Diamonds, Diamonds, everywhere! Last night we had the official announcement of the Disneyland 60th Anniversary. What do you think about the upcoming changes? Underwhelmed or Overwhelmed? We have photos below of the current concept designs for what Disneyland plans to launch on May 22nd as well as all the discussions it has spurred on our Forums. Also just so you have not forgotten we here at MiceChat are celebrating 10 amazing years and the full line-up of weekend festivities has just been announced. Wont you come to join us?

Get Mouseaddict for free HERE

Top Stories

MiceChat Top Stories

Changes underway from the Haunted Mansion to Soarin’ as Disneyland gets ready for its 60th Anniversary
Disney is expected to finally announce its big plans for Disneyland’s 60th Anniversary this Wednesday in a special media preview event, but guests visiting the parks can already see a glimpse of what’s to come as refurbishment and enhancement projects continue in both theme parks. In Disneyland, Sleeping Beauty Castle is now closed and the moat is now being drained so refurbishment work can get started. Meanwhile, the first signs of the long-rumored return of a certain specter seem to have materialized inside the Haunted Mansion. Over in Disney California Adventure, the Boudin Bakery Tour is set to reopen this week with big changes as Condor Flats‘ big transformation continues. In addition to all the work in both parks, Starbucks and Disney released special park-specific mugs last week, which have proven to be quick hits with park fans.

Micechat Tickets

Disney News, Disney News Round Up: Diamond Celebration and more!

DON’T MISS: MiceChat 10th Anniversary Weekend at Disneyland

February 6 – 8th

It’s been 10 years since we first started MiceChatting. Our big celebration will be held in and around the Disneyland Resort and will include a cocktail reception with legends of animation, panel discussions with Disney Imagineers, authors and even a beloved legend or two. We’ll celebrate Yesterland, give away fantastic prizes, and enjoy a wonderful time with friends old and new at the Happiest Place on Earth. If you’ve been with us from the beginning or have only recently found us, we look forward to seeing you at the Disneyland Resort February 6th through 8th. Below are the must attend events for our 10th anniversary! TICKETS AND INFORMATION HERE

Disney News, Disney News Round Up: Diamond Celebration and more!

Join a select group of animation superstars with a casual and fun MiceChat 10th Anniversary cocktail party at the lovely Anabella Hotel, located just steps away from the Disneyland Resort. We’ll have a brief discussion with the animators about 2-D and 3-D animation, past and future. Then we’ll enjoy a night of drinks, nibbles, and interaction with some of the most creative folks in the Animation industry!

SIGN UP FOR ANIMATE THE NIGHT HERE

Disney News, Disney News Round Up: Diamond Celebration and more!

Celebrate MiceChat’s 10 years of Disney and theme park magic with our special AMAZEMENT Saturday epic event at the ESPN Zone. We will treat you with three fantastic panel discussions with notable legends and surprise guests:

  • “This Animatronic Life” – The fantastic story of how Animatronics have transformed the theme park experience.
  • “Disney in the Book” – Meet the authors behind some of the hottest Disney books currently available. You’ll have a chance to pick up your own signed copy of these fantastic tomes. More details will be shared shortly.
  • “Voices of Magic” – The voices behind some of your favorite Disney characters will reveal the secrets behind bringing the magic to stage and screen.
  • We will also celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Yesterland with MiceChat legend Werner Weiss.
This enchanted morning will last from 9am until 1:30pm and will include a light breakfast of fresh fruit and assorted bagels as well as a delightful lunch of apple walnut salad, truffle mac and cheese with broccoli, and a delicious grilled beef tri tip with mashed potatoes and assorted desserts. Twelve lucky attendees can upgrade to the “VIP Package”, which offers VIP front row seating as well as a keepsake gift signed by our special guests.


After the morning sessions we will head into DCA for a day of play including a scavenger hunt and one of our famous trivia contests with fabulous prizes sponsored by Fairy Godmother Travel.
Disney News, Disney News Round Up: Diamond Celebration and more!
FREE DCA scavenger hunt event from MiceChat and D23 during MiceChat Anniversary weekend. Come join us at 3:30 on Saturday, February 7th for a one hour quest celebrating the upcoming D23 Expo. There will be all sorts of surprises along the way. It’s free, but you’ll need to sign up to participate. Don’t miss out, lots of great prizes! SIGN UP FOR THE D23 CHALLENGE FOR FREE HERE

Disney News, Disney News Round Up: Diamond Celebration and more!

