Toontown Online Streets Come Alive Raising Silly Levels to an All-Time High!

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May 25, 2010

New Screenshots Show How Dancing Mailboxes and Juggling Trash Cans Help Toons Pull Off the Silliest Gags Ever

For the first time ever, Disney’s Toontown Online fun-filled virtual world is getting even sillier! Due to high amounts of Toon-generated mayhem, the rising silly levels are making objects on the street come alive. Juggling trash cans, pie-delivering mailboxes and cheering fire hydrants are helping those zany Toons play sillier-than-ever gags on the evil robot Cogs. It’s history in the making!

To monitor this rise in silliness, the Toon scientists have built the all new Silly Meter. As Toons’ outrageous antics cause silly levels to climb, the Silly Meter gets crazier and Toontown gets even more animated. To raise the levels in the Silly Meter, Toons use their gags on the evil Cogs to cause Silly Surges. Join in the fun and help keep silly levels rising by breaking out your cream pies, squirt guns and fire hoses to keep the Cogs at bay. You’ve never seen Toontown like this!

About Toontown Online
Disney’s Toontown Online is a wacky online world, full of mischievous fun, where kids and families can create their own zany Toon characters and join their friends to protect Toontown from the evil robot cogs. The first multiplayer online game designed for kids and families, Toontown Online has been home to more than 50 million Toons, since its inception. Rated E for Everyone, Toontown Online is an award-winning, immersive virtual world for kids of all ages, who love humor that’s unique, smart and irreverent. Toontown is the kind of place where it’s normal for players to jump through portable holes, use squirting flowers to take down their enemies, or blast themselves out of cannons just for fun. Toontown Online is constantly evolving with new games, new storylines and endless adventures that are crazy fun for the whole family!

About Disney Online
Disney Online (www.Disney.com or text MOBILE to DISNEY), a unit of Disney Interactive Media Group, produces the No. 1 ranked community-family and parenting destination on the World Wide Web. Launched in 1996, Disney.com is the online and now mobile Web gateway to all of the company’s Disney-branded entertainment initiatives, providing comprehensive access to, and information about, Disney movies, travel, television, games, music, shopping, and live events.

In addition, Disney Online develops and publishes a range of online products and services including Disney Club Penguin, Disney Fairies Pixie Hollow, Disney’s Toontown Online, Pirates of the Caribbean Online, and the newest virtual world Disney•Pixar World of Cars Online.

Animating a Blockbuster: How Pixar Built Toy Story 3

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Chip

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May 25, 2010

A very in depth article from Wired on the making of Toy Story 3.

Screenwriter William Goldman once famously declared that the most important fact of life in Hollywood is that “nobody knows anything.” It was his way of describing a reality that continues to haunt the movie business: Studio executives have no idea which pictures will make money.

Unless, of course, those pictures are made by Pixar Animation Studios. Since 1995, when the first Toy Story was released, Pixar has made nine films, and every one has been a smashing success.

Pixar’s secret? Its unusual creative process. Most of the time, a studio assembles a cast of freelance professionals to work on a single project and cuts them loose when the picture is done. At Pixar, a staff of writers, directors, animators, and technicians move from project to project. As a result, the studio has built a team of moviemakers who know and trust one another in ways unimaginable on most sets.

Which explains how they can handle the constant critiques that are at the heart of Pixar’s relentless process. Animation days at the studio all begin the same way: The animators and director gather in a small screening room filled with comfy couches. They eat Cap’n Crunch and drink coffee. Then the team begins analyzing the few seconds of film animated the day before, as they ruthlessly “shred” each frame. Even the most junior staffers are encouraged to join in.

Click here to keep reading.

Here is a bonus video before you check out the rest of the article.

Disney Pic of the Day – Disney Dream Atrium Lobby Rendering

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Chip

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May 25, 2010

The starting point for every Disney cruise vacation! Check out the grand staircase, decorative bronze friezes and our signature character statue – Admiral Donald Duck.

Source – Disney Cruise Line Facebook Page

Disney Food Confession – Shawarma Platters

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Chip

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May 25, 2010

Where is it? Tangierine Café – Epcot World Showcase, Walt Disney World

What is it? Lamb, hummus, tabbouleh, couscous and Moroccan bread.

Why you want it? A whole bunch of delicious food for a very low price.

Photo Credit: meshmar2 via Flickr

Thanks to Jon for suggesting this place as today’s Disney Food Confession. Let us know what you think about today’s Disney Food Confession in the comment section below.

If you have a Disney Food Confession email [email protected]. He is accepting Food ideas or Photos if you have them!

Disney’s Stitch and Friends Summer Hangout Premiere at ‘Hong Kong Summer Spectacular’

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Chip

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May 25, 2010

The annual “Hong Kong Summer Spectacular” is set to take place next month, with various activities in the city’s key attractions in store for locals and tourists alike.

The 2-month event, a marketing effort by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), will officially start on June 11 and end on August 31. But as early as May 21, the Hong Kong Wetland Park is already holding its “Insect Chorus” exhibit, which will be on display until October 4.

Below are the other activities lined up for the Hong Kong Summer Spectacular, as seen in HKTB’s website:

Hong Kong Disneyland: Stitch and Friends Summer Hangout. Stitch (of Disney’s “Lilo and Stitch” fame) and his friends will hold a summer party filled with dance, laughter and music at Hong Kong Disneyland from June 11 to August 29.

Ocean Park Summer Splash 2010. Slip down Ocean Park’s 11-meter high and 54-meter slide, said to be the longest and tallest in the world, from July 1 to August 31. Smaller kids get their own 28-meter long jumbo slide. Massive water gun fights, foam parties and exclusive shows will also be held.

International Arts Carnival 2010. Music, dance, drama, puppetry, mime, magic, acrobatic and theatrical shows will be held from July 9 to August 15 at key locations in Hong Kong.

Lan Kwai Fong Beer and Food Festival. Restaurants, bars and food stalls in Lan Kwai Fong will serve delicious food and drinks from July 17 to 18.

Hong Kong Book Fair 2010. To be held from July 21 to 27 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, this event will not only sell books and publications — it will also provide seminars and other literary activities.

Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival. Entertainment and dining options will be available at the Victoria Harbor as locals and tourists watch the world’s best paddlers compete for glory at the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat races from July 23 to 25.

Ngong Ping 360 Shaolin Showcase. Highly trained Kung Fu masters from Shaolin, China will perform acts with their iron fists and weapons at the Ngong Ping Village from July 24 to August 15.

12th Ani-Com and Games Hong Kong. This event attracts hundreds of thousands each year and is packed with animation, comics, toys and limited edition collectibles. It will be held from July 30 to August 3 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.

Food Expo 2010. This annual gastronomic extravaganza, to be held from August 12 to 16 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, is a must for those who are interested in the latest food offerings from around the world.

Hong Kong Computer and Communications Festival 2010. This festival of all things digital will be held from August 20 to 23 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.

Summer Pop — Live in Hong Kong. The city’s top groups and artists will be featured in a musical extravaganza to be held on the last week of August. Venue to be announced.

Disney XD renews tv show ‘Next X’

By

Chip

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May 25, 2010

Variety is reporting that Disney XD’s ‘Next X’ show is being picked up for a second season. If you have never seen it, its about a sports reality program featuring Pro BMX & Skateboarding athletes who mentor younger aspirants.

X Games competitors Bucky Lasek and Rune Glifberg (skateboarding) and Daniel Dhers and Gary Young (BMX) have each signed on to mentor a pre- teen prodigy in their sports. Each of the amateurs will then be given a chance to showcase themselves at the X Games, for a special that Disney XD will air in August.

The premiere of the six-episode second season is scheduled for June 21. Kemp Curley, Bruno Musso and Michael Bloom of Transition Productions produce.

Source

Photo credit nydailynews.com

Disney’s ABC Says 13.5 Million Watched ‘Lost’ Finale

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Chip

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May 25, 2010

This article comes to us from Business Week. They give the final numbers for the Lost Finale. Did you watch it? Let us know what you thought in the comment section below.

Walt Disney Co.’s ABC television network said last night’s 2 1/2-hour finale of “Lost” drew 13.5 million viewers as the series about stranded survivors of a plane crash concluded a six-year run.

A two-hour catch-up episode that preceded the finale drew 9.85 million, Burbank, California-based ABC said today in an e-mailed statement, citing preliminary Nielsen data. “Lost” drew its biggest season-ending audience and the most viewers ages 18 to 49 in three years, ABC said.

“Lost,” from producer J.J. Abrams, has been ABC’s fifth- highest-rated scripted show this season. ABC, third among networks in prime-time audience and the only major broadcaster whose total audience declined this season, is adding six dramas to its schedule starting in September.

The finale drew the evening’s largest audience and most 18- to-49 viewers, a group sought by advertisers, according to the data released by ABC. “60 Minutes” on CBS Corp.’s network averaged 9.36 million viewers, the only show in the evening to draw a bigger audience than the “Lost” catch-up program, which averaged 9.15 million against the newsmagazine.

Disney Pic of the Day – Monica at Walt Disney World

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Chip

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May 24, 2010

Today, Grammy Award-winning singer Monica visited Magic Kingdom Park with her sons Romelo, age 2, and Rocko, age 5. We caught up with them as they tried to pull the sword from the stone in Fantasyland. Monica is vacationing at the Walt Disney World Resort this week.

Photo from Disney Parks Blog

‘World of Color’ – Behind the H2O – Making the Fountains Dance

By

Chip

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May 24, 2010

Very cool article and video from Disney Parks Blog about the making of the World of Color Attraction at Disneyland. I so wish I was able to see the grand opening of this!

I can’t believe how close we are to the opening! It’s been a crazy few months, but I’m having a great time putting together this show.

Today I’m sharing a first look at how we’re getting the fountains to “dance.” Since “World of Color” doesn’t have any live performers, the fountains will become our dancers and actors. To help with staging the fountains, we brought in Joshua Horner. Josh is a fantastic choreographer from Australia. One of his dreams was to work with Walt Disney Imagineering on a show. Well, I am glad we were able to make his dream come true!

We asked Josh to take the musical score for the show and create a style and choreographic point of view for each number. Whether it was the signature look to the show’s theme, or the lush balletic moves in “Part of Your World,” Josh put his heart and soul into the movement of each piece.

The end result of his work was inspiring. We brought the creative team together and had Josh present his ideas. For each of us it became a wonderful fount of inspiration that sparked new ideas and really helped shaped the show.

Today we’ll give you a glimpse into the process.

Good Eats – Liberty Tree Tavern

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Chip

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May 24, 2010

Liberty Tree Tavern is located at Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom this top Disney Dining location is by far one of my favorites character restaurants.

The building has a 18th-century American Inn feel to it. The food is more of a New England Style including clam chowder, traditional roast turkey and pot roast, as well as salads and sandwiches.

Open for lunch and dinner the Liberty Tree has one of my all time favorite desserts the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake! All the meal portions are huge and very filling.

I love how the Town Crier calls out your party when you table comes available. No pagers for this place. You will want to make an Advanced Dining Reservation here as it is always packed.

Now Seating “You” from the great state of “your state or country” for some good food and great Disney service.

2010 Dance Off with the Star Wars Stars – Hyperspace Hoopla

By

Chip

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May 24, 2010

See Darth Vader dancing to Michael Jackson’s “Beat It”, complete with sequined glove. See Boba Fett and the other Star Wars characters getting down to Lady Gaga, and many hits from the ’80s.

The highlight of the hilarious Hyperspace Hoopla that concludes each day of Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the Dance-Off with the Star Wars Stars during which Star Wars characters get down to popular music.

The 2010 playlist includes:
Britney Spears “3”
Ke$ha “Blah Blah Blah”
Lady Gaga “Telephone”
Run DMC “Walk This Way”
Madonna “Material Girl”
Michael Jackson “Beat It”
Lady Gaga “Just Dance”
Ludacris “How Low”
Pitbull “I Know You Want Me”
Tail Cruz “Break Your Heart”
Britney Spears “Womanizer”
Miley Cyrus “Party in the U.S.A.”
Pink “So What”
Ke$ha “Tik Tok”
Michael Jackson “Smooth Criminal”

Don’t miss our photo gallery of Star Wars Weekends 2010 pictures at http://attractionsmagazine.com and our other Star Wars Weekend videos from this year and past.

Disney Food Confession – Strawberry Shortcake

By

Chip

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May 24, 2010

Where is it? Liberty Tree Tavern Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World

What is it? Strawberry Shortcake – Pound Cake with Fruit and Whipped Cream

Why you want it? Great summer dessert! Made with fresh Strawberries and Whipped Cream.

Photo Credit: mrkathika via Flickr

If you have a Disney Food Confession email [email protected]. He is accepting Food ideas or Photos if you have them!