2. Name four of the eight submarines in the original Submarine Voyage.

3. The current Winnie the Pooh attraction in Frontierland replaced another group of bears. What was the name of that attraction?

4. Which attraction was originally created for the 1964 World's Fair?

a. Mission to Mars

b. America Sings

c. It's a Small World

d. The Peoplemover

5. How many spooks live in the Haunted Mansion (according to the narrator?)

6. How many spinning cups are on the Mad Tea Party?

a. 15

b. 16

c. 17

d. 18

7. At Mickey's Toontown, what's in the refrigerator in Minnie's House?

8. Which of these attractions has been at the park the longest?

a. Mark Twain's Riverboat

b. Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln

c. Matterhorn

9. What's inside the tip of the Matterhorn?

10. The Swiss Family Treehouse was evicted to make room for which tree-dweller?

* Answers Below

1. Jungle Cruise.

2. Nautilus, Triton, Sea Wolf, Skate, Skipjack, George Washington, Patrick Henry, Ethan Allen.

3. Country Bear Jamboree.

4. It's a Small World.

5. There are 999. But there's always room for 1,000.

6. 18 teacups.

7. Cheese, of course.

8. Mark Twain's Riverboat.

9. A basketball court. A very small one.

10. Tarzan.

Designers are creating games and rides at the theme parks which aim to draw in the children who have grown up with video games.

Working again with Michael Murray Design, T-Mation produced the opening sequence and promotional elements, as well as on-set animations for Channel Nine's "A Current Affair."  To achieve the desired look, T-Mation used LightWave 3D to create an infinite landscape of transparent, refractive, and reflective glass. 

 T-Mation's animated open for the SBS documentary series "As It Happened" shows a set of historical documents being blown into a hectic wave of disorganization that is then rearranged into opening drawers in a vast wall of filing cabinets that represent the rearrangement of historical events. For "As It Happened," T-Mation used a combination of procedural and key frame animation to build up a wave of flying papers, each mapped with an individual sequence of historical footage.

-$26.96 million utilities revenue bonds, series 2005-1;

-$80.4 million utilities revenue refunding bonds, series 2005-2.

The current offering, expected to be insured, is scheduled to sell by negotiation with a syndicate led by UBS Financial Services Inc. on or about May 4. Fitch also affirms the 'A-' rating on $315.2 million unrefunded outstanding utilities revenue bonds. The Rating Outlook is revised to Stable from Negative.

At this time Fitch also affirms the 'A-' rating and revises the Rating Outlook to Stable on the district's separately secured ad valorem tax bonds (see separately issued press release from today).

The 'A-' rating on the utilities revenue bonds reflects adequate financial results, with demonstrated and anticipated debt service coverage expected to include a reasonable safety margin above recently weakened bond covenants. The district benefits from strong controls over its service territory and sole rate-making power, which it exercises in a regular and timely fashion. Offsetting risks include an unrestricted cash position that is low for the rating category and a revenue base that is highly concentrated in one corporate customer, The Walt Disney Co. (Disney). The district's ratings are higher than the ratings on Disney (currently rated 'BBB+' by Fitch with a Stable Outlook), due to the importance of the theme park and resort segment to Disney's financial operations, along with the district's adequate financial position.

The Outlook revision to Stable is primarily based on the steady recovery of visitation to the Walt Disney World theme parks and its resort hotels, leading to greater utilization of utility services, and the improving credit profile of Disney. Fitch believes that moderate projected growth in demand, the recent approval of a five-year energy supply contract, and limited capital needs on the existing system will allow the district to continue making modest adjustments to rates to maintain coverage at or better than 1.2 times (x), above the rate covenant of 1.1x.

The district's primary purpose is to provide utility services to the Walt Disney World Resort Complex (the complex). The district is governed by a five-member board of supervisors elected by the district's land-owners. Disney owns 69% of the land and is responsible for 87% of the property taxes and 85% of utility system revenues in the district. The district's combined utility system supplies the complex with electricity, chilled water, wastewater, natural gas, solid waste services, water, hot water, and reclaimed water. Revenues from electric sales account for 54% of system revenues, followed by chilled water (12%), wastewater (12%), natural gas (8%), and solid waste (5%).

The bonds are secured by net revenues of the system. Electric generation sources include a mix of owned (24%) and purchased (76%) power. The peak demand in fiscal 2004 was 5.5% higher than in fiscal 2001 (Sept. 30 fiscal year-end). The district purchases most of its power from the Orlando Utilities Commission through a contract extending until 2005. The district has signed an agreement with Progress Energy to deliver the majority of its power from 2006-2010. The district has an option on a 9% share of an 800 mega-watt, coal-fired plant being considered by Florida Municipal Power to diversify its power-sourcing away from exclusively natural gas.

Fiscal 2004 coverage of annual debt service by pledged utility system revenues is an adequate 1.16x, although it has declined from the 1.5x range in fiscal 1999. An average rate increase of 3.65% for fiscal 2005, along with a mid-year adjustment of 5% for the gas utility, is anticipated to generate coverage of approximately 1.27x at year-end. Cash levels are low, with approximately 44 days of unrestricted cash on hand in fiscal 2004. The district's board of supervisors can raise rates as needed on a monthly basis, thus providing increased financial flexibility. The system is highly leveraged, with debt to net plant equal to 125% in fiscal 2004. The district continues to operate the general fund with ample reserves. In fiscal 2004, the unreserved general fund balance of $15.7 million equaled a solid 40% of general fund spending.

New money bond proceeds from this issuance will finance electric reliability projects and water and wastewater system improvements and extensions. Refunding bond proceeds will advance refund $78.7 of outstanding revenue bonds for net present value savings estimated at 3.7% of refunded par.

Earlier this month, Walt Disney Co. stole one of Hollywood's biggest producers, Scott Rudin, from Paramount Pictures.

Now, Disney is working to make sure its own marquee producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, stays in the fold.

Much is at stake for Disney in keeping Bruckheimer happy. For more than a decade, the producer has delivered the kind of large-scale, adrenaline-laced films the studio needs to anchor its yearly movie offerings, including "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," "Armageddon," "The Rock," "Crimson Tide" and, most recently, "National Treasure."

Disney and Bruckheimer - who have been in business together since 1991 - have been in negotiations for nearly a year to extend the producer's longtime deal. Bruckheimer said his representatives planned to meet with Disney during the next several weeks to try to resolve any outstanding issues.

One area being negotiated is the addition of action-packed video games to Bruckheimer's portfolio. Bruckheimer has been courted by game developers and is eager to expand into the business. Disney, meanwhile, is moving back into developing its own games and wants Bruckheimer be a part of it. Disney recently announced that it was buying a small Utah video game developer and investing in a Canadian venture.

Disney and Bruckheimer also must agree on how much of the profits from DVD sales and other revenue streams the producer will share. Bruckheimer is one of Hollywood's highest-paid producers, and Disney might have to find other ways to give him even more money, such as cutting him in on a larger chunk of the DVD pie.

Disney's brass and Bruckheimer say they hope to come to terms on all matters and continue what has been a hugely successful partnership.

"Jerry's been our power hitter for many years, and it is our desire for him to continue to be our power hitter for years to come," said Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook.

Bruckheimer, who is shooting two "Pirates of the Caribbean" sequels back-to-back, also expressed a desire to extend his run there.

"I've had a phenomenal relationship over the past 15 years with Dick Cook and his team, and I hope we continue for another 15 years," said Bruckheimer, 59.

Cook said it was not at all unusual that such complicated contract talks drag on, noting that it happened when Bruckheimer's previous deal expired.

Bruckheimer, like Rudin and producer Brian Grazer, is in an elite group that enjoys Hollywood's richest production deals, including a substantial cut (an average of 7.5 percent) of the studio's gross receipts from the first dollar earned at the box office.

But big names require substantial care and handling from studio executives.

A former advertising executive, Bruckheimer has had a long history with Disney, dating to when he and his late partner Don Simpson signed a five-year production deal in 1991 with the studio. Bruckheimer and Simpson, who died in 1996, came to Disney after producing for Paramount, where in the 1980s they attained elite status with blockbusters including "Flashdance," "Top Gun" and the "Beverly Hills Cop" films.

Bruckheimer occasionally has made films for other studios, including the "Bad Boys" hits for Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Despite his track record at Disney, Bruckheimer has battled the company over costs.

Disney nearly scrapped the "Pirates" sequels out of cost concerns, even though the first film grossed $652 million worldwide and sold about 30 million DVDs globally. Eventually, Disney and Bruckheimer agreed on a budget of about $350 million combined for the two films, with Bruckheimer and some other talent deferring salaries.

A highly public budget battle also erupted over Bruckheimer's costly 2001 epic "Pearl Harbor" when Disney forced the producer and director Michael Bay to renegotiate their fees to get the movie made.

Despite an enviable string of blockbusters, not all of Bruckheimer's costly movies hit pay dirt. "Pearl Harbor" didn't return Disney the kind of profit it expected. Last year's "King Arthur" was a big disappointment.

But Bruckheimer also has shown he can make Disney smaller, profitable films, notably "Remember the Titans" in 2000.

Bruckheimer's next Disney release, "Glory Road," in early 2006 is in the same vein, an inspirational story about the 1966 NCAA championship basketball team from Texas Western University. 

SHELTERecords recording artists Everlife have been chosen to record the theme song for the upcoming Disney movie Go Figure. Go Figure will play on Disney TV throughout the summer, and stars newcomer Jordan Hinson. Everlife will be featured in all advertising regarding the show. The title song was written and produced by Andy Dodd and Adam Watts, the team behind the Jesse McCartney hit Beautiful Soul, with vocal arrangements by Kevan Cyka (Lifehouse, REM, Hilary Duff) and Dan Needham (Stacie Orrico, Steven Curtis Chapman)

Everlife will be shooting a video in the next week for the project at the Southern Ice Rink outside of Nashville. Gary Chapman will be directing the video that will coincide with the release of the show, and will be featured in all TV ads and all teasers. Go Figure is a story about a girl who, in trying to study figure skating with a world-renowned Russian teacher at a private school, has to join the hockey team on scholarship to afford the tuition.

"Disney has become an integral part of our marketing campaign with Everlife. Between the opportunities we have received through Radio Disney, Radio Disney events and now Disney TV, we have been able to make more effective use of our marketing dollars. Disney has welcomed Everlife into their family with open arms, and we are thrilled to be a part of their network," explains Kevan Cyka, Producer.

Everlife has achieved amazing success with their association with Disney. Radio Disney Jams Vol 7, which includes their original track "I'm Over It," has sold over 40,000 albums in 3 weeks. It arrived at #4 on the Billboard Children's Chart and entered the Billboard Top 200 at an impressive #56. The same song achieved one of the highest ratings ever on Radio Disney's "Pick It or Kick It" with a rating of 83%. This week, the song is at #26 and rising on the Radio and Records CHR charts. "I'm Over It" is featured on their self-titled debut album that was released in late 2004 through SHELTERecords / Word / WEA.

