Search Results for: blog the disneyfication of the olympics

The Disneyfication of the Olympics

Thousands of people around the world cram into their local roads, to contribute to the joyous roar of the crowd as a runner pounds past, bearing a flickering flame above their heads. Athletes become celebrities, grinning at the world first from a podium amidst a colorful snowstorm of confetti, then from orange cereal boxes under the fluorescent glow of the grocery store. Today the Olympics are synonymous with fanfare. I’m sure we’ll be seeing plenty tonight at the opening ceremony in Vancouver. What few people know is that before the 1960 Winter Olympics, and Walt Disney’s involvement in them, the … Continue reading →

The NFL Goes to the Disney Institute

It’s not been a good year for the National Football League. I don’t follow the sport at all, but even I know they faced a players’ strike just before the 2011 season was supposed to launch, and that anything to do with the Super Bowl, besides the football itself, has been under fire recently. Who do you call when you want to revamp your image and better organize events for giant crowds? Disney, apparently. USA Today reports that the NFL has signed up for some training with the Disney Institute. If you don’t remember, the Disney Institute is part of … Continue reading →

SidebySide: An Innovative New Projection Technology

When watching the Marvel film “Iron Man 2,” I was struck by something interesting. The portrayal of Tony Stark’s father Howard Stark, played by “Man Men” actor John Slatterly, reminded me of someone: Walt Disney. Within the movie Howard Stark is only seen in promotional films he made in the 1960s. He sports a sleek suit and trimmed mustache, and he addresses the audience from his private office. He leans against a large table containing a miniature model display of his latest project, which he describes to the audience. It’s all Walt Disney making his little filmed announcements about pioneering … Continue reading →

Disney STEP Classic

I never realized Disney had so many opportunities for youth until I started writing about them. In fact, there’s a whole subsection of the company devoted to the concept: Disney Youth Programs. Someday soon I’ll have to spend a while on its official website and tell you all about it, but for now I want to focus on something specific: Disney STEP Classic. The 2012 dates for the Disney STEP Classic performances have just been announced, so now’s the time to sign up and start preparing if you or someone you know is interested. But for those not in the … Continue reading →

Adventures by Disney: Alaska and Vancouver

Finally I come to the beginning of the end of my look at the many Adventures by Disney. Today I start my examination of what AbD’s got on offer for its home continent of North America. This blog will focus on the tours in Alaska and the Canadian city of Vancouver. The nature lovers should revel in AbD’s trip to Alaska. Travelers will spend 8 days and 7 nights touring the U.S.A.’s largest state. As you might guess, the Alaska Family Vacation focuses on the wide variety of nature activities available in the state. Visit and learn the history of … Continue reading →

Celebrate the Fourth Disney Style

Sometimes it feels like almost all I’m ever doing around here is talking about things going on at Disney World. But the amusement park just keeps holding so many special events; I’d feel remiss if I didn’t share the news with my fellow Disney enthusiasts, especially those lucky enough to make summer trips to Orlando (or Anaheim). Because we’re heading into the Fourth of July weekend today, I thought I’d share with everyone the details of what Disney World’s doing for its Independence Day celebrations. Disneyland really needs to start posting announcements as frequently on its web site as Disney … Continue reading →

Watch the World Cup the Disney Way

I only care about any sports once every four years. Even then I don’t follow either of the Olympics, but the World Cup. For those who don’t know, the World Cup is the primary international championship for soccer. During this year’s Winter Olympics I found a Disney-related story about them to share. Because I care much more about the World Cup, I really wanted to find something similar to talk about in relation to Disney and the World Cup. I did manage to turn up a couple topics. If you’re in the Orlando area and would like to watch a … Continue reading →

Disneyland to Geek Out?

When I mentioned last year’s Disney fan convention, D23, I said it was like Disney’s answer to Comic-Con. I realized that some of you might not know what Comic-Con is. Comic-Con started in the 70s as a relatively small convention specifically for fans of comic books (hence the title). As the years went by other media appealing to the comic crowd, like science fiction and fantasy television and movies, were added. Forty years later, with geek properties firmly ensconced in the mainstream thanks to the popularity of fantasy and comic book movies like “Lord of the Rings” and “X-Men,” Comic-Con … Continue reading →

Celebrate on Ice with Disney

Ice skating was always a part of my life growing up. My brother and I were too uncoordinated to be good at going to rinks ourselves and succeed at much other than garnering a wide collection of bruises, but my mother loved watching ice skating. Any time a major competition aired, my mom would settle in to watch, and I would join her. As the years went by I developed an appreciation for the combination of artistry and athleticism that made up the sport. Our viewing also came with a healthy dose of awe for something we’d never be able … Continue reading →