DisneyParks Blog - With one Grammy already under their belt for “Best Regional Mexican Album,” Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea, an all-women mariachi group, is nominated again this year. We are lucky enough to have this talented group of ladies at Disney’s California Adventure park weekends (since 2003) at the Pacific Wharf area. The group members represent several nationalities: Mexican, Cuban, Argentinean, Colombian, Panamanian, Puerto Rican, Swiss, Japanese, Honduran, Peruvian, Tongan and Anglo. The video below was shot in a performance for media on the “Drawn to Magic Stage” in Hollywood Pictures Backlot on January 11. If you haven’t had a chance to see the Mariachi Divas in person, check them out on this video.

DisneyParks Blog - If you visit Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, chances are you’ll notice Guests walking with their heads down…admiring the floor. It’s hard not to. The new Italian marble draws your eyes. And now that work is complete, we’re sharing images.

The floor incorporates Disney characters into its design. We’re told that placement of the characters was carefully chosen, and each location has special significance to the character’s story and personality. Here are the featured characters and their locations:

• Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald & Pluto are shown mostly in silhouette in an intricate pattern inside the main first-floor entrance, along with the circular “GF” logo. The exact same pattern is repeated on the second-floor landing opposite the Monorail Station.
• Mickey & Minnie (in silhouette) are part of a pattern outside the dining room of 1900 Park Fare.
• Mickey, Minnie, Goofy & Donald are part of a large circular pattern in the rotunda outside the Grand Floridian Café.
• Mrs. Potts & Chip (and a rose) are outside the Garden View Tea Room.
• Silhouettes of Cinderella and Prince Charming are at the foot of the Grand Staircase.
• Peter Pan and the Darling children (Wendy, John & Michael) are shown flying in silhouette inside the lobby entrance beneath the Grand Staircase.
• Tinker Bell (in silhouette) is part of a pattern opposite the lobby’s twin elevators on the first and second floor.

ChipCo. - Disney’s Doorway to Dreams is your magical gateway to discover the world of Disney Vacation Club — Disney’s vacation ownership program.

Discover a unique way to vacation — the Disney way! Knowledgeable Disney Cast Members will show you how affordable it can be to vacation at Disney destinations, as well as how you can visit more than 500 worldwide Member Getaways with Disney Vacation Club.

New as of January 2010!

Epcot: Tokyo Dining Location Only (Not Teppan Edo)
Disney’s BoardWalk Resort: Kouzzina by Cat Cora (formerly Spoodles)
Disney’s Wide World of Sports: ESPN Sports Cafe
DOWNTOWN DISNEY Marketplace: Fulton’s Crab House
DOWNTOWN DISNEY Pleasure Island: Portobello
DOWNTOWN DISNEY West Side: House of Blues, Wolfgang Puck Cafe
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort: Il Mulino New York Trattoria, Kimonos, Shula’s Steak House, Todd English’s bluezoo

Sue Wong for Walt Disney Signature will feature pieces influenced by key story characters and locations, including Alice, the Red Queen, the White Queen, the White Rabbit and the talking flower garden. The Alice In Wonderland-inspired collection will showcase unique details inspired by the film, such as Victorian antique lace and vibrant details, while offering Sue Wong's signature style: romance, femininity and exquisite hand-craftsmanship.

"I have long been mesmerized by the fantastical tales of Alice and her surrealistic adventures in Wonderland and am thrilled to be collaborating with Disney on this project," explains designer Sue Wong. "This classic story, along with Tim Burton's inspired interpretation, lends itself especially well to my design aesthetic, which is whimsical and fun, while adding yet another element of creativity and expression to my artistic process. It is an honor to help bring this marvelous tale to life."

"Disney has been influencing fashion trends for several years thanks in part to the universal appeal of our characters and to the inspiration from such creative works of art as Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland," said Robert Oberschelp, director, Disney Lifestyle Collections for Disney Consumer Products. "Our collaborations with top designers like Sue Wong have also enabled us to keep our lifestyle collections fresh and vibrant serving up an aspirational effect with consumers and Disney fans of all ages."

DisneyParks Blog - On January 15, in celebration of National Hat Day, some of you will surely be an “ear” above the rest. Hats big and small, quirky and sensible, fun and fancy or worn simply as a fashion statement will be all the rage this month. Hats have been a staple throughout the centuries, worn by notable individuals like Abraham Lincoln as well as entertainers and actors, performers and athletes, and even by people like you and me.

