I'm Gonna WRECK IT!...The Review

Ok, so the term "completely and totally unequivocally awesome" may be over used these days (yeah, ok, I made that up), but it DOES apply to Disney's Wreck-It Ralph. When we first saw some unfinished footage of this film during the D23 Expo in 2011, we KNEW this would be one of those rare movies we would brave the theater crowds for...and we were not disappointed. Well, now The Walt Disney Studios has given us one of the greatest gifts of all: Wreck-It Ralph on DVD and Blu-Ray so we can enjoy it as often as we like, in the comfort of our OWN HOME (excuse me for a moment...I need to weep a bit). 

Weekly Meeting of Bad Anon

On February 5, 2013, Wreck-It Ralph was released on HD Digital Download. The early digital release marks a first for the Disney company. Then, on March 5, 2013, the HD Digital 3D formats will be released. 

Winner of five Annie Awards including Best Animated Feature, the Producers Guild Award, a Critics Choice Film Awards and National Board of Review for Best Animated Film, Wreck-It Ralph, as you may have guessed, brings to life the world of video games, where, after the arcade closes for the day, "Game Central Station" comes alive with characters from our favorite video games, including cameos from Sonic The Hedgehog, Q-Bert and more. 

Ralph (voiced by John C. Reilly) is the villain in 30 year old (but still fairly popular) arcade game called Fix It Felix. It's Ralph's job to wreck the apartment building the good citizens all live in, and of course, it's up to Felix (voiced by Jack McBrayer) to repair all Ralph's damage with his magic hammer. For 30 long years, Ralph has lived in Felix's shadow. Every night after the arcade closes, the good citizens celebrate Felix's heroism, while poor Ralph is banished to his rubble-pile home. Then, for the 30th anniversary of Fix It Felix, Ralph sees that the citizens have thrown a huge party for Felix, complete with CAKE, but have neglected to include Ralph - without whom there would be NO game. As Ralph attempts to crash the party, he's informed that he's the bad guy and will be nothing more. Of course, this does not sit well with our hero...err, I mean villain. 

Ralph In Action..HUGE hands!

So, Ralph decides he's tired of playing the role of bad-guy and takes matters into his own hands and sets out to prove everyone wrong, and he embarks on an action-packed adventure to prove to everyone that he is a true hero with a BIG heart! As he explores some exciting new worlds, he teams up with some unlikely new friends, including a feisty "glitch" of a program by the name of Vanellope von Schweetz (voiced by Sarah Silverman). And that's where things get interesting! Now, I'd go into deeper detail, but then, why would you have to see it for yourselves??? Besides...no spoilers here!

Ralph and Vanellope

Wreck It Ralph is without doubt one of the best movies we've seen in a long time. The animation is fantastic and seeing it on Blu-Ray is as beautiful as seeing it in digital 3D. As is usual, Disney paid so much attention to detail in this film that you almost forget it's animation - until Ralph knocks down a building! This film appeals to all ages really, and it's truly appropriate for everyone. The story is terrific, but beyond that, there is a touching and heartwarming message. It's about friendship, being true to yourself, to who and what you really are, and about sacrifice. 

Best Friends Come In All Sizes

Wreck It Ralph offers a great escape from the real world, if only for a short time (something Disney is absolutely perfect at giving us). Yet it also serves up some valuable lessons, not just for the young ones but for adults as well. Without realizing we've just been schooled, Disney has created a great portal to teach everyone the value of others, to look past what we see, and see others as they are deep down. And when a movie can make me feel good about learning something, AND entertain me...well, full endorsement from me!  And you thought it was just another cute cartoon!  

Director Rich Moore

Now, there are some pretty cool features that are exclusive to the Blu-Ray editions, and trust me, they ARE cool. When you pause the movie, instead of the boring old pause menu, you see a count-down to intermission pop up. Then, a new feature called "Disney Intermission: The Gamer's Guide To Wreck-It Ralph" begins! Hosted by Chris Hardwick (of Walking Dead/Talking Dead fame) this pause feature takes viewers through a series of 10 video segments offering an inside look at the many video game references, Disney references and other hidden surprises featured in the film! Now, I'm not going to spoil all of them, but for example, on the Fix-It Felix game, notice the high score of 120501. There's a very important significance to those numbers...think you can figure it out? And, there are at LEAST two hidden Mickey's in the film (but I'm not saying where!), and finally, director Rich Moore has a sort of...cameo in the film. See if you can spot him! Oh, and be sure to watch until the VERY end of the movie, you'll notice some pixelated code that some of you out there may be able to decipher! 

Disney's Wreck-It Ralph will be available on Tuesday March 5, 2013 on the following formats:

• 4-Disc Blu-Ray Combo Pack
• (Blu-Ray 3D + Blu-Ray + DVD + Digital Copy)
• MSRP $49.99 in the US and $56.99 in Canada
• 2-Disc Blu-Ray Combo Pack
• (Blu-Ray+DVD)
• MSRP $39.99 in the US and $46.99 in Canada
• DVD
• MRSP $29.99 in the US and $35.99 in Canada

All the Blu-Ray versions come with the following Features:

• Bit by Bit: Creating the worlds of "Wreck-It Ralph"
• The short takes viewers into Game Central Station with the artists who brought Sugar Rush, Hero's Duty and Fix It Felix, Jr to life
• Alternate & Deleted Scenes
• Video Game Commercials 
• Viewers can check out the commercials created for the video games featured in the film!
• "Paperman" 
• This Academy Award Winning short showcases first time director John Kahrs' minimalist black and white style with his story about a lonely young man in mid-century New York City, who relies on his heart, imagination, a stack of papers and a little luck, to change his destiny and win the girl of his dreams!

The DVD version has the feature "Paperman". 

You can buy Disney's Wreck-It Ralph just about anywhere, or, you can help out Tales From The Mouse House and purchase it from our Tales Amazon Store (just click the link)

Bottom line is, there are many, many films out there that are entertaining, moral, teaches a decent lesson, and visually beautiful, but there are very few that have all of these qualities. Disney's Wreck-It Ralph definitely has all of them! A must have for any movie fan! 

Finding Nemo...in High Definition!

Available Now!

Jelly dude!!! Ok, so hopefully by now, at least MOST of you out there have seen the  incredibly entertaining 2003 Disney/Pixar film Finding Nemo. If not...well, here's a waring: THERE BE SPOILERS AHEAD ME MATEY'S!

In 2003, Walt Disney Pictures released the fifth film produced by Pixar Animation Studios called Finding Nemo. This heartwarming adventure film told the story of an over protective clown fish (let's face it...we ALL know clown fish...they CAN be quite over protective, right?) named Marlin. Now, Marlin goes a bit overboard (pun intended) with the way he's raising his son, Nemo, but in his defense, Marlin IS a single parent. See, Nemo's mom was - gulp - killed off at the beginning of the movie! So, like most rebellious kids, Nemo decides to put his fin down and teach his dad that he's too grown up to be treated like a guppy! But of course, while attempting to show is independence, Nemo is "captured" by a diver and brought to live in a dentists (P. Sherman, Sydney) aquarium, with the "Tank Gang", a motley crew of assorted sea life, led by the crafty and overly ambitious Moorish Idol (yep, a type of butterfly fish!) named Gill. Once Marlin discovers Nemo is missing, well, the fun begins! Marlin sets out, without regard to his own safety, to find his beloved son, and, with the help of a good hearted, optimistic Regal Blu Tang (uh-huh, another type of fish!) named Dory (who by the way suffers from short-term 

Dory and Marlin 

memory loss), Marlin encounters adventure after adventure, in his quest. 

In true Disney fashion, Finding Nemo is a highly entertaining film, that does appeal to kids of all ages. The story, while not completely original (the theme has been done before), is presented in a way that is incredibly beautiful and immersive. Although an animated film, I found myself actually forgetting the characters weren't real! Yes, there is a message in this film, as in just about all Disney films, but it's not preachy. In the end, the moral of the story is pretty complex and applies to both parents and children: for parents, the moral is to listen to your kids, understand that there will come a time when they need some independence and yes, they MUST learn from their mistakes, good or bad. And for kids, listen to your parents for although you may doubt it, they do know what they're doing (at times), and be patient with them. Remember, for the most part this is all new to THEM as well! 

Finding Nemo with High Definition!

On December 4, 2012, Disney/Pixar released Finding Nemo on Blu-Ray and 3D Blu-Ray for the first time. Yeah I know...you’ve seen it on VHS, you’ve seen it on DVD so what’s the big deal? Well, let me tell you! Finding Nemo was awesome on DVD - very fluid (yep, that was a pun). But as visually appealing as it was on DVD, Blu-Ray transforms Finding Nemo into an incredibly stunning high definition feast for the eyes! What could possibly be better than that? Well, SOOOO glad you asked! Finding Nemo in Blu-Ray 3D! WHOA!! Now, we do own a Sony 3D Blu-Ray player, but unfortunately we don’t own a 3D capable television, which you do need to enjoy this awesome film in all it’s 3D sensory glory, but from what we’ve heard from friends who have seen it in 3D...well, let’s just say that when Bruce the shark come up to Marlin and Dory...yeah...so real they had to mop up the water on the floor! 

