Disney Dreams Come…..Online???

WDWNT on February 2, 2008

According to WDWinfo.com:

Disney is hosting an online contest as a part of the ‘Year of a Million Dreams.’ During the month of February, www.Disney.com/Dreams site visitors can enter the contest to win one of 5 Disney vacations. The grand prize is a trip to Disneyland including a stay in the newly opened Dream Suite.

You can enter the sweepstakes once a day, everyday during the month of February. Those who submit their entry will receive a digital prize every-time their submission is completed.

BOBing for Iger

WDWNT on February 2, 2008

LOS ANGELES – The Walt Disney Co. said on Friday it has signed Chief Executive Robert Iger to a new five-year contract that will pay him an annual salary of $2 million plus bonuses and stock awards that could be worth millions more. Under terms of the deal, Iger could receive an annual incentive bonus of $10 million or more, along with an annual equity award valued at $9 million or more, if Disney meets certain performance goals, according to a document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The deal also calls for the executive to receive a stock option grant for the purchase of 3 million shares of Disney common stock at the exercised price of $29.50 a share. In addition, the compensation package includes perks and benefits in line with what Disney gives other senior executives, according to the filing. The executive’s previous contract was set to expire Sept. 30, 2010. His new contract runs through Jan. 31, 2013.

In a statement, the Burbank, Calif.-based company’s board of directors praised Iger’s job performance, noting the executive has presided over record revenues, net income and earnings per share since being named CEO on Sept. 30, 2005. “Bob is a talented and visionary leader, under whom Disney has posted increases in growth and profitability that have consistently exceeded expectations,” said John E. Pepper Jr., Disney’s chairman.

Disney, which operates film studios, theme parks, TV cable channels and other businesses, ended fiscal 2007 on an upswing, posting annual profit of $4.69 billion, or $2.25 per share, compared with $3.37 billion, or $1.64 per share, in fiscal 2006. Its revenue rose to $35.51 billion from $33.75 billion in the same period. Iger, who also holds the title of president, received a compensation package in fiscal 2007 valued by the company at $27.7 million, according to an analysis of documents by The Associated Press. Iger received a salary of $2 million, non-equity incentive plan compensation of $13.7 million, other compensation of $745,177, and profits from stock and option awards that had an estimated value of about $11.2 million when granted. Disney shares rose 82 cents, or 2.7 percent, to $30.66 on Friday. The stock has ranged between $26.30 and $36.79 over the past 52 weeks.

Upcoming Refurbishments

WDWNT on February 1, 2008

Be sure to check our attraction closures page to see the huge number of refurbishments taking place now or soon at the Walt Disney World Resort, as well as the dates during which these select attractions will not be operating. Among the latest refurbishments announced are for Peter Pan’s Flight and Minnie’s Country House at the Magic Kingdom.

WDWCelebrations Update

WDWNT on January 26, 2008

Our friend Jim Hill has posted an excellent article about WDWCelebrations and how the idea all began in preperation for Epcot’s 25th Anniversary in October 2007. Be sure to read the article HERE and stay tuned to the WDW News Today website and podcast for more updates on the upcoming event titled “A Wild Decade“.

More Toys in 3-D???

WDWNT on January 25, 2008

As if Toy Story Mania at Disney’s Hollywood Studios wasn’t enough for Toy Story fans to handle in three dimensions, they may have all three films in the series popping at them in in 2009 and 2010, according to Variety:

The Mouse House is giving Pixar’s “Toy Story” franchise the 3-D treatment.

Studio will re-release “Toy Story” in 3-D on Oct. 2, 2009., while its sequel will bow in the format on Feb. 12, 2010.

The two pics will lead up to the newest entry “Toy Story 3,” which is set for June 18, 2010, and will also be shown in 3-D. Lee Unkrich (co-director of “Toy Story 2”) is helming.

Move is part of the Mouse’s aggressive plans to release more of its animated, stop-motion or performance capture pics in the 3-D format. “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Chicken Little,” “Meet the Robinsons” were given the 3-D treatment, while its upcoming “Frankenweenie” from Tim Burton, “Bolt” and “A Christmas Carol” will also be shown in the format.

Studio said John Lasseter, who directed the first two “Toy Story” pics, and serves as chief creative officer for Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, will oversee the creative side of the 3-D conversions for “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2.”

Big Just Got Smaller

WDWNT on January 19, 2008

For those of you familiar with the Walt Disney World big figures, (large plastic statues that can be found and purchased in any Art of Disney location) you may be interested to know that the figures of that size will no longer be produced. The big figures will now be of a much smaller scale that are sold on average at $95 each. The older, bigger statues retailed for about $150 each, with the bigger models retailing for more. Among the new, smaller models are statues celebrating the many different pictures you’ll find on Walt Disney World park tickets this year (i.e.- Seven Dwarves on Splash Mountain, Cinderella on the Carousel, and Mickey and Minnie riding the Mad Tea Party), as well as a few other designs. The new figures are also made of resin rather than plastic.

WDWCelebrations Skypecast

WDWNT on January 19, 2008

Here is some news from a partner site I am very proud to be a part of,  WDWCelebrations.com:

WDWCelebrations is proud to offer a new method of user-to-website communication where guests of WDWCelebrations.com have a chance to ask open questions and speak with the team working on upcoming WDWCelebrations events. Skypecasts are very much like conference calls, though designed to allow for proper queuing of questions and speakers in an organized fashion.  All Skypecasts will be recorded by WDWCelebrations staff in order to review all comments and questions for further review. 

Skypecasts are a voice-only method of communication; therefore certain applications and hardware are required to participate.  Depending on the level of hardware, two options are available:  listen-only and interactivity (listen and speak).

Skypecast interactivity requires:

The most recent version of Skype (download at http://www.skype.com/)
A computer microphone or webcam capable of supporting online voice chats
Soundcard and speakers or headphones
In addition, a broadband or DSL internet connection is recommended
Please be sure to test your microphone by calling “Skype Test Call” (echo123) before joining the Skypecast.

Skypecast listening (no interactivity supported) requires:

The most recent version of Skype (download at http://www.skype.com/)
Soundcard and speakers or headphones
In addition, a broadband or DSL internet connection is recommeded

Our next Skypecast is scheduled for:

Saturday, January 19, 8:00 pm EST

The link to join the Skypecast will be posted here approximately 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. 

For guests participating in listen-only mode, the link to join the text-only Skype Chat will be posted here approximately 30 minutes before the scheduled start time.

This Skypecast will be extremely pertinent for those planning on joining us for the Animal Kingdom 10th Anniversary Event from WDWCelebrations, “A Wild Decade”, or any other future WDWCelebrations special events.

Going Up

WDWNT on January 18, 2008

According to Screamscape.com:

According to a local source, Disney has increased the refundable locker deposit fee from $2 to $5. Lock fees are now $5 for a small locker and $7 for a large. There was also a price increase at the already expensive Fantasia Gardens and Winter-Summerland mini golf courses. The new price for adults is now $11.75 and $9.75 for children, however guests now receive a free Walt Disney World logo golf ball to keep for every round played.

John Corigliano’s 12/31/07-1/11/08

WDWNT on January 12, 2008

Here are some pictures of some notable happenings at Walt Disney World during my trip from December 31 to January 11:

Due to the stage in front of the Sorcerer’s Hat at DHS, High School Musical was performing in the Fantasmic entrance forecourt.

Playhouse Disney is closed until February as it prepares for an all new updated show.

The old Hunchback Theater at the Studios is being demolished for some future development.

 Here is a look at the major refurbishment going on at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa:

The following pictures show the layout and new design the marble floors of the lobby will be showcasing:

Out with the old…

In with Disney’s Hollywood Studios!!!

Here is the final part of my photo report, sorry it has taken so long:

Splash Mountain is closed for some general refurbishment until February 17, 2008.

Tony’s Town Square Restaurant is closed until January 27 while its kitchen receives some upgrades.

City Hall on Main Street U.S.A. remains open during it’s exterior refurbishment.

Donald Duck has received his wish and has become a real boy.

I hope you enjoyed the photos!!!

Tokyo Disneyland Toppling Parade Float

WDWNT on January 10, 2008

The top portion of the Buzz Lightyear float in Tokyo Disneyland’s daytime parade, “Disney Dreams On Parade,” toppled to the ground yesterday.  Tokyo Disneyland has cancelled all parades pending safety reviews.  One wonders if this will have any ramifications for parades at WDW.

From AP:

TOKYO (AP) — Tokyo Disneyland canceled its popular parades for the first time in its 25-year history Wednesday after a 660-pound steel pillar adorned with colorful planets tumbled from a Buzz Lightyear float.

The pillar on the float, part of its popular Disney Dreams On Parade, crashed to the ground Tuesday afternoon — just yards away from children lined up to watch the twice-daily extravaganza at the theme park.

There were screams but no injuries among visitors and the characters on the float, including Buzz, the hero from the 1995 Disney movie “Toy Story,” according to the park’s operator, Oriental Land Co.

But Disneyland is canceling its two daily parades while it carries out safety checks, the first time both events have been canceled since the park opened in 1983, according to Oriental Land spokesman Tsutomu Kato.

“We’d like to apologize for causing panic,” Kato said.

The accident came after visitors were evacuated after a small fire broke out on the roof of the Swiss Family Tree House attraction at Disneyland last week. Nobody was injured, and firefighters extinguished the flames an hour later.

The park is investigating both accidents but doesn’t yet know what caused them, according to Kato.

Disneyland, the first Disney park to be built outside of the United States, is one of two hugely popular theme parks Oriental Land operates just outside of Tokyo.

In 2007, 25.4 million people flocked to Disneyland and its sister attraction, Disneysea, both just outside the Japanese capital.

A video is available on YouTube.