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The Little Mermaid’s Broadway Run Loses Its Legs August 30

It’s being widely reported that Disney Theatrical has opted to close the show with August 30 being the final performance after an almost two year run in an effort to avoid losses during the ‘slowdown season.’ Tickets for performances sold beyond August 30 are eligible for a refund.

Sierra Boggess, who originated the role of Ariel, has recently left the show after extending her intial performances.

It is expected that there will be a touring production of the musical commencing late 2010.

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Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato’s Princess Protection Program, Watched by 28.1 Million, Now on DVD

BURBANK, Calif., June 30 — Last week Disney Channel’s PRINCESS PROTECTION PROGRAM was crowned royalty as TV’s number one entertainment telecast of 2009 in Kids 6-11 (3.1 million) and Tweens 9-14 (3.2 million) and as cable’s most watched scripted telecast (viewers) when the exciting adventure/comedy debuted. Since its premiere in EMEA in May ’09, and now the U.S. and Canada, Disney’s “Princess Protection Program” has reached 28.1 million unique Total Viewers around the world, including 3.7 million Kids 6-11 and 3.5 million Tweens 9-14 for the June 26th premiere.

Now, just days after the record-setting cable debut, two of young Hollywood’s superstars, Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato, head to DVD in the royal journey PRINCESS PROTECTION PROGRAM: ROYAL B.F.F. EXTENDED EDITION. The exclusive bonus materials feature the all-new music video “One and the Same” performed by the real life best friends Demi and Selena plus much more. This regal experience is available with a free “Best Friends” necklace set inside the DVD for a limited time from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

EXCLUSIVE DVD BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE:
– “One and the Same” Music Video performed by Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato.
– Royal & Loyal B.F.F.s – stars Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato reveal secrets about their real-life friendship.
– A Royal Reality – meet a real-life Princess and learn the realities about gowns, castles and her responsibilities.

A Disney Channel Original Movie PRINCESS PROTECTION PROGRAM is an adventure comedy about two very different girls – a princess from a small kingdom and a small town girl who, when fate brings them together, must team up to help the would-be queen pass for a regular teen.

PRINCESS PROTECTION PROGRAM is rated ‘G’ in the U.S. and ‘PG’ in Canada.

Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc., a recognized leader in the home entertainment industry, is the marketing, sales and distribution company for Walt Disney, Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax and Buena Vista product, which includes DVD, Blu-ray Disc(TM) and electronic distribution. Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc. is a division of The Walt Disney Studios.

These press materials are available in electronic form at www.WDSHEpublicity.com

(Source: Nielsen Media Research (Fast National Ratings, Live + Same Day, 6/26/09). Ratings based on national rating unless otherwise noted. Reach based on unduplicated viewers who watched 6 minutes or more. Online: Omniture for 2009 data, Hitbox for 2008.

Source: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

CONTACT: National, Jennifer Lang, +1-818-295-5232,
[email protected], or Regional, Michelle Alexander, +1-818-295-5246,
[email protected], or Local Field Representative Darrell Borquez,
+1-818-295-5224, [email protected], all of Walt Disney Studios Home
Entertainment

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Audition Information for ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire?’ Tenth Anniversary Edition Announced

Who wants to be a contestant on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” Here’s how to apply for the highly-anticipated 10th anniversary edition hosted by Regis Philbin and running for 11 nights in August, Sundays-Thursdays at (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) from August 9 to August 23 on the ABC Television Network.

There are multiple ways (see below) to become a contestant on “Millionaire,” including the original phone game that was used when the show premiered in 1999 and video submissions – an all-new method that will enable people to upload videos of themselves directly to the show’s producers. Would-be contestants can use more than one method to try to get on the show but will only be selected one time. No former “Hot Seat” players are eligible, and you must be at least 18 years old, a legal U.S. resident and meet all eligibility requirements. Read more…

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HK Disneyland Expansion is On – Disney to Invest $452M for 30 New Attractions, 3 New Lands

HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong on Tuesday said the Walt Disney Co will invest $452 million to expand its Hong Kong theme park, seen as necessary to bolster the park’s long-term prospects against a planned rival park in Shanghai.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang said Hong Kong would not invest more capital in the joint venture but would convert a substantial part of its loan to the project into equity.

After Disney’s new investment and the government’s debt to equity swap, Hong Kong will see its stake in the underperforming park fall to 52 percent from 57 percent.

“If there is no expansion, the attraction of the theme park will fall over time, government economist Helen Chan said at a media briefing to announce details of the expansion.

The Hong Kong government desperately needs the expansion to boost flagging attendance, with a much larger rival Disneyland expected to be built in Shanghai in 2014 that could draw much visitor traffic from the burgeoning mainland China market.

“To help deleverage the joint venture the government will convert a substantial part of its loan to equity, retaining a balance of not less than HK$1 billion,” the government said in a statement.

The expansion, which will cost about HK$3.6 billion, will include 30 new attractions and three new theme areas, and will see the total area of Hong Kong Disneyland increase by 23 percent over five years.

The total net economic benefit of the expanded theme park over 40 years would range from HK$64.7 billion to HK$117.3 billion, the government said in a statement.

Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary John Tsang traveled to Los Angeles in May, where he met senior Disney executives. The trip is seen to have paved the way for the breakthrough after Disney earlier said it would stall any expansion amid the credit crunch.

Disney earlier indicated it would likely invest more capital in Hong Kong Disneyland and allow the Hong Kong government to convert its loans to equity to maintain its majority share of the theme park, a source involved in their talks told Reuters earlier.

