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Netflix Adds New Disney Content; Will Offer Streaming During ‘Pay TV’ Window Starting 2016

Netflix Inc. (Nasdaq:NFLX) and The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) today announced a new multi-year licensing agreement that will make Netflix the exclusive U.S. subscription television service for first-run live-action and animated feature films from The Walt Disney Studios.

Beginning with its 2016 theatrically released feature films, new Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios and Disneynature titles will be made available for Netflix members to watch instantly in the pay TV window on multiple platforms, including television, tablets, computers and mobile phones. Also included in the agreement are high-profile Disney direct-to-video new releases, which will be made available on Netflix starting in 2013.

Separately, Disney and Netflix have reached agreement on a multi-year catalog deal that today brings to U.S. Netflix members such beloved Disney movies such as Dumbo, Pocahontas and Alice in Wonderland.

“Disney and Netflix have shared a long and mutually beneficial relationship and this deal will bring to our subscribers, in the first pay TV window, some of the highest-quality, most imaginative family films being made today,” said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer at Netflix. “It’s a bold leap forward for Internet television and we are incredibly pleased and proud this iconic family brand is teaming with Netflix to make it happen.”

“With this cutting-edge agreement, we are thrilled to take our highly valued relationship with Netflix to the next level by adding Disney’s premier films to their programming line-up,” said Janice Marinelli, President, Disney-ABC Domestic Television. “Netflix continues to meet the demands of its subscribers in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, and we are delighted that they will have much earlier access to our top-quality and entertaining slate,” she continued.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

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Disney World Employee Claims Fired Over Citing Safety Issues

Safety, courtesy, show and efficiency; these are the four guiding principles (or keys) that Disney Parks and Resorts ingrains into its ‘cast members’ that not only highlight how to conduct themselves in their ‘roles,’ at the parks, but stress their order of importance. Therefore, safety is the primary concern of the company and its employees.

But what if a cast member were to run ‘afoul’ of the organization and its management and cite concerns regarding safety? And especially where management is effectively swapping the importance of safety for the sake of efficiency? Worse yet, what if that cast member claims retaliation for their whistle-blowing and says they were wrongfully terminated as a result?

This is the reported story of Victoria Ann Smith, who last week filed a lawsuit against Disney Parks and Resorts and Local Union 362 President Eric Clinton, stating that despite a near-exemplary record, she was fired not because of a terminable offense as claimed by management, but because she consistently called out the manager on safety concerns.

Smith’s role, as it pertains to the suit, was that of the ‘Gangster’ at The Great Movie Ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort. According to the suit, Disney claims her termination came as a result of leaving her microphone on in the cast member break room and using an expletive (namely ‘Oh s—-!’) which would theoretically be heard by guests inside the attraction. While Smith disputes the event even took place, she also argues that the offense is only terminable if spoken in front of guests (as per the union contract) and that by being separated from the guests by being inside the break room, the claim does not stand.

To her defense, Smith argues in her two and a half years as a cast member, she received no less than 16 ‘great service fanatic cards’ and only small number of points for tardiness as well as a case where her provided ‘extra service to a guest’ was ‘misconstrued as her leaving her station.’ Smith asserts that retaliation was the motivation behind the termination by her manager (named as ‘Steve S.’) who had a personal vendetta against her for continuously noting safety infractions (‘such as a broken door threatening Cast Member safety, a broken fan failing to clear smoke threatening guest and Cast member safety, and her refusal to abide by the manager’s violation of the red light/green light vehicle system to speed up the ride (designed for guide safety).’)

Bolstering her claim, Smith notes that while the manager in question immediately obtained (and reportedly influenced) accounts from other cast members, he did not speak to her directly about it for a week following, despite her working every day since. Smith even includes the statements from three other cast members regarding the alleged incident in her complaint and disputes each one accordingly.

Smith is seeking $250,000 for emotional distress and for lost future wages.

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Disney World Announces Plans to Become the ‘Scariest Place on Earth’

Forget flying, fire-breathing, super-noisy dragons, the residents of Magic Kingdom’s New Fantasyland have something else to fear.

