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Category Archives: News
Water flows into Disney’s California Adventure bay
Crews today began refilling Paradise Bay in Disney’s California Adventure.
The bay has been empty for almost a year so workers could install the infrastructure for the upcoming World of Color show, which is set to begin in the spring.
Within days, about half of the bay should fill up, said Suzi Brown, a Disneyland Resort spokeswoman.
Workers will slowly do tests as they go along to make sure all of the equipment is working and then add more water, said Frank Dela Vara, director of environmental affairs and conservation at Disneyland Resort.
Disney officials are unsure how long it will take to completely refill the bay.
Check out the fun video of Mickey and Goofy lending a helping hand.
Disney expands refunds on `Baby Einstein’ DVDs
The Baby Einstein DVD Upgrade / Moneyback Guarantee,The Walt Disney Co. is expanding a refund program for its “Baby Einstein” videos for toddlers in response to challenges about the legitimacy of its educational claims.
The company upgraded a customer satisfaction program beginning last month by explicitly offering cash refunds on any DVDs bought from June 5, 2004 to Sept. 4.
Buyers can also exchange DVDs for a “Baby Einstein” book or music CD, or receive 25 percent off a “Little Einstein” product. The offer expires March 4.
The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, a Boston-based advocacy group, claimed “victory” Friday in its yearslong battle to protect consumers from falsely believing the videos could, for example, teach words to babies under 2 years old.”We believe that this is an acknowledgment that baby videos are not educational,” said Susan Linn, a psychologist and director of the campaign.
The campaign complained to the Federal Trade Commission in May 2006, saying claims made on “Baby Einstein” packaging and the Web site were not supportable by scientific research.The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children under 2 years old watch no television or other “screen media.”
At the time, the Disney subsidiary removed some wording from the packages and took down testimonials that claimed educational benefits from the videos on the Baby Einstein Web site.
The commission decided in December 2007 to take no formal action after investigating the matter.
Unsatisfied, the campaign brought its material to a group of Boston lawyers, which threatened a class-action lawsuit against Disney in a letter to CEO Robert Iger in June 2008.
The upgraded refund policy dates back to the same date requested in the letter by the lawyers, led by attorney Edward Broderick, but it’s unclear if the move settles the threatened lawsuit.Broderick did not return messages seeking comment. A Disney spokesman could not clarify if the refund upgrade removed the threat of further legal action.
In a release, The Baby Einstein Company called the campaign’s statements “peppered with revisionist history,” and emphasized that its consumer satisfaction program has been clearly identified on its Web sites since 1999 and on packaging since 2008.
The company was founded in 1997 by Julie Ainger-Clark, a mother and former educator, and was bought by Disney in 2001.
Disney reports 8 injuries, illnesses
Found this interesting article from Tampa Bay Online. Looks like Disney takes every account very seriously.
Eight patrons of Walt Disney World theme parks complained of injuries or illnesses from July through September, according to the latest quarterly report from the state. Tampa’s Busch Gardens and Orlando’s SeaWorld, Wet ‘n Wild and Universal Studios reported no patron injuries or illnesses.
The major parks are required to file quarterly reports of injuries with the Florida Bureau of Fair Rides Inspection.
Incidents at the Disney parks included falls, seizures and illness:
•A 57-year-old woman passed out on July 4 after riding and leaving Splash Mountain. She hit her head on a concrete floor, fracturing her skull.
•A 74-year-old woman lost her balance on July 17 on an “unload belt” from Peter Pan’s Flight. She fell, hitting her head and fracturing a wrist.
•A 54-year-old man had a seizure on July 27 after leaving the Star Tours ride.
•A 66-year-old man reported feeling ill on Aug. 2 after using Expedition Everest.
•A 40-year-old man fell and broke his right wrist on Aug. 15 when leaving the Test Track ride.
•A 31-year-old woman had a seizure on Sept. 17 after leaving the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
•A 52-year-old woman who rode Mission SPACE on Sept. 19 reported dizziness and loss of memory.
•A 50-year-old woman who rode the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster on Sept. 21 reported chest pains and shortness of breath.
2009 Disney’s Christmas Day Parade
Lights! Camera! Action! The cameras are ready to roll on the “Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade†television show at Magic Kingdom and you are invited to be part of the audience on Thursday, December 3, Friday, December 4, or Saturday, December 5, 2009.
Space is limited so sign up now to watch your favorite Disney characters and guest stars perform on Main Street U.S.A. and on Cinderella’s Castle Stage in the Magic Kingdom.
For more information and to register click the picture above.
I am not going to leave you hanging here are some clips from 2008′s Christmas Day Parade:
Miley Cyrus sings “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”
More videos below
2009 CHOC Walk at the Disneyland Resort
More than 12,000 walkers participated in the 19th annual CHOC Walk in the Park, hosted by the Disneyland Resort. The walkers raised more than $1.5 million dollars for the hospital during this years event that took place on October 18th.
