The Disney thread

[Rewind]

In the 1965-68 tv series Lost In Space, Robot B-9 could do complex calculations, shoot laser beams and warn Will Robinson of danger. (Spoiler alert: The robot wasn't real. Actor/stuntman Bob May was inside the costume.) Fifty years later, Disney has developed robots that can fly and perform aerial acrobatics. They may soon be appearing at Disney theme parks.

Flying Disney robot can soar through the skies like a Marvel hero
New Stuntronics from Disney aren't just crawling, they're doing the kind of aerial acrobatics worthy of an Avengers or Star Wars movie.

Video: https://www.cnet.com/news/flying-dis...e-marvel-hero/

[Rewind]

In a 1935 Walt Disney Silly Symphony cartoon, the tortoise beat the hare in a race. In July 2018, Robert Iger beat Brian Roberts in a bidding war which lasted much longer than the race.

Walt Disney Company to claim 21st Century Fox entertainment assets after Comcast pulls out of the bidding war

http://www.latimes.com/business/holl...719-story.html

[Rewind]

Bernie Sanders and 9,700 Disneyland Resort employees.....pardon me, I mean cast members.....should finally be happy.

Disneyland Resort reaches a tentative contract settlement with workers, ending a heated battle that lasted months

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...723-story.html

[Rewind]

Mickey's "official" birthdate is November 18, 1928, when Steamboat Willie, the first animated film with sound, was released -- but the silent Plane Crazy, the first Mickey Mouse cartoon made, had a test screening on May 15. Plane Crazy, with sound added, was not released until 1929, but should we consider May 15 to be Mickey's birthday? Or perhaps earlier, considering the character was created by Walt Disney and Ubbe Iwwerks in April. "Oh, gosh!"

Mickey Mouse's 90th Spectacular to air November 4 on ABC

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/enter...807-story.html

[Rewind]

Disney's 1982 Tron movie cost $17 million to make and grossed only $33 million in North America. Surprisingly, the 2010 sequel grossed $172 million in North America and $228 million in other countries. Shanghai Disneyland has a highly popular Tron Lightcycle Power Run attraction. In 2021, so will Walt Disney World. I wonder if Russians will try to hack into ENCOM's Master Control Program.

Construction of Tron attraction at Walt Disney World will temporarily halt train and speedway

http://www.nydailynews.com/featured/...810-story.html

[Rewind]

Princesses in Disney's animated films -- Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Jasmine, Ariel, Belle, Pocahontas, Tiana, Rapunzel -- traditionally had a "love interest." Then came Merida, Elsa and Moana, who were strong and independent and broke the "damsel-in-distress who needs a man" stereotype. In the live-action Mulan, due in March 2020, Mulan will have a love interest. Old stereotypes die hard.

Disney starts production on live-action Mulan

https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/new...SRwk?ocid=AMZN

[Rewind]

On June 2 -- Go look! -- I posted a story about Disney's plans for a new 700-room hotel to replace the ESPN Zone, Rainforest Café, Earl Of Sandwich and AMC Theater at Downtown Disney in Anaheim. The project is now on hold because Disney is expecting $267 million in subsidies and the Anaheim mayor says Disney should build the hotel with their own money. Stay tuned.

Disney puts luxury hotel plan on hold in feud with Anaheim over $267 million in subsidies

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...815-story.html

[Rewind]

If you've ever wanted to own the 48-foot-long animatronic sea serpent from Disneyland’s Submarine Voyage, now is your chance.

Want your own Dumbo from Disneyland? An authentic Skyway car? 800 items of park memorabilia are headed to auction.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment...816-story.html

[Rewind]

21 Royal is a private dining hall above Disneyland's Pirates Of The Caribbean attraction. It occupies a space that was originally intended to be living quarters for Walt and Lillian Disney. I know $15,000 sounds like a lot of money for a seven-course meal but it's for 12 people. That's only $1,250 per person, not much more expensive than the food at Disneyland's other restaurants.

Disneyland's $15,000 private dining experience is insane and magical

https://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddri...YAJN?ocid=AMZN

[Rewind]

Disney now seems to be admitting it doesn't really need any tax breaks. Considering how Disneyland keeps raising parking fees, admission fees, food prices and souvenir prices and considering how Disneyland is always super-crowded, I'd say Disney definitely doesn't need any tax breaks!

Disney calls on Anaheim to end all tax incentive agreements in an attempt to improve relationship with city

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...822-story.html