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MouseFest
- An International Gathering
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MouseFest
- An International Gathering
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2006 Pocket Guide - Details of all MouseFest Events! MouseFest Land
MegaMouseMeet MouseFest
Cruise MouseFest Mailing
List MouseFest
Newsletters Registration is now closed. Even if you didn't register, you are welcome at the events! MouseFest
2006 MouseFest
2006 HOST RESORT UNDERWRITING
SPONSORS ***** 2005 Event Information |
MouseFest
2006: October Newsletter MOUSEFEST NEWSLETTER News, Announcements, and Fun October 2006 * Issue 3
Visit us at http://www.MouseFest.org ========================================== In This Newsletter: - Update From the MouseFest Organizers - Feature Article: Meeting Friends at MouseFest 2006 - MouseFest 2006: Land News - MouseFest 2006: Cruise News - MouseFest 2006: Fantasy Meet Contest ========================================== It's late October and that means MouseFest 2006 is little more than a month away! There are nearly 75 events on the schedule, and another 20 events on the MouseFest Cruise schedule. We know you won't be able to do them all, and that's quite alright! Enjoy as few or as many of these great offerings as you can. The excitement continues to build in the Disney communities as more join the fun and offer MouseFest events! Our web site at http://www.MouseFest.org is where you'll find the most up-to-date listing of who's attending and what's happening. You can even add your own name to the list of who's coming! We are excited to announce that over 1648 persons are now registered for MouseFest 2006. Disney fans will be attending from 8 countries: Australia, the Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States (47 of the 50 states -- we're still waiting for North Dakota, Wyoming and Montana - will they report in by Election Day?). We're also delighted to report that the ranks of communities, webmasters, podcasters and authors keep growing. Among those joining over the past month are Common Ground Forums, Disney's PhotoPass, MouseBuzz.com, Mouse World Radio, NFFC, The Intrepid Traveler/The Other Orlando.com, and authors Kelly Monaghan, Disney Legend Charlie Ridgeway, Carlene Thie, and Kendra Trahan. Please visit http://www.MouseFest.org for the full list of attendees. With the addition of Disney's PhotoPass we'll have several exciting new features for MouseFest attendees. PhotoPass photographers will be on hand for many MouseFest meets, with photos available afterwards to all attendees at the PhotoPass web site. There will also be several opportunities to meet and talk about the present and future of PhotoPass with a PhotoPass manager, and PhotoPass will have a special surprise for MouseFest attendees. Some times the fun starts early. In this edition of the newsletter we're adding a new feature, the Fantasy Meet Contest. Your job? Find a meet that isn't a meet somewhere in the MouseFest schedule at MouseFest.org and shoot off an e-mail to meets@mousefest.org identifying the fake meet. The winner will selected at random from among the correct entries and will ride off with a great prize. See below for all the details. The Pocket Guide to MouseFest, the official printed guide to all things MouseFest, is now in production. In the coming weeks a downloadable PDF version will be ready for folks who can't wait to print-out their copy. As always, there will also be loads of printed copies available for you when you arrive at MouseFest. We'll be sure to give you a heads-up when the download is ready to go. For news on events and attendees, keep visiting http://www.MouseFest.org and keep your eyes open for next edition of this newsletter! Whether you're coming by land (so far, we've got events from December 3 through December 11), by sea on the Disney Wonder (December 3 - 7) or both... we'll see you there! The MouseFest
Founders ========================================== Are You Getting a New PassPorter? PassPorter Walt Disney World 2007 is nearly in our warehouse!So... we can confidently say, "Order now, and you´ll have your book in time for MouseFest!" (Well, if you live in the Continental U.S.) What´s more, we´ll even toss in a special 25% MouseFest discount (expires November 20) on any PassPorter book you order - PassPorter Walt Disney World 2007, Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World, PassPorter´s Walt Disney World for Your Special Needs, PassPorter´s Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line, and PassPorter Disneyland Resort! To take advantage of this special offer, visit the PassPorter Store at http://www.passporterstore.com/store Or phone toll-free 877-929-3273 (Mon-Fri during regular business hours) Use the coupon code: MouseFest2006 when you check out
