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Saturday
March 14, 2009 |
Buccaneers officially moving training camp from Disney
'Mary Poppins' in Chicago: Which Poppins will land in the Loop?
Downtown Disney, Disney resorts and the water parks
On
the run with Witch Mountain's AnnaSophia Robb
The stroller debate |
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Buccaneers officially moving training camp from Disney
Orlando Sentinel - Central Florida no longer can claim a summer
NFL team.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made it official Friday, announcing the
club will stage its 2009 training camp at team headquarters
rather than return to Disney's Wide World of Sports for an
eighth straight season.
The move, first reported Thursday night by the
Sentinel, will allow the franchise to open its spectacular
33-acre training complex — completed in 2006 at a cost of around
$35 million — to the public for two-a-day workouts in July and
August.
"The Buccaneers organization is excited to bring training camp
home to Tampa in 2009," Vice President of Business
Administration Brian Ford said in a news release. "Our goal is
to provide access to our fans here in Tampa during our
preparation for the season while further utilizing our
world-class facility.
"The Buccaneers would also like to thank Disney's Wide World of
Sports and the Celebration Hotel for their tremendous support
and assistance over the past seven years."
Ford was unavailable to comment on what sort of impact the Bucs
leaving Orange County after those seven popular years might have
on the team's Central Florida fan base. Team spokesman Jeff
Kamis said the market would remain a prominent focus of the
organization.
"The decision to move our training camp will not affect our
dedication to our fans in this region," he said.
Ken Potrock, senior vice president of Disney Sports Enterprises,
choose to remark on the "mutually beneficial" relationship the
Bucs and WWS enjoyed since 2002 when new Coach Jon Gruden took
the franchise to Disney for the first time and went on to win
the Super Bowl that season.
"We wish them the best of luck and will continue to engage with
them on other sports opportunities," Potrock said.
The farewells from the luxurious Celebration Hotel, the team's
camp quarters, were equally magnanimous and even extended an
invitation to be the Bucs' "home away from home again" in the
future.
"Our team has provided the Buccaneers team with an ambience and
experience that is unique among NFL training camps," Celebration
Hotel General Manager Grant Bannen said. "Many of us will be
Buccaneers fans whatever the circumstances."
The Bucs drew more than 130,000 fans to their free workouts at
Wide World of Sports. Prior to 2002, the Bucs practiced at the
University of Tampa for 15 years and at old One Buc Place before
that.
The team said it is in the process of working with the City of
Tampa to request a change in the current development approval to
allow practices at the 136,000-square foot "One Buc Palace" to
be open to the public.
An amendment for that approval will have to go before the city,
but officials don't expect any problems going forward.
Tampa Bay's headquarters is located about a quarter-mile east of
Raymond James Stadium.
Tampa Bay will have to find hotel rooms for their 90-some
prospects this summer, but the biggest chore facing Bucs
officials will be finding ways to move fans in and out of the
premises. |
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'Mary Poppins' in Chicago: Which Poppins will land in the Loop?
Chicago Tribune - Mary Poppins" in
Chicago stars Gavin Lee and Ashley Brown of the original
Broadway production. The show
opens March 25 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph
St.; $30-$90 at 312-902-1400 and
broadwayinchicago.com.
As child-care icons go, there’s no bluer chip name than Mary
Poppins, the original flying supernanny and, as one of the new
lyrics in her stage musical puts it, “practically perfect in
every way.”
But mention her name around modern-day working parents, and
you get a complicated reaction. Often, eyes light up but then
quickly look down. Ever since an aptly enigmatic writer called
Pamela Lyndon Travers dreamed her up in winter 1933, the
culturally embedded Mary Poppins has been both a beloved and a
terrifying figure.
Perhaps she and her vulnerable charges—Michael and Jane
Banks—call to mind the times we were left alone in the dark.
Maybe it’s that intimidating 1964 film performance by Julie
Andrews, wherein the incomparable English actress created a
character at once stern and loving, emotionally available and
distant, and with a competency in child-rearing beyond mortal
reach.
Or maybe it’s just the nanny paradox that many toiling
parents (and their children’s caregivers) know intimately but
rarely articulate. Every parent wants a nanny or a baby-sitter
with the skills and child-friendly charms of Mary Poppins. But
no parent wants to be replaced in their children’s hearts. It is
a delicate balance for all parties. At Chicago’s Cadillac Palace
Theatre over the next few months, where there’s now a nanny’s
name on the marquee, you’ll surely see thousands of parents
delighted to introduce their kids to Practically Perfect Mary,
but secretly glad she’s confined to the stage.
Until she starts to fly above their heads. Figuratively and
literally. For Mary is a complicated woman, as reflected by the
story of her long flight to Chicago.
In 2005, The New Yorker published a riveting account by Caitlin
Flanagan of how much Travers hated the Disney movie and
regretted handing Walt Disney the rights. Flanagan’s story
begins with Travers sitting at the Disney premiere, weeping.
In essence, Flanagan claimed, Travers thought Walt Disney had
cheapened her complicated heroine with animation, flattened the
Banks parents (whom Travers had based on her own family) and
generally “Disneyfied” the whole enterprise with chirpy
specialty songs by the Sherman Brothers
(“Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” “Chim Chim Cher-ee”).
As Flanagan told the story, Travers fumed for years (albeit
while cashing checks) before finally selling the theatrical
rights in 1994 to the English producer Cameron Mackintosh,
hoping that he’d make a show that reflected the quirky
ambivalence of her original books, as distinct from the
jolliness of the movie.
Mackintosh made the show—it opened in London in 2004, arrived
on Broadway in 2006 and opens its first national tour in Chicago
on March 25 (it is currently in previews). But he did so in
partnership with Disney. How could he not? Who’d want to see
“Mary Poppins” now without “A Spoonful of Sugar”? Mackintosh,
who was in Chicago last week for the opening of the first U.S.
national tour of his trans-Atlantic baby, sees the history a
little differently.
“For someone who claimed not to like that movie,” Mackintosh
said of Travers, very much a self-invented personality who died
in 1996, “she went back to see it regularly enough. ... [I]
think she had a bit of a tunnel vision in terms of what she
wanted, and she was as tough as old boots.”
But the enigmatic Mackintosh was the most successful English
producer of his generation and a major U.K. celebrity. Although
elderly, Travers kept in touch with the newspapers. She knew who
Mackintosh was. The two hit it off. But she had an all-important
question.
“She wanted to find out,” Mackintosh said, “whether I wanted
to do a show based on the books.”
He told her he did—and he asked her a lot of questions based
on his knowledge of the books. But he said something else too.
“I also told her,” Mackintosh said, “that my love of your
stories has been inflamed by those marvelous songs.”
Whether Travers had come to agree or merely to be resigned to
cultural realities, the all-important contract did not exclude a
partnership with Disney. Disney hadn’t bothered to snag the
stage rights before making the movie—making the then-common
assumption that they weren’t worth much money, anyway.
Ironically, it was Mackintosh who changed that reality, thanks
to the financial success of his productions of “Cats,” “The
Phantom of the Opera” and “Les Miserables.” By the early 1990s,
Disney—which was making its own forays into theater with “Beauty
and the Beast”—became very interested in the theatrical rights.
Once Thomas Schumacher, an imaginative, hard-driving
producer, took over at Disney Theatricals, the project went on a
fast track. Julian Fellowes (“Gosford Park”) was hired to
freshen the book. New songs were penned by George Styles and
Anthony Drewe, who had already written spec numbers for
Mackintosh. It was decided that the show would open in London,
that the Sherman brothers’ famous numbers would be retained and
that there would have to be some changes in the narrative of the
movie.
Firstly, Mrs. Banks’ career as a suffragette (a feature of
the movie, but not the books) was nixed. She was given a new
number, in which she ruminates on her identity as a wife and
mother. The big songs—“Super,” “Chim Chim”—were throwaways in
the movie but turned into huge production numbers in the show.
And there were adjustments in tone. “Mary Poppins” became a
more explicit teacher, helping the Banks parents learn, well,
how to be better parents. “In the film,” says Fellowes, “Mary
Poppins arrives to solve the problems of a family who hasn’t got
any. We wanted a family with real problems.”
And thus by the end of the show, Mr. Banks isn’t spending
quite so much time at the bank anymore—a choice that the current
economic crisis has helped validate. And thus Schumacher and
Mackintosh—two titans in theatrical producing—entered an unusual
but clearly successful partnership that continues with the
Chicago opening of the touring “Poppins.” Schumacher insulated
the outspoken Mackintosh from too many dealings with the studio
suits (“Something,” said Mackintosh, “that Tom quickly realized
I would not be very good at”), and Mackintosh brought to the
table his commitment to Travers and to re-establishing Poppins
as a member more of the twisted Roald Dahl school of quirky
English literature than the Disney stereotype.
That said, Schumacher insists (as he has frequently) that the
stereotype of Disney as dispenser of one-dimensional family
entertainment has always been inaccurate. “Look at
‘Pinocchio,’” Schumacher said, citing one of many examples at
his fingertips. “Completely terrifying. Children were scared out
of their head.”
When the stage “Poppins” opened in London in 2005, the result
was a show laudably rich in thematic complexity and shaded with
many different moods. For audience members with rosy views of
“Poppins” drawn from partial memories of the movie, all of this
ambivalence came as a bit of a shock. Clearly, the show was not
intended for young children, but for those at least 8 years old.
And although most reviews were very favorable, there was a
pervasive view that the show was a little dark, even for adults.
Indeed it was. But in all probability, it would still not have
been dark enough for Travers.
By the time the show got to Broadway, with Disney in the
stateside driving seat, the colors had been brightened and the
tone lightened a tad. But Schumacher says no attempt was made to
change the main aesthetic palette or to diminish complexity.
“Mary Poppins” has been Disney’ s biggest success since “The
Lion King.”
Although it features the original Broadway stars in Ashley
Brown and Gavin Lee, the show opening at the Cadillac Palace is
very much a new production, which has been rehearsed entirely in
Chicago. A few weeks ago, the cast could be seen going through
its paces at Germania Place on Chicago’s North Side, with Brown
demonstrating the same glints of “Poppins” steeliness that won
over audiences in New York. And over the last few weeks, the
original creative team has been coming in and out of Chicago,
putting the show together.
The work is more intense because the physical Broadway
production, which was designed by Bob Crowley, was not designed
to tour. For one thing, there’s a colossal house in the middle
of the stage. For another, an entire interior rises from the
basement. None of that would be viable on the road.
So the U.S. tour, with point-of-origin Chicago, is based on a
pre-existing concept used for the U.K. tour, featuring a
redesigned Crowley house that opens up, pop-up style, and that
moves with a lot more flexibility. But everyone knew that
Poppins would still have to fly. And fly she does.
Her path will lead to most of America’s major cities,
reintroducing this strange and wonderful nanny to a whole new
generation with ever-growing reasons to be nervous of the world.
Schumacher can wax lyrical about Poppins’ broad appeal—he’s a
producer in a tough time; he has to have a show that sells—but
he also understands the anxiousness that has always been at the
core of “Mary Poppins,” the nanny we never want to leave. “It is
a show that asks, ‘Should I spend all my time at work and ignore
my children?’” Schumacher says. " “Every parent worries about
child care."” |
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Downtown Disney, Disney resorts and the water parks
Examiner - When planning your Walt Disney World vacation make
sure to leave time to not only enjoy the Disney resort you are
staying at, but to also visit Downtown Disney or one of the two
water parks. There is so much more to do than spend your entire
vacation going from theme park to theme park.
Many resorts offer recreational activities, including crafts
and games, an experience that goes far beyond the pool. Check
with your resort's front desk for a list and times of
recreational activities offered during your stay.
Splash and play in a water area made just for kids at
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park. Kids can take part in more
than 10 water activities in Ketchakiddee Creek, the specially
designed aquatic area for kids. Height requirement: Guests must
meet a height requirement, which cannot exceed 48 inches. Sorry
big kids, this is for the little ones.
Just for the little ones, Tike's Peak is designed to give
kids a wintry time at Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park. In the
middle of the kid's aquatic play area is a snow-castle fountain
with pop-out jets that kids run through, splash in and laugh the
day away. Height requirement: Guests must meet a height
requirement, which cannot exceed 48 inches. Sorry big kids, this
is for the little ones.
At Downtown Disney kids can catch a ride on a train or
merry-go-round located in the Marketplace. Both rides are
located near the Disney's Pin Traders and cost only a few
dollars per ride.
Kids can build their own race car and test it out on a
downhill track at the LEGO Imagination Center. Kids can also
check out life size LEGO creations, including the Loch Ness
Monster, an alien ship and a touring family.
The newest and popular thing to do at Downtown Disney is stop
in and have lunch or dinner at T-REX: A Prehistoric Family
Adventure. Inside you will see every dinosaur imaginable and
even build one of your own to take home at the Build-A-Dino
Workshop.
Kids love to explore, so while on vacation let them see what
your Disney World resort has to offer, spend some time (and
money) at Downtown Disney, then splish and splash at one of the
two Disney water parks. |
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On the
run with Witch Mountain's AnnaSophia Robb
Houston Chronicle - AnnaSophia Robb has had many roles in her
short film career — working with animals (Because
of Winn-Dixie); or Tim Burton (Charlie
and the Chocolate Factory), playing a girl abandoned by
her mom (Sleepwalking);
or maybe the child of Satan (The
Reaping).
But none posed more challenges than her role in Disney’s
Race to Witch
Mountain , which opened Friday. She plays Sara, a girl
with paranormal powers on the run from baddies.
The mere act
of keeping a straight face when she did her lines in the film
might have been the hardest.
Robb discussed
her latest movie, as well as her acting career with Chronicle
Classroom student Katherine Freedman. Robb reflected on her time
on the set, working with actors such as Dwayne Johnson and on
the difficulties of balancing her acting career with school.
Q: How did
it feel playing alongside “The Rock?”
A:
Dwayne was amazing to work with — he is such a professional. He
shows up to work and he’s prepared and he’s just a really great
actor. He was so much fun to work with. We’re really family, on
set and off.
Q: You’re
used to playing in more serious movies, how did it feel — this
being your first action movie?
A: It
was so much fun. It’s really interesting with action movies
because we had a ton of special effects in our movie and there
were only two cameras rolling the whole time — one was for
dialogue with the actors and the other one was for effects. When
the two of them are together it creates this action-packed movie
and it’s interesting because it’s different from what I remember
filming.
Q: I know
that you had to keep repeating Jack Bruno, over and over again —
how funny or irritating was that?
A: I
got used to it. When I first read the script, I was like, “This
is kind of awkward.” I had to get used to it. And then all of a
sudden, it just ended up being natural.
Q: What kind
of challenges did this movie present for you?
A: I
think some of the hardest parts was creating characters, because
no one really knows what an alien is like — so trying to create
that and make it feel real and authentic. Also, working with a
blue screen was difficult, doing the stunts and having to
imagine everything. It was difficult to balance school and work.
I would get pulled off set to go to school and then in the
middle of a test, I’d have to run back to set. It was crazy!
Q: What was
your favorite part of the movie?
A: I
think some of the most fun scenes to do were when the whole cast
was together — when we were filming the U.F.O. expo, that was a
great time because there was so much to look at and the whole
cast was there.
Q: What was
your least-favorite part?
A: I
loved filming every day. I love to act. And we had such a great
crew and cast. Andy Fickman, the director, was hilarious to work
with, so every day was so much fun. Some of the more difficult
scenes were when we were all filming in the taxicab because it
was on blue screen and we spent about 48 hours filming, which is
a long time to sit in a cab! So it can get kind of tedious and
long. Keeping the energy up is kind of difficult.
Q: How long
have you been acting?
A: I
have been acting since I was nine — so for six years.
Q: How did
you get your first break?
A:
Well, my very first show that I got, and I was so excited, was a
McDonald’s commercial. And I freaked out when I got the call
that I got the part. The first real movie that I filmed was
Because of
Winn-Dixie.
Q: What has
been your favorite movie to co-star in? How did it compare to
Race
to Witch Mountain?
A: I’ve
had such a great time on every shoot. I feel so fortunate,
because everybody I work with, it ends up becoming such a
family.
Race to Witch
Mountain is probably on my top three list of movies
that I’ve filmed. I had such a great time. Alexander and I — he
plays my brother in the film — he’s like my best friend; and
Andy Fickman, the director, was so brilliant and hilarious — and
Dwayne was amazing to work with as well.
Charlie and
the Chocolate Factory was amazing as well. Every
movie is so different because you have different people working
on it with you. You have different energy, different locations.
It all varies — the energy of each movie is so separate.
Q: So what’s
next for AnnaSophia?
A:
Nothing is set in stone right now, but the movie is about to
come out. I’m busy with school. I go to a regular public school.
So I’m just focusing on school right now. |
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The stroller debate
Examiner - When visiting Walt Disney World with kids you already
have plenty to worry about between planning, packing and keeping
track of the kids during your travels. Then you have to make
sure there is room for your stroller. If flying into Orlando
International Airport you will have to check it. If you are
driving to Florida you will need to make sure there is room in
your car after loading your luggage. Also, if you bring your own
stroller with you, there is the hassle of taking it on and off
the busses and trams.
So the planning question is: Do you take your stroller with
from home or rent one of Disney's strollers? That can be a touch
question to answer, but here are a few suggestions that might
help you with your decision.
First of all, if your child is less than two years old,
definitely bring your own stroller. At that age they will be
more comfortable and secure in their own stroller. The strollers
available at the Walt Disney World Theme Parks are not padded
and little ones who cannot sit up on their own do not get the
support your stroller can give them.
I suggest renting one for any children over the age of two
years old, because they will be able to sit up in one of the
Disney strollers. If they nap, bring a blanket to give them some
cushion for their head.
Renting a stroller from Walt Disney World also eliminates the
hassle of packing and unpacking it. Opening and closing it. It
is one less thing that you will have to worry about while on
vacation.
You can rent a stroller at the entrance of any of the four
Disney Theme Parks. They are available on a first come first
serve basis, but I have yet to see them run out. The cost of
renting a stroller is $15 per day for a single-passenger
stroller and $31 per day for a double-passenger stroller.
If you will be visiting the Disney World Theme Parks for
multiple days, there is a discount if you purchase the stroller
rental for your entire stay at one time. Price when purchasing
multiple days is $13 for per day single-passenger strollers and
$27 per day for double-passenger strollers.
Just a suggestion, if you can afford it get the
double-passenger stroller, it will give your little one more
room when it comes to napping. But if watching your Disney
spending a single-passenger stroller will give them comfort
room, they will just lie back instead of lying across the two
seat at nap time.
Should you choose to park hop, keep your rental ticket from
the first park you visited and take it to the next park. This
will eliminate you having to re-pay for your stroller rental.
Strollers can be rented at the following locations: Magic
Kingdom Park at the Stroller Shop just inside the main entrance.
Epcot in the east side of the Entrance Plaza and at the
International Gateway.
Disney's Hollywood Studios at Oscar's Super Service just
inside the main entrance.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park at Garden Gate Gifts near
the entrance to the park.
Downtown Disney at the Wonderful World of Memories in the
Marketplace and at DisneyQuest Emporium in the West Side. No
double-passenger strollers are available at Downtown Disney and
there is a $100 credit card deposit required at the Downtown
Disney location only.
Hopefully this helps you decide whether or not to pack a
stroller for your Walt Disney World vacation. |
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Friday
March 13, 2009 |
Race to Witch Mountain
Knightley Not a Pirate
Disney remake comes up
short
"South Park:" The
Mouse Attacks
Bucs
Moving Training Camp From Disney To Tampa
Conservative Columnist Claims Witnesses to Disney CEO F-Bomb
First Look:
Pixar’s Partly Cloudy
Disney World’s knee high sites: Epcot Theme Park
Disney World’s knee high sites: Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Jonas Brothers Add Tween Apparel To Their Budding Empire |
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Race to Witch Mountain
The New York Times - I took my daughter, who recently turned 10,
to see "Race to Witch Mountain." Yes, this is one of those
Dad-goes-to-the-movies reviews, but surely you didn't think I
was going to see it alone. When the movie was over, as my own
impressions buzzed distractingly around in my head, I asked her
what she thought. "It was O.K.," she said. "It was pretty noisy,
though."
Really, what more can I add? And also, what else did she
expect? When I was around her age, there was "Escape to
Witch Mountain," which starred Donald Pleasance, Eddie
Albert and Ray Milland; it was based on a popular kiddie-sci-fi
novel by Alexander Key and was followed a few years later by
"Return From Witch Mountain," with, of all people, Bette
Davis and Christopher Lee.
