Disney World

The uproar over suggestive photos of “Hannah Montana” star Miley Cyrus in Vanity Fair underscores the Walt Disney Co.’s ongoing struggle and success with the lucrative tween audience.The endurance of its franchises is what company management has coined the “Disney Difference.” However, catering to tweens and even the teen audience has proven to be a slippery slope that defies what Disney boasts as its tight controls. The age 10-12 tweens and the teen years are notorious for being as free-spirited as they are free-spending.”High School Musical” star Vanessa Hudgens, 18, posed nude for her boyfriend–and the pix were posted on the Internet. Lindsay Lohan, a Disney veteran, posed nude as a Marilyn Monroe wannabe in Vanity Fair earlier this year. In the magazine, Cyrus, 15, poses solo and with her dad, country singer and actor Billy Ray Cyrus. Cyrus was even quoted in the accompanying story as saying she thought the photo of her alone and bareback, clutching silk fabric to her front, was “really natural…really artsy.”Like Hudgens, Cyrus immediately issued an apology to fans–even though both willingly engaged in the photo shoots. What isn’t clear is: How much was face-saving and/or the orders of Disney. In the case of Cyrus’ Vanity Fair photos, taken by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz, it’s hard to imagine that Disney didn’t know about it. A Disney Channel spokesperson has been quoted as saying “a situation was created to deliberately manipulate a 15-year-old in order to sell magazines.”Only time will tell how much the incident helps, rather than hurts, the “Hannah Montana” “good girl” brand as it positions itself to mature with its audience. Also at stake with every brand encounter–in whatever medium–is what Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger says is the company’s unique “ability to leverage success across all businesses and territories” around the world.
“Hannah,” which began as a Disney Channel cable offering, is rapidly blossoming into a $1 billion franchise. Which is why Disney will not retreat from a little controversy that started to gain traction last week, thanks to an on-air tirade by Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly.But the tacit acceptance of Hannah undressed in Vanity Fair, at a time when the country is twisted over the abuse of children in Texas, is a bizarrely conflicted picture of values. That it involves Disney, which positions itself as a beacon for appropriate children’s fare, makes it all the more troublesome. As Iger said in Disney’s last earnings call: “The Disney name itself differentiates us as a brand that people seek out and trust. It opens doors to new platforms and markets and hence to new customers. It also greatly lengthens the potential lifespan and the value of our creative output.”The quandary for Disney is that it will hand off these big stars to another media company if it can’t find a way to continue capitalizing on them in-house. Hannah Montana has thrived on cable, live concerts, CDs, products and a recent 3-D concert film that has grossed $60 million. “Hannah Montana” will soon be making the leap to the silver screen. It cuts a swath of revenue generation and profits across most of Disney’s major business categories. So, if a franchise falters, it could hurt everywhere.The tween constituents are increasingly more challenging to address. It is an irony that media players have contributed to how quickly kids grow up by reinforcing behavior and setting expectations in TV programs, movies, music and even video games–all of which generate mounds of merchandise.The Hannah Montana concert tour is among the top 10 Internet pre-sales for events and movies, according to MovieTickets.com. When online brokers snatched up thousands of the $63 concert tickets, fans had to fork over $350 to $2,000 for a seat. The concert and the popular “Hannah Montana” series have been constructed around a chaste middle-school character. Rejected by peers by day, she’s a pop star by night. “Hannah” soon will be have her own video game, theatrical film, and soundtrack album and clothing line. It is the same path to success traveled by “Lizzie McGuire” tween star Hilary Duff. Cyrus also has received $1 million to pen her autobiography for Disney-Hyperion Books.Disney’s unparalleled brand-licensing machine drove growth in calendar 2007, and could help weather the 2008 recession, analysts say. Nielsen Media says two-thirds of children age 6 to 14 are “Hannah Montana” fans–and parents support their passion.At the heart of Disney’s success is the proper cultivation and close protection of its brands into long-time profit centers. That is where its tween franchises are different. They are valuable for a brief period, during which its stars and audience are most vulnerable to changing values and external influences. The risk to Disney vis-à-vis Cyrus may ultimately be that it is happening on its turf, which it defines as one of the last bastions of carefully crafted entertainment for children and tweens.

