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“Captain EO,” the classic musical spectacular that thrilled Epcot guests from 1986-1994, has returned to Epcot for a special open-ended run. The attraction’s return provides new audiences the opportunity to experience the original 3-D production for the very first time, as well as a nostalgic look back for longtime fans wanting to see Michael Jackson in a rare performance created for the big screen.

Twenty-four years ago, Jackson joined forces with Disney, producer George Lucas and director Francis Ford Coppola to create a groundbreaking 17-minute 3-D film experience starring Jackson as Captain EO performing two original songs, and featuring Academy Award®-winning actress Anjelica Huston, and a cast of merry, mythical space characters with dual personalities who undergo magical transformations to become Jackson’s electronic band in conquering the forces of darkness.

The colorful Disney-created characters include: Hooter, the little green elephant-like creature who sneezes wild musical notes through his flute-like trunk; Fuzzball, the orange-haired space monkey with butterfly wings; the Geex, a golden-haired, two-faced personality with two left feet, one right foot and two shaggy heads named Idy and Ody; Major Domo, whose mirrored silver costume becomes a complete set of drums; and Minor Domo with his sparkling purple torso that turns into an electronic synthesizer played by Hooter.

For all its technology, “Captain EO” is first and foremost a musical spectacular and a thrilling space-fantasy adventure. The realism of the 3-D process once again makes it seem that Jackson dances right out of the screen into the theater. While it’s not possible to replicate some of the special effects elements originally in the theater, it will boast a new 70mm print of the film and sound better than ever thanks to acoustical enhancements made to the theater since the film last played there. The total effect is one of motion, color and high energy filled with Jackson’s musical brilliance and various illusions to create an exciting and realistic journey in space for the audience.

During the journey, Captain EO and his merry crew discover a colorless planet where they are confronted by the Supreme Leader (Huston) and her forces of darkness. Using the power of music, dance and light to fill the planet and the theater with all the shades of the rainbow, the EO crew turns the black and white land into a magical world of color and happiness.

The production of “Captain EO” called on Hollywood’s finest choreographers, set designers, costume creators and special effects artists – all of them excited by the challenge of shooting this kind of imaginative film in three dimensions.

“Captain EO” is presented multiple times daily at the Imagination pavilion at Epcot. It replaces “Honey, I Shrunk the Audience” which is planned to return at an undetermined date.

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The “Main Street Electrical Parade” has returned to Magic Kingdom for a limited engagement this summer and the cherished Disney nighttime spectacle has a new glow. Tinker Bell sprinkles her pixie dust to illuminate the classic parade and the parade’s highly recognizable musical theme is brightened by new technology..

The parade, which normally is featured at Disneyland Resort in California, was last at Walt Disney World Resort from 1999 into 2001. But it has returned to Magic Kingdom to headline “Summer Nightastic!” June 6 through Aug. 14, 2010, and is showcasing lots of features never before seen – or heard – in Florida.

Tinker Bell leads the procession on an all-new float, and her trail of pixie dust enchants all the parade floats with new beauty along the way. The popular pixie waves from the basket of a balloon floating gracefully above a magical garden shimmering with fairy light.

In addition, enhanced versions of two classic favorites return to the lineup after a 13-year hiatus – the shimmering diamond mine of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and the Pleasure Island haunts of Pinocchio.

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WHAT: The parade twinkles with approximately half a million lights. Of those, nearly 10,000 are new “pixie dust” lights spread over the 23 parade floats. The new LED lights use one-quarter of the power of incandescent lights. The Tinker Bell float alone has more than 25,000 points of light and 75 percent are powered by an LED source.

WHEN: Nightly beginning Sunday, June 6, and continuing through Saturday, Aug. 14, in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort.

LIGHTS ON DEMAND: A new control system makes it possible, for the first time, for each light to be programmed individually. One example is the new Tinker Bell float, which has 160 dimmers, by far the most of any parade float, to control the lighting. Programming for this parade took approximately two months.

AN EVEN BETTER HOEDOWN: The unforgettable musical theme of the “Main Street Electrical Parade,” which has inspired several generations of Disneyland Resort guests to clap along, was adapted from a synthesizer piece known as “Baroque Hoedown,” written in 1967 by Gershon Kingsley and Jean-Jaques Perrey. Disney themes are superimposed over the original piece. For “Summer Nightastic!,” the distinctive “electro-sytho-magnetic” “Baroque Hoedown” has new audio technology that gives it a richer, fuller sound.

