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 May 11 - 17, 2008 |
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Vacation No News Updates May 14th-17th |
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Tuesday May 13, 2008 |
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Customizable Mickey Mouse ears coming to Disneyland Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex to be rebranded with ESPN Disney's "Bay Lake Tower" instead of "Kingdom Tower" at the Contemporary? Disney and McDonald's move to improve labor conditions in China New restaurant The Wave at Contemporary Resort will feature unique wine list. Stress Less Aboard Disney Ship Walt Disney? John Wayne? Famous heritage sells furniture Prince Caspian Original Soundtrack to be released May 13 Disney preparing to bring Hollywood to Lynn Hannah Storm joins ESPN Disney Sets Up Ad Research Lab Disney animator sees summers in Mobile as inspiration |
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Customizable Mickey Mouse ears coming to Disneyland LATimes - The classic black mouse ears made popular by the 1950s "Mickey Mouse Club" television show and sold for decades at Disneyland are getting a makeover fit for the new millennium. The Gag Factory souvenir store in Mickey's Toontown at Disneyland will start selling the "Create Your Own" mouse ears on May 20. Visitors to the Anaheim theme park can build their own one-of-a-kind ears by choosing from 19 dome-shaped bases, 19 sets of snap-on ears and an array of heat-pressed appliqués. Themes include princesses, pirates, honeymoon, holidays and birthdays as well as Hannah Montana, "High School Musical" and virtually every Disney animated character. The mix-and-match, interchangeable ears can be fur-trimmed, bejeweled and even holographic. The Chapeau hat shop at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Florida began selling the customizable ears in March, the Orlando Sentinel reported. Custom mouse ears start at $9.95 and go up in price depending on the number of add-ons. Hand-embroidered names cost $3. |
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Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex to be rebranded with ESPN Disney News - Aligning the world's No. 1 family vacation destination with the worldwide leader in sports, Walt Disney World Resort and ESPN are joining forces to re-brand Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex with the ESPN brand, creating an entertaining and immersive experience for the nearly 2 million athletes, coaches and spectators who come through the Disney sports complex each year. Plans for the re-branding initiative -- which was announced today during the ESPN upfront presentation to advertisers and sponsors -- are still in the development stage, but initial concepts involve renaming the sports complex and incorporating the signature elements of ESPN throughout the 220-acre facility, which is a leading venue for amateur and professional sports in the country. The project aims to enhance the experience of both athletes and spectators by connecting them to their favorite ESPN programs, personalities and elements. It also will provide advertisers new sponsorship opportunities at the grass roots level. "This is a natural and exciting pairing of two powerful brands to create a one-of-a-kind, immersive sports venue that will enable athletes, coaches and guests to experience sports in a whole new way," said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Disney Parks and Resorts. "This project builds on our collaborative successes and positions us to explore more opportunities with ESPN to create new experiences for guests at Walt Disney World Resort." "Our involvement in the Disney sports complex will provide greater opportunities for us to connect directly with athletes, coaches and fans in a highly immersive way," said George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN Inc. and ABC Sports, and co-chairman of Disney Media Networks. "Our involvement also provides us with a unique and exciting new media platform that will enable our advertisers and sponsors to reach new customers and bring their products and services to life.'' The re-branding of the Disney sports complex is the latest initiative in the growing sports business at Walt Disney World Resort. In December, the sports complex debuted additional outdoor playing fields for football, soccer, lacrosse and field hockey competitions. And this summer the sports complex will open Jostens Center, a new state-of-the-art field house that will allow Disney to accommodate twice as many indoor sports events each year. Additional expansion plans are being explored. The Disney sports complex annually hosts more than 180 events in 50 different sports involving athletes from more than 70 countries. Among those events are the Atlanta Braves spring training season, a Tampa Bay Rays regular-season series, the Major League Baseball Draft, the NBA Pre-Draft Camp, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp, Chelsea Football Club events, the Pop Warner Super Bowl, AAU National Championships, Varsity All-Star Cheerleading competitions, USSSA events and the Walt Disney World Marathon, one of the top marathons in the nation. ESPN televised 20 sporting events from the complex in the last year. Walt Disney World Resort and ESPN also annually work together to host the popular ESPN The Weekend event at Disney's Hollywood Studios. |
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Disney's "Bay Lake Tower" instead of "Kingdom Tower" at the
Contemporary? Orlando Sentinel - Looks like Disney may have changed the name of the new time-share tower the company is building next to its Contemporary Resort. "Bay Lake Tower" has replaced "Kingdom Tower" as the name of the project, at least in filings with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. What's more, earlier this month Disney filed paperwork to create a "Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort Condominium Association," presumably to manage the resort once it is sold off to individual owners. Disney had created a "Kingdom Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort Condominium Association" in January.
Disney still has not publicly
announced its plans for the partially-built Contemporary
addition, which now stands 14 stories and will be linked to
the resort's main A-frame building by a pedestrian bridge. A
spokeswoman said the company had nothing to announce today,
either. But Disney has indicated in documents submitted to
the state that it intends to use the tower for Disney
Vacation Club, the company's Celebration-based time-share
arm.
The "Kingdom Tower" name was criticized by some Disney fans when it first surfaced in those documents. Some posters on Internet forums said it evoked religious overtones, noting that "Kingdom Hall" is a term for a place where Jehovah's Witnesses worship. "I think a lot of people were drawing comparisons to Kingdom Hall," said Tim Krasniewski, publisher of DVCNews, a website devoted to Disney Vacation Club. Krasniewski said he was personally fond of "Kingdom Tower," which most assumed referred to the Magic Kingdom theme park that sits next door to the Contemporary. But he said he likes "Bay Lake Tower" -- which refers to one of the lakes that the Contemporary and its addition overlook -- even better. "I think it's a wonderful name," he said. "I think everybody's familiar with Bay Lake, with the fact that Bay Lake is right there. It has a Disney feel to it." |
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Disney and McDonald's move to improve labor conditions in
China
LATimes - Walt Disney Co. and McDonald's Corp., whose supply chain has drawn criticism, quietly released a long-promised report on a pilot project to improve labor conditions in China. The project, involving 10 factories in southern China that make products for McDonald's restaurants and Disney licensees, tested a new approach for addressing such chronic problems as substandard wages, excessive work hours and few days off. The May 7 report, posted on Disney's website without a formal announcement from the company, found progress at all the factories, which made footwear, toys and other products. The report's completion was touted by organizations that worked with the companies to improve global working conditions. The report is silent on whether Disney or McDonald's plans to implement the new approach more broadly. Oak Brook, Ill.-based McDonald's issued a statement saying its suppliers know how seriously it takes worker welfare, adding, "We're committed to continuous progress." Burbank-based Disney reiterated its commitment to the safety of workers and said it was taking "steps designed to increase the scope of our program." Neither company would provide executives to discuss the report. Representatives from several of the seven socially responsible investor groups and nonprofit organizations that participated in the six-year project said they would call on Disney, McDonald's and other companies to embrace these new methods for improving workplace conditions in China. "We encourage not just McDonald's and Disney but any company that picks up this report to think about this," said Adam M. Kanzer, managing director of Domini Social Investments, which manages $1.5 billion in assets. "Particularly companies in the starting blocks. There are companies just starting to monitor their supply chains. Why not learn from the success of others?" The initiative, dubbed Project Kaleidoscope, was conceived in 2002 amid growing investor concern about factory conditions in southern China. Both Disney and McDonald's have strict codes of conduct that set requirements in health and safety, work hours and compensation. But the report acknowledges that conventional methods of enforcement such as audits provide only a snapshot of factory conditions. They don't necessarily lead to long-term fixes. A series of reports since 1999 have highlighted alleged violations of Disney's code of conduct and Chinese labor laws at more than 30 factories. The reports detail forced overtime, mandatory seven-day workweeks, sub-minimum-wage salaries as low as 16 1/2 cents an hour and cramped factory dormitories. Project Kaleidoscope sought to get laborers and supervisors working together to find and fix problems and prevent recurrences, instead of awaiting the verdict of auditors. The factories ranged in size from 450 to 17,000 employees. The project included training for factory owners and managers to show them how to collect and analyze data and make fixes, as well as factory-based workshops so that supervisors would be receptive to input from workers. Over time, the report says, Project Kaleidoscope yielded results. Audits noted significant declines in problems such as substandard wages and excessive working hours. Workplace health and safety issues continued to surface, but they were significantly fewer than at the start of the project. The report acknowledged that a "serious worker disturbance" occurred at a factory identified only as PK5, in which workers protested the poor-quality, "unsanitary" food served in the cafeteria, where they were forced to pay for meals they had not eaten. It is believed to reference the July 2006 melee at a plant that produces Happy Meal toys for McDonald's. A clash between guards and a worker triggered what Chinese news accounts described as a riot in which 1,000 workers vandalized the Hengli Factory in China's Guangdong province. Two independent audits confirmed problems with the quality of the food and the conduct of the security forces during the protests. The report said the factory took corrective measures, including providing health and safety training for food-service workers. Conrad MacKerron of the As You Sow Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes social responsibility, said a handful of U.S. brands had shouldered the burden of improving worker conditions in places such as China. A recent RiskMetrics Group study found that only 1 in 5 large companies had a code to address their suppliers' compliance with labor standards. |
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New restaurant The Wave at Contemporary Resort will feature
unique wine list.
John Blazon, master
sommelier and manager of wine sales and standards for
Walt Disney World Resort, said he wants “to show middle
America that you can enjoy a great bottle of wine
despite how it’s sealed.” Blazon said he has collected
80 wines of various varietals and price points to
present at the restaurant’s opening, which is scheduled
for June 7. Wine flights will be available in the restaurant's lounge, which is accessible through a brushed metal tube -- supposedly simulating going through a surf pipelin? -- and which will be one of the largest lounges on Disney property. |
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Stress Less Aboard
Disney Ship
The Ledger - It's well past the kids' bedtime, but no one is nagging the preschoolers and kindergartners to brush their teeth and go to sleep. Instead, they're dressed to the nines (the girls, in full princess regalia) before heading to a poolside pirate party, complete with fireworks, to get up close and personal with Goofy and all of his pirate friends aboard the Disney Wonder. Others are busy in the Oceaneer Club playing the latest video games, watching movies and climbing on the pirate ship play structure. All of this is after they've seen a brand-new Broadway-style show, "Toy Story: The Musical," featuring all of their favorite characters from the popular film - some portrayed as 9-foot-tall puppets - and dined like royalty at dinner where the waiters not only knew their names but also performed magic tricks and were happy to get them anything they liked at no extra charge. When my 5-year-old cousin Ethan Sitzman and his 3-year-old sister Hannah finally got back to their stateroom, they were thrilled that the steward, Pacifer Ticao, himself a young father from the Philippines, had fashioned a pajama party with the kids' stuffed animals and a monkey he had made out of towels. Of course, vacationing with young children isn't always, well, a vacation for parents. Just ask Ethan and Hannah's parents, Mike and Jayme Sitzman. But the families that recently cruised aboard the Wonder for three days agree that Disney Cruise Line (www.disneycruiseline.com) does all it can to ensure that the more than 1,000 kids onboard, 45 percent of them 7 or younger - as well as the parents and grandparents - have as stress-free a getaway as possible. It's the Disney difference, says the ship's youth activities manager, Shannon Quinn, who oversees a multilingual staff of more than 50 counselors, all of whom come aboard with substantial experience working with children. Parents get pagers when they leave their kids in the organized programming, just in case they are needed. The counselors not only entertain the kids but also feed them lunch and dinner, if parents need a break. Other cruise lines have programming for children as young as 2, but Disney Cruise Line operates the only full-scale nursery at sea, taking children as young as 12 weeks, though at an extra charge, so that even new moms and dads can get a reprieve, possibly to head to the adult-only pool, the adult-only deck to hear some music or dance, the spa or Palo, the first-rate, adult-only restaurant. There is even an adult-only beach on Disney's private Bahamian island, Castaway Cay where parents can steal away (cabana massage, maybe?) while the kids, happily ensconced in organized programming, excavate a "whale" skeleton or hunt for buried treasure. The biggest draw, of course, is the characters who make appearances all through the day and evening - everyone from Pluto to Cinderella to Capt. Jack Sparrow and, of course, Mickey and Minnie. Pluto is on hand to give the kids a hug when they get back on the ship after visiting Nassau; Snow White teaches the preschoolers a dance, while Captain Hook gives the 5- to 7-year-olds a lesson in becoming a pirate. More than a third of those cruising on the ship are first-time cruisers - like my cousins - and many more, Disney Cruise Line officials say, are cruising for the first time with their kids. (A three-night cruise for a family of four starts at roughly $1,300 and there are many packages that include a stay at Walt Disney World along with a cruise.) |
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Walt Disney? John Wayne? Famous heritage sells furniture Daily Breeze - Inside the Haptor Barrett showroom at the L.A. Mart Design Center, a sumptuous brown leather armchair that boasts the sleek, streamlined elegance of art modern styling sits in a corner.
Called the Studio Club Chair, this standout of the Walt Disney Signature Collection by Drexel Heritage re-imagines the original that Disney had a hand in creating for his Burbank studio office. "We took the inspiration of that and brought it to today's marketplace," says Pamela Lifford, executive vice president and general manager for Global Home for Disney Consumer Products, who was behind the new collection. From lighting to rugs, sofas to beds, this idea of tapping America's penchant for nostalgia through luxury home furnishings and accessories is nothing new in the marketplace. But in recent years, such collections spirited by 20th-century icons such as Disney have been rolling out. And deepening their emotional connection are the real back-stories that stain each piece with intrigue. Take, for example, Thomasville Furniture, which in 2000 channeled the totemic power of Hemingway with its collection based on the writer's adventures. Dark woods, rich leather and elements inspired by his travels conjure the masculine romance of the Ernest Hemingway Collection. There's the Aberdare Club Sleigh Bed, whose namesake was the retreat where Hemingway stayed while on safari in Africa. And after attending bullfights in Pamplona, he headed for the Spanish coastal town for which the San Sebastian Rectangular Cocktail Table was named. Three years later, Thomasville would introduce Bogart Luxe, which capitalizes on the tough-guy elegance of Humphrey Bogart. Soft, modern shapes and Art Deco touches define the collection's pieces for the bedroom, living room and dining room.
"Given his sustained popularity, we've always thought such a collection would be embraced by American consumers," Sherry Leysen, family-run Wayne Enterprise's licensing director, recently told the Orange County Register. Wayne, who was nicknamed the Duke, has been among the top 10 in the Harris Poll list of America's Favorite Movie Star for the past decade. The Disney Signature Collection by Drexel Heritage, which launched last year, is also driven by the affection people have for the man behind the mouse that built the house, and on it goes. "If you know our consumers, consumers who really have an emotional tie to our brand, they really are coming to Disney for what Disney represents in terms of quality and value and that emotional connection, more than they come to our brand for Pooh or Mickey Mouse," Lifford says. So, there are no Mickey Mouse ears on any of these pieces. Rather, the collection is defined by tie-ins to its heritage. "These are conversation pieces," Lifford says. "You can now go to someone's home and say, 'Well, you know, that chair was inspired by 'Fantasia."' Scenery from animated features also finds its way into the offerings. Disney had a true passion for design. He worked with artists such as Salvador Dali and Andy Warhol. And when he created his studio with architect Kem Weber and they developed the furniture, that furniture sat in his office. "He was very proud of the way his office looked," Lifford says. "So we decided we would honor that, and reproduce that, and make it current to today's marketplace." The collection takes its cue from the original 12 pieces, reproduces them and then expands it so as not to miss a major room of the home. It carries over into everything from the Carolwood Upholstered Panel Bed that takes its name from Carolwood Pacific Railroad in Disney's backyard to Walt's Signature Desk, one of the standouts at the Haptor Barrett showroom. You can see for yourself when LA Mart Design Center opens its doors to the public May 31 and June 1 for its 50th anniversary sample sale. And don't be surprised by what you see. "He was an innovator and a visionary, and it carried over into so many different aspects of his life," says Penny Haptor, owner of the Haptor Barrett showroom. "That's something that a lot of people probably don't even know about him. "He was unique in that respect," she says, adding, "I don't think the same could have been said of Jack Warner." |
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Prince Caspian Original Soundtrack to be released May 13 NarniaFans.com - Walt Disney Records will release the original soundtrack for Walt Disney Pictures/Walden Media's The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian on May 13, 2008. The recording features score written by award-winning composer Harry Gregson-Williams and songs performed by Switchfoot ("This Is Home"), Regina Spektor ("The Call"), Oren Lavie ("A Dance 'Round The Memory Tree"), and Hanne Hukkelberg ("Lucy"). In 1950, the scholar, critic and writer C.S. Lewis published The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, the first of his seven-volume series, The Chronicles of Narnia, and established a modern legend. Adults and children alike fell in love with his stirring, action-packed adventure that was set in the middle of World War II bombing raids yet transported readers into an alternate and far more enchanted universe of mythological creatures waging an epic battle between good and evil. Harry Gregson-Williams reunites with director Andrew Adamson for the 5th time after composing the scores for his Academy Award-winning Shrek (co-composed with John Powell), the hit sequels Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third, and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, for which he collected Golden Globe and Grammy nominations for his score. He is one of Hollywood's most sought after composers, working on a variety of high-profile projects, both animated and live-action. Over the last several years, Gregson-Williams has composed such notable scores for Shrek the Third,Gone Baby Gone, Chicken Run, Man on Fire, Flushed Away, Domino, Spy Game, Déjà vu, Phone Booth, Veronica Guerin, Smilla's Sense Of Snow, The Replacement Killers, Bridget Jones: The Age of Reason, Enemy of the State, Antz and Kingdom of Heaven, among others. The multi-platinum selling rock band Switchfoot has written and recorded the original song "This Is Home," which is heard in the body of the film and over the end title credits. They shot a video for the song with director Brandon Dickerson, who filmed their most recent video for "Awakening." "We are so honored to be a part of the Prince Caspian film with 'This Is Home,'" says Switchfoot frontman Jon Foreman. "The Narnia stories have a really special place in my brother Tim and my lives. Our dad used to read these to us at bedtime when we were boys. Our imaginations were shaped on these amazing novels." The characters of C.S. Lewis' timeless fantasy come to life once again in this newest installment of the Chronicles of Narnia series, in which the Pevensie siblings are magically transported back from England to the world of Narnia, where a thrilling, perilous new adventure and an even greater test of their faith and courage awaits them. "As [the film's director] Andrew Adamson and I began early discussions about the musical possibilities for The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," composer Harry Gregson-Williams said, "it became clear that the movie could take a score with plenty of edge and bite to it this time around, supporting the fast moving action and adventure that quickly unfolds." One year after the incredible events of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the Kings and Queens of Narnia find themselves back in that faraway wondrous realm, only to discover that more than 1300 years have passed in Narnian time. During their absence, the Golden Age of Narnia has become extinct, Narnia has been conquered by the Telmarines and is now under the control of the evil King Miraz, who rules the land without mercy. The fast forward 1300 years in the future allowed Gregson-Williams to re-address themes from the first film as well as creating new ones. Director Andrew Adamson described, "For Prince Caspian, Harry drew not only on the beloved themes of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, but also developed original, sympathetic themes for Caspian and the Telmarines. Harry has threaded these themes with the same beauty and originality as he has woven all the notes that form his wonderful scores." The four Pevensie children will soon meet an intriguing new character: Narnia's rightful heir to the throne, the young Prince Caspian, who has been forced into hiding as his uncle Miraz plots to kill him in order to place his own newborn son on the throne. Gregson-Williams embraced the challenge of composing for these new characters. He described, "The early introduction of a fearful Prince Caspian fleeing for his life from the dangerous Lord Miraz gave me a wonderful opportunity to introduce this new and somewhat darker musical landscape right from the opening." Also drawing inspiration from C.S. Lewis was Switchfoot. "'This Is Home' was inspired by the book after re-reading it for the opportunity to write for the film," continues the band's frontman, Foreman. "I am always taken by [C. S.] Lewis' ability to write about the bittersweet beauty in this world; this home we aren't really made for but is the place we work out our humanity in the midst of our longing for our true home." Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media present The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian in theaters on May 16, 2008. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Original Soundtrack will be in stores on May 13, 2008. |
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Disney
preparing to bring Hollywood to Lynn Item Live - Bruce Willis and several other actors are scheduled to bring a touch of Hollywood glamour to Lynn later this month when production begins on a sci-fi thriller. The megawatt actor is set to star in the Disney movie, "The Surrogates", which is being directed by Jonathan Mostow. Andrea Scalise, mayoral aide to Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr., said a crew would be coming to Lynn later this month to film scenes and will reportedly stay through June. "We (movie and city officials) looked at a couple of areas around Lynn Woods and the Pennybrook Road area," she said. "They also want to film a chase scene downtown at the end of June." Disney is also looking into renting a vacant downtown property from The Hall Company to incorporate into the movie set. Paul Amirault, chief operating officer for the Hall Company said he was approached by Disney to rent out the former woodworkers warehouse at 110 Munroe St. and accepted. "I heard that they're going to film at
three different locations in the city and that they have a very
strict schedule," he said. "I think Bruce Willis will only
actually be in the city filming for a couple of hours in June,
and I heard there would be a helicopter scene, so that should be
interesting." Michael Ferris and John Brancato wrote
the script based on a graphic novel from Top Shelf Comix. |
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Hannah Storm
joins ESPN AP - ESPN will add Hannah Storm to its "SportsCenter" lineup in August when it will supplant nine hours of taped programming in favor of live sports news. Storm, most recently on CBS' "The Early Show," will co-anchor
the middle three hours of ESPN's new daytime news block. Storm worked at NBC Sports for 10 years before joining CBS News in 2002, and had sports jobs at CNN and in local markets before that. She will co-anchor "SportsCenter" each weekday from 9 a.m. to noon. It premieres Aug. 11. ESPN airs a live "SportsCenter" at 2 a.m. Eastern each day. That one-hour show is repeated six times between 6 a.m. and noon with only occasional updates for breaking news. With three more hours of taped programming following that, ESPN essentially doesn't begin live programming each day until 3 p.m. Eastern. That no longer reflects the fast-moving nature of sports news, said Norby Williamson, the network's executive vice president of production. "You look at Fox News and CNN, it's inconceivable that they would be on tape for that amount of time," he said. "The sports world is evolving in that direction. Things are happening all the time." ESPN was doing OK in the ratings during the reruns. But constantly repeated versions of the same "SportsCenter" don't exactly keep viewers tuned in for a long time, and advertisers take note of programs that can keep an audience. The new nine hours of "SportsCenter" will be divided into three parts. The first, from 6 to 9 a.m., will be chiefly devoted to highlights from the events the night before. Some new touches will be mixed in, like referring to how sports radio is reacting to a particular event that morning, Williamson said. Storm's shift will take in more dayside news and the third shift, between noon and 3 p.m., will be more devoted to that day's news or previewing upcoming events, he said. Williamson would not name any of the other anchors for the nine hours of "SportsCenter." Storm will be the only hire from outside ESPN, he said. ESPN is a joint venture of ABC and Hearst Corp. |
