Matt Paul has just returned from two day’s of fun at the Walt Disney World Resort and has a plethora of photos to share with us from his journeys, so let’s take a look:
“Celebrate Today!” over and over and over again
From the D23 Twilight Bark:
Luxo Jr., Pixar Animation Studios’ hopping desk lamp mascot, will soon take up residence in the Pixar Place section of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Check back for more details about our latest Audio-Animatronics® figure!
Hard to believe we reported this in the fall of 2008 and it’s just getting ready to debut now. As reported on the WDWNT Twitter, the expected debut of this figure at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is late June/early July. Stay tuned to WDW News Today for more information on this story as it develops.
Disney has released a few press photos from today’s events at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, so let’s take a look at them while we wait for WDWNT’s own coverage:
“American Idol” season eight winner Kris Allen performs May 29, 2009 his rendition of the Kanye West song “Heartless” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Allen performed the hit song for thousands of theme park guests. On May 20, 2009, Allen was crowned the newest “American Idol” on the season finale of the popular television show. Following his win, Allen looked into a television camera and triumphantly shouted “I’m Going to Disney World!” for the iconic Disney ad. Fittingly, Allen’s visit occurred as Disney Parks asks guests, “What Will You Celebrate?” Disney’s Hollywood Studios is one of four theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort. (Garth Vaughan, photographer)
“American Idol” season eight winner Kris Allen gets into the celebratory spirit May 29, 2009 by singing a song to Minnie Mouse during a photo opportunity at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. On May 20, 2009, Allen was crowned the newest “American Idol” on the season finale of the popular television show. Following his win, Allen looked into a television camera and triumphantly shouted “I’m Going to Disney World!” for the iconic Disney ad. Fittingly, Allen’s visit occurred as Disney Parks asks guests, “What Will You Celebrate?” Disney’s Hollywood Studios is one of four theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort. (Mark Ashman, photographer)
Since there are a few interesting pieces of news making the rounds today, I thought I would cover them all in one post. The first piece is from Jason Garcia of the Orlando Sentinel and talks about Innoventions at Epcot, making brief mention of a new exhibit coming soon on behalf of the Burnham Institute for Medical Research:
Speaking of cows, Innoventions, the corporate-sponsored showcase at Epcot, is quite a cash cow for Walt Disney World.
A story in Friday’s Sentinel revealed just how much companies like T. Rowe Price and Raytheon pay to be part of the exhibits that Disney bills as platforms for advanced technology: about $1million a year, generating about $10 million a year in revenue for Disney.
In at least one instance, though, Disney is giving away some of the space. It pledged to do so as one of the lesser-known components of the incentive package to lure La Jolla, Calif.-based Burnham to Orlando three years ago.
Disney may make good on that promise as early as this summer with a “three-dimensional” display devoted to Burnham, though a Disney spokeswoman said a date had not been set.
Public documents related to the incentive deal never put a dollar figure on the donation of space at Innoventions, but Disney clearly considers it to be a primo marketing stage.
In case you ever wondered how deftly Disney pitches its sponsorship opportunities, this should give you an idea: The company goes as far as to boast of a “halo effect” for companies associated with the Disney name.
The story cited a document written by a Disney salesman to pitch a potential client on space at Innoventions.
“Our research shows that guests perceive a company inside Innoventions as a world-leader in their specific field,” he wrote. “From a psychographic standpoint, guests entering Innoventions enter with an open mind that is ready to be entertained. This is simply a different mind-set from that of a consumer inside of a store, watching television at home or sitting in front of a sales agent.”
As part of the upcoming rebranding of Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex into the ESPN Wide World of Sports, a new sports research facility will be constructed on-site. Also from Jason Garcia of the Orlando Sentinel:
Walt Disney World and ESPN are building a new research facility at the Wide World of Sports complex.
Dubbed the “ESPN Innovation Lab,” the facility will allow the cable-sports giant to test new applications such as virtual graphics during events staged at Disney’s sports venues. Think concepts such as the “EA Virtual Playbook” that ESPN has used as part of its pro football and basketball coverage or the strike-zone graphics used during baseball games.
Because the Wide World of Sports venues are in year-round use, ESPN believes they will make an ideal spot to test and tweak new broadcasting concepts during actual in-game conditions. Disney World and ESPN are both owned by the Walt Disney Co.
