Disney News Round Up: Walt’s Birthplace, Holiday Processions and more!

Kevin Yee – A Christmas Town Lesson for Disney
I’ve not previously been to Busch Gardens Tampa for their Christmas decorations. It’s a private party with an upcharge ticket you have to buy, mimicking the Magic Kingdom’s model, and it seems on almost every level to be worth the price. Plus, it had a few things Disney could learn from.

Marvel World at Stan Lee’s Comikaze 2013
I’ve been hard at work editing my husband’s new graphic novel, Monster Elementary.  I have had to balance my time more frugally lately.  But, your patience is rewarded!  Stan Lee’s Comikaze Expo was November 1-3 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and I come bearing photos, reports, and news from it!

Help Us Save Walt Disney’s Birthplace
Our good friends Dina Benadon and Brent Young of design company Super 78 have embarked on a remarkable journey to save the home that Walt Disney was born in. So many of the important structures of Walt’s life have passed into history that it is a small miracle the little house in Chicago remains at all.

It’s time to get ready for the next BIG MiceChat Trip!  Join Bob Gurr and the MiceChat Crew as we set sail for the Mediterranean for points exotic.  Stay long enough and you can also join us for a trip though Disneyland Paris!  Ask us for more details by emailing us at [email protected]

ANABELLA HOTEL’S MERRY MICE OFFER

You need a holiday. Get a jump and beat the Christmas crowds by staying at the Anabella Hotel next week.

Stay anytime December 15-19, 2013 and get an amazing $79/night rate PLUS $20 food and beverage credit per day at our onsite restaurant, Tangerine Grill & Patio.

Rooms must be booked by calling the in house reservations number directly at 800.863.4888 and asking for the “Merry Mice” package

The fine print: Offer not valid until room is booked directly with the hotel and confirmation number is received. Tax and parking additional. Double occupancy. Offer may not be combined with other promotions or special offers. Offer not applicable to prior reservations, groups or conventions. Other restrictions may apply. Rate is based on double occupancy. Additional person charge: $10.00 (USD) per adult. Maximum number of guests allowed in room: 4. Offer must be requested at time of booking. 72-hour cancellation policy.

To book, just call the reservations number directly at 800.863.4888
and ask for the “Merry Mice” package!

MiceChat Podcast

MiceChat Podcast #13- Disney Holidays & Walt’s Birthplace Revealed!
Dusty and Doug are back behind the microphone with their pals from Super 78 and they’ve got some amazing news that involves you. We’re going to save Walt Disney’s house, the one he was born in! But that’s certainly not all, we take a quick look at the jingle jangle spirit in the theme parks this Christmas season and we’ve also got news, rumors and more about upcoming Disney Imagineering projects. This is a very fun episode. Be sure to share with your friends.

Direct Link | iTunes Link

Please help us save Walt Disney’s Birthplace – Click the Kickstarter Widget Below

The rain didn’t keep away the crowds this past week, and fortunately the rain did not interfere with the Candle Light Processional.  We want to know what your favorite Christmas Attraction makeover is your favorite.   We also see that the Jingle Cruise Gorilla Camp is a little more festive this week!  Could this be the beginning of several more improvements to the holiday makeover for World Famous Jingle Cruise? ~ Aladdin

Capt Hook’s Frozen Trip Report for Dec. 8th, 2013
Here we are again with another great Capt Hook trip, he visits some of his favorite Disney Princesses in his latest trip report.

Jingle Cruise Enhancements
Maybe someone at Disneyland has been made aware of the rather underdone Christmas Makeover of the Jingle Cruise! Over the past week, there was a light dusting of holiday spirit at the Gorilla Camp. Take a look at the video in post 188! Let’s hope, IF they intend to bring back the Jingle Cruise next year, that they invest and spend some bucks to make this Christmas makeover folly a little more jolly!

What is your favorite holiday overlay?
JackMiller341 wants to know what your favorite Christmas version of a Disneyland attraction is your favorite. Vote in the poll and tell us which one tops your list!

Five and Dime Wardrobe Change
Our favorite flapper on Buena Vista Street , ‘Dime,’ of ‘Five and Dime’ no longer has her fun flashy flapper outfit. Her new out, leaves a lot to be desired, . . . take a look at this discussion and tell us what you think

Disneyland Custom Cakes
Did you know this? Saramommy brings us a great report from Disneyland and information about this special request!

Look below for a couple of proposals from our armchair imagineers.. ~ Trekkie Dad

Nocturnal Nights event for Grizzly Peak
imaginashton has an idea for sprucing up the Grizzly Peak area at Disney California Adventure with a little nighttime entertainment.

A third park idea…
Our members have come up with a number of ideas for a third park in California. Here’s one from DisneylandMaster.

Question for people who used/using MyMagic+
DisCollector is collecting anecdotes from Walt Disney World guests who were offered MyMagic+. Were they given a viable choice? How has it been working?

Working at WDW in your 30’s
Jessw4983 wants to know if its worth it, what are the pro’s and con’s. Anyone willing to share their experience with working under the mouse?

Record-breaking air pollution halts all construction in Shanghai
The authorities in Shanghai ordered school children indoors and halted construction. They also banned fireworks and public sporting events.

Will Smog Make Shanghai Disneyland Fail?
DoctorQ9 has concerns about smog crippling the operations of the Shanghai Disneyland. What do you think?

Carthay Circle Theater at Shanghai Disneyland
In an article about the ‘Garden of the Twelve Friends,’ MrsMonroe has spotted what appears to be the Carthay Circle Theater.

Busch Gardens Christmas Town
MiceChat brings you a great montage of the wonderful things to see at Busch Gardens Tampa’s Christmas Town.

Grinchmas
A special message from The Grinch at Universal Studios Orlando’s Grinchmas

Welcome to this week’s Communicore Weekly,  where we talk about River Country, More Cute Stories Vol 2, Iron Man and Hulk, and the Once Upon A Time Store! DISNEY HISTORY! — River Country was one of the best water parks in the world! We look at it for this weeks Disney History! BOOK OF THE WEEK! — George tells Jeff to leave the room so he can review More Cute Stories Vol 2 for the Book of the Week! 60 SECOND REVIEW! — Iron Man and Hulk team up, and so do Jeff and George, in the 60 Second Review! FIVE LEGGED GOAT! — And finally, the Once Upon A Time Store this week’s Five Legged Goat!

MiceChat Podcast #13- Disney Holidays & Walt’s Birthplace Revealed!
Dusty and Doug are back behind the microphone with their pals from Super 78 and they’ve got some amazing news that involves you. We’re going to save Walt Disney’s house, the one he was born in! But that’s certainly not all, we take a quick look at the jingle jangle spirit in the theme parks this Christmas season and we’ve also got news, rumors and more about upcoming Disney Imagineering projects.

Direct Link | iTunes Link

Wakefield Report, covers the latest in theme park news! find full notes on this podcast at WakefieldReport.com.

Direct Link | iTunes Link

Disafterdark Disney Podcast, Our guest this week is Michelle, ex of the Minnie Minxes and now a Disney Dream Girl. This week, Paul B is on “3 Monts” , and Paul D is on Bankside Chardonnay and Nick is on San Pellegrino, Michelle is having a Magners Cider.

Direct Link

Unofficial Universal Orlando Podcast, we start with a live report from the parks from Jessie Smith, we then bring you the news, in a slightly different format and then move in to our main topic and that is some armchair creating.

Direct Link | iTunes Link

Unofficial SeaWorld Podcast, where we take you inside the incredible Christmas offerings at SeaWorld Orlando, San Diego and San Antonio.  We also share breaking news about the show pool at Shamu Stadium in Orlando closing for the first few months of 2014 while they refurbish it, then we talk about the Killer Whale Calf born in San Antonio.

Direct Link | iTunes Link

Window to the Magic: This week, Paul takes you to Disneyland to experience the resorts newest holiday overlay, The Jingle Cruise. It’s interesting, to be sure.  But first, we stop by the PA system in the queue to listen to the Jingle Cruise background music loop.

Direct Link | iTunes Link

The Season Pass, Reveals the plans and work behind the Walt Disney Birthplace Restoration project in Chicago. Co-host Brent Young and Dina Benadon discuss acquiring the home and the kickstarter program along with D23 Founder Steven Clark and Preservation Architect Charlie Pipal.

iTunes Link

Mousetalgia Episode 268: MyMagic+, Frozen
We discuss the benefits and perils of the new MyMagic+ experience at Walt Disney World, and also review Disney’s Frozen in this week’s episode of Mousetalgia.

 Direct Link

V24 Radio is taking you out of this world…and into Tomorrowland!

Tune in all week from 1 til 2pm Eastern as we bring you music from Disney’s Tomorrowland, past and present!

Do you have a suggestion for Limited Time Listening? Let us know on our Contact Page!

Limited Time Listening plays exclusively on V24 Radio!

 

Universal Orlando/Islands of Adventure November 2013 trip report.
This week RegionsBeyond brings us a phenomenal trip report from Universal Studio’s Orlando/Islands of Adventure with great pictures.

Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies – New Year’s Eve 2013.
Billy Hill, um I mean Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies will be doing a New Year Eve show at Knott’s Berry Farm. Is this the start of something new when their contract expires?

SeaWorld Orlando Super Fan Meet up December 15th
The Fans of Seaworld Orlando will be having a Superfan meet on December 15th. Check this out for more information.

Shamu Stadium Closing Temporarily in Orlando/’Not because of Blackfish’
The main Shamu stadium will be closing in early January and reopening the week of April 7th for routine maintenance and not due to the airing of ‘Blackfish’ according to Seaworld.

Christmas Town at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, VA
Razor Roman brings us a great trip report with pictures from Christmas Town at Bush Gardens, VA.

Click here and we’ll enter you in a contest to win one of the limited-edition Walt Disney Birthplace cedar shake wood chip (from the original cedar shake roof material Elias used to build the house) molded into an engraved acrylic block.

Universal Orlando Grinchmas and Macy’s Parade
We kick off a busy week at the Universal Orlando Resort with Christmas celebrations at both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.  This update will put a spotlight on the current Christmas offerings.

Candlelight lights up Disneyland with holiday magic and Main Street gets festive with flowers
Disneyland‘s annual Candlelight Processional and Ceremony was held over the weekend, narrowly missing rain that could have otherwise washed the show out. The popular event packs in thousands and brings Town Square to life.

My Magic + Mini Review, the Jitney and Phil Holmes
Today George brings us a triple threat of subjects.  He just returned from Walt Disney World and shares his mini review on the ups and downs of the MyMagic+ system.

Christmas Town Sparkles at Busch Gardens Tampa
Christmas Town is in full swing at Busch Gardens Tampa and I had the opportunity to check out this year’s version of this wonderful nighttime holiday event, which runs select nights through December 23rd!

Christmas Cheer at Disneyland Paris plus Ratatouille Ride Update
Christmas cheer has broken out at the Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris and it looks like the Ratatouille Ride construction is coming right along.

Disney Cast Blast: Animals on First
This week we take a look at how challenging communication can be at any Disney theme park. Enjoy the first story exclusive to MiceChat, all the way from Disneyland Paris.

Magic Kingdom and Epcot News
This week’s Dateline Disney World takes us to both Epcot and the Magic Kingdom! Let’s take a look and see what’s new and how the Christmas season is chiming in.

In The Parks Disneyland Resort Update: Candlelight Nights and Skyway Memories
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Holidays at the Disneyland Resort.  This is the time of  pageantry, spectacle and this weekend it will also be a time of reverence.

Restoring Walt Disney’s Birthplace
This brings us to the festivities of December 5, 2013. The well-organized hour began with remarks by local officials, restoration specialists, and by owners Brent Young and Dina Benadon.

To Surprise or Not to Surprise the Kids with a Trip to Disney
For many families the big Christmas gift to their families will be a trip to Disney. We’re giving a Disney Cruise for Christmas this year. Shhh!

Selections from the Library of Samland
Today Sam Gennawey delivers a collection of reviews, just in time for the holidays. There’s something for every taste here including the special treat of streaming Mickey Mouse cartoons!

Knotts Berry Farm Loses Windseeker, Gains Santa and the Billies
Welcome to Knotts Berry Farm! Which at this time of year is a MERRY Farm loaded with yule-tide cheer.

Dueling Disney: The Castles
Hear ye, hear ye! It is decreed that each Magic Kingdom-style Disney Park forthright shall have a Castle as its centerpiece! These majestic structures will stand as the symbol for their respective parks.