Allow me to get on my soap box….

As we get ready for the D23 Expo, I am starting to get excited.  Yes, the D23 Expo will not be perfect…but it will have some great Disney moments that I can’t wait to be a part of.  And while I do research for my trip, there are some things that I have come across that have either made me proud or ashamed.  Indulge me, and allow me to share them with you.

1.       People seem to be complaining that there is a lot of things that will not appeal to core Disney fans such as the events at the Disney Channel Pavilion.  While I don’t expect every Disney fan to be a Disney Channel fan, I do take offense that those who enjoy Disney Channel are not true Disney fans.  Are 11 year olds not allowed to be Disney fans?  If I remember correctly, the Radio Disney exhibit of the Expo was packed last time.  Let these young Disney fans enjoy what was created for them.  Would you prefer that they were in line for the presentation you wanted to see?  Every offering adds capacity, and increases the chances of every guest being able to see what they want to see.  Just because a certain panel, exhibit, or activity is not for you doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be there.  The more there is to do at D23 the better the Expo is for everyone.

2.       I am very proud of how the Disney community has embraced ABC.  The last Expo was sort of a coming out party for ABC to the Disney fans.  When the D23 Expo schedule was first announced and there was little mention of ABC, many fans were upset  asking where they would be.  Since then, the Expo has added “Prep & Landing” and “Once Upon a Time” to the schedule showing that ABC is still a part of The Walt Disney Company.  Now if only ABC Family could have a bigger role to play.  (In fact I have seen this comment on several different Disney message boards).

3.       Enter Marvel!  Just like ABC, Marvel is taking advantage of introducing themselves to the Disney faithful.  Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer of Marvel Entertainment, will introduce the House of Ideas to a new audience.  There is also no doubt that Kevin Feige, who is a Disney fan and head of Marvel Studios, will “assemble” a great presentation as part of Rich Ross’s Arena show.  I know Marvel isn’t Disney.  It shouldn’t be.  But they share the same values of storytelling and a commitment to quality that align well with Disney.  I am working on a blog on the marriage of Marvel and Disney, but I think the D23 Expo will be a watershed moment in the relationship.

4.       Things that I would have liked to see a presentation on that have yet to be announced (and probably won’t be) Aulani, Tron: Uprising, Fantasyland Expansion, and Ultimate Spider-Man.

5.       All of this excitement really makes me wish the Expo was every year.  There is always something coming from The Walt Disney Company, it would be great if we could have a peek more frequently. 

6.       Still think Stan Lee should be a Disney Legend.

7.       Make the Expo 4 days again!

Anyways, I hope those attending the D23 have a great time.  I am sure there will be bumps in the road as with an event of this scale, but have fun no matter what happens.  Also discover some part of Disney that would had never been exposed to before.  Allow the Expo to broaden your horizons.

Had a busy few days with some events here in Central Florida; some Disney and some not.  So here is my recap:

Universal Escape (yes, I still call it this):

The Florida Universal park announced that Despicable Me will replace Jimmy Newtron.  In what has been a rare move for them, Despicable Me is actually a Universal franchise.  I wonder if they went with Gru and his minions because they were tired of having to deal with third parties like the Harry Potter people or Disney's Marvel.  If only NBCUniversal had some quality franchises of its own, park management wouldn't have to worry about complex licensing agreements.  Speaking of Marvel, they also announced they will be reanimating the ride films of The Amazing Spider-Man ride.  I feel sorry for Universal for spending all that money to update their attraction when it is just a matter of time before Disney figures out a way to regain the theme park rights to the best comic book characters out there. 

Prom:

When it comes to Disney films, I like to stay positive.  I take the "Thumper" attitude when it comes to Disney films of "if I can't say nothing nice, don't say nothing at all".  This concludes my thoughts on Prom.

Shrek: The Musical:

I went to see this show at the Mr. Incredible Performing Arts Center in Downtown Orlando.  While the show had its moments of humor, the show was flat with unmemorable music and a dull plot that doesn't do much to expand upon the film.  The best moment was the end when the whole cast rocks out to "I'm a Believer" If more of the show had that energy, it might be a decent production.  My favorite part of the experience was reading the Playbill where they talked about the Dreamworks Theatrical division.  I wonder what they do all day?  Considering the bio has not been updated since How to Train a Dragon was released, I am guessing they might not even exist anymore.

Star Tours Tweetup:

I was lucky enough to get in to the Star Tours Tweetup the night before the attraction officially opened.  It was a great event.  They bused us in from Blizzard Beach to backstage behind Star Tours where we were greeted by an assortment of Star Wars characters.  There was an ice cream sundae bar with all the fixings as we milled about.  We could experience the attraction as much as we wanted and were often accompanied by some Star Wars friends. (The Jawas kept trying to steal the 3D glasses).  There was a Q&A with WDI and the same DJ that entertained us at the Last Tour to Endor.  I was lucky enough to have a yellow wristband so I was invited to get a set of 4 travel posters signed by the artist at the Backlot Express, which was a nice little plus.  As we exited, the other member of my party was given one of the four.  All in all, it was a great little event and it definatley let us normal folk feel like we were part of the grand opening festivities.

Star Tours Grand Opening:

I debated attending the opening ceremony.  Since these things are designed for the press, it is generally hard to get a good view and can be quite disappointing after investing hours of standing around.  While it was quite tempting to stay home and watch the webcast, I decided I would risk the disappointment and head to Disney's Hollywood Studios.  I got there at 5am to find a huge line.  Luckily this was the merchandise/autograph line, and there were few people in line to actually get in to the park.  Around 6 the storm troopers came out and did their normal Star Wars Weekends shtick.  The park had a surprise open slightly after that and I went straight to the hat.  The guest control cast members were fantastic.  After a little while they told us where to go if we wanted to see the processional and another place to go to get a view of the ceremony.  I followed their instructions to see the ceremony, and their advice was spot on.  I had a great view for Bob, George, Anthony Daniels, and the fireworks.  I am glad I went with seeing this in person as the excitement and spectacle of the ceremony was infectious.  Thanks to Disney for allowing Joe Public to see this special moment. Check out the video of the ceremony here. 

Muppets Trailer:

The new Muppets trailer came out with Pirates 4.  Part of the gag requires you to not realize it is a Muppets trailer, but obviously I am spoiling it for you :)  Disney even created a "Green with Envy" YouTube channel and Facebook page.  The trailer exceeded my expectations as I have not been sure what to think of this upcoming film until now.  I hope this movie is awesome and restores the Muppets to the status they deserve.  You can check out the video on Laughingplace.com here. 

It has been a busy week around these parts with Destination D, Pirates Screening, Star Tours, and many other events occurring throughout the wonderful world of Disney.  I thought I would try and play catch up by giving you my thoughts on recent events.

Pirates:

I went to a screening of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides earlier this week.  Now you know I have not been a fan of the past two films, and this film decides to try and correct the franchises course.  There has been much made of the smaller budget, and to be frank, you can tell.  Little of the film actually takes place at sea and there are no ship battles.  But in this case, smaller may be better.  The plot was more understandable and the emotional core of the story was not lost in needless spectacle.  While I would not go so far as to say this film is “great”, I would encourage those turned off by the last two installments to give it a chance.  While there are references to the previous films in the franchise, no prior Pirates knowledge is needed.  The only major disappointment was the tag at the end of the film.  If you have already seen Thor, and feel the need for a summer movie, give Pirates 4 a chance.