We first reported that Walt Disney World was seeking circus acts for its Storybook Circus portion of the New Fantasyland Expansion a few months ago. At the time, it was noted that solo clown acts were not being sought out, which many misconstrued as meaning clowns were not going to be an element in the Magic Kingdom’s expansion, which officially opens this Thursday, December 6.

Yesterday, the official Disney Parks blog shattered those hopes by announcing that the area will feature a clown act, known as the Storybook Circus Giggle Gang. While the Disney community at large reacted poorly to the news, the sentiment was only bolstered by the Disney Parks blog itself. Receiving relatively few comments, initially nearly half of the moderated comments were negative; at press time, the number has dwindled to nearly one-fourth.

Aside from a general distaste for the choice of entertainment, there is the very real and recognized irrational fear of clowns by millions of children and adults, known as coulrophobia. While specific fears are not broken down, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), nearly 14% of 18-59 year olds suffer from irrational fears. While spiders, flying and some others tend to top the list, many respected sources within the psychological field cite coulrophobia as being high on the list. This, of course, speaks for adults, but clearly children must be more open and accepting of clowns due to their child-like behavior, right? Not so.

One oft-cited example as to the extreme of how universally despised clowns are by children is a survey conducted by the University of Sheffield in 2007. The survey interviewed more than 250 children regarding proposed changes to a hospital’s decor. While not intending to single out clowns specifically (the survey consisted of all sorts of possibilities), the researchers couldn’t help but notice that every single one of the children, aged 4 – 16, rejected the use of clowns, with many children cited as referring to the clowns as scary.

Few professions can likely stake claim that they terrify their customers by their very nature of being — dentistry perhaps? Yet it is openly acknowledged and discussed by and amongst professional clowns that there is a large number of the population that — for lack of a better word — fears them. In an article from Psychology Today, titled ‘No Laughing Matter,’ one professional clown is quoted as explaining, ‘to a toddler, there’s nothing funny about a clown — he’s a monster.’

The professional discourtesy does not end there. The website of one professional entertainer, MollieTheClown.com, devotes an entire paragraph to understanding the fear of clowns by both adults and children and how she is willing to adapt to the stituation. And when it comes to the grand-daddy of clown infestations, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, clown-fearing is well known by the profession. In an interview titled ‘5 Clown Questions Debunked From a Ringling Bros. Pro,’ professional clown Frances Tiffin is quoted as saying, ‘You know, we’re all quick on our feet, so we tend to get used to it. But it never came up as a serious thing to think about. Not in a class, but definitely at work. I mean we talk about it all the time. Maybe clown schools should think about adding one. After all, so many of us do have some form of coulrophobia.’ After noting that as a female, she seems to be more approachable to children, she added, ‘I’ve heard a number of guys say that it’s frustrating that kids will shy away from them.’

For most people that fear clowns, there is one simple solution: avoiding them. Nobody who doesn’t like the circus makes a big stink out of it (other than PETA, that is), they simply don’t patronize them. Unfortunately when it comes to the most visited theme park in the world, the choice isn’t as clear. Nor is the Magic Kingdom even remotely near synonymous with clowns in general.

Most articles that attempt to explain why the fear of clowns is so prominent (as seen in Psychology Today, Scientific American, Time, et al.) present a sane argument that children don’t react well to something anthropomorphic, or something that seems like it should be part of their norm, but clearly isn’t. After all, haven’t we all been behind that screaming, tantrum-throwing child that refuses to go near Mickey Mouse at Walt Disney World, belonging to the screaming, tantrum-throwing parent that insists they will pose for the photo to make for nice memories? So goes with clowns. As for adults, therapists argue that clown makeup acts as a mask and there is an inherent distrust of someone wearing a mask — that and the obligatory reference to horror films.

But perhaps it is time that Walt Disney World embraces clowns, after all, Universal Studios Orlando has had them for years — as part of its Halloween Horror Nights. Perhaps this is just the second half of the Disney Parks 2013 initiative: ‘Limited Time Magic, Unlimited Terror.’

