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The top Internet destination for children’s entertainment is about to get another update.  This will be the second revision to Disney.com in the last few years.  Changes are focused on introducing more video and mobile content to the site, including full-length movies, free games and cell phone activities.  Kids will be able to create their own avatars in a virtual world which they can connect to through their cell phones. 

Designers are working hard to provide kids with familiar experiences such as those they’ve already experienced in YouTube.  Video search pages will be similar to the process found on the Internet giant’s site.  Revisions demonstrate the challenges of operating during a time when technologies are rapidly changing.

Disney.com sees millions of unique visitors each month ($28.4 million in May) – their new endeavors aim to keep visitors at their site longer.  Their current average is an astounding 44.9 minutes (which lags behind Nickelodean by almost 35 minutes).  Disney will be holding streaming video "events" such as free weekly full-length movies and special showings such as "Camp Rock", a Disney musical.

Bottom line?  Virtual Disney is getting more and more interactive.  The company aims to entertain more and "push" sales of their wares less.  Video appears to be what consumers are looking for.      

Can’t make it to Disney this year?  Get prepared for next year by touring the park in 3-D on Google Earth!  Disney’s four theme parks and 22 hotel locations are now available for a virtual excursion 24 hours a day.  Visitors will find 1,500 3D points of interest that allow them to click on images to get more information, purchase tickets, make reservations or map their upcoming vacation. 

The journey begins at the Seven Seas Lagoon in the Magic Kingdom – from here users can fly virtually just about anywhere in the park viewing streetscapes as they go.  To take advantage of this excellent new technology you’ll need to have Google Earth 4.3 installed on your local computer.  From there all you need to do is search for "Disney World". 

In the first phase of the virtual Disney project eight photographers worked for 10 days to shoot all of the surfaces in the Magic Kingdom.  Over 100,000 photos were taken to compile the 1,500 3D points of interest – a massive undertaking.   

Disney will use the 3-D technology as their primary online travel guide in the future combining elements into the online experience at disney.com.  They hope to make this the next best thing to actually being at the park. 

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Scott Mitchell, a software developer from Naples, recently developed Twisney.com – an application that allows Disney visitors to map their park vacation in realtime.  Visiting Disney?  Now your friends and family can tag along … virtually!  Mitchell’s website is a massive database allowing photo and text uploads from park visitors to map their excursions and share experiences with other visitors or family and friends back home. Using a combination of Twitter, Flickr and Microsoft Virtual Earth – Twisney users can post photo and text to the blog in realtime.  All that’s needed is either e-mail, text messaging, IM capability or a Twitter account.  If you have a mobile device you can send live reports directly from the park!

Mitchell hopes that users will share information helpful to other Disney visitors such as instant news about wait times for popular attractions.  Park visitors with mobile devices would then be able to check the status from anywhere.  All it takes is a quick email to twisney@twisney.com.

Will the idea catch fire?  Who knows, but for now Disney enthusiasts have a new technology tool to share their experiences with those who stayed home.

Take a look at Twisney.com for a demonstration and appendix of popular "virtual" Disney terms.

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