But there’s something new at Disney’s Contemporary Resort that’s just as impressive – a 17-foot-high tree with gingerbread shingles inspired by the Art of Disney legend Mary Blair. If you don’t know Mary’s work, it can be seen in the mural on the fourth-floor concourse wall.

To create the display, a team of 25 bakers used 136 pounds of honey, 101 pounds of flour and about 50 eggs. They also used 75 pounds of icing along with bags of spices and sugar syrup.

This month, you can create mosaic-like ornaments out of crushed and dyed ostrich eggs. Shells are glued onto animal-shaped ornaments and hung by recycled telephone wire. Here’s a look at the process:

The unfertilized eggs used in the activity come from both Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. And all donations go to the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, which supports conservation projects throughout the world.

The union for workers at the Disneyland Hotel and the Paradise Pier Hotel said about 200 employees left the job Friday to protest housekeeper workload.

The union says Disney's remodeled hotel rooms are harder to clean, but the resort didn't cut the number of rooms a housekeeper must clean in a day.

Disney spokeswoman Suzi Brown says Disney housekeepers clean 14 rooms per day, one of the lowest quotas in the industry. She says other resort employees cleaned the rooms and there were no disruptions for guests.

The resort and the union have been battling since the workers' contract expired last January.

MTV - Ever since Disney announced its $4 billion dollar deal to acquire Marvel, industry observers have been skeptical that the company could fully utilize Marvel’s characters given that the film rights for some of their top franchises — like “Spider-Man” and “X-Men” — are tied down to other studios. However, Disney president and CEO Bob Iger recently indicated that the company is content (for the time being) focusing on the licensing aspect for franchises out of their direct control.

Iger also indicated that Disney can essentially test drive Marvel’s characters through Web content or potential TV series on Disney XD to gauge audience appeal before committing to making a feature film.

Iger added that Disney wants to "put a spotlight on the name Marvel that is much brighter than today."

Oriental Land: To Start Talks To Sell Disney Store Ops In Japan

Wall Street Journal - Japan's Oriental Land Co. (4661.TO), operator of the Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea theme parks, has agreed to start talks to sell its Disney store operations in Japan to Walt Disney's Japan unit, the two companies said Friday.

Oriental Land's unit, Retail Network, has operated 55 stores, which sell Disney character goods and are located outside the two theme parks, since April 2002. The unit posted sales of Y16.2 billion in the year ended March.

Disney News - If you’re responsible for millions of holiday lights, you’re going to learn a few tricks. That’s the case with Walt Disney Entertainment lighting designer Mark O’Conner — and he’s sharing some tips for decorating your home.

Mark’s first tip is to use more LED lights. He says the lights last at least 10 years if you treat them well and offer vibrant colors. Also, if you have a big display, you’ll notice a difference in the electric bill. Mark also suggests getting ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to protect against water or moisture. Here are more tips:

 

Wall Street Journal - Shares of Walt Disney Co. (DIS) continued rising Thursday, hitting a 52-week high, a day after its chief executive told an investor conference that the advertising market is improving.

Speaking at an investor conference Wednesday in New York, Robert Iger--echoing comments from other media conglomerates--said the market is improving but "visibility isn't all that great." He noted fourth-quarter advertising at its ABC Broadcasting network in the so-called scatter market is up about 25% from the spring selling season, known as the upfront.

In recent trading, Disney shares were up 3.4% at $31.40. The stock hit an intraday high of $31.49 and has risen 10% in the last three months. The stock was recently the strongest performer in the Dow on a percentage basis.

Miller Tabak & Co. analyst David C. Joyce said the company didn't say anything materially different than that at a November conference, but investors are now paying closer attention to the state of the advertising market. In November, the company said network scatter pricing was running more than 20% above upfront pricing levels.

"They are still seeing a very strong TV advertising demand," said Joyce, who rates the stock a buy. He added that the company is still being cautions as "everyone [in the media industry] is waiting to see what the new normal is after the holiday in terms of expenditures."

Standard & Poor's analysts also said Iger's comments reinforced their view of gradual improvement in underlying trends in early fiscal 2010 and maintained their buy rating on the stock.

Meanwhile, Janney Montgomery Scott analyst Tony Wible said in a note to clients that he sees opportunities for multiple expansion as Disney benefits from emerging digital initiatives, DVR advertising and new market opportunities. He added that the company should also see an upside in "changes in distribution windows that will negate the new technology threats that we believe are largely discounted into the stock."

Wible noted that Disney appears more committed to the support of subscription-based Internet Protocol television, or IPTV, packages, which the company is growing more convinced will happen through a new iTunes streaming service and Hulu.

Orlando Sentinel - If going to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party this year doesn’t work with your schedule or budget, you can experience some of the beloved traditions on Walt Disney World’s Web site.

To start your own party, click on the Storybook here.

Each chapter offers you a taste of the special-ticket event, including:

** The enchanted Castle Dream Lights on Cinderella Castle

** Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade, complete with an appearance by Santa Claus

** Exclusive fireworks — Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season

** Live entertainment, such as the Dapper Dans

** Meet-and-greet opportunities in the Magic Kingdom with your favorite Disney characters

** A magical snow fall on Main Street, U.S.A.

The only thing missing is the complimentary hot cocoa and sugar cookies!

