Hong Kong Disneyland limits holiday visitors

 

Shanghai Daily news - Hong Kong Disneyland yesterday set a limit on the number of visitors at peak hours during the coming Spring Festival at 34,000 -- the park's maximum capacity, the Guangzhou-based Information Times reported today.

To avoid a repeat of last year's chaos, visitors are being encouraged to make reservations for their trips and admissions will be reserved for those who buy tickets that are valid for the Special Week of February 17 to 24.

Ticket sales will be suspended when the number of visitors wanting to enter is too great, the park warned.

Opening time will also be two hours longer from 9am to 9 pm during the Special Week to receive more guests, the park said.

At last year's Spring Festival holidays, thousands of visitors, mainly from the mainland with valid tickets, were denied entry because the park was already beyond its allowed capacity.

The mass shut-out was resented and criticized by furious mainland visitors. Disney hastened to apologies and said it had learned a lot about China from the lunar New Year holiday fiasco.

Hong Kong Disneyland has attracted more than 5 million visitors since it opened in September, 2005 and three-fifths of the visitors were from the mainland, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

Disney World is magical for all ages

Newsday - Disney World events for the first half of 2007 range from themed children's parties to annual events showcasing flowers and sports.

The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival unfolds over two months, from April 5 to June 3, with topiaries, flower beds, water gardens and many other exhibits, along with seminars on gardening and crafts, a children's garden, a butterfly garden, nightly "Flower Power" concerts and themed festival weekends celebrating bugs, art and Mother's Day. Details at Disneyworld .com/flower.

The Atlanta Braves begin spring training in The Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex after the start of workouts in February. Tickets are on sale; for information and prices, go to Disneyworld sports.com.

Sports fans will also want to check out the fourth annual "ESPN the Weekend," March 2-4, at Disney-MGM Studios, with on-site ESPN telecasts, star motorcades, interactive sports activities and Q&A sessions with athletes and ESPN commentators.

Disney's Pirate & Princess Party takes place in the Magic Kingdom on 13 evenings starting Monday and running through March 8 and includes fireworks, a parade and a treasure hunt. Guests may want to attend in costume. Advance tickets are $36.95 plus tax for ages 10 and older, $29.95 plus tax for ages 3 to 9, and can be obtained by calling 407-934-7639 or visiting Disneyworld. COM/pirate and princess.

Also this year, as part of Disney's "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration, guests will be randomly chosen while visiting the park to spend the night in Cinderella's Castle. The suite accommodates up to six and includes a bedchamber, salon and bath off a private marble-floored lobby four stories above the Magic Kingdom.

As part of the "Year of a Million Dreams" on the West Coast, Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., will be selecting guests randomly to stay in the Mickey Mouse Penthouse at the Disneyland Hotel.

Special Disneyland Park Hours

Disneyland News - Due to a private event on Sunday, April 22, 2007, Disneyland Park will be opening at 6:30 a.m. and closing at 4:00 p.m. Disney's California Adventure Park will extend its hours that day and will be open from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.

Disney hires iTunes exec to run EMEA music arm

Reuters - Walt Disney Co.'s (DIS.N) Buena Vista music arm said on Friday it had hired a former Apple (AAPL.O ) iTunes executive to run its European business.

Martin Morales, a former European head of content for iTunes, has been appointed as executive director for Disney's Buena Vista Music group in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Disney said Morales' knowledge of the digital market would help as it seeks to strengthen its business throughout Europe.

Walt Disney was the first media company to make a deal with Apple to sell video on the iTunes music store when Apple in 2005 unveiled its iPod that also plays video.

It then started offering episodes of such hit shows as "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost" for electronic sale.

ABC reprimands; Washington sorry

USA Today - ABC chided Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington on Thursday for "inappropriate language" he used at Monday's Golden Globes, and Washington issued an apology.

"We have a long-standing policy to create and maintain respectful workplaces for all our employees," the network said in a statement. "We dealt with the original situation in October and thought the issue resolved. Therefore, we are greatly dismayed that (he) chose to use such inappropriate language at the Golden Globes, language that he himself deemed 'unfortunate' in his previous public apology. We take this situation very seriously. His actions are unacceptable and are being addressed."

Washington, who is said to have leveled a homophobic slur about co-star T.R. Knight on the set in October, repeated the term in a denial of the original incident on the night Grey's won the best-drama Globe.

In a statement Thursday, he said: "I apologize to T.R., my colleagues, the fans of the show and especially the lesbian and gay community for using a word that is unacceptable in any context or circumstance.

"By repeating the word Monday night, I marred what should have been a perfect night for everyone who works on Grey's Anatomy. I can neither defend nor explain my behavior. I can also no longer deny to myself that there are issues I obviously need to examine within my own soul, and I've asked for help."

Washington said he welcomed "the chance to meet with leaders of the gay and lesbian community to apologize in person and to talk about what I can do to heal the wounds I've opened."

And, he added, "T.R.'s courage throughout this entire episode speaks to his tremendous character. I hold his talent, and T.R. as a person, in high esteem. I know a mere apology will not end this, and I intend to let my future actions prove my sincerity."

Taking the Kids: Disney's Animal Kingdom

Dallas Morning News - It’s nearly midnight, and the kids aren’t even thinking about going to bed. I’m not making them, either.