As I recall, they were O.K., but in those days Disney
live-action juvenile pictures had less competition and
were thus less compelled to be loud and dazzling. They
were, in fact, kind of strange and spooky. This one,
which stars Dwayne Johnson as Jack Bruno, a Las Vegas
taxi driver who becomes the unwitting protector of two
towheaded aliens, is modest and diverting, rough and
bland, with some good (if not quite Bette Davis caliber)
actors and so-so special effects.
Mr. Johnson belongs in the latter category, though
his range improves with every role and his natural,
lapidary charisma takes him a long way. He is best
when he expresses an agitated annoyance amusingly at
odds with his solid, muscular presence. He doesn't
really have much to do in "Race to Witch Mountain"
(which was directed with reasonable competence by
Andy Fickman) — throw some punches, react with
incredulity and, well, race to Witch Mountain — but
it's not painful to watch him do it.
Nor to see Carla Gugino pretend to be an
astrophysicist whose research is ignored until
it's almost too late, or Ciaran Hinds scowl and
bark as a government heavy intent on hunting
down the cute little extraterrestrials. They are
Seth (Alexander Ludwig) and Sara (AnnaSophia
Robb) and, like many others of their kind, their
English is impeccable, though they are unable to
use contractions or slang, or to refer to people
by first names alone.
Their powers are impressive =E 2 Sara can
read Jack's mind and also talk to dogs; Seth
can reach through metal and create force
fields — but erratic enough that they need
Jack to smack around their pursuers. These
include not only the terrestrial government
heavy but also his counterpart from Seth and
Sarah's home planet, an assassin with a mask
and plated armor.
Jack also has some hoodlums on his tail,
apparently because the movie needed a
few more black S.U.V.'s driven by guys
with shaved heads. It benefits more from
the half-clever, sort of obvious conceit
of staging a big action set piece in the
middle of a science fiction convention
full of costumed fans and geeks.
Such folks will not find much to
groove on in "Race to Witch
Mountain" — the threat of Earth's
destruction or colonization is so
perfunctory that it doesn't rise to
the level of allegory — but it will
amuse some of their young
counterparts until summertime.
Provided they don't mind the noise.
"Race to Witch Mountain" is
rated PG (Parental guidance
suggested). It has some rough
action sequences.
RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN
Opens on Friday
nationwide.
Directed by Andy
Fickman; written by
Matt Lopez and Mark
Bomback, based on
the screen story by
Mr. Lopez and the
book by Alexander
Key; director of
photography, Greg
Gardiner; edited by
David Rennie; music
by Trevor Rabin;
production designer,
David J. Bomba;
produced by Andrew
Gunn; released by
Walt Disney
Pictures. Running
time: 1 hour 39=2
0minutes.
WITH: Dwayne
Johnson (Jack
Bruno),
AnnaSophia Robb
(Sara),
Alexander Ludwig
(Seth), Carla
Gugino (Dr. Alex
Friedman),
Ciaran Hinds
(Burke), Tom
Everett Scott
(Matheson),
Christopher
Marquette
(Pope), Cheech
Marin (Eddie)
and Garry
Marshall (Dr.
Donald Harlan).
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Knightley Not a
Pirate
IGN - Keira
Knightley has
ruled herself
out of the next
Pirates of
the Caribbean
film.
She told
moviefone: "It
was a completely
fantastic
experience, and
it was an
amazingly large
portion of my
life, but I
don't think I
need to go there
again."
She went on: "I
think that it's
done. But I'm
very excited to
see the next
one. And [Johnny
Depp as Jack
Sparrow] is so
wonderful in
that character.
I think it'll be
wonderful. "
It's been
rumored for some
time that Disney
might cut
Orlando Bloom's
and Keira
Knightley's
characters from
the fourth
installment of
the Pirates
franchise, but
this is the
clearest
indication for a
while that
Elizabeth Swann
will not be
involved.
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Disney remake
comes up short
Philadelphia
Inquirer -
In the
overlooked
Disney film from
1975, Escape
to Witch
Mountain, a
pair of
imperiled
orphans are
rescued by Eddie
Albert. In the
new Race to
Witch Mountain,
the kids on the
run are aided by
Dwayne Johnson,
a.k.a. The Rock.
So this loosely
linked remake
has at least
supersized the
hero. In most
other regards,
Race to Witch
Mountain is
a diminishment
of the original.
The film doesn't
really have a
plot. It's more
of a premise,
cartoonishly
executed.
A spaceship
crashes in the
Nevada desert,
discharging Sara
and Seth (AnnaSophia
Robb and
Alexander
Ludwig), two
eerie, very
blond,
anthropomorphic
teen aliens.
They randomly
recruit Jack
Bruno (Johnson),
a reformed felon
now driving a
cab in Las
Vegas, to
transport them
on an urgent
mission, the
significance of
which is . . .
well, if it were
important I'm
sure it would
have been
explained.
Communication is
initially
stilted. ("The
vehicles behind
us are
indicating a
pattern of
pursuit," drones
Sara.) But Jack
quickly comes to
love these kooky
little
extraterrestrials.
The "race" in
the title is apt
since the movie
is one long
chase with Jack
and his pale
faces,
conveniently
joined by an
astrophysicist
(Carla Gugino),
on the lam from
a grim
government
operative (Ciaran
Hinds) and a
fully armored
space assassin
who looks like
the Predator
without the
dreds.
Also in the
lumpy mix are
Cheech Marin as
a mechanic and
Garry Marshall
as the world's
first Borscht
Belt conspiracy
theorist.
Kim Richards and
Iake Eissimann,
who played the
orphans Tina and
Tony in the
original film
and its 1978
sequel,
Return From
Witch Mountain,
also have cameos
(although back
in the day, the
young actor went
by the Anglicize
d name Ike
Eisenmann).
Curiously,
despite
Johnson's
imposing
physique, it's
the kids who do
most of the
smashing and
grabbing, right
up until the
climax, when
it's
all-hands-on-neck.
The big guy is
there mostly to
provide the
punchlines.
("Don't go in
the pimped-out
refrigerator,
Jack," he warns
himself,
standing in
front of a
disguised
portal.)
He certainly
wasn't recruited
for his romantic
flair. He and
Gugino have all
the chemistry of
oil and water.
There's an
extended gag
about the flaky
attendees at a
UFO convention,
which seems both
anemic and
stale,
especially
considering that
the film's
director, Andy
Fickman, is a
native of
Roswell, N.M.
The action
sequences are
murky and the
special effects
passable at
best. Fickman
should consider
giving Spielberg
residuals
because he
throws in a
little E.T.
and a whole lot
of Close
Encounters of
the Third Kind.
But the result
resembles a
breezy episode
of Power
Rangers.
That may sit
just fine with
young
moviegoers, but
the lobby is
likely to be
full of parents
working cell
phones,
returning urgent
calls, the
significance of
which are, well.
. . .
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 "South
Park:" The Mouse
Attacks
Newsday -
Just catching up
now to
Wednesday's
"South
Park" premiere.
The Jonas
Brothers. Purity
rings.=2 0Kenny.
His girlfriend.
Ohhhh boy.
"SP" has a way
of catching
one's attention,
and this one is
a full-frontal
assault on
Disney, the
Disney Channel,
Mickey
M-O-U-S-E.
Am I
missing anyone?
Here's the clip.
There are a
couple of bad
words here - for
that I apologize
- but this is
what your kids
are
watching....Me
too.
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Bucs Moving
Training Camp
From Disney To
Tampa
Orlando Sentinel -
The radical
changes going on
with the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers
will include a
new training
camp venue.
No more Disney
World, Bucs
fans.
The new-look
Bucs, led by
Coach Raheem
Morris, will
shift training
camp to their
$36 million team
headquarters
this summer,
according to NFL
sources, leaving
their luxury
accommodations
at the
Celebration
Hotel and
facilities
Disney's Wide
World of Sports
for the first
time in eight
years.
An official
announcement
could come as
early as Friday.
The team's
three-year-old
headquarters,
located about a
quarter-mile
east of Raymond
James Stadium,
has plenty of
adjacent space,
thanks to empty
site that once
was home to the
Tampa Bay Mall.
Parking won't be
a problem.
But details on
how the Bucs
will be able
move and seat
the hundreds of
fans that attend
training
two-a-day camp
workouts will be
hammered out
over the next
few months. Team
officials also
will have to
find a nearby
hotel to house
players.
After years of
staging camp at
the University
of Tampa, the
Bucs moved to
Disney in 2002
upon the arrival
of Coach Jon
Gruden, who
preferred
sequestering his
team during
preseason
preparations.
Gruden, along
with General
Manager Bruce
Allen, was fired
in January.
Given the down
economy, the
Glazer family
ownership
figured to weigh
the pros and
cons of paying
for out-of-town
facilities
against holding
camp at the
headquarters
that opened in
2006 and stands
as one of the
finest in the
NFL.
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Conservative
Columnist Claims
Witnesses to
Disney CEO
F-Bomb
AOL News
Newsbloggers - I
reported,
Wednesday, on a
claim by
conservative
columnist Tom
Borelli that
Disney CEO
Robert Iger had
cursed him out
at the company's
annual
shareholder's
meeting.
I contacted a
Disney
spokesman, who
gave a different
account.
Borelli's
foundation put
out a press
release
yesterday that
included my
reporting, and
refuting
Disney's account
of the event.
Borelli has his
own witnesses:
The following
are statements
from Tom
Borelli, Deneen
Borelli (Tom's
wife and fellow
of Project 21,
who was
present), and
Steve Milloy
(co-director
with Tom Borelli
of the Free
Enterprise
Action Fund,
which Tom was
representing at
the stockholder
meeting, and
also of the
National Center
for Public
Policy
Research's Free
Enterprise
Project, who was
listening to the
live audio
webcast of the
stockholder
meeting as it
took place) :
Here's the
thing, neither
of Borelli's
witnesses heard
Iger curse at
Borelli. Milloy
wasn't even
there, but
describes
listening to the
webcast. Here
are excerpts of
what they said:
Mrs. Borelli:
Tom completed
his proposal.
While returning
to his seat, he
extended his
hand to Mr. Iger.
Mr. Iger did not
shake Tom's
hand. Then, Tom
had a surprised
look on his face
and immediately
went back to the
podium and
repeated what
Mr. Iger told
Tom.
Steve Milloy:I
was listening to
the live audio
webcast. Tom
completed his
presentation.
There was a
short pause;
then I heard
Tom's voice. It
sounded like he
was near to the
microphone, not
at the
microphone. He
said, 'He just
told me to go f-
myself,' or
something like
that.
So, Borelli's
witnesses
witnessed
Borelli claiming
that Iger cursed
at him. Milloy
brings up the
gap in the
audio, but it's
not surprising
that they would
cut out
Borelli's
explicitly
quoted claim.
This is not to
say that Borelli
is lying, but at
best, it is "He
said, he said."
What's
undeniably true
is that Borelli
and Disney
executives don't
see eye to eye.
Whether Iger
actually uttered
an expletive, he
clearly has no
fondness for
Borelli.
At issue was
Borelli's claim.
that Iger has
refused to sell
the rights to
the ABC
miniseries "The
Path to 9/11"
for personal
political
reasons. Disney
asserts that
they think the
film is "a
loser" in the
DVD market, and
says they are
open to offers
for rights to
the film.
Borelli's
allegations, and
Disney's
response, can be
seen on page 77
of Disney's 2009
proxy report.
The film was
also the subject
of an emotional
confrontation at
this year's CPAC
gathering
between
filmmaker John
Ziegler and
journalist Max
Blumenthal.
Ziegler's last
film, "Blocking
The Path to
9/11," deals
with some of
Borelli's
claims.
According to
Friedland,
Borelli is
well-known to
them, having
pressed the
point repeatedly
at shareholder
meetings.
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/Film - Pixar
has sent us the
official plot
synopsis for
Pixar’s next
short film,
Partly Cloudy,
the directorial
debut of
storyboard
artist and
animator Peter
Sohn (he also
provided the
voice of Emile
in
Ratatouille).
Also, AWN has
gotten their
hands on the
first official
photo from the
short, which can
be seen above.
And I must say,
it looks quite
beautiful.
Direc ted by
Peter Sohn,
Produced by
Kevin Reher.
“Everyone knows
that the stork
delivers babies,
but where do the
storks get the
babies from? The
answer lies up
in the
stratosphere,
where cloud
people sculpt
babies from
clouds and bring
them to life.
Gus, a lonely
and insecure
grey cloud, is a
master at
creating
“dangerous”
babies.
Crocodiles,
porcupines, rams
and more–Gus’s
beloved
creations are
works of art,
but more than a
handful for his
loyal delivery
stork partner,
Peck. As Gus’s
creations become
more and more
rambunctious,
Peck’s job gets
harder and
harder. How will
Peck manage to
handle both his
hazardous cargo
and his friend’s
fiery
temperament?”
Partly Cloudy
will release
with Up on May
29th, 2009.
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Disney World’s
knee high sites:
Epcot Theme Park
Examiner - The
Epcot Theme Park
will take you on
a journey into
the future
through
interactive
experiences you
or your kids
will never
forget. Many of
the hands on
interactions are
geared to kids a
little bit
older, but there
is still plenty
to do at Epcot
with kids ages 0
through 5.
Future World
You do not want
to miss
Spaceship Earth,
especially if
you have not
been on it since
they refurbished
the entire ride.
It is a slow
moving ride
through the
history of
communication,
which also has
an interactive
technology area
at the end of
the ride. Though
the ride may not
be overly
interesting to
kids, the lights
and sounds will
keep their
senses active as
the try to
absorb all they
see and hear.
Stop by and play
in the
underworld
experience
offered on The
Seas with Nemo
and Friends
ride. See a
diverse
selection of
ocean life as
you take a
journey with
Nemo, Crush,
Marlin, Dory and
others from the
drop off to the
EAC and back
home. After the
ride check out
the rest of the
pavilion, which
has plenty for
the kids to see
and do. Stop by
and have a
Turtle Talk with
Crush as he asks
the humans in
the human tank
what life is
like beyond the
sea. There is a
KidCot Fun Stop,
an aquarium
nursery and
Bruce’s Sub
House play area
kids get an up
close look at
shark life.
If someone in
your party is
daring enough to
hop on Mission
Space there is
something inside
for the kids to
do while you
wait. Go in
through the gift
shop and walk
through to where
the ride exits
and you will
find a small
play area near
the exit.
World Showcase
There is not
much to do in
the World
Showcase besides
eating and
enjoying the
cultures of
other countries.
There are some
hidden treasures
that kids of all
ages love. In
Norway, there is
a Viking ship
that kids can
play on and past
Germany there is
a running train
set that kids
can run back and
forth as the
trains drive
around the set.
Take a ride in
Mexico on the
Gran Fiesta Tour
Starring the
Three
Caballeros. It
is a boat ride
that will take
you and your
little one into
the culture of
Mexico.
I suggest, if
you can, split
Epcot into two
days, one for
each part. This
will help
prevent the kids
from getting
overtired and
cranky. On the
day you enjoy
the World
Showcase grab
dinner and a
seat for
Illuminations:
Reflections of
Earth. This is a
must-see during
your Walt Disney
World vacation.
Epcot is a large
park, so take
your time and
let your kids be
kids. It will
make for plenty
of wonderful
vacation
memories.
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Disney World’s
knee high sites:
Disney’s
Hollywood
Studios
Examiner -
Instead of just
watching the
movies, become
part of the
movies, as you
step foot
through the
front gate of
Disney’s
Hollywood
Studios. Many
instantly think
of
Rock ‘N’ Roller
Coaster
or Tower
of Terror when
someone talks
about going to
Disney’s
Hollywood
Studios. There
is so much more
there to enjoy
besides the two
popular thrill
rides,
especially for
little ones ages
0 through 5.
Let’s take a
look and see
what Disney’s
Hollywood
Studios has to
offer the
littlest of
visitors.
-
Romance is still
alive at The
Beauty and the
Beast – Live on
Stage show
located down
Sunset
Boulevard. This
is a great show
to see with the
little ones
while the bigger
kids are
enjoying the
thrills rides
located in the
same area of the
park.
-
Run, climb and
slide at Honey,
I Shrunk the
Kids Movie Set
Adventure
located down the
Streets of
America.
-
Watch Indiana
Jones save the
day at the
Indiana Jones
Epic Stunt
Spectacular
located by Echo
Lake.
Caution: The
loud sounds
produced during
this show may be
startling to
some little
ones.
-
Join Kermit the
Frog and friends
down by the
Streets of Ameri
ca and watch
Muppet*Vision
3-D.
-
Sing, dance and
jump for joy as
you take part in
Playhouse Disney
– Live on Stage!
Located in the
Animation
Courtyard.
-
Watch Ariel in
the Voyage of
the Little
Mermaid, also
located in the
Animation
Courtyard.
-
Be a part of a
carnival game
and shoot your
way to victory
on Toy Story
Mania at Pixar
Place.
-
Before leaving
the park check
out Block Party
Bash parade,
check the park’s
information
board for times.
Best seats, I
have found to be
near the
American Idol
Experience
attraction.
Though Disney’s
Hollywood
Studios has
things for the
bigger kids to
enjoy, there is
plenty for the
little ones to
do that I am
sure you will
enjoy. I wear
out faster than
the kids do at
the Honey, I
Shrunk the Kids
Movie Set
Adventure, you
cannot help but
turn into a kid
in there.
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Jonas
Brothers Add
Tween
Apparel To
Their
Budding
Empire
Mediapost -
As grim as
the outlook
for the teen
concept-store
concept may
be, the
Jonas
Brothers -
Kevin, Joe
and Nick --
are looking
to make a
hit with a
fashion
brand for
tween girls,
Julee Kaplan
reports. The
apparel
collection,
called
Jonas, will
follow the
launch of
the Disney
Channel's
highly
anticipated
"Jonas" TV
show in May.
The Jonas
Brothers
franchise
will include
a full
sportswear
line for
tweens at
mass
retailers
such as
Wal-Mart,
Kmart, Sears
and JC
Penney. Each
store will
have
exclusive
products on
their
floors,
according to
Pamela
Lifford, evp,
global
fashion &
home at
Disney
Consumer
Products.
"A Jonas
Brothers
clothing
line is a
really great
idea," says
Jane
Buckingham,
president of
the
Intelligence
Group, a
market
research
firm. "These
days it's
all about
lifestyle
and
celebrity --
girls
especially
want to see
the stars
they love in
all
different
aspects... .
The Jonas
Brothers are
a lifestyle,
not just a
boy band."
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Thursday
March 12, 2009 |
'Chihuahua' top dog
in video sales
Mickey's Not so Scary Halloween and Very Merry Christmas Party
Dates Up
TrenD Press Release
S&P gives 'A' rating to Walt Disney's proposed $500 million
global notes due 2019
Attending Media Giant Disney's Annual Shareholder Meeting
Disney Donates Vehicle to Police Athletic League of Central
Florida
No
line, no wait at Downtown Disney's AMC Theaters
Hispanic Newspaper Honors Disney Cast Member with Lifetime
Achievement Award
Disneyland Paris tickets with Flybe flights
For Disney's US parks, will 2009/10 be better than 2002/03?
50 Disney
theme parks execs take buyouts
No line, no wait
at Downtown Disney's AMC Theaters
Did Cat Cora let the cat out of the bag about her new restaurant
at WDW?
Greystripe raises additional $5.5 million in venture capital |
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'Chihuahua' top dog in video sales
Hollywood Reporter - It was a duel between the family comedy
"Beverly Hills Chihuahua" and the romantic melodrama "Australia"
in the home entertainment arena last week, and the result was a
split decision.
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment's "Chihuahua," released
to DVD and Blu-ray Disc after grossing $94.5 million in
theaters, captured the top spot on the national home video sales
chart for the week ending March 8.
But 20th Century Fox's "Australia" took the No. 1 slot on Home
Media Magazine's rental chart, with "Chihuahua" a close second,
generating about 83% as much rental activity as the canine
comedy.
"Australia," the Baz Luhrmann-helmed epic that's his follow-up
to 2001's "Moulin Rouge," finished second on the Nielsen
VideoScan First Alert sales chart. The film grossed $49.5
million at the boxoffice.
These two films accounted for the lion's share of sales and
rentals for the week.
The week's No. 3 seller was Disney's "High School Musical 3:
Senior Year," which debuted at No. 1 three weeks ago.
Interest in all things "Watchmen" sent Warner's cartoon
compilation "Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic" to a
respectable No. 9 bow on the First Alert sales chart. A total of
29% of the title's sales were on the Blu-ray Disc format.
On Nielsen Videoscan's Blu-ray Disc sales chart for the week,
"Watchmen" debuted at No. 4, just behind Warner's "The Dark
Knight," still a solid seller in the high-definition format even
though it's been in stores for more than three months.
