MiceChat Disney News Round Up: Look into my Eyes!

Universal’s Spaghetti Space Chase, The Optimist goes viral, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye’s deity gets fancy. Those are just a sample of the fun topics covered in this week’s Disney and theme park news Round Up. There’s lots more for you to discover. Universal Studios Hollywood will be opening up the historic backlot area during Halloween Horror Nights, Knott’s Soak City in Palm Springs will be sold by Cedar Fair, and Big Thunder in Disneyland will have a much longer refurbishment than planned. Plus, find out how you can cruise the Caribbean with Disney super legend, Bob Gurr! Read on for all of the latest Disney and theme park news and information.

Universal Studios Singapore – Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chase
Please help us welcome Nicholas Yau to the MiceChat family. He’ll be covering Universal Studios Singapore for us from time to time and may have other treats for us as well.

Indiana Jones Adventure gets new magic as summer comes to an end at Disneyland
The curse of the idol Mara was transformed with new magic at Disneyland‘s Indiana Jones Adventure ride last week.

The Optimist – Tomorrowland Movie Goes Viral
At the D23 Expo August 9-11, in a big flashy Walt Disney Studios live action presentation, Brad Bird and Damon Lindelof came out on stage with a dusty box of old stuff, labeled “1952.

Set sail for adventure on the high seas with Disney Imagineering legend Bob Gurr. MiceChat’s fall cruise on the Disney Fantasy is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Don’t miss the boat. Click HERE for details!

Disney freebies!
Did you know there are lots of fun things you can get from the Disney Parks that are free? Just a few examples below:

Customized Park Maps for Walt Disney World
Just Click here to order FREE customized park maps for your Walt Disney World vacation. Delivery takes approximately three weeks, so make sure you plan ahead.

Disney Character Call and/or Video for Your Child’s Birthday.
All you need to do is sign up for the Disney Junior mailing list and enter your child’s name and birthday. Starting just five weeks before the big day, you’ll receive a reminder email with instructions on how to schedule a personalized greeting for your special boy or girl.

The Big new this week are a couple of changes made to Mara in the Indiana Jones attraction!  With the summer season coming to an end, we have news about the refurbishment schedule for several Major attractions. And be sure to say Hi! to some of your Disney long lost friends at Big Thunder Ranch this week! ~ Aladdin

The New Mara Voice
Indiana Jones reopened after its recent refurbishment, with a couple new surprises. Mara has had a voice change, and looks more alive than ever before. If you haven’t been on the attraction since the change, take a look at this video from Disneyland Master, then tell us what you think of these changes!!

Radiator Springs Racers Screeching Halt
Dustysage lets us know about a major delay in the reopening date for Big Thunder and news of Radator Springs Racers possibly going down for refurbishment in September. Check here for the latest information on these two Big attractions!

Blame it on DOSH? major Space Mountain closure coming
socalfun has heard that Space Mountain will be closed in November, December, and part of January. Take a look here for more information!

A Day At Disneyland In 90 Seconds
The Disney Ninja brings to our attention another time lapse video, taken from all around the Disneyland Resort!

Long Lost Friends Week to Return to Disneyland. Dates to be announced soon!
If you would like to see some seldom seen characters in Disneyland, make plans to visit Disneyland’s Big Thunder Ranch on or before August 25th. Some of the characters have been announced already. Further details are here!

Yes, we’re still recovering from the Expo, but it’s such a wonderful experience to recover from, we’ll let it pass. However, even with the Expo over, there are still threads and news to share, unfortunately not all of it is positive, as a Magical Express bus gets into an accident, causing a death. In addition, rumors a new main entry pass for CMs, as well as some random touring questions. Join in the discussion here! – YoYoFlamingo

September 1st, Main Entrance Pass changes?
A rumor that recently started to spread is a change to Cast Member main entry passes starting September 1st. Is it true or not? And what purpose does it serve? Share your thoughts and findings here.

WDW Trip Questions: Park Decision (AK related) and Garden View Lounge
In October, will construction of Avatarland and the move of the Lion King show be disruptive to touring? (Of course, Avatar construction hasn’t really started yet, so how much of a difference will a month or two make?) In addition, a question about the tea at the Garden View Lounge. Reservations needed? Worth it? Share your ideas here.

