All I Can Say Is WOW! (NBCNEWS.COM)

WOW to more of the purchase of Lucasfilm  then anything else..

Wonder how things will work with Lucasfilm and Pixar in the fold and  In terms of Episode 7 being released not sure I want to see Luke and Leah played by any other actors then Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher…but who knows how things will turn out.  I wish Disney well 8(:-D

 

 

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Disney buying Lucasfilm, will release new ‘Star Wars’ movie in 2015

Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP file

Disney CEO Robert Iger, left, and “Star Wars” creator George Lucas, center, celebrate the opening of a theme park ride in 2011. Disney is paying $4 billion for Lucas’ film studio Lucasfilm.

By NBC News staff and wires

Updated at 3:48 p.m. ET: Walt Disney Co. is buying Lucasfilm in a $4 billion deal that brings the best-selling “Star Wars” franchise under the Disney umbrella, with plans to release Episode 7 of the long-running saga in 2015.

Disney has long had a close relationship with closely held Lucasfilm and founder George Lucas, including featured attractions at Disney theme parks such as Star Tours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida.

“It’s now time for me to pass ‘Star Wars’ on to a new generation of filmmakers,” said Lucas, 68, in a statement.

The cash and stock deal is valued at about $4.05 billion, Disney said. Lucasfilm is solely owned by George Lucas.

“This transaction combines a world-class portfolio of content including Star Wars, one of the greatest family entertainment franchises of all time, with Disney’s unique and unparalleled creativity across multiple platforms, businesses, and markets to generate sustained growth and drive significant long-term value,” Disney CEO Robert Iger said in a statement.

Lucas will act as creative consultant on the new “Star Wars” film, with more feature films expected beyond Episode 7.

The six “Star Wars” feature films have earned a total of $4.4 billion at the box office alone and offer “a sustainable source of high quality, branded content with global appeal,” according to the Disney news release.

Related: ‘Star Wars 7’ will need The Force to be with it

The deal is subject to federal antitrust approval.

In early 2006, Disney struck a deal to acquire “Toy Story” creator Pixar, and in the summer of 2009 it bought the comic book powerhouse Marvel Entertainment.

Besides “Star Wars,” the Lucasfilm deal also includes rights to the “Indiana Jones” franchise, though Disney did not elaborate on any plans for that series.

“Because Lucas is private, I would assume most investors would be surprised (by the deal). My point of view is that Disney already has a great portfolio and this adds one more,” said Morningstar analyst Michael Corty. “They don’t have any holes, but their past deals have been additive” to earnings.

Besides “Star Wars,” the Lucasfilm deal also includes rights to the “Indiana Jones” franchise, though Disney did not elaborate on any plans for that series.

Information from Reuters was included in this report.

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Disney Soaps Help “Clean The World” Combat Cholera (Disney Parks Blog)

Disney Soaps Help ‘Clean the World’ Combat Cholera Posted: 28 Oct 2010 09:11 AM PDT Did you know that soaps and shampoos from Walt Disney World Resort hotels have a second life after their initial use by guests? Disney VoluntEARS work with Clean the World, an Orlando-based nonprofit, to collect, sanitize and repackage discarded amenities from the nearly 28,000 hotel rooms on Disney property so they may be distributed to people in need worldwide. All 24 Walt Disney World Resort hotels participate in the innovative recycling effort that aims to improve health and personal hygiene in impoverished areas around the world. So far this year, Disney Resorts have donated 25,710 pounds of soap, shampoo, conditioner and lotion. Teams from Clean the World are currently in Haiti aiding in efforts to contain the cholera outbreak by delivering more than 100,000 bars of sanitized soap to several orphanages, clinics and schools. Shawn Seipler, executive director at Clean the World, points out that soap can’t cure cholera but it can help prevent spread of the disease. As you can see from the photos he shared with us, some of these items look familiar. Considering that Disney is one of the chief suppliers for Clean the World, more Disney soaps will be on the way to Haiti soon. The nonprofit is planning to deliver another 200,000 bars of soap in November. Clean the World’s efforts complement Disney’s commitment toward improving children’s lives and doing what is right for the environment. Their mission is impressive and I hope you join me in wishing them continued success.

 

New Chairman of Parks and Resorts On A World Tour :)

There were more pictures on this Disney Parks Blog entry but this is my favorite because it shows Tom and  The Disney Dream ….which I will be on in just over 10 months! 🙂 …I OH SO CANT WAIT!!! 🙂

Tom Staggs has been on the move this month, touching ground in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Paris and Germany during his first “world tour” as chairman of Parks & Resorts. And at each stop, there’s been a recurring theme: people passionate about building the future.

That’s certainly happening in Germany where construction on the Disney Dream cruise ship has been moving right along. Tom arrived right as they were beginning to join the hull sections together to form a ship structure that will feature 14 decks and 1,250 staterooms with a capacity of 4,000 guests. It’s hard to imagine, but there will be approximately 66 million pounds of steel cut and welded together, some 37,000 pipes produced, and nearly 5,000 miles of cabling used by the time it is complete. The ship will sail from Germany to its new home in Port Canaveral, Florida later this year before embarking on its maiden voyage in January.