Disney Online and FamilyFun Magazine Bring Families Together With Launch Of The New FamilyFun.com

Disney Online and FamilyFun Magazine Bring Families Together With Launch Of The New FamilyFun.com

Two Innovative Family Resources Celebrate Union With 'The Online Family Connections' Contest

The new FamilyFun.com Web site will launch today, just in time for the Valentine season. The popular family magazine and the award-winning family Web site, which focus on innovative activities for families and practical ideas for busy parents, pair up in February to explore the many creative and moving ways families express their love for each other.

In addition to offering families dozens of Valentine ideas, FamilyFun.com is presenting 'The Online Family Connections' contest, in which visitors can submit their best stories about how they have used the Internet to become better connected with family members or, even to reconnect with long lost loved ones. The author of the winning story will receive a family vacation for four to the Disneyland(R) Resort in California.

"We wanted to celebrate what the Internet brings to families and one great thing it brings is new ways to communicate with our loved ones," says Emily Smith, director of product development for FamilyFun.com. "FamilyFun readers are known for sharing ideas with each other and this contest is a perfect way to extend that concept to our online community."

"This new site can offer such a breadth of ideas and solutions," says Alexandra Kennedy, editorial director of FamilyFun Magazine. "Valentine's Day, for example, is huge with families -- it's definitely not just an adult holiday. The site offers dozens of Valentine cards, gifts and recipes, allowing parents to find just the right idea -- plus an inspiring contest."

The 'Online Family Connections' contest submissions will be accepted through March 17, 2002 and finalists will be posted on FamilyFun.com April 1, at which time site visitors can vote for their favorite entry. Contest winners will be announced April 30 with the grand prizewinner receiving a two-night, three-day family vacation to the Disneyland(R) Resort in California, which includes the Disneyland(R) park and Disney's California Adventure(TM) park.

The four runners-up will receive Compaq iPaq Pocket PCs. All 'Online Family Connections' contest entrants will receive a special, extended trial subscription to Disney's Blast ( www.disney.com/blast ), the No. 1 online subscription service for kids. Disney's Blast offers more than 100 games and activities featuring favorite Disney characters.

In addition to programming original family-based content on its site, FamilyFun.com will draw upon the resources of FamilyFun Magazine and content developed by Family.com, Disney Online's predecessor site designed for parents.

--posted February 4, 2002

Source: Disney Online Press Release