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A Chat with ‘African Cats’ Co-Director Alastair Fothergill

April 21, 2011

A Chat with 'African Cats' Co-Director Alastair Fothergill

In cooperation with Chip and Company and Sorcerer Radio I was able to have a one-on-one interview with Alastair Fothergill, co-director of Disneynature’s new film African Cats. Alastair is no stranger to wildlife documentaries having produced many award winning programs for television and film such as The Blue Planet (2001) and Planet Earth (2006). He was awarded the “Clean Energy Award” by BMW during the Cinema for Peace award ceremony in 2008. That same year, he signed a multi-picture deal with Disneynature, and now spends six months each year on sabbatical from the BBC developing feature documentaries as an independent producer.

Aljon Go: What was it like filming in Kenya?

Alastair Fothergill: I was a co-director with Keith Scholey and we spent three years filming at the Masai Mara National Reserve. We chose it since we’ve been working there for over 10 years, for television initially. We know these cats really well, like our family almost. We wanted to tell a very dynamic and dramatic story and that’s why we went there. We knew some exciting stories would play out – and they did.

Aljon Go: You were able to assign each cat with a name and their personality shown through out the picture. What was it like carving out story lines for them?

Alastair Fothergill: With the cheetah it was relatively straight forward because at the very beginning of the filming we found a cheetah we knew. She had five tiny cubs. We knew that cheetahs struggle to bring up their cubs. We expected there to be interactions with hyenas and there were a lot of things we didn’t expect to happen. With the lions it was a different decision. There were a lot of different prides in the Masai Mara. “Fang” the old lion with the broken tooth was getting older and we believed if we kept filming something would happen. We also knew about “Carlie” and her son from the other side of the river. We thought that he wouldn’t cross the river, but he did. We thought there would be some type of take over when that happened. We also chose “Layla”, the mother, who was an old lioness from the same pride. She was limping when we found her and she had one easily recognizable cub. We thought there would be a chance that “Layla” would have some trouble during filming, which played out. So we carefully developed characters to develop a strong story. We wrote a proper movie script, something that Disney wanted, however we reminded them to keep in mind that these animals are not “direct-able” but in the end we got what we wanted which was a pretty emotionally engaging storyline.

Aljon Go: You are no stranger capturing nature and wildlife for television and film. Was type of difficulties did you have during the filming?

Alastair Fothergill: I think the initial decision about which characters to go with was a hard decision. There was a pretty high risk that the cheetah would have lost all of her cubs, which would have been a hard thing for us to deal with because Disney films have to have a happy ending. Once we had chosen the characters it was then an issue of – was it going to work out and patience for our camera team. Lions do almost nothing 90 percent of the time and yet moments like when “Carlie” came over with her sons and beat up “Fang” and the pride took half an hour in three years of filming. If we had lost that half an hour we would have lost an important piece of our story. So a lot of patience was the most principal challenge.

A Chat with 'African Cats' Co-Director Alastair Fothergill

We wrote a proper movie script, something that Disney wanted, however we reminded them to keep in mind that these animals are not “direct-able” but in the end we got what we wanted which was a pretty emotionally engaging storyline. – Alastair Fothergill

Aljon Go: You had a great team working with you in order to build drama in your film, composer Nicholas Cooper as well as the voice talents of Samuel L. Jackson. What was is like working with them?

Alastair Fothergill: We had a massive team working on it. The soundtrack is a very important part of a nature film. We recorded a lot of sound for the film on location. Nicholas Cooper, the composer, started out in wildlife and has done two scores for Harry Potter. We were very delighted to have him. Of course Samuel L. Jackson, were very pleased with him. We knew he was a tough guy, but he did the soft side very beautifully as well. In fact we had to hold him back a bit. The film is more about mothers that nit is about male lions. We were very pleased with his narration and have gotten a great response from his work in the movie.

Aljon Go: What is like working with co-producer Keith Scholey?

