With the announcement that Susan Lucci (Erica Kane from All My Children) and Erika Slezak (Victoria Lord Davidson from One Life to Live) will attend, event organizers may face even more visitors than they expected. [An updated list of scheduled personalities can be found in the sidebar at the right.]

Cynthia Harris, Mickey, Minnie and a host of ABC Soap Stars announce the event - Promotional photo © Disney

Special hotel packages for the All My Children and General Hospital / Port Charles weekends are completely sold out, but are still available for the One Life to Live event next weekend. Even if you did not book a special packages, you can still meet and greet the stars at various events.

To see the full schedule of events with our normal page layout, CLICK HERE. For the same schedule in a handy print-and-carry format, CLICK HERE.

The crowds are expected to be intense, so bring your patience, and please, the resort requests that there be no more than one item per star to be signed.

If the schedule makes your head spin, you can find out exactly where your favorite star will be at any given moment by visiting the updated ABC Super Soap Weekends Web site. and obtaining individual schedules for your stars. This allows you to plan your visit to see as many of your favorites as possible.

For example, here is Susan Lucci's schedule:

Remember, not every star is scheduled to appear both days, and everything (of course) is subject to change without notice. We are already hearing whispers of sellouts and capacity crowds, and last-minute, guest-control details are still being hammered out at press time.

For the most recent updates, be sure to check the Super Soap Weekend thread on our MousePad discussion board. To make reservations for the One Life to Live hotel package, call (800) 450-4002.

Tickets are still available for the "Celebration of Walt Disney Classics Collection" event April 19 through 21. We have received both the full schedule of events and an update about the event logo merchandise available at the event. This looks to be a very full weekend of seminars. tours, parties and more... I can't wait!

Event Logo Merchandise:

• Two limited edition pins, each with an edition size of 1000 ($12.50 each).
• Event logo watch, limited edition of 250 ($85).
• Event logo baseball cap ($20).
• Event logo T-shirt in film can. ($25)
• Event logo jacket ($68).
• Event logo polo shirt ($42).
• Event logo key chain ($6) and button ($2).
• Event logo mini-poster, matted ($35).
• Event logo frame ($10).
• Event logo Mickey plush, limited edition of 1000 ($8).

For questions, or to make reservations, contact Walt Disney Event Services at (407) 827-7600.

A free merchandise special event at Disneyland? Believe it or not, that is exactly what visitors enjoyed on March 23, as 100 Mickeys artist Eric Robison (shown below) held a "Learn to Draw Mickey" class at Disneyland.

Tables were set up in the terraced area between the French Market and the Rivers of America, and park visitors were provided with paper, crayons, pencils, charcoal, and paint. Eric Robison was on hand to help children of all ages draw the famous mouse.

Eric provided guidance and encouragement for the budding artists, and occasionally gave a signed sketch away to a guest. Not a bad souvenir, considering the prices of his original 100 Mickeys pieces! When crowds were light, he worked on two new Mickey paintings. As people completed their drawing, they were encouraged to take it up to the Disney Gallery, where they would receive a commemorative button for participating.

Casual, informal events like this are what make Disney so magical - who can resist a free art class with a former Imagineer? Kudos, Disneyland - let's do it again real soon!

From the "You can't tell the players without a program" files, here is the latest in the constantly changing Fantasyland stores line-up:

The Princess Boutique has been turned into a yet-to-be-named infant and toddler shop, specializing in clothing and some plush toys. The princess line has been greatly expanded, and moved next door into the former Tinker Bell Toy Shoppe location. One cast member quipped, "The Princesses needed more room, and when a Princess needs her space around here, everyone jumps."

Geppetto's Toys & Gifts has sadly closed its doors forever... for now. This is Disneyland, after all - everything is temporary. The non-Disney merchandise is either being sent to the cast member liquidation store or returned to the vendors, while some of the Disney items, like the Bob Baker Marionettes, will be sent to other locations in the park.

The Madame Alexander, Marie Osmond and Engel-Puppen of Germany doll collections have temporarily joined the princesses in Tinker Bell Toy Shoppe, although it looks like most of the collectible dolls will eventually find their new permanent home in the World of Disney. The success of the new "My Disney Girl" doll may spell the end of the much more expensive Engel line at Disneyland, especially since this store closure has made it almost impossible to order one of the custom-made dolls.

The former Villains Lair has turned into what will be called the Prince Shop, but is really an outlet for Toy Story toys and glow swords. As for the Villains merchandise, some of it can already be found at Off the Page in Disney's California Adventure, or at the World of Disney. Cast members say that the rest of the merchandise is "en route" to an undetermined location in New Orleans Square. When the merchandise arrives, it will probably be tucked into a corner of Le Gourmet Shop for now.

Rumor has it that either La Boutique de Noel or La Mascarade d'Orleans may close after Spring Break, and could reopen in the fall as the new Villains Lair, just in time to house the flood of Nightmare Before Christmas / Haunted Mansion Holiday merchandise that is said to be on order.

All My Children
April 6 & 7

Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix is the super-shopper behind MouseShoppe, your personal and unofficial shopping service for the Disneyland Resort, and the owner of CharmingShoppe, a Disney collectibles store located in Anaheim.

In addition to scouring the park to find you the latest and greatest merchandise, she keeps you updated on all of the merchandise events happening in the parks.

If you want to talk to her about this column, merchandise, or events, contact her here.

Visit our other shopping service, MouseMemories.com.

Don't forget to take a gander at our Disney CD and book selections available from

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