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Saturday January 26, 2008 |
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Widow
sues Disney Cruise Line in man's death Nudity may cost ABC $1.4 million Disney Channel Debuts First Broadband Portal in Asia Pacific Chickens are not Disney characters |
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Widow sues
Disney Cruise Line in man's death Orlando Sentinel - A widow from New York has sued Disney Cruse Line in federal court, blaming the company for her husband's death from injuries he suffered during a Mediterranean cruise last summer. Marilyn Piazza alleges that her husband, Santo L. Piazza, died because a poorly designed threshold in a bathroom doorway caused him to fall; because the ship's medical staff initially misdiagnosed his injuries; and because efforts to evacuate him to a hospital for emergency medical treatment were slow, and poorly planned and executed. Santo Piazza died Aug. 14 at age 78. Marilyn Piazza filed the lawsuit Thursday on behalf of her husband's estate in U.S. District Court in Orlando. Her complaint identifies the cruise line's corporate entity, Magical Cruise Co. Ltd., and Disney Cruise Vacations as defendants. She alleges that they were responsible for Santo Piazza's death, and her suit seeks more than $75,000. Her complaint states that her husband was injured at the beginning of an 11-day cruise out of Barcelona, Spain, aboard the Disney Magic. Marilyn and Santa Piazza were taking the cruise with their daughter and her family. The suit says that Santo Piazza tripped on the threshold as he stepped into his cabin's bathroom. He fell, and his right side struck the bathtub, causing "catastrophic internal injuries." He immediately went to the shipboard health-services department, where he was given a Tylenol. Later that day, he returned to the health-services department after he vomited and experienced shortness of breath and severe pain. During his second evaluation, the ship's doctor diagnosed him with fractured ribs and a punctured lung, and said Santo Piazza required immediate evacuation and hospitalization. The suit alleges that the Piazzas waited five hours before the Disney Magic altered its course toward Cagliari, Sardinia. Then ship personnel put the injured man in an inflatable raft and transported him through eight miles of choppy waves to the shore, "crashing and smashing Mr. Piazza up and down constantly." Santo Piazza died from his injuries 17 days later, according to the complaint. A Disney Cruise Line spokeswoman would not comment. |
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Nudity may cost ABC
$1.4 million LA Times - The Federal Communications Commission said Friday that it planned to fine Walt Disney Co.'s ABC network $1.4 million for airing an episode of "NYPD Blue" in 2003 that showed a woman's nude buttocks. The company said it opposed the fine and planned to appeal. The FCC said it was seeking $27,500 for each of 52 stations in the Central and Mountain time zones that aired the scene in the 9 to 10 p.m. time slot in violation of federal restrictions against broadcasting "obscene material" between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. The agency has waged a battle against broadcast indecency under Chairman Kevin J. Martin. In October 2006, Congress authorized a tenfold increase in such fines. Broadcasters' use of public airwaves subjects them to more regulation than cable channels. The FCC said it received "numerous complaints" about the scene, in which a young boy walks in on a nude woman about to take a shower. Stations in the Eastern and Pacific zones won't be fined because they aired the episode in the 10 to 11 p.m. slot, local time. ABC said in a statement that it had broadcast the episode and others from the police drama, which ran from 1993 to 2005, with appropriate parental warnings and with V-chip-enabled program ratings when they were available. "ABC feels strongly that the FCC's finding is inconsistent with prior precedent from the commission, the indecency statute and the 1st Amendment," network spokeswoman Julie Hoover said. "The law is simple," FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate said. "If a broadcaster makes the decision to show indecent programming, it must air between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. This is neither difficult to understand nor burdensome to implement." |
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Disney Channel Debuts First Broadband Portal in Asia Pacific World Screen News - Disney Channel has launched its first broadband service in the Asia-Pacific region, Disney Channel@Play in Taiwan, featuring streamed episodes of popular animated and live-action series. The rollout of Disney Channel@Play in Taiwan also marks the network’s third branded broadband service in the world. The new service offers Taiwanese viewers full-length, Mandarin-dubbed, Chinese-subtitled episodes of Disney Channel’s animated and live-action series through an online broadband player available at www.disney.com.tw/DisneyChannel/video/. Viewers can watch a selection of streamed episodes of hit Disney Channel original series like Hannah Montana, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, That’s So Raven, Kim Possible and Emperor’s New School. Playhouse Disney preschool series such as Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins and Handy Manny will also be available on the service. The site will be refreshed weekly. Visitors to the service can also choose their favorite shows and create their own favorite program list. Users also have the option of watching the shows in Mandarin or English and picking the screen size they prefer to view the shows. The “What’s New” function also allows users easy access to the latest shows on the site. Disney Channel is also producing original content exclusive to Disney Channel@Play. In February, to usher in the Year of the Mouse, a specially-produced music video of the song “Little VIP” performed by Taiwanese boy band Fahrenheit will be streamed on the service. Dai Hua, the VP and managing director of Walt Disney Television International (Greater China region), commented: “Taiwan’s Disney Channel@Play broadband service complements Disney Channel on TV by providing new viewing opportunities for kids and families. This development extends the kids’ Disney Channel experience and gives us the chance to offer them Disney Channel content whenever and however they wish to access it.” Billy Huang, the VP and managing director of Walt Disney Television International (Taiwan, R.O.C.): “Taiwan was the first market outside of the U.S. to launch Disney Channel in 1995 and we are pleased to continue that ground-breaking tradition with the launch of Disney Channel’s first broadband service in the Asia Pacific with Disney Channel@Play. Kids in Taiwan can now view their favorite Disney Channel shows in high broadband quality in the digital media space.” |
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Chickens are not Disney characters A recent news story about a monastery said the monks chickened out on their poultry business and are looking for another source of support because animal rights activists accused them of cruelty to the chickens. The story is an interesting glimpse into the generation that grew up watching Mickey and Minnie Mouse cavort on television. Chickens never had such great recognition, for good reasons, in Disney's hallmark personification of animals. The only positive story about chickens I can recall is "The Little Red Hen." I can tell you about chickens. They are not sociable, although they do have at least one human characteristic - if one looks different or is slightly lame, its peers peck it to death. If you are chief egg gatherer, you had better know which ones are friendly and which are not. A setting hen (no, it is not sitting) is not to be tampered with if you don't want the bird scratching, flying and squawking into your face. It is no accident that a mean-spirited older woman used to be referred to as "that old hen." Why are girls called chicks? Good question. Maybe it's the cute, fuzzy-feathered, innocent look of a recently-hatched chicken. We had pigs, cows, turkeys and chickens on our little farm. But we didn't get too attached, recognizing that one day these critters would be on our dinner plate. Town kids had swimming pools. We had cattle tanks out by the windmill. When the cows came in from the pasture, I would sit on the fence rail beside the tank and rub their faces while they drank. The milk cows had names. That was a pretty good sign they would not be hauled off for slaughter. But the chickens? No personality. No names. The birds had the run of the place. They roosted at night in the chicken house, which is where I had to go at dusk to stealthily slip my hand under the chickens and retrieve the eggs from the cozy nest. I never had an urge to befriend them. The feeling was mutual. You also had to watch where you stepped at all times. I wonder what those PETA people would have thought if they could have seen my mother (and many other farm wives) wring a chicken's neck. I didn't like to watch, nor did she particularly like to do it. Worse, was plucking the feathers. But my favorite meal was fried chicken. No one was more happy than the farm wife when we were able to purchase our chickens ready to cook. That those chickens might have lived a less happy life before making an appearance on our table somehow never occurred to us. Our greatest concern was that we no longer had a wish bone to fight over because of the way commercially prepared chickens are cut. Not knowing the details, I really cannot defend or criticize the monks. Keeping chickens in a coop and feeding them may not make the birds as unhappy as members of PETA seem to think. I think they take their animal personalization, but what can you expect from the Disney World crowd where the animals dance and sing all day long? According to the story, the monks were following industry guidelines for their poultry operation, but caved to the bad publicity from PETA, which is rather like Chicken Little crying the sky is falling. Considering the source of the objections, I think the monks might have over-reacted. |
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Friday January 25, 2008 |
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Celebs
in Latest Leibovitz Disney Photo Spread "Toy Story" films headed back to theaters in 3-D When You Wish Upon a Death Star: Behind the Scenes at the Jedi Training Academy Ridgeview Charter awarded $5K for Disney production Characters in HCMC for one month festival Winslow teen to star in Disney TV movie "America's Got Talent" auditions held at Disney resort 'Achy Breaky' daughter brings her sparkle to the Sunshine State |
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Celebs
in Latest Leibovitz Disney Photo Spread Disney News - From Never Land to flying carpets to the forested domain of an Indian princess, stars travel to their very own Fantasylands in a new round of celebrity images from famed photographer Annie Leibovitz.
The latest installment of Leibovitz photography spotlights more celebrities living out their fantasies by starring in Disney dream scenes:
For Lopez, the Leibovitz shoot
was both transformational and inspirational: “It’s
unbelievable,” she said, “a modern princess and the guy with the
flying carpet…and the idea of maybe in the future my children
seeing me and Marc as Jasmine and Aladdin…I think that would be
pretty cool.” Added Goldberg: “I think those genie-like qualities worked best for me. For me to come out of a bottle and give somebody three wishes seems like a pretty good bargain.”
“Coming onto this whole set, it feels like you are living the whole Peter Pan story,” said Bündchen. “When I think of all the Disney stories, it actually is my favorite. It isn’t just like a princess finding her prince; Peter was more about finding a true adventure and a different thing, you know?”
Great stars and rich scenes enabled Leibovitz to again work magic with her lens. “We were going deeper and deeper into fantasy with these new pictures,” Leibovitz explained. “Digital tools make it possible to play with the elements of the photographs to a degree that is amazing. And a lot of fun.” Special inserts with the images will appear in select Condé Nast publications in March. Since January 2007, Leibovitz has featured Beyoncé, David Beckham, Scarlett Johansson, Rachel Weisz, Roger Federer, Julie Andrews and Abigail Breslin in scenes playing out their Disney fantasies. |
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"Toy
Story" films headed back to theaters in 3-D Reuters - Buzz and Woody are about to go 3-D. The Walt Disney Studios plans to debut digital 3-D versions of Disney-Pixar's "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2." "Toy Story" is slated to open October 2, 2009, followed by "Toy Story 2" on February 12, 2010. Both films would be released in advance of Disney-Pixar's "Toy Story 3," which is being produced as a 3-D motion picture and is slated to open June 18, 2010. Veteran Pixar filmmaker Lee Unkrich (co-director of "Toy Story 2") is directing the third installment. John Lasseter -- director of the first two "Toy Story" films and chief creative officer for Disney and Pixar Animation Studios -- will oversee the creative side of the 3-D conversions for "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2." In converting "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" to state-of-the-art 3-D films, the technical team is retrieving all of the original digital elements and rebuilding them in 3-D. Originally released by Walt Disney Pictures in 1995, "Toy Story" was the first feature-length computer-animated film. The film received Oscar nominations for original score, original song and screenplay, and earned Lasseter a special achievement award. "Toy Story 2" was released in 1999 and received an Academy Award nomination for original song. |
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When You Wish Upon a Death Star: Behind the Scenes at the Jedi
Training Academy StarWars.com - Since 1977, fans have dreamed of visiting a galaxy far, far away and learning the ways of the Jedi. Many have gone to extreme lengths, from building their own lightsabers, costumes, and robes to creating their own "character" and back-story, but none have come close to true Force powers... And those are just the adults. What about the children? How can they learn to be real Jedi? Kids are great at using their imaginations which is the heart of the Star Wars universe. But sometimes you really want your fantasy to become reality. So what better place than Disney World? Jedi Training Academy is an interactive experience that began as a part of Walt Disney World's Star Wars Weekends. It's part show, part experience and in the tradition of Disney, magical. This year Disney has embraced the theme "Where Dreams Come True" but the Jedi Training Academy has been making Star Wars fans' dreams come true for many years now. Meet some of the people responsible for making JTA come to life and get a sneak peek behind the scenes of Star Wars and Disney. |
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Ridgeview Charter awarded $5K for Disney production AJC - Ridgeview Charter, in Sandy Springs, is one of 10 schools in the country awarded $5,000 to help with its production of Disney's "High School Musical."
