Category: Disney
From cruisecritic.com:
Mickey Moose, anyone? You might see just that in 2010 because Disney Cruise Line is investigating the possibility of cruising Alaska.
Disney Cruise Line has applied for a 10-year permit (valid from 2010 to 2019) to visit Glacier Bay, one of the most popular destinations for scenic cruising on Alaska itineraries. Current regulations restrict the number of vessels that can visit this national park, as well as the number of days lines can have ships there throughout the season. Disney’s application for a permit is a clear sign that the line is considering offering Alaska cruises.
A spokeswoman for Disney Cruise Line confirms that Alaska cruises are in consideration, but says that the cruise line is always evaluating new itinerary possibilities. Indeed, Disney — known for its Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries — has tried out several new cruising regions over the past few years. Disney Magic tried out the Mediterranean in 2007 and the Mexican Riviera in 2005 and 2008. Next year, the ship will add two new Eastern Caribbean itineraries — one featuring Tortola and the other St. Croix, both new ports for the cruise line.
Might Disney send Magic to Alaska in 2010? Or is it seeking options for its new, larger ships, which will debut in 2011 and 2012? Right now it’s anyone’s guess but we’ll keep you posted as new developments occur.
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Posted by Dr. Disney on August 28, 2008 at 8:32 pm · Permalink
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Category: Disney, Movies
From marketwatch.com:
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment WDSHE proudly unveils five additions to the celebrated Platinum Collection of animated features to be released on DVD and for the first time ever on Disney Blu-ray Hi-Def. These include some of Disney’s most beloved classics, Pinocchio, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia, Fantasia 2000 and Beauty and the Beast. Each will be available for a limited time only, in new multi-disc sets featuring rarely seen footage and an array of new bonus features.
Fittingly the one that started it all for Walt Disney, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the first feature length animated film ever made, will be the title that will mark a new era in home entertainment around the world, launching Disney’s worldwide BD-Live Network, a revolutionary technological breakthrough in home entertainment that will connect family and friends, allowing unprecedented interactivity and ease, from anywhere in the world.
Disney’s BD-Live Network will be initially launched in the U.S. only, with the first Platinum Edition Blu-ray release, Sleeping Beauty 50th Anniversary Platinum Edition, available on October 7, 2008. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Dr. Disney on August 28, 2008 at 8:28 pm · Permalink
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Category: Misc, Disney
From marketwatch.com:
Officials from Florida Hospital today revealed new details about their visionary plans to shape the ‘Children’s Hospital of the Future,’ which will make a significant impact on children’s health throughout Central Florida and be a model for pediatric hospitals beyond the region.
The plans include sophisticated, interactive technology for patients; accomplished pediatric physicians who specialize in advanced, minimally invasive surgery; and a former United States Surgeon General who will provide leadership for the children’s health and policy platform. Administrators also unveiled the hospital’s new name, Disney Children’s Hospital at Florida Hospital. While The Walt Disney Company has long supported children’s hospitals both locally and around the world, Disney Children’s Hospital will be the first children’s hospital in history to bear the Disney name. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Dr. Disney on August 27, 2008 at 12:25 pm · Permalink
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Category: Misc, Disney
From informationweek.com:
Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios President Ed Catmull will receive the first Randy Pausch Prize from Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center.
Catmull will also present the keynote address at the seventh International Conference on Entertainment Computing (ICEC) on Sept. 26.
The award is named for Randy Pausch, who wrote “The Last Lecture,” a best-selling book that outlines how he achieved his childhood dreams and found joy in enabling others to achieve theirs. Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon computer scientist, died of pancreatic cancer July 25 at age 47. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Dr. Disney on August 27, 2008 at 10:00 am · Permalink
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Category: Disney, Movies
From washingtonpost.com:
Nothing says try new technology as much as a release of Disney classics in that format, and if anything will drive me to Blu-ray it well could be the originalFantasia. The animation-live-action mix is one of six animated films from the Disney NYSE: DIS vault picked to help sell Blu-ray players; the other “platinum” titles the NYT reports will be released over the next two years are Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, previously announced Sleeping Beauty and Fantasia 2000. The DVDs go a step further than the usual gimmicks by incorporating BD-Live, a technology we’ve written about before that meshes the disc and the internet. That equals interactivity?or at least the potential for it. Examples include virtual viewing parties with laptop or mobile chat comments showing up on screen and global trivia contests. The NYT also mentions something Disney calls “movie mail” that allows user video to show up within the “context of the movie.”
The goal is to move Blu-ray past the early adopters, Bob Chapek, president of Disney’s home entertainment unit, told the Times: “BD-Live is not a niche product. … We see mass adoption of the technology.” It’s the same philosophy Disney used to push adoption of the original DVDs by releasing Snow White; it’s been off the list since 2001.
But BD-LIve isn’t for the masses when it comes to cost; players require ethernet ports and are more expensive than straight Blu-ray.
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Posted by Dr. Disney on August 27, 2008 at 9:56 am · Permalink
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Category: Disney, Movies
From blogcritics.org:
What little girl in 1989 didn’t love The Little Mermaid? And what Disney fan wasn’t glad to see the animation studio once again create a classic, after years of such ho-hummers as The Black Cauldron, The Great Mouse Detective, and Oliver & Company? The latest direct-to-DVD feature installment, The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning, may not be deserving of “classic” status like the original, but should be entertaining for those now-grown-up fans and their own little girls.
As the title suggests, this prequel brings us back to a time in Atlantica before Ariel met Eric, and in fact, before she ever garnered an obsession with the world above the sea. It opens when Ariel and her sisters (who play a much larger role in this movie than the original—should we expect a “Mermaids” product line in Disney’s future?) were just little mermaids. King Triton’s hair and beard are orange, his wife is in the picture, they are very much in love, and music fills the kingdom. What destroys this joy is a tragic accident that kills Ariel’s mom. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Dr. Disney on August 26, 2008 at 9:02 am · Permalink
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Category: Misc
From marketwatch.com:
Merkle www.merkleinc.com, one of the nations largest and fastest growing database marketing agencies, announced the hiring of Chris Crayner to the position of senior vice president, customer management strategy. A marketing, technology and data professional with extensive experience in the entertainment, media and pharmaceutical markets, Crayner will play a key role in developing and leading marketing strategy for some of Merkles top clients.
Prior to joining Merkle, Crayner held technology leadership positions in the areas of brand management, customer relationship management CRM and business intelligence within The Walt Disney Company, which he joined in 2001. Most recently, Crayner was vice president, global customer managed relationships at Disney Parks and Resorts in Orlando. Earlier, he served as vice president, corporate technology - brand management at Disneys Burbank, Calif. headquarters, where he oversaw the implementation of a corporate-wide CRM initiative to unify the companys business divisions.
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Posted by Dr. Disney on August 26, 2008 at 8:59 am · Permalink
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Category: Disney, Collectibles
Someone has”Bolt” movie playing cards for sale already on Ebay. Looked like they are a promotional item. Thought the pictures of the characters were worth a look though:
Posted by Dr. Disney on August 25, 2008 at 12:34 pm · Permalink
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Category: Misc
Our reader’s report:
Saturday was a gorgeous day to be at the fair. Nothing says good morning at the fair like chocolate-covered bacon! (Oh, and I had some Sweet Martha’s cookies, too-the stands are next to each other right next to the Grandstand!) So, on to the Pig Lickers-they are chilled and served in a cone. I got about 6-7 pieces. Pig Lickers cost $5 and are definitely worth it! It is too simplistic to say that Pig Lickers are chocolate-covered bacon. As the StarTribune article you posted noted, Pig Lickers use Nueskes Applewood Smoked Bacon dipped in dark chocolate and sprinkled with coarse salt. Now, this may sound like a recipe for a cardiac event, but they are worth it (provided you like bacon, of course-my wife wasn’t interested, despite loving chocolate). They are tasty, with a hint of salty sweetness. The bacon was crisp, especially for having been chilled. The chocolate was a smooth, dark chocolate which complimented the bacon’s smoky flavor. The coarse salt balanced the chocolate without overpowering it. This is a taste treat that should become a favorite of every bacon loving fairgoer.
We also went back to the fair on Sunday and Famous Dave’s was out of Pig Lickers that morning. I don’t know if they were out for the morning, the day, or the rest of the fair (I doubt that).
(Apparently Jay Leno mentioned them on the Tonight Show and Good Morning America had samples flown in for their show. Famous Dave’s (a barbecue restaurant chain here in the Midwest that runs a booth at the MN State Fair) had ordered 28,000 pieces and they ran out in a day-and-a half! Apparently, more are on the way. - Dr. Disney)
Posted by Dr. Disney on August 25, 2008 at 12:21 pm · Permalink
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Category: Disney
From orlandosentinel.com:
Roughing it is not what it used to be, especially at Walt Disney World’s Fort Wilderness Campground.
Disney is quietly undertaking its broadest campground-improvements program in two decades, adding extra-extra-large camper pads for recreational vehicles, cable-TV and Internet service throughout, Segway scooter tours, a mini-water park, a dog park, and an improved electric-cart rental operation.
The program also is taking aim at invasive plant species such as potato vines, replacing such vegetation with fresh native plantings.
“The fort is a treasure at Walt Disney World. There really is so much history with the success of Walt Disney World that stems back to Fort Wilderness,” said Jean Gallagher, general manager of both Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort Campground. “And because of the nature of this property, and the theming, we really haven’t done a lot of changes. … We have not made a lot of investment from a site perspective in the 37 years we’ve been open. So this opportunity to meet what our guests are asking for, and how the industry has changed, this is more than we could expect.” Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Dr. Disney on August 25, 2008 at 10:15 am · Permalink
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