Tony Award-Winning Singer, Broadway Star & Frequent Disney Parks Guest Dead at Age 91

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

The crown of Broadway has lost one of its most cherished jewels, as Tony Award-winning singer, dancer, and Broadway star Chita Rivera has died. The dancing pioneer was 91.

Born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero in Washington, D.C., on January 23, 1933, the beloved Broadway icon Chita Rivera, as she would come to be known professionally, began taking ballet classes at the age of 11 at the Jones-Haywood School of Ballet. Four years later, an instructor from the George Balanchine School of American Ballet visited the Haywood School, and 15-year-old Rivera was one of only two students chosen to audition in New York City.

Her audition was successful, and she was accepted into the school and awarded a scholarship.

Between 1951 and 1956, Rivera auditioned and landed numerous roles in popular Broadway shows, including Call Me Madam, Guys and Dolls, Can-Can, Mr. Wonderful, and Seventh Heaven. But in 1957, Rivera was cast in West Side Story as Anita, and her performance served as the springboard for her career as a Broadway star.

chita rivera in west side story on broadway

Later, Rivera played the role of Rose in Bye Bye Birdie alongside actor Dick Van Dyke, a performance that would land her a Tony Award nomination. Ms. Rivera also appeared in Bajour on Broadway before landing a television role in The Outer Limits. Following those roles, Rivera was approached by Norman Petty, a legendary music producer in New York who saw Rivera’s performance in Bajour and wanted the actress to sign with Dot Records.

Petty was persuasive, and in 1965, Chita Rivera released her first single with the label. One year later, a second single followed.

chita rivera dick van dyke bye bye birdie

In 1988, Rivera was in a near-fatal car accident that crushed her right leg, but she rebounded quickly and got back to Broadway as though the accident had never happened.

Rivera continued her Broadway and acting career over the years, and her credits, accolades, and awards were many, not the least of which was among her highest achievements: receiving a Kennedy Center Honor in 2002, receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom bestowed on her by then-President Barack Obama in 2009, and receiving the Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2018.

Rivera was the first Latina and the first Latino American to receive a Kennedy Center Honor.

In 2015, at the age of 82, Rivera was still dancing on Broadway in The Visit. At the time, she was quoted as saying, “I wouldn’t know what to do if I wasn’t moving or telling a story to you or singing a song. That’s the spirit of my life, and I’m really so lucky to be able to do what I love, even at this time in my life.”

Chita Rivera was a Celebrity Narrator at EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional at the Walt Disney World Resort several times with her most recent appearances being in 2021 and 2022.

chita rivera candlelight processional

The Broadway star’s death was first announced by her daughter, Lisa Mordente, who said her mother died in New York following a brief illness. She is survived by her daughter and her siblings. Our deepest sympathy goes out to her family and friends at this time.

Millionaire Disney Actress Defends Creating GoFundMe For Son’s Baseball Team

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

In 2010, a new website was launched called GoFundMe. GoFundMe allowed people to start campaigns to help them raise money for various things. Strangers could donate to help people with things like celebrations, medical bills, schooling, and more. In the nearly 15 years since its launch, GoFundMe has helped thousands of people, raising more than $9 billion.

GoFundMe can help those who truly find themselves in a tough financial situation. But one Disney actress is standing up against a ton of backlash for creating one to help her son.

Alyssa Milano, well-known to fans for her role as Phoebe Halliwell in the TV series Charmed, has a 12-year-old son who absolutely loves baseball. He plays on a team that is hoping to take a trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, where they will also compete in a tournament. The trip will cost approximately $10,000 — covering uniforms, travel costs, and dues for the rest of the families with boys on the team.

Alyssa Milano Charmed

Many found Milano’s GoFundMe completely tasteless. GoFundMe is considered a place where people who are truly struggling financially can go for help. Milano’s net worth is estimated to be between $5 million and $10 million. She is also married to a successful Hollywood talent agent — Dave Bugliari — who is also worth millions of dollars.

My son’s baseball team is raising money for their Cooperstown trip. Any amount would be so greatly appreciated. You can read more about the team and make a donation here:

People were shocked that Milano would ask strangers to donate money, when she could easily cover the cost of the trip herself.

“Imagine being so out of touch that you ask your followers to contribute money to your child’s trip when you have a net worth of 10 million dollars,” one user wrote. “This is gross. Pay for it your own damn self. #AlyssaMilano #gofundme.”

Despite the backlash, Milano defended the GoFundMe, saying that she had already paid for a number of things for the team.

I’m getting media inquiries about whether I have financially contributed to my son’s baseball team.

I’ve paid for uniforms for the entire team and coaches, thrown bday parties and sponsor any kid who can’t afford monthly dues.

The kids also do fundraising themselves—car washes, movie nights, and many other fun things!

Thank you to all who have contributed to the gofundme! You’ve made things easier for these boys and their families.

Milano did receive some support, but received further backlash when she made the comment that she would pay for the entire team if she could.

It’s unreal, right away, just because you’re an actress, people think you have to fund the entire thing. There’s not a damn thing wrong with your doing this. It’s a great example for the kids to see you as Alyssa the Mom, not Alyssa the actress. This world is overrun with/Karens!

Commenters pointed out that she has been on several incredibly successful television shows — Charmed, and Who’s The Boss? — which ran in syndication for years and netted the actress millions.

You absolutely could… I’m not saying you should or need to but to come on here and say you can’t afford this is ridiculous… while not knowing your financials my guess is you make more then enough money in a week to pay for this entire trip… Spare us the you would if you could.

Milano has worked with Disney for decades, making a number of notable appearances. She voiced Angel in the 2001 film, Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure. She also portrayed Scarlett Rosetti in the Disney animated series Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil. Milano has also made appearances in the hit ABC shows, Castle and Grey’s Anatomy.

At the time of publication, Milano’s GoFundMe has surpassed its $10,000 by just over $1,000.

Major Airline Ends Its Partnership With Disney World After More Than 10 Years

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

A major commercial airline announced this week that it has parted ways with The Walt Disney Company, ending a partnership that has been in place for more than ten years.

In 2013, The Walt Disney Company announced a partnership between Disney Parks and WestJet Airlines. As part of the agreement between the parties, two themed Boeing 737-800 airliners would be painted to reflect Disney-inspired theming, with the first of the two aircraft beginning service on December 3.

Now that Disney and WestJet have parted ways, the Disney-themed airliners are headed for retirement. Both airliners will remain in service, but they will no longer feature their former magical theming, as the external parts of the airliners will be restored to reflect WestJet’s standard livery.

Per the Canadian-based passenger carrier, WestJet Airlines and Disney Parks ended their partnership in December when their agreement expired, referring to the parting of ways as a “natural transition.”

“In this case,” WestJet explained in a statement, “the co-branded liveries will be updated following a natural transition in our contract agreements with Disney Parks & Resorts.”

On December 2, 2013, WestJet and Walt Disney Parks & Resorts took off on an exciting adventure. The commercial airline and the Mouse House joined forces. The result was a gorgeous custom-painted Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft inspired by Disney’s Fantasia films and Sorcerer Mickey.

disney westjet magic plane

As part of the celebration, WestJet Airlines hosted an event at the hangar in Calgary, Alberta, where the Mickey plane was being held. A magical unveiling was held with “WestJetters,” Disney team members, and media representatives in attendance. Even Mickey Mouse showed up to celebrate the new Disney-inspired airliner.

Dubbed the Magic Plane, the Boeing aircraft took its inaugural flight, which departed Calgary, Alberta, Canada, en route to the Walt Disney World Resort in Central Florida on December 3, 2013, after which it began flying throughout WestJet’s domestic and international network.

“We are very proud of our work with Disney and everything we’ve done together over the years to enrich the lives of our guests,” said then-President of WestJet Airlines, Gregg Saretsky, at the time of the debut. “With the Magic Plane, we are soaring to new heights, offering guests of all ages the chance to share the skies with one of the world’s most beloved and iconic figures.”

disney westjet magic plane

When the Magic Plane first debuted, the headrests on passenger seats featured decals that resembled pixie dust, and guests received cookies in the shape of Disney characters on all flights.

Two years later, WestJet would add another airliner to its tiny magical fleet.

In October 2015, Disney and WestJet debuted a second Disney-themed plane inspired by Disney’s Frozen (2013). The new plane was painted in Fort Worth, Texas, by teams comprised of painters from Canada, the United States, and Germany.

Before team members began the arduous task of bringing Anna, Elsa, and Olaf to life on the Boeing 737-800, they watched the blockbuster film inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen (1844) to get them in the spirit and to familiarize themselves with the characters and the story of Frozen.

It took crews 21 days of 12-hour rotations by crew members who worked 24 hours a day to complete the transformation of the Boeing 737-800. More than 20 different colors of paint were used in the project. When the job was finished, crews had used more than 170 gallons of paint. Sparkles were then added to some of the sections of the aircraft to add a shimmery shine to the plane anytime it moved.

Inside the WestJet Disney Frozen plane, more than 50 separate overhead bin doors featured a unique Frozen-themed decal, and passenger seat headrests featured the same cold-to-warm theming painted on the external part of the fuselage. More than 36 different paint colors were used.

WestJet Airlines will still partner with Disney through WestJet Vacations and offer its passengers the option to purchase Walt Disney World theme park tickets on its official website.

Disney to Layoff Even More Cast Members

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Via DisDining.com

Disney has announced its decision to lay off many cast members, some of whom you may have even spoken to.

This unfortunate news has sent shockwaves to many who work in the magical world of Disney, leaving many to wonder about the future of their employment with the mega-company.

Disney, being a conglomerate business, has many arms. Movies, television, Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and more make up the multi-faceted nature of the larger-than-life entertainment giant.

A big part of that business is cast members. Unlike typical employees you’ll find at other companies, Disney considers all of their staff to be a part of the story, hence the preferred name for their workers.

Cast members, the ones that we interact with at least, are responsible for the day-to-day operations of theme parks, customer service, and much more. One capacity in which cast members offer a magical experience is via shopDisney.

Bruce the Shark behind Cast Members in new costumes

shopDisney is another arm of The Walt Disney Company that allows Disney fans to shop their favorite Disney characters and park merchandise online via a website or app.

Guests can find all the latest trends, fashions, and must-haves in the online Disney shop, highlighting favorite characters and franchises like Mickey Mouse, Avatar, Star Wars, Marvel, and much more.

Sadly, the news of new layoffs will impact this specific arm of employment for The Walt Disney Company, with Scott Gustin reporting that 115 employees in this branch will be out of work effective March 24.

Scott went on to explain that many of the workers impacted by this round of layoffs will be those who work remotely in a guest service role, mostly part-time employees.

This is considerable news as many find it challenging to afford groceries these days as inflation continues to impact the US dollar. Even more alarming, Scott also went on to explain that Disney will outsource their current job function to a third party with “employees across the globe and time zones.”

With the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Disney has faced unprecedented challenges in operating at total capacity. Despite its best efforts to rebound from the economic downturn, the company has been forced to make difficult decisions to ensure long-term sustainability. As a result, additional cast members have been affected by recent waves of layoffs.

As mentioned, the cast members facing termination from their current positions are that of the shopDisney customer service arm. Although these employees are expected to work part-time, 115 people being removed from an already busy customer service system is significant, especially considering that they are losing their jobs for potentially cheaper labor overseas.

For many cast members, working at Disney is not just a job but a lifelong dream. The announcement of the layoffs will most likely leave these dreamers devastated and uncertain about their future and what lies ahead. It is essential to recognize this decision’s emotional toll on individuals who have poured their hearts and souls into creating magical experiences for park guests.

Disney has always emphasized the importance of its cast members and their well-being. In the wake of these layoffs, the company is surely committed to providing support and resources to help impacted employees navigate this challenging time.

Efforts such as career counseling, access to professional development programs, and assistance in finding new job opportunities could be extended to the affected cast members. However, there is no official word regarding how Disney will navigate this mass exit of customer service representatives.

Like many other major companies, Disney strives to navigate these uncertain times. The layoffs are part of a larger strategy aimed at ensuring the long-term viability of the Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland, shopDisney, Disney+, and many other arms that belong to The Walt Disney Company.

As the company continues to adapt and evolve, there is optimism for a brighter future where Disney’s magic can thrive again, bringing back the beloved cast members who make it all possible.

The decision to lay off more cast members at Disney is undoubtedly a painful and unfortunate one. It marks a challenging chapter in the history of those impacted and casts a shadow over a world that we rarely see outside of a bubble.

However, in times of adversity, Disney has always persevered, and we hope the company will emerge stronger while providing essential support for those impacted by these layoffs. Let us rally behind the cast members who bring joy and magic to our lives and keep the Disney spirit alive.

Explore Ancient Cities and Cultures This Summer on a Mediterranean with Greek Isles Cruise

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

This summer, your clients can explore age-old cities, immerse in vibrant cultures, or soak up the sun on a Mediterranean with Greek Isles cruise with Disney Cruise Line!

With seven to 11-night sailings departing from Civitavecchia (Rome) aboard the Disney Dream, there’s no better time to experience the ancient cultures and breathtaking landscapes of some of the Mediterranean’s most iconic destinations.

Relax along the picturesque beaches of Mykonos or visit local attractions to learn more about this legendary island paradise. Step into history during a visit to Naples and explore the ancient Roman ruins of Pompeii. Enjoy panoramic ocean views at Santorini, or wander the region’s shopping districts, museums, and wineries. At Piraeus, take a short trip to Athens and experience the archaeological wonders of one of Greece’s most incredible port cities.