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May 4 - 10, 2008 |
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Saturday
May 10, 2008 |
Theme
parks preparing for long, dry summer
Players protest closing of Disney's Virtual Magic Kingdom
The Disney Formula
Sister triathletes lead team at Walt Disney World fundraiser
WDW's Wolfgang Puck Express Restaurant Designed by Architect
Anthony Eckelberry |
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Theme parks
preparing for long, dry summer
MarketWatch - While theme-park operators have yet to feel a
full-throated assault on their revenue from a sluggish economy,
trouble could be just around the corner.
Gas price increases show no signs of letting up, and there seems
to be little evidence of renewed prosperity on the horizon. It's
all likely to hit theme-park numbers at some point, industry
professionals say.
Walt Disney Co. and Six Flags Inc. both just reported quarterly
results this past week, and neither one gave investors any
trouble signs. Yet each could face their own hurdles down the
road if the economy erodes even further, and Six Flags already
has launched a pre-emptive strike, lowering prices to bring in
volume.
"We're not seeing any good
information out there that points to a stellar season," said
Dennis Speigel, president of International Theme Park
Services, an industry consultant. "We're putting our chips
on a flat-to-down season."
It's unclear, though, that
there will be trouble for the parks, which so far are
off to a good start. Disney reported an 11% rise in
parks revenue and a more than 30% leap in operating
income for the division during its fiscal second
quarter, which ended in March. The company said its
parks also got a lift from Easter being at an earlier
point on the calendar this year.
Consultants say Disney
benefits from operating "destination" parks in
California and Florida that attract tourists from across
the country and overseas. The same is true for Universal
Studios parks in both regions. Officials from Universal,
a unit of General Electric Co. would not comment for
this story.
Plus, overseas tourists
are taking advantage of a weak dollar, and Disney is
benefitting from that. But Disney also is better
positioned to absorb economic shocks than it has in
recessions past, company officials say. It's not
just domestic theme parks anymore; Disney also has
facilities in Hong Kong and Paris, as well as its
cruise-ship business and vacation business, a
spokesman said.
Disney had high
attendance even when gas prices spiked during 1999
and 2000, as fuel costs often have little bearing on
pilgrimages to a Disney park, the company says. It
was the travel scare following the Sept. 11, 2001,
terror attacks that took a bite out of Disney's
business, particularly at Walt Disney World in
Orlando, Fla.
Fear factor
John Gerner, an
industry consultant, concurs. Gerner, the managing
director of Leisure Business Advisors LLC of
Richmond, Va., said that gas spikes usually have
little to do with vacation planning. It was only the
gas shortages of the 1970s that caused some to cut
their vacation plans.
"They were much more
concerned about being able to get gas than how much
it was," Gerner said.
In a conference
call last week with analysts, Disney Chief
Executive Robert Iger also pointed out that in
Orlando, the company's hotel room inventory has
multiplied, leaving 75% of the rooms available
at a mid-priced or "value" rate.
During the 1990-91
recession, Disney's parks felt more of an impact
because more than half the rooms at its Orlando
resort were categorized as "premium" priced.
Iger was quick to add that a family of four can
stay and visit Walt Disney World for a week for
around $1,600.
It's uncertain
whether that kind of thinking will be enough to
keep the parks hopping, says Thor Degelmann, CEO
of Leisure Entertainment Development &
Operations in Newport Beach, Calif.
While international
tourism seems to be keeping Disney's numbers up,
that may not last. If that segment of the
business -- normally comprising a single-digit
percentage of sales -- starts to falter then
Disney may have to rely more heavily on
cross-country tourism.
Should gas prices
continue to rise and perhaps hit the $5
threshold, that could scare away visitors,
Degelmann said.
"That would scare me if I committed to driving
2,000 miles round-trip to get there," Degelmann
said.
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 The
game, launched in the summer of 2005 to promote the 50th
anniversary of Disneyland, attracted thousands of fans who
created more than 1 million avatars who trade virtual items and
play games to earn credits.
On Saturday morning, members of
the group plan to protest the game's shuttering around the
entrance to Disneyland in Anaheim. The game is set to close on
May 21 at 10 p.m. Pacific time.
"I've put three years of my life
into this," said Andrew Lawson, a 16-year-old from Sun City,
Calif.
Lawson said he plays the game 20
hours a week and has developed friendships with other players
that can't be replaced elsewhere.
According to VMK.com rules,
players are not allowed to reveal their real identities, e-mail
addresses or phone numbers as a safety measure—rules enforced by
staff monitors. The game is only open when moderated, from 7
a.m. to 10 p.m. Pacific time.
Scott Lawson, Andrew's father,
said his family stayed at the Disneyland Resort three times,
spending about $2,000 each time, to obtain a virtual hat based
on Disney's "Lilo & Stitch" series.
"We're saddened and upset at how
Disney handled this whole thing," said the 45-year-old traveling
salesman.
Walt Disney Co. spokesman John
Spelich, a vice president in the Walt Disney Internet Group,
said the company decided to close the site because it was
promotional and he encouraged players to go to other Disney
virtual worlds.
DisneyFairies.com had nearly 6
million avatars created in its "Pixie Hollow" game, while
Disney's "ToonTown Online" had more than 20 million, the company
said.
Combined with "Pirates of the
Caribbean Online" and "Club Penguin," more than 40 million
avatars have been created in other Disney worlds. Portions of
each site were free.
"You'd rather do anything in the
world than disappoint a guest," Spelich said. "But in this
particular instance, this promotional site is going to come to
an end. We have invited those players who like features of VMK
to sample the other ways we're offering to engage with Disney
online." |
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The Disney Formula
Globe
and Mail - In Billion-Dollar Kiss, one of my favourite books
about television, Jeffrey Stepakoff tells about writing for TV's
Dawson's Creek, which had started
out strong but after a few seasons was beginning to drop in the
ratings. One of the show's writers had a suggestion – have Pacey
and Joey, two antagonistic characters, kiss. That kiss created
such a stir that people started watching again, and the show did
well enough for long enough to become syndicated. It may not
have meant $1-billion – only shows like
Seinfeld do that well – but syndication is the cash cow for
any TV show.
I was
reminded of the kiss when I was reading about Miley Cyrus
and her controversial photos in Vanity Fair. What interested
me wasn't the argument that the photos were too provocative
for a 15 year old, but that Ms. Cyrus is considered
Walt Disney Co.
billion-dollar star, when you add up her show
Hannah Montana, her concert film
and tour, and all that merchandising. So one kiss can make
tens of millions of dollars, while one provocative photo can
threaten to break a billion-dollar franchise.
That
is, of course, the risk in investing in entertainment
companies. Tastes change, stars fall out of favour, hit
shows don't rebound after a television writers' strike.
While
the Miley Cyrus controversy raged this week, Disney released
its second-quarter results and they were impressive: a
22-per-cent increase in profit to $1.1-billion (U.S.) for
the quarter, or 58 cents a share. Analysts were expecting
earnings of 50 cents a share. Even the company's theme
parks, which analysts thought might take a hit with the
slowing U.S. economy, did well.
The
results reveal some of what we've all come to know about
Disney: It is the expert in creating massive franchises out
of its successes – not just Hannah
Montana, but also High School
Musical and Pirates of the
Caribbean. While the Miley Cyrus crisis appears to be
waning, you can't help but think that despite her celebrity
Disney is smart enough to have a pipeline of new young stars
to replace her just in case. The company also has a
wholesome, family image that it has always worked hard to
maintain. “Disney is the gold standard in entertainment,”
says Jeff Bock, a box-office analyst at Exhibitor Relations
Co., an entertainment-related research company. “They are
into everything. They get kids in their tweens and hold on
to them for the rest of their lives. Then they bring in
their kids. It's a cycle that never ends.”
But
Disney's success – and that of entertainment companies in
general – may run a little deeper. Yes, cultural consumers
can be fickle and the industry is notoriously competitive,
but consumers are also placing a greater value on
entertainment in their lives than ever before. Investors
might think that toothpaste and prescriptions drugs are
recession proof, but entertainment is something new to
consider.
We
spend our shared family time around entertainment, says
Robert J. Thompson, director of the Bleier Center for
Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University. And
with the increased fragmentation of pop culture – where
children have their own computers and televisions – it's the
way we spend a lot of time alone, too.
“We
give lip service to quality time with family, but we are
increasingly spending it as time watching family
entertainment: DVDs, television, video games,” Mr. Thompson
says. “It's how we live our lives now.”
It's an
important concept for investors to register, especially as
the U.S. economy slows. In times of recession, consumers
don't cut back on staples.
Mr.
Bock believes that Disney is the entertainment company that
is most recession-proof. It has “a marketing machine like no
other,” he says, and targets a lucrative market that few
companies acknowledge – young females. In the short term, he
says that two of the company's films coming out this summer
are almost certain blockbusters – the second
Chronicles of Narnia instalment,
Prince Caspian, and
Wall-E, an animated film with a
robot character that is so likeable that “Disney even out-cuted
themselves.” So cute that Entertainment Weekly predicts it
will rake in $280-million-plus.
As
investors who are aware of Disney's business strategy know,
that's only the box office returns. Then there's the
merchandising and DVD sales, and maybe a video game and a
park ride to follow. It's how Disney works, and how it
became considered the blue-chip stock amongst media
companies. Remaining recession-proof would only bolster that
reputation.
In last
week's column, I passed on advice about how investors in
mutual funds should do their homework and calculate just how
much money they are making. In trying to make the equation
as simple as possible, I left out an important fact and just
made things more complicated.
So
here, again, is how to figure out your returns:
First,
figure out your total return (which includes all interest,
dividends and capital gains) and then figure out all your
costs, including fees and commissions other than MERs – the
cost of managing the funds. The industry standard for mutual
funds is to report returns with MERs already subtracted.
When
you've figured out your results, compare them to an
appropriate benchmark. For example, if your mutual funds are
in Canadian equities, you can compare that to the S&P/TSX
composite index. The website showmethebenchmark.com can also
help find the right benchmark for you.
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Sister triathletes lead team at Walt Disney World fundraiser
Orlando Sentinel - This is the second
Mother's Day that Kaley and Chloe Crebs don't have a mom, but
they refuse to spend it grieving.
On Sunday, the Longwood sisters will lead a team of more than 50
of their mother's friends, who will swim, sweat and cycle in the
Danskin Women's Triathlon, a breast-cancer fundraiser at Walt
Disney World.
"I think my mom would have wanted us to do this," said Chloe,
15. "It's an inspiration to see all these ladies out there
participating."
The idea came to them last year, only a few months after their
mother, Lynn Crebs, died. She was 48.
"I knew I didn't really want to be in church and listen to
everybody talk about moms," said Kaley, 21. "I knew I wanted to
do something different."
So when Tess Angeline, one of Lynn's best friends, told the
Crebs sisters she was planning to participate in the
breast-cancer triathlon, they signed on, too.
The timing and cause were perfect, Kaley said. Last year, the
sisters raced along with seven of their mom's friends. This
year, they spread the word and, before long, friends of friends
were joining.
The sisters' father, Tim, and 18-year-old brother, Kyle, will be
cheering them on for a second year.
When the girls stood at the edge of the Seven Seas Lagoon last
year, ready to start the triathlon, the speakers blared out one
of their mother's favorite songs: "Brick House."
"I was standing there in tears," Tim Crebs said. "That was
confirmation that my wife was up there, with us."
Lynn Crebs was diagnosed with stage-3 breast cancer in 2003. She
withstood chemotherapy without complaint. If she felt bad, she
never let it show.
"When she told us she had breast cancer, she said she was going
to put her faith in God," Chloe remembered. "She said, 'Don't
worry about it; just pray.' And that's what we did."
After the chemotherapy sent the cancer into remission, Lynn and
Tim continued to take their kids camping, even driving across
the country to visit Yellowstone and Glacier national parks. She
kept home-schooling. She even joined Weight Watchers, determined
to take off a few pounds.
Then biking became a passion for Lynn. In the summer of 2006,
inspired by her son's new bike, Lynn got one, too. Soon a bunch
of her friends got bikes. And their husbands and children all
got bikes.
By the end of the summer, Lynn had logged more than 1,000 miles
on her bike.
"We would ride the [Seminole] Wekiva Trail every day," says
Angeline, 38, who had joined Weight Watchers with Lynn. "We
often thought: 'Are we crazy? It's like 100 degrees out here.
Why aren't we waiting until January?'
"But she wasn't here in January."
Indeed, that October, Chloe noticed that Lynn looked unusually
tan, a result of jaundice. And she began getting bloated. When
Lynn went to her doctor for a blood test, the news wasn't good.
The cancer was back, and it had spread to her liver.
Two weeks later, Lynn was dead.
As the kids struggled to cope with the loss of their mom and Tim
tried to handle his grief and the children's, Lynn's friends
tried to help.
"We were distraught," says Angeline. "I was trying to take care
of my kids and my family and her kids and her family."
A few months after Lynn's death, Angeline began training for the
breast-cancer triathlon: a quarter-mile swim, a nine-mile bike
ride and a two-mile run. Because it's an event for women only,
she encouraged the Crebs sisters to try it with her.
"It turned into one of the best grieving processes," the
Sorrento woman says. "It was a target, a focus. It allowed us to
put our energy into accomplishing a united goal. And because it
was going to be their first Mother's Day without their mom, it
was really part of their survival."
Together, Kaley, Chloe and Angeline, along with six other
friends, cheered one another on through the triathlon. After she
crossed the finish line, Kaley felt proud of herself, but also
suddenly peaceful, certain that her mom would be proud of her,
too.
This year, Kaley and Chloe invited more of their mother's
friends to join them. To their amazement, more than 50 have
signed up, including two of their aunts; mothers and daughters;
and friends of friends.
When Kaley e-mailed Linda Werner, director of Circle Christian
School, where the Crebs siblings have attended classes, Werner
was intrigued.
"I'm 55 years old and I don't like exercise, but I thought: You
know what? I'll do it for you and for your mom and the other
moms at the school who are battling breast cancer."
Other mothers from the school joined in. "It just exploded, and
now there's 25 to 35 of us who have never done this before,"
Werner says.
For the Crebses, the race is their way to remember a determined,
loving woman.
"I know, hands down, that my mom would be in the race if she
could be," Kaley says. "But I don't think she'd be surprised by
what we're doing. I think she knew what we were capable of." |
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WDW's Wolfgang Puck Express Restaurant Designed by Architect
Anthony Eckelberry
Dexigner - Architect Anthony Eckelberry has
completed the redesign and expansion of the Wolfgang Puck
Express restaurant in Orlando Florida.
A new dining room structure was added to the building and the
existing space was remodeled for better customer flow and visual
appeal.
The restaurant now has double the previous seating capacity.
The restaurant's contemporary design features the brand's deep
chocolate brown and accent green colors, sumptuous leather
booths and banquettes, light wood table tops, and two
family-style tables, making Wolfgang Puck Express the perfect
gathering place for friends and family, whether for breakfast,
lunch or dinner.
Other design features include black and white photos of Chef
Puck and fresh ingredients that are commonplace in the kitchen.
Floor-to-ceiling glass doors offer a complete view of the
bustling dining room from the new and expanded patio with brick
columns and awnings. |
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Friday
May 9, 2008 |
'Teacups' beating
victim sues Disney
'Flogos' will
create Mickey Mouse clouds
"Prince Caspian" is the newest "prince" to join the Disney's
Hollywood Studios family of stars
Disney parks
attract more Europeans
Disney, UTV
seal $203 mil deal
Panini bags Disney brands
'Vanity Fair' photos of young Disney star not at all obscene
Months of Talks End in New Contract for ABC’s President |
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'Teacups' beating
victim sues Disney
Orlando Sentinel - A Clermont woman who was beaten by another
park visitor at Walt Disney World has sued the theme park,
saying that its negligence caused her to suffer permanent
injuries.
Eben Self, an attorney for Aimee Krause, said that he filed suit
in Orange County Court on his client's behalf late Thursday
afternoon. In a complaint provided to the Orlando
Sentinel by Self, Krause and her husband, Paul, claim that
Disney World provided inadequate staff and security at the Mad
Tea Party ride, where Krause was beaten by Victoria Walker of
Anniston, Ala., in May 2007.
They also claim that the theme park did not adequately train its
staff to recognize security threats such as those posed by
Walker, that the park didn't remove her from the ride prior to
the beating, in spite of park goers' requests, and that it
bungled its investigation of the beating.
Paul Krause also is suing Disney World for the loss of his
wife's support and companionship in the aftermath of the attack.
When reached Thursday evening, Disney spokeswoman Kim Prunty
said she had no knowledge of Krause's litigation.
Last month, an Orange County jury convicted Walker of battery.
During the trial, Krause and several witnesses testified that
she was beaten and kicked by Walker because Walker was upset
that she and members of her church group lost their place in
line.
On the stand, Walker admitted that she grabbed Krause by the
hair but denied she harmed her otherwise. She also said Krause
provoked her.
Two doctors testified that Krause suffered permanent brain
damage and psychological trauma in the beating, but the defense
cast doubt on the severity of her injuries, noting that there
was little physical evidence from tests to substantiate her
claims.
The jury convicted Walker of battery, the least-serious charge
she faced. The jury also delivered a special finding saying that
Krause suffered minor injuries in the attack. |
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'Flogos' will
create Mickey Mouse clouds
Imagine gazing up into the sky and seeing fluffy white clouds
drift by shaped like the McDonald’s arches or Mickey Mouse -
welcome to the new frontier of advertising.
 A
special effects entrepreneur from America has come up with a way
to create foam clouds shaped like corporate logos that will
float up to 20,000ft into the air.
The 4ft wide shapes, which are
made from tiny soapy bubbles filled with helium, can travel for
around 30 miles before evaporating into thin air.
Francisco Guerra, whose company,
Snowmasters Inc., makes machines that churn out fake snow for
Hollywood films, is the man behind “Flogos”.
He has developed a machine which
can manipulate the bubbles into any shape and pump them into the
sky at a rate of one every 15 seconds.
The concept has already
attracted attention from The Walt Disney Co and Mr Guerra has
been commissioned to send clouds shaped like Mickey Mouse into
the sky above Disney World in Florida.
Mr Guerra said: “Flogos are a
revolutionary way to market products, services and events.
“It’s a shock factor when you
look up and there’s a logo over your head.
“They will fly for miles, they
are durable so they last a while. The secret is our formulation
and equipment. We’re able to keep the cloud together for a long
time.
“The Flogo clouds can hover at
various heights, depending on the amount of helium and oxygen
mixed into the formula. As a norm, they’ll fly about 300 to 500
feet high but they can sail much higher or lower if needed.”
He insists the Flogos are
environmentally safe because they are made from just water, air,
helium and a soapy agent.
Tests have shown that they pop
just like bubbles and disappear on contact with a tree or
building, sometimes leaving a powdery residue that blows away.
Major League Baseball franchises
and various Fortune 500 companies are reported to have expressed
an interest, as well as a presidential campaign. |
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"Prince Caspian" is the newest "prince" to join the Disney's
Hollywood Studios family of stars
 Disney
News - "Prince Caspian" will soon be the newest prince to join
the Disney's Hollywood Studios family and make appearances at
the Walt Disney World theme park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The
"Prince Caspian" theme park character -- seen here in a
promotional photo shoot at Walt Disney World Resort -- is
scheduled to begin regular meet-and-greet appearances on May 16,
2008 at the showbiz-themed park. That same day, "The Chronicles
of Narnia: Prince Caspian" is scheduled to debut in U.S.
theaters. The film, presented by Walt Disney Pictures and Walden
Media, is the second motion picture based on C.S. Lewis' series
of classic books. The series' first film, the 2005 hit, "The
Chroncles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,"
earned more than $745 million worldwide. |
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Disney parks
attract more Europeans
Bombay - More people are visiting the once deserted Disney theme
parks in Europe.
