WDW Daily News

Disney is giving amateur baseball pitchers in the nation a chance to compete for a $1 million prize in the Million Dollar Arm Pitching Contest. The Million Dollar Arm Pitching Contest is being held to celebrate the opening of Disney’s “Million Dollar Arm,” an incredible true story about two young men who went from never throwing a baseball to getting a Major League tryout.

Amateur baseball pitchers—male or female, who are legal United States residents at least 18 years of age or older—are invited to qualify to compete in the preliminary rounds of the Million Dollar Arm Pitching Contest at either Walt Disney World^® Resort in Florida, Disneyland^® Resort in California or at the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Day at the Tribeca Family Festival in New York City. The three contestants from each location who throw the fastest pitches will advance to the finals and have a chance to compete for a $1 million prize at the world premiere of Disney’s “Million Dollar Arm” in Hollywood, California. Official rules are available on Disney.com’s “Million Dollar Arm” homepage at http://disney.com/PitchingContest.

Presented by SUBWAY® restaurants, the three qualifying events will take place on April 25 and 26, from 7 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., at both Downtown Disney District in Anaheim, Calif. and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World^® and on April 26 only, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Day during the Tribeca Family Festival in New York City. Contestants will throw three pitches, each tracked by a radar gun, in an attempt to throw the fastest pitch. All participants will receive tickets for themselves and a guest to see an advance screening of Disney’s “Million Dollar Arm” at an AMC Theatres location later that evening.

Nine finalists chosen during these qualifying events will have a chance to compete for the $1 million prize at the world premiere of Disney’s “Million Dollar Arm.” The top three eligible pitchers with the fastest pitches from each qualifying round location will be flown with his or her guest to the final contest, which will take place at the world premiere of Disney’s “Million Dollar Arm” in Hollywood, Calif., on May 6. Each of these finalists will throw three pitches on Hollywood Boulevard. Any eligible finalist who throws one 100 mph strike (out of three pitches) will become a potential winner of the $1 million grand prize.

The nine finalists and their guests will be VIPs at the film’s premiere along with stars, filmmakers, major league players, coaches, scouts and celebrities.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Subject to Official Rules available at event or at http://disney.com/PitchingContest.

Registration Forms to participate in the preliminary events will be available on site but you can also print one out and bring with you – click here to download now.

Click here for a list of frequently asked questions.

Click here for the official rules.

Kohl’s Department Stores (NYSE: KSS) and Disney today announced a Disney-branded apparel collection for kids under the Jumping Beans brand, available exclusively at Kohl’s stores nationwide and Kohls.com. The fun and fashionable line features exclusive Disney artwork and is made with the quality and value parents have come to expect from Kohl’s propriety brand. The first collection featuring Disney’s iconic characters Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse is available now. A new collection inspired by favorite Disney characters and stories will be available each season.

“As we celebrate the six-year anniversary of Jumping Beans at Kohl’s, we are excited about the extension of this popular only-at-Kohl’s brand through a unique new collaboration with Disney,” said Peggy Eskenasi, Kohl’s senior executive vice president of product development. “Disney is a loved and trusted brand that resonates with our shoppers and their families. The collection offers easy care play wear that parents and kids will love!”

“Families are at the center of everything we do, and now they will experience some Disney magic during their Kohl’s shopping experience,” said Josh Silverman, executive vice president, global licensing at Disney Consumer Products. “Through this collaboration we have delivered a kids fashion collection that’s vibrant, fun, and pops with the energy of Mickey and Minnie.”

The magic of Disney meets “Americana” in the first Disney apparel by Jumping Beans collection. The children’s collection pairs iconic characters Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse with playful red, white and blue prints and patterns. All items retail for under $35, a great value for moms that love the spirit of Disney and practicality of Jumping Beans.

The exclusive Disney-branded apparel by Jumping Beans collections, available for infants (12-24 months), toddlers (2T-4T), boys (4-7) and girls (4-7), are displayed in-store together to create an impactful presentation and is supported with a comprehensive omni-channel campaign.

Kohl’s Jumping Beans brand launched in 2008 in children’s and home and expanded into footwear in 2009. The brand is one of many private and exclusive brands that make Kohl’s a great destination for quality and style for everyone in the family at incredible value.

