Thursday, February 25, 2010

New Epcot Center Exibit - Take a Nanooze Break


February 24, 2010
A new long-term exhibition at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fl., will bring visitors face to face with the nanoworld.

Housed in the Innoventions pavilion at Epcot Center, the exhibition Take a Nanooze Break features a series of interactive, continually updated displays that allow visitors to manipulate models of molecules, study everyday items at the nanoscale, and interact with scientists and engineers who conduct the latest nano research.

"The experience is immersive and gives guests a number of ways to view a world that is too small to see," says Carl Batt of Cornell University, the lead researcher for the project. "It also gives guests a view of nanotechnology from real scientists"

Based upon the National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported children's magazine and Web site Nanooze (http://www.nanooze.org/), the exhibition was developed with further NSF support by collaborators from Cornell University and Tamarack Design of Ithaca, N.Y.

"Nanotechnology will bring multiple, fundamental changes to the way we work to create goods, develop sustainable approaches, advance medicine and improve quality of life.," says Mike Roco, senior advisor for nanotechnology at NSF. "About $80 billion worth of products incorporated nanoscale components in the United States in 2010, and one can envision mass use of nanotechnology by 2020. The Nanooze exhibition informs and inspires the public about this fast-arriving future society."

The exhibition opened on Feb. 22, 2010. The work was funded by NSF awards 0725230 and 0937179.

For nanotechnology multimedia, contact Josh Chamot at jchamot@nsf.gov.

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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Disney Trip Report: Rivers, Paradise Pier additions - Around Disney

Around Disney's Trip Report takes a look at what's new at the Disneyland Resort. This week's trip report highlights a new bridge in Frontierland, the drained river in Disneyland, the continuing progress on California Adventure's $1 billion expansion project and more. Click on the photos for larger images.

The bridge connecting Disneyland's "Hub" to Frontierland has reopened with a new design.

As the Rivers of America is still drained, so are a few of the other waterways in the park, including this one near the Carnation Plaza Gardens.

A view from the top of Tarzan's Treehouse in Adventureland shows the drained Rivers of America.

Disneyland's Rivers of America, the river that winds around Tom Sawyer's Island and hosts the Mark Twain Riverboat, was emptied for refurbishment.

The renovation will be the first time the river was last drained in 2003 and it will be finished my May. All the river attractions are closed, but will reopen again when the refurbishment is complete.

Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen from "The Princess and the Frog" are no longer meeting guests at the New Orleans' Court des Anges. Instead, Princess Tiana can be found at the Princess Fantasy Faire Meet and Greet in Fantasyland. The Court des Anges is currently vacant.

Photos show the progress on California Adventure's $1 billion expansion project. This building is going to be a part of a Little Mermaid themed attraction. CLICK HERE to see a video previewing the new attraction.

In Paradise Park, a new boardwalk has been put into place.

The Golden Zephyr attraction is closed for refurbishment.

Construction crews work on building trellises that will provide shade for guests during the day.

Silly Symphony Swings is closer to it's spring debut. Silly Symphony Swings is a restyling of the former Orange Stinger attraction, which suspends guests in swings that twirl around in circles.

Lighting and speakers have also been placed along the walkways in Paradise Pier.

via ocresort.freedomblogging.com

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Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Live at Disneyland: Fans in line for ‘Captain EO’


As of 6 a.m., about 35 people were in line to see the Michael Jackson film, “Captain EO,” on its first day back at Disneyland.

By 7, another 25 had jumped in line.

The first showing of the return of the 3-D movie is set for 10 a.m. at the Tomorrowland theater, where it played from 1986 to 1997. Although the park opens at 9:30 a.m., Disney officials are allowing Jackson fans to line up early on the west side of Disneyland’s main entrance.

First in line is Daniel Lew, 36, from Oceanside. A reporter for a horse magazine, he got here at 9 p.m. Monday.

“I’ve been waiting patiently with anticipation,” he said. “I didn’t sleep for one second. There’s been so much anticipation and buzz from the Disney fan community for “Captain EO.’

