Random WDW Picture

Minnie Mouse sitting at our table at Cape May in the Disney's Beach Club.



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Tim Burton in Wonderland

An interview with Tim Burton on "Alice".



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"Maleficent" Rumors Move Along

I mentioned quite a while back of the rumor that Tim Burton might be interested in doing a movie on Maleficent, the evil queen from Sleeping Beauty. Now, several months later, there are more rumors and unconfirmed reports on this.

"Maleficent" might reunite Woolverton with Tim Burton; it's one of a handful of projects the filmmaker is circling. His interest in the character was piqued in the summer when he was in postproduction on "Alice," and the studio and Burton's camp have been trying to keep a lid on the project, though the Web site Ain't It Cool News mentioned Burton's interest in January.

No deal has been made with Burton, and the hiring of Woolverton is the first concrete step forward in the project's development.

In "Beauty," Maleficent is a tall green-skinned woman with horns who can morph into several forms, including a terrifying black-and-purple dragon. The character, who has appeared in many Disney books and TV shows and is a popular Halloween costume, is also the most serious character in Disney's villain stable, featuring a darkness not found in other Disney characters.

As I've said earlier, it would be a hoot if Burton could do this the way "Wicked" has thrown a new light on the history of the Wicked Witch of the West/East. How and why did she became so bad? There is just many directions that this can go into. And Disney could easily milk this the same way they were trying to milk the Princesses franchise. These classic villains have a lot of "fans" (I know of people who collect Disney villains pins). And after seeing Tim Burton's "Alice", I want a movie on just the Red Queen! Please, please, please, please!!!

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Disney's California Adventure TV Special

Disney just released a series of "retro" videos introducing the Disney's California Adventure. Not sure why they are doing this now considering that DCA is undergoing a major overhaul that will change it dramatically. So most of these are going to be outdated. I guess this is "historical".















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Disney Looking For Real Breasts For "Pirates 4"

.. and no, we're not talking about chicken breasts for the catering company either.

Apparently, news reports have indicated that Disney has a rather strange requirement in one of their casting call for the upcoming 4th installment of "Pirates of the Caribbean".

The filmmakers sent out a casting call last week seeking "beautiful female fit models. Must be 5ft7in-5ft8in, size 4 or 6, no bigger or smaller. Age 18-25. Must have a lean dancer body. Must have real breasts. Do not submit if you have implants."

And they'll verify it too, apparently. Maybe they'll give it the "bounce" test or something, or poke it with a sharp object to see if it deflates. I don't know...

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Tron Monorail

Everyone has been buzzing about the Tron-themed monorail at WDW. Disney Parks has finally released their video of it. It's short, but it gives you a bit of an idea of what the monorail cars look like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk2bFboHYpI

Hopefully, I'll get to see it in person in slightly more than a month! :)

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Random WDW Picture

Goofy Barnstormer - which may not be the same or even be there when Toon Town at the Magic Kingdom goes away.



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Main Street Electrical Parade - 1999

Holy Cow! This is crazy good!

This is a retro video from 1999 that shows some of the floats used in the Main Street Electrical Parade in 1999 being driven on regular streets at WDW on the way to the Magic Kingdom! Oh man! I wish they would do this again when the parade comes back to WDW!

Here's part of the synopsis that accompanies this video:

A look back through the Walt Disney World video archives to- 1999 and a night you could've been driving toward Magic Kingdom Park with Pete's Dragon in the lane next to you. In May of 1999, a few weeks before Main Street Electrical Parade started making nightly appearances in Florida, hundreds of cars lined an interstate for an overnight road test. Many of the Main Street Electrical Parade vehicles and cars driven by Walt Disney World cast members joined a ceremonial caravan toward the park. It was quite a sight. See for yourself!

So see for yourself!



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Pixar and World of Color

DisneyParks has released a rather nice video of Pixar and the World of Color spectacle that is scheduled to open at Disney's California Adventure. I didn't realize that this is going to be predominantly Pixar (or maybe there are other components to the show besides Pixar movies).

Still, the video does give a glimpse of what we might see from this show. This is certainly a good excuse for me to go back to the Disneyland Resort when this show opens (as if I need an excuse). :)

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Wishes From BLT

Disney Parks has released a short clip of Wishes as seen from the observation deck at Bay Lake Tower.

It's almost as good as my video of Wishes, which is below! :)



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Helena Bonham Carter and "Alice"

A very entertaining article on Helena Bonham Carter and her role at the evil "Red Queen" in "Alice in Wonderland".

Bonham Carter, who has a nine-year romance and two children with Burton, giggled as she recounted the moment when she was invited to take on the royal role in "Alice in Wonderland," the highly anticipated Disney film, which opened over the weekend.

"It was like a proposal of marriage," said the 43-year-old actress.

"I was doing 'Terminator Salvation' at the time, and when he asked me, I was really flattered. It was a complete surprise! I know people think it's disingenuous when I say that, but it's true. They won't understand this, but each time (he has a film), I truly don't expect Tim to ever want to work with me again."

As I've mentioned in my review of "Alice", I thought she stole the movie. Her portrayal of the Red Queen was over the top, as it should be, and was completely memorable from start to finish. She should have her own movie sequel!

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Early Toy Story 3 Review

Those who got invited to see the work-in-progress version of "Toy Story 3" at ShoWest in Las Vegas are all giving it a glowing review. Or at least, as much of a review as they are allowed to provide. Read this entry from Jim Hill.

I mean, I sat in that hall today surrounded by hardened industry professionals. Exhibitors who care more about how much popcorn & soda they’re selling than the movies they’re currently showing at their multiplexes. And these jaded theater owners – as “Toy Story 3” entered the home stretch – were openly weeping. Tears streaming down hundreds of faces as the ultimate fate of Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the whole Andy’s Room gang was decided.

OK, are those Pixar fellas hell-bent on making me cry? They almost did it during the first 15 minutes of "Up". Now this???!!

Nevertheless, it looks like "Toy Story 3" will be the next highly-anticipated movie out of Disney. I can't wait.

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Random WDW Picture

Dusk at World Showcase from the Italy Pavilion.



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Dolby and Disney Develop New Audio Format

Dolby Lab has announced that it is developing with Disney/Pixar a new audio format called Dolby Surround 7.1.

The Mouse House plans to launch the format in select theaters in conjunction with its launch of 3D toon installment "Toy Story 3" on June 18.

According to Dolby, the improved system allows for a more comprehensive mix of audio and visual 3D elements, as well as "a more exciting sensory experience to audiences for 2D."

