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NAVIGATION
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Issue #9 - Jampacked With News You Can Use!
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May 19th, 2007 Issue #9 Subscribership: 239
The Happiest News on Earth
http://www.freewebs.com/mousehousenews
Established March 2007
From the Editor
Welcome! This is Mouse House News and you're reading it! It's great to have you along for another week.
We want to welcome yet another staff reporter. Mandy Reineke has taken on Mouse House Eats. Thank you to Mandy and all of those who volunteer their time to make
MHN a success! If you are interested in writing for us, let us know. We can always use more help.
So, here comes issue nine. Take note of our newest feature, Mouse Memories, where readers share their favourite Walt Disney World memories with us. We hope you enjoy!
Ali Sampson
Editor-in-Chief
Mouse Mail
Dear MHN:
Although I disagreed with much of [Tom
Corless'] review [of the Magic Kingdom], it was very nice to hear
someone voice my opinion of the Crystal Palace. Most RAVE about it; we
have eaten there 3-4 times and I have yet to find anything remarkable
about it. Really enjoy your writings.
Jenny Drake
Dear MHN:
Excellent
articles. Very easy reading. Any news on Downtown Disney would be
interesting as I don't think it gets enough mention.
Shirley Sampson
Thank you to Jenny and Shirley for your feedback. We will be sure
to keep an eye on Downtown Disney and bring you any news that might
arise in our Mousellaneous News section.
Mouse House News invites
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Your letter must include your full name and will be edited for space
and clarity.
Front Page
World's Finest: Epcot
Lead
Writer Tom Corless brings us the best and worst of Walt Disney World in
a five part series. In the second installment, he takes us on a journey
through Epcot.
After opening on October 1st,
1982, Epcot was seen as the dull, educational theme park in WDW. Fast
forward 25 years and you will find a 25 year old park at the apex of a
renaissance. All the park's recent additions make it hard to discern
what is best, but here we go - on with Epcot's finest.
Thrill Attraction
Best: Test Track
The pure
speed of this ride won't make you sick but the overall fun of the
attraction is what makes it a thrill ride. A clever pre-show, great
ride technology, and one of the few outdoor thrills around WDW are what
make GM's Test Track the best.
Worst: Mission: Space
It's not bad, just the worst. It can't compare to Test Track or Maelstrom. Yes, I said Maelstrom.
Attraction for Kids
Best: Grand Fiesta Tour starring the Three Caballeros
See my review in our past issues. If it was still around, the original Journey into Imagination would be #1.
Worst: Journey into Imagination with Figment
Nice for nostalgia, but that's about it. It's time for a new idea to come out of the file cabinet and into the park.
Entertainment
Best: Turtle Talk with Crush
Very nice! A must-see for those with children.
Worst: Illuminations: Reflections of Earth
Send your hate mail along! (Good comments also accepted.)
Table Service Restaurant
Best: Coral Reef
Very
pricey, but excellent cuisine. Epcot has WDW's best choices in dining,
but if your feeling classy and in the mood for seafood, the Coral Reef
is your eatery. Honorable mentions go out to the San Angel Inn and the
soon-to-close Alfredo's.
Worst: Garden Grill
Nothing but nasty greens.
Counter Service
Best: Electric Umbrella and Fountain View
Fountain
View offers fantastic grab-and-go breakfast while the free refills and
common fast food at the Electric Umbrella make it the top selection.
Worst: American Adventure
Can't
remember the name? That's probably because there's nothing special
about it. Most of the time it is a bit on the dirty side and lines run
pretty slow.
Shopping
Best: Mouse-Gear
By far the best store in all of WDW. If you can't find an item here, it probably doesn't exist.
Worst: French Perfume Store
I don't remember the name, but the odors makes me nauseous.
Attraction
Best: Soarin'
Like you were expecting something else.
Worst: O Canada, Reflections of China, Impressions De France
A triple threat of boredom challenging you to stay awake. I can't believe people used to think Future World was boring.
Classic Attraction
Best: Spaceship Earth
This is my favorite attraction. One of the rides that best captures the Disney experience and classic 80s Epcot.
Worst: Universe of Energy
What is
sad about this choice is it is the only other real Epcot original
(despite the Ellen additions) and one of my favorites for the dinosaur
scene.
World Showcase Country
Best: Mexico
Great theme with a good attraction. The feel and attention to detail makes this the best of the pavilions.
Worst: Morocco
There's not much to do here.
Future World Pavilion
Best: The Seas with Nemo and Friends
The theme
is fantastic, from the large mural, to the expansive queue, to the
great dark ride. The sea base received a new coat of paint, but other
than that is still generally the same. With two technologically amazing
attractions and many themes, the Seas is the best pavilion.
Worst: Universe of Energy
Just an attraction, nothing more.
Well, that's it for Epcot. Next time we'll look at the best and worst of the Disney MGM Studios.
Theme Park Notes
Staff reporter Adam Dworkin brings us the latest news from the theme parks.
Storyless Safari
The familiar
storyline of Kilimanjaro Safaris at Animal Kingdom will soon be
replaced. The current plot deals with saving some of the native
elephants from poachers that want to do them harm. This storyline has
always seemed a bit out of place, and Disney has been phasing in a new
script with some of their safari trucks.
In addition
to some story changes, Disney has been working hard to expand capacity
on Kilimanjaro, adding a ninth row of seats to all ride vehicles and
the loading platform. These upgrades are almost complete. Disney has
also filed permits to make electrical and fiber optic changes to the
final scene of the safari. Speculation is that the plane, part of the
"find the poachers" storyline, will be removed completely. The old
script should be phased out by June 1.
The new
story is shrouded in secrecy. Cast members are reluctant to give up any
new information. We will simply have to wait and see what Walt Disney
Imagineering has come up with. Here's hoping the new changes
compliment the already impressive experience of the Safari more than
the current drama has.
Showcasing Segways
The new
Segway models are out and rolling at Epcot! Called Personal
Transporters, they are the next generation of the popular Segway
technology, and new touring ideas have been implemented for them. The
Around the World tour, a rolling tour of the Showcase, is now running
four times daily. This includes a new 7:45 AM touring time. The Segway
Experience in Innoventions is still running for up to 15 people at a
time at 11:30 AM. Although these Segways offer a great time, cost on
this one can really be a deterrent. The Experience is currently $35 a
person, with the large tour at $85.
A Norweigan Party
On May
17th, celebrations took place most of the day at the Norway Pavilion in
Epcot. Guests were invited to help celebrate Norway Constitution Day by
making banners and taking part in "Discover Norway" experiences.
Special parades featuring flowers and flags also took place throughout
the day along with special pin trading. The World Showcase certainly
knows how to celebrate, holding special events almost every month to
recognize important days in each country.
Mouse House Eats
O Canada, O How I Love Le Cellier
Our newest Staff Reporter, Mandy Reineke, brings us a review of one of the World's most popular restaurants.
Epcot's cozy little steak house, Le Cellier, is a hidden treasure.
Meaning "the cellar" in French, this warm, romantic place has the great
atmosphere of a French Canadian wine cellar.
Guests are seated in one of four areas themed after a Canadian province
and are served bread from each region of Canada. The pretzel bread is a
personal favorite. For appetizers, I recommend the crab and salmon
timbale or the Canadian cheddar cheese soup. For dinner, try the tender
and juicy steaks. The cream cheese, mashed potatoes are great on the
side. There are many great choices for dessert but the Canadian cheese
selection is my personal favorite. My husband loves the
chocolate-on-chocolate whiskey cake. Also the smoothies are creamy and
loaded with fruit.
It can be difficult to get a reservation and it is a bit expensive but
it is worth the time and money to dine here. Lunch is cheaper and fares
just as good as dinner. So for great steak and nice atmosphere, Le
Cellier is a great option. My family dines here every time we are at
WDW. Be sure to arrive early to take advantage of the great photo spots
in front of the restaurant.
Freshly Baked News
From Magic
Kingdom: For the next two weeks the Main Street Bakery will be closing
each day at 3PM. The Bakery, which has recently been renovated to
extend the seating area, will keep shorter hours because of a shortage
of cast members to staff it. So if you want your croissant, better get
there early!
