Disney News and Views

Disney's Epic Mickey Video Game Opening Sequence!
by IGN
from Gamescom 2010
August 19, 2010

Harrison "Buzz" Price, the research economist who recommended Anaheim to Walt Disney as the location for Disneyland, then later recommended Orlando to Roy O. Disney as the location for Disney World, passed away Sunday, August 15, at the age of 89.

"Despite his failing health, he continued to demonstrate his trademark humor, cutting edge wit and enduring love for family and friends," his son David Price said on behalf of his mother, Anne Shaw Price, and the Price family. "His legacy of laughter, wit, love, passion and commitment leaves its mark on each of us – family, friends and colleagues in the leisure and recreation industry he loved."

Funeral arrangements will be conducted privately by the family.

"Buzz" Price was recognized as the pioneer in the field of theme parks, resort and leisure-recreation project feasibility almost from the day in 1953 that Walt and Roy O. Disney chose him "to determine the economic feasibility of the best location for a new project – Disneyland." Price, an engineering graduate of California Institute of Technology, had joined Stanford Research Institute after receiving his Masters in Business Administration from Stanford University.

"I asked Walt if he had a bias about the location for his Magic Kingdom," Price recalled years later. "'Absolutely not!' he said. 'You tell me where the best location is.'" Price analyzed the potential sites in the Southern California area, ultimately focusing on Orange County after considering population trends, accessibility and climate factors.

They selected 160 acres of orange groves in Anaheim, just off the Santa Ana Freeway at Harbor Boulevard.

"We hit it right on the nose," Price later recalled, "dead center. That was the perfect place for it."

Encouraged by Walt Disney, Price formed Economics Research Associates (ERA) in 1958. Ultimately, he conducted 150 studies for the Walt Disney Company (including site and feasibility analysis for Walt Disney World in Florida and Tokyo Disneyland) and over 3,000 projects for other clients.

Michael Eisner, Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company when Buzz was named a Disney Legend in 2003, recognized his role in establishing the Disney parks and resorts. "Buzz Price was as much responsible for the success of the Walt Disney Company as anybody except Walt Disney himself, in that he worked with Walt not only on finding the sites of both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, but on many other new initiatives, like the 1964 New York World's Fair and the 1960 Winter Olympics in the Lake Tahoe area," Eisner recalled. "But more than being a pioneer and visionary, he was one of the nicest and most professional and gentle friends of the company."

Buzz Price's concepts in economic analysis are clearly spelled out in his seminal book, "Walt's Revolution – By the Numbers," published in 2003 by Ripley Entertainment. Buzz's advice to all: "Guessing is dysfunctional. Ignoring prior experience is denial. Using valid numbers to project performance is rational."

After selling ERA in 1969, most of Price's projects were under the aegis of his own Harrison Price Company, including studies for eight World's Fairs, Sea World, Knott's Berry Farm, Universal Studios, the Six Flags parks, museums, zoos and many feasibility analyses for international projects.

But it was Walt Disney who set Price's success in motion. "From the time of his first involvement with Dad in selecting the site for Disneyland, Buzz was involved in nearly everything our family did," recalled Walt's daughter, Diane Disney Miller.

"Dad's unexpected death left two major projects incomplete … barely begun, actually," Diane said. "But they were projects especially dear to Walt's heart. Uncle Roy (Roy O. Disney, Walt's brother and Chairman of the Walt Disney Company) led the family in continuing support of the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), and in the Walt Disney World project in Florida. Buzz was involved in both, but CalArts in particular." "Before he entered the hospital," Diane reminisced, "Dad had placed a stack of notebooks in Buzz's hands, saying, 'Here, take care of my school for me!' Dad knew the hands to place his dream in, that Buzz would see it through … and he did." Since opening its doors in 1969, CalArts has launched the careers of a "Who's Who" of creative alumni in animation, film, theatre, dance and music. Today, CalArts has an enrollment of more than 1400 students in all the arts – music, dance, theatre, art, film and animation and critical studies/writing.

