Thursday, August 29, 2013

Tales From The Mouse House Disneyland Podcast...Episode 77





Welcome to Tales From The Mouse House Disneyland Podcast episode 77!! A special edition!!

On this special (and LONG) episode, we share the second part of our 2013 Disney D23 Expo that was recently held in Anaheim, California. On this episode, Randy Crane (you know Randy, he’s are AWESOME podcast sponsor!) shares his adventures at the Expo! 
Awesome Sponsor AND Author, Randy Crane


Don’t forget about the brand new trivia contest we launched that is, well, awesome! We received a terrific gift of Disney Magic from our great friend and listener Ben G. and his family! Let’s just say, THIS giveaway is one of the best...if not THE best we’ve offered. So, be sure to tune in for details on how you can win this GREAT prize!

Hey, if YOU'RE in need of a great travel agent, why not give our sponsor, Randy Crane from Mouse Ear Vacations a holler! I bet he can make YOUR vacation a MAGICAL one! Visit Randy at www.randyc-mouseearvacations.com. NOW is the time to book your 2015 Disney D23 Expo adventure! 


As always, If you’d like to send in comments for the show, you can send us an email to talespodcast@cox.net, leave us voicemail on the Hotline at 304-TALES23, leave us feedback in iTunes or leave comments for us on our Twitter account @talespodcast. Heck, you can even find us on FaceBook, just search for Tales From The House House - Disneyland podcast! If you'd like to listen to the show, you can find it on iTunes, on our podcast site at talescast.com, the direct episode link: Episode 77, or on Stitcher Radio now! Just visit www.stitcher.com and search for Tales From The Mouse House - Disneyland Podcast!


Thanks for making us part of your Disney experience and remember…

"Make It A Mickey Day!" ~~ Al & Joyce



Sunday, August 25, 2013

Tales From The Mouse House Disneyland Podcast...Episode 76


Welcome to Tales From The Mouse House Disneyland Podcast episode 76!! The episode that was so good, we decided to record it twice! You’ll have to listen in for the explanation to THAT!  (Ok, I'll tell you but you have to promise to listen: I screwed up the recording! I forgot to "arm" my audio track in Logic Pro X, so only Joyce's microphone was "hot"! Yep, I'll be hearing about that one for awhile!)

On this special (and LONG) episode, we share Tales From The Mouse House new roving reporter Faye Crane’s coverage of the 2013 Disney D23 Expo that was recently held in Anaheim, California. Faye had some tremendous adventures and got to attend several awesome panels, including one that talked about some of the upcoming live-action Disney
Disney's D23 Expo Coverage
movies! Like Captain America 2 and the Avengers 2!! She also shared her review on the 50th Anniversary panel of Mary Poppins, just in time for the upcoming Disney live action movie, Saving Mr. Banks, in which gifted actor Tom Hanks portrays our favorite Magic Maker Walt Disney. Now, Saving Mr. Banks chronicles the struggles Walt and company had when attempting to win over the author of Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers. Saving Mr. Banks is set to hit theaters nation wide December 20, 2013. 

Disney's Saving Mr. Banks

Our interviews with Faye and her hubby Randy Crane was so awesome that we're splitting it into two podcast episodes for you! On this episode (#76), we share Faye's Tales From The Mouse House coverage of the D23 Expo, then this coming Wednesday (August 28), we'll air Randy's portion. Trust me, you're going to want to tune in to both episodes! 
Mary Poppins!



We also launch a brand new trivia contest that is, well, awesome! We received a terrific gift of Disney Magic from our great friend and listener Ben G. and his family! Let’s just say, THIS giveaway is one of the best...if not THE best we’ve offered. So, be sure to tune in for details on how you can win this GREAT prize! Be sure to send your answers to this contest to us no later than Saturday September 7, 2013 at noon (Pacific Standard Time) to be eligible for the "Randomizer". Oh, and please, only one entry per listener!

Hey, if YOU'RE in need of a great travel agent, why not give our sponsor, Randy Crane from Mouse Ear Vacations a holler! I bet he can make YOUR vacation a MAGICAL one! Visit Randy at www.randyc-mouseearvacations.com. NOW is the time to book your 2015 Disney D23 Expo adventure! 


As always, If you’d like to send in comments for the show, you can send us an email to talespodcast@cox.net, leave us voicemail on the Hotline at 304-TALES23, leave us feedback in iTunes or leave comments for us on our Twitter account @talespodcast. Heck, you can even find us on FaceBook, just search for Tales From The House House - Disneyland podcast! If you'd like to listen to the show, you can find it on iTunes, on our podcast site at talescast.com, the direct episode link: Episode 76, or on Stitcher Radio now! Just visit www.stitcher.com and search for Tales From The Mouse House - Disneyland Podcast!


Thanks for making us part of your Disney experience and remember…

"Make It A Mickey Day!" ~~ Al & Joyce



Sunday, August 11, 2013

Tales From The Mouse House Disneyland Podcast...Episode 75


Welcome to Tales From The Mouse House Disneyland Podcast, Episode 75 (really...not like last time), our Video tribute to the Disney D23 Expo! 
2011 Disney D23 Expo!


On this video episode, we share some highlights from the 2011 Disney D23 Fan Expo in Anaheim, California! We figured since the 2013 Expo was in full swing, AND since we couldn’t attend, we’d share some of the fun times we had at the last Expo to happen in California. We had a lot of fun, and yep, we were TIRED at the end of every day. But...FUN. 

History Of The Disneyland Hotel
One of the panels we went to, and include a small bit of it in this episode, was the Amazing Vault Discovery! A History of the Disneyland Hotel. This was an AWESOME presentation to say the least. We were shown some never before seen video of the grand opening of the Disneyland Hotel, which was broadcast on television! We saw cool things like the shopping mall inside, the comfy beds AND...the GIANT 13 inch televisions in EVERY ROOM! Now, we do have the complete presentation (which was about an hour long!) on video. Just check out Minnie MouseCast 11 for that. 
John Lassiter announcing the Pixar Stamps

Although we couldn't get into every panel we wanted to during the 2011 D23 Expo, we did see quite a few. It was awesome getting a sneak peak at Disney's Prep and Landing Christmas special, and seeing John Lassiter presented with the official Pixar U.S. Postage Stamp series. We were even given one of the pre-release stamps! LOVE SWAG!! 
Great friends and authors, Nancy Rodrigue and David Smith


Joyce, Al and Lisa Robertson

We were granted one press credential for the 2013 Disney D23 Expo, but unfortunately we were not in a position to make the trip (if you follow us at all you all know about our "life" upheaval back in March of this year). BUT...we WERE able to transfer our credentials to the wife of our awesome sponsor Randy Crane, Faye, who is covering the Expo for Tales From The Mouse House! She's been feeding us daily summaries, and will be writing up a complete Expo Rundown for us soon. AND, lucky YOU, she'll be joining us on an upcoming episode to discuss all the wonderfully magical experiences she had! So..be sure to stay tuned for that! 
Fun Cosplayers

AWESOME! Autographed Pirates Of The Caribbean Art!
Pirates Of The Caribbean Attraction - with a twist!

Hey, if YOU'RE in need of a great travel agent, why not give our sponsor, Randy Crane from Mouse Ear Vacations a holler! I bet he can make YOUR vacation a MAGICAL one! Visit Randy at www.randyc-mouseearvacations.com. NOW is the time to book your 2015 Disney D23 Expo adventure! 
Joyce and Jeffrey Epstein the D23 Geek!


As always, If you’d like to send in comments for the show, you can send us an email to talespodcast@cox.net, leave us voicemail on the Hotline at 304-TALES23, leave us feedback in iTunes or leave comments for us on our Twitter account @talespodcast. Heck, you can even find us on FaceBook, just search for Tales From The House House - Disneyland podcast! If you'd like to listen to the show, you can find it on iTunes, on our podcast site at talescast.com, the direct episode link: Episode 75, or on Stitcher Radio now! Just visit www.stitcher.com and search for Tales From The Mouse House - Disneyland Podcast!
TRON!! Enough said!

Thanks for making us part of your Disney experience and remember…

"Make It A Mickey Day!" ~~ Al & Joyce

Teen Beach Movie...Ride The Wave Dude!







My lovely wife Joyce decided to take this review on, and I've GOT to be honest with you, I'm glad she did. I did watch a few minutes of Teen Beach Movie with her, and well...let's just say I'm NOT a fan. What I saw made me very happy I was VERY busy! While I won't be "nasty", I will say that what I viewed kind of annoyed me and made me wonder WHAT Disney was thinking! But then, I'm sure this film wasn't made for people in my demographic! Enjoy Joyce's review - Al 

by Joyce Kessel
I wasn't sure  if I was going to enjoy the surf-rock retro beach movie but it was an ok flick,  although I think it is better suited for pre-teen and early teens. It was a bit of Grease and West Side Story combined into one movie. 

Disney Channel unleashed a retro beach party movie: Teen Beach Movie on July 19.

So, here’s a quick synopsis of the movie:

After McKenzie's (Maia Mitchell) mom passes away, she makes an agreement with her Grandpa (Barry Bostwick) and Aunt Antoinette (Suzanne Cryer) that she would spend her “important” high school years at a school of her Aunt’s choosing (which involves her leaving the Beach Town).  Although she doesn't want her endless summer to...well, end, she wants to make her late mom proud and make something of herself. She has yet to break the news to her boyfriend Brady (Ross Lynch) and while attempting to tell him her aunt arrives and breaks the news.

Washed Up In A Movie
As she prepares to head out to catch her flight she has to ride the wave one last time but an ominous storm is brewing. Although a HUGE storm is surging, she ignores the red flag alert, and paddles her surf board out to sea and is swept underwater by a monster wave all the while, Brady (Ross Lynch) attempts to rescue her. 
Of course, a dance number on the beach!

After a fade to black, the water is calm and Brady and MacKenzie urgently try to get to shore so she can catch her flight.  But...something is very odd... They are in her Grandpa and Brady's favorite musical movie, “Wet Side Story”. 

As they make their way on shore, they see the “real” movie cast perform “Surf Crazy” and of course, Brady joins in the fun (since he DOES know ALL the moves) while MacKenzie (Mac) just wants to go home. After joining in on their musical number, they all run to the beachside restaurant Big Momma's and Brady and Mac introduce themselves to the surfer gang,  just before the biker gang shows up and start the “surf and turf war”. 

Surf And Turf War?
That evening, during a dance in Big Momma’s where Lela (Grace Phipps) who happens to be a biker,  is singing “Falling For Ya”, Mac and Brady argue about staying in the movie or trying to find a way out. Brady of course wants to stay, but Mac wants to go, and decides to investigate a way out on her own. However, they suddenly change the movie when the movie’s leading guy Tanner (Garrett Clayton), who happens to be a surfer, sees Mac and falls in love with her, and Brady catches Lela when she falls off stage - which was SUPPOSED to be done by Tanner. And since the surfer and biker don’t fall in love, the scripted surfer/biker feud doesn’t happen.  Not only does the turf war cease to exist but the bad guys trying to change weather patterns cannot be stopped.  
A Scene From Grease, err, Teen Beach Movie

Yep, I left a lot out of the synopsis, but that’s because we want you to experience the movie for yourself! Remember, limited spoilers here!


As with all Disney movies there IS a moral to the story. Tanner thinks everyone is good. Lela (the biker) wants to learn to surf and be a pro, while Tanner realized he wanted to be a biker, not a surfer. She taught him to ride, he taught her to surf.  Mac, throughout the movie tells Lela to be brave and pursue her dreams. By the end, she learns that she is not practicing what she preaches so decides to stand up to her aunt and tells her that will not be attending the high school her aunt picked out, but she will be staying with her Grandpa. Be true to yourself - moral for the day! 
"We Go Together Like..."


Some of the nit-pick things in Teen Beach Movie for me:

*There is a subplot involving a mad scientist and weather control that I felt did not really belong here. But I guess they had to find a way to get Mac and Brady in the movie. 

*The Mad scientist uses a candy thermometer to make his weather potion and a Buzz Lightyear astro blaster gun to stun them.   Hmmmm...

*As Mac and Brady " morph" into the movie she has a bit of an accent from time to time.

