A gigantic MiceAge update hit yesterday. A new idea on how to fit Star Wars into Disneyland has come to light as the park gets closer to its 60th anniversary.  This article headlines the MiceChat Round Up of Disney and theme park news and information. A MiceChatter asks about the state of Walt Disney World and wonders if the magic is still there.  We then travel to a few non-Disney locations as we visit the Manhattan Beach Open and examine the reasons behind the drop in attendance at SeaWorld. Plus, enjoy the collection of premium podcasts from the MicePod including Communicore Weekly, The SeasonPass Podcast, The Unofficial Universal Orlando Podcast, Disney Avenue Podcast and many many more!

Don’t forget that tickets are on sale now for the big MiceChat Knott’s Scary Farm Halloween Haunt meet now.  Hurry, they are going FAST!  BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE.

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MiceAge Update: More Star Wars, Frozen, Muppets and Marvel at Disneyland Resort
Today’s MiceAge Update brings you the latest from the halls of Imagineering and Team Disney Anaheim, where some big-ish projects are in the works. After a pleasant summer season with manageable crowds of tourists spread evenly between the two parks, the Disneyland Resort crashes into late August this week with the return of over 500,000 SoCal and SoCal Select Annual Passholders who have been blocked out since June. That will make this the busiest week of the summer by far, and the Resort’s parking infrastructure will be stretched to the breaking point while the parks suddenly crawl with huge crowds of locals. While the front line Anaheim CM’s struggle to keep up this week, we’ll fill you in on what their TDA bosses have been working feverishly on this summer. Namely, the plans to get the Resort ready for the 60th Diamond Celebration and beyond, with some surprising new twists.

Micechat Tickets

Join us, if you dare, in the fog-shrouded streets of Ghost Town for the 8th annual MiceChat Knott’s Scary Farm Halloween Haunt 2014. Leave the real world behind and enter a dream-land of spooky fun with fellow MiceChat readers.

There are two ticket types:

MiceChat Knott’s Haunt event ticket (Basic) – $119.99*

  • Admission into Knott’s Scary Farm
  • Backstage tour of a new maze before the event
  • All you can eat Private Pre-scare Boofet dinner
  • Special insider presentation during dinner.
  • Early entry into Haunt
  • Front of the line access to all mazes (excluding the up-charge Trapped maze)
  • Skeleton Key access to select mazes
  • Priority Seating for Elvira Ring-Mistress of the Park

MiceChat Knott’s Haunt event ticket with TRAPPED VIP Maze – $129.99*

  • All of the above PLUS ADMISSION INTO TRAPPED: The New Experiment – special upcharge maze (Purchasing this ticket will gain you admission into the Trapped maze with the MiceChat group. By purchasing this ticket you will be randomly assigned a return time during event check-in at the beginning of the night. If you miss the reservation time you will forfeit your ticket.)


* Plus tax and PayPal processing fees

That’s right. You could buy your own ticket and wander around, aimlessly from line to line, starving to death from hunger, without a single person to hang out with. OR, you could pay one simple price and get an entire night of food, entertainment, friends, frights, and fun and exclusive insider opportunities!

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wdw-invasion

MiceChat Walt Disney World Invasion – October 22nd through 29th, 2014: We’ll visit the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando, offer an optional Halloween Horror Nights event, hold a Walt Disney World GUMBALL RALLY, travel the World Showcase in our wonderful Food and Wine Festival Sip and Nibble event, enjoy Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, PLUS La Nouba, meet-ups, meals and more. Don’t miss this fantastic week of Orlando fun!!!

Contact [email protected] to book travel to Orlando. Sign up for our email list to be sent sign up information for the Gumball Rally, Sip and Nibble and other MiceChat Invasion events! REQUEST ADDITIONAL INFORMATION HERE


Other Theme Parks

Join MiceChat for an adventure at sea!

