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Tokyo Disneyland Christmas Parade; Disney World Update; California's Great America

Weekend Update — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:57:33 GMT

We have a nice little Weekend Update for you this week. TDLFAN shares Christmas Parade photos from Tokyo Disneyland. Denise nbodyhome Preskitt files a Walt Disney World update. sir clinksalot takes us on a trip to California's Great America. Finally, DisneylandPostcards.net shares some really cool vintage panoramic post card images.

Thanks for visiting the Weekend Update!

Christmas Fantasy Parade
Tokyo Disneyland

TDLFAN rushed these photos to me just in time to make it into the Weekend Update. It looks like the transition from Halloween to Christmas is as quick and efficient as it is here at home.

Christmas Fantasy 2009 is now playing at Tokyo Disneyland....

Mickey sports a santa hat...

Oh Christmas tree... at World Bazaar.

Dusk at TDL.

Less is more. Cinderella Castle features minimal decor this year.

Partners

Decorations around the Hub are always new and different from one year to the next.. and this year is no exception. The holiday theme this year at TDL is "White Winter Fun".

Hub Centerpiece features Mickey & Minnie, Donald and Daisy, Goofy and PLuto.. in very funny and heartfelt ice skating situations.

World Bazaar Plaza.

The all new "White Holiday Parade" steps off in grand style.. With Donald, Daisy and Snowman Mickey leading the parade.

MIss Bunny, Thumper, Pooh... also join in the fun.

Toy Story float features a seesaw on which one of the alien characters slides back and forth..Very cute.

Mice on iceskates. Mickey and Minnie do some fancy ice skating moves.

A Mad Xmas tea party with Mad Hatter and Alice.

Santa bring the parade to a jolly end.

Let's go shopping... The big seller item this year at TDL seems to be the gingerbread cookie Mickey and Minnie plushes. They sell like hotcakes.

"It's a Small World Holiday" is now open during the christmas season.

After the "Christmas Dreamlights Parade" and "Christmas Wishes in the Sky" fireworks, the huge crowd of guests march down World Bazaar to exit the park after a full day of holiday fun.

One last look back as we say.. "and to all.. a good night".

Denise nbodyhome Preskitt's Walt Disney World Update

Space Mountain sign:

The Starport Welcome sign:

Going through the queue:

The post-show has some tributes to Horizons:

RCA dog:

The Space Mountain ride itself is not very different, and not quite as dark as I thought it'd be (but it's still one of my favorite rides). I have plenty of photos and and here is one of our videos of the attraction (we have queue and post show too).

YouTube - Space Mountain Full Ride-Through,...

At Epcot, there is no Lights of Winter this year :( :

Phineas and Ferb, as well as actress Alyson Stoner visited the Magic Kingdom to do a promo for the Disney Channel:

Princess Tiana is now in the "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade".

A few night photos:

As always, you'll find many more photos and videos on Denise's great website mousesteps.com.

California's Great America
Santa Clara, California

sir clinksalot takes us to a Cedar Fair amusement park in Northern California.

Welcome to California's Great America

The park has undergone many changes and many owners. But one thing that has not changed is the parks beautiful entrance (well, except the name).

The parks best Coaster is the former Top Gun, now called Flight Deck

The Double Decker Carousel is still gorgeous

Vortex, one of the first "Stand Up" Coasters is sadly showing it's age

Invertigo is probably the 2nd best coaster in the park. Oddly enough, the ride got stuck the day after we were at the park

Survivor The Ride is a Very Fun and Very Spinny ride

The Queue features posters from the former seasons of the show

The Ride in Action

You can see from the smoke that the ride also features fire effects

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

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:

TDLFAN
Denise nbodyhome Preskitt (mousesteps.com)
SummerInFl
sir clinksalot
MickeyMaxx
CaptPhoebus
Ian Parkinson and Richard Williams
BigPigletFan
Abominable Snowman
Fishbulb
PhotoMatt
Jack Hollywood 1939 Wixom

Special thanks to Ken Eslick at DisneylandPostcards.net.

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.

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Tokyo Disneyland; Starkey Wilderness Park; Bruges, Belgium; Ventura CA; Laughlin Cars

Weekend Update — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:13:34 GMT

It's turning out to be a beautiful fall here in Southern California. We may not have the autumn leaves, but I am enjoying the 70� afternoons and the beautiful sunsets. I haven't been to Disneyland in quite awhile, but I'm sure this great weather is contributing to the record crowds that have been reported here on MiceChat.

We start out the Weekend Update with another installment of TDLFAN's Signs of Tokyo Disneyland. He's feeling a little under the weather right now, so please join me in hoping that he gets well soon! SummerInFL follows with a photo trip to Starkey Wilderness Park. I always enjoy taking these side trips with Summer. It proves that Florida offers so much more than theme parks.

Ian Parkinson and Richard Williams file the final chapter in their Beautiful Baltic series. It has been quite a trip! Then we come back to California and join MickeyMaxx on a jaunt to a quintessential Southern California beach town with some very interesting architecture. Finally, as promised, sir clinksalot finishes up his report on the Don Laughlin car collection.

Thanks for visiting the Weekend Update!

Starkey Wilderness Park
New Port Richey, Florida

SummerInFL once again treats us to a scenic Florida park that is off the beaten path for most tourists. I wonder if the site of Walt Disney World looked like this before it was developed into one of our favorite spots on Earth?

When most people think of Florida, they don't automatically think of wilderness and hiking. As a person that enjoys hiking in the woods, my family and I set out to find Florida's version of the "forest". Last Sunday we decided to check out Starkey Wilderness Park in New Port Richey, FL. It's 8,000 acres of bicycle trails, inline skating, equestrian trails, fishing and camping! With a full 27 miles of hiking trails we were sure to find something we liked and we certainly weren't disappointed.

Just as I was about to turn around and comment on the beauty of nature that surrounded us, I found my family focused on something else.

Moving on!...

While we were there the trees decided it was a good day to fall. The first time it happened I told my daughter, "Don't worry sweetie, its a rare occurrence." Then a second one fell a little further down the path and she quickly asked if we could go back to the car. An 80ft tall tree is an amazing sight to watch falling to the Earth, luckily we were far enough away but its enough to make you anxious!

Some trees want all the attention.

Be wary of the palms, they are not soft to the touch!

Every once in a while we'd stumble upon some really large and very old trees. It's amazing to think that they've survived nature's fury, everything from hurricanes to wildfires and are still standing!

Watch your step! The path gets a little bumpy.

We did end up at the Cotee River for a bit but unfortunately the path around was closed. So we back tracked through mosquito country.

After our run in with falling trees we headed back to the playground much to the pleasure of my daughter.

It's a great park with lots of options, it's maintained fairly well, my only complaint would be the maps aren't very clear for the hiking trails but the trails themselves were marked well. While I'm sure there are bigger and better, this was a nice, "in your backyard" location that my family had fun visiting.

Bruges, Belgium

This is the final stop on the Beautiful Baltic itinerary of Richard Williams and Ian Parkinson. Over the past several months, we have visited Oslo, Gdansk, Stockholm, Tallinn, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, Copenhagen and finally Bruges. What a beautiful trip it has been. I can hardly wait to find out where Ian and Richard might take us next!

There are two videos this week. The first features Bruges, of course, but the second video is a cool look at the P&O cruise ship Arcadia which served as home base for Ian and Richard each night of their trip.

Quote:

Bruges, is one of the most visited towns in Belgium. It is the capital of the province of West Flanders, and is also the seat of the Bishop of Brugge. Bruges has a population of just over 117,000, of which around 20,000 live in the old city centre, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, because of the many special buildings in that area. Most of the visitors are attracted to Bruges because of it's charm. The channels sometimes make you wonder if you are not in the Netherlands. Not a crazy thought as Belgium was part of the Netherlands until 1830. If you are on a longer trip it makes a perfect break in between cities, like Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.
TravellersPoint

A MickeyMaxx Trip to Ventura, California

On a recent trip to San Buena Ventura (Ventura, California) we were reminded why we've found this city to be so charming before. There are few cities that embrace their past as well as Ventura does. So much of California architecture has been discarded for the newest, latest, design styles, that many of our downtowns have become quite a hodge-podge. It's not unusual to find 1960's Shopping Mall Chic smack dab next to turn-of-the-century styles. Ventura has a bit of that, to be sure, and as newer buildings sprung up next to existing ones, there would be the age and technology differences, but more than most cities we have visited, Ventura seems to do its best to be "authentic", maintaining the original styles, and when properties are updated, they are done in a manner that allows them to fit right in with their neighbors.

We'll start with a few motels, that have changed not hardly a bit since they were first erected.

A car wash sign that could use a little maintenance.

Leads to the thoroughly modern facility, that has a number of nods to the past in its design.

You might expect to be served by somebody by the name of "Baskin" or "Robins" in this blast from the past.

Heading further down the street, we enter the main business district, where the businesses become more upscale, and the budgets necessary to put on a good face are clearly higher. Nonetheless, the spirit of the past remains.

Painted letters, highlighted at night by neon lighting.

This little cafe struck us as a newish place, but the vibe it gave off was authentic 1950's cafe. What could be better than starting each day with breakfast at the Busy Bee Cafe? Turns out it was opened in 1963, refurbished to the 50's theme in 1989.

Right down to the custom clock crowning the joint. Theming approaching the standards of a Disney aficionado!

www.busybeecafe.biz

You will find all these businesses, and at least another hundred more, along East Main Street in downtown Ventura.

Don Laughlin Car Museum
Laughlin, Nevada

Here's part two of sir clinksalot's trip to the Don Laughlin Car Museum. Look carefully and you'll see an original audiononanimatronic.

We conclude our journey through the Don Laughlin car museum this week, starting off with the classic, 1964 Ford Thunderbird

Not to be out-done, the classic Muscle-Car, 1969 Pontiac Firebird

A slower pace is more to your liking? How about the 1948 Packard Convertable

1968 AMX

1966 Mustang ... I prefer the '65's, but this will do I guess.

A gas pump from 1922

1957 Plymouth Fury

1962 Chrysler Crown Imperial

For those of you who are well to do and don't want to drive, how about a 1948 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost

1955 Buick Century

1948 Ford Coupe ... looks like something out of American Grafitti

1957 Ford

1970 Dodge Super Bee (one of my personal favorites)

Another 1966 Mustang

1940 Mercury

1964 Studebaker Avanti ... yours for only $65K

1958 Edsel Ranger

1955 T-Bird

1971 Corvette T-Top Coupe

1955 Chrysler Windsor Deluxe Coupe

Probably the consumate classic car ... the 1957 Chevy

1954 Lincoln Capri Convertable ... makes me feel like I'm going "Back to the Future"

Yes, it's a 4x4 Coupe De Ville

1955 Chevy Bel-Air

And as we make our way back through the California Desert, you can't help but see some similarities to Radiator Springs. :D

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Tokyo Disney Resort; Walt Disney World Christmas; Retro Jungle Cruise; Copenhagen

Weekend Update — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:02:00 GMT

We have a couple of Disney photo updates for you this week. First up, TDLFAN is back with some more photos of Halloween at the Tokyo Disney Resort. It's always amazing the see how the Japanese have embraced Halloween. Christmas is coming to Walt Disney World, and Denise nbodyhome Preskitt shares a photo report that includes some of the Christmas decorations plus a first look at Monorail Teal.

Our Disney updates are followed by a nostalgic look back at Disneyland's Jungle Cruise attraction, courtesy of DisneylandPostcards.net. Can you spot the changes that the jungle has seen over the years?

Finally, we are coming to the end of our Beautiful Baltic adventure with Ian Parkinson and Richard Williams. This week we have gorgeous photos of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Thanks for visiting the Weekend Update!

Tokyo Disney Resort
Tokyo, Japan

The Halloween events ended on November 3rd at Tokyo Disney Resort.. and their new Christmas programs do not start until November 10th. In the meantime.. let's look back and reminisce at the fabulous Disney's Halloween events at both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea parks..

Another lovely day at TDL

Minnie Mouse leads the "Re Villains!" Halloween parade.

Mickey encounters Ursula in this underwater themed float.

"Ay! Dios Mio!" The Villains crash the parade!

Minnie the ultracute good witch.

Parade show mode.

Goofy and Pluto.

Daisy DeVille.

Haunted Mansion is once again transformed into the Nightmare Holiday for the season.

TDLFAN's lovely dinner at the Queen of Heart's Banquet Hall. Note the heart shaped beef patty and the souvenir cup.

Over at Tokyo DisneySea... Lido Meet and Smile greeting gets underway in the morning.

In the Afternoon.. The Legend of Mythica spectacular rules the lagoon.

Another lovely sunset at TDS

"MOUSEquerade Dance" gets underway at Mediterranean Harbor.

Waiting for "Talk with Crush" was estimated at 75 minutes.

Many "turn of the century" sketches and photos tell the story of how this 'underwater observatory' abord the SS Columbia became to be.. and this picture shows where in the Columbia such observatory is at. Can you see the hidden Mickey here?

This is the waiting area before you see Crush in the main theater. There is a short pre-show movie with Cast Member as well... but unfortunately, this is where all cameras and video recorders had to be turned off.

At night.. the lagoon belongs to BraviSEAmo!'s very impressive bird.. Spirit of FIRE!

The Cast of American Waterfront "Mysterious Masquerade" show.

Pyrotechnics end tonight's performance of "Mysterious Masquerade".

Lastly, TDLFAN leaves TDR after 3 full days of fun and adventure and still did NOT get to see everything there is to be done.. Note: the Sleeping Beauty fairies in the background.

Walt Disney World Update
Orlando, Florida

Here's a photo update from Denise nbodyhome Preskitt:

Here are some photos from this week, all on my site plus hundreds more (mousesteps.com). I can't believe it's already the Christmas season at WDW!

Monorail Teal went into service on November 4th. It is a combination of purple and pink, the trains that crashed a few months back.

