The St. Petersburg Times is reporting that the opening of Universal Studios Orlando’s newest thrill attraction, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit has been postponed until summer. Reasons for the delay as well as an expected date have not been offered by the theme park at this time. Article here.
Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund Celebrates 14 Years
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., April 22, 2009 — (PR) Over the past 14 years, the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF) has donated nearly $13 million in funding to 750 projects in 110 countries. This year alone, DWCF awarded a $20,000 annual grant to Audubon Florida for the Audubon Eagle Watch in Maitland, FL, $20,000 to The Nature Conservancy at the Disney Wilderness Preserve in Central Florida for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, and contributed more than $450,000 in Rapid Response monies to organizations in need, among others.
Regis Returns for ‘Millionaire’ 10th Anniversary Run in August
Variety is reporting that ABC will celebrate Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’s tenth anniversary by bringing the show back to prime-time with Regis Philbin returning as host. The show will run Sunday through Thursdays from August 9 through August 23 at 8pm.
Disney Cruise Line Salutes Earth Day by Honoring Winners of Disney’s Environmentality Challenge in Grand Cayman
Tasha Miller (front left), a teacher at George Town Primary School in Grand Cayman, along with Disney's Jiminy Cricket, honored Year 6 students from the school in a special awards ceremony aboard the Disney Magic cruise ship as part of Disney's Environmentality Challenge. © Disney
GRAND CAYMAN, (April 21, 2009) – (PR) Disney Cruise Line honored the top prize winners of Disney’s EnvironmentalityTM Challenge (DEC) educational program today in an awards ceremony aboard the Disney Magic cruise ship. Taking place during a weeklong celebration of Earth Day, the event showcased local students’ contributions to promote conservation and protect the environment.
Students honored at the celebration were winners of the 2008-2009 DEC class project competition and are part of teachers Willean Hill and Tasha Miller’s Year 6 class from George Town Primary School on Grand Cayman.
Through their project titled “Environmental Stewardship Programme,” students created an informational brochure with environmental tips, translating it into several languages for distribution to fellow students, local residents and tourists visiting the Cayman Islands. They also organized a beach cleanup to rid the shoreline of debris and litter and created their own George Town Primary environmental blog to keep the community informed of their progress. Throughout the program, the group explored environmental issues by combining classroom subjects such as math, science and language arts in addition to educating and engaging the local community.
First Look: Disneynature’s OCEANS (Opens April 22, 2010)
Attached to EARTH is the teaser trailer for the next release from the Disneynature label, OCEANS. Wait for the last 1/3 or so of the trailer, it gets good!
Walt Disney World Resort Celebrates Earth Day Every Day
Cast Members Party for the Planet © Disney
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., April 21, 2009 — (PR) Since the company’s early days, Disney has been committed to Environmentality, which encompasses the attitude and commitment to do what is right for the environment and right for responsible business.
Building on this legacy, Walt Disney World Resort has intensified efforts to embed environmental stewardship into the decisions and actions of Cast Members and guests through a series of science-based programs and policies. The efforts include effectively managing resources through energy management, water conservation and waste minimization. Some of the work is highlighted in a set of Fun Facts:
New Pirates League Experience Coming to Magic Kingdom in June
Concept art for the new Pirate League experience in Magic Kingdom's Adventureland © Disney
DisneyShawn is reporting that construction under way for a new Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique-type experience will soon be available for boys.
The Pirates League will be located in Adventureland (in the House of Treasure location) and initiates will be given pirate identities, take on their new pirate persona and gain access to a secret treasure rom.
More details to follow.
Radio Disney Presents Exclusive Acoustic Performance by Demi Lovato April 24
Radio Disney treats its listeners to an exclusive acoustic performance by multi-talented recording artist and actress Demi Lovato on FRIDAY, APRIL 24 (5:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. PT).
Lovato performs from Radio Disney’s state of the art network studio, the setting for performances by some of the hottest recording artists on the Radio Disney play list, and is interviewed by Radio Disney’s “Ernie D” about her upcoming 43-city headlining concert tour, her hit Disney Channel series “Sonny With a Chance” and her upcoming Disney Channel Original Movie “Princess Protection Program.” Exclusive photos, video and audio will be available at RadioDisney.com.
Additional Details on Captain Rockhopper’s Appearance at WDW (and He’s not Alone)
Thanks to a tweet from disneyshawn, we understand that Captain Rockhopper will appear across from the Backlot Tour beginning April 30. Even bigger, Shawn reports that Rockhopper will be accompanied by another penguin he calls Blue (as pictured in our original report here).
Current meet & greet times are scheduled for 9:30a, 10:30a, 11:30a, 12:30p, 2:30p, 3:30p and 4:30p.
The Little Mermaid Musical to Offer Performance at Book Signing Appearance in NYC
Cast members from Disney Theatrical’s The Little Mermaid will offer a discussion and performance at the Lincoln Triangle Barnes and Noble (1972 Broadway) in New York City on May 7 at 4 pm. The appearance also features a book signing by Michael Lassell, author of the behind-the-scenes book ‘Little Mermaid: From the Deep Blue Sea to the Great White Way.’