Old News to start but read further.

Sounds like the Mouse is breaking out the checkbook next week as part of its 50th anniversary celebration of Disneyland.

I'm hearing the company is giving $1 million to the Boys & Girls Club in Orlando.

The cash will be used for the Pine Hills club on Hernandes Drive. The Disney bucks will be the seed money for a larger campaign of up to $3 million to refurbish the building or construct a new one.

The club serves about 150 kids a day and is in big need of repair. The gym isn't even air-conditioned.

Disney folks -- tight-lipped, what a surprise! -- would only confirm that they are making a gift to the community next week. They said it's in line with their charitable focus on kids.

But assuming the check is for a cool mil, it's on par with some of Disney's larger gifts. And apparently the company is also giving $1 million to the Boys & Girls clubs in California and to the club headquarters in Washington, D.C.

MOUSE, PART II. As for that big golden-anniversary party next week, it will attract hundreds of media types who'll preview new attractions -- like Soarin' at Epcot and the car-stunt show at Disney-MGM.

With three days of stuff going on, I don't know how much the out-of-towners will hear about smaller plans.

But folks at the Magic Kingdom are well on their way to retooling part of the old 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea exhibit to make a Winnie the Pooh playground.

There hasn't been much at Leagues beyond character meet and greets since the sub show was dry-docked in 1994.

There've always been rumors about a big E-ticket attraction going there -- and that talk persists, by the way.

This Pooh playground will take up only some of the Leagues land, still leaving plenty of room for a bigger attraction down the road.

I don't have a lot of details about what the playground will look like or how Disney may turn the area into something resembling a Hundred Acre Wood.

One Web site I found said there'd be kiddie slides and fountains -- and that it would open at the end of the summer.

BACK TO THE HOOHAW. Not sure what to give your favorite Disney exec on this, the California park's 50th?

Whatever your gift, you better make the delivery snappy -- especially if you're giving it to Jay Rasulo, chief of the company's parks and resorts division.

Early reports indicate that Rasulo, who's based in California, will be in Orlando May 4 for the first day of festivities when the stunt show at Disney-MGM opens.

Then Rasulo goes back to California for the celebration May 5 -- but he's scheduled to be back here May 6.

I guess that's what corporate jets are for.

Meanwhile, President Bob Iger, Disney's newly named CEO, may make an appearance in Orlando on May 5.

But Michael Eisner? He wasn't expected to make the trip east at all.

United kingdom — Tests by independent scientists have revealed that toxic 'gender bending' chemicals are found in everyday children's products like Disney pajamas. These chemicals can damage the developing foetus and young children; they should not be found in products you put your kids into every night.

Five pairs of Disney pajamas and one "Bob the Builder" set were found to contain chemicals thought to interfere with human DNA and affect sperm production in mammals. All garments were found also to contain toxic chemicals that are banned from teething toys under emergency EU legislation because they can cause liver, kidney and testicular damage. The highest levels of these chemicals were found in Disney "Tigger" pajamas.

Tests on a wide range of consumer products revealed toxic chemicals in a variety of products such as baby bottles, perfumes and cleaning products.

The findings come a week before the European Commission will present new legislation to Parliament that aims to bring greater protection to consumers from the uncontrolled use of chemicals. Heavy lobby pressure from the chemical industry has significantly weakened the legislation already, resulting in loopholes that mean the kind of chemicals found in the study - may be unaffected by the new rules.

To find out more about these chemicals, their effects on the body and where in the home you can find them check out the chemical home website. If you are from the UK you can DO something about these chemicals here or everyone can directly lobby the European Commissioners to demand strong legislation before Oct 28.

Our campaigner Mark Strutt said, "On behalf of every parent, we are pushing for a new law on chemicals will make sure that hazardous chemicals that get into children's bodies are phased out and replaced with safer substitutes".

He added, "Replacing these chemicals with safer alternatives will benefit everybody. It's time for the chemical industry to stop polluting children's bodies."

Industry claims that protecting our health and the environment is too expensive and has been using scare tactics over costs and jobs to argue against these new rules. However an independent assessment published recently shows that cleaning up will cost only E2.3 billion or 0.05 percent of the European chemicals industries' annual turnover. On the other hand a recent study estimates benefits of the new legislation at up to E283 billion.

"The costs are peanuts for the chemicals sector," says John Hontelez, of the European Environmental Bureau. "As well as confirming our own estimates, the impact assessment highlights the irresponsibility of those industry representatives and politicians who have tried to kill the reform in recent weeks and months."

The new legislation must mandate that toxic chemicals not be approved where safer alternatives exist. This would help ensure that products in our homes do not contain hidden poisons that end up in our bodies. If the EU acts now and implements strong laws, other areas of the world will follow. If not, a dangerous global experiment on you and me will remain unchecked.

Before 1955, Anaheim was covered in orange groves, family vacations usually didn’t have themes, and amusement parks didn’t have the most upstanding of reputations.

Then along came Walt Disney and his imagination. He looked at the orange groves and saw a headquarters for all his dreams. He examined family vacations and detected an opportunity to make them more cohesive, more wondrous and more fun. He saw that the traditional amusement parks around the U.S. were either boring or dilapidated or both.

With one massive and unprecedented experiment, Disney created Disneyland, which in turn changed the face of the family vacation forever.

Perhaps no better witness to that history exists today than Ron Dominguez. On Disneyland’s Day One, he was a ticket taker at the main gate. When he finally retired 11 years ago, he was executive vice president of Disneyland.

“There was some apprehension in the community,” recalled Dominquez, whose family was one of 17 that sold its land to Disney in the early ‘50s for the Disneyland site. “Amusement parks weren’t known to have the best atmosphere around the country. Some of the employees were a little on the seedy side.

“Walt’s idea was totally different when he started Disneyland. He wanted cast members in costume. He wanted cast members to be friendly. We went through orientation and learned friendly phrases to greet people with. We took a ‘customer is always right’ attitude.

“That skepticism began to change quickly. People realized this was a totally different type of operation.”

When you think of the typical American family of the 1950s, you probably don’t picture it embracing any concept that was radically different from the norm. Disneyland was a colossal exception. It altered the American vacation experience, mostly by adorning it with a theme to make folks feel at home.

Walt Disney had a built-in advantage in that effort. He made his fortune with animated films like “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Bambi” and “Fantasia,” among many others. When it came time to build Disneyland, he simply enlisted his already popular characters and put them to work in the new park.

The result? Adults and kids who came to Disneyland felt an immediate connection, a familiarity and friendliness. “It was about immersive storytelling,” noted Duncan Wardle, currently vice president for press and publicity at Disneyland. “The heritage of Disneyland comes from the movies, and it’s still there today.”

Wardle travels often, especially in anticipation of Disneyland’s 50^th anniversary, and remembers meeting a tough, middle-aged businesswoman about a year ago in New York. He showed her a picture of an old attraction called the “House of the Future” and noted her reaction: “I looked at her face, and she transformed into a six-year-old right in front of me.

“It’s amazing. We were in New York at a meeting. Everybody was over 35 and everybody there had a memory of getting on a plane or getting in a car and coming to Disneyland.”

That ability to make sure people come back again and again is one of Disneyland’s greatest strengths, and the reason it welcomed its 500^th million guest in January of 2004. Paul Lasley is a veteran travel writer and commentator for KABC and National Public Radio who was raised in Southern California and remembers his parents dropping he and his brother off at Disneyland “almost every summer day.”

“It’s evolved in many ways,” said Lasley, who has premium season passes along with his wife. “The variety and the number and complexity of attractions is part of the success. It reflects the evolution of southern California. It’s become a more sophisticated place.

“But no matter how it changes, Walt’s vision of the park as an escape from the outside world remains. That’s always been the attraction of Disneyland – that when you walk through those gates, you’re in another world.”

That world, of course, is a lot different now than it was in ’55. “We had four lands: Adventureland, which was strictly the Jungle Cruise,” Dominguez said. “Frontierland, with Mark Twain and the stage coaches and mule packs. Fantasyland, with Peter Pan and Mr. Toad. And Tomorrowland, which was always the toughest to develop because you’re yesterday before you know it.

“But we also had things like an exhibit about bathroom fixtures to talk about the future of bathrooms and products.”

Disneyland has since progressed from offering a rudimentary depiction of an Abraham Lincoln figure in “Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln” to an incredible Buzz Lightyear robot inside the current Astro Blaster attraction. The park has transitioned from a one-time entry fee of .90 or so, to a book of tickets, to a computerized Fast Pass dispenser system that helps limit waiting time on rides.

Advances in technology certainly have altered Disneyland’s attractions, but the essential experience remains the same. It’s a family thing. In fact, in Wardle’s opinion, Disneyland helps solidify the bonds of family while at the same time breaking down some of the barriers.

“If people ask me why a Disneyland vacation is different than any other, I would say it’s because not only do people come together as a family, they stay together throughout the course of the day,” he explained. “We’re in a world where the media is fracturing our attention spans, children going to baseball or soccer practice, they’re on the internet and watching TV at the same time. Everything is competing for time with your children. Even when you go to the beach together, usually the adults do one thing and the kids another.

“People come to Disneyland and spend time together. It’s the great leveler. Children don’t see their parents as schedule enforcers. Parents have a chance to become children again.”

It all starts with a feeling of being welcome. “One of the genius things about Disneyland,” Lasley said, “is that every generation comes back and brings their kids and grandkids. The minute a kid walks up and gets a hug from Mickey, that kid will be a fan of Disneyland for life.”

Well, for 50 years at least. And counting.

Disney Records Salutes Disneyland's 50th Anniversary

Walt Disney Records announces four cd releases for the Happiest Celebration on Earth.

LINK

One of the best of these is the Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) Platinum Edition of Walt Disney Pictures Aladdin. It features a killer second disc chock full of behind the scenes goodies and a panel discussion with producers John Musker and Ron Clements, along with a host of other folks from the production team.

As good as this bonus material is, I just couldn't help wondering if there might be more to the making of Aladdin than the folks at BVHE were willing to share with a broad general Disney audience. That's why I went out of my way to make sure I attended last Friday evening's Aladdin reunion panel hosted by ASIFA Hollywood at the Glendale Public Library.

The ASIFA Aladdin reunion was hosted by ASIFA board member Tom Sito, himself something of an institution and a legend in the world of animation. Sito, in addition to his work for Disney on Aladdin, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid, has also worked for both Warner Brothers and DreamWorks on such films as Looney Tunes Back in Action and Shrek. He is also a past President of the Motion Picture Screen Cartoonists and Affiliate Optical Electronic and Graphic Arts Local 839 IATSE.

In addition to Sito, the ASIFA Aladdin reunion included producers John Musker and Ron Clements, Jafar supervising animator Andreas Deja and Genie supervising animator Eric Goldberg, along with CGI pioneer Tina Price and animator Duncan Marjoribanks (who over saw work on Abu).

Just minutes into the discussion, Sito established that this Aladdin panel would be far less reverential than the official one, moderated by Leonard Maltin, on the Disney DVD.

Sito regaled the audience with a story about a visit by gravel-voiced actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein, who was about to record dialog for the character of Yao in Mulan, to the Walt Disney Feature Animation facilities then located in trailers and a warehouse in Glendale.

"We were explaining animation to him," Sito said. "We said we're designing the characters…that's Genie here…and we're thinking of the other versions of Aladdin in the past…the one with Conrad Veidt and Sabu in the 30s. And Harvey Fierstein said, 'Oh yeah, Sabu. Most beautiful nipples in motion pictures.'"

Throughout the evening, there were several other "voice" stories more closely related to the making of Aladdin.

In his best impersonation of Jeffrey Katzenberg's somewhat nasal and occasionally whiny Lower Eastside New York accent, John Musker told how he and co-producer Ron Clements had to sell Katzenberg on the idea of casting Brooklyn-born actor and comedian Gilbert Gottfried as the voice of Jafar's sidekick parrot Iago.

"I dunno," said Musker as a whiny Katzenberg. "His voice is kinda grating."

Katzenberg may have had good reason to have reservations about casting Gottfried, not over concerns about how annoying the comedian's voice might be but, rather, his propensity to adlib.

According to Tom Sito, Gilbert Gottfried was one of the guests of honor at Walt Disney World for a performance of the Aladdin parade.

"I don't know what got into them (the management of WDW), but I swear I was there and this happened," Sito said. "They gave Gilbert an open mic across the park. All he had to do was say, 'The Aladdin parade is beginning in five minutes.'

So Gilbert got the mic and said, 'Hey everybody, wanna see a Jew on an Elephant?'"

Of course, the most well-known performer associated with Aladdin is Robin Williams who gave voice to the Genie. And, as it turns out, his performance wasn't as effortless as it might have seemed.

Eric Goldberg (supervising animator for the Genie), who picked up on Musker and Clements use of Robin Williams voice in their original treatment and married it to the smooth "S" curve style of characterist Al Hirsfeld, told the audience, "Robin very dutifully put down what he called Alan's (Menken) torture track."

Just days before Williams was to record the Genie's big production number, Friend Like Me, composer Alan Menken had attended funeral services for his creative partner, lyricist Howard Ashman. When it came time to lay down the tracks for Friend Like Me, Menken was determined that it be recorded note-for-note the way his friend and collaborator had written it. There was just one problem.

The song, Friend Like Me, was one of the original pieces of music composed by Howard Ashman to go along with his original vision of a musical version of Aladdin. In that version, Aladdin was much younger, lived with his mother, and the Genie was more like Fats Waller than Robin Williams with his menagerie of characters and impersonations. If you listen closely to Friend Like Me, you'll hear Waller's jazzy influence throughout the number.

Williams, who actually speaks his lyrics more than sings them, was devastated by his two torturous, very tight takes of what would become the Genie's major introduction to audiences.

"Of course, we wanted it to be looser," Goldberg told the audience. "So after Alan and Robin put down those tracks, John and Ron and I kinda hustled him aside and said, 'Okay…fairy godmother here, you're Groucho here, you're this there…"

It took two more takes with the trio of Musker, Clements, and Goldberg calling out actions and characters, but Williams finally hit his stride. "Basically the edit of those two versions is what wound up as the final," Goldberg said.

Goldberg added that Williams' rapid-fire style was lost on one Disney executive in particular. There's a scene in which Aladdin asks the Genie what he'd wish for. After telling Aladdin he'd wish to be free, the Genie snaps himself back to reality saying, "Genie, wake up and smell the hummus."

After a screening of the film for "a really big guy, who isn't going to be there much longer," this very high-level executive "goes to Ron and John and says, 'I really don't think we should be making fun of the homeless.'"

Language and pop-culture references continued to provide the Aladdin production team with some unexpected moments. Early on, the team had made the decision to keep some of the funniest of Williams’ riffs and cultural references, even if it meant including references to things that might be specific only to audience members of a certain age.

"Who under the age of forty," asked Tom Sito, "for example, would get the reference to Ed Sullivan?"

One such instance was the brief scene where the Genie morphs into the likeness of then talk show host Arseno Hall doing what, at the time, was his trademark show opening "Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!" call out. Don't worry if you don't remember what I'm talking about. Very few people attending the Aladdin reunion panel discussion did either.

"Then there's also the question of how stuff translates to other countries," said producer Ron Clements. He was in Japan for a screening of the Japanese language version of Aladdin. "Japanese audiences are generally very quiet," he continued. "When the Arseno thing came up, there was a huge laugh from the audience."

"I was surprised when it (the Whoo! Whoo! call out) got such a huge laugh," Clements went on. "I asked about it afterwards and was told, 'Oh, we loved it when the Genie did Julia Roberts from Pretty Woman.'"

It was probably Abu supervising animator Duncan Marjoribanks who came up with the greatest revelation of the evening. In addition to Abu, Marjoribanks also animated the Narrator who opens the movie.

"I wonder if people are puzzled…" Marjoribanks said looking out over the audience, "if people are puzzled by the fact that both the Genie and Narrator are both Robin Williams?"

"They really are… and that was always the idea," Ron Clements added, "that that would be the revelation at the end of the movie…was that the Narrator was the Genie, but it never ended up revealed."

It seems that test audiences thought the picture was over as soon as Aladdin and Jasmine rode off together on the magic carpet and would begin to get up and leave the theatre. The only thing that remains from the original ending, in which it's revealed that the Narrator was Genie all along, was the brief bit where the Genie appears to lift the film off screen and says, "Made ya look!"

Throughout the evening, the Aladdin reunion panelists on stage made it a point to single out the nearly dozen or more members of the film's production team that were in the audience that evening. Following the discussion, ASIF Hollywood President Antran Manoogian asked everyone connected with Aladdin to come up on stage for pictures. After which, he asked them all to autograph an Aladdin poster that ASIFA will auction off later this year.

Silly Dreamers Invade the O. C.

Following the Aladdin reunion panel discussion, I didn't hang around the Glendale Library very long. When I left, Andreas Deja, Eric Goldberg, John Musker, and Ron Clements were all still signing autographs, many complete with hand-drawn sketches of Jafar and the Genie. I wanted to get home and rest up for my trip the following day into deepest darkest Orange County.

This is the sixth year of the Newport Beach Film Festival. Festival organizers had invited Dan Lund and Tony West to include their film, Dream On Silly Dreamer, in the documentary-shorts portion of this nine-day cinema event.

I ran into Dan Lund, who wrote and directed Dreamer, at the ASIFA Aladdin reunion. Both he and producing partner Tony West, like virtually everyone in their film, worked for WDFA during its golden renaissance, a time that saw the release of such Disney classics as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King. If you’re not familiar with Dream On Silly Dreamer, there's a link to the film's website at the end of the column.

Because of a prior commitment, Lund wasn't able to stay for the entire Aladdin panel discussion. For that reason, I made arrangements to speak with him at the film festival the following day.

There was little traffic on the way to Newport Beach; as a result, I arrived far earlier than I needed to for the 4:00 PM screening of Dreamer. This gave me a chance to check out the festival, which I found to be refreshingly diverse in its offerings.

This year's Newport Beach Film Festival offers everything from films featuring mad Hobbit lovers, with special guest appearance by former Hobbit turned island refugee on Lost, Dominic Monaghan, to several gay-themed, full-length features. Not exactly what one would expect in one of California's "reddest" of counties.

Most of the festival's action took place at the tony Fashion Island shopping complex and several large Newport Beach multiplexes. The short documentary films didn't fare nearly as well. They were shuffled off to the Orange County Museum of Art, which is located in the center of a vast, modern, sterile, campus-style office park that is itself practically devoid of human activity on weekends.

I mention this because I arrived early enough to discover that the projectionist and a festival volunteer where having trouble finding the building the documentaries would be screened in. The confusion over the location for documentary screenings continued as half of the audience for the first documentary to be screened failed to arrive at the screening room before the picture began.

The next film up was Dreamer and I wondered if this confusion would affect its potential audience. I needn't have worried.

I went to lunch while the first film was screening and arrived back at the O. C. Museum of Art a full forty-five minutes before Dreamer was to start. Just as they had done last February, in Minneapolis before the Disney shareholders' meeting, people were already starting to line up for the four o'clock screening. By the time the film started, festival organizers were bringing in extra chairs as the crowd Dreamer had drawn exceeded the screening room's capacity. Screenings of Dreamer at previous festivals have been so well received, organizers were forced to add additional show times.

I've seen Dream On Silly Dreamer three times now. During each showing, I'm amazed at how wonderfully this short (39 minutes) little gem of a film captivates its audiences. The Newport Beach Film Festival screening was no exception. The audience laughed and cheered in all the right places, and gave first the film and then Dan Lund each a long warm round of applause.

After the Q&A that followed the film, I asked Lund what his immediate plans were for Dreamer. He told me he and Tony would continue to make the rounds of various film festivals like the one in Newport Beach. "The hard part," he said, "is the length. People and festival organizers just don't know what to do with short films anymore these days."

Lund went on to say that bookers just love the film but, "every single one of them wants to know if we can't make it longer. I just tell them that it is what it is, and that at its current length it gets the job done. It tells the story of how special we all felt working in this field we love at the time we did, making such wonderful movies."

After seeing the film once again, I have to say I agree. In its own unique way, Dream On Silly Dreamer is like one of Walt Disney's own classic films, Dumbo, which was too long to be a short, and too short to be a feature. And yet it too kept finding audiences wherever it was shown.

In conjunction with ASIFA Hollywood, Lund and West are currently working on plans to hold a West Coast Premier for Dream On Silly Dreamer. They would like to hold it "in the heart of animation country," at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, just a few miles away from the Flower Street warehouse district where they and their colleagues lovingly labored on some of Disney's greatest animated features.

To help defray the costs of theatre and equipment rental, they are looking for event sponsors. If you or your organization would like to help bring this charming tale home to the big screen in Los Angeles, why not drop Dan and Tony a line at the link below.

C'ya real soon!

Nearly 200 people attended a daylong Disney Institute professional development training program Tuesday at the Purdue Memorial Union.

Sessions on "The Disney Keys to Excellence" focused on the Disney-style of generating exceptional leadership, management, loyalty and service among its employees, who are known as "cast members."

"It starts with great leaders. How do we set up our employees to succeed?" said Alicia Irons, a Disney Institute program facilitator. "The No. 1 reason people come is for our characters. The No. 1 reason they come back is for the cast."

The opportunity to learn about the philosophies and strategies that have made Disney properties successful was helpful to Matthew Spencer, a supervisor in administrative services at State Farm Insurance Co. in West Lafayette.

"It was fantastic information as far as the Disney Keys to it and how it's similar to what we do at State Farm," Spencer said. "Creating excitement is crucial to any company's success. Learning more about that will be important."

Program consultant Mary Cooper stressed the significance of creating a working environment that prompts the sharing of information.

"Your role as a leader is to make sure your employees understand the vision. How are you communicating to your team their involvement?" Cooper said.

"The difference between very good and excellent is huge in driving guest loyalty. People are always watching you in terms of setting an example for others to follow."

Judith Rantz, a project manager at Purdue's information technology department, attended Tuesday's session and expects to make good use of the information that was presented.

"Just in changing my management style," Rantz said. "It's really motivating. I enjoyed it."

Cooper stressed that the ideas presented can be adapted to any company, business or organization.

"Your customers want to be involved. Walt wanted to create a place where a family can go together," she said. "He took the animated feature films and brought them to life. Walt was a visionary. He was exciting to work with."

Find out more

Information about the Disney Institute is available at www.disneyinstitute.com or by calling (407) 566-2620.

Tuesday's program at the Purdue Memorial Union was sponsored by the Lafayette-West Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, Caterpillar Inc., Greater Lafayette Health Services Inc., North Central Health Services, Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union, Purdue University, Journal and Courier, University Inn Conference Center & Suites, Purdue Memorial Union and Lafayette Printing Co.

Coming May 3, 2005 - $29.99
All the music, adventure, and colorful fun of Disney's POCAHONTAS come to life like never before in the 10th Anniversary Edition 2-Disc Set.

Bursting with all the "Colors Of The Wind," POCAHONTAS tells the story of a free-spirited girl who wonders what adventures await "Just Around The Riverbend." Pocahontas -- along with her playful pals Meeko and Flit -- relies on the guidance of her loving and wise Grandmother Willow when English settlers arrive on the shores of their village. Her chance meeting with the courageous Captain John Smith leads to a beautiful friendship that bridges the gap between two cultures, and changes history. Now fully restored, POCAHONTAS includes the song "If I Never Knew You," and never-before-seen animation seamlessly integrated into the original film. This 2-Disc 10th Anniversary Edition is loaded with spectacular bonus features, all-new games, and soaring Academy Award-winning music (1995 Best Original Musical Score, Best Original Song, "Colors Of The Wind"). Disney's POCAHONTAS is a fun-filled adventure your whole family will enjoy.

Walt Disney is considering production of two multi-million dollar sequels to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the cult satire due to be released on Thursday seven years after the film rights were sold to the US entertainment group by Douglas Adams,the author of the series.

Robbie Stamp, executive producer of the film and Mr Adams' business partner, said a trilogy was being studied following positive preview responses to the long-awaited film. "There are more books in the series and we believe there could be a really good trilogy," said Mr Stamp.

When building the new entrance to Hong Kong Disneyland, Walt Disney executives decided to shift the angle of the front gate by 12 degrees. They did so after consulting a feng shui specialist, who said the change would ensure prosperity for the park.

Disney also put a bend in the walkway from the train station to the gate, to make sure the flow of positive energy, or chi, did not slip past the entrance and out to the South China Sea.

Heeding the advice of a feng shui consultant is one of many steps executives have taken at the park to reflect the local culture - and make sure they do not repeat some mistakes of the past.

The financial stakes are high: international growth is a critical part of Disney's expansion efforts. The World Tourism Organisation expects mainland China to become one of the world's largest tourist destinations in the next 15 years.

Plans for Hong Kong Disneyland, Disney's 11th theme park and a replica of the original Disneyland, began in 1999 for the undeveloped island of Lantau, a 30-minute train ride from downtown Hong Kong. Built on Penny's Bay and flanked by mountains, the park is a venture with the Hong Kong Government and the first of the parks that Disney wants to build in China, including one in Shanghai.

There are various nods to cultural differences at Hong Kong Disneyland. One of the park's main ballrooms measures 888 square metres, because eight is thought to be a number of fortune, said Wing Chao, the master planner of architecture and design at Walt Disney Imagineering.

In Chinese, the number four is considered bad luck, so there are no fourth-floor buttons in the lifts at the Hollywood Hotel or other hotels in the park.

Cash registers are close to corners or along walls, where such placement is believed to increase prosperity.

It is easy to understand why the company would take such pains. Disneyland Paris got off to a bad start by not offering wine when it opened and offering French food when guests wanted American fare. Though its finances have been restructured it is still $US2 billion ($2.5 billion) in debt.

An all-day Mother's Day marathon celebration, an "American Dragon: Jake Long" marathon including an all-new episode in which Jake discovers Rose is secretly The Huntsgirl, a Movin' and Groovin' with JoJo Week featuring dance-filled episodes of Playhouse Disney's "JoJo's Circus," and a "That's So Raven" Memorial Day marathon featuring guest stars Cyndi Lauper, Paula Abdul, Kathie Lee Gifford, Susan Lucci, Macy Gray, James Avery, Bobb'e J. Thompson and Ricky Ullman, are featured during May on Disney Channel. Also, new episodes of "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody," "Lilo & Stitch: The Series," and "Brandy & Mr. Whiskers" are presented.

The season finale of the Jetix action/adventure series "Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!" airs during a multi-episode marathon; team-building themes are included in episodes from popular series "Power Rangers: Space Patrol Delta," "W.I.T.C.H.," and "Dragon Booster" in "The Force of Five" marathon to be seen mornings on ABC Family and evenings on Toon Disney.

Kids programming highlights on Disney Channel for May include:

MONDAY, MAY 2
The Doodlebops find a lost puppy and quickly become attached, but when the owners show up to claim him, they sadly realize they must return him to his rightful owner, on a brand new episode of Playhouse Disney's new music-focused series "The Doodlebops" (11.00 a.m., ET/PT).

FRIDAY, MAY 6
Maddie and the high school prom committee prepare for the big dance at the Tipton and in order to impress an upperclassman crush, Maddie enlists London to book a famous rock band as the entertainment. When the band falls through and the prom falls flat, Zack and Cody come to her rescue with help of hotel guests, Cirque de Fantastique, on "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" (7:00 p.m., ET/PT).

SUNDAY, MAY 8
Mother's Day is celebrated with a marathon of episodes showcasing moms throughout Playhouse Disney and Disney Channel programming blocks.

Kicking off the day is a nine-episode marathon of "Rolie Polie Olie," "JoJo's Circus" and "Stanley" (6:00-10:30 a.m., ET/PT). It includes an all-new episode of "Higglytown Heroes" guest starring Donald Faison ("Scrubs") as the Fireman who saves the Fricky Frack Funhouse. Also, Erik Estrada guest stars as the Ambulance Driver who safely and swiftly transports Mrs. Barber and her husband to the hospital's maternity ward.

Mother appreciation continues with a six-hour Mom's the Word marathon spotlighting moms in "That's So Raven," "Sister, Sister," "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody," "The Proud Family," "American Dragon: Jake Long," "Kim Possible," "Phil of the Future" and "Lizzie McGuire" (2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., ET/PT).

MONDAY, MAY 9
Rooney convinces Moe that reading can be fun when he describes the gripping plot of his new sci-fi book but won't disclose the conclusion and makes Moe read it himself, in a new episode of "The Doodlebops" (11.00 a.m., ET/PT).

All week long, new episodes of "The Koala Brothers" premiere, showcasing lovable Frank and Buster helping friends in need, MONDAY, MAY 9-FRIDAY, MAY 13 (12:00 noon, ET/PT).

FRIDAY, MAY 13
When Snooty, aka Experiment 477, is activated and seemingly drawn to Lilo's friend Victoria, Lilo must convince her he is harmless. Unable to trust Lilo's opinion, Victoria places their friendship at risk when she teams up with Lilo's nemesis, Gantu, to help him capture the experiment, in a new episode of "Lilo & Stitch: The Series" (4:00 p.m., ET/PT).

Jake gets shape-shifting powers for a dragon mission but misuses them in order to avoid a parent-teacher conference and impress his peers, on "American Dragon: Jake Long" (5:00 p.m., ET/PT).

After Raven, Chelsea and Eddie win a group challenge at the Future Leaders United in Business meeting, they must compete against each other for the grand prize – a shopping spree at the mall. Vowing to keep the rivalry friendly, the competition nearly gets the best of them, on a new episode of "That's So Raven" (7:30 p.m., ET/PT).

MONDAY, MAY 16
Rooney, Moe and Deedee are members of a zany yet charming pop/rock group, searching high and low for just the right sounds to compliment their newest song, in an all-new episode of "The Doodlebops" (11.00 a.m., ET/PT).

FRIDAY, MAY 20
Just as Lilo's attempts to distance herself from any embarrassing family elements before meeting pop idol Jason Sweetwater, Retro, aka Experiment 321, arrives and attempts to conform everyone and everything back to its primitive state, on "Lilo & Stitch: The Series" (4:00 p.m., ET/PT).

Whiskers vows to be at Brandy's beck and call after she saves his life. After discovering Brandy's actions are what placed him in peril to begin with, he must decide whether to return the favor when he finds Brandy hanging on to the edge of a cliff, in a new episode of "Brandy & Mr. Whiskers" (4:30 p.m., ET/PT). The Battle of the Bands competition is being held at the Tipton and Zack and Cody's newly formed rock band must compete against Maddie's for the grand prize. But when Cody quits as a result of Zack's behavior and Maddie is forced to let London sing, it looks as though neither band will even make it to the competition, on "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" (7:00 p.m., ET/PT).

Preschoolers are invited to get Movin' and Groovin' when dance-themed episodes of "JoJo's Circus" are presented every morning MONDAY, MAY 23-FRIDAY, MAY 27 (8:30 a.m., ET/PT). Plus, a new episode on Friday features a "build the robot" dance during which JoJo and pals discover the importance of following directions.

MONDAY, MAY 23
On an all-new episode of "The Doodlebops," it's a mixed-up, backwards kind of day and nothing is as it seems, nevertheless the Doodlebops accept it for what it is and come to enjoy the day (11.00 a.m., ET/PT).

FRIDAY, MAY 27
TV's coolest 13-year-old skateboarder Jake Long is featured in his first marathon, 12 episodes of "American Dragon: Jake Long" (2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., ET/PT). The six-hour event includes a new episode where Jake gets the shock of his life once he discovers the truth about Rose's alter-ego, The Huntsgirl (7:30 p.m., ET/PT).

MONDAY, MAY 30
Rooney has to practice, practice, practice, in order to learn how to play his new invention, the Honkophone, on a new episode of "The Doodlebops" (11.00 a.m., ET/PT).

School's out, TV's on and Disney Channel presents a "That's So Raven" Memorial Day marathon, 12 hours of the hit live-action series showcasing Raven's gift for physical comedy (12:00 noon-12:00 midnight, ET/PT). Guest stars include Cyndi Lauper, Paula Abdul, Kathie Lee Gifford, Susan Lucci, Macy Gray, James Avery, Bobb'e J. Thompson and Ricky Ullman.

Toon Disney programming highlights for May include:

Toon Disney's Big Movie Show titles include: the animated movie "Dumbo" on FRIDAY, MAY 13, "Return to Neverland" on FRIDAY, MAY 20, and "Recess: School's Out" on FRIDAY, MAY 27 (5:00 p.m., ET/PT).

THURSDAY, MAY 5
"The Force of 5" marathon highlights the importance teamwork, collaboration and cooperation with episodes from "Power Rangers: Space Patrol Delta," "W.I.T.C.H.," "Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!," "Dragon Booster" and "Power Rangers Generations" (7:00 p.m.-12:00 midnight, ET/PT).

SUNDAY, MAY 8
A Make Your Mama Proud Mother's Day marathon includes episodes of "The Proud Family" focusing on the down-to-earth, no-nonsense mother, Trudy Proud and the grooviest granny ever, Suga Mama (2:00-7:00 p.m., ET/PT).

MONDAY, MAY 16
Toon Disney's To Infinity and Beyond-athon! features eight episodes of "Buzz Lightyear" leading up to the animated blockbuster movie from Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios, "Toy Story 2" (11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., ET/PT).

A "Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!" marathon features six episodes culminating with the season finale in which the Hyperforce team must face Skeleton King in a climactic battle for Shuggazoom City (7:00-10:00 p.m., ET/PT) during Toon Disney's Jetix action/adventure programming block.

MONDAY, MAY 30
A Kim Possible Memorial Day Villain marathon, features 14 "villain centric" episodes of "Kim Possible" showcasing Lord Monkey Fist, Senor Senior, Shego and Drakken (10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., ET/PT).

Highlights of the Jetix action/adventure programming seen mornings on ABC Family:

Action, adventure and the power of five is highlighted in a week-long marathon during the Jetix programming block on ABC Family. Five popular series will be showcased beginning with a "Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!" marathon featuring Chiro and five high-tech cyborg monkeys on SUNDAY, MAY 1 (8:00-11:00 a.m., ET/PT), a "Power Rangers Generations" marathon on MONDAY, MAY 2 (7:00-9:00 a.m., ET/PT) and a "Dragon Booster" marathon on TUESDAY, MAY 3 (7:00-9:00 a.m., ET/PT). Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia and Hay Lin continue to protect Earth from the evil Prince Phobos on a new episode of "W.I.T.C.H." on WEDNESDAY, MAY 4 (7:00-9:00 a.m., ET/PT) and the Blue, Green, Pink, Red and Yellow Rangers protect Earth from Troobian invaders during a "Power Rangers: Space Patrol Delta" marathon on THURSDAY, MAY 5 (7:00-9:00 a.m., ET/PT).

Jetix puts the Red Power Ranger in the spotlight during a "Power Ranger Generations" Memorial Day weekend marathon on ABC Family. Beginning on SUNDAY, MAY 15 viewers determine five hours of programming when they go online and vote for their favorite Red Power Ranger. Episodes featuring the Red Power Rangers with the most votes will be counted down during the marathon, on SUNDAY, MAY 29 (7:00-12:00 noon, ET/PT). Kicking off the weekend event, the Red Power Rangers morphing abilities are revealed for the first time, on SATURDAY, MAY 28 (7:00-12:00 noon, ET/PT).

Tickets are now on sale for the early morning event at Disney's Animal Kingdom on Saturday July 9th. Guests will participate in the release of "Firefighter Mickey & Co" and "it's a small world" Harmony Kingdom marble resin collectible boxes.

LINK

Starring Rolls Cafe features a new menu of sandwiches and salads along with a variety of pastries, desserts, gourmet chocolates and a house-blend coffee that is roasted on-site.

House-made sandwiches -- including roast tenderloin, turkey on focaccia, vegetarian on flatbread and smoked salmon on a bagel -- are now featured, along with the signature salad of the Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant at Disney-MGM Studios, the world-famous Cobb Salad.

Cobb Salad, a mouth-watering blend of chopped lettuce, watercress, bacon, chicken, cheese, egg, avocado and more, is the most popular salad ordered by guests anywhere at Walt Disney World Resort. Chefs at the adjacent Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant hand-prepare the Cobbs, which are served in a smaller portion size at the new Starring Rolls Cafe.

Pastry Chef Isaac Tamada, who also served on the opening team at Kona Cafe inside Disney's Polynesian Resort, has created a palette of handmade and handcrafted chocolates, pastries and "mini-desserts" such as tiramisu and flourless chocolate cake.

From Cinderella to Stitch and Mr. Smee to Mr. Incredible, Disney's art of storytelling has been nothing short of magical, creating the greatest animated films of all time. Since Snow White debuted in 1937, the talented team of Disney animators -- originally handpicked and trained by Walt Disney himself -- has created timeless classics enjoyed by audiences around the globe.

The newly refurbished Magic of Disney Animation attraction in Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World Resort showcases Disney's style of bringing stories and animation characters to life. Guests see what goes into making an animated film and then can join in the fun and test their own animation skills.

The attraction showcases stories brought to life through animation -- from concept to completion. Interactive displays and instruction from trained Disney artists provide guests the chance to try their hand at animation and take home their self-drawn sketch of a famous Disney character.

The Magic of Disney Animation also features a themed meet-and-greet area where guests come face-to-face with the latest larger-than-life animated characters.

Currently, stars of the latest animated silver screen offering -- Disney presents a Pixar film THE INCREDIBLES -- make daily appearances. The trio of stars of the new hit film -- Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl and Frozone -- show off their superhero muscle each day and say hello to guests of all ages inside the attraction.

Characters will appear inside on an ever-changing basis, with 'toon stars from the latest release featured for guest photos and autograph sessions.

Original Pictures and Insight Productions announced today that American broadcaster ABC Family has picked up the Canadian produced primetime drama, Falcon Beach.

The announcement comes on the heels of an earlier announcement from Global Television Network that Falcon Beach will be developed into a 13-part, one-hour series. The two-hour movie pilot aired on Global Television on January 29, 2005. Series production is scheduled to begin this summer, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

"ABC Family owns the holidays and has had great success with our branded programming events," said Tom Zappala, Senior Vice President, Program Acquisitions and Scheduling, ABC Family. "It only makes sense to expand our tentpole events to be bigger than ever, and 'Falcon Beach' will kick off our newest branded holiday 'Sizzlin' Summer' in 2006."

"We're very excited to be part of ABC Family's hot summer of programming," said Executive Producers John Brunton and Kim Todd.

Filmed in the cottage community of Lake Winnipeg, Falcon Beach is about a group of young people summering in the fictional lakeside resort town of Falcon Beach. It's about summer. It's about freedom. It's about young adults trying to define themselves for the life ahead. But it's also about two worlds colliding -- that of the summer cottagers and that of the townies who live and work in Falcon Beach year round.

Produced by Kim Todd, John Murray, Shannon Farr - Created by John Murray & Shannon Farr - Executive Produced by John Brunton, Kim Todd, Barbara Bowlby - Starring Steven Byers, Jennifer Kydd, Devon Weigel, Ephraim Ellis, Eric Johnson, Melissa Elias.

The FALCON BEACH pilot was produced by Insight Production Company Ltd. and Original Pictures Inc. in association with Global Television Network Inc., a CanWest Company, and with the participation of the Canadian Television Fund, Manitoba Film & Sound, CanWest Western Independent Producers Fund, Government of Canada - Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, Government of Manitoba - Manitoba Television Tax Credit and the Government of Ontario - Ontario Film & Television Tax Credit. Distributed internationally by CanWest International Distribution Limited.

Disney Turns up Summer Fun with New Personal DVD Players

The MTR Disneyland Resort Line, which comprises two new stations - Sunny Bay Station and Disneyland Resort Station - and whimsical Disney-themed trains, were exclusively designed by the MTR Corporation in conjunction with Disney's imagineers.

Today's Disneyland Resort Line train unveiling at Sunny Bay Station marks the very first dedicated train line for a Disney theme park anywhere in the world and will offer Hong Kong Disneyland guests an exciting and convenient journey.

The trains themselves are sleek and modern, but their colors and fanciful details, including Mickey Mouse-shaped windows trimmed in red that look out over gold ribbons and sparkling pixie dust, provide a classic look that enables them to appear equally at home in either of their destinations: the futuristic Sunny Station and the Victorian-themed Disneyland Resort Station.

This feeling of enchantment continues inside the trains, which are painted in vibrant hues of blue, red, yellow and violet, and boast ceilings that look like star-filled skies.

Chief Executive Officer of MTR Corporation C.K. Chow said, "The3.5-minute train journey from Sunny Bay to Disneyland Resort is not to be missed for Hong Kong Disneyland guests wishing to enjoy the full theme park experience.

"The Disneyland Resort Line takes visitors on a journey throughtime from Hong Kong's modern MTR network to the Victorian-themed Disneyland Resort Station. It will be a ride to enjoy and remember."

Passengers riding the MTR can reach Sunny Bay Station from anywhere in Hong Kong. After arriving at the Station, passengers take only a short walk across the platform to begin their magical journey to Disneyland Resort Station which is just in front of Hong Kong Disneyland.

GMA Music in the Rockies (formerly "Seminar in the Rockies") will be held July 31 through August 6 at the Estes Park Center YMCA. One of the main attractions of Music in the Rockies is the Spotlight 2005 and Song of 2005, GMA's official talent competition for unsigned artists and songwriters. Grand prize winners are named in several categories. This year, Walt Disney World Entertainment will send two judges to Music in the Rockies where they will participate on a panel of judges at various performances and competitions during the week. The Disney judges will then select one contestant, to receive the Disney "Best of Show" award and the Night of Joy at Walt Disney World Prize Package.

The Music in the Rockies Disney winner will perform on the same stage as MercyMe, Casting Crowns, Steven Curtis Chapman, tobyMac, CeCe Winans, Newsboys, Audio Adrenaline, Nicole C. Mullen and Donnie McClurkin during Disney's Night of Joy Sept. 9 and Sept. 10 in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort.

In addition to the exclusive opportunity to perform at Night of Joy, the Disney winner will be awarded two night's accommodations for four guests at Walt Disney World hotels, 10 "Magic Your Way" tickets to Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Disney-MGM Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom, as well as 10 tickets to the Night of Joy at Walt Disney World.

