Is Disney’s Growth for Real?
Walt Disney (NYS: DIS) carries $29 billion of goodwill and other intangibles on its balance sheet. Sometimes goodwill, especially when it’s excessive, can foreshadow problems down the road. Could this be the case with Disney? If you own Disney, or … Continue readingFull Cast Announced for Broadway Run of ‘Newsies’
We’re just a few short months from the Broadway opening of Newsies, and recently, Disney Theatrical Productions announced the full cast of talented performers that will be seen in the show. Many of the cast will be reprising their roles, after originally performing them in the show’s premiere at the Paper Mill Playhouse last fall.
As previously announced, Jeremy Jordan will play the lead role of Jack Kelly. Joining him in the show will be John Dossett (2003 revival of Gypsy) as Joseph Pulitzer, Kara Lindsay (Little House on the Prairie) as Katherine Plumber, Ben Fankhauser (Spring Awakening national tour) as Davey, Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Mary Poppins) as Crutchie, and Lewis Grosso (Mary Poppins) and Matthew Schechter (Elf) alternating in the role of Les. Capathia Jenkins (Caroline or Change) will play the role of Medda.
Rounding out the cast will be Aaron J. Albano, Mark Aldrich, Tommy Bracco, John E. Brady, Ryan Breslin, Kevin Carolan, Caitlyn Caughell, Kyle Coffman, Mike Faist, Michael Fatica, Julie Foldesi, Garett Hawe, Thayne Jasperson, Evan Kasprzak, Jess Le Protto, Stuart Marland, Andy Richardson, Jack Scott, Ryan Steele, Brendon Stimson, Nick Sullivan, Ephraim Sykes, Laurie Veldheer, Alex Wong and Stuart Zagnit in the ensemble.
Newsies will begin performances at Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre on March 15, with opening night scheduled for March 29. The show will play a limited 101 performance run before closing on June 10, 2012. Tickets for the musical will go on sale January 30. For more information, visit www.NewsiestheMusical.com.
The Exotics Course featuring “supercars” at Walt Disney World
Have the need for speed? Richard Petty Driving Experience at Walt Disney World Resort now features a brand-new adrenaline rush, the “Exotic Driving Experience.” The “Exotics Course” at Walt Disney World Speedway, a new one-mile circuit custom-built for the attraction, … Continue readingACADEMY AWARD WINNER CUBA GOODING JR. STARS IN HALLMARK HALL OF FAME’S “FIRELIGHT” FOR ABC
Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding Jr. (“Jerry Maguire,” “Radio”) stars in a new Hallmark Hall of Fame film, “Firelight,” premiering SUNDAY, APRIL 22 (9:00-11:00, ET) on the ABC Television Network. Darnell Martin (Hallmark Hall of Fame’s “Lost Valentine”) directs from … Continue readingFirst Look: Photo-Realistic Image of Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure Park
Disney’s Yellow Shoes Creative Group recently created a photo-realistic composite of Radiator Springs Racers that you may see in the coming weeks. The composite is a combination of images designed to give you a glimpse of what the attraction will … Continue readingDisneyland Hotel Completes Major Two-Year Renovation Project
For over a year now, we’ve been bringing you news of the exciting renovation project that’s been going on at the Disneyland Hotel at the Disneyland Resort. Now, we’re excited to bring you the news that the hotel’s renovation is finally complete, with many new additions and changes that guests are sure to love.
“This exciting renovation extends the immersion and magic of our park experience to this classic hotel,” said Tony Bruno, vice president Resort hotels and Downtown Disney. “We’ve woven important pieces of Disneyland park history into the Disneyland Hotel, particularly with the reopening of the pool and courtyard area. These nostalgic enhancements not only highlight the hotel’s unique heritage, but also our continued investment in the guest experience and our ongoing work to evolve the Resort and Anaheim into a world-class, multiday tourist destination.”
As part of the renovations, all 969 rooms in the hotel have been fully renovated, in addition to the re-theming of the Hotel’s three towers to the Fantasy, Frontier, and Adventure Towers. The towers pay tribute to Disneyland’s early days, with artwork and even attraction models from beloved Disneyland attractions adorning each tower’s lobby. The exterior of the towers now feature new sky blue reflective glass, which is more energy efficient. The renovated guest rooms include such exciting new features as new headboards over the beds that are adorned with artistic carvings of Sleeping Beauty Castle. These headboards also use fiber optics to create a fantastic fireworks scene, bringing the magical experience of the theme park into the hotel room while playing “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes.”
For guests who want an even more extravagant experience, the Hotel has also been upgraded with some very special themed suites in each tower. Guests can enjoy such extravagant accommodations as the Big Thunder Suite, the Mickey Mouse Penthouse, and a suite themed to Pirates of the Caribbean. These exquisitely designed suites transport some of Disneyland’s most beloved theming and details to the hotel for guests to enjoy even away from the park.
Outside of the guest rooms, the Hotel has introduced even more new renovations for guests to enjoy. The hotel features a new themed water area, with two new swimming pools for guests to enjoy, the “D-Ticket” and “E-Ticket” pools. In addition, the hotel now boasts two water slides, each themed to the monorail. Each water slide features a replica of the Mark I Monorail cars, which guests slide through on their way to the bottom. Hungry guests will be sure to love the Hotel’s new restaurant complex, which includes the Tangaroa Terrace quick-service restaurant and Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, a tiki-themed bar that draws inspiration from such beloved Disneyland attractions as The Enchanted Tiki Room and the Jungle Cruise.
