Parking at Walt Disney World Theme Parks Increases to $14 According to Jason Garcia of the Orlando Sentinel, theme park parking rates at Walt Disney World will increase from $12 to $14 per day beginning October 4. First Look: Thumper and Miss Bunny at Disney’s Animal Kingdom As of today, Thumper and Miss Bunny have begun making daily meet & greet appearances at Camp Minnie-Mickey in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, replacing Koda and Kenai. While character changes are always occurring and usually at the drop of a dime, they’re never quite as prevelent as in October as the new fiscal year for the Walt Disney Company begins. Other notable changes coming soon are Terence the fairy appearing at Magic Kingdom’s Pixie Hollow (as well as Disneyland), expecting to replace Iridessa, and characters from the new Disney animated classic, The Princess and the Frog: Tiana, Naveen and Dr. Facilier. John Lasseter Named as 2010 Inductee into Toy Industry Hall of Fame The Toy Industry Association, Inc. (TIA) announced the selection of its 2010 inductees into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame: * John Lasseter, chief creative officer, Walt Disney Company and Pixar Animation Studios, and principal creative advisor of Walt Disney Imagineering * Sam Walton, founder, Walmart Stores (posthumous award) “As the director of blockbuster movies such as Toy Story and Cars, John Lasseter has brought toys to life on the big screen,” explained Alan Hassenfeld, chair of the Hall of Fame Committee and 1994 Hall of Fame inductee. Established in 1984, the Hall of Fame comprises an impressive roster of fifty-five (55) individuals who have been previously honored for their significant contributions to the growth and success of the toy industry. Inductee(s) are nominated by the industry at large and selected based on votes received from Toy Industry Association’s (TIA™) membership. “We are pleased to honor Mr. Lasseter and Mr. Walton at next year’s induction ceremony,” said Carter Keithley, TIA president. “Both of these outstanding gentlemen have changed the way the world looks at toys.” Princess Tiana to Begin Appearing at Walt Disney World October 26 The lovely Princess Tiana, the newest Disney princess will make her Disney Parks debut on Oct. 26 with meet and greets as well as in “Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee!,” a jazzy cavalcade and lively musical production aboard the Liberty Belle Riverboat. Oscar® and Grammy Award-Winner Jennifer Hudson Returns to Chicago for Her First Holiday Music Special on ABC Jennifer Hudson, the multi-talented actress-singer whose accolades include an Academy Award for the movie “Dreamgirls” and a Grammy for “Best R&B Album” heads back to her hometown of Chicago to share childhood memories of the music, people and places that set the stage for her phenomenal success, in the hour-long primetime music special, “Jennifer Hudson: I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” airing this December on the ABC Television Network. Air date and time to be announced.
