Make note of the part about KP (in bold).

Nov 12, 2008 (Tampa Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) — Visitors to the Disney parks and resorts early next year will be to able connect with the equivalent of a personal tour guide through their wireless phones in a partnership between Disney and Verizon Wireless, the companies announced today.

Certain items such as dining locations, show times and location information will be available to all Disney visitors, regardless of their wireless company.

However, guests with Verizon Wireless service will get certain exclusive information including real-time attraction availability and messages from the theme park characters. The service will be available before and after guests arrive.

Ninety percent of families take a mobile phone into the parks, Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said in a statement.

“Imagine receiving up-to-the-minute tips on special Park activities with just the touch of a button or receiving a call from Buzz Lightyear welcoming you to the Magic Kingdom,” Rasulo said.

Guests visiting Epcot in early 2009 also will be able experience Disney’s interactive Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure through a Verizon Wireless handheld device to maneuver through the mission of saving the world from various comical villains.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

Now, does that mean that you have to have a Verizon phone to do the KP thing, or that Disney will provide a Verizon branded device?

Bob Schooley just told me about an upcoming sneak peak of Mark and his new show on Nick, The Penguins of Madagascar.

Programming dates are always tentative and change at the drop of a hat, but at the moment, the sneak peak of “Gone in a Flash” (a single 11 minute episode) premieres:
Friday, 11/28, at 8:30PM
And repeats:
Saturday, 11/29, at 10AM and 9:45PM
Sunday, 11/30, at 12:45AM and 7:45PM

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Source: Yahoo TV

Hannah Montana’s latest checkup resulted in a troubling diagnosis.

The Disney Channel confirmed to E! News that the network scrapped the episode it had intended to open the hit series’ third season—an episode titled “No Sugar, Sugar” that features a character (Hannah’s pal Oliver) dealing with diabetes—after some initial concerns as to how the disease was portrayed.

According to a network executive, the Disney Channel’s Standards and Practices team consulted with medical experts during the script-writing process “to inform the story and be sure it was told responsibly.”

“Notwithstanding the measures we took, and based on the episode’s preview and early feedback from parents, we removed the episode from Sunday’s schedule and are now reevaluating it,” the Disney rep said.

“We will await the results of the episode review by a variety of experts and then will make a determination on the episode’s future. Most importantly, we listened to those who expressed their concerns and consulted with the creative team (programmers and producers).”

It was then that they chose to pull the Nov. 2 episode, opting to make “He Ain’t a Hottie, He’s My Brother” the sitcom’s season-three premiere instead. Episode No. 2, “Ready, Set, Don’t Drive” (Billy Ray’s message to the almost-16-year-old Miley, perhaps?) premieres Sunday.

“Still, there is great interest, especially from parents, in seeing the subject of living with diabetes somehow incorporated into our storytelling for kids and families, so we’re hopeful we’ll do so in the future,” added the Disney Channel exec.

And it’s not as if the Mouse House doesn’t have a handle on the subject matter already. Also on Nov. 2, the Disney Channel aired an installment of Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream that explored how Nick Jonas manages his diabetes both at home and on tour. The 16-year-old JoBro appeared in a PSA afterward in support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

What the heck? I only saw one prono for “No Sugar, Sugar”but I didn’t see anything objectionable.

Today is the fourth year anniversary of Save Disney Shows. The past four years have been quite a journey, and much more than I would have ever imagined.

Four years ago, I was a college freshman about halfway into my first term. I had been helping and then running SaveKimPossible.com for the past several months, and was already in awe of the contacts we had made (Bob & Mark), and the number of members MKP had (at the time, maybe 150). But this new project was to expand my world in ways I couldn’t even begin to imagine.

A lot of people don’t know it, but the ideas of SDS was really Tucsoncoyote’s idea. Before that point we where focused exclusively on KP, but Tuc to his credit saw the need to work for more than just KP. But we’ll get to that later.

Four years ago, Kim Possible was squarely the goal. And between Adam and myself, we established the SKP section of SDS and formed much of the navigational structure we still use today. Sometimes I wish we had planned it all out a little more, but the site grew as ideas for it where made, and plans weren’t really applicable.