The day will start in the classic style, as we’ve done for the last 10 anniversaries, with breakfast at the Riverbelle Terrace, a trip around the Rivers of America aboard the Mark Twain, and a classic noon meet and group photo in front of the castle (we’ll meet you all at the Walt and Mickey statue at noon).

This year, we have a very special program planned for you after lunch.

MiceChat is turning 10 years old, Yesterland is turning 20, and Disneyland is turning 60! That’s a lot of memories. Just after lunch we’ll join Werner Weiss of Yesterland and special guest hosts for a historic tour of Disneyland Park the way Walt would have remembered it. It promises to be a wonderful day full of tributes, memories and magic.

Please note that the Yesterland portion of the afternoon has SOLD OUT. You can join the YESTERLAND TOUR WAIT LIST HERE.

TICKETS AND INFORMATION FOR THE MICECHAT ANNIVERSARY HERE

 

MiceChat Anniversary Hotel Offer

ana

Looking for a hotel room for the MiceChat Anniversary? The delightful Anabella Hotel (just behind California Screamin’ at DCA) is offering a remarkable MiceChat 10th Anniversary Rate:

  • $89 (Standard Room Types)
  • $139 (Concierge)
  • Rate is valid 2/6/15-2/8/15

Rate only available for those who call in to reservations at 800.863.4888. Don’t forget to ask for the “MiceChat 10th Anniversary” rate.

Find out all the details of the event here!

Disney News, Disney News Round Up: Diamond Celebration and more!

alaska2

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 and hear many wonderful stories from our special guest. Suggest group excursions you might want to join us on. Dine as a group to discuss our adventures and more. Vancouver, Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, glorious glaciers, whales, and spectacular nature everywhere. Don’t miss this MiceChat adventure at sea!

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!!!

Divider

Disney Parks News and Reports

MiceChat Top Stories

Disneyland is where the magic began and where all eyes of Disney fandom will be focused for the coming year. On May 22nd, the park will launch its 60th Anniversary Diamond Celebration and last night we learned what Disneyland has planned for us.

World of Color will add a new show “Celebrate! The Wonderful World of Walt Disney.” The show will illuminate the night in a moving celebration of Walt and his dream of Disneyland. Disney Paint the Night will be a new nighttime parade which will replace the classic Electrical parade.

At last we have the announcement of the new fireworks show “Forever” that looks like it will include some digital mapping projections, including on Main Street buildings. Artwork for both Sleeping Beauty Castle and Carthay Circle Theatre reveals more of the Diamond Theme they have gone with. Below we have select topics if you wish to contribute your thoughts on what is coming this May!

MiceChat Newsletter

It’s a Trip Kim-port! My Marathon Trip Report, ft. Avengers + Star Wars Half Marathon
KiMcHeEfOrLiFe has a huge trip report for all of the Half Marathons, for someone who doesn’t like to run they sure went for the gold during this trip report!

The New Bakery Tour at Disney California Adventure
The new Bakery tour has been opened, with some changes that may be for the good or for the bad. Watch the video here and show your thoughts!

Divider

Lots of fun ideas this week from Toontown to creating a Mini-Land for Marvel, also great Concept soundtrack created for World of Color. ~ Trekkie Dad

Toontown Improvement Ideas
Joshua Goodstein thinks Toontown should be improved, rather than replaced with a Star Wars land.

Tomorrowland & Marvel Mini-land Themed Transportation Connection (like Potter Train)
How about taking an idea from Universal Studios and linking Tomorrowland with a Marvel Mini-land? asks Ride Warrior.

World of Color Concept Soundtrack
SoCal ThemeParks worked on a musical concept for new World of Color show which is about 32 minute proposal. Must listen to this!

Hatbox Ghost in the Haunted Mansion?
Great Movie Rider thinks this rumor has legs.

Innoventions Closing for 60th???
Westside thinks this rumor is on very solid ground.

No more parking for Premium AP’s?
Is Disney planning to squeeze more money from annual pass holders by eliminating free parking? asks atherton.

Divider

MiceChat Newsletter

Here’s to the Future…And You! – Home of Future Living restored film w/Sound!
wdwms 
brings us a restored video of Home of Future Living from Epcot.

Disney World to Raise Ticket Prices – No Expiration Eliminated
brianpinsky 
brings us information of an increase in ticket prices and changes to the “no expiration.”

