This Mousefest was a very special one for me this year, for the Mickey News.com joined the Mousefest community. We had our table at the Mega Mouse Meet, made many new friends, gave out some nice prizes at the Meet, and the best part was how many people came up and said they always click on the Mickey News and enjoy the site. I even had a few people tell me they read my articles on the News all the time. It felt special to among sites such as Allearsnet.com, Steve Barrett's Hiddenmickeysguide.com, Lou Mongello's Disneyworldtrivia.com and many more too numerous to mention. Your felt you are among family.

Well let's get started with this years review. This year like last, there were so many meets, it was hard to choose because Mousefest is becoming larger every year, many meets overlap, but that the nature of the beast. On Thursday the 6, we started out in the Magic Kingdom with the Mousefest Chairman's Kick-off meet at the Tomorrowland Noodle station from 2pm to 3pm. Here, chairman Dave Marx started things off and anyone not receiving a pocket guide got one there. Right from there is was off to Adventureland's Aloha Isle to enjoy Mike Scopa's fourth annual Dole whip meet. This is a great way to start with a cool treat and to mingle with old friends and new. After the Meet at 4pm it was off to Pirates of the Caribbean for Steve Barrett's Hidden Mickey Hunt which I got a chance to Co-host with Steve. There were some nice old Hidden Mickey's and a couple of great new ones.

We took a couple of hours break to eat and rest before the Wishes fireworks meet hosted by Deb Wills of Allearsnet and Dave Card of Tagrel.com. A great turnout for a spectacular fireworks show. Next it is over to It's a Small World meet hosted by Tagrel.com. Then it was back to the room for a good nights rest.

Friday it was at the Animal Kingdom to start. Our schedule was as follows… 9:15 Deb Wills 7th Kilimanjaro Safari meet; at 10am it was over to Expedition Everest for Nathan Rose's Everest Adventure. From there it was Steve's Hidden Mickey Hunt at the Pocahontas Show in camp Minnie-Mickey at 11am. Then it was over to Disney MGM Studios to end the day. As you can see, there is a lot of walking at Mousefest! At the Studios, we started out with Matt Hochberg of MGM Studios.org for the Star Tours Meet. At 2:30pm, it was the Stop, Drop and Roll meet, hosted by Tagrel.com beginning at Rock n'Rollercoaster. Than at 3pm, it was Lou Mongello's WDW Radio show at the Backlot Express. This was a great way to place the faces of your favorite Disney Podcasters. Than at 4pm, it was off to the Muppets take Mousefest meet hosted by Fred Block of Magicmeets. By this time, my wife's feet needed a rest and we stopped with Steve Barrett for coffee to rest up for the Hidden Mickey's Hunt at Sunset Boulevard at 5pm.

After the hunt, we hiked over to the Streets of America to take in the Osborn Family lights, something everyone should see, it is beautiful especially when the lights dance to the music. From here, we headed back to the room for a good nights sleep.

Saturday, the big day of the Mega Mouse Meet. We had set up the Mickey News table early, and had Breakfast at Fresh's' in the Dolphin. After everyone had set up, the group pictures were taken and then refreshments were served. It was in the Dolphin resort this year and the room was twice the size of last year. There were new participants along with the staples and soon the crowds came. It was quite a different experience sitting on the other side of the table this year! I am glad my wife Donna helped because it got busy quickly. For almost two hours, the lines snaked by the tables. When three o'clock came, around we raffled off the prizes at the Mickey News table and everyone just had a fabulous time. My table was right next to Steve Barrett's, and Steve was sharing his table with Disney Legend Charlie Ridgeway, a Press Agent for over 40 years! It was quite an honor and he had some interesting stories to tell.

Right after the Mega Meet, it was off to EPCOT and Mexico for the last Hidden Mickey Hunt around World Showcase. Steve had a large following for all the meets and this was no different. We had dinner at China and stopped over at the FountianView for coffee. We stayed for a bit longer, but three days of Mousefest was beginning to catch up, so we decided to head back and hit the hay.

Sunday it was back at the Magic Kingdom. We started out very early to attend Deb Wills Tonga Toast meet at the Kona Café in the Polynesian Resort. This is one of our favorite meets, but also a sad one in the fact that Mousefest is coming to an end. At 10am, it's off to the Tomorrowland Noodle Station for Mark Goldhaber/Mouseplanets Mini-Mouse Adventure. Than at 11am we stopped by for Lou Mongello's Disney Scene Investigation starting in Liberty Square. From here, it was back to the Noodle Station for Lou's TriviaFest, a fun game where you can test you knowledge of Disney Trivia with the Master, Lou. Another favorite with us.

After this meet, we decided to take it a little slow and just enjoy the park on our own. After riding a few attractions, it was a nice long coffee break and later, dinner. We attended the last meet (For us that is!) at 8pm in the Wilderness Lodge Villas where Nathan Rose and Kendra Trahan held the History of Disney and Trains. This is a nice meet to end Mousefest, everyone after the lecture has refreshments and mingled, and to talk about next year!

There is so much more going on at Mousefest than can be told in just one article. It is truly a gathering of Disney Fans and lovers from around the globe. It began on Sunday the 2nd with Mousefest Sea on the Disney Wonder, ending on Wednesday the 5th. Mousefest land began on the sixth and lasts until Monday the 10th. It has ballooned from just a few fans to thousands. We have to give our appreciation to Founders Dave and Jennifer Marx and Deb Wills, who are probable at this time now, planning for Mousefest 2008 and beyond. I wonder if people realize just how much time and effort goes into the planning, all done on their own time with little or no remuneration, except for the love of Disney. This time in order to offset costs, a small registration fee was asked for and over 800 attendees responded with their support.

We ourselves cannot wait for Mousefest 2008. It seems so long between meets but well worth it. I am also glad the Mickey News is now part of the Mousefest community; it is an honor to write for the News and even a bigger honor to represent it at the Mega Mouse Meet. If you can take a Disney Vacation, try to be at Mousefest and experience it, if you love Disney, you're gonna love Mousefest!