Tren-D Coming Soon-R Than Expected?

WDWNT on March 5, 2009

The Orlando Sentinel is reporting the following:

A boutique called TrenD is scheduled to open in Downtown Disney late on March 19.

A Disney Web site describes the store as selling “edgy and up-to-date Disney fashions and accessories — plus exclusive merchandise from cutting-edge designers.” The 2,500-square-foot shop will be near Pin Traders and Once Upon A Toy.

Many of you probably remember this space as the former “Summer Sands” shop adjacent to the “Team Mickey” store. This opening date is now far sooner than expected, as the space has only been vacant for a few weeks now. From the sounds of it, the store is very similar to the Vault 28 shop in Disneyland’s Downtown Disney District and should be both a positive and unique addition to the Marketplace shopping line-up. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as we gather more information on the new Tren-D shop at Downtown Disney.

Celebrate at the Celebration Point

WDWNT on February 28, 2009

“Celebration Point” on Main Street, U.S.A offers guests a new place to take photos and mark their special occasions while celebrating at Disneyland. In 2009 guests will find a variety of ways to make their celebrations even more memorable at Disneyland, including street parties, behind-the-scenes tours, specialty foods and free admission on their birthdays.

Jungle Cruise Skippers Ship Out to Tokyo

WDWNT on February 25, 2009

Here’s more information and background on the two Jungle Cruise skippers heading to Tokyo Disneyland according to the OC Register’s Around Disney blog:

Kevin Lively and Mickey Wright are two wisecracking men who take their craft seriously –- so much so that they’ve been vetted by Disney executives to represent the Anaheim operation at a Tokyo summit.

This professional conference –- Friday through March 6 –- will be a lot more entertaining than most.

Disneyland is sending Lively and Wright, two of its Jungle Cruise skippers, to Tokyo for a nine-day round-table forum on “jungle humor” with skippers from three other Disney theme parks.

The Jungle  Cruise, of course, takes passengers in a boat around a winding, vegetation-shrouded river filled with animatronic jungle animals and spear-wielding residents. The skipper spouts off a continuous stream of corny jokes.

“You can’t lose with cannibalism,” Lively said on picking the right note of humor for the ride. “I like when we have kids on board, because to them, the ride is 100-percent real.”

Lively, 23, of Fullerton has worked at the park since summer 2007. He said he likes working with kids — he helped direct childrens theater in college.

Wright, 58, of Lake Forest started in November 2007 after he got hired at a Disney job fair. Though he said his friends figured he’d be a natural when they found out he got the job, Wright struggled with the script at first.

“The truth is, I actually had a hard time with the spiel,” he said. “I have a little ADD and all the distractions were hard to deal with.”

He’s a pro, now though, as evidenced by his selection for the Tokyo visit.

In Tokyo, skippers from Disneyland, the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, the Tokyo Disney Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland will tour the park there and trade tips on the best spiels and practices for running the Jungle Cruise.

The trip is part of a promotion by the company that operates Tokyo Disney — it’s the 25th anniversary of that park. The company decided to fulfill 25 employees’ wishes this year. This conference is a result of Kenichi Ito, a supervisor for the Tokyo Jungle Cruise.

The competition began in January from among the 60 skippers. Feb. 6, the six finalists had to do their act before a panel of execs, including Pixar chief John Lasseter and Imagineering chief Tony Baxter.

The majority of the skippers speak English, but a translator will be available for those who don’t. Also, the skippers will get to experience the Tokyo Disney Ride in Mandarin, Cantonese and Japanese.

The Disneyland Jungle Cruise is one of the park’s original rides — it opened with the park in 1955.

Slumdog Millionaire Cast Has a Blast at Disneyland

WDWNT on February 24, 2009

According to the OC Register’s Around Disney blog:

The seven child actors who played in Oscar-winning “Slumdog Millionaire” spent the day in Disneyland today.

Their trip down the red carpet at the Academy Awards ceremony last night, and then their jaunt to the “happiest place on earth” today was a far cry from their typical days living in the slums of India.

The kids’ handlers wanted the event to be private, and therefore Disney put a strict ban on media.

They did agree, however, to send the photos above. To read more about the “Slumdog Millionaire” cast, click here.

Celebrate! Dreams Come True at Disneyland

WDWNT on February 24, 2009

Some exciting news for you Disneyland entertainment fans. Remember Dreams Come True, Disneyland’s fireworks spectacular will be permanently returning to Disneyland on Sunday, March 8th and will be showing for all of March, and we presume up through early November. As previously reported, parades will return to Disneyland in the form of the new “Celebrate! A Street Party” on Friday, March 27th (at least that’s the current date, subject to change as with anything).

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today as I will be at the Resort for both the return of Remember Dreams Come True and the debut of “Celebrate! A Street Party”.

“Are You 23?”

WDWNT on February 23, 2009

Our sister site WDW News Today has been tracking the development of the secret promotion Disney is currently promoting, which asks the question “Are You 23?”. Everyone has been wondering since these ads started popping up, just what would this “Are You 23?” thing be? As Tom stated on WDW News Today, it will most likely turn out to be some sort of a Disney merchandise fan club, and this product release and signing on March 14th adds extra strength to that rumor:

Dave Pacheco Product Release & Signing – “Are you 23?”
Date: Saturday, March 14, 2009
Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Location: Disneyana Shop, Main Street, U.S.A.

