleted Scenes with Director Commentary

Hannah Montana The Movie has a suggested retail price of $29.99 SRP (US) or $35.99 SRP (Canada) for the 1-Disc DVD, $39.99 SRP (US) or $44.99 SRP (Canada) for the 2-Disc DVD, and $44.99 (US) or $51.99 SRP (Canada) for the 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo pack.

About Disney's ComboPack (Blu-ray + DVD + DisneyFile in a single package):
To provide consumers with unprecedented quality, value and portability of their favorite Disney movies, in 2008 Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE) pioneered the Combo Pack--a Blu-ray DiscTM plus a DVD and a DisneyFile digital copy of the film in a single package. Current WDSHE branded titles available as Combo Packs include "High School Musical 3," "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," "Bolt" and "Bedtime Stories," with future plans for "Race to Witch Mountain."

Feature run time: 102 minutes
Rated: U.S.: G; Canada: G
Bonus Materials Not Rated
Technical specifications may only apply to feature.
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Languages: English, Spanish, French

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, a recognized leader in the home entertainment industry, is the marketing, sales and distribution company for Walt Disney, Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax and Buena Vista product, which includes DVD, Blu-ray Disc and electronic distribution. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is a division of The Walt Disney Studios.

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Disneyland’s Matterhorn still packed at 50

OCRegister - Mothers, fathers and children pack the queue leading into Disneyland’s Matterhorn – families have been clamoring for a ride on the classic bobsleds for 50 years, a ride that turned 50 on Sunday.

The dual-track rollercoaster is an Orange County landmark, of course, whether seen from outside the park or inside Disneyland. “It was the first thrill ride at Disneyland,” said Disney Industrial Engineer Paul Bielat, who used to help run the Matterhorn early in his career. “It was kind of a status thing to get to work here. You just didn’t get hired right away.”

Bielat spoke in the bowels of the mountain itself – a 147-foot-high monument build of wood and concrete on a steel substructure. A place few get to see.
The first four stories of the mountain are occupied by the two tubular-steel bobsled tracks that intertwine in serpentine loops until they bring the bobsleds hurtling down into “Alpine ponds” to end the ride.

The fifth floor is an expanse of wood planks with an enclosed break room and basketball half-court for staffers. Caged off in the center are wooden stairs that wind their way up through platforms to the summit of the mountain, where a ladder leads to a trap door that opens onto the shallow depression on the peak.

(Tinkerbell, a dressed-up cast member, often descends the Matterhorn via a cable to the ground from here.)

The ride is basically the same as it was when it first opened.
Bielat was part of the team overseeing the major Matterhorn renovations in 1978, when the single-bobsled cars were linked to make groups of two, the Abominable Snowman was added as an extra scare and computer-sensing equipment was installed.

After the 1994 death of Walt Disney Co. President Frank G. Wells, a noted mountain climber, engineers added a tableau of a lost climbing expedition to honor him.

At different points throughout the history of the Matterhorn, Disney has employed professional climbers to don lederhosen and ascend the summit for the entertainment of the park guests.

“We were hired in 1985 for climbing,” recalled Disneyland Entertainment Manager Keith Wing, who at one point was a climber himself. “We had climbing rope and carabiners as a runner. What we would climb on, we’d clip into metal bolts. The bolts were out there (originally) for the painters, but they followed some incredible routes.”

Just like in the sport of rock climbing practiced in Yosemite National Park, Joshua Tree National Park and hundreds of other spots around the world, Disney Matterhorn climbers mapped out and named the routes to the top – “Stars and Stripes,” “Red DK” and “The Zebra Wall.”

Climbers start their trek on the fifth floor, by accessing the mountain through one of three openings – one is called “the door to Walt’s Ledge,” another is the “Italian Door.”

The Disneyland Matterhorn was rotated exactly 180 degrees compared to the real Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps, so park goers walking toward it from Main Street see the most distinguishing side of the peak.
The Italian Door is so named because it opens onto the face of the mountain that would be facing Italy, if the Disney Matterhorn were the real one.

“The South” is what Disney Matterhorn climbers call the mountain’s north face.
The third access point to the mountain’s exterior is a small round opening called “The Iger Window,” named for current Disney CEO Bob Iger.

Wing said his fellow former Matterhorn climbers still plan trips together with their families to climb real rock formations in Joshua Tree, the climbing mecca near Twentynine Palms.

Disneyland didn’t plan any specific event to celebrate the classic ride’s birthday on Sunday, but the unofficial Disney fan club, the 1313 Club, had the Matterhorn’s original designer, 76-year-old Bob Gurr, out to ride his classic attractions: Those also include the Monorail and Submarines, which both turned 50 that day as well.
In an interview from his home near Burbank, Gurr remembered the beginnings of the Matterhorn, which sprang up and opened four years after Disneyland itself:

“We had an area in the middle of the park that was sort of a mound of earth that was piled up and had some trees on it that we called Snow Mountain.

In 1958, (Walt Disney) was in Europe filming ‘The Third Man on the Mountain,’ and he took a liking to the Matterhorn Mountain and decided he wanted one with a bobsled ride.’’

Boy, did he get one.

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Celebrate a Dream Come True nearly washed away

Theme Park Rangers - I have never seen a parade disintegrate before my eyes, but that's what happened in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom Thursday when I watched the Celebrate a Dream Come True parade nearly wash away.
I got to the park just before 3 p.m. and my drive down had been sunny and pleasant. The parade stepped off on Main Street under fairly blue skies, but in an instant everything changed. A huge storm cloud blew over top of us so quickly that Mickey and Minnie got by me in Town Square without a drop, but by Pinocchio's float -- the next one -- a heavy rain had started.

Disney equips characters with clear plastic umbrellas and Snow White's poor Prince struggled mightily to get one open for his princess. To her credit -- as did all the performers -- Snow White carried on smiling, singing and dancing.

But things were getting worse quickly. The female dancers' hair was already sticking to the sides of their faces. Thunder was starting to crackle. I assumed floats would stop coming out of the gate, but they all came out. Aladdin, umbrella-less, was sporting a very soggy turban. Mary Poppins, of course, has her own umbrella, and Bert was cheerful as ever. Alice and the Mad Hatter even had a little horseplay as she was too short to effectively hold an umbrella over his gigantic hat.

It was a deluge by the time the Fairy Godmother and three royal couples arrived. Fairy Godmother seemed flustered -- and who could blame her? Her hood was being blown off by the gusty wind, and she was forced to literally hold on to her hair. Thankfully, her platform was lowered to bring her closer to earth.

Suzy and Perla, Cinderella's mice, didn't make it out of Town Square, but cut back across the square to scurry toward the parade entrance gate. Lady Tremaine and her ditsy daughters also chose to return that way, but the not-so-good Lady elegantly maintained her composure, lifting her gown as she stepped across puddles that were quickly merging into a giant lake.

Soon after, the dancers from that segment abandoned hope of continuing and also went streaming back to the entrance gate.

Then, true disaster struck.

The princess float got stuck halfway down Main Street. I don't know if that was because the street was so flooded or just an unfortunate coincidence, but by the time I squished down there, it was stopped dejectedly, Goofy and Donald's finale float trapped behind it -- and the rest of the parade was no longer in sight, having high-tailed it past the castle and into Frontierland.

A little tractor-puller was summoned, and cables were hooked to the front of the float. Ariel, Cinderella, Belle and their mates, not to mention the poor bedraggled Fairy Godmother, got wetter and wetter. Adding a surrealness to the whole scene was the cheery soundtrack still blaring from the speakers, "Celebrate the dream inside of you!" and Fairy Godmother gamely keeping up with her dialogue.

At this point, Donald, Goofy, Baloo, King Louie and the finale dancers disembarked the finale float and headed for home.

The tractor got the princesses moving, and their float, plus a now-empty finale float, glided like boats up Main Street to the castle hub, made the circle and then headed back down Main Street to the closer exit.

The parade performers really behaved magnificently during this, but special kudos have to be given here to the ground crew, soaked to the skin, who reacted quickly and efficiently to this change of route. "They're coming back this way," went the call from one to another, as they then politely began guiding frantic, wet, trying-to-exit guests up onto the sidewalks.

Halfway back down Main Street, the order was given to "abandon ship," as it were, and Cinderella and Prince Charming and Ariel and Prince Eric opened their hatches on the bottom of their float segments and clambered down inside -- no easy feat in puffy dresses and slippery conditions and what looks to be an amazingly narrow space. Poor Fairy Godmother has no such escape route, and Belle loyally remained with the Beast, who is far too big to fit through that little hole.

The parade ended with those three characters and the two poor guys carrying the end banner, who were "singing" to the end, smiling and waving at the folks huddled under awnings watching the spectacle. They were rewarded with roars of applause.

Again, all the Disney cast was amazing during the whole debacle. But a special shout-out has to go to Prince Eric, whose longish hair was plastered to his neck, water running off it. Maybe being a sailor, he's used to storms. But he got Ariel her umbrella in prompt fashion, made sure she was dry, moved about the float, checking the weather and interacting with the crowd, and then heaved open the hatch and gallantly assisted her down into the safety of the float before lowering himself down in with one last smile for the crowd.

It was a parade I won't soon forget.

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Disney Cast Members Sing to Support United Arts

Disney News - Encore! Cast Choir and Orchestra - a volunteer ensemble of nearly 300 talented Disney Cast Members - is currently in rehearsals for their next production, "Revolution! - A Musical Flashback to the 60's and 70's." Known for staging spectacular charity concerts, Encore! has chosen United Arts of Central Florida as the beneficiary of their performances for the second year in a row. United Arts is a collaborative partnership of businesses, government, foundations, arts and cultural organizations, school districts, artists and individuals that work to enhance the quality and variety of cultural experiences available in Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.  

Shows are planned for July 23-25, 2009 at Epcot World ShowPlace. Tickets go on sale June 23 through www.encorecentral.org and www.UnitedArts.cc.  

In July 2008, Encore! raised a record $25,940 for United Arts. Since its inception in 2002, Encore! has raised more than $80,000 for local charities.

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Source: Knight out, Heigl in on `Grey's Anatomy'

AP - Dr. George O'Malley is checking out of "Grey's Anatomy" but Dr. Izzie Stevens is likely to remain on staff.

A person with knowledge of contract negotiations with T.R. Knight, who plays George on the ABC drama, said Thursday the actor is leaving the show. The person, who wasn't authorized to discuss the negotiations publicly, asked not to be identified.

But the person said that negotiations with Katherine Heigl (HY'-guhl) were more successful and she's expected to return as Izzie.

The season finale in May left the fate of George and Izzie unclear, with both characters at death's door -- or possibly beyond it.

A publicist for Knight declined comment. Heigl's representative did not immediately respond to an e-mail request for comment.

ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Co. 

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Spider-Man to weave his web on Disney XD

NewsOK.com - Longtime Spider-Man fan Josh Keaton got the role of a lifetime when the actor was selected to voice Peter Parker and his alter ego in "Spectacular Spider-Man.” The series returns for a second season at 6 p.m. Monday on Disney XD.

After playing Spider-Man’s friend Harry Osborn in "Spider-Man” video games, Keaton was excited to get the nod to play Spidey himself.

