Did You Get Your Final JC Penney Snowglobe?

We were at JC Penney half an hour before they gave out the snowglobe. We weren't taking any chances. Unfortunately, from what we have gathered, a few stores got a pathetic amount of snowglobes, while others got their large allotment. We were at one of those that got very few, and the employee who were about to hand them out apologized to us for them not having that many.

JC Penney: what the hell were you thinking? You advertised that this was going to be the last snow globe given away. Don't you think that there will be a frenzy of people who would want this? What's the big idea of sending that few to some of the stores?! Is this a result of how disconnected you are with your customer base the same way you've been doing with the rest of your business? Really now!

In any case, this is the last JC Penney snowglobe:

Initially, I wasn't planning on displaying the snowglobes this year as part of the holiday decorations. But since this is the last one, I decided to bring all of them out. So here they are, in full display, starting with the first one from 2002.

All I can say is that whatever JC Penney is planning on doing next year, if it is not a Disney-related giveaway, then there is no more reason to go there during Black Friday.

Zz.

Final Year For JC Penny Disney Snowglobes

I just read a news report that this is the final year that JC Penny will give out the Disney snowglobes.

Instead of cancelling the tradition without notice, Penney is letting customers who want to complete their collection know that this will be the final year.

Penney stores will distribute the snow globes starting at 3 p.m. on Black Friday while supplies last.

The tradition started in 2002. There are plans to start something new next year, said Mary Beth West, Penney’s chief marketing officer. 

I wonder if there will be another Facebook campaign to bring this back like last time they halted the snowglobes...

Zz.

Christmas Tree Made Entirely Of Disney Toys

How come Disney doesn't do this?

A tree in London is decorated entirely with Disney toys and plushes.

I'll post my tree decorated entirely with Disney ornaments soon.

Zz.

Captain EO At Epcot To End On December 6

I must admit, it has lasted longer than I anticipated.

Disney has announced that Captain EO at Epcot will end on Dec. 6, this time, for good. So any of you Michael Jackson fanatics out there want to catch this, do it soon or you will have to go to Disneyland Resort to see it.

On their official parks blog, Disney World announced that the legendary attraction would be closing once more – and this time for good. The attraction had closed previously for a special preview of Disney's Tomorrowland, but the Francis Ford Coppola directed short film returned after that limited engagement had ended. Thankfully, if you're a Disneyland patron, it looks like the show will still be running as usual, as this closure is only listed for Epcot's version of the show so far.

The attraction that's replacing the science fiction musical is the brand new “Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival,” a new show that will take three animated short films from the two studio's canons and convert them into a 4D experience. Needless to say, this is probably going to make fans on the East Coast more than a little upset, as the attraction's return was received quite well by the park's guests. Part of that response was due to the nostalgia factor, as the attraction had been removed since 1994, in favor of the then new Honey, We Shrunk The Audience.

I think I am more enthusiastic about seeing that Disney and Pixar shorts, than Captain EO. So to me, this is a good thing.

Zz.

Tomorrow's kitchen at Food and Wine

Poster seen at Sustainable Chew at EPCOT.

Color shadow at Colortopia

One of the fun things to do at this attraction.

Colortopia at EPCOT

A new exhibit at Innoventions for working with color.  Part of it lets you digitally color a mural.

How Pixar Brought Computers To The Movies

As we celebrate 20 years of the first Toy Story movie, this is a rather nice article on the movie technology that was brought by Pixar to the movie industry with that first Toy Story release.

In the past two decades, Pixar has become a celebrated art house, with other groundbreaking films to its credit, including "Monsters, Inc.," "Up," "Wall-E" and, most recently, "Inside Out." But Pixar's achievement hasn't just been a game changer for animation; it's been course-altering for all of film.

"Toy Story" wouldn't have been possible without groundbreaking software from Pixar. Called RenderMan, the program let animators create 3D scenes that were photorealistic. The idea: Generate, or "render," images that look so real you could put them in a movie alongside live-action footage -- and no one could tell the difference.

Pixar, which licenses RenderMan to other film studios, boasts that 19 of the last 21 Academy Award winners for visual effects used the software. They include "Titanic," the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "Avatar."

