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 August 24 - 30, 2008 |
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Saturday August 30, 2008 |
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Fans flock
to Disney's Club Penguin Times 'Quinceañera,' Disney style: A rite of passage for Hispanic teenage girls New Original Art Work: Disney & Lucas Film Studios, Star Wars, Indiana Jones Retails $2,000 - $40,000 |
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Fans flock to
Disney's Club Penguin Times Los
Angeles Times - The newspaper industry is constantly bewailing
its need for a new economic model, as the Internet upends the
old one. Maybe it could take a page from the Club Penguin Times.The Club Penguin Times, after all, is more widely read than New York's Daily News, the Chicago Tribune or the Dallas Morning News. And it's not even 3 years old.
But this weekly "newspaper"
isn't tossed onto driveways or sold at newsstands.
Rather, it's an online publication distributed to the estimated 6.7 million monthly users of Club Penguin, a snow-covered virtual world visited by more than 12 million kids, who adopt a colorful penguin persona and waddle around, playing games and meeting new friends. Though no one would suggest that the Club Penguin Times provides Pulitzer Prize-worthy coverage, it nonetheless attracts 30,000 daily submissions from children, who pose questions to Dear Abby-inspired "Aunt Arctic," compose verse for the poetry corner, tell a joke or review a party or event.
Kids ages 6 to 14 generate much
of the editorial content, which is augmented by staff
features such as the most recent story about decorating on a
shoestring -- "a great igloo needn't break the bank." A
full-time staff of three plus one part-timer sift through
the submissions, searching for those with the broadest
appeal and selecting the questions most frequently asked of
the advice columnist.
"We try to figure out how can we answer the most questions by choosing a handful," said Lane Merrifield, the co-founder of Club Penguin and head of virtual worlds development for Walt Disney Co.'s Interactive Media Group. As the main source of information about events within Disney's icy, penguin-populated virtual world, it boasts the kind of reader penetration that mainstream newspapers would envy. At least two-thirds of the players turn to the Times each week to find out what's happening, Merrifield estimates. Because it won't accept advertising, the Club Penguin Times doesn't keep strict Audit Bureau of Circulations figures. Nor does it permit news from the outside world -- say, the Democratic National Convention or airstrikes in Afghanistan -- to intrude on Club Penguin's fantasy. "Oftentimes, there are elements of concern. Avalanches in the past that needed the penguins to band together," said Merrifield, noting that the Club Penguin Times serves as a device to build community as well as promote literacy. Merrifield said he was looking for ways to incorporate learning -- what he called educational "fiber" -- in the game. Publishing a "newspaper" seemed an obvious way to encourage reading by offering information that users care about, such as the latest igloo upgrades. "We know there's a value in reading but also a value in kids keeping up with the news, keeping up with what's going on in our world," Merrifield said. "The paper is one of the best sources for that." Yasmin B. Kafai, a professor of learning sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, said the Club Penguin Times doesn't have a monopoly on faux news dissemination. The Whyville Times, the ersatz paper of record for that virtual world for teens and preteens, provides a mixture of standard newspaper features, such as TV reviews, along with reader-submitted essays. Such digital forums can promote literacy, Kafai said, because they encourage kids to do it on their own, without prodding from teachers or parents. "The more we can get kids engaged in reading and writing outside of [the] school context, it is actually a tool to help them," Kafai said. Whether the Club Penguin Times will spark a lifelong love of newspapers remains to be seen. "It's too premature to say that," said Sandy Woodcock, director of the Newspaper in Education program, which promotes newspapers as an educational resource. Nonetheless, she described Disney's melding of social networking and news dissemination "interesting" and an approach that merits study. "If the Disney project has a news component and not just a social component, that might be an opportunity for young people to be exposed to information that can help them develop those skill sets -- like civic engagement -- that can carry them through the rest of their lives." |
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'Quinceañera,' Disney style: A rite of passage for Hispanic
teenage girls
Orlando Sentinel - Walt Disney World is intensifying its Hispanic culture offerings with the introduction of a quinceañera event, which culminates today with a grand ball built for princesses. Disney's Royal Quinceañera Weekend centers on the rite of passage of 15-year-old girls. Families of a dozen teenagers have paid several hundred to several thousand dollars to share in the celebration at Epcot. "The girls are the princesses for the night," Disney spokeswoman Mari Santana said. "It's a wedding without a groom." Last year, Disney World debuted quinceañera packages with options such as horse-drawn carriage rides or visits by Prince Charming. Today each Royal Quinceañera will be formally presented to her assembled families and guests at a combined dance at the World Showplace Pavilion, decorated in blue, white and silver (" Cinderella colors," Santana said). The traditional shoe ceremonies will be included and a special cake from Disney chefs provided. Participants will watch IllumiNations, Epcot's nightly fireworks and laser show, from a private viewing area. That will be followed by dancing until midnight under the direction of a bilingual DJ. "Destination quinceañeras" are a trend, said Isabella Wall, an entrepreneur who has become known as "the fairy godmother of quinceañeras." "Girls celebrating their coming of age, they dream of that princess day where they get to wear that big dress and that tiara," Wall said. "What place is more perfect than Disney?" Gabriella Flores and her family are vacationing here from Jersey City, N.J., and will attend the event. It's her sixth trip to Disney World. She's bringing along her "big, poofy Cinderella-type dress," and she's not worried about sharing the spotlight with the other participants. "It's your moment, but you also share with your family and friends that you're becoming an older woman," she said. "I get to share with everybody." |
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New Original Art Work: Disney & Lucas Film Studios, Star
Wars, Indiana Jones Retails $2,000 - $40,000
 PR
Web - Introducing "The Magic of Disney Fine Art Exhibition."
