Whit Honea is the author of The Parents' Phrase Book. He lives in the L.A. area with his wife and two boys. You can find his writings and other works all over the Internets. Now available on Twitter.
Movies Online has an interview with Phil McNally, Stereoscopic Supervisor for "Meet the Robinsons." Q: When you think about a 3D movie, do you think about it as if it were on a stage with real sets? PM: Yeah. I think that is a good comparison. It’s much more like a theatrical experience, in that… Read More »Meet Phil McNally
The Motley Fool’s Rick Aristotle Munarriz writes about the possibility of Disney getting back into community-building. There are several rival timeshare operators in the area, but most of the development taking place in the outskirts of Disney’s turf is for local residential property and vacation homes. Stubborn mortgage rates, high construction costs, and a glut… Read More »More Communities Around WDW?
It has to do with Disney’s opposition to the proposed permanent housing in the Anaheim Resort district.
Details after the jump (I get a little political again).
One of the reasons I wrote that most recent column on LaughingPlace.com was to tie together some developments in the business world around Disney, and seemingly peripheral Disney news into the larger context. It was with stories like this in mind.Movie Gallery has announced the acquisition of MovieBeam. Movie Gallery is the second largest U.S.… Read More »Another Video Rental Company Enters the Home
Phil Milford of Bloomberg News writes that Disney and other theme park companies are being sued over mangnetic roller coaster brakes. The other companies include Universal, Busch, Six Flags, and Cedar Fair. Safety Braking holds exclusive licenses to the patents, one from Magnetar Technologies Corp., based in Seal Beach, California, and the other from G&T… Read More »Magnetic Brakes Attract Lawsuit
Alltel may be looking for a buyer. The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that Little Rock, Ark.-based Alltel has solicited AT&T about a potential deal and has broached the subject with Verizon Communications and Sprint Nextel. Yet Alltel’s high market valuation could pose an obstacle to any deal. The mobile carrier is valued at almost… Read More »Another Telecom Merger in the Works?
The ever-aspiring muckraker Steve Lopez, in his Points West column in Sunday’s Los Angeles Times, pokes his finger in Disney’s chest. He writes about the seeming contradiction between the low wages of Disneyland cast members and Disney fighting "affordable" housing in the Anaheim Resort area.
But at the end of the workday, many of the people who work at the "Happiest Place on Earth" sleep on air mattresses, in by-the-week motel rooms and in apartments shared with other families.
"I’ve been at this motel since 1997," said Derrick, a Disney security guard who pays $209 a week rent. He spoke to me Thursday night while standing in the doorway of the room he shares with two elderly aunts at Arena Inn and Suites in Anaheim, about a mile from his job.
When I was working full-time as a Disneyland cast member, which wasn’t all that long ago, I was able to afford a bachelor apartment by myself within 15 minutes of the Resort.
First, Disney challenged the right of a council member to cast a vote on the housing because she intends to open a wine bar in the area and might have a conflict of interest.
More after the jump – be forewarned that I get politically opinionated.
Alex Dobuzinskis of the Los Angeles Daily News filed an update on Six Flags California, and by extension, Six Flags. He notes the family-friendly turn, which involves some prominent familiar brands. Brand names are playing a big part in the new strategy. Cold Stone Creamery will dish out the ice cream, Kodak will do the… Read More »Update on Six Flags Magic Mountain