Recognizing over 40 years of leadership, CalArts in 2005 presented Buzz Price an honorary Doctor of Arts degree. His other many leisure-recreation industry honors included the first Lifetime Achievement Award from the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), induction into the Hall of Fame for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) and recognition as a Disney Legend. Born May 17, 1921 in Oregon City, Oregon, Buzz Price grew up in Southern California, graduating from San Bernardino High School before receiving his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Cal Tech, and his MBA at Stanford. While attending Cal Tech, he met his future wife, Anne Shaw, who was attending Pomona College. They were married in 1944.

At the time of his death, after retiring in 2005, Buzz and Anne Price made their home at Mt. San Antonio Gardens in Pomona. Buzz is survived by an artistic family: His wife, Anne Shaw Price, a former vocalist; daughter Holly Shaw Ristuccia, who performs with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and her husband Al Ristuccia of Claremont, Ca.; daughter and artist Dana Price and her husband Ken Powell of Sausalito, Ca.; son and sculptor Bret Price and his wife Rae Lynn of Orange, Ca.; son and architect David A. Price and his wife Alicia of Irvine, Ca; nine grandchildren, two great grandchildren and his sister, Patricia Scott Mannarino of Oakland, Ca.

To honor Harrison "Buzz" Price's contributions to Southern California's culture and community, the Price family suggests contributions to any of "three projects Buzz loved": the Music Scholarship program at CalArts, where he was a Director Emeritus; the Los Angeles Master Chorale, where Buzz was a founding board member and former President; and Ryman Arts, a program for talented high school artists, where Buzz and Anne Price were founders and board members of the foundation named in honor of their friend, artist Herbert Ryman, who drew the first overall depiction of Disneyland for Walt Disney.

"Few people have created the opportunities for learning and training young talent in the arts as Buzz Price did," stated Marty Sklar, President of Ryman Arts and retired Vice-Chairman of Walt Disney Imagineering. "Whether we are film, theatre or theme park fans, we should all thank our lucky stars that Walt Disney had a 'numbers man' who loved music, art and poetry."

Last year, Disney Parks fans learned that “The Adventures Continue” with the return of a new Star Tours attraction in both California and Florida in 2011. At the Star Wars Celebration V fan event, Star Wars fans caught a first glimpse of a new video that will appear in the queue area of the reimagined Star Tours attraction in Disneyland park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios next year.

The video produced by Star Tours is a new “commercial” that shows one of their exciting getaway travel packages. Today we’re also giving our Disney Parks Blog readers a peek at the video before it appears in the queue next year. While Star Tours now offers flights to new destinations, we cannot confirm that you will travel to any of the destinations shown in this video . . .

How hot could it be? You brave souls who’ve wondered while floating by “The World’s Hottest Pepper” inside The Land Pavilion at Epcot should probably see today’s blog video. The Bhut Jolokia pepper is from northeastern India and currently grows with the habanero at the Living with the Land attraction. But don’t mistake the two peppers.

Bhut Jolokia brings a different level of burn. It’s at the top of the scale for spicy heat (Scoville heat index).

Type of Pepper – Scoville Rating

• Bhut Jolokia – 1,000,000+
• Habanero – 500,000
• Bell Pepper – 0

And at that heat level, the tiniest of tastes will make you break out in sweat and maybe even frantically dance in place as our “crop correspondent” Gary found out:

Tune in next week when Gary will swing by the Hollywood Studios and staple a Toluca Turkey Leg to his face!

Court records show Walt Disney World is facing a federal lawsuit seeking more than $200,000 in damages after a Pennsylvania woman claimed a person in a Donald Duck costume groped her breast two years ago.

April Magolon said her family was visiting Epcot in May 2008 when she approached Donald Duck for an autograph. She said that instead of an autograph from the person in the iconic costume, the person performed a "physically menacing act." the lawsuit alleges.

