‘Toy Story 3’ producer Pixar opens Vancouver studio

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April 21, 2010

Buzz Lightyear, Nemo and The Incredibles are coming to Canada as the Disney-owned Pixar Animation announced Tuesday the launch of a Vancouver studio.

While no financial details were released, Pixar Canada initial plan is to produce 20 to 25 minutes of short films annually to be distributed worldwide on the Disney Channel, the Internet and theme parks, among other outlets.

Pixar Canada general manager Amir Nasrabadi said the company’s goal was to employ 75 people by 2012. The studio is currently operating out of a 5,000-square-foot office in downtown Vancouver and is in negotiations to move up to a 20,000 to 25,000 square foot space in future.

Nasrabadi said he wasn’t sure if the studio would eventually produce full-length animated feature films.

Pixar, which was purchased in 2006 by the Walt Disney Company for a reported 7.4 billion dollars (US), has won 24 Academy Awards over the years for such blockbusters as Toy Story, Finding Nemo and Cars, among others.

It will release Toy Story 3 in July and Cars 2 in the summer of 2011.

Pixar Canada plans to begin production of its first animation offering beginning in August.

Florida legislature passes waiver liability bill

By

Chip

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April 21, 2010

As part of an effort by tourism outfits including Walt Disney World, a bill meant to reinstate parental waivers of liability against theme parks and other businesses offering potentially hazardous recreation unanimously passed the house on Tuesday morning. The bill (SB 2440) was also passed by the senate in late March.

The bill was designed to overturn a Florida Supreme Court ruling from two years ago that invalidated parental liability waivers, although the waivers had long been used to protect businesses that accommodate minors.

The legislation, however, offers little protection for businesses. In instances where negligence is claimed, the waiver would not act as a protection. The bill will only act as a defense in claims when injury is a result of inherent risk.

The passage of this bill is just a small part of a larger picture painted by Republican leaders that looks to offer more rigid protection from lawsuits that are a result of these inherent risks.

Source

Walmart to offer Free Alice in Wonderland Art when you Pre-order

By

Chip

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April 20, 2010

Found this cool Disney Freebie on the Walmart’s website.

Get Exclusive Collectible 3D Art When You Preorder Alice in Wonderland on Blu-ray or DVD.

Offer only valid on preorders, while supplies last.

Click here for more information

Stay tuned as I will be giving away a free Blu-Ray DVD Combo Pack of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland starting in May.

Check the Related Post Section below for more Chip and Co Giveaways!

Officially Licensed Marvel Comic ‘Iron Man’ LCD & LED HDTVs

By

Chip

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April 20, 2010

RTC23 Inc. has just created the “Ultimate Comic Fan’s Television.”

Roundtable Concepts Inc. is launching RTC23, their officially licensed Marvel Comic LCD and LED HDTVs. The cast of characters consists of Iron Man, Captain America, The Hulk, Wolverine, Thor and others. Your favorite Marvel Super Hero is embellished on the bottom two corners of the frame and is offered in 22″, 32″, 42″ and 55″ HD LCD screen sizes as well as 40″ and 46″ LED HDTVs. Now here’s the cool part, not only do the characters appear on the casing but when you power on the TV, the name and the character appear on the screen for approximately 8 seconds. This makes it the “Ultimate Comic Fan’s TV” which RTC23 titles it’s i23s system technology that simply makes TVs more fun. Order online at www.RTC23.com or call 321-363-3794 for more info. To learn more about Marvel Comics, visit the Marvel website at www.MARVEL.com.

FOR A LIMITED TIME, BUY ONE IRON MAN HDTV AND GET A SECOND ONE OF THE SAME SIZE FREE!

‘World of Color’ Water Spectacular Debuts June 11 at Disney’s California Adventure Park

By

Chip

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April 20, 2010

Lights, water, fire, music and animation will come together like never before on June 11 when “World of Color” makes its dazzling debut at Disney’s California Adventure park. You will get to experience some of your favorite Disney stories – from the charming to the adventurous – in a magical, new way.

Many of you, as readers of the Disney Parks Blog, have been following our documentation of the development of this playful, nighttime water spectacular. I’ve loved reading your comments and sharing in the enthusiasm for this highly anticipated show, and we want you to be among the first to see some up-close footage we recently captured during a rehearsal.

Enjoy the video and a special introduction from the man behind the magic, Steve Davison from Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment.

As you saw in the video, the show is brilliantly choreographed as it combines nearly 1,200 powerful fountains, popular Disney music, larger-than-life projections, lasers, fire, fog, surround sound and stunning images. On top of that, the magnificent, moving fountains are capable of reaching enormous heights — from 30 to 200 feet -– while maintaining their dazzling colors.

Click here to keep reading more of this awesome news from the Disney Park Blog!

Disney Digital Books Offers Children Free Trial for Earth Day

By

Chip

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April 20, 2010

In honor of the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day, Disney Digital Books (DDB) is offering kids everywhere a 7-day free trial to four Earth Day themed books in addition to its robust online library of over 600 other classic Disney stories all available at the click of a mouse.

