Friday, February 18, 2011

Grim Grinning Voice!!



There are so many fun facts about the Haunted Mansion!!! I'll make sure and share more with you in future Mouse Hunt questions and especially at Disneyland Day.

THURL RAVENCROFT- Thurl is the lead singer of the iconic Haunted Mansion song "Grim Grinning Ghosts" and he can be easily identified in the ride because his bust is the one that has broken and fallen over. All of the quintets actual faces and voices are featured on the busts in the ride (pictured above). He also contributed in a lot of other ways to the Disneyland Park. Including providing the voice for Fritz in the Tiki Room, he is the narrator of the Disneyland Train. He sings in Pirates of the Caribbean and Small World as well. Outside of Disneyland he was the voice of Tony the Tiger. So you have heard that busted bust in a lot of places, just wanted to share that with you all.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Things are heating up!!!


It was a tie!!!! This week's Mouse Hunt winner was my dad (aka The Comeback King) and Kim (Zapperman)!! Chad was the first to post, but it was just half of his answer, then within seconds Kim posted his full correct answer, and then my dad quickly finished his answer. So the Mouse Hunt committee decided there would be two winners this week!

We are nearly 3 weeks away from Disneyland day and we will soon have our first ever Mouse Hunt winner! You guys have done amazing. Last night was one of the closest matches EVER!!

We now have a 3 way tie for first!!! With Chad-The Comeback King coming back from behind to be a mere 3 points away from first! Grandpa (aka Grandpa Disney) is not far either!

Amazing job guys! You are so fun! And for those of you who feel like winning isn't possible, keep an eye out for pop quizzes. They are going to be more valuable, more frequent and more limited to really mix things up towards the end here! There is still time!

Monday, February 14, 2011

The Unltimate Showdown!!


-----click on the image to see it full size-----


The top spot for this years Mouseketeer is still very much up for grabs! Currently we have Savanna (Miss Nemesis) in first with 31 points. Followed closely by my mom. Then just behind them is Kim (Zapperman). Miss Nemesis and Zapperman have really been going at it! Here are just a few or their rants...


Zapperman:Savanna is now my nemesis. How could anyone find that answers in 8 minutes. At my age I could not even read the question in 8 minutes (imagine how long it took Chad)

Miss Nemisis: Zapperman, this is your nemesis. Totally dominated the email, I came up with every single possible question that Michael could have asked. So, as expected, I answered it at 8:00:01pm. How is losing going?


Zapperman: As I was dragging myself out of the building rubble after saving two little puppies and a goldfish I realized that, yes I had lost. And then I thought (picture a word bubble over my head thinking) "what is losing but being next to the winner?" And then I reflected back on what Mother Teresa told me one day "lose yourself and you are a winner" or was it "lose and your not the winner" well it had something to do with winning and losing. Do remember this: As with the Joker, The Riddler and The Penguin - I will be back to lose another day, but I will be back. (now think of the guy who makes that spooky noise in the haunted mansion elevator as the thunder and lightening go off and that's the sound I am making).

Cindy Westoby (aka the turtle): Wouldn't it be funny if Kim & Savanna both lost (and I won)... the chances of that happening are slim - I know... I may lose but I will respect the "Nemesis" and "Mind Zapper" and their extreme Disney knowledge --- I will fight a good fight and play anyway :))
Let the games continue !!
"The Turtle" slow and steady but sometimes wins :]

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Haley:The Newest Mouseketeer!

Little Haley was born to proud parents Derek and Becca Murdock on February 10! She is a beautiful little girl. I can tell already that she is going to be a big fan of Disneyland Day! (we also posted some pictures of Ruby at the end in case you hadn't seen her yet)






Tuesday, February 8, 2011

HAPPY 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!! (pop quiz)



Disney California Adventure Celebrates it's TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY TODAY!!!