From fedoras and straw hats to cowboy hats and your favorite sports team cap, a hat is the perfect addition to any attire. And here at Disney Parks and Resorts it’s no different. Our most notable hat, of course, dates back to the Mickey Mouse Club ear hat, which is still the most popular, decades later.

Here’s a fun fact: To date, more than 80 million Mickey ear hats have been sold. In 2005, more than 1 million Golden Mickey Mouse ears were sold in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Disneyland park.

In 2010, an array of hats from Disney Theme Park Merchandise will provide shade, disguise, holiday cheer or simply fashion-friendly looks, including our classic Mickey Mouse ear hats, Princess hats, Goofy hats, the famous Mad Hatter hat, pirate themed hats, baseball hats, holiday hats, a Grumpy hat, and even a Create-Your-Own ear hat. New this year, amongst all the other headwear being offered, we’re adding hats with an ice cream and a popcorn theme. Headwear Product Developer Megan Kachur says, “We have hats to fit all ages, sizes and personalities.”

Here are some tips on how to celebrate National Hat Day today!

ABC said Thursday that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and City Council President Eric Garcetti will both shoot episodes at the show's new production studio near downtown Los Angeles this month.

The show recently moved back to Los Angeles after 40 years of shooting in New York.

ABC says Villaraigosa will shoot a scene with Susan Lucci, who plays Erica Kane. Writers are still trying to figure out a plot twist that puts the mayor in the fictional city of Pine Valley, Pa.

The network says Garcetti will appear with actor David Canary, discussing making Adam Chandler's businesses "more environmentally friendly."

There have been lead scares, baby bottle scares and Christmas toy scares. And now, Sanders and other parents have something else to worry about: cadmium, which the nation's product-safety chief warned this week could be present in cheap jewelry.

The warning came after The Associated Press reported that tests had showed high levels of cadmium in children's jewelry imported from China. Like lead, cadmium can hinder brain development in children and even cause cancer, according to recent research.

It wasn't clear if Emma's new trinkets were dangerous, but Sanders, of Corfu, N.Y., wasn't taking any chances. And she wasn't alone.

In Chicago, Jennifer Seaver was planning to throw away all the cheap jewelry her 7-year-old, Julia, had amassed from goodie bags or gifts.

"I'm definitely only going to let her wear jewelry that's gold or silver, that I buy her," said Seaver, 38, who was shopping on Michigan Avenue. "I figure it's an easy thing to avoid," she said of the cadmium. "Those are all cheap things that can easily be thrown away."

Seaver said she felt relatively calm about the warning from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's chairman, Inez Tenenbaum — perhaps because there had been so many scares in recent years. "Maybe because it happens so frequently, it makes me immune," she said.

Others were angrier.

"When is America going to learn?" asked Theresa Savoie, a 53-year-old grandmother strolling through a mall in Gretna, La., with her 16-month-old grandson. "Everything you buy says `Made in China,' and every time you turn around there's another government warning."

Many were concerned about the lack of specifics in the government's guidance.

"I wish somebody would give me a little bit more detail as to what's bad and what's not, so we don't overreact," said Cynthia Dermody of Pleasantville, N.Y., a mother of two and an editor of the popular parenting Web site cafemom.com.

The CPSC said its main concern is young children biting, sucking on or even swallowing the trinkets. It is unclear whether there is any substantial danger in skin exposure. Dermody's 5-year-old daughter is no longer a baby, but she still sucks on the stuff.

"We've got this stuff all over the place, under couch cushions, everywhere," Dermody said. "It's pretty. It's colorful. It looks like candy. She's 5, so she should know better, but she does it anyway."

Also frustrating to Dermody: the lack of guidance on how to dispose of the jewelry. The CSPC said to do it in an environmentally proper manner, but what does that mean?

In that regard, Jennifer Taggart is ahead of most — the Los Angeles mom and environmental attorney learned during an earlier lead scare to dispose of most of her daughter's suspect trinkets during monthly hazardous-waste roundups in her community.

She plans to make another hunt and do the same now that cadmium is the problem.

"It's easier just to spend a little bit more money on sterling silver," said Taggart, a mother of two, including a 4-year-old girl. "Or make macaroni necklaces."