The grant is from NAMM, the trade
association of the international music products industry, and
the Disney Channel, with support from Music Theatre
International and Disney Theatrical Productions. In addition to the money, the license fees for the scripts, worth approximately $2,000, have been waived, said choral director Susan Messer. The money will be used for the production, but Messer said she not exactly sure how. One possibility is an upgrade to the school's lighting and sound systems, she said. More than 100 of the school's 600 students will participate in the production, which will run March 27, 28 and 29, Messer said. |
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Characters
in HCMC for one month festival
Tuoi Tre - Children will be able to meet their favorite Disney characters for the Disney Month festival which is being held at the Saigon Tax Trade Center from now until February 21, 2008. The Disney Month program includes daily activities such as photo shoots with fairies and Disney characters, weekly dancing contests, fashion shows, word-puzzles, a masquerade ball and a competition to name all the Disney characters. Entry to the festival at 135 Nguyen Hue Boulevard in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1 is free of charge. |
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Winslow teen
to star in Disney TV movie Cherry Hill Courier Post - Rising teen star Dexter Darden plays the role of a tormented computer geek who gets the last laugh in the original Disney Channel movie "Minutemen" airing at 8 tonight. His movie debut is proof that the 16-year-old boy isn't letting a potentially life-threatening disease or even a well-intentioned mother derail his longtime dream of becoming a movie star. And the Disney Channel movie is a convincing start for Darden, who has sickle cell anemia, an inherited blood disorder that causes chronic pain by clogging blood vessels, which is damaging to tissues and vital organs. "I'm actually really excited," said Darden, who lives in the township's Sicklerville section. "I'm psyched. I can't wait till it comes out." Pat Darden wants her son to be a lawyer or doctor, but she's proud of his successes. "I had a lot of faith in him. He's motivated. He always wanted to do something in the arts. He sings. He dances. He acts. And I was hopeful some doors would open for him and they did," she said. Darden admits that he can see himself working as a pediatrician some day because of his empathy for sick children. But for now, he's capitalizing on his artistic talent and acting is at the forefront. Darden auditioned for the role in New York City last summer. He wore his tube socks high, taped-up glasses, old-fashioned basketball shorts and Converse in an attempt to appear "over-the-top" geeky. The next day he was offered a role as Chester, king of The Geek Squad. The movie was shot in Salt Lake City. Darden will be watching the movie today at a private location in Margate. His manager, Sabina Kolfa, has arranged a private dinner for him and his family, friends and other talent agents. The home-schooled teen star said "Minutemen" is an entertaining family movie that's worth watching. "Everyone told me I did pretty good. So, I'm pleased with my work, but I am going to be my worst critic." Darden also has worked on other recent projects. He had the lead role in "The Nutcracker," a Paul Morris Dance Explosion Production, in December and appeared in "School House Rock Live," an off-Broadway play last year. He has done modeling work for Vogue magazine and has a lead role in "Sizzlean," an independent film scheduled to hit theaters in 2009. |
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"America's Got Talent" auditions held at Disney resort AP - Auditions start tomorrow near Orlando for singers, dancers, tumblers, kazoo orchestras, puppeteers, and who knows what else, for the next edition of "America's Got Talent." You can show up at the Royal Plaza Hotel at the Walt Disney Resort in Lake Buena Vista. Auditions are in front of the show's producers, who will decide which acts will have a chance to appear on the show. A ventriloquist from Dallas won the million bucks last summer and signed a deal to headline at the Las Vegas Hilton. NBC strongly suggests that anyone who wants to audition, sign up online first. The Web site is nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent. |
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'Achy Breaky' daughter brings her sparkle to the Sunshine State Ocala.com - The Tween Queen is Florida-bound. Miley Cyrus, aka Hannah Montana, will bring her Best of Both Worlds Tour - one of the hottest tickets of 2007 - into the Sunshine State next week. The shows are sold out. "I love Miley. She's not like all the other pop stars," said Victoria Sexton, 13, an aspiring actress from Ocala. "She's a real person, someone you could talk to. She really connects to her audience." Adds Jacquelyn Sexton, Victoria's mom: "I think Miley's lovely and a lot of fun. She's not just another pop princess; she's rough and tumble. She's not afraid to get her hands dirty. She's got the human touch, and it's good that kids watch her because she makes them realize no one is perfect and it's OK to make mistakes." Country singer Billy Ray Cyrus' little girl has conquered the hearts and minds of American kids - and their parents' wallets. The Disney Channel star really will cash in during the coming days: * Miley, 15, plays sold-out shows Monday and Tuesday at Orlando's Amway Arena. Tickets, ranging from $25 to $65, sold out within hours. Quick two-night sellouts are usually reserved for major adult stars, such as Bruce Springsteen or Beyoncé. The same thing happened for Miley's Wednesday concert in Jacksonville's Veterans Memorial Arena. Virtually every show on the 56-date concert tour was sold out, and scalpers were getting up to $3,000 from desperate parents; ticket brokers pulled in a national average of $240 per ticket, according to The Washington Post. * On Feb. 1, Disney will release the 3-D movie "Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour." It's basically a concert film, and Disney has scheduled it to run only one week at theaters. The concert movie was the No. 1 seller on MovieTickets.com its first week on sale, MSNBC reported, and it continues to sell thousands of advance tickets each day. The film will not run at Ocala's Regal Hollywood 16. "It was a corporate decision; all our movies are decided at the corporate level," said Gray Lawrence of Hollywood 16. The movie will open at Gainesville's Regal Royal Park Stadium 16 Theater, 3702 Newberry Road. * On Tuesday, Disney will release the DVD "Hannah Montana: One in a Million," featuring four episodes of the TV series and extras such as "The Top 10 Disney Character Feuds," an episode of "That's So Raven" and two Hannah Montana music videos: "True Friend" and "One In A Million." The TV series has been on since 2005, and Disney contends it is the No. 1 cable program, as well as cable's highest series telecast ever in total viewers. * On Tuesday, Disney also will release the CD "Hannah Montana 2: Non-Stop Dance Party." It features most of her songs in a non-stop dance remix. Her two previous albums, "Hannah Montana" and "Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus," hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts and have sold more than 7 million copies between them. The Disney marketing machine is running full throttle, but even in an era of "High School Musical," Miley mania's commercial presence is unique. It's all part of tween power - kids from 7 to 13, who, with help from their parents and grandparents, represent a $39 billion buying-power market. Last year, Miley made Forbes' list of the richest celebrities under 25, earning $3.5 million, and her income is expected to skyrocket this year. The reason is simple. She plays a normal kid - Miley Stewart -with an alter-ego pop star - Hannah Montana - in her tween sitcom. Kids, such as these students at Fort McCoy School, savor Miley's mix of real world and fantasy life: "I like her because she's cool and a good role model," Faith Frame, 9, said. "I like her music a lot, and I hear it all the time on the Disney Channel." "She's really funny and stylish," added Cheyenne Walker, 9. "I watch all her shows, and I have her CDs. She sings good and is a lot of fun." Ashlin Runyon, 10, likes "the way she dresses and plays both parts on the show. She seems like a regular person, but she's also a singing star. She's very funny." Big daddy Billy Ray, who plays Miley's father on the TV show, appreciates his daughter's remarkable rise to stardom. "The most important thing I tell her is to have fun and enjoy every second," he told the Star-Banner in 2006. "I also tell her, if she ain't happy, it ain't working. I want her to be positive and enjoy herself, and I tell her, most of all, give back to the fans, because it's all about the fans." Like her father, Miley has a knack for dealing with the public. "She's been around me all these years, and I think it shows," he said. "I saw her perform, and afterwards, she signed autographs and made sure everyone left happy. I see a whole lot of that 'some-gave-all' attitude in Miley. She understands." Thus far, the teen has been able to handle the fame and adulation. "The pressure is definitely hard," Miley told TV's "Extra" this month, "but I think just keeping your head on your shoulders is easier than it looks. I think if you know who you are, then I think you'll be fine for the rest of the way." |
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Thursday January 24, 2008 |
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Euro
Disney performance no longer Mickey Mouse Disney/Pixar's Critically Acclaimed Animated Favorite "Ratatouille" Garners Five Oscar Nominations Details of this year's Flower and Garden Festival Ghirardelli store in Downtown Disney to be remodeled McCain on Disney and tourism policy Disney appeals to Chinese tastes Teacher accused of sex on Disney visits Playhouse Disney gives Preschoolers a greener start to the New Year Disney’s Wide World of Sports Unveils 11th Edition of Atlanta Braves Spring Training at Champion Stadium More details on this spring's new Block Party Bash parade Investor asks for seat on Panera's board ESPN Anchor Dana Jacobson Disciplined |
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Euro
Disney performance no longer Mickey Mouse Times Online - Euro Disney, the operator of the Disneyland Resort near Paris, took a further step in its painstaking journey to financial health today by announcing a 20 per cent jump in first-quarter revenues. The theme park, still basking in the glow of being chosen by President Sarkozy as the place to go public on his love for the model-turned-singer Carla Bruni, reported strong growth in visitor numbers, guest spend and hotel occupancy. Kark Holz, the chairman and chief executive, said that the opening of new attractions, such as Crush's Coaster and Car Race Rally, to mark the theme park's 15th anniversary had "created another level of emotional connections with our guests". He said the first-quarter performance showed that its strategy was working, adding: "We remain focused on driving the business towards profitability." The company, which is 40 per cent owned by Walt Disney and 10 per cent by Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal of Saudi Arabia, has not made a profit since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In the three months to December 31, the first quarter of its financial year, the heavily indebted company lifted revenues by 20 per cent to €341 million (£255 million). Turnover from the resort rose by 14 per cent to €316 million, while revenues from property increased by €18.4 million to €24.4 million, mainly due to the sale of a property in Val d'Europe. Theme park revenues rose by 14 per cent to €175.1 million, and sales from its hotels and the Disney Village retail and entertainment park were up 17 per cent at €126.7 million. The performance was helped by a 10 per cent increase in theme park attendances and a 3 per cent rise in average spend per head as admissions and food and beverage sales both grew. Hotel occupancy increased by 6.8 percentage points and average spend per head was 11 per cent better. Most of the improvement was from Spanish and British guests. In addition to Disneyland and Disney Village, the company runs a Walt Disney Studios park, seven themed hotels with about 5,800 rooms, two convention centers and a golf course. Half of the 2,000-acre site has yet to be developed. During the coming year it will open further attractions, such as the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Stitch Live, an interactive experience. A spokesman said that the company had now reported seven consecutive quarters of strong growth and had yet to see any impact on consumer confidence from the global economic crisis. |
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Disney/Pixar's Critically Acclaimed Animated Favorite
"Ratatouille" Garners Five Oscar Nominations
Disney News - "Ratatouille," the critically acclaimed computer-animated feature from Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios, received five Academy Award nominations today, the most ever for a Disney/Pixar film. In addition to being a nominee for Best Animated Feature Film, the film also earned Oscar-winning director Brad Bird ("The Incredibles") a second nomination in the Original Screenplay category (screenplay by Brad Bird; story by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird). Bird had previously been nominated for Best Original Screenplay for his work on "The Incredibles." "Ratatouille" also received nominations today in the following categories: Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score) for composer Michael Giacchino; Achievement in Sound Editing (Randy Thom and Michael Silvers); and Achievement in Sound Mixing (Randy Thom, Michael Semanick and Doc Kane). This represents the 5th and 6th nominations in the sound editing and mixing categories, respectively, for a Disney/Pixar animated film ("Monsters, Inc.," "Finding Nemo," and "The Incredibles" received a total of four Sound nominations). Commenting on the announcement, Bird said, "It's a great honor to be recognized by the Academy and I'm incredibly proud of all the artists and technical geniuses at Pixar who helped to make it such a wonderful experience. Michael Giacchino is a brilliant composer and collaborator and I'm especially thrilled that the Academy has recognized his fantastic original score which enriches every part of the film. 'Ratatouille' was a very special challenge for me, and I am enormously pleased and grateful that it has struck a chord with audiences, critics and Academy members." "Ratatouille," the eighth animated feature from Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios, was also honored last week with a Golden Tomato Award by the popular Web site, RottenTomatoes.com, for being the top reviewed wide release film of the year with 96% favorable reviews. The film has been a tremendous box office hit all over the world with a global gross exceeding $619 million. |
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Details of this year's Flower and Garden Festival
Disney News -
Goofy catches a topiary wave while Mickey Mouse and gal pal
Minnie chill at the "beach" for the 15th annual Epcot
International Flower & Garden Festival March 19-June 1 at Walt
Disney World Resort. Last year's popular 60-day event has
sprouted runners and expands to a full 75 days with its
first-ever March launch, offering oceans of floral fantasy and
gardening fun. |
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Ghirardelli store in Downtown Disney to be remodeled Disney News - Downtown Disney's Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop is getting renovated. According to plans prepared by the Orlando firm of Cuhaci & Peterson Architects LLC, the changes will include a chocolate tower to be erected on the roof, new signs, flat screen TV's installed on the outside of the shop and a full remodel of the soda fountain area. Ghirardelli will remain open during construction which is anticipated to be completed by March. |
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McCain on Disney
