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Yesterday was a cold, grey day in Boston. More like November than September. It was just the sort of day that the phrase "Blue Monday" was invented to describe. Photo by Jim Hill So how do you turn a day like that around? By handing out some Mickey Mouse balloons? 2500 of them, to be exact. Photo by...

Forget about " When Harry Met Sally ." You want to talk about a truly magical movie moment? Then let's discuss when Mary met Alice. To be specific, when Mary Blair was assigned to work on Disney's animated adaptation of " Alice's Adventures in Wonderland ." Ever since May of 1938, when the Studio had...

This past Friday night, visitors to the Adventurers Club got to see a brand-new artifact added to the wall in the Main Salon : A video projection screen. Photo by Max Schilling Given that this piece of Pleasure Island is supposed to be a recreation of a gentlemen's club from the 1930s, one might wonder...

As far as Universal Studios Hollywood is considered, this was the Summer of the Simpsons. " The Simpsons Ride ," to be exact. Photo by Shelly Smith But now Autumn's on its way. Which typically means that this is the start of the slow season for Southern California's theme parks. A time when you push...

Not sure what to make of last week's announcement that Walt Disney Pictures was pushing back the release date of " Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time " ? Join the club. People all over Hollywood are trying to figure out why the Mouse moved this highly anticipated Jerry Bruckheimer production out of...

To be onstage at the San Diego Convention Center was -- to say the least -- a somewhat surreal experience for Andy Fickman . Especially since -- not all that long ago -- Andy was a garden-variety geek himself. "For the past 10 years, I've been coming to Comic-Con ," Fickman told the 6,500 film fans assembled...

Who says that Walt Disney Pictures can't keep a secret? As the "Race to Witch Mountain" panel ended yesterday at Comic-Con, 6,500 people got to their feet. As these folks made ready to head back into the San Diego Convention Center, that panel's MC hurried back onstage. Saying "Stay in your seats please...

A week from today, the madness begins. Okay. I know. Comic-Con 2008 does have a preview night on Wednesday, which allows pre-registered 4-day members as well as industry professionals to enter the San Diego Convention Center early. Which then gives these folks first crack at acquiring cool crud like...

First they conquered Hollywood. Then the Disney theme parks. But are you ready for Pixar-themed elements to start popping at WDW's resorts? And -- no -- we're not just talking about enormous decorative elements like you find over at Disney's All-Star Movies . Copyright Disney / Pixar. All Rights Reserved...

Now that " Toy Story Mania " has finally officially opened on both coasts , Disney Parks & Resorts turns its attention to the next high profile project on the horizon. Which is that " American Idol Experience " attraction which is due to open at Disney's Hollywood Studios sometime in January of 2009...

When the North American National Tour of " Mary Poppins " opens in Chicago in March of 2009 ... Copyright 2007 Disney / CML. All Rights Reserved ... both Disneyana & theater fans are sure to be thrilled. After all, this road company will not only feature Ashley Brown (i.e. the actress who originated...

So -- in the weeks & months ahead -- we've got " My School Musical " on the Disney Channel , " High School Musical: Get in the Picture " on ABC as well as the theatrical release of " High School Musical 3 ." But how far exactly is the Walt Disney Company planning on stretching the "High School Musical...

You may recall -- a while back -- that JHM put a prototype of a podcast out there. This recording was met with a rather favorable response. Which is why Max Schilling (i.e. Jim Hill Media's wise & ever-patient webmaster) and I decided that we should try and make a regular thing of this. Get a JHM...

Did you hear a lot of high pitched squealing coming from Walt Disney World last week? Well, there was a reason for that. The Jonas Brothers and the Cheetah Girls -- not to mention the stars from " Hannah Montana ," " Cory in the House ," " The Suite Life of Zack & Cody " and " Wizards of Waverly...

I'm sure that you're familiar with the animated version of Tinker Bell that appeared from Walt Disney Productions' 1951 release, " Peter Pan " ... Copyright Disney. All Rights Reserved ... not to mention the live-action version of this pixie that periodically appears in fireworks displays ... Photo by...

Over the past few weeks there have been several high profile stories out there about how the Walt Disney Company will be building on the lessons that it learned with the "Hannah Montana" & "High School Musical" franchises . So that the June 20 - 23rd roll-out of "Camp Rock" will be the biggest thing...

Following up on last month's article about how Children's Place is getting ready to sell the Disney Store retail chain back to the Walt Disney Company ... I spoke with the managers of a number of New England-area Disney Stores over the past few days. And while none of these folks wanted to go on-the...

While some of us are obsessing about the impact that today's primaries may have on the upcoming presidential race ... The Imagineers are already looking ahead. Nine months ahead, to be exact. To that period immediately after the U.S. has selected its next Commander-in-Chief. Which means that it will...

Remember how I mentioned in yesterday's story that there are senior officials at the Walt Disney Company who believe that " ... the HSM phenomenon will soon blow itself out." Well, this belief does not extend to Disney Theatrical . If anything, the folks who brought us " The Lion King ," " Mary Poppins...

Harry Potter fans rejoice! Construction of Hogwarts Castle is finally, officially underway at Universal Studios' Islands of Adventure. Though site prep continues in the "Lost Continent" section of that theme park ... Photo by Jeff Lange ... If you look to the right of those enormous gates next to "The...