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Disney Consumer Products Unleashes All New Intiatives, from Mickey Mouse to Rapunzel and Everyone Inbetween

Las Vegas, NV – June 2, 2009 – Disney Consumer Products(DCP) today announced new content and product line extensions behind its renowned portfolio of character franchises starting with the return of the classic Toy Story franchise, the addition of two Disney Princess characters, new Mickey Mouse initiatives, a new Winnie the Pooh theatrical movie and the expansion of the Disney Fairies film series. Disney Channel also announced major milestones for the global sensational hit Hannah Montana as the series is renewed for a fourth season and the award-winning Handy Manny preschool series adds two primetime specials and a new 20 episode short-form series.

“Everything we do is inspired by the magic and creativity that only Disney can deliver,” said Andy Mooney, chairman of Disney Consumer Products Consumer Products. “Each product tells a story and this year sets off an unprecedented slate of entertainment offering many storylines that will translate into global merchandise programs uniquely positioning DCP for breakout growth.”

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Lucasfilm’s Steve Sansweet to Offer Book Signing at Star Wars Weekends June 5-7

Lucasfilm’s Head of Fan Relations and owner of the world’s largest private collection of Star Wars memorabilia, Steve Sansweet, will be appearing this weekend at Star Wars Weekends. Steve will be signing copies of his books, The Star Wars Vault and The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, both of which will be available for purchase for the signing. He’ll also be bringing along some special give-aways.

He’ll be signing at Wicket’s Warehouse on Friday, June 5 from 12:30 – 2:30 PM, on Saturday from 1:30 – 3:30 PM and on Sunday from 12:30 – 2:30 PM.

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Winnie the Pooh Heads Back to the Big Screen in 2011

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Disney will make a formal announcement tomorrow during its presentation at the Licensing International Expo in Vegas that Winnie the Pooh will be starring in a new film to be released in spring of 2011.

source

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Southwest Airlines Begins Resort Airline Check-in Pilot Program at Pop Century

Southwest Airlines

The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that Southwest Airlines is now piloting the Resort Airline Check-in service at Walt Disney World’s Pop Century resort.

It’s been a major source of confusion which continues to persist today as much as it has since the inception of Disney’s Magical Express in 2005: it is often thought that as a non-participating airline, that guests flying into MCO on SWA can not take advantage of amenities such as the luggage delivery service aspect of DME.

This is completely untrue however, as Disney’s Magical Express and Resort Airline Check-in are two mutually exclusive services, although they are marketed together. Every guest arriving at Orlando International Airport (which includes international flights) and staying on-site at a Disney owned and operated resort can take full advantage of Disney’s Magical Express, both the ground transportation and the in-room luggage delivery service, regardless of airline. The difference comes when departing the resort, where only those flying domestically on a participating airline are able to check-in for the flight directly at their resort so they receive their boarding pass and check their bags so they don’t have to be dealt with again until arriving at the home airport (additional restrictions apply).

The news means that those staying at Pop Century and flying on Southwest Airlines can now take advantage of the piloted Resort Airline Check-in for a limited time. The program began yesterday and does not have an ending date as of yet, although a Disney Magical Express representative told us it would only be available for a ‘short period of time.’

Also unknown is how this will affect the boarding procedures of those flying Southwest. As the airline does not offer assigned seats and boards its passengers in groups that are determined at time of check-in, checking in at the near 24-hour mark has become an almost obsession with many Southwest travelers. While the DME representative was quite certain that guests will no longer be able to check-in online (or by phone) ahead of time and continue to use the Resort Airline Check-in which only allows guests to check in 3-12 hours prior to flight, a Southwest representative was insistent that the Resort Airline Check-in desk would have no problem with guests checking in ahead of time and that boarding passes would be issued with the original boarding group retained.

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ESPN and Ad Council Team Up with Fatherhood.gov to Encourage Fathers to ‘Take Time to be a Dad’ (Video)

The Advertising Council and the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse join ESPN today to launch a new series of national public service advertisements designed to show dads the critical role they play in their children’s lives. The ads will debut this week on ESPN media in advance of Father’s Day.

According to the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC), an estimated 25 million children live without their biological fathers and are on average at least two to three times more likely to be poor, to use drugs, to experience educational, health and emotional and behavioral problems, to be victims of child abuse and to engage in criminal behavior than their peers who live with their married, biological (or adoptive) parents. Children with involved, loving fathers are significantly more likely to do well in school, have healthy self-esteem, exhibit empathy and pro-social behavior and avoid high-risk behaviors.

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Vinylmation Park Series 2 Release and Artist Party at Walt Disney World June 12

Come join Disney artists Randy Noble, Dan Howard, Susan Foy and Thomas Scott as they celebrate the releasr of the Vinylmation Park Series 2 at the Art of Disney store in the Downtown Disney Marketplace on Friday, June 12 from 5-7 PM.

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WDW Refurbishment Update: Liberty Square Riverboat Closure in September

The Liberty Square Riverboat / Liberty Belle at the Magic Kingdom will be closed from September 13 through September 19 for refurbishment.

Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be the first to know when changes that potentially affect your trip occur by signing up with ReSearch!

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Disneyland Resort Announces 3-Day Summer Fan Pass for Southern California Residents for $99

ANAHEIM, Calif., June 1 — Just in time for summer, Disneyland Resort delivers a valuable ticket offer – the 3-Day Summer Fun Pass, available exclusively for residents of Southern California and Northern Baja.

With this special ticket, local residents can play at the Disneyland Resort for three days within a 45-day period, for just $99. Guests who live in zip codes 90000 through 93599, and 21000-22999, will be able to enter both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure, enjoying three days of fun for only $33 per day.

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Hanes Invites You to ‘Celebrate in Comfort’ and Enter to Win a Walt Disney World Reunion Vacation

Beginning June 1, 2009, Hanes, the official apparel of the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts, invites you to enter to win the reunion vacation of a lifetime at the Walt Disney World resort.

One vacation per week will be awarded for a total of sixteen vacations. Each 5 day/4 night celebration-themed vacation for four persons includes:

* Roundtrip coach-class airfare for winner and three (3) guests between the US major airport closest to winner’s residence (determined in Sponsor’s sole discretion) and Orlando International Airport;
* Ground transfers between the Orlando International Airport and the Walt Disney World® Resort for four (4) people;
* One (1) standard room quadruple occupancy at a moderate Walt Disney World® Resort hotel (selected by Sponsor in its sole discretion) for four (4) nights;
* Twenty (20) 1-day Magic Your Way tickets with Park Hopper® Option;
* Complimentary use of transportation within the Walt Disney World® Resort;
* Four (4) Hanes t-shirts from the Disney Design-A-Tee Store;
* Room décor themed to the celebration;
* Four (4) create-your-own custom Mickey Mouse Ear hats, including exclusive sweepstakes winner patch to place on hats;
* One (1) Disney’s PhotoPass® CD and Album;
* Winner selection of one of the following experiences:
o Birthday Package: Disney character dinner experience for four (4) people
o First Visit Package: Disney character dinner experience for four (4) people
o Accomplishment Package: Dinner at select EPCOT® restaurant with VIP viewing of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth for four (4) people
o True Love Package: Dinner for two and four hours of babysitting services for up to two (2) children (if necessary).

Total Approximate Retail Value of each package is $4,688.

In addition, one grand prize winner will receive a 5 day/4 night reunion-themed celebration vacation at Walt Disney World® Resort for twenty (20) persons. The reunion vacation includes:

* Roundtrip coach-class airfare for winner and nineteen (19) guests between major airports closest to winner’s residence and the residences of the winner’s guests (determined in Sponsor’s sole discretion) and Orlando International Airport
* Ground transfers between the Orlando International Airport and the Walt Disney World® Resort for twenty (20) people
* Five (5) standard rooms with a maximum of four (4) persons per room at a moderate Walt Disney World® Resort hotel (selected by Sponsor in its sole discretion) for four (4) nights
* One hundred (100) 1-day Magic Your Way tickets with Park Hopper® Option; Complimentary use of transportation within the Walt Disney World® Resort
* Twenty (20) Hanes t-shirts from the Disney Design-A-Tee Store
* Five (5) customized Disney gift baskets – one per room
* Twenty (20) create-your-own custom Mickey Mouse Ear hats, including exclusive sweepstakes winner patch to place on hats
* One (1) Disney Gift Card with a value of $1,000 USD

Total Approximate Retail Value of Grand Prize is $21,790

For full contest rules or to enter and to design your own virtual t-shirt today, visit http://www.celebrateincomfort.com

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Disney Channel Orders Second Season of ‘Sonny With a Chance,’ Fourth Season of ‘Hannah Montana’

Disney Channel has ordered a second season of “Sonny With A Chance,” TV’s #1 program for Kids 6-11 and#1 scripted program for Tweens 9-14, it was announced today by Gary Marsh, president, Entertainment, Disney Channels Worldwide. The series, which premiered in February, stars Demi Lovato, Tiffany Thornton, Sterling Knight, Brandon Mychal Smith, Doug Brochu and Allisyn Ashley Arm. It was created by Steve Marmel, who executive-produces along with Michael Feldman, Brian Robbins and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett.

Marsh said: “’Sonny’ was a hit right out of the gate, thanks in no small part to the stratospheric trajectory of our newest star, Demi Lovato. She and the entire talented cast, along with our gifted writing and producing teams, have turned ‘Sonny With A Chance’ into ‘destination television’ for kids everywhere. We thrilled with the direction this first season has taken, and look forward to tapping further into its comedic potential, adding music and more, in Season Two.”

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