(Reporting by James Pomfret / Editing by Chris Lewis)

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Disney Interactive Studios and Disney Press Announce New Novels Based on the Popular Spectrobes Video Game Franchise

BURBANK, Calif. — Disney Press will publish the new middle-grade series based on Disney Interactive Studios’ best-selling Spectrobes videogames. The sci-fi story of two planetary officers and the mysterious Spectrobes creatures will be told through these original junior novels in addition to the upcoming Wii™ game. Disney Interactive Studios and Disney Press today announced that four Spectrobes junior novels will be available in North America this year.

Spectrobes is Disney Interactive Studios’ original monster battle video game franchise. The first Wii game of the series, Spectrobes: Origins, will be released this fall. More than 1.6 million units of the two Spectrobes Nintendo DS games released in each of the last two years have been shipped worldwide.

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New Robert Olszewski Monorail Mark I Sculpture On Sale Online July 1, Signing July 17 at Disneyland

Miniature artist Robert Olszewski will be on hand at the Disneyana Shop in Main Street, USA in Disneyland on July 17, 2009 from 9 AM – 11 AM to sign his latest piece, the Monorail Mark I, commemorating the attraction’s 50th anniversary.

There will be two initial versions of the sculpture. An Annual Passholder’s version will be limited to only 100 pieces while the Open Edition version will be stamped ‘First Edition’ for its first 12 months of production.

Features of the Monorail Mark I sculpture include:

* Removable Monorail Mark I sculpture. Sculpture details include clear windows to see in front and back. Magnets used to hold Monorail onto rails.
* The columns feature attraction posters
* Lighting turned on and off by trash can on right front

The Monorail Mark I sculpture is available for $95, plus tax. Sculpture and Base Size: 8″W x 3 7/8′ D x 3 1/2″T (Monorail is approximately 6 1/2″ L x 1/2″W x 5/8″T.

Online ordering commences 8 AM PT on Wednesday, July 1. Shipping and handling fees plus any applicable sales tax will apply. To order the Annual Passholder edition beginning July 1, click here. For the Open Edition version, click here.

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New ABC Reality Experiment ‘Dating in the Dark’ Answers Question: Is Love Blind?

Looks will be taken out of the equation when men and women get to know each other and connect in total darkness on the premiere of the one-hour reality series, “Dating in the Dark,” MONDAY, JULY 20 (10:02-11:00 p.m. ET), on the ABC Television Network.

Hosted by Rossi Morreale, the six-episode “Dating in the Dark” is a sexy social experiment asking the age-old question, “Is Love Blind?” Each week three new single men and three new single women, all looking for love, will live in separate wings of a house and remain totally sequestered from the opposite sex. While they’ll have no chance of seeing each other in the light, they will have the opportunity to date in a completely dark room. The participants won’t be able to see anything, but the audience will get to see EVERYTHING first hand with the help of high-tech infrared cameras.

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Disney Interactive Studios Pioneers 3-D Console Experiences This Summer with G-Force and Toy Story Mania! Video Games

BURBANK, Calif. — Three-dimensional experiences are taking over the film experience at movie theaters in 2009 and Disney Interactive Studios is leading the way in video games by introducing innovative stereoscopic 3-D features in two of its premier games this summer. G-Force and Toy Story Mania! both feature revolutionary innovative experiences using 3-D technology and are the first games for next-generation systems to fully feature three-dimensional stereoscopic technology.

G-Force and Toy Story Mania! allow the player to choose to turn on special 3-D features in the games while wearing the enclosed 3-D glasses. Using the anaglyphic 3-D glasses, players will see the action extend forward from their television screens in a three-dimensional perspective while playing the games. Two sets of 3-D glasses will be enclosed in each package for players to experience visuals that seem to pop out from their television sets. The glasses enable both players to experience 3-D during a two-player Toy Story Mania! game or for an accompanying family member to view that perspective in G-Force. Both standard video game 3-D graphics and the stereoscopic 3-D experiences are offered in the games and can be changed by the player.

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Hall of Presidents Re-Opens July 4 with New President, New Exhibits, New Movie, New Music, New Storyline, Even a New Name!

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – A remarkably lifelike Audio-Animatronics figure of President Barack Obama enters the spotlight in a revised and refreshed Hall of Presidents show that reopens July 4 in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort.

The recently installed figure of the country’s 44th chief executive – which comes to life with recognizable mannerisms and makes comments that were recorded recently at the White House – is only part of an eight-month makeover so significant that the iconic attraction in the park’s Liberty Square has been retitled Hall of Presidents: A Celebration of Liberty’s Leaders. Other updates to the “re-Imagineered” attraction which has been entertaining Magic Kingdom guests since 1971:

* A re-programmed Abraham Lincoln delivers arguably the greatest speech in the history of the presidency – the Gettysburg Address.
* For the first time in the attraction’s history, George Washington stands and delivers a stirring speech.
* Developed with the assistance of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, the show now tells a moving story of the bond between the presidents and “We, the People,” focusing on the chief executives who have guided America through trying, turbulent times.

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Horror Film Legend Robert Englund Guest Stars in Next All-New Episode of The Spectacular Spider-Man

Robert Englund (often affectionately aka Freddy Krueger) guest stars in the next episode of The Spectacular Spider-Man on Disney XD. In the episode titled Reinforcement, Englund voices villain Vulture who helps reconstitute the Sinister Six alongside Sandman, Rhino, Electro and newcomers Mysterio and Kraven. It’s the holiday season and all they want for Christmas is a dead Spidey. Meanwhile, Peter Parker struggles with commitment when it comes to the lovely Gwen Stacy. Here’s a sneak peek of the episode which premieres on Disney XD on Monday, June 29 at 7:30 PM ET/PT: