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February 2009

New Star Wars Big-Figs Revealed

For the last few years Star Wars Weekends have brought some pretty nice new Star Wars themed Disney merchandise, or is that Disney themed Star Wars merchandise? Well, I guess it depends on your perspective. But I digress. For many, chief among these were the… Read More »New Star Wars Big-Figs Revealed

Welcome Texans! But Sorry, No Disney Park For You.

I’m suddenly getting tons of traffic from a story in the Dallas News rehashing the rumors of the Walt Disney Company building a new theme park on a plot of land it supposedly owns north of Dallas, Texas. I have to say, don’t get your… Read More »Welcome Texans! But Sorry, No Disney Park For You.

Do your travel plans include Disney this year?

You know the economy is bad when the New York Times is telling its readers how to save money. This weekend the Times ran a report on all the great discounts being offered by Disney’s theme parks and resorts to attraction guests. It’s a pretty… Read More »Do your travel plans include Disney this year?

Animator James Baxter Featured in Los Angeles Times

Disney and DreamWorks Animation veteran James Baxter gets a too-short look in the Los Angeles Times.  Cristy Lytal brings it to us. “I love doing the Disney stuff,” he says, “but it was nice to show that I could do other things, to get something… Read More »Animator James Baxter Featured in Los Angeles Times

ESPN The Weekend 2009, More Details

Disney has released more details about ESPN The Weekend a one-of-a-kind sports-themed special event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park Feb. 27-March 1. Surprisingly, there doesn’t appear to be one person announced as the host this year. ESPN personalities John Anderson, Colin Cowherd, Jay Crawford,… Read More »ESPN The Weekend 2009, More Details

Not all bad news at Walt Disney World

A story on WESH.com reveals it’s not all bad news at Walt Disney World as far as cast member layoffs are concerned. In fact, Disney’s Casting Center continues to hire new employees. Union workers, including characters, custodians and many people on the front lines have… Read More »Not all bad news at Walt Disney World

American Idol Experience – Backstage Video

This is the first video, not shot by Disney, I’ve seen of the backstage areas of the American Idol Experience. These are the areas that only guests who successfully pass the 30-second a cappella audition and the producer’s requirements ever see. But now thanks to… Read More »American Idol Experience – Backstage Video

Friday Morning Roundup – Disney Links and News

It’s Friday morning and time to close some of my open tabs by passing those links along in what is perhaps a more brusque fashion than the topics really deserve. My apologies in advance.

  • A woman who missed her journey on the Titanic celebrates her 100th birthday in style at Disneyland. Great feel good story.
  • Gardenwalk, the formerly vaperware mall that finally opened adjacent to Disneyland last year, is having mixed results for its tenants. Frankly, they’re lucky any guests are coming in this economy.
  • Disney Channel rolled out Disney XD this week and Amy Quinn, who calls herself Citizen Mom, takes on Disney’s attempt to market to boys, her boy in particular.
  • IDEAS a design and marketing studio, previously located in the backlot offices of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, has moved to new digs in downtown Orlando.
  • The Orlando Sentinel reports that Disney and other theme parks continue to spend money lobbying the government for various projects even while they’re cutting back on other expenses.
  • KryptonLogic.com believes in the rumors that Star Tours 2.0 is coming soon, or at least a formal announcement of it’s eventual installment is. May 2010 is the expected date. Also remember Star Wars Weekends is coming beginning in the last two weekends of May this year. A great place to make the announcement if you ask me.
  • I’ve updated my list of ‘Dream Ticket’ winners from Disney’s American Idol Experience attraction. Still a few holes to plug, but I’m getting more names. Thanks for your help in continuing to provide the names of the winners. Photos or confirmation to help verify winners names are also appreciated.
  • I particularly enjoyed this description of the American Idol Experience Premiere weekend by Billboard Magazines ‘Jaded Insider’ blog.

Finally, below the cut meet TOFU. He’s a robot that emulates the ‘squash and squat’ techniques of Disney animation developed by students at MIT. I hope someone from Imagineering already has this inventor on the phone.

Read More »Friday Morning Roundup – Disney Links and News