Disney And The Disney Empire

Founded by the Disney brothers Walt and Roy, the Walt Disney Company started as a small animation studio that grew into the second largest media entertainment group in the world. Beginning with Mickey Mouse, the company later introduced the other world-famous cartoon characters that helped pave the way to the company’s success.

Not long after, they established and acquired several other high-profile movie production studios, went and became a major television studio owner, and later built some of the world’s biggest theme parks, and even became the owner of a couple of major sports franchises.

Right now, the company has four major business divisions contributing to the billion-dollar coffers of the mother company: Studio Entertainment, Parks and Resorts, Consumer Products, and Media Networks.

Short history

In 1923, brothers Walt and Roy started the Walt Disney Studio in California with their first series Steamboat Willy featuring Mickey Mouse. Years later, they produce merchandise featuring their animated characters.

In 1937, they did their first feature film, Snow White that became their first hit and went on to become the highest grossing film of all time (before Gone with the Wind).  Its success promptly catapulted them into the big time.

Parks, more studios and television

After doing propaganda films during the World War II years, they resumed making feature films (animated and live action) and television shows. In 1957, they established Disneyland Park in California and Disney World in Florida in 1971.

In the following decades, Disney put up more production companies including Touchstone and the Disney Channel and more theme parks. 1996 saw the company grew significantly bigger with the acquisition of ABC Studios and its affiliated radio and television stations, as well as the newspapers.

Business strategy and accountability

Per its website, the “Walt Disney company and its affiliated companies have remained faithful to their commitment to produce unparalleled entertainment experiences based on the legacy of quality creative content and exceptional storytelling.”

On corporate accountability, the issues are centered in the manufacture of toys (and related products) and the company’s ownership of ABC and other media companies.

Labor

To date, Disney has contracts with over 40,000 factories and 6,000 vendors all over the world. It has an International Labor Standards code and oversight group of independent auditors.

So far, It had resolved its disputes with some labor watchdog groups regarding low wages, unsafe working conditions, long hours, unpaid overtimes, etc. in some of its factories in China.

Environment and product safety

The company has trademarked “environmentality” to refer to the company’s stated commitment to environment-friendly practices, its environmental Policy Division and its brand of the same name.

However, it is facing present difficulties because of the large number of suppliers all over and supervision is getting to be difficult.

Present company directions

Surprisingly, the overall financial health of the Disney conglomerate is robust and resilient considering today’s volatile economic movements. Some problems crop up now and then, like the need for strong copyright protection of its properties in the Internet, for example)

In a world of volatile and fast changing values, the fully-grown Disney empire left by Walt and Roy had been versatile enough to adapt. In the name of millions of children around the world, the Walt Disney Company will hopefully be still around to entertain them as they did for the last 87 plus years.

Disney And Imagineering

Imagineering is actually the design and development arm of the Walt Disney Company tasked in the creation and construction of all the Disney theme parks around the world. It is rather an audacious term blended from the words “imagination” and “engineering”.

However, its employees known as “imagineers” are known for their diversified talents and skills, with over 140 different job titles falling under the group (illustrators, lighting engineers, show writers, architects, designers, etc.).

New concepts, new solutions

Imagineers often use new concepts and solutions to solve specific problems that cannot be worked out with old principles. They are able to come up with ingenious answers, often discovered in the most unconventional ways.

They are also known to return to old ideas that did not push through and rework them in a different form in an entirely different context. (Their old project Museum of the Weird eventually became the Haunted Mansion.)

Blue sky speculation

The imagineers also have the “blue sky speculation”, the idea of generating ideas without limits, only the sky’s (hence, the name).

They would first start out with the “eyewash”, the wildest and boldest idea anyone can come up with. It is presented with attention to the minutest details and should pass the notion that if it can be dreamed of, it can be created.

“Plussing” and innovation

“Plussing” was Disney’s term in improving any work done by the imagineers. He believed there was always room for innovation and improvement, and that “nothing will ever be completed as long as there is still imagination left in the world.”

So far, Disney’s imagineers had been granted over 115 patents over the years. These are all connected with Disneyland’s ride systems, interactive technology, special effects, live entertainment, fiber optics, advanced audio systems, and others.

Audio animatronics

This is a form of robotics created and used in shows and attractions in the theme parks that use 3D animations. The idea was triggered by Disney’s fascination with a mechanical bird he bought.

It led to the development of the attraction The Enchanted Tiki Room which featured singing animatronic birds, which actually was the first to use that kind of technology.
The first animatronic human figure attraction featured Abraham Lincoln who stood up and delivered a part of the Gettysburg address.

Today, there are many animatronic attractions in many popular Disney parks. These include Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Jim Henson’s Muppet Vision 3D, and many others.

Device for storytelling

Imagineering is actually used as a form of storytelling in visual form. Entering a Disney theme parks feel like entering a show. The Disney experience consists of extensive theming, atmosphere and attention to details.

This multi-sensory mood is given clarity by life-like details and props. Aside from atmospheric and ambient sounds, imagineers are likely to add some olfactory ingredients. Guests walking down Main Street are likely to smell some cookies baking somewhere.

Details

What distinguishes the work of imagineers from the others is Disney’s attention to details. His insistence on correct details, no matter how small, made their projects believable in the eyes of the guests.

Since it started, Disney’s Imagineering group had created 11 theme parks, a town, two cruise ships resort hotels, shopping centers, water parks, sports complexes and many other entertainment venues.  Indeed, the Imagineering group of Disney have come a long way.

Deconstruction And Rehabilitation Of Disney

Nobody ever thought a nondescript mouse cartoon character with some humorous adventures would ever catch the imagination of the children way back then (and now). It had swept the Walt Disney Company along and transformed it into an entertainment empire that it is today.

For the last 87 years, the company founded by Walt and Roy Disney had defined the children’s first cultural tastes of likes and dislikes. Through the years, Mickey Mouse and his company of friends would delineate the kind of children’s entertainment for that generation.

