The Happiest News on Earth
March 31st, 2007 Issue #2
Established March 2007
Suscribership: 60
From the Editor
Thank you to all who contributed and subscribed to make our first issue of Mouse House News a success! Our last issue was sent out to 11 subscribed readers and this issue of
MHN is going out to 60 subscribers! Thanks also to all who
have given us feedback on what you've seen so far. You'll hear some of
that in our newest section Mouse Mail.
As we begin issue two, we continue to share with you the happiest news on earth. For
the first few weeks, we want to continue to get the word out about the
reliable and fun way that we share WDW news with its fans. So, once
again, please tell your friends about us. We see MHN as a community affair and we would love to hear from you!
Enjoy the issue and happy holidays!
Editor-in-Chief
Ali Sampson
Mouse Mail
Dear MHN:
I just read the Mouse House News
newsletter and it was WONDERFUL! It was so informative and easy to
read. Many newsletters I have read are crammed and hard to read. The MHN newsletter has a simple yet elegant design which makes it much more pleasing to the eye! I hope you keep sending them.
Tori Rowe
Dear MHN:
The inclusion of the small pictures adds just a little more than some
of the other newsletters we receive. Do you think you can do hyperlink
for larger versions of the pictures? In the future a discussion board
may add more to it as well. Good luck for a long and fruitful life.
Craig Gilmore
In this issue, click on the images for a larger view! You'll also be
happy to know that MHN is saving its pennies to purchase a domain where
we can do all sorts of neato internety type stuff like discussion
boards and polls.
Front Page
Toy Story Mania Runnin' Wild
Toy Story Mania is set
to open in MGM-Studios in the Spring of 2008. Imagineers are currently
working on how to make the attraction accessible to those in
wheelchairs without having to stop the ride to allow for loading. Tom
Corless provides us with an inside look at the Studio's new e-ticket
attraction. We warn you that his report contains spoilers. So, if you
want to be surprised when TSM opens, you may want to skip ahead.
Since
the rumours began to circulate last fall, many people have been
clamoring for details about the replacement of the Who Wants to be a
Millionaire: Play It attraction at the Disney-MGM Studios. Even after
Toy Story Mania was announced two months ago, Disney fans have been
dying to know more. Well, my friends, here is everything you want to
know. This is an insider's look at Toy Story Mania.
As many of you
are probably aware, Toy Story Mania is going to be a first of its kind
3D, interactive, moving attraction. Similar to the now aged The
Amazing Adventures of Spiderman attraction over at the Universal
Studios Orlando, the ride combines 3D effects and moving ride
technology. However, that is where the similarities end between the
two attractions.
The attraction's
building will have the look of a county fair, with an interactive
animatronic Mr. Potato Head welcoming guests. Once you enter the
queue, you will get a chance to practice your skills at midway-style
games. This is the only part of the attraction that still remains
under wraps, as the technology that allows this is still top secret.
Guests then board ride vehicles and go through a series of short
games. Then the ride gets really interesting. Guests will be able to
choose the games they get to play on two separate tracks. Track
one will have games based on the farm and the Old West to coincide with
characters such as Woody, Bullseye and Jesse. Track two will have
games representing outer space with characters such as Buzz Lightyear,
the Little Green Men and Zurg. The ride features a grand finale with
scenes from the movies such as Andy's Room and Al's Toy Barn. After
the ride, guests exit into a new gift shop featuring a strong Toy Story
theme.
This is not the only big news
about the attraction. Within the Walt Disney Company, there is a
strong feeling that when Toy Story 3 is released the games within the
ride will be changed. While the changes are being made, TSM will
experience little to no down time. Rumours also persist that special
versions of the attraction will be offered during the holiday seasons.
Well, this is all that's been leaked out about this attraction so far but Mouse House News will keep you posted as details are released. The only bad thing about Toy Story Mania is waiting for it to open!
