Thursday, September 27, 2007

It's that time of year again


Minnie herself has joined the Halloween celebrations. David Perry, 2007.
Though it may be only September, Disneyland has already geared up for Halloween, redecorating the park with pumpkins, candy corn and other ghoulish delights! More specifically, this event is called HalloweenTime, and is one of the more recent Disney traditions, debuting only last year.

MousePlanet's David Perry released a great set of pictures today documenting the changes in theme, from the ticket booths to window details. It's a nice feature for us fans who can't visit during this time of the year, no matter how much we want to!

Saturday, September 22, 2007

It was all started by mouse ears


My collection of hats.


Visit Disneyland any time of the year, and chances are you'll see hundreds of them, whether in stores or lying atop someone's head. They come in every color, size, shape and form, and can be personalized with your name or anything else under 15 letters. If you ride Universal Studios Hollywood's Jurassic Park ride, you may even see one floating next to your boat.

Of course, I'm talking about the enormously popular Mickey Mouse ears, a souvenir most Disney guests opt to purchase during their visit. The hats, a simple design with mouse ears attached, are about $15 a pop and often feature the famous mouse on the front. But why are they so popular? And why do some people become obsessed with the ears, purchasing a pair in every color and edition?

I don't know, and I am one of those people. Every time I visit the park, I have to buy a new pair of ears, even if the design is nothing special. I even purchase the accessory outside of the park, like when I go to a local Disneyland Outlet store. They were only $1 each, by the way. I couldn't pass them up.

Just a few of the many Mickey Mouse ears.

The hats have an extensive and rich history, dating back to the 1950s and The Mickey Mouse Club show. Roy Williams, a Disney Studios employee, invented the ears and suggested the Mouseketeers wear them, causing a huge sensation with Disney fans.

Now sold at every Disney theme park and even on the web, Mickey Mouse ears have become a sort of icon for the Disney Company, with everyone from cast members to celebrities spotted wearing them. And for good reason, since there's a hat for every personality. In fact, you could probably find a hat for every subject and holiday, ranging from Halloween to 4th of July. My personal favorite is the gold 50th Anniversary ears, which are no longer available at Disneyland, only online.

What's your favorite Mickey Mouse ear? Do you prefer leopard print, antlers, pink, classic black, or a different variety? Or are you one of the few who dislike any form of these hats? Tell me!

Saturday, September 15, 2007

New Matterhorn Bobsleds!

A cast member on MiceChat was able to take a sneak peek at the new bobsleds for the beloved Matterhorn attraction and posted a picture for others. Apparently two sleds will be put together, making a total of six people per bobsled.



This marks the end of sitting in someone's lap, I guess!