Al Lutz is reporting that Anne Hamburger will be leaving Disney, where she has headed the entertainment department as Executive Vice President of Walt Disney Creative Entertainment.  Hired during the Paul Pressler era, Ms. Hamburger's first assignment was to revamp the horrid "Steps in Time" production which opened with Disney's California Adventure park in the Hyperion Theater. Though her fixes reportedly cost millions, the show did not last and was quickly replaced with a touring production of "Blast," until she was able ... Read More

View: Anne Hamburger to Exit Disney Entertainment

This weekend all eyes turn toward China as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad are staged in Beijing. We're lucky that regular Weekend Update contributor TDLFAN was in Beijing last week and shares some photos of the city just prior to the start of the Olympics. We haven't skimped on the Disney coverage, though. Jack hollywood1939 Wixom takes us on a photo tour of the original version of Pirates of the Caribbean in Disneyland, Micechatter MrTaste shares some Disneyland photos, Denise nbodyhome ... Read More

View: The Weekend Update photo tour of Disney, Theme Park, and Vacation locations around the world

MiceChat partner Chuck Oberleitner, is starting to recover from Comic-Con and has some terse thoughts on the event: There’s absolutely no doubt that Comic-Con is a pop culture phenomenon. That’s both the good news and the bad news, for most such phenomenon burn out sooner or later. In addition to the overwhelming crowds, a few additional cracks are beginning to show in the Con’s well-worn patina. Celebrity access and the autographs and pictures that go with them used to be a Comic-Con staple. As ... Read More

View: Final Thoughts on Comic-Con 2008

Hello Blue! The new Blue has been spotted on the beam - and she is beautiful. Meanwhile, two shops have just closed. New Century Time Pieces is closing to remodel for new merchandise (the watch artist has moved to the exit of the Opera House) . The Three Fairies Magic Crystal Shop is also closing, to make room for enhancements and the return of the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-Through. But the biggest departure is McDonald's. The fry carts ... Read More

View: Dateline Disneyland: Monorail Blue, Closing Shops, Bye Bye McDonald's, Disneyland after dark, Comic-Con San Diego

David is back and feeling better and has a HUGE update for you today. Sounds like there will be lots of changes this Fall including the closure of all of the McDonald's locations at the Disneyland Resort. The Sun Wheel is preparing to shut down for its transformation into "Mickey's Fun Wheel." Six Flags Magic Mountain is set to get a new wooden coaster in 2009. But that is just the tip of the iceburg, more news about the Hyperion Theater, Fantasmic, ... Read More

View: Disneyland News Update

Chuck from O-Meon has posted his first looks from this year's Comic-Con.   If you've never been, Comic-Con is a crazy, packed, and fun look at the comic book and sci-fi community.  Hundreds of thousands of people show up every year.  Tickets sell out months in advance.  This is the IT ticket of the year for geeks everywhere. And that's exactly where we find Chuck today, smack dab in the middle of geek-ville.  A wonderful place to be indeed.  Today, Chuck fills us in ... Read More

View: Torchwood and Dr. Who Panel Pictures and Coverage from Comic-Con 2008

Kevin Yee is wondering where all the Disneyland fan fiction is. So he is offering a contest, write the ultimate short story about Disneyland and win a prize. There are some ground rules: Length: between 5 and 15 pages double-spaced is preferred, but as short as one page or as long as 25 is acceptable. Deadline: all submissions are due by September 1, 2008. Setting: all stories must involve Disneyland in Anaheim. Or, at least part of the action must ... Read More

View: Disneyland Fan Fiction Contest

Before there was a Disney Internet fan community, there was an NFFC. For years, the annual NFFC show and sale has been a highlight for collectors and fans curious to see which Disney celebs and Imagineers might show up and what priceless collectible they can snag for their home collection. this year's annual NFFC National Convention, Show, and Sale will be taking place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Garden Grove, California from July 15 - 20. Convention events are for members only; ... Read More

View: NFFC Information

Andy's back with your weekly photo update on what's new at the Disneyland Resort. This week: Construction on the Sleeping Beauty Castle means that the walk-through may soon return. The French Market restaurant in New Orleans Square gets a new "Healthy" menu; is it better than the old one? You decide. Over in Tomorrowland, little fixes for the Sub Lagoon and Innoventions. New merchandise, operational updates, and more. Read the always entertaining Dateline Disneyland HERE. Read More

View: The always entertaining Dateline Disneyland.

We can't get enough Disneyland Resort photos around here. And Fridays' are one of the best days to get them, as Andy Castro brings us another insightful Dateline Disneyland. This week, Andy has a team of fantastic photographers helping him: David "Darkbeer" Michael of our Monday in the Parks column, MacDaddy, and SparkyLD. As usual, they detail the changes, additions, removals, and news around the Disneyland Resort in pictures and commentary. Read the entire Dateline Disneyland Photo Update HERE Read More

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