Also in line is a 24-year-old woman wearing a white jacket with sequins with a “Captain EO” logo on the back, as well as homemade “Captain EO” earrings. And two other young women who started driving from San Francisco at 9:30 p.m. Monday and got here at 3:30 a.m. They wore “Captain EO” shirts and had stuffed animals of “Fuzzball,” a character in the movie, resting on their shoulders.

A mom has her 6- and 8-year-old kids with her. The boys may or may not go to school after the movie, said Verdelle Reynolds, 33, of Chino.

T.V. reporters are doing live shots from the scene, as enthusiastic fans hoot and dance. About an equal number of Disney employees also are on hand.

Rick Rothschild, who was the show producer for the original “Captain EO,” was brought back as a consultant for the film’s revival. Disney was able to make a new print of the film, update the audio and add “tactile” elements to the movie. “The effects in it are of the time, and quite remarkable of the time,” Rothschild said.

One of the movie performers, Renee Colette, came out to the line. She said the experience was a “thrill of a lifetime,” and she remembers Jackson as “very precise and very kind.”
“To be able to actually dance with him, I was so blessed to be able to do this,” Colette said. She said she is looking forward to sharing the movie again with others.

Disneyland is reviving the 17-minute movie because of the renewed popularity of the singer after his June death. The movie is playing for a limited engagement, but Disney officials have yet to say how long it will stay.

Jackson stars, sings and dances in the science-fiction movie. The film features the songs “We Are Here to Change the World” and “Another Part of Me,” both written and performed by Jackson. The latter song is 0n Jackson’s “Bad” album in 1987.

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Will Disney World passholders be able to pay in monthly installments?

Will Disney World passholders be able to pay in monthly installments?


(Walt Disney World photo)
Could it be true? Are Walt Disney World passholders finally going to be offered a payment plan? 
Dedicated Disney-goers have been lamenting the inability to finance such a large entertainment purchase ever since neighboring Universal Studios and SeaWorld implemented their monthly options. 
The folks at MousePlanet.com say Disney World will announce next week that the plan first offered to Disneyland annual passholders in 2008 will be brought to Orlando this summer, according to their WDW sources. 
The Disneyland version requires visitors to make a deposit equal to the cost of a one-day, one-park ticket and the remaining monthly payments then are automatically charged to a credit card that is kept on file. The Disney World version is expected to be open to all Florida residents, MousePlanet.com reports. 
Another annual pass option is also in the works, MiceChat.com says. The Domestic Parks Pass, an annual pass good for both Disney World and Disneyland, is expected to be announced next week, too, and will be priced in the $800 range.

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Friday, February 19, 2010

Previewing The Little Mermaid attraction at California Adventure


There is lots of construction activity at Disney’s California Adventure as workers continue to build new attractions at the Disneyland Resort’s theme park.

One of the new attractions under construction is The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. The attraction is part of the theme park’s more than billion dollar expansion that started with the addition of Toy Story Mania and will continue with the debut of the World of Color fountain show this summer.

The Little Mermaid is scheduled to open in 2011.

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Capt. EO returns Tuesday to Disneyland


Michael Jackson’s “Captain EO” returns to Disneyland Tuesday, Disney announced this afternoon.

The first showing of the 3D film starring the late King of Pop is set for 10 a.m.
Disney is not sure how long the 18-minute movie will be shown at the park in what used to be know as The Magic Eye Theater in Tomorrowland. It will be shown every 20 minutes.

“It will really be interesting to see how people react,” said Michele Himmelberg, a Disney spokeswoman. “This is really our tribute to bring it back and let our fans enjoy it.”
The park opens at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. Outside the park gates will be a special line where movie-goers will be able to line up.  “We do expect that there will be a good number of people that want to come out,” Himmelberg said.

Disney guests will see a new print of “Captain EO,” in which Jackson leads a crew of aliens, robots and “Fuzzball” on a journey to deliver a gift to the Witch Queen, who is played by Anjelica Huston. Disney won’t say what the film cost, but a source said the price tag was $23.7 million in 1986.