It's important to put it all in perspective, advised Susan Kane, editor of Parenting magzine. "Don't panic," she said. "In most cases of toxin warnings, experts agree — for the typical child, this is probably not going to be an emergency situation, unless the child has swallowed a toy or has been mouthing or chewing on it extensively."

Leah Ingram was following that advice.

"My kids aren't currently eating their jewelry, so it's not a problem for me," said the mother of two from New Hope, Pa. "As far as I'm concerned, if your children are young enough for you to be worrying about their brain development, they're too young to be

Bailey will be in charge of live-action film development, film production and physical production for Walt Disney Pictures and Touchstone Pictures.

Bailey is the founder and president of production company Ideology Inc. and counts the movies "Matchstick Men" and "Gone Baby Gone" among his producing credits.

The company announced other personnel changes Thursday as well.

Chuck Viane, president of distribution for the Studios, is now responsible for worldwide sales and distribution. Christine Cadena, a senior vice president of marketing, synergy and franchise development, was named a senior vice president responsible for diversity and multicultural work while Michelle Sewell was promoted to the post of senior vice president for global publicity at the division.

The company hinted that layoffs may be coming, too, saying in a statement that it will "continue its reorganization of the work force at Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment."

Starz is seeking a five-year extension of its deal to distribute Disney films through the Starz cable channels, as well as continued digital rights. Starz is a primary provider of streaming video content to Netflix, under a deal which basically treats the video rental service as simply one more pay television outlet, like cable and satellite operators. But Disney wants limits on the resale of its movies online.

The story says that how the digital rights issue is settled will figure into how much Starz will pay Disney, and whether Dreamworks Studios is included in the deal. Without Starz, Netflix would have to reach a deal directly with Disney.

A Disney spokeswoman confirmed to Bloomberg that the talks are taking place today, but declined further comment. Liberty declined comment, as did Netflix.

Meanwhile, the story also says that Disney is building its own online video subscription business that could start this year.

Disney News - Sure…some ran in costumes (pirates, princesses, Tinker Bell), but most runners who braved the record cold temperatures during the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend were wrapped in layers of winter clothes. And as they ran, they shed the clothes – 26,000 pounds worth.

When all was said and done, Disney Marathon organizers collected about 30,000 pieces of clothing, including hats, coats, gloves and sweaters. Now, the items are being laundered and will be delivered to Central Florida organizations like Harvest Time International, Salvation Army and Coalition for the Homeless.

Orlando Sentinel -There’s a different kind of Disney marathon coming Friday. Performance artist Brian Feldman will spend 11 hours going around in circles at the Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom.

The project, unofficial and not sponsored by Walt Disney World, is tied to the 35th anniversary of the rotating theater’s opening in Florida.

“There’s nostalgia at play here,” Feldman says. He remembers visiting the Tomorrowland attraction as a kid and that his father got to see it during the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. 

“He was always singing the song,” Feldman says.

Which one, I asked him. “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” or “The Best Time of Your Life”?

“I think he did a mashup of both of them,” he says.

Feldman, 29, says he’ll spend Friday entering and re-entering the attraction, which features four scenes following Animatronic families through various decades. His favorite part was always the finale.

“I’ve always been partial to the future, so it’s always been Act 4 – whatever the update was,” he says.

“I really enjoy it all. It’s a genuine emotion I have toward the attraction.”

He was surprised by others liking the Carousel.

“They’re coming out of the woodwork,” he says. “Friends of mine that we never talked about that particular ride or any ride at all, but you mention Carousel of Progress and they go ‘Yes! That’s my favorite!’ I had no idea.”

Feldman, who has lived in Orlando about 20 years, has performed a variety of unusual feats over the years, including leaping from a 12-foot ladder all day on Leap Year Day, organizing giant pillow fights and conducting interviews in the swan boats on Lake Eola.

“This is one of the easiest things I’ve ever done,” Feldman says. “I’ve never done anything at the parks, and I’ve been wanting to. It’s impossible as an Orlando artist to ignore the attractions. You have to embrace it. Had I been doing it in the summer, with Extra Magic Hours, this could have gone for 17 hours.”

Still, he’s not a crazy man. He could have gone with another Magic Kingdom staple.

ESPN executive vice president John Skipper says the decision is based on the cable network's higher ratings.

ESPN has aired six races a year the past three seasons, while ABC has had 11 each year.

