All Aboard For 'Disney's A Christmas Carol' Train Tour

All Aboard For 'Disney's A Christmas Carol' Train Tour

FROM SNEAK PEEKS OF EXCLUSIVE 3D FILM FOOTAGE TO SUMMERTIME SNOW - DISNEY PULLS OUT ALL THE WHISTLE STOPS FOR 40-CITY TRAVELING EXPERIENCE

Departing Los Angeles May 22; Tour to Cover More Than 16,000 Miles

BURBANK, Calif., May 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Disney is pulling out all the whistle stops and taking its show on the road with a spectacular immersive and interactive 40-city train tour including a 3D sneak peek of film footage from the upcoming movie "Disney's A Christmas Carol," it was announced today (05/08/09) by Dick Cook, chairman, The Walt Disney Studios. Set amidst a snowy backdrop -- complete with all of the sights and sounds of Christmas including carolers, decorations, giveaways and many more surprises in each of the 40 cities -- the Train Tour is being launched with HP on board as the title and technology sponsor and driven by Amtrak. This family event is for guests of all ages and is free to the public.

Starring Jim Carrey and directed by Academy Award(R)-winning filmmaker Robert Zemeckis, "Disney's A Christmas Carol" opens in theatres November 6 in Disney Digital 3D(TM) and in IMAX 3D(R).

Commenting on the announcement, Cook said, "'Disney's A Christmas Carol' Train Tour is an incredibly fun way to introduce families across the country to the wonders and spectacle that is Robert Zemeckis' unique and spectacular new holiday film. We are so proud of the movie, and think the 3D footage is so incredible, we just had to give everyone a chance to see it in Disney Digital 3D. From Los Angeles to New York, and all points in between, guests are going to have a fabulous time discovering things about the making of this extraordinary film, participating in their own festive fantasies, and getting into the holiday spirit all year round. 'Disney's A Christmas Carol' is great entertainment for moviegoers of all ages, and this is the perfect introduction to a fun and exciting new holiday classic."

Among the highlights of the tour are authentic artifacts on loan from the Charles Dickens Museum of London; artwork, costumes and props from the film; demonstrations of performance capture technology; and a chance to morph your face into one of the film's characters using HP TouchSmart PCs. At each stop along the way, a state-of-the-art Disney Digital 3D Theatre will be erected, where guests can get a sneak peek of "Disney's A Christmas Carol" and see other exclusive behind-the-scenes materials from the movie. The latest details about tour stops and scheduled events are available at www.christmascaroltraintour.com.

Featuring four custom-designed vintage rail cars full of behind-the-scenes attractions, entertaining demonstrations, and fun activities, the tour will have its inaugural stop at Los Angeles' Union Station over Memorial Day Weekend, from May 22nd through May 25th. During the next 24 weeks, the train will make 40 stops in 36 states, as it travels its way across more than 16,000 miles of track. The tour will finish at New York's Grand Central Terminal over the weekend of October 30th through November 1st.

At every tour stop, Radio Disney will invite kids to enter for a chance to become a Movie Surfer representing their hometown. Each Hometown Movie Surfer will get a chance to appear on Disney Channel by filming their very own Movie Surfer's segment! They'll also receive a prize package of exclusive Movie Surfer and "Disney's A Christmas Carol" gear.

ABC television stations across the country will run local promotions. At each stop, guests will have the chance to win an HP TouchSmart PC and an HP Photosmart wireless printer. Additionally, Disney is working with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America organization to provide an early Christmas experience to kids across the country. Disney will present the organization with a donation in the amount of $100,000 at the May 21st launch in Los Angeles to further the organization's efforts of helping kids grow up to be great and will invite Boys & Girls Club kids to be part of the tour when it comes to their town. Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the nation are impacting the lives of 4.8 million young people each year with after-school programs that emphasize education, career exploration, community service, technology skills, financial literacy, the arts and more to help them reach their full potential as productive, caring citizens.

