Hi MiceChatters and Fabanistas! There are some changes afoot at Fab News that will make news easier to get to for you and easier to get TO you from me. The regular Fab News column will still appear Tuesdays, and starting in October will be fully written by yours truly. Larger news items will be released as I get them, with commentary when needed, so you don’t have to wait. If you look at MiceChat’s front page, you’ll see that it has changed a bit. All of your favorite columns now appear on the left under the “Features” column and all of my news items (along with those from the Round Up) will appear on the right under “News.”  There are some additional sections below that to make it easier for you to find Disneyland, Disney World, and Other Parks articles.

Between now and the second week in October, the news from me might be a little spotty because of health issues. I’ll be going in for surgery October 4 and will be recovering for about six weeks after that as well. Now, as they say, on with the news . . .

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Upcoming MiceChat Events

October 1st – MiceChat Knott’s Scary Farm Halloween Haunt Event

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LAST CHANCE: Join us in the fog for a night of spooky treats and VIP experiences. For one low price, you’ll get an all you can eat BOO-ffet dinner, early entry into the event, tours, meet and greets with Knott’s creatives, front of line for the mazes, VIP seating for shows, Skeleton Key access and a night of fun with your mice pals at the haunt which started it all. This event is almost sold out, get your tickets NOW, SIGN UP NOW – HERE

October 10th – Mickey’s Halloween Party @ Disneyland

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Join the MiceChatters for a not so scary Halloween event on Monday October 10th. Please buy your own tickets directly from Disney for the October 10th Halloween Party. Then sign up for MiceChat’s event list HERE to be notified about event meeting times and locations. It promises to be a night filled with candy, friendship, headless horsemen, scary parades and fireworks!  The event shows as sold out on Disney’s ticket page, but you may still be able to get tickets by calling in. And if you already have tickets, there’s no excuse at all for you not to join us!  😉

November 3rd and 4th – New York Meet-ups and events

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The MiceChatters invade NYC in November before their New York to Puerto Rico cruise. We’ll be seeing Aladdin and Cirque Du Soleil Paramour as well as taking a city tour. If you are interested in any or all of these activities, please contact [email protected] for more information.

DVCResaleMarket.com 844-DVC-PROS

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Sinister Pointe

Completely brand new for 2016 and in a new space, Sinister Pointe is fully immersive, interactive maze offering a “choose your own adventure” style walkthrough. The large-scale single maze breaks off at various points leading guests through one of four different experiences, where they will be branded with that dimension’s mark of the damned. Visitors will have to complete various tasks in order to escape these creatures, proceed to their next destination, and complete the maze.

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Sinister Pointe has opened a portal between our world and the next. Upon multiple experimentations we have discovered four separate dimensions within this dark and vast oblivion. Enter this world cautiously for the BRANDER lurks beyond the walls. If you are caught in his grasp, you WILL BE MARKED. Once marked, there is no escape! Your path through this dark and decrepit world has been chosen for you. Stray from your chosen path and you will be banished from the world we know for eternity.

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Sinister Pointe will be open on the following dates in October and November. Hours are 7:00 pm to 12:00 am on Fridays and Saturdays, and 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm on all other days of the week. October: 6, 7,  8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and November: 4, 5, 11, 12. Tickets are limited and sold in one-hour time slots.

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Ticket Prices: Tickets range from $18 – $44 based on ticket option and date. Attendees can purchase a general ticket to go through the maze once, or an all night pass which will allow multiple walkthroughs to experience each of the four realms. There are also Scream (front of the line) passes available.at http://wl.flavorus.com/SinisterPointe

SquidFace

1851 West Orangethorpe Ave, Fullerton CA 92833
Free general parking in the front and the back of the building.

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SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE

In U.S. theaters April 7, 2017

In this fully animated, all-new take on the Smurfs, a mysterious map sets Smurfette and her best friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on an exciting and thrilling race through the Forbidden Forest filled with magical creatures to find a mysterious lost village before the evil wizard Gargamel does.  Embarking on a rollercoaster journey full of action and danger, the Smurfs are on a course that leads to the discovery of the biggest secret in Smurf history!

  • Directed by: Kelly Asbury
  • Written by: Stacey Harman and Pamela Ribon
  • Based on the Characters and Works of Peyo
  • Produced by:  Jordan Kerner
  • Co-Producer: Mary Ellen Bauder Andrews

Cast:

  • Demi Lovato (Smurfette)
  • Rainn Wilson (Gargamel)
  • Joe Manganiello (Hefty)
  • Jack McBrayer (Clumsy)
  • Danny Pudi (Brainy)
  • with Mandy Patinkin (Papa Smurf)

Smurfs Domestic Poster

Interview with Director Kelly Asbury on the Brand New Smurfs: The Lost Village Teaser Poster and Trailer

How different is SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE from the previous two Smurfs features?

KA: Sony Pictures Animation’s previous two SMURFS movies were live action films in which real humans interacted with more realistically designed and animated Smurfs, and the stories centered as much around the human characters’ issues. SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE has nothing to do with those other films. It is a radically different take on the Smurfs and their imaginary world, fully computer animated, and much closer to the tone and style that creator Peyo initially envisioned.

What was the inspiration for this film?

KA: Many things inspired the type of movie we wanted to make. Everyone involved agreed that the story should be a high-adventure journey, so classic movies like RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK and GOONIES came to mind. The richness in color was influenced by the great French Impressionists painters. The Forbidden Forest where the Smurfs venture was envisioned as equal parts Oz, Pandora and Wonderland, filled with dangerous and magical creatures like Smurf-eating Flowers or Boxing and Kissing Plants, to name a few.

What can you tell us about the voice cast?

KA: Demi Lovato has a certain toughness mixed in with a confident brand of femininity, which is perfect for Smurfette. Mandy Patinkin is one of my favorite actors, who can play both comedy and drama, each with honesty and sincerity. Who better then to play Papa Smurf? Rainn Wilson has a unique way of portraying wacky, comical characters, who are self-important, yet deeply insecure and flawed – that’s Gargamel in a nutshell. Joe Manganiello is the manly man, with a big heart, so he’s perfect for Hefty and happens to be a major Smurfs fan. Danny Pudi has a way with nerdiness that encompasses Brainy Smurf’s persona. Jack McBrayer can channel the fumbling nervousness needed to play Clumsy Smurf. All together, they form a wonderful ensemble, each of whom is hugely fun to work with. And there’s other incredible talent in the film which I can’t tell you about just yet.

The teaser poster & tomorrow’s teaser trailer hint at a mysterious forest, what can you tell us about what’s new in this film?

KA: Without giving too much away, all I’ll say is that this new movie takes the Smurfs – and the audience – on a journey into a Forbidden Forest, a fantastical world like no other, filled with crazy plants, insects and animals. Most of all, there are surprises at every turn. The colors, shapes and overall environment are transportive and exciting, just the way a fun adventure movie should be. And the clever humorous tone should delight audiences of all ag

screened a work-in-progress version of SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE featuring the first lit shots and lots of animation to all employees, who gave the movie thunderous applause. It makes all the hard work worth it! As the audience left the theater, they were greeted by the official new life-sized Smurfs walkabout, making their very first appearance. This was a surprise even to director Kelly Asbury, who did not know they’d show up, and loved the way they turned out. These are prototypes getting tweaked before mass production, but you can get a little peek at Brainy’s sidekick in the movie, Snappy, on his wrist.
Sony Animation screened a work-in-progress version of SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE featuring the first lit shots and lots of animation to all employees, who gave the movie thunderous applause. As the audience left the theater, they were greeted by the official new life-sized Smurfs walkabouts, making their very first appearance. This was a surprise even to director Kelly Asbury, who did not know they’d show up, and loved the way they turned out. These are prototypes getting tweaked before mass production, but you can get a little peek at Brainy’s sidekick in the movie, Snappy, on his wrist.

Here’s the new teaser trailer:

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The Lion Guard – Unleash The Power on DVD

The Disney Junior show The Lion Guard, about Simba and Nala’s son Kion and his pals and their adventures patrolling the savanna is now available on DVD in episodic form – six of the first season’s fantastic shows can now join the premiere movie in your collection.

“Fulli’s New Family”:The Lion Guard worries that Fuli spends too much time on her own, so they start including her in their own family activities, which leads to repeated comic disaster.

Not everyone is a fan of the stylized character design vs. the film and "Timon and Pumba", but I think that it's subtle enough that it doesn't take away from the story or characters and adds a nice pop to the animation, which is gorgeous.
Not everyone is a fan of the stylized character design vs. the film and “Timon and Pumba”, but I think that it’s subtle enough that it doesn’t take away from the story or characters and adds a nice pop to the animation, which is gorgeous.

 

“Bunga, the Wise”: After floodwaters threaten the Pride Lands and Bunga comes up with a quick fix, Kion and the other members of the Lion Guard learn that the quick and easy solution to a problem is not always the best.

I think an important lesson we all can learn is: never put half of a cassaba melon on your head and think that you're as wise as Rafiki. Not gonna happen. Believe me, I've tried.
I think an important lesson we all can learn is: never put half of a cassaba melon on your head and think that you’re as wise as Rafiki. Not gonna happen. Believe me, I’ve tried.

 

“Eye of the Beholder”: When Ono temporarily loses vision in one of his eyes, he questions his value to the Lion Guard as the “keenest of sight.”

If you only watch one episode...
If you only watch one episode…
...make it this one.
…make it this one.

 

“Follow that Hippo”: Beshte rescues a young elephant that idolizes him after he wanders into danger.

This one has so many baby animals with gigantic eyes.
This one has so many baby animals with gigantic eyes.

“The Search for Utami” : Fuli learns a lesson about teamwork when she takes on a mission alone and overexerts herself, leaving herself defenseless against attacking vultures. Meanwhile, Bunga tells the rest of the Guard how he came to live with Timon and Pumbaa.

The most adorable of the six, in my opinion.
But this one is the most adorable of the six, in my opinion.

 

“Never Judge a Hyena by its Spots” : When Kion gets separated from the rest of the Lion Guard, he finds himself lost in the Outlands where he meets Jasiri, a friendly female hyena, who rescues him and helps face off against Janja and the other hyenas. *Maia Mitchell (“The Fosters”) guest stars as Jasiri.

Last but not least, an educational but not preachy tale about getting to know someone before judging them.
Last but not least, an educational but not preachy tale about getting to know someone before judging them.

There’s also a sweet necklace inside the pack, that can be changed out amongst the different Guard members and the logo, with a faux-woodgrain back. The DVD is available now!

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Charles Phoenix: This is Americana! Long Beach CA Oct 15

Be prepared your for your national pride to swell when the Ambassador of Americana, Charles Phoenix, supercharges the classic living room slide show into a laugh-out-loud celebration of spectacular mid-century car culture, space age style, landmark attractions, festive fashions, outrageous architecture, theme parks, and much, much more.

With his keen expertise, unbridled enthusiasm, and eagle eye for oddball detail, Charles presents a crazy kaleidoscope of his “found” vintage Kodachrome slides, hi-octane road trip discoveries, eye-popping test kitchen creations and “best of guide” to local attractions, past and present. Don’t miss this fun-filled, action-packed extravaganza of great American pop culture all in glorious COLOR!!!

For more information, go to CharlesPhoenix.com

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Thank You!

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, Fab News: Events Tricky, Sinister, Unleashed…and Blue

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Shelly Valladolid
Shelly Valladolid, aka Fab, has been writing about Disney and theme parks for about two decades. She has written for various fan and pop culture sites, Disney Magazine and OCRegister.com and participated in several books, including Passporter's Disneyland and Southern California and Disney World Dreams. She was co-founder and president of the Orlando, Florida chapter of the NFFC (now Disneyana Fan Club). She taught a class on theme park history at a Southern California University. She is creator and co-owner of Jim Hill Media, one of the creators of MousePlanet and was a consultant on MSNBC, The Motley Fool and others about Disney and various media matters. She was a Heel wrestling manager on TV and a voice artist on the radio in Honolulu, HI, where she grew up. She has a blog and a podcast with her daughter, Mission:Breakout Obsessive Alice Hill. She and her husband, MiceChat columnist Noe Valladolid, live in Southern California with Alice.