First of all, I don't need another flash drive. I have enough as it is already. However, I can easily see myself gobbling up these Disney flash drives, especially the Steamboat Mickey and the Pooh. They are adorable!
And the author of that piece is correct. Adults will be gobbling it up as well. There's only 5000 of them too.
Zz.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Zagat Survey Followup
Hey, did you participated in the Zagat survey that I mentioned a while back? If you did, then you would have received a follow up to that survey in an e-mail. They now want you to write your experience at the WDW theme parks, including what you like, dislike, and recommend. This looks like it might be good, since you can write, instead of having multiple choices, of what your experience is like.
.. and boy, do I have PLENTY to write about! :)
Zz.
.. and boy, do I have PLENTY to write about! :)
Zz.
La Nouba Performer Fell 30 ft.
This is where word of mouth travelled faster and got reported much earlier than the print news media.
On Jan 26, it was reported on WDWMagic that a performer (the "Bird") in Cirque Du Soleil's La Nouba fell off her perch. It appears to be a rather serious accident. Yet, strangely enough, no print media had a report on this till yesterday, Jan 30. A short blurb appeared in the Orlando Sentinel finally. That's 4 days after it first appeared on a Disney fan forum! Unbelievable!
Usually accidents like this get publicized like wild fire in the media. Wonder why this didn't catch on?
Oh, for those who don't know the connection to Disney with this story, Cirque Du Soleil's La Nouba has a permanent residence in Downtown Disney at WDW. It's a wonderful show, not to be missed, even if you've seen it on TV.
Zz.
On Jan 26, it was reported on WDWMagic that a performer (the "Bird") in Cirque Du Soleil's La Nouba fell off her perch. It appears to be a rather serious accident. Yet, strangely enough, no print media had a report on this till yesterday, Jan 30. A short blurb appeared in the Orlando Sentinel finally. That's 4 days after it first appeared on a Disney fan forum! Unbelievable!
Usually accidents like this get publicized like wild fire in the media. Wonder why this didn't catch on?
Oh, for those who don't know the connection to Disney with this story, Cirque Du Soleil's La Nouba has a permanent residence in Downtown Disney at WDW. It's a wonderful show, not to be missed, even if you've seen it on TV.
Zz.
Is Walt Disney World Affordable?
Don't know if they run similar advertisement in the UK or Canada (the two biggest market for Disney), but here in the US, Disney has been running this commercial about how a family of 4 can spend a week at WDW (with park tickets and value resort accommodations) for $1600 (it used to be $1500, so that has gone up by $100). The people at Motley Fool have been debating if $1600 is really affordable, or whether it is worthwhile to skimp on off-Disney accommodations and food for a cheaper vacation.
Considering that I'm a DVC member and an annual passholder, I think my opinion on this is rather obvious.
:)
Zz.
Considering that I'm a DVC member and an annual passholder, I think my opinion on this is rather obvious.
:)
Zz.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Crossing the Berm: The Disney Theme Park as Sacralized Space
Now this is rather amusing.
I am not surprised that Disney, and Disney's theme park, could become a subject of intense study, maybe even a Ph.D dessertation. Still, it is always a minor surprise when I do come across one of these things. What makes this even MORE an item of curiosity is that it is a Ph.D dessertation in the Dept. of [b]Religion[/b] at Florida State University.
You could get the ENTIRE dessertation at the link above if you wish to read it. I suppose a devotion to Disney could be construed as a form of "religion", I suppose. At least it is a "happy and magical" religion where we all make our pilgrimage to the Happiest Place on Earth. There are worse things to believe in in this day and age.
I am not surprised that Disney, and Disney's theme park, could become a subject of intense study, maybe even a Ph.D dessertation. Still, it is always a minor surprise when I do come across one of these things. What makes this even MORE an item of curiosity is that it is a Ph.D dessertation in the Dept. of [b]Religion[/b] at Florida State University.
Abstract: This dissertation proposes that the Disney theme park be approached as an agent of ritualization in the creation and experience of sacralized space: an ordered, organized space for the thoughtful, selective construction of social meaning and the mutual exercise of symbolic power, initiated in the creation of environment and experienced through ritualized activities and spatial movement, resulting in the recovery of the past and the possibility of a transformed future. This thesis will be pursued in four stages: first, an examination of the definitional parameters of sacralized space and ritualization, emphasizing the mutual construction of meaning and the interwoven power relationships inherent in the creation and experience of such a space; second, the application of these parameters and emphases to the Disney theme parks in terms of the creative process of park participants; third, the application of these parameters and emphases to the Disney theme parks in terms of the experiential process of park participants; and fourth, the resultant exercise of power and construction of meaning by park participants within sacralized space. Such an examination of Disney theme parks hopefully will provide a broad ground on which to place in dialogue the other interpretive proposals within contemporary Disney thought, a basis for the thoughtful discussion of these sites within Religious Studies, as well as a more flexible and coherent method of newly considering the complexity of the parks and their pervading influence, for good or for ill, on the global cultural stage.