Things are looking up for Euro
Disney in Paris which has revealed an operating profit of 1.3
million euros in the first half of its financial year which
ended in March.
That compares with a operating
loss of 36.3 million euros for the same period a year earlier.
Attendance has been up by 14.8%
.
Costs were also up by 10%, due
to the hiring of more workers to cope with the extra visitors
and spending on new attractions. |
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Disney,
UTV seal $203 mil deal
The Hollywood Reporter - The Walt Disney Co. has formalized a
deal to spend $203 million to raise its equity stake in
Bollywood's UTV Software Communications, Mumbai-based UTV said
Friday.
In the deal announced in February, Disney's stake in UTV rose to
32.1% from 14.9%. In the deal now closed, UTV sold equity to
Disney at $21.5 per share.
UTV Motion Pictures is among the biggest studios in Asia. It has
12-18 movies slated this year, including M. Night Shyamalan's
thriller "The Happening," a co-production with 20th Century Fox.
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Panini bags Disney brands
Licensing.biz - Panini has added two significant titles to its
portfolio - one a new launch and the other an existing magazine
it is taking on from the BBC.
Disney Presents launches with content on Enchanted to tie in
with the release of the film on DVD. The title will cover
favourite girl lifestyle content, in addition to featuring a
cover mounted A1 double-sided poster and Enchanted foil sticker
sheet.
The series continues with a High School Musical poster mag
special on issue two and Hannah Montana on issue three. The
latest Disney/Pixar movie Wall-E will be featured on issue four.
The monthly title will have a cover price of £2.10 and will be
aimed at ages eight to 12.
In addition, Panini is taking on the publishing of WITCH
magazine from the BBC from May 14th.
The four weekly title will return to its original A4 size format
and will feature a cover mounted notebook and pen set. To
support the transfer of business, the title will benefit from an
increased level of trade marketing activity to ensure sales are
maximized coming into the key seasonal period.
In terms of editorial content, the magazine will continue to
include gossip, fashion, quizzes, puzzles, horoscopes and
competitions, in addition to a 32-page comic strip.
"We are delighted to be taking over the publishing of WITCH
magazine, which sits perfectly alongside our existing Disney
tween property High School Musical and our exciting new launch,
Disney Presents," said Rebecca Smith, circulation controller at
Panini.
"The brand synergies enable us to offer even greater depth of
Disney coverage across all titles." |
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'Vanity Fair' photos of young Disney star not at all obscene
USA Today - 'Vanity Fair'
photos of young Disney star not at all obscene Poor Miley Cyrus.
Give the kid a break! I am the 56-year-old mother of four happy,
successfully grown children — three of them daughters — and I
admire this 15-year-old for all she has done in the past year,
including posing for Vanity Fair magazine.
How many of us could work as
hard as Cyrus has and still smile and be gracious?
The photo shows a vulnerable
young girl on the edge of womanhood. She is not overly made
up, and only her upper back is shown. She probably shows
more skin on the beach or in an evening gown. No one
complains about that.
If the photo had been shot
with Cyrus looking sleazy, then I might object. But for
2008, I don't think the photos are obscene in any way.
Her parents were there at
the photo shoot with her, by the way. And the photographer
was the legendary Annie Leibovitz. Miley has nothing to be
ashamed of or apologize for.
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Months of Talks End in New Contract for ABC’s President
New York Times - The Walt Disney Company signed the
president of ABC Entertainment, Stephen McPherson, to a new
contract, signaling confidence in the maverick executive’s
ability to deliver new hits to succeed workhorses like
“Grey’s Anatomy.”The
agreement, which was completed Thursday after months of
negotiations, locks up one of Hollywood’s most highly
regarded creative developers for an unspecified number of
years. “His ability to identify talent and develop
successful shows is second to none,” said Anne Sweeney,
co-chairman of Disney Media Networks and Mr. McPherson’s
direct boss, in a statement.
A spokeswoman for Mr.
McPherson said he was not immediately available to comment.
In a statement, he said, “I feel really fortunate to get the
opportunity to continue on with the phenomenal team.”
The renewal of his contract
had not been guaranteed. Mr. McPherson, known for his
competitive nature and frank discourse, has at times had a
testy relationship with colleagues at Disney, where
executives are expected to stay on message and get along
with corporate siblings.
Mr. McPherson, 42, had made
it known that he was interested in taking on more
responsibility, and it was unclear whether he would stay
without gaining oversight of additional turf. The details of
his new contract are unknown, but it does not include
oversight of the ABC Television Studio, according to a
person with knowledge of the terms but who was not
authorized to speak publicly about the matter.
Disney is relying on Mr.
McPherson to lead ABC through a thicket of industry
problems. Advertisers, already moving dollars from
television to the Internet, are coming under additional
spending pressure due to the lagging economy. Viewership
continues to tumble. And the television industry, still
hurting from the recent writers strike, now faces the
possibility of an actors strike over the summer.
Mr. McPherson has played a
direct or indirect role in shaping some of the biggest hits
on television in recent years, including “Grey’s Anatomy”
and “Dancing with the Stars.” The network has not delivered
any home runs lately but has managed to score more singles
and doubles than most of its rivals.
Since Mr. McPherson took
over the network, ABC has risen to second place from last
among the four major broadcast networks, as measured by
viewership among people age 18 to 49, the demographic most
advertisers pay a premium to reach. The rise is particularly
impressive because it was accomplished despite the departure
of “Monday Night Football” to ESPN.
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Thursday
May 8, 2008 |
Celebrity Moms Celebrate Mother's Day at Walt Disney World
Super Bowl XLII MVP Eli Manning Parades Down Main Street USA
Disney’s Newly Crowned Prince, Plucked From a London Stage
Disney Honors 100 Students as Dreamers and Doers
Can Dubailand attract
Disney?
Disney still hammering out details of Night Kingdom
Double-digit percentage gain in Disneyland attendance
The Secret to Disney
Savings
Celebrity teen scandals marring Disney's image
Tiscali
inks movie deal with Sony and Disney
Citizen
Journalism, Live From Disney World
Annual passholders get weekend peeks at Disney World, Universal
Orlando |
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Celebrity Moms Celebrate Mother's Day at Walt Disney World
Disney News - If you find it difficult to find something special
to give your mom for Mothers' Day, you may draw some inspiration
from the way some of the stars of Hispanic television chose to
honor their moms, by creating a magical moment during a visit to
Walt Disney World.
Among the celebrities who came
up with an original way to celebrate Mother's Day are Giselle
Blondet and Paola Gutierrez whose mothers had the opportunity to
live an enchanting fantasy with their daughters.
Puerto Rican actress and
Univision TV-host Giselle Blondet, decided to give her mother a
different kind of gift than what she receives every year.
She treated her mother, Alba
Gómez, to a day of fame with a Hollywood-star style makeover in
preparation for a movie star photo shoot directed by Mickey
Mouse and Minnie Mouse at Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios.
Emmy award-winning Univision
news anchor and author, Maria Elena Salinas, was invited by her
daughters, Gaby and Julia, to a special afternoon treat of high
tea and pastries, which they shared with Sleeping Beauty's
Princess Aurora at the luxurious Grand Floridian Hotel. "We love
coming to this place, my daughters are my princesses," said
Maria Elena Salinas. "It is our very own special time to escape
our everyday and go to a place where we know that, together, we
will really enjoy ourselves."
Meanwhile, Paola Gutierrez -a
correspondent for the morning show "Despierta America"- and her
daughters Antonella and Isabella went all out and brought
grandma Norma San Martin from their native Bolivia, so that she
could be Queen for a Day in the Magic Kingdom, in special
magical moment hosted by Cinderella, Snow White and Belle.
"My mom had always dreamt about
being a queen, even if it was only for one day," said Gutierrez.
Her mother added, "This experience changed my life. After that
day I've felt like a real queen." Antonella stated, "being a
princess is not an easy job, but it sure is beautiful."
These very special moments for
these mothers took place during the Year of a Million Dreams
celebration at Disney Parks. This celebration continues to grant
one million people, randomly chosen among the guests at Disney
parks, magical moments, such as staying over at Cinderella's
Castle for one night, getting a special VIP escort and fast
access to attractions, and many other special surprises.
Among the activities that can be
shared with moms at Walt Disney World are tours during the
Flowers and Garden Festival and attending performances such as
Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba. The heart of Downtown Disney also
offers an array of shops, great dining and clubs to wrap up the
festivities.
And in case all this is not
enough, you can treat your mom to a day at a Disney Spa, where
she will feel completely renovated after receiving a massage,
manicure, pedicure and other exotic beauty treatments.
For more information about the
"The Year of a Million Dreams" celebration, please visit http://disneyparks.disney.go.com.
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Super Bowl XLII MVP Eli Manning Parades Down Main Street USA
From the Super Bowl “field of dreams” to the place “where dreams
come true,” Eli Manning of the New York Giants, MVP of the 2008
Super Bowl game, paid a visit to Disneyland today, three months
after shouting the famous “I’m going to Disneyland!” victory
phrase.
Manning was accompanied by his new bride, Abby McGrew, in a
cavalcade down Main Street, U.S.A., accompanied by Disneyland
characters. His visit also included a dream-come-true meeting
with young football players from the Tustin (Calif.) Pop Warner
football team.
 His
post-game “I’m going to Disneyland” pronouncement was captured
on tape February 3 just moments after the Giants’ dramatic 17-14
upset victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII
at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. It
was the latest episode of the “I’m going to Disneyland”
commercial produced over a 22-year span. Manning led his team on
an improbable 83-yard drive where he scrambled, broke tackles
and completed clutch passes before he tossed a 13-yard touchdown
pass to receiver Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds left in the
game.
Manning was originally slated to visit the Anaheim theme park
the day after the game, but bad weather, flight delays and
commitments to fans in New York forced a postponement.
The first of the “I’m going to Disneyland” commercials appeared
in 1987 and featured New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms
following his team’s triumph in Super Bowl XXI. The commercial
was regarded as a groundbreaking concept – a produced national
commercial involving a current event, airing on major networks
hours after the event. Since then, the commercial has created a
national catch phrase, shouted by people of all ages following
moments of great accomplishment.
This latest installment – the 38th in the long-running series –
followed a similar script, airing only hours after the
conclusion of Super Bowl XLII on February 3.
Manning joins a star-studded lineup of sports heroes such as Tom
Brady, Emmitt Smith, Michael Jordan, Kurt Warner, Coach Jon
Gruden, Joe Montana, John Elway, Jerry Rice, Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar, Doug Williams, Magic Johnson, Patrick Roy and
Super Bowl XLI winning coach Tony Dungy, who have been featured
during the two decades of “I’m going to Disneyland” commercials.
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Disney’s Newly Crowned Prince, Plucked From a London Stage
New York Times - As jarring moments go, the action figure in his
likeness was nothing compared to the billboard on the Sunset
Strip. There he was, towering eight stories above the boutiques
and rock clubs, with sword brandished, lips pursed and “The
Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” emblazoned across his
legs. “This has to be one of the weirdest moments of my life,”
said Ben Barnes, the young British actor who plays the title
role in the coming movie. He backed up to take in the
advertisement’s full effect. “I have no comprehension of what’s
about to happen to me, do I?”
Nope.
Mr. Barnes is a polite
26-year-old who, until Walt Disney Pictures came calling in
February 2007, was struggling in all the typical ways fledgling
actors struggle. Despite the splashy outdoor advertising
campaign, he is in many ways still living that life.
He crashed at a friend’s
apartment during a recent visit to Los Angeles. He has no
publicist. Arriving for an interview at the Sunset Tower Hotel,
he parked his rental car on the street because he was leery of
leaving it with the valet. Despite being blessed with more than
his share of tall, dark and handsome — and starring in a summer
blockbuster — he frets that a woman he has a crush on is
“utterly unattainable.”
His low-key life will change no
doubt with the May 16 arrival of the lavish “Chronicles of
Narnia” sequel. Mr. Barnes’s character is the swashbuckling
descendant of pirates who must battle his evil stepfather for
control of the magical kingdom. The movie, based on the C. S.
Lewis children’s classic “Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia,”
is expected by some box office analysts to sell more than $300
million in tickets in North America alone. Prince Caspian is
also at the center of “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of
the Dawn Treader,” which Disney and Walden Media, the
franchise’s co-producer, plan to release in 2010. Filming for
that movie is scheduled to begin this fall.
For now, though, Mr. Barnes
finds himself in a rare position in Hollywood: an unknown actor
on the brink of certain global fame.
When Orlando Bloom landed his
role in the first “Lord of the Rings,” nobody could say for sure
whether the movie would catapult him to stardom. But “The
Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” is as close to a sure
thing any movie gets in Hollywood. The first film, “The
Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”
(released in 2005), sold more than $290 million in tickets in
the United States and Canada and $745 million worldwide.
“I keep telling him to remember
who he is right now,” Andrew Adamson, the film’s director, said,
adding that “I’ve been through enough of this to know how what’s
coming can really mess with you, good or bad.”
Mr. Barnes, no relation to this
non-acting, non-singing reporter, was coroneted a Disney prince
by accident. A London casting director saw his performance in
the West End production of “The History Boys” three weeks before
filming for “Prince Caspian” was to start. Mr. Barnes played the
decidedly non-Disney role of a sexually aggressive boy who toys
with his teachers.
Aside from “The History Boys,”
the actor’s résumé included a bit role in “Stardust,” the
fantasy starring Robert De Niro that flopped at the box office
last year, and a television pilot (in which he played a high
school quarterback) that never made it to television. But he had
experience as a heartthrob: while studying children’s literature
and drama at Kingston University (near London), Mr. Barnes
played the lead in the school production of “Don Juan.”
Disney and Walden were looking
for a particular type of actor, said Oren Aviv, president for
production at Walt Disney Studios. The role called for dark
features to contrast with William Moseley, the blond-haired
actor who portrays Peter Pevensie, the oldest of the children
who magically journey to Narnia. He needed to be able to pull
off a believable Mediterranean accent. Horse-riding skills were
important.
“We also needed somebody we felt
could handle the pressure of going from obscurity to stardom,”
Mr. Aviv said.
A few days later, in a phone
call from California about 3 a.m. London time, Mr. Barnes was
formally hired. “I just ran around my house screaming,” he
recalled.
(The producers of “The History
Boys” were not as thrilled, telling several London newspapers
that they were considering suing him for leaving on short notice
to star in a “children’s Disney movie.” They got over it.)
Mr. Barnes forgot he had fibbed
about knowing how to ride horses until he arrived on the New
Zealand set, where he was required to cross a river on
horseback. He had told the producers his riding was “average,”
but in reality he had seen a horse only once. “My mother still
can’t hear the word ‘Ben’ and ‘horse’ in the same sentence
without getting the giggles,” he said.
After three weeks of sword
training, with riding lessons on the side, Mr. Barnes was ready.
Ample eyeliner and hair extensions were added to give him more
of a roguish appearance. Mr. Barnes said he studied Mandy
Patinkin’s performance in “The Princess Bride” for inspiration
on his accent. (Luckily, he also worked with a dialect coach, as
Mr. Patinkin’s accent was not exactly authentic.) Mr. Barnes’s
first foray with Hollywood a few years ago had very different
results. He said his agent at International Creative Management
lured him to Los Angeles with an offer to bunk in a guest room
in exchange for free baby-sitting services. His first audition
was for the part of a lifeguard who gets eaten by a shark.
“I walk in, and here are a half
dozen guys literally comparing their calf muscles,” Mr. Barnes
said. “I freaked out.” He ended up getting the part. “They
decided to go with the sensitive surfer type,” he said, joking.
But the project fell apart.
Mr. Barnes is slightly better
known in Britain, but not for his acting. In 2004 he competed in
a televised singing competition as a member of a boy band called
Hyrise. Sample lyric: “When you touch me and tease me you’re
leadin’ me on.”
During one clip from the show,
viewable on YouTube in all of its synchronized, hip-swinging
glory, Mr. Barnes gives a pre-performance interview that is
particularly mortifying in retrospect. “I’ve got a bit of a
tricky note to hit tonight,” he says, “so I’m just going to
tighten my belt, wear my cheeky tight pants.”
The remarks, Mr. Barnes said,
were written by a producer.
“I learned a very important
lesson from that,” he said. “Never agree to say or do anything
that isn’t you.” |
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Disney Honors 100 Students as Dreamers and Doers
Disney News - They entertain residents of nursing homes
and serve food to people who are homeless. They volunteer with
migrant workers and sell lemonade to raise money for tornado
victims. They donate their hair for children with cancer and
crusade to prevent child abuse. And they do it all with can-do
attitudes.
 These
are some of the traits that describe 100 Disney Dreamers and
Doers honored during a 25th anniversary ceremony of
the program at Walt Disney World Resort. The award acknowledges
outstanding students who are making a difference through
volunteer service in Central Florida.
Since the first ceremony in 1983, more than 11,000
Central Floridians have become Disney Dreamers and
Doers.
A panel comprised of community leaders and Walt Disney World
Cast Members selected the finalists and three top Shining Stars
from nearly 400 students nominated by schools throughout Orange, Lake, Polk, Osceola and Seminole Counties.
The recipients of the 2008 Disney Shining Star Award include:
Elementary School: Emma O’Halloran,
Avalon Elementary School,
(Orange
County)
During the past year, Emma
O’Halloran has volunteered more than 500 hours to a wide range
of community organizations and projects. This fifth grade
academic achiever has donated her hair to children undergoing
chemotherapy and has planned bake sales to raise money for
Hurricane Katrina Victims. In addition, she has produced her own
movie, called HOPE, to help shed light on the issue of global
warming. In her spare time, she has given toys for cats in
shelters and donated Teddy bears to hospitalized children.
Middle
School: Corey Warner,
Sanford Middle School
(Seminole
County) While most seventh grade
students are doing their homework or playing video games, Corey
Warner is trying to launch his own non-profit organization to
raise awareness for abused and neglected children. In the past
few years, he has volunteered more than 3,000 hours with
Children’s Home Society. In addition, Corey launched a campaign
to “Can Child Abuse” and delivered 10,000 cans representing
10,000 votes, to attract attention during Child’s Week at the
State Capitol. He has also raised scholarship money to send
neglected children to summer camp, and distributed
back-to-school backpacks with school supplies and coupons for
free haircuts and lunch.
High School:
Tyler Freeze, Leesburg High (Lake County)
11th
grade student Tyler Freeze has not let a disability slow him
down. Despite having Cerebral Palsy, Tyler sings in his church choir, reigns as a member of the
homecoming court and tutors his peers in history. He is also a
reading tutor, helping younger students improve reading skills.
According to his classmates and teachers, Tyler
is always positive and is an inspiration to all.
All 400 Disney Dreamers and Doers receive four theme park
tickets, a certificate and a special pin. The 100 finalists also
receive a Disney Dreamers and Doers medallion. In addition, the
three Disney Shining Star Award recipients receive a Mickey
Mouse statue along with Walt Disney World Annual Passes for
themselves and their immediate families.
The goal of Walt
Disney World’s community initiative, Disney -- Helping Kids
Shine, is to engage children in society by creating healthy,
guiding relationships with adults, providing constructive
free-time activities, offering character-building opportunities,
and encouraging a sense of compassion for others, while helping
those children who face adversity. In 2007, Walt Disney World
Resort contributed more than $33.6 million in cash and in-kind
support to local non-profit organizations. Disney VoluntEARS
also donated 174,000 hours to community causes. |
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Can
Dubailand attract Disney?
Select Property - As Legoland yesterday became the latest theme
park to sign up in Dubailand, talk began again of the vast scale
of the project.
The world's biggest collection of cartoon character and thrill
ride theme parks will be built in the desert in Dubai. On
completion Dubailand will be twice the size of Disney World in
Florida, currently the world's biggest theme park.