"Australia" was the top Blu-ray Disc seller for the week, while
"Beverly Hills Chihuahua" was No. 2. |
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Mickey's Not so Scary Halloween and Very Merry Christmas Party
Dates Up
Disney News - The 2009 Dates for Mickey's Not so Scary Halloween
Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party are now available
online. All Dates and Entertainment Times subject to change.
Tickets go on Sale May 1st.
MNSSHP 2009 Dates
September: 4, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29, 2009
October: 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29,
31, 2009
Tickets go on sale May 1, 2009
Hours: 7:00 p.m. – midnight, Parade at 8:15 and 10:30, Fireworks
at 9:30
MVMCP 2009 Dates
November: 10, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 29, 2009
December: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 2009
Tickets go on sale May 1, 2009
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TrenD Press
Release
Disney News - A stylish boutique with designer flair and
eclectic offerings becomes a premier shopping spot at
Downtown Disney Marketplace with the March opening of TrenD.
The urban-inspired Walt Disney World specialty store is a
one-of-a-kind, hip destination for fashion-conscious
shoppers seeking trendy apparel and novel accessories.
“This unique environment, filled with textured fabrics,
new silhouettes, and whimsical art and design allows us the
opportunity to push the creative envelope as it relates to
fashion and our characters,” said Mark Perrotta, director of
Product Development and Design. “Our guests continue to
respond to trend merchandise and novel products that they
can’t purchase at home. TrenD speaks to what is happening
today with a blend of vintage and hip with stylized Disney
influences.”
Offerings include organic loungewear, embroidered
handbags, jeweled sunglasses and trendy accessories set
among stylish art and unique furnishings. The eclectic
environment offers a raw and unfinished feel with jeweled
chandeliers, distinct fixtures and mod furnishings.
Much of the merchandise will not be available anywhere
else at Downtown Disney. Designers such as Kidada Jones,
Tarina Tarantino and Roxy will showcase their artistry –
blending it with Disney-inspired creations.
“With its exclusive product lines and new environment, we
think TrenD will complement the existing merchandise
offerings at Downtown Disney,” said Perrotta.
TrenD is in a 2,500-square-foot venue near Pin Traders
and Once Upon A Toy. The space previously was used by Summer
Sands.
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S&P gives 'A' rating to Walt Disney's proposed $500 million
global notes due 2019
AP - Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said Thursday that it
gave an A rating to Walt Disney Co.'s proposed $500 million
global notes due 2019.
The ratings
agency said the rating was assigned due
to Disney's premier creative franchises,
extensive media distribution,
conservative capital structure and good
discretionary cash flow.Disney's also
has an A, or investment grade, long-term
corporate credit rating. Its outlook is
negative.
S&P said it was concerned that the
family entertainment company's earnings
may continue to suffer into fiscal 2010
partly on lowered consumer confidence,
the consumer spending pullback and the
stronger dollar.
Last month Disney reported a 32
percent decline in its first-quarter
profit due to challenging economic
conditions.
Shares of Walt Disney rose 60 cents,
or 3.6 percent, to $17.19 in afternoon
trading. The stock has traded from
$15.14 to $35.02 over the past 52 weeks.
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Attending Media Giant Disney's Annual Shareholder Meeting
Seeking Alpha - The Walt Disney Company (DIS) had its
annual shareholder meeting in Oakland at the Paramount
Theater. Refreshments were minimal--tea, no-name coffee, and
O.J. were available, but no pastries or other food items.
Mickey and Pluto roamed the halls and signed autographs upon
request. More Disney characters appeared after the meeting
was over. Security was tight--rent-a-cop guards were
everywhere.
The Chairman of the Board, John Pepper, started the meeting.
He mentioned Disney's very-timely Pixar acquisition and
Disney's #1 ranking (among entertainment companies) in
Fortune magazine's most admired
companies. After a short speech, he introduced the Board of
Directors. Steve Jobs, Disney's largest individual
shareholder and a director, was not present.
Next, Disney treated shareholders to an upbeat video
presentation that highlighted its diverse product lines.
Most people associate Disney with classic films like
Cinderella, as well as theme parks and Mickey Mouse, but
Disney is really a media company. It derives most of its net
revenue from advertising. As a result, Disney has its hands
in music (Jonas Brothers), cable (Disney Channel), broadcast
(ABC), sports (ESPN), and almost every form of media
imaginable. Showing shareholders a short video of Disney's
products reminded shareholders that their company was a
force to be reckoned with.
After the short video presentation, CEO Robert Iger
introduced, for the first time, a trailer for the film,
Up, a comedy about a 78-year-old
curmudgeon and an 8-year-old boy scout who travel together
on an unexpected adventure. Disney then presented an
unfinished scene from an upcoming film,
The Princess and the Frog. Both sneak previews received
vigorous rounds of applause from the audience and can be
found on the Internet / Youtube.
After the video presentations, CEO Iger emphasized Disney's
commitment to social responsibility. He mentioned Disney's
focus on environmental conservation; reducing the influence
of cigarettes in the media; and accommodating disabled
guests (note: a sign language interpreter was present at the
meeting).
The much-hyped "Are You 23?" turned out to be an official
online community for Disney fans. See this
this
link for more information. The "23" refers to the date
Disney was founded, i.e., 1923. After all the build-up, I
was a little disappointed. I expected more than another
vehicle for Disney to stay in touch with their fans.
CEO Iger then turned the meeting over to Chairman Pepper,
who introduced and countered various shareholder proposals.
All shareholder proposals opposed by Disney failed to pass.
There was some controversy relating to the non-DVD-release
and non-distribution of the film, The
Path to 9/11. For more information, readers can check
out the film, Blocking the Path to 9/11:
The Anatomy of Smear. One audience member, who
self-identified himself as "independent," made comments that
supported Disney's refusal to distribute
The Path to 9/11. His comments seemed to be
well-researched but rehearsed, almost to the point where he
seemed like a Disney plant.
Several shareholders lambasted CEO Iger's compensation
package. One shareholder was unhappy with the Board's
oversight on executive compensation, saying that after
Enron, Lehman Brothers (LEHMQ.PK),AIG, and Bear Stearns (BSC),
"The days of 'Just trust us' are over."
AFSCME, an association of government employees, asked Disney
to eliminate "golden coffins," i.e., where guaranteed
benefits are triggered by an executive's death. AFME's
representative pointed out the obvious: "golden coffin"
compensation arrangements lack a "pay for performance"
connection. There was some irony in having an organization
of public employees demand that the private sector rein in
unreasonable benefits. After all, public employee pensions
are a major source of concern because of incorrect or
unreasonable actuarial projections.
After the shareholder proposals were discussed and voted
upon, Disney moved on to the Q&A session. No question really
stood out except for one shareholder mentioning that Disney
ought to protect itself in case Steve Jobs was unable to
vote his numerous shares in the future. Various shareholders
also asked Disney to continue its direct stock purchase plan
to facilitate gifts to their grandchildren.
After the meeting, both CEO Iger and Chairman Pepper spoke
with shareholders who did not have a chance to ask questions
publicly. This willingness to talk to all shareholders is a
welcome change from the norm. Generally speaking, after most
shareholder meetings, directors and executives flee outside,
flanked by investor relations personnel. This practice is
disturbing, because small shareholders can only meet
corporate executives at annual shareholder meetings, and
companies know this. Thus, a company's willingness to
communicate with small shareholders at the annual
shareholder meeting is a small but important test of its
culture and humility. One day a year is not much to ask from
corporate boards and executives. Disney seemed to understand
this basic idea. Kudos to Chairman Pepper for setting the
tone.
After the meeting, I shook Chairman Pepper's hand and was
very impressed with the way he ran the meeting. He
personifies confidence, tact, and professionalism. CEO Iger
also answered all questions competently and seems to have a
firm grasp of the company's business. I overheard various
shareholders saying privately that CEO Iger seemed more
uptight than Chairman Pepper. After the meeting,
shareholders were given a gold-colored D23 pin to
commemorate the official launch of Disney's online
community.
With its diverse line of businesses, Disney appears poised
to rebound once the economy improves. I wish the company
would try harder to appeal to adults, especially men, in
their 20s and 30s. Outside of ESPN, Disney seems to be
ignoring the adult male consumer. For example, it did not
get the "March Madness" media contract and seems to be
focusing exclusively on children, parents, grandparents, and
teenage girls. That's an impressive customer base, but it
seems strange to have a major media company ignore younger
adults, who are a large segment of the national and
international population.
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Disney Donates Vehicle to Police Athletic League of Central
Florida
 Disney
News - As a part of Disney’s long-standing relationship with
the Central Florida Police Athletic League (PAL), Walt
Disney World representatives presented Taneka Mallory, the
executive director of Central Florida PAL, with keys to an
eight-passenger van recently retired from the company’s
vehicle fleet.
The new set of wheels will be
used to transport program participants to various events and
activities, such as trips to the museum, intramural
basketball competitions, tennis lessons and tutoring
sessions.
“The vehicle donated by Walt
Disney World Resort is a tremendous help to our much needed
transportation issues,” said Mallory. “Thanks to
this generous gift, we can continue to expose our youth to
various activities around Central Florida.”
Started in 1976, the Central
Florida Police Athletic League continues to foster
self-respect and respect of the law by engaging youth in
sports and educational activities. They provide athletic,
educational and recreational opportunities through several
programs for youth between the ages of 5 through 18.
“We're happy to donate this
van to Central Florida PAL which will allow them to continue
their work by providing meaningful opportunities for youth
in our community," said Mark Pulley, Walt Disney World
Community Relations program manager.
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I met up with friends last weekend to go to a movie at
Downtown Disney. We agreed to meet there grudgingly as it
was halfway between our homes, but we feared long lines, it
being a Friday night. I got there about 20 minutes before
my friends, ready to get in line early and get tickets for
us all, but I didn't need to. The queue on the Virgin
Megastore side of the theaters (I guess in the future to be
called the Bongos side of the theaters) never held more than
5 or 6 people. On a Friday night. Around 7:30 p.m.
We were shocked, thinking that with the clubs gone, more
people might be going to the movies for entertainment. But
maybe it's the opposite. We used to catch an early flick and
then head to PI later, so maybe people are bypassing
Downtown Disney altogether?
Or maybe people just didn't care about "Watchmen" as much
as expected?
Whatever the reason, my group is thinking we won't be so
skittish about planning movie dates there in the future.
And, Disney annual-pass holders, remember you get a
discount on admission so bring your pass along. |
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 Hispanic
Newspaper Honors Disney Cast Member with Lifetime Achievement
Award
Disney News - During the Outstanding Hispanic Women in
Central Florida Awards Luncheon, presented by La Prensa,
Cuban-born Cast Member Betty Martinez Lowery was recognized as
one of the strongest activists for Hispanics in Central Florida.
She was presented with the
Lifetime Achievement and Excellence Award for her advocacy in
the community – from serving on the board of the Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce to making history with the Hispanic
Scholarship Fund, raising a record $100,000.
Her role as manager of Minority
Business Development at Walt Disney World Resort has also
afforded Betty the opportunity to make great strides in
multicultural communities across the U.S. “A rising tide floats
all boats, and I am committed to making Central Florida a great
community – not just for some of us, but for all of us,” Betty
said. |
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Disneyland
Paris tickets with Flybe flights
Cheapflights - Flybe is offering free tickets to Disneyland
Paris with all online flight bookings to the French capital.
Passengers who go online and book a flight to Charles de
Gaulle Airport before June 26 will be offered a free adult
one-day Hopper Ticket to the popular theme park.
Travellers can also get 15 per cent off any additional one or
two-day hopper tickets when they book. Flybe has seven routes to
the Parisian airport for holidaymakers to choose from and
flights are available from £29.99 one-way.
The free adult Disneyland Paris tickets, which are worth up
to £40, will be allocated to the passenger who is named first on
the flight booking confirmation.
Flybe's director of marketing, Simon Lilley, said that the
airline is hoping to lift passengers' spirits during the
economic downturn.
He commented: "This new promotion has been designed to enable
our customers to continue to plan a magical holiday or short
breakaway despite the current economic gloom." |
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For Disney's US parks, will 2009/10 be better than 2002/03?
Orlando Sentinel - For Walt Disney World and Disneyland, 2009
and 2010 may not be quite as bad as the two years following
Sept. 11, 2001 – at least according to one ratings service.
Fitch Ratings, which assigned an “A” grade to a new $500
million note offering from the Walt Disney Co., estimates
that Disney’s domestic parks will perform “slightly better”
during the current recession than they did in 2002 and 2003.
Fitch says Disney’s four-for-seven hotel offer should
help soften the impact of the downturn. While the promotion
will mean lower hotel-room revenue for the parks – and
hotels account for about 20 percent of Disney’s domestic
parks’ sales – Fitch says it “should result in less severe
downturns for the remaining 80 percent of domestic segment
revenue (admissions, food, beverage, merchandise, etc.).” |
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50 Disney
theme parks execs take buyouts
Orlando Business Journal - Walt Disney Co. announced that about
50 executives in the company's theme park division accepted
buyouts as part of a workforce reduction plan announced in
January.
The company, which is coping with decreased travel this year,
offered buyouts to about 600 executives, half of them working at
Walt Disney World.
The company said the effort to reduce its work force is
continuing. It didn't say how many of the 50 parks and resorts
division executives who accepted buyouts worked at Walt Disney
World. |
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No
line, no wait at Downtown Disney's AMC Theaters
Theme Park Rangers -
Is it a sign of the economy, a reflection on the de-clubbed
Pleasure Island, or a reflection on the current crop of movies?
I met up with friends last weekend to go to a movie at Downtown
Disney. We agreed to meet there grudgingly as it was halfway
between our homes, but we feared long lines, it being a Friday
night.
I got there about 20 minutes before my friends, ready to get
in line early and get tickets for us all, but I didn't need to.
The queue on the Virgin Megastore side of the theaters (I guess
in the future to be called the Bongos side of the theaters)
never held more than 5 or 6 people. On a Friday night. Around
7:30 p.m.
We were shocked, thinking that with the clubs gone, more
people might be going to the movies for entertainment. But maybe
it's the opposite. We used to catch an early flick and then head
to PI later, so maybe people are bypassing Downtown Disney
altogether?
Or maybe people just didn't care about "Watchmen" as much as
expected?
Whatever the reason, my group is thinking we won't be so
skittish about planning movie dates there in the future.
And, Disney annual-pass holders, remember you get a discount
on admission so bring your pass along. |
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Did Cat Cora let the cat out of the bag about her new restaurant
at WDW? Disney Blog
- A couple days ago, a food blogger at the Orlando Sentinel
commented on how Iron Chef Cat Cora, who sometimes is a
celebrity chef for Walt Disney World, had mentioned on her blog
that she and her partner were both pregnant with boys.
Then today, the same blogger had a post
that revealed some more interesting details. Here’s a quote from
a cache of the article:
Just got off the phone with Iron Chef, Supermom Cat Cora. She’s
working with Walt Disney World on a new signature restaurant
concept for the theme park. Expect it to have the energetic,
fresh, family-friendly vibe Cora is known for. I wouldn’t be
surprised if the menu reflects her Greek and Mississippi roots.
But if you go and look for that article on the Orlando
Sentinel now it’s gone. Did Cat Cora let the cat out of the bag
too soon, or did the blogger reveal some information given to
her on background?
Either way, it’s an interesting idea to have a celebrity chef
open another restaurant at Walt Disney World. There are a few
over at Downtown Disney and the Swan & Dolphin, but so far, none
in Disney’s parks or resorts.
Cora will be at the Florida Film Festival later this month.
Anyone going who can ask her what’s going on? |
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Greystripe raises additional $5.5 million in venture capital
CNET - Greystripe announced Wednesday it raised $5.5 million in
a third round of venture capital funding as it seeks to gain
traction for its ad-supported mobile game advertising network.
Incubic Venture capital led the round, which included
additional existing investors Monitor Ventures and Walt Disney
Co.-backed Steamboat Ventures.
Greystripe has raised a total of $15.6 million to date, last
raising a second round of $8.9 million in May 2007 and a $1.2
million first round in October 2006. The company declined to
discuss whether its latest round was at a higher or lower
valuation.
The start-up has developed technology designed to allow
advertising agencies to click on a mobile option to extend their
existing online advertising campaigns beyond computer screens or
TV. Greystripe aims to take flash advertisement and extend it
beyond its online format to a mobile format. Flash
advertisements have predominantly appeared online, rather than
on mobile devices.
Michael Chang, Greystripe chief executive, said in a
statement:
For too long the mobile advertising world has built a silo
approach to their business.
Those days are over. It's time to join the online advertising
world and bring new value in terms of reach, targeting and
interactivity.
Among the smartphones that Greystripe works with, it delivers
rich media flash ads on Apple's iPhone. |
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Wednesday
March 11, 2009 |
Disney moves up
'Princess' release
That's Just Dumb,
Disney
ESPN
magazine taps people gone fishin'
KB Home and Disney Bring Imagination to Life with All-New Disney
Dream Rooms
HK Disneyland 'Buy 2, Get 1 Free' offer from Cathay Pacific
Disney's New Racing Video Game at Core of Big Bet
The Walt Disney Company Executives to Discuss Fiscal Second
Quarter 2009 Financial Results
UEFA drops ESPN for Fox as Champions League broadcaster in Latin
America
Walt Disney World Resort Releases 2008 Community Report
Johnny Depp and Golden Coffins At Disney's Shareholder Meeting
Broken engagement is ratings gold for ABC on `The Bachelor'
Disney Institute to
offer program
Disney shareholders vote down two compensation proposals
D23 Unveiled at Last
'Witch
Mountain' pays homage to predecessor |
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Disney
moves up 'Princess' release
Variety - Disney has moved up the
nationwide release of "The Princess and the Frog" from Christmas
Day to Dec. 11.
Studio also announced that "Princess," a traditional animated
musical set in New Orleans, will open exclusively in New York
and Los Angeles on Nov. 25.
In its old date, "Princess" would have gone up against 20th
Century Fox's holiday family tent pole "Alvin and the Chipmunks:
The Squeakuel."
"Princess" has far more breathing room with a Dec. 11
opening. So far, the only other film scheduled to debut that
weekend is Peter Jackson's "The Lovely Bones," from DreamWorks
and Paramount.
The Mouse House will use the L.A. and Gotham runs to build
word of mouth, taking advantage of the Thanksgiving holiday. |
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That's Just Dumb, Disney
Motley Fool - I'm a huge fan of all things
Disney
(NYSE: DIS), but I find myself
shaking my head at the family entertainment giant's launch of
D23 yesterday.Billed as the "first official community of
Disney fans," D23 will offer members a quarterly publication, a
Disney collectable gift, and discounts on special events,
including the D23 Expo coming to Anaheim this September. One of
the perks -- access to the D23 site, which features daily news
and merchandise offers -- is available to non-members.
The catch, of course, is that the annual membership is priced
at an economically insensitive $74.99. Unless that includes
massive Disney Store and in-park deals, even die-hard,
pin-trading Disney junkies are likely to balk at shelling out
such a big a chunk of change for a "suitable for framing"
certificate, a membership card, a tchotchke, and a glossy
newsletter.
A bibbity bobbity blooper
Disney fans are so passionate about the company that they've
already created free, lively online outlets. Even on Facebook,
nearly 1.7 million fans congregate on the Disney fan page.
D23 should have probably been launched as an ambitious -- and
free -- social networking site for Disneyphiles. That would have
been a marketer's dream audience. Since it seems D23 members
will be hit with a lot of opportunities to buy Disney
merchandise, why not aim at as large an audience as possible?
Instead, in this hard-knocks economy, Disney is asking folks to
pay to receive glorified marketing material. Fat chance.
When CEO Bob Iger proposed a DVD rental club with an online
streaming component earlier this month, the plan seemed
plausible enough, given the premium competition in video
services. But what's the competition for the $75 that Disney
wants from D23 members?
- Amazon.com (Nasdaq:
AMZN) charges $79 for Prime, giving members a year's
worth of free two-day shipping on all Amazon-stocked
merchandise.
- Microsoft's (Nasdaq:
MSFT) Xbox Live offers a free Silver subscription,
but diehard gamers pay $50 for a year of Gold, offering a
year's worth of interactive gaming and streaming media
goodies.
- Netflix (Nasdaq:
NFLX) charges $8.99 a month -- or $107.88 a year --
for its cheapest DVD rental program, which offers unlimited
online streaming.
- Sirius XM Radio (Nasdaq:
SIRI) offers a family-filtered XM satellite radio
subscription for just $11.99 a month, or $143.88 a year.
- Six Flags (NYSE:
SIX) will set you back just $59.99 for an annual
pass, good at all of the chain's amusement parks.
