Disney World PF Gathering and Tips for Disney Mania!

[ZapperZ]

Disney To Ban Patio Heaters

It is just inevitable, you see.

Disney CEO Bob Iger this week announced that Disney movies will remove cigarette smoking from future Disney-branded movies. So it is inevitable that the next thing to be banned from Disney movies would be ...

PATIO HEATERS!

This dangerous household item has caused many accidental fires, and even give a false sense of warmth to people who should really be indoors. Thus, Disney is hoping that by removing the romance and enchantment of patio heaters in their movies, the public will no longer be tempted into getting these monsters. Either they freeze their rear ends, or go inside where it is warm and cozy.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Here's why Six Flags is not Disney.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Disney pulled the cork on the "Rat Wine".

It appears that due to "complaints" and inquiries, Disney has decided http://www.decanter.com/news/132789.html?aff=rss, that would have been sold at Costco. The label had Remy, the main character in Ratatouille, holding a glass of wine. Somehow, there are complaints that this might be advertising to children.



Hey, don't look at me. I'm only the messenger.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

A Taste of Oklahoma at Epcot

Congratulations to the state of Oklahoma. In recognition of its centennial celebration as a statehood this year, the state has been chosen as the first ever state to have a http://newsok.com/article/3096170.

Oklahoma, which is celebrating its statehood centennial this year, is the first state to be invited by the Walt Disney World Resort to showcase its cuisine and heritage at a display area during the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.

Jim MacPhee, an Epcot vice president, said this is the 12th year for the festival. It is one of the longest and largest food and wine festivals in the world, he said. More than 25 countries are featured.

Oklahoma was chosen by Disney officials, some of whom visited the state last year, as the first state because of its colorful history, MacPhee said.

I will be attending this event. Hopefully, I should be able to check out the Oklahoma's marketplace area and report back on the "food".

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Disney's Doorway To Dreams Store

Last Wednesday, we were lucky enough to be invited for a preview of the Disney's Doorway to Dreams store. This is a Disney Vacation Club preview store at the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, just outside of Chicago. This is the first ever DVC preview center off of Disney property, and they chose the Chicago area because of the very strong support and members involved in the DVC.

The DVC member preview started last Wednesday, and continues through today. The official Grand Opening for the general public is tomorrow, Aug. 4th. Many fun things have been scheduled, including the appearance of Mickey and friends, and plenty of free gifts (the best kind).

I've posted pictures of the member preview that we attended, and also all the goodies that we got from it. It was a very enjoyable evening.

Zz.

 

[mathwonk]

i still have my 78rpm album of uncle remus' song of the south.

"im going to knock... his... head... clean OFF!"

" naw you aint, naw you aint."

"I know what I am going to do, I am going to SKIN ya."

''thats ok, go ahead and skin me, but PLEEEZE... don't throw me in that briar patch!''

...ker plonk!

" heeyy,...whats he laffin at?"

" i said it was MY laughing place brer fox, and I am laughing!""hahahaaaaa..."
unfortunately none of my remaining turntables now go that fast.

i think i also have so dear to my heart, and treasure island, and johnny apple seed. but these disney characters are almost unknown today.

if there were only some way i could make the fundamental theorem of calculus so memorable to my students they could still quote it from memory in 60 years.

 

[ZapperZ]

Going to Walt Disney World will be a bit more expensive. Disney has just raised their ticket prices for WDW across the board.

... and we had just sent in our Annual Pass renewal 2 weeks ago. Just barely beat the price increase. Phew!

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Disney had announced that the Year of a Million Dreams celebration http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/orl-bk-disney080707,0,4994487.story. So if you have an inkling on going, you have about 1 1/2 years left to do it to get a chance of winning one of the special prizes, or even a night at Cinderella Castle.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Goodbye Disney-MGM Studios

It is official now.

The long-rumored change of name for Disney-MGM Studios at the Walt Disney World is now officially true. Disney will change the name of that theme park in January to Disney's Hollywood Studios.

In a statement, Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort, says, "The new name reflects how the park has grown from representing the golden age of movies to a celebration of the new entertainment that today's Hollywood has to offer-- in music, television, movies and theater."

