Our own Shawn Hutchison was at the Disneyland Resort yesterday for the first day of this year’s Halloween Time promotion, and he reports back to us with a plethora of photos:
New banners at the Mickey and Friends Tram Station
Read More about Shawn Hutchison’s 9/25/09 Halloween Time Photo Report
Continuing in our plethora of photo reports, Shawn Hutchison reports in with a quick look at Halloween decorations starting to pop up at Disneyland:
This display is up on the Mickey and Friends Tram route once again this year
The Halloween bunting on Main Street is up for the most part
A Halloween window display on Main Street
Today (September 20th) was the last performance of Magical for 2009. The new fireworks show, Halloween Screams, debuts this Friday, along with the rest of Halloween Time
Thanks for the report Shawn!
I, along with Tom Corless, Kenny Siegel, Scott Smith, and Matt Paul spent plenty of time at Disneyland during the D23 Expo, and we got some pictures of new happenings around the Resort. Here is our shared photo report:
During the D23 Expo, Disney set up a special tram service running from across the street from the Anaheim Convention Center, to the old Lion King Tram loading area near Harbor Blvd.
Read More about DLR Photo Report From The WDWNT Crew (9/9-9/14/09)
According to the OC Register’s Around Disney blog:
It’s not everyday a runner does their warm up stretches to the dulcet tones of a barbershop quartet. On Saturday, though, 4,000 runners did.
This weekend is the Half Marathon Weekend at the Disneyland Resort. The Family Fun Run 5K and Kids’ Races took place Saturday. Themed as Mickey’s Main Street, U.S.A., the race kicked off with the Dapper Dans singing a medley of Disney tunes.
For an amateur runner like myself, who was running this year’s 5K in hopes of breaking a nine-minute mile pace, the festive atmosphere was welcomed.
This year marked the 4th Annual Disneyland Half Marathon weekend, and like always, the 5K course wound through the Disneyland Resort. The peppy spirit squad from the High School Musical Pep Rally cheered on runners near the beginning of the course. Near the first mile mark, runners raced through California Adventure, getting a glimpse of the future Cars Land as they ran around the park’s rim. Then, the course weaved in and out of Disneyland, from the capricious Toontown to the intriguing backstage area.
For the first year ever, the 5K race course ended inside Disneyland. Appropriately themed to conclude on Main Street, U.S.A., the whimsical finish left racers in high spirits. At least I felt that way. Or maybe that was just because I set a new personal record for myself at 23:40.
Either way, the Disneyland Family 5K Fun Run was a success. I, along with countless other runners, am looking forward to next year’s race.
More on 2009’s Disneyland Half Marathon can be found at www.ocregister.com/anaheim. Also, registration for 2010’s Half Marathon is now open! You can find more information on registering HERE.
Burbank, CA and New York, NY, August 31, 2009 —Building on its strategy of delivering quality branded content to people around the world, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) has agreed to acquire Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:MVL) in a stock and cash transaction, the companies announced today.
Under the terms of the agreement and based on the closing price of Disney on August 28, 2009, Marvel shareholders would receive a total of $30 per share in cash plus approximately 0.745 Disney shares for each Marvel share they own. At closing, the amount of cash and stock will be adjusted if necessary so that the total value of the Disney stock issued as merger consideration based on its trading value at that time is not less than 40% of the total merger consideration.
Based on the closing price of Disney stock on Friday, August 28, the transaction value is $50 per Marvel share or approximately $4 billion.
“This transaction combines Marvel’s strong global brand and world-renowned library of characters including Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men, Captain America, Fantastic Four and Thor with Disney’s creative skills, unparalleled global portfolio of entertainment properties, and a business structure that maximizes the value of creative properties across multiple platforms and territories,” said Robert A. Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. “Ike Perlmutter and his team have done an impressive job of nurturing these properties and have created significant value. We are pleased to bring this talent and these great assets to Disney.”
