On the heels of its highly successful redo of that theme park's iconic Timber Mountain Log Ride , Knott's Berry Farm is doubling down for the Summer of 2014. This time around, two elements of this Southern California favorite are receiving some much needed TLC: The Calico Mine Train (which first began riding the rail back in November of 1960) and Camp Snoopy (which greeted its first guests back in July of 1983). Campy Snoopy back in the early days. Photo by Shelly Valladolid In the case of...

Based on a true story, sports agent JB Bernstein (Jon Hamm) finds that business has changed and things aren't going well for his career. In a last ditch effort to save his livelihood he concocts a scheme to find baseball's next great pitching ace. Hoping to find a young cricket pitcher he can turn into a major league baseball star, JB travels to India to produce a reality show competition called "The Million Dollar Arm." © 2014 Disney. All rights reserved. With the help of...

For music fans, it's all about being able to say that they were there at the Newport Folk Festival when Dylan went electric . For baseball fans, it's being able to say that they were at Dodger Stadium when Sandy Koufax pitched his perfect game . But when it comes to theme park fans, what do they brag about? These folks like to say that they actually got to experience Hard Rock Park . Copyright HRP USA LLC. All rights reserved Six years ago this week, that ill-fated theme park opened off of...

San Francisco, CA - The Cartoon Art Museum's latest exhibition celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles . This retrospective will be on display at the museum from May 3 through September 14, 2014, and will feature the original artwork from the entire first issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles , published by creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in 1984. The Cartoon Art Museum will host a reception celebrating TMNT on June 14, 2014 . This reception will feature the...

DISNEY JUNIOR'S GIVE A BOOK, GET A BOOK TO DONATE UP TO ONE MILLION BOOKS TO U.S. COMMUNITIES IN NEED Disney and First Book will provide for the donation of up to one million books to U.S. communities in need and will present families with free digital books from Disney Publishing Worldwide, through a new program announced April 12th, Disney Junior's Give a Book, Get a Book . Storytelling is the foundation of the initiative designed to inspire parents and caregivers to spend time each day...

Aladdin Begins Ticket Lottery Newsies to Institute General Rush Policy (NEW YORK, NY) Two Disney Broadway hits announce new ticket policies beginning April 21 providing access to affordable tickets for same-day performances, with minimal time commitment for guests. Aladdin Following two months of sold-out houses and critical acclaim, Aladdin will offer a limited number of tickets via lottery at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 W 42 nd St.). Beginning two and a half hours before the performance, patrons...

After spending the better part of yesterday wading through W2s & 1099s (Quick question: If you have a dependent who actually wear Depends, does that then count as two deductions?), I can't tell you how nice it is to be sitting here paging through the Quick Guide for WonderCon Anaheim . I mean, given how easy this 21-page booklet is to understand, it just can't have been written by some brainless bureaucrat. A real human being who's actually been to the Anaheim Convention Center before...

"I'm not going wear a MagicBand . I don't like the idea of Disney being able to track every single move that I make in one of their theme parks. And the fact that the Mouse is now going to keep track of my purchases -- learn what my likes & dislikes are -- really, really bothers me." That's basically been the battle cry of the tinfoil-hat crowd ever since The Walt Disney World Resort first revealed that My Disney Experience / FastPass + was in the works. This paranoid bunch...

I've always been a fan of Rebecca Sugar 's stuff. Especially the storyboards & sketches that Rebecca did for " Adventure Time ." Her drawings always had so much charm and beauty to them. And her songs are so sweet and emotional. Rebecca Sugar and her ukulele at Comic-Con Which is why I was overjoyed when I saw the pilot for Sugar's new show, " Steven Universe ." And when this series finally began airing on the Cartoon Network last November, I was over the moon...

By now, you've probably already heard that Universal Studios Hollywood 's version of " Despicable Me Minion Mayhem " opened on Friday. Copyright 2014 Universal Studios. All rights reserved And as you might expect, there was the usual hoopla ... Gru is joined onstage by Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gier and Elsie Fisher, the three talented young ladies who voiced Margo, Edith & Agnes in "Despicable Me" and "Despicable Me 2." Photo by Shelly Valladolid ... that now...