This exciting new exhibit features Artists Trevor Carlton,
Tricia Buchanan-Bensen, James Coleman, Mike Kupka, Harrison
Ellenshaw and Peter Ellenshaw, among others. The exhibit showcases over 30 of your favorite Disney Classic Film moments such as Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Kermit the Frog, Peter Pan, Mickey Mouse, Pirates of the Caribbean, Mary Poppins and much more. In addition to the exhibit, over 500 limited-edition Disney Fine Art Giclee's on canvases are available for purchase on a new website and virtual gallery at Sanders Art Studio.com. The website will be
showcasing work from the below listed artists: Quantities are limited. Limited-Editions vary in size. |
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Friday August 29, 2008 |
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Michael Phelps Celebrates at Disney World Disney Interactive Studios Japan Disney Channel Extends ‘Wizards’ Second Season Walt Disney World Resort Announces Special Holiday Offer Starting at $49 Per Person |
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Michael Phelps Celebrates at Disney World Disney
News - Direct from the Beijing Games where he won a record eight
Gold Medals, world champion swimmer Michael Phelps celebrated
his unprecedented achievement with an all-American homecoming
parade in his honor at Walt Disney World Resort. |
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Disney Interactive
Studios Japan IGN - I’m Yasutaka Kimura, Associate Producer (Disney Interactive Studios Japan) on Spectrobes: Beyond The Portals. I’m guessing some of you may not know what an associate producer does. To sum it up, I take all the ideas on the Disney (publisher) side and Jupiter (developer) side, mix them together, and make sure a distinct and clear direction exists when creating the game. There are a lot of ideas that are shared between Disney and Jupiter concerning game specs. There are technical limitations on what can be accomplished, so finding the right balance while keeping things fun for the players requires a lot of back and forth discussion and testing. The Disney office is far away from the Jupiter office (we are in Tokyo while they are about two hours away by train in Kyoto). We normally communicate every day via phone and email, but there are many times where meeting and talking is the only way to keep things on track. That’s where I come in. I bounce back and forth between our offices constantly, like a human volleyball. We are all extremely passionate about creating the best game we can, so once I arrive at Jupiter, we stay up all night long discussing and sharing ideas. It’s not uncommon for me to go to Jupiter with the plan of staying a single night and end up staying there an entire week. On more than one occasion this lead to predicaments not normally associated with creating games. I didn’t bring a change of clothes! If I were to get through the week with no extra pairs of clothes, that means I would have to wear them one day, flip them inside out and wear them the next day, then repeat… Yeah, right. That might work for day 1 and day 2, but definitely not for day 3! So what did I do? Well, I ended up buying weeks worth of clothes every time this happened and never really learned my lesson. I now have a mountain of clothes… After all the troubles we all went through, Disney and Jupiter (a superb match-up) succeeded in creating Spectrobes: Beyond the Portals. Our companies are very much like Spectrobes creatures – when put together, we are practically like an unstoppable force. I hope you look forward to this game. If there’s one thing to get out of all of this, it’s this: When creating a game, expect the unexpected. As for me, I have a lot of laundry to do. |
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Disney
Channel Extends ‘Wizards’ Second Season Multichannel News - Disney Channel this week announced it has extended the second season of its popular live-action comedy series Wizards of Waverly Place, doubling its production order from 13 to 26 episodes. The series for kids launched in October 2007 and has become one of the channel’s biggest hits, ranking No. 1 among kids 6-11 and tweens in its Sunday 8:30 p.m. timeslot, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Created by Hannah Montana’s
Todd Greenwald and executive-produced by Peter Murrieta
(Greetings from Tucson, Hope & Faith), Greenwald, Vince
Cheung and Ben Montanio (Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior) for
It's a Laugh Productions, the series stars Selena Gomez,
David Henrie, Jake T. Austin, Jennifer Stone, Maria
Canals-Barrera and David DeLuise.
“Wizards is an unqualified hit, and it has turned its cast into bonafide superstars,” Gary Marsh, president of entertainment for Disney Channels Worldwide, said in a statement. “The producers have done a masterful job hand-crafting every story, and adding more episodes will give them the creative freedom and flexibility to be even more adventurous in their storytelling." Wizards of Waverly Place is seen around the world on 27 Disney Channels and begins rolling out on terrestrial broadcasters in September, Disney officials said. Full episodes are available on DisneyChannel.com's broadband player, on video-on-demand, mobile platforms, iTunes, Xbox and onboard airlines. The show will remain in production until January, network officials said. |
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Walt Disney World Resort Announces Special Holiday Offer
Starting at $49 Per Person Disney News - The warmth of being together for the holidays with the wonder of a Walt Disney World vacation is available for as little as $49 per person, per day, thanks to a special fall package offer. Guests traveling between Sept. 28 and Dec. 23, 2008, can enjoy a 5-night, 6-day Magic Your Way Package that includes accommodations at select Disney Value resorts and theme park tickets based on two adults, one junior (ages 10-17) and one child (ages 3-9), and lets families take advantage of the range of special events taking place, as well as cooler weather. This newest and latest Walt Disney Travel Company vacation offer, which must be booked by Sept. 24, coincides with the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival (Sept. 26-Nov. 9) and the holiday season that starts in early November. Walt Disney World Resort celebrates the season with spirit-stirring events such as Holidays Around the World and Candlelight Processional at Epcot, The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade in Disney's Animal Kingdom. It's also the time for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party in Magic Kingdom (both events take place on select dates and require a separate ticket not included in package price). This special offer is bookable on www.disneyworld.com or by calling 407/W-DISNEY (407/934-7639) or your travel agent and asking for package code DGL. |
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Thursday August 28, 2008 |
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Michael
Phelps Is Going to Disney World! Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Announces Expansive Slate of Upcoming Platinum Editions Disney Contemplates Alaska Cruises Hong Kong Disneyland 'sees jump in visitor numbers' Disney Cruise Line navigates around high fuel costs Are You Ready for Some Football? Now hiring comedy writers: Nick and Disney Channel Disney training program slated for Sept.10 ABC News staffer jailed in Denver amid convention |
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Michael
Phelps Is Going to Disney World! People
Magazine - It looks like Michael Phelps is as fast on land as he
is in the water. Fresh from his Wednesday with Tiger Woods in Manhattan – at an EA Sports-sponsored party for the golfing champ's new video game – the "Baltimore Bullet" is zipping off to Orlando to rub his broad shoulders with Mickey and Minnie Mouse. On Friday, Phelps, 23, will receive a hero's welcome at Walt Disney World during a special "America's Homecoming Parade," which a theme-park spokesperson describes as "a star-spangled salute amidst confetti and thousands of flag-waving fans." No word yet on whether Splash Mountain will be re-named for him. After Florida, the whirlwind pace continues – with Phelps looking to get into the swim of things Sept. 7 at the MTV Video Music Awards, alongside Miley Cyrus and Lindsay Lohan. After that, he'll dive into some comedic work when he hosts the season opener of Saturday Night Live Sept. 13. |
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Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Announces Expansive Slate