ESPN's portion of the NASCAR schedule will begin with the July 25 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. ABC will air Saturday night races at Bristol, Richmond and Charlotte.

Sterling Knight (Sonny With A Chance) and Danielle Campbell (Prison Break) headline StarStruck, a re-telling of the story of a celebrity forced to choose between the girl and his career. Knight is Hollywood pop star Christopher Wilde who unexpectedly meets Jessica Olson, a down-to-earth girl visiting from the Midwest. As he shows her around the city, the pair develop a friendship, but their bond is tested when Christopher publicly denies knowing her.

The movie also stars Brandon Mychal Smith (Sonny With A Chance) and Chelsea Staub (JONAS). StarStruck is directed by Michael Grossman (90210, Grey’s Anatomy) and executive-produced by Doug Sloan (Princess Protection Program, Minutemen).

Knight’s music video, “StarStruck,” makes its world premiere Friday on Disney Channel, DisneyChannel.com, RadioDisney.com and Disney.com. 

On Saturday, Radio Disney’s Road Crew is hosting a party from 1 to 3 p.m. at IKEA, 4092 Eastgate Drive, Orlando. Guests will have opportunities to win copies of the movie’s soundtrack, which includes “Make A Movie” by Radio Disney’s N.B.T. (Next Big Thing) winner, 15-year-old Jasmine Sagginario. One local winner will be entered in the grand-prize drawing for a StarStruck weekend in Hollywood, with stops at popular attractions and lunch with Knight.

Radio Disney will begin playing the soundtrack Feb. 6, and it will be in stores Feb. 9. Mitchel Musso and Anna Margaret also are featured.

For once, he looked his age of 17 years old. For once, he looked nervous.

Then, a sudden rush of conviction: Before anyone else in the room had the chance, he spoke.

"What'd you think of the show?" he asked almost sheepishly, his eyes darting back and forth. It wasn't industry small-talk. Nor was it the normal glad-handing that tends to take place in these situations. Far from the normal, confident stare he so often showcases on camera and onstage, his face was flushed with palpable concern. Having once caught his Disney Channel show J.O.N.A.S., I can say this much with certainty: This was honest-to-goodness self-doubt. Nick Jonas just isn't that good of an actor.

I answered his query: For such a young musician, he's indeed a fine performer. His experience playing sold-out arena shows with the Jonas Brothers no doubt helped on that front. And his band, The Administration, which consists mostly of members of Prince's New Power Generation, showcased a mind-boggling level of musicianship at this first performance.

As for the music? Well, it managed to surprise. As advertised, this wasn't the same pop schlock that he and his older brothers have been putting out since their 2006 debut; rather, this was rootsy, rocky fare with some pop undertones to make it easily digestible for the young fans in attendance. There were ballads, of course, but also a few surprisingly brooding and driving blues- and roots-rock efforts that showcased the young singer-songwriter's expanding tastes. All in all, it was a far more enjoyable experience than could've been expected.

At this, he smiled—just a little bit—and seemed to stand a few inches taller.

"It felt good," he said, starting to sound somewhat satisfied.

Really, though: How could it not feel good? For the entirety of his hour-long show, the House of Blues was filled with the screams and squeals and shrieks of a rabid teenage girl fan base. Certainly, this solo debut from the youngest and reportedly most-talented member of the Jonas Brothers reaped the benefits of that other outfit's success, whether or not that was Nick's aim.

"I guess there's just a sense of relief that the first one is out the way," he said.

But what next? His soon-to-be-released debut, Who I Am, features a more adult sound for sure—much more John Mayer than, say, Justin Bieber—and comes off plenty sophisticated too, what with the caliber of the musicians he's playing alongside. So it certainly appears to be an attempt to lure in a wider audience, perhaps one that skews a little older, maybe leaving his old fans at something of a loss.

It made for a weird dichotomy, visually, as Jonas ran through his practiced motions and poses while performing on stage. Here he was, looking to establish himself as something of a legitimate artist along the lines of a young Bruce Springsteen (he's been quoted as saying he's modeled The Administration after The E Street Band), and yet, each movement—a head bob here, a guitar riff there—resulted in giddy gasps and cries from his fans, none of whom had heard this music before. When each song came to its end, it remained unclear: Were these fans screaming because they enjoyed what they were hearing or were they screaming just because that's how they've been programmed to react? When the excitement of hearing these songs in a live setting rubs off, will these girls still be interested in the merits of these songs?