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MiceChat 7 night Alaska Cruise on the Disney Wonder – June 1st, 2015: Join us as we sail toward the top of the world on the delightful Disney Wonder. We’ll hold all sorts of special MiceChat meet-ups on board. Suggest group excursions you might want to join us on. Dine as a group to discuss our adventures and more.

Day Port Guest Ashore Guest Onboard
1 Vancouver, Canada 4:00 p.m.
2 At Sea
3 Tracy Arm, Alaska Cruising Cruising
4 Skagway, Alaska 7:15 a.m. 7:45 p.m.
5 Juneau, Alaska 6:15 a.m. 4:45 p.m.
6 Ketchikan, Alaska 11:15 a.m. 7:45 p.m.
7 At Sea
8 Vancouver, Canada 8:00 a.m.
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? SIGN UP NOW!

Ask us for more details on any of our upcoming MiceTrips or for Disney adventures of your own by emailing us at [email protected]. It doesn’t cost you more to use our travel agent, it’s just more magical. Let us do the work, you enjoy the Disney fun!!!

Summer 2014 is in full swing and theme parks all across the country are fighting for your business. This month’s show is your guide to the best of what theme parks have to offer you this year. From Disney to Universal, SeaWorld to Knott’s Berry Farm and all points in between. Slap on some sunscreen and press play to hear our thoughts on where you should spend your hard earned vacation dollars this summer. This one is not to be missed!

Today’s Round Up is sponsored by:

Profits from the sale of every bottle of refreshing O-Zell soda supports the restoration of the Walt Disney Birthplace in Chicago. Pick up some delicious Victorian style natural soda AND help a great cause at the same time: O-Zell Soda 

For a special treat, listen to the O-Zell jingle here: O-Zell Soda Song


Disney Parks News and Reports

The Aladdin Theater shows on both coasts paid tribute to Robin Williams.  We also take a look at the making of Walt’s greatest attraction! ~ Aladdin

MiceChat Newsletter

Cool doc on this history of Pirates of the Caribbean
Some of the most fascinating parts of Disneyland is the history behind the attractions. Here is a marvelous video with interviews and stories from some of the original imagineers of Pirates of the Caribbean!

Matt’s August, 2014 Solo Trip Report…. dubbed ‘The Club Tour’
whoever has this quick solo trip report to the Disneyland Resort, and starts off with a experiencing the refurbished Big Thunder, and a trip to Trader Sam’s!

Aladdin Show at DCA today
The Aladdin show in the Hyperion theater in DCA had a subtle tribute to the comic genius, who is often imitated, but will never be duplicated. Also, the newly opened Aladdin show in New York paid tribute as well.

As you sit around the dining room table tonight, trying to figure out your end of summer plans, we have an idea for you. If you love Disney theme parks, movies, television shows, music and more, you are not going to want to miss D23’s Fanniversary Celebration. D23 is taking their new, interactive show on the road and they may be coming soon to a city near you. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

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This week is a walk down memory lane with trips from the past and a restored 1974 Super9 film. – DisneylandFanAZ 

MiceChat Newsletter

Trip Report: First Time EVER, Pictures & Videos!
Austin brings us a trip report with a bunch of great photos and wonderful videos.

Should they re-show ‘Back to Neverland’ ?
Hathaway Browne wonders, should the film with Walter Cronkite and Robin Williams be re-shown in the Art of Animation tour?

Is it still Walt Disney World?
With all the changes and additions to the park, sbk1234 is wondering, is it still Walt Disney World with the same magical feeling?

The Fastest Rides In ‘The World’!
PlutoHasFleas brings up a fun look at how fast you go (on rides) while in ‘The World!’

A pristine Magic Kingdom from Nov ’71 – Restored Home Movie footage
wdwms once again brings us another look back at WDW, this time of the Magic Kingdom of 1971.

