DLR Photo Report – 9/27/08

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

It’s once again time for a Disneyland Resort Photo Report, which is in fact our biggest ever, with nearly 200 photos! So let’s not dilly-dally, & get straight to it:

The banners at the Mickey & Friends Parking Stucture have been changed for Halloween Time.

New billboards at the Tram Station for Halloween Time. I wish they’d fix the third one already!

Some Halloween displays along the tram route.

Halloween Time banners through-out Downtown Disney.

The 50th anniversary of Sleeping Beauty being advertised in one of the World of Disney’s windows.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen this thing 100% accurate.

You’d think they’d advertise something related to Halloween.

The California letters have been given their Hallowen touch-up.

These are on the DCA turnstiles.

Halloween Time on the Golden Gate Bridge.

The times guide with all of the Hallowen Time entertainment.

The new DCA map cover.

Hmmm… Not everything here is for Halloween Time.

This is the first time that Disney has officially used the Blue Sky Cellar name for the new DCA Preview Center, that opens on October 20th. Pretty cool logo too.

Candy Corn Acres on the DCA map.

The Burger Invasion billboard near California Screamin’ has been removed.

I’m pretty sure this is a new menu.

Bye Bye Whoopi… Hello Ariel!

Where the banners used to hang from. I pressume the clip things will be removed (I hope!).

Oh boy… This sure isn’t a refurbishment!

All of the queue/waiting area for Golden Dreams is still in tact.

These lighting towers were set up through-out the park. Not sure why.

Burger Invasion is now completely walled off & behind tarps.

The restrooms are still open.

These tables are most likely the only McDonalds references left in the Resort.

Next door at the SS Rustworthy, the various McDonalds flags have been removed.

Bellow SS Trustworthy, there used to be a sign saying “Presented by McDonalds” (or was it sponsored?).

The Sun Wheel now remains open through October 12th.

Cast Members started to remove the extended queue for Toy Story Midway Mania at about 10:30am yesterday.

Another one of those lighting towers over by the entrance to A Bug’s Land.

Now let’s take a tour of Candy Corn Acres.

New displays on Toy Story & the Toy Story Zoetrope inside Character Closeup in the Disney Animation building.

Cinderella, Mickey, & Woody came into Disney Animation to do meet ‘n greets after Drawn to the Magic.

Banners for Halloween Time in Hollywood Pictures Backlot.

Muppet Vision 3D re-opened Thursday after a brief refurbishment. The film itself looks crystal clear now.

The clever Muppet movie posters in the Award Weiners seating area have been replaced with posters for upcoming Disney films.

Considering these posters were only put up about a week ago, this one is a little dated.

The Wall-E display over by the Hyperion Theater.

The Queen of Hearts & the Bowler Hat Guy doing meet ‘n greets… Two characters you don’t usually see out. Guess we should thank Hallowen Time for this opportunity.

The Hyperion Theater is closed through December 11th I believe.

Moving over to Disneyland… The Fab 5 as pumpkins now loom over the turnstiles.

The Main Street Train Station is decked out for Halloween, however the floral Mickey remains in its Year of a Million Dreams form.

Beast is another character you don’t usually see out & about (except for in Parade of Dreams of course).

The new Disneyland Park map cover.

Now let’s take a look at some of the Halloween decorations on Main Street… The back of the Train Station.

The Main Street Opera House.

The giant pumpkin Mickey.

Construction on the Plaza Pavilion.

The front of South Seas Traders was walled off breifly last week, but is now open to guest flow.

The Sailing Ship Columbia is closed.

Haunted Mansion Holiday Fastpass distribution area.

Fastpass is only used during Haunted Mansion Holiday.

The New Orleans Square Train Station is closed & walled off through October 15th.

The new pavement around Haunted Mansion Holiday.

The French Market has re-opened after its refurbishment, with Halloween decorations up, that are very similar to the ones found next door at Haunted Mansion Holiday.

I believe this area was repaved also.

You have to go through the French Market to get out of this area.

I didn’t look, but I believe this is the Mint Julep Bar.

Now let’s take a look at this year’s Haunted Mansion Holiday.

This year’s Gingerbread House in the Ballroom scene is a coffin, with a gingerbread man rising out of it every few seconds.