Star Tours:

The only thing worse than building a bad attraction is when Disney turns a good one in to a bad one. (insert favorite example here J )  I am happy to say they did not screw-up Star Tours.  The attraction walks the fine-line of being familiar yet distinctly different.  The things that need to be there are there (C-3PO in the queue, do-do-do-do-do, and a Rex reference), while it seems fresh and vibrant.  This is not simply popping a new tape in to the VCR; this is a new experience.  The queue is new, the story is new, and the experience is new.  While I will  miss Rex, this is a great example of Disney updating something the right way.  Next stop: Tiki Room J

Destination D:

D23 held an event to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort at the Contemporary last weekend.  I had an amazing time.  While I tend to be the kind of Disney fan that puts more of his attention looking forward rather than looking back, it was great to take a trip down memory lane.  Doobie did a great job writing up the highlight of the event,  which was the finale concert.  The best part of attending a Disney fan event is the communal feeling.  Where else can you join others in discussing the Orange Bird or Communicore.  This sense of community was highlighted when Dreamfinder came out.  Throughout the Fantasia ballroom you knew everyone had the same emotions and expressed it in their own personal way.  Thank you to the D23 for putting on such a spectacular event.  See you at the Expo

The second Marvel Studios film to be released since the Disney acquisition is now showing at a theater near you.  Thor, a part of Marvel's "Avengers Assemble" lays the ground work for Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor to unite next year when Avengers is released.  While the film is being distributed by Paramount due to a pre-existing arrangement, they only take a small distribution fee.  Most of the risk and benefit will be seen on Disney's balance sheet. 

All of the Marvel Studios films have taken part in the "Marvel Cinematic Universe".  The films exist in the same fictional continuity and reference each other.  Clark Gregg plays Agent Caulson in Thor, which is a role that he also played in Iron Man and Iron Man 2.  There are also references to the Hulk and Iron Man in Thor which act as connective tissue.  Jeremy Renner plays Hawkeye in a cameo appearance in advance of his expanded role in the Avengers.  The tricky part is allowing the films to interact while making sure they stand on their one.  The film can't just be a series of easter eggs to appease fan boys.  It has to be a good film on its own.  How the films intersect is fun and unique, but it can't save a bad film.

According to RottenTomatoes.com, the film has a score of 80% making it "certified fresh".  The site says the consensus describes Thor as: "A dazzling blockbuster that tempers its sweeping scope with wit, humor, and human drama, Thor is mighty Marvel entertainment." 

If you read the latest issue of Disney Twenty-Three, you will understand why Bob Iger bought Marvel.  It is a franchise machine and Bob loves his franchises.  The thought is that these superheroes will come together in Avengers, which will be its own franchise, while continuing their solo franchises with films like Thor 2 and Captain America 2.  In addition, Avengers will bring the spotlight to other characters that can launch their own franchises as well. 

But it is important to remember that franchises can only continue if the creative content supporting them is strong.  So far, Marvel is the Pixar of superhero movies.  Everyone of their four films has been "fresh" with 3 of them being certified. 

So Marvel is printing money by making connected and above-grade superhero films.  Looking back, it begs the question, why didn't Disney by them sooner?

Quick Takes:

Parks and Resorts: Tom Fitzgerald on the Disney Parks Blog revealed that Blackbeard will be replacing Davy Jones in the grotto scenes of Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom.  Ian McShane reprised his role to allow for some neat synergy between the new film and the attraction.  I think this is a great example of good synergy.  They are temporarily changing things up in a way that still keeps the spirit of the attraction.  Davy Jones will return later this year. 

Media Networks: The Disney Channel Original Movie, Lemonade Mouth, was the number one original movie on cable in 2011 with 5.7 million viewers.  Its soundtrack went to number 4 on the Billboard 200 chart and number 1 on the soundtrack chart.  The question is whether this film with become a franchise a la High School Musical and the Cheetah Girls.  Will the Lemonade Mouth band do a concert tour?  If the film keeps its steam, then the answer is probably yes.  To keep interest, there will be a live chat with the cast of the film on DisneyChannel.com at 7ET/4PT on May 7. 

Interactive Media: Tap Tap Revenge 4 launched in the Android Marketplace on March 30 and has already been downloaded over 1.4 million times.  This marked the first time Disney Mobile's Tapulous launched a game in the Android Marketplace since they now allow in-app purchases which Tapulous's business model is based off of.  They say the Android Marketplace might overtake Apple's iTunes sooner rather than later.  This could get interesting. 

Consumer Products: DisneyStore.com is offering free shipping on your entire order if you purchase a Marvel item as a way to celebrate the release of Thor.  Might I suggest the Lighting Power Thor Action Figure or the Thor Lighting Hammer; both of which are a part of my "collection" and which I enjoy very much. 

Disney announced today that Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta and the Paradise Garden Grill, as well as the delayed Goofy's Sky School will open on July 1.  These new additions to Disney California Adventure are part of the continuing transformation of the park that has been underway for the past few years.  When they announced the "Extreme Makeover," restaurants played a big part of the plan by trying to bring guests in by having destination dinning.

Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta will have an on-stage kitchen that will offer designer pizzas and pastas that they hope differentiate it.  They will have some unique flavors but will also offer the classic cheese and pepperoni.  There will also be a hand-tossed salad to complement the meal.

Next door, Paradise Garden Grill will offer skewers and kabobs that can be customized to your liking.  They will feature a Greek Salad with a side of pita bread, if that is more your style.  Neither resteraunt will feature Happy Meal toys, a former staple of Burger Invasion. 

The most exciting food news that came out today was the reopening of Corn Dog Castle.  No matter how good Disney makes the food, or how much they try and experiment; there is nothing like an enjoying an old-fashioned corn dog while walking through a theme park.  Though I do wonder how they make them meet their healthy food standards. 

Quick Takes:

Studio Entertainment: Here is a new Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides feature on how the created London for the film.  Do you think Jack Sparrow would fit in at the Royal Wedding?  He already has a funny looking hat.

Media Networks: The rumors are that ABC could be signing a deal with Katie Couric to host a daytime talk show.  This could result in the cancelation of ABC's last soaps, General Hospital.  I look forward to many people tweeting me telling me to boycott Disney because they have the mistaken idea that I care about ABC soaps. 

Consumer Products: If you are like me, you travel to Disney destinations frequently.  What better way to travel to Disney than with Disney luggage.  I discovered that Heys has a line of Disney luggage.  I expect to see many of these rolling through Epcot the next time they host a pin event.

Interactive Media: Kids that visit www.Disney.com/create can enter the Marvel Comic Creator Contest.  Kids that create an Avengers comic can see their creation in an upcoming Marvel Adventures comic.  You can also win Thor and Avengers prize packs.  Avengers Assemble!

Well today is Star Wars day, and while Lucasfilm is using it to unveil details of the Blu-Ray release of the saga, I am choosing to use it to start the countdown for the opening of Star Tours 2.  The attraction opens at Disney's Hollywood Studios on May 20 and Disneyland on June 3.  Today Disney unveiled the artwork that will be on the show building at Disney's Hollywood Studios and will be used as the attraction poster at Disneyland Park.

The new issue of Disney Twenty-Three also features an article by Lucasfilm's Steve Sansweet.  One tidbit about the new edition of the attraction mentioned is that AC-38 "Ace" was originally going to be the pilot who had a "Top Gun" type attitude to differentiate him from Rex.  But George Lucas desired a pilot that was more like Rex so they tried to create another new droid that fit the bill.  Then Tom Fitzgerald and his team realized they didn't need a new droid as C-3PO could fill the pilot seat with his nervous tendencies.  But don't worry both Ace and Rex make appearances in the attraction.  George also teases that he wants to see more Star Tours attractions at the parks.  However based on how quickly they came up with this new edition of the classic ride, after promising the attraction would always be changing during its grand opening, I would be as patient as a Jedi.

Also, if you havn't checked out the Star Tours Facebook page, give it a glance.  You can make your own Star Tours passport that you can have stamped at the attraction after you experienced one of over 53 variations of the ride.  Just make sure you are careful if you visit Alderaan.  It might be the safest planet in the galaxy, but I have a very bad feeling about its future.

Quick Takes:

Studio Entertainment: Tron: Legacy has some good news to report.  The film just passed the $400 million worldwide box office mark.  The Tron: Legacy RECONFIGURED album premiered on the Billboard 200 chart at No. 16 and is No. 1 on the electronica chart.  And finally, the 3D Blu-Ray is the number one live-action 3D Blu-Ray of all time. 

Media Networks: ESPN has reached a 12-year agreement with the PAC-12.  (I wonder if it was required to be a 12-year deal.  If the conference became the PAC-16, would this be a 16 year deal?).  ESPN will try and prove they don't have an east coast bias by broadcasting more than 80 PAC-12 events a year.  I am happy to know that I will be able to watch UCLA trounce USC on my favorite sports network.