What’s vacation for if we can’t bend the rules a little (or a lot). We’re in the huge pool at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, along with at least 50 other laughing, shrieking kids and their parents.

Welcome to the best part (at least from the kids’ perspective) of staying at a Walt Disney World hotel: Pools that are open 24/7, though the lifeguards leave after 10 p.m.

I have to agree with my young traveling companions: my cousin’s son, 10-year-old Max Weinberg, and his buddy, Jackson Solis, also 10. They’re convinced there’s no better way than jumping in the pool (again and again) to end a long day touring the theme parks — in our case, the nearby Animal Kingdom.

Open since 1998, Animal Kingdom isn’t usually kids’ first choice in Mouseville. After all, they can see a lot of animals in a zoo at home, they say.

But not like this. Not more than 1,000 animals from around the world , including more Nile hippos and African elephants than anywhere else in North America. During a couple of hours, you can you transport yourselves through an African savanna on one of the park’s Kilimanjaro Safaris, where lions, zebras and giraffes roaming freely; take a whitewater raft trip through a threatened rain forest on the Kali River Rapids; walk through a bamboo jungle (check out the gorillas!); and survive a runaway train on Expedition Everest, which opened last summer.

On Expedition Everest, the idea is that you’re riding a rickety rail car, climbing into the Himalayas about 200 feet from the mythical village of Serka Zong. Of course, all of this was lost on the two 10-year-olds, who didn’t even glance at the pre-attraction with its totems, buildings and prayer flags. They complained that the ride was slow, though they did love that we went backward as well as forward and that a giant Yeti (Disney’s largest Audio-Animatronics creation yet) jumped out at them.

This month, the new Finding Nemo - The Musical debuted at Animal Kingdom, featuring original songs by Tony Award-winning Avenue Q co-composer Robert Lopez and the theatrical puppetry of Michael Curry, who co-designed the Lion King puppets for Broadway. This new show marks the first time that Disney has taken an animated feature and transformed it into an original musical production with larger-than-life puppets. (Crush the turtle is nearly the size of a Volkswagen, and Nigel the pelican is 22 feet tall.)

The Animal Kingdom has something for every member of the family, even the welcome chance to have a leisurely lunch at the always-entertaining Rainforest Cafe (www.rainforestcafe.com). There’s probably no better time to visit than in winter, when hotel and airline prices can be lower and parks and hotels less crowded. In addition to visiting www.waltdisneyworld.com for value-season deals through mid-February, check www.orlandoinfo.com for the latest hotel deals.

The boys and I also discover that Animal Kingdom Lodge with its 1,200-plus rooms, gargantuan thatched-roof lobby and huge mud fireplace is a lot more than just a place to sleep. Animal Kingdom Lodge is known for its 33-acre savanna around the resort where hundreds of animals (giraffes, gazelles, zebras, wildebeests and more) roam freely. The boys watched the animals from our balcony and designated viewing spots around the resort. The chance to watch them through night-vision goggles was the best, they agreed.

The resort, where rooms at this time of year start at a little more than $200 a night, is elaborately and meticulously themed, with an extensive collection of authentic African masks, sculptures and jewelry in the lobby. Smiling young African men and women were stationed in the lobby, talking about their countries. There is African storytelling and the chance to become a junior safari researcher. Savanna guides were on hand to tell us about the animals. The boys weren’t paying much attention because they were too busy checking out the arcade ("Awesome," they declared) and racing around the lobby on their wheeled sneakers, showing off to younger kids watching cartoons on the big TV.

They turned up their noses at African food in the restaurant Boma - Flavors of Africa and stuck to chicken fingers and pizza. They were also thrilled when I excused them from a "fancy" dinner at the hotel’s outstanding Jiko - The Cooking Place (with a terrific South African wine list) and allowed them a room-service dinner.

Their favorite spot in the hotel, besides the pool, was the concierge-level lounge. Wherever we stay, I prefer a concierge room because even if it costs more, we save because breakfasts, drinks and snacks are free. When you’re 10, there’s nothing like getting Fruit Loops, chocolate croissant and grape juice for yourself (no waiting to be served here) and settling in front of a Mickey Mouse cartoon for breakfast.

For me, there was nothing better than collapsing on a comfy couch at the end of the day with a free glass of wine while the boys snacked on cookies and milk. If we’d had more time, we could have taken a game-viewing safari in the hotel’s savannas.

There’s plenty for kids to learn about the environment, animals and different parts of the world. But my guys were on vacation, they informed me, and fun, not learning anything, was their objective.

Maybe they absorbed a little by osmosis. I can hope, anyway.

Disney royalty

Worcester Telegram - Deb J. Melander thought she couldn’t top spending a week in the Florida sun, relaxing with her 19-year-old daughter and her daughter’s three college roommates on the beach — that is until they were treated like royalty for a day.

While they were walking around the Magic Kingdom at Disney World last week, a park employee named Fred approached them and started asking them questions. Where did they live and what college did the young women attend? A little skeptical about the attention, Ms. Melander, 54, of Shrewsbury, wondered what he wanted.

Then he told them that they had been chosen as grand marshals. It meant that they would lead the daily parade that winds through the park filled with thousands of waving, picture-taking tourists.

