Collected Short Subjects

MouseStation 397 – Collected Short Subjects

(Download show – Main podcast page – Subscribe – Podcast radio player)

Show run time 0:42:05

Mark’s favorite, trouble in Paradise Pier, magical everyday moments and more in this week’s collection of short subjects.

You can subscribe to MouseStation from the links at the bottom of this page, or via your favorite podcast aggregator. If you’d rather pop up our podcast radio player into a separate window so that you can continue browsing MousePlanet in this window, click here. (NOTE: Our podcast radio requires Adobe Flash Player. You can dowload the player here.)

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!)

Featured Attraction

This week, we look at the Illuminations: Reflections of Earth at Epcot.

IllumiNations debuted in 1988, following Carnival de Lumiere, A New World Fantasy and Laserphonic Fantasy. Holiday IllumiNations debuted in 1994. IllumiNations 25 debuted during Walt Disney World’s 25th anniversary celebration in 1996, and there were two versions. IllumiNations 25a began showing in September, 1996, and lasted for about 8 months. IllumiNations 25b started running the following May and ran (eventually without the “25” name) until IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth debuted for the Millennium Celebration in September 1999. IllumiNations 25b had the same show as IllumiNations 25a, but substituted classical music for the original score celebrating all of Epcot’s pavilions. Illuminations: Reflections of Earth debuted in September 1999, with an official opening on October 1 of that year as the Millennium Celebration kicked off. Reflections of Earth is the current show, which features music by Gavin Greenaway and such effects as the Inferno Barge and the Earth Globe.

For more on the history of the show, including every piece of music used in each version, check out the Wikipedia pages for IllumiNations and IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.

Mark talked about his usual viewing locations, both with his family and by himelf. He also made suggestions for other good viewing locations. Neither Mike nor Mark have taken an IllumiNations fireworks cruise. Mark has held off largely due to cost, while Mike is concerned about the view from where the boats park for the show. Depending on wind direction, you can either be drowning in smoke or have a great view.

Review System Spotlight

This week we take a look at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. MousePlanet readers like the resort, rating it 3.9 out of five planets. Our featured review this week is by Gilesmt of Pasco, Washington.

Gilesmt had a bit of difficulty with the cast member when they checked in, complaining that the cast member smelled of alcohol. They also had difficulty with getting the rooms that they expected, having to change rooms the next day. Check-in took an hour and a half, and they also had problems with the room keys. The facilities were good, but the cast members and management were very disappointing. Overall, he was less than impressed, giving it a 3-planet rating.

Mike and Mark were both disturbed by the cast member story. Mark noted that Gilesmt complained that management was nowhere to be seen during their check-in nightmare, but wondered whether they actually requested to see a manager.

You can also find Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel in our Park Guide.

Magical Moment

This week’s Magical Moment comes from Mary Tesch, who talked about her children using Disney as the subject for various school projects and have scored high marks on them.

Mike mentioned using Disney for some of his projects, and Mark mentioned The Kid using Disney for some projects. Markalso mentioned the old EPCOT Resource Center that used to be upstairs at Communicore West, before it was converted over to Innoventions.

Last Week on MousePlanet

Andrew Rich, down at MousePlanet Global Headquarters recapped what you may have missed on the MousePlanet site last week if you’re not visiting regularly.

Listener Feedback

John Papas wrote in to point out some of the other benefits and drawbacks of staying at Downtown Disney Resorts Area Hotels.

Dan the Light Man called in to talk about why he enjoyed A Christmas Carol, his enjoyment of talking to anybody and what theme park he and Nancy the Light Girl would choose to live in.

Stuart Sternberg wrote in response to our show on healthy eating at Walt Disney World to say that when he visits the resort he goes on the “see food” diet.

Bruce from Boston called in to say that our show on healthy eating at Walt Disney World did not also cover special needs diets.

Nicole wrote in to say that turkey burgers aren’t necessarily the healthiest choice in all situations.

Sharla Manglass called in to compliment Mike on the information that he presented on the healthy eating show. She also mentioned her past Tip of he Week where she mentionded eating about McDonaled.

What do you think? Let us know!

March of Dimes

For the second year in a row, Mark has been named top walker for the March of Dimes in New York’s Capital Region, and second overall in Northeastern New York (above the counties of Westchester and Rockland). MousePlanet readers and MouseStation listeners have helped Mark to raise over $15,000 for the worthy charity over the last four years. This year, his goal is to raise $5,000 again. But that’s not all! This year, you can walk with Mark, either in person or virtually, by joining Team MousePlanet! Mike has already signed on to walk as well. You can go to Mark’s fundraising page to sponsor him, Mike’s fundraising page to sponsor him, or the Team MousePlanet page to join in and walk yourself! Help us to provide a better chance to prevent prematurity and to help those babies that are born prematurely!

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. If you’ll be running the Walt Disney World Marathon, the Disneyland Half Marathon or any other endurance event, or even just trying to keep fit, you can also get your Team MousePlanet running wear from our Team MousePlanet Zazzle 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!

Subscribe to the podcast