Disney Unveils the Ultimate Online Entertainment Site for Families
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 29, 1999--
Disney Online Combines Award-Wwinning Web Site for Families With the No. 1 Subscription Service for Kids, Creating a Magical World Online at www.disney.com The No. 1 family Web site, Disney.com (NYSE:DIS), joined forces today with the No. 1 kids' subscription service, Disney's Blast Online, to create an exciting new online destination. Uniquely designed for both kids and families, the new Disney.com integrates the best features and services from both sites to further expand Disney's reach through the use of a single URL: www.disney.com.
Launched under the banner "Where the Magic Lives Online," Disney.com offers guests a wealth of original entertainment unmatched by any other family Web site. The new site has been thoughtfully designed with 12 easy-to-navigate channels including Games, Activities, Stories, Movies, Music and Television, as well as Shopping and Vacations.
In addition, families can access exclusive premium content such as special multiplayer games, robust communication tools with sophisticated parental controls, and valuable merchandise discounts through a broadly expanded subscription service, now called Disney's Club Blast.
"Our goal for the new Disney.com is to create the absolute best interactive environment for kids and families on the Internet," said Ken Goldstein, senior vice president and general manager of Disney Online. "We want our guests to come to Disney.com to play, to learn, to explore, and to share experiences with their friends."
Disney.com's new feature-rich channels comprise a world of entertainment, information, education and services:
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-- Games -- The place where kids and parents can play the most engaging and age-appropriate games on the Internet. With such wonderful multiplayer games as "Mickey's Bingo" and "Disney Trivia," this will most certainly become the gotta-click channel for kids.
-- Stories -- Along with classic storybooks and Disney comics, the Stories channel features interactive storytelling where kids can participate in group story activities, writing and poetry contests, and a special reading hour.
--Activities -- Featuring puzzles, crafts and printable projects, the Activities channel provides fun and excitement for kids and their parents. Parents can easily access tips and advice for planning playtime, birthday parties and holiday events.
--Family -- Anchored by award-winning Family.com, the Family channel offers a sounding board for parents to discuss a wide range of issues through message boards and chats. It also features articles from Family.com's renowned editorial staff on a variety of topics, along with instruction on how to take advantage of the wealth of information on the Internet.
--After School -- Here's where to find in-depth homework help through "Genie Knows," a child-friendly Internet search and directory tool based on the well-respected Disney's Internet Guide, launched last year. Kids can also join After School groups --such as Ludwig Von Drake's Science & Magic Lab and Clarabelle's Arts & Crafts or even become a reporter for the school paper at J.Cricket U.
--Live Events -- Offering the latest in real-time fun, Live Events features chats with beloved Disney characters in Character Corner; a Celebrity Spotlight section, where guests can meet the hottest stars; and various activities like Drawing Lessons with Disney artists. Live Events will be presented with a regular programming schedule, similar to television's, so that kids will know exactly when to find their favorite events online.
--Movies -- This is the best place on the Internet for kids and families interested in Disney movies, moviemakers and stars (including, of course, Disney animation). Click on the Movie channel to visit Doug today, and return this summer to meet Tarzan and visit the most expansive Web site ever created for a Disney movie.
--Music -- Anchored by Radio Disney, the Music channel entertains and fills guests in on the world of music. There's Disney music for Disney fans, pop for preteens (check out Hanson Headquarters), and online sing-alongs for young ones.
--Television -- Reviews, recommendations and ratings allow parents to make informed decisions about their families' viewing choices. The Television channel also lets kids explore backstories, character bios, show archives and television production techniques, as well as providing late-breaking information on programming and schedules of on-air shows.
--Disney A-Z -- This is the definitive place for history, facts and exploration of the Disney legacy. Disney A-Z provides access to never-before-available archival information, quotes from Walt Disney himself, trivia, an interactive timeline and biographies of Disney legends.
--Vacations -- The Disney.com Vacation channel takes guests to the rich region of family leisure. Experience world-famous Disney theme parks and attractions online through virtual tours, read about the latest offerings from Disney Cruise Line or Disneyland Paris, or book a family vacation online.
--Shopping -- The Disney Store Online is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week -- and can be accessed from the comfort of home or office. The store boasts more than 2,000 different items including customizable and personalized clothing, accessories, gifts and collectibles, toys, videos and music.
For those who want broader access to family-friendly sites on the Web, Disney 's Internet Guide, also known as DIG, continues to provide guests with eight main categories that touch on the everyday lives of today's families. Each of the sites featured on DIG is handpicked by Disney Online staff members and continuously reviewed for relevance and useful, informative and entertaining content. Popular Disney characters are showcased on the Disney.com home page in Worlds of Disney. Mickey, Pooh, Ariel, Mulan, Hercules and Simba all appear in point-and-click landscapes in animated environments, accompanied by related content that includes songs, stories and games.
A new episode featuring each character is released every two weeks. And in keeping with the all-family appeal of Disney.com, the new Mouse House Jr. playground gives prereaders (kids three to six years old) their own digital kingdom within the larger site.
Members of the subscription service Disney's Club Blast enjoy a unique visit each time they log on, with everything from their favorite characters adorning multimedia "D-mail" to multiplayer games supporting up to 24 guests simultaneously. Disney's Club Blast members will also have unlimited access to free chat within the gaming environments, as well as message boards, clubs, Web tours and auditorium chats with kid-friendly celebrities.
In addition, Disney's Club Blast includes thoughtful parental controls that enable parents to manage their children's online communication. For $5.95 a month or $39.95 a year, Disney's Club Blast membership is an outstanding value based on its programming alone, though members also receive a 10 percent discount on all merchandise offered at The Disney Store Online.
Coming soon to Disney's Club Blast is Disney's BlastPad, an instant messaging application supported by the same parental controls offered in Disney's Club Blast. Providing real-time access to all Disney's Club Blast members who are logged online, Disney's BlastPad makes it easy for guests to find and communicate with friends across the Internet. Disney's BlastPad will be introduced through a public beta test program concurrent with the launch of the new Disney.com.
Guests to the new Disney.com will also have a chance to enter the Disney.com Magic Sweepstakes throughout the year. The sweepstakes offer guests a chance to win the Grand Prize -- a Disney Cruise Line Reunion vacation for up to 15 family members.
Other prizes include a home-theater system, a trip to Disneyland Paris, a home computer system and limited-edition sketch books from Disney Publishing. A total of 15 winners each week will enjoy a special CD-ROM from Disney Interactive.
Disney.com is fully functional on both the PC and Macintosh platforms for users with Internet Explorer 3.0 or higher and Netscape Navigator 3.0 or higher. Disney.com features both an HTML version and an unprecedented, state-of-the-art, graphically rich version using Macromedia's Flash(TM) Player 3.0.
Disney Online, a unit of Buena Vista Internet Group, has headquarters in North Hollywood, with satellite offices in New York, San Francisco and Detroit. Founded in 1995 to bring the magic of |