Donning personalized Mickey Mouse ears and riding an open cart at the head of the parade were Ms. Melander; her daughter, Heather; and friends Kathleen Fitzgerald, Caitlin McMullen and Nicole Muratore, all sophomores at Assumption College.

“When I took a look at their faces, they just dropped. There were millions of people around us, taking pictures and videotaping us. They were stricken at first, but the girls got into it,” Ms. Melander said.

To add to the festivities, they had pictures taken by a professional photographer. And a voice over a loudspeaker boomed out every so often throughout the parade, “Let’s welcome the Melander family from Shrewsbury, Massachusetts!”

Ms. Melander said her friend, Stephen McMahon of Waltham, a huge Disney fan, was thrilled for her. “He just thought it was the greatest thing. It is definitely something I won’t forget.”

This vacation was special for Ms. Melander because it is one of the few times she has traveled since her husband died in a car accident 10 years ago. Before his death, they had bought a vacation timeshare, but it hadn’t been used much except to be given away as gifts to friends and family.

After her husband’s death, she poured all her energy into her children. But with her daughter in college, and her son, John, graduating this spring from George Washington University, Ms. Melander found herself in a quiet house.

“The constant running around stopped,” she said. “I had to force myself to have a life of my own.”

Ms. Melander, a nurse, studied for her real estate license and obtained it last year. She also decided to start traveling more, and asked Heather if she wanted to join her over winter break.

They chose Star Island Resort & Club in Kissimmee, Fla., and Heather invited her roommates to come. Heather was an athletic standout at Shrewsbury High School and now plays soccer at Assumption. She was sidelined last season with a knee injury that required surgery.

“I was glad to be able to give this to her, because she missed most of the season,” Ms. Melander said. “She has been very diligent with her therapy. Her doctors say she is 95 percent back to normal.”

While many college students wouldn’t want their parents with them on vacation, Heather said she was happy to hang out with her mom and friends.

“We actually sat by the pool every day, and at night went out to dinner. It was a relaxing trip and nice to get away for a while,” said Heather. “It was nice to have her there.”

Ms. Melander wants to continue traveling, hoping to make stops in Europe, where she has never been. More importantly, she wants to turn this trip with her daughter into a tradition.

“I am hoping to do this with her annually. This was a chance for me to get to know her friends better and for her and I to bond. We had a great time together and a lot of laughs,” she said.

Dali's Disney film to screen at Tate Modern

CBC Montreal - Sixty years after its creation, a short animated film featuring the art of Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali will get its British debut.

Destino, a six-minute animated cartoon, will be screened at the Tate Modern gallery in London from June 1 to Sept. 9 as part of the exhibition Dali & Film.

The film was supposed to be a collaboration with Disney, but the project was abandoned when funding dried up, and it dropped out of sight.

Walt Disney's nephew Roy and a team of 25 animators resurrected the project in 2003 and their efforts earned them an Academy Award nomination for the completed version.

The film has previously screened in the U.S., France and Australia.

The film features images of a woman dancing through surreal scenes inspired by some of Dali's most iconic images. It was reconstructed from more than 100 story boards and paintings made by the artist.

Disney alter film to accommodate Spanish singing star

Think Spain - Spanish singing legend, Raphael, along with his wife, Nathalie Figueroa, and one of their children are all lending their voices for the Spanish version of the Walt Disney animated feature 'Meet The Robinsons.'

Raphael will also sing one of the songs in the film. Equally, and for the first time in the company's history, Disney is altering the content of the film: at one point an image of Tom Selleck, who voices one of the characters in the original version, is seen, while in the Spanish version this will be replaced by a photograph of Raphael.

ISO uses Disney Connection

PresseBox - Booking stops and booking releases of Disney Resorts can be automatically downloaded directly into the allotment management of "OCEAN" and “Canary”. This way, the tour operators do not have to worry about taking manual care of the Disney allotments in their systems.
This new process also guarantees that any changes from Disney are reflected immediately and automatically in the tour operator’s internal and external sales processes.
The information will be provided daily by Disney and transferred via SFTP.

The function is already in use at Air Canada Vacations in Montreal.
The new connection can be used by tour operators:
- Who use OCEAN / Canary as tour operator system and
- Who have Disney as a supplier

Back By Popular Demand! Disney Cruise Line Returns to West Coast for 2008
Epcot may be home to retail store of future
Toy Story Mania
Disney-Pixar film to feature robot named Wall-E 

New effects for the Pirate & Princess Party firework show, 'Magic, Music and Mayhem'  

Moody's Considers Disney Ratings Upgrade

Jump In!' Tops Cable Ratings

Ratings: Disney Two-for-Two in 2007

Disney's Peter Pan First Time Ever on 2-Disc DVD 

Disney May Resurrect John Carter

Disney bringing in 'The Little Mermaid' as 'Beauty and the Beast' announces closing show on Broadway

Disney to Create Lost Webisodes and Phonisodes 

Disney Star Cops Plea in DUI Case 

Gossett named Disney Executive 

5 things to know about The Cheetah Girls

Former skating champ directs Disney on Ice

Back By Popular Demand! Disney Cruise Line Returns to West Coast for 2008

 

Disney Cruise Line News - Disney Cruise Line announced today that the Disney Magic cruise ship will return to the West Coast for the summer of 2008 to once again offer its highly popular seven-night Mexican Riviera sailings.

