Press Release Source: The Walt Disney Internet Group
Disney Online and the Kauffman Foundation Present ``Opportunity City'' at INNOVENTIONS at Epcot
Monday November 22, 8:00 am ET
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. and KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 22, 2004--
New INNOVENTIONS Exhibit Brings Hot Shot Business Game to Life,
Combining Interactive Entertainment with Entrepreneurial Education
Disney Online, part of The Walt Disney Internet Group and creator of the number one kids' entertainment and family community sites online, and the entrepreneurship experts at the Kauffman Foundation today announced the opening of the new Opportunity City exhibit at INNOVENTIONS East pavilion at Epcot® at the Walt Disney World® Resort. Featuring interactive, state-of-the-art activity stations, the exhibit brings to life the fun and challenge of learning about entrepreneurship that kids have enjoyed for the past eighteen months through the highly successful Disney-Kauffman "Hot Shot Business" Internet simulation game (www.hotshotbusiness.com).
"Kids have a natural desire for the independence and control that come with owning a business and being their own boss," said Carl J. Schramm, president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation. "In fact, research tells us that more than 41 percent of kids ages nine to twelve say they would like to start their own business. Exposing them early to entrepreneurship as a choice and reinforcing the value small businesses bring to our economy is crucial. The hands-on features of the new INNOVENTIONS exhibit go even further in helping teach the concepts and skills that will prepare the entrepreneurs of tomorrow."
The Opportunity City exhibit consists of several activity stations, including state-of-the-art interactive kiosks. At each station, guests play a series of games where they must think and act quickly while learning what it takes to run a successful business.
"The Opportunity City exhibit gives kids the chance to run a virtual business and learn first hand just how fun and challenging entrepreneurship can be," said Ken Goldstein, executive vice president and managing director, Disney Online. "The exhibit is housed within the innovative and entertaining facilities unique to Disney, and kids will feel right at home in this exciting environment."
The Opportunity City exhibit includes:
Nine kiosks with a special version of the "Hot Shot Business" computer game, highlighting the nuts and bolts of running a business.
"Family Business Rally," in which the basic principles of marketing, supply and demand, and cooperation converge in a uniquely fast-paced and fun environment. In the game, a group of three guests is positioned around the outside of a "virtual town." The three players each take on a role to run the business: buyer, seller and advertiser. The team must then work together to sell the most products within a limited time.
The "Opportunity Challenge" video game -- a fast-paced game that teaches the concepts of market opportunity recognition, and supply and demand.
A video "D-Mail" station (Disney video e-mail) called "Creating the Buzz," which highlights key marketing skills by allowing visitors to film a commercial for their new business and e-mail the video home.
A presentation called "Everyday Entrepreneurs," which mixes animated segments, stories and images inspired by real-life child entrepreneurs, and business information in an uplifting and empowering setting. This piece validates entrepreneurship as a career goal while remaining entertaining and fun for young guests. It engenders the feeling that, "If they can do it, so can I!"
"It's exciting to bring `Hot Shot Business' to life with this exhibit and have the opportunity to inspire the children visiting INNOVENTIONS," said Craig Armstrong, project director, Kauffman Foundation. "The creative team did a great job translating our educational messages into a format that resonates with kids."
About "Hot Shot Business"
"Hot Shot Business" (www.hotshotbusiness.com) is an award-winning online entrepreneurship simulation game that blends fast-paced game play with real-world lessons to teach kids entrepreneurship concepts and skills as they build a virtual business from the ground up. The game was developed for kids 9 through 12 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and Disney Online. Enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of children each month, "Hot Shot Business" has recently been enhanced to give players an even more realistic and challenging taste of what it takes to start and run a business.
About Disney Online
Disney Online (www.disney.com) produces the number one kids' entertainment and family community destination on the World Wide Web. Launched in 1995, Disney.com is designed to reflect the vision of an "online theme park," providing an interactive gateway to all of the company's many Disney-branded Internet initiatives. Popular Disney Online places to visit include The Disney Channel (www.disneychannel.com), Playhouse Disney (www.playhousedisney.com), Disney Direct (www.disneydirect.com), Walt Disney Parks and Resorts (www.disneydestinations.com), Walt Disney Pictures (www.disneypictures.com), Disney DVD & Video (www.disneyvideos.com), and Radio Disney (www.radiodisney.com).
Among the many magical "neighborhoods" found at www.Disney.com are Disney's Toontown Online (www.toontown.com), the first 3D massively multiplayer online role playing game for kids and families, and Disney's Blast (www.disneyblast.com), a premium subscription service for kids ages 3-9. Disney Online also produces FamilyFun.com (www.familyfun.com), the premier online family resource for "great ideas, practical advice, and fun stuff to do," as well as Movies.com (www.movies.com), a leading site that provides a broad array of reviews and information to help movie fans "get movie night right." Disney Online is a part of The Walt Disney Internet Group, which provides integrated strategic and operational services for Internet, broadband, and mobile initiatives of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE
IS - News).
About The Kauffman Foundation
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City works with partners to advance entrepreneurship in America and improve the education of children and youth. The Kauffman Foundation was established in the mid-1960s by the late entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion Kauffman. Information about the Kauffman Foundation is available at www.kauffman.org.
About INNOVENTIONS
Located in the heart of Epcot®, INNOVENTIONS is a unique attraction filled with hands-on, interactive exhibits. This 100,000-square-foot technology playground provides guests with the opportunity to "test drive" the future. Visitors from around the globe explore and discover new and innovative products and technologies from some of the world's finest companies and associations. From breakthroughs in farming and forestry to the latest in home theatre and computing products, INNOVENTIONS amazes guests as they experience incredible technology that will change the way they live. For more information about INNOVENTIONS, contact: Stacia Wake, 407-560-1816 or Stacia.l.wake@disney.com.
Disney Online and the Kauffman Foundation Present ``Opportunity City'' at INNOVENTIONS at Epcot
Monday November 22, 8:00 am ET
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. and KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 22, 2004--
New INNOVENTIONS Exhibit Brings Hot Shot Business Game to Life,
Combining Interactive Entertainment with Entrepreneurial Education
Disney Online, part of The Walt Disney Internet Group and creator of the number one kids' entertainment and family community sites online, and the entrepreneurship experts at the Kauffman Foundation today announced the opening of the new Opportunity City exhibit at INNOVENTIONS East pavilion at Epcot® at the Walt Disney World® Resort. Featuring interactive, state-of-the-art activity stations, the exhibit brings to life the fun and challenge of learning about entrepreneurship that kids have enjoyed for the past eighteen months through the highly successful Disney-Kauffman "Hot Shot Business" Internet simulation game (www.hotshotbusiness.com).
"Kids have a natural desire for the independence and control that come with owning a business and being their own boss," said Carl J. Schramm, president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation. "In fact, research tells us that more than 41 percent of kids ages nine to twelve say they would like to start their own business. Exposing them early to entrepreneurship as a choice and reinforcing the value small businesses bring to our economy is crucial. The hands-on features of the new INNOVENTIONS exhibit go even further in helping teach the concepts and skills that will prepare the entrepreneurs of tomorrow."
The Opportunity City exhibit consists of several activity stations, including state-of-the-art interactive kiosks. At each station, guests play a series of games where they must think and act quickly while learning what it takes to run a successful business.
"The Opportunity City exhibit gives kids the chance to run a virtual business and learn first hand just how fun and challenging entrepreneurship can be," said Ken Goldstein, executive vice president and managing director, Disney Online. "The exhibit is housed within the innovative and entertaining facilities unique to Disney, and kids will feel right at home in this exciting environment."