You could get the ENTIRE dessertation at the link above if you wish to read it. I suppose a devotion to Disney could be construed as a form of "religion", I suppose. At least it is a "happy and magical" religion where we all make our pilgrimage to the Happiest Place on Earth. There are worse things to believe in in this day and age.
Possible Rehab of Spaceship Earth?
John Frost at The Disney Blog has a summary of the rumors surrounding the possible rehab of Spaceship Earth. Although the rehab of the exhibt area after one exist the ride is well-known, the rehab of the attraction itself is still a swirling rumor (folk lore?).
I personally would love to see it being rehabbed and upgraded. Better lighting would help too. However, I don't quite get the controversy surrounding the wand. I know many Disney loyalists who completely and utterly hate that wand attached to Spaceship Earth. Is it because it is "defacing" the spherical shape? Or is it because it is just something "different" than the original? I don't know. I don't find it "offensive" at all and don't mind it either way.
Zz.
I personally would love to see it being rehabbed and upgraded. Better lighting would help too. However, I don't quite get the controversy surrounding the wand. I know many Disney loyalists who completely and utterly hate that wand attached to Spaceship Earth. Is it because it is "defacing" the spherical shape? Or is it because it is just something "different" than the original? I don't know. I don't find it "offensive" at all and don't mind it either way.
Zz.
Nightly Fireworks May Harm Neighbors?
A Clarkson University professor has concluded that the nightly fireworks show at Hong Kong Disneyland may in fact be harmful to its neighbors.
Unfortunately, this news report didn't elaborate any further, especially on whether this professor has published his findings anywhere other than reporting it to the Hong Kong administration. So it is hard to judge the validity of such technical reports.
I'm sure it isn't pleasent to be downwind from any fireworks show. Unfortunately, this is the same issue that one has to content with when one CHOOSE to live near an airport. The economic properity that is due to the airport, or in this case, the theme park, is what made living in that area so much in demand in the first place. Anaheim would certainly be quite different than what it is now if it weren't for Disneyland. Would it have evolved into a better neighborhood without it? We can only speculate. Of course, the issue here isn't similar to Hong Kong, since the "neighborhood" was already there when Hong Kong Disneyland moved in, even though it is quite a distance away.
Zz.
Unfortunately, this news report didn't elaborate any further, especially on whether this professor has published his findings anywhere other than reporting it to the Hong Kong administration. So it is hard to judge the validity of such technical reports.
I'm sure it isn't pleasent to be downwind from any fireworks show. Unfortunately, this is the same issue that one has to content with when one CHOOSE to live near an airport. The economic properity that is due to the airport, or in this case, the theme park, is what made living in that area so much in demand in the first place. Anaheim would certainly be quite different than what it is now if it weren't for Disneyland. Would it have evolved into a better neighborhood without it? We can only speculate. Of course, the issue here isn't similar to Hong Kong, since the "neighborhood" was already there when Hong Kong Disneyland moved in, even though it is quite a distance away.
Zz.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Studying Giraffe Poop at Animal Kingdom
It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it.
A university of Central Florida graduate student is studying giraffe poop at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Some time, you gotta do what you gotta do. For those of us who do experimental work for our graduate studies, often it is a physical, dirty job.
Good luck to Jennifer!
Zz.
A university of Central Florida graduate student is studying giraffe poop at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Some time, you gotta do what you gotta do. For those of us who do experimental work for our graduate studies, often it is a physical, dirty job.
Good luck to Jennifer!
Zz.
Make-A-Wish to Send Boy, 6, to Disney World
Another wonderful story of a kid having his dream fulfilled. Hope you have lots of fun seeing Mickey and the gang, Bradley!
Zz.
Zz.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Disney is Dreaming Big
A news report that basically summarizes the recent activity at Disney. It covers the Annie Libovitz photos, the first family that was selected to spend the night at Cinderealla's Castle suite, and the opening of Toy Story Mania at Disney-MGM Studios.
None of the reports so far have addressed on question for those who are spending the night in the castle suite. Are these people, once they're in the suite, restricted in their ability to walk out of the suite after the Magic Kingdom is closed? I mean, it would be rather unmagical if they walk out at 3:00 am in the morning while the overnight cast members are working and preparing for the next day. It might also be a bit dangerous considering all the activities going on.