"I actually auditioned for Harry Osborn, and for Eddie Brock and Venom,” Keaton said in a phone interview. "I’m quite happy I got picked as Spider-Man. I love the other characters, but I mean, it’s Spider-Man!”

As a fan, Keaton appreciates the feel of "Spectacular Spider-Man,” which often harks back to the earliest stories by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, who created the character.

"Those are the stories that pretty much defined who Spider-Man was going to be,” Keaton said. "Granted, there’s some great stories that came later on, but they were all taken from that source material. They were all a twist that were given to the original story.”

"Spectacular Spider-Man” has been credited for developing the humorous side of the Spider-Man mythos. In the original stories, Spider-Man often taunted his villains with wisecracks as he was defeating them.

"That’s what I really wanted to do my best to bring back to Spidey, was the wisecracks and the humor,” Keaton said. "I know there’s a trend to get really dark and brooding, and there’s a time and place for that; however, it can’t be forgotten that one of the big things that defines Spidey is his sense of humor.”

Keaton also likes some of Spider-Man’s serious story lines, including the "Master Planner” plot that will be part of Season 2. Could something such as "Kraven’s Last Hunt,” which featured a despondent supervillain capturing Spider-Man, eventually become part of "Spectacular Spider-Man” lore?

"I’m really hopeful that we’ll get five seasons, and after that start doing some direct-to-DVD movies where we’ll explore some of the more mature-themed Spidey stories,” Keaton said.

Another bonus of becoming Spider-Man is to have action figures based on your performances.

"I have all of the toys. I’m actually looking at them right now,” Keaton said. "I have all of the Spider-Man toys from McDonalds, and they’re sitting next to my 12-inch wisecracking Spider-Man talking doll that does this,” Keaton said, and then a doll with his voice said: "Oh, what’s a poor Web-head to do?”

Laughing, Keaton said, "I’m a huge geek. I love this stuff.”

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Former Disney Cruise Line President Named CEO of ResidenSea, Ltd.

Travel Agent Central - Thomas McAlpin has been named president and CEO of ResidenSea, Ltd., the management company responsible for operations, administration, sales and marketing for The World, touted as a residential community at sea. His appointment will be effective July 20. 
 
McAlpin has more than 20 years of experience in ship management and operations having spent 14 years at Disney Cruise Line; most recently as its president. Prior to joining Disney in 1994, McAlpin was the director of corporate planning and analysis for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line/Admiral Cruises for eight years.  

The World a residential community at sea, allowing its residents and guests to travel the world in their private home. There are 165 private residences aboard The World. In 2009, The World will visit over 25 countries. Visit www.aboardtheworld.com.

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Thursday June 18, 2009

Landmark Disneyland Hotel to Undergo Significant Renovation
Walt Disney museum to focus on man behind brand
Contractor hired for Disney port terminal
New and old characters join Disney’s Electric Parade
Special Olympics Celebrates Summer Games at Disney
Princess Diana exhibit coming to Downtown Disney next month
Miley Cyrus surprises Ga. fans with impromptu show
Disney Resort Restaurants for Lunch

Landmark Disneyland Hotel to Undergo Significant Renovation

Disney News - Beginning in August 2009, Southern California’s landmark Disneyland Hotel will start a significant renovation project that will include major improvements to its guest rooms and considerable changes to the exterior of the hotel. The hotel will remain open during the renovation, which will be conducted in phases, and is scheduled to be completed in 2012.

“We are excited to embark on the largest and most extensive renovation of one of Disney’s classic hotels,” said Disneyland Resort President Ed Grier. “This renovation provides us with the opportunity to bring new magic to this historic hotel, which enables us to enhance the Disney experience that our guests have come to expect. “It also reinforces our ongoing commitment and investment in the Anaheim Resort District – working with the city and area businesses to continue to evolve the District into a world-class, multiday tourist destination,” added Grier.

Significant Guest Room Upgrades, New Room Amenities and Exterior Enhancements
Disneyland Hotel’s renovated guest rooms will feature an all-new contemporary look with exquisite Disney touches woven into the décor. A stunning new headboard that features an artistically carved representation of Disneyland Park’s famous Sleeping Beauty Castle will serve as the focal point in each guest room. The background on the headboard uses fiber optics to create a magical skyline with fireworks – bringing the immersive park experience into the room. Rooms also will feature black and white art that will take guests back in time, reinforcing the nostalgia and history of Walt’s first theme park.

When completed, guest rooms will boast new flat screen TVs, mini-refrigerators, coffeemakers, safes capable of holding laptop computers and new state-of-the-art telephone, cable and wireless Internet connections. Upgrades to plumbing, electrical and heating and air conditioning systems also are included in the project.

Disneyland Resort’s original hotel, built in 1955, also will experience a noteworthy change to its exterior. All of the three towers will feature an updated look, with large windows that will give the outside a sleek, radiant blue tint. The windows will replace the current sliding doors and faux balcony railings and are specially designed to be energy efficient and to extensively filter outside noise.

“The new design for the hotel’s exterior will enhance the existing towers and compliment the Resort as a whole. The windows will feature a sky blue reflective glass that channels the feel of our bright California sky,” said Mike Montague, director of resort development for Walt Disney Imagineering.

The Disneyland Hotel is composed of three main structures – the Magic, Wonder and Dreams towers. Construction will take place in one vertical half of a tower at a time – leaving the rest of the tower open for guests. The Dreams tower will be the first to be renovated and is scheduled to be completed in June 2010.

Popular Choice for Convention Visitors

In addition to being a top choice for vacationing families, the Disneyland Hotel has long been a favorite for meeting and convention planners because of its prime location and size – and direct access to more than 136,000 square feet of convention space. Anaheim hosts hundreds of groups each year and the renovation will help maintain the city’s premiere position as a meeting destination.

“We are thrilled with Disney’s plans to renovate the Disneyland Hotel,” said Charles W. Ahlers, president of the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau. “With the renovation of the hotel and the expansion of Disney’s Grand Californian, coupled with other new hotel developments that are coming to Anaheim over the next few years, our city will continue to be a premier destination for convention and meeting planners.”

Energy Efficient Enhancements

As with other construction and enhancements that are underway throughout the Disneyland Resort, the renovation will include energy efficient upgrades. The most notable feature will be the hotel’s new windows. With their reflective capabilities and double-pane glass, the windows will change the look of the exterior of the hotel dramatically, while reducing energy consumption by keeping guest rooms at the desired temperature.

The use of occupancy sensors in guest rooms, low-flow toilets, energy efficient light bulbs and paint low in volatile organic compounds are just a few more of the ways that the hotel will offer guests a “green” lodging experience.

Renovation is Part of Larger Resort Expansion

The Disneyland Hotel renovation is a part of a larger expansion project underway throughout the Resort. Disney’s California Adventure Park is undergoing a multiyear expansion project that includes new experiences, attractions and night-time spectaculars, culminating in 2012 with the opening a brand new land – Cars Land. The four-star Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is also undergoing an expansion, adding 200 hotel rooms and 50 two-bedroom villas that are part of the Disney Vacation Club, which will make its first West Coast debut when it opens in the fall of 2009.

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Walt Disney museum to focus on man behind brand
 
Reuters - Walt Disney is a global brand with film studios and theme parks bearing his name, but now his family are unveiling a museum to tell the story of the animation pioneer they say has been lost behind the trademark.

The Walt Disney Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization established in 1995 to promote education and the study of Disney, will open the Walt Disney Family Museum on Oct. 1 in San Francisco.

"My father's name is probably one of the most well-known names around the world, but as the 'brand' or trademark has spread, for many, the man has become lost," Disney's daughter and museum founder, Diane Disney Miller, said in a statement.

The museum will trace Disney's life from his birth in Chicago and childhood in Missouri to his move to California in 1920s, where he married and his animation career took off with the creation of the "Mickey Mouse" character.

Among the exhibits on display will be early animation drawings, film clips, scripts, cameras and many of Disney's numerous Academy Awards, including an honorary Oscar in 1939 for his first feature length animation film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."

There will also be a model of the Disneyland theme park he first envisioned, quite different from the park that opened in California in 1955, and a model of the Lily Belle train that ran on half a mile of track around his Hollywood home.

"Visiting my grandpa was pretty fun," Walter Miller, the foundation's president, recalled at a launch of the museum in New York on Wednesday.

REVOLUTIONIZED ANIMATION

"Perhaps my grandfather's greatest gift, without question his greatest pleasure, was to bring imagination to life," he said. "He never lost that childhood sense of wonder and of curiosity."

Disney, whose other movies included "Cinderella," "Bambi" and "Mary Poppins," which mixed live action and animation, died in 1966.

John Canemaker, an Academy Award winning animator and animation studies professor at New York University, said at the launch that Disney's development of "personality animation," beginning with Mickey Mouse, revolutionized the industry.

"Within a remarkably short period of time, a mere decade, Disney set the course for animation in the 20th century and beyond," Canemaker said.

"There would be no 'Toy Story' and no Pixar (Walt Disney Co's animation studio) without Disney personality animation, nor other studios that yield to the pantheon of stories and characters that fascinated throughout the years," he said.

Richard Benefield, executive director of the museum, said the Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) had made their resources and archives available to the foundation and loaned several exhibits to the museum.

"Walt Disney reached people because he was a magical story teller," he said. "Now it's our turn to tell his story, to narrate the life of someone whose name is often confused with a brand and to present him simply as a human being with an extraordinary vision."

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Contractor hired for Disney port terminal

Florida Today
 - The Canaveral Port Authority on Wednesday awarded a $9.8 million contract to a Naples firm for the expansion of the Disney Cruise Line terminal at Port Canaveral.

The expanded terminal, along with an adjoining parking garage project, could mean more than 2,000 temporary jobs for the region -- nearly 1,700 of them local. The entire project is valued at up to $32 million, although lower-than-expected bids may mean a smaller final price tag.

Boran Craig Barger Engel Construction Inc. beat out 16 other firms, including three from Brevard County, for the project. Jon Brazee, Port Canaveral's chief engineer, expects a considerable amount of the project to go to local subcontractors.

"On this contract, (the contractor) said he would use a fair amount of subs," Brazee told port commissioners prior their unanimous decision to accept the BCBE Inc. bid.

Work is expected to begin in about three weeks.

For its part, the port authority will spend $7.5 million to build a 1,000-space parking garage for Disney. And it will borrow up to an additional $22 million for the upgrades to Disney's custom terminal, which Disney will repay.

Revenues from the parking facility will go toward repaying the port's cost for the new garage, said J. Stanley Payne, the port's chief executive officer.

Construction work must be complete by Oct. 1, 2010.

All of the work is intended to accommodate Disney's two new massive, 4,000-passenger ships, the Dream coming in 2011 and the Fantasy in 2012, replacing the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder. Each ship will have 1,250 staterooms and will weigh 128,000 tons.

The terminal expansion and the new parking garage are part of deal inked between Port Canaveral and Disney that keeps the cruise line sailing from Brevard for the next 15 years.

Brazee said the port staff conducted an extensive review of Boran Craig Barger Engel Construction, checking bonding, reference and looking at some of its other projects.