Main St. Electrical Parade Fun Facts

• More than 80 performers appear in each presentation of Disney’s “Main Street Electrical Parade.”
• There are 11,000 lights on the dancers’ costumes alone. Thanks to the energy-efficient LED lights, some of the dancers’ costumes now carry only one battery pack instead of two.
• All the floats are battery-powered. More than 500 batteries supply power for lighting, propulsion, audio and special effects.
• Approximately five miles of wire is used throughout the floats.
• The tallest float in the parade is the Cinderella clock tower, at 18.5 feet tall.
• The Fireworks Finale float, the longest in the parade, has seven cars that span 118 feet.

Main St. Electrical Parade History

• “Summer Nightastic!” 2010 marks the return of the original Disneyland “Main Street Electrical Parade” to Walt Disney World Resort. Previously the parade had a limited engagement in Florida from 1999 through 2001.
• The original “Main Street Electrical Parade” premiered at Disneyland on June 17, 1972.
• The parade was presented at Disneyland nearly every summer until it was “retired” in 1996.
• A version of the “Main Street Electrical Parade” was created for Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in 1977.
• The Magic Kingdom version was presented until 1991 when it was replaced by “SpectroMagic” (“Main Street Electrical Parade” was refurbished for the opening of Disneyland Resort Paris).
• The original Disneyland “Main Street Electrical Parade” was brought out of retirement and extensively refurbished for a limited engagement at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom from 1999 into 2001.
• Following the conclusion of the parade’s limited engagement at Walt Disney World Resort, it premiered at Disney California Adventure in July 2001 as “Disney’s Electrical Parade.”
• The parade has been performed more than 5,000 times at Disneyland Resort.
• The original “Main Street Electrical Parade” floats were “flatter” and less three-dimensional than the current floats. While new floats have been added through the years, some have been retired: “it’s a small world” float, Briny Deep float, and special anniversary floats for Disneyland’s 25th Anniversary (1980) and Mickey Mouse’s 60th Birthday (1988).
• One of the original floats, the Title Drum Unit near the beginning of the parade, was created using an actual bass drum, one of the world’s largest in 1972. This drum had been used in Disneyland parades in the 1960s, when Mickey Mouse used to beat it using large drumsticks.
• A third version of the parade has been presented at Tokyo Disney Resort (premiering 1985).

More About “Summer Nightastic”

From June 6 through Aug. 14, 2010, Walt Disney World guests are able to see Disney’s “Main Street Electrical Parade,” experience new special effects at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, thrill to the new “Summer Nightastic! Fireworks Spectacular,” and groove to a dance party at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and to the “Sounds Like Summer” concert series at Epcot.

Guests can Learn more about “Summer Nightastic!” and check out deals for summer travel by visiting www.disneyworld.com/night or by calling 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or a local travel agent. All special summer events are included in regular theme-park admission.

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Downtown Disney, the 120-acre entertainment-shopping-dining complex at Walt Disney World Resort, welcomed several additions as part of its overall revitalization plan including two new stores, a quick-service restaurant and 3-D technology to the AMC Pleasure Island 24 Theatre Complex.

We’re excited to build upon our existing portfolio of unique offerings and are committed to bringing guests even more interactive experiences. These new diverse venues are perfectly in sync with Downtown Disney and reflect the feedback we have received from our guests.
Keith Bradford, Downtown Disney Vice President

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After its success at the Downtown Disney District in Disneyland in California, RIDEMAKERZ® opened a new retail entertainment experience on the West Side of Downtown Disney for a limited engagement. This store integrates full-sized cars and a supercharged interactive experience that lets guests build, customize and trick out their very own radio-controlled vehicles. Kids of all ages can satisfy their need for speed with over 649 million ways to create a mean machine. RIDEMAKERZ is open through fall 2010.

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D Street, a new apparel store where urban inspired product “intersects” with a Disney creative edge, is open on the West Side, showcasing a mix of products for both men and women. Building on the existing popularity of Tren-D at the Marketplace, D Street includes edgy apparel, pop culture novelties, Vinylmation figures and collectibles, artwork, handbags, accessories, jewelry and more. The store features a raw, unfinished industrial look and provides a great venue to showcase Disney art created by local artists.

AMC Entertainment has upgraded auditorium #1 to be the first Enhanced Theater Experience (ETX™) in the United States. The ETX auditorium includes a 20 percent larger, floor-to-ceiling screen, 3-D technology, 12 channel audio, and digital projection that delivers higher resolution than HD.

