Mousekingdom Blog

It seems there is a Midas Touch effect going for Disney right now, with the opening of their second major new attraction in Walt Disney World in recent weeks. Following on from movie success, financial success and widespread critical acclaim, the company is definitely on a roll from what we have seen. Having been seriously impressed by the new The Seas with Nemo & Friends ride at Epcot, Finding Nemo - The Musical has now opened at the Animal Kingdom, replacing the excellent Tarzan Rocks show, which we thought would be a tough act to follow. It needed to be something much bigger and more eye-catching, and it is. In spades.

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Although I am not a huge Star Wars fan (I can just enjoy the movie, but am not the fan like I am a Disney fan), I do think I might make myself one of those “build your own” lightsabers to take home the next time I visit Walt Disney World.

The new “attraction’ can be found exclusively (for now) at the Once Upon a Toy Store at Downtown Disney. For sure many children (and dads) will have lots of fun putting these together.

$19,95 for the fun of making the toy and taking it home (batteries included) is a fair price. All you need to do is choose sides! Can you guess what side I am from?

More info can be found on starwars.com

After the first Narnia movie has been filmed in New Zealand everybody expected the same for the second movie…

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe was shot in New Zealand — which has established itself as a popular, low-cost filming location over the past few years. (Times Online)

But now it looks like Prince Caspian will go to Britain’s Pinewood Studios…

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Marketwatch.com has named Robert Iger the CEO of the year. Like we already mentioned in two previous entries (Only Good Words, Can’t Do Wrong) it looks like the man has golden hands and is making the Disney Company shine. Since he has been given the title he reached the news with positive input and has been praised ever since. One of his biggest business decisions was the Pixar deal…

The Pixar buyout was just one of many moves made this past year that have won plaudits for Iger from all quarters…

…Once Iger made up with Pixar and the dissident shareholders, and made it clear that it was a new day for Disney corporate culture, the rest just seemed to fall into place.

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The first time I entered the Disney Store on 5th avenue in New York I stayed for a good 4 hours. I loved the placed and could have bought half of the shop (if my wallet would have had allowed it).

If you’re a Disney Store fan, a Mickey fan or love the Fantasia movie maybe this item on Ebay might be the right thing for you. It is the display of sorcerer Mickey with the brooms as it was shown in the Disney Store on 5th Avenue. A real collector!s item that could be yours for $9250

For more picture and to place a bid visit Ebay

If it were a ride, Disneyland’s tax bill would be a roller coaster. (ABC-local)

$5 million tax refunds, I wouldn’t mind a check like that. However, after some recalculations and finding some errors the final number was a little lower.

The Disney Company returned some of the checks and is now waiting for the correct refund of $3.7 million. I still wouldn’t complain on a tax return like that myself.

Any child’s dream (Year of a Million Dreams; Disneyland Hotel Suite – via OCregister.com)

In 2000 the US had 7,4% of the world tourism coming their way. Last year this was reduced to 6%. A 1% extra translate in an additional 7,5 million visitors, meaning a big loss of visitors and the income that comes with it. The source of the problem, according to the article on WebCenter11, is related to long lines to get Visa’s at US embassies and the entering of the US when coming from abroad.

So far, applying for American visas still involves standing for hours in long lines at fortress-like embassies. Stern immigration officials at American airports often inspire fear, according to the survey.

The US government has now turned to theme park operators, including the Walt Disney Company, to help for do something about this image.

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Pirates of the Caribbean screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio talked to ComingSoon.net about their involvement into the big movie hit(s). Very interesting details came to light during the exclusive interview. We “only” got to see the movies now, even if the idea to make a Pirates movie was already triggered in 1992.

We had actually tried to get Disney interested in doing a movie based on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride after we finished working on “Aladdin” back in ‘92. At that time, there was a different company philosophy and different management in place, then about ten years later, Disney kind of had the same idea and caught up to us

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Year of a Million Dreams; Disneyland Hotel Suite … and yes… there is a TV in the bathroom. With so much luxury one might forget about the parks… (via OCregister.com)

It all started in December 1901 when Walt Elias Disney was born!

Happy

Birthday

Walt

You will life forever in the hearts of all the Disney fans in the world!

New pictures of “Pirates of the Caribbean: at Worlds End” has found its way on the internet showing the “look” of Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) and Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) in this installment of the (first?) trilogy. You’ll already get the “Asian” feeling of this part, especially when you see the costume used for Elizabeth.

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“Cars” is a real success for Disney and Pixar and might also become a real success with the Annie awards. Although only nominations are out yet, Cars might dominate the show. The question is if Dreamworks “Flushed Away” might be the surprise of the awards and would get the big price of best animation feature.

Animation giants Disney-Pixar and DreamWorks will go head-to-head for the top Animated Feature award at the ceremony, widely seen as the pathway to the Oscars, as all previous recipients have gone on to triumph in the best animated feature category at the Academy Awards later that month. (Hollywood.com)

The 34th annual awards will take place in Glendale, Los Angeles, on Feb. 11.

Year of a Million Dreams; Disneyland Hotel Suite. (via OCregister.com)

Even more proof is found for the demolition of the north wing of the Contemporary Resort in Walt Disney World.

Screamscape is showing some paperwork, filed by Disney last month, verifying the request to begin demolition of the north wing.

The rumored Disney Vacation Club Contemporary Wing looks closer than it ever did before, even with an Animal Kingdom DVC coming first!

During Disneyland’s “Year of a Million Dreams,” some lucky winners will get to stay in the Mickey Mouse Penthouse on the top floor of the Disneyland Hotel in Disneyland. Looks like magic… (via OCregister.com)

A group of Korean investors is looking at building a new Theme Park just three miles south of Disneyland.

After years of failed efforts to land some sort of tourist attraction, the Garden Grove City Council has agreed to let an investment firm move forward with plans to construct a $4-billion amusement park in a city best known for its annual strawberry festival. (Source LA Times)

While they say it doesn’t look to compete with Disneyland in Anaheim they must hope that visitors of the resort would hop over for a visit. They are taking Islands Of Adventure as an example of what they want to have in place in California.

I must admit that I love Islands of Adventure and every Walt Disney World visit has brought me to the Universal Studios resort for a visit.

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It’s December, it holiday month!… and some decorations are already up. However, I must admit, these two are there all year round…