Jim MacPhee to Lead “Next Generation” for WDW

WDWNT on December 17, 2009

From Jason Garcia of the Orlando Sentinel:

Walt Disney World has a new executive in charge of theme-park operations — as well as new technology.

Disney has appointed Jim MacPhee to the position of vice president, next generation experiences and Walt Disney World parks.

MacPhee, 51, is a former vice president in charge of Epcot who earlier this year was moved to vice president for “special projects,” and the chatter is that he has been involved in developing new interactive technologies that can eventually be deployed in the parks.

Regarding the new “next generation experience,” Disney would say only that “we are constantly exploring new ways to deliver high-quality immersive experiences to new and existing audiences. Our goal is to take every element of the vacation experience to a new level.”

MacPhee will report both to Nick Franklin, the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts executive in charge of global business development who is also getting a new title of “executive vice president, next generation experience,” and to Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World.

It is believed that this new position may have something to do with the resort’s transition to using new, innovative technologies such as RFID tags and the next generation of the Living Character Initiative program. Only time will tell.

Roy E. Disney Passes Away at Age 79

WDWNT on December 16, 2009

Roy E. Disney in his office in 1985

From the Los Angeles Times:

Roy Edward Disney, the nephew of Walt Disney whose commitment to his uncle’s creative spirit prompted him to mount revolts that led to the unseating of two of the company’s chief executives and a revival of the studio’s legendary animation unit, died today. He was 79.

Disney, who had been battling stomach cancer, died at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, according to Clifford A. Miller, a spokesman for Disney’s company Shamrock Holdings.

Disney toiled for years in the shadow of his famous uncle and his father, Roy O. Disney, who behind the scenes ran the business side of the Walt Disney Co. for his brother. But the quiet man in the cardigan sweater would emerge as a forceful protector of family traditions.

“People always underestimated Roy,” said Peter Schneider, the former president of Walt Disney Feature Animation. “You underestimate Roy at your peril, as many people have learned.”

Disney devoted the first 20 years of his career to making nature films, among them “Pancho, A Dog of the Plains,” “The Owl That Didn’t Give A Hoot” and an Oscar-nominated short subject “Mysteries of the Deep.” After the death of Walt in 1966 and Roy’s father in 1971, the younger Disney was spurned in his efforts to take a larger role with the company. He finally quit in 1977, but remained on its board as a director, where he was largely a figurehead.

Adrift, Disney hooked up with lawyer Stanley Gold and became a successful financier, investing successfully in a wide variety of businesses that included broadcasting, soybeans and Israeli industrial concerns through Shamrock Holdings, a company named for one Disney’s racing sloops.

During the 1980s, Gold, Disney and Shamrock became one of the better-known corporate raiders, making unsuccessful hostile takeover bids for companies such as the Polaroid Corp. camera maker and the Wherehouse Entertainment chain of music stores. Its takeover of Central Soya, a soybean processor in Fort Wayne, Ind., would yield a sizable $170-million profit for Shamrock and its partners with its subsequent sale to an Italian agricultural concern. Through investments, Gold sought to free Disney of his financial dependence on the Disney company stock he inherited. Most were successful, although Shamrock stumbled on some, particularly a money-losing investment in sneaker maker L.A. Gear.

By 1984, Disney had grown increasingly frustrated with the Walt Disney Co., which he likened to a real estate company that happened to be in the movie business. The company had let its feature animation film business, once the cornerstone of the company, deteriorate. The company, Disney would later say, had lost its creative drive.

“I said to him, ‘Roy, I think you’ve reached a point where you need to get all the way in or all the way out,’ ” Gold said. “He said, ‘What does that mean?’ I said, ‘You either need to sell your shares in Disney and go independent, or you need to put up a fight and get rid of the managers and find real managers for this business.’ ”

Read More about Roy E. Disney Passes Away at Age 79

Myrna Litt’s D23 Candlelight Spectacular 12-6-09 Photo Report

WDWNT on December 16, 2009

DLNT’s Myrna Litt attended the D23 Candlelight Spectacular and took some phenomenal photos. As she explains “D23 hosted the December 6, 2009 Candlelight Spectacular. Check in was from 10am to 5pm. We had reserve viewing for “A Fantasy Parade” located in town square. At 6pm was dinner at Stage 17 located in Hollywood Back-lot in Disney’s California Adventure. At 8pm we were escorted to the Candlelight seating location for a up close view. Following the ceremony we walked back to Stage 17 for a behind the panel discussion and our D23 Christmas ornament.”