"That's not something I'm afraid of," Jonas said.

That's mostly because he's confident in the music, he explained. More than that, though, he's banking on his fans' loyalty. Earlier in the night, on stage, he joked to his fans that he expected all those at the show with cameras to post videos of his performance on YouTube that night—not so much for posterity as for education. These videos would help future audiences familiarize themselves with his catalog. And whereas this evening's crowd may have been at a loss when it came to singing along to certain lyrics, future ones would have them laid out before them.

"If they can be on board from day one with the sound, that'd be awesome," he said after the show. "It's a little more random this time around, I think. I don't know what to expect going forward."

True to form though, within hours of his set's conclusion on Saturday night, the entirety of Jonas' show was available to be watched online, through various clips. His fans may be growing up—this was far more a teenage audience than a tween one—but their practices remain the same.

But it's not just Nick who is adjusting to an older demographic. Just outside of his private room, his brothers Kevin and Joe were milling about. Kevin, recently married, stood arm in arm with his new bride. Meanwhile, Joe, who is apparently going to be focusing on acting as the Jonas Brothers go on hiatus, boasted about his younger brother's show.

"It was great," said Joe. "He's gonna go really far with this tour and his music. We're really proud of him."

And, likely, they're all proud to be turning the page and moving onto the next chapters of their lives. The Jonases aren't the only ones appearing to be doing so. Their fellow teen idol from suburban Dallas, Demi Lovato, appears to be growing up too. She attended the recent Neon Indian-headlined show at the Granada Theater, then followed up her experience by tweeting that Neon Indian was her new favorite band, and that the band's "Deadbeat Summer" track was her new favorite song. It's tough to imagine Mickey Mouse would approve; this is a band, after all, that has a song called "Should've Taken Acid With You." Similarly, beyond just Nick, the Jonas' musical tastes appear to be expanding. A recent tweet from the Jonas Brothers' joint account called out Boston buzz band Passion Pit and its song "The Reeling" as "Rad stuff!"

All that, one has to imagine, is encouraging. Since the Jonases took up shop in Westlake and since Colleyville's Lovato became a star (and with her, fellow Disney teen queen Selena Gomez of Grand Prairie), it's been a fun guessing game to play: What will come of all this local Disney-backed star power?

If nothing else, it seems to allow a front row seat as this young talent crop comes to grips with its changing priorities and perspectives.

And, as Nick showed at the House of Blues, though the final outcome remains unclear, it at least makes for one entertaining show.

Orlando Sentinel - Did anyone catch The Late, Late Show last night on CBS? Host Craig Ferguson was reading viewer e-mails, and the question was posed to him: “Who is your favorite Disney princess?”

Loved his answer, which he delivered instantly in his deadpan style: “Zac Efron.”

Craig cracked himself up, and then explained he had just watched Zac’s movie 17 Again. He tried to redeem himself, saying something along the lines of  “I thought Zac was just one of those Disney twits, but he has talent.” In fact, he commented on Zac’s talent a few times.

Yet he couldn’t resist adding… “But he’s still my favorite Disney princess.”

New York Times - The Walt Disney Company continues to slash and burn through the management ranks of its struggling motion picture studio as it works to return the division to profitability.

Oren R. Aviv, the studio’s top movie production executive, resigned under pressure on Tuesday. Mr. Aviv, who had been at Disney for 19 years, was responsible for the development and production of live-action movies like the forthcoming “Alice in Wonderland” and “Tron Legacy.”

In a management realignment in November, Rich Ross, the recently installed chairman of Walt Disney Studios, ousted a dozen managers, including top marketing and publicity executives. Mr. Aviv was spared and given a public vote of confidence, with Mr. Ross praising him for his “terrific filmmaker relationships and creative expertise.”

But it is now clear that the retention of Mr. Aviv was more about keeping a modicum of stability atop the studio as Mr. Ross installed other changes. Mr. Ross has been charged by Robert A. Iger, Disney’s chief executive, with rethinking matters such as how the company markets its movies in the digital era and how it schedules the release of films on DVD and on-demand services.

Another reorganization — focusing on the home entertainment division — lies ahead. Mr. Ross is expected to hire a new production chief shortly. A search for a new marketing president is continuing.