When Disney California Adventure (DCA) first opened, it finally made the Anaheim location a "resort" rather than a one stop theme park. Though the park was a major expansion to the Disney parks, it's opening was met with much criticism. The park was labeled as "cheap" and "un-Disney." Since it's opening DCA has seen a vast overhaul and expansion. We've already seen the addition of Bug's Land, Tower of Terror, Toy Story Mania and World of Color just to name a few. Still to come are the additions of Littler Mermaid and Cars Land. Disney realized they had let us down initially, but have gone on to totally redeem themselves and make California Adventure a must visit part of the Disneyland experience.

Pop Quiz (1-5 points): For 1 point, which unsuccessful California Adventure attraction was so bad, it closed Jan 2002, just 11 months after DCA opened?? Hint: it was later replaced by Monster's Inc: Mike and Sully to the Rescue? For every character of this attraction you name, you will receive 1 extra point! (maximum of 4 characters).

You MUST answer this before the anniversary is over (12pm PST)

We currently have a tie for first (who!?!?) and there is only a 5 point difference between 1st and 6th place! Keep it up, You guys rock!


Sincerely,

Michael and Brit

Reply All...

We are having a serious problem with those of you that think you can 'reply all' to a QUIZ (CHAD)! If you have been affected by this problem please find comfort in this clip:

Week 2 Mouse Hunt Question



Mouse Hunt Family,

Country Bear Jamboree was a popular animatronic show featuring bears who sung and played instruments. Sadly, on Sept 9, 2001, those beloved bears sung their last song in Disneyland. They were replaced by the Winnie the Pooh Dark ride.

QUESTION: When Country Bears was in operation, mounted on the wall next to the stage there were three animal heads; an Elk, a Moose and a Bison. What were the names of these 3 characters?


Bonus Question: In honor of the historic attraction, Disneyland hid these 3 heads somewhere in the park. Where are they now??

Good luck everyone! Remember that the first one to answer the main question gets 3 bonus points!!!

-Michael & Brit

And This Week's Winner Is...



Disney Family,

This week, the first person to respond with the correct answer was... SAVANNA!!! She gets 3 extra points. Her email came 8 minutes after the question was asked. We had SIX people answer within the first 13 minutes. Way to go guys!!
It's only our first week and things are already so fun!!! I have loved your emails.

This week, the center of Disneyland is...

The brass spike just under Sleeping Beauty's castle.
If that is what you sent me (or something close) you got 7 points!!

As you may have seen in Kim's email, the center was originally the giant compass just in front of the castle (so that would also have been an acceptable answer) but with the addition of Toon Town, at the back of the park, the center moved. Now millions of people step right over that small marker without knowing what it is. But now you'll all know!

Everyone who answered anything at all still got 5 points, so no biggie if you were wrong, here are some of your "good guesses"...

The Walt and Mickey Statue, Sleeping Beauty's castle, and we even got a Tom Sawyer's Island!

Remember, there is still a chance for you guys to get the bonus question!

Next Monday at 8pm (MST) you will be getting question #2 plus another bonus question!

Love,

Michael & Brit

p.s. I think I smell a pop quiz question on the horizon...

One more little thing. While trying to find more info about the center of Disneyland, I found some sites trying to say that the spike as the center was just a rumor. So I took a snapshot from google maps and measured it myself using photoshop. It was only about 5 pixels (a very small amount) off from what I could measure as the dead center of the image. Since the picture was taken at an angle from a satelite, and the "border" of Disneyland is not super clear, I am pretty sure we can call this a Disneyland Fact!!

Pop Quiz!!



Disneyland's opening day, July 17th, 1955 was pretty much a disaster. The park was overcrowded because of counterfeit tickets. Only 11,000 people were expected to show up, but 28,154 guests entered the park that day. The temperature was an unusually high 101 °F. The Main St asphalt hadn't dried and women with heels would sink into the ground. A plumbers' strike left many of the park's drinking fountains dry. Despite this, Disneyland went on to be an amazing success that has been enjoyed by nearly 600 MILLION guests since opening day!