The Opportunity City exhibit includes:
Nine kiosks with a special version of the "Hot Shot Business" computer game, highlighting the nuts and bolts of running a business.
"Family Business Rally," in which the basic principles of marketing, supply and demand, and cooperation converge in a uniquely fast-paced and fun environment. In the game, a group of three guests is positioned around the outside of a "virtual town." The three players each take on a role to run the business: buyer, seller and advertiser. The team must then work together to sell the most products within a limited time.
The "Opportunity Challenge" video game -- a fast-paced game that teaches the concepts of market opportunity recognition, and supply and demand.
A video "D-Mail" station (Disney video e-mail) called "Creating the Buzz," which highlights key marketing skills by allowing visitors to film a commercial for their new business and e-mail the video home.
A presentation called "Everyday Entrepreneurs," which mixes animated segments, stories and images inspired by real-life child entrepreneurs, and business information in an uplifting and empowering setting. This piece validates entrepreneurship as a career goal while remaining entertaining and fun for young guests. It engenders the feeling that, "If they can do it, so can I!"
"It's exciting to bring `Hot Shot Business' to life with this exhibit and have the opportunity to inspire the children visiting INNOVENTIONS," said Craig Armstrong, project director, Kauffman Foundation. "The creative team did a great job translating our educational messages into a format that resonates with kids."
About "Hot Shot Business"
"Hot Shot Business" (www.hotshotbusiness.com) is an award-winning online entrepreneurship simulation game that blends fast-paced game play with real-world lessons to teach kids entrepreneurship concepts and skills as they build a virtual business from the ground up. The game was developed for kids 9 through 12 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and Disney Online. Enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of children each month, "Hot Shot Business" has recently been enhanced to give players an even more realistic and challenging taste of what it takes to start and run a business.
About Disney Online
Disney Online (www.disney.com) produces the number one kids' entertainment and family community destination on the World Wide Web. Launched in 1995, Disney.com is designed to reflect the vision of an "online theme park," providing an interactive gateway to all of the company's many Disney-branded Internet initiatives. Popular Disney Online places to visit include The Disney Channel (www.disneychannel.com), Playhouse Disney (www.playhousedisney.com), Disney Direct (www.disneydirect.com), Walt Disney Parks and Resorts (www.disneydestinations.com), Walt Disney Pictures (www.disneypictures.com), Disney DVD & Video (www.disneyvideos.com), and Radio Disney (www.radiodisney.com).
Among the many magical "neighborhoods" found at www.Disney.com are Disney's Toontown Online (www.toontown.com), the first 3D massively multiplayer online role playing game for kids and families, and Disney's Blast (www.disneyblast.com), a premium subscription service for kids ages 3-9. Disney Online also produces FamilyFun.com (www.familyfun.com), the premier online family resource for "great ideas, practical advice, and fun stuff to do," as well as Movies.com (www.movies.com), a leading site that provides a broad array of reviews and information to help movie fans "get movie night right." Disney Online is a part of The Walt Disney Internet Group, which provides integrated strategic and operational services for Internet, broadband, and mobile initiatives of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE
IS - News). About The Kauffman Foundation
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City works with partners to advance entrepreneurship in America and improve the education of children and youth. The Kauffman Foundation was established in the mid-1960s by the late entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion Kauffman. Information about the Kauffman Foundation is available at www.kauffman.org.
About INNOVENTIONS
Located in the heart of Epcot®, INNOVENTIONS is a unique attraction filled with hands-on, interactive exhibits. This 100,000-square-foot technology playground provides guests with the opportunity to "test drive" the future. Visitors from around the globe explore and discover new and innovative products and technologies from some of the world's finest companies and associations. From breakthroughs in farming and forestry to the latest in home theatre and computing products, INNOVENTIONS amazes guests as they experience incredible technology that will change the way they live. For more information about INNOVENTIONS, contact: Stacia Wake, 407-560-1816 or Stacia.l.wake@disney.com.