When I lived out in California, there were frequent problems with ducks or seagulls camping out on the monorail beam. Usually a horn honk or two would scare them off, but sometimes it could take quite a few attempts to clear the beam. Thanks to the magic of ubiquitous smart phones, we now get to see the equivalent problem unfold at Walt Disney World.

According to reports, the resort loop at the Magic Kingdom Monorail was delayed by 45 minutes as the pilot of Monorail Gold attempted to clear the beam of a poor little squirrel who, for some reason, wouldn’t run down a support beam and instead, kept running straight down the line all the way from the Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom Monorail Station where it finally jumped off the track into the station.

Kudos to the pilot for being sensitive to other forms of life! Apparently the Monorail Gold pilot is not the only friend to squirrels at the Walt Disney World Monorail. Check out this video below the jump: The Squirrel Whisperer!

Squirrel Impedes Monorail at Walt Disney World originally posted on
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Voices of Liberty always a great performance

In a small ceremony this morning at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, the U.S. Postal Service celebrated the issuance of 125 million new stamps today featuring popular Disney•Pixar characters.

“These delightful stamps lift spirits and touch hearts and remind us that when it comes to connecting with loved ones, technology is no match for the mail,” said Jo Ann Feindt, Postal Service Southern Area vice president, in dedicating the stamps as part of the resort’s grand opening.

Joining Feindt in dedicating the stamp featuring beloved Disney•Pixar characters was Jay Ward, legacy guardian for Pixar Animation Studios.

“We’re thrilled ‘to infinity and beyond’ that these popular characters from ‘Toy Story 2,’ ‘Finding Nemo’ and other great Disney•Pixar films are featured on these colorful new stamps,” said Ward. “This stamp issue will make posting a letter lots of fun for everyone in the family.”

Following up on Send a Hello stamps issued in 2011, the eagerly awaited Mail a Smile stamp sheet includes five different designs spotlighting:

• Flik and Dot from “A Bug’s Life” (1998);
• Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) and Dashiell “Dash” Parr from “The Incredibles” (2004), with “Dash” also shown running in the background;
• Nemo and Squirt from “Finding Nemo” (2003);
• Woody, Bullseye, and Jessie from “Toy Story 2″ (1999); and
• Boo, Mike Wazowski, and James P. “Sulley” Sullivan from “Monsters, Inc.” (2001).

The back of the stamp sheet shows blue-pencil sketches of characters from these movies interspersed among text that exhorts readers to mail a smile to a loved one. Postal Service art director William Gicker of Washington, DC, worked with Disney•Pixar to design the stamp art.

New Pixar USPS Stamps Released originally posted on
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Disney*Pixar has released the latest clip from its upcoming film “Brave.” In it the three clans present the suitors for Princess Merida’s hand.

Definitely like this segment (even though we’ve already seen much of it). But I’m still interested in more behind the scenes sort of materials. How about you?

New Clip From Pixar’s Brave – The Suitors originally posted on
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Fans of the original Star Wars series no doubt remember the end of The Empire Strikes Back where Han Solo was encased in carbonite. Now you can own your own mini-version of yourself in Carbon-Freeze condition.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios guests can experience the “Carbon-Freeze Me” process which involves having their faces digitally captured from multiple angles and then magically transformed into carbonite figurines. In the video below Disney Parks Blog author Gary Buchanan and Star Wars Weekends Celebrity Host Ashley Eckstein tour the Carbon-Freezing Chamber and try out the experience for themselves

I did not know that the limited-time Carbon-Freeze Me Experience is actually open every day — not just on Star Wars Weekends — and will continue to operate through June 16, 2012 even though Star Wars Weekends ends this year on June 10. The cost is $99.95 plus tax and shipping; so it’s not cheap, but it is awfully cool.

To make advance reservations for Carbon-Freeze Me, call 407-WDW-TECH (407-939-8324). Walk-ins are accommodated based on availability.

Get the Han Solo Treatment in Star Wars Weekends Carbon Freeze Me Collectible originally posted on
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She has been beheaded twice, lost an arm, and been daubed with paint at least seven times. The iconic statue of the Little Mermaid from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale is now getting a male counterpart: “Han” – a polished stainless steel sculpture featuring a young boy on a stone. Maybe Disney can look at this as another sequel for it’s movie version.

“Han” (HIM – in Danish) depicts a young man. He is positioned on a stone by the seaside – just like his famous “sister” in Copenhagen. The new sculpture has been created in contemporary materials: both the male figure and the stone have been cast in polished stainless steel, mirroring the surroundings in the sculpture’s curved surface thereby creating a distorted imagery reminiscent of a psychedelic aesthetic. With true Elmgreen & Dragset chicanery and courtesy of a hydraulic mechanism, the eyes of the sculpture will close for a split second once every hour – just one blink – before it becomes a traditional static statue once more.