Death involving Disney Magical Express transportation
Unfortunately, not all the news is good news this week. Last Friday, an accident occurred involving a Disney Magical Express bus, and a fatality was sadly involved. Find the details here.

If Disney created a ski resort, what would you imagine it to be like?
If Disney were to build a ski resort, beckramenoodle is wondering what would you image it would be like?

Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland model
scorey shares with us someone recreating Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland on the 30th scale.

Tokyo Travels
MactheMan takes us on a four day adventure to Tokyo Disney Resort, here is their journey!

Welcome to this week’s Communicore Weekly, where we talk about D23 Expo, Imagineering Book, and the Jungle Telegraph Company! TRIP REPORT! — Jeff attended the 2013 D23 Expo and he’d love to tell you all about it in his Trip Report! BOOK OF THE WEEK! — George checks out the second Imagineering book, Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making More Magic Real for his Book of the Week! FIVE LEGGED GOAT! — And finally, the Jungle Telegraph Company hides this weeks Five Legged Goat!

Sarah – Indiana Jones and Starbucks for everyone!
What do you think of the new Indiana Jones special effects? I am really into it! Stay tuned to MiceChatter for updates on Long Lost Friends Week 2.0 (happening this week!).

New Eyes of Mara Effect – Indiana Jones
The Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye attraction at Disneyland Park in California and been updated with new effects in the Eyes of Mara chamber at the beginning of the ride.

Wakefield Report, covers the latest in theme park news! find full notes on this podcast at WakefieldReport.com.

Direct Link | iTunes Link

Coffee with Kurtti features Keith and Jeff reflecting on their in-person recording failure, how fun the Pacific Northwest Mouse Meet was, the Saving Mr. Banks trailer, and a little-known Disney employee periodical Jeff worked on called WD Eye.

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Unofficial Universal Orlando Podcast, brings you up to speed on what is happenign at the first ever UUOP meet this month. We then answer a listener email, bring you the latest new from the parks and the next segment of the Dead Man’s Die-Gest. We finish the show of by letting you know all the characters you can meet at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure and where in the parks you can meet them.

Direct Link | iTunes Link

The Season Pass: Brings you an interview with the UK’s Themed Entertainment Genius, John Wardley, who discussed his new autobiography “Creating My Own Nemesis.” Also the pass has a great discussion on Alton Towers, and many other parks as well!

iTunes Link

MiceChat Podcast – Star Wars rules the galaxy, the box-office, and now Disney Park Discussion.  Is the famous sci-fi franchise taking over Disney Hollywood Studios and Tomorrowland in Disneyland?  What about the catch 22 happening in Club 33??  All this plus an exclusive interview with Halloween Horror Nights mastermind John Murdy.  Sceraming from Monstropolis to Evil Dead, this is MiceChat Podcast 10.  Please be sure to share with your friends.

Direct Link | iTunes Link

Unofficial SeaWorld Podcast, Join Eric and guest hosts James and Joseph Taylor as they explore news, rumors, and Summer Nights at the SeaWorld parks in Orlando, San Diego and San Antonio

Direct Link | iTunes Link

V24 Radio wants to hear from YOU! And hey…you could win. More reason to keep reading, right?

V24 Radio’s Android App launched earlier this summer and we want YOU to give it a download. Yes, its free!

Now lets get to the good stuff: Effective NOW til next Sunday (August 25, 2013) request a song through our Android App. When we see that you’ve requested a song, we’ll put your name in a draw to win a Downtown Disney prize pack which includes dining gift cards, a Walt Disney World Imagineering t-shirt and more.

The winner will be announced live on ADR: A Disney Roundtable on Monday, August 26, 2013 at 9pm Eastern.

Download our Android App by clicking here – and start sending in your requests now. Good luck!

Lot’s of announcement from Horror Nights, plus announcements, tests, sales, closures and a trip to see meteors in Twentynine Palms. ~ DLandFansAZ

Joe’s 2013 Perseid Meteor shower trip report in Twentynine Palms
Continuing with the adventures of mre200200 we now go to the Perseid meteor shower in Twentynine Palms and visit Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace.