and tourism policy Orlando Sentinel - Republican presidential contender John McCain, in Orlando yesterday for a wide-ranging forum on economic issues, had lots of praise -- and just a little teasing -- for Walt Disney World. As the discussion turned to health-care, McCain noted Disney's recent announcement that it will build a $6 million, on-site health clinic for its more than 40,000 full-time employees and their dependents. McCain said the clinic, once open in early 2009, will "have achieved a level of healthcare provision for employees there that's been a model and attracted a lot of international attention and respect." Of course, McCain also couldn't resist teasing the entertainment giant, which now charges $71 for a one-day theme-park ticket. It came as Florida Hospital executive Des Cummings Jr. told McCain about Disney's decision a few years ago to rework its menu and offer healthier fare. "Did they decide to lower some of the costs?" McCain interjected, drawing a roomful of rueful laughter. Disney and others in the tourism industry might be less amused with something else McCain had to say a little later on. The tourism industry has spent months lobbying Washington leaders to establish an overseas advertising campaign to combat negative perceptions of the United States -- funded at first by a taxpayer loan and later by fees on foreign visa applications. But when Gatorland President and CEO Mark McHugh asked McCain whether the U.S. government should be involved in international tourism promotion, McCain suggested that should mostly be the job of commercial businesses. "I, frankly, think that we have ways of promoting the greatness and beauty of the United States without as much federal government as maybe you would like to see," McCain said. Among other ways to improve the U.S. images that McCain mentioned: Developing and using better technology to reduce the security and bureaucratic hurdles facing foreign travelers who want to come to the U.S. McCain added: "I think the other thing is that our image in the world, in some ways, has suffered because of the war in Iraq. I would, as president of the United States, declare we will never torture another person who is in our custody. I would declare that we would close Guantanamo Bay and move those prisoners to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. I would announce a United States commitment to a global agreement on climate change -- but it has to include India and China....And, frankly, I would also be a lot more humble." |
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Disney appeals to
Chinese tastes Orlando Sentinel - Hao Zhi met a character at Disneyland on Monday that he didn't find at all Goofy. His acquaintance was a relative newcomer to the regular Hong Kong Disneyland gang: Cai Shen Ye, the bearded Chinese god of wealth, decked out in auspicious silk robes and an oversize belt. "This is terrific," said Hao, a civil servant from Inner Mongolia posing for a picture with the god along Main Street U.S.A. "It makes me so happy to see the god of wealth here." That's just the reaction Walt Disney Co. is counting on following a marketing makeover designed to make a classic American theme park look a lot more Chinese. Since it opened in 2005, Disney's Hong Kong park has struggled to connect with consumers. The park, a joint venture with the Hong Kong government, missed public targets for its first year of operation, and attendance dropped nearly 30 percent in the second year to about 4 million. The travel industry has criticized the park for being too small and for not appealing to Chinese audiences. Now, Disney is going on the offensive by going local. Its first big opportunity on that front is a stroke of astrological fortune. In the traditional Chinese calendar, it will soon be the year of the rat. As the Feb. 7 New Year holiday approaches, Disney is suiting up Mickey and Minnie in special red Chinese New Year outfits, and declaring 2008 the Year of the Mouse. The Disneyland Chinese New Year campaign, which lasts until Feb. 24, features a logo with the kind of visual pun that only Chinese might appreciate: the Chinese character for "luck" flipped upside-down (a new year tradition), with mouse ears added on top. Inside the park, vendors hawk deep fried dumplings and turnip cake. The parade down Main Street U.S.A. is being joined by the "Rhythm of Life Procession," featuring a dragon dance, and puppets of birds, flowers and fish set to traditional Chinese music. And of course there's the god of wealth, joined by the gods of longevity and happiness, all major figures in Chinese New Year celebrations. The company's experience in China "is very much in line with a number of other multinationals," says Carol Potter, the China CEO of Omnicom ad agency BBDO, which has been helping Disney develop its new ads for China for nearly six months. "As people really begin to realize that China has a complexity and depth, the marketing becomes more sophisticated," she says. One aspect of Mickey Mouse's personality that's harder to make Chinese: his love of cheese, which isn't very popular in Chinese cuisine. A showcase inside the kitchen of "Mickey's House," a new attraction at the park, displayed his favorite cheese from Europe and North America -- and a steamed rice flour cake from China. |
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Teacher
accused of sex on Disney visits Florida Today - A Florida band teacher is accused of molesting his male students on trips to Walt Disney World, according to FLORIDA TODAY news partner WKMG Local 6. The Orange County Sheriff's Office sex crime unit launched an investigation after receiving information that Charlotte County band teacher, Dale Bowe, may have been molesting young boys on Disney trips in Central Florida. Officers said one of Bowe's Port Charlotte High School male students is claiming he fell asleep in the shallow end of a swimming pool and awoke to find his teacher performing oral sex on him this year. According to Orange County investigators, Bowe took students on special trips to Walt Disney World. "He has been in this community for 18 years and we are really disappointed," Charlotte County Schools representative Michael Riley said. "He was escorted off campus and not permitted to come back on campus." The school district offered Bowe a suspension with pay. However, Bowe decided to resign, officials said. So far, Bowe has not been arrested for his alleged involvement with students outside of Charlotte County, Local 6's Jessica D'Onofrio said. Investigators in the case are working with Walt Disney World to determine how many trips Bowe took to the theme park and when, Local 6 has learned. |
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Playhouse Disney gives Preschoolers a greener start to the New
Year ITNews - Playhouse Disney and the Pre-school Learning Alliance Join Forces to Trial an Environmental Nursery Pack Playhouse Disney today announced it is joining forces with the Pre-school Learning Alliance on the biggest ever trial of educational materials to teach preschoolers about the environment through play. The trial will see 7,300 nurseries receive a free pack as part of Playhouse Disney's Playing for the Planet campaign launched earlier last year. The move follows new independent research, which found that 3 out of 4 parents (74%) believe the subject of the environment should be included on the preschool curriculum. Nurseries will be invited to share their comments on the materials and offer their own ideas to help hone the content and pave the way for a greener future. Rob Gilby, Playhouse Disney Managing Director comments, "The environment is an issue close to many parents hearts and we've been delighted by the response to our Playing for the Planet campaign that helps parents teach their kids about the environment through playful learning at home. It's a natural next step to trial this content in other preschool environments and I'd like to thank the Pre-school Learning Alliance for their help in creating an outstanding resource for nurseries." The Playhouse Disney Playing for the Planet campaign was first launched in May 2007 following research revealing that parents were crying out for ways to teach their preschoolers about the environment. The Playing for the Planet guide was compiled by a team of creative, environmental and child development experts. It contains a range of fun and educational activities designed specifically to help parents teach their preschoolers to be more environmentally aware. The nursery pack combines key elements of the Playing for the Planet guide with expertise from the Pre-school Learning Alliance to create a useful resource for nurseries. The pack contains a range of fun and educational activity templates and games focused around three key areas - play and exploration, active learning and creativity. Each activity uses Playhouse Disney characters such as Tigger & Pooh to help educate and engage preschoolers with key environmental issues such as recycling and conservation. Neil Leitch, Pre-school Learning Alliance Director of Communications adds: "We are delighted to be involved with Playhouse Disney to launch such an innovative and unique program of tailored support for practitioners. Caring for the planet from an early age ensures a better future for everyone. This pack encourages very young children to respect the planet as well as others and complements what a child first learns about the environment at home with their families." Playing for the Planet was brought to life on the Disney Channel with a Playing for the Planet weekend which included eight specially commissioned interstitials following the themes of the guide and including recycling, reusing and water saving ideas for preschoolers. More Playing for the Planet programs encouraging families and their children to think greener and filled with hints and tips, are planned for 2008. The interstitials can be viewed at playhousedisney.co.uk/playingfortheplanet The Playing for the Planet pack is being issued to over 7,300 nurseries across the UK from the 24th January. |
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Disney’s Wide World of Sports Unveils 11th Edition of Atlanta
Braves Spring Training at Champion Stadium Disney News - The Atlanta Braves will battle several key rivals during the 2008 Major League Baseball Spring Training season at Champion Stadium at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. After two weeks of workouts, the Braves will play a 16-game home schedule that includes marquee clashes with the Mets, Tigers, Cardinals and Dodgers at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex, the leading venue for amateur and professional sports in the country. Braves pitchers and catchers report Feb. 14, marking the beginning of the 11th year the Braves have come to Walt Disney World Resort for spring training. Position players arrive Feb. 19, with the first full-squad workouts on Feb. 20. After opening their home spring schedule with an exhibition game against the University of Georgia on Feb. 27, the Braves begin their major-league home schedule against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Feb. 29. The Braves continue their tradition of hosting the St. Louis Cardinals in back-to-back games, March 9-10, marking the sixth consecutive year the teams have faced off in a two-game spring series. The National League Central’s Houston Astros visit Champion Stadium on three occasions, March 2, 8 and 23. Last season’s American League Central division winner, the Cleveland Indians, visit on March 12 and March 21. Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex will also play host to the American League’s Detroit Tigers on March 7 and 20, and Tampa Bay Rays on March 15. The Braves host three of their division rivals, including the reigning National League East champion Philadelphia Phillies on March 4. The Washington Nationals visit for a pair of dates, March 11 and 26, and the New York Mets conclude the Braves’ spring training slate at Champion Stadium with a March 27 appearance. Individual game tickets for the Braves’ home spring training season go on sale Saturday, Jan. 5, at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster (407/839-3900 and www.ticketmaster.com) and at the Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex box office. Prices range from $14.50 (general admission lawn seats) to $23.50 (lower reserved). Information on the Braves’ spring training season, group tickets and mini-packs is available by calling 407/939-GAME (4263) and online at www.disneysports.com. The popular mini-packs will include both three-game and five-game options in 2008 and are currently on sale, giving fans their first opportunity to purchase tickets to specific games on the Braves’ 2008 spring training schedule. Fans may also purchase Atlanta Braves Spring Training travel packages through Spring Training USA. Travel packages include Braves game tickets, accommodations at the Walt Disney World Resort and other benefits. Information is available online at www.springtrainingtours.com. |
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More details on this spring's new Block Party Bash parade Disney News - "The Year of a Million Dreams" rocks on at Walt Disney World Resort this spring with a new funtastic parade featuring favorite Disney-Pixar characters in the interactive, high-energy "Block Party Bash" parade. Continuing the Disney Parks tradition of immersive guest experiences, "Block Party Bash" will put Disney's Hollywood Studios guests right in the middle of an unbelievable impromptu party during what could be one of the wildest, most interactive parades ever. With music and excitement cranked to the max for this high-energy street extravaganza, "Block Party Bash" will entice guests to dance, play and party their way through Disney's Hollywood Studios. The wildest block party in Disney history will entertain guests with a non-stop musical parade that doubles as an immersive/interactive street spectacular. Led by the famous Green Army Men, "Block Party Bash" will literally explode into the park as it makes its way down Hollywood Boulevard. In addition to an eclectic mix of fun-inducing retro tunes, "Block Party Bash" will include appearances by some of the most popular characters including Woody and Buzz Lightyear from "Toy Story," Mike and Sully from "Monsters, Inc." and Flik and Atta from "A Bug's Life." The "block party" will transform into major choreographed sections that immerse guests into a feeling of playing with the "toys," screaming with the "monsters" and dancing with the "bugs." The performance will literally be bursting with dancers, acrobats, jumping stilts and a mini caravan of electric scooters filling the performance area with an awe-inspiring array of visuals and sound sensations. The elaborate set pieces for this interactive parade/show will include large floats themed to "Toy Story," "Monsters, Inc." and "A Bug's Life," one-of-a-kind trampoline units (invented specifically for "Block Party Bash") and "tweeners" (smaller floats that look like stacks of toy blocks that double as dance stages, decorative prop boxes and sources of amazing special effects). These rolling stages will camouflage impressive telescoping towers that rise during the finale of the extravaganza revealing Mr. and Mrs. Incredible and Frozone from the Disney presentation of a Pixar Film, "The Incredibles." As a totally immersive experience, guests can expect a contagious spectacle of fun and laughs to spread throughout the audience. "Guests won't be able to resist the show's energetic performers, lovable characters, familiar pop tunes and never-ending surprises," said Robin Trowbridge, show director. "What a fantastic opportunity to share this incredible show with so many guests. I have no doubts that this show with all its fun, energy and surprises will knock the socks off of everyone visiting Disney's Hollywood Studios." "Block Party Bash" at Disney's Hollywood Studios joins an incredible array of new interactive experiences and astonishing entertainment scheduled to premiere during "The Year of a Million Dreams." |
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Investor asks
for seat on Panera's board CNNMoney - A Panera Bread Co. (NASDAQ:PNRA) shareholder, Shamrock Activist Value Fund LP, has requested a seat on the board of the bakery and cafe chain, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Thursday. In mid-January, Shamrock reported a 6.6 percent stake in the Richmond Heights, Mo.-based company. Roy E. Disney, a member of the founding family of Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:DCQ) (NYSE:DIS) , is chairman of the fund's investment manager, Shamrock Capital Advisors Inc. According to the filing, Shamrock Capital Advisors Vice President Christopher Kiper suggested that an executive officer of the fund join the board during a telephone conversation on Tuesday. He spoke with Panera Chairman and Chief Executive Ronald Shaich and Panera Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey Kip. Shamrock said its board representative would be in addition to the company's recent board expansion. On Wednesday, Panera named former CarMax Inc. (NYSE:KMX) CEO W. Austin Ligon and American Dairy (NYSE:ADY) Queen Corp. Chief Operating Officer Charles J. Chapman III as directors, expanding its board membership to six. Shamrock said the call participants also discussed Panera's progress in addressing the shareholder's concerns about governance. In its initial 13D filing in December, Shamrock asked the company to declassify its staggered board, separate the chairman and CEO roles, give all shares of common stock the same voting rights and expand the board to add new members. Shamrock also had proposed that the company provide more information about performance benchmarks for the company's compensation plan. |
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ESPN Anchor Dana
Jacobson Disciplined AP - Insults are the goal of roasts, and plenty were zinged around during a charity dinner held to skewer two ESPN radio hosts earlier this month. One of the network's anchors