Oy. I'm just trying to catch up to Dolby Digital 6.1. Now it's up to 7.1. I know there are already many amplifiers/receivers with 7.1 audio connections. It will take me a while to get up to speed here. Still, it will be interesting to see (or more like to hear) this Dolby Surround 7.1. I can only hope that the theater that we plan on going to see Toy Story 3 will not only have the 3D version, but also this new audio format.

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An interview with John Lasseter on The Princess and the Frog

On the day that "Princess and the Frog" is released on DVD and Blu-Ray, Disney has released a very long interview with John Lesseter on the movie. He has talked about the movie many times, especially right before it was released, but it is nice to revisit this and see what he thinks after the movie has been released for a while.

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Random WDW Picture

OK, just don't sing the tune. You'll never get it out of your head!



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Disney Cast Member Hit By Tomorrowland Speedway Car

Oh, I am so longing to hear how this actually happened.

Several news reports are reporting that a Disney cast member was hit by one of the cars in the Tomorrowland Speedway at The Magic Kingdom yesterday. No, really!

Reedy Creek Fire Rescue said they responded to the call at 12:53 p.m. after the cast member stepped in front of the moving vehicle.

The cast member suffered leg injuries and was flown to the hospital by helicopter.

One just doesn't step in front of a moving vehicle, so there must be more to the story than this.

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"Alice" Has Legs

Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" is still the #1 movie this past week, hauling in another $62 million to bring its total to an amazing $208 million already.

“Alice,” which stars Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, has earned $208.6 million in its first two weeks of release. It set a handful of records in its opening weekend: the sixth-biggest opening ever, the biggest debut for March and for a 3-D film, the largest opening weekend for the year, and the best-ever Imax opening.

“Alice’s” $62 million in receipts “would be a great number for an opening weekend,” said Paul Dergarabedian, film analyst for Hollywood.com Box-Office in Los Angeles. “And for this to happen in the first quarter, it has never been done before. It has to be word-of-mouth that’s driving this.”

I think I may need to see this movie again. In my review, I wasn't sure if I liked the movie or not. I think I'm beginning to appreciate it more, but I definitely have to view it again and just not let the ending ruin the whole movie. Maybe Helena Bonham Carter can save it with her uproarious portrayal of the Red Queen.

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Random WDW Picture

Ah, nostalgia! What used to be the afternoon parade at The Magic Kingdom when they still had those snow-globe thingy.



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Sherman Brothers Honored with Window on Main Street, Disneyland

Video of a well-deserved honor for the Sherman Brothers with a window on Main Street, USA at Disneyland, CA.



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New Disney's Premier Passport

Thanks to Ralph for sending the picture.

We now have a snap shot of the new Disney Premier Passport, which is the "annual pass" for both WDW and Disneyland Resort.



Hum... I wonder how many people will actually buy one of these. I don't know yet how much it will cost.

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Destination D Event and D23 Expo Announced

Disney has announced a new event for D23 members this year - Destination D - which will be held on Sept. 25-25 this year.. It also has announced that this Destination D event will alternate with the highly successful D23 Expo. The next D23 Expo will go back to the Anaheim Convention Center on Aug. 19-21, 2011.

Sounds like a terrific event for Disney fans.

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"Give A Day, Get A Disney Day" Promotion Ends

Disney's "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" has ended with the sign-up of 1 million volunteers. Disney announced this today.

Since the program started just 10 weeks ago, on Jan. 1, a million people already have volunteered or have committed to volunteer in their communities, according to Disney Parks and HandsOn Network, the nation’s largest volunteer network and a facilitator of “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day.”

It is quite a success, considering that they got the 1 million volunteers in early March for something that started this year. Glad I volunteered early and got my voucher, which I will redeem on our next trip in April.

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New "Tron Legacy" Trailer

OK, so everyone is buzzing about the latest "Tron Legacy" trailer. You can find one here at this link. It reveals a little bit more of the set-up.

Oh yeah, I can't wait for it already. I just hope that I don't have too high of an expectation the way I had for "Alice".

Edit: here's the trailer:



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"Alice" Opens With Record Weekend

Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" did smashing business in its opening weekend. It registers the largest box office weekend for a movie opening in March with an estimated take of $116 million.

This Walt Disney Studios picture, directed by Tim Burton and starring Mr. Depp as an orange-haired Mad Hatter, made an estimated $116.3 million at North American theaters, according to Hollywood.com, which tracks sales information. The movie took in an additional $94 million overseas, breaking a smattering of foreign records, for a total of $210.3 million.

The turnout — the biggest 3-D opening on record, surpassing the one for “Avatar” — was notable for its timing: late winter, normally a quiet time at the multiplex. Hollywood has been trying to open new pockets on the calendar for its big-budget “tent pole” movies, typically reserved for summer and Christmas, and the results for “Alice in Wonderland” signal the effort is succeeding.

Certainly is bitter sweet since this was a movie approved and developed under the former Disney Studios management that are all but practically gone.

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LA Times Ran "Alice" Ad On Front Page

Well, this is kinda unusual. The LA Times ran Disney's advertisement for "Alice in Wonderland" on the front page on Friday.

The ad, which featured Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter character, was superimposed over a mock front page. The paper's real A1 appeared behind it.

That's certainly is a head-turner, and should cost a bundle of money.

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Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" - A Review

We saw the latest "Alice in Wonderland" yesterday, in full 3D.

Let me get right to the point. I can't make up my mind if I like the movie, or not. This makes it very strange because I typically know right off the bat after I walk out that I like the movie or not. I definitely wanted to like this movie a lot. There's a lot to like. It's visually stunning, as expected. There's so much to see on the screen, which means the need for repeated viewing when it comes out on Blu-Ray/DVD. There's plenty of fascinating characters on the screen. I love the Cheshire Cat. The Mad Hatter is rather disturbing, which probably was the intention.

But there are parts of the movie that just didn't work for me. That final battle scene - I could pluck that from any fantasy movie. In fact, it is similar to the final scene in "Enchanted", which is ironic because "Enchanted" purposely tried to mimic the "fairytale/fantasy" genre. And when the Mad Hatter did his final dance, well that just almost destroyed the movie for me because it looked so much out of place!

Of course, the main focus of the movie is the performance of Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter. It was quite commendable and he created a very unique character. Still, I think Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen stole the show! She was hysterically wonderful and should be a major Disney villain from now on.