Consumer Products: Disney Store unveiled the Wish-A-Littles collection by Kidada, which is the first of their designer boutique collections.  I am not sure I understand the point, but I am pretty sure it could be described as "couture"

Interactive Media: Tapulous's new game that I mentioned earlier this week, ClubWorld, was named Billboard.biz's App of the Month.  Congrats to whomever should be congratulated for this achievement. 

So the Disney Wonder made it to Vancouver to start it's first voyage to "The Last Frontier" of Alaska.  I am taking one of Disney's Alaskan cruises later this year.  I look forward to having the sun barely set, seeing the Northern Lights, and cuddling with a polar bear.  If all of these don't happen, I will be very disappointed. 

I have not been on the Wonder since 2003 since I tend to enjoy the longer cruises that had been the Disney Magic's specialty, but I look forward to my cruise homecoming.  Having recently been on the Disney Dream, I am curious to see how I feel about the "Classic Ships" compared to the new ships.  I have a feeling that the Wonder will feel colder than the Dream did. 

I hope they show appropriate films in the Buena Vista Theatre; Eight Bellow, White Fang, and of course Snow Dogs. 

I also hope they serve Baked Alaska.  I figure if they run out of food they will just take some of the state and bake it.  No wonder it is a cruise industry staple, they don't have to carry it onboard. 

All stupid comments aside, I am excited about seeing the natural beauty of Alaska while being surrounded by the man-made beauty of the Disney Wonder.  Listen to the Laughingplace Podcast in late June so I can tell you all about it.

Quick Picks:

Studio Entertainment: Dish Network is being sued by Disney and Starz for giving away access to Starz through January 2012 as part of a promotion.  Disney is stating that their agreement states the channel will be a premium channel and offering it for free devalues their films and windowing strategy.  As a Disney fan, I don't have to worry about picking sides since I have Bright House Networks.  I can sleep comfortably knowing that they will never give me anything for free.

Media Networks: Hyperion has released Paul Reiser's new book Familyhood.  I hope the book is more successful than his new NBC sitcom which lasted two episodes.  You know you are in trouble when you get cancelled by NBC considering their low expectations.

Consumer Products:  The snack company, Pirate's Booty, has developed a special "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" limited edition snack.  A spokesperson for the company said, "We are excited to collaborate with this summer’s most anticipated movie, Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean and Pirate’s Booty both epitomize the fun, adventurous and humorous spirit that we all love. Pirate’s Booty is proud to be able to bring this to life by giving consumers a chance to embark on a fun, delicious and healthier adventure with the release of its limited edition 7oz. package."  So be a good Disney fan and pick up some Booty to enjoy before the movie.

Interactive Media: While Thor may be a cutting-edge special effects filled film, this fun little 16-bit online game is very retro.  It's like if Mario turned in his plunger for a hammer.   

The big news of the day comes from Walt Disney World's Downtown Disney where I had the chance to attend a sneak peek at the new Fork & Screen at the AMC 24.  We watched Tron: Legacy, but that was incidental to the main experience of being fed while watching a movie.  The screening took place in theater 20, which AMC 24 fans know is infamous as being one of the worst theaters in the complex.  They have given the auditorium a makeover with new decor and the most comfortable theater seats you can imagine, that have turned the theater in to a decent movie going experience.

But the main point of the Fork & Screen is the food.  While not fine dining, the food is a few notches above the concession stand of the future.  There is a table in front of you which resembles the dinning arrangement at the Sci-Fi Dine-In restaurant at Disney's Hollywood Studios (sans car body).  There is a push button so that you can signal your server if you need a refill, want to order dessert, or just feel the need to push a big red button.  The staff was still working out the kinks, which is to be expected during a soft opening, but they were friendly and eager to please.  Stubs members should note that you do get Stubs points for all food purchased as well. 

The classy atmosphere, the enhanced seats, as well as the ability to get some decent food makes Fork & Screen a wonderful addition to the District.  While I will still see big event movies, like Thor, in the ETX Theater; smaller movies or films not being shown in ETX will be enjoyed at a Fork & Screen theater whenever possible.  The Dine-In theaters open up May 16.  Check it out!

Quick Takes:

Studio Entertainment: Thanks to folks seeing DisneyNature's African Cats during its opening week, The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund was able to preserve over 50,000 acres of land in  Kenya's Amboseli Wildlife Corridor.  This is the size of 100 Disney's Animal Kingdoms or bigger than the entire Walt Disney World Resort.  I wonder what we get to save when we see Chimpanzee next year.  The Statue of Liberty?  I hear that will be the only thing remaining once they take over the world.

Media Networks: ABC was the only network to continue their news coverage of Osama Bin Laden's death following the President's speech, which caused them to win the night in the ratings.  ABC News also got exclusive pictures and videos of inside the terrorist's compound.  I have been very impressed with ABC News since Ben Sherwood has taken the reigns.  I think we might start to see some great things from them in the near future.

Consumer Products: The Disney Store blog, "The Buzz", interviews Devin Martin.  He is the 3D designer of the toys they sell at Disney Store.  They talk to him about designing the Thor toys in advance of the movie's release this Friday.  Who ever thought they would be selling "Thor" toys at Disney Stores.

Interactive Media: I downloaded the new ClubWorld game from Disney's Tapulous on my iPhone.  It is a free game where you create your own night club.  While it seems to be a fine game, it isn't very Disney.  Now I don't know if this game was in development prior to the Disney acquisition or not.  But if the clubs at Pleasure Island are any indicator, I wouldn't expect this game to be around forever.  You can get the game while it lasts in iTunes

With the Easter spring break period happening, I have been trying to keep my head low as the parks are packed and the roads around Central Florida are jammed (by Florida standards).  So I have been sitting around my FanBoy secret hideout thinking about what I am looking forward to from The Walt Disney Company for the rest of 2011.  In no particular order....

1. Pirates 4:  I don't think I have ever been this interested in a Pirates film before.  While I have seen them all opening weekend, this one seems to have a lighter tone that fits the franchise well.  I am glad to franchise is moving forward trying to leave behind some of the complicated mythology that can bog down an aging franchise.  I hope this is a great rebirth for Pirates and look forward to this and many further adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow and his crew.  I also like the way the marketing has been handled on this film.  It should get exciting as we get closer to the release date.

2. Thor:  Currently with a 91% Rotten Tomatoes score, and with both Variety and The Hollywood Reporter giving good reviews, this will be the test to see if Marvel Studios can breath life in to superheroes other than Iron Man. The success of Thor and Captain America will determine how Marvel Studios proceeds after Avengers and Iron Man 3.  Should be interesting to see.

3. Destination D: Walt Disney World: Historically, Disneyland has gotten the lion's share of nostalgia due to it being 16 years older than its sister park.  But now Walt Disney World is getting up there and folks are starting to yearn for a more historical look at the Florida Project.  Even some recent merchandise such as the retro-Epcot Center line and t-shirts featuring the Orange Bird are trying to capitalize on this trend.  Now our friends at D23 are launching the first ever historical convention of its size focused on the past of the Walt Disney World Resort.  Should be fun to take a look back.

4. Cars 2:  I liked Cars, but I LOVE the trailer for its sequel.  The action showcased in the trailer seems to be a nice contrast to the down-home feel of the first film.  The key for the film will be if it can strike the right balance of humor and "espionage action" that makes the film work as a buddy comedy and as a thriller.  We will see when Cars races in to action on June 24.

5. Star Tours: The Adventures Continues:  In many ways, Star Tours 2 is the sleeper of new Disney theme park attractions.  It is overshadowed by the extreme makeover of DCA in California and the Fantasyland expansion in Florida.  That being said, I am just starting to get excited about my voyages in to the world of Star Wars that finally extend beyond the forest moon of Endor.  While I don't expect this attraction to rival Harry Potter, I am curious to see how much of a splash this attraction will make in the social media age.  Will it have buzz? 

6. The Muppets: The Muppets have laid low since Disney acquired them in 2004.  (Though their version of Bohemian Rhapsody did score over 20 million views on YouTube.)  Now their biggest test comes this Thanksgiving when they have the chance to prove they can carry a movie again.  If the film is a phenomenal (do-do-do-do-do) hit, expect to see the Muppets get the franchise treatment.  If it under-performs, it could prove that it isn't easy being green if you film doesn't bring in the green. 

