So far...

Baby Disney!

So Disney is set to open a baby store at the Americana in Glendale, California. Disney Consumer Products Chairman Andy Mooney says, it's among "a number of key initiatives to build Disney Baby as brand and business."

I don't about you, but one thing that I've always wanted to see is a Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet onesie. I've yet to see such a product. :)

Oyster Boy!

I just wanted to share that there's currently a Tim Burton exhibit at the LACMA between May 29, 2011 and October 31, 2011 (how appropriate). As you probably well know, this collaboration of maestros Tim Burton and Danny Elfman was the principal creative force for The Nightmare Before Christmas, which was actually originally distributed by Touchstone Pictures as opposed to Walt Disney Pictures (this was often the case for for movies considered "too dark" to be directly distributed by Disney).

Here's some additional trivia: did you know that Tim Burton was classmates with Brad Bird, director of the Incredibles (and Iron Giant), and John Lassiter, current Chief Creative Officer at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios and Principal Creative Advisor for Walt Disney Imagineering, at the prestigious California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) located in Valencia, California. CalArts was founded in part due to efforts by Walt Disney and his efforts to train his staff. There are also many Easter eggs in the Pixar films in reference to CalArts.

In remembrance... at the Golden Horseshoe

June saw the passing of two Disneyland legends: Mr. Wally Boag (September 13, 1920 – June 3, 2011) and Ms. Betty Taylor (October 7, 1919 – June 4, 2011).

There have been many a' moments when I've strolled into the Golden Horseshoe Saloon and glanced up at the balcony, wonder'n how it must've looked in its hay-day of performances and activities. I reckon it must've been great to see Wally Boag as Pecos Bill and Ms. Betty Taylor as Sluefoot Sue perform the Golden Horseshoe Revue, a performance that helped inspire a very young Steve Martin.

“I memorized every line,” Mr. Martin said a statement on Monday, adding, “I kept waiting for the day when Wally would have a cold, stub his toe or blow a tire and the stage manager would pull me from the audience and whisper, ‘Wally can’t make it; can you go on?’”

We regret to inform you...

We are quickly reminded that the magic stays within the kingdom with news of another anticipated Walt Disney Company round of layoffs by as much as 5% of its global workforce. The Burbank work force will likely be impacted the most. This is in part due to restructuring efforts to address a changing business landscape of decreasing DVD revenues. However, the Walt Disney Company isn't alone in this challenge as harsh economic realities and increasing pressures across the entire industry have similarly led to layoffs at many other big Hollywood studios.

Stay "Kinected" to Disneyland

Microsoft just announced at E3, Electronic Entertainment Expo, ever more possibilities to stay "kinected" to the grid via its Disneyland Adventures title. The title has a projected holiday release date, and it promises an ability to navigate a virtual Disneyland in addition to an array of mini-games. According to joystiq, there's no immediately available reports on whether players will be able to enjoy virtual attractions.

via

The Force unleashed

Love the Storm Troopers in their Mickey hats.