And yes, I think “all screwy” is the technical term. Which is to say, “unreachable.”

Disney cast members train on the new reservation system upgrade.

The upgrade will impact bookings for WDW, Disneyland and Aulani.

Here’s part of a top-secret communique intercepted by Mousejunkie operatives – several of which gave their lives to bring this information to you:
(Not really. That’s just a bunch of crap. I just felt like making it a little more dramatic.) Still, the reservations thing is real. Check it out:

“Disney will perform a reservation-system enhancement beginning at 3 a.m. Eastern time (12 a.m. Pacific) on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, and lasting until the late afternoon that day. During this time, our systems will not be fully functional and we will not be able to process room-only or vacation-package reservations for the Walt Disney World Resort by phone or online. This includes making new resort reservations, making modifications to existing resort reservations, providing confirmations or taking payments. We also will be unable to process reservations for dining, dinner shows, tours, recreation and children’s activity centers at the Walt Disney World Resort, as well as for Cirque du Soleil La Nouba.

Guests temporarily will be unable to access Disney’s Online Check-In Service.

In addition, we will be unable to process room-only or vacation-package reservations for Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort, the Hotels of theDisneyland Resort or Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa.”

Anyone expecting to arrive soon note – “Guests temporarily will be unable to access Disney’s Online Check-In Service.”

Everything will be back up the next day.

Unless something goes drastically wrong. And that never happens with software upgrades.

I’m joking. I’m joking. They do this from time to time. It’ll be up the next day.

Rex did not stand clear of the doors por favor, so the others shunned him.

Evidently they’re expecting major crowds at the Magic Kingdom/WDW on Feb. 29 – One More Disney Day. You may need to know the monorail schedules, so here they are:

Resort Monorail
Wed. 5:00am to 12:00am
Thur. 12:00am to 10:00pm

Express Monorail
Wed. 5:00am to 1:30am
Thur. 8:30am to 10:00pm

Epcot Monorail
Wed. 8:00am to 10:00pm
Thur. 8:00am to 10:00pm

Hours are subject to change.
(Model and photos by James Horecka – an obvious genius.)

Those Imagineers are playing Angry Birds while the sign is installed by Larry, the guy without the iPad.

At 46-feet, six-inches, the sign is now the record-holder as the largest freestanding marquee at Walt Disney World.

The Art of Animation resort began its life as a second-phase of the Pop Century Resort. Originally tabbed as “The Legendary Years” section. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 had an instant and drastic affect on tourism, so the project was put on hold.

Thankfully, we’re just months away from seeing it finally finished. And I’m more than a little enthused by the fact that it’s got family suites, which provides even more options for larger families.

It’s been a while coming, but we can see how far it’s come. In its fallow days, an intrepid explorer ventured across the jumping-snake infested grasslands to investigate the then-abandoned “Legendary Years” section of the unfinished Pop Century. Here’s a glimpse at what the new resort looked like just a few short years ago:

Here’s a more up-to-date look at the resort from Jeff Lange:

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, which will feature four wings dedicated to the films “Finding Nemo,” “Cars,” “The Lion King” and “The Little Mermaid,” will open in phases beginning May 31.

If you know me or have followed along on our shared Mousejunkie journey in recent years, you might know I come from an insanely obsessed hockey family. Amy (the Reluctant Mousejunkie) works with the Boston Blades of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League. Well, the Boston Blades are working very hard to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

The short story is this: Win this framed Disney print:

This is all you have to do: Go to the Boston Blades page and donate to help fight breast cancer. Donate anything. $1, $A zillion – whatever you can. Then just comment below and let me know how awesome you were (not amounts, just that you helped) and you’ll be eligible to win this awesome print for free. Just write: “I helped and I’m wicked awesome” or something like that.

It’s super easy to donate any amount. Go to the page and you’ll see.

I’m interested in trying to harness the power of the Mousejunkies to chip in a little to help.

If it helps, watch this wicked sad video. (Yes, I’m even trying guilt.)

Here’s a message from the Boston Blades themselves:

We are a professional hockey team in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League dedicated to fighting breast cancer. At 7:30pm on Saturday, February 25th, we will be facing-off against our league riva Montreal Stars in a battle between 1^st and 2^nd place teams. Our goal is twofold: to compete tenaciously on the ice in pursuit of a win, and to do our part in the fight against breast cancer by spreading awareness in our community and raising funds to donate to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF). The Boston Blades support the NBCF mission to save lives through early detection and to provide mammograms for our mothers, sisters, friends, and families.

The Boston B-ladies combined digital forces to create this awesome fundraising team. Together we will raise more money for National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. than we ever could alone!

According to the Disney Parks Blog, the move is designed to increase savanna space and the attraction’s zebra presence.  So say goodbye to Little Red, who will be removed, as well as the poacher’s camp. (Anyone remember when there was a gun-totin’ Cast Member letting us know everything was OK?)

An uppity zebra acts like a jerk.