7. D23 Expo:  Disney nirvana once again comes to the Anaheim Convention Center.  While not perfect, the first D23 Expo was an amazing gathering of all parts of Disney and Disney fandom.  I can't wait for the next edition this August, but there are questions.  Can they cram everything in to three days?  Will Rich Ross be the showman Dick Cook was?  Will the enthusiasm continue for the second time?  I can't wait to find out the answers.

8. Captain America:  Of Marvel's big three, I love Captain America the most.  I think it is his combination of patriotism and the fact that I resemble Steve Rodgers prior to him being given the super-soldier serum.  I also love WWII Cap, and a little bit saddened that he will have to be frozen and revived in the modern day so he can be in the Avengers.  There are so many classic Captain America stories to tell; perhaps we can go back and visit in "flashback". 

9: Winnie-the-Pooh:  Here comes the test.  Can Disney revitalize a Pooh franchise that has been exploited to death by bringing it back to its roots?  I hope so.  I am one who was not very fond of Pooh until I popped in the DVD of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and I discovered this charming little tale filled with wit and whimsy.  I realized that the bad versions of Pooh had stunk up the entire franchise for me. (Yes, I went there).  The trailer seems to be in the right direction.  I just hope someone will notice this film as it tries to compete with the final chapter in the Harry Potter franchise.  Good luck silly old bear!  You will need it.

10: Fork and Screen:  Soon I will be able to have food brought to me, while I watch a movie on the big screen.  Need I say anything more?  May 16 can not get here soon enough.

After years, and years, and years of waiting, Disney finally broke ground on the Shanghai Disney Resort.  This destination which will feature a shopping, dinning, and entertainment district, two hotels, and Shanghai Disneyland.  With Storybook Castle and themed lands, this Disneyland style park will be familiar to Disney fans, yet will have some unique characteristics.  Check out the resort's official website for details regarding the size, ownership structure, and lots of pictures taken at Walt Disney World with Chinese guests.

With 330 million prospective guests within a three-hour drive, one might think this park will be more like Disneyland than Walt Disney World.  With so many locals, repeat guests will be key.  From opening, the park should be targeting annual passholders by constantly changing the program of the resort.  The press release seems to understand this by mentioning the park is already thinking about expansion.  They also market the resort as a  place to commemorate local cultural events and celebrations.

More details about the resort will come to light in the next five years as we countdown to opening day, but what I will be focused on is how they are positioning the park.  I am especially curious to see the differences between the Shanghai and Hong Kong resorts.  What type of guest will each attract?  One thing to note is that the Hong Kong expansion of Toy Story Land, Grizzly Gulch, and Mystic Point, will not be duplicated in Shanghai.  This is to try and make sure the parks are different enough that visitor cannibalization will be minimized.  Perhaps Shanghai Disneyland is the park mainland guests visit several times a year, while Hong Kong Disneyland will be reserved for special occasions. 

In the end, I am just happy that I have one more destination to visit.  I also enjoy that Disney is one more step closer to global domination of the entertainment industry.  For that is how it is supposed to be.  

Quick Takes:

Studio Entertainment: D23 takes a look at The Ballad of Nessie a new short which will be attached to Winnie the Pooh.  I am excited about this short finally being released.  When Disney acquired Pixar and the shorts program was revived at Disney Animation, I was excited to see shorts in front of most Disney releases.  However, with the exception of How to Set Up Your Home Theater, we have yet to see this come to fruition.  I do not know what the status of Glago's Guest or Tick Tock Tale is, but I hope that these shorts are attached to an upcoming Disney release soon. 

Consumer Products: Speaking of D23, members of the official Disney fan club can get 30 percent off Tron: Legacy inspired men's and women's jewelry designed by award-winning Parisian sculptor Robin Rotenier.  This is part of the Walt Disney Signature line, Disney Consumer Products high end line.  If you want jewelry that screams underperfoming sequel to a 28 year old movie.  Check it out. 

Media Networks: I downloaded an app for my iPhone called Watch ESPN that lets me watch ESPN on the go.  Not just ESPN, but ESPN2, ESPN3, and ESPNU.  This is awesome!  The streaming quality is high and the registration process if fairly easy.  If you have Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, or Verizon; check it out. 

Interactive Media: Disney is continuing to embrace 3D gaming with their Cars 2 video game.  Do you think 3D video games will catch on?  3D broadcasts seem to only be embraced by Disney's ESPN, yet there has some been some success with 3D Blu-rays. 

Marvel: The folks at Marvel have released a new clip from the upcoming "Thor" feature.  If you watch carefully you will get your first glimpse of Hawkeye as performed by Jeremy Renner (he is the one with the bow and arrow).  Hawkeye was unveiled as one the Avengers that will be a part of the team in next year's film, but until recently it was a secret that he would have a cameo in "Thor".  This is an example of what Marvel calls the "Avengers Assemble" initative where their films interlock in a Marvel Cinematic Universe.  While each film stands on its own, the interlocking creates a bigger story for those interested.  It also helps consumer products, by having a big brand that can encompass all these superheroes.  This is similar to what Disney did with the princess line when they were combined to great success (although they do not appear in features together).  I recently had the opportunity to ask Joe Quesada, chief creative office of Marvel, how far they have these films planned out.  He said 6-7 years and that they have different plans depending on what is successful.  So expect to see the Marvel Cinematic Universe continue to expand. 

As you know, the three priorities of The Walt Disney Company are creativity, technology, and international expansion.  Having recently been aboard the Disney Dream, I can tell you that the ship is filled from stem to stern with creativity and technology.  But how is the Disney Cruise Line doing with international expansion? 

With the recent announcement of the 2012 itineraries, it has come to light that no Disney ship will be based out of an international port.  While the ships will visit international ports of call, the ships will be based out of Port Canaveral, New York, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Galveston.  Even the Alaskan cruises that are sailing out of Vancouver in 2011 will be departing from Seattle in 2012 (Though Vancouver will be a stop). 

A Disney spokesperson told the Orlando Sentinel that, "Europe remains important to us and we look forward to returning there in the future," even though there are no announced plans to return across the pond.  I can't help but wonder how Disney's 2012 plans were influenced by world events.  International markets have been plagued by economic hardship and civil unrest.  This has caused Disney to change itineraries in 2011. 

It is hard to determine if Disney avoided going international due to international concerns or if they were experiencing soft bookings.  In addition, it is near impossible to determine if the pace of bookings is influenced due to political instability or the state of the economy.  But one thing is near certain, don't expect a 5th and 6th Disney vessel until Disney is able to tap in to markets outside of the U.S.  With the new ships' larger capacity, Disney has plenty of stateroom inventory to meet current demand.  In order to expand, Disney will need to look overseas.  But that is the whole reason international expansion is so important to Disney in the first place.

Quick Takes:

Studio Entertainment: The Wrap is reporting that the sports drama, "McFarland" is back on track to being made at the Disney studios.  The story about a high school coach who formed a cross-country team in order to inspire his students was acquired by Disney, but was never made.  Disney's Sean Bailey is breathing new life in to the project.  This matches his statements that Disney is looking to making inspiring stories like "Remember the Titans" even though their "Secretariat" underperformed. 

Media Networks: ESPN keeps sending me reminders that their coverage of the Masters has begun.  This includes coverage of all four rounds on ESPN3D.  The only problem is, I really don't care about golf.  Unless it is four rounds of mini-golf at Winter Summerland, which is something I could get in to. 

Consumer Products: Today Disney Store opened their first two Imagination Park stores in Canada.  The stores in the Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga, ON, and  the Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby, BC, have all the magic of the U.S. stores plus the magic of paying with Canadian dollars.  Now the Canadian prices on the merchandise actually serve a purpose. 

Interactive Media: With Easter being so late this year, I feel like I should already be celebrating.  Luckily, DisneyFamily.com has the top 25 Disney Easter crafts and recipes.  For the record, I prefer the recipes to the crafts. 

