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 January 25 - 31, 2009 |
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Saturday January 31, 2009 |
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Disneyland Resort Implements Programs to Reduce Emissions Earnings Preview: Disney to post 1Q earnings Euro Disney S.C.A. Reports Revenues for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2009 A Dream Comes True for 2009 Walt Disney World Ambassadors Disney Star Demi Lovato Announces Deluxe Edition Of "Don't Forget" Album Disney Princess Belle Shares Her Love for Reading with Pre-Schoolers Paradise, Disney Cruise Line style (day seven) Endangered Whooping Cranes Get Clean Bill of Health from Disney Veterinarians More on the other women's sprint triathlon at Disney, the TREK Women's Triathlon Local students' play might be next Disney hit |
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Disneyland Resort Implements Programs to Reduce Emissions Disney
News - As part of its ongoing commitment to the environment,
Disneyland Resort announced two innovative environmental
initiatives to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The Resort has
begun using compressed natural gas to fuel its guest trams and
recycled cooking oil to power its Disneyland Railroad steam
trains and Mark Twain riverboat.
"These initiatives demonstrate Disneyland Resort's ongoing commitment to balancing environmental stewardship throughout our operations," said Michael O'Grattan, senior vice president of resort operations. "These are just a few steps in our ongoing journey to reduce Disneyland Resort's environmental footprint." Used Cooking Oil Fuels Disneyland Railroad Beginning this week, the Disneyland Railroad is being fueled by a special biodiesel made from recycled cooking oil used throughout the Resort. "We have been recycling our used kitchen grease for years, but this innovation takes recycling to another level," said Frank Dela Vara, Disneyland Resort's director of environmental affairs and conservation. "Now the oil used to cook French Fries and other foods is processed to power our Disneyland Railroad and our Mark Twain Riverboat. This move allows the Resort to save approximately 200,000 gallons of petroleum diesel per year." The Disneyland Railroad's five trains have been using a soy-based biodiesel since April 2007. The B99.9 used cooking oil-based biodiesel will continue to reduce emissions by up to 80 percent. Disneyland Resort's Mark Twain Riverboat also will begin using the new biodiesel within the next few weeks. Trams Fueled by Clean-Burning Compressed Natural Gas As of December 2008, all 16 Disneyland Resort trams, which transport guests between the two theme parks and parking facilities, are fueled by clean-burning compressed natural gas (CNG). The switch to CNG from a hybrid engine was made possible through a $1.17 million grant from the Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program, which paid for nearly half the conversion costs. Using CNG will eliminate the need for approximately 50,000 gallons of diesel per year. For the 10 years prior to the conversion, diesel/hybrid engines powered Disneyland trams. The Carl Moyer grant was created by the California state legislature in 1998 to encourage the use of alternative fuel vehicles. Each year, the California Air Resources Board disburses money to the South Coast Air Quality Management District, which administers Carl Moyer funds in Southern California to help grant recipients purchase new or convert existing engines or vehicles. "We at Disneyland Resort are proud of our commitment to exploring and implementing new technologies for a cleaner environment and furthering the environmental legacy left by Walt Disney," O'Grattan added. About the Disneyland Resort Located on approximately 500 acres in Anaheim, Calif., the Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks - Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney's California Adventure park - plus the Downtown Disney District composed of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The Resort's three hotels are the luxurious 745-room Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the magical 988-room Disneyland Hotel and the "day-at-the-beach" fun of the 489-room Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel. With 20,000 employees, the Disneyland Resort is Orange County's largest employer and a $3.7 billion annual contributor to the local economy. The Resort has welcomed more than 550 million Guests since opening on July 17, 1955. For detailed information about the Disneyland Resort, please visit www.disneyland.com. |
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Earnings
Preview: Disney to post 1Q earnings AP - Family entertainment giant, The Walt Disney Co., is scheduled to report its first-quarter earnings for the three months through December on Tuesday. The following is a summary of key developments and analyst opinion related to the period. OVERVIEW: The company has recently implemented a series of cost cuts to cope with slowing advertising revenue and declining attendance at its theme parks. On Thursday, the company's Disney/ABC Television Group said it was cutting 400 jobs, or about 6 percent of the unit's work force, due to the slumping economy. The cuts include 200 layoffs and 200 vacant positions that will not be filled. The announcement came a day after ESPN, another Disney property, also told employees that 200 jobs will be cut within a year, mostly from open unfilled positions, and that the unit will implement a freeze on hiring and executive pay raises. Last week, Disney's parks division also offered voluntary buyout packages to about 600 executives and gave them until Feb. 6 to opt in. The company said in December that hotel bookings at its theme parks in Anaheim, Calif., and Orlando, Fla., in the two quarters to the end of March had improved to being down 6 percent from a year earlier from being down 10 percent, thanks to its "Buy 4 Nights, Get 3 Free!" promotion, which takes effect March 1. Meanwhile, Disney's studio released a number of hit movies in the quarter, including "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," "High School Musical 3: Senior Year," "Bolt," and "Bedtime Stories." BY THE NUMBERS: Analysts, on average, expect Disney to post a 3 percent decline in revenue to $10.1 billion, with earnings per share down 11 cents to 52 cents, according to Thomson Reuters. ANALYST TAKE: Laura Martin of Media Metrics trimmed her estimates for the quarter on Jan. 20, citing a decline in ad revenue, lower theme park attendance, higher costs at its studio, which released two more movies than last year, and weak DVD sales. Martin expected revenue of $9.9 billion and 50 cents of earnings per share. "Advertising spending is closely tied to economic health. As the economy has deteriorated, advertising spending has weakened, negatively impacting Disney's revenue growth," she wrote in a research note. "The parks are dependent on a strong global economy as well." WHAT'S AHEAD: It remains to be seen how many parks executives will accept buyouts and how much Disney's theme park promotions have helped hotel bookings and attendance in a worsening economy. The company should indicate on Tuesday how much it has been affected by the declining advertising market. STOCK PERFORMANCE: Disney shares lost 25 percent of their value over the quarter. Shares closed at $22.69 on Dec. 31, down from $30.24 on Sept. 30. |
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Euro Disney S.C.A. Reports Revenues for the First Quarter of
Fiscal Year 2009 Disney News - Resort Revenues Increased 3% to EUR 324 Million - Theme Parks Attendance up 8%, Driven by More Guests Visiting From France - Total Revenues Decreased 4% to EUR 328 Million, due to Lower Real Estate Development Activity Euro Disney S.C.A. (the "Company"), parent company of Euro Disney Associés S.C.A., operator of Disneyland(R) Resort Paris, reported today the following revenues for its consolidated group (the "Group") for the first quarter of fiscal year 2009 which ended December 31, 2008 (the "First Quarter") Resort operating segment revenues increased 3% to EUR 324.4 million from EUR 316.1 million in the prior-year quarter. Theme parks revenues increased 6% to EUR 186.1 million from EUR 175.1 million in the prior-year quarter, reflecting an 8% increase in attendance. Theme parks attendance was driven by more guests visiting from France, which was partially offset by fewer guests visiting from Spain and United Kingdom. Average spending per guest declined by 1% due to lower spending on merchandise items. Hotels and Disney Village revenues decreased 2% to EUR 124.6 million from EUR 126.7 million in the prior-year quarter, reflecting a 2.3 percentage point decrease in hotel occupancy. The decrease in hotel occupancy resulted from a decrease of 12,000 room nights compared to the prior-year quarter, primarily driven by fewer guests visiting from Spain and United Kingdom, partially offset by more guests visiting from France. Average spending per room remained stable. Other revenues, which primarily include participant sponsorships, transportation and other travel services sold to guests, decreased EUR 0.6 million to EUR 13.7 million. Real estate development operating segment revenues decreased EUR 21.0 million from the prior-year quarter. Prior-year quarter real estate revenues included EUR 12.5 million of revenue related to the sale of a property in Val d'Europe which had been subject to a long term ground lease. The remaining decrease resulted from a reduction in the number of transactions closed in the period to one, compared to four transactions closed in the prior-year quarter period. In the First Quarter, expenses related to the resort activity increased due to labor cost inflation and marketing and sales expenses. This increase was partly offset by reduced costs associated with lower real estate development activity. Commenting on the results, Philippe Gas, Chief Executive Officer of Euro Disney S.A.S., said: "We delivered increased resort revenues during this first quarter despite the challenging economic environment, by adapting our offers to drive guest visitation while addressing current consumer purchasing power constraints. The popularity of our Resort remained strong with Europeans as a short-break destination offering high quality Disney entertainment. In 2009, there are even more reasons to visit Disneyland Resort Paris. We will launch a new, year-long celebration, and will bring more Disney stories to life at the Walt Disney Studios Park by unveiling the Playhouse Disney Live on Stage attraction and a Disney Stars and Cars show. We recognize we are not immune to the impact of a sustained economic downturn and remain committed to managing costs while continuing to deliver the quality Disney experience our guests expect from us." Update on RECENT AND upcoming events As Europe's number one tourist destination, 2009 promises to be a particularly festive year as Mickey's Magical Party launches with an exciting line-up of interactive entertainment and attractions in both the Walt Disney Studios(R) Park and Disneyland(R) Park. In the Walt Disney Studios Park, Playhouse Disney Live on Stage will provide the opportunity for guests, big and small, to join favorite friends from the Disney Channel. The Walt Disney Studios Park will debut Disney's Stars 'n Cars, a new Hollywood cavalcade featuring Disney characters. In the Disneyland Park, Minnie heads up an all-new Minnie's Party Train that will chug down Main Street, U.S.A. New decor, music and choreography, along with a crowd of Disney friends will accompany Minnie in this meet-and-greet opportunity with guests. It's Party Time... with Mickey and Friends will provide a festive, interactive experience in which Disney Characters and guests prepare for Mickey's Magical Party at Central Plaza. Finally, D.J. Stitch will emcee It's Dance Time... in Discoveryland and get the dance party going with a multi-colored dance floor and street dancers. Next Scheduled Release: First Half 2009 Results in May 2009 Additional Financial Information can be found on the internet at http://corporate.disneylandparis.com |
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A Dream Comes True for 2009 Walt Disney World Ambassadors Disney
News - The new “Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade” debuted
recently at Magic Kingdom with the 2009 Walt Disney World
Ambassadors leading the way as the parade’s Grand Marshals. The parade is part of Disney Parks’ new “What Will You Celebrate?” initiative, which invites guests to celebrate special milestones. The “Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade” features new songs, Disney characters, floats and a troop of dancers who encourage guests to celebrate with them.
Celebrating their own new roles, Walt Disney World Ambassadors Vanessa Rosas and Clay Shoemaker along with their families, led the parade in a specially designed open-roadster vehicle as the parade proceeded down Main Street. Over the years, Walt Disney World Ambassadors have assumed many different roles, but this is the first time an Ambassador Team has served as parade Grand Marshals.
“For our families to have been with us to experience the Disney Magic that our Cast Members create each day is very rewarding,” said Rosas. “This was absolutely a dream come true for me.”
“To be in the parade as Grand Marshal was an amazing experience." said Shoemaker. "This is a day I will never forget.”
While celebrating one of many magical moments they will share together over the next 12 months, Rosas and Shoemaker recalled their earliest memories of Walt Disney World.
At age 12, Rosas was captivated by Disney magic during her first visit. “As I watched the parade with my family, amazed by all the floats and dancers, Pinocchio came down the street, straight up to me, kissed my hand and stole my heart,” said Rosas.
Shoemaker also remembers the first time he fell for a Disney character. At age six, he fell in love with Cinderella. “My grandmother took me to Cinderella Castle where I met her. She bent down, spoke to me and then kissed me on the cheek,” he said. I guess you could say that my first kiss was from Cinderella.” |
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Disney Star Demi Lovato Announces Deluxe Edition Of "Don't
Forget" Album AHN - Demi Lovato, the sunny Disney star who co-starred in the hit TV movie "Camp Rock", announced that she'll be re-releasing her album, 'Don't Forget", as a new deluxe edition in February. "Don't Forget", released last September, has yielded two Radio Disney hits so far, the first single "Get Back" and it's follow-up "La La Land." According to the singer, the new edition features a brand new song, "Behind Enemy Lines", and plenty more. "There's like crazy new pictures, lots of bonus footage, clips of me and the Jonas Brothers behind-the-scenes on tour and in the studio," she said. Lovato's been on the morning show circuit promoting her new Disney Channel show, "Sonny With A Chance." The new sitcom, starring Lovato as Sonny, premieres on the Disney Channel on February 8th. The deluxe edition of "Don't Forget" will be released in February. Lovato will also be featured in the "Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience", which hits theaters February 27th. The soundtrack, which will feature a live cut from Lovato, the Jonas Brothers, and Taylor Swift, will be released to stores February 24th. |
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Disney Princess Belle Shares Her Love for Reading with Pre-Schoolers Disney
News - Dozens of pre-schoolers from the Kids Academy in Osceola
County gathered around Disney’s Princess Belle as she read their
favorite stories and talked about her love for books.
The special visit is part of the Wee Read Early Literacy program which is designed to strengthen early literacy skills in four and five year-old children as they prepare for kindergarten. The program offers family activities, where parents can read and play with their children and is a collaborative effort among the Early Learning Coalition of Osceola County, Osceola County School District and Disney- Helping Kids Shine.
“Reading nursery rhymes and fairytales to children is incredibly important,” said Kathy Unger, the pre-kindergarten specialist for the School District of Osceola County and Wee Read Early Literacy coach. “Research shows that children who memorize rhymes and fairytales by age four are more likely to do better in school than children who do not.”
While the activities are interactive for both the children and adults, Unger expressed that Belle’s visit with the children is the best thing about this particular event. “The children are overjoyed to see Belle. You can see it in their faces. The anticipation building up to the day is just amazing. They are thrilled to hear Belle read.”
The Early Learning Coalition of Osceola County is a non-profit organization created in 1999 by the Florida Legislature and serves approximately 2,000 children who meet eligibility requirements. |
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Paradise, Disney Cruise Line style (day seven) The ship arrived early, and the air was still rather chilly so I opted to stay on board while my hearty husband headed out to the beach. He didn't swim, however. Instead, he opted to go biking to the look-out point and climb the observation tower, as well as heading out to the adult beach. He saw some hearty souls swimming and thought about doing some snorkeling, but common sense finally won out. Back in our early cruising days, when we still lived in Chicago, we probably both would have plunged in without a second thought. Now I'm a thin-blooded Floridian, so anything lower than the high 80s is chilly for me at the beach. He still visits Chicago regularly so he's not as wimpy as I am, but some of his old endurance is gone too. Meanwhile, I was enjoying some quality verandah time with a good book. Then I decided to get some water time the coward's way...up on deck 9, in the adult hot tub. I hung out there for an hour, and for most of the time I had it all to myself. If you stay on board on port days, you'll enjoy an almost deserted ship. I wasn't really hungry at lunchtime, so I grabbed a quick service fish sandwich later in the afternoon. Hubby ate on the island, where they serve a sumptuous buffet on the family beach and a smaller, but still more than adequate, version down by the adult beach, Serenity Bay. The adult area is pretty far out; you can walk it, but most people opt for a tram ride. It was actually fairly crowded, as was the main part of the family beach, but if you walked to the far end there were still plenty of prime chairs and umbrellas. Often I don't even bother going to the adult beach. I just head out to that far end of the main beach and set up camp. That's what my husband did today, relaxing with his book with the turquoise ocean spread out in front of him and the Disney Magic off in the distance. One of the best things about Castaway Cay is that you don't have to take tender boats. The ship docks right at the pier. The island also offers lots of good character photo opportunities. My favorite is Captain Jack Sparrow, but even when he's not around, the original Flying Dutchman from the movies is docked just off the boating beach (a place where you can rent kayaks, paddle boats, mini sailboats, and water trikes). You can see it with the Magic in the top photo. Mickey, Donald, and the gang can be found at various times, too. When hubby was on his way back to the ship, he ran into Pluto and managed to get a quick snapshot. Back on board, it was time to start packing, although I did have one indulgence left before dinnertime: a reflexology treatment. It was so relaxing, but still a bit melancholy as I realized that it was my last one on this journey and that just a little more than 12 hours I'd be driving down 528 on my way home, leaving the Magic in the distance. The evening's entertainment was a farewell variety show. But my most eagerly awaited entertainment capper was 'Til We Meet Again, a grand finale character experience that takes place around 10 p.m. All of the most popular characters, plus several from the stage shows, come out en masse into the atrium in a photographic free-for-all. The ship's photographers don't take pictures at that event. You just bring your own camera and dive on in. If you're quick, you can get a few quality shots of everyone from Mickey to Stitch to the several of the princesses. At 'Til We Meet Again, I always have one thing on my mind: Twice Charmed. I love the villian, Franco, so I try to get my photo with him on every Magic voyage (Twice Charmed isn't performed on the Wonder; their exclusive show is Toy Story The Musical). As I write this, it's not quite time for 'Til We Meet Again, so after I post it I'll get back to packing. Tomorrow I'll report on our disembarkation experience, which normally runs 100 percent more smoothly on Disney than on Royal Caribbean, and I say that from much personal experience. Thanks to all my readers for sharing my journey, and I hope that you've enjoyed it. |
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Endangered Whooping Cranes Get Clean Bill of Health from Disney
Veterinarians Disney
News - A team of veterinarians and animal care experts from
Disney’s Animal Kingdom recently performed health assessments on
two flocks of juvenile whooping cranes that migrated from
Wisconsin to Central Florida.
The health assessments were performed after the 14 cranes completed a three-month, 1200-mile guided journey to their winter homes at the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge near Homosassa Springs and St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge near Tallahassee. For the past three years, Disney’s veterinarians and experts have conducted full physical exams, collected blood for extensive testing, and performed field medical care for the endangered birds.
The cranes were shepherded by Operation Migration pilots who acted as surrogate parents leading the way from Wisconsin in ultra-light planes. Operation Migration is part of the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership, a group of non-profit organizations, individuals and government agencies joining forces to bring a migratory flock of whooping cranes back to eastern North America. Operation Migration is funded in part by the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund.
The whooping crane is the tallest flying bird in North America, with a height of up to 5 feet and a wingspan as wide as 8 feet. Each season, birds are conditioned to follow the ultra-light aircraft along a pre-selected migration route from Wisconsin to Florida. When the season is over, the cranes will head back to Wisconsin making the northward migration on their own without the help of their human guides.