went too far. ESPN commentators shared the stage with actors and athletes Jan. 11 in Atlantic City to celebrate the eighth anniversary of "Mike & Mike in the Morning" co-hosts Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg. The whole point was to spout off edgy jokes, but what's OK for comedians Eddie Griffin and Jeffrey Ross may not be appropriate for ESPN announcers seeking to be both entertainers and journalists. Asked whether the network planned to rethink its policy regarding employees taking part in such events, ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys said, "We won't be participating in another roast anytime soon." Jacobson's speech included obscenities aimed at Notre Dame, with Irish football coach Charlie Weis in attendance. An article in The Press of Atlantic City the next day said that Jacobson "made an absolute fool of herself, swilling vodka from a Belvedere bottle, mumbling along and cursing like a sailor as Mike & Mike rested their heads in their hands in embarrassment." She was booed off the stage. In a statement released through ESPN, Jacobson called her comments about Notre Dame "foolish and insensitive." "My actions at the roast were inappropriate and in no way represent who I really am," she said. "I have personally apologized to many of the people involved. I won't make excuses for my behavior but do hope that I can be forgiven for such a poor lack of judgment." ESPN released a statement calling her actions and comments inappropriate. Soltys said the network doesn't comment on personnel matters beyond saying she was disciplined. Notre Dame spokesman Dennis Brown said, "While we in no way condone Ms. Jacobson's comments, we're aware of the circumstances in which they occurred, and, in the interest of forgiveness, trust that she and ESPN have addressed the matter in an appropriate way." Jacobson's remarks came just two days after another TV anchor was suspended for offensive language. Golf Channel suspended Kelly Tilghman for two weeks for saying on air that young players who wanted to challenge Tiger Woods should "lynch him in a back alley." ESPN is a joint venture of Hearst Corp. and ABC, which is owned by The Walt Disney Co. |
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Wednesday January 23, 2008 |
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“Block Party Bash” to Rock Disney’s Hollywood Studios Raising the bar on dining 'Enchanted' Dominates Oscar Song Category 'Year of the Mouse Celebration' Rocks Hong Kong Disneyland Expedition: PINS Going along for the Ride with Disney Imagineer Tony Baxter Joseph segues from Freemantle to Disney-ABC Fairy-Tale Gowns for Real-Life Brides Disney film crews to shoot scenes at the Point |
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“Block Party Bash” to Rock Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Disney News - "The Year of a Million Dreams" rocks on at Walt Disney World Resort this spring with a new funtastic parade featuring favorite Disney-Pixar characters in the interactive, high-energy "Block Party Bash" parade. Continuing the Disney Parks tradition of immersive guest experiences, "Block Party Bash" will put Disney's Hollywood Studios guests right in the middle of an unbelievable impromptu party during what could be one of the wildest, most interactive parades ever. With music and excitement cranked to the max for this high-energy street extravaganza, "Block Party Bash" will entice guests to dance, play and party their way through Disney's Hollywood Studios. The wildest block party in Disney history will entertain guests with a non-stop musical parade that doubles as an immersive/interactive street spectacular. Led by the famous Green Army Men, "Block Party Bash" will literally explode into the park as it makes its way down Hollywood Boulevard. In addition to an eclectic mix of fun-inducing retro tunes, "Block Party Bash" will include appearances by some of the most popular characters including Woody and Buzz Lightyear from "Toy Story," Mike and Sully from "Monsters, Inc." and Flik and Atta from "A Bug's Life." The "block party" will transform into major choreographed sections that immerse guests into a feeling of playing with the "toys," screaming with the "monsters" and dancing with the "bugs." The performance will literally be bursting with dancers, acrobats, jumping stilts and a mini caravan of electric scooters filling the performance area with an awe-inspiring array of visuals and sound sensations. The elaborate set pieces for this interactive parade/show will include large floats themed to "Toy Story," "Monsters, Inc." and "A Bug's Life," one-of-a-kind trampoline units (invented specifically for "Block Party Bash") and "tweeners" (smaller floats that look like stacks of toy blocks that double as dance stages, decorative prop boxes and sources of amazing special effects). These rolling stages will camouflage impressive telescoping towers that rise during the finale of the extravaganza revealing Mr. and Mrs. Incredible and Frozone from the Disney presentation of a Pixar Film, "The Incredibles." As a totally immersive experience, guests can expect a contagious spectacle of fun and laughs to spread throughout the audience. "Guests won't be able to resist the show's energetic performers, lovable characters, familiar pop tunes and never-ending surprises," said Robin Trowbridge, show director. "What a fantastic opportunity to share this incredible show with so many guests. I have no doubts that this show with all its fun, energy and surprises will knock the socks off of everyone visiting Disney's Hollywood Studios." "Block Party Bash" at Disney's Hollywood Studios joins an incredible array of new interactive experiences and astonishing entertainment scheduled to premiere during "The Year of a Million Dreams." |
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Raising the bar on dining Orlando Sentinel - You can trace the theme-park culinary renaissance back to about 1992 when Dieter Hannig did something revolutionary for a corporation the size of Walt Disney World: He allowed the executive chefs and general managers at Disney's top-tier dining establishments to run the restaurants as if they owned them. "It really opened the doors to allow us to be more creative and be more competitive," says Scott Hunnel, executive chef at Victoria & Albert's, "not just in Orlando but with the rest of the country and the rest of the world." As director of food and beverage, Hannig recognized something was missing from some of the Disney restaurants. All were finely appointed, but they lacked soul, says Hannig, 57, whose current title is vice president of food and beverage new concepts. The chefs and the managers were the key to that missing element. Soon Victoria & Albert's became a destination restaurant. And the success of the program led the way for California Grill, Flying Fish Caf�, Citricos and other Disney restaurants to operate in the same way. And when those restaurants became dining destinations for Central Floridians, not just tourists, it raised the bar for local restaurants. Hannig says he probably wouldn't have been able to pull off the concept if he hadn't had the talents of chefs such as Hunnel, Clifford Pleau and John State. "Sometimes," says Hannig, "you hit it right." |
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'Enchanted'
Dominates Oscar Song Category Billboard - Songs from the film "Enchanted" dominated the best original song category nominees for the 2008 Academy Awards, which were announced this morning (Jan. 22). Three of the five nods, all with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, went to the film in the form of "Happy Working Song," "So Close" and "That's How You Know." The other nominees are "Raise It Up" from "August Rush," the music and lyric credits for which are "to be determined," according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and "Falling Slowly" from "Once," with music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. A notable omission in the category was Eddie Vedder's "Guaranteed" from "Into the Wild," which won a Golden Globe for best original song last weekend. In the best original score category, the nominees are Dario Marianelli for "Atonement," Alberto Iglesias for "The Kite Runner, James Newton Howard for "Michael Clayton," Michael Giacchino for "Ratatouille" and Marco Beltrami for "3:10 to Yuma." With eight nominations each, "No Country for Old Men" and "There Will Be Blood," lead the overall field. The other best picture contenders are "Atonement," "Juno" and "Michael Clayton." Johnny Depp earned a best actor nod for his turn as a singing, murderous barber in "Sweeney Todd," while Cate Blanchett was recognized with a best supporting actress nod for her portrayal of Bob Dylan in "I'm Not There." Marion Cotillard's portrayal of French singer Edith Piaf earned her a best actress nomination for "La Vie en Rose." The Academy Awards will be presented Feb. 24 at Los Angeles' Kodak Theatre. |
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'Year of the Mouse Celebration' Rocks Hong Kong Disneyland Mickey Mouse along with his pals brought Hong Kong Disneyland to an all-new high today, as guests were given a glimpse of the spectacular activities during the ‘Year of the Mouse Celebration’. Coming around only once every 12 years, this special year is set to bring about an auspicious and fun filled Lunar New Year – Disney style! In a fabulous kick-off ceremony, Mickey Mouse along with a bunch of his best Hong Kong celebrity pals, Vivienne Tam, Twins, Justin, DJ Sammy, and Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Hong Kong Disneyland, Bill Ernest, gave guests a taste of the upcoming festivities. The celebration runs from January 22 to February 24, 2008, and will give a Mickey-twist to Chinese New Year. “To help Mickey celebrate this monumental year, Hong Kong Disneyland has combined the best Chinese New Year traditions with Disney’s unique style of entertainment,” said Mr. Bill Ernest. Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, donning their brand new Chinese New Year costumes created by internationally renowned fashion designer Vivienne Tam, along with the designer herself, Bill Ernest and a plethora of models, kicked off the ‘Year of the Mouse Celebration’ with a high energy fashion show. Guests cheered and went wild as Mickey and Minnie and the models showed off their gorgeous outfits. Two of Mickey’s celebrity friends, Justin and DJ Sammy, also helped to lift guest spirits to a wondrous high, as they unveiled eight artistic statues of Mickey Mouse at the Sleeping Beauty Castle Hub. Designed by different celebrities, including Justin and DJ Sammy, each statue represents a different aspect of luck for the Year of the Mouse, as well as their own unique creativity. In a magnificent finale, special guests Twins, along with Mickey Mouse gave a dazzling introduction to the ‘Year of the Mouse Celebration’ and treated guests to a viewing of their specially created Mickey-themed Chinese New Year music video, which was filmed in the theme park. The song is part of their Lunar New Year album, which will hit stores today. “Mickey, his pals and all the Cast Members at Hong Kong Disneyland are ready to celebrate a prosperous Year of the Mouse with guests. Everywhere guests look, the Resort will be filled with Chinese New Year cheer and luck. This will be the best and biggest ‘Bai Nin’ ever and it’s going to last for a full five weeks,” Bill continued. The Resort, along with Mickey, will give Hong Kong residents a special Lunar New Year gift. From January 22 to February 6, 2008, Hong Kong Disneyland will be offering a special ‘Buy 3 Get 1 Free Offer’ for Hong Kong residents to celebrate a prosperous and magical Year of the Mouse. For high spirited and groovy times in the Park, guests can take part in Mickey’s Rockin’ the Mouse Castle Show, a musical extravaganza filled with Asian hits, electrifying dancers, Disney characters and pyrotechnics. Chinese New Year means all things new and Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are going to show off their newest designer label outfits in Adventures in Fashion. Other Disney characters, including Daisy, Pluto and Goofy, who have been inspired by the couple’s new outfits, will have Cast Members showcasing their creations, in this glitzy fashion show. As part of the special entertainment for the ‘Year of the Mouse Celebration’, beginning on the first day of the Chinese New Year, guests will be treated to living art in Rhythm of life: Dragon Procession; a magnificent Dragon along with Birds, Fish, Clouds and Waves will weave their way down Main Street U.S.A., in an unique Disney twist on an age old celebration. Mickey Mouse is playing the traditional Chinese host as he welcomes guests to ‘Bai Nin’ at his home in Mickey’s House. With mouse-guides on hand, guests can check out Mickey’s favorite collections of keepsakes and treasures, during a tour of his home. Hong Kong Disneyland loves creativity and Mickey Mouse has asked his celebrity friends, Vivienne Tam, Jacky Cheung and his daughter, Gillian Chung (Twins) and Charlene Choi (Twins), Justin, Fahrenheit, Jan Lamb and DJ Sammy to help him celebrate the Year of the Mouse in Salute to Mickey Statues. Designed by eight different celebrities, with each statue conveying a different aspect of luck, it will be easy to get a great start to the year. Of course Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Chip’n Dale, Goofy and Pluto will be in their own Chinese New Year attire, so guests shouldn’t miss the chance to snap a photo with them. For additional luck and cheer, the Gods of Fortune, Prosperity, Happiness and Longevity will be wishing guests a prosperous Year of the Mouse. With gold and red as the official Chinese New Year colors, over 70 all-new merchandise items under the theme Mickey Family in The Year of the Mouse, will be available for guests to find that perfect gift or keepsake. The Park and the two Disney themed hotels will be filled with endless choices and exclusive items only available during the ‘Year of the Mouse Celebration’. Of course traditional Chinese New Year menus and food will overflow from every corner of the Park and the two Disney themed hotels. With over 80 new items and menus with lucky names, there are sure to be endless ‘lucky’ palates during the ‘Year of the Mouse Celebration’. Hong Kong residents will have an extra way to enjoy the Year of the Mouse festivities with the ‘Buy 3 Get 1 Free Offer’. Eligible guests, who purchase three park tickets in one transaction at published rates during the promotional period, will receive a fourth complimentary Park ticket. This offer is valid from January 22 – February 6, 2008. To ensure that guests have the most magical and enjoyable experience at Hong Kong Disneyland during the ‘Year of the Mouse Celebration’, February 7 – 13, 2008 have been designated as Special Days. Premium Annual Pass holders, as well as guests who have purchased Special Day tickets, will have reserved admission to the Park (Special Day tickets are only valid on the date specified on the respective ticket). For more information on the ‘Year of the Mouse Celebration’ or the festivities during Chinese New Year at Hong Kong Disneyland, please visit www.hongkongdisneyland.com |
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Expedition:PINS Disney News - The images of the pins being released at the upcoming Expedition:PINS pin event at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park on May 3, 2008 are now online and available to view in the full merchandise catalog for the event. You can still register for the event, while supplies last. (Warning: You need to be registered on www.disneypins.com to sign up for the event.) The cost of an event ticket is $150 per guest and includes admission to Disney’s Animal Kingdom park from 7:30-10:30pm, first purchase opportunities for merchandise, a commemorative messenger pin bag, private dinner inside the park, signings by Disney design artists, access to silent auctions, and a number of other surprises. There will also be daytime activities held at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort for event guests. |
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Going along for the Ride with Disney Imagineer Tony Baxter Theme Parks - In early 2007, as the creative gurus at Walt Disney Imagineering that develop and build the company's parks and attractions were putting the final touches on Disneyland's much-anticipated makeover of the Submarine Voyage, I sat down with Tony Baxter, Imagineering senior vice president, creative development to learn more about the ride's history and the creative process involved in bringing it back. An Imagineering veteran whose affiliation with Disney goes back to the 1960s when he operated the Submarine Voyage as a teenage cast member at Disneyland, Baxter was an ideal candidate to talk about the classic ride. I flipped on my recorder, asked Baxter a couple of introductory questions, and he began to talk...and talk and talk. With his moustache, kindly demeanor, and trace of gravel in his voice, there is a hint of Walt Disney in the Imagineer. And like the man for whom the company is named, Baxter shares an evangelical fervor and joy for the Disney parks and his work. He offered some illuminating behind-the-scenes insight about the reborn Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. I captured his fish stories in my feature, The Submarine Voyage to Find Nemo. But Baxter didn't stop there. Placing the subs within the context of Imagineering's evolution and his considerable history and leadership with the organization, Baxter regaled me with all kinds of Disney park lore. What follows are some highlights from our fascinating conversation. How to become a Disney ImagineerDo you dream about joining the
Imagineering ranks and creating theme park magic? There's no
surefire way to land one of the plum jobs, but you might be able
to get some tips from Baxter as he describes the journey that
took him to the Glendale, California house that built the Mouse.
After graduating college, I applied at WDI [Walt Disney Imagineering, then known as WED--for Walter Elias Disney--Enterprises] and submitted my portfolio, which included an attraction I developed based on the film, The Island at the Top of the World. I had invested my entire senior year in the project. Ultimately, the film was not a hit--but I got the job. I think Disneyland is unique, because it is theater and it uses a landscaped environment and architecture to tell its stories. So I was well versed in all three of those areas. It worked out well. I sort of stumbled into my profession. It's a small world--in a big cityFor the 1964/1965 New York
World's Fair, Walt Disney Imagineering developed four landmark
attractions: Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, the Magic Skyway
(which included animatronic dinosaurs that eventually ended up
in the diorama through which Disneyland's train passes and
inspired the lumbering creatures inside Epcot's Universe of
Energy), It's a Small World, and the Carousel of Progress. The first of the gen-2 Imagineers generates some big thunderImagineering tapped Baxter, at a relatively young age, to take the lead on projects for both Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland and encouraged him to tackle Frontierland as one of his first assignments. The sprawling area, by far the largest of the Anaheim park's lands, accommodated the Davy Crockett-crazy era of the 1950s when Disneyland opened, but was becoming stale by the 1970s. Tony Baxter: The original Imagineers who had worked with Walt were beginning to retire, and I was the oldest young person there. I was in a good position. Claude Coats [who worked on animated classics such as Pinoccchio and Dumbo and helped design many attractions including Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride] was probably the nicest person I ever met [at Imagineering]. He took me under his wing and helped me develop what became Big Thunder Mountain, the first ride to open without any input from Walt. In California, I was nervous because we were knocking out Nature's Wonderland, one of Walt's rides. But it was becoming obsolete; people weren't riding it. Big Thunder Mountain [which opened at Disneyland in 1979] became a major hit because it looks impressive and frightening and it rings all the roller coaster bells. But most of its impact comes from the story, the emotion, and the effects, rather than the [relatively tame] physical experience. So a lot of people can enjoy it together. There is a sense of triumph when an older person or a little kid gets off the ride and had a great time. In the end, it's all about the repeatability of an attraction. Imagineering and ImaginationBaxter was instrumental in
bringing to life some of the attractions at Epcot, the second
gate at Walt Disney World and the first to deviate from the
Disneyland prototype. He helped design The Living Seas and The
Land pavilions as well as an attraction in which he takes great
pride, the original Journey into Imagination ride. While Mickey
and the gang freely roam Epcot now, when the park debuted in
1982 the classic characters were banished, partly to distinguish
it from the Magic Kingdom. Baxter helped fill the void with new,
original characters. Star Wars rockets Disneyland to new placesBaxter says that the early-1980s
period following the opening of Epcot were bleak times for the
parks and Imagineering. CEO Card Walker, who had come up through
the ranks and worked directly under Walt Disney for many years,
retired. Disney's son-in-law, Ron Miller stepped in as CEO, but
the company lost its cachet, its creativity was ebbing, and
corporate raiders were baring their teeth. Amid some
controversy, the Imagineers went outside the company to find
inspiration in George Lucas' blockbuster, Star Wars. Baxter says
that the motion simulator ride, Star Tours at Disneyland, was
the first of its kind; however, Doug Trumbull, who developed the
Back to the Future attraction at Universal Studios, had been
tinkering with simulator rides since the 1970s and debuted the
first ride film, Tour of the Universe, in Toronto a couple of
years before Star Tours. When Star Tours debuted, we had to leave the park open for 60 hours to handle the crowds. It was an enormous success. And it was an important turning point for the company [and for] the evolution of rides. It was the first real breakthrough since animatronics and a major step forward. Disney's web of secrecy: Are the Imagineers developing something better than Spider-Man?Star Tours helped usher in the age of the motion simulator ride. Universal Studios took it to the next level with The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man and its breakthrough concept of the roving motion base vehicle. When it debuted in 1999 with the opening of Islands of Adventure, it was instantly hailed as the theme park ride to beat. Apparently, the Imagineers are in fighting mode. Tony Baxter: Motion simulation allows the ride vehicle
to work as an element in a story. It's a tool to help set
emotion. We do that with Indiana Jones [Adventure at
Disneyland]. With imitation being the sincerest form of
flattery, Star Tours launched many similar attractions. The
ultimate challenge...was Spider-Man and its synchronized motion
base with 3-D [filmed scenes]. We looked at that and we started
experimenting. Now, we have something that goes beyond that--but
we won't talk about it. [Baxter laughed as he made the last
remark.] What's cool about being at DisneylandAmong the many wonderful things
about the Disney theme parks are the ways in which the
architecture, attention to detail, splashes of color, doses of
whimsy, and other well-placed elements converge to
subconsciously evoke senses of optimism, reassurance,
anticipation, and other emotions--the emotional connection that
Baxter often mentions. Disneyland Paris is perhaps the most
lavish and beautiful of the Disney parks and the one most likely
to stir emotions. Disappointment and hopefulnessAs Disney brass changes, and the
decision makers who control the budgets impose their authority,
working at Imagineering can be a heck of a roller coaster
ride--in more ways than one. Michael Eisner had been the
company's savior at the start of his tenure, but had seen his
halo fade when its fortunes started to falter. Eisner appointed
Paul Pressler as Disneyland's president in the mid-1990s. With
an intense (some might say ruthless) focus on trimming expenses
and wringing profits, Pressler and Cynthia Harris, the successor
Pressler appointed when he was promoted, helped put a
stranglehold on Imagineering. However, by 2003, Pressler and
Harris were gone and new Disneyland president Matt Ouimet
brought a more open mind--and checkbook--to his position. |
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Joseph
segues from Freemantle to Disney-ABC Hollywood Reporter - Disney-ABC International Television has wooed Fremantle drama executive Naomi Joseph to be executive director of format development for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the company said Tuesday. Joseph will be responsible for local production of Disney-ABC International Television's reality and entertainment formats and the reversion of its scripted series, working closely with Disney-ABC International Television's sales team in Europe, Middle East and Africa. She will report to Maria Kyriacou, vp of the company's portfolio development group, Joseph joins Disney from FremantleMedia, where she was executive vp worldwide drama and responsible for the development, sale and executive production of dramas including "The IT Crowd," "Neighbors" and "Betty La Fea" around the world. "Our formats and reversion activity is a key part of our portfolio development strategy, and plays an important part in further cementing our content's connection with local audiences," Kyriacou said. "It's fantastic to be bringing into the team Naomi's wealth of experience working on major format productions." |
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Fairy-Tale Gowns
for Real-Life Brides The Disney Insider - Attentive footmen...pumpkin carriages...a dashing prince. Growing up with classic Disney animated films leaves many little girls dreaming of their wedding, where they get to be a princess for a day. And now, Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings Bridal Collection makes the dream come true with a line of enchanting gowns, inspired by your favorite Disney Princesses. In an effort to discover how any bride can be made to feel like a princess, The Insider spoke with Rebekah Bezer, Senior Category Manager, Global Apparel, Accessories & Footwear for Disney Consumer Products, about the genesis of the gowns. While planning her own wedding about a year and a half ago, she, along with other co-workers, began wondering why Disney wasn't part of the bridal world. "We tell the story of princesses and romance and falling in love and learning about your first kiss as early as two years old," she says. "We really own the fairy tale and idea of romance -- why aren't we playing to an adult audience? Those stories were told to these girls who have grown up and are finding their own Prince Charming. We should make something of this." And that is exactly what they did when Disney Consumer Products partnered with couture designer Kirstie Kelley. Aware of Kirstie's success within the bridal industry, Disney felt that her enthusiasm and unyielding passion for the brand of dresses matched their vision. Armed with a collection of classic Disney movies and storybooks, Kirstie sat down to translate the stories of these Disney Princess heroines into a contemporary line of wedding gowns. Focusing on six Disney Princesses -- Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Ariel, Jasmine, and Belle -- she took the qualities of each and collected them into gowns made of such luxurious fabrics as silk organza, chiffon, and duchess satin. For instance, Kirstie brought the classic look of Cinderella into modern times by using silk tulle and duchess satin and silver threading sparkle. The end result - a line of gowns that's both sophisticated and ethereal. The gowns are inspired by the Disney Princesses, but they have a modern flavor with their fashionable designs. While today's woman isn't likely to be found sitting by a wishing well hoping that her prince will come, she does still want to feel like a princess on her special day. Kirstie felt it was important to envision what a modern day princess would wear, in dresses that celebrate classic romance while looking wearable to a contemporary bride. The dresses were carefully designed to suit each Princess's personality and tale of romance. For instance, Ariel's line pays tribute to the underwater princess by the use of intricate pearl beading and cascading, luxurious silk. To embody Sleeping Beauty, Kirstie and her team set out to create a regal gown by using majestic fabrics of satin and Chantilly. However, the most popular dress of the collection reflects Jasmine's Bohemian spirit, interpreted in draped chiffon and satin. With dresses ranging from a size 2 to 24, this line has something for every dream wedding -- and this goes beyond the bride herself. The accompanying Disney Maiden and Disney Blossom lines offer couture designs for the bridesmaids and flower girls. There is even a special line dedicated to jewelry for the bridal party, ensuring that every detail of your fairy-tale wedding comes true. While fairy godmothers may come in handy, a Disney fairy-tale wedding dress can turn your dreams of becoming a princess into reality...and one beautiful lifelong memory. To view the entire collection, and for a retailer near you, please visit the Web site at www.disneybridal.com |
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Disney
film crews to shoot scenes at the Point Stamford Advocate - A cherished Greenwich park has been added to a list of Fairfield County locations for a new feature film whose stars include comedic actors Isla Fisher and John Goodman. Film crews are expected to shoot at Greenwich Point in March for "Confessions of a Shopaholic," based on the best-selling 2001 book by British author Sophie Kinsella. According to Greenwich parks officials, scouts have chosen a location near the Point's southwestern corner -- a stretch of rocky beach near the Eagle Pond that's bordered by what's known as "the sea wall." The area draws dozens of people who park there at lunch time to take in scenic views of the Long Island Sound, Bronx-Queens bridges and Manhattan skyline. "It (the Point) is obviously a place of great visual attractiveness and atmosphere," said Michael Singer, the film's Los Angeles-based unit publicist. "One goal of any filmmaker is always to find really interesting visual locations." The movie, a comedy about an irrepressible shopping addict named Becky Bloomwood, is a joint production of Walt Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Singer said. Longtime Greenwich Point caretaker Ed Fesko said he met earlier this month with representatives from Stamford-based Green Scarf Productions who told him a little about the scene. According to Fesko, the shot will feature John Goodman and others engaging in a time-honored Yankee tradition: shell fishing. "At this particular location there's going to be some kind of 40-foot RV that will be part of the shot," Fesko said yesterday and pointed toward the sea wall, waves crashing where a beach is exposed at low-tide. "And there will be a family in this area, right here, clamming down there. That's about all I know about the set-up." The production companies will pay the town's fee of $500 per day to film at the Point, according to Fred Walters, the parks department's superintendent of marine facilities. The money goes into the parks department's scholarship fund, which helps needy children participate in the agency's youth programs. Disney film crews have built up a good reputation with the town, Walters said: Last summer, following filming in Greenwich of "Old Dogs" with John Travolta and Robin Williams, the company paid $4,000 above the town's fee. "Confessions of a Shopaholic" will be directed by P.J. Hogan, who directed "Muriel's Wedding" and "My Best Friend's Wedding." It isn't clear what role Goodman, co-star of the TV show "Roseanne" and films such as "The Big Lebowski" and "Raising Arizona," will play in the new film. The starring role of Bloomwood falls to Fisher, best known for her role as the frisky Gloria Cleary in the comedy "Wedding Crashers." Fisher is married to Sacha Baron Cohen, iconic star of "Borat" and "Da Ali G Show." "Confessions of a Shopaholic" is set for release late this year or in early 2009, Singer said. Movie officials have said that scenes will also be shot in Stamford, Bridgeport and Danbury. Walters said he can't recall a major studio ever shooting a feature film at Greenwich Point --Êa park that's open to everyone in the winter but which nonresidents must pay a fee of $5 per person plus $20 per car to enter most of the year. "We've turned down more movies than we've allowed at the Point," Walters said. "This may be, for a movie, the first big one shot there. There have been commercials, but nothing this big." Since Connecticut lawmakers enacted an incentive program for movie makers in 2006, film crews have descended on Fairfield County in droves and set up production companies in the area. Some critics say the tax credit program places too much faith in the film industry without fully weighing the downside of lost tax revenues. One group that's happy to see Disney come to the Point to shoot this particular scene is the Greenwich Shellfish Commission, a volunteer agency that's worked hard to boost waning interest in the hobby, through publishing a shellfish cook book, producing a film on Greenwich shellfishing and designing an annual event called "Experience the Sound." "The more exposure we get, the more people may want to go clamming at the Point," said commission Chairman Roger Bowgen. |
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Tuesday January 22, 2008 |
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Disney Mobile confident in Japan despite US flop Safety concerns for Disneyland's Splash Mountain Wonders of Life Now “Future World Event Center” Disney ups format drive with Fremantle hire Stranger arranges Disney World trip for children of mother who died Put your hands in the air at Disney's Coronado Springs Net nod for 'Ratatouille' Local miss takes big smile to Disneyland The Game Plan on DVD Ringo Walks Off `Regis' Over Song Flap Disney and Viacom get Oscar love Nominees for GLAAD Awards |
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Disney Mobile confident in Japan despite US flop AFP - Disney unveiled its first mobile phones in Japan on Tuesday, saying the US entertainment gaint is "extremely confident" in success here after learning lessons from its flop in the US market.
Walt Disney Japan, the local
unit of Walt Disney Co., said it would begin a new mobile
telephone service, named "Disney Mobile," on March 1
together with Softbank Corp in line with their initial
announcement in November.
Aimed at young working women,
Disney Mobile will first offer three types of mobiles made
by Japan's Sharp, whose outer package is covered with
silhouette patterns of Mickey Mouse.
They also feature a special
online bottom that will allow subscribers to jump to Disney
websites, while Disney's iconic characters can be used on
standby screens and to decorate e-mails free of charge.
Further details, including
prices, were to be released later.
Disney will become Japan's
first so-called mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), or a
company that buys capacity from another firm to provide cell
phone services.
"We are extremely confident" in
success, said Duncan Orrell-Jones, vice president of Walt
Disney Internet Group Asia-Pacific
It is entering the tough
Japanese market despite the failure of Disney Mobile in the
United States, another MVNO which shut down at the end of
last year.
The flop was mainly due to its
business model in the US, "where we did everything on our
own," Orrell-Jones said.
Disney, giving up a solo
operation, decided to tie up with Softbank, which is a "much
more powerful model that gives us collaboration across
everything from handsets to service to distribution," he
said.
He noted that Disney already
has a strong following in Japan, where Tokyo Disneyland
receives tens of millions of visitors every year.
Disney Mobile said it will
target female subscribers in their 20s and 30s.
"We have enjoyed a great deal
of success in Japan with our mobile content services
catering to Japanese women," Paul Candland, president of
Walt Disney Company Japan, said in a statement.
Disney is already a major
content provider for mobile phones in Japan, with some 3.5
million people subscribing to its site of whom 75 percent
are women over 20, he said.
In the United States, Disney
Mobile marketed itself as a family-friendly mobile letting
parents talk easily to children. But the MVNO with Sprint
shut down after only a year and a half, with Disney finding
it more profitable to sell its contents through other
service providers.
Japan, a nation of 127 million
people, has more than 100 million mobile phones in
operation, spelling major challenges for service providers
to achieve growth.
Japan's cell phone market is
dominated by NTT DoCoMo, KDDI Corp. and Softbank Mobile, and
launching a new service would require a massive initial
investment.
Softbank, an Internet
conglomerate, entered the field only in 2006 after a massive
15 billion-dollar purchase of British giant Vodafone's
struggling Japanese unit.
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Safety
concerns for Disneyland's Splash Mountain LA Times - Disneyland raised the height requirement for the Splash Mountain log flume ride to one of the highest levels in the amusement park industry out of concerns for rider safety.
The "temporary height
restriction" for the front seat of Splash Mountain has been
raised from 40 inches to 60 inches so the Anaheim theme park
can "evaluate options to improve comfort and safety,"
Disneyland spokesman Rob Doughty said in a written
statement.
MiceAge columnist David "Darkbeer"
Michael reported that small children have been injured
ducking under the front of the hollow log. Doughty said
no specific incident triggered the "short term" change
on the restraintless ride.
No other attraction at
Disneyland or Disney's California Adventure has a
height restriction over 54 inches, the same
requirement for the most extreme amusement park
rides, according to Roller Coaster Database.
"A five-foot height
requirement on anything less than an extreme
roller coaster is absurd," said Robert Niles,
who runs the Theme Park Insider website which
tracks amusement park accidents.
Based on the
Disney movie "Song of the South," Splash
Mountain takes riders through faux swamps
inhabited by animatronic characters that
cavort and sing "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" before
descending 50 feet down a 45-degree drop at
40 mph.