Opening this fall at Downtown Disney Marketplace will be an international Latin chicken quick-service restaurant- Pollo Campero. This new restaurant concept will offer Disney guests savory combinations of freshly prepared Campero Latin chicken, flavorful side dishes such as yuca fries and sweet plantains, and Latin drinks including horchata and tamarindo. For the more nutritious minded, they will offer chef-prepared salads, sandwiches and wraps, as well as sugar-free, gluten-free, low sodium, and organic offerings.

These new efforts come on the heels of the recent openings of littlemissmatched, Paradiso 37, Tren-D, Characters in Flight and Disney’s Design-a-Tee.

Summer nights at Walt Disney World Resort will enchant theme park guests when glittering light magic, high adventure, dance fever, thrills and chills set the after-dark scene. From June 6 through Aug. 14, “Summer Nightastic!” lights up the entertainment experience at the Vacation Kingdom with a megawatt parade, a fireworks extravaganza, a rockin’ dance party, concerts and other surprises.

At the Magic Kingdom, thousands of tiny lights illuminate the return of the beloved “Main Street Electrical Parade,” and the elaborate new “Summer Nightastic! Fireworks Spectacular” paints the night sky more brightly than ever.

There’s a special energy in the parks at night. It’s all about the magic and the sense of adventure and mystery that nighttime possesses in the Magic Kingdom.
Chris Oyen, show director for the “Summer Nightastic! Fireworks Spectacular”

“Main Street Electrical Parade” – This classic pageant of illuminated floats goes all the way back to 1972, when it first debuted at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. With 23 floats, more than half a million tiny colorful lights, 80 performers, synthesizer music based on “Baroque Hoedown,” and Disney theme songs woven in, the parade returns to Walt Disney World Resort for the first time since 2001. A nostalgia trip for many, this “crown jewel of summer” kicks off the season with lighting effects, floats and characters new to Walt Disney World Resort.

Tinker Bell waves her magic wand from the basket of a dazzling balloon float. The Tinker Bell float alone generates more than “25,000 points of light,” says Paul Chychota, the parade’s production manager.

Pinocchio and the boys from the classic film’s Pleasure Island sequence join the parade in Magic Kingdom this year, and Snow White appears with the Seven Dwarfs on a Diamond Mine float glittering with colorful gems.

Ten thousand strobes of “pixie-dust” light the parade trail as a treasury of classic Disney stories comes to life. Floats feature enhanced effects and, though the music stays true to the original parade, the score’s dynamics soar to greater heights thanks to state-of-the-art technology, Chychota says.

Beloved floats like the “Honor America” finale display – featuring the American flag and giant American eagle – return, along with costumed characters like Alice in Wonderland, Mickey Mouse and Goofy.

“Summer Nightastic! Fireworks Spectacular” – Magic Kingdom presents more after-dark magic when the sky explodes with vivid color and visual effects that tell a thrilling story headlined by fairies and pirates.

With this show, we’re making the skies come alive – we’re not just going to immerse you, we’re going to surprise you, too.
Chris Oyen, show director for the “Summer Nightastic! Fireworks Spectacular”

The summer fireworks are accompanied by a whimsical score of classic Disney tunes and theme music from the hit film “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.”

The Fairy Godmother from “Cinderella” and other famous fairies star in the fireworks spectacular.

The fireworks perimeter around Magic Kingdom will expand by 25 percent for the summer show. No matter where you are in the park, you’ll be surrounded by the spectacle.

Pirate Alert: Captain Hook and his band of buccaneers burst onto the scene to seize the park’s Cinderella Castle. Disney’s creative entertainment team designed fireworks that tell the story, including a skull-and-crossbones display and other visual effects convincing enough to make you believe the castle is under siege.

We’re constantly innovating, pushing ourselves to be more creative with the kind of pictures we paint in the sky – we’re trying to make the skies come to life and dance.
Chris Oyen, show director for the “Summer Nightastic! Fireworks Spectacular”

NOTE: All photographic imagery used in this post © Copyright Disney.

A new store has joined the unique collection of shopping and dining experiences in the Downtown Disney area with the opening of D Street, where urban-inspired product “intersects” with a Disney creative edge.

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D Street is located in Downtown Disney West Side and showcases a mix of products for both men and women. Items include cutting-edge apparel, pop culture novelties and Vinylmation™ collectibles. The store offers an unfinished “industrial look” with fun, oversized props adorning the venue.

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Product lines feature vintage looks from Disney and urban influences. Vintage apparel includes artwork from classic Disney attractions and characters. D Street also provides a great venue to showcase Disney art created by local artists.

