Mousekingdom Blog

The new Wonderful World of Color nighttime show that is to take place in Disney’s California Adventure is rumored to have a costly price tag of $20.000 a night. This is said to be twice as much as the Fantasmic Show.

Rumors imply that the lagoon will be drained during the beginning of next year in preparation for this new spectacle. The effects will surpass the lagoon area with special effects attached on other locations around the park.

It looks like they want to impress with this new show.

(Source: Screamscape)

Rumors are, well rumors, until somebody makes an official announcement. One of those rumors Disney fans and especially Disney Vacation Club owners, are waiting for to be announced as real is the DVC wing at the Contemporary Resort. However, People close to the DVC project have dropped a little secret into somebody’s lap by mentioning that this is not the case. The preparation at the Contemporary is not DVC related.

The Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas are the only DVC expansion that is taking place right now. The next DVC location might not even be at Walt Disney World, but might well be beyond the borders of USA. Want to know more about this rumor about “no Contemporary DVC” versus the rumor about the “yes Contemporary DVC” listen to WDW radio podcast and special guest Shontell Crawford, former Cast Member and owner of DVCbyResale.com for more.

What will it be; Contemporary DVC, yes or no? And if you know more, why don’t you let us know here

So it now seams that Captain Jack and his crew have set there sights on yet another pirate cove; and this time, instead of being “at worlds end” it is in Tokyo Bay!

The Oriental land company had in fact released a press release stating that

“Jack Sparrow Comes to Tokyo Disneyland Pirate of Caribbean Attraction on July 20, 2007. Oriental Land Co., Ltd. announced on March 23, 2007 that the characters from the Disney movie “Pirates of Caribbean” would appear at the renewed attraction “Pirates of Caribbean” of Tokyo Disneyland on July 20. Due to renewal, the attraction will be closed May 7 through July 19. In renewal, in addition to Jack Sparrow, Davy Jones from the 2nd movie “Pirates of Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” and Captain Barbossa who revived surprisingly at the end of the movie, will also appear in the attraction.“

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If there is one drink I love it is Champagne (it is about the only drink with alcohol that I drink). So, occasionally, as it is pricy, we open a bottle and enjoy the bubbly liquid. When we open one for a celebration of some sort we cannot have a drink without something for our son. He will then get a nice Kidibul, a champagne look-a-like drink for kids. Never would I think that this would turn my son into a future drunk, but is seems some people have other ideas about this when it comes to drinks that look like champagne:

Scottish health officials have accused Disney Partyfizz, a juice drink, of contributing to underage drinking because of its resemblance to champagne. (upi.com)

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Disney have done a strange volta face with the naming of their new attraction at the Magic Kingdom, where the former Laugh Floor Comedy Club has suddenly and strangely become the Monsters Inc Laugh Floor.

It’s strange for two reasons - 1, because it has meant changing all the signage around the attraction, which was all geared up for the LFCC with some fairly major posters and large-scale signs outside, and 2, because the initials are certainly NOT something you’d want to see associated with anything to do with Disney (anyone who has seen the film American Pie will be able to explain, but it is definitely adult-rated).

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You didn’t think we forgot about the OSCARs? Did you? What?? Just because this is day 20 since our last OSCAR related post?? OK, the reprieve from all the posts detailing who won what award certainly was nice for a change … but now it is finally time to return to the OSCARs 

It is too early to predict the winners for next year’s OSCAR ceremony. Nevertheless I personally think, that Disney might be able to get some awards for the third installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean series - considering that it lost in the major categories this year and assuming that it is a success (as one can expect). Those chances would also increase if no fourth installment is announced prior to the OSCARs since the Academy has at least a tendency to hand out awards for what it assumes is the final installment of a series. But let’s forget my personal early rumor mongering about the OSCARs for 2008. Let’s return to the hard facts:

The Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences has announced the official schedule for the OSCARs 2008: (more…)

Cinemagique is one of the top attractions in the Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Resort Paris. The journey through the history of movies from the early days all the way to todays blockbusters like Monsters, Inc. enchants guests and regularly manages to get even applause. But us with most great attractions and movies before guests get treated to the finalized project the creative team considers many different concepts, ideas and approaches. Information about these early concepts is rather hard to get by - especially for theme park attractions such as Cinemagique which just don’t get released on official DVDs with comprehensive bonus material. But now and then fans are lucky - as right now in the case of Cinemagique.

Thanks need to go to the blog Cartoon Brew who got YouTube-user CyberShire to reveal the story behind his 6 chapters of “Famous Balloon Movies”… (more…)

Here is the trailer of the Disney – Pixar animation; ”Ratatouille”. The trailer is real fun and even got me laughing out loud a couple of times (always a good sign). Be aware that this trailer gives away the main story (in case you wanted to stay surprised don’t see it). But if you want to see how rats play puppets with humans… then check it out now.

Enjoy, and put the release date, June 29, 2007, in your calendar.

Would you like to own some real Disney history? How about the “Disney actual Monorail RED MARK IV Complete Front Cabin”? The Monorail cabin is being offered on Ebay at this time by MouseSurplusKingdom.

The monorail cabin on sale was in use at Walt Disney World from 1970 to 1999.

