Weekend Update: Tampa Ren Faire, Universal Japan, Wellington, NZ and Bette Davis
Posted 03-13-2009 at 11:21 PM by Weekend Update
It's feeling a lot like summer around here. The time change always seems to hint that summer is just around the corner. Here in Oceanside we have a lot of college students on Spring Break running around in their bathing suits which also hints at the summer to come. Although running around in sixty degree weather in a bathing suit might be considered crazy by some, it's not nearly as crazy as the Ren Faire folks that are pictured in SummerInFL's photo report.
Following the Ren Faire photos, we have TDLFAN's second set of photos from Universal Studios Japan, followed by Denise nbodyhome Preskitt's Walt Disney World update.
Ian's back this week with photos from Wellington, New Zealand and darkfairycthulu returns with vintage post card images.
This week we'll start with SummerInFL's report on the renaissance fair in Tampa, Florida:
The Mudskippers do Shakespeare's Hamlet, while throwing themselves into a pit of mud, it was the weirdest delivery of the play we've ever seen!
In case you're wondering, that's Ophelia on the left.
His Majesty the King.
Her Majesty, The Queen and her ladies in waiting.
The Human Chess Match
Here are some more of TDLFAN's most recent photos from Universal Studios Japan.
Universal Studios Japan
Osaka, Japan
Arriving at USJ is always fun when you are onboard the USJ themed JR Train.
Let's go shopping at USJ Store.
Much of the new "Magical Starlight Parade" merchandise is found here... like assorted food products and snacks.
Parade Mugs.
Parade Teeshirt.
Hello Kitty Plushes.
Elmo's cookies.
With the Starlight Magical Parade premiere, the park is also offering special menus and snack items.. yum yum!
A New Store is dedicated to the parade, and decorated accordingly to the parade's themes. Miniature replicas of the Starlight Parade floats are displayed on top of the merchandise stands.
Hyde Park is covered in tulips.
The premiere dining restaurant at USJ.. The ParkSide Grille, is decorated to commemorate the debut of the Magical Starlight Parade.
Amity Landings Restaurant and gift shop. Located in Amityville, near the Jaws attraction.
Jurassic Park's main eatery, Discovery Restaurant.
These little critters are NOT friendly at all. Do not feed them.
San Francisco's chinese style restaurant, the Dragon's Pearl.
Backdraft attraction.
In New York.. Spiderman The Ride.
This lovely art deco building used to the be home of the Universal Monsters' Make up Show. The show has closed and the building is currently not in use.
Arriving back in Hollywood Blvd.. we see (from left) E.T.'s Closet shop, Terminator 2: 3D theater, and the glamorous art deco Studio Stars Restaurant.
AS the day ends, we bid farewell to Universal Studios Japan and hope to return soon.
Denise nbodyhome Preskitt brings us fresh photos from Walt Disney World including a lot of pictures of the new topiaries for the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot.
Walt Disney World
Orlando, Florida
The Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower:
Work being done at the Contemporary:
Bay Lake Tower pool stairs:
At the Saratoga Springs Treehouses, you can see kitchen chairs inside:
At the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival (which opens on 3/18), Aladdin makes an appearance in Morocco:
Lion King characters are also part of the two topiaries at the entrance to World Showcase:
And from Beauty and the Beast:
More stunning photography like the monorail shot below can be seen on Denise's website: mousesteps.com.
Our very own postcard junkie darkfairycthulu is back with some more vintage post card images this week. Check out the landscaping in this first Disneyland image - it has grown a little since this image was published!
[I'm not sure I would ride in these buckets if they were still running today. Would you? Let us know in the comments section - Rick]
"Located between Gulfport and Biloxi. Known far and wide as "Hosts of the Gulf Coast", where hospitality prevails."
A google search shows that this restaurant is still serving meals in Aberdeen, Mississippi. What do you think that is on the roof? A giant lobster? Giant chickens?
