Weekend at the Museum

WDWNT on February 25, 2009

For those of you interested in Disney Pin Trading, the 2009 Pin Celebration at Epcot (titled the Museum of Pin-Tiquities)  is just a few months away and registration opens today at 2:00 PM EST. Even though I have been involved in the hobby since it began in October 1999, this is the first major pin even I will be attending. John Rick and myself will be there on behalf of the Disney Pincast and hope to see you at the museum as well. All of the details on the event and how to register can be found below:

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Disney Pin Celebration 2009 – The Museum of Pin-tiquities
June 26-28, 2009
Epcot® – World ShowPlace

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Disney Pin Traders from around the world are cordially invited to celebrate the “10,000” year history of Disney Pin Trading during Disney Pin Celebration 2009 – The Museum of Pin-tiquities. This three-day, grand opening gala will be held from Friday, June 26 through Sunday, June 28, 2009 in World ShowPlace at Epcot®.

Presented in conjunction with the Epcot® Committee For Celebrating Disney Pins, The Department of Tradeology and Fellowship of Happy Traders, this event will feature unique Disney pins created for the Museum’s opening, Disney pin trading activities, a silent and live auction of artifacts direct from the Museum’s vault and much more.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT
Registration Opens Feb. 25, 2009 (2:00 p.m. Eastern)

Event admission is $115 per Guest.
**See below for special early booking discount**
(Event admission does not include Theme Park admission to Epcot® but is required to attend.)

EVENT ADMISSION INCLUDES:

-Opportunity to pre-purchase limited edition pins designed especially for this event.
-“Purchase with Purchase” pin promotion for event Guests only featuring exclusive pins.
-Trading activities and games at World ShowPlace located at Epcot®.
-Limited edition commemorative gifts.
-Live and silent auctions of pre-production pins, artist proof pins and more.
-“First Trading Opportunity” to collect new Hidden Mickey pins.
-Opportunity to meet Disney Pin Partners from The Walt Disney Company.
-Two (2) $15 Gift Cards redeemable at Epcot® Food and Beverage locations.
-Plus extra special surprises throughout the event.

EARLY REGISTRATION PIN:
Guests that register for this event by March 25, 2009 will received one (1) limited edition early registration pin. The edition size of this pin will be determined once early registration has been completed.

EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT:
Guests that register for this event by April 25, 2009 will receive an early booking discount. The early booking admission for this event will be $100.00 per Guest. After April 25, 2009, the event admission will be $115.00 per Guest. Event admission does not include theme park admission to Epcot®.

Star Wars: Return of the Big Figures

WDWNT on February 25, 2009

Those of you attending any of the Star Wars Weekends events at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in May or June will be happy to know that Disney will once again be releasing a collection of big figures featuring four of the fab five dressed as classic saga characters:

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Mickey as Luke Skywalker with Yoda & Minnie as Princess Leia from Jabba’s Palace

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Goofy as Chewbacca & Donald as Han Solo in Carbonite

Each of these is limited to 600 pieces, with 500 of each available at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and 100 of each at the Disneyland Resort. They will all retail for $195 and will be the final pieces in the long running Star Wars big figure series.

Jungle Cruise Skippers Ship Out to Tokyo

WDWNT on February 25, 2009

Here’s more information and background on the two Jungle Cruise skippers heading to Tokyo Disneyland according to the OC Register’s Around Disney blog:

Kevin Lively and Mickey Wright are two wisecracking men who take their craft seriously –- so much so that they’ve been vetted by Disney executives to represent the Anaheim operation at a Tokyo summit.

This professional conference –- Friday through March 6 –- will be a lot more entertaining than most.

Disneyland is sending Lively and Wright, two of its Jungle Cruise skippers, to Tokyo for a nine-day round-table forum on “jungle humor” with skippers from three other Disney theme parks.

The Jungle  Cruise, of course, takes passengers in a boat around a winding, vegetation-shrouded river filled with animatronic jungle animals and spear-wielding residents. The skipper spouts off a continuous stream of corny jokes.

“You can’t lose with cannibalism,” Lively said on picking the right note of humor for the ride. “I like when we have kids on board, because to them, the ride is 100-percent real.”

Lively, 23, of Fullerton has worked at the park since summer 2007. He said he likes working with kids — he helped direct childrens theater in college.

Wright, 58, of Lake Forest started in November 2007 after he got hired at a Disney job fair. Though he said his friends figured he’d be a natural when they found out he got the job, Wright struggled with the script at first.

“The truth is, I actually had a hard time with the spiel,” he said. “I have a little ADD and all the distractions were hard to deal with.”

He’s a pro, now though, as evidenced by his selection for the Tokyo visit.

In Tokyo, skippers from Disneyland, the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, the Tokyo Disney Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland will tour the park there and trade tips on the best spiels and practices for running the Jungle Cruise.

