Videos created exclusively for the Animation Academy usually feature one of the filmmakers giving a brief overview of the film and introducing the film’s main characters. In this featurette, “Toy Story 3″ Director Lee Unkrich explains the premise for the long-awaited third installment of the beloved “Toy Story” films. In this comical new 3D adventure, Buzz, Woody and the gang face an uncertain future as Andy gears up for college. When the toys unexpectedly land in a room full of untamed tots who can’t wait to get their sticky little fingers on them, it’s pandemonium as they try to stay together, ensuring “no toy gets left behind.”

Watch the video below or check it out on the big screen at the Animation Academy in the Hollywood Backlot at Disney’s California Adventure park. Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story 3″ releases in theatres on June 18, 2010.

Orlando Sentinel - Our friends at Stitch Kingdom have posted a picture of a 3-D model of the upcoming Fantasyland expansion at Magic Kingdom.

Below are the pics of the model and  previously released (by Disney) rendering. The angles are a bit different, but it’s still fun to compare and contrast.

A new poster image circulated Friday by Disney adds firepower to the contention that the sequel to its 1982 sci-fi gamer fantasy could be the blockbuster of the year, especially if the Iron Man sequel underwhelms due to Mickey Rourke’s low-tech Whiplash outfit and Scarlett Johansson’s corny poses. No matter what, Tron Legacy’s light cycles look like they’ll dazzle brains silly in 2010.

Just check out that ride, pictured above and in the visual effects test footage below. It’s a fetishistic, futuristic merge of art, design and velocity, one that could give Tony Stark’s various armors a run for their repulsors.

When the park opens in October 2011, LEGOLAND Florida will be even larger than its LEGOLAND California counterpart.

It's a gamble. Cypress Gardens has failed in different incarnations, and Winter Haven is roughly an hour's drive from the theme park hotbed of Orlando. However, there are also several reasons why it should succeed. Blackstone has hinted at spinning off Merlin as its own IPO, and if that materializes, failure won't be an option.

LEGOLAND Florida's arrival will be a mixed blessing for Disney (NYSE: DIS). On the one hand, the new park should bring more tourists to central Florida. Travelers coming down to check out LEGOLAND Florida will likely make the time to stop by one of Disney's four theme parks.

Conversely, the downside to LEGOLAND Florida is that Disney-bound tourists will likely head on over to kick the tires of the new attraction. Disney has spent the past few years transforming its massive Florida resort into a self-contained destination. It shuttles airport arrivals right to its hotels, making car rentals unnecessary. It prices its length-of-stay passes aggressively, encouraging visitors to spend an entire week on site.

LEGOLAND Florida will change that, just as the new Harry Potter land opening at Islands of Adventure -- a park co-owned by Blackstone and General Electric (NYSE: GE) -- will draw crowds when it opens in a few months.

By the time that the peak summer travel season of 2012 comes around, folks may think twice before committing to weeklong stays at Disney World when they have so many other area attractions to conquer.

This can create a bigger blow at the Disney-owned resorts than the actual turnstiles. Folks may not want to pay a premium to stay on Disney property when they will be spending a lot of time exploring neighboring parks.

The hospitality industry lives and dies by it occupancy rates. The reason that you'll find hotels aggressively marking down their rates through priceline.com (Nasdaq: PCLN) or promoting insane deals through Travelzoo's (Nasdaq: TZOO) Top 20 weekly emails is that even collecting a pittance for an overnight guest is better than that same room sitting vacant.

Disney's master plan has been to flesh out its themed hotels, keeping them filled with tourists paying premium rates.

One can always argue that Disney has already faced down the arrival -- and enhancements -- of several area parks. However, those parks have usually popped up several years apart. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and LEGOLAND Florida are hitting central Florida in back-to-back years. Tourists who hit Orlando once every few years will have surprisingly long checklists of non-Disney things to do in two years.

Both eateries offer not just a meal, but a dining experience. At Rainforest Cafe, guests are seated deep in the heart of a rainforest, where gorillas, elephants, snakes and butterflies come to life when a storm washes over the restaurant. There are tropical fish tanks and lush vegetation surrounding the tables. If you’ve never been to a Rainforest Cafe, which has another location at Animal Kingdom and restaurants around the globe, it is something to see.

For my family, though, the rumble in the jungle wasn’t always a welcome sound. It’s loud and the lights flash like lightning and then dim while the animals scream — all of which can scare a young child. I’ll always remember one visit when my son was about 3. The rainstorm shook him up so much when it happened, he grabbed all his chicken nuggets and loudly demanded to leave at that very moment. For my fearless daughter, though, the noise wasn’t a factor at any age, so considering your child’s temperament is key.