“We believe that adding Marvel to Disney’s unique portfolio of brands provides significant opportunities for long-term growth and value creation,” Iger said.
“Disney is the perfect home for Marvel’s fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses,” said Ike Perlmutter, Marvel’s Chief Executive Officer. “This is an unparalleled opportunity for Marvel to build upon its vibrant brand and character properties by accessing Disney’s tremendous global organization and infrastructure around the world.”
Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of Marvel including its more than 5,000 Marvel characters. Mr. Perlmutter will oversee the Marvel properties, and will work directly with Disney’s global lines of business to build and further integrate Marvel’s properties.
The Boards of Directors of Disney and Marvel have each approved the transaction, which is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, certain non-United States merger control regulations, effectiveness of a registration statement with respect to Disney shares issued in the transaction and other customary closing conditions. The agreement will require the approval of Marvel shareholders. Marvel was advised on the transaction by BofA Merrill Lynch.
Investor Conference Call:
An investor conference call will take place at approximately 10:15 a.m. EDT / 7:15 a.m. PDT today, August 31, 2009. To listen to the Webcast, turn your browser to http://corporate.disney.go.com/investors/presentations.html or dial in domestically at 800-260-8140 or internationally at 617-614-3672. For both dial-in numbers, the participant pass code is 51214527.
The discussion will be available via replay on the Disney investors website through September 14, 2009 at 7:00 PM EDT/4:00 PM PDT.
About The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise with five business segments: media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment, interactive media and consumer products. Disney is a Dow 30 company with revenues of nearly $38 billion in its most recent fiscal year.
About Marvel Entertainment, Inc.
Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a library of over 5,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in licensing, entertainment (via Marvel Studios and Marvel Animation) and publishing (via Marvel Comics).
Forward-Looking Statements:
Certain statements in this communication may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements relate to a variety of matters, including but not limited to: the operations of the businesses of Disney and Marvel separately and as a combined entity; the timing and consummation of the proposed merger transaction; the expected benefits of the integration of the two companies; the combined company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical fact. These statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Disney and Marvel regarding future events and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Neither Disney nor Marvel undertakes any obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such differences may result from a variety of factors, including but not limited to:
* legal or regulatory proceedings or other matters that affect the timing or ability to complete the transactions as contemplated;
* the possibility that the expected synergies from the proposed merger will not be realized, or will not be realized within the anticipated time period; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully;
* the possibility of disruption from the merger making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships;
* the possibility that the merger does not close, including but not limited to, due to the failure to satisfy the closing conditions;
* any actions taken by either of the companies, including but not limited to, restructuring or strategic initiatives (including capital investments or asset acquisitions or dispositions);
* developments beyond the companies’ control, including but not limited to: changes in domestic or global economic conditions, competitive conditions and consumer preferences; adverse weather conditions or natural disasters; health concerns; international, political or military developments; and technological developments.
Additional factors that may cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements are set forth in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Disney for the year ended September 27, 2008, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on November 20, 2008, under the heading “Item 1A—Risk Factors” and in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Marvel for the year ended December 31, 2008, which was filed with the SEC on February 27, 2009, under the heading “Item 1A—Risk Factors,” and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the SEC by each of Marvel and Disney.
Important Merger Information and Additional Information:
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. In connection with the proposed transaction, Disney and Marvel will file relevant materials with the SEC. Disney will file a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that includes a proxy statement of Marvel and which also constitutes a prospectus of Disney. Marvel will mail the proxy statement/prospectus to its stockholders.Investors are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available, because it will contain important information.The proxy statement/prospectus and other documents that will be filed by Disney and Marvel with the SEC will be available free of charge at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov, or by directing a request when such a filing is made to The Walt Disney Company, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, CA 91521-9722, Attention: Shareholder Services or by directing a request when such a filing is made to Marvel Entertainment, Inc., 417 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10016, Attention: Corporate Secretary.
Disney, Marvel, their respective directors and certain of their executive officers may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of Marvel is set forth in its definitive proxy statement, which was filed with the SEC on March 24, 2009. Information about the directors and executive officers of Disney is set forth in its definitive proxy statement, which was filed with the SEC on January 16, 2009.Investors may obtain additional information regarding the interests of such participants by reading the proxy statement/prospectus Disney and Marvel will file with the SEC when it becomes available.
From WDW News Today:
With the huge D23 Expo just a few days away, could this video be peppered with tidbits teasing some announcements for the future of the Disney Parks, or are some of these things a little further off?:
Some interesting notes with the times in the video they appear:
-At 0:19, there are fountains set on fire. Is this something we will see in World of Color at Disney’s California Adventure or somewhere else?
-At 0:45, there is a portrait of Master Gracey that changes as the Imagineer waves his hand over it, could this technology be coming to The Haunted Mansion?
-At 1:14, there are two men animating a Jack Sparrow character through motion capture technology. Is this for the interactive experience coming to the Disney Cruise Line?
-At 1:52, there is a space alien (we think it’s an alien) behind an Imagineer. Could this be something new for Space Mountain at the Magic Kingdom or for the next generation Star Tours attraction?
-From 2:17 to 2:21, you can see a man walking in a real environment and interacting with projected characters, a creature made of ice and Tinker Bell. For a while I have been hearing rumors of an experience where guests would be able to enter environments and interact with “real” characters via RFID technology. Could this be it?
-At 2:22, there is a really strange (but very cool) spinning simulator-type vehicle with mounted guns. What could this be?
This very interesting video has left me with a ton of questions that I hope will be answered at the D23 Expo. What do you think these things are? Be sure to let us know in the WDWNT Network Community Forums!
Stephen Thomas returns after a couple of months off with a new Disneyland Resort photo report:
You have to get to Mickey and Friends really early to see the Pinocchio parking lot like this
As Summer Nightastic is now over, the Toy Story Midway Mania billboards have returned once again
No line at the new Annual Passport Processing Center
Some painting and cleaning of Space Mountain taking place
According to the OC Register’s Around Disney blog:
Disney plans to build a massive parking lot on the field that it originally bought for a possible third Anaheim theme park.
That means that a new park likely would be at least six to 10 years away when the lot is no longer needed.
Disney wants to add 2,570 new parking spots for guests to the Harbor Boulevard site, eating up the majority of the remaining open space on a former strawberry field that the company bought about 11 years ago in anticipation of building a third theme park.
The new parking lot plan is set to go before the Anaheim Planning Commission at 2:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 200 S. Anaheim Blvd. City officials are recommending that the plan be approved, said Sheri Vander Dussen, the city’s planning director.
The extra temporary parking space is needed during the Disney’s California Adventure expansion through 2012, said Suzi Brown, a spokeswoman for the Disneyland Resort.
Already, Disney closed the 2,226-space Timon parking lot where it is building the 12-acre Cars Land as part of the $1-billion California Adventure expansion. (See a full map of California Adventure expansion plans)
“The presence of a temporary parking lot at this location in no way enhances or discounts the potential of future investment at this location,” said Suzi Brown, a Disneyland Resort spokeswoman. “We’ll grow business when and where it makes sense to do so. But our focus at this time is on the expansion of Disney’s California Adventure.”
Disney also has an agreement with the Anaheim GardenWalk mall and the Anaheim Convention Center to use their parking facilities when needed, Brown said.
The proposal would allow Disney to run the parking lot for at least six years with a possible extension for a total of 10 years. The city wants to reserve space for the possible Anaheim Fixed-Guideway system — a transit link, like a monorail, between a planned transportation hub and the tourist area. If the guideway isn’t ready in six years, Disney could keep its parking lot for up to 10 years, under the proposal.
Parking will be allowed behind the “No Parking” sign soon.
Already, 1,701 parking spaces are on the former strawberry field for overflow parking from Disney and the Anaheim Convention Center, as well as for employees. Disney allowed growers to harvest strawberries on the site until recently, Brown said.
