VIDEO: Talking Mickey Mouse Meet-And-Greet At Walt Disney World “Magically” Debuts

WDWNT on December 4, 2013

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We have been talking about talking Mickey Mouse for a long, long time on WDWNT and we’re happy to report that the meet-and-greet experience finally permanently installed on October 22nd! We took a trip over to the Magic Kingdom last night to see Mickey in action and it was honestly everything I thought it would be and more. This video of Mickey interacting with other guests and our kids needs to be seen to be believed:

Eventually Mickey will know the guest’s name and more information about them once they walk in with their MagicBands, but until then he is still talking up a storm and delighting guests daily at the Magic Kingdom in Town Square Theater.

In my opinion, talking Mickey is one of those things that will stun every guest and may even become the highlight of their vacation. The time Mickey now spends with the guest is so much more meaningful since he can reach into a bag of tricks and truly personalize the interaction he has with them. The “tea cup” experience we had is just one of a countless number of “bits” Mickey can utilize to interact and I expect it will very rare to get the same experience twice. Our kids have met Mickey countless times, so as you can see in the video, they were practically stunned silent when he spoke to them. This isn’t a negative however as when we asked them if they liked talking to Mickey after we had exited, they had clearly thought it was very cool and enjoyed it immensely. We will for sure keep going back to see more of what Mickey can do!

So, what do you think? Is this something that will forever change the Walt Disney World Experience? Do you like the idea of talking to your favorite character?

New NYC Jobs with Character Jr. Key Chains

WDWNT on August 27, 2013

Disney Store artist Enrique Pita has been a bastion for DS Vinylmation release info since the flow of updates slowed from the company itself. Recently, he Instagramed three new junior key chains he created specifically for the NYC Times Square Disney Store.

The three figures are sold individually. There is NYC Cab Driver Goofy, NYC Policeman Mickey and NYC Fireman Donald! Wow, what amazing detail on these 1.5 inch canvases. They are getting better and better. To actually convey emotion on the faces of these is incredible to me. Here is a photo via Vinylmation Kingdom of each of the figures in the packaging.

Ready for Your Close-Up? New T-Shirts Arriving at Walt Disney World

WDWNT on July 17, 2013

The Walt Disney World Resort is rolling out a new line of t-shirts late this Summer!

The new artwork, due to arrive in the coming months, will feature several t-shirts for boys and adults. The t-shirts for boys will showcase close-up images of Mickey Mouse and Buzz Lightyear.

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The adult shirts will include close-up images of Goofy, Mr. Potato Head, Grumpy, and classic Mickey Mouse.

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The Disney Design Group introduced the close-up t-shirts last year with an image Walt Disney, which was extremely popular.

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Doug Strayer, Creative Manager at the Disney Design Group, created the new artwork for this summer’s shirts; they will arrive in select locations at Walt Disney World and Disneyland locations soon!

What do you think of the new line of t-shirts? What character would you like to see grace the new “close-up image” t-shirts?

Disney & Old Navy Celebrate Mickey’s 85th Anniversary with Vintage Tee Collection

WDWNT on July 17, 2013

On July 8, 2013, Old Navy celebrated Mickey’s 85th anniversary by debuting a new clothing line featuring the never-aging mouse along with some of his friends in a collection of retro tees for the whole family. The collection features some rarely-seen art from the Disney archives, exploring how Mickey and other beloved characters have evolved through the years. This very unique collection of summer tees literally takes center stage at Old Navy stores across the country.

Old Navy Mickey Collection

The “Mickey Through the Decades” collection is available online at www.OldNavy.com/mickeystyle and at Old Navy stores. Prices are $12.94 and $14.94 for women’s and men’s tees respectively, kid’s tees will be priced from $12.94 with toddler tees being priced from $14.94.

“By combining Disney storytelling with Old Navy’s relaxed, playful styles we’ve achieved a product line that truly celebrates our classic characters,” said Jodi Rosenblatt, director of sales, Disney Consumer Products. “Mickey continues to capture the imagination of fans worldwide, and this vintage collection reminds us of Mickey’s timeless qualities and fun-loving personality.”

While visiting Old Navy’s website for the collection, visitors can download exclusive Disney digital freebies and register for a chance to win a custom Disney tour in L.A., worth $10,000.

