September 14 - 20, 2008
 

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Friday September 20, 2008

Problem With Disney's Website Means Not Everyone Can Request Free Ticket
High on Hong Kong
Will Disney's "Chihuahua" marketing end up in the doghouse?
Great firms like Disney going for a song
Radio Disney Moves to Kansas City Office Building
Chihuahua movie protest
Disney and Cartoon Network face off

Problem With Disney's Website Means Not Everyone Can Request Free Ticket

WFtv - Eyewitness News discovered a problem with Disney World's new promotion offering people a free ticket on their birthday. One boy who tried to sign up found out he couldn't.

Disney just announced the new promotion Thursday, but it turns out a problem on Disney's web site won't let everybody request a ticket. A family told Eyewitness News the site wouldn't let them request a ticket, because of where their son was born.

It's been 9 years since Zachary Dunkerton last visited Disney. Now the teen's family says it feels like a roadblock to what's supposed to be a special celebration.

Like all kids, 13-year-old Zachary loves everything Disney.

"Epcot, amazing fireworks, a whole bunch of different things," he said.

For his birthday in June 2009, his mom plans on taking Zachary to a theme park he describes as a favorite.

"Amazing, fantastic, unbelievable," he said.

His mom was quick to get online and sign up for Disney's new free day for guests celebrating birthdays, but ran into trouble when the program asked for Zachary's birth city and state. He is an American citizen, but the Dunkerton's adopted Zachary as a baby from South Korea.

Janice Dunkerton stops short of calling it discrimination.

"It would automatically make you feel like that, that you have to be born in the U.S. or Canada to be able to get in free," she said.

Janice was able to sign up her husband and herself, but because Zachary is under 18, his mom had to fill in the online form on his behalf. Janice calls the birth city question unnecessary and fears she's not alone.

A Disney spokesman told Eyewitness News they're working on the problem. Guests can still get in free on their birthdays by showing up day-of with proper ID. The Dunkerton's said they were hoping to avoid the ticket lines.

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High on Hong Kong

New Straits Times - SHARMILLA BILLOT was completely bowled over by Hong Kong’s sights and sounds, the fantastic shopping and fun-tertainment that she experienced at the Disney theme park.

If shopping, food and fun are on your holiday itinerary, then Hong Kong might just be the place for you.

The first things that come to mind about Hong Kong is Jackie Chan, Disneyland and the skyscrapers that appear in all Cantonese movies.

As I looked out from the plane, with the skyscrapers all lit up and twinkling ferry light everywhere, the night view literally took my breath away.

As I landed in Lantau Island, my excitement grew as I headed to Disneyland. Oh yes! all the journalists covering the High School Musical: My School Rocks competition stayed in Disneyland’s Hollywood Hotel.
We were welcomed to all things Mickey Mouse, from the room with its art-deco design of Mickey to the Mickey shower curtains and even food in the form of Disney’s world-famous mouse.

Hong Kong Disneyland is considered the smallest among its other theme parks in Tokyo, Paris and Los Angeles.

As such, you can actually experience all the rides in a day. You actually come out feeling satisfied and money well-spent compared to the Disneyland in Los Angeles where you get to cover only half the theme park because of the long queues.

The cartoon characters parading in the streets of Disneyland are the legacies of American visionary Walt Disney.

Growing up on Disney’s popular icons, children all over the world dream of going to Disneyland.

The closest and the most affordable Disneyland for Malaysians is Hong Kong.

The park features classic Disney attractions, unique shops and restaurants, themed resort hotels, dazzling live entertainment and all the magic and imagination one come to expect from Disney parks around the world.

You’ll discover medieval castles and futuristic mountains, encounter jungle elephants and elephants that fly, snakes that hiss and bears that talk, and ride both old-time fire engines and space-age rockets.

And, of course, you’ll be able to meet all your favorite Disney characters including Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck, Cinderella, Aladdin, Mulan and many others.

My favorite ride is the warp-speed adventure of “Space Mountain” roller coaster. And of course, worth waiting for at the end of the day is the fireworks display, with brilliant shapes and colors inspired by Disney’s most famous animated musical films and accompanied by a rich medley of classic Disney songs.

It does end with a magical day at the park.

Shopping was next as Hong Kong is known to be a paradise for shoppers.

I hit the streets of Hong Kong armed with the underground train station information and maps to get around the Island.

It’s tourist-friendly as most locals speak English and are quite helpful. Hong Kong has got an efficient transportation system where almost any place is accessible by the underground train, buses or taxis.

Being an avid shopper, I went to some Petaling Street-like shops in Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon and ended up with an armload of goodies.

The choices are plenty and budget shopping can be found at the Temple Street Market, Tung Chois Market and Stanley Market.

The trick is to bargain for the things you want. to buy. But a reminder, only bargain when you are set on purchasing an item as you wouldn’t want to be told off by the stall owners.

Even when I got back to Malaysia, the most common question asked by friends was “How was the shopping in Hong Kong and what did you buy?” Not the places I went to or my experiences.

One of the must-see places is the highest point on Hong Kong Island, Victoria Peak.

Although you can go up ‘The Peak’ by taking a cab or the double-decker bus, the most exciting way to is by the famous peak tram.

On the Peak, the panoramic view once again stole my breath away. It’s worth the trip just for the fantastic view.

The Peak is a modern complex that comprises a shopping mall, a waxworks museum, restaurants, and the nightly light show that unfolds in the city below.

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Will Disney's "Chihuahua" marketing end up in the doghouse?

Los Angeles Times - For months now, emblazoned on billboards and buses around Los Angeles, ads for the upcoming Disney movie "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" have begged for your attention.

Already this week, we told you about one concern some dog lovers have over the film: Whenever a Chihuahua has been featured in entertainment in the past (or really any adoptable animal -- "101 Dalmatians," anyone?), it's been followed by a spike in adoption, which then later translates into more dogs put up for adoption by people who didn't realize what they were getting into.

But the film, which isn't even out for another month, is also generating another kind of controversy.

Disney is hoping for a good turnout after the film's release Oct. 3, especially with the Latino audience. Although U.S. Census Bureau figures show that Beverly Hills is only 12% Latino, that percentage in Los Angeles County is much higher, and movie executives are hoping that the voices behind the dogs in the film -- George Lopez, Salma Hayek, Edward James Olmos, Cheech Marin and Andy Garcia -- will connect with Latinos.

Many in the entertainment industry try to cater to the Latino market, using language, celebrities and music central to the culture to attract attention. Examples include the much-hyped "Latin explosion" in pop music in the late 1990s, with Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez, and the launching over the years of more bilingual publications or Spanish-language versions of magazines such as People or Cosmopolitan.

But marketing to today's U.S.-born Latinos is a sensitive issue, and the "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" campaign may stir up some tension, The Times' Josh Friedman writes:

Walt Disney Pictures is making a lot of marketing noise with its upcoming "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," a live-action comedy about a pampered purebred that gets lost in Mexico....

Early tracking is solid but not stellar among general moviegoers -- Sony Pictures' teen hipster romantic comedy "Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist," which opens on the same weekend, has lower awareness but higher interest levels. But kids and moms, the demographics that turn talking-animal flicks like "Alvin and the Chipmunks" into hits, are keen on it.

Latinos, who tend to be among the most avid movie going groups in the U.S., could give "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" a huge boost, especially in urban markets such as Los Angeles and Chicago. According to the Motion Picture Assn. of America, Latinos saw an average of 10.8 movies in 2007, compared with 7.9 for Caucasians and 7.8 for African Americans.

But some think Disney's marketing could also spark a backlash.

"The movie's generalizations about Hispanics and its stereotypical depictions of Mexicans will not get a positive response from most of the 46 million Hispanics living in the U.S.," said Anton Diego, president of EveryMundo Inc., a marketing firm that helps businesses target Latinos online.

The trailer, Diego notes, opens with the voice of a Chihuahua called Papi describing how his descendants fought alongside Aztec soldiers, then pans to footage of Machu Picchu in Peru -- a symbol of the Incan Empire located on a different continent. The music in the trailer is mambo, which originated in Cuba, he adds.

A viral video campaign (with no mention of Disney or the movie title, in today's fashionable stealth style) has elicited groans for its portrayal of Chihuahuas as revolutionaries declaring "No mas!" to being carried in purses -- but "Mas!" to all-you-can-eat taco bars.