Sunglass Hut in Adventureland
The Sunglass Hut in Adventureland has opened, so what do you think about it?

Divider

MiceChat Newsletter

“Disneygraphy”: Brilliant Webzine
RandySavage
 has found ‘Disneygraphy’ a magazine that focuses on Disneyland Paris

Other Theme Parks & Resorts

HHN X Speculation/Rumors/Announcements.
Speculation has already begun for the 10 year anniversary of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Knott’s Boysenberry Festival Dates 2015
Looks like the dates are out for this year’s Boysenberry Festival, according to explodingboy.

AV Room

Frozen at the Royal Theatre
Mr. Jones and Mr. Smythe tell the tale of Frozen with Elsa and Anna at Disneyland’s Royal Theatre in the Princess Fantasy Faire.

The Haunted Mansion Show Episode 26: An Unexpected Creepy Calling
Deep within the attic of Gracey Manor, the Hatbox Ghost has more stories to tell. It concerns the “Phantom Manor” once again, which seems to bear a remarkable if not room-for-room resemblance of the beloved original Haunted Mansion. You, the viewer, can only be assured that there’s more to the old place than simply creaking hinges and doorless chambers. Add to that, it took more than hitchhiking for a certain specter to follow Ol’ Hattie home…

Divider

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

Disafterdark: Welcome back to the Mouses Head and thank you for the download. Today, We are joined by Martin, a Disneyland Paris shareholder who has recently attended the AGM. So, today is a very french episode. when sit, drink and talk about all the goings on at that meeting and what is coming out of it. All neat and pretty, then on with the show.



Direct Link

The Season Pass: The Essential Theme Park Podcast:  We review the biggest story of 2014-Wizarding World of HarryPotter: Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida.  Doug Barnes, Brent Young, Arthur Levine, Len Testa and Josh Young discuss and dissect the immersive new land plus all the upgrades happening at the Universal Orlando Resort.


Direct Link | iTunes Link

Disney Avenue Podcast: Born in Southern California in 1952, Ron was born to be a performer.  He was a puppeteer, ventriloquist, magician and actor, who was fascinated by Walt Disney’s Disneyland and so was born his dream of one day performing at the park. Ron got his first theme park job in 1970, and over the ensuing 40 years he’s done it all – writing, directing, consulting, managing and performing for multiple production companies and in eight theme parks and five themed restaurants across America.

Direct Link | iTunes Link

Mousetalgia! – An Unofficial Disneyland Podcast: This week, we run to a galaxy far, far away to talk about Disneyland’s recent Star Wars Half Marathon weekend. With Dave or Becky participating in each race, we have a full report on the goings on, the galactic hoohah, the out-of-this-world costumes, and the too-few character photo opportunities. Was this a good start for the Star Wars races, or did it miss the Hammill -er, the mark? Also, Disneyland Resort freezes over as tarps go up and the parks prepare for their 60th anniversary upgrades. Becky reports on all of the Frozen fun, including sledding, singing with the sisters, and sketching snowmen.

DoomBuggies Spook Show: In this spook-er-sized Halloween episode, we discuss the recent “Ghostly Materials” exhibition at Disneyland and speak with one of the artists, Bridget McCarty, about the opening day of this release of Haunted Mansion-related artwork. We also talk about the recent flood of Haunted Mansion merchandise in the parks, and the new Haunted Mansion-specific store called “Memento Mori” at the Magic Kingdom.


Direct Link

Unofficial Universal Orlando Podcast: We begin this show with a listener email that we really need your help with, so if you have had any experience of Claire’s condition, please email us at [email protected]. We then play our first Butterbeer preference of our new preference segment. Are you Team Regular, Frozen, Hot or Ice Cream? Record us an mp3 letting us know who you are, where your from and which is you’re favourite and email it to us at [email protected] or got to Speakpipe on your mobile device and record it there.

Direct Link

Featured Columns

MiceChat Newsletter

Epcot News and Photos
There are lots of fun things to see and chat about today from Walt Disney World. Let’s tour Epcot and see what’s new.

MiceChat Newsletter

A Trip Back in Time to Olde Virginia
California is my home but I admit that I wish I could spend part of the year in Virginia. I really am a small town girl and I love the Southern food, the rich history, the beautiful rivers and countryside, as well as the gracious hospitality. So recently I took another trip back to Richmond to see more that remains on my list of things to see and do.

Divider
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!

Facebook

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/ | Instagram: instagram.com/cakvala

Divider

 

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