Pop Quiz (worth 2 points): Name 2 of the 16 attractions that were in operation on opening day!!

Only answers given before tonight at midnight will count!!!

Good Luck!

-Michael & Brit

First Mouse Hunt Question



Hey gang,

Well here is question #1! Remember the first person to respond gets an extra 3 points! Good luck!!

Disneyland was designed to resemble a giant wagon wheel. The paths where to be the actual wheel shape, and the lands where to reside within the gaps of the wheel.
Question 1: What object marks the very center of the park and where is it? (Hint: the center of the "wheel," or hub, is not really the geographical center of the park, but it is pretty close)

Bonus question: What "family friendly" object hangs just above the geographical center of the park?

If you need to review the rules, below is the email from last week. Remember that you have until next Monday at 8 to answer the bonus question (for 3 points) but the main question should be answered as soon as possible.

Introducing... The First Ever MOUSE HUNT!!



Disney Family!!

Here is the update you have all been waiting for! We are so excited about Disneyland Day and all that it brings. Our last update was full of hello's and invitations and now it's time for the MEAT!! Mickey's little helpers have been getting together to plan the inner workings of this special weekend and now it is time to let everyone in on the excitement!

First, Savanna and Brit are going to be making everyone awesome matching Tshirts to wear on Saturday around the park. They will be loud and proud so get excited!! The Tshirts are going to be $8 p/person. Feel free to pay your dues at our Disneyland Day KICKOFF BREAKFAST (more details later). We will need to get started on the shirts right away so please respond to this email with your tshirt size and the name you would like on your shirt. If we don't get a name we'll just use your first name. A sneak peak:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/66734959/ladies-medium-v-neck-favorite-mouse-tie?ref=sr_gallery_31&ga_search_query=disney&ga_shopname=tatortotsboutique&ga_filter=&ga_page=0&ga_order=date_desc


Next, this year Mickey has upped the fun with our annual first Disneyland Day...

MOUSE HUNT!!!
Mouse Hunt is a competition between all parties that were invited to attend Disneyland Day. Contestants do not have to go with us to Disneyland to participate. There will be a Mouse Champion, that champion will be the 2011 Disneyland Day Mouseketeer!!They will be awarded an official Mouse Hunt TROPHY which they get to keep until the next year when a new winner is announced. There will be additional awards given out to other outstanding participants.
Official rules...
Every Monday at 8pm (MST) we will be sending out an email to everyone containing the current score of The Hunt and 2 questions: the weekly Mouse Hunt question, and a Fact Fanatic (bonus) question.
Scoring:
The first person to respond with a correct answer will be given 10 points!!!
A correct answer is worth 7 points, but you will be deducted 1 point for every 24 hours that go by.
An incorrect answer is worth 5 points, but again, that goes down 1 point for every 24 hours that go by.
The bonus question can be answered for 3 points, this just has to answered BEFORE the following Monday at 8pm (MST) and can be sent in separately from your main answer.

2 bonus points will be awarded to those in attendance at the Kickoff Breakfast.

If you have any questions about it let us know. EVERYONE is encouraged to participate, even people not coming. This is NOT a team sport. Every member of the family should submit an answer of their own.


Disneyland Day 2011 Kick Off Breakfast/Awards Ceremony

The Awards Ceremony will be Saturday morning at 8am at the IHOP next to Disneyland. Everyone will meet there to eat breakfast, collect your shirt, submit the answer to the last Mouse Hunt question and participate in the crowning of our 2011 Mouseketeer! You will not want to miss this monumental event!!
Thanks guys! We are SO excited. Your first Mouse Hunt question will be sent this coming Monday 1/31 at 8:00pm MST... Be ready!!!!
Much Love,

Michael & Brit

Example Post

I LOVE DISNEYLAND DAY!!!