Disney declined to comment on the movie's marketing.

Alex Nogales, president of the National Hispanic Media Coalition, said he saw two screenings of the completed film after hearing a complaint about the project and found nothing offensive.

"It's not supposed to ignite the world with social consciousness, but this is a clean, entertaining picture with an all-star cast that brings the Latino presence to a whole new height," Nogales said. "It's a marvelous little film that is going to send everybody off to buy their own Chihuahuas."

Maybe the Taco Bell Chihuahua inspired Disney.

Or, maybe, the effort to target Latinos will prove to have been unnecessary. Everyone may want to see this movie. In Los Angeles, for example, Chihuahuas are the most popular breed of dog ... among everyone.

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Great firms like Disney going for a song

Financial Post - In the throes of the Great Depression, in 1933, Walt Disney laid the cornerstone of his mighty empire with the huge success of Three Little Pigs, one of his Silly Symphonies that brought relief to the masses of unemployed. He followed that up in 1937 with the classic Snow White, the first American animated feature film in movie history.
Today, we are in the midst of the worst financial crises since the Great Depression, and Disney's Hannah Montana, one of its hugely successful franchises, is soon to return to television for its third season.

Make no mistake, though, we are by no means in a depression, and blue-chip companies such as Walt Disney Co. (DIS/NYSE) are highly profitable. Yet they are priced for Armageddon. That is the message delivered by Charles Brobinskoy, vice-chairman of Ariel Capital Management, to financial advisors at the second annual AIC Value Conference this week (Brobinskoy has delivered top-decile performance this year, recently taking over AIC American Focused Fund).

Since 2000, earnings per share (EPS) are up roughly 450% and its share price is down roughly 30%. The company is cheap. It's the type of company that management at Ariel relish but rarely owns because it's typically too dear. In fact, Disney has been this cheap on a valuation basis only once over the past 18 years and that was on Sept. 11, 2001.

The company has boosted earnings per share at a 16.5% compounded annual rate from 1985 to 2008. Sure, earnings declined in the last recession and bear market from 2000 to 2002 -- and they will likely slow again -- but that period is already accounted for.

And Disney is one of the most successful media companies in the world, owner of ABC, ESPN, Disney Channel, A&E. There are also the Disney theme parks and resorts, and movie studios including Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Miramax, Pixar, etc.

This is a tremendous opportunity to own a blue-chip company at a very attractive valuation. "Something is going terribly right here and has for quite some time!" says Brobinskoy, who points out that from 1985 to 2008 Disney far outperformed the broader market, but its stock got cheaper. The company has never been this cheap in relation to the S&P 500 looking at data back to 1985.

Disney is one of many blue-chip companies trading at multi-year lows based on valuations. Brobinskoy also points to asset manager Franklin Resources Inc. (BEN/NYSE); Johnson and Johnson (JNJ/ NYSE) in the health care sector; American Express Co. (AXP/ NYSE) in financial services; and automotive giant Toyota Motor Corp. (TM/NYSE). These are the sector leaders trading at very low valuations.

In the current market environment, investors should look to companies that are well-funded, underleveraged, ideally operating in defensive sectors with access to capital.

Lehman Brothers (LEH/NYSE) failed due to excessive leverage. Disney, on the other hand, is not captive to near-term financial market dislocations. The company is not highly leveraged and its near-term debt obligations represent only 3% of its rock-solid assets.

There are some very strong, well-funded companies currently trading at knock-down valuations. They may not have hit bottom, but an opportunity to buy great companies this cheaply does not happen very often.

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Radio Disney Moves to Kansas City Office Building

MarketWatch - Radio Disney, known for representing major record labels including recording artists Hannah Montana, Jonas Brothers and others, is slated to move its downtown Kansas City office to City Center Square October 1, 2008. Tour City Center Square.

Bob Martin, station manager of Radio Disney, said that the station believes in the renaissance of the downtown area and feels that it will continue to grow in a positive way. "We are dedicated to remaining downtown and feel that it will give us a competitive advantage for attracting talent," said Martin. "City Center Square is ideally located for what we do."

The station, devoted to kids, tweens and families, anticipates that City Center Square's location in the heart of the city will help the station interact with its young audience and the community which is in close proximity to the charitable events that it regularly sponsors, including Kids for the Cure, Slugger Days at the K and The Sprint Family Fun Series. Radio Disney also hosts weekly performances in the Power & Light District just a few blocks away from the commercial high-rise office building.

Susan Moore, general manager of City Center Square, welcomes the kid-friendly radio station to the building. "Radio Disney is a wonderful organization and we're looking forward to the youthful and creative presence that the station will bring," said Moore.

City Center Square is an office retail building locally managed by Grubb & Ellis| The Winbury Group. Tenants range from the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association to the Kansas City Business Journal. Office space is available and can be customized to accommodate tenants' needs. Prime location, parking availability and facility upgrades make City Center Square an optimal choice for businesses that want to be part of the new entertainment district. For more information, visit www.citycentersquare.com.

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Chihuahua movie protest

Los Angeles Times - While celebrities walked the red carpet Thursday night at the premiere of the comedy "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," about 20 protesters stood by with signs urging people not to go nuts after they see the movie and impulsively buy a Chihuahua.

"We know the movie is cute," says Kim Sill, who runs the campaign against puppy mills for Last Chance for Animals, the group that organized the protest. "We don't want to say we're against the movie. We're against people going to a pet store after they see the movie.  We want them to go to a shelter, because there are a lot of Chihuahuas there." 

Salty, a 4-year-old female Chihuahua, pictured here, is one of those Chihuahuas. She is up for adoption at LA Animal Services' North Central shelter. (ID #A0974811.)

Animal welfare advocates have been concerned for weeks about the impact of the Disney movie -- which opens Oct. 3 -- on Chihuahuas.  In the past, popular movies featuring a dog often cause a run on that breed. "101 Dalmatians" led to an uptick in Dalmatian ownership.  And, according to Sill, the Taco Bell commercials featuring a Chihuahua helped create a Chihuahua craze. But when people realize the dog may not be right for them or their family --Damaltians are difficult and Chihuahuas are not always great with children --"they get dumped," says Sills.

And when a movie is about to open, puppy mills, she contends, gear up to produce more of that breed to supply pet stores. (Many animal welfare organizations, including the Humane Society of the U.S., contend that most pet stores get their dogs from puppy mills.) "It used to be you would walk into pet stores and see maltipoos and Yorkies. All of a sudden in the last two months, we've seen Chihuahuas infiltrate the pet shops," Sill says.

Los Angeles is already awash in Chihuahuas.  There are more Chihuahuas among registered dogs in Los Angeles County than any other breed, as we reported in July.  And Sill says the shelters already have a high number of Chihuahuas.  Some of the ones at the Carson shelter, run by the Los Angeles County shelter system , are featured in the video that Last Chance for Animals made to drive home its point about not buying Chihuahuas.

Sill says her group wanted Disney to air a public service announcement in theaters before shows telling patrons to think hard before choosing a pet. "We would have happily produced it for them and given it to them," says Sill.

It turns out that several of the Chihuahuas in the film were rescue dogs found in shelters in Los Angeles and Mexico, according to Disney's promotional materials.  The lead dog, known in the movie as Papi --the face of the movie on all the posters around town -- was rescued from the Moreno Valley Animal Shelter and lives with his trainer.

The theme of responsible adoption echoes through the movie -- some of the dogs get adopted as part of the story -- and all the promotional material, says the spokesperson. The movie's website (at the bottom) and the movie itself (at the end before the credits roll) have written messages noting that getting a pet is a serious and lifelong commitment that should be researched first. "We felt this was an important message to visibly relay at the end of the movie," said the spokesperson.

The Disney spokesperson added that the cast of the movie and the trainer of Rusco, the dog who plays Papi, have been talking publicly about animal adoption.

Ed Boks, general manager of LA Animal Services, saw the movie Thursday night.  "I was a bit disappointed," he wrote in an e-mail. "The movie has a strong 'adopt' and 'rescue' message, but no 'spay/neuter' message. In fact, one female dog opined that she longed for a boyfriend who has NOT been 'fixed.'...Disney just does not seem to share our concern over the influence this movie could have on people who will now think of Chihuahuas as cash cows."  