“I’m proud of the hundreds of movies I’ve helped to make and market, especially the studio’s upcoming films,” Mr. Aviv said in a statement. “I wish Disney, Bob Iger, Rich Ross and their new teams great success.”

Mr. Aviv, well liked in Hollywood’s creative community, was particularly instrumental in pushing the “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “National Treasure” franchises.

Mr. Ross said in a statement, “Oren’s significant contributions to the Walt Disney Studios are well documented.”

Orlando Sentinel - Vinylmation fans: January offers new pieces and special opportunities. On Friday (Jan. 15), the Cinderella 60th anniversary special edition Vinylmation will be introduced at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. On Jan. 22, a collector set featuring WALL-E and Eve will be released at both resorts with a limited edition size of 500.

Artists who have been involved with these projects, plus the Urban #3 collection, will be available to sign the collectibles from 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 29 at Art of Disney at Downtown Disney. You can meet Dan Howard (Urban #3), Maria Clapsis (Urban #3, WALL-E/Eve set) and Randy Noble (Cinderella 60th anniversary).

Urban #3 is now available at DisneyStore.com, which is running a sale on Vinylmation collectibles. Buy one clear series figure plus any other figure and save 50 percent on the clear figure. Also, there some pieces not included in the deal that are already marked down.

Finding Rare Error Pins

Disney News - Since the start of our 10th Anniversary of Disney Pin Trading celebration, I’ve had some time to reflect upon the number of pins we’ve released in the past 10 years. As discussed in a previous article, we are paying tribute to some of the more popular, frequently traded or highly desired pins via limited edition Tribute Collections. But what about those pins that we’d prefer to sweep under the rug? Yes, I’m talking about those pins that are affectionately known as “error” pins. While we aren’t paying tribute to them this year with a pin collection, they are still a part of the Disney Pin Trading story. It’s time to give them a brief moment in the spotlight.

I’m the first to admit that creating quality Disney merchandise is a top priority for the Disney Pin Team. We honestly don’t like “error” pins but have come to accept they will happen on rare occasions. We should have realized that “error” pins were going to be a part of the trading experience on January 1, 2000. It was on that day we released the now infamous “Januray” pin at Walt Disney World Resort . That’s correct – “January” was mis-spelled and it wasn’t caught until after the pin was released for sale. We’ve had a few more of those mis-spellings over the years including a more recent one released in 2009 (yes, I know how to spell “bobsleds” but clearly my spell check device was broken that day).

Are these “error” pins more valuable? I really don’t discuss pin value as I believe that all Disney pins are great (and therefore are priceless). The value of a particular pin will be different for every person. Like many collectible items in the world, value guidebooks exist for Disney pins. These guidebooks aren’t created by us, rather they are published by fans and collectors. We tend to focus on the trading value of pins. In other words, we like giving Guests something that will help them in making future trades with other Guests. At no time, however, do we plan for “error” pins. They are often a surprise to us (it’s probably my least favorite telephone call to receive).

There are some “error” pins that aren’t errors. They are known as pre-production pins. One step in the development process is reviewing a pre-production or first sample of a pin. After reviewing that pre-production pin, the product developer, a Cast Member who leads the development of pins, may make changes. A color fill or a feature that looked good in the artwork may not look so hot on the actual pin. If a change is made, the pre-production pin becomes unique. In November 2007, we began stamping the backs of pre-production pins with a “PP” mark to help our Guests (and us) identify those pins.

I often use pre-production pins for auctions at Disney pin events like the annual Disney Pin Celebration at Epcot. We’ve offered some unique pre-production auction lots that have given the winning bidder extremely unique pins for her or his collection. A great example of this is the Steamboat Willie pin pictured above. The pin on the left is the final production pin that was released for sale. The pin on the right was the pre-production pin featuring a different color fill. We didn’t like the purple color so it was switched to true black and white. The three pre-production pins featuring Steamboat Willie in purple were sold at auction during Disney Pin Celebration 2006.

Disney Studios tries to woo 'Twilight' guru Erik Feig away from Summit Entertainment

Los Angeles Times - Walt Disney Studios Chairman Rich Ross approached Erik Feig, head of production at Summit Entertainment and the executive behind the "Twilight" franchise, about succeeding Oren Aviv as production chief at the Burbank studio, according to people familiar with the talks. Ross ousted Aviv, an 18-year veteran of Disney, late yesterday and is scrambling to find his replacement.