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This new urban-style location is the flagship store for Vinylmation serving as the place for launching the latest releases and trading of this new Disney collectible. Designed by artists from Disney Design Group, Vinylmation gives a whole new meaning to creative expression. Disney artists use a blank three-dimensional canvas bringing to life classic characters, attractions or icons inspired by Disney Parks & Resorts from around the world. They also showcase their own artistic styles with edgy and graphic-focused looks. These collectible figures come in a variety of sizes including 1.5- or 3-inch limited-release mystery or open edition boxes, to 9-inch limited-edition figures.

Wrapping it up

Anyone who has been following our site for a while knows how much I enjoy vinyl toys and this product line from Disney. This is a great place to check out the latest figures and maybe even trade with other collectors to get that one for your collection.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C9txCWzE-E

They’ve written some of the most memorable songs in Disney theme park – and motion picture – history, and on March 11, 2010, the Academy Award-winning composers of the music from “It’s a Small World” and The Enchanted Tiki Room, as well as “Mary Poppins,” will receive the highest honor that the Disneyland Resort bestows. The Sherman brothers, Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, will receive a tribute window on Main Street, U.S.A.

Among the Shermans’ more than 150 Disney songs are such familiar Disney theme park compositions as “The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room” (theme of The Enchanted Tiki Room), “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” (theme of Carousel of Progress) and “It’s a Small World,” one of the most translated and performed songs on Earth. All three are still performed in their attractions at Disney theme parks around the world, making the music as contemporary today as when it was composed.

Richard and Robert Sherman’s contribution to Disney spans 50 years and has touched virtually every aspect of our company. By dedicating a window on Main Street, U.S.A. inside Disneyland we are pleased to recognize them with one of the highest honors our company bestows.
Robert A. Iger, president and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company

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The music of the Sherman brothers has left an indelible mark on the Walt Disney Company and still resonates in Disney parks around the world. Their songs – particularly ‘It’s a Small World’ and the score of ‘Mary Poppins’ – are not just touchstones of Disney, but of American culture as a whole. The whole world sang these songs when they were new and they still sing them today almost five decades later. Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman are honored members of the Disney family.
Tom Staggs, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts chairman

The tradition of honoring individuals with a personalized decorative window was started on Main Street, U.S.A. by Walt Disney and has continued at Disney parks worldwide. A Disneyland window is considered the ultimate honor anyone can receive from “The Happiest Place on Earth.”

The careers of Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman span almost 50 years and include two Academy Awards for “Mary Poppins” – Best Score, and Best Song for “Chim Chim Cher-ee.” The Sherman brothers gained recognition in popular music with several Top Ten hits, among them “Let’s Get Together,” sung in “The Parent Trap” by Hayley Mills; “Tall Paul,” Annette Funicello’s first Top Ten single; and “You’re Sixteen,” which made the Top Ten twice: sung by Johnny Burnette in 1960 and by Ringo Starr in 1974. In 1960, they began a phenomenal 10-year association with Walt Disney, during which time they composed more than 150 songs for Disneyland Park, other Disney parks, and Disney films and television shows.

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Their Disney credits include “The Jungle Book,” “Bedknobs and Broomsticks,” “The Sword in the Stone,” “The Aristocats,” “The Happiest Millionaire,” the “Winnie the Pooh” series and, of course, “Mary Poppins.” The theatrical version of “Mary Poppins” is consistently among Broadway’s top-grossing shows and is in its fourth highly successful year at the New Amsterdam Theatre. The North America tour continues to be a hit, and the show’s popularity is growing around the globe with international productions opening in Australia and Holland later this year.

The Sherman brothers went on to compose other song scores for “Snoopy Come Home,” “Charlotte’s Web,” the Broadway musical “Over Here,” “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” (later brought to the stage in London and New York), “Tom Sawyer,” “Huckleberry Finn,” “The Slipper and the Rose,” “The Magic of Lassie” (which earned their ninth Academy Award nomination for Best Song), “The Tigger Movie,” the stage musical “Busker Alley” and “Beverly Hills Cop 3.”

Among the Sherman brothers’ honors are three Grammy Awards, 24 gold and platinum albums and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They have also been named Disney Legends, a designation which acknowledges the many individuals whose imagination, talents and dreams have created the Disney magic.

The Backstage Magic tour offered through Disney Institute takes guests behind the scenes to discover onstage and backstage areas of Walt Disney World Resort. Accompanied by an expert guide, guests explore attractions and backstage operations in each of the four theme parks.