So in the end, I don't know if I like this movie. I would definitely recommend it so that you can have an interesting experience at the theater. Maybe I was expecting way too much, as I had afraid of. Maybe I might change my mind after another viewing....

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Alice in Wonderland

In case you've been living under a rock, Tim Burton's re-imagined "Alice in Wonderland" opened yesterday. So far, I've read glowing reviews, even by Roger Ebert, who gave it only 3 stars because he didn't like the climatic ending with a typical battle scene. But he had stellar review of the movie till that part (he called in Act 3).

Well, I'll be the judge of that since we will be seeing it this afternoon.... in 3D of course. I expect to be dazzled visually. And that's awful, because I already have such high expectations of it after the promo and trailers being released for months leading up to the movie. And I hate that, because I'd rather walk in with almost zero expectations and no clue even what the movie would look like. The same thing is happening with Tron Legacy.

We shall see.....

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Random WDW Picture

A sight (and some time, sound) along the queue line at Tower of Terror, DHS.



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Exclusive D23 Live Chat With Imagineer Tony Baxter

On March 4, between 2-3 PM Pacific Time, Imagineer Tony Baxter will be conducting a live chat with D23 members. You can submit your questions right now.

I hope he picks mine to answer! :)

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New Things In WDW Downtown Disney

Looks like there are more stuff being introduced in Downtown Disney, which is a plus considering that they lost Pleasure Island.

• Enhanced theater experience technology at the AMC theater, which includes a floor-to-ceiling screen, 3-D technology and upgrades to sound and visual technology that can deliver HD experiences. The theater expects to debut the new technology in one of its auditoriums by March 5, coinciding with the premier of Walt Disney Pictures’ Alice in Wonderland.

• Ridemakerz, a new retail entertainment experience that allows guests to custom design radio-controlled cars. Ridemakerz is expected to be open from March through this fall. The retail attraction already has a location at Downtown Disney in California.

• D Street, an apparel store melding urban-inspired clothing and accessories with the Disney brand. The store will open in April.

• Pollo Campero, an international Latin chicken quick-service restaurant, which will open in the fall.

Sorry, a "Latin chicken quick-service restaurant", or a "Latin quick-service chicken restaurant"? :)

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Dumbo Heading For Broadway?

Whoa! Patti, did you hear that?

While it is still early in the development stage, there's talk going around of bringing "Dumbo" to the Broadway stage as a musical.

Disney Theatrical Productions and Stephen Daldry, the Tony Award-wining director of “Billy Elliot: The Musical,” are developing an adaptation for the stage of the 1941 classic movie “Dumbo,” a Disney executive said on Wednesday afternoon.

Mr. Daldry approached Disney Theatrical several months ago with a concept for a “Dumbo” musical, and they are now in “the very initial stages” of shaping those ideas, according to the executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the company does not comment on projects at such an early stage.

Now, I hope they don't muck it up the way they did to "The Little Mermaid". Still, it would be very interesting to see how they do this, considering that the "main character" of the show will be a flying elephant. Maybe it's time to bring back Julie Taymore!

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Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time - New Official Video Trailer

New trailer for the upcoming Prince of Persia movie.



From the trailer, the "theme" of the movie sounds almost like the Lord of the Ring! I hope this movie has a lot more than just "noise", and not enough substance. At this moment, I'm not as keen to see it as I am of this weekend's "Alice".

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'Mickey Notes'- Disney Parks Celebrates Volunteering

This video has its funny moments, especially when Donald come out.



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"Alice" World Premier

Video from the world premier of Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" in London.



Hope you've bought your tickets for this weekend!

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Transformer Donald Duck

OK, so we had Easter Donald Duck. Now along comes a Transformer Donald Duck. You can read the entire review of this new "toy" at Seibertron.com. It looks rather complicated.

Transformation is way tricker than on Mickey. I would have felt confident that a young child could easily transform Mickey but Donald is nore elaborate. He's something of a shellformer and folding his various little tabs and pegs in. It'll present no problem to anyone who's transformed a movieverse figure or Universe Sunstreaker but it may be worth noting for anyone planning to buy this for kids.

Hum... But then again, Donald is a complicated and complex creature himself. So this is only appropriate! :)

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"Tron Legacy" Secret Trailer Event

OK, Disney is being way too clever with the promotion leading up to "Tron Legacy". To their credit, they certainly know the audience that the movie appeals to, and playing it up to full tilt. This is one such example, where ....

....Diehard fans of the movie (Tronheads? Trononites?) had to look for clues and go an scavenger hunt in cities like Sydney, Berlin, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, then work together via the Internet to piece together what would eventually tell them where the sneak peek would occur.

The report gives an account of the special trailer of "Tron Legacy", which doesn't come out till December this year. But already, the excitement is building almost to a frenzy, it seems.

What I'm afraid of here is that they might release too much of the movie and give it away. The best part of any movie is the expected, something that just blows you away the FIRST time that you saw it. We now have quite a glance at the new Tron world, the light cycle, etc.. etc. That's too bad, because that's something I want to be wowed with when I first see it in the movie theater. I'm sure there's be other surprises, but I wish they didn't reveal these either.

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Easter Donald Duck

I was rolling on the floor when I saw this.

I went to the Hallmark store a couple of nights ago, and bought the Easter Donald Duck that they were selling. If you've never bought anything from them, this is the one you want to get, so GO! NOW! It is so hysterical that I just had to take a quick video of it!

It has a tag on one of the ears telling you NOT to pick up by the ears. But you should do it anyway! :)



I wonder why Disney doesn't think of such clever merchandise for themselves. This would be a HUGE seller at the theme parks. It seems that many of the fun and funny stuff are licensed and sold elsewhere.

I'm thinking of buying another one. It costs $14.95 if you purchase 3 Hallmark cards, which is nothing since we typically buy a few Hallmark cards anyway!

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An Amazing HK Disneyland Pin Set

{Thanks to Simon for getting me this pin set}

This is an amazing pin set from Hong Kong Disneyland. It is to commemorate the recent Chinese New Year. It is an amazing set. The box itself looks impressive.


But the content is even more impressive. When you open it, it contains 5 amazing pins all mounted on what looks like 5 panels of a Chinese screen.


Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy are all in their Chinese outfits.

In fact, you can stand it up like a screen.


The pin set costs HK$350. If the exchange rate is ~HK$7 to US$1, then it's about US$50 for the set, which is about right if you consider that you got 5 pins, and an amazing mount for the pins.

I love this set!

