Ultimate Disney
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ultimate Disney | |
|---|---|
 Ultimate Disney Home Page |
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| URL | http://www.ultimatedisney.com/ |
| Slogan | N/A |
| Commercial? | Yes |
| Type of site | Disney DVD News and Reviews |
| Registration | Required for forum only |
| Available language(s) | English |
| Owner | Luke |
| Created by | Luke |
| Launched | 2001 |
| Revenue | N/A |
| Current status | Active |
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The Ultimate Guide to Disney DVD is a website dedicated to covering Walt Disney home video releases with a focus on Disney DVD. The site has been online since 2001 and acquired its own domain and online forum in 2003. Its sister site DVDizzy.com, which covers general DVD information and reviews, launched in 2007.
Contents |
[edit] Coverage
The home page normally exhibits the latest Disney-related news, coupled with regular reviews and occasional interviews. Early breaking news has earned the site a favorable reputation amongst news outlets and fans. Disney's films, TV shows, and media releases are categorized in a series of indexes, which comprised the website's original structure.
In 2003, the site began to emphasize critical reviews of Disney's DVDs as its primary focus. These initially included only those DVDs officially released under the "Disney DVD" banner. In 2004, the site expanded to include reviews of films and television shows from Miramax, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, and other divisions of the Disney Studios that generally produce more adult movies than the typical Disney fare.
In 2005, Ultimate Disney again expanded to cover music releases from Walt Disney Records, special event reports, and the Disney theme parks. Celebrity interviews also became a staple of the site's coverage. The site routinely features countdowns, contests, and giveaways, all of which invite user input to produce results.
[edit] Recognition
The website has garnered acclaim outside of the conventional Disney and animation internet communities. Film critic and historian Leonard Maltin recommends the site in the "Links" page of his personal website. During Roy E. Disney and Stanley Gold's Save Disney campaign, Ultimate Disney's articles were frequently featured on SaveDisney.com. Additionally, an official Disney book, Disney Dossiers: Files of Characters From the Walt Disney Studios (published in October 2006) notes that Maleficent was named the #1 Disney Villain by UltimateDisney.com in its Top Disney Villains Countdown.
[edit] Staff
Ultimate Disney is an independent website and not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company. It is primarily administered by a small number of journalists who report news, review products, attend special events, and moderate the forum.
The UD staff and primary contributors currently consists of:
- Luke - The website creator and administrator (2001-)
- Aaron Wallace - Writer, reporter, and forum moderator (2005-)
- Amy Braun - Interviewer and reporter (2008-)
- Christopher Disher - Writer (2007-)
- CJ - Forum moderator (2007-)
- IndianaJDP - forum moderator (2003-)
- James Reader - Writer and forum moderator (2003-)
- Kelvin Cedeno - Writer (2003-)
- Pluto Region1 - Writer and reporter (2006-)
- Renata Joy - Writer, reporter, and forum moderator (2004-)
Former staff and contributors include:
- Albert Gutierrez - Writer (2006-2007)
- Captain Hook - Writer (2003-2004)
- deathie mouse - Writer and forum moderator (2003-2006)
- Ed South - Writer (2005-2007)
- Jack Seiley - Writer and forum moderator (2003-2005)
- Jake Lipson - Writer (2003-2006)
- Lindsay Mayer - Writer and forum moderator (2003-2006)
- MickeyMouseboy - Writer (2001-2004)
- Richard Gray - Writer (2004)
In addition, there have been numerous one-time writers who have contributed articles and/or reviews to Ultimate Disney.
[edit] Community
The community of UltimateDisney.com comprises nearly 4000 registered forum members. Contributors to the forum range from all walks of life and include a large number of international members. It has been noted for its friendliness and camaraderie, and since 2004, members participate in the "UD Forum Awards," where members are nominated and vote for various categories. Other forum-wide activities include an annual Secret Santa, The UD "Movie and Media Awards," and frequent discussions centering around music, DVDs, movies, TV shows, and other miscellaneous topics.
[edit] Support
The site is supported by the placement of advertisements, personal donations from visitors, and affiliate links. Like many DVD-based sites, UltimateDisney.com employs an affiliate program with a variety of online stores such as Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, and eBay. Members are recommended to help support the site through the sponsored links, or by simply leaving a donation via the Amazon Honor System.
