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Disney Toy Story Midway Mania Attraction Is 5 Years Old

June 17, 2013 by Leave a Comment

toystorymidwaymania

Difficult to believe that it is 5 years since the very popular Toy Story Midway Mania attraction opened in Disney’s California Adventure Park.

Here is a look back to the Disney podcast from when Disney Toy Story Mania first opened on June 17th 2008.

For those of you who haven’t seen the attraction it is a 4D shooting’ game designed to capture all the fun of a traditional fair ground target shooting game. Guests board 4 person vehicles (with 2 people back to back), put on 3D glasses, and spin around the target games trying to score as many points as possible.

There are 6 different scenes to shoot at!

Pie Throw Practice Booth
Hamm & Eggs
Rex and Trixie’s Dino Darts
Green Army Men Shoot Camp
Buzz Lightyear’s Flying Tossers
Woody’s Rootin’ Tootin’ Shootin’ Gallery

Not sure why but I always like the Green Army Men part best.

The mechanism for actually shooting the targets is a movable ‘gun’ which has a pull string trigger. I know this is my overly competitive nature but it does get tiring to keep pulling that string!

The Toy Story Midway Mania attraction is believed to have cost $80 million to design and build.

One thing which would most definitely improve the Toy Story Mania attraction in Disney California Adventure Park is a Fast Pass. They have one in Disney Hollywood Studios and I really wish they would add one in California. Even at the slowest times the line seems to take a long time – and when it is busy then say goodbye to at least 60 minutes of your time to stand in line. I am guessing that the reason why there isn’t a Fast Pass is because the space for actually waiting in line is limited. Adding a Fast Pass line may not be possible as there simply wouldn’t be enough space for this and a stand by line.

Is Disney Toy Story Midway Mania one of your favorite attractions? Leave me a comment below:

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Filed Under: Disney Parks, Disneyland Tagged With: ,

Star Wars Land in Disney Hollywood Studios Rumors

June 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment

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The rumors continue that there will be a Star Wars Land in Disney Hollywood Studios. It always seemed like a good idea and then when Disney acquired Lucasfilm earlier this year for an eye watering $4 billion it has to be a certainty. The rumors are that Star Wars Land will be open in Disney Hollywood Studios by 2018.

Photo by gordontarpley

There is no official word as yet but many are hoping that there will be an announcement at D23 in Anaheim in August. Disney is certainly not being reluctant to make investments to increase park attendance. Cars Land in Disney’s California Adventure Park along with other improvements cost $1 billion – but they have been rewarded with a 22% park attendance increase for their money. The rumors are also that Disney Hollywood Studios will be getting a Cars Land very similar to the one in California.

What do the rumors say is planned for Disney Star Wars Land? Theme Park Insider has some interesting ideas. Of course the logical place to expand is near the existing Star Tours Ride. Really it couldn’t be anywhere else particularly after Star Tours has had a relatively recent complete revamp.

If you think about the layout of Disney Hollywood Studios near Star Tours there is probably only one logical way to expand – by taking out the Muppet Vision Theater and extending along The Streets of America as far up as Honey I Shrank the Kids. Then the new Cars Land would most likely be in the area of Lights Motors Action and The Backlot Tour. The only other way they may go is towards Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. However just think about it. Indiana Jones is still a very popular attraction. Whilst many (including me) would be very sad to see The Muppets go it is an attraction which is not that popular any more, and Honey I Shrank the Kids could easily go.

Of course right now everything is speculation but we can dream about what the new Star Wars Land would look like. A new restaurant is almost a given, as well as a huge new attraction to rival Forbidden Journey in Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

What would you like to see in a Disney Star Wars Land?

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AquaDunk On The Disney Magic Cruise Ship

June 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment

aquadunkonthedisneymagiccruiseship

Will you dare ride the AquaDunk on the Disney Magic Cruise Ship? When the Disney Magic comes out of dry dock on October 10th she will emerge with a whole new look. Surely the most popular of the changes will be the addition of the AquaDunk.

Watch the video below to get a closer look at the Disney Magic AquaDunk.

Although water slides are becoming a must have feature of all cruise ships these days the design of the AquaDunk seems to be the first of it’s kind. Daring guests will enter the capsule which has a trap door (nothing like building up the anticipation of the floor dropping away). There will be a 3 second countdown and then you are released to go plunging 40 vertical feet down the slide.

As if plunging 40 feet down wasn’t enough the AquaDunk sends guests almost 20 feet out over the side of the Disney Magic. If you can keep your eyes open you will get a view of the ocean as you speed down the see through tube!

The height requirement for the AquaDunk is 48 inches so make sure your young ones know if there are going to be able to ride it or not.

Will you ride the AquaDunk on the Disney Magic? Leave me a comment below!

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Win a Walt Disney World or Disneyland Vacation

June 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment

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Do you want a chance to win a Disney World or Disneyland vacation? Now is your chance to win a five-day/four-night vacation either Disneyland® Resort in California or Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida from HGTV!

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Play all day/scream all night with four 5-Day Magic Your Way Tickets with Park Hopper® option
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Would you choose Walt Disney World or Disneyland? Leave me a comment below.

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Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Premium Events 2013

June 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment

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If you area planning to go to the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival this year then you will be interested to know that the booking for the premium events will open on August 13th 2013. These premium events are extremely popular so if you want to get your first choice be ready to dial as soon as the lines open on August 13th at 7am EST. That is going to be a difficult one for people not on EST!.

Photo by expressmonorail

This year the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival runs from September 27th to November 11th. The number that you need to call when lines open is 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378).

Here is a schedule of events for the Epcot Food and Wine Festival 2013:

New Scotland, Land of Food And Drink (Sept. 28), $95 or $115
New Spirits Confidential (Nov. 1), $80 or $95
New Parisian Breakfast (Saturdays), $37
New Hibachi Experience (Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29, Nov. 5), $120
“3D” Disney’s Dessert Discovery (Oct. 4, 11 and 25), $55 or $90
Epcot Wine Schools (Sept. 29, Oct. 27, Nov. 3), $135 per person
Culinary Adventures in Signature Dining (more than 25 dinners throughout the festival; prices vary)
Mixology Series: Taste, Shake and Indulge Like the French (Saturdays), $65
Kitchen Memories (Sept. 27, Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25, Nov. 1, 8), from $110-$170
Cheese Seminars (Sept. 28, Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26, Nov. 2, 9), $80
Party for the Senses (Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26 and Nov. 2), $145, $180 or $285
Food & Wine Pairings (Tuesdays, Thursdays), $55
Sweet Sundays (Sept. 29, Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov. 3, 10), $99
The Discovery of Chocolate (Oct. 13 and 27), $75

There are some new experiences on the schedule for 2013. New Scotland celebrates the land of Disney Pixar Brave and Princess Merida. On my list to try is the New Parisian Breakfast.

If you want to attend the ultimate Epcot Food and Wine Festival event then sign up for the Party for the Senses. This event is not inexpensive, starting at $145 for general admission, $180 for a reserved table and rising to $285 for reserved seating in the Wine View Lounge. These prices include gratuity but do not include tax or the required park admission. But Party for the Senses is one of the most popular events at the Festival and sells out quickly each year.

Epcot Party for the Senses is held in the WorldShowPlace Events Pavillion. Once inside you are treated to a huge array of samples of food and beverages from Disney restaurants, resorts and some outside restaurants too. Most feel that even with the high price tag this is an Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Premium Event that is worth every penny.

Will you be booking an Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Premium Event for 2013?

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Epcot Sounds Like Summer 2013

June 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment

epcotsoundslikesummer2013

It’s time for Epcot Sounds Like Summer 2013. This very popular event features some fabulous tribute bands which will play in the American Gardens Theater in Epcot. Sounds Like Summer is held every year in Epcot.

Photo by expressmonorail

Here is the 2013 Schedule:

June 9 to 15: Stayin’ Alive ~ A Tribute to the Bee Gees
June 16 to 22: Hotel California ~ A Salute to the Eagles
June 23 to 29: Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot ~ The Ultimate Billy Joel Tribute Show
June 30 to July 6: Slippery When Wet ~ The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute
July 7 to 13: SouthBound and Company ~ A Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd
July 14 to 20: The Police Experience ~ A Tribute to The Police
July 21 to 27: 2U ~ A Tribute to U2

The concerts are free to attend but of course you do need a ticket to enter Epcot.

Showtimes are at 5.30pm, 6.45pm and 8.00pm. The times alter slightly for July 4th only to 5.15pm, 6.30pm and 9.00pm.

Make sure that you arrive early if you want to get a seat. The American Gardens Theater is small but fortunately it is in the open air so you can hear (but most likely not see the stage very well) even if you are not one of the ones who get a seat. The Sounds Like Summer series is always very popular particularly on weekend nights when a lot of Florida residents go to Epcot. If you are visiting Epcot on one of those days be aware that the area around the American Gardens Theater will most likely be very crowded so follow Cast Members directions so that you can get around as easily as possible!

Which Sounds Like Summer performance would you like to see? Leave me a comment below.

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Win a $25 Disney Gift Card With EverythingMouse.com

June 11, 2013 by 70 Comments

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Filed Under: Disney Tips

Disney Magic AquaDunk

May 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment

DisneyMagic-AquaDunk

The Disney Magic AquaDunk is a brand new thrilling water slide which will debit in October 2013. Dare you take the plunge? Watch the video to see if you want to line up for the new AquaDunk!

As you will see it isn’t quite the AquaDuck of the Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream but it is certainly going to provide some thrills. The water slide tube extends 20 feet over the side of the ship. The first plunge is kind of like a very scaled down Blizzard Beach water slide as it looks to be almost horizontal!

We can expect that the lines for the AquaDunk are going to be pretty long. If it is anything like the Disney Fantasy and Dream then try and ride early in the day or late in the evening.

It looks as though the height requirement will be 48 inches. The younger set need not despair as they are getting their own new slide as well. The Mickey Slide is being replaced by the much more fun looking Twist n’ Spout .

For more on the Disney Magic changes go to:

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Monsters University Trailer

May 4, 2013 by 1 Comment

monster-university

The much anticipated Monsters University is due to open in theaters on June 21st 2013 and this trailer has just been released. The prequel is set around 10 years before the original Monsters Inc and chronicles the meeting of Mike and Sulley in college.

Billy Crystal returns as Mike Wazowski and John Goodman is James P. Sullivan (better known as Sulley). Randall Biggs is back voiced by Steve Buscemi. There will even be a regal touch when Oscar winner Helen Mirren voices Dean Hardscrabble headmistress of Monsters University. John Ratzebengerger will be there of course as he has been for all the other 13 Pixar feature movies. He voices a Monsters Inc employee.

Here is a taste of things to come in this Monsters University trailer.

For those of us who love details about the Pixar movies you may want to know about the continuity error of timing which is apparent in the sequel. In Monsters Inc Mike says that he has been friends with Sulley since the fourth grade. However, Monsters University has them meeting many years later in college.

Director Dan Scanlon explains why the decision was taken to overlook this continuity error. They tried to work around it and went through ideas such as having them first meet in the fourth grade and then meeting up later in college. Scanlon said that it was the influence of the original Monsters Inc director Pete Doctor and Pixar head John Lasseter who reminded him of the great Pixar doctrine. Do what is right for the story. So the original line has been ‘ignored’ for the sequel.

For all the latest news go to the Official Monsters University Site

Filed Under: monsters university, Movies Tagged With: , , , ,

Win A Vacation To Orlando

May 3, 2013 by 1 Comment

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Who wants to win a vacation to Orlando? Here is your chance to enter a sweepstakes sponsored by Visit Orlando and fromyouflowers.com

One lucky winner will win a trip for 2 to Orlando. The trip includes round-trip coach air transportation, hotel accommodations for 3 consecutive nights in a double occupancy room, full size rental car, two single day park admissions tickets to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, or SeaWorld Orlando. The winner will also receive up to $550 worth of spa treatments and one $100 gift card redeemable for an Orlando-area dining experience.

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Filed Under: Disney Parks Tagged With: , ,
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