Disney News - A quick update to begin the week…we’re thrilled to announce that our first “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” guests have arrived at Magic Kingdom Park. Megan Connors and Torey Bixler from the University of Maryland College Park volunteered for A Wider Circle organization to help distribute furniture to shelters. Both said they had planned a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort and decided to perform a day of volunteer service to receive a one-day admission ticket to the theme park.

There are still opportunities to participate in the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program – Just check disneyparks.com and sign up.

The participants had so much fun that runners are already registering for next year’s Disney Marathon Weekend, Jan. 6-9, 2011. That’s because the race is always a collage of extraordinary achievements, family fun and memorable moments that seemingly last a lifetime. Here’s a look at a couple of the heart-warming stories from this year’s race:

This second story features Mark Fitzgerald who ran the Walt Disney World Marathon to celebrate the life of his youngest daughter and the technology used to save her life:

But the promise of some free Disney magic lured more than 100 people to help Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana do just that.

As part of Disney’s “Give and Get” volunteer initiative, the first million people to help participating non-profits will receive a free ticket to Walt Disney World or Disneyland. A one-day adult pass costs $79, according to Disney’s Web site.

That prize brought Kelley Bowyer of Muncie, her husband and two children to Fort Wayne despite frigid weather. Bowyer, who is a middle school principal in Marion, said she learned about the Disney program through its advertising and learned that Junior Achievement was a participating group.

Because her students participate in some of the Junior Achievement activities already, she thought it would be appropriate to give back to the group. She and her daughter Sarah were busy cutting unused stickers into piles of 30 to keep the organization from having to buy new packs.

“It’s a good idea to introduce kids to community service and do it with them,” Kelly Bowyer said.

The family is planning a trip to Orlando, Fla., in the spring for Sarah’s 18th birthday.

Amber Schleinkofer, education director for Junior Achievement, said having the event open to young children and their families was one of the great things about her group’s volunteer efforts.

“This was a great opportunity for the entire family to get involved,” she said.

The influx of nearly 150 volunteers was of great help, Schleinkofer said. They helped the group recycle unused parts of their learning packets to create new packets for classrooms. She said the packets are designed for 32 students, but many classes don’t have that many.

The effort will reuse about $10,000 worth of materials, she said, and keep her staff from having to spend two weeks doing the work. This allows them to focus more on their primary responsibilities.

Junior Achievement works with students from kindergarten through 12th grade to help them understand business, citizenship, economics, entrepreneurship, ethics, financial literacy and work readiness.

A year sounds like a long time away, but local travel agents say it’s not too soon to book the Disney cruises, which will depart from Los Angeles and sail to the Mexican Riviera and Alaska.

“Savvy travelers know that if they want to go on a Disney cruise, they have to book early,” says Wes Rowland with The Cruise Experts Agency in Visalia. “There’s really nothing that compares to the Disney brand. And there’s a huge Disney market in the Central Valley.”

The Disney cruise joins the likes of Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International in making Southern California a port of departure.

Travel experts say January-March is known as the “wave season” for cruises because the three-month period is when the majority of sea treks are booked. Selecting a cruise now will assure some travelers of the best price.

“The cruise business was down a little last year, but we are seeing that the prices are going back up. That’s because the ships are going out full,” says Morrie Frazier, owner of the Clovis Cruise One travel agency.

The weak economy and the flu scare caused last year’s dip.

Frazier says cruises, in general, are popular because they offer such a broad range of entertainment and dining options — there is usually something to appeal to all ages.

What is making the 2011 move by Disney an attractive option for West Coast travelers is the way the cruise line is designed.

Jonathan Frontado, Disney Cruise Public Relations Manager, says each ship has areas of entertainment for the entire family or for specific age groups.

“We want to make sure that if the entire family wants to be together, there are places for them to go. But, if the children want to go off on their own, then we have special, supervised areas for them,” Frontado says.

The cruises offer a selection of live stage productions with Disney themes, including a musical version of “Toy Story” that can only be seen at sea. Disney shows the latest movies, opening all new films on the ships the same day that they open in theaters on land.

Disney has the only ships authorized to launch fireworks. The aerial display often complements deck performances with a Disney theme, such as “Pirates in the Caribbean.”

