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No News Updates September 26th - 28th P.I.
Closure and Food and Wine Trip |
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Thursday
September 25, 2008 |
Johnny Depp in deep
with Disney
Halloween Time at
Disneyland
Disneyland to Miley Cyrus fans: Beware of Sweet 16 party
ticket-scalpers
Family sues Disneyland, says dog attacked toddler
Tinker Bell and friends attraction coming to Disney World
'Haunted Halloween' returns to Disneyland in Hong Kong
Disney gala
shows off upcoming movies
Demi Lovato to Star in Disney's Series 'Sonny with a Chance'
"Cars 2" racing to
theaters in 2011
Cable can be
centre of Disney strategy
Top Up adds
Disney, ABC shows to Anytime
Disney, Fickman
ink first-look deal
Disney College Program internships provide work experience |
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Johnny Depp in deep
with Disney
Hollywood Reporter - Move over, Mickey Mouse: Johnny Depp,
having buccaneered his way through three "Pirates of the
Caribbean" movies, is becoming the new mascot of Walt Disney
Studios.
Depp, taking on the role of the Mad Hatter, has accepted an
invitation to join the manic tea party in Tim Burton's "Alice in
Wonderland."
In a surprise piece of casting, Depp also will play the sidekick
Tonto in the upcoming movie version of "The Lone Ranger."
A daylong preview of upcoming Disney movies and projects, held
Wednesday at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland, ended
with a surprise appearance by the actor, outfitted as Jack
Sparrow, walking onstage to the tune of "The William Tell
Overture," the "Lone Ranger" theme.
The Depp castings were just a couple of the developments that
Disney execs, led by chairman Dick Cook, offered up to a packed
house of exhibitors and media types. In lieu of doing major
presentations at industry confabs like ShoWest, Disney
traditionally throws elaborate show-and-tells in Los Angeles
every few years to promote its wares.
Pushing the pedal to the metal, Disney and Pixar have moved up
the animated sequel "Cars 2" from summer 2012 to summer 2011.
Another sequel, "National Treasure 3," has been put into
development, as has a fourth "Pirates."
Oprah Winfrey will lend her voice to the traditionally animated
"The Princess and the Frog." And on the Miramax front, Helen
Mirren is set to play an Israeli agent in "The Dead," a World
War II espionage thriller that John Madden will shoot early next
year.
"Movies are constantly changing, and we want to be at the
forefront," said Cook, hammering home themes of innovation and
creativity throughout the day.
He began by showing graphs to make a point that movie attendance
worldwide has remained relatively flat no matter how many movies
were released. While not stating the point, it subtly
underscored the company's recent decision to scale back the
number of movies it releases each year.
Cook stressed that in order to stand out in the crowded
marketplace, the company is focusing on what it calls "the
Disney difference," a combination of its brand name mixed with a
dedication to creativity and innovation.
"We add that extra increment of quality to everything we do,"
Cook said.
The starry presentation also trotted out such names as Jim
Carrey, Dwayne Johnson, John Travolta, Robin Williams, Sandra
Bullock, George Lopez, filmmaker Robert Zemeckis and
Pixar/Disney Animation creative head John Lasseter. The company
used the occasion to preview movies including "A Christmas
Carol," "Bedtime Story," "High School Musical 3: Senior Year,"
"Hannah Montana: The Movie," "Race to Witch Mountain," "The
Proposal," "The Surrogates," "Old Dogs," "Up," "Prince of
Persia" and "Tron 2.0." |
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Halloween Time at
Disneyland
Disney
News - Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort will fill Disneyland
and Disney’s California Adventure parks with not-so-scary spook-tacular
entertainment beginning Friday, Sept. 26 and continuing through
Sunday, November 2. The season of tricks and treats will be
celebrated at Disneyland Resort with the traditional giant
“Mickey Mouse” jack-o’-lantern in Disneyland Town Square,
Haunted Mansion Holiday in New Orleans Square and Candy Corn
Acres in Disney’s California Adventure, along with festive
foods, a lively mix of Disney characters in Halloween costumes
and year two of Disney’s Happiest Haunt Tours.
During regular park hours at Disneyland and Disney’s California
Adventure, Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort offers parents
and children plenty of family-friendly fun in addition to the
parks’ many popular adventures. Halloween Time activities
include special shows, meet-and-greets with Disneyland
characters in spirited costumes, along with opportunities to
decorate Halloween cookies and listen to storytelling tales at
“Woody’s Halloween Roundup” at Big Thunder Ranch.
Dedicated fans of Halloween and the Disney parks will want to
sign up to experience all the “hot and cold running chills” of
the season on Disney’s Happiest Haunt Tour, an expanded version
of the Halloween tour launched in 2007. From Sept. 26 to Oct.
31, the three-hour Disney’s Happiest Haunt Tour will be offered
twice a day, beginning at the “witching hours” of 5:15 and 5:30
p.m. The tour, conducted by a “unique” Disneyland Resort tour
guide, includes the stories behind some of the Disney parks’
spookiest attractions, told from the perspective of Disney
villains. Stops at thrilling attractions including the Twilight
Zone Tower of Terror, Haunted Mansion Holiday, Big Thunder
Mountain Railroad and Snow White’s Scary Adventure are among the
highlights of the tour.
Disney’s Happiest Haunt Tour is darkly humorous and spooky and
is not recommended for young children or for those who might not
enjoy the featured attractions (or might not meet the 40-inch
height requirement for Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Big
Thunder Mountain Railroad). The tour fee is $59 and does not
include park admission. Guests who take the tour receive an
exclusive collectible remembrance and a Halloween treat. Each
tour group has a maximum size of 20 guests. Tours may be booked
up to 20 days in advance by calling (714) 781-4400.
Popular, family-friendly entertainment also returns for the
Halloween season. At Disney’s California Adventure Sunshine
Plaza is the Candy Corn Acres, where Mickey Mouse’s pal Goofy
sets out to grow the West’s biggest and most unusual candy corn,
including candy corn coconuts, candy corn carrots and candy corn
pumpkins. The Plaza will be overgrown with the “fruits” of
Goofy’s labor.
Also returning for the season is Haunted Mansion Holiday.
Inspired by the innovative animated film, Tim Burton’s
“Nightmare Before Christmas,” Haunted Mansion Holiday comes to
life when Jack Skellington and his friends create holiday mayhem
at the Haunted Mansion in New Orleans Square.
A perfect way to celebrate Halloween in special Disney style is
the one-of-a-kind Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Party. This private
costume party lets little ones laugh and play with some of their
favorite Disney Characters—including Mickey himself—and ride
select attractions as they trick-or-treat through Disney’s
California Adventure park. The experience also includes
interactive games, “spirited” music, and a nightly character
cavalcade. It’s an unforgettable evening of Halloween fun for
everyone. Dates for Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Party are Oct. 3,
10, 16. 17, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30 and 31. Tickets are $29 per
person when purchased at least one day in advance, $37 per
person for tickets purchased day-of and for all Oct. 31 tickets.
They may be purchased online at www.disneyland.com or by calling
(714) 781-4400.
Throughout the Disneyland Resort during Halloween Time, families
can enjoy unique Halloween-themed food items including Zero’s
Ghostly Ghoulash, a favorite of Jack Skellington’s pet in
“Haunted Mansion Holiday,” and merchandise including Disney
costumes, collectible pins and coins and a special set of
Halloween-themed Mickey Mouse ears resembling the Mickey
jack-o’-lantern in Town Square.
For more information about Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort
and new attractions, visit www.disneyland.com/halloween. |
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Disneyland to Miley Cyrus fans: Beware of Sweet 16 party
ticket-scalpers
Los Angeles Times - Fans forking over $500 or more to buy
tickets on eBay for Miley Cyrus' Sweet 16 birthday party at
Disneyland may be in for a harsh surprise when they arrive at
the Hollywood–style red carpet event on Oct. 5.
The Anaheim theme park has
instituted strict anti-scalping procedures designed to prevent
reselling of tickets at online auction sites such as eBay —
where more than 50 "Miley Cyrus Sweet 16 birthday party" tickets
have been for sale in recent days. The exclusive event featuring
the "Hannah Montana" star sold out almost immediately, with the
general public snatching up the 5,000 available tickets at $250
a pop. Profiteers immediately put the coveted Cyrus tickets up
for sale on eBay with prices starting at $500 apiece.
But here's the catch. Tickets
won't be issued until the day of the event — and then only to
the original purchaser after 2 p.m. at the main gate. (The event
runs from 6 to 11 p.m.) And that's not all:
The original purchaser must
provide a confirmation letter, identification and signature at
the check-in booth in order to receive the tickets.
