| MiceChat Round Up | |
| Walt Disney is quoted as saying “I have been up against tough competition all my life. I wouldn’t know how to get along without it.” He certinly would have noticed the competition this week as Universal surprise soft opened their new Wizarding World in Hollywood. If you missed out, MiceChat has you covered.Walt Disney world is prepping for the upcoming popular Flower and Garden fest at Epcot and Disney California Adventure relaunches Food and Wine festival on April 1st. Butterbeer, construction updates, podcasts, news and more await you in today’s Round Up!And don’t miss out on all the conversation, join the fun on the MiceChat Forums HERE.
Quick Jump: All Things Disney | Videos & Podcasts | Special Offers | Column Roundup |
| This Weeks Top News |
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hollywood Begins Tech Rehearsals
FINALLY! The Butterbeer is flowing on the west coast! Yes, Universal Studios surprised park guests and more than a few persistent Potter fans to a peek inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hollywood. With an official opening date of April 7th, 2016, the Universal creative team previewed the land close to two months ahead of schedule to the delight of those lucky enough to be at the park.
| MiceDeals |
Surrender to an age of bravery and honor and witness epic battles of steel and steed at Medieval Times dinner show. From ringside seats, discover a feast of the eyes and appetite with more action, more fun & more excitement than ever before. As you thrill to a rousing live jousting tournament and sword to sword combat plus marvel at awe-inspiring horsemanship and falconry, you’ll feast on a four-course banquet fit for royalty. Hang on to your helmet. The show is about to begin.
MiceChat is happy to bring you a fantastic discount, which will work at three of the Medieval Times castles! Buena Park, Orlando and Chicago!
This exclusive MiceDeal is available for a limited time, don’t miss out !
Anabella Hotel Contest and $89/night Offer
And with all that fancy wine to try, you likely won’t want to drive home, or shouldn’t drive home 😉 Which makes the latest Anabella Hotel contest the perfect prize at the perfect time. Enter below for your chance to win a 2 night stay at the beautiful Anabella Hotel in a concierge room. PLUS: free parking, 2 breakfasts, and a $100 Disney gift card. Sign me up!
But you don’t need to wait to win to get a great deal. On February 21-25 and February 28 – March 3rd Micechat readers can get the VERY special rate of $89.00 with a complimentary breakfast for two on any of those dates! Call 800.863.4888 and ask for the MiceChat $89 offer. And MiceChat readers get great rates on other dates too.
| All Things Disneyland |
ABC will be airing a 60th Anniversary special for Disneyland, this Sunday evening, Feb 21st and we have some videos giving us details on what we will see! The Food and Wine Festival will finally be returning to DCA, in April. The resort is also getting ready for Easter, and DCA will soon be getting rid of the Mad T Party. ~ Aladdin
Disneyland 60 ABC Special Dolby Theatre Taping Report
We have a couple of special videos giving us information about the Disneyland 60th Anniversary TV special that will air this coming Sunday evening, February 21st on ABC. Take a look at some of the special work that was done on Main Street, late one night, in preparation for this special, and then listen to a mother and daughter talk about the special Disneyland 60th show they attended in the Dolby Theater in Hollywood!
Last Serving of Mad T Party Set for March 30 at Disney California Adventure Park
Last Fall, Disneyland got rid of the bands at Tomorrowland Terrace, and next Month DCA’s Mad T Party will be going away. Has Disneyland given up on this kind of entertainment? Do they have some other night time entertainment planned for both parks?
Food and Wine Festival
The Food and Wine Festival is finally returning to DCA this April. Stay tuned for more details.
Egg-Stravaganza 2016
This year the Easter Egg Hunt will be expand to include not only Disneyland and DCA, but also Downtown Disney! We even get a look at some of this year’s egg designs. Now, we just need to know if any other Easter decorations will be added to the parks!
| Rumors & Armchair Imagineering |
Peter Pan’s Flight queue extension
Sashimi has an idea to extend the Peter Pan’s Flight queue into the current Castle Heraldry Shoppe.
What to Do with DisneyQuest
With the closing of DisneyQuest, ronf proposes an idea of what should be done with the attractions.
| All Things Walt Disney World |
A Mini Photopass Review by Barbaraann
What a wonderful trip Photopass report we have from Barbaraann.
Journey into Imagination 2nd floor to reopen Spring 2016
chris2fett has found an official DVC bulletin that Journey to Imagination will open as a DVC lounge this Spring.
| Podcasts and Videos |
Disney Avenue Podcast: It’s the most wonderful time of year here on the Disney Avenue Podcast and boy, what an amazing show we have in store for you. As many of you know, Christmas and Disney go hand in hand. I’ve yet to experience a Christmas display or “Spectacle” anywhere on earth that can top Disney. The beautiful lights and decorations along Main Street, the beauty of Cinderella Castle decked out in millions of lights and, of course, that little light show over in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the truly breathtaking Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights.
Mousetalgia! This shows discusses “Don DeFore’s Silver Banjo Barbecue,” which was located in Disneyland from 1957 through 1961. We learn about Ron’s father Don, who, as an innovative live television broadcaster, caught Walt Disney’s attention and became close to Walt, eventually opening his own barbecue restaurant in Frontierland at Disneyland. Ron talks about the restaurant as well as other stories about growing up with a backstage key to Walt’s Magic Kingdom, including riding down Main Street in Autopia cars, becoming a Flying Saucer test dummy, sneaking around the Jungle Cruise, and riding in a parade with Walt Disney. Then, we welcome Disney Legend Alice Davis back to Mousetalgia to remember Nelbert Chouinard, founder of the Chouinard Art Institute, which was a critical institution to the Disney Studio during animation’s earliest days. Also – restoring a Tiki Bird, constructing a Deagostini Disneyland model, “Disney”-scented candles, and more.
The Sweep Spot: In this episode we welcome a former Disneyland custodial cast member who started in 1965 and left in 1969. He was there during some incredible changes, and not all good changes either. During the building of New Orleans Sq., New Tomorrowland of 1967, Disneyland’s 10th anniversary, and more. Plus we have the latest in current events.
Universal Studios Hollywood Wizarding World of Harry Potter slideshow
Have you been waiting for a new MiceChat Podcast? Click your heals together three times and repeat “I want my MiceChat Podcast, I want my MiceChat Podcast, I want my MiceChat Podcast . . . ” and we just might have something new for you next week.
| Column Round-Up |
Peyton Manning celebrates Super Bowl win at Disneyland as off-season projects continue
Disneyland celebrated the Denver Bronco‘s Super Bowl victory last week with a special parade featuring Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. Meanwhile, work continues to get underway on Disneyland’s massive new Star Wars-themed expansion, as trees are cleared along the Rivers of America and backstage facilities begin relocation and demolition. Elsewhere in the Resort, refurbishments continue fromCritter Country to the Disneyland Hotel.
Plus, don’t miss these great MiceChat featured columns:
- Fab News: Butterbeer, Wine, Tea and…Smurfberries
- Animation Matters at the 43rd Annie Awards
- Disneyland Paris Forest of Enchantment
- Theme Park Studio: Live Parks and Walt Disney World
- Yesterland: Epcot Wish List – Part 2, Future World Pavilions
- Fab News: Disney CreativiTREE
- Dateline Disney World – Blooms Prepped for Epcot Flower and Garden Fest
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| The RoundUp Crew Thanks you! | |
| The MiceEars Crew puts a lot of time and effort into making the Disney News Round-Up happen. Our thanks to:Editor CakvalaSC and the MiceEars Crew: Aladdin, TrekkieDad, DLandFansAZ, RJH76 and Dustysage.If you have questions for Anthony our Editor or our MiceEars Disney News crew they can be e-mailed at: [email protected] If you love Disney Photos, follow him on Twitter @CakvalaSC | Flickr: flickr.com/photos/cakvalasc/ | Instagram: instagram.com/cakvala |