Disney Cruise Line developed this special itinerary in response to overwhelmingly positive feedback about its original 2005 West Coast sailings and requests from guests who want to see the ship once again departing from the Port of Los Angeles.

"Through Disney Cruise Line, we are able to offer people a different way to vacation with Disney outside of our theme parks, and we can take our ships to various parts of the world, providing new audiences with immersive Disney experiences," said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Beginning May 25, 2008, the Disney Magic is scheduled to sail 12 consecutive seven-night cruise vacations from the Port of Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera ports of Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said, "The Disney Magic experience is unique, and it is only fitting that it return to the port of such a unique city, Los Angeles. The West Coast experience that Disney will offer exclusively out of the Port of Los Angeles will generate much business and tourism revenue that will bolster our local economy."

The itinerary for the Mexican Riviera sailings is as follows:

2008 West Coast Itinerary
Departing May 25; June 1; June 8; June 15; June 22; June 29; July 6; July 13; July 20; July 27; Aug. 3; Aug. 10.

Sunday. . . . . . . . . . . . Port of Los Angeles
Monday . . . . . . . . . . . At Sea
Tuesday . . . . . . . . . . . Cabo San Lucas
Wednesday . . . . . . . . . Mazatlán
Thursday . . . . . . . . . . Puerto Vallarta
Friday . . . . . . . . . . . . At Sea
Saturday . . . . . . . . . . At Sea
Sunday. . . . . . . . . . . . Port of Los Angeles

Disney Cruise Line President Tom McAlpin said, "When we launched our first Disney Cruise Line Mexican Riviera sailings in 2005, the guest reaction to the itinerary was tremendous. We have a significant Disney Cruise Line fan base on the West Coast, and we look forward to taking the Disney Magic back to the Port of Los Angeles in 2008."

Significant enhancements have been made to the Disney Magic since its original West Coast sailings in 2005. Today, guests can enjoy poolside movies on a 24-by-14 foot jumbo LED screen, an expanded spa and fitness center exclusively for adults and a new youth activities space designed for children ages 10-14.

Guests booking a Mexican Riviera cruise can combine the enchantment of a Disney Cruise Line vacation with the fun and excitement of Disneyland Resort by booking a two-night pre- or post-stay at one of Disney's three Anaheim resort hotels.

In addition to the 12 Mexican Riviera cruises, Disney Cruise Line will offer two 15-night repositioning cruises through the Panama Canal. The Disney Magic will depart Port Canaveral and head west on May 10, 2008, with the return cruise to Florida scheduled for Aug. 17, 2008.

2008 Panama Canal Cruises

Departing May 10, 2008
Saturday. . . . Port Canaveral
Sunday. . . . . .Castaway Cay
Monday . . . . .At Sea
Tuesday . . . . At Sea
Wednesday. . Aruba
Thursday. . . .At Sea
Friday. . . . . Panama Canal
Saturday. . ..At Sea
Sunday . . .. .At Sea
Monday. . .. Acapulco
Tuesday . . At Sea
Wednesday .Puerto Vallarta
Thursday . .Cabo San Lucas
Friday . . . .At Sea
Saturday . .At Sea
Sunday . . .. Port of Los Angele

Departing August 17, 2008
Sunday . . . . .. . Port of Los Angeles
Monday . . . .. . At Sea
Tuesday. . . .. . .Cabo San Lucas
Wednesday . . .Puerto Vallarta
Thursday. . .. . At Sea
Friday. . . . .. . Acapulco
Saturday. . .. .At Sea
Sunday . . . .. .At Sea
Monday. . . . Panama Canal
Tuesday . . . Cartagena
Wednesday . . . At Sea
Thursday. . .. .Aruba
Friday . . . . .At Sea
Saturday . . .At Sea
Sunday. . . . Castaway Cay
Monday. . .. . Port Canaveral

Rates for the Mexican Riviera cruises start at $1,599 per person, and the Panama Canal repositioning cruises start at $1,699 per person. Both special itineraries will be available to book starting Jan. 31, 2007.

A leader in the family cruise segment, Disney Cruise Line offers a variety of itineraries including three-, four- and seven-night itineraries to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Caribbean cruise vacations that include a stay at Walt Disney World Resort are also available. To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can contact their travel agent, visit disneycruise.com or call Disney Cruise Line at 888/DCL-2500.

Epcot may be home to retail store of future

Orlando Sentinel - Could a futurist retail store be the next big thing at Epcot? That's the hope of the National Retail Federation, which is kicking around the idea of establishing a store of the future at the Disney park. The concept store, dubbed "XO," now appears annually as a temporary pop-up boutique on the show floor at the trade group's annual convention in New York City.

The boutique typically shows off the latest tech advancements -- such as this year's popular demo of an interactive mirror that lets customers try on clothes in front of friends online. Federation spokesman Scott Krugman said the trade group hasn't formally presented the pie-in-the-sky idea to Disney.

Toy Story Mania

Orlando Sentinel - "Toy Story Mania" appears to be the name given the secret attraction that Walt Disney World has been building for the past six months in the old "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" game building at Disney-MGM Studios.

Disney-Pixar's next release, "Ratatouille," about a cuisine-loving rat living in a Paris restaurant, is scheduled to be released this summer.

