My Favorite Season

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Beginning last Friday, the Travel Channel began what will be a weekly series of new programs showcasing the Disney parks. They are referring to the series as their “Season of Disney”. Here is the schedule, including last week’s show which is now running regularly on the network:

  • 4/11: Samantha Brown’s Disney Favorites
  • 4/18: Disney Splurge
  • 4/25: Disney: On a Dime
  • 5/2: The Disney Royal Treatment
  • 5/9: Disney Cruise Line

These shows have been airing at 9pm EST on Fridays, but you still may want to check you local listings just to be sure of when you can check them out.

Backstage Pass – Summer 2008

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Just an hour ago, the Summer Issue of the Disneyland AP Newsletter, Backstage Pass, arrived in my mailbox. Here are pictures showing what is in this edition. For bigger versions of the pictures, check out the DLR Image Gallery later today.

Outsource Animatronics???

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

From the OC Register:

The Walt Disney Co. will begin out-sourcing the manufacturing of Audio Animatronics because of too much demand on staff time, according to an Imagineering memo sent to the Orange County Register and Disney Imagingeering Spokeswoman Marilyn Waters.

Audio-Animatronics figures are basically moving and talking (or singing) robotic figures that were started by Walt Disney’s company. Today, Audio-Animatronics can be seen in several Disneyland attractions, which include: “it’s a small world,” Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones Adventure, Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! and the upcoming Toy Story Mania!.

The memo is dated June 12, 2008, and was sent to all Walt Disney Imagineering employees from Bruce Vaughn, chief creative executive, Craig Russell, chief development and delivery executive, and Kevin Eld, vice president of Disney Creative Production. The memo was sent to and received by the Orange County Register today. Imagineers is Disney’s a word for designers and engineers.

The memo states that after review manufacturing all Audio-Animatronics figures in-house is not feasible in terms of cost and staffing. Instead, Imagineering’s Manufacturing and Prototype Operations group based in North Hollywood will “build some select, highly complex” figures in-house.

Waters confirmed that the manufacturing of some Audio-Animatronics will be given to outside vendors. She said that over the past years Walt Disney Imagineering has begun to work with outside vendors on the talking and moving figures.

In one example, Waters said Disney employees worked with Chinese vendors to make some of the figures for the “It’s a Small World” attraction at the Hong Kong Disneyland.

“Our industry has generated quite a few heavily-skilled and proficient vendors who can supplement our teams with simple figures with significant oversight by our production team,” Waters said. “This will allow us to focus on creating more sophisticated and advanced figures.”

While Waters said Imagineering’s next step is to focus on the next-generation of Audio-Animatronics, an anniversary is coming for the oldest figures. June 22 is the 45th anniversary of the Enchanted Tiki Room in Disneyland’s Adventureland.

The Tiki Room includes 225 performers, including birds, flowers and tiki poles that spring to life. The attraction opened in 1963 and was the first attraction to function completely via the wonders of Audio-Animatronics technology.

WALL-E Struts his Stuff Down the Brown Carpet!

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

On Saturday, June 21, 2008, the newest Disney*Pixar Animation Studios movie premiered, WALL-E. Courtesy of a Special Update on MiceChat, we provide for you a lovely video of WALL-E making his Grance Entrance debut.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5im0hqsuIRo[/youtube]

Play Midway Mania at Home!

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

If you head on over to the official Toy Story Mania website, you’ll now find four games you can play that are very similar to the games in the real Toy Story Midway Mania. While the four games feature different themes from the games in the attractions, they feature secret targets and ammunition multipliers, giving hints to the existence of similar targets in the ride-through version. You can also create your own midway game by using the game creator on the site. Now what are you waiting for, go play!!!

Stay Away!

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

If there’s ever been a time to stay away from Disneyland, this is it! Entertainment Tonight reports:

ET breaks the news that Miley Cyrus will celebrate her Sweet 16 birthday during a once-in-a-lifetime bash at the Happiest Place on Earth — Disneyland!

The “Hannah Montana” star is also sharing the spotlight during the private party with some deserving young people from Youth Service America who’ve been making a difference in their communities.

And ET has learned that Miley’s fans are going to be able to join in the fun too! A limited number of $250 tickets to the exclusive event, “Miley’s Sweet 16 — Share the Celebration,” go on sale on August 30 at 9am PDT.

Watch ET tonight to hear what Miley has planned for the big celebration on Oct. 5!

The 7 Things I Hate About Miley

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

We have a little more info for you on the Miley Cyrus Sweet 16 event being held at Disneyland, in the form of a press release:

ANAHEIM, Calif. (August 21, 2008) – When the world’s most popular teenager turns “Sweet 16,” it’s cause to celebrate. And when that teen is Miley Cyrus – star of Disney’s “Hannah Montana” – there’s no better place to celebrate than at a Disney Park.

To honor the occasion and Miley’s philanthropic passion, Disneyland Resort in California has created “Miley’s Sweet 16 – Share The Celebration,” an unforgettable event for Miley and her fans that also will serve to recognize Youth Service America and help drive awareness of the need for youth volunteerism.

The Hollywood-style bash is planned for Sunday, Oct. 5, from 6 to 11 p.m., with ticket sales limited to 5,000 fans.

Tickets, priced at $250, go on sale at 9 a.m. PDT, Saturday, Aug. 30, at www.disneyparks.com/miley.

For Miley, the birthday bash is a once-in-a-lifetime event and she plans to make new Disney theme park memories during the evening. “I only turn 16 once, so it’s going to be an awesome party with my favorite rides, hanging out with friends, fireworks and more,” she said. “I’ll even get to sing a couple songs.”

The evening will celebrate Miley’s career as a Hollywood Records solo musical artist and as the “secret pop star” she portrays on the wildly popular Disney Channel series, “Hannah Montana.”

Miley’s Sweet 16 at Disneyland will feature a medley of party elements, large and small, that will allow guests to join in the celebration of Miley’s magical milestone. Special Party Zones will highlight the music and fun of Miley and Hannah Montana with themed activities and entertainment. Some of Miley’s favorite attractions will be open in each Party Zone, and the party will end with a bang as fireworks fill the Disneyland sky.

Sharing the Celebration with Youth Service America

In addition to all the birthday fun, Miley’s Sweet 16 will shine a spotlight on Youth Service America, an organization that seeks to improve communities by increasing the number and diversity of young people, ages 5 to 25, serving as volunteers. (For more information, visit www.YSA.org.)

In keeping with Miley’s passion for youth volunteerism, Disney Parks will make a significant contribution to Youth Service America.

With the organization’s involvement in “Miley’s Sweet 16 – Share The Celebration,” Miley said she hopes that other young Americans will be encouraged to volunteer in their own hometowns.

“The best part of the party is we’re going to recognize some really cool kids from Youth Service America who are giving back to their community,” she said. “That’s so awesome because I think it’s really important for kids like us to volunteer.”

For More Party Information

For ongoing information about “Miley’s Sweet 16 – Share The Celebration” party at Disneyland Park in California, as well as details on how to obtain tickets, fans may go to www.disneyparks.com/miley for details.

On the website linked at the beginning of the press release, Disney have put up a little video explaining the event, some photos, as well as event & ticket information.

Tuesday Got a Little Less Fun

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Some sad news from the OC Register:

Hundreds of Disney cast members are spending their first Tuesday at work without a beloved and perennial guest.

Nicki Fotia, 26, of Anaheim, a former cast member at Disneyland, called Around Disney this afternoon to report that Timothy Storms, 48, of Huntington Beach – known around Disneyland as “Mr. Tuesday” – killed himself over the weekend.

Storms spent every Tuesday for years up until this week at the park said Fotia, who worked at Disneyland from late 2002 through 2006. He visited with cast members, took their photos and passed on the photos to the cast members.

“I saw that man hundreds of times,” Fotia said. “Even when I was pregnant and not in costume, he recognized me. I wish I knew why he committed suicide, he was always so friendly and happy.”

Orange County Deputy Coroner Mitchell Sigal confirmed this afternoon that Storms’ body was found Saturday with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

More details to come.