Mousekingdom Blog

Just an hour ago I posted the story, that according to Jeffrey Katzenberg his DreamWorks Animation studio was still contractually barred from releasing any movies on BluRay instead of HD DVD. How fast a story can change … According to the reliable German technology website heise, DreamWorks is “off the hook” and usesd his new won freedom to cancel the already announced release of ”The Bee Movie” on HD DVD scheduled for March 11.

BUT heise fails to give any source for the statement, that DreamWorks is “off the hook“. Until we get more information I’d be cautious, since the cancellation of the HD DVD release of “The Bee Movie” does NOT imply that there will be a BluRay release anytime soon or that DreamWorks would be allowed to make such release (whether anyone really would miss such a release is a different story - but let’s not get into bashing any bees, afterall they are important insects who are not responsible for DreamWorks movie). Anyway, DreamWorks might just have decided to cut the losses here that the production of the HD DVD discs could have caused.

Once upon a time there were two formats fighting about the future of high defintion DVDs: BluRay and HD DVD. Each of the formats was playing with al tricks it could do gain the upperhand, while the majority of us customers waited in the wings. Soon enough both formats got the idea to sign up studios exclusively to release their films only in one of the two formats. Disney signed up with BluRay which makes all the Disney fans rather happy - now that BlueRay has won and they know that their nifty BluRay players will be useful for more than only their collection of Disney releases.

Disney did gamble here by throwing their weight around - and won. What could have happened if Toshiba’s HD DVD would have won … well better don’t think about it. But if you are really curious - just take a look at the dismal situation DreamWorks is suddenly facing…

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Can I have Your Credit Card Number Please? How often do you get asked that? And how often do we give it without thinking about the risks attached to it? Especially when you’re at Walt Disney World, do you expect to be conned by a scam artist. (they really should find another name for them as they are NO artist.)

Unfortunately since a couple of weeks people are being scammed while they are at WDW.

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In my first post yesterday (yep, I am back … finally after several weeks crushing under the workload unrelated to this project and DLP.info) I mentioned that Disney in all its different animation units is busy and has various projects under preparation for the coming years. I didn’t go into any further detail as I assumed that most of you already know the list and would be bored … but after I got some questions … let’s take a look what is known to be in production or development:

Certainly there are numerous rumors on various blogs and sites, not to mention the real word of mouth. I don’t even want to try to sum all of those up, especially since I am in no position to judge on their credibility. BUT there is that great TAG blog … a daily must-read for anyone interested in animation. It published one of its Toon Studios Overviews of projects in various Los Angeles area studios nearly two weeks ago.

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Dubai has been putting itself on the map big time! To become the biggest vacation destination they have already surprised us many time. If it is the islands they build, or the amazing theme parks that are announced, it all sounds awesome. Next on the list; Shamu! (See Previous Entry from Dirk “Where can you find Seaworld and Universal”

On The Palm Jebel Ali on the section known as “the Crown”, 4 new parks will be build in one big resort; “Worlds Of Discovery” including SeaWorld, Aquatica, Busch Gardens, and Discovery Cove. The resort will be on the tip of the palm and will be in the form of “Shamu”.

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If you answered Orlando - you are right, you can find a SeaWorld theme park (next to the unique sister park “Discovery Cove” and the all new water park “Aquatica”) and as well as a Universal Resort (featuring the Islands of Adventure park, the Universal Studios park, the City Walk entertainment disctrict as well as hotels) in Orlando Florida … but there is another answer that is correct:

soon in DUBAI (UAE - United Arab Emirates)!

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… but not about the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise he helmed for Disney … instead in an upcoming project! Well that could be great news for Disney - after delivering treasures to Disney that even Jack Sparrow could only dream of he now joins the heart of Disney - animation. But let’s not be too fast here … because his animated feature is NOT a Disney project.

As the Hollywood Reporter announced GoreVerbinski developbed the (at this point) undisclosed idea for the animated action-adventure through his own company, Blind Wink Productions jointly with producer John B. Carls. They are supposed to be in talks with screenwriter John Logan (who just scored big with the movie script for “Sweeney Todd”, based on the Sondheim musical)  to write the script for the film. Little side note: one of the secret of early hit movies in animation was the storyboarding … so …

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Jan van Morkhoven, Sales Representative of Maurer Söhne, the builders and creators of the Crush’s Coaster track in the Walt Disney Studios in Paris, said in an interview he gave at the Euro Attractions Show 2008 in Nice, France that Disney was very happy with the coaster. (The show took place from 23 to 25 January) He also said something else that is very interesting…

“The where very, very happy with what we made for them. We will be making more for them. They will be back”

While he doesn’t say what they’ll be back for, we can start speculating; Will they make clones of Crush in other parks or are we going to see some of the other spectacular Maurer rides appear in a Disney park.. Visit the Parksmania website to see the interview, including some footage of other Maurer coasters.

Would you like to own a Disney hotel? How about the Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club resort? It is possible!

Well, maybe not the real deal, but you can get your hands on the original 1/32″ Scale Model Prop used to present the resort in full details before building it at Walt Disney World.

The model looks amazing with stunning details and beautifully presented. A unique one of a kind Disney collectible. Starting bid is $49.999 and comes with a trip to Walt Disney world (staying at the big version of the offered resort) to see the model at the Mousesurplus warehouse before it gets shipped to you anywhere in the US.

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Is Disney looking to expand in Sydney? It could be! Disney might be interested in a piece of Sydney’s Harbor. Could the working port near the Anzac Bridge called White Bay be one of Disney’s next ventures? There seem to have been talks between the government and Disney not to long ago but nothing more is known at this time.

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What better way to end a specific Shareholders meeting trip with some free time in the parks! Lucky for me I did have some free time (I admit, it was a well planned extra 1 and ½ day for the parks I added to my trip). So what’s up with the title you say… The trip is all about ghosts and Ghouls as you will see.

Phantom Manor is my favorite ride so it is no surprise that this was the first ride I enjoyed after the meeting. I admit, I was at the studios first and was anxious to ride the Tower of Terror, but a 45 minute waiting line… not my cup of thee and as the fast passes where all gone I risked waiting for a ride on the next day. So over to the Disneyland park to ride Phantom Manor.

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Ratatouille for best animated feature film of the year. Surprised? I didn’t think so. Ratatouille has been wining them all and the Oscar proofs yet again it is the best animated movie of the year. Looking at the movie again, I wonder if this could well be on top of the list for best animation ever? The movie is so much fun and it stays fun even after seeing it multiple times.

Unfortunately it didn’t get the Oscar for the original screenplay (it went to Juno), but that was to be expected. Even with such a great script, I didn’t think an animation would be honored with that title. The Oscar for Original score, Achievement in sound editing and Achievement in sound mixing has also passed to others, but still, the most important one is on the Disney/Pixar shelves

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No info has leaked on the Internet regarding any accident on Disneyland Resort Paris Big Thunder Mountain attraction but when I checked my mail today a reader sent me the picture he took on Thursday. The ride was closed for the rest of that day, but reopened the next morning.

I was at the park on Thursday myself but didn’t catch any of this, on Friday I even went on Big Thunder Mountain myself…

Anybody knows more? Let us know!

Picture by Edwin Hendriks

After a good night rest it was time for the General Shareholders Meeting. Now, there where a lot of numbers they talked about. Especially those that gone up; more visitors, more rooms booked, more spending per person, more cash flow, and so on. Only during the Questions and Answer session did we get to hear some other things and issue that some shareholders had. Will shareholders ever get dividends, what will happen when Euro Disney S.C.A. Has to start paying back its Hughes depths in 2011 but Karl Holz always had an answer ready, even if this answer was always the same, that they made a big positive result, that they are on the right track and that this is the track Disney management is going to follow for the future.

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On February 21st Euro Disney S.C.A. Held its annual shareholders meeting. Just like the last couple of years I went to Disneyland Resort Paris with big interest and hope to hear beautiful news of plans for the future. But before I’ll get into dept on what has been said at the meeting, let me first take you to the previous day, the day I arrived and checked in at the New York hotel.

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Moving house is great and stressful at the same time. Our new home is amazing, but the packing and moving wasn’t that much fun. On the other hand I did get to see some of my Disney gems I collected over the years but for some reason could never display, or even forgot about. In the new house I’ll have some more room for all my Disney stuff (Although I did have to promise not to go over the top, displaying to much), but it will a while before the unpacking will begin.

Not only is most of my Disney stuff packed in boxes at the moment, I am also short on Blogging time because of the move. I really miss it when I can’t be here but I have to set my priorities to the new house; No worries of course, I’ll be back with many stories, starting with my visit to Disneyland Resort Paris later this week. I’ll be going to my home park on Wednesday, in time for the shareholders meeting the next day and some park magic too (of course). I’m looking forwards to experiencing our Tower of Terror for the first time. But that’s not al; I promised myself to buy one more nice item that will find a nice place in my new home.

See you on the blog, or who knows, in Disneyland Resort Paris…

On my last Walt Disney World trip I could see the Disney Tree house villas when I floated on the transportation boat from Old Key West to the Downtown Disney. It looked like a fun place to stay, but at that time it looked like it was something that was going to be lost to the Disney fans. The villas are closed since 2001 (after 09/11) and have only been used as private residences for Disney’s International and College Program Cast Members after that. Although Disney has been looking in re-opening the villas as from 2002, it could not be done without following some tight rules regarding the “Warren S. Henderson Wetlands Protection Act” legislation of 1984. The Villas are located on protected wetlands where any additional construction is prohibited.

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No surprises at the Annie awards, the best animation has won! A total of 9 awards went to the fantastic Ratatouille movie. The awards are for Best Animated Feature, Character Animation in a Feature Production, Character Design in an Animated Feature Production, Directing in an Animated Feature Production, Music in an Animated Feature Production, Production Design in an Animated Feature Production, Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production, Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production and Writing in an Animated Feature Production. The price for Best Animated Video Game also went to the Ratatouille game. Next; The Oscar!

OK, Disney have just announced a new attraction for the former Disney-MGM Studios in Walt Disney World, and it is their version of American Idol.

Apparently, Disney think it’s a good idea to jump on the latest TV bandwagon that happens to be passing and try to turn it into a theme park attraction. The basic details are as follows:

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Empire Film Group, Inc. has planned a movie about the life from the Muppet creator Jim Henson. Production of the new movie might start late summer with a budget of $30 million.

“Jim Henson is one of the best known and most beloved entertainers of all time,” said Parkinson. “His story is inspiring, tragic, heartwarming and epic, and will make for an important and entertaining motion picture. This is the sort of movie that Empire will be pursuing as we build the company into a leading independent studio.” (ComingSoon.net)

Although a biographical movie about Jim Henson will be very interesting, as a Disney fan it will be interesting to see how much of the Henson/Disney deal we will get to see in the movie. In 1990 Jim Henson did talk to the Disney company about selling the rights but he died the week before the deal was going to be closed. The Henson family kept the rights in the family until 2000 when the children of Jim decided to sell the rights to a German company “EM.TV.”. After EM.TV.’s financial problems the rights where bought back by the Henson children in 2003, but only a year later they sold the rights of the Muppets (and Bear in the Big Blue House) characters to the Disney Company.