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Armchair imagineers continue to focus on the Disneyland Resort. Not every idea gets applause. ~ Trekkie Dad

Marvel/Wreck-It Ralph park as Disneyland’s Third Gate (Brainstorm needed)
MickeySmurfette24 starts with a rumor that Disneyland Resort’s third gate will have a Marvel theme. How would you implement it?

Fill in the Rivers of America and level Tom Sawyer Island
Wedcot
proposes a bold idea that garners very little support from other MiceChatters.

tower of terror dining experience?
beckramenoodles
thinks a Hollywood Tower Hotel restaurant would be a good addition to Disney California Adventure.

 

Other Parks  News and Reports

Some people just can’t wait for Halloween season in southern California. If you are one of these people, you might want to check out some of the threads below. ~ Trekkie Dad

MiceChat Newsletter

Joe’s visit to the 2014 AVP Manhattan Beach Open
Joe Flowers (mre200200) takes his family to a beach volleyball tournament and posts some amazing shots of the players.

SeaWorld Attendance Levels Drop: Is Blackfish Backlash Still the Cause?
… asks kjorgensen43. It’s been a year since the documentary was released.

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For all your Disney travel needs, contact MiceChat’s official travel partner:

AV Room

Welcome to this week’s Communicore Weekly, where we talk about ScareLA, Tarzan Chronicles, Massive Blu-Rays, and an Indian Chief! Jeff talks about his day at ScareLA in a Trip Report! George swings in with The Tarzan Chronicles for the Book of the Week! Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Tarzan, and Hercules are on Blu-Ray now, and the subject of the 60 Second Review! And finally, an Indian Chief is this weeks Five Legged Goat!

Direct Link | iTunes Link

Halloween & Juju at Disneyland
Sarah brings us another episode of MiceChatter and its all about Halloween!

The Haunted Mansion Show Episode 20: Special News for a Special Anniversary
On tonight’s relatively short episode, the Ghost Host of the Haunted Mansion briefly celebrates its 45th year of creaking hinges, strange and frightening sounds, flickering candlelight’s, and happy haunting ghosts. He also fills curious mortals in on cadaverous happenings in and around the graveyard; many of which involve the mansion itself. Happy Anniversary to Walt Disney’s “The Haunted Mansion!”

Knott’s Scary Farm Halloween Haunt Announcements 2014
Here is a full video of the Knott’s Scary Farm Halloween Haunt Announcements for 2014 that occurred on August 6th, 2014.

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Window to the Magic
Enjoy the sounds of the park on our weekly journeys into the wonderful world of the Disney sound experience!

Unofficial Universal Orlando Podcast #104 – Islands of Adventure Orientation Part 1
Thank you for joining us for this first part of your Orientation for Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park. We aim to help you bring each island of this amazing theme park to life for our guests by equipping you with the information you will need to immerse them in the story and mythos of this one of a kind theme park. Today we will cover the park as a whole and then go in to the specifics of Port of Entry and Seuss Landing.

Direct Link

The Season Pass: The Essential Theme Park Podcast
This week the Season Pass Podcast returns to the Baxter residence for another nostalgic chat with Disney Legend and WDI Advisor, Tony Baxter! This is TSPP’s THIRD interview with the highly acclaimed retired Imagineer; as Doug Barnes (Owner/Producer of the Season Pass Podcast), Brent Young (Creative Director/President of Super 78), Robert Coker (Owner/Editor of thrillride.com), Ryan Harmon (President of Zeitgeist), and Tony, discuss the experience of shredding Walt Disney’s beloved Fantasyland, in Disneyland, for the 1983 update, as well as a lengthy conversation on the creative process behind what many consider the greatest dark ride ever developed—The Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye.

Direct Link | iTunes Link

The Disney Avenue Podcast is honored and thrilled to join the MiceChat family. The podcast is brand new and will feature intriguing insights, interviews and opinions with top Imagineers and other popular figures in the Disney stratosphere on a monthly basis.

