Mousekingdom Blog

After a two week holiday we returned home with a nice tan and some beautiful new memories. While the first 10 days where a non Disney holiday (how is that even possible) at the Cote d’Azur, we ended up in Disneyland Resort Paris (of course). Although there where a lot of magical moments, one of them has totally stolen my heart.

The new Enchanted fireworks is awesome! Finally, after the (in my opinion) poor Wishes display, we got the fireworks this park deserves. The music is fitting, the fireworks are spectacular (and plentiful), the use of the projections on the castle look great (it didn’t work for me on the Wishes show) and the magic was definitely there. I applaud the creators of this amazing experience they are sharing with the guests, fans and Disney fanatics. Job well done!

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Most people who know me are used to my Disney rants, and those people that don’t know me get acquainted with it soon enough. Even when I go to a job interview, before the interview is over, somehow Disney “talk” is in it. One thing that comes up a lot in my Disney conversation is my love for the parks and how I want to visit all of them. Sometimes you’ll get a “really” or “sounds interesting” or even a “nice” (and my son things it would be “awesome”), but a lot of the time people look at me in disbelieve. But there are those people who not only love the idea, but have already fulfilled this dream.

Visiting every Disney theme park in the world may seem like an odd life goal for a child-free 30-something, but a wise person once said “for those who understand, no explanation is necessary; for those who don’t, none will do.” (The Salt Lake Tribute)

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It has been a while again, but there are plenty more pictures I want to show you and let’s be honest, if it’s about Walt Disney World we all love to see pictures. I know I do; I look for them on the web everywhere and then start dreaming away.

The picture I have chosen this time is a fun one as it has been taken from outside the park. It isn’t the first time I shown a picture from outside the park, just look at the Hallowishes picture (on Clickmagique’s PicParade), and browsing true my collection it might not be the last.

Here you can see Space Mountain while taking the boat ride from the Wilderness Lodge to the Magic Kingdom. Although the weather wasn’t totally on my side, and clouds spoiled the perfect pictures, I still think it’s nice enough to share here and to bring some ideas to those loving to take photos. Step outside the parks and discover all the other angles available to take your picture.

What happens when an Emmy winning writer/director/producer/major league baseball announcer goes to Disneyland and writes about it? You get funny anecdotes and a little different view of a Disneyland trip.

Gas prices are so high that for the Autopia, the cars are now just being pushed by Disney employees.

In a nod to health conscious California, Disneyland eateries now serve healthy food along with the usual fast food junk. My wife ordered a salad. It was the third one sold this year!

The irony of the Indiana Jones ride is that Harrison Ford probably can’t ride it. It’s way too violent and rugged for a 66 year-old man. (The World As Seen By a TV Comedy Writer)

You can read the full story here and if you want to know more about Ken Levine (who worked on MASH, Cheers, Frasier, Simpsons, Dharma & Greg) check out his profile here.

If asked what my preferred park is I have difficulties choosing between Animal Kingdom (even pre Expedition Everest) as this park is a Imagineering marvel and Epcot. I don’t want to choose but for reason Epcot has the edge. I love Illuminations (those reading the blog regularly will know this), but also enjoy some of the attractions and can wander hours and hours around the World Showcase.

The World Showcase has a lot to offer, while some might say there are not enough rides, there is so much stuff to see and do (and eat). On this trip however I noticed that the one place I hang out the most is Japan. It could be the Drums of the Matsuriza, the amazing candy artis Miyuki, the small but beautiful gardens or the whole Japan pavilion that keeps me there every time. Whatever it is, I can’t seem to get enough of that place and am already looking forwards to my next visit (even if that will not be before 2009)

… 2009? That a long time away. I guess browsing some of my Japan Pavilion pictures will have to keep my happy,… for now.

Another great Disneyland Resort Paris with lots of magic has come to its end (it always to early to go home, whatever Disney park you are visiting at the moment). My good friend Andrea invited my to accompany him and I could not say no to that. 2 Disney nuts at Disney equals a lot of fun.

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Typhoon Lagoon,… I love that place. How often I dream about that place,… I lost count. And that’s why I wonder sometimes how people say they will not go to a Disney Water park, they don’t want to loose time there, they don’t see the pleasure in visiting the place, they will not add water park option to their tickets… You’re missing out Disney fans, as this is an amazing place to be…

Find yourself a nice spot (avoid sitting right at the wave pool, I know it’s easy and near everything but there are so many more and nicer places), go for a dive in the waves, enjoy the sun, have fun on the slides, etc…

But most importantly enjoy that lazy, lazy, lazy river Castaway Creek…

Still not convinced? Check out the picture I added here and click this link to see another collection of Typhoon Lagoon pictures. Now, next time you go to Walt Disney World, give it a shot,… You’ll love it…

13! Is it your lucky number or does it spook you out? I love the number, but then I also love spooky things.

So what better moment to show a scary Disney picture. Obviously that’ not an easy task, because lets be honest, is there really anything scary in the Disney Parks…

Loving anything Halloween it’s no surprise that I have a small collection of “scary” Disney pictures. Especially a Mickey’s Not so Scary Halloween Party visit brings the opportunity to fill the camera. Here is one from my last trip, but be warned as I am sure I will not be able to withstand any opportunity to show another “scary” Disney picture in the future…

It has been a little while since I last added one of these pictures although I have tons of pictures left. But with Disney’s  waiving their right to purchase the new Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas contract I wanted, I thought it’s a good idea to share my happy moment by showing another picture from my last trip. To show the magic of the Disney Vacation Club resorts I wanted to share one of the Old Key West Pictures I took. (Until I can go to Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas for the first time, bringing pictures from there). It wasn’t easy to choose one pictures as I took a whole collection from Old Key West. Doesn’t it look peaceful? Well, that’s because it is.

