Disney Interactive Implements Mass Layoffs

And the other shoe drops.

Joystiq:

Beyond Disney Interactive's layoffs today at Junction Point and last week's closure of Propaganda Games, sources tell Joystiq that the division's job cuts go much deeper. We've been informed in this "first round" of layoffs that 250 people have been let go.

Numerous attempts to obtain an official statement from Disney have gone unanswered. There is currently no word on the overall status of Split/Second developer Black Rock Studios nor Warren Spector's Junction Point, which recently released Disney Epic Mickey, a title we've been told has not sold as well as expected. Sources also tell us that the fate of Spector could be separate from that of the studio.

Academy Award Winning Editor Walter Murch on Why 3D Doesn't Work (and Never Will)

Editor of Apocalypse Now, The English Patient, Cold Mountain and many others.

Disney fans will recognize his work as the editor of Captain EO.

Tron 3 Teaser Information?

The rumors are growing louder that Tron 3 is being prepped for the greenlight and that Disney is attaching a teaser for the sequel to Tron: Legacy's DVD and Blu-Ray release.

Once again, Ain't It Cool News has details on what this teaser includes:

One includes Bruce Boxleitner (as Alan) and Dan Shor (as Ram). Turns out that "Ram" was apparently running the FLYNN LIVES campaign and he's frantically destroying all of that data and files, as Alan confronts him. Dan apparently utters the line, "Why did Kevin give you the cool name" - which means to my way of thinking that after Flynn came out of the Grid, he sought out the human soul of Ram and befriended him and started calling him RAM - you know - some geek that wrote that Actuarial Program that helped people plan for the future. I sorta love that. And love that the kindness Flynn showed this lowly geek, apparently created a gung ho champion for the life and memory of Kevin Flynn. 

Another has Quora showing up to ENCOM and getting acousted by the press because she's riding Sam's Ducati - and states that she just spoke with Kevin Flynn, yesterday! 

The last scene that was shot in this mini-shoot involved text screens where you see the Father & Son... The Dillingers stating that everything is going as planned.

Of course, all of this was filmed before Tron: Legacy was released to lukewarm returns in December.

With unremarkable box office and poor merchandise sales, does it even make sense for Disney to pursue Tron as a franchise? Much less an expensive film sequel?

CHUD's indelible Damon Houx makes the point perfectly:

...It’s just that it doesn’t seem like good business sense. The Hangover getting a sequel is stupid, but I get it, the first film made a lot of money, and it would be nearly impossible for a Hangover sequel not to make at least $150 Million domestic, which should – hopefully – make the film profitable. Tron Legacy has no such goodwill, and ultimately you’re going to have to sell the audience you cracked the narrative with the next film. You’ve essentially killed off Jeff Bridges, and since the sequel has to take place on the grid… But not just on a story level, these numbers don’t suggest enthusiasm, and it’s like you’re throwing more money at New Coke. This seems like a bad business decision, so that’s why I don’t get it. Ultimately, maybe they’ll fix the problems (doubtful as they didn’t with the second film), and it’s not like if they don’t make this some masterpiece will happen, but still, it seems like something that should be let go.

I'm just guessing, but even if the footage shows up on the Tron: Legacy home video release they may just tout it as "bonus content" or a "never before seen bonus ending" and not as a teaser for a third film.

But, who knows, maybe Rich Ross will keep throwing good money after bad.

Universal Hands out Bonuses Following Harry Potter Success

The Orlando Sentinel:

"Thousands of team members across all areas of our destination received bonuses today [Thursday] — from back-of-house team members to those in direct contact with our guests," Universal spokeswoman Alyson Lundell said.

Disney would rather drop dead then hand out cash bonuses to front of the line Cast Members. Could you imagine?

Behind the Scenes at The Little Mermaid Attraction

Video from the Official Disney Parks Blog.

Only four more months!

THR: Robert Downey Jr. Out of Oz, Johnny Depp to Take Over?

The Hollywood Reporter's Heat Vision blog:

Robert Downey Jr. has fallen out of Oz, the Great and Powerful, Disney’s prequel-ish take on The Wizard of Oz tale, and the studio is in discussions with Johnny Depp to step into the great wizard’s robe...

The question with Depp, who has a close relationship with the studio after starring in its Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and last year’s Alice in Wonderland, will be whether the timing works out.

Depp shoots Dark Shadows for Tim Burton in the spring as is also inked to play Tonto in Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer's The Lone Ranger.

Disney clearly would love for Depp to do both, but if he commits to Oz, that pushes Ranger back. Can the other talent involved in Ranger wait that long?

