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

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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