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Orlando's SeaWorld Trainer Killed by Killer Whale

Not a Disney news, but still, it's tragic news.

A SeaWorld trainer in Orlando was killed after she slipped and fell into a pool, and then attacked by a killer whale.

"The trainer was explaining different things about the whale, and then the trainer that was down there walked away from the window. Then [the whale] took off really fast in the tank, and he came back, shot up in the air, grabbed the trainer by the waist and started thrashing [her] around," Biniak said.

Wow. This is horrifying.

Condolences go to the trainer's family and friends. This is just tragic.

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Captain EO Officially Returns to Disneyland

Fans of "Captain EO" can now catch it at Disneyland. There is even a YouTube clip of one of the musical numbers, "We are here to change the world".

Honestly, I didn't get this before, and I'll probably not get this again, especially now. It looks like a music video from Thriller, and definitely feels out of date. I guess many fans will like it for the "nostalgic" reason, which is understandable. I, on the other hand, would rather be on Dumbo.

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Give A Day, Get A Disney Day Pin Hat

I mentioned earlier that I received the voucher for my volunteer work for Project Linus as part of the "Give A Day, Get A Disney Day" promotion. I haven't redeem the voucher yet, since our next trip to WDW isn't until end of April. However, a friend already has cashed it in. Since most of us have Annual Passes, we will probably opt for either the super fastpasses, or the pin hat. My friend opted for the pin hat, and she has graciously sent a picture of it through the Windy City Pin Traders group (Thanks Melody, Gene!). Here is what it looks like:



It looks quite nice, and you get quite a few pins. I was going to choose this anyway, but this now makes it even more worthwhile to get! Can't wait to get my hands on it.

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Toy Story 3 Characters at Toy Fair

The characters from "Toy Story 3" dropped in at the International Toy Fair in NY City.



Ah, merchandising. It's what Disney does best!

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Disney Fact or Fiction - Episode 3

Another fun video to dispel (or confirm) the various myth of Disney theme parks.



If you missed the earlier videos, here are Episode 1 and 2 below:







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Disney's Volunteer Promotion Overloads Programs

Disney's "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" promotion is too successful. It is overloading many volunteer programs. Raise your hand if you saw this coming from a mile away at the age of 10! I did.

In Southwest Florida, the program has flooded nonprofits like the Susan G. Komen for the Cure affiliate in Bonita Springs and the Harry Chapin Food Bank in Fort Myers.

The Komen affiliate received 501 queries and ended up with more than 218 volunteers. They can’t take any more for the March 13 Komen Race at Coconut Point mall in Estero. But still the calls keep trickling in.

Still, many of these volunteers will continue to volunteer with these various causes. So that's the significant benefit to this promotion.

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"Waking Sleeping Beauty" Trailer

This is the trailer for the documentary "Waking Sleeping Beauty".



It sent chills through my spine just watching the trailer. I am so waiting for this movie.

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Johnny Depp Talks About "Pirates 4"

While making rounds for the upcoming "Alice", Johnny Depp talked a little bit about "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides". The short interview can be found here.

No new revelation and no insight into the movie, which is fine. I want to be surprised by it, and with a new director, maybe it will have a different feel than the last two (the first one was totally wild and unexpected, so that was good).

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Alice (Underground) Music Video

Avril Lavigne performs "Alice" from the soundtrack of the upcoming (March 5 here in the US) "Alice in Wonderland".



On a related topic, as part of the promotion for "Alice in Wonderland", Disney is going all goth!

While the movie itself is aimed at a much wider audience, ground zero of the marketing effort is Hot Topic Inc., a mall-based retail chain that is a shopping destination for 12-to-22-year-old goths, whose favorite color tends to be black, whether for clothes or makeup.

Disney has licensed an extensive line of clothing and accessories to Hot Topic's 680 locations. The selection includes a black shackle bracelet for $10, along with T-shirts and fragrances.

The approach represents a twist on Disney's successful strategy of turning its "princess" movies into merchandizing juggernauts. What's distinctive about the new initiative is the target audience. Disney Consumer Products Chairman Andy Mooney says the buyers of "Alice" merchandise are "definitely more 18 to 34 than our traditional 6 to 11."

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The Longest Hotel Rehab in WDW!

That Holiday Inn hotel on Hotel Plaze Blvd. FINALLY re-opened after a gazillion years!

We used to stay there when it was the Marriott Courtyard, before we became DVC members. Then it became the Holiday Inn, and then came the hurricane. Now, it actually opened AFTER the hurricane, because we did stay that afterward. Some of the rooms were not available due to the hurricane damage, but the room we stayed in were perfectly fine. It was shortly after that that they closed it down completely. The hotel was due for a major overhaul anyway, but none of us imagined it would take THAT long. Considering that it is in such a popular area, and it was not making any money, it was strange that they let the rehab dragged on for years (what is it now, 5, 6 years?).

We always paid close attention to the building each time we drive on Hotel Plaza Blvd., and each time we always shook our heads at why they let that building just sat there for that long. We did see quite a bit of activity the last couple of times we were at WDW, and the last time (this past December), we did see marked improvements and changes to the building. So it is not a surprise that they've announced a reopening of it now. While we probably won't stay there again now that we have DVC resorts to go to, we still have fond memories of our stay there a while back.

Edit: there are a couple of pictures of the hotel at this web report. It looks really slick and very nice!

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The Building That The Mouse Left Behind

This is a rather fascinating short article on a building in NY City. Like so many buildings there, there's a long history to it, and a story of the architecture. This building was occupied by the World of Disney store on 5th Avenue till the end of last year. It is now empty, and for rent.

Disney opened on the ground floor in 1996 and installed the bronze-toned sculptures over the Fifth Avenue entrance. But now they are gone and the space is for rent. Zoraya Suarez, a spokeswoman for Walt Disney World, says mice and dog are bound for Florida — snowbirds like so many New Yorkers.

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Disney's Chicago Merchandise

Was at the Disney Store in Downtown Chicago on Michigan Ave. this past Monday. They have a few Chicago merchandise at the store. The first one is the reusable bag (of course). It actually is a neat-looking bag. So I bought 4! :)


There are a couple of t-shirts with Chicago-specific design. The first one has the same design as the reusable bag.



The second design is nicer. It shows all the various neighborhoods within the city of Chicago.



I definitely like the 2nd one better.

I think these merchandise are exclusive only to this store, because I haven't seen any Disney's Chicago merchandise at other Chicago area Disney stores. There are certainly none at the Woodfield Mall which I've been to several times.

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Swindon, UK Twinned with Walt Disney World

I mentioned earlier of some of the things that the town of Swindon in England is trying to do after being selected as the twin city with the Walt Disney World. This is the video that officially welcomes the town of Swindown at WDW's twin city.



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Dance Star Mickey

We have a new merchandise that has been receiving quite a bit of publicity - Dance Star Mickey!

"Our newest Mickey plush, Dance Star Mickey, combines the strength of the Disney brand and its powerful storytelling content behind the Mickey Mouse character, with the magical playtime experience that Fisher-Price has been bringing to kids for nearly 80 years," said Gina Sirard, vice president, marketing, Fisher-Price. "The collaboration between Fisher-Price and Disney brings Mickey Mouse to life in an exciting new way, proving that the iconic character continues to resonate strongly with kids today. And when it comes to dance stars, it takes one to know one, so we are thrilled that Donny Osmond is here to help us show everyone just what this new Dance Star Mickey can do."

It's supposed to be released nationwide in October, and for $69.99, you can have one too!

Edit: here's a picture of the little darling.

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Tom Staggs First Public Appearence As Disney Parks Chairman

The new Disney theme parks Chairman, Tom Staggs, made his first public appearance at the unveiling of the world's largest structure of canned food as part of the Disney "Give a Day, Get a Day" promotion.

The stunt was intended to kick off a promotion called Give a Day, Get a Disney Day. Working with the Points of Light Foundation, Disney for a limited time is offering a free ticket to one of its six North American theme parks to anyone who completes a qualified day of community service. About 600,000 people have already completed or committed to one, according to Disney.

He obviously is quick on his feet too, or should I say, Kermit was.

Mr. Staggs did a grand job on his can of tuna, a squadron of Disney executives decided afterwards, even if there were a few missteps. For part of the introduction, the marketing staff had written a skit for him to perform with Kermit the Frog. But the teleprompter fizzled for a moment, and the pair had to crack some impromptu jokes.

Mr. Staggs: “Should we add something to the structure, like a canopy?”

Kermit: “Canopy. Can of peas? I get it. Who writes your jokes, Fozzie Bear?”

The video of the construction of this structure can be seen here.



It looks like this was done at the World Showplace at Epcot.

Zz.

Drumming for the Mouse: Kumidaiko and the Exhibition of "Japan" Walt Disney World

This is a rather fascinating research treatise. This is someone's thesis for a Master of Arts degree.

Abstract: Performing at Walt Disney World as often as six times a day, seven days a week, the kumidaiko group Matsuriza has the unique opportunity to expose thousands of people per day to the world of Japanese taiko. Simultaneously, the group serves as an ambassador of sorts for Japan, representing the country within a section of the Epcot theme park known as World Showcase. Their performance space is the Japan pavilion, part of a modern day World’s Fair that seeks to introduce tourists to various cultures from around the world.

Matsuriza’s participation in Disney’s World’s Fair is not without its consequences, however. The group must grapple with issues of commoditization, authenticity, and representation in Walt Disney World that have long caught the eyes of scholars. At the same time, the group must deal with the expectations of the tourists that have come to Epcot, expectations that are fueled in part by the atmosphere created by the Walt Disney Company.

Due to this confluence of issues, kumidaiko at Walt Disney World as performed by Matsuriza is a reified art form, static and unchanging. Taiko is discussed by group members using a discourse that adheres to the sense of Japan created within the pavilion, and repertoire and performance practice are modified so as to not disrupt the atmosphere that has been created. Even as kumidaiko continues to grow and evolve outside of Epcot’s borders, within the theme park it is simply another exhibit on display for the paying tourist in the museum of culture that is World Showcase.

I haven't finished reading the whole thing yet (obviously), but I intend to go through a bit at a time. Japanese culture (and food) is something I'm quite fascinated with, so this is right up my alley.

Zz.

Disney Magic Stuck At Castaway Cay

There are, of course, worse place to be stuck in (think cramped airplanes).

Disney Magic had to delay departing Castaway Cay by a day due to high winds.

The Disney Magic was making its final stop at Castaway Cay, but it did not leave as scheduled Friday, because of 50 mph winds.

The ship will have to cruise into the northwesterly wind on its journey back to the U.S. It is expected to take 13 hours to reach Port Canaveral.

The delay impacts thousands of people, including those already on the ship, and the thousands more who were set to head out on the Disney Magic’s next seven-day cruise.

So many people will have so many messed-up travel plans! I certainly won't want to be at Port Canaveral, or any of the frontline Cast Members, when this ship docks.

Zz.

Using a Behavior Change Model to Document the Impact of Visits to Disney's Animal Kingdom: A Study Investigating Intended Conservation Action

This would be an interesting research paper to read - if you can get it.

"Using a Behavior Change Model to Document the Impact of Visits to Disney's Animal Kingdom: A Study Investigating Intended Conservation Action", L. D. Dierking et al., Curator: The Museum Journal v.47, p322 (2010).

Abstract: Abstract Over the last 10 to 15 years, zoos and aquariums have set out to influence visitors' conservation-related knowledge, attitudes, affect, and behavior. In 2000, the Institute for Learning Innovation collaborated with Disney's Animal Kingdom (DAK) on a comprehensive baseline study conducted to assess the outcomes of a DAK experience on visitors in four areas: knowledge, attitudes, affect, and behavior. This article describes one aspect of the comprehensive study: an investigation of the long-term (two-to-three-month) impact of a visit to Conservation Station at Disney's Animal Kingdom on visitors' intended conservation action. The study used a behavior change model from the health arena: the Prochaska Model of Behavioral Change. The model proved helpful but had some drawbacks, suggesting the need to develop a more sensitive change model. The implications of this study could assist institutions in thinking about what audiences or messages to emphasize in order to influence behavior.

Again, Disney's "theme parks" are often more than just theme parks. This is certainly very true for both Epcot and DAK, which have produced many scholarly articles.

Zz.

"Rapunzel" Becomes "Tangled"

Disney's version of "Rapunzel" will not only get a new spin on the classic story, but also a new name - "Tangled".

Why I'm not as enthusiastic about this movie like the others, I don't know. Maybe as the release date gets closer, I might get more excited about it. But I guess until I know more about it, I'm ambivalent.

Zz.

Electrical Parade Coming Back to WDW

Well, this is rather unexpected!