3D....YIKES!

Finding Nemo is awesome on Blu-Ray. This hi-def format and enhanced audio creates an incredible experience that, in our opinion, was even better than seeing it on the big-screen. So much more depth to the film, highlighting much more detail than ever before, enabling you to truly appreciate the unbelievable skill the Disney/Pixar animators bring to the table. 

Not only does this release mark the debut of Finding Nemo in high definition, but it also includes some pretty gnarly bonus content, such as 3D and 2D virtual aquariums, CineExplore© (an awesome option that allows you to expand on the viewing experience with pop-up behind the scenes photos, production art, etc), A Filmmakers’ Roundtable and much more! Finding Nemo Blu-Ray is available as  5-Disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition (2 Disc Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray 3D, DVD and Digital Copy) for $49.99 SRP,  3-Disc Collector’s Edition and Blu-Ray for $39.99 SRP, Blu-Ray 3D for $25.00 SRP and Blu-Ray for $19.50 SRP. Of course, you can always visit the Tales From The Mouse House Amazon Store to purchase your very own copy! 

Blu-Ray So Totally ROCKS Dude!

Finding Nemo has always been one of our favorite Disney/Pixar films. The story, the visual beauty, everything, just adds up to one terrific way to spend 102 minutes! But add the extreme make-over of Blu-Ray or Blu-Ray 3D...well, as my good friend Crush would say....It So Totally Rocks! 

Carsland - By guest Blogger Randy Crane

WOW! It's hard to believe it's here! YEARS of planning, YEARS of construction and...YEARS of WAITING! Carsland opens to Disneyland Resort Guests on June 15, 2012, but our great friend Randy Crane was afforded a once in a lifetime experience - the Castmember Preview of THE EVENT of the summer! - Al & Joyce

©Disneyland News 

    Thanks to a dear friend of mine, Tricia, I had the privilege of attending the Cast Member preview of CarsLand one week before it opened.

    The preview was scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m., but (to exactly no one's surprise), there was already a line to get in by 8:00. Still, Tricia and I stepped into this brand new land just minutes after the official start time. Construction walls were still up at the front of Route 66, so they took us through one of the other entrances-through Pacific Warf and along Radiator Springs Racers. There's something to be said for the primary entrance, but I'm so glad this was my first view.

Photo Courtesy of Vy T. Correspondent for Babes In Disneyland

    As we approached the rock archway, we could see part of the Cadillac Range behind it, with a water feature framed in the middle. I haven't seen a view like this at any theme park anywhere. Passing under the archway and taking in the new sights and sounds was literally breathtaking.

    CarsLand features 3 attractions, 3 food locations, and about 5 shops (I didn't actually count them). There's also a meet-and-greet area with Mater and Lightning McQueen, an interactive experience with Red (the Firetruck), and tons of fantastic detail. During the 31/2 hour preview, we rode all three attractions once-and then Radiator Springs Racers two more times-ate breakfast, explored a couple of the shops, and had our picture taken with Mater.

    I'm not a big shopper so I can't say much about the shops. What I can tell you is that they've done a great job of having merchandise themed to Disney California Adventure and CarsLand in particular. No generic "Disney Parks" merchandise here that I could find. Some of it is expensive, even by Disney standards, but it's really good stuff, with something to please everyone from the mega-Disney-fan to the "I'm here with _________,but I don't really like Disney" guest.

    For breakfast we had our choice between a couple of breakfast offerings at the Cozy Cone and a breakfast menu at Flo's V8 Café. They both looked good, and I'll be back to try more breakfast items, but we opted for Flo's. Tricia had the American Breakfast (scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, bacon and a biscuit) for $7.99, while I had the Brioche French Toast (baked and served with salted caramel sauce and bananas) for $6.99. Both were excellent, with good sized portions for the price. I would expect to pay the same for a similar breakfast at Carrow's or possibly Denny's. Since it was a Cast Member preview, all the food was 50% off, but I would have paid full pricefor these meals. Lunch and dinner looked even more amazing, but since we only had until 12:00 I didn't get to try them.

    For me, the best part of breakfast, though, was sitting in the dining area (to the left of the ordering location) and looking out the large windows at the massive mountain range and the beautiful foliage, watching a couple of cars pass by every now and then. I could have sat here for an hour and just enjoyed the view.

    No time for that, though! We have rides to ride!

    Mater's Junkyard Jamboree is similar in some ways to Francis' Ladybug Boogie, and is the hardest to describe. The ride vehicle (a tractor with a seat hitched behind it) moves from one large "plate" to another, which makes the seats swing back and forth, all while country music-sung by Mater-is playing.The funniest thing I've heard in a long time is Mater giving the Spanish version of the safety spiel!

    Luigi's Flying Tires has its history in the old Flying Saucers attraction that opened at Disneyland in 1961-and closed 5 years later. The ride itself moves fairly slowly, and it takes a little while to really get the hang of maneuvering (which is done by leaning). The addition of the large beach balls makes it more fun and feel more high-energy than it would otherwise, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

    Of course, the headliner attraction is Radiator SpringsRacers ("RSR"). I won't go into too much detail here and spoil it for you. Though I never waited more than 10 minutes for it, having ridden it 3 times I can say that I would easily wait an hour for this ride. Not only is it that good, the Imagineers have done a great job creating a queue that is highly-detailed and immersive. There are hidden touches throughout, and plenty of shade for those hot summer days on the Mother Road.

    On the ride itself, it does have a lot of similarities to Test Track at Epcot, though RSR runs cars side-by-side (hence "Racers"), which is a first. The ride starts with a relaxing drive through Ornament Valley, and boy do you feel like you're there! A sudden turn of events puts you into Radiator Springs and prepping for the big race. Guests get either a new coat of paint on their car or new tires, and then it's off to the race! The race portion is very exciting and high energy-this is the only attraction that's not a roller coaster that I've ever gotten air-time on! It's mild enough for most children that meet the height requirement (40"), on par with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

    A couple of tips for your first ride:

* If you are tall, try to ask for the back row. There is much less leg room in the front.

* The front also feels faster, and may blow your hat off. Sunglasses should be safe in either row, and hats in the back row (but if you lose your hat, it's not my fault!). Just be alert.

* Look around! Especially in the queue - there is lots to keep you interested, and on the ride there are little "moments" that you may miss if you're not looking for them.

    This post doesn't even touch on CarsLand at night, which I haven't seen yet but have been assured it's spectacular.

    There is no doubt that CarsLand will be crazy-busy this summer. You may not want to face those crowds, but I strongly encourage you to come to Disney California Adventure as soon as possible. It will be worth the trip! --- Randy

Randy Crane is an Independent Travel Consultant, affiliated withMouseEarVacations.com®, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, and sponsor of Tales From The Mouse House - Disneyland Podcast. If you're considering planning a vacation to the Disneyland® Resort let Randy work for you and with you to make it truly magical! Visit Randy at Mouse Ear Vacations or send him an email to RandyC@CruisingCo.com  

Randy Crane - Mouse Ear Vacations

Disneyland's World Famous Jungle Cruise!

Video by Tales From The Mouse House podcast



Where can you go to see some of the most dangerous animals in the world, all only feet from your tour boat, and get a good laugh along the way? Why, Disneyland of course! One of the most popular, and I might add, one of my all time favorite, attractions at the Disneyland Resort is the World Famous Jungle Cruise. Located in Adventureland, this attraction is without doubt one of the most entertaining in the Park.

The attraction opened in July, 1955 and was originally intended to be a serious attraction where guests could get a taste of what it would be like cruising through some of the most famous, and dangerous, rivers of the world. However, over the years, the Jungle Cruise Boat Skippers developed their "humor" and have actually evolved that into official "scripts" for the Castmember Skippers to follow! Which, quite honestly, is one of the biggest draws to this attraction. The jokes and puns are, well, not always the greatest, but, they'll always bring a smile to your face!

Over the years, the Jungle Cruise has seen it's fair share of famous Skippers. In fact, Robin Williams is said to have captained a boat, and of course, arguably the most famous, being John Lasseter from Pixar. Every time we ride the Jungle Cruise, I'm always paying close attention to the Skippers. If they're really good, funny and comfortable, I make sure I take a lot of photos and video. You never know who will make it famous some day!

So, on your next visit to the Disneyland Resort, why not head on over to Adventureland and stop in for a cruise? And if it's your birthday, be sure to tell the Skipper. They'll have a "special" song, just for you!

So, in closing, here's a heart warming farewell by one of our most recent Jungle Cruise Skippers:

"Crew, I just wanted you to know you were outstanding on the cruise today. Now, I need you outstanding on the dock. Seriously, leave!"

Until next time, make it a Mickey Day! ~~ Al