Enforcement of L.A.'s mandatory spay/neuter law begins Oct. 1. And if you do want to adopt a Chihuahua, here's another one at LA's North Central shelter.  She is Kendra, a 2-year-old female, ID#A0955495.

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Disney and Cartoon Network face off

Variety - Two forces, one a rag-tag underdog and the other a many-armed corporation, are about to go to war over a generation of boys. But this is not a show on Cartoon Network, this is Cartoon Network, the established player in a ratings battle for 9- 14-year-olds. The battle that's about to heat up is courtesy of an unlikely underdog: Disney's rebranded cartoon channel, Disney Xtreme Digital (formerly Toon Disney), which will hit the airwaves in February.

The Mouse's ad-supported toon net will face a tough hombre in the mighty Cartoon. The Viacom net recently announced new iterations of marquee properties -- including a new Star Wars show -- for the fall, and it's about to debut a giant, downloadable massively multiplayer online game called FusionFall; after all, the kids these nets need are notorious for reaching for a joystick before their remote control.

If Disney has a cheering section in this enterprise, it's Madison Avenue, which, if it's going to sell action figures or sugary food, has to buy boy-focused ad time from Nick or Cartoon, whether their ratings are good or not. And Cartoon, with its majority male aud, has carved out a deep niche. "Kids used to be more widely dispersed throughout syndication and the major networks," observes Brad Adgate, a researcher with media buyer Horizon. "Now the ratings go to two places: Nickelodeon and Cartoon (which gets a larger percentage of boys than Nick)."

The new XD gives buyers another alternative.

"If they can get the same kind of audience delivery on Disney that they can on Cartoon, I think that's something that buyers would welcome," Adgate says.

Conventional wisdom holds that Disney's TV properties appeal mostly to girls -- Hannah Montana and the Disney Princess licenses are two of the biggest success stories -- but XD's Rich Ross says the rebranded net didn't have as far to travel as one might think. "We already have a raft of programming geared toward boys," Ross says. "It's not a standing start at all."

Disney XD has tried to attract boys with indestructible older titles that used to run in syndication, like "Batman: The Animated Series," while upcoming shows include a "Ben 10"-ish skein called "Aaron Stone" and a Japanese robot skein called RoboDZ. The net's ratings bear out Ross' thesis: In total day numbers for August, 32,000 of the net's 48,000 viewers in the 9-14 demo were boys. XD's problem is the number of households where the channel is available: Cartoon has much deeper penetration (97.2 million households to Toon Disney's 71.3) and in August, it averaged 329,000 viewers in the 9-14 demo (including 232,000 boys). Disney must sell the net in many more markets if it's going to compete, and while it is busy doing that, Cartoon is trying to dig even further into the limited demo with initiatives like its buzz-heavy weekend lineup and copious vidgame tie-ins. What may turn out to be Disney's ace in the hole is a partnership with another network in the ABC/Disney family: ESPN.

"Our sister network -- I suppose brother network would be more appropriate in this case -- has been working with Disney Channel and Jetix (Toon Disney's online presence) for years," Ross says. "We thought it would be to our advantage to bring in things from their library, and some new material, as well."

But while Disney is trying to build up a base of franchise properties that can pull more boys back to TV, Cartoon is already there, working to incorporate its homegrown characters into the FusionFall gaming world where the game and the network will advertise for one another.

Ironically, it's a tactic Disney itself had great success with: Square developed the multiproperty "Kingdom Hearts" game series for the Mouse in 2002, which sold more than 10 million copies. So if Disney does choose to compete in that market, it will be a formidable opponent.

"I'll be curious to see what they do," Adgate says of the braintrust at Disney's XD. "I don't think they'll screw it up. They have the content and they've got the brand."

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Friday September 19, 2008

End in sight for Pleasure Island
Man Gets 30 Years For Molesting Girl At Disney Hotel
How Disney Chose To Name Their Game ‘Pure’
Flash Forward
Celebrity-Studded Playhouse Disney Event Launches Preschool Toys at Toys "R" Us Times Square

End in sight for Pleasure Island

Theme Park Rangers - The end is in sight for nightclubs at Pleasure Island, the Downtown Disney entertainment complex that opened in 1989. The final night for all six clubs -- Motion, Mannequins, 8Trax, BET Soundstage Club, Comedy Warehouse and the Adventurers Club -- will be next Saturday. Plans for the area are sketchy, but Disney says to expect more shopping and dining options.

Here are five things we'll miss about P.I.

The rotating dance floor at Mannequins Dance Palace

Part dance floor, part horseless carousel, part theme-park ride, part lazy susan, the big wheel creates an ever-changing scene. If you doubt its importance, wait for an unscheduled stoppage, and you'll feel the energy drain from the room.

The singalong nature of 8Trax

Folks flashing back to 1980s videos tend to belt out "Total Eclipse of the Heart" or "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" more than other folks. It's intoxicated mass karaoke at its best, with a little "Safety Dance" thrown in.

The stuff on the walls

The inside of Comedy Warehouse is a trove of Disneyana, ranging from giant, defaced photos of Mouseketeers to signage from past P.I. clubs (Cage, Videopolis). Across the way at Adventurers Club, 1930s "artifacts" line the browse-able walls, including talking masks, vintage photos, a crusty Colonel character and assorted bric-a-brac.

The 'Kungaloosh' crowd

The official greeting ("kuhn-gah-LOOSH!") of the Adventurers Club captures its spirit: We adventurers know a hidden Disney treasure, complete with songs, oaths, running jokes and unique characters. And you don't. Kungaloosh!

The rumor mill

When the closure announcement was made in June, it confirmed the long-running notion that Pleasure Island was on the outs. But breathless theories always have been in abundance. They're putting in bowling alleys! Tearing down the stage! Running off country-music fans! Gloria Estefan is interested! Jennifer Lopez! Cirque du Soleil! And the latest: Donna Summer (right) to perform "Last Dance" on the last night. (Disney says it isn't so.)

Tidbits from P.I.'s past

Less than a year after Pleasure Island's official opening, Disney lowered the admission price to enter all clubs from $14.95 to $9.95. Lowered! At the time, downtown Orlando's Church Street Station charged $14.95 after 5 p.m.

XZFR Rockin' Rollerdrome, a P.I. original, featured guests on skates. There was a spotting of then-Disney chairman Michael Eisner and then-superstar Michael Jackson. In 1990, the venue morphed into Rock 'n' Roll Beach Club, which remained open (and wheel-free) until this February.

In 1993, the Pleasure Island Jazz Company was introduced in the building that was once eatery Merriweather's Market. In 2005, that space became home to Irish restaurant Raglan Road.

Singer Bobby Brown was charged by the Orange County Sheriff's Office after a 1995 fight at Mannequins. Brown reached a settlement with a Chicago man who had to have part of his ear reattached, and the charges were dropped.

There have been two country-music-driven venues: Neon Armadillo (1989-1998) and Wildhorse Saloon (1998-2001).

In the '90s, some legends played the West End Stage, including Johnny Cash, Bo Diddley, Waylon Jennings, the Temptations and Little Richard. Less-luminary-but-notable acts included Boy George, Sheryl Crow, Weird Al Yankovic, Hootie and the Blowfish, Trisha Yearwood, Air Supply, Al Jarreau, Marc Anthony, Men at Work, Mandy Moore, Enrique Iglesias, Goo Goo Dolls, Heart, Dru Hill, LFO, Rick Springfield, Selena, Loverboy, Chubby Checker, Spyro Gyra, Bryan Adams, The Guess Who and (of course) K.C. and the Sunshine Band.

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Man Gets 30 Years For Molesting Girl At Disney Hotel

WFtv - A man convicted of molesting a young girl at a Disney hotel will spend the next 30 years behind bars. William Bishop, 58, molested the child in the bushes at the Swan Hotel in April of 2007. He was sentenced Friday morning in an Orange County courtroom.

Neither the little girl nor her parents were present Friday, but their presence was certainly felt when the prosecutor read their emotional letter.

Moments after convicted child molester William Bishop entered the courtroom, he, along with everyone else, heard prosecutor Linda Drain read a letter written by the victim’s parents urging the judge to lock him up for life.