It was June of 1913 that Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr. moved his legendary Follies over from the Moulin Rouge to the New Amsterdam Theatre . And for the next 14 years, this NYC landmark was not only home to the most beautiful costumes, sets & showgirls in the city, it also played host to an amazing array of clowns. We're talking legendary comics like W.C. Fields , Ed Wynn , Eddie Cantor and Will Rogers . Which is why it's kind of fitting that Disney "Aladdin" has now set up shop at...

So what exactly is going on with the Disney Store these days? The reason I ask is ... Well, it wasn't all that long ago (October of 2009, to be exact) that The Walt Disney Company announced that it would be reinventing all 340 of its stores in the United States and Europe. We're talking floor-to-ceiling redos that supposedly drew their inspiration from what Steve Jobs had done with the Apple Store. Well, these rebranded "Imagination Park" Disney Stores soon began popping up around...

Electrifying New 3D-HD Attraction Features Original Cast from Universal Pictures' Global Blockbuster Film Franchise, Summer 2015 Universal City, California, April 8, 2014 - Pulse-pounding, adrenaline-inducing action will become the finale of Universal Studios Hollywood's world-famous " Studio Tour " with the summer 2015 introduction of the gripping, high speed, 3D-HD thrill ride, "Fast & Furious-Supercharged," inspired by Universal Pictures' most successful film...

Original Broadway creative team reuniting to bring acclaimed production to over 12 countries in two years Production set to open in Istanbul in October 2014 In celebration of Disney's Beauty and the Beast 's 20 th anniversary on the stage, Disney Theatrical Productions, NETworks and Broadway Entertainment Group announce the first-ever international tour for the title. The English-language tour will open at Istanbul's Zorlu Center in October 2014 and will tour to diverse international...

Dramatically Altering Universal Studios Hollywood Footprint to Reimagine Destination with Innovative Thrill Rides and Immersive Lands Project Represents Biggest Five-Year Line-Up of New Attractions in Universal Studios Hollywood History, Solidifying Theme Park 's Long-Term Commitment to Tourism and Economic Vitality in Los Angeles Universal City, California, April 8, 2014 - Reaffirming its position as the #1 tourist destination in Los Angeles with one of the most progressive and exciting theme...

You know what they say: If you want to get something done, ask a busy person to do it. Joe Lanzisero, Senior Vice President - Creative, Walt Disney Imagineering. Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved Back in 2007, it's arguable that no one person was busier at The Walt Disney Company than Joe Lanzisero . As a Senior Vice President - Creative at Walt Disney Imagineering , Joe was riding herd on all of the Tokyo Disneyland & Hong Kong Disneyland Resorts' theme parks. Not...

"Planes: Fire & Rescue" is a new comedy-adventure about second chances, featuring a dynamic crew of elite firefighting aircraft devoted to protecting historic Piston Peak National Park from raging wildfire. When world famous air racer Dusty (voice of Dane Cook) learns that his engine is damaged and he may never race again, he must shift gears and is launched into the world of aerial firefighting. Dusty joins forces with veteran fire and rescue helicopter Blade Ranger and his courageous...

Has it really been eight months since we last peeked over the fence to see how construction of Disney Springs was going ? Photo by Jim Hill Earlier this week, Nancy, Angela & I drove over to Walt Disney World to see how the reinvention of Downtown Disney is progressing. And as we took to the Epcot exit off of I-4 ... Photo by Jim Hill ... it was hard not to notice all of that construction ... Photo by Jim Hill ... & timber clearing that was going on in the stretch of forest between the highway...

When it comes to Disney and gaming, we here at JHM take the subjects seriously. Where entertainment and good business cross paths chances are that Disney will be at the forefront. "Iron Man 3," released by Marvel and Disney was one of the biggest films of 2013. It made $372 million in its first weekend including domestic and international ticket sales . Compare that to the weekend that Grand Theft Auto V had when it debuted. In just three days, Take-Two Interactive's crime action game...

Copyright 2014 Disney Enterprises. All rights reserved. "Maleficent" explores the untold story of Disney's most iconic villain from the classic "Sleeping Beauty" and the elements of her betrayal that ultimately turn her pure heart to stone. Driven by revenge and a fierce desire to protect the moors over which she presides, Maleficent cruelly places an irrevocable curse upon the human king's newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Aurora is caught in the middle of the...

