January 1970 – Page 2 – WDWNT Archive

Hong Kong Disneyland’s It’s a Small World

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Let’s for a moment wander over to Hong Kong Disneyland… Soft openings have begun for their new version of It’s a Small World, & video has surfaced of it already (although do note, this video does not include all of the attraction)! As you watch the videos, be sure to look closely for the Disney characters, & listen closely for interspersed Disney music.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDKnpRq6lZk[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOUUabRnepA[/youtube]

I will not share my opinion here as I really just want to spread the news, but I will be sharing my opinion of this attraction on this week’s Disneyland News Today Podcast!

My Favorite Season

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Beginning last Friday, the Travel Channel began what will be a weekly series of new programs showcasing the Disney parks. They are referring to the series as their “Season of Disney”. Here is the schedule, including last week’s show which is now running regularly on the network:

4/11: Samantha Brown’s Disney Favorites
4/18: Disney Splurge
4/25: Disney: On a Dime
5/2: The Disney Royal Treatment
5/9: Disney Cruise Line

These shows have been airing at 9pm EST on Fridays, but you still may want to check you local listings just to be sure of when you can check them out.

Top 3 Announced in the CMO Contest

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

With nearly 500,000 online ballots cast, the field in the Disney Dream Chief Magic Official (CMO) competition that once numbered 1,300 contestants has been narrowed to the Top 3: David “Blooper Reel” Hawley of California, Justin “Adventurosity” Muchoney of Pennsylvania and Tripp “Radio DJ” West of Georgia.

Online voters cast ballots throughout March for their favorites among the Top 10 finalists. (Watch videos and read profiles of the Dream CMO finalists from earlier posts.)

The Top 3 vote getters travel to Walt Disney World in mid-April for a head-to-head competition that will be videotaped and voted on again by the online public April 17-21.

The reality television-style tests of creativity, enthusiasm and Disney theme park knowledge include:

Stroller mix-up — Match the stroller with the correct accessory bag.

Towel folding — Create a towel animal following a training session.

Noise making — Generate the loudest crowd reaction.

Park information — Offer assistance, directions and tips to visitors.

Face painting — Create a design following a training session.

The overall Dream CMO winner will be crowned in front of Cinderella’s Castle at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom on April 22. The winner serves as a goodwill ambassador at Disney parks in Florida and California.

It should be noted that I incorrectly picked West to finish last on a number of occasions. I was disappointed that Patrick “Mr. Cut-Out” Hurd did not make the cut.

I’m picking Muchoney to win it all. Who are you rooting for?

— Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Tram Updates

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

We’re hearing some rumors on possible changes coming to the Mickey & Friends, & Lion King Trams. The first thing has already come true, & that’s the replacements of the actual seats with rhino liner seats. And seats may be added to the trams to avoid more unnecessary accidents, & just to keep it warmer during the winter. Also, red speakers have been added to the trams to give directions to guests waiting to board.

DisneyGeek DLR Picture Update

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Our friends over at DisneyGeek have posted a new Disneyland Resort Update, & here are a few of the most interesting pictures:

Some of the trams are getting new seats, which have a rougher feel to them

A rare Downtown Disney update… The Pirates room in the World of Disney has been replaced with a Toontown room

A bunch of drawings like this have been placed on the shelves

More pictures of the Toontown room can be found here

A bunch of signs for the Food & Wine Weekends have been placed around DCA. Let’s take a look at a few of them…

The main entrance to the Golden Vine Winery

These signs are on various lamp-posts & light-towers through-out the park

Along the pathway near the Golden Vine Winery

The entrance to Pacific Wharf

Pretty self-explanatory

Quickly over to Disneyland we go… A better look at the new Grand Marshal vechicle

And finally, this sign appears outside the Dream Suite if it is occupied

Thanks again to DisneyGeek for these pictures! For many more, check out their latest Disneyland Resort Update!

Shanghai Disneyland?

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

While this isn’t Disneyland related news, this is something that could affect the whole shape of the Disney Parks. And that is the possible addition of a Shanghai Disneyland!