David Baldree, producer for Disney Cruise Line, has coordinated at-sea entertainment for five years. His duties range from youth-activity parties to deck shows to major production numbers in the ships’ massive Walt Disney Theatre. And his job is to make sure the entertainment fits all ages.

“We have activities for children, for families, for adults and … in-between with the teens and the tweens,” Baldree says. “The shows we do in the Walt Disney Theatre has to hit all those ages. So it can’t just be a show for kids. It can’t just be a show for adults.”

All of this entertainment is handled by about 200 cast and crew members.

For adults, there are many nightclubs and lounges, such as the Skyline and the Meridian Bar.

The ships offer a variety of dining choices, including restaurants with specific culinary themes where you can eat elaborate meals with American, French, Caribbean and Pacific Rim influences.

Christine Weissman, Disney Cruise Executive Chef, and the teams on each ship work to make dining a universal treat.

“Everything is planned from the morning until evening, and it is always a work in progress,” Weissman says. “We really look at new food trends while paying attention to what are guest favorites.”

Travel agents say the Disney cruises are popular because they’re kid-friendly but make an effort for all ages.

Disney World is offering a free day at one of its parks to volunteers who complete a day of service at the Collier animal shelter. Volunteers participating in the Disney promotion must be at least 8 years or older.

Collier Domestic Animal Services (DAS) is making an exception to its normal rule, which regulates participants to age 15 and older. To receive the one-day voucher for the theme park, Disney-registered volunteers must provide at least one day of service and anyone under the age of 18 is required to volunteer with a parent present.

A critical part of the animal adoption process, last year volunteers donated nearly 7,000 hours to the county shelter.

DAS officials hope the Disney promotion will drive even more participation in 2010. And at the first orientation of the New Year, families packed the room where DAS volunteer coordinator Kathleen Drew presented a slide show and talked about DAS animals.

Drew manages a force of more than 950 volunteers.

After an overview of the volunteer program, Drew took participants on a whirlwind tour of the shelter complex.

“Don’t touch” was the message of the tour, as attendees walked past cage after cage of dogs, cats, a bunny and even a horse that was abandoned when its owners lost their house last year.

Saturday’s cold, rainy weather left everyone at the orientation shivering as they meandered through kennel after kennel containing tame, wild, well and sick animals. The group escaped the chill and rain, gathering near an enormous dryer in the cat pavilion, prompting one participant to wish aloud that she could climb in the dryer and turn it on.

But the weather couldn’t dull the spirits of the children who came to the shelter with their parents and friends. Squeals of delight filled the rooms as the hopeful faces of the cats and dogs peered out at the children, accented by a chorus of barking and meows.

As if on cue, the animals vocalized their excitement at having so many visitors each time the group wandered into a kennel.

“This is a great learning experience for our kids,” said Sherri Scott of Bonita Springs, who attended the orientation with her husband, Richie, and two kids, Shelby and Rilie. “We have a dog so we were excited about coming to DAS, but this is also a great way to teach our kids responsibility – they will be working, helping the animals to earn their ticket to Disney.”

State law dictates DAS keep found animals for five days if they are not reclaimed. Unclaimed animals become property of DAS and adoptable pets are made ready for adoption.

“A lot of dogs got loose on New Year’s eve, spooked by fireworks,” Drew said. “We’ve been really happy to return many of them to their owners.”

One reason DAS is able to return so many dogs to owners is because more owners than ever before are having pet identification microchips implanted in pets. Cats aren’t usually as fortunate because few owners outfit cats with collars or tags.

Part of the mission of DAS is to promote the humane treatment of animals, positive outcome for shelter animals and responsible pet ownership, but the agency also is responsible for protecting Collier County residents and visitors from animal-related injury.

For this reason, though hundreds of animals in Collier County need good homes, not all animals who come into the DAS system are adoptable.

“Places like DAS are so important because they prepare these animals for adoption,” said dog trainer Lisa Kiefer, who owns and runs Naughty to Nice. “Many of these dogs are here because people haven’t trained them. As soon as possible when you get a dog, get him trained whether you attend a class or get a private trainer.”

The DAS shelter is at 7610 Davis Blvd. and is offering other volunteer orientation dates on Feb. 6, March 13 and April 10.

Interested participants must sign up for the DAS Disney volunteer promotion through the Web site DisneyParks.com to qualify for the one-day admission. DAS staff will then contact volunteers to schedule the orientation.