Summer Nightastic Preview with Penny York

MouseStation 407 – Summer Nightastic Preview with Penny York

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Show run time 0:52:16

On today’s show, Penny York talks about the upcoming Summer Nightastic promotion, which runs from June 6 through August 14. Also, a new “At the Station” comic, a look at the Yak & Yeti Restaurant and this week’s Twitter/Facebook poll.

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Feature: Summer Nightastic Preview with Penny York

Last week, Mark talked to Penny York, associate manager for marketing strategy, about the upcoming Summer Nightastic promotion.

Summer Nightastic runs from June 6 through August 14, and the five components are spread across three parks:

The Magic Kingdom features the highest-profile events, the Summer Nightastic Fireworks Spectacular and the return of the Main Street Electrical Parade. The Summer Nightastic Fireworks Spectacular is a “reimagined” edition of the old Magic, Music and Mayhem fireworks show from the Pirate and Princess Party, and replaces Wishes for the duration of the event. Mark loved this show, and talked with Laura Offerdahl about the original show way back on Episode 5. The Main Street Electrical Parade is one of the most beloved nighttime spectaculars in the history of Walt Disney World, and has returned to Walt Disney World for this promotion after running at Disney’s California Adventure for the last few years. While Disney will again call it the Main Street Electrical Parade, the popular drum float will continue to say “Disney’s Electrical Parade,” a holdover from its days at DCA.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios will see a new series of drop sequences at the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror as well as a rock ‘n’ roll dance party at the Sorcerer Hat Stage. The Tower will see four new drop sequences with new effects. The new drop sequences will run consecutively, rather than randomly as with the current four drop sequences. Of course, with no real way of telling which drop sequence had just run, it may seem just as random to guests. The Rock and Glow Dance Party will feature Studios mainstays Mulch, Sweat and Shears trading off with a DJ and dancers. The dance party will run five nights a week, not appearing on Mondays and Wednesdays.

The Sounds Like Summer Concert Series at Epcot, which has been running for several years, will be folded in under the Summer Nightastic umbrella. The concerts, which run from June 12 through July 31, features a series of “cover bands” performing the music of famous acts. The series will include tributes to The Bee Gees, The Eagles, Janet Jackson, The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, U2 and Chicago.

Also at Epcot this summer, though not under the “Summer Nightastic” umbrella, Captain EO returns to the Imagination Pavilion starting in early July.

At this time, there has been no word on any of these new features remaining beyond the Summer Nightastic promotion period.

Penny is most looking forward to the Main Street Electrical Parade.

For more information, you can go to the official Summer Nightastic page on the Walt Disney World site.

Thanks to Penny York for taking the time to talk to Mark, and to Benjamin Thompson for setting up the interview.

@ the Station

This week, we’ve got another great comic strip from Sean Jones.

article 1 | article 2).

You can enjoy the entire series here.

Review System Spotlight

This week we take a look at the Yak & Yeti Restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. MousePlanet readers love the restaurant, rating it 4.4 out of five planets. Our featured review this week is by bmxmom of Southern California.

bmxmom and her daughter were a little concerned about trying the restaurant, but ended up loving the food, rating the wok-fried green beans as the best single item of their trip. The service was great as well, leading to her giving it a 5-planet rating.

Mark loves Yak & Yeti and discussed his most recent visit there. Mike also loves the place..

You can also find Yak & Yeti Restaurant in our Park Guide.

Twitter/Facebook poll question

Last week’s question was:

What do you think of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort?

via Facebook:

• I think it will be a better fit then what they had planned before with the early years. I think it merges animation into the resort as a whole. I hope it will look nice. My only question is if it is going to be a value resort or moderate?
• Glad they are using the buildings, even if it isn’t to finish Pop Century. Nice theme.
• Can’t wait till my 2013-2014 trip so I can stay there. A much better idea then the older pop century buildings. Mom can we stay in “The Great Depression Building” that sounds like fun.
• I am happy and thrilled. My 2013 trip will be there too!
• Sounds great but will they rename Pop Century “Pop Half Century?”
• I am very happy that they are not “rethemeing” Pop Century as had been rumored, it is my favorite value resort. It will be very nice to be able to look across the lagoon and not see a post apopcalyptic wasteland when I’m staying at Pop Century as well 🙂 Looking forward to staying there.
• Think it’s a great idea. WDW property really needs more options for families of 5+ and family suites at a Value resort are just the ticket.
• It’s nice to see Disney finally adding a new resort to WDW after several years, and it’s also good that they’re adding more family suites. But it seems like in terms of theming, they’re playing it safe. “People like the animated characters, give ’em more characters!” At least the Legendary Years would have been a little more creative.

via Twitter:

• Great idea! Glad they’re finallly doing something with the property.
• like the theme. Love the idea of more value family suites. they are way over due.
• Glad Pop Century will be “completed” and family suites are nice… but theme/concept sound extremely weak
• One word …. WANT!
• sounds really cool and I look forward to staying there one day
• undecided. Waiting for more info on how well 5-6 people will fit vs. price
• They shd have had a wing 2 honor Mickey!
• sounds like great theme ideas

Next week’s question:

• What is your favorite quick-service restaurant at Walt Disney World?

What do you think?

Listener Feedback

Mary Tesch wrote in to say that she was laughing so hard while listening to Episode 404 that she nearly had to pull her car off the road. The rest of her family loved it as well when she played it for her later. She advised Mark to not sing the next time. Mark noted that he was mangling his voice to try to sound somewhat correct to the original, and that he’d keep singing in his normal voice.

Donna S. noted via Twitter that Episode 404 was great, and that it improved her mood greatly.

Karen had to stop listening to Episode 404 in order to write in because she was laughing so hard. She has become addicted to Phineas and Ferb, and loved the show, especially the accents and intonation of each character. She also wanted to know how Steven growled like Perry.

Vance Cope said via Twitter that Mark and Mike could continue arguing over whether Nemo or Lion King rooms at the new Art of Animation Resort would be better.

Brian Jonas was very glad to hear the return of the Featured Attraction and Review System Spotlight segments, and hopes that they will be back on a regular basis. He also enjoyed our discussion about the news of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.

Sharla Manglass called in to report on her recent trip to Walt Disney World (she missed Mark by a couple of days). She was impressed by Port Orleans French Quarter, loved Artist Point as usual (for their anniversary dinner), found a new favorite drink (Wildberry Margarita), had an interesting time at Star Wars Weekend, and was surprised by the Biergarten.

Wrapping up

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Thanks to our audio engineer and sound editor Steven Ng.

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