This one time, at CEO compensation camp...

We hear about executive compensation in the media on many levels, and most of us think "Wow, that's a lot of money." But have we ever really sat down and dug into exactly how much money these guys are really pulling down? Lucky for us, some of this info is public access. Other times it's listed on a government website with PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL stamped on the top. Either way, it gets put into perspective when an executive from a big company like Disney decides he can do better elsewhere. Exactly how much better? Let's see.


EX-10.1 2 exhibit1.htm EX-10.1
PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL
July 20, 2006
Matthew A. Ouimet PO Box 3232 Anaheim, California 92803
Dear Matt,
I am delighted to confirm our invitation for you to join Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. We recognize that a successful company is the reflection of a talented workforce and high performing organization and we look forward to your leadership at Starwood. The Board and I have great confidence that you are more than up to the challenge of leading the Starwood Hotel Group despite the size and complexity of the task at hand. Personally, I look forward to a strong and enjoyable business partnership. I firmly believe that you have the professional experience, leadership and values to help realize the enormous potential inherent in Starwood’s brands, people and competitive position.
Please review the attached documents specifically outlining our offer of employment to and let me know if you have any questions concerning the terms. We are all enormously enthusiastic about you joining the company’s senior leadership team.
Matt, I hope you are as excited as we all are about joining Starwood. Please acknowledge your acceptance of this offer by signing and returning all of the attached documents to me.
Sincerely,
Steven J. Heyer
1
REVISED
July 20, 2006
Matthew A. Ouimet PO Box 3232 Anaheim, California 92803
Dear Matt,
The specifics of your offer of employment with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (“Starwood” or the “Company”) are outlined below:
Start Date: Subject to the terms of this letter, your employment with Starwood will begin on or about August 1, 2006 (the “Effective Date”)
Position: Your position will be President, Hotel Group, based in White Plains, NY, and you shall perform such duties and services as are assigned to you by the Company as requested. You acknowledge that your prospective employment will be subject to all policies and practices of the Company as may currently exist or as may be curtailed, modified or implemented from time to time. Further, you shall devote your full time and attention to the affairs of the Company and to your duties as President, Hotel Group. You will report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and be a core member of the senior leadership team of the Company which also includes the President, Global Development, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel. Our regional division presidents (North America, EMEA, AP and LAD) will report directly to you.
Base Salary: Your base salary will be $700,000 annually, paid in semi-monthly intervals of $29,166.66

$29, 166.66 every 2 weeks. He'll have my annual salary by Halloween.

and subject to applicable withholdings for FICA, state and federal taxes. The Starwood salary program provides performance-based salary reviews for future salary progression.
Annual Incentive (Bonus): You will be eligible to participate in the Starwood Annual Incentive Plan (AIP) or, at the election of the board’s compensation committee, the Annual Incentive Plan for Certain Executives (AIPCE). In either case, your target incentive is 100% of base salary. Your actual incentive payout will be based upon company performance, the performance of our owned and managed hotels worldwide, and your achieving specified performance criteria to be established and approved by the Chief Executive Officer. In the event that changes are made to any of the incentive plans, the changes will apply to you as they do other employees of the Company. Please note that the AIP and AIPCE provides that a portion of your annual bonus will be deferred and payable in Starwood stock or stock units. The current deferral portion of the bonus is 25% and is payable in Starwood stock having a value on the date of deferral equal to 133% of the amount deferred.

Starwood's going to pay 25% of his bonus in stock worth 33% more than everyone else's shares.

Payment of your 2006 bonus will be delivered according to the regular annual incentive plan payout schedule and your bonus will assume you were employed with Starwood for the full year. An annual bonus shall not be deemed earned by you until the Company has determined your entitlement to such bonus and only if you are employed by the Company at the time such bonus is payable in accordance with the AIP, AIPCE and Company practices. Subject to the provisions described under “Severance” below, the Company does not pay pro-rata bonuses upon departure.
Long Term Incentive: You will be eligible to participate in the Starwood Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan (“LTIP”). This plan currently provides for the award of stock options and/or restricted shares at the Company’s discretion to high performing executives. For calendar year 2006, on or about the starting date of your employment with Starwood, you will receive equity awards having a value of $2,500,000

Matt may be eligible to play in the high performing executive bonus plan. In fact, he'll get $2.5 million just for showing up on his first day. That is a seriously high performance arrival. I'm expecting parachuting Elvis's here.

(which amount will be pro rated based on the remaining number of months in the calendar year), payable 50% in restricted stock and 50% in options, with the value of options determined in accordance with the Black Scholes model (with variables determined by the Company). Options will be exercisable at Fair Market Value (as defined in the LTIP) on the date of grant For calendar year 2007, on or about the same time as annual option and restricted stock grants are made to other senior executives (currently February of each year), you will receive equity awards having a value of $2,500,000

Oh yeah, same for next year. Again, that is a seriously high performance signature he has, if he gets all this just for joining up.

, payable in the same proportions of restricted stock and options as other senior executives of the Company with the value of options determined by the method then used by the Company for determining grants to such other senior executives. The award agreements governing the terms of your equity grants will be on the same terms and conditions as other senior executives of the Company. For subsequent years, the value of awards, if any, will be based upon your performance and the metrics used for other senior executives of the Company.

D'oh! 2 years from now, he'll have to earn his multi-million dollar bonuses, just like everyone else.

Sign-on Equity: Effective on or about the starting date of your employment with Starwood, pursuant to the terms of the LTIP you will be granted that number of shares of restricted stock having a value equal to $705,000

Is this the bonus we saw above or a new 100% salary increase sign-on bonus?

, based on the Fair Market Value (as defined in the LTIP) on the date of grant. The restricted shares will vest in accordance with the LTIP and will otherwise be governed by the provisions of the LTIP, provided that such shares will vest if your employment is terminated by the Company for any reason or if you terminate your employment for “good reason” (as defined below). For purposes of this paragraph only, “good reason” shall also include a material reduction below 50% of the percentage of value of equity awards granted to you under the LTIP in future years that consists of restricted stock.

If he quits, they're taking 1/2 the value of his options. Or something like that.

Further details will be provided in the award notification to be delivered to you following the start of your employment.
Benefits: Starwood offers “StarShare”, a comprehensive array of employee benefit programs, to provide peace of mind on various personal concerns. New employees are eligible for the StarShare health and welfare benefit programs and the 401(k) plan on the first day of the month following 90 days of employment. You and your eligible dependents will be covered by these benefits as per your coverage elections.
Information on these plans and other benefit programs such as the HOT Rates (the employee discount room rates program), short-term disability, long-term disability, employee life insurance, and vacation programs will be provided to you after you begin your employment with us.
In the event that changes are made to any of the benefit plans, the changes will apply to you as they do other employees of the Company.
COBRA Payments: We realize that there may be a transitional benefits cost to you because of the waiting period before you become eligible for the Starwood health plans. Therefore, during your benefits waiting period, Starwood agrees to reimburse you for any COBRA payments until the date you become eligible for Starwood health benefits.

Starwood will cover all his insurance needs while he's in between jobs. This may be standard stuff, but hey, why should the millionaires need to spend any of their own money. That's not spendin' money, that's for keepin'!

Starwood will reimburse you the difference between the applicable normal contribution rate with Starwood and your COBRA amount.
Other Benefits: While your office will be in White Plains, we realize that you currently reside in California. We understand that you plan to commute from California to White Plains until some time after the conclusion of the 2006/2007 school year. You agree to relocate to the New York/Connecticut area no later than December 31, 2007. In order to make it as convenient and un-burdensome as possible to perform your duties in White Plains and other parts of the world as your job requires until your relocation to the New York/Connecticut area, the Company will (i) reimburse up to $1,500,000 of your air travel expenses during the first twelve months of your employment which may include commercial air or chartered flights (regular commercial flights on Company business (including spousal or family travel required as part of Company business) will not be counted in determining the $1,500,000 cap) and (ii) provide you with suitable temporary housing in the New York/Connecticut area. You agree that you will use good faith efforts in planning your travel to minimize such air travel expenses consistent with your duties and responsibilities as President Hotel Group.

This is the "Don't be a prick and fly all your friends to Vegas" clause.

Arrangements for non-commercial flights will be done in coordination with a company specializing in private aircraft services (such as Citation Shares or Net Jets) and will be done in a way to permit as much flexibility as is reasonably possible. The Company will indemnify you for any income tax liability for the air travel expense reimbursement, temporary housing and other relocation benefits provided pursuant to this letter and the Relocation Program discussed below.
The Company will reimburse you for up to $10,000 for review of your employment contract with us.

They'll pay for a lawyer to look over the contract. So, on what exactly do millionaires spend their money?

Relocation: Starwood has selected Cendant Mobility Services to administer our Relocation Program. Starwood will pay the reasonable, out-of-pocket costs of relocating your family and household furnishings to New York/Connecticut and to a new location in California in accordance with the provisions of Starwood’s Relocation Program. This Program includes reimbursement of a set number of personal, spousal and family trips for house hunting purposes (additional trips may be funded in your discretion by your $1,500,000 air travel allowance). To be eligible for reimbursement of certain benefits, you are required to utilize the services of an agent in the Cendant Mobility Preferred Network on both departure and destination. You will be eligible to participate in this program until December 31, 2007.
A home buy-out option will be afforded you as you make this transition. Cendant will arrange for two appraisals of your home to be conducted as soon as practicable after your acceptance of our offer. If those appraisals are more than 5% apart, a third appraisal will be ordered. The appraisals will then be averaged and you will be offered (the “Initial Offer”) that amount for your home. Once the offer is made, you will have 60 days to (i) accept it or (ii) defer the sale of your home until any time prior to September 30, 2007 (the “Deferral Period”). At the conclusion of the Deferral Period, Cendant will again arrange for the appraisal of your home and 60 day purchase offer in accordance with the foregoing provisions. We will guarantee the purchase price of your home. You will not be required to market your home in advance of initiating this buyout option. In addition if the purchase price offered to you at the conclusion of the Deferral Period is less than the Initial Offer, the Company will reimburse you for up to $100,000 of such deficiency.

Starwood will buy his house at fair market value, with no need to put it on the market. They'll even throw in $100,000 if the value goes down over the year you wait to sell it.

To initiate the moving process, please contact the White Plains Human Resources office. You will be assigned to a Client Services Consultant at Cendant Mobility who will provide you with relocation assistance and the names of the Preferred Network agents. In an effort to fully utilize our relocation benefit and avoid additional tax liability, we ask that you do not begin your relocation process before being contacted by your assigned Cendant Client Services Consultant. Please do not sign a Listing Agreement or begin searching for a new home until you have spoken with your Consultant. For questions regarding policy benefits or to register a real estate agent with Cendant, please call 1-800-423-8624.
In the event that you accept this offer of employment and relocation expenses are paid to you or on your behalf, you agree that if you voluntarily terminate your employment within one year after you relocate, you will repay all such relocation expenses, reduced by 1/12 for each full calendar month actually worked.

If he quits, he's got to pay back the relocation money. Hey, Starwood doesn't move people around for free.

In addition, eligibility for reimbursement of any and all relocation expenses will cease on the last day of employment and any relocation expenses incurred after that date will not be reimbursed by Starwood and will be your responsibility.
Exclusive Dispute Resolution Procedure: Any and all disputes relating to this offer letter, your employment with Starwood or the termination of that employment will be resolved solely and exclusively through binding arbitration pursuant to the employment rules of the American Arbitration Association. Accordingly, you acknowledge and agree that this offer of employment and the benefits provided herein are contingent upon your execution of the Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate provided to you herewith (Attachment A) and incorporated herein by reference.
Employment Term: Unless sooner terminated or extended pursuant to other provisions hereof, the term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall end on the March 1 2010; provided that the term of this Agreement shall be extended automatically for an additional year as of the end of the initial term and each additional one year term, unless no later than six months prior to any such renewal date either the Company, or Executive gives written notice to the other that the term of this Agreement shall not be so extended.
Severance: For the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending with the two year anniversary of the Effective Date, in the event you are teminated without cause or resign for good reason, you will be entitled to salary, target bonus and benefit coverage for the balance of the initial term of employment less seven (7) months. After the initial two year period you will revert to the severance benefits described below. In no circumstance would your severance be less than the severance described below if you are terminated without cause or resign for good reason.
In the event that Starwood terminates your employment for any reason other than “cause” or you resign for “good reason”, Starwood will pay to you (i) 12 months of your then current base salary, (ii) your target bonus for the year of termination and (iii) 50% of your target bonus for the year of termination pro rated based on the portion of the year elapsed on the date of termination, all in a lump sum less all applicable withholdings and will provide benefit coverage for a one year period from the date of termination (the “Termination Payments”). You will not be entitled to any Termination Payments if you resign your employment with the Company without good reason. As a condition for, and prior to, your entitlement to and receipt of any Termination Payments, you must enter into a written waiver and release of any and all claims against Starwood arising out of or relating to your employment with Starwood, in such form that Starwood may reasonably require. In the event you allege a breach of “good reason” the company will have 30 days to cure the alleged breach.

The Golden Parachute.

For purposes of this letter, “cause,” shall mean (i) any material breach by you of any of the duties, responsibilities or obligations of your employment, or any of the written policies of Starwood; (ii) any willful failure or refusal by you to properly perform (as determined by Starwood in its reasonable discretion and judgment) the duties, responsibilities or obligations of your employment, or to properly perform or follow (as determined by Starwood in its reasonable discretion and judgment) any lawful order or direction by Starwood; (iii) any acts or omissions by you that constitute (as determined by Starwood in its reasonable discretion and judgment) fraud, dishonesty, breach of your duty of loyalty, gross negligence, civil or criminal illegality, or any other material misconduct in your employment or which could tend to bring Starwood into disrepute, could create civil or criminal liability for Starwood or could adversely affect Starwood’s business or interests. “Good reason” shall mean a significant reduction in your responsibilities or authority as President Hotel Group, a change in your reporting relationship to a person who is not the senior most executive officer of the Company or a reduction in base compensation.
Other Conditions and Obligations: You acknowledge that you are not subject to any currently effective employment contract, or any other contractual or other binding obligations pursuant to which your employment or employment activities with or on behalf of the Company may be subject to any restrictions. Restrictions include limitation, any agreements or other obligations or documents relating to non-competition, confidentiality, trade secrets, proprietary information or works for hire.
As a further condition of this offer and your right to receive any of the benefits detailed herein, you agree to execute and be bound by the Non-compete, Non-solicitation, Confidentiality and Intellectual Property Agreement attached hereto (Attachment B) and incorporated herein by reference.
Integrated Agreement: This offer letter represents the sole and complete understanding between you and the Company relating to your employment and there are no other written or oral agreements, understandings or representations relating to this offer of employment. The terms of your employment, including the at-will nature of the employment, may be amended only through a written instrument signed by you and Starwood’s Chief Administrative Officer.
You should not resign from your current employment until you have received notification from the Company of the completion of all pre-employment investigation, testing and verification.
By signing and returning this letter, you confirm that this letter accurately sets forth the current understanding between you and Starwood and that you accept and agree to the terms as outlined.
Very truly yours,
Kenneth S. Siegel Chief Administrative Officer

cc:

Personnel File

ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO:



Matthew A. Ouimet

Date

Wiki Article

'Pirates' Becomes Year’s Top-Grossing Film

LOS ANGELES (AP) – “Pirates of the Caribbean" is looking more like "Treasure Island." Already a record-shattering blockbuster, Johnny Depp's sequel "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" dug up $62.2 million in its second weekend, raising its 10-day total to $258.2 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. The movie has quickly become the year's top-grossing film, rocketing past "X-Men: The Last Stand," which has taken in $232 million in eight weeks. The "Pirates" sequel has grossed an additional $125 million overseas. "It's really fun when you're riding a comet like this," said Chuck Viane, head of distribution for Disney, which based the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies on its theme park attraction. "This thing is just unbelievable. It creates its own wake." Hollywood's business dipped for the first time in two months. After eight straight weekends of rising revenues, overall receipts totaled $156 million, down 5 percent from the same weekend last year, when Depp also was at the top of the box office with "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." Still, the second weekend gross for "Dead Man's Chest" topped the debut of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," which opened with $56.2 million. "Dead Man's Chest" had the third-best second weekend ever, behind "Shrek 2" ($72.2 million) and "Spider-Man" ($71.4 million). By next weekend, "Dead Man's Chest" should climb past the $305 million domestic total rung up by its predecessor, 2003's "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," Disney's Viane said. Ending with a cliffhanger, "Dead Man's Chest" will be closely followed by a third "Pirates" movie due out next May, with Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley and other co-stars on a voyage to rescue Depp's rakish pirate Capt. Jack Sparrow. "Huge expectations. 'Pirates 2' is maybe the toughest act in box-office history to follow," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. "'Pirates 3' is the definition of a predestined blockbuster."

52,000 Participate in Volvo Treasure Hunt

IRVINE, Calif. (PRNewswire) – Seven would-be pirates from around the world will converge in a secret location next month as Volvo Car Corporation's global, multi-media treasure hunt for a Volvo XC90 V8 SUVthat has been buried somewhere in the world reaches its final leg. The hunt, which Volvo is conducting as part of its official promotion of Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," drew more than 52,000 US participants. The individuals participated for about a month in a challenging online adventure to solve a series of online clues and puzzles using an official treasure map obtained at Volvo dealerships nationwide. Throughout the course of the online hunt, participants created and joined in on message boards and blog sites sharing tips and information on the hunt's oft-times complex clues. The finalists who will now participate in the final leg will be selected from those who were the first to correctly guess the final clue when the online leg concluded July 12. The finalists – expected to be three from the United States and one-each from the United Kingdom, Spain, Japan and Austria – will, in August, be flown to the Volvo XC90's secret location, where for two days they will receive additional clues to lead them to the vehicle's burial site. Volvo's promotion of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" grew out of the partnership with Disney for the worldwide Volvo Ocean Race. The Volvo ship bears the name of the same boat in the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie, "The Black Pearl." The Ocean Race began in Vigo, Spain on Nov. 12, 2005 and ended in Gothenburg, Sweden on June 17, 2006.

La Nouba By Cirque Du Soleil Celebrates Its 5 Millionth Guest at Walt Disney World Resort Thursday, Aug. 10, 2006

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., July 10 /PRNewswire/ -- La Nouba, the spectacular Cirque du Soleil production exclusively presented at Walt Disney World Resort, is about to reach the important milestone of having hosted 5 million guests. Attaining such an amazing number of spectators would not have been possible without the loyalty of the residents of Florida who have attended La Nouba since its opening in December 1998. This is why Cirque du Soleil has decided to thank its local fans with two remarkable events.

First, from July 20 to Sept. 30, Florida residents can enjoy the daring acts, live music and dazzling choreography of La Nouba for 20 percent off the regular price on select seats.

Second, to celebrate its 5-million-guest milestone, the cast and crew of La Nouba will select one of the Florida residents attending the 6 p.m. performance on Thursday, Aug. 10, to be its honorary 5 millionth guest. This person will enjoy an amazing and one-of-a-kind experience, which includes a personal on-stage recognition by the cast, interaction with select La Nouba characters during the show, unique La Nouba memorabilia gifts, and an exclusive backstage meet-and-greet with the artists.

La Nouba continues to perform twice nightly at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Tickets can be purchased at the Cirque du Soleil theater, by calling 407/939-7600, or on http://www.cirquedusoleil.com . For more information on the 20 percent-off promotion, Florida residents can call 407/WDW-SEAT.

Fun Facts:

* La Nouba celebrated its 3500th performance on Saturday, May 13, 2006.
* There are 1730 audio cables running through the theatre. Placed end to end, they reach a total length of 865,000 feet or approximately 164 miles!
* When La Nouba first opened to the public, it did not feature the Cycles act, which is now an intricate part of the show.
* The average age of the cast of La Nouba is 31 1/2. Ages range from 10 to 50 years old.
* The wardrobe department handles over 300 costumes and headpieces every day. Most of the 67 artists performing in La Nouba wear three different costumes per show.
* Over 1200 lighting fixtures are used for each performance of La Nouba.

For more information about Cirque du Soleil, please visit http://www.cirquedusoleil.com .

SOURCE Walt Disney World Resort

EarthCam joins POTC2 cast...kind of

Click here for the ultra cool, super fast and way too short Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest timelapse movie file. (Be sure to keep an eye out for the way scary Kraken arms!)




NEW YORK, July 11 /PRNewswire/ -- EarthCam (http://www.earthcam.net/),
the leader in providing webcam software and technology, is pleased to announce that it provided the producers of Walt Disney Pictures' record breaking blockbuster summer movie, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (in theaters now), with technology to monitor and document the filming.

Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley reunite in this sequel to the 2003 blockbuster, distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Gore Verbinski.

"EarthCam's webcam technology was an invaluable tool for me and my production team to remotely monitor the set," said Jerry Bruckheimer, Executive Producer of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. "In addition, the cameras created an HD time-lapse movie of the construction progress which could make for an exciting DVD extra."

"We are ecstatic to be working with Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Walt Disney Pictures," said Brian Cury, CEO and Founder of EarthCam, Inc. "Developing opportunities to record significant events for the entertainment industry that feature our unique technology is important to our company's growth." EarthCam's professional-duty MegapixelCam system provided high definition, megapixel color images with digital Pan/Tilt/Zoom, enabling examination of the smallest picture details. The HD images were archived around the clock, providing the producers with instant access to the highest quality digital photographs and time-lapse videos. To view a sample video, visit http://www.earthcam.net/pirates.

A second camera, an EarthCam ConstructionCam system, offered producers critical real-time monitoring of the set building process including construction of the largest open-water tank in the western hemisphere. The tank holds 60 million gallons of water, is 30ft deep and accommodates multiple ships. The professional duty camera includes a cooling system and wiper that kept it working through the Caribbean summer and a fierce hurricane.

EarthCam is the recognized leader in providing webcam technology and managed services to businesses since 1996. EarthCam provides complete infrastructure services to manage, host and maintain live streaming video camera systems for its corporate clients. Clients include Ford, Sprint, Toyota, Panasonic, Yahoo!, This Old House, Coca-Cola, Discover Card, Turner Construction, Bechtel Corp, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, numerous government agencies, and the Department of Homeland Security.
Visit EarthCam at: http://www.earthcam.net/.

SOURCE EarthCam

---

Related links:

http://www.earthcam.net/

http://www.earthcam.net/pirates

Disneyland Resort Debuts First-Ever Video Podcast; Introduces Newest Episode of Its Popular Audio Podcast

Dead Men May Tell No Tales But New Audio and Video Podcasts Tell
Behind-the-Scenes Story of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean Film Premiere
and Attraction Re-Opening

ANAHEIM, Calif., July 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the groundbreaking
precedent of its popular monthly audio podcasts the Disneyland Resort in
Southern California today introduces a new monthly series of video podcasts
that will bring all the magic and fun of "The Happiest Place on Earth" to
fans around the world via their desktop computer or video iPod. As one of
the first organizations to successfully venture into audio podcasting
(launching its first podcast in May 2005), Disneyland Resort now debuts the
first episode of its all-new Disneyland Resort Video Podcast series.
In the premiere video episode, available now on the Internet, viewers
will witness the creation of one of the most spectacular movie premieres in
Hollywood history and certainly one of the most elaborate events ever
staged at Disneyland -- the official world premiere of the new Disney film
"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" and the re-opening of the
classic attraction Pirates of the Caribbean, which has recently been
extensively enhanced. All the excitement of getting ready for this amazing
event is captured in this fun and entertaining mini-documentary.
Viewers will walk the red carpet with the film's stars Johnny Depp,
Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom, plus meet many of the die-hard "Pirates"
fans who made the premiere an unforgettable event. It's a fast-paced look
(6 mins. 4 secs.) behind-the-magic at one of the most incredible nights in
Disneyland history.
Like the Official Disneyland Resort Audio Podcast, the new video
podcast is a free monthly Internet-based show accessible to a global
audience via a "Disneyland" search on the iTunes Podcast Directory.
Listeners can also subscribe to both podcast versions (audio and video)
through the iTunes Podcast Directory to receive new episodes automatically
each month.
The monthly video podcast takes viewers behind-the-scenes of what's new
and exciting at the resort plus showcases stories from the resort's 50-year
legacy of creating magical moments for guests from around the world.
Similar to its initial entree into audio podcasting, the Disneyland Resort
enters the emerging world of video podcasting in its infancy -- there are
currently only 150 free video podcasts available on the iTunes Podcast
Directory but interest in, and use of, the medium is rapidly increasing.
Additionally, the newest episode of the Official Disneyland Resort
Audio Podcast is now available online and takes listeners to all the
excitement of the world premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's
Chest," which had its official bow at Disneyland on June 24. Recorded live
on the world's longest red-carpet (2,000 feet from the beginning of Main
Street, U.S.A. to the riverfront in New Orleans Square) this podcast (38
mins. 50 secs.) features an array of segments, including:
* Interviews on the red carpet with "Pirates" film producer Jerry
Bruckheimer, actor Bill Nighy (Davy Jones in "Pirates of the Caribbean:
Dead Man's Chest") and Disney CEO Bob Iger.
* Actor Johnny Depp encounters the newly added Captain Jack Sparrow for
the first time inside the recently enhanced Pirates of the Caribbean
attraction.
* Walt Disney himself in a very rare clip from a 1965 press conference at
WED Enterprises (now Walt Disney Imagineering) where he describes his
vision for Pirates of the Caribbean, the use of models in the creation
of the attraction and his description of Imagineering.
* A new interview with Jason Surrell, Disney Imagineer and author of the
book "Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies."
* An encounter with one of the fans of the Official Disneyland Resort
Podcast.
* A meeting with two diehard "Pirates" fans who traveled all the way from
Atlanta, Georgia, and Mobile, Alabama, to visit Disneyland and
participate in the premiere.
* Meet a Disneyland Cast Member who was so enthralled with the film
"Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" that she has
become a bona fide Pirate historian.
* A five-year old Pirate fan gives the newly enhanced attraction a
"Thumbs-Up!"
* Premiere recap and attraction overview from author and Disney historian
Tim O'Day.
Achieving a rating of four-and-a half stars out of a possible perfect
five on the iTunes Podcast Directory, the Official Disneyland Resort Audio
Podcast continues to be a hit with listeners. Each episode features an
engaging mix of original programming recorded live throughout the resort
including locations in Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure Park, the
Downtown Disney District and the resort's three landmark hotels -- Disney's
Grand Californian Hotel, Disneyland Hotel and Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel
-- creating a "you are there" audio experience.
More information about the continuing Disneyland 50th anniversary
celebration and vacations at the Disneyland Resort is available at
http://www.disneyland.com, by calling (877) 700-DISNEY, or by visiting local
travel agents.

SOURCE Disneyland Resort

You tell me...

Should Keith Richards really join the cast of Pirates of the Caribbean 3 as Captain Jack Sparrow's dad? Would commercial Hollywood have it any other way? Johnny Depp offered up part of his salary to make it happen? Keith fell out of a coconut tree? It's a perfect story.

Dad!


Son!

Pirates Breaks Record as Fandango's Top Day-Before-Opening Ticket-Seller

LOS ANGELES (PRNewswire) – Fandango, the online, phone, and mobile movie ticketing service, announced a new ticketing record: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest now stands as Fandango's top day-before-opening ticket-seller. The previous record-holder was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, followed by Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. Pirates is making news across the board:

• Thursday, July 6 was Fandango's biggest ticket-sales day of the year, surpassing opening days for The Da Vinci Code, X-Men: The Last Stand and Superman Returns.
• For several hours on Thursday, Pirates was selling an average of seven tickets per second.
• On Thursday, Pirates broke Fandango's hourly sales record for the day before a film's opening.
• Hundreds of late night Thursday shows sold out in advance across the country.
• On Thursday, Pirates represented 91 percent of all ticket sales on Fandango.

"Pirates' advance ticket sales have been truly extraordinary," says Chuck Davis, Chairman of Fandango, "and we expect to break even more records on Friday. You don't usually see this kind of enthusiasm until the final installment of a franchise, so this bodes well for the series' future."

Pirate Ghost Ship Sighted at Disney's Castaway Cay

CELEBRATION, Fla. (PRNewswire) – A mysterious pirate ship has landed at Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, providing Disney Cruise Line guests with a swashbuckling photo opportunity and a sneak peek into movie-making magic. Starting in early July guests sailing on a Disney Cruise Line vacation will discover a 175-foot ghost ship anchored at Castaway Cay. The ship is the Flying Dutchman, which makes its silver screen debut on July 7 in Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. The Flying Dutchman's commander is the legendary Davy Jones, who serves as nemesis to the infamous pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow, in the upcoming film. The intricate film prop is unlike any other pirate ship – with ragged sails and a barnacle-encrusted bow, the ship looks like it was raised off the ocean floor to haunt the open seas for eternity. The Flying Dutchman will provide a scenic photo backdrop, and guests renting boats on the island will be able to get an up-close look at the ghost ship. While visiting Castaway Cay, guests should also be on the lookout for the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow. With the Flying Dutchman lurking just off the shore, the eccentric captain may be spotted around the island. Guests are encouraged to approach the hero and hear his tales about adventure on the high seas. The charming pirate graciously accepts requests for portraits and autographs – if guests can manage to track him down. Disney Cruise Line will also hold a PremEAR at Sea of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest in the Walt Disney Theatre of both the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. On Friday, July 7, guests aboard Disney Cruise Line will receive commemorative buttons and pirate-themed temporary tattoos and will be invited to view the premiere of the film at 12:01 a.m.

ABC absent from the top 20?

I guess Disney doesn't much care for the summer ad revenue. It seems they may have all their eggs in the "LOST", "Housewives" basket.

(AP) – Prime-time viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen Media Research for June 26-July 2. Top 20 listings include the week's ranking, with viewership for the week and season-to-date rankings in parentheses. An "X" in parentheses denotes a one-time-only presentation.

1. (33) "America's Got Talent," NBC, 11.0 million viewers.
2. (6) "Without a Trace," CBS, 10.9 million viewers.
3. (8) "CSI: Miami," CBS, 10.8 million viewers.
4. (3) "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," CBS, 10.6 million viewers.
5. (11) "House," Fox, 9.9 million viewers.
6. (18) "CSI: NY," CBS, 9.2 million viewers.
7. (16) "Two and a Half Men," CBS, 8.9 million viewers.
8. (56) "So You Think You Can Dance," (Wednesday), Fox, 8.8 million viewers.
9. (56) "So You Think You Can Dance," (Thursday), Fox, 8.5 million viewers.
10. (50) "CBS Sunday Movie: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," CBS, 8.4 million viewers.
11. (35) "Law & Order," NBC, 8.4 million viewers.
12. (15) "NCIS," CBS, 8.3 million viewers.
13. (X) "Fox NASCAR Nextel Cup," Fox, 8.2 million viewers.
14. (23) "60 Minutes," CBS, 8.2 million viewers.
15. (28) "Criminal Minds," CBS, 8.1 million viewers.
16. (97) "Hell's Kitchen," Fox, 8.0 million viewers.
17. (19) "Cold Case," CBS, 7.8 million viewers.
18. (33) "New Adventures of Old Christine," CBS, 7.6 million viewers.
19. (X) "48 Hours Mystery," CBS, 7.5 million viewers.
20. (44) "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," NBC, 7.2 million viewers.

Disney Changes "Game Plan" After the Rock's Injury

By Alan Fein

(AXcess News) Hollywood - Walt Disney Corp. (NYSE: DIS) was forced to change its script after Dwayne Johnson, better known to wrestling fans as "The Rock", injured his leg while practicing football for Disney's new family film, "The Game Plan".

Dwayne Johnson, seen here with his trade mark cocked right eyebrow, says to tell fans "nothing can stop The Rock."

While at a football practice Monday for his new Disney film, "The Game Plan", The Rock injured his Achilles tendon. Johnson was practicing for his upcoming role as a professional quarterback in the movie, which was previously known as "Daddy's Girl."

Johnson is to undergo surgery Friday in Miami to repair the torn tendon. Until The Rock can resume filming, Disney's studio is putting production on the shelf. The film's shoot will have to wait for Johnson to undergo therapy as well following his operation. Doctors nor Disney have said how long "The Game Plan" will be kept in limbo waiting for The Rock to recover.

Disney was ready to begin shooting the film in Boston next week Monday.

Walt Disney Motion Picture Group president Nina Jacobson was quoted as saying, "While this is a setback for our production schedule, we completely support him as he recuperates and look forward to resuming production when Dwayne is fully recovered."

"The Rock" said to reporters, "I anticipate that with some TLC, pizza and a lot of donuts, I will be making a speedy recovery and will be able to get myself, and everyone who has been working so hard on this production, back to the business of doing what we love most, making movies."

Johnson has appeared in the films, "The Rundown", filmed in 2003; "The Scorpion King", filmed in 2002; and is best known for seeing his film career take off for "The Rock's" role in "The Mummy Returns", filmed in 2001.

Disney Shows Muscle with Boys Properties

Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean," Disney*Pixar's "Cars" and "Toy Story" and "Power Rangers" Combine to Capture Elusive Boy Market

Disney Consumer Products (DCP) today announced that 2006 will bethe best year ever for boys. Driven by the tremendous success ofDisney*Pixar's "Cars," the establishment of "Pirates of the Caribbean"as a long-term franchise and the ongoing popularity of "PowerRangers," Disney is reaching boys with everything from die-cast,action figures and bikes to MP3 players, video games and books.

"With the strength of our entertainment, we knew 2006 would be theyear we became a power house boys player," said Andy Mooney, chairmanof Disney Consumer Products. "Similar to DCP's girl's portfolio, whichis the best in the industry, our boy's portfolio offers everythingfrom the whimsical 'Cars' and 'Toy Story' characters to the heroicrite of passage that is 'Power Rangers' for younger boys, to thecooler, more aspirational 'Pirates of the Caribbean' brand for theolder boy."

"Power Rangers" - DCP's #1 Boys Brand

DCP kicked-off its year experiencing strong demand for "PowerRangers" action figures, its perennial boy's property, during theHoliday 05 season. In 2005, "Power Rangers" was ranked second in theaction figure category behind "Star Wars," according to The NPD Group.Next year's theme will be called "Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive.""Power Rangers" airs more than 65 times each week in over 40territories worldwide, and continues to expand worldwide withsuccessful launches in Italy, India and other countries this year.

Disney*Pixar's "Cars" - phenomenal success

The tremendous anticipation of "Cars" before the film was releasedcombined with the huge box office opening resulted in record-breakingretail sales for merchandise based on a Disney*Pixar theatrical film.The film's humor, story and character personalities were incorporatedinto its products, which featured many category firsts for aDisney*Pixar film, including the first power ride-on, kids electronicsline and bedroom suite. Currently, "Cars" is recording 10 to 1 moreretail volume than "Finding Nemo" at the same point in its release.DCP plans to expand and refresh product with new creative style guidesfor fall and beyond. Large retailers have already committed to "Cars"feature shops for the entire months of November and December tomaximize the DVD release.

"Pirates of the Caribbean" - evergreen boy's franchise

On July 7, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" willrelease to theaters and reignite a pirate frenzy that started in 2003."Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl" recorded morethan $650m in global box office sales, and "Dead Man's Chest" is oneof the most highly-anticipated events of the summer. With ongoingentertainment support, DCP is positioning "Pirates of the Caribbean"as an evergreen boy's franchise, comparable in opportunity to its"Disney Princess" franchise for girls.

Since the audience for "Pirates of the Caribbean" is so broad, DCPlooked to create innovative product and edgy creative designs formultiple consumers. Toy licensee, Zizzle's Black Pearl playset wasalready chosen for Toy Wishes "Hot Summer Toys" list, a high-endapparel and jewelry line tied into the current Pirates fashion trendwill launch to specialty stores, and Disney Publishing developed thelargest live-action publishing series ever -- including the latestnovel, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" (junior novel),currently on the New York Times children's best-seller list. "Piratesof the Caribbean" product will be featured in all key categoriesrepresented at major retailers worldwide.

"Toy Story" - 10 Years Strong

And let's not forget about Woody and Buzz. Ten years from itsinitial release, the "Toy Story" franchise continues to show growth atretailers like Target, which showed double-digit growth in "Toy Story"merchandise sales this year. Additionally, "Toy Story" is thebest-selling boy's property at Disney Store North America, with newBuzz Lightyear and friends product in all key categories featured inmore than 100 stores.

For more information, please visit: www.disneyconsumerproducts.com

About Disney Consumer Products

Disney Consumer Products (DCP) is the business segment of The WaltDisney Company (NYSE:DIS) that extends the Disney brand to merchandiseranging from apparel, toys, home decor and books to interactive games,food and beverages, stationery, electronics and animation art. This isaccomplished through the work of DCP's various lines of business:Disney Toys, Disney Softlines, Disney Home, Disney Food, Health &Beauty, Disney Stationery, Disney Publishing, Buena Vista Games, BabyEinstein, the Muppets Holding Company and Disney Shopping, Inc.'scatalog and disneyshopping.com. The Disney Store, which debuted in1987, also falls under DCP, through stores currently owned andoperated by unaffiliated third parties under licensing agreements inNorth America and Japan, and wholly owned stores in Europe.

Disney's Dinner Bell

Disney's new magic: licensing some pixie dust.
By Rick Aristotle Munarriz
Motley Fool

Updated: 9:34 a.m. ET June 21, 2006

There will be more pixie than dust in Disney's (NYSE: DIS) latest marketing initiative. At the Licensing 2006 International Show in New York this week, Disney unveiled its plan to turn Tinker Bell and her friends into its next big stars.

Until now, Fairies has been little more than an unassuming book line hoping to hook young girls with whimsical story lines. That will change. Disney has tapped Brittany Murphy to voice Peter Pan's spunky sprite in a direct-to-video animated feature next summer. Dolls and toys will follow.

The family entertainment giant has already had a few successful years with its Disney Princesses line. Marketing the heroines of its animated classics has turned into a $3 billion a year franchise. Going from Belle to Bell won't be as easy, especially since audiences know little about Tinker Bell and even less about her fellow fairies, but Disney could be well-served by going in this direction.

The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Narnia have all whetted the appetites of fantasy fans. Even if the audience for Fairies overlaps with the Disney Princesses crowd, Disney would rather hit them from both sides than let toy companies like Mattel(NYSE: MAT) win them over with Barbies and American Girl. Meanwhile, MGA Entertainment's Bratz and Build-A-Bear Workshop's (NYSE: BBW) personalized bears and friends 2B made lines are also gunning for the same audience.

Disney's consumer products division can use the attention. With strength at its theme parks and the resurgence in its media networks, the last time that Disney's consumer products made headlines was when it was partly bowing out of retail by handing over its Disney Stores to Children's Place(Nasdaq: PLCE). Last year, consumer products accounted for just a 7% slice of the company's revenue pie. The top line there has slipped 1% through the first six months of fiscal 2006, despite a 9% improvement in operating profits.

Scoring a hit with Fairies will help. Other recent homegrown successes, like the unlikely hit High School Musical, are already helping. So Tinker Bell, often relegated to gliding high in the sky before a fireworks show, will hopefully take flight for Disney again.

Pixie dust? Who needs it when you have shrewd merchandising at play?

Disney is an active recommendation forStock Advisornewsletter service subscribers, while Mattel is anInside Valueselection. Whatever your investing style, the Fool has a newsletter for you.

Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz is still a kid at heart, smitten over the right kind of animation. He owns shares in Disney. The Fool has a disclosure policy. Rick is also part of theRule Breakersnewsletter research team, seeking out tomorrow's ultimate growth stocks a day early.

Researchers Try to Talk with Dolphins at Epcot

LAKE BUENA VISTA (Orlando Sentinel) – Calvin's got rhythm – and scientists are excited, since the Disney performer weighs 450 pounds and breathes through a blowhole. A 12-year-old Atlantic bottlenose dolphin living in the backwaters of Epcot at Walt Disney World, Calvin is being taught a vocal form of communication that involves the cadence of his sounds, something that's never been done before with animals, his researchers said. He is one of four dolphins that spend much of the day swimming around Epcot's Living Seas attraction to the delight of customers, then moonlight at Disney as scientific research subjects. Calvin stars in an experiment that has scientists exploring whether dolphins can communicate with language that doesn't rely on the pitch, timbre or intensity of vocalizations – the variations that humans most typically use to form words – but on the sounds' duration and rhythm. Think Morse code: One long sound could mean one thing. A bunch of quick sounds uttered in staccato might mean another. In a project overseen by New College of Florida psychology professor Heidi Harley, Disney researchers and trainers are teaching Calvin to associate such rhythms with specific objects. The trainer, normally Disney marine mammal specialist Leslie Larsen-Plott though others take turns, holds up an object. If Calvin responds by vocalizing the right rhythm, he gets a fish. A basketball, for example, is identified with chirp pause chirp pause chirp pause, a rhythm that researchers dubbed the "dribble." Chirp pause long whistle means the Batman action figure. Long whistle pause long whistle pause long whistle is the watering can. So far, Calvin has seven rhythms down, and two more to go in the first phase. Harley has presented some of their findings at two scientific conferences, for the Acoustical Society of America and the Comparative Cognition Society. The next step is to see if Calvin can find objects when the trainers play back recordings of his rhythmic sounds. Perhaps some day they might see if dolphins could communicate with each other with the rhythms.

Disney Institute propaganda

How do you promote a new business venture that you'll bulldoze a few years from now? Like this:

Official Pirates Site Launched

(comingsoon.net) – Walt Disney Pictures has launched the official website for the highly-anticipated Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, hitting theaters on July 7th. At the site, you can view trailers, learn about the movie, get downloads such as desktops, buddy icons, e-cards, the movie poster and digi-tal trading cards, as well as play games, view the gallery and the world map. The world map takes you to scenes in the movie in which you'll have to "plunder" items in order to be able to open the chest of Davy Jones at the end for hidden items.