The film, panned by experts as cheesy, ran at Disneyland for 11 years. It was directed by Francis Ford Coppola; the executive producer was George Lucas. Jackson and film composer James Horner provided the soundtrack.

Disney stopped showing “Captain EO” in 1997 after its popularity faded. Starting in 1993, Jackson was facing molestation charges prompting some to question the appropriateness of showing the film inside the park.

Shortly after Jackson died in June, rumors began circulating that Disney would bring back the film. In December, Disney announced that the film would indeed return for a limited run.  This run of “Captain EO” likely depends on its popularity.  “We don’t really have a time frame on it,” Himmelberg said. “We’ll see how it goes and how people receive it.”

Staff writer Eric Carpenter contributed to this report.

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Thursday, February 18, 2010

Woman shares home with 600-plus Donald Ducks


HUNTINGTON BEACH – Carol Griffith can't put her finger on why, but one thing is certain when she hits Main Street U.S.A. at Disneyland:
She's on a mission to find the one Donald Duck collectible she doesn't already own among the almost 700 that have crowded an entire room of her house for the past 25 years.
Carol Griffith, of Huntington Beach, has a huge collection of Donald Duck memoribilia that she has collected over 25 years.
Her most expensive piece is a Donald Duck statuette that she purchased for $200. According to Griffith, she spends an average of $25 to $35 on each item.
Griffith doubts she would ever be able to part from any of the items.
"Now, I don't buy as much as I used to. I don't have room for anymore," she said.
Her son, Price Griffith, 46, has witnessed his mother's ever-expanding collection. Although she can seem nonchalant about collecting Donald Duck memorabilia, she is actually obsessed, he says.
"She's totally into it," he said. "I don't think she'll ever sell her collectibles. They're going to be handed down to her granddaughter."
Housed in her son's childhood bedroom, each piece bears some degree of sentiment or story. She received her favorite collectible, a group of Donald Duck statuettes, as a retirement gift in 1996 when she retired from her accounting position of 21 years at Savala Construction Co. in Irvine.
Friends and family contributed about 15 percent of her collection and Griffith purchased the rest from a variety of places such as swap meets, antique shops and Disneyland. She bought her oldest collectible, a Donald Duck poster paint set manufactured in 1937 at an antique shop here in O.C.
To celebrate her 70th birthday, Griffith hosted a Donald Duck-themed party, complete with Donald Duck décor, a Donald Duck cake and even a Donald Duck inspired outfit. Every year, Griffith decorates her Christmas tree exclusively with Donald Duck ornaments, she said.
Although Griffith attended a collector's convention in Garden Grove a few weeks ago, she has yet to meet anyone else who collects Donald Duck memorabilia. Despite the fact that ladybug stuffed animals, porcelain dolls and wooden duck décor cover the walls of her house, Griffith denies collecting anything other than Donald Duck memorabilia.
Griffith says ducks are one of her favorite animals, second to her vivacious puppy, Rudy, a 10-month-old Shih-Tzu and Maltese mix.
When she takes a break from Donald Duck treasure hunts, she enjoys golfing, tap dancing and spending time with her son and her two grandchildren, Price, 10, and Haley, 14, she says.
Contact the writer: pmahdad@ocregister.com

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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Avril Lavigne - Music Video - Alice (Underground)


From the soundtrack 'Almost Alice' for Tim Burtons Alice in Wonderland. The end credit track Alice (Underground) written by Avril Lavigne and produced by Butch Walker.
Coming to the big screen in Disney Digital 3D™ on March 5, 2010, ALICE IN WONDERLAND is an epic 3D fantasy adventure starring JOHNNY DEPP as the Mad Hatter and MIA WASIKOWSKA as 19-year-old Alice, who returns to the whimsical world she first encountered as a young girl, reuniting with her childhood friends: the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, and of course, the Mad Hatter.

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Saturday, February 13, 2010

A Look Inside The Lilly Belle

Here's a look inside the "Lily Belle" Walt named in honor of his wife as posted in the Disney Parks Blog.


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