Top 10 Disney/Marvel crossovers

With the news today that Disney is purchasing Marvel (and its 5,000+) characters, I figured it would be fun to imagine some of the possible (well, maybe not-so-possible) crossover combinations.

And here we go...

10. Stitch joins the X-Men (Disney puts Stitch in everything else, why not the X-Men?)

9. The Fantastic Four and The Incredibles will work together (and realize they've all got the same powers!)

8. Monsters Inc. 2 will be a more extreme story with the Hulk, Wolverine, and Dr. Doom joining the scare floor.

7. Spiderman 4 will have Mickey Mouse playing the part of the Web-head.

6. Rapunzel will now be played by Mr. Fantastic in drag. No need for special effects now.

5. Mini-Mouse takes on a whole new meaning.

4. An Ape-Man attraction will show up at Animal Kingdom (along with any other Marvel characters even remotely related to animals)

3. The Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure will be replaced by the Avengers Race to Save the World (or something like that). Of course, Kim Possible will join the Avengers, though Ron Stoppable doesn't make the cut.

2. Fantasmic! will be changed to Magical Marvel!

1. Much like the infamous hidden Mickey, we now get to look for hidden Stans (as in Stan Lee) in every Disney/Marvel movie and the parks. He makes a cameo in all the Marvel movies, so why not slip in an animated Stan Lee in some Disney films?


What crossover do you see? Post a comment!!

Universal spokesperson says Disney/Marvel deal won't impact park

More from today's stunning news that Disney is purchasing Marvel:

Questions quickly arose over the future of Marvel-themed attractions located at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando.

Here's what a Universal spokesperson said to the Orlando Sentinel:
"Marvel Super Hero Island at Universal's Islands of Adventure and the Marvel characters are a beloved and important part of the Universal Orlando experience. They will remain so," said Tom Schroder, a Universal spokesman. "Our guests are going to get to meet Spider-Man and all our other Marvel characters. We believe our agreement with Marvel stands and that the Disney/Marvel deal will have no impact on our guest experience."

Disney CEO Bob Iger said the following on CNBC today:
"Marvel characters have already proven to be strong in terms of theme park attraction and we believe there are a lot of opportunities around the world, not in every one of our parks because there are some existing agreements that we obviously have to honor, but in a number of places for us to use the Marvel characters to basically help us grow our theme park business and better entertain people."

My take:
While it appears Spiderman, the Hulk, the X-Men and Doctor Doom won't be coming to Walt Disney World (Universal apparently has the east coast rights for as long as the attractions are operating), you can bet that no new characters will be coming to Universal. I wouldn't be surprised if a team of Disney lawyers also will be looking to find some holes in the deal. In the meantime -- it appears the doors are wide open for Spiderman and the rest of the Marvel cast to swing their way into any other Disney park, for instance, Disney's California Adventure. This also may be the concept Disney's been looking for to finally build the third California-based park.

This is all just guesswork right now. One thing's for sure, Disney is looking to the future and they've just grabbed one of the two major players in the superhero genre. I wonder what DC Comics thinks about this? Of course, DC Comics and Warner Bros. teamed up years ago.

Mickey and Spiderman to become corporate cousins

You read that right! Believe it or not, Mickey Mouse will soon be related to Spiderman, the X-Men and the Hulk.

Today, Disney announced they are purchasing the Marvel Entertainment Co. for four-billion dollars. Below is a news release from Disney:


Building on its strategy of delivering quality branded content to people around the world, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) has agreed to acquire Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:MVL) in a stock and cash transaction, the companies announced today.

Under the terms of the agreement and based on the closing price of Disney on August 28, 2009, Marvel shareholders would receive a total of $30 per share in cash plus approximately 0.745 Disney shares for each Marvel share they own. At closing, the amount of cash and stock will be adjusted if necessary so that the total value of the Disney stock issued as merger consideration based on its trading value at that time is not less than 40% of the total merger consideration.

Based on the closing price of Disney stock on Friday, August 28, the transaction value is $50 per Marvel share or approximately $4 billion.

"This transaction combines Marvel's strong global brand and world-renowned library of characters including Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men, Captain America, Fantastic Four and Thor with Disney's creative skills, unparalleled global portfolio of entertainment properties, and a business structure that maximizes the value of creative properties across multiple platforms and territories," said Robert A. Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. "Ike Perlmutter and his team have done an impressive job of nurturing these properties and have created significant value. We are pleased to bring this talent and these great assets to Disney."

"We believe that adding Marvel to Disney's unique portfolio of brands provides significant opportunities for long-term growth and value creation," Iger said.

"Disney is the perfect home for Marvel's fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses," said Ike Perlmutter, Marvel's Chief Executive Officer. "This is an unparalleled opportunity for Marvel to build upon its vibrant brand and character properties by accessing Disney's tremendous global organization and infrastructure around the world."

Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of Marvel including its more than 5,000 Marvel characters. Mr. Perlmutter will oversee the Marvel properties, and will work directly with Disney's global lines of business to build and further integrate Marvel's properties.

The Boards of Directors of Disney and Marvel have each approved the transaction, which is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, certain non-United States merger control regulations, effectiveness of a registration statement with respect to Disney shares issued in the transaction and other customary closing conditions. The agreement will require the approval of Marvel shareholders. Marvel was advised on the transaction by BofA Merrill Lynch.

Stitch returning to Tomorrowland stage?

Dewayne Bevil over at the Orlando Sentinel's Theme Park Rangers is reporting that Stitch may be making a return to the currently deserted stage in Tomorrowland. Word is that Disney is developing a "Totally Tomorrowland Christmas" stage show that will feature the well-known little blue alien.

So far, Disney has not announced anything about this new show.

If this is true, it would be nice for something to go on that unused stage, even if it is temporary. While Stitch's Supersonic Celebration was a disaster, I hate to see good space go unused.

Lasseter talks Toys

Just as the classic Toy Story film franchise returns with the re-release of the first two movies in 3D this October, John Lasseter is taking fans behind-the-scenes in a new, exclusive seven-part YouTube video series (www.YouTube.com/disneyliving), where he introduces the new Toy Story Definitive toy line, the most film-accurate replicas yet. Each video offers a different part of the story from Lasseter’s own words to a profile on each character - including Sheriff Woody, Rex, Space Aliens, RC Remote Control Car and Buzz Lightyear - along with never-before known facts and more.

From the stitching and facial expressions to the original packaging from the movie, Lasseter explains why this new Definitive toy line is a collector’s dream. The highly detailed replicas from Thinkway Toys and Disney Consumer Products are fully articulated and come with many features such as sound effects and even include a Certificate of Authenticity. (Now available at mass retailers, Disney Stores and www.DisneyStores.com.)

Look for additional videos here on DisneyDaddy!

Tip Tuesday: Getting the most of out FastPass

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

I thought I'd continue on the topic of FastPasses with another tip about how to get the most out of a FastPass.

As you know, a FastPass ticket gives you a time window in which to return and ride a particular attraction. The FastPass system has a pre-set number of tickets to give in each five-minute increment. When the allotment for the day runs out, FastPasses are no longer offered.

So here's a question for you: If you arrive at your attraction BEFORE your time window opens up, will you be allowed to enter the attraction? The answer is NO. The cast member will kindly ask you to wait until the beginning time (circled in green in the example) comes up.

OK, here's another question for you: If you arrive at your attraction AFTER your time window has passed, will you be allowed to enter the attraction? The answer is YES! Most cast members will allow guests with FastPasses that were for an earlier time in the day to enter the attraction.

A final question for you: If you arrive at an attraction with a FastPass from a previous DAY, will the cast member let you in? The answer is NO. In the past, the answer might have been yes, depending on the cast member, but Disney has recently cracked down on the use of old FastPasses, so you're not going to be able to get away with using a FastPass from a previous day anymore.

So this week's tip is pretty simple. Don't feel like you have to rush to make a FastPass window before it "closes," because the window doesn't really close. Just forget about the later time listed. You have until the end of the day to use that FastPass. Just keep in mind that after the park closes, that FastPass becomes a souvenir (which isn't a bad idea if you want to keep a FastPass from your favorite attraction - it can make for a neat keepsake!).

Some new Disney blogs out there...

I've always been a big supporter of anyone and everyone who takes the time to share their thoughts and experiences with others when it comes to Disney.

With this in mind, I'd like to call you attention to a few new Disney blogs that have surfaced in the last month.

The W.E.D. Page: This is by Tony Caggiano. It focuses on the Disney of the past and helps us all remember the Disney that was to appreciate the Disney that is and the Disney that will be. I had the priveledge of meeting Tony at MagicMeets this year. He is a true Disney fan and I look forward to many great posts from Tony.

In Disney Style: This is by Mary Jo Collins. This blog focuses on how you can bring a bit of Disney style to your everyday life. This blog also will have information on some of Disney's marathons and other running activities. I've known Mary Jo through Facebook for quite a while and I'm sure will have some outstanding content for you.

I hope you will take a few moments to check out these new blogs. I'm already a follower of both.

Restaurant Review: Chef Mickey's

It's time for another restaurant review.

This restaurant needs no introduction. It's run by the head cheese himself - Mickey Mouse!

It just so happens that this restaurant also is the most popular character-dining location in all of Walt Disney World, and for good reason.