Disney won't concede any of this, naturally. It would likely
argue that its diehard fans will have no problem paying up for
exclusive membership.
I think otherwise. By this time next year, I'd be shocked if
the club is around in its present form. It'll be either
dramatically enhanced to give Disney fanatics more bang for
their Goofy bucks, or it will morph into either a much cheaper
-- if not free -- program. |
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ESPN magazine
taps people gone fishin'
Reuters - ESPN has stumbled onto a niche
that seems to be thriving despite the
recession -- people who literally have
gone fishing.
The Walt Disney Co owned sports network
(DIS.N)
said on Wednesday that it had added 44
percent more pages than planned to an
insert in its Bassmaster Magazine aimed
at saltwater fishermen because of
advertiser demand.
From product expos at bass pro shops to
the Bassmaster Classic fishing
competition, companies that supply
equipment and boats for bass enthusiasts
are seeing greater interest, said James
Hall, editor of Bassmaster Magazine and
the supplement, ESPN Outdoors Saltwater
magazine.
"It's pretty remarkable. Everywhere we
turn we are hearing it," Hall said. "If
you don't have to go to work, what
better thing is there to do than go bass
fishing?"
Hall said that because of the interest
in the saltwater supplement, ESPN was
considering publishing it quarterly
instead of annually.
This is the first time the magazine has
published this supplement, which will be
sent to half of Bassmaster's 500,000
subscribers this year. ESPN would not
say how much advertising revenue it had
earned through it.
Hall said he received more than 18,000
requests for an online edition, which
will be available on March 17.
People who read Bassmaster are generally
middle-aged men who can afford boats,
large vehicles to tow them, and an
average of 20 rod and reel combinations
that can go for $500 apiece, Hall said.
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KB Home and Disney Bring Imagination to Life with All-New
Disney Dream Rooms
BusinessWire - KB Home (NYSE:KBH), one of the nation’s
largest homebuilders, and Disney Consumer Products have
launched a new series of imaginative Disney-themed bedroom
designs, exclusively available to KB Home homebuyers. The
Disney Dream Rooms enable buyers to create a
personalized bedroom inspired by renowned Disney franchises:
Classic Pooh, Disney Princess, Disney*Pixar
Cars, and Hannah Montana.
The Disney Dream Rooms continue
the collaboration of KB Home and Disney since the fall of 2007
to create an opportunity for the young and young at heart to
live among the Disney characters and stories they love most.
Packages include Disney-inspired design elements such as
exclusive paint colors, carpet, window treatments, lighting
fixtures, closet doors, chair rails, and other decorative
touches such as wall graphics and stenciling. To celebrate the
arrival of the Disney Dream Rooms, an all-new video is
posted at
www.YouTube.com/KBHomeMedia
that illustrates the fun and excitement every family will feel
in their personalized version of Disney Dream Rooms.
“KB Home’s mission is to bring the dream
of home ownership to life for families across the country. Now,
we can help them create their very own Disney Dream Rooms
in their dream home,” said Jeffrey Mezger, president and chief
executive officer of KB Home. “These magical Disney-themed rooms
– filled with wonderful features exclusive to KB Home – add
something truly special to their Built to Order™ new home.”
Part of Disney Consumer Products, Disney
Home is an industry leader in home furnishings, décor and
accessories and brought that product expertise to the Disney
Dream Room packages:
- The
Hannah Montana Hangout room is inspired by the hit
Disney Channel series and arrives in time for the theatrical
release of Hannah Montana The Movie in April starring
Miley Cyrus. The room features bold paint colors,
butterflies and a beaded chandelier to reflect Hannah’s
eclectic taste and style.
- The
Cars Revved-Up Room is inspired by Disney*Pixar’s
smash hit film Cars and the characters most recently
seen in the Cars Toons animated shorts on Disney
Channel. The room features a custom carpet design with tire
tracks woven into it, as if Lightning McQueen himself has
been zigzagging across the floor.
- The
Princess Palace celebrates the Disney Princess
franchise including Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and the
first Disney Princess fairytale, Snow White and the Seven
Dwarfs, which releases from the Disney Vault on Blu-ray
hi-def and DVD this fall. With a fresh and sweetly regal
design perfect for girls of all ages, the tiara-embossed
carpet, jeweled chandelier and other details will help every
little girl feel like a princess in this room.
- The
Pooh Corner room brings to life one of Disney’s most
endearing characters, everyone's favorite lovable and cuddly
bear from the Hundred Acre Wood, Winnie the Pooh. In shades
of calming green with nature-inspired design touches on the
lighting, carpet and window treatments, mom, dad, children
and infants alike will find this room to be a restful
retreat.
“This collaboration will bring an
exclusively-designed Disney Home experience directly into the
new homes of Disney fans,” said Pamela Lifford, executive vice
president, global fashion and home for Disney Consumer Products.
“The Disney Dream Rooms provide the perfect décor for
every age from infant to tween, making it easier than ever to
make Disney dreams come true.”
KB Home homebuyers can order these
turn-key bedroom design packages to be built into their new
homes at KB Home Studios, the retail-like design centers where
buyers select options to personalize their new homes. The
affordable Disney Dream Room packages can be financed as
part of the purchase price of the home. In addition, buyers who
choose any Disney Dream Room will also receive a matching
bedding set to complete the room’s décor as a housewarming gift
from KB Home.
The new Disney Dream Rooms are
currently being modeled in many KB Home communities across the
country. Homebuyers can visit
www.kbhome.com
or call 888-KB-HOMES for more information. |
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HK Disneyland 'Buy 2, Get 1 Free' offer from Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific - To bring some added excitement to the long
school holidays, Cathay Pacific Airways and Dragonair are
offering a 'Buy 2, Get 1 Free' deal for families planning a trip
to Hong Kong Disneyland. Prices start from 17,700 baht per
person, the offer is available from now until June 30, 2009.
The Buy 2 Get 1 Free package includes Cathay Pacific Airways
round trip Economy Class between Hong Kong and Bangkok or from
Phuket by Dragonair to Hong Kong, 2 days/1 night hotel
accommodation or pay an extra night and receive 3 days/ 2 nights
accommodation, park admission tickets, round trip airport/hotel
transfers.
"Stay and Play for two days" and three Disney's Magical
FASTPASS cards valid for one of the Park's three most popular
attractions will also be included for guests staying at either
of the two Disney themed hotels. Three complimentary meal
coupons will also be offered to those staying at the Hong Kong
Disneyland Hotel.
The package also presents an additional offer, "A Thousand
Kisses from Hong Kong Disneyland" – a savings booklet with
shopping coupons for food and beverages and spa treatments with
a value of HKD 1,000 or 4,500 baht.
From March 6 - May 31, Hong Kong Disneyland Star Guest
Program will present you with privileges for shows and
attractions. The Star Tour comes complete with a private
meet-and-greet session with two of Disney's beautiful
Princesses, and Star Finale creates the ultimate ending to your
day as you enjoy delicious desserts and signature cocktails
against a background of the spectacular "Disney in the Stars"
fireworks display! |
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Disney's New Racing Video Game at Core of Big Bet
AP - Walt Disney Co. is taking the wraps off an advanced new car
racing video game that the entertainment company hopes will
bolster its success in the lucrative gaming sector.As sales
of video games prove relatively resilient in the economic
downturn, Disney is betting that it can prosper broadly from new
games that it makes on its own. Rather than licensing Disney
content out to game publishers, Disney's in-house gaming team
wants to generate video game characters and story lines that can
be the basis of movies as well.
"That is the Holy Grail for video games, to see them
successfully become franchises," Graham Hopper, head of Disney's
game division, told The Associated Press.
To that end, the company is investing in projects like the
latest from its Brighton, England-based Black Rock Studio, a car
racing game called "Split/Second" for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
and PCs, set within the world of a reality television show.
With a release date of early 2010, the studio behind last
year's off-road racing game "Pure" has employed new
graphics-rendering technologies to pit racers against both the
track and explosions triggered by competitors. A sneak preview
to the AP showed a race track on an airport stage set, complete
with an air traffic control tower that can come crashing to the
ground.
The title is part of Disney Interactive Studios' strategy of
injecting around 20 percent of its investment dollars into new
intellectual property. The company invested about $170 million
in overall game development last year and plans to increase that
by $40 million to $50 million this year.
The video game market continues to expand even as music and
DVD sales slump.
San Diego-based consultancy DFC Intelligence predicts that
the worldwide video game market -- including consoles, portable
machines, their software and PC games -- will hit a record of
$57 billion this year, up from $33 billion just three years ago.
Nintendo Co.'s success with the Wii, which helped to expand
the market beyond "hard core" gamers over the past few years,
could play nicely into Disney's reputation for family-focused
material. In fact, Disney has had mixed success with a
mature-rated game, "Turok," a violent shooter game that was
distributed under the Touchstone label. Hopper declined to
comment on reports that a sequel to "Turok" had been scrapped,
but he said that building a big Touchstone game portfolio was
not a priority "right now."
Disney is taking more production in-house, rather than
licensing its own characters and content to other developers. It
rejected a pitch from its longtime video game partner THQ Inc.
-- which made the games based on Disney's "Ratatouille" and
"Cars" movies -- to create the game for the upcoming "Toy Story
3" film.
The company has a goal of self-publishing 80 percent to 90
percent of games, acquiring five development studios in recent
years, including Black Rock and Austin, Texas-based Junction
Point Studios.
However, Disney has not been immune to the economic downturn.
Its Vancouver, British Columbia-based Propaganda Games recently
cut 30 positions. Disney also plans to combine its Fall Line and
Avalanche studios, both based in Salt Lake City, resulting in
the loss of around 20 employees.
One problem is the high cost of producing and marketing major
games. Disney Interactive Media, the unit that includes Disney's
online division as well as Disney Interactive Studios, reported
a $45 million loss in the most recent quarter. Higher sales
volumes were more than offset by an increase in production costs
and more expensive marketing.
Credit Suisse analysts Spencer Wang and Shub Mukherjee have
forecast the unit will steadily increase revenue to around $1.3
billion in 2014, from $719 million in 2008. But they also note
that the division's pretax losses are likely to extend to more
than $385 million in 2014, from $258 million last year.
One pillar of Disney's strategy involves new twists in the
way the games look. "Split/Second," for example, feels more like
a movie -- with cars surging through dissipating smoke while
light refracts through exploding buildings -- thanks to
developments in graphics-rendering technologies such as
"deferred lighting."
Video games have traditionally have been able to appear as if
the action has one or two sources of lighting. "Split/Second"
uses a "deferred renderer" that can generate hundreds of virtual
light sources, including ones on exploding particles of
buildings.
That kind of realism is backed up by "fluid dynamics" -- a
movement technology that allows "Split/Second" to flow more
smoothly.
For instance, smoke and dust generated by explosions in the
game are realistically generated so that "cars can punch through
the smoke," said Nick Baynes, game director at Black Rock.
And "if you are at the back of the pack," he said, "you'll
get a clearer view of the world in front of you than the car
who's had to drive through it first." |
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The Walt Disney Company Executives to Discuss Fiscal Second
Quarter 2009 Financial Results
BusinessWire - The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) will announce
fiscal second quarter 2009 financial results via a live audio
Webcast beginning at 4:30 p.m. EDT / 1:30 p.m. PDT on Tuesday,
May 5, 2009 (results will be released at approximately 4:01 p.m.
EDT / 1:01 p.m. PDT). To listen to the Webcast, point your
browser to
www.disney.com/investors. The discussion will be available
via re-play through May 19, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. EDT / 4:00 p.m.
PDT. |
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UEFA drops ESPN for Fox as Champions League broadcaster in Latin
America
AP - Fox will replace ESPN as the European Champions League pay
broadcaster in Central and South America next season under a
three-season agreement.Fox Sports Latin America's pay
channels will televise both the Champions League and the Europa
League, the Union of European Football Associations said
Tuesday. Fox Sports is a unit of News Corp.
Disney-owned ESPN has held U.S. rights to the Champions
League since 1994-95. Its current U.S. deal runs through this
season, and no announcement has been made by UEFA for 2009-10
and beyond.
The Latin American pay deal does not cover Brazil. UEFA said
it will award an additional package of free network Latin
American broadcast rights.
Last
season's 27 telecasts in the U.S. were watched by an average of
255,000 homes on ESPN's networks and Manchester United's victory
over Chelsea in the final was seen in 798,000 households, the
most for a Champions League match on ESPN2. An additional
153,000 homes watched the final on ESPN Deportes. |
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Walt Disney World Resort Releases 2008 Community Report
Disney News - As part of The Walt Disney Company’s first
consolidated corporate responsibility report, Walt Disney World
Resort released the 2008 Community Report that highlights the
many ways the company remains actively involved in Central
Florida.
The community report focuses on
accomplishments related to the environment, workplace and
community, with a special emphasis on children and families. The
detailed snapshot also represents the latest phase in Disney’s
longstanding heritage of corporate social responsibility and
reflects a company-wide effort to build an integrated,
transparent strategy for serving the needs of primary
stakeholders, including guests, Cast Members, shareholders,
business partners and local communities.
“Our
commitment to the Central Florida community is unwavering,” said
Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort. “We are
focused on helping to make this community an inviting and
dynamic place to live, work and play, not only for ourselves,
but also for our nearly two million neighbors.”
In 2008, Walt
Disney World Resort and its Cast Members contributed
approximately $32.5 million to local organizations for programs
that focus on building a brighter future for children in Central
Florida. In addition, Disney VoluntEARS donated more than
204,000 hours to benefit local non-profit organizations.
Highlights from the report include:
The
Environment
Walt Disney
World Resort is committed to minimizing its overall impact on
the environment as it encourages and inspires environmentally
responsible behavior on the part of Cast Members, guests and
business partners.
· In collaboration with Keep Brevard Beautiful and the
Ocean Conservancy, Disney VoluntEARS participated in the 2008
Florida Coastal Cleanup, removing more than 3,500 pounds of
trash and storm debris from the shores of Lake Fran in Orlando.
· Conservation biologists from Disney’s Animal Programs
released a loggerhead sea turtle into the Atlantic Ocean as part
of a program to raise awareness of threats to sea turtle
survival.
· In April, Walt Disney World Resort completed the
state’s Green Lodging certification program for its 23 Central
Florida resort hotels and Disney’s Vero Beach Resort. The
Florida Green Lodging Program is a voluntary state initiative
that encourages hotels and motels to adopt cost-saving green
practices that reduce waste and conserve natural resources.
Our
Workplace
Walt Disney
World Resort is committed to fostering a safe, inclusive and
respectful workplace. In recognition of the magic Cast Members
create for guests each and every day, Walt Disney World Resort
offers a wide variety of programs, services and benefits that
are designed to make a difference in Cast Members’ lives.
· In October, Walt Disney World Resort opened the Center
for Living Well – a state-of-the-art, on-site health and
wellness center – to provide eligible Cast Members and their
families a “one-stop shop” for primary medical care and related
services. The $6 million, 15,000- square-foot facility includes
a pharmacy, lab, basic radiology, and wellness and behavioral
health resources.
· With 62,000 Cast Members speaking 59 languages from 81
countries, diversity and inclusion are core values that drive
growth, creativity and innovation at Walt Disney World Resort.
The company received the highest honor at the 2008 Beacon Awards
ceremony, which celebrates diversity in the greater Orlando-area
workforce.
· Walt Disney World Resort is actively involved in
cultivating the workforce of the future. In January 2008, the
resort hosted Disney’s Dreamers Academy, an innovative program
that aims to expose high-school students to creative and
non-traditional career opportunities, while inspiring them to
exceed the boundaries of their dreams and imaginations.
Our
Community
A tradition
of community service has been an integral part of the Disney
heritage since the company’s early beginnings in Central
Florida. That commitment extends from charitable giving to
minority business development to generating tax revenue for the
local community.
· In March, Central Florida celebrated the opening of a
Boys & Girls Clubs facility in the Pine Hills area of Orlando.
Walt Disney World Resort donated $1 million toward the
construction of the new building which includes computer
stations, learning centers, game rooms and a multi-purpose gym.
· Walt Disney World Resort awarded $700,000 in Disney’s
Helping Kids Shine Grants to 38 Central Florida non-profit
organizations for programs that focused on building better
futures for children.
· During the 2008 Heart of Florida United Way Campaign,
Cast Members contributed $3.2 million to help local agencies
assist fellow residents in Orange, Seminole and Osceola
Counties.
· Walt Disney World Cast Members conducted a successful
Back-to-School Supply Drive, donating more than 6,000 backpacks
to Central Florida students and more than 467,000 supplies to A
Gift for Teaching.
· In August, Walt Disney World Resort helped bring a
second Historically Black College and University football game
to Central Florida. The MEAC / SWAC challenge brought thousands
of fans to Central Florida from the Mid-Eastern Athletic
Conference and the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
Disney’s 2008
Corporate Responsibility Report may be found at
www.Disney.com/crreport. More information
about the 2008 Community Report from Walt Disney World Resort is
available at
www.wdwpublicaffairs.com |
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Johnny Depp and Golden Coffins At Disney's Shareholder Meeting
The Business
Insider - Disney shareholders and execs gathered in
Oakland Tuesday for the company's annual meeting. On the agenda:
proposals to have shareholders vote on executive pay and to end
golden coffin benefits given to execs, both of which were voted
down, with 39 and 27 percent of the vote. Apparently, Disney
shareholders aren't as outraged about how much the Mouse House's
execs are getting paid as its stock is sinking.
Meanwhile, Disney used the occasion to stealthily debut pictures
of studio mascot Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter in its upcoming
Alice in Wonderland, a description of which is below, courtesy
of The New York Times.
Victorian top hat, crimped hair that sticks straight out, and
swirl of brightly colored make-up on his eyes, cheeks and lips
that resembled the blur of a pinwheel blowing in the breeze.
The "Depp as Mad Hatter" picture won't be publicly
released—yet, the Times says. Why? Because it's part of an
interview with Tim Burton and concept art from Alice in Disney's
new $15.95-an-issue quarterly magazine, which was introduced at
the meeting. |
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Broken engagement is ratings gold for ABC on `The Bachelor'
AP - Nothing like a broken engagement to goose the TV ratings:
ABC milked three prime-time hours out of Jason Resnick's
rejection of Melissa Rycroft on "The Bachelor," and all of them
made Nielsen Media Research's top 20.
The "After the Final Rose" special, when Resnick had some
explaining to do, was the most-watched recap ever in the 13
editions of "The Bachelor." Sensing the result would make for
water-cooler conversation, ABC decided a few weeks ago to
prepare a second "After the Final Rose" special a day later, a
decision that paid off handsomely in the ratings.
Among women aged 18 to 34, that first "After the Final Rose"
special was more popular than any show except the Tuesday
edition of "American Idol," Nielsen said.
For anyone who didn't follow it -- or any men -- Resnick
dumped Rycroft after realizing he still had feelings for Molly
Malaney, the woman who came in second during the matchmaking
series.
ABC had twice as many female viewers as men last week: 68
percent to 32 percent, female to male, Nielsen said.
The network had an encouraging sign this Monday night, when
the "Dancing With the Stars" new season premiere attracted 22.5
million viewers. That's the most-watched season opener for the
program, Nielsen said.
Even though it's March, TV networks were clogged with reruns
last week.
One prominent exception: CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene
Investigation," where an episode with singer Taylor Swift as a
guest star was seen by nearly 21 million viewers, the
most-watched scripted show of the week.
CBS and Fox finished in a virtual dead heat last week, both
averaging 11.2 million prime-time viewers. CBS' rating of 7.0
and 12 share topped Fox (6.5, 11), indicating more CBS viewers
were watching alone; Fox dominated among the coveted
18-to-49-year-old demographic.
ABC averaged 8 million viewers last week (5.2 rating, 9
share), NBC had 6 million (3.8, 6), the CW 1.8 million (1.2, 2),
My Network TV 1.6 million (1.0, 2) and ION Television 750,000
(0.5, 1).
Among the Spanish-language networks, Univision led with an
average of 3.7 million viewers (1.9, 3), Telemundo had 1.1
million (0.6, 1), TeleFutura 680,000 (0.3, 1) and Azteca 160,000
(0.1, 0).
NBC's "Nightly News" continued its evening newscast
dominance, averaging 9.4 million viewers (6.2, 12). ABC's "World
News" was second with 8.1 million (5.5, 11) and the "CBS Evening
News" had 6.4 million viewers (4.4, 9).
A ratings point represents 1,145,000 households, or 1 percent
of the nation's estimated 114.5 million TV homes. The share is
the percentage of in-use televisions tuned to a given show.
