Mickey News Columns

Mickey News Attends "Toy Story Mania" Press Event

Last week it was Disney Cast members who got a chance to sample the new "Toy Story Mania" at the Hollywood Studios. This past weekend, it was Pass holders and Disney Vacation Club members who tried to get a high score on those midway games. Today, Disney offered the opportunity for the media to step up and give it their best shot! With all the fanfare Disney is famous for, members of the press, broadcast and print were invited to ride and learn about the newest attraction.

Disney's "Toy Story Mania" First Ride Review

The alarm woke me up at 7am, and in a short time, I got dressed and was out the door headed for Disney's Hollywood Studios. Why so early? Today was the annual pass holder's first chance to ride the brand-new attraction, Toy Story Mania. Housed in the building on Mickey Ave that used to be the home of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Play it" this new addition to Disney's arsenal of attractions is just about ready for the guests. Last week the cast members got a sneak peek and this weekend, annual pass holders and DVC members get their chance to experience it.

Shameless Plugs: Walt NEVER would have...

Inspired by the recent brouhaha over a 40+ year old attraction in Fantasyland, I am taking on a topic that ires many Disneyland fanswho use the phrase, "Walt would NEVER have done that..." as their line of defense. Call it mythbusters if you like, or just a little stirring of the pot. This articleis meant to inform, amuse, and lightly poke fun at those who believe they have an inside track to the mind of a genius who passed on some 40 years ago.

The Sounds Of Disneyland A book Review

Shaun Finnie returns with the first of a series of book reviews. The subject this time is an ignored gem which is unavailable as a standalone volume.

Disney's Animal Kingdom 10th Anniversity "A Wild Decade" Event

On April 22nd, 1998 Earth Day, Disney opened its new Animal Kingdom park, the company's most ambitious and expensive project to date. The park took 10 years to plan and was headed up by Joe Rohde the parks head designer and executive designer and senior vice president of Walt Disney Imagineering. Joe and his team worked through countless plans and concepts until the final version came to be the park today. Today the Animal Kingdom celebrates its 10th "Wild" year as the World's premier Theme park and animal refuge.

Dining Around The World..."Mickey's Backyard BBQ"

Next to being in the parks, there is nothing my wife and I enjoy I enjoy more than dining at Walt Disney World. With its enormous selection of food and diversity of themed restaurants, one does not have to travel far for a special night or day out. However, even though Walt Disney World is the premiere vacation spot in the world and most people just want to kick back and relax in comfy clothes, a certain amount of decorum must be maintained in most of the eateries. But if you want to really feel like you're at "Home" and just want to whoop it up, clap and dance and eat with your fingers than "Mickey's Backyard BBQ" is just what the doctor ordered.

Main Street's New Attraction...Crystal Arts Store "Glassblowing Demonstration"

I cannot tell you how much time I have spent at the Crystal Arts Store here on Main St. watching in fascination as the "Glassblowers" sitting in front of their torches create before your eyes, Disney characters, glasses, vases and crystal items from just rods of glass. Many others seem to think so too as sometimes as many as 20 guests gather around to see what else these "Artisans" will produce. As if by magic (Perfect word here at Disney) they make glass Mickey's, Minnie's, Pluto's and more; in fact anything can be made into a beautiful keepsake here at the Crystal Arts Store.

Disneyland Dream Suite

Although the "Year of a Million Dreams" promotion was initially met with lukewarm reviews and a bit of confusion, lately with the addition of an overnight stay in the Disneyland Dream Suite it has definitely picked up some positive momentum.

Disney Tid-Bits...Update On Germany's Train Display

A few weeks ago, I reported that the train display at the Germany Pavilion was removed and most of the tracks were gone. After speaking to several cast members and one of the managers, I was informed that the trains were to be removed permanently and a different attraction would be in its stead.

Disney's Hollywood Studios "Block Party Bash" Review...

The "Block Party Bash" was originally introduced in May of 2005 to coincide with Disneyland's 50th Birthday, the "Happiest Homecoming on Earth" This Hybrid parade and stage show traveled along Disneyland's California Adventures Performance Corridor. This was unlike most of Disney's parades in that the guests are invited to participate in some of the dancing and the music used is upbeat dance tunes, such as "Shout, the Macarena, YMCA, and Stayin' Alive. The show closed in Disneyland in January of 2008 and replaced the "Stars and Motorcars Parade" here at the Hollywood Studios in Florida.

Disney's ESPN Weekend at the Hollywood Studios

Disney's fifth ESPN affair was this weekend and as usual it was a sports fans nirvana. ESPN is the ABC owned sports information network where anything and everything about sports can be gleaned. The format is very similar to the "Super soap" weekends here at the Studios in November. There are live telecasts from the Sorcerer's Hat Stage, Motorcades with your favorite sports figures, Question and Answer sessions with the Athletes, live chats with many of your favorite sportscaster personalities and stars. Among the many popular formats was the "Stump the Schwab" All-Star Game where you can test your sports knowledge with the acknowledged King of sports trivia, Howie Schwab. In addition behind the "Rock N Rollercoaster" there was the ESPN sports Zone. Here in this interactive hands on "Sports Zone", your whole family can try its hand at experiencing Soccer, Golf, Baseball, shoot some baskets and more.

Moonliner-Rocket to the Moon Attraction

1955-1967 Sponsored by TWA-Howard Hughes, The Moonliner was the tallest structure at Disneyland when it was built (80' high!). Nearby, the "Rocket to the Moon" show allowed 100 guests to enter either the Luna or the Diana (changed to Arcturus and Polaris in 1959) for a 10 minute trip to the Moon and back.

Dining Around The World...Flame Tree Barbecue

Animal Kingdom opened in 1998 and even though its Disney's largest park; the one thing it lacked was an abundance of restaurants as in the other three parks. The only table service eatery was the Landry owned Rainforest Cafe, but this was outside the main gate, not "In the Park" All the other places to dine were counter-service and kiosks scattered about. With the opening of the new "Yak and Yeti" in Asia, the table service part was solved.

Disney Tid-Bit... Germany's New "Attraction"

While on our way for dinner at Germany's Biergarten, my wife and I stopped by to see the train display and check for any new hidden Mickey's. What we saw was just empty spaces where the little town was and most of the track was gone.

Disney's Haunted Mansion...Our Favorite Attraction

Since I spend half my life at the theme parks, the most-asked question I receive from friends and family is "What is your favorite attraction?" Without hesitation, I tell them the Haunted Mansion. Why? Because not only have I loved ghost stories and movies since I can remember, but this attraction is the quintessential embodiment of the true Disney experience. It is also one of the most popular rides in all of the Disney parks.