A slew of new stuff being introduced at WDW this summer as part of the Summer Nightastic festivities. The main one here being the reappearance of Main Street Electrical Parade at the Magic Kingdom. Now, is this in addition to SpectroMagic, or as a replacement for it? I love SpectroMagic, and would hate to see it gone.

There's also hints of a modified Tower of Terror. This definitely is something to look forward to. I still think they need to do something with this attraction during the holidays. It would be awesome if they can re-theme it for Halloween.

Zz.

"Cars 2" Delayed

The release of "Cars 2" has been delayed by 6 months.

In a conference call about the Disney Company's first quarter earnings, Iger told financial analysts the film would be released in December 2011.

But what was interesting to me was something I didn't know before that I found in the same news article.

The date shift is likely to affect the release of another Disney title, fairy tale The Bear and the Bow.

The first Pixar feature to be directed by a woman, Brenda Chapman's film had been set for a December 2011 release but is now expected to be delayed as well.

This is the first that I've heard of this movie "The Bear and the Bow". Now I gotta go do some digging...

Zz.

Disney Beats Stupid Analysts Again!

Disney's first quarter earning reports beats analysts predictions once again!

Excluding one-time charges, Disney (DIS, Fortune 500) said it earned 47 cents per share. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters, who typically strip out one-time items from their estimates, were looking for 38 cents per share.

Sales rose 1% to $9.7 billion, which beat analysts' forecast of $9.66 billion.

What is even better news is that theme park revenue remains flat, considering that everyone predicted a drop. It shows that the aggressive strategy they have been implementing has worked!

I've never paid much attention to these "analysts" before until I started buying Disney stocks a few years ago. I don't know how people can keep making a living at being WRONG that often.

Zz.

Drew Brees at Disney World

First, this is the commercial of Drew Brees saying he's going to Disney World after winning the Superbowl. It's a TV capture, obviously, but its the best I could find.



And now, here he is, in a parade in his honor.





Laughing Place has more more videos and stills of this joyous event.

Congratulations to him, and to the New Orleans Saints.

Zz.

"Up" Wins Big At Annie

"Up" won for Best Animated Feature at this year's Annie Awards. Pete Doctor also won for Best Director.

"Princess and the Frog" also didn't do too shabbily, winning 3 awards.

Zz.

"Alice" Superbowl Commercial

If you missed the commercial for "Alice in Wonderland" during last night's superbowl, here it is again.



Have I mentioned that I CAN'T FREAKING WAIT for this already? :)

Zz.

Random WDW Picture

"One time, I laughed so hard, water came out of my nose!"



Zz.

Sequel to "Enchanted"?

News has been flying (is there any other way for news to travel?) around that Disney is ready to go ahead with the sequel to "Enchanted". That was such a fun and clever movie! It appears that Disney is certainly courting Amy Adams back to reprise her role. This article also mentioned that they're trying to get Patrick Dempsey and Susan Sarandon as well. That should be interesting because, presumably, Sarandon's character, or the dragon, got killed at the end of the movie.

Still, they can do so many things in a "fairy tale", obviously. It would be interesting if they do a "Wicked" style story, i.e. explain why the Sarandon's character got as mean as she did. It would be one clever story if they can give a big twist that people aren't expecting. I would also be curious if they're going to employ a lot more of the 2D animation in the movie.

Anyway, I'm getting way ahead of myself already!

Zz.

Danny Elfman and "Alice"

A wonderful interview with Danny Elfman as he finishes the score for the upcoming "Alice in Wonderland". Elfman, as many Disney fans will know, wrote the songs to my most favorite soundtrack "Nightmare Before Christmas". So it's not as if I need any more incentive to go see "Alice", but this certainly pushes it over the top. Can't wait. Just one more month!

Zz.

Pete Doctor And "Up"

Video of Pete Doctor's reaction to "Up" multiple Oscar nominations.

Congratulations, Pete. I'm rooting for "Up" all the way!

Zz.

Disney/Pixar's "Up" Gets 5 Oscar Nominations

The nominations for the 82nd annual Academy Awards were announced this morning, and the glorious "Up" has 5 nominations, including the prestigious Best Picture nomination, now that they've expanded it to 10 candidates.

The nominations for "Up are for:

1. Best Picture
2. Best Original Screenplay
3. Best Animated Feature
4. Best Sound Editing
5. Best Original Score

"Up" will be competing against another Disney animation "Princess and the Frog" for Best Animated Feature. Two of the songs from "Princess" were also nominated for Best Song, so Randy Newman will be competing with himself as well in that category.

Zz.

Random Disneyland Resort Picture

The launch area of California Screaming at California Adventure.



Of course, this is all different now with the current revamping of DCA.

Zz.

Give-A-Day, Get-A-Day Voucher

I mentioned last time that I received the voucher for Disney's "Give-A-Day, Get-A-Day" promotion this year. I volunteered to make blankets for Project Linus, and it was fun to get together with friends (my WCPT pin friends) and work together in making blankets for kids. Hope they can find kids to give those to.

In any case, this is the voucher that we should print and bring with us next time we go to WDW. I've blanked out private info, and also the barcodes, for obvious reasons.



Can't wait to go back to WDW and redeem this.

Zz.

Random WDW Picture

Looking out from Tangerine Cafe at the Morocco Pavilion at Epcot's World Showcase.



Zz.

Enhancements at Castaway Cay

Looks like lots of new enhancements at Disney's Castaway Cay.



Zz.

Disney Shutting Down Miramax

In a move that surprises no one, Disney will officially shut down Miramax. Considering how much they have cut back on operations and releases, this final outcome is as surprising as the Apple's iPad announcement - everyone could see it coming.

It is sad, though, because it strengthen the notion that Disney will not be producing movies for adults (the ones that actually have the money, instead of kids and tweens). It also appears to be the trend, that the focus have been either on kids/tweens, or if it include adults, it is in a setting of a "family". The focus on just adults, both at the movies and at the theme parks, seem to be dwindling.

Zz.

Iger Was At iPad Announcement

I'm sure everyone has heard about the announcement yesterday of the worst-kept secret in the history of technology - the iPad. It seems that Bob Iger was in attendance yesterday when Steve Jobs made the announcement. This shouldn't be a surprise considering (i) they are good friends (ii) Jobs sits on Disney's board of Directors (iii) Iger has always supported Apple's new technology by providing content from Disney.

I also don't think that it was a coincidence that one of the movies Jobs played on the iPad yesterday was a scene from Disney/Pixar's "Up".

It will be interesting to see how Disney will play along with this device. Providing movies that will be optimized to play on the iPad is easy. It's how they can exploit all the possibilities that it can do will be the interesting part. They could restart the Disney Magazine (remember that?) and distribute it through the iPad subscription. Also, is there anything to prevent these readers to also include animations?

The possibilities are endless.

Zz.

Disney's Legacy Being Discussed At WDW Sister City

The city of Swindon in the UK is discussing the possibility of including Disney's legacy as a possible celebration. This is after Walt Disney World picked Swindon as its first ever sister city.

One idea includes bringing the firm’s graphic design and information technology experts into Swindon to help college students with their studies – in turn giving the town a competitive edge.

Mr Cotton said: “We have to remember that behind the fun aspects of Disney there is a multi-billion pound company with a lot of expertise and we can definitely use that here in Swindon.

Nice if you can get it.

Zz.

Random WDW Picture

The first climb at Spaceship Earth at the Magic Kingdom. They had turned on the lights when we passed through this on the TTA.



Zz.

Cars 2 Art Concept

Disney had released the art concept for Cars 2 in their annual report. The link also has an image from the upcoming Toy Story 3, also from the Disney annual report.

We, Disney fans, are chomping at all these bits and pieces of the movies that we so highly anticipate. At least we are not like rabid Apple fans who are creating rumors left and right about the impending Apple announcement this week. We actually get images and trailers from Disney itself! :)

Zz.

"Mary Poppins" Had A Surprise

The stage version of "Mary Poppins" playing in LA had a delightful surprise for its audience recently. Dick Van Dyke made a cameo appearance in the musical, but playing "... Mr. Dawes Sr., the crotchety bank president and boss of Poppins’ boss, Mr. Banks ..."

Oh, to be in the audience when that happened!

Zz.

Aulani

Video of artist concept of the new Disney resort in Hawaii.



Zz.

I Got My Voucher!

I mentioned earlier that I participated in the Disney's "Give A Day, Get A Day" promotion. I volunteered with Project Linus to make children blankets, and a group of us from the Windy City Pin Traders (WCPT) got together during our January pin meet to make these blankets. We had a lot of fun (thanks for organizing it, Jan!) and made quite a few blankets.

Well today, I got my voucher! I can get my free ticket for a day at a WDW theme park!!

But of course, I'm an annual passholder. Disney is giving 2 options for passholders and multiday ticket holders. We can redeem our vouchers for fastpasses (I'm assuming that these are special fast passes), or get a figurine of the ear hat with special pins. I'm a Disney pin collector. Which one do you think that I'll opt for? That one is a no-brainer! :)

So on my next trip to WDW, which as of now, is still up in the air, I'll redeem my voucher. Hooray!

Zz.

Tim Burton Eyeing Maleficent?

Oh, oh, oh! I LOVE this juicy rumor and wish that it is true.

Various blogs and news outlets are reporting rumors that Tim Burton is exploring making a story on Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty. Hot Damn! This could potentially be a winner. I mean, think about it. He could do it in a very "Wicked" way in which all you think you know about Maleficent could actually be completely wrong.

And I think it would be amazing to give some dimensionality to the villains in these movies and give a clue on what made them so ... bad! And with Tim Burton's twisted sense, this could go in so many different direction. I can't wait!

Zz.

Disney's "World of Color" Under Construction

Video of the construction of the highly-anticipated "World of Color" at Disney's California Adventure.



Zz.

What To Do At The Disneyland Resort On A Rainy Day

Southern California has been inundated with a lot of rain this past week, and more are coming! So it is timely that we have a list of things to do when it rains at the Disneyland Resort. Some of them are:

8. Watch the Aladdin Musical. The 45-minute, indoor show performs in the Hyperion Theater in Disney’s California Adventure, and will keep you out of the rain.
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2. Warm up by the fireplace of the Grand Californian Hotel’s lobby. Oversized chairs will keep you cozy, or sit on the tile ledge around the the fireplace to stay extra warm. Time it right, and you can enjoy the music of the piano player while sitting by the fireside.

1.Ride Grizzly River Run. This wild white-water rafting attraction (or any other water ride) is perfect for the rain. You’re already soaked, so you may as well keep that trend up by riding Grizzly River Run. Plus, the lines for water rides are usually nonexistent on rainy days.

Unfortunately, attractions such as It's a Small World, Winnie the Pooh, and Teacups tend to not run during the rainy days. Unlike the similar attraction at WDW, these attractions are either outdoors, or have loading areas out in the open.

Zz.

Disney Quietly Working on "Next-Generation" Theme Park Project?

I love juicy gossips like this... :)

Orlando Sentinel Blog is reporting that Disney is working on a $1 billion plus technology project for its theme parks dubbed "NextGen".

Details of the project, which has been dubbed within Walt Disney Parks and Resorts as “next generation experience” or “NextGen,” are being closely guarded. But there is widespread speculation among former Disney executives and bloggers who follow the company that at least part of the project involves wireless-communication technology that could be used in concepts ranging from keyless hotel-room doors to rides and shows in which the experience varies based on an individual guest’s preferences.

The budget for the program totals between $1 billion and $1.5 billion, according to former Disney parks executives who spoke only on the condition that they not be identified. The amount is roughly comparable to what Disney is spending to build a pair of 4,000-passenger cruise ships.

Besides the obvious interest in the theme park, and the price tag, what caught my eye was that Jim MacPhee is heading the project at WDW. People following this blog would have known that he is our "favorite" Disney executive based on what he did for the fans during Epcot's 25th Anniversary back in 2007. I thought, after he was moved from being Vice President for Epcot, that he is being phased out. Luckily, he is still around, and it looks like he might be instrumental in shaping an important future for the Disney theme parks.

We shall see the outcome of this one...

Zz.

Give a day, get a day

We are at our monthly WCPT meet but this time, many members are volunteering to make blankets for Project Linus. This is part of Disney's Give a Day Get a Day promotion.

Random WDW Picture

The Grand Floridian at WDW.


Zz.

How To Draw Mickey Mouse

So if you've never been to the Animation Studio at DHS, or if you miss being in that animation class, here's something to help you relive that - a video instruction on how to draw Mickey Mouse.



Zz.

Iger Reinventing Disney

This LA Times piece looks at the "house-cleaning" being done by Disney CEO Bob Iger as the various executives either were let go, and switched jobs. The most dramatic changes, of course, have been at the Disney Studios branch of the company.

