I’ve got a big assortment of stories for you today Dear Readers. There’s some shopping, a little eating, & a big dose of feeling-good. So let’s get started, here are our topics for today’s Pressing Matters: The Disney Geek • Harry Potter fans – here’s the deal • DL Resort Merch news • Duuuude - sea turtles rule • Win a Disney Vacay from AAA • Celebrate! A Grand Opening • Muzeo Walks With Dinos • D23 Members & Mickey’s of Glendale.
Want to hear all the latest from D23? Then you need to watch the Disney Geek tell all. D23’s own Jeffrey Epstein does a dandy job filling you in on what’s what in the world of D23 and Disney. Watch the first episode of D23’s Disney Geek at this link.
Amazon.com has a great deal going for Harry Potter fans right now. Buy Harry Potter on Blu-ray and get LEGO Harry Potter Free. Check out the details at this link.
Now, for some Disneyland merchandise news: Exploring the shops on Disneyland’s Main Street the other day, I came across a nifty book I’d like to call to your attention. I was alive during Disneyland’s early history but I was so small I don’t remember most of those days. As a result, I never get tired of seeing photos of Disneyland at the beginning.
And that’s what makes Disneyland From Once Upon A Time To Happily Ever After a terrific little book, I say little because the book has only 64 pages. The book, by Jeff Kurti, compares vintage photos of Disneyland side by side with current photos and it’s fascinating to see the changes the years have brought to Disneyland. Many of the vintage photos show Walt Disney watching his new amusement park being built which is pretty cool.
For instance, there’s a shot of Walt checking out one of Peter Pan’s flying ships and the accompanying photo of today’s attraction vehicle. There’s Walt sitting in front of a paper model for It’s A Small World, seated next to Mary Blair (who’s clearly working on making that paper model) and next to that is a photo of that attraction’s façade as it looks today. One of my favorite photo comparisons in the book is of the Storybook Land Canal Boat attraction’s Monstro in the middle of construction and of Monstro today. I’d say the book is priceless, but nope, it’s $7.95, definitely a bargain and must-have for any Disneyland fan. I found copies for sale in Disneyland’s Emporium and Disneyana. (Amazon does have it listed , but at a collector's premium price.)
Speaking of books for sale at the Disneyland Resort, this is one I have yet to check out, but never I have never been disappointed by a John Canemaker book. He’ll be on hand for a special appearance and signing for the release of his newest tome, Two Guys Named Joe (about Joe Grant and Joe Ranft & the craft of animation storytelling) on August 18th:
Don’t miss your chance to meet acclaimed author John Canemaker who will be on hand for a special appearance and signing as we celebrate the release of his newest book, Two Guys Named Joe. The signing will take place August 18, 2010 from 9 AM to 11 AM in The Disney Gallery on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland park. Books will be available to purchase at The Disney Gallery beginning at shop opening.
Can’t make it to Disneyland? You can purchase the book here:
Two more quick Disneyland merchandise items to call to your attention, and then we’ll move on:
This isn’t exactly merchandise, but I’m throwing it in here ... a new taste treat has been added for August, lemon bars! I haven’t tried them yet but they look yummy:
The perfect summer treat for lemon lovers everywhere! Lemon Bars will be available August 4 – 31, for $2.95 at select candy locations. Look for them in Marcelines Confectionery and the Candy Palace.
The every popular Disney-themed Dooney & Bourke bags have a new line coming soon to the Disneyland Resort:
The new design, inspired by Dooney & Bourke’s Pop Novelty Collection, celebrates the ever-popular Disney Princess. The whimsical pattern includes cameos of Disney’s beloved royality: Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Belle.
But ... you don’t have to wait Disney’s Pop Princess Collection to land in Disneyland, the collection is now available online at this link.
While you always get the negative news about Disney (they raise prices. Again.), you don’t always hear the good stories. Disney is a business and they have to make money or there’s no point, right? But ... Disney does a lot of good and kind and benevolent things too. This is one of those stories:
Eight turtles injured by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico today began their rehabilitation at Walt Disney World Resort under the care of Disney animal experts.