Construction could begin within the next six months, Brown said.
Visitors would take shuttle buses from the lot across from the Anaheim Convention Center north on Harbor Boulevard to the entrance of the theme parks, Brown said. The parking lot would serve as overflow parking on busy days.
An extra left-turn lane would be added from Disney Way to Harbor Boulevard to improve the traffic flow, according to the city report.
Charles Ahlers, president of the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau, said more parking is needed in the area, especially when major conventions come to town. He said Disney could still develop the property later to bring in more visitors.
“Obviously, we’d rather have a great development there, but for short-term help, parking is OK,” Ahlers said. “But I think Disney is being cautious, as well as they should be cautious.”
Hundreds of residents live in apartments just east of the proposed parking lot. An 8-acre band of land will be around the parking lot as a buffer, Brown said.
Rosie Tapia, the apartment manager for the 152-unit French Quarter Apartments, said she would prefer to have parking there instead of an empty lot, where cats and other critters congregate.
“I think a parking lot is better idea. I think it’s better for Disneyland, because it’s getting bigger,” Tapia said.
Todd Ament, a planning commissioner who is also president of the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, declined to say how he would vote. However, from a business perspective, he said he thinks Disney is making a “smart move.”
He said Disney is focusing on the expansion of the current park for now, so it should use the land it has for parking needs.
Currently, Disney has 28,893 parking space in the Anaheim Resort tourist area, according to city records.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (Aug. 12, 2009) – Value-minded vacationers have plenty to celebrate this fall with a special travel offer: savings of $400* at the Disneyland Resort in Southern California.
From Aug. 12 through Dec. 19, 2009, guests will save $400 when they book a 4-Day/4-Night Disneyland Resort vacation package, featuring Disneyland Resort hotel accommodations – Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier – and park hopper tickets. The offer is valid for arrivals Aug. 23 through Dec. 20, 2009. Pricing starts as low as $87 per person, per day, at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel.*
Each package includes four-day park hopper tickets and many extras, such as one Magic Morning admission per person. Magic Morning admission allows families to enjoy select Disneyland attractions – including Finding Nemo’s Submarine Voyage, Peter Pan’s Flight, Dumbo the Flying Elephant and King Arthur Carrousel – before the park opens to the general public. The new package also provides guests the opportunity to interact with some classic Disney characters in Mickey’s Toontown Morning Madness one hour before Mickey’s Toontown opens to the general public. (Mickey’s Toontown Morning Madness and Magic Morning early entry do not operate daily and are subject to restrictions.) Preferred seating at select attractions and restaurants in Disney’s California Adventure are also included.
Seasonal Fun
Beginning Sept. 25 through Nov. 1, the resort celebrates Halloween Time, a season filled with whimsical décor, a new fireworks show and some traditional spooky fun. This season of tricks and treats will feature some of Disney’s most popular villains and will unveil Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy, a themed experience with haunting music and ghoulish sound effects. A new, nightly fireworks display will light up the autumn sky with a wicked sense of fun, while the traditional giant Mickey Mouse jack-o’-lantern returns to Disneyland Town Square. Also, the eerily popular Haunted Mansion Holiday attraction in New Orleans Square and Disney’s Happiest Haunt Tours will return for guests to enjoy.
For more information and to book a Disneyland Resort vacation package, guests can call the Walt Disney Travel Company at 800/854-3104 or book online at www.disneyland.com/Save400.
It looks like Christmas is coming even earlier this year, as the Costco Travel site is stating that Holidays at the Disneyland Resort will begin on November 13th, 2009:
Holidays at the Disneyland® Resort begins 11/13/09 through 1/3/10. Celebrate with family and friends as holiday magic unfolds all around you with seasonal excitement, like Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, “Believe … in Holiday Magic” Fireworks Spectacular, “A Christmas Fantasy” Parade and Santa’s Reindeer Round-Up.