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New Disney Store Arrivals and Sales for December 4, 2012 (76 Items)

New Disney Store arrivals and sales for December 4, 2012

Below is a list of new items and sales now available for purchase at Disney Store. Clicking on a product’s image or description will launch the product’s page on Disney Store in another window.

Note that this list is generated and posted automatically. Stitch Kingdom should not be held responsible for any inaccuracies, misinformation or item availability.

Disclosure: This post includes specially formatted links which allow the site to receive a small percentage of purchases made through them. Using these links does not affect your shopping experience in any way, but it does help the site. Even if you don’t purchase anything, even just sharing products you like through Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest using the icons below them will help the site.

	The Odd Life of Timothy Green 2-Disc Combo Pack- $39.99Disney presents The Odd Life of Timothy Green, an inspiring, magical story for the whole family about a happily married couple who can’t wait to start a family, but can only dream about what their child would be like. share this item
	The Odd Life of Timothy Green DVD- $29.99Disney presents The Odd Life of Timothy Green, an inspiring, magical story for the whole family about a happily married couple who can’t wait to start a family, but can only dream about what their child would be like. share this item
	Disney Princess Wardrobe Set for Girls – SALE $99.50 — SAVE 33%!The story begins with you and this wardrobe set featuring five Disney Princess gowns and accessories. Dress guests as Jasmine, Ariel, Belle, Rapunzel and Cinderella to create a fairytale they’ll remember happily ever after. share this item
	Mickey Mouse Pajama Set for Adults – SALE $17.25 — SAVE 50%!White piping trim complements the multiple Mickey pattern of these pajamas. Great for lounging around and sleeping in, the soft and warm 2-piece set can be personalized to make a great gift. share this item
	Mickey Mouse Pajama Set for Kids – SALE $12.25 — SAVE 50%!White piping trim complements the multiple Mickey pattern of these pajamas. Great for lounging around and sleeping in, the soft and warm 2-piece set can be personalized to make a great gift. share this item
	Minnie and Mickey Mouse Snowglobe – Personalizable – SALE $29.75 — SAVE 50%!Savor the warmth of our personalizable ”Home Sweet Home” Minnie and Mickey Mouse Snowglobe. The darling duo enjoy a hearth to hearth while Pluto dreams of a nice juicy bone for Christmas. share this item
	Mickey Mouse Snowglobe and Figurine Set – SALE $49.75 — SAVE 50%!Mickey’s house is decked out for a Christmas celebration. Peek inside the windows of our ”Home for the Holidays” snowglobe for a delightful diorama view of the festivities. Includes four figurines to complete the scene! share this item
	Minnie and Mickey Mouse PJ Pal for Baby – Holiday – SALE $8.25 — SAVE 50%!Minnie and Mickey celebrate your little one’s first Christmas. This festive PJ Pal will put everyone in the holiday mood, and be a colorful reminder of a very special year. share this item
	Mickey Mouse Blanket Sleeper for Baby – Holiday – SALE $8.25 — SAVE 50%!Snuggle him up for the holidays in this soft and warm Mickey Mouse Blanket Sleeper. Embroidered artwork adds festive fun to this sleep style featuring a full zip front and attached slipper feet. share this item
	Minnie Mouse PJ Pal for Baby – Holiday – SALE $8.25 — SAVE 50%!Your little snowflake will drift off to sleep in the holiday spirit with this Minnie Mouse PJ Pal. The fun and festive design of this toasty sleepwear will wrap her up like a pretty present this Christmas. share this item

AFTER THE JUMP: More new items from DisneyStore.com

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Disney Cruise Line Announces Itineraries for 2014

The white sand beaches and azure waters of Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island, take center stage in the early half of 2014 voyages for Disney Cruise Line. With all four Disney ships sailing from Florida ports, not only will guests have more options to visit Castaway Cay, but they may combine their cruise with a visit to Walt Disney World Resort and experience the expanded Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom.

In the early part of 2014, the Disney Magic will return to Port Canaveral, Fla., joining the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, while the Disney Wonder will homeport in Miami. During this time, guests will have more opportunities than ever to enjoy a Disney cruise that visits Disney’s private island in the Bahamas reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests, Castaway Cay.

Caribbean and Bahamas from Port Canaveral
In 2014, Disney Cruise Line will sail from Port Canaveral to the Caribbean and Bahamas on a variety of itineraries. Every cruise departing from Port Canaveral includes a stop at Castaway Cay.

The itineraries also offer families magical days at sea to explore all of the fun aboard their Disney cruise ship and days in port to lounge on warm, golden beaches, swim and snorkel in azure waters or to shop to their heart’s content in local marketplaces.

Three-night Bahamian sailings are perfect for a quick getaway. Rates start at $420 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

Ports: Port Canaveral, Nassau, Castaway Cay
Dates: Disney Dream departures Jan.-Aug., 2014; Disney Magic departures Jan.-May, 2014

Four-night Bahamian sailings include a day at sea to sample the one-of-a-kind Disney Cruise Line shipboard experience. Rates start at $480 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

Ports: Port Canaveral, Nassau, Castaway Cay
Dates: Disney Dream departures Jan.-Aug., 2014; Disney Magic departures Jan.-May, 2014

Seven-night Eastern Caribbean. The Disney Fantasy will sail out of Port Canaveral on seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises, including St. Maarten and St. Thomas with three days at sea. Rates start at $1,155 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

Ports: Port Canaveral, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay
Dates: Disney Fantasy departures Jan.-Aug., 2014

Seven-night Western Caribbean. The Disney Fantasy will sail out of Port Canaveral on seven-night Western Caribbean cruises, including Grand Cayman, Costa Maya and Cozumel with two days at sea. Rates start at $1,120 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

Ports: Port Canaveral, Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, Cozumel, Castaway Cay
Dates: Disney Fantasy departures Jan.-April, 2014

Seven-night Western Caribbean, including Jamaica. At Falmouth, Jamaica, guests can sample the city’s history and culture, taste Jamaica’s signature jerk recipes, enjoy lush tropical scenery on a bamboo raft river ride and visit the spectacular Dunn’s River Falls located nearby. Rates start at $1,120 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

Ports: Port Canaveral, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Castaway Cay
Departure dates: Disney Fantasy departures May-Aug., 2014

Bahamas and Western Caribbean from Miami (Jan.-May, 2014)
In 2014, the Disney Wonder will sail from Miami on four-night Bahamian and five-night Western Caribbean cruises. Rates start at $352 per person for four-night cruises and $440 for five-night cruises departing from Miami for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

Four-night Bahamas

Ports: Miami, Castaway Cay, Nassau, Key West
Departure dates: Jan. 15, 29, Feb. 12, 26, March 12, 26, April 9, 23

Five-night Caribbean

Ports: Miami, Grand Cayman, Cozumel
Departure dates: Jan. 10, 24, Feb. 7, 21, March 7, 21, April 4, 18

Five-night Caribbean, including Castaway Cay

Ports: Miami, Cozumel, Castaway Cay
Departure dates: Jan. 19, Feb. 2, 16, March 2, 16, 30, April 13, 27

All pricing reflects a category 11C standard inside stateroom. Government taxes and fees and Port Adventures are not included.

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GIVEAWAY: ‘Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two’ + Oswald Ears (Ten Copies, Winner’s Choice of Platform)

Whether you haven’t bought your copy of the widely anticipated ‘Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two’ yet, have it but want it for another console or are looking for the perfect give for a loved one this holiday season, Stitch Kingdom is proud to join forces with Disney Interactive Studios and Junction Point Studio and award ten of our readers their very own copy of ‘Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two’ on their choice of platform: Nintendo 3DS, Wii, Wii U, PlayStation PS3 or Xbox 360. As an added bonus, each copy comes with its own pair of the coveted ‘Epic Mickey 2′ exclusive branded Oswald ears.