*This movie felt a LOT like Pleasantville to me. Very similar plot...well, sort of
    
Teen Beach Movie is now available on DVD which has a few bonus features including exclusive dance rehearsal footage and musical numbers. SRP $26.99 



Friday, August 2, 2013

Walt Disney Studios Classic Releases!




**This is AWESOME NEWS for Disney Fans! Stay tuned to Tales From The Mouse House for more details**


TWO ANIMATED CLASSICS AWAKEN TO SPECTACULAR NEW LIFE IN 2014…

THE JUNGLE BOOK & SLEEPING BEAUTY

AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER AS PART OF DISNEY’S 
PRESTIGIOUS BLU-RAY™ DIAMOND EDITION COLLECTION


Burbank, Calif., August 2, 2013 – The Walt Disney Studios is pleased to announce the addition of animated classics THE JUNGLE BOOK and SLEEPING BEAUTY to its prestigious Blu-ray™ Diamond Edition Collection. Released from the Disney vault for a limited time only, THE JUNGLE BOOK opens to colorful new life on Blu-ray Diamond Edition in February 2014, while SLEEPING BEAUTY awakens on stunning Blu-ray Diamond Edition in October 2014.

Released from the Disney vault for the first time in almost seven years, THE JUNGLE BOOK swings onto Blu-ray Diamond Edition in the U.S. on February 11, 2014. Based on Rudyard Kipling’s classic novel, this song-filled celebration of friendship, fun, and adventure was Disney's 19th animated masterpiece and the last animated feature to have Walt Disney's personal touch. Now, viewers can experience its lush and colorful world and jazzy, toe-tapping songs - including the "I Wan'na Be Like You” and Academy Award®-nominated classic "The Bare Necessities" - with the ultimate in high definition picture and sound clarity. Also featuring thrilling new bonus features, THE JUNGLE BOOK is next winter’s must-own Diamond Edition Blu-ray!

The ultimate Disney fairy tale, SLEEPING BEAUTY, once again awakens to exquisite new picture and sound on Blu-ray in the U.S. in October 2014. Heralded by audiences and critics alike, SLEEPING BEAUTY was one of the final fairy tales to be that Walt Disney himself worked on. Fully restored with revolutionary Blu-ray technology, this animated classic’s dazzling colors, spectacular action, and Academy Award®-nominated orchestration (for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture) shines brighter than ever. With wondrous new bonus features families will love, SLEEPING BEAUTY charms like never before on Blu-ray Diamond Edition!
 
To date, Disney has released seven Diamond Edition titles – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Beauty and the Beast, Bambi, The Lion King, Lady and the Tramp, Cinderella and Peter Pan - with The Little Mermaid scheduled for release on October 1, 2013. Each Diamond Edition title boasts the highest level of picture and sound; features groundbreaking, state-of-the-art immersive bonus content; and in some cases second screen interactivity, made possible because of Blu-ray technology.

About The Jungle Book:
Based on the Rudyard Kipling’s classic novel of the same name, The Jungle Book follows young Mowgli on a fun-filled journey with unforgettable characters, including Bagheera, the wise panther, the jazzy King Louie, the hypnotic snake Kaa and the lovable, happy-go-lucky bear Baloo, who teaches Mowgli “The Bare Necessities” of life and the true meaning of friendship.

About Sleeping Beauty:
Sleeping Beauty tells the wondrous tale of a princess cursed by an evil witch, protected by three loving fairies and, ultimately, saved by a “true love’s kiss.” Featuring the voice talents of renowned opera singer Mary Costa (as Sleeping Beauty) and Disney stalwart Eleanor Audley (as the evil fairy, Maleficent), the film’s vibrant visuals were created by a team that included Milt Kahl and Ollie Johnston, John Lounsbery, Frank Thomas and Marc Davis (of Disney’s legendary Nine Old Men), and an Academy Award® nominated score adapted from the incandescent music of Peter Tchaikovsky.

About The Walt Disney Studios:
For nearly 90 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under the following banners: Disney, including Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Marvel Studios; Disney|Lucasfilm; and Touchstone Pictures, the banner under which live-action films from DreamWorks Studios are distributed. The Disney Music Group encompasses the Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records labels, as well as Disney Music Publishing. The Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Disney on Broadway, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!. For more information, please visit www.disney.com