Tales From The Mouse House Disneyland Podcast...Episode 85

Welcome to Tales From The Mouse House Disneyland Podcast Episode 85! Yep...we're back to a more 'normal' format! YAH!! Our first episode for 2014...wow...so hard to believe it actually 2014 already! Man, how time flies. On this episode we have some special treats for you. 

Of course, since it HAS been awhile, we kind of get a little goofy in our Host Chat at the beginning of the show. What can we say? Put us in front of microphones and BOOM! We become silly! But, that's us! Anyway, it's a New Year and both of us have set some new goals for ourselves to 'try' and make 2014 a little better than 2013 - and let's face it...if you've been listening to us, or following us on social media, you know we NEED a better year! So, I (Al) have set some practical goals for myself, and one that's maybe a little...well, maybe unpractical? First, I want to better organize my professional life. Since starting the Voice Over/Narration company, I've been kind of, well, Floundering a bit (parading the Little Mermaid reference!). I've kind of been learning things as I go, on the talent side of the biz as well as the business side of the biz. I've learned a LOT over the last 11 months, and hopefully, I'll be able to implement some productive changes that will be...well...productive! And, I've also made the goal of booking/producing NO LESS than 50 titles this year for Storyteller Productions! Sounds like a lot...that's it..just sounds like a lot! But I think it's attainable. And, I've decided that SOME WAY, we're going BACK to Disneyland in 2014. Don't know HOW yet, but we will. Now Joyce has set a goal as well - she is going to complete the book she's writing - FINALLY! Trust me, it's a great concept and you'll certainly want at least 5 copies when it's ready! 

Lauren, Louie, Al and Joyce

We had the great privilege of finally meeting our great friend and Tales listener Louie Tabinas and his lovely girlfriend Lauren! They surprised us last week with a visit as they were traveling down to Tucson - all the way from California! It was great to finally meet them. We chatted for about a half hour or so and just had a great time. And, Louie dropped off an audio file that we think you're going to want to hear - Louie and Lauren were able to have a meal at Disneyland's prestigious Club 33 and Louie recorded an AWESOME review for us - and YOU! Which you'll be able to hear, but only if you listen to Episode 85! Thanks Louie and Lauren!!

And Joyce reviews Goofy's Sky School. Yeah...exactly. It's just like the old Mullholland Madness, only with better theming! Joyce and our good friend Kenny rode that one on our last visit. Let's just say...not a ride if you're concerned with NOT having a headache! And of course, we share some Tips to help you enjoy the Disneyland Resort MUCH more, as well as a couple of Hidden Treasures that are SURE to leave you dizzy and looking for a cool game to play (tune in!)

New Trivia Contest - Thanks To Ben and Family!

PLUS (wow, a BIG show, huh?) we launch another Trivia Contest that we're SURE you're going to want to enter. Our AWESOME friend Ben Gallegos and his wonderful family donated the Ultimate Collector's Edition Blu-Ray+Blu-Ray 3D+DVD+Digital Copy of the all new Disney/Pixar CLASSIC Monsters University! This is ONE FUN movie! Tune in to the show to hear the trivia contest, but be sure to send your entry to talespodcast@cox.net no later than Saturday February 1, 2014 to be entered. Only one entry per person please. Thanks Ben and family! You guys ROCK!!

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 85, or on Stitcher Radio now! Just visit www.stitcher.com and search for Tales From The Mouse House - Disneyland Podcast!

Thanks for making US a part of your Disney Experience, and remember...
"Make It A Mickey Day!"

                                          ~~ Al, Joyce and Kate (the pup)

Classic Uncle Walt!

Tales From The Mouse House...Episode 66

Welcome to episode 66! On this show we thought we’d give you all a special treat...we share some of our favorite audio from the Disneyland Resort! That’s right, every time we visit the Happiest Place On Earth, we take our trusty Sony personal recorder with us and capture as much audio as we can: from the attractions, the shows and even just the atmospheric stuff! We LOVE the sounds of Disneyland! On this episode, we share some of our favorites. First up, the BEST sound you can hear: the opening announcement from Disneyland for the day! 

You Are Part Of The Rebellion!

Our next offering is the ACTUAL audio from Star Tours 2.0! Join us as we unwittingly join the Rebel Alliance in a...gulp...battle with the EMPIRE! Will we survive??? 

Then a couple that will make you laugh, and laugh, and laugh some more - our good friend Kenny (from the M*A*S*H 4077th podcast) met us at Disneyland during one visit and he rode California Screamin’ with Joyce (and yes, he DID scream!) and the Hollywood Tower Of Terror with me (and yes, he DID scream!). 

Get Ready Screamers!!

Oh By The Way...It's HAUNTED

Then we close it out with a long audio from one of the classic shows from Disneyland - Captain EO! The ENTIRE SHOW AUDIO...including those snazzy dance numbers!

He's Bad, He's Bad, You Know It!!