Join us as we welcome Disney Master Artist Dave Pacheco for a very special artist appearance and signing on Saturday, March 14, 2009. Dave will be on hand to sign a selection of artwork, a t-shirt and a pin featuring some of Disney’s most beloved characters. Additional information about this exciting event will follow the March 10, 2009 announcement revealing the answer to “Are you 23?” To find out more about “Are you 23?” visit Disney.com/23.

Merchandise available while supplies last. A limited number of pieces will be available on the day of the event. We ask that only two (2) items be signed per Guest. We ask that you bring no personal items to be signed. Event merchandise must be purchased on the day of release at the event location. ValidDisneyland® Resort receipt may be required. Artist signing is subject to space and time availability and is not guaranteed. Artist will only sign their respective merchandise purchased on the day of the event only. Event information subject to change without notice. Separate admission is required to enter Disneyland® Resort theme parks.

Disney is scheduled to release all of the details for “Are You 23?” on March 10, so be sure to stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for the latest on this new campaign.

Two Disneyland Resort Jungle Cruise Skippers ‘Spiel’ Their Way to Tokyo Disney Resort

WDWNT on February 22, 2009

ANAHEIM, CALIF., February 16, 2009 – Earlier this year, Jungle Cruise skippers all around the world were preparing their funniest material for a chance at representing their respective Disney Parks in Tokyo this month. Since the attraction debuted at Disneyland in 1955, the skipper role has always been one of interaction and fun, telling the story of the Jungle Cruise through silly jokes.

As part of Tokyo Disney Resort’s 25th Anniversary Celebration, a total of eight Jungle Cruise skippers from Disneyland Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland, Walt Disney World Resort and Tokyo Disney Resort have been chosen to represent their resorts during a nine-day excursion to Tokyo Disney where they will participate in a unique dream opportunity.

In conjunction with the milestone anniversary, the Oriental Land Company, the Japanese company that owns and operates the resort, made 25 dreams come true for Cast Members. The Jungle Cruise skipper dream is one of the most unique being fulfilled. The request came from Kenichi Ito, a supervisor for Jungle Cruise, who dreamt to have Jungle Cruise skippers worldwide gather at Tokyo Disneyland and create an occasion where they could exchange best practices and, of course, best jokes!

In Anaheim, Jungle Cruise skippers Kevin Lively and Mickey Wright were chosen as representatives of the original attraction.

At the Disneyland Resort, the competition began in January with 60 skippers. On Feb. 6, six finalists took to the jungle delivering their finest skipper antics to a panel of surprise celebrity judges including – Chief Creative Officer of Pixar Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios John Lasseter and his wife, Nancy, Executive Vice President and Walt Disney Imagineering Ambassador Marty Sklar, Senior Vice President of Walt Disney Imagineering Tony Baxter, and Walt Disney Imagineering Senior Director and Concept Writer Kevin Rafferty.

Each finalist had one shot to deliver his or her spiel to the judges. Rain poured down throughout the skippers’ spiels making for a well-themed trip through the rainforest. Although conditions were soggy, the skippers were cool, calm and collected while delivering punch line after punch line.

“All the skippers were terrific, every single one,” said Sklar. “They were all able to use their own unique style during their performances to make the jokes funny every time. We had a tough time deciding the winners.”

The excursion takes place Feb. 27 through Mar. 6, and will include a two-day tour of Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, Jungle Cruise skipper training on the Tokyo attraction, and the opportunity to present their personal spiel’s to the group.

“Super-Manny” Takes Over Downtown Disney

WDWNT on February 20, 2009

Casting will be held this weekend in Downtown Disney for ABC’s new “Suppernanny” spin-off, “Super-Manny”. The OC Register’s Around Disney blog:

If you’re a parent: Are your children a giant pain?

If you’re a child: Do you frequently find yourself in trouble with your parents, teachers, the cops or the fire marshal?

The casting team of ABC-TV’s parenting reality show, “Supernanny,” will look for families Saturday in Downtown Disney for the new “Super-Manny” – featuring a male nanny.

“We have great luck casting at Disneyland and Disneyworld,” said “Super-Manny’s” Johnnie Raines, supervising casting director.

Disney owns ABC.

Ricochet Television producers are hosting the open casting call for the show from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday near the LEGO Imagination Center.

The first “Super-Manny” installment aired in November. Psychologist Mike Ruggles is ”Manny.”

“We were looking for a way to reach fathers,” Raines said. “He has that ability to connect with dads differently than Jo Frost (of ‘Supernanny’).”

According to an ABC statement, the producers are “looking for families who are lacking structure in their households; parents who have ordinary and extraordinary circumstances; blended families where both sides are seeking help; and specifically fathers who are overwhelmed with parenting.”

Raines said Ruggles would spend two weeks with each family on camera for each episode. Producers will condense the footage into an hour-long show.

None of the families will be paid for their time — the “main benefit is the help,” Raines said. “You don’t win $1 million if your kids don’t throw food at dinner.”

Interested moms and dads can also e-mail Gina Gonzalez at ggonzalez@ricochettelevision.com to apply. Include information about your family, a recent family photo and a daytime telephone number. For more information, call 1-877-626-6984.