Built in
1989, the Disneyland attraction can
accommodate four to six riders who
straddle bench seats in a single file.
The Walt Disney World and Tokyo
Disneyland versions of Splash Mountain,
both built in 1992, feature log flumes
that seat eight riders in four separate
rows.
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Disney News
- The Wonders of Life was finally
removed from seasonal activity on
DisneyWorld.com,
but the reason will only be for it’s
demise. From February 1, 2008 forward,
the pavilion will no longer be
officially referred to as the Wonders of
Life. In addition, control of the
pavilion has been handed over to Walt
Disney World Special Events. During the
2008 Epcot International Flower and
Garden Festival, the following events
will now take place in the pavilion:
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Disney ups format drive with Fremantle
hire
C21Media - Disney-ABC International Television has poached FremantleMedia executive VP of worldwide drama Naomi Joseph to become its executive director of format development for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Joseph spent 13 years at Fremantle, where she oversaw development, sales and executive production of shows including local productions of The IT Crowd, Neighbors and Betty La Fea around the world. In her new role at Disney-ABC, she will be responsible for the EMEA local production of the company's reality and entertainment formats, and the reversioning of its scripted series. The Mouse has already scored successes with locally produced versions of Extreme Makeover, The Amazing Race, Desperate Housewives, According to Jim, The Golden Girls, plus Hope and Faith. Joseph will report to VP of the Disney-ABC portfolio development group Maria Kyriacou, and work closely with the company's international TV sales team throughout the EMEA region. "Our formats and reversioning activity is a key part of our portfolio development strategy, and plays an important part in further cementing our content’s connection with local audiences," said Kyriacou. "It's fantastic to be bringing into the team Naomi's wealth of experience working on major format productions." Joseph added: "I'm thrilled to be joining Disney-ABC International Television, and look forward to working with international partners to explore the exciting opportunities for its rich portfolio." |
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Stranger arranges Disney World trip for
children of mother who died
The Austin American-Statesman - Robert Lim of Cedar Park had never met Regina Fabian Zamora's five children, but after hearing that they had lost their mother to breast cancer 17 days before Christmas, he wanted one thing: to make them smile.
And he
wasn't taking no for an answer.
Having
lost both of his parents at age 19,
he was on intimate terms with
tragedy. Afterward, "nobody cared
about my dreams or (my parents')
dreams," he said. He never forgot
it.
"These kids need something to
look forward to," said Lim, 54,
who works at a clinic with the
children's grandmother. "They
deserve something their mother
wanted for them."
The clinic bought Christmas
gifts for the Zamora
children, and Lim and his
wife, Lyle, 49, decided that
instead of buying each other
gifts, they would do
something for the kids.
Lim had read about
Zamora's life and her
dream of taking the
children to Disney World
in an American-Statesman
article. Lim, a business
office supervisor at
Northeast Austin
Community Health Center,
was determined to make
that happen.
But many potential
donors told him that
they were tapped out
after the holidays
and other giving. "I
said, 'The children
didn't ask to lose
their mother a few
weeks before
Christmas,' " Lim
said. He didn't know
what to do next but
started working the
phones for hotel
rooms, plane tickets
and park passes.
On Friday
morning, Lim
told the
children that
they'll be going
to Disney World
this year.
They'll fly for
free on
ExpressJet
Airlines, stay
for free at a
Hilton hotel and
get free
admission to the
park.
They'll even
have a
little
spending
money,
including
the money
Lim and his
wife would
have spent
on each
other and
donations
from
co-workers,
friends,
pharmacists,
a doctor and
optometrists.
"The
timing
(at
Christmas)
and his
persistence"
made a
difference,
said
Kristy
Nicholas,
a
spokeswoman
for
Houston-based
ExpressJet.
If
Lim
had
expected
to
hear
squeals
of
delight,
he
was
disappointed.
The
children
were
stoic,
although
the
oldest,
Albert,
13,
grinned.
Lim said later, "It's not about me. It's about them."
Lim broke the news to the family at the Hilton Austin downtown, where the hotel treated the family to fruit and pastries, including pound cake decorated with a chocolate Mickey Mouse and a hardened sugar sculpture of Dumbo in the hotel's coffee shop.
As the kids devoured the treats, they said they were surprised and pleased. "I'm very excited," Albert said.
When will they go?
"Tomorrow!" said Ernest, 12, as his brother, Reynaldo, 10, nodded.
Probably in the summer, once school is out, said Albert, the big brother voice of wisdom.
Leah, 9, who has a twin, Merina, said she was happy "except for going on an airplane." She's afraid to fly. Her grandmother told her that it will be fun, although she admitted that she hasn't flown, either. She will join the children and their father.
"It's wonderful," said Albert Zamora, the kids' father. "It's a trip we probably wouldn't have taken."
Lim said he wanted to make Regina Zamora's dream come true even though he never met her.
"I also want her kids to remember something positive to the massive negative they've had to endure," he said. "I have one dream, and that is to put a smile on their faces that 51/2 years of living with cancer has taken off of their faces."
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Put your hands in the air at Disney's Coronado Springs
Orlando Sentinel - Well, this introduction from a recent Disney press release caught my eye: "Rix Lounge, offering an upscale nighttime experience with house music, specialty drinks, tapas-style appetizers and rotating entertainment, has opened at Disney's Coronado Springs resort at Walt Disney World."
Whoa, back up, does that say house music?
Does Disney really mean thumpa-thumpa-thumpa house music? Go, Mickey, go.
It would never have occurred to me to look for nightlife at Coronado Springs, used most often for conventioneers, but that's part of Disney's plan to give those in town on business an after-hours place to chill.
"We've created an atmosphere where guests can go unwind after work or a day at the park, celebrate a special event or party all night," general manager Lee Viersen says in the press release. {Note that "all night," in Disney terms, means 2 a.m.}
Colleague Kelly Fitzpatrick, who writes about nightlife for the newspaper and OrlandoSentinel.com, has already been, of course...
Kelly makes a point of mentioning the high prices, so I may have to save my pennies before visiting. However, I'm intrigued by the "Ritz Bouquet," a cocktail described as champagne with rose petals and limes mulled together.
Mouse ears and glowsticks optional.
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Net nod for 'Ratatouille'
Hollywood Reporter - Fox Interactive Media's online movie site, tossed out its ninth annual Golden Tomato Awards on Monday, hailing Disney/Pixar's "Ratatouille" as its best-reviewed wide-release movie of 2007. "Ratatouille" scored a nearly unanimous 96% approval rating on the site's "Tomatometer." Universal/Gold Circle's "Because I Said So," starring Diane Keaton and Mandy Moore, suffered the designation of the worst-reviewed movie of 2007, earning the Moldy Tomato Award, with an approval rating of just 5%. Sorting through the year's releases in various categories, Rotten Tomatoes offered best of breed citations to: limited release, "Once," which also scored in the musical category; action/adventure, "The Bourne Ultimatum"; comedy, "Juno"; drama, "Away From Her"; horror, "Grindhouse"; kids/family, "Enchanted"; romance, "Atonement"; sci-fi/fantasy, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"; documentary, "Sicko"; foreign language, "The Lives of Others"; thriller, "No Country for Old Men"; U.K. release, "Hot Fuzz"; and Australian film, "Ten Canoes." "Ratatouille" also earned the top ranking in the animation category. |
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Local miss takes big smile to Disneyland
Eastern Arizona Courier - A magical kingdom that hosts the characters and attractions that live up to every child's dream is where Safford's Megan McCray will be working in two weeks.
While searching for universities online, McCray stumbled upon Disneyland auditions. On a whim, she and some friends drove to California to audition for what they thought were dance positions. The auditions turned out to be for character auditions. According to McCray, around 100 people auditioned. There were five cut periods, each time about half of the group being cut. Characters were chosen based on body size, acting, attitude, an online survey, adjustment and more.
McCray said at each cut period she would wonder if she was next, but at the end of the night when there were only 15 contestants left, she knew she was in.
McCray will be Jessie the Cowgirl, Turk from Tarzan, Koda from Brother Bear, Penguin from Mary Poppins, Chip and Dale, Max from the Goofy Movie and Pooh Bear.
Meeting all the people is what McCray said is going to be most unique about the job. She will be required to work full-time and on holidays, but "thats' exciting," she said. She looks forward to working there because "Disneyland holds high standards."
When asked how she will stay in love with her job, McCray said she was the Bulldog mascot in high school, and though the job is similar, "Every day is a different day." She said it will be easy because everyone is always excited. She loves going to Disneyland and meeting the characters, and now she will be the excitement for someone else.
"I don't think it will be hard because I love it," she said, referring to her experience in character acting.
On Jan. 26 she begins training. McCray plans to move to California within the next two weeks and already has housing options lined up. McCray said working at Disneyland is every child's dream, but it wasn't one she thought she'd ever pursue or have the opportunity to achieve. McCray will continue her education by taking EA classes online. "I'm up for a challenge," she said.
McCray has been involved in the State Cinderella scholarship program since she was 4. She held the teen title in 2006-07 and the ambassador title in 2004. She was also Miss Congeniality.
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The Game Plan on DVD
 Buena Vista Home Entertainment - Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson scores a touchdown in his first comic leading man role in the family-friendly box office hit The Game Plan, coming to Disney DVD and Disney Bluray Disc on January 22, 2008 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.
Johnson (The Scorpion King) lends his trademark charm and formidable charisma to the role of Joe Kingman, a pro football superstar who unexpectedly finds himself caring for a precocious young girl played by Madison Pettis ("Cory in the House"). With Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer") as Joe's workaholic agent and Rosalyn Sanchez ("Without a Trace") as the little girl's football averse dance teacher, the talented supporting cast also includes Gordon Clapp ("NYPD Blue") and Morris Chestnut (Like Mike). Directed by Andy Fickman (She's the Man), The Game Plan puts a hilarious spin on the tough world of professional sports in a comedy delight for the whole family. Both DVD and Blu-ray Disc feature entertaining bonuses, including a pair of very special, and very funny, interviews created in conjunction with ESPN.
High-living Boston Rebels quarterback Joe Kingman (Johnson) finds his world turned upside-down when seven-year-old Peyton Kelly (Pettis) shows up at his door and announces she is his child from a brief early marriage and needs a place to stay while her mother is away on business. For the next month, Joe is suddenly saddled with unfamiliar parental responsibilities like ballet class and homework, while also getting to know his daughter. As he tries to lead his team to a championship season, Joe navigates the rocky shoals between macho man and girly-girl cultures with hilarious and heartwarming results, building to an outcome he never saw coming.
The Game Plan DVD has a suggested retail price of $29.99 in the U.S. and $37.99 in Canada. The Blu-ray Disc is priced at $34.99 in the U.S. and $44.99 in Canada.
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Ringo Walks Off `Regis' Over Song Flap
AP - Starr is known for being the amiable Beatle, but the rock star showed his tough side Tuesday when he walked off the set of "Live With Regis and Kelly" rather than cut short one of his songs. Starr, who is promoting his new album, "Liverpool 8," planned to perform the title song with fellow rocker Dave Stewart. However, due to miscommunication between his publicist, Elizabeth Freund, and the musical director, Starr didn't realize the performance had to be 2 1/2 minutes or less, Freund told The Associated Press. When told Tuesday morning that the performance had to be shortened, Freund said Starr tried to cut about a minute of the song's 4 minute, 15 second length, down to 3 minutes and 30 seconds. However, according to Freund, producer Michael Gellman said it had to be less than 3 minutes. "We offered to cut back our chat time and asked them to fade or go to commercial. They were not willing to do that and Ringo was not willing to cut it further, so without a compromise we were not able to stay," Freund said in a statement to The Associated Press. "Ringo left saying, `God bless and goodbye. We still love Regis.'" A spokeswoman for "Regis and Kelly" told the AP the show's producers tried to work with Starr, noting his appearance had been booked since November and the time requirement for the song -- the show's standard -- had been expressed numerous times. With Starr absent, fashion designer Michael Kors and the winners of CBS' "The Amazing Race" did extra segments to fill his time. Starr, 67, shortened his song for CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman," but it was still over 3 minutes, Freund said. |
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Disney and Viacom get Oscar love
CNN Money - And the financial riches from the Academy Award nominations go to….Walt Disney (DIS) and Viacom (VIAB)!
Disney and Viacom are the biggest winners from this morning’s Oscar nominations. That’s because the two media giants are listed as co-producers for the two movies that scored the most nods, including coveted Best Picture nominations. “No Country for Old Men” and “There Will Be Blood,” each produced by Viacom’s Paramount Vantage and Disney’s Miramax, wound up with 8 nominations.
In addition to Best Picture nominations, “There Will Be Blood” star Daniel Day-Lewis was nominated for Best Actor while “No Country for Old Men’s” Javier Bardem received a Best Supporting Actor nomination. Why is this financially significant? According to a 2001 study by Colby College professor Randy Nelson, a Best Picture nomination could add, on average, nearly $6 million in ticket sales for a film between the day the nominations are announced and the Oscar telecast. And the winning film could stand to get another $16 million. Best Actor and Best Actress nominations could add an estimated $1 million to the box office while the films featuring winners in those categories could get another $5 million or so. Nominations for Best Supporting Actor and Actress also help lift box office, although not by a substantial amount. In the past few years, nominations have been crucial to box office success of Oscar-nominated films, particularly since the Academy has recently shown a tendency to honor films that weren’t big box office draws initially. Best Picture nominations were a boon for “Brokeback Mountain” in 2006 and for “Million Dollar Baby” in 2005. Still, nominations often aren’t as significant for movies that already were doing well financially. That was the case with “The Departed,” last year’s Oscar winner for Best Picture. It already had grossed more than $100 million before the nominations were announced. But nominations can also help lift DVD sales, particularly for nominated movies that are out of theaters by the time nominations are announced. This is key as DVDs have become an increasingly important part of the revenue stream for media conglomerates. “Little Miss Sunshine” enjoyed a bump in DVD sales shortly after Oscar nominations were announced last year. And DVD sales of “Crash,” which wound up beating “Brokeback Mountain” for Best Picture two years ago, also got a nice bump after nominations were announced. “In the most recent years, DVDs have benefited more from Oscar nominations and awards,” Nelson said in an interview with me today. So Oscar nominations do matter. And most of the major media companies had reasons to be happy Tuesday. News Corp.’s (NWS) Fox scored a Best Picture nomination for the comedy “Juno.” And star Ellen Page was nominated for Best Actress. Time Warner’s (TWX) Warner Bros. received a Best Picture nomination for “Michael Clayton” as well as Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress nominations for George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson and Tilda Swinton. (Time Warner also owns CNNMoney.com.) The final Best Picture nomination went to “Atonement,” the adaptation of the popular Ian McEwan novel that was released by Focus Features, which is owned by GE’s (GE) Universal unit. “Atonement,” which won the Golden Globe for Best Picture — Drama — did lose out in the Best Actor and Actress categories though as stars James McAvoy and Kiera Knightley were snubbed. Thirteen-year old Saorise Ronan did get a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her potrayal as young Briony Tallis, however. Of course, it is still up in the air whether or not there will actually be a televised awards ceremony due to the Hollywood writers’ strike. But Nelson’s study indicates, that as actors and actresses are fond of saying on the red carpet before the show, it is an honor just to be nominated. So even though winners may not receive as much fanfare as in years past, all the films with major nominations are likely to benefit from increased marketing hype in the next month as the studios will be quick to tout all their award contenders. |
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Nominees for GLAAD Awards
AP - For the second straight year, ABC led nominees for awards from an organization that monitors depictions of gays and lesbians in the media.
