• 16Haz

    Animatronic staff facing layoffs

    Themepark Attractions No Comments

    An internal memo to Disney’s Imagineering staff has surfaced and indicates that the company will be using outside vendors to build future animatronic figures.

    The June 12 memo was authored by Bruce Vaughn (Chief Creative Executive), Craig Russell (Chief Development and Delivery Executive), and Kevin Eld (Vice President of Disney Creative Production.

    Marilyn Waters, Imagineering spokesperson, confirmed that outsourcing is being sought as a means to alleviate the demands placed on the in-house staff. What has not been addressed are concerns that this will lead to cutbacks in the Imagineering staff.

    Walt Disney first introducted animatronics 45 years ago when the Enchanted Tiki Room opened. Since that time the figures have evolved with some that can freely roam and others that can interact with guests. Examples of this next generation of figures are Lucky the Dinosaur and Toy Story Mania’s Mr. Potato Head.

    Following the popularity of Disney animatronics, a billion dollar industry developed. When ‘it’s a small world’ was constructed in Hong Kong, Disney Imagineers provided the oversight for a Chinese company which built most of the figures.

    Waters stated ‘Our industry has generated quite a few heavily-skilled and proficient vendors who can supplement our teams with simple figures with significant oversight by our production team. This will allow us to focus on creating more sophisticated and advanced figures.’

  • 16Haz

    California Adventure to feature Wall-E character

    Themepark Attractions No Comments

    The star of Pixar’s “Wall-E” will be making appearances at Disney’s California Adventure theme park.

    Annual Passholders were told of the new character via the Backstage newsletter which announced “Be sure to keep your Visual Input Devices (also known as ‘eyes’) peeled as you play in the park this summer. You might just catch a glimpse of the newest Pixar pal mingling with our human guests. Of course, Wall-E’s in-park appearances are subject to change without notice.”

    The three foot tall animatronic robot has been seen at the Philadelphia Science Center and on the streets of Los Angeles. It has the ability to speak, move its arms, hands, head and eyes and moves via treads on its feet.

    No date has been set for the upcoming park appearance. Wall-E is currently scheduled for TV spots and a world tour.

    * News Source

  • 16Haz

    Disney faces lawsuit over religious rights

    Disney News No Comments

    A class action suit has been filed against Disney following its requiring a job applicant to remove his turban as a condition of employment.

    The Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund has initiated the legal action on behalf of Sukhbir Singh Channa. According to reports made by both Channa and witnesses, he was told that he could not become a Disney employee unless he removed his turban which is worn in compliance of his religious beliefs. It was also stated that he did not have “the Disney look.”

    Manjit Singh, chairman of the Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund commented “Disney makes millions of dollars each year on cartoon characters that wear turbans but cannot respect the right of an American to wear a turban for religious reasons.”

    A press conference is taking place on June 16 regarding the lawsuit.

  • 12Haz

    Disney Movies Coming Web browser behind you

    Disney Movies Online, Disney News No Comments

    Disney has begun showing full-length movies online, beginning with Finding Nemo, the studio said Tuesday.

    It’s the first time Disney has done so, and it’s notable as such, but don’t confuse the move with a full-on YouTubization of the company. Each movie will only be available for a few days after they air on ABC’s Saturday-night TV show Wonderful World of Disney. Finding Nemo, for example, can be watched online through June 13, Disney said.

    It’s free, but don’t expect a full-immersion cinema experience.

    The movies are available through a “watch now” link on the upper-right side of the Disney.com Web site. I had to sit through an ad for Cocoa Pebbles cereal, then an equally high-fructose introductory Disney promotional video. And the window showing the movie is surrounded by an encrustation of further garish ads.

    But ads clearly pay some of the bills here, and streaming video takes a lot of bandwidth and server horsepower, so I can’t complain too much. (Especially since my own paycheck comes from ad revenue.)

    I didn’t see much in the way of Snow White-era classics on the schedule, but presumably this is just for openers:

    • Monsters Inc. airs on ABC June 14 and is available online June 16-20.

    • Haunted Mansion airs on TV June 28 and online June 30-July 4.

    • Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen is on TV

    Tags:

  • 12Haz

    Disney jewelry removed from shelves

    Disney News No Comments

    Disney charm brecelets manufactured by High IntenCity Corp of New Jersey have been found to have excessive levels of lead.

    Testing of the Hannah Montana, Disney Faeries and High School Musical jewelry was conducted by the Center for Environmental Health. The California agency reports finding lead levels which exceeded the 600 parts per million maximum permitted by Federal guidelines.

    The Disney jewelry was sold at Barnes & Noble. Company spokeswoman Mary Ellen Keating stated “We have already pulled the product from the web site” and added that the stores have been told to remove the items until further testing is complete.

