Orlando Sentinel - Members of Walt Disney World's largest union group today voted by a large majority to approve a new labor contract, after months of at-times cantankerous negotiations.

However, leadership of two of the six unions that make up the Services Trades Council decried the vote — a sign that, while the negotiations are over, at least some of the discontent may remain.

Harris Raynor, president of the Services Trades Council, confirmed that the vote passed 4,987-2,099, in what he called "a victory for the workers who are represented by the unions."

The vote was the second for members of the Service Trades Council, a coalition of six unions that together represent roughly 20,800 full-time Disney employees.

Unite Here! Local 362 president Eric Clinton and United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1625 president Ed Chambers also confirmed the results.

"We are pleased with the outcome of the vote today," Steve Eisenhardt, vice president of labor relations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said in a statement. "Both the voter turnout and the support of the new contract were tremendous."

The contract is similar to one rejected in October by 3,880-3,350 vote. It calls for $650 in combined bonuses for all full-time, non-tipped employees and, for workers not already at the top of their pay scales, annual raises of between 3 percent and 4 percent over the next three years.

The most significant difference in the new contract: Full-time, non-tipped workers earning $8.50 an hour or less would get an extra $100 bonus.

The leadership of four of the six unions that comprise the Services Trades Council have endorsed the contract offer. But two — Unite Here! Local 362 and United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1625 — have urged workers to vote against it, arguing that the raises are not equitably distributed among job classifications and they are not large enough to offset rising health-insurance premiums for employees with family coverage.

Chambers, whose union voted about 82 percent to oppose the proposal, said that he was disappointed in the results of the vote.

"Disney was able to divide and conquer the unions," Chambers said. He and Clinton, who also opposed the proposal, accused the other unions of using the possibility of a strike to intimidate workers into voting in favor of the new contract.

"People forgot from the other unions that Disney is the one we should be taking on, not each other," Clinton said.

Raynor, however, pointed to the turnout and size of the majority as evidence that the union's membership had spoken.

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Dean Karnazes is a renowned ultramarathon runner who hopes his cross-country run (40 to 50 miles per day!) will inspire LIVE! viewers to live healthier lives. He literally ran across the drawbridge of Sleeping Beauty Castle, down Main Street, USA, and straight out to the city street (heading east), all on live television.

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Canadian Press - John Lasseter's pair of Oscars have a new friend: a lifetime achievement trophy. The Pixar and Disney animation chief received the award Friday night for his dedication to the 40-minutes-or-less medium from Shorts International, an entertainment organization which promotes, distributes, broadcasts and produces short films.

"It feels fantastic because I love short films," said Lasseter. "I love the art form and what it did for me as a filmmaker. I learned so much from making short films. They're these little gems, these fantastic little ideas that are not meant to be a feature film. They're perfect unto themselves. A great short film leaves you smiling and thinking about it."

Lasseter won the animated short film Oscar in 1988 for "Tin Toy," as well as a special achievement award in 1995 for "Toy Story," the first feature-length computer-generated film. The lifetime achievement award from Shorts International may not be his only prize this weekend. He's nominated with the other "Toy Story 3" filmmakers for best adapted screenplay.

"Toy Story 3" is also competing in the sound editing, original song, animated feature and best picture categories. Lasseter is hopeful about it's chances for the top prize, even though the motion picture academy has never bestowed an animated film with the best picture honour. "Toy Story 3" is only the third animated film to be nominated in that category.

"I do believe we will one day see an animated film win the best picture Oscar, and I hope it's on Sunday," said Lasseter. "I think that over time, more and more of Hollywood and the Academy has gotten to know animation. It's exactly the same as live action filmmaking. We tell great stories. We use great actors. We just use a different camera."

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Huffington Post - Disney spent the season taking a serious shot at Toy Story 3 becoming the first animated film in history to win the Best Picture award at this year's Academy Awards. The campaign centered on a serious of mock posters, with the cast of Toy Story 3 emulating Oscar-winning films that were somewhat unique (IE - The Godfather part II - the first sequel to win, The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King - the first fantasy film to win, Silence of the Lambs - the first horror film to win, etc). Since they likely already have the Best Animated Film award more or less locked, why not go for the big prize? And, quite frankly, while its chances of taking home the big prize on Sunday are between slim and none, it damn well deserves to win. Not because it would be a groundbreaking achievement, the first animated film to win Best Picture, but because it is the best film of 2010... period.

The film has a 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 8.8 out of 10. It's far and away the best reviewed picture of the year. It has grossed $414 million in domestic dollars and has scored $1.062 billion worldwide. While box office doesn't necessarily equal quality (re - Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and/or Alice in Wonderland), Toy Story 3 scored a 3.76x opening weekend-to-final gross multiplier, indicating strong legs. That means audiences liked it, they told their friends and/or came back for repeat viewings. This 'family cartoon' was a more thoughtful and nourishing piece of entertainment than anything else this year. The gang at Pixar somehow fashioned a bitterly haunting Holocaust/Exodus parable while still remaining light on its feet, laugh-out-loud clever, and utterly charming. They completed their unofficial death/rebirth trilogy (along with Wall-E and Up) with style and capped off their signature franchise with a grace and dignity that deserves more than just a polite golf clap. Toy Story 3, was the most powerful movie of the year and deserves to be acknowledged as such.

More importantly, there is a weird catch-22 in the realm of popular entertainment. We constantly whine about the often low quality of mass-market films. Yet, when something comes along that bucks the trend, be it Casino Royale, The Dark Knight, or Toy Story 3, we refuse to place it alongside the more 'appropriate' Oscar bait material, declaring it unworthy by virtue of its original goal as populist entertainment. If we aren't willing to acknowledge when an action film becomes a work of pure art, when a comedy scores on all cylinders, or when an animated film puts live-action dramas to shame, what message are we sending to the studios? We ghettoize our mainstream motion pictures, treat them as less than worthy, and then sit back and wonder why so many of them don't even try to achieve a superior quality. When we thumb our noses at Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, we deserve Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.

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SIFY Movies -  '127 Hours' star James Franco has reportedly signed on to play the lead role in Disney's 'Wizard of Oz' prequel.

The 32-year-old will reunite with 'Spider-Man' director Sam Raimi for the big budget film, titled 'Oz: The Great And Powerful', reports the New York Post.

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Grand opening June 3: At Disney California Adventure park, get ready for an all-new voyage with one of Disney’s most beloved characters, Ariel. The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure will invite guests to take a journey under the sea to experience all the fun and adventures in Ariel’s world. From the great songs to state-of-the-art animatronics and special effects, guests will become a part of her world in a way that’s never happened before.

The Little Mermaid attraction is the next big milestone in the expansion of Disney California Adventure park. “World of Color” debuted last year and continues to wow guests every night with magic that combines choreographed fountains, lights, lasers, music, animation and Disney storytelling. And on the horizon, guests can see the awesome Cadillac Mountain range taking shape as the backdrop to the 12-acre Cars Land, which opens in 2012.

Here’s a first look at the vision Walt Disney Imagineers have for Ursula, who will play a big role in The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure.

Across the esplanade at Disneyland park, guests this summer will be dancing to the beat of a whole new parade and jetting off to new galaxies far, far away.

May 27 Premiere: “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade” officially steps off for Memorial Day weekend, with an explosive musical score, thrilling rhythms and bold percussion that will have people dancing to many of their favorite Disney tunes. Look for whimsical float units, live musicians and some of your favorite characters. Mickey Mouse and his pals will be jamming like never before and creating an atmosphere that will be…soundsational!

Here’s a peek at the preparations:

Grand opening June 3: And for those who dare to venture into the deep, dark corners of the universe, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue officially launches in Tomorrowland at Disneyland park, taking guests on interstellar adventures to Coruscant, Tatooine, and other destinations in the “Star Wars” galaxy. With the return of favorite Star Wars characters and the addition of more familiar faces and destinations, guests are going to experience Starspeeder travel in an all-new way…in 3D!

You may remember, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue also launches at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort on May 20. May the Force be with you!

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Just got a peek at the list of big-time athletes and ESPN personalities coming to Walt Disney World for ESPN the Weekend this year and it’s pretty impressive. There are tons of marquee names on the list this year, including Chad Ochocinco (Bengals), Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals), LaDainian Tomlinson (Jets), Cal Ripken, Jr., (MLB legend), Karl Malone (NBA legend), Mia Hamm (soccer star), Julius “Dr. J’’ Erving (NBA legend) and Urban Meyer (former Gators coach).

