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A rapid cool down coming to Central Florida so Disney will be closing Typhoon Lagoon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (March 1-3, 2013.) Temperatures are forecast with highs in the low 60's and lows in the upper 30's. BRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!

If you stay at the Disney Resort hotels, you may have noticed much better Internet performance over the last few days. It seems they have received many complaints about dropped connections since free Wi-Fi was rolled out to all the rooms last year. Technicians have identified the issues and a system update has been completed that will deliver better Internet performance.

I know what you're saying to yourself right now. You're saying, there's got to be more to Walt Disney World than just fun rides, great attractions, exciting shows and really good food. Right?  Well, read on and you will see that there's more to this world than you ever imagined possible! It’s Not a Small World, After All  . . . Covering nearly 40 square miles, Walt Disney World Resort is about the size of San Francisco or two Manhattan islands. Of the nearly 25,000 acres, a third is designated as conservation land. A Cast of Thousands  . . . more than 66,000 Cast Members in Central Florida to be more precise. That’s how many people it takes to create the magic at the Vacation Kingdom. Not surprisingly, Walt Disney World Resort is the largest single-site employer in the United States. What the Well-Dressed Mouse Will Be Wearing  . . . depends entirely on the occasion. Mickey Mouse himself has more than 136 different sets of duds, ranging from a scuba suit t

Good news for anyone in the Magic Kingdom today. The operating hours have been extended until 10pm tonight, up from the originally scheduled 9pm close. Have fun!

It seems the folks over at Disney Parks merchandising never run out of great ideas. That is pretty evident as they get ready to release a new line of products to coincide with the March release of Disney's "Oz The Great and Powerful." The folks at the Disney Parks Blog had some nice photos of the products that I'd like to share with you today. I definitely have a few of these items on my wish list for sure. I've always been a Vinylmation fan and these little fellas are a great addition to any collection. Designed by Disney Design Group Artist Ron Cohee, these figures will be available at D-Street at Downtown Disney West Side and Ron will be signing them on Friday, March 8, from 5 pm - 7 pm. March 8 will also see the release of a commemorative opening day pin in select locations at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. The pin will have an edition size of 1,000. The soft lines team will release four new shirts for women and one shirt

Jason Cameron - host of "Desperate Landscapes" and "Man Caves" on the DIY Network. Superstars of HGTV and DIY Network shows will appear at the 20th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival presented by HGTV between March 6 and May 19, 2013. Designers and other popular HGTV celebrities will meet festivalgoers and showcase expert tips and clever tricks at noon and 3 p.m. each Friday, Saturday and Sunday on The Designers’ Stage presented by HGTV at the Festival Center. This year’s new-to-the-festival celebrities are Florida’s own David Bromstad (HGTV Design Star, ColorSplash, Design Star All-Stars); Egypt Sherrod, new host of HGTV’s Property Virgins; Sara Peterson, editor-in-chief of HGTV Magazine; Design on a Dime’s Casey Noble; Chris Lambton from Going Yard; and Chris Grundy from DIY Network’s Cool Tools. The complete lineup and guest seminar topics include: March 8-10 – Chris Lambton, Going Yard: ”Going Yard for Your Lifestyle” March 15

Pop stars of the 1960s and ’70s will belt out rock ‘n’ roll classics and “best-of” dance tunes for Flower Power concert guests during the 20th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Beginning March 8 and continuing each weekend, the electric Flower Power lineup of award-winning artists will feature two new-to-the-festival acts: The Village People (“Y.M.C.A”) and Tommy Roe (“DIZZY”). Kicking off the concert series March 8-10, The Monkees lead singer Micky Dolenz will return for fans who flocked to his May 2012 Epcot festival concerts. Dolenz appeared in concert to honor his beloved late band mate, Davy Jones, who had been a Flower Power fan favorite before dying of a heart attack near his home on Feb. 29, 2012. Performances are at America Gardens Theatre at 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m. each Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Here’s the lineup (subject to change without notice): March 8-10: The Monkees Lead Singer

The 20th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is definitely going to be one of the most popular events of the year thanks to the many additions that are in store. The 2013 event will take place from March 6 to May 19. To prepare for this event, here are some very cool (and very official!) festival facts: 30 million blooms blanket the park throughout the festival, which runs 75 colorful days. One dozen brand-new garden marketplaces surround the World Showcase Lagoon offering festival taste treats ranging from shrimp and grits with fresh Florida veggies to barbecue and brew. Each marketplace will feature a produce and  herb garden to represent the more than 50 marketplace beverage choices and more than 30 food items featured at the marketplaces. The festival’s front-entrance Party with Mickey & Friends topiary scene comprises six topiaries – Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto and Goofy – and more than 15 varieties of flowers, plants, and other garden mater