Disney's Hollywood Studios is decked out for Christmas:

In Pixar Place (I framed the monkey, it is not in the star :)):

You can put your head in this Scrooge display:

One of the trees at the Muppets area:

A wreath in that same area:

At the Osborne Lights:

At the Magic Kingdom:

And the new Space Mountain sign:

Many more photos and videos can be viewed at Denise's website: mousesteps.com.

Jungle Cruise
Disneyland

Ken Eslick of DisneylandPostcards.net shares some great vintage postcard images of the Jungle Cruise. These postcards are dated 1956 to 1966. Join us for a trip back in time to the Jungle Cruise's first decade:

Quote:

The queue and station are themed as the headquarters and boathouse of a River Expedition Company, located in a (presumably British) Colony of the 1930s. The queuing area is cluttered with appropriate props, such as pinned insects under glass, an old radio on top of the bookshelf, and a chessboard with miniature animals and decorated shotgun shells replacing the pieces. The extended queue winds upstairs, underneath an animatronic hornbill, and then downstairs again. Big band music from the 1930s plays overhead, punctuated by jungle-related news bulletins by the legendary fictional character Albert Awol , helping to reinforce the setting and threading together the show scenes and boat.
Wikipedia

Quote:

Sources of inspiration for the attraction include a 1955 True-Life Adventure about a pride of lions, and the movie �The African Queen�. Imagineer Harper Goff referenced the African Queen frequently in his ideas; even his designs of the ride vehicles were modeled after the steamer used in the film. The project was placed on the schedule to open with the July 17, 1955 debut of Disneyland.

When plans began to develop, Bill Evans, the Imagineer responsible for landscaping Disneyland, faced the daunting task of foresting an entire jungle on a limited budget. Aside from importing many actual tropical plants, he made wide use of �character plants� which while not necessarily exotic could give the appearance of exoticism in context. In a particularly well-known trick, he uprooted local orange trees and "replanted" them upside-down, growing vines on the exposed roots. The clean water was dyed brown to prevent visitors from seeing the bottom of the �river�, which varies between three and eight feet deep.

Although Goff and Evans can be credited with the creation and initial design of the ride, Marc Davis (recognized for his work on venerable attractions such as the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean) added his own style to the ride in later versions and DL-version updates. The "Indian Elephant Bathing Pool" and "Rhinoceros Chasing Explorers up a Pole" were among his contributions.
Wikipedia

Quote:

Once aboard the boats, the guests are introduced to their skipper and they head into the jungle (allegedly never to return). The first river simulated is the Irrawaddy_River of Burma, reflecting South-east Asia and parts of the Mekong Delta. The boats sail through a dense rainforest, and an ancient Cambodian shrine where they see a Bengal Tiger, giant spiders, king cobras and crocodiles.

Passing Hindu statues, the boats enter the Sacred Indian Elephant Bathing Pool where dozens of Indian elephants frolic in the water and squirt water at the passing vessels. The theme transitions to the rivers of Africa, and riders see a family of baboons, and safari camp that has been overrun by gorillas. The boats careen past the dramatic waterfall Schweitzer Falls, between two African Elephants, and large termite mounds.

A tableau of the African Veldt follows, showing zebras, wildebeest, and giraffes watch a pride of lions feasting on a zebra beneath a rocky outcropping. Beyond the lion's den, an angry rhinoceros has chased a safari party up a tree. Antelope and hyenas watch from nearby. The skipper then pilots the boat into a large pool, disturbing a pod of hippos that signal their intent to attack the boat. Armed with a gun (filled with blanks), the skipper fires into the air to frighten them away. Drums and chanting are heard as the boats come to headhunter country.

The vehicles pass a native village before sailing into an ambush by natives wielding spears, (the sound effects for which are usually provided by the skipper). The boats pass behind Schweitzer Falls (known as "the Backside of Water") to enter the Amazon River. Skeletal animal remains and warning signs featuring pictures of dagger-toothed fish forewarn the next show scene, where the boats encounter a swarm of leaping piranha. The guests then pass a pool of water buffalo, and meet shrunken head dealer Trader Sam before returning to the dock.
Wikipedia

The Daveland website has an incredible inventory of Jungle Cruise photos through the years. You can see them here: Daveland Disneyland Jungle Cruise Photo Page:

ThemedAttraction.com has compiled a comprehensive list of Jungle Cruise spiels.

"Those of you adventurers entering the world-famous Jungle Cruise, please notice there are two lines, one on the right and the other on the left. If you'd like to keep your family together, please stay in the same line. However, if there is someone in your family you'd like to get rid of, just put them in the opposite line and you'll never see them again."

Reading through this list will bring back memories and probably evoke a chuckle or two. You can read the list here: The Disney Jungle Cruise jokes and spiel.

This Youtube video features early footage of a Jungle Cruise ride:

If you are the type that can't get enough of Disneyland memorabilia, you should check out www.worldfamousjunglecruise.com. You'll find a very impressive collection of photos and information about the Jungle Cruise brought to you by Skipper Brodie.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Quote:

The waterside city of Copenhagen has been the capital of Denmark for 600 years yet it is as modern and lively as its history is long and fascinating. The largest city in Denmark is located on the island of Zealand and is located on the East coast of Denmark. The proverbial "all roads lead to" certainly seems to apply more to Copenhagen than to Rome, as Danish roads, trains and even bicycle paths all seem to end up in the middle of the city. And with good reason. Copenhagen is a great travel destination contains a charm that make it one of Europe's most enjoyable and livable cities.
TravellersPoint

Quote:

One of the most recognisable landmarks of Copenhagen is the statue of the little mermaid. It is situated in the harbour of the city, which means it's a pretty long walk (30-45 minutes) from the center of Copenhagen to the statue. If you don't feel walking that far, note that most of the channel tours have a route that takes you along the statue. The statue was placed in Copenhagen in 1913, as a gift from Carl Jacobsen, who was impressed by the performance of the little mermaid that he had seen earlier. The statue was made by Edvard Eriksen. The face of mermaid is that of Ellen Price, who had the lead role in the ballet that Carl Jacobsen had seen. The statue in the harbour is a copy, of an original that is stored in a secret location. For good reasons as the one in the harbour has been vandalised several times.
TravellersPoint

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

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

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Princess Tiana; Red Bull Art Show; Dinosaur World; Classic Cars in the Desert

Weekend Update — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:24:45 GMT

I'm sure everyone is getting ready for the big Halloween Saturday night! How many of you procrastinators will be rushing out to buy your Halloween costumes, candy and decorations later today? This country's leading retailers claim that people start shopping for Halloween accessories as early as June! Now what fun is that? Isn't it more fun to rush out at the last minute and make a costume out of a witch's hat, a multi-colored clown wig and a Spiderman suit? (Not that I would know. ;) )

Our Weekend Update this week is just the right size to get your busy day started. First up, we have a report on the busy life of Denise nbodyhome Preskitt. Can you believe a week that includes Princess Tiana, a Red Bull art show, a Halloween tour of Fort Wilderness and a KISS concert?

Then dinosaurs rise out of the Florida swamps and populate Dinosaur World in Plant City, Florida. SummerInFL reports on this unique Florida roadside attraction. (Did you know that dinosaur bones have never been found in Florida?)

sir clinksalot stirs up double trouble this week for the Weekend Update. Check out his video from Universal Studios Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights, then travel with him to Laughlin, Nevada for a tour of Don Laughlin's car collection.

We finish up our report this week with some more vintage Halloween postcard images to put you in a Halloween mood.

Thanks for visiting the Weekend Update!

A Week in the Busy Life of Denise nbodyhome Preskitt

This past week, Disney unveiled the new Tiana's Showboat Jubilee! It is quite a fun show, though I understand that Disneyland will have live singing instead of recorded. I have photos and video from it on my site, and here are some photos that include the new meet and greet as well:

And one of five videos I shot, this is the first half of the show itself:

You can link to the other videos through my website at mousesteps.com.

The meet and greet:

Just over a week ago I was up north for my high school reunion and a memorial service in Washington DC. Union Station had an interesting Red Bull exhibit, where artists took cans of Red Bull and made sculptures out of them:

While in DC, I was able to go to one of my favorite places (I have some family who are members):

At Fort Wilderness, guests have decorated their campsites for Halloween:

A car testing at Space Mountain at WDW, which is set to re-open on November 21:

The sign for it, when going in on the People Mover:

Outside:

And I went to a Kiss concert a week ago as well, and took photos and video:

As always, you can view more photos and videos at Denise's website: mousesteps.com.

Dinosaur World
Plant City, Florida

I was excited when I heard that SummerInFL was planning a report on Dinosaur World in Plant City, Florida. The signs and entrance for this unique park can be seen from the I-4 on the trip from Orlando and Tampa, and we were intrigued as we passed by it on our way to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. It looks like this little park is quite nice!

Florida has many roadside attractions and there is one that we have always passed on the way to Walt Disney World and I decided to give it a try this weekend. So my daughter and I headed over to Dinosaur World, its a great attraction that contains life size replicas of all the dinosaurs, a playground, a fossil dig site, a bone collection and more!

Below are some of my favorites from the day. Enjoy!

Picnic Area

One of the interesting things I discovered is that there have been no dinosaur bones every discovered in the state of Florida as it was believed that the entire state was under water during the time dinosaurs roamed the Earth.

The Playground for the kids.

The giant puzzle the kids can put together.

Feed Me

The Boneyard where you can dig up your own dinosaur.

Every child admission received a ticket to dig for 3 fossils that they get to keep.

We had a great time and my daughter enjoyed herself very much. I recommend visiting it at least once and if you have extra time on your hands. Overall I think if they maintain the attractions and keep moving forward with it, it has great staying power in the long run.

Halloween Horror Nights
Universal Studios Hollywood

sir clinksalot spent an evening at Universal Studio's Halloween Horror Nights and put together this clever video:

Beautiful Baltic will return next week.

Don Laughlin Classic Cars Museum
Laughlin, Nevada

Looks like sir clinksalot found something to do in Laughlin besides play Hot Hot Penny!

Welcome to the Don Laughlin Classic Cars Museum located in Don Laughlin's Riverside Resort in Laughlin, NV.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wikipedia

Don Laughlin's Classic Car Collection is a free exhibition of antique, classic and special interest automobiles, housed in two separate areas at the resort hotel. There are also some trucks and motorcycles. The first hall, located next to the main valet entrance, displays a rotating selection that includes horseless carriages, cars used in motion pictures, and a motorcycle owned by actor Steve McQueen. The main Classic Auto Exhibition Hall is located on the third floor of the south tower, and also features privately-owned vehicles that are for sale on consignment.

The first "car" on display is the "Marriage Trap". This is the Marriage Trap that was used in the 1952 film "The Quiet Man" starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara.

1954 Corvette

1963 Corvette

1937 Cord Speedster

1963 Studebaker Amanti R-3

1933 Austin Roadster

1930 Studebaker 4-door

1915 Ford Speedster

I think this was one of my favorites, 1971 Soap Box Derby Car

1929 Model A Ford

1934 Buick Touring Sedan ... or "Mafia Staff Car"

The engine of the Mafia Car

1934 Ford

Some of the cars in the museum were actually for sale, like this 1936 Ford Street Rod ... it can be yours for a mere $50k

A view of the Colorado River from the museum

1914 REO Touring Car

1907 REO Runabout

1934 Ford Tow Truck

And it's kiddie-car companion

We'll leave you this week with a look at the classic Woody

Next week, the rest of the classic car collection in Laughlin, this was only about 1/2 of the collection.

I have a few more of those vintage Halloween postcard images to share. Next week DisneylandPostcards.net will be back with a great look back at Disneyland's Jungle Cruise.

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

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:

TDLFAN
Denise nbodyhome Preskitt (mousesteps.com)
SummerInFL
sir clinksalot
MickeyMaxx
CaptPhoebus
Ian Parkinson and Richard Williams
BigPigletFan
Abominable Snowman
Fishbulb
PhotoMatt
Jack Hollywood 1939 Wixom

Your Editor - Rixter

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

Follow us on Twitter

Busch's Howl O Scream; Universal's Horror Nights; Helsinki; St. Regis Monarch Beach

Weekend Update — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 03:47:40 GMT

Halloween is becoming big business for theme parks and we have photo reports from two such Halloween events this week. SummerInFL brings us photos from Howl O Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Then we visit Universal Studios Hollywood with MiceChatter Coaster Matt and get a look at their Halloween Horror Nights event.

We continue our Beautiful Baltic adventure with Ian Parkinson and Richard Williams this week. Our destination is Helsinki, Finland.

Did you ever wonder what a weekend of pampering might be like at one of those tony SoCal beach resorts? CaptPhoebus shares his luxury weekend at the St. Regis Monarch Beach with us in a very unique photo essay.

We wind up this week's Weekend Update with some fun images of vintage Halloween postcard images.

Thanks for visiting the Weekend Update!

Howl O Scream
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

SummerInFL braved the zombies and monsters to file this report on Busch Gardens Tampa Bay "Howl O Scream".

Every year we try and attend Howl O Scream at Busch Gardens in Tampa, FL and this year was no exception. This years theme was of course "vampires".

The story behind this year's theme is a woman named Ms. Vayne who uses her job as a fashion designer as a means to eat her audience at fashion shows.

Ms. Vayne

After the blood starts flying...

They have a new house based on a sorority house gone wrong, its called DeD. Cute huh?

I thought I would pledge, it went well I think!

One of the many scare zones.

This one was themed after werewolves.

"The Messengers return to claim another 13 victims. This year they are out to feast on human flesh."

"Evil pollutes the walls of a house that can let go of its horrible history."

You can also get your photo taken with the vampires as well, it was the end of the night and I was not in the picture taking mood but they were happy to accommodate a photo.

We managed to hit all 7 houses and got home and into bed around 1:30 a.m. If you are ever in the Tampa Bay area this time of year I highly recommend this event, that is, if you have the courage for it.