of Upcoming Platinum Editions Disney News - Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE) proudly unveils five additions to the celebrated Platinum Collection of animated features to be released on DVD and for the first time ever on Disney Blu-ray Hi-Def. These include some of Disney's most beloved classics, Pinocchio, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia, Fantasia 2000 and Beauty and the Beast. Each will be available for a limited time only, in new multi-disc sets featuring rarely seen footage and an array of new bonus features. Fittingly the one that started it all for Walt Disney, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the first feature length animated film ever made, will be the title that will mark a new era in home entertainment around the world, launching Disney's worldwide BD-Live Network, a revolutionary technological breakthrough in home entertainment that will connect family and friends, allowing unprecedented interactivity and ease, from anywhere in the world. Disney's BD-Live Network will be initially launched in the U.S. only, with the first Platinum Edition Blu-ray release, Sleeping Beauty 50th Anniversary Platinum Edition, available on October 7, 2008. Bob Chapek, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Worldwide President, commented, "We are excited to announce a magical slate of Platinum titles for the first time on Blu-ray high definition, this celebrated collection of animated features demonstrates Disney's commitment to deliver great content." "The landscape for the Blu-ray format is very healthy, and we believe that the enhanced movie experiences that the format provides, such as Disney's BD-Live network, offer consumers the chance to reinvent the experience of watching movies in their homes, and the interactivity and connectivity that is being provided will truly make the family room relevant again," continues Mr. Chapek. Gordon Ho is Executive Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE) adds, "Disney's BD-Live experience will enrich and deepen the overall consumer experience, and we are delighted that, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will be the one that will launch Disney's BD-Live network worldwide." The Platinum release roll-out will be: Pinocchio, the beloved story of a wooden puppet who wants to become a real boy, comes to Platinum Edition DVD and Disney Blu-ray in spring 2009. Disney's second full-length animated movie, Pinocchio won two Oscars, one for Best Score and another for the unforgettable song "When You Wish upon a Star." It returns for the first time since 2002. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, honored with a special Academy Award for screen innovation this movie has been unavailable since 2001. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Platinum Edition will be released in the fall of 2009. Walt Disney's experimental masterpiece Fantasia won two honorary Oscars for its innovative use of animation and music. Most recently released in 2000, the restored and remastered Fantasia Platinum Edition will be available in 2010. Alongside this release, a newly restored and remastered Fantasia 2000 Platinum Edition, will be available. Fantasia 2000 begins where its predecessor, Fantasia, left off, with seven completely new segments and the return of the popular "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," featuring breathtaking images coupled with classical music favorites. In conjunction with these releases, Destino, the unfinished animated feature film created by Walt Disney and famed surrealist painter Salvador Dali will release. Begun in 1946, it was rediscovered in 2003 and completed by Walt's nephew, Roy E. Disney. The collaboration between these two legendary artists will be available to own for the first time along with an all-new feature-length documentary that examines the surprising partnership between Dali and Disney. Beauty and the Beast, the only animated film ever nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture, earned a breathtaking six Academy Award nominations and won two Oscars. Beauty in the Beast Platinum Edition will be available in fall 2010. About Platinum Editions Walt Disney Home Entertainment Platinum Editions is an exclusive collection of The Walt Disney Company's greatest films on Blu-ray Hi-Def and DVD. Each release is restored and includes state-of-the-art bonus features to ensure the ultimate entertainment experience. 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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Disney Contemplates
Alaska Cruises Cruise Critic - Mickey Moose, anyone? You might see just that in 2010 because Disney Cruise Line is investigating the possibility of cruising Alaska. Disney Cruise Line has applied for a 10-year permit (valid from 2010 to 2019) to visit Glacier Bay, one of the most popular destinations for scenic cruising on Alaska itineraries. Current regulations restrict the number of vessels that can visit this national park, as well as the number of days lines can have ships there throughout the season. Disney's application for a permit is a clear sign that the line is considering offering Alaska cruises. A spokeswoman for Disney Cruise Line confirms that Alaska cruises are in consideration, but says that the cruise line is always evaluating new itinerary possibilities. Indeed, Disney -- known for its Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries -- has tried out several new cruising regions over the past few years. Disney Magic tried out the Mediterranean in 2007 and the Mexican Riviera in 2005 and 2008. Next year, the ship will add two new Eastern Caribbean itineraries -- one featuring Tortola and the other St. Croix, both new ports for the cruise line. Might Disney send Magic to Alaska in 2010? Or is it seeking options for its new, larger ships, which will debut in 2011 and 2012? Right now it's anyone's guess but we'll keep you posted as new developments occur. |
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Hong
Kong Disneyland 'sees jump in visitor numbers' AFP
- Hong Kong Disneyland has seen a surge in visitors in its third
year of operation, but the troubled theme park was still well
short of government targets, a report said Thursday.
Visitor numbers were expected to hit 5.6 million when the park reaches the end of its third year of operation next month, up from 4.2 million the previous year, the South China Morning Post said, citing unnamed sources. The sources attributed the improvement to a better marketing strategy, which has focused on mainland Chinese visitors, and strong economic growth in the southern Chinese city, the English-language daily said. However, the figure is still well short of the 6.22 million visitors the government had originally projected in the park's third year, the report said. Despite the improved numbers, the park made a loss of 272 million Hong Kong dollars (35 million US), although that is well down on the previous year's loss of 1.5 billion dollars, the report said. The Hong Kong government, which owns 57 percent of the park, has become increasingly concerned in the past year about its performance, and has even looked at pumping more money into the attraction. The government had forecast visitor numbers of 5.2, 5.5 and 6.2 million in the first three years after it opened in September 2005, the Post report said. Visitor numbers plunged in the park's second year of operation, after attracting 5.2 million customers in the first 12 months, well below Disney's own target, the report said. BC Lo, a spokesman for Hong Kong Disneyland, would not confirm the visitor numbers. "We do not comment on attendance figures as they do not reflect the reality of our business," |
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Disney Cruise Line navigates around high fuel costs Orlando Sentinel - No part of Walt Disney Co.'s vast corporate empire has been buffeted more by record oil prices than the 10-year-old Disney Cruise Line. Although Disney has never broken out separate financial results for its cruise line, which has its headquarters in Celebration, company executives recently disclosed to investors that they expect its fuel bill will grow by $20 million this year. It is a substantial increase for a cruise line of just two ships. And it has Disney making adjustments. Those adjustments include possible changes to the company's cruise itineraries. Disney executives are studying their existing schedules in hopes of finding more efficient sailing routes between ports that stretch from St. Maarten in the eastern Caribbean to Cozumel just off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. "All the ports would remain the same. We're just looking at whether it would make sense to rearrange the order," said Disney Cruise Line spokeswoman Christi Erwin Donnan. Disney has already made one notable schedule change. The company's four-night Caribbean sailings were rerouted this summer to include two stops at the company's private Bahamian island Castaway Cay, rather than one stop at the island and one day sailing at sea. But Disney, which announced the double-dip Castaway Cay cruises in December, says that change was made solely because guests were clamoring for more time on the island. That particular schedule change "does not represent a fuel savings for us," Donnan said. Disney is also making changes to the ships themselves. Next month, for instance, the 2,700-passenger Disney Magic cruise ship is scheduled to spend nearly three weeks in a Norfolk, Va., dry dock for maintenance. While it is there, the company intends to cover the ship's hull with a sleek new coating designed to reduce resistance as it sails through the water. The company had the same coating applied to the Disney Wonder in October 2006, a move that earned Disney plaudits from Conde Nast Traveler as part of that magazine's "2008 World Savers Awards." Bob Simonson, a cruise- industry analyst with William Blair & Co., said such coatings are becoming an increasingly popular way for cruise operators to reduce fuel consumption. "Normally, you just paint the hull. But over time, you get barnacles and all kinds of buildup on the hull, and that creates friction, which takes more fuel to move the ship through the water," Simonson said. The new coating "is very slippery, so things don't get stuck on it." Like other cruise lines, Disney has also reduced its cruising speeds so its ships burn less fuel. The slower speeds allow cruise ships to reduce the number of engines they use at sea. The fuel savings are well worth the longer travel times between ports of call, particularly because cruise ships already have plenty of ways to keep passengers entertained -- and spending money -- onboard, said Warren Miller, a leisure-industry analyst with Morningstar Inc. "If it means getting into port an hour later, I think they're willing to sacrifice that," Miller said. |
