Several outlets reported today that the mother of Austin Wuennenberg, the Disney Monorail operator who was killed in a tragic collision on July 4, had filed a petition earlier in the week for a Pure Bill of Discovery. The petition, filed on behalf of Christine Wuennenberg, requested she have access to evidence that Disney may be in possession of in regards to the incident including video of the Monorails, audio communication and ‘black box’ data. Wuennenberg’s lawyers also requested access to the complete list of witnesses, employees involved in Monorail operation and logs of said employee’s whereabouts for months leading up to the crash. The petition cited a concern that evidence ‘may be destroyed, erased and/or altered.’ An alternate request to insure that Disney did not destroy any potential evidence was also made.
Radio Disney to Premiere Demi Lovato’s New Album, ‘Here We Go Again,’ July 18
Burbank, July 15, 2009 … Radio Disney will present the world premiere of Demi Lovato’s new album, “Here We Go Again,” on SATURDAY, JULY 18 (7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT) during Radio Disney’s Planet Premiere, a regular feature presentation from the authority on the music kids love and parents trust. The album will be replayed on SUNDAY, JULY 19 (12:00 p.m. ET/9:00 a.m. PT) and can be streamed and listened to online at RadioDisney.com from SATURDAY, JULY 18 through FRIDAY, JULY 24.
Disney Channel Orders ‘Good Luck Charlie,’ a New Live Action Family Comedy
Disney Channel has ordered “Good Luck Charlie,” an original live-action comedy series about a family whose lives are turned topsy-turvy with the arrival of a new baby sister. The multi-camera series will begin production in Hollywood in August for a scheduled 2010 premiere on Disney Channels around the world.
Starring are Bridgit Mendler, a recurring guest star on Disney Channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place” and guest star on “JONAS,” as Teddy Holliday; Jason Dolley, known to Disney Channel viewers from his headlining roles in “Hatching Pete,” “Minutemen” and “Cory in the House,” as Casey Holliday; introducing Bradley Steven Perry as Gabe Holliday; Eric Allan Kramer (“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “My Name Is Earl”) as Bob Holliday; and Leigh Allyn Baker (“Will & Grace) as Amy Holliday.
New Backstage Segway Tour at Epcot Takes You Through the Air, Land and Sea
Using the Segway x2 off-road personal transporter (PT), guests are now able to experience Future World pavilions and attractions in an all new way. Called the Nature-Inspired Design tour, guests tour through the Land and the Seas pavilions. The official description of the tour is as follows:
Discover the wonder of nature-inspired design as you glide through land, sea and air at Epcot®. This 3-hour backstage tour allows you to experience the symbiotic relationship between nature and the nature-inspired designs incorporated into Epcot® pavilions and attractions. Glide over California on Soarin’™, tour the greenhouses at The Land pavilion, explore The Seas with Nemo & Friends® and visit Life Support scientists to learn how technology helps us maintain a better balance with nature.
BOOM! Studios Announces Comic-Con Exclusives: Limited Edition Hardcover Editions of Pixar/Muppet Comics
July 15th, 2009 – Los Angeles — BOOM! Studios revealed today that Comic-Con ‘09 exclusive limited edition hardcover collections of their red hot series THE MUPPET SHOW COMIC BOOK, THE INCREDIBLES: FAMILY MATTERS and CARS: THE ROOKIE will be offered for sale at limited signing times throughout the week during Comic-Con International at the BOOM! Studios booth (#2543.) THE MUPPET SHOW COMIC BOOK’s Roger Langridge, THE INCREDIBLES’ Mark Waid and CARS’ Alan Porter will be doing group signings of these Comic-Con ’09 Exclusive Hardcovers throughout the week at certain times.
The Comic-Con ’09 Exclusive Hardcovers of THE MUPPET SHOW COMIC BOOK, THE INCREDIBLES: FAMILY MATTERS and CARS: THE ROOKIE will be limited to 250 copies, serially numbered, and contain all four issues of each respective series presented in hardcover for the first time with unique, never-to-be-repeated covers.
‘Walt & El Grupo’ Debuts in Theaters on September 11th with Limited Engagements in L.A. and N.Y.
LOS ANGELES, July 15 — Acclaimed documentary WALT & EL GRUPO, a festival favorite in Rome, Rio, San Francisco, Palm Springs and Seattle, is set to begin its theatrical run with limited releases in Los Angeles and New York on September 11, 2009. The film, from writer/director Theodore Thomas (“Frank and Ollie”) and producer Kuniko Okubo, is also scheduled to run for a week in Seattle starting September 25th and will debut in additional markets soon after.
In New York, the film will open at the Quad Cinema. In Los Angeles, the film will release on two screens, at the Landmark’s Regent Theater in Westwood and the AMC Downtown Disney 12 in Anaheim. For more information on the film, check out the official website at www.waltandelgrupo.com, become a fan on Facebook, or follow the film on Twitter.
Humana Announces Winners of ‘G-Force’ Premiere Contest
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Three active kids are heading to Hollywood to join stars from “G-FORCE” on the red carpet. Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), a leading health-benefits company, today announced the winners of its “Operation Planet Savers” game, the latest in a series of games developed by Humana’s Games for Health team.
Winners of the “Operation Planet Savers” game will attend the red carpet premiere of Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ “G-FORCE” movie on July 19 in Hollywood. Winners were chosen through a random drawing of those who played the game since it started on June 1. ”Operation Planet Savers” is part of a unique collaboration with Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and is designed to impact children’s health in a fun and innovative way.
Report: Miley Cyrus to Become Newest Disney Fairy
Variety is reporting that Disney has acquired the film rights to Aprilynne Pike’s debut novel and New York Times Best Seller, Wings, as a starring vehicle for Miley Cyrus. The tween supernatural-slash-romance novel is set to be the first of a series of four (Pike has announced she’s currently working on the sequel, Spells) and centers around a fifteen year old named Laurel who gets more than she bargains for when she enters the public school system for the first time.
Cyrus is currently working on the Nicholas Spark project, The Last Song and a new season of Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana.
‘Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie’ Premieres August 28; Special Programming Beginning August 24
Manhattan’s magical wizard siblings Alex, Justin and Max Russo accompany their parents on a Caribbean vacation where Alex’s inadvertent magic spell makes it so her parents have never met. When they learn the only thing that will reverse the spell is the magical Stone of Dreams, they embark on a quest through the jungle to find it, with time running out to save their family, in “Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie,” an adventure comedy complete with over 350 special effects, premiering FRIDAY, AUGUST 28 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) as part of the Disney Channel Original Movie franchise.
Filmed in San Juan Puerto Rico, the movie stars Selena Gomez, David Henrie, Jake T. Austin, Jennifer Stone, Maria Canals-Barrera and David DeLuise in the roles they made popular in the hit series “Wizards of Waverly Place.”
In anticipation of the movie, www.DisneyChannel.com will present an exciting two-part game, “Journey to the Cave of Darkness” and “Quest for the Stone of Dreams.” Users can also upload their own photo to become part of the Russo family vacation snapshot, as well as explore and collect hidden objects and unlock bonus behind-the-scenes footage from the movie.
In the week leading up to the movie premiere, Selena Gomez, David Henrie, Jake T. Austin and Jennifer Stone will introduce their favorite “Wizards of Waverly Place” episodes in a “Wand Picked Wizards” programming event. All 16 episodes will air Friday, August 28. The premiere schedule follows. All times ET/PT: Continue reading…
Disney Celebrates Rare White Rhino Birth in Uganda; Mom Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Uganda’s first white rhino born in 27 years has a family tree with Disney roots. First-time mother Nande, a 10-year-old female white rhino born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, gave birth June 24 to a healthy male calf at the Ziwa Sanctuary in Uganda after a 16-month gestation period. © Disney
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., July 13, 2009 — Uganda’s first white rhino born in 27 years has a family tree with Disney roots.
First-time mother Nande, a 10-year-old female white rhino born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, gave birth June 24 to a healthy male calf at the Ziwa Sanctuary in Uganda after a 16-month gestation period.