Growing together

Through the years, each of the characters, new and old, had grown into the consciousness of the children’s sense of fun and adventure.

In the meantime, the Walt Disney Company grew along with the success brought about by Mickey and friends. The years boomed with more and more success in all the other areas – financial, creative and managerial.

The company’s growth was sideways, too. It did not waste time and started producing more and more children-oriented movies and shows. It also started acquiring production studios and TV properties as well as establishing theme parks for kids and the kids-at-heart.

Growing up

However, children do grow up. With it, they learn to dismiss the artificiality and childish, saccharine quality of Walt Disney and his creations – including those characters they so loved as children.

With post-adolescent cynicism brought about by hard-edged realities of life, these new grown-ups begin to deconstruct Disney and his creations, including anything associated with the company.

Self-styled criticism

Stories would be revived on Walt Disney’s virtual totalitarian corporate managerial style, his so-called exploitation of the “underside of American proletarian values of anti-intellectualism, consumerism” and others.

Most of the scorn is usually widespread among academics and intellectuals. They would reshape conversations to take a dismissive look into the man, bring about a  condemnatory approach to his media empire and wry amusement to the cultural force left behind.

Reanimation

Thankfully, the cynicism does not stay for long, but only for a period of time. Later, these cynics would get married and have children. Soon, they would marvel how their children would embrace the very same characters they had dismissed long ago.

Later, they would do their own examination of Disney’s contribution to America’s culture (nowadays, including the world’s), the man’s life and philosophy and his overall importance.

New myths, new stories, new characters

Scholars and historians have long accepted the Disney phenomenon as part of a child’s search for heroes and mythical friends to assess and compare their acts with. There are other wonderful mythmakers as well whose work will be here for a very long time: Dr. Seuss, Rowling, and many others.

Today’s children have a wider choice of many lovable mythical characters created by new storytellers and mythmakers. They also come in from old and new media  – books, films, television, newspapers, magazines, and even from the Internet.

Many of them have wonderful stories to associate with one’s dreams and aspirations. Some, like the wonderful and ever-growing platoon of Disney characters, have the knack of staying in one’s consciousness longer. Sometimes, for some, it could be forever.

Creativity Lessons From Disney

Before Disney became a dominant corporate brand, a very familiar company name and a respected industry icon, first there was Walt Disney, the man. From having been an animator to being the head of the 2nd largest entertainment organization in the world was certainly one great creative leap.

On hindsight, behavioural experts saw that Disney early on had all the necessary and correct mix of creative drive from the start. In layman’s terms, he was a dreamer, a realist and a critic – a very potent mix of attitudes that with the right mix can be very powerful.

Today, it is being modelled and developed as an NLP tool by Robert Dilts, author of Strategies of Genius. (NLP or Neuro-Linguistic Programming is a tried and successful motivational tool used in training company managers and executives.)

Power of passion

In Dilt’s words, Disney’s “ability to connect his innovative creativity with successful business strategy and popular appeal…qualifies him as a genius.” Added to this is the man’s chosen art medium, the animated film.

In animation [and in films, in particular], practitioners have the chance of taking something that exists only in the imagination and create something real to produce a positive experience on others. Again, in layman’s terms, this amply demonstrates the awesome power of passion.

Three roles

With Disney, the three vital roles of being a dreamer, a realist, and a critic were explored separately for better clarity and results. The most important ingredient, however, was his ability to effect the right balance between these roles.

In Disney’s own words: “The story man must see clearly in his own mind how…a story will be put. He should feel every expression, every reaction.” This was the dreaming part.

He continues: “He should get far enough away from his story to take a second look at it…to see whether there is any dead phase…whether…they are going to be interesting and appealing to the audience.” Disney played the realist part here.

Finally, he ends: “[The creator] should also try to see…that his characters are doing [something] interesting.” This was Disney, the critic, assessing the work.

Balance

Experts are of the opinion that Disney’s genius was his innate ability to strike the right balance into this mix.

Dilts wrote: “A dreamer without a realist cannot turn ideas into tangible expressions. A critic and a dreamer without a realist just become stuck in a perpetual conflict. The dreamer and the realist might create things, but they might not achieve a high degree of quality without a critic. The critic helps to evaluate and refine the products of creativity.”

Genius

Many believed Disney was a creative and problem-solving genius. His most interesting ability, however, was his seemingly seamless way of slipping into any creative person or role (dreamer, realist, and critic) on any occasion he decided on.

One remark from a co-worker summed it up: “There were actually three different Walts [and] you never knew which one was coming to your meeting.”

Dilts added: “Those [three different Walts] were the dreamer, the realist and the critic.” Each one played specific creative roles.  Together, they become the “Disney magic.”

A Hassle Free Disney Vacation

For many people, the ultimate Disney vacation would be going to the most popular theme parks in the world, the Walt Disney World Resort.  This is because the place is a one-stop-shop destination where people all ages can do something that they really enjoy.

Where dreams come true

Considered as world's largest theme park resort, Walt Disney World is located southwest of Orlando in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. In 1971, Disney World opened with only one theme park, the Magic Kingdom but now, they have three more: the Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom no to mention water parks and the shopping and entertainment district.

Being one of the most magical and enchanting vacation destinations in the world, a Disney World Resort is the utopia where stress and worries vanish. The Disney World Resort provides not only fantasy and but also exaltation of being in a land of dreams.

Being in a Disney World Resort vacation provides fun entwined extreme and exciting adventure. This is because it includes a tour on theme parks and water parks that will surely immerse you and your kids in a world filled with excitement, thrill, and wonder.

Planning for a perfect vacation

Like in any vacation, going into a Disney World vacation requires you to be knowledgeable about the place. You should conduct a simple research about the place so you would have an idea about the basics. Knowing something about the place would contribute a lot to the success of the trip.

Aside from knowing the basics, there are other things that you should consider to ensure that your Disney World vacation would be a success. One of which is the cost of the whole trip. Knowing and calculating your costs and possible expenditures during Disney World vacation can greatly help you set a realistic budget during your stay. By estimating the possible cost of your vacation, you can set your budget in advance so you wouldn’t be spending more than you can afford to spend.