Among the additions created to support the new theme are Toy Story Mania!, an interactive ride based on the characters in the "Toy Story" films. The ride, likely to be previewed sometime before next summer, is expected to include spring-loaded guns for guests in vehicles to shoot darts at moving targets.

Maybe these things will add more reasons to stay longer at that theme park. For me, this place is something you can do in 1/2 a day and not something you want to stay for the whole day.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

This was the space shuttle launch from a couple of days ago. The video and pictures were rather cool, but I thought it was also highly appropriate that you can see it launched directly behind Mission: Space at Epcot.

I wonder if the space shuttle also have barf bags like they do in the Mission: Space ride?

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

The Art of Disney stamps

Next week on Thursday, the US Post Office will release 4 new Art of Disney stamps.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Mattel Recall Toys from "Cars" Movie

It's only a matter of time that Disney gets affected by all the recall of products made in China. Mattel this morning just announced the recall of several million toys in addition to the one announced earlier. This includes the Sarge die cast toys from Disney-Pixar "Cars".

Also recalled was the list are the "Sarge" die cast toys from the Pixar Cars movie assortment will be recalled because of hazardous lead paint.

The recalled Sarge Cars were sold individually and in assortment packs in retail stores nationwide from May 2007 to August 2007. The Sarge character is a small die cast car measuring about 3 inches in length.

The car is an Army green color and features a white star on the hood. Surface paint on affected products contains lead in excess of permissible levels.

Luckily, I don't collect such things.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Fantasmic at Disney-MGM Studios

... or maybe I should start getting used to calling it Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Anyway, this is a good description/information of the Fantasmic show at Disney-MGM Studios (not to be confused with a similar show at Disneyland in CA). It has updated pictures and also a video of the full show.

Strangely enough, of all the videos of various stuff that I've taped over the years, I don't have anything on this one. There's a couple of good reasons for it: (i) I don't quite like this show even know I know it is a favorite of many (ii) the 2 times that I've seen it, it had always rained.

I'm sure (ii) played some role in (i). But then again, I've watched Wishes in pouring rain before and still loved it.

Zz.

 

[Moridin]

I just love the stamps.

 

[ZapperZ]

I just love the stamps.

They are being released tomorrow here in the US. Guess who'll be at the Post Office first thing in the morning?



Zz.

 

[Moonbear]

Grrr...every other time I went out and got Disney stamps, they raised the postage rates right after. But, I like using them. They're fun, just wish I didn't have to spoil the look by sticking a 2 cent stamp next to them.

 

[ZapperZ]

Here are pictures and video from the ceremony today of the release of the new Art of Disney stamps.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Is Tinker Bell's look too risqué?

The http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/custom/tourism/orl-tinkerbell-poll,0,2381693.poll with the question if Tinker Bell's look is too risque. Risque? Puhleeze! Compare to Britney Spears and Lindsey Lohan, Tinker Bell is a nun!

So cast your vote!

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

What is the most watched basic cable telecast of all time?

It's last Friday's http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i5a787a2fa3a0574d14d791f838e05401!

Disney Channel's highly anticipated "High School Musical 2" sang and danced its way to history Friday night when 17.24 million viewers tuned in, making the original movie's debut the most-watched basic cable telecast of all time.

"Musical 2," a sequel to the successful 2006 telefilm, surpassed the previous record holder, ESPN's "Monday Night Football" game on Sept. 23, 2006, which averaged 16 million viewers.

God help us!



Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

The Muppet Mobile Lab makes its appearance at Epcot this week. It arrives from Disney's California Adventure theme park, and it is one of those interactive animatronics. So far it is wowing the guests that encounter it.

The Orlando Sentinel has http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-bk-muppetlab082107,0,7000855.story of the characters in action as it interacts with the guest. This is part of the Disney Imagineers project on Live Characters Initiative that probably got started when Turtle Talk With Crush became such a runaway hit when it opened.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Neal Gabler's "Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination"

So you are The Walt Disney Company. You give writer/biographer Neil Gabler full access to the Disney vault to write his biography of Walt Disney. When it came out, the book got mostly positive and enthusiastic reviews. While you did not endorse it as the official biography of Walt, you consider it as an "authorized" biography and sells it at Disney stores throughout your theme parks.