Alastair Fothergill: Keith and I are very old friends. We started working 25 years ago in the BBC and we pretty much grew up together. I very much enjoyed working with him. He grew up in East Africa and his knowledge there was an important part of the film. I was more involved in the later stages in the cutting room. I really enjoy working together with him.

Aljon Go: What are you working on currently?

Alastair Fothergill: I’m working simultaneously on the next Disneynature film called Chimpanzees which is slated for next year. Chimpanzzes are our closest relatives. We share 99% of the same genes. You look into the eyes of a chimpanzee and it has more meaning in that look than anything else. We’ve got a great emotionally engaging story there with a different, more claustrophobic location. Cats has more action, however this film is more like a domestic comedy. Disneynature wants to have a film come out every year and I think it’s important that the experiences are very different.

A Chat with 'African Cats' Co-Director Alastair Fothergill

An epic true story set against the backdrop of one of the wildest places on Earth, “African Cats” captures the real-life love, humor and determination of the majestic kings of the savanna. Narrated by Oscar®-nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson, the story features Mara, an endearing lion cub who strives to grow up with her mother’s strength, spirit and wisdom; Sita, a fearless cheetah and single mother of five mischievous newborns; and Fang, a proud leader of the pride who must defend his family from a rival lion and his sons. Disneynature brings “The Lion King” to life on the big screen in this True Life Adventure directed by Keith Scholey and Alastair Fothergill (“Earth”). An awe-inspiring adventure blending family bonds with the power and cunning of the wild, “African Cats” leaps into theatres on Earth Day, April 22, 2011.

Hear Aljon’s interview with Alastair Fothergill on Sorcerer Radio’s WDW Tiki Room show on Earth Day, Friday April 22 at around 8:00 a.m./eastern time on SRSounds.com! The show will also be available immediately after airing on-demand on the WDW Tiki Room show page on SRSounds.com HERE.

Like Disneynature on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/Disneynature

By becoming a fan of Disneynature on Facebook, participants have the ability to interact with “African Cats” content daily. Furthermore, liking, commenting on and sharing the content with friends spreads the viral reach of the film’s message and philanthropic mission exponentially.

Pledge to see “African Cats” on Eventful:

http://eventful.com/africancats

Fans pledge to see “African Cats” opening week by logging onto http://eventful.com/africancats. Participants can watch how honoring that pledge can effectively save the savanna. A real-time counter will show how many people have participated, and there will also be a graphical map representing the number of acres across the savanna that are being conserved based upon the number of pledges received. Upon arriving at the theater, fans can check in via their mobile device to win special prizes.

Join the “African Cats” grassroots community and donate to the African Wildlife Foundation on Causes:

http://www.causes.com/africancats

Fans can join the “African Cats” grassroots community on Causes by signing the pledge to help Africa’s lions and other imperiled wildlife survive and thrive for generations to come. Additionally, users are given the opportunity to enhance Disneynature’s commitment by donating directly to the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) via the platform.

Buy tickets through Disney Tickets Together, invite friends and Disneynature will double its donation:

http://www.DisneyTicketsTogether.com

Disney Tickets Together, Facebook’s first social ticketing application, allows fans to engage with the film by inviting friends to see “African Cats” and purchase tickets for local theaters without ever leaving Facebook. For all “African Cats” events created in Tickets Together, Disney will increase the donation to the Save the Savanna fund for every “Yes” RSVP that the events receive. The application launches during the week of April 18.

“African Cats,” which will be released in theaters worldwide, opens in North America on April 22, 2011. Tickets for groups of 20 or more are available in the United States by calling 1-888-DISNEY6.

A Chat with 'African Cats' Co-Director Alastair Fothergill

Pixar’s 25th Anniversary Weekend Celebration

Chip

April 21, 2011

The 18th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will celebrate all-things Pixar, including the upcoming release of “Cars 2,” during Pixar’s 25th Anniversary Weekend May 13-15 at Epcot.

