Today is the Mouse's 80th birthday - and he doesn't look it, does he? As most of you will probably already know, Mickey was originally going to be called Mortimer Mouse, but it was Walt's wife, Lilian, who suggested Mickey. A very wise woman indeed, she realised that the name may not suit this little Mouse, and suggested Mickey. The rest, they say, is history.
Now, what kind of present do you get the Mouse who seemingly has everything? Well, I'm sure another little piece of cheese won't go wrong! So, let's all have a little bit of cheese and toast to our beloved Mickey Mouse - Joyeux Anniversaire, Mickey!
The Front Lot area of the Walt Disney Studios has been stylised similarly to a 1930s Studio Lot. To me, however, it feels a bit like a holding area - somewhere where you're essentially waiting to enter the Park itself. In order to enter the attractions and shows of the Studios, you have to go through Studio 1, which we will have a look at another day. Meanwhile, the Front Lot has a couple of shops and a couple of lovely photo opportunities - Mickey Mouse's statue and the Earful Tower especially.
During the busier times of the year you can usually find a couple of characters hanging around the Front Lot too, ready to greet you before you enter the work of Motion Pictures. You may also get to see some genuine Europeans thoroughly enjoying their time at a Disney theme park (*note hints of sarcasm). There can also be some Streetmosphere shows - a particularly good one revolves around a Town Car and some 'movie stars'. If you're looking for more streetmosphere shows, however, heading inside Studio 1 will bring you face to face with more shows and more facets of Movie Making. Stay tuned for our visit to there!