SHANGHAI, March, 2008 — US-based Walt Disney Company has decided to build a Disneyland at Chuansha town, Pudong, Shanghai, expected to be announced around the period for the opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, according to reliable news. Shanghai mayor Han Zheng once said that the city, having the ability to build a Disneyland, was preparing for the construction and waiting for approval from the State Council, China’s cabinet.

Shanghai Current Economics Research Institute head Wang Liang said that the location of Disney had started to influence the city’s every aspect, such as stock market, real estate, tourism and retail business. For instance, Disney concept stocks, Shanghai Lujiazui Finance & Trade Zone Development Co., Ltd. (SHSE: 600663), Shanghai Jielong Industry Group Corporation Limited (SHSE: 600836), Shanghai Pudong Road & Bridge Construction Company Limited (SHSE: 600284) and Shanghai Construction Co., Ltd. (SHSE: 600170) kept rising from middle February when the whole stock market was down.

Moreover, all houses at a building under construction, which nears Disney Shanghai theme park, have been sold out. An insider pointed out that the to-be-built Disneyland, a large tourism project able to accept customers to stay for two nights, would double the Shanghai tourism industry’s current revenue, which was good for China’s domestic tourism in spite of a certain impact on Hong Kong Disneyland.

As early as five years ago, rumors reported that the Walt Disney Company was to build a Disneyland in Shanghai, the nation’s financial hub, with acreage three times that of Disneyland Hong Kong. Until March 9, 2008, an insider told journalists that the Chinese watchdog had in principle agreed the foreign giant to locate the Disneyland in Shanghai. In addition, subways and light rails to the Chuansha town will be available in 2009 and so did the related supporting facilities around.

As a matter of fact, China’s other large cities, like Beijing, Chengdu and Tianjin have also gotten into a fierce struggle in hopes of locating the Disneyland there, which is expected to boost a city’s economy and industry to a new high, said Zhu Lianqing, director at Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences research center.

I’m Into Nuggets Y’all

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Rumors are abound that McDonalds may be pulling out as a Disneyland sponsor. McDonald’s currently operate 2 fry carts over in Frontierland & New Orleans Sqaure, & the Burger Invasion restaurant over in Paradise Pier. Each restaurant sells a limited McDonalds menu, so I think it’s safe to say that they wont be missed.

Another company ready to butt out of a sponsorship deal is Carnation. Carnation has been involved with Disney pretty much since the opening of Disneyland. Back in 1984, Nestle acquired Carnation, & it’s become one of their lesser known brands. As Al Lutz of MiceAge explains it…

… Nestle’ contract as a whole is on the rocks, after meeting up with legal headaches regarding some of the beverages it sells that compete directly with Coca-Cola’s expanding reach into coffee and beverages besides soft drinks. As it stands now, Coca-Cola wants to have a sponsorship presence at Disneyland and other Disney parks more desperately than Nestle’ does, and as push comes to shove with the lawyers it looks like it is Nestle’ and its family of different brands who will likely leave the park.

Just so long as Coca-Cola makes it financially lucrative, Disneyland may even be removing decades old signage around the park like that found at Carnation Plaza Gardens, the sight of a long gone snack bar that served up its last milkshake a decade ago.

2fer ticket promotion extended

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Disneyland have extended the 2fer ticket promotion to run for another month. It really seems to be getting the guests into DCA, which obviously is a very good thing for Disney. Also, the 2 days for the price of 1 ParkHopper has been extended.

Your first day at the park must now be used on or before May 22nd, 2008. You then have 30 days from your first visit to go to DCA.

Rules still state that you must have proof of living in Southern California or Baja California.

Upcoming Events

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

September 6, 2013	D-Streets Popcorns 2, September Poster Art
September 15th, 2013	WDW EPCOT 13 Reflections of Evil Vinylmation Trading Event (More info)
September 13, 2013	Online 2013 Poster Art Oswald
September 20, 2013	D-Streets 2013 Poster Art Donald
September 20, 2013	D-Streets and Online Halloween Vampire Stitch & Scarecrow Mayor and Darkwing Duck 2
September 27, 2013	Epcot Food and Wine Festival Gusteau
September 27, 2013	D-Streets Silly Symphonies (More info)