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Moore enjoying Disney bosses' 'comeuppance' 

Director Michael Moore is laughing in the face of Disney bosses, after his controversial film Fahrenheit 9/11 went on to reap more cash then any of the company's movies this year.

The film, which takes a scathing look at US President George W Bush and the war on Iraq, recently became the first ever documentary to cross the $100m (€83m) mark.

And while Moore is elated with the success, he remains aware of the company's move to block subsidiary MIRAMAX from distributing the film - and its recent string of flop films.

He says: "I don't wanna say too much bad about Disney because the film has now made more money than any Disney film this year.

"Most people go to work and you've gotta put up with a lot of c**p and you get screwed every now and then, and you never see the boss man ever get his comeuppance. To have that happen, in this case with me, it is enjoyable."

 

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Who shot Goofy? It's a mystery

 

The scenario was almost laughable – a life-sized, stuffed Goofy laid out on a hospital gurney for a brain X-ray. The medical mystery? Was the Disney cartoon dog the unintended victim of a drive-by shooting in San Diego a few years ago?

 

The X-ray clearly showed a bullet, probably a .22-caliber, lodged in Goofy's cranial stuffing. A story and photo were published July 29 on the front page of The Dominion Post, the primary newspaper in New Zealand's capital city of Wellington. Disney is big in New Zealand. This Goofy is part of a huge private collection that once belonged to a San Diego man. It's on exhibit there Aug. 4-24 in celebration of Mickey Mouse's 75th anniversary.

Goofy was one of several thousand Disney items dating from 1920s into the 1990s collected by City Heights postal worker Sam Aguirre. After he died two years ago, his widow and children sought a buyer for the whole collection. New Zealand Disney enthusiast Andrew McClennan flew to San Diego and bought it. When McClennan first visited the Aguirres' home, he said he found nearly every room packed with memorabilia. "The Aguirres lived 'inside' their collection," McClennan says. He learned about the family's suspicion that Goofy had taken a bullet while watching a TV interview with them.

Little is known of the drive-by shooting except that the Aguirres found a bullet hole in their laundry room window. They never located the bullet, but Goofy was opposite the glass. Before putting him on exhibit, McClennan decided to have Goofy checked out, and, indeed, testing revealed a bullet in the thick foam stuffing of his head.

Goofy's new owner isn't asking doctors to extract the slug – after all, it adds to the item's mystique. One mystery still remains, though:

Who shot Goofy?

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Scheduled Rehabs in August for WDW

Howdy, partners! Welcome to the world-famous Diamond Horseshoe Saloon at Walt Disney World Resort, where young'uns are in for a rootin' tootin' good time at Goofy's Country Dancin' Jamboree !

Several times a day, the legendary Magic Kingdom venue in Liberty Square plays host to a fun country music dance party starring Goofy, his pals Chip and Dale, plus the stars of Disney and Pixar's "Toy Story 2" -- Woody, Jessie and Bullseye.

Young guests are encouraged to mosey on down to sing, play and learn how to country line-dance with some of their favorite Disney characters and Miss Sarah Jo, a true country sweetheart and Goofy's sassy sidekick.

During each jamboree, Goofy and his pals will teach plenty of kids to kick up their heels and dance up a storm learning such classic country dances as "Boot Scootin' Boogie," "Electric Slide" and the special "Goofy Two-Step." Grown-ups seekin' a special keepsake can head upstairs to the saloon's balconies to shoot photos or video of the action down on the dance floor.

During the holidays, a special version of the jamboree includes such classic songs as "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas" and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree."

It's a rip-roarin' good time that'll leave everyone with a spring in their boots and smiles on their faces!

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AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS DVD RELEASE

International superstar Jackie Chan (“Shanghai
Knights,” “Rush Hour”) stars in the fun, action-packed film AROUND THE WORLD
IN 80 DAYS, Disney/Walden Media’s adventure for the whole family touching down on
DVD and VHS on November 2. Fabulous adventures, hilarious predicaments and
exhilarating action await an all-star cast as three unlikely heroes attempt to settle an
outrageous wager by racing around the world in the most fabulous contraptions
imaginable.

On DVD, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS has a host of bonus features,
including: deleted scenes; director’s alternate opening (with optional director
commentary); making “Around The World In 80 Days,” a behind-the-scenes, on-location
look at the film; “Around the World of Jackie Chan” stunt choreography with Jackie
Chan; cast & filmmaker commentary; and music video “All Over The World” performed
by Dave Stewart and the Sylvia School Children’s Choir.

Directed by Frank Coraci. Screenplay by David Titcher and David Benullo & David
Goldstein. Based on the novel by Jules Verne. Available for $29.99 on DVD (S.R.P.)
and $24.99 (S.R.P.) on VHS.

Eccentric London inventor Phileas Fogg (Steve Coogan, “24 Hour Party People”) has
come up with the secrets to flight, electricity, and even in-line skates, but the world has
dismissed him as a crackpot. Desperate to be taken seriously, Fogg makes an outlandish
bet with Lord Kelvin (Jim Broadbent, “Moulin Rouge”), the head of the Royal Academy
of Science: to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days!

Joined by Passepartout (Jackie Chan) and femme fatale Monique (Cécile De France), Fog
heads on a frantic, heart-pounding round-the-world race that takes our heroes to the
world’s most exotic places by land, sea and air. Along the way, our heroes face many
adventures and obstacles in an incredible adventure-of-a-lifetime.

STREET DATE: November 2, 2004
Rated: “PG” For Action Violence, Some
Crude Humor And Mild Language
Bonus materials unrated.
Feature run time: Approximately 120 minutes
DVD Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 formatted for 16x9 TV screens
or separate
1.33:1 (full-frame) formatted 4x3
Sound: 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound
THX Certified
Suggested retail price: $29.99 (DVD), $24.99 (VHS)
Languages: French audio & subtitles on DVD
Spanish audio & subtitles on DVD

With a distinctive mission to recapture imagination and rekindle curiosity by marrying
popular entertainment and education, WALDEN MEDIA is a multimedia company led
by Cary Granat, former president of Miramax Films’ Dimension label and education
entrepreneur Michael Flaherty. The venture, launched in May 2001, focuses on
educational subject matter presented through the mediums of film, television, live theater
publishing, and new media ventures.

Walden Media is a subsidiary of The Anschutz Company. The Denver-based company is
one of the largest privately owned and operated ventures in the U.S. Its affiliated
companies are principally engaged in telecommunications and media, natural resources,
transportation, real estate, sports and entertainment.

Walden Media in association with The Walt Disney Company, recently released “Ghosts
of the Abyss,” a 3-D large format James Cameron film and “Holes,” the adaptation of
Louis Sachar’s Newbery Award-winning novel to critical and box office success. The
company is making the first full-length live-action film adaptations of C.S. Lewis’ book
series The Chronicles of Narnia, beginning with “The Lion, the Witch, and the
Wardrobe,” to be directed by Andrew Adamson (“Shrek”). Walden Media has also
teamed with renowned television and stage producer Douglas Love to establish the
Walden Family Playhouse, a live children’s theater in Denver, CO with other locations to
follow.

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Creston teen gets to meet Disney cast

 

Emily Wemhoff of Creston, Neb., volunteered alongside the cast of Disney's "That's So Raven" after being honored for her work with fire safety.

"Disney Adventures" magazine recognized the 15-year-old as a "Disney Adventures All-Star" for starting Project SAFE (Save A Friend Everyday) in 2002. Emily was one of 6,000 entries.

As part of the award, she planted flowers in June at a senior care facility in Burbank, Calif.

"We got to work side by side with the whole cast," she said. "They were all nice, but it was weird because you always see them on TV."

She also won the all-expense-paid trip for two to Los Angeles, tickets to Disneyland and $1,000. She said she will give the money to Creston's fire department.

Emily began Project SAFE after hearing about a Lincoln house fire.

The fire prompted the Wemhoff family to test its smoke alarm. The alarm didn't work.

Emily then called everyone in Creston listed in the phone book to make sure their fire alarms worked. It took a year to make the 217 calls.

Using grant money, she put together gift bags with alarms for families who didn't have them.

Now she is organizing a statewide day for families to practice fire-escape plans at their homes.

The move could boost business during August, traditionally the slowest month of the season

 

Walt Disney World is slashing the number of blackout dates for its four-park seasonal-pass holders, a move that could boost business as the region's tourism industry heads into what is traditionally the slowest month of the summer.

Starting Friday, pass holders will get an extra three weeks to visit Disney's theme parks this summer. With Disney's seasonal pass -- which for Florida residents is about two-thirds of the cost of a full-time annual pass -- visitors can't go to the parks during peak times such as summer, the December holidays and spring break.

This year's summer-blackout period started June 12 and was scheduled to run until Aug. 19. But pass holders began receiving post cards in the mail this week telling them that the blackout would end Friday and offering them discounts at some Disney resorts. "Like magic, you've just scored three extra weeks!" the headline on the postcard shouts.

Disney's offer comes as Central Florida's tourism industry prepares for August. Some local tourism experts point to a decline in the number of in-state visitors -- as well as those from other key markets in the South -- as children head back to school in early August.

"August drops off when you compare it against June and July, but how much of that is in-state and how much of that is because of school starting is a tricky question," said Kelly Repass, research director with Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Disney officials could not be reached for comment.

Students in the Northeast still have several weeks of vacation in front of them. School doesn't start until Sept. 2 in Pittsburgh and Sept. 13 in New York, for example.

But in Florida and in key Southeast drive markets, summer is practically over.

School begins next week in Seminole, Lake and Osceola counties. Orange, Volusia and Duval county students go back Aug. 9. Elsewhere in the South, Atlanta children are back in the classroom Aug. 9, and Charlotte, N.C., students start Aug. 16. So it makes sense for Disney to do something to entice in-state travelers -- who are most likely to hold seasonal passes -- to come to the parks and hopefully spend money on parking, food and trinkets, said Abe Pizam, a tourism professor at the University of Central Florida.

"Maybe it's going to be a little soft and they want to encourage tourists, especially the Floridians, to come," Pizam said.

Hotel occupancy -- one key measure of the health of the tourism industry -- often dips in August compared to other summer months. Last summer, for example, Central Florida hotels were an average 69 percent full in June, 72 percent in July and 64 percent in August, according to Smith Travel Research.

Still, Pizam and other tourism officials insist that this summer is shaping up to be the strongest since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, dampened the nation's enthusiasm for travel.

Earlier this month, several low-cost airlines slashed late-summer and early-fall fares, a move that some travel experts said could provide a boost to Orlando's attractions and hotels.

Officials at Universal Orlando said Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios have seen double-digit growth so far this summer compared with last year.

"We've had a great summer," said Tom Schroeder, a Universal spokesman.

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The Walt Disney Company Increases Presence in China with Sponsorship of Country's First NBA Games

 

ESPN to Televise Two NBA Preseason Games Live from China in October 2004

 

The Walt Disney Company will further enhance the presence of Disney in China this Fall through its relationship with the National Basketball Association. Disney will sponsor the first-ever NBA games staged in China when the Houston Rockets and the Sacramento Kings play two preseason games originating from Shanghai and Beijing in October 2004, and ESPN will televise these games. This is part of Disney's overall effort to expand internationally, particularly in the Asia Pacific region.

 

"Introducing the magic of Disney to the world's most populated nation is a truly thrilling and historic undertaking," said Disney CEO Michael Eisner. "While this is an incredible opportunity for our company and our shareholders, it is also an important cultural milestone for the Chinese people, as we open the doors to entirely new worlds of fantasy, imagination and adventure."

"The combined strength of Disney, ESPN and the NBA makes for a sports-entertainment powerhouse, and we're pleased to bring them together for the first time ever in China," said Bob Iger, Disney president and COO. "Both Disney and the NBA offer experiences that transcend cultural divides, which is why these exciting sporting events are the ideal platform for introducing Disney's newest theme park, Hong Kong Disneyland."

As part of the sponsorship, Hong Kong Disneyland will work with the NBA on a number of marketing activities to support the event. Hong Kong Disneyland also will have an in-stadium and courtside presence at the NBA games in China, as well as on NBA.com.

The historic NBA games -- the first staged in China by an American professional sports league -- will be televised live on ESPN Thursday, Oct. 14, at 7:30 a.m. ET from Shanghai Stadium and late Saturday, Oct. 16, at midnight (Saturday at 9 p.m. PT) from Capital Stadium in Beijing. ESPN play-by-play commentator Mike Breen and analyst Bill Walton will call the action. NBA China Games 2004 are part of the league's continuing effort to support the development and growth of basketball in China.

These games will mark the first time Yao Ming returns to his native country with his NBA team, the Houston Rockets. In addition to the domestic telecasts, ESPN International will distribute the games to 100 countries and territories in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. Additional international distribution is pending. Each game will be reaired: the event in Shanghai will be seen on ESPN2 Thursday, Oct. 14, at 7:30 p.m. and the contest from Beijing will be aired by ESPN Sunday, Oct. 17, at 1 p.m.

Disney's presence in China includes television programming, film, home entertainment products, live entertainment, consumer products, publishing, Internet properties, and in 2005/06 a theme park presence.

The Hong Kong Disneyland project was announced in November 1999 as a venture between Disney and the Hong Kong SAR Government. With the completion of reclamation for Hong Kong Disneyland Phase I by the Hong Kong SAR Government in December 2002, Disney began construction in January 2003, with the project scheduled to open in late 2005/early 2006. The opening day program for Hong Kong Disneyland will include a theme park in the style of Disneyland Park and two hotels. The Phase I build-out includes a projected 10-million-annual-visitor theme park in the style of Disneyland Park, 2,100 hotel rooms, and an area for retail, dining and entertainment. The project is estimated to create 18,000 new jobs at opening (both Disney and other employment), growing to 36,000 once the first park reaches build-out. The Hong Kong SAR Government estimated that the first phase of the project will generate a present economic value of HK$148 billion (US$19 billion) in benefits to Hong Kong over a 40-year period. For more information, please refer to the Hong Kong Disneyland website at http://www.hongkongdisneyland.com/.

Hong Kong Disneyland recently announced an agreement with Television Broadcasts Limited to launch a collaborative effort to bring the best of Disney's entertainment to the people of Hong Kong. Under the collaboration, TVB Jade will air three exciting new Disney TV programs -- "Hong Kong Disneyland Fun Time," "Hong Kong Disneyland Viva Club Disney" and "The Magical World of Disneyland," starting from July. The three series will bring Disney stories and magic to children and families in Hong Kong in the period leading up to the Park's opening. "The Magical World of Disneyland" will debut on Saturday, July 31, on TVB Jade, broadcasting classic Disney animated films. "Toy Story" will lead off, making it the first Disney animated movie ever to be aired on TVB Jade. Other upcoming movies will include "Dinosaur," "Monsters Inc.," and "Beauty and the Beast." Prior to the airing of each film, "Magical World of Disneyland" will also take viewers behind the scenes to experience the magic of Disneyland Park, and how Walt Disney's vision created a place that transports guests into a world of fantasy, imagination and adventure.

In June 2004, ESPN announced plans to launch ESPN The Magazine in China later this year. Working with Vertex Group, ESPN will publish the Chinese-language edition monthly. The magazine will be distributed in Mainland China, including Beijing and Shanghai, and in Hong Kong. The Chinese edition of ESPN The Magazine will offer a mix of original content targeted to the interests of sports fans in China, as well as material from the U.S. edition of the magazine. Editorial is expected to include coverage of international, European, and Chinese soccer; international and Asian basketball leagues, as well as the NBA; professional golf; track and field events; auto racing; action sports; and more. The magazine will be printed in simplified Chinese characters.

ESPN's joint venture with Star Sports in Asia, "ESPN STAR Sports" (ESS), continues to grow by providing first-class coverage of local and international sporting events most relevant to the markets it serves. Selected ESPN programming is distributed nationally in China via CCTV and other outlets and reaches an estimated 100 million households. ESPN is also available as a 24-hour network in Hong Kong and is transmitted in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English.

Disney Consumer Products entered the China market 12 years ago and has now expanded its retail presence to more than 25 cities to reach 25 million consumers with more than 690 Disney corners in China selling Disney-branded merchandise. The business is growing at a rapid rate and sales in China reached approximately US$128 million at retail in 2003. Disney is one of the leading children's publishers in China and Mickey Mouse magazine is one of the most-read children's comic magazines in China.

Mickey Mouse animation first appeared on CCTV in 1986. Its continuing popularity culminated in a unique relationship with CCTV1 to feature classic Disney animation, which returned to CCTV1 in 2001. Disney animation on CCTV1 recently obtained a 28% share in recent ratings, reaching more than 91.3 million children. Through close cooperation with CCTV-6, Disney has started to bring big blockbuster titles, including "102 Dalmatians," "Face Off," "Armageddon" and "Shanghai Noon" to Chinese viewers for the first time.

Disney has launched numerous television ventures across the Asian continent and continues to be on expansion mode. Disney Channel (DC) is now available in 11 countries and regions across Asia, with Japan launched on Nov. 18, 2003, and Hong Kong added in April 2004. There are four separate video feeds/services in the region -- the DC Japan, DC Australian, DC Taiwan (Mandarin) and the DC Asia feed, which also has an English, Mandarin and Cantonese audio feed. In Korea, DC Asia also broadcasts with a Korean subtitling service.

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise which includes Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, The Walt Disney Studios, ABC, Inc., ESPN, Disney Channel, Disney Consumer Products, television and radio stations and Internet web sites.

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Animal Kingdom Rehabs scheduled

Some new Animal Kingdom rehabs currently scheduled. Adjust your trip planners now

Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends will be closed for refurbishment Tuesday, September 7 through Saturday, September 11, reopening Sunday, September 12, 2004.

Festival of the Lion King will be closed for refurbishment Thursday, September 16 through Saturday, September 18, reopening Sunday, September 19, 2004.

The Boneyard will be closed for refurbishment Monday, September 20 through Thursday, October 14, reopening Friday, October 15, 2004

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                                                            Tuesday July 27, 2004
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Affleck on mission for Disney's 'Men'

 

The Walt Disney Co. knows where Ben Affleck is -- attached to the adventure feature "Nowhere Men." The studio has acquired the pitch for high-six figures for Peter and David Griffiths to pen.

Based on a treatment by Soren Garcia Rey, a longtime friend of Affleck, and Chris Angulo, the ensemble adventure is described as "Ocean's Eleven" meets "Men in Black." It revolves around a group of people, one of whom will be played by Affleck, who pursue covert missions, aided by their personal extraordinary gifts.

The Griffiths brothers pitched an expanded take of the treatment to studio brass Nina Jacobson and Jason Reed who bought it in the room. Affleck's partner at LivePlanet, Sean Bailey, will produce, with other producing credits still to be determined.

The writers and Affleck are repped by Endeavor. The scribes penned "Collateral Damage" and "The Hunted."

The Disney deal is good news for Affleck, who recently exited the basketball drama "Glory Road." Before that, he was attached to star in the studio's "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," but he fell out of that package as well. He next stars in the holiday comedy "Surviving Christmas." 

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Series, Movies Slated at Disney Channel

 

Disney Channel has given the go-ahead to a new live-action series and two movies, all scheduled to air in 2005.

The series "The Suite Life" stars identical twins Dylan and Cole Sprouse ("Friends") as 11-year-olds who get to live in a swanky Boston hotel.

The films are "Buffalo Dreams," about boys living on a Navajo reservation, and "World's Greatest Kid Magician," which is set inside a reality TV

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Euro Disney says no debt deadline set for Prince al-Waleed on debt plan

No deadline has yet been set for Prince al-Waleed bin Talal and other shareholders in the Euro Disney theme park near Paris to make a decision on the company's debt restructuring plan, spokesman Peter Boterman said on Monday.

This Saturday, July 31, is the deadline for the company's creditor banks to make up their minds on proposals for revamping Euro Disney's debt of 2.4 billion euros (2.9 billion dollars) and on a plan for a capital increase of 250 million euros.

Boterman said "I wouldn't say there is no urgency" for Prince al-Waleed to give his view, but he pointed out that the prince did not have to give his view by July 31.

The first hurdle for the restructuring plan was to win backing from creditors and only then would a timetable be set for shareholder approval, he said.

Boterman could not say when Euro Disney might make a statement about the progress of the debt proposals nor when the company might issue its sales figures for the third quarter to June, although analysts expect them this week.

In mid-morning trading, the price of shares in Euro Disney was showing a fall of 0.01 euros or 3.03 percent to 0.32 euros amid investor anxiety about the debt restructuring and the sales figures, dealers said.

The company, which attracted 12.4 million visitors to its Disney theme park east of Paris last year, suspended debt payments to core shareholder The Walt Disney Co in November and has said it cannot repay its overall debts unless shareholders back the refinancing plan.

At French brokers Fideuram Wargny, analysts estimate that Euro Disney sales for the nine months to June will be flat at 749 million euros, with revenues from the theme parks showing a gain of 5.4 percent and turnover at its hotels down 4.3 percent to 294 million euros.

The 250-million-euro capital increase project has been backed by The Walt Disney Co, which will put up 100 million euros in proportion to its 39.1-percent interest.

Leading creditor Caisse des Depots et Consignations, CDC a quasi-state French investment group, is to provide another 75 million euros and other banks the remainder, according to reports.

Prince al-Waleed rescued Euro Disney from an earlier financial crisis in 1994 by taking a major stake.

However, the Saudi Arabian prince reduced his holding to 16.3 percent from 24.7 percent last year. His staff have said he was willing to talk about the latest debt problems, but have given no details of his attitude towards the plan.

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Fordyce Teachor Honored by Disney

Pamela Caldwell Vaughan, a high school biology and physical sciences teacher from Fordyce, has been honored by the Walt Disney Company.

Vaughan is among 39 teachers that Disney officials chose to honor out of a field of 150,000 nominees. The 39 were chosen by a national committee of educators.

All recipients of the 2004 DisneyHand Teacher Awards received $10,000 each.

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Premiere of 'The Village' in Prospect Park New York

Below are photos of the premiere of "The Village" held in New York.

                   
                                           

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'King Arthur' Fares Better Overseas

With a batch of big-budget movies playing around the world, the foreign box office thrived last weekend despite a falloff in parts of Europe because of fine weather.

Highlights of a busy weekend included the early foreign turnaround of Disney's domestic disappointment "King Arthur," the record-breaking top-of-the-market opening of Germany's homemade "(T)Raumschiff Surprise -- Periode 1" (Spaceship Surprise -- Period 1, the unofficial English translation), the ongoing approval of Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" and the holdover power of "Spider-Man 2," "Shrek 2" and "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban."

Japan was the site of a blockbuster shootout, with "Azkaban" holding the No. 1 position for a fifth weekend with a $3.9 million haul in the face of openings from "King Arthur," "Shrek 2" and local film "Pocket Monsters '04," and the third weekend of "Spider-Man 2." A $3.1 million two-day weekend put "Arthur" in second place, followed by "Spider-Man 2," "Pocket Monsters" and "Shrek 2."

"King Arthur," which will barely break $50 million in North America, came through with a $10.1 million weekend from 14 countries, copping the No. 1 position in six out of the seven markets (excluding Japan) in which it opened. South Korea provided $2.3 million, hailed as a Disney record in the market; Sweden reported in with $1.2 million, Norway with $470,000 and Taiwan $514,000.

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Moore trumpets earnings, takes shot at Eisner

"Fahrenheit 9/11" director Michael Moore has responded to news out of Aspen that the CEO of The Walt Disney Co. enjoyed the divisive picture.

The director held a conference call Sunday to promote the fact that "Fahrenheit 9/11" has now grossed more than $100 million since hitting the silver screen in June. He also took a shot at Disney boss Michael Eisner, who blocked Miramax Films from distributing the film.

"I'm glad Mr. Eisner has said he liked the film, but I would think that his stockholders might wonder what his fiduciary responsibilities are to them at this point," entertainment magazine Variety.com quoted Moore as saying during the call, which was heard by about a dozen journalists.

The director was reacting to a story published Saturday in the Aspen Daily News that reported Eisner acknowledged seeing "Fahrenheit 9/11" at FORTUNE magazine's fourth annual Brainstorm conference, co-hosted by The Aspen Institute.

"The reason it is a hit is it's entertaining," Eisner said. "I thought it was like going to a rock concert. I loved it, but not in a political (sense)."

Days before "Fahrenheit 9/11" premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, Moore revealed Miramax Films, a subsidiary of Disney, would not distribute it for political reasons. At the time, he suggested Disney was fearful of losing tax breaks in Florida because the film critiqued President Bush's response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and motives for waging war in Iraq. President Bush's brother is the governor of Florida.

Eisner has disputed the claim and explained at the Brainstorm conference that Disney's shareholders and customers would not want the company to release controversial political films.

"We simply don't believe we should be a partisan company," said Eisner, who owns a home in Old Snowmass. "I have no regrets. I think we did the right thing."

Miramax executives Bob and Harvey Weinstein eventually acquired the rights to "Fahrenheit 9/11" through a company it formed with Moore called Fellowship Adventure Group. Lions Gate Films and IFC Films are distributing the picture.

Raking in more than $100 million, "Fahrenheit 9/11" is the most lucrative documentary ever made and it has made more money than any Disney film this year.

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Do lions' roars rattle the cheap seats?

It's a given that “The Lion King” looks great from the front of the beautifully refurbished Opera House, especially from an aisle seat, where the life-size puppets can easily be touched as they parade by.

But those seats to this smash hit are next-to-impossible to come by. And for many families their cost - $87.50 - makes a trip to the theater equivalent to a weekend vacation to Disney World. (That's the box office cost for most orchestra seats; special VIP seating is $132.50, and some Web sites are selling tickets this week for up to $220 apiece.)

However, the producers offer a wide-enough price differential that there are balcony and mezzanine seats available for $22.50, making it possible for a family of four to see the show for less than $100.

But can you see and hear the love tonight (to paraphrase the show's ballad) from these locations, specifically the last row of the balcony that offers a dodo's-eye-view?

To find out, I waited some 40 minutes at the box office and picked up a $27.50 seat for last Sunday's matinee that placed me in Row G in the mezzanine on the far right.

Though marked “limited view,” the seat was better than I expected. Virtually all the visual effects, from the eye-filling opening to the subtle use of shadow puppets, are in full view. There is so much to see, in fact, that the obstructed view hardly mattered, and the sound, though obviously amplified with state-of-the-art technology, is clear and warm.

For the second half I moved back to the center of the last row, raked high above the proscenium. Yet from this location, where I sat with a family of four, the show appears like a vibrantly colored pop-up book.

While the facial expressions of the actors could not be seen without the aid of binoculars, it remained an eye-filling spectacle that left the children beside me enthralled. “Wow,” said one when the face of Mufasa, the dead lion, appears like magic against a starry sky.

The sound, though, lacks the clarity it had from points below, perhaps because the vast hall's natural acoustics create a kind of bellowing effect.

Part of the show is the Opera House itself, which is not only resplendent to the eye, but provides more than adequate comfort.

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Snowbird couples work seasonal jobs at Disney

 

Andy Anderson retired in 1973 as a senior master sergeant after a 26-year career in the Air Force. Anderson and his wife, Doris, supplemented his pension with a number of odd jobs, including managing an apartment complex and working at a ski resort.

Now in their 70s and married for more than half a century, the Andersons could be living in quiet retirement.

Instead, they have spent the past 10 winters working at Walt Disney World, returning to their home in Portage, Wis., for the warmer months.

"We would have started earlier (at Disney) if we had known about it," says Doris Anderson. "It's so much fun to meet people from all walks of life, from different states, different countries. Every day is a different day."

The Andersons, who live in a travel trailer near Davenport, Fla., from October through March, are among dozens of retired and middle-age couples who work at Disney World and other area theme parks during the winter as "seasonal casual" employees.

For instance, SeaWorld currently has 80 seasonal employees among its 55-and-older staff, including 17 couples. The couples typically work two to four days a week, from November through April, with their schedules arranged so they can travel to and from the park together, says Dawn Garrett, SeaWorld's manager of employment.

Universal Orlando does not keep tabs on the number of snowbird couples who work in its parks. However, of the roughly 500 retirees who work there during the winter and spring months, most are couples, spokesman Tom Shroder says.

When it comes to recruiting seasonal employees, Universal advertises at assorted Central Florida retirement communities, while SeaWorld relies mostly on word of mouth.

Disney, which would not reveal how many seasonal casual employees it has, recruits at recreational-vehicle conventions and advertises in RV publications. It also depends on people, such as Andy and Doris Anderson, to spread the word. The couple, honored as official "Casting Scouts" by Disney, estimates they have recruited more than a dozen couples.

The Wisconsin snowbirds spend three days a week ferrying guests between Epcot and Disney-MGM Studios, stopping at assorted hotels along the way. On the Friendship boats, which hold up to 100 passengers, one of the Andersons pilots the launch while the other serves as a tour guide.

"I generally drive over to the (MGM) Studios, and coming back she takes the wheel," explains Andy Anderson. "I don't want to lollygag around a pool or sit in a clubhouse playing pinochle. I like to stay busy. At my age, it keeps me young. It keeps me active. I really and truly love it."

So do Jerry and Brenda Carter, who retired in 2001 from their respective jobs, rented out their house in Waynesboro, Va., and began to reside full-time in their 38-foot motor home.

Since then, they have spent their summers working in national parks and their winters working at Disney.

"We had been planning on doing this for years and years," says Brenda Carter, 59, a former beauty-shop owner. Her husband, three years older, was a tool-and-die maker. Die-hard Disney fans, "we wanted to know the inner workings of Disney, how they created the magic," Carter says.

They landed what they consider a dream job at Disney. As "character greeters" they usher costumed characters in the Magic Kingdom and other Disney parks.

"We're on the happy end of it. We get to experience smiling kids," Brenda Carter says. They rarely work together, but they're usually scheduled in the same park at the same time, so they can drive to and from Disney together.

"If Jerry works an hour or two later than me, I just put on my street clothes and enjoy the park."

The Carters typically work six-hour shifts, two or three days a week, although as casual employees, they can work as many as 60 hours in a busy holiday week and as few as zero hours during slow periods.

No problem. "When we're off, we spend a lot of time in the park," Brenda Carter says.

"I love to walk down Main Street, stop at the bakery, get a cup of coffee and watch people go by. It's a busman's holiday."

Not all of Disney's seasonal casual employees are retirees. Paul and Sandy Bailey left their demanding jobs in Phoenix, Ariz., for a less-stressful lifestyle. "The pay was great, but we thought, 'There's got to be more to life,'" says Paul Bailey, who is 58. Since 2000, he and Sandy, 49, have lived, traveled and worked as "full-time RVers." They get by on their savings as well as earnings from jobs they find in RV campgrounds throughout the country.

They spent last summer at a campground in Ocean City, Md., and came south for the winter. They didn't plan to work at Disney but jumped at the opportunity when they heard about it. Since November, they have worked together as counter workers in the park's quick-service restaurants, such as the Pinocchio Village Hause in Fantasyland.

They would prefer to work outside - Bailey says he would love to drive the monorail or the train that circles the Magic Kingdom - but they're not complaining. They get to work together and meet lots of people. Bailey says the odds are "better than 50-50" they'll return next winter after spending the summer at a New Jersey campground.

"It's a big country, and normally we wouldn't want to do the same gig twice," Bailey says. "But there are not that many places to go in the winter where it's warm and you're able to work."

Unlike the Baileys, Lenny and Marilyn Erb have no doubts about where they will spend next winter.

After taking their 38-foot Dutchstar motor home to either the Smoky Mountains or the Pacific Northwest this summer-they spent the past two summers in Maine-they have definite plans to return to Central Florida come October for their seventh consecutive season at Disney.

