Mousekingdom Blog

If you live near Stamford or can get there with ease you might want to have a look at the following possibility to be an extra in a Disney Movie.

Staff members from the Disney film “College Road Trip,” which is filming in Ridgefield and elsewhere in Connecticut, are looking for high-school students, college-age students (or those in their 20s who can pass for college age), and adults. The scenes for high school students will be shot on Friday and Aug. 10 in Stamford.(News Times Live)

Now don’t start posting here to ask to be in it. We can only give the information, we cannot help you getting into the movie or into the movie business overall. If you want to be part of this movie follow this link where you will find the information on what you’ll have to do and the mail address to the correct people who will be able to help.

The movie stars Raven-Symoné, Margo Harshman and Martin Lawrence

Good luck

Picture copyrights RavenLive.com

Joel McNeely - who is Joel McNeely? Well, have you seen one of the many direct-to-dvd/video releases of the The Walt Disney Studios released in the recent years? Then chances are high you enjoyed some of the scores he composed for releases such as Cinderella III: A Twist in Time (2007), The Fox and the Hound 2 (2006), Lilo and Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch (2005), Mulan II (2004), The Jungle Book 2 (2003) or Return to Neverland (2002). But his work can also be heared in sevearl big screen releases of Walt Disney Pictures such as Pooh’s Heffalump Movie (2005),  Holes (2004), America’s Heart and Soul (2004) and other releases such as The Avengers (1998) or Air Force One (1997).

Unfortunately most of his work for Disney features, in particular for the direct-to-DVD/video sequels was never officially released on CD - which is a shame, since his work for Return to Neverland (the sequel to Disney’s Peter Pan), Mulan II and The Fox and Hound 2 which has been released (at least partially) on Walt Disney Records clearly shows a great ability to come up with impressive scores fitting the very different needs of these features but also entertaining enough to be listened to on its own without the movie. But there is a special treat to be found online…

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I was keen to check out the new Crush’s Coaster ride at the Walt Disney Studios recently as I had heard a lot of positive feedback about this imaginative (and much-needed) addition to the park’s attractions.

But I wasn’t at all prepared for the huge scrum that developed as soon as the Studio 1 doors opened and virtually everyone headed straight for the new ride.

Andy de Maertelaere had warned me that I needed to head here first if I didn’t want to wait in long lines later in the day. It is nothing new for the latest ride to become ‘the’ big draw at any park.

Yet no previous park experience compared with that first mad dash into the new-look Toon Studios area, and the crush (no pun intended) that built up around the entrance was truly appalling.

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Did you already check out the trailer for The Game Plan, the new Disney movie Staring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson? I’ll admit it, I always thought The Rock was entertaining when he was still performing in the ring and I think he is still entertaining on the big screen.

When this tough sport athlete gets a visit from a little girl announcing she is his daughter he will turn into a “softy” dad. Not that I am expecting to see a masterpiece, just a pure fun and pleasurable movie. Movie opens this fall…

Enjoy the High Definition Trailer

Picture copyrights Disney

Luckily, after some refurbishment took place, my favorite attraction will re-open in time for my October visit to Walt Disney World: The Haunted Mansion.

The Haunted Mansion will get some new additions adding to the (not so) scary magic. One of the add-ons might be a staircase scene that is shown in this picture shared on the great Distant Creations blog. Although no indication where the picture comes from, it does look legitimate.

Right now, just past the library scene, you ascend a staircase, passing nothing but blackness to the right of your Doom Buggy. It looks like this completely empty part of the Mansion is going to now be filled with a maze of MC Escher-like staircases facing every directions. (Distant Creations)

Picture Copyrights Disney

Not for real of course, just to go and tape a movie based on a true story of a singing contest that was held in the Arizona Jail Tent City.

Brian Robbins has been attracted to helm the movie named Jailhouse Rock that will bring the “Inmate Idle Singing Con-Test” to the big screen.

Alice Cooper was a special guest judge on the finals. I wonder if Disney would ask him to return as a judge in the movie.