Guests Can Tag Their Photos and Videos on Twitter, Instagram and Vine Using #UniversalMoments for a Chance to be Featured in a Future Ad Campaign Universal Orlando Resort has launched a new online campaign asking guests to share their favorite Universal Orlando moments and potentially be featured in a future Universal Orlando ad campaign. Guests can participate by sharing their favorite moments through photos and videos on Twitter, Vine and Instagram using #UniversalMoments. © 2014 Universal...

Stellar Voice Cast includes Jess Harnell, Leigh-Allyn Baker, Bill Farmer, Maurice LaMarche, Kevin Michael Richardson, Dee Bradley Baker, Scott Menville, Stephen Stanton, Billy West and Paul Rugg Rocking Soundtrack by YouTube Sensation Parry Gripp Kelly Osbourne has joined the cast of Disney's "The 7D," an animated series that delivers a comedic new take on the Seven Dwarfs. Produced by Disney Television Animation, the zany and broadly appealing series will be presented on three Disney...

Don't expect to find a lot of moderation when you visit the Cabana Bay Beach Resort , Universal Orlando 's first-ever moderate resort. Photo by Jim Hill The folks at Universal really went all out to make their newest on-site hotel a celebration of the family vacation circa 1958 - 1962. That time when Mom, Dad & the kids would all climbed in the station wagon and then drive on down to the shore. Where the family would then spent a week swimming & sun-bathing while they stayed at this...

It was early 2008 when Mae Whitman got this mysterious call from her voiceover agent, Melissa. Mae Whitman at the world premiere of "The Pirate Fairy" on the Walt Disney Studios lot back on March 22, 2014. Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved "She was telling me that Disney had this very important project but that they wouldn't tell Melissa what it actually was. All she knew that that they were eager for me to come in and audition for this part," Whitman...

Today, March 30th, marks the 101st anniversary of Marc Davis ' birth and, with two upcoming events, it looks like 2014 is going to be as remarkable as 1993. When Marc, at age 80, had a six-week exhibition of his very personal artwork at The Howard Lowery Gallery in Burbank, Calif. Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved The Walt Disney Family Museum is currently preparing " Leading Ladies and Femmes Fatales: The Art of Marc Davis ," a special exhibition in the museum's...

Please forgive me for fusing two entirely different Howard Ashman lyrics together. But I wanna be where the people are somewhere that's green. Yeah, if I had my druthers, I'd leave the frozen wasteland of Southern New Hampshire (where -- God help us -- it's supposed to snow again tomorrow night) ASAP and then catch a direct flight for Seattle. Where -- once I landed -- I'd immediately beat feet for the Washington State Convention Center , so that I could then surrender myself to the...

This weekend, Disney's "Frozen" officially became the highest grossing animated film of all time, and with $1,072.4 million worldwide, it has also entered the list of the top 10 biggest films of all time. The Walt Disney Studios' seventh billion-dollar release, "Frozen" has earned an estimated $398.4 million at the domestic box office and $674 million internationally. "Frozen" is the first billion-dollar film for Walt Disney Animation Studios and its first film...

When Lella Smith 's 10-year-old godson, Rey, found out she was retiring from the Walt Disney Animation Research Library (ARL) , he was incredulous. "Why would you do that auntie?," he said. "You've got the coolest job in the world!" Smith has been the Creative Director for the ARL, the little-known department of the Mouse Factory once described by Disney CEO Bob Iger as "... the most important department in the Company." The ARL is the repository for all the...

Adventure Awaits During the Northern Europe Summer Season with First-Ever Cruises to Norwegian Fjords, Iceland and the Faroe Islands CELEBRATION, Fla. (March 25, 2014) - In summer 2015, Disney Cruise Line is charting a magical new course for northern Europe - exploring for the first time the Norwegian fjords, Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Plus, Disney Cruise Line is returning to the Baltic for all-new itineraries, including sailings from Copenhagen, Denmark to St. Petersburg, Russia. Cruises to...

Do you consider yourself to be kind of a frustrated artist? Are you one of those people who -- when you're confronted with a blank page -- doesn't automatically quake with fear? But -- rather -- just picks up a pen, pencil or stylus and begins creating. Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved If so, then you may be interested in learning about this new FREE IOS/Android app. Which then allows you to be the artist and design your own Virtual Vinylmation figure online using a...