See all of Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade in the video below from when my family and I saw it in during regular park hours last year. This is my favorite parade at Walt Disney World, and I know I’m not alone in admiring the toy soldiers.

Orlando Sentinel - Made a spontaneous trip to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom last night.  Not a lot new to report about the after-hours, separate ticket event — I’m still liking the toy soldiers and reindeer best in the parade, and I still prefer the Holiday Wishes fireworks to the everyday variety. Bonus: It was a good night for hot chocolate.

Was eager to see the new Very Merry offering: “A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show.”  The cast is eight dancers, a hostess named Haley Comet plus citizens of Tomorrowland: Buzz Lightyear, Mike Wazowski and Stitch. Haley puts Stitch in charge (have they not met?) of finding Santa Claus for the show’s finale.

In the meantime, there are song and dance numbers. Buzz — surprisingly agile — does a hyper-serious version of “Jingle Bells” that involves his enemy Zurg.  The dance element is very urban/modern/hip-hop here, whereas the choreography otherwise is more Broadway meets 1970s TV Christmas variety show. But it’s enjoyable and well conceived. In my head I started calling them “Buzz Lightyear and the Buzz Lightyear Dancers.”

Mike’s number is “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” which made me smirk since Mike, you know, has no nose.

Later, Stitch isn’t so sure about finding Santa, who apparently is keeping a list. “Santa sounds like a snitch to Stitch.” OK, that made me laugh.

OK, maybe it’s wrong to say, but part of the reason to go is to see if the show is better than the one previously produced on that stage, Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration, which made a brief run earlier this year.

In a word, yes. It’s better. Of course, “Jingle Bells” and less severe weather would have helped the Supersonic show too.  I think this version is more likeable — folks like Buzz and Mike and Stitch, as a star, is a divisive character. Playing the hostess must be hard since no one knows her or cares. I have no fix for that. Paging Kelly Ripa?

And there was a bigger crowd last night than any time for Supersonic. Folks didn’t have to huddle in the shadow of the monorail.

Long, long story short: I’d watch it again. I have a call into Disney about whether it will be in the regular lineup at Magic Kingdom after the Very Merry parties end. Stay tuned.

AP - An Illinois insurance executive agreed to plead guilty to interstate stalking after secretly making nude videos of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews, according to court documents filed Thursday and first obtained by The Associated Press.

Michael Barrett, 48, of Westmont, Ill., will plead guilty in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Tuesday, said Thom Mrozek, a spokesman with the U.S. attorney's office.

Barrett is suspected of renting hotel rooms adjacent to Andrews in three cities last year, altering the peepholes and shooting videos of Andrews in two of the locations -- in Columbus, Ohio, in February 2008 and in Nashville, Tenn., seven months later. He adjusted a hotel peephole in Milwaukee, Wis., in July 2008 and called 14 hotels to find out where Andrews was staying, prosecutors said.

Barrett is accused of uploading the videos to the Internet and trying to sell them to the Los Angeles-based celebrity gossip site TMZ this year. Several TV networks and newspapers aired or published images of Andrews taken from the videos.

"Mr. Barrett accepts full responsibility for his conduct," said Barrett's attorney David Willingham. "He apologizes to Ms. Andrews, and expresses his deep regret for his conduct that caused her so much pain. It is his sincere hope that these events can now become an opportunity to make positive changes in his life."

Barrett could face up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. But as long as he accepts his responsibility for his actions, shows remorse and stays out of trouble, prosecutors will recommend a sentence of 27 months in prison, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Wesley Hsu.

Barrett will have to pay full restitution to Andrews, according to the terms of the plea agreement, but the amount is unclear. He also would be subject to a three-year protective order that would bar him from contacting or coming within 100 yards of Andrews and her family.

Attorney Marshall Grossman, who represents Andrews, told the AP that his client and her father will attend Tuesday's hearing and may ask the judge to impose a harsher sentence.

"We are pleased that the government has been able to obtain a guilty plea from Mr. Barrett," Grossman said. "We are now reviewing the agreement reached between Mr. Barrett and prosecutors, and Erin reserves the right to address the court and urge a greater penalty."

Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles have agreed not to pursue further charges against Barrett. However, he could face criminal action in other states stemming from other videos he allegedly shot of unsuspecting nude women through peepholes.

Hsu said dozens of videos were later posted on the Internet, including one of a naked woman, entitled "Hot Blonde Out of Shower," that FBI agents sought to have Yahoo Inc. turn over after serving a search warrant at the tech giant's Northern California offices last week.

The video was posted in June to Flickr.com by a user believed to be Barrett. The video, which appeared to be taken through a hotel room peephole, was viewed nearly 3,000 times before it was taken down. Flickr is owned by Yahoo.

Federal agents also wanted additional information pertaining to Andrews from Google Inc. Hsu wouldn't say whether the items have been given to authorities yet. Both Yahoo and Google have declined comment.