I tend to get attached to attractions, and I’ll usually harumph a bit when there’s a change – until I’m reminded that I should trust the Imagineers. They tend to know what they’re doing.

And yes, I did say “harumph.” I want to start using it more in casual conversation.

Anyway… This isn’t one of those times when I’m sad to see something leave. I certainly didn’t hate Little Red, or the old storyline, but I’ve said a million times (or a few) that I wish they would just play Hapa Duinani through the whole ride. It’s incredibly hypnotic, calming and deep – something that seemed natural to me when I learned it was the Lord’s Prayer in Swahili.

Maybe this is a slight move in that direction. Although the Park’s Blog says we can expect “strong and prominent” conservation messages, so my dream of a safari set to the vocals of African Dawn probably won’t come true.

And I have to admit: every time I visit the Kilimanjaro Safari I catch myself saying “Tommeeeeez, Tommeeeez.”

What do you think of the announced changes?

Attention former Kilimanjaro Safari driver – ahem – what do YOU think? (He knows who he is.)

In the meantime, tune out to some Hapa Duinani:

I’ve explained it to people. I filled two books with my reasons. But this family’s video is so great that I think it pretty much captures every reason. It tells a story, the reactions are amazing and the music choices are perfect. You can feel the magic of a Disney vacation through their story.

It shows the happiness, surprises, laughter, memories and love of the place. Thank you BoSox2001 family!

And while we’re at it, let’s watch their first video (which contains the best reaction to Beverly I’ve ever seen):

That’s it. I’m booking a flight now. I’m serious.

That's Bart.

Fellow Mousejunkie and writer Bart Scott posted a great blog about an amazing dream he had.

It’s really well written and captures the wonder Bart must’ve felt in the midst of it all.

Plus he finishes it off with lyrics from a perfectly-matched tune. I don’t want to give any more away. Just go read it.

My daughter is a little shy, so we’ve never taken part (though we love watching it.) Also, I don’t think they have a Jedi robe in my size, so I’m kind of out of luck.

Activate! Step back and duck!

Here’s the deal: I know if you head over to Jedi Training you can sign your child up to take part. Does anyone know any good insider tips on making sure you’re on the list? This person is traveling in August, so it might be a bit crowded. I suggested he get to the rope drop early and just head straight over to sign up.

So far I’ve advised him:

1. Arrive early.
2. Get to the left side while Otto von Bon Bahn does his thing.
3. Find the CM who will be leading the crowd over.

Got any other tips that might help? What’s your experience been like? Have you signed up your Youngling? If you could tell me your experience, it would be great.

Thanks!

In the meantime…

Part 1 of 2

Part 2 of 2

Snoochie boochies.

To supplement my career as a full-time Mousejunkie, I do a few things on the side.

I’m a columnist for Parenting NH Magazine (I’m on page 31 this month,) I help people book trips to Walt Disney World for Blue Sky Journeys and I’m a travel columnist and TV feature writer for the Boston Herald.

It’s a very strange existence in some ways, because I end up talking to celebrities for the TV stories all the time. It’s always fun and interesting, and I’m super thankful to my editor for keeping me in the game.

Every once in a while I get to talk to someone with a Disney connection (Dave Foley, Patrick Warburton) and I sneak in a few Disney-related questions. I can’t help it. But today I spoke to someone whose Disney connection was totally unexpected.

Kevin Smith – the director of “Clerks,” among a bunch of other films – has a new reality show on AMC called “Comic Book Men.” It’s all about his comic book shop, Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash in Red Bank, N.J.

I wanted to relate a brief aside that came up in the interview. It won’t make it into the story for the paper, but I found it fascinating.

I asked him: “What is one collectible you’d kill to have back?”

I have no idea if this is the one or not. But it's a Mickey head bank from 1971.

His answer: “There was this Mickey Mouse head bank I had as a kid. It was probably life-size in terms of a child’s head, and it had pupils and irises – not just those black discs for eyes, and it had the slot in the back where you put the money. I saved a lot of dreams in that head. I saved up for comics I wanted, events I wanted to go to, movies I wanted to see… But things fall by the wayside. I’d pay thousands, if not millions for that.”

I loved how he said “I saved a lot of dreams in that head.” He gets it.

It’s also funny he plays a character named Silent Bob, because he talks a million miles an hour and has so much to say. It was a great interview, and I’ll link to it on Facebook when it goes into the paper.

I kid. I kid.

But I’m serious about the Fantasyland expansion. I’m more excited about that than any other of the many announcements Disney has made over the past couple years. It’s going to completely change the face of that section of the park. It’s going to completely alter one of my favorite parts of Walt Disney World. Imagine walking through Cinderella Castle and looking out on an entirely new land. Well beyond where Dumbo once was, and certainly well beyond the current construction walls.

I can’t wait.

So when I saw the new, amazing pics of the construction at WDWNewsToday, I kind of freaked. Partly because I’m wicked afraid of heights. But the other part is getting such a good look at how things are going.

Check out the pics and try not to get dizzy.

A few more details.