This is what most people don't realize, that the impact of computer animation permeates all through the movie business, not just in animated movies.

Pixar was, and still is, truly revolutionary.

Zz.

Man Climbs Mexico Pavilion At Epcot

First of all, can you be any dumber than this?

An Epcot park guest climbed the pyramid at the Mexico pavilion at Epcot.

Seriously?!

The video of the stupid act was videoed by a park guest. And this person wasn't stopped either. He got all the up and came back down. When another woman tried it, she was finally stopped by a cast member, presumably.

Leininger said the man made to to the top and climbed down the side without being stopped by security. He said a woman tried to follow the same route up the pyramid, but she was stopped by workers.

Now, you know what's gonna happen next, don't you? Disney will try to make sure no other morons will try to do this stunt, and will probably cordon off this area or change the way guests enter the pavilion, all due to this dumbass.

This reminds me of all those stupid tourists who visit places and monuments and showed utter disrespect for those places, ruining it for the rest of us.

Zz.

Starbucks knows you are here

Seen at EPCOT, Starbucks You Are Here cups and mugs as Christmas ornaments .

First Trailer of "Finding Dory"

Disney has released the first trailer of the highly-anticipated sequel to "Finding Nemo", "Finding Dory". The movie is scheduled to be released in June 2016.

Can we say "Blockbuster"?



Zz.

DHS Christmas tree

The tree outside Hollywood Studios.

Merry and Brigjht dessert party at DHS

Another dessert from the Spectacle of Lights dessert party

Merry and Bright dessert party at DHS

One of the desserts from the Spectacle of Lights dessert party.

Star Wars Launch Bay

Opening in December at DHS, it will have exhibits and character meet and greet.  Indications are that DHS will have 3 lands: Hollywood Land, Star Wars Land and Pixar Land,

Celebrate the Holidays

Celebrate the Holidays show at the castle.  First Mickey's Christmas party of the season,

Christmas castle

The castle from the front, st MVMCP

Ribab Fusion band

Performing funk and dance at Morocco at EPCOT.  Good group, got everyone grooving.

Illuminations dessert party

A sample of the desserts at the party

Illuminations dessert party

One of the dessert buffet tables 

Illuminations Dessert Party at EPCOT

People enjoying the pre-fireworks dessert party

Donald and strange friend

The Canard Distingue with his new friend, the Hampire.  

Ferry Tale Wishes Party

The Wishes fireworks at MK as seen from the Ferry Tale Wishes party boat.  Dessert and drinks were served aboard a Magic Kingdom ferry, and the boat parked out in the lagoon to view the fireworks, with the Wishes music too.

Ferry Tale Wishes party

Lighted glasses given to guests at the party

Ferry Tale Wishes

Some of the dessert offerings aboard the ferry

Ferry Tale Wishes Dessert and Fireworks Party

People getting dessert aboard the ferry

Ferry Tale Wishes Dessert Party

The menu and pin from the Magic Kingdom Ferry Tale party

Morimoto dessert

Gelato trio for two. 

Morimoto Dim Sum

Chicken dumpling and Pork Bao from the Dim Sum menu. 

Seared Sea Bass at Morimoto

Head and tail included

Restroom sat Morimoto

Not your ordinary restroom

Morimoto dining room

Inside the new Asian restaurant 

Morimoto lobby

The front lobby of Morimoto,

Morimoto at Disney Springs

The entrance to the new Morimoto Asian restaurant,

Lighted beer glasses from Canada

These are two lighted beer glasses that Canada (EPCOT) was selling at Food and Wine.  The glasses have lighted bases with different modes and colors.  

Tony's alley table at the Osborn lights

An intimate alley table for an Italian dinner.

Osborn lights

People enjoying the music and light show.  Yes the cat is back.

Osborn Spectacle of lights

Last year for Osborn.  A little less crowded for this early preview.

Cheese and wine at EPCOT

Near the Cheese Studio and Wine Studio at EPCOT

Up with chocolate

Chocolate exhibit with the theme of Up, at the Festival Center

Frozen chocolate at Ghiardelli

A chocolate exhibit with a Frozen theme, at Ghiradelli in the Festival Center

EPCOT Festival Center

Inside the Food and Wine Festival Center