In all, more than 35 athletes and ESPN on-air talent will be at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the March 4-6 event that’s presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods this year. Check out the complete list of ESPN personalities and sports celebrities expected to attend at espntheweekend.com (Click on Who’s Coming).

But fans will have much more to do than just see and hear their favorite players and ESPN personalities. There’s an interactive ESPN Sportszone area where fans can test their skills at a wide variety of sports, possibly even against one of the many sports celebs. There will also be daily motorcades with athletes, sports trivia game shows with Howie Schwab (Stump the Schwab) and fan Q&As with athletes.

If you’re a sports fan, is there really any other place you’d rather be? Probably not. So, if you want to get up close and personal with these sports stars, just go to espntheweekend.com to get tickets. You can get any last-minute additions to the player lineup on Twitter at @DisneySports and search #ESPNWKND.

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Orlando Sentinel - Before becoming a Disney cast member, rape suspect Wilbert Brookins Jr. served time in Maryland jails for theft and driving with a suspended license, according to records reviewed Friday

This week, Brookins, 31, was charged with raping a woman he lured to Central Florida with an offer of cut-rate accommodations at Walt Disney World and free park passes, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

His record of misdemeanors dates at least to 2000, when Brookins was sentenced to two months in jail for stealing, Maryland court records show. A plea-bargain dismissed a second similar charge in that case.

In 2007, he was sentenced to three months in jail for driving with a suspended license. All but four days of the sentences in the 2000 and 2007 cases were suspended, records show.

Additional charges against Brookins alleging disorderly conduct and malicious destruction of property were dropped by Maryland prosecutors in 1999 and 2002. None of his charges involved felony crimes.

Disney declined to say when Brookins was hired to work on the theme parks' reservation staff. Federal law prohibits criminal convictions from being used as the sole reason for an employer to reject a prospective worker's application.

Brookins, 31, was released late Thursday from the Orange County Jail after posting $10,000 bail. He could not be reached at his south Orange home Friday to comment on the sexual battery case.

He is accused of raping a woman in a room at the Disney's Caribbean Beach resort that she shared with her two children. Sheriff's office records state that Brookins booked the victim's room using his "Friends and Family" employee discount after she called Disney reservations two to three weeks ago.

The woman told investigators that the rape happened Tuesday night, after Brookins used his employee pass to get them free entrance to the Magic Kingdom. The woman and her chlidren had arrived at Walt Disney World the same day after driving all night from out of state, the arrest report said.

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Fox13 - The Walt Disney classic Bambi came out nearly seventy years ago when Park City resident Peter Behn was only four-years-old. As we near the release of the diamond edition of the classic, Behn shares his experience as the voice of Thumper with Fox 13.

Behn's father was a screenwriter in Hollywood when he heard about Disney's new major production and took the young boy to audition for the role of Bambi. The company decided his voice wasn't right for Bambi, but later cast Peter in the role of Bambi's rabbit friend Thumper.

The film took two years to record because of the constantly evolving story as it was being drawn. But Behn only participated in eight recording sessions.

The diamond release of the film, coming out March 1, features new perspectives on the creation of the film and how it transformed; a reenactment of story discussions between Disney and animators.

While Behn says he didn't fully understand the importance of his role at the time, he has since realized the experience was extraordinary.

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For the first time, we’re debuting several new topiaries based on characters from Disney-Pixar classics, including the “Toy Story” and “Cars” films. We’ll show you Mater and Lightning McQueen in a future post, but here’s a little video tour shot as we prepped topiaries of Woody and Buzz Lightyear to take their place just inside Epcot’s front gate.

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DisneyParks Blog - Guests departing on the Disney Dream voyage yesterday had an extraordinary view of the space shuttle Discovery as it blasted off from the nearby Kennedy Space Center for its final launch.

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DisneyParks Blog - King Triton – who is Ariel’s father – has taken his place on top of the main archway in front of the upcoming attraction, The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, in Disney California Adventure park. The statue itself is 76 inches tall. You’ll probably recognize him. He’s the same Triton who once appeared near the Little Mermaid meet-and-greet area in Fantasyland. He was moved when that space became Pixie Hollow. Walt Disney Imagineers knew the Little Mermaid attraction was the perfect new place for him. He even inspired the design of Ariel’s sisters as classic bas-relief figures on the archway’s face. They will complement King Triton on the arch.

Check out this video of King Triton being moved to his new home.

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DisneyParks Blog - I love Epcot. I served as an attraction manager for World Showcase East operations in 2003. I had a blast working directly with the International Program Cast Members from Mexico, Norway, China and the United States. I learned much from them, and I still correspond with several of them today. That spirit of cultural exchange was always a part of the Epcot philosophy (even when World Showcase was once planned to be a separate “park” located near the Transportation and Ticket Center). My love for all things international is probably the reason why I love the recently released Vinylmation Flag series so much. I spoke with Caley Hicks, the artist behind this series, about its creation.

“The first figure I designed was the United States flag,” explained Caley. “I thought it would be easy to design but it turned out to be a challenge. I wanted the figure to be authentic like an actual American flag, but getting the flag to wrap around the Mickey Mouse shaped form was difficult. In the end, I think it turned out great but took a little longer than I anticipated.”

This series is similar to other open window box series we’ve released like Vinylmation Sports. The idea was to allow Guests select their favorite country or the country they consider home. The eleven countries of World Showcase were selected as a starting point. The country of Brazil was added as a figure since there are many Guests from that country visit the Walt Disney World Resort.

“I sought to create balance with each figure I designed,” continued Caley. “I think my favorite example of balance is found with the Canadian flag figure. I like how the final version looks balanced with the stripes and the maple leaf.”

Work on this series began in spring 2010. While Caley designed the figures, Lisa Badeen of Cutesters #1 fame created the packaging. Elements from this series were then used as visual displays in select Epcot merchandise locations starting last September.

I asked Thomas Scott, one of the lead designers for Vinylmation, if we will see additional flags added to this series.

“I think it is fair to say that guests will eventually see some flags added,” said Thomas. “I can’t say which countries right now but there are some that are coming.”

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Orlando Sentinel - Feb. 10 Walt Disney Parks and Resorts was honored by the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network with the FAAN Corporate Leadership Award for its commitment to food allergy awareness, education and management.

Vacations can be a challenge for those with food allergies. At Walt Disney World, lifestyle dining options, or for requests from guests with food allergies or intolerances, there are a wide range of choices, from kosher to gluten and sugar free. In 2009, Disney tracked nearly a quarter of a million requests for special dietary needs and allergies.

With a call three days in advance, Walt Disney World full-service restaurants can accommodate special dietary needs such as allergies to gluten or wheat, shellfish, soy, lactose or milk, peanuts, tree nuts, fish or eggs.

"Our parks in the U.S. alone accommodated well over 400,000 special dietary requests from guests last year," said Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, who accepted the award.

"And while some places might see this as a challenge, at Disney, we see it as another opportunity to make a visit unforgettable."

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News-Press - A very famous mouse may run the show, but if you are looking for first class training on how to improve yourself or your business, Disney and Mickey have just the program.

“This is a great opportunity for southwest Florida business professionals to participate in a Disney Institute experience in Cape Coral,” said Jeff James, vice president for Disney Institute. “It’s a day of Disney training that will offer dozens of easy-to-implement, proven ideas that can transform an organization.”

“We are refocusing our efforts on leadership to be known as the southwest Florida leadership chamber,” said director Bob Knickman, special events director for the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral, one of the event’s sponsors. “We wanted to take it up a notch from what we usually do.”

The program, which costs $349 and includes all course materials and lunch, focuses on leadership excellence, people management, quality service, brand loyalty and inspiring creativity.

There are approximately 60 of 150 tickets left, Knickman said, adding the event is attracting participants from Lee, Charlotte and Collier counties.

“We don’t give away all our trade secrets, but we have different things we do from a leadership perspective to ensure cast members (employees) are happy,” said Stacey Thomson, public relations manager for the institute.

Thomson says the program is at the core of what creator Walt Disney wanted. He believed employees should share in the vision and development of the company.

“He kept an apartment in Magic Kingdom and because he was a notorious insomniac, he would walk the streets of Disney USA and talk with the third shift custodial staff,” Thomson said. “The best ideas came from those who had day to day interaction with the guests.”

Institute officials believe the same type of communication can benefit the small businesses of Cape Coral — and there are over 4,000 of them.

