Chinese Disneyland Clone Scares the Kids

by Justin Glow on

No, it’s not Disneyland China, it’s Shijingshan Amusement Park located in Beijing. This Disney knock-off could be very frightening for a child who is used to seeing the American version of Walt’s lovable characters — Donald’s got a spare tire, and Minnie doesn’t look quite right herself. I don’t even know what to say about the Snow White-themed ticket booth. Even the “Magic Kingdom” looks like it belongs in Legoland, rather than a Chinese Disneyland clone-park.

“None of this is authorized by Disney,” explains China’s English-language business newspaper, The Standard. “but that has not stopped the state-owned park from creating its own counterfeit version of the Magic Kingdom in a brazen example of the sort of open and widespread copyright piracy that has Washington fuming.”

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, they say.

[via boingboing]

Own Walt Disney’s Passport

by Jonathon Morgan on

The next time I’m at a restaurant or bar, and someone asks me for identification, I’d love to pull out this — just to see their reaction.

To be honest, I can’t think of any other reason to own Walt Disney’s passport, unless you’re an enormous fan of the entrepreneur, and the ever-expanding entertainment giant he originally founded. Regardless, if you are interested, now is your chance to own a piece of travel history. The eBay auction closes at 11:00 a.m. PDT on April 14th; opening bid is $3,600, and it’s expected to sell for between $14,400 and $21,600 by the time all is said and done.

Got your checkbook handy?

[via Boing Boing]

Low-Cost Housing Near Disneyland?

by Jonathon Morgan on

My daughter is 2 1/2. Thus, it won’t be long before we’ll be faced with one of the first monumental decisions in raising said daughter: should we, or should we not take her to Disneyland?

It’s one of the most popular tourist attractions on the planet, and now, thanks to proposed low-cost housing requirements as part of a 1,500 condominium and apartment project, its workers might be able to afford living near-by.

But not if Walt Disney Co. has anything to say about it.

The resort area near the entertainment park is currently filled with hotels, restaurants and a tourist-friendly district called Downtown Disney. Those running the magic kingdom feel that adding poor people wouldn’t be in keeping with the fantasy and cartoon-character memorabilia. According to Disneyland spokesman Rob Doughty, “This lawsuit speaks to how important we view this Anaheim resort area and that we make sure the vision sticks.”

The question is, important for who?

Not that we ever would’ve chose to live near Mickey Mouse and company (low-cost housing or not), but with practices like this, I’m not so sure I feel comfortable visiting either.

Photo of the Day (12/30/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Now that Christmas has come and past and with New Year’s only two days away it felt natural picking this shot of the ever-so-famous Mickey Mouse head. Why? I don’t know. Maybe someone out there put a trip to Disney World in Orlando or Tokyo on their 2007 vacation list. Sure it’s cluttered with tourists, but the mouse man has always been popular with the kiddies and the kid at heart. The fireworks show around the holidays is said to be an extra special site to see, so I’m told.

Anyhow, today’s POTD goes to vyxle. Taken on some type of Disney train in Tokyo, I wonder what puzzles the woman.

New Disney Program for Very Young Children

by Karen Walrond on

From Yahoo!News: 
In response to a study performed by the Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown and Russell research firm, Disney Parks in Florida
and California have initiated a program aimed at families with children aged 5 years old and younger.  The study
indicated that 80% of families  believe the ideal age for children to experience their first major family vacation
is under the age of 5.

The program, called "Magical Beginnings," includes a discounted package deal
on accommodations, food and park tickets.  According to the article, "Disney World is offering a $950 package
from Aug. 13 to Sept. 30, for families with one child age 3-9. The $950 covers a five-day, four-night stay; "Magic
Your Way" theme park tickets and a Disney Dining plan, which includes one table-service meal, one snack and one
quick-service meal per person, per day. Additional children are $173 per child."

I’ve been carefully
avoiding the whole Disneyworld theme park holiday with my family (including my 2-year-old daughter), using the excuse
that it’s way too expensive.  "Besides, she’s too young to get it," I tell people.  "We’ll
wait until she’s older.  MUCH OLDER."

Curse Disney for chipping away at my excuses!