Here are some interesting aspects of Walt Disney World Resort that guests will discover during the Backstage Magic tour offered by Disney Institute:

1. Walt Disney World has the largest working wardrobe in the world with more than 2.5 million individual costume pieces and almost 8 miles of costume racks. Disney Creative Costuming has an inventory of more than 3,700 costume designs and uses more than 650,000 yards of fabric each year.
2. Magic Kingdom is actually built on the “second floor.” The first floor is made up of approximately 9 acres of storage area and offices as well as a “utilidor” (utility corridor) for cast members. This Utilidor System is a tunnel more than a mile long.
3. Many Audio-Animatronics figures, such as those featured in Hall of Presidents, wear human-hair wigs. Live performers wear synthetic hair wigs.
4. Thirty-five Audio-Animatronics figures are featured in The American Adventure show, and the rear projection screen at the show is 28 feet high by 155 feet wide.
5. Cinderella’s Golden Carousel was built in 1917 as the Liberty Carousel and ran for many decades in New Jersey before being acquired by the Walt Disney Company in 1967. The original horses are still used today.
6. Central Shops is capable of building everything from trash cans to monorails. At 298,000 square feet, you could fit nine football fields inside the Central Shops building.
7. The Hollywood Tower Hotel structure is 199 feet tall – making The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror one of the tallest attractions on site. Some 1,500 tons of steel and 145,800 cubic feet of concrete were used in the construction of the attraction.
8. There are approximately 100 acres of browse plants grown for animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The Walt Disney World horticulture team plants more than 2 million annuals each year.
9. Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened on Earth Day, April 22, 1998. At the center of the park is the Tree of Life, which is more than 140 feet tall and 170 feet wide at the base.
10. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge was inspired by National Park Lodges, such as Old Faithful Inn (Yellowstone) and Ahwahnee Lodge (Yosemite). Massive pine logs for Disney’s Wilderness Lodge were harvested from standing dead wood at an elevation of 7,000 feet in Oregon and Montana.

Questions?

When do tours take place?
Monday through Friday, beginning at 9 a.m.

How long is the tour?
7 hours

How many people can participate?
20

Are there age restrictions?
Guests must 16 and older

What’s included in the tour price?
Magic Kingdom “tunnel” system
Entertainment Production Center (show rehearsal hall, parade staging area)
Central Shops (creation and refurbishment of “the show”)
The American Adventure stage system (Epcot)
Creative costuming, the world’s largest working wardrobe

Can I take pictures?
No photography or videotaping is permitted

What does it cost?
$224 per person includes lunch

How do guests register?
Call 407/WDW-TOUR (939-8687) (Backstage Magic is very popular; guests are encouraged to book in advance)

Wrapping it Up

Although I have not taken the Backstage Magic tour, there were similar programs offered as part of a castmembers training when I worked at Disney. Even though I had ample access to most of the resort due to my responsibilities of my job, I found these types of tours very informative and entertaining. Allowing you to see the inner workings of the greatest destination in the world.

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The “Main Street Electrical Parade” lights up the streets of Magic Kingdom and headlines a season of after-dark excitement coming to Walt Disney World Resort.

“After the sun goes down, our Walt Disney World parks will light up the night with ‘Summer Nightastic!’, ” announced Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort, at a media event Wednesday.

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Disney magic will shine and shimmer in a whole new light. Here’s a look around:

• With floats and characters appearing for the first time at Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s “Main Street Electrical Parade” returns with its joyous sights and sounds. Direct from Disneyland and marking its first engagement in Florida since 2001, the cherished parade will be led by Tinker Bell waving from the basket of a magical balloon aboard a new float. Pinocchio and Snow White join the parade this summer, aboard bright new floats. Disney’s “Main Street Electrical Parade” is set for its summer-long nighttime premiere in early June at Magic Kingdom.
• The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror welcomes “drop-ins” this summer with even more pulse-racing surprises. New lighting effects and the addition of a new drop sequence, created especially for “Summer Nightastic!”, will bring unexpected frights to guests who step into that infamous service elevator. If they dare.
• What could be more summery than fireworks on a star-studded night? Magic Kingdom will treat guests to a special summer fireworks spectacular. The night sky will explode in vivid colors and brilliant visual effects as whimsical music fills the air.
• Other fun! The return of the Sounds Like Summer concert series to Epcot and extended evening hours at Disney’s Animal Kingdom several times a week add up to summer fun as only Disney can do – at all four Walt Disney World theme parks.