We’ve dubbed this amazing opportunity ‘Ten to the Power of Two,’ and will be counting down the days to the holiday season by awarding one copy/ear hat per day for the next ten days beginning 12 am ET on December 4, 2012. Although your chances to win won’t be exponential, you’ll have the opportunity to grow your chances by participating each day by tweeting an entry via the form below. The more days you participate, the better your chances!

To enter, just complete the entry form below (JavaScript support required). Remember you can tweet daily for even more chances to win (we recommend doing so via the entry form to ensure it’s counted). Comments will not count as entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Note that the fulfillment will be processed by Disney Interactive Studios so while you will know whether you’re a winner, we cannot guarantee delivery by Christmas. Daily winners will be notified and must respond within 24 hours to receive their copy. Unclaimed prizes will be given away the following day in a method of our choosing (e.g. exclusively on Twitter). One winner per family for the duration of the giveaway. Winners who fail to acknowledge the prize within 24 hours will be eligible to win again during the giveaway period.

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‘Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade’ Hi-Res Photos

DISNEY PARKS CHRISTMAS DAY TV SPECIAL FOR ABC-TV TAPES PERFORMANCES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

Disney Parks and ABC Television have provided us with several images from taping that took place this past weekend and last month at both Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and the Disneyland Resort for its 29th annual Christmas Day Parade. Full details on the parade including performances, floats and air times can be found in our previous report from earlier today.

Photos in our gallery below feature appearances and performances by hosts Mario Lopez, Nick Cannon and Maria Menounos, Lady Antebellum, TobyMac, Ross Lynch, Backstreet Boys and the cast of Broadway’s ‘Newsies,’ plus many Disney character favorites including Jake from ‘Jake and the Never Land Pirates’ and Sofia the First.

[View with PicLens]

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‘Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade’ 2012 Details Announced

Music, magic and merriment come together when Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida present the 29th annual “Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade” holiday TV special, airing December 25 on the ABC Television Network. Hosts Nick Cannon and Mario Lopez, along with co-host Maria Menounos,lead the two-hour telecast with GRAMMY® Award-winning trio Lady Antebellum headlining the seasonal celebration.Joining the trio during the coast-to-coast party are international superstars Backstreet Boys, soulful pop songstress Colbie Caillat, two-time CMA Award winner Brad Paisley, Christian music chart-topper TobyMac, “American Idol” Season 11 champion Phillip Phillips, Gospel legend Yolanda Adams and Disney Channel star Ross Lynch.

The award-winning television spectacular also features special appearances by Sarah Hyland, Nolan Gould and Aubrey Emmons-Anderson from ABC’s hit comedy “Modern Family,” actor Patrick Warburton, Olympic Gold Medal-winning gymnast Gabrielle Douglas, and the popular pint-sized duo from daytime TV, Sophia Grace & Rosie. Travel expert and television personality Samantha Brown checks in throughout the program, filling families in on the fun they can experience at Disney Parks in the upcoming year. Brown also will share other ways to vacation with Disney, including Aulani – A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii, Adventures by Disney and Disney Cruise Line.

Don’t Miss a Moment of the Magic!

Tune-in times are as follows, on the ABC Television Network (check local listings): Eastern Standard Time: 10 a.m.-noon; Central, Mountain, Pacific Standard Time: 9-11 a.m. The show also will air in Canada on CBC Network, and across the globe on the American Forces Network.