T-Rex takes guests back to prehistoric times with various species of animatronic dinosaurs, embedded fossils, a meteor shower over the restaurant and a centerpiece ice cave that changes colors. The Downtown Disney site is the second location for T-Rex, which also includes a play area similar to The Boneyard at Animal Kingdom and a Build-A-Dino store (by Build-A-Bear Workshop).

My son finds the meteor showers very cool and much less intimidating than a rainforest storm, plus C and L love to stand in the ice cave when it changes colors. Many little boys develop a fascination with dinosaurs and all kids study the prehistoric creatures at some point, so dining at T-Rex can be a learning experience and a special treat. When asked what caused the extinction of dinosaurs, my then-6-year-old nephew correctly told his class meteors — and explained how he learned that bit of information at Disney World.

Perhaps the novelty of T-Rex — it opened last year — appeals to my family more because we’ve been to Rainforest Cafe many times over the years. We like all the entertainment extras at T-Rex and would recommend it if you have time for just one of the two restaurants.

The actor will leave ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" at the end of the season, his publicist, Nicole Perez-Krueger, said Friday.

Lowe plays Sen. Robert McCallister, who is married to Calista Flockhart's character, Kitty. He has appeared on the drama for four seasons.

Perez-Krueger said Lowe is in talks with ABC for his own show.

This isn't the first time Lowe has left a role where he's part of an ensemble. He exited NBC's "The West Wing" in 2003 to star in "The Lyon's Den." The show was canceled after six episodes aired.

The 45-year-old actor said in an interview with The Associated Press in November that he was excited to play a bad guy in the TV movie "Too Late to Say Goodbye" because it wasn't the romantic lead.

"Bad guys are always the best-written characters, they get to be more outlandish. Sometimes the hero in a romantic lead can be a little dull if not handled right," he said. "... On television, I'm usually playing the romantic lead. I certainly do on `Brothers & Sisters,' and I sort of did on `The West Wing.'"

Orlando Sentinel - About 400 Walt Disney World employees have signed up to staff phones during a global telethon tonight aimed at raising money for earthquake-devastated Haiti.

Disneys says its “voluntEARS” will be fielding calls and processing donations out of the resort’s Orlando reservations center during the two-hour “Hope for Haiti Now” telethon, which will air on broadcast and cable networks tonight beginning at 8 p.m.

Earlier this month, the Walt Disney Co. pledged $100,000 toward rescue and recovery efforts in the impoverished island nation.

The bar is open while the Wine Country Trattoria restaurant is closed for refurbishments. Workers are expanding the seating area
and kitchen, which is being renovated, said John McClintock, a Disneyland Resort spokesman.

The lower-level bar, which is part of the Golden Vine Winery area, is attached to the restaurant, sitting on the west side on the ground level next to San Francisco Street.

The bar was open to the public briefly when Disney’s California Adventure debuted in 2001. But the bar has mostly been used for private events and Disney’s California Food and Wine Festival ever since, McClintock said.

The trattoria closed earlier this month for renovations and is expected to re-open in late April or early May, McClintock said. The trattoria serves wine when it’s open.

Visitors can get to the bar by going to the Paradise Pier area and use the pathway near the bathrooms.

When the trattoria re-opens, more restaurant seating will be available in the upper-level area where the Vineyard Room and another bar used to operate. The room has been closed since fall 2008.

With our official re-launch taking place on February 25th, we’re excited to bring you the first of many announcements.

Get ready soccer fans: Major League Soccer is making its return to Central Florida!

The inaugural Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic will feature two days of intense pre-season competition to help re-launch the Wide World of Sports complex. Two-time MLS Cup Champion Houston Dynamo, FC Dallas, New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC will make their way to Disney as they compete during the 2010 ESPN The Weekend.

February 25th is the first round of play with games at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. On February 27th the two losing teams will kick off at 6 p.m. with the championship game between the two winning teams following at 8:30 p.m.

Today’s clip shows how various Disney cast members have been working behind the scenes to get ready for this spectacle. You’ll see video of projections on water screens, fountain-test footage from August 30, 2007, a lighting test on November 18, 2009, and a test of fire effects on November 24, 2009.

You’ve been getting to know Steve Davison since he joined the Disney Parks Blog, and now you can also see him hosting today’s video from the platform of the Paradise Bay Lagoon. You’ll also see new footage with Dave Bossert, Creative Director at Walt Disney Animation Studios, who explains how the team is creating new animation specifically for this show.