That would be interesting to find out...
Zz.
None of the reports so far have addressed on question for those who are spending the night in the castle suite. Are these people, once they're in the suite, restricted in their ability to walk out of the suite after the Magic Kingdom is closed? I mean, it would be rather unmagical if they walk out at 3:00 am in the morning while the overnight cast members are working and preparing for the next day. It might also be a bit dangerous considering all the activities going on.
That would be interesting to find out...
Zz.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Disney Offers Chance at 5 Park Dream "Jobs"
Here's your chance to try and win one of the dream jobs at a Disney theme park for a day. I would say that it might be cool to do the Jungle Cruise skipper for a day. A number of famous people have done it during their "struggling" year, such as Robin Williams (I would PAY MONEY to be on that jungle cruise). I wouldn't want to do this every day though, because I would imagine it would get old very quickly. That's why I have all the admiration in the world to the cast members that do this and still make it sound fresh and funny.
Zz.
Zz.
More Pictures of Cinderella's Castle Suite
Laughing Place has newer pictures and videos of the interior of Cinderella's Castle suite. It looks absolutely fabulous. I especially like the pumpkins in the display case.
Zz.
Zz.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Annie Leibovitz Makes Disney Dreams
Fame photographer Annie Leibovitz was recruited by Disney to promote the Year of a Million Dreams. She, in turn, recruited several of her high-profile friends such as David Beckham, Scarlett Johansson, and Beyoncé Knowles to appear in various scenes. Several of these pictures are starting to appear. The ones being shown in this news report are dazzling! They look like works of art!
Zz.
Zz.
More Research Using Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund
I previously pointed out one example of a scholarly research that was done using the Disney Wildlife Foundation Fund. I have found another one, and in fact, you could even check it out yourself if you have any interest in such topic.
Associations between Organochlorine Contaminant Concentrations and Clinical Health Parameters in Loggerhead Sea Turtles from North Carolina, USA, J.M. Keller et al., Environ Health Perspect. v.112, p.1074 (2004).
It is an OPEN ACCESS journal, so you can read the paper for free here.
In their acknowledgment, they listed these institutions as their funding sources:
So there! More evidence that your money is going to important studies in wildlife conservation.
Zz.
Associations between Organochlorine Contaminant Concentrations and Clinical Health Parameters in Loggerhead Sea Turtles from North Carolina, USA, J.M. Keller et al., Environ Health Perspect. v.112, p.1074 (2004).
It is an OPEN ACCESS journal, so you can read the paper for free here.
In their acknowledgment, they listed these institutions as their funding sources:
Funding was provided by the Morris Animal Foundation, the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund, the Oak Foundation, and the Duke University Marine Biomedical Center.
So there! More evidence that your money is going to important studies in wildlife conservation.
Zz.
GMA Footage of the First Guests to Stay in Cinderella's Castle Suite
Thanks to Donsullivan at WDWMagic for pointing this out. This is the Good Morning America footage of the first family to stay at Cinderella's Castle suite last night. It certainly look like they received the Royal treatement, literally.
Zz.
Zz.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
How Bob Iger Unchained Disney
Business Week online has a very detailed look at Disney CEO Bob Iger and his management style. A constant theme from this article is how much he is the antithesis of Michael Eisner, which is what the Walt Disney Company probably needs at this time.
Zz.
Zz.
The First People To Spend The Night At Cinderella's Castle Selected!
A family from Michigan made history today as the first people to spend the night at Cinderella's Castle suite. Good for them! I hope they take tons of pictures and post them online somewhere.
Zz.
Zz.
Cinderella's Castle Suite Occupancy Begins Today!
Get your glass slippers ready! Orlando Sentinel is reporting that the Cinderella's Castle Suite will start receiving guests beginning today!
The only question right now is, which Disney fan sites will be the first one to get an excluse report from one of its members on such a stay.
Zz.
The only question right now is, which Disney fan sites will be the first one to get an excluse report from one of its members on such a stay.
Zz.
EuroDisney First Quarter Revenue Up
EuroDisney has announced that its first quarter revenue is up 5.8%. We can only hope that they can keep this up and stop the financial bleeding.
Zz.
Zz.
Finding Nemo - The Musical Officially Opens
Yesterday, Jan 24, Finding Nemo - The Musical officially opens at Disney's Animal Kingdom. This is a very highly acclaimed live show that is getting rave reviews from critics and fans like.
Laughing Place has pictures and videos of the opening ceremony.
Zz.
Laughing Place has pictures and videos of the opening ceremony.
Zz.
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