Suddenly, you got a fax from Diane Disney Miller, the only surviving daughter of Walt Disney, that described the book as, among other things:

... a monstrous piece of libelous junk. My parents were not the people he creates in this book, and I cannot understand why all of you who aided and abetted Gabler in writing this book, and who praise it and promote it, can do so without suffering serious qualms.

Now keep in mind that Diane Disney Miller is not someone who interferes with the running or even the policy of the Walt Disney Company. In fact, she hasn't given that many interviews or even press releases, even though the Disney family still owns a chunk of the company (primarily managed by Roy Disney). So this communication from her to the executives of the Walt Disney Company, I'm sure, must come as a stinging surprise.

You can read more about this issue on Michael Barrier's column, who he himself has an unflattering comment about Gabler's book. And according to Barrier, Diane Disney Miller hasn't heard any reply of her fax from the Walt Disney Company.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

10 Things I Miss About Disneyland

No, this is not my 10 things, because my Disney obsession came relatively late in life. :)

A contributor to MSN City Guides lists 10 Disneyland's attractions that are no longer around and looks back with nostalgia at them. I of course, have no such memory of them so it is rather interesting not only to read about them, but why these attractions are missed. Although, I must admit, I don't get why some of them are that sorely missed.

Did you go to Disneyland a long time ago and remember any of these things listed? Did he omitted something that you miss?

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Laughing Place has the full, most recent video of the Beauty and the Beast stage show at Disney-MGM Studios. If you've never seen this show (it is not the same as the Broadway stage musical - how can it when it is only 20 mins?), this video is as good as any. I wish that there is a more "fixed camera" version and not hand-held.

This is one of the more popular live stage show at Walt Disney World. In fact, I would say it was the most popular till the Finding Nemo show opened at Animal Kingdom earlier this year.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Disney's Pin Celebration 2007

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/9105/2007newlogo400oe0.jpg

The largest pin event anywhere on Disney property starts this week on Friday and runs through Sunday. The theme this year, in conjunction with the Year of a Million Dreams, is "Where Dreams HapPin".

The early registration for this event starts Thursday afternoon. Your truly will be flying in early on Thursday for the event. Several members of the Chicago area contingent of the Windy City Pin Traders will be meeting up at the early registration and go to dinner at Cape May at the Disney's Beach Club Resort.

In addition, Disney has decided to move its monthly pin trading night to the same time and location as the early registration, and setting up a special area for the event attendees. So we will all get a bonus event not included with the actual Pin Celebration event, sort of an appetizer for what's to come the next few days.

I will be going with a luggage 3/4 empty, and expect to come home loaded to the gills. Let's just hope I don't have to pay the overweight charges. I will try to report from there at the end of the day. It will mainly be on the pin event since it is a short trip mainly on this. For a more varied report, wait till the end of Sept., which I am already expecting to be a glorious trip. It will coincide with Epcot's 25th Anniversary celebration on Oct. 1st, the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot, and our attendance on the evening of Oct 4th to the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at The Magic Kingdom. Yes, I am extremely giddy with anticipation.

Have a Magical Day, and see you at the Happiest Place on Earth.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

It was very long first day. We were up since 4 am, and have been going non-stop every since we got here.

We got to our resort at Old Key West and checked in early. Had lunch at Fultons in Downtown Disney, and then headed straight to the Convention Center to do the early registration. It went very smoothly. The registration line was short, and moved rather briskly.

We then joined the rest of the attendees doing what we like to do - pin trading! This is all before the official start of the Pin Celebration event, which is the next day.

We made many good contacts, even a group from The Netherlands. Exchanged business cards with them because they have offered to buy us pins from Disneyland Paris, while we offered to buy them pins from WDW. In the meantime, we traded several of our pins for their Disneyland Paris pins. Everyone was happy! :)

Today is the official start of the Pin Celebration event at the World Showplace at Epcot. So it will be a full day of trading, pin games, and more freebies.

Zz.

 

[Doc Al]

We were up since 4 am, and have been going non-stop every since we got here.

You are quite insane, my friend. But it looks like everyone is having a blast. Enjoy!

 

[ZapperZ]

You are quite insane, my friend.

Oh, that goes without saying!

:)

I am having a blast, because we know a lot more people here, and made a few new friends and contacts already, and all before the event even began! So today, the first day of the event, should be a lot of fun. I just hope that I don't run out of pins, because the trading pins we brought with us got seriously picked over last night. Almost all the good ones are gone already, especially the ones from Disneyland.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

This will be just a quick trip report, since I'm in a hurry to head out and do Disney-MGM Studios for their early Magic Hours.

The first official day of the Pin Celebration went very well. Did a lot of pin games to get some of the new cast lanyard pins, and did a lot of pin trading. But first, we had a lovely breakfast at OKW with this view to boot:

We then headed to Epcot. I don't care what anyone else says. Spaceship Earth looks naked and lonely without the Wand! I miss the Wand! There! I said it! You can hate me for it if you want.

They had a different bag check area for us attending the Pin Event. We didn't have to open our bags, but they instead got sniffed at by a rather furry "cast member". Just don't pet him/her, though.

And then, it was off to World Showplace.

This is the entrance area and registration area.

This year, the themed decorations were done extremely well! The next few pictures show the decorations and queue lines for those doing pin games.

[cont...]

 

[ZapperZ]

[...cont]

Of course, what many attendees came for is to do pin trading with people from all over the world. So this is large pin trading area at the event.

There all the items for the silent auction on display. Even they were nicely themed. Here's Remy with a set of pins that are up for auction.

We also managed to go out of the Pin event and do other things. This is the area that would be the off-loading area for Spaceship Earth that was open.

Spaceship Earth, of course, is still under construction.

We managed to do Soarin, and then Test Track.

And then the Nemo Attraction. I have decided that this attraction isn't high on my list of things to do.

We also did the Grand Fiesta and then stayed for Illuminations.

More reports coming soon.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Wow! We're exhausted!

It was another fun day. We woke up early to do Disney-MGM Studios' extra Magic hour. We missed getting another Dream Fastpass on the SAME ride from last time (Great Movie Ride) by just THAT much. I should have asked to stay for the next ride. What are the odds of getting a Dream Fastpass on the same ride twice?

Anyway, we did Tower of Terror, Great Movie Ride, and then headed back to Epcot. BTW, I've never had breakfast or pastries at Staring Rolls (next to the Brown Derby), but boy, they are good! I had bagels with cream cheese, lox, and it came with onions and capers. Lots of capers! (I love capers!). Of course, you pay ... what, $5.95 for it, but still, they gave a generous amount of capers and lox. So I was suitably satisfied.After getting our bags sniffed again, we got into Epcot to continue the Pin Celebration. We picked up our 4th RSP pins (we didn't get the Pin Traders Dream jumbo pin ) and then bought the special pins that we qualified to buy based on the amount that we purchased for our first 3 RSP. I think that Stitch pin is going to be a big seller on e-bay, I can already tell.

Of course, the pin trading activities continue and it seems as if there are even MORE people there today than yesterday, so much so that they had to put out even more tables, because people were complaining that they couldn't display their pins for trading.

The lines to play the pin games were also longer. People were really into getting those cast lanyard pins that are released at this event.

I took more pictures of the themeing that they are doing around the area for this event. They certainly did quite a bit.

The "Pin Family", a set of characters that are quite hilarious, also came into the pin trading area to take a look. They cast members tend to wear a lot of desirable pins, so they are usually swamped as soon as they appear. In this case, by the time they got to us, their lanyards were well picked over.

We left around 4:15 pm just as it was starting to rain. On the way out, we went to Mouse Gears because we were told that they have installed this Pin Game, where for $5, you can try to play this game. Win or lose, you get a pin can is one of the 3 or 4 sets of pins available form the set contained in that machine. I think we spent $25 getting 5 pins (which isn't bad considering that the cheapest rack pins is $6.95). At least, if we don't want to keep this, they make good trading. We are going to try a few more times tomorrow because we want the Donald pin.

The last day of the Pin Celebration is tomorrow. We also leave tomorrow afternoon, so I will probably not file another report until after we get home. It was a short but fun trip. I can't wait to get back here in 4 weeks for the Epcot Anniversary celebration.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

OK, so you'll never guess what became a minor and unexpected "hit" at the Pin Celebration.

They have several water stations throughout the event where you can get a cup of cold water. This was done in previous years as well. However, yesterday, during the first day of the celebration, when I decided to have a drink of water, I did a double take because they were using this hard plastic cups that had Mickey Ears and Castle design on it. In other words, these are not your usual throwaway flimsy plastic cups!

So I asked a few of my friends there if they have seen the plastic cups and am I the only one who thought that these are way cool and highly collectible. Everyone thought so! They had already taken some to keep. So I'm not embarrass to admit that I took a few as souvenirs.

Well guess what? Today, you can't find them anymore. We are back to the paper cups and cheap, flimsy plastic cups. A few people who didn't take them yesterday are regretting their decisions.

So, if you are ever invited to come over to my place and I serve you drinks on a white, frosted plastic cups with Mickey Ears and Castle design on it, you'll know that you're drinking on a collectible piece of Disney merchandise! :)

Zz.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The Walt Disney Co. will begin testing toys featuring its characters in an effort to ensure product safety ahead of the busy holiday shopping season, according to a pair of reports published Monday. ...it will test more than 65,000 children's products, including items that are already on store shelves...[continued]

http://money.cnn.com/2007/09/10/news/companies/disney_toys/index.htm?eref=rss_topstories

 

[ZapperZ]

This is from our final day at WDW and the final day of the Pin Celebration event. While we were at Epcot around 9:00 am, we didn't head straight to the Pin Celebration. We met up with our friends who live there and spent the morning doing the various attractions.

Epcot had signs at the entrance inviting the rest of the public to join the Pin Celebration at 11:00 am that morning. Here's one of the signs in front of the now-bald Spaceship Earth.

We then did Soarin' (again) and the Finding Nemo attraction. Here are the jellyfish from that attraction.

I bumped into this sign nearby that proclaimed that that was a picture spot. So I took a picture! I can read instructions! :)

We then did Test Track (again). It's a lot of fun to get the whole car to your own group.

After lunch, we rejoined the Pin Celebration, which has now been opened to the rest of Epcot guests. While they are not replenishing the boards with the newly-released cast lanyard pins, there were still a lot of neat pins to be had at the various pin games. And of course, pin trading was still going on strong, even though the crowds have dwindled quite a bit with a lot of the attendees have left. But what is interesting was that the pin partners from various Disney theme parks, such as Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland, and Hong Kong Disneyland, were now trading pins with guests with the pins they brought from their theme parks. So now, there were long lines for trading with these other parks' cast members. Guests who came in and traded with these cast members early got amazing pins that can't be found in N. America.

The characters were also present and mingled with the rest of the guests and attendees. I got a lot of pictures of them and with them. Here are a few:

Goofy was having way too much fun with the rest of the guests.

Both Chip and Dale were there. Here's Dale hamming it up to the camera.

Mickey was trying the Mr. Toad vehicle...

.. while Donald gave us a show on stage...

... that is, until Mickey and Minnie chased him off it.

It was a lot of fun. We are looking forward to next years event. Rumor has it that the theme for next year has something to do with "Pin University".

I will post a few more pictures, and some more reports on the stuff that I missed in the next few days.

Zz.

 

[Moonbear]

Epcot had signs at the entrance inviting the rest of the public to join the Pin Celebration at 11:00 am that morning. Here's one of the signs in front of the now-bald Spaceship Earth.

Y'know, I kind of like it plain again. Go figure. I didn't think I would.

I bumped into this sign nearby that proclaimed that that was a picture spot. So I took a picture! I can read instructions! :)

Sounds like you had a great time, as always.

 

[ZapperZ]

We left around 4:15 pm just as it was starting to rain. On the way out, we went to Mouse Gears because we were told that they have installed this Pin Game, where for $5, you can try to play this game. Win or lose, you get a pin can is one of the 3 or 4 sets of pins available form the set contained in that machine. I think we spent $25 getting 5 pins (which isn't bad considering that the cheapest rack pins is $6.95). At least, if we don't want to keep this, they make good trading. We are going to try a few more times tomorrow because we want the Donald pin.

I found more information regarding this pin game machine. It seems that they will be putting this machine at several more locations. The one at Mouse Gears was actually placed there just this past Sept. 6th, which actually makes sense since the pin addicts ... er ... collectors were swarming all over Epcot on that day. So this thing is certainly brand new.

Zz.