"Scenic SHORT STOP RESTAURANT-SERVICE STATION, north of I-80 at Exit 12 on Route 949. Delicious home-style food: clean, quiet, comfortable atmosphere. Elegant "Corisca Room": banquets, dinners, partoes-Dorothy Green at organ Friday, Saturday evening and Sunday noon. 24 hour diesel fuel & gas service. Excellent hunting and camping nearby. Direct route to Cook Forest & Clear Creek State Parks."
"This unique shelffish restaurant is one of the showpieces of Portland. Located on a narrow one-way street in the old business section of the city. The Oyster Bar is famous for its oyster stew and small native oysters. The two main dining rooms are decorated in knotty pine and adorned with beautiful china plates, ship models, and oddities from all over the world."
"Jackson, Missisippi. Founded 1883, a four-year coeducational college operated by the Presbyterian church".
"Dodge City, Kansas. The Front Street Replica (upper left), the Boot Hill Museum (upper right), Boot Hill Cemetary and the Long Branch Saloon attract thousands of visitors each month to the World Famous Boot Hill at Dodge City, Kansas."
"Old Tuscon, Arizona. The High Chaparral ranch set at Old Tuscon, Famous Movie Location and Studio. Located in picturesque Tuscon Mountain Park, 12 miles west of Tuscon, Arizona, this motion picture studio and western town provides shops, restaurants, rides, exhibits and live action performances daily. Open every day of the year."
"Shrunken Head-from the Jivard Indian Jungle on the Amazon River in South America. JAKE the Alligatorman-Weird! Spooky! These and other amazing artifacts await you at Marsh's Free Museum. Monday through Saturday."
Looking for up-to-date reports from Disneyland
including photos, gossip, park schedules and more?
Visit these MiceChat columns each week:
Andy Castro's Dateline Disneyland
David DarkBeer Michael's In the Parks
Speaking of vintage images, Disney's new website D23 has a fascinating story about Bette Davis and her role in Disney's "Return from Witch Mountain".
You can read the entire story in the Disney Archives section of the new website: D23 [LINK]
And that brings us to the end of another week. Our photographers have just enough time to reload their cameras before we see you all again next weekend. Thank you to all of our wonderful readers, and as always, a huge thank you to our amazing team of global photographers, spies, and gossips:
Jack Hollywood 1939 Wixom
TDLFAN
Denise nbodyhome Preskitt
SummerInFl
PhotoMatt
Fishbulb
sir clinksalot
MickeyMaxx
BigPigletFan
Abominable Snowman
A very special thank you to our wonderful guest photographer Ian Parkinson for sharing his vision with us.
Your Editor - Rixter
It is readers like you who make MiceChat such a special place.
*Some factual information sourced from wikipedia.com.
Following the Ren Faire photos, we have TDLFAN's second set of photos from Universal Studios Japan, followed by Denise nbodyhome Preskitt's Walt Disney World update.
Ian's back this week with photos from Wellington, New Zealand and darkfairycthulu returns with vintage post card images.
This week we'll start with SummerInFL's report on the renaissance fair in Tampa, Florida:
Quote:
Every year Tampa Bay plays host to the Bay Area Renaissance Festival. My family and I were lucky enough to attend last weekend and enjoy the many eclectic things this event has to offer. From human chess matches to washer well wenches, it's jam packed with old world fun.
SummerInFL
The Mudskippers do Shakespeare's Hamlet, while throwing themselves into a pit of mud, it was the weirdest delivery of the play we've ever seen!
In case you're wondering, that's Ophelia on the left.
His Majesty the King.
Her Majesty, The Queen and her ladies in waiting.
The Human Chess Match
Here are some more of TDLFAN's most recent photos from Universal Studios Japan.
Universal Studios Japan
Osaka, Japan
Arriving at USJ is always fun when you are onboard the USJ themed JR Train.
Let's go shopping at USJ Store.
Much of the new "Magical Starlight Parade" merchandise is found here... like assorted food products and snacks.
Parade Mugs.
Parade Teeshirt.
Hello Kitty Plushes.
Elmo's cookies.
With the Starlight Magical Parade premiere, the park is also offering special menus and snack items.. yum yum!
A New Store is dedicated to the parade, and decorated accordingly to the parade's themes. Miniature replicas of the Starlight Parade floats are displayed on top of the merchandise stands.