Of course I'm talking about Chef Mickey's!

As character dining goes, it really doesn't get any better than Chef Mickey's, located at Disney's Contemporary Resort. In one meal, guests will meet the entire Disney Fab 5: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto.

In recent months, Chef Mickey's has received a decent expansion, taking over a portion of space that was the Concourse Steakhouse, which has allowed for a little bit more seating, but also a better queue area for the pre-meal photo opportunity.

Chef Mickey's is a Disney Dining Plan (DDP) participant, requiring one table service credit per guest. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a buffet format. Parents: this is one meal even the most picky of eaters will find something they will like. The entrees are creative and quite good. I personally prefer lunch/dinner to breakfast, simply because the dinner menu offers more variety as compared to breakfast. Just about every breakfast opportunity at WDW offers eggs, sausage and bacon.

What sets Chef Mickey's apart is the atmosphere. This is a place where even the oldest guest can be a kid again (or finally act like the kid they really are - that would be me!). The characters spend plenty of time at each table and the wait staff helps to make your experience magical. Oh, and talk about celebrations - the folks at Chef Mickey's will find ANY reason to celebrate! My son graduated from 5th grade this summer. The server saw his "I'm Celebrating" button and the next thing we know it's party time!

Before being seated, guests have the opportunity to have a photo opp at a big hidden-mickey themed plate. I have several of these photos. The location for this photo opp changes from time to time and (as you can see) will reflect different holiday seasons (when appropriate). The photos are nice to get if you like family photos. This is the one PhotoPass-like opportunity at Chef Mickey's. Otherwise, you're on your own for character photos.

We don't always purchase the photo - it is optional and runs somewhere around $30 or so for an 8x10 and a pair of 5x7's. The other benefit is that the photo does include a photopass code on the corner, so you can add this shot to your photopass CD and get the digital version as well.

Chef Mickey's is a must-do for everyone who visits Walt Disney World. As for my family, Chef Mickey's has become our most favorite place to eat. In fact this November, we will have Thanksgiving dinner at Chef Mickey's, of all places. We enjoy the fun, the friends, the food and the family time.

What could be better?

Disney to return to 180-day ADR window in October

If you have an upcoming Disney trip and are considering making Advanced Dining Reservations (or ADR's), listen up! Currently ADR's can be made 90 days in advance. However, starting October 27, Disney has decided to again extend that booking window to 180 days. Disney made the switch from 180-days down to 90 days last year and now apparently has decided to switch back.

So far, there's no official word as to why Disney decided to return to the 180-day window.

What this means for anyone with travel dates this winter and spring is that October 27 will become a very busy day. An entire 90 days worth of bookings will open up on a single day. Be prepared for the WDW Dining line (407-WDW-DINE) to be very busy and for the new online booking pages to be overwhelmed, especially with Disney's latest offer to extend free dining until December.

It will be more important than ever to be ready at 7 a.m. on October 27th. If, by chance, the 90-day window for your upcoming trip opens up BEFORE October 27, I highly recommend making your ADR's before the hoard starts booking on the 27th.

As more information comes in about this topic, I'll let you know.

Tip Tuesday: Faster FastPass

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

By now, you all are quite familiar with how Disney's FastPass system works. You insert your park ticket and out pops a small pass with a return time. You come back at the return time and get to take a special entrance where you have little or no wait. The intent is that guests will spend less time standing in line. That may work in theory, but in practice, things are a bit different.

Don't get me wrong, I love FastPass. It's probably one of Disney's best ideas. However, there is such a thing as becoming a victim of your success and FastPass, at times, becomes a victim to it's popularity.

How many times have you tried to get a FastPass only to arrive at the FastPass machines to find a huge line that appears to be every bit as long as the standby line? It happens, especially at some of the biggest attractions such as Toy Story Mania and Soarin'. Having spent quite a while in huge, sometimes unorganized FastPass queues, I think I've discovered a major bottleneck - the machines themselves.

I can't tell you how many times I've been standing in line behind a guest who inserts their ticket, Key to the World card, annual pass, whatever, only to have it come right back out and not give a FastPass. The guest tries again and again until a castmember notices the problem and lends some assistance. All this time, people are queuing up behind and the line gets longer and longer.

Here's where the tip comes in: most guests insert their ticket with the magnetic stripe down. I've found that most problems happen when the machine tries to read the cards with the stripe down.

Instead, turn the ticket over and insert it with the magnetic stripe UP into the FastPass machine. Bingo! Out will come a FastPass. I've tried this several times and every time I turn my AP over, I never have a problem getting FastPasses. The end result is my passes come out faster and I can get out of the way so the next person can get their FastPasses.

Try this the next time you're getting a FastPass -- it really works!