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Yachting World reports that the Disney/Volvo Ocean Race entry the Black Pearl was christened today.

The press release reads, in part, "The Black Pearl, official entry in the 2005-06 Volvo Ocean Race was christened today at Maritime Walk, Ocean Village in Southampton, England. The event was hosted by Robert Mitchell, Managing Director, Buena Vista International UK, and skipper of The Black Pearl, Paul Cayard.

The Black Pearl entry is part of a unique marketing partnership between The Walt Disney Company and Volvo Ocean Race supporting the July 2006 feature film release of Walt Disney Pictures'/Jerry Bruckheimer Films' Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."

Click here to read the full release.
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Press Release

September 12, 2005

Ziggy Artist, Other Cartoonists, Gather For Tribute at Disney Birthplace

Marceline, MO

TOONFEST 2005, a free public festival featuring a gathering of some of the world's best-known cartoonists, will be held on Sept. 16-17 in Marceline, Missouri, the childhood hometown of Walt Disney.

The event, open to the general public, will feature several cartoonists, including Cincinnati resident Tom Wilson, artist for the nationally syndicated comic, ZIGGY, and president of Cleveland based Ziggy & Friends, Inc. Walt Disney has particular significance for Wilson and ZIGGY this year, as ZIGGY will make his animated debut in Ziggy's Gift, a holiday special DVD to be released by BFS Multimedia Entertainment this Fall. Ziggy's Gift, a hand-drawn animated feature, shows Disney's multimedia influence as Ziggy arrives on screen 68 years after Walt Disney's first feature length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which was released to the public in 1937.

Wilson will be on hand for meet and greet autographs, drawing demonstrations and speaking engagements. He will speak at the Marceline Uptown Theater on Fri., Sept. 16 at 12:30PM to a student (high school, college) audience and on Sat., Sept. 17 at 3:20 to the general public audience about his personal accounts of the influence Disney and the town of Marceline has had on the life and times of ZIGGY.

Joining Wilson for the Toonfest tribute is a multitude of talented cartoonists, who will gather at Marceline's vintage Uptown Theater for a feature panel to interact with audiences. Guests will include Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Jim Borgman (co-creator of the comic strip "Zits"), Glenn and Gary McCoy ("Flying McCoys" and "The Duplex"), Tony Baxter (Senior Vice President of Creative Development at Walt Disney Imagineering), Tom Richmond (Mad Magazine cartoonist), and Charles Solomon, an internationally recognized animation critic.

All Toonfest headliners will be Grand Marshals in a gala parade up and down Main Street USA beginning Saturday morning at 10. Other Saturday events include a cartoon exhibit sponsored by the National Cartoonists Society North Central Chapter at the Masonic Hall. Included will be works by Toonfest headliners and the opportunity to meet them in person. All professional cartoonists are invited to submit their work for exhibition to the Toonfest Office, for arrival by Sept. 14. Cartoons will be returned to creators postage paid.

More activities available for Toonfest attendees include original cartoons and cartoonists' autographed books auction; the Walt Disney Museum, featuring a collection of Walt Disney life in Marceline memorabilia; live entertainment, food, an apple pie eating contest, craft booths, Barnyard Olympics, and a bait casting competition at Ripley Pond. All programs are free to the public.

The town of Marceline is 120 miles northeast of Kansas City. The Toonfest is sponsored in part by Andrews McMeel Universal, a Kansas City, Mo.-based media company, providing the world with books, calendars, newspaper features, film/TV, online and wireless content and much more.

For more Toonfest information, including events, schedule, how to get there and where to stay; and about submitting cartoons to the Toonfest exhibition, contact a Toonfest Ambassador at toonfest@sbcglobal.net, 660-376-9258, or Walt Disney's Hometown Toonfest, 207 N. Main St. USA, Marceline, MO 64658. Visit www.toonfest.net.

(source: PRLeap.com)
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Press Release

September 12, 2005

HONG KONG WELCOMES A NEW ERA OF FAMILY ENTERTAINMENTWITH GRAND OPENING OF HONG KONG DISNEYLAND RESORT

HONG KONG

Against the dream-come-true backdrop of Sleeping Beauty Castle and the natural grandeur of the green Lantau Island mountains, Hong Kong Disneyland officially brought the fun and excitement of a Disney theme park to Hong Kong Monday with a spectacular Grand Opening.

