This question comes from Jeremy, who asks:  “We are going on vacation this summer with our two boys and they really love Up and Cars. I read on your site that the characters from Up are leaving. What characters are available to meet and greet while at Walt Disney World?” Jeremy, thanks for your question and for reading the site.  There’s something about meeting characters in the parks that makes even the most jaded grown-up smile.  Sure, we know it’s really a cast member in a costume, but for that brief moment, you really are meeting  Buzz Lightyear and Woody.   Nothing beats seeing your children meet their heroes, so by all means, make time for character meet and greets; they make great photo opportunities.   Having said that, it’s probably impossible to meet every character on your trip.  Given the large number of opportunities available, it would simply be too time-consuming, and particularly with young children, scheduling activities around meet and greets may be frustrating.  Also, not all the main characters are available during a given time.  In our last trip in December, for example, we didn’t see Belle  in her yellow dress the entire week.   Fortunately, there are a few ways to maximize your meet and greet opportunities in each park.  Here are a few tips: Do a character meal.  The characters visit every table and the interaction with them usually lasts longer than at a normal meet and greet.

More here: Ask a Disney Question: Is It Possible to Meet Every Character?

This article comes to us from Variety : Disney and Robert Zemeckis are eyeing the ocean floor as the setting for a new family franchise. The Mouse House and ImageMovers have wrapped a deal to partner with the Gotham Group to adapt Kat Falls’ upcoming young adult novel “Dark Life,” with Zemeckis attached to direct. Book is set in a near-future world in which rising ocean levels and natural catastrophes have led some people to homestead on the ocean floor, and kids to develop supernatural powers. Story centers on an underwater teenage boy and a surface girl who join forces to uncover a government conspiracy. Project fits in well with Disney’s new mandate to create family friendly fare that can be exploited across the company’s various platforms and spawn sequels. The Gotham Group won the rights to “Dark Life” after making a preemptive bid to buy the manuscript earlier this year (Daily Variety, Jan. 25). Book will be published by Scholastic in May, backed by a major marketing push. Two books had initially been planned, but could now expand to more installments. Zemeckis, Jack Rapke and Steve Starkey will produce through ImageMovers with Jackie Levine shepherding the project for the shingle. Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Lee Stollman will produce through Gotham. Click here to keep reading Mars Needs Moms, But Disney Doesn’t Need Bob Zemeckis’ Company … Disney fires Robert Zemeckis and Company … New Trailer for Disney’s Christmas Carol … Disney, Zemeckis board ‘Yellow Submarine’ … Share the Magic:

Link:
Disney and Robert Zemeckis pursue future franchise ‘Dark Life’