Disneyland Autopia Cars Race for Charity at the Indy 500

HONG KONG (Xinhua-PRNewswire-AsiaNet) – Checkered flags waved, crowds cheered and engines roared as two American traditions teamed up to celebrate special milestones. In honor of Disneyland's 50th anniversary and the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500, "The Happiest Place on Earth" and "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" teamed up for the "Minnie Indy Charity Race" on Wednesday, May 24 (at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Minnie Mouse herself was on hand to wave in the likes of Danica Patrick, Dan Wheldon, Eddie Cheever, Jr., and Dario Franchitti who were among the 31 IndyCar Series drivers who participated in the whimsical race. They were driving miniature cars taken directly from one of Disneyland's original opening day attractions – the ever-popular Autopia. Instead of racing along the highways of Disneyland's Tomorrowland, the Autopia cars and their speed-loving IndyCar Series drivers traversed a comical obstacle race course (at top speeds of 10 mph!) that took place on a specially designed "Minnie" roadway created on the famous Brickyard. The Autopia tradition will continue this summer as a new generation of futuristic cars cruise over to Hong Kong Disneyland where they will make their new home in Tomorrowland. Guests of all ages will whiz down the highway of Tomorrow in their electric space cars and encounter all sorts of alien landscapes, promising a fun adventure for the entire family. "This summer Hong Kong Disneyland will welcome its very own version of Autopia," said Bill Ernest, executive vice president and managing director Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. "This will be a very exciting moment for all our guests as they experience for themselves the classic Disney Autopia attraction – with a futuristic twist!"

Deluge Hits "Cars" Outdoor Premiere

CONCORD, NC (Hollywood Reporter) – A heavy rainstorm couldn't dampen the spirits of the 30,000 people who turned out for the premiere of Disney/Pixar's "Cars" at an elaborate event staged at the Lowe's Motor Speedway. Friday's spectacle featured a 12-lap auto race, a performance by country star Brad Paisley, and the screening of the movie on four giant custom-built screens. A deluge hit the speedway right before the event, causing a planned helicopter entrance to be aborted and delaying the celebrity arrivals. When the rain finally cleared, a 166-yard long red carpet leading into the Speedway sprang to life with the high-wattage voice cast of the movie, including Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt and NASCAR greats Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Jr. The film opens June 9.

Sarah Litzsinger Returns to Beauty and the Beast May 30

NEW YORK (Broadway.com) – Sarah Litzsinger will be returning to the role of Belle in Broadway's Beauty and the Beast on May 30. Current star Ashley Brown, who will play the title role in Mary Poppins on the Great White Way this fall, is set to have her final performance in Beauty on May 28. Most recently Litzsinger played Eva Peron in the 25th anniversary tour of Evita. The actress, who first played the role of Belle on tour, has previously done long stints with the Broadway company of Beauty and the Beast. She also starred as the Narrator alongside Donny Osmond's Joseph in the national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. (Osmond will be joining Beauty and the Beast for a nine-week limited engagement as Gaston on September 19, thus reuniting the actors.)

Sarah went to my high school in Carmel, IN.

Best Disney Theme Park photos Pool

Epcot during Flower Festival, originally uploaded by Yooper Born.

Flickr goodness

Dubailand Rivals Disneyland

UNITED ARAM EMIRATES (AME Info) – Dubailand's Chief Executive Officer, Salem Bin Dasmal, believes that Dubai's massive leisure zone will be able to challenge Disneyland for its share of Europe's tourism market within five years, reported Gulf News. Bin Dasmal feels that Dubailand has much more to offer, with attractions such as its Dinosaur Park and planetarium, not provided by Disneyland. Bin Dasmal went on to describe Dubailand as 'Disneyland on steroids'.

'Lost' Toys in the Works

(USA Today) – Soon after Lost's third season premieres this fall, fans will be able to concoct their own mysteries at home. Touchstone Television, which produces the ABC hit, has hired comics legend Todd McFarlane, famous for his lines of Spawn, Napoleon Dynamite and The Simpsons action figures, to turn the Lost characters into 6-inch plastic replicas. Series 1 will feature characters Jack, Kate, Hurley, Locke, Charlie and Shannon, which will talk and come with miniature props themed to the show's storylines. Stores including Toys R Us, Wal-Mart and Hot Topic will sell the figures ($15-$20) and box sets with a hatch for them to play in ($25-$30).

Disney Characters Getting Raises in Hong Kong

HONG KONG (AP) – Actors who dress up as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and other characters to greet visitors at Hong Kong Disneyland are getting pay raises and longer breaks, the park said Sunday, following complaints of work-related injuries, low pay and quick turnarounds between shifts. Hong Kong Disneyland said in a statement that it would increase the monthly base pay of the character performers by 11% starting June 1. "This adjustment is the result of benchmarking efforts internally … with the external Hong Kong market and with other Disney parks," the statement said. The company added that break times for the actors have been increased from 30 minutes every hour to 40 minutes from April until September due to hot weather and that pregnant employees would be stationed at air-conditioned locations and be given lighter work loads if necessary. Character actors who greet visitors at the park had complained that night shifts would sometimes be followed by morning shifts and that their pay trailed the monthly salary earned by those who appear in shows. The performers also said they suffered from muscle pain and neck and waist injuries from wearing the costumes.

Disney's Hong Kong Headache

(Time Magazine) – Disneyland is supposed to be "The Happiest Place on Earth," but Liang Ning isn't too happy. The engineer brought his family to Disney's new theme park in Hong Kong from the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou one Saturday in April with high hopes, but by day's end, he was less than spellbound. "I wanted to forget the world and feel like I was in a fairytale," he says. Instead, he complains, "it's just not big enough" and "not very different from the amusement parks we have" in China. His seven-year-old daughter Yaqin disagrees, calling the park "fantastic," but her father grumbles: "If she wants to come again, "I'll send her with somebody else." Hong Kong's Magic Kingdom has so far been a little short on magic. The $1.8 billion theme park, which opened last September, was touted by Disney executives as its biggest, boldest effort to build its brand in China, a potentially vast new market for its toys, dvds and movies. The Hong Kong government – which aggressively wooed Disney and is the park's majority owner, hoped Disneyland would help secure the city's reputation as one of Asia's top tourist destinations. However, the conservative approach of Disney and its partner has produced a park that so far hasn't matched visitors' lofty expectations. Hong Kong Disneyland has a mere 16 attractions – only one a classic Disney thrill ride, Space Mountain – compared to 52 at Disneyland Resort Paris. Meanwhile, management glitches involving everything from ticketing to employee relations have further tarnished the venture's image. In a recent survey conducted by Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 70% of the local residents polled said they had a more negative opinion of Disneyland since its opening. "Disney knows the theme-park business, but when it comes to understanding the Chinese guest, it's an entirely new ball game," says John Ap, an associate professor at the university's School of Hotel and Tourism Management. Nonetheless, Disney executives insist the park is on track. Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, says: "I feel great about how Hong Kong Disneyland is doing." Disney's own surveys of park visitors show an 80% satisfaction rate, among the highest of any of the company's parks, says Rasulo: "People feel this is a great experience."

The California-headquartered company knows what it is talking about; it welcomed its 2 billionth visitor last week. And it is no stranger to tempestuous beginnings at an international park. When Disneyland Paris opened in 1992, Disney famously banned wine from park restaurants, much to the dismay of European bons vivants. In Hong Kong, Disney went out of its way to tailor the park to local tastes. Ironically, Disney's most high-profile stumble resulted from being too local. When executives decided to serve shark-fin soup, a Hong Kong favorite, environmentalists howled and Disney ignominiously yanked it from the menu. Another embarrassment came over the Lunar New Year holiday beginning in January. Tourists with valid tickets got turned away at the front gates after the park quickly filled up; the jilted travelers screamed at park employees, while TV cameras filmed one family trying to pass a child over the fence. Disney has also strained its relationship with Chinese travel agencies, which play a crucial role in funneling tourists into the park. Victor Yu Limin, a general manager at China CYTS Outbound Travel Service in Beijing, complains that Disney originally demanded several weeks' notice when the agency wanted to reserve a guaranteed number of rooms, a nearly impossible deadline, he says, as Chinese travelers often don't finalize trips more than a few days in advance. "We're listening to everything they have to say and adjusting where we can," says Josh D'Amaro, Hong Kong Disneyland's vice president for sales and travel-trade marketing. But, Yu says, Disney is "still far from understanding the real market in China. They started off doing business the American way, so they have encountered problems."

Given the complexity of the Hong Kong operation, such "teething pains" are hardly surprising, says Rasulo. What may be tougher to solve, though, are the yawns the miniature park is generating among tourists. Rasulo says the park wasn't built on a grand scale because the Chinese didn't grow up with Disney and don't know the characters as well as Americans and Europeans do, which acts as a constraint on its potential audience. Ernest calls it a "great introductory park." They also point out that the company plans to keep adding new attractions at Hong Kong Disneyland, including an updated version of Disney's classic Autopia racing game, scheduled to open this summer. While Ernest concedes that attendance is "a little behind" expectations, Disney is sticking to its target of 5.6 million guests in its first year. To hit these numbers, Disney is running aggressive promotions. Last month, the park offered free tickets for 50,000 Hong Kong taxi drivers, says Susan Chan, Hong Kong Disneyland's director of publicity, so they "can experience the Disney magic themselves [and] better share it with their passengers." And even if attendance lags for a while, Disney says the park is already benefiting its other businesses in Asia. Andy Bird, president of Walt Disney International, says there's been "a noticeable lift in our brand and character awareness" in China since the park's opening – sales of Buzz Lightyear merchandise have jumped, in part because the character features in Disneyland's popular Astro Blasters ride. Indeed, Disney continues to bet that its long-range investment plans in China will pay off, regardless of the recent headaches in Hong Kong. The firm is still in talks with Chinese officials about opening a mainland theme park, possibly in Shanghai, says Rasulo. "Have we made some mistakes?" he asks. "Absolutely. We are in a brand-new market. We have to keep listening and keep learning."

