26,000 Pounds of Clothing Shed by Walt Disney Marathon Runners will Benefit Charities
posted on January 13th, 2010 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
Sure…some ran in costumes (pirates, princesses, Tinker Bell), but most runners who braved the record cold temperatures during the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend were wrapped in layers of winter clothes. And as they ran, they shed the clothes – 26,000 pounds worth.
When all was said and done, Disney Marathon organizers collected about 30,000 pieces of clothing, including hats, coats, gloves and sweaters. Now, the items are being laundered and will be delivered to Central Florida organizations like Harvest Time International, Salvation Army and Coalition for the Homeless.
Thank you to everyone who participated. We’ve learned that the four-day event earned the title of top combination race weekend in the United States. More than 55,000 runners registered for events that that included the Disney Half Marathon, the Disney Pixar Up and Away Family Fun Run 5K, Disney’s Kids Races and a Health & Fitness Expo.
Oops! Finding Rare Error Pins
posted on January 13th, 2010 by Steven Miller, Merchandise Communications Manager
Since the start of our 10th Anniversary of Disney Pin Trading celebration, I’ve had some time to reflect upon the number of pins we’ve released in the past 10 years. As discussed in a previous article, we are paying tribute to some of the more popular, frequently traded or highly desired pins via limited edition Tribute Collections. But what about those pins that we’d prefer to sweep under the rug? Yes, I’m talking about those pins that are affectionately known as “error” pins. While we aren’t paying tribute to them this year with a pin collection, they are still a part of the Disney Pin Trading story. It’s time to give them a brief moment in the spotlight.
I’m the first to admit that creating quality Disney merchandise is a top priority for the Disney Pin Team. We honestly don’t like “error” pins but have come to accept they will happen on rare occasions. We should have realized that “error” pins were going to be a part of the trading experience on January 1, 2000. It was on that day we released the now infamous “Januray” pin at Walt Disney World Resort . That’s correct – “January” was mis-spelled and it wasn’t caught until after the pin was released for sale. We’ve had a few more of those mis-spellings over the years including a more recent one released in 2009 (yes, I know how to spell “bobsleds” but clearly my spell check device was broken that day).
Are these “error” pins more valuable? I really don’t discuss pin value as I believe that all Disney pins are great (and therefore are priceless). The value of a particular pin will be different for every person. Like many collectible items in the world, value guidebooks exist for Disney pins. These guidebooks aren’t created by us, rather they are published by fans and collectors. We tend to focus on the trading value of pins. In other words, we like giving Guests something that will help them in making future trades with other Guests. At no time, however, do we plan for “error” pins. They are often a surprise to us (it’s probably my least favorite telephone call to receive).
There are some “error” pins that aren’t errors. They are known as pre-production pins. One step in the development process is reviewing a pre-production or first sample of a pin. After reviewing that pre-production pin, the product developer, a Cast Member who leads the development of pins, may make changes. A color fill or a feature that looked good in the artwork may not look so hot on the actual pin. If a change is made, the pre-production pin becomes unique. In November 2007, we began stamping the backs of pre-production pins with a “PP” mark to help our Guests (and us) identify those pins.
I often use pre-production pins for auctions at Disney pin events like the annual Disney Pin Celebration at Epcot. We’ve offered some unique pre-production auction lots that have given the winning bidder extremely unique pins for her or his collection. A great example of this is the Steamboat Willie pin pictured above. The pin on the left is the final production pin that was released for sale. The pin on the right was the pre-production pin featuring a different color fill. We didn’t like the purple color so it was switched to true black and white. The three pre-production pins featuring Steamboat Willie in purple were sold at auction during Disney Pin Celebration 2006.
So, if you are like me who loves catching those continuity errors in motion pictures (I think I’ve found almost all of them in my favorite film, Tron), keep your eyes open. Hopefully for us, it will be a long time until you see another error on a Disney pin.
Your Favorite Disney Princess is…
posted on January 12th, 2010 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
As the father of two girls, more often than not, I’m talking Disney princesses during trips to the parks. And while Snow White and Belle are favorites in our house, many of you have your own “must-see” princess. Today, we’re in the parks asking, “Who is your favorite princess?”
Now, it’s your turn. Let us know in the comments if you have a favorite Disney princess.