Old Key West is a great resort, very quiet and peaceful with lots of open space. The room was very specious and I can’t wait to go back. I love the resort.

Would like to see some more Old Key West Pictures visit the following Picture Album on ClickMagique PicParade.

What better way to end a specific Shareholders meeting trip with some free time in the parks! Lucky for me I did have some free time (I admit, it was a well planned extra 1 and ½ day for the parks I added to my trip). So what’s up with the title you say… The trip is all about ghosts and Ghouls as you will see.

Phantom Manor is my favorite ride so it is no surprise that this was the first ride I enjoyed after the meeting. I admit, I was at the studios first and was anxious to ride the Tower of Terror, but a 45 minute waiting line… not my cup of thee and as the fast passes where all gone I risked waiting for a ride on the next day. So over to the Disneyland park to ride Phantom Manor.

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After a good night rest it was time for the General Shareholders Meeting. Now, there where a lot of numbers they talked about. Especially those that gone up; more visitors, more rooms booked, more spending per person, more cash flow, and so on. Only during the Questions and Answer session did we get to hear some other things and issue that some shareholders had. Will shareholders ever get dividends, what will happen when Euro Disney S.C.A. Has to start paying back its Hughes depths in 2011 but Karl Holz always had an answer ready, even if this answer was always the same, that they made a big positive result, that they are on the right track and that this is the track Disney management is going to follow for the future.

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On February 21st Euro Disney S.C.A. Held its annual shareholders meeting. Just like the last couple of years I went to Disneyland Resort Paris with big interest and hope to hear beautiful news of plans for the future. But before I’ll get into dept on what has been said at the meeting, let me first take you to the previous day, the day I arrived and checked in at the New York hotel.

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The new Expedition Everest attraction at Animal Kingdom was the ride I was looking forwards too the most. The new Disney experience everybody was talking about and most people raved on about! Because of that my expectations where very high, but once I experienced it I was left with a little disappointment.

No, it isn’t a bad ride, it is a great ride, a good coaster, but I expected something else I guess. This might be the danger of looking at all the onride videos and forum topics from people who loved it.

One of the disappointments was the Yeti. Sure it looked impressive, but it didn’t work once on any of my visits during my stay.

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Aahh… the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. I can’t help it but this is one of my favorite rides in the Magic Kingdom. It is also the ride I did the most on my last trip. Sure, it can’t compete against The Haunted Mansion, but I am sure it would pretty much be in my Magic Kingdom Attraction top 3.

Why? I don’t know? I guess it is relaxing, enjoyable and just fun to do. I love the view you get when riding it, I love the displays you get to see and for some reason I love it when it goes through the Space Mountain building. I took a whole collection of pictures from the attraction and while riding the attraction this being my favorite one. I know, it’s not a piece of art, but it just reminds me  how I enjoy the ride and the great views you get…

When visiting a Disney park you can see many guests running from one attraction to another, trying to do as many rides before they have to leave the park and while doing that they forget about the other great stuff that makes the magic. They forget to look around and enjoy the many details and hidden treasures.

I know, I said this before and I am sure I’ll say it again in the future, but that’s the difference between a Disney park and any other park out there; the details that add to the magic…

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What would a trip be without out beloved Disney Characters. Now, as an adult I hesitate going to pose with them, even if I am tempted, but I can’t be stopped taking pictures of them. It isn’t easy to get a shot whit out a kid(s) hanging around them (or even some adults who do go up to them), but I try my best to get some pictures from characters in their natural habitat. I know, that was a cheesy joke)

Pictures from characters during a show are easy, no “outsiders” around. But it’s the close ups from the characters walking around in the theme parks I like the most. This is my favorite one from this trip; Pluto, a shot taken between his regular “with kids” photo shoots.

Most of us Disney fanatics love the fact that the wand is gone from Epcot’s Spaceship Earth, (see my previous photo book entry) and many of us would also love to see that big sorcerers hat in MGM – Hollywood – Studios disappear. While you can still get some good pictures out of it I would love to see the theater behind it from far away. Taking a picture from the theater isn’t that easy. Let’s hope one day the hat will go and we will get to see the view as it supposed to be.

One Cast Member, working inside the hat selling pins, did say that the rumor was that the hat was going to go. (What are the odds I overheard that one when I was there). Sure, the rumor has been there before, and rumors are what they are… nothing set! They could be wrong, to could get come true, I guess we will have to wait and say. Until that time enjoy my hat picture for now.

While I had to miss the updated Spaceship Earth ride, although not even being a favorite of mine, I was very happy to see the big ball standing without the wand. It does look s much nicer without it and I guess this was the reason why I took so many pictures of this Icon. It looks so much better and you could take pictures from every angle or location without the wand.

Now, I was happy about it but some people did have another opinion. I overheard (no, I was not eavesdropping) a guest talking to a Cast Member how the big ball looked so much better with the wand still attached to it. She did admit this is how she saw it the very first time and somehow got used to that view. Still, I think she will be among the minority…

I hope you enjoy my favorite picture. It was hard to choose as I made so many. Sure, it’s not a professional picture, but still it is my favorite…

My love for Halloween is no big secret. I love both the creepy and evil side as well as the fun part of it. (although in my eyes it is all about fun). So it is to nobodies surprise that all my visits so far have been during Halloween. Mickey’s not so Scary Halloween Party is an absolute must do for me and although I love the evil Halloween stuff, when it comes to Halloween night itself I’ll choose the Magic Kingdom.

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Walt Disney World has some fine dining experiences. Being on the dining plan we visited a couple of the best places. One such places, although for lunch, was the The Hollywood Brown Derby at the MGM Studios. While most trip reports might include some information about the food, I would rather talk about the amazing Cast Member and their service and dedication.

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