[edit] Reviews, Release Types and PR
[edit] Reviews
There are currently over 700 DVD reviews written for the site, covering a variety of categories. These categories include but are not limited to - Disney's Animated Classics, other animated films, direct-to-video films, live-action films (both pre-1980 and contemporary productions), TV shows and TV premieres (Wonderful World of Disney, Disney Channel Original Movies, etc.), specialty DVD collections like the Walt Disney Treasures, the Walt Disney Legacy sets, and theme park exclusives, as well as Disney studio divisions like Touchstone Pictures, Miramax Films, Dimension Films and Hollywood Pictures. Non-Disney content includes IMAX and other documentaries, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks, Paramount Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Television, United Artists, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Early reviews for the site were formatted to open in a narrow window, in a way to be unique from other sites, but over time this practice was phased out in favor of a full page layout. There are four types of DVD reviews at UltimateDisney.com, with three regularly used:
- Forum - forum-only reviews are few and far between and are essentially full-page reviews relegated to the forum rather than an HTML page.
- Capsule - minor releases, usually from other distribution branches such as Touchstone, Miramax, and the rarely-used Hollywood Pictures. These reviews are much shorter (three or four paragraphs) and offer several titles on one page, with minimal use of screencaps.
- Full-Page - the main format for reviews, most DVDs will receive a full page review, offering a generous amount of screencaps, a thorough summary and critique of the film, and an extensive look at the DVD's audio/video quality and bonus materials. It is known that reviewers will go through each aspect of the DVD, as opposed to other review sites, some of which who pass over the otherwise-child-friendly games and music videos. Also, similar to other sites, UltimateDisney.com employs a star rating for each DVD, and welcomes critical feedback from readers.
- Two-Page - occasionally, a DVD will be too extensive to cover in one page (usually if it's a major title or a television series), so the review will be split into two pages, covering much more about the release and program than a full-page review. In several rare instances, a third page is utilized, usually as an addendum to the main two-page review.
[edit] Press Releases
UltimateDisney.com also features Buena Vista Home Entertainment's press releases as they are made available. The press releases are replicated on the forum, where members can then discuss the contents of the press release in detail.
[edit] DVD Release Types
UltimateDisney.com also details Disney's different DVD release types. The article is updated periodically, ensuring that the most up-to-date information is displayed in its specific area.
[edit] Interviews & Special Reports
Since March 2005, UltimateDisney.com has conducted interviews with various celebrities and people involved with the Walt Disney Company.
UltimateDisney.com has also participated in various press events for the Walt Disney Company, often publishing them as the "UD Special Reports". Many of these are handled by forum member "Pluto Region1," a California resident who has covered such events as a tour of the Animation Research Library, the High School Musical DVD Launch Party, and the 2006 DVD premiere of 1941's Dumbo at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.
In the summer of 2006, Ultimate Disney attended the world premiere of Disney/Pixar's Cars, interviewing celebrities from the red carpet. Among those interviewed were John Lasseter, John Ratzenberger, Bonnie Hunt, Larry the Cable Guy, Richard Petty, Katherine Helmond, and Jenifer Lewis.
[edit] Countdowns
In 2003, the site started a series of countdowns. Each countdown dealt with the ranking of a specific, Disney-related theme, and forum members listed their top favorites. For most of these countdowns, members were chosen to comment on specific films, characters, and songs that made the lists. The number one entry of each is noted in parenthesis.
[edit] DVDizzy.com
On April 20, 2007, UltimateDisney.com announced plans to launch a spin-off website. As Ultimate Disney covers Disney news and reviews, the new site would cover all other studios. On July 2, 2007, the new website's title was confirmed as DVDizzy.com. A firm date for the site's launch hasn't yet been announced, but its content is temporarily hosted at Ultimate Disney while DVDizzy.com is developed. Once the site has launched, it will "co-exist" with Ultimate Disney, as the two sites will link to one another and share message board forums.
DVDizzy.com content that has appeared on UltimateDisney.com includes a DVD release schedule for all major studios as well as various DVD reviews, including titles such as Night at the Museum, Dreamgirls, and The Last Mimzy.