A variety of innovative HP technologies helped to make the Train Tour possible. HP ProLiant servers and HP ProCurve switches will provide Disney with the computing power that will allow guests to collect and upload photos. Throughout the train exhibits, Disney is using HP TouchSmart PCs to run an interactive face morph application and HP monitors to showcase performance capture technology as well as images and digital effects from the film. Additionally, each train car will be wrapped with Disney's Train Tour logo using the versatility of HP Scitex printers.

"For decades HP and Disney have joined together to captivate audiences through technology innovation and digital entertainment," said Michael Mendenhall, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, HP. "HP technology used in the making of 'Disney's A Christmas Carol' has enabled Disney to push the boundaries in performance capture technology. The Train Tour offers an innovative way for guests to interact with HP's latest technology and experience the magic behind the film."

Amtrak locomotives and engineers will lead the four-car Train Tour (plus a private car), across the US, with stops ranging from 1-3 days along the way. Each train station will be themed with holiday decorations, and feature artwork from the film, Christmas Carolers, fun activities for the entire family, and snow!

"Rail travel continues to influence the way people connect with each other and celebrating the release of a true classic is a perfect way to further that connection," said Emmett Fremaux, Vice President Marketing and Product Management, Amtrak. "We couldn't be more thrilled to be teaming up with Walt Disney Studios for this 40 city tour to help educate Americans about the benefit of rail travel."

Dolby Laboratories will be supplying its Dolby(R) 3D Digital Cinema solution for the traveling Digital 3D theater, and Barco is providing the DP2000 digital projectors. Panasonic provides some of the latest high resolution large screen technology available to consumers today throughout the train cars. And, the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is encouraging guests traveling to and from the train to Buckle Up, Every Trip, Every Time!

ABOUT THE MOVIE

"Disney's A Christmas Carol," a multi-sensory thrill ride re-envisioned by Academy Award(R)-winning filmmaker Robert Zemeckis, captures the fantastical essence of the classic Dickens tale in a groundbreaking, performance-capture 3D motion picture event. Ebeneezer Scrooge (Jim Carrey) begins the holiday with his usual miserly contempt, barking at his faithful clerk (Gary Oldman) and his cheery nephew (Colin Firth). But when the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come take him on an eye-opening journey, revealing truths Old Scrooge is reluctant to face, he must open his heart to undo years of ill will before it's too late. Through the magic of performance-capture technology, Jim Carrey tackles seven roles, including Scrooge and all of the Christmas spirits.