"We've done all the due diligence we can do," Brazee said.

Disney also signed off on Boran Craig Barger Engel Construction for the project.

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New and old characters join Disney’s Electric Parade

Examiner - Arguably Disney’s most unique and innovative spectacle, The Electrical Parade returns to California Adventure in a big way this summer.  The parade will perform nightly at 8:45pm through August 23rd.  Over two dozen structures, both new and long-lost classics, and half a million lights illuminate the streets of California Adventure.  Tinkerbell, on a brand new float that took two months to program, leads the parade as she sprinkles a special pixie dust that shimmers throughout the parade.
For all you Disney trivia buffs, the Pinocchio’s Pleasure Island sequence, as well as the Seven Dwarfs’ shimmering diamond mine have reassumed their spot in this procession.  Doug McIntyre, Director of Entertainment explain where these floats have been all these years.  “They had been sitting [in Disneyland Honk Kong] in a warehouse, so we had them shipped over. It’s the way I remember the Electric Parade from its old days at Disneyland.  It’s nice to have it back.”  True Disneyphiles will notice that, while the dwarfs and Pinocchio are a welcome return, Dumbo’s sequence is now missing from the parade.  No word as to why, when, or if Dumbo will rejoin the Electric Parade in the future.  Perhaps this is what must be sacrificed for having the adorable flying character featured in the new ‘Magical’ fireworks show?   

Presented by Sylvania, each float is now battery operated.  Besides making this celebration more eco-friendly than before, updated technology serves as an attempt to “evolve with the times while maintaining the classic feel of traditional Disney” states Carmen Morales, Marketing Manager at Disneyland.  New LED lighting uses only one quarter of the power that the original incandescent lights required.

Even the parade’s world-famous theme, ‘Baroque Hoedown’, is enhanced with new technology. “The music was written in 1967“ explained McIntyre, “and with the technology of synthesizers, we’ve come a long way.  We wanted to maintain the classicness of what the guests expect using ‘Baroque Hoedown’, which is the piece of music used. We were excited to do it with all of today’s modern technology” 

This 20 minute parade features over 80 dancers and performers each night.  The dancers costumes alone  feature a total of 11,000 lights.  Besides the new and returning characters, the event features scenes from such films as Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Pete’s Dragon.

If you’re a Southern California Resident, don’t forget to pick up a “3-day Summer Fun Pass” for only $99!  This 3-day, two-park admission pass is available at most supermarket chains,  Disneyland.com, Disney Stores, and at the park’s box office.  As an added bonus, the “Fun Pass” can be upgraded to an annual passport.  If you are considering visiting the parks all year long, the $99 can be applied as credit towards one of the passport options at the Annual Pass processing center, or at the ticket booth. 

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Special Olympics Celebrates Summer Games at Disney

Disney News - Disney's Wide World of Sports complex recently hosted the 37th annual Special Olympics Florida Summer Games, marking the 23rd year that Walt Disney World Resort has supported the event.

More than 2,000 athletes from 42 Florida counties competed in track and field, soccer, tennis, cycling, bocce and volleyball. Making it possible were more than 1,200 volunteers, including many Disney Cast Members.

 

"When our Special Olympics athletes have the opportunity to compete at a world-class athletic facility like Disney's Wide World of Sports complex, it's not only an unparalleled competitive experience for them, but they feel like the champions they truly are," said Monty Castevens, president of Special Olympics Florida.

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Princess Diana exhibit coming to Downtown Disney next month

Examiner - Downtown Disney will open an exhibition centered on the life and legacy of Princess Diana in early July, filling the vacancy left by Virgin Megastore when it shut its doors on May 12.

"Diana - The People's Princess" will open next door to the DisneyQuest indoor theme park in early July and run until November 30. The opening date is not yet known at this time.

As first speculated by Orlando Theme Parks Examiner Barb Nefer, Disney signed an agreement with Maureen Rorech Dunkel, founder of the People's Princess Charitable Foundation Inc., to display 14 dresses she purchased from a June 1997 Christie's auction where 79 of Diana's dresses were auctioned for charity in what was called the "Sale of the Century". Ultimately, Diana died two months later in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997.

"Diana - The People's Princess" will be one of the largest collections of royal dresses and rare, authentic royal artifiacts in America, including five dresses worn by the Princess of Wales rarely exhibited for public viewing.

The exhibit is said to include a Royal Doulton figurine of Diana in an exact replica of her wedding dress, the black velvet V-neck designed by Bruce Oldfield worn by Diana for her 1985 official portrait and a three-foot doll of Diana as a child created in tribute to Diana by the Great American Doll Company in 1998.

General admission for the exhibit is $14.50; children between the ages of 3 and 9 are admitted for $5. "Diana - The People's Princess" is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. beginning early July and ending November 30.

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Miley Cyrus surprises Ga. fans with impromptu show

AP - Miley Cyrus took a break from shooting "The Last Song" on the Georgia coast by borrowing a guitar and treating fans to an impromptu, two-song performance on the patio of a beachside seafood restaurant.

"By the time she finished the first song, there must have been 50 little girls and their moms who came rushing up," said Ray Rogers, owner of StingRay's restaurant on Tybee Island. He caught Miley's surprise gig on video.

Rogers said the 16-year-old "Hannah Montana" star dined on snow crab legs with a friend after wrapping up Monday's first day of filming of the Walt Disney Co. movie.

Then she got up and asked a local acoustic duo playing music if she could sit in. Miley stepped up to the microphone and strapped on a guitar to sing the Tim McGraw and Faith Hill duet "It's Your Love," then added a new song of her own.

"She played those and then we got her out of here," Rogers said. "We asked her, `What do you wanna do?' and she said `I want to get out of here.' So we walked her to a side entrance nobody knew about and got her in her car."

"The Last Song" will be filming on Tybee Island and in nearby Savannah until mid-August, stirring interest among locals and tourists alike. The movie features Cyrus as a teenage girl struggling with her parents' divorce who tries to reconnect with her father during a summer at his home in a quiet beach town.

The movie's publicist, Rachel Aberly, did not immediately return a phone call and e-mail message seeking comment Wednesday.

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Disney Resort Restaurants for Lunch

About - News & Issues - One of the best kept secrets of Disney World resorts, in my opinion, is the restaurants that are open for lunch. There aren't many of them, since most of the crowd is jostling for burgers and chicken strips at the theme parks at midday. As much as I love Disney, during the hottest and most crowded part of the day, it's time to exit the park in favor of a civilized, air conditioned meal and perhaps a swim back at the resorts. Space Mountain can wait until early evening.

A bonus: while most popular Disney restaurants book up months in advance, you can almost always walk into a resort restaurant for lunch with no reservations, making it a spontaneous standby. Anyone can get to the resorts by monorail, Disney's free bus transportation, or by car.

Without further ado, here are my favorite lunch spots at the Disney resorts:

  • I've already mentioned how much I enjoy Sanaa, the new Indian/African restaurant at Animal Kingdom's Kidani Village overlooking the savanna.
  • The Wave opened at the Contemporary Resort a few months back. Everything is exceptional here, much of the food is organic, and our family actually fought over the bean soup here - we had to order three extra bowls.
  • Olivia's at Disney's Old Key West, right off the boat dock from Downtown Disney, has indoor and outdoor seating. My favorite thing to order here is the onion rings appetizer, with three dipping sauces.
  • The Turf Club at Saratoga Springs has a very similar menu to Olivia's, down to the onion rings, with one important addition: the seared tuna entrée, with avocado and cucumber salad and a light creamy sauce. Outdoor seating is available overlooking the golf course.
  • The Grand Floridian Cafe is always a great excuse to stroll along the beach and gardens of Disney World's beautiful flagship resort, the Grand Floridian. Food and service here are always good.
  • Kona Cafe at the Polynesian Resort has some creative flavors, although I always come away with a large bill and needing a nap because I just can't resist those drinks they serve in hollowed-out pineapples. (Speaking of decadent treats, they are famous for their Tonga Toast.)

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Wednesday June 17, 2009

Make your Disney World dining reservations online
Give Dad the Gift of Golf
'Up' figures to see 'Incredibles' sights
Cover bands converge at Epcot for Sounds Like Summer
Club Penguin Launches 101 Days of Fun
Stilt-walkers parade at Downtown Disney for world record attempt
Curtain closes on Disney attraction
Greg Kinnear, Kelly Preston join Miley Cyrus in 'The Last Song'
Tuacahn theater to present Disney's 'Tarzan' in 2010

Make your Disney World dining reservations online

Examiner - As a Disney World local, the telephone number 407-WDW-DINE is engrained in my mind for making last-minute meal reservations at the theme parks or resorts. For years, people have complained about having to call because it's not a toll-free number so guests in other states often racked up long distance charges.

Now, phone calls are a thing of the past (unless you prefer talking to an agent). Simply click here to visit the restaurant page on Disney World's official website, find the eatery of your choice, and click the Reservation button to view available times.

Reservations can be made up to 90 days in advance for most locations.

The online reservation system offers a convenient alternative to people who hate being on hold on the dining line. Unfortunately, its implementation brought another change that is not so welcome for diners who like to be spontaneous. Now you have to book a same-day reservation at least two hours in advance. This is a bad thing for someone like me who lives near the theme parks; often, I'm driving towards Epcot or the hotels while my husband is on the cell phone to find out where we can get a table so I can turn in the right direction.

Overall, though, this new system promises to be a welcome change for compulsive planners who prefer to use the internet to handle their own reservations.

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Give Dad the Gift of Golf

Disney Insider -
Ties, mugs, aftershave – they're all classic Father's Day gifts, and dads throughout the land will receive them this June 21. But this year, why not surprise your own pop with a gift that will make him say "Wow!" -- or at least "Fore!"

Nothing warms a dad's heart more than a golf vacation, and Walt Disney World Resort has four of America's finest ways to hit the links. And better yet, any non-golfers in the party will find plenty to do at the Theme Parks, leaving Dad to tee off in guilt-free peace.

Walt Disney World Head Golf Pro Kevin Weickel filled us in on the fun. "We've got four championship golf courses -- the Magnolia, the Palm, Osprey Ridge, and Lake Buena Vista," he explains. These courses are some of the finest in the country: "Magnolia, Palm, and Lake Buena Vista have all hosted PGA Tour events, and Lake Buena Vista has hosted an LPGA Tour event. In fact, this November 12 through 15, the Magnolia will host our PGA Tour event for the 39th consecutive year – the Children's Miracle Network Classic, benefitting the Children's Miracle Network. You can catch it broadcast on the Golf Channel." There's also a nine-hole walking course, Oak Trail, for those golfing with small children or tighter schedules.

Resort Guests enjoy special rates on the courses, and for the remainder of 2009 and all of 2010 they can take advantage of a very special offer. "Resort Guests can come in and pay our standard rate for Resort Guests, and we'll give them complimentary rental clubs and range balls. It's a big savings!" Kevin points out that "Most airlines charge a hefty fee if you bring your own golf clubs, plus you have to lug them around. Our rental clubs are top-of-the-line Titleist and Cobra rental clubs. You can just walk down, get a professional grade set of clubs, and turn them in when you're done, no charge!"