Halloween Horror Nights
Universal Studios Hollywood

MiceChatter CoasterMatt made multiple trips to Universal Studios Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights this year and shares these photos with the Weekend Update.

Halloween Horror Nights is renowned for its elaborate stage shows:

Bill & Ted Party On!!!!: The Wyld Stallyns of time travel – Bill S. Preston, Esq. and Ted Theodore Logan – return in an all-new parody show ripped from today’s headlines. Join Bill and Ted as they skewer a who’s who of infamous guest stars in this most excellent musical comedy you’ll want to see time and time…and time again!

Rocky Horror Picture Show: A Tribute: Dammit, Janet…Let’s Do The Time Warp…Again!!! Wonderfully weird. Fabulously freaky. A cult phenomenon! And now, Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights pays tribute to the mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Riff-Raff, Brad, Janet and all your other favorite Transylvanians in The Rocky Horror Picture Show: A Tribute! Singing and dancing in outrageous costumes, live performers bring the unforgettable musical mayhem of the classic horror spoof to life on-stage while scenes from the original movie play on giant projection screens.

And here are some random photos from this special event:

Lest anyone think that this is a relatively tame event, you should know that I edited out most of the more gruesome photos (think blood).

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

Helsinki, Finland

We're coming to the end of our Beautiful Baltic adventure. We have just a few stops left. This week we visit Helsinki, Finland.

Quote:

Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the southern part of Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, by the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is 579,016, making it the most populous municipality in Finland by a wide margin.

Helsinki, along with the neighbouring cities of Vantaa (Vanda), Espoo (Esbo), and Kauniainen (Grankulla), constitutes what is known as the capital region, with over 1,000,000 inhabitants. The Greater Helsinki area contains 12 municipalities and has a population of over 1,300,000.

Helsinki is Finland's capital for business, education, research, culture, and government. Greater Helsinki has eight universities and six technology parks. Some 70% of foreign companies operating in Finland have settled in the Helsinki region. The immigration of rural residents has made it one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in Europe.
Wikipedia

St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort
Orange County, California

CaptPhoebus allows us to join him on a luxurious weekend at the St. Regis Resort.

This week, I'm taking a little break from the usual theme park and unique attractions reporting to bring you a more relaxing type of article. Located only 26 miles away from Disneyland Resort, the St. Regis Monarch Beach is a hidden oasis in the suburban jungle that is Orange County. Here are a few pics I took at a recent visit to this lavish resort, which don't even begin to show justice to this resort, in terms of style and service.

Quote:

Monarch Beach is an Orange Coast community in Orange County, California located within Dana Point. Its distinction is the St. Regis and the Ritz Carlton-Laguna Niguel which are beachside resorts located within the town of Monarch Beach. It consists of many residences, but is also a tourist attraction for the rich and famous travelers.
Monarch Beach is named after its most prominent Geological feature "Monarch Bay" aptly named as its rolling hiils of Sagebrush and Manzanita were once a breeding ground for the Monarch Butterfly. The Butterflies are no longer seen there in the once large masses as their habitat has been replaced by a largely urban landscape.
Monarch beach was also the location of the famed Nixon Interviews.

Wikipedia

Quote:

Captivating by nature, The St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort stands along the pristine shores of the majestic Pacific Ocean. Experience the only California resort crowned with the Mobil Five-Star, Five-Diamond Award. This award-winning coastal retreat features an 18-hole golf course, 30,000-square foot Spa Gaucin and six ocean-view restaurants including celebrated chef Michael Mina's Stonehill Tavern. The address is the experience. The destination is beyond expectation.

Starwood Hotels

Fountain at Entrance

Porte-Cochere

Lobby and Lounge Area

Grand Staircase

Walking around the Resort

View from the Sunset Terrace

Resort at Night

Botanical Gardens

Room Amenities

View from one of the Rooms

Private Beach

[CENTER]

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:

TDLFAN
Denise nbodyhome Preskitt (mousesteps.com)
SummerInFl
sir clinksalot
MickeyMaxx
CaptPhoebus
Ian Parkinson and Richard Williams
BigPigletFan
Abominable Snowman
Fishbulb
PhotoMatt
Jack Hollywood 1939 Wixom

Special thanks to guest photographer CoasterMatt.

Your Editor - Rixter

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The Sum of All Things; Candy Corn Acres; Vintage Postcards; Saint Petersburg

Weekend Update — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:41:00 GMT

We have a Walt Disney World update from Denise nbodyhome Preskitt this week. She has photos and video of a new attraction at Epcot's Innoventions: Raytheon's The Sum of All Thrills. Did you know that some are saying that this new ride at Epcot is a sneak preview of The Forbidden Journey of Harry Potter at Universal's Wizarding World at Islands of Adventure? You can read about it here.

After Denise fills us in on news from Disney East, we'll hop on the Hogwarts Express and make a quick journey to Candy Corn Acres at Disney's California Adventure. Be careful, though. sir clinksalot's report might give you a toothache!

We have some more great vintage postcard images this week from DisneylandPostcards.net. These Pirates of the Caribbean postcards "illustrate" this attraction in a very unusual way. Capping off our trip around the world this week, Ian Parkinson and Richard Williams give us a tour of a very opulent Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Thanks for visiting the Weekend Update!

Walt Disney World Update
Orlando, Florida

The Sum of All Thrills opened at Innoventions East this week. It is a simulator that is similar to Cyberspace Mountain in some regards. The attraction should eventually push through 194 guests and hour, but isn't close yet (as of yesterday, anyway!) You can be too big or too tall to ride, the width of the seats is on the narrow side. I have a full write up here: mousesteps.com.

Quote:

Raytheon has announced plans to unveil an interactive, math-based experience called �The Sum of All Thrills� at INNOVENTIONS at Epcot� at the Walt Disney World� Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The exhibit, set to open fall 2009, will engage children through a fun, entertaining and informative experience that helps instill a lifelong passion for math, science and technology.

�The Sum of All Thrills� will be a core component of Raytheon�s MathMovesU program, an initiative designed to engage middle school students in math and science, and help create the next generation of innovators for the U.S. It will be located in the INNOVENTIONS pavilion, at Epcot� a unique area of the park that contains 100,000 square feet of interactive, hands-on exhibits that allow visitors to celebrate the inspiration and innovation that improve their lives and expand their horizons.
Raytheon

And photos:

The tester seat, to make sure guests fit:

Guests designing their ride:

Guests riding:

We have this video too (along with 4 others)

The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that The Sum of All Thrills could be a sneak preview of The Forbidden Journey of Harry Potter, the signature attraction at Islands of Adventure's Wizarding World project:

Quote:

...But what makes the "Sum of All Thrills" at Epcot particularly interesting is that it offers a glimpse of what to expect in an even bigger attraction being built at Universal Orlando as part of that resort's highly anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter...

...Universal is widely thought to be using robot arms for The Forbidden Journey of Harry Potter, the centerpiece attraction in its $200-plus million Wizarding World project inside Islands of Adventure. While Universal has kept most details of the ride secret so far, construction documents show that the resort is working with a company that builds ride systems based on KUKA arms...

Read the full story at Orlando Sentinel

Walt Disney World update continues...

Space Mountain:

Work being done at the Grand Floridian:

And at the Boardwalk:

Marie from the Aristocats:

Caribbean Beach pool under construction:

Candy Corn Acres
Disney's California Adventure

If you enjoy the lighter side of Halloween, with some yummy candy corn sprinkled in, then Candy Corn Acres is the place for you.

You won't have to look far to find it, as you can see it as soon as you enter Disney's California Adventure.

The first thing that will catch your eye is the World's LARGEST Candy Corn

No farm is complete without flowers.

But that's not all to explore, in Candy Corn Acres you will see all of your favorite varieties of Candy Corn.

The ever-popular Candy Corn Corn

How about some Candy Corn Tomatoes?

Can Candy Corn Grapes make Candy Corn Wine?

Candy Corn Carrots make a perfect after-school snack

No Halloween party would be complete without a few Candy Corn Pumpkins

For those of you in warmer climates, Candy Corn Cactus is a perfect alternative

There are multiple varieties

So next time your at Disney's California Adventure, stop by Candy Corn Acres for all of your Candy Corn needs.

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

We have some more vintage postcard images from DisneylandPostcards.net this week. I think I have a couple of these Pirates of the Caribbean postcards laying around here somewhere. I love the vintage illustration style shown here.

Saint Petersburg, Russia

Ian Parkinson and Richard Williams continue their Baltic journey with a stop in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Quote:

Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject (a federal city) of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. The city's other names were Petrograd (1914�1924) and Leningrad (1924�1991). It is often called just Petersburg.

Founded by Tsar Peter I of Russia on 27 May, 1703, it was the capital of the Russian Empire for more than two hundred years (1713�1728, 1732�1918). Saint Petersburg ceased being the capital in 1918 after the Russian Revolution of 1917. It is Russia's second largest city after Moscow with 4.6 million inhabitants, and over 6 million people live in its vicinity. Saint Petersburg is a major European cultural centre, and an important Russian port on the Baltic Sea.

Saint Petersburg is often described as the most Western city of Russia. Among cities of the world with over one million people, Saint Petersburg is the northernmost. The Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments constitute a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Russia's political and cultural center for 200 years, the city is sometimes referred to in Russia as the northern capital. A large number of foreign consulates, international corporations, banks and other businesses are located in Saint Petersburg.
Wikipedia

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Weekend Update: Gilroy Gardens; Bullet Train; America on Parade Vintage Postcards

Weekend Update — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 03:56:19 GMT

You asked for it - you got it! I had the good fortune of meeting Ken Eslick, the proprietor of DisneylandPostcards.net at the recent D23 Expo. I told him that I edit the Weekend Update column for MiceAge/Micechat and that you guys have been clamoring for more vintage postcard images. He was kind enough to grant your wish. We'll be featuring the postcards from his massive Disneyland collection in the Weekend Update from time to time. This week we have some great images from Disneyland's America on Parade.

Before we get to that, however, we have a couple of fun features. sir clinksalot recently took a trip to Gilroy Gardens (formerly Bonfante Gardens) and did a very comprehensive trip report which he shares with us this week. After that, we're whisked off to Japan at 180 mph with TDLFAN as he shares a look at the Nozomi Super Express Shinkansen (Bullet Train). After you regain your composure from the Bullet Train ride, sir clinksalot will shake you up again with his video of Knott's Halloween Haunt.

Thanks for visiting the Weekend Update. Enjoy!

Gilroy Gardens
Gilroy, California

sir clinksalot takes us to this gem of a park with an interesting history.

Gilroy Gardens is one of the most beautiful parks not only in California, but anywhere.

Quote:

Gilroy Gardens is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit horticultural-themed family theme park in Gilroy, California and home of the world-famous Circus Trees created by Axel Erlandson. The Park opened in June 2001 as Bonfante Gardens. The name was changed to Gilroy Gardens in February 2007. The park features 19 rides, 27 attractions and six gardens.

Gilroy Gardens was founded by Michael and Claudia Bonfante after selling their Nob Hill Foods supermarket chain to build the park. The park was a dream that took about 25 years to become reality.

Starting in 2004, the park began its annual holiday celebration - Gilroy Gardens Holiday Lights.

The park struggled with financial difficulty and low attendance the first two years it was open. It closed early for its first two seasons and the park's management debated whether to open at all for the third season. Paramount Parks began to manage the park on contract starting with the 2003 season.
Gilroy Gardens operates under the management of Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, which acquired Paramount Parks from CBS Corporation on June 30, 2006.

The city of Gilroy purchased the 536 acres (including the theme park rides) March 5, 2008. This purchase bought out about half the existing bond holders. The other half will be bought out in 2010. Like many other theme parks, Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park leases the land from the city.
Wikipedia

The natural setting is very inviting and the parks attractions blend in very well

One of the famous "Clown Trees"

One of the parks premiere attractions is the Quicksilver Express.

The theming is based off of an ore-mine railway and is very well done.

Bonfante Falls

The parks other roller coaster is the Timber Twister Coaster

Snake, Snake, Snake!!!

The Garlic Twirl is a garlic themed spinning ride. You can smell the garlic growing all around the ride.

The park also features many rides for smaller children

The South County Backroads is one of the prettiest rides anywhere

We chose the 1950's side

There is lots of 1950's themeing to go along on your tour

There is even a car wash

The Sky Tram takes you around a portion of the park and even gives you a birds-eye view of one of the greenhouses.

Going into the greenhouse

And even an overhead view of Quicksilver Express

The park is home to an amazing rock maze

We leave you with the cool garlic, which you can win at many of the games at the park.

Nozomi Super Express Shinkansen
Riding the Bullet Train in Japan

A ride on a train is fun, but's even more fun when you go at 180 mph! TDLFAN recently took a ride on the Nozomi Super Express Shinkansen (bullet train) between Nagoya and Osaka. This is the same train that takes just under 3 hours if you travel from Tokyo Station to Osaka. This particular train ride pictured below took about 48 minutes from Nagoya to Osaka, with one very very brief stop in Kyoto Station.

The Nozomi Super Express Bullet train, series -700, arrives at Nagoya station where we wait to board.

Passengers boarding the train. Like in airplanes, the seats are reserved by numbers and letters, example 18abc and 18def (window, middle, aisle). Non reserved seating is also available.

Everyone is settled in their seats and ready to go. Luggage stowed in overhead bins.

Information placards on your tray table offer a train guide in your immediate seating area and car. Here you can see I was seated in the last car #16.

Seating in the bullet trains is similar to airplane seating. They also have "Green Cars" and that is the equivalent of First class seating..bigger seats and arranged in 2-2 configuration.. with foot rests and other amenities.

The windows are big and have shades you can pull down, just like those found on airplane windows. Notice the generous amount of space between seats. You never feel cramped.