Disney Closes Propaganda Games

The LA Times Company Town blog:

Disney Interactive Studios has closed its Vancouver, Canada-based game development studio Propaganda Games, representing another in a series of shake-ups since John Pleasants was installed last fall as head of the games group.

Propaganda recently completed work on Tron: Evolution, a console game that explores events leading up to the conflict in the film "Tron: Legacy." Even though it featured voice talent from the film, sales have been weak. Disney has sold only 190,755 copies, according to NPD Group.

Last October Propaganda Games' other big project, Pirates of the Caribbean: Armada of the Damned, was cancelled and the team working on it was let go.

I'm sure everyone at Junction Point is breathing a huge sigh of relief that Epic Mickey has been selling so well.

John Carter of Mars Moved From June to March 2012

March was good to Disney's Alice in Wonderland last year. They also moved Tim Burton's Frankenweenie to October.

Deadline.com:

Disney's 3D John Carter Of Mars based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' fantasy series comes off its June 8th, 2012, date and onto March 9, 2012. Disney also moved its Tim Burton-directed Frankenweenie based on his student film about a kid who reanimates his dog after it was run over down to October 5th, 2012, from March 9th, 2012.

Of course, Ridley Scott's Prometheus is also scheduled for 09 March 2012. It seems unlikely that Disney and Fox want two big pictures to open against each other like this. I wonder who will be the first to blink.

Hong Kong Disneyland Loss Narrows

But still lost $93 million on the year.

Bloomberg:

Walt Disney Co. narrowed the annual loss at Hong Kong Disneyland and said it expects the business to turn profitable “fairly soon” as visitor numbers rise and the park expands.

The net loss shrank to HK$720 million ($93 million) in the 12 months ended Oct. 2 from a HK$1.3 billion loss a year earlier, according to a statement distributed in Hong Kong today. Park attendance increased 13 percent to 5.2 million visitors, boosting sales 19 percent to HK$3 billion.

The theme park benefited from a 27 percent surge in arrivals from mainland China in Hong Kong last year as wealth generated in the world’s fastest-growing major economy spurred outbound tourism. New areas of the park scheduled to be completed in 2014 may lure more visitors.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Confirmed by Disney, New Artwork Released

So, tonight's conference is going to be even more boring than I anticipated?

But these plans are such a significant improvement over what was first announced in 2009. Yes, they are closing Snow White's Scary Adventures, but the new attraction sounds fantastic.

Walt Disney World Press Event Tonight

Being held for invited guests in the Philharmagic theater tonight at 6 PM, after the Magic Kingdom closes for the day.

Here's what I expect to come out of it:

1. Major discussion of the new Disney Parks ad campaign, Let the Memories Begin. 
2. Some entertainment promotions for the year, similar in scope to last year's Summer Nighttastic. I expect Lightning McQueen to feature prominently in Lights, Motors, Action! starting around Memorial Day, similar to what Paris is doing. Touting of the new up-charge safari expedition someplace here.
3. Seven Dwarfs Mine Coaster finally announced for that giant hole in the new Fantasyland where they yanked out elaborate Princess meet-and-greets. It was part of the early plans, replaced to accommodate more Princesses, and then put back in place. Allegedly, it's also in the works for Shanghai.
4. "Exciting new meet and greet opportunities." No explicit mentioning that Snow White's Scary Adventures will close to accommodate them, but that information will be provided in the press materials. General rhubarb about the Fantasyland project, repeating what is already known.
5. Disney Dream, Disney Dream, Disney Dream
6. Confetti.

The order might be jumbled around, but that's roughly what I anticipate.

They may really surprise us and announce a new Disney Vacation Club resort, but I don't think we'll be hearing anything groundbreaking. No Shanghai Disneyland, no major new expansion announcements.

I can't imagine any of the senior executives from Burbank will take the stage, maybe Tom Staggs.

I would love to be proven wrong.

Designing Disney: Euro Disney Preview Center 1990-1992

On December 6, 1990, "Espace Euro Disneyland" welcomed its first guests. Here, visitors were able to marvel at beautiful concept drawings for the new Resort as well as take a good look at tiny scale models of various attractions. It featured an exhibition hall, a movie theater, a retail store and a small food facility.

The Euro Disney Preview Center was situated on the outskirts of 'Serris', a small village close to the southern border of the Euro Disney property, the county roads 231 & 406 and exit 13 of the A4 motorway. Exit 14, 'Val d'Europe, Parc Disneyland' was opened to traffic in April 1992.

An extremely exciting time to be a Disney fan in Europe.