Another advantage of knowing how much you will spend will also help your leave your worries behind because you have enough money to spend on something during the entire trip. If possible, always make sure that you leave an allowance or you allot at least 10 to 20 percent of the total of your budget to spend on emergency cases.

The most important expenses that you should expect from your from your Disney World vacation is accommodation. This very important in planning your budget because this is where you will stay once the busy day is finished.

Many people make good accommodations a priority because this is their home when out of the house while others are not so much into good accommodations because they think that they should be getting as much exposure as they can get when they are in a vacation destination.

During Disney World vacation, accommodations matters because this is where you will spend most of your time for resting. If you want ultimate comfort, choose a package where everything is laid out for you where you need not worry about anything such as food, lodgings, amenities and entertainment.

Why Let Children Watch Disney Movies

Children love to watch TV. For them, what they see on the TV monitor is one of their ultimate forms of entertainment. However, not all programs are suited for the development of children. This is the reason why many experts suggest that parents should carefully choose what their kids are watching. This is to ensure that they are getting something valuable from it like what Disney movies give.

Since it was established, Walt Disney Company or simply called ‘Disney’ has always been a choice for parents and teachers when it comes to providing entertainment to young children. This is because Disney has made its mark in creating movies that are meant to instill positive values among children.

The power of movies

In this day and age where kids are preoccupied by modern gadgets, it is very important for parents to make and effort to ensure that their children will learn something valuable. For parents and teachers who want to teach children about good values, they should be more creative in finding ways how to do it.

Experts agree that one of the best ways that you can teach a child something is when you do it his or her way. Since you will be dealing with young kids, there will be resistance if you would plainly tell him or her about what is wrong and what is right.

These days, many parents and teachers don’t realize the power of movies in their kids. If you want kids to learn so many things, you should allow them to watch Disney movies. Here are some of the reasons why parents and teachers should let young kinds watch Disney movies:

1. It fosters imagination. All Disney movies are made to make its viewers imagine things that are beyond the usual. One good movie that would foster kids’ imagination is “Aladdin” who is a young lad who fell in love with a princess named Jasmine. However, they can never be married because the princess should only marry a prince. But everything turned out well when a genie came into the picture and granted Aladdin three wishes. It’s a good movie to makes kids imagine because it features entertaining characters such as the flying carpet.

2. It fuels the drive to dream and go after that dream. For children, dreaming is innate. But as they grow older, they tend to forget how to hold on to their dreams. To instill the value of having a dream and how to go after it, you can let them watch Disney movies about the power of dreaming such as “Up.” Released in 2009, the movie tells a story of Carl Fredricksen who had enough courage to go after his dream despite old age and lack of resources.

3. It instills that value of kindness. Although kindness is something innate, children sometimes don’t develop it because of so many factors such as proper guidance from the parents and influence of other kids. To help him or her develop this attitude, you can let him watch Disney movies that tell about genuine kindness such as “Mary Poppins” which is a story of a nanny who uses magic to transform ordinary lives into something extraordinary through kindness.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Every girl dreamt of becoming a Disney princess once in their lives. This is because girls tend to look for amazing characters that they would look up to. Even if these characters are not real, many young girls continue to consider these princesses as their ‘idols’ when they grow up.

Whether you still believe in fairy tales or not, it is still a good thing to dream of living a princess’ life once in a while. This will stimulate imagination and will also help you to escape from stressful life in the real world.

If you are wondering which Disney princess, here’s a quick rundown of the most popular princesses that world’s biggest media and entertainment conglomerate has ever released:

1. Cinderella. For mistreated girls who never cease to dream for happy endings, then Cinderella is the perfect Disney princess for you. She is considered as the most favorite Disney princesses of all time because she epitomizes a strong yet kind hearted woman. Her story appeals so much to many girls because the story Cinderella tells that despite the hardships in life, one can still find true love and happiness. In fact, Cinderella became a standard to those who are dreaming of “happily ever after”. Who can ever forget the glass shoes, the fairy god mother and the evil step sisters? Indeed, this princess will continue to win the hearts of many girls in the next generations to come.

2. Snow White. For beautiful girls who somehow suffer for their physical assets, Snow White is you Disney Princess. She is another Disney princess favorite because Snow White is the most beautiful princesses ever created. In fact, it is because of her beauty that her evil step mother wanted to kill her. But then, Snow White was able to be triumphant in the end when she got the help of the Seven Dwarves. For her beauty alone, many children still consider Snow White as their favorite princess until now.

3. Belle. If you are the nerdy type, then Belle is the perfect Disney princess for you. Belle from Beauty and the Beast is considered as the first “nerdy” princess released by Disney for she loves to read a lot of books and would spend a lot of time day dreaming. Belle is also very pretty but is often commended for her courage to see beyond what they eyes let her see. She also proved that physical beauty is not everything when she fell in love with cursed Beast.

4. Aurora or Briar Rose. For girls who are judged easily based on their looks and the things that they do, Aurora is their Disney princess. The beautiful lady in “Sleeping Beauty,” many see this Disney character as boring for she has been sleeping all throughout. But in reality, princess Aurora has one of the most interesting lives there is. When a witch cast a spell on her, princess Aurora was forced to leave the castle and her parents and changed her name to Briar Rose to be able to live. But then again, the curse still got the best of her and was lulled into a deep sleep until the love of her life came to rescue her with a kiss.

What Can Kids Learn From A Disney Movie

Movies teach us a lot of things. Through the characters and the stories we see, we are introduced to a lot of new things that we did not know before. There are so many companies that produce a lot of movies but there are only few who would create movies that are suitable for kids of all ages such as the Walt Disney Company.

Simply called ‘Disney’, the biggest media and entertainment company in the world never cease to produce quality movies that are meant to nurture the imagination of children. Since it was established, it has been creating movies that have been used as tools for learning in so many classroom set up across the globe.

Fun and learning

For parents and teachers who want to instill good values in their kids or students, Disney movies can be the best reference that you can get. However, you have to choose carefully which ones you would allow these kids to see first to avoid confusion and so many questions. You also have to identify what they can learn from a specific Disney movie before you let them watch it so you would be able to explain later on what the movie is all about.

Here are some of the things that kids can learn from watching a Disney movie:

1. The real meaning of beauty. In this day and age, kids tend to pay more attention to physical attributes rather than the inner assets of an individual. To help them overcome the perception that beauty is all about physical beauty, you can let them watch “Beauty and the Beast” which tells the story of a beautiful lady named Belle who fell in love with a scary beast not knowing he is a handsome and kind-hearted gentleman. You can point out that one cannot gauge beauty with mere physical assets. Most of the time, the inner beauty of a person through kind deeds is what matters.

2. The power of love. With the technology, children nowadays do not believe in fairy tales anymore. Although too much fairy tale can mislead a child, the lack of it may also dry him or her out of imagination. If you want your child to grow up loving and caring, it would help if you would let him or her watch a Disney movie about the power of love such as the “Princess and the Frog”. This classic tale which tells the story of prince who was cursed to be a frog would surely make children realize that there is no impossible when one does things for love.

3. Love for nature and animals. It is so hard to teach kids about love for nature and animals these days because they are pre occupied with the things brought by modern gadgets. However, you can instill this by letting them watch Disney movies that tell about the lives of animals and how nature should be protected. One of the surefire hits that you can try is “Finding Nemo” which tells the story of a young clownfish named Nemo who was separated from his father when a Scuba diver took him away and placed him in an aquarium. The value of the story is that animals have lives and families too that is why humans should not do things to hurt them.

Tips for Seeking Discount Disney Cruise Vacation

Walt Disney Company aims to provide the best family recreational activities. In its tradition of facilitating more bonding and quality time for the whole family, the company is operating the Disney Cruise Line. Vacations could be better spent by getting into a recreational trip on board the cruise. Families really rave about Disney Cruise vacations.

If you aim to get to a Disney Cruise vacation, it would be better if you could also haggle to secure significant discounts. In these times when economic and financial crunch is a common occurrence, who would not want to seek significant markdowns on cruise costs? Disney cruise vacations could be considered luxury but vacationers could still possible save a few hundred dollars or more if they could find and get great discounts.  

Many travelers used to think that it is not possible taking a discount Disney Cruise vacation. Through time, many vacationers learn that if there would be a will, such cost reductions could be made really possible. As you intend to get a discount Disney Cruise vacation, it would be helpful if you would consider the following guidelines.

Practically, it would be advisable to buy and book tickets in advance. If you aim to schedule your Disney Cruise vacation for summer, spring break, Christmas and Thanksgiving, expect to spend more for the initiative. That is because those occasions and seasons are the peak of the vacation, and are logically commanding for higher prices because demand is rapidly and surely rising. During the months of January, February, May, August, and September to November, you would surely be able to book cruise vacations at Disney at significantly lower comparative prices.

Check out for Disney onboard credit offers. Disney Cruise Line is usually offering significant mark downs to prices for users of several credit cards like Visa and MasterCard. However, these are promos and are offered to vacationers as motivation for patronage and memberships. Duration of such promos could also vary.

Choose the right travel agent to whom you would entrust your Disney Cruise vacation. Disney Cruise Lines accredit specific travel agents and provide them the ability to secure discounts for clients. Is your travel agent authorized to provide huge markdowns on Disney cruise vacations? If not, start searching for a travel agency that is able to offer such a perk.

Plan the Disney cruise activity beforehand. Make reservations and book for less at hotel accommodations and transports before going to the Disney cruise terminal. Do not overspend on the activities prior to the cruise. You might be able to save on cruise tickets costs but you might end up paying more for necessary travel and accommodations prior to the luxury trip.

Ask for discount schemes if you do not know of anything. You would be surprised that by simply being inquisitive, you would be able to secure even minimal discounts to make the Disney Cruise vacation less costly and more worthwhile. You surely would enjoy your coming vacation more if you would be able to save much on costs.

The Disney Soundtracks Of Your Life

Disney is not only known for producing movies that capture the hearts of the audience because of its inspiring content. But, the biggest media and entertainment company has also made its mark in producing the soundtrack of so many people’s lives.

Whether it’s a love song or an inspirational song, Disney has something in store for everyone. Here’s a shortlist of the best movie soundtracks that Disney has ever released.

- The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Jason Weaver. The soundtrack features the song “Circle of Life" that was composed by Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice and sung by Carmen Twillie. In 1995, the song was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song along with two other songs. The album also featured the song “Hakkuna Mattata” which has catchy lyrics and upbeat melody and the ever popular “Can You Feel The Love Tonight,” sung by Elton John which topped UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Top 100. It also won Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in 1994 as well as a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for Elton John.

- The Little Mermaid: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Jodi Benson. The soundtrack featured the songs written by the song writing duo Alan Menkin and Howard Ashman. The most popular songs in the album "Under the Sea", that was sung by the character Sebastian in the movie which also won an Academy Award. Another popular song from the movie is the "Part of Your World" sung by Ariel and performed by Jodi Benson. The song continued to gain popularity because there we so many renditions that came out such as the ones released on DisneyMania performed by Jessica Simpson and also performed by Miley Cyrus, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, Olivia Newton-John, Faith Hill, Brenda Song, and Skye Sweetnam. Another great song from this soundtrack is called "Kiss the Girl," a song with Afro-Caribbean music which was also nominated for Academy Awards.

- Pinocchio by Leigh Harline. In this album is where the Disney's unofficial anthem "When You Wish Upon A Star" can be found. Sung by Cliff Edwards in the character of Jiminy Cricket in the movie, it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song when released in 1941. The song is considered as one of the best Disney soundtracks of all time because the American Film Institute ranked it seventh in its 100 Greatest Songs in Film History. This is so far the highest rank any Disney song has ever received.