“Mary Poppins” at L.A.’s Ahmanson Theatre Features Former Disneyland Resort Cast Members
posted on January 12th, 2010 by Heather Hust Rivera, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, The Walt Disney Company
For Christmas this past year, I received tickets to see “Mary Poppins” at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. As I think I’ve shared on the Disney Parks Blog before, I love musicals, and I really enjoyed this one. I was talking with some people in the office the weekend after I saw the show and learned that two members of the cast used to work right here at the Disneyland Resort. I did a little digging and came across a recent interview with these talented guys in a publication for Disneyland Resort cast members. I thought it was an interesting story and thought you might like it, too.
Former cast members Koh Mochizuki and Jesse Swimm are currently members of the North American Tour Cast for the musical, “Mary Poppins,” presented by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh. While they get to boast sharing the stage with original Broadway stars Ashley Brown (as Mary Poppins) and Gavin Lee (as Bert), Mochizuki and Swimm’s own performances bring that special Disney magic they knew so well when entertaining audiences “on stage” at the Disneyland Resort years ago. (As I can share from first-hand experience, their performances exude over-the-top energy in numbers like “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and the rooftop chimney sweeps’ “Step in Time.”)
Koh Mochizuki plays roles in the ensemble in this third production with Disney Theatrical Productions. An English major and graduate of California State University, Fullerton, he spent most of his college years singing, dancing and acting. “I kind of stumbled into the world of performing,“ Mochizuki said. “I thought I wanted to be a cool musician, like my brother. I even took up saxophone but then joined the ‘uncool’ marching band. There, I met a fellow band member who was also a dancer and she introduced me to theater.”
At Disneyland park, his first job was performing in Fantasmic! as part of the original cast in 1992. Later, in Disney’s Main Street Electrical Parade, he was a court dancer in the Cinderella scene and eventually performed in the Christmas Fantasy Parade, among other roles.
“I worked for Disney for seven years,” Mochizuki said, “and I made some amazing friends that I still keep in contact with. I get very nostalgic remembering the days before there were two parks. My friends at Disney were like family — we all had a chemistry that bonded us; we worked together as a team to make our Guests smile … that was the best part of performing at the park.” Mochizuki’s resume also includes stints in Aida (Broadway) and Disney’s On the Record national tour, among other shows.
Jesse Swimm performs as a “swing,” a term used for company members who act as understudies for multiple roles. Swimm not only readies himself for any role where he may be needed, but is also the understudy for the male lead, Bert. The New York-born actor began his career at the Disneyland Resort in 1996 when he was hired as an Entertainment host. He went on to perform “on stage” in various roles, depicting film personalities from The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and various special events including a national tour with his pal, Mickey Mouse. Swimm graduated from California State University, Fullerton in Theater and has fond memories of working at the Disneyland Resort. “I really enjoyed ‘Animazement,’ a stage show at Fantasyland Theatre,” said Swimm. “I loved interacting with the Guests and portraying our Disney stories.”
If you’ve had a chance to see these actors in action (either in “Mary Poppins” or when they performed in shows at the Disneyland Resort), let us know what you think.
More Magic Coming to Castaway Cay
posted on January 12th, 2010 by Jonathan Frontado, Disney Cruise Line
Hi Disney Parks Blog readers, we have an update on work being done at Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island paradise in the Bahamas.
The island is undergoing enhancements to provide new experiences for our guests and a slice of beachside luxury. Work is scheduled to be complete by Summer 2010 but we have an early look courtesy of our friends at Walt Disney Imagineering.
Some of the enhancements taking shape on the island include an expanded family beach, a new family water playground with spraying misters and squirting water jets, and a new Scuttle’s Cove water play area for kids, with pop jets, geysers and bubblers. Also being added is a new water feature called Pelican Plunge – a 2,400-square-foot floating platform with two cool corkscrew water slides.
And for a slice of beachside luxury, guests can enjoy one of 16 new private rental cabanas located on the expanded family beach.
Memorable Moments: Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
posted on January 11th, 2010 by Darrell Fry, Sports Media Director, Walt Disney World
The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, which took place this past weekend, is one of the unique destination races that always leaves everyone feeling great – save for a few leg cramps here and there. This year’s race was a record-setter with more than 55,000 registered runners who braved some unseasonably chilly weather as they ran through all four Disney theme parks along a 26.2 mile journey.