"Donald Duck proceeded to grab [Magolon's] breast and molest her and then made gestures making a joke indicating he had done something wrong," the lawsuit states. "[Disney] has engaged in a practice of placing corporate profits over public safety while attempting to cover up continuing, long standing similar prior incidents." Disney spokesman Bryan Malenius said today that "we've now seen plaintiff's complaint and will respond appropriately in court."

The spokesman said he could not say who was in the Donald Duck costume or provide any additional information. Magolon is suing Disney for negligence, battery, negligent infliction of emotional distress and intentional and reckless infliction of emotional distress. She is seeking more than $50,000 in damages for each count.

She has suffered "severe physical injury, emotional anguish and distress," according to the complaint. She also alleges the incident has caused acute anxiety, headaches, nightmares and flashbacks, among other emotional and physical ailments.

Her attorney originally had filed the civil lawsuit in Pennsylvania's Court of Common Pleas in December 2009, but court documents show the case was transferred to Philadelphia's federal court after a request from the entertainment company to move it there.

Malenius could not immediately answer why Disney officials asked to transfer the case to federal court. In addition to the allegations, the lawsuit also states the Orange County Sheriff's Office has received 24 complaints of similar alleged acts by costumed characters since 2004.

A Sheriff's Office spokesman said he could not confirm those complaints, but said sex-crimes investigators are working on providing an official count. Sheriff's Office officials confirmed Magolon never filed a complaint against Disney for the alleged groping incident.

The theme park faced a media blitz in 2004 when a person dressed as Tigger was accused of groping a 13-year-old girl and her mother at Magic Kingdom's Toon Town. Deputies arrested Michael C. Chartrand on charges of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child and battery after the alleged incident; however, a jury cleared the man of any wrongdoing.

The Disney Magic cruise ship rescued more than a dozen people who were stranded at sea.

The ship, which is normally based in Port Canaveral, is spending the summer in Europe.

Early Friday morning, the ship overheard radio traffic of two other vessels searching for a boat in distress, the cruise line said. Disney said the Magic then decided to join in the search and located the boat almost immediately. Disney said the boat in distress had lost power. A Disney Cruise Line representative said the ship used one of its rescue boats to get to the 18 stranded boaters.

The 16 men and two women were taken on board the Magic and received medical attention, Disney said. They were then given staterooms, and later disembarked in Barcelona.

Via Napoli is now open at the Italian Pavilion at the Epcot World Showcase. This new casual pizzeria can be found adjacent to Tutto Italia Ristorante. The 300-seat restaurant will feature a menu inspired by the famous pizzerias of southern Italy. Labeled as the first authentic Italian pizzeria to ever open in the park, Via Napoli will feature salads, pasta and woood-fired pizza along with chicken and veal dishes.

Starting August 6, 2010 reservations can be made for dates September 10th and later. Between August 6 and September 9, 2010 the restaurant will accept guests on a walk in basis as the restaurant finds its footing with a soft opening.

Prepare for a bit of sticker shock! A cheese pizza at Via Napoli, which is set to open on September 10 at the Italy Pavilion in Epcot, will set diners back $34. Granted, that's for a "mezzo metro," or half-meter pizza that has 12 slices compared to the restaurant's large 8-slice pie ($25). A small version can be had for a mere $15. The pizza at the trendy ristorante will be made with flour and--get this--water imported from Italy.

At those prices, perhaps the water should be blessed by the pope.

Disney has just released a wonderful behind-the-scenes featurette about the making of their latest princess film, Tangled. The Rapunzel movie's theatrical trailer debuted last month, and while it was well-received, it left some (including yours truly) wondering whether Disney was abandoning their iconic princess-movie-mold in favor of boy-driven, swashbuckling action and flashy CG animation. Judging from this new featurette, such concerns needn't worry us any longer. Tangled looks like it just may be the romanticized storybook fairy tale that Disney is famous for.