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Are You Ready for Some
Football? Disney News - Disney’s Wide World of Sports, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will conduct their 2007 training camp on the Hess Sports Fields. This will mark the seventh year in a row (2002-08) that the Buccaneers will train at the Walt Disney World Resort. While Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex has a daily admission for its events, Buccaneer practices at training camp will once again be free to all fans and open to the public. |
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Now hiring comedy writers: Nick and Disney Channel
Entertainment Weekly - Don't knock your kid's favorite sitcom on Disney Channel or Nickelodeon. Chances are those sacchrine punchlines you hear from the mouths of babes come courtesy of the same scribes who once made you laugh at adult-oriented fare on Friends, Mad About You, and Married With Children. The dearth of comedies on broadcast TV has prompted scores of out-of-work writers to flock to the kiddie cable networks, where multicamera shows like Disney's Wizards of Waverly Place and Nick's iCarly are thriving, thanks in part to their seasoned writing staffs. "It's the new frontier," says Andy Gordon, a former member of the Back To You writers' room who now executive produces True Jackson VP, a Nickelodeon comedy debuting in November that stars Akeelah and the Bee's Keke Palmer as a 15-year-old fashion mogul. "The broadcast networks are nervous all the time, and it poisons the process. I'm never nervous here because we got picked up for 20 episodes. I'm not living in fear that I'll be canceled after three weeks." Of course, his new gig is not completely stress-free. Since his hiring budget is limited, Gordon has had to turn away network-trained dialogue and story writers seeking employment -- even though some were willing to take a pay cut. And he may see a lot more applications in his in-box by Halloween. "I'm in the same building on the Paramount lot with (NBC and CBS freshman comedies) Kath & Kim and Worst Week," says Gordon. "They're nice people, but if they don't perform in (their first) three weeks, we'll be the only ones left in the building." |
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Disney
training program slated for Sept. 10 Springfield Business Journal - Missouri State University’s College of Business Administration and Management Development Institute are bringing the Disney Institute’s professional development program, Disney Keys to Excellence, to town next month. “This is the only program that Disney Institute brings to the local business community,” said George Aguel, senior vice president for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and leader of the Disney Institute, in a news release. “Participants from the Springfield area will discover Disney practices that they can incorporate into their own businesses. These strategies and tactics have proven successful for more than 50 years.” The program comprises four 90-minute sessions: Leadership–Disney Style highlights how effective leadership at Disney has been a catalyst for employee and customer satisfaction. Participants will see how Disney leaders exhibit values and behaviors that lead to bottom-line results. Management–Disney Style examines the necessity of integrating corporate culture into employee selection, training and care, and looks at ways Disney fosters a supportive environment for employee pride and ownership. Service–Disney Style delves into Disney principles for service excellence, with emphasis on leveraging a service infrastructure and service standards to consistently exceed expectations. Loyalty–Disney Style highlights practices that have enabled Disney to build and sustain loyalty for its brand. Participants will uncover ways to create relationships to help retain customers for life, as well as techniques for delivering a brand promise. Program registration is $395 per person, or $1,875 for a table of five. Cost includes all course materials, lunch and refreshment breaks. Registration and additional information is available at www.mdi.missouristate.edu. |
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ABC
News staffer jailed in Denver amid convention AP - An ABC News producer covering the Democratic convention was pushed into traffic by a sheriff's deputy on Wednesday and then arrested, the network said. Asa Eslocker was arrested on
charges of interference, trespass and failure to obey a lawful
order. ABC said Eslocker and a film crew were trying to photograph senators and donors for a story on the role of corporate lobbyists and wealthy donors at the convention. The network said video of the incident shows a deputy telling Eslocker that the sidewalk is owned by the hotel, then pushing him into traffic. "We expect to see that kind of thing in Myanmar, not on the streets of Denver," ABC spokesman Jeffrey Schneider said in a written statement. Denver police Lt. Ron Saunier said he had no information on the claim that Eslocker was pushed into traffic. He urged the network to show the video to law enforcement. Disney-owned ABC said the video is posted on its Web site, http://www.abcnews.com. "The Denver Police Department is committed to looking into each and every allegation of unnecessary force," Saunier said. Saunier said authorities have tried to accommodate the news media this week. "One instance with the media shouldn't paint the entire event," he said. Eslocker is the first journalist reported to have been arrested during the convention. More than 100 other people have been arrested during protests. |
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Wednesday August 27, 2008 |
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Disney Children's Hospital
Fire at Disney Studios At Disney, Blu-ray Sales Team Is a Cast of Characters Pre-Teen Virtual World to Compete with Disney Disney half marathon to snarl downtown Anaheim traffic ESPN Leads $80 Million Investment In The Active Network; Will Pursue Acquisitions Woman Sells Disney Vacation Money For $10 Rare woman at early Disney helped create iconic displays at Walt's park State Farm among sponsors for weather exhibit at Disney's Epcot Cruise Planners Announces New Disney Specialist Robot Slaughter is Disney's Desperate bid for Male Eyeballs |
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Disney Children's Hospital
 Disney
News - Officials from Florida Hospital today revealed new
details about their visionary plans to shape the ‘Children’s
Hospital of the Future,’ which will make a significant impact on
children’s health throughout Central Florida and be a model for
pediatric hospitals beyond the region.
The plans include sophisticated, interactive technology for patients; accomplished pediatric physicians who specialize in advanced, minimally invasive surgery; and a former United States Surgeon General who will provide leadership for the children’s health and policy platform. Administrators also unveiled the hospital’s new name, Disney Children’s Hospital at Florida Hospital. While The Walt Disney Company has long supported children’s hospitals both locally and around the world, Disney Children’s Hospital will be the first children’s hospital in history to bear the Disney name. “This hospital will be on the forefront of technology and a model for patient experience that will be truly dedicated to the well-being of children,” said Marla Silliman, administrator of Disney Children’s Hospital at Florida Hospital. One of the keystones of this visionary plan is the creation of a dedicated children’s emergency department that will be the first in the country to feature Ambient Experience Design solutions from Philips. First impressions set at the entrance, in addition to patient rooms and dedicated play areas, are designed to soothe young patients and their families. Areas throughout the department will feature lighting and design elements to bring the comforts of outside into the hospital setting. Patient treatment rooms will offer animation selections on the ceiling accompanied by soft lighting and music, allowing “escapes” to areas such as the beach or mountains.