The ceremony began with a colorful display of spinning parasols which parted to reveal children welcoming the spectators in English, Cantonese and Putonghua. Classical Chinese tradition joined with Disney heritage as the ceremony continued with the 100-voice Hong Kong Children's Choir, dazzling Chinese acrobats and dancers, and Disney ambassadors representing all of the Disney theme parks worldwide – Hong Kong, Tokyo, Paris and the United States.

Centerpiece of the ceremony was a traditional Lion Dance ritual in which the Lions were "brought to life" when their eyes were dotted with brushes and red ink by Michael D. Eisner, Walt Disney Company Chief Executive Officer; Robert A. Iger, Walt Disney Company President, Chief Operating Officer and CEO-elect; Zeng Qinghong, Vice-President of the People's Republic of China; and Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government).

"Hong Kong Disneyland stands before us as a living symbol of the creativity and imagination that are the heart and soul of Disney," said Eisner. "With a spirit of goodwill and friendship, we invite the people of Hong Kong, China and all of Asia to share in the magic, imagination and soaring spirit of Disney."

"We hope Hong Kong Disneyland will be a beacon," said Iger, "reminding us that no matter the language of borders, humankind can accomplish great things when we work together, especially when we can show the world that imagination is alive, that fantasy can be reality and that magic happens."

In welcoming Disney to Hong Kong, Tsang observed, "The arrival of the world's most widely recognized and best-loved theme park in Hong Kong will allow us to provide visitors from all over the region with a fun-filled and diversified experience … We warmly and wholeheartedly welcome the Disney family to Hong Kong."

Two Disney theme park anthems were sung by the Hong Kong Children's Choir: "It's a Small World" in English and "One" in Cantonese, and the final ribbon-cutting was performed by Eisner, Iger, Zeng and Tsang, and observed by Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and singer and Hong Kong Disneyland spokesperson Jacky Cheung.

The Monday Grand Opening of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort was preceded by a weekend preview for business and government leaders and such celebrities as Eason Chan, Emil Chau, Jacky Cheung, Andy Hui, Brad Kane, Coco Lee, Paige O'Hara, Lea Salonga and Joey Yung who spent Sunday enjoying the themed lands of Hong Kong Disneyland Park.

The vacation resort on Hong Kong's Lantau Island is a joint venture of The Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong SAR Government. It includes two intricately detailed hotels – the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel and Disney's Hollywood Hotel – with breathtaking views of the theme park and the South China Sea, along with a public recreation area with a sparkling lake and arboretum.

Following the ceremony, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort opened its gates for thousands of waiting guests. The Opening Day crowd enjoyed a full day of entertainment including encounters with such famous Disney characters as Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh and Cinderella, as well as adventures on such classic Disney attractions as Jungle River Cruise, Mad Hatter Tea Cups and Space Mountain. Other highlights in Hong Kong Disneyland include live Broadway-quality entertainment, distinctive Disneyland gifts and souvenirs, and flavorful Asian and Western cuisine in a variety of restaurants and cafes.

Walt Disney's philosophy that Disneyland would "never be completed…as long as there is imagination left in the world," extends to Hong Kong Disneyland, where work is already underway on Autopia, a new Tomorrowland attraction where guests of all ages can drive electric cars along the highways of tomorrow. The new adventure is scheduled to open in 2006.

About Hong Kong Disneyland

Located on lush Lantau Island overlooking Penny's Bay, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is a brand-new, world-class family entertainment and recreation center consisting of a magical, Disneyland-style theme park of shows and attractions, Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel (400 guestrooms), Disney's Hollywood Hotel (600 guestrooms) and Inspiration Lake, a public area featuring boat rentals and a 3.5 hectare arboretum. Offering guests of all ages a full day immersed in imagination and creativity uniquely Disney, Hong Kong Disneyland is home to Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Mulan and other Disney characters beloved the world over.

A joint venture of The Walt Disney Company and Hong Kong SAR Government, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort employs 5,000 cast members. The HKSAR Government estimated the first phase of the project will generate a present economic value of HK$148 billion (US$19 billion) in benefits to Hong Kong over a 40-year period.

The project was announced in 1999 and construction began in 2003.

For additional information and to book a magical vacation at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel or Disney's Hollywood Hotel, guests can contact:

Hotel Reservations Hotline Hong Kong Disneyland Reservation Center Telephone: 852/1830-830 Opening Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Hong Kong time), daily

To purchase Hong Kong Disneyland park tickets, guests should visit www.hongkongdisneyland.com

(source: Disney corporate)
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