Yesterday, AMR Research announced that Michael Eisner, former CEO of the Walt Disney Company (1984-2005), will keynote its 2009 Supply Chain Executive Conference, which will take place on May 27-29th at The Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Disney's "A Christmas Carol," the spectacular 3D 2009 holiday release from director Robert Zemeckis and starring Jim Carrey, will be the first film from The Walt Disney Studios slated for IMAX(R) theatres under a new five-picture arrangement the studio reached with IMAX Corporation, it was announced today by Mark Zoradi, president, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group. Disney's "A Christmas Carol" will lead off an impressive slate of upcoming films from the Studio and a roster of top filmmakers that may include director Tim Burton as well as producer Jerry Bruckheimer. This arrangement makes some of the Studio's most highly anticipated theatrical releases from November 2009 and beyond available to IMAX venues across the country and around the world.

Further demonstrating its commitment to quality 3-D motion picture entertainment, The Walt Disney Studios has begun re-rendering its Oscar(R)-winning animated favorite, "Beauty and the Beast," in preparation for its Disney Digital 3-D(TM) debut on the big screen in 2010, it was announced today by Mark Zoradi, president, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group. The announcement was made today in Singapore at 3DX: 3D Film and Entertainment Technology Festival, the industry's first conference devoted to the latest advances in 3-D technology and exhibition. The addition of "Beauty and the Beast" to its schedule brings the total number of Disney Digital 3-D releases to 11 for 2009-10.

In Hollywood, the tail usually wags the dog. So when Pixar's John Lasseter took charge of Disney's animation wing nearly three years ago as part of the merger between the two companies, one of his aims was to make the Mouse House "a filmmaker-driven studio."

The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd. (the Walt Disney Japan), a global leader in the entertainment business, and JCB Co., Ltd. (JCB), a pioneer of Japan's credit card business and brand holder of Japan's only international credit card brand, have teamed up to develop and issue Japan's first Disney-branded credit card, the Disney-JCB Card. Applications for the card will be accepted starting Tuesday, November 18.

Alamo Rent A Car, the official rental car company of the Walt Disney World(R) Resort in Florida and Disneyland(R) Resort in California, announced today that it has launched the Alamo.com sweepstakes tied to Disney Parks' "What will you celebrate?" consumer campaign.
The Alamo.com online sweepstakes begins today and runs through January 18, 2009, and will award 20 vacations to the winner's choice of either Disneyland(R) Resort or Walt Disney World(R) Resort. Each winning entry will receive a five-day/four-night vacation that includes airfare, rental car, hotel accommodations, theme park passes, and a personalized celebration experience for a family of four.

Talks are underway to significantly expand the struggling Hong Kong Disneyland theme park. But a timetable and financing are unclear.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts broke ground for its first family destination resort in Hawai'i today with a traditional Hawaiian blessing ceremony on its 21-acre oceanfront property, located at the Ko Olina Resort & Marina development on the western side of O'ahu. Scheduled to open in 2011, the new family friendly destination will overlook breathtaking crystal blue lagoons and white sand beaches and is planned to include 350 hotel rooms and 480 Disney Vacation Club timeshare villas.

Snow is falling on Main Street as Christmas time kicks off at Walt Disney World. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is taking place on select night in November and December and is a can't miss event.

An insurance company, wishing to remain anonymous, paid 5 million pounds so the girl suffering from a fatal illness could visit Disneyland.