To help us answer some of your questions about “World of Color” and give you some information you want to know, tell us in the comments what you want to learn about this spectacular, new water show.

“As far as the Flower and Garden festival , because we know we’re going to do it, and because we have to start in the winter, we just generally plan that there’s going to be a bad freeze.,” says Eric Darden, horticulture manager for the festival. “Most years there’s not. But by taking that tactic, that way we’re not surprised. We were surprised by the length, but it didn’t hurt us.”

Plants for the flower towers and floating gardens weren’t planted until last week, after the cold passed. Should we get, just slap me, another freeze, the flower towers will be moved into greenhouses.

The earlier start for the festival (previously, it began in late March or April), changed the floral lineup a bit, and it should be more colorful than ever, Darden says.

“Most of the flowers that we’re using certainly for most of the festival are our winter annuals, such as pansies, petunias, things like that. They can take a frost,” he says. “The advantage we take from that, in most people’s opinions, those are the prettiest annuals. They are more vibrant.”

Darden says this year’s festival will have a record number of topiaries.

“We have enough greenhouse space for all 100 topiaries,” he says. “It was a little tight for a while, and they probably stayed in a little longer than they liked, but they’re fine.”

Investigators said Rodney Dillon had large numbers of pictures and videos on his computer, in addition to fantasy stories regarding the sexual abuse of children.

Dillon inspected bags at the entrance of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

BSCreview - We are getting closer and closer to the March 5th release of the Disney and Tim Burton 3-D presentation of Alice in Wonderland, and we now have a new featurette from the Magic Kingdom with one of the film’s star, Johnny Depp, offering commentary to scenes that feature his character, the Mad Hatter (we got a look of him earlier this month as well). Also released via YahooMovies are new stills from the film exposing more of that trademark Burton visual/style sense that makes him rather unique in his field as a designer.

The trailers and clips look pretty amazing, and there have been several released thus far including this teaser from last summer, October’s trailer, and December’s new trailer. Among those joining Depp in Burton’s Wonderland are Mia Wasikowska in the title role, Anne Hatheway as the White Queen, Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen, Michael Sheen as the White Rabbit, Matt Lucas as Tweedledee and Tweedledu, Crispin Glover (Knave of Hearts), Stephen Fry (Cheshire Cat) and Alan Rickman (Caterpillar). We’ve also seen several promo images, including this fun 3-piece various images of Alice, and sets including character poster and landscape.

BSC has been covering Alice in Wonderland since last March, when Disney’s D-23 debuted images (their quarterly magazine) from the film. In related news, earlier this week it was reported that Tim Burton may next take on and give new life to a Sleeping Beauty adaptation called Maleficent, telling the story from the perspective of classical/historical antagonist in another Disney production.

Synopsis - From Walt Disney Pictures and visionary director Tim Burton comes an epic 3D fantasy adventure “Alice in Wonderland,” a magical and imaginative twist on some of the most beloved stories of all time. Johnny Depp stars as the Mad Hatter and Mia Wasikowska as 19-year-old Alice, who returns to the whimsical world she first encountered as a young girl, reuniting with her childhood friends: the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, and of course, the Mad Hatter. Alice embarks on a fantastical journey to find her true destiny and end the Red Queen’s reign of terror. The all-star cast also includes Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter and Crispin Glover; Linda Woolverton wrote the screenplay.

 

The giant statues outside the store are amazing. Who can resist checking out more inside the store? There’s the family walking its
dogs by one entrance, Brickley the sea serpent in the nearby lake, and bigger-than-life-size action figures near the play area.

I’ve never seen the outdoor patio of the LEGO Imagination Center empty. Kids are always surrounding the tubs of Legos to build
their creations and then test them on a raised slope. Plus, there are window displays of cool scenes to study and play equipment
to climb.

When my children were younger, a trip to Downtown Disney for my family always included a stop at the Lego play area and
lunch next door at McDonald’s.

Now, they are much more interested in what’s inside the store — play sets of every kind. Some of this year’s impossible-to-find
Christmas gifts were the Spongebob Squarepants sets for ages 8 and older — sold out everywhere except eBay. And this
month Lego introduced a line based on the Toy Story characters.

The LEGO Imagination Center also features the world’s largest Pick-A-Brick wall and also holds building contests.

Andrew Greenaway, 45, was arrested Tuesday at his Vandenberg Village home on suspicion of molesting the then-13-year-old boy at the Disneyland Hotel in 1991.

