Walt Disney might possibly potentially think about considering putting their sports network's WatchESPN app on the Apple TV and letting us poor dumb users watch it, provided we authenticate all right-and-proper... with a Pay TV account. Seriously. Bloomberg has the quote:

“We’re a platform-agnostic content company,” Bratches, the network’s executive vice president of affiliate and advertising sales, said today in an interview. “To the extent that in the future there’s an opportunity with Apple to authenticate through the pay-TV food chain as we’re doing with Microsoft, that’s something that we will participate in.”

Authenticate through the pay-TV food what-now?

Here's an idea. Just a crazy thought. You know, I'm totally spitballing here. HOW ABOUT JUST RELEASING THE APP AND LETTING CUSTOMERS SUBSCRIBE TO IT DIRECTLY.

Why make it be any more complicated than it has to be? Why make your users jump through hoops and keep them tied to legacy media delivery systems? The cable and other providers might be their customers now, but that won't be forever and the smarter, more future-thinking content providers, the ones who embrace the digital and mobile transition, are the ones that are going to benefit most.

Having to pay for cable to watch ESPN on your TV so you can authenticate to watch ESPN on your Apple TV is "food chain" that makes sense to precisely no one who's not entirely buried beneath what food becomes when it exists that chain.

Launching an app, subscribing, and watching where you want, when you want, on what you want is a simpler, cleaner, better experience.

That Disney of all companies doesn't understand that, and isn't embracing it, is sad. Though at least it does serve as a reminder that old media companies need to be replaced with new media companies that do understand it. And sooner rather than later.

Source: Bloomberg

Disney is testing iPads and looks set to use them for its next generation FastPass park system. The current FastPass system allows park guests to receive their passes and avoid lines for popular attractions. The new system is being tested now with selected guests being asked to pre-book attractions in the near future.

Workers going around earlier were using iPads for RFID testing. Coordinator has an iPad training CMs with RFID at Mansion.

After guest scans card, the Cast Member uses a waterproof iPad to see the information from the card (including FP time & other Q&A).

They then select next guest on the iPad if it lights up green or direct them to one of four kiosks if it lights up blue.

Seeing a Haunted Mansion cast member with an iPad is a bit... strange.

The information comes from an unofficial Disney twitter account that claims to to know the various Disney projects going on at the theme parks. It should come as no real surprise that Disney is looking to Apple and the iPad for its new systems. The two companies have always had a close relationship, Steve Jobs served on Disney's board and Disney's Bob Iger is currently a member of Apple's board too.

Source: @DisneyProjects via 9to5 Mac

Disney Mobile has come up with a clever new way for kids to play with the iPad -- as an interactive play mat. Dubbed AppMATes, players will be able to interact with a new iPad game based on Pixar's Cars 2 (more games to come) using real-world toy cars on the iPad display.

In an industry first, Disney introduced today Disney AppMATesTM Mobile Application Toys, a new toy line that comes to life digitally when used with an Apple iPad by allowing kids to use the tablet’s screen as a virtual play mat.

The way it works is simple: each toy car has a capacitive sensor on the bottom, and once placed on the iPad these sensors start sending information to the game related to position, movement and character the player is using. The toy car interfaces with the iPad touchscreen seamlessly without the need for bluetooth or any wires and lets the player move the car across the screen while the app reacts to the toys movement in real-time.

Kids will be able to roam around Radiator Springs and Route 66 during gameplay and there's also a free-play mode where kids can complete mission and compete in head-to-head races.

The only concern I have with this is breaking the iPad screen if too much pressure is applied. This could be scary for some parents out there, so a good iPad case would go a long way (we recommend the OtterBox Defender Series).

Either way, this approach breathes new life into play mats by pushing it into the digital age with the iPad. Check out the video below to get a good idea of how awesome this is going to be for kids!

Source: Disney

Disney has released an interactive iPad book, Cars 2 World Grand Prix Read and Race.

Rev your engines for this thrilling Cars 2 original story—a must-read for racing fans! This action-packed app features stunning Disney/Pixar movie images, exciting tap-and-play interactivity, professional narration, music and sound effects, 3-D car customization, and two amazing racetracks.

• Disney/Pixar Cars 2 movie images with custom interactivity
• Multiple Reading Modes: Read to Me, Auto-turn pages, Younger Reader Mode
• Professional narration, music and sound effects
• 3-D race car customization, including color, tires, spoilers and engines
• Racing game featuring device-tilting technology, Cars 2 racers, and movie-themed racetracks from Tokyo, Japan and Radiator Springs
• Three game-play skill levels

Cars 2 World Grand Prix Read and Race is available for $6.99. Screenshots after the break.