(Via Movieweb)

Disney’s contract with the Canaveral Port expires next summer and the Orlando Sentinel is looking at the possibilities of Disney moving its ship to other locations.

Canaveral is no longer the only port that makes sense for their growing cruise line. (Orlando Sentinel)

But with the special deals Disney has a move seems unlikely to me; The terminal designed for Disney, the exclusive access to it leaving other Cruise lines out of sight and the discussion on the ports changes and improvements to be able to welcome the two new Disney ships will all play in favor for an extended contract renewal.

Looking at the news now we can be pretty sure the two new ships will be sailing from Canaveral Port, while the other two ships will get two new locations somewhere in the near future.

Picture Copyrights Disney

Today WizKids announces that they signed a deal with Disney to create a “Pirates of the Caribbean” PocketModel Game. I love the games of Wizkids and have been playing their Marvel HeroClix, DC Heroclix and HorrorClix games since the beginning. (For those knowing the game; I own both the Galactus and the Phoenix figures.)

The also created the game Pirates; a game where players can battle it out using construct 3-D pirate ships from pieces punched out of a styrene card. (WizKids) This however is a game I haven’t played yet, although it did look intriguing.

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Never did I think this would be a story that could possible be created by the Disney minds. “Snow White, reincarnated in the future, will have to battle the evil queen who is looking for the seven pieces of her mirror so she can gain power again. Jet Li will be the leader of 7 Shoalin warriors who will be helping Snow White (played by Star Wars star Natalie Portman by the way) to defeat the evil queen…”

Intrigued? Disturbed? Reading this in disbelieve? Well, here is the information from the source:

Sources say the movie has a budget of 70 million US dollars and might be made by martial arts choreographer and film director Yuen Woo-ping. (XINHUA online)

I don’t think so… But I could be wrong…. But I don’t thing so… Could be fun… But I really don’t think so…

Picture Copyrights IMDB.Com

Apparently Disney is looking into making a “Pirates of the Caribbean” TV show where they would explore the many adventures of a young Jack Sparrow. The information came from a source that shared the news with the United Kingdom Daily Star. (There is no Online version of this news)

I would take this news with a grain of salt for now, but I couldn’t let this news go without telling you Pirates fans about it. You never know, there might be some truth in it.

Even so, I don’t see Johnny Depp being part of this; neither as the character of Jack Sparrow or the voice over of the character, as this spin of might even become an animated version.

Disney Californian Adventure has had a lot of heat from the fans, the media and from the pro’s. Disney has been updating the park and has been looking at options to improve it but now it seems that DCA is ready for a big change… a very big change, a One Billion dollars change! (give or take a couple of dollars).

The change is part of a bigger plan to enhance Disney Theme parks where a total of 1,5 billion will also improve other gates, will give Disneyland Hotel a face-lift and will bring Disney Vacation Club to Anaheim.

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Not so long ago Pixar revealed the next movies that they have planned. Now a new rumor has appeared giving us the name of the possible 2011 project: Cars II.

While I think Cars was a nice movie, I surely enjoyed it, I didn’t really wanted to see a second part. First of all I am all for new project, but secondly (if a follow up is needed) an Incredibles movie would have been so much nicer. I love the Incredibles characters a lot more then the Cars once.

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Do you celebrate a 13th when it comes on a Friday? Or are you more the kind that avoids anything related to 13 (or black cats, or walking under a ladder, etc).

At Disney they aren’t that superstition as they pick this day to celebrate the 13th anniversary for the Twilightzone Tower of Terror. The actual opening day was on 22 July 1994 but what better day then the 13th to celebrate.

If you’re a fan of the Tower check out some great pictures on Orlando Sentinel; you’ll get a good view of what those riding the attraction get to see from the top. (That is if they aren’t too scared to open their eyes).

Pictures are taken from a backstage area 13 floors up, one of them from right behind one of the big “O’s” (reporters are so lucky, we fan can only dream of such an invite)

Well, happy early 13th birthday to the Tower of Terror! I’ll be celebrating a little later when I’ll be there in October.