"Wall-E" will be directed by Andrew Stanton, whose "Finding Nemo" was Pixar's highest-grossing film, taking in about $865 million at box offices worldwide.

Disney bought its longtime partner Pixar Animation Studios last year and installed Pixar's creative director John Lasseter over Pixar and Disney Feature Animation in an attempt to jump-start its lackluster animation program.

New effects for the Pirate & Princess Party firework show, 'Magic, Music and Mayhem'

WDW News - The new firework show, 'Magic, Music and Mayhem', set to debut for Disney's Pirate & Princess Party is set to have a great new enhancement over previous Magic Kingdom firework shows. Wishes brought the action closer than ever, with new launch sites located on the roof tops adjacent to the castle. This new show goes one step further, and adds firework launch points to the hub area. One location is by the popcorn wagon on the right side, and the other location is by the beverage wagon on the left side (both under the gazebos). The fireworks are both launched toward the castle, right over the hub. The final rehearsal is set for the 20th, with the first public show being on the 22nd of January.

Moody's Considers Disney Ratings Upgrade

AP - Moody's Investors Service placed several of Walt Disney Co's ratings on review for possible upgrades Thursday, citing strengthening operations and strong credit.

The ratings include Walt Disney Co.'s multiple seniority shelf, senior unsecured conversion/exchange bond/debendture, senior unsecured medium-term note program and senior unsecured regular bond/debenture. Each of those items has a "A3" rating.

Also on review for possible upgrade is the "P-2" rating for senior unsecured commercial paper.

ABC's "A2" rating for senior unsecured regular bond/debenture is also under review.

Disney Enterprises Inc. has "A2" ratings for its senior unsecured medium-term note program, senior unsecured regular bond/debenture and senior unsecured shelf rating.

Disney Capital Trust I, II, and III have "Baa1" ratings for preferred stock under review.

The outlook for each unit is moved to "Under Review" from "Stable."

The ratings under review account for about $10 billion in debt securities.

Shares of Disney rose 56 cents to $35.82 on the New York Stock Exchange in afternoon trading.

Jump In!' Tops Cable Ratings

AP -1. "Jump In!" (Friday, 8 p.m.), Disney, 5.07 million homes, 8.17 million viewers.

2. "Cory in the House" (Friday, 9:30 p.m.), Disney, 4.83 million homes, 7.59 million viewers.

3. "WWE Raw" (Monday, 10 p.m.), USA, 3.43 million homes, 5.01 million viewers.

4. "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" (Friday, 7:30 p.m.), Disney, 3.41 million homes, 4.58 million viewers.

5. "Jump In!" (Sunday, 8 p.m.), Disney, 3.36 million homes, 4.74 million viewers.

6. "WWE Raw" (Monday, 9 p.m.), USA, 3.35 million homes, 4.90 million viewers.

7. "Jump In!" (Saturday, 8 p.m.), Disney, 3.33 million homes, 4.83 million viewers.

8. Presidential Address _ Iraq (Wednesday, 9 p.m.), Fox News Channel, 3.32 million homes, 4.45 million viewers.

9. "The Sopranos" (Wednesday, 9 p.m.), A&E, 3.26 million homes, 4.27 million viewers.

10. "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" (Friday, 7 p.m.), Disney, 2.973 million homes, 3.89 million viewers.

11. "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" (Friday, 10:05 p.m.), Disney, 2.968 million homes, 4.20 million viewers.

12. "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Saturday, 9:30 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.904 million homes, 3.58 million viewers.

13. "I Love New York" (Monday, 9 p.m.), VH1, 2.889 million homes, 4.426 million viewers.

14. "Fairly Odd Parents" (Saturday, 10 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.88 million homes, 3.47 million viewers.

15. Analysis of Presidential Address _ Iraq (Wednesday, 9:22 p.m.), Fox News Channel, 2.85 million homes, 3.79 million viewers.

Ratings: Disney Two-for-Two in 2007

Mediaweek - Thanks to a pair of record-smashing Friday night premieres, Disney Channel repeated its stay atop the cable pile last week, averaging 3.19 million total viewers and a 2.6 household rating in prime time for the week ended Jan. 14.

On the night of Jan. 12, Disney took the wraps off its latest original movie, Jump In!, which drew 8.17 million viewers between 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., making it the most-watched program in the network’s history, surpassing the premiere numbers for last year’s Cheetah Girls 2 (8.12 million) and High School Musical (7.76 million). Disney retained the lion’s share of that audience with the debut of the live-action series Cory in the House, which delivered 7.59 million viewers at 9:30 p.m., securing bragging rights as the Mouse’s all-time most-watched series premiere.

Inasmuch as delivery of Disney’s target demos is concerned, Jump In! beat all comers, serving up 3.7 million kids 6-11 and 3.4 million ‘tweens 9-14, while Cory reached 3.4 million kids 6-11 and 3.4 million ‘tweens.

Among ad-supported cable nets, USA Network finished on top last week, averaging 2.61 million viewers and a 2.1 HH rating on the strength of its ever-reliable WWE Raw franchise. Between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Monday night, Raw averaged 4.95 million viewers, enough for USA to lay claim to ad-supported cable’s largest audience for a single program for the week.

