Disney's "Bolt", playing in 3,654 runs, pulled off a stunning coup in showing a 1.4% increase over last weekend. Family film grossed an estimated $36 million for five days, and $26.6 million for the weekend, for a cume of $66.9 million in its 10th day.
Christopher Jamison, the Abbot of Worth in West Sussex, has accused the corporation of "exploiting spirituality" to sell its products and of turning Disneyland into a modern day pilgrimage site.
He argues that it pretends to provide stories with a moral message, but has actually helped to create a more materialistic culture.
* Each pet is a unique being and not simply replaced or exchanged for another.
* Owning a pet is a lifelong commitment to that animal and not a property you dispose of because you have lost interest.
The first pardoned turkeys to go to Disneyland were Marshmallow and Yam in 2005. In his speech that year, President Bush joked that their retirement location had been changed because the turkeys "were a little skeptical about going to a place called Frying Pan Park," a historic farm park in Virginia that had been the home of the previous honorees.
Disney spokesman Duncan Wardle remembers it a bit differently. One Thanksgiving, chatting about the pardoned turkey over coffee, someone on his staff said, "Doesn't that make him the happiest turkey on earth? We should bring him to the happiest place on earth."
Indy Racing Experience will operate alongside the track's long-time resident, the Richard Petty Driving Experience, which offers rides in stock cars specially built for the experience.
For $109 (£73), the Indy attraction also allows customers to be a passenger in a stretched-out, two-seat Dallara Indy car that has an Indy Chevrolet engine and is driven by a professional racer. The two-passenger car is worth $600,000 (£405,000), said Scott Jasek, co-owner of the Indy Racing Experience.
It's not among the most original Disney animated films, yet ''Bolt'' is one of those movies that in the end does what it's supposed to do. It's charming, nicely paced, often quite funny and features well-chosen voice talent. Most important, it provides a satisfying entertainment ''meal.'' It's not a ''gourmet'' banquet on the order of ''Ratatouille'' or the first ''Shrek,'' but this peppy picture is certainly more than a cinematic ''snack,'' and for its 96-minute running time will not bore kids, the parents or other adults joining them.
But from the moment Bolt sticks his head out the window of a speeding truck and feels the breeze of freedom and free will, the picture snaps to life and instantly acquires heart (Lasseter's favorite movie organ).
But if “Bolt” — originally conceived by the old regime at the Disney animation studios and refurbished after John Lasseter of Pixar took over — does not quite rise to the level of bona fide Pixar masterpieces like “Wall-E,” “Finding Nemo” and “Ratatouille,” it does manage to be frisky, funny and inventive enough to engage the attention of grown-ups as well as children. Perhaps some of the show-biz jokes will sail over the heads of very young viewers, who won’t understand why Penny’s unctuous agent keeps talking about sticking pins in things (I’m not sure I did), or what that mean lady from the network is so angry about.
At the end of the day, "Bolt" is a sweet Disney family film, but Lasseter's oversight has made it smarter than it otherwise would have been. It's not in Pixar's league, but it's laced with idiosyncratic characters with pleasantly wacky attitudes. That may sound like the obvious thing to do but that doesn't mean anyone else has done it.
Beyond activities for the whole family, the resort is being designed to respect and connect with the local culture of the Hawaiian islands. During the past year, the Walt Disney Imagineering team has been researching Hawai'i and working with local architects and cultural experts as part of the resort's creative design process. The resulting design is a village celebrating the Hawaiian customs and traditions that lead to a life filled with joy and in harmony with the natural world. To further incorporate Hawaiian traditions, cultural programming in the areas of environmental education, music, dance, history, and arts and crafts; a story-driven, technology-enabled adventure game; and other surprises come together to create a Hawaiian destination that's uniquely Disney.
With Japan's aging population and its economy in recession, Oriental Land is increasing overseas marketing and working with travel operators arranging package tours to its resorts. Visitors from abroad currently account for 4.2 percent of customers.
The number of Chinese tourists to Japan is ``expected to increase explosively'' and many of them will be visiting ``leisure locations such as Tokyo Disneyland,'' Masayuki Ohtani, a strategist at Securities Japan Inc. in Tokyo, said in a phone interview today.
Increased marketing in China and other Asian countries doesn't mean competition is intensifying with the operator of Hong Kong Disneyland, the region's only other Disney theme park, Nagaoka said.
``Hong Kong Disneyland isn't our rival,'' he said. ``The Chinese tourists coming to our resort tend to be much wealthier than those that visit Hong Kong. We're targeting different demographics.''
SINGAPORE, Nov 19, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Further demonstrating its commitment to quality 3-D motion picture entertainment, The Walt Disney Studios has begun re-rendering its Oscar(R)-winning animated favorite, "Beauty and the Beast," in preparation for its Disney Digital 3-D(TM) debut on the big screen in 2010, it was announced today by Mark Zoradi, president, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group. The announcement was made today in Singapore at 3DX: 3D Film and Entertainment Technology Festival, the industry's first conference devoted to the latest advances in 3-D technology and exhibition. The addition of "Beauty and the Beast" to its schedule brings the total number of Disney Digital 3-D releases to 11 for 2009-10.
Next year's 3-D schedule includes "Jonas Brothers 3-D Concert Movie" (2/27/09), Disney-Pixar's "UP," (5/29/09), "G-Force" from Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Films (7/24/09), the newly re-rendered Disney Digital 3-D debut of Disney-Pixar's "Toy Story" (10/2/09), and "Disney's A Christmas Carol," from director Robert Zemeckis (11/6/09) and starring Jim Carrey in multiple roles. In addition to "Beauty and the Beast," Disney's 3-D offerings for 2010 include Disney-Pixar's newly re-rendered 3-D version of "Toy Story 2," Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" starring Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter, the debut of the all-new "Toy Story 3" from Disney-Pixar, Disney's enchanting new animated fairy tale, "Rapunzel," and from Touchstone Pictures the dance phenomenon "Step Up 3" (2010).
Creating a Disney Digital 3-D version of "Beauty and the Beast," which won two Oscars(R) and is the only animated feature to ever receive a Best Picture nomination from the Motion Picture Academy, will be handled entirely in-house at Walt Disney Animation Studios, and will utilize innovative proprietary software, along with the latest techniques and advances in 3-D technology. Overseeing the project from the creative end will be the film's original team of acclaimed filmmakers -- producer Don Hahn, and directors Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale. A team of technical experts at Walt Disney Feature Animation will be headed by Sara Duran-Singer, senior vice president of Worldwide Post Production. The re-rendering is expected to take about nine months to complete, and will require a painstaking frame-by-frame analysis of the film's original computer files in order to create new images for each eye.
Commenting on the announcement, Zoradi said, "Disney is proud to be a pioneer in creating spectacular 3-D motion picture experiences, and we have a great lineup of animated and live-action features to satisfy moviegoers of all ages. The re-rendering of our animated classic 'Beauty and the Beast' into Disney Digital 3-D is another exciting step for this medium, and further proof of our commitment to the art and technology of 3-D filmmaking. With our animated feature 'Bolt' set to hit 3-D theaters later this month, and eleven more 3-D features on the schedule over the next two years, our Studio is taking the lead position in bringing quality 3-D entertainment to moviegoers all over the world. Disney has created some fantastic new proprietary software to make the 3-D imagery better than ever, and we think audiences are going to love experiencing these films in a whole new dimension."
Don Hahn, producer of the original "Beauty and the Beast" feature as well as the upcoming Disney Digital 3-D version, adds, "It's a real thrill to be reunited with the film's original directors, Kirk and Gary, in bringing new magic to this beloved animated classic. By going back to the original animation files, which have been carefully archived for 17 years, and using the separate background, effects and character animation elements, we're able to come up with a fun and unique 3-D experience for existing and new fans of the film. With its exciting story, dazzling musical numbers, and landmark computer animated ballroom sequence, 'Beauty and the Beast' lends itself particularly well to the 3-D process, and moviegoers will feel more connected than ever with the fairy tale world of Belle, Beast and the castle's enchanted objects. It's wonderful to revisit some of our favorite animated friends, and to bring them to life in a whole new way."