   "DISNEY'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL" TRAIN TOUR SCHEDULE    Stop    #   Market       Date      Site           Address    City      State Zip    1    Los         May 22-25  Los Angeles    800 N.     Los        Angeles                Union Station  Alameda    Angeles     CA 90012                                              St.    2    Grand       May 29-31  Williams Depot 233 North  Williams    AZ 86046        Canyon                                Grand                                              Canyon                                              Blvd    3    Santa Fe    June 2     Santa Fe Depot 410 S      Santa Fe    NM 87501                                              Guadalupe                                              St    4    Albuquerque June 5-7   Albuquerque    Amtrak     Albuquerque NM 87102                                              Station                                              214 First                                              Street                                              Southwest    5    Denver      June 12-14 Denver Union   1701       Denver      CO 80202                               Station        Wynkoop St     6    Salt Lake   June 16    Ogden Union    2501 Wall  Ogden       UT 84401        City                   Station        Avenue    7    Sacramento  June 19-21 California     111 I      Sacramento  CA 95814                               State Rail     Street                               Road Museum    8    San         June 26-28 Port of        675        Redwood     CA 94063        Francisco              Redwood City   Seaport    City                                              Blvd.    9    Portland    July 1      Portland      800        Portland    OR 97209                                Union         Northwest                                Station       6th Avenue    10   Seattle     July 3-5    King Street   303 South  Seattle     WA 98104                                Station       Jackson                                              Street    11   Spokane     July 7      Spokane       221 W. 1st Spokane     WA 99201                                Amtrak        Avenue                                Station    12   Whitefish   July 10-11  Whitefish     500 Depot  Whitefish   MT 59937                                Amtrak        St                                Station    13   Fargo       July 15     North Dakota  1301 12th  Fargo       ND 58102                                State         Avenue                                University    North    14   St. Paul    July 17-19  Amtrak Midway 730        St. Paul    MN 55114                                Station       Transfer                                              Road    15   Chicago     July 24-26  Chicago Union 225 South  Chicago     IL 60606                                Station       Canal Street    16   St. Louis   July 31-    St. Louis     550 South  Saint Louis MO 63103                    August 2    Union Station 16th Street    17   Memphis     August 4    Memphis       545 South  Memphis     TN 38103                                Central       Main Street                                Station    18   New Orleans August 7-9  Riverview     6500       New Orleans LA 70118                                in Audubon    Magazine                                Park          Street    19   Houston     August 11   Houston       902        Houston     TX 77002                                Amtrak        Washington                                Station       Avenue    20   San Antonio August      San Antonio   350 Street San Antonio TX 78205                    14-16       Amtrak        Hoefgen                                Station    21   Dallas      August      Dallas Union  401 South  Dallas      TX 75202                    18-19       Station       Houston St     22   Oklahoma    August      Oklahoma City 100 South  Oklahoma    OK 73102        City        21-23       Santa Fe      E.         City                                Depot         K.Gaylord                                              Blvd    23   Kansas City August 25   Kansas City   30 W.      Kansas      MO 64108                                Union Station Pershing   City                                              Road    24   Omaha       August      Durham Museum 801 South  Omaha       NE 68108                    28-30                     10th Street    25   Detroit     September   Henry Ford    20900      Dearborn    MI 48124                    4-6         Museum        Oakwood                                Greenfield    Blvd                                Village    26   Indian      September 9 Downtown      24 North  Bargersville IN 46106        -apolis                 Bargersville  Main Street    27   Louisville  September   Louisville    1000 W.    Louisville  KY 40203                    11-13       Union Station Broadway    28   Cleveland   September   Cleveland     1085 W     Cleveland   OH 44114                    18-19       Brown's Lot   Third St    29   Albany      September   Albany        525        Rensselaer  NY 12144                    22          Rensselaer    East Street                                Rail Station    30   Boston      September   South Station 2 South    Boston      MA 02110                    25-27                     Station    31   Baltimore   September   B & O         901 W      Baltimore   MD 21223                    30          Railroad      Pratt St                                Museum    32   Washington  October     Union Station 50         Washington  DC 20002                    2-4                       Massachusetts                                              Ave. NE    33   Atlanta     October 6   Southeastern  3595       Duluth      GA 30096                                Railway       Peachtree                                Museum        Rd    34   Spencer     October     NC            411 S.     Spencer     NC 28159                    9-11        Transporta    Salisbury                                -tion Museum  Ave    35   Savannah    October 13  Savannah      2611       Savannah    GA 31415                                Amtrak        Seaboard                                Station       Coastline                                              Dr    36   Miami       October     Gold Coast    12450 SW   Miami       FL 33177                    16-18       Railroad      152nd St                                Museum    37   Jackson     October 20  Jacksonville  3570       Jackson     FL 32209        -ville                  Amtrak        Clifford   -ville                                Station       Lane    38   Charleston  October     Ansonborough  Washington Charleston  SC 29401                    23-25       Field         and Concord                                              Streets    39   Philadel    October 27  30th Street   2955       Philadel    PA 19104        -phia                   Station       Market     -phia                                              Street    40   New York    October 30  Grand Central 42nd       New York    NY 10017                    -November 1 Terminal      Street                                              and Park                                              Avenue  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Disney

CONTACT: Heidi Trotta, Senior Vice President, Studio Communications, The
Walt Disney Studios, +1-818-560-7280, or Jasmine Madatian, Senior Vice
President, Publicity, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Burbank,
+1-818-560-5610

Web Site: http://www.christmascaroltraintour.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment