In Disney News...
There wasn't a Disney News roundup in December, so we're due to catch up, especially with major breaking news today....Disney announced a reshuffle of its theme park executives today, with role changes including Disneyland President George Kalogridis moving to the Walt Disney World Resort and Animal Kingdom President Michael Colglazier appointed President of the Disneyland Resort. Some West Coast Disney fans such as myself are feeling some trepidation, as Kalogridis has largely been viewed as a successful President, particularly in contrast to his predecessor Ed Grier, while Colglazier has headed the least interesting Disney park. Kalogridis moving to Florida may bode well for WDW, given the mounting complaints in the blogosphere about a lack of appropriate investments in upkeep and new rides in Orlando.
...Disneyland is reviving the Golden Horseshoe Review from January 10th to February 4th, as part of this year's "Limited Time Magic" promotion. Annual passholders can reserve tickets to a special dinner show, but while I'm intrigued to know more about the "commemorative musical keepsake," if I want to spend $35 on a meal at Disney, I expect more than a sandwich and salad, corn chips, and a slice of cake. I hope to see one of the regular non-AP shows later this month. (The photo is from the official Disney Parks Blog.)...The music for Disney's great PAPERMAN (2012) short is available for download. You can also download the Circle Sessions Disney jazz CD from Amazon.
...There's a new memoir by Imagineer Rolly Crump, IT'S KIND OF A CUTE STORY, cowritten with Jeff Heimbuch. MiceChat has a preview. The book has an official website....Published yesterday: WALT DISNEY'S NINE OLD MEN: THE FLIPBOOKS.
...Al Lutz shared his latest roundup of Disneyland news and gossip yesterday at MiceAge. If you missed Al's update from late November, it's here.
...ALADDIN is headed for Broadway, and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME may follow.
...MiceChat has gorgeous photos of the decorations for the just-concluded Christmas season at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
...D23 has a look at the special exhibit on SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937) which is at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco until April 14, 2013.
...Starbucks is moving into the Market House on Disneyland's Main Street. Sigh. Starbucks will likely need more space; will it take over the birthday cake room that's currently part of the Disneyana store?
...D23 recently announced some of this year's events. I'd love to see SUMMER MAGIC (1963) in the Disney Studios Theater next June!...SamLand posted a colorful history of the Disneyland PeopleMover...and here's a nice MiceChat post on the Skyway.
...I enjoyed this short video on a Cast Member working at the Disneyland Kennel Club. It provides some nice insight into a part of the resort many guests might not be familiar with.
...There's a special early entry program for annual passholders at the Disneyland resort through April 14th...Other interesting ticket-related news is that yesterday Disney began photographing multi-day ticketholders in an effort to crack down on ticket "rentals."
...Disneyland employees are testing out the new Coca-Cola Freestyle dispensing machine, which has more than 100 different drink options.
...Disneyland's relationship with Kodak, which dates from the park opening in 1955, is coming to an end due to Kodak's bankruptcy. The "Kodak Picture Spot" signs will be removed from the park....Last month Netflix landed a deal to start carrying newer Disney films in 2016 and also received rights to begin carrying a few older Disney titles immediately. There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason as far as what's now available for streaming: ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1951) is available, but other animated films of the same era, such as CINDERELLA (1950) and PETER PAN (1953), are only available to rent on DVD.
...I haven't yet noted the November 22nd passing of Disney artist Mel Shaw, age 97. His memoir ANIMATORS ON HORSEBACK will be published posthumously...Former Mouseketeer Bonnie Fields also died in November, age 68...A memorial service for Jeanette Thomas, widow of Disney animator Frank Thomas, was held on November 18th at Pasadena's Gamble House. Mrs. Thomas was an expert on the house and the author of a book on that subject.
...I'm heading up to Hollywood this Saturday to see PETER PAN (1953) at the El Capitan. I'm also looking forward to seeing MULAN (1998) during its run from February 8th to March 6th; would you believe I've never seen that one? I had a baby who was a few weeks old when it came out and had never gotten around to seeing it on DVD. MULAN has one of my favorite Disney songs, "Reflections," and it also inspired my all-time favorite parade at Disneyland; the plate-spinners, the marching soldiers, and the dragon with the Great Wall on its back were magic.
...For more Disney links, please visit the November Disney News roundup.
posted by Laura @ 10:27 PM
4 Comments:
Thanks for the link to the JazzWax story about Dave Digs Disney, Laura.
It's an album I have loved for many years.
On reading the JazzWax article, I noticed that Iola was under a misapprehension about Little Golden Records. She thought that they were part of the Disney organization; when in fact Little Golden Records was an independent company founded and run by Arthur Shimkin.
It seems kind of lame for Disney to remove the Photo Spot signs. Sure, in this day and age we don't need Photo Opps pointed out to us, heck - people's meals are now photo opps...but Kodak has been such a big supporter of the Disney Parks for so many years (for ever?) that it seems Disney could just leave the signs and help Kodak keep their name in the public eye without having to continue to pay for it. Also, it would be very strange to see the signs come back sponsored by Snapfish.com or something like that.
Thanks for that info, Mel, and glad I could share that link!
It will seem very strange not to have those Photo Spot signs, Ed! Like you I wish there were a way to work out keeping them.
Best wishes,
Laura
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