At present a total of 26 projects will make up the $60billion
project, with separate theme parks also planned for Marvel Super
Heroes, DreamWorks and Universal Studios. Thomas the Tank Engine
and Bob the Builder will have their own parks. Jurassic and
Formula 1 theme parks are also planned, as is a wheel bigger
than the London Eye and a life-size replica of the Eiffel Tower.
Work has already started on Dubailand, with an Ernie Els-designed
golf course and three polo fields completed. A new cricket
stadium opens in August and from December 2010 a theme park will
be opening every six months.
One name conspicuously absent from Dubailand is Disney itself.
However Dubailand’s marketing director confirms that Disney is
not excluded and they are in talks with everyone, it all depends
on whether Disney wants to become part of the venture. |
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Disney still hammering out details of Night Kingdom
Disney Gossip - Remember when news of a boutique experience
aimed at attracting 2000 or so wealthy adult visitors to a new
wild adventure concept called "Night Kingdom" was leaked to the
Disney fan community? Well that was a trial balloon. Forces on
both sides of the project were interested in seeing if the
results they were getting in their $200 a head focus group were
represented in the general public.
Guess what? The focus group was right. The idea was weak and
quickly went on life-support. But a good idea never dies at Walt
Disney Imagineering. It just gets tinkered with incessantly
until it either changes completely from the original idea, or
someone on the top shelves it.
I think we can all see what Disney wants to do with the
"boutique park" experience. Catch some money from the deep
pockets of those who expect a certain type of luxury when the
travel, "whales" as they are known to the casinos. Five to Ten
years ago, "Night Kingdom" as we first heard it, probably would
have been enough. But since then the quality of luxury travel
has been elevated to a new level. In part this is due to places
like The Wynn Resort where guests are immersed in luxury from
the moment they enter the resort to the moment they leave.
The new luxury for Walt Disney World would be a resort that does
the same thing, immerses the guest in the show from the moment
they enter to the moment they leave. And it has to do it on a
new level. And it has to do it as part of the Disney brand
(possibly the Indiana Jones or Star Wars brand).
Pick a theme, let's say Jungle Adventure. Put a waterfall,
hidden treasure, secret map, and wild animals outside every
bungalow. Provide adventure experiences (dining, water park,
exploration events, full immersion dinner shows, etc) throughout
the week, so that the guest never has to leave this boutique
experience if they don't want to. And if they do, well the whole
world of WDW is just a short luxury private people mover ride
away.
The fact that Disney could provide something like this is why
I've always thought that letting Four Seasons build on property
was a bad idea. But I understand they owed an old friend (you
know the Saudi Prince that bailed them out in Paris) a favor.
So, the idea of a "boutique experience" at Walt Disney World for
those who can afford it hasn't died. "Night Kingdom" may emerge
again, but it will only resemble its old self in name and
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Double-digit percentage gain in Disneyland attendance
The Standard - The Walt Disney Co reported yesterday that Hong
Kong Disneyland grew its attendance by a double-digit percentage
in the first three months of the year, but the Tourism
Commission said it is concerned with the park's performance and
operation.
"Attendance trends have been
especially good at both our Paris and Hong Kong locations, each
of which grew their attendance by double-digit percentages,"
Disney chief financial officer Tom Staggs said about the
company's fiscal second-quarter results, which cover January
through March.
In a filing to the US securities
regulator, Disney said losses decreased at Hong Kong Disneyland
during the quarter. It marked the second consecutive quarter
where the park's attendance increased while losses declined.
"The government ... has urged
park management to enhance its operational efficiency, revamp
its marketing and promotion strategies, as well as strengthen
its cooperation with the local travel trade to ensure a
continued improvement in its performance," a spokeswoman for the
Tourism Commission said. Hong Kong Disneyland is still in
discussions with Disney and the SAR government about getting
more funding. If no agreement is reached before September 30,
the park will have to make alternative arrangements for its
funding needs, Disney said.
"If the shareholders do not
reach agreement prior to the September 30, 2008 maturity date of
the commercial term loan and revolving credit facility, Hong
Kong Disneyland would be required to make alternative
arrangements to meet its financial and development needs," the
entertainment company said.
The Tourism Commission
spokeswoman said talks are ongoing. |
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The Secret
to Disney Savings
WYFF -
If the weak economy has made you reluctant to fork out money for
a Disney World vacation, we can help.
News 4 has discovered a way to
"do Disney" on a budget.
Beth Haworth, a travel writer
and former Disney cast member, is the author of The Ultimate
Disney World Savings Guide eBook. The eBook is for sale on
Haworth's website, DW Secrets, and it contains strategies for
saving big bucks.
"I actually used to
work for Disney, and I watched all kinds of families at Disney
spend all kinds of money, so I kept my eyes and ears open, and
learned all the different tips and tricks to make a Disney World
vacation affordable," Haworth told News 4's Tim Waller.
Her money-saving secrets begin
the moment you arrive in Orlando, and need to get from the
airport to your hotel. Haworth said if you're staying on Disney
property, the Magical Express Shuttle Service will take you
there for free.
The alternative is spending $112
with private shuttle service for round-trip tickets for a family
of four.
Haworth also offers tips on
saving money on Disney park tickets.
"Instead of actually waiting to
buy your tickets at the park and pay gate prices, you can
purchase them in advance from what's called a Disney Authorized
Tickets Discounter, where they take their three-day and higher
tickets and sell them at a reduced cost," Haworth said.
In her savings guide, Haworth
has negotiated with two online ticket discounters, who give
readers an additional discount over already-reduced prices.
The Disney Dining Plan is
another great money-saving, said Haworth. Like the shuttle
service, the dining plan is available only to Disney resort
guests.
"For a set price, you get one
table service meal, one counter service meal and one snack for
each night of your stay," Haworth said. "Usually your sit down
table service meal covers your entire dining plan for the day.
It's like being able to eat your counter service meal and your
snack for free."
The dining plan can be booked
180 days in advance. The cost is $38.99 per night per adult, and
$9.99 per night per child.
Haworth said large families or
groups headed to Disney World can save money by staying off
property. Because Disney resort rooms only accommodate up to
four people, larger families would be forced to book two or more
rooms.
"In the Orlando area, there's
private vacation homes, and many of these homes, some of them
are up to six bedrooms and sleep up to fourteen people," she
said. "You have your own private pool. The kids will love it.
And you'll usually have your own kitchen to keep your food costs
down."
If you have ever bought
souvenirs at Disney, you know the prices can be less than
magical. So Haworth recommends that you shop before you get
there.
"Right by Disney, there's
actually several discount Disney outlets in the Orlando area.
It's a great place to go and shop and pick up a souvenir for 10%
to 75% off what you'd pay at the theme park," Haworth said.
In Haworth's eBook, she also
offers tips on how to move through lines more quickly. She said
when given the choice, choose the left line instead of the
right. The left line tends to move quicker, Haworth said.
And for Disney rides, Haworth
said you can save time by using the Disney FastPass.
"Insert your ticket into a
little machine and it spits out a card, and on that card it
tells you what time to return to your attraction. When you come
back during that time, and you enter into a separate line, and
actually skip the entire regular que line and basically go right
to the front," Haworth said.
News 4 tested the Disney
FastPass, and found that it can shave 45-60 minutes off your
wait for Disney rides.
One of Haworth's favorite values
is the Disney PhotoPass CD. For $125, professional photographers
will take your family's pictures and load them onto one CD.
"A lot of people shy away from
getting their picture taken thinking it's going to cost them a
fortune to have one picture printed. But at Disney, the best
thing to do is have as many pictures taken as you can by these
professional photographers," Haworth said.
Haworth said with these tips and
others (contained in her eBook), a family can save hundreds,
even thousands of dollars on their dream trip to Disney.
"Disney has a feeling about it,"
she said. "It really is the happiest place on earth." |
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Celebrity teen scandals marring Disney's image
PerthNow - It's months since the scandal surrounding nude photos
of Disney girl Vanessa Hudgens on the internet, but it seems her
indiscretions have been forgiven.
She has returned to the Disney
fold in Utah to film High School Musical 3: Senior Year.
Hudgens returns to the big
screen with on and off-screen love Zac Efron who said little
about the pictures when the scandal erupted.
There were questions following
the appearance of the pictures, which showed the 19-year-old
actor and singer pose provocatively while fully undressed, as to
whether she should be a part of the third instalment of High
School Musical.
The movie itself is under the
Disney banner, a network known for its wholesome programming.
Hudgens isn't the only Disney
girl raising eyebrows.
Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus
had seductive photos on the internet of her and her then
boyfriend. She was also snapped by celebrity photographer Anne
Leibovitz for the cover of Vanity Fair.
Since then there has been media
speculation about whether Cyrus is a good enough role model for
pre-teens who look up to the talented 15-year-old.
While the ruckus has died down
from the Hudgens nude photos scandal and the Cyrus issue reaches
crescendo the question is – are we putting too much pressure on
these teens to live up to the wholesome image? |
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Tiscali
inks movie deal with Sony and Disney
IPTV
News - Italian telco Tiscali has revealed that it has signed a
deal with Sony Pictures Television International and Disney-ABC
Intl. Television under which it will offer Sony and Disney
movies on its IPTV service.
Following the deal, Tiscali can
now offer a library of up to 1,000 Italian and international
movies. No financial details were disclosed.
Tiscali also stated that it has
extended its IPTV service to a further six Italian cities,
bringing the total number of cities reached to nine. The
company is reportedly targeting a customer penetration in Italy
of 11% by 2009. |
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Citizen
Journalism, Live From Disney World
Wall
Street Journal Blogs - If you want to understand how citizen
journalists armed with cell phones are going to change the
world–and create challenges and opportunities for
businesses–spend a few minutes at
Twisney.com.
What you’ll find
there: Live updates from ordinary people walking around Disney
World, using their cell phones to share their experiences with
anyone who cares to take notice.
As journalism
goes, it’s not the Watergate break-in, or even live blogging
from a campaign event. But for some people it is, as the saying
goes, news you can use–and that makes it an idea worth
understanding.
Here’s how
Twisney works.
If a theme-park guest
wandering around Disney World wants to share something with the
Twisney audience, they can send a short email to an address
supplied by Twisney. Short really means short: Twisney will only
pick up the text from the email’s subject line, ignoring the
body of the email. Contributors can also send photos from their
cell phones.
You can read
these live missives in a couple of ways. One is to visit
Twisney’s Web site, where the messages appear overlaid on an
aerial view of the Walt Disney World parks on Microsoft’s
Virtual Earth map. (Twisney contributors can include a few words
about their location–“Pirates of the Caribbean,” say–in their
message, and the site automatically places the post on the
appropriate part of the map.) If your cell phone offers Web
access, you can call up the Twisney page while on the go at the
parks.
Twisney is even
simpler for those who already use the popular Twitter service,
which gives its users a simple way to send “microblogging”
updates from cell phones. It’s easy to send a cell phone text
message to Twitter and have it routed to the Twisney feed.
(Likewise, you can also follow the updates via Twitter.)
Twisney isn’t
the product of Walt Disney Co. or a venture-capital incubator.
It was created by a 34-year-old Disney fan and father of two in
his spare time away from his day job as a software developer.
Scott Mitchell says he decided to set up Twisney recently
because he and a fellow dad were taking their sons on a “guys
only” visit to Disney World. Mr. Mitchell wanted a way to update
his wife and daughter back at home.
“I thought, how
neat would it be to take pictures on my cell phone and shoot
them to my wife so she could see what we were doing,” Mr.
Mitchell says.
At first,
knowledge of Twisney remained within a small circle of friends
and family. Then in the past few weeks, word started getting
around, and now visits to the site number in the hundreds rather
the dozens. As the fan sites devoted to Disney theme parks take
notice, those numbers are sure to rise.
Right now, the
updates posted to Twisney are something of a mish-mash, the
contributions of some early adopters trying out the system. Some
simply want to share their experiences, such as the contributor
who wrote, “Enjoying a Dole Whip in Adventureland right outside
of the Tiki Room” last weekend. Others are sending photos.
But occasionally
the contributors share some intelligence that’s helpful for
those navigating the Disney parks.
And that’s where
the real potential of Twisney–and countless other micro-news
sites that haven’t yet been created–rests. The next logical step
for Twisney is to have users consistently share real-time
intelligence throughout the parks. How many people would tune in
for messages like “No line at Space Mountain right now”?
For Disney and
other companies that see such services evolve, there’s a
potentially valuable opportunity to encourage passionate
customers and even participate directly in the electronic
conversation. But there are headaches looming as well–such as
when the in-the-know park customers converge in one place after
reading that “No line at Space Mountain” message.
The broader lesson is that the
effort involved in participating in citizen journalism is
getting smaller. That’s going to increase the ranks of those
participating–even if they don’t consider themselves
journalists. |
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Annual passholders get weekend peeks at Disney World, Universal
Orlando
Theme Park Rangers - Annual passholders for Universal Orlando
theme parks and Walt Disney World parks have sneak-peek
opportunities this weekend, beginning bright and early Friday.
"Premier and preferred" annual
passholders for Universal Studios can check out the new
Simpsons Ride from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. this Friday, Saturday
and Sunday. Show your pass to get early admission to the
park. The mailer I received included a coupon to be used
between 8 and 10 a.m. for a free Squishee coupon and a
Simpons souvenir.It's
a little weird to call it a preview since it's been open for
more than a week, but at least the line should be more
manageable. There will be grand opening events next week.
Universal has designated May as
"Passholder Appreciation Month," and there are multiple
chances to take advantage, from early admission to discounts
for Blue Man Group and CityWalk to resort-based give-aways.
Check out the details at
www.universalorlando.com/annualpass.
Saturday, Sunday and Monday are
the dates for the annual passholder preview of Toy Story
Mania at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The hours are 9 a.m. to
7 p.m. You'll need a valid Disney annual pass plus a photo
ID to ride because it's not quite open to the public yet.
Last weekend was a cast
member preview at DHS, and when I checked in, folks without
proper credentials were turned away (politely, natch). Be
prepared.
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Wednesday
May 7, 2008 |
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When Walt Disney World guests "shrink" to the size of the toys
they play with at home (or remember from their childhood) and
become the star performers in the midway-game world of Toy Story
Mania! at Disney's Hollywood Studios, they are experiencing the
essence of Disney Parks: engagement in such an immersive and
interactive way that guests become part of the show.
Every day, Disney cast members invite guests to play special
roles in entertainment throughout the Walt Disney World Resort.
Other immersive experiences include such roles as starring in a
parade down Main Street, U.S.A., learning dance moves from the
Disney Channel sensation "High School Musical 2," dueling with
Darth Vader and many more.
"These experiences transport our guests deep into the magical
realms of what Disney parks are all about," said Jay Rasulo,
chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "Rather than imagine
being in a Disney parade or what it's like to sail with Captain
Jack Sparrow, these transformational experiences put our guests
right in the heart of their dreams."
It's a Disney tradition that goes back to the very beginning
of Disney Parks -- the opening of Disneyland in 1955 -- and is a
consideration every time the famed Disney Imagineers huddle to
fathom new magic.
In the latest immersive-entertainment experience, Toy Story
Mania! guests are transported into a 4-D world where they
compete in virtual midway-style games hosted by characters from
the Disney-Pixar films "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2," including
Woody, Hamm and Rex. Donning 3-D glasses and using spring-action
shooters, guests launch virtual darts at balloons, rings at
aliens and eggs at whimsical barnyard targets to see who can
rack up the most points. Guests may even experience some special
4-D effects during different parts of the game.
And the interactive fun doesn't stop when guests put down
their toy shooters. Here's a sampling of other immersive
experiences happening every day at Walt Disney World Resort:
"Block Party Bash" (Disney's Hollywood Studios). A new
traveling show that lets guests play, dance and party with
favorite Disney-Pixar characters from smash-hit animated films
like "Toy Story," "The Incredibles," "Monsters, Inc." and "A
Bug's Life." Block Party Bash rocks and rolls throughout the
park, putting guests in the middle of an impromptu party during
one of the wildest, most interactive street spectaculars ever.
"High School Musical 2: School's Out!" (Disney's Hollywood
Studios). Wildcat fever has guests dancing in the streets in
the new interactive show presented multiple times daily.
Inspired by the Disney Channel's record-breaking, original film,
"High School Musical 2,"the high-energy cast invites guests to
join the fun as they sing and dance along to the movie's hit
tunes, including "What Time Is It?," "All For One" and "I Don't
Dance."
Jedi Training Academy (Disney's Hollywood Studios).
Taking a cue from the popular Star Wars Saga, the power
of the Force and the magic of Disney combine for an original and
intergalactic entertainment experience. Young Jedi hopefuls --
known in 'Star Wars-speak' as "Padawans" -- learn
lightsaber moves from a Jedi Master before facing off in a final
test against the evil Darth Vader. Created with Lucasfilm Ltd.,
Jedi Training Academy is presented multiple times daily,
adjacent to the popular Star Tours attraction.
"Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage!" (Disney's Hollywood
Studios). Some of the most beloved characters from the
Disney Channel lineup are featured in a singing, clapping and
be-bopping show designed for preschoolers. The show stars
favorites from popular Disney Channel programs including "Mickey
Mouse Clubhouse," "Little Einsteins," "Handy Manny" and more.
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin (Magic Kingdom
Tomorrowland). Armed with infrared lasers, Magic Kingdom
guests join forces with Buzz Lightyear to defend Earth's supply
of batteries from the evil Emperor Zurg in Buzz Lightyear's
Space Ranger Spin, a spinning, brought-to-life Tomorrowland
spin-off of the hit movie "Toy Story." The shoot-'em-up fun
triggers sight and sound gags, while a lighted display inside
toy-spaceship ride vehicles allows guests to keep score.
Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Tutorial (Magic Kingdom
Adventureland). Looking for new recruits, Captain Jack and
his mate Mack lead guests through a series of pirate skill tests
to prove their mettle. Who is craftiest at wooden swordplay? Who
can flash their most menacing pirate grimace? Faster than you
can say "Yo, Ho! Yo, Ho! A Pirate's Life for Me!" the big moment
arrives: getting officially sworn in with the Pirate's Oath to
become honorary buccaneers of Captain Jack's famous Pirate Crew.
Woody's Cowboy Camp (Magic Kingdom Frontierland).
There's a rootin' tootin' good time in store as Woody, Jesse and
Bullseye invite everyone to Woody's Cowboy Camp! Ridin' in on a
wagon are some of their best cowpoke pals, along with Sam the
Singin' Cowboy who leads a rollicking hoedown. Led by Bullseye
and saddled up on wooden stick horses, kids giddy-up their way
through a cowboy obstacle course -- maneuvering around parents
donning hats shaped like cacti, mountains and mine shafts. It's
kick-up-your-spurs, hootin' and hollerin' fun as the cowboy
spirit comes to life on the dusty streets of Frontierland.
"Main Street Family Fun Day Parade" (Magic Kingdom Main
Street, U.S.A.). For the very first time, guests are able to
parade down Main Street, U.S.A. alongside favorite Disney
characters. It's a pennant-waving, drum-beating rush for guests
when they join characters and march alongside parade floats, a
marching band and an old-timey fire truck. There's even a
stroller drill team to accommodate little paraders and their
parents. When the parade hits Town Square, guests join the
performers for a flag-waving patriotic finale.
Also happening in the theme parks every day:
"Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor" (Magic Kingdom Tomorrowland).
Guests laugh, joke and match wits with the beloved animated
characters from Disney-Pixar's "Monsters, Inc." in an engaging
and interactive attraction created by the Disney Imagineers.
"Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor" features one-eyed hero Mike
Wazowski, who has opened a comedy club to collect laughs that
will generate power for the future. As Monster-of-Ceremonies,
Mike recruits two comedian wannabes whose slapstick humor
delights and engages audiences. Guests even get to text-message
jokes on their cell phones for possible use in the show.