Santa Barbara County sheriff's officials said Greenaway had also invited the boy's teammates on the overnight Disneyland trip. On the day of the trip, Greenaway told the boy's parents that everyone else had cancelled, but he was still willing to take him on the trip, according to sheriff's officials. That's when the molestation is alleged to have occurred.

Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department spokesman Drew Sugars said detectives have talked to the victim, now an adult.

"The information we got from the victim plus other factors led us to file charges," Sugars said.

Since the mid-1980s, Greenaway has coached youth basketball, youth baseball and youth football teams until at least 2004, according to Santa Barbara sheriff's officials.

Greenaway was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of molestation and kidnapping or enticing with the intent to molest, according to the county Sheriff's Department.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Disney World signed a settlement agreement on Friday, and the deal was made public on Tuesday. Disney had been fined $44,000 in December for breaches contributing to the July 5 death of 21-year-old Austin Wuennenberg, as well as other workplace violations. That fine has been reduced to $35,200.

A Disney spokeswoman said the resort worked with OSHA to address any concerns but declined to comment further.

Departing in summer 2010, these itineraries feature, "Gateway to London and Paris," "Gateway to Italy" and "Gateway to Costa Rica" with dates in June, July, August and September. Guests may visit www.AdventuresbyDisney.com to learn more about the Gateway Collection vacations.

"We are constantly working to create new products that further accommodate guests' vacation preferences and lifestyles and provide a range of itineraries to choose from, such as our high-end Signature Collection itineraries and most recently, our Adventures by Disney/Disney Cruise Line Mediterranean experience," said Karl Holz, President of Disney Cruise Line & New Vacation Operations. "Our new Gateway Collection is ideal for guests looking for a vacation that balances just the right amount of leisure time and freedom to explore destinations on their own with the benefits of Adventures by Disney's guided tours and VIP hassle-free travel."

Gateway to Adventure

Designed from Adventures by Disney's current model, the Gateway Collection includes guided group vacations similar to the classic and signature itineraries at a lower cost while also featuring more free time. Guests will enjoy activities available as part of the itinerary, such as climbing the bell tower of Notre Dame in Paris and also have the flexibility to spend the afternoon exploring more of what interests them in the iconic destination at their leisure. Travelers are able to enjoy more options at a value price.

All Gateway Collection itineraries feature Adventures by Disney's special touches called the "Disney Difference" and some VIP access into popular tourist attractions. On "Gateway to Costa Rica" guests are treated to a new destination that is not available on the classic itinerary. Families will become immersed in their surroundings when they embark on a jungle cruise through Tortuguero National Park with a naturalist, exploring the many canals and rich wildlife of the Mangrove.

For families interested in exploring Italy's ancient wonders, but hesitant because of a lengthy time commitment, "Gateway to Italy" offers a slightly shorter itinerary that provides travelers with a comprehensive overview of the culture and history of the destination.

The Gateway Collection includes the following 2010 destinations and dates:

• "Gateway to London and Paris," June 25, July 5, July 16 and August 2
• "Gateway to Italy," June 24, July 15 and August 8
• "Gateway to Costa Rica," June 27, July 16, August 7 and an adult-only departure September 4

To learn more about the Adventures by Disney Gateway Collection, guests may visit www.AdventuresbyDisney.com.

About Adventures by Disney

Recently named the World's Leading Luxury Tour Operator by the 2009 World Travel Awards, Adventures by Disney is re-creating the way families think about vacationing together. Launched in 2005, Adventures by Disney provides immersive, hassle-free and exhilarating guided family vacation experiences to destinations in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia. 

Families traveling with Adventures by Disney receive exceptional service while taking part in extraordinary experiences from Cape Town to Paris, Yellowstone to Costa Rica, the ruins of Pompeii to the ruins of Machu Picchu, the Great Barrier Reef to the Great Wall of China and more. 

As it turns out, timing is everything. The development team was looking to expand Vinylmation in a new direction by offering a “bright, over the top sweet and cute” (there’s that word again) collection. Before Cutesters, the Vinylmation packaging featured a rather dark palette with mostly black and gray colors. Cutesters would add a much needed “pop” to balance the various series.

Lisa explained that she was responsible for not only the 3-inch figure designs but also the packaging for Cutesters.

The Plano, Texas-based technology proffers virtual insertion technology that can be used to overlay advertising or graphics into live coverage of sports, notably baseball, golf, basketball, hockey and rodeo.

Here's the announcement from Disney:

"The creative "Forces" at Disney and Lucasfilm are proud to announce an all-new character coming to the Disney Parks in April 2010. Every Jedi needs his own astromech droid, and Jedi Mickey is no exception. This spring we will be introducing Jedi Mickey's own droid, R2-MK.

