• by Vanessa Voltolina , February 22, 2007

You used to have to take a vacation to "the happiest place on Earth" to shake hands with Mickey Mouse or visit Cinderella's Castle. Now, Disney audiences can get closer to their favorite characters with just the click of a mouse.

Robert Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, the second largest media company in America, is spearheading the effort to rejuvenate the venerated Disney brand through Internet programs.

"Disney.com is pairing our unmatched entertainment content with specific Web 2.0 trends that are entering the mainstream, such as broadband video and social networking," says Paul Yanover, Disney Online's executive vice president and managing director.

Plans to revamp the online image include Disney's own MySpace page, Disney movies available through iTunes, and "Pirates of the Caribbean Online," a digital version of the movie where users can create crews and "battle" against other pirates.

The updated Disney Web site will allow users to create their own sites, interact with one another, and compile and share Disney music and videos. "The new site is poised to take Disney.com to the next level of online entertainment," says Yanover.