“We expect the company to eliminate some of its promotional pricing in 2010, resulting in a 3 percent decline in total U.S. attendance,” Michael Morris, an analyst with UBS Investment Research, wrote in a note to investors issued this morning.

The forecast comes two days after Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger, speaking at a media conference organized by UBS, said he expects Disney’s parks to scale back promotions during the latter part of next year.

Discounting drove combined attendance at Disney World and Disneyland up 2 percent during the company’s 2009 fiscal year, which ended Oct. 3, despite the deep global recession. Attendance was flat in Orlando but up 7 percent in Anaheim, Calif.

But the promotions eroded profit margins, and per capita guest spending sank 6 percent for the year on lower average hotel rates, ticket prices and merchandise spending. With lighter discounts in fiscal 2010, Morris projects per capita spending to slip just 1 percent.

Playbill - Two-time Tony Award-winning actress Donna Murphy has joined the cast of the new Disney animated musical "Rapunzel."

Murphy (Passion, The King and I) will voice the role of Mother Gothel, the witch who holds Rapunzel captive in a doorless tower. Mandy Moore has signed to voice the long-tressed title role with Zachary Levi as her prince.

Academy Award-winning composer Alan Menken will score the Grimm brothers fairytale for Disney. Byron Howard and Nathan Greno will direct. "Rapunzel" will be a 3D feature released during the 2010 holiday season.

Murphy earned Tony Awards for her performances in Passion and The King and I. Her numerous stage appearances include Wonderful Town, Lovemusik, Hello Again, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, They're Playing Our Song and Song of Singapore. She has been seen on screen in "Spider-Man 2," "Trust Me," Law & Order," "Center Stage," "Damages," "Ally McBeal" and "The Nanny Diaries."

Off-duty employees from the Orange County Sheriff's Department joined the group of children and Mounties as part of the "Dreamlift" project, which has sent terminally ill children from Canada to Disneyland for 36 straight years.

Eighty patients, ages 7 to 18 from Canada's Sunshine Foundation, landed at John Wayne Airport this morning, said Jim Amormino, spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

About 100 employees with the department take a day off, from their own vacation, to escort the patients through the theme park today, Amormino said. The tickets for the employees are provided by the Orange County Sheriff's Advisory Council.

AP - It was a teary morning Friday on "Good Morning America" as Diane Sawyer made her last appearance on the ABC show.

Sawyer isn't going far, though; she will replace the retiring Charles Gibson at "World News." George Stephanopoulos will be going into Sawyer's morning spot beginning Monday.

In promising a show of salutes, co-anchor Robin Roberts urged viewers to "put on some waterproof mascara." Then her eyes welled up; the two women have worked together on the anchor desk since 2005.

Said Sawyer: "My heart is smiling and the privilege of sharing my mornings with all of you has been more than I can say."

It was also newsreader Chris Cuomo's last day, which wasn't mentioned during the show's first half hour. Cuomo is leaving to co-host the newsmagazine "20/20."

AP - ABC's selection of George Stephanopoulos to replace Diane Sawyer on "Good Morning America" signals a desire by the network to toughen up the morning show during tough times.

The appointment of Stephanopoulos, the network's chief Washington and political correspondent, was announced Thursday. He'll begin on the second-place morning show on Monday, paired with current co-anchor Robin Roberts. Sawyer is becoming the "World News" anchor as Charles Gibson retires.

Even before the need for a new host came up, "Good Morning America" had been seeking to shift its pendulum more toward harder news, particularly in the show's first 45 minutes, and add reports on health, consumer and legal issues, said David Westin, ABC News president. It reflects the nation's serious mood during a time of high unemployment and two wars, he said.

"George offered me somebody who could absolutely execute that revised plan for `GMA' and also be a representative to the world, to our viewers, that we're altering the direction of our program," Westin said.

Westin said he considered, and gave screen tests to, several candidates both inside and outside ABC News. Stephanopoulos and Chris Cuomo, the show's current newsreader, both took turns as guest hosts this fall.

Cuomo is leaving "Good Morning America" to become co-host of ABC's prime-time "20/20" newsmagazine with Elizabeth Vargas, the network said. Juju Chang will replace him as newsreader.

"GMA" is an important profit center for the network, even as it runs behind NBC's "Today" show in the ratings. "Today" marked 14 years of winning each week in the ratings last week, and its victory margin of 1.5 million viewers was its largest in more than three years, according to the Nielsen Co.

Westin has long been a booster of Stephanopoulos. Twelve years ago, shortly after Westin became ABC News president, he suggested that the former Clinton administration White House aide consider a journalism career. Stephanopoulos was then a member of Sunday morning's "This Week" political roundtable. He agreed, and eventually took over as "This Week" host in 2002.

Yet when Westin first approached Stephanopoulos about "GMA," he found a reluctant, though not resistant, candidate.

"I have a great life and a great gig," Stephanopoulos said. "No question I had questions."

He said he became convinced that Westin wanted to move the show in the direction of his interests, and the news executive offered him the job two weeks ago. He also knew it was important to his boss that he accept. Negotiations were completed last weekend.