[iTunes link]

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Disney has launched another gem into the App Store, the Disney Comics app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

The Disney Comics app is your portal for all your favorite Disney comics. Download the app and search for your preferred character to enjoy a new adventure every time. Different reading modes let you Read the comic on your own, Activate auto-play, or Tap into the panels to move throughout the page. From Lightning McQueen to Buzz Lightyear, TRON to Rapunzel — and, of course, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and their friends — all the stars of Disney come alive on your mobile device, one comic panel at a time!

The app is a universal binary and is a free download. Some of the comics are free however most cost an additional $0.99 per issue or $3.99 bundles are available too. This is all done through in-app purchase.

If you’re planning a summer road trip or long haul flight, this app could be worth every penny if it keeps the kids occupied. Let us know what you think of the app if you decide to pick it up!

[Free – iTunes link]

Disney has released their newest interactive iPhone and iPad book, Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue - A Magical Adventure. In the story, Tinker Bell is trapped on the mainland and depending on her fairy friends to help her out. The reader can contribute to and control the magic by blowing in the speaker to spread fairy dust.

• Blow into your mobile device’s speaker to spread fairy dust throughout the adventure.
• Tap on characters and objects to see them come to life!
• Experience beautiful story illustrations, professional narration, and enchanting Disney Fairies music.

If you pick this one up, let us know what you, or your child, thinks! Screenshots after the break.

[$3.99 - iTunes link]

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According to the Wall Street Journal, CBS (and CW) and Disney (ABC, Disney Channel, ABC Family) and considering Apple's (unannounced yet previously rumored) subscription TV service. To throw nebulous fuel on the imaginary fire, the WSJ adds:

The proposed service by the maker of iPhones and iPod music players could, in at least some scenarios, offer access to some TV shows from a selection of major U.S. television networks for a monthly fee, according to people familiar with the discussions. Apple is pushing to complete licensing deals and hopes to introduce the service in 2010, some of those people said. It is unclear whether any networks have signed on yet.

No names, no networks, but is there a story? Maybe. The mere idea of Apple doing for digital television what they did for digital music -- rip it from the hands of old, unresponsive media companies and give it to consumers in an easy, a la carte form -- is compelling enough to account for some of the chatter.

Hey, even in Canada where I have $20 for 20 a la carte channels already from my local cable company, their horrible PVR boxes, lack of channels, and the idea that offering $5 for the first 3 episodes of the original 90210 is "on-demand TV", the idea of Apple offering a real Apple TV makes me giddy.

And Disney always makes sense to mention as an early Apple partner, seeing as how Steve Jobs is their biggest shareholder and a member of their board of directors... But as much as I want to believe it, as much as it may even be true, there's nothing to say it really is yet. Though that doesn't mean a good dose of mythical iTablet wouldn't help:

Apple is revamping iTunes as it finalizes its plans for a tablet device, which is meant to be a multimedia gadget, according to people briefed about the product. The multimedia tablet is expected to be larger than an iPhone but smaller than a laptop computer. People briefed by Apple say the company is aiming to launch it by the end of March.

Alrighty then. You want?

Attention true believers! Daring Disney dispenses 4 billion big ones to buyout mighty Marvel, its merry mutants, and stupendous superheroes!

Okay, rewind. To make that most tangential of relationships possible (just so we can blog about comics, of course): following Disney's Pixar acquisition, Steve Jobs -- then CEO of Pixar and still CEO of iPhone maker, Apple Inc. -- became Disney's largest shareholder. Now reports are circulating that Disney is buying Marvel Comics -- home of Spider-Man, the Hulk, Fantastic Four, Wolverine and the X-Men, and a literal fortunes worth of other character properties, for a cool $4 billion.

While this does mean Disney will likely be better positioned to compete against Warner Bros. and their portfolio of DC characters (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Watchmen, etc.), other than eventually being able to watch a Disney-produced Marvel film via iTunes, it probably doesn't mean much for Apple -- and certainly doesn't mean we'll see adamantium shelled iPhone any time ever.

But, again, it does give us the chance to geek out and project Steve Jobs as the new owner of Marvel. Or as the new Kingpin. Or Doctor Strange, if the 60s fit is better. Or...

Dunno, which Marvel Character is the most Steve Jobs?

[Thanks to our buddy Phil from WMExperts for the tip!]