For the week of March 2-8, the top 10 shows, their networks
and viewerships: "American Idol" (Tuesday), Fox, 24.31 million;
"American Idol," (Wednesday), Fox, 22.78 million; "American
Idol" (Thursday), Fox, 21.5 million; "CSI: Crime Scene
Investigation," CBS, 20.88 million; "The Bachelor: After the
Final Rose," ABC, 17.47 million; "The Bachelor," ABC, 15.48
million; "Two and a Half Men," CBS, 15.47 million; "NCIS," CBS,
13.67 million; "Desperate Housewives," ABC, 13.65 million; "CSI:
Miami," CBS, 13.42 million.
ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Co. CBS is owned by CBS Corp.
CW is a joint venture of Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS
Corp. Fox and My Network TV are units of News Corp. NBC and
Telemundo are owned by General Electric Co. ION Television is
owned by ION Media Networks. TeleFutura is a division of
Univision. Azteca America is a wholly owned subsidiary of TV
Azteca S.A. de C.V. |
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Disney Institute to
offer program
Chesterfield Observer - "Disney Keys to Excellence," Disney
Institute's professional-development program, will be held on
March 19 at the Nicholas Center at the Chester campus of John
Tyler Community College (JTCC), located at 13101 Jefferson Davis
Highway. The program will be sponsored by the Community College
Workforce Alliance, a partnership between J. Sargeant Reynolds
Community College and JTCC that serves the economic development
and work force needs of localities in Central Virginia.
The day-long event will offer area professionals an
opportunity to experience the proven strategies and best
practices used by Disney that can be adapted to their
organizations. The program will include four 90-minute sessions
on topics that include leadership, management, service and
loyalty.
The cost is $399 per person and includes all course
materials, lunch and free parking. For more information or to
register, visit www. ccwa.vccs.edu or call 523-2292. |
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Disney shareholders vote down two compensation proposals
Los Angeles Times - Reporting from Oakland -- Walt Disney Co.
investors, meeting at the company's annual shareholder meeting,
rejected a pair of proposals that would have buried so-called
golden coffin benefits for senior executives and given
shareholders a say in executive compensation.
Scott Adams of the American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees Pension Plan Fund handed Disney board
members a symbolic golden nail and urged them to hammer it into
the company's golden coffin benefits, which provide millions in
posthumous payments to the families of top executives. Under
Disney's benefit plan, Chief Executive Bob Iger's family would
stand to receive $4.5 million in the event of his death.
Disney Chairman John E. Pepper said such benefits were part
of a negotiated compensation package for senior officers, to
ensure security for their families. But he added that these
payments have become a "much less important" element of the
executive's overall compensation, and the company is no
longer extending this benefit to new executives.
The measure failed with just 27% of shareholder votes.
Another shareholder proposal would have given investors an
advisory vote on the pay of Iger and other top Disney
executives.
"Executive pay has spiraled out of control, and it needs the
voice of shareholders to bring our board and compensation
experts back to earth," said Lorenzo Ersland, finance
director for the Tides Foundation, speaking on behalf of the
group of 75 investors backing the "Say on pay" initiative.
Pepper told attendees the board was "very conscious" of the
issues surrounding executive pay. He said the compensation
committee based its decisions on how well an executive meets
performance goals and whether the company hits financial
targets.
"A simple up-or-down vote on the package will not reveal
what element of that package might be of concern," Pepper
said. "At most, the vote invites dialogue. We already have
dialogue underway."
The Say on pay measure also went down to defeat, receiving
backing from 39% of shareholders.
Investors also returned all of Disney's directors to another
one-year term. However, one board member was a particular
focus of interest: Apple Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs,
who did not attend Tuesday's annual meeting.
Jobs, who is Disney's single largest shareholder, has taken
a six-month leave from Apple to deal with health issues.
One Disney shareholder, who did not identify himself, asked
the board if it had a plan, should Jobs not be able to
perform his duties. He also asked if the company had taken
steps to protect itself from a hostile investor should Jobs'
138 million shares of stock become available on the open
market. Jobs acquired his 7.5% stake in Disney when the
entertainment giant acquired Pixar Animation in 2006.
"We have not thought at all of the contingency of Steve not
being on this board," Pepper said. "Our only thoughts are
with him and his rapid recovery." Iger added that Disney
similarly had not considered what would happen should the
bloc of shares no longer be under the control of Jobs and
his family.
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D23
Unveiled at Last
Disney Insider - The rumors have been flying – just what do
those three intriguing characters, D 2 3, stand for? And
what is brewing at Disney? Ever since those mysterious "Are
you 23?" posters, buttons and ads began popping up and
tantalizing us in the most unexpected places, there have
been whispers and debates among fans as anticipation went
sky-high.
Well, the wait is finally over. D23 is here – and it is
revealed as the ultimate organization for Disney fans,
offering a glorious behind-the-scenes publication, special
collectibles, an annual exposition, an all-new Web site, and
much more. Many savvy fans guessed correctly what the name
stands for -- D for Disney, and 23 because the Company was
founded in 1923.
The Insider is thrilled to bring you all the details on this
Disney fan dream-come-true, straight from Steven Clark, Head
of D23.
"It all started a couple years ago in a warehouse in
Glendale, if you can believe that! I was with the Disney
Archives team, exploring their collection and what seemed
like acres of boxes. Shelf after shelf overflowing with the
crown jewels of Disney history – treasures rarely or never
before seen and too numerous to describe here," says Steven.
"My eyes and jaw hurt from being so wide open for so long,
so we took a break, and there was a collective moment where
we all sort of said, 'We've gotta share this stuff with
people!' And that got us talking about what would eventually
become D23."
Steven is quick to point out that D23 is both about
celebrating Disney's storied history and the Company's
future. He reveals: "I think the centerpiece of a D23
Membership is our new quarterly publication, 'Disney
twenty-three.' It's an exquisite collectible in its own
right, and each story plunges you into a new ocean of
nostalgia from Walt Disney's early years in animation. But
there's also a look forward -- from a rare tour of Pixar
Studios to an exclusive first look at Tim Burton's new
live-action 'Alice in Wonderland.'"
"We know Disney fans are interested in more than buying a
ticket to the latest Disney film or even being at the
opening day of a new Park attraction – they want to know
what makes the place tick! We know this because we have the
same passion and curiosity, and I think they're going to be
very pleasantly surprised."
D23 will also have a huge presence online at Disney.com/D23,
ensuring fans get the up-to-the-minute scoop from all around
Disney, in-depth feature articles on an endless array of
Disney topics, and quite a few fun diversions along the way.
"We wouldn't dream of stopping at the quarterly publication.
Our fans want more and we know it, so we're giving them a
daily dose of Disney as well. Umm ... alliteration not
intended," Steven laughs. "We're committed to making sure
that our fans know that they can come to Disney.com/D23 for
their Disney news, whether it's the day's big announcements,
photos from last night's premiere bash, or the fun,
late-breaking tidbits from all over Disney that will appear
in the site's 'Twilight Bark.'" Brownie points for anyone
who knows "Twilight Bark" is from "101 Dalmatians"!
The online features don't end there. For example, under the
"Walt Disney Archives" section, fans can get their daily
Disney history lesson with "This Day in Disney," discover
the humor of vintage Disney daily comic strips on "The Funny
Page," and, of course, "Ask Dave," your chance to have Chief
Archivist Dave Smith answer those burning questions about
Disney minutia. The site also features online content from
"Disney twenty-three," as well as Boutique 23, which boasts
an assortment of Member-exclusive D23 merchandise and
collectibles from the newly created Walt Disney Archives
Collection.
"We were looking for other ways to share Disney's rich
history with our Members, so we also came up with the Walt
Disney Archives Collection to develop reproductions or
pieces inspired by the treasures of the Archives," said
Steven. "Each piece is authenticated and approved by the
Archives staff, and we hope that through the years D23
Members will truly cherish the pieces that best capture what
it is they love about Disney."
And Steven has saved possibly the most exciting piece of
information for the last.
"The biggest thing we're doing is probably the D23 Expo,
which we're billing as 'The Ultimate Disney Fan Experience'!
It's taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center this
September 10 through 13, and I think it's safe to say this
is a 'must-see' for any Disney fan. In fact, it was just too
big to fit on Park property, so we had to go across the
street! This really is the biggest and most impressive
gathering of all things Disney ever. Guests will get a look
at what's coming over the next few years at Disney's
California Adventure, get a glimpse at upcoming Disney
blockbusters like 'Prince of Persia,' 'A Christmas Carol,'
and 'The Princess and the Frog,' and maybe meet the stars of
their favorite Disney Channel and ABC shows and Disney
films! There will be a lot of incredible screenings, author
and artist signings, gallery events, fashion shows, and we
even think there might be a wedding. My only regret is that
I'll be helping run the thing, so I might miss a bunch of
stuff!"
Anyone is welcome at the Expo, but D23 Members get a
discount on tickets, as well as early entry to the show
floor every day, so they can get a jumpstart on all the fun.
Be sure to check at Disney.com/D23 or D23Expo.com to find
out more about the schedule, when tickets will be available
and other Expo info.
Steven concludes: "Everyone on the D23 team is really
thrilled to be bringing our fans all these great new
experiences, but we're just as excited about being Members
ourselves! I think there's a lot of fun ahead and like the
'Mickey Mouse March' lyrics say: It's 'Made for You and
Me.'"
Now Disney fans truly can be part of the magic in a way that
has never been possible before – just come along and join
the club, and see what D23 has in store!
To join D23, visit Disney.com/D23. A D23 Charter Year
Membership includes a one-year subscription to "Disney
twenty-three," a surprise gift from the Walt Disney Archives
Collection, a personalized Membership certificate and card,
access to exclusive D23 merchandise and special-event
opportunities, and a discount and early admission to the D23
Expo. A one-year Membership is $74.99. Gift Memberships and
international Memberships are available.
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'Witch
Mountain' pays homage to predecessor
AP - When director Andy Fickman first approached Dwayne
Johnson about starring in a re-imagination of "Escape to
Witch Mountain," the wrestler-turned-actor wasn't sure where
he'd fit in.
The 1975 live-action Disney film told the story of a pair
of freaky superpowered orphans and their unexpected guardian
angel, a gentle RV-driving widower played by 69-year-old
Eddie Albert.
"When I rewatched it, I thought, `That's interesting,'"
Johnson said. "'Eddie Albert looks like he's 70. I think
that's the role I would play. I know we have wonderful
makeup artists, but I'm not sure they could age me up that
much.'
"When I talked to Andy, he assured me he wanted to
contemporize it and make the audience feel like they're on a
ride."
Johnson plays beefy ex-con taxi driver Jack Bruno in
Fickman's "Race to Witch Mountain," in theaters Friday.
Teenage aliens Seth (Alexander Ludwig) and Sara (AnnaSophia
Robb) are on the run from both a top-secret government
agency headed by agent Henry Burke (Ciaran Hinds) and an
extraterrestrial assassin named The Siphon.
Johnson, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in 2006 while
preparing for his role as a football player in "The Game
Plan," said he was eager to get back to doing his own
stunts.
"I was hurt on 'The Game Plan,' so I wasn't able to do my
own stunts. The fact I could jump back into doing my own
stunts for this was superexciting for me," the 36-year-old
Johnson said on the set of "Race to Witch Mountain" last May
during a break in shooting.
"I went off with the second unit and was racing a cab at
60 miles per hour, banging into the sides of SUVs and
getting airborne," he said.
Such high-octane action is a far cry from the flying RV
and magical harmonica depicted in the original film. Fickman
also piled on sci-fi references and injected Sin City
throughout the movie.
Original tweens Tony (played by Ike Eisenmann) and Tia's
(Kim Richards) superpowers have also received a 21st-century
makeover.
Sara uses telepathy and telekinesis to talk to dogs, read
minds and shut doors. Her brother can slip through — and
stop — solid objects by changing the density of his body.
Fickman cast Eisenmann and Richards, who also appeared in
the 1978 sequel, "Return From Witch Mountain," as adults who
help Sara and Seth when they stop in Stony Creek — the
original movie's setting — while on their way to retrieve
their impounded flying saucer from a secret government lab
inside Witch Mountain.
"I always hoped they would remake it," Richards said. "In
my head and heart, I always felt they would because there
isn't a day that goes by that people don't stop me and ask
me about 'Witch Mountain.' Andy called me and said they were
in final discussions, and he wanted to let me know because
this was our baby. It really does mean so much to so many
people."
Said Eisenmann: "I know they've been trying to do a
remake for a long time. I think it's perfect timing. It's
probably more beneficial to the whole franchise because the
approach Andy has taken with `Race to Witch Mountain' is the
perfect way to celebrate the original and also bring
something new and exciting."
The original films — Disney's first foray into science
fiction — amassed a cult following from movie theater
audiences and later on the Disney Channel. Disney is tapping
into the nostalgia by releasing new special editions of the
1975 and 1978 films on DVD.
Could a "Witch Mountain" attraction at Disneyland be
next?
"That's what we're all hoping," said Fickman. "I'm not
even joking around about that. That would be awesome. I have
ideas. I think this film would lend itself really well to a
cool ride. For a Disney movie, I think having a ride based
on your work is the ultimate compliment, but that sort of
thing is decided on by people who get paid much more than we
do."
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Tuesday
March 10, 2009 |
Disney names new cruise ships: Dream and Fantasy
Investors re-elect Disney board, reject say on pay
Disney shareholders want say on executive compensation
Disney Layoffs
Massive, Employees Say
Walt
Disney World could struggle into 2010
Pinocchio 70th Anniversary Edition on DVD and Blu-ray
Escape to Witch Mountain and Return From Witch Mountain
Disney's Flower & Garden Festival: Things to do at Epcot's
annual event
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival: It's all about the princesses
The Boy in the
Striped Pajamas on DVD
Happy-Go-Lucky on DVD
D23 Website Live
Disney Chairman: Death benefits too costly to renegotiate
Disney/Pixar’s ‘Up’ movie gets video game treatment
More parents feed their kids apples instead of fries at Disney
parks
Disney shares, even at a six-year low, get a new 'sell' rating
Steve Jobs puts in appearance at Disney shareholders meeting
Michael J. Fox gives ABC his outlook on optimism
Winfrey to air
domestic violence show
Roy Disney's Firm Urges Sale of Collectors Universe |
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Disney names new cruise ships: Dream and Fantasy
 Orlando Sentinel - The Walt Disney Co. today announced new names
for the new Disney Cruise Line ships being built in Germany.
The Disney "Dream" will begin sailing in 2011 and the Disney
"Fantasy" will join the fleet in 2012, Disney Chief Executive
Officer Bob Iger said during the company's annual shareholder
meeting today in Oakland, Calif.
Both new ships will begin by sailing out of Port Canaveral
through at least 2014. They will join Disney's existing Magic
and Wonder vessels. |
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Investors re-elect Disney board, reject say on pay
Reuters -
Shareholders at Walt Disney Co's (DIS)
annual meeting on Tuesday re-elected the
company's 12 directors but defeated
proposals that would have given
investors an advisory say on executive
compensation.
Disney investors also voted down a
proposal that would have barred the
entertainment company from providing
death benefits to the families of
executives who die on the job.
Shareholders overwhelmingly approved two
company-sponsored amendments to its
executive compensation plans that would
allow Disney to increase the number of
shares available for granting to one
person.
The shareholder-sponsored "say on pay"
proposal received 27 percent of shares
cast at the meeting, and the "golden
coffin" proposal garnered 39 percent.
Directors were re-elected with 90
percent support from shares voted at the
meeting, and the compensation plan
amendments received 94 percent.
About 84 percent of the common shares
available for voting were cast at the
meeting in Oakland, California.
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Disney shareholders want say on executive compensation
Los Angeles Times - A group of Walt Disney Co. shareholders
wants a say on the wages and benefits paid to the company's
executives.
The proposal would give Disney investors a nonbinding,
advisory vote on the pay packages given to Chief Executive Bob
Iger and other top executives. The measure reflects growing
investor ire over generous executive compensation.
Disney is one of nearly 100 public companies whose
shareholders will vote on the "Say on pay" initiative, which is
backed by a group of 75 investors, including giants TIAA-CREF
and the California Public Employees' Retirement System.
Advocates believe the measure might pressure boards to be more
open and responsive about compensation decisions.
"With the advisory vote, we want to provide the company with
feedback on whether the board did a good job in explaining the
basis for their compensation decisions," said Hye-Won Choi, head
of corporate governance issues for TIAA-CREF, which owns about
14.6 million Disney shares. "What we want to achieve is really
compensation programs that are performance-based, that drive the
business strategy and that will result in long-term value
creation for shareholders."
A handful of companies have already agreed to an advisory
vote, including Blockbuster Inc. and Intel Corp.
Disney executives declined to comment on the issue before
today's annual meeting in Oakland, when preliminary results will
be announced.
However, in securities filings Disney advised investors to
vote against the proposal, saying an advisory vote was not
warranted. "A shareholder vote is simply too blunt an instrument
for dealing with the complex interrelated judgments involved in
executive compensation," Disney said in its proxy statement. "A
simple up or down vote on compensation matters by shareholders
would likely provide little useful guidance about the driving
force behind the vote."
RiskMetrics Group Inc., a shareholder advisory group,
recommended that investors support the advisory vote to enhance
board accountability, "rather than as a disapproval of this
company's current compensation packages."
In 2008, Iger received $30.6 million in total compensation --
pay that included a $13.9-million bonus. The company entered
into a new employment agreement with Iger, extending his term
through Jan. 31, 2013. It also increased his minimum target
bonus to $10 million from $7.25 million and awarded 3 million
options to buy Disney stock at an exercise price of $29.51. The
compensation committee said it recommended the new deal because
of Iger's success during the initial two years in his tenure as
CEO and the desire to "provide incentives for him to remain at
the company."
On the eve of the shareholder's meeting, Disney also unveiled
a major green initiative. The company set goals to reduce
emissions, waste and electricity and fuel use over the next
three to five years. The new goals are part of the company's new
corporate responsibility report, which provides information
about charitable giving, nutrition, online safety for kids and
workplace diversity. |
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Disney Layoffs Massive, Employees Say
WFtv - Sources close to Eyewitness
News inside Disney World say there are massive layoffs going on
at Central Florida's number one employer.
Employees at the theme park tell
us the number of people let go in recent weeks is in the
hundreds. However, Disney would not confirm the layoff numbers,
saying only that those figures are speculative.
One man told us his friend was
among those recently laid off from managerial positions.
"Disney is pretty much what
brings tourism here and if people are laid off, that means there
are not a lot of people coming into town right now," said John
Carol, friend of Disney employee.
In February, Disney said a major
reorganization of the company would lead to some job cuts.
Disney will not say how many
Central Florida employees will be affected. |
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Walt Disney
World could struggle into 2010
Orlando Sentinel - The stock-research firm Pali Capital lowered
its rating on Disney shares from “neutral” to “sell” this week,
in part because of fears that Walt Disney World could be in for
a protracted slump.
In a research note, Pali analysts Rich Greenfield and Ari
Danes say Disney World has so far managed to weather the
recession by capturing a larger share of leisure traffic to
Orlando even as the total amount of traffic the region falls.
Among the reasons they cite: The seven-nights-for-three
promotion; Disney’s Magical Express, which keeps customers from
renting their own cars; the Disney Dining Plan, which encourages
guests to eat all their meals on property; steep price increases
for essential in-park items such as strollers; and aggressive
marketing that is encouraging people to travel sooner or to
trade down from more expensive trips.
The problem, the analysts say, is that the economy may not
turn before the end of 2009. And tactics such as discounting
hotel rates, implementing big price increases for specific
in-park items and pulling vacations forward now will make
comparisons next year even tougher.
“The real problem for Disney becomes what happens if the
economy does not begin to recover in the near future,” they
write. “Meaning Disney laps the benefit from these successful
strategies, leading to a continued slide in 2010 revenues and
profitability; implying that 2009 will NOT be the trough by any
means for the parks.”
The Pali analysts also say they are concerned that big swings
in foreign currency rates will lead to a “notable drop” in
international travel to Orlando in the coming year. The analysts
say foreign travel to Disney – which is particularly valuable
because the travelers spend more and stay longer – has increased
from 13 percent to 20 percent since Sept. 11, 2001, but now
appears likely to fall “significantly” over the next 12-to-24
months. |
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Pinocchio 70th Anniversary Edition on DVD and Blu-ray
 Walt
Disney Studios Home Entertainment - Walt Disney's original
classic that taught the world to wish upon a star shines again
when Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment releases Pinocchio
70th Anniversary Edition from the Disney vault in
high-definition on March 10, 2009 for a limited time.
Brilliantly restored with enhanced picture and sound, this
enduring story of magic and adventure will be available for a
limited time only and comes loaded with bonus features that
unlock the doors to the magical world of Pinocchio.
Disney's perennial childhood classic of the puppet who yearns
to be a real boy will be available to own in a new Platinum
Edition on 2-disc Blu-ray Hi-Def and DVD. The 2-disc Blu-ray is
a Special Offer Combo Pack that also includes a DVD copy of the
of the classic movie, allowing fans to own this classic story on
standard def DVD while they are preparing to upgrade to 1080p
Hi-def Blu-ray, so consumers can "future-proof" their
collection.
Walt Disney's second animated feature, Pinocchio debuted 70
years ago with vibrant hand drawn animation, universally loved
music like the Academy Award® winning Original Song, "When You
Wish Upon a Star," and a touching story that made it an instant
classic. Introducing audiences to the magical favorites of
Pinocchio, Geppetto the wood carver and the Blue Fairy,
Pinocchio also marks the screen debut of a character who became
one of Disney's signatures: the fast-talking, wisecracking
Jiminy Cricket. A timeless, sublimely beautiful film, audiences
will be able experience this film with the most pristine picture
and sound available today.
Celebrate the 70th anniversary of Walt Disney's Pinocchio.
The legendary masterpiece that inspired millions to believe in
their dreams has reawakened with an all-new, state-of-the-art
digital restoration and now, for the first time ever, the richly
detailed animation, unforgettable award-winning music ("When You
Wish Upon A Star") and heartwarming adventure-filled story is
fully revealed with all-new dazzling bonus features transport
you into Pinocchio's fantastic world. Join Geppetto's beloved
puppet—with Jiminy Cricket as his guide—on a thrilling quest
that tests Pinocchio's bravery, loyalty and honesty, virtues he
must learn to become a real boy. The one and only Pinocchio will
live on forever in the heart of anyone who has wished upon a
star. |
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Escape to Witch Mountain and Return From Witch Mountain
  Walt
Disney Studios Home Entertainment on DVD - As the story of Witch
Mountain returns to movie theaters this year with the release of
"Race to Witch Mountain," the original films that launched the
Witch Mountain saga, Escape to Witch Mountain and Return From
Witch Mountain, are returning to DVD in special new editions
from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. Laying the
groundwork for the new film starring Dwayne Johnson, the two
family favorites first put the magical world of Witch Mountain
onscreen, and featured such classic stars as two-time Academy
Award winner Bette Davis (All About Eve, What Ever Happened to
Baby Jane?), Academy Award winner Ray Milland (The Lost Weekend,
Dial M For Murder), Christopher Lee (The Lord of the Rings
Trilogy), Academy Award nominee Eddie Albert (Roman Holiday,
TV's "Green Acres") and Donald Pleasance (You Only Live Twice,
The Diary of Anne Frank.)
Long before Harry Potter and the Narnia movies, the Witch
Mountain films created a world in which children learned to use
their magical powers. In Escape to Witch Mountain, first
released in 1975, orphaned siblings Tony and Tia Malone (Ike
Eisenmann and Kim Richards) discover their paranormal powers and
learn the truth about their origin; reviewing the film, Roger
Ebert wrote, "something is happening all of the time, and most
of the time it's scary but funny, too." In the 1978 sequel,
Return from Witch Mountain, the Malone children recruit a band
of juvenile delinquents to help them battle a pair of criminal
masterminds played by Bette Davis and Christopher Lee, who Daily
Variety called "one of the best Disney villains in years." Both
Eisenmann and Richards make cameos in the new "Race to Witch
Mountain," a modern re-imagining of the original Witch Mountain
story featuring Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Carla Gugino,
and Alexander Ludwig.
The new Walt Disney Family Classics DVD editions both contain
extensive bonus features, including all new Pop-Up Fun Facts,
filmmaker commentaries, and more. They will be available in
stores on March 10, three days before the theatrical release of
"Race to Witch Mountain."
Escape to Witch Mountain Synopsis
An evil millionaire (Ray Milland) lures Tony and Tia Malone (Ike
Eisenmann and Kim Richards) to his mansion in order to exploit
their paranormal abilities for his own greedy purposes. Escaping
their would-be captor with the help of a vacationing widower
(Eddie Albert), the siblings discover puzzling clues about their
origins that eventually lead them on a thrilling journey home to
far away Witch Mountain. Adapted from the book by Alexander Key,
the movie brims with timeless appeal and amazing acts of
wizardry that will delight young and old alike. Starring Eddie
Albert, Ray Milland, Donald Pleasence, Kim Richards, Ike
Eisenmann and a flying RV!
Return From Witch Mountain Synopsis
Bette Davis, Christopher Lee, Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann
star in a sequel every bit as exhilarating and fun as its
inspiration. Adapted from Alexander Key's book Escape to Witch
Mountain, this Disney Family Classics' DVD presentation is
perfectly timed to coincide with the March 13 theatrical debut
of the new Race to Witch Mountain, starring Dwayne Johnson.
Return From Witch Mountain – Special Edition is packed with fun
and intriguing bonus features, including all new Pop-Up Fun
Facts, filmmaker commentary and much more. |
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Disney's Flower & Garden Festival: Things to do at Epcot's
annual event
Orlando Sentinel - At the Epcot International Flower &
Garden Festival, there's great temptation to stop, smell the
roses and passively take in the event. But there are interactive
offerings that get your hands dirty -- literally and
figuratively. Here's a sampling.
** The Disney Gardening at Home series includes sessions called
"Horticulture -- Disney's Heritage."
"We've gone to the [Disney] parks throughout the world, and
we're doing this whole story line of Disney's horticulture --
like how our plants tell stories," says Debbie Mola Mickler, who
works with the festivals educational programs. "Then we're going
to show pictures of all the different castles and then the
landscaping around them and how it's all different."
Bonus: Guests make their own tiny topiary to take home.
** In "Kid's Gardening -- It's More than Mudpies," a pizza
garden will capture children's imaginations.
"We'll have all the ingredients that you have in a pizza: wheat,
tomatoes, peppers," Mola Mickler says. "Then we'd have some
really unusual things, but we'd let them decide what they'd like
to plant in their garden for their pizza."
** The Great American Gardeners series includes seminars by Jon
Carloftis, Joe Lamp'l, Shirley Bovshow, Melinda Myers and more.
** Every day at the Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden, there will be a 2
p.m. procession of children bedecked in princess or fairy
costumes.
** "Let's Get Moving" is an interactive garden/playground along
Imagination Walkway. "We still like, as much as possible, to
provide ways of subtle encouragement to get kids and adults
moving and outside," says Eric Darden, festival horticulturist.
** Tours of the English Tea Garden combine history and botany.
"Most people are shocked to learn that tea is a camellia,"
Darden says. |
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Epcot Flower & Garden Festival: It's all about the princesses
 Orlando
Sentinel - Giant topiaries don't grow on trees -- not even at
Walt Disney World.
That sure would make things simpler than the current system, a
months-long process that involves metal frames, specialized
irrigation, meticulous trimming, thousands of hair pins and
mounds of moss.
The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, which begins
March 18, will gather more than 50 of the statues of greenery.
They're so plentiful, Disney established an official scavenger
hunt for them.
Front and center of the festival will be the "Cinderellabration"
area, featuring topiaries of Cinderella, Prince Charming, Belle,
Beast, Snow White, seven dwarfs and, making their debut,
Sleeping Beauty and Prince Phillip. They'll be standing where
the giant, surfing Goofy did last year.
"We wanted a whole different feel -- the
elegant, flowing dresses," says Eric Darden, horticulture
manager for the festival.
To create that look, the outline of each topiary the topiaries
is formed by a metal frame. The finished product is not solid
foliage straight through: A space of 3 to 5 inches is stuffed
with moss and supported by an internal cage. Being hollow helps
keep down the poundage.
"We probably cut out 1,000 pounds of weight," Darden says. "If
it gets heavier and heavier, you have to make the frame
stronger."
Plant life is then pinned to the moss.
"We may be the world's largest user of hair pins," Darden says.
Disney topiaries have progressed past their all-green
predecessors. Now all manner of natural materials is used,
especially to convey facial expressions of characters. "It makes
them look alive," Darden says.
A trip to the Tournament of Roses Parade in California inspired
Disney officials.
"We were at a point where we had gotten as far as we could with
living plants, but we really wanted to get the detail," Darden
says. "That really got us exploring that world of dry materials.
Then we had to determine 'Can we make it last?' "
The short-term solution: shellac.
"We'll have to fix it," he says. "Birds pull it out."
"I think the ultimate place we'd love to get would be to have
different colored seeds. That's what they do for the Rose Bowl
[parade]. But the Rose Bowl has to last for one day. We have to
have things that last three months."
For now, topiary color is provided primarily with foliage, not
flowers.
"If it gets real cold in the second week of the festival, and we
have something blooming, all the flowers will go away," Darden
says.
This season's cold snaps have been a challenge for festival
planners.
"It was a challenge, but you have to be ready for it," Darden
says. "Of course, it's had an impact. Are our guests going to
notice? No."
Blooms of note
** The mist-breathing Bromeliad Dragon returns to lily pads
outside China's Temple of Heaven after a three-year absence.
** The 44 towers of flowers, previously sprinkled across Epcot,
will be lined up near Spaceship Earth.
** Expect more -- and larger -- floating gardens in the East and
West lakes. |
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The Boy in the
Striped Pajamas on DVD
 Walt
Disney Studios Home Entertainment - A touching and unforgettable
tale of a forbidden friendship between two children divided by
war, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas comes to DVD on March 10,
2009 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. Set during
World War II, the story is seen through the eyes of the
eight-year-old son of a concentration camp commandant of a,
whose pact with a Jewish boy has heart-wrenching consequences.
Bonus features, including an exclusive look at the creation of
the film, add to a powerful and poignant movie experience.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas stars Asa Butterfield as
eight-year-old Bruno, with Vera Farmiga (The Departed, Nothing
But the Truth) and David Thewlis (Kingdom of Heaven, the Harry
Potter franchise) as his parents, and Jack Scanlon as his
friend, Shmuel. Farmiga earned a Best Actress award from the
British Independent Film Awards and the film collected two
additional nominations for Most Promising Newcomer (Butterfield)
and Best Director for Mark Herman (Little Voice, Brassed Off).
It received the Audience Choice Award at the 2008 Chicago
International Film Festival. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is
based on the internationally bestselling novel by John Boyne.
When his father (David Thewlis,) a high-ranking Nazi officer,
is assigned to oversee a farm in the countryside, eight-year-old
Bruno (Asa Butterfield) misses the excitement and camaraderie he
knew in his hometown of Berlin. Lonely and bored, Bruno secretly
explores his new surroundings and discovers the farm is
surrounded by barbed wire. When he sees Shmuel (Jack Scanlon), a
boy his own age, working behind the fence, he strikes up a
tentative friendship, playing checkers and catch through the
barbed wire. As Bruno slowly realizes that his new friend is
Jewish, he becomes confused by the Nazi doctrines his tutor
espouses and suspicious of the real purpose of the farm. When
Shmuel needs his help, the boys form an outrageous plan that
comes to a devastating conclusion. Intelligent, thoughtful and
haunting, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is an unforgettable
portrait of a child trying to navigate in an increasingly
complex and shadowy adult world.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas has a suggested retail price
of $TBD (U.S.) and $TBD (Canada). |
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Happy-Go-Lucky on
DVD
 Walt
Disney Studios Home Entertainment - Happy-Go-Lucky, an
effervescent new comedy from writer and director Mike Leigh
(Secrets and Lies), comes to DVD on March 10, 2009 from Miramax
Films. Happy-Go-Lucky's upbeat look at the life of an
irrepressible optimist earned Leigh a 2009 Oscar nomination for
Best Original Screenplay. Now even more irresistible on DVD with
intriguing new bonus features, this feel-great comedy is a walk
on the sunny side of the street with an endearing and inspiring
heroine.
In a joyful star turn that earned her a Golden Globe Award
for Best Actress in a Motion Picture—Comedy or Musical, Sally
Hawkins (Cassandra's Dream, Vera Drake) headlines as Poppy, an
irrepressibly free-spirited teacher with an infectious laugh and
an unshakably positive outlook. Written and directed by Leigh,
Happy-Go-Lucky was filmed in his signature improvisational
style, and also stars Eddie Marsan (Hancock)
Critics praised Happy-Go-Lucky for its infectious buoyancy,
skillful performances and astonishing humanity. Claudia Puig of
USA Today declared it "a rare film that is equal parts
entertaining, life-affirming and thought provoking." "Heartfelt
and hilarious, it's more than a movie, it's a gift," enthuses
Peter Travers of Rolling Stone. Joe Morgenstern of the Wall
Street Journal raves," "Wonderful! Sally Hawkins gives an
astonishing performance!" And Thelma Adams of US Weekly marvels,
"This movie made me blissfully happy."
Happy-Go-Lucky was an Official Selection at the New York,
Toronto, Berlin, and Telluride Film Festivals. It has earned a
host of honors including a Golden Bear nomination for Leigh and
a Best Actress Award for Hawkins at the Berlin Film Festival.
The actress also received the Breakthrough Award at the
Hollywood Film Festival, plus Best Actress nominations at the
British Independent Film Awards, the European Film Awards and
the Satellite Awards. The Norwegian International Film Festival
presented Leigh with its Bringer of Joy Award for most enjoyable
movie.
School teacher Poppy (Sally Hawkins) approaches every day
with an optimism and joy that is unshakable. When the bicycle
she commutes to work on is stolen, Poppy simply signs up for
driving lessons. Her teacher, Scott (Eddie Marsan), is a fuming,
uptight cynic who channels his anger into hilariously
inappropriate episodes of road rage. But neither Scott, her
bitter pregnant sister, a fiery flamenco instructor or a class
room bully can change the Happy-Go-Lucky girl's "glass half
full" world view in writer-director Mike Leigh's funny, truthful
and deeply life-affirming film.
Happy-Go-Lucky has a suggested retail price of
$29.99 (U.S). |
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D23
Website Live
Disney Blog - Moments after Bob Iger announced D23 at the
Stockholders meeting the official website went live.
Lots of details to explore. A look inside the ‘Disney
Twenty-Three” magazine, access to the Walt Disney Archives and
plenty more.
For those waiting to hear exactly what Disney’s
D23, the new Official Community for Fans, will involve and what
it will cost to join, DisneyShopping.com has spilled the beans a
few hours earlier than the official announcement was scheduled
for.
You can actually visit
DisneyShopping right now and enroll or buy a membership
for your family or friends.
Here’s an official description for D23:
D23 - Disney’s first official community for
fans - celebrates the wonder and excitement that began in
1923 when Walt Disney opened his studio in Hollywood.
Through the years, Disney’s stories, characters and
experiences have captured the imagination of fans
everywhere, and now D23 places you in the middle of the
magic. Go backstage, behind closed doors, and get the inside
scoop, while experiencing the nostalgia, adventure and
fantasy of Disney as never before.
What does D23 mean?
“D” stands for Disney, and “23″ represents
1923, the year that Walt Disney arrived in California and
founded what was to ultimately become The Walt Disney
Company.
The cost of a membership is $74.99 and it can be
given as a gift. If you buy your membership in 2009 you’ll
become a D23 Charter Member. A one-year D23 Charter Membership
includes:
-
Disney ”twenty-three” Quarterly Publication: A
one-year subscription (four issues) to D23’s
exquisite collectible magazine, filled with stunning
photography, dazzling illustrations and the ultimate
Disney insider perspective. It’s your all-access
pass to discovering the magic of Disney’s past,
present and future!
-
Membership Card and Certificate: Your membership
card and personalized, suitable-for-framing charter
member certificate feature many of Disney’s most
beloved characters drawn by Disney Master Artist
David Pacheco.
-
Surprise Collectible Gift: A collectible just for
D23 members. You’ll receive a gift you’ll cherish
from the new Walt Disney Archives Collection.
-
Exclusive Special Events and Merchandise: D23 offers
its members unique special-event opportunities
throughout the year, as well as access to exclusive,
limited-edition merchandise and collectibles.
-
D23 Expo: It’s the ultimate Disney fan experience,
taking place in Anaheim, California from September
10-13, 2009. This can’t-miss event will feature
guest speakers, celebrity appearances, breathtaking
exhibitions, sneak peeks, film screenings,
one-of-a-kind merchandise, and so much more!
Admission will be discounted for D23 members.
-
Subscription to bi-weekly D23 FanFare e-newsletter
with breaking news and special offers. (You may opt
out of receiving FanFare after your first
e-newsletter arrives.)
-
Plus, stay connected to D23 every day at Disney.com/D23,
featuring up-to-the-minute Disney news, feature
stories, event info, merchandise and more.
As of now no family memberships are offered. You
must be 18 years old to join or purchase membership (so there is
no point of a family membership anyway as discounts will
probably be applied to something like “up to 4 people” (see D23
Expo details below).
There will be a variety of D23 members-only
events throughout the year. Check online at Disney.com/D23 to
find out about upcoming events. Special promotional codes and
information for some events will be sent out via email and
e-newsletters, so once D23 members start receiving D23 emails
and e-newsletters, they may not wish to “opt out” of receiving
that correspondence.
Finally there are some additional details on the
big D23 convention:
D23 Expo
What is the D23 Expo?
It’s the ultimate Disney fan experience,
taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim,
California (across the street from Disneyland), September
10-13, 2009. This four-day can’t-miss event will feature
incredible speakers, celebrity appearances, breathtaking
exhibitions, sneak peeks, film screenings, one-of-a-kind
merchandise, and so much more! There will be something for
children of all ages, fans, the whole family, and friends.
When will tickets go on sale for the
Expo?
Tickets will go on sale this spring. Check
the D23 Web site for more information. Members will be
alerted the day tickets go on sale.
How much will the Expo cost?
General Admission:
Adult 1-day $37
Child 1-day $27
Child 4-day $81 (4th day free)
D23 Member Admission (D23 members may
purchase up to four discounted tickets per membership):
Adult 1-day $30
Adult 4-day $90 (4th day free)
Child 1-day $22
Child 4-day $66 (4th day free)
All details are scheduled to change, of course. |
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Disney Chairman: Death benefits too costly to renegotiate
MarketWatch - Walt Disney Co. Chairman John Pepper told
stockholders Tuesday that the company stands against a
shareholder proposal to eliminate death benefits for CEO Bob
Iger and other senior company executives because to do so would
mean contract renegotiations with those individuals that would
be unnecessarily costly. Pepper pointed out that the death
benefit for existing executives is a small part of their total
compensation, and that new Disney executives do not receive the
benefit. A significant shareholder, the American Federation of
State County and Municipal Employees, put forward the proposal.
An AFSCME representative at the company's annual meeting argued
that executives should not receive "pay for performance" after
they have died. |
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Disney/Pixar’s ‘Up’ movie gets video game treatment
Macworld - THQ on Tuesday announced plans to release a
game based on Disney/Pixar’s newest movie, “Up.” The movie is
coming this May, and the Up video game will be released this
spring. Support is planned for seven platforms, including the
Mac.
“Up” tells the story of septuagenarian balloon salesman Carl
Fredricksen and his sidekick, Wilderness Explorer Russell, as
they set off on a journey across the jungles of South America.
Gamers can ply as the four main characters in the movie — Carl,
Russell, Dug the dog or Kevin the prehistoric bird.
The game features single-player
and cooperative two-player modes. You will navigate through
jungles, battle creatures and trek the slopes of the Amazonian
Tepuis, large mesas that rise from the jungle floor. Multiplayer
game modes let up to four players compete in aerial combat.
The game is being developed by THQ’s Heavy Iron Studios,
which has also created games based on other Disney/Pixar movies
like Ratatouille and WALL•E.
A demo has been posted to the Up game Web site, but it is for
Windows only. |
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More parents feed their kids apples instead of fries at Disney
parks
Tourism Central -
Whether by default or by choice, it appears Disney’s theme-park
guests are opting to feed their kids healthier foods while
eating in the parks.
Since Disney’s theme-park restaurants in 2006 overhauled
their kids-meal menus to make healthier dishes the default
selection for both side orders (ie: apple slices instead of
French fries) and drinks (milk instead of soft drinks), Disney
says the majority of its guests are picking the nutritious
options.
According to company data, 65 percent of guests at Walt
Disney World and Disneyland ordered the healthier side dish and
68 percent ordered the healthier drink last year during Disney’s
fiscal fourth quarter, which runs July through September.
Guests at Disney’s international parks were even more
nutritious. In Hong Kong, 98 percent chose the healthier side
and 96 percent chose the healthier drink. And in Paris, 85
percent chose the healthier drink – though just 15 percent
picked the healthier side.
The data were culled from 485 Disney-operated restaurants. |
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Disney shares, even at a six-year low, get a new 'sell' rating
Los Angeles Times - Shareholders of
Walt Disney Co. have lost 31% of their investment this year, on
paper.