One way to attend is to be the grand prize winner of Radio Disney’s Celebrate the Spirit of Volunteering Sweepstakes. The winner also receives a 4-day, 3-night Walt Disney World vacation for four people, with a resort room, four four-day park hopping tickets, airfare and transportation to and from the airport.

Contestants can enter once per day — up to a total of 13 entries — by any of these methods:

** Entering the Radio Disney code word of the day online here

** Texting the code word to 347639 (DISNEY); rates may apply

** Winning an on-air contest

As you know, construction is well underway here on the Leeward Coast of O`ahu on Disney’s new family destination resort. For months, that’s what we’ve called it. Disney’s new family destination resort. Descriptive, but not too catchy.

That’s why I’m so excited to tell you that the place now has an official name: Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai`i. The name Aulani, for you mainlanders, means “the place that speaks for the great ones” or “the place that speaks with deep messages,” and it reflects our company’s ongoing commitment to celebrating the great culture and traditions of these magnificent islands.



Our oceanfront resort, planned to feature 360 hotel rooms and 481 two-bedroom-equivalent Disney Vacation Club villas, is scheduled to open its first phase in fall 2011. Until then, you can stay up to speed online at www.DisneyAulani.com, where you’ll find the latest updates, images and more.

DisneyParks Blog - Last year, when Buzz Lightyear returned home from space, Disney Parks launched an online Mission Patch Design Challenge. It was simple — students had the opportunity to design a NASA mission patch to commemorate Buzz’s return and the most creative entry and 100-word essay would win. Well, we have a winner.

Adam Carr, 11, of Tampa, Florida, created a patch showing Buzz soaring past the International Space Station that’s pretty unique. NASA has decided to make Adam’s design into a commemorative mission patch that’ll be flown into space on a future mission. After the mission, he’ll get the patch with a certificate from NASA and Disney Parks.

Orlando Sentinel - Walt Disney World donated more than $407,000 to Florida politicians and political groups in 2009, according to updated state records.

In addition, the giant resort gave another $142,000 worth of freebies — hotel rooms, theme-park passes, meals and more — to candidates and causes during the year.

The combined total — just a hair under $550,000 — was about $110,000 more than Disney donated to Florida candidates in 2008. It was the most Disney has given since 2006, when the state was in the midst of open races for governor and two of three cabinet posts.  (The totals reflect donations to state-level candidates and groups only, and not contributions to candidates for offices such as U.S. Senate or local city and county councils.)

Disney was especially generous to the state Republican Party, which isn’t surprising since the GOP controls both the governor’s office and the state Legislature in Florida. Disney gave $205,000 in direct contributions to the Republican Party of Florida and about $52,000 more in freebies, or “in kind” donations.

Disney gave the state Democratic Party $55,000 in direct contributions and about $89,000 worth of in-kind contributions.

One of Disney’s largest single donations: $45,000 to the “Committee for Florida Justice Reform,” which seeks further restrictions on lawsuits. Disney has been lobbying state lawmakers to give parents the ability to waive their children’s liability rights before they participate in recreational activities. The Florida Supreme Court ruled in late 2008 that parents do not have that authority under current law.

HawaiiNewsNow – Pirates traditionally swoop in and make off with the booty. But Disney's Pirates are expected to bring as much as $85 million in spending to Hawaii and create hundreds of jobs.

A scene at the very end of the last Pirates movie is one of the few scenes shot in Hawaii. But production of the next Pirates flick will be based in O'ahu.

"Short term it's going to bring awful lot of people to Hawaii as they film the movie. Number two, think of the publicity Hawaii will receive when they're filming and then as it is released in 2011," State tourism liaison Marsha Wienert said.

"When a film comes, it's not just the people that work on the film that benefit. But the hotel industry, small mom and pop shops. Everyone from the top to the bottom, so we're very excited that Disney has made the decision to bring Pirates here to Hawaii," State Creative Industries Division Georja Skinner said

According to Governor Lingle Disney won't just be filming here, it'll be doing its post production work here as well.

"We're trying to build an industry of animation and video gaming and so on and to do that you need these big productions not to just wrap up filming and go back to California, but to do the post production work here, and I'm hopeful that this film is going to put us on that track," Lingle said.

Lingle says a lot of people worked very hard attracting the Pirates production. The promise of tax rebates, special hotel rates and other cost cutting incentives helped convince Disney to choose Hawaii over other locations. Just last month three of the five people working in the State Film Office were laid off victims of the state's budget crisis. But today the Creative Industries Division of the Department of Business and Economic Development says its renewed partnership with Disney is proof the state can still bring in big budget movies.