The Walt Disney Company CIS introduces new online destination for Russians called Disney.ru
The Russian site will feature content from Disney’s portfolio of stories, characters and brands, while also exploring the firm’s history, products and services, both in Russia and around the world.Targeting all age groups, the site will be divided into sections such as movies, games, characters, products and travel.Marina Jigalova-Ozkan, MD, The Walt Disney Company CIS, said: “The launch of Disney.ru is an important step in Disney’s development in Russia. We are really happy that, starting from today, Russian families will have an opportunity to get to know our characters as well as users around the world do.”

A 21-year-old accused of making a bomb threat at Downtown Disney that prompted the evacuation of a busy Planet Hollywood restaurant claims he is the devil, FLORIDA TODAY news partner WKMG Local 6 News reports.. “I scared a lot of people but I think I did it for the better good,” Davis said. “I think I’m the devil. I have a mindset as a devil but I mean I’m a good guy trying to make the world a better place.”Orange County deputies said Davis was recently fired from the Planet Hollywood restaurant on Downtown Disney property and had returned to the business Monday night to get his job back.When he was denied, officers said Davis threw his backpack on the ground and told management it contained an explosive device.“I said, ‘I hope it is a bomb because this earth deserves to die today,’” Davis said.After the bag was detonated, it was determined to contain only Davis’ personal items.Davis was arrested and charged with making bomb threats.Sheriff’s deputies said Davis is a security risk if he returns to Walt Disney World.

Michael Eisner, the former CEO of the Walt Disney Company and now the driving force behind online content companies Vuguru and Veoh, will deliver an exceptional keynote at the upcoming MIPCOM, which takes place in Cannes, 13 - 17 October 2008.In his speech, Eisner will share his vision of a digital entertainment industry that brings the consumer, the producer and the distributor closer together. With his new ventures, Vuguru (a production and distribution company for videos on digital platforms), and Veoh (an Internet TV broadcasting system), he is aiming to foster innovation, launch new talents, produce new quality scripted content, and distribute short formats sold direct to the consumer.“We are delighted to host a visionary leader like Michael Eisner at MIPCOM. His 40-year career and past experience in entertainment content at the head of the Walt Disney Company, in addition to his pioneering work in digital content production and distribution will be one of the highlights at MIPCOM this October,” says Paul Johnson, director of television at Reed MIDEM.

Began career
Eisner began his career at ABC, where he helped take the network from number three to number one in primetime, daytime and children’s television with such landmark shows as Happy Days, Barney Miller, Rich Man Poor Man and Roots. In 1976, he became president of Paramount Pictures, turning out such hit films as Raiders of the Lost Ark, Saturday Night Fever, Grease, and Terms of Endearment. This string of critically acclaimed and blockbuster films led the studio to become number one in box office and profitability in both theatrical movies and network television production. In 1984 he assumed the position of chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company and, in the ensuing 21 years, transformed it from a film and theme park company with US$1.8 billion in enterprise value into a global media empire valued at US$80 billion.In 2005, Eisner began the “next act” of his career by founding the Tornante Company: a privately held company that makes investments in and incubates companies and opportunities in the media and entertainment space. Through the Tornante Company, he created Vuguru, a new media studio that produces world-class content for the Internet and emerging digital platforms. Vuguru’s first production Prom Queen quickly became an Internet sensation and was later nominated for a Broadband Emmy. The series was such a huge success it spawned a 15 episode spin-off series, Prom Queen: Summer Heat, which combined garnered 20 million views over the course of its initial run. Prom Queen is now available in multiple territories and languages globally, including Australia, Brazil, France, Japan, New Zealand, Russia (including the Commonwealth of Individual States), Scandinavia and the UK. The Tornante Company holds an ownership stake in Veoh Networks, a new independent Internet TV broadcasting system and wholly owns Team Baby Entertainment, the producer of an award-winning series of officially licensed sports themed children’s DVDs.

Plan to transform
In October 2007, The Tornante Company and Madison Dearborn Partners acquired The Topps Company, a leading creator and marketer of sports and related cards, entertainment products, and distinctive confectionery items. Under Eisner’s vision and leadership, the plan is to transform Topps through the media of filmed entertainment, Internet and TV into a full-fledged sports media company. Eisner and Topps are presently developing a film featuring the iconic eye-patch-wearing comic hero Bazooka Joe.In January 2008, Vuguru announced a ground-breaking partnership with world-renowned author Robin Cook. A 50-episode on-line prequel series will account for the days leading up to the launch of his new novel Foreign Body, a first-of-its-kind collaboration which will debut in May 2008. In addition, Vuguru recently launched its second original web series The-All-For-Nots, a comedy that follows a documentary crew filming a fictional indie rock band as they travel the US on an under-funded and poorly planned tour.

Disney Cruise Line said this morning that it will begin charging passengers to offset soaring fuel costs, following every other major cruise operator.Disney will charge the first two passengers in a stateroom $8 a person per day up to a maximum of $112 per person per vacation. It will charge any remaining passengers in a cabin $3 a person per day up to a maximum of $42 per person. It will begin levying the fuel surcharge on any new bookings made on or after May 28.The surcharge amounts match Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and are slightly higher than charged by Carnival Corp.Disney Cruise Line had been the last major holdout since Carnival, Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines adopted fuel surcharges late last year. But Disney spokeswoman Christi Erwin Donnan said the company finally decided to adopt its own fuel fee with record oil prices showing no signs of abating.“Fuel costs continue to affect many, and the impact on us has been no exception,” she said.Like Carnival, Disney says it will rescind its fuel surcharge once oil spends 30 days trading below $70 per barrel. It has recently been trading near $120 per barrel.

Disney Channel has unveiled the new line up of shows, a mega contest and an interactive dance segment for summer. Special new shows this summer include - The Wizards of Waverley Place, Life with Derek, Magical Do Re Mi, Sanya, Being Ian, Teamo Supremo and new episodes of Hannah Montana, Art Attack and Shararat.The young movie-buffs can catch the premiere of Chronicles of Narnia - Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe on the channel.Disney Channel will also premiere an original movie – Minutemen. The two popular sequels of Disney Channel Original Movie - Cheetah Girls and High School Musical - promises to keep the audience entertained through the vacation.As the mercury rises, Disney Channel will kick off with an interactive dance segment titled ‘Nach To The Groove’. Kids can learn dance moves from Shiamak Davar and Kabir Arora. The channel will also throw open an on air contest called Disney Channel’s Summer Dance Off’ which invites kids and the tweens to step up and boogie with the latest dance and music. The Walt Disney Television International (India) director programming and production Aparna Bhosle said, “Disney Channel’s programming line-up promises that there would be no room for a single dull moment all through this summer! The channel showcases a great mix of animation and live action for its tween audiences while providing them unique opportunities to interact with the channel through music and dance.”Starting 28 April, Disney Channel is calling all its tween viewers to save the channel from Professor Silencor’s inharmonious attack. Professor Silencor who hates music and dance plans to dampen all the summer fun from the channel by wiping out all the music masti. To defuse this unmusical plan, the leader of the World Dance Council has summoned his hero dancers to fight Prof. Silencor in a Summer Dance off! Disney Channel fans will need to spot and thereby power up these dancers and quickly report their unique codes via SMS/ call the specified numbers during the dance off every Monday to Sunday, between 10 am to 9 pm. Every week Prof. Silencor comes up with a newer machine as more dancers get introduced into the dance off. Viewers can win prizes every 15 minutes, every hour, every day, every week and a Grand Jackpot at the end of this contest. Over 1000 prizes are up for grabs which include - I-Pods,