You can find more than one kind of eagle at the Walt Disney World Resort, and Dad is practically guaranteed to see plenty of birdies no matter how he's playing that day. As Kevin explains, "All four courses are Audubon-certified, meaning there's tons of wildlife abounding on the course. Everything from deer to osprey, alligators, flocks of wild turkeys, raccoons – you name it, it's out there!" The courses even have a few resident bald eagles, and an elusive Florida panther – although actually seeing the shy cat is a rare experience, Kevin says, "like spotting a shooting star." The Audubon certification is recognition of the care Disney takes to make the courses environmentally-friendly, and Kevin is justifiably proud of the honor. "We preserve wildlife and the environment first and foremost in all of our practices. It's really like a nature preserve – there just happens to be a golf course in the middle of it!"

With four championship courses, how to choose? Kevin says each course has its own unique attraction. "Magnolia probably has the most wildlife, and it's home to the final rounds of the PGA tour event. The Palm course has that old Florida feel, with palm trees, a lot of water, and cypress woods around the borders. Lake Buena Vista sits right in the middle of Saratoga Springs Resort, and the holes weave in and out of Saratoga and Old Key West. Osprey Ridge was designed by arguably the world's most famous designer right now, Tom Fazio, and it has rolling fairways and elevation changes that give you the sense you might be playing somewhere reminiscent of the sand hills of North Carolina. It's a really neat property!"

If Dad wants some family time with his golfing gift, Kevin recommends the nine-hole course, Oak Trail, as the perfect way to share a game with young golfers. "We get a lot of parents and kids on the walking course, especially kids who are just starting to golf. It's about a two-hour walk. It's a regulation nine-hole course, but not so big and challenging that you would feel intimidated. You can feel comfortable bringing your nine- or twelve-year-old out and have a good time," he explains.

No matter which course Dad opts for, he'll have a chance to tee off with a Disney touch – and enjoy a gift that he'll remember for years to come. And if the kids get to keep him company, that's the icing on the cake!

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'Up' figures to see 'Incredibles' sights

Variety - After less than a month at the multiplexes, Disney-Pixar's 3-D toon "Up"has enough lift to likely become the second-highest-grossing Pixar title at the domestic B.O. after "Finding Nemo."

Through Sunday, "Up's" domestic total was $187.4 million -- the second best of any summer film to date. Par's "Star Trek" has cumed $231.9 million.

"Up's" boffo run is the latest example of how 3-D runs can boost a film's bottom line through higher ticket prices. The film's 3-D runs make up only 40% of the total screen count, yet they contribute 60% of the gross.

In the spring, DreamWorks Animation released its first 3-D tentpole, "Monsters vs. Aliens," which grossed $195.2 million domestically and $169.4 million more at the international box office.

The biggest challenge "Up" faces will come July 1 when Fox's 3-D toon "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" debuts. "Ice Age 3" is almost certain to grab all the 3-D screens away from "Up," considering the continued shortage of such screens. "Up" will be able to keep its 2-D runs, however.

Chuck Viane, Disney's prexy of domestic distribution, said 3-D has been a boon to "Up," but he added that the foundation of any successful pic is a good story.

"3-D enhances the storytelling, and thereby, the run," Viane said.

For the weekend, "Up" grossed $30.7 million, only $2 million shy of Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures' R-rated comedy "The Hangover." "Up" was in its third frame, "Hangover" its second.

At the rate it's going, "Up" will soon surpass the $206.4 million grossed by Pixar's "Ratatouille" in summer 2007, and the $223.8 million grossed domestically by Pixar's "Wall-E" last summer.

"Finding Nemo," released in 2003, cumed $339.7 million domestically. Next-best Pixar grosser is "The Incredibles" at $261.4 million.

Based on its performance, box office observers now believe "Up" has every chance of surpassing "Incredibles."

Still very early in its run overseas, "Up" has grossed $26.6 million at the international B.O.

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Cover bands converge at Epcot for Sounds Like Summer
 
Theme Park Rangers - The Sounds Like Summer concert series is back in swing at Epcot. The daily concerts, held at the America Gardens Theatre, feature tribute bands re-creating classic hits. Showtimes are 5:45, 7 and 8:15 (except July 4, when the times are 5:15, 6:30, 7:45 and 9 p.m.)

Here's the lineup:

Through June 21: Stayin' Alive -- A Tribute to the Bee Gees

June 22-28: Hotel California -- A Tribute to the Eagles

June 29-July 8: Slippery When Wet -- A Tribute to Bon Jovi

July 9-19: Bjorn Again -- A Tribute to ABBA

July 20-26: The Sounds of the Supremes -- A Tribute to the Supremes

July 27-Aug. 2: 2U -- A Tribute to U2. 

Aug. 3-9: Petty Theft -- A Tribute to Tom Petty.

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Club Penguin Launches 101 Days of Fun

Disney News - With summer just around the corner, the popular snow-covered virtual world of Club Penguin (www.clubpenguin.com) has introduced a program designed to help entertain children both on and off the computer during their school holidays.

101 Days of Fun features daily suggestions for activities players can enjoy within the virtual world of Club Penguin and in the real world. From tips on how to uncover secret game levels online to examples of recipes and crafts players can do at home, the program is designed to help children discover Club Penguin in a whole new way while keeping them entertained all summer long.

"Our players are always looking for new ways to explore and enjoy Club Penguin and we think 101 Days of Fun is a great way to help them discover more of the activities and secrets the virtual world has to offer," says Lane Merrifield, one of Club Penguin's founders and executive vice president of Disney Online. "As parents ourselves, we also recognize the value of getting children out to play and explore in the real world, and we hope the printable list of things to do offline will encourage kids to get outside and take the fun of Club Penguin with them this summer."

The lists of suggested on and offline activities are available on the "Fun Activities" (community.clubpenguin.com/funactivities/) section of the Web site and in the Club Penguin Times, the world's weekly virtual newspaper. Offline activity suggestions include making Puffle (the penguins' cute fluffy pets) sugar cookies and taking a nature walk to find rocks to paint to look like Puffles.

Club Penguin is one of the largest and fastest-growing virtual worlds where children can explore, play games and interact with friends. With its imaginative play environment, word filtering technology and live moderators who monitor chat and activity on the site and work to prevent the sharing of inappropriate or personally identifiable information, Club Penguin has built a reputation as an online environment that provides fun for kids and peace of mind for parents.

A parent's email address is required to create a penguin, and parental permission is necessary in order to activate an account and play in the virtual world.

Parents can also create their own account and logon to view their child's account history, change their child's password, choose a different chat mode, and set a time limit for how long their child is allowed to visit Club Penguin.

Club Penguin is free to play, however special features such as priority access, exclusive parties and opportunities for players to customize their penguin and igloo require a membership.

Club Penguin launched in English in 2005 and is now also available to play in French and Portuguese with Spanish coming soon.

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Stilt-walkers parade at Downtown Disney for world record attempt

Orlando Sentinel - The number of stilt-walkers outdid the number of degrees in the outdoor temperature Tuesday at Downtown Disney. And in the heat of Tuesday afternoon, that's saying something.

The occasion was Cirque du Soleil's attempt to set a world record for stilt-walking at La Nouba, its Disney outlet, and around the globe at its other locations. The attempt is part of Cirque's 25th anniversary celebration. The company set the stilt record five years ago, but that has seen been surpassed a couple of times. The current record -- 625 walkers -- was held by a group in Ontario, Canada, last year.

There were 119 participants at the Orlando location. About 75 of them were cast and crew members of "La Nouba," who were joined by local stilt walkers. Folks came in all sorts of dress -- from casual to full-on Cirque makeup and Lycra -- and in a variety of stilt heights, from low-riders to about four feet off the ground. Some were obvious novices, moving in deliberate baby-stilt steps and gripping the poles, while others took giant, confident strides.

The group traveled 100 yards from behind House of Blues to the base of the La Nouba building.

Because Guiness is very deliberate with its verifications -- and because of the multiple locations involved -- it could be quite a while before a world record will be confirmed.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer -- both feet planted firmly on the ground -- was there to declare it Cirque du Soleil Day in the city of Orlando. Lately, Dyer has been running in NBA circles, so there wasn't much adjustment for him. "I've been getting used to looking up to everybody," he quipped.

Three La Nouba performers attempted to set individual records. Marcos de Jesus, one of the BMX bicyclists in the troupe went for the record in pinky squeaks, a trick that involves standing on the bike's front tire and whipping the back half around in the circle and jumping over its body -- very whirling dervish. The previous record was 57 in a minute, and on de Jesus' second attempt, he accomplished 63 without missing, according to Richard Dennison, company manager of La Nouba.

Lance Trappe attempted to established a Guiness record with 108 front-wheel hops, and a performer known as Rokardy walked several yards in a handstand on stilts. He should get extra points for doing it in the Florida heat.

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Curtain closes on Disney attraction

Bizjournals - Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration, an interactive outdoor stage show that opened May 5 at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, will close June 27.

Although Disney officials would not give specifics on why the attraction that debuted just six weeks ago will close, they did say the theme park “regularly evaluates and adjusts” its attractions and sometimes eliminates them.

Postings on Disney fan blog sites suggest that park patrons complained about having to form queues in the late spring heat without shelter or seating.

A Disney spokeswoman didn’t say what is planned next for the Stitch site.

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Greg Kinnear, Kelly Preston join Miley Cyrus in 'The Last Song'

Entertainment Weekly - Greg Kinnear and Kelly Preston will play Miley Cyrus' parents in Disney's forthcoming Nicholas Sparks adaptation The Last Song, according to Variety. Cyrus is to play a teen who is sent to spend the summer with her estranged father. Sparks is writing the screenplay based on a book (due out this fall) that he wrote specifically as a vehicle for the Hannah Montana star. Julie Anne Robinson is helming the film, which is set to bow in January.

After wrapping production this fall, Cyrus will embark on another concert tour and return to the Disney Channel to shoot the fourth and final season of Hannah Montana.

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Tuacahn theater to present Disney's 'Tarzan' in 2010

Desert Valley Times
 - With its large stage, limited seating and breathtaking views Tuacahn Center for the Arts has become one of the most popular entertainment settings in Utah.

For the 2010 season Tuacahn will be the first regional theater in America to have exclusive rights to produce Disney's Broadway musical "Tarzan."

"Tarzan" is a classic story that begins when an early 1900s shipwreck leaves an infant orphaned on the West African shore. The helpless baby is taken under the protection of a gorilla tribe and becomes part of their family.

When he eventually encounters his first human - Jane Porter, a curious young explorer - both of their worlds transform forever.

The Grammy award-winning musical score, written by singer/songwriter Phil Collins, propels the energy and imagination of this literary favorite, making this a "must see" in 2010.

Scott Anderson, artistic director at Tuacahn, has been given permission by Disney to direct the show. Anderson directed the 2008 production of "Les Miserables" and is currently directing "Annie."

Also planned for 2010 are Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Cats" and the Gershwin brothers' "Crazy For You."