What do you call hundreds of Disney fans all gathered in the same place to enjoy the magic together? MouseFest! Of course it all started with a mouse, but this particular week long celebration, now an annual event, really grew out of the Internet and the many Disney web sites and message boards, such as http://www.passporterboards.com, where people can meet like-minded friends. In fact, it was PassPorter authors Dave and Jennifer Marx and AllEarsNet.com founder Deb Wills who started the whole ball rolling with the first official MouseFest in 2003. Since then it's grown in size, as one quick look at the official website http://www.mousefest.org will show. Already this year, there are more than 1,600 names registered covering nearly every state in America and countries as diverse as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, Brazil and the Bahamas. Of those, more than 250 will be on the MouseFest four night cruise aboard the Disney Wonder from December 3-7, while they and the rest will be enjoying the land based events at Walt Disney World from December 7-11. So what can you expect from MouseFest? We went for the first time last year, wondering exactly the same thing. Our participation was limited to the land-based events, as our budget unfortunately couldn't stretch to include the cruise, no matter how hard I tried! One thing we did learn is that you'll get so much more out of MouseFest if you've "met" some of those taking part online before you get there. Your community's message boards are a great place to do that as well as learn details of some of the meets being planned. It's so much easier to talk to people face to face if you already know something about them from the posts they've made on message boards. We found that many of the meets were like coming face to face with old friends, even though it was the first time we'd seen many of these people. It's certainly an odd feeling and not one that you can prepare for, but it's also a wonderful feeling! You instantly feel part of a very special community. So if you haven't done so already, log on to your favorite MouseFest-participating community message boards and start getting to know those that you'll be meeting up with! What is wonderful about MouseFest is that you discover you're not the only one who loves Disney. There are thousands of people who share your passion, and exploring the parks with them gives you a new perspective on the Walt Disney World Resort. One thing you mustn't miss if you're at MouseFest is the Mega Mouse Meet, which takes place on the Saturday of MouseFest at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort. It's the centerpiece event and is packed with Disney guidebook authors, web site founders and representatives of many Disney communities. Before I attended this event, I really thought I was a Disney fan and knew about every source of information on the market about the place, but the Mega Mouse Meet proved me wrong. We found many new publications and web sites that we'd never come across before and were able to chat with lots of people and learned a great deal about our favorite happy place. There really is something for everyone at MouseFest. On the cruise, which is the perfect place for a group get together, you can take a walking tour of Nassau, join the sail away party, enter the pirate costume competition or the sandcastle competition on Castaway Cay or just lounge around with MouseFest founders Deb Wills and Jennifer and Dave Marx. During the land portion of the event, each day is allocated a specific park, where most of the events will be taking place. Every year, you can hunt for Hidden Mickeys with Steve Barrett, author of the Hidden Mickeys book, which gives you a fascinating way to look at the parks, or see how many safari vehicles you can fill at Kilimanjaro Safaris with the AllEarsNet.com team. This year, you can put faces to the names on your favorite podcasts, with live podcasts and recordings taking place. Something which may become a regular event in future years is the Ornament Exchange, being tried for the first time at Disney's Days of Christmas at Downtown Disney. You need to sign up in advance and you can find more details on MouseFest.org. As well as all the organized events, because there are so many Disney fans in the parks, it's also possible to arrange your own meets with people you know -- and this is where getting to know people beforehand is invaluable. Some of our fondest memories were the meets that were literally arranged on the day, with a quick phone call to ask if we wanted to come along with watch SpectroMagic with them that night or spotting friends in a park and seeing if they were free to join up with us for the next couple of hours. Whatever you choose to do in the MouseFest schedule, it's a wonderful opportunity to meet up with like-minded people and to put faces to the names that bring us all so much enjoyment all year round with their guidebooks, web sites and online communities. If you're thinking of attending your first MouseFest, my advice? Don't wait any longer -- make a booking and join in. You won't regret it. Perhaps we'll see you there in 2007? And if you can't make it this year, there's no excuse not to get involved in the future. Dates are already available for 2007-2010... and I thought I planned ahead! December
2-6, 2007 -- four night Wonder Cruise December
7-11, 2008 -- four night Wonder Cruise December
6-10, 2009 --four night Wonder Cruise December
5-9, 2010 -- four night Wonder Cruise About
the Author: Cheryl and husband Mark live in England and went to their
first MouseFest in 2005 and are hoping to return for their next one
in 2007. They are looking forward to their next visit to Walt Disney
