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18 Feb 08, 03:32 PM |
#1
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Imagineer
Join Date: Mar 02
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Mickey Monitor Feb 2008
The spring issue of Disney's Mickey Monitor is here.
New name puts spotlight on new Park excitement In this issue, you’ll see how Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ isn’t just a new name. It’s a reflection of “the best of Hollywood” both in the Park currently and on the horizon in an exciting year filled with new fun!
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18 Feb 08, 03:33 PM |
#2
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Thread Starter
Imagineer
Join Date: Mar 02
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A sneak peek at Toy Story Mania!
New attraction immerses you in Disney•Pixar play! Starting summer 2008, the new Toy Story Mania! attraction, inspired by Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story” films, will blow you away with its combination of colorful, ride-through excitement, 3-D technology and full-on competition! But we just couldn’t wait to take in the fun. That’s why we visited the construction site with Walt Disney Imagineering Show Producer Chrissie Allen to check in on the action. It’s how you play the game “The story here is that the toys’ young friend, Andy, just got a Midway Games playset that the toys have put together,” said Chrissie. That theme was very apparent as soon as we entered the attraction. Oversize board games literally surrounded us. In a flash, we too were transformed to toy size. Along the ride route, Chrissie explained how “our vehicle moves along and then stops at carnival booths where you use your spring-action shooter to launch virtual darts at balloons, rings at aliens and eggs at barnyard targets.” As we walked through the construction site, you could see how this fantastic setting is coming to life. Playtesting for maximum fun The walk-through only made us more anxious to actually play. And the next leg of our journey fulfilled our dreams. It took us across the country, to a nondescript warehouse in Glendale, California, where Imagineers use something called “playtesting” to make final adjustments to a new Disney attraction. After a brief introduction, we put on a pair of 3-D glasses, slipped behind the makeshift spring-action shooter they had built there and began blasting away at a dizzying array of hilarious targets. In no time, we were completely immersed in this fantastic “Toy Story” world. We even saw how some targets trigger surprise effects, like little air blasts, water spritzes and complete transformations of the set. By the end of the first game, we were begging for more, sharpening our skills as we got used to our incredible assortment of projectiles. Our prediction? This is not an attraction you only do once. And as Passholders, you’ll have plenty of time to hone your skills and shoot for the high score this summer. Make sure to register at disneyworld.com/passholder to get more information on Passholder previews. And visit ToyStoryMania.com to learn more about the attraction. =============================================== Look who’s playing now at Playhouse Disney—Live on Stage! In addition to its new Park name, Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ has a completely new version of its popular Playhouse Disney—Live on Stage! show. It’s been transformed into an all-new show with a new cast of characters. “If you liked Playhouse Disney—Live On Stage! before, you’re going to love this version,” said Senior Show Director John Addis of Disney Entertainment Productions. “We open our show at Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, where Mickey, Donald, Daisy and Goofy are trying to decide what to do for Minnie’s birthday party. More Playhouse Disney pals take to the stage “First up is Handy Manny, along with Pat the Hammer, Rusty the Wrench and the other tool friends, trying to fix a bubble machine. As they get it to work the theater fills with bubbles for the audience to play with. Then, we see Little Einsteins™—June, Leo, Quincy and Annie—who work with kids in the audience to help Rocket win the Great Sky Race against Big Jet. “In the big finale, the entire clubhouse opens up so you and the kids can see the incredible interior right before your eyes and the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse gang gets all ready for Minnie’s big party. “Here’s my favorite thing about Playhouse Disney—Live On Stage! I watch the Guests more than the show. I love seeing the kids play along and even more, seeing their parents watch their kids have so much fun!” =============================================== A New, Star Studded Bash! Get set for a new kind of fun at Block Party Bash, an “interactive street party spectacular” opening spring 2008 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™. The floats and adjacent stages that appear on Hollywood Boulevard will boast more than 40 performers—including characters inspired by Disney•Pixar hit movies. Play, play, play! You’ll be welcomed into the fun by a cast of Disney performers as well as beloved friends from Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story,” “A Bug’s Life” and “Monsters, Inc.” Even characters from “The Incredibles” appear on the