When the reviews for Disney "Aladdin: The New Musical Comedy" finally came in last night, with the New York Times praising this production for its " ... relentless razzle-dazzle and its anything-for-a-laugh spirit," there was no one on this planet that was more pleased & relieved than Chad Beguelin . After all, it was Beguelin who - 5 years ago - was among the first artists Disney Theatrical Productions reached out to when it was looking to turn "Aladdin" into a...

April 30 - November 3, 2014 Exhibition Celebrates Award-Winning Work by one of Walt's infamous Nine Old Men Marc Davis, visual development for Sleeping Beauty, ca. 1959;Collection Mike Glad; © Disney San Francisco, CA , March 25, 2014 - The Walt Disney Family Museum is excited to present the exhibition Leading Ladies and Femmes Fatales: The Art of Marc Davis . On view in the museum's Theater Gallery from April 30 to November 3, 2014, this exhibition co-curated by the museum's director...

FROM AMERICA SINGS AND IF YOU HAD WINGS TO DISNEY'S GROUNDBREAKING PARTICIPATION IN THE 1964-65 WORLD'S FAIR, GUESTS WILL ENJOY PRESENTATIONS, SCREENINGS, UNIQUE SHOPPING, AND MUCH MORE, NOVEMBER 22 AND 23 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT BURBANK, Calif. - March 26, 2014 - Walt Disney once said, "We keep moving forward-opening up new doors and doing new things-because we're curious. And curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." It's in that spirit that guests this fall will...

As its box office totals continue to trickle in, you just know that there have to be people back in Burbank who are disappointed with the way " Muppets Most Wanted " performed this past weekend. Racking up just an estimated $16.5 million in ticket sales . Which doesn't compare all that well with the $29 million that " The Muppets " earned over the 2011 Thanksgiving weekend. So what exactly happened here? Was it just as Kermit & Fozzie musically foretold in "Muppets...

Burbank, Calif. - World Premiere of " The Pirate Fairy " with film talent (L to R) Angela Bartys, Pamela Adlon, Tinker Bell, Mae Whitman, Carlos Ponce and Christina Hendricks. March 22, 2014 Burbank, CA - Tinker Bell fluttered onto the red carpet at the World Premiere of Disney's "The Pirate Fairy " at the Walt Disney Studios Lot. She was joined by film talent Christina Hendricks (Zarina), Mae Whitman (Tinker Bell), Carlos Ponce (Bonito), Angela Bartys (Fawn), Pamela Adlon...

UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT ANNOUNCES DATES FOR HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS 24 The Nation's Premier Halloween Event Returns for More Nights than Ever Before ORLANDO , Fla. (March 24, 2014) - Mark your calendars ... Halloween Horror Nights will return to Universal Orlando Resort for its twenty-fourth year on September 19, with more nights than ever before and terrifying experiences based on some of the biggest names in horror and pop culture. On 28 select nights from September 19 through November 1 ...

It's been said that "You only get one chance to make to make a first impression." Copyright SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. All rights reserved And given that visitors to SeaWorld San Diego have been entering that theme park by strolling past the same old, boring, blocky set of ticket booths since 1985 ... Well, the designers at SeaWorld decided to use this theme park's 50th anniversary as an excuse to reinvent its entry experience. Copyright SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment...

One of the most fascinating things about a new exhibition of Mary Blair 's work are the dozens of inspirational sketches created in pen and pencil by an artist best known for her bold use of color. Those rudimentary drawings - many paired with finished works - provide a comprehensive look at one of the 20th century's most interesting illustrators and designers. " Magic, Color, Flair: the World of Mary Blair " opened last week at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco and...

It was twenty years ago yesterday that I was standing in the Adventurers Club surrounded by some very incredulous WDW cast members. "Let me get this straight," said the woman who was playing Pamelia Perkins that evening. "Your wife is in a hospital, in labor right now ... And yet you're here?!" "You don't understand," I stammered. "I'm only here tonight because she sent me here ..." Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved Hang on...

Disney's Aladdin , a new musical comedy based on the Academy Award®-winning animated film, opened on Broadway March 20 th , 2014, at the New Amsterdam Theatre, after beginning performances on February 26 th , 2014. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, the show features music by Tony Award® and eight-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken ( Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Sister Act ), lyrics by two-time Oscar winner Howard Ashman ( Beauty and the Beast , The Little Mermaid ), three-time...