"With the reduction in the film office staff ... yes, it is a challenge. I mean there's no way around that. And our community, our production community really deserves a lot of accolades because big projects like this wouldn't even consider Hawaii regardless of how beautiful it is if we didn't have a quality production team behind us," Skinner said.

The studio registered the domain name maleficentmovie.com some time last summer, so I’ve been waiting for news a while. Of course, until now I wasn’t entirely convinced it was going to be a live action picture - well, in so much as it will be live action, which I’m expecting will be probably to just the extent that Alice is - and not an animated spin-off, a la the Tinkerbell series or that Timon and Pumbaa picture.

Burton also has his Frankenweenie stop motion picture gearing up to go, but even if he doesn’t co-direct that one, as he did The Corpse Bride, the nature of animation should allow him energy and time to overlap some serious preproduction on another film.

The character of Maleficent is a Disney creation, the original storyline having an un-named evil fairy godmother. Since appearing in their Sleeping Beauty toon - in which she had some quite brilliantly grotesque sidekick-minions that I’d love to see in the Maleficent movie - she’s cropped up in the House of Mouse TV series and the Kingdom Hearts videogames, both times as the supreme evil mastermind behind the heroes’ and heroines’ suffering. Essentially, she’s the BIG Big Bad at Disney. As such, I’m not sure they’ll let the adult Maleficent be a sympathetic character and if she’s really going to be the film’s protagonist, I suspect we’ll have to go back in time a little, a la Wicked, and find out just why she’s grinding her axes.

We’ve done all that for our 7-year-old and it’s working. He’s doing well with his reading and even has a favorite chapter-book
series now. I recently discovered Disney Digital Books, however, and I think that might take him to the next level because it combines reading with his love of technology.

Disney Digital Books is an online service that contains 500 new and classic Disney books with characters that appeal to most kids: classic Disney friends, those from current movies, Playhouse Disney characters and stars of popular Disney Channel tween shows. The books range from beginning look-and-listen stories for toddlers to books for developing readers to chapter books for more advanced readers. The system even has an easy-to-use dictionary feature, so kids can see and hear how to sound out unknown words.

Another cool feature is the story-builder option, in which children create their own Disney stories. Rewards, such as certificates and special online content, are revealed when children reach reading goals. Plus, parents can send encouraging messages to the child’s mailbox on the site. Readers can recommend books to friends, but the site does not allow chatting so parents can feel comfortable that children cannot share personal information online.

We’ve compiled the top 10 ways to make the most of a Disney day in the rain.

10. Stay out of the rain and go for the indoor attractions. Some of our favorites at Disney’s California Adventure are Disney Animation, It’s Tough to Be A Bug and Soarin’ Over California. At Disneyland, we’d recommend the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean and Innoventions.

9. Grab a cup of coffee. There’s no better way to stay warm than with coffee. A cup at the Disneyland Resort costs $2.59. Want free coffee?

8. Watch the Aladdin Musical. The 45-minute, indoor show performs in the Hyperion Theater in Disney’s California Adventure, and will keep you out of the rain.

7. Wear a poncho. Ponchos are sold at many stores within the theme parks. Or, save money and buy a poncho at Target or Walmart before your trip.

4. Check with employees to see what rides, attractions and shows are closed. Often, fireworks and parades are canceled during the rain, and likewise, rides like the Mad Tea Party are also closed.

3. Dine indoors. Some restaurants worth checking out, especially on rainy days, are the Blue Bayou, Ariel’s Grotto and Redd Rocket’s Pizza Port.

2. Warm up by the fireplace of the Grand Californian Hotel’s lobby. Oversized chairs will keep you cozy, or sit on the tile  ledge around the the fireplace to stay extra warm. Time it right, and you can enjoy the music of the piano player while sitting by the fireside.

Swarovski Does Disney With Whimsical Alice In Wonderland Necklaces

Inventorspot - Tim Burton's interpretation of the Disney Classic Alice in Wonderland is one highly anticipated movie.  While fans have a while to wait until it hits theaters, what they don't need to wait for are branded products getting in on the hype including one famous jewelry maker.

 

As part of Swarovski's Spring/Summer collection, they've done Disney with a whimsical series of Alice in Wonderland necklaces that incorporate some of the fanciful fun of the classic tale, with modern glam. These accessories certainly aren't your five year old girls take on Alice; they're fresh, fashionable and fun!

"I'm extremely excited. I'm extremely hopeful that this is an opportunity to contribute back to the community I really do believe in," said Braswell, 48, who is leaving his diversity-management job with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts to take over the struggling civil-rights organization.

Braswell, who has worked for Disney since 2003, brings to the job a background in information technology, corporate management and nonprofit work.

He said that when he takes over Feb. 1, his priority will be to work with the board of directors to re-establish the Urban League's credibility among financial supporters and members of the black community.

"The key priorities are to get a clear understanding of where we are financially and fiscally and put checks and balances in place to regain corporate support," he said.

In the past few years, the Urban League lost funding from United Way and saw its budget drop to $805,000 — about half what it was in 2006.

"A lot of people thought the doors were going to close. A lot of people said we weren't connected to the community," Braswell said. "We have a new image and message of a thriving Urban League in Central Florida."

The Orlando Urban League, created in 1977, provides employment assistance, educational and social services and job-training programs to low-income residents from its Pine Hills headquarters. It also assists minority-owned businesses and black professionals.

Board Chairman Michael Lewellen said Braswell was selected from more than 40 applicants because he possessed the best skills, talents and ideas to move the Urban League forward. He replaces McCarthy, who took over as CEO in 2004 only to see the recession scuttle many of his most ambitious plans.

"At this time, we really need an executive who is forward in his thinking — from the technology in the organization to how you go about developing programs and raising funds. These were areas of strength that Allie Braswell had," Lewellen said.

Braswell's selection was applauded by Ronald Rogers, board chairman of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida. Braswell, who is from Oviedo, has the hometown roots to understand Central Florida, Rogers said.

"He will make a great CEO of the Urban League," Rogers said. "Allie has the community focus by being local, and he has the corporate experience coming from Disney — and he's been past chairman of the Urban League."

The Rev. Randolph Bracy Jr., president of the NAACP Orange Branch, said Braswell brings a "global" perspective to the job because he has lived and worked outside the Orlando area. Braswell moved back to Orlando in 2002 after working for a Washington firm. He also worked in Maryland and California.

Lewellen acknowledged that there has been much criticism of the Urban League, which some perceive as having lost touch with the community it serves. He said Braswell's leadership will answer those concerns.

"No one ever said they didn't think there is a purpose and role for the Urban League here in Orlando," Lewellen said. "There is a mutual feeling that Orlando must have an Urban League that thrives — thrives in terms of its resources, thrives in terms of its program delivery, and thrives in terms of its relevance to the community."

Allie Braswell Jr. bio

Age: 48.

Family: Married to Rosemary Harris-Braswell; six children.

Hometown: Oviedo.

Current residence: Orlando.

Education: Edison Tech High School, Rochester, N.Y.; B.S. in information technology, American Intercontinental University, Buckhead, Ga.

Military service: 13 years in the Marines Corps.

DisneyParks Blog - The World of Color construction is well under way at Disney’s California Adventure park. Guests are in for a real treat when the spectacular nighttime water show debuts later this year. In the meantime, take a look at this video. The construction and testing are surprisingly entertaining. The platform you see is longer than a football field and it’s covered with more than 1,200 fountains. The idea for this show began in 2004. That’s six years ago! We’re in the home stretch!

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Orlando Sentinel - The Walt Disney Co.’s theme-park division is quietly working on a major technology initiative that boosters hope could radically transform the theme-park experience.

Details of the project, which has been dubbed within Walt Disney Parks and Resorts as “next generation experience” or “NextGen,” are being closely guarded. But there is widespread speculation among former Disney executives and bloggers who follow the company that at least part of the project involves wireless-communication technology that could be used in concepts ranging from keyless hotel-room doors to rides and shows in which the experience varies based on an individual guest’s preferences.

The budget for the program totals between $1 billion and $1.5 billion, according to former Disney parks executives who spoke only on the condition that they not be identified. The amount is roughly comparable to what Disney is spending to build a pair of 4,000-passenger cruise ships.

Just before Christmas, Disney assigned oversight of the project to Nick Franklin, the head of global business and real-estate development for the company’s theme-park unit. Franklin’s newest title is “executive vice president of next generation experience.” At Walt Disney World, the project is being led by Jim MacPhee, a vice president who once ran the Epcot theme park. MacPhee’s title was changed last month to vice president of park operations and next generation experience.

Disney would not discuss specifics of the project. “Our company has a long history of leveraging technology to enhance the experience of our guests, and we are constantly exploring new opportunities to build on that legacy,” spokeswoman Tasia Filippatos said.