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Disney Sets Up Ad
Research Lab World Screen News - The Walt Disney Company is looking to enhance the research it can offer its clients about viewer engagement, announcing plans to set up an emerging-media and advertising research lab. Developed in conjunction with Professor Duane Varan, the executive director of the Interactive Television Research Institute, the lab will seek to understand audience behavior and reactions to advertising. The lab will take up more than 3,000 square feet in Austin, Texas and will be equipped with advanced research techniques, including biometric measurement tools. It will look to test both traditional and emerging advertising models, including interactivity, split screens, product integration and sponsorships, as well as advertising on broadband video and mobile devices. “In today’s rapidly evolving media environment, we need to go beyond traditional forms of research to ensure an effective connection with our audience,” said George Bodenheimer, the president of ESPN and ABC Sports and the co-chair of Disney Media Networks. “This on-going initiative will employ advanced methods to reveal deeper insights about media and advertising engagement that will lead to innovative solutions for our advertisers and our media platforms.” “By coupling Disney Media Networks’ top-quality content with advanced new research practices, we have an important opportunity to further explore the connection that viewers of all ages have with our entertainment, news and sports programming,” added Anne Sweeney, the president of Disney-ABC Television Group and co-chair of Disney Media Networks. “We look forward to working with Duane to learn more about the viewing experience across audiences and, in doing so, to heighten its value for the public, our advertising and distribution partners, and the industry as a whole.” |
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Disney animator sees summers in Mobile as inspiration "The show is sort of based on my summers growing up in Mobile," said executive producer Dan Povenmire, 44, a graduate of Shaw High School who left Mobile for California, where he has pursued a career as a filmmaker, animator and television producer. Povenmire, who created the Disney Channel show with collaborator and co-executive producer Jeff "Swampy" Marsh, recalled some of those warm, fun 1970s summers during a recent telephone interview. "I was told I could direct the movie but I would have to quit 'The Simpsons,'" he said. "I made a decision that I was enjoying 'The Simpsons' more and that it would be appropriate for me to do more of that kind of work. That was an important decision for me." Soon, another gutsy decision would see him take a chance by leaving "The Simpsons" a popular TV program that's still on the air after what is an unprecedented 19 seasons for a prime-time animated series. "I could have just stayed at 'The Simpsons' ad infinitum," he said. "I have friends there who were there when I was and are still working on the show. But animation is such that at the end of production they lay off all the artists and then at the end of post-production they bring all the artists back. I was looking at a two- or three-month downtime." So what might have been a brief stint on the Nickelodeon animated series "Rocko's Modern Life" in his down time wound up being a longer run for the animation artist. He enjoyed working on that show even more that working on "The Simpsons" because the job allowed him more creative input. He grew up watching and loving the old Warner Bros. Looney Tunes shorts, with the Bugs Bunny cartoons being his favorite. The Nickelodeon series employed similar methodology in the way the animated stories were created. "When Bugs Bunny was being made, the artists were also involved in the writing of the shorts," Povenmire explained. "That's how you ended up with a lot or visual humor. So on 'Rocko's Modern Life' I got the job because I had done a comic strip at USC. They hired me because I could write and draw." He worked on "Rocko's" alongside his friend Marsh, who was his collaborator when the pair created "Phineas and Ferb" for Disney Channel. Povenmire would go on to work on other animated series, including Nickelodeon's "Spongebob Squarepants," before he and Marsh persuaded Disney to let them do "Phineas and Ferb" their way with the animators writing as well as drawing the cartoons. "It has been a big leap of faith for the Disney executives to let us do it this way," he said. "Now they are looking at doing other shows this way. It's really fun, when you get to come up with the gags as well as draw them. I think that's the most fun an animator can have." In addition to network TV executives and young viewers and parents around the country, Povenmire counts his oldest daughter as being among the show's most ardent fans. Isabella, who is 2cm HALF, especially enjoys that her father named one of the characters for her. "She loves it, but she has no idea that I do it, other than if she asks me to draw Phineas and Ferb I will do it," Povenmire said. "I get the feeling that until she is 4 years old she will think that every daddy draws cartoons." Povenmire's wife, Clarissa, gave birth to their second daughter last month. "It's me and a house full of girls," the proud father said. Time will tell whether young Melissa will share a name with one of her daddy's cartoon creations. The animator said he doesn't get back to Mobile as often as he once did. Family members have long since departed for other parts of the country, although he occasionally returns to his hometown to visit friends or to attend a Shaw High School reunion. Meanwhile, south Alabama summers from his youth live on in the television adventures of "Phineas and Ferb." |
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Monday May 12, 2008 |
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US Open's cable TV
deal leaves USA While you wait at Toy Story Mania at Disney's Hollywood Studios Roger Rabbit author loses royalties case Apple’s Ive helped design the heroine of Pixar’s Wall-E Fans protest end of virtual Disney site in front of Disneyland Jonas Brothers hit Toy Story Mania at Disney World Disney takes another pass at Vegas with filming of ‘Witch Mountain’ Bob Iger: You need to double Disney's dividend -- now How can we resist pressure to visit Disney World? Production of ABC's `Ugly Betty' moving to NYC Hardman Jerry goes undercover for Disney Walt Disney World grounds are a magical spot for birders ESPN Expected to Ink U.S. Open Deal TRAFFIC Does Disney Disney puts a crimp in BYU tour |
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US Open's cable TV
deal leaves USA AP - The U.S. Open tennis tournament's cable TV coverage is leaving USA Network after 25 years and moving to ESPN and Tennis Channel starting in 2009. The six-year deal through 2014 was announced by the U.S. Tennis Association on Monday. ESPN now owns TV rights to parts of all four tennis Grand Slam tournaments. USA began broadcasting the U.S. Open in 1984 and will carry it for the last time in 2008. Starting the following year, ESPN2 will be the lead cable carrier for the U.S. Open and the U.S. Open Series, the circuit of hard-court tournaments leading to the major. The broadcast network rights are still held by CBS, which has a contract with the USTA through 2011. USA Network is a unit of NBC Universal Cable. ESPN Inc. is a joint venture of Hearst Corp and ABC. |
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While you wait at Toy Story Mania at Disney's Hollywood Studios Disney News - I've already posted a broad review from the annual passholder preview of Toy Story Mania at Disney's Hollywood Studios. So now, a list a random items that made me happy while waiting in the line on Saturday.
1. The iconic Pixar desk light
serves as spotlight for the Mr. Potato Head animatronic.
(You can see the edge of it in the link's picture. Forgive
my bad framing).
2. The game guide for Buzz Lightyear's Attack on Zurg video game. 3. Crayons in various states of use. Plus: periwinkle at the front door. 4. Andy's drawings on the wall. Related: Andy's cloudy wallpaper motif as seen in the movie. Semi-related: Spirograph! 5. In the unloading area: Mouse Trap. Sly, no? |
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Roger Rabbit
author loses royalties case
Bloomberg News - The author of the book behind the "Who framed Roger Rabbit'' movie lost an appeals court decision in a royalties dispute with Walt Disney, the second largest US media company. A California appeals court said Friday that a trial judge erred in letting a jury interpret whether author Gary Wolf was entitled to part of the gross receipts of Disney units that sold Roger Rabbit merchandise. The appellate panel also said the judge made a mistake in awarding Wolf $216,803 in unpaid royalties based on gross receipts from Disney subsidiaries. Wolf contended that the "purchaser'' to whom he sold the Roger Rabbit rights in 1983 included both the Disney parent company and Disney's units. Disney argued that Wolf was entitled to only a share of the Roger Rabbit gross receipts received by the parent company and not a share of the units' revenues. "The trial court erred in permitting the jury to decide the meaning of the term 'purchaser' in the controlling contract,'' the appeals court in Los Angeles said. "The jury's interpretation of that term was wrong.'' Wolf created Roger Rabbit and other Toontown characters in his 1981 book "Who censored Roger Rabbit?'' The film, based on the novel, won four Academy Awards and was the top-grossing US movie in 1988 with $150 million in revenues. Wolf sued Disney in 2001 for the underreported Roger Rabbit merchandise sales. Wolf won a partial victory in a 2005 jury trial and was awarded $395,000 in damages, plus $157,000 in pre-judgment interest and $116,000 for legal costs because he was the prevailing party. The trial court will have to reassess whether Wolf has prevailed, the appeals court said. |
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Apple’s Ive helped design the heroine of Pixar’s Wall-E Fortune - It’s no accident that Eve, Wall-E’s sleek, pod-like love interest in the forthcoming Disney/Pixar animated feature film by the same name, looks like something out of Apple’s (AAPL) design department.
In the piece, director Andrew Stanton tells Siklos: “I wanted Eve to
be high-end technology — no expense spared — and I wanted it to
be seamless and for the technology to be sort of hidden and
subcutaneous. The more I started describing it, the more I
realized I was pretty much describing the Apple playbook for
design.” Disney (DIS) bought Pixar in 2006 in a deal that made Jobs Disney’s largest individual shareholder. Stanton, who directed Finding Nemo, says he’s been kicking around the idea for Wall-E for years, even before Toy Story was made. He has summarized it most succinctly like this: “What if mankind evacuated Earth and forgot to turn off the last remaining robot?” |
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Fans protest end of virtual Disney site in front of Disneyland OCRegister - People upset about the scheduled ending of Disney’s VirtualMagicKingdom.com protested Saturday morning in front of the Disneyland entrance.
