"Fodor's Choice Hotels 2005" Honors Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

 

Editors and writers voting in Fodor's Travel Publications "Fodor's Choice Hotels 2005" named Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge among the "Top 20 Hotels of the World." Honors went to hotels from Montreal to Maui and from Italy to Belize in the second year of the recognition program.

Picked from among thousands of selections, the 20 hotels were chosen as unique, unusual and not-to-be-missed experiences, said Fodor's Travel Publications publisher Tim Jarrell. Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge won in "The Kids Will Love It, Too" category.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge features African art and artifacts, South African-inspired cuisine and guestroom views to savannahs teeming with exotic wildlife.

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Victoria & Albert's Wins Two Awards

Victoria & Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has been awarded a AAA Five Diamond rating for the fifth consecutive year and is among just 57 restaurants in North America earning AAA's highest distinction in 2005.

AAA's 65 full-time tourism editors evaluate more then 55,000 hotels and restaurants each year, and only 0.26 percent (barely more than one-quarter of 1 percent) earn five diamonds (85 lodgings earned the coveted honor this year along with the 57 restaurants).

Victoria & Albert's also was awarded four stars by the 2005 Mobil Travel Guide -- one of only two restaurants in Central Florida to earn the honor.

Mobil Travel Guide ratings are based on cumulative scores determined by service evaluations, unannounced inspections, published reviews and letters from Mobil Travel Guide users.

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Blizzard Beach Welcomes Guests "Back to the Slopes"

Disney's Blizzard Beach welcomes water lovers back to the slopes following a six-week seasonal refurbishment.

Blizzard Beach is a zany water adventure park with the atmosphere and excitement of a major ski resort in the midst of a tropical lagoon. The 66-acre park features water fun for the whole family with slides, raft rides and the ultimate 120-foot-high Summit Plummet -- the nation's tallest, fastest free-fall speed slide, visible from almost anywhere in the park.

The sandy beach below Mt. Gushmore offers a large heated wave pool, a lazy river, two snack bars, a polar pub lodge and a pre-teen and children's play area. Other facilities include: dressing/locker rooms, life jacket rentals, towel rentals, merchandise shop and picnic areas throughout the park. Operating hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, visit disneyworld.com or call 407/824-4321.

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Ensemble to perform `Beauty and the Beast'

The Union County Performance Ensemble's performance of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" will be performed at Wingate University's George W. Batte center in January.

The dates are: Jan. 13-15 and 20-22 at 7:30 p.m.; January 16 and 23 at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets: $9 in advance or $10 at the door for adults; $5 in advance or $6 at the door for students. 

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Disney-MGM Studios Guest Could Win $1 Million

The television quiz show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire," hosted by Meredith Vieira, will tape five weeks of episodes during January at Disney-MGM Studios.

The tapings will take place inside the "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire-Play It!" set on Jan. 12-16, with multiple episodes taped each day.

A limited number of audience tickets are available in advance and can be requested at millionairetv.com. A limited number of tickets will also be available the day of the tapings and will be distributed inside Disney-MGM Studios on a first-come, first-served basis, while seats last, on taping days.

A special, multi-day "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" travel package is also available at millionairetv.com.

On Jan. 15, Disney-MGM Studios guests will have a chance to "Walk-In and Win" the $1 million grand prize, with "Hot Seat" contestants coming directly from the studio audience. The studio audience will be determined by random drawing. Eligibility requirements and more details can be found at millionairetv.com.

The taped episodes will air nationwide in February, May and June. Viewers should check their local listings for more information.

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Disneyland Resort Offers A Valentine Of Romantic Ways For Couples To Celebrate 

For sweethearts seeking romance this Valentine's Day on Monday, February 14, the Disneyland Resort in Southern California offers a charming selection of choices. Whether it's a cozy dinner for two, a playful day exploring the Disney theme parks or a weekend getaway in the elegant new Princess Diaries Suite, there is something sure to appeal to every preference. And for those ready to pop the big question, one of the most popular places to propose marriage is Snow White's Wishing Well and Grotto located in the romantic shadows of Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland .

New Princess Diaries Suite at Disneyland Hotel

In celebration of the Walt Disney Pictures' hit film The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement , the Disneyland Hotel has transformed a bedroom of its luxurious Presidential Suite into a re-creation of Princess Mia's regal quarters. The new, totally redecorated room has been beautifully appointed with elaborate reproductions of the elegantly designed Drexel-Heritage furniture seen in the motion picture, creating a new level of stately, yet fun-filled accommodations.

The Princess Diaries Suite is located atop the hotel's 11-story Sierra Tower , providing a sweeping view of the Disneyland Resort. It features an ornate, handcrafted queen-size bed and delicate overhead cornice that are matched with a collection of European-influenced, classic-style furniture, and most pieces are from the original movie set depicting Mia's private chambers.

Guests who stay in the Princess Diaries Suite receive the "royal treatment," including complimentary gifts such as the DVD of The Princess Diaries , a CD of the musical soundtrack of The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement , a sparkling rhinestone tiara in a presentation box, and access to the nearby Concierge Lounge.

The rate for the Princess Diaries Suite ranges from $430 to $515 per night. If reserved as part of the entire contemporary-style Presidential Suite, the total rate can range from $1,400 to $1,755, depending on season. To make reservations, call (714) 956-6425.

New Romance Package Offered By Walt Disney Travel Company

For a romantic overnight getaway, the Walt Disney Travel Company has created a new Romance Package for 2005 that includes a candlelit dinner for two in the award-winning Napa Rose restaurant in Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, Granville's Steak House in the Disneyland Hotel or the Vineyard Room in Disney's California Adventure park, as well as a spa treatment for two in Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, a choice of a pair of champagne flutes or a crystal frame from Arribas Brothers, and two limited edition cloisonné pins. This package is an add-on to any Walt Disney Travel Company vacation package, and is $325 per couple in addition to the base package which includes hotel accommodations, Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Tickets and extras.

The Romance Package can be added on to a Disney's Resort Magic package that features a stay at one of three Disneyland Resort hotels. Two-night Resort Magic packages start at $349 per person, double occupancy, during Value Season (January 4-March 17; April 10-July 2; August 28-November 21; and November 27-December 22). To book, contact a travel agent, call the Walt Disney Travel Company at (877) 700-DISNEY, or visit www.disneyland.com .

More Romantic Ideas at The Disneyland Resort

The Disneyland Resort brings out the magic and playfulness in couples with a variety of romantic adventures throughout the property. Here are a few suggestions:

• Fall in love… with the fairest of them all in the classic tale of "Snow White - An Enchanting Musical" performing daily at the Fantasyland Theatre in Disneyland.
• Sip and stargaze… fine California wines from the celebrated cellar of Napa Rose and see stars overhead from the restaurant's cozy fire-pit patio at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel .
• Sushi at Yamabuki… is a tantalizing trip to the Orient at Disney's Paradise Pier  Hotel.
• Sail into another time… aboard the Mark Twain Riverboat by asking the skipper to ride in the wheelhouse as this sternwheeler gently plies the Rivers of America in Disneyland .
• End the evening… at the Fantasmic! Dessert Balcony in New Orleans Square at Disneyland (tasting flavored coffees and confections from a keepsake box) as Sorcerer Mickey lights up the sky with his spellbinding nighttime extravaganza.

