Enter our $25 Disney Gift Card Disney Villain Raffle

Happy Halloween.

To help you get into the spirit we have a little treat for you: the chance to win a $25 Disney Gift Card. This month we are going to offer two Halloween giveaways tied to our special Unofficial Disney Villain Face-Off. You will be able to vote and enter the giveaway once each day.

The first giveaway will begin Oct 1 and end Oct. 14. The second will begin Oct. 15 and last until Oct. 30. So, you'll be able to enter for a treat almost every day of the month, all the way to Halloween.

So please help decide who should be crowned the Villain of Halloween and see if you can fill up your trick-or-treat bag.

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The Unofficial Disney Villain Face-Off Round 1: Winner is The Queen of Hearts

The winner of the First Round in the The Unofficial Disney Villain Face-Off  is The Queen of Hearts. She received 73 percent of the vote while the Big Bad Wolf received 27 percent.

The Queen of Hearts will now face Ursula in the next round.



Here were the Round 1 contestants:

Name: Big Bad Wolf

Movie: “The Three Little Pigs,” a Silly Symphonies short (1933)

Best known for: Huffing and puffing

Quote: “By the hair on your chinny-chin-chin, I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house in!”

Background: Those pigs look pretty tasty, but Practical Pig makes sure BB never finds out.

Why he’s the baddest of them all: The Queen may be the original Disney villain, but the Big Bad Wolf goes all the way back to Aesop’s Fables and Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Don’t sell him short.

VS.

Name: The Queen of Hearts


Movie: “Alice in Wonderland” (1951)

Best known for: Wanting to take people's heads off

Quote: “I warn you, child, if I lose my temper, you lose your head.”

Background: Believed by some to be a caricature of Queen Victoria, the Queen of Hearts just wants everything to go her way.

Why she’s the baddest of them all: She's a bit psychotic; let's say she's at least one card short of a full deck.

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The Unofficial Disney Villain Face-Off Begins

Magic Mirror on the wall, who is the baddest of them all?

There's no reason to ask the mirror. This Halloween month you will decide who is the nastiest, scariest, most repugnant villain in the Disney animated universe.

The Unofficial Disney Villain Face-Off is down to the Final Terrible Two. It's now up to you to decide who will be crowned  "The Baddest of Them All"for Halloween.

Along the way you'll learned about all the villains, be able to give us your best "Boo-Cheers" and be able to enter a raffle for a $25 Disney Store Gift Card by clicking here. 

We took 16 Disney Villains and randomly matched them up against each other. We called them the Sinister Sixteen. Each week you voted them down to what is now the Final Round of the Terrible Tow.

The Baddest of Them All Finals -Voting Oct. 22 - Oct. 29

Maleficent vs. The Evil Queen 

Here's the recap:

Sinister Sixteen Round - Voting Oct. 1 - Oct. 7 

Round 1: Big Bad Wolf vs. Queen of Hearts

Round 2: Chernabog vs. Ursula

Round 3: Maleficent vs. Lady Tremaine

Round 4: Judge Claude Frollo vs. Shan Yu

Round 5:  Hades vs. Cruella de Vil

Round 6: Scar vs. Doctor Facilier

Round 7: Gaston vs. The (Evil) Queen

Round 8: Captain Hook vs. Jafar

Evil Eight Round- Voting Oct. 7 Oct. 14

Evil Round 1 - The Queen of Hearts vs. Ursula

Evil Round 2 - Maleficent vs. Shan Yu

Evil Round 3 - Cruella de Vil vs. Scar

Evil Round 4 - The Evil Queen vs. Jafar 

Fearsome Four Round - Voting Oct. 15- Oct. 21

Fearsome Round 1 - Ursula vs. Maleficent

Fearsome Round 2 - Scar vs. The Evil Queen

Some of the normal disclaimers. We are not associated with the Walt Disney Company. All characters are copyright of The Walt Disney Company. The intention of this is for fun only. While we enjoy the Disney Villains, we do not support villainy of any kind. 

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The Unofficial Disney Villain Face-Off Round 8: Jafar wins

This Halloween month, you get to decide which Disney villain is the most "evil" in this year's Unofficial Disney Villain Face-Off.