USH Announces ‘Monsters Remix’ Maze to Return to HHN
Monsters Remix: Ressurection Maze is returning to Halloween Horror Nights at USH.

USH Announces ‘Curse of Chucky’ Scare Zone for HHN
And USH has announced two scare zones, Curse of Chucky…

USH Announces ‘The Purge’ Scare Zone for HHN
…and The Purge coming this year to Halloween Horror Nights.

Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem Progress
Universal Studios Hollywood is transforming the Terminator 2:3D facility into a new ride in 2013 called, ‘Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem.’

Vehicle testing on Santa Cruz Boardwalk’s Undertow
Undertow the new coaster on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is in the process of being tested.

Knott’s Soak City Palm Springs sold by Cedar Fair!
Cedar Fair has now also sold the Soak City in Palm Springs.

Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco Wax Museum Closing
And sadly, an era is gone as the Fisherman’s Warf Wax Museum closes it doors.

One of our most anticipated events of the year is just around the corner. Sign up to be notified as soon as tickets become available. Tickets sell out every year!

We invite you to join us on a very special MiceChat Disney voyage to the Eastern Caribbean with Disney Imagineering Legend Bob Gurr! DETAILS HERE

SeaWorld Parks Update – Tough Summer but a Bright Future
On Tuesday August 13th, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment released their Q2 earnings.  In spite of new attractions, the parks experienced a 9% drop in attendance for the quarter.

Universal Studios Singapore – Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chase
Please help us welcome Nicholas Yau to the MiceChat family. He’ll be covering Universal Studios Singapore for us from time to time and may have other treats for us as well.

Indiana Jones Adventure gets new magic as summer comes to an end at Disneyland
The curse of the idol Mara was transformed with new magic at Disneyland‘s Indiana Jones Adventure ride last week.

The Optimist – Tomorrowland Movie Goes Viral
At the D23 Expo August 9-11, in a big flashy Walt Disney Studios live action presentation, Brad Bird and Damon Lindelof came out on stage with a dusty box of old stuff, labeled “1952.

Dining Around the Walt Disney World in 1984
I frequently bemoan the fact that early Walt Disney World is not very well documented. Unlike her older sister, Disneyland, the cultural phenomenon of Walt Disney World seemed to be born old hat and always.

D23 Expo Imagineering Pavilion, a Deeper Look
For those of you who can never get enough of Disney reports and Andy Castro’s photography, here’s a D23 Expo recap with photos from Andy and commentary from  Alain Littaye.

Spectacular Disneyland Time Lapse
We were recently contacted by Matt Givot, who has created a gorgeous Disneyland time lapse video with his friend Dan Douglas.

Alaska Cruise Galley Tour
We’ve been sailing to Alaska with BC_DisneyGeek on the Celebrity Century cruise ship. Today we take a tour of the galley.

The Disney Review: Once Upon A Time Season 2 Blu Ray and Grey’s Anatomy DVD
I will admit it: when Once Upon A Time first starting airing last year, I became a massive fan. It was one of the shows I was excited to watch every week, and couldn’t wait.

Scarlett Stahl’s Adventures in Russia
We have another epic travel report from Scarlett Stahl. We’re calling it “Adventures in Russia” because Scarlett seems to make every trip into an adventure. Read on to hear about lost luggage.

In The Parks: Indiana Jones Updated at Disneyland
There is a lot of news for us to share this week from the Disneyland resort. First and foremost, there has been a major show scene change at Indiana Jones and the Temple.

Dateline Disney World – Magic Kingdom Refurbishments
Hello, and welcome back to Dateline Disney World! This week, we’re looking at the news and construction around the Magic Kingdom park.

Disney Vacation Club Villa Views
In the context of this article, a villa is not a luxurious country residence high on a hill somewhere; it’s a term that timeshare developers use because it sounds better than small apartment.

Dueling Disney: War of the Watercraft
In this week’s column, Keith and Jeff go head to head over the various watercraft that can be found at the Disney Parks.

The MiceEars Crew can be e-mailed at: [email protected] if you have questions for Anthony our Editor he can be e-mailed at: [email protected]