I know that for myself at least, the fight for KP really rekindled my love of the Walt Disney company, which might sound strange considering the fact that we where “fighting” against it. In actuality, any successful campaign is not really a fight. It is much more a persuasion, perhaps even a seduction. In order to get more KP we had to convince them they wanted to continue it, not that we’d boycott them if they didn’t.

Our high point came in 2005 when our primary purpose was fulfilled. Namely, KP was renewed for a fourth season. Unfortunately, saving the show caused some real problems on the site! For only days later, we learned that Phil of the future had been canceled. My reaction was to quickly spring into action, organize fans, and try to quickly mount a campaign to save the show. Adam, well, didn’t much care. I mean, yes he cared about the fans, but he didn’t want to directly help as it was up to the Phil fans to save their show (paraphrased). It was the start of a major rift, and everyone knows how that ended.

Today, on it’s fourth year anniversary, Save Disney Shows is at a cross roads and when I think about it, so am I. Our mission statement has been laid out on the main page ever since SDS’s founding. And while it had been revised over the years, the basis stays the same. We’ve never been able to get Disney to acknowledge the 65 episode rule, but we’re fairly sure it’s time is over. And while DC still doesn’t play any of the classic 90s shows, they are being released on DVD. And while some fans continue to fight for Phil, or Jake Long, or even Stitch it is apparent that this site has always been focused around the fight for KP’s fourth will have to further evolve as the Disney Channel and Disney company evolve.

I for one look forward to helping guie fans of current and future Disney shows, not simply when programs end, but before that time, as a sort one one stop destination for information about the status of all Disney shows. And perhaps we can help the hard core animation lovers get over their loathing of High School Musical. And maybe we can get the Hannah Montana fans to appreciate American Dragon Jake Long. If there’s one thing the past four years have taught me, it’s that the Internet is a very powerful tool for bringing people together.

We’ve done a lot in four years, but really, we’re just getting started.

Source: NY Daily News

Dylan and Cole Sprouse sent Disney’s ratings soaring when their new spinoff, “The Suite Life on Deck,” debuted in September. This new life on the high seas sits with the brothers just fine.

“Life on Deck” is an offshoot of the twins’ former show, “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody,” in which the boys ran amok at the fictional Tipton Hotel. Now older and maybe wiser, Zack and Cody are attending school at sea on the S.S. Tipton and still getting into mischief, though perhaps not as much as on dry land.

“I think Disney wanted us to be more responsible on the show,” said Cole, “and they felt that putting us on a boat would be the best way to do that.”

“With growing older comes responsibility, [which] if you don’t acquire sooner or later, you’re gonna be in trouble,” said Dylan. “So the new show definitely teaches responsibility. We get jobs, and essentially every single show has a moral.”

The brothers, identical 16-year-old twins, got their start in acting at the age of 6 months, appearing in a toilet paper commercial, then on ABC’s “Grace Under Fire” as the same character, Patrick Kelly. They appeared in movies such as “Big Daddy” and eventually landed the Disney show.

The first season of “Life on Deck,” airing Fridays at 8 p.m., will explore all the follies of living at sea, including fighting off a Loch Ness-type monster and an eerie encounter in the Bermuda Triangle. There are also plans for a “Life on Deck,” “Wizards of Waverly Place” and “Hannah Montana” crossover episode.

Unlike most of their Disney counterparts, the Sprouse brothers swear they have no singing aspirations. They’d rather just concentrate on their acting before heading off to college when they’re old enough - Dylan to art school and Cole maybe to USC to study film.

In the meantime, the boys are grateful for their show and work hard at staying levelheaded in the Hollywood environment.

“Some people do shows because they want to be famous and I’m honestly telling you right now, if that’s the reason, they’re going to get swept up,” said Dylan. “Cole and I just came into acting because we like to act and we like to work.”

And just in case you’re curious, there are no plans for the boys to shave their famously coiffed heads anytime soon.

“I don’t think they would be too happy about that,” said Dylan. “On the Disney Channel, the skinhead look doesn’t do too well, let me tell you.”

Another three-way crossover? They did a decent job on the last one, so this should be interesting.

Halloween is by far the best recruiting day of the year. All year long we spend a lot of time encouraging everyone to get out there and find more people who don’t yet know about our movements. This might be by posting flyers around town, wearing SDS merchandise, and/or by posting about us online. But on Halloween, kids and their parents come right to your door. What could be easier?

But we need you all to help!

Download and print out the new flyer and post one one your front door, gate, where ever people can read it. If you’re trick-or-treating leave a few flyers with you parents and take a few with you. Give them to anyone who seems interested. If you’re too old for trick-or-treating, you can still give flyers to anyone interested who comes begging for candy.

Download the new flyer here

You can also find many more flyers and handouts here. Or feel free to make your own!

And if you happen to dress up like a DC star or chracter this year, we’d love to see it! And we’d love to see how you make use of our flyers. Send us any photos you’d like to share at webmaster@savedisneyshows.org.

“Rita Rocks” is a show about mom and wife Rita (Nicole Sullivan, Kim Possible) who gets passed up for a promotion and realizes that everyone around her has a life and is out doing things with their lives. When she was younger she was in a band and now to capture the spirit of her younger days she starts a garage band with her mail lady Patty as the keyboardist, unemployed neighbor Owen as the bass player, and her oldest daughter Hallie’s boyfriend Kip (Raviv Ullman, Phil of the Future)  plays the drums.

Characters

Rita: Wife to Jay, and mother to Hallie and Shannon, forms a garage band to have time for herself.

Jay: Husband to Rita who supports her garage band.

Hallie: Rita’s oldest daughter at the age of 16.

Shannon: Youngest daughter. She loves karate.

Kip: Hallie’s goofy boyfriend for over a year who spends most of his time at Rita’s because he doesn’t like his parents.

Patty: Rita’s mail lady who is the keyboardist in her band.

Owen: Rita’s unemployed neighbor who can’t find a job anywhere after being in the auto business for 20 years. He invited himself to play with the band.

Yoda: Family dog who is a golden retriever.

The show will premiere on October 20th at 8:30pm et/pt after Reba on Lifetime (channel 73 for Time Warner). There will then be a new episode everyday that week at 8:30pm et/pt.

October 20th
The first episode is the pilot where it will deal with Rita having sort of a midlife crisis and forming a band.

October 21st
Rita misses Shannon’s karate class because she was having band practice. Meanwhile Kip is playing the drums in Rita’s band even though Hallie has forbid him not to.

October 22nd
Patty has started going out with a UPS guy and Rita tries to help move it along and ends up complicating things. Meanwhile Kip and Hallie plan to get tattoos but the plan doesn’t go over well with Rita and Jay.

October 23rd
Rita and Patty go to a guitar shop when one of the strings on her guitar break and they meet two young guy musicians. They all go out to a concert together and Jay is not too happy about it.

October 24th
Rita and Jay decide to go away for the weekend but their plans are almost ruined when Rita’s mom has to back out of babysitting Hallie and Shannon. Hallie thinks she is old enough to watch Shannon for the weekend but Rita and Jay don’t think do.

Starting the week after on October 28th “Rita Rocks” will be on it’s normal time at 8:30pm.

October 28th
Hallie wants to go to Canada with Kip for a concert and Shannon wants to have a sleepover with friends at the house. Rita says no to both requests and as a result she thinks Hallie and Shannon are sucking up to Jay to get him to say yes.

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Here’s a photo of Webmaster Wayne with two Lilo & Stitch background paintings at the Hollywood Studios park at Walt Disney World.

And here is another Stitch painting from the park.

There will be more later. Wayne writes “Stitch’s Great Escape ride coming Sun! No KP, but lots of Stitch here at Disney World!”

UPDATE: Here are two more pictures Wayne asked me to post for him.

This first one is of Stitch above one of the entryways of the World of Disney Store at Downtown Disney in Florida.

And here’s one more. Wayne says, “Aloha from the Spirit of Aloha dinner at the Polynesian Resort Disney World!”

UPDATE 2: Here are three more pictures Wayne asked me to post for him.

A Disney Groom at the Magic Kingdom.

Wayne getting ready to go on Stitch’s Great Escape

Stitch’s Great Escape sign

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Below is an article about a new short series based on Pixar’s movie Cars.

The world premiere of Disney- Pixar’s “Cars Toons,” a new animated short series directed by Academy Award(R)-winner John Lasseter, and starring Lightning McQueen’s rusty but trusty friend Mater, will be presented on, Disney Channel, Toon Disney and ABC Family beginning MONDAY, OCTOBER 27.

“Cars Toons” are directed by John Lasseter, (director on “Cars,” “Toy Story 2,” “A Bug’s Life” and “Toy Story”). Victor Navone (animator on “Cars,” “The Incredibles,” “Finding Nemo” and “Monsters, Inc.”) and Rob Gibbs (story artist on “Cars,” “Finding Nemo,” “Monsters, Inc” and “Toy Story 2″) are co- directors. Kori Rae (associate producer on “The Incredibles” and “Monsters Inc.”) is the producer.

The shorts premiere as follows on Toon Disney (all times ET/PT):

Monday, October 27 (6:56 p.m.)

“Rescue Squad Mater” — Mater is a fire truck that rescues Lightning McQueen from a burning building. When McQueen is rushed to the hospital, he discovers that Mater is a doctor, too.

Tuesday, October 28 (6:57 p.m.)

“Mater the Greater” — Mater is a famous daredevil who does all kinds of stunts. And Lightning McQueen becomes an unwilling participant in Mater’s greatest stunt ever.

Wednesday, October 29 (6:57 p.m.)

“El Materdor” — Mater is a famous bulldozer fighter in Spain. He’s so good, he’s able to fend off multiple bulldozers at once. Lightning McQueen joins Mater in this Tall Tale just as things are at their worst.

Disney Channel will present all three shorts throughout the day on Saturday, November 1. ABC Family will present the shorts beginning Tuesday, December 23 during the network’s annual “25 Days of Christmas” programming event.

I was certainly surprised by this news!

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts on Thursday announced a new promotion to admit visitors free on their birthdays next year.

“Every guest gets in free to one of our parks on their birthday in 2009,” Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said at a news conference in Manhattan.

Visitors will have to show valid identification and proof of birthdate to qualify. Details are available at http://www.disneyparks.com, where birthday visits can be registered in advance.

Mike Lynn, a professor of consumer behavior at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, said admitting guests free to the parks on their birthdays could very well make money.

“The only thing they lose is the revenue from those people whose birthdays it is who might have come anyway,” he said. “Having an extra customer in the park doesn’t cost them anything. Those people are still a benefit because they have to buy food and drinks, and their friends and family are accompanying them.”

The birthday offer is part of a larger Disney promotion announced Thursday called “What will you celebrate?” It includes a 30-city tour with public events featuring Disney costumed characters, beginning in Minneapolis on Sept. 25 and ending in Phoenix in February. Next week Disney will also start running “What will you celebrate?” TV ads featuring kids blowing out candles and brides in limousines.

In addition, the parks will offer buttons to wear that identify guests with phrases such as “Just Married,” “Just Graduated,” and “First Visit.”

“Our goal is to mark the special moments in your life in a way that your family will remember forever,” Rasulo said.

Peter Yesawich, a consultant on lifestyle trends, said at the Disney news conference that Americans often arrange vacations around personal milestones such as anniversaries and birthdays. He called the phenomenon “celebration vacations.”

Miley Cyrus, star of the Disney show “Hannah Montana,” plans to celebrate her 16th birthday at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., Oct. 5.

The birthday promotion is only good at U.S. parks. Visitors with multi-day passes or who are otherwise already ticketed on their birthdays can either get a one-day one-park ticket for use in the next year; a “Fastpass” for four rides for up to six people; or a card with a dollar amount equal to the free ticket, usable toward merchandise and other purchases.

The only thing I’m not sure of, is what exactly the “fun card” is. It sounds like basically a gift card, but it looks to only be available at WDW for some reason:

A birthday fun card in an amount equal to the price of a 1-day Magic Your Way base ticket* for you to use on your birthday for merchandise, recreation or fun activities at select participating locations at Walt Disney World® Resort; or