From then on, it was used by a cover song by many great artists including the Glenn Miller, Gene Simmons of Kiss, Billy Joel, Mannheim Steamroller, Ashley Gearing, Jesse McCartney, Brian Sutherland, Kylie Minogue, Kate Voegele, Josh Groban and Michael Jackson. Other notable songs from the Pinoccho movie include "I've Got No Strings" sung by Pinoccho and "Give A Little Whistle" sung by Jiminy Cricket.

- Tarzan by Phil Collins. This is another Disney movie that features a lot of memorable hit songs such as "You'll Be In My Heart," which topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, the UK Singles Chart, and also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1999. Other great songs from the album include "Two Worlds," and "Strangers Like Me".

The Best Disney Movies Of All Time

Regardless of age, gender, status and nationality, everyone has his or her favorite Disney movie. This is because everyone can relate to the stories and the characters in each movie released by the biggest media and entertainment company in the world, the Walt Disney Company.

Through the years, Disney has made its mark by producing movies that are children-friendly and family oriented. But, the company did not stop there. Knowing that they have to continue offering what the market wants, Disney was also able to innovate and produce movies that are mature but are still good natured.

If you are a parent who wants to teach your child about positive values or a teacher who wants to inspire young students, now is the time to allow them to watch a Disney movie. Here are some of the best Disney movies that will surely capture the attention and imagination of kids and those who are kids at heart.

- The Lion King. One of the most memorable Disney movies that have ever been created was “The Lion King.” Released in 1994, this movie never fails to astound, amaze and inspire people who watch it over and over again simply because it is filled with wit, wisdom, and wonder. Another reason why it is such a hit is because it features talking animals that instantly captures the attention of the viewer. The movie tells about the story of a young lion named Simba who was born to be the “king of the jungle.” In his quest for his rightful claim against the villain Scar, Simba goes through a lot of challenges and also meets a lot of friends such Timon the meerkat, Pumbaa the warthog, and Rafiki the baboon who helped him to be a strong and wise leader. The movie features a lot of popular actors including Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, and Whoopi Goldberg among others.

- The Little Mermaid. This movie is one great way to introduce kids to the wonders of the ocean through lovable sea characters. Released in 1989, this Disney movie tells a story of a young and beautiful mermaid named Ariel who is dreaming to live in the world humans because of love. In order to get what she wants, Ariel would made deals with the villain named Ursula and would soon realize that nothing is impossible with the power of love. One great thing about this movie is it features singing and dancing underwater creatures that anybody can enjoy.

- Toy Story. Released in 1995, this Disney movie made so many kids see their toys in a different perspective. This wonderful movie tells the story of a toy cowboy named Woody. All his life, he was the favorite toy of a young boy named Andy. Because he was the favorite, Woody has always been confident that Andy would not give him up. This realization ended when Buzz Lightyear came into the scene and he was no longer Andy’s favorite.

This story tells the courage of Woody who fights his way back into Andy’s attention and out of the yardsale box. This Disney movie became a hit to kids and also adults because it featured a lot of popular voices such as Tom Hanks and Tim Allen among others.

The Disney West Coast Cruise

Walt Disney Company has always strived and initiated to cover for any family leisure activities. Aside from its popular movie and television outfits and the theme parks, Disney makes sure it could facilitate good and effective bonding activities during vacations for all families around the world. Quality time with family is the gist of every Disney business. Thus, when the company established Disney Cruise, family vacations activities have been redefined. Disney West Coast Cruise is very popular among good timers.

Disney West Coast Cruise is also more popularly called as the Disney Magic. This cruise was constructed and inaugurated in 1998. The ship served as Walt Disney’s foray into the cruise shipping business. Since then, demand for vacations in the Disney cruise has always been popular especially during summer vacations.

The cruise could cater to as many as 2,400 vacationers at one time. The Cruise generally and basically gets to seven destinations all scattered across the Pacific Ocean. Those destinations are the Cozumel, Key West, St. Thomas, Grand Cayman, St Maarten and the Disney private island of Castaway Cay.

On its initial operations, Disney West Coast Cruise was open to cruising anywhere, but in 2005, as part of the Disneyland’s golden (50th) anniversary, the Disney Cruise Line decided to make the cruise exclusive for West Coast.

If you are planning to book reservations and vacations using Disney West Coast, do not fret because you surely would get good deals for the efforts. The Disney West Coast Cruise is primarily for vacations. Thus, as much as possible, many Disney travelers want to cruise aboard Disney Magic.

Of course, Disney West Coast Cruise is principally assigned to cater to cruising requirements of people who want to sail, explore and enjoy the sights of the never-ending horizons. It really is fun to get aboard the Disney West Coast Cruise. Proof that people enjoy it is the ever rising demand for its tickets. Every year, thousands of accommodations are being booked for the Disney Magic.

And who would not enjoy spending several days offshore the seas embarked in the Disney Magic? The Cruise is complete with all the necessary amenities that would surely make anyone’s stay pleasurable and exciting. The Disney West Coast Cruise has a family swimming pool inside it for indoor swimming fun for the whole family. There are numerous restaurants that cater to every vacationer’s choosy and meticulous palate.

There are even recreational and themed mini-parks inside. All those of course are on top of the usual Disney theme parks amenities. Inside the cruise, you could get exclusive access to several other Disney entertainment amenities like television, through ABC, and movies, through Walt Disney Pictures and TouchStone.

Going around the coast of the Western side of the United States could never be as fun as the Disney West Coast Cruise. There are still so many areas and sites to explore, so many sunsets to watch and numerous fun activities that could make your vacation truly spectacular.

Planning For A Disney Vacation

Indeed, a Disney vacation is an ultimate vacation any person—young and old—dreams of turning into reality. But since a most people cannot afford a grand Disney vacation, many of them just let this dream go without knowing that they can do something to make the greatest vacation anybody could ever have!