In this final round of the first level Jafar received 72 percent of the vote over Captain Hook's 28 percent.

Jafar will now face The Queen in the next level.


Name: Captain Hook

Movie: “Peter Pan” (1953)


Best known for: His hook, of course.

Quote: “I’ll get you for this, Peter Pan, if it’s the last thing I do!”

Background: He never breaks a promise, or so they say. But once he sets his sights on Peter Pan, that becomes impossible.

Why he’s the baddest of them all: As villains go, he’s quite charming -- and that’s dangerous.

VS.

Name: Jafar

Movie: “Aladdin” (1992)

Best known for: Trying to kill Aladdin -- again, and again, and again.

Quote: “How many times do I have to kill you, boy?”

Background: He is the sorcerer of Agrabah with the intent to overthrow the Sultan, get rid of Aladdin and rule the land.

Why he’s the baddest of them all: He can shoot lighting bolts from his hands and eyes, and has a staff that turns into a snake. (Why did it have to be a snake?)

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The Unofficial Disney Villain Face-Off Round 7: The Queen moves on to the next round

This Halloween month, you get to decide which Disney villain is the most "evil" in this year's Unofficial Disney Villain Face-Off.

In this Round 7 contest, The Queen trounces Gaston receiving 98 percent of the vote, I guess he's not that bad of a guy.

In the next round The Queen will face Jafar.

Name: Gaston

Movie: “Beauty and the Beast” (1991)

Best known for: His biceps

Quote: “Here in town there's only she who is beautiful as me, so I'm making plans to woo and marry Belle.”

Background: Despite his vanity and temper, Gaston is a hero in town (especially among the ladies). That makes it easy for him to raise an army to attack the Beast’s castle.

Why he’s the baddest of them all: His good looks hide his bad intentions.

VS.

Name: The Queen

Movie: “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937)

Best known for: Her poison apples

Quote: “Magic mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?”

Background: The jealous queen targets her beautiful stepdaughter, Snow White, so she will once again be the most beautiful woman in the land.

Why she’s the baddest of them all: She’s the original evil -- the template for all that follow.

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The Unofficial Disney Villain Face-Off Round 6: Winner is Scar

The winner of Round 6 in The Unofficial Disney Face-Off is Scar.

The former prince beat out Doctor Facilier 76 percent to 24 percent.

Scar will now face Cruella deVil in the next round.

Name: Scar

Movie: “The Lion King” (1994)

Best known for: Cavorting with hyenas.

Quote: “As far as brains go, I got the lion's share. But, when it comes to brute strength ... I'm afraid I'm at the shallow end of the gene pool.”

Background: A covetous Scar arranges for the death of his brother, Mufasa, and nephew, Simba. But he’s too sure of himself.

Why he’s the baddest of them all: You have no idea.

VS.

Name: Doctor Facilier

Movie: "The Princess and the Frog" (2009)

Best known for: Trying to rule New Orleans with his friends from the other side.

Quote: "A tip of my hat from Doctor Facilier."

Background: Facilier tricks his victims into making deals with him. He can read their past and present with his tarot cards; he then looks into their futures as well, and offers to "change it 'round some."

Why he’s the baddest of them all: He’s got friends in low places.

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The Unofficial Disney Villain Face-Off Round 5: Cruella de Vil is the winner

Cruella de Vil beat out Hades in Round 5 of The Unofficial Disney Villain Face-Off.

Cruella received 71 percent of the vote over Hades 29 percent of the vote.

She now faces Scar in the next round.

Name: Hades

Movie: “Hercules” (1997)

Best known for: Eerie resemblance Snow Miser

Quote: “It's a small underworld, after all, huh?”

Background: The Greek god of the underworld, Disney’s version of Hades is out to steal his brother Zeus’s place on Mount Olympus. (The mythical Greek version of Hades didn’t have the same kind of ambition.)

Why he’s the baddest of them all: He commands Pain and Panic -- and who would want to be on the receiving end of that?

VS.

Name: Cruella de Vil

Movie: “101 Dalmatians” (1961)

Best known for: Her fashion sense

Quote: “I don’t care how you kill the little beasts, just do it, and do it now!”

Background: Already in possession of 84 puppies, “that devil woman” just needs to steal Pongo and Perdita’s 15 little ones to complete her wardrobe.

Why she’s the baddest of them all: In a word: puppies. Just how evil do you have to be?

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The Unofficial Disney Villain Face-Off Round 4: Frollo vs. Shan Yu

The winner of Round 4 in the opening level of The Unofficial Disney Villain Face-Off has Shan Yu beating out Judge Claude Frollo 60 percent to 40 percent.

Shan Yu will now face Maleficent in the next round.

Here were  the Round 4 contestants:

Name: Judge Claude Frollo 

Movie: “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1996)

Best known for: Stunning hypocrisy (pretty sophisticated for a kids’ movie)

Quote: “And he shall smite the wicked and plunge them into the fiery pit.”

Background: He kept Quasimodo locked in the tower of Notre Dame cathedral for 20 years -- which, all in all, seems better than tossing him into a well, which was his initial inclination.

Why he’s the baddest of them all: He actually believes he’s doing good, not evil.

VS.

Name: Shan Yu

Movie: "Mulan" (1998)

Best known for: Killing his enemies in cold blood; had an archer shoot an enemy messenger in the back (apparently he never learned that you don't shoot the messenger).

Quote: "Your walls and armies have fallen, and now it's your turn."

Background: Leader of the Huns who invades Han China.

Why he's the baddest of them all: He's a Hun. Come on, a Hun!

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The Unofficial Disney Villain Face-Off Round 3: Maleficient vs. Lady Tremaine

Is there any doubt who won this round of The Unofficial Disney Villain Face-Off.  Maleficent beat out Lady Tremaine 84 percent to 16 percent.

Maleficent will now face Shan Yu in the next level.

Name: Maleficent


Movie: “Sleeping Beauty” (1959)

Best known for: Turning into a dragon.

Quote: “You poor, simple fools. Thinking you can defeat me? Me, the mistress of all evil?”

Background: Upset after being snubbed by the parents of the Princess Aurora, she seeks revenge by cursing the child.

Why she’s the baddest of them all: She cursed a baby because she wasn’t invited to the christening. A christening, people!

VS.

Name: Lady Tremaine

Movie: “Cinderella” (1950)

Best known for: Mis treating her stepdaughter, including locking her in her room when she knows her own daughters won’t fit in the glass slipper.

Quote: "Do them again! And don't forget the garden. Then scrub the terrace, sweep the halls and the stairs, clean the chimneys. And of course there's the mending and the sewing and the laundry... Oh yes, and one more thing. See that Lucifer gets his bath."

Background: She is a socialite who wants to see her family succeed.

Why she’s the baddest of them all: Her sinister glare. If you’ve ever experienced that look from your own mother, just remember, Lady Tremaine’s was 1,000 times worse.

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The Unofficial Disney Villain Face-Off Round 2: Ursula wins and heads to the next round of voting

This was the closest competition in the first voting level in the The Unofficial Disney Villain Face-Off. The winner of this round is Ursula with 51 percent of the vote against Chernabog.

Ursula will now face The Queen of Hearts in the next round.

Name: Chernabog

Movie: “Fantasia” (1940)

Best known for: Raising ghosts, monsters, fire women, imps, blue satyrs, witches and demons when he awakens during Walpurgis Night, a traditional Spring festival which takes place exactly six months from All Hallows' Eve.

Quote: No words, just think of the music “Night on Bald Mountain.”

Background: Chernabog is the black god of death and darkness in Slavic mythology

Why he's the baddest of them all: Although you may not even recognize his name, Chernabog is pure evil, has the power to corrupt, controls fire, raises the dead -- and has the coolest wings.

VS.

Name: Ursula

Movie: “The Little Mermaid” (1989)

Best known for: Taking Ariel’s voice -- and trying to take her man, too

Quote: “Poor unfortunate souls!”

Background: Ursula “helps” the “unfortunate merfolk” who make the mistake of sharing their wishes with her. Along comes Ariel, who wishes to be part of Prince Eric’s world.

Why she’s the baddest of them all: Her talent at manipulation means she makes a lot of sense -- until it’s too late.

