MouseStation 264 – Collected Short Subjects
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Run time 0:39:04
On today’s show, we look at dueling Buzz Lightyear attractions, Fort Wilderness, The Kid tries to re-Imagineer Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe and more. We also have some listener feedback from folks we haven’t heard from in a while.
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Let us hear from you!
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.
If you want to contribute a story for our Tuesday Magical Moment segment (and possible inclusion in the Cast Place column here on MousePlanet), you can either use our email Magical Moment story form or the toll-free feedback line. (We love it when you use the voice mail system, because then we can play your call on the show!)
Thanks to our sponsors
Today’s show is sponsored by:
MouseEarVacations.com. Providing Magical Vacations for over 21 years.
Scooter Vacations. Official mobility scooter charitable partner to Kids Wish Network and Starlight Starbright Foundation.
Owner’s Locker. Why bring all that stuff back and forth, when you can leave it at Disney and have it waiting for you when you come back?
Tip of the Week
This week’s Tip of the Week came from Carol K., who suggests that you bring a wash rag or hand towel from your hotel room to the parks with you, in case you want to wipe your face with some cool water or wipe away the sweat..
Mark noted that you may want to carry around a zip-lock bag so that the washcloth doesn’t get everything else in your bag wet. Mike recommends going to an outdoor sports store and picking up a small quick-dry camp hand towel so that after you wring it out, it’s already dry enough to not soak the other stuff in your bag.
Featured Attraction
This week we look at Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters at Disneyland Park.
Both attractions are highly interactive and a lot of fun, and you can be competitive on it. Mike and Mark both like the Disneyland version better because you can pull the lasers out of the holster, as opposed to the swivel-mounted gun in the Walt Disney World version. However, at the Disneyland version, you have to pull the trigger for each shot you want to take, as opposed to just holding the trigger and the gun shoots continuously at Walt Disney World. Mark also noted a way to ensure that you’re aiming correctly.
Review System Spotlight
This week we look at the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. MousePlanet readers love it, rating it 4.4 out of five planets. Our featured review this week is by cobaltman of Philadelphia.
cobaltman loves pretty much everything about Fort Wilderness and had a great trip.
Mark hasn’t stayed at Fort Wilderness, and likely never will, though the Wilderness Cabins are somewhat attractive.
Mike loves the outdoors, and finds Fort Wilderness refreshing from the rest of Walt Disney World Resort.
You can also find Fort Wilderness in our Park Guide.
Ask the Kid
This week’s question comes Kevin-John from Erie, PA. K-J asks: “Dear Kid, Ok, it is no secret that my favorite part of all of the parks is Liberty Square and the Haunted Mansion. But one thing that always bothers me about the area is that there is a Christmas shop located right there in the middle of Liberty Square, for me, it dissolves the illusion of being in 1776 America with an old spooky mansion on the hill. So, you are head imagineer put in charge to replace Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe with a new store or attraction that would fit better in Liberty Square. What would you put there?? Thanks, I’ll be listening.
The Kid doesn’t even remember the shop, as we usually just walk right past it. He was surprised that it was too small for an attraction or film. It’s actually three buildings attached to each other, each one smaller than Mark’s house. The Kid thought that maybe they could have a reenactment, with Mickey and Minnie in the 17th century. The Kid then got distracted providing music for the attraction, including “British Grenadiers” and the “Shot Heard Round the World” from Schoolhouse Rock, then he made shooting sounds, then got into some more Disney character ideas. Mark quoted from The Princess Bride, “Your logic is truly dizzying.” The Kid noted that he didn’t remember the line and in fact the only thing he remembers from the movie is the Rodents Of Unusual Size.
Mark then made the comment that, actually, Mickey and Minnie are rodents of unusual size, just not the same ones that were in the movie.
Mark also asked KJ whether there was a copy of the portrait of Roberto Clemente that he had mentioned on Facebook. Mark later checked and found that it is online. Very cool.
Last Week on MousePlanet
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.
Listener Feedback
Dan the Light Man wrote to say that he was still around, but he and Nancy had gone to Europe for their 25th anniversary and had fallen behind in the shows. They’re just getting caught up now. Dan is interested in possibly doing something for the Disneyland Paris show.
Tracey from Indiana called in to let us know that she and Scott loved the Ray Mercer interview, and she plans to donate to Broadway Cares soon.
Alexis Bratengeier wrote in
I’m sorry that I was so long MIA, work action that is. I was so busy that I had to do a lot of catching up to your podcast. I did this on our christmas season trip to Disneyland Paris a few days ago (a really entertainig thing to do during a five hour car ride).
Of course I am missing the four shows a week, especially Mikes catchy Listener Feedback Friday tune and the news. But I fully understand your decision, some private time between work and podcasting isn’t bad at all. The 2 shows are still great and entertaining, especially the interviews you did over the last few weeks. I’ve heard that you are planning to do a show about Disneyland Paris. One question which was asked a few podcast ago was if there are any problems for english speaking visitors. The answer is absolutely no. I would guess that 95% of the cast members speak english. Only the departments, which are not in direct contact with the guest are not required to have englisch speaking skills.
If there are other questions regarding DLP, I would love to give feedback, but I think it would be difficult to do a live chat between America and Germany, but maybe there is another solution.
Help a fellow podcaster who has lost everything
After the recording of this show, we learned that Doug Price, co-creator of the Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd (and the voice of Dr. Floyd himself) lost his brand new house in Sylmar, CA and pretty much everything else in the Sylmar/Sayer fire on November 14. You may remember that Steven Ng interviewed Doug and Grant Baciocco on Episode 257, which ran on October 30. Doug is OK, but he lost all of his possessions except for the clothes on his back and the contents of his truck. This happened as Doug’s work outlook has just become unstable. Grant has asked supporters of the show to help Doug through this tough time while he waits for the insurance company to sort everything out and eventually get his money to him. For more information, go to doctorfloyd.com/doug.
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
Mike is again joining Broadway Care/Equity Fights AIDS Gypsy of the Year online fundraising campaign. This year, he has aligned himself with The Lion King Gazelle Tour team. For more information or to donate, go to his fundraising page.
We’re now on Facebook! Join the MousePlanet and MouseStation groups. You can also become a fan of MousePlanet or the MouseStation. If you join the club and use Pieces of Flair, you can get your MousePlanet and MouseStation flair from Mark (though you have to friend him first).
MouseFest
Registration is now open for MouseFest! You can sign up now, and check out the many meets being hosted by MousePlanet as you plan your trip.
Listener of the Month
If you’re interested in joining us aboard the MouseStation as our “Listener of the Month”, call the toll-free feedback line at 1-866-939-2278 and tell us what the show featuring your guest appearance would be about. Listen to the show for restrictions.
Wrapping up
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.
Don’t forget to go to the iTunes podcast directory and give us a good rating for the combined feed!
You can get your MousePlanet (or MouseStation) swag from the MousePlanet CafePress store and the MouseStation CafePress store.
Also remember to go out to our main podcast page and stick a pin into our Frappr map.
Thanks to our audio engineer and sound editor Steven Ng and to announcer Andrew Rich.
Thank you for listening!
