Issue #1 - Celebrating the Happiest News on Earth
The Happiest News on Earth
March 24, 2007 Issue #1
Established March 2007
Subscription: 11
From the Editor
Welcome to the very first edition of Mouse House News! This newsletter was born when I was searching for something that acted as a newspaper for Walt Disney World. I was unable to find one that suited my needs, so I decided to create my own! I hope that you find MHN useful in planning your WDW vacation or getting your weekly Disney fix.
I can certainly use your help in making this newsletter a success. If you would like to contribute to MHN or if you have any feedback to offer, please contact us at mousehousenews@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you. Please tell your friends about us. The more the merrier! I hope you enjoy our little publication.
Ali Sampson
Editor-In-Chief
Front Page
YAAARR! Pirates, Princesses and Light Crowds Abound!
The Pirates and Princess Party that was held this winter at the Magic Kingdom has been extended into late summer. The new dates are August 11, 15, 18, 21, 24, 28, 31, and September 3. While tickets go on sale June 1 and the prices still haven't been announced, the cost thus far has been $39.36(USD) for adults and $31.90(USD) for children. Previously it has been held from 7:30 p.m. -12:30 a.m, after park closing. This is yet another perk of The Year of a Million Dreams celebration. Tom Corless provides us with the following review of the WDW's newest after hours event.
On select nights between January 22nd and March 8th, 2007, the Magic Kingdom of WDW hosted the Pirates and Princess Party, a five hour event celebrating every boy's and girl's (and Annual Passholder's) dreams. The good news is that the event will return this August to fill in the gaps before Halloween hits the Kingdom. I was lucky enough to attend the very first event on January 22 nd, and hope to give you a basic review of the event, without spoiling it for those of you who plan on attending the event this summer.
Similar to the Halloween event, guests are given black and gold pouches to horde all their loot in. Select locations around the lands have treasure spots marked by a large X. Each location distributes either plastic necklaces or a chocolate treat. One of the more notable locations was the Carousel of Progress.
Perhaps the greatest fireworks spectacular ever, "Magic, Music & Mayhem" combines pirate and princess tunes with the best fireworks ever offered inside the magic gates. Please note that the fireworks can also be viewed for free from the Grand Floridian, but they are without the music that completes the experience. The show features a pirate war for the castle and a fairy fight for castle color supremacy. The hub in front of the castle gives the best view of the show, since a lot of the action itself happens on the castle. It is much more of a show then it is a firework event and is a must see event.
Disney's Enchanted Adventures parade was the true center of the event, and I have always been a sucker for a good parade (I usually end up crying when I hear the music for SpectroMagic). The parade showed twice nightly and really packed a crowd for both showings. The second still offers lighter crowds, but still a very sizable crowd. The big things about the Parade are the extra large pirate ship float and the XXL treasure chest ridden by Tinker Bell. The parade is a MUST see.
Meet and greets, dance parties, and stage shows fill out the remainder of the event. Dream Along with Mickey makes night time appearances at the event. The show fits in perfectly and I suggest seeing it at night even if you see it during the day. I did not attend the dance parties since I am 18 years old and it would be a little weird. I did catch a look at the "Under the Sea Dance Party" which features dancing fish and Sebastian the crab. If you have small children, I suggest stopping at one of the dance "fiestas". The other special entertainment opportunities are training for Jasmine's Royal Guard, the ever popular Pirate Tutorial, a special Liberty Belle cruise, and break-dancing space pirates. Oh, and one more thing, there are some attractions open. That's right, at this event, attractions are secondary.
The party is the best after hours event that Disney has ever put on. If you are there on an event day, GO! The party is one of the most enjoyable times I have spent in the Magic Kingdom. It trumps the Halloween and Christmas parties and the lighter crowds make the event extra enjoyable. The nicest part of the event was men, women, and children were dressed as pirates and princesses. I even got in on the act with a pirate hat and a skull and bone decorated lanyard full of Pirate Lanyard series pins. If you attend, don't feel shy to join in. If you don't own any pirate or princess apparel, there is plenty available at the event, including event specific merchandise. I suggest you fulfill your dreams at Disney's Pirate and Princess Party.
