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Welcome to Al's DisneyFans.com!
This site contains over 76,000 digital pictures taken at
Disney and other theme parks and places. Read a few Articles;
visit the Audio Gallery to download Pirates
and Haunted Mansion songs; the Disneyland
Resort, Walt Disney World, and Other
Theme Parks galleries contain thousands of digital photographs; Misc.
Gallery contains pics from CoCoFests, renaissance festivals and things
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Latest DisneyFans.com News:
| Friday, January 15, 2010 10:42AM |
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10:42 AM - New site: DisneylandOnline.com (posted by
Allen
)
A new unofficial Disneyland fan site has been brought to my attention by one of the operators. Disneyland Online is a clean looking message board implementation. In their words:
"Disneyland Online is a new fan-based community! If you love everything to do with Disney, come and join us. This is the place where the magic starts and never ends!"
http://www.disneylandonline.com
Tristan, a UK based DLO staff member, brought the site to my attention the other day, so I thought I would pass it along here.
Long-time visitors of this site may remember that once I had a message board here (probably back around 2000) which I discontinued long, long ago since there seemed to be plenty of other Disney boards around. The internet is significanly larger today, audience-wise, and there are now significantly more message boards and websites for discussing "all things Disney." Drop by and let me know how they stack up.
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| Wednesday, January 6, 2010 11:59AM |
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11:59 AM - Lazer X returns to Des Moines, Iowa. (posted by
Allen
)
Not Disney related, but a new laser tag center has opened up here in Des Moines, Iowa. The old website has been reactivated (I am building it for them) and needs some help getting back in to Google, so I am going to put a link here which should help it out:
http://www.lazerx.com - Lazer X laser tag in Des Moines, Iowa
Feel free to check out the work-in-progress website, if you wish.
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| Wednesday, December 16, 2009 2:43PM |
| Thursday, November 19, 2009 1:15PM |
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1:15 PM - PRESS RELEASE: Hidden Mickeys of Disney Cruise Lines book (posted by
Allen
)
Hidden Mickeys Take to the High Seas
First Field Guide for the Disney Cruise Line
(Port Canaveral, Florida) While Mickey Mouse has grown to be one of the twentieth century’s most recognizable icons, it is often forgotten that the first appearance of the character was at the helm of a riverboat in Steamboat Willie. Not surprising, then, that Mickey has stowed away on the Disney Cruise Line – in over a hundred places.
Steve Barrett, the author of the popular Hidden Mickeys series of books, has taken his quest for the mischievous mouse out to sea: Yes, it appears that Disney’s ships are nearly as packed with images of Mickey as Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts. Barrett’s newest book, Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line’s Best Kept Secrets (The Intrepid Traveler, $6.95), leads cruise passengers to their hiding places.
Another corner of the Disney universe has yielded its secrets to Barrett, aka Mr. Hidden Mickey in some fan circles. But where did these images come from? The expert explains:
“I believe that most of the Hidden Mickeys on the Disney cruise ships were present from the initial ship construction. Some of these images are probably accidental, especially some of the classic, three-circle images, but others (such as the large classic Mickey on the bow of each ship) are purposeful. Disney often adds new images when ship areas are refurbished.”
Barrett has visited the parks regularly for over twenty years – and he’s no stranger to the more recent cruise ships, either, having even hosted a cruise with fellow überfan Deb Wills, founder of the website AllEars.net. According to Barrett, there has been no shortage of interest in the addictive hunt on the cruise ships, something he witnessed first hand while leading groups of devotees on the chase.
“Other guests on the Disney Magic would at times show curiosity and interest, and our groups were able to educate them about the Hidden Mickey phenomenon. Hidden Mickey mania is definitely contagious, on the ships as well as on land.”
Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea is Barrett’s third field guide to the phenomenon. The first, Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World’s Best Kept Secrets, came out in 2003 and was an instant hit with Disney World Hidden Mickey fans, who, prior to its publication, depended on word of mouth and loose sheaves of printed lists from other Hidden Mickey fans to spot their quarry. Barrett followed it with Disneyland’s Hidden Mickeys in 2007 and both guides have just come out in new editions.
The cruise ships are a different sort of experience from the theme parks, and this difference also applies to the experience of looking for Hidden Mickeys. Barrett notes, “One difference that's helpful to the Hidden Mickey hunter is that the scavenger hunts on the ships and Castaway Cay can be accomplished leisurely. The cruise ship Hidden Mickeys can be located at the guest's personal pace. Take as much time as you want on the ships and the island; there's no rush to find Mickey! You’re not in line or on a ride.”
The maritime installment in the series preserves many of the features that have made the other guides such a fun-filled success. It’s set up as a series of scavenger hunts, with “Clues” to get you going and “Hints” in case you get stuck. There is a hunt for the Disney Magic, a hunt for the Disney Wonder, and one for Castaway Cay. With over one hundred Mickeys in hiding, fans should find plenty in their leisure hours on the ships, and families will have a great activity to share. Mom, Dad, and the Kids can even compete with one another for points.
While Barrett may be the best known expert on Hidden Mickeys, he doesn’t do his work alone. The book, like the others in the series, acknowledges everyone who contributed their shipboard findings to his website, www.HiddenMickeysGuide.com.
Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line’s Best Kept Secrets is available in bookstores nationwide, from online bookstores, or by visiting: Hidden Mickeys Take to the High Seas
First Field Guide for the Disney Cruise Line
(Port Canaveral, Florida) While Mickey Mouse has grown to be one of the twentieth century’s most recognizable icons, it is often forgotten that the first appearance of the character was at the helm of a riverboat in Steamboat Willie. Not surprising, then, that Mickey has stowed away on the Disney Cruise Line – in over a hundred places.