Please take a moment to visit the website and perhaps patronize our sponsor here at MikeandTheMouse, Gordon Group FL . Welcome to the best resource for searching for homes, provided by John R. Gordon PA of Gordon Group FL and Keller Williams Classic Realty. John is the Sr. Luxury Homes and Development Director for Keller Williams Classic Realty and is ready to offer his 15 plus years of experience in order to help you find the EXACT home or property that you are searching for. A home is not a home because of its room dimensions or the color of the walls, it's how you feel when you walk through the front door and the way you can instantly envision your life unfolding there. This is MORE than real estate. It is about your life and dreams. Gordon Group FL and Keller Williams Classic Realty take a different approach to real estate, one that is built on personal touches, win-win deals and positive results. John utilizes the latest technologies, market research

Normally I don't blog about sandwiches, but this is a pretty big deal to a lot of Disney fans so I thought it appropriate to let you all know. Effective March 4, 2013, Earl of Sandwich at Downtown Disney's Marketplace will offer their famous "Holiday Sandwich" year round. The turkey, stuffing, cranberry and mayo sandwich will be available every day. Previously it has only been offered from October to January. Earl of Sandwich is located in the Marketplace at Downtown Disney right across from Once Upon a Toy and is open year round.

Rachel Booth etched her name in the runDisney record books – again – by winning Disney’s Princess Half Marathon on Sunday for the second straight time, beating her own race record from a year ago. Perhaps even more significant, Booth stands alone as the only woman to win four runDisney races – two Princess Half Marathons (2012 and 2013) and two Disneyland Half Marathons (2010 and 2011). This latest win, a 13.1-mile journey through Epcot and Magic Kingdom on an unseasonably warm February morning at Walt Disney World Resort, was fairly routine. Booth charged to the front of the pack of 26,000 runners at the start and was never seriously threatened, even though she could hear the cheers for second-place finisher Mia Elbon and third-place finisher Megan Jaswell behind her. Booth of Mandeville, La., crossed the finish line in 1:17:38 – 33 seconds faster than her then-record time of 1:18:11 a year ago. Elbon of Nashville, TN, came in at 1:18:04 and Jaswell of Johnston, RI, ra

Over the next few days several areas of Disney's Hollywood Studios will be affected by private events. Here's the detailed schedule: Tuesday, February 26: The Great Movie Ride will close to park Guests at 6 p.m. Wednesday, February 27: The following areas will close at 5 p.m. to park Guests: Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure Streets of America The Studio Backlot Tour Thursday, February 28: Streets of America will close to park Guests at 6 p.m.

New treats in France, a new menu at Le Cellier in the Canada pavilion at Epcot, a renovation for California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and the new Mickey Check headline Disney dining news. •The expansive new Boulangerie Patisserie Les Halles bakery is open in the Epcot France pavilion, located in the space adjacent to the France movie theater exit. The bakery offers sweets, soups, sandwiches, salads and authentic French dishes such as quiche and Croque Monsieur (grilled ham and cheese). Plenty of choices are on the Disney Dining Plan. The bakery opens daily at 9 a.m., ahead of the 11 a.m. opening of World Showcase. •The popular Le Cellier in the Canada pavilion at Epcot recently debuted an all-day menu, with Canadian-raised beef as the sophisticated star of the show, from the signature filet mignon with white truffle-butter sauce to a grilled Wagyu short rib and grilled bone-in ribeye. The longtime favorite Cheddar Cheese Soup made with Moosehead beer stays

Wearin’ of the green is encouraged, but not mandatory during the most authentic St. Patrick’s Day celebration in town March 8-10 and 14-17 at Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant and across Downtown Disney Pleasure Island. More than 10 top Irish bands will perform on select days during the festivities. The spirited week of revelry will gear up March 8-10 from 6 to 11 p.m. with performances at Raglan Road by The Willis Clan, a family of artists and musicians who merge their Irish roots with other music genres. Nova Celtic, with its own twist on popular Irish music, will appear on a nearby outdoor stage. Beginning March 14 and 15 from 6 p.m. until 1 a.m., and continuing March 16 and 17 from noon until 1 a.m., it’s a “Mighty Festival” at Raglan Road, a true Irish pub with Dublin roots, that includes Irish bands and pro dancers performing on several stages indoors and out. Also on tap: a mighty selection of beers, food by Irish celebrity chef Kevin Dundon, face painting, stil