"We dreamed our whole married life we'd work at Disney. We thought it was the happiest, cleanest place in the world," says Marilyn Erb, 59, who retired in 1998 after a 35-year career as a medical secretary in Lewiston, Pa. Her husband, 67, was a Ford technician and retired on the same day.

Erb says their work as convention guides and special-event helpers gives them opportunities to learn, and keeps them active and together. They like the routine of working at Disney for eight months a year and traveling in the summer.

At some point, however, the couple plans to live in Florida year-round. "Then," Marilyn Erb says, "we'll work for Disney full time."

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Help Countdown The Days Until Christmas At Disney World

If you love Christmas and have been to the Downtown Disney Marketplace at Disney World you are sure to be familiar with Disney's Days of Christmas. The shop is filled with an amazing assortment of Disney Christmas items to make your Holiday Season a magical Disney one.

Each day at the shop a Cast Member randomly chooses someone to change the numbers on the shops "Countdown to Christmas" Calendar to reveal the number of days remaining until the big day’s arrival.

Barbara Tyink, the retail manger of the shop said, "The children are happy to help and are excited because there is one less day until Christmas." Tyink added, "The children are so happy, and they feel special when they get their certificate. It’s fun for everyone. It’s Christmas here all year long."

So the next time you are at Disney World, go in and change the "Countdown to Christmas" calendar for them, or at least ask if no one else has already.

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Disney's Fairy Tale Wedding Engagement Packages At the Disneyland Resort

This is a magical, evening to remember in Disneyland’s Magic Kingdom after hours. Upon arrival, the couple is invited by the Royal Coachmen to enjoy a fairy tale ride in Cinderella’s Crystal Coach along Main Street, U.S.A. As the coach approaches Sleeping Beauty Castle, Herald Trumpeters perform a welcoming fanfare.

The couple is then escorted by the Fairy Godmother to Snow White’s Wishing Well where a romantic table is adorned with a bouquet of roses and a glass slipper containing the couple’s engagement rings sitting atop a velvet pillow. The evening is entranced by musical arrangements of a strolling violinist at which Mickey and Minnie Mouse arrive to lead the couple to the Castle Garden for a romantic, five-course dinner under the stars served by a Royal Butler. For a sweet ending, Cinderella’s Crystal Coach waits for the couple with champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries and a return down Main Street, U.S.A. A professional photographer is on hand to capture the evening’s magical moments.

Sleeping Beauty’s Royal Engagement $7000.00

Includes all features of the Castle Garden Engagement Package (listed below) and adds a romantic picnic basket filled with wine and assorted cheeses accompanied by a romantic serenade of a solo violinist. The couple is then joined by Mickey and Minnie Mouse in formal attire who present them with a beautiful Sleeping Beauty Castle keepsake and a photographer to capture the event’s special moments. To conclude the evening, the couple is presented with a chilled bottle of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries to toast their new beginning.

Prince Charming Engagement $4500.00

Offers a private, romantic setting in the specially-reserved Magic Kingdom Castle Garden, near Sleeping Beauty Castle during park hours. A bouquet of roses lies next to a bottle of champagne chilling in a silver bucket. The newly engaged couple is then awestruck with a private viewing of the night sky lighting up with the perfect magical backdrop: the Disney's Imagine ... "A Fantasy in the Sky" fireworks extravaganza! The couple is then presented with Mickey and Minnie Mouse Wedding ears and a keepsake glass slipper with a tray of chocolate truffles.

Castle Garden Engagement $2000.00

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Expected weak Euro Disney sales seen adding to debt deadline woes

 

Third quarter sales figures expected this week for France's Euro Disney theme park are expected to reveal slower growth in visitor spending and add to its woes as it struggles to restructure its 2.4-billion-euro (2.9-billion-dollar) debt, analysts predict.

One week before the July 31 deadline for shareholder approval, Euro Disney's second biggest shareholder, Prince al-Waleed bin Talal, has yet to formally signal support for the debt rescheduling plan as well as a proposed capital increase of 250 million euros.

The company suspended debt payments in November and has said it cannot repay its debt unless shareholders back the refinancing plan.

"We expect a slowing in the rise in theme park revenues in the third quarter," Fideuram Wargny analyst Virginie Blin predicted.

"We are very worried about attendances at the (theme) parks as first half figures gave no convincing signs of a very favourable impact from the new commercial and marketing policy," Blin said.

Euro Disney's resort east of Paris is Europe's most popular tourist attraction but the 12.4 million visitors last year were nowhere near enough to put the company into profit, Blin said.

Attendance levels are the beacon towards which all eyes will be turned, she said, adding that Euro Disney has been faced with an inadequate return on assets since the March 2002 opening of a second theme park, the Walt Disney Studios.

"The current attendance level (12.4 million in 2003) is far below the profit threshold estimated at 16-17 million vistors," the Wargny analyst said.

Wargny estimates Euro Disney sales for the nine months to June will be flat at 749 million euros, with revenues from the theme parks up 5.4 percent and turnover at its hotels down 4.3 percent at 294 million.

For the six months to March, Euro Disney announced sales of 473.8 million euros, boosted by a six percent increase in theme park revenues.

But average spending per visitor in that period rose largely because of a decision to scrap a reduction in entry tickets during the low season, Blin said.

The 250-million-euro capital increase project has been backed by Euro Disney's core shareholder, The Walt Disney Company, which will put up 100 million euros in proportion to its 39.1 percent stake.

Leading creditor Caisse des Depots et Consignations will provide another 75 million euros and other banks the remainder, according to reports.

The rights issue will be carried out by March 31 next year if creditors back the scheme.

In addition, the company would obtain a new 10-year 150-million-euro line of credit from Walt Disney, reducing to 100 million euros after five years.

A Memorandum of Understanding agreed by Walt Disney and CDC provides for conversion of 290 million in payments due to Walt Disney into a minority equity position in a subsidiary that would hold substantially all of Euro Disney's assets and liabilities, the company said.

Other proposed terms include deferral of interest and repayments on various debts, with payment of amounts owed to Walt Disney and CDC delayed until 2017 or later.

Valerie Carriere of CAI Cheuvreux said the "first condition" for a successful rescheduling had been met, as agreement by lenders to renounce some of their financial obligations for a while is one of the requirements for starting the financial restructuring of the group.

Andre Lacroix, Euro Disney's chief executive, said the restructuring was necessary "in order to enable us to execute our strategy of adding exciting new rides and attractions to fuel long-term growth."

The latest crisis stems directly from the failure of Walt Disney Studios to attract enough extra visitors to the Marne-la-Valle resort to enable the company to pay off the 610-million-euro cost of building the second park.

Euro Disney hoped it would add another four million people to the 12.2 million visiting Disneyland Paris every year.

Instead, attendances edged up only to 13.1 million in 2002 and fell back to 12.4 million last year.

Branded a "cultural Chernobyl" by French opponents when the original theme park opened in 1992, Euro Disney hit financial difficulties as early as 1994, when Alwaleed rescued Euro Disney by taking a major stake.

But the Saudi prince reduced his holding to 16.3 percent from 24.7 last year. His staff said he was willing to talk about the latest debt problems but have given no details of his attitude towards the plan.

For stock market investors, Euro Disney has long ceased to be a major attraction.

US network ABC News is today launching its 24-hour presidential election service on digital cable, the internet and mobile phones.

The venture, ABC News Now, offers viewers gavel-to-gavel coverage of the Democratic National Convention, presented by veteran anchorman Peter Jennings.

The service will compete with rivals on multiple platforms, and offer some local programming.

ABC News president David Westin said: "We wouldn't be doing this if we didn't suspect there was a business for us in the long run." It is understood that some broadband internet service providers, such as America Online, will offer ABC News Now for free, though the broadband offering is otherwise priced at $4.95 per month.

ABC conceded it had no idea how many viewers and internet users would be attracted to the service. "I am eager to find out," said Westin.

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Briggs Takes To The Molecular Level Darwin's Findings On Plants Sensing The Direction Of Light

US National Academy of Sciences member and Stanford Professor Winslow R. Briggs will speak at the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) annual meeting July 24, 2004 in Orlando, Florida about findings in his studies of how plants sense the direction of light.

Most casual observers have likely noticed that seedlings on a windowsill will grow toward the light. This phenomenon, known as phototropism, is a manifestation of a sensitive system plants have for detecting light. This light sensing system guides seedlings through the soil and has profound influences on their development during the critical stage of seedling establishment and later as the leaves adapt to changes in the light environment.

Briggs's research group has discovered the two-member family of protein molecules that serves as the detector and decoder of the blue photons on which the seedling cues to determine the direction of light. The molecule, known as phototropin, is now being intensively studied because of its unique properties by chemists and biophysicists as well as plant biologists.

Professor Briggs began experimenting on how plants detect the direction and intensity of light in the 1950's, but he certainly was not the first to be drawn to this fascinating example of sensory biology. For example, Charles Darwin and his son were drawn to the phenomenon and performed some classic experiments that paved the way for further studies, including Briggs' successful approaches. The Darwins could not have imagined that the topic would in the 21st century be studied at the molecular level as it is now.

Professor Briggs will present his group's latest findings on the topic at the ASPB Annual meeting during the Major Symposium on Tropisms 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 24, 2004 in Coronado Ballrooms L-T at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort & Convention Center.

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Champions Crowned at the 2004 US Youth Soccer National Championships

US Youth Soccer National Champions were crowned today at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. Champions in the Boys and Girls Under-14 through Under-19 age groups from each regional event met to battle for the US Youth Soccer National Championship.

The Far West Region took home top honors on the day with seven National Championships, the Midwest Region followed with two and Region I earned one. The California South State Associations won four National Championships, followed by California-North and Missouri with two each. Michigan, Illinois, Maryland and Hawaii each take home a National Championship.

In Under-19 action, the HSC Bulls ’85 of Hawaii won the island state’s first-ever US Youth Soccer National Championship, defeating CASL Elite of North Carolina 3-2.

“I’m extremely proud of these players and they deserve all the credit,” said HSC Head Coach Phil Neddo. “A little island in the middle of the Pacific just won a National Championship, and the name Hawaii will never be taken off the James P. McGuire Cup.

The Pleasanton Rage take home the Under-19 Girls Championship, shutting out Georgia’s GSA Phoenix Red 2-0. adidas Golden Boot winner Christina Estrada netted the first goal for Pleasanton Rage at 62:00, with teammate Jennifer Tuttle following with the insurance goal at 86:00.

“I’ve coached them for seven years and this is their 2nd National Championship,” said head coach Jay Fischer. “This is an incredible way to end their US Youth Soccer career.”

