Enjoy this article? You may also be interested in these related items from our partners
 Disneyland City Hall and Fire Station Miniature by Olszewski |  Toy Story |  Toy Story 2 |
Earlier this evening, at the tenth annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards, Walt Disney’s Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter was inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame. Established in 1984, the Hall of Fame honors individuals who have made a significant mark on the American toy industry.
MINDstyle has announced Series #1 of Stitch Mini-Figure vinyl collectibles. Sharing a lot in common with the Mickey Mouse-shaped Vinylmations from the Disney Design Group, the creator of the Experiment 626 project has transformed the mini vinyl Stitch figures into some of the most beloved Disney characters of all time.
At 3″, each series will consist of 10 figures sold for $9.95 each in a blind pack plus a chaser and a super-chaser. Like Vinylmation, trays of 24 will be available for sale which includes two complete sets of 10 plus the chaser and super-chaser.
As Stitch Kingdom first reported on February 3, Walt Disney Animation Studios has made it official on its Facebook page that the new title for Rapunzel (formerly Rapunzel Unbraided) is Tangled.
Marjory Marchand of New York filed a lawsuit in United States District Court earlier this weeking seeking damages in excess of $75,000 from Walt Disney World, Niki Bryan Spas and GF Spa Ltd. Through the complaint, Marchand stated that in July of 2008, as part of a Walt Disney World vacation, she participated in a private massage taking place at the Grand Floridian resort. It was during the massage that Marchand alleges she was violated sexually by a male masseur, resulting in ‘lack of trust, anger, irritability, anxiety, nightmares, panic attacks, feelings of abandonment shame, feelings of being unclean, fear of being alone, poor mood, feeling distracted, confused, and in self-doubt.’
The 107th annual American International Toy Fair is about to kick off in New York City and we couldn’t be more excited. In honor of the 1200+ exhibitors showing off their latest and greatest in toys, we thought we’d take a sneak peek at some of the new Disney toys from Mattel that you can expect to find at your favorite retailer later this year.
We’ll start with this summer’s most anticipated event: Toy Story 3.
First up is the Buzz Lightyear Deluxe Action Wing Pack (Ages 6+; MSRP $49.99; Available May). Junior Space Rangers can sport this backpack style gear which — at a touch of a button — pops out a set of their very own wings, useful for flying or simply falling with style. Other buttons speak some of Buzz’s most popular catchphrases, but the coolest part of all is that the wings can sense when they’re in the horizontal position and will automatically play ‘flying’ noises. When the mission’s been accomplished, the wings contract at the press of a button.
If you’ve been following the TS3 news and have seen the new trailer, you probably already know that Ken (Michael Keaton) joins the Toy Story family and given that Mattel is the home of Ken and Barbie, the Barbie Toy Story 3 Made For Each Other Gift Set (Ages 3+; MSRP $24.99; Available May) is a zero-brainer. The pair of dolls help re-live the magic of the film dressed in the style as they appear on screen.
“Make A Wave,” an inspirational duet by Hollywood Records recording artists and Disney Channel stars Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato, recorded for Disney’s Friends for Change: Project Green and to be featured in the upcoming Disneynature film “OCEANS,” was unveiled yesterday in an exclusive performance during the “Celebrate Family Volunteers” event at Walt Disney World® Resort in Lake Buena Vista, FL. The anthem will debut February 26 on Radio Disney, while the music video will have its world premiere on Disney Channel March 14 and launch online the following day at Disney.com. “Make A Wave” will be available beginning March 15 on iTunes, with all proceeds benefiting environmental charities through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF). ”OCEANS” hits theaters April 22, 2010 (Earth Day).
Thanks to a trademark application recently entered by The Walt Disney Company, we get our first look at the artwork for the upcoming Golden Oak community that’s being developed ‘on site’ in conjunction with the Four Seasons which will consist of a five star resort and golf course as well as a community of private multi-million dollar homes which are expected to go on the market this year.
And, of course, no five star logo would be complete without its own Hidden Mickey.
Disney/Pixar released the new trailer for Toy Story 3 today which gives some insight into what happens when Woody and the gang end up at the Sunnyside Daycare Center. We also get our first look at clips of several of the new toys being introduced including Lots-o-Huggin’ (Lotso) Bear and Mr. Pricklepants, not to mention the budding love between two plastic icons. Enjoy!
Against the backdrop of a world-record sculpture of canned goods destined for food banks, Disney Parks officials on Thursday announced a major milestone with the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program, a first-of-its-kind effort to help inspire 1 million people to perform volunteer service.
Since the program’s launch only six weeks ago, more than 600,000 people in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada have volunteered or signed up for volunteer projects in their communities, announced Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
“With the launch of our ‘Give a Day, Get a Disney Day’ program, we hoped to spark something truly special,” Staggs said. “But even we have been overwhelmed with the response.”
To recognize their good deeds, in 2010 Disney Parks is celebrating those who volunteer through the program by giving them a free one-day admission to either a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park. Volunteers can start the search and sign-up process by going to www.disneyparks.com.
HandsOn Network, the volunteer-focused arm of Points of Light Institute and the largest volunteer network in the nation, is supporting the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program by connecting volunteers with projects.
According to Michelle Nunn, co-founder of HandsOn Network and CEO of Points of Light Institute, 10,000 community organizations, through the Disney Parks program, are getting the volunteers they need to meet important community challenges.
“The level of volunteerism we have seen in the first weeks of 2010 is tracking to new highs,” she said. “Our dream at HandsOn Network is for everyone to recognize their power to make a difference. Disney is helping us make that dream a reality, a million times over.”
Since the launch of the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program on Jan. 1, 2010, volunteers have trekked through wetlands near Long Beach, Calif., and through mountain preserves in Phoenix, Ariz., clearing away non-native vegetation. A continent away, volunteers have whisked away trash on Atlantic Coast beaches in Brevard County and Dade County, Fla. In Port Huron, Mich., “soccer families” have picked up paint brushes to help spruce up a community center. In Atlanta, Ga., volunteers have assisted hospitalized children as they create arts and crafts projects. And with the forecast for a cold night ahead, the homeless in Central Florida were handed blankets by caring volunteers.
In addition to celebrating the “Give A Day, Get a Disney Day” program, Disney Parks welcomed to Walt Disney World Resort Thursday other outstanding volunteer families from the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada who gave back to their communities in special ways, as part of Disney’s celebration of family volunteerism in 2010.
“Today we are here to celebrate you,” Staggs told the families. “With each of your efforts, you make a difference.”
In anticipation for a new trailer to be released tomorrow, Disney/Pixar has released a teaser for Toy Story 3 featuring new footage which you can view below:
Also released today were images of ‘new’ toys making their Toy Story debut: the fashionably sensible Ken (portrayed by Michael Keaton) and the adorable plush peas-in-a-pod for which Pixar has issued a disclaimer that they are not intended for human consumption.