To book a stay at the Disneyland Hotel and take advantage of these fantastic renovations, visit www.disneyland.com.
Photo-Realistic Image of Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure Park
Disney’s Yellow Shoes Creative Group recently created a photo-realistic composite of Radiator Springs Racers. The composite is a combination of images designed to give you a glimpse of what the attraction will look like when it opens this summer.24 Hours at Disney Parks – Video
More details about One More Disney Day at: http://di.sn/Vi On February 29, 2012, Disneyland Park and Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom Park will be open for 24 hours. What will your memories be? This event begins at 6am on … Continue readingChase Launches New Disney’s Premier Visa Card
For years, Disney fans have been able to earn valuable rewards for their Disney vacations with the Disney Visa Credit Card from Chase. This week, Disney and Chase announced a new upgrade to the popular credit card that both new and current card holders are sure to be excited about. The Disney’s Premier Visa Card will give card holders the chance to earn rewards faster, use their rewards for airfare for the first time, and have access to special cardmember-only benefits.
With the Premier card, card holders will be able to earn 2% in Disney Dream Reward Dollars on card purchases at restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, Disney Stores, and at most locations in Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line. On all other purchases, cardmembers will earn 1% in Reward Dollars.
“We developed Disney’s Premier Visa Card with one simple objective in mind – to deliver what Disney’s customers told us was most important in a rewards credit card – earning rewards faster,” said Robert Belan, General Manager, Chase Card Services. “The ability to earn 2% on every day card purchases – specifically at restaurants, gas stations and grocery stores – was a key theme from our research and we’re pleased to offer that as a benefit on this new card.”
Another change with the Premier card will be the ability to use these Reward Dollars on airline travel, by using their card to pay for airfare and then redeeming reward dollars for a credit on their monthly statement. These Reward Dollars can be used with any airline and destination, and has no block-out dates. Card holders will also be able to use their Reward Dollars on Disney hotel stays, Theme Park tickets, cruises, movie tickets and merchandise.
“Since we first launched the Disney Rewards® Visa Card in 2003, our priority has been providing a rewards program our customers can really use – including a huge variety of rewards and easy, flexible redemption,” said Jennifer Cohen, Senior Vice President of Customer Relationship Management for The Walt Disney Company. “For example, we have never had block-out dates and Cardmembers can redeem toward just about anything Disney from Theme Park tickets, hotel stays, dining and cruises to toys, apparel, movies, games, books and more. Offering more rewards on everyday purchases and the option to redeem toward Disney or airline travel are two more features intended to deliver on the Disney promise of high quality at good value.”
Card holders are also able to enjoy special perks when visiting Walt Disney World and Disneyland, including special character meet-and-greet opportunities, in addition to special savings. For a full list of cardmember perks, visit www.DisneyVisaPerks.com.
In addition, here are even more benefits that Disney’s Premier Visa Card holders will enjoy:
- No cap on the number of Disney Dream Reward Dollars that can be earned
- 0% APR for six months on select Disney vacation packages, all Disney Cruise Line® and Adventures by Disney® vacation packages
- 0% APR for six months on the purchase of a real estate interest in a Disney Vacation Club® Resort up to $10,000 or on a minimum add-on purchase
- $50 onboard credit on a Disney Cruise Line® vacation
- Dedicated 24-7 customer service team at Chase
- Visa Zero Liability purchase protection coverage
- Visa travel protection benefits, including emergency card replacement, travel accident insurance and baggage delay coverage
Disney’s Premier Visa Card will be available for an annual fee of $49. For more information or to apply for a new card, visit www.GetDisneyCreditCard.com or call (888) 752-3788. Existing card holders can upgrade their card to the Premier card by visiting www.UpgradeMyDisneyCard.com or by calling the number on the back of their card.
Take 5: runDisney Races at Disney Parks
Over the years runDisney has hosted a variety of races and meet-ups throughout Disney Parks and Resorts, and the next race is right around the corner. To gear up for the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Meet-Up Event this weekend, we wanted to take a look at some of the other exciting races and events in the past. Have you participated in a runDisney marathon yet?
Take 5: runDisney Races at Disney Parks
- Meet-Up and Fly Away Through the Disneyland Resort for Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend – Participants will get to run through Disneyland park for the first time as part of a runDisney meet-up in this weekend’s Tinker Bell Half Marathon!
- Brazil’s Costa Establishes New Streak at Dramatic Walt Disney World Marathon – See who broke records in the 26.2-mile Walt Disney World Marathon earlier this month.
- Race Report: Disneyland Half Marathon – Disney Parks Blog authors joined 15,000 participants in the Disneyland Half Marathon last September – check out all the details in Erin’s post!
- They Ate, They Drank and They Ran at the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon – More than 17,000 runners participated in the “Meet Up, Eat Up” at the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon, gaining the experience of a lifetime.
- Looking and Running Like a Real-Life Disney Princess – Calling all Disney Princesses! Check out this half marathon at Walt Dinsey World Resort meant just for you.
Take 5: runDisney Races at Disney Parks by Thomas Smith: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog