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 November 16 - 22, 2008 |
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Saturday November 22, 2008 |
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Bolt: Disney Gets
Reborn Again IT'S SHOWTIME!: "The American Idol Experience" at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park Disney's endearing 'Bolt' is hilarious and beautifully made Pooh hoo: Disney's everywhere now Three ABC programs hear no pickup lines Apply to intern at Disney Miley Cyrus Secret Words Revealed Even Goths believe in the magic of Disney |
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Bolt:
Disney Gets Reborn Again Animation World Network - We all know the importance of Bolt, it marks the first feature completely overseen by Pixar's John Lasseter and Ed Catmull for the new Walt Disney Animation Studios banner. And we know the difficult history Bolt endured prior to the new regime as American Dog (with director Chris Sanders (Lilo & Stitch) being replaced by Chris Williams (the Glago's Guest short) and Byron Howard (Lilo & Stitch lead character animator) because his experimental, picaresque vision didn't jibe with the brain trust's. So, with a new plot (canine TV star believes he's a real superhero, only to be accidentally let loose in the real world, where he's befriended by a jaded cat and hamster fan boy) and a new character design, a crew was quickly assembled and set on an 18-month production schedule to make the release date. As Catmull points out, it was important that the new team meshed together so well and handled the accelerated schedule: there was no time for lethargy yet the heightened sense of urgency helped cut through all the fat. And, as Lasseter, reiterates, "We brought over the notion of a filmmaker-led studio from Pixar and the stories come from them. We create a brain trust, and we're all very honest with them about their movie. There are no mandatory notes at this studio. But other than that, it's all the filmmakers here at this studio. We're like cousins. Every now and then, we'll take a film up to Pixar and show it to the brain trust up there, or the Pixar films will come down here and show it to the brain trust down here, but everything is kept very, very separate." For Williams, "There's something in our DNA where we're always referencing back to Disney classics. But at the same time, we work with John Lasseter now and he's always going to be pushing you to create really great original characters that resonate. And that's very much the Pixar way, where you want to do something new and exciting. So I think we're in a place where we can benefit from that Pixar approach to constructing story, but at the same time, have this heritage that people are always talking about: those classic Disney movies. You always feel that flavor, I think." Howard emphasizes that you never lose sight of that power of emotion. "I was watching the opening of Dumbo the other day: the scene where these storks bring babies to the zoo. And without saying a word, you see this mother elephant reaching up to the sky, hoping it's going to get a baby. And she doesn't and your heart breaks. You're hooked. These are emotions that exist in Disney films and no matter how funny you try and make them, at the heart, we're going to go for that key emotional response. That's the way John told us how he starts his films, too. 'What's the biggest emotional punch that you're going to get? What does your film revolve around?' And then everything stems from there." And emotion was key as Bolt
(John Travolta) guilessly searches for his "owner," the teenage
co-star, Penny (Miley Cyrus), across the country while bonding
with Mittens, the cat (Susie Essman), and Rhino, the hamster
(board artist Mark Walton). Meanwhile, for the character animators, the challenges of Bolt meant creating a completely new working method. While Bolt is the lead character, Rhino posed the most unique problems. The first thing was to make the character look appealing. To hone in on the best designs, the team created something called "paloozas," which are a creative refining process that began with a successful "Boltapalooza" (for the dog) and progressed to "Mittenspalooza" (for the cat), "Pennypalooza" (for the human girl) and "Rhinopalooza" (for the hamster). The team also underwent an enormous change in workflow. Instead of moving from modeling to rigging to animation, which would then go back and forth for approvals, and could cause huge problems if a rigging change was required, they worked more collaboratively. There was the formation of a character team that worked interactively, starting with modeling and moving to rigging and then to animation, but proceeding back and forth in a fluid, circular motion. This system has proved so effective that the change in workflow has become the new standard at Disney. As for Rhino, the animators turned to squirrel designs from Sleeping Beauty (stylized but anatomically correct) for inspiration. "Rhino was originally rigged as a quadruped, and worked very well that way," explains Clay Kaytis, the Rhino supervisor. "But the story demands really said that he needed to stand on two legs and act anthropomorphically. Of all the animals, he was definitely the most human in acting. And it was such a struggle to get him on his hind legs and be upright." So Rhino had to be re-rigged using a new PSD (pose shape deformer), and distance locators constantly needed to be adjusted. "There were too many in the neck, so we added locators in the arm," Kaytis adds. "Basically, we had to keep what he had and not throw away the rig, so it was a requirement on our part to figure out how to add everything to this rig so he could do two things within the same body. So we got together with the rigging TDs and they were very supportive. As animators, I made a small team and we explained the requirements, they went away for two days and came back with this solution of rigging. They actually experimented with it a little bit on previous characters, but nothing went into production with it. But they felt this rig that was a hybrid of a quadruped and a biped would shift between two different modes within a shot. For two months straight, we worked on it and in the end it was an awesome rig. It's the most complicated rig I've ever animated with. And it was kind of scary for animators to get their hands on it for the first time because sometimes it was like being in the cockpit of a 747. But the animators said it had everything it needed." This was actually the first character that Kaytis has supervised and consequently his first rigging experience. "My solution had never been done before, but my riggers said it could be done and we ended up patenting the whole process of measuring the neck rotation. It was risky but very exciting. I stopped production on Rhino shots while he was being fixed, and that's where I say the leadership put a lot of trust in us. If it didn't work, it would've been a disaster on my part, but, luckily, it did work." In terms of the overall visual style, the original plan for American Dog was to adopt a very painterly look in homage to Edward Hopper. As detailed in The Art of Bolt, this arguably posed the most complex challenge. Art Director Paul Felix continued working on Bolt with Look and Lighting Director Adolph Lusinsky. Although they maintained this painterly direction, they toned it down slightly in keeping with the more believable-looking character design. Applying such a rigorous painterly approach to CG required lots of R&D on the part of the technology team (under the technical supervision Hank Driskill). As a result, Disney filed four patents on the R&D done in 2006 and 2007. These patents involved the massing/editing system, colloquially known as "look A/look B," which they fed into shaders so compositors could control depth, light and shadow; the normal painting techniques that make light play across a surface like painting (in which more detail was painted in modeling); the ray painting system in which a virtual object has painterly edges thanks to a series of cards with a transparent map (inspired by the matte work of Disney great Peter Ellenshaw); and the painterly shadow work. Lusinsky says their painterly look included brick detail in close-up, edges on models that look like brush strokes, integrating matte paintings more seamlessly into 3D spaces and applying distinctive lighting and detailed sensibilities for each city on this road trip. For instance, San Francisco contains cobblestones coming up from the asphalt in old shipping yards; a gray haze and de-saturated color palette for New York's garment district; turquoise haze for Kentucky and Ohio; the neon look of the Las Vegas strip or the baked in mid-day heat on asphalt; and the Santa Ana winds with purple skies in L.A.The idea was to combine the urban, cinematic look of Hopper with the naturalistic exposure sensibilities of air/atmosphere in the cinematography from the films of the '70s (most notably Vilmos Zsigmond's McCabe and Mrs. Miller). This included lens effects such as light scattering, blooming and lens flares. Felix cites the painterly influences of Pinocchio and other Disney classics while further exploring the new CG techniques for normal painting (3D painting on normal maps with receding detail) and ray painting, which provides brushstrokes with perpetual painterly edges. "They did a lot of testing to try and figure out that balance [between achieving the right look but not be too distracting]," says director Williams. "A lot of people have commented to us that there's something so real about the world, but actually there was quite a bit of abstraction: the further you get away from the camera, the more broken up the shapes get. It's softer. And I think that's because it starts to mimic your own eye and your ability to diffuse detail that is unimportant. And so while, on the one hand, it's more abstract, on the other hand, it feels more believable. But that was something they had to tinker with a lot: If a character gets this close to an object, how diffused, how painterly should it be? And it still has to serve the story. Why is that object way over there suddenly crisper? And why does this thing so close to the camera suddenly feel so broken up like a painting? And so often times we'd have more than one version of an object, so there were two U-haul trucks. If Bolt and Mittens were close to it, we'd bring in the one with more resolution to it, but if it was farther away, it allowed us to go more for that painterly thing and have that spectrum from right next to the camera all the way to the horizon, with Paul Felix and the technology team figuring that stuff out as we went along." Howard adds that they were constantly fighting what the computer does so well, "which is creating perfect shapes, perfect straights, perfect curves and completely blended, even colors. And there are so many imperfections and trying to create that imperfect, organic world is such a challenge. As the industry matures, you'll see a lot more of this organic [treatment]." In fact, this maturation will serve Howard well on his next project, the equally painterly Rapunzel, which he is co-directing with Nathan Greno (head of story Bolt). They have replaced Glen Keane and Dean Wellins. Keane suffered a "personal, non-threatening health issue," but will stay on as exec producer. "It's been going very good so far -- the same kind of schedule that we faced with Bolt, maybe a little longer," Howard offers. "There's been a lot of development work done already. It's exciting for us because we're given an opportunity to work on a fairy tale. Again, John is here and he loves Disney more than anything else and you want to raise the bar every time and live up to expectations for a Disney fairy tale: it has to sit next to those other classic films. When I was being trained in CG animation, it's so different from drawing. And I gravitated toward story because I wanted to stay as a hand-drawn artist. I miss that immediacy of pencil and paper even though I use a tablet now. But with Glen's help, I think we can make the toolset more user- friendly. "There are masters that now exist in CG animation: people that have become so facile, so fluid with their style and their command of the tools and it's great to see. So there are stars out there at Pixar and Disney and DreamWorks as well. I see stuff that feels like a great drawing; it feels well composed and it feels like a controlled performance, and it's great to see that kind of maturity happening." |
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IT'S SHOWTIME!: "The American Idol Experience" at Disney's
Hollywood Studios theme park Disney
News - Disney's Hollywood Studios raises the curtain on the
newest showbiz-themed attraction, "The American Idol
Experience." Opening in 2009, all the excitement of the popular
"American Idol" TV show comes to life in a first-of-its-kind
attraction. Walt Disney World guests can vote on their favorite
performance, or audition with the chance to perform on stage.
Disney's Hollywood Studios is one of four theme parks at Walt
Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. |
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Disney's endearing 'Bolt' is hilarious and beautifully made MLive - Last Thanksgiving, Disney offered moviegoers ENCHANTED, the story of a would-be princess catapulted from her home in a mythical land into the heart of New York City. This year, Disney presents BOLT, in which a different kind of fish-out-of-water -- Bolt, a dog from the semi-mythical land of Hollywood -- ends up in the Big Apple and has to make his way back home. Although the concept may be almost identical, the two movies take wildly different approaches to the theme. ENCHANTED was a mostly live-action romantic comedy that lovingly spoofed the conventions of Disney animated films, while BOLT really is a Disney animated film, albeit one with a slightly different flavor than most. That might have something to do with the influence of executive producer John Lasseter, the man behind the phenomenally successful Pixar Animation Studios and the new "principal creative advisor" of Walt Disney Imagineering. Lasseter's guiding hand is evident throughout BOLT, which has much in common with such Pixar hits as FINDING NEMO and THE INCREDIBLES. For one thing, it's hilarious. BOLT immediately establishes a tone of gentle jokiness -- in a frenetic opening chase that could have been designed for the sequel to THE INCREDIBLES -- and proceeds to build upon it by bringing in beautifully defined characters with strong, engaging personalities. There's no real villain in the story, which means the challenges Bolt and his friends face often involve overcoming their own mindsets and attitudes instead of fighting off an enemy. Bolt (voice provided by John
Travolta) is both the prized pet and screen partner of young
actress Penny (Miley Cyrus, whose slightly gruff line-readings
give a potentially sticky-sweet character a hint of edginess);
they co-star together in a TV series that looks like a mad
mash-up of "Lassie" and "Mission: Impossible." "The real world hurts, doesn't it?" snaps Mittens (Susie Essman), the street-wise alley cat Bolt kidnaps and forces to help him get back to California. But instead of dwelling on Bolt's disillusionment, BOLT turns into an odyssey of self-discovery: Bolt, who has always thought of himself as the one who must single-handedly save the day, realizes the value of teamwork as he, Mittens and the endlessly spunky hamster Rhino (delightfully played by Mark Walton) -- a born hero-worshipper who tells Bolt that "every minute spent in your company becomes the new best minute of my life!" -- learn to combine their talents during their cross-country trip. As in the Pixar films, enormous
attention is paid to fine details in the animation, from Rhino's
constantly twitching ears to the texture on Bolt's nose. Yet
this is not accomplished at the expense of the plot or the
personalities. BOLT manages to be consistently funny and
exciting while never losing sight of the bond between Bolt and
Penny that drives the story. It's as if THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY
had been rewritten by a team of fiendishly clever comic minds
that didn't underestimate the intelligence of their audience. |
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Pooh
hoo: Disney's everywhere now Shopping Adviser - Wallt Disney has taken over the universe. Is there any hollow, village, bayou or river bend not yet infiltrated by Disney Nation? Don’t think so. Not long ago, Disney ambassadors were strolling along Michigan Ave. handing out golden envelopes that said “You’re Invited!” in two languages (“Estas invitado!”) It was a pitch to vacation at Disney Parks. There were Mickey Mouse balloons for the kids (100 per cent biodegradable; “Please handle your balloon responsibly.”). And it was just a few blocks to the Disney Store for full immersion in Walt’s World. The store can be a little overwhelming. All that cross marketing. See the movie. Wear the jammies. Watch the DVD. Listen to the CD. Play the game. “Dream it. Be it,” is the slogan you see at the front door. “See it. Buy It,” is more like it. Now Disney has crossed the last cultural frontier. The New York City Opera has commissioned a work based on the final months of Walt Disney’s life. More than a few PhD theses have touched on Disney’s appropriation of classic fairy tales. Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White to name a few. Other classics, like Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and A. A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh now are more likely to conjure up Disney versions—whose images appear on everything from key chains to diaper bags—than the more artistic originals. The Pooh fork shown here is part of a three-piece cutlery set (Piglet knife; Tigger spoon) found on the grocery store shelf at Village Market in little (pop. 1530) Centreville, Mich. Equipped with his Pooh utensils, are you asking WWWDD—What Would Walt Disney Do? I’m guessing he’d shop online (disneystore.com) or high tail it to his the Michigan Ave. flagship store to snag a Tigger Plate and an Eeyore cup and be all set for the moment he felt that rumbly in his tummy. |
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Three ABC
programs hear no pickup lines THR - ABC made a flurry of midseason programming announcements Thursday, including ordering more episodes of "Life on Mars" and deciding against picking up "Pushing Daisies," "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Eli Stone" for a full season. The network informed producers of "Daisies," "Money" and "Stone" that no additional hours will be ordered at this time. Actively avoiding the c-word, the network left the door open for ordering episodes in the future, though that is considered unlikely. The trio remain on the schedule for next week, and "Money" and "Stone" will finish their current production order (on their 12th and 13th episodes, respectively). "Daisies" has finished shooting. Starting on Dec. 11, ABC will put "Mars" on hiatus and move "Private Practice" into its time period, giving the medical drama a "Grey's Anatomy" lead-in. "Practice" will air in repeats until it returns to originals Jan. 8. The move gives "Mars," which started production later than most fall shows, more time to stockpile some additional episodes. ABC also ordered four more hours from 20th Century Fox and ABC Studios. "Mars" will return at 10 p.m. Jan. 28, airing after "Lost," which premieres the previous week. ABC also set a premiere date for "Scrubs," which the network picked up this year after NBC canceled the veteran comedy. "Scrubs" will have its ABC premiere at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6. ABC will air an hour of back-to-back episodes for two weeks, then "Scrubs" will settle in as a single half-hour at 9:30 p.m. The network hasn't announced which half-hour program will serve as a lead-in, though one likely option is the new Mike Judge animated comedy "The Goode Family." Season to date, "Daisies" has averaged 6.4 million viewers and a 2.3 adult demo rating, "Money" averaged 6.6 million and a 2.3 and "Stone" averaged 7.9 million and a 2.1. On Wednesday, "Daisies" and "Money" hit series-low ratings, and "Stone" on Tuesday sank to match its series low. |
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Apply to
intern at Disney Pioneer Online - Students interested in working at Disney World in Florida this summer can find out how to apply for an internship by attending an electronic presentation Dec. 3, said Debra Vaughn, Career and Employment Services director. The presentation will be from noon to 1 p.m. in CU 3. “They look for all kinds of majors,” Vaughn said, including business, fine arts and journalism. “They place a student as close to their college major as possible,” she said. Interns live in fully furnished apartments with 24-hour security. Transportation to and from work is provided. This opportunity would give students a chance to take classes recommended for college credit and gain skills and training from top Disney leaders, Vaughn said. While having fun, meeting new contacts and earning credits, the best aspect would be to get paid for the job, she said. Not only would this experience help build a résumé, but it also gives students the experience of working for one of the world’s most admired entertainment companies, Vaughn said. Kaycee Clark is a former student who took advantage of the Disney internship. “Disney was such a great experience,” Clark said. “I met people from all over the world. It was truly a magical place to work.” Disney helps prepare people for their career after college, Clark said. |
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Miley
Cyrus Secret Words Revealed MTV - I entered a battle of wits against a 15-year-old girl and came out tied. But, hey, at least I did better than a lot of you. Yesterday, we revealed that during my interview with Miley Cyrus Superstar, the “Hannah Montana” chanteuse slipped two code words into our 8 minute chat to win a bet with a handful of Disney publicists – who dared her to insert a few nonsensical phrases, but to do it so I wouldn’t notice. “I got two,” she excitedly revealed to me after our interview. You guys, meanwhile, only got one. User herbertswimnot correctly guessed that “red nail polish” was one of the words. Congratulations, you win the adulation of our entire staff. Not too much adulation though: If you watch the video again you’ll notice I picked up on it as well. She was answering a question about Dolly Parton, and segued into this weird description of her nails. Seemed out of place. But I never would have guessed the second. Probably because I gave her too much help – the opportunity was right in the question when I asked “Would you ever like to be an action star?” Sure, she said, as long as I get to bring along an action star staple…binoculars. And with that, she had her two code words. And I had a solid piece of reporting. But not our only one…Check out all Miley-palooza at MTV News this week to celebrate her role in the animated “Bolt,” including news on the future of Hannah Montana, the very real possibility that she might win an Oscar for a song she co-wrote for the film, her ambitions to release a country music album, and her feelings of empathy towards the main character in the film, a Hollywood star who has to remember to have fun. |
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Even Goths
believe in the magic of Disney Daily Trojan - OK everyone, I have a confession. This weekend I did something I normally don’t: I went crazy. I screamed, spent obscene amounts of money, consumed more food than is ever OK and laughed and danced with people I’ve never even met before. No, I’m not talking about the Cal game, I’m talking about Disneyland. That’s right. Instead of taking Sunday off to recover from the football game or actually write that paper looming overhead, a few friends and I headed down the I-5 freeway to what I still consider to be the happiest place on earth. Allow me to pause for a moment to address any readers out there who have never been to Disneyland. What are you doing? Go now — this very instant. Put down the paper, get out of line for coffee, hop off the park bench or sneak out of the lecture hall you’re sitting in (where you were pretending to take notes while actually playing Sudoku). Get your incomplete self to Disneyland. And get me some rock candy. For those of you still here, let’s move on. While any day at Disneyland is cause enough for pure joy for my soul, Sunday was special. Sunday was Goth Day at Disneyland. I mean no disrespect to the Goth culture. Any group of people who are so dedicated to expressing themselves uniquely on such a daily basis must have something profound to say. I don’t know what that profound message is, but I have no doubt it is intense. The point is when one thinks of a gathering of hundreds of men and women ranging in ages from 2 to 80, dressed in face paint, chains, lace and more black leather with safety pin accessories than Anaheim has ever known, Disneyland is probably not the meeting place that comes to mind. And while I could not help but laugh out loud watching the Waspy Florida tourists and Japanese sightseers gawk at 200 Goths assembled in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle for a group photo, I was also a little emotionally touched by the sight. Here was a group of what many in this country and at this school would consider to be social outsiders or outcasts or weirdoes or whatever, who just wanted to have a fun day at Disneyland. If 200 Goths can release their inner child for a day, shouldn’t we all? There is a certain social abandon that comes with Disneyland. It exists as a world of its own, a world apart from the pressures of reality, but a world that has a lot to teach you. That said, I’d like to share some truths Walt Disney bestowed on me. First, life is just better when you have theme music. I don’t think it’s possible to walk anywhere in the Magic Kingdom without a hidden speaker blaring some wonderful song from our childhood back at us. Personally I would love to walk around the world with John Williams’ greatest hits playing in the background. Epic. Also, never underestimate the power of mob mentality, especially if it’s a mob of tired Disney patrons waiting for Fantasmic or the fireworks. Whether it’s our bizarre reverence for anyone wielding a name tag or one of those flashy orange sticks they use to move airplanes or our universal understanding that the ropes they use to contain crowds during an event are sacred, group thought never ceases to amaze me. There is no better birth control than Disneyland. I, like some of my friends, think there is nothing cuter at the beginning of the day than a little toddler in a Mickey Mouse onesie. But after 12 hours of listening to junior scream in line for the Haunted Mansion or refuse to leave the man dressed in the Donald Duck costume alone, even I’m thinking that a lifetime in a convent sounds nice and quiet. And lastly, I firmly believe that all of us — from the Midwest tourist, to the Goth, to the college student — want to believe, if just for a moment, that magic is real, that dreams really do come true, that love conquers all and that every one of us girls can grow up to be a princess, if only we find the right shoe. So while we spend these next couple of years or months preparing ourselves to be adults in the real world, please let us not forget the little prince or princess inside us who used to scream in awe every time Tinkerbell flew during the fireworks. |
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Friday November 21, 2008 |
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Disneyland theme park to be built in Shanghai Disney Interactive Studios Ultimate Band to Feature the Plain White Ts $4.7M port project will aid Disney ships Euro Disney pulls out of F1 project How Europe Inspired Disney's Wonderful World Disney Affiliate Is Besieged By Pirates Diners at Tusker House to get Reserved Seating at Finding Nemo Musical Contempo Café opens at Disney's Contemporary Resort Alaska Airlines Vacations Announces 'Kids Fly Free to Disneyland Resort' Tebow given Disney Spirit Award Air Force Band performs at Disneyland |
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Disneyland theme park to be built in Shanghai
Peoples Daily Online - "The settlement of Disneyland theme park in Shanghai is beyond doubt," revealed recently by an expert who has participated in the investigation and feasibility study on the Disneyland Shanghai project for several years. A comprehensive entertainment brand comprised of several industries such as service and manufacturing will become one of the new forces to boost Shanghai's economy. It is learnt that the negotiations between associated Shanghai departments and the Walt Disney Company on the details of the cooperation are still underway. An informed insider disclosed that previously Disney's enquiry was too high; with the downturn of the US economy, Disney may make some concessions in the price, which will help promote smoother negotiations. The terms regarding the use of intellectual property and the ownership structure between Shanghai and Disney are highly confidential and remain a secret. "But Shanghai is determined to win the Disney project and State Council approval is just a question of time," the insider added. The Disney Park is initially set to be built in the Huanglou region, junction of Chuansha District and Nanhui District in Pudong New Area. The location is selected primarily because it is only scores of minutes' drive from the Shanghai Pudong International Airport. "According to relevant regulations, Shanghai permits 48-hour visa-free entry for transit passengers," an expert said. |
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Disney Interactive Studios Ultimate Band to Feature the Plain
White Ts BusinessWire
- Disney Interactive Studios has teamed up with pop-punk band
Plain White T’s for content, videos and promotional efforts for
its upcoming music video game Ultimate Band. Developed by
Fall Line Studio in Salt Lake City, Utah, Ultimate Band
takes gamers of all ages on a journey to achieve rock stardom
starting as garage-band beginners and working toward the
ultimate rock notoriety. With the Plain White T’s featured in
Ultimate Band, fans can play their favorite band’s music in
an accessible game with great value.Two-time Grammy nominee Plain White T’s are featured in Ultimate Band for Wii™ with exclusive videos including an acoustic performance of the single “Natural Disaster.” A re-recorded version of the Plain White T’s “Our Time Now” is also featured in the game allowing players to use male or female voices for their own uniquely customized Frontman. As players progress through the game’s garage to stardom storyline, they unlock specially designed Plain White T’s band characters while performing “Our Time Now.” These characters can be then played during any song throughout the game. “Our Time Now” is also featured in Ultimate Band for Nintendo DS™. Players increase their fans by strumming along to the chords on the lead, rhythm or bass guitars, as well as rocking out on the drums. About Ultimate Band With Ultimate Band, you don’t need to break the bank buying instruments to rock out with this peripheral-free performance music game. Use the Wii Remote™ and Nunchuk™ to become the ultimate “air band” as you perform to more than 30 hip indie and mainstream hits. This storyline-driven game also lets players create and customize characters that reflect their own unique personalities and attributes. For rocking-on-the-go, the Nintendo DS version features exclusive songs and puts players in the studio to let them create and perform their own tracks.
Ultimate Band has ESRB ratings of E10+ on Wii and E on Nintendo DS, and is available this holiday season. MSRP is $29.99 for Nintendo DS and $49.99 for Wii. For more information on Disney Interactive Studios and Fall Line Studio, visit http://www.disney.com/videogames. About Disney Interactive Studios Disney Interactive Studios, part of Disney Interactive Media Group, is the interactive entertainment affiliate of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS). Disney Interactive Studios self publishes and distributes a broad portfolio of multi-platform video games, mobile games and interactive entertainment worldwide. The company also licenses properties and works directly with other interactive game publishers to bring products for all ages to market. Disney Interactive Studios is based in Glendale, California, and has six internal game development studios around the world including Avalanche Software, Fall Line Studio, Propaganda Games, Black Rock Studio, Gamestar and Junction Point Studios. For more information, log on to http://www.disneyinteractivestudios.com. |
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$4.7M port
project will aid Disney ships Bizjournals - The Port Canaveral Authority Board of Commissioners has awarded a $4.7 million contract for enhancements that will allow it to accommodate two new Disney Cruise Line ships that will hold more than 4,000 passengers each.
Misener Marine Construction of
Tampa won the contract that includes building a deep-water
seawall, additional moorings and dredging. The project, when
engineering costs are factored in, is worth about $5.1
million.
The first of the new ships will arrive at the port in 2011 and the second comes a year later. The port is also building a 1,000-space parking garage to handle additional traffic associated with the ships. Construction of the garage is expected to begin next May and finish in April 2010. |
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Euro Disney pulls out of F1 project EuroSport - After concluding that the project is not economically viable, Euro Disney and Lagardère Sports have decided to cease their project of bringing the French Grand Prix to Paris, AFP reports. The endeavour had originally planned to see the new Formula One destination in operation for the 2010 season, yet despite strong public support coming from F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone, no definite agreement could be reached with other parties in order to secure the necessary financial backing to bring the operation forward. Spearheaded by former champion Alain Prost, the monetary structure estimated at 60 million euros was to be set in place by Lagardère Sports while Euro Disney supplied the land upon which the future circuit would have been built. The chosen venue is situated about a half-hour away from the French capital and seemed to be the leading prospect in replacing the Magny-Cours track due to its closeness to Paris and its readily available hotel accommodations - a lacking feature at the former circuit, which is surrounded by fields and villages. About 250 residents of Val-d'Europe protested last week-end against the project, citing noise pollution and the environmental effects the race would have on the area. Disneyland Paris had replied that its intention was to save the French Grand Prix and took the opportunity to underline the economic downfall the event would bring, only to pull out of the project days later. The Euro Disney plan was one of six aiming at finding a new site for the French round of the championship, and the only one capable of hosting a Grand Prix by 2010. With the cancellation of the 2009 event, France will most probably not host a Formula One race before 2011 at best. Within a week, it is the second Formula One rescue plan to fail following Canada's withdrawal, also for economic reasons. |
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How Europe
Inspired Disney's Wonderful World Wall Street Journal - You seldom see people leaving major art shows with big smiles on their faces, but that's the case in a major new multimedia exhibition at the Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung, "Walt Disney's Wonderful World and its Roots in European Art." Walt Disney (1901-1966) was America's most famous storyteller, but he drew a lot of inspiration from European art. As this exhibit's curators exhaustively show, Disney had an insatiable appetite for art, illustrated books, movies and architecture. He collected, viewed and absorbed an enormous variety of objects. For this show, his films run on large screens surrounded by some of the artworks that inspired them. It only takes a short leap of the imagination to see how Disney's most famous creation, Mickey Mouse -- who made his debut 80 years ago in "Steamboat Willie" -- might have been inspired by Philippe Rousseau's 19th-century oil painting of gentrified anthropomorphic rats. Disney's first full-length animated feature, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937), draws on many sources of inspiration, ranging from a 13th-century sculpture of an aristocratic lady in Nuremberg Cathedral to a photograph of American actress Joan Crawford. Perhaps the most famous example of art inspiring entertainment is Disney's adaptation of the Bavarian Castle Neuschwanstein, which he transformed into a number of fairytale castles. Many of the visitors to the castle come to relive fantasies first experienced in movie theaters showing Disney films, such as "Cinderella" and "Sleeping Beauty." The exhibition includes paintings of the castle from Disney studios, models made by his artists, depictions gathered by the curators and drawings from books in Disney's collection. Munich painter Franz von Stuck finds his way into Disney's 1940 film, "Fantasia," inspiring its centaurs and fauns. The film's devils bear an uncanny resemblance to Jean-Jacques Feuchère's bronze Satan. "Bambi" (1942) borrows from Edwin Henry Landseer's "Highland Nurses" (1854). The hero of Briton Rivière's "Saint George and the Dragon" is transformed into the handsome prince in Disney's 1959 film, "Sleeping Beauty." Disney's most ambitious project was a film with Salvador Dalí. For several months in 1946 the Spanish painter, who had just collaborated with Alfred Hitchcock on "Spellbound," worked with Disney to create hundreds of drawings and paintings for a film about a baseball player and a ballerina. The film was to be named "Destino" after a ballade by Armando Domínguez but was never finished. In 2003 Walt's nephew Roy Disney produced a six-minute film of the same name from the material he found in Disney's archives. The film, shown in the exhibit, brings Dalí's symbolic images to life on the screen. What emerges from this ambitious and beautifully presented show is a clear view of an American art form pioneered by Walt Disney and his studios. It's illuminating to see Disney's creations alongside the oil paintings, photographs, sculptures and drawings that inspired them, but it's not necessary to legitimize what Disney did. His art stands on its own. |
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Disney
Affiliate Is Besieged By Pirates Wall Street Journal - With its animated hit "Wall-E," Walt Disney Co. has learned firsthand how hard it is to keep copyright piracy at bay in China, even on a video Web site in which it holds a stake. For months, several high-quality, full-length bootlegs of the robot love story by Disney's Pixar unit -- released just this week on DVD in the U.S. -- have been freely available to watch on the YouTube-like Chinese video site 56.com, which has had Disney as an investor since 2006. The bootlegs were put there by users of the site, and could be located even by visitors who don't read or speak Chinese. While 56.com managed to remove some copies of the movie in recent months, others persisted. Earlier this week, the copies disappeared from the site after The Wall Street Journal began asking questions about them. When Disney's venture-capital affiliate, Steamboat Ventures, invested in 56.com two years ago, it knew it faced a big challenge preventing pirated movies and TV programs from showing up there. But the firm says it was attracted to the site's "refined, controlled and effective technology platform," as well as its large user base. The situation highlights the risk U.S. media companies face in attempting to grab a piece of the burgeoning market for online video in China, where DVD piracy was rampant even before the boom in Internet video. The chance to get a foot in the door comes with the danger of being associated with piracy, which Disney and its peers in Hollywood have tried for years to stamp out. As recently as Thursday, Disney, in a regulatory filing, said "the unauthorized use of our intellectual-property rights may increase the cost of protecting these rights or reduce our revenues." Copyright piracy isn't just a problem in China, of course. Sites in Russia, Sweden, the U.S. and elsewhere facilitate the theft of copyrighted material. Last year, media giant Viacom Inc. sued YouTube over copyrighted video that ended up on the Google Inc. unit's site. The suit is still pending. While YouTube says it works to remove any unauthorized material, it is a complex and constant challenge. The pitfalls are clear at 56.com, where pirated films from almost every major American studio can easily be found. Besides "Wall-E," the site as recently as this week offered crisp streams of movies like "Horton Hears a Who" from News Corp.'s Twentieth Century Fox; "Iron Man" from Viacom's Paramount; and "Kung Fu Panda" from DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. 56.com declined to comment. John Ball, founder and managing director of Steamboat, says the firm was aware that pirated content was a potential issue when it made its investment in 56.com, but thought it could promote legal content on the site and work toward eliminating pirated material. One of the company's investment strategies "is to help the legitimate evolution of digital content online," he says. Eric Garland, chief executive of Big Champagne LLC, a firm that consults for copyright owners on piracy issues, says Disney's involvement in such a site is "ironic" and "shocking." But he added that Mr. Ball's rationale has some merit, as simply shutting down the site would drive infringing users to other sites. The 56.com site -- the words for 56 in Chinese sound similar to the words for "I'm Happy" -- allows users to upload videos that can be searched and played by others. They typically pop up with a thumbnail profile of the uploader, including his or her online name and a photograph. The site's written piracy policy calls for taking down all copyrighted content within 24 hours of being asked, says Steamboat's Mr. Ball, who calls that an impressive goal compared with other Chinese online-video companies. He credits 56.com's compliance strategy to Steamboat's involvement with the site, which has about 1.39 million daily visitors, according to ChinaVenture Investment Consulting Ltd. By some estimates, about 180 million people in China have watched online video, and given the size of that market, many media investors feel they must have a presence there. MySpace China, which counts News Corp. as an investor, earlier this year announced a content partnership with another Chinese online-video company, Youku.com. News Corp. is the publisher of The Wall Street Journal. Youku.com recently offered user-uploaded bootlegs ranging from Fox titles like "What Happens in Vegas" to movies by rival studios, such as "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" from General Electric Co.'s NBC Universal. "We're committed to deterring piracy," said a Fox spokeswoman. She said the studio consistently sends takedown notices to sites in China and elsewhere. Victor Koo, chief executive of Youku.com, says his company is in the process of developing video-fingerprinting technology that would block uploads of copyrighted content and "further improve our [intellectual property] protection going forward." It also manually removes copyrighted videos as it finds them, he says. Steamboat isn't the only venture-capital firm to invest in piracy-heavy sites in China. Sequoia Capital China LLC and Susquehanna International Group LLP also have investments in 56.com. Representatives of both firms declined to comment. IDG Technology Venture Investment LLC invests in several online video sites in China with substantial amounts of user-uploaded pirated content or links to it, including search company Baidu.com Inc., Web portal Sohu Inc., and online video site Tudou.com. A spokeswoman for IDG China says it has asked its companies to "address the piracy issue," and that it stresses "the need and importance of respecting intellectual-property rights." The vast majority of these site's users are in China, but studios say they create problems that extend around the world, because so many other sites draw on them for their own content, a practice known as "leeching." People familiar with the situation say at least some studios have considered suing the venture-capital firms over their investments, but have held back for now, partly to give the sites a chance to work with filtering technologies. Steamboat -- whose Chinese Internet investments also include CTS Media, an advertising network for streamed video, and Troodon, which develops multiplayer games for mobile phones -- first invested in 56.com at the end of 2006, and added to the initial sum the following year. Its total investment is believed to be less than $30 million. Both companies declined to comment on the financial details of their relationship. Steamboat says it is working to improve 56.com's record in sifting out pirated material. Some newer movies don't seem to be available on the site. And in recent weeks, 56.com has started testing a program from Santa Clara, Calif.-based Vobile Inc., which screens online video for copyrighted content. A person familiar with the matter says the system can stop such material from being uploaded, but plowing through the backlog is a giant project. Steamboat is also an investor in Vobile. The site also uses a 50-person filtering team, but that team spends a lot of time weeding out government-censored content, such as pornography and videos of protests, which are more crucial for Chinese companies to avoid. Falling afoul of government bans could cost them the right to do business; 56.com was shut down for several weeks this summer, but the company said the closure stemmed from a technology problem. |
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Disney News - Starting with
reservations booked on 12/1/08, Guests eating lunch at Tusker
House between 1:00 pm and 1:40 pm will receive a reserved
seating ticket for the 3:15 show of Finding Nemo: The Musical.
