Mousekingdom Blog

If you’re one of the Disney fans that would like to know everything about the Walt Disney World parks you might be one of the guests that either has done some of the backstage tour, plans to take a backstage tour or would like to take the tour some day.

The Washington Post has a 4 page article revealing (some) of the backstage tour secrets.

The tours in this article are “Keys to the Kingdom, Magic Kingdom ($58, 4 hours)”, the “Backstage Safari, Animal Kingdom ($65, 4 hours)” and the “Epcot Seas Aqua Tour, Epcot ($100, 2 1/2 hours)”. The tour was taken by Steve Hendrix, the writer of the article, during a 4 day trip.

When we step over a bright yellow “sight line” on the road, Matthew (the tour guide) declares us out of any possible view of guests in the park. “Now, what do you really want to know?”

Travel Weekly magazine here in the US had a 3-page spread on Disney’s just-announced Year Of A Million Dreams promotion, which starts this October (see Andy’s post below for more info). And, one of the new features they highliighted for 2007 was a complete revamp of the classic Space Mountain ride in the Magic Kingdom (which, as most people will know, is drastically different from the DLP version), to include lasers, an electronic light show and a rock and roll theme. (more…)

(Autopia at Disneyland Resort Paris)

Disney is my passion and there is not a lot that can take my thoughts away from this passion. But about 1 year ago I discovered EPICA, and although music has always played a big role in my life, it is the first time ever that I am so passionate about a group. After seeing them live for about 20 times I got to sit down with Mark Jansen (founder, guitars, grunts & screams) and the beautiful talented Simone Simons (Mezzo Soprano) and talked about those two passions.

Bare with us and see how much similarity there could be in what look like two different worlds as we talk about their music, including a concert in Disneyland Resort Paris, about Disney movies like “The Little Mermaid” and “A Nightmare Before Christmas”, about “The Lion King” and the composer Hans Zimmer and read how we compare Disney with Gothic to find out that both are all about fairy tales…

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Mulan is one of my all time favorite Disney movies. Shan Yu is my favorite villain, the way he “pops” out of the snow… awesome. Lucky me there is not to much merchandise to be found of Shan Yu, I would be poor, but I guess he might not be the most sellable character.

There will be a new Mulan movie coming out though, and this time “real people” are playing the part of the characters. I guess the Disney version did do something for this Chinese story. However this time it will be a Chinese made movie. The “green light” for this project was given back in 2002, but no lead actress was found until now. Shooting starts this October. This is not the first Mulan movie made, nor was it Disney who brought the fist version as there is a 1927 Chinese “Mulan” movie that had the honors to bring this story on the screens.

But the Chinese are not alone. There is also a rumor that there will be a new US Mulan movie in pre-production. Nothing much is know about this project but there is already one page on the internet that could be a hint that this is going to happen.

What do you do when your Ebay stockroom has 10.000 McDonalds toys. You rub your hands together and smile because Disney McDonald toys are the hot items at the moment and a profit is coming your way. Prices have doubled, even tripled since the news spread that Disney’s contract with McDonalds would not be extended.

it was a May 8 story in the Los Angeles Times that really sparked sales. Before that article, eBay reports that sales of Disney Happy Meal toys were in the single digits. In the last week of May, that number jumped to 27, and it nearly doubled during the first week in June.

The average price spiked too. During the last week in May, the average price was $4.26; a week later, it was $7.75; and a week after that, it reached $13.33.

You can read the full story on Forbes.com, but don’t believe everything they say…

For ten years, the two companies had a match made in corporate heaven through the cross-promotion of Happy Meals and Disney films, showcasing characters such as Shrek, Winnie the Pooh and Cinderella in the colorful fast-food boxes.

Thanks to VickieKCVolvo, who has been posting on the “Find a real Pirates Treasure” entry, we now have a map to show you from the treasure hunt.

All those people around the world who had no possibility to get a map of their own can have a look at the picture to see what is on it, including a photo of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” decoration on the car. Click on the map to see the big version.

Good luck to all treasure hunters out there who have the map!

Sunday 28th May 2006 – My Birthday

Today I had wanted a bit of a lie in, partly as I didn’t sleep to well the night before. I got up at about 9:15 (when the cleaner tried to get in LOL) and got ready for the parks, arriving at about 10.

Today was a block out day on my Annual Pass, so I had to go to the Will Call desk and purchase a block out day ticket. These are priced at a reasonable $30 (Cost me £16.61). There was not a queue, so I purchased the ticket and went straight in (I was hoping they’d have to scan my AP and the Block Out Ticket so I could use both in Fast Pass Machines… no such luck LOL)

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Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort? The question has been on my mind since a couple of weeks while starting my (early – very early) planning on a next Disney Park visit. But the decision had been made. Next visit; Walt Disney World (again).

Why was this such a big topic in my head? Well I wanted to see the park that started it all in Anaheim and was thinking this would be the one to go to on my next trip. I still need to see this park and I have been to Disney World a couple of times now. It would have been the perfect reason to make my way to California on my next Disney trip.

But then it happened; I started thinking about this, looking around the many forums and news sites on the internet and by doing so I found something that made up my mind. Now; the 50th celebration will be over soon and a new celebration will start. EPCOT! On October 1st 2007 EPCOT will turn 25 years young, so celebrations will be on for this park. Although no way as big as the Disneyland’s big 5-O “party” some changes might take place.