This Earth Month installment of “Every Role a Starring Role” spotlights cast member Helen Jaco, an environmental integration representative at the Disneyland Resort. Helen helps reduce waste at the Disneyland Resort by working with various departments to increase environmental awareness and help them find creative ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

As part of the test-and-adjust process for MyMagic+, Day Guests (those Guests who are not staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel) are now able to make FastPass+ selections 30 days in advance of their trip and can purchase MagicBands to link to their plans in My Disney Experience.

Day Guests may make FastPass+ selections for each day they have admission linked in My Disney Experience starting 30 days in advance of their visit.

While day Guests are not issued MagicBands, they may use their RF-enabled theme park admission to enter the theme parks and redeem FastPass+ selections, or they may purchase a MagicBand and link their theme park admission to the MagicBand.

MagicBands will be available to purchase for $12.96 plus tax at Walt Disney World Resort Park merchandise locations and at Downtown Disney®. They will be available in all seven colors – pink, blue, red, green, orange, gray and yellow.

After a MagicBand is purchased, Cast Members will link the Guest’s admission media (or other RF media such as an existing MagicBand or Memory Maker card) to the retail MagicBand. If the Guest’s ticket is already linked to his/her My Disney Experience account, all of the plans, such as tickets, dining reservations and FastPass+ selections, will be seamlessly linked to their new MagicBand.

Touch to pay is not available for day Guests. Only Guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels who establish charging privileges upon check-in are able to touch to pay using MagicBands or RF-enabled theme park tickets.

As a reminder, MagicBands are available to all Guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels.

Samsonite®, the world’s largest luggage brand for over 100 years, is pleased to introduce the Disney by Samsonite collection for kids. Starting from 2014, this iconic collaboration combines the magical world of Disney with state-of-the art products for which Samsonite is known. Depicting iconic Disney characters, the collection will delight young ones, while instantly transporting parents to their own youth. The Disney by Samsonite range effortlessly reflects the fantasy charm and nostalgia of Disney in a distinctive and understated style.

“Samsonite’s affiliation with Disney is an exciting new development for our brand,” said Tim Parker, Samsonite Chairman and CEO. “Disney is an iconic family entertainment brand and we are truly delighted to be working with the company. With our 100 year heritage and travel expertise, the new Disney by Samsonite category will stay true to our ethos of innovative design, while also capturing the hearts and minds of both young and old.”

Adding to Samsonite’s expansive array of travel solutions, consumers will be able to find a selection (luggage, school items, backpacks and more) for kids featuring Disney’s most beloved characters including Mickey & Minnie Mouse, the Disney Princesses, Disney/Pixar Cars, Disney Planes, Marvel’s Spider-Man and The Avengers.  Featuring PVC free bags, ergonomic backpacks, and reflective details, parents will feel reassured in the knowledge that they are sending kids to school or overnight camp with durable and safe luggage that shares the impeccable Samsonite brand heritage.  Pleasing adults and children alike, the Disney by Samsonite collection makes buying schoolbags and luggage for children easy with affordable, trustworthy, resilient products that will appeal to even the youngest traveller.

The collaboration between Samsonite and Disney promises great potential with plans already underway to launch a premium Disney assortment. The first Disney by Samsonite assortment will reach markets in July 2014 and will be distributed across Europe, Russia, Turkey and South Africa. Recognised as pioneers within their respective industries, Samsonite and Disney both grew from humble beginnings to become true market leaders within their fields. Combining the best of both worlds, Disney by Samsonite is the perfect synergy between the magical world of Disney and Samsonite’s state-of-the-art products. This new relationship is the ideal alignment of two highly distinguished brands set to inspire the imaginations of all.

In a historic, global event, guests and cast members at Disney Parks around the world will unite in song to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of “it’s a small world,” the classic Disney Parks attraction that opened as a tribute to peace and hope at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Fans from around the world can join the festivities in a first-of-its-kind, online global sing-along at SmallWorld50.com.

On Thursday, April 10, 2014, hundreds of voices from Disneyland Resort in California, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan, Disneyland Paris in France and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort will sing the unforgettable theme song of the “happiest cruise that ever sailed the seven seas.”

Fans around the world also are invited to join the global sing-along virtually. SmallWorld50.com launches today as a “global hub” of music and harmony where guests may record videos of themselves singing the classic song and create virtual “it’s a small world” dolls to benefit UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund). UNICEF provides health care and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more to children around the world.

” ‘it’s a small world’ has inspired hundreds of millions of people through its timeless theme,” said Tom Staggs, chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “Every moment of every day there are Disney guests enjoying ‘it’s a small world’ somewhere around the globe.  The 50th anniversary of this attraction represents a celebration of the shared optimism, hope, and humanity of people throughout the world.”

New Video Features People Around the World Singing “It’s a Small World”

To help announce the celebration, Disney Parks released a video featuring people around the world singing, dancing to and playing “It’s a Small World.” Filmed across six continents in more than 25 countries, the video features international “performers” – including bagpipers in Scotland, Bollywood movie actors in India, a firefighter in New York City, and members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir – to create one worldwide video.

That video and others will be part of the launch of SmallWorld50.com, the global website for the attraction’s anniversary. Fans around the world are encouraged to participate online by recording on the Small World 50 website videos of themselves singing “It’s a Small World” and by creating virtual “it’s a small world” dolls to share with their friends through social media.

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Disneyland Resort Cosmetologist, Daniella, demonstrates how to bring a dash of Disney to your everyday beauty routine. Read more on the Disney Parks Blog: http://bit.ly/1iwN1gU

Birds Eye^® frozen vegetables, owned by Pinnacle Foods Inc. (NYSE: PF), today announced they will team up with Disney (NYSE: DIS) to work to increase the number of kids consuming the recommended amount of vegetables per day by directly engaging and educating them on the importance of vegetables in a well-balanced diet. Following the kick-off of Birds Eye’s Step Up To The Plate program, Birds Eye and Disney will introduce a multi-platform sponsorship that promotes the great taste of vegetables and the benefits they provide. It is anticipated that the initiative will also include a Disney Consumer Products component that will showcase characters on Birds Eye packaging.

The collaboration between Disney and Birds Eye will be brought to life this summer through Disney’s top-ranked kid and tween targeted media platforms, helping to give veggies an image makeover in the eyes of children. The Birds Eye Step Up To The Plate program aligns with Disney’s Magic of Healthy Living initiative and integrates Birds Eye into program sponsorships and “Disney’s Magic of Healthy Living TRYathlon Road Tour” scheduled for August and September 2014. It will also engage Disney Channel and Disney XD stars for a cross-platform sweepstakes. Together, Birds Eye and Disney will show kids that veggies can be both fun and delicious by encouraging them to explore new healthy foods. Read more

Oral-B® is excited to announce the launch of an interactive oral care app for kids, the new Disney Magic Timer App by Oral-B.Created in collaboration with Disney, Marvel and powered by DreamPlay®, this breakthrough innovation is an oral care app that helps kids increase brushing time*, which is identified by dentists as an area of concern and improvement for children.

Dental professionals recommend brushing for at least two minutes in order to maintain good oral health. However, research** suggests that most people, and especially children, do not meet that goal, and typically spend less than one minute brushing.

The Disney Magic Timer App by Oral-B is designed to help parents effortlessly extend brushing time for their kids. By bringing to life Disney and Marvel characters featured on the Oral-B and Crest Pro-Health Stages products, the app encourages children to brush. Kids are challenged to complete two minutes of brushing and each time they brush, Disney and Marvel character images are revealed. Kids have the opportunity to unlock 16 custom animations and 1,600 rewards, ensuring the app maintains its novelty and transforming the act of brushing into a game. The app is set for a 21-day cycle, to help establish good habits.

Procter & Gamble, an emerging leader in digital programming for tooth-brushing motivation, conducted a brushing study, which revealed 9 out of 10 kids brush longer when brushing with the Disney Magic Timer App by Oral-B.

The Disney Magic Timer App by Oral-B is free and works with any Oral-B or Crest Pro-Health Stages products. The two-minute timer app can be downloaded via the Apple App Store on iTunes and on Google Play.

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