“She’s a brave little girl who should be thinking about playing soccer and having fun with friends, not this," Drain read.

On April 27, 2007, an 11-year-old boy told Orange County deputies he saw Bishop molesting a girl in the bushes outside the Swan Hotel at Disney. Bishop was caught videotaping the incident that the girl’s parents said happened on her birthday.

“We traveled to Disney to celebrate our daughter’s eight birthday. It was her wish. Now, every year on her birthday, because of that, we are reminded of the incident," Drain read from the victim's parents' letter.

The judge sentenced Bishop to 30 years for count one, kidnapping of a child under 13, and 30 years for count two, lewd and lascivious molestation, concurrently. Bishop will be an old man when released from prison.

"Nothing, except that I was very impressed with the way you managed my trial. I couldn’t have asked for a more fair judge," Bishop said when asked if he wanted to make any comments.

The judge denied Bishop's request for a new trial.

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How Disney Chose To Name Their Game ‘Pure’

MTV - “Pure” is an off-road, trick-oriented ATV racer, but you wouldn’t know it from the title.

Most racing games attempt to be descriptive about their content in the title, but “Pure” is the opposite. It tells you nothing about the game itself.

That sounds like a risk, so I asked “Pure” game designer Chris Bowles how they came up with the name.

“We arrived at the name ‘Pure’ after to trying to describe the feelings we were having when playing the game, pure fun, pure excitement, pure adrenaline and it became apparent that we were using the word ‘Pure’ quite a lot,” he explained.

There must have been names they tossed aside, right?

“Another one we had toyed with was ‘Vertigo Rush,’” he said, “which was what we called the feeling when you went over one of the very big jumps in ‘Pure’ and the ground falls away to reveal a 200 ft drop and stunning views 40k into the distance. We still refer to these moments as ‘Vertigo Rush’ but the game, as you know, is called ‘Pure.’”

If you were in charge of naming “Pure,” what would you have called it?

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Flash Forward

Blue Sky - ABC Network is about to buy/greenlight "Flash Forward" as a television series. The show, which will be based on a sci-fi nover by Robert J. Sawyer, is to be written and produced by David S. Goyer (“Blade: The Series”) and Brannon Braga (“Star Trek: Enterprise”) with Goyer directing the pilot...

For those of you that are pop-culturally illiterate, Goyer is also the man responsible for "Batman Begins", "Blade 1-3" and the upcoming "Flash" film. I don't want to just bind his credits to the Blade television show, which was crap since he has done a good deal of really, really cool stuff. As for Braga, while I wasn't a big fan of Enterprise, he did produce "24" so that gets major kudos with me.

The story involves physicists who are conducting a secret, high-energy experiment that goes awry and causes people all across the planet to experience two-minutes and seventeen seconds of their own future decades in the future. This causes societal problems with people getting a glimpse of their future without really understanding the context of what they saw.

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Celebrity-Studded Playhouse Disney Event Launches Preschool Toys at Toys "R" Us Times Square

eMediaWorld - WHO: Whoopi Goldberg (The View), Elisabeth Hasselbeck (The View), Eric Mabius (Ugly Betty), Kim Raver (Lipstick Jungle), Paige Davis (Trading Spaces), Matt Settle (Gossip Girl), Kelly Rutherford (Gossip Girl), and Cameron Mathison (Dancing With The Stars) join Disney Consumer Products and Playhouse Disney characters Handy Manny, Tigger and Darby for an interactive celebration to launch an exciting fall line-up of preschool toys and electronics inspired by the hit preschool shows on Disney Channel: Handy Manny, Little Einsteins, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and My Friends Tigger and Pooh.

WHAT: A special story-time reading by Eric Mabius as well as product demonstrations, sing-along, face painting and art stations topped off by a photo opportunity with Handy Manny, Tigger and Darby.

The event will introduce Disneys preschool toys and electronics that spark creativity and imagination while creating a rewarding learning experience any time, anywhere. The new toy line Includes Handy Mannys Fix It Right Transforming Tool Truck, Disney Vtech Create-a-Story, Little Einsteins Transform & Go Rocket, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Motors Speedway and the award-winning Disney Pix Jr. digital camera.

WHEN: September 20, 2008, 10:00 AM-1:00 PM

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: 9:30-10:30 AM -- Select celebrities will walk the red carpet and be available for interviews.

WHERE: Toys R Us Times Square, New York City

BACKGROUND:

About Disney Channels Playhouse Disney

Playhouse Disney is a standalone channel in eight countries and a daily, learning-focused programming block on Disney Channel in the U.S. It showcases new, original characters and classic Disney favorites. Designed for preschoolers, Playhouse Disney programming invites co-viewing with parents, grandparents and caregivers. Popular series include Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Johnny and the Sprites, Little Einsteins, Handy Manny, JoJos Circus, Higglytown Heroes, The Doodlebops, The Wiggles and My Friends Tigger & Pooh.

About Disney Consumer Products

Disney Consumer Products and affiliates (DCP) is the business segment of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) that extends the Disney brand to merchandise ranging from apparel, toys, home décor and books and magazines to foods and beverages, stationery, electronics and fine art. This is accomplished through DCP's various lines of business which include: Disney Toys, Disney Apparel, Accessories & Footwear, Disney Food, Health & Beauty, Disney Home and Disney Stationery. Other businesses involved in Disney's consumer products sales are Disney Publishing Worldwide, the world's largest publisher of children's books and magazines, and www.disneyshopping.com, the company's official shopping portal. The Disney Stores retail chain, which debuted in 1987, is owned and operated by Disney in North America and Europe. The Disney Stores chain in Japan is operated under a license agreement with Disney. For more information, please visit www.disneyconsumerproducts.com.

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Thursday September 18, 2008

A Disney ‘First’ Launches ‘Celebration Vacation’ Travel Trend
Dwayne Johnson heads to Disney’s ‘Tomorrowland’
Will 'Beverly Hills Chihuahua' be top dog at the box office?
Spend Halloween in Disney World
Disney advises U of I on service strategies
Disney's Toy Story Mania with Physical Challenges: Riding with Health Issues

A Disney ‘First’ Launches ‘Celebration Vacation’ Travel Trend

Disney News - Everyone who visits a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park on their birthday in 2009 can get in free, as Disney Parks embraces a newly identified family travel trend called “celebration vacations.”
 
In this new national trend, American families are hitting the road to mark life’s special occasions – birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, reunions and more – with a “celebration vacation.” In 2009, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts will lead this growing trend with new entertainment and services that allow guests to turn their personal milestones into magical Disney experiences.
 
And to kick it all off – a first-ever opportunity for guests to receive a free ticket to one of the Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme parks on their birthday in 2009.
 
“Birthdays are the one occasion that we all share every year,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, at an announcement event today in New York. “We thought a free birthday ticket would be the icing on the cake as we extend this new ‘celebration vacation’ trend to Disney Parks.”
 
Disney parks provide the perfect setting for this new style of vacation that celebrates the special occasions in life, Rasulo added.
 
Whether a guest is celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, Quinceañera or any special occasion, Disney parks already are filled with favorite characters, world-class attractions and entertainment, and legendary guest service – exactly the “something for everyone” that trend-watchers say families look for in a “celebration vacation.”  
 
“The special moments in your life become truly magical when you celebrate at a Disney park,” Rasulo said. “Sharing a milestone at Disney connects families, friends and generations.”
 
A nationwide survey of nearly 4,600 adults conducted by Ypartnership – co-author of the influential National Travel Monitor – showed that 70 percent of U.S. leisure travelers have taken a vacation with the primary purpose of marking a special occasion in their lives – a “celebration vacation,” as Ypartnership President and CEO Peter Yesawich termed it.
 
Respondents mentioned a broad range of events worth celebrating with a special vacation – not just birthdays and anniversaries but a first vacation with children, a job promotion or recovery from an illness.
 
Whenever something positive happens in their lives, people seek out ways to make them more special, Yesawich said, and vacations are clearly perceived as both an appropriate and desirable way to do so.
 
Time does pass quickly and there is a growing trend to slow down our frenetic lifestyles and stop to rejoice around the things that matter,” he said. “Families on ‘celebration vacations’ are looking to truly commemorate moments in their lives – in special places everyone can enjoy.”
 
Research showed that when they take that “celebration vacation,” families are looking for destinations that provide activities for children and – better yet – activities adults and children can enjoy together.
 
Given these findings, it’s not surprising that Disney Parks topped the list of destinations where families would most like to celebrate these special occasions,” Yesawich said. 
 
“We see our parks as the ideal setting for a personal celebration,” Rasulo said. “Guests can immerse themselves in their favorite stories and their favorite characters, creating a visit they’ll never forget.
 
“And when our cast members get involved, it feels as if the entire park is celebrating along with you.”
 
At Walt Disney World Resort, guests can add on to the fun, choosing from more than 200 experiences ranging from breathtaking (magical fireworks cruises, sunrise safaris, diving the depths with undersea creatures) to mirth-making (Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, character dining, kids’ pirate adventures). At Disneyland Resort, celebrants can book more than 50 magical experiences, including “My Disneyland Birthday Party” and unique Disneyland guided tours.
 
With all there is to do in Disney parks, guests can tailor their celebration with favorite attractions, favorite characters and special experiences. Maybe they have a “princess” day with themed meals, shows, attractions and perfectly princess merchandise at Disneyland. Or they turn Walt Disney World “wild” with trail riding, bass fishing and water skiing.
 
Even before the Ypartnership findings, Disney noticed the celebration trend happening in its parks, Rasulo noted. For instance, guests have visited the parks to propose marriage, celebrate a child’s passage into high school, or pull the whole family together for the golden anniversary of their parents. “But Walt Disney World and Disneyland are now poised to champion milestone vacations for families and friends in a breakthrough way,” he said. “We’re asking our guests, ‘What will YOU celebrate?’
 
“Part of the celebration is all the firsts that magically happen at Disney Parks,” Rasulo said. “Guests become the star of their own celebration. It could be a first trip to Disney or a first family vacation without the stroller. We want to make a first visit – and every visit – even more memorable.”
 
Even if they’re not celebrating, Rasulo said, guests will be immersed in a “Celebrate Today!” spirit, making every day a party.

Planning any event can be a challenge. With Disney’s new celebration planning tools, it’s easier than ever for guests to plan celebrations large and small, customizing and personalizing each experience and tending to all the details, from a special cake to an elaborate one-of-a-kind celebration that only Disney could create.
 
Thanks to new Web tools, guests can discover magical experiences, unique events, dining enhancements and more. 
 
Disney’s planning services allow guests to stay focused on what really matters – the people closest to them. And vacation packages make celebrating at Disney right for any budget.
 
Depending on the Disney park they are headed to, guests can order everything from special dining to princess tea parties, from yacht cruises to treasure hunting on a pirate sailing adventure, from a quiet trail ride to parasailing thrills. Or they can opt for magical experiences for their group – from dessert parties to a Magic Kingdom fireworks cruise to special entertainment.
 
Among add-on experiences guests can choose to customize their “celebration vacation”:
 
  • Custom Bakery Cakes and Signature Desserts: Disney chefs create an unforgettable finale to a special dinner with a beautifully decorated cake themed to any occasion or a new line of celebration desserts.
  • For Lovebirds: Sweetheart dinners for two in which couples can clink “Celebrate Today!” champagne flutes.
  • Family Portraits: Capture the memory with a portrait session with Walt Disney World photographers. Build a custom photo album with Disney’s PhotoPass.
  • Personalized Souvenirs: Mark your occasion with personalized Mouse ears, character T-shirts and collectible pins.
  • Decorate Your Disney Guest Room: Step into a resort room decorated to fit your celebration theme with confetti, banners, surprises and more.
  • Stay Inside a Dream Theme: Book a themed guest room at either destination – princess-themed or Mickey-inspired at Disneyland or – coming in 2009 – pirate-themed at Walt Disney World Resort.
  • Set Sail: Book a private romantic cruise on a yacht or set your party afloat on a shared magical fireworks voyage.
  • Go Inside the Magic: Behind-the-scenes tours take you inside the storytelling, adventure and history of Disney Parks.
  • Disney Story Book Experiences: Choose from pirate adventures, tea parties, princess makeovers and more – all with the magic of Disney.
  • Disneyland Parties: “Celebration Roundup and Barbecue at Big Thunder Ranch,” all-new, is a full-blown party complete with frontier entertainment, goodie bags and a surprise treat for everyone – no matter what they’re celebrating. “My Disneyland Birthday Party” features cake decorating, party hats and even Mickey and Minnie pay a visit.
Disney is unwrapping all-new entertainment with memory-makers in mind, allowing guests to focus their celebration on favorite characters, favorite attractions and favorite stories to create a custom celebration in the park. New park experiences coming in 2009 for all park guests to enjoy: 
  • Street Parties: Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Park come to life with interactive street parties. The call to “Celebrate Today!” goes out to guests, music floods the streets, dancing kicks into high gear and the parks become “the happiest party on Earth.”
  • Tomorrowland Party: A high-energy, retro-futuristic music video dance party features Stitch, an interactive dance troupe, and a DJ celebration host who’s inviting all Walt Disney World guests to come party, dance and celebrate.
  • Park Décor: The parks will be decorated with colorful banners, balloons and festive party
    hats – as if awaiting your celebration.
  • Buttons: Complimentary celebration buttons will help Disney cast members and fellow guests recognize you and your celebration.

Disney parks are the ultimate setting for any celebration, turning a special occasion into a magical Disney experience. And with the opportunity of free admission to a Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort theme park on your birthday in 2009, it’s even more special. All it takes is a valid ID including proof of birth date. Guests can get more details and start the process by registering their birthdays at www.disneyparks.com
“We believe Disney parks are uniquely positioned for any celebration and offer the ultimate setting for marking a cherished milestone,” Rasulo said. “People trust Disney to make an occasion truly magical. And now more than ever, Disney will help guests seize those special moments and turn them into memories that will live forever in their hearts.”

For more information or to book a Disney “celebration vacation,” guests can visit
www.disneyparks.com, call 407/W-DISNEY or contact their local travel agent.

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Dwayne Johnson heads to Disney’s ‘Tomorrowland’

Monsters and Critics - Disney could be hoping to repeat the "Pirates of the Caribbean" formula by giving part of its theme park the film treatment with a big screen adaptation of “Tomorrowland.” The film will be a space adventure with Dwayne Johnson signed to star.

Variety reports Disney has hired writers Jon Lucas and Scott Moore to pen a space epic designed as a vehicle for Johnson – who worked with Disney on the family film “The Game Plan” and just finished work on the studio’s upcoming "Race to Witch Mountain."

Disney has yet to confirm the the new film will be titled “Tomorrowland” or that it is even based on the futuristic part of the Magic Kingdom (which includes Space Mountain).

The new film is produced by Mayhem Pictures partners Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray.

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Will 'Beverly Hills Chihuahua' be top dog at the box office?

Los Angeles Times - Walt Disney Pictures is making a lot of marketing noise with its upcoming "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," a live-action comedy about a pampered purebred that gets lost in Mexico.

And the little yelper, being unleashed in theaters Oct. 3, could show plenty of box-office bite despite detractors who say the marketing materials perpetuate ethnic stereotypes.

The PG-rated family film features Piper Perabo and Jamie Lee Curtis and a voice cast headed by Drew Barrymore along with such Latino stars as George Lopez, Salma Hayek, Edward James Olmos, Cheech Marin and Andy Garcia.

Early tracking is solid but not stellar among general moviegoers -- Sony Pictures' teen hipster romantic comedy "Nick & Norah's Infinit Playlist," which opens on the same weekend, has lower awareness but higher interest levels. But kids and moms, the demographics that turn talking-animal flicks like "Alvin and the Chipmunks" into hits, are keen on it.

Latinos, who tend to be among the most avid moviegoing groups in the U.S., could give "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" a huge boost, especially in urban markets such as Los Angeles and Chicago. According to the Motion Picture Assn. of America, Latinos saw an average of 10.8 movies in 2007, compared with 7.9 for Caucasians and 7.8 for African Americans.

But some think Disney's marketing could also spark a backlash.

"The movie's generalizations about Hispanics and its stereotypical depictions of Mexicans will not get a positive response from most of the 46 million Hispanics living in the U.S.," said Anton Diego, president of EveryMundo Inc., a marketing firm that helps businesses target Latinos online.