It might be every day that royalty visits Magic Kingdom Park, but today ESPN Wide World of Sports Complexplayed host to quite an impressive court of its own. Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera, who became the first player in 45 years to win baseball’s celebrated Triple Crown, opened his 2013 spring training season at Disney, with a game against Disney’s home team, the Atlanta Braves . Prior to the game, Cabrera met “King” Mickey Mouse and “Queen” Minnie Mouse, before stepping into the batting cage to start work on following up his monster 2012 season where he led the American League in home runs, batting average and runs batted in. Of course, baseball fans have become accustomed to seeing their favorite Braves players at Disney, but spring training also offers the opportunity to see your favorite players from the Tigers, Yankees and Mets, among others clubs, at Champion Stadium . Source: Disney Parks Blog

Orlando Ballet and Cirque du Soleil will present a one-of-a-kind choreographic project titled 'A Choreographers’ Showcase.' The show will feature young emerging talent from both companies - under the guidance of Orlando Ballet Artistic Director, Robert Hill and La Nouba Artistic Director Daniel Ross. The performance takes place on March 4, 2013, at Downtown Disney's La Nouba Theater, with tickets ranging from $20 to $40. More information on tickets.

The Dapper Dans - The "Original Boy Band" is the next Limited Time Magic event taking place at the Magic Kingdom from 25 February to 3 March 2013. The Dapper Dans tip their hats to a new kind of music that they discovered while "strolling through the park one day." Watch for this winsome quartet and their all-new medley that will have "Everybody" seeing "What Makes You Beautiful." But they won't be saying "Bye Bye Bye" to barbershop completely—after all, the Dapper Dans are the "Original Boy Band." Part of Limited Time Magic, this musical time warp is a can't-miss experience at Magic Kingdom Park in Florida.

A GREAT start to Princess Half Marathon Weekend at Walt Disney World from the official Disney Parks Blog - To our princesses (and any princes, pirates, or frogs who may also be out there), welcome to our fair kingdom! We could not be more pleased that you are joining us for the 5th running of Disney’s Princess Half Marathon. This is one of my favorite race weekends because it is an awesome display of GIRL POWER! It is no secret that the modern day running boom in the United States is being fueled by women. In fact I am proud to say the 20th Anniversary Walt Disney World Marathon this past January had more women running the 26.2 mile distance than men, making it one of the few (if not only) major marathons with this gender split – YOU GO GIRLS! This weekend is a celebration of you. Just like the Tinker Bell Half Marathon held at Disneyland Resort last month, the Princess Half is a race that is planned and designed for our female runners. Now we know a number of men will als

Are you planning on visiting Walt Disney World Resort this spring? There sure is plenty to look forward to at our parks, including the return of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival and the upcoming debut of A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas at Magic Kingdom Park, just to name a few. If you live in the state of Florida, be sure to check out our latest deal for Florida residents – a new three-day Discover Disney Ticket that costs $119, plus tax. You can even add a fourth day for just $10 more. Tickets can be purchased now through June 3, and can be used through June 7, 2013 (*blockout dates do apply). For more information, visit www.DisneyWorld.com/deal. * Blockout dates are March 23 through April 5, 2013. Passes are non-transferable, are only valid during regularly scheduled operating hours, and exclude activities/events priced separately. No additional discounts apply. Proof of Florida residency is required for each adult age 18 and ol

Between long work hours, busy after school schedules and countless distractions, today’s American family is feeling more disconnected than ever – creating a deficit in “quality time” amongst U.S. parents and their children. The solution? According to the Disney Time Survey, a blind study conducted by Kelton – a leading research firm – quality family time not only increases while on vacation but parents and children say they learn something new about one another during this time, as opposed to when at home. More than 1,000 parents of children age 5-17 participated in the Disney Time Survey, which asked families to think about and share thoughts on quality time when at home – versus when on vacation. So, how do parents define quality time? Ninety-one percent of parents report that quality time is achieved when they learn something new about their child, while 84 percent of parents say quality time means their child learned something new about them. From favorite to least

From the Disney Parks Blog : Today we have an exciting update on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom Park to share with you: Walt Disney Imagineering just sent us a “first look” inside the new interactive queue that’s currently being added to the Frontierland attraction. In the video, Project Manager Wyatt Winter and Creative Designer Pete Carsillo offer up a behind-the-scenes tour of the new queue, which builds on the attraction’s backstory of Barnabas T. Bullion, founder and president of Big Thunder Mining Company. The storyline of the new area builds the attraction into something that takes guests deeper into the mining days of the Wild West. When the finished queue debuts in a few weeks, guests will be able to explore the mountain’s Mining Office, the Explosives Magazine Room, and maybe even get a little hands-on by doing some of the miners’ activities.