First, it's an incredibly clear sign that Iger is reinventing his studio without any real concern for industry tradition or what the town, much less the top creative talent at the studio, thinks about the new executive lineup. For years, Cook was able to run Disney with autonomy, keeping Iger and his new ideas about distribution and branding at bay. But now, as one industry pal said Tuesday morning after hearing the news of Aviv's ouster, "it's like the Huns are sacking the crusaders' castle." Anyone viewed as a Cook loyalist is being ushered out the door.

As a Disney fan (and stockholder), I'm not sure yet on what to make of the recent changes. I'm willing to give this a lot of time to evolve. The Disney brand of movies have not had that much success lately, both financially and critically. The live-action movies have been dismal at best. We will have to see in 2 or 3 years how this will turn out, since it will probably take that long for the decisions being made by the new management on what movies to be made will start coming into the pipeline.

Zz.

5 Must-Have iPhone Apps

Here's another set of suggestions on iPhone apps that one must have for a WDW/Disneyland/Disney fanatic. Still, I'm not sure of the "taste" level of someone who would make Biergarten as a top recommendation of a place to eat at Epcot!

:)

Zz.

Review of 'Waking Sleeping Beauty'

LA Times has a rather informative review of the new documentary "Waking Sleeping Beauty", which had its premier at El Capitan Theatre for Disney animators, past and present.

The documentary shows the evolution of the Disney animation studios, warts and all, during the low point of the 1980's, up to the heights of "The Lion King". This is going to be one documentary that will be high on my list to see this year.

Zz.

Disneys Honorary VoluntEars Cavalcade

Hey, you get to see a preview of the VoluntEars cavalcade at Disneyland that will make its debut soon (if not already).



So, are you going to do a volunteer work to get your free day (or other options)? I am. I'll be making child-safe blankets for a day some time this month. Of course, I won't claim my free day since I'm already an annual passholder, so I'll choose one of the other options that they have.

Edit: you can see videos of this parade (or pre-parade) at the Laughing Place website.

Zz.

Magic Kingdom Fireworks From Epcot

If you are at Epcot at just the right time and from the right viewing location, you can see part of Wishes at the Magic Kingdom from the World Showcase Lagoon at Epcot. We were there this past December when Illuminations started at 9:30 pm (instead of the regular 9:00 pm) and we viewed it from the island in front of the Italy Pavilion. One can actually see Wishes right through the middle of the World Showcase Lagoon!

The first 3 pictures might be a bit difficult to see of the fireworks since I didn't zoom in, but it should at least give you a wide perspective on where we were and in which direction we were looking at. The last 4 pictures should be quite clear since I've zoomed in on the globe.









So even though WDW feels rather large, things are physically not that far away from each other.

Zz.

Discovery Channel's Fans Guide To WDW

A series of 6 YouTube video from the Discovery Channel on fans guide to Walt Disney World.

Part 1/6


Part 2/6


Part 3/6


Part 4/6


Part 5/6


Part 6/6

"Princess And The Frog" Score Still Oscar Eligible

This news article from Variety describes the final list of eligible movie scores that may get nominated for the Oscar for Best Score. It includes the score for "Princess and the Frog", which actually might raise an eyebrow due to the rules.

"The Princess and the Frog" is on the "reminder list" sent out to the 234 members of the Academy's music branch, implying the Disney animated musical somehow passed muster with the traditionally restrictive branch's executive committee. Randy Newman's score includes seven original songs, and an eighth, by Ne-Yo, is played over the end titles.

Acad rules prohibit "scores diminished in impact by the predominant use of songs" from competing in the original score category.

But what I didn't know about till now was what came next in the article.

The rule was instituted in the mid-1990s, after wins by four Disney animated musicals in the category designed to reward "dramatic underscoring," not multiple songs. So a possible win for "original score" by a Disney animated musical this year would be ironic considering the origins of the rule.

Yeah, I can see why that would look rather ironic.

Still, I'm not sure of the chances of "Princess" even getting the nomination, much less, a win, in this category. I think I noticed more of the musical number, rather than the score. Still, we shall see soon enough how the nomination will turn out.

Zz.

Disney's California Adventure Park- Expansion Series 1

A bit of an update and things we can look forward to at Disney's California Adventure and its expansion plan.



That Cars Land is going to be the hottest place to be when it is finished, I can already tell.

Zz.

Disney's New Store in NY's Times Square

Here's brief article on the planned Disney Store in New York's Times Square that's scheduled to open in Fall of 2010. It appears that it will be occupying the old Virgin Megastore that I've visited many times whenever I've been in Midtown Manhattan.

It also looks like Steve Jobs may have played a major role in getting Disney to revamped the stores and learn from the wildly successful Apple Stores.

Much of the credit for the new store design, according to an October New York Times article, can actually be given to Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who joined Disney's board in 2006, after the company bought Pixar Animation Studios. Just as he pushed for a certain design for the Apple stores, Jobs reportedly convinced Disney to fashion its own stores on a grand scale.

Jobs shared with Disney executives detailed information about the setup of the Apple stores and took them on a tour of Apple's research operations, the Times reported. Jobs also urged the company to first create a prototype store to work out any bugs, an effort that paid off by helping Disney build the right atmosphere and philosophy for the stores.

However, the new year also marks the closing of the World of Disney store on 5th Avenue. It was the first World of Disney store to be opened outside of a Disney theme park, and I think it was just out of place on 5th Ave. The Times Square location could be a lot more attractive, especially if they have enough things for everyone to do. I'd say put in something like The Sum of All Thrills from Epcot's Innovention. That should attract a lot of customers.

Zz.

Meet Mr. Pricklepants

The new trailer/promotion for Toy Story 3 introduces a new character that we have never seen before - Mr. Pricklepants. He is a hedgehog, I think, but he wears a lederhosen. There better be a good story for this! He is voiced by Timothy Dalton, the former James Bond.



With Tron Legacy and Alice also coming next year, there's plenty to look forward to.

Zz.

Donald's Great Adventure - Club Cool

Whenever I'm at Epcot, I always stop by Club Cool for one specific purpose. I want my most favorite drink, which is my beloved Beverly!

Oh sure, go ahead and gag at that thought, but I love it. In fact, us ducks have a distinct affinity for the taste of Beverly that we have formed our own club - Friends of Beverly! I love it so much, I could swim in it!

Can't wait to go back.

DD.

Disney Completes Marvel Acquisition

It's official. Disney now owns Marvel.

Welcome to the Walt Disney Family, Spiderman, Ironman, etc... etc.... However, I don't think the whole family will make a nice family photo at the next family reunion. :)

Zz.