“VMK is not just a game; it’s a community,” said Christopher Douglas, the protest’s organizer. “Our real life is in this game.” Douglas and others stood outside the park’s entry from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday, holding up signs with messages like “The Year of a Million Broken Dreams” and “Disney unplugs over a million kids.” Douglas, 35, of Trabuco Canyon
said he, his wife and two children (ages 5 and 7) have been
using VMK for about two years. They have spent about In a statement, Disney officials said the site’s performance exceeded expectations, but the time had come to shut it down. “We plan to offer free online promotions that will continue to engage our parks and resorts guests in new and entertaining ways on the web.” |
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Jonas Brothers hit Toy Story Mania at Disney World Disney News - OK, this one slipped by me, but here's a shot of Kevin Jonas (left) and Joe Jonas -- two-thirds of the pop act Jonas Brothers -- taking a preview spin on Toy Story Mania at Disney's Hollywood Studios on April 30. They were here for the taping of Disney Channel Games.
I had trouble visioning how it worked before actually riding -- couldn't figure out how the pull "string" retracted. I was thinking small. Duh. Think of it more as the thickness of a lawn mower pull cord -- but it only comes out 4 inches or so. ... And remember the tip that the shooter won't launch again until the string has gone fully back in. We found guiding it back to original position manually -- but rapidly -- was an effective way to go. |
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Disney takes another pass at Vegas with filming of
‘Witch Mountain’ Las Vegas Sun - The Disney-fication of Las Vegas was a short-lived ’90s phenomenon meant to ensnare Baby Boomer parents by giving their children things to do at video arcades, theme parks and rides. The trend ended, but that doesn’t mean the real Disney and Vegas are necessarily a bad mix. In late May and early June, Disney moviemakers plan to use the 62-year-old Ferguson Motel, 1028 East Fremont Street, as the setting for part of “Race To Witch Mountain.” The new version of 1975’s “Escape To Witch Mountain” will star former professional wrestler “The Rock,” aka Dwayne Johnson, as well as Cheech Marin, who famously feigned smoking marijuana for top-selling comic albums in the 1970s with partner Tommy Chong. Perhaps because of the innocent special effects — imagine an RV flying through the sky toward Witch Mountain — the original movie touched a nerve with pre-teens in the ’70s and spawned 1978’s “Return From Witch Mountain.” But will today’s super-hipster kids buy into a flick about two kids with magical powers pursued by an evildoer who wants to use those powers for ill deeds? Maybe the question should be, will their nostalgia-craving parents buy in? |
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Bob Iger: You need to double Disney's dividend -- now
Blogging Stocks - Disney reported earnings earlier in the week, and once again, Bob Iger pleased Wall Street with the media company's latest results (for a look at the numbers and an options-trading idea for Disney, see Brent Archer's recent piece about the Mouse). They more than beat expectations, but as a Disney shareholder, I'm somewhat blase about the whole affair. Sure, Iger is being feted as a CEO wunderkind who has successfully steered the S.S. Disney into prosperous financial seas after taking the wheel over from failed captain, Michael Eisner. But, you know, I've owned Disney for ten years now, and I just don't like the price action of the stock -- it hasn't gone anywhere since the last split back in 1998. And, I can't say that the stock performed spectacularly this week post the earnings win. I think Iger needs to start worrying about the stock. Yeah, he'd probably tell me something like "I'm busy leveraging the Disney brand to differentiate its content from other media concerns to drive increases in returns on capital and earnings per share -- the stock will take care of itself." Ha! The stock has done nothing. Iger should pay attention to the sad long-term range that symbol DIS has been in for what seems like an eternity. Here's my suggestion -- double the dividend, Bob. You can do it. A look at the company's most recent 10Q (for the quarter ended March 2008) shows an interesting cash-flow story. Okay, cash from operations for the last six months came in at $3.3 billion. Capital expenditures and acquisitions together equaled $759 million. Dividends were $664 million. Add $759 million and $664 million together and you get $1.4 billion. I think there's a lot of breathing room there, Bob. In fact, if you brought dividends up to an even $2 billion, you still would have covered cap-ex and acquisition costs. And remember, Disney pays an annual dividend, so that $664 million was for the whole year! Imagine if you spread $2 billion out over four quarters. You could easily double it, Bob. In fact, a check of the most recent 10K shows that cash flow has been excellent the last few years. Disney, by my calculations, could have supported a much higher dividend back in 2005! I'm assuming you are confident in the future cash flows of the company, right, Bob? Of course you are. So am I. But, why then, won't you allow the stock to have a larger yield? Oh, and here's something else -- that issue about Disney paying an annual dividend? Don't you think you should pay a quarterly dividend? Please don't try to make any arguments about the simplicity of paying once every calendar cycle and that Disney has so many odd-lot shareholders that it's just too expensive to do the dividend quarterly. Come on. Instead of concentrating on creating a new movie label for nature films -- that idea is an overrated one, in my opinion -- and instead of taking back those retail stores -- why you want to invest any effort in them is beyond me -- you should pay your shareholders to wait until the institutions finally recognize the value of the Disney brand and the intrinsic synergy potentials of the corporate structure itself and start pushing the stock higher. CBS yields over 4%. World Wrestling Entertainment yields over 5% -- and, heck, that company's cash flow isn't as good as yours, Bob. The McMahon's certainly have confidence in their future. So should you. And you should prove it by doubling the dividend and returning to a quarterly schedule. This once-a-year thing doesn't cut it anymore. And think about this -- you could take the current 1% yield and turn it into 2%, a number that would beat Time Warner's yield. If you want, you could slow your buyback. Whatever. The point is, you need to look at the dividend issue. I've written about Disney's deplorable dividend policies before, and I can safely assume that I'll be writing about them again. Pity. Here's hoping that Mr. Iger and the board finally realize that shareholders need some incentive to hold the stock. |
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How
can we resist pressure to visit Disney World? Allentown Morning Call - Q: It seems as though all my children's friends have been to or are going to Disney World. My children keep asking when we can go, but quite frankly, my husband and I are not keen on this trip and feel that for the money, we could take a different vacation that would be more meaningful for the whole family. What should we tell our kids? A: Disney World is not a requirement for growing up. Like any other vacation spot, some people have been there multiple times and others have never been there. It is up to you as the parent to make the decision on what vacations you take and not your children, the Family Project panel says. ''Disney World is not an instant guarantee of the perfect vacation and, in the long run may, not be the most meaningful,'' says panelist Denise Continenza. There are many vacations that can be very rewarding for your family, says panelist Marcie Lightwood. She suggests involving your kids in the planning of a vacation and having them look at maps and information about the destinations to get them engaged. Panelist Rochelle Freedman suggests taking children to places where they can experience a different culture and learn about different people. ''Frame it for your children so when they take it back to their peers, they will feel proud about their vacation,'' Freedman says. Remember to keep your vacation in line with the values you are teaching your children, the panelists say. ''There are always people who will be able to do more than you and have more than you,'' Continenza says. ''And there are always those who have less than you. Make sure you are taking your vacation for the right reason.'' There are many ways inexpensive family vacations can be memorable for a child, such as taking him or her on a whale watch or snorkeling, panelists say. Teach your children not to be lured by commercialism, says Lightwood. ''If you hold firm on your values, it shouldn't be a problem,'' she says. ''It may be harder if your children have every Disney Toy and every Disney video.'' If you do decide to go to Disney World, keep it in perspective and don't remortgage the house to take the trip, the panel says. Make sure you plan the trip carefully. ''Some parents bought into the whole Disney idea and came back very disillusioned,'' says Freedman. ''If your child doesn't like crowds or is oversensitive, it may be a terrible vacation. Make sure you're prepared for disappointment.'' ''Determine the right age for your children to enjoy it most and do it once,'' Lightwood suggests. Do your research and map out a plan, she says. ''It's impossible to see it all,'' she says. Talk to other parents who've already been there, Freedman says. ''And with all that stimulation, make sure you know techniques to help your kids relax at the end of the day,'' says Freedman. |