Theme Park Notes
A Review of Monsterous Proportions
While
we await the April 2nd grand opening of the Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor
(or MILF as we've taken to calling it) in Tomorrowland in the Magic
Kingdom, we take advantage of the sneak peekin' of one of our Mouse
Housers. As promised, we now deliver you an anonymous review of this
new attraction.
Having seen the Monster's Inc. Laugh
Floor throughout its long test-and-adjust period, I can say that it is
a welcome addition to the Magic Kingdom's lineup of shows that everyone
can enjoy. This is the first show of its kind in the MK where the
audience can actually talk back. Not only can you give the "Monsters
of Comedy" your jokes via text messaging, but the monsters may want to
strike up a conversation with you!
After passing through an indoor
queue line with colourful banners, you pass through a large door into
the monster world. You then wait to enter the theatre in a room full
of details that come straight from Monsters Inc. A pre-show with Mike Wazoski sets up the
story of how he came up with the idea of a comedy club to collect
laughs, which power the monster world. The show takes place in a large
400-seat theatre, complete with cocktail tables, eye-stalk lamps, a
large screen showing audience members, and a canister next to the
digital stage to collect laughter. In the show, Roz and Mike host
three different comedy acts. There's a two-headed monster who is an
expert of the human world, a mind-reader who has trouble guessing your
number, and Mike's nephew Marty who talks to some human kids in the
crowd.
MILF is a fun show, with
some very talented "monsters" in it. It adds up to a comedy show that
can be different nearly every time you see it. Like Turtle Talk with
Crush at Epcot, these monsters know you're there. In this show, don't
be surprised if the punchline turns out to be you!
No More Pencils, No More Books
Continuing the 35 year
long tradition, Walt Disney World will once again honour high school
graduates with rare all-night private parties at the Magic Kingdom.
Disney Grad Nites 2007 will be held on April 20th, 21st, 27th and
28th. These parties include lots of extra fun including live
performances by several musical acts. The popular band The Fray will
be headlining the celebration this year.
Extra Green Thumbs
Epcot's
ever popular International Flower and Garden Festival will be held
again this year from April 5th to June 3rd, 2007. Because of the
success of past events, Walt Disney World has extended this festival
from its 7 week run to a whopping 60 days! Special touches this year
include pirate and princess themed topiaries and themed weekend events
capturing spring romance and Easter whimsy. The accompanying Flower
Power concert series is jam packed with music from acts like The
Turtles and Davy Jones.
Mouse House Eats
The End of a Dining Era: L'Oringinale Alfredo di Roma to Close
Walt Disney World has announced that
Alfredo di Roma Ristorante, a fixture at the Italy Pavilion in Epcot
for over 20 years, is closing permanently this summer. While there are
certainly mixed reactions to this news, Adam Dworkin provides us with
his view.
Certainly a staple of the
Disney dining experience, Alfredo's will be closing its doors for good
in August of this year. Epcot will miss this wonderful location. Its
sometimes excessive decor and loud atmosphere lent itself to the
feeling of a good Italian diner. As a musician myself, the strolling
and singing opera singers added greatly to the ambiance of the dining
room for me. They also accounted for the well-publicized decibel level
in the restaurant. The service and attentiveness of the staff as well
as the decadent fettuccine Alfredo made
this a must-eat for every trip. Simple dishes were served well at
Alfredo's, helping to offset what was otherwise a lackluster menu from
the authentic adventurer's perspective.
Although
it will be missed by many including myself, I am also looking forward
to a new restaurant and approach in Italy, perhaps with a more risky
menu with dishes Americans might not normally encounter. Alfredo's is
a chain restaurant that will remain open in other locations, including
New York City. So travelers that miss its culinary flavor can still
enjoy it on other trips. Although there is no replacement restaurant
announced yet, Disney has promised that another Italian eatery will be
forthcoming.
Boats and Wine - A Tasty Combination
On April 14th, Disney Dining Experience
members will have an opportunity to experience more than just dining.
For a cost of $225 per person, they will get a chance to attend The
Boating Party - an all day event that includes a bass fishing excursion
and lunch at The Flying Fish Cafe followed by a wine reception and tour
of Wyland Gallery. Included in the price is a lithograph souvenir by
artist Dana Queen.