Time to check in for the dinner portion of the event

Read More about Myrna Litt’s D23 Candlelight Spectacular 12-6-09 Photo Report

WDW News Today’s 1000th Post!!!

WDWNT on December 15, 2009

It’s hard to believe this is the 1000th story to be published on the WDW News Today website, but it also is harder to believe that we surpassed our goal set from the very beginning. This website was created on July 8th, 2007, with the sole intention of being the internet’s first daily updated Walt Disney World news site. When that dream began, it started with a post, and a post alone. There were no thoughts of podcasts, forums, online radio stations, or anything of the sort. Our idea was to post at least one Disney-related news story a day. While it may be unrealistic to think (or claim) that we have posted every single day since our inception, we have posted 1000 times in just 890 days, which I consider a great success. Instead of rambling on as I usually do on the site, I decided it would be better to turn the spotlight on our WDWNT Network staff and see what was their favorite or most memorable posts from WDW News Today have been. Here is what they picked:

WDWNT Network Technical Director Justin Heyman – The First Video of Toy Story Midway Mania

“This is what WDWNT was all about from the beginning, bringing our fans breaking news. That’s what this video did, presenting a new attraction to the world just hours after it opened for the first time.”

WDWNT Network Owner Tom Corless – The First Video of Toy Story Midway Mania

“Thinking about the most important post we have made to date, it has to be this video. The unbelievable amount of people who came to the website to see the first video of what has become my favorite attraction at Walt Disney World is still a great memory. I’m not sure if we’ll ever top it, only time will tell.”

WDW News Today Photographer and Videographer Matt Paul – Announcement of Star Tours II and Fantasyland Expansion

“These announcements are in my opinion, the biggest news in the most recent years of Disney Parks.  This was also the first time Disney Parks announced huge changes to Disney Fans in Person.  The Expo was phenomenal, and this post just about sums up the highlight of my trip!”

WDWNT Network Technical Services Jose Castillo – Epcot’s 25th Anniversary Happening

“I first entered the Disney online community around the time of Epcot’s 25th anniversary. This was a real fantastic event for me and this was the time I found out about WDW News Today. This is what changed everything for me and I’m very glad so many years later the website is stronger than ever.”

WDW News Today Editor in Chief Jason Diffendal – Spaceship Earth Refurbishment Begins

“It marked a turning point in the history of Epcot.  Looking back on it, it is a little bittersweet.  We all loved the fact that the wand was coming down, and we had much hope for the refurbishment of Spaceship Earth.  But unfortunately the reality of Judi Dench and the blackened descent disappointed all of us.”

WDW News Today Podcast Staff Member Scott Smith – The 2nd Annual Christmas Podcast Parade 2008

“I chose this because the Christmas Podcast Parade is when WDWNT proved that, without a doubt, it is something unique and special among the Disney podcast community. It immidiately became my favorite, and the self depriciating humor and intense Disney inside-jokery made me realize this is something that I wanted to be a part of. And since then, WDWNT has become a wonderful part of my life. And I owe it all to the first Christmas parade. That sounds pretty wierd, doesn’t it?”

WDW News Today Podcast Staff Member Anthony Yacullo – Fantasyland Expansion Announced

“My choice is the Fantasyland expansion post. It’s the biggest piece of news to be announced since I joined the site and podcast in March. I think it sounds absolutely amazing and I cant wait to see it in person when it is completed.”

A very special thank you to all the staff and readers who have made our journey to this point possible and so much fun. Here’s to the next 1000 posts on WDW News Today, may we continue “Bridging the Gaps Between You and the World”.

Tom Corless
Owner of the WDWNT Network

Chris Lastrapes’ 12/14/09 D Street Preview Report

WDWNT on December 15, 2009

Chris Lastrapes of the WDW News Today Podcast is still visiting the west coast and made another trip to the Disneyland Resort earlier today. Chris took a few photos of the D Street store at Downtown Disney that is scheduled to open tomorrow:

Signage is up on the exterior. You can see many Vinylmation banners up in the store’s atrium

At look at the store’s sizable Vinylmation selection

Another Vinylmation display

Looks like Vinylmation plush will still be available

More of the store

Stay tuned for more photos from the opening of the store tomorrow!