From country crooners to princes of pop, some of today’s top musical talents lend their voices to celebrate the holidays in this year’s “Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade” TV special:

Country/pop supergroup Lady Antebellum shares a song from their brand-new holiday album, On This Winter’s Night;
Celebrating their 20(th) anniversary, Backstreet Boys are back – just in time for the holidays – with a new single “It’s Christmas Time Again”;
Acoustic queen Colbie Caillat shares a sun-drenched ballad from her newest album, Christmas in the Sand;
Country superstar Brad Paisley joins his pals Lightning McQueen and Mater for a revved-up performance in the brand-new Cars Land at Disneyland Resort.
Musician/actor Ross Lynch, from the Disney Channel hit show “Austin and Ally,” keeps the party jumping with his high-energy tune, “Christmas Soul.”
Christian rock chart-topper TobyMac takes the stage in Disneyland Park to perform his hit tune, “Christmas This Year.”
“American Idol” Season 11 winner Phillip Phillips performs the Christmas classic, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.”
Gospel legend Yolanda Adams belts out a rendition of the inspirational tune, “Joy To The World.”
Cast members from Disney’s Newsies: The Musical, “carry the banner” down Main Street, U.S.A., with a performance from the Tony® Award-winning musical;
Olympian Gabrielle Douglas makes a golden appearance in the procession as the West Carteret High School Marching Patriots from Morehead, N.C., sounds an Olympic fanfare;
“Pup Stars” from the new Disney Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital HD holiday film “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups” will help “deck the paws” with a special appearance along the parade route;
The telecast will feature a special salute to our Armed Forces and Veterans, including: a star-spangled celebration when the United States Marine Corps West Coast Composite Band marches down Main Street, U.S.A., led by Drum Major Gunnery Sergeant Jesse Barta.

From fairy tales to classic Christmas carols, Disney friends and holiday characters spread joy and good tidings through Disneyland Park in California and the Magic Kingdom Park in Florida with fanciful floats and colorful cavalcades. Some of the featured floats and Disney friends in this year’s festivities include:

Princess Merida, from the Disney Pixar animated film “Brave,” makes her holiday parade debut. The bow and arrow-wielding heroine celebrates Scottish heritage with a troupe of dancers, bagpipers and drummers;
Popular gadget-building brothers from the smash-hit Disney XD animated series, Phineas & Ferb, dance down the parade route to greet their fans (sharp-eyed viewers also might spot the mysterious Agent P lurking about);
Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse show off their holiday best atop an ornate Christmas Tree float, accompanied by one of Mickey’s good pals, Duffy the Disney Bear;
Donald Duck, Daisy Duck and Goofy have a “soundsational” good time, following a drum line of merry musicians;
May the holidays be with you! Star Wars villain Darth Vader and his legion of loyal Stormtroopers land in the Disney Parks galaxy with a “Force”-ful parade march;
Disney Princesses Tiana, Rapunzel, Mulan, Pocahontas, Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, Aurora, Jasmine, along with their charming princes, join the procession in regal fashion. Direct from Disney Junior, Sofia the First makes her “Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade” debut in a royal, horse-drawn carriage.
It’s a “pirate-palooza” as Disney Junior stars Jake and the Never Land Pirates commandeer the holiday festivities with some help from the most infamous scallywags to sail the high seas, Capt. Jack Sparrow and Capt. Barbossa from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” film saga and theme park attractions;
How about a little Hunny and Pixie Dust to start your Christmas Day? Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore lead the way on shiny sleds with Tinker Bell, her sister Periwinkle and a fleet of sparking snowflakes skating close behind;
Viewers get a sneak-peek into Santa’s factory where “Toy Story” saga stars Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie, Bullseye and Lotso spring to life in celebration of the season;
Longtime ‘toon favorites Horace Horsecollar and Clarabelle Cow join everyone’s favorite chipmunks, Chip and Dale, and Duckburg’s richest resident, Scrooge McDuck, on a float of Winter Wonderland fun;
Plenty more Disney Pixar pals join the party, including The Incredibles, Sulley, Mike & Boo from “Monsters Inc.,” Dug, Russell and Carl from “Up,” and Remy from “Ratatouille.”
The famous Disney Parks Toy Soldiers and Gingerbread Men join enchanted elves, pretty paper packages and stuffed-to-the-brim Christmas stockings to let everyone know that the holidays are here;
And what would a Christmas parade be without The North Pole’s most famous red-suited resident? Holiday spirit is felt in every heart when Santa Claus and his reindeer make their holly jolly way down Main Street, U.S.A.