The lab, which will be housed in a renovated building at Wide World of Sports, won’t be a typical tourist attraction. ESPN intends it to be a working research facility, though it’ll likely include big bay windows that allow people to look in and see the company’s emerging-technology staff at work.
ESPN has already moved five employees to Orlando from its Bristol, Conn., headquarters to work at the lab, and more could follow. The Innovation Lab is expected to formally open this fall.
The final news piece from the Orlando Sentinel’s Dewayne Bevil tells us when we can see American Idol winner Kris Allen at Walt Disney World:
This just in: American Idol winner Kris Allen, true to his TV commercial word, is coming to Disney World on Friday, May 29. Disney confirms that — but other details have not been announced. We’ll share when they do, but a safe bet certainly includes a stop by the American Idol Experience, which opened earlier this year to much Idol fanfare at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Stay tuned.
Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as we continue to get more information on all of these breaking news stories.
Our good friend Robert Ashburn of Figmentsmedia.net has provided us with pictures from his Thursday trip to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, so let’s take a look at some of his photos:
Star Wars Weekends have begun, as this billboard outside the park will testify
The 20th anniversary banners are gone, replaced with ones for Star Wars Weekends
Read More about Robert Ashburn’s 5/21/09 Hollywood Studios Report
The winner of this season of American Idol (I won’t give it way for those of you who still have it on you DVR) has been placed in an “I’m Going to Walt Disney World” ad very similar to last year’s matching ad. While the ad doesn’t mention the American Idol Experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there has been a video released by Disney featuring Idol stars on the “blue” carpet at last night’s finale show talking about the attraction. Both of these videos can be seen below:
The winner will also be heading to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at some point to film some promotional material, as well as to film some spots that will be used in the various video packages in the American Idol Experience attraction.
As no surprise to anyone, the characters from Disney-Pixar’s Up (in theaters May 29th) are going to be doing character meet-and-greets at Walt Disney World:
Beginning May 15th at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you can meet Carl, Russell, and Dug from the new Disney-Pixar animated feature Up.These live characters will be located in the Animation Building through October.
Finally, here is our very last Walt Disney world photo report (we promise) from last week. This report is from WDWNT Owner Tom Corless and is quite lengthy, so let’s get started:
Starting at the Magic Kingdom on April 27th…
All of the details on Star Wars Weekends 2009 merchandise (excluding pins) has been released by Disney. Here’s a look at some of what they have to offer this year:
Guests who participate in two select events during the Walt Disney World Fall Endurance Series will be eligible for an extra piece of hardware to take home:
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (April 29, 2009) – Disney Sports is creating a one-of-a-kind bonus medal for runners who complete the Fall Race Challenge, competing in two of Disney’s three fall endurance events at Walt Disney World Resort. Runners that record an official time for Disney’s Race for the Taste 10K and either the Expedition Everest Challenge presented by Champion or The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 13K will receive the bonus medal in addition to individual race medals – a total of three race medals for running two races. Registration for all three fall events is now open.
“Disney is dedicated to providing guests with new, interactive features to make their race experience more fun, more exciting and more memorable,” says Disney Endurance Series Director Kathleen Duran. “We are always looking for new ways to differentiate our Disney events by creating unique, immersive experiences.”
Disney’s fall lineup includes expanded race options. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 13k event will feature a 5k and an exclusive post-race party. Disney’s Race for the Taste 10k event will include a new 3k race designed for casual runners and those looking to compete in their first endurance event.
The Disney Endurance Series fall lineup includes:
Expedition Everest Challenge presented by Champion (Sept. 26, 2009): This second-year event is the first urban adventure race in Disney’s Endurance Series. The two-person team competition features a 5k, scavenger hunt and an obstacle course designed to challenge runners physically and mentally. There is an exclusive post-race party at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for the finishers. A portion of all entry fees will benefit the Himalayan Youth Foundation and Disney’s Worldwide Conservation Fund.
Disney’s Race for the Taste 10K (Oct. 11, 2009): This race takes runners through Disney’s Hollywood Studios and around the 11 pavilions of Epcot World Showcase. Guests have access to a post-race picnic that includes food samples from the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, live Disney entertainment, music, games and face painters.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 13K (Oct. 24, 2009): This road race returns for its third year and the journey includes a haunting course through the vacant streets of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The event includes an exclusive post-race party with family and friends.
To register for these and more Disney Endurance Series events including the Walt Disney World Marathon (Jan. 7-10, 2010), visit disneyenduranceseries.com.