Tucked away in Southern Utah's Padre Canyon, Tuacahn lies as a symbol of nature's unparalleled majesty. Surrounded by towering 1,500-foot red sandstone cliffs, Tuacahn provides visitors with a unique evening experience beneath a gleaming desert sky. It's the perfect venue for professional musicals and theatrical productions from around the country.

Call 652-3300 or log onto www.tuacahn.org for more information or for tickets for this year's shows, which includes "Annie" and "Footloose" this summer with Elton John & Tim Rice's "Aida" joining the lineup this fall.

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Tuesday June 16, 2009

The Pirates League Sets Sail in Magic Kingdom June 29
New Magic Kingdom Stitch show reportedly is closing down
Femme firepower for Disney's 'Again'

Orlando Magic: NBA Finals bring Disney-owned ABC a weekly win
Disney, Asus team up on netbook
Disney XD Set for U.K. Launch
Disneyland vs. Walt Disney World
Disney does veggies
Demi Lovato and Friends Promote Disney's 'Friends for Change' Project
Disney Goes the Rare Sneak-Preview Route With a Romantic Comedy, “The Proposal”

Disney World Gay Days protest letter
A&E cancels Patrick Swayze drama, `The Beast'

The Pirates League Sets Sail in Magic Kingdom June 29

Disney News - Calling all scoundrels, rogues and ne'er-do-wells – Captain Jack and the crew of the Black Pearl want you.

Starting in late June, the Pearl drops anchor in Adventureland at Magic Kingdom for The Pirates League, recruiting and training Walt Disney World guests of all ages in the scurrilous ways of buccaneers.

Each guest checking in at the plunder-filled pirate's lair gets an official pirate name. Then it's off to Muster Station for applications of beards and eye patches, scarves and scars, earrings and gold teeth – all done with the savvy skill of a veteran pirate who shares his own tales of sea-sailing adventures.

After the new buccaneers recite a sacred pirate oath, they are officially part of Captain Jack's motley crew, leaving their old identities behind. Past a hidden portal and into the treasure room, the shipmates have their "pirate portrait" taken before being turned loose on an unsuspecting Adventureland – and no doubt feeling right at home at the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.

Guests can choose from three daily pirate packages:

  • First Mate Package: Includes bandana; choice of facial effects; scars; tattoos; fake teeth; earring and eye patch; sword and sheath; pirate coin necklace; one 5x7-inch photo; and personalized pirate oath -- $49.95 plus tax.
  • Empress Package: Includes bandana; shimmering makeup; face gem; tattoos; nail polish; earring and eye patch; sword and sheath; pirate coin necklace; one 5x7-inch photo; and personalized pirate oath -- $49.95 plus tax.
  • Captains Package: Includes choice of costume/outfit from selection; choice of facial effects; scars; tattoos; fake teeth; earring and eye patch; sword and sheath; pirate coin necklace; three 5x7-inch photos; and personalized pirate oath -- $124.95 plus tax.

Newly donned swashbucklers can test their pirate prowess on the streets of Adventureland where they search for clues and discover treasures. And for mateys who need a little more training, learn the secrets for survival by the captain himself during "Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Tutorial."

Boys, girls and grownups ready for the pirate life can start the process by calling 407/WDW-CREW beginning May 11. For more information about The Pirates League, visit disneyworld.com/crew.

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New Magic Kingdom Stitch show reportedly is closing down

Examiner - "Stitch's Supersonic Celebration" debuted in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom amidst much fanfare six weeks ago. Now, according to rumors, it will be closing down within the next two weeks after failing to catch on with guests.

The new show ties into Disney's "What Will You Celebrate?" theme, featuring a Galaxy Day celebration that is taken over by the little blue alien. It uses similar technology to "Turtle Talk With Crush" and "Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor" to allow him to interact with guests on a giant screen. At the end, Stitch comes out in person dressed in his Elvis persona. This all sounds like it has potential, but so far it has failed to win over guests.

Although Stitch is a popular Disney character, so far he hasn't been able to score a hit with an attraction. He's also featured in "Stitch's Great Escape" a reworking of the old "Alien Encounter" that rarely draws big crowds. However, considering Disney's investment in building the stage and screen for "Stitch's Supersonic Celebration," they will most likely revamp the show or move something in its place to keep the summer crowds occupied. This is especially important in Tomorrowland with Space Mountain closed for refurbishment (Tomorrowland Transit Authority, which goes through the Space Mountain building, is closed too).

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Femme firepower for Disney's 'Again'

Hollywood Reporter - The Disney comedy "You Again" has taken on some female power.

Jamie Lee Curtis, Kristin Chenoweth, Odette Yustman and Betty White have joined the cast, as has Victor Garber. They join Kristen Bell and Sigourney Weaver in the film, to be directed by Andy Fickman.

The story line centers on a woman (Bell) who finds out that her brother is planning to marry the girl who made her high school years a living hell and tries to convince him that his fiancee is not the nice girl she pretends to be.

Curtis and Garber will play Bell's parents, and White will play her grandmother. (Weaver is her rich Aunt Ramona.) Chenoweth plays "a wedding extraordinator." Yustman plays Bell's nemesis.

Moe Jelline wrote the screenplay. Fickman is producing with Eric Tannenbaum and John Strauss.

LouAnne Brickhouse and Todd Murata are overseeing for the studio, which hopes to start shooting in late summer in Los Angeles.

CAA-repped Curtis is a Disney favorite, having starred in 2003's "Freaky Friday" and appeared in "Beverly Hills Chihuahua."

Chenoweth, repped by CAA and Untitled Entertainment, most recently starred in the ABC series "Pushing Daisies." Her most recent film was "Four Christmases."

One of the stars of "Cloverfield" and TV's "October Road," Yustman most recently starred in David Goyer's "The Unborn." She is repped by ICM and Evolution.

The APA-repped White next stars in Disney's "The Proposal," which opens Friday, and Gersh-repped Garber most recently appeared as San Francisco Mayor George Moscone in "Milk."

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Orlando Magic: NBA Finals bring Disney-owned ABC a weekly win

Orlando Sentinel
 - Disney-owned ABC was on top for last week, thanks to the NBA Finals between the victorious Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic.
Game 4, Game 3 and Game 5 were the week's three most-watched programs. The NBA trophy show finished fourth.

ABC won the week with an average 7.3 million viewers in prime time. Here's how the other broadcasters fared: CBS with 6.9 million, Fox with 5.1 million, NBC with 5 million, MyNetworkTV with 1.5 million and The CW with 1.2 million.

ABC was also the easy favorite in the 18-to-49 age group. Fox edged NBC for second in that count. CBS was fourth.

Here are the week's most-watched programs:

1. NBA Finals Game 4, ABC, 16 million

2. NBA Finals Game 3, ABC, 14.19 million

3. NBA finals Game 5, ABC, 14.17 million

4. NBA Trophy Presentation, ABC, 13.5 million

5. "The Mentalist" Tuesday, CBS, 11.6 million

6. "NCIS," CBS, 11.1 million

7. "Two and a Half Men," CBS, 9.5 million

8. "The Mentalist" Thursday, CBS, 8.9 million

9. "48 Hours Mystery" Tuesday, CBS, 8.8 million

10. "CSI," CBS, 8.7 million

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Disney, Asus team up on netbook

USA Today - If mom and dad bought a netbook, why can’t Junior have one?

Disney is teaming up with the Taiwanese computer maker Asus on a Disney-branded netbook called Netpal, targeted at kids 6 to 12 and due out in late July. As you might imagine, the $350 machine adds a distinctly Disney bent to Asus’s Eee PC with an 8.9 inch display and Intel Atom processor.

The netbooks are encased in “Princess Pink” (with florals) or “Magic Blue” (miniature Mickey Mouse icons). Disney designed a kid-friendly user interface to sit on top of Windows XP. Youngsters can change the desktops with customizable themes, built around Mickey Mouse, Cars, Toy Story, WALL-E and other themes.

A Magic Desktop “gadget tray” has icons for a Disney browser, e-mail and parental controls. Kids can only surf to sites or correspond via e-mail with people approved by parents.

Features include a Radio Disney widget that streams music from the channel in real time. There are other widgets for such things as a digital memo pad, calculator and stopwatch. A photo application lets a kid insert his or her own picture on top of a bobblehead.

The computer has Wi-Fi but no 3G cellular collection. Parents can choose a configuration with a 16 gigabyte “solid state” hard drive or opt for a 160 GB hard drive that adds extra storage but is less sturdy. It weighs between 2.2 and 2.6 pounds.

Though the computers are unmistakably Disney, the designers haven’t quite gone over the top as they did on the Disney Dream Desk PC I reviewed back in 2004. It had an optional 14.1 inch monitor that was shaped like Mickey’s head, with his prominent ears doubling as the computer’s speakers. There were also Mickey Mouse ears on the mouse.

Because the Netpal design is, shall we say, a little more subtle, the kids may not want to retire it so fast as they get older. Netpals will be available Toys R Us, and Amazon.com.

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Disney XD Set for U.K. Launch

World Screen - The Walt Disney Company has plans to launch its boy-skewing Disney XD channel in the U.K., to feature a mix of live-action and animated programming.

Aimed at the 6-to-14 demographic, Disney XD will feature a slate of Disney-branded new and library programming, alongside a number of local acquisitions. Launching with the channel is the companion website DisneyXD.co.uk, featuring games and exclusive clips.

Disney XD will replace Jetix. The channel has already launched in the U.S., in February, and debuted in France this April.

"Disney Channel's portfolio of channels is already the undisputed leader in the kids' TV market and Disney XD is the perfect vehicle to build on the success in this strategic segment," said Boel Ferguson, the general manager for Disney Channels U.K. and Ireland. "The exclusive new content will appeal to a broader target audience while the Disney branding will create awareness and value. Disney XD will capitalize on all of the assets across the Company to make it the leading boy-focused entertainment platform in the U.K. and around the world."

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Disneyland vs. Walt Disney World

St. George Daily Spectrum
 - Which resort is really the most magical place to visit?

Even though it rained on us every day, I still consider a recent trip with my family to Walt Disney World a success.

I'd only visited WDW once before, shortly after I'd graduated from college. It seemed appropriate then that we returned after my brother's graduation.

If you have the time and energy, WDW is a fun place to visit every now and then.

As someone who knows the ins-and-outs of Disneyland far better than I usually admit, it's impossible not to compare the Disney Resorts with WDW.

So instead, I decided to do my own comparing of the two resorts Ñ what I liked and didn't like about each. I don't claim to be an expert, especially not of Walt Disney World, but just a fan who loves the magic of the parks.
Magic Kingdom vs. Disneyland

Most like Disneyland in nature, the Magic Kingdom is home to all the rides people think of first when visiting a Disney park. From the dark rides in Fantasyland to the favorites Splash Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean, the major difference between the east and west coast parks is the change in location for some of them.

Well, that and Disneyland totally wins the battle in coolness.

There's no way the shortened version of Pirates can compare to the longer, two-drops version in its California counterpart.

Nor can the cheesy facades of the Magic Kingdom compare to the homey feeling of Fantasyland in Anaheim. Whether you can stand riding 'it's a small world' or not, there's no questioning that it looks more impressive in California.

Also in Disneyland's favor, the E-ticket rides Indiana Jones Adventure: The Temple of the Forbidden Eye and the Matterhorn Bobsleds can only be found there.

However, WDW does win a couple of battles. The Haunted Mansion is a more impressive ride (inside and out) in Florida, and has an additional room of staircases that is just cool. It also features a couple of attractions that no longer exist in California, such as the Carousel of Progress, the Country Bear Jamboree and the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse (which are all favorites of various members of my family).

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Disney does veggies

Vancouver Sun
 - From Goofy greens to Hannah Montana apples and even baby cucumbers branded with Zac Efron's baby face, healthy foods are enjoying new-found kid appeal thanks to marketing efforts that license TV and movie actors and characters for their packaging.
Disney Garden, a branded line of fruits and vegetables, is reporting 300 per cent growth in Canada over last year. Competitors such as Nickelodeon and Discovery Kids are adopting similar strategies at the supermarket to get children to eat their vegetables.

Mission: Impossible, meet Mr. Incredible.

"When you have Ronald McDonald, who is very recognizable, on the fast-food side, and you have the Disney characters on the side of fruits and vegetables, it seems to even the playing field," says Debi Andrus, assistant professor of marketing at the University of Calgary's Haskayne School of Business.

But while Disney and others have shrewdly framed these healthy-lifestyle initiatives as corporate social responsibility, Andrus instead sees them as just another "opportunity to extend their brand(s)."

Their possible agendas, however, are inconsequential to some Canadian parents who have long endeavoured to make cucumbers the new cookies.

"I am not about marketing to children. It sickens me," says Erica Ehm, a Toronto-based mother of two and the creator of yummymummyclub.ca. "But having said that, I don't think putting carrots in a Cinderella package is going to damage the child. And if it somehow leads them to liking fruits and vegetables, that's OK with me."

In the 1930s, Popeye's endorsement of spinach gave the leafy greens an expected halo among consumers, causing sales to spike by 33 per cent. But with few exceptions, the partnering of kids' characters with food products has, until recently, been limited to fast food, sweet treats, and cereals loaded with enough sugar to give even Willy Wonka a toothache.

The fallout has included a tripling of children and adolescents defined as overweight since the 1970s to an estimated one in five. In response, the Federal Trade Commission last year called for entertainment companies of all stripes to "limit the licensing of their characters to healthier foods and beverages that are marketed to children."

Calgary mother Kathryn Bechthold says the movement does much to calm her nervousness over childhood obesity, which has hit an all-time high in North America.

"My daughter is so motivated by cartoon characters and is so excited to see them on any kind of packaging," says Bechthold, CEO of The Mompreneur magazine.

"I can't take her through the cereal aisle without it becoming a test of my behaviour-modification skills. So it would be great to go down the produce aisle and have her react in the same way."

A High School Musical promotion in the U.S. saw sales of bagged apples climb by nearly half at one national retail chain, while the cultural clout of Nickelodeon's SpongeBob led to double-digit sales increases of baby carrots in some regional markets.

Although Imagination Farms, the licensee for Disney Garden, won't reveal dollar figures, the company reports sales of more than 10 million servings of fresh produce in Canada last year through the Disney Garden line.

"What we're trying to do is make fresh produce more fun, and as appealing to children as sweets might be," says Michael Caito, CEO of Imagination Farms.

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Demi Lovato and Friends Promote Disney's 'Friends for Change' Project

AceShowbiz
 - An actress and singer who makes name under The Walt Disney Company, Demi Lovato lends her famous face to star in a video aimed to promote the studio's "Friends for Change: Project Green". In the less-than-one-minute footage, she is seen starring alongside fellow Disney star Mitchel Musso. Both of them team up in the video to encourage young people to keep the planet green.

Saving the energy and cutting down the gases produced by green house are the first steps the young stars offer people to do as part of Disney's first ever big global project. The project will be kicked off on July 11 later this year.

Persuading people to take the pledge to join the project, which was launched last month, the twosome is seen in the video turning off a light in an attempt to save the energy, collecting the garbage, and planting the tree. More information about "Friends for Change: Project Green" is made available at Disney.

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Disney Goes the Rare Sneak-Preview Route With a Romantic Comedy, “The Proposal”

New York Times
 - More and more, big movie studios avoid “sneaking” their broad-appeal pictures. The practice - opening a movie on a limited basis to ignite buzz in advance of its broad release - can backfire by drawing poor word of mouth. Even if people like the movie, sneak previews can take money off the opening-weekend table and deprive marketers of pushing the “America’s No. 1 Comedy!” button.

Yet Walt Disney Pictures, via its Touchstone label, held sneak screenings for “The Proposal” in 817 theaters on Saturday. The comedy, starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, played to 88 percent capacity in those theaters, according to Disney, which did not release sales figures. Chuck Viane, Disney’s president of domestic distribution, could not remember the last time the studio used sneaks, underscoring the rarity of the practice.

What gives? Hollywood’s chattering class had four guesses as it chewed over the weekend box office: “The Proposal,” which opens on Friday, lacks awareness in the marketplace despite Disney’s best marketing efforts; the studio is trying to reduce marketing costs – especially after spending so heavily on “Up” - by relying more heavily on word-of-mouth marketing; the movie is truly hilarious and thus a rare instance where genuine water-cooler buzz is achievable; all of the above.

“We believe we have an outstanding movie that audiences love and we wanted to send a legion of fans into the workplace this week to spread the word,” Mr. Viane said, comparing the movie to “Wild Hogs,” the company’s 2007 comedy about would-be bikers that became a surprise blockbuster.

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Disney World Gay Days protest letter

Orlando Sentinel - One more post on Gay Days before we pack the red shirts away for another year. It was pointed out to me that a Web site is urging folks to write Disney, asking that Gay Days be held after regular theme-park hours.
In part, the plea from the Florida Family Association reads:

"Why would Disney allow Gay Day to take place during regular operating hours at the expense of offending tens of thousands of unsuspecting guests when they require other special events to be held after normal operating hours?  Disney requires special events like Grad Night and Night of Joy to be held after the Magic Kingdom's regular operating hours.  Disney does this to avoid having a large group of likeminded people in the park at the same time with regular patrons who expect a normal day at the Magic Kingdom."

The group says it has sent representatives to the event, but then it seems it would be obvious that Gay Days is quite different than Grad Night or Night of Joy. The latter two events feature special entertainment: Stages are set up around the park and various singers and groups give concerts. That is why they are separately ticketed events. The Magic Kingdom does not follow normal operations during them.

Gay Days has no additional entertainment, because to Disney it is just another day in the park. Nothing special is planned, nothing is advertised or promised. Disney can't stop thousands of gay men and lesbians from showing up at the park that day, just as Disney would be powerless to stop thousands of teachers or ministers or British tourists or chess enthusiasts from showing up, if such groups organized similar meet-up events.
 

The e-mail the Florida Family Association suggests sending to Disney says, "As a private property owner in the State of Florida, Disney World certainly has the right to adopt and enforce company policy that would do a better job at protecting thousands of children from being forced to watch the revelry of Gay Day patrons."

But what policy could that be? Not letting gay and lesbian patrons into the park? How would Disney determine that? Asking their guests if they are gay? Making them prove they are straight somehow? The ethics aside, determining someone's sexuality at the Magic Kingdom turnstiles is logistically impossible.   

The bottom line is Disney World is open to everyone. And if you bring your family to the theme parks you should be prepared to see people from all sorts of countries, ethnic backgrounds, education levels and walks of life. Even in Fantasyland, that's what's known as the real world.

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A&E cancels Patrick Swayze drama, `The Beast'

AP - "The Beast," a police drama that starred the ailing Patrick Swayze, will not return for a second season, A&E announced Monday.

The series, which premiered in January, starred Swayze as Charles Barker, a rogue undercover FBI agent teamed up with rookie Ellis Dove (Travis Fimmel). The series was filmed on location in Chicago.

Reviews for the series were mixed and its audience averaged 1.3 million viewers through the 13 episodes, which concluded their run in April.

But Swayze was unstinting in a rough-and-tumble performance that he maintained while battling pancreatic cancer. His illness had no discernible effect on his gritty portrayal.

A&E President Bob DeBitetto called the performance "an inspiration to us all."

DeBitetto said the series "has truly been a labor of love for everyone," but added that "after careful deliberation we have reluctantly decided not to attempt a second season."

Known for such films as "Ghost" and "Dirty Dancing," the 56-year-old Swayze went public with his diagnosis in 2008.

A memoir by him and Lisa Niemi, his wife of more 30 years, is scheduled for publication in the fall. The book is expected to offer an intimate account of his childhood, career and marriage, as well as his fight against the cancer.

A&E is owned by A&E Television Networks, a joint venture of Hearst Corp., The Walt Disney Co. and General Electric Co.'s NBC Universal.

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Monday June 15, 2009

A look at the 'Up' characters at Disney's Hollywood Studios
Imagination Movers Make New 'Mouse' Shorts For Disney Channel
Disney's Dapper Dans Barbershop Quartet To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award
Could shorter booking windows stick around awhile? Disney exec thinks so
Billy Ray: 'Hannah Montana' to end next year
Road rules for Disney with kids
FamilyFun plays up Disney connection, launches custom pub division
Disney's Latest Pooch is Inspired By Magical Cartoon Mutts Of yesteryear
Young dancers left heartbroken as 5,000 euros Disney fund is stolen

A look at the 'Up' characters at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Theme Park Rangers - Full disclosure: I got choked up during Up, the latest Disney-Pixar animated film, which has done more than $187 million in box office thus far. Going in, I knew there were emotional spots, but I wasn't expecting them so early. Sneaky!

Thankfully, No tears were shed during my recent visit to see the Up characters at Disney's Hollywood Studios. They are stationed daily in the Magic of Disney Animation building, I saw only Carl (the aging homeowner voiced by Ed Asner) and Dug (the squirrel-oriented dog), but a cast member assured me that young Russell also makes appearances. Kevin the bird is built into the backdrop, which increases the value of the photo opportunity. (The Up folks are stationed where the Bolt characters used to be.)

Carl's costuming is excellent, detailed down to the hearing aid, wedding ring and soda cap medal. Dug is playful, does the doggie hands bit and "licks" kids.

My only disappointment: Dug can't talk. Wouldn't it be cool if you pushed a button on his collar and he said "Squirrel!" like in the movie? If Mickey can blink, a boy can dream.

I'm a big fan of the character area in the animation building if for no other reason than "air-conditioned comfort." I also think the lines are shorter back there and a wide array of characters. Last week with the Up crew were Chip, Dale, a couple of Incredibles, an evil Queen, Peter Pan, a Sorcerer Mickey and more. To me, it beats the Character Spot at Epcot, but your results may vary.

ELSEWHERE AT DHS: A kids area has opened in the Sunset Boulevard neighborhood, near the exit of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster.

I saw a lot of coloring going on ... with a backdrop of Disney musical acts, Hannah Montana, Jonas Brothers, Imagination Movers and the ilk. What have you seen?

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Imagination Movers Make New 'Mouse' Shorts For Disney Channel

Multichannel News - Imagination Movers, the Playhouse Disney live-action series starring four musical "average dads" from New Orleans, is wrapping up its first season on the air. The troupe is about nine episodes into producing the show's Big Easy-based second season.

The second season will have 25 episodes - but the group also is making the equivalent of a twenty-sixth episode, a series of short stories about a puppet cast member, Where Is Warehouse Mouse? They premiere July 18.

"They feature the mouse," Scott "Smitty" Smith, a guitarist and New Orleans firefighter (on leave), explained. "Warehouse Mouse, not Mickey."

"They're very kind of Buster Keatonish," Mover Scott Durbin said. "It's like the silent movie where everything has to be conveyed. Kevin Carlson, the puppeteer, is just a really brilliant, brilliant fellow."

The Movers were in New York City last Monday (June 8), for Live With Regis and Kelly and performing a 45-minute concert for kids at Sirius XM Satellite Radio headquarters. They spoke with The Wire after the radio gig, which will air on the Kids Place Live channel.

Imagination Movers, on Disney Channel, has connected with viewers, with 19% more average viewers (1.15 million vs. 969,000) in the 9:30 a.m. weekday slot compared with a year ago, according to the channel. The week of June 1, it averaged 1.5 million viewers, its best mark in five months and up 69% from its first full week (in September 2008).

The Movers say they get recognized more now - even at Patsy's restaurant in Greenwich Village - and "we're still at the stage where [that's] awesome," drummer Rich Collins said.

"It's an extreme honor," he said. "We're just goofy guys and dads from New Orleans and we had this dream to make a funny show that our kids would like, that was smart and funny and was really rocking. And we are so fortunate to have made it through Hurricane Katrina and all these other obstacles that would be in the way of any project like this. Now we are here playing in New York City, our show is on in 40 countries and we've got CDs and DVDs in stores nationwide."

"It's such a one-in-a-million shot, from where we were to here, that I don't think there's a day goes by that we take it for granted," Mover Dave Poche added.

The group famously was scouted by Playhouse Disney programming executive Nancy Kanter at the 2005 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, where they played the Kids Tent. Disney signed the Movers to do a show that's essentially a concept the foursome developed themselves in 2003. "Idea emergencies" come up and the guys, in the Idea Warehouse, work out solutions and sing songs, tell stories and clown around.

When the Movers played the Jazz Fest this past April, they were on the Acura Stage, where Bon Jovi and Dave Matthews Band played. The Movers were on at 11:30 a.m. "Now we're lobbying to get later and later in the day," Durbin joked. "We're regular guys but we also are very ambitious and have a lot of dreams and desires. We think big. We want to close the Acura Stage now."

The group's next CD drops widely on July 7 and a 40-city concert tour is being scheduled for the fall. Future goals include an international tour - especially Australia, home base of Playhouse Disney's The Wiggles, a troupe the Movers say "blazed the trail" - and a movie.

"Maybe more important to me, I want to get Kristen Wiig to be a guest star on our show," Collins said of the Saturday Night Live caster. "Funniest person out there. I'm going to start mentioning it in every interview so that she will eventually see it."

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Disney's Dapper Dans Barbershop Quartet To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award

AHN
 - The Barbershop Harmony Society will honor The Dapper Dans barbershop quartet with their Lifetime Achievement Award at the culmination of their 71st annual international convention next month. For 50 years of harmonious music making and for carrying on a unique performance art steeped in the sounds of traditional America, the group was selected for the distinction.

Set to take place in Anaheim, Calif., the festival will run June 28 - July 5. Competitions, clinics and sing-along showcases are to be part of the melodious schedule of events.

The Dapper Dans barbershop quartet has been a Disneyland staple since 1959. This year marks the 50th anniversary of their entry into show business made possible by the nostalgic elements inside the Southern California theme park.

Since their inception, the singing bunch cloned themselves into equally successful Dapper Dans quartets. The groups now perform at Disney's satellite dreamparks around the globe.

In tune with the convention's international flavor, Dapper Dans of many cultural stripes will be on hand to congratulate the influential quartet. In special tribute, the contemporary follow-up group Anaheim Dappers will perform for evening's grand finale.

The celebratory evening is slated for July 4 at Anaheim's Honda Center, not far where The Dapper Dans barbershop quartet kick started their career many years ago.

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Could shorter booking windows stick around awhile? Disney exec thinks so

Orlando Sentinel
 - Months ago, as the global recession approached and then deepened, tourism businesses ranging from hotels to airlines to cruise lines began to report shrinking booking windows, as nervous consumers opted to wait until closer to their travel dates before planning a vacation.

But despite growing signs that the worst of the recession is over, a top executive at the Walt Disney Co. doesn't expect booking windows to lengthen any time soon.

"People are making decisions closer in, and I actually think that will probably continue for some time," Disney Chief Financial Officer Tom Staggs told listeners last week at the Credit Suisse Global Media and Communications Conference. "I don't feel it's just a snap-back-to-normal sort of a situation."

That would have broad implications for the tourism industry. Shorter booking windows make it more difficult to gauge future demand and plan accordingly, whether deciding how many flights for a route or how many shows to schedule in a theme park.

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Billy Ray: 'Hannah Montana' to end next year

MSNBC - "Hannah Montana" is coming to an end.

The Disney Channel series starring Miley Cyrus is expected to wrap up a four season run next year, according to the 16-year-old's dad and co-star, Billy Ray Cyrus.

In an interview for Access Hollywood and "The Billy Bush Show," Cyrus said the cast, which just wrapped up shooting season 3, will carry on for one more run of shows at Miley's request.

"Quite frankly, I give a lot of credit to Miley for taking it to another year," Cyrus said. "She didn't want it to just end with whatever was the last episode we did. She wanted it to build to where there's a moral to the story, to where it doesn't just end and go away and that's it. She wanted there to be an official ending to 'Hannah Montana.'"

Cyrus said they will film the final 11 half-hour long episodes and a one-hour long season finale, all expected to screen in 2010.

"We'll start (shooting) season 4 sometime around the end of January," Billy Ray said. "We have to be done by the first week of June in the summer of next year."

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Road rules for Disney with kids

WHNT
 - In much of the United States, most kids wouldn't their childhood slip by without trying to persuade their parents to take them to Walt Disney World in Orlando.

This year, we set aside our concern about costs and decided to make the trip. Then came the task of figuring out the logistics for ourselves, our daughters, 10 and 4, our son, 7, and our au pair.

We ultimately settled on four days at Disney World using the four-day Park Hopper pass and staying at a hotel close to -- but not inside -- one of the theme parks. We avoided overplanning how we'd spend those four days to make sure we were doing what the kids wanted to do rather than dragging them to what we wanted to do. We visited all four parks.

Here are some tips based on our experience:

1. The Park Hopper pass is great for people wishing to visit Disney World parks for several days. A Disney Club member got us the tickets at a 10 percent discount: $196 for adults and $157 for children. The passes give you unlimited movement among the four primary parks: Magic Kingdom, Disney-MGM Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom and Epcot. If you visit the parks just two or three days you can keep your pass for a future visit.

2. If you plan to visit Disney World for four days, build in at least one day off. Four consecutive days at theme parks was too much for us -- the adults and the kids alike. We spent only about four hours at Disney World on the final day because we were just too tired.

3. Our hotel offered bus transportation to and from the Magic Kingdom every half-hour. From there we could take Disney World buses to the other theme parks. We found it was easier to drive ourselves and pay the $6 daily parking fee. The daily parking pass allows you to park at other parks during the same day.

4. Beware that children who normally nap in the afternoon will have a tough time getting through the entire day without a break -- and this gets even worse as the days go on. Our youngest, almost 5, became tired and cranky at some point every day.

5. Consider renting a stroller for your young child. We didn't do this until the final day, and I wish we had done it sooner. It helped us get through the cranky periods.

6. Carry bottled water that you freeze ahead of time to give you a lasting supply of very cold water. We also carried a change of clothes for the little ones in case of accidents, rain ponchos that we bought at Magic Kingdom during a cloud burst on our first day, maps and a guide book. Be sure to carry hats and/or sunglasses.

7. I was surprised that my kids enjoyed the live shows at Disney World as much as the rides. My husband and I enjoyed them more than the rides, and they provided a nice break from the heat and from being on our feet.

8. Use "Fast Passes" to avoid standing in line for a ride. In essence, a fast pass is a reservation to go on a ride at a particular time -- usually about an hour later. Each person can get just one fast pass at a time. These cut our waiting time from about 40 minutes to about 10 minutes or less.

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FamilyFun plays up Disney connection, launches custom pub division

DMNews - FamilyFun magazine is rebranding and launching a line of spin-off products and a custom publishing line in a growth push that is rare for media companies in this economy.

The moms-and-kids-focused monthly will be known as Disney FamilyFun, after its parent company, as of the August issue. The company's magazine publishing division is also changing its name, to Disney FamilyFun Group, all in an effort to make the most of combined brand power of Disney and the 2.1 million-circulation FamilyFun. The magazine will also try to broaden its appeal by adding a new section for preschoolers, "Fun for Little Ones." Another new section in the magazine, "Disney Fun" will extend the Disney tie-in with special offers and content from Disney.

"After joining the company last summer, I did a really thorough analysis of our assets and opportunities, and it just made a lot of sense to leverage the brand of our parent company, Disney, which is so popular and has incredible equity in the family marketplace," said Aparna Pande, VP and general manager of the Disney FamilyFun Group. "I certainly hope that being Disney branded will entice more people to try and experience the magazine, and I think they'll love it because the Disney brand is very powerful in that way."

The Disney logo will now be embedded on all of FamilyFun's consumer marketing efforts. Pande noted that the Disney branding will also make integrated advertising programs with other Disney brands more seamless.

FamilyFun brand extensions, including family cookbooks and special interest publications are slated to roll out later in the year, starting with a magazine focused on Halloween.

Disney FamilyFun Group will also grow its custom publishing division, which soft-launched with the magazine Disney En Familia — a custom project for Disney's multicultural marketing group — last year. Disney En Familia is a full-sized magazine that is direct mailed to 350,000 Hispanic families in the US.

"It's a great example of how to use our talents and assets and speak to moms on behalf of someone else," Pande said. "We think there's a lot of growth potential to serve marketers and clients who want to connect with families in creative ways." She added that the custom publishing division planned to serve other internal Disney groups as well as outside clients, and that it was capable of creating printed content as well as multimedia products.

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Disney's Latest Pooch is Inspired By Magical Cartoon Mutts Of yesteryear

California Chronicle
 - He's the cutest, most hi-tech and bravest little hero of the year ... but Bolt owes all his charm and success to more than 80 years of doggy drawings.

As the central character of the hit animated movie of the same name, the pooch is one of the box-office stars of the year.

But Disney experts have revealed the digital 3D character only came to life thanks to a long family tree of cartoon dogs.

Bolt supervising animator Doug Bennett and his team spent months searching the Disney archives to find the right look and inspiration for Bolt, a little white dog, voiced by John Travolta, who thinks he is a superhero.

They trawled through early Mickey Mouse films to see how the first Pluto, and other animated canines, came to life at the hands of cartoon guruWalt Disney.

They also looked at how the studio had portrayed dogs in films such as Bambi, Lady And The Tramp and 101 Dalmatians.

And according to Disney historian and author Brian Sibley, Bolt, which is released today on DVD, is just the latest example of the huge part that dogs have played in the studio's success.

In fact, they're the most important animal in the history of animated movies.

Even though the film company's most famous characters are a mouse and a duck,Walt was a massive fan of dogs and kept a small pack of pedigree chows, for which he and wife Lillian cared lovingly all their lives.

Walt made sure there was a dog playing an important role in the first Mickey Mouse film, Plane Crazy, in 1928.

He also introduced Mickey's pals Pluto and Goofy and went on to make them central characters in his casting menagerie.

Brian said: "Dogs have always been hugely important to the success of Disney films down the years.

"It's not surprising, considering how important they are to lots of people, and how fond of dogsWalt Disney was.

"There are lots of stories about howWalt brought dogs into the films. For example, if you look at the opening scene of Lady And The Tramp, where the husband gives his wife a big hat-box with a puppy inside, that is exactly howWalt gave his wife one oftheir chows.

"Lady is based on a cocker spaniel belonging to one of his main animators, Joe Grant.

"Walt definitely had a real soft spot for dogs and, even if they are not the lead characters in most of the films, they were always around.

"There are probably more dogs in Disney films than any other animals.

"One of the reasons they are so popular in animated films, more so than cats, for example, is that you have so many different breeds and types of dogs that you instantly have very different looking characters.

"It's a bit like character actors. "You look at Lady And The Tramp in the pound and there are all different kinds of dogs representing different characters."

The first Disney dog was an unnamed dachshund in Plane Crazy, the first animation ever made, although it was released after the historic Steamboat Willie.

In the film, wannabe pilot Mickey Mouse builds a plane and uses a dachshund as the propellor after twisting the poor beast up like an elastic band.

Later, in The Picnic, we see Minnie Mouse introducing a pet dog who, although called Rover, is identical to Pluto.

And in Chain Gang, a fugitive Mickey is pursued by a Pluto-like bloodhound.

Then in the Mickey adventure Moose Hunt, in 1931, Pluto himself is introduced, and he became a regular fixture, with Goofy, originally called Dippy Dawg, appearing three years later.

Brian said: "The first feature role for dogs was in Bambi, with the hounds chasing Bambi and the fawn.

"It's quite a scary scene, and the Bolt animators watched this scene especially to get the motion of the animals right.

"In 1955, the classic film with dogs came out - Lady And The Tramp. This is similar to Bolt in which, unlike many Disney films, the dogs only speak to each other and only ever bark in the company of humans.

"It's the suspension of disbelief.

"This was very important, as it was the first animated film made in Cinemascope, or widescreen.

"And with the singer Peggy Lee, who voiced the pekinese Peg and sang the song He's A Tramp, it had the first star voice in an animated film.

"Then in 1961, 101 Dalmatians was also revolutionary, using a new Xerox animation process.

"So if you look at the way dogs have been involved in Disney movies, their films have always been milestones for the studio, from Plane Crazy right up to Bolt in digital 3D."

In the years after 101 Dalmatians, Disney films featuring dogs included the Oliver Twist adaptation Oliver & Company, while there were four-legged friends in The Little Mermaid and Pocahontas.

And current animation artist Doug Bennett emphasised they were just as important to Disney films now as ever.

Bolt, which made almost $300million worldwide when it was released in the spring, was the first Disney animation made in digital 3D, using similar computer animation techniques to Pixar films such as Toy Story and Finding Nemo, but with the added 3Daspect.

With star voices, including John Travolta and teen actress Miley Cyrus, the movie has been one of the biggest hits of the year.

LikeWalt and his animators before them, Doug and his Hollywood team tried to be as authentic as possible in their animation of their newest dog hero.

Doug revealed they had brought lots of dogs into the studios to observe their movements and expressions. And to make sure they carried on Disney's proud tradition, they also studied the classics to get things perfect.

"We absolutely looked at films from the past, as they are such classics and such incredible movies," said Doug.

"There were some sequences in Bolt where we just couldn't get it right at first.

"There was just something intangible missing, not the right expressions or performance.

"So we studied films like Lady And The Tramp, which is perfect, and there is so much there to learn from that we managed to get it done right.

"We took lots of little things - and it was putting all the subtleties together that made it work - and that was a great help.

"We brought in lots of dogs, especially performing dogs, which there are a lot of out here in Los Angeles. And as Bolt is an acting dog in the film, it helped us to see how those behaved. There is a lot of pressure animating dogs.

"Not only do they have a lot of personality, but so many people have dogs at home, and will be familiar with how they move and act, that you have to get it right and make them believable."

So having been responsible for one of the biggest doggie hits in years, and recently studying the classic canine cartoons, what does Doug think is the best of the breed? "Definitely Lady And The Tramp," he said. "That is such a beautiful movie.

"101 Dalmatians is a close second, but you can't beat Lady And The Tramp."

Bolt is out on Disney DVD and Blu-ray today.

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Young dancers left heartbroken as 5,000 euros Disney fund is stolen

Herald - A children's dance group has been robbed of 5,000 euros it raised for a dream trip to Disneyland Paris.

A group of more than 50 children, all members of Spin Dance and Fitness, had been invited to perform at the French theme park in August.

The youngsters, aged between four and 18, were tirelessly fundraising for the planned trip.

Supermarkets

But heartless thieves broke into the studio on the Longmile Road just two weeks ago and stole more than €5,000 worth of coins, which had just been collected during a bag-packing effort in local supermarkets.

Office manager Annette Redmond said that the children, who were near to their fundraising target, were understandably upset when they found out.

"It has knocked the stuffing out of them," she said. "It has taken the heart out of the fundraising. Some parents are afraid to say that their children will be able to go. Having to tell the kids was terrible. The parents were annoyed -- devastated but understanding."

The burglars broke in through the roof after cutting the telephone lines outside the premises. They brought equipment to cut locks, rip off roof tiles and stash the stolen goods.

They took €5,260, but the manager said that it was pure misfortune that so much was stolen, because the club owners regularly lodge any cash.

"The coins were just too heavy and we were in the process of getting them to the bank," Annette said.

The children and parents, who come from all over Dublin, have now stepped up their fundraising drive.

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Sunday June 14, 2009

Disney resort gets a warm welcome
Disney hopes to score with 'Zeke'
ESPN & Disney: 3D film starring Kyle Loza, Shaun White, Travis Pastrana, Danny Way, Ricky Carmichael & Bob Burnquist

Disney resort gets a warm welcome

Reading Eagle
 - In 1993, the great American mouse gave the fits to a prince in Virginia when it attempted to sneak in the back door.

In 2009, another prince in Maryland has welcomed that mouse with open arms.

It seems that the Virginia prince shooed the mouse away because it was uncomfortably close to the front door of a prized parcel in the principality.

That metaphorical mouse was and is the Walt Disney Company.

When it attempted to build a historical theme park in Prince William County, Va., 16 years ago, a loud hue and cry halted the plans because the park was deemed to be too close to the hallowed grounds of the Manassas National Battlefield park, site of one of the great battles of the Civil War .

Now, that other principality north of the Potomac River has thrown its doors wide open, and that mouse will soon be scurrying in.

Prince George County, Md., is the site of a stand-alone Disney resort hotel, and "P.G." officials couldn't be happier.

Disney stressed that it will not be a theme park. Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said it will offer a new level of family-friendly hospitality at the National Harbor complex, where the hotel-resort will be located.

The groundwork was laid when Disney bought 15 acres from the Peterson Companies, a developer at the Gaylord Entertainment Co.-owned National Harbor. The price tag was reported as $11 million.

When the Disney property is opened, it will join six other hotels and a variety of retailers and restaurants in the riverside attraction about 15 minutes from Washington.

Exactly what will make the proposed resort truly "Disney" is under wraps at this point, although speculators might turn to what's going on at an 800-room hotel on the western end of Oahu, Hawaii. There, Disney is building what it calls a "cultural entertainment" resort.

It won't hurt the Disney property at National Harbor that the National Children's Museum is expected to open at National Harbor in four years.

That museum is a descendant of the former Capital Children's Museum, which closed about five years ago.

The Maryland resort will include a 500-room hotel, and will be situated on the southeastern tip of National Harbor. The Washington Monument will be visible up the Potomac River.

Overnight tourist stays and convention business have gone down in the past year in Washington, and some in the convention trade there fear that the Disney resort may cut into the occupancy rates of the city's other hotels and pull people away from its other attractions.

Others, including leaders of the city's official tourism promotion agency, "Destination D.C.," believe the Disney hotel will blend well in the mix of other accommodations and opportunities in the capital region.

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Disney hopes to score with 'Zeke'

The Desert Sun - “Hannah Montana” and “Sonny With a Chance” have made the Disney Channel a lure for young female viewers. But what about young males?

The company is looking to cable channel Disney XD, a revamped version of the Toon Disney cable channel, to reach boys 6-14 years old.

The channel's newest series, “Zeke and Luther,” starts Monday night. It joins live-action series “Aaron Stone” and “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody,” plus animated fare such as “Spider-man,” “Iron Man” and “X-Men,” in the quest to reach young male viewers.

“Zeke and Luther” follows two best friends who have decided they want to become world-famous skateboarders. Their quest means mastering complicated tricks, entering competitions and taking a road trip to their idol Tony Hawk's childhood home.

An abandoned newspaper building in this Southern California community is home base for the show, where the cast and crew recently worked on upcoming episodes, including a scene featuring a collision between a pair of skateboarders and a large bus.

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ESPN & Disney: 3D film starring Kyle Loza, Shaun White, Travis Pastrana, Danny Way, Ricky Carmichael & Bob Burnquist

SuperCross - ESPN and Disney will release the first sports-themed 3D film this summer with a special, limited one-week theatrical run starting August 21. ESPN Films will produce and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures will distribute X Games 3D the Movie nationwide into digital 3D theaters around the country. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Steve Lawrence (Down the Barrel), the film will use groundbreaking digital 3D techniques to immerse sports fans into the world of action sports and its top stars. Iconic action sports personalities chronicled in the film are: Kyle Loza, Shaun White, Travis Pastrana, Danny Way, Ricky Carmichael and Bob Burnquist.

"ESPN is extremely proud to join Disney in bringing the 3D experience to action sports fans" said Ron Semiao, senior vice president, ESPN Films. "The proximity of the cameras to the action combined with the amazing performances by the athletes provides a jaw-dropping, storytelling encounter for fans of all ages."

Mark Zoradi, president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group, said, "There is absolutely no sporting event better suited for the Digital 3D medium than X Games. ESPN continues to break boundaries by using digital 3D to put sports fans literally in the center of the action: preparing to launch down the mega ramp with Danny Way, racing downhill on Shaun White's snowboard and flying through the air in Travis Pastrana's Rally car. And Disney is proud to add X Games 3D the Movie to its robust, industry-leading slate of 17 other upcoming Disney Digital 3D£ releases."

The full-length feature film will capture the drama and spectacle that play out every year at the X Games events and will also tell the stories of the featured athletes showing the sacrifices they make in pursuit of glory and progressing their sport on the industry's biggest stage.

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