Six Flags Offers Roller Coaster Workshop

VALENCIA, Calif. (LA Times) – Bearded and with brightly colored tattoos on both his calves, Jon Shiner looks tough, but he admits he has struggled with heights his whole life. "If I have to stand on a chair I get nervous, so anything up in the air pretty much freaks me out," the 29-year-old said. But on a recent Saturday morning, Shiner decided to face his phobia when he attended a free class at Six Flags Magic Mountain on conquering the fear of riding roller coasters. The amusement park was hosting the course in conjunction with its promotion of Tatsu, a new dragon-themed coaster that officially begins running Saturday. Riding Tatsu is supposed to simulate flight, the marketing materials say. Riders are strapped into a car standing up, with a shoulder harness and two calf harnesses. Once the car leaves the station, it tilts 90 degrees forward so that riders are "flying" around the track – arms stretched forward, feet trailing behind – Superman-style. No wonder the park turned to Linda Bortell – a cheerful clinical psychologist whose areas of expertise include "thrills and terror" – to facilitate the experimental three-week class held over consecutive Saturdays. Bortell introduced herself to the 10 adult participants, who were recruited by park employees, telling them she is a roller coaster enthusiast who sometimes drives to Magic Mountain for a quick ride on Viper before going to her office in South Pasadena. After everyone in the room had a chance to introduce themselves and state their specific fears, Bortell led the class outside to take a look at Tatsu itself, which the participants are to ride on their third and final class this Saturday. "If you ride coasters enough, you learn that there are different types of screams," Bortell said, as the group walked into the park. "There is the 'I'm here with my cute boyfriend and I'm screaming so I can hang onto him' scream, and then there are screams of fun, and some screams of fear. My husband starts screaming the second the coaster leaves the loading dock. He says it's part of the experience."

ABC Promises No 'Lost' Repeats Next Season

NEW YORK (UPI) – ABC executives say fans of its hit TV show, "Lost," will not be plagued by reruns during the 2006-07 season. The Alphabet Network announced Tuesday that viewers will see seven new episodes in a row next season before "Lost" takes a break. The series will return in late January or early February with fresh episodes through the end of the season. Although "Lost" remained one of TV's most popular shows during its second season, ratings dipped and fans were angered by frequent reruns that broke up the continuity of the serial. While "Lost" is on hiatus, ABC will air the Taye Diggs vehicle, "Day Break," about an innocent cop on the lam from a murder charge who keeps reliving the same day over again a la the Bill Murray film, "Groundhog Day."

Donny Osmond to Return to Broadway in Beauty and the Beast

NEW YORK (Broadway.com) – Famed performer Donny Osmond will be play Gaston in Disney's Beauty and the Beast on Broadway. He is set to begin a nine-week limited engagement in the musical on September 19. Osmond actually has a long history with the Disney family – it was while performing on the Disney After Dark television series in 1961 that Andy Williams spotted his brothers and hired them as regulars on The Andy Williams Show. He was also the singing voice of Captain Shang in Disney's hit animated feature Mulan. Osmond made his Broadway debut in 1982 in the short-lived revival of Little Johnny Jones. His other theatrical credits include many years of touring as the lead in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Disney's 'Narnia' Top DVD Title of '06

BURBANK (LA Daily News) – The Walt Disney Co. announced Tuesday that "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" has become the top-selling DVD title released so far in 2006. "Narnia," which hit store shelves April 5, has sold more than 11 million units to date. The movie is being sold both as a single-disc DVD and a two-disc Collector's Edition DVD. Its DVD success is good news for Disney, which has positioned "Narnia" to be a franchise in the vein of Warner Bros.' "Harry Potter" series and New Line Cinema's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. "Narnia" grossed an impressive $291.7 million at the domestic box office, making it the second-highest 2005 release behind only "Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith." Disney said Tuesday that it now has five of the year's top 10 best-selling titles with the others being "Chicken Little," "Lady and the Tramp," "Flightplan" and "Bambi II." "We are very fortunate to have such a strong lineup of titles that appeals to every demographic," said Bob Chapek, president of Disney's Buena Vista Home Entertainment division. "It is the backbone of what this studio has always been known for."

Disney Trash Can Exhibit in Edinburgh

EDINBURGH (Art Daily) – Heriot-Watt University presents an exhibit of trash cans from Disney World. Visitors to Disney World in Florida are usually invited to buy Disney Pins to mark each park and venue they’ve visited. Fashion design specialist Mark Timmins was more taken with Disney’s rubbish bins, and has now put together a photographic exhibition featuring the range of rubbish receptacles featured around the site. “The bins are all a standard shape and size,” said Mark, Fashion and Textiles Director at Heriot-Watt University’s School of Textiles and Design, “but each one is decorated differently to fit in with its surroundings, from the bins in the Magic Kingdom, decorated with Tinkerbell, to the Animal Kingdom, which are brown and feature the words ‘Waste please Maholo’. My personal favorite is the twin-bins from ToonTown, also part of the Magic Kingdom, which are decorated with the mops from the Sorcerer’s apprentice section of Fantasia, and the message ‘keep it clean.’” And, he insists, the exhibition isn’t rubbish, it is art, or at least an important facet of design in the 21st century. “It’s all to do with repeated images and the concept of mass customization. In a way it’s the complete opposite of Ford’s idea of ‘any color as long as it’s black, while at the same time paying homage to his seminal ideas on mass production.“ The Timmins’ family holiday was far from being all rubbish as his six and a half year old daughter was chosen as the day’s ‘Princess’, picked from the crowd to ride in Cinderella’s magic coach at the head of the daily parade. “Sixteen million people a year visit Disney World,” said Mark, “and only three hundred and sixty five of them get a chance to lead the procession. How great is that?” The ‘Disney Bins’ exhibition will be on display at The Create Centre, an environmental and recycling centre in Bristol, from 16th to 30th of May. It can also be simultaneously viewed at Heriot-Watt University’s new Energy Academy at the Edinburgh Campus from the 16th to the 30th of May.

ABC May Elect to Shoot 'Chief' Telefilm

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) – “Commander in Chief" wasn't picked up for next season but ABC may give it a brief revival in the form of a two-hour movie. The one-hour drama about the nation's first female president (Geena Davis) didn't catch on in the ratings, having been pulled off Tuesdays earlier in the season and failing to get traction Thursdays at 10 p.m. It was yanked off the schedule weeks ago and wasn't on the ABC 2006-07 primetime schedule announced early Tuesday. But ABC Entertainment president Steve McPherson said at a meeting with reporters that "Commander in Chief" wasn't completely retired yet. McPherson said he had been pitched an idea for a two-hour movie by creator and former executive producer Rod Lurie, and was considering it.

Disney Shares on Wall Street’s Spring Hit Parade

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) – While the Dow ended a five-week winning streak last week, shares of the Walt Disney Co. hit a 52-week high of $30.19 on Wednesday after the firm delivered a well-received quarterly financial report. Its stock closed Monday at $29.99, up nine cents on the day, and up 21.6% so far this year. "We believe the company should continue to experience better operating performance and momentum than many of the other large entertainment conglomerates," Prudential Equity Group analyst Katherine Styponias said.

· Analysts seemed in agreement that most impressive were the results in television, driven by high ratings at ABC and ESPN, and theme parks also performed well, despite a surge in gas prices that has some pundits predicting economic gloom. Revenues at Disney's media networks unit in its fiscal second quarter "were an eye-popping $3.55 billion, up 18% year-over-year and measurably ahead of our projection of $3.21 billion," Sanders Morris Harris analyst David Miller said.
· Miller was also bullish on Disney's plan to sell radio assets to Citadel Broadcasting, which will leave Disney with almost no distribution presence beyond 10 TV stations, "which are not stock-moving assets," he said. Selling to Citadel "has allowed Disney a higher multiple relative to its peers as all forms of distribution become marginalized over time," he said, raising his price target a dollar to $33.
· Analysts were so taken by Disney's earnings report that even the company's weaknesses – the movie studio and consumer products – were hailed successes because not much was expected from those units. Disney will benefit this year, said Goldman Sachs analyst Anthony Noto, from "the most optimistic film slate since 2003," singling out the DVD releases of "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and "Chicken Little," as well as theatrical releases "Cars" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."

ABC Halts Invasion

(ComingSoon.net / Hollywood Reporter) – ABC is halting its Invasion, reports Variety. The series was a personal favorite of ABC Entertainment president Steve McPherson. But despite a huge promotional push behind the show, viewers simply never warmed to the concept. There had been talk of "Invasion" being rerouted to the CW Network – which is co-owned by the parent company of "Invasion" producer Warner Bros. Television – if it got the ax from ABC, but there were no indications of such a move being under way during the weekend.

Finally!

REVIEW RECAP : Disney's "Tarzan" musical wins mixed reviews in NY

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Disney's latest mega-musical "Tarzan" swung into town with a spectacular ship-wreck scene and bungee-jumping apes but the critics were lukewarm and several resorted to phrases such as "bungle in the jungle." "Tarzan," which opened on Wednesday night, is among the most expen-sive musicals on Broadway with a budget reported at between $15 million and $20 million. It is Disney's latest effort to match the success of hit movie-based musicals such as "The Lion King" and "Beauty and the Beast."

• "Almost everybody and everything swings in 'Tarzan.' Which is odd, since the show itself, to borrow from Duke Ellington's famous credo, definitely ain't got that swing," was Ben Brantley's verdict in The New York Times. "'Tarzan' feels as fidgety and attention-deficient as the toddlers who kept straying from their seats during the performance I saw," Brantley said.

Several critics had warm words for the special effects, particularly the opening scene, which uses aerial acrobatics to create an eerie underwater shipwreck scene in which the baby Tarzan and his parents end up washed up on an African shore.

• "The opening minutes of 'Tarzan' ... are among the most exciting and inventive I have ever witnessed in the theater," Charles Spencer wrote in London's Daily Telegraph newspaper. But he added that despite some other fine effects – “most notably a trippy hallucinogenic sequence involving huge jun-gle plants with human actors nestling amid their petals" – the show "almost invariably looks much bet-ter than it sounds."
• The Star Ledger of Newark, New Jersey, and the New York Post both settled on the headline "Bun-gle in the Jungle," and
• NY Post critic Clive Barnes opened his review with the words: "You, 'Tarzan,' Me, Agonized."
• Washington Post critic Peter Marks also praised the opening sequence but his review was summed up in the headline "Fumble in the Jungle: Disney's Tame 'Tarzan."' "The show ... has gorillas in mid-air, a potential teeny-bopper idol in loincloth and Phil Collins as show-tune guy," Marks wrote. "What it doesn't have much of is drama."

