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This week we have a special video podcast episode featuring a fun bit we did to do an “amazing” race from Epcot to the Magic Kingdom. It was less of a real challenge – and more of a fun event. Matt Hochberg from StudiosCentral.com joins Van on this episode. (clicking the image above requires Quicktime [...]

Disney released a manatee named Brock loose at Blue Spring State Park in Florida according to the Orlando Sentinel. After 8 years of living at Epcot’s Seas with Nemo and Friends. The manatee was rescued near Jacksonville after it’s mother hadn’t been seen in 3 days. It was originally raised at SeaWorld Orlando but was [...]

1899: The wife of Walt Disney, Lillian Bounds, is born in Spalding, Ohio. 1904: Actor James Baskett (Uncle Remus in Song of the South) is born in Indianapolis, Indiana. 1907: Actor Cesar Romero (The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, Now You See Him, Now You Don’t, The Strongest Man in the World) is born in New York City. [...]

Welcome to the 5th of 9 posts featuring Walt Disney’s Nine Old Men. Our previous reports include Les Clark, Ollie Johnston, Frank Thomas, and Wolfgang Reitherman. This week, we’ll focus on John Lounsbery. Contents: Life Before the Studios Life At the Studios Life After the Studios Life Before the Studios: John Lounsbery was born in Cincinatti, [...]

News from this week’s show include: The American Idol Experience opened at WDW last week and was covered by lots of sites. Tom Cruise and wife Katie Holms brought their daughter Suri to WDW. Lego and Disney have a new deal. A Handy Manny toy has been recalled. MouseFest is canceled – at least for [...]

The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that Leanne Deacon is suing Disney for at least $15,000. She claims that a heart attack/stroke that she suffered in 2005 occured after riding the Tower of Terror and were caused by the ride. During her 2005 trip, she rode it several times until, after one trip, she had a [...]

Disney XD officially replaced Toon Disney with Aaron Stone (about a gamer-teen turned superhero), Kid vs. Kat (about a kid fighting with a cat), and Jimmy Two Shoes (about a kid that tries to improve life in a misery-filled city; along the lines of Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends on Cartoon Network). More original shows [...]

News/links/resources from this week’s show include: Disney strikes a deal with Dreamworks Are you 23? US armed forces members can now get some good WDW deals A temporary height restriction has been imposed on Disneyland’s Splash Mountain A family wants Disneyland to erect a statue of their late son killed accidentally by OC police in [...]

In a move that could change the movie industry, Disney has confirmed the rumors that it has entered into a long-term exclusive contract with Dreamworks SKG (headed by Steven Spielberg). About 6 live-action films per year will be filmed under the Dreamworks label (which will now be a part of the Touchstone Pictures label) as a [...]

Epcot’s Innoventions is getting a new exhibit. In late 2009, the Raytheon Company will unveil a math-based, interactive, experience entitled “The Sum of All Thrills“. Set to open in the fall, the exhibit hopes to instill a passion for math, science, and technology into children. In addition to the Innoventions exhibit, Raytheon’s 2009 MATHCOUNTS National [...]

1886: Actor Charles Ruggles (Follow Me, Boys!, The Ugly Dachshund, Son of Flubber) is born in Los Angeles, California. 1903: Actor Stuart Erwin (The Misadventures of Merlin Jones, Son of Flubber, Moochie of the Little League) is born in Squaw County, California. 1914: Disney Legend Bill Justice (Mickey Mouse animator, worked on Audio-Animatronics) is born in Dayton, Ohio. [...]

Welcome to part four of nine focusing on Walt Disney’s Nine Old Men. This week, we’re focusing on Wolfgang Reitherman. Contents: Life Before the Studios Life at the Studios Life After the Studios Life Before the Studios Wolfgang “Woolie” Reitherman was born on June 26, 1909 in Munich, Germany. While he was only a child, [...]

The DVC add-on at the Contemporary Resort, named the Bay Lake Tower, is scheduled to open on August 4th. It was previously scheduled to open in the Fall of this year. Bay Lake shareholders can begin reserving rooms on February 8th while all DVC members can begin reserving rooms on February 22nd.

1889: Actor Walter Catlett (J. Worthington Foulfellow in Pinocchio) is born in San Francisco, California. 1908: Comedian Gene Sheldon (Zorro, Toby Tyler, Ten Weeks with the Circus, Babes in Toyland) is born Eugene Hume in Columbus, Ohio. 1914: Actor Thurl Ravenscroft (Shere Kahn in The Jungle Book, the Knight in The Sword in the Stone, the Captain in One [...]

DreamWorks and The Walt Disney Company are in talks that would allow Disney to distribute DreamWorks’ films according to Animation World Network. Universal released a statement indicating that it’s discussions with DreamWorks has ended which opens the door for Disney. DreamWorks has not put out an official comment but plans to on Monday along with [...]