Disney has just added some new restaurants to the Annual Passholder/DVC dining discounts. The discount at these new location is 10% as normal - blackout dates do apply. Jiko (dinner) at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Hollywood Brown Derby (lunch and dinner) at Disney's Hollywood Studios Biergarten (lunch and dinner) at Epcot Shutters (dinner) at Disney Caribbean Beach resort Boatwright's Dining Hall (dinner) at Disney's Port Orleans Resort

Are you ready for an adventure? Starting this spring, Mickey and Minnie Mouse will invite you into their very own exploration headquarters at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The all-new Adventurers Outpost on Discovery Island is home base for your globetrotting Disney pals, where they meet friends old and new, as they get ready to set off on their next adventure. Adventurers Outpost is a gathering place, where explorers might come together to share tales from their expeditions around the world. This new, indoor retreat is the perfect spot for meeting Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Meanwhile, over at Camp Minnie-Mickey, you’ll still be able to run into other Disney friends and catch a performance of the incomparable Festival of the Lion King! Source: Disney Parks Blog

Allow us to captivate your mind and take you on a journey with the essence of Beautifully Disney, a new collection of cosmetics and beauty products coming exclusively to Disney Parks. Beautifully Disney defines timeless beauty through collections of fairytale nostalgia, unlocking harmonious colors. Through the collections of this new and enchanting line, it is the goal to keep guests romanced by the contrast of mysterious yet inviting colors and sparkle to experience modern recreations of our most beloved and treasured Disney characters. Beautifully Disney is sure to bring out the sheer brilliance of your inner most beauty. The character inspired collection is the first of its kind for Disney Parks and has been developed to evoke the spirit, beauty, and fantasy of all things Disney. Beautifully Disney is for guests who are drawn to gorgeous, wearable, high quality colors, and love to experiment with the latest products, pigments and trends. It has been developed for guest

For the fifth straight year, a capacity field is expected to take part this weekend in Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend, one of the largest women-specific event in the nation. More than 26,000 mostly women runners – nearly 20,000 more than the inaugural year in 2009 – are set to run the 5th anniversary Disney’s Princess Half Marathon on Sunday. The 13.1-mile course starts just outside Epcot and takes runners through the Magic Kingdom and Cinderella Castle before finishing back at Epcot. Along the route, runners from all 50 states and 32 countries typically feature colorful runner costumes, Disney entertainment and characters. Runners completing the half marathon will receive a commemorative 5th anniversary tiara medal. Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend includes the Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Royal Family 5K and runDisney Kids’ Races on Saturday and Disney’s Princess Half Marathon on Sunday. The weekend also includes the Disney Fit for a Princess Expo at D

Cable television and Wi-Fi at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort will be unavailable Wednesday, February 20th, from approximately 11-11:30 a.m. In addition to that, those same services will be unavailable in the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort on Thursday, February 21st, from approximately 11-11:30 a.m. During those times, Telecom will make system updates to enhance the cable television picture quality. There will be on-site technicians available to monitor the system progress and provide support as needed. If Guests experience any issues with accessing the Internet or their in-room cable television after the designated downtime period, they should contact Walt Disney World Telecom at 407-827-9434 (or “56” from any Guest area house phone) to alert them of the issue.

Direct from the Disney Parks Blog - It would have made a great “I’m Going to Disney World!” moment. “Tina Fey, your award-winning series ’30 Rock’ has just ended its successful seven-season run on television. What are you going to do next?” The response from the multi-talented writer, producer, actress, author, show creator and comedienne easily could have been “I’m going to Disney World!” — because that’s exactly what she did. After production recently ended on her acclaimed comedy series, Fey enjoyed a visit to Walt Disney World Resort. Her next film, “Admission,” is a comedy/drama co-starring actor Paul Rudd and is scheduled to debut in theaters next month. Disney Parks Blog author Gene Duncan was on hand at Epcot to capture this photo of Tina posing with “the fairest of them all,” Snow White, at the Germany Pavilion in World Showcase.

In the mid-1960s, Walt Disney’s dream was to build a family resort destination like no other. The dream became a reality when Walt Disney World Resort opened in 1971 featuring Magic Kingdom as the centerpiece. Today, Walt Disney World Resort and its Cast Members deliver one-of-a-kind experiences to millions of Guests who come from around the world to enjoy visiting at the resort. Spanning 40 square miles, Walt Disney World Resort is a world-class entertainment and recreation center featuring: Four theme parks Two water parks Twenty-five resort hotels, including seven Disney Vacation Club properties Five golf courses ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Downtown Disney New Developments  Just as Walt Disney once said, “Disneyland will never be completed,” Walt Disney World Resort “will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” New projects are always in development and on the horizon, including: Fantasyland  – The largest expansion project in Mag