"Turtle Talk With Crush" (Epcot). Crush, from
Disney-Pixar's "Finding Nemo," has made a different kind of
screen debut in The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion at Epcot
-- as a chatting, joking quipster who engages guests in
conversation from his movie-screen undersea environment. "Turtle
Talk With Crush" showcases real-time animation using digital
projection and sophisticated, voice-activated animation.
And that's not all! Coming in winter 2008:
"American Idol" Attraction (Disney's Hollywood Studios).
Starry-eyed Disney guests will get a taste of TV's pop culture
phenomenon -- up close and personal -- when Disney's Hollywood
Studios unwraps an "American Idol" attraction in winter 2008.
Guests will be able to experience the challenge of auditioning,
the rush of performing on stage in competition or the thrill of
judging the performances in a live interactive setting modeled
after the "American Idol" set. There will be multiple show times
daily. Guests advancing through the screening process have the
chance, in the nightly final competition, to win a guaranteed
reservation for a regional audition for the "American Idol" TV
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Disney Beats And Iger
Speaks
CNBC - The Walt Disney Company reported another stellar quarter,
with earnings of 58 cents per share, blowing away Wall Street's
consensus earnings estimate of 51 cents per share, while revenue
came in at $8.71 billion, also beating analyst expectations, and
up 10 percent over last year.
Most
impressive, CEO Bob Iger proved that the company,
despite its exposure to the U.S. economy, is incredibly
resilient. In Wednesday's trading, Disney stock
is up on the news (at this positing).
Investors were concerned the slowdown in consumer
spending could really hurt Disney's Parks and Resorts business.
But the division came through with 11 percent revenue and 33
percent operating income growth. And even better, looking
forward to the crucial summer season, room bookings haven't
dropped off.
So how did the
parks and resorts stay so strong? Well internationally, the weak
dollar certainly helped, and Disneyland Paris finally started
taking off. The U.S. parks also benefited from the weak dollar,
which drove foreign tourists to stay at the parks and spend big.
But what's most surprising is that U.S. visitors continued to
spend at the parks, no matter how tight their pocketbooks.
I got a chance to sit down with Iger in an exclusive
interview to discuss the numbers and his strategy. There are two
video clips posted with him.
Iger
attributed this to the parks shifting more of their hotels to a
more moderate price-range, giving families the option of an
affordable getaway. Lower priced rooms and the benefit of perks
for staying at hotels on the park property has boosted Disney's
share of tourists hotel spend. Bottom line: Americans may not be
spending on travel overseas, but they're not giving up their
annual family vacation, and Disneyland seems to offer a more
accessible option here than ever.
Another sign
of the company's resiliency in light of an economic
slowdown--the company's media networks division showed a 5
percent increase in revenue and a 14 percent increase in
operating income. Since Disney has the theme parks and consumer
products, it's probably less exposed to the industry-wide
downturn in advertising spending than any of the other media
giants.
Iger noted that the company's ten local stations have been hurt
by lower local ad spending, but with national spending still
robust the segment remained stable. ABC sold some of its shows
to international markets, which helped offset lower revenues due
to the strike, leaving the broadcasting division flat. Meanwhile
ESPN continues to be a growth driver, and the Disney Channel is
strong as ever, both in the U.S. and overseas.
I talked to Iger about the company's strategy of using
the Disney Channel as a launch pad for stars and brands to
exploit across all its platforms.
They've done it with the "High School Musical" franchise and
Hannah Montana, now they're doing it with the Jonas brothers.
They started with a TV show on the Disney Channel, now they're
starring in their own TV movie, "Camp Rock," which debuts this
summer. Their albums are huge for Disney's label, Hollywood
Records. And they're going on tour, having opened for Miley
Cyrus/Hannah Montana on her tour last year. And in keeping with
Disney's strategy of churning out new stars, they have another
budding star opening for them.
I asked Iger how often they'd like to launch a new brand/star
from the Disney Channel-- thinking about the fact that teenagers
grow up and often attract bad press they way Miley Cyrus did
last week. He said that there's no schedule--they create the
environment that enables these brands to take off, and they work
with what they have. That being said, it seems to me like they
always have one new star waiting in the wings, and are roughly
on a schedule of one a year, but that's my verdict, not Iger's.
The movie studio also helped lead
the growth, partly because the year-earlier quarter wasn't
particularly robust. In contrast, this year was boosted by the
"National Treasure" sequel in theaters and strong DVD sales of
"Enchanted" and best-picture winner "No Country for Old Men."
This summer's comparisons will be much more challenging for
Disney -- going up against the huge performance of "Pirates of
the Caribbean" and "Ratatouille," which was arguably the
best-reviewed movie last year.
This summer
Disney has the "Narnia" sequel, "Price Caspian," but I wonder if
it'll be able to hit the box office heights the first one did
and Disney has to share the earnings with co-producer Walden
Media. And then there's "Wall-E" from Pixar, which has never
produced a bomb. Wall Street is certainly aware that the
comparisons will be tough.
I spoke to
Iger about Disney's digital revenues--a hot topic considering
that we're on the heels of a writers' strike over digital
revenues and facing a potential strike from the actors guild
over the same revenue stream. Iger said that of Disney's roughly
$35 billion in revenues this year, $2 billion will be from
digital, about half of which are from online sales of vacation
packages. Iger said he thinks about digital differently for
Disney than he thinks the other media companies do. He says it's
not about a new revenue stream, it's about giving consumers more
options about how and where to consume Disney content.
Giving
those extra options should retain consumers while also
eventually growing both the top and bottom line. |
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Celebrate
Mother's Day, the Disney Way
Disney Insider -
Mouse ears? Check. FastPass for Space Mountain? Check. Churros
and popcorn? Check. Mom having fun? Oops ... Where is Mom?
The Disney Theme Parks are places where everyone can go to feel
like a kid, but what about when a mom wants to feel like a mom?
Whether you are at Disneyland Resort in California, or at Walt
Disney World Resort in Florida, on Mother's Day, we have some
Insider tips to make Mom's day magical, letting her know just
how special she is.
1. After taking a spin on the Mad Tea Party Tea Cups, take Mom
back a century or so with High Tea. At Walt Disney World Resort,
the Garden View Tea Room at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and
Spa is just the place to give Mom the classic spin on English
tea, with scones, jam, and tiny sandwiches that are as
delectable as she is!
2. If your mom isn't the only princess in the family, the
Mother-Daughter Princess Tea Party at the Garden View Tea Room
is the perfect spot to get the royal treatment. Here, the story
of Sleeping Beauty's Aurora is told through song and dance by
her lovely little friend, Rose Petal. After the show, every girl
gets a My Disney Princess doll, while Mom leaves with a
beautiful flower to remember their special day.
3. Share Mom's love of all things green with the Mother's Day
Brunch at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Sit
amongst lush gardens and toast Mom for all her special
qualities.
4. Feed Mom's body and soul with the House of Blues' Gospel
Brunch at Downtown Disney (at both Resorts). There she is sure
to feel appreciated while moving to the uplifting gospel music.
5. Get your shopping groove on with Mom in the Downtown Disney
District (at both Resorts), where there is an eclectic array of
shops and boutiques. Whether it's getting a beauty makeover,
picking out a new outfit, or buying a guitar for mom to hit the
perfect note on, you are guaranteed to find it here.
6. If it's relaxation Mom craves, visit the Mandara Spa at The
Grand Californian Hotel at Disneyland Resort, where you can bond
in a whole new way with the Mother and Daughter Paradise
Massage. At Walt Disney World Resort, you can indulge the day
away at the Grand Floridian Spa & Health Club, where there's
even a special massage for the mother-to-be.
7. For a fine dining experience, the luxe Napa Rose Restaurant
at The Grand Californian Hotel at Disneyland Resort is the
perfect destination to wine and dine with your loved ones at
their special Mother's day Dinner. If you'd like to unwind in a
more relaxed atmosphere, try California Grill at Disney's
Contemporary Resort, at Walt Disney World Resort, for a
delicious meal.
8. Experience the extraordinary with the amazing Cirque du
Soleil Show, La Nouba, at the Walt Disney World Resort. Mom will
delight in the trapeze and acro-gymanastic theatrics, making the
night even more magical.
9. If Mom never misses a game of her favorite team, then the
ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort is your
destination for food and fun. Whether it's video games, air
hockey, or just watching the game, there is something here to
entertain any sports-loving mom.
10. For film aficionados, a movie at Downtown Disney is the
place to go to be entertained. Grab a tub of popcorn, or another
tasty treat, and kick back and enjoy the movie with Mom.
With our helpful tips, and a few of your own, Mom will certainly
feel celebrated this Mother's Day. For, there's no better way to
honor your mom, than with a touch of Disney magic. |
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26 Ways To Save Money on a Walt Disney World Vacation
SavingAdvice - Now that it’s spring and the government rebate
checks are starting to roll in, many people are sounding like
that old Super Bowl commercial:
“You’ve just received your rebate check! What are you going
to do now?”
“I’m going to Disney World!”
If you decide to go to WDW this summer and you want to
stretch your rebate money (or your own funds) a little further,
here are some tips to reduce the costs of a WDW vacation.
1. Do your research before you leave. Disney World is
not a small place with just a few options. It’s sheer size and
the number of things to do can overwhelm many visitors. If you
go to WDW without a clue as to what is going on, you’re going to
spend more than you need to simply because you don’t know any
better. Pick up a couple of guidebooks from the library and
familiarize yourself with the options, offerings, and expenses
ahead of time so you know what to expect and can budget
accordingly. Both offer tips and hints, and the Disboards are
free message forums where you can ask your own questions.
2. Go in the off-season. The off-season for Disney
World is any time that kids are in school. When kids are out of
school, the crowds and prices shoot up. Does this mean that all
of the summer is peak season? No. Early June and late August
offer lower crowds and cheaper rates. If you want to go around
the Fourth of July, however, expect to pay top dollar. When
making reservations, try different dates. Sometimes just
changing your dates by a few days either way can out you into a
cheaper “season.”
3. Learn what discounts are available and how to get them.
The websites listed in #1 track the currently available
discounts and teach you how to get them. Some of the most common
are AAA, Annual Passholder rates, specials for holders of the
Disney Visa credit card, and discounted packages that are
released to the general public when occupancy needs a boost.
It’s not as difficult as it once was to find discounts at WDW,
so don’t think you can’t get one.
4. Consider an Annual Pass, even if you’re only going once.
Annual passholders are entitled to a variety of food,
merchandise, and lodging discounts. Even though the pass may
cost you more than a regular ticket, it may pay for itself
depending on your party size, length of stay and availability of
lodging discounts. Since only one person in your party (an
adult) needs to have the pass to get the discounts, it may be
worth it to get an annual pass for mom or dad and get regular
tickets for everyone else.
5. Purchase only the base ticket. WDW now offers a
dizzying array of tickets for varying lengths of stay, with or
without options that include admission to the water parks and
park hopping. While the extra options are nice, they do add to
the overall cost of your tickets. Think about your travel plans
and decide if you really need or want those options of if the
base ticket will suffice. Also decide if you want to buy tickets
only for the length of your planned stay or if you want to go
ahead and buy additional days. If you think you’ll ever visit
WDW again, buying tickets with more days than you need can be a
smart move if you can spare the extra cash. This is because WDW
tickets never expire. So if you buy a ten day pass for this trip
and only use four days, those remaining six days are good
forever and you won’t have to pay anything more to use them,
avoiding unpleasant price increases.
6. Pre-buy souvenirs. This is especially helpful if
you have kids who will want everything they see in the parks.
Buy some Disney merchandise at home before you leave (hit the
sales at the Disney Store, or look in Target and Wal-Mart for
Disney items) and hand it out to the kiddos during the trip to
tame the gimmie monster. They won’t know that it’s not from the
parks and you’ll save a fortune.
7. Limit souvenirs. Souvenir expenses seem to creep up
on you. You don’t think you’ve spent that much but then, at the
end of the trip you get the bill and freak out. Create a plan to
limit impulse spending. You can give each person a set amount to
spend and let them choose how to spend it, but when it’s gone,
it’s gone. Or you can hold off on all purchases until the last
day of vacation when certain items are likely to have “risen to
the top” as great purchases, thus avoiding all the junk
purchases in between. Create your own plan and stick to it.
8. Bring your own water bottles and snacks to the parks.
Disney does allow you to bring your own food as long as it’s not
excessive. With bottled water going for $3 a bottle, bringing
your own and filling it from a water fountain will save a
fortune. If you hate the taste of Florida water, buy some
individual sized Crystal Light or Kool Aid stir-ins and bring
them from home. Also pack your own snacks like granola bars,
chips, nuts, etc. You can pack stuff that’s better for you and
much less expensive that what you can buy in the parks.
9. Order kids’ meals instead of adult meals at counter
service restaurants. Kids’ meals are much cheaper than
regular meals and the portions for the kids’ meals are more
realistically sized than those for adults. They also include a
drink in the price which adult meals do not.
10. Alternatively, split a meal. If you are a moderate
eater, you’ll probably find that two people can split a regular
sandwich and fry-type combo meal and be satisfied. It saves the
money and wasted food of an unnecessary second meal.
11. Share everything. You can order a large drink,
which is a better value than the small, and share it amongst
your group. It’s cheaper than buying three or four smalls. The
same goes for snacks (popcorn, especially) and any other food
purchases. Buy one and share. This eliminates wasted food and
money.
12. Earn a little Disney money ahead of time. Some Get
Paid To sites — notably, Quick Rewards and Sunshine Rewards —
offer Disney Dollars and Disney gift cards as cash out options.
If you have a while before your trip you can make some extra
spending money. Alternatively, you can ask for or give Disney
Dollars and gift cards as gifts for Christmas, birthdays, etc.
to help defray the cost and give kids some pocket money.
13. Bring as much as you can from home. Everything in
the parks is more expensive than at your local store — in some
cases a lot more. Make certain to bring enough batteries,
medications, film, toiletries, diapers/baby needs, feminine
needs, and anything else you might need from home. Otherwise
expect to pay top dollar for supplies.
14. Bring your own rain ponchos and fans. If you’re
going in the summer, afternoon storms and high temperatures are
a certainty. Disney knows this which is why they sell expensive
rain ponchos and portable fans for top dollar. You can get
inexpensive ponchos and portable fans from Target or Wal-Mart
before leaving home. No, they won’t have the Disney characters
on them, but they’ll cost you a fraction of the price you’ll pay
at WDW.
15. Ship things to your resort ahead of time. If
you’re bringing everything you own to avoid paying Disney
prices, how do you get it there without paying a fortune in
extra baggage costs? Pack a box with your supplies and ship it
to your resort ahead of time using UPS, FedEx or DHL. It will be
waiting for you upon arrival. If you plan in advance, you can
use standard ground service instead of the pricey two day or
overnight options.
16. Get your tickets from a reputable discount broker or,
at least, buy them online ahead of time. Yes, there are some
shady ticket brokers out there and you need to be careful. But
two of the best are Undercover Tourist and Ticket Mania. They
both sell legitimate WDW tickets at discounted prices. Disney
will also cut you a price break if you buy online before you
leave home, rather than waiting until you get to the gate.
17. Skip the table service restaurants. Counter
service meals are less expensive than the sit down table service
restaurants (and less time consuming, if you’re pressed for
time). They’re just as filling and offer a variety of choices.
Gone are the days when counter service meant only burgers and
fries.
18. If you do want to try a table service restaurant, do
so at lunch. Lunch prices are less expensive than dinner,
often for the same menu.
19. Avoid extra luggage costs by bringing your laundry
supplies from home and doing laundry once or twice. Rather
than packing enough clothes for every day of your trip and
running up your luggage costs, bring travel sized laundry
detergent and do the wash. No, it’s not a super fun way to spend
vacation time, but it saves room in your luggage for souvenirs.
Bringing your own detergent is also much cheaper than buying it
at WDW or sending your laundry out for Disney to do (which is
very expensive).
20. To further lighten the load and reduce your costs,
stock up on free samples of shampoo, detergent, toothpaste,
deodorant, etc. Sample sizes are usually the same as travel
sizes. Rather than buying a bunch of travel sized items, just
keep an eye out for free samples and add them to your vacation
stash.
21.If you plan to do much beyond Disney’s property,
consider getting an Orlando MagicCard (free from the Orlando
Visitor’s Bureau). It entitles you to discounts at many
Orlando-area restaurants, hotels, and attractions. Similarly, an
Entertainment Book for Orlando offers coupons for local
restaurants and attractions, plus hotel and car rental
discounts. It’s not free (about $30, or less if you buy in the
middle of the year) but it might pay for itself if you plan to
do a lot beyond Disney’s borders.
22. If you’re staying at a Disney resort, buy the
refillable mug. It’s $12, but entitles you to free soda, tea
and coffee refills during the length of your stay. It pay for
itself in just a few drinks, plus it makes a great souvenir to
take home.
23. Get a refrigerator or cooler. This can save you a
small fortune. Disney’s moderate and deluxe resorts offer
in-room dorm-sized refrigerators at no extra cost. If you stay
in a value resort, you can choose to rent one ($10/day), bring
one from home (if you drive), or buy or bring a cooler and fill
it with ice from the ice machine. The purpose is to give you a
place to chill milk, sandwich fixings, etc. to reduce your food
costs. Even if you only eat breakfast in your room you’ll save a
bunch of money over buying it everyday, especially if you have a
large party. Not to mention the time you save by not waiting in
line every morning. People can be eating while others are
getting ready.
24. And where are you supposed to get the food to put in this
cooler or fridge, you ask? If you’re driving, you can bring
much of it with you from home. If you drive yourself or rent
a car, you can hit the grocery stores or Wal-Mart in town.
If you fly, several grocery stores in the area offer grocery
delivery to the Disney Resorts. Even if you have to pay a
delivery fee, your savings will more than cover it.
25. Consider staying on Disney property. When people
think about saving money, they automatically assume that they
will do better by staying off property. That’s not necessarily
true. Disney offers value priced accommodations and, with
discounts, these get pretty attractive price-wise. If you stay
off property, you’ll have to pay for parking at the parks
($11/day), call a cab, rely on infrequent shuttles or rent a
car. Don’t forget gas costs if you drive yourself. All of these
add to your daily totals. On site guests get free parking and
transportation to the parks. Plus you’re right there. You don’t
have to navigate traffic or waste time at the parking plaza.
Certainly, some people do better by staying off property and you
should certainly look into it. But remember to factor in the
increased transportation costs into your budget. A great deal on
an off site hotel can quickly be eaten up by parking fees and
gas money.
26. Know that saving at Disney is all about compromise and
be willing to give up some of what you want to get more of
something else. Certainly, you can opt for the best of
everything and to do everything top flight. But you don’t have
to do that to have a good time. Rather than staying in a deluxe
resort, maybe you can choose a moderate and be just as happy.
Instead of ten nights, will seven be sufficient? Maybe you can
eat counter service instead of table service. Maybe one good
souvenir is better than twenty so-so souvenirs. Every compromise
you make frees up money for other stuff. For example, if you
stay in that moderate resort, maybe it leaves you with some
money left over to have a few character meals. Make a budget and
decide where you can compromise to get the number down to an
affordable, yet fun number.
Visiting Walt Disney World doesn’t have to be an expensive
proposition. With a little research and preplanning you can
dramatically reduce your costs and stretch your funds (and fun)
even further. |
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Chivas USA Selects Disney's California Adventure as backdrop for
2008 Team Photo
 Disney
News - Chivas USA’s entire 2008 roster and coaching staff gather
for their annual team photo at Disney's California Adventure on
Monday. Along with a few new faces, the team is also sporting a
new look. |
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ESPN teaming with rock group Coldplay on soccer marketing
campaign
AP - Coldplay and ESPN have signed a marketing deal that will
have the rock band promoting soccer and the sports network
promoting the band's new album.
