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  • Blog Post: Will Johnny Depp’s version of the Mad Hatter soon be making appearances at Disney’s theme parks?

    First up, Mark K. writes to ask about WDW ’s Night Kingdom / Jungle Trek project: There was considerable talk several years back about a potential 5th park opening but I have heard no mention of it recently. Did the recession and the decision to remake fantasy land doom this project? Dear Mark K. – There...
  • Blog Post: Walt Disney Imagineering is very serious when it comes to play testing

    Did you hear about the play test that WDI ran at The Magic Kingdom last month? Where the Imagineers used Guests who were waiting in line for a character meet-n-greet right outside of Pooh’s Playful Spot to try out a new entertainment-based queuing system? Though the Imagineers are being pretty close...
  • Blog Post: Short lines & seasonal fun to be found at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

    "Tis the Season to be Jolly ... " Well, normally it would be. But given what's been going on with the economy this year, for a lot of folks holiday time 2008 is shaping up to be "Tis the Season to be Stingy ..." So with so many people cutting back on their holiday spending, why should you spring for...
  • Blog Post: "Disney at Dawn" continues the adventures of the Kingdom Keepers

    When we left Finn, Willa, Philby, Charlene and Terry at the end of " The Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark " (Disney Editions, September 2005), these five plucky teenagers had just defeated the Overtakers -- that mysterious group of characters led by Maleficent herself who were out to destroy WDW's...
  • Blog Post: Characters come to the rescue at the Magic Kingdom

    Here on the Web, we just love to complain about what the Walt Disney Company does wrong. Particularly when it comes to corner-cutting at the Parks. But today ... Well, I thought that we might try and do something different. Which is talk about a time when the Mouse actually had the opportunity to cheap...
  • Blog Post: Tune Tuesday : "Hello, WALL-E! Well, Hello, WALL-E ..."

    It's one of the main reasons that people just can't stop talking about " WALL-E ." And -- no -- I'm not talking about the opening weekend grosses for this new Andrew Stanton movie (Though -- now that we've broached this subject -- while "WALL-E" didn't earn the $70-million-plus that Mouse House officials...
  • Blog Post: Will the Liberty Square bridge repairs lead to an abridged version of Disney's "Dreams Come True" parade ?

    Remember those proposed Liberty Square bridge repairs that I wrote about last month? Well, Magic Kingdom management has finally decided to go ahead with this construction project. Which is why they filed the necessary permits last Tuesday. "So what happens now?," you ask. "Given the huge number of people...
  • Blog Post: Why do Pirate & Princess Happy Meals make McDonald's managers want to walk the plank?

    Have you heard about these Disney Princess & Pirates of the Caribbean -themed Happy Meals that McDonald's is selling now through April 10th? Given that this is the first time that Mickey Mouse & Mickey Dee have joined forces since these two mega-corporations decided to end their 10-year, $100...
  • Blog Post: "We're rollin' on the Mickey's Birthdayland Express"

    Today's lesson: Sometimes our Disney fan obsessions do pay off. When EPCOT Center opened in 1982, Steve Hansen was already an accomplished puppeteer and performer, working as the PuppetMan in World Showcase. Someone as talented & versatile as Steve was bound to go far in the Walt Disney world. In...
  • Blog Post: Get ready for Central Florida's coming coaster war

    As you enter SeaWorld Orlando , it's really hard to miss the thing. Photo by Robert Bish That enormous construction wall that's been erected around the front of this theme park. Photo by Robert Bish Not to mention the rumble of heavy equipment, as that behind-the-scenes construction team clears brush...
  • Blog Post: "Disaster! A Major Motion Picture Ride ... Starring YOU!" debuts at Universal Studios Florida

    For almost 18 years now, " Earthquake -- The Big One " had been entertaining guests at Universal Studios Florida . But as 2008 approached, the folks at Universal Creative felt that they needed to shake things up. Completely reimagine this still-popular-but-obviously-aging theme park attraction. So the...