Tag: Disney

Disney’s New Membership Club: D23

Post author By web gangsta
Post date March 12, 2009
1 Comment on Disney’s New Membership Club: D23

Those of you who follow Disney business news are already aware of Disney’s new fan club, D23.

For those of you who don’t follow the business side of the Disney company, D23 is something that the Disney marketers have put together to compete in the value-added, information marketplace that was left with a giant void when the various Disney Club, Magic Kingdom Card, Disney Magazine, and other promotional programs closed down. They’re calling D23 a “fan community”.

For $75 a year, D23 members get 4 glossy, high-quality magazines a year, along with some extra doodads and opportunities. Other websites have done a wonderful job dissecting the D23 program announcements, so it is unnecessary to repeat the bulk of the details here.

Tags D23, Disney, shopping, Walt Disney World

Disney News Websites

Michael Jackson Auction Update

Post author By web gangsta
Post date March 5, 2009

Remember the post we had a while ago about the upcoming MICHAEL JACKSON AUCTION?

The AP is reporting that maybe things aren’t exactly as rosy as they appear, and the auction may not happen after all, as Michael Jackson’s production company, MJJ Productions, is suing Julien’s Auction House.

The lawsuit claims that while they did ask the auction company to remove all those items that appear in the auction catalog from the Neverland Ranch, but claims that they did not give blanket authorization to sell the items without Michael Jackson’s permission on each one.

Some of the “priceless and irreplaceable” items were requested to be returned, which the auction company did. No word yet on exactly which items are being removed from the auction due to the lawsuit, or how much of the auction is going to continue as previously planned.

Developing…

Tags Disney, News, update, website

Disney News

The Future of GM at EPCOT

Post author By web gangsta
Post date March 2, 2009

THE MOTOR REPORT is reporting this morning that General Motors is cutting up to US$800 million from its North American advertising budget this year.

While this will affect GM’s plans for sponsoring the upcoming Transformers sequel, it is currently unknown whether GM will continue to provide Disney sponsorship dollars for Epcot’s TEST TRACK attraction. It has been announced that the budget cut applies to GM’s print, TV and film advertising, and its vehicle purchase incentives.

The sponsorship cost has never been announced, but is estimated to be about US$5 million per year, according to sources. This is just a drop in the bucket when compared to cutting $800 million in a single year.

Tags Disney, Epcot, News, Test Track, Walt Disney World

Disney TV

Full House Screws Up Walt Disney World

Post author By web gangsta
Post date February 28, 2009
4 Comments on Full House Screws Up Walt Disney World

One thing that I get annoyed with is when TV shows take liberties with established facts about existing places. For example, MTV’s Road Rules screwed up in their first season by showing the Winnebago driving north on a highway. The problem was that each subsequent highway shot was from a section of road that was further south than the previous one. All the editors had to do was place those highway shots in their correct order. They were going to show those shots anyway, so at least be smart about it. It was like insisting that the first five letters of the alphabet are “A-B-E-D-C”.

Tags Disney, Epcot, Full House, MTV, Road Rules, TV, Walt Disney World

Disney shopping

Improving Disney Shopping

Just read the latest post on Progress City USA, TEN WISHES FOR THE NEW YEAR #8: OVERHAUL PARK MERCHANDISE. I completely agree with the points raised about the depressing increase in homogenization of merchandise available throughout the Disney parks.

I too, remember a time when the Orange Bird was found at the Tiki Room, and where land-specific merchandise was available. A time when Main Street, USA’s Emporium shop didn’t run the full length of the street (when Center Street was an actual street separating the two show buildings instead of what we have today).

I want to buy a “Walt Disney World” sweatshirt, not a “Disney Parks” sweatshirt.

I have found myself visiting both Disneyland and Walt Disney World on numerous shopping missions over the years, only to walk away empty-handed and with a full wallet. There is no doubt that there are plenty of things to buy at the Disney parks, especially if you are a once-in-a-lifetime visitor — but there is often nothing new of interest to the Disney Fan to buy beyond pins. (Pin collecting and trading is a wonderful hobby, but it does not appeal to everybody.) And really, how many Duck Butt hats does one family need?

Tags Disney, Disney Catalog, Disney Store, shopping, Walt Disney World

Disney News Websites

Michael Jackson Auctions Off His Stuff

Post author By web gangsta
Post date February 22, 2009

April 22, 2009 can’t come soon enough for many people – that’s when MICHAEL JACKSON WILL BE AUCTIONING OFF HIS STUFF.

Sure, it will cost you $20 just to attend the freakshow, but you know that will be money well spent just for the opportunity to browse through the King of Pop’s underwear drawer.

Bad example, perhaps. Think of that more figuratively than literally, please.

The auction will be broken up into 5 different categories, each taking place on different days:

Garden Statues and Outdoor Furniture
Furniture and Decorative Arts
Antiques, Paintings, and Fine Decorative Art
Amusements, Arcade Games, and Disneyana
Memorabilia from the Life and Career of Michael Jackson

Individually numbered and signed copies of the catalog will be available for $500.

Tags Disney, News, website

Disney Movies

A Business Analyst Reviews Pixar’s “UP”

Post author By web gangsta
Post date February 19, 2009

Pali Research analyst Richard Greenfield has taken it upon himself to turn movie reviewer, and according to a blogger at Barron’s Online, has offered THIS REVIEW OF PIXAR’S UPCOMING FILM “UP”. The film was partially screened for movie critics at ComicCon in New York.

Here are some of his thoughts:

Although he only saw the first half of the movie in an unfinished state he came away “concerned” that the movie won’t be able match last summer’s WALL-E performance. WALL-E generated $224 million in domestic box office receipts, and $534 million worldwide.
The early stages of the film were “somewhat slow”.
He doubts younger boys will be that excited about Carl (the older protaganist), though they should like Russell (his young sidekick).
There is no female lead character, “which may be an issue in terms of the movie’s appeal to young girls.
“We did not come away from Up with the sense that consumers would view it as a “must-own” DVD.”
Finally, he thinks it may be challenging to monetize the characters in the form of consumer products.

Tags Disney, Movies

Disney Movies

Pixar’s WALL-E Snubbed at the Oscars

Post author By web gangsta
Post date February 17, 2009

You would expect The Los Angeles Times to have a blog dedicated to The Oscars (it is Oscar season, you know). Their latest entry is entitled CAN WALL-E MAKE OSCAR HISTORY?

You know how WALL-E would make Oscar history? If WALL-E had won the award for Best Picture or Best Director (had they been nominated, of course). Sure, Andrew Stanton and the rest of Disney/Pixar are going to put their best face forward and graciously accept the nominations they did receive (Best Animated Feature, Best Music Score, Best Song, Best Original Screenplay, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing)… but deep down, you know that this is one case where the Academy needs to stop considering animated films as a red-headed stepchild to be regularly ignored or swept away.

Tags Disney, Movies