Disney TV Animation has begun production on 26 episodes of CG animated series “Jake and the Never Land Pirates,” for air on Playhouse Disney.

With the goal of emphasizing problem-solving and teamwork to its young aud, “Jake” will take the title character and his kid pirate fans to Never Land, where they will try to outsmart Captain Hook and his sidekick Smee.

Each episode will contain two segments, with original, pirate-themed music. Colin Ford (“Sweet Home Alabama”), who will voice Jake, is joined.

In the cast by Disney Channel vet Madison Pettis and Jonathan Morgan Heit (“Bedtime Stories”) as Cubby. Rob LaDuca (“Mickey Mouse Clubhouse”) will exec produce and Howy Parkins (“Emperor’s New School”) will direct.

Disney’s most recent animated movie “The Princess and the Frog” has broken the $100 million mark at the domestic box office. It has been reported that the movie has currently grossed $13 million overseas – and the total is still rising. Did you see “The Princess and the Frog” in theaters? The movie is coming to Blu-ray and DVD on March 16th – so get excited!

When she drove base-line with about 18 seconds left, Shernise Disney's Walkersville team needed a basket, and fast. The Lions were trailing by one point to Urbana , which hadn't lost to a public school team during the regular season in nearly two years.

Disney seemed like the logical choice to shoot in this crucial situation. Like the go-to player she is, she had already nailed two high-arching 3-pointers and snuck in for a layup down the stretch. But Disney dished off an alert pass to teammate Britton Muir, who was open near the basket after Disney drew defensive attention. Muir calmly banked in the go-ahead layup with 12 seconds left to help the Lions pull out a 41-38 win over the Hawks.

After Muir's big bucket and an Urbana turnover (walking), Disney hit a pair of free throws with 3.7 seconds left. Urbana 's Mari Kordell had to rush a jumper that bounced off the back of the rim at the buzzer. Walkersville 's final point total of 41 was fitting -- the Lions had just snapped Urbana 's 41-game winning streak against public school teams during the regular season.

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Jim Goldman just reported that Disney CEO Bob Iger is on hand at the Yerba Buena Center for the Apple tablet. Steve Jobs is a board member at Disney, as well as its largest shareholder.

Maybe Bob is on hand to witness history, or maybe he'll be showing off TV shows or movies on the tablet.

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort is making it easy for couples to getaway to the nation's most popular vacation destination this Valentine's Day with the Fantasy Romance package.

Guests looking to getaway for the weekend or even the week can indulge in this package which includes: Strawberries and champagne delivered to the room Daily in-room breakfast for two.

A 4:00p.m late checkout. The Fantasy Romance package starts at $390 per night and is available February 7 - February 14. The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort offers couples all the ingredients for a romantic weekend in one convenient location including a white-sand beach with hammocks.

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The self-proclaimed king of pop, Michael Jackson, died in June, but his portrayal of heroic fictional character “Captain EO” is being brought back to life in Anaheim. After months of speculation from the public, and repeated denial by Disney, last month Disneyland’s blog announced the February reintroduction of the 3D attraction to the park.

Disney spokesperson John McClintock said the re-release is a limited-time engagement and gave no closing date for the film.“Our goal is to allow people who have never seen the film the opportunity to experience it for the first time. We also expect a large number of longtime fans who are anxious to see it again,” McClintock said.


Neil Middleton, 24, works in Disneyland’s entertainment department and attends Cal State Fullerton as an entertainment studies major. “I think it will be a great way for the park to bring in old fans and gain new ones. I think his death created a new element for viewership,” Middleton said.

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The characters will be part of Disney's "Give a Day, Get a Day" program, in which people who volunteer one day receive a free Disneyland ticket. "Princesses and Pirates" is a free event for elementary school-aged children. It is being coordinated by a Porterville organization called A Wish Your Heart Makes.

The business usually charges a fee to have people go to events and parties dressed in character. The event will include nail painting, face painting and refreshments, said Mary-Catherine Oxford, librarian. The library will have its Disney books out for children, and the characters will read the books aloud, she said.

"We are really excited, because the whole program is costing us nothing," Oxford said. The program has more than enough volunteers already, Oxford said. The library has received as many as 200 volunteer inquiries since Disney started its Give a Day, Get a Day.

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It looks like rain is in the forecast all this week. The weather got so bad Monday that Disneyland Resort closed the parks early.

But if you still plan to go to the parks, don’t let a bit of water rain on your parade. We’ve compiled the top 10 ways to make the most of a Disney day in the rain.

10. Stay out of the rain and go for the indoor attractions. Some of our favorites at Disney’s California Adventure are Disney Animation, It’s Tough to Be A Bug and Soarin’ Over California. At Disneyland, we’d recommend the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean and Innoventions.

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A fine issued to Walt Disney World by a federal workplace safety agency for a serious violation that contributed to the death of a worker during a summer monorail accident has been reduced by 20 percent. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Disney World signed a settlement agreement on Friday, and the deal was made public on Tuesday. Disney had been fined $44,000 in December for breaches contributing to the July 5 death of 21-year-old Austin Wuennenberg, as well as other workplace violations. That fine has been reduced to $35,200. A Disney spokeswoman said the resort worked with OSHA to address any concerns but declined to comment further.  Under the agreement, Disney says it will correct all four safety violations cited by OSHA. 

It is traditional for Americans to volunteer onMonday's national holiday commemorating the legacy of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Athens Area Habitat for Humanity has joined a program that lets volunteers earn free admission to Disney theme parks. The program is called "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day."

Under the program, people who perform volunteer service for an organization get a free one-day admission ticket to a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park. Registration for the program must be completed through Disney or HandsOn Northeast Georgia.  Americus-based Habitat for Humanity builds homes for the needy.