Today, Walt Disney Parks announced a partnership with Starbucks Corporation. Six locations are planned to open in Disney Parks & Resorts across the country, with the first one to be opened at Disney California Adventure in June (which matches the timing of the openings of… Read More »Six Starbucks Locations to Open at Disney Parks
Ever since Walt Disney Studios opened at Disneyland Paris in 2002, it has faced a lot of criticism. Many fans have even referred to it as Disney’s “worst park.” ThemeParkInsider.com, a blog that frequently hates on Walt Disney Studios, published an article called “10 Reasons… Read More »Walt Disney Studios – The Worst Disney Park in the World?
Steven M. Barrett, Author and Mouse Hunter
If you’ve been to the Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World, or even on a Disney Cruise, chances are you’ve seen people walking around with a bright yellow book and a tendency to periodically stop and stare at rather obscure signs, windows, and random bits of architecture. Those folks are hunting Hidden Mickeys. Be very, very quiet.
The book in question is by Steven M. Barrett, and is part of his popular series titled Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to (insert Disney location here)’s Best Kept Secrets. There’s also an app for that!
Each book offers a number of Hidden Mickeys for Disney guests to search for on their visit. What is a Hidden Mickey? “A partial or complete image of Mickey Mouse that has been hidden by Disney’s Imagineers and artists in the designs of Disney attractions, hotels, restaurants, and other areas. These images are designed to blend into their surroundings. Sharp-eyed visitors have the fun of finding them.” — from Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Disneyland Resort’s Best Kept Secrets, Chapter 1 “Hidden Mickey Mania”
Barrett has been canvasing Disney parks (and ships) to track the elusive Hidden Mickeys for over 20 years. He’s found a few.
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Barrett via Skype about his books, the website that they have spawned (HiddenMickeyGuy.com), and life as America’s most-celebrated Hidden Mickey hunter. Read More »Interview With Steven M. Barrett, Author of Hidden Mickeys
The first image from Disney’s The Lone Ranger provided quite a shock for those expecting a close allegiance to the original TV series characters. Discussion about Johnny Depp’s unique take on the character of Tonto dominating the conversation. Entertainment Weekly interviewed Depp and learned that… Read More »Johnny Depp on his ideas behind Tonto from The Lone Ranger
Editor: Please welcome guest author Jim Dallas who is reviewing the April 20th showing of Newsies The Musical.
Newsies on Broadway is a must see!
I first became an avid fan of composer Alan Menken when I saw The Little Mermaid at the movies. But I knew he was really a Broadway composer when I first listened to the Beauty and the Beast sound track and could visualize how each scene could be animated. He brought the Broadway score to animation. So, back in 1992 I was excited to learn that Disney was producing a live action musical, Newsies, with a score by Alan Menken. It sounded like a sure fire hit. My family was in the theater that April weekend when Newsies had its’ theatrical debut. There was one problem: we were the only people in the theater! Newsies never found an audience, closed quickly and barely earned 2.8 million dollars. For all of the issues that plagued this film, the songs and score by Menken were still brilliant, allowing Newsies to grow in popularity and develop a cult following over the past two decades.
Last evening, 20 years later, I sat in the sold out Nederlander Theater in NYC amidst an exuberant audience to experience Newsies – the Broadway Musical. Newsies had come home, was on the stage where it always belonged and was in better form than ever. Newsies is an exhilarating evening of musical theater entertainment.
Marvel’s The Avengers isn’t due to open in the USA until May 4th, but it’s already open in a few countries around the world. That means various movie reviewers have decided to break the embargo (after all the internet unites the world) and publish their reviews. Guess what? They’re almost all positive
“As creatively variable and predictably formulaic as the Marvel films have been, this one will not only make the core geek audience feel like it’s died and gone to Asgard but has so much going for it that many non-fans will be disarmed and charmed. This is effects-driven, mass appeal summer fare par excellence, that sought-after rare bird that hits all the quadrants, as marketing mavens like to say.” – Todd McCarthy, THR
“As written and directed by the ever genre-savvy Whedon, it’s a clean-burning, six-cylinder entertainment that exudes discipline in every particular, from the script’s balance of sincerity and self-effacing humor to the well-integrated visual effects to the keen sense of proportion that governs the ensemble. Whenever the possibility of boredom or excess rears its head, Whedon finds an elegant solution.” – Justin Chang, Variety
“This might be why Whedon has succeeded with The Avengers; he’s focused on the humanity of the characters. For example: Jeremy Renner and Scarlett Johannsen as Hawkeye and Black Widow respectively, both bring more depth than anything thought possible to two characters who could have been peripheral, but here become just as pivotal as The Hulk, Cap, Stark or Thor.” – Paul Veerhoven, The Vine
“As a lifelong comic book fan, I walked into The Avengers with the highest hopes and deepest fears. A little over two hours later, as the credits began to roll, I turned to the friend sitting next to me, smiled and exclaimed, “They actually did it!” What Whedon and Marvel have created here is not just extraordinary, but one of the most entertaining and satisfying comic book movies yet.” – Eric Eisenberg, Cinemablend
A special new featurette from The Avengers below the jump:
Read More »Reviews and New Featurette Show Strength of Marvel’s The Avengers
The Disney Institute started as a dream of Michael Eisner that guests coming to the resort would carve out a bit of their time to learn something of they way Disney crafts its magic brand. Turns out, not so much. But a rather large nugget… Read More »Disney Institute growing its business consulting role
It does my heart good to see some of the details Imagineers are busy adding to Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure. Part of the re-made entry way to the park, this busy California street will take you back to 1923, when Walt Disney… Read More »Buena Vista Street – They’re Doing It Right at DCA