Everyone attending the event
must be present when the tickets are issued.
A Disneyland employee will
escort the credentialed group into the theme park. |
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Family sues Disneyland, says dog attacked toddler
AP - A family is suing Disneyland, claiming their toddler was
mauled by a dog at the park's petting zoo in 2006.
The suit filed Tuesday in Orange
County Superior Court says the German shepherd-Labrador
retriever mix named Hemmingway attacked 2-year-old Lena
Dickerson, biting her several times on the face and leaving her
permanently scarred.
The 6-year-old dog was adopted
from a local shelter by a Disneyland employee and brought to the
theme park two weeks before the attack, the suit says.
The lawsuit claims the shelter
had called the dog "not very social" and said it had a history
of aggression.
Disney officials declined
comment Wednesday, saying they do not comment on pending
litigation. |
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Tinker Bell and friends attraction coming to Disney World
Orlando Sentinel - Move over, Cinderella,
Snow White and Ariel: The Disney Fairies are on their way.
Preparing
for the Oct. 28 release of a straight-to-DVD animated children's
movie about Tinker Bell, Walt Disney World is about to open a
walk-through attraction in the Magic Kingdom based on, and
featuring, that pixie and four other Disney Fairies characters.
The Disney Fairies are a new set of characters, developed for
books, movies, Internet games and merchandise, that expand the
role of the always-popular Tinker Bell. Four DVD movies are in
the works. The theme park's Pixie Hollow attraction opens Oct.
24 in Mickey's Toontown Fair.
"This is a franchise that is soon to be like our princesses
franchise," declared Francois Leroux, a vice president of
character programs with Walt Disney World Entertainment, who
introduced the characters to the media on Wednesday in downtown
Orlando.
The theme-park fairies made their debut as Disney World
officials briefed the news media on a broad range of plans and
strategies, from minority-owned business contracting to the
recently announced "celebrations" campaign in 2009 to a
cross-promotion with the Disney-owned ESPN cable-TV network that
will result in the renaming of Disney World's athletic complex
as the ESPN Wide World of Sports.
While company officials had cautioned that they had no intention
of using the forum to announce a major iconic attraction, the
briefing had many close Disney observers wondering when or if
the giant resort might unveil plans for new rides in 2009 or
beyond. Disney has often used such briefings to announce big new
rides, shows, restaurants and hotels.
Rivals Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando are both building
new, signature roller coasters for next summer, and the
following year Universal is opening the Wizarding World of Harry
Potter, one of the most highly anticipated theme-park
attractions in the world.
"This is the first time in our 15 years of covering the Walt
Disney World scene that there isn't a single announced new
attraction for any of the four parks," Simon Veness, co-author
with his wife, Susan Veness, of the Brit Guide to Orlando & Walt
Disney World, wrote in an e-mail.
In February, Disney announced a new game-show venue: a
theme-park version of the hit Fox TV show American Idol. But
that show initially was to open late this year; Disney now says
it's likely to open early next. Disney has not announced any
iconic attractions to follow that.
"It's also unusual given that Universal is coming out with both
barrels blazing in the next couple of years," said Robert Niles
editor of the blog Theme Park Insider.
In addition to Pixie Hollow and the American Idol Experience,
upcoming attractions include new street parties; a new
technology-based game tied to the Disney animated TV show Kim
Possible; a big family restaurant in Downtown Disney called
T-Rex; and other dining and entertainment expansions in Downtown
Disney. This past summer, the company opened a major new ride
called Toy Story Midway Mania, Disney World spokeswoman Jacquee
Polak said.
"We continue to grow in traditional and nontraditional ways,"
Polak said. "We are going to continue to focus on delivering
experiences that only Disney can provide."
John Frost, editor of The Disney Blog, a popular Internet source
of news and commentary, considers 2009 "essentially a planned
off year for Disney."
"With just American Idol opening next year, Walt Disney World is
really relying a lot on this year's crop of new attractions. Toy
Story Midway Mania is great, and they probably haven't gotten
all the yardage they can out of that as far as attracting new
guests," Frost said. "The Pixie Hollow Disney Fairies experience
isn't an attendance driver, except for a very small target
market."
John Gerner, a theme-park industry analyst with Leisure Business
Advisers of Virginia, said Disney World is in a position where
it does not have to add major rides all the time.
"As a strategy, one thing you don't necessarily try to do is
expand the same year your competition does. It doesn't tend to
serve either player," Gerner said. "The fact that Universal is
putting in the big Potter area may have Disney saying, 'Let's
pause and see what happens, and then we'll follow up.' "
To capitalize on both ESPN's popularity and the existing
Disney's Wide World of Sports brand, Disney will rename its
athletic complex ESPN Wide World of Sports.
"You really want to focus on your equities. One equity is ESPN.
The other one is the fact that over the last 12 years we have
built an enormous amount of equity behind the Wide World of
Sports brand," said Ken Potrock, senior vice president for
sports enterprises. "Not necessarily the ABC-Jim McKay brand,
but the Wide World of Sports the Complex brand." |
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'Haunted Halloween' returns to Disneyland in Hong Kong
Taiwan News - A strong power of darkness invades in Hong Kong
Disney from September 26 to November 1, lasting 37 days. It will
be the first time that this power of darkness expands its
invasion into the Adventure Land to take over it, which is never
seen in any other Disney. The upcoming dark power determines to
swallow the Hong Kong Disney in this Halloween and creates a
spookier "Haunted Halloween" than the one last year.
In this Halloween, the Adventure
Land will be the spot for jungle demons to appear. The most
thrilling and exciting part is the "Demon Jungle" that features
scenes of caverns, treasure-hunt and escape. With an all-new
plot and themed background, this is going to be the one of kind
experience purposely designed for Hong Kong Disney.
Once upon a time, a group of
adventurers entered deeply into the jungle for their mission,
but they accidentally landed their foot on the graveyard,
awakening countless devils and demons. Then, various types of
demons and devils showed up and the whole group of the adventure
team was nowhere to be found. This mysterious spot will reopen
its gate with the power of darkness, waiting every guest to be
trapped.
The lucky guests who escaped
will have to enter "Adventure Haunted Land." This path is the
"dark" spot for Halloween theme photo shots in daytime. However,
at the night of every Friday and Saturday, it would be even
creepier and spookier. |
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Disney gala
shows off upcoming movies
CNNMoney - In a gala adorned with Hollywood stars, The Walt
Disney Co. wowed an industry crowd Wednesday in a showcase of
its upcoming films that included a sequel to its 1982 sci-fi
flick "Tron" and a "Lone Ranger" remake with Johnny Depp as
Tonto.The daylong
presentation at the Kodak Theatre, home of the Oscars, delivered
repeated surprises as actors emerged onstage to tout animated
3-D movies, live-action thrillers and comedies _ with animal
co-stars ranging from guinea pigs and chihuahuas to humpback
whales.
Jim Carrey, starring in his
first Disney film, a 3-D motion capture remake of Charles
Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," summed up the chaos of his
performance, in which he plays seven characters including
Ebenezer Scrooge.
"It's pretty much just a party
and everyone's invited," he said.
Commenting on Disney's lengthy
rollout, which included a full screening of the animated
dog-hero movie "Bolt," Carrey told out-of-town guests, "You can
go back home and say these saddle sores came from Hollywood."
Disney made a similar
presentation of its animated films to investors in April in New
York, but held its last live-action movie showcase three years
ago.
The 17 films presented then
grossed over $5 billion at the box office, said Dick Cook, the
chairman of Disney studios. He called the upcoming film slate
the "most creative" in Disney history.
Among other casting
announcements, Disney said Oprah Winfrey will be the voice of
the character of Eudora in the hand-drawn animated movie set in
New Orleans, "The Princess and the Frog."
The film features an African
American heroine, Tiana, played by Anika Noni Rose. Winfrey
plays Tiana's mother in the movie set for release on Christmas
in 2009.
Depp, who received top billing
for the role of Jack Sparrow in the "Pirates of the Caribbean"
franchise, will also play the Mad Hatter in a Tim Burton remake
of "Alice in Wonderland."
"Believe me, any time this guy
wears a funny hat, it's good news for Disney," Cook said.
A brief snippet from "Tron 2"
featured a louder, crisper and more thrilling bike race and a
cameo of an older Jeff Bridges, who starred in the original
version.
Miley Cyrus, star of an
eponymous movie and television show, performed a live song from
"Hannah Montana: The Movie"; Robin Williams and John Travolta,
stars of the upcoming "Old Dogs," yucked it up on stage; George
Lopez appeared to promote "Beverly Hills Chihuahua"; and Dwayne
Johnson was on hand to tout "Race to Witch Mountain."
The University of Southern
California marching band even made an appearance.
The Pixar and Disney animation
studios' chief creative officer, John Lasseter, also broke the
news that "Cars 2," the sequel to the blockbuster he directed
for Pixar Animation Studios, would be released in the summer of
2011, a year earlier than once planned.
Along with a wide-ranging slate
of films starring Sandra Bullock ("The Proposal"), Tim Allen
("Wild Hogs 2"), and Zac Efron ("High School Musical 3: Senior
Year"), Cook boasted Disney would release five 3-D movies next
year, more than any other studio.
Cook fired a barb at former
Disney studios chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg, now chief executive
of DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc., ribbing: "I read that even
Jeffrey Katzenberg may release his first 3-D movie next year,"
in reference to "Monsters vs. Aliens."
The company also previewed films
from its labels Touchstone and Miramax, the latter of which
produced the 2007 Oscar winners "No Country for Old Men," and
"There Will Be Blood."
The most promising Miramax
release, set for release in December, was "Doubt," starring
Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman in a dark tale about a
nun's fight against a priest who she suspects of sexually
abusing a black student. |
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Demi Lovato to Star in Disney's Series 'Sonny with a Chance'
ACESHOWBIZ - Having her debut LP "Don't Forget" hit the stores
Tuesday, September 23, Demi Lovato is adding yet another project
into her acting resume, a new Disney TV series, titled "Sonny
with a Chance." In an interview with Spanish magazine Para Todos,
she reveals some details about the upcoming project.
Demi told the publication, the
story of "Sonny with a Chance" follows "a girl named Sonny
having a chance to make it in [show] business." She went on
revealing that she and the other cast and crew have finished
filming the first episode of the series and "will continue to
film the series through the next few months."
"Sonny with a Chance," still
according to Para Todos, is set to air in February or March
2009. No words on the other cast who star in the series.
As for her singing career, Demi
has been getting a very vocal support from fellow famous
celebrities Jonas Brothers, who have urged fans to pick up her
new CD. The singing sensations wrote on their official blog
Tuesday, September 23, "Just wanted to let you know that Demi's
new CD is in stores TODAY!!! We are so proud of our friend. She
is an amazing singer and musician. Also, we want you to know
that we were able to co-write and co-produce 6 of the songs on
the CD. There is even a duet we can't wait for you to hear."
With her debut LP already on
sale at stores nationwide, Demi nevertheless has been quoted by
Para Todos as saying she has no plans to celebrate. "I'm
actually going to be working, so I haven't really planned a
party, but I might just have a bunch of people over and have
pizza or something," so she said. |
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"Cars
2" racing to theaters in 2011
Reuters - Pixar is pushing the pedal to the metal on its sequel
"Cars 2."
The follow-up to John Lasseter's
2006 film "Cars" originally was scheduled for release in summer
2012. But at a Disney presentation Wednesday, Lasseter, Pixar's
chief creative officer, said that the film has been moved up to
a 2011 release.
Brad Lewis, who served as a
producer on "Antz" and "Ratatouille," is directing the film,
which Lasseter said takes its inspiration from cars from around
the world that he saw while doing publicity tours on behalf of
"Cars."
In the meantime, Pixar will keep
the "Cars" engine humming with a series of animated shorts
dubbed "Cars Toons," which will play on the Disney Channel and
might screen theatrically. The first of these, "Mater's Tall
Tales," takes its title from the name of the character that
Larry the Cable Guy played in the first film. |
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Cable can be
centre of Disney strategy
Broadband TV News - Disney Media Networks’ President of Global
Distribution Benjamin Pyne has laid out how cable has become the
centre of the company’s cross-platform strategy.
Giving the keynote address to
EuroSummit ’08, Pyne explained how US cablenets such as Cox and
Cablevision had invested in fibre and “the bundle”, expanding
into telecoms and later wireless. “Cablevision have used Disney
SVOD and both of us make money on that package every month.
Every once in a while we give them a premiere, but they have a
piece of every other element of Disney, be it Disney Mobile or
Disney.com, as it goes over their networks.”
The relationship with cable is a
far cry from when Pyne announced the launch of the online
catch-up service ABC.com during the NCTA cable show in Atlanta
in 2006. “That entire day I was a marked man, every cable op
thought we were betraying them. What we said was whether it’s on
ABC.com or Disney.com we will more than build the audience and
over the past two years we’ve proved that.”
Pyne said that while every
technological advance was said to spell the end for broadcast
and cable, the evidence so far is that those predictions are far
from the truth. |
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Top Up adds
Disney, ABC shows to Anytime
Digital Spy - Top Up TV will add 400 hours of programming from
Disney-ABC-ESPN Television to its library, it was announced
today.
The first seasons of Lost,
Desperate Housewives,
Grey's Anatomy and
Ugly Betty will be among the
shows joining the Anytime service from September 27.
"We are delighted to be able to offer even more great TV shows
to our viewers," said Top Up TV commercial director Jim Hytner.
"Shows such as Lost, Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy are
some of the most popular, ground-breaking and talked about TV
series produced in recent years, so to add these to our already
extensive programming will create one of the most comprehensive
packages on the market, which are sure to be a hit with our
audiences."
Maria Kyriacou, senior vice president for new media distribution
at Disney-ABC-ESPN, said: "We’re committed to working with
international partners in the new media space to bring our
content to viewers in flexible ways - the impressive back
catalogue of these award-winning hit series lends itself
perfectly to Top Up TV Anytime’s on demand offering, where
viewers will be able to revisit them, or discover them for the
first time." |
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Disney, Fickman ink first-look deal
Variety - Walt Disney Studios has cut a three-year first-look
deal with Andy Fickman, who directed "The Game Plan" and
recently wrapped "Race to Witch Mountain" for the studio.
Fickman has set up Oops
Doughnuts Prods. that will be based on the Disney lot to develop
family pics he will direct and produce. Betsy Sullenger is
Fickman's producing partner and head of development for Oops
Doughnuts.
Fickman expects that his next
directing project for Disney will be "Pool Rats," a script he
co-wrote with Kathryn Price and Nicole Millard based on his
experience coaching a neighborhood league swim team. He and
Sullenger will produce with Mayhem partners Mark Ciardi and
Gordon Gray.
Before he got his directing
career started with the Amanda Bynes starrer "She's the Man" and
the Showtime pic "Reefer Madness," the former Universal Studios
tour guide worked as a development exec at companies run by Gene
Wilder and Bette Midler. He also worked for Verna Harrah's
Middle Fork Prods., where he was a producer on "Anaconda." He
met Sullenger during his stint at Middle Fork. |
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Disney College Program internships provide work experience
The
Auburn Plainsman - Disney World is not only “The Happiest Place
on Earth” to play, it now offers the happiest jobs on Earth.
The Disney College Program is an
education and work experience program at the Walt Disney World
Resort. It is open to students who are full-time students at a
college or university in the United States and have completed at
least one semester.
Alyssa Brussee, a recent Auburn
graduate, interned on Main Street East in the Magic Kingdom in
merchandising.
“It was really the best time of
my life,” Brussee said. “I now consider my Disney friends to be
just as close, if not closer to me than my Auburn friends.”
According to the Disney College
Program Web site, interns have the opportunity to build skills
including relationship building, problem solving and written and
verbal communication.
Brussee got involved with the
program through an informational meeting on campus. The Disney
College Program visited Auburn last week. If interested students
missed the presentation, they can still view it online through
the E-Presentation.
Once the presentation is
watched, applicants can fill out an application and interview.
“I was a communications major
and needed an internship, so I went on the Web site and filled
out some paperwork,” Brussee said. “I got an interview right
after the Disney presentation.”
Sarah Bradford, a freshman in
radio television and film, said she has seen fliers and
advertisements for the Disney College Program presentation, but
still wasn’t sure what it was.
“I think anything where you can
intern, even if it doesn’t really have to do with your major, is
a good opportunity to try and get something done so you can have
the experience,” Bradford said.
Responsibilities range anywhere
from training new College Program students, to working cash
registers in a store at one of the parks.
Brussee said she gave directions
to guests, was responsible for store merchandise and provided
“Magical Moments” to children and guests.