scene to join in the partying, dancing and acrobatics. But the prime performers will be Guests like you, who are invited to dance, sing, shout, jump and play with whatever fun this amazing group of mirth makers can come up with: jump ropes, beach balls, you name it. A potential paradise for Passholders Best of all, you can have a different experience each time you see it. You could boogie with Buzz at one instance, giggle with Boo at another and frolic with Flik the next. Each is a complete entertainment extravaganza, but it can vary depending on where you are along the route. So it’ll be a treasure trove of fun for Passholders, because you can enjoy it again and again! ============================================== Donovan McNabb leads the team at ESPN The Weekend ESPN The Weekend is back with everything from star athletes to ESPN telecasts and interactive experiences. There’s something for everyone to cheer about, including appearances by athletes like Drew Brees and Donovan McNabb. “It's an opportunity to interact with professional athletes and their families in an exciting setting,” Donovan shared. “It's fun to see the players when they're just being themselves having fun.” Donovan will also be bringing his almost-equally-famous mom to the event. “I remember years ago when we took Donovan and his brother Sean to Disney,” said Mrs. McNabb. “This year I get to take my granddaughter, too.” In all, over 70 athletes and ESPN personalities will be in the house for the weekend, taking part in motorcades, conversations and question & answer sessions. As if that’s not enough ESPN for you, you can also catch on-site “hot set” telecasts with ESPN personalities and the athletes. And fans old and young can also take their best shot in an interactive sports zone. At-a-Glance ESPN: The Weekend Dates: Feb. 29–Mar. 2, 2008 Place: Disney’s Hollywood Studios ============================================== The Year of a Million Dreams is now set to continue through December 2008! You already know that Disney is continuing The Year of a Million Dreams celebration through December 31, 2008. But you may not realize who helped make this celebration the big success that it has become. The answer? You. Our Passholders are some of the biggest dreamers around. And your dreams help power our celebration with pure magic. Which means you deserve a great big “thank you” simply for doing what you do. Part of our thanks comes in the form of the dreammaking magic Disney Cast Members create for our Guests every day. And this year, you’ll never know what kind of extra-special surprises are in store for you when you visit the Parks. Learn more about what makes our continuing celebration better than ever at DisneyParks.com. But there’s still more magic to behold and so much debuting in 2008 as part of The Year of a Million Dreams. In this issue, we’ve included stories on the new Toy Story Mania! attraction, the newly enhanced Playhouse Disney—Live on Stage! and the incredible Block Party Bash, all coming this year to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. And that’s just the beginning! ============================================ Our special thank you to you. Four exclusive lithographs! As our special thanks to Passholders for helping to make The Year of a Million Dreams such a success, we’d like to offer you a few “dreams” to take home: four exclusive lithographs that whimsically portray Mickey and Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Pluto each at one of the four Theme Parks. Find out how to get yours on page 16 of this issue. And get ready for another year of Disney dreams come true. ============================================= There’s more BLOOMING at the 2008 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival The Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival will be bigger in 2008 than ever before, not just because it will now span 75 days (over two weeks more than last year), but also because the talented folks behind the blossoms add more dazzling displays, fascinating seminars, hands-on demonstrations, kids’ activities, an all-star concert series and other fun every year. “My name is Eric the shrubber” One of the key magic makers behind the event is Eric Darden, a thoroughly affable fellow who is the Horticulture Manager for Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival all year long. Part of the year’s planning includes developing the famous Disney topiaries—larger-than-life characters made of shrubbery. “This year the theme is ‘Fun in the Sun,’ so the Epcot main entrance plaza will feature our 14-foot surfing Goofy topiary,” said Eric. “In front of him, in a beach scene, will be Mickey and Minnie. You’ll find Donald and Daisy Duck at World Showcase playing volleyball with Stitch as a lifeguard and Pluto.” So much to do…so much more time to enjoy it! One of the most popular traditions is Minnie’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden. “There are between 300 and 500 butterflies inside,” said Eric. “Some Guests stay in there for 45 minutes and watch the whole process as a butterfly comes out of the chrysalis. Guests also love the ‘lift and sniff’ Fragrance Garden in France that features flowers to make Guerlain perfumes. “Disney Gardening at Home combines a presentation by one of our experts with hands-on activities and crafts,” Eric added. “At one presentation last year, our Guests created herb bouquets while discovering the meaning and history of herbs. “On another day, Guests were each given a nice big gourd and watercolors. While they heard about wildlife gardening, they were able to paint on this gourd, then have a hole drilled into the gourd for a bird to make a home. “And with all of these programs, they are able to take their craft project home with them. We’re doing these on each of the 75 days of the Festival.” Turn your home into an Epcot wonderland “People might look at all our big topiaries and elaborate floral displays and think they’ll never be able to do this sort of thing on their own,” said Eric. “But at the Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival, we offer all of our Guests practical, easy-to-follow, fun-to-do ways to make this happen at home. There’s nothing we do that you can’t. And we’ll show you how.” AT-A-GLANCE THEMED WEEKENDS Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 19 through June 1 FLOWER POWER CONCERT SERIES America Gardens Theatre 5:45, 7:00 & 8:15 pm ============================================= Animal-friendly drinking straws are here Since it opened, plastic straws have been banished from Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park to guard against any being accidentally ingested by the animals. However, we recently introduced paper straws that are durable, biodegradable and pose no threat to our animals. Look for them at restaurants and outdoor foods kiosks throughout the Park. ============================================== New shopping experiences at Downtown Disney area Inside the Team Mickey store at Downtown Disney® Marketplace, you’ll now find Rawlings Making the Game, where ballplayers can get personalized bats, balls and gloves, as well as Official Major League collectibles. Then make your way to Pleasure Island for Curl by Sammy Duval, a high-end surf shop boasting trendy clothing, skateboards, surfboards and more. It also features a 10% Disney Passholder discount! =============================================== Disney Vaca tion Club expands its magical community Disney Vacation Club is continuing to grow. Beyond Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas, now opening in phases at the Walt Disney World® Resort, Disney Vacation Club villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa at the Disneyland® Resort are scheduled to open in late 2009. And the westward expansion is slated to continue in 2011, when Disney Vacation Club villas are due to open on Hawaii’s island of Oahu. ================================================ The cowboy and the space hero went to sea on the beautiful Disney Wonder Some of the best reasons to enjoy a Disney Cruise Line® vacation are the exclusive, Broadway-caliber stage shows. Well now, another spectacular reason is about to premiere: the new “Toy Story—The Musical,” which opens March 2008 exclusively on the Disney Wonder®. Not only will it bring the adventures inspired by Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story” to life as never before, it will also feature a brand-new musical score with songs for the characters to sing! But fans of “You’ve Got A Friend In Me” needn’t fret; they’ll hear this tune in addition to the seven delightful new songs by the renowned Brendan Milburn & Valerie Vigoda, all created in the style of the Academy Award®-winning film composer Randy Newman. A really big show “Toy Story—The Musical” will be one of the largest productions ever produced at sea. You’ll marvel at all the lavish costumes, dynamic choreography and remarkable sets that put everyone at toys’ eye view in Andy’s room. With a vast array of some of the best creative talents, “Toy Story—The Musical” is sure to be the ultimate must-see at sea! To book a reservation, or for additional information, visit disneycruise.com, call 800-449-3378, or see your Travel Agent. ============================================== Pirates, Princesses…and VIP Passholders! Select nights this February and March, bring your little royals and swashbucklers in their favorite finery and let their imaginations take flight at Disney’s Pirate and Princess Party. Fantastic interactive entertainment and activities at pirate coves and princess courts seem to appear down almost every magical pathway, from pirate training to an under-the-sea dance party. The jewels in the crown There are two especially magnificent parts to your evening. The Disney’s Enchanted Adventures Parade features a grand procession of all-time-great Disney fairty-tale characters and crafty pirates, including rascally Captain Jack Sparrow himself. And the highly-acclaimed Magic, Music and Mayhem fireworks spectacular is something you simply have to see to believe. Read more about these extravaganzas in back issues of Mickey Monitor at disneyworld.com/passholder. ================================================ See the fireworks like Passholder royalty While you’re at disneyworld.com/passholder, look for how you can access the special PASSHOLDER VIP VIEWING AREA for the fireworks. Why? Because you’re special! Priority viewing available on all event nights in the month of February: 2, 5, 9, 14, 22, 26. But hurry! This offer is only available to the first 200 Passholders who sign up each night. ================================================ Exciting Epcot re-imaginings Spaceship Earth will relaunch Disney Imagineer Bob Zalk, who worked on Spaceship Earth when he and the attraction were new to Disney, told Mickey Monitor about the new discoveries you’ll now find at the mighty Epcot® icon, Spaceship Earth, presented by Siemens. “Our new story is essentially about how all the innovations of one generation influence and inspire another,” he explained. “It’s a series of building blocks that add upon each other as we travel up through Spaceship Earth—from cavemen to computers.” Look for new lighting effects, music, costumes, set decoration and a special new interactive surprise during the attraction’s finale. Plus all-new interactive post-show. Oh, you good ol’ Canada, you! Hollywood and Broadway star Martin Short brings his wacky, irreverent comic wit as well as his warmhearted reverence for his homeland to the newly enhanced, O Canada! The Circle-Vision 360 film in World Showcase features new footage and a new rendition of the song, "Canada You’re a Lifetime Journey” by singer and Canadian Idol winner Eva Avila. New World Showcase dining Mitsukoshi has now opened the new Teppan Edo restaurant in the Japan pavilion. The grand tradition of its master Teppan Chefs, dating back as far as 1603, has been given 21st-century flair with time-honored Japanese hospitality in an atmosphere of traditional majesty. There’s almost always something new to discover at Epcot, especially for Passholders like you, who can explore as often as you like! =============================================== Top tips for chillin’ with kids at the Disney Water Parks For a splash of fun outside the Theme Parks, dive into Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park. Both are overflowing with fun for the whole family, including special areas created just for your little ones! Use these “top 8” Disney Water Park tips to help get you going: 1. TIKE’S PEAK This kid-size version of Blizzard Beach boasts tons of slides and a snow castle fountain for kids 48˝ and under. 2. FLOATIES Speaking of your tadpoles, if they can’t quite swim yet, they can use our complimentary flotation devices to help out. 3. LIFEGUARDS Chill out, Mom. There are lifeguards throughout each Water Park to help keep an eye on your tadpoles. 4. PHOTO OPS Why worry about soaking (or losing) your camera, when professional Disney’s PhotoPass® Photographers can take your pictures for you? Be in the shot for a change! 5. KETCHAKIDDEE CREEK This mini Water Park at Typhoon Lagoon is just for little ones under 48˝ and features 20 exciting water activities! 6. DISCOUNTS As a Passholder, you get $4 off the regular Water Park admission price for Guests 10 and older, and $3 off for Guests ages 3–9. Plus kids under 3 get in FREE! 7. RESTAURANTS Got a rumbly in the tumbly? Not for long. Each Water Park has lots of yummy restaurants serving lots of yummy food! 8. RIDER SWAP To enjoy a water slide or attraction with an older child that may not be right for your tot, ask a Cast Member about Rider Swap. ============================================= |
18 Feb 08, 04:55 PM |
#3
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Imagineer
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WOW, this has got me sooooo excited.
Its my sons 4th birthday when we are there and he loves playhouse disney, we are spending his birthday at MGM ... sorry 'Hollywood Studios'. We go in April so it's a shame Toy Story Mania won't be open but hopefully the new Playhouse Disney Live on Stage will be showing and the Block Party Bash Parade.
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Happy |
18 Feb 08, 04:59 PM |
#4
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Apprentice Imagineer
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is there a date for the playhouse disney, we go in April also, and my 1 year old niece is obsessed with mickey mouse clubhouse.
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Oct/Nov 2023 - Villa Holiday Oct 2017 - Dibb Villa, May 2012 - Dibb Villa 2010 Oct - Dibb Villa 2008 & 2007 villa/2005 villa/2003 I Drive/2001 I Drive |
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18 Feb 08, 07:07 PM |
#5
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Guest
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Is there any dates for toy story opening yet?
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25 Feb 08, 11:17 AM |
#6
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Excited about Disney
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17 Mar 08, 07:29 PM |
#7
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Apprentice Imagineer
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Really looking forward to all the new stuff, DGC just love Playhouse Disney, Handy Manny, Mickey's Clubhouse and all the rest, will see it all in Oct.
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2001 Lake Davenport.2003 QII. 2004, Q.I.P. 2006, WDW. ASMR. 2007, CIU.2008, W.I2010 E.S2011 M.D.R.2012 H.R.V.2014 Lindfields |
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17 Mar 08, 07:29 PM |
#8
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Thread Starter
Imagineer
Join Date: Mar 02
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This thread has been automatically closed as it has not been posted on in 365 days.
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