“We are thrilled to feature Disney’s beloved Mickey Mouse in this new fashion collection, and to provide a glimpse into the history of this enduring character,” said Nick Grover, director of licensing, Old Navy. “Developing a Disney collection has given us another opportunity to take our licensing business to the next level while continuing to offer our customers exactly what they love at a price point they can’t find anywhere else.”

Be sure to visit www.OldNavy.com/mickeystyle to see the selection of shirts and to register for the $10,000 Disney Tour in L.A. sweepstakes.

PHOTOS & VIDEO: Mickey & Minnie Move Into Adventurers Outpost at Animal Kingdom

WDWNT on June 4, 2013

With the closure of Camp Minnie-Mickey eminent, we were promised a new home for Mickey and Minnie somewhere in Animal Kingdom a few months ago. The location turned out to be the former Beastly Bazaar shop that reopened today after some delay as Adventurers Outpost, supposedly Mickey and Minnie’s exploration headquarters. Take a look:

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The entrance

A temporary sign in place until the entire experience is complete

The interior queue

There are many pictures of Mickey and Minnie out on adventurers through the queue

This is one fo the two holding rooms. There are two rooms where guests can meet Mickey and Minnie, however the second room was not ready for guests today

The actual meet and greet has Mickey and Minnie in front of a large map with some assorted travel gear and knick-knacks strewn across the room

The map is a really nice backdrop

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We were the very first guests to ever meet Mickey and Minnie here, so I thought I would break tradition and include a personal picture

Here is a very short video walkthrough of the queue and meet and greet we took as the first guests to enter Adventurers Outpost. Sorry if it seems a bit rushed, but we were the first to enter and there was no line to force us to stop along the way in the queue:

So, what do you think of Mickey and Minnie’s new home at Animal Kingdom?

Go on an Adventure with Mickey Mouse and the Mapmakers When ‘Mickey and the Magical Map’ Comes to Disneyland Park This Summer

WDWNT on January 3, 2013

By Shawn Slater on the Disney Parks Blog:

The all-new, live stage production, “Mickey and the Magical Map,” debuts this summer at Disneyland park, and today I’m excited to be able to tell you a little more about the show and what you can expect to see when it opens!

The show begins with the timeless character of Yen Sid, the wise sorcerer from Disney’s classic “Fantasia,” who appears within his mysterious workshop to tell us of a wondrous map with the power to take dreamers to any place imaginable. Yen Sid sets his mapmakers to work painting the enormous map – a map so large it covers the entire breadth of the stage.

This is when our hero Mickey Mouse enters, full of curiosity, and dreams of being more than just an apprentice. He’s a bit of a rascal and doesn’t realize what he’s about to get into. When Mickey picks up a brush to paint the map’s one unfinished spot, he soon discovers this is no ordinary map. That’s when his adventures really begin!

Mickey and the Magical Map’ Coming to Disneyland Park This Summer
 

Mickey and the Magical Map’ Coming to Disneyland Park This Summer
 

The mapmakers are an ensemble of male and female performers who excel at singing, dancing and acrobatics. They wield enormous, magical paint brushes as they follow Mickey on his journey, helping bring to life fantastic worlds of music, color and beloved characters.

“Mickey and the Magical Map” will be presented in the newly-refurbished Fantasyland Theatre, a venue that merges the tradition of live outdoor performances with the latest in theatrical technology. This is Disney storytelling at its most thrilling, brought to life in the very heart of the most magical of lands, Fantasyland.

“Each new show we create is a chance to push storytelling in a new direction,” said Michael Jung, Vice President of Theatrical Development. “At Disney, we love the challenge of continuously looking at our classic tales and most recent stories to see how we can bring live entertainment and excitement to today’s audiences.”

Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog in the coming weeks and months, as we’ll have even more to share about the extraordinary new show, “Mickey and the Magical Map.”

Talking Mickey Makes a Short Stop at Town Square Theater

WDWNT on November 1, 2011

Well, talking Mickey Mouse made his way to Florida last night with a short test period at Town Square Theater during the Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Disney has released a short video of the test:

He was only out for about 30 minutes last night, but is already causing quite a stir amongst guests. Don’t worry about missing him, rumor is that talking Mickey will be around for at least the next two weeks, if not permanently at Town Square Theater. We’ll keep you posted as more information becomes available.