Technology will extend to the in-room experience as well, where the first Interactive Patient Care technology of its kind in Central Florida will allow bedside access to the GetWellNetwork® Patient-Life System® so that pediatric patients can play video games, watch movies and surf the Internet. Parents may also view the latest information on childhood obesity, asthma, diabetes and other topics through patient education videos on the same system. “GetWellNetwork is excited to contribute our Interactive Patient Care technology to the ‘Children’s Hospital of the Future’ at Disney Children’s Hospital,” said Michael O’Neil, Jr., founder and CEO, GetWellNetwork, Inc. “This technology enhances the patient experience and gives them access to interactive resources that educate and entertain to make their stay as comfortable as possible. With the touch of a keyboard or remote, patients or their parents can view vital health information and communicate with other areas of the hospital to help meet their health care needs.” Joining the medical leadership of the hospital, Dr. Antonia Novello, former United States Surgeon General, will guide the children’s health and policy platform as the vice president of Women and Children Health and Policy Affairs. During her tenure as the first female and first Hispanic Surgeon General, Novello helped launch the Healthy Children Ready to Learn Initiative and actively promoted immunizations of children and childhood injury prevention efforts. Also joining the hospital’s staff are Dr. Bryan C. Weidner and Dr. Christopher M. Anderson, who will provide advanced surgical services including minimally invasive procedures for pediatric patients. Minimally invasive surgeries require fewer incisions, reducing blood loss and hastening patient recovery. Weidner is board certified in general surgery, surgical critical care and pediatric surgery. Anderson is board certified in general surgery and board eligible in pediatric surgery. “The addition of Dr. Novello to our staff is a real coup for Disney Children’s Hospital and the children of Central Florida and beyond,” Silliman said. “In addition, the skill and expertise of renowned pediatric surgeons and the Nicholson Center for Surgical Advancement will help keep us on the leading edge of surgical technology.” The new dedicated lobby and entrance for Disney Children’s Hospital is expected to open in mid-2009. The three-level lobby designed by Walt Disney Imagineers will feature several of the most beloved Disney characters from “The Little Mermaid,” “The Lion King,” “Brother Bear” and “The Jungle Book.” “Walt Disney World Resort is committed to the dreams of children in our community, and we’re pleased to lend some of our magic to Disney Children’s Hospital at Florida Hospital,” said Shannon McAleavey, senior vice president of Public Affairs for Walt Disney World Resort.” This will be a special place that will enable children to use their imaginations in a unique, immersive environment that will contribute to their overall health and healing.” In the lobby, children of all ages will be able to draw individual markings on a cave wall, create jungle sounds on musical step pads, fish for virtual salmon, or play in a magical world of popping bubbles and dancing sea horses. And each night as the sun sets, the lobby will transform into a celestial display as unique as each child, featuring constellations on the ceiling and a musical score created by the young patients. “The partnership between Florida Hospital and Disney demonstrates that Central Florida is quickly becoming known just as much for medicine and science as it is for its thriving tourism industry,” said Lars Houmann, president of Florida Hospital and chairman of bioOrlando. “We believe Disney Children’s Hospital will provide the blueprint for other children’s hospitals in the future.” Disney Children’s Hospital at Florida Hospital is currently undergoing construction and renovation, which is expected to be completed by 2010. The project continues to rely on the generous philanthropic support of the community. When complete, the seven-story, 200-bed hospital will have family-centered pediatric rooms; a first-of-its-kind, dedicated pediatric Emergency Department featuring ambient lighting; an Advanced Center for Pediatric Surgery led by renowned surgeons; destination pediatric programs including advanced surgery, oncology, neurosurgery, cardiology, transplant services and full-service pediatrics; and an innovative Health and Obesity platform. |
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Fire at Disney
Studios Burbank Leader - A small brush fire broke out at 12:47 p.m. Tuesday off the Ventura (134) Freeway, a quarter-mile before the Buena Vista Street exit. Shortly after it started, it moved toward the animation department at Walt Disney Studios, said Steve Briggs, battalion chief for the Burbank Fire Department. The Burbank Fire Department sent three engines to the scene, and Disney sent one pumper pickup, Briggs said. The fire was put out at about 1:10 p.m., he said. |
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At Disney, Blu-ray Sales Team Is a Cast of Characters
The New York Times - The Walt Disney Company is dispatching Pinocchio, Snow White and a team of other characters in its effort to accelerate consumer adoption of next-generation DVD technology. Disney, like other media companies, is counting on high-definition Blu-ray discs — and companion technology that connects them to the Internet — to reinvigorate its highly profitable home entertainment business. But so far, Blu-ray players are selling more slowly than expected, apparently because people are not convinced they need a better DVD experience. So Disney is sending in the troops. The company will release five "platinum" titles from its library in the Blu-ray format over the next two years, hoping that classic animated movies will spur wider interest. The films are "Pinocchio," "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Fantasia," "Fantasia 2000" and "Beauty and the Beast." The company had previously announced plans to introduce one such title, "Sleeping Beauty." All the DVDs will include unusual features geared toward a generation that embraces interactivity and social networking. Viewers can watch a movie in tandem with friends in other locations, while they chat using a laptop or cellphone (the comments appear on the screen). Viewers will also be able to compete against others around the world at trivia or send what Disney is calling movie mail, video images of themselves that appear within the context of the movie. Such activities are possible because of a technology called BD Live that connects Blu-ray discs with the Internet. Bob Chapek, president of Disney's home entertainment unit, said that his company hoped the animated favorites would help it "break past early adopters" to a wider group of consumers. "BD Live is not a niche product," Mr. Chapek said. "We see mass adoption of the technology." Mr. Chapek said that "Snow White," last available in 2001, had helped start the market for traditional DVDs. "The power of these titles is incredible," he said. Disney needs all the muscle it can find. Sales of Blu-ray players have been disappointing — although the industry has big hopes for the coming holiday season — and players compatible with BD Live just became available a few months ago. They are also expensive: Blu-ray players that function with BD Live are priced from $300 to $700, much more than regular Blu-ray machines. Making DVDs exciting is a trick that movie studios are desperate to pull off. After years of blistering growth, domestic DVD sales fell 3.2 percent last year, to $15.9 billion, the first annual drop in the medium's history, according to Adams Media Research. Blu-ray sales are growing fast, but still represent a tiny part of the business. The industry estimate for sales of Blu-ray discs in 2008 is nearly $1 billion, up from $170 million last year. |
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Pre-Teen
Virtual World to Compete with Disney New York Post - IAC boss Barry Diller plans to go head-to-head with Disney's Club Penguin in the kids virtual world business. In one of its first moves since IAC's split into five different companies earlier this month, flagship IAC on Sept. 16 will launch its own virtual world aimed at tweens called ZwinkyCuties.com. IAC is no stranger to the virtual-world business. The portal is a spinoff of Zwinky.com, a two-year-old site aimed at teenagers that claims more than 16 million registered users globally and six million unique visitors per month. Visitors to virtual "hangouts" like Zwinky Cuties interact using video game-like representations of themselves, called avatars, that they create and customize. They then congregate in virtual public spaces where they can socialize, shop, and play casual games. John Park, president and CEO of IAC's consumer applications and portals division, said the company decided to launch the younger brand after it began turning away thousands of users who attempted to register for Zwinky, but didn't meet the site's age requirement of at least 13 years old. There's no shortage of media names vying for an audience of girls aged 6-12. Disney bought kids' virtual world Club Penguin last year for a reported $350 million. Toy brands like Barbie and Bratz have launched their own virtual worlds, too, as have companies like Webkinz. "In the real world girls always love to play with dolls and dress them up and have play sets. We're trying to bring that experience in the online world," added Mike Primiani, senior VP of strategic partnership and product operation at IAC. Media companies are plowing money into the virtual-world space across the board. Time Warner and Sony have both made undisclosed investments in Gaia Online, a Web-based social community aimed at teenagers, which has raised over $20 million since its launch in 2003. And Viacom's MTV Networks has developed dedicated virtual worlds for popular shows like "The Hills." Consulting firm eMarketer estimates that more than half of all Internet-connected kids and teens between the ages of 3 and 17 - some 20 million in all - will visit virtual worlds by 2011, up from 34 percent, or 12 million, this year. IAC doesn't break out the size of its virtual-world business, but said it generates revenue from sponsorships, ads and search revenue on top of virtual commerce. Gaia, for instance, claims to generate over 100,000 transactions a day and over $1 million in revenues per month - over half its revenues. But Zwinky Cuties, like Club Penguin, will be a subscription-based service, charging users $5.95 per month for virtual currency that can be used to collect online accessories, fashions, furniture and pets for their avatars. That's different than Zwinky.com and other more teen-focused sites in which users purchase virtual currency on an a la carte basis using credit cards and PayPal accounts. Primiani said they're trying to create a more parent friendly payment model with the tween service. |
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Disney half marathon to snarl downtown Anaheim traffic OCRegister - Motorists should plan to avoid downtown Anaheim Sunday morning – two dozen roads and throughways will be closed to make way for the Disneyland Half Marathon. The race is scheduled to begin at 6 a.m. The course will take runners through Disney’s California Adventure to Disneyland Park, and then onto the streets of Anaheim, past the Honda Center, along the Santa Ana Trail, around Angel Stadium, and back through California Adventure and the Downtown Disney. From noon to 8 p.m. Friday and 10 am to 6 p.m. Saturday, the Disneyland Hotel will host the Disneyland Health and Fitness Expo. Manufacturers, experts and pro runners will host seminars on nutrition, training and racing. On the morning of the marathon, the following roads will be closed… Disneyland Drive: between Ball Road and Magic Way, midnight to 8 a.m. Disneyland Drive: between Magic Way and Katella Avenue, 3:30 a.m. to 6:45 a.m. Magic Way:
eastbound from Resort Road to Disneyland Drive 3:30 a.m. to
10:15 a.m. Harbor Boulevard: southbound from Disney Way to Katella Ave, 5:15 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. Ball Road: eastbound from Disneyland Drive to Anaheim Boulevard, 5:15 a.m. to 8:10 a.m. Anaheim Boulevard: northbound from Ball Road to Cerritos Avenue, 5:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. Cerritos Avenue: between Anaheim Boulevard and Lewis Street, 5:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. Lewis Street:
between Cerritos Avenue and Ball Road, 5:30 a.m. to 8:25 a.m. State College Boulevard: between Ball Road and Cerritos Avenue, 5:30 a.m. to 8:55 a.m. Cerritos Avenue: between State College Boulevard and Douglass Road, 5:30 a.m. to 09:05 a.m. Douglass Road: between Cerritos Avenue and the Honda Center, 5:30 a.m. to 9:10 a.m. Gene Autry Way: westbound from Angel Stadium to Santa Cruz Street, 5:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. South Anaheim Way: between Standford Court and Katella Avenue, 5:30 a.m. to 9:35 a.m. South Anaheim Way: between Katella Avenue and Haster Street, 5:30 a.m. to 10:10 a.m. Disney Way: westbound from Haster Street to Harbor Boulevard (Timon entrance), 5:30 a.m. to 10:05 a.m. I-5 Freeway, northbound: on/off ramp at Katella Avenue, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. I-5 Freeway, southbound: on/off ramp at Harbor Boulevard, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. I-5 Freeway, southbound: on/off ramp at Disney Way exit, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. I-5 Freeway, north and southbound: on/off ramp at Gene Autry Way, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. |
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ESPN Leads $80 Million Investment In The Active Network; Will
Pursue Acquisitions paidcontent - The Active Network, the big provider of sports-related technology, has just closed a huge, $80 million sixth round led by ESPN. Past backers participating in the round include Canaan Partners, North Bridge Venture Partners and Performance Equity Partners. The company, which has now raised $275 million since 1999, will use the funding towards infrastructure and towards "appropriate acquisitions." Acquisitions are a key part of its strategy: Since 2007, it has acquired 11 companies, including Hy-Tek Sports Software, LaxPower, Cool Running and Golfbuzz. Its flagship site is Active.com a sports training and registration portal. In addition to the online communities it runs, The Active Network provides marketing services and other technologies geared towards sports management. It's also worth noting that it's not just a sports company, as it offers services towards organizations like schools, campgrounds and governments. There's no word on how profitable the company is, though it says it had revenue of $107 million in 2007. For ESPN (NYSE: DIS) it's the latest in a string of deals, including a number of acquisitions of smaller sports properties. Rafat adds: The company filed for a $46 million IPO in 2004, but pulled it back due to what it called "unfavorable market conditions." Maybe this is finally the mezzanine round...though on second thoughts, ESPN would not necessarily invest in such late stage if the company was close to filing IPO anytime in the next year. |
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Woman Sells
Disney Vacation Money For $10 WXYZ Detroit - A garage sale could keep a Belleville family from a Disney World Vacation. That's because Tracy Holmes sold the Disney vacation money for $10. However, she didn't know her husband Fred was hiding the money he intended to use for the surprise Disney vacation in a Sin City DVD. Tracy Holmes says she sold the DVD along with 2 other movies because the couple hadn't watched it in a while. Holmes thinks the man who bought the DVD during the August 15 garage sale was about 6 feet tall and in his 50s or possibly 60s. She's hoping that if she gets the word out, he will return the money. |
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Rare woman at early Disney helped create iconic displays at
Walt's park The Age - Harriet Burns, the first woman hired to work as a designer for Walt Disney Imagineering, who helped create and build prototypes for such Disneyland attractions as Sleeping Beauty Castle and the Pirates of the Caribbean, has died of heart complications in Los Angeles. She was 79. Burns joined Disney Studios as a set and prop painter for the Mickey Mouse Club television show in 1955. One of her major contributions was the Mouse Clubhouse that she helped design and build. She arrived at the studio each day wearing a skirt and high-heel shoes to work a lathe, saw and drill press. During her initial years on the job, Disneyland was under construction. In addition to set designing, Burns got an assignment in the model shop, crafting miniature prototypes of park attractions. Her department of three model-makers was known as WED Enterprises and later renamed Walt Disney Imagineering, a reference to the imagination and engineering that go into theme park attractions. Disney included her in several episodes of The Wonderful World of Color, the 1960s television show on which he was the host and presented behind-the-scenes segments about his empire. One of Burns' first assignments in the model shop was to work on Sleeping Beauty Castle, an attraction that was in place on the park's opening day, July 17, 1955. She later worked on the original Pirates of the Caribbean that opened in 1967, and the Haunted Mansion that opened two years later. Part of her job was "figure-finishing". She applied face paint and other touches to the costumed mannequins that are part of many Disneyland attractions. Years later, she said that one of her most challenging projects was the exotic birds she helped to craft for the Enchanted Tiki Room that opened in 1963. "When they breathed out, it would be fine, but when they came back they scrunched. They looked like they had mites," Burns said in a 2005 interview. She worked out the problems and later maintained the birds as they aged. "Good enough was not for Harriet; it had to be perfect," said Blaine Gibson, a former animator and sculptor at Disney who worked with her. Burns was also part of the team that created several Disney attractions for the New York World's Fair in 1964, including "Great Moments with Mr Lincoln", which later was installed at Disneyland. Born Harriet Tapp in San Antonio and reared in Seguin, Texas, she earned her bachelor's degree at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She married William Burns, and in 1953 they moved to Los Angeles with their baby daughter. She went to work at Dice Display Industries Co-operative Exchange, making props for television shows and sets for Las Vegas floor shows. She also worked on the Santa's Village theme park that opened in Lake Arrowhead in the mid-1950s. When the company closed, a colleague told Burns Disney was hiring. "She got the job, and things mushroomed," Burns' daughter, Pam, said of her mother's career. "She liked being around the creative spark, and Walt took her under his wing." In addition to her daughter Pam Burns-Clair, Burns is survived by two granddaughters, two sisters and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Her husband died in 1986. |
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State Farm among sponsors for weather exhibit at Disney's Epcot Bloomington Pantagraph - State Farm Insurance Cos. is among the sponsors of a new interactive and educational weather exhibit at Walt Disney World’s Epcot. “StormStruck: A Tale of Two Homes” enables guests from around the world to experience the power of a weather event while learning how to best prepare for floods, hail, high winds, lightning and more. The exhibit features a spectacular, simulated, 3-D weather experience that combines a variety of weather hazards into one “storm.” After guests at the Florida theme park have experienced the storm, they will also learn about cutting-edge scientific research and new construction technologies that can protect their home “The StormStruck attraction provides an interactive and educational way for individuals to learn how to better protect their families and properties from weather events,” said Rod Matthews, underwriting vice president for State Farm. |
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Cruise
Planners Announces New Disney Specialist PR.com - Don’t be surprised if you see pixie dust twinkling around Eileen Tener. Tener, who owns a Cruise Planners franchise, joins an elite group of travel industry professionals who have attained a special knowledge of the Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort and Disney Cruise Line. As a recent graduate of the College of Disney Knowledge, Tener has now become a Disney Specialist. “The College of Disney Knowledge was extremely beneficial to me,” said Tener. “It was a fun and informative way to learn more about the Disney vacation portfolio. I also feel more confident about selling Disney destinations.” Anyone who plans to visit the Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort and Disney Cruise Line will benefit from Tener’s added expertise. “The College of Disney Knowledge has taught me how to add more value to each Disney itinerary so that I can help make every client’s magical dreams come true,” said Tener. Since 1993, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts has been committed to educating travel industry professionals about Disney Destinations through the College of Disney Knowledge. |
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Robot Slaughter is Disney's Desperate bid for Male Eyeballs io9 - The first episode of RoboDZ has already aired in Japan, and it's streaming online (with no English subtitles.) My Japanese is super-rusty, so some of the subtleties are probably lost on me. But I like the photorealistic backdrops and the weirdly stylized look of the robots on Earth, including the ones which have dot-matrix LCD screens that show their emotions. I'm not clear on why the little kid's butt glows bright crimson when he confronts bad guys, but I'm sure it'll all be explained. RoboDZ is coming soon to Disney XD, the channel formerly known as Toon Disney. The re-branding is part of an effort to appeal to male viewers with a lot of superhero cartoons, including Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series. There's also a new series that's intriguingly (if weirdly) titled Hero And Not. And then there's a live-action show called Aaron Stone, about a kid who gets recruited to be the real-life counterpart of an online crime-fighter. (Wha? Okay.) In any case, RoboDZ looks entertainingly bizarre and features robo-bugs on a rampage. So that seems like a step in the right direction. |
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Tuesday August 26, 2008 |
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Disney cruise ship to host premiere of Disney Channel show SEC, ESPN sign 15-year deal to televise sports Disney Exec Wins Award Named For 'Last Lecture' Author Pausch The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning on Blu-ray and DVD Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: Collector's Edition on Blu-ray and DVD Toy Story 3 featuring Ken and Barbie How to survive Walt Disney World with grandparents and kids in tow Disney Baby Einstein Celebrates 10 Years of Happy Moms and Babies Walt Disney Imagineering Legends Disney spent $1.5 million lobbying in 2Q First annual Pausch Prize awarded to Walt Disney and Pixar president |
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Disney cruise ship to host premiere of Disney Channel show Disney
News - Disney Cruise Line will host a red-carpet, world-premiere
event for the new Disney Channel original series “The Suite Life
on Deck,” a spin-off of the Emmy-nominated “The Suite Life of
Zack & Cody,” on the Disney Wonder cruise ship Aug. 28-31. During this special premiere at sea, guests sailing will experience a Hollywood-style, red-carpet arrival of some of Disney Channel’s hottest stars, an exclusive sneak-peek of the first episode of “The Suite Life on Deck” and an opportunity to participate in a Question & Answer session with stars of the show. Cast members from “The Suite Life on Deck” scheduled to appear include Cole Sprouse (Cody Martin), Dylan Sprouse (Zack Martin), Brenda Song (London Tipton), Phill Lewis (Mr. Moseby) and Debby Ryan (Bailey Pickett). All events will take place on decks 9 and 10 of the Disney Wonder on Friday, Aug. 29, at the family-friendly Goofy Pool. “The popularity of Disney Channel shows and stars are at an all-time high,” said Disney Cruise Line President Tom McAlpin. “We’re pleased to partner with Disney Channel for this world-premiere event and share some of the red-carpet excitement with our guests, showcasing that Disney difference only Disney Cruise Line can offer.” “We’re thrilled to give “The Suite Life on Deck” a fabulous bon voyage celebration aboard the Disney Wonder. The cruise ship setting of the series made the Disney Wonder a great fit to host this event,” said Adam Sanderson, Senior Vice President, Brand Marketing, Disney ABC Networks Group. A day after the world-premiere, and following a day of fun-and-sun on Disney’s private island Castaway Cay, another Disney Channel star will take the stage. Mitchel Musso, star of Disney Channel’s “Hannah Montana” and “Phineas and Ferb” will perform a mini-concert at the Goofy Pool. At the concert’s end, Musso will spend a few minutes answering questions from the audience. This marks the first time Disney Cruise Line and Disney Channel have partnered together to develop a multi-day event. It should prove to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for fans of the Disney Channel sailing on the sold-out voyage. A leader in the family cruise segment, "The Suite Life on Deck" premieres on Disney Channel on Friday, September 26 at 8p.m. ET/PT. In this new live-action comedy series, "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody," teenage twins Zack and Cody Martin, and spoiled hotel heiress London Tipton, go aboard a luxury passenger cruise liner, the SS Tipton, owned by Disney Channel is a 24-hour kid-driven, family inclusive television network that taps into the world of kids and families through original series and movies. Currently available on basic cable in over 95 million |