Marvel: Marvel's big comic event started today with the release of Fear Itself #1.  For those that worried that Disney's acquisition would cause Marvel to steer away from darker stories, Fear Itself should abate those concerns.  The story is depressing, but in a good way.  I really liked the comic.  I especially liked how the companion "Home Front" comic told more personal stories that were influenced by the main title.  But I think it is safe to say, Disney is not exercising editorial control over what the architects at Marvel have planned.

The Tron: Legacy Blu-Ray came out today and I have to say it is an impressive release.  Of course, my opinion is purely based off a very breif cameo I make on the bonus features.  But as I explored the disc, smartly stylized as an identity disc, I couldn't help but wonder if we would ever see Tron 3.

While the film made $399 million worldwide at the box office, it performed under the expectations of many, including myself.  With a budget of around $170 million, it was not adding significantly to the bottom line of TWDC like Alice of Toy Story 3 did.  But under Bob, the studios has a mandate to focus on making franchises and thinking of the film's impact outside the box office.  While ElecTRONica seems to be a hit at Disney California Adventure, it is undetermined how the consumer products inspired by the film.  The video game tie-in seemed to be a bust, but the soundtrack album featuring the music of Daft Punk has sold 615,000 copies.  So will the franchise potential of the film push for a greenlight of a sequel in the way Cars got a sequel because of its consumer products success?  My guess is that the answer will be based on how Tron performs within another new Disney franchise: Disney XD.

When you first open the shiny packaging of the Tron Blu-Ray, there is an insert promoting the upcoming Disney XD spinoff Tron: Uprising.  The show which premieres Summer 2012 takes place between the two feature films and stars Elijah Wood as Beck and Bruce Boxleitner as Tron.  The folks at Disney XD hope that the animated show will continue their quest to be the boys television for the company allowing them domination over the market like Disney Channel owns girls.  The producers of Tron hope that the show  is a success and sells loads of toys which will force Rich Ross to continue the story of Sam Flynn.

There is an easter egg on the Blu-ray where Edward Dillinger Jr. is seen typing to his father, the villain from the first film.  Since the film's release, there has been speculation that Cillian Murphy's cameo as the son of Dillinger would be expanded in any sequel.  But unless a cartoon finds some success on a newborn network, this franchise might have reached  the "end of line"

Quick Takes

Parks and Resorts: Disneyland Park will once again hold the world premiere of the latest Pirates film.  Disneyland will close at 5 on May 7 the set up for the festivities, however guests may be able to view the "black carpet arrivals" on Main Street U.S.A.  For $1,000 you can attend the premiere and the proceeds will be donated to Boys & Girls Clubs of America.  Visit www.piratespremiere.com for more details.  I have been to one or two of these in the past, and they are great fun and a way to make a donation to a great cause.  I won't be able to attend this year due to another Disney engagement, but I will follow the fun on Twitter so let me know if you go!

Media Networks: The Walt Disney Company France and Free have partnered to launch branded digital TV video 'stores' Disneytek and ABCtek, multi-platform entertainment services entirely dedicated to both Disney and ABC programming. From 14th April, Free subscribers will be able to stream to their TVs and download to their PCs or Macs hit Disney movies, Disney Channel/Disney XD/ Disney Junior series, and ABC Studios series. Viewers will also be able to transfer and enjoy this programming via other compatible devices such as games consoles, tablets and mobile phones.  This sounds like an awesome service.  Maybe I should move to France.  No...wait....bad idea. 

Consumer Products: Congratulations to the Disney Store team for winning the Bronze Award for New Retail Frontirrs at the Edison Awards.  I have never heard of the Edison Awards, but I am sure it is quite an achievement. 

Interactive Media: Disney's Take180 Studios has launched a promotion to hype Disney Pictures' Prom.  You can watch the first two episodes at http://www.youtube.com/TheSoWhat It is definitely something else.

Marvel: So yesterday I mentioned that "Captain America" was going to relaunch with a new #1 issue.  However, the existing series will continue, being renamed "Captain America and Bucky" as of issue #620.  To make things even more confusing, the old "Captain America" series, the new "Captain America", and "Captain America and Bucky" are all written by Ed Brubaker.  Confused yet?

After over a year away, I have decided to return to the blogging world.  I have gotten very excited about some of the amazing new things coming from The Walt Disney Company that I just had to share my opinion, despite the fact it has no value.  So with that being said...

The D23 Expo is only 136 days away, and I thought I would share the 5 things I am interested in seeing at the 2nd Not-So-Annual D23 Expo.

1. New Faces: Since the last time Disneydom gathered at the Anaheim Convention Center, the leaders of 3 out of the 5 buisness units that comprise Disney have changed.  I am looking forward to seeing how Tom Staggs, Rich Ross, John Pleasants, and James Pitaro make their first impression with Disney fans.  How Dick Cook WOWed D23 a few days before he "retired" is the stuff of legend.  It will be interesting if any of these new executives can make the same impact (but stay employed).
2. Animation: With Reboot Ralph being just over a year away, will we get any glimpse of the state of the Disney Animation Studios?  Bloggers have discussed how Reboot Ralph will be the first feature developed from the ground up since the new regime has taken over.  Will it overperform like Tangled or will it be more like Princess and the Frog. 
3. Marvel: In many ways, the D23 Expo is modeled after a comic convention.  And since the last Expo, Disney has finalized the acquasition of an actual comic company.  With Comic-Con being just a month before, I presume Marvel will unveil most of their upcoming initatives with their loyal fan base.  That being said, I want to see how much of a part Marvel plays in the dialogue.  With Avengers being the first Marvel film being distributed by Disney and Disney XD launching more Marvel programming they should have a pressence at the Expo.  One of the things I loved about the last Expo was ABC's pressence.  Disney fans were exposed to a part of the company that they might not be as familiar with, but is still a part of the family.  I would love for some Disney fans to cross over to Marvel as they might notice some similiarity in the way both brands opperate. 
4. Shaghai:  One of the great things about the Expo last time was getting info on the three new lands being added to Hong Kong Disneyland.  I got to talk to Imagineers about a project I might not get to see in person for quite some time.  I hope the same is true with info about Shanghai Disneyland.  While still in development, it would be great to get my head around a development that I won't have access to for a while.
5. The Sleeper: Prep & Landing won me over at the 2009 D23 Expo.  I am curious as to what will be the surprise that I discover while going to a presentation or roaming the show floor.  I never know where I might discover a piece of the magic that is unexpectedly endearing. 

Quick Takes:

Parks and Resorts: The NGE train keeps on chugging down the tracks, with the long rumored enhancments to the Hitchhiking Ghosts being unveiled.  Check out LP's video here.

Studio Entertainment: The recently named, Monsters University is being pushed back to 6/21/13.  Disney Animation Studio's Reboot Ralph will take MU's release date of 11/2/12.

Media Networks: Radio Disney has started their 15th Birthday Celebration.  (WOW I am getting old).  The celebration continues on Friday, April 8 at 3pm PT/ 6pm ET when Greyson Chance and Cody Simpson take over with Ernie D.  If you know who those two young men are, you are probably the same age as Radio Disney.

Consumer Products: In an example of Marvel integration, Disney has taken over running Marvelstore.com You can tell because it looks a lot like DisneyStore.com  Expect to see a lot more attention put on this site as we get closer to the summer.

Interactive Media: Disney will be releasing video-game tie-ins with the Phineas and Ferb DCOM.  Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Demension will be available for the Wii, DS, and PS3.  The PS3 version supports Playstation Move. 

Marvel: Marvel announced that Steve Rodgers will be returning as Captain America with a relaunch in July.  Basically, they are trying to make sure the comic is accessible to folks that see the movie and want to get in to comics, so they are putting a "#1" on the cover to not scare folks away and making sure the guy that is called Captain America in the movie and in the comic are the same guy.  

So I decided to run down my top ten Disney events of the year.  Not in terms of my love of them, but for how I perceive their importance to the company.  You will notice that I don’t include anything from ABC or ESPN.  This is not because I don’t believe they shouldn’t be on this list, in fact I think the opposite.  However, I just felt nothing they did in 2009 deserves to be on this list.  I know the rundown will be debatable, but its just one boy’s opinion.