USA also finished No. 1 among adults 18-49 (1.11 million) and 25-54 (1.15 million), and finished fourth among the 18-34 set (461,000). TBS, which finished outside of the top five among total viewers, had a strong showing with its delivery of the core demos, ending the week tops among 18-34s (513,000), second in the 18-49 category (998,000) and fourth among adults 25-54 (894,000).

TNT finished second to USA with 2.04 million viewers and a 1.6 HH rating; the Turner net’s highest-rated program on the week was the Jan. 14 theatrical Air Force One (3.72 million viewers). Among the core demos, TNT had its best showing among adults 25-54, averaging 934,000 viewers in the category.

Rounding out the top five were: Lifetime (1.89 million/1.6 HH rating), A&E (1.84 million/1.5 HH rating) and Fox News Channel (1.79 million/1.6 HH rating). Lifetime finished first among women 18-49 in prime (624,000), getting a boost from its original movie To Be Fat Like Me, which drew 3.73 million viewers Monday night between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.

A&E welcomed 4.27 million viewers to the family Jan. 10 with the basic-cable debut of The Sopranos, which also delivered the third-largest audience of adults 25-54 (1.94 million), lagging behind only the WWE in the category. A&E also made a strong showing in the core demos, placing third in delivery of 18-49s (873,000) and 25-54s (909,000).

Predictably, Fox News enjoyed a shot in the arm last Wednesday night with its coverage of President Bush’s address to the nation, which from 9 p.m. to approximately 9:22 p.m. was seen by 4.45 million FNC viewers. The news net retained a significant portion of that lead-in with its post-speech analysis, as some 3.79 million viewers tuned in.

Another program of note last week was VH1’s debut of I Love New York, which delivered 4.43 million viewers and finished the week tops among all cable programming among the 18-49 camp (2.74 million) as well as 18-34s (1.98 million).

Disney's Peter Pan First Time Ever on 2-Disc DVD

Buena Vista Entertainment - Walt Disney's original classic Peter Pan, filled with fantasy and the original Pixie Dust, defines the meaning of magic and teaches us to believe, making it the essence and fabric of the Disney brand. Peter Pan soars to new heights for the first time ever on 2-disc DVD in an all-new magical Platinum Edition. This classic film has undergone an extensive digital restoration and features a new 5.1 Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix. Join the Darling children - Wendy, John and Michael as they fly with Peter Pan and Tinker Bell past the second star to the right and straight on ‘till morning to the enchanted world of Never Land. Their exciting adventures introduce them to unforgettable characters including The Lost Boys, Captain Hook (the Original Jack Sparrow) and his ship filled with swashbuckling pirates, and "Tic Toc" Croc.

Walt Disney's Peter Pan Platinum Edition 2-disc DVD is filled with high-flying bonus features for all ages including "Camp Never Land" - explore the world of Never Land with three all-new multi-level games, a never-before-seen alternate opening beginning in Never Land instead of the Darling's home, Deleted songs, "In Walt's Words" – A new discovery! Walt Disney reveals in his own words "Why I made Peter Pan", "You Can Fly: The Making of Peter Pan" an exciting journey to discover how the film was made, a sneak peek at the all-new Tinker Bell movie, and much more.

Bursting with fantasy, adventure, and pixie dust, Walt Disney's original classic is a true treasure for everyone. Peter Pan is a timeless classic from Disney's Golden Age of animation. The film is one of three to boast all nine of Walt's famous "Nine Old Men" as Directing Animators, and is a revered audience favorite. Peter Pan Platinum Edition 2-disc DVD will be available for a limited time only, on Disney DVD for U.S. $29.99 (SRP) and Canada $36.99 (SRP) from Walt Disney Home Entertainment.

PETER PAN PLATINUM EDITION has undergone an extensive audio and picture digital restoration. The 2-disc DVD features an all-new 5.1 Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix, which provides stateof-the art dramatic clarity of sound. The new digital restoration required a team of film, computer and animation experts to apply cutting-edge technology.

BONUS FEATURES

• All-New Digital Restoration With Enhanced Picture and Sound
• Camp Never Land Games - Explore Never Land With All-New Multi-Level Games
• Alternate Opening "The Peter Pan That Almost Was" - Experience the story beginning in Neverland
• Deleted Songs
•  In Walt's Words – Why I Made Peter Pan – Details Walt Disney's thoughts and experiences from the first time he saw Peter Pan and how he instantly connected with this magical story
• Sneak Peek At The Upcoming Tinker Bell Movie
• You Can Fly: The Making of Peter Pan
• Peter's Playful Prank DVD Story Book
• Magical Environment – Take Flight With Peter Pan Above the London Skyline in your own home
• And Much More

Let your dreams take flight with Walt Disney's Original Classic Peter Pan. Fantastic adventures await the Darling children, Wendy, John and Michael, when Peter Pan, the hero of their stories, whisks them away to the magical world of Never Land. After flying with Peter and his feisty sidekick Tinker Bell past the "second star to the right and straight on till morning," they explore the enchanted island and Peter's secret hideout with the Lost Boys and leap into high-flying battles with swashbuckling pirates and the infamous Captain Hook!

Disney May Resurrect John Carter

CinemaBlend.com - Before signing up to do Iron Man, director Jon Favreau's next project was supposed to be an adaptation of the classic Edgar Rice Burroughs sci-fi books "John Carter of Mars". With Favs committed to iron underwear, it died on the vine Eventually Paramount decided not to renew their rights to the project, and it's just been sitting there waiting for someone to snatch it up.

Now TMZ says Disney may be that someone. They say the Burroughs estate is negotiating with Disney to turn the series of books not just into a single film, but into an entire franchise of films. Disney is looking for more family friendly epics to turn into major movies, and this could be it for them.

While you could turn Jon Carter into another Narnia if you wanted to, I really think the books lend themselves to something a little harder, something more along the lines of Lord of the Rings. You don't even have to read them to know that. Just look at the cover art on some of the older paperback copies of the books. I've posted one of the most common pieces of cover art to your right. It's all half-naked women and violence. A hard PG-13 is more in keeping with what Burroughs was going for than another Harry Potter.

Still, it's nice to see someone trying to make it happen again. The books are nearly 100 years old, and while many have tried to make them into a movie before, all attempts have ended in failure. Favreau's is just the latest. Will Disney finally make it happen?

Disney bringing in 'The Little Mermaid' as 'Beauty and the Beast' announces closing show on Broadway

International Herald Tribune - Broadway is trading one spirited Disney heroine for another.

Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" will close July 29 on Broadway, making way for "The Little Mermaid," a stage version of its acclaimed 1989 animated film, which will arrive in December.

"There is an enormous affection for this show ('Beauty and the Beast')," Tom Schumacher, president of Disney Theatrical, said Wednesday. "I want to give audiences a chance to play that out. In an ideal world, you should give as much care and consideration to the closing of a show as to its opening."

By the time it ends its run this summer at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, "Beauty and the Beast" will have played 5,464 performances and 46 previews, surpassing the runs of such musicals as "42nd Street," "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Hello, Dolly!" The musical opened in April 1994 at the Palace Theatre and transferred to the Lunt-Fontanne in November 1999. It holds the long-run record at both theaters, Schumacher said.

"Beauty and the Beast" currently stars Deborah Lew as Belle, the young woman who transforms a morose creature (portrayed by Steve Blanchard) with the power of her love. Among the actresses who have played Belle during its 13-year run are Susan Egan (the original), Toni Braxton, Deborah Gibson, Andrea McArdle, Christy Carlson Romano, Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Ashley Brown (Broadway's Mary Poppins).

No word yet if Disney will bring in some big names during the show's final six months, but Schumacher said, "There might be a few surprises before the end."

"The Little Mermaid," which will open Dec. 6 at the Lunt-Fontanne, tells the story of Ariel, a young mermaid who yearns to live on land. Preview performances begin Nov. 3.

The show, directed by Francesca Zambello, will play an out-of-town tryout in Colorado at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, which is part of the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Preview performances begin July 26 with an opening set for Aug. 23. Schumacher said casting will be announced later.

"The Little Mermaid" has a book by Doug Wright, author of the Tony Award-winning "I Am My Own Wife." The score will feature songs from the movie by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, who died in 1991, as well as new material by Menken and lyricist Glen Slater.

The show will be the third Disney musical to open on Broadway in 18 months. "Tarzan," on view at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, arrived last May, while "Mary Poppins" opened in November. And a fourth, "The Lion King" has been playing on Broadway since November 1997.

Disney to Create Lost Webisodes and Phonisodes

MovieWeb - Executives are taking Lost to another platform.

In a story from Variety, they report that Carlton Cuse, Lost executive producer, has "announced plans to start production on webisodes and phonisodes of his hit series starting in July."

Cuse says that these stories "will likely be more intimate and self-contained. They will feature the Lost cast and run two-three minutes."

He also went on to say that the actors were not contractually obligated to do this and that essentially he is calling in "a favor."

"It is for the fans," he states.

The current question is how is the studio going to make money off these two and three minute short films?

"It is the chicken and egg conundrum," Cuse offers. "Getting those pieces aligned is keeping us busy the last few months."

Disney Star Cops Plea in DUI Case

TMZ.com - TMZ has learned Anneliese van der Pol has pleaded no contest to DUI after being arrested for driving with a whopping .19 blood-alcohol level.

The "That's So Raven" star was arrested on July 10, 2006 after colliding with a parked car. According to the official report, obtained by TMZ, the crash caused "a domino effect in which the parked vehicle hit two additional vehicles." The report continues: "After hitting the parked vehicle, Defendant then lost control of her vehicle, traveled across the roadway, and finally collided with another vehicle..."

The LAPD arrested van der Pol, whose blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit of .08.

The Disney star pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors -- driving under the influence and driving with a blood alcohol level above .08. The Los Angeles City Attorney's office prosecuted the case.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 19. According to the documents obtained by TMZ, the court has offered Ms. van der Pol 36 months probation and a penalty of $2,844 in fines and assessments. She'll also have to attend
an alcohol education program.

Gossett named Disney Executive

Union County Advocate - Keith Gossett, a native of Union County, has been promoted to Executive within the Walt Disney Company. Gossett has been named as Director of Operations Analysis and Processes for the Disneyland Resort in Paris, France.

Gossett began his 23 year career with Disney in 1983 as a part of the Walt Disney World College Program while attending college at Western Kentucky University. Gossett has held a variety of key leadership positions in all six of Disney's domestic parks and was instrumental in the opening of both Disney's Animal Kingdom, and Disney's California Adventure Theme Parks.