Outlets for your laptop, cellphones and other electronic devices can be found just below your seat on the wall. Some of the Shinkansen trains already offer wi-fi internet service onboard as well.

While we cruise at 180 mph...a train attendant comes through pushing a cart, offering beverages, snacks and food for sale. Like I said before.. Just like traveling in an airplane, but at least here, the attendants are very professional in appearance and in shape. Male attendants are also employed, and the train conductor (not pictured) walks by every so often, and they wear very nice "pilot like" outfits. This is a class act. Glamour baby, unlike the friendly skies now-a-days.

Arriving in Kyoto.

JR Kyoto Station...we make a brief stop here before going on to Osaka. From here, Osaka is only 14 minutes away on this train.

Note that coat hooks are built into the wall of the train next to the windows.

You never know what lovely sights you will see as you cruise along...

This is a short video shot by TDLFAN as the train cruised at approx 180 mph between Nagoya and Kyoto. The speed here is comparable to that of an airplane on take off.

The Trains in Japan website offers more information on the bullet train:

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

sir clinksalot attended the special MiceChat meet at Knott's Halloween Haunt and prepared this video recap of the festivities.

Quote:

These oversized color photo cards of the "America on Parade" Bicentennial were sold in the Park between 1975 and 1976. The publisher and distributor are not known.

All these cards are copyrighted � Walt Disney Productions.

There are eight cards in this set, not counting the variations, numbering from 0111-0590A through 0111-590H. These were sold as a package of eight and were inside a plastic package with printing on the outside. Measuring 5-3/4" by 9", these cards are actual pictures of the Bicentennial parade.
DisneylandPostcards.net

Ken Eslick also publishes a blog that features Disney postcards and other things "Disney". You can visit it here: DisneylandPostcards.blogspot.com.

Intrigued by the America on Parade postcards, I dug up some more information on this unique parade for you. I hope you will find it as interesting as I did.

Quote:

America on Parade ("AOP") was a temporary replacement for Disneyland's and the Magic Kingdom's The Main Street Electrical Parade ("MSEP") for the United States Bicentennial. Like the Main Street Electrical Parade it was also created under the direction of Disneyland's Director of Entertainment, Bob Jani. The first run was in the summer of 1975 and was originally designed to run through 1977, to commemorate the United States Bicentennial. Where the MSEP ran twice nightly, AOP ran once during the afternoon and again just prior to the nightly fireworks display. It traveled the full length of Disneyland from "it's a small world" to Town Square at the beginning of Main Street, U.S.A..

The Sherman Brothers who had left Disney Studios to work for independent film companies were asked to write a specialty song for the American Bicentennial. The song was called "The Glorious Fourth" and was performed as a part of AOP.

The parade also featured synchronized music to which performers danced set routines created by Disneyland choreographers (Barnett Ricci and Marilyn Magness). Each of the parade performers sported costumes appropriate to the float around which they danced, as well as enormous heads fixed on a custom-built apparatus for support, with the performer looking through the neck, giving the parade a carnival appearance.

The parade's soundtrack was Don Dorsey's first project for Disney. He used synthesizers and antique carousel organs to create the soundtrack. During the parade's run, Dorsey conceptualized a system which Disney would develop a computer controlled system called "Mickey Track" that controls the parade's music from 1980 and on.
Wikipedia

MiceChatter Sosai X posted this photo of an "America on Parade" era Disneyland name badge.

The Disneyland publicity machine was in full force promoting this parade, as witnessed by these magazine covers featured at DisneyNewsArchive.com.

There is a great feature about America on Parade at our sister website Yesterland.

Also MiceChat partner Alain Littaye blogged about America on Parade this year on July 4th. Alain has some unbelievable images of original artwork and models: Disney and More.

The soundtrack for America on Parade can be heard on this Youtube video:

A Super 8mm Disney souvenir film has been captured to this Youtube video. It's a little hard to watch but really shows what the parade was all about.

Our Beautiful Baltic series will be back next week.

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New Disney Gallery; Knott's Haunt; Halloween at Universal Japan; Islands of Adventure

Weekend Update — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:17:00 GMT

BREAKING PHOTOS! CaptPhoebus made a Herculean effort to bring us some photos of the new location of The Disney Gallery inside Disneyland. For those of you who may not know, The Disney Gallery has been relocated to the former Bank of Main Street building. There was a surprise waiting for CaptPhoebus when he went to check out the new digs.

Denise nbodyhome Preskitt has a Walt Disney World update this week, which is followed by Fishbulb's photos of Knott's Scary Farm Haunt. Continuing the Halloween theme, TDLFAN takes us to see the Halloween decorations and activities at Universal Studios at Universal Studios Japan.

SummerInFL's report on her first trip to Universal Studios Florida is next, followed by Ian Parkinson and Richard Williams' trip to Tallinn, Estonia.

The Disney Gallery
Disneyland

CaptPhoebus visited the new location of The Disney Gallery on grand opening day and was surprised by a very special host!

Here's a quick look into the newly reopened Disney Gallery, which opened Friday 10-2-2009. It's taken over the old Bank of Main Street and still managed to keep some of the charm from the original bank. It consists of 3 rooms, plus has direct access to the pre-show area of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. And do note, while the gallery did just reopen, it's not finished. So what you see now may look different in a few days or weeks.

Exterior Shot

Banner over Entrance

Bank Teller Window

Bank Vault

2nd of 3 Rooms

Bank Manager's Office

3rd Room

Tony Baxter even made an appearance

Walt Disney World
Orlando, Florida

Denise nbodyhome Preskitt shares a WDW update with us this week. As always, you can see more of Denise's photos at her website: mousesteps.com.

The Festival Center for the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, the movie Seasons of the Vine is playing inside as well. Samples are more expensive this year, out of my price range:

Richard Marx sings for Eat to the Beat:

Starship with Mickey Thomas also played, and they were terrific:

The monorail was down on one of the days I was there, and boats were being used in a very big way:

The People Mover is working, and I took those photos towards Space Mountain and the old Skyway station. Space Mountain is testing the cars now, it looks like not too much was done during the relatively short rehab:

The new marble tiling at the Grand Floridian (not yet finished) includes some Disney characters:

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

Fishbulb posted a great trip report for MiceChat night at Knott's Scary Farm Haunt. We offer you a special Weekend Update sampler of his photos. You can view all of the photos and read the trip report HERE.

The Dragon made an appearance at the hanging

Universal Studios Japan
Osaka, Japan

Based on the reports we have been receiving from TDLFAN over the last few weeks, the Japanese seem to be quite enchanted with an American style Halloween celebration. In his latest effort, TDLFAN takes us on a trip to Universal Studios Japan which is in Osaka, about seven hours by car from Tokyo.

TDLFAN goes to Osaka's Universal Studios Japan where this year's edition of "Magical Halloween" is currently playing to pack house until November 3rd. Unlike the Universal Parks in Hollywood and Orlando, where guts and gore galore during halloween, Universal Japan goes the opposite way and offers a most fun, not so scary, family friendly halloween that rivals and sometimes surpasses what the Disney parks offer their guests(cough*WDW*cough). Taking advantage of their popular character lineup, and some liberties copied from Disney's films, Universal Japan has risen to a level of quality that not only surpasses their own parks in CA and FL, but also comes to match the quality that is most common of the Disney parks. And why not? Universal draws heavily from the example set forth by Tokyo Disney Resort (itself the resort that sets the Disney standard in theme park entertainment mind you). Could Universal Japan be ripping off Tokyo Disney right and left? Maybe, but in the process, they are offering top notch quality, for the same price charged at TDR for a single day passport, which is usually less than what we pay at the Disney parks states-side for a single day at the park. Enjoy Halloween at Universal Studios Japan!

Arriving at Universal Japan on the local train is always fun.

Welcome to Universal Studios Japan!

40 minutes after the park had opened, the lines outside the entrance gates were very very long!!!

Snack of choice: Pumpkin Churros.

Ears anyone?

The Universal Studios Store is packed with Halloween merchandise.

"ET Adventure" is history, but this side attraction is now opened. "ET Adventure, The legend". TDLFAN did not do this attraction as the line was 110 minutes long and there is NO Express option.

Cute Halloween decor can be found all over the park. Like TDR, they do go all out in decor.

TDLFAN loves this Hot Dog stand.. It has more 3D theming than most C-tickets at WDW's MK.

New York Street sets.. look closely, we are NOT in Orlando. Here in Osaka, even the floors are much nicer in this park.

Yes, you too can buy this plush and walk around the park in style.

Snoopy's Studios.

Land of Oz.

Hollywood Boulevard.

During the show "Elmo's Halloween Audition" (think American Idol in costumes), Ernie and Bert dress up as Franky and the wolfman.

"Elmo's Halloween Audition" show finale.

Universal Studios Japan was really crowded on this day, with wait times at most attractions to be over 2 hours.

"The Halloween Character Parade" steps off daily and it is fun for the entire family.

The Halloween parade features several confetti blasts... but look closely! The confetti is cut in bat shape, so it appears that hundreds of baby bats are flying above!! Very imaginative!!

At night time.. real ghosts appear on Hollywood Boulevard, as guests await this evening performance of the electrical parade. YES, you read that correctly, electrical parade at Universal!

The fabulous "Magical Starlight Parade" begins. TDLFAN was quite surprised at the high level of quality of this parade. The floats are tall, the lights are very very bright, hundreds of performers wear many fabulous costumes, and there are a lot of new special effects that frankly in some floats, surpasses what TDL does with their "Dreamlights" parade. It makes all other electrical parades obsolete.. and these pictures do not do justice.. One downside to this parade: it draws way too much from Disney's parades.. offering Universal's version of what Alice in Wonderland and Cinderella, or even Aladdin would be. A rip off of Disney? Yes and no. These ae folk tales.. and Disney does not own them.. however, it would have been better if Universal had used original theming and storylines here. Nevertheless.. the parade is stunning to watch and a 'must-do' when you visit USJ.
Here, Elmo opens the parade..

...followed by the signature USJ characters. (These floats do 360 spins)

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Arabian Nights. This is TDLFAN's favorite sequence of the parade.

Is that... Abu?

Cinderella sequence.

That's Cinderella in white sparkling dress and Prince Charming.

The last float reads.. "May all your wishes come true". This is how the parade ends. Very Disneyfied.

After the parade, the huge crowd rushes out of the park.

Last chance to have your photo taken at the revolving Universal Studios logo sphere.

Good bye and good night from Universal Studios Japan. Note the advertisement for Universal's Wonder Christmas on the archway, which begins in November 5th.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN!!!!

Part 2 Island of Adventure

SummerInFL finishes up her inaugural trip to Universal Studios Florida with Islands of Adventure.

First Impression walking in the gate. Wow! The attention to detail in this park is amazing. As a person that doesn't really like to shop I wanted to stop and take in every corner nook.

Each land has wonderful characteristics of their own, my favorite was probably Seuss Landing. Who doesn't love Dr. Suess?

I do not like them Sam I am, I do not like green eggs and ham!

The Dark Continent makes you worry you'll anger some God for fear of being smited. Luckily I had a trusty tour guide to get me through the temple. ;)

Toon Lagoon pops you right into the Sunday Comics for many wild and wet surprises!

Marvel SuperHero Island appeals to the comic book geek in all of us.

Overall IOA was a beautiful park, the theming was wonderful but the attractions didn't really live up to the level of detail the rest of the park had. I still had a wonderful time at both parks and my children and I had had a great time exploring. Both parks were laid out nicely and touring the parks flowed well, adding in the nice balance of theme and I can see why people enjoy what Universal and Islands of Adventure has to offer.

[/CENTER]

Tallinn, Estonia

Ian Parkinson and Richard Williams continue their Beautiful Baltic adventure with photos and video from Tallinn Estonia

Quote:

Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies a surface of 61.5 square miles in which 404,000 inhabitants live. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, 50 miles south of Helsinki.

Since independence, improving air and sea transport links with Western Europe and Estonia's accession to the European Union have made Tallinn easily accessible to tourists.

Estonia has made rapid economic progress since independence and this is reflected in local prices. Although not extortionate, neither are prices as cheap as in other former Eastern Bloc countries.

The main attractions are in the two old towns (Lower Town and Toompea) which are both easily explored on foot. Eastern districts around Pirita and Kadriorg are also worth visiting and the Estonian Open Air Museum (Eesti Vaba�humuuseum) near Rocca al Mare, west of the city, preserves aspects of Estonian rural culture and architecture.
Wikipedia

Ian and Richard are offering a hardcover book version of Beautiful Baltic at lulu.

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Weekend Update FIRST LOOK: Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy; Halloween Screams Fireworks

Weekend Update — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 06:41:05 GMT

BREAKING NEWS! Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Halloween Screams Fireworks!

We're very lucky to have breaking photos from Disneyland for you! Fishbulb provides a first look at the latest seasonal incarnation of one of our favorite attractions: Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy. I talked to him on the phone just a few hours ago and his breathless account of the new special effects has me anxiously awaiting my next trip to the Anaheim park.

CaptPhoebus also has breaking photos for us – fantastic shots of the new seasonal fireworks show at Disneyland: Halloween Screams - A Villainous Surprise in the Skies. I didn't get a firsthand report from him, but his photos are worth a thousand words!

We have a report from a Universal Studios Orlando first-timer, and you might be surprised who it is. Weekend Update crew member and theme park aficionado SummerInFL shares a report from her very first visit to the Universal side of town. After Summer's report we have some more signs from Tokyo Disneyland courtesy of TDLFAN.

Ian Parkinson and Richard Williams continue their Beautiful Baltic adventure with photos and video from Stockholm. To complete our whirlwind trip around the world we have photos from Egypt thanks to sir clinksalot.

Halloween at Disneyland Special Report
Fishbulb and CaptPhoebus

We have some great photos of Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy from Fishbulb, but first we set the scene with these photos from the park entrance.