Milk, Bread and Mickey
For many people the words
"supermarket" and "vacation" should never appear in the same sentence.
Even still, not many people enjoy paying "Disney prices" for the bare
necessities of milk, bread and bottled water that are convenient to
have in your resort room. The solution? Have your groceries delivered
to you! While WDW guests have been doing this for quite some time,
this is news for those of us not in the know. Specifically, we have
learned that perhaps the cheapest and most reputable company to provide
this service is Garden Grocer.
You simply choose the items you want and they do the shopping. Then,
like magic that is only surpassed by Disney, your groceries will
appear with bell services at your resort.
Resort Clips
Hippity Hoppity Easter's On Its Way
Easter is one of the busiest times at Walt
Disney World. Although guests still flock to see the Mouse during
their holiday, many continue to morn the loss of the beloved televised
Easter Parade in the Magic Kingdom six years ago as well as the
discontinuation of the Annual Roger Rabbit Bunny Hunt.
In order to compensate, Disney tries to get
into the Easter spirit by offering a multitude of small scale
activities to its resort guests. So, if you happen to be staying on
site this Easter, you can look forward to various crafts, games, bunny
hops, egg painting activities, face painting, pinatas, Easter-themed
character meet and greets, egg hunts, and special music. Check with
your specific resort to see what their schedule entails and
remember, you can only participate in activities offered at the resort
you are staying at.
If you happen to brave the crowds at the
Magic Kingdom, you can expect to see Mr. & Mrs. Easter Bunny. (Who
knew there were two?) And for those of you concerned with the true
meaning of Easter, you will be happy to hear that WDW will offer
Christian Easter services at both the Contemporary Resort and, of all
places, the Wide World of Sports.
Concierge in Bed
At the Contemporary Resort, Disney is testing
out its online concierge program. Guests have computer access in their
rooms that allow them to contact bell services. Other features include
being able to check flights, summon valet services, order room service,
play video games, and view Disney websites. As well, guests will
receive daily e-mail updates of weather and scheduled events.
Legendary Years Only A Legend?
Let's go back to 1999 when Disney's POP Century
Resort was first announced. We seem to remember something about two
phases of construction. In 2003, "The Classic Years" materialized into
a very popular resort section, representing the decades in the latter
half of the twentieth century. But whatever happened to "The Legendary
Years", the section of the resort representing the 1900s to 1940s?
Word on the street is that phase II of POP's construction is not set to happen any time soon. Instead, Disney is likely to wait until the first section of POP (the one that isn't a
big empty field) is filled to capacity year round. There are even
rumours of Disney turning "The Legendary Years" into a section of
family suites like over at the All-Star Movies Resort. Hopefully there
is somebody around who still remembers the legendary years (or even the
classic years for that matter) by the time Disney gets around to making
them larger than life.
Mousellaneous News
Do You Want to Meet the Robinsons?
Yesterday marked the opening of Disney's newest animated film, Meet the Robinsons.
The reviews have started to roll in and they are certainly mixed.
While some reviewers sang praises for the feature calling it
"charming", others pulled no punches. A. O. Scott of the New York Times called Meet the Robinsons "one of
the worst theatrically released animated features issued under the
Disney label." Perhaps the best way to determine whether this movie is
a hit or a flop is to see it for yourself. If you get the chance, make
your way to one of the 600 theatres that are showing Meet the Robinsons in 3D.
Monorailled
The complete front cabin of the original
Monorail Red Mark IV is being sold on E-bay.
At the time of publication, the bidding was past $41,000 (USD), with
approximately 50 hardcore Disney fans trying to win a new ride to
work. The Monorail Red provided transportation for many Walt Disney
World guests from 1971-1991 (not 1999 as the description says).
There's still time to get your bid in with the auction ending on April
1st! And as a bonus, shipping is only one penny. Of course, finding a
big enough box might pose a problem.
