Mousekingdom Blog

When it was announced last week that Warner would now choose sides and back up the Blu-ray system it became clear who would be the winner between the Blu-ray system from Sony and the HD-DVD technology from Toshiba. While they will try to fight back and still have the Paramount (update; looks like paramount will leave HD DVD system too), Dreamworks and Microsoft covering them I am pretty sure Blu-ray is the big winner. This could well be decision time for many people who waited to see what system to get and finally get a new Blu-Ray player in the house. I could be wrong of course, and Toshiba might have something of a back up plan or a way to convince people that their system is the one to get, but with the line of support for Blu-ray this might be a very hard task…

This week Disney, who sided with the Blu-ray system, has announced a big list of new titles. The most important one might be the start of their Platinum edition. This one will kick of with Disney’s masterpiece “Sleeping Beauty”,

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Wasn’t it Walt Disney himself who said he wanted a place where both children and adults could have fun together? I thought so, but now it seems that we are going to get some places “adult only”. Although I never been a big fan of all the clubs at Doswntown Disney, I do understand that children should not be allowed into them. (although why not add a kiddies club), but I don’t understand why other on property experiences should be 10+ only. 

This is what is happening at Victoria & Albert’s in the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World where from now on Children are banned. Yes! I know, it’s the fanciest restaurant with a dinner experience that can last 3 to 4 hours and I guess not to many children would be to pleased to sit there for that time, but it is a Disney location and it somehow goes against the idea of Walt himself, doesn’t it? On the other hand it proofs that Disney isn’t just for the kids (I have to hear that over and over again when I talk about Disney “isn’t it for kids…”), the restaurant (among others) is proof of it but so are the many golf courses, the spa’s and night time entertainment… 

What are your thoughts on this!

We are already 7 days into the new year before I could make it into the blog for some updates and stories.  I guess I’ll have to set my new years resolutions to come here and put a lot of updates online. So, with that out of the way let’s get on and see what kind of Disney year this will be (for me). 

One big chance in my plans is my Walt Disney World visit this year… well the plan has changed into “it’s not going to happen”. That right, my planned WDW visit for 2008 fell into the water. The good news is the reason though, as we bought a new house and we will move into next month. Some more good news, lots of extra room for all my Disney stuff I collected over the years (it is way to much stuff). Now I’ll finally have a big office room where I can (partially) display some of my precious items or where I can store some of my other items. For those interested, my biggest collection consist out of Cast Member magazines (including some Imagineering stuff). Although I love the whole Disney magic, I love the behind the scene stuff so much it came to be my biggest collection (I guess I worked to long in the theater, the reason why I might love to know so much about the stuff that happens behind the scene)

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A very sad story to report this weekend, especially for fans of the It’s A Small World ride, but anyone who has enjoyed Disney’s classic films of the 1940s and 50s.

Joyce Carlson, one of the Walt Disney Co’s best-known artists and an official Disney Legend (the company’s Hall of Fame), has died at her home in Orlando at the age of 84.

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It is always great to spend new years in Disneyland, seeing all the things you love (rides, shows etc) with that great little “plus” atmosphere which only new years can give! It is even better to spend it with friends; as much as most of my “Disney friends” (to give it a “group name” but the over all friendshp feeling created by Disney goes well behond such a steroptyped group name) could not make it I found myself sharing a room with a dear old good friend (who stands this crazy fastpass adict Italian since a long time ) and really enjoying this strange trip! Why am I calling it strange you might ask? Well I have to admit lately I have been using DLRP to the extreme as “home base” for my French business trips etc.  My company has set up a commercial company in France (which I have been assigned to as head from Italy) and the company is actually based in Lagny sur marne! Where is Lagny you might ask? Well next time you are riding Indiana jones look to your right on the first hill and 2 km straight you will see my office!

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Happy New Year to all our visitors, fellow Disney fans and of course to Mickey and the whole gang and to all Cast Members too.

Another year has passed and we can get ready for the next one. I hope that all of your Disney wishes my come true, including many park visits for all of you. Yes, its pretty much what I wish for myself too, lots of visits to a Disney park. I hope too see all of you back here after your celebrations are over so we can continue to share Disney magic for many more years to come…

Happy New Year