Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/News-ID10031460.asp" target="_blank"><b>Latest: Tales from the Laughing Place Magazine To Be Sold in Tokyo Disney Resort</b></a> Tales from the Laughing Place Magazine announced today that all available back issues and future releases will be available at the Tokyo Disney Resort for the first time. Tales is a quarterly high-quality advertising-free magazine dedicated to the creativity of the Walt Disney Company and its business units such as the theme parks, movies and musicals. The magazine has a strong emphasis on photography and artwork from the Disney libraries and is printed on quality paper-stock to help preserve the publication for years to come.
Originally Posted By LindsayC ^^ LOL. Not yet! SD - it looks likely that it will be at the Disney Gallery initially. We are hope that OLC will find other outlets across TDR and the rest of their retail network in the future too. MN - OLC are in the process of writing a Japanese version of the index which will be placed in each copy to explain the mission statement of Tales and the contents. OLC specifically wanted the original English language version of Tales to be sold in the parks. Depend on how our discussions progressing on distribution outside TDR we will investigate a Japanese language version.
Originally Posted By MagicalNezumi That's cool. Good luck with release here in Japan. I'll be picking up my back issues at the Disney Gallery when they're available. Kudos to you, Lee and the rest of the staff. -- MagicalNezumi
Originally Posted By LindsayC ^^ Thank MN! They will be carrying Issues 2 through 12 and then all future releases. One of the issues we have had with shipping the magazine outside of the US and Europe is the fact that each issue weighs about 10 oz which makes it very costly to ship. Hopefully we will find a new audience in Japan. During negotiations it was interesting how they are always so interested in the details. We have spent a long time explaining what Laughing Place means and why we use it as our name. OLC was absolutely fascinated by it and the draft wording of each note that appears with each issue features the explanation. They thought that their guests would also be interested in the details. It is that fascination with detail that made us choose to partner with OLC.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< It is that fascination with detail that made us choose to partner with OLC. >>> One can only hope that fascination with detail that OLC has about the parks might somehow rub off on TWDC, and might actually counterbalance a relentless drive to Increase Shareholder Value. But perhaps I'm dreaming.
Originally Posted By Malin Congratulations on the new agreement in regards to selling it at the Tokyo Disney Resort. The guest who visit that Resort will love that magazine and I actually feel it appeals to the Japanese audience much more than some other markets. I have spotted Japanese guest wearing TDR merchadise in places like Disneyland Paris, Walt Disney World and Hong Kong Disneyland, so I think the appeal to know more about there own parks as well as the other Resorts would be high. Very excited for you as its a brand new mark to offer this fantastic publication in, and hopely with OLC so behind the product it will creatre more oportunity's to showcase the Tokyo Disney Resort in future issues. Any chances we will one day see this Magazine in parks like Hong Kong and Paris?
Originally Posted By TokyoSweets It's really cool that you will start selling the magazine at TDR! When will it become available and what is the price going to be?
Originally Posted By LindsayC ^^ Thanks TokyoSweets. OLC are currently working on the copy for inclusion with every issue. It should be out on the shelves soon. I believe that they are waiting to announce the release to the FUNderful Disney members (the TDR Fan Club). We are not privy to the pricing decisions but we believe it will be c.¥1500 per issue. As soon as we have more specific information we will publish it on this thread.
Originally Posted By MagicalNezumi Y1,500 per issue? Yikes! Perhaps I'll take it by subscription again. Will that still be made available to Japan residents? -- MagicalNezumi
Originally Posted By leemac MN - it will still be available by subscription to Japanese residents. We ship surface for non-US and European subscriptions so the transit time can be anywhere up to 8 weeks. Having Tales available within the parks gives fans the opportunity to take it home with them on each visit. My understanding is that the price will be similar to other imported magazines. Hopefully we should know shortly where it will be and the retail price. MN - keep an eye out for your FUNderful Disney newsletter as I believe OLC will be announcing the sale in that communication.
Originally Posted By SuperDry Again, congrats to the entire Tales team on this accomplishment. I know that there are several unofficial Disney periodicals and many books, and I think the ultimate honor is to be selected for sale actually inside a Disney park.
Originally Posted By MagicalNezumi Thanks Lee. I'll be waiting for that notice for FUNderful members. And yes, western magazines are around that price range. Don't get me wrong, I'd pay 1,500yen for an issue of "Tales" if that was the only price option available. I definitely feel it's worth it. However, if its available at a less expensive price at no major inconvenience, I'll go for that option. In any case, good job guys! -- MagicalNezumi
Originally Posted By leemac ^^ I knew what you meant MN! We had originally reached agreement with the US parks first - but they wanted significant control over how and where the product was sold within the resorts and that did not match our vision for Tales. OLC have been tremendous partners for us over the past four years and their enthusiasm for the magazine convinced us that TDR was an appropriate location for the magazine to be resold.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^Congrats Lee. I'm sure the OLC wouldn't be allowing Tales to be sold if they didn't feel it was of suitable quality, so you should be proud. It also speaks volumes to me about the management there being high caliber as well when you are much more vocal in your criticism of them then you are TWDC and they clearly don't hold that against you in any way. I may have to pick up a copy or two on my upcoming TDR visit!
Originally Posted By Malin *** I may have to pick up a copy or two on my upcoming TDR visit! *** Forget doing that Spirit just get a subcription and buy the back issues up. No Disney fan should be without these seires of Magazines. Regarding the Resort selling the Magazines, I would be interested to know if Issue 10 will make it to the shelf straight away. It has a cracking article by Lee discussing with Mark Schirmer the upcoming Monsters Inc attraction. However it contains many spoilers, which I'm not sure OLC will want guest to know about yet!
Originally Posted By leemac <<Regarding the Resort selling the Magazines, I would be interested to know if Issue 10 will make it to the shelf straight away. It has a cracking article by Lee discussing with Mark Schirmer the upcoming Monsters Inc attraction. However it contains many spoilers, which I'm not sure OLC will want guest to know about yet! >> They have bought Issue 10 - so I'd expect to see it on the shelves. OLC have been very complimentary of that particular article. Our coverage of TDR has been one of the reasons that they have opted to carry the magazine.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^Very welcome, Lee. I like to think I praise (and criticize) where deserved. The issues of Tales I have seen have been high caliber and I haven't heard anyone ever complain (except a few with the typeface, which is a minor quibble). So despite any arguing we do online (we are just 'nuts' after all), I say keep up the good work.
