China builds icy Disneyland
By admin | January 7, 2009
A Disneyland made entirely of ice and snow has been built in China’s freezing northern city of Harbin as part of the city’s Ice Festival. Local authorities hope the park, featuring Disney characters and rides made of ice, will help attract around 800,000 tourists. Harbin, on the edge of Siberia, is one of China’s coldest places, where temperatures can drop to -35 degree Celsius.
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Disney settles lawsuit over Mission: Space
By admin | January 7, 2009
Walt Disney World has settled a nearly five-year legal fight with a Pennsylvania company over development of the Mission: Space ride in Epcot. Terms of the settlement with Southampton, Pa.-based Environmental Tectonics Corp. are confidential, the companies said Tuesday. The dispute stemmed from a roughly $30 million contract that Disney awarded Environmental Tectonics in February 2000. The company was to design and build Mission: Space, a well-known attraction that simulates the G-forces involved in blasting off and flying through outer space.
Environmental Tectonics initially sued Disney in 2003, seeking more than $15 million, alleging, among other things, that Disney refused to pay the full amount due, prevented the smaller company from winning more work with other entertainment companies, and shared confidential details of Environmental Tectonics’ centrifuge-based design with a rival vendor.
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Disney Teases 2009 Blu-ray Slate
By admin | January 7, 2009
Disney’s first Blu-ray announcement is confirming at least three upcoming releases, High School Musical 3: Senior Year (February 17), Pinocchio: 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition (March 10) and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Platinum Edition (October) will be released as “Combo Packs” that include both a Blu-ray Disc and standalone DVD version of the film. This brings back memories of HD DVD Combo Discs only the DVD version sits on a separate disc rather than the “flip-side” of the main disc. Last fall’s Sleeping Beauty was the first Disney Blu-ray Disc release to include both standard and high-def versions.
Disney goes on to confirm that Digital Copies will continue into 2009 on at least 14 titles including High School Musical 3: Senior Year, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Monsters Inc., and A Bugs Life. That’s right; both Pixar catalog titles are confirmed for 2009. The late 2009 release of Up creates a Pixar Blu-ray trifecta, though oddly missing is Finding Nemo which at one time was scheduled for a Blu-ray release in late 2007 and then spring 2008.
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How Would Walt Disney Market in 2009?
By admin | January 7, 2009
The Disney Co. founder knew how to leverage every powerful method of engaging the consumer and he swarmed them with multiple modes of his message. Walt Disney, the man, was equal parts technological genius and ancient story teller. He drew upon stories that reverberated with our humanity and told them in sizzling new ways that shaped memorable experiences. Simultaneously he knew how to leverage every powerful method of engaging the consumer and he swarmed them with multiple modes of his message always reinforcing the central stories. For example, Snow White was a movie, a ride, a doll, a book, a dress, a television show, a cartoon, and a set of experiences which all were touchstones to the magic of it all.
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Little known actor lands lead in “Tron” sequel
By admin | January 7, 2009
Disney has picked a relative unknown to play the lead role in “Tron,” its $150 million sequel to the 1982 cult classic by the same name. Garrett Hedlund, who has until now acted in larger ensemble pieces such as “Friday Night Lights” and “Eragon,” will play a man pulled into the world of a computer. He retraces the steps of a character from the original movie named Kevin Flynn. “Tron,” which was previously known as “Tron 2″ and “Tr2n,” is expected to start shooting in the spring with Joseph Kosinski at the helm.
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McG Helming Disney’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Remake
By admin | January 7, 2009
From futuristic wastelands to the depths of the oceans. McG has signed on to direct 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo, a remake of the classic 1954 live-action Disney film of the same name. The original story, written by Jules Verne, was first published in 1870, but most people remember the Kirk Douglas version famous for its giant squid scene. This screenplay for this remake was written by Bill Marsilii, of only Deja Vu previously. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo is an origin story focusing on Nemo as he creates his warship, the Nautilus. Disney wants to get this made this year.
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Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary Event Announced
By admin | January 6, 2009
Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary Merchandise Event
Date: 09-09-09
Location: Disneyland® Resort
The Plot Thickens. . . After five husbands and five untimely deaths, the Black Widow Bride of the Haunted Mansion will wed once more. Has she found her soul mate? Or will another groom meet his doom? Join us, Foolish Mortals, and we’ll dig up the answers at our ghostly celebration that everyone’s dying to attend.
Event packages are as follows:
Early Demise Offer:
Guests that register through February 28th only, will receive an “early demise” pin.
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Disney Design A Tee Presented by Hanes Grand Opening on Friday, January 9!
By admin | January 6, 2009
Event: Disney Design a Tee Presented by Hanes Grand Opening
Grand Opening Date: Friday, January 9
Grand Opening Time: 11:30amThe first 100 guests at the Grand Opening of Disney Design A Tee presented by Hanes will receive: A Complimentary Lanyard, Button, Mini Souvenir Tee, plus a $5.00* off coupon toward the purchase of your Design A Tee!
Disney Design a Tee Presented by Hanes allows you to design your tee your way! Choose a short or long sleeved tee shirt in a variety of vibrant colors and create your personalized tee by choosing from over 300 pieces of Disney art and add up to four lines of text! Here you can have your name imprinted on specially designed commemorative t-shirts. Your tee shirt is printed while you wait and you can event watch them being made on the video screens in the store!