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Production of ABC's `Ugly Betty' moving to NYC AP - Production of ABC's "Ugly Betty" is moving to New York. The announcement was made Monday by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Governor David Paterson and ABC Studios President Mark Pedowitz. They say the show will take advantage of a 35 percent tax credit from the city and state when it makes the move from Los Angeles. "Ugly Betty" stars Emmy winner America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, a young woman from Queens who works for a fashion magazine. The comedy will be filmed in Manhattan and Queens. It is expected to create more than 200 full and part-time jobs. "Law & Order," "30 Rock" and "Gossip Girl" are filmed in Manhattan. ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Co. |
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Hardman Jerry
goes undercover for Disney Stuff.co - Quaid Martin, 11, and members of the Eastbourne under-9s rugby team, were all ears when the famous flanker arrived at Quaid's Porirua home to offer some coaching. The surprise visit was part of an Undercover Coach series being filmed for the Disney Channel. Quaid, who plays for Porirua's Northern United under-13 rugby team and dreams of one day wearing the No 8 Hurricanes jersey, thought he was going to be filmed kicking a ball. Instead, Collins turned his backyard into a coaching ground and even smashed through a makeshift fence for the cameras, drawing perplexed neighbors outside. "It was an honour for me to meet him, " Quaid said. "I was just blown away about how they managed to get him here at my house. He's fun ... It was one of the highlights of my life so far." Collins eyeballed one of the Eastbourne youngsters as he lined up to do a haka and said: "I'm gonna eat you after this" before admitting he was a little rusty on the moves and took some pointers from young Quaid. Collins said he used to live around the corner from Quaid and attended Corinna School, just up the road and was "still a big part of the community, I suppose". He was thrilled to be offering advice on tackling and ball carrying to tomorrow's up-and-coming rugby greats. "They were pretty good, man, they're pretty keen. I don't think the kids were expecting to see me so it was pretty choice. "We were rolling around in the mud for a while, breaking a fence - just a typical day. A great way to spend a Sunday." |
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Walt Disney World grounds are a magical spot for birders Boston Herald - In this kingdom of fantasy, there’s magic in reality, too. Birds, some of them thrillingly rare or unusual, come here to spend the summer or take a break in their travels. And silvery bass swirl the waters of Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake, testing anglers’ patience and willingness to rise early. Bird-watching is an unexpected and lesser-known attraction at Walt Disney World, but it can delight as much as a twirl in a teacup, a wild ride down an Everest look-alike or a face-to-ears encounter with Mickey Mouse. Disney World lies below that great avian interstate, the Atlantic Flyway. Birds returning from wintering in Central and South America wing directly over Florida, some stopping there for spring and summer breeding, others continuing into the Northeast, Canada and the far north. “In Florida, you can look up, and there’s always something in the sky,” says Chris Newton, a bird and animal keeper in the aviary at Animal Kingdom. Birders with and without their binoculars can see dozens of species. One-third of Disney World’s 45 square miles is protected for wildlife. From a bird’s-eye view, the lakes, trees, grasslands - even the theme parks teeming with people - are an invitation to come on down. Waders, herons, land migrants, songbirds, raptors, rails and every species of egret have stopped or stayed at the park, according to Grenville Roles, curator of birds at Animal Kingdom. Mallards, egrets and ibises walk the paths beside parkgoers. Moochers of several species stalk the outside tables at restaurants, looking for leftovers. Perching birds prattle and sing in the shrubs and trees. To see less-familiar species, watchers generally need to leave the crowds behind. Binoculars and a field guide (try “National Geographic’s Field Guide to the Birds of North America”) are useful. Even without such gear, you’ll see plenty of birds. Renting a boat or kayak at the Contemporary Resort marina, crossing a short distance across Bay Lake and circling the shoreline of the former Discovery Island reveals a nursery. Hundreds of white ibis, egrets, herons, cormorants and others nest on the island, closed to the public when Animal Kingdom opened. A quiet walk among the trees in the farm area at Fort Wilderness Campground and Resort produces different delights. A northern parula warbler’s buzz-buzz-trill sounds from a low branch, a mockingbird tunes up, a brown thrasher snatches insects in a patch of lawn. The area is rustic but not unpeopled. Yet, walking farther along the paved paths turns up titmice, cedar waxwings and a great-crested flycatcher. Then, suddenly, a bald eagle wings overhead. Animal Kingdom offers unique opportunities for birders. Almost more parkland than theme park, it’s a habitat for a range of birds. “This is the biggest botanical collection to be developed in the Western Hemisphere in the last hundred years,” says Roles. Exotic birds show themselves on the self-guided Maharajah Jungle Trek through a manmade forest. Living peacefully in its savannah where the big cats roam are sarus cranes, at nearly 6 feet, tall enough for the NBA if only they could shoot. Northern orioles are orange flashes nearby. Java green peacocks strut. Bar-headed geese, which in their native Asia migrate over the Himalayas, peck contentedly in the short grass. For birders, the Red Pavilion is the trek’s E-ticket. An enclosed aviary, it has feeding stations that draw its nearly 100 resident exotics into the open. A laminated guide helps trekkers identify birds such as doves, rollers, plovers and the golden pheasant.
“I don’t know how something
that colorful can survive in the wild,” says Roles.)
The beauty at hand has a purpose. The park is “the connecting point where we hope to inspire people to conservation action,” says Roles. |
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ESPN Expected
to Ink U.S. Open Deal
Wall Street Journal - The United States Tennis Association and ESPN plan to announce a new six-year deal Monday that will bring together the country's top tennis tournament and one of the most powerful brands in sports in the U.S. Beginning in 2009, ESPN, a unit of Walt Disney Co., will telecast live weekday coverage of the U.S. Open for up to 11 hours each day and night on ESPN2. It will also show prime-time coverage of the event during Labor Day weekend. In addition, the independent Tennis Channel will have weekday coverage from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and rebroadcast the previous day's matches from 3 a.m. to 10 a.m. CBS Corp.'s CBS will continue to broadcast the U.S. Open's weekend, daytime coverage. Executives familiar with the deal said ESPN will pay the USTA nearly $140 million during the life of the agreement. USA, a unit of General Electric Co.'s NBC Universal division, will broadcast the U.S. Open for a final time this year. The network had paid the USTA about $22 million annually for the broadcast rights but has decided to get out of the sports broadcasting business. For ESPN, getting the U.S. Open means the network will now be the broadcast home for all four major tennis tournaments. It will also be able to promote the event during its summertime telecasts of the U.S. Open Cup Series, which accounts for roughly 100 hours of programming on ESPN2. |
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TRAFFIC Does
Disney I will be at the show and on a couple panels. Additionally, I’ll be disclosing the final results from the Third Annual Domain Name Wire Survey. This will include: -Biggest issues facing the
domain market in 2008 On Wednesday, May 21 I’ll join Phil Corwin and Nat Cohen to discuss the Snowe Bill and other attacks on the domain industry. I’m going to share stories of my interviews with “non-domainers” and what they think about the domain industry. Our image may be our biggest enemy. What can we do about it? On Thursday, May 22 I’ll participate in a panel “If parked pages are deemed “Non use” how will domain owners develop their domains in mass?” I’m excited to share some of my strategies for rapidly developing domain names…without technical skills. Of course Moniker will be hosting its famous live domain auction. They’ll have a low/no-reserve auction on opening night and then the big show on Friday afternoon. The list of domains up for auction is stellar. I’m hopeful this will be a successful auction. I believe there are still tickets available for $1,995. If you are attending the conference, please make a point to say hello next week. |
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Disney puts a
crimp in BYU tour
Deseret News - A licensing debate with Walt Disney Company caused Brigham Young University's show group to cut several segments of their performance just days before the Young Ambassadors left on tour to Australia. BYU legal counsel, responding in writing to questions from the Deseret News, stated: "A law firm representing Disney has notified the university that the Young Ambassadors group may not have all the necessary permissions to perform certain Disney songs as originally scheduled to be performed in the current Young Ambassador program." A Disney spokesman, in a phone interview with the Deseret News, said BYU did not seek a license to perform the Disney songs from "Tarzan," "Mary Poppins" and "Hercules." "We have exclusive copyright to these performances," said Jonathan Friedland, vice president of corporate communications for Walt Disney Company. Friedland said it's not fair to other theatrical companies that are paying for the rights to perform while others are not. He said, "Disney licenses thousands of performances annually, and we have an obligation to protect our licensees." Friedland further explained
there is a big difference between, for example, a student
singing a Disney song at a school assembly and a
full-fledged theatrical production of Disney numbers with a
band, singing, dancing and costumes. The BYU Young Ambassadors perform as a show choir and incorporate music, dance and theater. BYU legal counsel plans to have "direct discussions" with Disney Music Licensing to clarify to Disney the nature of the Young Ambassador performances in light of the university's existing licensing agreements and "see whether the parties still believe that any additional special licenses are needed for the Disney materials." Just to be on the safe side until the legal battle is resolved, BYU administration and Young Ambassador officials decided to pull the Disney numbers from the Young Ambassador performance. According to BYU legal representatives, three songs were cut from the Young Ambassador's 90-minute program. Instead of the Disney numbers, some songs from the previous year are being used, since they were already choreographed and BYU still has the costumes. Some current members of the Young Ambassadors were present last year and know the old numbers. The original Young Ambassador program took nine months of preparation. Tryouts are in May, then the group rehearses from September until school is out. Work to get the Australia tour scheduled began about two years ago, according to Young Ambassador officials. The performers left for the Australia tour April 27. They have already performed in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Sydney and Canberra. Young Ambassador officials say the bulk of the performance is music through the history of America, with songs from the 1960s to the 1980s. The songs are in the Young Ambassador's newly released album "The Great American Songbook." "The replacement performances are being very well received. The people there (in Australia) are loving it," said Rex Barrington, BYU's assistant director of performing arts management. The Young Ambassadors aren't paid for their work. BYU funds their tour expenses, including airfare. Tickets are sold for the performances and the money goes for local ground expenses such as buses, trucks, trains and meals, according to Young Ambassador officials. "Often, we give the proceeds to charity organizations in the local areas we visit," said Shane Wright, BYU performance coordinator. He books the BYU Young Ambassador's performances, along with other BYU groups. Many of the students later go on to Broadway or are hired by Disney to perform in its amusement parks. BYU legal counsel said BYU has placed many graduates with the Disney Corp. and has collaborated on various projects and productions over the years. "The university does not envision that long-standing relationship changing in any way." The Young Ambassadors wrap up their Australia tour with a fireside in Melbourne and leave May 19 for the return trip. |
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Sunday May 11, 2008 |
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“Magical Celebrations” Disneyland in Japan still popular Narnia Director feeling Confident Orlando theme-park goers preview Toy Story Mania Hugh Hefner wants Miley Cyrus in Playboy Ghirardelli Soda Fountain at the DTD Marketplace has now reopened Will Marketing Ploy Work for Microsoft & HP on Disney's 'Dream Home'? |
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“Magical Celebrations” Rumor has it that after the conclusion of "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration in December 2008, The Disney Parks will begin a new, smaller promotional program. The new promotion will be named “Magical Celebrations” and is scheduled to begin in January 2009. The only part of the celebration that has been mentioned is that the Walt Disney World Resort will add Disneyland’s Parade of Dreams to the Magic Kingdom. No additional information is available at this time, but more as it becomes available. |
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Disneyland in Japan
still popular The Asian Pacific Post - Disneyland's around the world are facing problems, but the magic has not dimmed in Japan where Mickey and friends are marking 25 years with fans as loyal as ever. Even though Japan’s birth rate is one of the world’s lowest, Tokyo Disneyland has set its sights on the generation who grew up admiring Disney cartoons on television and took their children to the park when it opened.
“The moment I arrive at Maihama
Station, my heart starts singing with its legs doing dance
steps,” said Toshiko Sugano. “I turn 58 next month, so I’ll
have to come back to celebrate.” She was spending the day at
Disneyland with her 31-year-old daughter and 54-year-old
sister, all still enchanted since they first visited a
quarter of a century ago. Her daughter, Izumi, a Disney fan,
has visited the park more than 100 times.
Oriental Land Co. Ltd., the Japanese company that runs the park under a license contract with the Walt Disney group, has launched a discount pass for visitors 60 or older. “It’s two more years to go. Knowing that I’ll be able to get it, it’s quite nice getting old,” said Sugano who is determined to get one. Tokyo Disneyland opened in the suburbs of the Japanese capital on Apr. 15, 1983, as the company’s first theme park outside the United States. It was built on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay dubbed Maihama — a Japanese take on Miami Beach near Florida’s Disney World. The resort has sprawled out to include hotels, a shopping mall, an aqua park and soon a permanent Cirque du Soleil. The number of visitors to Disneyland and DisneySea — the water park which opened in 2001 — has stood at record levels of around 25 million in recent years, up from 9.9 million people in Disneyland’s first year. Since 1983 a total of 436 million people have visited the two parks that sit next to the megalopolis. Oriental Land puts annual revenue from the theme parks at $2.8 billion — far beyond the performances of other overseas Disneylands. In Hong Kong, government figures showed in December that visitor numbers at Hong Kong Disneyland fell up to 23 per cent in its second year of operation. Visitors to the 15-year-old Euro Disney hit a record of 14.5 million in 2007. But the European operation was still in the red for a sixth straight year. Tokyo Disneyland benefits from being in a nation that widely embraces U.S. pop culture and commonly accepts grown-ups, particularly women, pursuing the same passions as children. Sociology professor Hideki Nakagawa, of Nihon University, said going to Disneyland has turned into a “fashion in itself” in Japan. “You feel superior if you go there many times, while it makes others feel they must go as well,” he said. |
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Narnia
Director feeling Confident
Deseret News - Andrew Adamson finally has some confidence in his filmmaking abilities. That's a really big career step for him. The 41-year-old New Zealand native has had considerable experience in both visual effects and in animation. And he did direct the first two "Shrek" animated hits before his work on "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe." And yet even he admits that he was an unlikely choice of director for the first film in what Walt Disney Pictures was planning to be a successful movie franchise. As he recalled, "I'm sure there were a lot of people wondering who this Andrew Adamson guy was and why Disney allowed him of all people to make this movie." "And I was chief among them," Adamson added with a laugh. But he must have done something right. That film wound up grossing nearly $300 million in the United States alone. That obviously helps explain why he's returned to direct and co-write the screenplay for its sequel, "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," which opens Friday. "I'm back! And so
are the Pevensie children," Adamson said from New
York City. He was there helping to promote the new
film. According to Adamson, a few screenwriters and filmmakers had suggested they update the tale or make even more drastic changes in the story content. "I think everyone was getting pretty frustrated and disheartened at that stage," he said. Fortunately, Adamson was coming off the first "Shrek" success at the time and had his own pitch, which showed the producers how much he loved the material. "They were the first really 'big' books that I ever read. To me they were perfect and needed no changes whatsoever," he said, suggesting that the clincher may have been his "nearly encyclopedia knowledge" of the books' events and characters. Still, Adamson said he "was convinced that I had scared them off at first, because I was so obsessive." Yet he wound up having a "blast" making the first movie and says he felt more "assured" making the follow-up, "Prince Caspian." He also feels a "parental" affection for young actors William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes and Georgie Henley, who play the heroic Pevensie children. "I've really grown attached to all of them, especially Georgie, who was 8 when the first film was shot. She's my girl," Adamson said. So, he wanted to "be there with them every step of the way of this amazing adventure." Not to give anything away about "Prince Caspian," but not all of the Pevensies return for the next adventure, "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader." And while Adamson will be serving as a producer for the movie adaptation, Michael Apted ("Amazing Grace") will be taking the directing reins this time. "It's a bit of a relief, because this 'Narnia' movie world has gotten to be a bit of a beast," he said. "It's very difficult to juggle this huge production, this ever-growing cast of characters and keep your sanity. So, it's time for me to let it go." And in the future, he'd like to do something "more modest" in scope. "I'd really like to do something intimate, or something that's just completely different and crazy," Adamson explained. "When I figure out exactly what that is, you'll hear from me again." |