The trailer, Diego notes, opens with the voice of a Chihuahua called Papi describing how his descendants fought alongside Aztec soldiers, then pans to footage of Machu Picchu in Peru -- a symbol of the Incan Empire located on a different continent. The music in the trailer is mambo, which originated in Cuba, he adds.

A viral video campaign (with no mention of Disney or the movie title, in today's fashionable stealth style) has elicited groans for its portrayal of Chihuahuas as revolutionaries declaring "No mas!" to being carried in purses -- but "Mas!" to all-you-can-eat taco bars.

Disney declined to comment on the movie's marketing.

Alex Nogales, president of the National Hispanic Media Coalition, said he saw two screenings of the completed film after hearing a complaint about the project and found nothing offensive.

"It's not supposed to ignite the world with social consciousness, but this is a clean, entertaining picture with an all-star cast that brings the Latino presence to a whole new height," Nogales said. "It's a marvelous little film that is going to send everybody off to buy their own Chihuahuas."

The marketing effort appears to be clicking with broad audiences.

The trailer, featuring a Busby Berkeley-type musical number, has been popular since it premiered with this summer's "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," according to executives at Disney and rival studios.

Disney has also raised awareness for the movie, originally titled "South of the Border," with a poster campaign in various cities featuring a Chihuahua and the simple message "Heel," done in the style of artist Shepard Fairey's "Hope" signs for Barack Obama.

The company's more traditional movie posters are plastered with a series of cheeky tag lines: "I, Chihuahua," "You Want Some of This?" "Actual Size" and, of course, "50% Warrior. 50% Lover. 100% Chihuahua."

Exhibitors and Wall Street analysts expect "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" to gross $40 million to $50 million domestically during its full run, targets that are almost certain to rise as the opening draws near. If the buzz turns out to be really good, "Chihuahua" could end up nipping at the heels of "Chipmunks" ($217 million domestically).

With summer over, current films such as "Burn After Reading," "Righteous Kill" and "The Women" have been tailored toward adults, said Bruce J. Olson, president of the Marcus Theatres chain, based in Milwaukee.

"There is a pent-up demand among families, so the market is ripe for 'Chihuahua' to be the first sleeper hit of the fall," he said.

Chris White, an analyst at Wedbush Morgan Securities, noted that DreamWorks/Paramount's over-the-top, R-rated action comedy "Tropic Thunder" drew fire from some groups for supposedly stereotyping the mentally disabled, but it opened at No. 1 and topped the box office for three weeks in late summer.

"I'm not a hard-core dog fan," White said, "but even I think 'Beverly Hills Chihuahua' is a cute concept and I definitely want to see it."

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Spend Halloween in Disney World

VillageSoup Belfast - Celebrate Halloween at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World!

Boo! Don't be afraid. The screams you hear are squeals of delight, not fright. Disney fantasy and Halloween fun come together on selected nights in September and October for a one-of-a-kind celebration. Seize this rare opportunity to visit the Magic Kingdom in costume*, ride some of the most popular attractions and enjoy some really sweet trick-or-treating with favorite Disney characters in their finest Halloween outfits. With special music, a parade and the spectacular Happy HalloWishes fireworks show, this is no trick — it's a real treat.

ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS:
-Mickey's "Boo-to-You" Halloween Parade!
-Trick-or-treating throughout Magic Kingdom Park at numerous locations
-Happy HalloWishes fireworks spectacular — where the Disney Villains go trick-or-treating in the sky!
-Characters decked out in their favorite costumes — so wear yours, too.
-Some of the most popular Magic Kingdom attractions.

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Disney advises U of I on service strategies

DesMoinesRegister - The University of Iowa is looking to add a little magic to a new off-site hospital facility.

U of I Hospitals paid $3,000 to have two consultants from the Disney Institute visit last month and talk for three hours about the Disney approach to business. Strategies for creating "warm welcomes and fond farewells" could be implemented for a new ambulatory care center to be built by 2010, said Gordon Williams, chief of operations for U of I Health Care.

"We don't want to create the Disney experience, we want to create the Iowa experience," Williams said during a break in the Iowa Board of Regents meeting Wednesday in Coralville.

The Disney Institute provides professional development courses for organizations ranging from Amtrak and McDonald's to medical centers such as the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins Health System, according to its Web site.

Williams, who worked with the Disney Institute when he was an administrator at Northwestern University, said the customer service experience at Disney parks can translate to hospitals. An example is the underground "city" below the Magic Kingdom, in which goods and people are moved without being seen by park visitors, he said.

A subcommittee working on the U of I ambulatory care center will decide whether to take a small group to Orlando to learn how to implement Disney techniques, Williams said.

The ambulatory care center will focus on services that do not require overnight stays. The cost has not yet been determined.

U of I Hospitals officials also said Wednesday they are leaning toward building a new children's hospital and critical care tower just west of the hospital in Iowa City. The site would require removal of a major parking ramp, but the plan could save more than $150 million from the project, expected to cost more than $700 million, Williams said.

The regents spent nearly two hours in closed session Wednesday conducting the job review of U of I President Sally Mason. The review will be concluded during a special regents meeting Sept. 25 in West Des Moines.

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Disney's Toy Story Mania with Physical Challenges: Riding with Health Issues

PR.com - Though it’s getting rave reviews from park guests, if you have certain health conditions it may not be right for you. “We expected it to be relatively gentle and similar to the Buzz Lightyear ride in the Magic Kingdom, but once we got on it we were surprised to find that it was a rough ride,” said Stephen Ashley, author of the guide book Walt Disney World with Disabilities. “For my wife Sarah it was a bit of a shock, and if she had known what it was like she probably would have chosen not to try it because of her neck problem.”

This highly advanced interactive ride opened in June 2008, and it’s become one of the most popular rides at Disney. Considered a 4-D experience, it’s inspired by Disney Pixar's "Toy Story" films. Guests will be “shrunk” to toy size to play an assortment of midway games with the stars of the film; Woody, Buzz, Rex, Hamm and others. Using a spring action shooter gun, participants will shoot 3-D targets for points.

Using newer technology, this experience will be a blast for a large percentage of Disney guests. However the motion and special effects may be challenging for those with certain conditions including neck and back problems, weakness, epilepsy, balance issues and vertigo. It has rough tracks, jerky motion, high speed turns and spins and sudden stops that can feel quite rough. Regardless, many people even with mild to moderate health issues will be able to participate and enjoy it.

Want to know what to expect? You can find a thorough description of Toy Story Mania on Diz-Abled.com. It includes in-depth details about the physical and emotional feel of the ride, along with tips for riding with greater comfort. The description is designed to assist travelers in deciding whether the ride is appropriate for them.

Stephen Ashley posts sections of the book Walt Disney World with Disabilities on the official website; however he does not ordinarily include ride and attraction excerpts. “We made an exception for this one ride. We just released the revised and updated version of Walt Disney World with Disabilities, making it current to 2009,” explained Ashley. “My wife Sarah and I had tested out Toy Story Mania after the book went to print, so we decided to write a full article and place it on the website.” That web article along with the book provides readers an up-to-date 2009 version of Walt Disney World with Disabilities. The article includes photos of the attraction including the queue and the ride cars, as well as a link to a video of the ride in motion.

The description of Toy Story Mania will be included in the next edition of Walt Disney World with Disabilities. The book is designed to support travelers with minor to major health and emotional concerns so they can safely and comfortably enjoy Disney to the fullest.

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Wednesday September 17, 2008

ESPN Wears Weekly Ratings Crown With 'MNF' Doubleheader
Disney Magic in drydock at Norfolk shipyard
Wine Tasting a Breeze for Beginners at Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
Al Roker to Emcee, Charlie Trotter to Whip up Magic at Bocuse d’Or USA ‘Culinary Olympics’ at Walt Disney World Resort
Disney plans tailor-made film for Cyrus
Union hopes to wear down Disney with bad PR
Disney Japan To Focus On Games By Merging Net, Software Ops
Disney offers VOD in New Zealand
Disney goes to the Emmy's
El Capitan Theatre for sale
Quebeckers voicing French version of Disney film
11th Annual unofficial Gay Days at Disneyland announces line-up

ESPN Wears Weekly Ratings Crown With 'MNF' Doubleheader

Multichannel News - When it came to primetime last week, pro football trumped Barack Obama at the top of the cable ratings.