Hong Kong Disneyland has opened its classic boat ride “It’s a Small World” in a bid to boost sluggish attendance at the theme park.The new attraction launched Monday amid lower-than-expected visitor numbers two years after the theme park opened in September 2005.The ride, which first appeared at the 1964 World Fair in New York, will feature 38 Disney characters and 241 moving and talking figures of children dressed in different national costumes. They sing a theme song in four new languages - Cantonese, Putonghua Korean and Tagalog. Management has been under pressure to improve turnover at the US$3.5 billion (euro2.23 billion) park, which is majority owned by the Hong Kong government. Local legislators have criticized the park’s business success, with one suggesting that Hong Kong pull out of the joint venture with The Walt Disney Co.The theme park was supposed to be a triumphant showcase of the Disney brand on the doorstep of mainland China. In its first year it attracted 5.2 million visiitors - 400,000 fewer than projected - and attendance slumped to about 4 million in the second year.It faces increased competition from Ocean Park, a local marine-based adventure park. There have also been reports of a possible Disney theme park development in Shanghai

Disney Channel actress Brenda Song is so furious that her photo was allegedly used in an ad for an escort service that’s she’s filed a lawsuit.

The ad allegedly appeared in an alternative paper called the L.A. Weekly and Song’s suit is against Vibe Media and its owner.

“As a role model to millions of young people, I feel I have to take a stand against this company in regards to its exploitation of my image,” said Song, who stars in “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody” on the Disney Channel.

The beloved film Toy Story now has a new look. WDBO’s Diana Bosch takes a look at Toy Story, the Musical in Port Canaveral aboard the Disney Wonder cruise ship.Director John Lasseter says the movie was an obvious choice to be transformed into a musical.”It is the first animated movie to be nominated for an Oscar for “Best Screenplay,” we thought to ourselves how could we bring this story to life onstage.”And bring it to life they did, Toy Story makes the leap from hit movie to a Broadway-style show complete with puppets, special effects and seven brand new songs that will keep the crowd singing along.Coming this summer, Toy Story Mania, a 3-D ride is expected to open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the third installment of the movie franchise is expected to hit theaters in June 2010.

Not many people consider Disney World their second home.Then again, not many people have been to Disney World 52 times.But for a family that lives in the Wood County town of Washington, traveling to Orlando is something they do as commonly as changing the oil in their car.The Foutty family has traveled to Disney World just about every three months for the past 10 years.Over the years they have managed to sample the park in every month of the calendar.Doug and Laura Foutty first visited Disney World in 1973. Both went as children with their parents.They didn’t get to go back until 1994, when Lindsay, their oldest daughter, was 3 and after Doug had gotten his first good job.”We just always wanted to go again,” Laura said.After Doug and Laura saw the joyful expression on their daughter’s face and heard her talk about the trip afterward, they knew they had to return.”She talked about it non-stop until she could go back,” Doug said.Now, Doug, 45, Laura, 40, and their three children, Lindsay, now 17, Destiny, 3, and Reagan, 20 months, have been to the park so often they know some of the workers by name.”We love Phyllis from the concierge,” Laura said.”Oh, yeah, Phyllis is really nice,” Lindsay said.The Fouttys really geared up for frequent Disney visits in 1997 when they learned an annual pass cost the same as a one-week pass. With the pass, they were able to get incredible discounts. Rooms, for example, would cost only $49 or $59 a night.Now they will be making the trip less frequently, at least for awhile.Doug had seven weeks of vacation a year when he had a well-paying job at the chemical plant NOVA in Belpre, Ohio. But he lost his job when the plant closed in January.He is extremely grateful to have been hired at Kraton, another plant in Belpre but will have to curtail the visits because he does not have as much vacation time.For now, the family has many memories to sustain them.As Doug, Laura and Lindsay talk about the park, they have huge smiles on their faces.”Christmastime is awesome,” Doug said, his voice rising in excitement. “I can’t even describe the decorations and the amount of lights.”When he couldn’t adequately describe a fireworks show, Doug called it up on a computer to display the image of pirates attacking a princess castle.The Fouttys have seen many celebrities at the park and on Disney cruises. Their sightings include Beyonce, John Stamos, Lindsay Lohan and Aaron Carter.Doug especially loves to visit the park in May when there is a Flower and Garden Festival with concerts starring singers from the 1960s and ’70s.Doug’s sister loves Davy Jones, so when the Fouttys saw the Monkees in one of the Flower and Garden Festivals a few years ago, Doug held up his cell phone for her to listen.Davy Jones saw him holding up the phone and approached the Fouttys. He said into the phone, “Hello, this is Davy Jones,” and then continued to sing and dance with Lindsay.”Dancing with Davy Jones was awesome, especially because I knew who he is,” Lindsay said.The family knows many of the park’s secrets, and Doug and Lindsay frequently visit online discussion boards to share them.For instance, it’s easier to walk through the stores along Main Street, which are all connected, at closing time than it is to walk in the street where the crowds are.It’s better to experience the rides during parades because most visitors are watching the Disney characters march down the street.
And when anyone asks, the family can point out the nearest bathroom.Their many trips to the park have not lessened the thrill.”We get excited when we go,” Doug said. “We have fun. You don’t think about work. We just like being together with no phone or any distractions. It’s like the first trip every time.”When they aren’t at the park, they miss it.
“Every so often, I’d say, ‘I want to go home,’ ” Lindsay said.Each family member likes visiting the park for a different reason.Doug’s favorite part of DisneyWorld is the Magic Kingdom and the music at Epcot.Laura doesn’t really have a favorite section of the park — she just loves the whole atmosphere.”I like walking around the park, listening to their music and being with my family,” she said.Lindsay loves to watch people and especially likes to talk to people from different countries at Epcot.”I love to take pictures of families that are there,” she said.And everybody in the family likes to take people there for the first time.They’ve taken other family members on a few trips.”It’s fun to show someone else your playground,” Doug said. The family’s favorite place to stay is the Beach Club, where there is a huge pool with sand on the bottom and a lazy river 8 feet deep.They try to plan trips when school is out, or they include a few weekend days in their visits.Lindsay usually misses about seven days of school in a year, but the vacations don’t seem to have an effect on her grades.She still manages a 3.75 grade point average and wants to become a journalist.Even when they aren’t at the Florida park, the family likes to pretend they are.On a typical Saturday morning, the Foutty family can be found cooking Mickey Mouse- shaped waffles and listening to Mouse World radio, an online radio station that plays the same music that would be playing at Disney World.On a recent Saturday, Destiny, who has been to the park 13 times in her three years on Earth, was dressed like Snow White but was curled up and snoozing like Sleeping Beauty.Tiny Reagan, 20 months, who has been to the park five times, was wearing Mickey Mouse Crocs.An entire room in the basement of their house is dedicated to Disney.Lobby cards, also known as window cards, hang on the walls. These are similar to movie posters and would be hung in theaters, but Disney made only 180 of them.A poster of “The Gnome-Mobile” hangs on one wall in the basement.It was the first movie Doug ever saw. He was in pre-school and watched the movie at a drive-in with his parents.Nearly every movie Disney ever made rest on multiple shelves. Some were especially hard to find and had to be bought from other countries.Some of the family’s favorite movies include “Pollyanna” and “Summer Music.”Lindsay just got her first car, a white 2001 Grand Am GE. On her rear antenna is a Mickey Mouse head. She has named the car Snow White.The family most recently visited the park in December and January.Their last trip was quite memorable.The family won two prizes in Disney’s “Year of a Million Dreams” giveaway — a room upgrade at the Beach Club Resort with free food each day and passes to 30 theme park rides.When people ask the family why they like Disney so much, it’s hard for them to answer.
“It just happens to be our place that we like,” Doug said.