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Orlando theme-park goers preview Toy Story Mania
Orlando Sentinel - Mr. Potato Head nailed it. "It's a ride; it's game. It's a game; it's a ride," the 5-foot animatronic tater barked at guests waiting to board Toy Story Mania, a coming attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park. Thousands of riders -- all Walt Disney World annual pass holders -- lined up Saturday for a special preview of the 3-D attraction, some of them waiting hours to play virtual midway games. Disney says the official opening will be May 31, but the pass holder-only preview continues today and Monday. When we arrived at 9 a.m. Saturday, the line snaked from outside the new ride through the Animation Courtyard arch and back toward the park's iconic sorcerer hat. "Is this the line for Little Mermaid?" we joked. No such luck. Disney fans line up early to be the first on their block to lock in bragging rights to a new ride. They'll sweat it out whatever the temperature. Once inside, a four-person car zipped us through five games of skill featuring characters such as Woody, Bo Peep and Ham from the Toy Story movies. Don't worry if you have problems with motion sickness -- the car doesn't move very fast or spin too much. The first stop was just for practice, giving riders a chance to learn to fire a "spring-action shooter" shaped like a miniature cannon. Within seconds we were caught up in the world of virtual reality, almost believing that we were firing actual pies at the bull's-eye targets. The realistic, three-dimensional launch effects give Toy Story Mania an edge over other point-and-shoot attractions, including another Toy Story-based ride, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin at the Magic Kingdom. My misfires along the edge of the screen showed up as comic duds. After supposedly learning how to hit the target, we progressed to eggs, darts, baseballs and rings. It's fun to launch things, but don't stop to admire your handiwork. Keep firing. High scores come from shooting rapidly. The launchers can fire six objects per second. My thumb grew numb. Sensory overload? Like a shooting gallery, different targets have different values and effects. If you hit a water balloon you get sprayed with mist. You can also take aim at ducks, trees, plates and little green aliens. I picked off high-point objects lurking at the bottom of the screen. At one point I felt as though I was suffering from sensory overload. There were objects shattering, oversized toys looming nearby, variations on the movie's signature song, "You've Got a Friend in Me," filling the air. But my inner game-boy was challenged and competition with seatmates added fun and intensity to the experience. Although nobody will need special skills or training, I found the ring-toss game to be the most challenging, requiring the most patience, accuracy and finesse. Disney purists who think each attraction should carry a strong storyline might be disappointed with Mania. The interaction with the Toy Story characters is peripheral to the game-playing. We were told that the action takes place under a bed, amid other toys, and that the scale of the ride is intended to make you feel toy-sized. But once the game is on, size doesn't matter. Cutting down to toy size To set the mood for riders, the toys are out in force before you even enter the attraction, which took over the old Who Wants to Be a Millionaire -- Play It space. Oversized green army men, Tinkertoys, used crayons and citizens of the Barrel of Monkeys dominate the entrance. A gigantic night light and the cloud motif from Andy's room in the movies greets you in the entry hall. The next room features jumbo-sized Candyland on the wall, Chutes and Ladders on the ceiling, king-sized Disneyland View-Master wheels alongside large checkers, dominoes and Old Maid cards. Guests grab 3-D glasses from a hutch constructed of Lincoln Logs. Parents grow nostalgic. And just as we were about to overdose on the larger-than-life theme, we ran into Mr. Potato Head. The spud -- voiced by Don Rickles -- makes wisecracks. Some of his barbs are blatantly generic ("Hey, you in the Mickey Mouse shirt"), some of the jokes are groaners, and his computerized pacing could use tweaking. But Mr. Potato Head's moving parts -- lips, mustache, eyebrows, glowing eyes -- are spectacular. And he responded to our pleas to pull out his right ear, a trademark stunt. That was a definite crowd pleaser. Next, we entered a stairwell that built anticipation before the loading area. More toys and board games awaited us. Five short minutes later it was all over, and we were heading to the back of the line -- ready to play again. |
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Hugh Hefner wants Miley Cyrus in Playboy
New York Daily News - Hugh Hefner has floated an idea that will have Disney and dads of teenage girls cringing - he wants Miley Cyrus to pose for Playboy. In three years when she turns 18, that is. "Sure, she'd be welcomed in the magazine," he told "Extra." "Very pretty lady." Better known to her adoring tween fans as Hannah Montana, Cyrus is a pretty 15-year-old Lolita now. Hefner's offer comes just as Disney was damping down the controversy over Cyrus' vixenish Vanity Fair spread, in which she shocked her prepubescent fans and scared her corporate minders - by baring her back. The last thing Disney wanted was for Hefner to utter the words "Miley" and "Playboy" in the same sentence. Playboy's 82-year-old founder scoffed at the fuss over Cyrus' spread. "I think to make such a big to-do over something as innocent as those photos, I think is a reflection on how schizophrenic America is about sexuality," he said. Hefner has a history of courting underage ingénues for his magazine. Just before Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen turned 18, Hefner called them "every young man's fantasy" and implored them to strip for his centerfold. Now 21, they passed. More recently, Hefner made a pass at Lindsay Lohan, who also said no. Instead, the troubled 21-year-old actress did a sizzling New York magazine spread that became a sensation. |
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Ghirardelli Soda Fountain at the DTD Marketplace has
now reopened
Disney News - Friday was the reopening of the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain. During the refurbishment the registers were moved to improve guest flow, LCD screens displaying the menu were added, and some other decorative changes were made. No significant changes were done, but hopefully the new register position will ease the congestion inside the popular ice cream and chocolate location. |
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Will Marketing Ploy Work for Microsoft & HP on
Disney's 'Dream Home'?
Seeking Alpha - Back in 1957, Disneyland opened up a Jetsons-esque "Home of the Future" featuring all sorts of far-out gadgets like microwaves (!) and giant TVs (!). Some of them became realities in every American home. Others, like the floating furniture, well... That attraction closed down in 1967, but now Disney (DIS) is taking a whole new approach to the idea. I got a sneak peak at Disneyland's "Innoventions Dream Home," which opens in Tomorrowland on June 16. Microsoft (MSFT) is the lead partner along with Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), homebuilder Taylor-Morrison, and Lifeware, which creates the touch-screen that allows you to easily control everything in the house. But unlike the old house of the "future," nearly everything in this new Tomorrowland house is actually available tomorrow. Now, that doesn't mean it's affordable -- the 100-inch, paper-thin floating flat screen costs something like $23,000. But it's still pretty cool that it's not a far-off dream. Disney will take people through the house, with a story about the family that lives there: One of the sons is prepping to leave for China to play in a soccer championship. Another really cool thing about the house: you can customize the pictures in the digital picture frames, the music, even the temperature for each person in the family. Switch to mom's settings with one touch of the screen. Microsoft and HP see this house as a way to show just how fun and accessible their technologies are. I'd argue it shows the softer side of these hard tech companies. I spoke to Joe Belfiore, Microsoft's corporate VP for Entertainment and Devices. He said part of it is simply showing people what they can do with their Xbox or Zune or other Microsoft gadgets they already have. Taylor Morrison, which helped build the house, is looking to get feedback on what kind of gadgets people want in their homes. And of course this is a great way for all these companies to reach the 15,000 to 18,000 visitors who are expected to go through the attraction each day. Disneyland guests exit the attraction into what looks like an outdoor tent for the family's picnic, and they can ask questions and get more info about all the products. The big question is: will Disneyland visitors be wowed by the gadgets enough not to feel like they're part of a marketing experiment? If it works it'll be one smart marketing ploy. |
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And
it has Walt Disney's fingerprints all over it. 
And
next on the horizon is a line of home furnishings tied to the
late Western movie star John Wayne. 
Writing
in the current issue of Fortune, Richard Siklos reports that
Jonathan Ive, head of Apple’s design department and the man
responsible for the iMac, iPod and iPhone, had a hand in
creating the robot.
The
social gaming site, launched in 2005 to promote Disneyland’s
50th anniversary, lets players choose and style avatars, chat
with other players and play games. It’s set to shut down at 10
p.m. May 21.
I
share this because it's a decent shot of the ride vehicle: two
players on one side, two more back-to-back of these Jonases. You
can also see the "spring-action shooters" -- but not so much the
launchers of them.