Today’s video gives a unique look at the new, nighttime spectacular at Disney California Adventure park, “World of Color.” This is a VIP view that most of us will never have the chance to see. While you can get FASTPASS tickets for a ground view of “World of Color,” there’s no FASTPASS ticket that will get you access this high up.

The footage was shot from a fixed-wing aircraft recently at approximately 1,800 feet above Disney California Adventure park. I particularly like the wide shot where you can see Glow Fest, “World of Color,” and the whole city of Anaheim around Disney California Adventure park.

ABC programming chief Stephen McPherson has abruptly resigned from the network after a six-year tenure in which the network aired such provocative series as "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost" but ended last season in third place among the big four networks.

McPherson submitted his resignation as ABC Entertainment Group president and the company accepted, the Disney-ABC Television Group said in a brief statement Tuesday. His replacement will be announced soon, according to the statement, in which McPherson was quoted as thanking the people with whom he'd worked.

Paul Lee, who as president of ABC Family boosted the cable channel's ratings with hits including "The Secret Life of the American Teenager and "Pretty Little Liars," was widely reported to be McPherson's likely successor.

Before joining ABC Family in 2004, Lee was chief executive officer and founder of BBC America. He'd previously worked at the BBC in England and been a reporter, TV producer and director, according to ABC's website.

McPherson's departure from the top programming job at ABC comes just days before the network's presentation of its fall schedule to a meeting of TV reporters and critics. The network is set to bring the cast and producers of new and returning shows to the Television Critics Association gathering Aug. 1 in Beverly Hills.

The fall season begins in September, with ABC's 2010-11 schedule having been assembled by McPherson and featuring new series stars including Matthew Perry, Michael Imperioli, Michael Chiklis and Dana Delany and such offbeat shows as the mock-docmentary series "My Generation" and the comedy-drama "No Ordinary Family."

After taking on the job in 2004, McPherson helped turn ABC around after a disastrous ratings slide caused by his predecessors' over-reliance on multiple nights of the prime-time game show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire."

He gained ground with innovative and serialized shows including "Lost," "Ugly Betty" and "Brothers and Sisters" in contrast with procedurals such as the "Law & Order" and "CSI" franchises favored by its rival networks. "Dancing with the Stars," which has rivaled top-rated "American Idol," also started airing on ABC under McPherson.

However, unlike its three chief rivals, ABC lost viewers last season as hits like "Desperate Housewives" and "Grey's Anatomy" started aging. There also was a failed effort to replace "Lost," which wrapped its run last season, with the similarly mysterious "Flashforward."

Yet the network's biggest risk of last fall - filling Wednesday with four new comedies - was a success. Three of them are returning and one, "Modern Family," is considered one of the freshest new shows on TV.

In a separate statement released by his publicist, McPherson said he would divide his attention for his next business efforts.

"I will be announcing my future plans shortly which will include a new entrepreneurial venture in the spirits business," he said in the statement. "While I will continue with my ongoing wine business, I'll also reveal plans for my involvement in a new media company."

He has wine label called Promise, a Cabernet produced in the Napa Valley region of Northern California.

Last weekend in Downtown Disney at the Disneyland Resort guests were treated to a free "Action Sports Weekend" event. Sports companies who planned the 3-day event boasted performances by top skate and BMX athletes, including Tony Hawk. Headlining the event was the "Quiksilver Presents the Tony Hawk State Jam," with a skate exhibition by the legendary skater himself & opportunities for guests to have a private meet & greet session with the star at the Downtown Disney Quicksilver store.

Shortly after the 'Skate Jam' started Tony Hawk fell during a routine trick resulting in a pelvic injury & a hematoma. The Orange County Register is reporting that after thanking the crowd for coming, Hawk, who had to be helped into the nearby ESPN Zone, removed himself from the event.

Tony tweeted Sunday, it's a "Pelvic vertical shear injury" & a hematoma in a pear tree is the semi-official diagnosis. All I know is: I can't lift my legs & it sucks."