Disney is committed to supporting wildlife conservation projects around the world through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, (DWCF). Since 1998, DWCF has contributed more than $12 million to the study and protection of the world’s wildlife and ecosystems. |
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More on the other women's sprint triathlon at Disney, the TREK
Women's Triathlon The TREK Women's Triathlon Series will also make a stop at Disney World in Orlando, on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009. And here's another similarity between the series': The series director for TREK is Maggie Sullivan, who formerly was Danskin's series director. "For this new TREK Series, I’ve gathered my entire team that delivered fabulous triathlon experiences to thousands of women throughout the country for 19 years," Sullivan said in a news release. Her team includes Hall of Fame triathlete and Ironman master’s world record-holder Sally Edwards. The TREK series will take place at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, with race distances of 1/2-mile swim, 12-mile bike and 3.1-mile run/walk. To register, go to http://www.trekwomenstriathlonseries.com. |
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Local
students' play might be next Disney hit Mansfield News Journal - Last week, members of the Renaissance Theatre Young Playwright's Unit, including Lexington seventh-grader Kyle Miller and Mansfield Senior High School Students James Carpenter, Garret Guthrie and Daurie Rothhaar, signed material release agreements with the media and entertainment corporation. In the next few months, the development team will review the students' original script, "Nutty Krackers." The contract allows their material to be read and evaluated. The authors will receive a development fee if it reaches that point. Course instructor and Theatre Playwright in Residence Michael Thomas said the creativity of the piece inspired him to share it with his contacts at Disney. Thomas has been a successful actor, music director and screenwriter for 25 years. "Although it's extreme and farcical, it's a great family story, and I think the sentiment of it is so pure," Thomas said. "I first pitched it to them over the phone, and they really had an interest in the fact that kids had written it." On a recent trip to New York City, Thomas presented a better outline of the story to Disney. He came back with contracts. "It's really exciting," Guthrie, a sophomore, said. "It's surprising," Carpenter said. "One week, we're just working on this script and next Michael comes in and says, 'So, I just talked to my friends at Disney,' and we're all like, 'What?' " Thomas said the Young Playwright's Unit, which is a free program open to any student in sixth- through 12th grade, began working on "Nutty Krackers" in December. "With Christmas on the horizon, I said, 'I want to do something with a Christmas theme,' " he said. "We start each class talking about what's going on in their lives, and I just asked them about their favorite Christmas memories." With memories of her and her brother performing amateur Nutcracker ballets for their parents, Rothhaar came up with the idea of using Tchai-kovsky's music in the background of the story. She also came up with the title. "The story is about the Kracker family with a grandma and a grandpa and a foreign exchange student who has all these weird traditions," Rothhaar said, noting a tremendous amount of other interesting characters. "The grandma can't see well and is very willing to help -- if she only didn't mix the sugar with the salt when she's making cookies," Carpenter said with a laugh. Miller said his favorite character is the exchange student. "In her country, Christmas trees are evil," he said. "It's a family movie," Carpenter said. "Anyone could watch it and say, 'That's my family.'" |
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Friday January 30, 2009 |
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Increase in
ads no problem for ABC.com Disney Cuts Employees and Turok Sequel Disney Sued Over Tower Of Terror Ride Disneyland Paris offers 'sterling packages' as it fights to keep Britons ESPN's Knight to call Summitt's try for 1,000 wins Despite excessive Tinker Bell time, 'Disney on Ice' is good for families Babies travel lighter than ever on Disney cruises with new delivery service Disney FX Wiz Robert Broughton Dies at 91 Disney Draws On Past For Future Land once subject of Disney rumors now focus of suit Hopefuls Audition in Philadelphia for Disney's ''Little Mermaid'' on Broadway |
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Increase in ads
no problem for ABC.com
The Hollywood Reporter - The more ads the merrier on ABC.com, according to new research Disney-ABC TV Group commissioned from Nielsen Media Research. While many online video providers boast of limiting commercials to enhance the viewing experience, the Disney-Nielsen study found that doubling the ad load in a full-length program shown on ABC.com didn't decrease customer satisfaction. The research also discovered that increasing the number of brands from one to as many as four in a single episode not only didn't diminish the advertised brand or product, but actually improved perceptions of that advertiser. "This presents an interesting opportunity for advertisers to really look at efficiencies and how we're managing our inventory," said Albert Cheng, executive vp digital media at DATG, at a NATPE panel, Wednesday. "We can actually increase deliver, reach and frequency by looking at a model that will have more sponsors and more ads." Also on the panel was Donna Speciale, president of investments and activation at Mediavest Worldwide, who applauded researching viewer appetite for online commercials but also cautioned the Internet video's appeal lies in not providing the levels of commercialization on TV. "The key is what is that very fine line and balance before we push them over the edge of being pissed," Speciale said. Speciale also cited the recent announcement from Vivaki in its recent effort to corral major online brands to dwindle the number of ad formats in online video. "We need to figure out if there's a standardization for this because the advertiser can't afford to do different creative for all the content providers and places we want to go." |
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Disney Cuts Employees and Turok Sequel The Escapist - It appears as though we can finally put those rumors that call for Disney to purchase EA Games to rest as the House of Mouse has begun to follow the ugly (but necessary) trend of restructuring its business, laying off approximately 35 employees from its Vancouver-Based Propaganda Games studio. Kotaku, which broke the news, initially reported that about 70 employees were cut in the downsizing of the developer, but was later clarified by Disney Interactive Studios, scaling the number down. Propaganda Games, which was originally formed by ex-EA Games employees (including key members of the NBA Street and Def Jam Vendetta teams), has only released one game to date: last years first-person dinosaur shooter, Turok. While it took a bruising at the hands of critics, the revival did well enough in the marketplace, selling over a million units to date. Prior to the layoffs, Propaganda had two projects underway, one of which was supposably a sequel to Turok, as reported by Kotaku. In its clarification, Disney Interactive noted that no such sequel had ever formally been announced, though they still retain the rights to the property. Propaganda won't be the only Disney studio feeling the sting of these cutbacks, as Disney also plans to consolidate a few of its studios, including Avalanche Studios and Fall Line, both of which are responsible primarily for its licensed titles. Outside of its video game operations, Disney is planning further cuts to its other businesses, including the ABC and ESPN networks. |
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Disney Sued Over
Tower Of Terror Ride Central Florida News - An Orlando woman is suing Disney after she says management unfairly banned her from all parks. Denise Mooty said she suffers from abdominal adhesions. Abdominal adhesions are scars that form after surgery around the female reproductive organs, the bowel, heart, spine and hand. Adhesions can also form after an infection, chemotherapy and radiation. The one and only thing she said helps relieve her excruciating pain is riding the Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. According to Mooty's doctor, the force of the ride's drop actually helps break up scar tissue, allowing her to move around more freely. "After we discovered what the ride had done, I started going on a regular basis, and I went from having four to six surgeries a year to one a year," Mooty said. This is where the lawsuit comes in. Mooty had a Guest Assistance Card, which allows her to go through a special entrance to get onto the ride. She said in August 2008 an employee told her she wasn't allowed to have it anymore. Mooty said she was then banned from ever coming back on property. Disney RespondsDisney spokeswoman Andrea Finger issued this statement on Wednesday: "Ms. Mooty's claims are without merit. She was trespassed for causing a disturbance within the presence of other guests and using foul language toward a Cast Member." |
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Disneyland Paris offers 'sterling packages' as it fights to keep
Britons Telegraph - "We are allowing people to buy in pounds – everything from park passes to hotels and meals vouchers. Then they have everything in place and are largely protected," said Philippe Gas, the chief executive of Euro Disney, speaking to the Daily Telegraph on the day Euro Disney released its sales figures for the final three months of last year. The group said that total sales were down to 327.8m euros from 340.5m euros in the same period in 2007, but insisted the group remained resilient despite the economic downturn. Revenues at its theme parks were up, at 186.1m euros in the quarter, from 175m euros in the same period in 2007. At its hotels, revenues were 124.6m euros in the three months to 31 December, down from 126.7m euros in the same period the previous year. Mr Gas added that he expects the resort will continue to attract families, despite the economic downturn, as people look for shorter breaks closer to home. He admits to seeing some weakness in Spain and said there has been a small fall in visitors from the UK, but believes "the escapism" of Disney will prove attractive amid the gloom and doom. "People are able to enter a new world, live in a dream and forget the economic crisis and the gloom," added Mr Gas. "We are well positioned in this time of crisis." |
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ESPN's Knight to call Summitt's try for 1,000 wins AP - Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight will call his first women's basketball game Monday night when Tennessee coach Pat Summitt goes for her 1,000th victory against No. 2 Oklahoma. It will be Summitt's first attempt at the landmark win. She earned her 999th victory Thursday night when the Lady Vols rallied from a nine-point second-half deficit to edge Mississippi 60-59. "Anyone who wins 1,000 times at anything is special," said Knight, the winningest Division I men's coach with 902 victories. Knight will be joined by Brent Musburger and Nancy Lieberman on ESPN's broadcast. He has been working at the Disney-owned network since last March and doing studio work and commentary on Thursday night men's games. |
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Despite excessive Tinker Bell time, 'Disney on Ice' is good for
families Chicago Tribune - The Walt Disney Co. really, really, really wants Tinker Bell to take her lucrative place in the pantheon of characters beloved by children across the globe. OK, so the kinder, gentler, singing, talking, star-of-her-own-story version of the rather unpleasant fairy created by J.M. Barrie for "Peter Pan" went straight to DVD last fall. Disney still has ongoing plans for a whole fairy franchise (and you thought princesses were enough). That's surely why Tinker Bell—and her desire to raise her status in the viper's nest of fairydom—gets the entire second act of "Worlds of Fantasy," the latest version of "Disney on Ice," the frozen family treat making its annual visit to the Chicago area. Well, let's just say Tinker Bell has a ways to go. "Who's that?" asked the small girl behind me when I caught the show last weekend. The very same girl had cheered herself hoarse for Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald and had welcomed Ariel as if she were an underwater version of the 44th president. The machinations of Tinker Bell, though, didn't get much love from the packed Allstate Arena, proving once again, oh mouse-marketeers, that affection must be earned. The first act of the show—which carries the typically impressive production values and performance discipline promoted by Feld Entertainment—is much better. Hosted by the genial M, M, G and D, it's basically a greatest-hits of Disneydom, racing through the plots of "Cars," "The Lion King" and "The Little Mermaid," while still making room for some pleasant pas de deux. I regard this as quite an efficient and relatively inexpensive (if you avoid the concessions) way of giving your kids a good time without schlepping to Orlando—recognizable heroines and heroes pop out at a good rip, iconic Disney music plays and parents can enjoy the skating and the spectacle, both are which are solid. The highlight of this show is the knockout "Cars" sequence (Lightning McQueen and Sally Carrera, unlike the iffy Ms. Bell, have a stellar following). The show has created a whole high-tech crowd of skating versions of these personality-heavy vehicles. It's hard to see any drivers (maybe they're the real McCoys) and their exciting antics and slip-sliding personalities were enough to spark one audience member, who is well into his 40s, into dreaming of a life that might have included a stint behind such tantalizing wheels. Ah well, that one's on ice. |
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Babies travel lighter than ever on Disney cruises with new
delivery service Examiner - Until now, parents cruising with babies and young toddlers have had to bring most of their baby supplies onboard cruise ships, where diapers, formula, and other essentials are generally not to be found, even on family-centric Disney Cruises.
Beginning March 15, families
gearing up for vacations aboard Disney Cruise Line with
babies and toddlers will be able to quickly and easily order
baby supplies to have delivered right to their staterooms.
The service is exclusive to Disney Cruise Line guests and is
provided by Babies Travel Lite—one of my top-recommended
services for getting your preferred baby supplies like your
favorite brands of diapers, baby food, formula, toddler
snacks, and more to destinations around the world.
It’s not hard to see how this
new convenience could easily cut a family’s travel burden by
a suitcase or more.
To take advantage of the
service, Disney cruise guests will simply visit
Disneycruise.com and access a
special section of the Babies Travel Lite website, where
they can create orders for familiar brands according to
their child’s needs, preferences, and the duration of their
cruise.
Don't forget - Kids 12 and
under can still cruise free!
For those who have not yet booked a Disney cruise, be sure to look at the "Kids Sail Free" cruise offer for most 3-night Disney cruises departing March 12 through May 28, 2009. |
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Disney
FX Wiz Robert Broughton Dies at 91
Animation Magazine - Pioneering camera effects artist Robert Broughton who worked on almost every Disney movie from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) to The Black Hole (1979) passed away recently at a nursing home in Rochester, Minn. Broughton used color traveling matte composite cinematography to help Dick Van Dyke dance with the toon penguins in Mary Poppins and created the memorable Hayley Mills twin effects for The Parent Trap. He also worked on the attacking birds sequences for Alfred Hitchcock’s classic, The Birds. Broughton was born in Berkeley, Calif. on Sept. 17, 1917 and studied at UCLA before landing a job in the Disney mailroom in 1937. He soon learned to work the advanced multi-camera technology, which helped create the illusion of depth in animated features such as Pinocchio. During the Second World War, he worked as cameraman for the Office of Strategic Services, which was headed by director John Ford. He photographed a documentary on the Battle of Midway for the famous helmer. When the war ended, he went back to Disney and worked there until his retirement in 1982. He worked as assistant to Ub Iwerks and contributed effects to the studio’s live-action movies, alongside Julie Andrews, Maureen O’Hara and Dean Jones. He also photographed Disney’s lead-ins for the weekly TV series Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color. "I had one of the best jobs anyone could have, with a one-of-a-kind organization and incredibly talented people,” Broughton once said."If it looked like we doctored up a scene, we were a failure. Our effects weren't supposed to be obvious." Broughton was honored as a Disney Legend in 2001. A private memorial will take place in his honor at a later date in Woodland Hills. |
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Disney Draws On Past For Future
Sky News - It happens to all of us I guess, even if you are a mouse with big ears. At some point you get old, become less relevant, some young whippersnapper comes biting at your heels with something shiny and new, and all of a sudden you are no longer flavor of the month. Mickey Mouse is 80 years old, and suddenly the company that made him a global superstar and cultural icon has arrived at a crossroads. Where Disney were once the kings of animation - the only name synonymous with quality cartoons - these days their crown has slipped as they have been overtaken creatively by the likes of Pixar and Dreamworks. Where once we had classics like Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmatians, Dumbo, Pinocchio etc... (the list is endless and already caused debate around the Sky newsroom as to which old classic is the best). Recently we have been lumbered with efforts like Home On The Range, Brother Bear and Treasure Planet - titles that have probably not found their way into our DVD collections. Over at Disney's famous HQ in Burbank, California, they are pretty open that the last few years have not been all that great. "I think we've had some films that haven't really sat with audiences as well as some of our earlier films and in some cases I think we may have started steering off track," said long-term producer Clark Spencer, a Disney veteran of 16 years. "The great early Disney films always had a lot of emotion, but if there isn't a great emotional tug to the story the characters don't resonate and stick with people. "That's where we've lost our way." All that is about to change with the arrival next week of Bolt. Discounting Chicken Little and Meet The Robinsons, this is Disney Animation's first outrageously obvious attempt to borrow that Pixar magic. They made their move a few years ago when they went and bought Pixar outright, though the two animation houses remain independent of each other. Now they have ushered in a new era by employing John Lasseter to be chief creative officer of all Disney animation. He of course founded Pixar and created Toy Story, and all the while sporting a fine line of comedy Hawaiian shirts. By all accounts his arrival has given the team in Walt's old office a bit of a creative shot in the arm. "Bob Iger, the CEO of Disney brought me in and said: 'This is what I need you to do to make Disney animation great again'," he said. "There's this unbelievable heritage that no other studio in the world has. "This is the studio that Walt Disney started, and to be leading this studio, I'm so proud. "I do what I do for a living because of the films of Walt Disney." Bolt certainly looks like the sort of film Walt might be producing if he were alive today. The tale of a TV star Dog, who does not realize his superhero powers are not real does mimic Pixar's great creation Buzz Lightyear. But clever writing, consistent jokes, and some beautiful animation (including old-school Disney hand-painted backgrounds) work well. The film has already been applauded Stateside, and included in this year's Best Feature Animation shortlist, where it is up against Disney-Pixar's Wall E and Dreamwork's Kung-Fu Panda. But that is not to say the team at Burbank are leaving the past entirely behind. They still have some traditional 2D features on their cards, as well as a planned revival of their most famous character, that mouse fella with the big ears. Mike Gabriel, director of
Pocahontas and a Disney employee for some 30 years, revealed
big plans are afoot. "It hasn't started yet - but it's a great time to be here." So the company that was founded around the same area, some 85 years ago in a garage, for £350 has a new lease of life. Once again the team there seem so happy they all presumably really are whistling while they work. |
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Land once subject of Disney rumors now focus of suit
Dallas Business Journal - Two related Dallas commercial real estate companies have been sued by investors who claim the firms and principal Harry “Beau” Lucas Jr. duped them into buying northeast Denton County land at inflated prices by stating a prominent national developer is planning a project in the area. Although a developer was not identified in the lawsuit, rumors have long circulated in Denton County that the Walt Disney Co. is planning a theme park or other project there. The land in question is near Celina along the proposed Dallas North Tollway extension, according to tax records. The suit, filed last month in state district court, claims Lucas, president of Harry B. Lucas Co., and HBL Management Corp. persuaded investors Benson Lee, Robert E. Mangum Jr. and Scott B. Aston to invest in Denton County property near Celina in 2006 by telling them that a “prominent national developer” had acquired thousands of acres in the area for a “major development project.” Relying on Lucas’ alleged statement that an announcement of the project was imminent, Lee, Mangum and Aston invested in NCJI LLC, a limited liability company formed to purchase and hold the property, the lawsuit says. Lucas was the initial manager of NCJI. |
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Hopefuls Audition in Philadelphia for Disney's ''Little
Mermaid'' on Broadway
KYW News - The Disney organization was in town on Wednesday for an open casting call at the University of the Arts, looking for someone to play Ariel in the Broadway version of "The Little Mermaid." Many of the hopefuls were students at the University of the Arts. Others drove in from Virginia, Ohio, or other far-off states, with dreams of Broadway and stardom: "I feel this is the type of part I would be cast for. So, hopefully we'll see how it goes." Nineteen-year-old Brie Elbaum (second from right above, in olive blouse) drove all the way from Petersburg, Va. to take a crack at a role she's dreamed of playing since she was a little girl: "I thought it would be a perfect part for me. I've got red hair and everything." On this day, casting director Jennifer Rudin (right) heard more than 90 girls sing a small but difficult portion of a song. "It lands on a high E, that's the highest note. And if they can do it well here, they can go on and learn more material from the show." For Rudin, Philadelphia is just one stop on a two-week tour of America in search of the next Ariel. |
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Thursday January 29, 2009 |
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Disney-ABC Television Group lays off hundreds Adrienne Bailon Confirms Disney's The Cheetah Girls Are Over ESPN facing job cuts, hiring freeze Fox agrees to step in on next "Narnia" movie Another Writer Claims Hannah Montanah as His Own Spaceship Earth tops Cinderella Castle at Disney World French fries now fuel Disneyland's trains Herm Edwards joins ESPN's NFL broadcast team MAC, ESPN reach 8-year broadcasting deal Scrapblog Gets A $4 Million Boost For Online Scrapbooking Is space travel a reality? It is at Disney World Cruising with Little Ones is Child's Play Onboard Disney Cruise Line Day four, part 2: Twice Charmed on the Disney Magic Disney's Pixie Hollow Leaves Us Feeling A Little… Hollow "Walt Disney World Secrets" Notescast Now on iPhone and iPod touch Disney, milk marketing deals in line for Cardinals’ Kurt Warner Eight Can Be Enough When It Comes To Interactive Ads: Disney Super Bowl Winner’s Fans Get Free Night At Walt Disney World Who is going to Disney World? |
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Disney-ABC Television Group lays off hundreds Los Angeles Times - The Disney-ABC Television Group today laid off several hundred people, citing the weakening economy. Group President Anne Sweeney sent an e-mail to the approximately 7,000 television group employees, saying that after months of trying to adjust the business to the worsening economic climate, "we're now faced with the harsh reality of having to eliminate jobs in some areas." "This was not an easy decision, nor one made lightly," Sweeney wrote. "The people affected today are our friends and colleagues, and we are doing all we can for them and their families." The announcement comes a day after ESPN Chief Executive George Bodenheimer said he would cut 200 jobs within the year, mostly from unfilled positions. Sports broadcasters have been particularly vulnerable to decisions by struggling automakers to cut spending on advertising. It also comes a week after ABC's move to consolidate its network and television program production divisions into a single entity. More layoffs are anticipated in the coming months, as ABC Entertainment Group President Stephen McPherson evaluates staffing at the newly consolidated studio and network operation. "I realize this is an extremely difficult day for everyone in our group," Sweeney wrote. "But despite the challenges before us, I remain confident and optimistic about our future, because you really are the best in the business." |
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Adrienne Bailon Confirms Disney's The Cheetah Girls Are Over
Celebrity News Service - Adrienne Bailon, member of Disney's multi-platinum The Cheetah Girls, confirmed that the group is officially over. "I think that the brand has now come to an end," she told Just Jared Jr. at the Sundance Film Festival. "But like everything - 'High School Musical' will no longer be. Same thing. We had a great run." "But I think Disney - it was a platform for us to continue the dreams and they want to spread the same Cheetah Girl message to carry with us, which is Girl empowerment. Every project that the three of us do will always incorporate that. We'll be friends forever," she continued. The girls have their own solo projects they've been working on. Bailon has been working on solo material, including two solo songs which debuting on the upcoming "Confessions of a Shopaholic" soundtrack. Kiely Williams appeared in last year's "The House Bunny" and is in talks for a role in the upcoming comedy, "The Science of Cool." Sabrina Bryan just released her second dance and fitness DVD, "BYOU2", where she teaches hip-hop and Bollywood-influenced routines. "It was a great experience and I'm really, really happy I was a part of it," Bailon said. The girls released their last movie, "The Cheetah Girls: One World", to DVD and Blu-ray in December. They also completed their "Cheetah Girls: One World Tour" last fall. |
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ESPN facing job
cuts, hiring freeze AP - ESPN's top executive told employees that he's instituting a hiring freeze and won't give any raises to top executives as one of television's most successful enterprises feels the effect of the economy. ESPN and ABC Sports chief George Bodenheimer said he expected 200 jobs will be cut within the next year, mostly positions currently unfilled. ESPN and ABC are owned by The Walt Disney Co. The moves come despite what Bodenheimer called a record year for ESPN in 2008, although the company doesn't release financial details. Cable television's top sports franchise showed its muscle by outbidding everyone in November for the rights to televise college football's Bowl Championship Series for four years starting in 2011. "The economy is worsening," Bodenheimer said, "and ESPN and our business partners -- especially some of our major advertisers -- are feeling the impact more acutely than at any point in our lifetime." He spoke to ESPN employees Wednesday through a company computer connection, and his message quickly became public. The company is not ruling out layoffs, although the vast majority of job cuts will come through not filling open jobs, a spokesman said. Bodenheimer said he's ordering a review of operations over the next few months to find ways to save money. Although top executives won't see raises, Bodenheimer told the troops that some merit raises will still be available to lower level staff. He also said the company will make key investments both in the U.S. and internationally. ESPN and partner ABC are expected to be bidders later this year when the rights to televise the 2014 and 2016 Olympics goes up for auction. "Our goal remains to come out of this period stronger," Bodenheimer said. |
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Fox agrees
to step in on next "Narnia" movie
Los Angeles Times - Twentieth Century Fox has agreed to co-finance the third movie in the "Chronicles of Narnia" series, pending approval of the final script and shooting budget. If all goes as planned, Fox and Walden Media, which controls the movie rights to C.S. Lewis' classic children's books, hope to be begin production on "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" by late summer so it will be ready for holiday 2010 release. First, however, Fox and Walden have to hire a screenwriter to do another pass on the script that was last rewritten by Richard LaGravenese, whose credits include "Freedom Writers" and "The Horse Whisperer." The movie companies are looking to make the film for about $140 million. Michael Apted, who made "Amazing Grace" and the 1999 Bond flick "The World Is Not Enough," is on board to direct. Fox is taking a financial gamble that Disney was unwilling to wage despite helping bankroll the first two films in the "Narnia" family franchise. Walden, owned by entrepreneur Phil Anschutz, was forced to seek a new financial partner on "Dawn Treader" after Disney balked at the cost and opted out. Fox was the most likely partner because the studio already markets and distributes Walden movies under its Fox Walden label. Over the last few weeks, Walden chief David Weil and "Narnia" producer Mark Johnson have held a series of meetings with top Fox executives, including movie chiefs Tom Rothman and Jim Gianopulos, to discuss script revisions and the movie's cost. While the targeted budget of "Dawn Treader" is much lower than that of the last Narnia movie, "Prince Caspian," which cost $225 million to produce, it's still a big gamble. Released by Disney last year, the sequel was much less popular than the first "Narnia" movie, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." The sequel grossed $419 million worldwide compared with its 2005 predecessor, which generated $745 million in ticket sales. Disney and Walden hope that DVD sales of "Prince Caspian" will help pull the movie out of the red. |
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Another Writer Claims Hannah Montanah as His Own E-Online! - How many people came up with the premise for Hannah Montana, anyway? Another writer has filed a lawsuit claiming he pitched the original script for what ultimately became the hit Disney Channel series starring Miley Cyrus about a so-called average teen who moonlights as a pop star. Per the complaint filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court and obtained by TMZ.com, Richard Fronduto maintains he penned a script in 1990 titled The Secret Life of Sindi (never mind that that sounds like porn), which later was retitled Family Business. His agent pitched the idea—which also featured a single dad who acts as his kid's manager—to Disney, Fronduto says, which in turn liked it so much that the network requested a draft for a two-hour pilot. Sometime later, according to his lawsuit, his brainchild birthed Hannah Montana. Fronduto is seeking unspecified damages, as well as a "created by" credit on all future episodes of the hit cable series, now in the middle of its third season. Disney has not yet responded to the suit, but ABC Cable Networks denied any wrongdoing when comedy writer Buddy Sheffield sued in 2007, claiming he pitched the Hannah premise in 2001. |
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Spaceship Earth tops Cinderella Castle at Disney World
Honestly, the lucky winner is even luckier that Epcot purists didn't try to pea-shoot that sucker down since it has the much-maligned "Mickey's wand" design included. The winner was Christian Birkett (far left in the basket), who was selected at random while experiencing The Many Adventures of Winne the Pooh attraction at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. Birkett, of Scottsdale, Ariz., won the ride as part of a VIP vacation to Walt Disney World. |
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French fries
now fuel Disneyland's trains Los Angeles Times - You can feel a little better about scarfing down those fries at Disneyland. The grease from the frying is going to fuel some of the park's trains, according to the OC Register:Guests downing chicken nuggets and french fries at Disneyland’s Tomorrowland Terrace are no longer just fueling themselves for a day of walking the park and riding the Matterhorn. These days, they’re also helping fuel the Disney trains. On Wednesday, the five Disneyland Railroad trains that circle a one-mile perimeter of the park began running on cleaner-burning biodiesel made with oil that comes from the resort’s restaurants and hotels. Park officials had tried a soybean-based biodiesel starting in 2007, but had to give up on that in November 2008 because of problems storing it underground. |
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Herm
Edwards joins ESPN's NFL broadcast team AP - Herm Edwards is moving from the sideline to the studio. Fired as coach of the Kansas City Chiefs last Friday, Edwards joined ESPN as an analyst, the network announced Thursday. He will appear on several ESPN television and radio programs starting next month. "I'm excited about the opportunity to join the ESPN team and offer my insight as a former player and head coach," Edwards said in a statement. "I'm going to be truthful with my opinions on all the issues that take place on and off the field of play."Edwards, who worked briefly at ESPN last offseason as a guest analyst, was fired after the worst two-year span in Chiefs history. He went 15-33 in three years with the Chiefs after going 41-44, including three playoff appearances, with the New York Jets from 2001-05. "Herm is well-liked and highly respected throughout the league, and his insights and opinions as a former coach will make a tremendous addition to our year-round NFL coverage," ESPN executive vice president of production Norby Williamson said. ESPN is a unit of The Walt Disney Co. |
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MAC, ESPN
reach 8-year broadcasting deal AP - The Mid-American Conference has signed an eight-year deal with ESPN calling for a minimum of 25 events annually to be produced and aired on the network's outlets. The agreement announced Wednesday calls for a minimum of six men's or women's basketball regular-season conference games to be televised annually on either ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU. The conference will continue participating in the network's BracketBusters event showcasing mid-major conferences. The MAC men's basketball tournament final will continue to be broadcast on ESPN or ESPN2, where it has been televised since 1987, and the women's final could be selected for ESPNU depending on its format. Football programming will include the MAC championship and games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. ESPN is owned by The Walt Disney Co. |
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Scrapblog Gets A $4 Million Boost For Online Scrapbooking
TechCrunch - Scrapblog, a startup that lets you build rich Flash-based online scrapbooks, has closed a $4 million funding round led by Disney's Steamboat Ventures and Longworth Venture Partners. The round brings Scrapblog's total funding to $7.5 million. Scrapblog offers an online editor that allows users to decorate their scrapbook with text, images, colorful themes, and other embellishments, which can then be shared on the web or printed out. The company was first introduced back in 2006, briefly went offline, and relaunched in March 2007. Now it has grown to nearly 2 million registered users who have created over 4 million scrapblog pages. The site has partnerships with major media sites including Disney, Discovery, Photobucket, and ABC. The site generates revenue through scrapbook printing, sponsored promotions, and a recently launched virtual goods market called the Scrapblog Marketplace. The marketplace allows users to purchase designs from leading artists to decorate their scrapbooks, and has been likened to an "iTunes for Scrapbooking" - a strange description, but one that certainly appears to the niche scrapbooking demographic. |
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Is
space travel a reality? It is at Disney World Examiner - the possibilities of space travel is available for the masses and not just the elite. So far we have put a man on the moon and sent robots to mars and beyond. So the future of space travel is looking quite positive, especially at the Walt Disney World Resorts.
At Disney World you can become
an astronaut in a 5.5-minute trip into space on Mission:
SPACE, located in Epcot’s Future World. This simulator ride
takes you on a realistic adventure during your space flight
to Mars.
Each member of your flight crew
is given a job to perform while traveling. Experience the
force of lift off, take a nap in hyper sleep and then
bravely land the spacecraft, keeping your fingers crossed so
you do not fall off the cliff.
There are two different
versions of Mission: SPACE, you choose the one you want. One
side will take you on a full G-force feeling mission and the
other is not as aggressive. Some guests with certain medical
conditions, such as fear of enclosed spaces and motion
sickness, just to name a few, should be careful when
deciding to choose to ride Mission: SPACE. There is also a
height requirement to ride. If you have any questions or
concerns check with a Disney Cast Member before riding the
ride.
For those not tall enough,
unable to ride the ride, or just choose not to, can enjoy
the Mission: SPACE Advanced Training Lab. It is an
interactive, hands on learning experience for all ages. You
can compete in the Mission: SPACE Race, create video
postcards to send via email and shop in the Mission: SPACE
Cargo Bay.
The Mission: SPACE Race is
where two teams containing both astronauts and ground
control come head to head in a space mission. Who will get
their rocket from Mars to Earth first? You will have to test
your skills and see.
Also in the Mission: SPACE
Advanced Training Lab is Expedition Mars where you can
explore the terrain of Mars and see the beauty a planet
unlike ours has to offer. Space Base is especially for the
little space explorers and is a great place for parents to
relax while they climb through their own spacecraft sized
down just for them.
For
more information about the future of space travel, I
discovered this site, Daily Galaxy,
it has interesting information about the future of space,
travel and earth as we now know it.
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Cruising with Little Ones is Child's Play Onboard Disney
Cruise Line
PR Newswire - Traveling with infants and toddlers on Disney Cruise Line will soon be easier than ever thanks to a cruise industry-first service that delivers baby supplies directly to guest staterooms and a host of child-friendly offerings onboard the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder. Beginning March 15, families preparing to sail on Disney Cruise Line with little ones will have access to an online service that allows them to order baby supplies in advance of their cruise and have them delivered to their stateroom. The new service is exclusive for Disney Cruise Line guests and provided by Babies Travel Lite, an online retailer offering more than 1,000 brand-name baby products including diapers, baby food, infant formula and specialty travel items. By visiting disneycruise.com, guests will be able to access a special section of the Babies Travel Lite Web site where they can create orders for familiar brands in quantities customized to the duration of their cruise. "Disney Cruise Line prides itself on delivering a vacation experience that caters to every member of the family including our youngest cruisers," said Tom Wolber, senior vice president of operations for Disney Cruise Line. "The new delivery service eliminates the challenges of packing for infant travel, while onboard conveniences simplify family travel for parents looking to relax during their cruise vacation." The new delivery service is just one of the many products and services available to families traveling with children under 3. Guests also have access to a host of onboard services to facilitate traveling with toddlers in tow: -- Diaper Genie units, cribs and playpens are available complimentary upon request from the stateroom host/hostess for use during the cruise. -- Bottle warmers, bottle sterilizers and strollers are available complimentary at Guest Services for use during the cruise. -- At Castaway Cay, Disney's private island in the Bahamas, wagons are available to facilitate navigating the island's sandy beaches. -- Baby supplies are available for purchase on the ships. These amenities are the perfect complement to Disney's infant-care center at sea, Flounder's Reef Nursery. The nursery features an "under the sea" soft play area themed to Disney's "The Little Mermaid" where children 12 weeks to 36 months can enjoy themselves under the watchful eyes of trained Disney caregivers. Even Mickey Mouse or another Disney pal might swing by for a surprise visit involving fun and games. Also for infants and toddlers is Mickey's Splash Zone, a water playground inspired by The Sorcerer's Apprentice from Disney's "Fantasia." This extension to the Mickey Pool features star- and moon-shaped interactive fountains, a soft play surface and whimsical splash zones, creating an inviting environment for children not yet toilet trained and in swim diapers. Guests sailing on seven-night cruises can enjoy some 'together' time with their little ones during Family Time Sessions at Flounder's Reef Nursery. Families have the opportunity to explore the nursery and meet the team of counselors who supervise the children. Also on seven-night cruises, guests can enjoy Toddler Time at the Oceaneer Club and at Mickey's Splash Zone. Families can join their little ones and explore the world together as they participate in musical games and fine motor skills exercises led by Disney's youth activities counselors. A leader in the family cruise segment, Disney Cruise Line delivers a cruise experience that every member of the family feels was created for their own individual vacation wants and needs. Departing from Port Canaveral, Fla., Disney Cruise Line offers three-, four- and seven-night itineraries to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Land/sea vacation packages that include a stay at Walt Disney World Resort are also available. To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can contact their travel agent, visit disneycruise.com or call Disney Cruise Line at 888/DCL-2500. Travel agents can call Disney Cruise Line at 888/325-2500 or visit disneytravelagents.com. |
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Day four, part 2: Twice Charmed on the Disney Magic Examiner - As the Disney Magic sailed away from Grand Cayman, I lounged in a cushy chair outside of Cove Cafe, the adult coffee bar, with a steamed milk flavored with a light shot of hazelnut and some cinnamon on top. I had a good book, which I read with the panorama of the ocean spread below me since I was up on deck 9. I hung out until hubby passed by, on his way out of the workout room, and we returned to our stateroom to get ready for the show. Hubby went to the theater, but I tuned in on the stateroom television to watch "Twice Charmed," which is my favorite of all the Disney Cruise Line stage show. As I mentioned in the last part of my trip report, it's a twist on the Cinderella story in which an Evil Fairy Godfather, Franco di Fortunato, helps Lady Tremaine and the wicked stepsisters go back in time to steal Cinderella's happy ending. Normally I would watch it live in the Walt Disney Theater too, but I wanted to get some photos for this report so I decided that the easiest way to get them would be by snapping shots of the flat screen TV in our room. The play is simulcast in the rooms at the same time it's presented live. Below are some shots of Franco and the wicked stepfamily, including one of the pyrotechnic effects, and also one of poor Cinderella when she gets shrunk down to mouse size. I didn't want to post any more than that because I don't want to ruin the story, but this is Disney so I'm sure you can guess that there will be a happy ending. After the stage show, my husband popped over to see a family variety show before dinner. For tonight's meal, I had a duck appetizer, but I went light on the main course and simply had a loaded baked potato. After three days of hearty meals, I was ready for a bit of a break. We've even been skipping breakfast most days, although this morning we did have something light (I had scrambled eggs and bacon from the buffet) because we were leaving early for our excursion and weren't sure what they would be offering for lunch at Boatswains. After dinner, there was an adult cabaret show, but we were pretty much tuckered out from an active day. That's the worst part of cruising. There is so much to do that you have to make some difficult decisions. Even though this is our 66th cruise on Disney, we've never made it through everything they offer, especially since they continually change and update the offerings. We've watched over the years as the original improv comedy club morphed into dueling pianos and then into its current incarnation of a sports bar. We watched two of the three original shows disappear, with Voyage of the Ghost Ship replaced by the Golden Mickeys and Hercules the Muse-ical replaced by Toy Story: The Musical on the Wonder and Twice Charmed on the Magic. Even Disney Dreams, just about everyone's favorite, which has been around since the beginning, was upgraded with new characters and laser effects. |
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Disney's Pixie Hollow Leaves Us Feeling A Little… Hollow Wired News - Recently, we were given the opportunity to spend some time with Disney's latest MMOG for kids, Pixie Hollow. The game allows users to create a Tinker Bell-like character and then use this fairy to explore the land of Pixie Hollow, buy items at stores, make friends with other pixies, buy items at stores, play games and buy items at stores. While my son has really enjoyed playing another of Disney's MMOGs, Pirates of the Caribbean Online, playing Pixie Hollow with my daughters has left us feeling a little empty. Before taking flight in Pixie Hollow, you must create your fairy -- and the depth of character customization is pretty good. The ability to minutely tweak your character is surprising, but ultimately, when rendered to playing size, most characters look fairly similar with the exception of their colors. The character's name - in an effort to police and prevent unacceptable behavior (just like the textual interaction with other players) - must be chosen from a pre-approved list. So instead of Theodosia McTootsalot, we ended up with the very appropriately Disney-esque moniker, Misty Morningsparkle. With our pixie ready for takeoff, we flew headlong into Pixie Hollow. The first impressions of the environment were very favorable. The scenery was lush and beautiful. With an abundance of flowers (and a healthy dose of Gaussian blur), the Hollow was a dreamlike treat for the eyes. Movement is pretty simple -- click where you want to go and your avatar flies there, leaving behind a trail of magical fairy dust. Our initial opinion of Pixie Hollow was positive, but our sense of wonder was about to take a nose dive. Pixie Hollow consists of a series of similar-looking environments. Each location where your fairy can play is actually pretty small, with areas consisting of just a few destinations to visit. While it varies from area to area, there's at least one store, and a shortcut or two to different locations. In some locales there's a simple and fun mini-game that users can play to earn items, such as flower petals and spider webs. These rewards can be used to construct items for your fairy's house or as currency in Pixie Hollow stores. And that's the bulk of what players do in Pixie Hollow -- travel from one location to the next and do the same things over and over. Granted the mini-games are decent and we had some fun with them, but my daughters quickly lost interest. Each time I encouraged them to give Pixie Hollow another try, they would only play for a few minutes before closing the browser and finding something else to do. As can be expected, there are a number of Pixie Hollow tie-in toys that kids can play with offline, including both figures and playsets. Purchasing these real world toys give the child an access code that unlocks virtual goods in Pixie Hollow. But the toys that intrigued me were jewelry items called Clickables. These bracelets and necklaces allow users to trade virtual goods and add online friends during their time in the real world. It works like this: Let's say two kids run into each other at recess and both have their own Clickables bracelet. By simply clicking the bracelets together on the playground (and later uploading via USB cable), they become friends online and are able to share virtual goods. It's an interesting idea, to say the least. But this gets to one of my big complaints about Pixie Hollow. Although the game is pretty and - in parts - fun for kids to play, there is such a heavy emphasis on consumerism. Granted, this is Disney we are talking about, who have raised merchandising and marketing to a high art form, but what started as a $5 a month game could easily turn into an expensive habit with all of the associated toys, baubles and add-ons. However, there is a free version of the game too. In the free version, players are able to do pretty much everything except buy new outfits and accessories. (Why would you pay for membership again?) Wired: Gorgeous graphics, heavy character customization, fun mini-games Tired: Heavy handed consumerism |
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"Walt Disney World Secrets" Notescast Now on iPhone and iPod
touch prMac - TimeStream Software, the leading developer of Notescast(R) titles for the iPod Classic, iPod nano, iPhone and iPod touch, announces the release of its popular "Walt Disney World Secrets" Notescast as an iPhone and iPod touch App. Filled with nearly 150 fun, magical and surprising secrets of Walt Disney World(R) Resort, the new Walt Disney World Secrets Notescast works as an innovative new guidebook allowing guests to tour all of Walt Disney World Resort with their iPhone or iPod touch in hand as they journey from one new secret to the next. "It's been a big hit on the iPod Classic and iPod nano, and now it's a Top 20 App in the Travel Category of the App Store." said Mike Westby of TimeStream Software. "Being able to discover the secrets of Walt Disney World Resort on your iPhone is a fun blending of cool technology and one of everyone's favorite vacation destinations." Developed using Disney's "Guidelines for Guidebook Media", the new Walt Disney World Secrets Notescast installs to the iPhone and iPod touch and displays nearly 150 secrets which users read and scroll through as they tour the parks and discover each new secret in Magic Kingdom(R), Epcot(R), Disney's Animal Kingdom(R) and Disney's Hollywood Studios(TM). The new Walt Disney World Secrets" Notescast App for the iPhone and iPod touch is available through the App Store. Those wishing Notescast titles for the iPod Classic, 5th Generation and iPod nano may visit TimeStream Software's web site. Available titles include the 2009 Walt Disney World Resort Notescast, Disney's Animal Kingdom Hidden Mickeys Notescast and the Walt Disney World Secrets Notescast . About Timestream Software And Notescast Titles TimeStream Software's Notescasts(TM) allow companies to extend their web site, marketing and branding content to the estimated over 100 million iPod Classics and nanos in use, as well as the iPhone and iPod touch, thus opening an all new marketing channel of over 100 million iPod and iPhone users. Notescasts(TM) consist of up to 1,000 pages of interactive copy embedded with links to related photos, video, text and more, and are installed to the "Notes" feature found on nearly every iPod Classic, iPod 5th Generation and iPod nano in use today. Notescasts for the iPhone and iPod touch install as stand-alone apps. From individual Notescast titles for Walt Disney World Resort in Florida to a complete Notescast guide to the Sheraton Maui Resort in Hawaii, TimeStream Software is the leader in the development of Notescast for iPod and iPhone titles. Additional Notescast titles include the newly updated 2009 Walt Disney World Resort Notescast (with photos), Walt Disney World Secrets Notescast, Disney's Animal Kingdom Hidden Mickeys Notescast (with photos) and more. Learn more about Notescasts at TimeStream Software online. Contact TimeStream Software for graphics and a sample Notescast title to install and review on your own iPod.
