Welcome to MikeandTheMouse

Topiary gardening, the art of fashioning living plan into ornamental shapes, has been practiced for centuries. Found throughout the gardens of the Walt Disney World Resort are hundreds of topiary figures, ranging from traditional hedges and sheared trees to fanciful shapes and a whole menagerie of "chlorophyll" Disney characters. Types of Topiary Four different types of topiary at the Walt Disney World resort have developed out of our desire to put on an award-winning horticultural show. Free-form topiary and standard form topiary require your imagination and some sharp shears - the other two utilize a frame specially suited to their needs. A lightweight frame is used for shrub topiary, while sphagnum topiary require a much stronger frame specially designed to support the weight of the figure. Standard Form Topiary The world standard is used to describe a plant that is grown to a designated height and then encouraged to bush or form a "head" at t

Disney isn't foolish. They are being very proactive in getting some new laws in the Florida books to protect their $1 billion investment. Read this article written by Jason Garcia of the Orlando Sentinel: Walt Disney World has spent close to $1 billion developing its "MyMagic+" system, which includes replacing conventional tickets with wireless-transmitting wristbands that serve as all-in-one park passes, room keys and credit cards. Now Disney wants to make sure those "MagicBands" are protected by Florida law. The giant resort is lobbying the Florida Legislature this spring to rewrite the state's ticket laws to cover its new bracelets, which Disney hopes will revolutionize the theme-park experience for visitors — and become a lucrative new source of souvenirs. The company says the changes in state law are necessary as ticketing systems advance far beyond the familiar paper passes, both in its theme parks and elsewhere. "As te

Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park was closed today due to cool temperatures in the area. Walt Disney World Resort confirmed that Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park will also be closed tomorrow (Thursday, March 28) due to forecasted low temperatures.  Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park will be open for guests to enjoy. Both will be open starting from March 29.

RE-OPENED! For the third day in a row, the Magic Kingdom Park is in a Phase 3 closing of the popular theme park. See below for Phase Closing explanations: Phase 1 Guests with 'Magic Your Way' base tickets, or a '1-Day 1-Park Ticket', Guests without an admission ticket, and Cast Members using Main Gate & Silver Passes will be turned around at the parking lot booths. Phase 2 Admission is limited to: Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and guests arriving by bus from the Hotel Plaza Boulevard hotels) Annual and Premium Annual Passholders Guests with Hopper tickets coming from another park Guests re-entering the park Guests with dining reservations Magic Kingdom Guests with reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League Guests using Walt Disney World Resort Transportation will be admitted. Phase 3 Admission is limited to: Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney Wo

The Disney Parks Blog today released a peek at some of the great new merchandise that will be available at this years Star Wars Weekends at Disney's Hollywood Studios. It was nice to see some of the items come to fruition that were initially introduced as concepts and prototypes at last summers Star Wars Celebration VI at the Orange County Convention Center. Disney Merchandising presented to a packed seminar many of the items that you will see below. This BIG KID and life long Star Wars fan can wait to get his hands on some of this cool stuff. Thanks Uncle Donnie! (Uncle Donnie took me to see Star Wars for the first time in 1977). Take a look at the photos below and tell me what you can't wait to get your hands on! I need that "Thermal Detonator!" Star Wars Weekends takes place at Disney's Hollywood Studios this year on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from May 17 through June 9. Ray Park (Darth Maul) and Warwick Davis (Wicket the Ewok) are scheduled t

"Conewiches?" I know what you're thinking but read on, go have a taste and then I'm sure you will change your tune. With that being said, the VERY popular 'Conewiches' from Cars Land at Disney's California Adventure are now available at Walt Disney World. Marketplace Snacks near World of Disney at Downtown Disney's Marketplace now offers two conewiches - a Chili Cone Queso with beef and red kidney bean chili and cheese, and a Meatball Cone with turkey meatballs in marinara sauce with provolone cheese - both served in a delicious cone.  The photo to the left is of the version served at Cars Land. Try it and let me know what you think.

Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park will be closed on Wednesday, March 27, 2013, due to some chilly temperatures in the Orlando area over the next couple of days. Highs are only expected to be in the mid 60s, while the low temperatures will be in the mid 30s in some areas overnight. Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park will remain open on Wednesday. Go figure. Have fun out there and stay warm!

T here have been several entertainment changes taking place at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park in preparation for spring break. Those changes include DiVine meeting Guests in the Oasis area and Viva Gaia returning to the park. - Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe March 25-27: Earlier show-times in the day: 8:45 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 11:15 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. - Burudika March 25-27: Later show-times in the day: 4:20 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. - Viva Gaia Street Band! March 24 - April 6: Returning to Discovery Island. Set times are: 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. - DJ Anaan Beginning March 31: Schedule ending at 7 p.m. - DiVine (DON'T MISS!!) March 11-13 and March 24 - April 6: Meet-and-greet location change to Oasis.

Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park will be closed tomorrow (Tuesday, March 26) due to forecasted low temperatures (highs will be in the mid-to-upper 60's, pretty unusual for Florida in March). Oddly enough, Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park will remain open for Guests to enjoy. After all, it is BLIZZARD Beach!

RE-OPENED! The Magic Kingdom currently closed to some guests due to reaching capacity (Phase 3). Read more about phase closings and the various levels. Phase 1 Guests with 'Magic Your Way' base tickets, or a '1-Day 1-Park Ticket', Guests without an admission ticket, and Cast Members using Main Gate & Silver Passes will be turned around at the parking lot booths. Phase 2 Admission is limited to: Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and guests arriving by bus from the Hotel Plaza Boulevard hotels) Annual and Premium Annual Passholders Guests with Hopper tickets coming from another park Guests re-entering the park Guests with dining reservations Magic Kingdom Guests with reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League Guests using Walt Disney World Resort Transportation will be admitted. Phase 3 Admission is limited to: Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney World Swan

The Magic Kingdom's 'Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade' begins twice daily performances today for the busy Spring Break period. The parade steps off at 12:30pm and 3pm from March 25 - April 6, 2013.

Back for the busy Spring break is the 'Taste of Hollywood To Go' dining option at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The $15.99 boxed meals include reserved seating at Fantastmic! and offers 5 different menu options. There is also a kids option at $5.49 which is either a turkey and American cheese wrap with apples and carrots with ranch dip, strawberry yogurt and a seven-layer cookie bar or strawberry yogurt, apple wedges, carrot sticks, Goldfish crackers and an organic apple and cinnamon oatmeal bar. You can make reservations up to 24 hours ahead by calling 407-WDW-DINE. Pickup is at Min and Bill's Dockside Diner near the American Idol Experience from 11am to 8pm. 'Taste of Hollywood' is also on the Disney Dining Plan at 1 quick service entitlement. Menu Golden fried chicken with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, sweet corn and carrots and warm apple crisp Veggie sandwich with avocado, orange and tomato salad, tabbouleh and chocolate cake California a

Limited Time Magic's  'Spring Fling' begins today at the Magic Kingdom with meet and greets in Town Square from 9am to 5:10pm, and appearances in a pre-parade before the 'Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade' at 12:30pm and 3pm. Things get hoppin' at Magic Kingdom Park when Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny arrive! Visit Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A. for a fun photo op with the floppy-eared couple. Be sure to watch for a special springtime procession starring Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny—as well as butterflies, other bunnies, flowers and dancing hippos—just before daily performances of the Celebrate a Dream Come True parade.

Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny are appearing at Epcot all this week for Spring Break and the Easter Holiday at the UK Pavilion in World Showcase. You can meet them between 11:30am and 4pm from March 25 - 31, 2013.

Earlier this week Walt Disney World began their next phase of MyMagic+, the service that will change the way guests interact with all aspects of Disney theme parks. Now through May 19, Walt Disney World Annual Pass Holders can take their existing paper passes to the Odyssey Center at Epcot, which is located between Test track and the Mexico pavilion, and update them to the credit card like hard plastic cards with the technology that will allow them to access the state of the art features that make up MyMagic+. The process of upgrading to the new annual passes is quick and simple, taking just a few minutes after presenting an existing pass and photo ID. Guests can select from four character designs: Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, or Donald. This is how the MagicBand will be packaged when it arrives at your door when you book a Disney vacation. Names will be attached as well. Once converted, passholders will be able to enter thru new turnstile-free entry areas at the Ma

This is an operational advisory for the Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course - The Winter course at Winter Summerland Miniature Golf (which is adjacent to Disney's Blizzard Beach Waterpark) will be closed Monday, March 25, 2013 until 3:00 PM. The course will be open to all guests after 3:00 PM. The Summer course will remain open all day for guests to enjoy.

After celebrating its 20th anniversary earlier this year, the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna is getting even bigger next year and is offering runners another challenge that will be, well, Dopey. The 2014 Disney Marathon Weekend, Jan. 8-12, will expand to five days and will include a 10K, along with the Family Fun Run 5K, the Disney Half Marathon, the Disney Marathon and Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge. That creates the opportunity for an unparalleled proposition in the running industry: The Dopey Challenge – running all four timed events in successive days (48.6 miles) for the chance to earn an unprecedented six medals. After the Disney Family Fun Run 5K on Thursday, runDisney’s new Walt Disney World 10K, a 6.2-mile timed event, takes place Friday, at Epcot.  Runners completing the race will receive a Minnie Mouse inspired medal. As in past years, the Walt Disney World Half Marathon will be run on Saturday followed by the Walt Disney World Mar

As FASTPASS+ edges nearer and nearer to going live, a few more details appear to be getting finalized with respect to how the system will actually operate once it goes live later this year.  According to Cast Members who have been briefed on the system earlier this week, on launch of FASTPASS+, a guest will be able to choose up to a maximum of 3 FASTPASS+ experiences at one park per day. The number of attractions offering FASTPASS+ has been greatly expanded over the current FASTPASS system, with over 60 rides, shows, parades, and meet and greets now being included in FASTPASS+. Guests will be able to select FASTPASS+ experiences before arrival, or on the day of. Changes can be made at anytime to an unredeemed FASTPASS+, even once the FASTPASS+ arrival window begins. A great feature of FASTPASS+ is the ability for the My Disney Experience smartphone app to notify FASTPASS+ holders in the event of an attraction being temporarily unavailable. This gives advance notice to

Epcot's Fountain View Ice Cream is set to close on April 8, 2013, to begin the conversion into the second in-park Starbucks location at Walt Disney World.  The new Starbucks in the Fountain View location is anticipated to reopen in early August 2013. The Magic Kingdom's Main Street Bakery is currently closed and will open as the first Starbucks location in early summer. Yes fanboys, it's really happening. Time to wake up and smell the Starbuck's.

Copyright 2013 Walt Disney Company Effective immediately, all new and renewal Annual Pass purchases will be issued RF-enabled cards. In addition, between March 20 and May 19, all Passholders may visit the Odyssey Center at Epcot to convert their existing theme park Annual Passes to new RF-enabled cards during regular park hours. (I'm getting mine this weekend!) To do so, they must simply bring their current Pass along with a photo ID. This location does not include the conversion of Passes exclusively for Disney Water Parks or DisneyQuest admission. These Passes can be converted at the water parks or DisneyQuest. The new Pass cards function like the current paper Passes and Passholders can use them to get FASTPASS tickets from the FASTPASS machines in the theme parks, as well as to obtain Passholder benefits (photo ID still required). For those who choose not to convert their paper ticket, existing Passes will still be accepted as valid forms of park entry, FASTPASS ticke