It was a crisp hazy morning in Anaheim when the MiceChat Holiday Hoopla kicked off at the ESPN Zone yesterday. What’s a Hoopla, you may ask? Well, it’s a festive breakfast celebrating Disney legends and authors.
This year’s attendees were treated to a delicious breakfast buffet featuring ESPN Zone’s famous MiceChat Maple Pepper Bacon. Simply awesome! The stage and screens were decorated with holiday kitsch and humorous family photos. At least one elf was seen lurking through the event (or perhaps he was a gremlin).
While stomachs were filling, we began a speaker presentation with Disney legend Marty Sklar. Marty was witty, fun and showed two video presentations highlighting Imagineering’s accomplishments as well as the magic element that made early Epcot so appealing . . . original songs!
Next up were Imagineer and sculptor Terri Hardin, Author Sam Gennawey, and Disney Hotel historian Don Ballard. Terri spoke about becoming an Imagineer and how her book helps answer questions that many young folks have about joining Disney’s group of elite designers. Sam explained the premise of his new book on Disneyland history. And Don Ballard proved why he is beloved by Disney history buffs, and earned cheers when he lamented the loss of the Monorail Cafe at the Disneyland Hotel.
Next up were Disney author Mindy Johnson, fiction writer Nancy Rodrigue, and Jeff Heimbuch purveyor of cute stories. Mindy recently released a gorgeous coffee table book about the history of Tinker Bell. The book tells the story of the famous pixie and how she was eventually picked up and developed by Walt Disney and his team of creatives. Nancy explained her love of the Disney parks and extending their magical worlds by making them the set for her adventure novels. After a long process of bringing the Rolly Crump story to print, Jeff Heimbuch wasn’t so keen to immediately start work on a new book. Rather, he set forth to record Rolly actually telling stories in his own voice. More Cute Stories, Volume 1 and 2, are audio files of the beloved Imagineer doing what he does best, telling wonderful tales.
We wrapped up the panels with an interview of Roy P. Disney, son of Roy E. Disney. He graciously offered up memories of his father and tales of his youth with a famous father, grandfather and grand-uncle (Walt).
It was a magical hour and a half with an amazing lineup of Disney legends, personalities and authors.
The panels were followed by book signings and meet and greets. It was a wonderful opportunity for guests to get their books signed and meet some legends and Disney writers. A huge thanks to everyone who attended this event, it was wonderful to kick off the holidays with you.
JOIN US AT FRUITCAKE FOLLIES
But that’s not the end of our holiday offerings. We’d like to invite you to join us as MiceChat rents out an entire performance of Fruitcake Follies in Silverlake on December 21st. It’s the most holiday fun you’ll have in the basement of a Mexican restaurant all year! 😉
Join us at the lovely Casita Del Campo Restaurant in Silverlake for THE holiday show event of the season, The Fruitcake Follies. The follies is a one-of-a-kind holiday musical review that is Part Perry Como Christmas special, part Carol Burnett Show, part Pee Wee’s Playhouse and all holiday cheer.
James Gray, a former Disney cast member, leads a cast of brilliantly talented performers in a Christmas variety show like you have never seen before… EVER. There will be singing, dance numbers, and the occasional cookie thrown at the audience. Special guest stars are always waiting in the wings to suprise the audience with dazzling new numbers.
This show is hugely popular and sells out every year. That’s why MiceChat is having a special, private performance just for you. That’s right. This will be a private performance especially created for Disney fans, by Disney fans. What’s more, many of the folks who appeared at the MiceChat Holiday Hoopla will be among the audience members.
Get your tickets now to this special private performance of one of the hottest holiday tickets in Hollywood. We’d hate for you to miss out on all the Holiday cheer. We will also be having lunch inside the restaurant before the show for any that care to join us.
Chips, salsa, margaritas, and holiday fun. Yep, it’s a winning combination.
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