Magical Moments are special
treatments, like fast passes or staying at the castle, that are
given out to randomly picked guests.
Bradford said the program sounds
a fun experience, and she would be interested in doing something
like that later on in her college career.
“I don’t have to intern for my
major, but I am definitely going to try to intern later on for
the experience,” Bradford said.
According to the Web site, one
of the perks of the program is cast members get to “make new
friendships that cover the globe.”
“We were given roommates in our
apartments, ones that Disney owns, from all over,” Brussee said.
“Mine were from North Carolina, New York City, Hong Kong and
Japan.”
Brussee said she even went to
one roommate’s wedding in February. She said she believes the
people are amazing, including cast members and guests.
“The people make everything
worthwhile,” Brussee said. “I’d do it again in a heartbeat, it
was the best semester of my life, even if I had to miss a
football season.” |
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Wednesday
September 24, 2008 |
Universal CityWalk deal attempts to lure Pleasure Island
passholders
The
party's over for Disney's Pleasure Island
The Art and Soul of Bolt
Haunted Mansion reopens at Disneyland with 'Nightmare Before
Christmas' theme
Magical Fireworks Voyage experience to become available to all
Guests
Disney's name coming off its Wide World of Sports complex
Oprah Winfrey
hops aboard Disney's 'Frog'
Disney Won't Give Up Control of Video Content Anytime Soon
Reedy Creek labor
talks heat up
Fairies,
parties en route to Magic Kingdom
'Moms panel' has gained celebrity offering online guidance to
navigating Disney
Disneyland in
loan extension talks |
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Universal CityWalk deal attempts to lure Pleasure Island
passholders
Theme Park Rangers - Oh, you could feel this one coming from
Universal, couldn't you? The clubs at Universal CityWalk will
honor annual passes from Disney's Pleasure Island through March
31, 2009. P.I. clubs, perhaps you've heard, will be closed after
this Saturday's festivities. (If you're a Disney premium
passholder -- the kind that includes PI, water parks and theme
parks, Universal will honor those for CityWalk as well.)
Here's how it works: Present your
PI pass with valid photo ID at CityWalk guest services
before Dec. 31, 2008. In return, you'll receive a
CityWalk pass that's good through March 31, 2009,
for select venues. They are Red Coconut Club, Bob
Marley's, Pat O'Brien's, Citywalk's Rising Star, the groove,
Latin Quarter and Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. (It excludes
VIP admission and special-ticket events like New Year's Eve.)
For more info, call CityWalk
guest services at 407-224-2690.
You got to love it, now if we could get a comedy club and the
Adventurers Club moved there we would be straight.
Can you say
Kevin Lansberry Duh! ROFLMAO |
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The
party's over for Disney's Pleasure Island
Orlando Sentinel - We are in the end days for the six nightclubs
of Pleasure Island. Patrons and performers of the Downtown
Disney entertainment complex, which opened in 1989, have been
gathering for final rounds of merriment before the last-ever
last calls Saturday.
Since the shutdown announcement in June, some mourners have
shifted into reminiscing mode.
Mary Thompson Hunt, who has logged thousands of improv
performances at P.I.'s Comedy Warehouse, recalls the excitement
of the early years.
"Every night the parking lot was full, there were fireworks
every night," she said. "This place was a party every night, and
it stayed that way for a long time."
But rumors of eminent demise dogged the clubs for years. The
slow, steady decrease of atmospheric extras on the island --
fewer street performers, the end of the
New Year's Eve every night promotion, the demolition of
the West End Stage, eliminated searchlights and so on -- only
fed that speculation.
Many observers thought Comedy Warehouse and the Adventurers Club
-- the two clubs that featured actors -- would be spared.
Hunt's hopes were dashed when she was called into an all-Island
mandatory meeting. She knew it would be bad news. It was.
Playing it cool
Greg Triggs performed on the Island for 13 years before moving
in 2003 to New York City, where he continues to work in the
entertainment field. He wonders if more changes should have been
made over the years.
"I think that in the nightclub business, it's not your job to
react to what's cool, it's your job to decide what's going to be
cool," he said. "Unless you keep exploring that, at some point,
people are going to say, 'Well, I've been there. Where else
should I go?' "
Nightlife options in the tourism corridor have increased -- not
only with the arrival of Universal
CityWalk in 1999, but also on Disney property. The
company opened Disney's BoardWalk in 1996 and added West End,
adjacent to Pleasure Island in 1997. Neither have a cover
charge. When the P.I. opened, the movie theaters and Planet
Hollywood didn't exist.
"One of the things that Pleasure Island had going for it, and
CityWalk still will: Where else can you get that saturation of
club experience? Probably in Las Vegas and CityWalk," Triggs
said.
Orlando architect Jeffrey Lurie began frequenting Mannequins
Dance Palace, a P.I. original, while employed at Disney in the
'90s.
"As much as I have traveled and seen clubs in other cities, I've
never seen anything like Mannequins," he said. "It had the
rotating floor, the scenery that goes up and down out of the
ceiling, the big stage."
Mannequins typically hosted a mix of cast members, locals and
conventioneers.
"I think that's part of the fun of being a vacation spot," Lurie
said. "You don't really care what other people are going to say
or do."
He had seen Pleasure Island "scaled back," he said, so the
clubs' closure wasn't a shock.
"The price didn't change, but it felt like you were getting
less," he said.
This is the end
The Adventurers Club, one of the original establishments, offers
distinctive entertainment. The setting is a 1930s organization
of world travelers. Guests and character actors interact during
playlets with off-script, slightly naughty shenanigans thrown
in. There are club songs, oaths, salutes and inside jokes, which
built cult-ish loyalty and a "hidden treasure" status.
John and Melissa Companick of New Jersey have visited regularly
since 1997. They even had their wedding reception there --
complete with actors -- in 2002.
"Over the years we've been going, the same crowd has been
there," John said. "I was shocked when I heard Pleasure Island
was closing." He chalked it up as being another Internet rumor
at first.
The couple, who planned to skip Disney this year, quickly made
one final trip. They visited theme parks during the day and made
videotapes of the shows at night. They weren't alone.
"It was so busy that we weren't able to make every show we
wanted to see," Melissa said.
The thought of the club going away wore on them.
"We were fine all week, because there was something funny going
on," John said. "But the last night it was like 'Holy cow, this
is ending.' . . . It was a tough way to end our trip."
What's ahead
Disney officials remain hush-hush about the Pleasure Island of
the future. Kevin Lansberry, vice president of Downtown Disney,
said an announcement would be made in the "near future" -- but
not before 2008 ends. Ragland Road restaurant, Fuego cigar bar
and two retail outlets will remain open.
"We've got some interesting stuff planned in the interim because
we don't want the place to look like a dark area with nothing
but dark clubs around it," Lansberry said.
"I don't think we'll put the green pixie dust walls up right
away. The walls will stay down until we start making the changes
we're planning to make," he said.
Don't look for a grand, expansive unveiling.
"These sorts of things tend to get phased in. They don't tend to
be a knock-it-all-down, start-all-over-again, bring it all back
at once," he said. "It will be in stages."
PI history
*1986 -- Walt Disney Co. Chairman Michael Eisner tells
shareholders the company is planning an entertainment complex to
be called Pleasure Island or Disney Island.
*May 1989 -- Official opening of Pleasure Island.
*1990 -- Its "New Year's Eve every night" celebration begins.
*1996-97 -- Disney's BoardWalk and Downtown Disney's West End
open.
*2005 -- New Year's theming ditched; admission fee dropped
unless guest wanted to enter nightclubs.
*2006 -- New bridge built, outdoor stages torn down.
*Feb. 3, 2008 -- Rock 'n' Roll Beach Club closes.
*June 27, 2008 -- Closing of remaining nightclubs announced.
*Sept. 27, 2008 -- Last night for clubs. |
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The Art and
Soul of Bolt
Disney Insider - Animation as fine art? With a nod to the past
for inspiration, Disney's upcoming "Bolt" proves animated
features can rival the beauty and power of any painting. Taking
cues from the art world, Disney animators have captured the
essence of Edward Hopper's visual poetry by giving "Bolt" a
lush, painterly feel reminiscent of Disney greats "Pinocchio"
and "Bambi" ... which is precisely what the creative team hoped
to achieve.
Opening November 21, "Bolt" tells the tale of a TV super-hound
forced to face his own real-life limitations while on a
cross-country rescue mission to save best pal Penny from
fiendish criminal mastermind, Dr. Calico. The power pup soon
discovers his laser vision, lightning speed, super strength, and
devastating bark — capable of leveling tall buildings — are
merely the result of TV special effects.
John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer, Walt Disney Animation
Studios, inspired a team of artists, animators, special effects
and lighting crews to develop new tools that provide a
distinctive, human touch while supporting the storytelling.
According to "Bolt" Art Director Paul Felix, "The goal was to
blur the line between animation and fine art." Animators found
Hopper's work to be a major source of inspiration, particularly
his dramatic use of light, line, color, and cinematic
composition. Reflecting Hopper's work, a hand-painted,
brushstroke was applied to the film's buildings and backgrounds
— a technique that contrasts the slick, sleek styling of most
computer-generated (CG) animation.
Since the technology available was not equipped to give "Bolt" a
subtle, painterly feel, how did the creative team achieve its
goals? After pioneering animation for nearly a century, it's no
surprise that the Studio renowned for the multiplane camera,
Fantasound, Deep Canvas, and Disney Digital 3-D, once again
invented technology to support its vision.
"Ray Painting," the Studio's newly patented program, enables
precision levels of artistic control, allowing animators to
paint, render, and manipulate textures, details, shadows, and
each scene's center of interest as well as the Characters
themselves. Animators can focus on the art instead of wrestling
with software constraints. And when you're talking about the
development timeline for animated features, every minute saved
is worth its weight in gold.
To give Bolt's TV show within the film extreme impact, animators
utilized the intense camera angles, over-the-top shots, and
light flashes common in live-action movies. "[Producer] Chris
Williams challenged us to make a really cool show that the
networks would want to air after the movie's released," says
Director Byron Howard. To distinguish Bolt's "TV world" from
what he encounters off the set, hot colors helped achieve an
oversaturated look in the show universe. Byron adds, "It's very
exciting and high contrast. We're hoping the audience will walk
away thinking that's a show they'd love to watch. Once Bolt's
out in the real world, however, everything's softer and more
natural. We were able to successfully montage CG images with
paintings for amazing effects."
Amazing isn't the word. Disney's inspired animators have once
again created a masterpiece ... "Bolt" is truly a work of art! |
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Haunted Mansion reopens at Disneyland with 'Nightmare Before
Christmas' theme
Los Angeles Times - Disneyland's Haunted Mansion is expected to
"soft open" on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008, with the
now-traditional Halloween/Christmas holiday overlay.
The official reopening of the refurbished Mansion — on
Friday, Sept. 26, 2008 — coincides with the kickoff of Halloween
festivities at the Anaheim theme park.
Since 2001, the Mansion has closed each September to give
crews time to replace many of the haunted props and
Audio-Animatronics with characters and themes from Tim Burton's
"The Nightmare Before Christmas" movie. Jack Skellington and his
ghoulish friends typically stick around until the end of the
year. |
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Magical Fireworks Voyage experience to become available to all
Guests Disney News -
Beginning March 1, 2009, the Magical Fireworks Voyage experience
will become available to all Guests, including Grand Gathering
Guests, regardless of the size of their party.
Cost for adults will be $53.99 and $30.99 for 3 to 9 year olds.
It was previously only available to Grand Gathering Guests. |
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Disney's name coming off its Wide World of Sports complex
Orlando Sentinel - Wide World of Sports complex will be renamed
the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex, signaling the Walt Disney
Co.'s desire to capitalize on both brands at its giant Central
Florida resort.
Ken Potrock, Disney World senior vice president for the sports
complex, announced the name change this morning as he outlined
the complex's current and expanding role as a generator of
tourism and convention business in Central Florida.
The facilities currently draw 250,000 athletes and 1.2 million
spectators a year. Surveys show the vast majority would not have
come to Central Florida or Walt Disney World had it not been for
the athletic competitions.
With plans for a new bowling center, the new Jostens Center that
just opened, and the ESPN rebranding, Potrock said he expects
far more visitors.
He also said the company would take more advantage of the
worldwide popularity of ESPN among sports enthusiasts.
"If you're in the sports business and you happen to own the most
powerful sports brand, why wouldn't you leverage that?" he said.
"The answer is, of course we will leverage that." |
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Oprah Winfrey
hops aboard Disney's 'Frog'
THR - Oprah Winfrey has joined the voice cast of the upcoming
Disney animated film "The Princess and the Frog."
At a Disney presentation in Hollywood on Wednesday, John
Lasseter, the chief creative office at Pixar and Walt Disney
Animation Studios, said that Winfrey will play the character of
Eudora, the mother of the main character Princess Tiana, voiced
by Anika Noni Rose.
The film, set for release in late 2009, is set in the French
Quarter of New Orleans.
Winfrey has lent her vocal talents to several other animated and
fantasy films in the past: Most recently, she played Judge
Bumbleton in "Bee Movie," and she also provided dialogue for
Gussy the Goose in the live-action "Charlotte's Web."
Randy Newman has written six new songs for the film, it was also
announced. Newman appeared in person to perform one of the tunes
called "Down in New Orleans." |
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Disney Won't Give Up Control of Video Content Anytime Soon
Wired News -
Disney wants to be
everywhere the
viewer is, whether
that's on a phone,
PC or a TV. And
while the company
says it's open to
alternative
distribution
platforms (such as
Hulu), it's
extremely reluctant
to stream the video
on anything other
than its own player.
"At the core of it,
video is still
precious to us in
terms of how we
manage the inventory
and monetize it, and
that won't change,"
said Albert Cheng,
executive vice
president of digital
media at Disney/ABC,
while speaking at
Streaming Media
West. "There's so
much buzz around
distribution, but
nobody knows how to
make money off it.
Our goal is to build
a successful
business and our
player produces
measurable results."
And as an
interesting side
note: Despite all
the talk about
broadcast networks
trading in "analog
dollars for digital
pennies," Cheng says
that just isn't the
case at Disney.
"It's more like
comparing a
full-grown adult to
a teenager," says
Cheng. "At ABC.com,
the gap between [the
web] and TV isn't
all that huge. It's
not dollars to
pennies."
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Reedy
Creek labor talks heat up
Orlando Sentinel - The special government district that serves
Walt Disney World and the union that represents its firefighters
are locked in a labor-contract fight that has heated up over the
district's assertion that its taxes and budget are being
squeezed in part by Disney's slow growth.
Reedy Creek District Administrator C. Ray Maxwell has cautioned
the firefighters' union that the district's finances are
suffering because of a combination of Disney's slow growth, the
overall economy and recent rollback requirements in state
property taxes.
In its latest offer to the union, the district offered no new
pay raises to the firefighters.
Reedy Creek is the independent government agency created at
Disney's request in 1967 to provide services usually provided by
a city or county government, such as fire protection, roads and
utilities. It now serves the 15,000-acre core of Walt Disney
Co.'s giant Central Florida resort.
"We're in some difficult times for every city," Maxwell told the
Orlando Sentinel. His July 21 letter addressing that point
angered leaders of the Reedy Creek Fire Fighters Association
Local 2117, who accused him of distorting the situation.
"It's a smoke screen," Local 2117 President Rick Gorsuch said.
There is no revenue problem, Gorsuch countered, because --
unlike many Florida cities -- Reedy Creek did not roll back
taxes as instructed by the Florida Legislature last year. And
Reedy Creek's tax base increased 4 percent last year, while its
tax receipts rose 3 percent this year. What's more, today the
district's board of supervisors is expected to raise its
property-tax rates by 0.24 mills. Disney pays 85 percent of
Reedy Creek's taxes, and no one objected to the proposal at a
Sept. 10 hearing.
The firefighters' most recent contract expired at the end of
2006. Talks have been sporadic since then, and an impasse was
declared this spring with more than a dozen key issues still
unresolved, including pay. There have been no talks since
Maxwell's July 21 letter, though meetings with a federal
mediator are set for October.
"All local governments, including the District, are impacted by
actions of the legislature and are restricted in their ability
to raise ad valorem revenues to fund operations," Maxwell wrote
in that missive. "The economic conditions that exist, both
across the country and also in Central Florida, has [sic]
resulted in a significant decrease in property values which has
ended the significant revenue growth rates enjoyed in recent
years by local governments. The assessed value growth rates have
also slowed within the District."
The district's offer to the firefighters includes no pay-range
increases. Instead, the district offered lump-sum, 3 percent
bonuses for this year and next.
Gorsuch, the Local 2117 president, called the offer "insulting
to my members." The union requested 5 percent pay increases for
each of the three years. |
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Fairies,
parties en route to Magic Kingdom
Theme Park Rangers - Just got in from a Disney media briefing,
and there are things to share.
First:
Fairies. It was billed as their first-ever appearance. Pardon
the banquet tables.
Here they are from left: Fawn, an animal fairy; Rosetta, a
garden fairy; Tinker Bell; Silvermist, a water fairy; and
Iridessa, a light fairy. I think it's safe to say that Disney
hopes the fairies take off like the princesses did.
This part of the briefing was tied to the official
announcement of Pixie Hollow, which will open in Magic Kingdom
on Oct. 24, four days before the long-awaited Tinker Bell
animated feature becomes available on DVD and Blu-ray.
Many of the other details have been bouncing around the
Internet, of course: Pixie Hollow will be in Toon Town; a
corridor will "shrink" guests from human world to fairy-tale
world; it will run continuously through the day and involve
storytelling as well as meet-and-greet photo opportunities. The
fairies will talk.
You can learn more about Disney Fairies at
www.disneyfairies.com.
After the jump: details about the new celebrations at Magic
Kingdom once the Celebrate Today campaign kicks in after the
first of the year.
Francois Leroux, an executive
with Walt Disney World Entertainment, shared some facts
about the street parties and the Tomorrowland Party.
The street party will go up
Main Street and set up shop for a stop at Cinderella Castle.
This is happen three times a day and feature dancers and
characters in colorful costuming. They will encourage
everyone to celebrate something. It will be very
musical. Two words: conga line. (I'm getting a variation on
the Block Party Bash vibe here).
The Tomorrowland Party will
be in a new area set up between Space Mountain and Carousel
of Progress. "There's nothing there now," Leroux syas. The
continuous theme will be reports from the Tomorrow News
Network ("news from the galaxy"). Expect more audience
participation, live interaction (think Crush over at Epcot)
and sightings of Wall-E, Buzz Lightyear and Stitch.
Unrelated but interesting:
No word still on what will become of the Cinderella Suite in
the castle. Since we're still in the Year of a Million
Dreams, don't expect to hear anything until after the first
of the year, we were told.
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'Moms panel' has gained celebrity offering online guidance to
navigating Disney
Orlando Sentinel - For about three hours a
day, Erin Foster settles in behind her home computer in suburban
New York and offers the world tips on navigating Walt Disney
World -- writing back to would-be visitors in search of
vacation-planning details too specific or personalized to be
found in most vacation books or on most Web sites.
Which table-service restaurant in Epcot's World Showcase is best
for a family with picky eaters? Do Disney laundry rooms sell
detergent? Would two adults have fun, or feel out of place, at
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party?
Foster is not paid, though Disney did give her and her family a
free Disney World vacation. She sees her effort as a kind of
public service.
"It's really gratifying to know all the people we're helping,"
she said. "I feel people's vacation time is so precious to them
these days, it's nice to know I'm helping people share time with
their families."
Foster is one of 12 members of a "Moms Panel" created by Disney
late last year as an Internet forum for unofficial -- but
officially sanctioned -- "mom's advice" about Disney World
vacations. Disney is planning to expand the panel to 16 members
next year.
Disney officials created the Moms Panel partly in response to
the growing number of independent Web sites, run by Disney fans,
that offer unauthorized advice. They wanted a company-backed
forum that would also be viewed as an intimate, informal source
of information.
It couldn't be done by paid staff; the forum needed "third-party
credibility," said Leanne Jakubowski, Disney World's
social-media director. Marketing research shows mothers make
most key family-vacation decisions, she said, so who better to
offer advice than moms?
Yet Disney also wanted to proceed with care on the wide-open
Internet. So the company decided to control the forum on the
front end; it contracted with a company to screen incoming
inquiries, allowing only "appropriate" questions.
The questions pile up in an online queue that the panelists --
one's actually a dad -- can pick through from their home
computers.
The inaugural Moms Panel has been nearly overwhelmed, drawing
more than 20,000 questions in less than a year, including a few
thousand that were screened out. The panelists have answered
about 10,000 questions; 4,000 or so others went unanswered until
they fell off the list; and a few remain. The panelists work at
their own paces, though each has answered at least several
hundred questions. Foster has answered more than 2,700.
The volunteers are all unabashed Disney World fans. Foster and
two others contacted by the Orlando Sentinel said Disney trained
them how to work the Internet forum, then entrusted them with
the informal answer desk. There are no taboos, no dictated sales
pitches and no censorship, they said.
"We do have that we-like-Disney bias. They wouldn't have picked
us if we didn't like Disney," Foster said, but added: "We are
not highly paid Disney shills, not at all.
"They have given us free rein," she said. "I have given out
negative opinions."
For example, someone identified as Marie from Texas asked in
late August: "Any place to get a solid pastrami or corned-beef
piled high on rye?"
Foster's reply: "If you were asking about delis in New York City
I'd have you covered: Second Avenue, Carnegie, Stage, Katz's,
Zabars. . . . But I'm sorry to tell you that there is nothing
that compares to this at Walt Disney World.
"I can't give Disney's deli options a wholehearted endorsement,"
Foster added. But then she offered a positive conclusion: "There
are, however, lots of other yummy food options."
Foster, 43, who lives in Scarsdale, N.Y., with her husband and
three daughters, is a former corporate research librarian. She
figures her family has made nearly 30 trips to Disney World in
the past decade. The current panelists at
disneyworldforum.disney.go
.com -- known on the site by their first names, home states,
pictures and bios -- have already achieved a certain celebrity
status within the online community of Disney fans. So as they
prepare to rotate off the team at year's end, Disney faces a bit
of a problem: Does it just let them go? Do they have their own
online fan base?
"They've done an incredible job of launching the first year of
the Moms Panel," Jakubowski said. "We want to make sure they
still have a role. We haven't determined that yet." |
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Disneyland in loan
extension talks
The Standard -
Hong Kong Disneyland is considering
asking for an extension on the HK$3.3 billion in debt that falls
due this month.
The Walt Disney Co and the Hong
Kong government are continuing discussions regarding a capital
realignment and expansion plan for the park, Hong Kong
Disneyland vice president of public affairs Lo Bing-chung said
yesterday. "As part of these discussions, the shareholders, as
well as the management company, are exploring several options
with regard to the commercial loan," Lo said.
One of the options under
consideration is asking lenders for an extension on the HK$3.3
billion in financing that comes due this month, Lo said,
confirming an earlier report in debt-industry newsletter Basis
Point.
"This is one of the options that
is under consideration to allow more time for both
shareholders," Lo explained.
He added that Disney is prepared
to invest further in the park.
A spokeswoman for the SAR
government said a 30-day extension on the debt repayment is "to
allow more time to tease out the best option" for Hong Kong
International Theme Parks and its shareholders.
HKITP, the joint-venture company
that operates the park, is asking for an extension of at least
one month on the HK$3.3 billion debt maturing this month, Basis
Point reported yesterday.
The financing is comprised of a
HK$2.3 billion term loan and a HK$1 billion revolving-credit
facility.
The Hong Kong government owns 57
percent of the joint venture, with Disney holding the remaining
43 percent interest. |
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Tuesday
September 23, 2008 |
HSM3 Tickets on Sale
This Week
Netflix signs streaming deals with CBS, Disney television
Pleasure Island,
how I'll miss you
Schoolhouse Rock! The Election Collection on DVD
High School Musical 2: Deluxe Dance Edition on DVD
Samantha Who?: The Complete First Season on DVD
Brothers & Sisters: The Complete Second Season on DVD
Will
you celebrate your birthday at Disney World
Miley Cyrus says she's not quitting "Hannah Montana"
Vail
businesses get advice from Disney
Magical Memories Travel Designated as an Authorized Disney
Vacation Planner |
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HSM3
Tickets on Sale This Week
MarketWatch - HSM fans who can't wait till opening day Oct. 24
to get their tickets to this fall's most anticipated movie "High
School Musical 3: Senior Year" will have a chance to buy their
tickets early. Beginning at 12 p.m. PT on Sept. 26, 2008,
tickets will be available for advance purchase on the movie's
official website
www.disney.com/HSM3.
"The 'High School Musical'
phenomenon has generated such a loyal fan base and fans have
been eagerly awaiting the big screen opening of 'High School
Musical 3: Senior Year,'" said Jim Gallagher, president of
marketing for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. "We're
giving our devotees an opportunity to get their tickets now,
a month before the movie opens, to show them we appreciate
their loyalty and recognize their excitement for the movie."
Fans simply log onto
www.disney.com/HSM3 to
search for showtimes in their area via Disney's proprietary
FIRST IN LINE ONLINE(TM) ticketing application. The
application will also be accessible on MySpace Profile and
Facebook Fanpage. After entering their zip code or city and
state, users will be presented with a list of area theaters
with available showtimes. Once they make their selection,
users will be directed to a third party site such as
Fandango.com or Movietickets.com to make the final purchase.
Fans who purchase tickets through Fandago.com or
Movietickets.com between Sept. 26-Oct. 23, 2008, will
receive a free download from iTunes of the song "Can I Have
This Dance" from the original HSM3 soundtrack.
Hosting Screening Parties via
HSM3 Party Planner
Additionally, fans can invite
friends to join them for a group screening of "High School
Musical 3" via the HSM3 Party Planner. Once users choose a
showtime and theater, they can email friends and create an
event page where all invitees can monitor who's coming to
their ultimate HSM3 screening party.
About the Movie
Disney's "High School Musical"
phenomenon leaps onto the big screen in HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
3: SENIOR YEAR, in which America's favorite high school
students (ZAC EFRON, VANESSA HUDGENS, ASHLEY TISDALE, LUCAS
GRABEEL, CORBIN BLEU and MONIQUE COLEMAN) hit senior year.
Amidst a basketball championship, prom and a big spring
musical featuring all of the Wildcats, Troy and Gabriella
vow to make every moment last as their lifelong college
dreams put the future of their relationship in question. A
crew of sophomore Wildcats (MATT PROKOP, JUSTIN MARTIN,
JEMMA MCKENZIE-BROWN) joins in the fun as the film's
incredible new music and exciting dance numbers take maximum
advantage of the big screen. Directed by Kenny Ortega from a
screenplay written by Peter Barsocchini, the film opens in
theaters Oct. 24.
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Netflix signs streaming deals with CBS, Disney television
Bizjournals - Online movie rental company Netflix Inc said it
partnered with CBS Television Network and Disney-ABC Television
Group to allow episodes of current season television shows to be
streamed.
Los Gatos, Calif.-based Netflix
(NASDAQ :NFLX) said late Monday the two new deals "add
meaningfully to a growing library of 12,000 choices that
Netflix members can watch instantly on their PCs and TVs as
part of their existing subscription plans and without
impacting the number of DVDs they receive."
The CBS deal brings to Netflix
"CSI." Starting in October, when it returns for a ninth
year, current season episodes of the original "CSI: Crime
Scene Investigation" can be instantly streamed, and
beginning this week, current season episodes of the
spin-offs "CSI: Miami" and "CSI: NY" join the roster.
The CBS agreement includes
two additional current shows, "NCIS," which dramatizes the
Naval Criminal Investigative Service of the U.S. Navy and
U.S. Marine Corps, and the FBI drama "Numb3rs," from
producers Ridley and Tony Scott.
The agreement for Disney
Channel content centers on three of the Channel's original
series -- "Hannah Montana," "Wizards of Waverly Place," and
Disney Channel's newest original series, "The Suite Life on
Deck," a spin-off of the Emmy-nominated "The Suite Life of
Zack & Cody."
"Wizards of Waverly Place"
and "The Suite Life on Deck" can be streamed instantly at
Netflix beginning this week, 24 hours after each episode's
initial broadcast. Disney Channel's series "Hannah Montana,"
starring Miley Cyrus, will be available online at Netflix
beginning this November.
Brokered by Disney-ABC
Domestic Television, a unit of the Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:
DIS), the deal represents the first Netflix digital license
for Disney-ABC Television Group content since Netflix
launched the instant streaming component of its service 18
months ago.
The agreements with CBS and
Disney Channel also add catalog shows to the library of
choices that can be watched instantly at Netflix. Some 500
episodes from Disney Channel's library, including previously
aired episodes of "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody," "Wizards
of Waverly Place" and "Hannah Montana," as well as episodes
of the animated series "The Replacements," "Lilo & Stitch:
The Series," "The Emperor's New School" and others, will
come online to Netflix beginning in 2009.
Some 350 CBS episodes
covered in the deal include prior seasons of the three "CSI"
series and "Numb3rs," the first two seasons of the popular
"Jericho" series and, among others, episodes from TV
classics such as "Star Trek," "MacGyver," and "Family Ties."
The catalog episodes will come online this fall.
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Pleasure Island, how
I'll miss you
Theme Park Rangers - Warning:
Blogs are generally self-indulgent though here at Theme Park
Rangers, dear readers, we strive to provide you with useful
information as well. The bulk of this post, however, is
completely self-indulgent. Read on at your peril. If you
want to skip my meanderings and remembrances and head
straight to the practical info, you won't hurt my feelings.
Just click through to the jump.
Gearing up for the final
weekend of the Pleasure Island nightclubs has brought back a
flood of memories. I had one friend fly in last week from
California just to party one last time. Really. In an effort
to be happily nostalgic and not bitter and depressed, here
are 10 favorite moments.
1. The first place I went
upon vacationing in Orlando for the first time was Pleasure
Island. My friend Chris picked me up at the airport and
drove me straight there. Coming from tiny Ithaca, N.Y., in
the middle of a frigid winter, it was like going straight to
paradise. I met Chris's friend Lolita, who was waiting at 8
Trax with a Goldschlager shot for me. I'm still friends with
her today. That same night, I saw for the first time the
midnight New Year's Eve show on the old West End stage.
Fireworks. Glow sticks. Confetti. The plaza was packed.
Hundreds of people doing the Macarena. (Hey, it was the
'90s.) I couldn't believe that they did this EVERY NIGHT.
And we were outside. In February. Glory days, indeed. I'm
not saying Pleasure Island made me move here but... it
didn't hurt.
2. My first encounter with
creepy Phantom guy at Mannequins. Back when they had the
Phantom of the Opera dancers perform to a dance-club version
of the Andrew Lloyd Webber song, there was a guest -- bald
and with cape, of course -- who insisted on dancing in the
dead center of the revolving dance floor. I say dancing, but
it was more like bowing, swooping and paying homage to the
Phantom onstage. I made the mistake of being in his spot
once. "I have to dance here," he told me with panic in his
voice. "The Phantom expects me to be here!" I
yielded him his spot.
3. At the Adventurers Club
to celebrate my friend Casey's birthday, she had a
Kungaloosh. She's not a big drinker, and not a big person:
About 5 feet tall and 100 pounds. We're not sure if it was
the late hour, the drink, or the fact her legs couldn't
reach the floor on her library stool but all through the
show she kept sli-i-i-i-i-d-ing down off the stool. She
finally gave up and stood. Later that night, on the third
floor at Mannequins -- routinely open then -- she and I
staged a scene where it looked to our friends like they
caught us having an affair. They were shocked ... for two
seconds, until our insane laughter gave the ruse away. Ah,
ha, ha ... Maaaaanequins.
4. One Fourth of July
weekend, Diana (the best bartender at P.I.), invented a
drink for my friends Stuart, Mark and me. It involved red,
white and blue. Stuart, being more politically attuned than
me, had several funny names for it. It also packed quite a
punch. It was the only time in all my years of P.I. partying
I wasn't diligent enough about my alcohol consumption.
Stuart drove me home.
5. My friend Mike's
going-away party was at 8 Trax. Now, Mike was the sort who
would not try a bite of your pie, in case your germs were on
it. No taking a sip of your drink either. But that night,
people had been buying him drink after drink and he was not
thinking quite clearly. When someone dropped a bottle of
beer, it rolled across the dance floor toward him. Without
missing a beat, he picked it up off the floor and took a
swig. The rest of us missed several beats, staring in
disbelief. Though Mike will now take a taste of a friend's
entree, he assures us he has never done that again.
6. At the Adventurers Club
one night, Graves the butler delivered me a letter,
reprimanding me for dancing on the tables with a lampshade
on my head during a library committee meeting. I mean, the
library committee! Sympathetic club maid Beulah Belle,
however, agreed with me that president Pamelia Perkins was
being a bit of a fuddy-duddy -- calling my behavior
contemptible. Really! That same night, dashing Hathaway
Brown passed me on the stairs and said "Kungaloosh, Sir." I
felt cooler just being in his presence. If you have no idea
what I'm babbling about, you have missed the wackiness of
the Adventurers Club. Kunglaloosh to you all, my friends.