There are several key deadlines for registering for GMA's 31st Annual Music in the Rockies and specifically the talent competitions. All the details for registration can be found at www.gospelmusic.org

Don't like sports? Too bad. If you're a cable subscriber, you're paying through the nose for them anyway.

About a third of the average household's monthly cable bill (excluding premium channels and pay-per-view) goes to ESPN, Fox Sports and other sports networks, according to media industry consulting firm Kagan Research. That probably doesn't bother sports junkies, but it's a sore subject for those who couldn't care less. And those viewers are going to end up subsidizing a lot more sports with the shift of ABC's venerable "Monday Night Football" to ESPN starting in 2006.

Sports are a big and increasingly expensive industry — witness the $8.8-billion price tag attached to the National Football League's eight-year television contract with Walt Disney Co. (parent company of ABC and ESPN) to broadcast 17 games a year. Toss in the league's contracts with NBC (Sunday night game broadcasts), CBS, News Corp.'s Fox (Sunday afternoon games) and satellite provider DirecTV, and the NFL will collect $23 billion in television rights spread over the next eight years.

Fueled largely by programming fee hikes demanded by sports networks, monthly cable bills have risen steadily in recent years, a trend likely to worsen. ESPN says it won't increase programming fees to pay for "Monday Night Football," but when its contracts with cable systems are renewed, the network undoubtedly will try to offset its higher costs with higher rates. So will NBC, which will want to raise prices for its cable channels, such as MSNBC, the USA Network and Bravo, to make up for the costs of its NFL deal. Ditto for the other networks that broadcast sports.

Cable operators have proposed a solution that makes sense: pushing sports networks out of basic cable packages and parking them in higher-cost tiers so customers could decide whether sports programming is worth the added cost.

But sports networks, leagues and advertisers are dead set against that idea because they want their broadcasts and commercials to run in front of the greatest possible number of eyeballs.

The cable industry is headed in the right direction, but it's not going far enough. Why not let the free market sort it all out? Let viewers pick programming on an a la carte basis — choosing their own packages from a menu in which each network has a set price. It's a revolutionary idea, but so was football under the lights on Monday nights.

Dimension Home Video presents DARKNESS, an intense supernatural thriller, starring Academy Award winner Anna Paquin (Best Actress, "The Piano," 1993), available to own on DVD in the hit U.S. theatrical version and, separately, in an extended, unrated version. This eerie, spellbinding film also stars Lena Olin (TV's "Alias"), Iain Glen ("Resident Evil: Apocalypse," "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider") and Giancarlo Giannini ("Man On Fire," "Hannibal").

Bonus DVD materials for DARKNESS are: "Darkness Illuminated: Behind-the-Scenes of Darkness;" and the original Theatrical Trailer and Teaser. An American family moves to Spain to reside in their family estate. Regina (Anna Paquin), the teenage daughter, feels there's something wrong with the old house and her little brother is beginning to experience supernatural events. But her parents believe it's just the stress of the move and ignore Regina's pleas to leave. Stranger and stranger things start to happen as the eclipse of the sun, a phenomenon that happens every 40 years, gets closer. Regina realizes the eclipse will put them in total darkness and leave them vulnerable to the evil that resides in their home.

Written by Jaume Balagueró and Fernando De Felipe. Directed by Jaume Balagueró. Available for $29.99 (SRP) on DVD, $29.99 (SRP) on VHS.

As the finishing touches are being put on Disney's Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (in fact a leaked trailer hit Aint It Cool this weekend, and I understand we should be looking for the official version VERY soon), one of the main characters has to be recast.

The good news is that it's just a voice. The bad news is that it's the voice of the great Brian Cox. Cox had been signed on to play Aslan, the lion/Christ, but now it looks like he has to bow out. The original rumors had something to do with him losing weight and his voice changing - how much weight did he have on his vocal chords? - but the truth seems to be that he has a conflict with his live action project Running With Scissors.

Further rumors say that many people have auditioned for the role, including Jason Isaacs, Timothy Dalton, Sean Bean, Gerard Butler, Ian McKellen, and Ralph Fiennes. Although it sort of seems weird to me that half those guys would even have to audition - they didn't know what Ian McKellan sounded like? I'm sure that if there's any truth to that list it's that these are people the production wants and not necessarily people who have come in to strut their stuff like hookers in the windows of the Red Light District of Amsterdam.

Disney has identified international expansion as one of its key strategic priorities and maintains a particular focus on growing markets such as India, the US-based media firm said in a statement. Disney currently has several established businesses in India such as film distribution, consumer products and media networks.

Launched in December 2004, Disney Channel and Toon Disney currently reach an estimated 14mn households each and since debuting have increased their share in key markets, especially in Mumbai and Delhi. The Disney-owned ESPN and its partner Star Sports offer two sports channels - STAR Sports (launched in 1991) and ESPN (launched in 1992), with each reaching an estimated 23mn households.

"We are committed to strengthening the affinity people around the world have for Disney's characters, stories and other entertainment offerings, especially in dynamic, expanding markets like India," said Eisner.

"We are tremendously pleased with the early success of Disney Channel and Toon Disney, which are critical components in building our brand awareness and driving growth in India," said Iger.

Disney's current presence in India also includes branded mobile content. In December 2004, the Walt Disney Internet Group, along with Indiagames, a leading mobile content provider in India, introduced Disney games, wallpapers and ringtones. The content is available through India's top mobile carriers including Airtel, the country's No.1 mobile phone operator.

Disney Consumer Products is establishing Disney Corners at select retail outlets throughout the country that would sell licensed merchandise, and Disney Publishing is in the process of entering the marketplace.

"Disney's presence in India today is well poised for growth. We are developing, distributing and licensing content that makes efficient and effective use of our popular brands and creative properties, all of which we expect to contribute to building robust businesses over the long term," said Andy Bird, President, Walt Disney International.

The Walt Disney Company is the global leader in creating and distributing high quality family entertainment. It is a diversified, worldwide media enterprise with businesses including Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, The Walt Disney Studios, Disney/ABC Television, ESPN, Disney Consumer Products, Walt Disney Internet Group and Walt Disney International.

In the fiscal year 2004 (October 2003 - September 2004), Disney delivered earnings growth that exceeded 60%, driven by each of the company's core operating segments. The Company delivered record operating cash flow of US$4.4bn and significantly improved returns on capital for the second year in a row.

He won 1971's best-supporting-actor Academy Award as the deaf-mute village idiot in David Lean's epic, "Ryan's Daughter."

"It was weird," Mr. Mills once said. "I just thought I'd been wasting my time for the past 55 years learning all these millions of lines, and then getting an Oscar for not speaking."

Boyishly handsome, he often portrayed guileless, wounded heroes and became one of the reigning British leading men of the 1940s and 1950s. Mr. Mills appeared in more than 100 movies, sometimes with his two daughters, Hayley and Juliet Mills. Queen Elizabeth II knighted him in 1976.

In an extensive and prolific career on stage and screen, he performed alongside both Noel Coward and Madonna. Through his mentor, Coward, he also came to work closely with Lean.

The Mills-Lean collaborations included wartime dramas such as "In Which We Serve" (1942) , "We Dive at Dawn" (1943) , and "This Happy Breed" (1944), Coward's drama about working-class endurance. They also worked on "Great Expectations" (1946), in which Mr. Mills played Pip in a haunting version of the Charles Dickens tale. From the late 1940s, he expanded further into character roles, usually playing off an aspect of his stoic, working-class onscreen identity. He was the noble, doomed adventurer Robert F. Scott in "Scott of the Antarctic" (1948) and an alcoholic but resolute Army captain in "Ice Cold in Alex" (1958).

Two films in 1960 demonstrated his ability to convey both decency, as the patriarch in "Swiss Family Robinson," and steady decline, as the unbalanced lieutenant colonel opposite Alec Guinness in "Tunes of Glory."

He continued to act into the 1990s, despite the onset of blindness. He was an eccentric real-estate magnate in the Madonna comedy "Who's That Girl?" (1987), Jack the Ripper in "Deadly Advice" (1993) and Old Norway in Kenneth Branagh's filming of "Hamlet" (1996).

Mr. Mills influenced generations of English actors, including 2002 best actor Oscar nominee Tom Wilkinson.

"John Mills, who is a fantastic actor, could do anything," Wilkinson once told the New York Times. "He could play good guys, bad guys, weaklings, strong guys, working-class characters, upper-class characters. He could do anything he wanted to."

Lewis Ernest Watts Mills was born in Felixstowe, England. His father was a mathematics instructor, and his mother was a former box-office manager of London's Haymarket Theatre.

Encouraged by his mother and sister (a professional dancer 15 years his senior), he began appearing in local productions. But his father and paternal grandfather intervened and insisted on a career in business.

After clerking briefly at the corn merchant's exchange, he was bored and left at age 19 to study dance. To earn money, he sold toilet tissue.

His dancing teacher recommended him for a chorus part in the hit 1929 production "The Five O'Clock Girl" at London's Hippodrome Theatre. Not long after, he joined a touring repertory troupe, the Quaints, and embarked for Asia.

Disney Courts Pixar

Disney "definitely" wants a new deal with computer animation powerhouse Pixar, a report says.

In a sign that Pixar Animation Studios is being wooed by the Walt Disney Co., a top Disney official told a British newspaper that the world's second-largest media company is "definitely" interested in striking a new deal with the computer animation company. 

"This has been probably the most successful relationship in the history of Hollywood," Dick Cook, the head of Disney's film studios, told the London Times. "It's definitely our desire to further the relationship with Pixar for years to come, and develop it even more, and we're hopeful they feel the same way."

Cook's comments come more than a year after Pixar broke off contract renewal talks with Disney in a spat over financial terms and signs that the chief executive officers of both companies weren't getting along. 

The falling-out fueled speculation that the sought-after Pixar would bolt from Disney to sign a new deal with one of its competitors.

Warner Bros., Sony Pictures, and Twentieth Century Fox were mentioned by Pixar executives as potential partners. (Warner Bros. and CNN/Money are both Time Warner properties.)

A lot has changed since Pixar walked away from the negotiating table in January 2004.

Disney CEO Michael Eisner, who clashed with Pixar chief Steve Jobs, is scheduled to step down in September. His successor is Robert Iger, Eisner's No. 2 and a reputed consensus-builder.

To some analysts, Iger's promotion to CEO in March increased the odds considerably that the two companies would renew talks and possibly broker a new deal. Just a month earlier, in February, Jobs had told analysts that it was unlikely that Pixar and Disney would partner again.

At the same time, Jobs had made it clear that he was waiting to see who would replace Eisner before making a decision on how to proceed.

Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull told The Times after Iger's ascension was announced that Pixar "will resume negotiations with Walt Disney" once Eisner steps aside. But he also made it clear that Pixar will talk with other potential partners, too.

There are plenty of reasons why both Disney and Pixar would want to rediscover their spark.

Together, the studios have produced six animation films, each of which has been a blockbuster at the box office, and a huge moneymaker in terms of DVD and merchandise sales. Their current deal is set to expire with the release of "Cars" in 2007.

Under terms of their current deal, the two companies co-finance movies and split the profits. Disney distributes the films in exchange for 12.5 percent of the box office gross.

Disney also has the right to make sequels to any film made under the deal. The studio has already announced plans for a "Toy Story 3" and is reportedly considering sequels to "Finding Nemo" and "Monsters, Inc."

Pixar thinks the existing deal is tilted too heavily in Disney's favor. Based on its blockbuster success, Pixar argues it should keep the profit itself and cut the fees its studio partner charges.

Today, Pixar has an advantage it didn't have during earlier contract renewals with Disney: it now has the financial heft to fund its own productions.

It also has until summer 2007 to find a distributor -- Disney or someone else.

ESPN Deportes, the Spanish-language sister station of ESPN, begins its game coverage of Major League Soccer with tonight's match involving Chivas USA and the Galaxy at 7 — and three studio shows that will be broadcast live from the Home Depot Center.

The studio shows are Cronometro, considered a Spanish "Pardon the Interruption," from 5 to 5:30 p.m.; Futbol Picante, focusing on Mexican soccer, from 5:30 to 6; Spanish "SportsCenter" segments, from 6 to 6:30 and 9 to 9:30; as well as the pregame show, from 6:30 to 7.

Luis Omar Tapia will call play-by-play of the match with commentary and analysis from Daniel Brailovksy and former Galaxy goalkeeper Jorge Campos.

It will be the first time in the MLS' 10-year history that a Spanish-language network will produce four shows from a game site on game day.

As part of its season-long coverage of MLS, ESPN Deportes will air nine league games — five of which include Chivas USA and three that have the Galaxy — and two playoff matches.

ESPN Deportes may have competition soon. FSN plans to launch a Spanish-language regional sports network in the L.A. market next year.

At last the beloved film BEACHES, from director Gary Marshall ("Raising Helen," "Pretty Woman"), will be available to own in a superb SPECIAL EDITION DVD on April 26. Starring Bette Midler ("The First Wives Club," "The Stepford Wives") and Barbara Hershey ("Riding The Bullet"), this new edition of BEACHES will include new audio commentary with director Gary Marshall; never before seen Beaches bloopers; music video "Wind Beneath My Wings" performed by Bette Midler; Mayim Bialik's Beaches memories; Barbara Hershey's original screen test for the film; the film's original Theatrical trailer; and a segment from the American Film Institute special program "100 Songs with Bette Midler." The BEACHES SPECIAL EDITION DVD will be available for $19.99 (S.R.P.) from Touchstone Home Entertainment.

Arriving in time for Mother's Day, BEACHES glows with warmth, humor, and tenderness, as this is one friendship you'll enjoy every minute of. Brassy C.C. Bloom (Bette Midler) and classy Hillary Whitney (Barbara Hershey) met on a beach when they were very young. Through good times and bad times, through broken marriages and budding careers, they always had each other. And together, they would face their greatest challenge ... as only best friends could. Hershey is splendid, and Midler will astound you all over again with her comedic and musical talents in this critically acclaimed box office smash.

The screenplay for BEACHES is by Mary Agnes Donoghue. Based on the book by Iris Rainer Dart. Directed by Garry Marshall. The excellent cast of BEACHES includes John Heard ("White Chicks"), the late Spalding Gray ("Kate and Leopold"), Lainie Kazan ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding"), James Read ("Legally Blonde") and Mayim Bialik (TV's "Blossom").

Walt Disney never dreamed when he founded Disneyland 50 years ago that he would leave behind the legacy of being the world's best travel agent.

The Happiest Celebration on Earth -- 18-month-long 50th-anniversary promotion being celebrated at all the Disney theme parks -- could recharge interest in travel and introduce a range of new attractions to visitors, industry analysts say.

Beyond that, the celebration is a way for Disney to capitalize on its all-encompassing program of travel packaging, or bringing visitors to theme parks for the full experience.

"Disney isn't just selling theme-park tickets. They sell vacations," said Nick Winslow, a theme-park-industry consultant.

"The company just did a major price restructuring, and that's going to play a huge role in the 'Happiest Celebration,' " Winslow said. "The recent price restructuring will enable more people to spend a longer amount of time at the park."

That price structure allows more flexibility for people who want multiday passes to the different Disney World parks -- encouraging them to stay longer and book a room at a hotel on Disney property.

In effect, tourism experts say, Disney has evolved into something much greater than a selection of rides on a large plot of land that can be accessed with one admission ticket.

"I think Disney, traditionally -- how they're set up -- is, when someone visits Disney, they arrive and stay on property until they leave Disney," said Rick Hutcherson, director of sales and marketing for the Holiday Inn Cocoa Beach Oceanfront Resort. "They've positioned some of the resorts as destinations, such as Animal Kingdom, and you could stay and not leave for a week. If you want to go fishing or water-skiing, you can do it right on property."

Rob Varley, executive director of the Space Coast Office of Tourism, said anything that benefits Disney also benefits Brevard County, where his agency estimates, tourism is a $1 billion-a-year industry responsible for about 30,000 people.

"Some of their sales staff has been in contact with us requesting information," Varley said. "For us, it's great because they do promote the beach area. There are people who work for Disney who used to live here, and they do a great job letting people know what we have. They have some of our hotels in the package. They're the 800-pound gorilla that leads people to Central Florida. There are people who will come. When Disney does well, we do well.

"It's good that they're having the celebration," Varley said. "Because they're raising the level of awareness of Central Florida, they'll drive the numbers up of visitors to Central Florida. More than 13 percent of our visitors come here to visit the attractions in Orlando. They're a valuable asset."

Expensive?

For Yvette Thompson, the 50th anniversary of Disneyland has other meaning.

"I have been in Florida since 1959, and it has grown incredibly," said the Viera resident. "I think any celebration that brings more revenue, more spending and income to Central Florida is good."

For local families, however, the celebration isn't all fun and games.

"It's expensive to go now," said Alison Mindel of Indialantic, who said it's difficult to afford a day trip -- let alone a vacation -- on Walt Disney World property.

"I would say the average family can afford to go to Disney World once a year, and that's about it," said Mindel, whose husband and two elementary-school-age children like different parks within the resort.

"It used to be you could go over for the day, but with the cost of gas and the cost of admission and the hotel room costs, it's too expensive for most people," she said. "When we go, we like to check out more than one park, so it's really a once-a-year thing."

But Sebastian physician Deepti Sadhwani said, no matter the price, Disney is still a bargain.

"They offer you so much for the money," she said. "I take my 7-year-old, and it's still fun. They give you quite a bit for the price, and it's a good bonding opportunity."

Plenty of rooms

Winslow said there's more at stake for selling the travel packages at Walt Disney World.

"There are only two hotels on property in Anaheim, whereas, in Florida, they're trying to fill 20,000 rooms a night. And if they can put together a four-day or five-day park package and, say, a cruise, you'll expand the vacation.

"Their objective is to get people on Disney property and to get them to stay there for the whole vacation," Winslow said. "That's why there's the complete range of hotels."

The company is wants to cater to all demographics, ranging from seniors to young children, by offering diverse products.

"The 50th anniversary lends itself to this new pricing structure," Winslow said. "The multiday pass type of thing. I think the offerings are strong enough. It works to their advantage."

Disney Cruise Line -- which has two ships based at Port Canaveral -- is part of that push to attract every demographic to the theme parks.

"The company recognizes grandma and grandpa are very much part of the picture," Winslow said. "The cruise line fits into the equation. The entire company is very well-packaged. In the ads, we see seniors in the off-season going off and sneaking out and having fun like when they were kids. Everybody remembers what a great feeling it was going to Disneyland."

Also, there are many more hotels on property in Walt Disney World than there are in Anaheim, so there is a big push to get people to stay on property and fill those rooms.

'Warm and fuzzy'

"This promotion highlights the parks, and gives seniors who remember Uncle Walt on national TV a warm and fuzzy feeling about the Happiest Place on Earth, so it lends itself to a national promotion," Winslow said.

The emphasis on filling hotels and booking vacations for park visitors is a trend that started in the 1980s, Winslow said.

"What's interesting is independent parks around the world are now building hotels. For example, Europa Park in Germany is building its third hotel," Winslow said. "That's how you get the tour operators. They don't make money if they're selling you a park ticket or only if they sell you transportation."

What Disney did is establish its own travel company. Disney is the wholesaler and the retailer.

"Can Disney be stopped? My answer is: Not in the park business," Winslow said.

Fast National ratings for Sunday, April 24, 2005.

It turns out that that buzz you may have heard on Sunday night wasn't coming from CBS' "Locusts" at all. The buggy disaster flick did respectable numbers, but couldn't compete with ABC's late evening strength, as viewers even flocked to a "Desperate Housewives" clip show.

Overall, ABC averaged a 10.1/16 for the night, far in front of second place CBS' 8.7/14. NBC wasn't really competitive with a 4.3/7 in third, still better than the 3.0/5 for FOX. The WB, as usual, trailed with a 1.8/3.

ABC had an even easier win among adults 18-49, delivering a 6.9 rating in the key demographic. CBS remained second with a 3.5 rating, followed by NBC's 2.7 rating and the 2.1 rating for FOX. The WB brought up the rear with a 1.2 rating.

CBS started the evening in first, as "60 Minutes" had an 8.1/15 for the 7 p.m. hour. ABC was second with "America's Funniest Home Videos." NBC's "Dateline" was in third with a 4.1/7, topping FOX's "The Simpsons" and "Malcolm in the Middle," which had a 3.5/6 average between them. On The WB, "Charmed" was fifth.

At 8 p.m., CBS stayed on top with the 10.5/17 for "Cold Case." Thanks to "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," ABC improved to a 9.3/15 for the hour. NBC was miles back in third with the 3.5/6 for "The Contender." FOX's "American Top 40" special only barely grabbed third, nipping the 2.4/4 for The WB's "Charmed."

ABC moved into first in the 9 p.m. hour with a 14.6/22 for the "Desperate Housewives: Dirty Laundry" special. CBS' first hour of "Locusts!" had an 8.1/12, good for second, but only barely buzzworthy. NBC took third with a second hour of "The Contender." On FOX, the Ryan Seacrest-hosted musical event had a 2.3/4 in its second hour. The WB's "Steve Harvey's Big Time Challenge" was fifth.

Freshman medical drama "Grey's Anatomy" stayed strong, doing an 11.4/18 to close the night. CBS' movie was second, beating the 5.8/9 for "Crossing Jordan" on NBC.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (Nov. 27 and 29, Dec. 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18 and 20) On 14 special evenings, holiday merriment fills Magic Kingdom. There are special holiday shows, fireworks and treats. For ticket information, guests can contact 407/W-DISNEY.

Holidays Around the World/Candlelight Processional (Nov. 25-Dec. 30) An Epcot tradition continues, with storytellers, a character tree-lighting ceremony daily, a stunning display of snow-white lights, and Candlelight Processional -- guest narrators accompanied by a massed choir and orchestra for a retelling of the Christmas story. The holiday fun is included with regular Epcot admission.

Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights (Nov. 23-Jan. 8) Talk about magic: As snow falls overhead, the Streets of America backlot cityscape at Disney-MGM Studios comes alive with millions of sparkling lights each evening. The lightshow is in collaboration with Arkansas businessman Jennings Osborne, who developed the display for his daughter. The dazzling spectacle is included with Disney-MGM Studios admission.

"Hotter than hell" is how Art Linkletter, the emcee and Walt Disney's longtime friend, remembers it. "The asphalt had just been rolled and people's shoes got stuck in it. But we carried on. We didn't worry about stuff like that."

Fifty years is a long time, but those who were there when Disneyland opened its gates on July 17, 1955, still remember the tiniest details -- rides that broke down, wet paint that rubbed off on guests' clothes, the smile on Walt Disney's face.

It wasn't a perfect opening, but Disney's dream -- to build a family theme park unlike any other -- became a reality that day, despite the glitches.

The memories are flooding back as the Happiest Place on Earth approaches its 50th anniversary with an 18-month celebration -- dubbed the Happiest Homecoming on Earth -- that begins May 5. Employees who were there on the first day, or those who worked at the park in its early years, haven't forgotten how it all began.

"I remember the first day, seeing Walt walking down Main Street," said Bob Penfield, a ride operator when the park opened. "I'm an 18-year-old Iowa farm boy, and I'm watching Walt Disney walk down the street. That's one thing I'll always remember."

The Disneyland of 50 years ago barely resembles the sprawling complex that covers 430 acres today and includes Disney's California Adventure theme park, Downtown Disney (a mall of retail shops and restaurants) and three hotels.

There were 18 attractions then; there are more than 60 now. Even the terminology has changed: Employees are called cast members, rides are called attractions.

But some things remain almost as they were when the park opened (with some tweaks and updates): Peter Pan's Flight, Mad Tea Party, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, the Jungle Cruise. Sleeping Beauty's Castle seems as magical as ever.

The original park was built on 160 acres that were once orange groves. Ron Dominguez's family was one of 17 that sold their land to Disney, and although he recalled that his mother was sentimental about giving up their 10 acres, it led to a 39-year Disney career for the now-retired Dominguez -- from ticket taker on opening day to a variety of supervisor jobs and eventually executive vice president of Walt Disney West Coast.

But it was a chance encounter with Disney in the park's second year that could have quickly ended Dominguez's budding career.

"I was working on Main Street in 1956," he said, "and that was the year the omnibus was brought online. To me, it always looked like the bus was out of scale compared to the size of the buildings. Main Street is small, and the first floor is not full size.

"We were having problems with the omnibus one day, and I was in the back area looking at it. Walt happened to walk in and asked me what was wrong. Then he asked me, `What do you think of the bus?'

"Being honest, I said, `The bus looks a little big on the street.' "

"He just said, `I think it looks damn good.' "

"So I said right away, `Yes sir.' "

Old-timers say Disney, who died in 1966, was a frequent visitor, prowling the park at dawn and trying to figure what attractions could be improved. He often slept in a small room above the firehouse on Main Street rather than drive home -- although he inadvertently locked himself inside the night before the park opened and would have missed his own opening had no one heard him shouting for help.

The room isn't used anymore, but a light is always kept on in tribute.

When Disney was there, "you wouldn't recognize him at all," said Oscar Martinez, 69, a chef at Carnation Restaurant who began working at the park in 1956. "He wore a straw hat and overalls, like a farmer. You would never see him in a suit, and he always came out very early in the morning."

Martinez has served popcorn, scooped ice cream, flipped burgers and sliced sandwich meat in the 49 years he has worked at Disneyland. His wife, Shirley, used to work at the park, too, in the Plaza Gardens, where Disney often visited to drink milkshakes.

"She used to make them for him," Martinez said. "He liked them made special, not too runny. Vanilla or chocolate."

By then, Disneyland had become a rousing success. But on that first day, when the turnout was expected to be 15,000 and more than 28,000 crammed inside -- among them Frank Sinatra, Debbie Reynolds, Sammy Davis Jr. and Kirk Douglas -- there were doubts.

"I probably shouldn't tell you this," said Penfield, "but it was known as Black Sunday. It was such a mess.

"People came pouring in. We tried to control them, but there was no way because it was a preview for the press and invited guests and celebrities, so people didn't have to buy tickets to get in. They could just jump the fence.

"It was a tough day."

According to reports, there were problems everywhere -- a power outage in Fantasyland, restaurants running out of food, rides breaking down.

"It was a hectic day," Dominguez said. "Like anything that's brand new, it's a different way of doing business. But we survived."

Walt Disney, too busy with the live televised broadcast by ABC, was unaware of the problems. Linkletter, assisted by co-hosts Ronald Reagan and Bob Cummings ("I picked two guys who were great talkers," Linkletter said), kept the show moving from one venue to another.

"It was criticized by a lot of newspapers for that first day because things didn't work," said Linkletter, who turns 93 on the day Disneyland turns 50. "They didn't expect all those people, and besides, everything was so new that a lot of the rides hadn't even been tried yet."

Linkletter still recalls the day -- several years before the park opened -- when Disney asked his friend to join him on a driving trip. "He didn't want any real estate people to know what we were doing, because he said the price would change," Linkletter said in a phone interview. "There were no freeways then, just little towns and orange groves. We were an hour and a half out of the city, heading toward San Diego. But that was where he planned to put Disneyland.

"I thought, `He's out of his mind.' "

But he wasn't, and not even a few opening-day hurdles could upset Disney's plans for a family entertainment park.

Even later, there were occasional problems. Penfield recalls the day he worked the Autopia ride and forgot to close the gate that was used to transport the tiny cars to the maintenance area at the end of each day. The next thing he knew, kids were driving their cars onto the road.

"I thought for sure I was going to get fired for that," he said.

He didn't. Penfield remained until 1997 -- he was the last original Disneyland employee to retire -- and the park has welcomed more than 500 million visitors since it opened.

"I think Walt would be proud," Linkletter said. "It's bigger than he ever thought it would be, and it's a little more commercial in some respects, but he'd be proud."

• A new parade, "Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams," will feature floats that become small stage shows, with music and more than 50 Disney characters. Performances twice a day, once in the late afternoon and once in the early evening.

• A new fireworks show, billed as Disney's most spectacular. Clocked at 17 minutes, it will be almost twice as long as the park's average pyrotechnic display. Daily; starts between 9:30 and 10 p.m.

• A historical exhibit, "Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years," will tell the story of the theme park's evolution through artwork and rarely seen film footage. Daily, in the Main Street Opera House.

• A makeover for the Sleeping Beauty Castle, which will emerge bejeweled and golden for the anniversary, with crowns atop her turrets.

• Already open at Disneyland is the new Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, an interactive Tomorrowland attraction that lets riders pilot their own Star Cruiser.

• On July 15, a re-engineered Space Mountain ride will reopen with redesigned rockets, new special effects and an on-board soundtrack.

• Golden "mouse ears" are already on sale at the park ($11.50 adult size, $10.50 child size). There will be a full line of merchandise for the 50th, with monthly rollouts of new products. On May 5, a 50th Mickey Mouse logo pin, commemorative tickets and Disney dollars, among other products, will be released. On June 30, the U.S. Postal Service will issue a new four-stamp set at the park featuring Snow White with Dopey, Ariel with Flounder, Mickey Mouse with Pluto, and Alice with the Mad Hatter. In July, sales will start of such items as Sleeping Beauty Castles (brooches by Swarovski, china by Lenox and ornaments by Christopher Radko).

• A "Block Party Bash" along Sunshine Plaza at Disney's California Adventure is designed to be interactive, allowing visitors to dance and sing along with Disney and Pixar characters.

• The first Disney cruises from the West Coast are scheduled this year. Cruises will leave Los Angeles for the Mexican ports of Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta on 12 Saturdays, May 28 to Aug. 19.

Roy E. Disney, 75, in his last year of competitive sailing, was first among the elite Maxi-class boats in the Lexus Newport-to-Ensenada Yacht Race but failed to break the record he set in 2003.

Sailing the 86-foot Pyewacket in mostly light winds, Disney and crew crossed the finish line at 4:24 a.m. Saturday for an elapsed time of 16 hours 24 minutes 12 seconds. The record is 10:44:54.

Doug Baker, aboard Magnitude 80, was second at 16:47:11, and co-skippers Mike Campbell and Dale Williams, aboard Peligroso, were third at 16:49:51.

Mickey Mouse stays perennially young and cheerful -- thanks to scores of facial and fashion makeovers. And he continues to reign over an animated kingdom that includes more than 100 Disney-created personalities.

The Mouse, as he is affectionately known by his friends, was "born" in 1923 when brothers Walt and Roy Disney produced a three-minute cartoon in a Hollywood garage called Plane Crazy. Although he had a rat-looking face, Mickey was enough of a hit with movie audiences to warrant a second appearance on the screen, this time in "Steamboat Willie," a fully synchronized sound cartoon.

The success of these ventures helped Disney bankroll future projects that would eventually win 30 Academy Awards.

On Disneyland's opening day in 1955, Mickey was on hand to greet the public. Tall and skinny, he wore a makeshift Ice Capades costume of black tights, button shorts and a black turtleneck. His face was wrinkle-free but less expressive than it is today.

With him that day were his girlfriend, Minnie Mouse, along with pals Donald Duck, Chip 'n' Dale, Peter Pan, Captain Hook and Wendy, plus Snow White and all seven Dwarfs. Pluto and Dumbo romped around on all four legs, rather than two, and Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella were escorted around the theme park by their princes.

But time takes it toll. As more movies were produced and other animated characters began to win the hearts of children, Mickey required several makeovers.

In the early '60s, he gained weight around the hips and his expression softened. Then, in 1965, he was deemed too fat in the hips, so he dropped weight. At the same time, he was given a bright-eyed look and beaming smile that remain to this day.

Still shaped like a pear, Mickey usually wears button shorts and a bow tie. At California Adventure, he changes into Bermuda shorts, a print shirt and a cap, appropriate for California dreaming. And at weddings or receptions in Disney World Florida, he dresses formally in top hat, black tie and tails.

Mickey is adored around the world.