Gossett begins this new chapter in his career with a two year assignment in Paris France. He will lead a team of Disney Leaders from around the globe to implement "best in class" practices within the Paris Theme Parks and Resort Hotels.

Gossett currently resides in Orlando, Florida. He is the son of Charlina Gossett and the late Larry Gossett both of Morganfield.

5 things to know about The Cheetah Girls

Rocky Mountain News - The Cheetah Girls are the Destiny's Child of the 'tween set. Sure, their version of Beyonce (red-hot star Raven-Symone) may not accompany the group on the road, but that doesn't stop pre-teens and their parents from turning out in droves for concerts. With two movies, two platinum albums, a clothing line and even their own toothbrushes, The Cheetah Girls aren't just a musical trio, they're a marketing machine. Cheetah Girl Kiely Williams filled in Entertainment reporter Erika Gonzalez with a Cheetahlicious primer. 1. The musical group, The Cheetah Girls, was spun off from the Disney Channel movie The Cheetah Girls.

The movie was based on Deborah Gregory's 16-book series, The Cheetah Girls. Disney optioned the rights for Gregory's first book before it even hit shelves and aired the first Cheetah Girls movie (produced by Whitney Houston) in 2003. A year later, the band was born. Dorinda, the character Sabrina Bryan portrays, actually was inspired by Gregory's personal experience as a foster child.

2. They're writing their own songs.

The group's first two CDs essentially were soundtracks for The Cheetah Girls movies, created by hired hands. But the members are penning music for their upcoming album while on tour. "I've been writing my whole life, and I always get the most inspiration when I'm in motion," says Cheetah Girl Kiely Williams. The girls also hope to land some high-profile producers when they're ready to go into the studio. "We totally admire Timbaland, and we're talking with (Black Eyed Peas founder) will.i.am."

3. They've sold nearly 2 million records without much mainstream radio play.

Williams credits a powerful 'tween fan base and appearances at events such as the U.S. Open and the American Music Awards for strong sales. Radio Disney, which is available online, in local markets and on satellite radio also has helped.

4. Cheetah Girls fans will go to great lengths to get concert tickets.

A set of four tickets for a tour stop in Charlotte, N.C., last fall could be had for $549 on eBay. Williams said one loving parent won tickets by eating cat food for a radio station promotion.

5. They aim for flashy, not trashy.

Britney may have forgotten her Disney roots, but The Cheetah Girls take their jobs as role models seriously. "It's an honor to have a parent come up and say thank you for making music or products my kid can trust," Williams says.

Former skating champ directs Disney on Ice

Sun Publications Chicago - Gig Siruno spends his life attending to chilly royalty - for Siruno is the performance director of Disney on Ice presents "Princess Wishes."

The show comes to Allstate Arena in Rosemont Jan. 24 to 28 and then glides over to Chicago's United Center from Jan. 30 to Feb. 11. In all, seven of the animated ingenues will be there in three dimensions, from the gracefully aging Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White to the new girls on the block - Jasmine, Ariel, Belle and Mulan.

With that regal range, "kids as young as 3 and grandmas are there singing along. It adds a nice layer," Siruno said.

Siruno will be there for every performance, too, sort of like a sports coach, watching from the stands to make sure things are sliding along smoothly.

And that means observing and tweaking 12 to 14 shows a week on a schedule that keeps the 39 performers and 15 technicians on the road until May - and after that, in summer it heads to Mexico City, of all places.

The job is a natural fit for Siruno, 36, who grew up in Minneapolis, where the locals are pretty much born with ice running through their veins and blades attached to their little feet.

In fact, when Siruno was a kid, he first took up hockey.

But after switching skates with his brother, he became a figure skater.

He never looked back and became a champion in the sport, competing and winning on the national level for almost 10 years.

"I feel like a dinosaur now (compared to the skaters of today)," Siruno said.

After leaving that showy world, Siruno joined a whole new one, taking up with the Disney on Ice shows, in which he toured as a skater for eight and a half years, landing roles (and jumps) in "Grease on Ice" and "Three Jungle Adventures."

In August, 2005, "I was ready to hang up my skates," Siruno said.

But the opportunity to direct came knocking, which he gladly answered, as "I really enjoy being on the road."

The show that puts him there is structured around the sprite fairy Tinkerbell, who helps make each princess's wish come true, from mermaid Ariel getting to explore life above the ocean floor to Snow White finding her one true love.

Such a story does primarily draw a female audience, with the crowd mostly made up of moms and daughters.

For the guys, though, there are a couple of numbers that aren't so mushy, including one with dancing sailors and another with a knight fighting a dragon, Siruno noted.

(And for the dads, there are some interestingly clad princesses - but it is a family show, mind you.)

Coming to Chicago will be a special treat for Siruno, as "my mom came (to Chicago) from the Philippines."

His sister, her husband and their infant daughter are here, too, and this will be the first time Siruno gets to see his niece.

"We didn't get together for Christmas, so this will be our chance," he said.

As for his own favorite princess, aside from his niece, Siruno said he is partial to Jasmine, the exotic beauty from "Aladdin."

"Though each has her charms," he said diplomatically, just like you'd expect from a director.

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