Animal care experts from Disney’s Animal Programs returned Thursday from the Florida Panhandle with six Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles – among the most endangered species of sea turtles in the world – and two Green Sea Turtles injured by the spill. The Disney animal care team stands ready to help in the Panhandle as needed and rehabilitation facilities at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and at Epcot’s The Seas with Nemo & Friends are available for treating turtles and birds impacted by the spill.
“Oil can have a devastating effect on the health of sea turtles, marine mammals and birds,” said Jackie Ogden, Ph.D., vice president for Animal Programs and Environmental Initiatives at Disney Parks. “Over the next several months, many of these animals will require intense medical treatment over a prolonged period. We want to be sure that we provide top-notch medical care wherever we can – whether it’s on a beach or in a state-of-the-art veterinary facility. Ultimately, our goal is to re-release these animals so they can once again thrive in the wild of our oceans and coastline.”
For the full story go to this link, and to see a video of the turtle rescue go to this link.
AAA Travel has got a pretty cool sweepstakes going that offers you a chance to win a trip to Walt Disney World or Disneyland. And you don’t have to be a AAA member to enter either, nice huh?:
AAA is offering visitors to AAA.com an opportunity to win a fabulous five-day AAA Vacations package at Walt Disney World in Florida or the Disneyland Resort in California. The grand prize includes accommodations, four 5-Day Disney Theme Park tickets, a $1,000 Gift Card from AAA and roundtrip airfare for four. There are also weekly drawings for prizes such as a new or renewal one year AAA membership or two 2-Day Walt Disney World Resort Magic Your Way Theme Park tickets with Park Hopper option.
For your chance to enter go to this link.
Have you been to one of the newly redesigned Disney Stores yet? I’m super happy that the generic look the Disney Stores have been sporting for so long is beginning to go bye-bye. In the beginning the Disney Stores were so terrific, like a little piece of the Parks without the admission price (well, and without the attractions too, but we’re not talking about that). They were fun to go to and I always found something I wanted to buy. But then the stores degenerated into boring blandness and at that point, I stopped shopping there. I really want to check out the new Disney Stores to see what’s what. Friday, the Disney Store at Santa Monica Place is having a Grand Opening Celebration to reveal its new look, here are the details:
Date: This Friday · 10am - 12pm, Location: Santa Monica Place, 395 Santa Monica Place, Level 2, Plaza, Santa Monica, CA. Free Mickey Mouse Ears to the first 500 guests! Be one of the first to see this All New Disney Store design. Activate the Magic Mirror, build your very own customized Lightning McQueen Ridemakerz Car, select what you want to see in the Disney Store theater and return often to participate in the fun events with your kids.
Sounds like it could be cool.
Muzeo, a super nice museum near the Disneyland Resort, will be hosting a special appearance by Baby T Rex from Walking With Dinosaurs on Sunday August 8th, and Radio Disney will be there too. Here’s a good chance to take the kiddies to Disneyland and get a little museum time in too:
Muzeo and Walking With Dinosaurs present Dino Dayfeaturing a special appearance by Baby T Ret at 12 PM and 2 PM. Be amazed and thrilled and enjoy a dino egg hunt for prizes including tickets to the Honda Center Spectacular Walking With Dinosaurs. Face painting, a live reptile display and Radio Disney appearance add to the family fun! No discount coupons accepted on this day.
For more information visit Muzeo’s website or their Facebook page.
And we’ll wrap today’s edition of Pressing Matters up with this tasty little tidbit ... Shopping, I do so love to shop, especially when it’s at a store I don’t always have the opportunity to visit:
On August 21, D23 Members and their guests are invited to meet Marty Sklar and enjoy pin and Vinylmation trading, music and fun on a special Saturday shopping day at Walt Disney Imagineering's exclusive employee store, Mickey's of Glendale. D23 Members with valid D23 membership cards can bring up to one (1) guest each to Mickey's of Glendale and the WDI Campus, which is located at 1401 Flower Street in Glendale, CA 91201.
For more information visit this link, or call Mickey's of Glendale at: 818-544-2824.
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And that should do it for this week's... |