Originally released in 1991, "Beauty and the Beast" proved to be a major success at the box office (the first animated feature to cross the $100 million plateau in its initial release), a favorite with moviegoers all over the world and an important milestone for the art of animation. In addition to its unprecedented Oscar(R) nomination for Best Picture, it received five other nominations from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (and won trophies for Best Song and Best Original Score). The film also won a Golden Globe Award for Best Comedy/Musical and garnered two Grammy Awards. A Broadway stage musical, based on the film, played from 1994 through 2007, and became the sixth-longest running production in Broadway history with 5,464 performances.
SOURCE The Walt Disney Studios
The agreement with Imax increases the number of screens capable of showing the films beyond those theaters using Real D's technology.
Imax Corp. co-Chairman and co-CEO Richard L. Gelfond said his company's decision to embrace digital projection laid the groundwork for the Disney deal.
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Director Robert Zemeckis' "A Christmas Carol," a 3-D retelling of the classic Charles Dickens tale due out for the 2009 holiday season, is the first film slated for Imax release.
The director will use the same motion-capture technology and computer-generated images he popularized with the film "Polar Express" to re-create 19th century London and the performance of actor Jim Carrey.
REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Research teamed up with Disney-Pixar to create a virtual tour of the universe hosted by none other than WALL-E, the animated robot from Disney-Pixar's latest film, "WALL-E," which is available in stores today on DVD and Blu-ray Disc. Anyone with a computer and an Internet connection can take the tour and view the universe from WALL-E's perspective by visiting http://www.worldwidetelescope.org. A teaser for the tour can also be seen on the DVD and Blu-ray Disc.
Along for the adventure with WALL-E, Academy-Award-winning director Andrew Stanton narrates the tour. "Using Microsoft's WorldWide Telescope, WALL-E takes you on a real ride through space," Stanton said. "After watching the movie on DVD, the whole family will be inspired to learn more about the world in which we live and the universe beyond."
WorldWide Telescope is a rich Web application that brings together imagery from the best ground- and space-based observatories across the world to allow people to easily explore the night sky through their computers. WorldWide Telescope has been embraced by the astronomical and education communities as a compelling, astronomical resource for students and lifelong learners.
"WorldWide Telescope is about making science fun for everyone," said Curtis Wong, manager of Microsoft's Next Media Research Group. "By working with Disney-Pixar, we're enabling kids and families to discover the magic of the universe for themselves in an even more engaging way. What could be more fun than exploring space with a famous robot?"
About Microsoft Research
Founded in 1991, Microsoft Research is dedicated to conducting both basic and applied research in computer science and software engineering. Its goals are to enhance the user experience on computing devices, reduce the cost of writing and maintaining software, and invent novel computing technologies. Researchers focus on more than 55 areas of computing and collaborate with leading academic, government and industry researchers to advance the state of the art in such areas as graphics, speech recognition, user-interface research, natural language processing, programming tools and methodologies, operating systems and networking, and the mathematical sciences. Microsoft Research currently employs more than 800 people in six labs located in Redmond, Wash.; Cambridge, Mass.; Silicon Valley, Calif.; Cambridge, England; Beijing, China; and Bangalore, India. Microsoft Research collaborates openly with colleges and universities worldwide to enhance the teaching and learning experience, inspire technological innovation, and broadly advance the field of computer science. More information can be found at http://www.research.microsoft.com.
About Pixar Animation Studios
Pixar Animation Studios, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is an Academy Award(R)-winning film studio with world-renowned technical, creative and production capabilities in the art of computer animation. Creator of some of the most successful and beloved animated films of all time, including Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars, Ratatouille, and most recently, WALL-E. The Northern California studio has won 21 Academy Awards(R) and its nine films have grossed more than $4.5 billion at the worldwide box office to date. The next film release from Disney-Pixar is Up (May 29, 2009).
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
PASADENA, Calif., Nov 18, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Disney Store locations nationwide will usher in the holiday season earlier than ever with day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) specials starting as early as midnight in more than 100 of its more than 200 stores. In malls across the country, most other Disney Store locations will kick off Black Friday shopping with 5 a.m. openings. All stores will offer an additional 20 percent off almost everything*, including already low one-day only pricing, from opening hours until 10 a.m.
The store for everything Disney is a favorite location for holiday shoppers looking for that perfect gift to fit any budget. Throughout the remainder of the weekend, Disney Store will continue to offer sale pricing on top toys such as Disney Princess dolls, tween and plush toys, and more.
"This Thanksgiving weekend, Disney Store has stocked up on our most popular items for holiday shoppers such as toys and gifts inspired by High School Musical 3: Senior Year, Hannah Montana, WALLaEURcE, Tinker Bell and Disney Fairies, Disney Princess, Club Penguin, Disneya^(TM)Pixar Cars, and Disney's newest animated feature film Bolt," said Molly Adams, Vice President General Manager, Merchandising & Marketing, Disney Store. "For the first time, we're opening our doors earlier than ever in more than 100 stores in malls across America. Our midnight openings are sure to please consumers eager to start their holiday shopping extra early, but we'll continue to restock our shelves for Disney Store guests who need to shop later in the day or at night."
To find the nearest Disney Store location and check store hours for Black Friday, please call 800-757-5933.
Following are some of the magical Disney Store gifts that shoppers will find at an additional 20 percent off before 10 a.m. on Black Friday this year:
Note: Prices below reflect original retail pricing. Sale prices will be in effect on Black Friday.
Totally Tween -- Inspired by Disney Channel Hits
-- Camp Rock Electronic Drum Set ($39.50) and Camp Rock Keyboard ($69.50): Kids and tweens can create their own rock band with these musical instruments. The drum set comes complete with five drum pads, two drumsticks and carrying handle to take your show on the road. The keyboard has multiple sound effects and five different musical instruments and even comes with a stand to rock out!
-- Hannah Montana MP3 Video Camera ($79.50): Kids and tweens can record their favorite dance moves while singing and playing their favorite songs. The MP3 video camera features a docking station, detachable microphone and volume control, and also plugs into the TV so kids can enjoy their own show! Also available in High School Musical 3: Senior Year theme.
-- Hannah Montana Wireless Drumsticks ($39.50): Kids and tweens will discover their inner pop star with ready to rock outside the box wireless drumsticks. Equipped with two wireless drumsticks, volume control and realistic drum effects, all kids need is air space!
-- Hannah Montana Holiday Stocking ($19.50): A boot shaped design in Hannah's signature color--purple.
-- High School Musical Wardrobe Dolls ($29.50 each) Gabriella & Sharpay dolls come with three additional High School Musical 3: Senior Year inspired outfits for graduation and the prom. Comes in a fashionable re-usable box for storage of clothing.
-- High School Musical 3: Senior Year Fashion Dolls ($12.50 each): Gabriella, Sharpay and Troy dolls are dressed in trendy outfits ready to make the most of their senior year.
Wondrous Widgets -- Celebrating Disney and Disney-Pixar Favorites
-- WALLa^(TM)E and Eve Remote Control Robots ($49.50 each): These fully functional robots come with a wireless remote control that allows users to make them walk, talk and interact with each other.
-- Infra Red Remote Controlled Cars ($49.50): On your mark, get set, GO! These remote control cars follow the Infra Red beam and come in a variety of characters for both girls and boys, including Disney Princess, Buzz Lightyear, Lightning McQueen and Power Rangers Jungle Fury.
Preschooler Treats-- Playtime with Playhouse Disney
-- Little Einsteins Rocket Remote Control ($24.50), Ages 3+: Take Rocket on an adventure with his pals, the Little Einsteins. Remote control moves forward and backward with an easy-to-use remote specially made for preschool age hands. Features three character voices and light-up after burners!
-- Little Einsteins Musical Adventure ($14.50), Ages 2+: Flip open the panels to explore the world of music with each adventure. 20 unique melodies play when all panels are open, or enjoy creating your own music with four interactive instrument buttons.
-- Handy Manny Tool Set ($14.50), Ages 3+: Preschoolers can play with these handy tools and pretend they have their own workshop.
Favorites for Girls
-- Disney Princess Wardrobe Dolls ($29.50): These dolls inspire storytelling and creativity. Choose from Ariel, Belle and Cinderella. Each doll comes with four outfits true to her character, complete with three tiaras, jewelry and hair accessories.
-- Disney Princess Royal Bath Set ($39.50): The little princesses in your life will be able to care for their water-proof dolls with our new Royal Bath set, complete with a real shower head that sprays water and all the accessories she will need to give her baby a real bath.
-- Disney Princess Doll Stroller ($59.50): Girls can give their dolls the royal treatment with the Disney Princess Doll Stroller. It has an adjustable canopy and includes a satin baby blanket and pillow.
-- Tinker Bell Styling Head ($24.50): Unleash your inner stylist, with this Tinker Bell styling head. Comes complete with hair extensions, a floral halo, charm bracelet, barrettes and sticker sheet.
*Media, electronics, gift cards, theme park passports, Disney Dollars and shipping charges not included in this offer and will not be discounted.
About Disney Store North America
The Disney Store retail chainis owned and operated in the United States by Disney Store USA, LLC andin Canada by Disney Store Canada Inc. Disney Store is an affiliate of Disney Consumer Products, the business segment that extends the Disney brand to merchandise. Disney Store carries high-quality products, including exclusive product lines that support and promote Disney's key entertainment initiatives and characters. In 1987, Disney Store opened its first store in Glendale, California and, in doing so, originated the themed retail business model. There are currently more than 200 Disney Store locations in North America, each offering a magical shopping experience that can only be delivered by Disney,one of the world's largest and most successful entertainment companies.
SOURCE: Disney Store North America
Disney Digital 3-D, as the company is calling its proprietary technology, is being installed in two theaters on each of the 1,754-passenger vessels and will allow for the showing of the first 3-D movies at sea. But Disney has even grander plans for the technology.
Starting in early 2009 the company will pull off another first with the debut of a once-per-cruise theatrical extravaganza that combines 3-D movie projection with in-theatre special effects. Tridimensional images will combine with lasers, fog, streamers and lighting effects to create an immersive experience.
And swimming with dolphins was definitely the highlight of the holiday for 15-year-old Daniel, who suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Mum Mary Lavery will treasure the pictures of a dolphin called Dixy playing with Daniel and rising up to give him a kiss for the rest of her life.
Daniel's stepdad Ian said the American approach to disability made it a lot easier to get around, and meant the family could relax more. They are so disability orientated in America," he said.
"They go out of their way, from companion toilets to automatic doors in restaurants and shops, and we never had a problem with access."
On the face of it, the application appears innocuous enough: Visitors to Disneyland or Walt Disney World would be able to download an application to their mobile phones to make trip plans, including booking hotel rooms and creating a checklist of attractions and shows to see. Once they arrive, they'll be able to use their phones to check wait times at Space Mountain or find the nearest pizza.
"What we're doing is putting tools in the hands of our customers to better personalize their experience," said Scott Trowbridge, vice president of creative research and development for Walt Disney Imagineering.
The Disney Magic, which departed from Port Canaveral, is changing to a Western Caribbean itinerary from the planned Eastern Caribbean route. The cruise ship will call in Costa Maya, followed by Cozumel and then Grand Cayman – if that port has reopened by mid-week.
The folks at Lightship Entertainment, a local company that produces the show, were able to tell me that the tentative taping dates are Nov. 29 and Dec. 6 in the Magic Kingdom. Usually, one day is dedicated to filming the actual parade on Main Street, with celebrity hosts on a platform near the train station, and the other is for the musical guests performing on the Cinderella Castle stage.
But Disney on Thursday reported a 13 percent decline in quarterly earnings on weakness in nearly every part of its empire. Movie earnings in the company’s fiscal fourth quarter, ended Sept. 27, plunged 42 percent because movies like “Swing Vote” and “Miracle at St. Anna” were virtually ignored at the box office. Advertising declines hurt two Disney properties, ABC and ESPN, leading to a 4 percent drop in income at the media networks unit.
Income at the theme parks dropped 4 percent because of lower bookings at Disneyland and higher costs at Walt Disney World. Over all, Disney reported net income of $760 million, or 40 cents a share, for the quarter, compared with $877 million, or 44 cents a share, a year earlier. For 2008, net income dropped to $4.4 billion from $4.7 billion.
Shoppers may be surprised to learn that these pricey and Mickey-free products are from the same company that foisted “Hannah Montana” on the world and turned singing Chihuahuas into a cultural touchstone. While some of the items have recognizable characters on them, others contain only winks and nods to the company’s animated movies and theme park rides. And sometimes the only hint of Disney’s involvement is on the label.
Tuna Amobi, the analyst who follows Disney at Standard & Poor's Equity Research, voices the same upbeat note and rates the stock a strong buy with a 12-month price target of 32 a share. "Amid increased concerns with a consumer spending pullback, we note Disney in recent years implemented some steps to help its parks weather an economic downturn," he says. And compared to its large media peers, Disney's exposure to advertising-dependent businesses is somewhat manageable, adds Amobi. (S&P, like BusinessWeek, is a unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies (MHP).In the meantime, Disney posted better-than-expected third-quarter results.
"We have been encouraged by recent trends at ESPN and ABC, and see some multiplatform upside with newer franchises such as Hannah Montana and High School Musical," says the analyst. And in these times of financial stress, Disney's strong balance sheet, with its "ample financial flexibility," is a source of comfort, adds Amobi. He figures Disney will earn $2.32 a share in its fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2008, and $2.49 in fiscal 2009, up from fiscal 2007's $2.24. Revenues are expected by some analysts to jump to $39.1 billion in fiscal 2009, up from an estimated $37.8 billion in fiscal 2008 and $35.5 billion in fiscal 2007.
Disney makes the most sense. EA's biggest assets include its sports games, such as Madden NFL, which would fit with Disney's ESPN cable network. Disney also could save at least part of the roughly $200 million it spends annually developing its own games.
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Oct 31, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Kmart has ramped up its selection of Disney-inspired items for the holidays to delight gift givers and gift getters of all ages. The extensive selection at Kmart makes shopping for the season's hottest Disney products easy, convenient and fun.
With more than 10,000 Disney-inspired items available throughout Kmart stores and several thousands on kmart.com/disney, moms, grandparents and siblings alike will be able to find the gifts kids want most, featuring favorite Disney characters like Winnie the Pooh, Disney Princess, Disney Fairies, and characters from the Disney-Pixar film Cars, as well as products inspired by Disney Channel hits Hannah Montana(TM) and High School Musical.
Kmart offers many sought-after Disney products, including the Handy Manny Fix-It-Right Transforming Tool Truck which has been singled out as a top pick in TimeToPlayMag.com's "Editor's Picks," and the Toy Insider's "Hot 20," as well as High School Musical 3: Senior Year Singing Dolls and the stunning Hannah Montana Holiday Doll. Several Disney products are combined with exclusive Kmart promotional offers throughout the holiday season. Recent offers found only at Kmart included:
-- Free Sleeping Beauty Teapot Play Set ($14.99 value) when customers buy Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty DVD or Blu-Ray and Mattel Magic Fairy Lights Sleeping Beauty Doll ($14.99 value; while supplies last).
-- First-ever Disney Pixar Cars-themed collector event - perfect for young kids starting their very own collection.
-- Save $10 instantly when customers buy Tinker Bell Disney on DVD ($19.99) or Blu-ray and Tinker Bell 15" doll (sale price $12.99).
Many more Disney products and offers across multiple Disney characters will be featured in the Nov. 2 Kmart circular.
"The 2008 suite of Disney products are a great way to celebrate the holidays and we are proud to offer these products to our value-conscious customers," said Kmart CMO, Mark Snyder. "Kmart is the convenient place for an extensive selection of Disney items at affordable prices for every shopper and can be found in all sections of the store from Toys, Kids Apparel, Home, Electronics and more."
Kmart has created a Disney shop at www.Kmart.com that showcases a breadth of Disney products inspired by the Disney characters kids and families want most. Kmart and Kmart.com shoppers can browse at their local Kmart store or online at www.Kmart.com/disney .
SOURCE Kmart