  • 09Haz

    Airlines fee for “travelers” !

    Disney News No Comments

    The Travel Promotion Act, which is supported by most in the tourism industry, is finding opposition from the airlines.

    At stake is a $10 fee to be collected from international visitors. The surcharge is needed to fund a $200 million tourism promotion targeting overseas guests. The Travel Industry Association, whose members include Disney, are behind the legislation.

    Since the airlines will impose the fee, they feel it will become another deterrent for air travel. Elizabeth Merida, a spokeswoman for the Air Transport Association, stated “we feel strongly that that promotion should not be done at the expense of passengers.”

    There are concerns within the airline industry that the fee, when combined with other measures needed to compensate for rising fuel costs, will impede air travel. The airlines are facing a $2.3 billion loss this year and are looking for tax relief.

    Among those in support of the Travel Promotion Act are theme park, hotel, cruise line and car rental associations. Steven Hacker, president of the International Association of Exhibits and Events stated “It is extraordinarily frustrating to most of the other participants in the travel industry to continually bump into this idiotic, shortsighted point of view. I think it’s safe to say that the airline industry has been practicing stupid for so long, it seems natural to them.”

    Both sides are well funded when it comes to lobbying Congress. Senator Barack Obama is a co-sponsor of the Travel Promotion Act while Senator John McCain does not feel the government should be funding tourism advertising.

  • 09Haz

    Disney Group Formed

    disney television No Comments

    Disney Interactive Media Group formed

    Jun 8, 2008

    Disney Interactive Studios and Disney Interactive Group have merged and become Disney Interactive Media Group. Heading this new division is Steve Wadsworth who was the president of Disney Internet Group. Graham Hopper, the former executive vice-president of Disney Interactive studios will be part of the management team.

    The merger of the two units is in response to the increasing connectivity between online and mobile game systems. With anticipated revenues of $1 billion for Walt Disney Interactive Group alone, the combining of the two units will also make Disney a powerhouse in the industry.

    In a memo issued by Disney President Bob Iger, he stated: “Digital media is a high priority for our company, and focusing all of our Disney-branded interactive digital media efforts in one group will ensure we are best positioned to maximize this emerging and dynamic opportunity. We have made fantastic progress through the efforts of Disney Internet Group and Disney Interactive Studios, and the combined organization will maximize the experience, expertise and talent of both groups across all platforms to be a world-class interactive digital media company.

    The uniqueness of the Disney brand provides us an opportunity and an imperative to create a unified Disney-branded experience and community across all connected devices. Additionally, as console and handheld games become more connected to the Internet, and as Internet and mobile become increasingly robust destinations for games and a range of interactive entertainment, we are taking this opportunity to integrate these activities.”

  • 05Haz

    Cruise Lines fighting proposed change for foreign flagged ships

    Disney News No Comments

    The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has been lobbying the government concerning visas, security, reporting of crimes, onboard healthcare, sanitation practices and environmental issues. The group has expended $661,000 in their lobbying efforts during the first quarter of 2008.

    Among the measures that the group is opposing is a proposed federal rule which will mandate that foreign registered ships remain at a foreign port for 48 hours between stops at U.S. ports. This measure is being considered in an effort increase the expenses of foreign flagged ships making them more competitive with U.S registered vessels.

    CLIA has joined with other industry groups in fighting this proposal claiming that it will cause economic harm to California, Hawaii and other domestic ports.

    CLIA has 24 member cruise lines including Disney, Carnival and Royal Caribbean.

  • 05Haz

    Resort taxes down

    Disney News No Comments

    The latest report from the Orange County Controller indicates that resort tax revenue for April of 2008 was down 0.5 percent compared to 2007.

    While officials claim that the decline is due to Easter being in March this year, revenues also were 3.3 percent less than what agencies had predicted.

    Prior to this report, the county collected $5.4 million, which reflected a 5.4 percent increase for the past seven months.

    In addition to the tax report, Smith Travel Research found that there was a 2.1 drop in room occupancy this April in comparison to 2007.

    Area tourism leaders remain optimistic that Orlando will fare well despite current economic concerns.

  • 05Haz

    Voice of Tinker Bell fired by Disney denies

    disney film No Comments

    Disney is denying claims that they fired Brittany Murphy who was slated to be the voice of Tinker Bell.

    A Disney spokesman stated that the change was due to a schedule conflict which resulted after John Lasseter joined the company and changed the date of the project.

    Mae Whitman has been hired as Murphy’s replacement.

« Previous Entries   Next Entries »

This sites Seo Optimised by Seo Uzmanı