While there was plenty of criticism for the show, Disney appeared to have emerged a clear winner against rival Hollywood studio Warner Bros., whose vampire musical "Lestat" was almost universally trashed by the critics two weeks ago. "Lestat" had a budget estimated between $10 million and $12 million. USA To-day's Elysa Gardner gave "Tarzan" three stars out of four, praising the "lush, fanciful scenic and costume design," the "sprightly libretto" and its "good-natured exuberance." The Philadelphia Inquirer's Howard Shapiro also was impressed, describing the show as "an eye-popping treat of lighting, streamers and fab-rics." "Some people will inevitably call the shimmering stars, massive fluttering fabrics, and huge strutting fauna downright corny. I call them master stagecraft," he wrote.

Ferrari Theme Park on Track

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (AME Info) – A Ferrari concept theme park in Abu Dhabi should open sometime in 2008, according to Gulf News. Ferrari has granted a licence to operate the centre but will not be investing in the project. It will have a racetrack, rides and attractions, including a history of Ferrari.

New Mickey Mouse Series Delivers Record Ratings for Playhouse Disney

BURBANK (World Screen) – The premiere of the new CGI series Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on Disney Channel US on Friday delivered the highest ratings ever for a Playhouse Disney series premiere among Kids 2-5 (6.2/767,000), Girls 2-5 (6.0/375,000), Households (2.2/1,960,000) and Total Viewers (1.2/2,777,000). The series premiered in its regular Playhouse Disney weekend timeslot on Disney Chan-nels and Playhouse Disney channels around the world on Saturday. The preschool series starring Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto and Goofy is designed to entertain preschoolers while helping them develop early math skills. Among all basic cable networks in the US, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse was num-ber 1 in its time period (Friday, 7:30 p.m.) with Kids 2-5 (6.2/767,000), Boys 2-5 (6.4/393,000) and Girls 2-5 (6.0/375,000). In Households, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse improved the time period by 22 percent (2.2 vs. 1.8). In Total Viewers, it was up 38 percent (2,777,000 vs. 2,011,000).

Disney Adds Shops, Restaurants to Complex

LAKE BUENA VISTA (Orlando Sentinel) – No matter what Walt Disney does with its bar scene, shopping is driving most of the changes at Downtown Disney. And Disney's not limiting changes to Pleasure Island. The idea is to seduce people into spending extra time – and more money – at Downtown Disney by creat-ing more things for them to do, making it easier for them to get around and adding restaurants that keep them there longer. "Shopping is still our No. 1," said Djuan Rivers, vice president for Downtown Disney. "The majority of people here still come to shop."

• To enliven the shopping experience, Pleasure Island has been opened up to shorten the walk between the main shopping districts – Marketplace and West Side – on either end of Downtown Dis-ney. Disney also will add more water taxis and a dock at Pleasure Island, so people can travel by ferry. Yet, even with foot traffic going through Pleasure Island instead of around it, Downtown Disney is a long walk, more than a half-mile from end to end – all outdoors.
• A broader mix of goods and activities is being rolled out, including the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, aimed at transforming little girls into fantasy princesses, and a new T-Rex restaurant – both at Mar-ketplace. "The more of an experience you create for a guest, the more time they will spend," Down-town Disney brand manager Richard Gregorie said.
• Shopping still focuses on Disney-brand merchandise, Gregorie said, but selections are growing for non-Disney items from outlets such as Team Mickey, the Virgin Megastore and Orlando Harley-Davidson.

Garry and Elaine Thompson, who were visiting recently from Gloucestershire, England, with their 15-year-old daughter and her friend, loved Downtown Disney but found the shopping thin. "The only thing was, we had to leave Disney to do any clothing shopping for the girls," Elaine Thompson said. "If you don't want something with Mickey Mouse on it, there's really not much here for them to choose."

Disney/Pixar's ‘Cars’ Premiere Is a Complete Sell-Out

BURBANK, Calif. (PRNewswire) -- The World Premiere of Disney/Pixar's new computer-animated fea-ture, "Cars," on Friday, May 26th at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte, is a complete sell-out nearly one month before the event, with more than 30,000 fans racing to buy tickets, it was announced today. Pro-ceeds from the Premiere, which is sponsored by Kodak, will benefit Speedway Children's Charities, and Association of Hole in the Wall Camps. Disney CEO Bob Iger, Paul Newman (voice of Doc Hudson, a 1951 Hudson Hornet), "Cars" director John Lasseter, and racing legend Richard Petty (who voices a 1970 Plymouth Superbird called "The King" in the film), will be on hand for a special presentation to the two charities. Other voice talent from "Cars," including Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, and Larry the Cable Guy, along with some of the greatest names in racing history will also join in the festivities. "Cars" will be shown on four giant custom-built outdoor movie screens (115-feet wide and 50-feet tall) at Turn #2 of the famed superspeedway. With the first-ever multi-screen outdoor digital projection, utilizing twelve DLP Cinema projectors from Barco, Christie and NEC, and state-of-the-art sound, the film will look and sound its very best. The Disney/Pixar film "Cars" is set to open at theatres everywhere on June 9th.

Disney Earnings Rise 19 Percent

BURBANK (AP) – Strong television ratings and increased theme park attendance helped profit at The Walt Disney Co. rise 12 percent in the second quarter, although the media conglomerate did report a drop in earnings at its film studio. The Burbank-based company on Tuesday reported net income of $733 mil-lion, or 37 cents per share, for the three months that ended April 1, compared with income of $657 million, or 31 cents per share, in the same period last year. Revenue grew to $8 billion from $7.8 billion in the same period last year. The results beat estimates of analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial who had been expecting earnings of 31 cents per share.

• Operating income fell 39 percent at Disney's film studio while revenue decreased 22 percent to $1.8 billion. This year's DVD releases have not sold as well as the DVD of the Pixar Animation Studios hit "The Incredibles" in the same period last year. Studio performance should pick up in the second half of the year with the release of the latest Pixar film, "Cars" next month and the sequel to "Pirates of the Caribbean" in July, the company said.
• Home video revenue from the DVD release of "Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" will also be seen in the third quarter.
• The company's media networks division, which includes ABC and cable channels such as ESPN, delivered the best performance with a 20 percent jump in operating income and an 18 percent rise in revenue to $3.6 billion. Results were helped by higher subscriber fees at ESPN and rising advertising revenue at ABC, which continues its ratings comeback. That trend should continue as the network gets ready to negotiate new deals with advertisers for the fall schedule. ABC will present its lineup next week and expects strong increases in ad rates over last year, the company said.
• Attendance at Disneyland in California grew 15 percent in the quarter as the theme park's 50th anni-versary celebration winds down. Attendance at Walt Disney World in Florida rose a more modest 3 percent, Disney said. The company said it does not expect rising gas prices to lower attendance at its domestic parks. Attendance at Disney's latest park in Hong Kong has been lower than anticipated, but company executives said they still expect to hit their one-year goal of 5.6 million visitors.

Looking ahead, Staggs said the acquisition of Pixar Animation Studios Inc., which closed last week, will reduce earnings per share for the year by 10 cents, spread evenly over the next two quarters. Disney is-sued new shares to pay for the purchase. Iger confirmed that work on a sequel to Pixar's "Toy Story" franchise has begun, although no release date has been set. Iger also said he was pleased with the re-sponse to the free, advertising-supported streaming of TV shows on ABC.com. He said that option, which is in addition to the sale of ABC shows on Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes store, will continue past the original trial date of June 30. Disney may also join Warner Bros. in distributing its shows via a peer-to-peer computer network, Iger said. For the six months that ended April 1, Disney reported net income of $1.5 billion, or 74 cents per share, compared with $1.3 billion in the same period last year. Revenue in-creased to $16.9 billion from $16.5 billion in the first six months of 2005.

Top Movies at the North American Box Office

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Following are the top 10 movies at the North American box office for the May 5-7 weekend, according to studio estimates collected by Reuters. NOTE: Last weekend's position in pa-renthesis. (*) indicates new release.

1. (*) Mission : Impossible III (Paramount) ………………………………………$48.0 million.
2. (1) RV (Sony) …………………………………………………………………$11.1 million.
3. (*) An American Haunting (Freestyle) …………………………………………$6.4 million.
4. (3) Stick It (Touchstone) ………………………………………………………$5.5 million.
5. (2) United 93 (Universal) ………………………………………………………$5.2 million.
6. (7) Ice Age : The Meltdown (20th Century Fox) …………………………......$4.0 million.
7. (4) Silent Hill (Sony) ……………………………………………………………$3.9 million.
8. (5) Scary Movie 4 (Dimension) …………………………………………………$3.8 million.
9. (*) Hoot (New Line) …………………………………………………………………$3.4 million.
10. (8) Akeelah and the Bee (Lions Gate) ………………………………………$3.4 million.

This is a good thing for my girl Vanessa Lengies, who starred (alongside my 2 lines) in Waiting... last year.

Moving Day

NEW YORK (NY Times) – The long-running Disney musical "The Lion King" will move out of the New Amsterdam Theater on June 4 and begin performances at the Minskoff Theater on June 13.

Mike Metzger Follows Record-Setting Jump With Appearance at Disneyland

ANAHEIM, Calif. (PRNewswire) – Having just successfully completed his record-setting 125-foot jump and backflip over the fountains at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Xtreme sports star Mike Metzger rode down Main Street, U.S.A., May 5 in a special cavalcade through Disneyland. On Thursday, May 4, Metzger was officially recognized by Guinness World Records after completing the longest recorded jump – 125 feet – over the Caesars Palace fountains before an audience of more than 15,500. He also became the first to perform a backflip during the jump, which was televised live on ESPN and ESPN HD. With five X Games medals to his name, three of which are gold, Metzger has been riding motorcycles for more than 25 years. The Menifee, Calif. resident is known for his legendary performance at X Games Eight when he won double gold in Moto X Best Trick and Freestyle, and became the first rider to land back-to-back flips in the history of the sport. Metzger's Disneyland appearance was an added attraction to the daily entertainment during the Disneyland 50th Anniversary "Happiest Celebration on Earth," which is be-ing observed by Disney theme parks worldwide. In addition to honoring Metzger's achievement, the Fri-day cavalcade marked Metzger's second major appearance at the Disneyland Resort. On July 1, 2003, he kicked off the "X Games Xperience at Disney's California Adventure" with four freestyle jumps over the replica of the Golden Gate Bridge inside Disney's California Adventure park.

Disney's Promotion Agreement with McDonald’s Ends

(LA Times) – For 10 years, Walt Disney Co. and McDonald's appeared to have the perfect marriage. Happy Meals bore little figurines of Nemo, Mr. Incredible, and 101 Dalmatians. But no more. This is one relationship that's ending because of the children. Disney is not renewing its cross-promotional pact with the fast-food giant, which comes to a close with this summer's release of ''Cars" and ''Pirates of the Car-ibbean: Dead Man's Chest." The reason in part, say multiple high-ranking sources within Disney, is that the company that prides itself on being family friendly wants to distance itself from fast food – and its links to the epidemic of childhood obesity. Disney's not the only studio that thinks french fries loaded with trans fats may be too hot to handle. DreamWorks is working with McDonald's to promote ''Shrek 3," due out in 2007. But according to one top-level source inside the studio, there is internal debate about whether the lovable green ogre should steer clear of Chicken McNuggets and Big Macs in favor of the healthier fare on McDonald's menu, such as salads. The end of the Happy Meal partnership comes at a time when the processed- and fast-food industries are under fire on a number of fronts because of growing concerns about expanding waistlines, particularly among youngsters. One of the industry's most prominent critics, ''Fast Food Nation" author Eric Schlosser, said it will be ''hugely significant" if Hollywood walks away from Happy Meals. ''It will put more pressure on McDonald's to change what they sell in Happy Meals. The obesity issue would be irrelevant if the food in the Happy Meals was healthy." Sources on both sides of the agreement say the parting of the ways was mutual. And it's not a complete divorce, either. McDon-ald's fare will continue to be a staple in Disney's theme parks. Disney also is leaving open the possibility of McDonald's promotions geared toward adults.

Pixar Shareholders Approve Takeover by Disney

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shareholders of Pixar Animation Studios Inc. Friday voted to approve the com-pany's acquisition by The Walt Disney Co. for $7.4 billion in stock. The vote makes Pixar a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney and makes former Pixar Chief Executive Steve Jobs Disney's single largest share-holder with about a 7 percent stake. The deal is squarely aimed at restoring Disney's luster as a leader in the animated film business. Disney's own efforts have faltered over the past 10 years while Pixar's films have been huge successes. Jobs was named to Disney's board as a non-independent member. He had already said he would cast his Pixar shares, which represents 40 percent of the company's outstanding stock, in favor of the merger. Shareholders met briefly in San Francisco to ratify the deal. The acquisition closed quickly after the vote. Regulators had previously signed off on the deal. As part of the deal, key Pixar figures will take executive positions at Disney's animation and theme parks units. Pixar will keep its brand name and continue to be headquartered in Emeryville as part of an effort to preserve the creative culture that has fueled its success. John Lasseter, who was Pixar's executive vice president, becomes chief creative officer of the animation studios and principal creative adviser at Walt Disney Imagineering, which designs and builds the company's theme parks. Ed Catmull, who was Pixar's president, will now serve as president of the combined Pixar and Disney animation studios. The deal comes just a month before the partnership between the two companies was set to expire.

Former Disney Dancer Named Playmate of the Year

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A former Walt Disney World dancer who used to dress up as Cinderella and Snow White was named Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Year on Thursday. Kara Monaco, 23, an aspiring actress from Lakeland, Florida, received a check for $100,000, a car and a sports motorbike from Playboy Enterprises Inc., company founder Hugh Hefner announced at the Playboy Mansion. Monaco hopes to leverage her new role to boost her modeling and acting career. She was Miss June in 2005.

Book by Phantom 'Lost' Author

(AP) – Gary Troup, a name known to fans of the hit TV drama "Lost," has joined a special club that includes the likes of Ellen Rimbauer and Marcie Walsh: "authors" of books by television characters. In Wednesday night's episode of the ABC hit show about plane crash survivors on a remote island, the con man Sawyer, played by Josh Holloway, is seen reading an advance copy of fellow passenger Gary Troup's "Bad Twin." Sawyer, an odd bookworm, describes it as a whodunit he's anxious to finish. Troup has been missing since the plane went down, but a copy of his book just happened to land a while back in the offices of Hyperion Books, which, like ABC, is owned by the Walt Disney Company. "Bad Twin," billed as Troup's "final novel before dis-appearing Oceanic Flight 815," was published this week. "We got this manuscript from this guy and we could-n't reach him. He apparently got on this plane in Australia and has been lost at sea," says Hyperion president Bob Miller, trying his best to play it straight. "Gary Troup" is a true mystery man, his name an anagram for "Purgatory." But someone claiming to be the author shows up in a promotional video linked to the "Bad Twin" page on Amazon.com. ABC and Hyperion have had other joint projects.

• "The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer," a prequel to the 2002 miniseries "Red Rose," recorded the thoughts of a magnate's wife trapped in a spooky Seattle mansion. "Ellen Rimbauer" was a best seller written by novelist Ridley Pearson, a good friend of the character's inventor, Stephen King. Pearson also is rumored to have written "Bad Twin."
• Marcie Walsh is a recurring character on "One Life to Live" who on the show was writing a police thriller, "The Killing Club," that actually ended up in stores, in 2005. The program's former head writer, Michael Malone, is listed as co-author.

With "Lost" attracting millions of viewers, Hyperion has big expectations for "Bad Twin," announcing a first printing of 365,000. Wednesday's night show gave the book a strong but unspectaular bump, from 311 to 67 on Amazon.com's best seller list. "We're hoping to see it grow from that as the show goes on," Miller said.


And the LOST originality keeps on comin'

Fun Ad Stuff from Alias and Lost

(AdJab) – There were a couple of interesting things that ABC did with the ads during two of its popular Wednesday night shows. First, Bob at TV Squad points out in his recap of Alias the strange juxtaposition of a promo for ABC's upcoming bird flu panic miniseries coming just before – wait for it – a spot for Perdue Chicken. That's fantastic. Second, there was a fake ad that ran during Lost for the Hanso Foundation. That's the mysterious company that's supposed to be connected to the island in some way. The website and hotline named in the ad have been receiving hits and calls constantly.

Bleeding the show into the ads. Brilliant.

Disney Launches ''High School Musical'' Products

BURBANK, Calif. (Business Wire) – Disney Consumer Products will launch a new line of ‘tween merchandise inspired by the smash-hit "High School Musical." The line will launch this month exclusively at over 500 Limited Too stores nationwide and at 100 of the retailer's Justice Stores. "High School Musical" merchandise will combine the fun and spirited themes of the movie with catchy phrases from the original soundtrack and the likenesses of the movie's cast. Both stores will carry a selection of unique tee shirts and other merchandise that will enhance customer connection with this movie phenomenon. Limited Too will support the new line with in-store signage, window displays and a gift-with-purchase promotion that will include an autographed poster signed by the "High School Musical" cast. Limited Too and Justice will also carry the Encore Edition of "High School Musical" on Disney DVD, from Walt Disney Home Entertainment, with two versions of the movie (original and the Sing-Along version) and never-before-seen bonus material, as well as the second music CD, a "High School Musical Special Edition" soundtrack from Walt Disney Records and the "High School Musical Junior Novel" from Disney Press – each scheduled to arrive in stores on May 23rd. Future plans for "High School Musical" merchandise include an expansion into a full line of apparel, accessories, home decor and stationery. The majority of the products will be ready just in time for the back-to-school season and will continue to grow through spring 2007. The success of "High School Musical" continues as the movie will begin premiering around the world in June on Disney Channel Australia, followed by Disney Channel France; Disney Channel Spain; Disney Channel United Kingdom; Disney Channel Japan; and Disney Channel India, among others. Additionally in May, Disney Studios will release key song mastertones and mobile phone ringtones in North America.

Walt Disney World's Top 10 Attractions

PUEBLO, Colo. (Pueblo Chieftain) – Trying to rank the best attractions at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., is like trying to rank which one of your kids you like best. Here are the 10 best attractions, at least according to one average Joe:

1. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, MGM Studios: Great first burst of speed, a loop-to-loop and corkscrew turn, all in the dark, all with Aerosmith tunes blaring in your ears. It rocks the senses. One tip: Wait the extra time in line and get a front seat in the 12-seat limo.
2. Expedition Everest, Animal Kingdom: Newest thrill ride pays extremely close attention to detail. You feel like you are climbing Mount Everest – until the thing takes your breath away going backward. This packs some serious Gs, and the legendary yeti comes closer to your head than you think.
3. Soarin', Epcot: An exact replica of the attraction in Disneyland, Soarin' allows riders the thrill of cruising a hang glider through California. You can smell the orange citrus and travel through the fireworks at night in Los Angeles. A wonderfully pleasant surprise.
4. Tower of Terror, MGM-Studios: If your stomach churns when cruising down Newman Hill, imagine that sensation times 1,000. Sudden dips in a broken-down elevator make what you have for lunch important. Eat bananas – they taste the same coming up as they did going down.
5. Space Mountain, Magic Kingdom: Tried-and-true roller-coaster. Thrilling enough for coaster fans, mellow enough for kids willing to test their bravery. There are two tracks – the Alpha and the Omega – but they are hard to tell apart in the dark.
6. Pirates of the Caribbean, Magic Kingdom: Not physically demanding, yet this boat ride with pirates is pure Disney. The attraction is being refurbished in Florida and California, but should be open later this year at both locations.
7. Kilimanjaro Safari, Animal Kingdom: OK, so the animals are so clean, they almost look fake. Almost. Think real-life "Madagascar." It's a convenient way to see exotic animals without having to travel to Africa. And it's slightly less expensive. And no immunizations.
8. Splash Mountain, Magic Kingdom: A nice, leisurely log ride with the potential to get soaked. Make sure to ride it late in the day to avoid chafing from wet shorts.
9. Test Track, Epcot: Even though you drive faster on the highway, or down Northern Avenue, this is one of the few must-rides at Epcot.
10. Fantasmic, MGM Studios: Again, pure Disney. Think a parade, a cartoon, pyrotechnics and a rock concert, all in one. Whatever you do, this is a must-see.

Euro Disney Net Loss Widens Threefold

PARIS (AP) – French theme-park operator Euro Disney SCA said Thursday its net loss more than tripled in its fiscal first half because of one-time restructuring gains a year earlier. Euro Disney's net loss rose to 102 million euros ($126 million) in the six months ending March 31 from 29.8 million euros a year earlier. The company, which operates the Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios parks in the Paris region, said

• its operating loss increased to 61.1 million euros ($75.9 million) from 51.2 million euros ($63.6 million) a year earlier, as revenue fell.
• First-half revenue decreased 1.4 percent to 467 million euros ($581 million) from 474 million euros last year, as both theme park attendance and hotel occupancy were lower.
• Spending per hotel room decreased due to the discounting of room rates for certain vacation pack-ages, Euro Disney said.
• Real estate revenue grew 60 percent from the prior year to 15.5 million euros ($19.3 million) because of increased land sales of residential property.

The group said it plans new attractions in the Walt Disney Studios Park from the beginning of the 2007 fiscal year to add to the appeal and capacity of Disneyland Resort Paris.

D'oh.