Getting an online help

With the aid of the Internet, Disney has created some sites where people—especially families—who plan to go on a Disney vacation can get help and some tips in making the vacation worthwhile with lesser expenditure.

Disney has created a Disney family club for people who wants to have a vacation to get immediate access to the site. Since a vacation costs too much, Disney also we created the ultimate Disney savings site where people can save more on their total trip. Through this site, people who are planning and who are saving some bucks for the most-anticipated Disney vacation can learn more about discounts on tickets, foods, Disney merchandise, hotels and much more.

You can also chalk out the weeks and weeks of spending much time surfing the net because the site has been around for years and has been helping a lot of families to have fun by availing affordable Disney vacations.

Now, you can stop worrying about how much your Disney vacation going to cost. Because of the great deals offered by Disney, you can now start plotting and planning you Disney vacation and dream about all the fun that awaits you and your family. Some of the tempting deals include low prices on Disney rooms, tickets, dining, souvenirs, cruises, and Disney vacations.

For more information, you can also ask friends or people you know who already went on a Disney vacation so you can get first hand tips. This would be very helpful since they can give you specific details to ensure that you get the best out of your vacation.

Disney vacation family tips

Now that you have almost everything planned for that perfect Disney vacation, its now time for the equally tiring but enjoyable part: packing. Your savior would be your Disney vacation checklist, must haves, and must dos.

1. Clothing needs. When it comes to packing clothes, you should bear in mind to pack compete sets of comfortable change of clothing for each person. Include jackets, extra shirts, shorts, and blankets.

2. Basics. Next to the set of clothing, a set of complete toiletries is a must for a Disney vacation. Be sure to carry enough bath soaps, mouthwash, toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorants, cologne/perfume, tissues, cotton swabs, lotion, cosmetics, cotton balls, combs and brushes. Since you are with children, make sure to prepare a simple first aid kit that contains band aids, aspirin, moist towelletes, sunscreen and gauze.

3. Important items. Some of the must haves when going in a Disney vacation include wallet and/or purse and cash, credit cards and/or traveler's checks, car and house keys, eyeglasses and/or contact lenses, prescriptions and other medications, itineraries, tickets and reservation confirmations, maps and directions, camera, film, digital camera memory cards, and batteries.

Perfect Timing Tips to Walt Disney World Trips

Timing is everything for you to be able to enjoy your trip to Walt Disney World. There are four factors that you have to keep in mind as you plan for your vacation and these include the weather, crowds, park hours and special events.

Special Events

You have to know about the special events and when there will be extended park hours. These usually happen during the busiest times of the year. It may be your first instinct to avoid such dates, but you may want to reconsider once you have found out about the extended hours that the parks operate and events happening all over the place like special parades.

If it is getting too hot during the day, you may want to take a break and rest for some time at the hotel or resort where you are staying. You can go back to the parks at night wherein things can get a lot more exciting, especially at theme parks such as the Epcot, Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. What should you expect during the night? Some of the attractions that you will get to enjoy once the moon appears include fireworks, special night parade and other special shows. You may also get to enjoy the rides that you’ve always wanted to try without falling in long lines.

Christmas may be one of the best times to visit the parks because this is synonymous to festivities and spectacular lights. This may be breathtaking and worth the price, but you must expect big crowds. The other fun times include the Flower and Garden Festival during springtime at the Epcot that features Flower Power concerts and the Star Wars Weekends in June. You can check out the calendar of activities for all the theme parks to be updated with all the events. This way, you can plan your visit wisely and so that you can make the most out of this trip.

Weather Considerations

If you will tag along your kids on this trip, you have to brief them about the weather, especially if you plan to go during summertime. It can really get humid at this season and there are many people on the parks, so you have to expect long lines. Most lines of various rides are located on shady spots or at air-conditioned areas. You can help your kids cope with the heat by enjoying a wet ride to help all of you to cool down. You can also opt to leave the park when the heat is unbearable and return at nighttime to enjoy the special events during these times. Thunderstorms usually occur during summer, so you may want to bring plastic ponchos or buy the Mickey poncho at the site.

It is not every day that you get to enjoy such wonderful treat that you can only experience at the Walt Disney World. You have to make sure that you have planned accordingly for this trip. This way, you won’t regret anything that you have missed out on once you have gotten back home.

Most Popular Disney Costumes

Disney characters are the most popular theme for a child’s birthday party. This is because the company has made its mark in making movies that cater to children.

Through the years, Disney continues to earn popularity because countless kids around the world use its characters in their birthday celebrations. For children, wearing a Disney costume is one of the most precious memories they could ever have. This is because she or he will be able to celebrate an important date in their lives in their favorite Disney character.

Most preferred Disney costumes

Disney costumes can be bought directly from a store. But it would be extra special if you have sewn it yourself. If you are one of those parents who want to sew a Disney costume for their child’s party, it would be best to do a little research on it.

For beginners, using the sewing machine is advisable to make the work easier, faster, accurate, and convenient. Once you have learned how to use the machine well, the next step is to determine what type of costume you will be sewing for your child.

For boys, the most common Disney costumes are the movies that tell stories about heroes and being macho:

1. Woody or Buzz Lightyear from “Toy Story.” The cowboy costume of Woody is easy to make and comfortable while Buzz Lightyear’s costume can be harder to make but it would really look super cool on your little boy.

2. Captain Jack Sparrow from “Pirates of the Caribbean”. This is the perfect pirate costume for little boys because of the comfort it brings and not to mention the simple materials that you will be using. You can also make a variation of the costume depending on the preference of your child.

3. Dash from “The Incredibles”. This Disney costume continues to be popular among young boys because Dash looks cool in the movies. It would be easy to make since you can use available materials such as red leggings and long sleeves. All you need to do is to sew the logo on the shirt and add up additional accessories such as black rubber boots and rubber gloves.

