Disney Insider Article

The newest issue of the Disney Insider (the email newsletter) features an article on Marge Champion.

Give a Day get a Disney Day

This program, that was announced this week, will begin next year. Check out the Disney Park Blog for additional details. The theme park page has some additional information but it won't become active until January 1, 2010. Good for Disney to encourage people to make the world a better place. I am curious the availability and type of volunteer opportunities and the when/where they will occur. Have to wait for more details. You can sign up now to be on the email list for updates. The image came from the prize generator at the Muppet promotional website.

Hollywood

Today I made it down to Hollywood to pay my first visit to El Capitan Theatre. The current feature film is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. After having a shake at the soda fountain and buying all the released Snow White pins - it was time for the show. The theater really is a great building, and the organ is massive. I was a little disappointed that the stage show prior to show time was just Snow White (no dwarfs- or any other characters) and the popcorn buckets weren't special for the feature. It is amazing that a film that is over 70 years old can capture an audience still - adults and children. I was sitting next to a father who had brought a group of girls - each dressed as a different princess - and he was laughing out loud as Grumpy was being forced to wash.
Although Hollywood isn't very far at all to travel, I generally avoid the area, as what should only be a short car trip often quickly turns into an hour voyage on the southern California freeways. It was fun to see the movie in this setting and while I would enjoy seeing another feature there - it will probably be a while.

Blu-ray Website

The new Snow White Blu-ray Website is very animated (ha! ha!) and includes down loadable backgrounds and email signatures (seen here is one). After a cute promo video you can explore the areas, find the 15 hidden diamonds and unlock the diamond mine where you can download the locked characters things as well as a certificate to be the "eight dwarf" and a chart that shows the dwarfs names in a variety of languages.

What to Do?

Disney store is pre-ordering the Diamond Edition 2-Disc Blu-ray DVD. So many options. The Limited Edition 17 inch doll set appears to have sold out. So now there are three options: the Limited Edition Collectors set (with book, Lithograph set, and pin set), the Book and DVD combo, or the Plush and DVD combo.
Let's just be honest - I don't need the plush. So I'm torn between the collectors set or the book/DVD. But spending $189.99 or $49.99, for the collector set or the book set respectively, maybe it isn't really a choice...
I remember when the video was released in 1994 and then later the DVD was released in 2001. All the stores were given gifts when you pre-ordered: lithographs, buttons, and even pogs (remember that fad?). Now it seems we could by the limited edition doll for $99 and get the DVD as the bonus. My how times have changed.

Disney Family .com

At the Disney Expo, family.com handed out cutie Mickey and Minnie foldables and prince/princess crowns. These were so cute I had to check out what else was on the website. I love the Snow White Printable. The skirt of her dress folds so that she stands. I just have to find the right card stock to print out. I also found these Magic Mirror Invitations. They print as two separate sheets - the outside of the mirror and a page to glue inside that invites you to the Princess Birthday Party. There is a whole page of Snow White inspired crafts as well.
While it's not snow white, I also love the Hitchhiking Ghosts. I thought I remember seeing the Toy Story martian at the expo but I can't find him on the website. Anyone had any luck?

Fairest of All

Disney Publishing has released Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen by Serena Valentino. The book is for young adults and follows the Evil Queen's journey. I haven't read the book yet, but the cover art is fabulous. The Evil Queen is on the dust jacket and on the hardcover book is the Hag. Can't wait to read it.