Disney News and Information — by fans, for fans

I’m approaching the end of my first month on the job hunt. Like the American Adventure, I know there’s a Golden Dream of a job out there for me. In fact, I’ve had a number of great interviews and still have some wonderful opportunities ahead of me. Until those solidify, I’m continuing my search.

The skills I’ve acquired running and promoting The Disney Blog, and in my professional career, apply to internet marketing, managing eCommerce, and to managing an online community or brand. I’ve also recently managed a CRM Database, written procedures and manuals, and trained employees.

I’ve also started to blog about searching for a job in the social media age on my other blog – OrlandoNext. Hopefully this might help others who are in the same position as I.

Whether or not you know of any opportunities in the Orlando, Fl area, I invite you to connect with me on LinkedIn, Facebook, and/or Emurse and be a part of my job search network. If you have a few minutes to review my resume (see Emurse link), offer suggestions, or help me refine my job search, please contact me via email.

Anika Noni Rose, Princess Tiana, takes us on a very special journey through the music from The Princess and the Frog. The soundtrack hits stores November 24th or pre-order it now from Amazon. Save over 25% if you pre-order.

Also see here’s the music video for “Never Knew I Needed” by Ne-Yo (opens in new window as embedding is disabled)

It’s Friday Night. If you’re not out watching High School Football, then perhaps you’re planning your next trip to Walt Disney World. Me? I’m posting the latest Disney news and links roundup.

• Trevor Hogg is writing a three-part profile on Pixar Studios being posted by the UK film website Flickering Myth. Part Two will be posted on Nov. 11 and Part Three on Nov. 18.
• A.O. Scott of the New York Times actually gives “A Christmas Carol” a positive review. Other than a few uncanny valley problems and a weak third act, he thinks Zemeckis did justice to the subject matter. Might be a bit scary for the young ones, however.
• A giant Mickey Mouse balloon will appear in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year. This raises an interesting quandry as traditionally, the floats and balloons appear at Universal Studios Orlando after the New York event.
• If you like “V” on ABC tune in to a special ‘Social Commentary‘ this Saturday. Show experts and fans can leave their commentary as the show streams online.
• Bloomberg News reports on some of the Chinese villagers who will be relocated to make way for Shanghai Disneyland.
• It’s interesting to see how fears of contracting swine flu while on vacation at a Disney themepark are playing across the pond.
• Meanwhile, it’s not the flu, but the sick economy that is delaying the construction of Disney World’s West Gate development – Flamingo Crossing.
• Don’t forget to go register for “Townsquare” the official forums of The Disney Blog. Over 100 have already signed up.
• Finally, check out this list of the 5 coolest new theme parks. Anything you think they’re missing?

Well, this episode was a good deal better than the last.  We finally get an answer to whether the futures seen in the flashes can be changed, as well as a heck of an unexpected cliff-hanger.  That and an almost word-for-word replay of a scene from the premiere of “V” two days earlier (perhaps they themselves were having a flash-forward…).  What more could you want?

1) Our Heroes’ private lives continue to be tossed in turmoil as the effects of their seemingly inevitable flashes continue to mount.  We find out who the Blue Hand group is, apparently – a “death cult” of sorts, made up of those who saw nothing during their blackouts and presumably have nothing to live for.  Mark, Demetri (still can’t get used to why people call him “Dem”) and Al attempt to infiltrate one such meeting.  We watch a quick Russian Roulette-type interrogation with an old codger of a gatekeeper and see Al step in to immediately pull the trigger on himself.  In light of events at the end of the episode, I wonder if even then he was seeking ways to “break the pattern” and prove to himself that he can prevent what’s to come.

I love Alex Kingston – she was one of my favorite parts of watching “ER” back in the day – and I’m glad she’s at least a recurring part of the cast.  I wonder now, since Al’s suicide, if she will remain or go back to England.  Hopefully we’ll see her again.

Not much more to add to Al’s Leap of Faith – yes, there were probably still other things he could have done to prevent the accidental killing of “Celia” (whoever she was, and however it would have happened).  I still can’t believe nothing like this hasn’t happened to somebody around the world already – an accident, a suicide, a sense of invulnerability and immunity to harm based on seeing themselves alive 6 months hence.  But now it has, and we can put that speculation aside (finally).  The future can be changed – there’s no doubting it anymore.  Demetri can save himself and still get married to his fiancee.  Mark and Olivia and prevent their respective “indiscretions” (how wonderful was that hug between them at the end? Like a drowning man suddenly tossed a life preserver).  And Fiona can save the little bird :)

2) Aaron receives another key component to his flashforward, a pocketknife belonging to his (presumably dead) daughter given to him by the soldier who was with her when she was lost.  I didn’t trust the young soldier at first, and thought perhaps he was party to the people who either rescued or kidnapped her after the attack and was sent to eliminate her dad (or at least distract him from pursuing the truth) but it seems he was on the up and up.  I wonder if he’ll join Aaron in his search–

Oh, wait.  No need.  Dear Daughter just turned up back at Aaron’s home!  “Hi Daddy! What’s for dinner?” the formerly missing, formerly dead soldier seemingly says to him from the kitchen table.  Now, assuming this is not a cheat – another flash, a dream, a vision, a hallucination – his daughter is in fact alive and well and living in L.A.  Not much more to go on, but I still wonder if the Corporal might be involved in her now return…  Have to wait till next week.

