Disney Blog at Magical Kingdoms

Continuing our Page Turn’Ears’ blog series, we take a closer look at one of the more ‘niche’ Disney books available. ‘Windows On Main Street’ by Chuck Snyder.

The Blurb!

Discover the real stories of the talented people featured on the windows of Main St, USA

Perhaps the greatest honour a Disney employee can have bestowed upon them is to be elected by their peers to join a very select list of people whose names adorn the decorative windows along the Main Streets of both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. To be granted it means an often lifelong association with, and most certainly an outstanding contribution to the Disney company.

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Magical Kingdoms can exclusively reveal that Mickey Mouse has announced his retirement, with effect from today, April 1st, 2011.

At the grand old age of 83, Mickey blamed his decision largely on the fact that Disney have recently made him homeless, demolishing his house to make way for the new Fantasyland expansion.

“Can you imagine being made homeless at my age, and all to make way for a new Dumbo ride? They’ve finally given me a new home at Town Square Theater, but it’s just not the same, I don’t even have a bed to sleep in,” Mickey complained.

He continued, “And then there’s being expected to be here, there and everywhere, jetsetting around the world. It’s tough trying to be in two places at once don’t ya know?!”

Mickey Mouse was born in 1928, making his debut in the silent animated short Plane Crazy, although many consider his first appearance to be in Steamboat Willie, which was actually released six months later. He has since starred in many cartoons, comics, TV shows and has made regular appearances at Disney Parks around the world.

Questioned on his future plans Mickey revealed that he’s considering taking a Disney cruise. “It’ll be a nice way to start retirement, and I’ll even be able to leave the ship for a change!” quipped Mickey.

Our sources tell us that Disney are hastily trying to find a new mouse to replace Mickey.

Disney spokesperson, Flora Opil,  refused to comment on the shock news, mumbling something about having to interview someone called Jerry.

WALT DISNEY WORLD

Stitch dance party returns

The “Club 626 Character Dance Party” has returned to the Rockettower Plaza Stage in Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland for the spring period. It will run daily from 4-10pm.

Peter Pan Queue Change

The queue area for Peter Pan is to be extended, using the space currently occupied by the restrooms next to the attraction. Restrooms will be built in the former Skyway station area to replace the ones that are being removed.

ESPN dates

The dates for next year’s ESPN Weekend have been announced – March 2 – 4, 2012.

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Watch the NEW extended Cars 2 trailer! Lightning McQueen and his best friend, Mater, travel the globe taking part in the World Grand Prix, getting involved with international super spy Finn McMissile and meeting new Cars on their journey.

Star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new places in “Cars 2″ when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. Torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret spy mission, Mater’s action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world. Adding to the fast-paced fun is a colorful new all-car cast that includes secret agents, menacing villains and international racing competitors.

John Lasseter returns to the driver’s seat to direct this follow-up to his 2006 Golden Globe®-winning “Cars.” “Cars 2″ is co-directed by Brad Lewis, producer of the Oscar®-winning film “Ratatouille,” and produced by visual effects industry veteran Denise Ream (associate producer, “Up”; visual effects executive producer, “Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith”).

Toy Story Hawaiian Vacation is an all new 3D animated short film from Disney/Pixar featuring all your favourite Toy Story 3 characters as they embark on a new adventure.

Set in new owner Bonnie’s bedroom, Hawaiian Vacation features Woody (voice of Tom Hanks) and Buzz (voice of Tim Allen) and the rest of the favourite Toy Story 3 toys as they create the ultimate Hawaiian vacation for Ken (voice of Michael Keaton) and Barbie (voice of Jodi Benson).

It seems Ken badly miscalculated their travel arrangements, so the gang has to create a dream getaway in Bonnie’s Midwestern bedroom – in the middle of winter. Toy Story Hawaiian Vacation also features the voices of Joan Cusack, Wallace Shawn, Don Rickles, Estelle Harris, Blake Clark, Bonnie Hunt, Timothy Dalton, Kristen Schaal, Jeff Garlin and John Ratzenberger.

Hawaiian Vacation will appear in cinemas with the upcoming Cars 2 theatrical release, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D in select cinemas.

Toy Story 3 last night scooped no less than two Academy Awards.

Director Lee Unkrich accepted the award for Best Animated Feature Film, and Randy Newman took the award for Best Music (Original Song) for We Belong Together, beating  I see the Light from Disney’s Tangled.

The movie missed out on other categories it had been nominated in, including Best Picture, Sound Editing, and Writing (Adapted Screenplay).

Including his nomination this year for Adapted Screenplay for Toy Story 3, this was the second Academy Award nomination for Lee Unkrich.

Lee Unkrich accepts the Oscar® for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year for work on “Toy Story 3” Michael Yada / ©A.M.P.A.S.

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Not a new full length feature animation, but a six-minute short that will play before Disney*Pixar’s next film, Cars 2, this summer. It’s apparently one of the first of many Toy Story shorts planned, which I’m sure will please many fans.

The short will focus on Ken and Barbie as they plan a trip to Hawaii. When their plans don’t quite work out, Woody and the gang step in and recreate a romantic getaway in the toy box.

Good luck to Lee Unkrich and the team at Pixar for tomorrow night’s Oscars!

Cars 2 races to U.S. theaters on June 24, 2011.

Star racecar Lightning McQueen and the incomparable tow truck Mater take their friendship to exciting new places in Cars 2 when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage.

Torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret spy mission, Mater’s action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world. Adding to the fast-paced fun is a colorful new all-car cast that includes secret agents, menacing villains and international racing competitors.

Here, we meet some of the new stars of the movie.

Francesco Bernoulli

Francesco Bernoulli, an Italian heart-throb car, will be competing in the high-profile race around the world that drives “Cars 2.” He was an instant winner on the amateur circuit and soon became an international Formula Racer champion. As the most famous race car in Europe, Francesco is a favorite to win the World Grand Prix, which also makes him Lightning McQueen’s chief rival.

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Adventures by Disney

Given the continued political unrest in Egypt and the recent Travel Warning issued by the U.S. Department of State, Disney have made the decision to cancel the Egypt family vacations scheduled through the end of August 2011.
Guests booked on the Egypt family vacation will be offered an alternate Adventures by Disney® vacation destination.

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line are modifying the 10- and 11-night European cruise itineraries aboard the Disney Magic® to include a call in Palermo, Italy, instead of a scheduled stop in Tunis.
The decision was made in part due to the changing political environment in Tunis and the recent Travel Alert issued by the U.S. Department of State.
They will continue to monitor our destinations and make changes if necessary.

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is celebrating its 5^th anniversary with Guests as it kicks off the year-long “Celebration in the Air”.

Many were entertained by the inaugural showing of the all-new “Flights of Fantasy Parade”. For the first time, the Park’s signature centerpiece “Tinker Bell Castle” was illuminated. The Resort is featuring the debut of an incredible line-up of new offerings, inviting everyone to celebrate this important milestone in the history of Hong Kong Disneyland.

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