Sources are saying that Tom Hanks, no stranger to the Disney universe, is in talks to play Walt Disney himself in Saving Mr. Banks.
Based on Disney’s real story of struggling to bring Mary Poppins to the big screen, little is known about the project. However, rumors are saying that Emma Thompson will play P.L. Travers, the author behind Poppins who fought Walt Disney for years while he tried to option her novel. John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side) is said to direct the film.
Tom Hanks was shortlisted for the role …

Sony Walkman, a classic staple of the 80’s, will be getting a new look in honor of Walt Disney’s 110th birthday.
Sony Japan will be releasing a new range of Walkman (model numbers NW-S760/S760K/S760BT)  to celebrate Disney, and they will feature famous Disney characters like Mickey Mouse as well as wallpapers highlighting beloved Disney characters. Consumers will also be able to choose between several Walt Disney quotes, including “The era we are living in today is a dream coming true” and “Ideas come from curiosity,” just to name a few.
This special …

After being locked away in The Walt Disney Co. archive for 40 years, a 1928 drawing of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was showcased at an event for Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two.
Oswald, who was co-created by Disney as a predecessor to Mickey Mouse, was lost in a 1920’s contract dispute with Universal Studios. Years went by before Disney regained the character, but it wasn’t until 2010 when Oswald made his triumphant return and appeared in the original Epic Mickey.
Many of Disney’s early cartoons were destroyed over the …

Earlier this week, we told you about Storybook Circus “soft-opening” in Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland, and today we have several photos to share with you of the new attractions that are now available to guests.
The three attractions that are now open include:

The first section of “Dumbo, the Flying Elephant” For the first time in Magic Kingdom history, Dumbo spins clockwise
“The Barnstormer, Starring The Great Goofini” roller coaster
“The Fantasyland Train Station,” one of three stops for The Walt Disney World Railroad

Says Chris Beatty, Creative Director, Fantasyland Expansion for Walt Disney Imagineering:
The Storybook …

Disney is well-known for their 1964 smash hit Mary Poppins, starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. But a new movie may be in the works that shows what happened behind the scenes of this legendary film. Deadline.com reports that Disney is currently near a deal to acquire Saving Mr. Banks, a film that looks at the tension between Walt Disney and original Mary Poppins author P.L. Travers.
The script for Saving Mr. Banks, written by Kelly Marcel, made the 2011 Black List, an annual list of the most well-liked screenplays that have …

Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment team visit the Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children and Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children throughout the year, bringing exotic animals to spread joy to the children in these hospitals and enable them to focus on the fun instead of their illness.
In addition to the various critters that bring joy to these local hospitals, famous Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto and Chip ‘n’ Dale also also make the rounds to bring smiles to the children’s faces.
Says Gabriel Burns, …

Panasonic’s Eneloop rechargeable batteries have been released in two limited edition Disney designs in order to celebrate Walt Disney’s 110 anniversary of birth (he was born December 5, 1901.) Since his 110th anniversary year, there have been many product promotions and special events planned, and Panasonic’s latest limited edition release is one of them.
The rechargeable batteries are available in two design schemes. The first series, dubbed “LoveLove,” showcases Mickey and Minnie and their red, black and white color scheme. These batteries will be available in AA and AAA size.
The second …

Disneyland’s annual Candlelight Procession and Ceremony was held just this past weekend, and Gary Sinise (CSI: NY) was the star narrator of this holiday event.
53 years ago, Walt Disney started this event as a way to thank various community organizations, and now it has grown to feature a 600-voice choir that sing and hold candles as they make their way down Main Street, U.S.A.
Event seating is by invitation-only, and the ceremony also includes a reading of a Christmas story by a celebrity guest as well as the choir, a full …

Fill Up My Can, an original Walt Disney drawing thought to be made in 1920 before Walt hit it big, was put up for auction in Reno earlier this week.
The drawing of a cigar-chomping man wearing a derby hat is believed to pre-date Walt’s iconic character Mickey Mouse, and was sold for the amount of $36,000.
The auction was staged by Holabird-Kagin Americana, and company spokesman Fred Holabird said that pieces actually signed by Disney himself are extremely rare, and that he believes this was one of his earliest – if …

A Walt Disney cartoon that has been lost for decades will soon be up for auction at Bonhams in Los Angeles on December 14. The 5 minute, 21 second black-and-white short Hungry Hobos was created in 1928, and stars Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, along with his friend Peg Leg Pete, who get into some mischief on a train.
The short was discovered in the Huntley Film Archives, one of the U.K.’s largest archives with over 80,000 films – half of which are not properly cataloged.
Archivist Amanda Huntley said:
When we checked this …