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‘Annie’ 2012 Noms: ‘Ralph,’ ‘Brave,’ ‘TRON: Uprising’ Amongst Forerunners; Mark Henn to be Recognized

The International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, today announced the nominees for its 40th Annual Annie Awards, recognizing the year’s best in the field of animation. The Annie Awards cover 30 categories and include Best Animated Feature, Best Animated Special Production, Commercials, Short Subjects and Outstanding Individual Achievements.

Across the film and television categories Disney has a strong showing this year (full list of nominees and respective categories below), particularly with Pixar’s Brave, Disney Animation’s Wreck-It Ralph and Disney Animation’s ‘TRON: Uprising.’ Disney Junior newcomers ‘Doc McStuffins’ and ‘Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess’ also managed to be recognized for their efforts.

Juried awards honoring career achievement and exceptional contributions to animation will also be awarded. Disney animator Mark Henn will be one of three recognized with the Winsor McCay award, as selected by the ASIFA-Hollywood Board of Directors, for his career contributions to the art of animation. Additionally, Disney publicist and documentarian Howard Green will receive the June Foray Award for his significant and benevolent or charitable impact on the art and industry of animation.

Winners will be announced at the 40th Annual Annie Awards ceremony on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at UCLA’s Royce Hall, in Los Angeles, CA. For a complete list of Annie Award nominations, ticket and event information, visit www.annieawards.org.

Disney/Pixar’s Brave

Best Animated Feature
Animated Effects in an Animated Production (Bill Watral, Chris Chapman, Dave Hale, Keith Klohn, Michael K. O’Brien)
Character Animation in a Feature Production (Dan Nguyen)
Character Animation in a Feature Production (Jaime Landes)
Character Animation in a Feature Production (Travis Hathaway)
Music in an Animated Feature Production (Patrick Doyle, Mark Andrews, Alex Mandel)
Production Design in an Animated Feature Production (Steve Pilcher)
Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production (Kelly MacDonald)
Writing in an Animated Feature Production (Mark Andrews, Steve Purcell, Brenda Chapman, Irene Mecchi)
Editorial in an Animated Feature Production (Nicholas A. Smith, ACE, Robert Graham Jones, ACE, David Suther)

Walt Disney Studios’ Frankenweenie

Best Animated Feature
Production Design in an Animated Feature Production (Rick Heintzich)
Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production (Atticus Shaffer)
Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production (Catherine O’Hara)
Writing in an Animated Feature Production (John August)

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Wreck-it Ralph

Best Animated Feature
Animated Effects in an Animated Production (Brett Albert)
Character Design in an Animated Feature Production (Bill Schwab, Lorelay Bove, Cory Loftis, Minkyu Lee)
Directing in an Animated Feature Production (Rich Moore)
Music in an Animated Feature Production (Henry Jackman)
Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production (Leo Matsuda)
Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production (Lissa Treiman)
Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production (Alan Tudyk)
Writing in an Animated Feature Production (Phil Johnston, Jennifer Lee)
Editorial in an Animated Feature Production (Tim Mertens)

DisneyToon’s Secret of the Wings

Music in an Animated Feature Production (Joel McNeely, Brendan Milburn, Valerie Vigoda)
Editorial in an Animated Feature Production (Mark Rosenbaum)

Walt Disney Studios Animation’s Paperman

Best Animated Short

Marvel Studios’ The Avengers

Animated Effects in a Live Action Production (Industrial Light & Magic: Jerome Platteaux, John Sigurdson, Ryan Hopkins, Raul Essig, Mark Chataway)
Character Animation in a Live Action Production (Industrial Light & Magic: Jakub Pistecky, Maia Kayser, Scott Benzu, Steve King, Kiran Bhat)

Walt Disney Studios’ John Carter

Animated Effects in a Live Action Production (Cinesite: Sue Rowe, Simon Stanley-Clamp, Artemis Oikonomopoulou, Holger Voss, Nikki Makar, Catherine Elvidge)

‘TRON: Uprising’