Advance Tickets on Sale August 14, 2014 for the Biggest Disney Fan Event Ever PORTLAND, Ore. - March 18, 2014 - All the magic and excitement of the past, present, and future of Disney entertainment will come together once again under one roof when D23: The Official Disney Fan Club presents the D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center the weekend of Aug. 14-16, 2015. Each of Disney's wonderful worlds will unite to celebrate what's new and what's on the horizon from theme parks, television...

Disney Hidden Worlds is the newest Playdom social game integrated with Facebook , and it takes the "hidden items" model a step further, while integrating Disney characters to a degree never seen before. Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved Chrona is your host as you play, and she is helped by the Inklings, who manufacture story items with ingredients you find along the way to create things like Maurice's cart, which unlocks Beast's Castle after you play the Belle's...

It seems kind of counte-rintuitive to use a plane to promote a train. But that's exactly what the Universal Orlando Resort did earlier this week. They jetted James & Oliver Phelps (AKA the two talented Brits who played Fred & George Weasley in the "Harry Potter" film series ) all over the globe. To London, São Paulo and New York City, to be specific. But then again, James & Oliver weren't talking up just any locomotive. This was the Hogwarts Express experience...

BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO OF MAX ABADIAN SHOOT RELEASED Casey Nicholaw , the Tony Award® winning director and choreographer of Disney's Aladdin , a new musical comedy based on the Academy Award®-winning animated film, is featured in the April issue of Vanity Fair . Renowned photographer Max Abadian shot Nicholaw along with Aladdin ’s beautiful ladies Tia Altinay , Daisy Hobbs , Nikki Long , Rhea Patterson , Khori Michelle Petinaud , Ariel Reid , and Marisha Wallace . Click on the...

From the world of "Peter Pan" comes "The Pirate Fairy," a swashbuckling new adventure about Zarina (voice of Christina Hendricks), a smart and ambitious dust-keeper fairy who's captivated by Blue Pixie Dust and its endless possibilities. When Zarina's wild ideas get her into trouble, she flees Pixie Hollow and joins forces with the scheming pirates of Skull Rock, who make her captain of their ship. Tinker Bell (voice of Mae Whitman) and her friends must embark on an epic...

Yesterday evening, there were thousands of people lined up along Hollywood Boulevard . Photo by Alice Hill Not to mention hundreds more peering down from nearby rooftops. Photo by Alice Hill And why were all of these folks staring so intently at the El Capitan Theatre . Because that's where the world premiere of " Muppets Most Wanted " was being held last night. Photo by Alice Hill And as a long time Muppet fan, I have to say that it was really pretty sweet that Walt Disney Pictures...

It's that time again. Time to take a look at the various domain names that The Walt Disney Company has registered over the past few months. Which might then provide us with a few clues as to what the Mouse has planned for the not-so-distant future. As you might expect, there are domain names that Disney grabs because it doesn't want anyone else using them. Take -- for example -- mymagicminus.com ... which the Company registered back on March 1st so those folks who aren't exactly fans...

© 2014 Universal Orlando Resort. All rights reserved. On Mar. 8, 2014, Golden Globe award-winning actor Richard Gere visited Ollivanders wand shop at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade at Universal Orlando Resort. During his hosted visit, Gere visited the premier wand shop and experienced the wonder of the wand choosing him. Gere is best known for his roles in such blockbuster films as "Chicago," "Pretty Woman" and "An Officer and a Gentleman." The...

I got an e-mail this past weekend from a longtime Disney fan who I won't name. Mostly because he had some very unkind things to say about Bamboo Forest Publishing 's latest audio effort, " More Cute Stories, Volume 3 : Museum of the Weird ." Copyright 2014 Bamboo Forest Publishing. All rights reserved Here's a brief excerpt from that e-mail: "This recording features all sorts of mean-spirited stories about Marc Davis , Roger Broggie and Dick Irvine . According to what Rolly...

There's this terrific comment that someone once made about Fred Astaire . "Sure he was great. But don't forget that Ginger Rogers did everything he did backwards ... and in high heels!" And for some odd reason, that comment brings to mind British composer Christopher Willis . This is the guy who's been composing all of the music for that Emmy Award-winning series of new Mickey Mouse shorts which Disney Television Animation has been producing. Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc...