Disney News Round Up: Walt, Minions, and Spring Break Crowds

Walt Disney – The Great “Adapter”
Walt Disney enjoys an almost unmatched reputation as a Great Innovator in the same vein as Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. This extends to many epochs of his career, including the very concept of theme parks as we know them today. The problem is, he has been lionized so much, and put on so high a pedestal, that I think we’ve lost sight of the true accomplishment. Walt was less of an “innovator” than he was an “adapter”. This is true not only for the theme park concept, but also other heralded innovations he is given credit for.

The SeaWorld 50th Anniversary MiceChat Celebration
It was a cool overcast morning along the shores of Mission Bay as MiceChatters gathered at the brand new front gates of SeaWorld San Diego for the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the park by MiceChat and our Unofficial SeaWorld Podcast.  As the attendees gathered, Dustysage and Eric Davis greeted all with a warm smile and open arms. Just before the park opened at 10am, a very special guest, Creative Director for SeaWorld Parks Brian Morrow, introduced himself to the group. Join us as we share photos from a VERY special event in this 50 year old park.

IT’S BACK!!! Let’s find out who can ride the most attractions at Disneyland in a single day . . . it’s the MiceChat Gumball Rally.  This race through Disneyland has become the ultimate Disney fan event. Fun for all ages, compete in teams of 2-4 people as you attempt to ride the most attractions at Disneyland in a single day.  Click HERE for more information and to sign up!

Join Disney Legend Bob Gurr and the MiceChat Crew as we set sail on the Disney Magic
for a once in a lifetime Mediterranean cruise (from Barcelona to Italy and back again).

Stay after the cruise and you can also join us for a journey to Disneyland Paris!
Ask us for more details by emailing us at [email protected]

Malificent is invading a theater filled with bugs, and Spring Break makes an early crowded visit to Disneyland! ~ Aladdin

Black And White Views Of The DLR
Regions Beyond goes on a two-tone tour of the Disneyland Resort this week!

Maleficent Preview coming to Disney California Adventure
The Bug’s Life Theater will become the home of previews for the highly anticipated Malificent movie. Are you looking forward to this new movie?

Why Spring Break Crowds Now?
David Mercury is wondering why the large crowds, spurred up a unique conversation about spring break and busiest times for the parks!

Our armchair imagineers are floating ideas for Disneyland, not all of which are warmly embraced. ~Trekkie Dad

The Main Street Electrical Parade in Disneyland, after 20 Years (2016)!
While bringing back this classic parade is not a new idea, Design thinks new floats should be added and rotated into the mix.

Clearing the Pipes
The pipes nerdycm is referring to are the walkways in Disneyland that become crowded during peak seasons.

Frozen Christmas Parade
DisneyFunGuy thinks a Frozen unit should be added to Disneyland’s Christmas parade.

More thrill rides please.
5150pirate proposes a Marvel park with state of the art coasters be built in the parking lot behind the Paradise Pier Hotel.

This week gives us a retro look at Walt Disney World, a large cracking fish tank, and a request for vlogs on Walt Disney World. Take a peek and see what we have to share this week! ~yoyoflamingo

Walt Disney World in black and white
Have an affinity for black and white photographs? Take a look in this thread, which has some wonderful examples of Walt Disney World in glorious black and white. The Spaceship Earth is my favorite one. What about you?

WDW Vlogs
Everyone loves taking a peek at vacation pictures, especially when they are in ‘the World,’ but does anyone have any vlogs (video blogs) or vacation videos to share? redrhino54 can’t get enough!

Large fish tank cracks open at Disney restaurant
While not major news, it’s an interesting news story and even better to have the included video. Take a look at what happens when a fish tank in T-Rex cracks open

We find even more Disney news from around the world. Around the world brings us even more Disney news. The theme for the 31st anniversary of Tokyo Disneyland, the first look at an entire new land for Shanghai, and it’s a small world’s 50th anniversary in Paris are in the news this week.  ~yoyoflamingo

Small World 50th
For those of you who don’t know, April 10th is being celebrated as the 50th anniversary of it’s a small world with a global celebration. Does anyone have any of the details for the Paris version? Share your intel here!

TDL 31st Anniversary
Check out this year’s theme and details in this thread, then drool over what they get every year!

First ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Themed Land Coming to Shanghai Disneyland
An all new version of a classic Disney attraction is coming to Shanghai, with a whole land to boot! Shared at the stockholders meeting, take a peek and see if it makes you want to jump on a plane for Shanghai in 2015!

MiceChat Podcast #15: A Spoonful of Sherman Our latest show was quite a while in the making. We think it was worth the wait. Aside from our usual round up of Disney and theme park news, we’ve got an outstanding interview with Robbie Sherman (son of Disney legend Robert Sherman of the Sherman Brothers). Robbie was quite candid. The interview was conducted at the Disneyana Fan Club show and sale, so there’s quite a bit of background noise, but it’s all in good fun. It’s a spoonful of Sherman and then some. Enjoy!

Direct Link | iTunes Link

Take a sneak peek at the Despicable Me attraction at Universal Studios or plan to attend Berry Bloom at Knott’s Berry Farm. ~Trekkie Dad

A Full look at Despicable Me Ride Area at Universal Studios Hollywood
SoCalbma posts a video of the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride area.

Knott’s announces details for Berry Bloom spring event 2014
Mark your calendars for April 12-27! (And say hello to Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies while you are there.)

New Club 33 logo and Disney buys Maker!
Sarah brings us lots of stuff going on this week in the Disneyland Resort! What do you think of the (horrible) new Club 33 logo? Interesting that Disney has bought Maker Studios, no? Have you been on Thunder Mountain yet?

The Haunted Mansion Show Episode 12: Dead Men DO Tell Tales!
Avast there, ye scurvy corpses! Ye come seekin’ adventure and haunted ol’ mansions, aye? Sure, ye come to the proper place. At the cursed manor house of Gracey, your cadaverous captain, the Ghost Host, will take you on a wicked voyage through the haunted side of piracy in honor of the 47th anniversary of “Walt Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean.” And mark well me words, mateys… DEAD MEN DO TELL TALES!

Communicore Weekly – Mineral King Resort, Every Guest Is A Hero, Flora’s Beauty
Communicore Weekly, the greatest online show, is proud to announce the release of Communicore Weekly: The Musical! For the first time ever, hear the true origin story of how Jeff and George were brought together to face the biggest threat that the Disney theme parks, and the universe, has ever faced: Michael Eisner! Through the use of patent-pending time travel technology, Communicore Weekly was able to obtain an episode of the radio broadcast “Theater On The Move” from the year 2215. In this episode, they are celebrating the 200th anniversary of Communicore Weekly: The Musical, and have brought the actors playing the pivotal roles of Jeff and George onto the show to discuss the lavish anniversary production and to share the music of the show.

Direct Link |  iTunes Link

Disafterdark Series 2, Episode 13 – DisAfterMind.
Welcome back to the Mouses Head and thank you for the download. Joining us in the Mouses Head this week is fan and friend of the show Kaitlyn Albone. Kaitlyn is a current cast member in Orlando, but for the record she doesn’t speak on behalf of the Walt Disney Company or the parks, and is just a fan who happens to also be a cast member!

Direct Link | iTunes Link

Unofficial Universal Orlando Podcast #83 – News, Rumours and Coldstone
Join us for another Butterbeer taste test, the news, which includes our new “rumours” segment and then Darren reviews the recently opened Coldstone Creamery at Universal Orlando’s CityWalk.

Direct Link | iTunes Link

SeaWorld Podcast Ep 20 – Interviews with Bindi Irwin Julie Scardina and Tim Morrow
The Unofficial Seaworld Podcast team is back with an amazing episode with 3 incredible interviews!  In this episode we talk to SeaWorld’s new Youth Ambassador Bindi Irwin about her new along with what kids will be able to do with Generation Nature, and SeaWorld Kids.

Direct Link | iTunes Link

Window to the Magic Enjoy the sounds of the park on our weekly journeys into the wonderful world of the Disney sound experience!

Direct Link | iTunes Link

The Seasonpass Podcast is back to the IAAPA Expo for part 2 of the event.  Interviews with Gary Goddard, Great Coasters International, S&S-Sansei, Rocky Mountain Construction, Oceaneering and Soaring Attractions (Fly Over Canada attraction).

Direct Link | iTunes Link

Mousetalgia Episode 282: Mary Blair exhibit, women in animation!
This week, Team Mousetalgia takes you behind the scenes at the world premiere of Magic, Color, Flair: The World of Mary Blair – an exhibit that opened March 13 at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco, CA.

Direct Link | iTunes Link

DoomBuggies Spook Show #7: Fear on film; camera operator Craig Fikse
As the start of an intermittent series on the nature of fear, this episode of the DoomBuggies Spook Show deals with the nature of fear, and how and why we, as human beings, enjoy and/or abhor being scared. We interview camera operator Craig Fikse, who has experience filming series like American Horror Story and films like Van Helsing, The Invasion, and The Ring 2. – and more.

Direct Link

The world famous MiceChat Gumball Rally will be rolling your way the first Saturday in May. Lots of fun and surprises are in store. Last year’s event sold out in record time with over 100 names on the waiting list. Don’t end up shut out of the best fan event of the year,

Click HERE for more information and to sign up!

Disneyland gets ready for springtime fun as refurbishments continue throughout the park
Disneyland is getting ready to kick off spring with a festive springtime roundup at the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree with special character meet-and-greets with Disney bunnies as well as the Easter Bunny himself.

Five Legged Goats from Sir Mickey’s at the Magic Kingdom
One of my favorite Five Legged Goats is one that goes practically unnoticed by most people at the Magic Kingdom. It’s also inside one of my favorite shops in all of Walt Disney World.

Batman Backwards at Six Flags Magic Mountain
MiceChat was invited to Six Flags Magic Mountain this week for a surprisingly fun ride on a classic coaster.

Disneyland History Through Postcards – Walt Disney’s 100th Birthday
One way we can learn about Disneyland history is by looking at the postcards that have been sold in the park through the years.

Blu-ray Review: Saving Mr. Banks
This week, George and Jeff look at the release of Saving Mr. Banks, a film which garnered both praise and dismay at the hands of Disney fans and historians.

Disneyland Resort Refurbishments Spread
The Disneyland Resort is looking absolutely stunning this week.  With the return of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, guests and pass holders alike flocked to Frontierland to see the explosive new changes on the classic attraction.

Magic Kingdom Hub in Pieces
Welcome back to Dateline Disney World. This week, the most action happened at the Magic Kingdom, so we’re back there this time around. Let’s get started!

Universal Studios Hollywood Brings Despicable Me Minion Mayhem to Life
Earlier today MiceChat was invited to take a sneak peek at the brand new Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Disney’s Electrical Parade, a California Classic
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Yesterland proudly presents a spectacular festival pageant of nighttime magic and imagination in thousands of sparkling lights and electrosynthomagnetic musical sounds.

Seven Things to Put In Your Disney Parks Bag
A few weeks ago, we chatted about the perfect park bag, and while some of you don’t take a thing into the parks that won’t fit into your pockets.

Bob’s True-Life Adventures No.3 2013 – Exotic Turkey
Today’s Wheel of Adventures stopped at 2013, so here we go. The Aegean Sea is the center of Grecian ancient cultures – from Crete and Rhodes in the south to Troy in the north, Athens.