“We challenge companies to not immediately say ‘we can’t do that, but ‘how can we do that,’” Thomson said. “Give us a chance, come here what we have to say. We will help you implement skills and ideas for customer service and that will help improve the bottom line.

Cape chamber president Mike Quaintance came up with the idea to bring Disney to town.

“I am excited about this opportunity and how it has been embraced by the community,” he said. “We have never done this before ... but I am surprised about the brand acceptance of the Disney product. They have a basic approach to things.”

The 87-year-old company is all about employees — or cast members to keep with its entertainment theme — who know how to treat the customer right.

“We hire for attitude, not aptitude,” Thomson said. “We may get 200 candidates who have superior resumes, but we have to find the candidate who had the right attitude and fits well in our culture.”

Disney is different. Employees — and there are 120,000 of them worldwide — are not allowed to use cell phones or text in guest areas. No tattoos or body piercings can be visible to the customer.

But Disney does try to treat the employee right, creating break rooms away from the guests with non-Disney-themed music and food. They also have access to computers should they want to look for extra work shift.

“This was all done with employee feedback,” Thomson said. “Even if you have 10 employees, try and give them a place where they can go.”

Employee training also is key, Thomson said. And all employees — from president and chief executive officer Robert Iger — to one who pushes a broom — get the same orientation program, Thomson said.

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Vancouver Sun - I was halfway across the rope bridge, feeling smug that I had made it this far - had even looked down at the crocodile-infested river 10 metres below without being paralyzed by fear - when the bridge started to sway.

I stopped and gripped the rail tightly. "Who’s jumping on the bridge?" I yelled.

"No one is jumping," the guide behind me said. "It’s just a little breeze that makes the bridge move."

The swaying stopped. I stepped over the gap left by several missing planks and onto the next one, and the next, until I reached the other side. Another Disney guide reached out to unhook my safety harness from the cable strung above the bridge, and in a minute I was back on solid ground, disappointed that there were no more bridges to cross.

Walt Disney World’s newest attraction is the Wild Africa Trek, a 3 1/2-hour journey on foot and by truck through the Africa section of Animal Kingdom in Orlando. If you’ve been on the Kilimanjaro Safari, a truck tour through Animal Kingdom’s "savanna," you’ve covered part of the same territory.

The wow factor for this new attraction, which opened in January, is that guests are attached to cables while they stand at the edge of a gorge overlooking a river inhabited by hippos and crocodiles, and to walk across two high rope bridges over that river. It’s a thrill, but an expensive one. The cost is $189 per person on top of park admission.

There were 11 members of the media on this tour. Guides outfitted each of us with a safety harness, plus an ear piece so we could hear them talk, their voices low so they wouldn’t disturb the animals.

Then, to weed out anyone with a poor sense of balance or a paralyzing fear of heights, we all had to walk across a short rope bridge slung one to three metres above the sloping ground. No one hesitated.

After a quick walk along a path open to all parkgoers, we detoured onto a rough, hilly trail through the woods, where we stepped over tree roots and parted branches in front of us as a guide talked about wildlife.

Eventually we emerged onto high ground that overlooks a river about 5 metres below. The guides hooked our harnesses to a metal structure so we could walk to the edge and even lean out without fear of falling. It was a little like being hitched to a heavy-duty clothesline.

Below us, a hippo opened its enormous mouth, demanding more of the watermelon that a park researcher had been tossing down to draw him to this spot. Ducks pecked at bits of floating watermelon. We heard grunts and groans from other hippos upriver, but didn’t see them. After a few minutes of teaching us about hippos, the guides unhooked us, and we walked back to the trail. Usually the trek stops at another overlook, but rain had shortened our outing, and we had to skip it.

The guides’ running commentary included a story - there’s a story behind every Disney attraction - about a washed-out road and a truck that couldn’t get to us, which is why we had to take an alternate route across a pair of rickety rope bridges, whose name, Hatari, means "danger" in Swahili.

The bridges, each about 50 to 53 metres long, are strung on heavy cables, with netting on the sides, wooden planks at deliberately uneven intervals to step on, and netting under the planks in case your foot slips. The harness on the back of each guest’s vest is attached to another cable. It appeared impossible to fall.

I have a moderate fear of heights, and viewed the rickety bridge with trepidation. The crocs swimming 10 metres below in the shallow, boulder-strewn water certainly added to the fear factor. A colleague who had made the trek earlier had told me with a shrug: "This is Disney, after all. You know they’re not going to let you fall."

I took my first step and found there was nothing to it - just watch for the gaps where planks are missing. I kept walking, except for a quick stop to take pictures. At the far end, I stepped onto a wooden platform, turned right and set out across the second bridge, pausing when I felt the bridge sway. At the end, I felt like doing a little victory dance, but restrained myself.

The rest of the trek was tame in comparison. We toured the savanna in a truck and ate lunch on a high knoll with a nice view of the surrounding terrain. We saw elephants, gazelles, sables, wildebeests and an ostrich. The lions, giraffes, rhinos, and cheetah apparently were napping.

The issues with Wild Africa Trek are going to be the price and the 3 1/2-hour length. For $189 - no discounts for kids or Florida residents - visitors get a tour with two knowledgeable guides, use of the safety equipment, lunch or breakfast, photos and a metal water bottle. For a family of four, that’s nearly $800 on top of park admission.

Where: Disney’s Animal Kingdom

When: The tour is offered six times a day and takes about 3 1/2 hours, including check-in.

Restrictions: Guests must be at least 8 years old, 4 feet tall and weigh between 45 and 310 pounds. Each trek is limited to 12 people.

Cost: $189. No discounts for kids or Florida residents.

Information: disneyworld.com.

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The Wrap - Nancy Kanter has been named general manager of Disney Worldwide, Disney announced today. Kanter will continue to serve as senior vice president of original programming, under the newly created title senior vice president, original programming and general manager, Disney Junior Worldwide,

As general manager, Kanter will focus on the multi-platform Disney Junior brand and its upcoming 24-hour channel launch. Disney Junior debuted last week on TV, digital and radio platforms. She will report to Carolina Lightcap, president of Disney Channels Worldwide.

Announcing the promotion, Lightcap called Kanter "a highly respected force in the creative community" who has "invigorated our content development for preschoolers."

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Attention Recruits:

Reach for the stars,
Commander Mickey

Recruits interested in attending the Sci-Fi Academy merchandise pin-trading event can join the ranks of Commander Mickey beginning March 1 via DisneyPins.com for an out of this world pin-trading and collecting experience.

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In keeping with that spirit, we are excited to announce that this spring Tangaroa Terrace and Trader Sam’s will open. The tiki-inspired design and storyline for this restaurant and bar were a perfect fit, as they tie in thematically with the mid-century modern architecture of the Disneyland Hotel and the adjacent Dream Tower, soon to be renamed Adventure Tower.

Inspired by Adventurelands from Disney Parks worldwide and the nostalgic Tahitian Terrace restaurant, located in Adventureland from 1962-1993, Tangaroa Terrace will immerse guests in a tropical setting with tiki torches and themed music. The name of the restaurant was borrowed from one of the tiki gods at the Enchanted Tiki Room. The fast-casual dining experience will include island-inspired food and beverages. The new bar, named after Trader Sam, the infamous Jungle Cruise “head” salesman, will open adjacent to Tangaroa Terrace. Trader Sam’s unique lounge experience will include interactive experiences with a bit of Disney magic you won’t want to miss.

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DisneyParks Blog - Earlier this month, my husband, son and I were lucky enough to spend a weekend at Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort in South Carolina. Upon our arrival, we were happy to find a very special “cast member” waiting to greet us on the resort’s front porch.

A frequent sight around the grounds of Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort, Shadow first appeared at the resort during construction in 1996. By opening day, she was part of the resort’s family.

The Resort’s local folklore expert, B’Lou Crabbe, often appears with Shadow and shares her tale with guests. According to him, the pup got her name as a result of her curious and happy spirit.

“She showed up when we were building the resort. We noticed a golden retriever puppy hanging around with some of the workers, getting in to trouble and coming out of it smelling like roses. We named her Shadow, not because of her color of her fur, but because she was more underfoot than your own shadow and the name stuck.”

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DisneyParks Blog - (I would like to preface this post with an advance apology for its mildly technical content. Those with an intense physical aversion to science may elect to skip today’s text entirely and go straight to the pretty pictures. No offense taken.)