Mater from “Cars” and “Cars 2” leads the celebration, which will include special Pixar character meet and greets, kids activities, informational discussions by Pixar filmmakers and more.

World Showplace (located between the Canada and United Kingdom pavilions), will serve as the celebration headquarters. Inside, families can enjoy meet and greets with characters from “The Incredibles,” “Toy Story 3,” “Monsters, Inc.” and “Up,” or browse a photo gallery that calls out some of Pixar’s best Easter eggs from past films. There also will be an art gallery that displays the creative work that went in to Pixar films.

World Showplace also will be the setting for informational discussions by Pixar filmmakers: Composer Michael Giacchino, Producer Jonas Rivera and “Cars” Franchise Guardian Jay Ward (pictured above). Discussions will take place May 14-15 (times are still TBD).

And the Pixar fun will continue throughout World Showcase, where characters from “Toy Story,” “Ratatouille” and “A Bug’s Life” wait to greet guests. Kids also can play the “Cars 2” Race Around the World Showcase game by picking up a booklet with clues that send them on a journey to specific World Showcase pavilions, where they’ll receive more clues, and receive a reward at the end. (All entertainment is subject to change).

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Honors Pixar May 13-15 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog

Character Dining at Walt Disney World, Part One

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

April 21, 2011

Character Dining at Walt Disney World, Part One — Tigger, Sophie and Stephanie at The Crystal Palace

One of my favorite things to do when we visit Walt Disney World is to meet our favorite characters. Previously, I talked about where you can find your characters at the various meet and greet locations throughout the parks, but for today, I would like to talk with you about all of the different character dining locations and who you can meet there.

For my family, there is nothing better for us than having a nice sit-down dinner at a character meal. We get the best of both worlds – a wonderful meal, a relaxing break from the heat of the Florida summer, and some great quality time with our favorite characters.

This is definitely not a new topic of discussion on Chip & Company. My friend Lisa did a wonderful piece that talked about character dining and whether or not it was worth the price back in June of 2010. If you haven’t read it, take a look at it for some great information.

For those of us that have decided to make reservations for character meals, here is a rundown of whom you can see and what kind of food you will get. There is a lot of information to share here, so I am breaking it into two parts. Part one today will look at character dining at the parks.

Magic Kingdom

Cinderella Royal Table

Located at Cinderella Castle, this character dining location is considered one of the best, and also one of the hardest, dining locations on property. Cinderella herself will meet guests in the lobby before you are taken up into the Castle for your meal. Included in the price of your meal is a special photo session for your party with Cinderella. You will receive the prints before you finish eating. The meal will consist of such things as prime rib, duck, salmon, and other dishes for lunch and dinner, and for breakfast you will get a family-style breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, waffles, and so forth.

The Crystal Palace

The Crystal Palace is the home of Winnie the Pooh, Tigger too, Piglet, and Eeyore, and is a fan favorite of ours. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served here, and the meal consists of a “buffet with character”. If you love Winnie the Pooh, this dining location is for you!

Epcot

Princess Storybook Dining

Located at the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Norway, the Princess Storybook Dining character meal is my favorite dining location at Walt Disney World. Guests are met by Belle for a picture meet and greet, which is included in your meal cost, and as you eat, further visits are made by Princesses Aurora and Jasmine, Snow White, and Cinderella (the actual princesses varies sometimes). The food consists of a cold cut, cheese, and salad buffet followed by a menu driven main entrée with desert.

The Garden Grill Restaurant

The Garden Grill Restaurant is another of our favorites. Located over in the Land pavilion, the Garden Grill combines a unique combination of location with some really great food, some of which is developed right in the pavilion. The Garden Grill location rotates slowly as you eat, so you are able to experience part of the Land Boat ride. The food is served family style, and includes selections of turkey, fish, and beef dishes, along with special side dishes, and you are also greeted by Mickey Mouse in his farmer gear, Pluto, and Chip & Dale.

Hollywood Studios

Hollywood & Vine

Character dining exists at the Hollywood & Vine restaurant for breakfast and lunch. We have eaten here for breakfast once, the food was a typical buffet breakfast found at Disney World – Mickey waffles, bacon, eggs, sausage, etc. When we ate there, the characters were June and Leo from Little Einstein, and JoJo and Goliath from JoJo’s Circus. In today’s take on the Hollywood & Vine, Handy Manny and Special Agent Oso have replaced JoJo and Goliath.

Animal Kingdom

Donald’s Safari Breakfast at Tusker House

The only character dining location at Animal Kingdom, Tusker House serves as the setting for Donald’s Safari Breakfast, featuring Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Mickey Mouse, and Goofy. The only time they have the characters at the restaurant is at breakfast, so plan accordingly. The food is your standard breakfast buffet food.

This concludes our look at the character dining locations at the Walt Disney World Parks. We’ll have part two of the series, where we look at the Resorts, tomorrow.

Adventures by Disney Offers $300 Savings on North American Itineraries

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

April 21, 2011

If you have traveled the “world” visited “the land” and have sailed the seas with the mouse, don’t be dismayed; your Disney adventures have not come to an end!

Adventures by Disney offers adventures on six different continents, some of the most beloved right here in the United States. From coast to coast there are itineraries for everyone; naturalists, historians, and wanna be cowboys. For a limited time (booking window April 19, 2011 through May 25, 2011) save $300 on select North American Adventures.

Travel between June 14, 2011 and September 24, 2011 and you will receive $300 on the following itineraries:

Quest for the West (Wyoming)
Southwest Adventures (Arizona and Utah)
Rocky Trails and Mountie Tales (Montana and Alberta-Canada)
Spirit of America-Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, Virginia
Taming the Last Frontier (Alaska)

If you know about the existence of Adventures by Disney, chances are you have gasped at the price. Perhaps this incentive offer has made you look twice, or maybe you’re still asking yourself “why explore America with Adventures by Disney?”

Let’s get to business and talk about the big deterrent: the price! You may gasp when you look at the rate, and gasp again when you see it says “per person”. These rates may seem exceptionally high for your average family vacation but an Adventures by Disney experience is NOT your average family vacation!

Adventures by Disney offers you an all inclusive, immersive vacation experience with all the magical extras you expect (and some surprises too!) These packages offer you VIP experiences such as: privately guided backstage tours and special performances and walk you to the front of the lines at museums and popular attractions. You will be immersed in culture as local experts guide you through destination specific activities that offer something for everyone. See all the sights without any of the hassle (including the boredom of your children!) Adventures by Disney offers you unique and exquisite accommodations, adults only dining experiences (with wine tasting), dinner or movie night (for the kids), most meals during your stay and all taxes and gratuities.

Disney makes your Adventure hassle free and takes care of everything starting with transportation from the airport at the beginning of your adventure. The service continues with all ground transfers, transportation needs and luggage services included in the price (taxes are included!). Concierge services are available to help you schedule your free time and answer any questions you may have.

Let’s take a closer look at the adventures you can take advantage of with this special offer.
Quest for the West takes you to Wyoming where you’ll visit Jackson, Yellowstone National Park, and Grand Teton National Park. Adventures in this itinerary include whitewater rafting down snake-river, a tour of Yellowstone National Park, Horseback riding, a visit to a Geyser and accommodations at a working dude ranch where you’ll learn to rope and ride from a real cowboy!

Southwest Splendors-This 8-day, 7-night adventure takes you to Sedona, Grand Canyon National Park and Moab. A Jeep tour takes you through the canyons, into the back country and to aNative Animal Presentation where you’ll get up close with “live desert critters”. Visit one of the seven wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon, with a private guide as well as some free time to explore on your own with your family.