The trip is part of a promotion by the company that operates Tokyo Disney — it’s the 25th anniversary of that park. The company decided to fulfill 25 employees’ wishes this year. This conference is a result of Kenichi Ito, a supervisor for the Tokyo Jungle Cruise.

The competition began in January from among the 60 skippers. Feb. 6, the six finalists had to do their act before a panel of execs, including Pixar chief John Lasseter and Imagineering chief Tony Baxter.

The majority of the skippers speak English, but a translator will be available for those who don’t. Also, the skippers will get to experience the Tokyo Disney Ride in Mandarin, Cantonese and Japanese.

The Disneyland Jungle Cruise is one of the park’s original rides — it opened with the park in 1955.

Slumdog Millionaire Cast Has a Blast at Disneyland

WDWNT on February 24, 2009

According to the OC Register’s Around Disney blog:

The seven child actors who played in Oscar-winning “Slumdog Millionaire” spent the day in Disneyland today.

Their trip down the red carpet at the Academy Awards ceremony last night, and then their jaunt to the “happiest place on earth” today was a far cry from their typical days living in the slums of India.

The kids’ handlers wanted the event to be private, and therefore Disney put a strict ban on media.

They did agree, however, to send the photos above. To read more about the “Slumdog Millionaire” cast, click here.

Celebrate! Dreams Come True at Disneyland

WDWNT on February 24, 2009

Some exciting news for you Disneyland entertainment fans. Remember Dreams Come True, Disneyland’s fireworks spectacular will be permanently returning to Disneyland on Sunday, March 8th and will be showing for all of March, and we presume up through early November. As previously reported, parades will return to Disneyland in the form of the new “Celebrate! A Street Party” on Friday, March 27th (at least that’s the current date, subject to change as with anything).

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today as I will be at the Resort for both the return of Remember Dreams Come True and the debut of “Celebrate! A Street Party”.

Disney’s California Food and Wine Festival Celebrates Flavors of the World in 2009

WDWNT on February 24, 2009

Tickets for Premier Events Go On Sale Beginning Feb. 24;
 Hundreds of Culinary and Tasting Experiences Are Complimentary 

ANAHEIM, Calif., February 19, 2009 — Disney’s California Food and Wine Festival will celebrate the international cultures, people, food and traditions that have made California one of the most diverse culinary destinations in the world. With a theme of “World Celebration,” the Festival expands to six weeks in 2009 – April 24 through June 7 – featuring daily complimentary demonstrations and premier ticketed events at Disney’s California Adventure park and throughout the Resort.

Tickets for the premier events – which include unique opportunities to go “Behind the Scenes With …” celebrity chefs and winemakers – go on sale beginning Tuesday, Feb. 24, at www.disneyland.com/foodandwine.

More than 600 complimentary experiences will be available at the fourth annual Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival, including culinary demonstrations, children’s programs and wine and spirits seminars. In addition, food and wine aficionados will get tips from Disneyland Resort chefs, mingle with noted winemakers and celebrate at the spectacular ticketed events, including the gala Festival finale “Taste Food-Wine-Life.”

“The 2009 Disney’s California Food and Wine Festival will take guests on a delicious journey around the globe,” said Gary Maggetti, director of food and beverage for Disneyland Resort theme parks. “We invite guests to celebrate their favorite foods and wines with our great variety of events, and to explore new tastes and flavors with our outstanding chefs and wine experts.”

Food & Wine Festival events held in Disney’s California Adventure require park admission, which is not included in the event price. Some events may require an additional fee and pre-registration.

Featured celebrity chefs, including Guy Fieri of the Food Network, along with nearly 100 Disneyland Resort chefs will conduct cooking demonstrations that showcase their talents and an international mix of delectable dishes. Guests will collect cooking tips while they watch the pros in action, discovering new twists on timeless classics and sampling the festival cuisine. Guests will also taste delicious festival-inspired dishes at the Wine Country Trattoria, Pacific Wharf Café, Farmer’s Market and other eateries inside Disney’s California Adventure park. 

New Events for 2009

Guests will enjoy several new signature events this year.

  • Behind the Scenes With… – Unique opportunities to share food, wine and conversation with cooking personalities from popular television programs and celebrity winemakers. The stars include Guy Fieri (“Guy’s Big Bite”), Keegan Geerhard (“Food Network Challenge), Tommy Lasorda (Lasorda Wines), and John and Nancy Lasseter (Lasseter Family Winery). The evenings begin with tasty appetizers and exquisite wines, followed by question-and-answer sessions hosted by Chef Jamie Gwen.
  • Sweet Sundays – The sweetest of all events features a light buffet breakfast and sparkling wine at the Golden Vine Winery at Disney’s California Adventure. Guests will see demonstrations and taste three signature desserts created by acclaimed pastry chefs, including chefs from Sweet Cheeks Baking Co. in San Diego and Cake Monkey Bakery in Los Angeles.
  • Festival Wine Walks – Guests will explore wines of the world, or a single region, when they purchase a tasting passport and select up to four tastes of spectacular wines. A tasting tour that features craft brews will also be available. Delicious wine country tapas that complement the beer and wine will be available at The Lounge at the Golden Vine Winery.
  • World Celebration Dinners – Disneyland Resort chefs will create an elegant menu that blends the food, wine and celebrations of regions around the world. France, Japan, Korea, Italy and Spain will be featured.
  • Master Sommelier Michael Jordan, of the award-winning Napa Rose restaurant, will add a new class to his “Introduction to Wine Tasting.” The “Advanced Wine Class” includes three two-hour sessions that take guests to the next level in their knowledge of wine regions, varietals, growing and harvesting style. Both entertaining classes will offer training as well as a blind tasting to test the participants’ skills. 

Popular Returning Events
Events returning for 2009 feature Disneyland Resort chefs and premier winemakers.

  • Winemaker Dinners – Disneyland Resort chefs will partner with premier California winemakers to prepare outstanding culinary delights at six exclusive “Winemaker Dinners,” on selected Friday nights. Each Festival meal will be paired with award-winning vintages and served at Steakhouse 55, inside the Disneyland Hotel.
  • Napa Rose Cooking School – Disney Executive Chef Andrew Sutton will once again lead this hands-on course that sells out quickly. Each class will create and enjoy a themed meal paired with wines and each class member will go home with an official chef’s coat to commemorate the experience. This amazing opportunity takes place in the show kitchen of the renowned Napa Rose restaurant at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Guests must be at least 18 years of age and advance reservations are required.
  • Festival Wine Receptions – Guests will have an opportunity to enjoy a beautiful sunset and weekend evening under the stars, on the patio of the Golden Vine Winery inside Disney’s California Adventure park. While sampling from a variety of selected wines and enjoying hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, guests will meet fellow wine enthusiasts, make new friends and discover new favorite wines. 

For more details and pricing information, visit www.disneyland.com/foodandwine

“Are You 23?”

WDWNT on February 24, 2009

Over the last few months, the Walt Disney Company has been running a huge viral marketing campaign asking “Are You 23?”. The ads have been very visible on various company websites and Disney even launched a website (www.disney.com/23) where you can sign-up to be the first to know what this campaign is all-about. I was informed a few weeks ago that this campaign would most likely lead to some sort of Disney merchandise fan club, but I was reluctant to release any details until we had more substantial information. If these pin pictures are any proof, the rumors are true:

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Some other rumors we have heard about “D23” claim that the club will have an undisclosed annual fee, offer discounts on Disney merchandise, hold an annual convention at one of the domestic Disney Resorts, and offer exclusive “member-only” merchandise through Disney Shopping. We can not confirm any of these rumors at this time, but Disney is scheduled to release all of the details on March 10. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as we get more information on “D23” and the “Are You 23?” campaign.

(Note: If you are from another media outlet and wish to use these photos, we only ask that you link back to wdwnewstoday.com as it is the same common courtesy we extend to our sources. thank you.)

“Are You 23?”

WDWNT on February 23, 2009

Our sister site WDW News Today has been tracking the development of the secret promotion Disney is currently promoting, which asks the question “Are You 23?”. Everyone has been wondering since these ads started popping up, just what would this “Are You 23?” thing be? As Tom stated on WDW News Today, it will most likely turn out to be some sort of a Disney merchandise fan club, and this product release and signing on March 14th adds extra strength to that rumor:

Dave Pacheco Product Release & Signing – “Are you 23?”
Date: Saturday, March 14, 2009
Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Location: Disneyana Shop, Main Street, U.S.A.

Join us as we welcome Disney Master Artist Dave Pacheco for a very special artist appearance and signing on Saturday, March 14, 2009. Dave will be on hand to sign a selection of artwork, a t-shirt and a pin featuring some of Disney’s most beloved characters. Additional information about this exciting event will follow the March 10, 2009 announcement revealing the answer to “Are you 23?” To find out more about “Are you 23?” visit Disney.com/23.

Merchandise available while supplies last. A limited number of pieces will be available on the day of the event. We ask that only two (2) items be signed per Guest. We ask that you bring no personal items to be signed. Event merchandise must be purchased on the day of release at the event location. ValidDisneyland® Resort receipt may be required. Artist signing is subject to space and time availability and is not guaranteed. Artist will only sign their respective merchandise purchased on the day of the event only. Event information subject to change without notice. Separate admission is required to enter Disneyland® Resort theme parks.

Disney is scheduled to release all of the details for “Are You 23?” on March 10, so be sure to stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for the latest on this new campaign.

Portobello: “We’re Open!!!”

WDWNT on February 23, 2009

Even though it has been open for a few months now, the remodeled Portobello restaurant at Downtown Disney’s Pleasure Island has now launched its own updated website. The website features the story of the restaurant and their chef, as well as complete lunch and dinner menus and wine lists. The site can be found at portobellorestaurant.com and reservations can be made by calling (407) WDW-DINE.