Goofy in the Garden
From
Epcot: Rumour has it that the characters at the Garden Grill will be
changing soon. For the longest time, Farmer Mickey, Goofy, Chip, and
Dale have been entertaining guests while they dine. We're not sure
what these changes will entail but we anxiously wait to see.
Resort Clips
Dan Brace brings us up to speed on the happenings at the Disney resorts.
Why Stay Onsite?
When deciding to go to Walt Disney World, you also have to consider how
you are going to experience the magic. You have several choices. You
could stay in a hotel along the I-Drive, in Kissimmee or somewhere
else, or you could stay at Walt Disney World. Apart from the
possibility of finding cheaper lodging offsite, what else do you have
to consider? And is the lower cost worth it?
If you stay onsite at WDW you immediately are guaranteed access to the
parks. You also get to use all the WDW transportation. (A rental car,
needed offsite, could cost more than $300 a week.) Onsite guests also
have all purchases charged and delivered to their rooms, which is
always very useful when hiking round WDW with a family for the day. I
haven't even mentioned yet the fact that you can take advantage of
Extra Magic Hours!
Staying on Disney property keeps you immersed in the magic we all love
so much! With over 20 resorts to choose from, and with everything from
a twentieth century pop revolution to an African Savannah at your
window, Disney resorts are the clear winner for accommodations.
Water Level Blues
If
you are planning to go canoeing or paddleboating during your WDW
vacation, you may not be able to. During May, signs have been posted at
certain times saying that boat rentals have been temporarily suspended
due to low water levels. One such sign was spotted at the Bike Barn at
Fort Wilderness. So, you may want to check out the situation
before taking a trek over to your favourite watering hole.
Characters Everywhere!
Did you know that seven of the WDW
resorts offer character breakfasts? Also on certain magical mornings
the characters visit the resorts for meet n' greets and to see guests
off into the buses for their fun-filled day at the park!
Mousellaneous News
Television Travel
Staff Reporter Adam Dworkin tells us about travelling from your television.
Just
as Disneyland on ABC used to showcase the brand-new Disneyland Park in
Anaheim, Time Warner and Cablevision have recently agreed to bring
Disney Travel into the 21 st century. Disney Travel On Demand will be a channel that
offers a unique blend of original programming and travel information,
using the On Demand medium that viewers have come to love.
Viewers
will even be able to research and can choose to get a call back to
their phone from a Disney agent right from their television screen.
Disney trivia shows with the Imagineers, reality shows following the
trails and tribulations of hopeful Disney performers, and insider
travel entertainment are just some of the highlights proposed.
Time
Warner subscribers will be able to get their Disney fix starting the
week of May 21, and Cablevision subscribers following the week of May
29.
If you've
visited Downtown Disney lately, you may have noticed that Disney Quest
is getting a fresh coat of paint . . . and lots of it! For months now,
it has been rumored that DQ is on its way out. However, with the new
renovations that are being made, it would seem that it's here to stay.
What do you think?
DISagreement
Disney had finally come to an agreement
with the Service Trades Council Union which represents over half of
WDW's employees within six unions. A three-year contract was voted on
but was rejected by the cast members by 52%. According to the unions,
the contract included inadequate pay increases, inferior health care
arrangements, and poorly adjusted pension plans. Looks like it's back
to the drawing board.
We need your help staying on top of the WDW-related news. Send your news tips to us! E-mail us at
mousehousenews@gmail.com with "NEWS TIP" in the subject line or contact us through our website:
http://www.freewebs.com/mousehousenews .
The Mouse Vault
Staff Reporter Caleb Hayworth retuns with another week's peak at Disney history.
May 14 1944 Filmmaker George Lucas is born in Modesto, California. His popular Star Wars
and Indiana Jones adventure movies will be the inspiration for future Disney attractions.
May 15 1998 Bill Nye, of the syndicated television show Disney Presents Bill Nye the Science Guy
, wins a Daytime Emmy for Performer in a Children's Series.
May 16 1703 French author Charles Perrault passes away in Paris, France. Many historians believe he is responsible for such fairy tales as
Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella.
May 17 1950 Howard Ashman, award-winning lyricist for such Disney films as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin,
is born in Baltimore, Maryland.