"Replacing Diane Sawyer is impossible, because she's unique," Westin said. "George brings a level of intelligence and a curiosity and warmth that rivals Diane, the attributes that I think are essential for a morning news anchor."

In making the decision, he had to keep in mind Roberts, who had essentially been considered a junior partner to Sawyer and didn't want that to continue with a new partner. She admitted to those fears, "because I started to believe what I was reading."

Now, she said, "I am totally comfortable" with the new team.

Stephanopoulos will continue as the network's chief political correspondent and report on politics for other broadcasts. He will also be Sawyer's chief substitute on "World News."

His departure creates a hole for ABC in Washington, where "This Week" was drawing critical praise and threatening NBC's "Meet the Press" in the ratings.

While he recognized that, Westin said it was important to choose a new "GMA" host by considering who was best for that particular job and not for whatever problems it might create for another show. Jake Tapper and Terry Moran are among the candidates likely to be considered for "This Week." Westin said he had no timetable for filling that job.

His serious Washington demeanor had led to questions about how Stephanopoulos, 47, would fare during the cooking segments and pop star interviews that are an inevitable part of the job for a morning show host.

To that, he said, "lighten up."

"People are going to learn a lot every morning on `Good Morning America,'" he said, "and they're going to have some fun, too."

Orlando Sentinel - Disney is celebrating Princess Tiana and the opening of The Princess and The Frog this weekend with a lot of special offers.

** Adults can get a free child’s movie ticket for The Princess and The Frog with a $40 purchase at the Disney Store at Florida Mall or Seminole Towne Center.

** Purchase The Princess and The Frog movie tickets on Fandango and receive a free download of the song, “Dig A Little Deeper” in iTunes. Also, enter the Magic Code from Fandango on DisneyMovieRewards.com if you are a member and you will be able to schedule a call from Princess Tiana to your little one. You must schedule the call by Dec. 16.

** Radio Disney is throwing a The Princess and The Frog party at Wal-Mart, 3250 Vineland Road, Kissimmee. From 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, hosts will play music and games for kids. The store will have movie merchandise, and Radio Disney promises no one will go home empty-handed.

** Get a free iPhone app for The Princess and the Frog called Bayou Beats at iTunes.

** Connect with The Princess and The Frog on Facebook for updates and videos, plus play “Dr. Facilier’s Parlour.”

** See Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee! show and meet the princess and her prince at the Magic Kingdom. Shows begin in the Liberty Square area at 12:15, 2 and 3:45 p.m. daily. My colleagues Dewayne and Matt rave about the show, but don’t delay. It’s only scheduled to run through Jan. 3.

AP - Elizabeth Dampier doesn't get the royal treatment at home, even though the 5th grader plays a princess-to-be on the big screen.

The 10-year-old Mississippi girl is the voice of young Tiana, the female title character in the new Disney animated movie, "The Princess and the Frog," opening nationwide this weekend.

Elizabeth does chores, sings in a Baptist church choir, makes snacks for her three younger siblings and is a straight-A student in a family of high achievers. Her father, Dr. Arthur R. Dampier, is an optometrist. Her mother, Jeanna, is a molecular biologist.

Sitting in the bedroom she shares with her 7-year-old sister, Elizabeth says she is a bit like her character.

"I'm fine with, like, the princess stuff," Elizabeth says. "I am like her. I don't like kissy and mooshy-gooshy stuff."

A spokeswoman for Cretul, a Republican from Ocala, said the meeting centered on “hotel-related issues.” One of the topics was apparently a request for legislation cracking down on people who slip pizza ads under hotel-room doors in an attempt to set them up for burglary.

BusinessWire - adidas and Disney today announced an all-new product line for infants and children, combining adidas Kids top performance products with classic Disney characters Mickey Mouse and friends Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck and Daisy Duck. The sporty and fashionable collection consisting of footwear, apparel and accessories, will be available in adidas Sport Performance Stores and sports retailers globally.

With a touch of Disney magic, the debut collection in the line features traditional adidas apparel silhouettes with pocket details and rubber Mickey Mouse badges on tee shirts and pants, while hoodies are complemented by iconic Mickey Mouse shaped zippers. Boys’ tees and shirts feature an animated image of Mickey Mouse while Minnie Mouse is the key character on the girls’ apparel, with her lady-like image featured on tees and caps. Feminine accessories complete the outfits: matching trolley bags for the apparel and footwear, caps with recurring graphics of Mickey Mouse or Minnie Mouse and cozy cotton socks. (View a video of the product line at Disney Consumer Products’ YouTube Channel Disney Living (YouTube.com/DisneyLiving) or directly at youtube.com/watch?v=XDVg5gv2MIo.)

In addition to the classic adidas 3-Stripes design, several highlight pieces in the first collection have standout details such as all-over prints with a shiny metallic-pearl finish on the apparel and special silver applications on the shoe laces to extend the whimsical feel. Footwear highlights include the Disney StreetRun trainer in diva rose and metallic silver for girls and teal and white for boys. 3D design elements featuring Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse make this footwear truly stand-out, but for kids the best feature will be the colourful shoe sole that leaves a Disney-themed adidas footprint.