Now, analyst Richard Greenfield at Pali
Research pulls the plug.
Greenfield downgraded Disney on Monday to "sell"
from "neutral," after slashing his earnings estimates for the
firm. The stock slid 24 cents to $15.59, a new six-year low.
Anticipating that clients would be asking, "Why
now?" -- as opposed, say, to a few months ago, when the stock
was $7 higher -- Greenfield wrote in a report: "While Disney has
one of the best secular asset mixes within the media sector,
essentially everything is going wrong at the same time, with the
length of pain likely to extend further than we had previously
expected."
He sees the stock heading for $12.50.
His change of heart on Disney says a lot about the grim mood on
Wall Street: Faith in corporate earnings estimates for 2009 and
2010 continues to ebb as analysts push hopes for an economic
recovery further into the future.
Greenfield said it was "increasingly hard to
imagine the world economic landscape improving enough to drive
Disney’s fiscal 2010 earnings."
He hacked his estimate of the company’s 2009
results to $1.63 a share from $1.82. In 2010, he now expects the
company to earn $1.45 a share instead of $2.04.
He is far gloomier than his peer analysts. The
median estimate of 30 analysts who track the company is for
earnings of $1.75 a share this year and $1.93 next year.
Greenfield sees Disney’s operating income
sliding this year across its major businesses of theme parks,
studio entertainment and cable networks (ESPN, Lifetime, etc.).
And things will get much worse for the U.S. parks, in
particular, in fiscal 2010, he figures, in part because he sees
foreign tourists staying home given the surprisingly strong
dollar.
He estimates that operating income for the parks
will dive to $583 million in fiscal 2010 from $1.16 billion this
year.
Despite some expected improvement in the cable
unit’s operating income in 2010 from this year, it won’t be
nearly enough to make up for the shortfall in the parks division
and an even deeper plunge in the ABC broadcasting business,
Greenfield estimates.
Finally, with free cash flow slumping, he doubts
Disney will be able to spend much on stock buybacks, "which had
been a key tool used by management to drive earnings over the
past few years."
At Monday’s stock price, Disney’s
price-to-earnings ratio based on Greenfield’s 2010 estimate is
less than 11 -- seemingly cheap.
But he thinks investors will value the company
at an even lower P/E because its peers already are so much
cheaper. Time Warner Inc.’s P/E, for example, is just 7.5 based
on analysts’ median earnings estimate for 2010. Viacom Inc.’s
2010 P/E is 6.4.
These are premier American media assets, but
that obviously doesn't mean much on Wall Street at the moment. |
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Steve Jobs puts in appearance at Disney shareholders meeting
Bizjournals - Steve Jobs, who missed Apple
Inc.'s shareholder meeting because he was on medical
leave, reportedly put in an appearance Tuesday at
Walt Disney Co.'s
shareholders meeting and was re-elected to the board.
MarketWatch reported that Jobs made his first public
appearance since going on medical leave in January. In
February Jobs skipped Cupertino-based Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL)
meeting.
Jobs is scheduled to return from medical leave in June.
He was treated for pancreatic cancer in 2004. |
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Michael J. Fox gives ABC his outlook on optimism
AP - Since his diagnosis with Parkinson's Disease cut short
his acting career, Michael J. Fox has every reason to be a
pessimist.
Instead, he's doing a special for ABC in May about the nature
of optimism. Fox explores science and his own personal
experiences -- he says the past decade since his diagnosis have
been among his happiest. Fox starred in the sitcoms "Family
Ties" and "Spin City," as well as the "Back to the Future" movie
series.
For his special, Fox visits the Himalayan nation of Bhutan,
which he says is unusually committed to the well-being of its
citizens. "Michael J. Fox: Adventures of an Incurable Optimist"
airs on May 7. |
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Winfrey to air domestic violence show
AP - Oprah Winfrey says pop star Rihanna's alleged beating by
singer boyfriend Chris Brown has the talk show queen so sad that
she'll do a show dedicated to dating violence this week.The
hour long episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" will air live from
Chicago on Thursday. Winfrey offered Rihanna advice on her
Friday show, saying, "Heal yourself first and also, love doesn't
hurt." She also told the couple they should seek counseling.
Winfrey says the Thursday episode is "dedicated to all the
Rihannas of the world" and will include guest Tyra Banks.
A Los Angeles police affidavit alleges that on Feb. 8, Brown
punched, bit and choked Rihanna until she nearly lost
consciousness. He has been charged with two felonies and will be
arraigned in April.
"The Oprah Winfrey Show" is syndicated, but airs primarily on
ABC stations in the nation's major markets.
ABC is a unit of The Walt Disney Co. |
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Roy
Disney's Firm Urges Sale of Collectors Universe
Orange County Business
Journal - An investment firm backed
by Roy Disney is urging directors of Santa Ana-based Collectors
Universe Inc. to put the collectibles authenticator up for sale.
In a letter to Collectors Chairman Clinton Allen,
Burbank-based Shamrock Capital Advisors Inc. said it believes
the company could be worth twice as much if it were put up for
sale.
Collectors, which authenticates and grades coins, sports
cards, stamps and other collectables, has a market value of
about $30 million.
The company shares are off about 60% in the past year.
“We believe the company’s core business of providing value
added authentication services is an attractive business and far
more valuable than implied by its current stock,” Shamrock said
in its letter.
Shamrock, which invests money for Disney and relatives, owns
nearly 9% of Collectors through an activist value fund.
Disney is the nephew of Walt Disney Co. founder Walt Disney
and a former executive with the company.
Shamrock said it believes Collectors “is an attractive
acquisition candidate” and directors should abandon the
company’s “flawed strategic direction.”
Collectors, a small company with yearly revenue of about $40
million, could save money by no longer having to comply with
regulations related to being publicly traded, the letter said.
Shamrock called the company’s history of the past few years a
“litany of lost opportunities, frequent changes in strategy,
near delisting from Nasdaq, incurrence of a series of operating
losses, and the board’s pathetic recent adoption of a poison
pill” to prevent unsolicited takeovers.
The investment firm called Collectors’ profit track record
“simply dismal.”
For the December quarter, Collectors posted an operating loss
of $2 million, narrowed from $2.6 million a year earlier.
Revenue was down 10% to $8.1 million.
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Monday
March 9, 2009 |
The Walt Disney Company Announces Significant Long-Term
Environmental Goals
Zac
Efron Awakens 'Sleeping Beauty' Vanessa Hudgens
Disneyland still on the cards for Shanghai
Disney Debuts Deals at Florida, California Resorts
O.C. woman celebrates 107th birthday at Disneyland
Walt Disney World has one of the lowest gas prices in the area
Dwayne Johnson Talks Getting Physical In 'Witch Mountain'
D23
Entertainment and Lifestyle Magazine!
Disneyland Paris launches Mickey Mouse online ad campaign
Hong Kong Disneyland launches VIP experience program |
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The Walt Disney Company Announces Significant Long-Term
Environmental Goals
Business Wire - The Walt Disney Company
today announced a landmark set of strategic environmental goals
and challenging 3 to 5 year targets to reduce emissions, waste,
electricity and fuel use, and its impact on water and
ecosystems.
The goals are part of Disney’s 2008 Corporate Responsibility
Report, which details the company’s approach to critical
corporate responsibility issues ranging from charitable giving
to nutrition and from online safety for kids to workplace
diversity.“Disney’s enhanced
corporate responsibility efforts make our brands and products
more attractive, strengthen our bonds with consumers, make the
company a more desirable place to work and build goodwill in the
communities we operate,” said Disney president and CEO Robert A.
Iger. “All of this contributes to shareholder value.”
The interactive multimedia report, now
available online only at
www.disney.com/crreport,
provides a detailed snapshot of the company’s philosophy and
activities in five areas; children and family, content and
products, environment, community and workplaces. Details include
the company’s first comprehensive greenhouse gas inventory and
updates on Disney’s pioneering policies on healthy food
guidelines and smoking in films.
Building on 20 years of work by Disney’s
environmental affairs department, the new goals and targets were
formulated over the last two years by an Environmental Council
of senior executives from across the company. Charged with
developing and implementing sustainable strategies for Disney’s
impact on the environment, as well as ways to use the company’s
media reach to encourage positive action, the Council has taken
a measured, scientific approach in analyzing company operations
and crafting strategic objectives.
“While Disney has always been a leader in
environmental stewardship, we are taking ambitious steps to help
preserve our planet for future generations,” said Disney Senior
Executive Vice President and CFO Thomas O. Staggs.
The long-term environmental goals
outlined in the report are:
- Zero
waste
- Zero
net direct greenhouse gas emissions from fuels
-
Reduce indirect greenhouse gas emissions from electricity
consumption
- Net
positive impact on ecosystems
-
Minimize water use
-
Minimize product footprint
-
Inform, empower and activate positive action for the
environment
For additional details and medium–term
targets visit
www.disney.com/crreport
“We applaud Disney for its leadership in
adopting these goals, especially at such a challenging time in
the global economy,” said Peter Seligmann, Chairman and CEO of
Conservation International. “Disney’s vision underscores the
continued interest in the environment among people worldwide and
the growing recognition that environmental leadership can help
revitalize the economy.” Conservation International provided
advice to Disney on its new goals and targets.
The 2008 Corporate Responsibility Report
represents the latest phase in Disney’s longstanding heritage of
corporate social responsibility and reflects a company-wide
effort to build an integrated, transparent strategy focused on
serving the needs of the company’s primary stakeholders;
consumers, employees, shareholders, business partners and the
communities in which it works. The report is organized as
follows:
-
Children and Family – guiding principles, kids’ health
and nutrition, creative practices, programming philosophies
and marketing policies
-
Content and Products – standards and practices, content
diversity, product safety policies and parks accessibility
and safety
-
Environment – environmental initiatives, progress and
long-term goals
-
Community – charitable giving, VoluntEAR and community
outreach updates
-
Workplaces – employee diversity, benefits and
international labor standards
The report anchors a broader suite of
publications being issued today. Six additional reports provide
information specifically on Disney’s Parks & Resorts segment and
the following operations: Disney Cruise Lines, Walt Disney
World, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland.
The suite of reports highlights issues of importance to local
communities at some of the company’s largest sites.
About The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS),
together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading
diversified international family entertainment and media
enterprise with five business segments: media networks, parks
and resorts, studio entertainment, interactive media and
consumer products. Disney is a Dow 30 company with revenues of
nearly $38 billion in its most recent fiscal year. |
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Zac
Efron Awakens 'Sleeping Beauty' Vanessa Hudgens
 Entertainment
Tonight News - In a new photograph shot by renowned
photographer Annie Leibovitz, Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens
re-enact a Disney animated classic.
Dressed up as Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip from
Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty,' the real-life lovebirds posed for a
photo called "Where Romance is Celebrated."
The photo, a re-enactment of the famous kiss that awakened
Princess Aurora, was shot for Disney Parks' "What Will You
Celebrate?" campaign.
The stunning image will appear in Disney Twenty-Three,
a new entertainment and lifestyle magazine that will launch on
March 10 at
Disney.com/D23. |
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Disneyland
still on the cards for Shanghai
Shanghai Daily - Shanghai
Mayor Han Zheng said yesterday that the city is still
negotiating with Walt Disney on opening the first Disney theme
park on the Chinese mainland.
"We are like a couple in love, not married yet, and so far
there's no timetable for the 'marriage'," the mayor joked with
journalists at an opening session of Shanghai delegation during
the ongoing annual session of the National People's Congress in
Beijing.
Han said the Shanghai government and Disney have always
maintained communication and negotiation on the project, and
both teams adopted a more practical attitude in the past year.
In January the local government signed a framework agreement
with Disney, a standard procedure toward a possible deal. No
details were disclosed, however. If the Shanghai government and
Disney finally agree to "tie the knot," it will become a third
Disney theme park in Asia after Tokyo and Hong Kong.
In the Great Hall of the People yesterday afternoon, Shanghai
Party Secretary Yu Zhengsheng and Mayor Han met more than 100
reporters at the opening session, a tradition for every
delegation during the annual Parliament session.
Yu addressed the trial of yuan-denominated settlements of
trade deals between some areas including Shanghai and
neighboring Yangtze River Delta region and Hong Kong and Macau,
and between the southwestern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,
Yunnan Province with Southeast Asian countries.
He said it would benefit Shanghai, the mainland and the two
special administrative regions.
Hu Xiping, governor of Shanghai Rural Commercial Bank,
explained that the yuan settlement is "vital" for the country to
deal with the current financial crisis.
"Considering China's continuous trade surplus and the scale
of foreign reserve, the yuan settlement will strengthen the
currency's role in the international trade," Hu said.
The governor revealed that Shanghai is also applying to the
central government for a trial of yuan-based settlement with
foreign trade partners.
Mayor Han also addressed the progress of the maglev project
connecting Shanghai's two airports. He said the government would
announce the appraisal result and invite experts to evaluate the
plan. Meanwhile, the government will listen to the opinions of
those residents who live nearby the maglev line.
Some residents have voiced concern on the possible pollution
caused by the speedy train after the initial plan was revealed.
For the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, the mayor said the
preparation work in on schedule.
Another hot topic is the trial of household registration
system, or hukou, which is designed to attract out-of-town
talents. The three-year test run enables new Shanghainese to
enjoy the same social insurance benefits as locals.
The mayor said more details of the hukou system will be
released in the second half of this year. |
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Disney Debuts Deals at Florida, California Resorts
Successful Meetings - Disney has announced two new
packages for groups meeting at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif.,
and at Walt Disney World in Orlando. Valid for meetings booked
by June 30, 2009, they include a choice of special meeting
incentives or unique theme park experiences.
At Disneyland, groups booking at least 25 rooms per peak night
during select 2009 dates at one of three resort properties—the
Disneyland Hotel, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa or
Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel—may choose one of the following:
• One Twilight Park Ticket: Attendees will receive
admission to one Disney theme park, valid after 4 p.m., along
with a $25 Disney Gift Card that may be used for dinner.
• Sponsored Disney Institute Keynote or Workshop: Groups
can enjoy either a special 90-minute Disney Institute keynote
presentation, titled "Leading and Sustaining a Culture of
Excellence in a Turbulent Economy," or a three-hour workshop.
• Roundtrip Airport Transportation: Attendees will
receive roundtrip motor coach service to and from Los Angeles
International Airport or Orange County Airport and their resort
hotel.
At Walt Disney World, meanwhile, groups booking at least 75
rooms per peak night—with a minimum three-night stay—for
meetings taking place between May 1 and Dec. 20, 2009, may
choose one of the following:
• A Magical Night: Attendees will receive admission to
one Disney theme park, valid after 4 p.m., along with a $25
Disney Gift Card that may be used for dinner.
• A Bold Idea: Groups can enjoy either a 90-minute Disney
Institute keynote address or a three-hour interactive workshop.
They'll also get one evening theme park pass for each room
that's occupied on peak night.
• A New Approach: Disney storytellers will lead a special
brainstorming session for groups that's focused on their goals
and includes a special branding and signing package for their
meeting.
For more information about Disney's Disneyland offer, call
1-714-520-7025 or visit
disneylandmeetings.disney.go.com.
For more information about Walt Disney World's offer, call
1-321-939-7111 or visit
disneymeetings.disney.go.com.
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O.C.
woman celebrates 107th birthday at Disneyland
 The
Orange County Register - Margaret "Mank" Johnstone awoke Sunday
after 107 years of living, slipped into a red blazer, applied
some red lipstick, put on her Mickey Mouse earrings and headed
to Disneyland.
"God was good to me," she said, when asked why she thinks she
has lived so long. "I've never tried to be special."
Johnstone, possibly Orange County's oldest resident (if
you're older let us know), caused more of a hubbub than Mickey
Mouse. "Hear ye, hear ye," the town crier shouted, ringing a
bell as the crowds parted for Johnstone's wheelchair. "Our
princess is 107 years old today!"
"No way!" came the replies.
"Amazing!" they said.
Alternately wearing mouse ears and a blinking princess tiara,
Johnstone smiled and waved like Miss America to her cheering
fans. Asked if she wanted water, she said no, just a Kleenex,
which she then tucked into the wristband of her watch.
When she finally found Mickey in Toontown, she puckered up
and laid one on him. She's got Mickey beat by 24 years.
Johnstone was born in a gold mining camp in Washington in
1902, back when people traveled by horse and buggy. She was a
girl when newspaper headlines screamed that the Titanic had
sunk. And she was a bicycle messenger for Western Union during
World War I. She and her husband, Kenneth, never had kids. They
lived (and golfed) in Hemet. He died back when Jimmy Carter was
president.
She later lived by herself in an apartment in Anaheim Hills
until she was 103. Her grandnieces moved her to a Fullerton
board-and-care home only because an arthritic knee had made it
too painful to stay on her feet while she cooked her meals.
"There were times in life when I felt tired and worn out, but
I woke up the next day," Johnstone said.
She uses a wheelchair because of her knee, but otherwise
feels fine. "When I lie down in bed, I get in by myself," she
said proudly.
To stay in shape, she holds onto a railing in the home's
hallway and pulls herself up out of her wheelchair to a standing
position about a dozen times a day.
What else does she do with her day? "Whatever strikes me at
the moment," she said. Napping is one of the things that often
strikes her. As for when naptime is, "Oh, most any time."
Maybe that's why she looks so darn good. Her skin is smooth
and downright dewy. And that's with nothing more than a morning
smearing of Oil of Olay face cream.
Asked if she had any other secrets, she offered, "Well, I've
never believed in eating two starches at the same meal." She
usually skips bread for her favorite, mashed potatoes and gravy.
She's also had her share of cocktail hour screwdrivers in her
life. And her favorite dessert, the family jokes, is whipped
cream: As in, "I'll have a little pie with my whipped cream."
Johnstone had a preventive double mastectomy in the 1960s
after her sister died of breast cancer. Asked if she had a
favorite time of her life, she told me: "I enjoyed the whole
bit."
As she said goodbye to Mickey and headed to the Jungle
Cruise, a park employee told her family they would have to come
back for Mickey's 107th birthday, to which Johnstone replied:
"See ya then!" |
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Walt Disney World has one of the lowest gas prices in the area
Examiner - With prices of
everything else at the Walt Disney World Resorts, who would have
thought that they would have some of the lowest gas prices in
the Central Florida area. You would expect to have to drive
quite a distance from the theme parks to find a decent price per
gallon. But to everyone’s surprise, the three Hess stations
located at Walt Disney World are very comparable, if not lower,
to area gas stations.
Yesterday’s price at the Hess stations was $1.89 per gallon
for the regular gas. The only gas stations in the area that
beat that price were those on US-192 (Irlo Bronson Highway)
west of the Walt Disney World Resorts. Prices at the many
gas stations along that road averaged $1.86 to $1.88 per
gallon of regular grade gas. Higher gas prices found
yesterday were on SR-535 (Apopka Vineland) near the exit to
Downtown Disney at the Shell and 7-Elevan’s with prices at
$1.95 per gallon for regular gas. The highest gas price in
the area was at the Chevron on SR-535, also by Downtown
Disney exit, with prices reaching $2.19 per gallon for
regular gas.
The Hess stations can be found at the following locations at
Walt Disney World:
- Across the street from
Downtown Disney on Buena Vista Drive.
- Across from the entrance to
Disney’s Hollywood Studios on the corner of Buena Vista
Drive and Epcot Resorts Boulevard.
- As you leave the Ticket and
Transportation Center and the Magic Kingdom Resorts area
before where Florida Way turns into World Center Drive.
The nation’s lowest gas price is $1.44 per gallon and the
highest is $3.10 per gallon, so the prices in Central
Florida are not that bad if compared to the highest in the
nation.
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Dwayne Johnson Talks Getting Physical In 'Witch Mountain'
Access Hollywood - He still might be best known as a man of
action, but don't plan on calling Dwayne Johnson "The Rock"
anymore. Years after completing his mission of conquering the
WWE wrestling circuit, Johnson has a new one - conquering the
box office.
"I love physicality and it's been a while since I have gone
back to the genre because I was just waiting for the right
opportunity," Dwayne told AccessHollywood.com's Dish of Salt,
Laura Saltman, in an interview about his latest film, "The Race
to Witch Mountain." "The action in this was a great opportunity
for me to kick some ass."
Johnson was still billed with his "Rock" moniker in action
movies like "The Scorpion King," "The Rundown," and "Doom," and
it allowed him to make an easy transition from wrestling
superstar in the ring to action superstar on the silver screen.
He broadened his audience and showcased his comedic chops
when he hosted "Saturday Night Live" in 2000 and 2002, and
expanded his demographic reach even further by starring in
family friendly films like "The Game Plan" and most recently
taking a stand-out supporting role in the Steve Carell-starring
hit remake of "Get Smart." And by this time, "The Rock" was no
longer seen sitting in between "Dwayne" and "Johnson" on the
movie poster credits.
Taking his personal game plan even further, Johnson stars as
the reluctant hero in the Disney re-imagining of its classic
"Witch Mountain" series from the 1970s.
"I loved the idea of playing the guy who's unlikely of being
the hero and he gets the opportunity to touch greatness and that
greatness is saving the world," he says of his role as Jack
Bruno, an ex-con turned Las Vegas taxi driver.
Something that perhaps sets this Disney film apart from
previous releases under the squeaky clean brand name is the
amped-up action, elaborate special effects, and high-octane
intensity that is played out for its young audience.
"Disney has been a great partner with us. They said 'push the
envelope' and give us something that you wouldn't necessarily
expect from a Disney movie," he said.
"But what's also important is that we are very aware of the
Disney brand so that we can infuse great adventure, great
action, great stunt sequences, infuse all that and making sure
we infuse that with the great elements that make up Disney too,"
he added. "You can't ever forget the core values which are heart
and family and humor. And in this case, the element of fantasy.
That was a great challenge to infuse all that, and at its core,
we told a good message."
In the diverse slate of films Johnson has starred in, taking
on the role of a man who unwittingly finds himself escorting and
protecting two teens with alien powers to a rendezvous point at
the mysterious Witch Mountain was a decision he is happy to
stand behind.
"I like all kinds of movies, but when family movies are done
correctly, every family member can relate to someone on that
screen," he said. "Whether it's me, you, parents, grandparents,
whoever it is, we can relate."
Although Johnson might be slowly softening his image on
screen, he is still a softie at heart regarding the type of
movies he most enjoys.
"I personally like movies that make me feel good. Typically
if I see a movie that makes me cry, like heart-wrenching crying,
I'm like 'God I don't want to do that!'" Dwayne said.
But what was the last movie that actually made him cry?
"It probably would have been 'The Wrestler,'" the man
formerly known as "The Rock" admitted. |
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D23
Entertainment and Lifestyle Magazine! D23 News
- The mystery behind Disney’s “Are you 23?” viral question is
quickly unraveling leading up to the March 10 reveal date.
At least one Barnes & Noble store has put out the new
quarterly “Disney Twenty Three” magazine a few days earlier than
they were supposed to and DC blog reader Joseph has sent me the
details about it.
A membership to the new D23 fan club includes:
- A membership card with a personalized charter member
certificate with characters drawn by David Pacheco
- A surprise collectible gift for D23 members from the new
Walt Disney Archives collection
- Exclusive special events and merchandise opportunities
- Discounted admission to the D23 Expo on 9/10-9/13/09 in
Anaheim, CA
That’s right, an official Disney convention for fans will be
taking place in or near Disneyland from Sept. 10-13, 2009, one
day after the 40th Anniversary event for The Haunted Mansion.
Note that being a member of D23 only grants you discounted
admission, which means the event will be open to anyone willing
to pay to attend.
The new magazine costs $15.95 and comes out four times a
year. The premiere issue’s cover contains a photo of Walt Disney
looking through the camera and the back cover is black with a
quote from Walt that reads, “It seems to me that we have a lot
of story yet to tell”.
Articles inside the photo filled 12″x12″ glossy magazine
include:
- The Disney Archives
- The Anne Liebovitz photo’s article
- Through Tim Burtons Looking Glass
- The Suite Story - Disney Gallery & Castle Suite
- On top of the World - cooking article
- Finding Pixar
- UP
- Sleeping Beauty Reawakens in the castle
- Writing the Next Chapter- Book article
- Little Mermaid on Broadway
- Spirit of 23- About Walt & company history
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Disneyland Paris launches Mickey Mouse online ad campaign
Brand Republic - Disneyland Paris is promoting Mickey Mouse's
Magical Party with savings on hotels and park tickets through a
new online ad campaign.
A homepage takeover on the MSN homepage launches today (6
March), with a wider campaign running across the MSN homepage,
the Entertainment hub and on MSN Messenger for the next two
weeks.
Disneyland Paris is looking to make MSN users aware of
various offers and promotions that are coming up, targeting
holidaymaking families travelling by Eurostar to the park.
The homepage takeover ad releases a balloon which flies up
the screen and forces the page to drop down. It is the first of
takeover of its kind on the MSN homepage.
The Zed Media campaign will also make use of behavioral
targeting techniques to channel the campaign to the appropriate
audiences. |
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Hong Kong Disneyland launches VIP experience program
Xinhua - Hong Kong Disneyland on Friday launched a star guest
program to help subscribers show their appreciation of any
extraordinary guests.
The program, running from March 6 to May 31, can offer a
chance for people to make their beloved happier at a time when
the dismal economy weighs on the minds of many people around the
world, a spokesperson for the theme park said.
Of course, the new service, which Disneyland marketed as the
first of such programs launched by Disney, can also serve to
make the happy happier.
The park designed the new program in hopes of offering
diversified experience at different seasons throughout the year,
the spokesperson said.
The star guests, typically wearing a badge, will be given
preferential treatment at the theme park and its two hotels,
including chances to lead parade or serve as a skipper during
the Jungle River Cruise, among others.
In some of the experiences, the guests will have tour guides
of their own. They may be allowed to arrange their schedule for
the visit to the park, too.
Other surprise "magic experiences" will also be created by
cast members.
Additional special experiences such as the star pass, star
finale and star tour will also be available to customers through
the Hong Kong Disneyland reservation center.
Hong Kong Disneyland, the smallest of several Disneyland
theme parks around the globe, has been open to tourists since
September 2005.
The park said so far it has seen no impact from a recent
adjustment in the ticket price for certain visitor groups, which
in effect the charge for adult tourists from outside Hong Kong
coming to the park as individual visitors.
Tourists from outside Hong Kong can still book ticket through
travel agencies so that the price will be still the same as
before the adjustment, it added. |
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Sunday
March 8, 2009 |
Disney's Princess Half Marathon: We have a winner!
Disney's Princess Half Marathon champion Liza Hunter-Galvan
breaks mold
Disney Chairman
Makes Movie Debut
Disney fans
can count on plentiful deals
Disney
launches four weeks of themed shows
Albert Lea High graduate designs sets for Disney Co |
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Disney's Princess Half Marathon: We have a winner!
Orlando Sentinel - Runners are still on the course, but the
winner of the inaugural Disney's Princess Half Marathon is Liza
Hunter Galvan! She finishes the 13.1-mile course in 1 hour, 18
minutes and 18 seconds. She hails from San Antonio but is
originally from Auckland, New Zealand. Congratulations!
Second across the finish line was Nadezhda Tuptova of
Gainesville. The Russian-born runner finished in 1:19:24.
The top local finisher, from Winter Park, Florida, was Kelly
Arribas in 1:26:46. She finished eighth overall.
Congratulations to our winners -- and everyone who
participated in the half marathon! It couldn't have been a more
beautiful spring morning over an amazing course. |
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Disney's Princess Half Marathon champion Liza Hunter-Galvan
breaks mold
Orlando Sentinel - Think back to your middle-school science
teacher.Did that instructor have four children? Could that
person run 13.1 miles faster than the nearly 7,500 entrants in a
particular race? Was that teacher a woman?
Meet Liza Hunter-Galvan, winner of the inaugural Disney's
Princess Half Marathon at Epcot on Sunday. She won in a time of
1 hour, 18 minutes, 18 seconds, beating runner-up Nadezhda
Tuptova of Russia by 1:06.
Galvan has taught for the past 13 years in San Antonio but is
taking a couple of years off to concentrate on running. She is
originally from Auckland, New Zealand.
"Running just gives you a sense of freedom and
self-control,'' Galvan said. "I find it a very spiritual
experience. Nothing beats it.''
Galvan, Tuptova and Firaya Sultanova were in the lead pack
after seven miles of the half marathon. As the runners hit Mile
10, Gulvan and Tuptova -- the 2008 Las Vegas Marathon women's
champion -- were batting for the lead when the runners hit a
hill in the course.
That gave Galvan her chance.
"It took me about a half-mile to drop her, but I finally
broke her,'' she said. "It was hard to break her.''
Galvan raced at Disney for the first time and was accompanied
by her children -- Amber, 14; Haleigh, 12; Taigen, 8; and
Tristan, 6. They celebrated Amber's birthday Thursday at the
park.
Galvan is a two-time Olympic marathoner, competing in 2004 in
Athens and 2008 in Beijing for New Zealand. She finished
35th last year.
Tuptova, who races out of Gainesville, has been running for
nine years.
"Today is Women's Day in Russia, so we celebrate with those
back home,'' she said through an interpreter.
Kelly Arribas of Winter Park was the top local finisher,
placing eighth overall in 1:26:46. That was exactly one minute
faster than the second local finisher, Heather Schulz of
Orlando.
Schulz almost didn't run after her husband, Frank, was taken
to the hospital Saturday night because of dehydration related to
food poisoning.
"If it weren't for running, I would probably need therapy,''
Schulz said. "It's almost like meditation.'' |
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Disney Chairman
Makes Movie Debut
The Business Insider - With all of the belt-tightening going on
at major studios, the director of Disney's upcoming Race to
Witch Mountain may have stumbled upon a smart fiscal
strategy when he chose not to cast a professional actor for the
small part of a train driver whose locomotive crashes after it
gets caught in "alien crossfire." Instead, the director gave the
part to Disney chairman Dick Cook.Ok, it might not have been
fiscal discipline that inspired the choice so much as director
Andy Fickman wanting to make an inside joke based on the fact
that Cook started his career with the company as a monorail and
steam locomotive driver at Disneyland in 1970. But still, we
doubt Disney had to pay its chairman for his brief appearance in
one of the studio's films.
In fact, we're all in favor of more cameos from Disney execs.
We'd love to see Bob Iger as a cab driver in the studio's summer
romantic comedy The Proposal. He could still be edited
in; someone get on that.
After all, Fickman's raving about the experience
of working with Cook: “There’s nothing like directing a guy who
could end your career on the spot,” he said. He jokingly added,
“He was a pleasure to work with, though – except for the
drinking.” |
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Disney fans
can count on plentiful deals
Dallas Morning News - If
you've long put off your kids' entreaties to take them on a
Disney vacation because of an aversion to long lines, high
prices and throngs of mouse-eared fans, you may soon be running
out of excuses.
Attendance at Disney's theme parks in the United States began
to slip in the last part of 2008, dropping about 5 percent from
a year earlier. To keep guests coming through the turnstiles in
2009, the company is rolling out deals not seen in years.
In Florida, the Walt Disney World Resort is offering a
seven-night vacation package at one of its 23 on-site hotels for
the price of four, including admission to the park itself. That
means a family of four could stay at a Disney-value resort such
as the Pop Century Resort for $1,375 in late April, a savings of
$416. While there are a few blackout dates, the bargain has
recently been extended for travel through Aug. 15. Travel in
early or late March and get a $200 Disney gift card.
In California, Disneyland is offering vacation packages from
two-night stays that include gift cards and adult tickets at the
children's price to a children-fly-free deal through Alaska
Airlines. Both Disneyland and Disney World are offering free
admission to active or retired U.S. military personnel and to
people who visit on their birthdays this year.
Not to be outdone, some of Disney's main competitors have
introduced packages to lure visitors. This month, Universal
Orlando Resort extended its five-nights-for-the-price-of-three
offer to families that book by March 29 and stay by Oct. 8.
Packages begin at $689 for a family of four, including lodging
and park entry. Families that book a four-night package, from
$789, get three nights free.
Walt Disney World Resort owns and operates 23 hotels, ranging
from motel-style lodging to an upscale hotel with views of the
Cinderella Castle and a full-service spa. There are only a few
options, however, for a family of five or more looking for
suite-style accommodations with a kitchenette and separate
living room at a hotel owned and operated by Disney.
As an alternative, several area Marriott hotels with suites
are offering a fourth-night-free deal, with rates from $89 a
night at the Fairfield Inn & Suites. MouseSavers.com offers
negotiated rates as low as $199 a night for a two-bedroom villa
that can sleep up to eight people at the Caribe Royal Orlando in
May. |
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Disney
launches four weeks of themed shows
Boston Globe - You can almost
picture the Disney honchos groping for a marketing sound bite
for their new venture, the Disney Matinee Club - an interactive
morning kids' program combining Walt Disney movies, singalongs,
costume dress-ups, parades, and other activities, all
facilitated by an "onscreen host" and kept to a breezy 90-minute
package.Nothing, however, is impossible in the Disney
Kingdom, which came up with a label: "entertainment experience."
And now through May, this experience is coming to movie theaters
near you, assuming they're digitally equipped. The first of four
themed one-week programs - the "Princess" program - runs through
March 12 at AMC Loews Boston Common, AMC Liberty Tree Mall, AMC
Framingham, and AMC Methuen, and Showcase Cinema de Lux at
Patriot Place. (Boston - considered a big family film-going city
- is one of two test markets for the Matinee Club, along with
Dallas.)
"It's almost like a variety show," said Jason Brenek, senior
vice president for worldwide digital cinema and cinema
programming at Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, who was in
Boston recently to promote it.
Except the "variety show" comes with a twist, since this
audience did not grow up in the heyday of such shows, broadcast
on black-and-white console TVs topped by rabbit ears. These
viewers are accustomed to HD, 3-D, surround sound, and
interactive technologies, so the concept has been ramped up
accordingly. In the "Princess" show, the audience is addressed
by a towering, real-life onscreen Sleeping Beauty, who interacts
with the audience like a high-def Miss Jean on "Romper Room."
"What a beautiful group you are!" the digitally remastered
princess enthuses in surround sound during one of the
entertainment experiences that precedes the Disney feature "Mulan."
She surveys the audience, attentively.
"Would you like to show me your dresses?" she asks. "Stand up
so I can see you better."
Note to parents: This is a BYOP - bring your own princess
dress - affair, though one imagines Disney seeing a retail
opportunity here too, down the line. However, a "church dress"
will do nicely, too, Brenek said.
Hokey? Just wait: Next comes "Sleeping Beauty Curtsy School."
You can imagine. Then there's the singalong with Ariel, the
Little Mermaid, singing "Part of Your World" while the lyrics
roll across the screen - odd, considering the target audience
for the Princess program is under-5 girls. "The kids know the
words," said Brenek. "It's the parents who need them."
If the hokeyness factor seems hopelessly retro, you can't
help but wonder whether Disney is on to something. As anyone who
has raised a princess knows, many little girls do go through
phases where tiaras rule. "At the focus groups, the kids were
mesmerized," Brenek said.
Plus, it's a way to introduce Disney classics to kids who
have probably only been exposed to them on DVDs. "They've never
seen them in a theatrical space, which is the way they were
intended to be seen," he said. Unfortunately Disney only
re-releases its classic animated films in theaters every seven
years - "the re-release business is not big business," he
acknowledged - so little girls hoping to see "Sleeping Beauty"
at the Princess matinee may be disappointed; they'll get "Mulan"
instead. "Sleeping Beauty" is, well, sleeping. "It's in the
vault,' " Brenek said.
The other three programs are geared to different age groups.
The "Adventures" program (March 27-April 2) is targeted to kids
between ages 4 and 7. There's a short film, "Test Pilot Donald,"
followed by the full-length "Tarzan." In lieu of curtsy school,
there's a monkey dodgeball game, which, as Brenek explains it,
involves kids yelling screen commands to release flying
coconuts. It has a "predetermined outcome," Brenek concedes, but
it gives the illusion of a giant video game.
In "Motormania" (April 17-23), intended for boys under 7,
four Disney characters race across the desert and kids get to
"choose" who will win. The movie is "Cars." The final matinee is
a "Pre-School" program (May 8-14) with a singalong parade, the
short film "Tugboat Mickey," and the feature, "Winnie the Pooh."
"It's a throwback to the movie matinees of the '50s and
'60s," said Brenek. It's also predicated on a few throwback
stereotypes. For example, the shows are scheduled for 10 a.m.
because "we think this will appeal to full-time moms, and
home-schooled kids," Brenek said. (How about downsized dads?)
Brenek says Disney's research shows that parents are craving
opportunities to take their kids to "affordable, engaging,
age-appropriate out-of-home activities." (The matinee costs $6
for all AMC theaters and $5 for Showcase Patriot Place.) Disney
will be paying careful attention to how the Boston audiences
respond so they can iron out any glitches. And in a format where
the onscreen princesses can't really see the kids they're
talking to and races always turn out the same way, there are
plenty of opportunities for glitches. What if kids attend twice,
and get wise to the system? What if only one family shows up?
"There's nothing worse than being the only person at a
singalong," Brenek said.
Still, "it sounds pretty good," said David Bramante, who
co-owns the West Newton Cinema - home to countless Disney films
over the years - but who will not be showing the matinees
because of a lack of digital equipment. "It reminds me of the
stories I hear from old-time customers, when going to movies was
a combination of different types of entertainment. It strikes me
as an innovative way of getting younger people in the theaters."
If Disney has its way, theaters like the West Newton will
soon be able to show the matinees. "It's part of a bigger
initiative around digital cinema," said Brenek. Disney is taking
the initiative to install digital projection equipment in
theaters around the country, to "upgrade the entire industry" -
the better to market its expanding digital programming including
the Digital 3-D "Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both
Worlds Concert," and "Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert
Experience."
"In the long term, people will be viewing cinemas as an
alternative venue for seeing special events," he said. "And we
want to create those events."
For information about the Disney Matinee Club, go to
www.disney.com/matineeclub |
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Albert Lea High graduate designs sets for Disney Co.
Albert Lea Tribune - Creating the
impression of glistening snowflakes falling from the sky in
Southern California requires a lot of imagination, a quality Tom
Butsch has worked a lifetime to develop.Butsch, a 1964 Albert
Lea High School graduate, works as a set designer for live
performances at Disneyland and other venues. He describes his
working life as hectic, fun and constantly interesting.
Orville Gilmore and Wally Kennedy were two of Butsch’s high
school teachers directing a pilot program in the arts and
humanities which was designed to foster student interest in
English literature, painting and performing arts. Butsch says it
worked like a charm for him. “They influenced a lot of us, not
so much to have careers in the arts, but to care about them. I
believe Kennedy was later involved with the Urban Arts Program
in Minneapolis.”
Butsch went to the University of Minnesota intending to major
in painting, but gravitated toward the theater. Working in
summer stock and with a theater troupe, the Stagecoach Players,
he discovered an aptitude for production. Graduating in 1968, he
began working on scenery design at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres
while waiting to be drafted into the U.S. Army. It was the
beginning of a long association. But first came the Vietnam War.
Assigned to an infantry company as part of a mortar crew, Butsch
found his artistic skills taking him out of combat.
“A staff sergeant saw some drawings I had done, so he had me
make signs and posters on the base,” he said. “I became a clerk.
I was only in the field for four months.”
Returning to Minnesota after the war he was hired as a set
designer at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres in 1971, a position he
would hold until 1985. He also did freelance work in the
burgeoning Twin Cities theater community.
“It was a lot of work but I loved it. I still have many
Minnesota friends,” he said.
A friend in Los Angeles urged him to head west. “I wanted to
try something else.”
Hired as a set designer for TV situation comedies such as
“Different Strokes” and “What a Country,” he also worked as a
consultant on special projects for various production companies.
Butsch had a friend who had a friend who worked for the Walt
Disney Co.
In 1988 he was hired to design sets for live stage
productions at Disneyland and later for other Disney theme parks
in Orlando, Fla., Paris, France and Tokyo, Japan. Married and
with two grown children, Butsch works primarily in the Los
Angeles area and credits modern technology with making him more
productive.
“In the old days all the design work had to done by hand,” he
said. “Now we can use computer graphics and that’s so much
faster.”
Butsch has designed Disney floats for the Rose Parade, the
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and many other events, both large
and small. He helped design the Disney-themed stamps for the
U.S. Postal Service. For the premiere of the movie “Pocahontas”
Butsch designed the stage on which four gigantic screens showed
the new film to a crowd of 100,000 people at New York City’s
Central Park. He also designed the sets for a stage production
of “The Lion King” at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
Currently playing at Disneyland’s Fantasyland Theater is
“Disney’s Princess Fantasy Faire,” based on the Disney Princess
characters.
Butsch designed the sets for the show, which began it’s run
on Oct. 6, 2006. Now working on the upcoming production
“Wintertime Enchantment II,” slated to open at Main Street USA
on Nov. 21, he recalls his work on the sets of “Disney’s Snow
White: An Enchanting Musical” an on-stage 28-minute production,
as being his favorite working experience.
“It was an open air theater with a canvas roof. We embedded
LED lights in the roof to give the impression of snow falling.” |
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