For little girls, the most popular Disney costumes are girly and cute such as:

1. Disney Princesses. There are so many Disney Princesses including Snow White from the movie “Snow White,” Belle from “Beauty and the Beast,” Cinderella from the movie “Cinderella,” Aurora from “Sleeping Beauty,” and Ariel from the “Little Mermaid.” All of these are long gowns that have various designs and styles but basically, you will be needing other princess accessories such as tiaras and pretty shoes to make up the outfit.

2. Esmeralda from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”. This is a gypsy inspired costume which consists of one piece gown, a corset, a hip drape with coin trim, and head scarf.

3. Tinkerbell from movies “Peter Pan” or “Tinkerbell”. Peter Pan's fun and trustful companion Tinkerbell is also a popular Disney costume for parties. This include a green dress that and a pair of fairy wings and boots.

Interesting Facts and Details about Walt Disney

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear about Disney? Is it Mickey Mouse or your favorite cartoon series on cable TV? If there is one thing that has already been proven by this company is the fact that through time, this has strengthened its name and created a brand that has become a favorite of many people all over the world.

This is actually now known as the biggest media and entertainment conglomerate throughout the world. It was founded by brothers Walt and Roy on October 16, 1923 and named it after their last name. It has changed twice and the company settled to what it’s called now in 1986. From producing cartoons, it has also ventured into live action film production, travel, television, publishing, radio, theater and other new divisions that cater to the more mature audience.

Among all its ventures, the brand is most popular for its film outfit that has already produced lots of hit movies and paved the way for young actors to be known not only in Hollywood but also in all parts of the world where these films are being distributed.

The company has indeed captured many hearts through the products and services that it continues to provide. This is also enough reason why many people are interested to know more about the person behind the company’s name or the other half of the two brothers that started it all. Who is Walt and why did his brother allow his name to be used as the company’s brand? Here are some interesting facts about the man that paved the way for many children and adults alike to get over with their fear of rats or at least, think about Mickey before they shriek upon seeing a real one.

The Man behind the Company’s Name

This popular figure that is greatly known as an entertainment pioneer was born on December 5, 1901. It was in 1928 when he released his first motion picture that was entitled, Steamboat Willie. He was also the genius behind hit entertainment projects such as The Mickey Mouse Club, Davy Crocket and a lot more. He may have a strong line of accomplishments, but Walt was only able to attend a year in high school.

Why do you think he got his name on the company’s label? Although he started it with his brother, Roy, the latter insisted that that Walt’s name must be emphasized when they changed it the second time. For over two decades, Walt, while ably managing the business, also served as the voice of Mickey Mouse. The man is famous not only for his name and his voice, but also for his mustache that he started growing at the age of 25.

He was admittedly scared to face the cameras during the time that he needed to appear and introduce the episodes of the TV series known as the Disneyland. The man has the record of winning more Oscars than anyone else, with 32 trophies overall.

Mickey Mouse might have already upstaged its creator in terms of popularity, but while many people are still hooked with the character, Walt Disney will continue to leave a legacy even to the future generation.

How To Make The Best Out Of Your Disney Vacation

Disney vacations are one of the most luxurious trips one can ever have. This is because the experience would finally fulfill dreams for the ultimate family getaway. For people who have not set foot on the Disneyland, a Disney vacation is a perfect opportunity for a family bonding because it offers everything that people of all ages will surely enjoy.

If you are planning to go on Disney vacation, it is a must that you prepare first for the trip. The most basic thing that you can do is to introduce yourself to the place by knowing the basic things about it. You can do this by visiting various websites that offer information on Disneyland.

These sites will give you an overview about the place, what to expect, how to get there, and a wide array of activities available for you. By visiting a websites, you can also get travel discounts or cheaper airfare fees especially when you book for a much earlier date. Getting a low rate airfare to get you to Disneyland is ideal to help you save some money for the big adventure.

Aside from browsing the Internet, you can also get important information and tips from travel magazines, which feature the place. In these feature stories and articles, you can get various opinions, comments, and observations about the place that can help you decide if you really can afford Disney vacations or if everything will worth the trip.

Helpful tips

Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and all their friends await you and your children on your Disney vacation. After knowing that going into a Disney vacation is not that stressful physically, financially and emotionally by surfing the net, now is the time to start finding your perfect Disney trip from the wide selection of Disney vacation travel choices.

Indeed, going to a Disney Vacation soothes not only one’s nerves but it can somehow change a stressed person’s outlook towards life and family. Going in a Disney vacation can be intimidating and overwhelming. You can be pressured to identify all the necessary things to do—like where to stay, what tickets to buy, where to eat, rent a car, fly, drive or take the train, where to buy souvenirs and other merchandise, what are the perfect attractions suitable for everybody and how can you afford all these. But, there is still time to do some research.

Before going into that dream Disney vacation, be introduced on things like admission prices, affordable accommodations, dining places, theme Parks, car rental and ground transportation, and airfare. You better check out some Disney vacation packages, affordable Merchandise, and admission prices to other attractions.

Looking for some of these tips might also lead you to discover the list of things that you can do while on a Disney vacation you have a tight budget. Also many people, who go on a Disney vacation is cut short on bucks, make sure to the Disney Marketplace, Pleasure Island, Disney West Side, and Planet Hollywood. You may also scout for affordable vacation destination the next time.

How to Enjoy Your Stay at the Walt Disney World in Orlando

You are going to Walt Disney World in Orlando and you intend to have fun and make this a truly memorable experience. With so many places to go such as the theme parks, restaurants, hotels, nightlife activities and shopping ventures, you must really plan real hard for this trip and allot a budget that you are willing to spend while on it.

The place measures about 40-square-mile that features world class entertainment and superb recreation area. This has four theme parks, two water adventure parks, two spas that include full service, the Wedding pavilion, entertainment, dining and shopping complex and a lot more. It is only understandable that it is a dream of many people from all over the world to get to this spot and experience everything that it has to offer.

This is not only popular to local residents and neighboring countries, but this is actually acknowledged as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. This may be because of the sunny weather that is experienced in Florida all year round, where this is located. It began giving joys and pure fun when it opened in October, 1971. This has also provided about 60,000 jobs on the site and a lot more on the other tourist related markets.

There are four theme parks that you can enjoy while on it such as the Magic Kingdom, MGM Studios, Animal Kingdom and Epcot Center.

You have huge selection of hotels at the area. You can choose based on your allotted budget, from the most expensive to moderately priced. The resorts offer same ambience as the parks with themed pools and various play areas. The whole place offers loads of fun and excitement.

Plan Your Trip

It is very much recommended that you plan wisely for this trip. Check out various resources online or the brochures or magazines given away by the company to know more about the special events that you can check out. You must also create a to-do list before you get there, so that you can make the most out of the duration of your stay. Take note that food and drinks are understandably costly if you will buy these on the sight. It is recommended that you bring snacks and drinks with you as you hit the parks, especially during hot summer months. If you are going to bring kids with you, make sure that you allow them to enjoy everything without getting too much exhausted. You must strategize the rides that you ought to try. For example, after you have gone through many types of rides under the heat of the sun, you can all try to cool off by trying a wet ride.

The most important thing that you have to remember while planning for your trip is to have fun and try to experience the best of everything. You never know when you could go back to the place or if you can afford another trip. It is ideal that you plan well for this venture to the Walt Disney World so that you won’t regret missing out on anything.

Great Things to Know about the Beginnings and People behind Disney

Aside from Mickey Mouse or your dream to travel to Disneyland, what do you know about Walt Disney? This may be a known brand as well as a company that is recognized as the largest entertainment and media conglomerate in the world, but there is a real person behind the name. He is the other half of the two brothers who pioneered this empire. Walt, along with brother, Roy, started the original company in 1923. From its humble beginnings, it has become a leader when it comes to American animation, then ventured into other successful projects such as radio, theater, publishing and online media.

It also owns the largest studios in Hollywood these days. It owns that popular broadcast TV network, ABC, it has various cable channels that include the Disney Channel, ABC Family and ESPN. Aside from these, it also successfully ventured into merchandising, publishing and theater divisions. It currently holds licenses for 11 theme parks that can be found all over the world.

Emphasizing the Walt

The company has changed it name twice before settling with what it’s called now. If you are wondering why the other brother allowed Walt’s name to be used in it, this is due to the insistence of Roy as he felt that it sounds right if his brother’s name would be emphasized. Walt has since gotten lots of accomplishments in the entertainment scene even though he was only able to attend a year in high school.

The man, who had the famous mustache that he began growing when he was 25, was also the voice behind Mickey Mouse for two decades.

In 1923, Walt worked as an animator in Missouri. He was the genius behind a short film known as the Alice’s Wonderland that featured Virginia Davis, a child actress that acted along with animated characters. The brothers were contacted by Margaret J. Winkler for the distribution of the whole series of Alice Comedies. The brothers moved to Los Angeles upon agreeing to the terms and signing the contract. They first settled at the garage of their uncle where the real roots of the company can be traced.

Through time, the company continues to flourish and spread the geniuses of the two brothers who started it all. Walt died on December 15, 1966 from lung cancer. At the time, Roy took charge as the CEO, chairman and president of the company. He gave honor to his brother by adapting his whole name along with the vision that he was known for on the Walt Disney World. The following year after his death, the last two films that he used to manage were released, such as The Jungle Book, an animated film and a musical treat known as The Happiest Millionaire. In the late 60’s the company released The Love Bug and the film that discovered actor Kurt Russell, known as The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes.

Two months after the Walt Disney World opened in October 1, 1971, Roy died of a stroke. The company was then left to the able hands of Donn Tatum, Card Walker and Ron Miller who was Walt’s son-in-law.

Getting Discounts for Disney Vacation Packages

It is a fact that Disney vacation packages offer so many exciting things and activities, but cheap price tags are not among them. All throughout the year, many people from all over the world book reservations and accommodations for such packages. Up until this time, Disney magic is still very much alive especially when it comes to recreation. Discerning and resourceful vacationers can still manage to secure hefty and significant discounts from such packages.

Huge price markdowns for Disney vacation packages are possible through adhering to several purchasing ideas.  Do you intend to get significant discounts on your planned Disney vacation? You may think there is no effective way to buy vacation packages at cheaper costs. You should realize that getting huge discounts is very much possible. Here are several ideas that can help you attain savings from doing so.

1. Secure discount coupons. When you encounter discount coupons at magazines or newspapers, do not hesitate to cut them out right away. Such coupons are great finds and they can be hard to encounter. A 5% markdown can cost huge amount of money in the long run. Sometimes, Disney also offers discounts when you buy online DVD, specifically involving their own titles. Additionally, the multi-attraction "Go Card' discount card will enable you to ride several attractions at the theme parks for the price of just one ride.

2. Strive harder to find Disney hotel discounts. You should know that accommodations at Disneyland can be totally expensive. However, you might be surprised that markdowns are available. You can secure discounts by presenting proofs of your membership at the American Automobile Association and American Association of Retired Persons. Hotel discounts are also frequently offered through online booking at discount travel Websites. Disneyland hotel is also occasionally providing discounts online. You find such perks if you will be more patient and resourceful in looking around.

3. When buying Disneyland park tickets, buy online or through travel agents. It is not advisable to purchase tickets when you get to the park, as prices are usually higher. Advance purchases of such tickets can be an effective way to secure discounts. Going in groups can make prices lower as well. It is best if you plan a vacation with your entire family or with a large group because usually, buying on the bulk can bring about huge price discounts. Beware of other parties that claim to sell and book Disney vacation packages because they might be hoax.

The resourceful and patient finders are almost always able to secure great discounts for Disney vacation packages. Before going into the Disney vacation, it will also help if you will do a little comparison shop by getting quotes from different sources and sellers of vacation packages. Coordinate with as many travel agencies as you can so you can find the best packages with the most reasonable costs.

It is not advisable to immediately book reservations as doing so will be acting inappropriately in an impulse.