“I grew up with Mickey and Minnie and my main goal was to design a standout collection for boys and girls that would be cool and cute at the same time, bringing to life these classic Disney characters,” said adidas designer Rana Babacan. Pete Brady, category manager, adidas Kids, continued: “This cooperation is such a great opportunity for two world-leading brands to bring together their expertise and create a totally new fingerprint which combines kids sport, and their love of all things Disney.”

“Mickey Mouse remains at the forefront of many fashion trends, and we’re delighted with the way we’ve been able to integrate Mickey and friends into this range,” added Pamela Lifford, executive vice president, global fashion & home, Disney Consumer Products. “This new line of kids fashion will be fun for children and appealing to their fashion-conscious parents.”

The spring/summer 2010 collection will hit stores in December 2009/January 2010, including adidas Sport Performance Stores and select sports retailers. Prices for infant products range from €10 for the Disney boys’ and girls’ accessories, €15 for T-shirts up to €38 for full outfit sets, and €35 for the Disney Bokajone trainer and StreetRun trainer. Prices for little kids’ products start from €18 for T-shirts. Accessories range from €12 up to €42 for the trolley bag. Prices for little kids’ footwear range from €50-55.

The next Disney-inspired collection by adidas will feature characters from Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story, timed to coincide with the launch of Disney•Pixar’s highly anticipated Toy Story 3 in cinemas worldwide.

About Disney Consumer Products

Disney Consumer Products and affiliates (DCP) is the business segment of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) that extends the Disney brand to merchandise ranging from apparel, toys, home décor and books and magazines to foods and beverages, stationery, electronics and fine art. This is accomplished through DCP's various lines of business which include: Disney Toys, Disney Apparel, Accessories & Footwear, Disney Food, Health & Beauty, Disney Home and Disney Stationery. Other businesses involved in Disney's consumer products sales are Disney Publishing Worldwide, the world's largest publisher of children's books and magazines, and disneyshopping.com, the company's official shopping portal. The Disney Stores retail chain, which debuted in 1987, is owned and operated by Disney in North America and Europe. The Disney Stores chain in Japan is operated under a license agreement with Disney. For more information, please visit disneyconsumerproducts.com; visit the official DCP YouTube channel YoutTube.com/DisneyLiving or follow us at Facebook.com/DisneyLiving and Twitter.com/DisneyLiving.

About adidas

D Street is set to take over the spot where Illuminations candle store was before it closed in April, said Michelle Harker, a marketer for Disneyland merchandising.

The new store’s opening is set for Tuesday, followed  with special events and trunk shows the rest of the week. D Street also will be a flagship store for Vinylmation figures — vinyl collectible toys decorated with specialized art.

The store is designed to have industrial-type space showcasing Disney-inspired art by local and underground artists, as well as other designer clothes, pop-culture novelties and collectibles, according to a Disney newsletter. Some clothes will come from Disney Couture, Mighty Fine, Harajuku Lovers, Ed Hardy and Junk Food.

The store also will be home to the artwork of California artist, Noah, who is planning a special event Dec. 19.

Some of the higher-end designer items that used to be at the Vault 28 store will move to D Street, Harker said. Read a previous story about Vault 28 HERE.

D Street will feature more men’s clothing and male-geared products.

Other D Street stores are expected to be added elsewhere in the future.

The Anaheim store will be the flagship store. (Photo shows the D Street storefront on the left.)

Here is the schedule for next week:

Tuesday, Dec. 15: Official opening.

Wednesday, Dec. 16, 4 to 7 p.m.: Goorin Bros. Hats Trunk Show.

Thursday, Dec. 17, 4 to 7 p.m.: Junk Food Trunk Show.

Friday, Dec. 18, 4 to 7 p.m.: Ed Hardy Trunk Show.

Saturday, Dec. 19:

• 10 a.m. to noon, Create your own vinyl experience with Noah. The first 100 customers can buy vinyls — $9.95 for the 3-inch size and $39.95 for the 9-inch size — to decorate themselves.

• 2 to 5 p.m.: Art demonstration and signing with Noah.

That was part of Iger’s message last week at President Obama’s jobs summit, and the CEO reemphasized his point during Tuesday’s Mad Money, which was the second installment of the show's Invest in America Week.

The US has “among the highest, if not the highest,” corporate tax rate in the world, Iger told Cramer. And that makes countries with lower rates more attractive to businesses – even one as iconically American as Disney.

Iger admitted that, though the company’s goal is to do “most of our business here,” there are “opportunities” to move jobs offshore to capitalize on the tax differential.

“So if America is interested in keeping jobs here or in creating jobs,” Iger said, “we suggest that it’s certainly something that needs to be looked at.”

The show is called “Villains Tonight!” and it is the first full-scale musical production dedicated to the Disney villains. The show is a family-friendly comedy that places our famous evil-doers in some irreverent funny moments.

“Villains Tonight!” will premiere during the March 27 voyage aboard the Disney Magic and debut on the Disney Dream in early 2011.

Here is a first look at this new production:

Candlelight started in 1958 at Disneyland park, but the first photo we have of the ceremony is from 1959. The colors are so vivid, and Main Street, U.S.A. looks much like it does today. It seems as if the photo was just taken yesterday. However, if you look a little more closely, you’ll notice that the members of the choir are sporting various looks from the ’50s.

According to USA Today, health officials gave 2,200 doses to corporate clinics, as well as defense contractors, oil companies and cruise lines. 
 
The newspaper says it examined how state health departments distributed H1N1 vaccine after a public outcry last month over Wall Street firms such as Goldman Sachs receiving doses, while doctors and hospitals encountered shortages.

The data shows Walt Disney World received the doses for college-age theme park workers and members of its 100-person medical team.

Disney News - In 2010, Disney Cruise Line will offer the most diverse itineraries in the line's history – sailing Mediterranean, Northern European, Caribbean and Bahamian routes. With a wide variety of European itineraries, Disney Cruise Line is working closely with local tour operators to create family-friendly Port Adventures that allow guests to best experience these culturally rich and exotic locales.

All Port Adventures will offer impeccable Disney guest service and are designed to entertain and inspire both children and adults – in true Disney fashion. Added touches such as more scheduled breaks, complimentary snacks and beverages, and fun port journals for kids are provided on all Disney Cruise Line Port Adventures.

While every port of call will offer Port Adventures for families to enjoy together, many tours integrate separate activities for children and adults. While kids are engaged in age-appropriate activities supervised by youth counselors from the ship, parents are given the opportunity to explore cultural sites and points of interest in greater depth.

For the 2010 European season, each itinerary will include at least one tour that features distinctly Disney touches, beloved characters and rich storytelling to help bring local culture and customs to life. Itineraries also will showcase authentic cultural experiences in intimate, upscale settings during Signature Collection tours.

Some of the Port Adventures exclusive to Disney Cruise Line guests include:

Distinctly Disney

At one port of call, on both Mediterranean and Northern European itineraries, a magical, one-of-a-kind experience brings local history and stories to life with the help of some Disney friends.

For example, in St. Petersburg, Russia, the majestic Catherine Palace provides the setting for an elaborate Royal Ball. The noble estate served as Russia's imperial family summer residence for more than 200 years, but on this Port Adventure it is Disney Cruise Line guests who are treated like royalty.

Catherine Palace is the stage for a grand gala hosted by Disney princesses such as Cinderella, Snow White and Belle. Arriving by horse-drawn carriages, the princesses and their princes will entertain guests in the gilded Grand Ballroom.

Live musicians and royal courtiers resplendent in period costumes and powdered wigs add to the ambiance and lead guests in song, dance and regal revelry.

Something for Everyone

At many ports of call during the 2010 European season, at least one Port Adventure will bring youth counselors from the Disney Magic ashore to join the tour and direct special activities for children. While kids are enjoying "mini adventures" designed just for them, adults on the tour continue on with a more in-depth exploration of the destination. Everyone reconnects later in the tour to share their experiences.

During a tour of Florence, families experience city highlights together then divide into separate groups for their own style of fun. Children spend about an hour honing their skills as the next Michelangelo as they create their own traditional Italian fresco painting. During this time, parents are free to explore the rest of the impressive Palazzo Vecchio and take a deeper dive into the masterpieces of this Florentine palace.

Family Adventures

Unique to Disney Cruise Line, one-of-kind family adventures will be offered at select ports of call. These immersive, interactive tours allow families to experience the sites and culture of the destination in a fun and entertaining way while spending quality time together.

In one instance, the Sidi Bou Said Treasure Hunt in Tunis guides families throughout focal points of this popular destination by following clues. This entertaining quest brings to life the culture, sites, sounds and flavors of the city.

As part of this Port Adventure, families visit a traditional Tunisian house, learn about the origin of Sidi Bou Said from a local storyteller, receive a hand-painted henna tattoo, bargain with local merchants for a keepsake water vessel, sip freshly prepared mint tea and get their name written in Arabic as a souvenir.

Signature Collection

Signature Collection tours are found on all Disney Cruise Line itineraries and will be available as part of the 2010 European season. These exclusive tours are customized for guests seeking deluxe experiences ashore in intimate, upscale settings.

In Florence, the Tuscan Cooking School and Wine Tasting takes guests on a northern Italian culinary journey. An authentic Tuscan farmhouse is the venue where guests learn how to create delectable Tuscan cuisine using fresh, local ingredients.

An Italian chef provides one-on-one instruction and guides the hands-on participation. Guests then enjoy their culinary creations such as antipasto, grilled meats, pasta, focaccia and cantucci – traditional Tuscan almond biscotti. A sampling of wines bottled onsite at the farmhouse provides the perfect pairing to the regional feast.

Disney Blog - Sounds like the battle between the Hotel and Restaurant workers of UNITE HERE and the Disneyland resort is heating up. After the company was perceived to increase their workload unreasonably, to the point of possibly injuring some employees, the hotel workers have decided they had enough.

A half-day walk out was staged on Sunday with about 75 employees walking off the job from their positions at the three Disneyland hotels. A Disneyland spokesman said that other employees were called in to do the work and no guests were affected.

Gibson is retiring. His last broadcast as anchor on "World News" will be Dec. 18. Sawyer starts Dec. 21.

The 63-year-old Sawyer has been on "GMA" for 10 years. She says: "I've calculated - 2,881 shows. Roughly."

Sawyer made the announcement Monday. She says she hopes "GMA" viewers will "celebrate with us this week, and laugh with us this week, and look back a little with us this week."

And, (gasp! swoon! sigh!) I forgot the Jonas Brothers were going to be there.

It was chaotic, to say the least. Main Street USA was essentially blocked to all traffic. I was trying to get to Frontierland and was directed by cast members out a side gate at Town Square (by the hat shop), through a backstage parking area, over the area that used to be the Galaxy Theatre in Tomorrowland (yes, it really is all gone) and then entered the park near Buzz Lightyear.

It took a long time to get to Frontierland. A very long time. At one point, looking across the Fantasyland concourse, I almost gave up. It was wall-to-wall people without a pass-through in sight. But I persevered.

My goal was to see Princess Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee. And I would have just made it … except the 12:15 show was cancelled. The princess was held up   — you guessed it, filming the Christmas parade.

There are people who thrive on the excitement of a crowded park. I am not one of them so I didn’t hang around for long. And, no, I did not even try to see the Jonas Brothers.

Favorite exchange as I walked by a bevy of lights and cameras, with park guests crowded around.

Man: Who’s the celebrity over here?

Woman: Kelly Ripa! (who has co-hosted the parade, as well as her talk show with Regis Philbin, for years)

If you haven’t tried The Pirates League experience, it’s unique. You’re given an official “pirate name” before a Pirate Master transforms your appearance with scars, fake teeth, eye patches and other special touches. Here’s a look at the three packages offered:

The First Mate Package at $49.95 plus tax includes:

• Bandana (reversible)
• Choice of Facial Effect look: Cursed Pirate, Captain Hook or Captain Jack
• Fake Teeth
• One (1) 5×7 picture

Empress Package at $49.95 plus tax includes:

• Bandana (reversible)
• Vibrant and Bold Makeup Makeover
• Face Gem
• Nail Polish
• One (1) 5×7 picture

Additional pirate costumes for this package are available for purchase at The Pirates League.

The Captains Package at $124.95 plus tax includes:

• Choice of pirate costume
• Choice of Facial Effect look: Cursed Pirate, Captain Hook or Captain Jack
• Fake Teeth
• Three (3) 5×7 pictures

The third annual Coins for Change campaign, which runs from December 11-21, 2009, allows the children who visit Club Penguin to donate the virtual coins they earn playing games in the virtual world to support a cause that matters to them.

Players can choose to support kids who are sick, kids who are poor or the environment. At the end of the campaign, the players’ donations serve as votes to determine how a $1M contribution will be divided to fund projects being conducted by charitable organizations selected by Disney Online Studios Canada.

“Since we launched Coins for Change in 2007, we’ve been blown away by the passion our players display for getting involved and doing their part to affect change and make the world a better place,” says Lane Merrifield, one of Club Penguin’s co-founders and executive vice president of Disney Online Studios Canada and Disney Online. “With millions of children and families in more than 190 countries now enjoying Club Penguin in English, Portuguese, French and Spanish, I think our audience will embrace the opportunity to make a difference through Coins for Change this year like never before.”

Players can donate virtual coins at multiple locations around the island of Club Penguin. For the first time this year they can also place a personal donation booth in their virtual igloo and host fundraising parties for their penguin friends, or attend benefit concerts at the Lighthouse. In addition, this year’s campaign will include suggestions on things children can do in their own communities to help others.

“With so many kids from around the world playing on Club Penguin, we want to continue to encourage that sense of community online and offline, and really get them thinking about their role as true global citizens who have the power to help others both where they live and around the world,” adds Merrifield.

Club Penguin is one of the largest and fastest-growing virtual worlds for children with a reputation for providing fun for kids and peace of mind for parents. Word filters and live moderators monitor chat and activity on the site and work to prevent the sharing of inappropriate or personally identifiable information.

Club Penguin is free to play, however special features such as front-of-the-line access to game features, exclusive parties and opportunities to customize your penguin and igloo require a membership.

About Club Penguin

Club Penguin (www.clubpenguin.com), a product of Disney Online, provides one of the largest and fastest-growing virtual worlds for children. Club Penguin works to maintain a fun and safe online entertainment experience by using filtering technology and live moderators. The virtual world of Club Penguin, contains no third-party advertising and is free to use and enjoy, however a subscription membership provides access to additional features that enhance the play experience. Club Penguin is headquartered in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, and can be played in English, Portuguese, French and Spanish.

About Disney Online

Another cruise line that is pulling destinations is Carnival Cruises. Jennifer de la Cruz, the company’s spokeswoman, said that the decision to suspend the trips to Earth Village was only temporary. She went on to say that the company is offering other trips as an alternative for people who have been affected.

Several Europeans were among a group of 18 tourists that were held up by two men armed with shotguns during a guided tour of an eco park over the weekend. The local guide was tied up and a woman was hit in the face with the butt of one of the shotguns. The robbers took money, passports and cameras from the passengers.

This attack actually mirrors another incident that happened last month when 11 cruise passengers were also robbed at gunpoint while visiting the Queen’s Staircase, which is one of the city’s landmarks. The police authorities in Nassau have reported a very sharp rise in muggings in the city. This included the recent attack on a Canadian tourist as he walked along Bay Street, which is close to cruise line terminals.

Swindon in Wiltshire, famous for its old rail works and site of a major Honda car factory, was selected today as the first ever twin town of Florida-based Walt Disney World.

Disney, dreams, and willing dupes

AnnArbor - This Thanksgiving, we went to Disney World.

Disney World is fun. It's also expensive, crowded, and often tedious (lines for rides, lines for food). And,
of course, the entire experience is patently constructed -- not just the costumes and animatronics, not just the
mishmash of faux architecture, from log cabin to gothic castle. They try to freeze time itself.

For instance: despite all the trees and plants (which require a staff of hundreds of horticulturists to maintain), you never see a
sapling -- if a mature tree dies or gets damaged, they replace it with a 30-year-old specimen from their on-site tree farm. The
streets are steam-cleaned nightly to give the impression that dirt doesn't exist. It's a wholesale falsification of reality. To
paraphrase my friend Dan: "Every speck is set in place for my enjoyment." What a flattering artifice. And people eat it up --
the Magic Kingdom alone gets 17 million visits per year, more than any theme park on earth.

When you take your kids to Disney World, what you're paying for (handsomely) are certain expressions of joy that are difficult
to squeeze from children in everyday life. The look on a five-year-old's face when Belle, in her trademark yellow gown, passes
by on a parade float; an eight-year-old's jubilant "that was awesome" after a pass through the Haunted Mansion. These moments
make you giddy. You brought them here. You gave them this. You are the world's greatest parent.

So yeah: I'm a willing dupe. I heart Disney. I've been before and I'll probably go again.

Of course, love is full of contradictions. There's plenty about Disney World to disturb a progressive-minded person. All that
sterilizing maintenance can't be terribly ecological. And that big castle in the middle of the park smacks of social hierarchy and
exclusive privilege. 

You have two choices if you want to go inside: the overpriced dinner with a teenage pageant veteran dressed as Cinderella, or
the overpriced "boutique" which offers to turn your daughter into a miniature Cinderella.

We did not go inside the castle.

(I called and called but couldn't get a reservation.)

As we entered the park on Thanksgiving morning, a show was beginning on the castle steps. The theme was "Dreams Come True." Minnie and Donald and Goofy were dancing and singing about dreams, and how they come true. Then Mickey came out and joined the chorus. Soon the characters started to ask about each other's dreams. Minnie dreamed of princesses; and lo! Snow White and Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty danced out. Goofy and Donald dreamed of being pirates; and lo! they donned pirate costumes and had a pretend swordfight. Then Captain Hook and Smee appeared and chased them around the stage, until Peter Pan arrived to challenge Hook to a pretend real swordfight. And so on.

Zoe headed off toward the Swiss Family Treehouse with Mom. But Jocelyn was hooked, so she and I weren't going anywhere.

Now the Evil Queen from "Sleeping Beauty" arrived and threatened to make Disney World into the place where nightmares come true! Gasp! There was only one way to defeat her: by believing in dreams. Donald Duck bravely strode up and told her that he believes in dreams, but she just scoffed, because who cares what a duck thinks? We had arrived at the vital crowd participation moment. Mickey and Minnie implored us all to chant, "Dreams come true! Dreams come true!" in order to vanquish the Evil Queen. That's when Jocelyn and I went to catch up with Zoe and Mom.

I mean, I get the appeal of "call and response," the idea of making folks feel like part of the experience, even if it's just stepping
into a narrow niche in the script.

But there are few things I find creepier than a crowd chanting in unison because some leader told them to. Can you think of
anything less imaginative, less like a dream coming true, than doing exactly what everyone else is doing, all because someone told
you to?

This, ultimately, is what bothers me most about Disney World. The concepts of "imagination" and "dreams" are hollowed out and
re-purposed as slogans for the Disney brand. That parade later in the day, in which Belle and other Disney heavyweights wave
from the high perches of their floats? It's the "Dreams Come True" Parade. Recognizing and identifying favorite characters, one
after another: this apparently is the dream. For both my daughters it was a highlight of the day. But it impoverishes the idea of
dream, doesn't it, when the range of possibility we are invited to imagine is which Disney costume we'd prefer to try on?

Also, fans can log onto the DisneyChannel.com to vote for their favorite Disney Channel episodes to be part of the Disney Channel’s New Year’s Eve lineup!

And there’s more! Fans can also vote for their favorite music videos from this past year, and listen to the songs on Radio Disney on New Years Eve.