Can you believe that it’s almost Christmas? Not enough time to gather together all my favorite things to share. But I’ve got a running start. Quite a few little nuggets of goodness below . . . and even a prize you can win! Have a very Star Wars Jedi Challenges Merry Christmas everyone!
Hail to the Newest Animatronic |
The wizards at Walt Disney Imagineering have done it again, with a figure of President Donald Trump that is so true to life I expect it to step off stage and on to the links of the nearby golf course for a round. From his perfectly coiffed hair to his noticeably large hands, there is truly an amazing resemblance there. This is the most perfect match I have ever seen. Bravo, WDI!
He speaks:
“These are the achievements of the American spirit—the spirit of a people who fought and died to bring the blessings of liberty to all our people. Above all, to be an American is to be an optimist, to believe that we can always do better and that the best days of our great nation are still ahead of us. It’s a privilege to serve as the president of the United States, to stand here among so many great leaders of our past, and to work on behalf of the American people.”
What do you think of this new addition? Let me know in the COMMENTS section below! And keep your personal politics out of it PRETTY PLEASE.
The Top Mouse and a Sly Old Fox |
Read the official announcement, with quite a lot of explanation and detail, HERE
Part of the deal was that Iger would stay until 2021 to ensure that things run smoothly, which makes me very happy for the Disney Company. However, it also puts the kibosh on his rumored 2020 presidential bid, which, if so, stopping that from happening would make Mr. Murdoch very happy and me less so.
Disney gets X-Men and Fantastic Four, Anastasia (everybody thought she was a Disney Princess anyway), Firefly (reboot please!), National Geographic, Avatar, Deadpool and The Simpsons. This will utilize BAMTECH (remember the big story I did a few months back?) in a huge way.
Let me know what you think in the comments below.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi . |
Can we talk about it yet? I loved it. You know why. Did it ruin your childhood? Did it make your century? Does it have cooties because it’s covered in giiiirrrrrrls? If Luke Skywalker were a type of Wrigley’s chewing gum, what kind would he be? Is that a bacta wrap around Kylo’s waist or is he a lost Professor Gumby from Monty Python? How Buddhist/Lord of the Rings/Up Yours was that? You know, THAT. Did he say “General HUGS?” Porgs y/n?
You asked, they listened: new LEGOLAND app |
The app’s new design is based on user interviews taken this past year, and is custom-designed entirely around LEGOLAND California visitors’ needs. Here’s what you’ll find:
- Dynamic home screen with quick access to what is happening in the park each day to help visitors experience LEGOLAND California’s events, activities, exclusive offers and more
- Improved app navigation and user experience to help app users quickly find the information they seek
- Straightforward Google-like map with actionable points of interest for improved orientation and walking directions
- Access to ride wait times listed by category to help visitors experience more rides during their visits
- Expanded information for restaurants, show schedules and special events to support visitors as they plan their trips and day visits
- Favorite features such as the car finder, ride wait times, way finding directions and app-exclusive offers will still be available to onsite visitors
LEGOLAND California is already one of my favorite family parks because it is so very, very user-friendly. With this app update, it becomes even more so. Whether you love to examine every little detail in Miniland like I do, or if you’re a Wild Mouse fan like Walt Disney was and love theirs (which is probably the best I’ve ever ridden), or you love classics like the Dragon and can’t get enough of Granny’s Apple Fries, or Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars, LEGOLAND California’s new app just made it even easier. It’s even more fun if you make two days of it with the aquarium and the water park, and maybe a trip to the nearby beach. The LEGOLAND Hotel is AMAZING! And on the way home, stop by my old workplace, Tip Top, across the street, get some great food and say hi to Big John for me.
Porgs in Your Pocket! |
Love them, hate them, barbecue them on a stick, they’re here and they’re free on Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Porg Invasion for your mobile device. Team up with BB-8 to try to grab and hold invading porgs or Chewbacca, who must repair porg-inflicted damage, as they try to defend the Millennium Falcon against a porg invasion.