The marketing campaign announced Wednesday will use
Coldplay's music in promotions for ESPN's coverage of the Euro
2008 soccer tournament, which is scheduled for June 7-29 in
Austria and Switzerland.
ESPN has also agreed to incorporate music from Coldplay's new
release, "Viva La Vida," into game and studio production. The CD
is due out June 12.
ESPN has the broadcast rights for the tournament in the U.S.,
Canada, Mexico, South America and India.
The matches will be broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNHD,
ESPN2HD, ESPN Classic, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Deportes Radio,
ESPNdeportes.com and ESPN360.com.
ESPN is a joint venture of Hearst Corp. and ABC. |
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When you wish
upon a star
Abbotsford Times - Lots of people want to go to Disneyland. Who
wouldn't?
But for an Abbotsford-based draft horse musical ride team,
the fairytale will only come true if they raise enough money to
get there.
The Canadian Clyde Ride Team of America, headed by Abbotsford
entrepreneur Wendee Cristante, has been invited to grace the
streets of Disneyland to perform in their scheduled twice-daily
parades between Christmas and New Year's.
"This is the first time an outside horse act has been asked
to perform in Disneyland," said Kristen Spencer, who helps with
the team.
"It's an honor to be asked, but Disneyland doesn't pay to get
us there."
Spencer and Cristante figure they'll need to raise six
figures - at least $250,000 - to get nine riders and a spare,
and nine horses, plus all their gear and related equipment, to
California.
They're hoping to stay in order to participate in the New
Year's Day Rose Bowl Parade as well.
"It's amazing how much Clydesdales appeal to everyone,"
Spencer said.
"The performance is a bit like the RCMP musical ride, but all
women riders, with the glitz and glamour of Vegas."
The team, which has performed at more than 300 parades and
events, including the Calgary Stampede and the Hollywood Santa
Parade, is groomed, fed and trained by Cristante alone, Spencer
said.
"She does the full-time job of three or four people, all by
herself," Spencer said, adding there is no funding for the team,
other than what is fundraised.
"We'd love to partner with a local company and work with them
on commercials or an ad campaign. Corporate or business sponsors
would be great."
Cristante, while gently petting and talking to parade lead
horse Prince Charming, a shire rescued by the SPCA, said the
Disneyland parades are also a chance for the riders and horses
to be Canadian ambassadors.
The team performs a red and white Canadian Cowgirl
presentation, each carrying the Canadian flag, with their mounts
sporting the glittering red maple leaf, as part of the
performance.
"I think it will be great to have a positive presentation
based in Abbotsford on show for the world, especially with 2010
coming," Cristante said, referring to the Olympics - and its
opening ceremonies.
"This is a first for Canada and a first for Disneyland, and I
think it could be a plus for Abbotsford and the entire Lower
Mainland."
The huge horses always draw crowds, Cristante said.
"These big, heavy horses touch the souls of people of all
ages. The generation of people who used these horses in the
fields are still alive," she said.
"It can bring them back. It's a magical experience for so
many."
Visit the Canadian Clyde Ride Team of America website at
www.canadianclyderide.com for more information. |
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Toy Story
Mania Fun Facts
Disney News - Toy Story Mania Fun Facts
Each ride vehicle weighs as much as 8,580 Woody dolls.
It would take 5,026 toy soldiers lined up
end-to-end to make up the total track length.
Toy Story Mania! is the first time that
Walt Disney Imagineering is creating an attraction for two
Disney Parks simultaneously.
It has been estimated that, each day,
guests may break over one million virtual plates using the
spring-action shooters.
Riders in the Sky, the award winning group
that wrote the songs that Mr. Potato Head performs as part of
the attraction, is the same group that wrote "Woody's Roundup"
for the "Toy Story" feature films.
This is the first attraction that Walt
Disney Imagineering designed where the Imagineers had to wear
3-D glasses to art direct all the black-light paint elements.
The murals located in the load area at
Disney's Hollywood Studios are the biggest murals painted since
Epcot was built.
In order to create a show that responds
not only to every pull of a guest's spring-action shooter, but
also every move their midway tram makes, there are over 150
computers communicating over multiple networks throughout the
attraction.
At Toy Story Mania! every guest gets to
experience life at the size of a toy. So in Andy's room, a 5
foot 6 inch person will feel about 14" tall.
More time was spent programming Mr. Potato
Head than for any other Audio-Animatronics figure ever created
by Walt Disney Imagineering.
Mr. Potato Head will be able to say more
lines of dialogue than any Audio-Animatronics figure ever
created by Walt Disney Imagineering.
The Mr. Potato Head Audio-Animatronics
figure is the first time that an Audio-Animatronics figure can
remove a body part and re-attach it (in the case of his ear).
The Mr. Potato Head Audio-Animatronics
figure has new, highly expressive and animated eyes that can
look directly at a particular guest in the queue when speaking
to him/her.
Mr. Potato Head marks the first
Audio-Animatronics figure whose mouth appears to form words and
vowel sounds.
Game:
In each of the Toy Story Mania! games, there is at least one "easter
egg" -- targets that can trigger the appearance of bonus
high-value targets and other changes in the scene.
Toy Story Mania! is the first time that
Woody and Buzz Lightyear (along with some of their friends) from
the Disney-Pixar "Toy Story" films appear together in a
ride-through attraction.
Watch for loose change in the prize scene
-- Hamm is carrying more than $6 in coins when his cork pops.
Nice to Know:
Because of the indoor nature of the attraction and to keep the
guest experience fun for all, flash photography or video is not
allowed on Toy Story Mania!
Everyone can play! There is no height or
age restriction for guests to experience Toy Story Mania!
Actual ride time aboard Toy Story Mania!
is a full five minutes.
Ready, aim, fire! Players have 30 seconds
in each game play area to score points.
A
beeline to fun! Toy Story Mania! utilizes Disney's FASTPASS, a
return voucher offering little or no waiting time at select
attractions. Single riders also have their own queuing option
for Toy Story Mania!
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Tuesday
May 6, 2008 |
Walt Disney's net profit grows 22 percent to $1.1B in 2Q
Disney reports higher profit on parks and studio
Disney Profit May Have Risen on Sequel to `Treasure'
Walt Disney Co. children's food draws Surgeon General praise
Euro Disney Starting
To Sparkle
Pop Phenomenon Jonas Brothers Headed to Digital 3-D Movie
Theaters in 2009
Analysts get encouraged by Disney park numbers
Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning: I’m finally going to Disneyland!
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Product Line Brings
Action & Adventure to Life
Promising Pixar
Artist Dies at 27
Disney's Wide
World of Sports Complex
What made
Shyamalan part ways with Disney?
Disney
Planning 'College Road Trip' for Blu-ray
Stunning New Disney Racer ‘Pure’ Is Designed To Upset Our
Stomachs
Plantpeddler
grows plants for Disney
Disney India ups
affiliates exec |
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Walt Disney's net profit grows 22 percent to $1.1B in 2Q
AP -
Strong growth in its media
networks, film studios and theme parks lifted The Walt Disney
Co.'s second-quarter net profit 22 percent from a year ago, the
company said Tuesday.
Disney said it earned $1.13
billion, or 58 cents per share, in the quarter ended March 29,
compared with $931 million, or 44 cents per share, a year
earlier.
Revenue for the period grew 10 percent to $8.71 billion.
The results beat Wall Street
estimates. Analysts expected earnings of 51 cents per share on
$8.47 billion in revenue, according to Thomson Financial.
Disney announced its results
after markets closed. The company's shares rose 44 cents, or 1.3
percent, to close at $33.73, then gained 76 cents, or 2.3
percent, in after-hours trading.
Analysts had expected that the
weak U.S. economy and reduced consumer spending might have an
effect on Disney theme parks, but the company said its parks and
resorts revenue rose 11 percent to $2.7 billion, driven by
higher attendance and guest spending at its Paris and Orlando,
Fla., parks.
Both benefited from an Easter
holiday that fell in the second quarter, the company said.
Disney also reported studio
revenue increased 18 percent to $1.82 billion, with box office
sales boosted by "National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets" and the
3-D hit "Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds."
Media networks revenue grew 5
percent to $3.61 billion, primarily due to growth at ESPN,
Disney said. |
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Disney reports higher profit on parks and studio
Reuters - Walt Disney Co (NYSE: DIS) on Tuesday reported
a higher quarterly profit, boosted by strong results at its
studio and stronger-than-expected theme park attendance.
Net income in the fiscal second
quarter ended March 29 was $1.1 billion, or 58 cents per share,
compared with $931 million, or 44 cents per share, in the same
quarter last year.
Revenue rose to $8.71 billion
from $8.07 billion a year earlier.
Analysts, on average, had
expected revenue of $8.49 billion, according to Reuters
Estimates.
Disney shares closed up 1.3
percent at $33.73 on Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange. |
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Disney Profit May Have Risen on Sequel to `Treasure'
Bloomberg - Walt Disney Co., the second-largest U.S. media
company, may say today that second-quarter profit gained on
box-office sales for ``National Treasure'' and ``Hannah
Montana,'' and the DVD release of ``Enchanted.''
Net income probably rose 7.1
percent to $997.2 million, or 51 cents a share, from a year
earlier, according to the average of nine analysts' estimates
compiled by Bloomberg. Sales in the period ended March 29 may
have climbed 5.4 percent to $8.51 billion, the average of 17
estimates.
Chief Executive Officer Robert
Iger weathered a slowdown in the U.S. economy with sales of
movie tickets and DVDs, and more theme-park visitors. ``National
Treasure: Book of Secrets'' took in most of its $456.4 million
in global sales in the period, researcher Box Office Mojo LLP
said. ``Hannah Montana'' opened Feb. 1 with $31.1 million in
weekend sales at 683 locations, a per-screen record.
``Enchanted'' DVDs came out in mid-March.
``There was stronger box office
and DVD performance at the studio,'' as well as increased
theme-park attendance, Michael Morris, an analyst at UBS
Securities LLC in New York, said in an interview. ``We haven't
seen a slowdown yet, but it would be imprudent to not at least
consider the possibility.''
Disney, based in Burbank,
California, rose 2 cents to $33.31 at 12:11 p.m. in New York
Stock Exchange composite trading. Before today, the shares had
gained 3.1 percent this year, compared with a 2.2 percent dip
for Time Warner Inc., the world's largest media company, and a
13 percent drop for Viacom Inc. Class B shares.
Spokesman Jonathan Friedland
said Disney won't comment on results before earnings are
released. The company is scheduled to report after the close of
U.S. markets today.
Cyrus Photos
Studio entertainment may report
a 10 percent rise in operating profit to $266 million, Morris
said. Sales at the unit probably gained 11 percent to $1.72
billion, he estimates.
``Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus:
Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour'' film has garnered worldwide
sales of $69.2 million.
``Hannah Montana,'' the top show
on U.S. pay television among children ages 6 to 14 for two
straight years, probably helped spur sales across Disney. A new
Hannah Montana CD will hit later this year and a feature film
and book are planned for 2009. Miley Cyrus, the show's
15-year-old star, apologized last week for a photograph in
Vanity Fair magazine, in which her back is exposed and she is
pictured holding a sheet to her chest.
Brad Adgate, research director
at New York-based advertising agency Horizon Media Inc., said at
the time that he didn't think the incident would hurt Cyrus's
popularity.
Theme-Park Share
Disney is releasing ``The
Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian'' on May 16 and Pixar
Animation's ``Wall-E'' on June 27. Last year, Disney's ``Pirates
of the Caribbean: At World's End'' and ``Ratatouille'' took in a
combined $515.8 million domestically during the summer season.
``It's going to be tough for
Disney to match its success from last summer,'' said Janna
Sampson, co-chief investment officer of Lisle, Illinois-based
Oakbrook Investments LLC.
In the second quarter, operating
profit at the parks and resorts division probably climbed 19
percent to $302 million on sales that rose 9 percent to $2.67
billion, Morris at UBS said.
Attendance in the period was
bolstered by Easter and spring break holidays falling earlier in
the year, Morris said.
The company may be less
susceptible to the effects of the flagging economy than in
previous periods of slow growth or recession, Sampson said. The
share of the profit from theme parks is half what it was in
prior recession years, she said.
Theme Parks
Last year, theme parks
contributed 22 percent of operating profit, compared with 39
percent in 2001 and 53 percent in 1991.
Disney bought Capital Cities/ABC
Inc. in 1996, adding the ABC broadcast network and ESPN cable
sports channel. It expanded the theme-park division to cruise
ships and time-share property.
Iger, 57, who became CEO in
2005, said last month that theme parks in Paris and Hong Kong
are doing ``extremely well'' compared with a year earlier.
Operating profit at the
broadcast unit that includes ABC probably fell to $176 million
as sales dropped to $1.55 billion, Morris said. Lower ratings
from a 100-day writers strike dragged down the unit's revenue,
though the result was offset by sales of ABC programs to
television stations outside the U.S. The strike shuttered
production of new TV episodes and induced rerun-laden schedules,
Morris said.
Cable operating profit probably
rose to $1.06 billion as sales increased to $2.15 billion,
according to Morris.
Operating profit at the
company's consumer-products business rose 3.2 percent to $129
million on sales of $526 million, a 1.9 percent increase, Morris
wrote.
(Disney will hold a conference
call to discuss results at 4:30 p.m. in New York time, at
http://www.disney.com/investors.)
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Walt Disney Co. children's food draws Surgeon General praise
Orlando Sentinel - Walt Disney World's efforts to offer more
healthful food options for children is drawing praise from the
U.S. Surgeon General, who will be on hand today to present the
resort with an award.
Acting Surgeon General Rear Adm. Steven K. Galson is to come in
today to promote the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services' program, "Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future," which
addresses childhood overweight and obesity prevention.
In 2006 Disney announced a set
of new food guidelines aimed at giving parents and children more
healthful options, such as carrots or apple slices as
alternatives to french fries, and such foods have become
standard at Disney-operated restaurants and kiosks (including in
the adult menu items show above at the ABC Commissary at
Disney's Hollywood Studios.)
Under a two-year change-over
announced by Walt Disney Co. President Bob Iger in October,
2006, the company's culinary operations were committed to
reducing calories, fat, saturated fat, sodium and sugar in all
children-focused foods, from chicken nuggets to ice-cream
snacks. Trans fats were to be cut from foods by the end of last
year in the theme parks and the end of this year for Disney
foods sold elsewhere. |
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Euro Disney Starting
To Sparkle
Forbes - It hasn't
been an easy ride for Euro Disney, but Mickey and friends had a
reason to celebrate Tuesday as the company's earnings for the
half year beat expectations.
Euro Disney said it swung to an operating profit of 1.3 million
euros ($2.0 million), in the six months to March, from a loss of
36.3 million euros ($56.5 million), a year earlier
The company, which operates the Disneyland Paris resort east of
Paris, said the stronger results were due to higher demand at
Euro Disney's hotel facilities.
Marne-la-Vallée, France-based Euro Disney said sales, which
jumped 18%, to 605.5 million euros ($941 million), also
benefited from the fact that Easter came in March and not in
April, as in 2007.
"The results were remarkable," said Catherine Rolland, an
analyst with Landsbanki in Paris, adding that they had beat her
estimates. "The trend seems to be quite good in April, May and
June. Their operating profit figures are quite reassuring."
The net loss, before minorities, narrowed by 47%, to 43.4
million euros ($67.5 million), from 82.0 million euros ($1.3
billion). After minorities, the loss was trimmed by 45.8%, to
37.5 million euros ($58.3 million), from 69.2 million euros
($1.8 billion).
"The company has kept a sustainable growth. My bet is it will be
able to break even by 2009," Rolland predicted. She added that
new attractions and better marketing strategies had been a key
factor to Euro Disney's improvement.
"The new attractions have drawn more visitors and they are using
the theme park, but they are also spending on their hotels and
restaurants," Rolland said.
Euro Disney's management said it was reasonably optimistic about
the company's results in the second half of the year. But the
company will be hoping that a slowdown in European consumer
demand won't dull its improving performance for the rest of
2008.
Euro Disney's shares fell 2.2%, to 8.62 euros ($13.40), on
Tuesday afternoon in Paris. Euro Disney pays royalty and
management fees to The Walt Disney Company (nyse: DIS), which
owns 40.0% of the company. Billionaire Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal
Alsaud also owns a 10% stake.
Walt Disney is expected to announce its profits in the United
States after American markets close Tuesday. Its shares were
down 0.2%, or 8 cents, at $33.21, on Tuesday morning in New
York. |
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Pop Phenomenon Jonas Brothers Headed to Digital 3-D Movie
Theaters in 2009
PRNewswire - Jonas Brothers, Hollywood Records' red-hot
recording artists and the popular stars of several Disney
Channel programs, are headed to the big screen in 2009 with a
Disney Digital 3-D(TM) feature film that will include footage
from their upcoming "Burning Up" concert tour, it was announced
today by Oren Aviv, president, Walt Disney Studios Motion
Picture Production.
Bruce Hendricks, who helmed Disney's record breaking 3-D motion
picture "Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert
Tour," will once again direct, with Art Repola ("Hannah
Montana," ESPN's "Ultimate X: The Movie") reprising his role as
producer. Also producing are Phil McIntyre, Kevin Jonas Sr.,
Johnny Wright and Alan Sacks ("Camp Rock"). To be shot in
state-of-the-art 3-D, the Jonas Brothers' feature will include
footage from their high-energy live shows as well as documentary
material taking fans behind the scenes and into the lives and
careers of the three brothers -- Kevin, Joe and Nick. "We can't
wait to start working on this film for our fans," said the Jonas
Brothers. "It's going to be awesome and we really want to bring
a totally unique and different movie experience to everyone
whether they've seen us live or not."
Commenting on the announcement,
Aviv said, "We're very excited to be bringing the incredibly
talented Jonas Brothers to their legions of fans around the
world with this exciting big screen digital 3-D feature. More
than just a concert, this film will take moviegoers inside the
band's creative process, and present them in a very intimate and
entertaining way. Bruce Hendricks and Art Repola did a fantastic
job capturing the fun and excitement of the 'Hannah Montana'
concert experience for the digital 3-D screen, and now they're
about to create a wonderful theatrical experience for this
latest musical phenomenon."
The Jonas Brothers' top-selling
headline arena tour, the "Burning Up Tour", is scheduled to kick
off in Toronto on July 4th, with special guest Demi Lovato
("Camp Rock"). The brothers also star in the upcoming Disney
Channel Original Movie, "Camp Rock" (premiering on June 20th),
and in the Disney Channel series, "J.O.N.A.S!," debuting this
fall. Their self-titled debut album, released in August 2007,
has gone on to achieve platinum status. The band's most recent
hit single, "When You Look Me In The Eyes," debuted as the #1
most added at Top 40 radio.
In addition to the Disney
Channel Original Movie "Camp Rock" premiering in June on Disney
Channel, the ABC Television Network, ABC Family, Radio Disney
and Disney.com, they star in a short-form reality series "Jonas
Brothers: Living the Dream," a look at their lives while on
concert tour, debuting May 16, 2008 on Disney Channel, and will
star in the upcoming comedy series, "J.O.N.A.S.," scheduled to
begin production in Fall 2008 for premiere on Disney Channel.
The band is managed by Phil
McIntyre, Kevin Jonas and Johnny Wright. The Jonas Brothers are
represented by CAA for film and music and their legal
representation is Carroll, Guido & Groffman, LLP. |
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Analysts get encouraged by Disney park numbers
MarketWatch - Wall Street
analysts were a bit more optimistic Monday about theme park
results for entertainment giant Walt Disney Co., as investors
await news on the company's second-quarter results due after the
close on Tuesday.
Concern seems to be
fleeting over the possibility that results for the
company's Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., and
cornerstone Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., might
falter in the face of recession.