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SEC,
ESPN sign 15-year deal to televise sports AP - The Southeastern Conference has signed a 15-year deal with ESPN reportedly worth more than $2 billion to televise sporting events, including football and men's and women's basketball. The agreement announced Monday is the longest ESPN has ever signed and matches the length of the powerhouse league's deal with CBS earlier in August. "This agreement makes the SEC the most widely distributed conference in the country," said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. He declined to disclose financial terms."The bottom line here is that fans of SEC football will have more access to games and better distribution than they ever have in the past," Slive added. The deal begins with the 2009-10 season and ends the league's look into starting a network to carry its sporting events. ESPN will have rights to every SEC home football game not on the network package and all league matchups will be shown on some outlet, including at least 20 a year on ESPN or ESPN2. That includes two primetime Thursday night matchups and Saturday night games. "We're thrilled with the historic nature of this deal," ESPN executive vice president John Skipper said, adding that college sports have been "part of our DNA" for nearly 30 years. "It's not hard to figure why we'd want to be involved with it, given the quality of SEC sports, for 15 more years." Alabama coach Nick Saban said the league's exposure nationally helps in recruiting and image. "One of the reasons that this league has developed into one of the top leagues in the country is because we have tremendous exposure," Saban said. "I think we had the best exposure from a TV standpoint in our last contract and this one is only going to enhance it more." The new deal will also add a second and third night of SEC basketball coverage on ESPN and ESPN2 each week. ABC will add two nationally televised regular-season hoops games and broadcast the SEC tournament semifinals and championship game. ESPN's various outlets will carry more than 5,500 SEC events over the 15-year period, including league championships in women's basketball, baseball, softball and gymnastics. The deal will end the SEC's affiliation with Raycom Sports, which has aired basketball since 1986 and SEC football since 1992. ABC and ESPN are owned by The Walt Disney Co. |
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Disney Exec Wins Award Named For 'Last Lecture' Author Pausch
InformationWeek - Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS) and Pixar Animation Studios President Ed Catmull will receive the first Randy Pausch Prize from Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center. Catmull will also present the
keynote address at the seventh International Conference on
Entertainment Computing (ICEC) on Sept. 26. Pausch's passion for life and creativity brought together technology experts and artists. He co-founded the ETC. The prize in Pausch's memory honors entertainment industry experts who embody his interdisciplinary spirit. "We couldn't think of a more fitting person to receive the first Pausch Prize than Ed Catmull," Don Marinelli, co-founder and executive producer of the ETC, said in an announcement. " Eleven years ago, when the ETC was just a vision that Randy and I were trying to make a reality, Ed generously shared with us his thoughts about how to prepare students for the new world of interactive digital media. His suggestions, including the idea of having everyone in the program study improvisational acting, were priceless. He helped us make the ETC a place where right-brained and left-brained individuals can work together successfully." Catmull co-founded Pixar, which produced "Toy Story," "The Incredibles," and "Wall-E." He also created the computer graphics laboratory at the New York Institute of Technology and the computer division of Lucasfilm Ltd. Those three groups host some of the most academically respected researchers in computer graphics and have produced significant advances in computer graphics. Catmull is credited as an architect of the RenderMan rendering software, which just marked its 20th anniversary. RenderMan has been used in 44 of the last 47 films nominated for Academy Awards for their visual effects. Catmull has received four Academy Awards, including one for lifetime contributions through computer graphics and one for technical achievement. He also received the IEEE's John von Neumann Medal for contributions to computer graphics and a pioneering use of computer animation in motion pictures. Catmull earned a Ph.D. in computer science at the University of Utah. Pausch Prize winners will receive a $2,500 cash award and present a lecture at Carnegie Mellon. Catmull will accept his prize and present the Pausch lecture at 9:15 a.m., Sept. 26 in McConomy Auditorium in Carnegie Mellon's University Center, where Pausch gave his famous "last lecture." |
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The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning on Blu-ray and DVD  Walt
Disney Studios Home Entertainment - Walt Disney Studios Home
Entertainment invites you to dive deep into the secrets of the
early years of one of Disney's most beloved princesses when The
Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning, a spectacular new full-length
movie, comes exclusively to DVD on August 26, 2008. The Little
Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning reveals an all-new, spellbinding
chapter of the fun loving and mischievous mermaid's amazing
oceanic adventures. More of the dazzling animation and memorable
music that made The Little Mermaid one of the most celebrated
films of its kind will transport viewers into the magical
kingdom of Atlantica at the start of the greatest undersea story
ever told! With a treasure trove of never-before-scene bonus
features, The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning continues the
legacy of the film that launched an extraordinary new era in
animation and won over generations of filmgoers.
This music-filled prequel to one of the most beloved Disney Classics of all time once again features the voice talents of Jodi Benson and Samuel E. Wright, reprising their legendary roles as Ariel and Sebastian. The film pits a wonderfully wicked new villainess, Marina Del Rey against Ariel and her plucky pals in an unforgettable aquatic adventure. Available for a limited time only, The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning is sure to capture the hearts of viewers of all ages. Imagine a time long before Ariel met Prince Eric and walked on land—a time when music was banned from the underwater kingdom of Atlantica. Torn between family duty and her love of music, Ariel must make the most difficult choice of her life. With the help of her friends, Sebastian and Flounder and her six amusing sisters, will the young mermaid be able to restore music, friendship and love to the kingdom? The DVD is priced $29.99 (SRP) for U.S.; $35.99 (SRP) Canada, from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. |
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Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: Collector's Edition
on Blu-ray and DVD Walt
Disney Studios Home Entertainment - Finally released from the
Disney vault, Academy Award nominated writer and producer Tim
Burton's (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride) The
Nightmare Before Christmas: Collector's Edition returns in a
deeper, darker and more brilliant digitally-restored masterpiece
-- as Tim Burton originally envisioned. This delightfully
twisted story releases just in time for the Holid |
“Philips
is delivering a captivating and comforting, child-friendly
space. We're incorporating the latest in clinical design and
technologies, as well as elements, to provide calming, positive
assurances to patients and their families,” said Brent Shafer,
executive vice president and CEO, North America, for Philips
Healthcare. “In collaboration with Disney Children’s Hospital,
we're aiming to define the ‘Children’s Hospital of the Future.’”