Now through January 30, 2010, you can find the Siemens Smart Chopper on display at Epcot in Innoventions East. Also called the “green machine”, the bike is touring the country for one year to promote the message of sustainability and green technologies. Siemens has teamed up with Orange County Chopper in California to build its first custom, electric American chopper made from new and recycled materials. The company plans to auction the vehicle in 2010 and donate the proceeds to charity.
These pieces are part of Toy Story 3’s color script, a visual representation of the film that allows for the lighting department to correctly illuminate each scene. Both were painted by the very talented Dice Tsutsumi, art director on the highly anticipated sequel.
You may recognize the paintings from two distinct shots as seen in the trailer. They contrast each other well, not just in color saturation but in emotion. For example, the first color script depicts young Andy enjoying his toys around the TV while the second is from a later scene in which the toys are discussing at Sunnyside Daycare — after their departure from Andy.
A second set of exclusive color scripts is over at The Pixar Blog with a third set at Pixar Talk; check those out too! I guess this is a bit of a preview inside The Art of Toy Story 3 and an early Christmas present from Lee Unkrich…
The Disneyland Resort and its cast members have a legacy of giving, started by Walt Disney himself, and the giving efforts kick into high gear during the 12 days of Christmas. Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to:
Alaska Airlines showed off its newest livery, “Spirit of Disneyland II.” Back in 2002 Alaska announced their “Spirit of Disneyland I” livery, which was retired about two weeks ago. Can you tell which one of Mickey’s friends was missing on the first livery?
Because they used a Boeing 737-400 on the first livery, it wasn’t long enough to include Pluto, but since the newest livery is on a Boeing 737-900 (which is about 20′ longer), Alaska was able to include Pluto, re-uniting Mickey and his closest four friends.
The new livery took over 300 gallons of paint, 120 gallons of paint remover (before painting the new livery), and 32,400 feet of tape (which is 108 football fields).
Not only did Alaska show off their new plane, they also flew three “Make a Wish” children from Portland, down to LAX to go to Disneyland.
Alaska Airlines’ new Spirit of Disneyland was the inspiration for this creation by Austin Hoben, age 4-1/2:
Disney is launching a new vacation package offer at Walt Disney World Resort and it’s one worth noting. Beginning today, you’ll get up to a $750 Disney Gift Card free when you buy a 5-night/6-day non-discounted Walt Disney Travel Company package at a select Walt Disney World Resort hotel. The offer is available for stays most nights through June 3.
Never used a Disney Gift Card? It can be used to shop, dine and play at Walt Disney World. Disney Gift Cards have no fees and they don’t expire.
You can book now through March 27 but you should know that the number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. We have more details about this offer at the Disneyworld.com special offers page.
Also, there’s one gift card per room provided at check-in. Visit Disneygiftcard.com for participating locations and terms and conditions.
The manufacturer of Walt Disney World’s monorail trains warned against the kind of reverse driving that contributed to the system’s first fatal crash this past summer, according to documents obtained by the Orlando Sentinel.
An operating manual written for the Disney trains by Bombardier Inc. warned that driving the vehicles in reverse “is a potentially hazardous operation even under the best conditions†and “strongly recommended†that an observer be stationed at the opposite end of a train whenever one is backing up.
The July 5 accident occurred as a Disney train was supposed to be moving off of the resort’s Epcot loop at the end of a work day, a process that requires the train to move in reverse through a track switch and onto a short spur leading to one of the system’s Magic Kingdom loops. But the track switch was not activated that night, so the train wound up reversing back down the Epcot loop instead, hitting another train and killing the second train’s 21-year-old driver, Austin Wuennenberg of Kissimmee.
At the time of the crash, Disney’s monorail policies did not require that someone be watching the back of the train being driven in reverse. So there was no spotter in place who could have warned the driver that the switch had not moved and the train was backing down the wrong track.
Here is the official list of Disney Movies that will be releasing in 2010. If your not sure what they are about be sure to click on the link for more information.
When in Rome
Release date: January 29
Alice in Wonderland
Release date: March 5
The Last Song
Release date: April 2
Oceans
Release date: April 22
Prince of Persia : Sands of Time
Release date: May 28
Toy Story 3
Release date: June 18
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Release date: July 16
Step Up
Release date: August 6
You Again
Release date: September 24
Secretariat
Release date: October 8
Rapunzel
Release date: November 12
Tron Legacy
Release date: December 17
Angel Falls at least partially inspired Paradise Falls, the fantasy Latin American waterfall in the recent Disney/Pixar animated film Up.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has called for the world’s highest waterfall, Angel Falls, to be given back its indigenous name.
The falls, which drop nearly 1km (0.6 miles) from a flat-topped mountain in the south of Venezuela, are currently named after a 1930s US aviator.
Jimmy Angel is believed to have been the first outsider to see them.
Mr Chavez said they should be called Kerepakupai-Meru, the name used by the indigenous Pemon people of the area.
Mr Chavez, who accuses the US of plotting against his country, said that thousands of indigenous people had seen the falls before Jimmy Angel “discovered” them.
Angel Falls at least partially inspired Paradise Falls, the fantasy Latin American waterfall in the recent Disney/Pixar animated film Up.