Mousetalgia Episode 304: The Haunted Mansion at ScareLA; Robin Williams
The ScareLA Halloween convention celebrated the 45th anniversary of the Haunted Mansion on August 9 with a panel hosted by Jeff, and he shares some behind-the-scenes moments and memories from the event, which featured Disney Legends Alice Davis and Bob Gurr on stage with Jeff, talking about the creation of the world’s most loved haunted house and the concept artwork of Marc Davis. Dave also reports on the ScareLA show floor, and Jeff shares a few more Haunted Mansion moments, discussing Disneyland’s celebration of the Mansion’s anniversary, and a midnight ride through the venerable attraction. Also, Jeff talks about his newly released book “The Unauthorized Story of Walt Disney’s Haunted Mansion,” hinting at some of the features and highlights waiting for readers to discover.

Direct Link | iTunes Link

Disafterdark Series 2, Episode 23 – The Dr is in.
Welcome back to the Mouses Head and thank you for the download. Today we have a crossover episode with a Dr Who podcast. All of us are back again, although Paul D has some audio problems (he is seeing a Dr about it). We drink some beer and talk some news as usual In the company of Dr Squeee from the Gallifrey Stands podcast Nick is on Sierra Nevada Torpedo IPA Paul D is drinking Kopparberg Elderflower and Lime Cider Paul B is on Thatchers Cider (just for Nick) Squeee is on a nice glass of Mead All neat and pretty, then on with the show.

iTunes | Download the iTunes Podcast App direct to your iDevice.

The Sweet Spot: In this Episode we welcome former Disneyland cast member Vern Hoiland. Vern was hired into Disneyland in 1969 and retired in 2006. Vern saw a lot fo changes over the years from managment, park changes, his own changes in roles, and much more. This is a great interview if you want to learn about how it was working in Disneyland as far back as 1969. Plus, we’ll look at the latest in the Disneyland Resort news with Tommy. Enjoy and please visit our new website www.thesweepspot.com

 

Featured Columns
MiceChat Newsletter

From Hollywood to Disney Hollywood Studios: The Brown Derby
Put your hands together and help us welcome Shelby Pickett to MiceChat as he takes a look at a Disney Hollywood Studios Classic – The Brown Derby. In 1926, Robert H. Cobb opened the original Brown Derby at 3427 Wilshire Blvd. Although long gone from Hollywood, this amazing restaurant lives on at Disney.

Disneyland celebrates Haunted Mansion’s 45th Anniversary with new art and collectibles
Disneyland‘s summer season is starting to wind down as the park begins to gear up for the popular Halloween Time season. As summer wraps up, refurbishments continue from Main Street, U.S.A. to Tomorrowland and the Grand Californian Hotel. Meanwhile, the Disneyana shop unveiled a new exhibit of Haunted Mansion art and collectibles to celebrate the attraction’s 45th anniversary. Today, we fill you in on the latest goings-on with Disneyland’s various refurbishments and take a look at the new Haunted Mansion art.

MiceChat Newsletter

Massive Expansion for All 3 SeaWorld Parks
The past few days have been rough for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.  After missing their projected quarterly earnings target, despite an increase in attendance for the quarter, SeaWorld shareholder’s knee jerk reaction was to sell shares, which resulted in a 30% one day drop in the stock price.

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The MiceEars Crew puts a lot of time and effort into making these Round-Ups happen.Our thanks to:

Editor CakvalaSC and the MiceEars Crew: Aladdin, Yoyoflamingo, Trekkie Dad, DLandFansAZ, RegionsBeyond, Fishbulb & Dustysage.

We hope to see you online again soon, Dusty and the amazing MiceChat crew!

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If you have questions for Anthony our Editor or our MiceEars Grew they can be e-mailed at: [email protected] or Follow him on Twitter @CakvalaSC | Flickr: flickr.com/photos/cakvalasc/

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CakvalaSC
MiceChat.com's webmaster and occasional writer. Cakvala is senior graphic designer and photographer. Admirer of all things Disney and theme-parks !