Guests with reservations for times other than 1:00-1:40 will not
receive a ticket to the show. |
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Contempo Café opens at Disney's Contemporary Resort Disney
News - Disney's Contemporary Resort opened the Contempo Café
Saturday, Nov. 15 at 7 a.m. The quick-service location is the
newest addition to the resort's renovations, offering a chic,
open dining experience.Located on the fourth floor where the Concourse Steakhouse restaurant had been, this new dining spot offers 114 seats and is directly in front of Chef Mickey's. Guests are greeted with an electronic menu that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner items. Electronic kiosks are available so that guests may order food from the kitchen and continue browsing for side items, desserts and beverages. Guests can then proceed to the register where they will receive a pager to alert them once their order is complete. Cast Members and Guests may still enjoy watching the monorail go by, a definite perk according to Anna Roman, area manager for Food and Beverage. "Waving to passing monorails, a Concourse Steakhouse favorite past-time, has been re-instituted by the Cast at Contempo Café,” said Roman. “It's great to see their faces light up when they get a wave back.” The Contempo Café is open from 6 a.m. until midnight, with a varied menu throughout the day. From 7 - 11 a.m. a hot breakfast is served; lunch options are available after 11 a.m.; with dinner entrees added at 5 p.m. Menu items include the Concourse Steakhouse salad, a hot, open roast beef sandwich, honey lime chicken sandwich, chicken basil pasta, a spice crusted mahi sandwich, marinated beef flatbread, vegetarian and whole-grain items. |
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Alaska Airlines Vacations Announces 'Kids Fly Free to Disneyland
Resort' Alaska Airlines - Alaska Airlines Vacations today launched its newest "Kids Fly Free to The Disneyland Resort" program, offering great savings on family travel to Southern California during 2009. The promotion offers free airfare for children ages 2 to 11 who accompany an adult on an Alaska Airlines Southern California Vacation package. In addition, adults who purchase a three-day or longer Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket valid from Jan. 7 through April 30, 2009, pay the children's admission price to experience the magic of Disneyland Park and Disney's California Adventure Park. The offer is valid to six Southern California airports: Burbank, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Ontario, Orange County and San Diego. Vacations must be booked before March 18, 2009, and are valid for travel Jan. 7 through June 17, 2009. Sample package prices include: $657 from Flagstaff and
Prescott, Ariz. Package pricing listed is for one adult and one child, and includes roundtrip airfare, a four-night hotel stay and a five-day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket for one child and one adult with "Everyone Plays for the Kids' Price" offer. "Kids Fly Free to The Disneyland Resort" vacation packages also are available for shorter or longer time periods and from most cities served by Alaska Airlines or its sister carrier, Horizon Air. The packages are available on alaskaair.com or by calling (800) 468-2248. Each passenger who purchases a package on alaskaair.com will receive 1,500 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Bonus Miles in addition to the miles flown. Alaska Airlines last week announced new twice-daily nonstop service between Portland and Long Beach, starting Feb. 8, 2009. The airline also flies to Long Beach from Seattle. In addition to Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Alaska Airlines Vacations offers packages to Alaska, California, Canada, Hawaii, Mexico, Nevada and Washington. For a complete list of vacation packages available, visit alaskaair.com. Alaska Airlines and sister carrier Horizon Air together serve more than 90 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Traditional Network Carriers (tie)" in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 North America Airline Satisfaction Study(SM). For reservations, visit alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at alaskaair.com/newsroom. Package Rules: Fares are valid to Los Angeles airport, except from Portland, which is to Long Beach airport. Other airports available. Valid for travel between Jan. 7, 2009, and June 17, 2009, and based on airfare for one child and one adult from city mentioned above based on off-peak travel, four nights lodging at the Clarion Hotel Anaheim Resort based on adult double occupancy with 4th night free based on availability (blackout dates apply), a five-day Disneyland(R) Resort Park Hopper(R) Bonus Ticket for one child and one adult (with "Everyone Plays for the Kids' Price" offer). Itineraries may include service on Horizon Air. Kids Fly Free (KFF) offer valid for one child age 2 to 11 per adult 18 years or older. KFF is not valid with any other promotional airfare offer. Purchase between Nov. 19, 2008 and March 18, 2009. Complete travel Jan. 7, 2009, to June 17, 2009. Day-time availability: Off- peak fares available Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. Fares higher on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Blackout dates: Feb. 12-16, 20-22; March 20-23, 27-30; April 3-6, 10-13; May 22 and 25. Space is limited at the KFF promotional price and is based on availability. Prices and rules subject to change without notice and other restrictions may apply. Passengers may check one bag for free. A second bag may be checked for $25. A fee of $100 will be assessed for each additional checked bag. Additional fees apply to overweight or oversized checked baggage. All terms and conditions of Alaska Airlines Vacations packages apply. Not included in price shown on a per person basis including free child: Airport Passenger Facility Charges of up to $18 (amount depends on itinerary), Federal Segment Tax of $3.60 per enplanement (takeoff and landing) on the itinerary, and U.S. Security Fee of $2.50 per enplanement. "Everyone Plays for the Kids' Price" offer: First day of use must occur on or before April 30, 2009. These tickets expire 13 days after the first day of use or May 13, 2009, whichever occurs first, and each day of use constitutes one full day of use. Tickets may not be sold or transferred for commercial use. Restrictions apply. All offers, events, tickets, age ranges, services, attractions and entertainment may be seasonal and are subject to change without notice. Offer may not be combined with any other ticket offer, discount or promotion. |
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Tebow given Disney
Spirit Award Sebastian Sun - Florida junior QB Tim Tebow has been chosen as this year's recipient of The Disney Spirit Award, given annually to college football's most inspirational figure. Tebow will be presented the award during the ESPNU College Football Awards at the Atlantic Dance Hall at Walt Disney World on Dec. 11, five days after the Gators and Alabama play for the SEC title. |
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Air Force Band performs at Disneyland Air Force - Visitors to the world-famous Disneyland Resort are excited to see characters like Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Donald Duck, but on Nov. 17 these same people were also able to see and hear a concert by the Air Force Band of the Golden West. Based out of Travis Air Force Base, Calif., the band performed a free concert inside the theme park as part of Air Force Week Los Angeles, a week-long event designed to inform the local population of the service's capabilities and missions. For the band members, the concert was seen as both an awesome experience and a unique opportunity. "We are basically musical ambassadors," said Tech. Sgt. Mark Craig, who plays the clarinet in the band. "We're able to come out here and give some entertainment to people and tell them the Air Force story at the same time." Plus, there's definitely a "cool factor" to playing at the famous resort, he said. "It's definitely a different mission playing at Disneyland," said Tech. Sgt. Neil Griffin, a Reserve saxophonist who was augmenting the band from Moffut Field in Santa Clara. "But it'll sure make a great story to tell." The band performed music made famous by Air Force veteran and five-time Academy Award winning film composer John Williams. The crowd heard the band play selections from several of Williams' most popular movie scores, while the band's vocalists sang along. At the conclusion of the concert, members of the band's marching section took part in a retreat ceremony at Disneyland's Town Square. "It was awesome," said Patty Nichols, a spectator who was visiting Disneyland from Denver. "We, me and my husband, didn't even know the band was going to be here, so it was a pleasant surprise. It was really special." The concert was also special for the band's newly assigned commander, Maj. Keith Bland, who made his debut as the band's conductor in Los Angeles during Air Force Week. "It's been an tremendous experience," he said. "And one I won't easily forget." The band performed at the week's opening ceremonies, played a free concert at the Warner Grand Theater Nov. 16 and will be playing at various other events throughout the remainder of Air Force Week Los Angeles. The Air Force Band of the Golden West is the only active duty Air Force band west of the Rockies and is responsible for providing musical entertainment at events in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada and California. Members have performed for gubernatorial inaugurations and presidential visits. For more information about Air Force Week Los Angeles, visit www.airforceweek.com. |
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Thursday November 20, 2008 |
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Disney’s Hawaii Project Begins with
Ground Blessing Walt Disney World Resort Kicks-Off Annual Toy Drive HK Disneyland talks of 'land' grab Shopping Bags Go Green At Walt Disney World Resort Disney and JCB Launch Disney-JCB Card, Japan's First Disney-branded Credit Card Disney Gives 5,000 Books to American Advertising Federation Book Drive Changes to Walt Disney World Christmas Day parade taping Walt Disney Imagineering Captures Four Awards from Themed Entertainment Industry Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Expensive rush: Indy comes to Disney Speedway 'Monday Night Football' tops TV cable ratings Driving Miss Disney Oriental Land Aims to Attract Chinese Disney Fans Atlanta Braves Spring Training at Champion Stadium |
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Disney’s Hawaii Project Begins with Ground Blessing Disney News - Walt Disney Parks and Resorts broke ground for its
first family destination resort in Hawai‘i today with a
traditional Hawaiian blessing ceremony on its 21-acre oceanfront
property, located at the Ko Olina Resort & Marina development on
the western side of O‘ahu. Scheduled to open in 2011, the new
family friendly destination will overlook breathtaking crystal
blue lagoons and white sand beaches and is planned to include
350 hotel rooms and 480 Disney Vacation Club timeshare villas.
“This Disney destination resort will provide a unique way for families to experience Hawai‘i,” said Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “By blending Disney’s high standard of guest service and creative storytelling, we’ll create a place where all family members can discover the wonder of these special islands.”
Rasulo noted that Disney chose to build a resort on O‘ahu due to the international popularity of Hawai‘i as a family vacation destination. Hawai‘i is among the top vacation choices of Disney Vacation Club members following Disney’s theme park destinations.
Several of Hawai‘i’s elected officials and community leaders welcomed Disney to O‘ahu at the ground blessing ceremony, including Lieutenant Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr.
“We’re excited for this project to begin, knowing the family appeal of both Hawai‘i and Disney,” Aiona said. “We’re confident this resort will attract guests from the mainland and Asia because of the natural beauty of Hawai‘i and Disney’s reputation for delivering unparalleled family experiences.”
State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa also attended the ground blessing and said, “From the moment Disney announced that it was purchasing property on O‘ahu, they have shown an interest in our community and have demonstrated they understand the spirit of aloha that we hold dear in our state. I couldn’t be more pleased to welcome Disney to Hawai‘i as a new neighbor and employer.” Planned Resort Features Rasulo noted that plans call for the resort to be built to engage every member of the family, from parents to children, teens and grandparents. “This resort will be a place where families can escape to reconnect and create lifelong memories,” Rasulo said. “We have kept this vision in mind throughout the design.” Plans call for an expansive pool and water play area, an 18,000 square-foot spa, a wedding lawn, an 8,000 square-foot convention center, a children’s club and spectacular dining at two restaurants -- one of which will provide a stunning view of the ocean.
The design also calls for activities and amenities that aim to engage every member of the family. At the resort’s signature water way, for example, family friendly tubes and body slides will weave through volcanic rockwork and engage an iconic caldera volcano, while a nearby wading pool gives parents with toddlers a welcoming alternative to the sprawling zero-entry fun pool. In addition, more adventurous family members will find vibrant fish species in a saltwater snorkel lagoon.
Beyond activities for the whole family, the resort is being designed to respect and connect with the local culture of the Hawaiian islands. During the past year, the Walt Disney Imagineering team has been researching Hawai‘i and working with local architects and cultural experts as part of the resort’s creative design process. The resulting design is a village celebrating the Hawaiian customs and traditions that lead to a life filled with joy and in harmony with the natural world. To further incorporate Hawaiian traditions, cultural programming in the areas of environmental education, music, dance, history, and arts and crafts; a story-driven, technology-enabled adventure game; and other surprises come together to create a Hawaiian destination that’s uniquely Disney.
Additionally, Hawai‘i’s aloha spirit will influence the many intricate details for which Disney resorts are famous, with stories woven into the architecture, interiors, art, graphics and three planned signature gardens all brought to life through carefully selected colors, patterns, materials and forms. Wood, thatch, lava stone and coral will be among the materials represented in the resort’s two 15-story guestroom towers, each oriented perpendicular to the ocean to maximize ocean views from the strategically angled guest rooms. Façade murals will add to the distinctive look of each tower and will begin to portray some of the stories and legends of the islands.
At the heart of the resort, an open-air lobby building -- dubbed Hale Aloha -- will draw its design inspiration from a traditional Hawaiian canoe house, visually connecting families to the sea and beyond. Window designs, wall graphics and other details will welcome families with tales of adventure, myth, legend and more, while twin streams flow through the building before uniting as a single cascade into the center garden below.
In October, Disney shared design plans for the new resort with Mayor Mufi Hannemann, who is looking forward to the opening of the project in 2011.
“From my first meeting with Disney executives in California, to
subsequent sessions in Honolulu, I continue to be impressed with
the effort and the time Disney has put into researching
Hawai‘i,” Mayor Hannemann said. “Disney leaders have met with
Hawaiian cultural experts to gain an understanding and
appreciation of our host culture. The end result will be a
resort that local residents will be proud to have on our island,
and it will be a family attraction that our residents and
visitors will find enjoyable and meaningful.” Disney Vacation Club Part of the Disney resort hotel in Ko Olina will be dedicated to Disney Vacation Club, a timeshare program that helps families enjoy flexibility and savings on vacations for decades to come. By becoming a member of Disney Vacation Club, families can enjoy vacations at Disney destinations worldwide as well as more than 500 other popular Member Getaways vacation locations around the globe.
Disney Vacation Club accommodations blend Disney’s famed attention to storytelling detail with all the comforts of home. From well-appointed studios equipped with convenient kitchenettes to sprawling, one-, two- and three-bedroom villas complete with full-size kitchens, washers and dryers, luxury tubs and other homelike amenities, Disney Vacation Club Resorts create flexible options to meet the needs of thousands of families from around the world.
Since its inception in 1991, Disney Vacation Club has grown to serve more than 350,000 individual members from approximately 100 countries and all 50 states. |
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Walt Disney World Resort Kicks-Off Annual Toy Drive
Some of the items being collected include learning toys, Board Games, Arts & Crafts, CD players and small electronic games, along with sports equipment.
Last year, Walt Disney World Cast Members donated more than 24,000 toys and helped families in Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties in celebrating the holiday season with gifts for their children. This year, Cast Members will also volunteer with the Marines by helping to register families, sort and stock shelves with collected toys and assist with the distribution of toys to families.
Toys for Tots was founded by Marine Corps reservist, Major Bill Hendricks back in 1947. His wife Diane had crocheted a doll to give to an organization that donated toys to disadvantaged children during Christmas. Since there was not an organization in Los Angeles that distributed toys to disadvantaged children, Major Hendricks decided to encourage his Marines to help him collect and distribute toys to disadvantaged children. Toys for Tots was officially established a year later.
That first year in Los Angeles , the Marines collected, and distributed about five thousand toys. Since then, Toys for Tots has collected and distributed more than 19 million toys to more than 9 million needy children across the nation.
Disney’s involvement with Toys for Tots dates back to when Walt Disney himself, inspired by the nationwide toy drive, decades ago designed the original Toys for Tots logo.
The Walt Disney World Resort is committed to improving the lives of children in Central Florida through its Disney -- Helping Kids Shine initiative that seeks to build better futures for children 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. |
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HK
Disneyland talks of 'land' grab
According to the South China Morning Post the Hong Kong government and Disney are now discussing addition of three new themed 'lands' at a cost of some HK$5 billion ($645 million). A spokesman for Hong Kong Disney Resorts, holding company for Hong Kong Disneyland, declined to comment, saying that these were "negotiations between two private shareholders." Expansion talks come at a pivotal moment. The Hong Kong government, which owns a 57% majority of the park, is not keen to invest more in the park which has failed to meet attendance targets since its September 2005 opening. But the threat of economic slowdown has made the authorities keener to help job-creating, infrastructure projects. The park, which opened in September 2005, has been repeatedly criticized as too small and lacking in some of the staple attractions of Disney theme parks elsewhere, notably 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and 'Haunted House.' Park's main segments currently consist of 'Fantasyland,' 'Tomorrowland,' 'Adventureland' and 'Main Street USA.' In an attempt to boost attendance, the park has been relying on lower cost, parade style attractions that leverage popular Disney properties such as "High School Musical." Park's poor performance meant that Disney Corp. provided $423 million of loans to replace a similar amount of commercial debt that was due to expire. |
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Shopping Bags Go Green At Walt Disney World Resort Disney News - Walt Disney World Resort shoppers now have a new
way to show their support for the environment. Merchandise
locations across property have just introduced a
reusable/recyclable shopping bag that benefits the Disney Worldwide Conservation
Fund (DWCF).
The
bright green “Every Tree Has Character” tote offers a fresh take
on Mickey Mouse ears with the familiar outlined in “topiary”
style. For each bag produced, 10 percent of the retail price
will go directly to the DWCF and will help engage communities,
support wildlife research and protect habitats across the globe.
“Each bag is a small step toward creating a future for wildlife
and wild places,” says Kim Sams, Director of Conservation and
Environmental Sustainability for
Walt
Disney World Parks & Resorts. |
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Disney and JCB Launch Disney-JCB Card, Japan's First
Disney-branded Credit Card The Disney-JCB Card offers a generous package of attractive, exclusive cardmember benefits to help make cardmembers dreams come true through membership in the Disney Card Club. Membership entitles cardmembers to a number of special offers at Tokyo Disney Resort(R) courtesy of Urayasu, Chiba-based Oriental Land Co., Ltd. Disney fans and many other customers are sure to love the Disney-JCB Card for the great services and special offers it provides. These include six card designs and Disney Points for the whole family redeemable for Disney merchandise and One Day Passports at Tokyo Disneyland(R) and Tokyo DisneySea(R). Cardmembers will also be able to share their points with the whole family, including their children through the Disney Kids Point Card. As a special benefit, cardmembers will have the chance to attend a private character experience at Tokyo Disney Resort(R). Disney Points is the first-ever loyalty-point program available for use at Tokyo Disney Resort(R). The Disney-JCB Card helps make cardmember dreams come true. The Walt Disney Japan and JCB will continue to work together to increase customer satisfaction by developing new services and benefits that attract many more customers. Disney-JCB Card Services 1. Six card designs to choose from - Six card designs (four standard and two gold cards) featuring irresistible Disney characters. - Different designs to suit different tastes, preferences, and lifestyles. - The main cardmember and family cardmembers may select from different card designs. All family cards are issued in the same design. 2. Disney Card Club The Disney Card Club is an exclusive membership program for Disney-JCB cardmembers that offers: 1) Reward point program the whole family will love 1. Disney Points - Earn Disney Points with card purchases. (1 point for every 200 yen spent using a standard card and 1 point for every 100 yen spent using a gold card) - Points can be shared by family members. 2. Disney Kids Point Card - Cardmembers can request Disney Kids Point Cards for their children aged 6-12, so they can enjoy shopping with Disney points. 3. Redeem points for the Disney merchandise and experiences you love Once you have earned 500 points, you can exchange 1 point for 1 yen when using your card for shopping at Disney facilities, or for Disney merchandise, services, and other special offers. - Starting February 2009, points can be redeemed directly from the card at Disney Stores nationwide. - Beginning in summer 2009, points will also be redeemable directly from the card at selected shops and restaurants at Tokyo Disneyland(R) and Tokyo DisneySea(R). - One Day Passports for use at Tokyo Disneyland(R) or Tokyo DisneySea(R). - A special birthday phone call from a favorite Disney character. - Gift vouchers that can be exchanged for Disney merchandise at the online Disney Gift Center powered by Amazon.co.jp(R) ( http://shopping.disney.co.jp/mpc/o) 2) Exclusive offers for Disney-JCB cardmembers at Tokyo Disney Resort(R) - Cardmembers can enter lotteries for a chance - to win the opportunity for a private "Meet and greet" with Disney characters - an opportunity to hang out with favorite Disney friends. - Disney-JCB Card cardmember-exclusive special events. 3) Free gifts (Disney-original merchandise) - Standard cardmembers receive a free gift the year after they first use the card. - Gold cardmembers receive a free gift every year. 4) Exclusive Disney Card Club members website ( http://DisneyCardClub.jp/) - Access to the latest Disney information and Disney digital content. - Up-to-date information on Disney-JCB Card special offers, free gifts, and sales promotions. About the Disney-JCB Card* 1) Name: Disney-JCB Card 2) Eligibility: Persons aged 18 or over, who (or whose spouse) have a regular income, and students in tertiary education aged 18 or over. 3) Annual fees (incl. tax): - Standard Card Main cardmember: Free for the first year and 2,100 yen per year thereafter. Family cardmembers: Free for the first year and 420 yen per year thereafter. - Gold Card Main cardmember: 13,650 yen Family cardmembers: Free for one family cardmember; for two or more family cardmembers, 1,050 yen per person. 4) Disney Kids Point Card A one-time processing fee of 1,050 yen (incl. tax). Not a credit card. Available for children aged 6 - 12. 5) Applications: Forms available at Disney Resorts(R) and Disney Store outlets. Forms can also be requested from the Disney Card Club members website and from JCB. * A star appears between 'Disney' and 'JCB' in the official name of the new card. |
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Disney Gives 5,000 Books to American Advertising Federation Book
Drive "Disney is elated to assist the AAF in its effort to promote childhood literacy, and we hope that the story of Harriet Tubman's journey will inspire young readers," said Evelyn O'Gilvie, director of multicultural market development at the Walt Disney Company. "This book drive is a success because of AAF members like the Walt Disney Company. The Walt Disney Company is a company built around a commitment to families and children, and this is one more indication of how strong that commitment is," said James Edmund Datri, AAF president and CEO. "Also, in the spirit of friendly competitiveness, we challenge the AAF's other members to match this extraordinary donation. I know many of our members continue to carefully select thousands of books as a part of our effort to help children, and I hope all will join us in this effort." The AAF and Books for Kids book drive runs through Nov. 18. The AAF has asked all of its college chapters, club members and corporate members to donate new children's books in the category of kindergarten through third grade. Donations are being accepted from individuals, clubs, student chapters and corporate members. The Walt Disney Company has been an AAF member since 2006, and the company is especially active in its support of AAF's multicultural programming. Each year, Disney sponsors a Mosaic Career Fair, and this year, the company also sponsored the Mosaic Awards. For more information about the book drive, go to www.aaf.org/books. |
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Changes to Walt Disney World Christmas Day parade taping Theme Park Rangers - Tickets for the annual Walt Disney World Christmas Day parade taping will not be distributed to passholders, or the general public, a Disney rep told me. Instead, anyone visiting the Magic Kingdom with a valid ticket can view the taping if space permits. In the past, a passholder giveaway distributed tickets for reserved areas in front of the castle and along Main Street. Then, Lightship Entertainment handed out the remaining tickets, which included free admission to the park, to the general public. The main production dates have been confirmed for Dec. 5 and 6. The first day typically involves the performances in front of Cinderella Castle and the second is the actual parade on Main Street. If you've never gone to the taping, be forewarned that both days involve a lot of standing around and waiting -- this is a television production, people! In other words, you will not see the parade travel seamlessly down Main Street. Each float may be started and stopped several times to get the correct camera angles. Likewise, performers will come out and sing their songs multiple times after you watch hours of prep work by the crew. Still, seeing a live television production is interesting and somewhat unique to a lot of us. Keep in mind, though, that small children will not be patient enough to endure the downtime. Trust me -- I know this from personal experience. The upside is that while Main Street is crowded during the taping days, the rest of the park typically is not. |
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Walt Disney Imagineering Captures Four Awards from Themed
Entertainment Industry Disney News - Walt Disney Imagineering captured four prestigious
Thea Awards within the themed entertainment industry for
outstanding technical and live show contributions to the
industry.
