Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival Celebrates the ‘Art of Flavor’ at Disneyland Resort

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February 16, 2010

Disney‘s California Food & Wine Festival will create a kaleidoscope of culinary experiences for guests of every palate April 16-May 31 at Disney‘s California Adventure park and select locations across the Disneyland Resort.

Chefs, winemakers and brewmasters will celebrate The Art of Flavor at this year’s tantalizing festival, which features entertaining culinary demonstrations, outstanding wine and spirits seminars, and delicious food, wine and beer. General sales for Festival events began Feb. 16.

Look for chefs Guy Fieri and Cat Cora of Food Network, along with Disney culinary masters and special guests as they present their gastronomic talents in a full menu of complimentary demonstrations and signature paid events. The signature events include winemaker dinners, Sweet Sundays,Napa Rose Cooking School and Taste Food-Wine-Life, a night that celebrates the essence of the festival with a mosaic of food, wine and live entertainment.

Opening weekend features celebrity chef Guy Fieri, the popular television personality and “food dude” who appears on shows such as “Guy’s Big Bite” on the Food Network. Fieri will conduct complimentary food demonstrations on the Festival’s main stage.

“Disney‘s California Food & Wine Festival is a great time,” Fieri said. “Of course the kids love Disneyland, but now this is something extra for the adults. It’s incredible chefs, great wines from around the world and Disney. You’re gonna dig it. See you there!”

Some events, including culinary demonstrations, are included with admission to Disney‘s California Adventure park. Signature events are separately ticketed and require reservations. For details, visit www.disneyland.com/foodandwine.

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Disney’s ‘Starstruck’ Movie Attracts 6 Million Viewers

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Chip

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February 16, 2010

I have this on the DVR but have not had the chance to watch it yet. Looks like it was quite popular so that is a good sign it was a decent movie. Buddy TV is reporting on the number of viewers who also checked it out:

The ratings are in! Starstruck, Disney Channel’s 78th original movie, premiered Sunday with 6 million total viewers, doubling NBC’s Olympic Coverage in the kids demographics. This marks the highest number ever generated by the network in the time period in Tweens 9-14 (2.3 million), and second-highest on record in Total Viewers (6.0 million) and Kids 6-11 (2.4 million).

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Did you watch it? What did you think? Let us know in the comment section below.

Disney hunger strike moves to company headquarters

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Chip

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February 16, 2010

The Disney hotel union plans to continue its hunger strike at the Walt Disney Co. headquarters in Burbank, starting Tuesday night, to keep attention on a two-year contract dispute.

Two new Disney employees began fasting this week at the Disneyland Resort and plan to start camping outside of the Burbank offices after a week-long hunger strike by other union members concludes Tuesday.

It is unknown how long the hunger strikers will stay posted at the Burbank headquarters.

Eight union members are in their seventh day of consuming only water as they stay in tents on the sidewalk outside the Grand Californian Hotel in Anaheim. Two others stopped fasting because of medical problems.

Both Disney and officials from the union, Unite Here Local 11, have said they will meet with a federal mediator, but a date has yet to be set.

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Photo from OC Register

The quest for the perfect Disney breakfast

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Chip

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February 16, 2010

The quest for the perfect breakfast at Walt Disney World continues..

Paul from the WDW Prince website gives a great review of Fresh Mediterranean Market. The Fresh Mediterranean Market serves up an all you can eat breakfast in the Dolphin Resort. What separates their buffet from the rest are the fresh ingredients.

Here is little info from the Swan & Dolphin website:

With the food and beverages inspired by various regions of the Mediterranean, such as Spain, Italy, France, Greece and Morocco, you will feel as though you are in a true Mediterranean Market at Fresh.

Enjoy selections made with the best possible ingredients, insuring a breakfast and lunch experience that is simple, fresh and alive with flavor.

Sit back and relax in “the Market” where you can enjoy “fresh from the garden” or “right off the burner” menu items.
Fresh Mediterranean Market strives to provide a variety of foods inspired by the rich farmlands of the Mediterranean, using recipes which have been handed down from generation to generation. The menu includes ever changing seasonal ingredients from Spain, Italy, France, Greece and Morocco with a domestic flair.

True to form they do offer Fresh Ingredients per the WDW Prince’s review. He even has the yummy pictures to prove it:

Fresh Mediterranean Market being true to its name, serves fresh Mediterranean style breakfast daily in a bright, airy space. Fresh is my favorite breakfast destination at Walt Disney World.

Having never been there I can’t say if it is the perfect breakfast. If you missed the article I wrote a few weeks ago about the 6 Disney World Must Eats I would say Kona Cafe is a tough restaurant to beat. Where is your perfect breakfast?

Check out the review here.

Let us know if you have ever eaten there and what you though in the comment section below.

Photo from disneyworld.disney.go.com

Writer Hired for Disney’s ‘Lone Ranger’

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Chip

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February 16, 2010

Article from News In Film:

Justin Haythe has been hired to write Disney’s adaptation of The Lone Ranger. Johnny Depp remains attached as Tonto.

According to the Heat Vision Blog Haythe, who wrote Revolutionary Road, is helping propel the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced movie forward as the live-action story becomes a priority for the Mouse House.

Pirates of the Caribbean writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio were originally on board to pen the script and director Mike Newell was rumored to be taking the helm. It seems all three are off the project, as the latest report makes no mention of any of them. Is Haythe polishing the draft or doing a complete re-write?

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Will Chris Pine be Marvel’s Captain America?

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Chip

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February 16, 2010

The rumor mill is spinning this morning about Marvel’s upcoming action movie Captain America set to release July of 2011. Presently there is talk of Chris Pine playing Captain America.

You might remember Chris from a little movie called Star Trek, where he played Captain James T Kirk of the starship Enterprise. If you haven’t seen that movie I highly recommend renting it, even if you are not a big Star Trek fan it is a great action flick.

Either way Marvel needs to get the role of Captain America locked in. I am puzzled by how fast they can film a movie now a days. A year doesn’t seem like a long time to film, edit, market, and release a blockbuster of this size.

I just hope it does America proud.

Disney Pixar’s Toy Story 3 Video Game Lets Players Create a Story of Their Own

By

Chip

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February 16, 2010

Disney Interactive Studios today officially announced development of Toy Story 3: The Video Game, supporting all major platforms and featuring a fun, new way to enjoy the Toy Story universe. Unveiled at the American International Toy Fair in New York City by Mary Beech, general manager and vice president of franchise development and marketing for Disney Consumer Products, Toy Story 3: The Video Game will feature film adventures along with Disney’s first open-world gameplay for kids. Inspired by the upcoming Disney*Pixar animated film, Toy Story 3: The Video Game is due on retail shelves June 15, 2010.

As Beech discussed at Toy Fair, Disney Interactive Studios is revealing a new gameplay mode called Toy Box. A primary feature on Toy Story 3: The Video Game console offerings, Toy Box is a virtual box full of toys. With an open-world sandbox-style of play, Toy Story 3: The Video Game taps into the beloved franchise’s humor and brings fans into the toys’ world to create their own unique story. The game’s developer, Avalanche Software, is working in close collaboration with filmmakers at Pixar to create an authentic Toy Story experience that inspires imagination and celebrates the joy of play.

“Toy Story 3: The Video Game addresses a fact understood by every kid: imagination is what truly brings toys to life,” said John Blackburn, vice president and general manager of Avalanche Software. “That’s really what a toy box is about. We remember that kind of play from our own childhood, and it’s where we began as game designers. With this title, we want to encourage and reward creativity in others.”

Designed to replicate the universal experience of playing with toys as a kid, Toy Box mode brings cowboys, space rangers, dinosaurs, and little green aliens together to create adventures only possible in a child’s imagination. Kids, families and fans will dive into Andy’s toy box with creativity driving their own stories and adventures.

“With Toy Story 3: The Video Game, audiences will have multiple ways to experience and enjoy the Toy Story world,” said Craig Relyea, senior vice president of global marketing, Disney Interactive Studios. “Story Mode follows the film’s story and adventures, while Toy Box Mode gets to the playful heart of the Toy Story franchise. By combining the power of imagination with the Toy Story universe, the game appeals to the joy of play in all of us.”

Embracing the adored and inspired fun of the Toy Story franchise, Toy Story 3: The Video Game features a story mode that follows the Toy Story 3 film adventures in which Buzz, Woody and friends grapple with their uncertain future as Andy prepares to depart for college. In addition to the Toy Box mode, the console versions put the toys in non-film related environments and situations such as light videogame combat with Buzz Lightyear. The handheld versions bring the Toy Story fun with fans wherever they go.

Toy Story 3: The Video Game will be available on all major video game platforms on June 15, 2010 on Wii(TM), PlayStation(R)3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Windows PC, Nintendo DS(TM) and PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system.

Also coming soon from Disney Interactive Studios is a new Toy Story 3 app for the iPhone(R) and iPod touch(R) that will let fans play, personalize and stay connected to Toy Story. With features such as trailers, a countdown clock, movie information, ticketing, and light games and activities, Toy Story 3 connects consumers to their favorite Toy Story characters, stories and happenings. In addition, the app will feature links to purchase premium content and games such as a new update of the successful Toy Story Mania! app, priced at $4.99, in the “Toy Store.” A Toy Story 3 mobile game will also be available cross-platform on all major wireless carriers.

‘Give a Day, Get a Disney Day’ Reaches 600,000 Volunteer Sign-Ups

By

Chip

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February 16, 2010

Article from the Disney Park Blog talking about the overwhelming support from you!

Our record-breaking canned structure was an attention-grabber…so it’s understandable if you missed our other big news from the Celebrate Volunteers event at Walt Disney World Resort. We’ve reached a major milestone in the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program.

More than 600,000 people have volunteered or signed up for volunteer projects in their communities in the first six weeks of the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program. If you remember, this first-of-its-kind effort was launched with hopes of inspiring 1 million people to perform volunteer service in their communities. And we’re closing in on that number.

There are still opportunities to join in and participate — and it’s easy to get started. Just visit disneyparks.com.

There are also some official details you should know about: You must pre-register and sign up for eligible volunteer opportunity at disneyparks.com. Ticket quantities for this program are limited. Must be at least age 6 to participate. One ticket per person. Other terms and conditions apply. For details, see disneyparks.com in the United States and Puerto Rico. In Canada, see disneyparks.ca.

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Photo from Disney Park Blog

Jedi Mickey’s Own Droid Available April 2010

By

Chip

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February 16, 2010

The creative “forces” at Disney and Lucasfilm are proud to announce an all-new character coming to the Disney Parks in April 2010. Every Star Wars Jedi Knight needs his own Astromech Droid, and Jedi Mickey is no exception. This spring you can find Jedi Mickey’s own droid, R2-MK, exclusively at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts.

For those with a sharp eye, a prototype of this new figure has been visible for many months in The Disneyland Story in the lobby of the Main Street Opera House.

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The Great Piggy Bank Adventure opening at Epcot’s Innoventions

By

Chip

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February 16, 2010

T Rowe Price is hosting at Innoventions a fun interactive way for you and your family to learn about saving money. It is a very hands on and fun experience. The Great Piggy Bank Adventure opened at Epcot’s Innoventions, Walt Disney World in May 2009.

Beauty and the Beast Fans Get Ready

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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February 15, 2010

There is no confirmed date (some say Oct. 2010); however, Disney has begone putting the Beauty and the Beast Blu-ray trailer/promo in dvd’s and blu-ray movies being sold now. It is exciting news for fans of one of the most beloved Disney movies of all time.

It’s going to be a very expensive Blu-ray month for Disney Fans!

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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February 15, 2010

Here are your Blu-Ray release dates for March:

Ponyo (Studio Ghibli) – March 2nd
Old Dogs – March 9th
The Princess and the Frog – March 16th
Toy Story – March 23rd
Toy Story 2 – March 23rd

Disney keeps rolling out the High Def. goodness!!! Let’s just hope our wallets can keep up!