Notescasts
TimeStream Software's
Notescasts(TM) allow companies to extend their web site,
marketing and branding content to the estimated over 100 million
iPod Classics and nanos in use, as well as the iPhone and iPod
touch, thus opening an all new marketing channel of over 100
million iPod and iPhone users. Notescasts(TM) consist of up to
1,000 pages of interactive copy embedded with links to related
photos, video, text and more, and are installed to the "Notes"
feature found on nearly every iPod Classic, iPod 5th Generation
and iPod nano in use today. Notescasts for the iPhone and iPod
touch install as stand-alone apps. |
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Disney, milk marketing deals in line for Cardinals’ Kurt Warner Bizjournals - Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner has advertising and endorsement deals lined up with the Walt Disney Co. and California Milk Processor Board’s notable “Got Milk” ad campaign. Warner’s agents at Chicago-based Priority Sports & Entertainment report an upswing in endorsement, marketing and event appearance calls for the QB on the heels of the Cardinals surprising playoff success. That attention will be magnified even more if the Cards upset the favored Pittsburgh Steelers and Warner adds a second Super Bowl championship to his resume, said Rob Lefko, president of athlete marketing for Priority. Lefko said interest in Warner for endorsement and marketing deals is up, a book deal is in the works and appearances before business, charitable and religious groups are on the horizon for the Cards QB. Lefko said Warner will sit down after the game and map up his options. The quarterback’s charitable foundation partners with Disney to take disabled and sick children to the company’s amusement parks in Florida and California. Warner and Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be featured in national Got Milk ads before the Super Bowl telecast Sunday. Warner won a Super Bowl in 2000 with the St. Louis Rams. Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald also could build on his endorsement base in the wake of his stellar playoff performances, but his opportunities may be less likely. Priority handles Warner’s marketing, endorsement and appearance deals. |
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Eight Can Be Enough When It Comes To Interactive Ads: Disney Multichannel News - Research by the digital media division of the ABC-Disney Television Group. indicates that Internet viewers will accept up to eight interactive ads per episode when viewing a show online, without any decrease in consumer satisfaction or intent to use the player that delivers the commercial messages. Albert Cheng, executive vice president of digital media for the Disney-ABC Television Group, detailed some of the findings during a NATPE panel here, adding that tests included eight different advertisers within the episode, inserted two per advertising break. Today, most TV episodes stream with up to four ads in four breaks, often with the same spot each time. Cheng said it appeared that
users in the test enjoyed not having to sit through the same ad
during the whole episode. He noted that the brand recall did not
decline with multiple advertisers in the test. |
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Who is
going to Disney World? Examiner - Since it was first said back in 1987, sports enthusiasts wait to see who will be the next to say one of the most famous five word phrases: “I’m going to Disney World!” It is a statement that has been said by many members of winning sports teams right after a major victory, including the Super Bowl. So who will be the one to say it this year? Who knows, but I am sure we will find out at the final of Super Bowl XLIII this Sunday.
Since we will not know the
answer to who will be the next, let us take a look at
previous “I’m going to Disney World!” exclaimers.
It all started when New York
Giants quarterback Phil Simms said those very words for the
first time after his team’s victory in Super Bowl XXI. Once
said it was used in many Disneyland and Disney World
commercials for years to come and since then has become the
most popular statement associated with victory.
Others expressing the popular
catch phrase include Eli Manning, Tony Dungy, Dominic
Rhodes, Hines Ward, Tom Brady (at least twice), Jon Gruden,
Brad Johnson, Kurt Warner, Emmitt Smith (at least two
times), John Elway (also said at least twice), Michael
Jordan, Nancy Kerrigan, the 1999 Women’s World Cup United
States Championship Team and Santa Claus (commercials during
the 1996 gift-giving holiday).
Let us see who will be the
next after the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers
compete this Sunday in Tampa, Fla.
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Wednesday January 28, 2009 |
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Movie
Pirates Commandeer the Disney Wonder NYCC 09: Disney Gives it Up at Con Day four: Grand Cayman and the Disney Magic Thirteen floors of terrorific thrills Sacramento - again - gets starring role in Disney painting People 'freaking out' over economy; no Disneyland trips 2009 Holiday Collection Disney Fine Art Presents: Valentine's Day Take a journey through time and space at Epcot Disney jobs jeopardized Trade Off of Miley Cyrus' Success Comcast launches Disney VOD service |
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Movie
Pirates Commandeer the Disney Wonder Disney Insider - Dead men tell no tales, but what about pirates in the flesh? Uncover the real story this spring as Disney Cruise Line features an event sure to send shivers up any seafarer's spine. "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend Lives On" cruise will take Guests to World's End and beyond, led by actors Lee Arenberg and Martin Klebba - better known to fans as Pintel and Marty from all three "Pirates of the Caribbean" films. This high-seas journey promises an earful of behind-the-scenes movie lore, tomfoolery, and exclusive treasures ... dare ye listen to the yarns these superstar scoundrels can spin? Setting sail March 8 to 12, the Disney Wonder will host this pirate-themed party, traveling to Nassau and Castaway Cay. With 10 distinctive decks, the ship offers luxurious staterooms, restaurants, pools, shops, and first-class family entertainment. Guests must register for the event to participate in the scheduled pirate-themed activities. A private welcome reception with Lee, Marty, and renowned artist Dave Avanzino will kick off the first day of the cruise. Both actors are extremely enthusiastic when talking about the upcoming trip. Lee says, "It's always a pleasant surprise when we're asked to do these things. I've been on a Disney Cruise before and it's a million times more fun than you can imagine." "I've never been on a cruise ... except for two years on the Black Pearl," Marty adds with a laugh. Having been members of Jack Sparrow's motley crew, Lee and Marty are thrilled to share amusing anecdotes and on-set memories with fans. "We're actors who believe life is an adventure ... that's why playing a pirate is so much fun for us as well as the audience. They were sort of nonconformists in an ever-conforming world and it's great being able to relive a little part of that," explains Lee. However, the swashbuckling lifestyle can be taken just so far. "Obviously, we have better hygiene than real pirates. Our teeth are a lot cleaner!" Wardrobe, makeup, and prosthetic teeth aside, Lee's Pintel is truly quite a character. He's best remembered for the infamous "Ello, Poppet!" line, coming between captains Jack Sparrow and Hector Barbossa in the heat of a power struggle, and comedic jousting with his tall, one-eyed sidekick Ragetti. Small but mighty Marty was characterized by his courage, French accent, and fancy swordsmanship. Never revealing his mysterious past, Marty was recruited by Sparrow in Tortuga to help recover the Black Pearl from Barbossa. With sun, sand, and glorious weather, there's no better place to retrieve a notorious ship. So how do the actors feel about returning to pirate territory, commonly known as the Bahamas? "It brings back such fantastic memories ... the warm waters and beautiful skies of the Caribbean. It's an amazing part of our lives and it'll be great to visit again," Lee continues. Marty wholeheartedly agrees. "Once we get there, I think it'll feel like we never left. I can't wait." Sightseeing, dining, and mingling with Guests are just a few of the things this busy duo can look forward to. The four-day itinerary consists of a seminar with the actors, event-exclusive gifts, an up-close look at actual props from the movies, private meet and greet with the actors, an interactive viewing of "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," surprise entertainment and activities on board as well as at Castaway Cay, special dining times, availability of limited edition movie merchandise, and a hands-on workshop with guest artist Dave Avanzino. Though the actors are privy to some top secret surprises, Guests are truly in for a treat. According to the actors, fan response should be positive. Marty recalls, "We've done a few charity events together and any time Lee's come out with me, the people just love it. We work off each other so well that it's like second nature. And once we get the audience involved, we're on a roll and next thing you know an hour or two flies by. You don't even realize it because you're having fun." Lee sums it up like this. "It doesn't take much for actors to give fans an extra 30 seconds. If you're nice about it, it makes your day anyway. And Marty and I specialize in being nice ... that's really true. We're good friends on and off screen and we just like meeting people. I think the audience will dig it. To be honest, I'm sure they'd rather see Johnny and Orlando, but we'll represent the franchise the best we can. We bring the spirit and the love of these characters... which is what we always bring." "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend Lives On" promises cruise-goers an unforgettable adventure with some pretty personable buccaneers! |
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NYCC
09: Disney Gives it Up at Con
ing - Riding high on the success of WALL-E, Walt Disney Studios and Pixar will be unveiling their next animated film, UP, at New York Comic Con next week. Taking place in the IGN Theater at the Jacob Javits Center on Saturday, 2:30pm to 3:30pm, the studio presentation will feature director Pete Docter. UP is described as a "comedy adventure about 78-year-old balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen, who finally fulfills his lifelong dream of a great adventure when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilds of South America. But he discovers all too late that his biggest nightmare has stowed away on the trip: an overly optimistic nine-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell." Docter, the Academy Award-nominated director of Monsters, Inc., will offer one of the first previews of the highly anticipated toon, which opens on May 29th. Also getting previewed at the convention is Surrogates, an "action-packed thriller based upon the acclaimed graphic novel." The film stars Bruce Willis and is directed by Jonathan Mostow (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines). The plot is described thusly in a studio press release: "This unique vision of a not-too-distant utopia where humans live their lives remotely via robotic surrogates, free from the consequences of real life, comes to theaters in September 2009." |
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Day four:
Grand Cayman and the Disney Magic Examiner - The cruise continues to fly by. This morning we woke up anchored just off the shoreline of Grand Cayman. The upper photo shows a view from the promenade deck of the Disney Magic, with the island off in the distance. The middle photo shows a Princess ship, anchored nearby, with little tender boats shuttling people back and fourth. Disney uses tender boats too. You go down to deck one, where you board a boat docked alongside the ship. They range from quite small to double decker, and they go back and forth from the anchored cruise ships in a steady parade since there is no large dock at Grand Cayman itself. Although we've been to the island six times, we still decided to book an excursion rather than wander around on on our. We love Boatswains Beach, which is part of the turtle farm complex, and it's more convenient doing it through Disney than grabbing a cab on our own. If you book the excursion, you meet in a central location on board the ship and are herded onto a tender, then onto a bus for a quick and painless ride. In the afternoon, the process is reversed. Back onto the bus, which drops you right off at the tender pier. The only pain is that the afternoon tender lines tend to be very long. They move quickly though, especially since they were using the large capacity double deckers. The excursion met at 9:20 a.m. onboard the ship. By the time we had all tendered across the water and loaded into the buses, it must have been close to 10. We got to Boatswains with plenty of time to hold and play with turtles and get photos before the 11 a.m. shark feeding. The lower photo shows a map of most of which this tourist attraction has to offer: animal encouters, snorkling, and swimming. Next up, hubby and I hustled over the the aviary, where there is an 11:30 feeding. Unlike the sharks, which are fed by workers, guests can pay $1 for bird food and interact with everything from tiny finches to some large, long-billed creatures that look like a cross between a stork and a flamingo. There were supposed to be two quaker parrots, too, and of course I had to look for them since I miss my own pet quaker who is being babysat at a friend's house, but I had no luck in finding them Next it was time to stake out lounge chairs. We dragged two over to a shady area near the snorkeling lagoon, then headed over to the open air restaurant for the included lunch. There were burgersm jerk chicken, macaroni salad, and rice. You could also choose water or pop. Hubby and I opted for water, but added a Cayman beer just to see what it tasted like (very good actually). By that time it was already 12, and the bus was scheduled to return at 2, so there wasn't too much time for swimming. I originally thought the pool might be warmer than the snorkel lagoon, which uses ocean water, but no such luck so I stuck with snorkeling. You'll see lots of fish while swimming, and you can also view the predator tank through a glass wall. Reluctantly I dragged myself out of the water around 1:30 so I could shower and wash my hair. I am very fussy, and one thing I like about Boatswains is that both times I've been there, the shower facilities have been very clean. I had hoped to spend some time lying out in the sun reading, but that didn't happen. Oh well, I was just happy that it was warm enough to swim, especially since I have thin Floridian blood. At 2 p.m. we all trooped back onto the bus and then into the never ending tender line. Disney does hand out ice water while you're waiting, and last time we were in Grand Cayman, when it was very hot, they also handed out cold towels. I love that attention to detail! We were herded onto a tender and headed back out to the Magic. Back onboard we had a snack since we hadn't eaten too much of the Boatswains lunch. There are lots of fast service options on the ship, so hubby had a wrap while I had pizza and fries. That left an afternoon for working out or quality verandah time, and I was looking forward to the evening show, "Twice Charmed," because it is my favorite Disney Cruise Line production show. It's a twist on the Cinderella story that explores what might have happened if the evil step sisters had a Wicked Fairy Godfather to turn back time and give them another chance. My favorite character is Franco, the Wicked Fairy Godfather, and I really enjoy the music numbers, especially his introduction. It has pyrotechnics and a light-up staircase that reminds me a bit of the sidewalk in Michael Jackson's "Billy Jean." But the show and dinner are still a while away. I'll check in with part two of the fourth day later tonight or tomorrow. |
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Thirteen floors of terrorific thrills Examiner
- Be careful when checking into The Hollywood Tower Hotel,
because you may never check out. The once posh hotel, popular
with Hollywood’s elite, is now home to four guests and a bellhop
who took a ride on an elevator one night. Sad to say, they never
made it to their floor.
After checking in at the Twilight Zone’s Hollywood Tower Hotel Tower of Terror you will be escorted to the hotel’s library. Before entering the library you will pass by the guest elevator that appears to be out of service. When you get to the library, you will not be able to read one of the many dust-covered books, because a thunderstorm knocks out the power as you enter the Twilight Zone. Your adventures will then take you through the hotel’s boiler room. Since the main elevator is out of service, you will need to take the service elevator, where you and 27 other guests will bravely face thrilling and chilling drops. One after another. If you dare and choose to not close your eyes you will get a fascinating view of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, including the Earful Tower. Phew. You survived. But before leaving the hotel, do not forget to take a look at your picture that was taken during one of the big drops. Now tell me…Did you smile? Or Scream? If you choose to ride The Twilight Zone’s Hollywood Tower Hotel Tower of Terror you can do so at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It is down Hollywood Boulevard across from Rock N Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. Fast passes are available for this ride. Remember, only one fast pass is issued per park ticket every two hours. So, I would suggest that you get a fast pass for Rock N Roller Coaster, which usually has a longer line, and then go wait in line for Tower of Terror. If you enjoy the spookiness of Tower of Terror, but do not want the thrills, check out The Haunted Mansion at the Magic Kingdom Park. |
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Sacramento - again - gets starring role in Disney painting Sacramento
Bee - The Disney Co. is once again giving Sacramento the star
treatment.For the third year in a row, Disney is issuing a "destination" painting showing some of its iconic characters against a River City backdrop. This year's edition, called "King of the River," has Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and friends in rowboats, with the Delta King paddlewheeler looming in the background. One boat's passengers include Belle, Cinderella and Captain Hook - and a crocodile circling nearby. A crocodile in the Sacramento River? "They took a little Disney license," says Troy Carlson, owner of the Stage Nine movie memorabilia store in Old Sac and the guy responsible for convincing Disney to include Sacramento in its city-based series. Previous editions have shown Disney characters soaring above the Tower Bridge and arriving by train in Old Sacramento. This year's painting, by Rodel Gonzalez, goes on sale Feb. 7 at an event aboard the Delta King from noon to 4 p.m. Canvas prints of the painting are priced at $650; lithographed versions go for $119. On hand for the event: Paige O'Hara, the Disney voice of Belle, and Eddie Carroll, the voice of Jiminy Cricket. Apparently, it's rare for a city to be included in so many of Disney's "destination" paintings, which feature various global cities. We're getting the love because Sacramentans quickly buy up the prints, he says. The Sacramento paintings also have broader appeal - including in Europe and Asia - where Disney customers apparently like the images of trains, paddlewheelers and frontier life. Says Carlson: "They love the romance of the West." |
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People 'freaking out' over economy; no Disneyland trips
Orange County Register - "I'm still working, but I feel the axe about to fall, so I'm freaking out. Definitely no Disneyland trips this year." That's how more than half the readers described their predicament in an online survey in the O.C. Register's Around Disney blog. That downbeat result jibes with Disney-owned Web sites' own survey, which showed that 58 percent of all parents are very concerned about their current employment status, have recently been laid-off, or need to re-enter the workforce to help pay bills. At latest count, here are the results of Around Disney's unscientific reader poll:
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2009 Holiday Collection Disney Fine Art Presents: Valentine's
Day PR
Web -
Sanders Art Studio.com
in Ogden, Utah is excited to kick off 2009 with new Disney Fine
Art.
We are excited to kick off 2009 with the first piece in our 2009 Holiday Collection to celebrate Valentine's Day: David Willardson's VIP- Very Important Piglet. We are offering a Pre-Release retail of $495.00 that will be applicable to all orders placed by Friday January 30. After January 30, the retail price will become $550.00. VIP- Very Important Piglet is a
distinctive Serigraph on hand deckled paper from an edition of
50. All four editions released as part of the 2008 Holiday Collection are Sold Out and we expect the same for this year's Holiday Collection. David Willardson - Artist Bio Caught up in the make-believe world of animation, the creativity and whimsy of the characters, and the early execution of the cartoon art all were factors in directing the professional path chosen by David Willardson. Willsardson was commissioned to paint the major movie posters for Disney Animation over a period of fifteen years. A small sample would include Bambi, Cinderella, Snow White, Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and The Lion King. While painting the characters in the traditional way, Willardson also developed an energetic, colorful, stylized, dynamic, graphic painting style that not only captures the personality and emotions of the characters BUT captures their soul. Please sign up for our email mailing list to see new Artist work in February 2009! Now that's magic! Free Shipping on all orders. |
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Take a
journey through time and space at Epcot Examiner - During your vacation you will want to make sure that you do not miss most innovative theme park in Central Florida. Walt’s vision of what future communities would look like can be experienced at Epcot – Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Located at the Walt Disney World Resort, Epcot takes guests through history, lets them enjoy today and gives them a glance at tomorrow.