ESPN, lifted by the return of Monday Night Football, claimed cable’s ratings crown, averaging a 2.6 household rating and 2.53 million viewers on average from Sept. 8 through Sept. 14, according to a Disney Cable Networks analysis of Nielsen Media Research data. The total sports network was boosted by the return of cable’s top franchise, as the Sept. 8 season-opening MNF doubleheader played big: the Green Bay-Minnesota game tackled 12.5 million viewers and Denver-Oakland 9.67 million.

Those contests, up 12.8% and 13.7%, respectively, over the corresponding games in 2007, marked cable’s biggest audiences of the year until the Sept. 15 MNF matchup between Dallas and Philadelphia became the medium’s most-watched live show ever with 18.6 million viewers.

Fox News Channel was second last week with a 2.3 household ratings average and nearly 2.77 million viewers in primetime. The cable news leader was buoyed by a trio of interview segments with Democratic Presidential nominee Obama on The O’Reilly Factor. Those shows grabbed 4.57 million viewers (10th highest for the week) on Sept. 8, followed by 4.3 million (13th) and 4.23 million (15th) on the next two nights. The Factor ’s Friday show scored with 4.15 million watchers (17th).

USA Network’s bounty of original series, Monk (5.02 million), Burn Notice (4.77 million) and Psych (4.02 million), combined with its WWE Monday Night Raw franchise and newly stripped episodes of House (2.95 million), to secure a 2.2 household rating and 2.94 million viewers on average for cable’s 2008 leader. USA officials said House's premiere performance was the best ever for the network with a stripped series.

TNT, benefiting from The Closer (7.44 million to rank third) and Raising The Bar (seventh with 4.98 million) on Sept. 8, was fourth with a 1.9 average and some 2.33 million viewers, according to Nielsen data.

Disney Channel, topped by a Sept. 14 Hannah Montana installment that drew 4.61 million viewers, good for 10th for the week, finished fifth with a 1.8 average and 2.20 million viewers.

Lifetime was sixth with a 1.7 average and 1.97 million viewers. The numbers were fashioned by a puissant weekend duo of Shirley MacLaine’s Coco Chanel original biopic on Sept. 13, fourth for the week with 5.23 million viewers, and original series hit Army Wives, which marched before 4.13 million to finish 18th for the period. Chanel was ad-supported cable's second most-watched original movie this year, behind the network’s Emmy-nominated The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, which garnered 5.8 million watchers. Disney Channel's The Cheetah Girls One World is cable's top movie so far in 2008.

CNN and Nick at Nite each registered a 1.4 with the news network averaging 1.69 million viewers and the sitcom purveyor notching 1.65 million.

TBS (1.3, 1.67 million) and History (1.2, 1.49 million) rounded out the top 10. The latter was led by 9/11 special, 102 Minutes That Changed America, which became the service’s second-biggest show ever with 5.15 million viewers.

Another top show: the mid-season finale of ABC Family’s The Secret Life of the American Teenager pulled in 4.54 million watchers Sept. 9.

Among the Madison Avenue-coveted 18-to-49 set, ESPN set the pace with 1.72 million primetime watchers on average last week, according to Nielsen. It was trailed by USA’s 1.36 million viewers in the demo, 997,000 for TNT, 946,000 for TBS and 793,000 for Lifetime.

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Disney Magic in drydock at Norfolk shipyard

WVEC - You may have noticed the Mickey ears at a Norfolk shipyard.

The Disney Magic cruise ship is in drydock at BAE Systems and, for two weeks, about 200 employees are working around the clock.

It's being worked on in Titan, the largest floating drydock on the East Coast.

At 980 feet and 47,000 tons, Disney Magic takes up the whole drydock.

Workers are blasting and painting and repairing rudders, propellers and thrusters. Disney folks are onboard doing upgrades up above.

"Disney has approximately 800 people onboard doing habitability work -- the state rooms, the swimming pools, the restaurants," explains Dave Thomas, vice president of ship repair for BAE Systems.

Superintendent John Lifesey is the project coordinator.

"Most of our work involves underwater portions. The ships have to dock every two years and they have surveys that are required to be worked. Sea valves, the thrusters, the ships have stabilizers which make them go smother through the water, we're taking two of those off."

Lifesey says there hasn't been a Minnie or Mickey sighting.

"They keep a crew on here and Mickey and those folks are actually working here, too, right now. Out of uniform but they are working too," he noted.

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Wine Tasting a Breeze for Beginners at Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

Disney News - If you’re a wine neophyte, you can cut through the mystique of wine tasting to become a savvy sipper at the 13th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 26-Nov. 9, 2008, at Walt Disney World Resort. So slather on the sunscreen, don comfortable shoes and begin the wine quest in Future World at Epcot.
As your tram glides toward the park entrance, review these simple tips for beginning tasters: 

Lift your glass by the stem to avoid warming the wine in the bowl of your glass.

Raise your glass to check the wine’s color.

Swirl the liquid by gently rotating your wrist; as the wine leaves trails, or legs, it reveals alcohol content. A wine with high alcohol content normally will have slow-moving legs.

Sniff deeply and try to identify the wine’s traits, which could range from essence of raspberry to chocolate.

Sip – but don’t swallow yet. Hold the wine and swish it across your tongue and inner cheeks before exhaling slowly through both nose and mouth. The taste will be that much more vivid!

First stop, Festival Welcome Center in East Future World. Celebrate the start of your grape expedition with a glass of bubbly at the center’s champagne and wine bar. There, Epcot cast members can fill you in on the day’s wine-tasting schedule and on details of special events such as Food and Wine Pairings or the Party for the Senses grand tasting. 

Before heading outside, catch a complimentary wine seminar and visit the Stockpot Shop for festival gifts and the Inspired Vines shop for more than 300 wine selections from prestigious vineyards showcased at the festival’s seminars and private events, including Antinori, Caymus Vineyards, Château Cos d’Estournel, Silver Oak and Piper Heidsieck. You also can meet representatives from more than 100 wineries and purchase a signed bottle at the Bottle Signing location. 
 

Complimentary wine seminars are scheduled daily, and you can explore more than 25 international marketplaces around World Showcase where ethnic cuisine and wine-pairing tastes range from just $2-$5. (Marketplace wines are available by the bottle at Inspired Vines).  There are also some great ways to try new levels of tasting experiences: at one of the daily Food and Wine Pairings, or at a weekly Party for the Senses grand tasting.

Food and Wine Pairings ($55 per person, park admission required) are scheduled throughout the week at several popular Epcot restaurants including Tutto Italia Restaurant, Restaurant Marrakesh and Mitsukoshi Restaurant. There, winery principals lead you through a tasting of three wines that are paired precisely with complementary foods.
 

At Party for the Senses each Saturday night in the grand World ShowPlace ($135 per person, park admission required), you’ll taste some of the finest cuisine by more than 25 eminent chefs and sample from more than 70 wines and beers as you chat with the winemakers and enjoy first-rate live entertainment.
 

Afternoon Epcot Wine Schools ($125 or $135) including France, Italy, Spain and South Africa wine schools, take place Saturdays during the six-week fest.
 

As you complete your trip around the world’s longest, largest wine fest, favorite wines will be available for purchase at the Festival Welcome Center, says Jason Cha-Kim, beverage sourcing specialist for Disney Worldwide Services.
 

“You’ll have the opportunity to wine and dine around World Showcase and learn about the basics of wine from the very best vineyards in the world,” says Cha-Kim. “You’ll come away from the festival with an understanding of the major wine-growing regions, how to taste wine correctly and really enjoy it, what wines to look for at home, and how to pair food and wine. It’s a great way to explore and learn about wines from around the world.”
 

Entrance to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, plus wine and beer seminars, cooking demonstrations, Eat to the Beat! concerts, culinary exhibits and all attractions and park entertainment, is included with regular Epcot admission. Guests can call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378) for information or reservations for special events and programs, or visit the Web site: www.disneyworld.com/food.