10. Prep and Landing

It’s not every year we get a new holiday television classic.  And while a blockbuster television special is not as impressive as a blockbuster film, it is a step in the right direction.  It was refreshing for Disney Animation Studios to have the buzz instead of Pixar.  The 30 minute salute to all holidays but mostly Christmas got Pixar-like reviews and has be heralded as a Christmas classic.  It even got better ratings than Oprah.  Only time will tell if Prep and Landing will stand alongside Rudolph and Frosty, but as far as Disney animation is concerned, it might be the turnaround point.

9. Presidency of the Disneyland Resort

Out of the blue Ed Grier retired and was replaced by George Kalogridis from Disneyland Resort Paris.  Those of us around for the first “Resort Expansion” remember George as Cynthia’s number two man that was sent back to Florida.  While Ed had the reputation of being an absentee president, the verdict hasn’t come out for George yet.  Florida veterans claim George is old-school.  But will he understand what makes Disneyland inherently different than its Florida counterpart?

8. Disney XD

Disney XD’s launch in February finally gave Disney a voice to boys.  Now the success of this endeavor has been debated, but it seems to be headed in the right direction, and defiantly has more of an identity than Toon Disney did.  Disney XD will probably play a big role in the Marvel integration as they already air about 40 hours a week of Marvel programming.  Ironically, the last program broadcasted by Toon Disney was The Incredible Hulk.

7.  Up

Up didn’t make this list because it was a good movie, (although I think it is).  It made it because it proved that Pixar could have a success with anything.  Who would have thought that a movie featuring an elderly widower who is joined on an adventure with a Wilderness Explorer would be a hit?  It was much more successful than the much more marketable Disney animated princess movie that was also released this year.  Pixar is now entering franchise territory with Toy Story 3 and Cars 2, so it looks like Pixar will continue to have hits and be the brand to beat when it comes to animation.

6.  Rasulo/Staggs Swap

All the folks at D23 that were using Rasulo as a synonym for bad, wanted him to no longer be in charge of Parks and Resorts, but I don’t think naming him CFO was what they had in mind.  For those wanting a bold new direction to Disney Parks, will probably be disappointed.  So if its going to be business as usual, I guess all that really matters is how good of a presentation Tom Staggs will he put on at the next D23 Expo.  In that regard, lets hope Tom is more Cook than Rasulo.

5. Princess and the Frog

The return of traditional animation has finally come to Disney, and the results were mixed.  The box office was weak, but the merchandise has been strong.  So Tiana’s long term relevance will be dictated by weather she can become an evergreen princess like Cinderella or Belle.  While Winnie the Pooh will be traditionally animated, the expectation of that film is low.  It probably won’t be until the Snow Queen is released of whether traditional animation can still be relevant in today’s marketplace. 

4. Dick Cook/Rich Ross

I loved Dick Cook, but even I have to admit that his box office performance was lacking.  While I will miss his marketing efforts and his connection to the Disney legacy, I will not miss films like Wild Hogs and Old Dogs.  We haven’t quite seen what movies Rich will want to produce, but we know what he doesn’t Wedding Banned, the 20k prequel, and Wild Hogs 2 have all been canned.  But no matter what kind of movies he makes, we know there will be a change to the way they are marketed and delivered. 

3. D23

Never say that Bob doesn’t listen to those questions he gets asked at shareholder meetings.  Disney finally established an official Disney fan club.  While the club had its fair share of bumps in the road, the small team was able to put on a large event.  The D23 Expo was an amazing gathering of all things Disney.  I hope D23 stays and grows in 2010 and beyond. 

2. Roy E. Disney

The man who saved Disney twice passed away.  All of 2009 would not have been made possible without him.  Would Bob have replaced Michael at that crucial juncture?  Bob’s innovative leadership made everything else on this list possible.  So thanks to Roy this list has Pixar hits and traditional animation instead of direct to video sequels and failed acquisitions. 

1.  Marvel Acquisition

Lets hope this isn’t a failed acquisition.  There has been no doubt that something was lacking in Disney’s portfolio.  In a cluttered marketplace, it is hard to create a blockbuster franchise from scratch (pay no attention to Avatar).  But with 5,000 characters and the ability to take a second stringer like Iron Man and make a franchise out of it must have been very alluring to Iger.  Obviously there will be some awkward moments because of Marvel’s previous deals, but soon Disney will embrace all that Marvel has to offer.  And can you get what part of Universal Escape is my favorite?

I’m not going to lie and say 2009 has been a great year.  The nation has an economy that is still struggling and we lost many that are near to us, including Wayne Allwine and Roy E. Disney.  And we won’t even bring up Disney Pictures’ live-action slate.  To be honest, I can’t wait for the 2009 calendar year to be over.  2010 has the promise to be a better year.  Things seem to be turning around in our nation and Disney has some exciting projects on deck such as World of Color and Tron: Legacy. 

But when I look back at 2009, there is a bright spot.  And I know I’ll sound like a shill when I say this, but D23 has been the source of most of the joy I received in 2009.  While the highlight of the year was the birth of my “nephew” Gideon, D23 events have probably taken up the other 9 spots on my top ten.  The D23 Expo might even be the highlight of my Disney life. 

I am the first to admit that D23 has had some missteps in its brief life, but I am happy with how they have recovered from their charter year stumbles.  I have wanted Disney to do something like D23 for quite some time.  I felt that Disney and its fans sometimes felt like they were on two different sides.  The connection between those that care deeply about Disney and the corporation had to come closer.  And I think the glow from the Expo has proven that they have started to be successful. 

I was lucky to have a heads-up on the announcement of D23, so I went to the shareholder meeting with anticipation and I signed up immediately.  And to be honest, for the first few months, I wondered if my hopes were warrantless.  Then came the Up event.  Being surrounded by all that positive Disney energy made me regain my hope that D23 will be something special. 

As the year went on and I attended more events, I grew ecstatic.  My D23 year ended with the Magic and Merriment event at Walt Disney World.  That event showcased what D23 was about, being a part of an insider Disney community with fellow fans as well as Cast Members.  The small D23 team made us feel like the valued part of Disney that we are. 

And now I see they are having a special holiday promotion that Charter Memberships are now 10 bucks off, and I want nothing more than to encourage Disney fans to be a part of this special designation.  While you might have missed out on some of the charter year free events and special goodies (hence the 10 dollar discount), you will never have another chance to join the club from the beginning.  I don’t receive anything from D23, and in fact, I’m sure many members of the D23 team might like to receive a little less “communication” from me.  That being said, trust me when I say the D23 amounts to more than the sum of its parts. 

I know D23 isn’t for everyone.  Many of us have had to make sacrifices this year.  But if D23 fits within your lifestyle, I want to pass on my opinion that it has been something special for me, and I hope it will be the same for you. 

I would be remiss, if I didn’t share my perspective of Roy E. Disney.  I got to meet Roy several times, and while I am sure that there are many sides to the man, I felt a connection to him.  It wasn’t that he was Walt’s nephew or looked like Walt… It was that he took the time to talk to a college aged Disney fan and make me feel like I mattered.  He encouraged me to follow my dreams and do what is right.  His picture with me is the only Disney celebrity picture I treasure, as he has become my role model. 

When we went to Philadelphia for the second Save Disney war, I saw the same man up on stage who I had met in more intimate settings earlier.  It was a man who didn’t want to cause a fuss and would rather be on a yacht or in Ireland, but was doing what he was doing because it was the right thing to do for the Disney legacy, its fans, and the company’s shareholders.  Roy, I will miss you and my thoughts and prayers go out to your family and loved ones. 

I know I have been gone a while...and a lot of major stuff has happened at The Walt Disney Company since then.  While I could talk about the Marvel acquisition, the D23 Expo, Dick Cook, Rich Ross, Jay Rasulo, or Tom Staggs, I want to talk about something small.  Elf size as the case may be. 

While it might be early to talk about Christmas, I figured the parks are already decorated so why not.  And what I am most excited about this holiday season.  While I enjoy the synergistic artistry of the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade (note the name change); I am more excited about another example of different business units working together.  Prep and Landing.

