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April 21st, 2007 Issue #5
From the Editor
Welcome to another issue of Mouse House News! We really appreciate your loyalty. Because of you, we have become a big success!
We truly hope you enjoy this issue. Keep reading and spread the word of all the Disney fun happening in your inbox!
Mike Hamilton
Disney
purists will tell you that the overall WDW product has declined over
the last few years. The addition of motion picture and television
program-inspired attractions has set off a lot of the online
community. However, many forget the very reason Walt Disney created
the parks - to promote the products of his company.
The ideas
for Adventureland and Tomorrowland were based on the weekly television
programs that Walt hosted. Fantasyland was a way of promoting Walt's
animated features. Even most of the attractions Walt himself created
for Disneyland were based on shows and movies. Some of the classic
attractions such as Peter Pan's Flight, Snow White's Scary Adventure,
and even the long forgotten Mr. Toad's Wild Ride are based on animated
features. Still, the desire for attractions with no former
presentation is great within the Disney fan base.
New
additions such as Soarin', Expedition Everest and Mission: Space have
been the only original attractions opened at the resort since 1999.
Within that same amount of time, seven attractions and three shows have
opened featuring characters and stories from movies and television
shows. While most of these attractions have been widely successful,
fan response has still been horrible. While these feelings are
supported by busts such as Stitch's Great Escape and The Magic Carpets
of Aladdin, there are still gatebusters such as Buzz Lightyear's Space
Ranger Spin and Finding Nemo The Musical that pack full houses and
garner great responses every day. However, a strong argument can be
made for the creation of original attractions. Original attractions
such as Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, Test Track,
Space Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad have set the bar high
over movie and television-based attractions. So which is better? The
point can be made that both are equally entertaining, but from a
business standpoint, what makes more money?
In the
end, something based on a motion picture or a television program is
going to sell much more merchandise and is going to do a better job of
bringing in people who have never visited the parks before. Yet the
success is reversible. The development of Pirates of the Caribbean
into a blockbuster film series has shown that originality can draw just
as well as media-based items. People who have never been on the ride
were clamoring to see the films.
The focus, then, should not be on where the idea for an attraction comes from but rather the quality of the attraction. There have been bad original rides as well as bad movie-based rides. Success is not determined by notoriety rather by the guests enjoyment level. If you believe originality is important, then I suggest you sit back for a while. For as long as there is Disney parks, there will be attractions based on the films and shows of the Walt Disney Company.
Theme Park Notes
Masses Run Screaming from the Twilight Zone
The Tower of Terror has spent thirteen years of striking terror into the hearts of Disney guests. As this spooky anniversary approaches, the always frightening Adam Dworkin is here to tell us what Disney has planned for this scare-a-bration!
Thirteen years ago, The Twilight Zone found its way into MGM Studios via the ever-popular Tower of Terror. Since its grand opening on July 22, 1994, the Tower has been a staple in the World. On October 27th, 2007 Disney will commemorate this historic event by hosting the first ever night race on WDW property. The aptly-planned 13K ( 8.1 miles) begins at the Tower, goes through the Wide World of Sports and the Lights, Motors, Action Stunt Show, down New York Street and past the Sorcerer's Hat all the way back to the Tower. A private party at the Tower will follow the race, with each racer receiving a glow in the dark race shirt and a commemorative medal.This inaugural after-dark race looks to be a good time, with Disney offering both the full 13K and a half-run at 6.5K (4.05 miles). The run will begin at nine, and there is no telling what kind of surprises and sights Disney may be planning for the event. Beware of the extra-dimensional price, though. It costs $65 for the full 13K and $40 for the 6.5K. So, if you dare, take a step back into the fifth dimension and join the run!
Parks Get Earthy
Earth Day (also our editor-in-chief's birthday) is Sunday, April 22nd and its importance has not gone unnoticed by Disney. Yesterday, Animal Kingdom held its celebrations as part of "Party of the Planet", an event organized by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. AK set up conservation-themed stations which provided activities for guests to participate in as well as souvenir postcards informing guests on conservation steps they can take at home. Some of these activities will be repeated on Sunday. Seaworld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay are also recognizing Earth Day with their own events.
The Italian Pavilion at Epcot will be observing Liberation Day on Tuesday, April 24th, 2007. Liberation Day commemorates the Allied Forces' victory over Germany in Italy during the second World War. Epcot will host events from 11am to 5pm including flag making, pin trading, and a discovery experience awarding small prizes to guests.
Mouse House Eats
Mama Mia!
From Epcot: MHN first reported to you that L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante will cease operation as Italy's only table service restaurant on August 31, 2007. It has since been announced that Patina Restaurant Group will become the new owner of the location, with a new restaurant anticipated to open in the Fall of 2008. Patina currently runs the Naples Restaurant at the Disneyland Resort. This new eatery in Italy will feature signature dishes, a variety of wines and an interactive experience. As well, it will be participating in the Disney Dining Plan.
Resort Clips
News from the Springs
In our last issue, one of our readers asked for more information of Saratoga Springs. Ian Macpherson has kindly offered us a review of the resort and an update on its completion.
My wife and I have been DVC members since 1998. Our home base is the Boardwalk and Saratoga Springs. Two years ago we stayed at Saratoga Springs in a studio room overlooking Downtown Disney. The Disney buses come through every few minutes and there are stops scattered throughout the resort. You can reach Downtown Disney along a short walkway or by boat. While it was a very enjoyable stay and Saratoga Springs is great for golfers, our hearts belong to Old Key West.
As far as construction goes, two years ago all the buildings at SS were complete along the main road, beside the lake. There was lots of construction going on across the small lagoon, within the resort but far enough away that it wasn't a big distraction. We were back in January of this year and stayed at our usual resort Old Key West but I took my son over to Saratoga Springs to check out the Lake Buena Vista golf course clubhouse, which is part of the resort. I gave my son a walking tour of the main area. There are only a couple of the buildings that house rooms that are still under construction and workers seem to be putting together the finishing touches.
Mousellaneous News
While nobody can predict the fate of DQ, we wonder what would happen to its attractions if it is closed. Will visitors never get the opportunity to experience CyberSpace Mountain? Moving some of the attractions to various locations on the property might not be a bad idea.
Will DisneyQuest escape the evil clutches of replacement? Tune in next time. Same Disney time - same Disney-related newsletter!
Workers Left Pixie Dustless
Five unions representing Walt Disney World have launched a website - WeAreDisney.info - to outline issues that they feel need to be addressed. For 21,000 (of 39,500) Disney workers, their contract expires on April 28th and before renewing, they want Disney to pay attention to workers' wages, healthcare and retirement benefits as well as things like outsourcing. The website points out some alarming information including the fact that many Disney World workers earn less than $17,680 each year. While a visit to WDW may be magical for guests, it is all smoke and mirrors for cast members, it seems.
Now we will certainly offer some opinions on things outside of Florida. I mean, what fun would it be to ignore such stuff as animation and other theme parks? But what we truly love takes place inside the bubble of Walt Disney World, and Mouse Extra is dedicated to feeding our collective Disney World fixation. We fill it with the photos we took and our experiences with the magic.
We also like to talk about what other websites are saying, and we often point to what we agree and disagree with. There are three of us at Mouse Extra, but the Disney internet community is as great of a contributor as we can ever hope to be. Without the great people bringing us such wonderful content all over the internet, we wouldn't have anything to disagree with!
We'll keep you up to date on news and rumors and offer trip planning advice and even the occasional review. We love going to Disney World, and hope that we can help you love it as well. We're all veterans of Mouse Extra and are severely addicted to the magic, so don't hesitate to ask us a question.
I would like to invite you to join us at Mouse Extra. You probably won't agree with everything we say, but that's what "comments" are for. Tell us what you think and let's debate a topic we all love.
The Mouse Vault
April 16 1933 Dick Huemer starts working at the Disney Studios. Dick will eventually go on to animate, direct and write many films and shorts like Fantasia, The Band Concert, Dumbo, and Saludos Amigos.
April 17 1964 "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" is flown from New York to California for the World's Fair. The trucker delivering it is caught in bad traffic as the New York Mets are defeated by the Pittsburgh Pirates on opening day. Mr. Lincoln doesn't make it to the fair.
April 17 1987 The monorails in Tomorrowland debut at Disneyland.
April 18 1955 Newsweek runs "A Wonderful World", an article about Walt Disney's universe of new television shows, films and theme park(s).
April 18 1964 "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" finally arrives at the World's Fair. Technicians rush to install Mr. Lincoln hoping to have him ready for the April 20 th preview. Technical problems interfere and the exhibit won't be ready for the preview nor will it open at the World's Fair.
April 20 1991 The Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant opens in the Disney-MGM Studios.
April 20 1996 Christopher Robin Milne, the son of Pooh creator A.A. Milne, dies at 75.
April 21 1965 The World's Fair in New York City opens for the final season. The fair includes four Disney attractions for Ford, General Electric, Pepsi-Cola, and the State of Illinois.
And the final word comes from you, the Disney fans. Last week we asked you which Walt Disney World theme park is your favourite. You responded with:
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Contributors
Ali Sampson - Editor-in-Chief