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Thursday, 9 August 2012

How a horse becomes a Disneyland star

Posted on 06:14 by john mical
A fun easy ride heading down Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland is the trolley. It gives the old time feeling as you sit down and are pulled by a horse. But did you ever wonder how the horse was trained? We all know Disney is picky when hiring its cast members.

In this video, Disney explains how this one Belgian Draft horse, Owen, who weighs about 2,200 pounds, is trained to become a Disneyland horse. First he is worked with off on a ranch and then in the early morning hours he gets accustomed to the park and practices pulling the street car down Main Street.

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Posted in Disney news, Disneyland | No comments

Wednesday, 8 August 2012

Walt Disney Co. reports largest quarterly earning in its history

Posted on 06:02 by john mical
The Walt Disney Co. reported its largest quarterly earnings in its history, showing across-the-board growth, the company said.

“Earnings per share were up 31 percent over last year, driven by growth in every one of our businesses," Walt Disney Chairman and CEO Robert A. Iger said. "We also delivered record earnings per share for the first nine months of our fiscal year, and we believe our results clearly demonstrate Disney’s unique value proposition and great potential to deliver long-term growth."

Parks and Resorts revenues for the quarter increased 9 percent to $3.4 billion, driven by increases at Tokyo Disney Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Disney World and Disneyland.

According to the earning report: The increase at Tokyo Disney Resort reflected the loss of income from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, which resulted in a temporary suspension of operations and a reduction in volume after reopening in the prior-year quarter, and the collection of related business interruption insurance proceeds in the current-year quarter.

Operating income growth at Disney Cruise Line was due to the first full quarter of operations of the Disney Fantasy.

In the U.S., both the Disney World and Disneyland resorts saw increased guest spending due to higher average ticket prices, food, beverage and merchandise spending, and daily hotel room rates. Higher costs were driven by labor cost inflation, resort expansion (Cars Land in Disneyland and the New Fantasyland in Disney World) and new guest offerings, and increased investments in systems
infrastructure at Walt Disney World Resort.

Operating income at Cable Networks increased $14 million to $1.9 billion for the quarter due to growth at the domestic Disney Channels and ABC Family, partially offset by a decrease at ESPN.

And the movie business did well thanks to the well-publicized success of "The Avengers" and "Brave."
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Tuesday, 7 August 2012

New Fantasyland rides start opening in November

Posted on 19:37 by john mical
The grand opening of the new Fantasyland at Disney World's Magic Kingdom will take place Dec. 6 with previews of the attractions beginning on Nov. 19.

“Fantasyland is a place where a very special kind of memory is made: where children just old enough to understand the moment come in contact with princesses and heroes and meet their most beloved friends,” Meg Crofton, president, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, United States and France said in a news release.

The latest attractions opening are:

Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid: In this ride guests travel with Ariel and her friends through their adventures above and below the waves – all against a musical backdrop of songs from the film. You then can go to “Ariel’s Grotto,” a meet-and-greet with the mermaid heroine herself.


The Be Our Guest Restaurant: Located in the castle the Beast this restaurant features a dining experience in the ballroom, gallery and mysterious “West Wing” of the castle. With seating for 550, the restaurant offers fast service by day and full table service dining in the evening. Reservations will be accepted starting late in August. Near the restaurant in Belle’s Village guests will find Gaston’s Tavern and Bonjour! Village Gifts.


Enchanted Tales with Belle: Located outside the village is Belle's cottage where inside at Maurice’s workshop is a magical mirror which acts as a doorway to the Beast’s library to meet Belle and Lumiere.

Already open are the double Dumbo the Flying Elephant rides, the Great Goofini coaster, the Casey Jr. Splash 'N' Soak Station water play area and the new Fantasyland Train Station.

Still to come: the Princess Fairytale Hall meet and greet area in 2013 and in 2014 the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, a roller coaster with a first-of-its-kind ride system with a train of vehicles that swing back and forth, responding to every twist and turn of the track.
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Posted in Disney news, Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World | No comments

Disneyland Paris reports increased revenue but fewer guests from Spain and Netherlands

Posted on 05:42 by john mical
Even though there were fewer people from Spain and the Netherlands visiting Disneyland Paris, the parent company reports that third-quarter revenues increased 4 percent due to higher guest spending and attendance.

"We are pleased with the strong launch of our 20th Anniversary celebration which has helped us drive 4 percent revenue growth in the third quarter, in a still uncertain economic environment," Philippe Gas, Chief Executive Officer of Euro Disney S.A.S, said.