Only 6 days of bidding left… Good luck

Just a couple of post before I talked about the Marvel Comics park in Dubai where I also mentioned the F1 Theme Park. Only one day later I came across a very interesting news item on the Grandprix website related to Formula 1. Now let me start this of with the following question; Did you think that Disney and F1 would ever see a joint venture going on? I sure didn’t see this one coming but I am intrigued, to say the least, about the following rumor.

While a F1 park at Dubai is a done deal, the owner of the franchise Union Properties might be already looking at an expansion for a second gate. One possibility would be at Disneyland Resort Paris.

It seems that the primary location under study at the moment is Disneyland Paris. (Bernie talks of a Paris Grand Prix)

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Is it a fight about the low cost housing or does Disney really wants to defend their area and the possibility of a third gate?

…Other council members expressed frustration that Disney hasn’t been more forthcoming with its expansion plans. “If that’s what this is all about, then why don’t they let the world know about it?” Councilwoman Lucille Kring said. Councilman Bob Hernandez said it was unreasonable for Disney to influence land-use decisions based on sketchy details of a possible third theme park. “I don’t think it’s reasonable for us to ask a developer to hold off developing a property for 25 years because Disney is talking about doing something.” (LA Times)

But now it looks as if Disney might have an announcement to make in the near future that might change the Anaheim park into the full holiday resort they want it to be.

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When visiting Walt Disney World in Orlando I can’t leave without a visit to another park; Islands Of Adventure! This park is appealing to me for several reasons; the awesome roller coasters, great rides, but also because of the Marvel area. I am a big comic book geek, I love them, I read them and I collect them. A good 10.000 books, if not more, are in my collection. I love X-men the most, but have many others in my collection.

Today I saw the news that Marvel has signed a contract with the people at Dubai so they can ad the well know super heroes in a park over there.

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It is not often you think Disney are selling themselves short, but a recent tour of their Orlando parks leaves us thinking they ought to do more to promote some of their live entertainment.

Entering the Animal Kingdom last week, we picked up the usual park map and entertainment Times Guide, and headed out into the park.

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Now, I am not a big annalist at all, but I did get a little puzzled when I saw the article “Union blames Disney for millions in economic loss” where they say that Walt Disney World low wages is the source of the negative economic impact.

The Service Trades Council, six unions representing 29,000 of the 56,800 Disney employees in a wide variety of jobs, blasted Disney in a Monday afternoon press conference based on the results of an economic report that outlines a $23.4 million loss in wages, goods and services in Central Florida because of that policy change.

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Finally! “Pirates of the Caribbean; At World End” the trailer is online and it looks… AWESOME. This is what all fans have been waiting for so long, a first glimpse at the last part of the, hopefully first, trilogy.

“Why should I sail with any of you? 4 of you have tried to kill me in the past… one of you succeeded.” (Captain Jack Sparrow)

Watch the trailer on Disney.com or on Yahoo Movies (including High Definition and a special clip “Competing Captains”) or visit Movieweb for the trailer and the clip.

Walt Disney has brought us some famous quotes like;

You’re dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway. (BrainyQuote)

But with Disney being such a big name in an around the world other people start using quotes with Disney in it. Some of them a little odd like the one from a man who ate a $1000 pizza that is being sold in New York.

“Eating it was like Disney World, the balls of caviar just pop in your mouth. It was an exciting taste.” (China Daily)

While I promised myself I’ll visit every Disney Park in the world, some parts of the park I might never get to see. One of these parts I’ll have to miss out on is Club 33 in Anaheim’s Disneyland. So I can well understand the excitement from the reporter who got invited to tour the club, even if it s in the morning, no food would be served to her and no family members could join…

We had to enter before opening hours, I couldn’t dine at the club — it’s for members only — and my family was not invited. Amnesia quickly set in. Family, what family?

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Enchanted, the Disney movie about an animated Princess ending up in the real world, will be released later this year by Disney. It is still early days to see a lot about the movie as Disney is still working on its promotional material for the movie.

One of the proposed designs is a poster where the main characters share their space with some famous Disney animation characters. On the poster you can see Dumbo, Pumbaa and Timon, Pinocchio, Bambi, Lady, Sebastian and Jiminy Cricket

For more proposed promotional artwork follow the link.

The Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End premier is coming closer and you can start to notice it on the web as more and more info is being released. Although still a lot of mystery (at least until we get to see the trailer), but once and a while you get some pictures.

Ain’t it Cool has added a couple on their site including another couple of Chow Yun Fat picture… I know, I know… another Chow Yun Fat blog entry, but I can’t help myself. (I guess some of you are thinking I should rename this blog to the Chow Yun Fat blog)

Oh, and he has a cool line in the movie;

“The only reason I would want Jack Sparrow returned from the realm of the dead is so I can send him back myself!”

Want to see some other pictures? Click on the link to see the Pearl.

From the smallest decoration to the big attractions, Imagineers are the masters taking care of the Disney Theme parks. OC register has two articles about the Imagineers and how they works. The articles might not give away any secrets or big news, but they are fun to read if you want to find out what an imagineer does…

At Imagineering’s base in Glendale, whether the process begins with a spark of inspiration from an individual or with a corporate decision, it soon goes to what Imagineering calls a “storyboarding” session – a type of brainstorming session that originated with movie-makers’ technique of planning scenes by making a series of sketches.

And what happens if they are not attached to a project…

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