The participants had so much fun that runners are already registering for next year’s Disney Marathon Weekend, Jan. 6-9, 2011. That’s because the race is always a collage of extraordinary achievements, family fun and memorable moments that seemingly last a lifetime. Here’s a look at a couple of the heart-warming stories from this year’s race:
This second story features Mark Fitzgerald who ran the Walt Disney World Marathon to celebrate the life of his youngest daughter and the technology used to save her life:
Registration is now open for the 2011 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. You can visit our page to learn more.
First ‘Give a Day, Get a Disney Day’ Guests at Magic Kingdom Park
posted on January 11th, 2010 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
A quick update to begin the week…we’re thrilled to announce that our first “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” guests have arrived at Magic Kingdom Park. Megan Connors and Torey Bixler from the University of Maryland College Park volunteered for A Wider Circle organization to help distribute furniture to shelters. Both said they had planned a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort and decided to perform a day of volunteer service to receive a one-day admission ticket to the theme park.
There are still opportunities to participate in the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program – Just check disneyparks.com and sign up.
Of course, there are some official details you should know about: You must pre-register and sign up for eligible volunteer opportunity at disneyparks.com. Ticket quantities for this program are limited. Must be at least age 6 to participate. One ticket per person. Other terms and conditions apply. For details, see disneyparks.com in the United States and Puerto Rico. In Canada, see disneyparks.ca.
All Aboard for Disneyland Photos
posted on January 11th, 2010 by Paul Hiffmeyer, Chief Photographer for Public Relations, Disneyland Resort
Hi, I’m Paul Hiffmeyer, Chief Photographer for Public Relations here at the Disneyland Resort.
Like my counterparts at the Walt Disney World Resort, I’m lucky enough to have access to many areas not usually visited by our guests, usually with camera in-hand, and it seems like a good time to share some never-before-seen photos on the Disney Parks Blog.
For the first photo, I wanted to share one that I’ve thought about for a long time, but only recently shot; a long lens photo of a Disneyland Steam Train on a cold morning where the train seems to glide on a steam cloud. Last month on an especially cold morning I set out with my camera and a 28-300 mm lens in hand to capture the No. 3 Engine, Fred Gurley, as it made its way through Frontierland.
I’ll be sharing more of my work here on the Disney Parks Blog from time to time and I hope you enjoy it.
Animal Facts, Photos are Part of Mobile Magic
posted on January 11th, 2010 by Jackie Ogden, Ph.D., Vice President, Animals, Science and Environment, Disney Parks
Those of you who’ve been following the DisneyParks Blog have read about the first official Disney Parks mobile application – Mobile Magic – available on Verizon Wireless phones. What you may not know is that in addition to attraction wait times, FASTPASS return times and other very helpful theme park information, also included are wildlife facts and photos for many of the animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
On your Verizon phone, you can discover, for example, that a bull African elephant eats in one day as much as an average person eats in an entire year, that flamingos often feed with their heads upside down and their beaks under water, and that Komodo dragons can smell their next meal from 2.5 miles away. In addition to learning about the animals (including seeing their photos and finding out their whereabouts at Disney’s Animal Kingdom), all animal descriptions include steps we can take to protect wildlife and wild places. For example, all of us can help by choosing our pets wisely, practicing the 3 R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle), creating habitats for wildlife in our backyards, and supporting the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund and local conservation organizations.
Next time you’re at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you can take a peek at Mobile Magic on your Verizon phone and wow family and friends with your animal and conservation knowledge by sharing, for example, that the very long neck of the giraffe they’re looking at has the same number of vertebrae (seven) as they do. The only difference is that each vertebra is about one foot long!
Walt Disney World Marathon 2010
posted on January 10th, 2010 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
As amazing as this image is (thanks, Garth Vaughan), it’s tough to show the conditions runners faced to begin the 2010 Walt Disney World Marathon today. At start, temperatures were in the low 30s — it was cold. But tens of thousands of participants braved the freezing temperatures and ran the 26.2-mile trek that included all four Walt Disney World theme parks.
Adriano Bastos from Sao Paulo, Brazil crossed the finish line to win the 2010 Walt Disney World Marathon with an official time of 2:22:08. He’s now won it seven times. And Lisa Mizutani, from Tsukuba, Japan, won the women’s division with an official time of 2:51:20.
Congratulations to all of the participants. Also, on Monday, Darrell Fry, Walt Disney World sports media director, will have a unique post from the event that you won’t want to miss.