7. My friend Frank had run
the Disney Marathon and was looking forward to a free night
at Pleasure Island. We were at 8 Trax, and I was jamming
away, busting a move to everything from "Wake Me Up Before
You Go-Go" to "Grease Megamix." Finally, our group dwindled
down, and I shouted across the blaring music, "Do you want
to go somewhere else?" Wide-eyed, Frank mouthed back, "Take.
Me. Home." I hustled him out of there, as he announced, "I'm
about to fall down." It's remembered now as the night I
almost killed Frank by taking him dancing.
8. There used to be some
arcade games in P.I., over toward Motion. A favorite for
Stuart, Mark and me was the ... well, I don't know the name.
And it wasn't really a game. Basically, you gave a machine
money to electrify two metal handles and then you tried to
hang onto them as long a possible while they shocked you.
Yes, we paid money to do this. It was a great test of
machismo. Or a dumb way to spend money. But those things
often go hand in ... zap! ... hand.
9. At 8 Trax on my birthday
one year, a kind DJ searched through stacks of old CDs to
find a certain song for me, requested by Mike. There's no
pride left in this post, so here goes: Samantha Fox. "Touch
Me (I Want Your Body)." Yep, I was a fan. Any reader under
35 is wondering "Who's Samantha Fox?"
10. And finally, I am
still laughing about the first time an esteemed
co-worker described the Mannequins dance floor on a Thursday
night as the "Wheel O' Meat."
See you at the Island this
weekend.
Some practical advice for this
weekend:* I am told
clubs will open an hour earlier than usual, beginning
Thursday. We have already seen bigger crowds as people try
to club-hop one last time. Mannequins' third floor was open
some nights last week, and Adventurers Club was about at
capacity from time to time. The hour-earlier time means
Adventurers Club will be open, beginning at 6 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday.
* Word is Disney will let
guests line up for admission to Adventurers Club beginning
at 10 a.m. Saturday. Don't expect to wander up to the door
about 10 p.m. Saturday and get in.
* I was told last week, the
annual passholder benefit of getting a guest in for free on
Friday will be allowed this weekend. Remember, you have to
get your guest in before 8.
* If you smoke, know that
Disney has curtailed readmission to clubs from smoking areas
in recent times. There's a good chance that if you step
outside of 8 Trax or Mannequins to smoke, you will be
required to go back around to the main entrance and queue
again for re-entry.
* It will be crowded and
emotional, so be careful and safe. And, it goes without
saying, be nice to the staff, who face big change in their
lives.
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Schoolhouse Rock! The Election Collection on DVD
Walt
Disney Studios Home Entertainment - Rediscover the
infectious music, witty lyrics and colorful animation from
the Emmy-winning animated series that rocked America for
more than a decade when Schoolhouse Rock! The Election
Collection comes to DVD September 23, 2008 from Walt Disney
Studios Home Entertainment. As all eyes turn to the
presidential election, it couldn't be a better time for this
collection of classic election-themed tunes including "I'm
Just a Bill," "Shot Heard 'Round the World" and "I'm Gonna
Send Your Vote to College," the timeless songs that taught a
generation of Americans that learning can be fun! The
limited edition DVD also features the entertaining new to
DVD song "Presidential Minute" with two surprise endings and
an exclusive Election Tracking Kit with stickers to help
viewers keep track of the actual voting results in all 50
states.
Remember Saturday mornings past
at the ABC Network, when a series of three-minute animated
shorts harnessed the power of music to educate children of
all ages? From 1973 until 1986 and the early nineties,
Schoolhouse Rock! used catchy music and sassy lyrics to
teach kids the basic principles of grammar, arithmetic,
history, science, government, computers and money
management. The show became a smash hit and won four daytime
Emmys (Outstanding Children's Instructional Series,
1976,1978, 1979 and 1980) and one daytime Emmy nomination
(Outstanding Children's Instructional Series, 1977) for its
cha rming and informative musical lessons.
From the original creators
of Schoolhouse Rock!, executive producer George Newall,
producer Radford Stone and music director Bob Dorough,
Schoolhouse Rock! The Election Collection will introduce
youngsters to important information, refresh the holes
left by high school civics classes or provide a moment
of pure nostalgia for grown up fans of the show.
Schoolhouse Rock! The
Election Collection has a suggested retail price of
$19.99 (U.S.) and $24.99 (Canada).
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High School Musical 2: Deluxe Dance Edition on DVD
Walt
Disney Studios Home Entertainment - What time is it?
Time to work those dance grooves with Troy,
Gabriella, Sharpay, Chad and the rest of the gang
from East High when High School Musical 2: Deluxe
Dance Edition comes to DVD on September 23, 2008
from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. Fans
can dance along with the cast and learn their
favorite kickin' routines with moves actually taken
from the top rated Disney Channel Original Movie!
Jam-packed with over five hours of bonus material,
Deluxe Dance Edition also gives fans an exclusive
sneak peek at High School Musical 3, premiering in
movie theaters nationwide on October 23! The
two-disc set also includes deleted scenes, a virtual
scrapbook featuring the cast and crew, and an
exclusive musical number that will make the coolest
summer vacation ever last all year round.
Directed and
choreographed by Kenny Ortega (High School Musical,
The20Cheetah Girls 2), HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2: DELUXE
DANCE EDITION comes with all new bonus features that
fans have been clamoring for, including:
Backstage Disney
Exclusive sneak
peek at High School Musical 3!
High School
Confidential! - A virtual scrapbook bursting
with exciting behind-the-scenes moments and
more. Features like the Zac Factor" let you
see stars like never before in exclusive
footage, and hear the cast and crew weigh in
on the film's valuable life lessons.
Sharpay's sidekicks, The Sharpettes are on
hand, as are Manly the Dog, Kenny Ortega and
the magnificent High School Musical 2
dancers.
Then try and
guess what that the stars of High School
Musical 2 looked like as babies and check
out favorite cast members in an special
photo gallery.
The Making
Of The Exclusive Music Scene - Lucas
Grabeel delights audiences with a South
Seas rendition of "HUMUHUMUNUKUNUKUAPUA'A."
Cast
Favorites - Cast members talk about some
of their favorite things.
On Location
– Visit the resort area of St. George,
Utah, High School Musical's stunning
setting.
In The Kitchen - Lucas Grabeel takes
fans behind the scenes of the clubhouse
kitchen set.
Music and More
Dance Along – Think you have the
moves to groove with the East High
Wildcats? Follow along as the stars
of High School Musical 2 demonstrate
the actual dance routines used in
"What Time is it?" and "All For
One." Viewers can speed up, repeat
and flip around the action, making
it perfect for dancers of all skill
levels. Each routine is taught in
short segments that can be easily
repeated until mastered and special
camera angle shows both front and
rear views of the dancers. And once
those moves are solid, the entire
sequence can be played at the touch
a button!
Music
Video "All For One" - A special
performance of the song is intercut
with the cast recording session and
behind-the-scenes footage.
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Samantha Who?: The Complete First
Season on DVD
Walt
Disney Studios Home Entertainment -
Samantha Who? That's what Samantha
Newly, irresistibly played by
Christina Applegate, wants to know.
ABC's fresh new hit comedy comes to
DVD with Samantha Who?: The Complete
First Season from Walt Disney
Studios Home Entertainment on
September 23, 2008. The debut season
of this critically acclaimed show
will be available in a multidisc set
with bonus features including
deleted scenes and hilarious
bloopers.
After
emerging from an eight-day coma,
Samantha Newly can't remember a
thing, her boyfriend, her parents,
her job—not even herself. Although
some things are best left forgotten,
Sam is determined to dig up the
"goods" on herself. With a little
help from her ex-boyfriend,
ex-doorman, her too few (make that
two) friends and slightly odd
parents, Samantha gets a once in a
lifetime opportunity to become a
bad-girl-gone-g ood.
The
ultimate do-over fantasy
Samantha Who? — The Complete
First Season stars Emmy
Award-winning Christina
Applegate ("Married with
Children," "Jesse") and a
hilariously quirky supporting
cast including two-time Emmy
-winner Jean Smart ("Frasier,"
"24"), Jennifer Esposito (Crash,
"Rescue Me"), Kevin Dunn
(Transformers, "Prison Break"),
Tim Russ ("Live Free or Die
Hard", "iCarly") Melissa
McCarthy ("Gilmore Girls," White
Oleander,") and Barry Watson
("7th Heaven," "What About
Brian?") The series is produced
by ABC Studios.
Samantha Who?: The Complete
First Season on DVD is
priced $29.99 (SRP) for
U.S.; $35.99 (SRP) Canada,
from Walt Disney Studios
Home Entertainment.
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