President Abraham Lincoln returns to the Main Street Opera House in Disneyland with stunning new Audio-Animatronics technology that makes this the most lifelike and expressive Lincoln figure yet.

Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, a beloved Disneyland attraction for nearly 45 years and a historic landmark in the development of Audio-Animatronics technology, reopens Dec. 18 on Main Street, U.S.A. with the new Lincoln figure and an enriched presentation that combines the best elements of the park’s original 1965 show and the most advanced technical enhancements. (The show first opened at the 1964 New York World’s Fair.)

The new Abraham Lincoln figure represents several major milestones for Audio-Animatronics figures. The fully electric head – a first for human Disney Audio-Animatronics figures, which are traditionally hydraulically operated – is based on an all-new sculpt that is more lifelike than in previous versions of the show. With an expanded range of facial movement, Lincoln is more expressive than ever. He can purse his lips, form an “O” with his lips, smile, grimace and use his eyebrows to enhance his emotions.

The state-of-the-art figure of the 16th president of the United States will take the stage of the Main Street Opera House to deliver a speech composed of highlights from speeches made by Lincoln during his lifetime. (Walt Disney himself selected the highlights first included in the attraction.) The original readings by the late actor Royal Dano, recorded in the early 1960s, have been preserved and made sharper using digital technology, as has the original host narration by Paul Frees (a talented voice actor who also can be heard in the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean attractions).

Frees’ narration includes passages never heard in past Great Moments with Mr. Lincolnpresentations. Thanks to the latest Audio-Animatronics technology, Lincoln also will appear more lifelike than ever before as he rises from his chair and speaks.

Upon entering the Main Street Opera House, guests encounter a redesigned lobby, including both The Disneyland Story – an entertaining display of the past, present and future of Disneyland – and a separate presentation of items relating to Abraham Lincoln’s life and work. In the auditorium, guests will first view an onscreen program about Lincoln and the Civil War that features digitally enhanced versions of pictures and sound created for past versions of the show along with new material. Next, Lincoln takes the stage to deliver his speech. When the 15-minute show concludes, guests exit through a gallery depicting notable Americans who have followed in Lincoln’s footsteps and continue to inspire others in areas such as perseverance, innovation and imagination.

The Disneyland Resort features two theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney’s California Adventure park – plus the Downtown Disney District comprised of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The Resort’s three hotels are the luxurious, newly expanded 948-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the magical 970-room Disneyland Hotel and the 481-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel with its “day-at-the-beach” fun. For information on new attractions and vacations at Disneyland Resort, visit www.disneyland.com, call 866/60-DISNEY or contact local travel agents.

Roy Edward Disney, son of Disney Studios co-founder Roy O. Disney, and nephew of Walt Disney, passed away today (12/16/09) at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, California, following a year-long battle with stomach cancer. He was 79 years old. Disney was a successful businessman, philanthropist, filmmaker, and award-winning sailor, who played a key role in the revitalization of The Walt Disney Company and Disney’s animation legacy. He was associated with the Company over a 56-year period, and from 1984 – 2003, served as vice chairman of the Company’s board of directors, and chairman of the Studio’s Animation Department. In recent years, he held the title of director emeritus and consultant for the Company.

As head of Disney Animation, Disney helped to guide the Studio to a new golden age of animation with an unprecedented string of artistic and box office successes that included “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” and “The Lion King.” He personally executive produced “Fantasia/2000,” a sequel to the 1940 Disney classic, and served in a similar capacity on a number of recent animated shorts, including the 2004 Oscar®-nominated “Destino,” based on storyboards and original art by the iconic artist Salvador Dali. In the area of live-action films, Disney and his wife, Leslie DeMeuse Disney, most recently executive produced the 2008 feature documentary, “Morning Light,” which followed a group of young sailors as they competed in the grueling Transpac race from Los Angeles to Honolulu.

His philanthropic activities included sponsorship of the Roy E. Disney Center for the Performing Arts at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center, part of Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, is scheduled to open in spring, 2010. Commenting on the announcement, Bob Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, said, “On behalf of everyone at Disney, we are saddened by the loss of our friend and colleague Roy E. Disney. He was much more than a valued 56-year Company veteran – Roy’s true passion and focus were preserving and building upon the amazing legacy of Disney animation that was started by his father and uncle. Roy’s commitment to the art of animation was unparalleled and will always remain his personal legacy and one of his greatest contributions to Disney’s past, present and future.”

