Site Archives

Contemporary Construction Update


(News | Source: Netcot.com onsite at the WDW property) As mentioned on the latest episode (#082) of the Netcot Podcast, Disney isn’t doing a lot of talking about their latest construction project which can be found at the Contemporary Resort in Walt Disney World. Documents submitted to local government offices reference the area as the [...]

Disney Testing Using Nintendo DS As Interactive Guide In Parks


(News | Source: CVG) Disney is currently testing using a Nintendo DS as a interactive guide in the parks. Guests get a cartridge that contains the information and software from the park. The Disney system is fully GPS enabled and knows where you are located and displays a visual map and character locater. Like Pal [...]

Disney Background Painter Brice Mack Dies at 90


(News | Source: Animation Magazine) Disney background painter, Brice Harvey Mack, died on January 2nd in Hollywood, California at age 90. Mack was one of the lead background painters for Disney films such as Snow White, Pinocchio and also included work on Fantasia, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Song of the South and Lady [...]

British Punk Band ‘Gallows’ Banned From Disneyland


(News | Source: Angry Ape) British punk band Gallows has been banned from playing at the House of Blues at Disneyland. The band was supposed to play January 22nd but Disney took offense to the lyrics of its debut album and removed them. Guitarist Laurant Barnard of Gallows said “I think Mickey Mouse got jealous [...]

Rock ‘n’ Roll Beach Club Closing At Pleasure Island


(News | Source: Orlando Sentinel) Rock ‘n’ Roll Beach Club will be closing on February 3rd at Pleasure Island. It is one of the few venues known for its nightly live music. Disney has declined to elaborate on plans for the building but has denied rumors that the building would be torn down. The beach [...]

Disney May Increase Ownership In Hong Kong Disneyland


(News | Source: Bloomberg) The Walt Disney Company may increase its ownership in the struggling Hong Kong Disneyland as attendance drops and pressure from the Chinese Government increases. Currently Disney owns 43 percent of the park while the Hong Kong government owns the rest. “We do anticipate an additional investment ourselves,” said Hong Kong Disneyland’s [...]

Mickey Mouse Gets New Mao-Inspired Outfit In Hong Kong Disneyland


(News | Source: Orlando Sentinel) New outfits for the Chinese New Year have been unveiled at Hong Kong Disneyland for Mickey and Minnie Mouse. The outfits created by Vivienne Tam is part of the park’s effort to boost attendance of Chinese tourists. Mickey has a new bright red Mao suit while Minnie has a new [...]

Disney Delays Stage 9′s Online Series


(News | Source: Hollywood Reporter) Disney’s ABC has postponed the debut of it’s online series run by the unit Stage 9. Stage 9 had planned to distribute four episodes starting in February. Disney hasn’t said why Stage 9 has been put on hold but it has also never officially announced the formation of the five-man [...]

Kamal Haasan To Direct And Act In Disney Film


(News | Source: Televisionpoint) Kamal Haasan will be directing and staring in a new Walt Disney Productions film titled Marma Yogi (Mysterious Saint). The film will be co-produced by Bharath Bala and is a drama set in the seventh century India. This film is slated to be the most expensive Tamil film and will be [...]

Kelly Edwards Named Director Of Music For Radio Disney


(News | Source: Radio World Newsbytes) Radio Disney has named Kelly Edwards as its director of music. She will serve as the companies liaison to the music industry and will oversee the on-air play lists as well as the music and artist strategy.

Disney Donates $2 Million To United Kingdom Hospital


(News | Source: Variety) The Walt Disney Company donated almost $2 million to the United Kingdom’s Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity. The donation is part of a partnership to help the hospital race around $20 million for a redevelopment that will include a Disney branded area for children and teens. The company has ties to [...]

New Vice President For Disney Interactive Studios Announced


(News | Source: Ad Hoc News) Jean-Marcel Nicolai has been introduced as the senior vice president of global productions for Disney Interactive Studios. Nicolai spent seven years with Atari and will oversee Disney’s worldwide video game production. He will be based in Glendale, California and will report to Graham Hopper.

Disney Project Manager Jailed For Tax Evasion


(News | Source: Central Florida News) Bruce E. Davis, a project manager for Walt Disney World, was sentenced in federal court for evading about $220,000 in taxes from 1998 to 2000. Davis had used a subcontractor to over bill Disney for projects; the subcontractor then paid the extra cash back to Davis. The Walt Disney [...]

Disney Gives $25,000 To Charlie Crist’s Tax-Cut Campaign


(News | Source: Orlando Sentinel) The Walt Disney Company gave $25,000 to the property tax-cut campaign lead by Florida’s Governor Charlie Crist. The amendment the Governor is pushing would increase the homestead exemption. The money would be used to pay for television ads that are being broadcast across the state that feature Crist.

Rudy Giuliani Makes Campaign Stop At Walt Disney World


(News | Source: WESH) Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor and Republican presidential candidate, made a stop at Walt Disney World to speak. He spoke at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort to the National Troopers Coalition convention. Giuliani spoke about supporting police, firefighters and paramedics in keeping citizens safe.