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Florida woman holds world record on Mickey Mouse memorabilia

How much do you love Mickey Mouse?

Well, not matter how much you do love him, a Florida woman has you beat.

Janet Esteves, a 57-year-old Celebration woman holds the Guinness World Record  for the largest Mickey Mouse collection, according to the Orlando Sentinel. 

The latest official count has her collection at 4,127 items, though she tells the newspaper there are 2,000 other pieces waiting to be cataloged.

"This is a passion," she said. "Actually, it's an obsession. Some people think it's crazy, but frankly, I don't care."

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Disney receives patent to create interactive cakes

Disney is already capable of placing a person's face on a doll, we saw that with the opening of the D-Tech Me Experience, now Disney has received a patent which will allow them to place images on a food items.

Here is a drawing from the patent showing how the device would
project a a movie on the cake.

In an effort to create more personalized cakes, Disney has come up with a system "for digitally augmenting or enhancing a food product such as the surface or top of a cake or other edible object," according to the patent.

Think of your cake as a blank canvas. And, instead of just using frosting to dress it up, imagine a small projector putting out a 3D projection on the cake. This could be a set of photos that go through a slide show, or movie. Here you would possibly be able to insert your USB drive into the projector and see the images you take appear on the cake.

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Stride Rite introduces new line of Cinderella shoes for kids

First world-renowned footwear designer Christian Louboutin remade Disney's Cinderella's glass slippers. Then DSW introduced its own line of dress shoes inspired by the movie. Now, Stride Rite is getting into the act creating three style of shoes for "little princess."

The Stride Rite for Disney Princess collection coincides with the released of Disney's Cinderella Diamond Edition, available on Blu-ray on Oct. 2.

"By featuring key style elements of a beloved Disney princess like Cinderella, our new collection gives little girls that sparkle and the perfect fit to truly make them feel like royalty," Sharon John, Stride Rite Children's Group President said in a news release.

The three new styles, sizes 8.5 to 12 at a cost of $42 to $46 include:

The Cinderella Cozy Boot, a sparkle suede boot that has a lightweight, flexible outsole, warm, fluffy lining and Cinderella-inspired jewel closure.

The Cinderella Sparkle Flat with an elasticized mary jane strap and gore top line.

Cinderella Mary Jane with Magical Lights is a silver leather Cinderella-inspired sneaker with mary jane styling and sparkly sequins and has lights that flash with every step.

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New Disneynature film out in 2014 will focus on grizzly bears

First Disneynature focused on "African Cats" then on chimpanzees and now it will focus on bears.

                                                                             © Disney

The next film, due out in the Spring of 2014, will be called "Bears" and will examine "brown bears who call Alaska’s stunning coastal mountains and shores their home, revealing through tender moments and entertaining imagery how these animals are far from grizzly creatures," according to a Disney news release.

The film is being shot on location in Alaska’s Katmai National Park. by directors Keith Scholey (“African Cats”) and Alastair Fothergill (“Earth,” “African Cats” and “Chimpanzee”).

“Disneynature's next adventure 'Bears' promises to continue this storytelling tradition by introducing audiences to a phenomenal variety of wildlife and offering rare glimpses into the day-to-day lives of these incredible animals,” Alan Bergman, President of The Walt Disney Studios said in the release.

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Swampy and \'Frankenweenie\' team up for 10 free levels

Swampy the Alligator fans can download 10 free levels featuring characters from the upcoming stop-motion animated movie "Frankenweenie."


The “10 Days of Frankenweenie” are special black and white levels of Where\'s My Water, featuring a cameo by one of the stars, Sparky, and a new soundtrack inspired by the film.

"Frankenweenie" is a story about a boy named Victor, losing his dog Sparky, and then uses science to bring him back from the dead "with just a few minor adjustments," according to the Disney news release.

The movie opens Oct. 5.

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Epcot 30th anniversary schedule released

The 30th anniversary of Epcot is on Oct. 1 - and while there will be no 13-month Disney celebration as there has been with other major milestones - guests on that day will still be able to attend some anniversary events.

Three history presentations will be taking place in the World Showcase, courtesy of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, a special anniversary moment and a special Illuminations, according to the Disney Parks Blog.

                                                                                                © Steven Liebman

Here's the schedule:

1-2 p.m.: Designing the Future – Past and Present: A panel of Disney Imagineers remembers 30 years of building tomorrow in the World Showcase.

3 p.m.: A special anniversary moment featuring performances by the Mariachi Cobre and the Voices of Liberty in the American Gardens Theatre.

4:30–6 p.m. : Epcot: How it Changed the World with Marty Sklar in the World Showcase.

6:30–8 p.m.: Epcot: How it Changed the World with Marty Sklar in the World Showcase.

9 p.m.: A special 30th anniversary tag at the end of Illuminations.

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Tinker Bell's sister joins in on new meet and greet in Disneyland and Disney World

                                                      @ Walt Disney Company
Tinker Bell (left) is joined by her sister, Periwinkle

Tinker Bell's sister will be among the newest of the fairies to be part of a meet and greet guests at Disney World and Disneyland this fall and winter, according to the Disney Parks Blog.

Periwinkle will join Tinker Bell at Tinker Bell's Magical Nook in the Magic Kingdom in Disney World and at Pixie Hollow in Disneyland.

You didn't know Tink had a sister. Well, neither did she, according to Disney until she is introduced in the latest Disney Fairies movie, "Secrets of the Wings." This movie comes out to DVD and Blu-ray on Oct. 23.

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Disney Vacation Club offering 2 new perks: Merchandise discount and premium annual pass savings

The Disney Vacation Club has announced two new perks which will go into effect Oct. 1.

The first is a major savings on Premium Disney World Annual passes. The second is 10 percent off all merchandise.

According to the DVC website:

"From October 31, 2012, Members will be able to purchase a Walt Disney World Premium Annual Pass for just $399 (that's a savings of $300 off the regular price!) Premium Annual Passholders enjoy unlimited admission to four Theme Parks, a year's worth of unlimited access to Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park and Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Parks, DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Theme Park, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Disney's Oak Trail Golf Course (greens fees only) and more!

"Insider's Tip: A Premium Annual Pass certificate is not activated as a ticket until it is used the first time. So, if you've already purchased an Annual Pass, you can still take advantage of this offer by purchasing it now (between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2012), but waiting to activate it until after your current pass has expired. Passes purchased on this offer must be redeemed by December 31, 2013."

In addition, Oct. 1 begins a new ongoing Member perk: 10 percent off merchandise at all Disney-owned and operated merchandise locations at Parks and Resorts at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney's Vero Beach Resort, Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort and Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai'i.

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Disney creates new "deal of the day" website

Disney is now offering daily deals and specials through a new website called Disney Family Deals.

Similar to Groupon and other daily deal websites, Disney Family Deals spotlights special offers and promotions from the companies and brands making up The Walt Disney Co. This includes toys, videos, music, clothes and the parks, according to the website.

In addition, Disney has partnered with Plum District, a premium service geared toward moms, to offer deals in cities around the country.

And, like other deal websites, you are able to sign up for e-mail alerts.

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Coming up this week in Disney Universe: Sept. 16-Sept. 22

This week the Disney Universe sees the return of the Segway Tour at Epcot, the closing of a few rides in Disneyland and Disney World for refurbishments and two movies coming out on DVD and Blu-ray.

In addition, the Halloween celebration continues at the Disney Parks.

Here is a look at what's happening:

                                                                    ©Disney

SEPTEMBER 17: The Segway tour returns to Epcot.

SEPTEMBER 17-18: Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes in Disneyland is closed for refurbishment.

SEPTEMBER 18: "Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3" released on DVD and Blu-ray, and "The Great Mouse Detective" released on Blu-ray and Movie Download.

SEPTEMBER 18-19: The Boneyard at Animal Kingdom is closed for refurbishment.

SEPTEMBER 18-20: Sailing Ship Columbia in Disneyland is closed for refurbishment.

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'Avengers 2' to be released in 2015 with Joss Whedon directing

Disney has confirmed that "Avengers 2" will be released in 2015 with Joss Whedon at the helm.

''Joss Whedon has signed an exclusive deal with Marvel Studios for film and television through the end of June 2015," Disney said in a statement.

"As part of that deal, Whedon will write and direct Marvel's The Avengers 2 as well as help develop a new live-action series for Marvel Television at ABC. He will also contribute creatively to the next phase of Marvel's cinematic universe," according to the statement.

Whedon tells Craveonline in an exclusive interview that it was clear to him that he wanted to say more about these characters, adding that the decision to do "Avengers 2" was a "spectacularly easy yes."

The Marvel Universe will see at least four other movies released prior to the next Avengers movie. On the schedule are:

May 3, 2013: "Iron Man 3"

Nov. 8, 2013: "Thor: The Dark World"

April 4, 2014: "Captain America, Winter Soldier"

August 1, 2014: "Guardians of the Galaxy"

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Haunted Mansion in Disneyland is transformed for Halloween

Disneyland opened the transformed Halloween Haunted Mansion this week.

This is the time of the year that Jack Skellington and all of his buddies from "The Nightmare Before Christmas" kick out all 999 ghosts from the Haunted Mansion and move in for a few months.


The work done on building and the grounds is phenomenal. While the ride remains the same, the entire storyline is changed and each room is transformed.

According to Disney:

• More than 400 flickering candles create the Mansion’s eerie nighttime glow
• More than 100 jack-o-lanterns illuminate the exterior
• All the iconic black ravens that appear throughout the original Haunted Mansion experience have been replaced by Vampire Teddies.

Here's a Disney video showing the 18-day transformation.

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Disney to sell alcohol in The Magic Kingdom for the first time

After 41 years, The Magic Kingdom will no longer be dry.

Over the years, the Walt Disney World Resort has allowed alcohol sales at Epcot, Hollywood Studios and the Animal Kingdom, but has always kept it out of The Magic Kingdom. Now, the new Be Our Guest Restaurant will sell alcohol during the evening meal.

According to the latest menu released by Disney, when the restaurant opens in the New Fantasyland on Nov. 19, it will offer three types of champagne and sparkling wine, seven types of white wine, one rose', eight  types of red wine (including one from the winery of the chief creative officer at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, John Lasseter) a dessert wine and four different types of beer.

Walt Disney himself did not want to serve any alcohol at Disneyland. In a 1956 article by Pete Martin in the Saturday Evening Post, Walt said: "No liquor, no beer, nothing. Because that brings in a rowdy element. That brings people that we don't want and I feel they don't need it. I feel when I go down to the park I don't need a drink. I work around that place all day and I don't have one. After I come out of a heavy day at the stdio sometimes I want a drink to relax."

To this day no alcohol is sold in Disneyland to guests, except at the private Club 33. In addition, bars are set up for private events catered in the park.

When The Magic Kingdom was opened, by extension, no alcohol was served.

Now comes the booze, but the ironic thing about this new offering is that it is taking place in the New Fantasyland, which is considered the hub for Disney's youngest guests.

Maybe the feelings have changed and the stress of heading to the Magic Kingdom and being in the midst of all the small children now means adults do need that drink to relax.

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Disney halts Henry Selick movie for a $50 million loss

Walt Disney Studios is booting a a stop-motion animated film that was in development by director Henry Selick, best known for his work on "Coraline" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

The untitled movie, which was due out in October 2013, means the Walt Disney Co. will book a $50 million write-down for its fiscal fourth quarter, according to The Wall Street Journal. 

 Disney Chief Financial Officer Jay Rasulon said the write-down would have "a very short fourth-quarter impact," the WSJ reported.

In the fiscal second quarter, Disney took a write-down for the poor performance of the movie "John Carter."

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Disney debuts new magazine geared to student performers

Everyone dreams of being a star. Now Disney has created a magazine geared toward students in the performing arts to help them reach that dream.

Disney Extra Credit Magazine focuses on Disney's entertainment and gives behind the scene looks at all types of performers, according to the premiere issue.

The first issue has interviews with Broadway stars from "The Lion King" and "Newsies" and shows you what life is like as a performer on a Disney Cruise Liner. There are also talks with people who got their start in the business through Disney, such as jazz artist Sean O'Bryan Smith.

The premiere issue can be viewed free here.

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Disneyland donates two Matterhorn bobsleds to National Roller Coaster Museum

They are known as "the holy grail" of roller coaster artifacts and now the National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives in Texas has two of them - Disneyland Matterhorn Bobsleds.

The Matterhorn at Disneyland

After a nearly six month rehab of the famed Disneyland attraction, including changing the ride vehicles from two cars able to hold eight passengers (with one person sitting in an other person's lap) to a more expansive vehicle with three individual seats per car, Disney has decided to donate two of the cars to the museum in Arlington, Texas, the museum announced recently.

“The Matterhorn started the modern era of roller coaster design and launched the themed ride industry,” museum Chairman Gary Slade said in a news release. Slade described getting the ride vehicles as "the holy grail."

In addition Disneyland is donating signage from the California Screamin’ roller coaster from Disney’s California Adventure. The roller coaster is the second longest steel roller coaster in North America and features a soundtrack, the news release states.

The Matterhorn opened in 1959 and was part of the first major expansion at Disneyland. It was built to 1/100th scale of the original Matterhorn, 147 feet versus 14.700 feet and was the first roller coaster in the world to use a tubular steel track and an electronic dispatch system.

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2013 Walt Disney World Moms Panel applications open

Disney has opened its application process for the 2013 Walt Disney World Moms Panel.

This year, Disney has created a social Sports Team Mom specialty, looking for someone who has experience organizing sports team travel.

In 2008, Disney created the Moms Panel, an online forum of everyday people answering and giving advice on Disney vacations. No travel agents or anyone in the theme park industry is allowed to participate.

This year, Disney is looking for panelists to represent these various areas: Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, Adventures by Disney, runDisney, Disney Vacation Club and the Sports Team. Disney is also seeking bilingual members, according to Disney's website.

The deadline to apply is Sept. 14. More information can be obtained by at disneymomspanelsearch2013.com. The application process includes a series of written questions and submissions. The final round consists of a phone interview. Those chosen will be announced in January 2013.

“This diverse panel of Disney fans has helped countless guests turn their vacation dreams into a reality," Leanne Jakubowski, Director, Social Media; Walt Disney World Resort, said in a news release.

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Fun Video: Gopher Aerobics at Disney World

Standing in line at a Disney theme park is just par for the visit. The key is enjoying what you find in the  queues and seeing what little stories you can make up. When going through the The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in Disney World, the line started off with what I always like to call -- Gopher Aerobics.

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Halloween begins this week at Disneyland and Walt Disney World

This week brings Halloween to the Disney Parks with special makeovers of key attractions in Disneyland and the start of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World.

                                                                                                      © Steven Liebman
A scarecrow pumpkin outside Big Thunder Ranch in Disneyland in 2011.

In addition, a classic Pixar movie is released in 3-D and the final section of Disney's Art of Animation opens.

Here are the highlights of what's happening around the Disney Universe from Sept. 9- 15.

SEPTEMBER 10-13: Big Thunder Ranch and Space Mountain in Disneyland closed for refurbishment and MuppetVision 3D in Disney's California Adventure closed for refurbishment.

SEPTEMBER 10-14: Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure in Disney World is closed for refurbishment.

SEPTEMBER 11: "Ghosts of the Abyss" released on Blu-ray.

SEPTEMBER 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, and 30: Mickey's Not-So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World with Mickey's "Boo-to-You" Halloween Parade, Happy HalloWishes fireworks and other surprises. The Not-So-Scary Halloween Map provides specifics.

SEPTEMBER 14: "Finding Nemo" in 3-D is released in theaters.

SEPTEMBER 14-18: London Fashion Week takes place where Minnie Mouse fashion is unveiled.

SEPTEMBER 14-OCTOBER 31: It's Halloween Time at Disneyland in California with special Haunted Mansion Holiday, special ghost encounters at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Space Mountain turns into Ghost Galaxy. The Happiest Haunts Guided Tour also begins, taking guests through Disneyland and California Adventure on a special tour and on rides. The special Disneyland  Mickey's Halloween Party begins on Sept. 28.

SEPTEMBER 15: The Little Mermaid section of Disney's Art of Animation resort opens. This is the final section of the resort.

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