The Michigan Hawks won the Under-18 Girls title, by a score of 3-2 over the San Diego Surf. The Surf’s Amy Epsten opened scoring at 10:00, to be followed by Michigan’s Melissa Dobbyn at 33:00. Epsten came back with another tally at 63:00 and was answered twice by the Hawks’ Nicole Cauzillo at 67:00 and 81:00

“It’s unbelievable. Our hard work has gotten us here and its very rewarding,” said Michigan Hawks captain Maureen Pawlak “We’ve been together for 10 years and its good to go out like this.”

Missouri took home another National Championship, with a victory in the Under-18 Boys group. Busch SC shutout the Sereno ’86 White (Arizona) 2-0. Busch’s Zachary Przybeck tallied the first goal at 68:00, followed by teammate Kyle Smith at 76:00.

In Girls Under-17 action, So Cal United (California South) downed the Windy City Pride (Illinois) 4-1. So Cal’s Kristina Loucks tallied a hat trick on the day, with goals at 3:00, 43:00 and 90+, teammate Alex Fries added one for good measure at 29:00. Windy City’s Crysti Howser showed signs of a rally, finding the back of the net at 82:00, but the So Cal defense minded their territory and took home the US Youth Soccer National Championship.

Host state Florida’s Weston came up short in overtime, loosing 2-1 to Scott Gallagher of Missouri in the Under-17 Boys final. Weston’s Juan Guerra scored on a 25-yard bomb from center but Scott Gallagher’s Timothy Walters was too much, scoring both goals, including the overtime-game winner.

The Casa Mia Bays of the Boys Under-16 group defended their 2003 US Youth Soccer National Championship. Maryland’s Casa Mia defeated FC United (Washington) 3-0, with two goals from adidas® Golden Boot winner Xavier Rock.

“They may not be the best team on paper, but on the field these guys are super,” said Casa Mia Head Coach Stephen Nichols. “These guys respond to pressure - they have all year.”

The Eclipse Select (Illinois) downed the Slammers FC (California South) 2-1 in Under-16 Girls Championship action today. Down two-goals, the Slammers tested the Eclipse defense late in the game with a goal at 68:00, but the Eclipse defense held strong and claimed their national championship.

“This team is all about character. We began as a piece of paper, pages of notes on player identification when the girls were 13 and 14 years old,” said Eclipse Select Head Coach Mike Nesci. “The goal was simple - to win the National Championship. Today we’ve met our goal, and in less time than we originally thought possible.

“All year, the girls showed desire and I believe their character is what got them here today. Character always prevails,” added Nesci.

It took only one goal for California North’s Mustang Blast to win the Under-15 Girls trophy and defeat the Michigan Hawks. Heather Vandevanter found the back of the net at 31:00 and that proved to be enough.

California South’s Arsenal FC downed the Chicago Magic 2-1 in the Under-15 Boys final. Chicago netted one goal at 65:00 but Arsenal’s defense kept them at bay through the final seconds of the match.

In Under-14 Girls action, the Eagles (California South) downed the ESC ’90 Black (Oklahoma) 2-1. The teams played evenly for 64 minutes until the Eagles’ Kelsea Smith netted her first goal. Six minutes later, Smith followed up with the insurance goal. ESC pushed the issue with a tally in extra minutes, but the Eagles defense proved strong enough to win the US Youth Soccer National Championship.

“In the last ten minutes, they took their effort to a whole new level,” said Eagles Head Coach Vince Thomas. “We’ve said to ourselves all along that we need to take responsibility for winning. Kelsea showed guts getting that last goal – and that’s how she’s been all week.”

The Under-14 Boys crown went to another California South team, the Celtic Harps downed the Rockford Raptors (Illinois) 3-1, finding the back of the net twice in the first half. According to team officials, some of the Celtic Harps have already been playing together for six years, while Head Coach Matthew McDonagh claims his first National Championship after 25 years of coaching.

Complete Game Results are available at www.usyouthsoccer.org.

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                                                           Sunday July 18, 2004
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Disney Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments 2004

Hallmark has released the 2004 Dream Book with pictures of all this years ornaments including the Disney ornaments pictured below. The Keepsake Ornament Premier was July 10th-11th with the release of Affection for Confections ($18.95 USA/$27.95 Canada) it's a two piece ornament one of Mickey and one of Minnie baking cookies (not pictured)

During the Keepsake Ornament Debut October 2nd-3rd more than sixty ornaments will be released including Sneaking a Treat! ($18.95 USA/$27.95 Canada) and that ornament is Pluto sneaking some cookies of a table (not pictured)

Here are the Disney Ornaments for 2004:

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Snow Sculpture

Pocket Watch
Welcome Sound (miniature)

World-Class Shoppers

Candy Cane Trio (miniature)

A Sticky Situation

100 Acre Express

Baby's First Christmas

The Winning Bounce

Wings For Eeyore

Friends Forever

Amigos Por Siempre (spanish)

Stocking Stuffers

Bambi and Friends

Oddball, Little Dipper, and Domino

Pinocchio Marionette (miniature)

Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Small World

Amazing Number 53

Mr. Incredible

Tinker Bell

Three Beautiful Princesses

Stanley and Dennis

Ariel

Buzz Lightyear and the Claw

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Say “Cheese!”

Disneyland Resort Invites The World To Be A Part Of “The Happiest Faces On Earth…A Disney Family Album”

In a visually spectacular kick-off ceremony in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland in Southern California, Disneyland Resort President Matt Ouimet will join 1,400 Disneyland Cast Members, plus their families and friends, on Saturday, July 17 in formally launching an exciting new program that will be a major part of the global celebration of the 50th anniversary of Disneyland next year.

Disney with a difference

When Disney gave permission for North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly to be one of the first in the country to present "Beauty and the Beast" while it is still running on Broadway, they also asked the theater to make it a substantially different production from the Broadway version. The theater folk in Beverly have more than met this challenge, and the result is a joyously original version that brings the audience to its feet several times, whistling, clapping and screaming bravos.

Don't worry, it's still the same story, and the beloved Alan Menken music is all still there. A rich and satisfying orchestra surrounds the audience with those great hit songs in the overture, and several of the leads in this production sing them with glorious and powerful voices.

What is new are the sets, costumes, makeup and choreography, and one couldn't ask for better. The sets, designed by Dex Edwards, are wildly imaginative as they seamlessly appear and disappear. Miguel Angel Huidor's costumes are gorgeous beyond description in some cases, downright hilarious in others, and perhaps too realistic in the case of Cogsworth the clock, whose glassy tummy distractingly reflects a blinding white spotlight at some points.

Dazzling athletic choreography by John MacInnis brings the audience to its feet after "Be Our Guest." This invigorating number features a surreal performance by Peyton Royal as a carpet capable of seemingly physically impossible feats. Add an excellent ballet number by Radio City Rockette Jacquelyn Dowsett as a corkscrew to cancans, tangos and general mayhem performed by enchanted silverware, plates, salt and pepper shakers and a Kleenex box, and you have a happy audience.

This show-stopping number, led off by a sophisticated vocal by Ron Wisniski as Lumiere, received such an enthusiastic mid-show standing ovation last Thursday that the performers finally had to just get on with the show before the audience was willing to sit down again.

As for the lead performances, this production is blessed with some major vocal and acting talents. Gaston, as performed by Brian Noonan, is infuriatingly smug without overdoing. Noonan knows just how far to take this outrageous character, performing Gaston with a hilariously deep and resonant speaking voice, topped off with an operatic baritone singing voice and a wonderfully comical face.

Beautiful Nikki Renee Daniels as Belle has a voice that can seemingly do anything, from light comic numbers to the large dramatic solos. She is impressive during the dramatic and defiant "Home," and throughout the show her singing is equally clear and effective as she ranges high to low, powerfully loud to lyrically soft.

There is much engaging comedy to enjoy between Belle and her captor, that beastly enchanted prince who is first seen as a looming spotlighted monster standing in the aisle. Brad Little plays the beast with gusto and poignancy, making the most of his fine operatic baritone and powerfully resonant speaking voice.

Linda Wolverton's humorous script has the Beast endlessly coached by his enchanted servants on how to court Belle so she will fall in love with him. This would break the spell that is increasingly robbing all of them of their last shreds of humanity. Little is convincingly frustrated by the chore of holding his animal fury in check as he clumsily tries to win the heart of his feisty and initially unwilling houseguest. His faithful servants, in their deliciously eccentric costumes, are ever at his side, coaching him on the niceties of courtship.

As Lumiere, Wisniski seems quite the continental gentlemen despite having candles for hands. He also gets to deliver outrageous puns like "Ah cherie, you cut me to the wick."

His cherie is the shapely and beguiling Babette, transformed into a feather duster, expertly played and danced by Jessica Leigh Brown.

Jeanne Lehman performs enchanted teakettle Mrs. Potts with engaging warmth and a charming voice. Her little son, transformed into a teacup on top of a traveling table, is brought to sprightly life by Ari Shaps.

Gina Ferrall is divinely hilarious as Madame de la Grande Bouche, the portly opera singer whose vanity remains unchecked now that she has been transformed into an actual vanity. Her convincing costume features drawers from which she can extract clothing to offer Belle.

Dick Decareau is briskly in charge as the animated clock who is becoming "a little more tightly wound" each day. And as Gaston's hapless servant Lefou, Jeff Skowron delivers as much physical comedy as one of the three stooges.

Portraying Belle's eccentric inventor-father Maurice, George Merritt uses his well-known baritone voice to great advantage, and delivers the lyrics of Tim Rice and Howard Ashman with crystal clarity and conviction.

Some rather odd blocking for "No Matter What," his first number with Daniels, results in something seldom seen at North Shore's expert arena stage performances. People in some sections of the audience can't see anyone's face during most of this statically staged song. Daniels sings with her back to them for an annoyingly long time, blocking Merritt, and when she finally turns in their direction, she is in turn completely blocked by him and all they see is his back.

Moments like this turn some people off to arena theater, but moments like this are easily avoided, and this one comes as a real surprise. Fortunately it is not repeated anywhere else in the expertly mounted show. By evening's end it is some enchanted audience, standing at the beginning of the curtain call to give every member of the gifted cast a well-deserved standing ovation.

Interested?

"Beauty and the Beast" continues through Aug. 1 with performances at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Performances on Tuesday, July 27 and Thursday, July 29 will be at 2 p.m. only, with no evening performance. Other matinees are at 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The July 31 matinee will be ASL interpreted.

Tickets are priced from $63 to $30, and available by calling the box office at 978-232-7200, visiting in person at 62 Dunham Road, Beverly, or logging onto www.nsmt.org.

Out at the North Shore, an evening for the Gay and Lesbian Community with a post show reception is on July 22. "Meet the Theatre" after the 2 p.m. matinee on July 24 will feature a post-show audience discussion with the artists.

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Bob Lambert Named Senior Vice President, Worldwide Media Technology And Development, The Walt Disney Company

Bob Lambert has been named senior vice president for worldwide media technology and development, The Walt Disney Company, it was announced today by Peter E. Murphy, senior executive vice president and chief strategic officer of The Walt Disney Company.

In his expanded role, Mr. Lambert will work closely with business unit and corporate executives on the development and coordination of a number of Disney's digital initiatives, including new media technology strategies, technology planning, and interface with other media companies on technical matters. He will focus on strengthening Disney's overall relationships in the technology sector to advance the deployment of new businesses. Mr. Lambert will also act as the company's senior technical executive in new media, standards, regulatory, and rights management work.

In announcing Mr. Lambert's expanded role, Mr. Murphy said, "We expect advances in digital technology to provide great opportunities for all our businesses going forward. Bob has been intimately involved in some of the most forward-thinking work in our industry for a number of years, including the initial launches of the DVD format, digital cinema, digital production, rights management technologies, and next generation media. His technical depth and diplomacy is well-respected both in and outside our company. Bob's understanding of the technical, business, and inter-industry landscape make him ideally qualified to represent Disney in our interactions with technology partners, and in our business planning"

Mr. Lambert will continue to lead the Disney New Technology and New Media group, and provide corporate guidance for the Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development unit and the Studio New Technology area. He is a senior member of Disney's Media Technology Board, having served as its 2003-04 chair, which comprises Disney's senior technology executives from across the company's business segments.

Mr. Lambert has been corporate senior vice president for new technology and development for Disney since January, 1996, and prior to that he was senior vice president of technology for The Walt Disney Studios. He has also served as director and vice president in Disney's studio and animation businesses, overseeing the conversion of production processes to digital in the 1990s and creating a companywide new technology program. Before joining Disney, Mr. Lambert was executive director of new project development for Paramount Pictures. He serves on the boards of USC and the American Film Institute, and has served as an advisor to the National Academy of Science, the Entertainment Technology Center, and the US FIRST program.

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Marvel sues Disney over royalties

Marvel Enterprises said Friday that it has filed suit against Walt Disney Co. over royalties stemming from animated shows that run on Disney's ABC Family Network.

Marvel is accusing Disney of improperly accounting costs and royalty distribution on three animated series based on its Spider-Man, X-Men and Incredible Hulk characters. The suit was filed late Thursday.

Disney has been inadequately accounting income on the three series since it bought the cable network from News Corp. in 2001, according to the suit.

As a result, Marvel alleges it has missed out on $6 million in royalties and that Disney is improperly accounting costs by roughly $16 million, working against Marvel's favor.

"To be fair, Disney inherited properties that it never controlled or produced," said Marvel attorney Carole Handler. "[But] it was given short shrift. It's a breach of duty."

Disney representatives did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Shares of Marvel  were unchanged at $15.99 in recent action. Disney was off 44 cents, or 1.9 percent, to $23.43.

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Peter's Upgrade

Since last Saturday Peter Pan's Flight has reopened with some major changes to the queing system and the Load/Unload-Station. Some of the expected major changes did not show up - e.g. the exit is still at the same location, just as the entrance for the stand bye line is still between the "tower" at the buildings corner and the FastPass distribution machines. The FastPass entrance on the other hand was moved to the same Tower, just on its left side (so not toward Toad's Hall but toward the main facade of Peter Pan's Flight). The tower received a little add-on roof to cover the CM in the greeter position, which got nicely themed and fits perfectly into the look of the building. The location of this greeter position between the two different entrances (stand bye and FastPass) also indicates how confident Imagineering is, that the stand bye line will not regularly grow so long that it would spill onto the main walkway. This confidence stems from the quite long way the line can take, when it makes us of all options in the open space between the Peter Pan building and the terrace of Toad's Hall (so behind the FastPass machines) - and from the new load/unload station set up. While the ships still stop for loading and unloading, the parties can now be assembled for boarding more easily, as station gates have been added (as e.g. in the Rock'n'Roller Coaster) behind which the guests line up. Also no longer just one ship can be loaded, but two boats at once, as e.g. at Pirates of the Caribbean. For this the appropriate number of station gates has been set up and the "loading section" of the station prolonged accordingly.

The new set up already seems to proof successful, as reports from last weekend indicate that the lines were moving more fluent and faster - which also results in easy misconceptions. E.g. at one point the CM at the greeter position upon guest request as the official waiting time sign was out of order estimated a waiting of 50 minutes based on the length of the queue, when it was 25 only actually.

Kim Possible 2: Drakken's Demise Review

Generally when you get a package from a game company that touts the success of their product to kids 6-11 yrs old, you just have a feeling you’re going to hate the next few hours of your life. So when I got Kim Possible 2: Drakken’s Demise I shuddered at the time I had to spend in order to review the title, and even though I could never recommend it to anyone outside the target audience, I swear to you I actually had fun playing the game.

We’re not talking Splinter Cell kind of fun, but if you happen to turn on your GBA and find this title already in it (say your little sister was playing it), don’t immediately turn it off. Spend a few minutes playing – you might find yourself enjoying the time you wasted.

Kim Possible is a hugely popular Disney brand, that reaches hundreds of millions of kids in North America alone, and in Quarter 4 2003 managed to reach 60% of ALL kids in America between 6-11. That’s the age group this game is targeted at, and I can’t think of any world in which a female 6-11 yr old wouldn’t absolutely love this game.

Despite the fact the combat system is beyond easy to understand (done by simply pressing B button), even experienced players may find little nuggets on each level that require a little bit of timing, and precision gaming. In Kim Possible 2: Drakken’s Demise you use B button to attack, A to jump, L to switch between special gadgets, and R to use your special gadgets. Not exactly hard to master, but trust me when I say you’ll get flashback of the old Aladdin game on the Genesis, that was so widely loved back then. It’s not that good a game, but you’ll find glimpses of that in Possible 2. You’ll play through 16 levels, and do battle with 5 new enemies, while getting help from your TV friends.

I’m not going to spend one page worth of time intricately reviewing this title, because quite frankly the title isn’t even aimed at a crowd that would read through such a thing. Rest assured though, if you’re a parent looking to buy something for your kid aged 6-11 yrs old, and you happen to see they’re watching Kim Possible on Saturday mornings (and you SHOULD be keeping tabs on what your kids are watching!!!), this is well worth the purchase. They’ll love the fact they’re playing as Kim Possible; they’ll love the fact it’s based on one of their favorite shows; and you’ll be happy knowing it’s aimed squarely at your little one.

Stay away from this title if you’re older then 11, but for anyone else I can’t recommend it enough. The review score by the way reflects the age it was targeted at – if you are outside of the 6-11 age group, check the low part of the range, because that’s how this game will score for you.
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Memorial Services for Legendary Disney Imagineer Sam McKim Announced

Sam McKim, the legendary Disney Imagineer who drew the first souvenir maps of Disneyland in 1954 and went on to a spectacular 32-year career with Disney lending his artistic vision to many popular theme park locations and attractions, died of heart failure on Friday July 9th at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. He was 79 years old. In addition to his Disney career, McKim started out as a child actor who appeared in films with John Wayne, Spencer Tracy, James Cagney, Rita Hayworth and Gene Autry.

Commenting on McKim's passing, Marty Sklar, vice-chairman and principal creative executive for Walt Disney Imagineering, said, "Sam's early sketches for Disneyland's Main Street and Frontierland are inspirational to Imagineers -- among the very best ever drawn for Walt Disney theme park attractions. He was the quintessential researcher; you always knew he would dig out the real gems for our stories, especially for historical subjects. He had incredible talent and was as fine a gentleman as you would ever want to know."

McKim joined WED Enterprises (now Walt Disney Imagineering) as an illustrator in 1954, six months before the opening of Disneyland. His initial assignments included sketches for attractions, shops, and restaurants for Main Street and Frontierland, including the Golden Horseshoe Revue. His early work as a Disney artist also touched several of the Studio's films, including "Zorro," "Johnny Tremain," "The Shaggy Dog," "The Gnome-Mobile," and "Nikki, Wild Dog of the North." He went on to play a key role at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair, for which he contributed sketches for all four Disney attractions ("Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln," "It's a Small World," "Carousel of Progress," and "Magic Skyway.") His paintings also helped introduce the public to the "Haunted Mansion" and the Monorail at Disneyland, and the "Hall of Presidents" at the Magic Kingdom. Later, his artwork contributed to the story development of Epcot pavilions, including the Universe of Energy, and the Disney-MGM Studios, including "The Great Movie Ride."

John Hench, the late great Disney Imagineer who passed away earlier this year, once observed of McKim, "Sam was the greatest to work with. He loved Disney, and his enthusiasm was always contagious. Once he got involved in anything, no matter how problematic, you always knew everything was going to be okay. If I ever needed to hear the truth about something, I always went to Sam."

Born in Canada on December 20, 1924, McKim came to Los Angeles as a young boy and became a child actor, working with many of the top stars of the day. In fact, he didn't get the first Disney position he wanted, after auditioning for the voice of Pinocchio in the 1930s. After serving in the U.S. Army in World War II, McKim enrolled in Art Center College of Design. The day after he graduated, he was called back to the Army to serve in Korea, where he earned several medals and honors, including the Distinguished Service Cross and the Bronze Star. Upon returning to the States, he took acting roles as well as advanced art classes at the Chouinard Art Institute.

McKim recalled, "John Ford offered me a supporting lead in 'The Long Gray Line' with Tyrone Power, Maureen O'Hara and Ward Bond. Would you believe I turned it down to become an artist? I started at 20th Century Fox, then moved to Disney for a temp job, and didn't leave until I retired 32 years later."

As one of a select group of Disney theme park cartographers, McKim's "fun maps" charted the layouts of Disneyland (several editions), the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom, "Pirates of the Caribbean," "Tom Sawyer Island," and Disneyland Paris.

Following his retirement from Imagineering in 1987, McKim remained connected with WDI and Disney. In addition to appearances at Disney fan events and consulting work, his two sons both worked for Disney -- Matt for Imagineering, and Brian for Feature Animation. He also continued to be active in the arts. His work can be found in the U.S. Air Force and L.A. County Sheriff Department Collections, as well as in private collections.

McKim is survived by his wife, Dorothy; son Matt; son Brian and his wife, Dorothy, and their two children, Tyler and Natalie. A graveside service will take place this Friday (7/16) at 2:30 at Pierce Brothers Valhalla (10621 Victory Boulevard) in North Hollywood. A memorial service will follow at 4:30 at First Christian Church of North Hollywood (4390 Colfax Ave.) in Studio City. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in McKim's name to the American Heart Association (Gift Processing Dept., 1710 Gilbreth Road, Burlingame, CA 94010 or online at www.americanheart-donate.org).
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Sam McKim's Artwork to Be Exhibited in Anahein July 18th

Louis Garcia's Just for Fun Disneyana Show & Sale will feature a tribute to Sam McKim by Blaine Gibson, Harriet Burns and Bob Gurr on Sunday, July 18th. In addition, Sam's son Matt will be bringdown a lot of Sam McKim's artwork for the tribute. The show and sale will be held at the Coast Anaheim Hotel in Anaheim, California (1855 South Harbor Blvd) from 10a to 4p. Admission is $3. For additional information, call 714-835-3617.
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Muppet Site to Relaunch Fall 2004

Go check out Kermit displaying his Disney spirit.

http://muppets.disney.go.com/
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Hidalgo: Available on DVD August 3rd

Hollywood superstar Viggo Mortensen (“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”) stars in the action-adventure tale HIDALGO, coming to DVD and VHS on August 3 from Touchstone Home Entertainment. This rousing film is based on the incredible true story of Frank
T. Hopkins, who with his horse Hidalgo defy all odds as they attempt the impossible and compete in the legendary “Ocean of Fire,” a grueling 3,000 mile race across the Arabian Desert. On DVD this riproaring thrill ride also uncovers the secrets behind the movie’s amazing special effects.

Available on DVD in separate widescreen and fullscreen versions for $29.99 (S.R.P.) and on VHS for $24.99 (S.R.P.).

On DVD, HIDALGO’s bonus materials include “Sand & Celluloid,” a behind-the-scenes featurette on the making of the film; and “America’s First Horse,” a historic look at the Spanish Mustang.

HIDALGO is an epic action-adventure and one man’s journey of personal redemption. Based on the life of Frank T. Hopkins, his legend comes to life when one of the greatest riders the American west has ever known is pitted against the world’s finest Arabian horses and racers. Onetime cowboy Frank T. Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen) was once billed as a living legend, but in fact the glory days for Hopkins and his beloved horse, a mustang named Hidalgo, are past. Outcasts from their own land, Frank and Hidalgo both have something to prove when Hopkins becomes the first American invited to enter the Ocean of Fire, a grueling 3,000-mile survival race across the punishing terrain of the Arabian Desert. With his competitors vowing victory, the race becomes not only a matter of pride and honor, but a fight for survival as they attempt the impossible. This spectacular adventure also stars Omar Sharif (“Lawrence of Arabia,” “Doctor Zhivago”).

HIDALGO is written by John Fusco. Directed by Joe Johnston (“Jurassic Park III,” “Jumanji”).

STREET DATE: AUGUST 3, 2004
Direct prebook: June 8, 2004
Distributor prebook: June 22, 2004
Suggested retail price: $29.99 (DVD); $24.99 (VHS)
DVD aspect ratios: 2.35:1 formatted for 16x9 presentation size
or 1.33:1 formatted for 4x3 presentation size
Total run time: Approximately 136 minutes
Rating: “PG-13” For Adventure Violence
And Some Mild Innuendo
Bonus Material Not Rated
DVD Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
DTS 5.1 Surround Sound
THX Certified
French subtitles: On DVD
French language track: On DVD
Spanish subtitles: On DVD
Spanish language track: On DVD
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Princess Diaries Special Edition: Available on DVD August 3rd

Walt Disney Home Entertainment presents THE PRINCESS DIARIES in a 2-disc SPECIAL EDITION DVD available August 3. This deluxe version of acclaimed director Gary Marshall’s (director of "Pretty Woman," "Runaway Bride" and more) hilarious, hip and heartwarming modern day Cinderella story includes bonus materials that go behind-the-scenes and give audiences a backstage pass for this enchanting film. This Special Edition includes both full-screen and widescreen viewing formats; outtakes and bloopers; "Livin’ Like A Princess" featurette; deleted scenes with director introductions; two audio commentaries (with stars Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway; and director Garry Marshall); the "A New Princess" featurette; Myra and Krystal Harris music videos, and more. (Please see attached for bonus material details.)

The story of a shy San Francisco teenager who suddenly learns she’s a real-life princess, Disney’s THE PRINCESS DIARIES features a sparkling cast starring Academy Award. winner Julie Andrews (Best Actress, 1964, "Mary Poppins"), Anne Hathaway (upcoming "Ella Enchanted"), Hector Elizondo ("Tortilla Soup"), Heather Matarazzo ("Welcome to the Dollhouse"), popular recording artist Mandy Moore, Robert Schwartzman ("The Virgin Suicides") and Erik Von Detten ("Recess: School’s Out"). Screenplay by Gina Wendkos, based on the novel by Meg Cabot.

THE PRINCESS DIARIES SPECIAL EDITION 2-disc Disney DVD is available for $29.99

DISC ONE

• Full Screen Version of the film
• Eight deleted scenes, with introductions by director Garry Marshall
• A New Princess – behind the scenes featurette
• Miracles Happen – Myra Music Video
• Supergirl – Krystal Music Video

DISC TWO

• Widescreen version of the film
• All-new Outtakes and Bloopers
• All-new "Livin’ Like A Princess" – a look at the lives of real princesses and what it really takes to be a royal
• All-new Enhanced Computer Features –screensavers, door signs, and more
• All-new exclusive sneak peek behind the scenes look at the upcoming feature film, "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement"
• Audio commentaries:
The Ultimate Tea Party with Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway Commentary with director Garry Marshall
• Royal Engagement: A Princess Diaries 2 sneak peek

Veteran producer, director and writer Garry Marshall is one of the most successful filmmakers in Hollywood. His many filmmaking credits include the hit comedies "Runaway Bride" and "Pretty Woman," both starring Julia Roberts. Some of Marshall’s other films include "The Other Sister," "Frankie and Johnny," "Beaches," "Overboard," "Nothing In Common" and "The Flamingo Kid." Marshall has created and executive produced some of the longest-running, most celebrated and award-winning comedies in American television history, including "Happy Days," "Laverne & Shirley," "The Odd Couple" and "Mork and Mindy."

In THE PRINCESS DIARIES, socially awkward yet bright San Francisco teenager Mia Thermopolis (Hathaway) is thrown for a loop when, from out of the blue, she learns the astonishing news that she’s a real-life princess. As the heir apparent to the crown of the small European principality of Genovia, Mia begins a hysterical journey toward the throne when her strict and formidable grandmother, Queen Clarisse Renaldi (Andrews) arrives to give her "princess lessons." It’s a comical transformation toward princess-ness when Mia finds herself in the middle of a media storm, jealous schoolmates and a takeover plot of her country in this funny, uplifting and affirming comedy classic.

STREET DATE: August 3, 2004
Direct Prebook: June 8, 2004
Distributor Prebook: June 22, 2004
Rated: G
Bonus features unrated
Feature Run Time: Approximately 115 minutes
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 1.85:1 formatted for 16x9 screens and Fullscreen 1.33:1 formatted for 4x3 screens
Sound: Dolby. Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Suggested Retail Price: DVD $29.99 SRP
French Language Track: Available
French Subtitles: Available
Spanish Subtitles: Available

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Disney counting on Shyamalan success

 

The Walt Disney Co. is counting on spooky film master M. Night Shyamalan, a crooning Julie Andrews and a family of aging superheroes to rescue it from a cold streak that even the legendary King Arthur couldn't slay.

The studio, which last year produced a record $3 billion US in worldwide box office revenue, has yet to have one film hit the $100 million US mark domestically -- despite high hopes for movies such as The Alamo, Home on the Range, and Hidalgo.

And with a first weekend take of only $15.2 million US, it doesn't look like the historic epic King Arthur, a Jerry Bruckheimer film starring Clive Owen and Keira Knightley, will make it either.

"We're in a slump," Disney head of distribution Chuck Viane said Tuesday. "We're not pleased with our performance in the first half of the year."

King Arthur cost about $150 million US to make and market, according to analysts, and may never turn a profit, despite its expected international appeal.

The slump will not affect Disney's profits this year, thanks to huge profits generated by home video sales of last year's hits, including Finding Nemo and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

Disney's studio has already produced more operating income in the first three quarters of this year than it did in all of fiscal 2003, fuelled mainly by DVD releases.

But without a big box-office hit, Disney will be left with little to fill next year's home-video pipeline.

"It will leave a gap in the first quarter of 2005," said Harold Vogel of Vogel Capital Management. "That's where the pain will probably be most felt."

Things could conceivably turn in the second half for Disney, which will release the supernatural thriller The Village, from Sixth Sense director Shyamalan in two weeks.

Disney is also counting on the sequel Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement, in which Julie Andrews sings on screen for the first time in years.

Other films this year include Ladder 49 with John Travolta and the animated The Incredibles, from Pixar Animation Studios, about a family of superheroes past their prime.

"I'm about to be on a hot streak," Viane said.

Still, the slump comes at a critical time for Disney and its chief executive, Michael Eisner, who has pledged the company will increase its profits by more than 50 per cent in the fiscal year that ends in September and by double digits each year through 2007.

Dramatic revenue and profit growth at Disney's theme parks is expected to offset the falloff in profits at the film studio, analysts say. And growth at Disney's cable networks and at ABC could also help the company's profit outlook.

But the disappointing studio results leave little margin for error.

"The company is under a lot of pressure," said Paul Kim, an analyst at Tradition Asiel Securities. "It's not necessarily going to be a rosy 2005."
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Give Disney Some Credit

It seems only months ago that credit rating agencies were threatening to downgrade Comcast if it went through with its proposed acquisition of Disney From sandbag to free bird, Standard & Poor's is now upgrading Disney's corporate credit rating.

While the tweak may not seem like much -- going from negative to stable -- it's a step in the right direction. However, the timing may at first appear peculiar. 

• Interest rates are rising, spiking the borrowing costs of such leveraged companies as Disney.
  
  
• Just last week CEO Michael Eisner suggested that Disney should hike its dividend, pleasing shareholders but creating an even larger payout burden for the company's cash flow.
  
  
• This past weekend's dismal opening for King Arthur indicates that the company will need to lance a lot to keep pace with last year's theatrical successes.

So, are the S&P folks looking to make creditors more poor than standard? Of course not. S&P knows all about Eisner's words and, yes, it remembers The Alamo. But Disney is humming along nicely with plenty of leeway to overcome plumper yields and box-office duds. An improving economy will make the turnstiles click faster at its theme parks and a healthier advertising market will work wonders for its network business.

While Disney is looking to earn just $0.98 a share this year -- near the $0.97 a share it earned three years ago -- it sees double-digit earnings growth from here on out.

While there are plenty of long-term concerns, like how it will fill the Pixar void with a skeletal animation crew come 2006 or how the company's recent wave of celluloid turkeys will fare in the home video and DVD market, the near term is encouraging.

