Welcome back to the Disneyland Resort, it’s been a busy week with the start of the “Get Your Ears On” promotion and we were treated with some beautiful rainy and uncrowded days . . . just before the crowds for Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend (which was packed). So, everyone get your ears on, let’s check out Mickey’s Mix Magic and what’s new in the park, it’s going to be a good, good, good, good time. . .
Get Your Ears On
Disneyland launched their newest seasonal promotion this week, which celebrates Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Everything’s dressed up in red, yellow, and polka dots! Dusty wrote a great initial look at Mickey’s Mix Magic fireworks and everything else the new promotion has to offer, I recommend CLICKING HERE and checking that out.
The highlights include special food, merchandise, a revised Soundsational parade (which returns this coming Friday), and Mickey’s Mix Magic, a projection show with additional fireworks on some nights. Here’s a couple other tidbits we noticed around the park.
These Mickey shaped hamburgers are missing something…
But after a trip to the topping bar, you can fix them up.
A giant burger calls for something healthy to wash it all down. What about . . .
There are plenty of Mickey-shaped treats all over both Disneyland and California Adventure, you’ll just have to try some.
Disney has some guides to help you find the food and treats, one for each park.
You can even find some dresses to celebrate in…
Mickey’s Mix Magic
Mickey’s got a fire mixtape to show you all in the new show Mickey’s Mix Magic. It’s a projection show with optional fireworks. Optional fireworks, you say? Yes, the show is intended to work entirely without fireworks, it uses pyro as an enhancement rather than being the star of the show. The fireworks will only be shown on special dates (mostly weekends and holidays).
Interestingly, though, a lot of the early thoughts on this show are positive. It’s upbeat, has a high-energy soundtrack, and feels fresh. The projections are fun, though Small World might steal the show as the best viewing location this time around with its large projection surface.
That’s not to say it isn’t without its criticisms. The most obvious sticking point is that the show is a tad short, coming in at around ten minutes. It is essentially a remix mixtape as well, which makes the show feel like just a collection of scenes/songs rather than one connected show. It’s a dance party where Mickey is the DJ rather than a show with a story to tell.
It’s obviously directed at a very specific demographic (likely younger guests), so if you’re not into the type of music, you probably won’t like it. It relies heavily on the guests getting into it and dancing. If that’s your speed, you’ll likely really enjoy this one.
We won’t give away the full show just yet. But here’s a teaser which gives you a good idea of the music and style of the projection animation:
I’m particularly curious about what the long-term interest in this show will be and how people will react to it after seeing it a few times, especially considering how quickly crowds died down for the Pixar fireworks show last year.
Stephenie seemed to enjoy the idea of seasonal fireworks shows, “It’s quite a different concept from Magic Kingdom in Florida, where they played the same fireworks show for thirteen years. I loved Wishes, but boy that’s a long time for one show. For me, as long as these seasonal offerings are just that, seasonal, I’m fine with it. I just want to watch Remember…Dreams Come True every once in a while.”
Can we hear an amen?
Disneyland Castle Construction
Construction continues around Sleeping Beauty castle as Disney gets ready for a several month long refurbishment, specifically to the roofs, which have been damaged since the Diamond Celebration.
Disney created a really neat Sleeping Beauty background scrim for the sides of the castle’s fence. Considering Sleeping Beauty has probably the most gorgeous hand-painted backgrounds in any animated film, I’d say this works well.
We’ll likely see more scrims go up soon.
The backside of the castle now directs you to take Big Thunder Trail or the parade route to get to Main Street. The only thing you can visit in this corner of Fantasyland is the Castle Holiday Shoppe
Haunted Mansion Returns
Haunted Mansion started giving foolish mortals a classic tour again this week after Jack Skellington packed up his Sandy Claws sack.
As far as we can tell, it’s all the same.
As much as I love the holiday overlay, it’s always refreshing to have the quintessential version of the attraction back after a long holiday season. Long-time readers also know how much I love photographing Mansion and I was ecstatic when Stephenie provided these awesome low-light photos for today’s update.
A ghostly tour is high on my list for my next trip.
It’s a Small World Holiday
Today is the last day to enjoy Small World Holiday before the joyous decorations come down.
This and That
If you’re looking for a delicious quick bite, White Water Snacks is open again at the Grand Californian Hotel. There’s a great breakfast menu!
The Astro Orbitor is going to be down until “Spring.” It’s just wishful thinking that it won’t come back, but some of the planets are being taken apart.
Rainy Days at Disneyland Are Magic
It’s been raining here in Southern California and Stephenie braved the cold wet days to bring us a look at an empty (wet) Disneyland. . .
MiceChat Anniversary weekend is February 8, 9, & 10th! Join us for three days of events and activities. Don’t miss the Friday evening cocktail reception celebrating Disney super legend Buzz Price, our Sunday morning breakfast with David Koenig and the very first Disneyland tour guide, and our most affordable Gumball Rally ever, making this the PERFECT year for you to give it a roll. And please don’t miss the MiceChat Sunday meetup at Disneyland on February 10th . . . the event that started it all. All of the amazing events are listed below. Please help us spread the word. We can’t wait to see you!
TIP: Sign up for the Rally, then add the Combo Ticket Package for the best deal on Anniversary weekend. If you aren’t doing the Rally, the Combo Ticket Package (listed below) is your golden ticket to Anniversary Weekend magic!
The Buzz Way Cocktail Reception
Feb 8th, 7:30 – 9:30 PM – Wyndham Garden Hotel
A panel discussion and cocktail reception celebrating the great Buzz Price, the Disney super-legend who helped create the business model for Disneyland (and Walt Disney World) and discovered the land that the Happiest Place on Earth was built on. Joining us will be David Price, Buzz Price’s son and a themed entertainment star in his own right. David will have copies of his new book about his dad, which contains chapters written by theme park industry luminaries who worked with and were inspired by Buzz Price. The event will feature never-before-seen videos of Buzz and his thoughts on theme parks which will leave you wishing there were more men like him around today. We will also have a unique opportunity to pick up a copy of the book Buzz himself wrote which is now long out of print! Plus, Disney Imagineer Terri Hardin Jackson will be joining us!
The Hotel Indigo (the sister hotel to the Wyndham and immediately next door) is offering a special rate of $109 per night (for the nights of the 8th and 9th) with complimentary WiFi, Parking, and amenity gift. Contact [email protected] and request the MiceChat Anniversary rate.
Buzz event info and tickets HERE
Gumball Rally!
February 9th – 7am until 8pm
The world-famous Gumball Rally is rolling your way on Saturday, February 9th. Do you have what it takes to ride the most attractions at Disneyland in a single day?
Gather together a team of 2, 3, or 4 friends or family members and enjoy the most fun you’ve ever had at the Happiest Place on Earth.
This year’s Rally is inspired by the 50th anniversary of the Haunted Mansion. We’ve been dying to have you.
Gumball Rally Links:
The First Tour Guide
Breakfast
Feb 10th, 8:30 AM – The Anaheim Hotel
Disneyland author, David Koenig, introduces us to the man who was Disneyland’s very first tour guide in the months before Disneyland even opened to guests. David will interview Bob D’Arcy and we’ll see images of Disneyland that no one has seen before. We’ll also have a chat with David about his own new book coming out and books will be available from Bob & David as well as some additional surprises!
Enjoy a traditional American breakfast of Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Seasoned Breakfast Potatoes, Assorted Pastries, Whole Fruit Display, Trinidad Regular & Decaf Coffee, Evolution Herbal Teas, and Water Station
This event will also serve as the Gumball Rally Award Party. The winning teams and special awards will be given out at this event. Gumball Rally event attendees will be given a special event discount so they can celebrate the winning teams (purchase the combo packages for deep discount).
Breakfast event info and tickets HERE SPECIAL
MICECHAT ANNIVERSARY TICKET COMBOS – (YOUR BEST VALUE)
Add both MiceChat Anniversary events and save $10 off our already low rates (buy the General Admission Combo Ticket). OR – Get VIP seating at both events and a special signed gift for just $20 more (buy the VIP Combo Ticket)
MiceChat Anniversary events Combo Tickets HERE
MiceChat Anniversary Noon Mega Meet
Sunday, February 10th
Disneyland
Don’t miss the event that started it all so many years ago. Join us for a classic noon meet up in the central hub of Disneyland. We’ll have lunch, then head off to experience what we call the “West Side Wonders”. This year is the 50th Anniversary of the Haunted Mansion, so we’ll be sure to do that. And if time allows, we’ll also ride the Mark Twain, Pirates, see the Tiki Birds and much more. Disneyland is fun in a group (even if it’s a busy day). Chat, make friends, and have a wonderful time celebrating 16 years of MiceAge/MiceChat.
Enter To Win
Because we’re so thrilled about Getting Our Ears On, we’ve decided to celebrate Mickey’s 90th year festivities, by giving away this adorable plush set and Disneyland gift bag to one very lucky winner.
To enter, the rules are very simple:
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter
- Find our giveaway post and tag 3 of your friends who you’d love to celebrate with
- Follow the sharing guidelines for the respective platform. Twitter: retweet.
- For an extra entry, repost the picture and tag #GetYourEarsOn & #MiceChat
- For even more chances to win, follow us on all of our social media platforms and share the giveaway post once per platform, per day.
This funtastic giveaway closes Thursday, January 24th and the winner will be chosen after the debut of the revamped “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade” on Friday, January 25th. Best of luck and don’t forget to Get Your Ears On!!
That’s All Folks
There’s a lot more going on at the Disneyland Resort and we’ll have more for you later this week. Let us know how you feel about the Get Your Ears On celebration in the comments below. Have you seen Mickey’s Mix Magic fireworks? Do you like the Electronic Dance Music?