The Earth Day themed books, which contain relevant content to help kids learn about the environment, include all new illustrations and an audio component, providing early readers an engaging storytelling experience with entertaining voices and sound effects and the ability for children to follow along as the story is read aloud.

The four Earth Day themed books on DDB include:

Mickey Goes Green: Donald wants to understand why Minnie brings her own bag to shop at the grocery store. Minnie explains how reusing things helps the planet. Donald learns this and many other eco-friendly tips that he can do every day to help make Mickey Park a better place.
Mission Ocean Rescue: Rocket is taking the Little Einsteins to enjoy a day at the beach when they discover that the beach is full of trash. The team joins together to clean up the beach but soon they find a baby dolphin needs their help! Join the team while they complete these two very important missions.
No Place Like Earth: It’s Earth Day at the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Esteemed scientist Professor Von Drake is the main speaker. The Professor has a lot to say about ways we can help save our planet every single day. To the Professor’s surprise, Mickey and the gang have even more to say—and show.
Think Green: Mayor Rosa has asked Manny to help get the town ready for its annual Earth Day celebration held each year on April 22^nd. As the team prepares for the big event, Manny and the citizens of Sheet Rock Hills teach the tools about the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling!

About Disney Digital Books

Disney Digital Books, the first-ever comprehensive library of Disney children’s books online, officially launched on September 29, 2009 with over 500 books, and has since added more than 100 books to the site’s virtual library. Children will find favorites from popular Disney franchises such as Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Toy Story, Disney Princess, Cars, and Hannah Montana, along with many other classic Disney stories.

Disney Digital Books encourages children to develop a love of reading by offering books for every level, from pre-readers to children ready for chapter books; an age-appropriate dictionary to help readers define words they don’t know; and a story-builder feature that allows children to create their own memorable stories by selecting words, Disney characters and props, and printing them to share or read again later. Children can also save books to a personal bookshelf, mark favorites, answer trivia based on an understanding of what they have read, and earn points toward reading certificates.

Disney Digital Books subscriptions are available online and at select retailers for an annual subscription of $79.95, or a monthly subscription of $8.95. Each subscription covers up to three children in the same household. The browser-based service is PC and Mac compatible and does not require a download. First time registrants can receive a 7-day free trial of the service, including the four Earth Day themed books, which is also accessible online.

To sign-up for a subscription or register for a free trial, please visit www.disneydigitalbooks.com or check them out on Facebook and Twitter.

About Disney Publishing Worldwide

Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW) is the world’s largest publisher of children’s books and magazines, with over 250 million children’s books and over 400 million children’s magazines sold each year. DPW’s business units include Global Children’s Magazines, Disney Family Fun Group, Disney English, and Disney Global Book Group. Disney Global Books and Global Magazines encompass a tremendous worldwide licensing structure; Disney Book Group consists of vertically integrated publishing imprints in the U.S. which include Disney Editions, Disney-Hyperion, Disney-Jump at the Sun and Disney Press. In addition, Disney Libri, DPW’s Italian vertical operation, publishes books for children of all ages. DPW’s Disney FamilyFun Group publishes Disney FamilyFun and Disney en Familia. Headquartered in White Plains, NY, Disney Publishing Worldwide publishes books and magazines in 85 languages in 75 countries.

The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique — One Year Later

By

Chip

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April 20, 2010

Once Upon A Time…as every good story starts, the Disneyland Resort opened its doors to reveal a magical boutique where every little girl’s dream of becoming a Disney princess can come true.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique opened April 17, 2009, and in the past year, many magical moments have occurred in this enchanting location that’s nestled inside the corridors of Sleeping Beauty Castle. On a walk through Fantasyland one day, I had the chance to meet up with Store Operations Complex Manager, Stacey Gentz, who shared some of the stories from our cast and guests.

Every now and then, it’s so nice to hear our guests say that no matter the age, it made them feel like a princess, says one of Fairy Godmothers-in-Training, who has been on hand since the opening. It’s why we’re here, and it’s what we do, every day, we create magical memories for our guests during their stay.

Another cast member recalls, “Today when giving a Princess her big reveal, she was so happy that she shouted ‘I guess dreams really can come true.’”

Click here to keep reading this article from the Disney Park Blog

Photo credit disneyparks.disney.go.com

Marvel Vs Capcom 3 Trailer Revealed

By

Chip

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April 20, 2010

Capcom has confirmed they are working on a sequel to their popular fighting franchise Marvel vs. Capcom.

Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds is slated for release on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in spring 2011.

A trailer for the game has been posted on the official PlayStation blog that features a few of the characters appearing in the brawler. Among those spotted: Marvel heroes Wolverine, Iron Man and Hulk and Capcom staples Ryu (Street Fighter), Morrigan (Darkstalkers) and Chris Redfield (Resident Evil).

Check it out for yourself below, and stay tuned for a preview of the game soon.

Source USA Today

Ask a Disney Question: Money Saving Ideas for Disney Cruise Lines.

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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April 20, 2010

This question come from Donna, who asks: We are “4 adults, 3 children and would like to take a Disney Cruise next Spring (March). They are just so much more expensive than other cruise lines. Any advice for saving/deals????

Donna, thanks for your question and for reading the blog. I think booking a Disney cruise and booking a Disney resort have one huge thing in common: Never, until you’ve exhausted every resource, pay full price. The best way to stay informed about Disney cruise line discounts is to frequent a forum like the DCL board at Disboards every few days. If there’s a discount out there, they’ll have information about it almost immediately. They’re a very well-informed bunch.

DCL has three discount seasons: Fall Fantasy (September – December), Sunshine Sailaway (January – March), and occasionally, Springtime Magic (April-May). Just like resort hotels, discounts for holidays that fall within this period will be pretty much nonexistent. Discount availability depends on how much difficulty Disney is having filling their staterooms, so expect more discounts while the economy remains poor. While we’ve heard from Disney itself that they plan on weaning the public off discounts, on the resort side of things this doesn’t seem to be the case entirely, so keep watching. Advanced booking can save you money and offer you a better choice of staterooms. In addition to early booking discounts, check into special rates for Canadian residents and for Florida residents if that applies to you. Finally, if you book with a Disney Rewards Visa or you book while you’re on the ship (the equivalent of a “bounce back” offer that the WDW resort offers), you will receive a small discount.

Also, consider checking with a Disney certified travel agent to see what kind of deal they can find you. You’re never committed just by getting a quote, so you have nothing to lose. A good agent will not charge you any fees; they make a small commission from everything they sell to you, so that’s how they get paid. Many are online and should have their certification information readily available for you to see. You can find a good agency by checking Disney message boards to see what posters think of their reputation or by going to a Disney travel website you’re familiar with and using the agency they’re partnered with. Most bigger Disney themed websites are partnered with a travel agency. The best agents will keep you informed of discounts that pertain to your travel as they come out so that they can be applied to your package. Remember to always find out about their cancellation and change fees; some agencies are more lenient than others, some are more strict than their vendors.

If you want to do research on your own, check with a site like Mousesavers. Mousesavers should be required reading for anyone traveling to Disney; they’re just that good. Most Discounts will show up on this site a few days after they come out. I also like WDWInfo, which is a part of Disboards.

Got a Disney question? We have answers. Write us at Chip and Co. We answer every question that comes in.

Disney to shut Nashville label Lyric Street Records

By

Chip

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April 20, 2010

Logo Disney LyricStreetRecords

The Walt Disney Co. says it is closing its Nashville recording label, Lyric Street Records, and will transition country music band Rascal Flatts to another Disney label.

The phased shutdown will result in the layoff of about 20 to 25 employees after they finish promoting existing albums. It comes amid a cost-cutting overhaul at Disney’s studio, which oversees the music group.

Bob Cavallo, chairman of the Disney Music Group, said Wednesday that the company needs to find alternative ways of marketing its artists given the “changing nature of the music business” and streamlining at the studio.

Other Disney music labels, such as Hollywood Records, which promotes the music of stars Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato, are unaffected by the announcement.

Walt Disney Records Launches Its Biggest-Ever Giveaway of Free Music

By

Chip

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April 20, 2010

Walt Disney Records Launches Its Biggest-Ever Giveaway of Free Music With ’50 Days of Disney Music’

Fifty days, fifty fabulous tunes, all free for the downloading: That’s the idea behind Walt Disney Records’ “50 Days of Disney Music.” Offering fans more free music than any program in the label’s history, “50 Days of Disney Music” draws on songs spanning the Disney universe, from classic animated films such as “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Toy Story” and “Bambi” to hit Disney Channel series such as “Hannah Montana,” “Wizards of Waverly Place,” “Phineas and Ferb” and “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” plus Disney Channel Original Movies “High School Musical” and “Camp Rock.” With free downloads available via social media sites including Twitter and Facebook, as well as via a special mobile phone list, “50 Days of Disney Music” kicks off May 3.

Walt Disney Records launched an extensive advertising and media campaign to announce the program, including a pair of promotional videos on the label’s YouTube page and a Facebook ad buy. Fans can get in on the program also by texting “Disney” to 66937.

Facebook.com/disneymusic

Twitter.com/disneymusic

*Must be at least 13 years of age with parents’ permission. You will get 4-6 messages a month. MSG&DATA Rates may Apply. For terms and conditions, visit http://www.mozes.com/go/tos

Disney joins SeaWorld offering free passes to travelers stranded by volcano

By

Chip

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April 20, 2010

Walt Disney World said yesterday afternoon that it has decided to offer free admission to travelers stuck in Orlando, as flights to and from Europe continue to be canceled because of an erupting volcano in Iceland.

Disney said it will offer one-day park hoppers on both Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. The complimentary passes will also include admission to Disney’s two water parks.

Guests seeking the ticket will have to show a canceled plane ticket or expired boarding pass and a photo ID. Disney says it will also waive its $14-per-day parking charge.

Disney follows SeaWorld Orlando, which began offering free tickets to stranded travelers on Sunday. The International Drive water park Wet ‘n Wild is also offering free admission.

Source