Mouse Extra

When a new Travel Channel show debuts, I usually have mixed expectations as I sit down if front of my television.  I love to see footage of Walt Disney World, but these shows often have canned and sometimes dated footage.  But last night’s “Disney Holiday Magic” with Samantha Brown really went beyond my expectations.

This is a remake of a similar show that Brown did and has been airing for years.  It was one of those shows which cause me to be a bit cynical when viewing these kinds of programs.  But after the first few minutes of this new one, I started to get excited.  After a behind the scenes look at Mickey Jingle Jungle Parade, we were treated to a tour of Expedition Everest with Imagineer Joe Rhode, the man who led the development of the coaster.  It was fascinating to hear him speak about the inspiration and story behind everything from the ride vehicle to the artifacts that fill the Yeti Museum.  When you expect to see nothing but holiday related subjects, to get this was a real treat.

Holiday decorations are obviously a big theme in the show and for guests that travel during the season.  Brown highlighted some of the resorts as well as the usual theme park offerings.  I was especially delighted to see the show focus some time on the holiday decorations that guests at the Fort Wilderness Campground set up on their campsites.  This is a longstanding and fun tradition at Walt Disney World and one that is largely overlooked. 

There was a great focus on Imagineers that really made this show special.  Besides the aforementioned Rhode segment, we got to see interviews with others as well.  An Imagineer walked us through the famous Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights, and then two more talked about the terrific new lights on Cinderella’s Castle.  If you can’t get there to see this for yourself, the show really does a good job at visualizing how impressive it really is.

As you would probably imagine, a good amount of time was spent at the World Showcase.  Many of the decorations and traditions from around the world were highlighted and even the Epcot tree lighting ceremony was there.  But I must say, I got very jealous and even a bit nostalgic when Brown walked into my beloved Rose and Crown pub for a pint.  I can wathc that segment over and over again…

All the parks were covered, as well as Downtown Disney and even a little bit of Disneyland.  Sometimes Samantha Brown can be over the top with silliness, but not in this show.  This show is one of the best I have seen on Walt Disney World and Disney can learn a lot from it.  Everything they produce, from the travel DVD’s, to the parade coverage on television, to the in-room shows, are nothing compared to this.  It is on again this Friday at 8pm and then again on Sunday at noon.  Take a look and enjoy a little holiday cheer Disney style.

I honestly think Jim Hill is doing this because he likes to see us Star Wars-Disney fans get giddy over rumors.  He’s got another drool-fest this morning regarding Disneyland as he reports the Mouse may be turning over much of Tomorrowland’s future over to George Lucas.

Yep, much in the style of the “Lucas Land” project that’s now in the work for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Mickey allegedly wants to turn a large portion of Tomorrowland over to George Lucas. So that a set of new “Star Wars” -themed shops & restaurants (And — more importantly — at least one new major attraction) can be added to this side of the theme park.

What has become of Tomorrowland over the past two decades, whether at Disneyland or the Magic Kingdom, is one of those topics that bring out the most vocal of purists.  Despite the novelty of the idea, one I think has great potential, and the even the current state of that side of the park, I just can not see purists embracing the idea of turning Tomorrowland at “Walt’s Park” into Mos Eisley or the Cloud City.  Nothing could be further from the original vision.

One thing we can be sure of is that Disney is certainly trying to expand their partnership with Lucas, as this is concept seems to be picking up steam.  Over the coming months we should begin to hear more about this.  It seems to me that if Disney does acquire broadcast rights to the upcoming television show that such an acquisition will be only the opening of what is to come with this relationship. 

I must applaud the Blue Sky Disney blog for writing one of the most tantalizing posts we have seen on the internet in quite some time.  Among the many topics discussed in today’s piece, he drops this little nugget on us…

…By early 2008 there will be some form of an announcement about Star Tours 2.0. The folks at WDI are hard at work creating a sequel to our current attraction that will be designed to mimic the lines at the Finding Nemo Submarine Ride. There will be more of a synergy between the two companies regarding the Star Wars properties, both here in Anaheim and WDW(more on that in a future post). There has been talk of having some form of promotion to coincide with the new Star Wars television show that will debut in about a year and a half.

So now that he has successfully ensured that we will all be checking his blog everyday waiting for the “more on that in a future post” to show up, what do you think?  The sentence he has about mimicking the lines at the Finding Nemo Submarine Ride is a bit confusing, but what I think he means is that Star Tours 2.0 will be a true gate-buster.  Considering the power the Star Wars franchise has, it is not difficult to see that being the case.  Everyone fears Lucas will push the prequels into the parks, but that seems unlikely at this point.

Can any of our many Star Wars aficionados tell us more about this proposed television show?  What is the premise?  Is this being budgeted to the point that I think a sci-fi series needs to be in order to really be good?

That loud cheering you heard yesterday was the collective jubilation of Disneyland Resort lovers.  Upon hearing the news that Disney executives have approved a huge budget for fixing the maligned Disney’s California Adventure theme park, one can understand the joy. 

You’ll find many stories on the internet about this.  Most of them have little to no information about what new attractions may be going into DCA, but the rumor mill will certainly spin out of control now.  Reports of the budget size are staggering.  Here’s what the Disney Blog had to say…

…the number I’m hearing tossed around is $1.1 Billion (give or take 10%). This is just for the park itself, a separate budget is included for hotels and vacation club expansion and for continual improvements over at the original theme park, Disneyland.

This is good news. $1 billion is about 30% more than was originally spent on the theme park in the first place. Which proves, if you’re going to do something, it makes more sense to do it with quality the first time around instead of trying to cut corners or short change your customers.

Yes, California Adventure will always go down as the final straw for Disney addicts when dealing with Michael Eisner.  Most of the goodwill he earned in the beginning of his tenure and during the Disney’s America battle was gone by the time the park was built.  But as people entered and saw what his budget cuts left guests with, he was finished.

I have never been to DCA, and I had no intention of ever going.  There is just nothing there that makes me want to experience the park.  So those of you who have been there, please feel free to leave your ideas and reactions in the comments section below.  Perhaps these billion dollars will make me want to spend my cash at Anaheim’s second gate.  Can you think of a better birthday present for Disneyland?