Steve Barrett, the author of the popular Hidden Mickeys series of books, has taken his quest for the mischievous mouse out to sea: Yes, it appears that Disney’s ships are nearly as packed with images of Mickey as Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts. Barrett’s newest book, Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line’s Best Kept Secrets (The Intrepid Traveler, $6.95), leads cruise passengers to their hiding places.
Another corner of the Disney universe has yielded its secrets to Barrett, aka Mr. Hidden Mickey in some fan circles. But where did these images come from? The expert explains:
“I believe that most of the Hidden Mickeys on the Disney cruise ships were present from the initial ship construction. Some of these images are probably accidental, especially some of the classic, three-circle images, but others (such as the large classic Mickey on the bow of each ship) are purposeful. Disney often adds new images when ship areas are refurbished.”
Barrett has visited the parks regularly for over twenty years – and he’s no stranger to the more recent cruise ships, either, having even hosted a cruise with fellow überfan Deb Wills, founder of the website AllEars.net. According to Barrett, there has been no shortage of interest in the addictive hunt on the cruise ships, something he witnessed first hand while leading groups of devotees on the chase.
“Other guests on the Disney Magic would at times show curiosity and interest, and our groups were able to educate them about the Hidden Mickey phenomenon. Hidden Mickey mania is definitely contagious, on the ships as well as on land.”
Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea is Barrett’s third field guide to the phenomenon. The first, Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World’s Best Kept Secrets, came out in 2003 and was an instant hit with Disney World Hidden Mickey fans, who, prior to its publication, depended on word of mouth and loose sheaves of printed lists from other Hidden Mickey fans to spot their quarry. Barrett followed it with Disneyland’s Hidden Mickeys in 2007 and both guides have just come out in new editions.
The cruise ships are a different sort of experience from the theme parks, and this difference also applies to the experience of looking for Hidden Mickeys. Barrett notes, “One difference that's helpful to the Hidden Mickey hunter is that the scavenger hunts on the ships and Castaway Cay can be accomplished leisurely. The cruise ship Hidden Mickeys can be located at the guest's personal pace. Take as much time as you want on the ships and the island; there's no rush to find Mickey! You’re not in line or on a ride.”
The maritime installment in the series preserves many of the features that have made the other guides such a fun-filled success. It’s set up as a series of scavenger hunts, with “Clues” to get you going and “Hints” in case you get stuck. There is a hunt for the Disney Magic, a hunt for the Disney Wonder, and one for Castaway Cay. With over one hundred Mickeys in hiding, fans should find plenty in their leisure hours on the ships, and families will have a great activity to share. Mom, Dad, and the Kids can even compete with one another for points.
While Barrett may be the best known expert on Hidden Mickeys, he doesn’t do his work alone. The book, like the others in the series, acknowledges everyone who contributed their shipboard findings to his website, www.HiddenMickeysGuide.com.
Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line’s Best Kept Secrets is available in bookstores nationwide, from online bookstores, or by visiting: www.IntrepidTraveler.com/store/disney-books.html
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| Thursday, November 12, 2009 6:14PM |
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6:14 PM - Hidden Mickeys book updated, 4th and 2nd editions and more... (posted by
Allen
)
I forgot to mention this earlier, but those bright yellow Hidden Mickey pocket books you see for sale at the Disney parks have been updated. Steven M. Barrett's two books...
Hidden Mickeys - a field guide to Walt Disney World's best kept secrets
and
Hidden Mickeys - a field guide to Disneyland's best kept secrets
...are both updated. The Disneyland book now goes to the 2nd edition, adding over 100 new Hidden Mickeys you can find around the resort (both inside the theme parks, and in other areas -- hotels, Downtown Disney, etc.). The Walt Disney World version is at the 4th edition now, also ads over 100 new ones, so it now lists nearly 900 of these hidden gems.
All the hidden Mickeys contained in the books are confirmed by the author, though many are submitted by readers of the book's past edition (and visitors to the corresponding website).
If you are with me so far, and don't understand what a hidden Mickey is, you need these books. You will never tour the park the same way again.
And for long-term hidden Mickey fans like myself, the book is much more than just a listing of hidden Mickeys. It is organized by areas, and the Mickeys are listed using "hints" that lead you on a scavenger hunt to let you FIND the Mickeys yourself -- and if you give up, there are answers in the back of the book ;-)
These are pocket books, so they can be put in a pocket (duh), and the Disney company likes them enough to make them one of the books actually sold on Disney property. You have no doubt seen people walking around with these yellow things.
Learn more here:
http://www.theotherorlando.com/hm4.html
List price for the DIsneyland book (118 pages) is $9.95, and the Disney World version (253 pages) is $12.95. If you can't make it to the park to buy them (you probably should pick one up before your next trip so you can read through it, or on the plane heading there ;-) -- you can find them online direct from the publisher or at other booksellers.
I went in to these books the last time around with a "ho hum" attitude, based on years of experience with the fan-built Hidden Mickeys website, and wondered just why someone would buy a book of stuff they could get for free. But after reading through it, and finding the best of the best (and all "confirmed" and not just people seeing wild Mickey-ish patterns and reporting them), I quickly became a fan of the publication.
And, luckily, through having this website and my Park Hopping Podcast, they were kind enough to send me sample copies of this current edition -- which is good, else I wouldn't have realized they had been updated.
Thank you, Intrepid Traveler! See other books from them here:
http://www.intrepidtraveler.com/
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