Photos from Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy

SPOILER ALERT! Scroll down to see photos from inside the attraction:

JUST KIDDING! Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Actually, Fishbulb tells me that it is VERY VERY dark inside the actual attraction. Even darker than usual. So dark that photos are nearly impossible. Besides, you want to see it for yourself, don't you?

However, the following photos are of the surprise special effects OUTSIDE of the building – projected onto the Space Mountain dome. Fishbulb reports that the effects are amazing:

Some very satisfied riders:

Halloween Screams - A Villainous Surprise in the Skies
CaptPhoebus

Here are a few of the pics I took tonight. It's not castle close, but it allows for great views of all the fireworks, as well as good angle on the Jack inflatable. Enjoy!

More of CaptPhoebus' photos are HERE.

Universal Studios
Orlando, Florida

SummerInFL provides this chronicle of her first visit to Universal Studios Orlando. This week she visits Universal Studios and next week she will travel over to Islands of Adventure.

A few months ago a thought occurred to me that in the many years I've lived in FL I had never visited Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Well, as luck would have it, not long after, I received a flyer in the mail with a free ticket just for me, what are the odds?

So I hopped in the car last Sunday and drove over to see how the other parks do it. ;)

City Walk

I decided to start with Universal first and I headed in with nothing but a map and a sense of adventure.

If you are Lucille Ball fan, as I am, then you will enjoy this walk through tribute.

Reg..Bev..Wil (Can you guess the movie reference?)

Who says you can't walk Central Park outside of NYC?

As I had two parks to get through that day I opted for the Express Pass which gets you to the front of most of the major attractions.

First up, The Simpsons! I will say this is probably the best simulator ride I've ever experienced, it was AMAZING!

Alien Attack!! At least I think that's what it was, there was this flash of light and I don't really remember what happened? Weird.

I would love to tell you that I encountered Jaws and lived to tell the tale but sadly as I was on the far right of the boat, all I got were pretty buildings.

Everybody say Ohhhhhhh.....

Everybody say Ahhhhh....

But who can complain when you are in San Francisco?

Disaster was like The Backlot Tour at DHS, if the tram went two feet and then stopped. Great audience participation though!

Museum of Antiquities? Yes please! What? A big angry mummy wants to kill me? I didn't sign up for this!!! Luckily I escaped with movie star windblown hair and a smile.

TAXI! Hmm, can't seem to catch one. This place is so realistic!

Who doesn't love a good tornado, apparently not Wakita.

I was unfortunately unable to ride Rip Ride Rocket but it looked really great from below!

Crowded room, stinky face, I think you know where I'm going here. It's Shrek 4-D!

I completely regressed to my childhood when I rode this attraction. E.T. phone hoooommmmee..

Scooby! Shaggy!

After much movie magic and fun I decided to head over to Islands of Adventure, check back next week for the continuation!

I do not like them Sam I am, I do not like green eggs and ham...

Stockholm, Sweden

Quote:

Stockholm is the capital and largest city of Sweden. It is the site of the national Swedish government, the Riksdag (parliament), and the official residence of the Swedish Monarch as well as the prime minister. The Monarch resides at Drottningholm Palace outside of Stockholm since 1980 and uses the Royal Palace of Stockholm as his workplace and official residence. The prime minister lives in the Sager Palace. As of 2008, the Stockholm metropolitan area is home to approximately 21% of Sweden's population and contributes to 35% of Sweden's gross domestic product. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden with a population of 818,603 in the city, 1.25 million in the urban area (2005) and around 2 million in the metropolitan area.

Stockholm has been the cultural, media, political, and economic centre of Sweden since the 13th century. Its strategic location on 14 islands on the south-central east coast of Sweden at the mouth of Lake M�laren, by the Stockholm archipelago, has been historically important. Stockholm is known for its beauty, its buildings and architecture, its abundant open water and many parks. Stockholm is one of the most visited cities in the Nordic countries, with around one million visitors in 2006.
Wikipedia

Ian and Richard are offering a hardcover book version of Beautiful Baltic at lulu.

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

Exotic Egypt
sir clinksalot

This week we continue with Belle's aunt's trip and find ourselves in Egypt.

Inside one of the Egyptian churches

Some amazing architecture

Inside another church

The Nile at night

The intricacy of some of the rock work is amazing

It is readers like you who make MiceChat such a special place.

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Weekend Update: Tokyo Halloween; Disney Parks and Expo; Gdansk, Poland; Niagara Falls

Weekend Update — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 04:35:29 GMT

First up this week I want to thank all of the Weekend Update readers who stopped by the MiceChat booth at the D23 Expo. We had a lot of fun meeting all of the nice MiceChatters.

It's Halloween time at the Disney resorts and that includes Tokyo. TDLFAN has a report on the Halloween decorations that have gone up at the Tokyo Disney Resort. Denise nbodyhome Preskitt checks in with a bicoastal report. Boy has she been busy! First she shares some photos of Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party in Florida, then takes us to the D23 Expo and the Disneyland Resort.

Following that, SummerInFL takes us on a moist journey to Niagara Falls. Apparently it was the bonus prize for visiting the in-laws. Then we have another chapter in Richard Williams and Ian Parkinson's Beautiful Baltic. These photos make me want to break out my passport!

Please join us for another edition of MiceAge's Weekend Update!

Disney's Halloween started at TOKYO DISNEY RESORT this past September 10th, and will last until November 3rd. Both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disneysea share the halloween event for the first time since Halloween became a must-do yearly celebration at TDL park. While TDL retains the very popular happy/not-so-scary Disney halloween, TDS has introduced a different alternative with a very Venetian-style masquerade halloween event of their own. Both events play well against one another and offer TDR guests with two very distintive halloween alternative that cover ALL guest demographics. It's a strike of genious and the beginning of what is to be one of the most memorable Halloween seasons at TDR, ever!!!

Upon arriving at TDL, we are greeted by a very traditional halloween atmosphere, Disney style.

Happy ghosts materialize all over TDL!!

Welcome to TDL's Disney Halloween 2009!!

This year's hub centerpiece decor.

Some of the decor found around the Hub.

Yes folks.. this is the line you have to make if you want your photo taken at the Hub's centerpiece decor spot.

Those wacky TDL fans... dress up for halloween. Fun is the name of the game.

You never know who you will meet in TDL. That's TDS' Duffy stealing camera time.

Fantasyland.

Haunted Mansion Holiday Nightmare is back for an encore performance.

Fun, varied and colorful halloween banners (exclusive to this year's theme) can be enjoyed around the hub area.

Some cool and very TDL-exclusive halloween merchandise highlights this year's villains' theme.

In the meantime, a short trip on the Disney Resort Line away from TDL.. we arrive at TDSea, where a venetian halloween event is taking place... along with some stunning and elegant decor.. See the row of candles atop the decor? they flicker at night in glorious purple glow as a background.

Venetian masquedare decor around Mediterranean Harbor. At night, these decoration light up in beautiful flickering faux candlelights..

Gotta love those rainbow feathered masks.... ;)

Venetian Gondola alley...

American Waterfront streets are decorated for halloween. These "cobwebs" are lit in green and purple at night.. very pretty.

Marquee announced TDS' main halloween show, "Mysterious Masquerade", playing daily at Waterfront Park.

"Mysterious Masquerade" show stage is large and impressively decorated with "haunted" artifacts. Show story revolves around a mysterious masquerade being held at Hightower Hotel (aka TOT) where Mr' Hightower's impressive collection of artifacts comes to life and possess some very disneyesque masquerade guests...

The Halloween 'photo op' location near TOT is very elegant and popular with guests.

Cape Cod is also decorated for Halloween.. featuring traditional decor and the ever popular Duffy, the Disney bear.

Even the fire truck at Cape Cod got decorated for Halloween.

Duffy the Disney Bear... in a rare moment of solitude from pesky fanatic guests. He models this year's halloween costume.

Mickey and Minnie perform during "Mysterious Masquerade". The costuming on this show alone is probably much more expensive than any show produced for the castle stage at the MK park in the MK. The plush versions of Mickey and Minnie in the outfits seen here are the biggest sellers at TDS right now. Get yours while they last.. because they will not last until the end of the halloween event.. trust me on that!

The SS Columbia glitters in the night time hours..

Mount Prometheus does it's nightly roar, to remind the WDC management and guests everywhere it is the centerpiece of Disney's most fabulous theme park ever built.

"BraviSEAmo!" fiery finale.

Guests exit TDSea after a full day of venetian halloween fun.. Note "BraviSEAmo!"s fountains dancing in the background.

Back at TDL... Cinderella Castle is lit in Halloween orange and purple color in the night time.

All decorations around the Hub are lit with colorful effects and purple dark light effects.

A million guests leave TDL at the end of the day after a full day of Halloween fun (at regular day ticket rates mind you unlike that other MK park..) Everyone goes home HAPPY!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM TDR!!! :)!!!

Cavalcade of Disney Photos
Anaheim, California and Orlando, Florida

Denise nbodyhome Preskitt has been a very busy Disney bee lately, with trips to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party in Orlando and the Disney Parks and D23 Expo in Anaheim. I'm not sure how she found the time to share these photos with us.

A couple of the 300 Not So Scary Halloween Party photos I have on my website mousesteps.com.

Christmas at Disneyland (part of Main Street was decorated for filming of a commercial):

California Adventure construction:

Disneyland photos:

And I was attending the D23 Expo, which was incredible! I have way too many photos of it. Here are a few:

The Legends Award Ceremony:

Richard Sherman:

Maynard visits D23:

Jay Rasulo:

Outside the convention center:

John Lasseter at the press conference:

And at a presentation on the last day:

MickeyMaxx and Monorail Man at the Micechat booth:

Fishbulb at the Micechat booth with a Mr. Toad car:

Staff members on the last day (after the event closed) in front of the Lego mosaic:

Cinderella's Coach on the last day after closing, getting ready to be taken away:

A weekend away from home to see the in-laws is usually not at the top of anyone's list (depending on your in-laws;)) but if you happen to be near one of the world's best natural wonders, sometimes the trek is worth it.

Quote:

The Niagara Falls are voluminous waterfalls on the Niagara River, straddling the international border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. The falls are 17 miles (27 km) north-northwest of Buffalo, New York and 75 miles (120 km) south-southeast of Toronto, Ontario, between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York.
Niagara Falls is composed of two major sections separated by Goat Island: Horseshoe Falls, the majority of which lies on the Canadian side of the border, and American Falls on the American side. The smaller Bridal Veil Falls are also located on the American side, separated from the main falls by Luna Island.
Wikipedia

As we wanted to get as close as possible to the falls, we discovered they had this wonderful attraction called The Cave of the Winds.

Quote:

The cave was some 130 feet (40m) high, 100 feet (30m) wide and 30 feet (9m) in depth. It was discovered in 1834, and originally dubbed Aeolus' Cave, after the Greek god of winds. Guided tours began officially in 1841, and continued until a rock fall in 1920 made it clear the passage was no longer safe. The tour officially reopened in 1924, now bringing visitors to the front of the Bridal Veil instead of behind it, on a series of decks and walkways. Tropical storm-like conditions can be experienced, as winds can reach up to 68 mph underneath the falls.
Wikipedia

For $11 a piece, they give you these slip resistant shoes and a stylish yellow poncho. My guess is that it's yellow so they can spot you better should you fall into the river but I'm sure that's not something they would admit. ;)

Inside this building is an elevator that takes you down 175ft to a tunnel that leads outside. As we headed down we were told by the elevator operator that they dug the elevator shaft by hand and created the structure above us with the extra rocks.

As we exit we see to our left this stunning view of Horseshoe Falls.

*sings* Oh Canada! (Off to the right)

The Sky Tower across the lake, don't get to close, I'm told it stings a little.

To our right we see our destination, the entrance to the left and the exit to the right. We knew the exit was to the right based on the considerable amount of water each person carried with them.

Time to break out the waterproof camera! I knew there was a reason I bought it!

We have to go....up there? *gulp*

The roar is defeaning to hear, being this close to something so massive you can't help but be in awe of it's power and beauty.

The closer you get the "hurricane deck" the more the falls would randomly fall over the walkways. Unfortunately when Phil decided to go stand and take a photo, a wave kind of caught him off caught. I didn't laugh....too hard.

Even though the rain was torrential, there was a level of peace in the air. You couldn't help but stare at the wonder of mother nature.

We edged closer to the hurricane deck, the already pelting water batting us in the face, it was such a rush!
(I'm going to ask that you forgive me for the water droplets in the photos now, I think given the situation you understand that it was impossible to clean the lens.)

68mph winds is enough to drive anyone the other direction and we walked ever so carefully toward the exit.

We left a little bit wetter than when we arrived but we definitely still had smiles on our faces.

For a more dry view of the falls, we headed back up to the overlook area above the falls.

There is a boat ride called Maid of the Mist that takes you as close to the falls as you can get! Unfortunately it's only accessible on the Canada side so make sure you bring your passport if you go!

There are many walking paths scattered through out the island, most of them taking you along the rapids of the river.

There were little alcoves here and there that got you closer to the rapids themselves, you just have to make sure you are careful because it's not a lazy river!

A short 50 second video of the area:

MOV09621

Anybody got a barrel?

From this vantage point you can see where we were earlier.

An overview of the hurricane deck, that man is braver than I am!

It's amazing to me how something so massive can be so peaceful at the same time. If you ever have the opportunity, I highly recommend going at least once to experience the falls, you will never forget it!

Gdansk, Poland

Quote:

Gdańsk is the city at the center of the fourth-largest metropolitan area in Poland. It is Poland's principal seaport as well as the capital of the Pomeranian Voivodeship. It is also historically the largest city of the Kashubian region. The city is close to the former boundary between West Slavic and Germanic lands and it has a complex political history with long spells of Polish rule interspersed with periods of German control and two spells as a free city. For much of its history the majority of its inhabitants were German-speakers who referred to their city as Danzig, but after World War II it again became part of Poland.
Wikipedia

(All of the videos in this series feature award winning music from the Eurovision Song Contest.)

Quote:

The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition. Each country participates via one of their national EBU-member television stations, whose task it is to select a singer and a song to represent their country in the international competition. The Contest has been broadcast every year since its inauguration in 1956 and is one of the longest-running television programmes in the world. It is also one of the most-watched non-sporting events in the world, with audience figures having been quoted in recent years as anything between 100 million and 600 million internationally. Eurovision has also been broadcast outside Europe to such places as Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Egypt, India, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Uruguay despite the fact that they do not compete. Since the year 2000, the Contest has also been broadcast over the Internet, with more than 74,000 people in almost 140 countries having watched the 2006 edition online.
Wikipedia

Ian and Richard are offering a hardcover book version of Beautiful Baltic at lulu.

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

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

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Weekend Update: Penny Arcade Expo; Sea World Nights; Olso, Norway; Route 66

Weekend Update — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:18:00 GMT

We're having a blast at the D23 Expo this weekend. It's been so much fun meeting all of our MiceAge and MiceChat friends. Don't forget that there are two more fun packed days remaining. Come on out and get your Disney geek on, visit the MiceChat booth and register for your chance to win one of the hundreds of prizes we're giving away during the course of the Expo. You'll find lots of up to the minute coverage of the Expo in the D23 Section of MiceChat.

We start the Weekend Update this week with a report from Monorail Man on an expo of a very different kind. He went to Seattle to experience the Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle. Talk about your geeks!

CaptPhoebus continues reporting on his recent trip to San Diego. This time we have a look at the nighttime shows at Sea World. After that, we're off to the Baltic with a new series of reports from Ian Parkinson and Richard Williams. Finally, we have a trip down memory lane and Route 66 through vintage post card images.

Penny Arcade Expo
Seattle, Washington

Monorail Man takes us to gamer Nirvana!

Greetings from the 2009 Penny Arcade Expo!

What is the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX)? It's the ultimate convention for gamers. No matter if your into tabletop gaming (like Dungons and Dragons, or board games), computer games, handheld games or console games - you'll find eveything you want to do at PAX!

Quote:

The Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) is an annual gamer festival held in Washington state, USA. PAX was created by Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik, the authors of the Penny Arcade webcomic, because they wanted to attend a show that gave equal attention to console gamers, computer gamers, and tabletop gamers.

Created in 2004, PAX has nearly doubled in size each successive year and has been hailed as a weekend-long celebration of gamer culture. Defining characteristics include an insider keynote speech, game-inspired concerts, panels on game industry topics, exhibitor booths, after-hours parties, tournaments, and freeplay areas.

Wikipedia

PAX is held in Washington each year, and this year it was held at the Washington State Convention Center.

Not exactly "out sick", but you get the picture.

Once you're inside the door, you'll find a couple of helpful things:

You'll find the rules to PAX - don't break these our you could be tossed out by one of the "Enforcers".

The world map. Each level contains more fun than you ever thought possible. Don't get lost!

When the convention doors open, you'll find lots to do at PAX:

You can grab a bean bag chair, and kick back and play some handheld games (or like most people there - take a nap).

You'll find over a dozen rooms for tabletop games. You can check out a wide selection of european board games, or a Monster Manual for those adventure types.

You can play in open PC gaming competitions.

You can also head over to Console Freeplay and play all of your favorite video games.

Don't forget to look over your PAX Instruction Booklet, because it gives you the times for great panels about everything gaming!

For example, the stars of The Guild were there answering questions.

However, the most important part of PAX is the Expo Hall. Where video game companies bedazzle you with their latest and greatest games.

Welcome to the Expo Hall!

There's plenty of booths to explore, so you'll be back here all weekend long!

Some booths went all out, this one even had a mechanical horse.

There were also both that were themed, like this one for a new WWI shooting game (Darkest of Days).

Don't you wish you had a setup like this at home?

You'll even find cool props on the floor, like this one from the new Avatar movie that's coming out.

Even Disney was there, demoing its new Split Second racing game.

Over 50,000 people were at PAX this year. Quite a group for a bunch of nerds!

Overall, PAX is a great event filled with people who just want to have fun playing games. I can't wait to go back next year!

Sea World
San Diego, California

CaptPhoebus continues his report on his San Diego weekend.

Summer Nights at SeaWorld San Diego

Here's a little look back to what SeaWorld San Diego had to offer during their usual summer promotion, Summer Nights. It may seem strange that a "water" park be open past sunset, but SeaWorld definitely sure steps up the entertainment and does a great job of keeping you in the park well into the evening hours. It just takes a little planning, but you'll be able to see everything that there is to offer. Below is just a sampling of what the typical nightly shows would entail.

Ignight
Ignight is the nighttime dolphin show that features everyone's favorite Bottlenose and Commerson's Dolphins. Though lacking a unified storyline, it weaves a story throughout 4 different vignettes using both the trainers and the dolphins as the cast of characters. The show takes use of a lot of lighting effects, as well as fire effects to help ignite the stage aglow.

Shamu Rocks
A "worldwide" concert showcasing the various sounds from across the globe. Shamu delights the crowd as performers dance and rock out in the background. Lighting and video effects help to accent this dazzling show.

Fireworks

Sea Lions Tonite
Sea Lions Tonite is not your typical show. The show itself is all about recreating the other shows and attractions that one would experience during their day at SeaWorld. Those lovable Sea Lions Clyde and Seamore take on the roles of dolphins, orcas, acrbobats, and even dogs and cats. It's definitely a show not to miss.

He's got Oh Oh Oh-Oh-Oh, the Right Stuff

We're lucky to have another fantastic photo report from Richard Williams and Ian Parkinson. This time they take us along with them on their Baltic cruise. Today we visit Oslo, Norway. In the weeks to come, we'll see Gdansk, Stockholm, Tallinn, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, Copenhagen and Bruges.

Quote:

Oslo is the capital and largest city in Norway. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the town was largely destroyed by a fire in 1624. The Danish–Norwegian king Christian IV rebuilt the city as Christiania (later spelling Kristiania). Oslo, then an alternative name, became official again in 1925. The diocese of Oslo is one of the five original dioceses in Norway, which originated around the year 1070.

Oslo is the cultural, scientific, economic and governmental centre of Norway. The city is also a hub of Norwegian trade, banking, industry and shipping.
Wikipedia

The music for each video in this series is a Eurovision Song Contest Song for that particular country.

Today, we have a post card folder that celebrates the romance of Route 66, the first continuous road to link Los Angeles with Chicago. In 1926, it was thought of as a "super highway", and generations enjoyed the freedom of travel it represented. Strangely, this card folder takes us on a pictorial trip from Los Angeles to . . . St. Louis! Not quite all the way to Chicago! Nonetheless, the vistas are spectacular the color is brilliant, the sensibilities a bit dated, but still it manages to make me yearn for that simpler time. Anybody want to hitch a ride?

Quote:

Whatever the reason, the Mother Road is an experience, a feeling, a perception, a taste of
sight and sound, and a mystery that can only be resolved by driving the pavement itself.

Route 66 - History and Information

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

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

Follow us on Twitter

Weekend Update: Mystery Spot; WDW Update; Tokyo DisneySea; Santa Cruz Boardwalk;

Weekend Update — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 04:11:21 GMT

We start and end our Weekend Update trip around the world this week in Santa Cruz, California. Fishbulb spent a few hours at the "gravitational anomaly" known as the Mystery Spot and I think you'll find his photo report fun and witty. Denise nbodyhome Preskitt is back this week after a brief absence with some up-to-date photos from Walt Disney World. TDLFAN shares photos of one of my favorite Disney parks (if only voyeuristically...is that a word?)

Sunshine Seasons inside The Land Pavilion at Epcot is a great spot for a quick meal or a snack and SummerInFL shares her review of this popular Disney dining venue. Finally we end up in Santa Cruz again, this time for sir clinksalot's behind the scenes look at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

Are you attending the D23 Expo next weekend? Visit the MiceChat booth and see your favorite MiceAge, MiceChat, Yesterland, and partner site personalities and authors. Meet Al Lutz (MiceAge Editor), Sue Kruse (MiceAge Writer), Werner Weiss (Curator of Yesterand), Eddie Shapiro (of Gay Days Anaheim and Author of Queens In The Kingdom), as well as some of your favorite staff and members from the MiceChat discussion boards. We will also have fantastic give-aways and prizes from our amazing sponsors and partners: Howard Johnson Anaheim Resort, Fairy Godmother Travel, Orlando Fun Tickets, and Disney's Character Warehouse, and Kevin Yee (MiceAge Writer and author of Disney travel and trivia books).

Stop by to say hello, pick up some free stuff, and find out all the insider info that you can only get from us! If you enjoy reading Weekend Update every week, please ask for Rixter. I would love to meet you.

The Mystery Spot
Santa Cruz, California

Our good friend Fishbulb treats us to a rare trip to Santa Cruz's Mystery Spot. If you grew up in SoCal like I did, this will bring back fond memories of Knott's Berry Farm's Haunted Shack.

Here are our pics from our July trip to the world famous Mystery Spot of Santa Cruz California

Quote:

The Mystery Spot is a tourist attraction located near Santa Cruz, California. It was opened in 1939. The operators of the small site (which is about 150 feet in diameter) claim that it is a place where the laws of physics and gravity do not apply and provide a number of demonstrations in support of these claims.

Phenomena demonstrated by the tour guides (and by visitors using levels) include two people standing on opposite sides of a level surface who appear to change height as they switch positions and a ball that appears to roll up a plank. At the site, an old shed appears to have lost part of its foundation and is slanted and oddly angled. Additional claims of mystery are the growth patterns of trees and their branches within the Mystery Spot, the lack of animals such as dogs, rodents or even birds inside the compound (visitors are not allowed to bring their dogs on the tour) and the distortion of magnetically calibrated measurement devices such as compasses or even GPS devices.
Wikipedia

The trip begins on a wooded path barely big enough for two cars to pass each other on.

Ticket Booth

Your Mystery trip begins here where the areas gravitational anomaly is demonstrated

Then up the hill to the shack that was built on this peace of land

Gravitational illusions are demonstrated and volunteers are asked for.

The tour guide demonstrates how leaning off of this piece of
furniture poses no threat when the gravity is out of whack

We tried it

Look out Fishbulb!

Dustysage demonstrates the odd equilibrium in the room by standing next to the hanging weight

Out the other end of the shack. The Haunted Shack (get it?)

Yep this is level

A group stands shortest to tallest

then they reverse places

Same here

At the end of the tour everyone gets the free, ubiquitous yellow bumper sticker

Dusty applauds our tour guide

The website Sandlot Science has an article about "mystery spots" plus a list of some existing and defunct spots around the country:

Quote:

We know them by many names but collectively they are known as Mystery Spots because of the mysterious events which often occur in, or near them. Lucky for us their owners love to show them off and visitors are welcome to come in and see the resident "alien vortex," and other strange phenomenon...for a small fee. Mystery Spots are a product of the Great Depression, a time when entertainment was just about the only industry still growing in America. Mystery Spots continue to draw crowds and delight visitors to this day.
Sandlot Science

Walt Disney World
Orlando, Florida

Denise nbodyhome Preskitt share shares a brief Walt Disney World update with us. As always, you can find out what Denise has been up to lately by reading her website: mousesteps.com.

A recent rainy day at the Studios:

Last weekend, I was at two events to honor veterans. Singer Tony Orlando was at both of them (he is a big veterans advocate):

Congressman Gus Bilrakis from Tarpon Springs had arranged the events, he is in the photo along with myself, my dad, and former Congressman Mike Bilrakis (and Tony Orlando):

Over at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Luxo Jr. is in testing phase again - I was able to get photos and video of him back in June, but he's not been out as often since then:

And the Osborne Lights are quickly going up:

There is a new paint job on Innoventions:

And everything is pretty much decked out for Halloween at the Magic Kingdom:

Space Mountain's name has been ripped off:

The skyway is now being demolished:

Tokyo DisneySea
Tokyo, Japan

TDLFAN's back with some photos from Tokyo DisneySeas.

TDLFAN goes to Tokyo DisneySea... "Where Imagination Sets Sail"... and enjoy the surroundings as well as a performance of this summer special show "Bonfire Dance".

TDS' signature icon.. Mount Prometheus, at dusk.

Mediterranean harbor is a lovely place for a stroll as the Sun sets...

Guests become part of a show by the shores of Mediterranean Harbor.

All is well in New York Street.

Fanciest restrooms of all in any Disney park worldwide.

Tower of Terror sitting pretty.

This is going to be the main entrance into Turtle Talk.

Turtle Talk with Crush.. Opens on October 1st 2009.

American Waterfront.

Cape Cod's sleepy village.

Sun sets over Cape Cod.

Underpass to Mediterranean Harbor from Cape Cod.

That lovely volcano, again...

Guests line up to participate in the Leonardo Challenge, an interactive adventure that takes place inside Fortress Explorations.

The Lovely Miracosta Hotel...

Banners announcing "Bonfire Dance" greet guests as they arrive at Arabian Coast.

Mickey performs during the Bonfire Dance show..

Aquatopia lights up the night in Port Discovery.

Tower of Terror looms eerily in the night time sky...

Night time in the City...

Beams of lights herald the arrival of Mickey Mouse as tonight's "BraviSEAmo!" performance begins..

The volcano does some nifty things and if you blink during the show.. you will miss it. Here the volcano 'spits' smoke circles into the night sky... Try to match that Cinderella castle!!

The Firebird commands everyone's attention during it's fiery rise from the icy waters below... It's one of Disney's most impressive show tricks ever produced. I am still wondering how they light up fireworks from a prop that sits below water.... Hmmm...

Fireworks fill Mediterranean Harbor as BraviSEAmo! comes to it's climax.

Mount Prometheus lights up the sky as BraviSEAmo! comes to an end.

That concludes our visit to Tokyo DisneySea.

San Diego Zoo
San Diego, California

CaptPhoebus continues his San Diego weekend trip report with photos from the San Diego Zoo including the newest feature of the Zoo: Elephant Odyssey.

No visit to San Diego is complete until you make a stop at the World Famous San Diego Zoo. Definitely plan on spending the day here as it's very easy to loose track of time as you check out all the trails, paths, and exhibits which are so nicely laid out adjacent to each other. If hilly terrain is an issue, take note that the Zoo is basically in a canyon, and while it might be easy to get down to the lower areas, it's not so easy to get back uphill quickly.

This trip to the World Famous San Diego Zoo is going to be focused on its newest exhibit area, Elephant Odyssey.

Quote:

The World Famous San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California is one of the largest and most progressive zoos in the world with over 4,000 animals of more than 800 species. It is also one of the few zoos in the world that houses the giant panda.[1] It is privately operated by the nonprofit Zoological Society of San Diego on 100 acres (0.40 km2) of parkland leased from the City of San Diego, and ownership of all animals, equipment and other assets rests with the City of San Diego.

Wikipedia

Quote:

Elephant Odyssey
This exhibit opened on May 26, 2009 in the area once known as Hoof and Horn Mesa. The main feature of the exhibit is the 2.5-acre elephant habitat--more than 3 times the size of the Zoo's former elephant exhibit. The herd includes one male and six females and blends the Zoo's herd of one African and two Asian elephants with the Wild Animal Park's four Asian Elephants. Elephant Odyssey also features a glimpse of the past with the Fossil Portal and life-size statues of ancient creatures of Southern California next to the exhibits of their modern-day counterparts. The ancient life represented include the Columbian Mammoth, the saber-tooth cat, the American lion, the Daggett's eagle, and the Giant Ground Sloth. Elephant Odyssey's other animal exhibits include African lions, jaguars, tapirs, guanacos, tree sloths, Secretary birds, dung beetles, turtles, frogs, camels, pronghorn, horses, rattlesnakes, and for the first time at the Zoo, the California condor.

Wikipedia

The fastest way to the new exhibit, Skyfari of course.

Welcome sign.

The first area you encounter focuses on California's past animals.

Past meets present in the next exhibit area. Now who's a pretty kitty/

Half of the new elephant enclosure.

Tree of Life? You be the judge.

At the end of the exhibit, the graceful California Condors.

And lastly, here's a few selected shots from the park:

Meerkats

Gorilla

Bonobo

One of the many trails to explore, doesn't it just look peaceful.

For more of my zoo pictures, check out my San Diego Trip Report thread.

SummerInFL shares another installment of her "The World Unfurled" series. Sunshine Seasons is one of my favorite counter service venues in Walt Disney World. It has a wide variety of food and a huge capacity for hungry visitors. In fact, a few MiceChat meets have been held there for those very reasons.

The World Unfurled

Sunshine Seasons

Too many times it's easy to get stuck in a groove with the same food choices at Walt Disney World. Whether something is convenient, familiar or you just know you'll never be disappointed when you go. Well I want to cover a less talked about location that offers not only variety, but excellent food for the price. I'm talking about Sunshine Seasons in the Land Pavilion at Epcot.

It is located on the lower level of the Land Pavilion and it is themed after the four seasons, each seating area given to a respective time of the year, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.

The "seasoned" tables.

The entrance to the area is near Soarin, with a convenient visual menu of what they have to offer.

Once you have decided what it is you'd like to eat, you walk to the respective area and get in line.

I would also like to mention that they do serve breakfast, although the menu is limited. It consists of an adult platter (Bacon, eggs, sausage and a biscuit), oatmeal, a bacon egg and cheese croissant and Kid's French toast. Lunch and dinner however, has multiple areas that satisfy even the pickiest eater.

Asian Noodles

Soup and Salad

Sandwiches

The Grill

A "Grab and Go" area for those quick snacks.

And who could forget dessert?

With so many options to pick from I've never had a problem satisfying everyone's tastes in my party and because it's indoors, it's a great refuge from the often times unpredictable, Florida weather.

So sip an espresso or your favorite drink and grab a seat! (I recommend the "Winter" section) It's one of my favorite places to just sit back and people watch. As with any restaurant in WDW, I suggest going outside the standard times of day to eat a meal as it does tend to get crowded. But after you're done, I suggest a ride on Living with the Land to settle your satisfied tummy.

:ap:

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

Santa Cruz Boardwalk
Santa Cruz, California

We're back in Santa Cruz, this time courtesy of sir clinksalot. He recently had an opportunity to visit this century old seaside amusement park and was treated to an unusual backstage tour.

Quote:

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is an oceanfront amusement park in Santa Cruz, California. Founded in 1907 and operated by the family-owned Santa Cruz Seaside Company since 1915, it is California's oldest surviving amusement park and one of two seaside parks on the West Coast of the United States (the other being the Santa Monica Pier). The West Coast once hosted many more beach parks, including the Pike in Long Beach, California, Neptune Beach in Alameda and Playland at San Francisco's Ocean Beach. All have long since closed, but the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk survives as a reminder of a bygone era in amusement. It has won the Golden Ticket Award for Best Seaside Amusement Park in both 2007 and 2008.
Wikipedia

An overview of the famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Pier

Welcome to the Boardwalk

The Giant Dipper is celebrating it's 85th Birthday

The Giant Dipper is a National Historic Landmark as well as an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark

Let's go for a ride, shall we

The Queue features some facts of the ride

The ride has been featured in quite a few movies

The station is very unique

Now for a back-stage tour of the coaster

Wheee

Ooops ... (don't worry, we had permission)

The Chain Lift

The Chain Lift Motor

Back-Stage at the world famous classic brass ring carousel - Once again, we did have permission.

You have to go down the scary tunnel to see what's next

This is the brass ring return machine

And this us the underneath of the carousel

Truly a great "theme-park-geek" moment

The Cave Train is one of the most classic rides to be found at the boardwalk. No visit is complete without a ride.

We leave you with one last shot of the Giant Dippers unique station.

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:

TDLFAN
Denise nbodyhome Preskitt (mousesteps.com)
SummerInFl
sir clinksalot
MickeyMaxx
CaptPhoebus
Ian Parkinson
BigPigletFan
Abominable Snowman
Fishbulb
PhotoMatt
Jack Hollywood 1939 Wixom

Your Editor - Rixter

It is readers like you who make MiceChat such a special place.

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Weekend Update: Jonas Brothers; Haunted Mansion; Disney Asia; Discovery Kingdom; more

Weekend Update — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 01:56:00 GMT

Wazzup MiceChat??? Da Jonas Brothers are in da house!!!!

Ever wonder what one of those Disney heartthrob songfest concert extravaganzas looks like? Well, SummerInFL gives us an inside look at a recent Jonas Brothers concert that she attended with her daughter.

And if that wasn't enough, we have much, much more for you in this week's edition of the Weekend Update. We'll take a look at the Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion through the lens of PhotoMatt. Then TDLFAN has some more great shots from the Asian branch of the Disney Worldwide Empire. Following that, sir clinksalot gives us a look at part of the Six Flags empire – Six Flags Discovery Kingdom near San Francisco. Ian Parkinson wraps it up with more signs from Disneyland Paris.

My apologies to Fishbulb and CaptPhoebus, but the San Diego Zoo and the Mystery Spot will have to wait for another Weekend Update! (And I'm not revealing who went where until then!)

Jonas Brothers Concert
St. Pete Times Forum
St Petersburg, Florida

SummerInFL attended the Jonas Brothers Concert with her daughter and sent us these photos. (We know you always wanted to attend one of these Disney phenom concerts - didn't you? Go on...admit it!

Quote:

The Jonas Brothers are an American pop boy band. The band gained its popularity from the Disney Channel children's television network. From Wyckoff, New Jersey, the band consists of three brothers: Paul Kevin Jonas II (Kevin Jonas), Joeseph Adam Jonas (Joe Jonas), and Nicholas Jerry Jonas (Nick Jonas). In the summer of 2008, they starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie Camp Rock. The band has released four albums: It's About Time, Jonas Brothers, A Little Bit Longer, and Lines, Vines and Trying Times. In 2008, the group was nominated for the Best New Artist award at the 51st Grammy Awards and won the award for Breakthrough Artist at the American Music Awards. To date, they have sold over eight million albums worldwide.
Wikipedia

With the millions of screaming fans ready and waiting, the Jonas Brothers descended on the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, FL. About 20,000 fans showed up to cheer on their favorite Disney Channel pop group and they didn't diasappoint.

There were a few opening sets to start off the evening.

First up, Honor Society.

Then a new band from Asia called the Wondergirls. The retro outfits were cute but it was a little over the pop for me.

Then the American Idol winner Jordin Sparks sang some of her hit songs.

After a brief intermission the Jonas Brothers took to a massive spinning stage which made it great for them to bring the entertainment to the 360 degree forum.

They opened with Paranoid to a very happy crowd, singing 21 songs in total and ending with Burnin' Up.

As a parent with children who are fans and not much of one myself I have to say I was never bored, they kept the energy up and moving throughout the entire show and there were some really moving moments. Namely Nick's piano solo and his speech regarding his Diabetes was very motivating and well put together.

Another thing I found impressive was the amount of instruments the boys would play, Nick alone played the guitar, drums, and piano. I think it's great that they weren't just copy and paste pop stars and actually have more than just good singing voices.

The stage itself was impressive all on it's own, very interactive. There was the rotating part in the center with the inner circle capable of dropping down and was replaced at one point with a trampoline which they had fun it. (You can see it in the photo above)

The complete stage.

This particular picture below used the circle on the right (in the photo above) and it raised up to the height of the 3rd level, which was great for those up so very high, as we were. ;)

On the left side of the stage was another crane like structure that lifted Kevin and Joe up into the air and at one point they pulled out these hoses and sprayed the audience. It rotated completely around so they managed to cover a large area, I couldn't tell fom our vantage point if it was real water or some fake looking snow but it was funny to watch. :evil:

My favorite aspect by far was the water portion they had and the various words and symbols that would fall in the water. It was pretty amazing and incredibly neat to watch!

At one point in the show Jordin Sparks joined the boys back on stage to sing her hit song "Battlefield."

They ended the show in the same fashion as they started it, from the inner circle. Overall I enjoyed it and was very happy with the family friendly aspects of it. My daughter was screaming the entire time and proclaimed it, "THE BEST NIGHT EVER!!" So if you were ever contemplating whether or not you think the show is worth it, I can promise you that this mother/daughter combo gives it two thumbs up. :thumbup:

Haunted Mansion at the Magic Kingdom
Walt Disney World
Orlando, Florida

PhotoMatt takes us on a trip through the Haunted Mansion in Walt Disney World, as only he can. Be prepared to get your fright on!

And, perhaps the ultimate definition of iconic.

Disney Asia

TDLFAN takes one more look at the Summer happenings at TOKYO DISNEYSEA and HONG KONG DISNEYLAND...

Arriving at Tokyo DisneySea is always a special thrilling treat!

The lovely Tower of Terror stands proud.

Guests take a moment to cool down at one of the many "cool zones" available throughout TDS this summer...

Inside Mysterious Island...

Ride vehicles from "Journey to the Center of the Earth" pops out of Mount Prometheus every few seconds apart...

Chip and Dale's Cool Service sails around TDS' waterways to offer guests much needed relief from the heat and humidity of Tokyo's summertime days.

Mickey and Goofy also join in the fun of Chip and Dale's Cool Service, with their own water blaster guns...

Over at American Waterfront, New York Street is busy with guests out shopping and enjoying the sights.

Elegance and romance are the key ingredients when you ride one of the Gondolas around Mediterranean Harbor.

One last look at Mediterranean Harbor.

In the meantime... Over at HONG KONG DISNEYLAND, Summer Time fun continues until early september. Seen here is Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Rixter's (and all of Micechat's members') favorite character ever, Stitch, hosts one groovy beach party on Main Street USA... Stitch's Summer Dance Bash. Guests can join in the fun and dance along with the characters and dancers...

The Summer Dance Bash features some of our favorite characters.. like Goofy, Mr. Incredible, Genie, Ariel.. and of course.. Stitch.

Also, the ever popular High School Musical show continues to entertain the masses at the Castle forecourt. Can this franchise ever be stopped and thrown out of the DL parks for good???

Next month on Sept 12th will be HKDL's 4th anniversary and some of the cool anniversary merchandise has already premiered in the park's gift shops..

Limited Edition Kung Fu Mickey statue caught TDLFAN's attention...

TDLFAN says hello from lovely Hong Kong Disneyland.

Are you ever going to let me live down my Stitch comment, TDLFAN?

Thanks for sharing that portrait shot - looking fine!

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

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Vallejo, California

Join sir clinksalot as he takes us along on his recent trip to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California.

Quote:

Vallejo is the largest city in Solano County, California, United States. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area on the northeastern shore of San Pablo Bay. Vallejo is named for General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo and is home to the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom theme park (formerly Marine World and Marine World Africa USA).
Wikipedia

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is a great mixture of animal park and "coaster" park. It has something for everybody.

The parks entrance is beckoning us in for an amazing time

The fountain at the front of the park entices you to enjoy some amazing animal attractions

Random statues around the park also show you what's in store

Quote:

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, formerly Six Flags Marine World, Marine World, The New Marine World Theme Park, and Marine World Africa USA, is an amusement and animal park located in Vallejo, California. It has a variety of roller coasters and other amusement rides, with a number of animal exhibits and shows. It has been part of the Six Flags chain of amusement parks since 1999.
Wikipedia

Some of the animals found around the park include Camels

Chinchillas

Porcupines

And Otters complete with ... "Otter Pops"?

The newest addition to the park is Odin's Temple of the Tiger. A truly amazing stadium for the tiger show.

Tigers on the prowl

TigerVision

In addition to the animal attractions, the park features some great coasters

Vertical Velocity (or V2) is another one of the parks signature coasters

This is "Oswald" the Penguin ... (extra points for whoever gets why that name is significant)

The park also features a Dolphin Harbor

The park also contains a few kids area's including Tava's Elephant Trails

Mr. Six is represented at the parks parade

As well as park specific, Loony Tunes and WB characters

More signs from Ian!

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:

TDLFAN
Denise nbodyhome Preskitt (mousesteps.com)
SummerInFl (wdwfanpics.com)
sir clinksalot
MickeyMaxx
CaptPhoebus
Ian Parkinson
BigPigletFan
Abominable Snowman
Fishbulb
PhotoMatt
Jack Hollywood 1939 Wixom

Your Editor - Rixter

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

Follow us on Twitter

Weekend Update: Winter Summerland; Signs of Disneyland Paris; Belmont Park

Weekend Update — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 03:47:55 GMT

Are you going to the D23 Expo? I'm looking forward to attending on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Hopefully I'll have the chance to meet some of you there.

SummerInFL brings us a complete photo report on Winter Summerland, a Disney owned and operated miniature golf course in Orlando. This is one of those things that I keep meaning to do while I'm in Orlando, but never seem to accomplish. These photos have served to whet my appetite to experience Disney's version of this great American pastime. Maybe Summer will go with me!

We have more signs from Disneyland Paris courtesy of Ian Parkinson. I find the signs in the foreign parks so intriguing. How do they decide which signs are in English and which signs are not?

CaptPhoebus spent last weekend in San Diego. (I had the privilege of joining him for part of it.) I think you'll enjoy his photos of San Diego's littlest amusement park – Belmont Park. Then we wind things up this week with a vintage post card folder from Disneyland.

Here we go....

Winter Summerland
Walt Disney World

Here is some more from our day trip over to Epcot and Winter Summerland mini golf at WDW. I think people will like that it's an overlooked attraction. :)

My daughter and I went over to WDW for the day. She wanted to play some miniature golf so we opted the Winter Summerland mini golf that's located next to Blizzard Beach.

I have never played any of the courses available at WDW, so this was an added treat for me as well.

The fun begins!

According to our scorecard, here is the official story behind this location.

Quote:

On a moonlit Christmas Eve, Santa Claus discovered the perfect vacation spot for himself, Mrs. Claus and the elves. Everything was perfect. From towering palms and sandy beaches to majestic sandcastles and powdery snow....SNOW! In Florida?

Yes, the myth about Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park was real, and that gave Santa a wonderful idea. Snow and sun! What a great combination for a vacation!

In no time at all, Santa and Mrs. Claus moved their trailer down and built a barn for the reindeer and a toyshop. The elves, somewhat split over whether to build a snow and sand miniature golf course, built both. The Snow course was just like bing at home. And the Sand course was...er...well, it was Florida. They built the best of both worlds and called it their Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course.

Some holes were interactive and had great introductions posted before each hole.

Down the middle gives you a special surprise. :)

Cookies! Plastic even! ;)

I loved some of the details around the course, it would be easy to look past them but you can definitely appreciate the attention to detail here.

I had the most difficult time with this one.

Squirty the Snowman

Mickey in the box? Somehow doesn't sound the same.

It ends with a special message from Santa.

Ian Parkinson has some more photos of signs from Disneyland Paris. Some of the signs are obviously from an overseas park – some of them not so much.

Belmont Park
San Diego, California

CaptPhoebus shares a bit of his San Diego weekend.

Heading off the beaten path this week, a recent visit to San Diego had me stopping by this lesser known attraction known as Belmont Park, home to the Giant Dipper, one of the last beachfront wooden coasters on the West Coast.

Quote:

Belmont Park is an historic theme park located in the Mission Bay area of San Diego, California. Located on the beach, it attracts thousands of people each year. The attractions and rides include the Giant Dipper, a roller coaster that opened in 1925, a Tilt-A-Whirl, a three-story drop tower (the "Vertical Plunge"), the Liberty Carousel, the Wave House Athletic Club, and The Plunge, an historic indoor swimming pool that opened in 1925 and features a "Whaling Wall" painting by artist Wyland titled Orcas off Point Loma.

The Wave House Bar and Grill overlooks the ocean and features two artificial waves. The larger wave is called "Bruticus Maximus" (or "bmax") and features an 8' barreling wave. The other wave is a smaller sheet wave known as a flowrider.
Wikipedia

The welcoming banners

The entrance area to the Plunge

Rides at the park include, the Crazy Submarine

Tilt-a-Whirl

Bumper Cars

Krazy Cars

Thunder Boats

Chaos

Beach Blaster

Liberty Carousel

Mmmmm, tasty fish

And of course, the reason of the visit, the Giant Dipper.

They also had a little museum dedicated to the Giant Dipper, which was a nice little surprise to find

It's definitely worth the side trip to visit, and enjoy a ride on a great wooden coaster. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more San Diego highlights.

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

MickeyMaxx digs into the shoe box for this vintage post card gem.

A fourteen image post card folder of Pirates of the Caribbean from back in the day when 15� would pay the postage.

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:

TDLFAN
Denise nbodyhome Preskitt (mousesteps.com)
SummerInFl (wdwfanpics.com)
sir clinksalot
MickeyMaxx
CaptPhoebus
Ian Parkinson
BigPigletFan
Abominable Snowman
Fishbulb
PhotoMatt
Jack Hollywood 1939 Wixom

Your Editor - Rixter

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

Follow us on Twitter

Weekend Update: Tokyo Disneyland; Polynesian Resort; Signs of Disneyland Paris; more!

Weekend Update — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 04:37:09 GMT

Summer is winding down. The kids are getting ready to go back to school – if they're not back already. The Kohl's ad has winter jackets in it. I hope everyone has a photo or two from your summer vacation to paste into your scrapbooks.

Our Weekend Update crew continues to let us peek into their summer scrapbooks. This week TDLFAN gives us a look back at the wet summer of 2009 at Tokyo Disneyland. SummerInFL spent a recent late summer weekend at the Polynesian Resort in Walt Disney World and created a photo essay for you. (The Poly is on my personal to-do list, so it was fun to see Summer's detailed trip report.) Ian Parkinson is back with a new series of photos on The Signs of Disneyland Paris, which is followed by Disney1978's trip to the Orange County Fair.

Have a great weekend, everybody!

Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo, Japan

TDLFAN bids adieu (or is that sayonara?) to the summer festivities featured this year at Tokyo Disneyland.

Tokyo Disneyland has been in "summer mode" since the 2nd week in July and the summer program ends on August 31st. TDLFAN goes to TDL to check out this year's "Summer Splash 2009" events... and there is only one way to describe it... MEGASPLASH!!!! Get your towels and ponchos out as you may get wet... or soaked, as was TDLFAN's case.

Mickey is pretty in pink as we arrive at Tokyo Disneyland.

The fabulous Tokyo Disneyland Hotel and Disney Resort Line (monorail) Station.

Can you find the hidden Mickey at the Hotel's courtyard?

Space Mountain in Tomorrowland.

Cinderella Castle. During the summer months, the castle gets washed 6 times a day, for the sake of entertainment.

A summer favorite at TDL.. The Country Bear Vacation Jamboree show.

Someone has crashed his spaceship in front of the Tiki Room... and it may be Rixter's favorite Disney alien...

The Blue Family poses at TDL's expansive, beautifully bricked hub plaza.

Tomorrowland (as it should be in Florida.)

Four times a day, the super popular "Cool the Heat" show plays for guests at the castle stage. 4 different version of the show can be seen daily.. one features Mickey, one features Minnie, another one features Donald, and the last one features Stitch. The show is designed to get guests totally wet in excitement... and trust me... enough water in dumped on guests to supply a small town's water needs! This show is totally WET!!! Here, Cinderella Castle gets into the act as it shoots columns of water into the sky... and that is just the driest part of the show...

After "Cool the Heat", the Hub plaza.. loveliest hub of any DL park in the World, is busy with happy guests.

Later in the afternoon... the crowd awaits for the last performance of "Cool the Heat" today.

Drier conditions can be found in the Fantasyland side of the castle.

Over in Toontown.. guests wait for over an hour to meet the big Cheese himself.

At 4pm sharp.. Disney's most imaginative and colorful parade ever, "Jubilation!" steps off throughout TDL park.

Guests get totally soaked during the last perfomance of "Cool the Heat" today.. as the sun sets over TDL.

The featured special summer event this year at TDL is the evening castle show "Club M, It's laughter we're after" show.. a high NRG presentation, featuring the characters from Monsters Inc and some alien friends... with special party guests Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy and Donald... The show blends techno dance music, with some nifty lighting effects and projections, smoke and mist, lasers, water fountains, and fireworks... all packed into a 20 minutes nightime extravaganza like only Tokyo Disneyland Park can stage.

Mickey and performers of "Club M" give it all they've got, dancing and getting drenched in the process... (In the USA parks.. Performer Unions would not allow this type of presentation.. TDLFAN has been told.) Cool dress on that Alien gal below...

"Club M" show finale is a mega tidal wave splash of major proportions.. with fireworks shooting upwards and lasers and fire flames dancing all around.. plus dozens of energetic performers who get wet to the bone for the guests. Trust me, the audience does not leave the show area dry either...

..And after all the wet and wild excitement, another fabulous summer day comes to an end at Tokyo Disneyland.

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

Disney's Polynesian Resort
Walt Disney World

The World Unfurled

This Week's Focus:
Disney's Polynesian Resort

Quote:

Disney's Polynesian Resort is a Disney owned and operated AAA Four-Diamond award winning resort located at the Walt Disney World Resort. It began operation on October 1, 1971 as one of Walt Disney World Resort's first two on-site hotels. The resort has a South Seas theme, and originally opened with 492 rooms. It was designed by Welton Becket and Associates and constructed by US Steel Realty Development

The Volcano pool has a water slide that takes you deep within the depths of the towering mountain and drops you into the cool waters as you exit.

The dock has multiple aquatic vehicles to rent at your disposal. From mini water crafts to full pontoons!

And you got to have some where to sleep so let's check out the rooms!

A Garden View Room

Spot the hidden mickey in the painting?

The bathroom with the toilet tucked away in an unusual place.

In it's own little corner.

Complete with safe, refrigerator, iron and ironing board.

A full-size futon for those extra guests that visit.

And your own private patio to watch the monorail go by.

Did you know?

John Lennon signed the paperwork that officially broke up the Beatles
at the Polynesian Resort on December 29, 1974?

Let's talk about food, everybody has to eat right?! The Polynesian has multiple locations to serve you during your stay but one in particular caught my interest. Captain Cook's!

For this little baby right here...It has it's own Dole Whip Dispenser! No line, no waiting! One please!

The grounds are filled with interesting flora and statues to really get you in the South Seas island feel.

Family Tips!

The Polynesian has this WONDERFUL dinner adventure club for children called the Neverland Club. It's for children who are potty trained up to age 12 and it contains hours of fun and games set to a Peter Pan theme.

This is a great place for parents to get away for a couple hours and kids get to have the time of their life! They have a full arcade with FREE unlimited plays, a full theater area with a huge screen so the kids can watch their favorite (what else) Disney films, a princess area with all the dresses you can try on, a game system area where the older kids can play video games AND they have plenty of staff on hand to make sure your kids are not only safe but they play games and make crafts!
Whew! I'm getting tired just thinking about it!

But that's not even the best part! When you walk into the building you are literally IN the Darling nursery and the only way to get into the play area is (where else) through the window!!!

As if all these things weren't enough to keep you busy they also have an arcade, a Wii Tiki by the pool, a luau and crafts for the kids in the lobby.

However, I'm an old school girl, I recommend grabbing your favorite fruity drink, plopping down on your favorite hammock on the beach and watching the Electrical Water Pageant show.

We had so much fun with TDLFAN's series on the signs of Tokyo Disneyland, Ian Parkinson has scoured his archives to bring you The Signs of Disneyland Paris. This week we visit Frontierland.

Orange County Fair
Costa Mesa, California

Here's another little trip to the Orange County Fair, this time brought to us by Disney1978.

So many things to see or do at a county fair, it's hard to choose where to go first.

The Midway.

Prize winning Disney pin collection.

Black Cat Collection

A Se�or Macho Tiki?

Giant orange orange and tall, but not giant, orange Mike.

Weird Al has a brain?

And an exhibit with a sand sculpture tribute to him?

Apparently, and the exhibit is educational. Did you know the brain has Loebs? Oh, wait. Lobes?

There be rare and exotic foods.

Fair Special - $12.95. Chicken strips, onion straws, zucchini curls. Oh, plus breading and a smidgen of oil.

Deep fried White Castle, $5.95 with fries.

And, cut open for your viewing pleasure.

Totally fried (and aren't we all glad) Frog Legs.

Try your hand at ~~killing~~ growing plants.

Or for the more adventurous, are you brave enough for the Evolution?

Or better yet, Starship 2000. Remember when 2000 seemed so far away? Still does, but the other direction.

Pretty fun looking mad mouse.

Sore tootsies from all the walking at the fair is quickly attended to by these scientifically designed machines.

Oh, the memories. Cost of memories? 7 tickets, and the knowledge that in two weeks this will be on a flatbed truck headed for the next scheduled county fair. Arriving at the other side alive? Priceless!

Haunted Mansion? Not likely!

And then there is this guy. We are beginning to think it is more than coincidence that he showed up in photos from Disneyland Paris, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, and now the Orange County Fair . . .

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:

TDLFAN
Denise nbodyhome Preskitt (mousesteps.com)
SummerInFl (wdwfanpics.com)
sir clinksalot
MickeyMaxx
CaptPhoebus
Ian Parkinson
BigPigletFan
Abominable Snowman
Fishbulb
PhotoMatt
Jack Hollywood 1939 Wixom

A very special thank you to to our wonderful guest photographer Disney1978 for sharing her vision with us.

Your Editor - Rixter

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