NETCOT.com

In the last week, a lot of areas on Netcot.com have been updated. I wanted to let you know about a few specific improvements: The entire back-end system has been upgraded, updated and streamlined (read: it should be a bit faster now) The “downloads” area has been updated with a few new files and a [...]

The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that Disney’s Hollywood Studios will unveil the “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” parade on October 24, to correlate with the release of the film in theaters. In order to get ready for the new parade, the “High School Musical 2: School’s Out” parade will stop running on September 13. [...]

The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that Grand Marshals in the Magic Kingdom’s parades will be riding in a new vehicle. The new ride is modeled after a 1912 touring car, while being more accessible to wheel-chaired guests. The new wheels also sport a Disney-esque tread.

1912: Imagineer Al Bertino (helped design Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, The Haunted Mansion, and The Country Bear Jamboree) is born in California. 1917: Comedienne Phyllis Diller (The Queen in A Bug’s Life) is born in Missouri. 1919: Actor Dal McKennon (Ben Franklin in The American Adventure, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Son of Flubber) is born in [...]

According to MyFox Orlando, a man that was returning to his car with his son was accidentally shot July 12. Investigators believe that while the man was getting into the car, his semiautomatic handgun accidentally discharged, striking him in the left leg. The wound was non-life threatening and the man is in stable condition.

Show notes and additional resources for episode #111 of the Netcot Podcast: Disney found a loophole in FL law that allows them to prohibit employees from carrying guns (link) … then an Animal Kingdom employee decided to challenge that policy (link) A new coffee shop appeared at the TTC. Is it good? You decide. Disney [...]

The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that the ‘Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends‘ show is closing at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The show will have its final showing on September 27, 2008; no replacement has been announced. The 28-member crew have been reassigned and 3 of the actors have to audition for other positions.

WFTV is reporting that a Lake County, Florida, family owned clown company is being sued by the Walt Disney Company for $1,000,000 due to trademark infringement for their use of Tigger, Eyeore, and Pooh at their clown parties. The company, ‘Kool Klown Party People‘, purchased costumes of Tigger, Eyeore and Pooh from an eBay user [...]

The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that Walt Disney World is upset over expired FastPass tickets being sold on eBay. Disney has contacted eBay about this but eBay is refusing to do anything about them. Expired FastPasses are not supposed to be accepted at attractions, but the on-line sellers claim that Disney is not enforcing the [...]

The Ticket And Transportation Center has added a new coffee, espresso and pastries shop between the Monorail station and the Magic Kingdom ferry. Photos of the booth are available at the Orlando Sentinel’s web site.

1894: Disney Legend Joseph Fowler is born in Lewiston, Maine. He oversaw the construction of both Disneyland and Disney World. 1909: Publisher and Disney Legend Mario Gentilini is born in Luzzara, Italy. He popularized Mickey Mouse in Italy through his “Topolino” magazine. 1913: Actor Bill Thompson (Mr. Smee in Peter Pan, King Hubert in Sleeping [...]

Edwin Sotomayor, a security guard at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, is challenging Disney on their stance that the park is exempt from the new gun law passed in Florida. Sotomayor has been suspended from his job after he refused to allow Disney managers and Orange County Sheriff Deputies search his car. Managers drove Sotomayor to their [...]

Cast Members will not be able to store their hand guns on Disney property in Florida despite the law passed in Florida, ‘Preservation and Protection of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms in Motor Vehicles Act of 2008‘, allowing employees to store hand guns in their cars at work. Disney says that language in [...]

A new elephant calf was born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. A Twenty-six-year-old African elephant named Moyo gave birth to a 327 pound son. The currently unnamed calf is the heaviest ever born at Animal Kingdom. After a 21 month gestation period, caused by artificial insemination, both mother and son appear to be doing well, according [...]