I first met Roy when I was still an animation student at CalArts. Not only did I consider him a personal friend, but he was a great man who believed deeply in the art of animation. He put his heart and soul into preserving Disney’s legendary past, while helping to move the art of animation into the modern age by embracing new technology. Roy was a visionary and passionate supporter of the art form, and he was all about quality. I was always impressed that he would make time for someone like me when I was fresh out of college, and he continued to support and encourage me throughout my career.
John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios

Stanley Gold, president, Shamrock Holdings, said, “Roy and I enjoyed a 35-year friendship and partnership that was simply special. We faced many business challenges together, had fun in the process, and enjoyed a wide variety of professional successes. Roy was a man who was steadfastly loyal to his principles and to his friends. He was a gracious, humble gentleman who could make the tough decisions life sometimes requires. He carried the torch high and proud, and the world is a better place for his tireless efforts. I will miss him greatly.

Roy Edward Disney was born in Los Angeles on January 10, 1930 to Roy O. Disney and Edna Francis Disney. His father and his uncle, Walt Disney, co-founded the Disney entertainment business in 1923.

After attending Harvard School and Pomona College, Disney launched his entertainment industry career in 1952, working as an assistant film editor on the “Dragnet” TV series.

He joined The Walt Disney Studios in 1953 as an assistant film editor, where his credits included the landmark Academy Award®-winning True-Life Adventures features, “The Living Desert” and “The Vanishing Prairie.” As a writer and production associate, he received Oscar® nominations for his work on the short subject, “Mysteries of the Deep” in 1959, and in 2003 for his work as executive producer for “Destino.”

Disney produced and directed some 35 other TV and theatrical production, including the landmark 1968 documentary, “Varda, the Peregrine Falcon,” before leaving in 1977 to become an independent producer and investor.

In 1978, Disney founded Shamrock Holdings, Inc., a wholly-owned family enterprise headquartered in Burbank, California, which specializes in private equity, real estate, and public equities investing. He served as chairman of the company, which has approximately $1.5 billion of capital committed to funds.

An avid competitive sailor, Disney holds several elapsed-time records for offshore races in the Pacific Ocean, including multiple wins in the 2,225-mile Transpac.

Among his many professional and philanthropic activities, Disney served on the board of trustees of California Institute of the Arts, the advisory board of St. Joseph Medical Center, and the board of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles, Inc. Additionally, he was an advisory member of the board of directors of the United States Committee for UNICEF, chairman emeritus of the board of directors of the Peregrine Fund, a member of the board of trustees of Ronald McDonald House charities, and a member of the board of trustees of the American Ireland Fund.

In 1993, he received the Winsor McCay Award (a special “Annie Award”) from ASIFA-Hollywood (The International Animated Film Society). The McCay Award is for lifetime achievement in animation. In 1997, Disney was awarded the first “Mort Walker Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Cartoon Industry,” by the Boca Raton International Museum of Cartoon Art.

Disney received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from his alma mater Pomona College in 1998. In 2002, he received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Mercy College in New York. The following year, he was presented with the Trustees’ Award and honorary Doctor of the Arts degree from CalArts.

Among his other honors, Disney was named a recipient of the 1999 National Catholic Education Association Elizabeth Ann Seton Award, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to children and education. In April 1999, Disney received the Henry Bergh Humane Award from the ASPCA, and in spring 2000, he was awarded the Inaugural Environmental Leadership Award from the Audubon Society.

Disney is survived by his wife, Leslie, and four children from his marriage to Patricia Dailey Disney – Tim Disney, Roy Patrick Disney, Abigail Disney, and Susan Disney Lord. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be private, followed by cremation. His ashes will be scattered at sea. Plans for a Life Celebration will be announced shortly.

Disney fans will soon be able to add an element of epic adventure to their collections: On Thursday, December 10, eFX Inc. begins accepting orders at www.efxcollectibles.com for its eye-popping, four-foot replica of Capt. Nemo’s Nautilus, inspired by Disney’s 1954 live-action version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

Shipping is anticipated to take place in spring 2010 for the Nautilus, the first of three incredible replicas offered in eFX’s new Disney line. The Nautilusis priced at $1,799, and payments can be made in four installments. All orders for the Nautilus placed prior to December 31, 2009, will receive an early pre-order price of $1,699.

Moreover, orders placed before that date will also receive a special certificate, suitable for framing, on a reproduction of the Disney Studios stationery used during the film’s production in 1954. The certificate can be fully customized for gift purchases, and can be sent directly to gift recipients for the holidays. (Certificates for holiday giving can be guaranteed only for orders placed prior to December 17.)

This four-foot replica of the Nautilus offers features not incorporated in any previous model of the iconic submarine. Produced at approximately 1/45th scale, the replica features finely detailed interior views of the wheelhouse and Capt. Nemo’s salon, as well as LED lights to illuminate those rooms and the circular salon observation window.

In addition to a removable skiff, the Nautilus incorporates a freely rotating propeller and pivoting rudder, and includes a custom display stand. EachNautilus will have a numbered plaque and certificate of authenticity, and production will be strictly limited to 500 pieces worldwide.

The Nautilus is the first collectible that eFX has in its new Disney line. Upcoming pieces include:

• An exquisite Heart Box inspired by Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which incorporates two sculptures by renowned artist David Kracov;
• An 18-inch-tall “photo puppet” replica of the Muppets’ Rizzo the Rat, complete with letterman’s jacket and baseball cap.

eFX expects to begin accepting orders for these two collectibles by the end of the year. For complete details, visit their website today.

A recent decision by United States District Court Judge Florence-Marie Cooper confirms that Slesinger’s license of Pooh rights to Disney is “unambiguous” and entitles Slesinger to “royalties for all uses.” Accordingly, on Friday, November 6, Stephen Slesinger, Inc. filed a notice of appeal to obtain unpaid past royalties from Disney as well as redress for Disney’s past improper business practices.

Stephen Slesinger, Inc. pioneered “evergreen” equity branding for the character licensing industry in general and Winnie the Pooh in particular. Long before Disney, Stephen Slesinger created both “Classic” and “Red Shirt” Pooh brands, and before Slesinger, Pooh had never seen the outside of a black and white book.

Eric M. George of Browne Woods George, attorney for Slesinger, said, “The ruling confirms that Stephen Slesinger, Inc. is entitled to royalties every time Disney or its sublicensees use Winnie the Pooh. As Disney surely knows, its ability to enjoy the benefits of Slesinger’s television, trademark, future media and brand equity rights to Pooh is only as certain as the accuracy of Disney’s royalty statements to Slesinger.”

Pursuant to the terms of the license agreement between Disney and Slesinger, Disney and its global sublicensees are required to separately report the gross revenues they generate from all uses of Pooh characters and may not mix up Pooh character revenues with non-Pooh characters such as Mickey Mouse.

For example, when a Winnie the Pooh item or service sells for $10, anywhere in the world, Disney and its sublicensees are obligated to report that $10 sale within six months without subtracting any costs or applying any other financial treatment that reduces, defers, reclassifies, substitutes or excludes any portion the actual gross receipts.

Slesinger’s share of the gross receipts is about 1.5% to 2.5% while Disney and its sublicensees retain 97.5% to 98.5%. This revenue split is uncommonly favorable to Disney and its sublicensees.

According to Disney, Winnie the Pooh is one of the top animated characters in the world and in every division of the Walt Disney Company. Pooh accounts for about 25% of Disney’s global retail sales in consumer products alone.

We hope that sensible Disney business and creative marketing people such as Bob Iger, Jay Rasulo, Andy Mooney and other prominent Disney executives will take this court ruling very seriously and will assure us of accuracy and transparency in reporting all of the Pooh uses, from now on. We look forward to meeting with Disney to resolve all issues between our companies, but we are not certain our intention is getting past the formidable Disney legal barricade. Unfortunately, as long as opposing members of the bar are running interference, both Slesinger and Disney will continue to be challenged to waste valuable time and resources that could be used instead to create more happiness, laughs and smiles for children.
Patricia Slesinger, President of Stephen Slesinger, Inc.

For 80 years, Slesinger’s share of Pooh revenues has helped to develop and sponsor children’s enrichment, nutrition and advocacy programs and outdoor character-building events for American boys and girls, in the tradition of ethical culture enlightened by the wonder of childhood.

In 1930, Slesinger gave Pooh his iconic red shirt and turned him into an American personality and an industry with children’s shows, songs, games, toys and a steady stream of imaginative Pooh items to buy, hear, see, play, wear, touch, hug and love — outside of Milne’s books. In the 1950s and 1960s, Stephen’s widow, Shirley Slesinger Lasswell, paved the roads of Pooh’s legendary retail success, with Pooh Corners in distinguished department stores across the country tied to memorable Pooh products and family memory making events. After reaching an agreement with Walt Disney to develop Pooh for television in the 1960s, she helped keep Disney on track to bring Pooh’s magic to children all over the world.