The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF) is providing emergency support to Conservation Solutions (CS) to help translocate more than 60 elephants that are currently living amongst communal farming lands in the district of Mangochi, Lake Malawi. Due to increased competition between humans and elephants for natural resources there has been a dramatic upswing in illegal poaching, poisoning and other efforts to manage the animals.
On the Disney Channel’s Secret Service, Special Agent Oso Assigned Second Season
Disney Channel has ordered a second season of its hit Playhouse Disney animated series, “Special Agent Oso,” starring Academy Award nominee Sean Astin. The announcement was made today by Nancy Kanter, senior vice president, Playhouse Disney Worldwide.
The interactive series emphasizes discovery, humor and organizational skills. Paying homage to special agent classics, the series follows Oso, voiced by Astin, a lovable yet bumbling stuffed panda bear who works for U.N.I.Q.U.E. (United Network for Investigating Quite Usual Events), an international organization of stuffed animals charged with helping kids accomplish everyday tasks such as mailing a letter, cleaning their room or learning how to use the library.
‘Sonny With a Chance’ Spawns New Webisode Series, ‘MacKenzieFalls.com’
To visit the MacKenzieFalls.com site, click here
Disney Channel’s hit comedy series “Sonny With A Chance” has inspired a new series of comedic webisodes, “MacKenzieFalls.com,” which explore the fictional tween melodrama and its popular leading man Chad Dylan Cooper (played by actor Sterling Knight), seen each week in “Sonny With A Chance.” A new webisode will premiere every Monday during the summer, beginning MONDAY, JUNE 22, and an exclusive expanded “MacKenzie Falls” will be part of the bonus content on the Disney DVD of “Sonny With A Chance: Sonny’s Big Break,” available August 25.
MacKenzieFalls.com joins two popular digital initiatives: TweenWeekly.com, an online version of the fictional tween magazine featuring stories about the So Random cast, and SoRandom.com, the “official” website for the sketch comedy show depicted in “Sonny With A Chance.”
Change is Not Coming to the Disney Magic in September
D23 is reporting that as of some point in September, guests cruising aboard the Disney Magic will be able to use their Key to the World to purchase laundry detergent as well as washer and dryer services.
Great Marley’s Ghost! A Preview Review of Disney’s A Christmas Carol in 3D (Jim Carrey)
Disney held screenings of a scene from A Christmas Carol in 3D today at select cities nationwide and I was fortunate enough to be able to sit in on one at the 8-story-tall IMAX theater in New York. Best I can tell, this is the same footage that was shown to audiences at Cannes earlier this year.
The scene was that in which Ebenezer Scrooge’s belated business partner, Jacob Marley, pays Scrooge a visit to warn him of the fateful night’s events, in which three ghosts will attempt to right the wrongs of Scrooge’s ways. Instead of the ‘I’d rather not’ response that’s shown in the trailer and also in the film clip we brought you a while back, Scrooge asks if he can have all three at once instead (which probably would make for an interesting take on the classic).
Cast Members’ Encore! Cast Choir and Orchestra to Perform Benefit for United Arts at Epcot July 23-25
Encore! Cast Choir and Orchestra – a volunteer ensemble of nearly 300 talented Disney Cast Members – is currently in rehearsals for their next production, “Revolution! – A Musical Flashback to the 60′s and 70′s.” Known for staging spectacular charity concerts, Encore! has chosen United Arts of Central Florida as the beneficiary of their performances for the second year in a row. United Arts is a collaborative partnership of businesses, government, foundations, arts and cultural organizations, school districts, artists and individuals that work to enhance the quality and variety of cultural experiences available in Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.
First Look: USA Today Peeks Into Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland
Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter © Disney
USA Today reveals some promotional images as well as some amazing stills from the new Tim Burton take on the classic set to be released in 2010 in 3D.
You can check out the images and some more background on the film here.
Magic Kingdom to Begin Offering Reserved Fireworks Viewing with Dessert Buffet June 23
Beginning tomorrow, guests can call 407-WDW-DINE and reserve spots for a new fireworks viewing/dessert reception area located at the Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station. The cost for the event is $17.99 per adult and $9.99 per children (ages 3-9). The event is currently scheduled to run nightly from June 23 through August 28.
‘Play All Day’ Walt Disney World Golf Offer Returns for Weekend of July 4
Golfers are invited to play all day at the Walt Disney World golf courses (except for Oak Trail) from July 3 through July 6 for $59 each day per guest plus tax. Use of an electronic golf cart and pre-round practice balls is included.
To take advantage of this special rate, call 407-939-7415. The first tee time will be able to be reserved in advance while subsequent tee times on the same day will be assigned on a space-available basis. Guests will be able to switch courses after the first tee time if desired.
Mickey Comics Get a BOOM! as Gemstone Gets the Boot
As we reported back in February from the New York Comic-Con’s panel with Disney Publishing Worldwide, Gemstone got a poor reception from the audience who felt that the publishing house wasn’t giving Mickey and pals the comic presence they richly deserved. To the panel’s credit, Disney’s response was fair and ambiguous: as long as the relationship was mutually good, it would stay.
Shortly after that, word that Gemstone was losing the franchise starting to spread and Gemstone published a notice on their website stating that the economy has forced them to make cuts which placed the Disney comics in limbo.