Annie Award for Best Animated Special Production (‘Beck’s Beginning’)
Character Design in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production (Robert Valley; ‘The Renegade, Part I)
Production Design in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production (Alberto Mielgo; ‘The Stranger’)
Storyboarding in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production (Robert Valley, Kalvin Lee; ‘The Reward)

‘Gravity Falls’

Production Design in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production (Ian Worrel; ‘Tourist Trapped’)
Voice Acting in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production (Kristen Schaal)

‘Kick Buttowski’

Character Design in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production (‘C’ Raggio IV; ‘Petrified’)

‘Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja’

Voice Acting in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production (Kevin Michael Richardson; ‘Gossip Boy’)

‘Doc McStuffins’

Best General Audience Animated TV Production For Preschool Children (‘The Right Stuff’)
Storyboarding in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production (Andy Kelly; ‘Righty-On-Lefty’)

‘Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Peter Pan Returns’

Best General Audience Animated TV Production For Preschool Children
Directing in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production (Howie Parkins)

‘Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess’

Storyboarding in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production (Holly Forsyth)
Editorial in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production (Peter Kaufman)

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New Disney Store Arrivals and Sales for December 3, 2012 (183 Items)

New Disney Store arrivals and sales for December 3, 2012

Below is a list of new items and sales now available for purchase at Disney Store. Clicking on a product’s image or description will launch the product’s page on Disney Store in another window.

Note that this list is generated and posted automatically. Stitch Kingdom should not be held responsible for any inaccuracies, misinformation or item availability.

	Walt Disney World Tee for Adults- $24.95Relive favorite memories of Disney’s vacation kingdom in Florida with our retro style Walt Disney World logo tee with rainbow symbol on heathered jersey knit. share this item
	Monsters, Inc. Tee for Boys- $22.50They’ll be screaming with smiles for this fine fashion ringer tee with stylish double-up long sleeves and layered appliqué art featuring three favorite Monstropolis friends. share this item
	Monsters Inc. PJ Pal for Boys- $16.50Scare-up dazzling dreams that are never nightmares in the soft, cozy comfort of our 100% cotton pajamas featuring bright, colorful night-shift workers Sully and Mike from Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.. share this item
	Mickey Mouse Nutcracker Figure- $44.95You’ll have a cracking good time with this Mickey Mouse nutcracker. Dressed in his distinctive sorcerer’s outfit from Disney’s Fantasia, Sorcerer Mickey is one in a series of seven colorful wooden Mickey Mouse nutcracker figures. share this item
	Sulley Boots for Baby- $9.50Your young monster will get his day off on the right foot when he wears these amusing Sulley Boots. Featuring 3-D claws, they coordinate perfectly with the Sulley Disney Cuddly Bodysuit for a frightfully fun outfit. share this item
	Sulley Disney Cuddly Bodysuit Set for Baby – Personalizable- $19.50Your little one will look monstrously cute dressed as James P. Sullivan, the spotty star scarrer from Monsters, Inc. This Sulley set includes the Disney Cuddly Bodysuit, with its soft plush chest, and personalizable cap. share this item
	Mike Wazowski Hoodie for Boys – Monsters, Inc.- $29.50Scare-up top compliments with Mike Wazowski’s cool striped sweat jacket in vivid, unforgettable colors! Full zip front, warm lining, and jersey-lined hood will keep off the chills. share this item
	Mickey Mouse Nutcracker Figure- $44.95Enjoy a cracking good time with this Mickey Mouse nutcracker. Dressed in a regal green king outfit inspired by Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, this figure is one in a series of seven decorative Mickey Mouse nutcracker figures. share this item
	Monsters, Inc. Tee for Women- $19.50Scare-up a host of admirers while wearing our retro-style Monsters, Inc. tee featuring Sulley, Mike Wazowski, and Boo on soft, heathered jersey knit. share this item
	Mickey Mouse Tea-for-One Set- $29.95If you are flying solo, Mickey will be happy to keep you company with his charming tea-for-set, including mini teapot with lid, cup and saucer that fit together in a stackable display. share this item