So, whether you are celebrating your birthday, commemorating your recent nuptials or identifying your family members with our special “Family Reunion” tees, you’re sure to come away with a special memory that will last a lifetime.
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Disney offers free passes to military
By admin | January 6, 2009
Walt Disney World said Monday that it will offer free five-day multi-park passes to members of the U.S. military. Active and retired military personnel are eligible for the “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” promotion, which will run through Dec. 23, 2009, at Disney World and aims to build on Disney’s 2009 consumer theme, “What Will You Celebrate?” In addition to the free five-day ticket, members of the military can also buy up to five more five-day, one-park passes for $99 each. The promotion is nearly identical to one Disney offered in 2003.
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Architect designed Disney resorts
By admin | January 6, 2009
Denver architect Peter H. Dominick Jr. always said a turning point in his illustrious career came in the early 1990s, when he presented his design for the Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World to Michael Eisner, then chairman of Disney. Dominick, 67, died Thursday, apparently from a heart attack, while cross-country skiing near Aspen. For decades, Dominick designed hotels, office buildings, homes and interiors throughout the country.
For Disney, Dominick’s firm also designed the Animal Kingdom Lodge in Central Florida and the Grand California Hotel in Anaheim, Calif. His initial presentation to Eisner made a deep impression. “Michael Eisner leapt up from the conference table to examine the drawing more closely, challenging his creative team to accept our idea,” Dominick wrote about the meeting. “During these halcyon years of Disney, when Eisner was being hailed as a modern-day Medici, we worked with one of the great creative companies of its time and collaborated with the most talented designers, working at their most creative boundaries.”
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Disney opening American Idol Experience Feb. 14
By admin | January 6, 2009
An attraction inspired by the “American Idol” TV show offically opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Feb. 14.Walt Disney World guests can register to audition in front of a Disney casting director for a chance to take part in the theme park show. Contestants who make the cut must then audition for a Disney producer. Those selected by producers will perform in front of an onstage panel of judges and an audience of park guests who vote on each show’s winners. Performing guests with the highest votes compete in an end-of-day grand finale show at the attraction. The winner of that competition gets a guaranteed reservation, with no waiting in long lines, for a future regional audition for the real “American Idol” TV show. Details — including age restrictions and other eligibility requirements — at http://www.disneyworld.com/idol.
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Jetix and Disney tie up new distribution deal
By admin | January 6, 2009
The move, which will take effect from the beginning of July, brings the distribution of the Jetix kids’ channels into a portfolio that already includes Disney Channel, Disney Cinemagic, Playhouse Disney, Toon Disney and sports channels ESPN Classic and NASN.The deal with DAIT covers all platforms including cable and satellite, as well as digital services such as IPTV and PPV, and means Jetix will now reach more than 289 million television households in 80 countries and 25 languages worldwide.
Paul Taylor, chief executive of Jetix Europe, said that the new deal would allow the company to benefit from Disney’s strong market presence. “Channel distribution is a key revenue stream for us and I am confident that being part of this first class integrated distribution operation will deliver significant benefits over the medium to long term.”
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Academy Award Nominated Actress Angela Bassett Joins Walt Disney World Moms Panel with her Disney Vacation Tips
By admin | January 5, 2009
Celebrating an exceptional opening year, Disney Parks has launched its second consecutive Walt Disney World Moms Panel, www.disneyworldmoms.com. Academy Award nominated actress
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Disney dining bargain is all in the planning
By admin | January 5, 2009
There are a lot of decisions to make when planning a trip to Florida’s Walt Disney World, and they don’t end after you’ve selected a date, chosen a hotel, and booked your airfare. Perhaps the biggest challenge remains: Where to eat? Although that might seem like a minor concern, with all the choices of restaurants at the four main theme parks, the resort hotels, and locales such as Downtown Disney, deciding where to eat, and when, can take hours. One of the hardest choices - and the subject of much debate on Disney Web sites - is whether to participate in the Disney Dining Plan. This prepaid option provides most of your food for each day at the parks and hotels, but it comes at a hefty price.
The dining plan was introduced in 2005, and although it has changed - most significantly last year, when appetizers and tips were removed - it is popular among resort guests. That’s why reservations are now required for most Disney World sit-down restaurants, which can fill up months in advance.
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Bob Iger rocks Disney
By admin | January 5, 2009
Bob Iger is inside the Royal Festival Hall in London on a September afternoon, geeking out with some young guys about two of his favorite things: tunes and technology. The CEO of Walt Disney Co. pulls out his iPhone and thumbs through his playlists, looking for a particular live U2 track from an Italian concert. Briefly the conversation is drowned out by the squeals of teen girls standing behind a nearby barricade of security guards and velvet ropes. “They’re screaming for me,” Iger says, glancing up.He’s joking, well aware that they’re really screaming for his companions: Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas, a.k.a. the Jonas Brothers. The collectible-lunchbox-cute trio, with a median age of 18, are pop heartthrobs who a few weeks earlier became the first musical act ever to occupy three spots in the Billboard top-ten album chart in a single week.
They’re in London to promote their Disney Channel TV movie “Camp Rock.” And Iger is there - along with requisite Mickey and Minnie mascots working the red carpet outside.
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