Club Penguin, Disney’s popular virtual world for kids, will be launching a print magazine in the UK. The company hopes the magazine will help Club Penguin compete against rivals Bin Weevils and Moshi Monsters.
The magazine will launch February 9, and will be a test for whether print titles are viable for other countries. Lane Merrifield, one of three co-founders who created Club Penguin, says:
This type of printed magazine for kids is certainly more popular in the UK than elsewhere in the world. We get literally tens of thousands of pieces …

This spring, D23 members and Disney fans will be able to take an exciting look at Disney’s legendary animation department and history in the newest issue of Disney twenty-three magazine. The Spring 2012 issue will celebrate 75 years of Disney animated films, with special insights, stories, and details about Disney’s animation heritage.
“It’s often been said that animation is the heart and soul of Disney, so we knew we needed to do something truly spectacular with our magazine in this milestone year,” said Steven Clark, head of D23. “Whether you’re interested …

Are you and your family trying to make healthier lifestyle choices? With Disney’s Magic of Healthy Living contest, you may be rewarded for those healthy choices with a vacation to Disney’s newest resort destination, Aulani. Disney’s Magic of Healthy Living initiative strives to help families make healthy living simple and fun, and now they want to hear from you.
Families with at least one child between the ages of 6 and 14 can enter the contest by sending in either a photo or a story of 500 characters or less. The …

We’re just a few short months from the Broadway opening of Newsies, and recently, Disney Theatrical Productions announced the full cast of talented performers that will be seen in the show. Many of the cast will be reprising their roles, after originally performing them in the show’s premiere at the Paper Mill Playhouse last fall.
As previously announced, Jeremy Jordan will play the lead role of Jack Kelly. Joining him in the show will be John Dossett (2003 revival of Gypsy) as Joseph Pulitzer, Kara Lindsay (Little House on the Prairie) …

Disney XD announced they will be making a second season of their football-themed entertainment show Goalmouth, a boy-focused channel for kids ages 6 to 14. Adam Gendle and Tim Warwood will return as hosts, and the second season will feature 12 episodes for 2012.
Boel Ferguson, general manager of Disney Channels UK and Ireland says:
We’ve significantly increased our investment in locally produced shows and are thrilled to be launching a second series of Disney XD’s Goalmouth, a brilliantly witty take on the nation’s beloved sport. The hugely popular …

Sources say that Disney-owned ABC has ordered a pilot for a Beauty and the Beast TV show, which has been described by Jericho’s Jonathan Steinberg as “a fantastical re-imagining of the classic fairy tale set in a mythical, dangerous world wherein a beautiful and tough Princess discovers an unlikely connection with a mysterious beast.”
Despite ABC’s success with their fairy tale inspired hit Once Upon A Time, the network will have some pretty stiff competition if they move forward with this pilot. In addition to NBC’s Grimm, the CW …

Many fans of SOAPnet have recently been concerned over the news that one of their favorite channels would abruptly stop broadcasting its usual programming on March 23, as it made way for the brand new Disney Junior channel.  However, sources from SOAPnet have reached out to DisZine to explain that the transition would be more gradual.
While SOAPnet will eventually go away, there will be no “hard stop” to its broadcasts.  Rather, SOAPnet and Disney Junior will run concurrently for a period of transition.  More information was shared in this article …

We let you know a few months ago that the wonderful new play Peter and the Starcatcher, which made its off-Broadway debut last spring, would be premiering on Broadway this spring. This week, it was announced that the show will officially begin performances at Broadway’s Brooks Atkinson Theatre this March.
Peter and the Starcatcher, which is a prequel of sorts to Peter Pan, is based on the popular novel of the same name by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. Using a cast of only 12 actors and some wonderfully imaginative staging, …

We’re just a few short months from the Broadway opening of Newsies, and recently, Disney Theatrical Productions announced the full cast of talented performers that will be seen in the show. Many of the cast will be reprising their roles, after originally performing them in the show’s premiere at the Paper Mill Playhouse last fall.
As previously announced, Jeremy Jordan will play the lead role of Jack Kelly. Joining him in the show will be John Dossett (2003 revival of Gypsy) as Joseph Pulitzer, Kara Lindsay (Little House on the Prairie) as Katherine Plumber, …

Beginning April 1, Disney XD will launch a Marvel Universe Programming Block featuring cartoons and live action shows based on classic Marvel characters.
Disney Channel President Gary Marsh says:
Iconic Marvel heroes and villains, stories with core values of accomplishment, discovery and growth make Marvel Universe a perfect complement to Disney XD and a destination for parents and kids to experience together.
What do you think about this new programming block?
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