Just beyond the spectrum of light visible to the human eye lies near infrared light. And though we can’t see it, the silicon-based sensors of many modern digital cameras can. By using a filter which blocks all visible light, you can get pictures that offer a wonderfully surreal view of the world. Foliage and clouds, which reflect infrared light, look ghostly and white, while sky and objects that don’t, go very dark. This is different than far infrared (thermal) photography, which registers heat.

Okay, science is over. Thanks for hanging in there.

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Disney Cruise Line is adding Alaska to its roster with seven-night voyages aboard Disney Wonder from May through August. Ports of call include the state’s capital, Juneau, plus Ketchikan, Skagway and the scenic Tracy Arm fjord. Trips begin and end in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Disney’s Alaskan shore excursions range from a scavenger hunt and gold panning in Skagway to a “dog musher for a day” adventure in Juneau. Would-be mushers take a helicopter over the massive Juneau Icefield, where they’ll tour a sled dog camp and go for a snowy ride through the wilderness.

Disney’s Alaska cruise rates start at $1,249 a person for an ocean-view stateroom, based on double occupancy.

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MousePlanet.com first reported and a DCL spokesperson confirmed Wednesday that the minimum height requirement for kids will drop from 48 inches to 42 inches.

To ride alone, however, the height requirement increases from 48 inches to 54 inches. Also, kids must be at least 7 years old to ride alone. Otherwise, they must ride with someone 14 or older.

The cast member loading the AquaDuck when I rode it last month indicated the cruise line was still tinkering with requirements, largely because without enough weight, the two-person rafts can get stuck in the tubes.

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The Business Insider - Disney just bought Togetherville, a social network for kids, TechCrunch reports. Togetherville is for kids 10 and under and works like any other social network but under parent supervision and with age appropriate content.

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Togetherville has been described as “training wheels for social networks,” employing a user interface simple for youngsters not quite ripe for Facebook to interact in a safe environment. The site just launched last year.

It’s unknown whether the acquisition was set in motion before the shakeup at Disney’s internet division, Disney Interactive Media Group, that saw new leadership come in late last year. But James Pitaro, co-president of DIMG and overseer of its online, mobile and social initiatives, recently noted he was looking to make changes at what’s been called the Disney Mom and Family portfolio of sites, which include FamilyFun.com, Kaboose.com and BabyZone.com.

Putting Togetherville.com in the mix could go a long way toward meeting what Pitaro described as huge demand from advertisers to target users across that range of sites. It will probably also work well in tandem with another Disney acquisition, Digisync, which has been a creative force in making Disney a strong player on Facebook. The firm has been credited with hatching 200 branded pages across Facebook that have netted the company 125 million fans.

It’s a safe bet that Togetherville will likely fall under the oversight of Brooke Chaffin, who was just brought in as senior vice president of women and family by Pitaro, who used to work with her at Yahoo’s media group.

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ABC News - From the swingin' piano and horns on Roy Hargrove's "Ev'rybody Wants to be a Cat" ("The Aristocats") to Joshua Redman's staccato sax on "You've Got a Friend In Me" ("Toy Story") to Nikki Yanofsky's earnest vocals on "It's a Small World" ("It's a Small World"), these covers are a treat both for children still enjoying the films and adults looking for a little nostalgia with a side of upright bass.

"Gaston" ("Beauty and the Beast") by The Bad Plus, with its bold piano and frenetic drums, is a grown-up take that holds on to the silliness and spirit of the original. "He's a Tramp" ("Lady and the Tramp") is a mixed bag with outsized vocals by Reeves but a tempo just a tad too lackadaisical.

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DisneyParks Blog - Only one more weekend to catch the all-girl dance crew We Are Heroes as they take the stage at ElecTRONica inside Disney California Adventure park.

Over the last two weekends, the five extremely talented ladies of We Are Heroes dance crew showed off their unique popping and locking skills twice a night for guests of ElecTRONica. Combining cool electric music from TRON: Legacy, hot dance moves, and of course their own glam style sense of fashion, We Are Heroes created a solar storm of energy that recharged everyone’s circuits. Take a look at this video and you’ll see what we mean.

Sensing the popularity of this hard-working creative dance crew, ElecTRONica opened its portal and welcomed We Are Heroes for a series of high-energy, hard-hitting and visually-stunning performances over three weekends in February. From the reactions of fans (old and new), it is clear these girls are a “must see” dance crew!

So, don’t miss the final performances of –– We Are Heroes — MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew Season 4 Winners — LIVE at ElecTRONica, only at Disney California Adventure park. Twice a night, February 25 – 27.

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DisneyParks Blog - What a treat to meet the man behind the bubbly – Clovis Taittinger was aboard the christening cruise for the Disney Dream, and we had the opportunity to talk with him in Pink, the Champagne lounge in The District. Taittinger, one of the world’s finest French Champagnes, created a special label just for the Disney Dream inaugural year.

Aboard the ship, Taittinger is served in all lounges, and the signature cocktail in upscale Remy is topped with Taittinger. In Pink, the ship’s intimate Champagne lounge in The District, the signature drink is Taittinger Prestige Rose, with a pink elephant from the classic film “Dumbo” gracing the bottle.

We met Monsieur Taittinger at Pink. Take a look.

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Faces of Germany at Epcot

DisneyParks Blog - I love strolling through World Showcase at Epcot. There’s just nothing like stepping from country to country…becoming completely immersed in each unique culture through its architecture, entertainment, food, merchandise and the many friendly Cast Members who are happy to tell you about their homelands. This week, I wandered into the charming, old-world country of Germany, and was intrigued with the many whimsical details that help create the “face” of this historic place. And as I share a few of the snapshots I took there, my hope is that you enjoy the journey as much as I did…

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Disney Performing Arts Announces New Ears for the Arts Campaign

DisneyParks Blog - Anyone who takes part in a Disney Performing Arts program shares a common bond and rite of passage. It takes confidence, character and camaraderie for an ensemble to be able to come together and perform in front of an international Disney audience. As a former participant with Disney Performing Arts, I know first-hand that performing at the Disneyland Resort in California or the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is something that will surely never be forgotten.

I am proud to announce that Disney Performing Arts will now be celebrating and commemorating this momentous experience and shining achievement with the Ears for the Arts badge of honor. Participants in Disney Performing Arts programs, which include performance opportunities, workshops, festivals and competitions, will receive an exclusive Ears for the Arts pin and become a part of an elite group of students.

The first Ears for the Arts recipients at both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort were given their pins on Friday, February 11th in a special once-in-a-lifetime ceremony.

Dance students from the Academy of Ballet in Orem, Utah, were honored by Minnie Mouse herself when they became the first West Coast recipients of Disney’s new Ears for the Arts badge of honor. The Academy of Ballet is led by director Tyne Crockett.

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MSNBC - If there's such a thing as an archetypal Disney fanatic, I'm pretty sure that I don't fit the mold. I don't own Mickey Mouse T-shirts or have a Disney license plate on my car. There are no movie posters, bobblehead dolls, or other assorted Disneyana decorating my cubicle. But as hard as it is for my colleagues at Budget Travel to believe, I've been to Walt Disney World more times than I can count. In fact, when my family and I try to tally the total number of days we've logged in the parks, we usually start with some complex mental math only to throw up our hands and agree, "A few hundred."

So I guess you could say I know the place pretty well. Add in my family (mother, father, and sister), and we've collectively amassed more than 60 years of park experience. With that kind of dedication comes a little embarrassment and a lifetime's worth of invaluable rules. What follows is my hard-won Disney World wisdom, an insider's manual for first-timers and fanatics alike.

1. Embrace your impulsive side
Disney World's sheer scale can be daunting: four theme parks, 25,000 acres, nearly 500 places to eat, more than 28,000 hotel rooms. Guidebooks often suggest creating a master multiday game plan before hitting the parks. I totally disagree. Rather than sticking to a rigid agenda, my family has developed a simple system: Check the morning forecast. If rain is on the way, we head for Hollywood Studios — it's far and away the most compact of the four parks, and almost all rides and lines are indoors or sheltered. Cloudy days are ideal for Animal Kingdom, since the big cats, great apes, and Serengeti grazers are much more active when the sun is hidden, while Epcot is a must when the mercury is predicted to climb above 90 degrees; many of its top attractions clock in at over 15 minutes, maximizing your precious air-conditioned hours. And for those perfectly sunny days? Magic Kingdom, of course. Blue skies are ideal for carnival-style rides like Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad — not to mention that classic family photo in front of Cinderella Castle.

2. Don't even think about paying for parking
When you're shelling out $82 a day for admission, tacking on another $14 for parking can feel like adding insult to injury. I'm proud to say my family hasn't paid for a spot in years. What many out-of-towners don't realize is that the parking lots at Disney water parks, miniature-golf courses, and the Downtown Disney entertainment district are absolutely free. From those locations, shuttle buses will take you wherever you need to go (note that some routes require transfers). Our all-time favorite spot is an unmarked overflow lot across the street from the BoardWalk Inn. Next to a Hess gas station, the lot is almost always half-empty and is a 10-minute walk to the resort. From there, you can stroll over to Epcot, take a ferry ride to Hollywood Studios, or catch a shuttle bus anywhere else — all free of charge.

3. Ready, set...run!
If you've been to Disney World even once, you probably know that Fastpasses are the single-greatest time-savers ever. They are distributed from special machines at many popular rides, and they specify a time window (essentially a reservation) when you can return and skip the line. The only hitch is that they're limited and first-come, first-served. Every Dec. 26, my family visits the Magic Kingdom with a large group from our neighborhood. To ensure that we all get Fastpasses, our family friend, a special-projects manager at a major computer company, uses his logistics skills to coordinate what I call the "running man" strategy. Because favorites like Space Mountain and Splash Mountain are located far from the entrance, it would be impossible to get our whole party to the Fastpass machines before the best time slots were taken. Instead, we send the fastest member of our pack bobbing and weaving through the crowds to collect passes for everyone.

4. Look beyond the biggies
With top rides like Hollywood Studios' Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (an intense free fall) and Epcot's Mission: Space (a thrilling virtual space flight) commanding hour-long waits, it pays to go where the action isn't. Epcot's Sum of All Thrills is no less exciting than Mission: Space, but for whatever reason, I've never waited more than 15 minutes for it. On a touch screen, guests design their own roller coaster, bobsled course, or jet flight, and then step inside a two-person module on the end of a robotic arm to experience a simulated version of their creation. Another inexplicably empty attraction is Magic Kingdom's Tom Sawyer Island. The 3.3-acre site is a warren of wooded trails, caves, and circa-1840s buildings. Each morning, staffers hide six paintbrushes on the island, and the first kids to find them get front-of-the-line passes for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad or Splash Mountain.

5. Drink for free — in eight languages
Disney World isn't exactly known for its giveaways — which is why Epcot's Coca-Cola-sponsored Club Cool is such a score. Located in a nondescript storefront behind Epcot's silver geodesic sphere, Club Cool doles out free samples of eight soft drinks from around the world, including Costa Rican Fanta Kolita, Israeli Kinley Lemon, and Japanese VegitaBeta. Just beware the bitter and syrupy Italian (nonalcoholic) aperitif known as Beverly. It's a doozy.

6. Grab some shut-eye (and a quick history lesson)
During summer's peak, when the Magic Kingdom can stay open as late as 2 a.m., the conventional wisdom is to return to your hotel for a refreshing afternoon catnap or a cooldown by the pool. But really, there's no need to leave the park. My apologies to the Hall of Presidents — Disney's audio-animatronic celebration of the American presidency — but there's no better place for a quick midday snooze. Comfy seats, a long running time (23 minutes), perfect air-conditioned temperatures, and Morgan Freeman's warm narration make for a dreamy combination.

7. Look at the line. Now skip it
Trying to fit all the highlights of a given park into a single day can feel like a race against the clock, so every little time-saver helps. At Rock 'n' Roller Coaster (Hollywood Studios), Test Track (Epcot), and Expedition Everest (Animal Kingdom), riders have the option of queuing up in a dedicated singles line to fill any empty seats that might open up between larger parties. Sure, you won't be able to buy the requisite cheesy souvenir photo of you and your family screaming your heads off, but you'll halve that hour-plus wait time. Multi-kid families have another option, called the rider switch. If one of the kids is too young, short, or scared to ride, one parent-child pair can enjoy the attraction while the other waits by the loading zone. When the riders finish up, the parents can swap positions and the new parent-child team sets off for another run — no extra waiting involved.

8. Squeeze in time for cocktail hour
At a certain point in every young Floridian's life, Epcot graduates from "the educational theme park" to "the park where you can drink your way around the world." Everything from Chinese green-tea plum-wine slushies ($7.50) to icy, blended French Grey Goose citron cocktails ($9) is available in the grab-and-go bars that ring Epcot's World Showcase Lagoon. Sure, these drinks are delicious, but there's an even better alternative. For those unconcerned with trying to hit every attraction before the park closes, I suggest setting some time aside to duck into La Cava del Tequila, hidden inside Epcot's Mexico Pavilion. With only 30 seats, the grotto-like restaurant is an unexpectedly intimate shelter from the bustle outside and serves some mean specialties like flavored margaritas (avocado, cactus, jalapeño, and hibiscus), house-made guacamole, small plates like blue crab tostadas, and flights of top-shelf tequila (margaritas from $10, small plates from $6).

9. Buy a souvenir you'll actually want
For years, the most popular souvenirs at Disney World were hyper-collectible but decidedly uncool pins. (That didn't stop me from gathering them by the hundreds.) But now Disney has gone and added a twist: It's introduced a line of souvenirs that are at once cartoonish, crowd-pleasing, and surprisingly hip. With their trademark Mickey Mouse ears, the three-inch-tall Vinylmation figurines (from $10) come in hundreds of designs. You'll find everything from classic characters like Goofy and Pluto to iconic attractions like the monorail and Cinderella Castle. The catch? These pop-art-inspired action figures are sold in unmarked boxes, so you never know which pattern you'll find inside. If you're unhappy with your randomly selected design, most stores keep three options in full view by the cash register, and you can swap yours for one of those backups.

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DisneyParks Blog - “Come on over and try out a cool wildlife activity!”

This hook, used by our Education Presenter team, encourages families to stop by the Kids’ Discovery Clubs at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. We have six fun Club sites in each land of the Park for children 5-8 years old, but like most Disney activities, everyone in the family participates.

At each Club location, children try out different activities. They match dinosaur jaws to the correct skull, feel and guess items found in a fallen log, see like a bug, find animals in a backyard, look for animal clues, identify animal calls and introduce the important insects and spiders to guests at the Main Entrance.

The ultimate goal of this top Disney guest team is to share actions that guests can take to help wildlife and wild places. What can children do to help animals? Lots! Try creating a backyard habitat for local wildlife by hanging a bird house, filling a birdbath or planting trees as food sources and nesting sites. Some children enjoy doing homework projects on their favorite animal and then sharing what they learned with classmates. Others may like to join a river or beach clean-up to ensure clean and healthy habitats for wildlife or go on a neighborhood hike to observe wildlife in the area.

But other Disney’s Animal Programs teams join with the Presenter team to share great conservation messages about wildlife at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, The Seas with Nemo & Friends at Epcot and in our local Orlando community. In total, Animal Programs teams combined shared 4,746,271 conservation actions with guests in 2010 which is a 20% increase in interactions from the previous year. This number reflects a commitment to the Animal Programs mission statement of inspiring our guests to conservation action.

In today’s high-technology world, we’re trying to encourage children to go outdoors and explore nature. But the competition is tough…video games, computers and TV all compete for children’s time and attention.

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Yolanda Adams and Raven Symone will headline the event March 3-6 with comedian Steve Harvey. Other speakers include Mikki Taylor (Essence Magazine); Ruben Studdard (American Idol); Terrence J (106 & Park); Dr. Steve Perry (educator and motivational speaker0; and Marlon West (Walt Disney Animation Studios).

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Chancellor Mosier made the announcement that a second day will now be offered titled, Disney’s Approach to Leadership Excellence.

The additional program will take place on Tuesday, April 19 at the Holiday Inn Fort Wayne across from the Coliseum. Details, pricing, and timing all remain the same as the initially scheduled event. An additional 90 seats have been opened for this event.

Disney’s Approach to Leadership Excellence gives participants the chance to explore proven Disney leadership philosophies that encourage values that produce results and are fundamental for organizations to grow and succeed.

Program registration is $359 per person prior to March 21 (early-bird registration) or $399 after March 21 (regular registration). The price includes all course materials, a continental breakfast, and lunch. Employers sending five or more participants receive $20 off each registration. Ivy Tech alumni, students, and employees will receive a $20 discount, as well.

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A Disney official had yet to comment about the federal lawsuit, filed Tuesday morning in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, as of 11:30 a.m.

The Walt Disney Co. issues ID cards that are encoded with Social Security numbers, which violates California law, according to the lawsuit. The codes can be read by most cellular phones, including the Apple iPhone and Android devices, according to employees.

“With identity theft such a risk, I was shocked to learn that Disney is exposing our private information so incautiously,” said Jorge Iniestra, a lead plaintiff and cashier at the Grand Californian Hotel, in a statement.

The suit’s backers hope to include all 21,000 employees at the Disneyland Resort, Orange County’s largest, private employer. But the lawsuit could extend to thousands more of Disney employees in California, according to the employees.

Roman Delgado, the business agent for Teamsters Local 495 that represents 3,500 Disney attractions and transportation employees, said he’s heard of no problems related to the identity cards.

Hotel employees, attorneys and representatives announced the lawsuit at a press conference Tuesday in front of the Grand Californian Hotel in Anaheim.

Two identity-theft experts had different opinions about the lawsuit: Both said they think Disney should discontinue the practice.

Jay Foley, executive director of the San Diego-based Identity Theft Resource Center, said the law clearly states that employers can’t print Social Security numbers on ID cards, but he was unsure about encoded numbers.

“That’s probably something that a judge is going to have to decide,” Foley said. “I would personally say I would not do that to my employees. It exposes them to risk that they don’t need to be exposed to.”

Mari Frank, a Laguna Niguel attorney who is a certified privacy expert, said she believes Disney is breaking the law with the bar codes.

“I’m pretty much shocked how they are doing this,” Frank said. “The Social Security number is key to the kingdom of identity theft.”

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Anaheim police closed part of the retail district Tuesday morning after Disney employees reported finding the suspicious object during a routine sweep. By about 12:30 p.m. the Orange County Sheriff's Department bomb squad determined it was a geocache site, said Anaheim Police Sgt. Bob Dunn.

Geocaching is a hobby that uses orienteering and GPS devices to hide and seek small waterproof containers known as "geocaches."

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The program is open to U.S. high school students in grades 9 through 12. Thousands apply each year and 100 students are picked by a panel of judges made up of community leaders, educators, celebrities and Disney executives.

The program is designed to do one thing: remind students to dream BIG! Some past Dreamers have experienced enormous tragedies and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. After the program, past Dreamers have gone on to win college scholarships; garner national awards; and even own their own businesses.

Walt Disney World Resort plays host to the 100 Dreamers for four days – this year from March 3 to 6. You can follow the adventures of the Dreamers and the celebrities in live updates that weekend on Twitter using the hash tag #DDA. Or follow them on Facebook at Twitter.com/dreamersacademy.

Disney’s Dreamers Academy is designed so that the teens can be inspired, discover possibilities and prepare for their future. They receive mentoring customized to their individual interests, participate in interactive workshops and seminars focusing on careers and life enrichment – all sprinkled with a little bit of Disney fun and magic!

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New York Times - The long-running musical “The Lion King” is the first show to hit No. 1 in Broadway’s weekly box office grosses so late in the life of its run, earning $1,534,779 last week to edge out its closest competitors, “Wicked” and “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.” One likely factor was Disney Theatrical Productions’ decision to shift the show’s usual Tuesday evening performance to Monday evening, Feb. 14, to capitalize on date nights for Valentine’s Day.

“The Lion King” has run for about 13 years and four months on Broadway. Only six shows have run longer; in order, “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Cats,” “Les Miserables,” “A Chorus Line,” “Oh, Calcutta,” and the current revival of “Chicago.” According to a spokeswoman for the Broadway League, a trade group that collects and analyzes box office data, none of those six shows ever reached #1 in the weekly box office grosses at a comparable point — or afterward — in the lives of their runs.

For instance, “Spider-Man” had 1,930 seats to sell per performance last week, sold about 91 percent, and had an average paid admission of $104.63.

By comparison, “The Lion King” had fewer seats per performance — 1,677 — and sold about 94 percent of them, but its average paid admission was $121.46, a sign that a good number of people were shelling out money for the $250 premium seats to the production.

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My Fox Orlando - The Atlanta Braves, who are in their 14th Spring Training season at Champion Stadium at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney, began their first week of full-squad workouts.

The team is under new management for the first time since 1990. The Braves added first-year manager Fredi Gonzalez and all-star second baseman Dan Uggla this season. Long-time manager Bobby Cox retired last season, but some regular faces remain, including last years rookie sensation Jason Heyward and 18-year veteran Chipper Jones.

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DisneyParks Blog - How about this: For the first time at Disney Parks, you’ll have the opportunity to nail down a time for a face-to-face meeting with Mickey Mouse at the Walt Disney World Resort. Beginning this spring, we’ll be offering FASTPASS for Mickey at his new permanent home, Town Square Theater, located inside the current Exposition Hall area at the entrance of Magic Kingdom park.

Once open, it’ll be more than just a new greeting space for Mickey. Imagineers are creating new elements and surprises for Magic Kingdom park guests, including an interactive queue – with an extra touch of Disney magic. Also, during the New Fantasyland construction, royalty will be visiting as the Disney Princesses will be in Town Square Theater to meet and greet their loyal subjects this spring.

How will it work? Magic Kingdom guests will be able obtain a Disney’s FASTPASS specifying a one-hour window when they can return to see the popular character for hugs, photos and autographs – without waiting in the standby queue. This marks the first time the complimentary, computerized service has been utilized for a character meet-and-greet at any Disney Park.

Walt Disney Imagineers are already working to completely transform the space for the new experience.

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Disney workers found the suspicious object just east of the ESPN Zone restaurant while conducting a routine survey of the retail district and called police about 11:07 a.m. Tuesday, said Anaheim Police Sgt. Bob Dunn.

Police officers couldn't determine what the object was, so they called in the Orange County Sheriff's Department bomb squad, he said.

The area around the object has been closed off to pedestrians, officials said, and visitors in surrounding businesses have been asked to stay inside.

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Weekend events will include:

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NY Daily News - An ex-Disney secretary cried to a judge Tuesday that she was "blindsided by love," falling for a phony Prince Charming who tried to peddle insider information to an undercover FBI agent posing as a hedge-fund bigshot.

"It was completely irresponsible; it was completely bad judgment," said Bonnie Hoxie who was sentenced to four months home confinement. She had faced four to 10 months in prison.

Hoxie, who copped to conspiracy and mail fraud charges, was also ordered to serve three years probation and 300 hours of community service.

Manhattan Federal Court Judge Alvin Hellerstein agreed Hoxie, 34, had been manipulated by boyfriend Yonni Sebbag into stealing Disney financial secrets. Sebbag then sent e-mails to hedge funds offering to sell the information for cash. The hedge funds contacted the FBI.

"I understand you were in a love relationship that didn't work out," the judge said. "You were vulnerable."

Hoxie had access to the information as the secretary to Disney public relations chief Zenia Mucha.

Before they were busted last May, Hoxie asked Sebbag to buy her a designer pocketbook and designer shoes, according to an SEC complaint.

Her attorney Robert Baum said Hoxie did not know that Sebbag was trying to sell the information.

Hoxie told Hellerstein she now works as a waitress in Los Angeles and is indigent.

The U.S. Marshal service paid for her air fare to New York.

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I have to say that it looks really cute, and I know that the fans have long waited for. I think Disney and Pixar will both have another huge hit on their hands. I wonder if they will wind up with a Cars 3?

What do you think of the new TV spot? Do you think it sounds as cute as the original, or just a failed sequel? I think it could do as well as the Toy Story series did. I guess we will have to wait to see for a fact if it does well or fails. I do wonder how they come up with the storyline for the sequel. Cars going on a boat to travel over seas is pushing it even for Disney.

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The Blue Bayou has done the “Crescent City” right with a traditional bouillabaisse. This French seafood delight is filled with lobster, red snapper, little neck clams and mussels all in a savory broth, topped with dipping bread and saffron spread. You can add the perfect finish to your meal by selecting apple fritters a la mode for dessert! Three fresh apple fritters are served with vanilla bean ice cream, dried cherry gastrique and topped with spiced apple glaze. This is a meal fit for a carnival king or queen!

Café Orleans is getting into the spirit of Mardi Gras with their own signature dessert, a Bananas Foster crepe – a handmade crepe filled with sautéed bananas, topped with caramel rum sauce and caramelized bananas. Across Orleans St., French Market will be spicing things up with a shrimp Po-Boy and a Muffaletta sandwich. And don’t miss the Mardi Gras corn chowder at Harbour Galley topped with festive “confetti” corn chip strips, or the Cajun Firefly, Blueberry Blast or Mardi Gras Punch, specialty beverages that contain no added sugar.

There are many culinary delights available for a limited time throughout New Orleans Square, but my favorite is the Mardi Gras “Mickey” Brioche – sweet brioche bread, covered in Mardi Gras-inspired green, gold and purple sugar crystals. This treat, served with a familiar “mouse-ear” twist, is available at Harbour Galley, French Market and Royal Street Veranda.

Take a peek of some of the fun we had this weekend at the Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans Square. Then come be a part of the festivities as “Family Fun Weekends” continue Friday through Sunday, February 25 – 27 and March 4 – 6, in New Orleans Square at Disneyland park. Grab your krewe and come be a part of the fun.

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Check Out The New MARS NEEDS MOMS Trailer “Stay Cool”

We Are Movie Geeks - Get ready for the mother of all adventures! Check out the third trailer for MARS NEEDS MOMS.

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Is Walt Disney a Stock for the Long Term?

The Motley Fool - Being able to retire rich, or at least comfortable, is the goal of almost any investor. However, it's much easier said than done. In a recent Wells Fargo survey, respondents between the ages of 50-59 said that they had, on average, about $29,000 saved up. With pensions all but gone, and social security targeted for cuts in the future, it's hard to count on anyone but yourself. But $29,000 isn't going to cut it for most people, so you've got to get involved in the stock market in order to grow that nest egg. Getting in the game is the easy part; choosing the right stocks is the hard part.

Making prudent decisions
Generally speaking, I look for four traits in a retirement stock:

1. Valuation: Investors of all ages want to make sure they're not overpaying for a stock, but this matters even more in retirement. Retirees don't have the long time horizon that younger investors have, so it's essential to make sure you don't overpay in the short term.
2. Dividends: Most retirees need a combination of both growth and income, as they'll be depending more and more on their portfolio to help with everyday expenses. Companies that pay dividends not only offer immediate income, but they've also proven to outperform non-paying dividend companies over long periods of time.
3. Growth: Investors love dividends, but everyone wants to see their stocks rise over time. Growth can be as big a part of your portfolio as a steady dividend. It's important to note that you don't need a high-flying stock that's going to shoot to the moon; a company that can grow and outperform the market is hard enough to find, so steady growth is highly covetable.
4. Low Volatility: Retirees want to invest in great growth stocks just as much as anyone else, but they also want to be able to rest well knowing that their portfolio won't be taking them on a rollercoaster ride. At the end of the day, most retirees would rather own a sturdy company that lets them sleep at night than a company that whips up and down with the gyrations of the market.

So how does Walt Disney stack up?
In order to check out the valuation of Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS), we don't want to look at only its P/E ratio of 19.3. That may seem expensive, but really we don't know without looking at the ratio in historical context. Over the last five years, Walt Disney's average P/E ratio has been 16.4, which is less than the current ratio. This suggests that investors may be paying more than they've had to in the past, so it's important to find out why the price tag might be a bit higher today.

Walt Disney's dividend yield is 0.9%. This might not seem like a whole lot right now, but that dividend has room to grow, so I wouldn't discount its importance. Getting a dividend at all shows a company's dedication to its shareholders, and that's significant.

Next, we want to ensure that Walt Disney's stock has the ability to rise over the next five, 10, and 20 years. A company that's growing its net income has the best possible chance to see its share price rise over time. Of course, we can't predict the future, but we can look back to get an idea of how the company has performed in the past in order to try to ensure future earnings growth. Over the past five years, Walt Disney has grown its net income by 11.4%. Fortunately, Walt Disney has been able to grow its earnings over the past five years, and that's pretty significant considering all of the market turmoil in the last few years. Of course, this doesn't mean that growth will continue, but it's a great sign that the company can prosper in the face of difficulty.

One of the best measures of volatility is called beta. Beta measures the impact that the movement of the stock market will have on a particular stock. For instance, a beta of 1.0 signifies that Walt Disney will move in tandem with the market; a beta of 2.0 means that the stock will move up twice as much as the general market, and vice versa. In this particular case, Walt Disney has a beta of 1.12, which is pretty low. Generally speaking, I like to see a beta below 1.2 for retirees. In this case, Walt Disney fits the bill.

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Yahoo Sports - Pranks are as much a part of the NFL locker room as bratwurst is to a Packers tailgate.

Football training coach Tom Shaw's staff at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex gave these soon-to-be NFL rookies an epic prank one week before the NFL combine in Indianapolis, as captured by Anthony Amey of WSBTV.

Earlier in the day, the players were informed that a gorilla was on the loose from the nearby zoo. Check out the video below to see what happened next.

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However, with the Angels and the Anaheim Ducks of the NHL, the city of Anaheim has indeed thrived as a major professional sports markets, and now, the Sacramento Kings of the NBA could be the next team to move to the land of Disney.

Several reports have recently surfaced that the Kings are indeed mulling over the decision to move to Anaheim, and they would have to make their relocation decision by March 1, according to NBA rules.

David Stern, the commissioner of the NBA, also recently stated that he was no longer concerned with trying to keep the team in Sacramento, further fueling speculation about the move.

Stern told the Los Angeles Times, "All I'll say is that we and they have tried very hard over the years to see whether a new building could be built," Stern said at his All-Star news conference.

"And with the collapse of the last attempt, which took a few years, and several million dollars, on behalf of the league I said we are not going to spend any more time on that.

"That is for the Maloofs and the people of Sacramento."

Joe and Gavin Maloof, who have owned the Sacramento Kings since 1999, have tried and failed to secure a new facility for the Kings in the city of Sacramento, and attendance at their current facility, the Power Balance Pavilion, has decreased dramatically in recent years. The Kings have also been one of the NBA teams that has consistently lost money over the past several seasons.

Anaheim Ducks owner Henry Samueli has also graciously offered to help the Kings in their wish to move to Anaheim, offering to help cover relocation costs for the Kings and to fund a $100 million loan for money owed by the Kings to the city of Sacramento.

Fans in Sacramento are desperate to keep the team in their home city, buying up eight billboards across the city to implore the Kings to stay, and also buying up more tickets in hopes of generating more interest.

However, their efforts may be in vein, as the Maloof brothers have publicly remained silent about their intentions. However, with the latest collapse of a proposed new arena in Sacramento that was backed by Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former NBA star, the Maloofs know that they will have an arena in place and ready for them in Anaheim, the Honda Center.

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Orlando Sentinel - Though it may look like part of the preparations for the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, the outdoor meet-and-greet area for Disney Fairies is not seasonal.

Tinker Bell and her friends were relocated from the Magic Kingdom to the new Pixie Hollow garden after Mickey’s Toontown Fair closed Feb. 12. Pixie Hollow, which is located between Mouse Gear and the Kim Possible booth, opened mid-week last week.

Guests can meet Tinker Bell and her fairy friends daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. The current schedule, which is subject to change, shows four fairies on guest-greeting duty:

9:30 a.m.: Tinker Bell and Terence

10:10 a.m.: Rosetta and Vidia

10:50 a.m.: Tinker Bell and Terence

11:30 a.m.: Rosetta and Vidia

12:10: Tinker Bell and Terence

12:50 p.m.: Rosetta and Vidia

1:30 p.m.: Terence

2 p.m.: Tinker Bell

2:40 p.m.: Rosetta and Vidia

3:20 p.m. Tinker Bell and Terence

4 p.m. Rosetta and Vidia

4:40 p.m. Tinker Bell and Terence

5:15 p.m. Rosetta and Vidia

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DisneyParks Blog - Back in January, I had the chance to familiarize you with the artwork of SHAG. SHAG’s retro inspired art has been found in Disneyland Resort for quite a few years and was recently introduced to Disney Cruise Line for the Maiden Voyage of the Disney Dream and to Walt Disney World Resort for our 40th anniversary.

SHAG recently set sail with us on the Disney Dream and while onboard, my friend John caught up with him to learn more about his creative method and inspiration. Take a look at this video to get a behind the scenes look at SHAG as he showcases his latest artwork and talks about his artistic style.

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PRNewswire - One of summer's most highly anticipated blockbuster movies, Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films' "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" features original music by Academy Award®-winning composer Hans Zimmer and a first-time collaboration with the internationally acclaimed Mexican guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela.  Walt Disney Records will release the soundtrack for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides May 17, 2011.

"We'd always felt it a creative necessity that the 'Pirates of the Caribbean 4' score have an original sound all its own and to distinguish itself from the first three films.  With the inspiring addition of Rodrigo y Gabriela's unique artistry under the direction of maestro Hans 'Long John' Zimmer, this iconic score franchise take its next step forward with an imaginative, fresh and individual new sound," says Mitchell Leib, President of Music and Soundtracks for the Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Group and Disney Music Group.  

Hans Zimmer is one of the film industry's most respected and sought-after composers with a career that encompasses more than 100 film and television scores.  An Academy Award® winner for his score for The Lion King, Zimmer has also received eight additional Oscar® nominations for his work including Inception,  Sherlock Holmes, Gladiator, The Thin Red Line, Rain Man, As Good as It Gets, The Preacher's Wife and The Prince of Egypt.  Other recent credits include Rango, The Dark Knight and Batman Begins.  Among his many honors, Zimmer has also won two Golden Globes® and three Grammy Awards®.

Rodrigo y Gabriela are considered the premier guitar-playing duo in the world.  They have sold over one million albums, have sold out arenas and headlined festivals worldwide, and in 2010 they were invited to share the stage with Beyonce for a state dinner at the White House. The collaboration with Hans Zimmer is their first film score-an exciting and defining moment in their career.  Their willingness to explore musical expression and to embrace new sounds irrespective of fashion or trends, as well as their point blank refusal to be pigeonholed as any particular genre, is the very foundation of Rodrigo y Gabriela.

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Rob Marshall, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" captures the fun, adventure and humor that ignited the hit franchise—this time in Disney Digital 3D™. Johnny Depp returns to his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow in an action-packed adventure. Crossing paths with the enigmatic Angelica (Penelope Cruz), he's not sure if it's love—or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the "Queen Anne's Revenge," the ship of the legendary pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know whom to fear more: Blackbeard or Angelica, with whom he shares a mysterious past. The international cast includes franchise vets Geoffrey Rush as the vengeful Captain Hector Barbossa and Kevin R. McNally as Captain Jack's longtime comrade Joshamee Gibbs, plus Sam Claflin as a stalwart missionary and Astrid Berges-Frisbey as a mysterious mermaid.

Walt Disney Pictures' and Jerry Bruckheimer Films' "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," with screenplay by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio, suggested by the novel by Tim Powers opens in theaters May 20, 2011, in Disney Digital 3D™.

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DisneyParks Blog - This is a fairly well-known photograph of former President and Mrs. Dwight D. Eisenhower which was taken at Disneyland park in 1961 during a visit with their grandchildren. Being one of only five former U.S. presidents to visit us so far, it’s to be expected that a photograph of this kind would become familiar over time. So what would the chances be that, nearly 45 years later, we would discover more pictures from this memorable day in our history?

In preparation for our 50th anniversary celebration in 2005, I uncovered a photo negative from this visit that I had never seen before. No one I shared it with had seen it either. It is similar to the black and white photo I had seen for years, only this one was in color.

Here is that rarely seen photo of Ike and Mamie meeting the press outside the Disneyland Fire Dept. Every time I see “Engine No. 1” in the park, I think of President Eisenhower and this photo.

Another photo we discovered around the same time was one that has likely never been released, as the former president appears slightly blurry in it, but I thought this seemed like a good time to share it. Taken at the Main Street Station of the Disneyland Railroad, this photo also features his granddaughter Mary Jean and grandson, David; the namesake of the presidential retreat, Camp David.

President Eisenhower was an admirer of Walt Disney and once described him as someone “who has spread more understanding of the fun-loving American than anyone else and has brought joy to the hearts of many people, both young and old.”

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As DVD sales continue to sag and even Redbox will make the jump to digital rentals, it’s only natural for producers to consider the in-home outlet. At a recent investor conference, Disney president of distribution Bob Chapek acknowledged his company would find a new way to offer its content. “Our research shows that one of the biggest segments of the audience that’s interested in home premiere are families with very young kids who can’t make it to the theater given the age of their children.”

Disney has been progressively moving toward streaming content recently. Last years, theaters were slighted by Disney’s choice to restrict Alice in Wonderland’s time on the big screen in order to release it on DVD sooner. But pressure from on-demand movie services is only increasing as more and more content providers begin offering the service, and profit is on the line.

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I love looking at maps. I could spend hours tracing roads and planning imaginary trips to destinations unknown. A favorite souvenir of mine from a 1988 family trip to Florida was a stylized cartoon map of Walt Disney World. I hung it on my bedroom wall to help me stay connected between Disney trips. One of my all time favorite vintage Walt Disney World maps is from the 1970s. Drawn in a cartoon style, the map featured an overview of the Magic Kingdom area (complete with resorts never built). So what does this have to do with 40th Anniversary ear hats? Imagine my delight when I discovered that 1970s map printed on the underside of the 40th anniversary limited release ear hat. I spoke with Mark Seppala, Disney Design Group Artist for headwear, about the map’s inclusion.

“The map seemed like a perfect fit for this anniversary hat,” explained Mark. “It was added to the underside of the hat via a sublimated printing process. I particularly like how the map shows the once proposed Mediterranean Hotel.”

Mark began work on the hat in Spring 2010. Following a trend of other collectible hats, it comes packaged in a deluxe, satin lined hat box. The outside of the hat box uses the previously discussed 40th Anniversary collage designed by Natalie Kennedy. There are a few extra surprises besides the map that Mark added to this collectible hat.

“The original idea was to have an embroidered logo on the front of the hat,” continued Mark. “I asked Megan [product developer for headwear] if I could make a cloisonné logo instead. She loved the idea!”

Mark is no stranger to working in cloisonné. He spent several years designing cloisonné Disney pins during the early days of Disney Pin Trading at Disney Parks. Mark also shared there are three unique fabric patches that come packaged with the limited release hat.

If you are looking for a more simplistic way to commemorate the 40th Anniversary via your head, there is an open edition hat that is just as festive.

This open edition hat also has some three-dimensional features including a patch and two mini-buttons. My favorite detail is the “trifecta of awesomeness” (see above) – the Orange Bird, an Epcot Center button and Dreamfinder with Figment in a row!

I asked Mark about his first visit to the Walt Disney World Resort.

“I first visited Walt Disney World in 1973 with my Mom,” said Mark. “I had finished serving in the Navy and came to Florida on vacation. The thing I remember the most was looking down Main Street, U.S.A., and seeing Cinderella Castle. I couldn’t believe how big the Castle was!”

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Each issue of the magazine contains 96 full color pages of content, including a mix of brand new stories, classic adventures, puzzles, games and more. Featuring characters from Disney/Pixar’s hit movies Cars, Cars 2, The Incredibles, Toy Story 3, and more, DISNEY*PIXAR PRESENTS will be available at bookstores, retail chains, comic stores and more. The series debuts with DISNEY*PIXAR PRESENTS: Cars Magazine #1

“We’re excited for the launch of DISNEY*PIXAR PRESENTS, teaming with our friends at Disney/Pixar to bring some exciting new material to fans all over the world and introducing a whole new generation to comics,” said Axel Alonso, Editor-in-Chief. “We’re committed to providing a great product and ensuring these books are available in locations that parents and kids frequent. The Disney/Pixar library includes some of the most popular characters of all time, making DISNEY*PIXAR PRESENTS exactly the kind of comic magazine that kids and parents have been demanding!”

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Honoring the recent addition to our fleet, the Disney Dream, I would like to tell you about “Disney’s Believe.” This original musical, created exclusively for the Disney Dream, headlines the repertoire of stage spectaculars presented in the Walt Disney Theatre.

“Disney’s Believe” introduces you to Dr. Cornelius Greenaway, a brilliant botanist obsessed with his work. You’ll also meet his imaginative and spirited daughter, Sophia, who is heartbroken because her father overlooks her birthday while being preoccupied with cultivating his precious plants.

Sophia then makes a special birthday wish…and POOF! Genie from Disney’s “Aladdin” magically appears in Dr. Greenaway’s garden to teach him a valuable lesson about what’s important in life.

This exciting production features more than 20 of Disney’s most beloved characters who help Dr. Greenaway reconnect with his daughter. Here’s a glimpse at some of the cast.

I don’t want to spoil all the surprises awaiting guests in “Disney’s Believe,” so you’ll have to sail with us to experience the entire show! In the meantime, check out this behind-the-scenes look at the preparation that went into bringing this new story to life:

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Pulitzer-Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin helped develop the show with Disney Imagineers and gives a look at what makes this attraction so inspirational.

Is this one of your favorite attractions? If so, here are a few fun facts:

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