“Han” is highly-anticipated in Denmark due to its prominent permanent location on the harbour of Elsinore, opposite the Castle of Kronborg – famous as the historic setting of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Michael Elmgreen says, “Creating a sculptural art work that will be installed in a public space is significantly different from showing it in the context of a museum. Visitors who enter a museum have already prepared themselves for a visual experience; whereas an audience outside a museum hasn’t actually asked to have an artistic experience – that is important to bear in mind when you, as an artist, are commissioned to do a public sculpture. The sculpture must communicate on all kinds of levels.”

“Han” is a work that encourages to many complex readings behind its outwardly appealing surface. It makes clear references to “The Little Mermaid.” The two sculptures are almost identical in size and, like his older sister. “Han” sits on a rock, gazing out toward the sea. However, the sculpture raises not only questions of nationality and gender politics. Located at the far end of a jetty, the sculpture also tells the tale of loneliness in our modern society – of being alone amongst the many.

What do you think? Should they have left good enough alone or does The Little Mermaid need a partner?

News of the Odd: Original Little Mermaid Statue Gets a Man originally posted on
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For Disney this may seem like a grand experiment, but for me it falls into the “why didn’t they think of this before” category. Take the one of a kind high seas vacation that is the Disney Cruise Line and offer a California based cruise with a focus on just Pixar films. It’s a great idea and it’s now officially happening later this year.

More than a dozen of Pixar Animation Studios’ most memorable characters  will make their shipboard debut during four special Pixar-inspired seven-night California Coastal cruises Sept. 16 through Oct. 14, 2012. During these voyages, Disney Cruise Line guests will be able to interact with and explore the world of Pixar and their beloved films while the Disney Wonder sails to popular port cities along the coast of California.

Special entertainment and offerings designed for both children and adults include:

• Pixar Presentations and Sneak Peeks: Artists and filmmakers from Pixar Animation Studios will provide guests with an inside look at the creative process used in the development of an animated feature or short. Guests will go behind the scenes and explore the making of Pixar’s newest release “Brave” and get a look at footage of future Pixar films.
• The Art of Pixar: Storyboards, character sketches, environment paintings, maquettes and other inspiring concept art used to design Pixar films will be on display in a special art exhibition at sea. This collection of art has only been seen outside of Pixar Animation Studios when it has been displayed at leading art museums around the world. This time the art will truly be a “traveling” exhibition as the Disney Wonder sails up and down the California coast.
• Pixar Film Fest: Guests will be able to enjoy the entire Pixar library of films while onboard, including a selection of delightful animated shorts. Viewing opportunities will take place in the Buena Vista Theatre, Walt Disney Theatre, at the jumbo LED screen on deck or on in-stateroom televisions. The voyages coincide with the theatrical premiere of “Finding Nemo 3D,” which guests can enjoy at either of the two theatres equipped with state-of-the-art Dolby 3D projection systems.
• Pixar Character Encounters: More than a dozen Pixar characters will meet with and greet guests throughout the cruise. There will be a special Pixar-themed dance parties in the Atrium Lobby and a host of other opportunities for guests to reconnect with their favorite Pixar pals.

Guests sailing on the Pixar-themed voyages will also receive a commemorative lithograph created by Pixar artist and “Brave” co-director/screenwriter, Steve Purcell.
The Disney Wonder will sail out of Los Angeles and visit San Francisco, San Diego and Ensenada, Mexico during the four Pixar-themed voyages. Rates for the seven-night voyages start at $799 per person for a deluxe inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

Wish I could afford to go, it seems like a match made in heaven… up next? Marvel cruises? As long as they stay 250 miles away from Universal Orlando, it’s all good, right?

Pixar Characters Focus of Special Disney Cruise aboard the Disney Wonder originally posted on
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(picture used with permission of Megan Sullivan)

The necklaces must have been a hit, because now it seems every runDisney race in the future will be offering them right along with the commemorative pins. The latest commemorative necklace design was released by runDisney on May 29th on their Facebook page. The necklaces cost about $20 and can be purchased in advance via the runDisney website, or will be available at the runner’s expo before the race while supplies last.

I know I’m looking forward to starting my collection of these! What do you think? Are the necklaces just another collectible or will they make a nice addition to your medal rack?

runDisney Commemorative Necklace is Fun Memorabilia originally posted on
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Obviously, this is not the news SeaWorld wanted to hear. They’ve been developing technologies that they believe will safely allow trainers to get back in the water with the Killer Whales. Things will likely continue much as they are now while SeaWorld decides what to do about this case. Killer Whale care and training has been on going since Nov 2010 without trainers getting in the water and the park hasn’t had to shut down its shows or publicized how the change has been harming the whales. On the other hand, there is such a thing as historical fact. And the fact is that incidents with Killer Whales and trainers are very rare, no one wants a trainer to die like Dawn did, but there plenty of good reasons for trainers to be in the water with the killer whales, not just in the show, but behind the scenes for health and welfare of the animals themselves.

I’d like to check out the judges ruling first hand to see what else he’s observed. I suspect too much deference was given to OSHA over the experts SeaWorld presented and that an appeal will level things out.

Mixed Results in SeaWorld Orlando Killer Whale Trainer Death OSHA Case originally posted on
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Top 25 Theme Parks Based on Attendance (2011/2010) plus Change In Ranking (if any)

1 Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom – 17.1M / 17.0M
2 Disneyland – 16.1M / 16.0M
3 Tokyo Disneyland – 14.0M / 14.5M
4 Tokyo DisneySea – 12.0M / 12.6M
5 Disneyland Paris – 11.0M / 10.5M +1
6 EPCOT – 10.8M / 10.8M -1
7 Disney’s Animal Kingdom – 9.8M / 9.7M
8 Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 9.7M / 9.6M
9 Universal Studios Japan – 8.5M / 8.2M
10 Universal’s Islands of Adventure – 7.7M / 6.0M +2
11 Lotte World, Seoul, South Korea – 7.6M / 5.5M +2
12 Ocean Park, Hong Kong – 7.0M / 5.4M+5
13 Everland, Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea – 6.6M / 6.9M -3
14 Disney California Adventure – 6.3M / 6.3M -3
15 Universal Studios Florida – 6.0M / 6.0M -2
16 Hong Kong Disneyland – 5.9M / 5.2M -1
17 Nagashima Spa Land, Kuwana, Japan – 5.8M / 4.5M +3
18 SeaWorld Orlando – 5.2M / 5.1M -2
19 Universal Studios Hollywood – 5.1M / 5.0M -1
20 Walt Disney Studios Paris – 4.7M / 4.5M -1
21 Europa Park – 4.5M / 4.3M
22 SeaWorld San Diego – 4.3M / 3.8M +3
23 Busch Gardens Tampa – 4.3M / 4.2M -1
24 De Eftleing -  4.1M / 4.0M
25 Tivoli Gardens – 4.0M / 3.7M

First thing to note is that just because your attendance went up doesn’t mean someone else isn’t going up faster. Look at Hong Kong Disneyland that rose .7 Million, but Ocean Park, it’s across town rival, grew by 1.6M, more than twice HKDL. Not a good sign for the park, although I’m sure they’ll take any growth.

EPCOT falling out of the top 5 is a bit of a shocker. On the other hand, Tokyo Disneyland’ did amazing only losing .5 million even with the Earthquake and Tsunami impact on the economy and closing the park for more than a month. Another pleasant surprise is to see Disneyland Paris on the rise.

Generally speaking the state of the global theme park industry is improving. The primary driver in growth is Asia, but USA based parks are also seeing some strong numbers.

Keep in mind that these numbers are estimates as most parks don’t give out attendance numbers. But TEA is the acknowledged standard. Read the whole report for more insight into the theme park global economy.

TEA Releases Top 25 Theme Parks for 2011 originally posted on
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I’ve got to admit I started watching for one reason – I’ve been a Melissa Joan Hart fan since her Clarissa Explains it All days. Yes, that means I watched all of Sabrina the Teenage Witch as well.

In this sitcom with Who’s the Boss overtones, she stars as Melissa Burke, a city counsel member in Toledo, Ohio. She’s a single woman whose world is rocked when her sister and brother-in-law are accused of running a Ponzi scheme. Her brother-in-law goes on the run, and her sister winds up in prison. What that meanas for Melissa is that she is now responsible for her teenage niece Lennox (Taylor Spreitler) and Ryder (Nick Robinson).

As she’s trying to figure out what to do with them, enter Joe Longo (Joseph Lawrence). He worked for Lennox and Ryder’s parents and is now on the street with a ruined reputation. Of course, it doesn’t help that his wife kicked him out and filed for divorce. He winds up becoming the family manny (you know, male nanny), which is a good thing since Melissa can’t even boil water.

Of course, we’ve got the bickering and flirting between Melissa and Joe. And we’ve got the typical teenage antics of the kids.

In many ways, this sitcom feels like many others I’ve seen before. But I find myself tuning in and laughing every week. The cast is strong, rounded out by Lucy DeVito (Danny DeVito’s daughter) as Melissa’s assistant. I’ve got to admit, her character was annoying at first, but she’s really grown on me.

When we last left them, the living room had been destroyed in a flood from the upstairs bathroom and Joey had almost left. I’ll be interested to see the new main set tonight and how much the teens have grown since it’s been awhile since they finished filming season one.

If you are looking for some laughs to get you through summer rerun season, tune in tonight at 8, 7 central and I’ll be interested in hearing what you think.

Getting Ready for Melissa & Joey’s Season Two Premier Tonight on ABC Family originally posted on
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