3) Babysitter Nicole somehow luckily knows Japanese (her father was stationed in Okinawa when she was a kid and she remembers some of the language) so in her new hospital volunteer role, she’s suddenly all buddy-buddy with Dr. Despair-turned-Optimist Bryce.  We finally get a glimpse of his flash – an evening spent out with an apparently hypnotic Japanese lady, and a mysterious Oriental character seen behind her.  Nicole completes and translates the character for him, which tells him…not much.  His search goes on.  I like how his suicide-to-hope changed mirrors Al’s hope-to-suicide development.  It would be nice if that dichotomy is pursued.   We still need to learn eventually what drove him to almost jump off that pier in the series premiere – there’s a lot we don’t know about Bryce and I think parts will be key to the whole mystery.

4) Who is the mysterious lady (I forgot the name already) spelled out in the bracelet that Simon is holding in his (brief) part of the ending montage?  I’m going to hope he didn’t steal it from the woman he met on the train last week :)

5) The interactions between Olivia and Lloyd are both cute and painful to watch, as they struggle to prevent any possible attraction or connection between them.  I think this very struggle may lead to a mutual attraction, despite their efforts.

6) A month after the blackouts and downtown buildings in LA are still covered with tarp from all those choppers and planes that crashed into them?  What kind of shoddy workmen are they hiring down there? :)

7) Back to the flashes very quickly – we’re starting to get small bits of information about the nature of the blackouts and why people saw what they saw (or didn’t see) but there’s still a big question to be answered regarding Mark’s Fox Mulder Memorial Bulletin Board of Conspiracy ™ – that of, in a future 6 months down the road supposedly when the blackouts hadn’t happened,  how he has obtained all of these clues?   I think we may find out that Mark’s flash is of a different nature than the others in some way, since it was more prescient-seeming than others we’ve seen.

Time will tell.

Barry

Every year at the beginning of the Holiday season my family went to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in New York City. When I attended in the early and mid-nineties the show included a version of “A Christmas Carol”, which to this day I still remember vividly and brings me back to the wonder of the holiday season in New York. Needless to say I entered with high expectations and hopes that Disney’s A Christmas Carol could return that sense of child-like wonderment.

As always The El Capitan was an assault on the senses. The garlands strung across the red suede draped interior wall between the lobby and the theater are the first evidence of Christmas cheer. As you head to your seats the huge garlands strung across the sides of the theater lovingly usher you into the holidays. Rob Richards’ fabulous renditions of Christmas songs on The “Mighty Wurlitzer” are the final touch completely enveloping you in the holiday spirit.

At the El Capitan, Disney often likes to create pre-shows for their movies which usually involve the featured characters appearing and dancing to a musical number. This is fun and the children love it. While marketed as “Disney’s Holiday Spectacular”, I expected something similar. I was wrong. The Disney Holiday Spectacular is a large production with five characters and 10 singers and dancers, not to mention multiple sets and numbers. I was completely blown away by what Disney put on; all of the classic Christmas carols are included. The show goes out with a bang, which I wouldn’t want to spoil, but let’s just say it involves high-kicks that rival the Rockettes and a little white Christmas. Usually the pre-shows at the El Capitan are mostly for the kids, but by the last number I doubt there was anyone who wasn’t singing along.

Robert Zemeckis has created a movie, which is not only a wonderful and fitting adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel, but one that also manages to do so while appealing to the whole family. Some have questioned whether it is appropriate for children and while there are some frightening scenes all the kids in my screening handled it very well. This latest rendition of A Christmas Carol breathes life into a story so prevalent it has descended into cliché and manages to imbue the Christmas spirit in each viewer.

I’ve often questioned the use of motion capture technology and 3D as they seemed to be a gimmicks not necessary to enhance the plot, A Christmas Carol has given me at least one example where this is not true. These technologies as well as the ability of director Robert Zemeckis help you fly through London and into Ebenezer Scrooge’s past, without even getting dizzy. This film made me glad that Disney had not attempted this earlier, because I can’t imagine a better film. As soon as I left the theater I wanted to see it again, I hoping I can wait to go with my family, on Christmas day.

If you live in the Los Angeles area I highly recommend you check this out at the El Capitan, where it is playing until January 3rd, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Even if you don’t live in Los Angeles it’s worth checking out in the theaters, as Robert Zemeckis’ use of 3D is by far the best I’ve seen.

I’m proud to announce that “Townsquare“, the official forum for The Disney Blog, is now in open beta. That means there will probably be a few changes, but it’s essentially stable and ready to host all the great discussions I know this community is capable of.

Registering is easy. Just head to http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare (or click the ‘forums’ button at the top of this page) and click where it says ‘register’ in the middle of the page. Or you can go right there by clicking here. Enter your information and a password will be sent to the email you provide. (You may need to check your spam folder to find the email.)

I created Townsquare because I think every community needs a place to mingle. In small town America the town square was a place for the community to gather and discuss the latest news, share rumors, and socialize. Walt Disney built a town square in each of his Magic Kingdoms that served much the same function.

Please be sure to read our Community Guidelines before posting. Then once you’re ready, post about anything Disney related (or use the Holidayland area for non-Disney topics). I hope you’ll find The Disney Blog’s Townsquare a great place to mingle and be a Disney fan and to meet other Disney fans.

One last little bit to share from the media event for Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee at the Magic Kingdom. I got the chance to meet and interview Tara Anderson, Show Director from Creative Entertainment at Walt Disney World Resort.

Her previous work at the Magic Kingdom includes the Move It! Shake It Celebrate It! Street Party – which shares a very similar energy to Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee. A good thing in my book.

In the three and a half minute interview we discuss coordinating development of the show on both coasts, the song choices, and more.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Update: The Disneyland Version will officially open tomorrow. The LA Times has a preview.

When the Walt Disney Company set out to build a theme park in Hong Kong there were a lot of questions. Would the Chinese take to the American style theme park? Would the Disney characters resonate with a population that had previously had little exposure to them? Just who was the audience for the park?

Fortune Magazine looks at some of the lessons Disney can take away from their experience in Hong Kong that might serve them well in future expansion into Asia markets.

[Disney] failed to gauge local tastes, opened with a park that was too small to meet the grandiose expectations of its clientele, made some public relations mistakes early on, and took too long to adapt to local food, culture, and tastes, according to Allan Zeman, the chairman of the rival Ocean Park theme park in Hong Kong.

“Disney, on the other hand, came in very American,” Zeman says. “Disney was a big brand, not really understanding the culture at the beginning. They had everything run out of the U.S. At the beginning there was a sense of arrogance: ‘We’re Disney, and don’t tell us how to run a theme park.’”

Hong Kong Disneyland also earned the wrath of the Hong Kong press corps by taking a long time to respond to queries with answers that had to be approved through U.S. headquarters

In hindsight it’s obvious Disney didn’t know what they were getting into when they built Hong Kong Disneyland. Let’s hope they’ve done their homework for Shanghai?

I’d like to welcome back our newest guest author S. Divnich, who will be covering “V” here on The Disney Blog. – Ed.

It seems like we’ve been waiting forever, but the Visitors finally showed up last night with the premiere of V, ABC’s newest sci-fi offering.

The episode opened with an attempt to make it personal – captions reading “Where were you when JFK was assassinated? Where were you on 9/11?” led into “Where were you this morning?” So right off the bat, anyone who has not seen any advance info about this show is going to know – something big’s about to happen.

Tuesday, 6:30 a.m. Having asked “Where were you?” the first block shows us where (and who) our main players are. FBI Agent Erica Evans (Elizabeth Mitchell) awakens to her house shaking. She finds her son Tyler (Logan Huffman) is not in his bed and gets him on the cell, to find he’s in the ER, and barely feeling bad about it. This theme is going to play strong on this show – Erica wants to protect her son, but he’s not going to make it easy for her.

Newsman Chad Decker (Scott Wolf) is showering and heading into work. Ryan Nicholls (Morris Chestnut) is buying an engagement ring. Father Jack is opening the church doors. Val, Ryan’s girlfriend, is at home. It’s difficult to show simultaneous action on a TV show, and the pace felt a little off. We get a shaking water glass next to Erica right off the bat, but it’s several minutes before we see Val’s shaking coffee cup, FJ’s shaking light fixture, Ryan’s ring jumping around on the counter. Regardless, things start to shake, rattle and roll, and you can tell they’re not earthquake-savvy Californians – rather than run to the nearest doorway, Val seems to try to stop her bookshelves from falling over first.

In the street, Ryan does what so many of us have done since 9/11, what must be second-nature to New Yorkers by now – he looks to the sky to see what’s falling. The writers don’t disappoint – the fighter jet falling out of the sky gave me a lurch of déjà vu that was most unpleasant. Eight years later, and not even American, and I can recall the footage from 9/11 in a heartbeat. It brings a tear to my eye every time.

The giant Mother Ships darken the sky and all hell breaks loose. They could have saved some money by inserting footage from movies past – as one onscreen citizen put it, “This IS Independence Day.” And Deep Impact, and The Day After Tomorrow, and so many other running-from-the-end-of-the-world scenes. Conveniently placed TVs show newscasters reporting similar Mother Ships hovering over 29 major cities around the world.

The introduction of Visitors is very cool compared to the 1983 version (more on the comparison later). The bottom of the Mother Ships morphs into a giant movie-screen type thing. On the ground, we see Erica’s maternal “get behind my arm kid, I’ll protect you” gesture with Tyler. Erica’s a mother bear, through and through. And then, like a benevolent supreme being from on high, Anna’s smiling face gazes down on the planet.

[Read more →]