Though Disney typically keeps a tight lid on projects in development, the strict silence surrounding the NextGen initiative has surprised some company veterans. Disney has required employees assigned to the project — “several dozen” people are currently working on it, according to one of the former executives — to sign confidentiality agreements forbidding them from discussing their work, even with colleagues.

One former Disney manager described the climate surrounding the project as “super quiet.” Yet another likened the hush-hush atmosphere to the silence that surrounded the development of Disney’s Magical Express, the airport shuttle-and-luggage service introduced in Orlando in 2005.

“Usually you hear a lot of different things leak out,” added Michael Crawford, publisher of Progress City USA, a Web site devoted to Disney. “This has been really locked up.”

Several other people in and around Disney said they are aware of the NextGen initiative. But all said they were either unfamiliar with details or that they could not discuss them.

The secrecy, of course, hasn’t stopped speculation. Though the “NextGen” work has multiple components, several Disney bloggers, including Crawford, have reported that a key part involves the development of radio-frequency identification microchips that could be implanted into park passes or wrist bands. Guests would supply personal information ahead of their arrival — from their names and credit-card numbers to their favorite Disney characters — that would be downloaded onto the RFID microchips, which would then interact with sensors deployed throughout Disney’s resorts.

Disney has discussed the technology with Precision Dynamics Corp., a San Fernando, Calif.-based company that manufactures RFID wristbands. A representative for the company said he could not elaborate on those talks because Precision Dynamics has signed a non-disclosure agreement with Disney.

RFID technology has “certainly been on Disney’s radar as well as the other major [tourism] players in the Orlando area,” said Tom Foster, sales manager for Precision Dynamics’ RFID solutions group.

Crawford said he has been told that Disney’s work includes what is being called a “personal experience portal,” which he thinks could be the online site that guests would use to provide personal details and preferences. The blogger noted that posts he has written in recent months on Disney’s RFID efforts have attracted unusually heavy Internet traffic from IP addresses associated with Disney offices in Orlando and California.

RFID technology is already used in many areas of everyday life, from the contact-information chips that pet owners have implanted in their dogs and cats to the bracelets that hospitals use to track patients and their treatments. The technology is spreading through the amusement industry, too.

Indoor-waterpark operator Great Wolf Resorts now uses RFID wristbands manufactured by Precision Dynamics at seven of its 12 resorts in the U.S. and Canada. The wristbands function both as hotel-room keys and personal charge cards for guests, allowing them to buy food and souvenirs without carrying a credit card or cash.

“Given this new technology, guests who otherwise may not have wanted to go all the way back to their room for their credit card or cash and be inconvenienced may now be making purchases due to the added convenience of having their wallet on their wrist,” said Rajiv Castellino, chief information officer for Great Wolf Resorts. “The ease of use and convenience have proven to be big hits with guests at our properties.”

Though Disney is also interested in both keyless hotel entry and cashless transactions, its full RFID plans are said to be more ambitious.

Former employees and bloggers say Disney is looking at using RFID sensors in attractions, so that experiences could be tailored based on individual guest preferences. For example, as guests wander around a park or advance through a ride, their favorite animated character might appear and address them by name.

Another goal, according to the former Disney managers, is to greatly reduce or eliminate lengthy wait times at popular attractions — waits that can top three hours on particularly busy days and which a current Disney World executive said are routinely cited as a “key negative” by guests who visit the resort. One possibility is to allow guests to select preferred ride and show times and then use RFID scanners at attraction entrances to verify that they are showing up at the correct time.

RIFD tracking could also give Disney much more detailed data about its guests’ spending habits and movements, which could in turn be a powerful sales tool. Disney might be able to tell, for instance, that a family wandering one of its theme parks in the evening has no dinner reservations, and so could contact the family by cell phone to suggest nearby restaurants with available seats or promotions.

“The back story of this is they’re going to be able to track everything you’re doing,” said Al Lutz, editor of MiceAge.com and someone who also has written about Disney’s RFID development efforts.

The project isn’t without risks. Some former employees have expressed skepticism about whether the technological advances would do enough to boost attendance or guest spending at Disney’s theme parks to justify the $1 billion-plus price tag — or whether such money would be better spent on projects such as new resorts or attractions.

Disney also faces questions about whether guests would want to put so much thought into planning their vacations — and how such advance planning by some guests might affect others who could conceivably miss out on a popular attraction because time slots have been reserved ahead of time by those who planned.

Even eliminating attraction lines could be tricky: A theme park could actually feel more crowded if a certain percentage of people were no longer spending time waiting in ride queues.