Theme Park Notes
MILF at Magic Kingdom
From the Magic Kingdom: The new attraction in Tomorrowland has undergone a name change from "Monsters Inc Laugh Floor Comedy Club" to "Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor". (lending itself to an unfortunate acronym). Annual Passholders will get a chance to view the attraction from March 30th to April 1st but monsters have already begun to entertain the masses. A few lucky guests have gotten the chance to get their chuckle-on during the testing phase. Stay tuned next issue for photos and a review.
Night of Joy Lineup Released
The 25th annual Night of Joy lineup was released on March 15th. The NoJ is to take place in the Magic Kingdom on September 7th and 8th and showcases 18 Christian music acts including Third Day, Newsboys and Steven Curtis Chapman. NoJ takes place nightly from 7:30pm - 12:30am and will cost guests $41.95(USD) for one night and $71.95(USD) for both nights.
Goodbye "it's a small world Mexico"
As you probably know by now, El Rio Del Tiempo is getting a makeover. What you might not know is that the attraction is set to re-open on April 2nd as "Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros".
Mouse House Eats
Free Eats?
Since last year's offer of free dining to resort guests who visited the World in August and September, folks have been speculating on the return of free food for the 2007 slow season. Lately, message boards have been a-buzz with rumours of the return of the free dining promotion since Touringplans.com posted the following on their website on March 15th: "We ain't guaranteeing anything. If we were the wagering type, however, we'd bet that free dining will be returning for travel dates 8/26 through 9/22, if booked 4/12 through 6/24. As always, those dates are subject to change." Keep those fingers crossed!
Yak and Yeti in the House
From the Animal Kingdom: Progress continues on the Yak and Yeti restaurant that is slated to open sometime in 2007. Visitors have seen an actual restaurant wall erected within the construction walls. This restaurant is supposed to offer counter service along with a much needed table service area.
Keeping Halal in the World
While this isn't quite news, it is news to us and we wanted to share it with you. We have discovered a wonderful resource for those concerned with eating halal while at WDW. (This is the consumption of only the food that is permissible according to Islamic law.) Zabihah.com is a website that lists restaurants throughout the world, including the WDW property and surrounding areas, that are friendly to halal diets.
Resort Clips
Contemporizing the Contemporary
The demolition of the North Wing of the Contemporary Resort is almost complete. Word on the street is that Disney is preparing for a new Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Tower wing.
Animal Kingdom Lodge DVC
Speaking of DVC, it's not just animal noises that guests of the Animal Kingdom Lodge have been hearing lately. The Animal Kingdom Villas have been under construction since March 5th and ongoing construction-type noises will continue to be heard until April 30th.
Bus Fleet Betterment
It's almost time for some major bus changes to
take effect. Back in January, Disney announced that it would be
enhancing its WDW bus fleet. The buses will be outfitted with GPS
units and will have counters to keep track of ridership. For
better or for worse, guests will no longer be relying on the bus
drivers for their entertainment. Instead automated spiels and
background music will (hopefully) keep guests amused. Perhaps
most exciting are the bus cameras that have been installed at busier
loading zones to keep up with the demand. The improved bus system
should make an appearance in April 2007.
Mousellaneous News
Death At Blizzard Beach
The Sentinel reported that "A visitor to Walt Disney World's Blizzard Beach water park collapsed of an apparent heart attack Thursday afternoon and later died at a hospital." The man had a pre-existing heart condition. This death marks the tenth involving WDW attractions since late 2004.
Desert Theme Parks
There is quite a bit of buzz on Disney message boards about a new entertainment complex being developed in the United Arab Emirates called Dubailand that may just give Disney a run for its money. Said to be twice the size of Walt Diseny World and Disneyland combined, construction of Dubailand has been broken into four phases. It boasts many interesting components including the world's largest mall A few of the complex's facilities like the Dubai Autodrome and The Global Village are already operational and the first phase is to be completed in 2008.
Pin Peek
For those who say that everything costs an arm and a leg at Disney: On April 27th, WDW will be hosting its annual Mickey's Pin Trading Night at the Contemporary Resort. This is a free event that happens from 5pm - 7pm. This year pin trading enthusiasts will get to take a sneak peek at the artwork for Disney's Pin Celebration 2007 which is scheduled for September 7th - 9th.
Mouse House News Reviews
The Official Unofficial Word
Perhaps the greatest travel planning book for Walt Disney World is The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2007 by Bob Sehlinger and Len Testa (John Wiley & Sons, Inc: Hoboken, NJ, 2007). Year after year, Sehlinger and Testa provide us with the most up-to-date, entertaining and useful information. For our first issue, Adam Dworkin provides us with a review of this wonderful resource.
A quick glance of any bookstore travel section can speak to the popularity of Walt Disney World. No fewer than six guidebooks were on the shelves during my last quest for anything Disney. The Unofficial Guide always stands out, being absolutely the thickest volume on the shelf at 749 pages. Lucky for Bob Sehlinger and Len Testa, it is also the best.
Although carrying this one around the parks might slip a disc in your back, the UG is the most unique and comprehensive guidebook on the market today. It covers everything, from saving money for your trip to understanding the parks you are about to visit. It is a guarantee you will pick up some great information you didn't know about before. Also reviewed are every hotel on- and off-site, every restaurant, and a complete breakdown on every ride including both Universal Parks and Sea World.
Each review has an age breakdown (including a fright potential chart for the little ones!) and describes the attraction in detail, including a small history, touring tips, and reader comments. Disney historian Jim Hill also contributes his knowledge with inside tips and info on what may become of your favorite attraction or how it was built.
The most useful features of the book are the crowd level calendar and the Touring Plans. Every plan is carefully investigated by a team of researchers who walk until their feet are blistered for your queuing benefit. Len Testa then feeds everything into their Touring Plans computer to give you the most time-saving approach. Every plan has a cut-out page in the back of the book along with recommended visitation times, so light packers can rejoice.
For the hardcore Disney fan, some may be disappointed in some of the criticisms of their favorite rides (including the one that Terminator 3D at Universal is the best attraction anywhere!). Keep in mind this is a much more objective view than the one presented in Birnbaum's Official Guide, and certainly less colorful. It was only in the 2006 edition that they switched from all black to the much improved combination black and blue text!
The Unofficial Guide gives you the best information for your money. Take it with you, read it, and leave it on your bedside table before you go out to the parks. Have fun, and be sure to visit Touringplans.com for book updates and more great information.
Final Word
And the final word comes from you, the Disney fans. When asked on a popular WDW message board for ways to make a WDW vacation more romantic, fans responded with:
Ten Romantic Elements of WDW
10. A nice quiet dinner at Artist Point at Wilderness Lodge followed by a boat ride to the Magic Kingdom to catch the fireworks along the way.
9. Waiting for the Kiss Goodnight at the Magic Kingdom and strolling down an empty Main Street, USA.
8. Sharing a couples' massage at the Grand Floridian.
7. Getting dressed up and having a romantic dinner at Victoria and Albert's at the Grand Floridian.
6. Enjoying dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table at the Magic Kingdom timed just right to watch the fireworks standing under the archway of the castle for dessert.
5. Taking a magical carriage ride at Fort Wilderness and Port Orleans.
4. Taking in the atmosphere of Disney's Boardwalk at night including some dancing at the Atlantic Dance Hall.
3. Watching Wishes with your sweetheart in a hammock at the Polynesian resort while sipping a Lapu Lapu or Pina Colada.
2. Strolling through the Caribbean Beach Resort at the end of the night and stopping at the cabana for a couple of drinks or crossing over to the island to cuddle.
1. Savouring dinner in a window seat at one of the World Showcase restaurants at Epcot in time to watch IllumiNations and then stroll through the worlds after closing.
For next week's issue, we want to hear from you. Please tell us what you most look forward to on your WDW vacation. mousehousenews@gmail.com
Contributers
Ali Sampson - Editor-in-Chief
Bruce Smith - Assistant Editor
Joanne Sempsey - Front Page Photo
Tom Corless - Front Page
Stephen Champion - Mouse House Eats Photo
Adam Dworkin - Mouse House News Reviews
Users of WDWMagic Forums - Final Word
Joanne Sempsey - Final Word Photo
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