In a photo taken June 4, 2009, members of the pop group “No Doubt” (L-R): singer Gwen Stefani, bass player Tony Kanal and guitarist Tom Dumont, pose with Goofy at the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The group was taking a break from their current concert tour to enjoy a day at the Walt Disney World Resort theme park. (Diana Zalucky, photographer)
Disney/Pixar’s UP Featured on Newest Disney Gift Card Design, Now in Limited Release
In commemoration of the newest release from Disney/Pixar, the Disney Gift Card is now available in a special design featuring the film’s stars. In limited release, this gift card is available only at the ticket booths at Walt Disney World’s Epcot and the Disneyland Resort.
For more information on the Disney Gift Card, visit its official website here.
Source: Disney Gift Card
Disney and the NBA Team Up to Offer Mickey & Friends Tees Inspired by the 2009 NBA Finals
June 5, 2009 – Glendale, CA – Disney Consumer Products (DCP) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced an all new line of t-shirts from the NBA celebrating the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers as they head for Game 2 of the NBA Finals. The Magic and Lakers share their hometowns with Disney’s two U.S. theme parks, Disneyland Resort® and Walt Disney World Resort®, and will be showcasing the most iconic of Disney characters, Mickey Mouse, as this new line designed for boys and men takes Mickey and friends Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto courtside. With character-themed styles that incorporate the Magic and Lakers colors and logos, as well as the NBA Finals trophy, this line is fun and fashionable for all ages. The collection also includes iconic pieces using Mickey silhouettes, giving Magic and Lakers fans alike the chance to go coast to coast in Disney style.
On the Set of Sorcerer’s Apprentice with Alfred Molina and Toby Kebbell (Report and Photo Gallery)
I spent most of last night on the set of the new Jerry Bruckheimer movie, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice starring Nicolas Cage, et al. The film is based on the poem/Fantasia segment of the same name — Cage is the Sorcerer (not named Yensid) and Alfred Molina portrays Horvath, Cage’s nemesis and fellow sorcerer. In the film, Horvath picks up a sidekick in the form of professional illusionist Drake Stone (Toby Kebbell).
The evening started off watching some of the vehicles being prepped for the evening’s filming.To start with, 2 of the 4 lanes along Sixth Avenue were closed off for about 10 blocks.
Micro-spoiler: It appears Horvath, most likely while being persued, plays a neat little trick and turns all of the New York City taxis into clones of the one he’s in. As you’ll see in the photos, there were about 20 taxis that were all re-numbered to cab number 8B42, right down to the medallion on the hood.
First, they filmed Molina and Kebbell in their taxi, becoming engulfed in taxi clones. They did this a few times (the crew had a habit of forgetting to remove the orange cones that were placed in the street to mark off the road — once, there was just a single cone left behind). This was followed by shooting another rigged taxi clone from behind, chasing it with the camera.
After a break courtesy of craft services, Molina and Kebbell were back to work, this time in a silver Mercedes SUV. By now, *all* of Sixth Avenue was closed off for the production. They did at least a couple of takes (someone forgot to remove cones the first time around) and after 6 hours of being on set, I decided to call it quits for the night. The only other thing I can offer was that they rigged up a sanitation garbage truck to film whoever was ‘driving’ it — they brought in the cab of a semi to pull it.
See the photos after the jump. Continue reading…
Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund Announces Grants for 67 Conservation Projects Worldwide
Burbank, Calif, June 4, 2009 – In celebration of World Environment Day, Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF) today announced the funding of programs that will support more than 90 species and promote habitat conservation in 33 countries. The 2009 DWCF grant recipients will receive almost $1.5 million for efforts ranging from protecting Pakistan’s majestic Snow Leopards, to following the migration of Magellanic penguins in Argentina to reintroducing endangered Whooping Cranes in eastern North America.
“Creating a positive ecosystem impact is a key goal of The Walt Disney Company. The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund is a natural extension of that philosophy, enabling leading environmental organizations and scientists to address some of the most critical issues facing animals and ecosystems around the world. We applaud these deserving recipients and are pleased to play a part in their efforts,” said Dr. Beth Stevens, senior vice president, environmental affairs, The Walt Disney Company.
Now in its fourteenth year, the DWCF, through support from The Walt Disney Company and Disney Guests, has contributed more than $14 million to conservation projects for the study and protection of the world’s wildlife and habitats.
Disney Partners with Vudu to Allow Consumers to Purchase Over 60 Downloadable Hi-Def Disney Films
SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 4 — VUDU, Inc., a leading provider of digital on-demand entertainment products and services, today announced that the VUDU service is the first to offer titles from Buena Vista Home Entertainment for download-to-own in high definition. Beginning today, VUDU users can select from a collection of over 60 titles featuring recent hits, such as Doubt and High School Musical 3, as well as past favorites, such as No Country for Old Men, The Sixth Sense and National Treasure. The selection of movies available to own in HD on VUDU will continue to expand as new titles are made available.
Disney Interactive Studio Announces The Princess and the Frog Video Game for Nintendo Wii and DS
LOS ANGELES — Disney Interactive Studios today announced The Princess and the Frog video game, a new game title inspired by the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures animated comedy adventure film, “The Princess and the Frog.” Scheduled for release this fall exclusively for Wii™ and Nintendo DS™, The Princess and the Frog video game features favorite moments from the film and new challenges for Tiana, the story’s main character.
Unveiled at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, The Princess and the Frog video game takes players on an exciting journey through New Orleans with characters from the film, including Tiana, Prince Naveen, Dr. Facilier, Ray, Mama Odie, and many others. Reminiscent of classics like “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Lion King” and “Aladdin,” the feature film marks the return to the magic of the Disney musical. The video game brings the magic to life on Wii™ and DS™.
Star Wars Weekends Map and Schedule for Week #3 (June 5 – 7) Now Available
This weekend’s guests include Jeremy Bulloch, David Prowse and Matt Lanter in addition to hosts Jay Laga’aia and Ashley Eckstein.
D23 Exclusive Gus Pin Available Friday June 5
The D23 members-only pin featuring Gus in Cinderella’s slipper will be available online beginning Friday, June 5 at Boutique 23.
Source: D23
Magic Kingdom’s Space Mountain Queue May Get a Touch of Soarin’
Earlier today, Orlando Sentinel reporter Jason Garcia noted on his twitter that Disney has filed for a new construction permit for an “interactive queue A/V package,” presumably for Space Mountain.
A source not directly connected to the project has confirmed to us that indeed, the same team that introduced the interactive game in the standby queue of Epcot’s Soarin’ is tackling this new project. Details have not been made available, so it could very well end up being nothing like Soarin’s time-killer, but just some dehydrated food for thought.
