MouseStation 146 – MousePlanetWatch news
(Download
show – Main podcast page – Subscribe
– Podcast
radio player)
Run time 0:34:58
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).
You can also make suggestions by replying to this post.
If you want to contribute a story for our Monday 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!)
Walt Disney World News
- The lawsuit filed last November
by three individuals from the Midwest claiming discrimination by Walt Disney
World under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) because Disney would
not allow them to use their personal Segway vehicles in the theme parks
has been dismissed. - The extended run of the Pirate & Princess Parties (now called “Mickey’s
Pirate & Princess Party”) have now finally appeared on the Walt Disney World
Web site. For dates, pricing and more, see Monday’s
Park Update.. - Hannah Montana-themed makeovers are
now available at the Downtown Disney Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique - The Disney’s Magical Express bus service (DME) is growing so quickly that
it’s going to start causing
Disney some financial headaches very soon, according to an article in
the Orlando
Sentinel last Thursday. - Disney’s Magical Express will seem like even more of a bargain in the
near future, as the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority’s board voted last
Wednesday to pass along more costs to visitor through a “customer
facility charge.” - There’s lots of work afoot as the latest
construction paperwork filed with Orange County indicates. - Quick Takes:
- With the departure of former Studios VP Michael O’Grattan for the
post of VP of Operations for the Disneyland Resort, Rilous Carter has
been appointed as the new Vice President for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. - Walt Disney World is testing the use of room keys as verification
for Evening Extra Magic Hours rather than wristbands, as some enterprising
souls were finding ways to cheat the system. - For the sixth year in a row, Aquascape, Inc. will create water gardens
of the future as part of the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. - The numbers are in, and the various organizations running the 2008
Walt Disney World Marathon and Half Marathon for charity raised an estimated
combined total of more than $7.6 million, a new record. - Hoping to avoid additional attention regarding the steroid use charges
lodged against him (as well as probing questions from guests in attendance),
Roger Clemens has stepped down as co-host of this weekend’s ESPN The
Weekend festivities at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will hold their training camp at Disney’s
Wide World of Sports Complex for seventh year in a row. - The Velcro & Waste Management exhiibits at Innoventions are both now
open. - While Spaceship Earth is now officially reopened, don’t be surprised
to see Imagineers continuing to tweak and fine-tune the attraction now
that it’s under a regular, heavy load. - The Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station is once again open, and is
expected to continue operation through August before closing down again
after the seasonal rush. - One side of the Jaguar slide at the Coronado Springs Resort’s main
feature pool will be closed for rehab March 31 ? April 30.
- With the departure of former Studios VP Michael O’Grattan for the
- The next phase of MousePlanet’s partnership with the Downtown Disney Resort
Area Hotel Association has
gone live. - The Orlando Sentinel has found
a filing indicating that Disney has received approval to start selling
units at the new building next to the Contemporary Resort, indicating that
it is indeed a DVC resort and that it will be called Kingdom
Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
This and other news can be found in this week’s Walt
Disney World Park Update.
Disneyland News
- The Disneyland Resort has released additional
details about the upcoming book release and signing event with actress
Julie Andrews. - ESPN Zone is hosting
an “Anthem Idol” competition on March 6, 2008 at the Downtown Disney
location. - Be sure to check the weekly Park
Events calendar for the latest updates on events that may mean additional
crowds at the Disneyland Resort. - Other stuff:
- Several sources and Web sites have reported a problem with Disneyland’s
new Mark VII monorails. - Brady MacDonald of The Los Angeles Times travel blog has posted profiles
of many of the 20 finalists of the Disney Dream CEO competition. - MousePlanet reader miss bianca reports that the “AP6” Annual Passholder
discount at the Disneyland Resort Hotels is extended through May 31,
2008. - Several MousePlanet readers have already received notice that they
were selected for an opportunity to tour the new Disney Dream Suite
at Disneyland. - Time is running out for first-time teams to register for the inaugural
MouseAdventure
101 division, designed exclusively for new teams and players.
- Several sources and Web sites have reported a problem with Disneyland’s
This and other news can be found in this week’s Disneyland
Park Update.
The Walt Disney Company News
- The Disney Channel has made
some major appointments in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region
to support its latest European push. - Meanwhile, to backfill the position that Michael Cairns leave behind in
Australia and New Zealand, that area has appointed
Melissa Dixon as Vice President and General Manager. - While The Walt Disney Company continues to deny it, the Shanghai Securities
News reported on Friday that a new
Disney theme park has received necessary government approvals to begin
construction in the southern edge of Shanghai’s Pudong district. - As the Disneyland Resort Paris version of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
prepares to open on April 5, a new
Web site has been launched to boost the anticipation. - The Disney Channel has launched a subscription
video on demand service on the NOW TV IPTV service from PCCW, a Hong
Kong service provider. - Playhouse Disney Concert Series regulars, the Information Movers are getting
a new show on the Disney Channel. - An electric ride-on Cinderella car has been recalled. More information
is available the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Web
site. For additional information, you can contact Dumar International
at 866-424-0500 between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or
visit the firm’s Web site.
- At the International Toy Fair last week, Disney
announced the latest angle on Internet-based toys, with the Disney Fairies
Clickables toys, where girls can link their social networking in the soon-to-open
Pixie Hollow virtual world with their social networking in the playgrounds. - Pixie Hollow itself was officially
unveiled at the toy fair, and it’s scheduled to launch later this year
with a continuous rollout of in-game enhancements and features. - Meanwhile, Disney Online announced the formation of Disney
Online Studios, a group focused on creating games, virtual worlds and
online social communities. - While we were busy reporting the imposing demise of HD-DVD last week,
Toshiba was busy folding
its hand and closing down production of HD-DVD players, leaving Sony’s
Blu-ray as the victorious high-definition DVD format. - Wave
Eight of the Walt Disney Treasures collection has been announced, and
the headliner here is Destino, the collaboration between Walt Disney and
Salvador Dali. - Now that the writer’s strike is over, it’s time for Disney to shuffle
around the release dates of movies on the calendar for their upcoming
movie slate. - The big
winner on Oscar night was Miramax’s No Country For Old Men, coproduced
with Paramount Vantage. - Step Up 2: The Streets had another
strong week at the box office.
Administrative stuff
You can 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
On April 27, Mark will be walking to raise money for the March of Dimes for
the third time. Please consider supporting him. The March of Dimes mission
is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature
birth, and infant mortality.
Please take a few minutes to complete our listener
survey. It helps us learn more about you and what you like most about
this podcast.
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 brand-new MouseStation
CafePress store.
Also remember to go out to our main podcast
page and poke a pin into our Frappr map.
Thanks to our West Coast correspondent Andrew Rich, and audio engineer and
sound editor Steven Ng.
Thank you for listening!
Subscribe to the podcast