The network landed nine nominations from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, while CBS garnered three nods, NBC two and Fox two.
ABC's nominated shows include "Brothers & Sisters," "Ugly Betty" and "Desperate Housewives." Among cable networks, Logo received five nominations, CNN four, Bravo three and ABC Family two.
Nominees for feature film in wide release include Julie Taymor's Beatles musical "Across the Universe," the fantasy "Stardust" and "The Jane Austen Book Club."
Special prizes will go to singers Rufus Wainwright and Janet Jackson, MTV Networks president of entertainment Brian Graden, "My So-Called Life" actor Wilson Cruz, activist David Mixner and "The L Word" creator Ilene Chaiken.
The 19th annual GLAAD Media Awards -- with 172 nominees in 40 categories -- are split into four ceremonies, held in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and southern Florida in March, April and May.
"This year's extraordinary nominees exemplify the important strides we have made as a community toward creating a truly inclusive society," GLAAD President Neil Giuliano said in a statement.
The organization noted that transgender issues were addressed in numerous news reports and documentaries as well as in the TV shows "All My Children," "Cold Case" and "Dirty Sexy Money."
The nominees were announced Sunday night during the Sundance Film Festival.
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Monday January 21, 2008 |
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Disney's
Pleasure Island still evolving Disney May Raise Stake in Its Hong Kong Theme Park Vivienne Tam Designs Outfits for Mickey, Minnie for Hong Kong Disneyland Still time to apply for Disney CMO Magic Kingdom Testing Magic Connection Disney show for Rocky Horror stars Hannah Montana scalpers being sued Breaking the bad news, Disney style Cruz mixes beauty, brains in Disney cartoon Gallows Banned By Disney! |
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Disney's
Pleasure Island still evolving Orlando Sentinel - The slow evolution of Downtown Disney's Pleasure Island continues with the recent opening of a second specialty apparel shop, the impending shutdown of a live-music nightclub, and the anticipated reuse of a long-closed building.  Opening
shortly before Christmas (as reported here on MickeyXtreme) was
a new, two-story shop called Curl by Sammy Duval, named after
the water-skiing legend and featuring name-brand surf and
skateboard fashions, boards and gear.Closing Feb. 3 will be the Rock 'n' Roll Beach Club, a venue known for its nightly live music. Along with Raglan Road, which often features solo musicians or acoustical combos, the Beach Club has been Pleasure Island's live-music venue. Nearly completed is the overhaul of a retail and venue building, along Village Lake, which has been vacant since the Orlando Harley-Davidson clothing store relocated and two other stores closed in 2006. Renovations appear to provide four retail storefronts plus side entrances for a multistory venue behind them. Disney officials would not discuss plans except to say something will be announced soon. Together, the three changes are consistent with a more than 2-year-old strategy pursued by Walt Disney World to broaden the appeal of Pleasure Island beyond nightclub patrons. Disney spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez declined to elaborate on plans for the Beach Club building, which features a panoramic view of Village Lake, though she dispelled rumors that the building would be torn down. All employees are being offered jobs elsewhere in Disney World, she said. The Beach Club building has undergone major change before. It opened in 1989 as the XZFR Rockin' Rollerdrome, with a roller rink inside. The rink was deemed too dangerous and was removed in favor of a beach-club theme, according to The Official Encyclopedia Disney A to Z, by Dave Smith. |
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Disney May Raise Stake in Its Hong Kong Theme Park Bloomberg - Walt Disney Co., the second-largest U.S. media company, may increase its stake in its struggling Hong Kong Disneyland theme park as attendance figures falter. ``We do anticipate an additional investment ourselves,'' said Hong Kong Disneyland's managing director, Bill Ernest, in an interview in Hong Kong today. He didn't elaborate. Disney owns a 43 percent stake in Hong Kong Disneyland with Hong Kong's government, which paid for land reclamation, roads and other supporting works, holding the balance. The theme park in November asked banks to allow it to delay debt repayments amid falling attendances, prompting some lawmakers to claim it wasn't designed to cater for local habits and culture. The Burbank, California-based company isn't in talks on opening a park in Shanghai, Ernest said today. ``We are fully focused on our Hong Kong park,'' he said. The Hong Kong park attracted more than 4 million visitors in its second year of operations, the city's Tourism Commission said in a paper to be discussed by lawmakers. In the 12 months after opening in September 2005, more than 5 million visitors arrived, which was less than forecast. ``We expect to be busier this year than last year,'' Ernest said, declining to specify targets. Hong Kong Disneyland agreed with lenders in November to remove debt covenants to help it focus on attracting more visitors. Disney will forgo royalties. |
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Vivienne Tam Designs Outfits for Mickey, Minnie for Hong Kong
Disneyland AP - Hong Kong Disneyland unveiled new Chinese New Year outfits for Mickey and Minnie Mouse created by designer Vivienne Tam on Monday as part of the park's efforts to boost its appeal to Chinese tourists after a dismal second year. Disney's two iconic characters strutted their stuff down a red carpet -- Mickey in a bright red Mao suit and Minnie in a cherry blossom red dress with a bouquet-like bottom.
Nine other models also displayed red and black dresses featuring Mickey Mouse patterns. "I've liked Mickey Mouse since I was very little. They (Disney characters) gave me many happy moments during my childhood," Tam, a Hong Kong native, told reporters. She said the outfits will be available at her stores in March or April. Hong Kong Disneyland brought in Tam's star power to help attract more tourists from neighboring mainland China -- which has emerged as the park's biggest market -- amid disappointing results. Apart from Mickey and Minnie's new wardrobe, the park itself has been decorated with red firecrackers, red Chinese-language scrolls bearing good luck messages and orange tangerines, according to Chinese New Year custom. It will stage a dragon dance on Feb. 7, the first day of the Chinese New Year, and plans to add Chinese food items like fried turnip cake and coconut red bean pudding. "Our mission is to be very connected with the local culture -- with mainland China, Hong Kong," Hong Kong Disneyland Managing Director Bill Ernest said. Ernest said Disney was still in talks with the Hong Kong government about expanding the park. The park has been frequently criticized as being too small and lacking the high-profile rides of its sister parks in Tokyo, Paris and the United States. Hong Kong Disneyland, a joint venture between the Hong Kong government and The Walt Disney Co. that opened in September 2005, has come under fire for its poor performance. It drew 5.2 million visitors in its first year of operation -- 400,000 short of its target -- and only more than 4 million in its second year. |
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Still time to apply for Disney CMO Disney News - You still have until Jan. 27th to apply for the Dream Job. If you want to get an idea of the people your up against watch there videos at this link. |
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Magic Kingdom
Testing Magic Connection Disney News - Disney's Magic Connection is a new interactive park offering currently in a Guest Test Mode at the Magic Kingdom Park at the Walt Disney World Resort. Guests entering the Magic Kingdom are randomly selected to test this Interactive Guide. Selected Guests are given a modified Nintendo DS that has the Disney's Magic Connection loaded on it. Disney's Magic Connection offers Guests 5 main interactive services: Park Map, Park Offerings, Characters, Wish List and Games and Trivia. The device offers a number of features such as Guest actual location shown on the park map and listing the current wait time, current FastPass Distribution period, and any height restrictions for park attractions. |
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Disney show for Rocky Horror stars The Press Association - Three stars of 1970s cult film The Rocky Horror Picture Show have been reunited on a new project - a children's animation series. Richard O'Brien, Tim Curry, who played Dr Frank-N-Furter in the 1975 musical, and Barry Bostwick, who played Brad, will all feature in Disney show Phineas and Ferb. O'Brien, creator and star of Rocky Horror, provides the voice of Lawrence Fletcher, father to one of the characters. Bostwick, 62, has a recurring role as Grandpa Clyde, while Curry appears as a British butler in an episode set in London. O'Brien, 65, who appears rarely on UK screens, said: "Phineas and Ferb sounded like a fun project, and I only do stuff that's fun." The show, which also features the voice of Love Actually star Thomas Sangster as Ferb, will air on the Disney Channel from February. The Rocky Horror Picture Show, written by O'Brien and based on his stage production, featured cross-dressing, murder and musical performances. |
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Hannah Montana
scalpers being sued Disney News - A class action lawsuit has been filed against RMG Technologies alleging that the company sold software to ticket brokers which enabled them to purchase tickets from Ticketmaster much faster than the general public could. Several of the brokers are also named in the lawsuit. Among the concerts/events at issue is the Miley Cyrus tour. The Hannah Montana star's tickets were often resold by brokers from prices ranging from $250 to $24,000 for a luxury box. The highest face value ticket was $63. At issue are Ticketmaster exclusive events which went on sale from January 2004 through October 2007. Since then RMG has been barred from selling the technology as a result of a temporary restraining order granted to Ticketmaster. |
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Breaking the bad news, Disney style USA Today - The Disney Institute in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., that provides hospitality seminars to the tourism industry is expanding its happy gospel into industries more accustomed to breaking bad news, the Los Angeles Times reports. "Healthcare companies that have to drop coverage, insurance agencies that deny claims, airlines that overbook planes and lose luggage, and condominium associations that raise fees or change rules -- all have begun turning to the place that bills itself as the happiest on Earth to learn how to buffer the bad news," the Times reports. Clients include Miami International Airport, which placed last among 61 airports in a 2007 customer survey by J.D. Power and Associates. What does a place like Disney have in common with an airport? Easy, said Bruce Jones, programming director of the Disney Institute: "In both places you have millions of people waiting for a ride." |
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Cruz mixes
beauty, brains in Disney cartoon Reuters - Penelope Cruz will provide the voice of a brainy guinea pig in "G-Force," a combination live-action/computer-animated film from Disney. The story revolves around a group of ultra-intelligent animal commandos who work for a government agency trying to prevent an evil billionaire from taking over the world. Cruz joins a voice cast that includes Nicolas Cage, Steve Buscemi and Tracy Morgan. Bill Nighy and Will Arnett are among the human actors in the ensemble cast. "G-Force" marks the directorial debut of visual effects innovator Hoyt Yeatman, who won an Oscar for his work on "The Abyss." Prolific filmmaker Jerry Bruckheimer is producing. Cruz's upcoming projects include "Elegy" and Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona." |
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Gallows
Banned By Disney! Angry Ape - Brit-punks Gallows are currently touring America as we speak, but the band have been banned from playing one show this week, by owners Disney. Tomorrow (Tuesday 22nd of January), the band were supposed to be supporting Social Distortion at the House of Blues venue at Disneyland in Anaheim, Orange County. However, it seems Disney take offence to the lyrics of Gallows' acclaimed debut album Orchestra Of Wolves, meaning Frank Carter and friends have been removed from the line-up. Social Distortion are still playing. Speaking of the incident, guitarist Laurant Barnard says: "I think Mickey Mouse got jealous that Minnie Mouse had Gallows posters on her wall. That kind of stuff happens a lot. I recommend Mickey shows Minnie some more attention, you know, take her out and make her feel special. Cartoon mice need love too." UK fans (well those based in London) will now get two extra chances to catch the band live on home turf, as the lads will be playing at the 100 Club on March 3rd and 4th. Set Your Goals support on the first night, but the second night guests have yet to be confirmed. Don't forget that February will see Gallows embarking on a nationwide tour (dates below), as well as releasing a 7" of Just Because You Sleep Next To Me Doesn't Mean You're Safe on the 25th. The Live At The 100 Club CD / DVD then follows on March 3rd. |
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Sunday January 20, 2008 |
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Disney Whirled Wiz kids sound off on growing up Disney An airport hopes to tap into the Disney magic Make-A-Wish Foundation gives local girl trip to Disney World |
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Disney Whirled Sunday Mirror - One minute I was flying within touching distance of the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco, seconds later I was over a group of skiers on snow-capped mountains. Then, still clinging to the hang glider, I had to duck quickly to avoid a ball heading straight at me from the Californian golf course beneath. Soon, sea air cleared my head as I soared above the waves until, with a bang, the ride ended in an explosion of fireworks. It was exhilarating, the trip of a lifetime, lasting only a few minutes but lifting my spirits for the rest of the day. But that’s the magic of Walt Disney. In this case it was the Soarin’ ride at Epcot – a simulated hang-gliding adventure created with the sort of imagination that typifies Orlando’s theme parks. This was my sixth visit to the ever-popular Florida destination and each time I have discovered new and wondrous things. Epcot, the futuristic theme park recognisable from the huge globe known as Spaceship Earth, remains my favourite day out because of the World Showcase Lagoon, where you tour the world on a walk around the lake. The buildings, attractions, shopping and food all relate to a particular country and you can walk, for instance, from the United Kingdom to Italy in minutes. Disney has four main parks – the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, MGM Studios and Epcot – while other parks such as the Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach and All-Star Movies Resort – are also worth a visit. Downtown Disney is the perfect place to finish the day with its shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. But my first stop was the newish Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom, a rollercoaster ride through the Himalayas heading for Everest but trying to avoid the Abominable Snowman. Sounds like fun? It certainly was. Like many of the most popular Disney attractions, the queue here was about an hour. Not much fun for my girlfriend Mila and I in 90-degree heat. But it’s not hard to cut down your waiting time. Most people know about the Fast Pass, where you go to a ride which displays the FP sign, put your tickets into the machine and are given a time to return to the ride, when the queuing should take about 15 minutes. But not enough visitors make use of it, meaning those who do face queues of as little as five minutes on even the busiest rides. After collecting Fast Pass tickets for one ride, you can’t go back on that ride for another hour. But if you work out your rides cleverly, you could have two lots of FP tickets on the go, saving you hours. Another way to avoid queuing is to go in the Single Rider line. This means you can’t guarantee sitting next to your family or friends but you all get on the ride pretty quickly as they fill up the gaps on each ride. If you go on the rides early in the morning or late in the day, you avoid the busiest times in the afternoons, when you can take in one of the shows instead. Most are very good. Animal Kingdom is the newest Disney park, even though it’s 10 years old this year. It’s worth allowing a full day as you get to enjoy some good rides as well as seeing rare and beautiful animals and birds. And make sure you catch the action-packed Festival of the Lion King, which runs several times throughout the day and has singers, dancers, stilt-walkers and acrobats. With the pound being so strong against the dollar, the food and drink – normally a bit of a rip-off at theme parks – can work out good value. A hot dog is about £1.50, a bottle of water just over £1, an apple juice less. An ice-cold beer on average is about £3. As for tickets, you are better off buying multi-tickets, so work out your chosen parks before you travel and try to stick to your plan as best you can. All first-time visitors to Disney should set off first for the Magic Kingdom. It’s a captivating place for all the family but the younger ones will be particularly entranced. Take the ferry boat across and see the reaction on the children’s faces as Cinderella’s Castle hoves into view. The monorail also takes you there and, although faster than the boat, it can get held up at times and actually take longer. Disney’s buses take you almost to the front door, which is one of several reasons for staying at a Disney hotel. Their shuttle service is superb, while the Extra Magic Hours give their guests an hour extra at the start of the day at a chosen park and three hours longer in the evening. That can be priceless if you’re running out of time. The ages of your children may determine which of the lands you venture into first. We had no kids with us this time and headed straight to one of Magic Kingdom’s best rides, Splash Mountain in Frontierland. You will get wet, but we had plenty of time to dry off! If your children are aged around four to 10, then Fantasyland will keep them amused for hours. Your best bet is to go straight to Peter Pan’s Flight, which offers Fast Pass, and then do the ride within a few hours. And don’t miss It’s A Small World – an enchanting musical indoor voyage through different countries. I still have a sweet tooth and the smells from the stores in Main Street as you enter the park will whet any appetite. But the candies, cookies and ice-creams are best left till later in the day, so hurry your youngsters along when you arrive! Disney’s parades are well worth catching, particularly at night, and if you’re staying late make sure you watch the Wishes firework display at Magic Kingdom. One of my favourite parks is MGM Studios – even though I was disappointed to discover they no longer have the show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. A new Toy Story attraction is opening next year in its place. This park provides as much fun for adults as it does children. The Extreme Stunt Show is an absolute must, as I discovered the secrets behind some of the amazing chase scenes in films. But my favourite show is still Beauty and the Beast – a live Broadway-style musical production. The park’s most famous attraction, Tower of Terror, is a definite for using the Fast Pass. It’s good fun as your haunted hotel lift drops you down 13 storeys, but the build-up to it – in the scary Twilight Zone – for me, is every bit as good. There are some fun themed restaurants here – my pick being the 1950s-style Prime Time Cafe, but make sure you’ve washed your hands before dining or Mom (the waitress) won’t approve! And make a booking as early in the day as possible or you could face a long wait. There is always something new happening in Orlando – and when the friendly people of Disney wish you a “magical day’’ they’re not exaggerating! |
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Wiz kids sound
off on growing up Disney As Jennifer's mom, Christy Stone, tells it, a little girl looked at Jennifer and said she looked like that girl who plays noncomformist Harper on Wizards of Waverly Place. Jennifer said yes, that's her -- and from then on couldn't convince the girl that she stars on the show. But Stone, who turns 15 next month, is getting recognized more these days -- these things happen when you get cast in Disney Channel shows, which attract ardent, vocal and Internet-savvy teen and tween fans. Stone had other gigs before Wizards, which also features Dallas' Selena Gomez as Alex, arguably the most well-meaning but mischievous of the three wizardly Russo kids. (Stone plays Alex's best friend.) But Disney Channel has a way of boosting careers. Stone and co-star David Henrie, 18, who plays Alex's brother (and Harper's crush object) Justin, recently came through North Texas for a stop at Grapevine's kid-friendly Great Wolf Lodge. (Henrie also has a recurring gig as one of the bored teens who listens to the looong title story on CBS' How I Met Your Mother.) The two young actors sat down for a quick interview about the show, and what it means to be a Disney Channel star. What's the weirdest thing you've had to do for the show? Henrie: She dumped an Icee on my head. That was pretty sticky. Stone: [Laughs] I was a little nervous, because I didn't want to dump too much. Henrie: Oh, gosh, and the tension on that scene was like, "We have one take here. Don't miss his head, Jennifer!" Stone: For me, I have a ton of costumes. I open the script every week, and I'm like, "OK, what are they going to put me in now?" I've had cupcakes on my head, I've had birds on my hats, I've had all sorts of lip glosses hanging from my skirts; it's been nutso what my character wears. How has the writers strike affected you? Stone: It's sort of delaying us getting back to season two. It's sort of up in the air right now. Henrie: There's a lot of free time. I've been doing a little writing myself -- not officially! It gives you a little more time to be creative on your own. Stone: I draw a lot, and I've gotten back to that. I can actually spend the whole day on a piece now. Henrie: Since the writers strike happened, there's been more auditions than I've ever had in my whole life. Because everyone's pushing their movies to get made right now. How has your life changed since the show premiered in October? Henrie: Well, with Disney, you're going to get recognized more by teenagers, as opposed to another network show. ... I walked into the water park [at Great Wolf Lodge] and this little kid, he was like 10 years old, his name was Luke. He came up to me and said, "Hey, I saw you on that show," and we get to talking, and we ended up spending like four hours at the park on the slides. Does Disney prepare you all for what might happen later in life? You know, Lindsay and Britney came up from Disney. Henrie: Minus those people who have made poor decisions, Disney really grooms you to be prepared for network TV or movies. You already have experience under your belt in how to handle yourself in public, you're experienced on set, in crunch time you're already more experienced than other people. What's the Disney Channel world like? Do you meet other stars, like Miley Cyrus? Henrie: It's just like anywhere else. If you're going to be friends with someone, you're going to be friends with someone. We all know each other, but I've only hung out with [people] from our show. I haven't gotten to know enough of the other Disney kids to get their numbers or hang out. Stone: But it's sort of how you make friends, anyway. You have similar interests, you go places and you have opportunities to meet people. It's hard enough to be a teenager. How hard is it to be a teenager and have some level of fame? Henrie: If you make it hard on yourself, you make it hard on yourself. If you make a decision that you're going to have fun, you'll talk to people when they come up to you and enjoy it. It is weird when -- I came in here yesterday, and, like, two packs of cheerleaders came downstairs and I was mobbed. [Stone laughs.] But in that situation, you've just gotta take control: "I'll take a picture with everyone, line up, let's not get crazy." Stone: When it comes to friendships, you just have to know who your true friends are, because I know some people get a little weird when big things happen. It's a good way to tell who's there for you and not for what you do. Henrie: Oh, yeah. Girls that never gave me the time of day in high school ... Stone: ... and guys who do the same thing. Wizards of Waverly Place 7:35 tonight Disney Channel |
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An
airport hopes to tap into the Disney magic Los Angeles Times - Helen Nunci went to the Disney Institute looking for inspiration on how to create winning personal touches at the island retreat she runs, beyond the hand-lettered welcome cards she props on pillows and the playful antics of her staff. Nunci's business isn't in the resort industry: It's the Veterans Administration hospital in Puerto Rico, the busiest in the U.S. military system, with 66,000 patients a year, many of them returning wounded from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Disney Institute has espoused pixie-dusting customers to the service sector for more than two decades, teaching organizations about laser-sharp attention to detail, managing expectations, taking responsibility for the customer's experience and simply smiling. Lately it has been taking on a tougher clientele: Healthcare companies that have to drop coverage, insurance agencies that deny claims, airlines that overbook planes and lose luggage, and condominium associations that raise fees or change rules -- all have begun turning to the place that bills itself as the happiest on Earth to learn how to buffer the bad news. "The people we deal with are usually angry about something," said institute student Ryan Hall, co-founder of a Minnesota condominium and homeowners association management company, Community Development Inc., which has more than 20,000 customers. Last fall, the institute landed a tall- order contract: Miami International Airport. Traversed by 32 million travelers a year, the airport received the lowest customer satisfaction rating in the 2007 J.D. Power and Associates analysis of 61 airports in North America. The airport was marked down especially for accessibility problems imposed by its protracted reconstruction and for baggage handling -- the two things travelers care about most. Half of the space occupied by American Airlines, which accounts for 60% of the airport's traffic, has been closed for refurbishing. Travelers wait in three separate lines, curled around one another in a thronged terminal lobby, to get boarding passes and tag luggage and get bags inspected -- all before shedding shoes and jackets for security screening. Last fall, 400 employees from 16 of the airport's tenants, including Transportation Security Administration screeners and the janitorial staff, took part in the Disney Approach to Customer Service, a program tailored to an industry's specific needs but essentially drawing from the same page. Disney's ideological designers insist that their winning philosophies are just as relevant to an airport as to the Magic Kingdom. "Let's start with the similarities," says Bruce Jones, programming director of the Disney Institute. "In both places you have millions of people waiting for a ride." But an airport also has tens of thousands of people passing through security each day. Mountains of trash accumulate. Spills must be mopped up, bathrooms cleaned, and food cooked, sold and served to people on the move and in a hurry. Consultants Dennis Frare and Susan Pearsall are among those who conduct training sessions in Disney resort conference rooms. At a recent session attended by Nunci and Hall, Frare and Pearsall alternated holding the floor, tossing back and forth like news anchors as they imparted the Disney mantras. They rewarded participation with plastic figures of Mickey, Pluto and Winnie the Pooh. A key tenet of the Disney ideology is that employees are empowered by their ability to provide good service, especially in situations in which the unpleasantness, such as a weather delay, is beyond their control. Take ownership of a guest's concern, Pearsall says: Even if it's not your fault, it is your problem. Deliver "the little wow," urges Frare, a thoughtful flourish that makes a guest tilt his or her head and utter an "oh," of the isn't-that-nice variety. In the world since the Sept. 11 attacks, the Disney approach turns out to be an effective weapon against terrorism, Jones adds. "Make eye contact and smile. Warmly greet each individual by name. Those are the things the bad guys hate the most," he said of tips shared with the TSA. Miami airport screeners who examine travelers' documents have begun personalizing the exchange: "Have a nice trip to Chicago, Bill" or "Hey, Maria, be safe in Boston." Miami's terminal operations director, Dickie Davis, says the Disney advice about empathetic problem-solving is especially useful for her staff members, which have to deal all day, every day with travelers miffed by service breakdowns out of their control. "What happens here might not be our fault, but at the end of the day it is our problem," she said. Another Disney concept being embraced by the airport is "onstage versus backstage," said airport spokesman Greg Chin, among those who in the fall earned a course completion certificate festooned with mouse ears and inspirational words from Walt Disney. That means having supplies delivered to storerooms and vendors via back corridors, rather than annoying travelers by riding carts and loading equipment through the airport's crowded concourse walkways. Institute trainees are taken behind the theme park facades to see how the unattractive elements of creating happiness are handled and how cast members decompress out of the view of paying guests. Disney doesn't make recommendations to its trainees, relying instead on clients emulating its successful example. Chin says the Miami crew returned to work full of ideas for infusing the airport with fresh comforts and familiarity. Employees now troll the terminals offering advice about check-in procedures, entertainment options in South Beach and the Everglades. They also will be borrowing costuming ideas from the Magic Kingdom, Chin said. Florida-theme camp shirts, khaki shorts and cheery oval name tags will replace staid blue blazers and inscrutable access badges. Salsa music, more natural lighting, local artworks and regional-cuisine concessions are being introduced as the airport works through a decade-long renovation. When expansion of the north terminal is completed -- optimistically forecast for 2010 -- the baggage screening equipment will move behind the scenes. There will be more room for retail shops and popular food vendors. Windows will let in the Florida sunshine currently kept out by high walls and heat-deflecting black film. The sportier attire for information agents and snappier background music should come within the next six months, said Chin, who believes the airport "cast" is now reading from the same script. |
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Make-A-Wish Foundation gives local girl trip to Disney World Lexington Dispatch - A 5-year-old Davidson County girl has received a Walt Disney World trip from the Make-A-Wish Foundation after braving surgery to remove a brain tumor and radiation treatments. Alexis Myers was diagnosed with a brain tumor shortly after she turned 3 years old. Brenner Children's Hospital in Winston-Salem, where she had her surgery in December 2005, put her on the Make-A-Wish Foundation list for a trip, said Melissa Myers, Alexis' mother. The family learned Alexis will receive a trip a few months ago. Alexis decided on Disney World so she could see all the Disney princesses. Representatives from the Make-A-Wish Foundation will visit with the Myers family soon to give them all of the details for the trip in February. Alexis will make the trip with her mother, father, Erik Myers, baby sister, Allie, and an aunt and a cousin. |
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The
new images continue the “Disney Dream Portrait Series” of
celebrity photography produced by Leibovitz as Disney Parks
extends, through 2008, its “Year of a Million Dreams”
celebration on both coasts. Leibovitz’s images capture the
transformational power of Disney dreams during a celebration
that invites visitors to live out their own Disney dreams as
never before at California’s Disneyland and Florida’s Walt
Disney World resorts.
“I
was a huge Disney fan growing up as a kid and Cinderella, Snow
White, Pocahontas, Ariel – all those characters were huge for
me, so I definitely did dream,” said Biel. “I never actually
thought I would make it! So this is pretty exciting.”
Mao
suits were named after late Chinese leader Mao Zedong, who
frequently donned tight-collared outfits instead of
Western-style dress shirt and tie.