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Al Roker to Emcee, Charlie Trotter to Whip up Magic at Bocuse d’Or USA ‘Culinary Olympics’ at Walt Disney World Resort

Disney News - When the gold-standard Bocuse d’Or USA culinary cook-off unfolds Sept. 26 and 27 at Epcot in Walt Disney World Resort, TV personality Al Roker will emcee the excitement.  When the contest concludes and spatulas rest, culinary great Charlie Trotter, along with other star chefs from around the world, will host a Gala Dinner and Awards ceremony fit for the most discriminating gourmet.

The opening-weekend event of the 13th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, open to park guests, promises to deliver celebrity panache, high kitchen drama and extraordinary culinary moments.

Roker, together with Dana Cowin, editor-in-chef of Food & Wine magazine, will spotlight the action for Epcot guests in the park’s World Showplace arena-like setting.  There, eight two-person teams of the country’s top chefs will turn up the heat in the kitchen with the hope that their culinary creations land them a top spot representing Team USA at the Bocuse d’Or World Cuisine Contest – commonly called the Culinary Olympics – in Lyon, France, Jan. 27-29.

Epcot guests can attend the competition and observe the culinary wizardry.  Each of the eight teams will serve up elaborate fish and beef dishes to be judged by a top-chef panel: Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud, Trotter, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Georges Perrier, Laurent Tourondel, and former Bocuse d’Or USA competitors.  Dishes will be judged on excellence in taste, presentation, technical skill and overall kitchen organization.

The competition culminates Sept. 27 with a Gala Dinner and Awards ceremony recognizing the first-, second- and third-place teams.  Tickets are still available for the star-studded event featuring gourmet cuisine, live musical entertainment, dancing, a silent auction and a chance to meet and mingle with some the world’s top chefs, including the Gala Dinner Chefs, as well as contest founder Paul Bocuse, and the Deans of The French Culinary Institute, Alain Sailhac and Andre Soltner.

The Gala Dinner includes hors d’oeuvres, a four-course tasting menu, and a dessert reception prepared by Chefs Boulud (Daniel, New York City), Trotter (Charlie Trotter’s, Chicago), Patrick O’Connell (Inn at Little Washington, Washington, D.C.), Perrier (Le Bec Fin, Philadelphia), Tourondel (BLT, New York City), Soltner (French Culinary Institute), Salihac (French Culinary Institute), David Myers (Sona, Los Angeles) and Traci des Jardins (Jardiniere, San Francisco), and will be paired with Diageo Reserve Signature Cocktails and Moët Hennessy Champagnes. The highlight of the evening will be a Dom Pérignon toast and the announcement of the Bocuse d’Or USA winning team.

The eight finalists competing for a spot on the US Team include:

Timothy Hollingsworth, Sous Chef, French Laundry, Yountville, Calif.

Chef Hung Huynh, “Top Chef” Season 3 Winner, Solo, New York City

Rogers Powell, Instructor, French Culinary Institute, New York City

Chef John Rellah Jr., Executive Chef, Hamilton Farm, Gladstone, N.J.

Richard Rosendale, Chef/Owner, Rosendale’s, Westerville, Ohio

Michael Rotondo, Chef de Cuisine, Charlie Trotter’s, Chicago

Kevin Sbraga, Culinary Director, Garces Restaurant Group, Philadelphia

Percy Whatley, Executive Chef, Delaware North Parks, Yosemite, Calif.
 
The newly selected Bocuse d’Or USA team will join 24 teams from around the world at the Bocuse d’Or World Competition in Lyon, held every two years.

Reservations for the Gala Dinner and Awards event are $450 per person, plus tax, at 407/WDW-FEST and include 2-day Epcot admission (a $150 value).  Proceeds benefit Bocuse d’Or USA (a not-for-profit organization sponsoring the competitors’ training, travel and culinary education).

Throughout the six-week-long Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, Sept. 26-Nov. 9, guests can sample food and wine from around the world at international marketplaces and specialty dinners, attend seminars and wines schools and meet guest chefs.  For more information, call 407/WDW-FEST or visit www.disneyworld.com/food.

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Disney plans tailor-made film for Cyrus

Digital Spy - Miley Cyrus will star in a Disney film which is being written for the Hannah Montana actress and singer by Nicholas Sparks.

The author is working simultaneously on a novel and a screenplay adaptation for the film, which will be produced by Disney-based Offspring Entertainment partners Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot.

The project came about after Disney executive Jason Reed met Cyrus and discussed her career plans, reports Daily Variety.

The plot is being kept secret, but it has been revealed that Cyrus will act and not sing in the Sparks drama.

"Certain opportunities garner your interest, and this was one of those," Sparks said, adding that Cyrus's familiarity with his work "played a role" in the project coming together.

Cyrus was recently likened to Madonna by director Brett Ratner, who said she was "impressive" to work with.

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Union hopes to wear down Disney with bad PR

OC Register - For almost eight months, the union that represents more than 2,000 hotel workers for the three hotels at the Disneyland resort have been staging demonstrations against the entertainment giant.

Disney officials say they are befuddled by the disruptive marches and exhibitions, because union leadership and company negotiators have been in ongoing negotiations. The company negotiator said Disney hasn't reached the point of putting a last, best offer on the table. Likewise, the union president, Ada Briceño of Unite Here 681, won't even broach the subject of a possible strike vote.

Why, then, such public antagonism between Unite Here leadership and Disneyland?

There have been about as many union-organized protests against park management as there have been actual negotiating sessions – the last march ended in arrests when activists blocked a congested thoroughfare during rush hour.

Tom Revnue, a labor lawyer from a Midwest firm that represents corporate clients throughout the nation, said that Disney's public image is a particularly vulnerable point of attack. He said it seems union leaders hope to wear down Disney's public image until the company succumbs to demands, particularly demands concerning workers' health benefits.

"The union is trying to tarnish Disney's corporate image by doing what they're doing," Revnue said. "If you look at a company like Disney, their corporate image is very important to them – they bill themselves as being the happiest place on earth."

THE STRATEGY

Only one or two people at each of the more than a dozen protests against Disneyland over the past eight months have been actual Disneyland hotel workers. Briceño and other Unite Here leaders have recruited rank-and-file members of union locals in Los Angeles, leaders in other locals, some quasi-political faith-based groups and students to support their efforts.

During the last protest, the president of a union representing Disney World workers in Florida participated in support of Unite Here 681, along with religious and student activists. The protesters dressed up as Disney characters and blocked busy Harbor Boulevard at 5 p.m. Anaheim Police – notified of the planned civil disobedience – were on hand to arrest the activists.

Unite Here 681 also organizes food workers at Angel Stadium. Earlier this year, Briceño and other union leaders staged similar protests to garner publicity for the dispute there. A few dozen activists descended on the Irvine corporate headquarters of food contractor Aramark, chanting protest slogans outside locked office doors. That dispute has since been resolved.

By assembling such events that attract press coverage, the union is keeping its disputes in the public eye, Revnue said. He cited examples of other unions' activities. For example, several years ago union leadership at a grocery company called Food Lion filed complaints of unsafe food handling practice with the Food and Drug Administration. Often, unions during a labor dispute file complaints with the FDA, Occupational Health and Safety Administration or other regulatory agencies, Revnue said.

Whether those complaints turn out to be legitimate or not, the union's purpose is served by submitting them into the public record, he said.

THE DISPUTE

According to Disney negotiators and Briceño, healthcare benefits are at the center of the Disneyland labor dispute.

Currently, benefits are paid to workers through Unite Here 681. The company pays the union trust $2.55 per hour, per employee for their healthcare. Disney wants to take control of the healthcare plan from Unite Here 681 – a final holdout of the more than two dozen unions at Disneyland to have a union-run health plan.

The union offers their healthcare plan at no cost, Briceño has said.

To keep it that way, union officials tell Disney they need 70 cents more per hour, per worker, from the company in healthcare contributions. Disney argues that current employees could stay with that system, while new ones would be gradually moved into one of several company plans with higher contributions and co-pays.

Disney also wants to ratchet up the number of hours per week workers have to work to get health care – from 17.5 to 30 hours.

The next meeting between Unite Here and Disney negotiators hasn't been scheduled yet, but another sit-down is expected sometime this month.

There's no way of knowing how the current antagonism will be resolved. But more than 2,000 housekeepers, valets and cooks continue to show up at the Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier and the Grand Californian for work every day. They're still being paid under the last contract that expired at the end of January.

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Disney Japan To Focus On Games By Merging Net, Software Ops