May 18 1962 Actor Nathaniel Parker, who portrayed Master Gracey in Disney's 2003 The Haunted Mansion,
is born in London, England.
May 19 1971 Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes debut in Disneyland.
May 20 1958 Actress Judy Kuhn, the singing voice of Pocahontas in Pocahontas and Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World
, is born in New York City.
Superstar Television
Turn
on your TV and tune in to some programs related to Walt Disney World.
Here is a listing of what's coming up. All times listed are in Eastern
Standard Time.
Program: Live from the Red Carpet: Pirates of the Caribbean
Description: The world premier of the summer's most highly-anticipated new movie, Pirate of the Caribbean: At World's End. Channel: E! Times: Sunday, May 20, 2007 from 6 PM to 6:30 PM, repeating throughout the week.
Program: Walt Disney World Resorts: Behind the Scenes Description:
An in-depth behind-the-scenes tour of Walt Disney World's four theme parks. Updated content for 2007. Channel: Travel Channel Times: Sunday, May 20th, 2007 from 8 PM to 9 PM, repeating throughout the week.
Program: Walt Disney World Ultimate 10 Description: Hear from the creators, innovators, and critics who make the ultimate in Disney thrill rides.
Channel: Discovery HD Theatre Times: Wednesday, May 30th, 2007 from 2 PM to 3 PM and Thursday, June 21st, 2007 from 9 AM to 10 AM.
Mouse Memories
Danny Gauthier shares a
memory about his son and Belle. This memory was prompted by last
week's Final Word question, asking about your favourite Disney
princesses. Do you have a Walt Disney World vacation memory to share
with us? Send it along to mousehousenews@gmail.com with MEMORY in the subject line. From time to time, we will share them with our readers in this new section of MHN.
My youngest son was eight and was in love
with Belle from Beauty and the Beast. So we made it a point to see the
live stage show at MGM.
It was hot and humid as it
normally is in Florida in the mid-summer. We were able to get up close
to the stage and our son was really excited about seeing Belle up
close. The show began and his eyes became wide with the site of his
heart throb. I still have a hard time figuring out what was better,
the show or the look on his little face. Disney has a way of making
you feel like you are the only one in the audience.
The show came to an end and as we were
walking out I stopped to talk to one of the cast members. I told him
that my son was in love with Belle, that he really enjoyed the show,
and he would remember it for a long time to come. The cast member
asked me to follow him around the corner of the show entrance where he
introduced my son to Belle. The look on his face was a moment I would
remember but the best part was when he said, "I love you Belle." She
blew him a kiss and said, "I love you too."
That was one of the best memories of Disney and why Belle will always be our favorite princess.
Final Word
Brian Kenyon compiles
the final word which comes from you, the Disney fans. Last week we
asked you: What is your favourite Disney theme park icon? You
responded with:
We Love Disney Icons!
Cinderella's Castle (Magic Kingdom) 41%
Spaceship Earth (Epcot) 35%
Tree of Life (Animal Kingdom) 19%
Sorcerer's Hat (Disney-MGM Studios) 5%
For next week's issue, we want to hear more from you. Please tell us what your favourite Pixar movie is. E-mail us at
mousehouse@gmail.com with "FINAL WORD" in the subject line.
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Staff
Ali Sampson - Editor-in-Chief
Bruce Smith - Assistant Editor
Stephen Champion - Webmaster
Tom Corless - Lead Writer for Front Page
Adam Dworkin - Staff Reporter for Theme Park Notes
Mandy Reineke - Staff Reporter for Mouse House Eats
Caleb Hayworth - Staff Reporter for The Mouse Vault
Brian Kenyon - Staff Reporter for Final Word
Contributing Writers
Dan Brace - Resort Clips
Adam Dworkin - Mousellaneous News
Danny Gauthier - Mouse Memories
Contributing Photographers
Catherine Cornwell - From the Editor
Becky Pitzer - Front Page, Theme Park Notes
Brian Kenyon - Mouse House Eats
Bob Hakesley - Resort Clips
Barrie Brewer - Mousellaneous News
Ian McHugh - Mouse Memories
Bill Evans - Final Word
Nothing in this publication may be used without the permission of Mouse House News.
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