MouseStation 244 – Collected short subjects
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Run time 0:37:22
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Send in your suggestions, comments or tips via our email feedback form or via voicemail on our toll-free feedback line (1-866-939-2278).
We’ve put together a new listener survey to help us learn more about you and what you like most about this podcast. This one is much more targeted than the old Podtrac survey. Please take a few minutes to fill it out and let us know what you think.
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Thanks to our sponsor
Today’s show is sponsored by Owner’s Locker, a great service that gives you a place to leave your vacation-only stuff until your next trip to visit the Mouse.
The cost of an Owner’s Locker isn’t quite as high when you think about the per-bag fees that many airlines are now charging. It’s a risk-free trial, so why not give it a try?
Did you know that an Owner’s Locker makes a great holiday gift? It’s the gift that says “we’re going back, and we’re going back soon enough that it makes sent to store stuff until our next trip!”
Also, if you have any great ideas for how to use an Owner’s Locker, if you’ve signed up and are anticipating using your locker, or if you have already used your locker, send us an email or call our voicemail and let us know what you think!
Tip of the Week
This week’s Tip of the Week came from listener Keith Schrod in London, who learned it from a mother and son (named Beauregard) that were doing a Soarin’ marathon to celebrate the son’s birthday. Take off your shoes, then take a baby wipe and wipe down your arms and legs before riding Soarin’. The moisture helps you feel the moving air, which enhances the feeling of flying.
Featured Attraction
This week we look at Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros at Epcot’s Mexico pavilion.
Mark thinks it’s OK, but he misses El Rio del Tiempo’s music and kitchy film clips. While his son really enjoys the attraction, Mark wouldn’t miss it if he didn’t have time to ride it. Mike enjoyed it, but was discouraged by the amount of video projection. He felt that it didn’t have a “wow factor” for him.
Mark feels that, while the ride past the San Angel Inn Restaurante is as close to the Blue Bayou you’re going to get at Walt Disney World and it’s nice to ride past the pyramid and volcano, he doesn’t understand some of the changes (like putting “Viva Donald” on a funeral barge).
CHOC Walk/Team MousePlanet
For more information on supporting Team MousePlanet at this year’s CHOC Walk, go to the Team MousePlanet page or get information on the MousePad discussion forums.
Review System Spotlight
This week we look at the Around the World at Epcot Segway tour. Our one MousePlanet reader who has taken the tour loves it, rating it five out of five planets. Our featured review this week is by Dave from San Francisco.
Dave loved the tour, especially the fact that you get to ride a Segway on the tour. If there were a chance to buy a Segway at the end of the tour, he might have given in and bought one.
Mark hasn’t take the tour yet because he’s over the 250-pound weight requirement for riding Segways. Mike has done several cast-member-only versions of the tour as training for becoming a Segway ambassador at the Pop Century Resort. He thinks that Segways are easy to learn to ride, and that it’s a lot of fun.
The 2 hour tour costs $95 per person, including tax, and runs 4 times a day, at 7:45 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 9:30 a.m. Guests must be at least 16 years old and weigh 250 lbs or less. The signature of a parent or legal guardian is required for participants under 18 years of age. Riders should be in good health and able to stand for the duration of the tour.
Magical Moment
This week’s Magical Moment came in a voicemail from listener Liana, who had a wonderful experience in the cockpit of the new monorail at Disneyland while wearing a princess tiara. She felt that it was like a thrill ride.
Mark and Mike also enjoy riding in the cockpit. Mark explained why it seems that you’re going so much faster when you’re in the cockpit. He thinks that the new Disneyland monorail looks really cool and the blue lighting looks really great. Mark wasn’t sure if they do it at Disneyland, but at Walt Disney World they give out “official” Monorail co-pilot licenses.
Last Week on MousePlanet
Once again, Andrew Rich, down at MousePlanet Global Headquarters, told you what you may have missed on the MousePlanet site last week if you’re not visiting regularly. Let us know what you think about this segment!
Send us your Adventurer’s Club memories!
The MouseStation is planning to give the Adventurer’s Club a proper sendoff as it heads to YesterWorld at the end of September. You can be a part of it by sending your memories of the Adventurer’s Club to us via email or by calling them in to 1-866-939-2278. Please get them in by September 21 to make sure that we get them before we record the show. Kungaloosh!
Listener Feedback
We did a bit more listener feedback than normal since we didn’t do as much last Thursday.
Paul from Texas wrote in to let us know that the H2O bath products are also in use in the moderate resorts. If anyone knows what they use in the value resorts, please let us know!
Tracey from Indiana called in to thank us for ready her email recently and to tell us that she and her husband are looking forward to seeing us again at MouseFest. We’re looking forward to seeing them, as well.
Gary wrote in to say that he has seen La Nouba twice and feels that the best seats are in the center section, 2nd row, because you can see everything. Mark noted that we just got another email with another opinion that will be on the next show.
Deb from Michigan wrote in to say that she enjoyed Episode 241, where The Kid joined Mark to talk about their trip while Mike was off sick. Mark read the email to The Kid and he really appreciated it. Mark really enjoyed doing the show with him, too.
John from NY called in to offer some thoughts on the recent price increases. He noticed on his last trip that there were a fewer scooters rented and that most people renting them tended to be Europeans. His family was also able to get every character meal that they wanted and they were never able to do that before, so he thinks people are doing less. Europeans appear to be making up a larger and larger portion of the Walt Disney World guests. When talking with them, they mentioned the exchange rate as a reason to come over here. He thinks that Americans are becoming more price sensitive, especially toward Walt Disney World. Disneyland is more affordable with all of the specials and because people live closer. With the Walt Disney World price increases, people are spending less and buying less; he’s not even going to go as often himself.
Feedback and Other Stuff
We’ve put together a new listener survey to help us learn more about you and what you like most about this podcast. This one is much more targeted than the old Podtrac survey. Please take a few minutes to fill it out and let us know what you think.
Send us feedback via email or by calling our toll-free feedback line at 1-866-939-2278. Don’t forget that we love voicemails because then we can put your voice on the show!
Wrapping up
Don’t forget to go to the iTunes podcast directory and give us a good rating for the combined feed!
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Thanks to our audio engineer and sound editor Steven Ng.
Thank you for listening!
