Disney Pixar’s Toy Story 1 & 2 in 3D Review

By

-

October 6, 2009

So I took the wife and little one (age 3) to see these movies yesterday. This is the first movie my little one has seen on the big screen. I am glad we waited for her to see 2 of her favorite movies in the theater, it makes it more memorable for us as a family.

The movie going experience went well from the moment we walked in. The theater was not packed as I hoped and prayed it wouldn’t be. There were more adults reliving their youth than younger kids. It was probably due to the fact the showtime was when most kids take their nap. With large popcorn, drinks, glasses and candy in hand we venture out to find a seat in this somewhat empty auditorium.

As we fight over the large popcorn the lights go down and as we watch the opening trailers. We are greeted by Toy Story 3 preview, the Chipmunks, and a few other uninteresting trailers. Meanwhile my daughter is double fisting our popcorn, the screen goes white and we see the shadows of familiar Toy Story Characters joking around with the audience. She loved it and laughed the whole time they were on screen, that was a nice touch.

The movie was really cool in 3D it wasnt to gimmick-ey and overdone, it was very cool to see the film spruced up this way. My daughter didnt want to wear the glasses for long but was fine seeing the movie blurry looking in parts.

Toy Story 1 is a great movie but my sweet pea likes 2 better because of Jesse, Toy Story 1 seems like a little boys movie. For the most part she sat there and watched the movie till she had to go potty and wanted to run around at the end of the movie. She is only 3 so we expect that.

So after potty breaks a 10 minute intermission begins, featuring some interesting Toy Story trivia and clips. The trivia was great and I learned a lot of things I didn’t know about Toy Story and Pixar! I liked the countdown timer, reminded me of something you would see at DisneyWorld.

Toy Story 2 seems like more scenes were in 3D than the first one, it looked like different objects were coming right off the screen. About half way through the movie my wife and little one pass out. I think the lull of sitting in a seat for 3+ hrs is making everyone sleepy. I myself probably dosed off for a minute or two. Guess I am getting old. After our quick power nap we finish up the movie and stay for the closing credits and giggle at the outtakes.

Overall it was a wonderful experience we had a great time, killed a better portion of the day, and our daughter did really well for her first time going to a movie. I recommend going to see this double feature while it is in theaters, I know if you have kids you have seen this movie a hundred times over but seeing it in 3D was great and all the little extras Disney/Pixar gives new life to a classic movie.

Having left the theater and started walking out to the car I realize I left Woody under the seat in the auditorium. I run back and see the person cleaning up the huge mess we just made of popcorn, napkins, and 3d Glasses bags. I tell him I left Woody behind, we both chuckled and he commented “just like in the movie”…

Disney’s Epic Mickey Game News

By

Chip

-

October 6, 2009

The cover of November’s issue of gameinformer

I am not going to go into detail on how awesome the game is going to be, but what I am going to do is hook you up with some links I found on the web. This game looks so awesome! Game Informer coverage of Epic Mickey is great.

First link is an exclusive video interview with Warren Spector about his relationship with Mickey Mouse, including a portion of his giant Disney memorabilia collection that is housed at Junction Point. We will also have a photo-blog chronicling many of the outstanding pieces in his collection hitting at the same time.

Next is Disney Epic Mickey landing page from Game Informer that will be updated over the next month with more news and pictures.

and finally here is a video of game concepts.

Rich Ross to Run Disneyâ€™s Movie Studio

By

Chip

-

October 6, 2009

The Walt Disney Company has hired one of its star TV executives to overhaul its struggling motion picture studio.

Rich Ross, president of Disney Channels Worldwide, will immediately take over the top job at Walt Disney Studios, according to people who were briefed on the matter but asked for anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. The studio has had a leadership void since its former chairman, Dick Cook, resigned under pressure on Sept. 18. Disney has no immediate plans to announce a successor for Mr. Ross at Disney Channel.

Click the picture above for more of this great news.

Disney worker taken to hospital after fall

By

Chip

-

October 6, 2009

A Disneyland Resort construction subcontractor this morning was taken to the hospital for back pain after falling into a trench in an employee-only area inside Disneyland, fire officials said.

The man was working on a trench, which was up to 5-feet deep, when he fell in this morning before the park opened, said Maria Sabol, an Anaheim Fire Department spokeswoman.

About 14 firefighters responded to the scene after the call came in about 8:41 a.m. The man was conscious, but complained about back pain. He was taken out on a back board, Sabol said.

The injuries appeared to be minor, said Suzi Brown, a Disneyland Resort spokeswoman.

Search and rescue officials also responded because they specialize in trench rescues.

The operation took about 45 minutes.

The accident area was near New Orleans Square. Disneyland was ready to open as scheduled at 10 a.m., Brown said.

Disney World Raises Parking Price

By

Chip

-

October 5, 2009

If your plans this week include a trip to Walt Disney World, get ready to shell out more money to park. Starting Sunday, it will cost drivers $14 to park at any of the resortâ€™s four theme parks,Â a two-dollar increase from the previous $12 parking price.

According to the Orlando Sentinel,Â Disney said it needed the rate hike to help make up for increased transportation costs. The park has put more workers on duty following Julyâ€™sÂ deadly monorail crash.

However,Â aÂ Disney representative told News 13Â Sunday that the increase was just based on normal adjustments to parking rates. TheÂ raised rate follows aÂ $4 jump in the price of a one-day ticketÂ that went intoÂ effect in August.

Annual passholders, of course, can still park for free.

Buzz Lightyear returns from space to the Magic Kingdom

By

Chip

-

October 5, 2009

Disney Parks and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) today celebrated Buzz Lightyear’s cosmic achievement as the longest tenured crew member in space with a ticker-tape parade down Main Street, U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort. Some of Buzz’s new friends, including astronaut Buzz Aldrin and International Space Station Expedition 18 astronaut Michael Fincke, attended.

After living his dream of space travel, Buzz Lightyear returned to Earth aboard Space Shuttle Discovery STS-128 on Sept. 11, following more than 15 months of dedicated service onboard the International Space Station (ISS). The 12-inch-tall action star flew to space as part of an education initiative between Disney Parks and NASA to encourage students to pursue studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Disney backs bullet train proposal

By

Chip

-

October 4, 2009

All aboard! You too, Mickey, Goofy, and Cinderella.

On Friday, Florida officially applied for federal funds to begin building a high-speed rail link between Tampa and Orlando, and gained crucial support from Walt Disney World.

The theme park is offering 50 acres of land valued at $25 million to build a station on or near the state’s signature resort.

“Disney World is the number one tourist attraction in the world, so you’d have tons of people from all over who would see this,” said Ramond Chiaramonte, Executive Director of Hillsborough’s Metropolitan Planning Organization. “It would be a tourist attraction in itself.”

Florida has applied for $2.5 billion in fast-tracked federal funds to install 120 m.p.h. trains in the grassy Interstate 4 median. The trains would commence at the site of the Morgan Street jail in Tampa and terminate at Orlando International Airport, with stops in Lakeland, Disney World, and at The Orlando/Orange County Convention Center.

The state must compete against 180 other areas that also want a slice of the stimulus money.

“We’re going to compete very well,” said Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D-Tampa). “The Walt Disney World announcement today was a great boost, no other application, no other state will be able to say they such a public-private partnership that we have here in Florida.”

Rep. Castor and other rail proponents note that Florida has spent decades studying high-speed rail, but has never built such a system. After spending tens of millions on research and engineering that have gone nowhere, that very research is being dusted off and attached to the state’s application.

“This corridor between Orlando and Tampa is ready to go,” said Christine Burdick with the Tampa Downtown Partnership. “We have one of the most real shovel-ready projects.”

Trains could be running within five year if the plan is approved, the state said.

Backers guessed that fares will be $20 each way per person.

Disney’s Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey

By

Chip

-

October 4, 2009

See how the Disney’s Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey takes creative and imaginative teens from across the country & immerses them in a mind-blowing, life-changing experience theyll never forget. It’s all about making dreams happen. And there’s no better place than through hands-on experience with Disney Cast Members, executives and celebrity guests, who all share their blueprints for success.

For more information, go to steveharvey.com/disneysdreamersacademy for details.

Save $400 When You Stay at a Disneyland Resort Hotel!

By

Chip

-

October 3, 2009

DRL LOGO

Save $400 when you book a flight + hotel + 4-Day DisneylandÂ® Resort Park HopperÂ® Bonus Ticket package for fourÂ nights at the Hotels of the DisneylandÂ® Resort.

Imagine, youâ€™ll be right in the middle of the magic throughout your stay, just steps from both Theme Parks and all the spectacular entertainment, dining, and shopping of the Downtown DisneyÂ® District. Plus, youâ€™ll experience Disneyâ€™s legendary service, day and night. Whatâ€™s not to love about that?

Book 8/14 – 12/15/09 by 6:00 p.m. CT
Travel 8/23 – 12/20/09

Five-day advance purchase required.

Customized Vacation PakagesÂ Include:
â€¢ Roundtrip flight via Southwest AirlinesÂ® into Los Angeles (LAX), Burbank (BUR), Ontario(ONT), or Orange County (SNA)
â€¢ Four-night hotel accommodations & hotel taxes
â€¢ 4-Day DisneylandÂ® Resort Park HopperÂ® Bonus Ticket
â€¢ Rapid RewardsÂ® credit on flight portion
â€¢ 24-hour traveler assistance

Click the Disneyland logo above for more details from Southwest

Disney’s Culinary Academy at the Disneyland Resort

By

Chip

-

October 3, 2009

Disney’s Culinary Academy is a four-day, high energy program that instructs Disneyland Resort Cast Members on a number of culinary skills. Participants even receive 30 hours of accredited class time that can be used to pursue a career in the culinary arts. On the fourth day of class, six teams have to beat the clock to create a three-course meal from scratch.

The New Fantasyland 1983 Commercial

By

Chip

-

October 3, 2009

Here is a classic Disneyland advertisement for the New Fantasyland, which was newly renovated from it’s days as a colorful courtyard since 1955. Disney Imagineers changed the motif into a Fairy Tale Bavarian village theme and gone are Captain Hook’s Pirate Ship, Fantasyland Theatre (movies) and others. I apologize for the sound quality as this came from an old VHS tape.

Disney Dining Spreadsheet – Updated Oct 2009

By

Chip

-

October 2, 2009

So we are planning our Disney trip for next Jan and I had to make a few modifications to the spreadsheet. I streamlined it a little bit, added a few more character restaturants, and tweaked the layout.

It is in Word format so you can go in and change the restaurants to the ones you like. The document is for parents who have kids and have to visit the character dining like we do. Also it has most of the Buffets that Disney offers for those who like to eat on their vacation.

Overall its simple fits on one page and is accessible online. I have seen some really awesome docs that people use for Disney so feel free to post a link to yours to share.

Disney Dining Spreadsheet