So much theme park news, so little time to read it all. The MiceChat Round-Up is here to help with summaries and links to the week's top stories. Starbucks is on the way to Disney Theme Parks in the US, that should perk you up. Plus, we ponder the day that Mickey Mouse was BANNED from Disneyland, and look at the upcoming new Summer attractions in the parks. Could the Snugly Duckling be coming to Walt Disney World? Will Transformers at Universal Hollywood be the ride of the Summer? Will there be a Mr. Toad's Wild Ride: The Movie? Read on and find out. We also debut the brand new MiceChat Podcast and view a new Communicore weekly from Jeff and George. All this plus a new Al Lutz update. What more could a Disney fan want?! ~ CakvalaSC
EDITOR’S PICK
This week's Round-Up highlights two special columns: The Mouth of the Mouse and The 626, enjoy!
4/22: Indiana Jones & the Lost Expedition: The attraction that almost was Jeff Heimbuch brings us the amazing concept that would have changed Adventureland for ever. Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye would have weaved three attractions together in a brilliant way. Jungle Cruise, a new mine train ride and the Indiana Jones jeep ride would have interweaved to create a world of adventure and fun. See the concept art and learn why it never happened.
4/10: John The Ticket Taker and Gift Giver There was a time, in 1986, when Walt Disney World had only two parks. A young man named John was attending USF and decided to answer an ad for casting at the Disney World Resort. There were many positions, ticket taker, gift giver (for the 15th anniversary), retail sales at the gift shop at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), Kennel attendant, and ticket seller. It was a heady time. Read his many adventures here.
What's a Gumball Rally? Well, it's the biggest, best and the most exciting Disney fan event in the known universe that anyone can play and win. The Rally is a race to find out who can ride the most attractions at Disneyland in a single day. Sounds great, right? Well, it is even more fun than you can imagine.
Yes, it is harder than it sounds. Yes, it will challenge you physically. But, it's one event that folks of any age can compete in and have a great time in the process. Whether you win or lose, you are always a winner when the race takes place on your favorite rides at your favorite place on earth.
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The Disney web site is located at www.disney.com
Al has a new column for us this week and you can view it here.
Got a question for Al or any of the MiceAge columnists?
Email them to [email protected]
Your question may be featured in a future MiceChat Round-Up,
but keep in mind due to the volume of mail received he may not be
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This week we ask what new theme park or amusement park addition you are looking forward to the most, this summer. Then we go in search of the character that would best represent the new old fashioned DCA! ~ Aladdin
The Day Mickey Mouse was Banned from Disneyland
When Disneyland was being planned, Tinker bell became the opening mascot for the Disneyland TV show. And in 1961 Tinker bell began making appearances during the park Fireworks show. With DCA's Billion Plus makeover and New Entry coming to completion, with a 1920's theme, Chesirecat asks which character would make a suitable mascot for the DCA Do-Over? Tell us who you think would be an appropriate animated ambassador?
What summer expansion are you most excited for?
With many new sights and attractions in Southern California amusement and theme parks, WildForMrToad wants to know which one you are most anticipating! Tell us here!
Howdy, Rally-ers! Are you getting excited that our World Famous MiceChat Gumball Rally is almost here? I certainly am! Where else can you win fabulous prizes for trying to ride as many rides as you can at Disneyland?! Are you GOOD enough to take the Gumball Rally Trophy? Mark May 19th on your calendars as the day to race! This week we have haunting, holography and a Skyway posting for your reading pleasure. Remember to keep posting those ideas and rumors… you never know if they’ll make it to the weekly Round-Up or not! -Demigod-
Skyway revival in DCA? LandOFHappiness would like to know what you think about bringing the Skyway back, but in DCA this time?
Walt Disney’s Ghost Returns
MiceChatter greeeneyes17 thinks Walt may be riding the train at Disneyland, and shares an interesting story about it!
Possible use of Holographic Technology
How soon until we start seeing Disney use what debuted at this year’s Coachella Music Festival – the tech used to create Tupac’s hologram? padgerfan speculates in this thread. (NOTE: link to Tupac’s holographic show is in the thread, and contains very strong language!)
Join The MiceChat Vancouver To Los Angeles Cruise This September! Our Disney Dream cruise last year was such a hit that we've booked another remarkable voyage at low group rates. Join us September 10th through 16th as we voyage from Vancouver to Los Angeles with a two night stop in San Francisco. We'll even visit the acclaimed Walt Disney Family Museum along the way. Don't miss out on this affordable, relaxing, and fun MiceChat adventure!
The A/V Room
We debut the new MiceChat Podcast today! Click below:
Samland has a great video of the art installations from City Center in Las Vegas:
Communicore Weekly looks at the Living Seas, reviews an Animal Kingdom book, and debates the Soarin' ride:
Did you catch the last The Season Pass featuring MiceChat's Dustysage? It's worth a listen. For those who listen all the way to the end you might just hear about an upcoming MiceChat project. This link takes you directly to the iTunes store where you can download a FREE copy of the podcast. LINK TO THE SEASON PASS PODCAST
LIVE BROADCAST AT RALPH BRENNAN'S JAZZ KITCHEN
As the official venue of choice for MAGIC 24.7, Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney Anaheim will be hosting a live broadcast from the Ralph Brennan Radio Booth in the Jazz Kitchen on August 11, 2012 (exact time of broadcast TBA).
We'll be doing a live cooking demo, featuring our station's own signature drink (Twisted Magic), doing live contests and bringing on special Disney Park guests. We hope you can join us! For the full itinerary, check out our special event website: magic247live.com!
YOUR DISNEY TOP FIVE
The Time Rovers are going live again this Thursday at 6pm Pacific for one hour! Here's what we're discussing: If Disney gave you a free pass to do ANYTHING to any of it's parks...what would it be? Call us LIVE on Skype (username Magic24.7) or on our MAGICLINE at (424) 270-1955 and get in the discussion!
Remember to bookmark our site (magic247radio.com) and listen between 6am-4pm Pacific Monday to Friday for your official MiceChat.com Newscasts featuring YOUR posts and more Disney Park news! We also have welcomed former Weather Channel meteorologist Jeff Mielcarz to the station, who will provide you with Disneyland & WDW weather Monday to Friday!
PODCAST UPDATE
Every Monday to Friday between 6-9 am Pacific, we give you your MiceChat.com Newscast. Coming soon, you’ll be able to get a full recap of news from your favorite site.
Have you signed up for MiceDeals? Don’t miss out on 50% to 80% off Southern California and Orlando
area theme park, restaurant, hotel and attractions!
Visit MiceDeals.com today and sign up at the top of the page for your daily
deal reminder. Hurry, because they sell out quick and don’t last long.
Starbucks coming to Walt Disney World? I know quite a few people who will be happy with that news. We also have some trip advice, hotel questions, and maybe a Snuggly Duckling or two in our future? ~ Yoyoflamingo
Making The Magic - Disney Dreams and the 20th anniversary Fultimate posted and incredible, and lengthy, video that celebrates the past present and future of Euro Disneyland. It provides us with an inside view as to how imagineers have created and maintained the magic within the park since its opening twenty years ago. This is well worth the time to watch!
From Asakusa to Disney TimmyTimmyTimmy shares some marvelous pictures he has taken during his recent visit to Asakusa. The pictures are incredible and this thread was delightful to read!
The Transformers 3D ride is now in “technical rehearsal” at Universal Studios Hollywood, and MiceChatters have been among the first to see it. Check out all the buzz! ~ Trekkie Dad
Transformers The Ride Review!
Here's a thread started by JerroDRagon where MiceChatters who have already experienced the ride are voting and leaving comments.
Transformers Ride Layout DisneyDude12 wants to know how this ride got squeezed into such a small show building and gets some interesting answers.
Knott's Tips jcruise86 has some tips for first-time visitors to Knott's Berry Farm. Care to add any?
This week the big news was actually the sad news that television icon Dick Clark passed away. We also celebrated Earth Day with the release of Disneynature's Chimpanzee! – DlandFansAZ
Dick Clark Dead at 82
'Dick Clark, the music industry maverick, longtime TV host and powerhouse producer who changed the way we listened to pop music with 'American Bandstand,' and whose trademark 'Rockin' Eve' became a fixture of New Year's celebrations, died this week at the age of 82.' Read for more information.
Disney phasing-out Disneynature? Barbossa has noted that usually there would be a new trailer available for the next Disneynature movie that would be released next Earth Day. But so far there isn't one, so does this mean that we are seeing the end of this series? What are your thoughts?
