A whole bunch of MiceChatters, including our fearless leader Dusty Sage, are on board the Disney Wonder as he (yes, Italian ships are HE’s, not SHE’s!) makes his way to Alaska. Stay warm, have fun and say hi to my awesome pal Fitzroy.
Dusty left MiceChat in the hands of intelligent and capable webmasters, which, fortunately for us all, means not me. So thank you guys for doing the heavy lifting while Dusty’s gone and while he’s here, too. You are deeply appreciated. Now onward with the groan-inducing headlines.
Now it’s Time to Say Goodbye
I stepped on Jay Rasulo’s feet the first time I met him. “You just stepped on my new boss”, said Cynthia. I still feel bad about that. Quiet, polite fellow. I didn’t like the One Disney initiative. I don’t like my milk nor my theme park merchandise homogenized. When he moved over to CFO, his talents really began to shine.
We all pretty much saw this “sudden” resignation coming. Tom Staggs is going to run the company, and I can’t disguise my glee at having a “theme park guy” in charge of Disney. I hope he stays a theme park guy at heart. My guess is that we’ll be hearing an announcement in the not-too-distant future that Mr. Rasulo has accepted a CEO position somewhere prestigious.
We at MiceChat wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.
You Will Knott be Bored This Summer
Voyage to the Iron Reef isn’t the only thing happening at Knott’s Berry Farm this summer. They’re really turned it up to eleven on live entertainment for the summer, extending park hours and bringing in ten (count them!) new shows. Here’s a description, straight from them.
- (NEW) Blockbuster Beagle!…on ice at the Charles M. Schulz Theatre: Snoopy and his Peanuts buddies “go Hollywood” bringing Walk of Fame glamour, dazzling movie lot escapades and California excitement to a brand new ice show adventure. Join Snoopy and our world-class ice skating stars for this amazing new production! June 13 – August 23; no shows on Wednesdays
- (NEW) Vertical Impact – Calico Square Stage: The show presents the ultimate blend of extreme stunts with high flying acrobats performing a one of a kind performance perfect for the entire family! This high energy show is set to the most popular songs of today, combining everything from trampoline stunts, BMX riders, skaters, dancers, and aerialists. Every show ends with an informal meet & greet for the guests with the entire cast on stage. June 13 – August 23. No shows on Mondays & Tuesdays
- (NEW) Vertical Impact: Geared Up! – Calico Square Stage: The fun continues after dark as the cast pumps up the volume with the latest hits, the biggest tricks and awesome special effects. The pace is intensified, the stunts are electrified, and the cast is breaking down the walls, defying gravity, and taking it all to the next level. “DJ Nytemadness” keeps the party going mixing all the best of current EDM, dance & pop hits after each show while the gleeful cast invites guests become a part of the fun.June 13 – August 23; no shows on Mondays & Tuesdays
- (NEW) Big Band Swingin’ Sundays – Boardwalk Circle: The timeless allure of swing dancing is something guests won’t want to miss this summer! Jump, Jive & Swing to the sounds of Orange County’s best local Big Bands. Sundays, June 14 – August 30
- Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies – Bird Cage Theatre: Things get krazy when Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies perform their toe tappin’, knee-slappin’, side splittin’ country comedy show that has Knott’s audiences clamoring for more! See Knott’s website for show dates and times. Everything in the Wild West subject to change.
- (NEW) Salsa Bands – Fiesta Plaza Stage: Fiesta Plaza stage heats up this summer with the infectious energy created by some of Orange County’s most popular salsa bands. See Knott’s website for show dates and times
- The Ghost Town Miners – Spurs Stage: For a “Yeehaw” of a good time guests won’t want to miss the Ghost Town Miners sing and play some of the best bluegrass this side of the Rio Grande! June 16 – August 20; Tuesday – Wednesday
- The Big Fat Steve Band – Boardwalk Circle Stage: Back by popular demand, The Big Fat Steve Band is a one-of-a-kind dance band with a swingin’ beat. Enjoy the live musicality of rockabilly, swing and classic sounds. The only thing missing is your dance moves. See Knott’s website for show dates and times
- Ghost Town Streetmosphere – Ghost Town Streets: Ghost Town is alive with townsfolk who will put you smack dab in the middle of the Wild West. New residents have put down stakes recently – Clem Culpepper, the ever hopeful gold miner, Ma & Pa Shine, our resident moonshiners & Nathan Quickly, the Pony Express Agent, and more Calico townsfolk. Did Disney not TM “Streetmosphere?”
- Charlie Brown’s Happy Campers – Camp Snoopy Theatre: Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, their friend JT, and the world’s most popular beagle, Snoopy will take the stage in a show that’s sure to make an outdoorsman out of anybody! Daily, June 14 – September 1
Here’s an addendum, straight from me: a bunch of us will be seeing these shows in the next few weeks. Looks for detailed descriptions, reviews and lots of great photos from Knott’s Kahuna Norman Gidney and the great staff here at MiceChat.com!
Twenty Years of Pasteristic Futurism
Space Mountain: From the Earth to the Moon opened at Disneyland Paris May 31, 1995, celebrating its 20th anniversaire quietly this year…her anniversary renovation took a little longer than expected, so she won’t be re-opening until July. Here’s a little trip down memory lane, the opening ceremony:
https://youtu.be/dF70DggWCt4
Coasting for Kids is This Sunday!
There’s a little less than a week to go. If you’d like to support Coasting for Kids, just go to my page here:
http://support.gktw.org/goto/micechatfab
If You’re Heading to the Happiest Place on Earth
Carousel Inn & Suites is giving MiceChat readers special rates on select dates now through August 15, 2015. They’re calling it Carousel’s 60th Summer Special and it’s $109 for a Standard 2 queen room or $119 for a Club room, literally right across the street from Disneyland. In summer. It’s pretty much unheard of. There’s a caveat. You have to call them directly at 800.854.6767 and ask for the special MiceChat rate. That is, seriously, the ONLY WAY to get it! Legalese: Offer is subject to availability and cannot be combined with any other offers. Blackout dates apply. Taxes, resort fee, and parking additional. I was not renumerated in any way, shape nor form for this paragraph.
I stopped by Disneyland today for a coffee and some fun, and was delighted to find that the flower mart had returned. It may have been back for aeons and I’ve just missed it. When I was a kid and teenager, I recall it being mostly plastic flowers. Now, they are all real and they look and smell lovely.
Alice was with me. She finally got to see the Hatbox Ghost, and we were entertained with live music in New Orleans Square as I watched my favorite artist working. (see below) If you have little ones and the musicians are playing on the stairs by Cafe Orleans, stop and watch them for a moment. Any player that has free hands will reach into his pockets and toss your kidlet some shiny beads.
Let Me Make This Perfectly Clear
In less than three weeks, Inside Out will open here in the USA. If it does well, that will be a wonderful thing for our lives. A wondrous, lively thing for those of us who love theme park pavilions too, I’m sure, just because people who love theme parks usually love good animation and good stories, and one has absolutely nothing to do with the other and it’s completely coincidental. But if it had a blockbuster weekend, I’m sure that would give those who run the company a sense of wonderment, and make them want to put a little more life into some sleepy area of their theme parks. Who knows? I’m going to buy lots of tickets and see it over and over and over, until my cranium commands me to stop and my body declares war on me.