Hyde Park is covered in tulips.
The premiere dining restaurant at USJ.. The ParkSide Grille, is decorated to commemorate the debut of the Magical Starlight Parade.
Amity Landings Restaurant and gift shop. Located in Amityville, near the Jaws attraction.
Jurassic Park's main eatery, Discovery Restaurant.
These little critters are NOT friendly at all. Do not feed them.
San Francisco's chinese style restaurant, the Dragon's Pearl.
Backdraft attraction.
In New York.. Spiderman The Ride.
This lovely art deco building used to the be home of the Universal Monsters' Make up Show. The show has closed and the building is currently not in use.
Arriving back in Hollywood Blvd.. we see (from left) E.T.'s Closet shop, Terminator 2: 3D theater, and the glamorous art deco Studio Stars Restaurant.
AS the day ends, we bid farewell to Universal Studios Japan and hope to return soon.
Denise nbodyhome Preskitt brings us fresh photos from Walt Disney World including a lot of pictures of the new topiaries for the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot.
Walt Disney World
Orlando, Florida
The Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower:
Work being done at the Contemporary:
Bay Lake Tower pool stairs:
At the Saratoga Springs Treehouses, you can see kitchen chairs inside:
At the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival (which opens on 3/18), Aladdin makes an appearance in Morocco:
Lion King characters are also part of the two topiaries at the entrance to World Showcase:
And from Beauty and the Beast:
More stunning photography like the monorail shot below can be seen on Denise's website: mousesteps.com.
Wellington, New Zealand
Quote:
Wellington is the capital of New Zealand, situated at the southwestern tip of the North Island between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range.
Wellington was named in honor of Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington and victor of the Battle of Waterloo.
Wellington is the center of the nation's film industry. Peter Jackson, famous for The Lord of the Rings, Richard Taylor, and a growing team of creative professionals have turned the eastern suburb of Miramar into one of the world's most acclaimed film-making infrastructures.
Wellington suffered serious damage in a series of earthquakes in 1848 and from another earthquake in 1855. The 1855 Wairarapa earthquake occurred on a fault line to the north and east of Wellington. It ranks as probably the most powerful earthquake in recorded New Zealand history, with an estimated magnitude of at least 8.2 on the Richter scale.
Wellington was named in honor of Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington and victor of the Battle of Waterloo.
Wellington is the center of the nation's film industry. Peter Jackson, famous for The Lord of the Rings, Richard Taylor, and a growing team of creative professionals have turned the eastern suburb of Miramar into one of the world's most acclaimed film-making infrastructures.
Wellington suffered serious damage in a series of earthquakes in 1848 and from another earthquake in 1855. The 1855 Wairarapa earthquake occurred on a fault line to the north and east of Wellington. It ranks as probably the most powerful earthquake in recorded New Zealand history, with an estimated magnitude of at least 8.2 on the Richter scale.
Our very own postcard junkie darkfairycthulu is back with some more vintage post card images this week. Check out the landscaping in this first Disneyland image - it has grown a little since this image was published!
[I'm not sure I would ride in these buckets if they were still running today. Would you? Let us know in the comments section - Rick]
A google search shows that this restaurant is still serving meals in Aberdeen, Mississippi. What do you think that is on the roof? A giant lobster? Giant chickens?
Quote:
Look familiar, anyone? "Welcome, foolish students...."
DFC
Quote:
I have actually visited Jake in person, and he is by far one of my favorite roadside oddities..in the vein of Barnum's fiji mermaid, a charmingly weird fake mummified specimen of cryptzoology.
DFC
Looking for up-to-date reports from Disneyland
including photos, gossip, park schedules and more?
Visit these MiceChat columns each week:
Andy Castro's Dateline Disneyland
David DarkBeer Michael's In the Parks
Speaking of vintage images, Disney's new website D23 has a fascinating story about Bette Davis and her role in Disney's "Return from Witch Mountain".
Quote:
At a time when most of her contempories are gone or retired, Miss Davis has made her 83rd motion picture: a fantasy-thriller for Walt Disney Productions entitled "Return From Witch Mountain." She plays a money-mad schemer who helps kidnap and exploit a boy gifted with supernatural powers.
And that brings us to the end of another week. Our photographers have just enough time to reload their cameras before we see you all again next weekend. Thank you to all of our wonderful readers, and as always, a huge thank you to our amazing team of global photographers, spies, and gossips:
Jack Hollywood 1939 Wixom
TDLFAN
Denise nbodyhome Preskitt
SummerInFl
PhotoMatt
Fishbulb
sir clinksalot
MickeyMaxx
BigPigletFan
Abominable Snowman
A very special thank you to our wonderful guest photographer Ian Parkinson for sharing his vision with us.
Your Editor - Rixter
Where have YOU been recently? We invite you to share your photos of theme parks or any other destination that may be of interest to our readers. Please feel free to contact me via MiceChat Private Message (screen name Rixter)
or send me an email: oceansiderick@gmail.com.
or send me an email: oceansiderick@gmail.com.
It is readers like you who make MiceChat such a special place.
Don't miss a single one of MiceChat's Featured Blogs (including the Weekend Update). Add our feed to your favorite feed software or site:
MiceChat: Featured Disney Blogs
MiceChat: Featured Disney Blogs
*Some factual information sourced from wikipedia.com.
Total Comments 17
Comments
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Good stuff!Posted 03-14-2009 at 01:25 AM by orbitalpunk
- Almost certainly a lobster, the same as on the sign.Posted 03-14-2009 at 07:20 AM by Santo
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Great stuff!!!Posted 03-14-2009 at 08:52 AM by sir clinksalot -
Attractive:
Oh how I love the weekend!
Thanks everyone!!
-DustyPosted 03-14-2009 at 11:13 AM by Dustysage -
Nice pictures!Posted 03-14-2009 at 11:40 AM by WheresMickey -
Great Update! Love the Pics. Love the Postcards.Posted 03-14-2009 at 12:23 PM by Timmy55 -
So, In Japans Universal Superman is disguised as Spiderman outside his ride? I hear that the Universal Theme Park in Japan is really great though. Someday....Posted 03-14-2009 at 02:45 PM by Lost Boy 
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I rode those skyway buckets back then and I'd ride them again today!Posted 03-14-2009 at 03:18 PM by Wendygirl -
Looks like a good portion of the crowd is getting a "backside of kilt" view
Posted 03-14-2009 at 03:55 PM by Aladdin -
Skyway
Thanks for the update! Rode the Skyway many, many times. Liked the buckets better than the four person version that followed.Posted 03-14-2009 at 07:29 PM by Marko50 -
awesome report..yes i would still ride the skyway...Posted 03-14-2009 at 07:43 PM by cositaluvsmickey - good job this week, especially the epcot pictures. I would totally ride the Skyway. I remember when it was still there, but unfortunately I never got to go on it before it was taken away.Posted 03-14-2009 at 09:24 PM by wickedwitch76
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i would ride on the skyway if it was still there.it would be 53 years old but the manufacture vonroll built that ride solid.just today rode the san diego zoo skyfari.40 years old and the same ride design as the disneyland skyway.huge cover up disney removing the skyway.Posted 03-15-2009 at 01:37 AM by vonrollskyway1 -
I went to that Renaissance Fest yesterday. The Labyrinth Juggling dude was amazing! And I would so totally ride that skyway!Posted 03-15-2009 at 07:55 AM by Lady Stardust -
Jake the AG man rules the Washington coast. Great update as always…Posted 03-15-2009 at 11:30 AM by ralzap - just a heads up, it is actually tucson arizona, not tuscon. common error.Posted 03-15-2009 at 02:55 PM by disneylandlvr729
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Lost Boy, I have no idea what you are talking about. There is nothing Superman in USJ. They do not feature superheroes like Universal's IOA does. This is strictly a Spiderman ride. And yes, the theming at USJ is top notch for an Universal facility.Quote:Originally Posted by Lost BoySo, In Japans Universal Superman is disguised as Spiderman outside his ride? I hear that the Universal Theme Park in Japan is really great though. Someday....Posted 03-17-2009 at 02:23 PM by TDLFAN