Acknowledging the creative and technical innovation and storytelling in Disney Parks, TEA, (formerly the Themed Entertainment Association) honored Disney in the following categories: Finding Nemo – The Musical at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and The Legend of Mythica at Tokyo DisneySea each won an Award for Outstanding Achievement - Live Show; Epcot received the Thea Classic Award and Muppet Mobile Lab, currently at Hong Kong Disneyland, won the Award for Outstanding Achievement – Technical.
Including the four newest awards, Walt Disney Imagineering has received a total of 33 awards throughout the Thea Awards’ 15-year history. In addition, several Disney Legends and former and current Imagineers have been personally honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards, including Marty Sklar, John Hench, Bob Gurr, the Sherman Brothers and Tony Baxter.
TEA announced the 15th Annual Thea Award recipients during the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attraction's (IAPPA) annual conference at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center. The Thea Awards recognize achievement, talent and personal excellence within the themed entertainment industry. Recognized internationally as a symbol of excellence, the Thea Awards honor 17 recipients from the more than 120 nominations submitted this year. Honorees will receive their awards at a black-tie dinner held at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, CA, on March 7, 2009.
Disney Imagineering’s Award Recipients at 15th Annual Thea Awards
LIVE SHOW Finding Nemo: The Musical, Walt Disney World FL, USA The stage musical of Finding Nemo is a Disney Animal Kingdom attraction, inspired by the Disney-Pixar feature film. Set in an enchanted undersea world, in a newly enclosed theater, it represents the first time Disney has created an all-singing-and-dancing musical from a non-musical feature. Finding Nemo: The Musical is a 30-minute show with live actors, larger-than-life puppets, and original music and lyrics. It is a rich and polished production on every level. The musical has strong lyrics, melodic tunes, a clear narrative and lavish production values. The wonderfully inventive costumes and puppetry stand out, without dominating the choreography and direction. This show represents a benchmark of quality for all theme park musical adaptations.
THEA CLASSIC AWARD Epcot, Walt Disney World, Orlando FL, USA EPCOT (the name was originally an acronym denoting “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow” in accordance with Walt Disney’s original vision) is the revolutionary creation that demonstrated that education and entertainment can be part of the same attraction package and successfully presented in a theme park environment. Epcot combined thoughtful, intelligent content and visionary R&D (research & development), all powerfully delivered via state-of-the-art theme park storytelling and technical excellence. Even today Epcot ranks among the best-attended theme parks worldwide. The World Showcase, Test Track, Soarin’, Spaceship Earth and more continue to draw enthusiastic guests season after season.
Since it first opened in 1982,
Epcot has revolutionized and redefined the possible in several
sectors of the themed entertainment industry and it has
influenced not only the development of theme parks but also
museums, branding experiences, educational attractions and more.
For more than a quarter century, it has been the gold standard
for information-based or inspiration-based themed entertainment.
The world continues to study Epcot, learn from it and aspire to
emulate it. By all that Epcot dared, all that it achieved, and
all that it signifies even today to our entire industry, it
fulfills the conditions of a Thea Classic venue, continuing to
inspire the world and set high standards while standing the test
of time. Muppet Mobile Lab is a fully-autonomous, animated effects wheeled vehicle designed for personal interaction with park guests. Simply put, it allows park guests to have real-time one-on-one interaction with Muppet characters. The vehicle contains two animated Muppet characters in addition to a large array of special effects. It is supported on only two wheels, with stability being maintained by an active wheel propulsion system which maintains safe balance during all motions and special effects. Effects include water nozzles, water spray, smoke, confetti cannons, mechanical vision gags, changeable signage and sound effects. Both on-board animated characters are capable of a wide range of body, head, and facial motion and expressions synchronized with their spoken voices during guest interaction and conversation. The Muppet Mobile Lab is a unique interactive guest attraction which embodies truly engaging character personalities that instantly and naturally connect with humans in such an immersive manner that the entire apparatus is accepted as an actor rather than as a machine. This characteristic almost completely overshadows the incredible technical achievement of multiple control systems seamlessly combined into one device – in that park guests instantly relate to the characters rather than noticing the technology. The Muppet Mobile Lab, which currently operates daily at Hong Kong Disneyland, proves that the attraction can integrate human interaction in any location in any language, without requiring prior guest knowledge of the supporting back story. During the development of the attraction, the Muppet Mobile Lab was demonstrated to guests at Epcot and Disney’s California Adventure to test its reaction with guests.
LIVE SHOW Legend of Mythica, Tokyo DisneySea, Tokyo, Japan The Legend of Mythica at Tokyo DisneySea was created as a once-a-day, daytime spectacle for the fifth anniversary of the park, which is located next door to Tokyo Disneyland. The show is designed to play to all guests on a grand scale, utilizing both the water of the park’s central Mediterranean Harbor, and surrounding walkways. The show is a tour-de-force of imagination carried out by theme park and stagecraft expertise, creating and blending (on 10 waterborne barges) pyrotechnics, large-scale fountains, lifts as tall as 70 feet, and 130 performers on sea and land. The Disney characters are interwoven within a fantasy story among a dragon, a unicorn, a phoenix and a hydra – all of enormous scale so that thousands of guests can view the daily, 20-minute extravaganza. Mythica’s success and popularity has exceeded all its predecessors on this water stage. The key is the scale, the fantastic sculptural centerpiece, and 10 barges that unveil myriad special effects, huge animated figures, Disney characters and 130 performers. From the centerpiece sculpture itself, fountains flow, Mickey Mouse rises 60 feet in the air and a “white goddess” rises 12 feet beyond even Mickey–all accompanied by a choreography of music, dancers, drummers, bungee jumpers and jet skies, creating an unparalleled visual spectacle! The show represents some of the very best international teamwork of Disney staff working with high-caliber industry designers and creative's, and Japanese builders. The spectacular result is still going strong, now beginning its third year. |
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Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
The park closes to the general public but becomes a holiday extravaganza (at 7 pm) for event ticket holders to enjoy. Mickey and friends leave no stone unturned, offering complimentary cookies and cocoa, a wonderful holiday parade complete with toy soldiers, dancing elves and snowmen, Mickey, and Saint Nick himself. The castle is covered in shimmery icicles while the sound of Christmas carols fill the park and snow falls on Main Street! Also included in the fun of the special evening is a holiday version of the Wishes fireworks (930 pm) and Mickey's 'Twas the night before Christmas (various times), a special live musical story telling of the old classic. Other events include: Celebrate the Season Snow (in front of Cinderella's Castle), Belle's Enchanted Christmas Storytelling, character dance party, tree lighting ceremony (Thursday-Saturday), and unlimited use of WDW attractions. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas is fun for kids and adults alike. A cup of cocoa and a parade of holiday magic is just the right way to get into the spirit of the season. Visit the WDW website for more details on dates, times, and prices. Enjoy a night of Christmas Mickey's way! |
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Expensive rush: Indy comes to Disney Speedway Orlando Sentinel - The latest tourist attraction at Walt Disney World weighs about 1,500 pounds and to ride it, you have to sign nine pages of legal waivers and provide contact information for your next of kin. It costs $399 for about five minutes. So is it worth it? "Definitely," said Greg Monk, as he pulled out his American Express card for a second session Tuesday in a G-Force Indy race car. Monk, who was visiting with his wife and daughter, got a grand total of 16 laps around the one-mile Walt Disney World Speedway. He was behind the wheel of the same $250,000 car that Felipe Giaffone drove to the third-place finish in the 2002 Indianapolis 500 after qualifying fourth at more than 230 mph. Well, almost the same: The four cars that the Indy Racing Experience has at Disney World have been fitted with less-powerful 1.8-liter six-cylinder Honda engines. Otherwise, they're the same as when they competed in the Indy Racing League. Even with the smaller engine, however, some drivers already have hit speeds nearing 100 mph. That's not surprising, because the open-cockpit car weighs only about half as much as a 2009 Toyota Corolla. Monk, who owns a wholesale nursery in Stevensville, Mont., and races late-model stock cars, was one of the first customers for the Indy Racing Experience at Disney. The company, which has a good safety record, has been in business since 2001, traveling track-to-track out of Indianapolis. This week, the company opened an office at Disney's speedway. Indy Racing Experience will operate alongside the track's longtime resident, the Richard Petty Driving Experience, which offers rides in stock cars specially built for the experience. For $109, the Indy attraction also allows customers to be a passenger in a stretched-out, two-seat Dallara Indy Car that has a real Indy Chevrolet engine and is driven by a professional racer. The two-passenger car is worth $600,000, said Scott Jasek, co-owner of the Indy Racing Experience. One of the other two owners, Jeff Sinden, who has fielded Indy Cars for a variety of drivers over the past 15 years, was driving the two-seat car this week. Indy Car veteran Davey Hamilton will take over those duties next week. Jasek expects most first-timers to go for the ride in the two-seat car; then he hopes most will opt to drive a car. The Experience travels with the Indy Racing League races, including the races in Florida at Homestead Miami Speedway and the St. Petersburg downtown street race, giving rides in several two-seat Indy Cars it owns. Jasek said the company will continue to do that, but Orlando is likely to become its permanent home. Tony George, whose family owns the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and built the Walt Disney World Speedway, insisted on making the experience as realistic as possible, Jasek said. "One of our main goals is to create new fans for the Indy Racing League series races," Jasek said. |
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`Monday
Night Football' tops TV cable ratings AP - Rankings for the top 15 programs on cable networks as compiled by Nielsen Media Research for the week of Nov. 10-16. Day and start time (EST) are in parentheses: 1. NFL Football: San Francisco vs. Arizona (Monday, 8:30 p.m.), ESPN, 8.68 million homes, 11.87 million viewers. 2. "Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special" (Sunday, 9 p.m.), Comedy Central, 4.03 million homes, 6.61 million viewers.3. Movie: "ICarly Movie: Go to Japan" (Monday, 7 p.m.), Nickelodeon, 3.45 million homes, 4.83 million viewers. 4. "Hannah Montana" (Sunday, 8 p.m.), Disney, 3.37 million homes, 4.61 million viewers. 5. College Football: Mississippi St. vs. Alabama (Saturday, 7:41 p.m.), ESPN, 3.25 million homes, 4.95 million viewers. 6. "NCIS" (Tuesday, 7 p.m.), USA, 3.25 million homes, 4.28 million viewers. 7. Movie: "The Two Mr. Kissels" (Saturday, 9 p.m.), Lifetime, 3.24 million homes, 4.16 million viewers. 8. NFL Football: N.Y. Jets vs. New England (Thursday, 8:16 p.m.), NFL Network, 3.13 million homes, 4.41 million viewers. 9. "WWE Raw" (Monday, 10 p.m.), USA, 3.12 million homes, 4.59 million viewers. 10. "ICarly" (Monday, 6 p.m.), Nickelodeon, 3.1 million homes, 4.09 million viewers. 11. "WWE Raw" (Monday, 9 p.m.), USA, 3.05 million homes, 4.68 million viewers. 12. "The O'Reilly Factor" (Monday, 8 p.m.), Fox News Channel, 3 million homes, 4.03 million viewers. 13. "ICarly" (Monday, 6:30 p.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.966 million homes, 4.02 million viewers. 14. "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Saturday, 9:30 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.964 million homes, 3.82 million viewers. 15. Movie: "ICarly Movie: Go to Japan" (Tuesday, 4 p.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.95 million homes, 3.96 million viewers. ESPN and The Disney Channel are owned by the Walt Disney Co. Fox News Channel is owned by News Corp.; Nickelodeon and Comedy Central are owned by Viacom Inc. USA is owned by General Electric Co.'s NBC Universal; Lifetime is a joint venture between the Hearst Corp. and Disney; The NFL Network is owned by NFL Enterprises LLC. |
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Driving Miss
Disney
The London Free Press - In Hollywood, the tail usually wags the dog. So when Pixar's John Lasseter took charge of Disney's animation wing nearly three years ago as part of the merger between the two companies, one of his aims was to make the Mouse House "a filmmaker-driven studio." Meaning? "A studio is not a building -- a studio is a group of filmmakers," says the 51-year-old guru behind Toy Story and Finding Nemo. "In an executive-driven studio, the stories are thought up by a group of development executives and then the directors are assigned to them. Here, we go to the filmmakers and the stories come from them. Quality is the best business plan." On Friday, that philosophy -- and all of post-Lasseter Disney -- will be put to the test with the release of Bolt on both 3-D and traditional 2-D screens. If all goes well, it will be hailed as the best Pixar film Pixar never made. In fact, Lasseter took a personal stake in ensuring the gentle comedy about a scrappy white canine who believes he's a superhero wasn't, for lack of a better term, dogfood. "When I came in . . . there were a number of projects in the works I jumped in to work on and help. And Bolt had just gotten started, so it was one of the ones I rolled up my sleeves on. . . . I wanted to make it great for this studio and for all the artists here." (Despite their corporate proximity, he describes Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios as "cousins" who only occasionally cross paths.) Few would dispute Lasseter's or Pixar's extraordinary track record. Beginning with 1995's Toy Story, the computer-animated upstart has yet to misfire. Critical and commercial smashes range from A Bug's Life to The Incredibles to Monster's Inc. So potent is the Pixar brand -- maybe even on par with the historic Disney label itself -- that its filmmakers enjoy the creative clout to push the genre's borders with such fare as WALL-E and Ratatouille. It was Lasseter's involvement -- and the promise of a pure-bred production -- that attracted John Travolta to voice Bolt, a mutt who believes he's a super-powered crime-fighter when really he's just a TV actor. Other cast members include tween phenomenon Miley Cyrus as Bolt's owner Penny and Curb Your Enthusiasm's Susie Essman as a street-smart alley cat named Mittens. "My good friends have done great animated features," says Travolta, who cites 101 Dalmations and Peter Pan as childhood Disney favourites. "Tom Hanks did Toy Story and Robin Williams did Aladdin. I was competitive in a certain way. If I'm going to do an animated feature, I'm going to do a great one. (Former Disney boss) Michael Eisner had offered me a couple, but I didn't quite think they were there and then (current Disney president) Dick Cook called and said, 'I think we have the one for you.' It was high-end. John was involved, Miley was involved . . . and I thought, 'Whoa, geez, this is starting to look like a high-end animated feature. Maybe this is the one to say yes to.' " Besides which, he admits, it wasn't that much of a stretch to identify with Bolt's naivety. "I've had my own version of (that)," he says, referring to his years as a teenager performing on the New York City stage. "I've been up there with my tail wagging (only to get) chopped up, beaten up. I know what it's like to have a guilelessness toward cynicism. So it wasn't difficult to conjure that up." Having seen the finished film, he says, "I just didn't know how clever this movie was. It left me as an audience member touched. It made me want to go home and hug everyone I love, including my pets." In addition to their performances, Travolta and Cyrus also duet for the movie's theme, I Thought I Lost You. No one was more impressed with this turn of events than Travolta's 8-year-old daughter Ella. "I was so popular when I got home," he smiles. "I could dine out on that for months." |
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Oriental Land Aims to Attract Chinese Disney Fans Bloomberg - Oriental Land Co., the operator of Tokyo's Disney theme parks, is targeting wealthy Chinese and other overseas tourists to maintain growth as Japan's declining birthrate cuts its domestic market. Overseas visitors to the company's Disneyland and DisneySea theme parks may rise 22 percent to 1.3 million within three years, Executive Vice President Akio Nagaoka said in a Bloomberg Television interview. ``With rapidly rising incomes in China and elsewhere in Asia, there's a very big market for us to tap.'' With Japan's aging population and its economy in recession, Oriental Land is increasing overseas marketing and working with travel operators arranging package tours to its resorts. Visitors from abroad currently account for 4.2 percent of customers. The number of Chinese tourists to Japan is ``expected to increase explosively'' and many of them will be visiting ``leisure locations such as Tokyo Disneyland,'' Masayuki Ohtani, a strategist at Securities Japan Inc. in Tokyo, said in a phone interview today. Visitors to the theme parks may reach a record 26.5 million this year, helped by special events celebrating Tokyo Disneyland's 25th anniversary. ``An explosion in Asian tourism is occurring,'' Nagaoka said. More Attractions Attendance has doubled over the past two decades as the 200- hectare (490-acre) Disney resort, which includes Disneyland and DisneySea, added attractions and increased marketing to young adults and seniors. Located on reclaimed land 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) east of central Tokyo, the resort operates under license from Walt Disney Co. Oriental Land paid Disney about 20 billion yen ($207 million) in royalties last year. Increased marketing in China and other Asian countries doesn't mean competition is intensifying with the operator of Hong Kong Disneyland, the region's only other Disney theme park, Nagaoka said. ``Hong Kong Disneyland isn't our rival,'' he said. ``The Chinese tourists coming to our resort tend to be much wealthier than those that visit Hong Kong. We're targeting different demographics.'' The company wouldn't consider buying a stake in the Hong Kong resort, which is owned by the local government and Walt Disney, Nagaoka said. Oriental last month abandoned a plan to open an indoor entertainment and shopping complex with Disney in a large Japanese city other than Tokyo after an 18-month study found the project wouldn't be profitable. Japan Expansion Still, the company will continue to seek opportunities for new resorts in Japan, Nagaoka said. There were no plans to expand into other countries, he said. In April, a Malaysian state-run investment agency said it was in preliminary talks with Disney and other theme-park operators for a resort in southern Malaysia. Oriental had been not involved in talks with any party on such a project, Nagaoka said. Net income is forecast to gain 19 percent to 17.5 billion yen in the year ending March. Profit is expected to rise to 27 billion yen in two years on lower spending on new attractions, he said. Oriental Land's market value has increased 9 percent this year, compared with a 47 percent drop in Japan's Topix Index and a 49 percent decline in the Nikkei Index. The company's shares rose 1 percent to 7,360 yen as of 2:07 p.m. in Tokyo. |
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Atlanta Braves Spring Training at Champion Stadium The Atlanta Braves will host several marquee opponents in 2009, including visits from the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets and World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies, during the Major League Baseball Spring Training season at Champion Stadium at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. After two weeks of workouts, the Braves play an 18-game home schedule that includes a number of premier opportunities for fans in 2009, such as World Baseball Classic Exhibition games featuring Panama (March 3) and Venezuela (March 5), and a pair of contests against the Yankees and Mets at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex, the leading venue for amateur and professional sports in the country. One of the highlights of the expanded schedule in 2009 is the Boston Red Sox, who will make just their second trip to Disney’s Wide World of Sports on March 30. Atlanta’s 18 games at Champion Stadium mark the highest number of single spring home contests for the Braves since the franchise moved to Disney in 1997. The 26-time world champion New York Yankees return to Champion Stadium for a pair of dates, March 4 and 28, marking the first time the Yankees will play multiple dates at Disney. Atlanta will host all four of its division rivals, including the pennant-winning Philadelphia Phillies on March 1 and 8, as well as the New York Mets, March 17 and 21, Florida Marlins, March 20 and Washington Nationals, March 12. The Houston Astros are slated to visit Disney three times during the spring, including the home opener Feb. 26, as well as March 6 and 15. The 2009 schedule features three night games, including a March 19 contest with Detroit, as well as the Pittsburgh Pirates game on March 24 (6 p.m.) and Houston’s visit on March 6. Last season, the Detroit Tigers night game set an all-time record at Champion Stadium with an attendance of 11,606. The Tigers return for a second spring contest on March 27. The Toronto Blue Jays visit Disney’s Wide World of Sports March 26. Each game has fun for the whole family including entertainment in a way that only Disney can, with appearances by Disney characters, live music, an all-new On-Field Spectator Experience and the opportunity for kids to run the bases after every game. The Braves drew 138,811 during 16 games at Champion Stadium in 2008 – a total that ranked second only to the New York Yankees among the 18 Major League Baseball teams who trained in Florida as part of the Grapefruit League. Braves pitchers and catchers report Feb. 14, marking the beginning of the 12th year the Braves have come to Walt Disney World Resort for spring training. Position players arrive Feb. 17, with the first full-squad workouts on Feb. 18. Individual game tickets for the Braves’ home spring training season go on sale Saturday, Jan. 10, at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster (407/839-3900 and ticketmaster.com) and at the Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex box office. Prices range from $15 (general admission lawn seats) to $28 (lower reserved); please add $4 per ticket for Premium Games (Yankees, Mets and Red Sox). Information on the Braves’ spring training season, group tickets and mini-packs is available by calling 407/939-GAME (4263) and online at disneysports.com. The popular mini-packs will include both three-game and five-game options in 2009 and are currently on sale, giving fans their first opportunity to purchase tickets to specific games on the Braves’ 2009 spring training schedule. Fans may also purchase Atlanta Braves Spring Training travel packages through Spring Training USA. Travel packages include Braves game tickets, accommodations at Walt Disney World Resort and other benefits. Information is available online at springtrainingtours.com.
About Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex
Opened in 1997 at Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex is a leading sports and entertainment venue for amateur and professional sports in the United States. The sprawling 220-acre state-of-the-art complex features The Milk House, a 165,000-square-foot field house which seats 5,500 for basketball; the 9,500-seat Champion Stadium ballpark; Hess Sports Fields, which include multiple baseball, softball and soccer fields; and Jostens Center, an 80,000-square-foot multi-sport field house. In addition, the complex has 11 tennis courts, including a stadium court, and a track & field complex. The complex is home to more than 180 amateur and professional sports and entertainment events each year, including the NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp, the Major League Baseball Atlanta Braves spring training, a Tampa Bay Rays regular-season series, the NBA Pre-Draft Camp, the Pop Warner Super Bowl, Chelsea Football Club events, the Special Olympics Florida Summer Games and the AAU National Championship events. Please visit disneysports.com for more information.
2009 Atlanta Braves
Spring Training Home Schedule At Disney’s Wide World of
Sports Complex
Key Dates:
Saturday, Jan.
10 Single-game tickets on sale
Thursday, Feb.
14 Pitchers and catchers report
Friday, Feb.
15 Pitchers and catchers first workout
Tuesday, Feb.
17 Position players report
Wednesday,
Feb. 18 First full-squad workout
Sunday, March
1 Philadelphia Phillies
1:05 p.m.
Tuesday, March
3 World Baseball Classic Exb.
(Panama) 1:05 p.m.
Wednesday,
March 4 New York Yankees
1:05 p.m.
Thursday,
March 5 World Baseball Classic Exb. (Venezuela)
1:05 p.m.
Friday, March
6 Houston Astros
7:05 p.m.
Sunday, March
8 Philadelphia Phillies
1:05 p.m.
Thursday,
March 12 Washington Nationals
1:05 p.m.
Sunday, March
15 Houston Astros
1:05 p.m.
Tuesday, March
17 New York Mets
1:05 p.m.
Thursday,
March 19 Detroit Tigers
7:05 p.m.
Friday, March
20 Florida Marlins
1:05 p.m.
Saturday,
March 21 New York
Mets 1:05
p.m.
Tuesday, March
24 Pittsburgh Pirates
6:05 p.m.
Thursday,
March 26 Toronto Blue Jays
1:05 p.m.
Friday, March
27 Detroit Tigers
1:05 p.m.
Saturday,
March 28 New York
Yankees 1:05 p.m.
Monday, March
30 Boston Red
Sox 1:05
p.m.
All times are Eastern and
are subject to change.
All games to be played at
Champion Stadium at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex.
Lower Level
Reserved $425
$28
Upper Level Reserved (Rows A-L)
$340 $24
Upper Level Reserved (Rows M-W)
$323 $22
Bleacher
Reserved (Sections 104-106) $340 $24
Bleacher
Reserved (Sections 101-103) $323 $22
Grass Berm -
General Admission $255 $15
(Add $4 per
ticket for Premium Games: Yankees, Mets and Red Sox).
Five-Game Mini-Plan
includes tickets to: Nationals (3/12), Astros (3/15), Mets
(3/17), Marlins (3/20) and Yankees (3/28) games for $128
First Half Three-Game
Mini-Packincludes tickets to: Phillies (3/1), Yankees
(3/4) and Astros (3/6) games for $76 (upper reserved, rows
A-L, or bleacher reserved sections 104-106 – on sale now)
Second Half Three-Game
Mini Pack includes tickets to: Pirates (3/24), Tigers
(3/27) and Red Sox (3/30) games for $76 (upper reserved,
rows A-L, or bleacher reserved sections 104-106 – on sale
now)
Single-Game Tickets:
Ticketmaster
– 407/839-3900,
www.ticketmaster.com or DWWS box office
Season and Group
Tickets/Suites/Mini-Packs:
DWWS Sports Sales –
407/939-GAME (4263)
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Wednesday November 19, 2008 |
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Disney, Imax in
five-film deal "Beast" sure to be a 3-D beauty for Disney in 2010 From Story Artist to Super-Sidekick ... Mark Walton Rocks as Rhino! Review: Charming 'Bolt' barks up right tree Disney's Cody Linley doesn't make 'Dancing' finals Disney rule out French fairytale Disney employed credited with getting medical help for caller in distress Wall-E checks out Microsoft's telescope Disney To (Kinda) Offer Big-Brother Tracking Device |
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Disney, Imax in
five-film deal MarketWatch - Walt Disney Co. and Imax Corp. said Wednesday that they've forged a new deal that will bring five Disney films to Imax's ultrabig screen theaters, beginning with "A Christmas Carol" in the 2009 holiday season. Imax's U.S.-listed shares rose 1.6% to finish the session at $3.26. Disney shares fell 3.5% to close at $19.94
"A Christmas Carol," the
studio's adaptation of the Charles Dickens story, is
directed by Robert Zemeckis and stars Jim Carrey. The 3D
release, slated for November 2009, is one of several planned
3D features Disney will deliver to Imax venues around the
world.
Most recently, Imax was in
the spotlight this summer with the success of its
screenings of Warner Bros.' "The Dark Knight." The film,
which quickly racked up more than $400 million in U.S.
box office receipts, was partially filmed using a
special Imax camera.
A number of other films
have been successful on Imax screens, including
several movies in the "Harry Potter" series, along
with "Spider-Man," "Superman Returns" and
"Transformers."
Imax is in the midst of
a major expansion that will ultimately triple the
number of its theaters in North America.
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"Beast" sure to be a 3-D beauty for Disney in 2010
Reuters - Belle, the Beast and all the dancing silverware in "Beauty and the Beast" are getting a 3-D makeover. Producer Don Hahn and directors Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale -- the filmmakers behind the 1991 feature -- are using the film's original computer files to create a new Disney digital 3-D version, which will be released in 2010. Appearing at the 3DX: 3D Film and Entertainment Technology Festival in Singapore, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group president Mark Zoradi announced the movie's 3-D transformation, which will be the 11th 3-D feature that Disney is set to release in 2009-10. Re-rendering the film is expected to take 10 months and will be handled in-house at Walt Disney Feature Animation. "By going back to the original animation files, which have been carefully archived for 17 years, and using the separate background, effects and character animation elements, we're able to come up with a fun and unique 3-D experience for existing and new fans of the film," Hahn said. Disney's digital 3-D lineup for 2009 includes "Jonas Brothers 3-D Concert Movie," to be released on February 27; Disney/Pixar's "Up" (May 29); "G-Force," from Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Films (July 24); the newly re-rendered Disney digital 3-D debut of Disney/Pixar's "Toy Story" (October 2); and "A Christmas Carol," from Robert Zemeckis (November 6), starring Jim Carrey in multiple roles. In 2010, the studio will roll out a 3-D version of "Toy Story 2"; Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland," starring Johnny Depp; "Toy Story 3," from Disney/Pixar; "Rapunzel"; and, from Touchstone Pictures, "Step Up 3." |
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From Story Artist to Super-Sidekick ... Mark Walton
Rocks as Rhino!
Disney Insider - Mushu, Sebastian, and Zazu — the high-profile actors behind these tiny but mighty Disney Characters prove it's not the size of the sidekick but the wit in their wisecracks that wins audiences over. So when Walt Disney Animation Studios' story artist Mark Walton was selected as the official voice of Rhino in Disney's "Bolt," the unlikely celebrity couldn't believe his luck. The result? A lovable, scene-stealing, fully awesome ham-star was born. In theaters November 21, "Bolt" delivers an action-packed, cross-country adventure with a Hollywood super dog who's determined to return home after being shipped to New York City. When the perplexed pup realizes his superpowers aren't the real deal, he enlists a street-smart cat named Mittens and Rhino, a TV-obsessed hamster, to guide him along his journey. Mark explains Rhino's name. "Nathan Greno, head of story development, had a cat called Rhino and thought it would be funny to give a big, crazy, oversized name to this tiny hamster who believes he's truly more amazing than a hamster generally can be." How did this behind-the-scenes talent make the leap from drawing board to big screen? According to Mark, artists are often asked to lend their voices for "scratch" (placeholder) recordings so the production team has something to work with during the early stages of story and character development. "Acting is part of the storyboarding process since you're 'performing' through the characters you draw, their facial expressions, and the way you craft dialogue. If you can get inside the character's head, then you'll be more honest and real on the storyboards," he adds. Mark describes the first scratch recording session. "It was pretty intimidating standing in a room with a microphone in your face and a whole team of people behind the glass staring at you. I thought I'm wasting their time ... I've got to get it right ... I did the wrong accent ... was I jingling the keys in my pocket? I froze up and made lots of mistakes. Luckily they kept asking me to do scratch and after a while I became comfortable." Directors Byron Howard and Chris Miller took their time casting a "real actor" to voice the hamster. Meanwhile Mark continued to provide Rhino's dialogue. "Rhino's a very broad, comedic character ... it was pretty easy to make him likable. He had a lot of great lines so I'm lucky to have been a part of that. It was lots of fun. And if that's as far as it went, well, that would have been fine," Mark says. Then, as Disney magic goes, the unexpected happened. Mark was asked to re-record one of the first lines he'd read. The directors wanted more enthusiasm in his delivery, so he read the line again — this time with a twist that left the stand-in speechless. "Bolt's amazing! He can smash bridges, shoot lasers through helicopters, and destroy entire laboratories ... and I'm the voice of Rhino." For a moment he was stunned. Mark admits, "My brain pretty much shut down, I wasn't capable of much. I started jumping, yelling, hugging random people, and screaming like a little kid. Everyone was cheering. Up to this point, I had tried very hard not to get my hopes up because it just seemed way too good to be true to play a character in a Disney film — especially a great character like Rhino. So when they told me, it was like winning the lottery ... I really wasn't prepared to deal with it. It was amazing." Despite having no professional acting experience, Mark provides the perfect amount of madness to this geeky, furry fan who doesn't let the reality that he's a hamster get in the way of his chance to be a superhero with Bolt. "I thought they'd want me to do a squeaky, cute little hamster voice, but they just wanted me to be myself as much as possible — which made it easier to focus on the acting. There were a few times when Rhino's running around in his hamsterball, pushing something heavy, or becoming so excited that I found myself getting worked up and sweaty trying to recreate those actions believably. Rhino is Bolt's unabashed fan, sidekick, confidante, and helper ... he's powered by sheer enthusiasm and unbridled hope that gets him through a lot of situations. It never occurs to him that Bolt really isn't a superhero or that what he does is impossible. Rhino's so crazy about Bolt and the show that he starts imagining that he himself can do amazing things too. That's what I tried to convey." Mark laughs when asked about his favorite part of the film. "Probably any scene that features me is pretty cool ... I must admit I do think I have most of the best lines. I like when the pigeons try to figure out who Bolt is and when Rhino helps Bolt break Mittens out of the animal shelter. There's such great animation and dialogue — and the characters are nicely designed. The end of the film is surprisingly moving too ... I hope audiences walk away knowing that pets, dogs in particular, are trusting and love unconditionally. They believe in you even when you don't believe in yourself." Does Mark Walton eat danger for breakfast like his pint-sized persona? "Absolutely! Well, no, I live a pretty danger-free life. I just get to pretend I'm dangerous on the job ... and that's a lot easier than if I actually had to do everything Rhino does in the movie. It's a pretty sweet deal — it's the most fun job I've ever had!" "Bolt" audiences will soon discover Mark's fun translates into a whole lot of hamster on screen! |
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Review: Charming 'Bolt' barks up right tree
San Jose Mercury News - Upon first glance, the title canine in Disney's charming new offering "Bolt" seems like he must belong to the Incredibles' household. The dog — a white shepherd — owns a sonic-boom bark, steel-bending laser vision and super-duper strength, all used to protect his beloved owner, Penny. To safeguard this young girl, Bolt would gladly dangle a car full of bad guys by its bumper over a suspension bridge. Like all dogs, Bolt operates with loyalty as his guiding force. In fact, Bolt is so focused on protecting and serving that he's unable to relax and do things — sleep, chew stuff, sleep, play, sleep — that normal dogs do. The rub here, as you probably already know, is that Bolt (voiced by John Travolta with a nice mixture of bravado and tenderness) has been duped by a bunch of Hollywood phonies. Bolt is really a TV dog, and the producers of his television show want him to buy into the reality of his powers — and the constant peril faced by Penny (Miley Cyrus) — in order to put some bite into his performance. He is a Method dog without knowing it. When Bolt's employers push the reality envelope too far, it sends Bolt on a journey back home and, more importantly, to his True Self. That's the heart of this affecting, meta family film, which is essentially "Homeward Bound" for a more media-savvy generation. "Bolt" is directed by Disney Animation vets Chris Williams and Byron Howard, but John Lasseter's Hawaiian-shirt-wearing presence looms large over the movie. This is Disney's first animated feature since Pixar's Lasseter took over the company, and his touch is evident from the first frame. Like Uncle Walt (Disney), Lasseter believes that "for every laugh, there should be a tear." Which is another way of saying that movies should have heart, a quality in short supply in Disney animated offerings this decade. ("Chicken Little," anyone?) You won't need to keep a pack of tissue at the ready here, but "Bolt" does have some lump-in-the-throat moments courtesy of a vividly drawn, huggable main character you grow to love. Then again, brave Bolt's almost-spiritual journey might take a back seat (in your kids' eyes, at least) to the antics of an excitable hamster named Rhino (voiced by Disney animator Mark Walton). Bolt meets Rhino and a scrappy cat named Mittens (Susie Essman) on his journey home. Overweight Rhino rolls around in his plastic exercise ball, always believing in Bolt's greatness and, without fail, stealing every scene he's in. Rhino is proof that having heart in your movie is fine. Having a couple of Miley Cyrus songs as a cross-marketing tool is OK, too. But little kids dig funny animals above all else. Don't believe me? Ask the Beverly Hills Chihuahua. |
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Disney's Cody Linley doesn't make 'Dancing' finals
AP - Cody Linley won't be graduating "Dancing with the Stars." The 18-year-old "Hannah Montana" actor and his professional partner, Julianne Hough, were eliminated Tuesday from ABC's popular dancing competition. The pair received a total score of 46 out of 60 from judges for their paso doble and salsa routines Monday. After viewer votes were combined with the judges' scores, the Disney actor was dismissed. "Oh my gosh," a choked-up Linley said after his ouster. "I mean, words can't even explain the true amazing, growing, learning journey that I've had on this show. I can't show my appreciation anymore to Julianne. I can't say thank you. I love her so much. This opportunity has been so amazing." For part of the competition, Linley was paired with professional dancer Edyta Sliwinska when Hough missed two weeks of competition because of surgery to remove her appendix. Hough rejoined Linley for Monday's semifinal round. The pair received the judge's lowest scores. After their paso doble routine, judge Bruno Tonioli said it was "not good enough." "I'm so proud of you," Hough said to Linley before the duo took to the ballroom floor for their last dance. "I've had such an amazing time with you. This has probably been the biggest journey that any of these couples have had out here. I cannot wait to see what his opportunities are going to be after this show." The three remaining contestants — model-actress Brooke Burke, singer Lance Bass and former NFL star Warren Sapp — will compete for the show's mirror ball trophy in next week's finals. On Monday, the celebrities will perform two routines, including one dance set to the same music for each couple. The seventh season champion will then be crowned Tuesday. Previously dismissed celebrities include: Olympic sprinter Maurice Greene; actresses Susan Lucci and Cloris Leachman; singer Toni Braxton; chef Rocco DiSpirito; reality TV star Kim Kardashian; actor Ted McGinley and comedian Jeffrey Ross. Greene's fellow Olympian, volleyball player Misty May-Treanor, dropped out of the competition after rupturing a tendon. |
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Disney
rule out French fairytale
AFP - The prospect of a French Grand Prix taking place in the 2010 Formula One season was dealt a major blow on Wednesday when Euro Disney and the Lagardere Sports group withdrew their joint bid to host the race. The pair had hoped to hold the race at the Val d'Europe circuit, just to the east of Paris, but saw their plan scuppered when essential financial backing from other parties could not be secured. "Despite the quality of the dossier put together by the two private partners and the support of (Formula One supremo) Bernie Ecclestone, it proved impossible to reach an agreement with the other parties, which was an essential condition in the development of the project," read a statement released by Lagardere Sports. "As a result, Lagardere Sports, in accordance with Euro Disney, has decided not to pursue the project to organise the 2010 Formula One French Grand Prix in the Val d'Europe region." The terms of the project would have seen Lagardere provide over 60 million euros in funds, with Euro Disney providing the land for the circuit. The project was one of six being considered by the French motorsport federation (FFSA) as a replacement for the Magny-Cours circuit, with its proximity to Paris and readily available hotel accommodation seen as a major improvement on the facilities offered at Magny-Cours. The FFSA was forced to withdraw its backing of the Magny-Cours race due to a lack of funds. The Val d'Europe project, spearheaded by former world champion Alain Prost, was also the only one which would have enabled France to host a grand prix in 2010, meaning the country is now unlikely to host a race before 2011. Around 250 residents of Val d'Europe held a protest against the project at the weekend, citing noise pollution and the detrimental impact on their quality of life that the race would cause. |
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Disney employed credited with getting medical help
for caller in distress
AP - A quick thinking Disney Cruise Line employee is credited with getting medical help for a guest who called about her upcoming trip. Laura Chapek of North Ridgeville, Ohio had called to inquire over the whereabouts of the tickets for her Disney Cruise which was scheduled to begin in 10 days. As she became aware of problems with her trip, she thought of canceling the vacation. Upon being told she'd lose the $4000 she paid, she became upset and experienced a major seizure. Sensing the gravity of Chapek's distress, the Disney employee contacted emergency services which dispatched assistance from the North Ridgeville Fire Department. While Chapek is grateful for the assistance from Disney, she is still concerned over her trip's status. A local reporter gained assurance from Disney that the Chapek's vacation is not in jeopardy and that they are working to solve the problems associated with it. According to Disney, the tickets were sent to and signed for by Chapek's travel agent on November 10. The agency is trying to locate the tickets. Chapek joked that with the expected cost of her medical bills, she could have had a first class Disney vacation. |
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Wall-E checks out Microsoft's telescope
CNET News - Microsoft's Worldwide Telescope has a new celebrity tour guide: Wall-E. One of the features of the telescope software is the ability for both experts and amateur stargazers to offer their own guided tour of the universe to share with others. The latest such tour is by Wall-E, the animated robot from the Disney/Pixar movie of the same name. "WorldWide Telescope is about making science fun for everyone," Curtis Wong, manager of Microsoft's Next Media Research Group, said in a statement. "By working with Disney/Pixar, we're enabling kids and families to discover the magic of the universe for themselves in an even more engaging way. What could be more fun than exploring space with a famous robot?" The telescope software is a Windows-only Internet application, available as a free download from Microsoft Research. At the heart of the software is a new "visual experience engine" that Microsoft hopes to use for things beyond the telescope. Microsoft Research chief Rick Rashid noted at last month's Professional Developers Conference that his unit is also updating the telescope software with new features. As for Wall-E, he's been busy with the DVD release this week. At Adobe's Max conference on Monday, the robot was seen as part of a demo showing the abilities of Flash Player 10. |
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Disney To (Kinda) Offer Big-Brother Tracking Device
Jaunted - Although profits in its theme parks have been down, Disney is still working hard on new tricks and technologies for your next visit. Now, the company has buddied up with Verizon Wireless to offer a new service to make visits to the park easier--and to squeeze out a few more dollars from your pockets. Upon entering the park, you’ll be able to use your phone to figure out how long the lines are at major attractions or where you can snag a picture with Mickey Mouse. After a quick download, your phone will be set up with a program to map your way through the park. But the new service will also allow Disney to track where you are and what you’re doing. Luckily, the cell phone app is optional. So far Disney promises to only use the service for good, but there’s an awful lot of temptation to sell people stuff when they’re near a gift shop! |
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Tuesday November 18, 2008 |
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Happy Birthday Mickey
Mouse ESPN in $500 mln deal for US college football bowls Disney: Mickey Mouse Accounting WALL-E on DVD and Bluray Hannah Montana: The Complete First Season Disney Interactive Studios Embarks on a "Fully Awesome" Adventure with Disney's Bolt Alamo and Disney Parks Are Giving People a Reason to Celebrate This Year The Hannah Montana DVD Game High School Musical DVD Game Disney Store Black Friday Specials Begin at Midnight at More Than 100 Stores Nationwide Disney picks up 'Annoying Man' |
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Happy Birthday Mickey
Mouse CNBC - Mickey Mouse turns 80 today and to celebrate, Disney is up today. The Walt Disney Company was born 85 years ago when Walter Elias Disney and his brother, Roy, contracted to release a series about a little girl in a cartoon world called Alice Comedies. In 1927, Disney shifted to an all-cartoon series with a main character named Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. When his distributor decided to "eliminate the middle man" and hired away Oswald's animators, Disney learned the valuable lesson of owning the rights to his own content. He developed a new character that he wanted to name Mortimer Mouse, but based on his wife's insistance, he named him Mickey. Mickey Mouse debuted in "Steamboat Willy" on November 18, 1928. The Disney companies continued to grow and on April 2, 1940, Walt Disney Productions issued its first preferred shares. Since then the company has had some ups and downs, here are some milestones for shares of DIS, based on split-adjusted data for Mickey's second forty years - from 1968 until today. |
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ESPN in $500 mln deal for US college football bowls Reuters - ESPN, Walt Disney Co's (DIS.N) sports cable television network, outbidding Fox Sports, will pay $500 million for a four-year deal to broadcast several popular college football bowl games. ESPN said on Tuesday the deal with the largest college football schools covers 15 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) games from 2011 to 2014. They include the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar Bowl games each season, and the BCS national championship game in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The new deal will shift the popular bowl games to cable TV from News Corp's (NWSa.N) Fox broadcast network, a move some critics say will hurt the college game's exposure. However, others said the deal was long anticipated. "I don't think every major sports property is going to move to cable ... but it's understandable when you look at ESPN's dual revenue stream and the fact that they are now in 98 million homes," said Neal Pilson, a former president of CBS Sports who now operates a sports consulting firm. Broadcast networks like Fox reach 112 million homes, he said. Terms of the deal were not officially disclosed, but a source familiar with the bidding said ESPN's bid of $500 million topped Fox Sports by $100 million. Fox's current four-year deal expires after the 2009 season, which includes bowl games in 2010. The BCS is a five-game arrangement for post-season college football that is managed by the 11 large conferences and Notre Dame. "The BCS will thrive on ESPN," George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN and ABC Sports, said in a statement. BCS coordinator Jim Swofford was unconcerned about cable's smaller reach. "Currently, over 98 million homes receive ESPN," he said in a statement. "With the ever-changing technology and as we look toward January 2011, when the first games in this package will be played, we know that the number of households that receive ESPN will only continue to grow." Fox Sports said late Monday it had decided not to match ESPN's offer. "Even with today's vast economic uncertainties, FOX Sports made a very competitive bid to keep broadcasting BCS games free to every home in America, one that included a substantial rights fee increase, and certainly as much as any over-the-air network could responsibly risk," Fox said in a statement. "Unfortunately, the university presidents and BCS commissioners were not satisfied and they've decided to take their jewel events to pay television," Fox added. The deal covers television, radio, digital, international and marketing rights ABC, also a Disney-owned network, has a separate deal to air the Rose Bowl game. |
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Disney: Mickey Mouse
Accounting Seeking Alpha - When we discussed operating leases we saw that as per current accounting rules, the debt shown on a company's balance sheet does not adequately present a company's true debt level. Unfortunately, off-balance sheet debt doesn't stop at operating leases. Consider The Walt Disney Company (DIS), which operates theme parks, owns a movie studio, and has an extensive media network (e.g. television stations). Disney has strong, well-recognized brands, has great margins, and has a P/E under 10. Its stock has dropped from about $35 just a few months ago to its current price under $20! As a result, it has undoubtedly popped up on the radar screen for a few value investors with long-term outlooks. A quick look at its balance sheet reveals equity of $32 billion and debt of $15 billion. Since nobody knows how long this (or any) downturn will last, a conservative capital structure is essential. In the near-term, people will cut down on their trips to Disneyland, and businesses will cut their advertising budgets for Disney's television stations. As such, it's of utmost importance that a company have manageable debt loads if it is to qualify as a long-term investment. Digging a little deeper, however, reveals that Disney has agreed to purchase various non-cancellable broadcasting rights in order to bring its viewers action from the NFL, NBA, NASCAR and other sporting events. Capitalizing these obligations results in more than doubling the debt of $15 billion on the balance sheet to $37 billion! The D/E ratio changes from 46% to 115%! But is this really how we should be treating these broadcast agreements, the same as how we treat debt? Absolutely. If Disney had "bought" these rights upfront, they would qualify as assets, and whatever they borrowed to pay for these would qualify as debt on the balance sheet. Just because the various sports leagues have agreed to effectively fully finance these rights does not change economic reality. Furthermore, the debt we've just added on represents very real risk. If viewership goes down, or advertisers cut their spend, Disney would not make as much off of those games, but they would still owe every part of that debt. This is akin to a company buying a hard asset financed with debt, and not being able to generate the returns off that asset to cover the debts. That's not to say Disney should be discarded. So far this year it has shown an ability to weather the storm. Furthermore, last recession it also managed to stay profitable. It is diversified across many segments and has strong margins which shows it owns differentiated products. However, investors must recognize that for all companies they consider, it is essential that they recognize all of a company's debts before proceeding with an investment. |
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WALL-E on DVD and Bluray Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment - The year's most
acclaimed and original film, an intergalactic story of the
lovable robot WALL-E, comes home to Blu-ray hi-def and DVD --
November 18, 2008, courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Home
Entertainment, just in time for the holidays. Disney/Pixar's
hilarious box-office favorite transports viewers to another
galaxy with five different versions. Consumers can choose from
two exciting Blu-ray disc versions and from three standard
definition DVD versions. Each home entertainment release
contains the feature film and a payload of fantastic bonus
features, including an exciting all-new animated short film
BURN-E, the story of a stalwart repair robot by the same name
who is determined to do his job, but is foiled at every turn by
WALL-E's adventures aboard the Axiom..*
The stunning Blu-ray release (both two and three-disc versions) of WALL•E offers audiences the chance to really enjoy the true colors, depth and sound exactly as the filmmakers envisioned it! Additionally, the Blu-ray Disc owners in the U.S. have access to Disney BD-Live Network that allows viewers to combine some of today's most popular interactive communications platforms - chat, video messages, online interactivity, communal gaming and more - with their movie watching experience and provide exclusive access content to receive sneak-peaks of upcoming trailers, downloadable extras and more... WALL•E is an out-of-this-world action-adventure filled with heart and humor that follows an extraordinary cast of characters on a fantastic journey across the universe. Oscar-winning director Andrew Stanton's (won Best Animated Feature, Finding Nemo 2003) beautiful story of WALL•E is a love letter to the Golden Age of sci-fi films. The film's cast of exciting new characters has thrilled and delighted movie-lovers of all ages while once again showcasing Pixar's amazing abilities to create entire new worlds. WALL•E's voice cast includes Jeff Garlin ("Curb Your Enthusiasm"), Elissa Knight (Cars), Sigourney Weaver (Alien), John Ratzenberger (Toy Story), Kathy Najimy ("King of the Hill") and Fred Willard (Chicken Little). Academy Award®-winning sound designer Ben Burtt (the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises) provides the endearing voice of WALL•E, the little robot who never quits. In its theatrical release, WALL•E wowed critics everywhere with its adventurous story, combined with cutting-edge animation and an imaginatively detailed vision of the future. Claudia Puig of USA TODAY praises the film's "breathtaking visuals" and gives it "4 out of 4 stars." "WALL-E is a movie you want to discover," enthuses Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly. The Wall Street Journal's Joe Morgenstern calls it "A stunning tour de force," while Boston Globe film critic Ty Burr, dubs the film "A major visionary work, a sci-fi parable of astonishing scope and depth that is anchored by an adorable bucket of bolts." WALL•E Synopsis After hundreds of lonely years of doing what he was built for, WALL•E (short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth- Class) discovers a new purpose in life (besides collecting knick-knacks) when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL•E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet's future, and races back to space to report her findings to the humans (who have been eagerly awaiting word that it is safe to return home). Meanwhile, WALL•E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one of the most exciting and imaginative comedy adventures ever brought to the big screen. Joining WALL•E on his fantastic journey across a universe of never-before-imagined visions of the future, is a hilarious cast of characters including a pet cockroach, and a heroic team of malfunctioning misfit robots. |
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Hannah
Montana: The Complete First Season on DVD  Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment - See how it all began
for TV's tween diva when every poppin' episode of Hannah
Montana: The Complete First Season comes to Disney DVD on
November 18, 2008! Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment marks
the first time all 26 episodes from the first season come
together in a special four-disc Collectors Edition featuring
commemorative packaging and an exclusive collectible keepsake.
With 17 episodes never before offered on DVD, a
behind-the-scenes featurette with Miley Cyrus and much, much
more, Hannah Montana: The Complete First Season is this year's
ultimate holiday gift!
Miley Cyrus stars as the fourteen-year-old pop superstar with a double life, joined by Emily Osment, Jason Earles, Billy Ray Cyrus, Mitchell Musso and Moises Arias as her friends and family. At home and school, she's Miley Stewart, a typical teenager, but when the lights go down and the curtain goes up, she emerges as the glamorous and talented Hannah Montana. Having the "Best of Both Worlds" is a complicated proposition, and keeping her identity under wraps leads Miley and her friends into some hilarious capers as she tries to balance her normal life with her rock star persona. The roster of awesome guest stars on Hannah Montana: The Complete First Season includes Corbin Bleu and Ashley Tisdale of "High School Musical," Cody Linley (Cheaper by the Dozen), and more! Hannah Montana: The Complete First Season will have fans rockin' with a memorable and hilarious portrait of a very special girl who wants to be "Just Like You." Hannah Montana: The Complete First Season has a suggested retail price of $39.99 (U.S.) and $44.99 (Canada). |
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Disney Interactive Studios Embarks on a "Fully Awesome"
Adventure with Disney's Bolt MarketWatch - Bolt, the superdog, and his companion Penny are ready to spring into action. Disney Interactive Studios today announced that the Disney's Bolt video game is available at retail stores throughout the United States in time for the film's opening on Friday, November 21. Inspired by the animated comedy adventure of the same name from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Bolt game versions are available for the Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the Wii(TM) home video game console, PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo DS(TM) and Windows-based PC.
Developed by Avalanche
Software, Disney Interactive Studios' renowned studio in
Salt Lake City, the Bolt video game follows a unique
storyline, which takes place within the fictional
high-action television series featured in the film. In the
game, players must take on the personalities of Bolt and
Penny to utilize their unique talents and superpowers to
save the world and Penny's father from the evil Calico.
Players will take on Calico's henchmen; avoid capture at the
Mayan Temple; and hack enemy computer systems as the duo's
adventures take them throughout expansive areas in five
global locations: Italy, Russia, Belize, China and Oceania.
Separately, the film focuses on Bolt's inadvertent shipment
to New York City and his journey back to Hollywood with the
help of a jaded cat named Mittens and a TV-obsessed hamster
named Rhino, whose favorite word is "awesome."
"The action TV show within the
film was an excellent basis for the game to give fans a
story that extends far beyond the movie experience," said
John Blackburn, vice president and general manager of
Avalanche Software. "We maintained an ongoing collaboration
with Walt Disney Animation Studios so there would be a
natural familiarity for game players."
As Bolt, players can devastate
opponents with his superpowers. His laser vision melts
enemies in just one glance; his ground pound, an
earth-shattering attack, catches enemies off-balance; and
his superbark sends out a sonic blast that disables
opponents. As Penny, players utilize her stealth abilities
and a wheelbar, inspired by her scooter from the movie, to
climb around locations and outwit enemies. In addition, Bolt
features unique minigames based on Penny's ability to hack
computers. When players assume the role of Penny, they are
required to complete various tasks in virtual worlds to
progress in the game.
"Avalanche Software is a
premier studio for family friendly games and has an
expertise in creating video games that exist within a film's
universe, but expand beyond the movie-going experience to
give fans and gamers a truly unique experience," said Craig
Relyea, senior vice president of global marketing, Disney
Interactive Studios. "Bolt continues this legacy by
delivering a high-quality game with intriguing storylines
and exciting adventures that extend from and complement the
film."
Developed by Altron, the
Nintendo DS version will include competitive and co-op local
wireless multiplayer modes such as competing against a
player in a hacking game or teaming up with a friend in one
of five single-player missions. A Nintendo DS exclusive
minigame featuring Rhino enables him to become a hero just
like Bolt. The Nintendo DS version also includes 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
www.dgamer.com website.
The game is available for Xbox
360, Wii, and PLAYSTATION 3 system for $49.99. Nintendo DS,
PlayStation 2 and Windows-based PC versions are available
for $29.99. Bolt for home consoles and Windows PC is rated
E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older by the Entertainment Software
Rating Board (ESRB). The Nintendo DS version is rated E for
Everyone. For a limited time Bolt video games will include a
code for Movie Money, which can be accessed online to print
a $5 certificate for admission into a movie theater. The
certificate is valid at participating theaters throughout
the United States and the code can be redeemed through
January 31, 2009.
Fans of Bolt also have a chance
to win a family vacation for four at Walt Disney World(R)
Resort. More information, including details and official
rules, is available at the Bolt video game web site:
www.Boltvideogame.com. The
sweepstakes offer is valid November 18, 2008, to January 31,
2009. No purchase is necessary to enter or win.
In addition, Bolt: The Mobile
Game will also be available in November 2008 on most major
wireless carriers. Bolt: The Mobile Game is an action-filled
game that features diverse environments and epic boss
battles. In the game, players control Bolt and his super
power moves: superbark, superbite and superspeed to defeat
the evil Dr. Calico and save the world. Bolt: The Mobile
game has a suggested retail price of $6.99 (prices may vary
by carrier).
For more information, log on to
www.BoltVideoGame.com.
About the "Bolt" film
For superdog Bolt (voice of
John Travolta), every day is filled with adventure, danger
and intrigue - at least until the cameras stop rolling. When
the star of a hit TV show is accidentally shipped from his
Hollywood soundstage to New York City, he begins his biggest
adventure yet - a cross-country journey through the real
world to get back to his owner and co-star, Penny (voice of
Miley Cyrus). Armed only with the delusions that all his
amazing feats and powers are real, and with the help of two
unlikely traveling companions: a jaded, abandoned housecat
named Mittens (voice of Susie Essman) and a TV-obsessed
hamster named Rhino, Bolt discovers he doesn't need
superpowers to be a hero. Directed by Chris Williams and
Byron Howard, "Bolt" is ahilarious, fun-filled,
action-packed animated comedy adventure in Disney Digital
3-D(TM). Rated PG, Walt Disney Animation Studios' "Bolt"
hits theaters Nov. 21, 2008.
About Disney Interactive Studios
Disney Interactive Studios,
part of Disney Interactive Media Group, is the interactive
entertainment affiliate of The Walt Disney Company
(DIS)
Disney Interactive Studios self publishes and distributes a
broad portfolio of multi-platform video games, mobile games
and interactive entertainment worldwide. The company also
licenses properties and works directly with other
interactive game publishers to bring products for all ages
to market. Disney Interactive Studios is based in Glendale,
California, and has six internal video game development
studios around the world: Avalanche Software, Fall Line
Studio, Propaganda Games, Black Rock Studio, Gamestar and
Junction Point Studios; and two internal mobile game
development studios: Enorbus and Living Mobile. For more
information, log on to
http://www.disneyinteractivestudios.com.
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Alamo and Disney Parks Are Giving People a Reason to
Celebrate This Year
MarketWatch - Alamo Rent A Car, the official rental car company of the Walt Disney World(R) Resort in Florida and Disneyland(R) Resort in California, announced today that it has launched the Alamo.com sweepstakes tied to Disney Parks' "What will you celebrate?" consumer campaign.
The Alamo.com online
sweepstakes begins today and runs through January 18,
2009, and will award 20 vacations to the winner's choice
of either Disneyland(R) Resort or Walt Disney World(R)
Resort. Each winning entry will receive a
five-day/four-night vacation that includes airfare,
rental car, hotel accommodations, theme park passes, and
a personalized celebration experience for a family of
four.
Consumers can register for
the sweepstakes and view full terms and conditions by
visiting
www.alamo.com. No
purchase is necessary for entry, but consumers can
increase their chances of winning by earning additional
entries with each qualified Alamo rental.
"Throughout 2009 we are
inviting guests to celebrate the special moments in
their lives -- large and small -- with family and
friends at the place where dreams come true, Disney
Parks," said Greg Albrecht, Vice President Global
Promotions for Disney Destinations, LLC. "We see our
Parks as the ideal setting for a personal celebration
and are excited to have Alamo Rent A Car help launch our
celebration with this exciting sweepstakes."
"For many families, a
Disney vacation is one of the most highly anticipated
events of the year -- or even a lifetime," said Greg
Stubblefield, president of Alamo Rent A Car. "So Alamo
is thrilled to share the excitement with our loyal
customers. We look forward to giving 20 lucky winners a
celebration they'll never forget."
Stubblefield noted that
Alamo is proud of its association with Disney and
pleased that it has extended its partnership to 2011.
The sweepstakes is a celebration of the long-term
partnership, he said.
Alamo provides the only
on-site car rental locations both at the Disney Car Care
Center at Walt Disney World(R) Resort and at Disneyland
(R) Resort. At both locations, guests can experience the
speed and convenience of the industry's first and
largest system of easy-to-use, self-service kiosks. This
award-winning technology enables travelers to skip
counter lines, getting them to their destinations easier
and quicker than ever before. Alamo has 64 kiosks at 62
airports nationwide.
About Alamo Rent A Car
Founded in 1974 and
headquartered in St. Louis, Alamo Rent A Car is a
value-oriented, internationally recognized brand serving
the daily rental needs of airport leisure travelers.
Alamo offers low rental rates and a fun, hassle-free
customer experience at the most popular travel
destinations throughout the United States, Canada,
Mexico, the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia and the
Pacific Rim. Alamo also serves as the official rental
car company of Walt Disney World(R) Resort and
Disneyland Resort.
A technology innovator and
industry leader, Alamo launched the industry's first
real-time Internet booking engine in 1995 as well as the
industry's first and only Online Check-In system in
2005. In addition, Alamo currently operates 159
self-service kiosks at 65 U.S. locations, which earned
the company the "Extra Mile Award" from Budget Travel
magazine in 2007.
Customers who book online
receive Alamo's best rates always -- guaranteed. In
addition, customers who choose the "Prepay & Save"
option when making their online reservation receive an
additional 10 percent discount. For more information
about Alamo, including the Best Rate Guarantee, visit
www.alamo.com.
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Walt Disney Parks and
Resorts is where dreams come true and magic comes to
life. This segment of The Walt Disney Company
encompasses 11 theme parks at five of the world's
leading family vacation destinations -- Disneyland
Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort,
Disneyland Resort Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland. It
also includes: Disney Cruise Line; Disney Vacation Club;
Adventures by Disney; Disney Regional Entertainment,
which operates the ESPN Zone sports dining and
entertainment centers; World of Disney stores in New
York, Lake Buena Vista and Anaheim; and Walt Disney
Imagineering, which creates and designs Disney parks,
resorts and attractions. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
had approximately $10 billion in revenues in fiscal
2006. More information about Walt Disney Parks and
Resorts can be found at
www.DisneyParks.com.
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The Hannah
Montana DVD Game  Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment - Now the whole family
can experience the "Best of Both Worlds" with the new Hannah
Montana DVD Game, in stores on November 18, 2008 from Walt
Disney Studios Home Entertainment. This unique interactive
experience is packed with hundreds of exciting options to pump
up the party and have everyone on their feet for a singing and
dancing event like no other. Best of all, a DVD player and a
remote control are all that are needed to enjoy this year's
perfect holiday gift!
Find out what it really feels like to live the rock star life with eleven new interactive games sure to provide fun for the entire family. Guaranteed to get the festivities rolling, the Hannah Montana DVD Game allows fans to play as their favorite Hannah characters as they take center stage at a virtual Hannah Montana concert with "Pop Star, audition for Hannah's band in the "Band Audition" drum game, learn the hottest new dance moves in "Dance Off" and re-live all the most memorable moments from the series with clips, pictures, trivia games and puzzles. BFFs will want to take the friendship quiz to find out if they are True Friends, or use the Party Play option to tackle team games like charades, as well as drawing and describing puzzles. This unique interactive game will have everyone singing, dancing, drawing and acting for hours on end. Equally enjoyable for single players, one to four multiple players, or two teams of two or more, the Hannah Montana DVD Game is sure to become a slumber party staple, providing a unique playing experience and plenty of memorable moments time and again. Plus, it's easy to play and requires no special equipment—just a DVD player and a remote control for hours of great family entertainment! |
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High
School Musical DVD Game  Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment - Walt Disney Studios
Home Entertainment invites High School Musical fans to join the
East High Wildcats for an unforgettable senior year with the
High School Musical DVD Game, in stores November 18! Prepare for
graduation and beyond with fast-paced, upbeat interactive games
that require only a DVD player and a remote control to play—and
you can find it in the DVD section! With songs from the all new
High School Musical 3, the High School Musical DVD Game is this
season's must-have holiday gift for out-of-your-seat family
entertainment.
Filled with tons of clips, questions, pictures, sing-alongs, dance routines and more, the High School Musical DVD Game will have fans out of their seats and singing, dancing and acting alongside their favorite stars, including Zac Efron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, Lucas Grabeel and Monique Coleman. Far more than a trivia game, the High School Musical DVD Game is jam-packed with 11 interactive experiences that allow players to sing along with favorite tunes (including two original High School Musical 3 songs), compete in a dance off by learning new routines with friends, and test their High School Musical knowledge with hundreds of questions about all three movies. Later, they can help the Wildcats slam-dunk their way to the championship or take the Career Finder Quiz. Sure to be the highlight of any slumber party or holiday gathering, the High School Musical DVD Game can be played by a single player, one to four multiple players or two teams of two or more players. And unlike games that require costly equipment to play, the High School Musical DVD Game requires only a DVD player and a remote control. |
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Disney Store Black Friday Specials Begin at Midnight at More
Than 100 Stores Nationwide MarketWatch - Disney Store locations nationwide will usher in the holiday season earlier than ever with day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) specials starting as early as midnight in more than 100 of its more than 200 stores. In malls across the country, most other Disney Store locations will kick off Black Friday shopping with 5 a.m. openings. All stores will offer an additional 20 percent off almost everything*, including already low one-day only pricing, from opening hours until 10 a.m.
The store for everything Disney
is a favorite location for holiday shoppers looking for that
perfect gift to fit any budget. Throughout the remainder of
the weekend, Disney Store will continue to offer sale
pricing on top toys such as Disney Princess dolls, tween and
plush toys, and more.
"This Thanksgiving weekend,
Disney Store has stocked up on our most popular items for
holiday shoppers such as toys and gifts inspired by High
School Musical 3: Senior Year, Hannah Montana, WALLE, Tinker
Bell and Disney Fairies, Disney Princess, Club Penguin,
Disneya Pixar Cars, and Disney's newest animated feature
film Bolt," said Molly Adams, Vice President General
Manager, Merchandising & Marketing, Disney Store. "For the
first time, we're opening our doors earlier than ever in
more than 100 stores in malls across America. Our midnight
openings are sure to please consumers eager to start their
holiday shopping extra early, but we'll continue to restock
our shelves for Disney Store guests who need to shop later
in the day or at night."
To find the nearest Disney
Store location and check store hours for Black Friday,
please call 800-757-5933.
Following are some of the
magical Disney Store gifts that shoppers will find at an
additional 20 percent off before 10 a.m. on Black Friday
this year:
Note: Prices below reflect
original retail pricing. Sale prices will be in effect on
Black Friday.
Totally Tween -- Inspired by Disney Channel Hits
-- Camp Rock Electronic Drum
Set ($39.50) and Camp Rock Keyboard ($69.50): Kids and
tweens can create their own rock band with these musical
instruments. The drum set comes complete with five drum
pads, two drumsticks and carrying handle to take your show
on the road. The keyboard has multiple sound effects and
five different musical instruments and even comes with a
stand to rock out!
-- Hannah Montana MP3 Video
Camera ($79.50): Kids and tweens can record their favorite
dance moves while singing and playing their favorite songs.
The MP3 video camera features a docking station, detachable
microphone and volume control, and also plugs into the TV so
kids can enjoy their own show! Also available in High School
Musical 3: Senior Year theme.
-- Hannah Montana Wireless
Drumsticks ($39.50): Kids and tweens will discover their
inner pop star with ready to rock outside the box wireless
drumsticks. Equipped with two wireless drumsticks, volume
control and realistic drum effects, all kids need is air
space!
-- Hannah Montana Holiday
Stocking ($19.50): A boot shaped design in Hannah's
signature color--purple.
-- High School Musical Wardrobe
Dolls ($29.50 each) Gabriella & Sharpay dolls come with
three additional High School Musical 3: Senior Year inspired
outfits for graduation and the prom. Comes in a fashionable
re-usable box for storage of clothing.
-- High School Musical 3:
Senior Year Fashion Dolls ($12.50 each): Gabriella, Sharpay
and Troy dolls are dressed in trendy outfits ready to make
the most of their senior year.
Wondrous Widgets -- Celebrating Disney and Disney-Pixar Favorites
-- WALLE and Eve Remote Control
Robots ($49.50 each): These fully functional robots come
with a wireless remote control that allows users to make
them walk, talk and interact with each other.
-- Infra Red Remote Controlled
Cars ($49.50): On your mark, get set, GO! These remote
control cars follow the Infra Red beam and come in a variety
of characters for both girls and boys, including Disney
Princess, Buzz Lightyear, Lightning McQueen and Power
Rangers Jungle Fury.
Preschooler Treats-- Playtime
with Playhouse Disney
-- Little Einsteins Rocket
Remote Control ($24.50), Ages 3+: Take Rocket on an
adventure with his pals, the Little Einsteins. Remote
control moves forward and backward with an easy-to-use
remote specially made for preschool age hands. Features
three character voices and light-up after burners!
-- Little Einsteins Musical
Adventure ($14.50), Ages 2+: Flip open the panels to explore
the world of music with each adventure. 20 unique melodies
play when all panels are open, or enjoy creating your own
music with four interactive instrument buttons.
-- Handy Manny Tool Set
($14.50), Ages 3+: Preschoolers can play with these handy
tools and pretend they have their own workshop.
Favorites for Girls
-- Disney Princess Wardrobe
Dolls ($29.50): These dolls inspire storytelling and
creativity. Choose from Ariel, Belle and Cinderella. Each
doll comes with four outfits true to her character, complete
with three tiaras, jewelry and hair accessories.
-- Disney Princess Royal Bath Set ($39.50): The little princesses in your life will be able to care for their water-proof dolls with our new Royal Bath set, complete with a real shower head that sprays water and all the accessories she will need to give her baby a real bath. -- Disney Princess Doll Stroller ($59.50): Girls can give their dolls the royal treatment with the Disney Princess Doll Stroller. It has an adjustable canopy and includes a satin baby blanket and pillow. -- Tinker Bell Styling Head ($24.50): Unleash your inner stylist, with this Tinker Bell styling head. Comes complete with hair extensions, a floral halo, charm bracelet, barrettes and sticker sheet. *Media, electronics, gift cards, theme park passports, Disney Dollars and shipping charges not included in this offer and will not be discounted.
About Disney Store North
America
The Disney Store retail chain
is owned and operated in the United States by Disney Store
USA, LLC and in Canada by Disney Store Canada Inc. Disney
Store is an affiliate of Disney Consumer Products, the
business segment that extends the Disney brand to
merchandise. Disney Store carries high-quality products,
including exclusive product lines that support and promote
Disney's key entertainment initiatives and characters. In
1987, Disney Store opened its first store in Glendale,
California and, in doing so, originated the themed retail
business model. There are currently more than 200 Disney
Store locations in North America, each offering a magical
shopping experience that can only be delivered by Disney,
one of the world's largest and most successful entertainment
companies.
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Disney
picks up 'Annoying Man' The Hollywood Reporter - Disney has picked up "The Most Annoying Man in the World" by Kevin Kopelow and Heath Seifert. Andy Fickman, who recently signed a first-look deal with Disney, is producing via his Oops Doughnuts Prods. Plot details are being kept under wraps, but "Annoying" is described as a broad comedy in the vein of "Trains, Planes and Automobiles." The deal was in the $250,000 range. Kristen Burr and Casey Wolfe are overseeing for Disney. Fickman is in post on "Race to Witch Mountain," which he directed for Disney. He also is overseeing the development of four remakes from RKO's horror library being produced by Roseblood Movie Co. and Twisted Pictures. Kopelow and Seifert, repped by Endeavor, are co-exec producing Disney Channel's upcoming Jonas Brothers-based show "Jonas." The duo are veterans of the cable TV scene, having worked on shows ranging from Nickelodeon's "Kenan & Kel" to Oxygen Media's "Campus Ladies. |
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Monday November 17, 2008 |
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Disney's continued decline worries Wall Street I Still Believe in Disney ESPN brings back New Year's daredevils Disney Figures And Collectibles Gain New Interest From Adult Collectors and Dealers Sick hacker claims Miley Cyrus is dead on her You Tube Account Annette - Disney's Miley 50 years ago Walt Disney cut to hold at Soleil So long to Super Soap at Disney World Fox Sports Abandons BCS Bid Miley Cyrus and John Travolta’s Day at Disney |
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Disney's
continued decline worries Wall Street AP - With the Walt Disney Company's stock and bond value on a decline, a financial analyst has downgraded the rating of the entertainment giant. Laura Martin, analyst with Soleil Securities Group, has changed the Disney rating from "Buy" to "Hold" with a target price decrease from $40 to $23. Martin cited concerns with the 30 percent drop in stock price since August and an overall 35 percent decrease this past year. The analyst also mentioned the recent drop to 60 percent in Disney's equity and debt trading prices which usually are in the 77 percent range. The Walt Disney Company's financial statement released earlier this month indicated that the company has experienced a fourth-quarter decline of 13 percent. Particularly hard hit were Disney's ABC network and affiliates which have seen a $150 million loss in advertising. Disney's stock was valued at $21.08 at the close of the Market on Friday. |
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I Still Believe in Disney Motley Fool - Mickey Mouse is being pulled both ways this morning, and I don't know if those tiny mouse legs can take it. Soleil Securities Group analyst Laura Martin is downgrading Disney (NYSE: DIS) -- from buy to hold -- this morning, lowering her price target on the family entertainment giant from $40 to $23. In the other corner, this morning's Wall Street Journal is singing Disney's praises in a "Finding Gems in Market Debris" article. "Given the low valuations, stocks like Walt Disney could be poised to rise," reads the caption below a snapshot of a Mickey Mouse-shaped hot air balloon. Unfortunately, that "rise" isn't coming today. Disney shares opened 5% lower this morning, approaching lows last seen more than five years ago. Between a stock analyst and a financial columnist, Mr. Market is going with the pro. I couldn't disagree more. The merit of the
bear We can start with this month's quarterly report. It was a mortal one for Disney. For the first time in CEO Bob Iger's tenure, the company missed analyst earnings estimates. Earnings would have been essentially flat, even after backing out a bad-debt charge related to the failure of Lehman Brothers, and a favorable tax resolution from last year's quarter. There are plenty of other dark clouds in the area:
Add it up and it's not a good time to be a consumer-facing company. The pitching of stuffed animals at the local Disney Store or new DVDs at the consumer electronics superstore needs improving discretionary income levels to work. Did you see that mall operator General Growth Properties (NYSE: GGP) shed nearly 80% of its value last week on liquidity concerns? The consumer isn't shopping. The merit of the
bull A low P/E ratio isn't necessarily cheap. Homebuilders and financial institutions also had minuscule multiples before collapsing. If earnings begin to crater, P/E ratios shoot higher. The market certainly seems to feel that way about the media industry. Disney isn't the only TV star fetching single-digit multiples at the moment. Even with earnings projected to slip slightly in fiscal 2009 for some of these companies -- and actually improve slightly at Time Warner and Viacom -- these are ridiculous multiples. Yes, Disney is actually trading at an earnings premium relative to the sector, but let's sing some of Disney's praises.
So Disney is cheap. The whole industry is cheap. Earnings are unlikely to improve until the economy does, but Disney is built to weather the storm. When the Journal revisits Disney in 10 years, does anyone really believe that it will still command a single-digit earnings multiple? Throw earnings improvement into the mix and opportunistic buyers may really be at the dawning of the new Disney Decade. |
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ESPN brings back
New Year's daredevils AP - New Year's Eve in Times Square is too old school for ESPN. The sports network plans to ring in 2009 with a motorcycle jump and truck flip in Las Vegas. ESPN was pleasantly surprised by the success of a similar daredevil program on New Year's Eve last year, even though one of its planned stunts fell through when Rhys Millen broke some vertebrae during a practice run. Millen will be back this year, trying again to do a complete back-flip off an off-road truck. Robbie "Maddo" Maddison will try to jump to the top of the 96-foot-high replica of the Arc de Triomphe in front of the Paris Las Vegas Hotel. ESPN, which is owned by The Walt Disney Co., plans to air both stunts without a tape delay. |
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Disney Figures And Collectibles Gain New Interest From Adult
Collectors and Dealers.
News-Antique - Disney has been winning the hearts of young and old alike since 1923 and collecting anything Disney has been popular as well but over the last few decades it became less of an interest for adults. However, Disneyana has been making a comeback as a collectibles for adults. The items and areas of collectibles are countless and offer a wide variety for collectors. From banks, clocks, Big Little Books, figurines, vintage toys, Mickey Mouse magazines, rare Disney comic books the list goes on. Naturally entertainment collectibles cannot be overlooked, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and Marylyn Monroe collectibles are eternal favorites but the Disney collectible has a fun connotation. They bring forth childhood memories of those fun, lovable Disney cartoons or even the pleasure of vacationing at Disney World. The renewed interest in Disney collectibles has not only caught the attention of collectors but of antique and collectible shops. To start collecting or dealing in Disney memorabilia, the first task is to pick up a little pocket-size guide that includes a wide variety of Disney collectibles. They are easy to carry to garage sales, estate sales, closeouts, and collectible shops. There are many to choose from but the better ones have detailed descriptions, photos, and includes the item value. There are also loads of Disney items to collect so it is important to find the niche items that will be sold or collected. Start with what is the target customer adults or children? Are the buyers buying for nostalgic memories from childhood or for an investment? The answers to these questions are important in determining the type of inventory. For instance, if the target customer is children then the less expensive items like dolls and comic books should be stocked but if the target customer are adults then the figurines and statues might be a better choice. Furthermore if the customers are looking for nostalgia then the older dolls, hats, and books would do better. If the shoppers are looking for an investment then porcelain figures, crystal slippers, and jewelry would be best. Disney Action Figures are very popular and should be seriously considered to be part any stores inventory or collection. Then, there should also be a selection of characters to choose from. Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Alice in Wonderland, Bambi, Donald Duck, Pinocchio, Goofy, Davy Crockett, Dumbo, Fantasia, The Jungle Book, Lady and the Tramp, 101 Dalmatians, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and even the Three Little Pigs are all popular and many customers will be shopping for characters from them. Another topic not to be overlooked is the current crop of Disney characters like Hannah Montana, Pirates of The Caribbean, Lilo and Stitch, and Kim Possible are currently popular and a nice selection of them should be offered as well. Disney Antiques and Collectibles are being given as Christmas gifts, birthday presents, and even housewarming gifts. So it might be smart to consider Disney housewares such as Disney towels, Disney bedding, Disney candles, Disney cookie jars, Disney lamps, Disney night lights, Disney pillows, and Disney salt and pepper shakers. Disney collectibles can make perfect gifts for special occasions such as births, weddings, anniversaries, graduations, and birthdays so stocking at least some limited edition Disney dolls, figurines, lithographs, ornaments, and pins probably won't miss either. Finally, another bonus to stocking Disney items in an online store is that Disney attracts customers but also the names associated with Disney work well in the search engines and many online retailers have noticed an increase in page rank just by adding a nice selection of Disney collectibles. |
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Sick hacker claims Miley Cyrus is dead on her You Tube Account Daily Telegraph - Disney starlet Miley Cyrus has been targeted by a sick internet hacker, who has claimed she is dead in a stunt video posted on her own YouTube account today. The video posted on YouTube contains a series of messages to fans, with music sung by the Hannah Montana star. The video, which has now been removed, stated: "Miley died this morning after being hit by a drunk driver. She always told us if anything ever happened to her then tell her loyal fans first before the public. R.I.P Miley, we'll never forget you!" This latest hacking attempt comes after the FBI raided the home of one of Cyrus' photo hackers |
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Annette -
Disney's Miley 50 years ago SignonSanDiego - Fifty years ago, the heartthrob for many teenage boys was Annette Funicello, the No. 1 Mouseketeer on Walt Disney's TV series, “The Mickey Mouse Club.” With her dancing, singing and a downright nice personality, she stole the show. So it should be quite a nostalgic treat for aging baby boomers to see their old flame in her first starring role in a daily serial that aired in February and March 1958 on the “Mouse Club” show. The title – what else? “Annette.” The DVD release is the latest in the Disney Treasures series of rare and complete productions that Walt Disney oversaw before his death in 1966. These nearly two dozen 10-minute segments are hardly as steamy as “90210” or as peppy as “High School Musical.” But in their own way, they reflect some aspects of high school life, when small things like who serves on a student committee or gets invited to a hayride mean a lot – or absolutely nothing – to socially awkward adolescents. Of course, this 1950s serial also is a reminder of how unreal TV land is. While Annette and her newfound friends are agonizing over hot rods and showing off poodle skirts, the Cold War was raging and Southern governors were defying the U.S. Supreme Court's desegregation rulings. Just to underscore how long ago this was, besides the fact that it was filmed in stunning black and white, Barack Obama wasn't even born until three years after “Annette” first aired. (One wonders if he ever saw it in syndication while growing up in Hawaii or Indonesia.) What will resonate with today's teens and perhaps for the president-elect's pre-teen daughters is the idea that an orphan from a Nebraska farm can move to the big city and find a way to fit in while standing up for herself. Always cast as the girl next door, Funicello exuded charisma on the screen – a fact the Disney studio noticed as soon as she appeared as one of the original Mouseketeers in 1955. She immediately got the most fan mail, and people today still ask for her autograph. (She's 66.) Walt Disney himself reportedly chose Funicello to join the Mouseketeers and shepherded her career for the next several years. He even advised her to wear a one-piece, not a bikini, in her first “Beach Party” movie, co-starring Frankie Avalon, in 1961. At one point, she says in a documentary included in the DVD set, she wanted to change her name to Annette Turner because she said people didn't know how to pronounce her last name; her own parents pronounced it “fun-i-SELL-o.” (Her character's name in the serial is Annette McCloud.) “Aren't you proud of your Italian heritage?” Walt asked Annette. He said the real pronunciation – foon-ee-CHELL-o – was a beautiful sound and everybody would know how to say it soon enough. And we certainly did. It began on a hayrideFunicello's singing career got its start on the “Annette” serial when, on a hayride, she sang, “How Do I Know My Love.” There followed demands for a 45-rpm release and a singing contract that included several top 10 hits, including “Tall Paul.” Her voice was so soft that, according to composer Richard Sherman, she doubled her vocals by singing over herself in the recording studio, creating the “Annette” sound. The “Annette” story was based on a long-forgotten teenage novel, “Margaret,” by Janette Sebring Lowrey (author of the still very popular picture book, “Pokey Little Puppy”). It revolves around Annette's trying to fit in while battling back charges that she stole the necklace of beautiful but stuck-up Laura Rogan (Roberta Shore). The necklace is found in the end, but not before duets in the malt shop, dances in the patio, student committee politics, a catfight that ends in the pool, and Annette's attempted run away from home. Besides Funicello, the cast included several Mouseketeers and actors Tim Considine and David Stollery from the “Spin and Marty” serials on the show (celebrated in a previous Disney Treasures release). One familiar adult actor was Richard Deacon, who played Annette's Uncle Archie and later appeared on “Leave It to Beaver” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” Funicello went on to star in episodes of Disney's “Zorro” TV series and several Disney movies, including “The Shaggy Dog” and “Babes in Toyland.” She left the entertainment business after the “Beach Party” movies to raise a family. In recent years, she has become an outspoken advocate of research for multiple sclerosis, a disease she was diagnosed with in 1987 and which she revealed to the public five years later. She released her memoirs, “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: My Story,” in 1994. One bonus for San Diegans who watch “Annette” is the full half-hour “Mouse Club” show that concluded the serial on March 7, 1958. On “Talent Roundup Day,” two sisters from San Diego, Janey and Linda Fallis, danced and played their musical instruments – and earned their Mouse ears. The full show from Feb. 11, when the serial debuted, also is included in the DVD set. Other bonus material includes introductions by Leonard Maltin, a tribute to Annette's singing career, and “To Annette, With Love,” a documentary drawn from several interviews in the 1980s and '90s and recent comments from her friends and admirers. Also from DisneyThis eighth round of Disney Treasures releases offers two other worthy packages. “The Chronological Donald Duck, Vol. 4” includes Donald shorts up to 1961. A favorite is “Donald in Mathmagic Land,” a 1959 romp through square roots and the Golden Section. It later proved to be one of the most popular educational films to come out of the Disney studios and perhaps inspired some mathematically challenged youngsters to learn their multiplication tables and become aerospace engineers. A documentary on Donald Duck comic books will be especially interesting to collectors. The other DVD set is “Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow,” which aired as a three-part TV show on Disney's weekly anthology program in February 1964. Perhaps many people don't remember it because it debuted opposite The Beatles'first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” |
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Walt Disney cut to
hold at Soleil MarketWatch - Walt Disney & Co. was downgraded to hold from buy at Soleil Securities, with the broker noting Disney's stock hasn't dropped as much as its debt since Oct. 27. "We believe this gap will close, as it has for Disney in the past, and for other companies in our coverage," the broker said. It said the bond market is a better gauge because the economic slowdown began and continues to be governed by tight credit markets, the bond market is far larger than the equity market and the bond market's focus on cash flow and balance sheet compliments the equity market's income statement perspective. |
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So long to Super
Soap at Disney World Theme Park Rangers - Still recovering from a bittersweet weekend of theme parking. I witnessed the end of two eras: Super Soap at Disney's Hollywood Studios and the closing of the rides at Cypress Gardens. On Saturday I went to Super Soap, which at times had the feeling of a going-out-of-business sale. But at other times, the stars seemed unaware the party was over. Disney has announced that it would be the last such event here, but announcers kept saying it was "bigger and better." My friends and I would say "Oh, and the last." Can't really say it was bigger either. Crowd was noticeably thinner. Should we blame bitterness or the economy? Overheard complaints about lack of official Disney pins and decreased star power, but really it was the same show as usual. We did get to see All My Children star Susan Lucci and her dance partner Tony Dovolani perform at the Street Jam. (Photo by Matt Stroshane/Walt Disney World) And maybe the best laugh was from The View host Sherri Shepherd while introducing Tony ... in mock shock she said "Here's Tony Dovolani -- and he's wearing his shirt!" In the Super Soap program there was a letter from Brian Frons, ABC Daytime honcho, explaining that they always heard from fans wanting the soap stars to come to their hometowns, thus the end of Super Soap (after 13 years) and the beginning of the Soap Nation Tour. Details are sketchy. Folks here (biased, of course) aren't really buying that, but what are you going to do? One star on Saturday asked the Street Jam crowd if they wanted Super Soap to come back. Naturally, there was a cheer. She then added that Disney was a place with "big ears" and they should let her thoughts be known. Sounds reasonable, after all, what fans wanted is what caused the change, right? I hear that she was more party line on Sunday. I just hope her character doesn't slip into a sudden and long coma. |
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Fox Sports Abandons BCS
Bid Wall Street Journal - Fox Sports declined to match an offer from ESPN to televise Bowl Championship Series college football games from 2011 to 2014, the network announced Monday. "Even with today's vast economic uncertainties, Fox Sports made a very competitive bid to keep broadcasting BCS games free to every home in America, one that included a substantial rights fee increase, and certainly as much as any over-the-air network could responsibly risk. Unfortunately, the university presidents and BCS commissioners were not satisfied and they've decided to take their jewel events to pay television," Lou D'Ermilio, a spokesman for Fox, said in a statement. With Fox bowing out, ESPN in all likelihood becomes the broadcaster of the national championship game, as well as the Sugar, Orange and Fiesta Bowls. It also opens the door for the Rose Bowl to move from ABC to ESPN, which are both units of Walt Disney Co. |
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Miley
Cyrus and John Travolta’s Day at Disney Gossip Girls - Their new animated film “Bolt” hits theaters this Friday, November 21st. And yesterday Miley Cyrus and John Travolta were spotted tying up a few loose ends. The paparazzi caught up with the “Hannah Montana” sweetie and the “Pulp Fiction” stud as they left the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, both looking quite accomplished after putting the finishing touches on the sure-to-be hit. In related news, a hacker broke into Miss Cyrus’ YouTube account recently, posting a video that claimed that the Disney darling had died. But luckily, the whole ordeal was caught before it got too far. The hacker’s video said, “Miley died this morning after being hit by a drunk driver. She always told us if anything ever happened to her then tell her loyal fans first before the public. R.I.P Miley, we”ll never forget you!” |
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Sunday November 16, 2008 |
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A Mighty Mouse Surveying his company’s success, Walt Disney noted, ‘It was all started by a Mouse' WALL-E took uphill path to awards season Susan Lucci and Tony Dovolani, from the ABC hit show "Dancing with the Stars," at Disney's Hollywood Studios |
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A Mighty Mouse Pueblo Chieftain - Who's the leader of the club that's made for you and me? Here are a few clues: round black ears, red shorts, yellow shoes, a big grin and a tail. M-I-C . . . See the kingdom his image helped build? K-E-Y . . . Why do we mention it? Because he's about to hit another milestone. M-O-U-S-E. On Tuesday, Mickey Mouse will celebrate 80 years of animated life. He first appeared Nov. 18, 1928, in the cartoon "Steamboat Willie." Typically, we would call that a birthday, but one local Disney aficionado said you might not find the B word in the corporation's literature about Mickey. "They don't like to make a big deal about his birthday because they don't want kids to think he's old," said Dian Montgomery, who, with her husband, Gerry, has a collection of Mickey Mouse items so large that they hold an open house every year to display it. Indeed, Mickey is ageless. And if not for Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, who knows if the iconic mouse ever would have achieved animation? Oswald was one of Walt Disney's creations; he appeared in 26 silent cartoons, according to the Disney company's Web site. In 1928, however, Disney lost control over the rabbit to his financial backers, who had copyrighted the character. On his train ride home from that meeting, between New York and Los Angeles, Disney started putting a lot more thought into his idea of a mouse character. Oswald had a black body and wore red pants, so perhaps Disney had a head start on his new creation. His first choice for a name was Mortimer, but Mrs. Disney told her husband that was too snobby; she suggested Mickey. Voila - the seeds of an empire were sown. As Disney himself said in the 1950s, "I hope we never lose sight of one fact . . . that this was all started by a mouse." Montgomery remembers exactly when she fell for the happy rodent. "The first time I went to Disneyland, I just fell in love with him. I was 17," she said. "My cousin talked me into going and it was just this utopia. I've loved it ever since." The Montgomerys were at Disney World on Mickey's 75th birthday - er, anniversary - when the theme park had 75 large statues of Mickey, all decorated by celebrities and artists. Listening to Montgomery, it's easy to understand this animated figure's appeal to all ages. "Every time I see him, he makes me happy," said Montgomery. "He's so cheery and perky and upbeat. Even if you're having a bad day, you can look at him or Minnie and feel better. |
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Surveying his company’s success, Walt Disney noted, ‘It was
all started by a Mouse'
Bradenton Herald - He turns 80 this year, but you’d never know it by looking at him. Mickey Mouse is still as sprightly as ever, with not even a laugh line to show his age. Mickey’s come a long way since his turn as a deckhand in “Steamboat Willie” in 1928. Back then, the Disney studio’s hopes were pegged to the mischievous rodent. They hoped he would bring the company success after the rights to Walt Disney’s first successful character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, were sold to another studio by its distributors. Walt sketched a mouse and his wife, Lilly, christened the mouse Mickey. Mickey was a hit, and soon he had a band of buddies with whom he got into all kinds of scrapes and messes.
According to Disney, more than
1 million children joined the original Mickey Mouse Club
between 1929 and 1932.
As animation techniques grew more sophisticated over the years, Mickey’s appearance changed a bit — he gained some weight around the middle, donned a pair of white gloves and grew more angular. But his personality never changed from the friendly mouse that Walt Disney first created in the 1920s. Today, Mickey has become the international symbol of the Disney empire — the three-circle silhouette of his head is one of the most recognized corporate symbols in the world. Clearly the world’s most beloved animated character, Mickey continues toward the century mark just as he began his life 80 years ago — full steam ahead. |
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WALL-E
took uphill path to awards season
THR - Back in 1994, over lunch at a restaurant not far from Pixar Studios' base in Emeryville, Calif., four of the company's leading lights -- John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter and Joe Ranft -- were kicking around ideas for movies. Just as they were heading back to the office, Stanton threw out a question: "What if mankind left Earth and somebody forgot to turn the last robot off?" That was the genesis of "WALL-E," Pixar's ninth hit in a row and one of the most acclaimed animated features ever. Today, 14 years after it was conceived, Disney hopes it will become the first animated release since 1991's "Beauty and the Beast" to be nominated for a best picture Oscar. If anyone had mentioned this when Stanton and his colleagues were tossing around ideas, they'd have laughed. At the time, he says, they all knew "nobody would ever let us make a movie like that." For seven years, the project remained dormant as Pixar built its reputation on hits like 1995's "Toy Story" and 2001's "Monsters, Inc.," and Stanton gained experience directing Oscar winner "Finding Nemo." But in 2002, when Stanton was halfway through "Nemo," he thought again about "the lonely robot." "I knew a lot more by then," he says. "I'd written so many more movies and been behind the scenes of so many of our films -- it was clear to me it should be a love story. And I loved the idea of having these two genres meet so organically -- a love story and science fiction." Stanton, a graduate of CalArts who had been a player at Pixar since its earliest days, started writing. After his first draft, he felt he needed help, so he brought in an old college friend, Jim Reardon, a director on Fox's "The Simpsons" for more than a decade. Together, the duo worked on what eventually would stretch to six full drafts. As the writing took shape, Stanton thought more about his robot's voice. WALL-E doesn't speak for much of the film, but Stanton knew how important it was for him to sound just right when he does talk. "More than anything, (Stanton wanted) to keep WALL-E and other characters feeling like appliances," producer Jim Morris says. For that, he thought of Ben Burtt, a sound designer who during a long career at Lucasfilm was nominated for seven Academy Awards, and helped create "Stars Wars' " R2-D2. But that meant persuading Burtt to come on board. To help craft the pitch, Stanton turned to Morris, who had been with Lucasfilm for 17 years. When Morris came on in late 2004, Stanton already had created a story reel -- hand-drawn images strung together -- for the first act. Now Morris began putting together a budget and schedule and hiring key crew -- including the animation supervisors and director of photography -- while Stanton approached Burtt. "I pitched him as, 'How would you like to be 80% of the cast?' " Stanton remembers. "This was a fantastic challenge for a sound person," Burtt says, "because not only was it science fiction, you had the challenge of creating the whole world of unknown sounds." Burtt and Stanton started to look more closely at some of the great silent movie comedians, especially Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. "People say ('WALL-E' is) a silent film, but it isn't silent," Burtt says. "It's a nonverbal film. It's similar to 'City Lights' (1931) or 'Modern Times' (1936)." Of the four years it took to make "WALL-E," Burtt spent his first year creating sounds. "The trick was always to come up with sounds that gave the sense of what he was feeling," Burtt says. "One of the first (sounds) I tried was just toys -- the sounds of whistles, kazoos. (Then) I cut little motor sounds together." Eventually, WALL-E's voice came to be composed of three elements: sound effects, electronic sounds and vocalization through grunts, groans and processed sounds. It was an exhaustive endeavor. "I ended up making more than twice as many (data) files for this film as I would for a typical 'Star Wars' movie," Burtt says. He adds, "The thing that is different about animators is they are amazingly meticulous. They are used to working on shots almost one pixel at a time. (Stanton) was the same with sound: He wanted to hear everything and judge every detail." When it came to casting, Stanton turned to the man whom Walt Disney Studios chief creative officer Lasseter refers to as Pixar's good luck charm, John Ratzenberger, to play John, a human. For the largest voice role, the Captain, Stanton wanted "a modern-day Jackie Gleason" and cast Jeff Garlin of HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm." The woman in space who learns how to be human again became Kathy Najimy, and Fred Willard was cast as Shelby Forthright. For the small role of the ship's computer, Stanton paid homage to "Alien" by hiring Sigourney Weaver. As the movie progressed, the story reels evolved. Being far from Hollywood, Pixar depends on company employees to voice the "scratch" tracks during development, to be replaced later by stars. For the voice of Eve, to be processed and remade by Burtt, Stanton used an assistant named Elissa Knight, who had had some previous acting training. She did so well, "we just stayed with her," Stanton says. Adding to the sound elements, he worked with composer Thomas Newman to "capture a bit of the wonder and feel of what I had seen in my favorite science-fiction movies during what I consider the golden age of sci-fi, between 1968 and 1982 -- 'Star Wars,' 'Close Encounters,' 'Silent Running,' 'Alien,' 'Blade Runner.' I wanted to capture what it was like to see those movies as a kid." Through all of this, Stanton met regularly with the guiding force behind Pixar's creative work, the "Brain Trust," composed of Lasseter and other Pixar directors. "We put up story reels for the Brain Trust, and they beat us up and tell us what they think is working and what isn't," Morris says. "And Andrew takes the notes, thinks about them, and we go back into the story and do it all over again." Their suggestions, given every six months during the four years, were particularly important in the creation of the humans living in space. "The thing that was really hard for me to get my head around was how to represent humanity," Stanton says. "I had this 'Planet of the Apes' conceit, where humanity had even forgotten that they were humans, and it was so extreme and silly," he adds. "They didn't even speak like us. It just became too much." Stanton settled on making his humans fat and complacent in a world where they don't ever have to grow up. "It was a perfect analogy to have to have mankind grow up again," he says. Released in June, the film has grossed more than $475 million worldwide and earned more positive reviews than almost any other film this year. But one thing that makes Stanton bristle is the suggestion that "WALL-E" carries an environmental message. "It was never a statement on today," he insists. "It was a fable. I take a very childlike view of it." He adds, "I tried hard not to follow any convention. I just tried to let the film be as true to itself as it could be. If that broke people's unnecessary conventional thinking about what an animated film or a sci-fi film is, then great. That's why I go to the movies: to be surprised and entertained in a whole new way." |
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Susan Lucci and Tony Dovolani, from the ABC hit show
"Dancing with the Stars," at Disney's Hollywood Studios
 Disney
News - Susan Lucci, Emmy Award-winning star of the ABC
Daytime drama "All My Children," strikes a pose with her
"Dancing with the Stars" professional dance partner, Tony
Dovolani, Nov. 15, 2008 at Disney's Hollywood Studios in
Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Lucci and Dovolani, who were
eliminated from "Dancing with the Stars" on Nov. 5, appeared
at "ABC SOAPnet Super Soap Weekend," a soap opera fan event
being held this weekend at the Walt Disney World theme park.
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Disney News - Cast Members at Walt Disney World Resort are
playing the role of Santa’s helpers by collecting new toys for
Central Florida children as part of the Marine Corps’ Toys for
Tots campaign. The annual toy drive runs from Nov. 17 – Dec. 10
and is meant to send a message of hope to youngsters to motivate
them to mature into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens
and community leaders. 
Disney News - Disney Publishing Worldwide has donated 5,000
copies of Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom
to the AAF and Books for Kids Inaugural Charity Book Drive.
Moses, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by
Kadir Nelson, is an award-winning New York Times best seller
that recounts Harriet Tubman's escape from slavery and journey
towards freedom in the North. The book was honored as a Best
Book of 2006 by School Library Journal, The Miami Herald and
Child Magazine. In addition, the book, published under the
Disney-Jump at the Sun imprint, was a 2007 Caldecott Honor
Winner and a 2007 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner.