Disney News and Information — by fans, for fans

The local Fox news station is reporting that Reedy Creek Fire was dispatched to a report of smoke on Spaceship Earth at EPCOT. All guests were evacuated without incident and repairs were even under way by the time the fire crew got there. The cause, an electrical short. Apparently the ride was open for guests later in the day.

This smoke was reported in the loading and unloading zone, but what happens if it happens in the sacking of Rome scene? Inquiring minds want to know.

(Via)

Can Disney’s Alice In Wonderland slay the Blue beast that is Avatar? We’re going to find out in about 3 weeks. But first, it will have to push the popular film from its perch inside the various IMAX an 3D theaters around the globe. That won’t be easy.

You see, there just aren’t enough theaters capable of hosting 3D films to do justice to two 3D films being out at the same time. And since Avatar has been making lots of bank for those theater owners, they’re loathe to invite in an untested property. Thankfully Disney has secured many those theaters via distribution contracts. More on the conundrum in this audio piece at NPR.

Personally, I don’t think they have anything to worry about. The twin draws of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp will easily match the numbers Avatar has been pulling in recently.

Head to the theater March Hare… er March 5th or check out the official website here.

Super Bowl XLIV MVP Drew Brees joins Mickey Mouse Feb. 8, 2010 in a celebratory parade in the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fl. Brees, the quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, is the latest celebrity to star in the “I’m Going to Disney World!” and “I’m Going to Disneyland” commercials which aired only hours after the NFL championship game ended. Brees led his team to a 31-17 victory over the AFC champion Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami. (Photo courtesy Disney. Kent Phillips, photographer)

Pictured above we have a newly released rendering of the main lobby area for Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa. Disney Imagineer Joe Rhode has been dispatched to keep an careful eye on the project and it looks like his background will come in very handy.

The highly anticipated Disney destination resort currently under construction on the Hawaiian island of O‘ahu now has an official name and a dynamic new Web site offering an inside look at the project. The resort’s name – Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai‘i – reflects the company’s deep commitment to celebrating the islands’ rich history and traditions. Plans call for the first phase of the resort to open in fall 2011.

Disney has launched a new preview Web site, www.DisneyAulani.com, to provide updates and background information on the resort now under construction. The site also details some of the adventures and amenities under development, and includes conceptual art, descriptions of resort highlights, regularly updated resort information and photos of Aulani as it nears completion. (Artist Concept/Proposed. ©2010 The Walt Disney Co.)

If you watched the Super Bowl tonight you saw a hard fought game between two deserving teams. But one team had destiny on their side, and a city on their backs. That team was the New Orleans Saints the champions of Super Bowl XLIV.

So how is New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees celebrating his heroic play in Super Bowl XLIV? He’s going to Walt Disney World

In the frenzied moments just after his team claimed the National Football League championship Sunday night in South Florida, Brees stood in front of a TV camera and shouted five words that have become an almost iconic reaction to milestone achievements: “I’m going to Disney World!”

Brees’s pronouncement, part of the production for one of TV’s most enduring and celebrated commercials, was captured after the Saints’ 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts – a game during which he earned the MVP honor, completing a Super Bowl record-tying 32 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns. He was 16-for-17 in the second half, twice leading the Saints from behind. It added up to be a catalyst for the Saints’ first Super Bowl celebration in team history.

On Monday (Feb. 8), Brees is scheduled to go to the place where millions of vacationers celebrate their personal milestone moments – Walt Disney World Resort. He is to be joined in the Magic Kingdom by NFL Youth Football players, who will participate with the Saints star in a Super Bowl celebration parade down Main Street, U.S.A. The parade is scheduled for 11:55 a.m. at the Magic Kingdom.

This latest commercial is the 42nd of a series that began in 1987 following Super Bowl XXI. The first “I’m going to Disney World” commercial, featuring New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, was regarded as a groundbreaking concept – a produced national commercial involving a current event, airing on major networks within hours of its conclusion. Brees joins a lineup of people from sports and beyond who have celebrated milestone accomplishments in “I’m going to Disney World” commercials.

follow below the jump for a history of the “What’s Next” commercial:

[Read more →]

Jeffrey “Sparky” Katzenberg talks with Forbes magazine about 10 minutes that changed his life. That, of course, was when he was fired from the Walt Disney Company. I’ve heard some pretty mean things about Katzenberg and the way he behaved while lording over the studios, but I’m feeling a little softer to him after reading this piece. He has some very nice things to say about his time furthering Walt’s legacy.

The string of closures impacting Disney Stores across North America continues. This time a store in Fort Wayne, Indiana gets the axe. This appears to be part of a strategy by The Disney Stores to take advantage of the down commercial real estate market and negotiate some better rental rates for the new more interactive Apple store influenced stores that will start to open around the country later this year.

If that means The Disney Store can afford to offer better merchandise at lower prices, then by all means go ahead. But closing stores to shift merchandise purchases on line, well they already tried that and it didn’t work so well.

With The Princess and the Frog opening in more countries overseas, such as the UK, it’s time for a second wave of publicity for the movie. For instance, here’s a fun little interview with Disney Animator Andreas Deja, who was the lead animator on Mama Odie. Somewhat of a departure for Deja who specializes in Villains.