Sluggish economic
conditions often have a detrimental effect on
revenue at Disney's theme parks, particularly its
Walt Disney World in Florida. That facility took a
hit in sales after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror
attacks but has since recovered.
Richard Greenfield of
Pali Research noted that the Orlando Sentinel
reported over the weekend that March resort tax
collections were up 5.1% year-over-year. He noted
that the Easter holiday fell early this year, but
said in a note to clients that signs are positive
for the parks.
"Disney's theme park
division remains investors' No. 1 concern, yet all
signs point to Disney's fiscal second-quarter
[ending in March] being quite strong, with theme
parks likely to upside surprise," Greenfield wrote.
Walt Disney Company
expects to
report its earnings after the close Tuesday.
Analysts polled by FactSet Research are
forecasting profits to come in at 51 cents a
share on sales of $8.51 billion, compared with
the 43 cents a share on sales of $8.07 billion
posted a year ago.
Greenfield's
estimate was 52 cents a share, but now he
feels as though that might be conservative.
Jason Helfstein
of Oppenheimer & Co. told investors that he
now expects the company to outstrip earnings
estimates, thanks to spillover earnings from
such late first-quarter film releases as
"National Treasure II" and international
sales from "Enchanted."
Helfstein says
he sees no signs of general economic malaise
affecting the parks, and increased his
second-quarter estimates on the division's
sales to $2.7 billion for the quarter, up
from $2.6 billion, and operating income of
$291 million vs. his previous forecast of
$267 million.
Not all company
watchers have been so optimistic.
Analyst Doug
Creutz of Cowen & Co. recently said in a
note to clients that big drops in consumer
confidence often take their toll on Disney's
parks. He wrote that similar drops in
consumer confidence in 1990-91 and 2001-02
resulted in attendance drops of 10.8% and
4%, respectively.
Creutz forecast
that Disney park sales and operating profits
would be down 2.7% and 10%, respectively, as
the company tries to cope with a 3.3% drop
in attendance.
"We believe
that Disney's parks and resorts segment is
one of the most exposed business segments in
the company to the impact of a potential
recession," he wrote.
Doug Mitchelson
of Deutsche Bank Securities was more
optimistic in his assessment. He said in a
recent note that Disney might have been able
to take advantage of price increases due to
recent strong attendance, though he
acknowledged that the current economic
downturn might not be the best time to test
such a step.
Mitchelson also
commented that Disney shares are at a low
price-to-earnings ratio of 15. Disney stock
reached that level during the 1987
stock-market crash, the 1990-91 recession
and the 2001-02 recession.
In each of
those instances, shares went up by a third
within six months, he wrote. "We continue to
believe that Disney has stronger long-term
growth prospects than most investors
expect."
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Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning: I’m finally
going to Disneyland!
LATimes - Super Bowl XLII MVP Eli Manning
will finally make good on his
postgame pronouncement: “I’m going to
Disneyland.”
The New York
Giants quarterback will ride in a vintage
convertible automobile along the Disneyland
parade route on Wednesday, May 7, 2008, at
4:30 p.m. in a “cavalcade” including Disney
characters. The parade could begin up to an
hour early depending on Manning’s schedule,
according to Disney officials.
Manning’s
new bride, Abby McGrew, will accompany her
college sweetheart to the Anaheim theme park
in their first official public appearance as
husband and wife. The newlyweds — married in
a celebrity wedding on April 19, 2008, in
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico — may ride in a
Disneyland attraction or two after the
conclusion of the official events.
Disneyland was
forced to postpone a hastily arranged parade
on the day after the Super Bowl when Manning
got stuck for hours at an Arizona airport
waiting for the skies to clear of
corporate-jet getaway traffic.
The abrupt
cancellation left disappointed New York
Giants fans along Disneyland’s parade route
as a team of forlorn Pop Warner football
players rode a float sans the MVP down Main
Street U.S.A. Manning will meet privately
with the Pop Warner players on Wednesday
following the cavalcade.
In the days
after the Super Bowl, Manning opted for a
ticker-tape parade down New York City’s
“Canyon of Heroes,” an appearance on the
“Late Show With David Letterman” and a sunny
vacation in the Bahamas over a photo op with
Mickey Mouse.
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The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Product Line Brings Action & Adventure to
Life
Business Wire - The timeless and
fascinating Narnia series has been
captivating fans and collectors for over 50
years, and on May 16th
Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media are
bringing the world of Narnia back to the big
screen with the release of The Chronicles
of Narnia: Prince Caspian. In
conjunction with the film release, Disney
Consumer Products announces an all
new exciting product line which focuses on
quality and authenticity. The toy range has
impressive detail and industry leading
points of articulation and features.
“The
Narnia Prince Caspian product line gives
fans the opportunity to be immersed in the
world of Narnia, and with the action
figures, swords, playsets and video game,
they can recreate the adventure in a fun and
dynamic way,”
said Eva Steortz, vice president, Global
Franchise Development, boys and film, Disney
Consumer Products. “In
addition, collectors will covet the highly
detailed statues and busts produced by
masterful artists who have created
realistic, quality collectibles that last a
lifetime.”
THE
CHRONICLES OF NARNIA PRINCE CASPIAN TOY LINE
The Prince Caspian toy line created
by the Play Along®
division of JAKKS Pacific®,
and now available at retailers including
Toys R Us and Target, empowers kids to
relive the action-packed scenes from the
film and imagine they are part of the
magical world of Narnia, rich with talking
animals and mythical creatures. The line
includes highly-detailed action figures and
playsets, as well as heroic role play items.
The 3.75” and 7”
action figures represent over 25 different
heroes, villains and fantasy creatures from
Narnia. Kids can collect the figures, and
imagine they are part of the magical world
of Narnia! The Prince Caspian
Action Figures are highly-detailed and
have authentic battle action features
representing how each character actually
battles in the movie. For ages 4 and up,
SRP $6.99 - $14.99.
The Narnia action figures can be used to
recreate the battle scenes from the movie
with the Deluxe Castle Playset. With
over 15 action features, lights and sounds,
authentic detail and deco, over 2 feet of
vertical play and 360 degree play value,
this playset creates the ultimate Narnia
adventure. Kids re-enact battle on the
dueling discs, fall through trap doors,
navigate over collapsing bridges, survive
the dungeon, escape through the secret
elevator and help Caspian reclaim his
throne. For ages 4 and up, SRP $59.99
Kids can transform into their favorite
Narnia characters with The Chronicles
of Narnia Prince Caspian Narnia
Battle Armor. The action-packed Gauntlet
Crossbow fires foam arrows, and the detailed
Helmet and Dagger will have kids feeling
just like King Peter as they defend the
world of Narnia. For ages 4 and up, SRP
$9.99
When it’s time to
battle to save the kingdom, they’ll
need The Chronicles of Narnia
Swords of Narnia. With three styles
to choose from –
King Peter, Prince Caspian or the Evil King
Miraz – each
sword features authentic details from that
character’s sword
in the movie. During battle play, real sword
slashing battle sounds can be heard! For
ages 4 and up, SRP $9.99
THE
CHRONICLES OF NARNIA PRINCE CASPIAN VIDEO
GAME
With combat, exploration and puzzle solving
that extends beyond the film, The
Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
video game is the ideal complement to
the movie-going experience. The game
features 20 playable characters including
the ability to play as Prince Caspian.
Released by Disney Interactive Studios, the
video game will be available at major
retailers on the Xbox 360®
video game and entertainment system from
Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3
computer entertainment system, the Wii™
home video game system, PlayStation®2
computer entertainment system, Nintendo DS™
system and Windows-based PC.
Developed by Traveller’s
Tales, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince
Caspian for home consoles and
Windows-based PC takes players throughout
Narnia and includes a level, which is unique
from both the novel and the film.
The
Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian for
Nintendo DS, an action/role playing game,
will debut DGamer, Disney Interactive
Studios’
innovative new technology that provides a
fun, connected game community for Disney
video game fans. With DGamer, players earn
content, interact and chat with others on
Nintendo DS through the Nintendo Wi-Fi
Connection or on a computer through the
Disney.com Web site. DGamer will be offered
in North America in future Nintendo DS games
from Disney Interactive Studios with a
future launch scheduled in other global
regions. Prince Caspian for Nintendo
DS was developed by Fall Line Studio, the
Nintendo platform-dedicated development
studio of Disney Interactive Studios.
The
Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
video game is rated Teen with violence.
THE
CHRONICLES OF NARNIA PRINCE CASPIAN
COLLECTIBLES
Weta Collectibles has once again teamed up
with Disney Consumer Products and talented
technicians to create a line of statues
based on the film. Working closely with
Disney and their creative team, Weta
Workshop designed and produced many of the
props and costuming for the sequel, gaining
a unique insight into the world of Narnia.
The Weta Collectibles range features limited
edition polystone statues of iconic
characters from the film, including Prince
Caspian himself, the irrepressible warrior
mouse Reepicheep and a Saytr in mid battle.
Also included in the first pieces of the
range is a 1/5th
scale mini-bust of the Minotaur, and a
collection of 1/4th
scale miniature helmets, based on the full
sized costume pieces Weta Workshop’s
artists designed and built for the
Chronicles of Narnia films.
Robert Tonner's collection of TONNER
CHARACTER FIGURES™
(TCF) depicts William Moseley in the role of
Peter Pevensie; Anna Popplewell in the role
of Susan Pevensie; Skandar Keynes in the
role of Edmund Pevensie; and Georgie Henley
in the role of Lucy Pevensie. Ranging from
13”-19”
tall, each perfectly replicated Pevensie
sibling comes authentically dressed. The
intricate costume details range from real
buttons and lace-up shoes to custom knit
sweaters. The kings and queens of Narnia
also have separate coronation costumes
available which include fine details such as
intricately molded crowns, hand-embroidery
details and luxurious fabrics. These
wardrobe adventurers are perfectly scaled
and composed of fine quality hard-plastic
and vinyl. Each figure features hand-painted
face details and 14-points of articulation
for the most realistic poses.
Narnia collectibles will be available in
collectible and comic book stores in July
2008.
About The
Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian
The
Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian is
based on the classic novel series by C.S.
Lewis and will be the second story in the
series to become a major motion picture,
following the 2005 release of The Lion,
The Witch and The Wardrobe. Prince
Caspian follows the Pevensie children
– Peter, Susan,
Edmund and Lucy –
as they are summoned back to Narnia to help
Caspian rescue the kingdom from his evil
uncle’s rule and
restore magic to the glorious land of
Narnia. The live-action and computer graphic
imagery film is being directed by Andrew
Adamson (Shrek, Shrek 2) and stars
many of the same cast members who brought
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe to
life.
About
Disney Consumer Products
Disney Consumer Products and affiliates (DCP)
is the business segment of The Walt Disney
Company (NYSE: DIS) that extends the Disney
brand to merchandise ranging from apparel,
toys, home décor
and books and magazines to interactive
games, foods and beverages, stationery,
electronics and fine art. This is
accomplished through DCP's various lines of
business which include: Disney Toys, Disney
Apparel, Accessories & Footwear, Disney
Food, Health & Beauty, Disney Home and
Disney Stationery. Other businesses involved
in Disney's consumer products sales are
Disney Publishing Worldwide, the world's
largest publisher of children's books and
magazines, Disney Interactive Studios, a
leading developer and publisher of video
games and interactive entertainment, and
www.disneyshopping.com,
the company's official shopping portal. The
Disney Stores retail chain, which debuted in
1987, is owned and operated by Disney in
North America and Europe. The Disney Stores
chain in Japan is operated under a license
agreement with Disney.
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Promising Pixar Artist Dies at 27
Animation Magazine - Justin Wright, a
27-year-old storyboard artist at Pixar, has
died from a heart attack, according to
various online sources. The young storyboard
artist’s credits at Pixar include the
much-lauded 2D line drawings featured in the
credits of Ratatouille. He was also
working on a new animated short that will be
released with WALL*E in theaters this
June.
Before
getting the job at Pixar, Wright studied
Fine Arts at Pacific Union College
1999-2000. A story on the PUC website talks
about how he was taken on a tour of Pixar
after he received a heart transplant at the
age of 12. His doctor recognized his talent
when he saw the drawings he had done during
his stay at the hospital, and he used his
connections to give the young Wright a tour
of Pixar.
Justin
believed that his glimpse at mortality as a
child helped him pursue his dream of
becoming a storyboard artist at Pixar. He
quit his job as a production assistant at
Pixar to make sure he wasn’t pigeonholed as
a P.A. “When my friends heard I’d quit a
job, any job, at Pixar, they thought I was
crazy—I mean, people do work their way up
from being a production assistant,” he told
the PUC alumni website. “But I knew that I
wanted to be seen as a storyboard artist. So
I quit. I knew I’d been allowed to stay on
this earth, and that I was lucky. I do think
that influenced my decision.” Fortunately,
he soon landed an internship that turned
into a full-time job at Pixar.
You can read
more about Wright, his life and untimely
death at Pixar artist Ronnie del Carmen’s
blog. (www.ronniedelcarmen.com/blog1/2008/03/justin-wright-1982-2008.html).
We sent our heartfelt condolences to
Wright’s family, friends and colleagues. Our
thoughts and prayers are with them.
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Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex
Newsday - Fans and players alike were
instantly amazed by the double-deck
facility, which boasts 7,500 seats, a
high-tech drainage system to keep the field
in playable condition and a sense of
nostalgia that normally doesn't come with
newly built stadiums.
People still marvel at Cracker Jack Stadium,
as it is affectionately called, whenever
they visit Disney's Wide World of Sports
Complex, and it is now the permanent home of
the Atlanta Braves Spring Training Camp.
Even though the fervor of the national
pastime is worth the trip on its own, there
is even more to see and do at Disney's
Sports Complex. The National Football
League's Tampa Bay Buccaneers use Disney's
Wide World of Sports Complex for their
preseason training camp, and even allow free
admission to spectators who want to see
their favorite NFL team preparing for the
upcoming season.
The Complex also hosts many other
professional and amateur events each year.
The Track and Field Complex, which is
designed to the exact specifications of the
International Amateur Athletic Federation,
has hosted numerous NCAA Track meets, as
well as many international track
competitions.
Another feature
of the Complex is the Milk House, Disney's
version of the old-time Gymnasium. The Milk
House features over 50,000 square feet of
competition space, which has hosted
everything from amateur wrestling to martial
arts exhibitions. The facility also includes
six hardwood basketball courts and four
classes where student athletes can learn
while they play.
The Wide World of Sports Tennis Complex has
hosted everything from college championships
to celebrity tennis benefits on its 11 clay
courts, while the Softball and Baseball
Quadraplexes provide plenty of room for
anyone who wants to play ball. Additional
sports fields provide ample room for
athletes of all ages to play their game.
Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex was
definitely built with fans in mind. Cracker
Jack Stadium's seats are the largest of any
baseball Spring Training stadium, and low
spectator admission prices make any day a
perfect day to head over to the Complex and
see what is going on.
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What made Shyamalan part ways with Disney?
Hindustan Times - Indian-American filmmaker
Manoj Night Shyamalan, known for his spooky
suspense thrillers, has in a new tell-all
book lashed out at Walt Disney Studios,
considered his artistic home since his 1999
surprise hit The Sixth Sense.
Penned by
Sports Illustrated writer Michael
Bamberger with Shyamalan's blessing and
extensive participation, the 278-page book
recounts what led him to part ways with
Disney over the script of a new venture,
ultimately financed by Warner Bros.
The Man
Who Heard Voices: Or, How M. Night Shyamalan
Risked His Career on a Fairy Tale, hits
stores July 20, a day before the premiere of
the Mahe (Pondicherry)-born
writer-director's new movie, Lady in the
Water.
At the
centre of his dispute with Disney, the
$70-million movie is a scary fantasy that
stars Paul Giamatti as an apartment building
superintendent who rescues a sea nymph he
finds in his swimming pool.
Disney
production president Nina Jacobson who
shepherded his four Disney films, including
Unbreakable, Signs and
The Village over six years, gets the
worst drubbing in the book.
The book
recounts how at a disastrous dinner in
Philadelphia last year Jacobson delivered a
frank critique of the Lady in the Water
script. When she told him that she and her
boss, studio chairman Dick Cook, didn't
"get" the idea, Shyamalan was heartbroken.
Things got
only worse when she lambasted his inclusion
of a mauling of a film critic in the story
line and told Shyamalan that his decision to
cast himself as a visionary writer out to
change the world bordered on self-serving.
Getting back
at Jacobson in the book, Shyamalan says he
had felt for some time that he "had
witnessed the decay of her creative vision
right before his own wide-open eyes. She
didn't want iconoclastic directors. She
wanted directors who made money."
Disney's
executives are not the only ones who are
ripped in the book. Miramax Films co-founder
Harvey Weinstein is described as "famously
tyrannical" and is portrayed as ruthlessly
re-cutting Shyamalan's 1998 film Wide
Awake.
"There is an
elusive balance that all parties strive for
between art and commerce," Warner Bros.
president Alan Horn, who was Shyamalan's
first call after the break-up with Disney,
is quoted as saying by the Los Angeles
Times. "With Lady in the Water,
we're trying to support a film that has
unique artistic expression and at the same
time makes money," he said.
Author
Bamberger too acknowledges that the book is
told from Shyamalan's point of view. "It's
not intended to be balanced," Bamberger said
of the book, based on a year he spent
shadowing Shyamalan. "It's a Night-centric
view of how Night works."
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Disney Planning 'College Road Trip' for Blu-ray
High-Def Digest - Giving retailers an early
heads up, Disney has set a July debut for
the family comedy 'College Road Trip.'
Starring Martin Lawrence, Raven Simone,
and... Donny Osmond, 'College Road Trip'
scored nearly $45 million at the domestic
box office. Disney will debut the G-rated
film on Blu-ray July 15, day-and-date with
the standard DVD.
There are no supplement details or tech
specs available as of yet, but stay tuned.
Disney has set a suggested retail price of
$34.99 for the Blu-ray.
You'll find
preliminary specs for 'College Road Trip'
linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule,
where it's indexed under July 15.
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Stunning New Disney Racer ‘Pure’ Is Designed
To Upset Our Stomachs
MTV.com - Racers aren’t my thing. I played
two hours of “Gran Turismo 5: Prologue”
because I wanted to hear a new Weezer track.
But once in a great while, an arcade racer
will suck me in. “SSX” did years and years
ago and so did “Ridge Racers” on PSP.
So for me to
report that I’m genuinely excited about a
racing game means something. And that’s
exactly how I felt after a half hour demo of
Disney and Blackrock Studio’s “Pure.”
The game is
as described: “SSX”-meets-ATV. I haven’t
touched an ATV racing game that wasn’t
forced on me to review, but I would happily
play this one.
Blackrock
has traditionally found themselves working
on hardcore racing simulations; “Moto GP
‘07″ and “Moto GP ‘07″ were their last
projects. But “Pure” game director Jason
Avent told me their studio has always wanted
to make something less realistic. Avent
wants to maintain their hardcore roots (they
have another racer in development), but
creating “Pure” is a cathartic experience.
“We wanted
to do a really fast paced arcade racer that
was all about flying through the air and
pulling load of tricks,” said Avent. “We
felt that we’d stick with quad bikes because
it’s something we know, but more
importantly, no one has every really done a
proper arcade game that features quad
bikes.”
It’s easy to
visualize the basic gameplay constructs of
“Pure.” The interface is undergoing some
cosmetic surgery before release, but the
mechanics are in place. In order to win,
players must keep an eye on their turbo
meter. As you might have already guessed,
you earn more turbo by pulling off tricks.
The tricks are simple enough, with different
levels of moves assigned to A, B and Y (on
an Xbox 360 controller).
As you amass
turbo, it first unlock moves in the A-tier,
then B and Y. Start crashing around and
it’ll take a lap or two in order to get the
turbo meter back up.