World, when they'll also be heading north to visit Hilton Head Island
for the first time. ========================================== Quicksilver Tours and Transportation Arrive at MouseFest in style! Meet
Greet, luggage assistance, free car seat and booster. Call
Toll-Free: 1-888-GO TO WDW (468-6939) ========================================== Authorized MouseFest 2006 Travel Services Provider LAST
CALL: Dec 7-11, 2006 - 4-night Land - Book by 10/31/2006 Need
tickets? No Problem! Ask about group Theme Park ticket options *Per
person, dbl occ, incl tax,subject to availability. Ask for rates for
3rd/4th guest. Special cancellation policies and other restrictions
may apply. ========================================== The MouseFest Land Event schedule is chock full of a wide variety of meets in each of the four major theme parks, Downtown Disney and also at some of the resorts. Here is a sampling of what's in store: * Steve Barrett will be hosting Hidden Mickey Hunt meets in each of the four theme parks! * No fewer than 21 podcasters will be present at Mousefest, so look for "live" and recorded broadcasts of events, including the MegaMouseMeet on Saturday afternoon (and when you get home, just think of all the listening and reminiscing you can do)! * Zoom around the Seven Seas Lagoon in Sea Raycers. * Get nighttime photography tips in the Magic Kingdom. * Sip tea in Anandapur and hoist a shandy at Raglan Road. * Bring the kids to an Epcot "discovery" meet just for them. * Trot out your Disney trivia skills for fun and prizes. * Play hide and seek on Tom Sawyer Island. * Visit Give Kids the World Village. * And wrap up every night with Babylonia, the Colonel, Yakoose, Arnie and Claude at the Adventurers Club. These are just a few of the events planned for the land portion of MouseFest! These events and many more are described in detail at http://www.mousefest.org
With over 247 registered cruisers and a great schedule of events, the fourth annual MouseFest cruise is shaping up to be a WONDERful time! ALL events are open to ALL cruisers. All events are at no charge except the Disney Cruise Line Castaway Cay Parasailing Excursion Meet. While participation is free, you do have to register your cabin to receive MouseFest Navigator, our daily schedule of events, and to be part of one of the MouseFest Cruise's great traditions, the "Wonderful" Stateroom Door Decorating Contest. Contest judges will be roaming the ship's halls to judge decorated doors on creativity, originality, and the ability to work MouseFest into the decor (all doors must incorporate MouseFest in the design). You can sign up online (and be added to the MouseFest Cruise discussion group at http://www.mousefest.org/cruisenewssignup.htm . Our group of hearty cruisers will undoubtedly make a big splash at Pirates in the Caribbean Night, too (even if we're not forced to walk the plank). We had tables full of be-costumed buccaneers last year, so don't leave your bandanas, eye patches and bucklers behind! Yo ho! There's
just so much to do! You'll find a full listing of MouseFest Cruise
events at: If you are cruising with us and would like to host an event, simply fill out the form at: http://www.mousefest.org/meethostsignup.htm . Someone from the MouseFest Organizing Committee will be in touch with you. A special
YahooGroup for MouseFest sailors is open. Get to know your fellow
cruisers before you get onboard. To receive an invitation you must
register your cabin with us at: Your
cabin registration will also put you on the MouseFest Navigator and
Door Contest listing! ========================================== One of our local newspapers runs a "fake ad" contest -- somewhere in each issue is an advertisement that isn't really an ad. We enjoy playing so much that we thought we'd try our own version to add a bit of fun and excitement to the countdown to MouseFest. This edition's winner will get something especially useful -- complimentary round-trip town car service between Orlando International Airport and Walt Disney World, compliments of Quicksilver Tours and Transportation! How to play: Head over to http://www.mousefest.org and search the event listings for a meet that's clearly a fake. When you find it (if you find it) send an e-mail with your name, street address and phone number to meets@mousefest.org with the complete name of the meet in the Subject of your e-mail. The contest is open between the date of this newsletter and Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 11:59pm Eastern Time. At that time the fake meet will be removed from the schedule to avoid possible confusion, and no further entries will be accepted. Only one entry is allowed per person. The winner will be selected at random from among the correct entries, will be notified by e-mail, and will be announced in the next edition of this newsletter. MouseFest Web Site Founders, Leaders, Team Members, Podcasters, Writers, Authors, and Sponsors (as listed at MouseFest.org) and their immediate families are not eligible. Happy hunting! ========================================== If this newsletter was forwarded to you by a thoughtful friend, please join us! You can subscribe at: http://www.mousefest.org Copyright
(c) 2006 - MediaMarx, Inc. / PassPorter Travel Press, PO Box 3880,
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