Just as significant is that the two live-action movies that may prove to save Disney's summer -- M. Night Shyamalan's classy The Village and the feel-good Princess Diaries 2 -- are still weeks away from their curtain calls.

So give Disney some credit. S&P apparently thinks the company has earned it.
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Witherspoon in talks on Disney pic

'Legally Blonde' star Reese Witherspoon is in talks to voice a new animated movie from Disney called 'Rapunzel Unbraided'.

Variety says that the all-CGI film is described as a new version of the fairytale, but with a twist.

Disney has not set a release date for the film.

Witherspoon has previously voiced the animated movie 'The Trumpet of the Swan'.
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Disney PJs face test 

A MAJOR high street store is carrying out its own independent tests on Disney kids' pyjamas at the centre of a health scare.

And the store says it will remove the PJs from its shelves if the fears of two Ulster MPs, Iris Robinson and Lady Sylvia Hermon, prove correct.

The two Ulster women are among 38 British MPs who have signed a House of Commons motion, which claims the pyjamas contain "highly toxic" chemicals.

As Sunday Life revealed last month, the motion claims the "extremely dangerous" chemicals could damage kids' livers, kidneys and testicles.

Debenhams is currently conducting scientific tests on the items, and will urge all stores to remove them if the results are positive.

Said a Debenhams' spokeswoman: "The company's head of quality assurance is currently investigating this issue.

"Our product complies with current legislation, but they could be removed from stores if results prove they are not up to safety standards."

Disney insists its products could NOT damage children's health.

The Commons motion follows claims by Greenpeace that scientific tests had found toxic chemicals in cartoon motifs on the pyjama tops, which feature the characters Buzz Lightyear, Piglet and Tigger.

But a Disney spokeswoman said: "The Walt Disney Company takes all matters related to product safety very seriously.

"Disney requires that Disney products - including pyjamas - are tested to, and conform to, safety standards set by the European Commission and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission."

Lady Hermon, Mrs Robinson and leading Liberal Democrat, Simon Hughes, are among the MPs who have backed the Early Day Motion by Sussex Lib Dem MP, Norman Baker.

The motion states: "This House condemns the use of highly-toxic chemicals in Disney's children's pyjamas."
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Disney digs deep

The Walt Disney Company declined to distribute Michael Moore's movie Fahrenheit 9/11, but it will decide which charities benefit from its success.

When Bob and Harvey Weinstein purchased the controversial film from Disney subsidiary Miramax for $US6 million ($A8.27 million), Disney said it would donate any profits from the movie to charity.

Those donations could be substantial as the film passed $US80 million ($A110.32 million) in box office sales this week. Disney is slated to get about 60 per cent of the net profits, after Moore and film distributors get their shares, according to The Wall Street Journal.

To date, Disney has not specified which charities will benefit from the movie that criticises President George W Bush's decision to invade Iraq.

Based on its past giving, it's likely that Disney will choose nonprofit organisations involved with children, the environment or the arts. The Fortune 500 company regularly gives to groups like the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the World Wildlife Fund.

Another possible beneficiary would be the Points of Light Foundation - a Washington, DC-based charity founded in 1990 by former President George Bush to promote volunteerism. Last year, Disney gave the nonpartisan group more than $US250,000 ($A345,000).

And what is Moore's view on his movie possibly benefiting a Bush-related charity?

Moore's spokeswoman Sarah Greenberg referred questions to Disney. A Disney spokeswoman did not return calls made today.
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French officials seize fake Disney panties

French customs officials in Nice seized counterfeit underwear carrying the Walt Disney Co. brand. Had they been genuine, the goods would have been worth $1.1 million, a customs official said.

The 101,460 items of women's underwear, with pictures of Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, were discovered in a truck driven by two Bulgarian nationals who are now in police custody. The truck was headed to Italy.

Counterfeit goods frequently arrive in France from East Asian countries and Turkey and are shipped to Eastern Europe and South America.

Last week, 100,000 pairs of counterfeit Chanel eyeglasses were seized near Paris.
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TRON 2.0: Killer App for Xbox Rocks With Adrenaline-Pumping Music From Breaking Benjamin

Game Soundtrack to Include Songs From Breaking Benjamin's New Smash CD WE ARE NOT ALONE

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Disney Hoping for a Happy Ending to 2004

 

The company is counting on strength outside its faltering film unit to bump up earnings for the year.

 

It's a long way from the ticket line to the bottom line.

That's the case for Walt Disney Co., whose feature-film division has had a rocky first half of the year after setting industry records in 2003. The latest disappointment came with the premiere of "King Arthur," the $120-million summer action movie from producer Jerry Bruckheimer. It was in third place Sunday — behind "Spider-Man 2" and "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" — with an estimated ticket take of $15.2 million over the weekend and $23.6 million since it opened Wednesday, according to Disney.

With that kind of start, there's little chance that "King Arthur" will live up to the success of Bruckheimer's last summer movie for Disney, "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl." And the studio, No. 1 at the box office last year, is in sixth place now, tracking firm Nielsen EDI said.

But Disney nevertheless may meet projections that its earnings will grow this year by 50% or more. Even as the studio sputters, the company is firing away on other cylinders, giving Chief Executive Michael Eisner breathing room as he seeks to shore up investors' faith in the Burbank-based entertainment company. And executives expect the film division itself to have better results in the second half of the year.

Underscoring his confidence in Disney's outlook, Eisner said Friday that management probably would recommended a dividend increase for shareholders this year.

Disney shares rose 25 cents Friday to $24.60 on the New York Stock Exchange.

There have been gains across various businesses, including theme parks, which are recovering from a three-year slump. Home-video sales of last year's box office hits have been solid, and a strong advertising market has helped Disney's owner-operated TV stations. Operating income in the cable TV group, which includes the ESPN sports powerhouse and the Disney Channel, is expected to grow 20% in the third fiscal quarter.

All that gives the company a cushion to absorb financial hits elsewhere in the empire, notably at the struggling ABC-TV network and the studio.

"Disney, like other media conglomerates, benefits from having a diverse portfolio of businesses where potential risks and losses from one area can be offset by gains in another division," said Tim Wallace, managing director of investment research for UBS Securities.

That doesn't mean Disney is off the hook when it comes to box office returns. Many investors are particularly concerned about the spotty record of the animation division. Their anxieties were heightened this year after Pixar Animation Studios, creator of the successful "Toy Story" franchise and the blockbuster "Finding Nemo," ended talks to extend its longtime lucrative partnership with Disney.

Box office duds in the second half of the year could undercut Eisner's argument that Disney's worst days are behind it and provide more fuel to his fiercest critics, Roy E. Disney and Stanley P. Gold. The former Disney board members led a campaign against Eisner that culminated in a 45% protest vote against his reelection to the board in March. Eisner subsequently gave up his chairman's title.

"While poor performance may not undermine management's expectations, it could have an impact on investor sentiment about the company," Wallace said. "The studio has to come up with decent films this year."

Disney faces a tough time living up to its performance in 2003. The smash hits "Pirates" and "Finding Nemo" each amassed more than $300 million in ticket sales in the U.S. alone.

By this time last year, three Disney films had opened in the $30-million-plus range. In fact, the combined box office openings of all of its movies so far this year total less than what "Pirates" made in its first two weeks.

This year, the lackluster performers or outright flops include "Hidalgo," the historical epic "Alamo" and the animated barnyard tale "Home on the Range." Disney was forced to take write-downs for the latter two.

A more recent letdown has been "Around the World in 80 Days." The remake cost more than $110 million but took in only $22 million in the U.S. Disney spent tens of millions of additional dollars to market the movie. The studio's financial exposure was minimized, however, because the movie was financed by billionaire Philip Anschutz.

Disney's biggest 2004 opening weekend haul was $19.4 million for the Olympic hockey drama "Miracle," which hit theaters in February.

The studio was hoping "King Arthur" would crack the $20-million mark during its inaugural weekend, but it suffered heavy competition and mixed reviews.

"Maybe there's a little bit of epic ennui," said Nina Jacobson, Disney Studios' production chief.

Disney executives are expecting "King Arthur," which stars British actors Clive Owen and Keira Knightley, to fare well overseas and ultimately generate brisk home-video sales. "The international market is going to be terrific for us," said Chuck Viane, the studio's president of domestic distribution.

The studio's upcoming slate includes "The Village," a thriller from "The Sixth Sense" director M. Night Shyamalan, due this month. Next month comes "Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement," the sequel to the hit romantic comedy. Bruckheimer's "National Treasure," an action-adventure offering with Nicolas Cage, opens in November. And Disney is expected to do well with its November release of Pixar's upcoming animated movie "The Incredibles." Disney splits profits with Pixar and gets a distribution fee.

"We do have hopes for the second half of the year," Jacobson said. "We're confident that we can turn things around." Meanwhile, she said: "We're grateful that the aftermarket life of last year's movies has given us shelter during the storm."

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'King Arthur' Showing Keeps Pressure on Disney

 

Walt Disney Co.'s lost quest to rule the box office with "King Arthur" only slightly disappointed Wall Street, although one analyst on Monday warned that the studio's poor year at the box office would hurt DVD sales in 2005.

"Arthur," which cost between $110 million and $120 million to make, sold $23.6 million in tickets over its first five days and was beaten from Friday to Sunday by both "Spider-Man 2" and the Will Ferrell comedy "Anchorman."

Goldman Sachs called the performance "modestly weaker than expected" and said Disney could ultimately lose $20 million, or about one-half cent per share, on the film.

But analyst Anthony Noto left his estimates for earnings for the rest of the fiscal year intact, and a penny per share ahead of the Wall Street consensus.

General expectations for the movie had been modest, although the studio had hoped "Arthur" would be the beginning of a turnaround after a frustrating year of mediocre box office performance. One executive called the weekend "decent."

Disney has not had a breakaway hit this year and "Arthur" was to be its "tentpole" summer release that would restore the luster to the studio which set box office records in 2003.

Morgan Stanley analyst Richard Bilotti said the pain of a weak 2004 movie slate would come later. He cut his fiscal 2005 outlook for Disney on Monday, arguing that the weak box office this year would cut into high-profit-margin DVD sales next.

DVDs have become a gold mine for Hollywood and last year's record box office performance by Disney hits like "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Finding Nemo" drove DVD sales this year which made up for many of the problems with new releases.

"It is becoming increasingly likely that the weak fiscal 2004 theatrical release slate will translate into significantly lower home video and TV distribution revenues in fiscal 2005," Bilotti wrote in a research note, cutting his earnings forecast for fiscal 2005, beginning in October, to $1.15 from $1.19.

The Wall Street average was $1.16, according to Reuters Estimates.

Shares of Disney fell 25 cents or 1 percent to $24.35 on the New York Stock Exchange.
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PhotoshopWorld attendees get Disney World discount