Epcot is one of the four theme
parks Disney World has to offer. Other parks include the
Magic Kingdom Park, Disney Hollywood Studios and Disney’s
Animal Kingdom. Epcot is divided into two sections – Future
World and the World Showcase. Each section could take up to
a day to see, making Epcot a two-day park, if you want to be
sure to enjoy everything it has to offer.
Epcot’s icon, Spaceship Earth,
stands at the entrance of the park and has often been
referred to as the “big golf ball in the sky,” by guests.
Inside Spaceship Earth, guests are taken on a journey
through the history of communication and at the end of the
ride you will get a hands on experience of what
communication could be like in the future. Hint: To
avoid a long line at Spaceship Earth, go toward the middle
of the day, guests entering the park usually go there first.
Also in Future World, you can
enjoy other attractions, shows and interactive adventures at
The Land Pavilion, The Seas with Nemo and Friends (formerly
known as The Living Seas), the Imagination Pavilion, Mission
Space, Test Track and the Universe of Energy.
After seeing what the future
has to offer, check out what today has to offer, as you tour
the world in the World Showcase. Located in the back of the
park, you can explore the 11 countries on display around the
World Showcase Lagoon. As you journey country to country,
speak with Cast Members who are from the country you are
seeing, for an authentic adventure. You can also eat your
way from country to country tasting authentic cuisine.
Yummy!
The 11 countries in the World
Showcase include: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy,
United States, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom and
Canada. Upon arriving at Epcot, check the show times for the
World Showcase so you do not miss out on the fun.
Get your kids into the action
by having them learn about the countries in the World
Showcase or areas of Future World in Epcot’s Kidcot
experience. Kidcot stations are located throughout the park
and offer the kids a chance to see displays, speak to
experts and color.
Stay for the entire day and
enjoy the night-time laser light and firework spectacle,
Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, over the World Showcase
Lagoon. Shows are at 9 p.m. every night except currently it
is at 8 p.m. on Fridays.
Epcot is the home to special
events, including the Epcot International Flower and Garden
Festival, Epcot International Food and Wine Festival and
Holidays Around the World.
Put your learning caps on,
because Epcot is more than a theme park, it is a learning
adventure.
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Disney jobs jeopardized
Famuan - Florida A&M University's School of Business and Industry said they have yet to determine if the internship program with Walt Disney Company will be affected due to the businesses financial trouble. According to a Disney press release issued Jan 26.,Disney has hand-delivered buyout packages to 619 executives who have until Feb. 6 to accept the packages. If too few employees voluntarily leave, Disney will have to resort to lay-offs. Three recent graduates of SBI were hired last year before the Disney lay-off woes. "We have a number of students who land internships and jobs at Disney," said Doris Doyle-Corbett, director of corporate relations and alumni affairs at SBI. "Most of our alumni give us information to recruit interns and full-time employment placement, though we don't know if our recent graduates or alumni will affected by the lay-offs." Doyle-Corbett said SBI students are tracked through their internship experiences. She said former FAMU students who work for Disney said this working for the company this summer might pose problems. "Our alumni have told us Disney has frozen non-essential temporary employment for the upcoming summer," said Doyle-Corbett, "It's possible they (Disney) might hire deeming to what's critical to Disney." Courtney Maki, 23, a graduating MBA student from Lansing, Mich., said her internship with Disney was worth it and concern about position availability was not a problem. "Two years ago when I was there any one who interned at Disney were offered a permanent position," said Maki. "There was no worry about positions not being available." Despite the recession and the company's possible layoffs, Maki said she still is interested in pursuing a position with the company. "I was offered permanent placement, but I had two more years [of school] to go at the time," Maki said. A letter written to the affected executives by Jayne Parker stated, "We hope to achieve our goals with the VSP [voluntary separation plan], but an involuntary layoff with a lesser severance package will be required if our goals are not met," said Parker, senior vice president of human resources for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. According to Disney World, in an attempt to cut costs, they have reduced showings of the "Fantasmic," a laser-and-fireworks evening show in Disney's Hollywood Studios, to twice a week, eliminated dining with characters at Liberty Tree Tavern in the Magic Kingdom and ended the "Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends" show in Disney's Animal Kingdom. "Given the continued uncertainty of the economic environment, we must manage our business even more productively," Disney spokeswoman Leslie Goodman said in the statement. "This immediate action is designed to allow us to deliver an outstanding guest experience and remain focused on achieving long-term growth." SBI's internship office said they will keep students posted on internship opportunities. |
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Trade Off of
Miley Cyrus' Success
TheStreet - Every tween knows who Miley Cyrus is, even if the average investor doesn't. But it turns out it might be worth our time to get to know Cyrus from a financial standpoint. The daughter of country music songster and actor Billy Ray Cyrus was ranked 35th on the 2008 Forbes Celebrity 100 list, with estimated earnings of $25 million for the year ended June 2008, primarily from her singing and acting. In addition, Cyrus was named by Time magazine as one of the world's 100 most influential people. Not bad for a 16 year old. Cyrus got her big break playing the leading role in Walt Disney(DIS Quote) "Hannah Montana," the extremely popular television series on the Disney Channel. The show revolves around a teenager who leads a double life as a famous music star named Hannah Montana and a regular girl named Miley Stewart. The Hannah Montana franchise has done well for Disney. On Jan. 9, Neilsen Ratings reported that the "Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds" 3-D video-on-demand concert has generated more than a hundred thousand views on STARZ On Demand. Because of the amazing popularity of this young superstar, Stockpickr.com and Stockerblog.com have put together a Miley Cyrus Stock Index, which tracks the companies connected to her in a similar way to the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Cyurs' index has fared well from the beginning of the year, down only 5.6%, vs. the Dow, which was down about 8% as of Jan. 23. |
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Comcast
launches Disney VOD service Some of the kid-friendly movies set to launch the service include George of the Jungle, The Parent Trap, Treasure Planet and Eloise at the Plaza. “Kids’ and family programming continues to be one of our top on demand categories, and we are thrilled to continue delivering the best quality content with Disney,” said Derek Harrar, SVP and GM of video services for Comcast. Comcast has been steadily increasing its HD channel lineup, with recent additions in Philadelphia and central Illinois. |
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Tuesday January 27, 2009 |
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Disney starts
selling 'Treehouses' ABC leads nominees for GLAAD Media Awards Wonderful world of EuroDisney Showcase Your Talents to Disney's Creative Imagineering Division! (Reminder Ending Soon) Mary Poppins: The 45th Anniversary Edition on DVD The Secret of the Magic Gourd on DVD Dick Van Dyke tells Mary Poppins Story Disney's Hollywood Studios tunes up for Idol debut Boy badly hurt in 2000 Disneyland accident dies A magical day at sea: Day three on the Disney Magic Puppeteers, Toy Makers and Disney Reps Tout ‘Pinocchio’ ‘Kim Possible’ interactive game debuts at Disney World Glasses on for debut of Disney 3D film Enjoy the magic year round with your Florida resident annual pass Health Canada recalls Disney lipsticks |
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Disney starts selling
'Treehouses'
Orlando Sentinel - Walt Disney Co.'s time-share arm has begun selling interests in Disney's Treehouse Villas, the 60-unit development being rebuilt in a forested corner of Walt Disney World. Sales began Jan. 15 for the Treehouses, which are being sold as part of Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa timeshare. The resort is scheduled to open June 1st. |
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ABC leads
nominees for GLAAD Media Awards AP - For the third year running, ABC leads nominees for awards from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. The network earned six nominations for the 20th annual GLAAD Media Awards, with "Brothers & Sisters," "Desperate Housewives" and "Ugly Betty" among its contenders. The awards recognize fair and inclusive portrayals of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and issues affecting them. "How our lives are portrayed in the media doesn't make a bit of difference, it makes all the difference," said GLAAD president Neil G. Giuliano. The organization announced its 185 nominees in 41 categories Tuesday. CBS earned four nominations and NBC nabbed two. Nominees for feature film in wide release include "Brideshead Revisited," "Milk," "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist," "RocknRolla" and "Vicky Cristina Barcelona." "The nominees this year prove that the stories of LGBT Americans are interesting, compelling and will touch not only LGBT audiences, but broader audiences as well," Giuliano said. Special prizes will be presented to Tyra Banks and Suze Orman. Banks will receive the Excellence in Media award, and Orman will receive the Vito Russo award. The GLAAD Media Awards -- which also recognize magazine and newspaper content, theater performances, advertising and Spanish programming -- will be presented at three separate ceremonies: in New York on March 28, in Los Angeles on April 19 and in San Francisco on May 9. ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Co.; NBC is a unit of General Electric Co. |
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Wonderful world of
EuroDisney
Otago Daily Times - Fickle spring weather did not detract from the magic of a visit to EuroDisney, near Paris, for Pam Jones. It's mid-March and technically spring. But Paris seems not to know this as we cower beneath a deluge of rain, wind and sleet en route to childhood utopia. Peering through the grey we search for magic, fairytale heroes that might guide us forward, and my husband smiles helplessly as he turns, shrugs his shoulders and voices my own wry thoughts out loud: "Welcome to EuroDisney." Our visit to the European wonderland, in fact 32km east of Paris, has been timed for the northern spring, in part to avoid the summer crowds. A previous splurge to EuroDisney by my husband and his brother years earlier in the peak summer season had seen them wait up to two hours to get on some rides. So despite the rain, we are glad of our decision, as we hurtle on to our first attraction, the famous "Phantom Manor", complete with holograms and haunted house chants, in less than 10 minutes. In fact, we pack in that, a fantastic "Big Thunder Mountain" rollercoaster and a stroll through Frontierland's "Legends of the Wild West" in less than the hour and a-half that it took my husband and brother-in-law just to get into their first attraction. With three children. aged 5, 7 and 9, this is important. Obviously they are much easier to keep happier when waiting 10-30 minutes for a ride instead of one to two hours. But money is also, of course, another huge factor. A package of go-on-as-many-rides-as-you-like tickets for five people for three days, plus two nights' accommodation at a Disney hotel, has cost us a total of NZ$2000. But all of a sudden we seem to have been given a whole heap of extra rides for free, as we realize we will get to go on at least twice as many rides as we would have had we come in the summer. The math's feels good, and we leave our first wonderful world congratulating ourselves on our travel smarts, although we did forget something crucial. Our backpacks are empty as our "emergency" wet-weather gear of four parkas, five polar fleeces, six polyprop vests, three pairs of gloves and five hats are all donned frantically to combat the cold. But I knew I should have invested in that one extra parka before leaving New Zealand. Predictably, Mum is the one person left wearing absolutely nothing that is waterproof. Grudgingly we hand over almost NZ$20 for a flimsy, bright yellow disposable EuroDisney parka, the cheapest on sale and more tarpaulin with domes than jacket, but continuing the day without it isn't an option, and so I join the hundreds of other people who also forgot their parkas, a herd of yellow gnomes trudging through the wet. It doesn't spoil the magic. We scream and sigh and soak up every minute as EuroDisney lives up to every hope and stereotype we'd had, every cliché we'd heard ringing gloriously true. Any doubts about over-Americanized unreality evaporated at the gates, where adult skepticism needs to stay. There are no cheesy Disney characters or unrealistic princesses through my children's eyes. For all of us, there is simply nothing crass or commercial about it. Mickey is magic, the space mountain sensational. We travel through five out-of-this-world worlds, each so uplifting I go teary-eyed at the joy my children are getting. Adventureland was full-on action, a loop-the-loop runaway mine car thrilling those brave enough to join "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril" before going on voyages through the "Pirates of the Caribbean" attraction and the Swiss Family Robinson's tree house. Discoveryland was a galactic feast, including a Starspeeder simulator, the "Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast", and a spin through space on "Space Mountain: Mission 2", a high-speed rollercoaster ride that really does feel like it's taking you to the edge of the universe. Our first EuroDisney experience, Frontierland, had a paddle-wheel riverboat, and the long entrance-way called MainStreet USA was where we found horse-drawn streetcars, the Disneyland Railroad Main Street Station, larger-than-life Disney characters, the street parade and impossible-to-resist shops and eateries, - a budget blow-out we couldn't avoid. And my 7-year-old daughter's predictable favorite? Fantasyland, complete with fairytale princess castle, Snow White and Pinocchio tram rides and the musical It's a Small World. It is here that the two-parent family becomes genius. We split up for about half of each day, so while I am taking my 5- and 7-year-olds on spinning teacups and Dumbo fliers, my husband and our nearly 10-year-old are high-footing it on rollercoaster's and terror towers off-limits to shorter visitors. This suits me and my stomach well, as a spinning Nemo "Crush's Coaster" brings me to my knees when back on terra firma, my history of motion-sickness forcing a family pit-stop and another round of thanks to my husband, who's relishing his role as chief thrill-seeker, and chomping at the bit for more. It's hard to imagine our trip could get any better, but the discovery that our three-day pass includes rides at the adjacent Walt Disney Studios is the icing on the cake. Finally able to enjoy some sunshine, we leap from one highlight to the next as we soak up the magical behind-the-scenes atmosphere, get to watch Armageddon special effects, and see car and motorcycle stunts for an action flick being filmed in front of us. Corny it may sound, but it really was a dream come true. Of course, it's not real . . . but then what is these days? Our trip to EuroDisney was pure magic, an unforgettable memory of a pure and uncomplicated time when childhood mattered more than anything. EuroDisney deserves the hype, and it's worth the money. Just don't forget your parka. |
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Showcase Your Talents to Disney's Creative Imagineering
Division! (Reminder Ending Soon) Disney News - If you have a passion for creative and innovative design, here's an opportunity to work with one of the most creative organizations in family entertainment. Created and sponsored by Walt Disney Imagineering, the ImagiNations Design Competition offers opportunities for diverse students to showcase their talents. You can win a 10-day all-expense-paid trip to present your project to a panel of Walt Disney Imagineering executives and have the opportunity to compete for the "Best in Show" awards. This incredible opportunity will provide participants with insight into Disney's creative process, and learn what it takes to succeed in an innovative organization. Additionally, all qualified applicants will be considered for Internship opportunities with Walt Disney Imagineering. Imagineers are challenged to build on the Disney legacy of great storytelling to pioneer new forms of entertainment through technical innovation and creativity. The ImagiNations competition encourages you to do the same! Past winners of the competition have gone on to serve internships at Imagineering and some have become full-time Imagineers. Completed entry
forms must be received from January 1,
2009 through January 30, 2009.
Finalist
Notification
Final Competition |
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Mary
Poppins: The 45th Anniversary Edition on DVD The new two-disc DVD features hours of captivating bonus material, including the all-new "Mary Poppins: From Page to Stage", a fascinating documentary that takes audiences behind the scenes for an exclusive look at the making of the Tony Award winning musical produced with Cameron Mackintosh, and "Step in Time," a never-before-filmed musical number performed by the original Broadway cast—also downloadable as an MP3 audio file. Bonus materials also include the ultimate "behind-the-scenes" movie documentary and reminiscences of the film's stars and legendary composers Richard Sherman and Robert Sherman. With its revolutionary blend of live action and pioneering Disney animation, Mary Poppins became an instant hit and was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar®. The film stars the incomparable Dame Julie Andrews, who won the 1965 Best Actress Academy Award for her film debut, and Dick Van Dyke as Bert, the dancing chimney sweep. "The Sherman Brothers" (Bed Knobs and Broomsticks, The Jungle Book, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) received Oscars for Best Song ("Chim Chim Cher-ee"), and Best Score, which includes such unforgettable numbers "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," "Sister Suffragette," "The Life I Lead," "The Perfect Nanny," "A Spoonful of Sugar," "Jolly Holiday," "Stay Awake," "I Love To Laugh," "Feed the Birds," "The Fidelity Fiduciary Bank," "Step in Time" and "Let's Go Fly a Kite." Based on the popular children's stories by P.L. Travers, Mary Poppins has won the hearts of generations of kids and their parents with its enchanting tale of a magical nanny who changes the lives of two rowdy but neglected kids with determination, discipline and "Just a Spoonful of Sugar." Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews) takes Jane and Michael Banks (Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber) on magical, musical outings including a play date with adorable animated penguins, a race through the country side on merry-go-round horses and a trip across the rooftops of London on a stairway made of smoke—and always gets them home in time for dinner! With her foolproof mixture of good manners and unpredictable fun, Mary not only introduces order to the chaotic Banks household, but brings the whole family together in the process. Mary Poppins 45th Anniversary Edition has a suggested retail price of $29.99 (U.S.) and $35.99 (Canada). |
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The Secret of the Magic Gourd on DVD Walt
Disney Studios Home Entertainment - The wonders of childhood
come alive in The Secret of the Magic Gourd, coming to DVD on
January 27, 2009 from Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc.,
perfectly timed with the Chinese New Year. Featuring the voice
of High School Musical's Corbin Bleu as the title character, The
Secret of the Magic Gourd is brimming with original bonus
material, including exclusive behind-the-scenes footage,
bloopers and a brand new game, making it a must-own family film.
One of China's top grossing family films and Disney's first
Chinese language film, The Secret of the Magic Gourd will appeal
to the world over with its heartwarming, fun-filled adventures
and universal themes of perseverance and self-reliance.
Based on the beloved Chinese children's novel, The Secret of the Magic Gourd tells the timeless story of a boy's coming of age using a dazzling combination of live action, CGI animation and spectacular special effects. In addition to the English soundtrack, Mandarin and Cantonese soundtracks are also available on the same DVD. The Secret of the Magic Gourd is the story of Raymond, a young daydreamer whose vivid imagination has made him an outcast at school. On a solo fishing trip, Raymond reels in the mysterious Magic Gourd, who offers to make all his wishes come true. When each of Raymond's seemingly simple wishes backfires, creating unintentionally hilarious consequences for the boy, he realizes that "there's no such thing as an unearned reward," but with a little hard work, he can create his own kind of magic and achieve his dreams. |
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Dick Van Dyke tells Mary Poppins Story CNN - Dick Van Dyke thought Walt Disney wanted to see him about "Mary Poppins" because of his singing and dancing skills. But the legendary studio founder had something else in mind. Dick Van Dyke played Bert the chimney sweep in "Mary Poppins." "He had heard me in an interview talking about what was happening to family entertainment," says Van Dyke in a phone interview, still amused by the memory. "I was decrying the fact that it seemed like no holds were barred anymore in entertainment. ... That's why he called me in, because I said something he agreed with." Disney, after years of cajoling "Poppins" author P.L. Travers, was finally mounting a production of the books about a magical nanny. With Van Dyke, he knew he was also getting a star as well as a like-minded performer. The actor's TV sitcom, "The Dick Van Dyke Show," was a steady hit at the time, and he had won a Tony for his work in the stage version of "Bye Bye Birdie." With Van Dyke as the Cockney chimney sweep Bert, fellow Tony winner Julie Andrews (in her movie debut) as Poppins and several old pros in tow, Disney went ahead with production on the 1964 film, which was to become one of the biggest hits his studio ever produced. The movie earned five Oscars -- including a best actress win for Andrews -- and its Richard and Robert Sherman songs, such as "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," "Feed the Birds" and the Oscar-winning "Chim Chim Cher-ee," have become standards. Forty-five years later, "Poppins" is also a hit stage show, with excerpts of the Broadway production featured on a new 45th-anniversary DVD. Van Dyke, 83, took a few minutes to talk about the film, his much-maligned Cockney accent and Michelle Obama's fondness for his old TV show. The following is an edited version of the interview. CNN: Tell me about Walt Disney. People think of him as a brand name nowadays, but he was a real person and still alive when you made the film. Was he a presence on the set? Dick Van Dyke: Absolutely. He was very much into this and believed in it. He hung around the set a lot. And I'm happy to say he was so pleased with the way it was going, as we all were. CNN: How did you end up with the part of Bert? Van Dyke: Well, I thought he hired me because I was such a great singer and dancer. As it turns out, he had heard me in an interview talking about what was happening to family entertainment. I was decrying the fact that it seemed like no holds were barred anymore in entertainment. ... He knew about the "Van Dyke Show," about our little sitcom, but that's why he called me in, because I said something he agreed with. And I got the part. CNN: "The Dick Van Dyke Show" was still on at the time. Were you balancing the "Van Dyke Show" at the same time you did "Poppins," or were you on hiatus? Van Dyke: It was on hiatus. That whole decade of the '60s, that's what I did for 10 years -- I did the show and then a movie, a show and then a movie. I felt I'd better make hay while the sun shined. ... It always worked out pretty well. But I found myself getting up in the morning and taking off on the freeway and forgetting where in the hell I was supposed to go, and a couple times I showed up at the wrong studio. CNN: You've taken a lot of ribbing over the years for your Cockney accent. Van Dyke: Oh, have I ever. CNN: Did Andrews or David Tomlinson [who played Mr. Banks] mention things to you about the accent? Or did they just go with the flow? Van Dyke: They just went with the flow! It's funny -- I was concentrating on the dancing, mostly, and they had given me a [voice] coach who turned out to be an Irishman, and his Cockney wasn't much better than mine. During the making of the picture nobody kidded me about the accent, but I sure took it afterwards. [One British poll named Van Dyke's accent the second-worst British accent ever; Van Dyke observes, however, that he was beaten out by Sean Connery's "Untouchables" performance.] CNN: Tell me about the way the movie was shot. There were a lot of scenes with animated characters, and today those would be shot with a blue screen or computer animation. Van Dyke: I think it's such a shame that Walt didn't live to see computer animation, because he would have had a good time with it. ... In those days it was before the blue screen. They used what was called yellow sulphur lighting -- the screen was yellow, and we worked with that all day, and by the time the day was over you couldn't see anything. ... It was just an empty soundstage. And sometimes we didn't even have the music -- we would just dance to a click rhythm. But I think technically it holds up today just as well as anything. CNN: Did you know what some of the animated sequences were going to be? Van Dyke: Yes, that was in the script. But I had to go to Walt and talk him into letting me do the old [bank president]. I said, I'll do that part and I won't even charge you. So he made me do a little screen test and gave me the part. ... And he didn't pay me -- I had to donate $4,000 to his CalArts school. He was a little horse trader. CNN: You worked with Ed Wynn in the film, and I know you're a huge fan of the old comedians. What was Wynn like? Van Dyke: He was in his [late 70s] at the time, and not very well. He did all that "I Love to Laugh" stuff hanging from the ceiling, and it was just so hard on him, but he was a trouper. He was a sweet old guy. He had a palsy -- his head would move from side to side, kind of involuntarily. But the minute they would say "Action," it would stop. And he'd do the scene, and the minute they said "Cut," it would start in again. CNN: Let me change gears. Michelle Obama has said that "The Dick Van Dyke Show" is one of her favorite shows. Van Dyke: I've heard that, and I sent them a note and said, "Thank you for making me famous all over again." I call them the black Rob and Laura. CNN: Is it nice that so much of your work has had longevity? Van Dyke: I just lucked into working with geniuses like ["Van Dyke Show" creator] Carl Reiner and Walt. I just lucked out. |
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Disney's Hollywood Studios tunes up for Idol debut |
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Boy
badly hurt in 2000 Disneyland accident dies
At the age of four, the young boy was badly injured when he fell from Disneyland's Roger Rabbit ride and was dragged about 10 feet, trapped underneath another car. He suffered serious internal injuries including a torn diaphragm, liver and spleen. When the 4-year-old's body was crushed by the ride, he went into cardiac arrest and suffered brain damage. He was unable to walk or talk after the accident and was in a drug-induced coma for more than a month – injuries that affected him for the remainder of his life. "Brandon fought for the past eight years," said his mother, Victoria Zucker, contacted by phone at her home Monday afternoon. The day Brandon was injured, Victoria Zucker and her family, who lived in Santa Clarita at the time, were celebrating her 40th birthday. Paramedics were called to Brandon Zucker's home at the 600 block of Frontier Court Sunday morning after he was reportedly having difficulty breathing, said Maria Sabol, spokeswoman for the Anaheim Fire Department. Now 13 years old, he was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Orange, said Jim Amormino, spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department. He was later transferred Children's Hospital of Orange County, where he was pronounced dead at 1:13 a.m. today. An autopsy that was conducted this morning was inconclusive as to the cause of death, he said. Wearing Mickey Mouse ears as he boarded the Roger Rabbit ride in Disneyland on Sept. 22, 2000, Brandon Zucker's life was drastically changed. After the incident, he suffered permanent brain damage. Three months after the incident, the state's Permanent Amusement Ride Section of the Division of Occupational Safety ordered Disneyland to install doors on the "taxicab" cars of the Roger Rabbit ride, as well as a skirt at the bottom of the cars. The state's report also stated that a ride operator first called a supervisor in the break room instead of 9-1-1. After the 2000 incident, Zucker's family sued Disneyland, a case which was settled in 2002. Officials at Disneyland Resort said they learned of Zucker's death Monday morning. Disney spokeswoman Suzi Brown released a brief statement, saying "We are saddened to learn of the passing of Brandon Zucker and our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time." Details of a settlement reached in 2002 between Disney and the Zucker family were not disclosed. Some legal experts familiar with such cases estimated it was likely somewhere between $20 million and $30 million. Less than a year after the incident, Disneyland revamped several of its safety procedures, such as staffing paramedics in the park, instructing employees to dial 9-1-1 directly in case of an accident. About two weeks after the incident, Disney issued a memo directing employees to dial 9-1-1 directly in case of an emergency. Before that, employees called a central communications center first, where the Anaheim Fire Department was then contacted. Eight months after the incident, Disney decided to staff paramedics inside the park. At the time of the changes, Disney officials said the changes were not made because of the Sept. 2000 incident where Brandon was injured. In 2003, Disneyland launched a kid-friendly safety campaign. When asked what, if any changes were made to improve safety to the theme park as a result of the Sept. 2000 incident, Brown declined to comment. More tests will be conducted to establish a cause of death for Brandon, Amormino said. "His father and I gave him the best quality of life we could," said Victoria Zucker, struggling to speak through sobs. "He was a great, great son. We love him so much and we will miss him greatly." |
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A
magical day at sea: Day three on the Disney Magic Examiner - We're currently en route to Grand Cayman and bobbing along on slightly wavy seas. The Disney ships have stabilizers that minimize the motion, so it's barely noticeable. The skies are sunny and the temperature is in the 70s. Because it's a day at sea, the daily schedule is jam packed with events for adults and families. This morning there was a presentation for the adults on Disney's animation innovations, as well as a presentation on the building of the ship and various wine, beer, and martini tastings. Families were able to practice animation, make crafts, and complete in the Mickey 200 race. Other activities included movies, bingo, and a full schedule in the kids' clubs. My husband did an early morning workout and reported that the fitness center was doing a booming business. The Castaway Club party for returning cruisers was held at 11 a.m. Because there were 1000 repeat guests, it was spread out between two clubs, Rockin' Bar D and Diversions. Once you sail on Disney Cruise Line, you become a member and get an invitation to the party on subsequent cruises. You also get a special check-in line at the port and a nice little gift in your stateroom. We arrived early enough to get a seat in the main club. The party consists of snacks like pop and Mickey-shaped Rice Krispie treats. There are video clips of historical points in the cruise line's history, like the christening of the Magic and Wonder and the Magic's first voyage through the Panama Canal. Guests answer a questionnaire and enter a drawing for special clocks. The cruise director and captain also give a little speech. Having been on so many cruises, we always make it a point to attend the parties. Over the years, we've watched Disney Cruise Line's success and popularity grow. Our first sailing was in September of 1998, followed by February of 1999. In those days, there was no party, and eventually they started a small gathering in which the officers often outnumbered the guests. It's a testament to Disney's quality that repeat cruisers now pack the clubs, most with multiple sailings under their belts. After the party, we headed to Lumieres for lunch, and I snapped a trio of photos of the mural, which you will see in the lower photos (the Castaway Club party logo is shown in the top photo). There are buffet and sit-down options for lunch, and if you're supremely lazy you can simply order room service. There are always walk-up options on deck 9 for wraps, ice cream, burgers, hot dogs, and pizza too. Because this is a Disney ship, there are also plenty of changes to meet the characters. This morning there was a princess greeting in the atrium, and at various points in the day Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Chip, Dale, Donald and Stitch will be out and about for photos and autographs. Although the character lines can get long at times, it's no worse than the theme parks. If you choose your photo ops wisely, you won't have much of a wait at all. For example, most people hustle to take photos on the ship, but there are plenty of character photo ops on Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, that rarely have long waits. But Castaway Cay is the last day of the cruise, and I'm sure the anxious youngsters don't want to wait to meet their Disney friends. There's time to kill until my spa appointment, so I'm debating between seeing Bolt in 3-D or simply relaxing out on the verandah with a good book. Even if you don't have a verandah room, there are plenty of cushioned lounge chairs on deck 4, plus sun loungers on decks 9 and 10. If you prefer to stay indoors, the Tropical Rain Forest steam rooms and saunas await in the spa. For the Rain Forest, you can get a one-day pass or purchase one at a discount for the length of your cruise. |
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Puppeteers, Toy Makers and Disney Reps Tout ‘Pinocchio’ Home Media Magazine - Cyril Hobbins, a wooden-toy maker from England who doesn’t shy away from the title “the English Geppetto,” is only half joking when he says his life can be called complete. “I’m on the Pinocchio DVD and Blu-ray. This has made my life worth living,” the 70-year-old said, grinning.  He
and other toy makers from around the world pop up in “Geppettos
Then and Now,” just one of a slew of bonus features Walt Disney
Studios Home Entertainment has included on the platinum DVD and
Blu-ray Disc releases for Pinocchio
March 10. “I saw that on the [DVD cover]: 70th anniversary. I said to myself, ‘It can’t be,’” said 81-year-old Richard “Dickie” Jones, the voice and reference model for Pinocchio. “[The movie] has everything you could possibly imagine. It’s got tragedy, it’s got comedy, spooky stuff, scary stuff. It’s got something for everyone.” Chris Heatherly, GM and VP of technology and innovation for Disney Toys and Disney Consumer Products, said Pinocchio remains an inspiration for anyone involved with toys. “I was really honored to be a part of it,” he said of his involvement with the DVD and Blu-ray. “It’s one of my favorite films. For toy makers, it’s very close to our hearts.” The Disney Toys division even has a Geppetto award that it gives out on an annual basis. “He’s the patron saint of toy makers,” Heatherly said, adding that the Wall-E toys his division has made are partly inspired by Pinocchio. “We wanted to make them feel as real as possible.” Disney representatives expressed excitement over the features on the DVD and Blu-ray, including the old features (a never-before-seen “sweat box” screening session transcript with Walt Disney, an alternate ending, a deleted scene in storyboard format, live-action reference footage) and new (the Blu-ray Disney View feature, which frames the film with 16 original watercolor panels created by artist Toby Bluth). Dave Smith, chief archivist for The Walt Disney Studios, said the home entertainment division did all the digging it could to find new stuff for Pinocchio. “Every time we put out a DVD of one of our older films, the producers will come to me,” he said. “We get used a lot by home entertainment. … Every time they come to us, they say, ‘What do you have that no one has ever seen before?’ It gets harder as time goes by.” Bob Baker, master puppeteer who worked with Walt Disney to create displays, produced marionettes for the studio and consulted on the film Bedknobs and Broomsticks, said Pinocchio remains one of his favorite all-time dolls. “I’ll tell you, once you get bitten by the Disney bug, you’re in trouble,” he said. “I hear it from friends of mine that [the DVD and Blu-ray picture] is just beautiful. … The colors are just stunning. That opening sequence, I haven’t seen anything like it since. “When you think that [Pinocchio] is all hand-drawn, no computer animation, it’s just amazing.” Other bonus features include a Pinocchio trivia challenge, an all-new making of featurette, a special viewing option that expands the original aspect ratio, a new “When You Wish Upon a Star” music video, Pinocchio’s Puzzles Game, a pop-up trivia option and more. |
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‘Kim Possible’ interactive game debuts at Disney World Los Angeles Times - Imagine a hidden theme park attraction with no line and no building, one that lasts as long as you want and changes each time you visit. Debuting Wednesday, Jan. 28, at Epcot in Walt Disney World, the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure blends an old-fashioned treasure hunt with high-tech spy gadgetry in an interactive game similar to geocaching or orienteering. “These play patterns are as old as human history,” said Jonathan Ackley, producer of the Kim Possible theme park game. “We’re just finding a new application that people enjoy. The game uses a lot of technology without feeling technical.” Based on the Disney animated TV show “Kim Possible,” about a high school cheerleader who fights crime in her spare time, the self-paced game deputizes secret agents who scour the Orlando, Florida, theme park for clues to help save the world from super-villains bent on destroying the planet. Visitors receive clues and trigger hidden surprises using a hand-held “Kimmunicator” device, essentially a converted cellphone. “On other attractions, we very much control your experience,” said Ackley, a director in the interactive division of Walt Disney Imagineering. “In this attraction, we’re giving the guests the ability to control their experience — a remote control for controlling the theme park.” So let me get this straight. If I’ve got a remote control for the theme park, what’s stopping me from hitting rewind and replaying the secret clue over and over again? “You really want to catch the bad guy,” Ackley said. “You want to get onto the next clue.” But can I replay the clue over and over again? “There’s really no incentive to abuse the power,” Ackley said. He obviously doesn’t know me very well. Designed to be played by groups or families, Disney can program two Kimmunicators to follow the same path if, for example, the boys won’t share with the girls. By default, the game is set at the highest difficulty level, with additional clues provided for stumped agents. “There’s a help button for the parents,” Ackley said with a wry smile. Employees play a role in some of the games. In the United Kingdom Pavilion, the secret agent receives instructions to whisper “Danger is my cup of tea” until an in-the-know shop employee surreptitiously slips a tea bag to the agent. Kids in preliminary play tests took the clandestine exchange very seriously, Ackley said, pocketing the tea bag and sneaking out of the shop. A series of missions take place in seven World Showcase pavilions: China – Rescue the precious Jade Monkey from Lord Monkey Fist and his monkey ninjas. France – Prevent tyrant billionaire Senor Senior Sr. from deploying his procrastinator ray. Germany – Stop mad scientist Professor Dementor from using his evil mind-control pretzels. Japan – Restore order to the four elements (fire, air, earth and water), thrown out of balance by mad scientist Dr. Drakken. Mexico – Recover a rocket ship stolen by Dr. Drakken. Norway – Retrieve stolen Viking furs from the shape-shifting Camille Leon. United Kingdom – Foil the plans of the world’s deadliest golfer, Duff Killigan, bent on turning Earth into a giant golf course. Each game, included in the cost of park admission, takes about 45 to 60 minutes to complete. |
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Glasses on for
debut of Disney 3D film
Henley on Thames - Film characters will be bursting out of the screen as Henley sees the launch of 3D cinema. The Regal Picturehouse in Bell Street will unveil a new £800 silver screen for its first 3D film using Real-D technology. Disney's Bolt 3D will begin showing from February 6, a week before the normal film release. Audiences will be given special 3D glasses to wear. Projectionist Chris Tee said: "It's fantastic and a huge improvement on previous attempts at 3D. The glasses stay on all the way through and it really changes the film experience." Upcoming 3D films include Pixar's UP, Dreamworks' Monsters Vs Aliens and a re-release of Toy Story. Marc John, head of digital development at Picturehouse Cinemas, said: "Real-D 3D goes leaps and bounds beyond the early 3D technology." To celebrate the launch, the Picturehouse is holding a "design your own superhero" competition, which will be open to three age groups — under fives, five to seven and seven and above. Entrants need to draw their superhero and hand it in at the cinema together with their name, age and home telephone number. The winner will receive Bolt merchandise. To book tickets, call 0871 7042064 or visit www.picturehouses.co.uk |
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Enjoy the magic year round with your Florida resident annual
pass Examiner - There are many ways to make your trip to the Walt Disney World Resorts magical. Guests traveling from out of state can hand pick their park options by using the Magic Your Way Ticket options. Florida residents can get a piece of the magic by selecting one of the many Florida Resident Pass Options.
The best option of them all,
especially for those of you who love Epcot, but work 9-5
jobs and cannot make the park an all day affair. The Epcot
After 4 p.m. Florida Resident Pass allows you to visit the
park for dinner, catch a few rides and stay to watch
Illuminations: Reflections of Earth. This pass is $129 for
residents ages 10 and up and $114 for residents ages 3 to 9.
The pass is good 365 days a year and can be purchased
online.
The Florida Resident Seasonal
Pass entitles guests to admission to all four theme parks –
Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. However, there are block
out dates, but those dates tend to be during busy times and
you may not want to fight the crowds anyway. Block out dates
for 2009 are April 4 through April 17, June 6 through Aug.
13 and Dec. 19 through Jan. 1, 2010. The Florida Resident
Seasonal Pass is $239 for ages 10 and up and $221 for ages 3
to 9.
There is a pass available for
you to experience the magic 365 days a year. The Florida
Resident Annual Pass is available for $369 for ages 10 and
up and $316 for ages 3 to 9. There are no block out dates
with this pass.
The Florida Premium Annual Pass
is available and will get you into all four theme parks year
round, plus both the water parks – Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon
and Disney’s Blizzard Beach – and Disney’s Oak Trail Golf
Course. The Premium Annual Pass costs $479 for ages 10 and
up and $422 for ages 3 to 9.
With the above passes you will
receive the “Mickey Monitor” Passholder newsletter and
special offers on Walt Disney World dining, merchandise,
backstage tours and much more.
If the big parks are not that
important to you, there is an annual pass that will get you
into both of the water parks 356 days a year. You can
purchase your Water Park Annual Pass at any of the two water
park ticket windows for $99.95 for ages 10 and up and $80.50
for ages 3 to 9.
DisneyQuest also offers an
annual pass for $89 for ages 10 and up and $71 for ages 3 to
9. The DisneyQuest Annual Pass can be purchased at the
ticket window near the entrance or by calling 407-939-1289.
All season passes are good for
one year from first day of use. Passes are not good for
special ticket events, such as Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas
Party or Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween.
Upon purchasing you annual pass
proof of residency will be required. You can provide a
Florida driver’s license, Florida state-issued ID card with
Florida address, Florida voter’s registration care with
matching picture ID, a college ID for a Florida college or a
Florida-based military ID.
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Health
Canada recalls Disney lipsticks
National Post - Disney-branded Princess lipstick and lip gloss packs marketed to girls at Dollarama stores across the country were recalled on Monday after Health Canada found excessive levels of lead in the decorative sticker glued on the external cap. In addition to recalling 28,800 units, the importer, Centura Brands Inc. of Mississauga, announced the voluntary withdrawal of another 172,000 units of lip gloss combo packs manufactured by the same supplier as a "precautionary measure." Centura imported the products from China. They were sold exclusively to the discount chain since April 2008. The products, pitched to little girls as young as three, pose a health risk because if ingested by young children, lead can cause adverse health effects, Health Canada said in a statement. Consumers should either remove the decorative plastic Princess stickers from the external cap of the lip gloss and lipstick and throw them out, or throw away the lip gloss and lipstick. The products can also be returned to local Dollarama stores for an exchange or refund. |
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Monday January 26, 2009 |
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Disney/ABC Television Group and ESPN Extend Agreement With
Verizon Tokyo Disneyland holds event to fill 2,000 jobs Disney Is ‘Optimistic’ Over Shanghai Theme Park Negotiations Sailing on the Disney Magic: The day one adventure continues The Disney Magic in Key West: Day two report NACCU coming to Walt Disney World in just six weeks Venice film festival to honor Lasseter, Pixar Bolt DVD and Blu-ray release dates set Mary Poppins 45th Anniversary Edition Disney brings 1990s X-Men to DVD A wish granted: A dream trip to Disney Cramer Recommends Disney on 'Lightning Round' New tricks for Magic Kingdom |
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Disney/ABC Television Group and ESPN Extend Agreement With
Verizon PRNewswire - The Disney/ABC Television Group, ESPN and Verizon announced today that a comprehensive portfolio of news, entertainment and sports video programming, including full-length episodes of shows from ABC Entertainment, ABC News and Disney Channel, as well as content from ESPN, will be available to Verizon Wireless V CAST Video and Mobile Web customers. The agreement covers mobile distribution of on-demand, full-length episodes to V CAST Video, complementing existing short-form content currently available from ABC and ESPN. Full-length programs will include:
Full episodes of these programs will be available on demand on V CAST Video the day following their television premiere. Verizon Wireless customers will now also be able to access and view expanded programming from ESPN, including short news clips and other sports-related content. "We are excited to team with Verizon to bring an even more extensive, comprehensive array of multi-brand, world-class programming to V CAST customers," said Matt Murphy, senior vice president of digital video distribution, Disney and ESPN Media Networks. "As we continue expanding the ways viewers can connect to the content they want and brands they love on the platforms they choose, Verizon has been a true ally. In the past year, we've not only teamed to offer full episodes on wireless, but have also worked together to bring ESPN Deportes to more Verizon FiOS customers, to make popular ABC series available via fast-forward disabled VOD and to launch new iTV applications like ESPN's Fantasy Football." "Mobile customers with active lifestyles like the convenience of watching their favorite TV programs when they are on the go or away from their homes," said Terry Denson, vice president, content strategy and acquisition at Verizon. "We're excited to add so many hit shows from ABC and the Disney Channel to the V CAST Video lineup, providing fresh and familiar favorites that are easy to find for our customers." Customers with select V CAST-enabled phones can check out V CAST whenever they want for just $3.00 for 24-hour use or by signing up for the $15.00 V CAST VPak monthly subscription, which also includes access to Verizon Wireless' ESPN MVP, Get It Now and Mobile Web services. V CAST subscribers get unlimited basic video, but application download fees may apply for 3D games and premium video. There are no airtime or megabyte charges to download, stream or watch V CAST content with any V CAST subscription. As part of this agreement, Verizon customers will also have easy access to a variety of ESPN's and Disney/ABC Television Group's mobile Web sites. For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com. About Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 83.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com/. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia. About Disney/ABC Television Group The Disney/ABC Television Group is home to all of The Walt Disney Company's (NYSE: DIS) worldwide entertainment and news television properties. The Group includes the ABC Television Network (including ABC Daytime, ABC Entertainment and ABC News divisions); the Disney Channels Worldwide global kids' TV business, ABC Family and SOAPnet; as well as television production and syndication divisions ABC Studios, Stage 9 Digital Media, Disney-ABC Domestic Television and Disney-ABC-ESPN Television. The Disney/ABC Television Group also manages the Radio Disney Network, general interest and non-fiction book imprint Hyperion, as well the Company's equity interest in Lifetime Entertainment Services and A&E Television Networks. About ESPN ESPN, Inc. is the world's leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring a portfolio of over 50 multimedia sports assets. The company is comprised of six domestic television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPNU), ESPN and ESPN2 HD simulcast services, ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International (32 networks, syndication, radio, web sites), ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Enterprises, ESPN Zones (sports-themed restaurants), and other growing new businesses including ESPN360.com (Broadband), ESPN Mobile Properties, ESPN on Demand, ESPN Interactive and ESPN PPV. Based in Bristol, Ct., ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN. |
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Tokyo
Disneyland holds event to fill 2,000 jobs
Kyodo News - Oriental Land Co., operator of Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea, held a large-scale interview Sunday to hire 2,000 part-time workers for Japan's most popular and profitable amusement parks. The company is looking for people to fill about 20 different types of jobs, from restaurant workers and guides at attractions to security guards at the Chiba Prefecture venue. There are no age or academic requirements, the company said. With the recession taking an ever wider toll, an unusually diverse range of applicants showed up at the Tokyo International Forum in Chiyoda Ward, the venue of the interview sessions. In addition to students and housewives, middle-aged and elderly men lined up for jobs at the Disney kingdom. "I applied because the company I worked for went bankrupt. I want to give it a try working as a security guard, although I have no experience," a 54-year-old Tokyo man said. |
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Disney Is ‘Optimistic’ Over Shanghai Theme Park Negotiations Bloomberg - Walt Disney & Co. said no agreement has been made yet with Chinese authorities on the opening of a Shanghai theme park, although it was “optimistic” as negotiations continued. An application to build the park was submitted to the relevant government bodies after the Burbank, California-based company had completed a feasibility study, Disney Managing Director for Asia Bill Ernest said today in an interview. “We are optimistic both parties will have an ongoing dialogue,” said Ernest after the launch of Hong Kong Disneyland’s Lunar New Year celebrations. “Yet today even with the application project report, we don’t have a deal yet, and we don’t have anything agreed to yet. We are still waiting.” Walt Disney announced it will build a 24.4 billion yuan ($3.6 billion) theme park in association with the Shanghai government in the city’s Pudong district, its sixth globally, the Apple Daily reported Jan. 17. The 1.5-square-kilometer (0.58 square mile) park may open as early as 2014, the report said. Ernest today declined to give any estimate for the cost of the proposal. “It’s still in so early a stage,” he said. Disney, the world’s largest theme-park operator, stressed it would continue to develop Hong Kong Disneyland. Ernest said visitor numbers at the resort had climbed since posting first- year attendance figures that missed their target. Opened in September 2005, Hong Kong Disneyland had attracted 14.5 million visitors in its first three years, and showed an 8 percent year-on-year gain in the 12 months ended September 2008, said the resort’s managing director, Andrew Kam. Now more than 15 million have visited the park, he said, adding that he expected the growth trend to continue even as the global crisis deepened. Double-digit Growth “Our business continues to go up; right now our business is double-digit growth since our year started in October,” said Ernest. “There is definitely a slowdown in the world and we are aware of that. We are continuing building plans and prepare for that.” Kam reiterated a plan announced Dec. 23 to expand the resort by one-third to help attract visitors. Walt Disney and the city’s government, which owns a 57 percent equity stake in Hong Kong Disneyland, are in talks about funding the expansion, Kam said last month. “Expansion is very important because we probably will reach our full capacity pretty soon, so we hope the expansion could begin sometime soon,” Kam said in a separate interview today, without giving details of timing or capacity levels. Ernest said he hoped the work would begin in the first-half of the year. Ernest said some facilities “unique” to Hong Kong would be included in the new phase, while Kam said a range of exciting products, including fast rides, would be put into the Hong Kong resort as half of the park’s attendants were young adults. Neither Ernest nor Kam would be drawn on costing for the expansion but a Radio Television Hong Kong report on Dec. 22, that cited the park’s managing director, said it would come in at about half that of a HK$7 billion ($903 million) cruise terminal being planned for the city. Kam said the report was speculative. |
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Sailing on the Disney Magic: The day one adventure continues Examiner - Our voyage continues on the Disney Magic as we sail towards Key West. Yesterday we spent the sailaway on the verandah as usual. We're usually in the same stateroom, located on deck 5. We find deck 5 to be the best-kept secret. Many people think that being higher is better, so if they can get a category 11 (inside) stateroom on deck 7 or a category 6 (verandah) on deck 6, that's what they do. We get our verandah on deck 5 aft, where there is very little foot traffic. Unlike the upper decks, which are an endless row of staterooms, decek 5 only has rooms in the forward and aft sections. It's perfect for people who enjoy quiet and want to avoid hallway traffic. As you can see in the upper photo, there is a beautiful ocean view from the verandah. Nothing but a relaxing, vast expanse of blue. You can also see some gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. The only potential downside, if you are a non-smoker, is that private verandahs are one of the few areas where passengers are allowed to light up (the others being the outer parts of decks 4, 9, and 10 on the starboard side). Smokers tend to make frequent use of their verandahs, and it drifts over to their neighbors. We happen to have smokers upwind on this trip, so that's going to cut down our lounging time somewhat. That's not a big deal, as there is so much to do on a Disney cruise. After sailaway, I went to the spa for a cruise kick-off massage, while my husband went to the welcome aboard show, which features entertainers doing comedy, juggling, and ventriloquism. There is a live show almost every nice, featuring either variety acts or a Broadway-style presentation. Tonight is another variety act. After our respective activities, it was time for dinner. Disney Cruise Line does things a bit differently than other cruise lines in that regard. There are three restaurants on the Magic (Lumieres, Parrot Cay, and Animators Palate). Each night you move to a different restaurant, and your serving team follows you. That way, you have familiar servers every night who know that you always drink iced tea or want ketchup on the side or whatever, but you experience multiple dining venues. Our assigned restaurant last night was Parrot Cay, which has a tropical flare. We are on the late dining rotation, which means that we eat at 8 p.m. and see the show first. Those on the early dining rotation eat between 5:30 and 6 p.m., depending on their assigned rotation, and see the show afterwards. Although people with children tend to prefer the earlier seating, we like to eat late because we're always so busy with activities and it keeps us from feeling rushed. After dinner, we thought about going to the adult scavenger hunt and Match Your Mate, an interesting nautical version of The Newlywed Game. But we'd gotten up very early, so we just decided to crash. The first night is always rough for nightlife, but we love the fact that Disney offers adult-exclusive entertainment. After 9 p.m., the nightclub district is for adults only, so you can see a show in Rockin' Bar D, hang out, have a beer and watch sports in Diversions, or listen to relaxing piano music while you sip a martini in Sessions. Cove Cafe, a coffee bar on deck 9, is adults-only too. But this is Disney, so the families are most definitely not neglected. There is a family club, the Promenade Lounge, that features games and singers at various times during the day and evening, and another venue for the youngsters called Studio Sea. The kids clubs are open late, too, so the wee ones are kept busy with activities if Mom and Dad want some alone time. When we returned to the stateroom for bed time, we were greeted with a cute towel swan. Nightly towel animals are just one of the countless special touches that you'll find on the Magic and its sister ship, the Wonder. Next to our swan, you'll notice the Daily Navigator sheet. It's delivered every evening and contains an activity schedule for the following day so you can plan accordingly. My next report on the ship will cover our day in Key West. To learn more about the inner "secrets" of Disney Cruise Line, including how to get a porthole room for the price of in inside stateroom, visit my husband's website at www.castawayclub.com. Disney Cruise Line's official website is www.disneycruise.com. |
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The
Disney Magic in Key West: Day two report Examiner - Day two of our Western Caribbean cruise on the Disney Magic dawned bright and sunny. The ship doesn't dock until noonish, so we booked a brunch in Palo, the adults only restaurant, for 10:30 a.m. Normally brunch is only offered on sea days, but the late docking means that it can be held on Key West day too. Palo's dinners are the equivalent of a high-end land-based restaurant, and the brunch is absolutely exquisite. It has a bit of an Italian flare, which is fitting since that is the restaurant's overall theme. It also has a lot of seafood offerings, although you'll find plenty to enjoy even if you're not a seafood buff. My husband loves the cold shrimp and scallops, but I tend towards the vegetables offerings, like prosciutto wrapped asparagus, sun dried tomatoes, regular tomatoes with buffalo mozzarella, and seasoned mushrooms. There is also an excellent cheese spread, a bread table with a variety of home-baked (or would that be "ship-baked") offerings, and a mouth watering table full of desserts. Because it's a champagne brunch. a glass of bubbly is included. There are also a number of hot items served tableside, including breakfast options like pancakes and eggs Benedict and lunch items like tilapia topped with the best-ever salsa. Although the tilapia was calling my name, I ended up going with the eggs Benedict. I also skipped the desserts because I devoted my sweet tooth to one of the enormous sticky buns. Palo service is always attentive, and brunch is no exception. The meal costs $15 per person, and you definitely get your money's worth. We were well fortified for some walking out in Key West once the ship docked. We watched the docking process, as Palo is located on deck 10 aft with panoramic windows that offer a gorgeous view of the ocean. Since we've been to Key West, we don't bother to book an excursion. It's a great port to just explore on foot, and if you decide to do something organized, you can buy conch train tickets on your own, go to the aquarium or the pirate museum, take a boat ride, or rent jet ski's. We wanted to get some rum cake, and we also noticed a place called the Key West Winery on the map provided by the onboard shopping guide that looked very interesting. We had a lovely stroll, soaking up the warmth and sunshine, before ending up at the winery to taste some vino and select some bottles for purchase. Because we had come in on a Disney ship, we got a discount too. Sweet deal! They had some very odd and intriguing varieties. We saw everything from banana, pineapple, and honey orange wines to one made with jalapenos. If you're not certain of what you'd like, they will let you try a sample. They sell Tortuga rum cakes, too, so we were able to finish all our shopping in one spot. Back on the ship, my husband dropped off our purchases and headed back out to hike the the southernmost point. Meanwhile, I decided to head up to the fitness center to do a treadmill workout. The Disney Magic has a large, well-equipped workout area with plenty of equipment and also some organized classes such as cardi and yoga. I like the fact that you can watch TV on individual screens on the treadmills. After our Palo brunch, I knew I desperately needed to sweat. The evening brought another show (a magic act), followed by yet another meal. Tonight we were in Lumieres, which is themed after Beauty and the Beast, complete with a gorgeous tile mural in the back of the restaurant, depicting the dance scene from the movie. The food has somewhat of a French flair (for example, you can get escargot as one of the appetizers), but there are plenty of options for the non-adventurous too. We had the shrimp starter and tomato basil soup, followed by melt-in-your-mouth tender beef. Uh oh, more fitness center time is going to be needed! Back in our stateroom, a new towel animal was waiting along with the next day's schedule. Tonight it was a gator, wearing my husband's sunglasses. I was ready to call it a night, but my husband went to see "Swing Vote." Because Disney owns so many movies, their onboard theater is well stocked with both first run flicks and relatively new releases. They also have a 3-D system, so you can see movies like "Bolt" in digital 3-D. To learn tips and secrets about Disney Cruise Line from the crazy couple who have sailed over 60 times on the Magic and Wonder, visit my husband's website at www.castawayclub.com. Disney Cruise Line's official website can be found at www.disneycruise.com. |
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NACCU coming to Walt Disney World in just six weeks
CR80 News - Six breakout sessions and a chance to experience the Disney Institute's world-class training are some of the highlights awaiting those attending the 16th annual National Association of Campus Card Users conference March 8-11 at the Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World, Orlando, Fla. The Disney Institute is a leader in different training techniques that cover leadership development, quality service, customer loyalty, organizational creativity and team building. NACCU conference participants who attend all three Disney Institute sessions in March will receive a Disney institute certificate. While the conference officially begins on Sunday, March 8, there is also a three-hour pre-conference session that includes a customized tour of the Disney Institute Workshop. Educational breakout sessions on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, focus on business aspects, marketing, security, technology and innovations. Some of the 43 sessions will cover: Card design 102; Millenials and their helicopter parents; Wireless Networks and Mass Check-In; PCI Compliance; Fitting access control and video into a card program; Contactless Cards on Campus; Finding the Right Financial Services Partner; Selling Your Campus Card to the Community and Merchants; Marketing your campus card through Twitter, MySpace, Flicker or You Tube; and more. The Tuesday awards luncheon will feature presentation of the 2009 NACCU-PERSONA Professional Development Award and the winners of the Best Card Design and Best Marketing Contests. There will also be exhibits and the popular "Sales Pitch Sunday" where attendees can hear from the vendors that support the campus card industry. The complete conference schedule and other details are available at http://www.naccu.org/2009/schedule.htm. |
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Venice
film festival to honor Lasseter, Pixar Reuters - John Lasseter and the directors of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios will receive a career award at this year's Venice film festival for revolutionizing animation cinema, organizers said on Monday. Lasseter and Pixar, which merged with Walt Disney in 2006, are behind animation blockbusters such as "Toy Story," "Finding Nemo," "The Incredibles," "Ratatouille" and more recently "WALL-E," which has been nominated for best animated feature at next month's Academy Awards. Animation cinema has featured prominently at the Venice film showcase in recent years and festival director Marco Mueller is known to be a fan of the genre. Still, this year's choice appears to mark a break from the more independent, mostly live-action directors who received the lifetime achievement award on the Lido. Recent winners include Ermanno Olmi, David Lynch, Tim Burton and Hayao Miyazaki. Organizers said Lasseter, a two-time Oscar winner who is the chief creative officer at Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, was "one of the great innovators and experimenters of Hollywood." The Venice festival this year runs Sept 2-12. |
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Bolt DVD and
Blu-ray release dates set Disney Blog - Disney has announced the release dates for the Bolt DVD and Blu-ray editions. I did say dates because for some reason the Blu-ray edition will arrive two days before the DVD version. Did they have to bake the DVDs longer in the oven? Actually, I think their plan is to get you to buy the Blu-ray now even if you only own a DVD player as that version contains the movie, all the specials of the DVD, a digital file of the movie to watch on your computer, and the Blu-ray edition. In theory, this should get you to buy the Blu-ray player eventually. Personally, I’m still holding out. The Bolt Disney Blu-ray + DVD + Digital File Combo Pack arrives March 22 while the Disney DVD arrives March 24. |
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Mary Poppins 45th Anniversary Edition DVDTown - To tell the truth, I thought I'd see a Blu-ray version of "Mary Poppins" before another anniversary DVD. After all, the handsome two-disc 40th Anniversary Edition came out just five years ago. But from Disney's point of view it probably made sense to release it again, given the streaking popularity of the Broadway and touring version of "Mary Poppins." And so we get this 45th Anniversary Edition, which includes several bonus features that spotlight the stage version. What's fascinating is that Dick Van Dyke, who at the premiere said it was the best picture he was ever in or would be in, declared that "Mary Poppins" would make a great stage play. Everyone disagreed back then, but all these years later he was proven right. What's even more fascinating is to contemplate how a juvenile novel became not just a film for kids, but a property so appealing that adults would plunk down money to see it performed on the big stage. That's because Disney, who spent 20 years trying to get the rights to adapt P. L. Travers' children's book for film, wasn't making a children's movie first and foremost, or even a family film. He was making a big Hollywood musical, as the original marquee-style posters confirmed. Take away the Academy Award-winning songs by Richard and Robert Sherman, and while you still have top-notch performances by Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke there's a void so big that even Poppins' magic can't fill it. If a Broadway show spawns two or three songs so memorable that people sing them it's considered a success. "Mary Poppins" produced five: "A Spoonful of Sugar," "Chim Chim-Cheree," "Feed the Birds" (Disney's personal favorite), "Let's Go Fly a Kite," and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious." And two more--"Jolly Holiday" and "Step in Time"--are catchy enough to stick with you. Just as hard as it is to image this film without the music, it's unthinkable that Julie Andrews wouldn't be Mary Poppins . . . and yet that was almost the case. She hesitated to accept this role--her first film--because she was hoping to land the lead in "My Fair Lady" instead. Audrey Hepburn was chosen for that role, but at the Oscars the next year it was Andrews who won Best Actress over Hepburn, and at the podium she thanked the man who made it all possible: Jack Warner, who turned her down for the role of Eliza Doolittle. I had thought that that clip, which was included on the 40th Anniversary Edition, was one of the highlights of the previous two-disc release. Unfortunately, it's not included here, but most of the other previously released bonus features are. And Disney, who had experimented on the 40th with an enhanced home theater soundtrack, went back to a basic Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround with this release. Those are the major, noticeable differences. As for the film itself, I can't tell any difference between the 40th Anniversary DVD and this one. So if you already own this film, you're probably not going to want to upgrade. And if you don't? Why not??? "Mary Poppins" earned thirteen Academy Award nominations and won for Best Actress, Best Special Visual Effects, Best Film Editing, Best Original Song ("Chim Chim-Cheree"), and Best Original Score. It was a blockbuster film in every sense of the word, producing long lines at the theaters and delighting both critics and audiences. Soon everybody knew about the magical nanny who, like Peter Pan, flew into London circa the early 1900s when children were in need of help. This time it's Jane and Michael Banks (Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber), who have driven off every nanny so far. Their parents (David Tomlinson and Glynis Johns) are a banker and a suffragette so caught up with their own lives that they've left the raising of the children to nannies and housekeepers. It's left to Mary Poppins and her chimneysweep/street artist friend Bert (Dick Van Dyke) to show them how to cut loose and enjoy life--a lesson eventually learned as well by the parents. In his review, John J. Puccio gave "Mary Poppins" a 10, and I'd be inclined to join him if only two segments didn't go on too long. The chimneysweep dance number approaches 15 minutes (which is unheard of today), and a sequence in which Mary, Bert, and the children enter the world of a sidewalk painting feels twice that long. But the magic is still maintained throughout most of this 139-minute classic, and like "The Wizard of Oz" it remains one of the biggest family movies of all-time. The story is timeless, the conflicts and lessons are universal, and Andrews, Van Dyke, and the Sherman brothers wow us in almost every scene. |
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Disney brings 1990s
X-Men to DVD Animation Magazine - The popular 1990s animated TV series X-Men is finally coming to DVD with two volumes set for release April 28 from Disney Home Entertainment. The site TVshowsondvd.com reports the series, which aired from 1992 to 1997 on Fox, is one of the most-requested animated series still awaiting a comprehensive DVD release. Disney acquired the rights to the series, based on the long-running Marvel comic book, in the late 1990s. |
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A wish granted: A dream trip to Disney The Times News - For the next week, 6-year-old Zackary McGowan of Mebane will not have to see a doctor or worry about hospital visits. He will simply be able to be a kid. Thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Zackary and his family will be traveling to Disney World to forget about doctors and pain medication for a little while. The Foundation grants the wishes of children from age 2 1/2 to 17 with life-threatening illnesses. Zackary has neurofibromatosis, a genetically inherited disease causing tumors at the end of every nerve in his body, which affects the growth and development of neural cell tissues. Diagnosed at two months old, Zackary inherited the disease from his father, Scott, who discovered he had the disease when he was 12. With no cure and little treatment, Zackary suffers from an underdeveloped brain, continuous loss of eye sight, headaches, learning disabilities, decaying teeth, memory loss and constant pain. "It feels like a sharp needle jabbing you all the time," Scott said. Zackary deals with the pain by taking Tylenol with codeine. But Zackary is not thinking about the pain right now. All he is thinking about is his dream of meeting Buzz Lightyear. After three years of getting approval from doctors for Zackary to fly on an airplane, he is now getting his wish of going to Disney World through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. "The doctor said it was a good idea because of the severity of his illness," Scott said. The whole family, including Zackary's three siblings, Regina, Emily-Ann and Dominick will be taking the trip. The McGowans will be picked up in a limousine early Monday morning and fly to Orlando, Fla. They will stay at the Give Kids the World Village in Kissimmee. There, they will stay in their own villa, with free access to the parks and rides in Orlando. The trip is completely paid for by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. "I want to go see Buzz Lightyear," Zackary said with a big smile. "I don't want to stay here and play in my backyard." And for the next week, he won't have to. "It's just a wonderful place," Scott said. The McGowan family receives disability money for Scott but not for Zackary. Because Scptt was unable to work when Zackary was born, Zackary cannot receive disability funds. Before the effects of his disease really began to impair him, Scott used to manage four restaurants and Patsy, who can no longer work because she stays at home caring for Scott and Zackary, used to work at a post office. Patsy drives to Durham at least two to three times a week for Scott and Zackary's appointments because Scott is unable to drive. Zackary sees a neurofibromatosis specialist at Duke Children's Hospital. At home, Zackary enjoys basketball and plays on the Mebane Tar Heels team. Even though his mental formation is slower, "he's really good at guarding," Patsy said. Zackary's life expectancy is "unpredictable" according to his doctors. He could live to be an adult or not make it through childhood. The McGowans are optimistic, though. In 2002, Scott was told he only had six more months to live. "I showed them different," he said. He continued, "We try to live on a daily basis; we try to enjoy life as much as possible. Life is so short anyways, we try to enjoy being a family." This includes giving Zackary his wish to visit one of the most magical places a child will ever experience. "We try to make Zackary's life as full as we can," Scott said. "When people tell him he can't do it, we tell him he can." According to Scott and Patsy, donations for Make-A-Wish are very low right now and any contribution to the foundation is appreciated. |
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Cramer
Recommends Disney on 'Lightning Round' Investerms - The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) shares opened higher after CNBC’s Jim Cramer recommended the stock on his Mad Money Lightning Round. The hedge fund manager turned television star believes that the American icon is a buy below $20 with strong management and robust performance. Disney recently decided to merge its ABC Television group to streamline its processes and lower its costs. Meanwhile, a recent $1 billion bond sale, priced at 337.5 basis points over T-Bills, should help shore up capital reserves and calm investor fears. Disney is also trading at very attractive levels with a price-earnings ratio of 9.32x with a dividend yield of 1.65 percent. Meanwhile, the PEG ratio is set at 1.07, which means that the stock is trading in tune with its growth prospects. Finally, the firm has a debt-equity ratio of well under 0.5, which means it is not in any major risk of defaulting on its debt. The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries, is a global entertainment company. The business segments of the Company are Media Networks, Parks and Resorts, Studio Entertainment, and Consumer Products. The Media Networks segment consists of domestic broadcast television network, television production and distribution operations, domestic television stations, cable networks, domestic broadcast radio networks and stations, and Internet and mobile operations. Shares of Disney rose $0.52, or 2.52%, to $21.13 per share in mid-day trading. |
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New tricks for Magic
Kingdom BBC News - Once upon a time the rides in Disney World's Magic Kingdom provided thrills aplenty, promising tales of pirates and the chance to dive 20,000 leagues under the sea. But today's children, weaned on the Wii, Second Life and DVD "Easter eggs", look for more than the roller coasters and jerky automatons that entertained the youth of the 1970s. "The emerging generation expects more immersive, personal and interactive experiences in every facet of their lives," says Bruce Vaughn, chief creative executive of Walt Disney Imagineering. It's a fact Disney had to face when it created its newest attractions for the Florida theme park. To demonstrate how the company is adapting to the era of interactivity I was shown around two new rides: Kim Possible (currently in testing) and Toy Story Mania, which opened last year. Toy Story Mania is basically a giant 3D video game. Riders board a car and are driven through and parked in front of a series of video screens. The task: to shoot objects as they fall or fly out of the screen. The 3D glasses mean objects do seem to come right out at you, and are sometimes accompanied by a fourth dimension: a blast of wind in your face or, in the case of water balloons, riders actually get wet. Take a look. |
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Sunday January 25, 2009 |
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Disney to Cut 600 Jobs Lohan linked to Disney princess role Post Disney Stress Disorder A getaway to the Western Caribbean on the Disney Magic: Day one Moms unite for Disney |
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Disney to Cut 600 Jobs Orlando Business Journal - The Orlando Business Journal is reporting that the Walt Disney Travel Co. - the sales and marketing arm for the theme parks - is seeking to 'buy-out' nearly 600 members of its management team - half of them in Orlando. No specifics were released as to what kind of severance package was offered, but a Disney spokesman stated that this was an effort to avoid 'forced layoffs' within the division. The 300 Orlando jobs being cut are all in 'decision making' positions, according to the article, but none of them are within the theme parks. The job cuts are a result of lower than expected attendance at Disney theme parks and resorts, as well as economic forecasts that suggest the problems will get worse before they get better. |
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Lohan linked to Disney princess role Digital Spy - Lindsay Lohan has been linked to the role of Snow White in a Disney adaptation of the novel The Stepsister Scheme. The Jim Hines story tells of a princess and her two stepsisters and has been described as a fairytale-meets-Charlie's Angels tale. "There is a lot of interest in adapting this book, especially off the back of the huge success of Twilight and Harry Potter," an insider told The Sun. "Talks are already underway, with the likes of Lindsay Lohan, Miley Cyrus and Megan Fox in the reckoning for lead roles." Lohan recently distanced herself from her former partying days, claiming they only lasted six months and that she has "learned her lesson". |
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Post Disney Stress
Disorder Examiner - Friends, writing about Walt Disney World disneyworld.disney.go.com/is a daunting challenge. I don't know if you are aware, but entire guidebooks have been written that do not do the place justice. I am not going to attempt to write a guidebook, at least not yet. If you will indulge me, let's chip away at the edges and see what we find. After enjoying ten years of success with his California Disneyland Magic Kingdom theme park,www.disneyland.com Walt Disney had an idea in the mid-60s for an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT) to be located in the orange groves and swampland of central Florida. This sort of idea was maybe not as novel as it sounds. James Rouse had similar ambitions for central Maryland in what eventually became Columbia. But Rouse at that point had many good years left in his life. Walt did not. After his death it fell to his brother, Roy, to figure out what exactly to do with all of this land (and this tax burden) in Florida his brother had purchased. Roy was always the money man in the partnership, the silent man in the background who would figure out how to implement Walt's crazy ideas. Walt got all the glory, the idea guys always do. I picture them over the years arguing over what now seem like stupid things, and Walt saying, "For crying out loud, Roy, we're arguing over stupid things! Just tell me how we can make it happen!" Now Walt was gone, and the first thing Roy thought was "We need revenue. Let's build a replica Magic Kingdom, so we can at least survive. And we'll reassemble Walt's New York World's Fair attractions in a new park we'll call EPCOT Center" disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/ Roy, Roy, Roy. It is a credit to you that the whole thing did survive, but I wonder how different things might have been had Walt lived a few more years. Walt's scaled-down community of tomorrow did eventually get built, not far from Walt Disney World. It is called Celebration www.celebrationinfo.com/. Have you heard of it? It is an afterthought, rather than THE thought. Sorry, Walt. The whole thing is a mistake! The four theme parks, the dozen resorts, the thousands of people on the payroll, the millions of dollars of infrastructure, the millions of visitors are all an aberration! This was my mindset as I embarked on a week-long family vacation earlier this year at WDW. Some brief observations: You can't walk 3 steps in Fort Wilderness Campground without disturbing a lizard. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney's_Fort_Wilderness_Resort_&_Campground The rides are more fun if you shout "Woo!" at the beginning. Even if the ride is It's Small World. http:disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/attractions/its-a-small-world/ Of all the princesses, Jasmine shows the most skinen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Jasmine The snorkeling at Typhoon Lagoon is not as good as in Aruba en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon_Lagoon We may never see The Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse - It always seems to be closed for maintenance. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Family_Treehouse You can have a great time at the Animal Kingdom Park without actually seeing an animal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney's_Animal_Kingdom The genius of Disney is that all the rides contain, or are contained within, a story. And end in a gift shop Walt Dated World is a an informative, irreverent, great source for all things Disney past. waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/ The Disney Dining Plan is not for the faint of heart. Ditto for the checkout procedures. I may never see Jaws ride or the Spiderman ride - they are not Disney. I am more like Clark Griswold than I ever could have imagined. |
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A getaway to the Western Caribbean on the Disney Magic: Day one Examiner - Normally I write about getaways in the Orlando area, including the theme parks and attractions. For the next week, I'll be adding a series of entries covering a getaway from Orlando. Disney's two ships, the Magic and Wonder, sail out of Port Canaveral, which is an easy hour's drive away from Disney World. I am quite a prolific cruisers, having sailed on Disney's ship 65 times since the Magic set sail in September of 1998.
Hopefully, following my voyage on the Magic for the next week will give you an idea of what to expect. I'll be posted a new part of the report every day, in addition to my regular entries. Because we live close enough to Disney World to hear the Illuminations fireworks every night, we simply drive to the port. Others can take a bus from the airport or Disney World or hire a towncar or limo. We like to arrive early and begin our vacation as early as possible. The port usually opens around 10:30, so we left a little after 9 in case traffic was bad. We hopped 417 to 528, which takes you directly to the port exit. Then you simply follow the signs to the Disney ship. We got there before opening, so we pulled over and watched until they started letting cars in. Then we pulled in, dropped off our luggage, and let the car in the parking lot. Even though we were one of the first drive-ups, it looked like a bus full of people had already arrived. We waited to go through the security check-point, which is similar to what you'd go through at the airport although not as restrictive, then headed upstairs to the check-in counter. That line had already grown, too, although nothing close to what it would become later in the morning. After check-in, everyone had to go to a second line to get their photo taken and tied to their onboard ID card. That's a relatively new procedure that started after our last cruise in December. Disney has a boarding policy similar to Southwest Airlines. When you check in, you receive a number that indicates your boarding group. The earlier you arrive, the lower your number. Boarding typically begins between 11:30 and noon (today it commenced at about 10 mins. to noon). Once your boarding group number is called, you proceed down the gangway and have an embarkation portrait taken. Then you move on into the atrium and your vacation officially begins. After boarding, you begin with the stereotypical cruise ship activity: eating. There is a buffet style luncheon spread in Parrot Cay on deck 3 and upstairs on deck 9 in Topsiders. You'll find edibles like cold shrimp, salad fixings, tilapia, and carved beef, along with a salad station and dessert table. Disney has an adults-only restaurant on both ships that requires reservations. Because these are hard to get online before the cruise, many passengers hurry to get them in person shortly after boarding. Spa appointments are also taken once embarkation begins, as are requests for dining time changes. We had taken care of everything we needed online, so once we were onboard all we had to do was eat and relax. The staterooms are not ready until 1:30, so that means a lot of time to explore the ship if you're a newbie or to hang out on the deck, in the coffee bar, or in a club if you're old hands. You're allowed to bring a day bag on board, so if you back your swim wear, you can enjoy some uncrowded pool or hot tub time. The leisure lasts until safety drill at 4 p.m., followed by sailaway at 5 p.m. This being Disney, leaving the port is cause for a raucous party on deck 9. We usually opt to skip the festivities and watch from our verandah, but it's a fun experience if you've never done it before or haven't been on nearly as many cruises as we have. The upper photo shows the Disney Magic in her berth, waiting for her next set of eager passengers. The lower photo shows the ship model in the terminal. There are also televisions playing cartoons, and Mickey and some of the other characters usually come out for photo ops before boarding. Tune in tomorrow for the rest of Day One and Day Two, as we heard into our first port of Key West. If you'd like to learn more about Disney Cruise Line in the meantime, visit my husband's website at www.castawayclub.com. Official information can be found at www.disneycruise.com. |
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Moms unite for
Disney Gary
Post Tribune - Walt Disney World tugs at Kathryn “Kay” Belin of
Valparaiso.It tugs hard, in fact. Belin has gone to the vacation mecca in Florida almost every year since 1972. “And I’m up to going several times a year right now,” noted the 55-year-old grandmother. “My daughter was married there; my son was engaged there.” With such fervor for all things Mickey Mouse, it seems natural that Belin would find a place on the 2009 Walt Disney World Moms Panel. The retired elementary school teacher was one of 16 parents chosen to be panelists who offer free online advice to those planning Disney World vacations. Belin is the first grandmother named to the panel, which was launched last year with 12 members. No fewer than 10,000 applications were received for the positions. Had the application process not been curtailed at a certain point, the number of submissions would have been much greater, according to a Disney official. For the 2009 panel, “thousands” of applications flooded in from across the country and abroad, according to promotional material. Belin passed what is billed as “an extensive review process” that included a phone interview in order to take her place at the computer and tackle queries that www.disneyworldmoms.com dishes. “Basically, it’s a bank of questions, and we go in and we can answer the questions that we feel we’re best suited for as far as our knowledge goes,” Belin said. “But we also can get personal questions, and the ones I have gotten so far actually have been directed to me by other grandmothers.” There are certain types of assistance commonly sought through the interactive online forum. “I would say the majority of questions are about the resort value packages, and a great number are about the dining opportunities,” the Valpo grandma said. “Dining and package values are probably the majority of our questions right now.” The family-entertainment giant said Belin was picked for its panel because of her “knowledge of Disney, coupled with her many visits and unique tips for navigating the parks.” The Walt Disney World Moms Panel was convened to provide “insider tips” for vacationers pondering the massive acreage that presents endless options. “I think people are now really coming to realize that planning a trip to Walt Disney World is kind of like going to Europe,” said Laura Spencer, social media manager for Walt Disney World. “I think for a lot of people it’s just very overwhelming — the complex is so huge.” Making trip planning seem like a workout, Spencer points to “the effort and the mental energy that you need to put into it.” Providing reinforcements is the Walt Disney World Moms Panel, which actually includes one Hoosier dad from downstate Carmel. “They can submit their question to just the general panel or to a particular mom,” Spencer said. “It’s regular people just like they are,” Spencer said. Belin is a panelist who’s a Disney-vacation addict just like hordes of other Americans. Her infatuation began when she was attending the University of Miami at the time of the 1971 opening of Disney World, which would make Orlando wildly popular as a getaway destination. “I love Disney World ’cause it’s one place that you can go with all different ages: You can go with an infant and a grandparent on the same trip,” Belin said. “It’s the one place that I really can leave everything behind. There is a bit of magic there for me.” To get on the “Moms” panel, Belin applied online. She answered a series of questions gauging awareness of, and passion for, Disney-related diversions. Corporately speaking, the Hoosier woman was the kind of “park-savvy” parent being sought — someone with the “undying passion to share their Disney World knowledge with others.” Whether she’s fielding questions about the best attractions for a tot at Magic Kingdom or which Disney eateries best suit, Belin is a wife, mom and grandma who’s in her element as a “Disney Moms” panelist. “I love doing it, and that’s really the impetus behind it,” she said. |
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Theme
Park Rangers - Disney's Year of a Million Dreams wrapped up with
the end of 2008, but the prizes continue to roll through. For
instance, Wednesday morning, a prizewinner from Disneyland was
treated to a (tethered) hot-air balloon ride above the Magic
Kingdom. The 80-foot-tall vessel, of course, represents
Spaceship Earth, the icon of Epcot. 
Walt
Disney Studios Home Entertainment - Practically perfect in every
way, the world's most famous nanny touches down on rooftops
everywhere when Mary Poppins: The 45th Anniversary Edition
arrives on new 2-disc Special Edition DVD January 27, 2009 from
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. Dazzling animation,
groundbreaking special effects and award-winning music earned
Mary Poppins five Academy Awards, including Best Actress and
Best Song. 
If
you're an Orlando native, you might want to take advantage of
the awesome Florida resident rates that Disney Cruise Line
offers for many of its sailings. If you're a tourist, you may
want to add a cruise onto your Orlando vacation. Just like
Disney World, Universal, and many of the other Orlando area
hotels, Disney Cruise Line is offering some fantastic deals.
People who sail on specified dates (ours included) can take a
3-night cruise for $99 later in the year. Granted, you have to
book it in the off peak season but the prices makes it well
worth the risk of cold or hurricanes.