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The Dutch DJ Tiësto has been asked to make a remix of the film music from Pirates of the Caribbean: Death Man’s Chest. The music will be released world wide

To celebrate the release of this summer’s blockbuster ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest’, Disney invited Tiësto to remix the title theme ‘He’s A Pirate’ into a progressive epic trance anthem.

If you head over to JimmHillmedia.com you can see some interesting artwork of EPCOT and a land that could have been, but never was. Equatorial Africa: The World Showcase pavilion that we almost got.

You’ll see some early maps of Epcot and drawings of the African pavilion, including attraction description (the Tree House sounds really like it could have been fun) and the reason why this land was not included.

As for the pavilion itself … Well, the Imagineers wanted Equatorial Africa to really stand out from the crowd. And what better way was there for this proposed pavilion to literally rise above all of its World Showcase neighbors than to have the centerpiece of this Epcot addition be a massive treehouse?

PIXAR did it again, another successful opening weekend. Surprised? Didn’t think you would be. CARS raced to the first place taking a whooping $62.8 million. This is 7th time in a row that PIXAR came up with a winner and looking at the next project, Ratatouille, it will not be to last one.

For those fans who like the numbers and want to compare them with the other animation studios check out; Cars - Box Office Analysis. You’ll find PIXAR 6 times in the top 10 of the Digitally Animated Movies list, now it is up to CARS to make it 7…

You don’t need to be too excited about the sleep over in the Cinderella Castle room in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

At least not yet as Disney is hashing out details of castle stay. (Orlando Sentinel)

Like the article says, the chance to win this opportunity will not be possible before January next year, even if the “Year of a Million Dreams” promotion begins on the 1st October.

…the apartment is only a shell right now, with planners discussing how to turn it into a royal chamber.

Some say Walt Disney ordered it as a family suite, but he died in 1966 and castle construction didn’t begin until 1969. Some say Walt’s brother, Roy Disney, planned it, but he died in 1971, weeks after the Magic Kingdom opened. The room was never finished.

Here comes your next installment of my trip to Southern California

Friday 26th May 2006

This morning I got up at 8am and made it into the parks at 9. My first stop was with my Mickey Mouse Ears Mortarboard I bought the previous night. I took it into the Embroidery store in Main Street to get my name put onto it, they only charge $7 for this so its not too bad Thought its better value if you have a longer name than mine he he.

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Hi All!

I’m back and i’ve started writing up my trip reports. I’m going to try and post 2 days at a time, that way most entries will have something relevant to Disney in, though I didn’t do Disney every day. There will be some none Disney Stuff in here too, but its all in California so it counts The only exception may be the last 2 days when I was in San Francisco, that’ll be a non-disney blog, but I said i’d put my whole trip up here so you can hold me to that

Anyway, here we go… I hope you enjoy!

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The Next Disney/Pixar movie to appear on the big screen will be Ratatouille. Apple.com has the High Definition trailer online. There are also regular trailers (in case of slow connection) and an Ipod version online.

The story of a rat that likes the good life and good food, putting his life on the line to find the food he wants. The story is set in the romantic city of Paris (I wonder if he will visit Disneyland Resort Paris while he is on his quest).

This early trailer looks like fun. With Cars just premiering we already get a “taste” of their next project. Get it “taste”… oh well, enjoy the trailer

With the press event in New York behind us related to the new Campaign “Year of a Million Dreams” we can find some extra information on the web. Including some more info on the “dreams” Disney fans and visitors could get. Sleeping in the Cinderella Castle might be the top price for many Disney fans but other prices like traveling to each Disney resort around the world to serve as grand marshal in a Disney parade, a variety of unique Disney vacation experiences, admission to special parties and other extraordinary experiences in the Disneyland and Walt Disney World parks or private meetings with favorite Disney characters, are all great too.

You can read more about the press event on Mousesavers.com

Other articles can be found on Orlando Sentinel; Disney set for ‘Year of Million Dreams’ and Florida Today; Disney unveils Dreams effort

This is your chance to go on a real treasure hunt. However, you’re not going for the gold but for a brand new Volvo XC90 carrying the Pirates of the Caribbean colors.

Yes, that is right, the car will be painted and themed after the pirates movie “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”, including graphics from the film and custom painted 20 inch wheels.

The hunt starts on the 12th June with the final question send to the players on 11th July. To be able to participate you will have to visit a Volvo Dealer to get a treasure hunt map and register online at the Volvo Hunt website.

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The Year of a Million Dreams will be the new campaign Disney will launch so people will keep on visiting the Disney Parks after the 50th celebration has ended. So what to do to convince the Disney fans around the globe? Sweepstakes!… Do you like the sound of that? Just wait to see what you could win. What about a golden fastpass ticket or a night in the Cinderella Castle. Sounds like magic doesn’t it?

Excited? I sure am! But I get excited about any Disney news …

Tonight more might get revealed in New York when Disney will present the new campaign to the public.

Jay Rasulo, chairman of Disney’s parks-and-resorts segment, is to announce the new promotional campaign tonight in New York City. Disney staff were mum on the announcement, but speculation is centering on the prospect that Rasulo will roll out details of the company’s new promotional campaign. (Orlando Sentinel)

I don’t know what it did to you, but it sure got my attention. Or maybe I am the Disney Geek everybody says I am

You can read more about it on JimHill.com and on Orlando Sentinel or visit the new The Year of a Million Dreams website where you can register to win one of the dream prices or just to keep informed about the campaign.

(Ribbons & Bows, Disneyland Resort Paris)