Aquatic Fun
Look out Walt Disney World, there's a new competitor rolling into
town in the spring of 2008. Construction is well under way
on SeaWorld's new water park,
Aquatica .
One thing that SeaWorld does well is water! This new park looks like
it will surely trump both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, with
guests being surrounded by creatures of the air and sea as they play.
Fans are speculating as to how WDW will respond. Could their be more
water in the future of the World?
Mouse House News Reviews
GAP Travel
Many people say that a good travel agent can be the best Disney resource. Adam Dworkin reviews one such agency - GAP Travel.
Many
people choose to book their Disney trips on their own, either through
the official Disney website or by calling the number etched into every
fanatics memory 1-800-407-WDISNEY. I have always chosen to use a
Disney specialist to book my frequent trips to the World. Many people
(especially on discussion boards) ask me why I would even bother. The
truth is that it costs not a dime more to use my agent and in many
cases I can take advantage of deals and discounts more easily. It also
saves me the time of dealing with the Disney reps myself, which I
consider the most frustrating part of any trip planning process.
For my most
recent trip in April, I called upon the services of GAP Travel on Long
Island in New York. Aside from being a local agent for me, they have
handled the majority of my trips over the years and have proven to be
outstanding. Robin and Anita, the owners of the agency, are both
certified Disney specialists from the College of Disney Knowledge. I
actually got a look at the certification materials and they include
comprehensive knowledge of the Disney resorts and cruise lines. They
have been planning Disney trips and creating customized touring plans
for over fifteen years.
What keeps
me and their other 1700 local and out-of-state clients coming back is
that, in addition to being the owners, they are the only full-time
employees. Every time a trip question or problem arises, the same
expert can deal with and help you along the trip planning process. I
also have enjoyed the personal touches offered like a case for my
documents and a small photo album to put a few vacation pictures in
when I get back. Personal service is always important to a Disney
fan. It is frequently one of the things that keep the insane Disney
World traveler coming back year after year. GAP Travel has always
provided that same level of service in the planning process that I
would expect from a cast member in the World.
The bottom
line is that a certified Disney specialist can be the best asset in
trip planning. From changing park hours to airline tickets to making
perfect advance dining reservations, GAP Travel has always been my
gateway to the magic. Seek out a College of Disney Knowledge graduate
for your next trip and you simply will not be disappointed!
If you don't know a great Disney agent, you can always call mine! Say you read about them here, only at Mouse House News.
GAP Travel
299 Wantagh Avenue
Levittown, NY 11756
516-520-5570
Final Word
And the final word comes from you, the Disney
fans. Last week we asked you what it was that you most looked forward
to on your WDW vacations. You responded with:
Top Ten Must-Haves For A WDW Vacation
10. Family to spend time with.
9. Taking time to enjoy walking under the train station to Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom.
8. A resort reservation on Walt Disney World property.
7. Live park entertainment, especially Off Kilter in Canada at Epcot.
6. A dinner show such as the Spirit of Aloha Polynesian Luau at Polynesian Resort.
5. Shows like the nighttime spectacular Fantasmic! (MGM) and attraction Mickey's Philharmagic (MK).
4. Rides on both the ferry to the Magic Kingdom and the monorail.
3. Certain snacks such as churros from the Magic Kingdom and meatballs from Norway in Epcot.
2. Special meals like lunch at Crystal Palace (MK), Chef Mickey's (CR) and any character breakfast.
1. A ride on Rock 'n Roller Coaster (MGM), Expedition Everest (AK), Maelstrom(EP), Star Tours (MGM), and Soarin' (EP).
For next week's issue, we want to hear more from you. Please tell us which WDW restaurant you enjoy the most.
mousehouse@gmail.com
Contributers
Ali Sampson - Editor-in-Chief
Bruce Smith - Assistant Editor
Stephen Champion - From the Editor photo, Mouse House Eats photo
Tom Corless - Front Page
Brian Kenyon - Front Page photo
Adam Dworkin - Mouse House Eats, Mouse House News Reviews
Brad Knoll - Resort Clips photo
Matt Maneely - Final Word photo
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