This new Christmas special was made by the folks at Disney Animation Studios and was conceived as a short by Bolt’s director Chris Williams.  But John Lasseter went across Riverside Drive and convinced ABC to air it as a holiday special along with ABC’s strong stable of other specials such as How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Charlie Brown Christmas.  (We won’t mention Shrek the Halls).  Listening to ABC’s Steve McPherson talk at D23, he didn’t take a lot of convincing on John’s part because the folks at ABC love Disney.

Now I found this interesting...and as I talked to more ABC folks, they told me that they feel integrated with Disney.  Now I am sure since the 1995 acquisition, there were many bumps in the road.  In fact, I’d venture to say that this integration didn’t happen until Bob took the reigns.  Why do I think this?  Well, Bob welcomed ABC employees, of which he was one, in to the Disney service award program.  And isn’t this type of collaboration one of the reasons Bob replaced Dick Cook with Rich Ross? 

There is no longer a separation between Disney and ABC.  And with great shows like V, Modern Family, and Lost, I am proud to be a Disney fan and I include ABC in that fandom.  If ABC is now a fully integrated part of The Walt Disney Company, how can I not?  I can only wonder how long it will be or if it will even be possible for the Marvel acquisition to reach the same level of collaboration.  While I don’t want Disney to ruin the creative culture of Marvel, I do hope they feel like a part of the Disney family. 

As far as the fruit of this integration turns out, you can judge for yourself when the special airs on December 1.  But I got to see the yet to be completed special at D23, and I can only say that I can’t wait to see Lanny and Wayne again. 

Quick Takes:

Parks and Resorts:  The giant gingerbread house opened at the Grand Floridian today.  Personally, I would rather have had the Lights of Winter.  But I might be biased because I hate gingerbread. 

Studio Entertainment:  Mary Poppins opened at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday and is running until February 7.  If you live in the area, check out this show.  I wanted to hate it, but I loved it.  Its not the movie, but it doesn’t turn its nose up to the film either. 

 Disney Interactive Media:  Speaking of Prep and Landing.  Here is Disney.com’s site for the special.  In the recent earnings conference call, future Disney Parks Chairman mentioned that while this segment doesn’t generate a lot of operating income, it does support the rest of the company.   This is just one example. 

Consumer Products: Andy Mooney is going to be the buisness unit head with the most time in their position come January 1.  Andy has been in his role since May 2003 and has been with Disney since January 2000.  I hope he doesn’t start to feel bored in his role.  If he does, he could end up running ESPN. 

Video of the Day: I love this new Disney Parks holiday spot.  Almost as good as the classic Disneyland “Let’s go play” ad.

News from Around the Web:

ABC News:  ABC News is asking if GM will be spending taxpayer money on overseas operations.  The question I want answered is will GM spend taxpayer money on sponsoring an Epcot pavilion.  If so, I want access to the VIP lounge. 

NY Times:  The New York Times reports that GM lost $1.15 billion.  Perhaps they shouldn’t sponsor Test Track. 

USA Today: Sybase CEO, and Disney board member, John Chen shares his inside look on China’s influence.  Hmm, I wonder what his thoughts on Shanghai Disneyland are. 

 LA Times: The LA Times looks at the incredible legs of Disney’s A Christmas Carol.  The film retained  74.2 % of its opening weekend audience.  Somewhere, Dick Cook is on a train enjoying the last laugh. 

Orlando Sentinel:  The Orlando Sentinel looks at the changes to Magic Kingdom’s Space Mountain.  Haven’t done it myself yet, but I can’t wait to give it a whirl.   

Variety:  The much maligned 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea remake has been beached.  Good move Mr. Ross.... Good move. 

Up was the top movie at the box office this weekend, bringing in $68.2 million which beats expectations.  It was also screened at the El Capitan as part of the first D23 members-only event.  Coincidence?  I think not.   While many of us have had our concerns about D23’s early moves, this event was a home run.  It was everything a Disney fan event should be. 

The best part was seeing the movie with fellow Disney fans.  Folks that cheer when the Toy Story 3 trailer premiered, when they showed the Princess and the Frog trailer, and even to my surprise applaud when they screened the G-Force trailer.  But the extra joy of getting to hear from Pixar’s good luck charm, John Ratzenberger as he thanked us for our support was an extra treat..  Also the free soda, popcorn, and pin weren’t bad bonuses considering the event was free.  (I know I paid 75 bucks for the membership, but you know what I mean).

When it came to the movie, I enjoyed it.  But it did have two of my favorite things; dogs and old people.  The movie is unique which makes it hard to rank.  Well actually it won’t be hard, we will just have to wait for the final box office numbers to come in to know where it ranks.  I also enjoyed the short, Partly Cloudy.  I like the shorts, they are like extra innings, frequent flier miles, or AMC First Look... a little bonus to the experience that comes with admission.  I hope eventually all Disney movies have shorts attached. 

Follow me on Twitter.  @figgy999

Quick Takes:

Parks and Resorts: I also attended the D23 event at Epcot to close out the Flower and Garden Festival.  While the event had a smaller scope, it was still fun.  Tony Orlando gave several shoutouts to D23, even wearing Mickey gloves to honor the fans.  Also having some of Walt’s favorite desserts, like Chris’ Cold Pie was a nice touch for a fan event.  I also can’t downplay the value of getting fast passes for Soarin’ when I checked in.  We got a complete set of the D23 promotional buttons as we exited which has been a hidden dream for me.  As far as I am concerned, D23 is two for two. 

Media Networks:  Disney Channel has renewed Sonny with a Chance for a second season and Hannah Montana for a fourth.  More Sonny and Hannah?  It’s like we are getting the best of both worlds. 

 Disney Interactive Media:  Disney has completed the acquisition of parenting related websites from Kaboose Inc.  Hope this is as successful as the Infoseek purchase. 

Consumer Products: Disney Consumer Products has its largest presence this year at the Licensing Show.   They will showcase their franchises like Winnie the Pooh.  Did you know  that they are making a new traditionally animated Pooh movie to be released in Spring 2010?  Don’t get this mistaken with G-Force, that’s  a different kind of pooh.    

Video of the Day: The Jonas Brothers go behind the scenes of their Paranoid music video.  Sorry folks, no trash can in sight. 

News from Around the Web:

ABC News:  The girl that was brought to Walt Disney World as part of an alleged abduction hoax said that the trip was fun.  I am glad that even under bizarre circumstances, Disney World is the place where parents and children can have fun together. 

NY Times:  The New York Times reports on Up’s box office performance.  I bet the New York Times wishes they made as much money as Up did.  Sadly, they are broke.  Maybe they wish THEY bought Pixar.   

USA Today: USA Today looks at Pixar good luck charm and friend to D23, John Ratzenberger.  Did you know he has made more than $3 billion?  That’s like 4 DCAs. 

LA Times: Auditions for season 9 of American Idol have been announced and it looks like you don’t have to take your dream ticket far.  They will have auditions at the Orlando Pyramid July 7^th to July 9^th.  So go to Disney’s Hollywood Studios then high tail it downtown.       

Orlando Sentinel:  The Orlando Sentinel asks if they have changed the direction of the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade.  The answer is yes.  It now steps off in Town Square.  I feel special for scooping the Orlando Sentinel. 

Variety:  TV Azteca has reached an agreement with Disney to produce a version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire .  Way to jump on a property when it is hot.  Es que su respuesta final?

So Disney has joined an evil plot to destroy the world when they joined Hulu by gaining an equity stake as well as supplying the site with video content from ABC, ABC Family, SoapNet, and Disney Channel.  I think this is a great move.  When ABC launched their video player, they broke new ground.  But when News Corp and NBC Universal started Hulu, they created a destination for professional content online.  And while viewers that want to watch Lost might head to ABC.com, viewers that are looking for something to watch, will go to Hulu. 

Disney also gets a substantial piece of an internet destination.  Go.com failed because internet people will be more successful in creating a web destination.  But entertainment people will be successful in creating an entertainment destination, whether it is a TV network or a website.  Google acquired YouTube for $1.65 billion.  If Hulu is going to rival YouTube, which many pundits believe will happen, how much is Hulu worth?  It’s true that Hulu hasn’t sold a lot of ads, and you make more if people watch the shows on TV than you do if they watch it online; but now would not be the time to judge the success of internet  advertising as the ad market is anything but stable at this point in time.  But if advertisers want to reach people, they will have to migrate to the internet eventually, and Disney needs to occupy many places in that market. 

Disney, now more than ever, needs to create content people want to see.  In the end, I doubt it will really matter if they watch it on TV, iTunes, ABC.com, or Hulu.  As long the public is watching it in some way, Disney will be successful.  So grab your remote or your computer and enjoy. 

Quick Takes:

Studio Entertainment: Looks like Disney ended up planting 2.7 million trees thanks to that many moviegoers seeing Earth during its opening week.  I admit that I am not a True-Life Adventures fan, but I really did enjoy Earth.  I think I can handle one Disney Nature film a year and look forward to Oceans, though I doubt they will plant trees for a film about the Ocean. 

Parks and Resorts:  The Sun Wheel has reopened as Mickey’s Fun Wheel.  This is the first re-branded attraction of the DCA redo, and I have mixed feelings.  I think the Sun Wheel was the one DCA icon that actually worked and developed its identity.  However, I do like the end result and I am sure I will get used to it.  Now if they could only get rid of the Maliboomer..... 

Disney Interactive Media:  Disney 365 talks to Demi Lovato about her upcoming tour.  I’ll be seeing her in August when she comes to the Pyramid. 

Consumer Products: Disney is launching DigiComics which will allow you to download comics to your mobile device.  Do you think it will work? 

Who is Celebrating: Today is Will Arnett’s birthday.  He stars in Disney’s G-Force.  I hope the American League hits a Grand Slam during the All-Star Game so I can see the movie for free.  This time, it counts.   

Video of the Day: An analyst on CNBC’s Fast Money tells viewers to get off the Disney roller coaster and sell the stock in advance of tomorrow’s earnings announcement.   I hope he is wrong.  We will find out tomorrow.  In any case, I should correct him.  Disney doesn’t have roller coasters.  They have roller coaster type rides. 

News from Around the Web:

ABC News:  The Blackberry Curve outsold the iPhone last month.  See what happens when Steve Jobs goes on leave?  Sigh. 

NY Times:  Ties between Apple and Google are being investigated by the Federal Trade Commission.  See what happens when Steve Jobs goes on leave?  Sigh.

USA Today: USA Today looks at May on TV.  They pick a show for every day of the month and ABC got ten mentions!  Take that CNBC guy.    

LA Times: The LA Times reports that the premiere of Disney Channel’s Jonas did not burn up the ratings being the worst live-action series premiere since 2005’s Life with Derek.  That being said, the show did top the kids and tweens ratings for the night with 4 million viewers.  I guess the trash can needed a bigger part.     

Orlando Sentinel:  The Orlando Sentinel reviewed the new Manta coaster at Sea World.  I got to go to an event tonight and try it.  It is awesome!  The queue, aquariums, the ride, and experience were all the best at the park.  It will probably be my top Central Florida attraction opening this year. 

Variety:  Looks like the studios and the theaters are starting to battle regarding who is going to pay for the 3D glasses you need to watch Digital 3D features.  I think Time Warner should pay for all of them.  Just my two cents.     

Dwayne Johnson appeared at AMC Mission Valley Theater on Friday, March 13^th with Race to Witch Mountain’s director Andy Fickman and producer Andrew Gunn.  This was part of a new program that began with The Jonas Brothers called Disney’s Opening Weekend Surprise.  The idea is that you might get a special treat if you see a Disney film such as seeing The Rock or The Jonas Brothers.

Disney has big plans for this initative with creating a movie going community on Disney.com that will get sneak peeks at upcoming releases as well as hints as to what and where the next surprise will be. 

Is it just me or has Disney decided to create a lot of new communities lately, while creating less and less product.  Don’t get me wrong, along with D23, I like this new idea.  But I can’t help but notice that while Disney Movie Rewards continues to expand, the number of films Disney is releasing shrinks.  And I would much rather see a press release regarding a new attraction instead of another update from the silly Mom’s Panel.

I love the marketing efforts that Disney has undertaken lately.  But the marketing can only be as good as the product.  There is no marketing that is going to turn a bad movie or attraction good.  But we have to notice that the amount of product Disney is releasing is decreasing, at least for now.  So the marketing allows us to stay excited between openings.  The key is not to get carried away with the marketing, and lose focus and investment on the actual product.   

Quick Takes:

Media Networks: Today was “Selection Monday” for the Women’s NCAA Tournament.  Unlike what some shareholders believe, ESPN only has the rights to the Women’s tourney.  All you really need to know is that UCLA didn’t make it this year (again).  But UCF is the 14 seed is the Oklahoma City region.  Good Luck!

Parks and Resorts:  T. Rowe Price has agreed to sponsor an exhibit at Epcot’s Innoventions.  Uhmm, aren’t we in the midst of a financial crisis in which investment companies are being scrutinized how they are spending their money?  Also, will The Great Piggy Bank Adventure theme to Epcot  be about the future?  I don’t know that an attraction featuring rampant inflation will be a big hit amongst Disney Guests. 

Disney Interactive Media:  Disney’s Black Rock Studios announced they will be releasing Spit/Second, a new racing game for Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and the PC.  I can’t help but notice that the game doesn’t involve Disney’s existing franchises and is not being released on a Nintendo platform which Bob Iger recently identified as Disney Interactive Studio’s strategic directives.  I guess there is an exception to every rule.

Consumer Products: DCP and KB Homes have announced that you can now have Disney Dream Rooms based on Hannah Montana, Cars, Pooh, and Disney Princess.  I can’t wait for them to extend their lines.  I can’t wait to live in a home with a D23 room. 

Who is Celebrating: It is Erik Estrada’s birthday.  (Insert own joke here)

Video of the Day: The second Upisode premiered and features Russell trying to use a first aid kit.  It kind of reminds me of my experience the one time I went to first aid at Universal to get a band-aid. 

News from Around the Web:

ABC News:  Former Disney Star, Lindsay Lohan is off the hook after being issued an arrest warrant.  How come I have the feeling she won’t be named a Disney Legend.  Well, I mean you can’t show up if you are in jail, and it’s just a matter of time. 

NY Times: Looks like a treatment for peanut allergies shows promise.  I guess there is hope for me!  Soon, I might be able to enjoy the Peanut Butter and Jelly Shake at the 50’s Prime Time Cafe.  Anyone want to be there when I try for the first time? 

USA Today: Dancing with the Stars contestant, Shawn Johnson, has a blog discussing her Salsa.  I prefer Paul Newman’s Salsa myself, but I’ll give hers a shot. 

LA Times: The LA Times catches up with Kim Richards and Iake Eissisnmann from the original Witch Mountain films.  I learned one thing about each of them that I didn’t want to know.  Kim is Paris Hilton’s aunt.  Iake paints nudes.  I guess there is such a thing as knowing too much about the stars you idolized as a child.   

Orlando Sentinel:  Thomas Kinkade presents Pinocchio in a new painting entitled “Pinocchio Wishes Upon a Star”.  Just a thought... Wasn’t Geppetto the one that wished upon a star?  Pinocchio was the one that went to Pleasure Island and turned in to an.... donkey.     

Variety:  Variety reviews Better Off Ted, and gives it a tepid reception. I am shocked that a comedy on ABC didn’t get glowing reviews.  In related news, ABC announced that the series FINALE of According to Jim will air May 5.    

All I have to say is WOW!  I am so excited for D23 that I can’t remember anything else discussed at the meeting today.  I had a chance to talk to some of the folks behind D23 and I have full faith in them based on their replies.  This isn’t going to be another Disneyana Convention, Disney Magazine, or Disney Club.  This will be better than all of that, because it is being run by fans.  I mean, I have no doubt they will have their bumps, but the look in their eyes while they discussed the club let you know that they want this to be something special.  You can also see how much fun they are having bringing this club to you.

Don’t worry you favorite websites and Disney fan clubs won’t be going anywhere.  The club is meant to compliment them by being the official Disney connection to the fans.  I am so excited.  Forget about the Path to 9/11, the new names of the Disney ships and the clip they showed of Princess and the Frog.  D23 was the real story of the meeting.  I can’t wait to see this develop.  By the way, Disney stock was up today.  I credit D23.