A Gift from Garner |
If you read MiceChat regularly, you’ve no doubt seen the articles posted here by future Disney Legend Garner Holt. His company makes props and amazing animatronics for theme parks around the world. Need a 45 foot tall dragon? A living car perhaps? Bring Ursula the Sea Witch to life? That’s no sweat for Garner and his team of wizards. But they are a philanthropic bunch as well. Recently, they hosted a charity event for the Dick Van Dyke foundation. One of the gifts given to guests were specially made pins which celebrate Garner Holt Productions AND Dick Van Dyke! So, here’s the exciting part. When they were cleaning up one of their offices the other day, they found a complete set of pins from the event and they are giving them away to one lucky reader!!! All you have to do is Click below. There are multiple chances to win!
And now that the Fab and not-so-fab news is out of the way, let’s get to the Fabulous Things!
Shelly’s Fabulous Things 2017, Part 2
Star Wars Jedi Challenges |
I want this so much. But I’d keep dying because I’d want to hug Kylo Ren instead of killing him. He just needs one so bad. But also he needs so many beatings-up with lightsabers. I mean, he’s gotten a good one or so, depending upon how many films you may or may have not seen, but Kylo Ren can’t have too many beatings-up with blue or green lightsabers, though he is the Supreme Leader … of my heart. Heh.
But look at this stuff – isn’t it neat? I want to be ten again! To James Woods with Zumba; I want to fight with lightsabers to keep in shape! I want to start an underground Dejarik-playing ring! I want to play Intragalactic RISK with this puppy! I want to knock over all the kids at Lenovo ‘R’ Us and tell them to go outside and play in the dirt while I grab one of these. I have yet to actually get my filthy mitts on one, though, so it may be that it is all hype. I don’t know. Have any of you gotten a chance to play it, yet?
A Donation to Toys for Tots |
Donate to Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots will always have a place in my heart. Walt Disney was one of the founders and as former NMCI-ISF, it’s near and dear to me as my favorite Christmas charity. My favorite non-Christmas charity is Heifer.org, thanks for asking.
So when Disney/Babble/same thing sent me this video, I was all smiles all over. This nice lady won 3,000 dollars and used it to donate toys to Toys for Tots. There’s video of her on the first day with the Marines she had come help her. She’s the one in the red Thirty-One shirt. The Disney Store was so impressed after hearing her tell them her story, they let her know that they were going to match her donation. She returned, apparently the same day from the video, it doesn’t say, but she’s wearing the same Thirty-One Sales shirt so I assume so. When she got there, she got the news that not ONLY was The Disney Store matching her donation, but also the mall AND LEGO as well…so her generosity bloomed four-fold, and I’m sure it’s going to come back to her 31 times as well! What a bright person, and kudos to her family too for having her back on this wonderful idea!
Avengers ATL100 T-Shirt |
An Exclusive Avengers T-Shirt for a Great Cause
This week, Avengers stars Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Scarlett Johanssen (Black Widow) joined organizer Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/Hulk) in his fundraiser for The Solutions Project. The sales of the shirts will help fund projects to create clean, sustainable energy for the future; in this way, everyone who buys a shirt is committing an act of real, measurable heroism.
The t-shirts say “I STILL BELIEVE IN HEROES” and feature all of the Avengers from the first ensemble film: Black Widow, Hulk, Hawkeye, Thor, Iron Man and Captain America. They are available for a limited time only from REPRESENT and 100% of the proceeds will support The Solutions Project.
Tolu says: “In Atlanta (where the Avengers are filming), The Solutions Project is already hard at work, running…” #ATL100 @100isNow , “…a multi-week campaign to spotlight local heroes who are helping Atlanta achieve its commitment to clean energy. Earlier this year, Atlanta became the 27th city to commit to achieving 100% renewable energy by 2035.” Go ATL!
Art from Main Street Art Corner |
Artist and Main Street Art Corner proprietor Michael Levy is no stranger to this list, as a notable “for-fans-by-fan” artist working with Disney, but still too small sales-wise to be featured at WonderGround or in the Disney Gallery. Yet… For this piece, he went to WDI and went through some of their files to make sure it was as accurate as it could be, including doing research on the dirigible. The clouds in the background are similar to the ones from the opening animated sequence before going into the carousel part of the attraction, and the music notes going into the machine are the melody from “One Little Spark” by the Sherman Brothers. It’s priced from a breezy $99 for a luscious, ready-to-frame print to $805 for gallery-wrapped canvas giclee, with hand-brushed, one-of-a-kind paint embellishments and hand-signed by the artist, and several stops in between.
Check it out here.
Since early 2015 he’s been working with Disney to create limited-edition artwork and personalized custom pieces inspired by Disney art. Named after the Tomorrowland Art Corner location that sold animation cels at Disneyland until the mid-1960’s, his goal is to create unique, one-of-a-kind keepsakes and limited-edition artwork for the true Disney fan. They offer a wide variety of limited edition and custom prints for Disney fans of all ages at
mainstreetartcorner.com, Plus, they’ve got unique Disney history stories on our blog.
The Last Jedi at the El Cap |
Star Wars: The Last Jedi at Disney’s El Capitan Theatre
Read Dusty Sage’s fantabulous review HERE
What do I always say about Disney film releases? See them at least once at the home theatre if at all possible. I went to Temecula to see it with my dad, because as I told you before, seeing a Star War at opening together has been our thing since 1977 and it wasn’t possible to get him all the way to Hollywood. But I do plan on getting to the El Cap to see it in Dolby Vision Laser Projection & Dolby Atmos Sound, and possibly doing that stupendous Hard Rock package, because look, it’s a really, really good deal, even though it doesn’t include reserved seating or concessions like the VIP deal does (drink and collectors’ popcorn bucket).
Read Kevin Yee’s great analysis of Star Wars: The Last Jedi and The Hero’s Journey HERE
With the film, you get to see costumes and stuff from the movie of the sort that’s off-limits to most of us until the blockade is lifted off of our passes after New Year’s, plus a laser light show, plus an exclusive Disney Studio Store and ice cream parlor/chocolate store/chocolate store/chocolate store (YES I said it three times because CHOCOLATE STORE) attached and on select days during the run (CHECK BEFORE YOU PURCHASE) there is a Stormtrooper photo op! You can book special BB8 light side or BB-9E dark side seats, and there’s a show with low-stimuli on Tuesdays, where the lights are dimmed, not fully darkened and the sound level is reduced.
Buy tickets by calling 1-800-DISNEY6 or CLICK HERE
WALK THE LAST JEDI RED CARPET WITH DUSTY SAGE! You heard me right and you can hear him by pressing the play button below. He even rubs shoulders with the devastatingly handsome Chris Hardwick, the Nerdist himself! Swoon.
Or to download it from iTunes, you can find it here: MiceChat Podcast on iTunes
New Year’s Eve at Knott’s with MICECHAT |
What are you doing for New Year’s Eve this year? MiceChat is offering another amazing event to ring in the new year. This time around it features Mrs. Knott’s Famous Fried Chicken and a full buffet of delectables. There will also be a Knott’s history presentation from Knott’s Preserved co-author Eric Lynxwiler, VIP seating for the ice show and fireworks at midnight! Plus rides, shows and attractions! It’s a great way to spend an evening, especially since most of the Disneyland passes are blocked out that day.
Gumball Rally Team Entry |
Journey down the rabbit hold with us as the world-Famous MiceChat Gumball Rally celebrates the 50th anniversary of Alice in Wonderland. This Rally will be curious and curiouser. We can’t wait to share this amazing adventure with you.
What’s a Rally? It’s a competition to see which team can ride the most attractions at Disneyland in a single day. It’s every bit as fun as it sounds.
Information on how the Rally is played, photos of previous events, and ticket information HERE.
Don’t be late for this very important date SIGN UP NOW HERE.
Eat Like Walt/Remembering Helen Hayes |
During the annual Attendees will get a special hotel rate at the Wyndham February 13th through February 24th starting at $139 per night/per room (plus room tax and resort fees). You may reserve your room on-line at HERE or call (877) 999-3223 or (714) 867-5555 and mention that you’re attending the Disneyana Fan Club’s Show and Sale.
I’m on Patreon, if you feel so inclined:
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