"Third-quarter guest satisfaction was up 7 percentage points to the prior year, confirming the celebration's impact and the relevance of our ongoing investments in the guest experience. Our unique Disney Dreams! nighttime show is also proving to be a great hit amongst our guests," he said in a news release.

Resort operating segment revenues increased 4 percent to 357.7 million Euros. Theme parks revenues increased 6 percent to 207.8 million Euros due to a 3 percent increase in average spending per guest and a 2 percent increase in attendance. The increased average spending per guest was due to higher spending on merchandise and food and beverage, the company said.

The increase in attendance was due to more guests visiting from France and Belgium, partly offset by fewer guests visiting from Spain and the Netherlands, according to the company.

Hotels and Disney Village revenues increased 1 percent to 138.6 million Euros due to a 7 percent increase in average spending per room, partly offset by a 2.9 percentage point decrease in hotel occupancy and lower Disney Village activity.

The increase in average spending per room was due to higher daily room rates, partly offset by lower spending on food and beverage. The decrease in hotel occupancy resulted from 15,000 fewer room nights sold compared to the prior-year quarter. This trend was due to fewer guests from Spain and the Netherlands, according to the company.


More on Disneyland Paris:

Goofy visits your home straight from Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris 20th celebration with new Disney Dreams show, see the video


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Disney turns a houseplant into a computer toy

Posted on 04:57 by john mical
Disney has turned an everyday houseplant into a musical instrument.

Disney researchers at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University have developed the ability to plug in a living plant into a computer and transform it into an interactive toy, Wired UK reports.

The system is called Botanicus Interactus. Granted, it sounds more like something you would see in a Road Runner cartoon, but it works. By placing a wire in the soil of the plant, you can then touch the plant and see on a computer screen where and how you are touching the plant.

Now, add in the ability for each area of the plant or each leaf to represent a different musical note, and now depending upon your touch, the plant plays music.

Botanicus Interactus uses machine-learning algorithms to figure out the connection between a change in a certain frequency, and a touch in a particular location, the website says.

Can you imagine an exhibit at the Epcot International Garden & Flower Show where you can go up to plants, touch them and then hear the music they play? Maybe one day.

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Posted in Disney news, Disney Tech | No comments

Sunday, 5 August 2012

What's happening this week in the Disney Universe

Posted on 11:40 by john mical
A new wing of a resort, refurbishment of a riverboat, a special meeting of Disney fans and Disney's financial reports is are all things to look forward to this week in the Disney Universe.

Disney publicity photo of the Art of Animation Resort
The Liberty Square Riverboat at Disney World will remain closed for refurbishment until Aug. 10.

D23 is holding Destination D: 75 Years of Disney Animated Features Aug. 11 and 12 at the Grand Ballroom at the Disneyland Hotel. The event includes previews of upcoming films from Walt Disney Animation Studios, salutes to the great Disney animators and artists of the past, hands-on activities, and a reunion of Disney animated voice talent and rare and never-before-seen artwork and film footage.

On Aug. 7, Disney announces its 3rd Quarter financial results.

On Aug. 10 Disney opens the third wing of the Art of Animation Resort in Disney World. In the new Lion King wing, "guests embark on a journey through Africa with encounters with characters and scenic moments from the film at every turn. King Mufasa towers atop Pride Rock while his evil brother Scar slinks in the shadows beyond the elephant graveyard," according to Disney promotional material.

There are 320 family suites in this wing. Zazu is on the headboards while Pumba and Timon decorate the shower curtain.

Earlier this summer Disney’s Art of Animation Resort opened 320 “Finding Nemo” family suites and 480 “Cars” family suites. The 864 standard rooms at the “Little Mermaid” wing, opening in September, sleep up to four, with rates as low as $94.


More on the Art of Animation Resort
  • Disney Facts: Art of Animation Resort by the numbers
  • Disney introduces RFID technology to is hotel rooms

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Disney flash mob in Times Square to promote a toy

Posted on 10:16 by john mical
Fisher-Price coordinated a flash mob recently at Times Square in New York to promote the Mickey Mouse Master Moves Mickey plush toy.

This is the third version of the toy "that infuses the original Disney character plush with modern music and moves appealing to the next generation of fans and aspiring dancers," according to a Fisher Price news release.

This newest version has eight songs with styles including rap, hip-hop and pop. The price of the toy is $69.99 at retailers including Toys "R" Us, Target, Walmart, Kmart, Amazon.com and Fisher-Price.com.

Here is a Fisher Price video of the scene:

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Posted in Disney news, Videos | No comments
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