The real
stars of “Pure,” however, are the
environments. Blackrock has created some
gorgeous scenery. You can’t get a good feel
for them here. You need to see it. It all
feels a bit exaggerated, but that’s the
point. The jumps in “Pure” are not your
traditional bunny hops. These are massive,
gigantic, stomach-churning drops spanning
thousands of feet.
I told Avent
about one of my favorite moments in
“Crackdown.” As a roller coaster fan, I’ve
wished vertically scaled games could find a
way to manipulate my stomach the way a
roller coaster does before a drop. That
happened to me once in “Crackdown,” after
I’d launched into the air and looked
straight down. Suddenly, I felt a small ping
at the bottom of my stomach.
To my
excitement, that’s exactly what Avent’s
playing around with in “Pure.” “The core
tenets of development have been the concept
of vistas, vertigo and verticality,” he
said. “Trying to provide a context for all
the extreme stuff you’re going to be doing
in the game. We can draw 30 miles in the
distance and properly [show the player]
dropping off mountains thousands of feet up.
We also tried to focus on speed and, more
importantly, vertigo, trying to get people
scared of that. It’s not really been focused
on before, I think.”
I never
experienced the same ping during my “Pure”
demo, but I wasn’t playing. That may happen
next month. I’ll report back on my stomach’s
feelings then.
“Pure”
releases on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3
simultaneously in September.
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Plantpeddler grows plants for Disney
Cresco Times Plain Dealer - Plantpeddler was
selected as one of only five growers in the
country to grow plants for the Disney Garden
program.
Plantpeddler, partnering with retailer Hyvee
on the project, will produce 109,000 units
of flowers for Disney.
The flowers pots are decorated with pictures
of Disney characters. The program is geared
toward getting kids interested in gardening,
according to Stacy Bryant of Plantpeddler.
Plantpeddler’s work with the Disney program
also gave Crestwood High School band
students an opportunity to raise money for
their upcoming trip to New York City next
spring.
Current band students in grades eight
through eleven had the opportunity label
plants April 26-30 as a fundraiser for the
band. Altogether, students raised $2,700.
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Disney India ups affiliates exec
Variety Asia - Walt Disney Television
International, India (WDTVI) has named
Venkat Ramana as its head of affiliate
relations for India and South Asia.
Managing the
distribution relationship, trade marketing
of Disney channels in the South-Asia markets
including Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka,
Pakistan, he will help determine
distribution strategy for the channels and
language strategy.
Ramana will
report to Hong Kong-based Antoine
Villeneuve, senior VP and Managing
Director, WDTVI.
Before joining
Disney in 2004, Ramana had stints with MTV
and with Zee TV.
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Monday
May 5, 2008 |
Authorities ID man who jumped from Disney hotel
VMK Rally Planned
Disney Cruises into
another award
Walt
Disney World to host quinceanera weekend
Miley Cyrus Thanks Fans For Their Support During Disney Games
Earnings Preview: Walt
Disney
Less
McDonalds at Disney's Animal Kingdom
Disney online group a creative engine in Seattle
Orlando Runner, Heather King, Wins Disney's Run The World 15k
Disney is Looking for 'Fun' (aka That Live Action Sea Monkeys
Movie)!
Paris Hilton and rocker Benji Madden ("Good Charlotte") take a
ride aboard Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
FuFoo Partners with Disney on New Diamond Jewelry Collection |
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Authorities ID man who jumped from Disney hotel
OCRegister - Authorities have identified a 48-year-old man who
apparently jumped to his death Friday from the 14th floor of the
Disneyland Hotel's Wonder Tower.
John Newman Jr., of Santa Cruz,
jumped from a balcony in the hotel's south tower onto a parking
lot at 1150 Magic Way, authorities said.
Newman was in town on business
and was staying in a room with a business associate; the
business associate was in the room when the man jumped, said
Anaheim police Sgt. Rick Martinez.
Newman was pronounced dead at
the scene.
Detectives interviewed possible
witnesses to see if anyone saw what happened.
The hotel has been the scene of
at least two other suicides. In 1994, a 75-year-old man jumped
from the ninth floor and was pronounced dead at the scene. Two
years later, a 23-year-old man committed suicide by jumping from
the 14th floor of the hotel.
In 1998, a 23-year-old Walt
Disney Co. employee jumped from the 14th floor but survived the
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VMK Rally Planned
vmkkidsunite - Disney’s Virtual Magic Kingdom players continue
to struggle to stop The Walt Disney Company from evicting them
from their online homes. They’ve started to get a bit more press
and now they’re organizing for a street protest on Saturday May
10th.
VMK
Kids Unite plans to gather outside the gates of Walt Disney’s
original Magic Kingdom in Anaheim, CA in hopes this will
convince the powers that be at Disney not to shut down VMK.
Disney, “Year of a Million BROKEN Dreams”
Over a million guests to Disney Magic Kingdom are told the
online park is closing, forever.
Burbank, California – May 2, 2008 – In an unprecedented action,
Disney officials are closing the gates to one of their family
parks, forever. Last month, over a million registered visitors
were given formal notice that the online Magic Kingdom (VMK)
will close forever on May 21, 2008, 10:00PM DST. Guests are
being told the experience was only to promote, the now three
year old, Disney’s 50th Anniversary Celebration despite Disney’s
continued advertising partnerships with Kellogg’s, Disney Pin
Trader, eBay and up through last month, Disney Movie Rewards.
Kids & parents throughout United States and around the World are
done asking, “Why?” and are now taking financial actions and
protesting Disney.
On May 10, 2008, VMK Kids Unite (www.vmkkidsunite.com) will be
out in front of Disneyland in Anaheim, California to protest the
recent decision to close the online park and publicly ask Disney
why they are breaking the dreams of over a million kids
throughout the World. The organization is calling upon Disney to
remain true to their promise and not make this the “Year of a
Million BROKEN Dreams” as these kids will permanently lose
hundreds of friendships, forever.
Various sites and discussions, including the Save VMK, an online
petitioning organization with over 16,000 signatures, are now
calling for a boycott of all Disney related products and
services. This new guest initiated movement to boycott Disney
has yet to change the minds of top Disney Officials. Walt Disney
Internet Group spokesman for and producer of VMK, Seth
Mendelsohn (yavn) said recently, “We hear you and we share your
concern and sorrow”; however, offered no revision of their
decision to close the online park.
“Disney has yet to show any compassion for the kids whose dreams
are being broken by their discussion to close the park.” said
Christopher Douglas spokesman for VMK Kids Unite, “It is time to
publicly ask Disney; what happened to the Year of a Million
Dreams?”. Obtaining the final clearance from the City of Anaheim
Planning Department their protest is moving forward on May 10,
2008, 7 to 11AM, currently with over 30 pre-registered
participants, around the main thoroughfares to Disneyland at the
intersections of West Ball Road & South Disneyland Drive and the
second location at South Harbor Boulevard & Disney Way in the
City of Anaheim.
“At first, I just saw this (VMK) as a game that people use to
entertain themselves; however, when you hear of Madison Reed, an
11-year-old spinal muscular atrophy sufferer, who for the first
time could virtual walk in the happiest place on Earth and not
be judged by her inabilities you realize the dreams of kids
throughout the World will be broken, forever”, says Jamie Knoll
who was originally supportive of the closure.
VMK Kids Unite is an organization formed to unite guests who are
being displaced by the recent decision to close the online Magic
Kingdom, a game that goes beyond the typical multiplayer game.
It allows safe, interactive social networking for kids of all
ages, known as, “The Happiest Place on the Internet”. With
support of various organizations VMK Kids Unite is bringing
together the community for an opportunity to ask Disney if they
really intend to directly destroy the dreams of over a million
kids throughout the World. |
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Disney Cruises into another award
Cruise Passenger Magazine - The magical experience of cruising
with Mickey, Minnie and other favourite Disney characters has
been recognized by the readers of Cruise Passenger magazine who
have voted the 'Disney Magic' cruise liner "Best Value Family
Ship" - Worldwide.
"We're thrilled to receive this
reader award. Disney Cruise's really are a unique experience and
offer families a very special Disney experience," says Clinton
White, Marketing & Sales Director, Disney Destinations
Australia.
Kayte Nunn, Group Managing
Editor, Cruise Passenger magazine adds, "Cruise Passenger
readers have a passion for cruising. In most instances they will
have experienced several cruise lines so being voted by such a
discerning readership says a lot about the great family value of
'Disney Magic' cruise liner".
The opportunity of cruising with
much loved Disney characters in a fun family atmosphere, with a
variety of entertainment and Disney experiences is a combination
not only enjoyed by Cruise Passenger readers but travelers
around the world.
In its tenth year of operation,
Disney Cruise Line continues to bring the world of imagination
and wonder to this special Disney vacation with a variety of
itineraries in different destinations.
With demand for Disney Cruise
programs growing globally, the addition of two new ocean liners
scheduled to join the fleet in 2011 and 2012 will allow more
families to experience the cruising magic of Disney.
The two new 122,000-ton cruise
liners will double the passenger capacity and are two decks
taller than the previous 83,000-ton ships, and will have 1,250
staterooms. Similar to the current Disney Liners these new ships
will be a modern interpretation of the classic 1930s ocean
liners. Passengers will be transported back to the glamour of
the golden age of cruising with elegance and detailed art deco
scrollwork at the bow. |
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Walt
Disney World to host quinceanera weekend
Orlando Sentinel - Walt Disney World is expanding its
quinceanera party offerings this year to include a specific "Quinceanera
Weekend" at Epcot during Labor Day weekend, for girls
celebrating their 15th birthdays with traditional Hispanic
coming-of-age parties.The
weekend, expected to draw numerous quinceanera girls and their
families and friends, will be in addition to the quinceanera
program that Disney World began last year when it first started
offering three quinceanera party packages, ranging in price from
$1,800 to $20,000.
With this formal, themed weekend
Disney expects to compete with similar quinceanera-themed
cruises and other specific-timed events offered by some cruise
lines and other vacation resorts.
The Epcot event will feature a
quinceanera ball on Aug. 30. Packages will include stays that
weekend at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. Prices will vary
depending on what families wish to book.
In Latin America, girls
celebrate their 15th birthday, quinceanera, as the transition
from childhood to youth.
"It's a very emotional
ceremony," said Disney World spokeswoman Mari Santana. |
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Miley Cyrus Thanks Fans For Their Support During Disney Games
MTV.com - In her first major public appearance since
near-topless photos, which were shot for Vanity Fair,
stirred considerable debate among fans, parents and celebs like
Madonna and Hilary Duff, "Hannah Montana" star Miley Cyrus
appeared Saturday night at the Disney Channel Games concert,
held at Orlando, Florida's Walt Disney World, and thanked her
fans for their undying support.
"I hope you had an awesome
time," Cyrus was quoted as saying on People.com. The Disney
moneymaker skipped her way down the event's red carpet,
seemingly to avoid questions about the photo scandal. "I saw a
sign back there that said, 'Miley, I'm praying for you.' I could
not be more appreciative. Thank you, guys, for all your support.
Without you, none of this would be possible. I love every one of
you, and I could not be more appreciative. God bless you."
Cyrus' set opened with "See You
Again," and later on, the star previewed two tracks — "Fly on
the Wall" and "Breakout" — from her forthcoming, yet-untitled
album, which hits stores July 22.
Other performers that took the
stage Saturday included the Jonas Brothers, the Cheetah Girls
and Jordan Pruitt.
But the fans weren't the only
ones backing Cyrus up. In an interview with the Orlando
Sentinel, Cyrus' "Hannah Montana" co-star Jason Earles said
she's taking last week's controversy in stride. "She's one of
the strongest people I've ever met," he told the paper. "She'll
do everything to make sure she does right by her fans. It will
be all right. I know what kind of person she is. She has a great
heart."
Last week, the 15-year-old pop
sensation issued a statement apologizing both for controversial
photos she'd taken privately, depicting her in her bra and
panties, and for those she'd taken for the Vanity Fair
spread. Cyrus, who expressed embarrassment over the pictures,
appeared to be topless in the images, which were shot by
celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz.
In the statement, Cyrus said,
"The pictures of me on the Internet were silly, inappropriate
shots. I appreciate all the support of my fans and hope they
understand that along the way I am going to make mistakes and I
am not perfect. I never intended for any of this to happen, and
I am truly sorry if I have disappointed anyone. Most of all, I
have let myself down. I will learn from my mistakes and trust my
support team. My family and my faith will guide me through my
life's journey." |
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Earnings
Preview: Walt Disney
CNNMoney - Walt Disney Co. reports earnings for the second
fiscal quarter on Tuesday. The following is a summary of key
developments and analyst opinion related to the period.
OVERVIEW: Disney's movie studio
hits included "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," "Enchanted"
and its 3-D hit "Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds
Concert Tour."
Disney said it will team up with
several Japanese companies to produce animation for television
in Japan. Disney also plans to publish Indian-language story
books for the first time.
The company signed Chief
Executive Robert Iger to a new five-year contract that will pay
him an annual salary of $2 million plus bonuses and stock awards
that could be worth millions more.
BY THE NUMBERS: Analysts
surveyed by Thomson Financial forecast second-quarter earnings
of 51 cents per share on revenue of $8.47 billion.
ANALYST TAKE: Analysts are
watching Disney's second-quarter theme park and advertising
results closely for signs of weakness due to the broader
economic slowdown.
Cowen and Company analyst Doug
Creutz noted that Disney has said that weakening consumer
confidence has not yet hurt advance theme park and resort
bookings. "However, we believe that as the U.S. recession
deepens, consumer confidence will remain low, and believe Disney
will likely see declines in advance vacation bookings," he said.
Lehman Brothers analyst Anthony
DiClemente, however, noted that a weaker dollar will encourage
international visitors and said the company's U.S. theme parks
have been diversified by cruise lines and international parks.
DiClemente said Disney is also
less dependent on advertising revenue than other media
companies. "All in all, we believe there may be less economic
exposure for Disney's operating segments to the cyclical
economic factors on which many investors appear focused."
RBC Capital Markets analyst
David Bank thinks advertising is a bigger issue. "Disney's
business has significant exposure to advertising expenditures,"
he said. "An adverse change or decline in advertising
expenditures could negatively affect many of the company's
business units."
WHAT'S AHEAD: BMO Capital
Markets analyst Jeffrey Logsdon expects Disney's "The Chronicles
of Narnia: Prince Caspian" and "Wall-E" to be among the top five
movies of the summer. However, analysts say Disney is facing
tough comparisons from "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's
End" and "Ratatouille" last summer.
Disney has taken over 220 Disney
Store outlets in North America from The Children's Place Retail
Stores Inc. and will close about 100 stores in the U.S. and
Canada. The Children's Place subsidiary that ran the chain filed
for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March.
Disney is also launching a new
film production unit called Disneynature to produce and
distribute documentary films through at least 2012. Also Disney
said its Pixar animation studio will release all of its movies
in 3-D format beginning with "Up" next year.
STOCK PERFORMANCE: Disney shares
traded between $26.30 and $33.23 during the quarter. Ultimately,
the stock dipped about 3 percent to close at $31.38 on March 31. |
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Less
McDonalds at Disney's Animal Kingdom
Orlando Sentinel - Changes are
afoot on the menu at the Restaurantosaurus restaurant at
Disney’s Animal Kingdom, including the elimination of
McDonalds’-brand Chicken McNuggets and french fries.
The
McDonalds fries still will be offered elsewhere, notably at the
PetriFries snack counter nearby, a Walt Disney World spokeswoman
said. Disney will offer its own chicken nuggets and fries at
Restaurantosaurus, along with a new desert menu and a new
child’s meals menu, spokeswoman Andrea Finger said.
The
McDonalds’ McNuggets and fries were replaced Sunda5/4 and the
other changes will begin Wednesday. |
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Disney online group a creative engine in Seattle
Seattle Times - It's a little opportunistic, but when Disney
said it was staffing up its Seattle office, I took the chance to
finally learn about its low-profile Internet operations center
here.
You may not realize that Disney
has a pretty big operation here, but it's powering some of the
world's biggest Web sites, including the sites of ESPN, ABC and,
of course, Disney.com. Disney's presence is also a good comeback
to that recurring line about Seattle not having the consumer Web
heft of Silicon Valley, but I'll save that one for another
column.
It took awhile for the parent
company to sort this out, but Disney Internet Group in Seattle
is now a central technology center for the whole company. It's
responsible for a standard platform and set of components used
by all of its Internet properties.
That ranges from the
high-definition media player used to view ABC shows online to
ESPN's fantasy-sports network to Disney park-reservation
systems.
The Seattle office is also
developing technology behind Disney's growing collection of
online virtual worlds, games and mobile content. It's also
building and running ad systems that now serve a billion ads a
day to Disney's various online properties.
"The creative engine's terrific
— you want to be able to extend that culture and that creative
engine, bring it into the technology world wherever you can,"
said Bud Albers, a veteran of several large area online
companies who became Disney Internet Group's Seattle-based chief
technology officer in December.
A native of the St. Louis area,
Albers was earlier chief technology officer at drugstore.com,
Getty Images and MediaNet.
"The overarching mission is to
let the guest consume, and let our customers and the fans of our
characters and our franchises be able to get access to the
property in whatever form they want, whenever they want —
time-shifting, place-shifting, any type of access — and it
depends on what type of content," he said. "It is definitely
convergence world."
Albers is on a recruiting binge,
trying to grow the 300-person office to 400 over the next year.
Disney's also working with a
consulting firm to figure out whether it ought to become an
enterprise software company and start licensing some the
technology developed here.
The story of how Disney came to
have an outpost in Seattle is complicated, but it was key to the
region's early and important role creating the sort of media
sites now blurring the line between television and the Web.
It began as Starwave, a
digital-media startup funded by Paul Allen in the early 1990s,
back when he threw serious money at crazy ideas and before he
was burned by his investment in Charter Communications.
Starwave started out making
CD-ROMs and eventually began developing online media sites. Some
were created from scratch, like the Mr. Showbiz entertainment
site, and others were built in partnership with content
companies such as Outside magazine, ESPN and ABC News.
With Allen's open checkbook and
no rush to turn a profit, Starwave lured stars from the content
and software worlds to Bellevue and began staking out the future
of online media.
Fewer than 20 Starwavers are
still there. Others have gone on to start their own companies or
play big roles at companies including Amazon.com, CNN and
Google.
"It was like a little breeding
ground for high-tech people," said Alex Alben, a Starwave
veteran who is now vice president of Pluggd, a startup in
Pioneer Square.
Starwave itself was a celebrity
back then, the subject of glowing stories in the national media,
another high-flying, visionary pre-dot-com Seattle company
mentioned alongside Microsoft and Amazon.
Never left
Meanwhile, Disney acquired ABC
in 1995, launched its first Web site in 1996 and invested in
Starwave in 1997. A year later, in 1998, it bought Starwave
outright for about $100 million, according to unconfirmed
reports at the time.
Then things got messy. Caught in
the portal craze, Disney wheeled and dealed and consolidated its
online properties under a subsidiary called Go.com that lost $1
billion in 1999.
Yet the company became a pillar
of Seattle's Internet industry during the boom, especially after
it moved from Bellevue into the Smith Tower, joining the cluster
of Web companies in Pioneer Square.
After the dot-com crash, you
stopped hearing so much about the Disney Internet Group's
Seattle offices.
But Disney never left, and the
parent company eventually sorted out its Internet strategy.
Online ventures are actually a
top priority of its current chief executive, and the company is
once again pouring resources into its Seattle technology shop.
That continuing focus is one
reason Disney's doing so well with its online properties,
according to Rick Martinez, one of a dozen or so Starwave
employees still with the company.
Martinez, who joined right out
of Washington State University, is now vice president of
technical operations.
"We're largely ahead of the game
now because even through the dot-com bubble burst, Walt Disney
didn't take its eye off the Internet. A lot of companies had to
retrench," he said.
Smart choices
It also seems Disney eventually
made smart choices about which technologies it should build and
run itself.
Instead of simply outsourcing or
forming a big alliance with a single tech company, it bought
Starwave and used its expertise to build its own platform and
tools.
When I asked Albers about Disney
finding the right mix of build vs. buy, he said the needs have
evolved.
"What you had to do in 1999 and
what you have to do today are different things," he said. "Where
we're going to be unique are the places where we absolutely can
delight our guests or our audience. The further out you go to
the audience, the more unique you are, the more you want to
control that experience, still leveraging new technologies and
things off the rack wherever you can get them."
In some ways the company has
come nearly full circle. It's back to building independent Web
sites for Disney, using a common platform and reusable
components. It's even using some of the same tools that Starwave
originally built, including its content-management system.
The difference is that instead
of having the creative talent down the hall, the content is
coming from Disney, ABC and ESPN.
It's also making money — as much
money as it was losing in the early days, before anyone knew
exactly what they were doing.
$1 billion projected
Disney's online ventures are
still a relatively small part of its overall business, but they
generated more than $750 million in sales last year and are
expected to exceed $1 billion this year.
Disney zigged and zagged and
lost a bundle before it found its way online, but maybe there's
a message about perseverance and vision for tech and media
companies now entering a down cycle.
"If you looked at a lot of the
forecasts that occurred during the bubble, the reality's hitting
now," Albers said.
"Think of the audiences you can
generate when you put a high-definition version of 'Lost' online
today. ... It's just going to continue to roll, but we've had to
spend a lot of the last decade laying the foundation." |
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Orlando Runner, Heather King, Wins Disney's Run The World 15k
Disney News - Heather King (Orlando, Fla.) won the Disney's
Women Run the World 15K on Sunday during the Third Annual
Disney's Minnie Marathon Weekend at the Walt Disney World Resort
near Orlando, Fla. Running in her first 15K race, King was
hardly challenged during the 9.3 mile course as she posted a
time of 1:00:49 to win by nearly two minutes. Cheryl Edwards
(Avon, Conn.) crossed the line in second with a time of 1:02:37
and Courtney Phillips (Jacksonville, Fla.) finished third at
1:02:46. In the Master's division, Sue O'Malley (Port Orange,
Fla.) won in a time of 1:04:20 followed by Maureen Powers
(Kissimmee, Fla.) at 1:08:27.
In the Go Red for Women 5K Run on Saturday, Sonja Friend-Uhl
(West Palm Beach, Fla.) won easily defeating the nearest
competitor by nearly 30 seconds. Friend-Uhl, who is no stranger
to Disney's Endurance Series events finished second in the 2008
Walt Disney World Marathon, crossed the finish line in a time of
18:38. Maite Moscoso (Longwood, Fla.) finished second with a
time of 19:06 and Edwards, the second-place finisher in the 15K,
finished in third at 19:35. The top-finisher in the Master's
division was Maureen O'Sullivan (Lutz, Fla.) with a time of
23:03.
While the weekend is designed for women, men were welcome to
participate on behalf of the women in their lives. Nicholas
Smith of Aurora, Ontario was the top male finisher in the 15K
with a time of 59:20, while Will Bridges (Orlando, Fla.) took
top honors in the Go Red for Women 5K crossing the line in
17:04.
Over 5,000 runners were entered in the various races during the
Third Annual Minnie Marathon Weekend, including 3,000 in the
Women Run the World 15K and 2,000 in the Go Red for Women 5K. |
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Disney is Looking for 'Fun' (aka That Live Action Sea Monkeys
Movie)!
Cinematical - It's been a long time since John Francis Daley
made a cult name for himself on Freaks and Geeks. Since then,
he's popped up on a bunch of other television shows, from the
one-season Kitchen Confidential to the current skeleton-solving
Bones, but he's also building a pretty sweet screenwriting gig
for himself. Last year, the writer/actor sold a spec called The
$40,000 Man for Terry Zwigoff to direct, and now The Hollywood
Reporter posts that he's teaming with Jonathan Goldstein (The
New Adventures of Old Christine) to rewrite Greg Pace's family
comedy, currently titled Fun.
Honestly, it does sound like fun -- sort of Jumanji meets Mad
Magazine. Remember all those back-page ads in comics and kids
mags that would give you seemingly immense power for only a
couple of bucks? Well, Fun focuses on "two childhood friends who
ordered a slew of novelty toys (such as X-ray glasses,
Sea-Monkeys, and transforming robots) from the back pages of
their late-'70s comic books. Thirty years later, the toys begin
living up to their wild advertising claims, forcing the pair to
save their town from ensuing chaos."
The best family movies usually merge old-school memories for the
adults with funky stories for the kids, so this has a lot of
potential. I just wonder how the Sea Monkeys fit in. Will they
grow bigger so people can actually see them? Or will the little
buggers slip into the drinking water while a poor sap tips the
glass to take a drink?
My head's buzzing with all the old-school toy possibilities.
What novelties would you like to see come to life? |
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Paris Hilton and rocker Benji Madden ("Good Charlotte") take a
ride aboard Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
 Disney
News - Paris Hilton (left, sporting a Mickey Mouse t-shirt), and
rocker Benji Madden of the band "Good Charlotte" (wearing a ring
with the initials "PH" on it) take a ride aboard the Big Thunder
Mountain Railroad attraction May 4, 2008, at the Magic Kingdom
in Lake Buena Vista, Fla, The couple visited Walt Disney World
Resort during a vacation. |
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FuFoo Partners with Disney on New Diamond Jewelry Collection
Diamonds.net - FuFoo has been given the opportunity to partner
with Disney to design and manufacture an innovative fine jewelry
collection of its themes and characters for distribution to fine
jewelers.
The company’s director Jack
Gindi says, “The opportunity to work with Disney, the world’s
largest children’s brand is an enormous honor. It’s also a
testament to the monumental growth in the children’s high-end
jewelry sector, and to FuFoo’s strong presence in the market."
Disney has a multi-generational
fan base and an unsurpassed following encompassing every age
group. Together, Disney and FuFoo will offer our devoted retail
jewelers what they have come to expect, nothing less than
lovingly designed and sophisticated jewelry that will be
treasured by girls of all ages.
We’re excited to debut 3 new
jewelry collections at JCK Las Vegas Booth 52043. The
collections are the Precious Disney, Enamel Disney, and Disney
Baby and include 14 karat gold charms with sapphire and
diamond.
FuFoo is a leading
design-manufacturing company completely dedicated to creating
quality gold, enamel and diamond fine jewelry that is all about
and exclusively just for girls. |
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Sunday
May 4, 2008 |
Disney Tram
Crashes After Goofy Turn
Cruise lines want
kids to have fun
A couple say visiting Disney World helps unlock their autistic
son's closed world
Dragon
racing paddling toward Disney World
Disney Hosts A
'Weekend In Narnia' |
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Disney Tram
Crashes After Goofy Turn
TMZ - It really wasn't a magic day at the Magic Kingdom
yesterday: First, there was the suicide that was reported, and
-- on a completely different note -- a parking lot tram car
slammed into a sign, shutting down tram service for a little
while.
We've confirmed that an accident did occur, but being fairly
low-speed, injuries to people were minor, though the car's
lights were torn out. According to one poster on Disney nerd
emporium Micechat, the tram may have taken an overly wide turn.
We called the Mouse House for comment, but haven't heard back.
Anaheim PD says they weren't called to the scene. |
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Cruise lines want
kids to have fun
Chicago Tribune - With so much to do for kids aboard today's
jam-packed megaliners, your brood—from toddlers to teens—would
have every right to be miffed if they were left behind while you
sailed the Seven Seas.
Kids at sea are not an afterthought but, for many lines, an
essential part of the cruise picture.
Carnival Cruise Lines, for instance, expects to carry more than
600,000 kids aboard its fleet of 22 ships this year—a six-fold
increase from just a bit more than a decade ago.
More than a third of the passengers aboard each Disney Cruise
Line sailing are kids under 18. In fact, Disney built its fleet
of two 2,700-passenger ships primarily around kids and its
family of trademark characters such as Mickey and Minnie Mouse
and Goofy. Even lines you might not expect to be especially kid
friendly, such as upscale Celebrity or Crystal Cruises, have
initiated special programs and allocated separate spaces for the
current generation of millennials.
Among the grandest playpens at sea will be Carnival's two-level
5,500-square-foot kids area aboard its new Carnival Splendor,
which debuts in July. This will be the largest play area ever
featured aboard a "Fun Ship," according to the line.
As part of a retrofit program, Carnival also is rolling out a
new aqua park on select ships featuring a 300-foot-long twister
water slide, dual-lane racing slides and water spray apparatus.
Though focused on fun, Carnival has not forgotten that kids
don't necessarily care about fine food and, consequently, has
created a special menu for its younger passengers, such as jelly
chicken nuggets. The line even has a children's turn-down
service offering freshly baked chocolate chip cookies at
bedtime.
In order for parents to enjoy their cruise vacation and get some
private time, Carnival also offers baby-sitting services: $6 per
hour for the first child and $4 per hour for each additional
child in the same family. (Even on luxury Crystal, baby-sitting
fees compare favorably, ranging from $7.50 per hour for one
child, to $10 per hour for two children and $12.50 per hour for
three children.)
Disney, as you would expect, is no slouch when it comes to
entertaining kids (of all ages).
A child-friendly oasis, themed to Capt. Hook's pirate ship,
contains a play area with slide and rope bridge, a "captain's
closet" filled with costumes, toys and games, and an open
seating area for arts, crafts and movie watching. It is designed
specifically for kids ages 3 to 7.
Older kids ages 8 to 12 have a science-themed Oceaneer Lab to
themselves. Twinkling starlike lights and giant planetary
spheres fill the room along with an oversized Buzz Lightyear
figure. Even teens get the Disney magic touch. The Stack aboard
Disney Magic and the Aloft aboard Disney Wonder are packed with
comfy couches, a soda bar serving soft drinks and smoothies,
Internet access, plasma-screen TVs, MP3 players loaded with
popular music, board games and other chill-out necessities.
The line also has its own take on kid's cuisine. Kids can learn
about one of the most famous Mexican desserts, the churro—a
sweet, crunchy delicacy—by experimenting with different toppings
of their own creation. Kids also can learn about the history of
bread, in part, by creating their own loaves of "pan
de muerto."
Other lines team up with specialists in children's entertainment
or education to set themselves apart. For instance, in 2006,
Celebrity Cruises aligned itself with LeapFrog SchoolHouse,
widely recognized for interactive electronic education programs
for pre-kindergarten through 8th graders, to provide younger
passengers with engaging, multisensory learning tools and
instruction.
Kids enrolled in Celebrity's "Fun Factory" will be entertained
with hands-on activities, games, crafts and other interactive
sessions, paired to itinerary and ship. For cruises south of the
border, for instance, Celebrity's kids' programming includes
learning about sun-dials, making their own pinatas, identifying
the Mexican states, creating a scene featuring Pacific Coast sea
life and designing their own mosaic frescoes.
As for partnerships, Royal Caribbean International teamed with
MTV's enormously successful Nickelodeon channel for a first-ever
Nickelodeon cruise sailing from Miami Aug. 10 for a Western
Caribbean voyage aboard Freedom of the Seas, the world's largest
ship, with more than 4,000 passengers.
The kid-friendly cruise will offer Nick-themed activities such
as live game shows featuring the trademark Nickelodeon slime,
visits with kids' favorite Nick characters such as Dora the
Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants, appearances by the network's
live-action stars and more. |
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A couple say visiting Disney World helps unlock their autistic
son's closed world
Orlando Sentinel - When Sara Miles tells people that she moved
from Seattle to Orlando so her son could be close to Disney
World, she knows what they're thinking.
That she's crazy.
But most people don't understand what it's like to have an
autistic child -- to watch a talking toddler lose his speech and
melt into a quiet world that no one else can enter. Most people
don't know what it's like to see the doors to all your dreams
slam shut.
So when Sara and her ex-husband brought their autistic son, Ben,
to Disney World for the first time back in 2002, they were
astounded. The boy who threw temper tantrums at the grocery
store suddenly seemed quiet, patient and observant. The boy who
rarely talked began naming the rides they had been on.
It was the first time that Ben had spoken words that his
parents, teachers and speech therapists hadn't coaxed out of
him.
"As soon as he set foot in the Magic Kingdom it was like someone
turning on a light switch," says Ben's father, Ron Miles. "I
know it sounds crazy to move across the country for this, but if
it's the key that unlocks his potential, it's worth it."
For five years, Ben, now 14, has been a fixture at the Magic
Kingdom. On weekends and school holidays, he can often be found
zipping through the crowds at Fantasyland to get to his favorite
place: Snow White's Scary Adventures.
Of all the rides at the Magic Kingdom, the Snow White ride
captivates Ben the most. He has ridden it 2,084 times -- so many
times that the cast members once took photos inside the ride and
gave Ben a photo album when the ride temporarily shut down for
renovations.
And when Disney cast members learned that Ben was approaching
his 2,000th ride last month, they arranged for him to meet Snow
White and the Seven Dwarfs, an event that included a kiss from
Snow White.
Ben's parents aren't entirely sure why Ben loves the Snow White
ride so much.
That's one of the many puzzling pieces of autism. Parents don't
know why their child becomes attached to a particular toy or
activity.
Yet, as the number of children diagnosed with autism grows,
researchers are focusing more attention on this complex
developmental disability. According to the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control, one out of every 160 children has autism and
more than 25,000 U.S. children will be diagnosed with autism
this year.
While autistic children and their abilities vary widely, there
are some common traits. For instance, autistic children often
develop a fixation on one topic or one interest -- and
researchers have discovered autistic kids frequently obsess
about animated characters. "Thomas the Tank Engine is a big show
for kids on the autism spectrum," says Dr. Richmond Mancil, an
associate education professor and autism specialist at the
University of Central Florida. "These kids don't really have an
interest in trains. They don't care about trains, but if it's
Thomas, they're interested."
While other autistic kids became focused on things such as Legos
and World War II tanks, Ben zeroed in on Disney movies.
Fantasia. Snow White. Beauty and the Beast.
By age 4, he knew how to operate the rewind and forward button
on the VCR. He wore out videotapes, listening to sections of
movies over and over, especially the section of Snow White in
which the evil queen turns into a hag.
By the time Ben was 8, Sara and Ron -- by then divorced, but
sharing custody -- decided to take Ben to Disney World.
Privately, Sara worried that the vacation might end like most
trips to the grocery store: with Ben screaming and crying and
Sara uncertain what had set him off.
But when they walked into the Magic Kingdom, Ben's face spread
into a huge grin. Then he ran up Main Street, through a sea of
tourists, and headed straight for Cinderella Castle.
What astounded Ron and Sara, however, was Ben's speech.
To their surprise, Ben, who rarely spoke, began naming the
rides. "The Haunted Mansion," "Snow White," "Pooh."
His behavior was strikingly different, too. He waited patiently
in long lines. He was calm and happy. "We had never seen him
like that out in public -- not ever," says Sara.
After the trip, Sara and Ron Miles decided that if Ben, their
only child, needed to be near Disney World, they would pack up
and move. As a teacher, Sara could relocate. Ron's a software
developer, so his employer agreed to let him try working
remotely from Florida.
So the next year, in the summer of 2003, Sara and Ron, two
divorced but devoted parents, moved across the country, bought
annual passes and began to use the Magic Kingdom as "one giant
therapy session."
Sara and Ron Miles have tried to use Ben's fascination with
Disney and Snow White to motivate him to talk more.
They may be onto something, says one researcher. "Part of the
work that we're doing is teaching fathers to follow a child's
lead in play sessions to elicit interaction," says Dr. Jennifer
Elder, an autism specialist at the University of Florida. "It's
a connection made with a child's interests. So I think that
their strategy and what they've found with their son sounds very
plausible."
While some autism experts think parents should push their
children to move beyond their repetitive behaviors and try new
things, Ben's parents say they are doing just that.
"Obviously Disney is not some miracle cure," says Ron, 40. "But
it's an opportunity to work on so many skills."
At Disney, they say, Ben -- who falls in the middle of the
autism spectrum -- has learned to deal with crowds, which once
made him so leery that he didn't like going to the mall. He has
learned to wait in lines patiently and he is learning how to
handle money, often paying for food and snacks himself.
And when they visit the theme park each week, he's gradually
trying new rides. "He's slowly branching out, getting more
adventurous," Ron said.
At home, Ben is branching out as well. Instead of watching
videos all the time, he now goes swimming or skates around his
dad's Winter Garden neighborhood. At Princeton House Charter
School, an Orlando school for autistic children, Ben and his
classmates are learning educational skills and life skills, such
as how to make a bed.
Ben is still quiet among strangers, though occasionally he
launches into chatterbox mode. His speech, though progressing,
is still hard for outsiders to comprehend. At his mom's
apartment in Maitland, Ben chirps and squeaks and giggles, his
high-pitched laughter ringing out across a room. From his mouth
comes a rich cacophony of sounds that include words and phrases
from his favorite movies.
"Ah-ah-ah-ah, EEE!" he squeals, much like the monkeys from
Jungle Book. A few minutes later, he wanders into the living
room. "Help," he says, holding his mother's hand. He wants help
with the VCR.
Before long, he rushes back into the room, pointing to his
Disney annual pass. "Take a tram," he tells his mother.
Sara smiles.
That's "Ben-speak" for going to the Magic Kingdom.
But the fact that Ben is speaking means so much more. It means
that Ben is learning to communicate.
Ben is also learning the power of words. At the Magic Kingdom,
Ben stops in shop after shop, looking for candy. His dad
repeatedly tells him no, and Ben moves on. But after a few
hours, Ben takes decisive action. He looks his father squarely
in the eye. "Daddy, I want candy," he says clearly.
That's the sound of music to Ben's parents.
His dad smiles and finally relents. He buys a bag of candy. |
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Dragon
racing paddling toward Disney World
Theme Park Rangers - Here's a sentence I've never typed: Dragon
boat racing is coming to Walt Disney World.
Surely you have questions. Most
of mine were answered at the official site, which lists
corporate teamwork as one of the benefits of the weekend
surrounding the Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival.
In short, 20 people paddling, cooperation more important
than brute strength.
It happens here Oct. 18,
2008, at the lake alongside Downtown Disney -- conveniently
near that Lego dragon, eh?
Organizers say the "ancient
sport" has been gaining popularity in North America over the
past 20 years, and that Florida is the sport's
fastest-growing market. Tampa Bay will be the host of the
IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in 2011. I had
no idea. But why do I have a feeling that Figment has a role
in this?
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Disney
Hosts A 'Weekend In Narnia'
Narnia Web - This weekend, the Disney Channel Movie Surfers
hosted a "Weekend In Narnia" with sneak peeks from Prince
Caspian. Simultaneously, Disney affiliate, ABC, presented
the broadcast premier of The Lion, The Witch, and The
Wardrobe also with sneak peeks. The Weekend in Narnia will
continue Sunday night.
Part 1 of the Weekend in Narnia included many new shots, and a
clip of Caspian meeting the Pevensies.
During commercial breaks of the LWW network premiere, the cast
introduced a new behind-the-scenes video, and a clip of Caspian
meeting Reepicheep.
One of the Disney Channel clips was the scene where Caspian and
Peter meet for the first time. The clip is one minute long. The
ABC clip introduced Reepicheep to Prince Caspian who was running
from a group of Telmarines with Trufflehunter and Nikabrik. |
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Main Back
News |
Disney
News - A Sable Antelope mother (right) and her calf (left) are
spending their first week on the savannah together at Disney's
Animal Kingdom theme park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The calf's
first day on the outdoor savannah was May 7. The savannah can be
seen by guests on the theme park's Kilimanjaro Safaris
attraction.