Mickey’s Waterworks is the new parade for Hong Kong Disneyland. As it might be a little far to go too and visit the park for the moment (at least for me it is) I’ll try to catch some of the magic on the web.

On YouTube 2 videos have appeared from the new parade; looks like fun… and a little wet too.

You can find the videos here; (Version 1 and Version 2) (via Screamscape)

Would you like to visit Paris? Valpak is giving you the chance! All you have to do is fill out the form and you can become the winner of the grand “Ratatouille” prize.

The grand-prize package includes airfare, hotel accommodations, a French dinner at the Eiffel Tower restaurant, a cruise on the Seine River and museum passes. (Promo Magazine)

Sounds nice! Sure, but one thing is missing! I wonder why, when it’s a Disney related sweep, no tickets or stay at Disneyland Resort Paris can be added. I’m sure the winner will not complain on the Paris trip, but do try to hop over to the resort too… when you’ve won. Good luck.

Picture copyrights Valpak & Disney

The Xbox 360 is one of those game consoles I have a weakness for. I love the graphics, the games and the whole box itself. One great feature is the networking capabilities that can give you access to online game demo downloads, videos and movies. The only problem; I (still) don’t own one…

Maybe the new feature will bring me to the shop; the possibility to rent Disney Movies via the Xbox. Xbox owners will be able to rent Disney movies in high definition (720p) format with a 5.1 surround soundtrack. That is an improvement from the Itunes videos shown in the 640×480 format. On the other hand, you will not be able to keep the movies, once the rental times expires they are gone…

Renting a movie can be done using points. 1600 points will set you back $20 but for that you’ll be able to rent a movie for 480 points each. (with some movies for a little less).

The rental possibilities are limited to the US for the time being, but should be open for Canada and Europe by the end of the year.

(Via PC World)

Picture copyrights Xbox microsoft

On some pages around the web rumors are spreading that Jim Carrey will be involved in a new version of the well know Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol”. Will the first news only mentioned Robert Zemeckis doing another 3-D digital animation a la “Polar Express”, more news is being spread.

The movie will be produced via ImageMovers Digital, the company of Zemeckis. The movie will be live action pared with the 3-D animation effects and will be distributed by the Disney Company, who are no strangers to the story where even Mickey Mouse played one of the leading roles in a true Disney animation version. In this production Jim Carrey would not only play Scrooge, but would also shine as all three of the ghosts visiting the bitter man. That’s 4 Jim’s for the price of one cinema ticket. Bob Hoskins could also be attached to the project.

Jim Carey, Disney, Zemeckis in one product would guaranty success, but remember that nothing has been made official yet.

The Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End did a great job at the box office but there is a movie out there trying to do it better and is looking at breaking the record. Pirates III did about $114 million in its opening weekend, but with a count on 3 ½ days and a $100 million counts the battle is on; Transformers looks like it will get into a fight with the pirates to do better, but will they succeed?

While I did love the Pirates III movie and gave it a great review, I never thought I would be doing the same for Transformers. I thought we would get another big budget movie where the effects are everything and the story and acting will be secondary, I was well surprised when I left the cinema. Sure, both pirates and Transformers is filled with the big budget special effect used in so many movies that try to make the big bucks with the cinema goers, but while Pirates proofed character development and story can be part of such a movie, I never thought I would see this in the Transformers movie.

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It’s that time of year again (almost): The San Diego Comic Con (From July 26 to 29).

I have had the opportunity to visit this awesome convention in the past and have been dreaming of a return ever since. Unfortunately it will not be this year (but there is always a chance for another year)

For those (Disney fans) going to visit the event; here are some highlights you really should not miss:

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Many a thousand young and old near and far would love to have their own magic wand - but there is one magic wand that has been the lightning rod for criticism for years: the magic wand towering over EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth, held high by a disembodied hand of Mickey as sorcerer’s apprentice. But Epcot Vice President Jim MacPhee on Thursday finally announced officially that the wand will be taken down during the 5 month long closure of the Spaceship Earth attraction starting on Monday, during which the ride will see an extensive rehab and upgrade paid for by the attraction’s new sponsor Siemens. (more…)