Mr Toad's Wild Ride - Coming to a theater near you
Disney has plans to make a feature film about Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. This is one of several projects that is inspired by theme park attractions, so should the next nod go to Fantasyland?
Disney Animated Movie Ideas
There are so many ideas floating around about the next attraction or show to be added to one of the parks. But what about a Disney animation? So what would your plot be and what songs do you think we should tapping our feet to? MousEars pictures a girl from the 1940s New York trying to make it to Broadway. So what would you do?
Rich Ross resigns from Disney
ALIASd has reported he resigned his position as Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, some have reported the real reason was a recent movie flop.
4/14: Al Lutz – Tired
Al brings us news about some issues with Luigi Flying Tires in Carsland, additional info about Starbucks in Disney, and the invasion of Princesses.
4/24: Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland Progress, Despicable Me Construction, SeaWorld, more…
Despicable things are afoot in Florida's theme parks. While Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom continues with their Fantasyland expansion, we also have news on Star Wars Weekends and on recent developments at Epcot. But that's not all, we also have a full report from Universal Studios Orlando where the new Despicable Me attraction has sinage, Cinematic Spectacular lagoon show is on track and the parade route is being prepared for something new. We round out or huge update with a trip to Busch Gardens and a swim through Sea World Orlando.
4/23: Red Cars, Carnations and Transformers Disney has announced its final arrangements for the popular entertainment at Disneyland's iconic Carnation Plaza Gardens as fans rally to save the dance-and-music venue from the upcoming Fantasy Faire meet-and-greet area. Meanwhile, work continues on the major Matterhorn Bobsleds refurbishment and the Main Street dining expansion projects. Across the Main Entrance Plaza, construction continues in the new Buena Vista Street area as the new Red Car Trolleys hit the tracks. In Hollywood Land, Alice is getting ready to move in with the upcoming Mad T Party nighttime dance party. We also take a detour to Universal Studios Hollywood this week to take a look at Universal's impressive new Transformers: The Ride 3D attraction which is currently in soft openings. Dateline Disneyland has a HUGE update for you today, so join us as we see what's new at Disneyland (and Universal!)
4/20: Final Day of Test Track at Epcot; Universal Studios Orlando; California Gold Country
The whirlwind tour of the weekend update whisks us off to Florida's Walt Disney World for a look at the return of the Orange Bird. Next Rya86n takes us to Universal Orlando for another installment of his honeymoon photo tour. Here he compares Warner Bros. Movie World to Universal Orlando. Kind of humorous in a way. Then finally we journey to the charming Grass Valley in historic Gold Country in California. Where else would can you see so much in one place? Here we go!
4/18: Sue Kruse – Chimp Change Sue reviews some Trashy art, Earth Day Freebees, Twin Peaks, Lancaster Poppies, Downtown Disney and what to do in May at the Walt Disney Family Museum.
4/19: Uni’s Transformers Rocks! Disneyland/DCA Construction Update, & Knott’s News
We have BIG news this week. Universal held "technical rehearsals" (Disney calls them "soft openings") of their brand new mega attraction, Transformers: The Ride 3D. We'll share our review and photos here. We also start off with a checkup on Disneyland's preparations for the big summer crowds and Disney California Adventure's final push to get ready for the June 15th opening of two new lands. We also stop by Knott's Berry Farm for some happy news regarding employee management and to bring you back a new batch of photos from the park. Here we go folks!
4/19: Yesterland presents a look back at the Country Bear Jamboree “Howdy folks! Welcome to the one and only, original Country Bear Jamboree, featuring a bit of Americana—our musical heritage of the past." In 1972, Country Bear Jamboree opened in Disneyland as the centerpiece of the park’s newest land, Bear Country. It was the first Disneyland attraction to be cloned from a Walt Disney World attraction. Journey back now, as Werner Weiss take us back to the Country Bear Jamboree
4/18: Sam Does Vegas – City Center Las Vegas, Smash or Trash? Sam Gennawey is, at his heart, a city planner. He is also a huge fan of Walt Disney's visions for all encompassing communities of the future. Sam visits the Las Vegas City Center this week with a keen eye for how this unprecedented project compares with what Walt Disney had in mind. Does City Center achieve the urban utopia that Disney was constantly striving to achieve? Read here t0 find out what Sam thinks.
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