Rocky Mountain Trails and Mountie Tales-Spend 8 days and 7 nights exploring Montana and Alberta, Canada. Learn to paint a landscape with the Rocky Mountains as your inspiration, horseback ride through the Sundance Canyon Trail (or take a Conestogo wagon). Canoe through a Canadian icon, the Valley of Ten Peaks and White Water Raft on Flathead river. This adventure is full of outdoor activities, scenic landscapes and water filled adventures!

The Spirit of America is an 8 day/7-night historical adventure through Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Williamsburg. This itinerary includes accommodations at 3 different locations: Hyatt Regency at Penn’s Landing, the Mayflower (A Renaissance Hotel) and Great Wolf Lodge. “Time travel” through Colonial Williamsburg and explore the living museum, then board a trolley for a privately guided tour of Philadelphia and visit the Liberty Bell. The trolley won’t be your only set of “wheels”, your two bicycle wheels will take you around the National Mall in Washington D.C. and includes a visit to the Lincoln Memorial and the White House. Your adventure continues at Great Wolf Lodge, where you can cool off and splash around at the indoor water-park. Enjoy a traditional Colonial meal at the Mount Vernon Inn, served by staff in period attire.

Taming the Last Frontier: If you long to see Alaska but a cruise isn’t your style, you are not out of Disney options! Try an 8-day, 7-night trip to Fairbanks, Denali National Park & Reserve and the Kenai Peninsula. For those interested in engineering, you will view one of the largest pipeline systems in the world. If you enjoy animals, you’ll enjoy the behind the scenes interaction with Alaska’s famous dog sled race. Pan for gold, learn to track wolves during a hike in Denali National Park, take a cruise through Kenji Fjords National Park and visit the Alaska SeaLife Center where the wildlife will entertain you during dinner. See how Alaska is conserving wildlife when you visit the Wildlife Conservation Center. Even your last day is full of adventure and includes a railroad journey and a rafting excursion.

If you are interested in these, or any other Adventures by Disney itineraries contact your Disney travel agent for information and pricing, don’t forget reservations must be made by May 25, 2011 to qualify for the $300 savings!
E-mail [email protected] for your free quote, for more information or with any questions you may have…your adventure awaits!

Adventures by Disney Offers $300 Savings on North American Itineraries

Breaking News: The British Invasion to end Epcot run April 30

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

April 21, 2011

Breaking News: The British Invasion to end Epcot run April 30 — The British Invasion, Beatles tribute band, at Epcot. D.K. Peterson

Yesterday, The British Invasion confirmed the band will have its last regularly scheduled performance at the United Kingdom pavilion in Epcot on April 30.

The British Invasion is a Beatles tribute band that has regularly played at the U.K. pavilion for more than 15 years, with a variety of performers playing the Fab Four. In addition to Beatles songs such as “A Hard Day’s Night” and “Can’t Buy Me Love,” The British Invasion also performs other English songs of the 1960s, ‘70s and ’80s.

The British Invasion posted this message on its Facebook fan page:

To Our Fans.
First thanks to all the fans of the British Invasion for all their support over the years!! It has been an honor to perform for you and Disney all these years!

We have given our notice to Disney Talent and Casting that we wouldn’t be playing after April 30th some time ago. We will be back to play at Disney from time to time and you will find those future dates posted on the British Invasion Facebook page!! Stay tuned for a British Invasion fan appreciation party in May and details of our first concert appearance in downtown Orlando on May 14th.

Sincerely,
The British Invasion 2011

In a separate response posted to Illuminating Epcot, Shawn of The British Invasion confirmed that the band decided to leave the Epcot gig due to Disney’s “new policy and contract changes.” The band will focus more on corporate venues and the concerts

The British Invasion currently plays a 20-minute set several times daily. Their last show on April 30 is scheduled for 8 p.m.

There has been no confirmation as to what entertainment, if any, will replace The British Invasion in Epcot.

Marvel characters going to Disneyland

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

April 21, 2011

President of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige, was interviewed in the upcoming copy of “D23: The Official Disney Fan Club” quarterly magazine and talks about what he hopes to someday see at Disneyland,

“It’s the biggest dream of all. We get to tap into this spectacular team that is better than anyone else on the planet at bringing fantasy to life, not only on the big screen but in the real world.”

“The notion of walking into a theme park and going into Asgard or the X-Mansion—Disney does this better than anyone. That is why I’ve gone to Disney parks multiple times every year for my whole life. It’s that next step in fully immersive storytelling, whether it’s a dark ride, a stunt show, or a thrill ride. The options are endless when it comes to how Imagineers can turn our characters, our adventures, and our films into amazing experiences.”

Walt Disney World is off limits, due to the contract agreements with Universal Studios Florida at the time of the merge. No announcements have been made by Disney on their plans for the characters or any new attractions as this time.

Registration Now Open: Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend at the Disneyland Resort (chipandco.com)

Earn African Cats Stickers On GetGlue – Save the Savanna!

Chip

April 20, 2011

Earth Day is just few days away! Now you can now earn African Cats stickers on GetGlue! African Cats is currently the #1 movie on GetGlue, and Disneynature will contribute $0.20 per ticket to the African Wildlife Foundation for tickets sold during the opening week.

Just click the links below to get yours.

http://getglue.com/stickers/african_cats_coming_soon

http://getglue.com/stickers/groups?group=African+Cats

http://getglue.com/apps/disneynature

Win a pair of African Cats books: Sita the Cheetah & A Lion’s Pride! (chipandco.com)

Earn African Cats Stickers On GetGlue - Save the Savanna!

Ashley Eckstein Answers Your Clone Wars Questions!

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

April 20, 2011

Ashley Eckstein Answers Your Clone Wars Questions! — Ashley Eckstein- Star Wars: The Clone Wars' Ahsoka Tano

Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 3 has run its course and was one of the most controversial and entertaining seasons of the series to date! That said, while we faithful fans of the Force await season 4, the ever popular Ashley Eckstein graces the internet with a “Q&A” about her thoughts on this past season. Take a look!

For more about Ashley, Her Universe and her upcoming appearances at Star Wars Weekends and more please visit HerUniverse.com!

Hear more about former Walt Disney World cast member, Disney Channel star and Jedi Padiwan Ashely Eckstein in an interview conducted by myself and WDW Tiki Room co-host Kristen Hoetzel did for Sorcerer Radio HERE!

Chip and Co Featured Partner – Cooking with Mickey

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

April 20, 2011

Chip and Co Featured Partner - Cooking with Mickey

Walt Disney said “…it was all started by a mouse.” and for me it all started with the love Disney and the great man who started not with mouse, as he says; but with a rabbit and big dreams and for me Sorcerer Radio.

In February 2008 I made my first Cooking with Mickey video for Ratatouille, the recipe that you see in Disney/Pixar’s movie, Ratatouille. It became a hit with the Sorcerer Radio Community (where I am now a DJ for two radio shows and a host on WDW After Dark – featuring “The Disney Drink Special”) and I decided to make more. As a Disney fan, food is the one thing that everyone has in common! You must eat to live and most people enjoy eating, especially Disney food since there is such a variety of restaurants to choose from and something for everyone. Since the videos were well received, I had restaurant experience, I had been taking cooking lessons at Viking Cooking School and wanted to share more than videos; I decided to create CookingwithMickey.info. A site where you could not only find my videos that are hosted on YouTube, but you could find other Disney dining information there are well; like Disney dining reviews, recipes, news and even trip reports. I also wanted to share more than just Disney food; so I added cooking and travel tips, personal recipes and travel information.

Starting this year I decided to add contributors to Cooking with Mickey. On each Monday I post a new article from my contributors. The first Monday is “ADD (Average Disney Dude) Top 5” by Aljon Go (who as you know also contributes to Chip and Co.) sharing his top 5 from the perspective of your everyday average Joe. On the second Monday is “Little Chef Disney Creations” by Beth Doda. She is a mom of 3 little ones and creates Disney-inspired dishes with them at home. She has been so kind as to share those creations with my viewers. The third Monday is a collaborative effort between J.B. Conway, better known as Mouse of Zen and John Knell of Knell Studios on “Edible Prose”. They work together using my restaurant photographs to create haiku set to amazing graphic artistry. Last, but not least, on the fourth Monday is Natalie Henley (a recent addition to the Chip and Co. writing team) with “Disney Magic and Kids”, sharing everything from funny stories of dining out with her adorable son to tips on ways to keep kids occupied while dining in what seems to be less-than-entertaining-to-kids restaurants.

So whether you are looking for the recipe for the Konk Cooler found at Castaway Cay, the video on how to make Le Cellier’s Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup, tips on storing lettuce so it lasts longer, D23 news or Disney vacation travel deals… Cooking with Mickey has it all. I hope you will stop by to check out the site, “Follow” me on Twitter, “Like” the Facebook page and “Subscribe” to my YouTube channel.

In the words of Wolfgang Puck “Live, Love, Eat”!

Kristen, creator of CookingwithMickey.info, is a foodie who has traveled extensively & dined at 80% of the Walt Disney World TS restaurants; including the Five Diamond Award winning restaurant Victoria and Albert’s & the members-only exclusive Club 33. She’s host of Cooking with Mickey videos, DJ for Sorcerer Radio, host of The Disney Foodie on the Character Breakfast, travel specialist & writer. She also enjoys photography & hockey. She’s a huge fan of the Nashville Predators, so much so she has season tickets. You can follow her on Twitter @CookingwMickey & CookingWithMickey on Facebook.

Meet the New Contributors to Cooking with Mickey (cookingwithmickey.blogspot.com)

Chip and Co Featured Partner - Cooking with Mickey

C-3PO Pilots Star Tours 2 – I Have a Good Feeling About This!

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

April 20, 2011

More details on the re-tooled Star Tours: The Adventures Continue attraction have surfaced today. The cue line seems to stay true to the original attraction. The legendary duo of R2-D2 and C-3PO greet travelers at the busy spaceport while a Starspeeder 1000 prepares for flight. According to the Disney press release, Anthony Daniels, the voice of C-3PO and the only actor to appear in every theatrical chapter of the Star Wars Saga, reprises his role as the golden protocol droid. Daniels worked with Walt Disney Imagineering to record new dialogue for the attraction. From there, riders will take off to one of many destinations the ice planet Hoth, Wookie homeworld Kashyyyk, the lush world of Naboo or the desert planet of Tatooine .

Passengers will be completely immersed in the Star Wars universe with the new flight simulator sequences, classic Star Wars film score by John Williams and the 3D special effects done by Walt Disney Imagineering, Lucasfilm and Industrial Light and Magic. Also new is the fact that riders will be able to experience one of 50 different story combinations while running into such characters as Boba Fett the bounty hunter, Jedi Master Yoda, Princess Leia, Skytroopers, Admiral Ackbar, and the evil Darth Vader.

The new 3-D attraction is set to open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park on May 20, 2011 and at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Calif., on June 3, 2011.

Club Penguin and its players celebrate Earth Day

Chip

April 20, 2011

Fans of Club Penguin can learn how to protect their planet and show support for all its citizens this Earth Day just by playing in the snow-covered virtual world.

As part of its ongoing commitment to creating safe places around the world and protecting the earth, Disney Online Studios, which produces Club Penguin, is donating an additional $100,000 of its annual multi-million dollar giving budget to conserve wetlands and protect endangered species. For its annual Earth Day party, Club Penguin will also launch a series of new activities designed to educate and empower its players to help protect the earth and the living creatures that call it home.

From April 20 through 27, 2011 members can use the virtual coins they earn playing games on Club Penguin to purchase Earth Day-themed costumes for their penguin avatars. Players will also be able to visit areas of the virtual world that have been redesigned to look like the natural habitat of some endangered species, and learn more about those species and what threatens their survival.

“Children have such an innate curiosity, and a desire to protect the planet and all its citizens, and we think this is a great way to educate them and encourage them to take action in their own way,” says Lane Merrifield, one of Club Penguin’s co-founders and executive vice president of Disney Online Studios.

Club Penguin is one of the largest virtual worlds for children with a reputation for providing fun for kids and peace of mind for parents. Millions of children and families in nearly every country in the world play Club Penguin in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. Club Penguin uses word filters and live moderators to monitor chat and activity on the site and work to prevent the sharing of inappropriate or personally identifiable information.

The Earth Day party is just one example of Club Penguin’s ongoing efforts to empower its players to help change the world. A portion of the organization’s net profits supports organizations working to improve the lives of children and families around the globe. Each December, the Coins For Change online giving campaign lets players vote on where some of those donations will go.

In recent years, the kids who play Club Penguin have helped more than two million people get medical care, enabled 200,000 children to go to school and helped protect more than a dozen endangered species and their habitats. In addition, last fall, players submitted their drawings for the opportunity to have their art featured in a mural on the wall of a school in Haiti that donations from Disney Online Studios and Club Penguin helped rebuild.

“From dressing up and role playing during the Earth Day party to sharing their ideas on how to help those affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, our players never cease to amaze us with their passion for changing the world, and we really want to nurture that passion,” says Merrifield.

The $100,000 donation this Earth Day will support:

Projects to preserve wetland habitat and reduce overfishing in China – conducted by RARE

Projects to conserve and protect the African Painted Dog and the Snow Leopard – conducted through the Wildlife Conservation Network

Club Penguin and its players celebrate Earth Day

Gathering and ‘Tweet up’ of Princess Proportions on Tap on ‘Royal Wedding Day’ at Walt Disney World Resort

Chip

April 20, 2011

In celebration of the long-awaited Royal Wedding, Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons will host its first-ever “Tweet Up” and a viewing party on April 29, 2011, from 4-8 a.m. at Disney’s Wedding Pavilion at Walt Disney World Resort.

The first 250 people who responded to a “tweet up” invitation have already secured their seats in Disney’s Wedding Pavilion.

“Everyone remembers where they watched the last royal wedding,” said Korri McFann, marketing director, Disney’s Fairytale Weddings & Honeymoons. “April 29 is another royal occasion and we are thrilled to offer such a special viewing to help create lasting memories for moms, daughters, families and friends.”

Guests are invited to dress up in “princess or prince attire” — or come in their pj’s — for the early-hour gathering to watch, via live television, the royal couple tie the knot. Deemed as the biggest royal wedding since Princess Diana and Prince Charles, the exchange of vows between Kate Middleton and Prince William will take place at Westminster Abbey with the Archbishop of Canterbury officiating.

In addition to the viewing, the occasion at Disney’s Wedding Pavilion will include:

An English-inspired breakfast will be served to honor the occasion.
Cinderella’s Coach, which was crafted by Bennington Carriages — coach maker for the British Monarchy — will be available as a backdrop for pictures.
Newly-released Disney Fairy Tale Weddings Jewels and tiaras, as well as Disney Princess-inspired wedding gowns from Disney Fairy Tale Weddings by Alfred Angelo will be showcased.
There’ll be a few entertainment surprises in store.

[UPDATE (4/20/2011): The response to the “Tweet Up” mentioned below was so astounding — the 250 RSVPs for which the event was originally planned poured in during a period of about two hours — that Fairy Tale Weddings event organizers convened, broadened the plan for the viewing party, and re-opened the invitation … and then closed it again when a second wave of RSVPs poured in Tuesday, April 19, 2011. The number of guests expected for the event is now in excess of 500.]

Gathering and ‘Tweet up’ of Princess Proportions on Tap on ‘Royal Wedding Day’ at Walt Disney World Resort

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