We've got a lot of great shows planned for you coming soon. As we mentioned, we're going to the Disney D23 Fanniversary Event in Phoenix this Wednesday, and you know us! We'll take LOTS of photos, LOTS of video and LOTS of audio (and I won't wait to put them up this time!). And...in case you haven't heard yet, the audiobook version of In The Shadow Of The Matterhorn: Intimate Stories about Life, Love and Laughter at Disneyland is complete AND available for purchase! YEAH! You can visit Audible.Com to pick up YOUR copy, or visit iTunes and buy it there. It's an awesome story and, oh, by the way...I narrated it!! (me...Al). The author, David Smith, will be on Tales From The Mouse House Disneyland Podcast VERY soon to chat about the book...in fact, Joyce is turning the tables on ME and putting me in the interviewee seat, and she'll interview me and Dave about the whole audiobook conversion process...so yeah...THAT's going to be FUN! A LOT of funny stories, let me tell you. 

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 

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! And why not check out our new blog site at www.talespodcast.blogspot.com for some awesome stories? You can find more detailed show notes there as well.

AND, we're listed 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

The Happiest Blog On Earth - Welcome 2012

Well, what can I say? The 2011 Holiday Season has come and gone, and 2012 is now here. Wow. I’m sure this is being said well over a million times today…I just can’t believe it’s 2012! Still, it’s true. I can’t believe it. Seems like just 365 days ago I was saying the same thing about 2011. Sorry, my attempt at a little New Year’s humor.

So, now that it’s a brand new year, I’m sure many of you have some lofty ambitions and resolutions, huh? Lose weight; spend more time with family; get organized; visit Disneyland more; be nicer to people; stop sending angry signals to the aliens living on the dark side of the moon (ok, just checking to see if you’re paying attention!). Making New Years Resolutions is fine and I certainly don’t want to disparage anyone from setting some goals for themselves, but I personally don’t partake in this annual tradition. Why? Thanks for asking…because the way I look at it, making a resolution in the heat of the moment, and let’s face it, making a resolution to do something in direct response to reflecting on the past year and looking ahead to the new year, is really the heat of the moment, is just a bad idea. I feel it’s just setting some unrealistic expectations that I know will fade away within a few months at best. And yes, I’ve seen this not only in myself but many, many, many of my family and friends as well. We always set these resolutions (perhaps at times under the influence of some Holiday beverage?) and have the best of intentions, but once the newness of the new year (and that Holiday beverage) wears off, well, so does the drive to complete your daunting task. Did you know that according to statistics, that the odds we will stay faithful to our resolutions are pretty slim:

·         75% make it through the first week

·         17% make it to the six month mark

·         8% actually successfully complete resolution by year end

Interesting numbers, but please don’t get me wrong. Making a New Years Resolution is actually a good thing, even if the odds are stacked against you. It’s a start. Puts you in the right frame of mind and actually helps you set more realistic goals. I for one like to just make changes, and not because it’s a new year, but because they NEED to be made. How about you? What’s YOUR take on the whole New Years Resolution thingy? If you’d like you can send a comment to us at talespodcast@cox.net. And yes, we’d LOVE to hear from you and share it on our podcast.

So, that aside, Joyce, Kate (the pup) and I had a pretty nice Holiday Season. Christmas was awesome – just the three of us – and New Years was awesome as well – again, just the three of us. Christmas dinner was our traditional honey baked by Al ham and homemade macaroni salad, Hawaiian rolls, veggie and for dessert, cherry pie! Then we watched Elf, or as Joyce calls it…Buddy The Elf. Great Holiday movie. Then topped off Christmas Day by turning out all the lights and just watching the Christmas Tree glow. Awesome!

We took some time off work and just relaxed around the old Mouse House, but one day we decided to find some snow. Now, many of you may remember that we live in the Phoenix, Arizona area, so snow is sort of scarce. We piled up in the car and drove about two and a half hours north, to Flagstaff. And snow we found! It was awesome. We decided to go to this place called, cleverly enough, the Snow Play Area, and pay $12 per car load to, well, play in the snow! It was worth it. Kate had a blast, which kind of shocked us. The last time she saw just a little snow she hated it, but not this time. She romped, hopped, jumped, and generally had a great time. So did Joyce and I. By the end of the day, we were all three pooped out, but grinning ear to ear.

Now, we’re back to work and digging in to a new year. We’ve got a lot of plans for our website and podcasts in 2012, so we’re busy planning those out, but rest assured, they’re going to be EPIC. If you enjoyed Tales From The Mouse House – Disneyland Podcast in 2011, you’re going to LOVE it in 2012! And if you haven’t heard the show yet, now’s a great time to give it a try. If you like Disneyland, you’ll love our podcast.

Well, a blog that looks back (sort of) on the previous year wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t mention some names of those who played special parts in our lives in 2011. These folks epitomize to us what it means to be true friends and family, folks who’ve helped us, prayed for us, showed us that Disney Magic IS real and CAN be given away. So, in closing, I’d like to say thanks and send lots of love and stuff to the following awesome people:

·         Joyce – my beautiful wife of course!

·         Rick and Amy Moyer – awesome friends I consider family.

·         Lisa Robertson – a TRUE Disney spirit if there ever was one

·         Mr. Daps – ANOTHER absolute True Disney spirit

·         Kenny Mittleider – my adopted little brother, fellow geek and now Disneyland buddy

·         Simon “Hawkeyemeds” Meddings – my UK brother and awesome creative talent

·         Steve Jobs – For creating the many cool and useful toys that I use everyday!