For general Disneyland Resort information, park hours and entertainment schedules, visit www.disneyland.com or call (714) 781-4565.

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Magic of Disney Animation Immerses Guests In Disney's Timeless Art 

The newly refurbished Magic of Disney Animation attraction in Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World Resort showcases Disney's art of storytelling and bringing animated characters to life. Guests can 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.

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Walt Disney World Resort Sweetens Goofy's Candy Company With Expanded Offerings

Downtown Disney will be sweeter than ever this spring with an expanded Goofy's Candy Company featuring an interactive show kitchen concocting scrumptious confections.

To make room for the tasty offering at Downtown Disney Marketplace, the Disney at Home location begins refurbishment in early January. The current Goofy's Candy Company location will continue to operate until approximately one week prior to the opening of the new location, then undergo refurbishment in preparation for another retail concept.

                                                      Sunday December 26, 2004
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The Art of Disney

Celebrations (4 stamps) 7/22/05

The art of celebration as portrayed by Walt Disney and his studio animators continues the series that began in 2004 with Mickey Mouse holding a birthday cake just beyond the reach of his eager pal Pluto, Alice's tea party in Wonderland with the Mad Hatter, the Little Mermaid Ariel, and Snow White and Dopey doing a lighthearted dance.

 

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Dream Holiday

 

A few days ago when 5-year-old Stephanie Cruz was handed a plane ticket with her name on it, she fanned her smiling face with the slip of stiff paper and did a joyous little dance.

``Disneyland, Disneyland, Disneyland,'' she sang, as her tiny feet peppered the kitchen floor where Stephanie, her dad and her three siblings were all studying their own passports to the ``Happiest Place on Earth.''

On this Christmas morning, thanks to the generosity of Mercury News readers, the entire Cruz family -- dad Nicky and children Nicky Jr., 13, Gonzolo, 12, Marilyn, 8, and Stephanie -- woke up in the fun-filled comfort and warmth of the Disneyland Hotel.

The family was embraced by readers when their tragic story of loss was featured as part of this year's Wish Book series.

Their adventure began with a flight to Anaheim on Christmas Eve day. At the resort, they were met by a bilingual VIP host who escorted the wide-eyed family through both theme parks, Disneyland and California Adventure.

Today starts off with a breakfast at which they will meet Mickey Mouse and other characters over pancakes. After a full day at the parks, they will sit down to a festive dinner at the Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney.

The excursion will allow the family the luxury of four days to be together in a gentle environment. Perhaps it will help them begin the process of healing from the recent accident that suddenly took the life of Rocio Mendez.

``I left home that morning with a loving wife and four happy kids,'' said Nicky Cruz about Oct. 13, the day when his wife and the mother of four was killed in a hit-and-run incident on Cinderella Lane near South Jackson Avenue in San Jose.

Mendez, 42, was walking with Stephanie when, according to police reports, a driver turned off Jackson and plowed into them both. Police reports say the driver stopped his truck, looked back at the injured mother and daughter, and drove away. The alleged driver was later arrested and remains in Santa Clara County jail in lieu of a $1 million bond.

While Stephanie was injured, Mendez had severe brain damage and was pronounced dead a day later. Since then, the family has been reeling in confusion and grief.

The idea of spending Christmas in their cramped apartment without their wife and mother was too painful. The idea of getting away to a place that Mendez always dreamed of taking her kids seemed perfect.

Readers agreed, and donations poured in to help the family get to Disneyland. There also have been plenty of job offers for Nicky, who does home improvement work, and lots of letters from readers offering everything from solace to prayers.

The dream trip also included some extra excitement for the four kids: their first plane ride.

``We were all kind of a little nervous,'' said Nicky Jr., recalling the moment the aircraft lifted off.

``It went very fast at first and then it slowed down,'' he said, laughing. ``But we got here real quickly and the whole place is really nice.''

Since the fatal accident, Cruz has been staying close to his children, but every day has been a struggle. The family's introduction to Disneyland put a smile on all their faces.

``We took a lot of pictures with Mickey Mouse,'' said a happily exhausted Cruz. ``And everybody has been so nice to us.'' He said his daughters particularly loved Minnie Mouse's House (in Toontown) and that their first exploration of Disneyland took about four hours -- with plenty more to come in the next several days.

``I'd like to thank all the people who helped us out,'' said Cruz. ``It's been hard for us and now I wish I could do something for everybody who helped us.''

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At Disney, Wagner Over a Weekend

No matter how late you get to Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde," the old joke goes, there are always two more acts. Artful procrastinators met their match with "The Tristan Project" in Los Angeles early this month: not just two more acts, two more days. Wagner's five-plus hours of opera luxuriated over a Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Disney Hall, with one act per performance, each prefaced with music by Debussy, Berg or Saariaho.

Everybody had something to learn from this Los Angeles Philharmonic event. Gone for listeners was the experience of a long, difficult and ultimately rewarding ascent. The marathon became the measured walk, leaving the mind time to freshen itself for each phase of this astonishing work.

There were benefits, too, on the other side of the footlights (figuratively speaking - this was a concert space, not an opera house). When the opera is performed in a single evening, singers in the principal roles operate under brutal vocal pressure. At Disney, Christine Brewer's Isolde received the gift of a night's rest and recuperation between acts. The results were extraordinary.

Bill Viola's projections were beautiful in themselves, though I wonder about their power to distract from the essence of "Tristan." Esa-Pekka Salonen's players sounded like a true Wagnerian orchestra in the up-close acoustics of their new hall. Peter Sellars's modest staging gestures will turn into a full-blown opera production in Paris next spring. The preparatory event in Los Angeles may end up being more interesting than the real thing.

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Make-A-Wish sends Pierre boy to Disney World

A 16-year-old Pierre boy who is fighting Leukemia is spending Christmas week with his family at Walt Disney World.

Travis Newling and his family left for Orlando, Fla., Thursday for the weeklong vacation sponsored by the Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Dakota.

Along for the trip are Newling's parents, Bill and Margie, his younger sister, Kelsey, his older sister, Amanda, brother-in law, Jon, and nephew, Josiah.

Margie Newling said the getaway is extra-special because Travis wrote his letter asking Make-A-Wish for a trip not for himself, but for his family.

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Magic of Disney Animation Immerses Guests In Disney's Timeless Art of Bringing Stories to Life

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.

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"My Wife And Kids" To Shoot Two-Part Episode On Location At Atlantis, Paradise Island, The Bahamas, In January

The ABC series "My Wife and Kids" will shoot a two-part episode on location at Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in The Bahamas. In the episodes, which will be shot in early January to air during February sweeps, the Kyles embark on another family vacation for which Michael's (Damon Wayans) main objective is to not do anything or be disturbed by anyone. But of course, that's exactly what happens.

Guest star David Alan Grier ("Life with Bonnie") reprises his role as Jimmy, Michael's annoying friend, who shows up unexpectedly and tries to hone in on Michael's vacation, causing havoc along the way.

The family's vacation takes place at the spectacular Atlantis, Paradise Island resort, known worldwide as a resort destination that is truly redefining family entertainment and gaming in the tropics. A vibrant tribute to fun and playfulness, Atlantis is also the location for many films, television shows, concerts and sporting events that have emanated from the grounds.

The resort offers more than 2,300 guest accommodations, 35 restaurants, bars and lounges, the most exciting casino in the Caribbean and a marina capable of handling the largest of private luxury vessels. The focal point of the resort and the filming of the special episodes will be the 11 million gallons of fresh- and salt-water swimming pools, the seemingly endless stretch of beach that has been called the most beautiful in the world, and a marine habitat second only to Mother Nature: a remarkable, unparalleled assortment of exhibit lagoons and underwater formations displaying 200 species of marine life, consisting of 50,000 live animals, ranging from schools of sharks to rainbows of tropical fish.

"My Wife and Kids" stars Damon Wayans as Michael Kyle, Tisha Campbell-Martin as Jay Kyle, George O. Gore II as Jr., Jennifer Freeman as Claire Kyle, Parker McKenna Posey as Kady Kyle, Noah Gray-Cabey as Franklin, Andrew McFarlane as Tony and Brooklyn Sudano as Vanessa.

Damon Wayans and Don Reo are co-creators and executive producers of "My Wife and Kids." Dean Lorey is executive producer. The series tapes at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, CA, and is from Touchstone Television. The series premiered March 28, 2001.

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From Dinos to Rhinos, Chills to Thrills: Wonder and Whimsy Reign at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Travel back in time -- way back -- to a world of ferocious dinosaurs. Surround yourself with the music and magic of a Broadway-caliber performance in the "Festival of the Lion King" show. Hop aboard a real safari to capture poachers and explore the wilds of Africa. Ride raging rapids through a threatened rainforest, or marvel at tigers, fruit bats and other creatures amid the ruins of an ancient Asian village.

Lace up your walking shoes and prepare to explore Disney's Animal Kingdom, where the exciting worlds of wild and whimsical creatures come to life on thrill rides and on an authentic African safari, in theaters brimming with colorful entertainment and through up-close meetings with the animal stars of Disney feature animation classics.

Laid out in a classic hub-and-spoke Disney style, this newest and fourth major theme park at Walt Disney World Resort first welcomes guests into The Oasis, a lush gateway to adventure populated by deer, anteaters, tree kangaroos and other animals. The park's fun-filled lands radiate from the centrally located Discovery Island, where The Tree of Life park icon towers 145 feet above guests and houses the hilarious 3-D film and special effects attraction, "It's Tough to be a Bug!" From there, guests can explore:

Africa, home to Kilimanjaro Safaris; Harambe village; Pangani Forest Exploration Trail; and Rafiki's Planet Watch and the Wildlife Express steam train.

DinoLand U.S.A., with Chester & Hester's Dino-Rama! "mini-land" featuring Primeval Whirl and TriceraTop Spin; the DINOSAUR thrill ride; The Boneyard excavation play area; Cretaceous Trail; and Theater in the Wild, featuring "Tarzan Rocks!" stage show.

Camp Minnie-Mickey, with "Festival of the Lion King" stage show; Pocahontas in "Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends" stage show; and Disney character meet-and-greet pavilions featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Winnie the Pooh and other favorites.

Asia, featuring Kali River Rapids, a white-water raft adventure; Maharajah Jungle Trek with tigers, gibbons, Komodo dragons and other creatures; and "Flights of Wonder," an exotic bird show.

"Nothing like Animal Kingdom exists anywhere else in the world," says Joe Rohde, Walt Disney Imagineering executive designer for the park. "Our guests journey into the last wild sanctuaries of the planet -- vast forests and grasslands where the great herds of Africa surround them. And they race against time into the darkness of a prehistoric world where gigantic dinosaurs literally shake the earth around them."

Bugs are another matter. They may not shake the earth, but they know how to shake up an audience in "It's Tough to be a Bug!" at The Tree of Life Theater. With advanced 3-D and Audio-Animatronics® technology combined with surprising special effects, this insect adventure leaves guests laughing and screaming for more.

The magical music of the Disney classic "The Lion King" combines with dance, acrobatics and elaborate staging and costuming to inspire one of the theme park's most talked-about shows, "Festival of the Lion King" at Camp Minnie-Mickey. And at Theater in the Wild outside DinoLand U.S.A., guests are swept away on a theatrical thrill ride in a high-energy 30-minute stage musical, "Tarzan Rocks!"

At the heart of DinoLand U.S.A., guests discover DINOSAUR, where they board time-traveling vehicles to zoom back 65 million years on a twisting, lurching journey to save the last dinosaur from extinction before the crash of a fiery asteroid. A busy paleontological "dig," The Boneyard, provides plenty of fun activity for children as they climb, crawl and slide throughout the well-preserved skeletons of triceratops and Tyrannosaurus rex. Chester & Hester's Dino-Rama! captures the essence of a campy roadside fair. Guests can take a spin on Primeval Whirl, a fun-filled family coaster, or TriceraTop Spin, a playful open-air, toy-top attraction. Old-fashioned amusement games round out the fun.

From the thrilling era of the dinosaurs more than 65 million years ago, Disney guests can travel on to an African savannah of today, where rare and wonderful creatures such as black rhinos, hippos, African elephants and lions roam openly. On Kilimanjaro Safaris, passengers experience a true African safari in vehicles that bounce over rutted roads, ford through pools of hippos and pass herds of zebra, giraffe, gazelle, elephants and other animals. But beware! Lurking in the tawny grasslands are ivory poachers, and it's up to the safari passengers to help save the herd from poachers' guns.

At the end of the 20-minute safari, visitors can follow Pangani Forest Exploration Trail into an Eden-like world of streams and splashing waterfalls. Pangani Forest is home to a troop of endangered lowland gorillas. Hippos -- viewed from under water -- meerkats and tropical birds live along the shady walking trail.

On another "continent" nearby, guests encounter the thrill of Kali River Rapids, a white-water rafting expedition in the land of Asia. Guests are launched on 12-person rafts into the turbulent Chakranadi River for a wet journey of twists, turns and fiery adventure.

A surprise awaits around every turn, including an abrupt drop into racing, splashing waters.

Asia's other main attraction, Maharajah Jungle Trek, is a breathtaking journey through the lush home of myriad animal and bird species.

In this rainforest environment, Nepal, India, Thailand and Indonesia all are represented through architecture, animal carvings and ruins scattered throughout the village. The exotic animals are visible from the top of a parapet, through a stand of bamboo and from a bridge that stands amid the ruins near an old herb garden.

"Flights of Wonder," a humorous show highlighting the beauty and diversity of birds at Caravan Stage outdoor amphitheater, is also a part of Asia. The setting for "Flights of Wonder" is a crumbling Asian town where macaws, ibis, pelicans and other birds emerge from their alcoves to soar overhead.

Which birds show off on any given day is part of the surprise, but all birds are being taught to show off their natural talent, not "do tricks." Trainers demonstrate how birds respond to special audio or visual clues, how they hunt and eat. "Flights of Wonder" is one of many shows and demonstrations in Disney's Animal Kingdom designed to entertain while inspiring guests to a greater awareness of animals and what threatens them around the world.

For an up-close look at more of the real animals inhabiting Disney's Animal Kingdom, guests can board the Wildlife Express steam train to Rafiki's Planet Watch. An interactive backstage look at how the park's animals are kept happy and healthy, Rafiki's Planet Watch features: Animal Cam, with a peek into animal care areas; hands-on displays for the opportunity to participate in conservation and species-survival efforts; and The Affection Section, where guests can meet and pet small domestic animals. A wondrous audio experience transports guests into a threatened rainforest.

Animals have played an important part in Disney stories from the earliest Mickey Mouse films to the "True-Life Adventures" television series in the 1950s to "The Lion King" in feature motion pictures.

"Disney is all about storytelling," says Rohde. "And now, for the first time, real live animals help tell the story as their fascinating families play out real-life experiences on nature's "stage." 

Roy Disney Opposes Plan for Heir on Board

 

After waging an often bitter campaign for change at The Walt Disney Co., former board member Roy E. Disney urged shareholders this week to reject a proposal asking the company to forever reserve one seat on the board for a Disney heir.

The shareholder proposal, which would name a Disney family member as an outside, independent director, was made by Frank Wierenga, a Pennsylvania shareholder. It will appear in the company's proxy statement and be voted on at next year's annual shareholder's meeting.

"The company and it's heritage of creativity, excellence and quality leadership are closely tied to the persona of the founders Walter E. (Walt) Disney and Roy O. Disney," the proposal states.

Wierenga wrote that the company has always held higher standards and values than normal media companies because of the legacy left by the Disney family.

"These values are the heritage of not only this company but the whole Disney family," the proposal states. "As such, it is fitting and proper that a member of the founder's family serves the company on the Board of Directors."

This week, Roy E. Disney, son of company co-founder Roy O. Disney and Walt's nephew, posted an open letter to shareholders on his Web site urging that the proposal be defeated.

"My family and I want to thank Mr. Wierenga for his kind words," he wrote. "While we wholeheartedly concur with Mr. Wierenga that the Disney board should include committed, vigilant directors who share Walt's vision, we also believe that, in the interest of good corporate governance, no one should have the right to a seat on the board merely because of his or her last name."

The company's management also recommended that shareholders reject the proposal because it contradicts corporate governance guidelines adopted by the board.

"Using lineage to determine board membership as a method to preserve that heritage is unreliable and potentially perilous and is not consistent with today's standard's of corporate governance," the company said in a statement opposing the proposal.

Roy E. Disney resigned from the board in 1984 and helped engineer a rescue effort at the company that brought Michael Eisner and Frank Wells to run Disney. Wells died in a helicopter crash in 1994.

He abruptly resigned again last year, along with fellow board member Stanley Gold, and both called for Eisner to quit. The two cited the company's lagging stock price and what they said were declines in quality at Disney's theme parks.

In the past year, shares of Disney have risen and the company has produced a 70 percent rise in earnings per share.

Roy Disney and Gold have said they would not run oppose the company's proposed slate of directors at next year's annual meeting, citing the progress that has been made at the company and Eisner's plans to step down in 2006. The board has said it will name Eisner's successor by next June.

"At heart, the selection of directors must hinge on an evaluation of the talents and strengths of each candidate, whether his or her name be Disney or Smith," Disney wrote.

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Disney adds another lure

Like many dads, I don't look forward to going to Walt Disney World.

Sure, my kids get a kick out of it, but waiting in long lines to shake hands with a life-sized cartoon character is not my idea of fun.

But as a parent, I suffer through it, just to see the smiles on the little ones' faces.

Things changed this fall, however, after I received the following news release:

"Walt Disney World Resort Announces New Bass Fishing Excursions. Disney Resort Recreation Teams With BASS to Offer Guests the Best in Bass Fishing."

As an angler, I have long been familiar with the Alabama-based BASS, organizer of the nation's most prestigious bass fishing tournament trails. I've attended the organization's Bassmaster Classic, the Super Bowl of freshwater fishing, and expected that anything that carried the BASS name would be a class experience.

So on a crisp fall morning, I met my guide behind Disney's Wilderness Lodge.

"I think you are looking for me," Missy Jackson said as she pulled her 21-foot pontoon boat up to the dock. "Hope you guys are ready to catch some fish."

Jackson, a 35-year-old Florida native who grew up fishing Kissimmee's Lake Tohopekaliga, or Lake Toho for short, has been guiding anglers on Disney's lakes for five years.

"In all that time I haven't been skunked once," she said. "I hope you don't break my streak."

The sprawling Disney complex has numerous fishing spots, but on this day Jackson focused on the natural Bay Lake and an adjacent man-made body of water, Seven Seas Lagoon.

Anglers have their choice of using artificial or live bait, but since I had a 3-year-old aboard, I chose the latter.

"Now watch your line," she told my son. "There is a fish out there that has your name on it."

The fishing at Disney World is catch and release only. The typical charter costs $215 and lasts about 2 hours, which is about 20 times my son's normal attention span. The only way to keep him interested is to keep him occupied. And after 10 minutes with no bites, Jackson began to worry.

"I've got another spot to try," she said. "I was trying for a big one."

I explained to her that my son, like most kids, doesn't know the difference between a minnow and a monster.

"As long as it pulls back he's happy," I said.

But Jackson said she often guides anglers in search of trophy bass.

"There are 10-pounders out here," she said. "Because these lakes are so well managed, big fish are not uncommon."

According to Greg Waldron, who manages the guide program, the largest bass ever caught in a Disney lake weighed 14.2 pounds.

"We think we have a world-class fishery," he added. "We think our partnership with BASS is going to raise the sport to a new level. Bass fishing is where NASCAR was 10 years go. We think interest is only going to continue to grow."

Earlier this year, BASS announced that it will move its headquarters to nearby Celebration next year and hold its 2005 BASS Federation championship on Disney's Bay Lake and Kissimmee's Toho.

If the quality of my fishing experience is any indication of what the nation's top amateur anglers have to look forward to when the event is held April 27-30, there should be a record number of fish caught and released.

"Are your arms getting tired yet?" Jackson asked after my son reeled in his fifth fish.

"Yeah," Kai replied. "I think I'll just lay down for a while."

So Jackson and I caught another half dozen before handing the fishing rod to my wife, Kanika, who seldom gets a chance to fish. She reeled in a nice 3-pounder, the perfect size for a photo opportunity.

"Here," Jackson said, holding the fish by the lip. "Hold it just like this."

My wife politely declined.

"No thank you," she said. Jackson, a country girl brought up on bass, insisted. My wife reluctantly agreed, and smiled for the camera.

"Wow," I said. "I would never in a million years get her to do that."

There truly is a little magic in this kingdom, I thought to myself.

IF YOU GO

Disney's bass fishing excursions are ideal for the average angler. The two-hour guided tours range from $195 to $215 for a party of five. The pontoon boats are quiet, clean and comfortable. Reservations can be made up to two weeks in advance.

Call (407) WDW-BASS.

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Walt Disney to go the whole hog in India

The Walt Disney Company plans to explore all businesses in India, including broadband, ventures in mobile services like downloading ringtones and wallpapers, publishing, films, Internet, radio, merchandise and theme parks, besides television broadcasting. However, right now, the $30-billion company is focused on TV, according to executive vice-president and managing director of the company Douglas K Miller. Creativity, technology and international expansion are the three focus areas of Walt Disney, he said.

Without giving out any investment figures, Mr Miller said the India project would break even in mid to long-term.

Miller was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a conference on the launch of two Disney channels in India. The two channels went on air in India from Friday as part of the Star bouquet.

Even as industry insiders have been talking about Disney theme parks coming to India, officials refused to give any timeframe for setting up a park in the country. Regarding theme parks, the latest project coming up in Hong Kong is significant for the company.

In the Asia-Pacific region, India and China are among the significant markets for Walt Disney, Miller said. But, when asked to compare the two markets, he said China was still quite closed. The viewership of Disney channels in the India market is expected to be the highest, barring the US, he added.

On whether it was a disadvantage for Walt Disney that it was entering India so late, particularly when Turner group's Cartoon Network has been around over 10 years, Miller said, "It would have been nice to be in India early, but we'll do things differently now." The company will focus on the opportunities and requirements of the India market, rather than on competition, he argued. Disney entered late in many parts of the world, but it became number one in finite number of years, according to Miller.

While admitting that the company would go for a 360 degree approach, Walt Disney Company (India) managing director Rajat Jain refused to name the next big venture. "It will depend on the opportunities in India," he said. In India, Disney is going for localisation of content to a large extent, to attract viewers from all across.

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Peter Pan, the boy who refused to grow up, celebrates 100 years

Peter Pan, the little boy who so famously refused to grow up, celebrates his 100th birthday on Monday, having become one of the best-loved characters in children's fiction.

On December 27, 1904, the Duke of York Theatre in London staged the premiere of Scottish playwright J.M. Barrie's masterpiece about Wendy and her brothers, dragged by Peter Pan into the imaginary land of "lost boys" and the fairy Tinkerbell, and pirates led by the sinister Captain Hook.

Numerous events are being held to mark the anniversary, including a special performance at the Duke of York and workshops for children on the Peter Pan theme at the Theatre Museum in London's Covent Garden.

Museum spokeswoman Caroline Malbon explained the play's enduring appeal. "It captures the children's imagination, going away from routine life to enter a magical, fantastic world, leaving the parents behind," she told AFP.

An auction of Peter Pan memorabilia, including manuscripts, at Sotheby's last week fetched 116,100 pounds (165,000 euros, 223,000 dollars).

The proceeds of the sale went to Great Ormond Street Hospital, designated in 1929 by Sir James Matthew Barrie -- to give the playwright his full name -- as the sole beneficiary of the profits from the rights to Peter Pan.

The hospital, which specializes in the treatment of sick children, receives all monies from plays, films, books and other products inspired by the story.

Under the terms of Barrie's will, the hospital is not allowed to divulge how much Peter Pan brings in.

One of the most successful pieces of children's literature of all time, the play has packed theatres around the English-language world every year since it premiered.

The boy who did not want to grow up has inspired a swathe of films, from the famous Disney cartoon version in 1953, to the most recent, released this autumn, "Finding Neverland" starring Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet, which concentrates on Barrie's own life.

The Sotheby's auction aroused great interest from universities and libraries, fascinated by the astonishing and tragic genesis of the story.

J.M. Barrie (1860-1937) was walking in London's Kensington gardens in 1897 when he bumped into a little boy, five-year-old George Llewelyn-Davies, and his four-year-old brother Jack, accompanied by their nanny and their brother Peter in a pram.

Barrie rapidly became a friend of the family, which grew in size with the birth of two more little boys, Michael and Nicholas.

The five children appear to have been the inspiration of the "lost boys" and Michael in particular the model for Peter Pan, in the same way as the friendship between Lewis Carroll and Alice Liddell inspired that other great children's classic, "Alice in Wonderland".

But the Llewelyn-Davies family was struck by tragedy, with the death of the father and then the children's beautiful mother, Sylvia, in 1910.

"When she died, it seems that Barrie falsified her will, to become the custodian of the children, replacing the name of Jenny Hodgson, the boys' nurse, with that of his own, 'Jimmy'", Sotheby's manuscript expert Peter Beal said.

Tragedy continued to dog the family: George was killed in 1915 in World War I, Michael drowned with a friend in 1921 in a suspected suicide and Peter committed suicide in 1960.

The curse appears to have even affected Barrie's biographer Andrew Birkin. Barrie had written: "May God blast anyone who writes a biography about me". Birkin's son, a promising poet and musician, was killed in a car accident in September 2001 at the age of 21.

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ABC Treating a Showdown as a Showcase

ABC Sports showed foresight this week when it opened "Monday Night Football" with Dr. Phil analyzing the Dolphins' and the Patriots' mascots. With the television shrink on retainer, ABC should send the Big Baldie to Staples Center today to work on the Shaquille O'Neal-Kobe Bryant mess when ABC starts its N.B.A. season with the Heat-Lakers game at 3 p.m. Eastern.

Call it "Dr. Phil Drives to the Frontal Lobe," sponsored by Toyota.

Kobe: I don't think Shaq Diesel thinks I was a good teammate.

Dr. Phil: You need to apologize, look Shaq Diesel in the eye, and say, "I wasn't nice to you, I haven't been a good little buddy, I drove Coach Jackson back to Montana, I forced Dr. Buss to trade you, and I'm going to make it up to you."

Kobe: O.K., Doc, but do you have Shaq's phone number?

It's difficult to discern whether ABC and its corporate brother ESPN want Kobe and Shaq to kiss at midcourt or rumble in the lane. It is in their interest to have the two loathe each other to increase viewership and create a rivalry now that the Miami market is once again worthy of national exposure, thanks to Shaq.

Last year, ABC's marquee Christmas matchup was Shaq against Yao Ming, merely a face-off of very tall centers - less explosive than what is expected of the baggy-pants Cain-and-Abel showdown promised months ago when the Lakers traded Shaq to Miami and Kobe became the king of Staples. ABC surely wants more out of the Shaq-Kobe reunion than the 4.1 rating it earned for Shaq-Yao.

"I give a lot of credit to the league," the ABC announcer Al Michaels said from Los Angeles. "It knew what it had and didn't waste this big elephant on a Wednesday night.

"This is a very different game. There are regular-season games that transcend the norm, but I can't think of any like this."

Maybe it will actually be a showcase game, not a soapy, 48-minute psychodrama, but prospectively, it is as much a game as TBS's "The Real Gilligan's Island" is a sitcom. It's Shaq versus Kobe, in a reality-series wrestling match.

The game has been preceded by a rash of ESPN- and ABC-inspired hype, including Bryant's interviews on ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption" and "NBA Shootaround," and O'Neal's at halftime of "Monday Night Football." ESPN's "SportsCenter" also dissected the Lakers in a five-part series.

In the "Shootaround" interview, Bryant played down his role in O'Neal's trade and in Phil Jackson's departure as coach, and eluded a question about why, when he was accused in Eagle, Colo., of sexual assault, he told the police that O'Neal had paid as much as $1 million to several women to cover up sexual trysts, which O'Neal has denied.

He told ESPN that Christmas would be an appropriate time to apologize to O'Neal, so maybe there will be one more buss in the arena than Dr. Jerry. Portraying himself as holiday-spirited, Bryant said he was now a prince of a teammate. If you to talk to the Lakers, he said, "it's like a brotherhood around here."

This week, at halftime of "Monday Night Football," Michaels interviewed O'Neal, who reflected on tape about how he did not have to like Bryant to play with him. "I know how he really is," O'Neal said, poker-faced. "I've been trying to tell people for years."

When Michaels asked him about what would happen when they clash for the first time as rivals, the Big Aristotle philosophized that he would be the wall and Bryant a Corvette.

"You know what's going to happen," O'Neal said.

Another heaping helping of Shaq will be delivered at halftime, with another taped interview, this one with Ahmad Rashad.

Hubie Brown, who resigned as coach of the Memphis Grizzlies this season, has joined ABC as Michaels's partner. Brown is not one to dwell on the gossipy aspects of the Shaq-Kobe theatrics. He said the 14-11 Lakers are suffering through having eight new players, including four who start, Bryant's shooting woes and injuries to Slava Medvedenko, Devean George, Vlade Divac and Brian Grant.

"Sure, people in L.A. want it to be better," Brown said during a conference call, "but look at the totals and the teams they played. How many plus-.500 teams have they played?"

The Lakers have beaten two teams that now have records above .500 - defeating the 2-23 Hornets three times - and have lost to six teams above .500.

As for a Shaq-Kobe conflagration, Brown said: "Wilt, Shaq and Artis Gilmore are three of the strongest guys who've ever played, but they are three of the cleanest guys ever to play. They have an inner self-discipline and they know not to hurt a peer. These people could hurt and injure people with lifetime injuries, yet they have that restraint that lets them play the game and play it correctly. No matter how hard you foul Shaq, triple-team and knock him down, he never retaliates."

The Sports Network and ESPN Reach Settlement on Lawsuit

 

The Sports Network ("TSN") announced that it has settled its lawsuit against Walt Disney Company's ESPN and ESPN's subsidiary, SportsTicker, concerning Minor League Baseball data and statistics. After many months of the legal process that accompanies suits of this nature, the parties have come to an agreement that is mutually acceptable in resolution of the pending lawsuit.

"Our outside counsel in this matter, Morrison Cohen LLP, has been able to reach an accord with ESPN and SportsTicker," stated a spokesperson for TSN, "that satisfies us. While details cannot be disclosed, suffice it to say that we are very pleased with the resolution reached."

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Ian Maxion Headlines Two Radio Disney Los Angeles Christmas Shows!

Ian Maxion has come a long way since his small time shows around Northern California, over a year ago. Now when you go around California, or Arizona, Nevada, and other surrounding states for that matter, you find Ian Maxion headlining his own shows. You may have not heard of this ERA Productions homegrown talent, but Ian Maxion is vastly turning heads in the industry, is quickly and amply adding a plethora of adoring fans to his following, and is blowing away everyone with his ever so entertaining show! When viewing an Ian Maxion concert even these days, your head starts boppin', your mind automatically starts singing the ever so catchy tunes and you fall in love with this part african american, part spanish, half filipino male R&B/Pop/Rock artist!

During the weekend of the 11th and 12th of December, recently, Ian Maxion headlined two shows for Radio Disney's two Los Angeles Downtown Christmas shows. Ian wooed the crowd, from the young children, to the teens, to the supervising adults! Ian then signed autographs for over 3 and a half hours, for his adoring fans!

Ian Maxion is on his way up, you better keep your eye on him too!  

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Playhouse Disney's "Go, Baby!," Premieres Monday, January 3 On Disney Channel

"Go, Baby!," an engaging short form series designed to build a preschooler's self-confidence by empowering them to contribute their expertise to an 8-month-old baby's learning adventure, will premiere MONDAY, JANUARY 3 during Disney Channel's learning-based programming block, Playhouse Disney (weekdays, 6:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. and weekends 6:00-10:30 a.m., ET/PT). The series was created by Emmy Award-winning writer/producer Josh Selig ("Sesame Street," "Oobi") and features collage images produced via a variety of techniques, sources and image processing software.

Set to upbeat music against a vibrant backdrop, "Go, Baby!" features a "photo-real" baby and a narrator who encourages preschool age viewers to share the skills they already mastered with Baby as he experiences, for the first time, the wonders of his world including stacking blocks, banging a drum and building a sandcastle at the beach. Baby smiles, laughs, dances and makes eye contact with the preschool age viewer while the narrator affirms the viewer's interaction.

Created by Josh Selig, the series is produced by Tone Thyne and directed by Emmy Award-winning animator Jennifer Oxley. It is a Little Airplane-Granada Kids Production in association with Disney Channel.

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Julie Andrews Celebrates 'Poppins'

If you are looking for a last-minute Christmas gift, you can't go wrong with Julie Andrews. "Mary Poppins," one of the most beloved films of all times, was Andrew's film debut and she says it amazes her how well the film holds up after 40 years.

Entertainment contributor and People magazine senior editor Jess Cagle has all the details about a new special edition anniversary DVD of the movie in The Early Show's Home Theater.

"I cannot believe that it's 40 years since we started to make that movie," Andrews says. "The thing that staggers me is how good all the special effects are. Today, all the technology is so much easier and 40 years ago it wasn't as easy to do all this wonderful stuff. But it doesn't show. You don't see a single chink that doesn't work. There's not a crack in the armor anywhere. And Disney - they were so ahead of the times."

In the film, Andrews plays the practically perfect nanny Mary Poppins. The practically perfect movie was nominated for 13 Academy awards, winning five including Best Actress.

"I didn't expect it, I really didn't," Andrews says, "I remember distinctly that Ann Bancroft was nominated for film called 'The Pumpkin Eater' and in my estimation she was superb in it. I was convinced that she was going to win. She very sweetly came up and congratulated me afterwards. And I said, 'Well, I think it should have been yours.'"

The film contains many memorable scenes, and Andrews has a hard time choosing a favorite.

"I like so many of them," she says. "I love the Jolly Holiday sequence with all the penguins and things like that. And I also love the chimney sweep scene, which was probably the most fun to do."

But one of the film's most fun songs, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," wasn't the tongue twister many people might expect.

"Well I have fairly good diction to start with," Andrews says. "I was taught that good diction mattered, and so Supercal wasn't that hard to say. It's very fast and it was very energetic to try and do."

The film's 40th anniversay two-Disc DVD has many extra features that are very special to Andrews.

"I hadn't seen the movie for a long time," she says."And to sit side-by-side with Dick Van Dyke was a complete pleasure. And we reminisced and ooh'd and ah'd. And along with reminiscences we talk about the songs and the ones that stayed in and the ones that we lost along the way. We talk about Disney. We show outtakes and rehearsals footage that I had never seen."

And 40 years later, Andrews is still queen of family films.

"Well, it delights me," Andrews says. "I'm so hugely thrilled that I keep being allowed to play in all these wonderful sandboxes. A little child came up to me the other day with her mother. And her mother said, 'Do you recognize this lady?' And the child looked at me and she (the mother) said, 'Mary Poppins,' and the child said, 'Yeah.' And 'Sound of Music,' and the little girl said, 'Yeah.' And then she said, 'Princess Diaries,' and she went, 'Oh, cool.' And it just struck me so hilarious that I seem to have bookended my career with all these wonderful family movies."

Andrews has two other DVDs out for the holidays. She stars in the hit sequel "Princess Diaries 2" and she hosts and narrates a six-hour documentary called, "Broadway: The American Musical."

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"Here Come The ABCs" Premiering Monday, January 3

Grammy Award-winning alternative rock band They Might Be Giants (John Flansburgh and John Linnell) perform in a series of original music videos designed to teach preschoolers the letters of the alphabet through music. "Here Come the ABCs" premiere MONDAY, JANUARY 3 (8:25 a.m., ET/PT) during the learning-based programming block, Playhouse Disney on Disney Channel. The music videos will air at varying intervals during Playhouse Disney (weekdays, 6:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. and weekends 6:00-10:30 a.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel.

The short form series features catchy original songs that highlight individual letters and combinations of letters. Song titles include "E Eats Everything" and "Flying V."

In addition to the music videos, the band recorded the theme song for Disney Channel's original series "Higglytown Heroes" which airs weekdays (8:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., ET/PT) and weekends (8:00 a.m., ET/PT) during Playhouse Disney.

Flansburgh and Linnell have performed and recorded together for over two decades and sold over three million records worldwide. The band, which recently signed with Walt Disney Records' new imprint, Disney Sound, also created numerous television theme songs including the Grammy Award-winning "Boss of Me" for "Malcolm in the Middle" and the main theme for Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show."

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Disney Completes Update of Executive Compensation

The Walt Disney Company announced today that it has completed an update of the Company's senior executive compensation program with the approval by the Company's Board of Directors and its Compensation Committee of a revised long term incentive program. Coupled with last September's revision of the annual management bonus program, Disney's new long term incentive program "will help the company continue to attract and retain the best employees while better aligning their interests with those of our shareholders to position Disney for long-term success," said Judith Estrin, chair of the Board's Compensation Committee.

The revised long-term incentive program, developed through a close collaboration between the Compensation Committee, its independent consultant and the Company's management, will:

-- Introduce new performance-based vesting requirements on a portion of long-term equity compensation granted to senior executives,

-- Increase the proportion of restricted stock units (RSUs) and reduce the proportion of stock options used in long term incentive awards,

-- Establish new equity ownership requirements for top management,

-- Establish new incremental holding requirements for stock options received by top management,

-- Shorten the life of new stock option grants to seven years from 10 years, and

-- Reaffirm the Company's commitment not to re-price options without shareholder approval.

Performance Vesting - Under the revised program, one half of restricted stock units (RSUs) granted to senior executives as long-term incentive compensation will be scheduled to vest only if the Company's "total shareholder return" (stock appreciation plus dividends reinvested on a pre-tax basis) at the time of measurement exceeds that of the S&P 500 Index over either the prior one-year or three-year time period. Provided that this test is met, the first half of these RSUs will be scheduled to vest on the second anniversary of the date of grant, with the remaining half vesting on the fourth anniversary of the grant date, subject to the same test. If the first half of the grant did not vest on the second anniversary of grant, it may still vest on the fourth anniversary if the performance test is met as of that date. For executives whose compensation is subject to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, the vesting of all RSUs will also remain subject to additional performance-based requirements set by the Compensation Committee under the Company's 2002 executive performance plan.

Mix of Restricted Stock Units and Options - The revised program will shift emphasis toward awards of RSUs and reduce the proportion of value comprised by stock options. It is anticipated that the value of grants to senior executives under the new program will be comprised approximately 60% of RSUs and 40% of stock options.

Ownership Requirements - As part of the revised program, the Committee has established new stock ownership and holding requirements for Disney's top five executive officers. These officers will now be expected, over time, to acquire and hold Company stock equal in value to at least three to five times their base salary amounts, depending on their positions.

Holding Requirements -- For all stock option grants made beginning in 2005, Disney's top five executives will be required, as long as they remain employed by the Company, to retain ownership of shares representing at least 75% of the after-tax gain realized (100% in the case of the Chief Executive Officer) upon exercise of such options, for a minimum of 12 months.

Options - The term of new stock options will be reduced from 10 years to seven years to match current market practices. The Company also reaffirmed its position that it will not re-price stock options without shareholder approval.

The long term incentive program changes will take effect with the Company's annual grant awards to be made in January 2005.

"Our executive compensation program is evolving to better support the achievement of the Company's strategic goals and link our executives' compensation even more closely to performance," said Estrin. "These changes reflect the Company's continued commitment to strong corporate governance practices. We want to maintain our shareholders' confidence by creating a stronger alignment between the interests of our management teams and those of our investors. At the same time, we want to attract and retain experienced and highly qualified executives by offering real ownership and great long-term financial incentives. We feel that the modifications we have made will help achieve that balance."

For more information on the revised management bonus and long-term incentive programs, please visit www.disney.com/investors.

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Disney on Ice fills the rink with monsters

They're furry, foamy, lumpy, bumpy, spindly, scaly, shiny and slimy. Monsters, in all their wacky glory, reign supreme over frozen water for the latest Disney on Ice production, "Disney/Pixar's Monsters, Inc."

Pasadena costume designer Scott Lane had monstrous fun manipulating the mounds of foam and resilient rubber … in spite of the tentacles and sharp teeth.

"This is the most fun show; it's nonstop laughter," said Lane, who designed more than 140 costumes for the show. "You're making monsters. How can you not have fun when you're dealing with big purple blobs?"

Think of the funniest, most extravagant Disney on Ice show you can — then supersize it.

The eye-popping, larger-than-life show opens tonight at Staples Center in Los Angeles for a four-venue tour of the Southland. The show then moves to the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, Long Beach Arena and Los Angeles Sports Arena.

"Monsters, Inc." is the story of monsters whose work is to scare children — until one of them finds her way into their world, then everything changes.

Monsters James P. Sullivan (aka Sulley) and one-eyed Mike Wazowski, along with their adorable pint-size friend, Boo, will spark the ice with daring acrobatics in the enormous production. The massive sets and colossal costumes, with help from world-class skaters, will make the audience believe in the magic of monsters.

Different in size and look from many other Disney shows, the monster-fied human world of Sulley and Mike is enormously funny.

Lane, 43, has had to think big, bigger, biggest in this latest Disney on Ice show.

"We used more than two football fields of foam for the 143 costumes," said Lane, whose genius manipulated the mounds of foam and pounds of rubber into "screamtastic' looking monsters that still had to be able to perform on the ice.

A former musical theater performer, Lane understands the importance of being able to move in the restrictive costumes.

"I used to sing and dance. That's why I'd climb into the stuff to see how constrictive it was and what the visual limitations were," he said.

"There was a lot of trial and error — or shall we say 'research and development" — on these costumes. We'd just say 'Let's try it! Let's see what happens!" "

In the end, high-tech (carbon fiber) combined with low-tech (aluminum) to create the magical monsters. Even everyday objects such as dryer hoses and salad bowls inspired the creations.

"I did a lot of apologizing to these young skaters," he said, "80 pounds of costume is like a sauna."

The costumes are great, said Raegan Brierton, 25, who convincingly plays the toddler, Boo. "Scott did a wonderful job."

Boo, who triggers a Child Contamination Scare at Monsters, Inc., the largest scream-processing factory in Monstropolis, is not as afraid of the monsters as they are of her.

"I studied how toddlers move," said the diminutive Brierton. "I watched little kids play and have tantrums. It was a lot of fun."

The 4-foot, 10-inch native of Illinois has been skating since she was 9. "It's hard work being a 3-year-old. They go nonstop," she said.

"I go to work and let all adult problems and worries go away, basically become naive again," Brierton said. "Children are so innocent to the world."

In this production, even the monsters will not be behaving badly. Said Lane, "The monsters will be on their best behavior."

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Skaters will search for Nemo

Disney on Ice will bring the underwater adventure Finding Nemo to life with 27 performances at the Wachovia Center beginning Sunday.

Moving lights plunge the audience into the ocean as cast members glide and leap their way through the tale of a young clown fish who ends up in an office aquarium.

Adding to the Great Barrier Reef ambience are the costumes - hand-painted unitards with soft-foam faces that are attached to the skaters by a backpack-like contraption.

"It's very much an innovative design," says Jeannie Wickert of Langhorne. The Neshaminy High School graduate's job is to care for the show's 156 costumes.

Wickert says the costumes' design gives the characters freedom of movement so they appear to be underwater. The lighting enhances the effect.

"It really takes you through all the different levels of the ocean - and the tank," says Wickert, 27. "It makes the costumes look that much better."

Disney on Ice presents Disney/Pixar's "Finding Nemo," Sunday through Jan. 9 at the Wachovia Center, Broad Street and Pattison Avenue. Call for show times. Tickets: $12-$75. Information: 215-336-2000, 856-338-9000, 302-984-2000 or www.ticketmaster.com.

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Disney channels join NTL lineup in Ireland

Disney's bouquet of digital channels has launched on NTL in the Irish Republic.

The four stations - Disney Channel, Disney +1, Toon Disney and Playhouse Disney - are available to the 350,000 subscribers for an extra €8 per month, or as part of the €24 movies package.

Simon Bailey, Disney's vp of branded TV UK & Ireland, said: "NTL customers in Ireland will now be able to enjoy the full range and breadth of the quality content on offer from the four Disney-owned channels, starting with this festive season’s highlights."

Said highlights include the exclusive premieres of Finding Nemo and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

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Unrated 'Arthur' has bloodier action 

"King Arthur" (Disney, $29.99). To better compete with the summer movie lineup, the filmmakers decided to pare back the action and violence so they could secure a PG-13 rating for Antoine Fuqua's earthy, nonmagical reinvention of the Knights of the Round Table. They needn't have bothered, considering the sanitized version's underwhelming box-office results. Fuqua provides DVD commentary for the full film and an alternate ending. The theatrical version also is available on DVD, minus Fuqua's commentary.

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Disney to Cut Grants of Options

Walt Disney Co. said Thursday that it would reduce the number of stock options it awards to top executives and increase the number of shares they are required to own to make them more responsive to shareholders.

The changes, which take effect in January, also would shorten the life of new stock options to seven years from 10, the Burbank-based company said, adding that it wouldn't re-price options without shareholder approval.

Disney is addressing corporate governance issues that shareholders pointed out this year, when they delivered a 45% vote of no confidence against Chief Executive Michael Eisner. The company this week settled U.S. regulators' claims that it failed to tell investors about business relationships between Disney and some board members.

Eisner "in the mid-'90s made about $600 million through the exercise of options given to him at the beginning of his career," said Paul Hodgson, who researches executive compensation at Corporate Library in Portland, Maine. "Disney had been very much a stock options company."

Once a common fixture of compensation packages, options are being used less by companies because their costs will soon have to be expensed under new accounting rules, Hodgson said.

Shareholder advocates this year criticized Disney for the size of its options awards, Hodgson said.

Disney hasn't decided how much it will reduce stock option grants next year, said John Spelich, a company spokesman.

Shares of Disney, which also owns the EPSN sports cable channel, the Disney theme parks and the ABC television network, fell 4 cents to $27.59 on the New York Stock Exchange. They have gained 18% this year.

Disney's board stripped Eisner of his chairman's position after the March shareholder vote. Former U.S. Sen. George J. Mitchell replaced Eisner as a nonexecutive chairman.

Former board members Roy E. Disney and Stanley P. Gold waged a campaign this year to oust Eisner, saying that the company's shares had stagnated and that its ABC television network and animated-movie division were in disarray.

In September, the two dissidents called a truce with Disney after the company said it had hired a search firm to find a successor to the CEO.

Disney Fans in WDW Area Set Aside January 15th-16th

The NFFC will be hosting a variety of events the weekend of January 16. The weekend's include the Strictly Disneyana Show & Sale at the Radisson Parkway Hotel (just across from the entrance to Celebration) and Part of Our World dinner where you can dine with a special Disney guest. If you are interested in purchasing a table for the upcoming Show &Sale, or would like to receive our our dinner guest list, please contact us via email info@nffc.org

Link

 

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An Open Letter From Roy Disney Regarding Shareholder Proposal

The Save Disney campaign responds to the shareholder proposal that a Disney family member remain on the Company's board. He states, "While we wholeheartedly concur with Mr. Wierenga that the Disney Board should include committed, vigilant directors who share Walt's vision, we also believe that, in the interest of good corporate governance, no one should have the right to a seat on the Board merely because of his or her last name."

Link

 

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Kelly Clarkson sings at Disney World Christmas Parade

 

Kelly Clarkson is spending this Christmas in Florida. The "Breakaway" singer will perform in the 21st annual Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade on Saturday, December 25. Other artists singing on the parade route include Mariah Carey, Wynonna Judd and Shedaisy.

The Christmas parade airs at 1 pm ET on ABC and is hosted by Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa.

 
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ESPN Can Thank Peyton Manning for Cable Win

 
ESPN dominated the cable ratings for the week ending Sunday, Dec. 19 with a little help from Michael Vick and a lot of help from Peyton Manning. The double dose of NFL action pushed the sports network to a runaway ratings triumph.

Overall, ESPN averaged 3.39 million viewers per night in primetime. USA was well back in second with 2.47 million viewers, topping TNT's 2.16 million average, good enough for third. ABC Family was in fourth, riding holiday cheer to a regular audience of 2.05 million viewers, leaving Lifetime in fifth with 2.04 million.

The Sunday night NFL game between the Colts and Ravens, featuring Peyton Manning gunning (unsuccessfully) for a single-season touchdown pass record, drew a near-record crowd of 12.08 million viewers to ESPN. The week's second most watched cable program was ESPN's Saturday tilt between the Panthers and Falcons, which enticed 7.58 million viewers. The Sunday game helped make that evening's "SportsCenter" the week's No. 4 show with 4.45 million viewers, while Saturday's "SportsCenter" was No. 12 with 3.83 million.