“it’s a sponsored world”

WDWNT on December 15, 2009

Looks like “it’s a small world” at Disneyland has a permanent sponsor:

SYLVANIA SMALL WORLD

Siemens is pleased to announce that its SYLVANIA lighting brand will be the sponsor of the classic “it’s a small world” attraction at Disneyland Resort.

“We are thrilled to be associated with such an icon of the Disney experience. At SYLVANIA, we are creating ways to see the world in a new light. Our association with ‘it’s a small world’ is a perfect fit for our own vision,” said Rick Leaman, president and CEO of the Siemens lighting unit, OSRAM SYLVANIA.

“‘it’s a small world’ is a celebration of the hope we all share for peace on Earth,” said Walt Disney Imagineer Tony Baxter, who is the creative lead for Disneyland. “It’s an illuminating global message, so it’s fitting that this classic attraction should be sponsored by a company that literally helps illuminate the world.”

A new illuminated marquee, the only change to the attraction, will brighten the overall experience for guests and is slated for installation in early 2010. The design is a visual celebration of what the attraction represents, the happy spirit of children everywhere.

This sponsorship is part of a 12-year agreement between The Walt Disney Company and Siemens. The agreement includes marketing and promotional rights, attraction sponsorships and a promotional presence that features Siemens products and services at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California. Siemens also is the sponsor of the Epcot icon, SpaceShip Earth.

“it’s a small world” originally was created for the 1964 New York World’s Fair as an exhibit that would benefit UNICEF, which is dedicated to the welfare of children all over the world. The attraction moved to its Anaheim home in 1966.

Considered a quintessential Disney theme park experience, “it’s a small world” contains more than 300 Audio-Animatronics® figures, representing children around the globe. It also features more than 250 toys and 80 animated props. After a full year of work, an enhanced version of the attraction opened in February 2009, including stylized dolls and toys dressed as several classic Disney characters seamlessly integrated and geographically located in the lands where their stories take place.

About Siemens

Siemens AG is a global powerhouse in electronics and electrical engineering, and operates in the industry, energy and healthcare sectors. For more than 160 years, Siemens has built a reputation for leading-edge innovation and the quality of its products, services and solutions. With 405,000 employees in 190 countries, Siemens reported worldwide revenue of $104.3 billion in fiscal 2009. With its U.S. corporate headquarters in New York City, Siemens in the USA reported revenue of $21.3 billion and employs approximately 64,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. For more information on Siemens in the United States, visitwww.usa.siemens.com

About OSRAM SYLVANIA

OSRAM SYLVANIA is a leader in lighting solutions that feature innovative design and energy saving technology. The company sells products for homes, businesses and vehicles primarily under the SYLVANIA brand name, and also under the OSRAM brand. Headquartered in Danvers, Mass., OSRAM SYLVANIA is the North American operation of OSRAM GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens AG. For more information, visit www.sylvania.com.

The Muppets are Coming to the Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on December 13, 2009

Disney stated at the D23 Expo in September that 2010 would be the year of the Muppets. Not only are the Muppets the stars of the Disney Parks “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” campaign in 2010, but their presence in the parks might be a bit greater. Along with the refurbishment of Muppetvision 3-D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios scheduled for next year, the Muppets will be proceeding down Main Street U.S.A. in a daily pre-parade. Starting January, The Muppets “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” themed pre-parade will come down the Magic Kingdom parade route, preceding the 3:00 PM Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade. The Muppets guests will be seeing in the park will not be the giant Muppet characters that appeared at Hollywood Studios a few years ago, but ACTUAL Muppet characters.

Other changes to the Magic Kingdom parade in early 2010 may include the permanent removal of the show stops that were added to the parade during the name change from the Disney Dreams Come True Parade in January 2009.

As usual, anything not announced yet by Disney should be taken as a rumor, but these reports are from reputable sources inside the company. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as we get more information on this breaking story.

Buy or Pass on the Annual Pass? by Chuck Mirarchi

WDWNT on December 13, 2009

article-6

People have always had one question for Walt Disney World’s Guest Relations over the years when it comes to buying tickets, “Is it worth getting an annual pass?”. The answer is yes… and no.

Trying to figure out if you should buy an annual pass might be best represented by a flow chart, because after the initial question there are many follow up questions that need to be asked in order to determine if (and when) the annual pass is the right choice.

We are going to try and not really answer questions about the annual pass, but look at as many possible scenarios and try to provide you with the broadest amount of information about it that should not only point you in the right direction, but also help you with your decision.

Read More about Buy or Pass on the Annual Pass? by Chuck Mirarchi