No more McDonalds references at Habour Galley.

The Nightmare Before Christmas merchandise cart near the exit of Haunted Mansion Holiday.

A very small construction wall over at the River Bell Terrace.

Work being done to the top of the Frontierland Shooting Exposition.

An exhibit of sorts near Rancho Del Zocalo. I have absolutely no idea what it is for.

The Conostoga Wagon has now been completely removed.

Now let’s take a walk around Woody’s Halloween Roundup at Big Thunder Ranch.

A peek back at the Festival Arena.

Here you can decorate your Halloween cookie for a hefty price of $6.

I do not like that they have this goat out in the open, with no gate seperating people who don’t want to go near it, like myself.

The small scale Woody’s Roundup Adventure! show is basically an episode of the fictional TV show, Woody’s Roundup.

In the Hub, there are 7 pumpkins that have carvings of a character representing one of Disneyland’s many lands. For Adventureland you have Tarzan.

For New Orleans Square you have Jack Skellington.

For Frontierland you have Woody.

Winnie the Pooh represents Critter Country.

Tinker Bell represents Fantasyland.

For Mickey’s Toontown you have Roger Rabbit.

And for Tomorrowland you have Buzz Lightyear.

The Buzz Lightyear side of the main path in Tomorrowland is now being repaved. That means Fastpass is not being used for Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters.

There’s a small construction wall in front of the Star Trader main entrance. The store remains open however.

The third seagull has finally returned to the Submarine Lagoon after over a half year of absense.

The tarps have been removed from the It’s a Small World facade.

A peek inside the It’s a Small World Toy Shop.

There was water in the flume, but no boats.

I once again went to the Princess Fantasy Faire to see if Ariel in her human form was there. First I got Belle.

Then I got Jasmine for the first time.

And then I got Ariel in her human form finally! I much prefer the mermaid form.

The Toontown Train Station was closed for some reason when I left the Princess Fantasy Faire at about 4:30/4:45.

The Ariel’s Grotto sign is still in place.

A circular structure has risen where Ariel’s turntable used to be. I’m guessing this will turn into the teapot that will be used for Pixie Hollow.

Can’t tell much of a difference just yet.

The Star Tours exetended queue is being used for Stroller parking for Star Tours, & maybe even Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters too.

New Halloween Time napkins.

This entrance to the Starcade was walled off for some reason. However I did notice some men doing some work on the roof of the building for some reason or another.

After 9 months of waiting, I finally got the chance to ride the beautiful Monorail Red!

The interior of Monorail Red is absolutely beautiful. The lighting is just amazing! However it did get very warm in there, considering I rode it at about 6:45.

The lighting really comes out well at night.

I managed to pick up the Sleeping Beauty 50th anniversary pins that were released last Saturday. I was amazed that they still had some!

To cap off this photo report, these Tinker Bell pins are the first to have “First Release” stamped on the backer card.

That’s going to do it for this ernomous photo report. Hopefully you could load it with-out too much trouble! Stay tuned later tonight, tomorrow, & Tuesday for these images plus many more to uploaded to our Image Gallery, as well as 2 vidcasts!

Valencia Attorney Sues Disneyland in 2-Year-Old’s Dog Mauling

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

According to the Los Angeles Daily News:

Disneyland brought in a “not very social” dog from a local shelter to use in its petting zoo two years ago, and the dog mauled a 2-year-old girl, leaving her permanently scarred, according to a lawsuit filed by a Valencia attorney.

The suit, filed Tuesday in Orange County Superior Court, alleges that Disneyland adopted the 6-year-old red-and-black-haired German shepherd and labrador retriever mix named Hemmingway from the Orange County Animal Shelter, where facility workers said he was “not very social” and had a history of aggression.

Disney officials did not return calls today seeking comment.

Nobody knew anything about the dog when he came into the shelter, and he wouldn’t let anyone near him for five days. A shelter veterinarian even noted that he couldn’t pet the dog, according to the suit.

A month later, on Sept. 23, 2006, a Disney employee adopted Hemmingway. The company placed the leashed dog on a box in the Big Thunder petting zoo and assigned an employee with no animal training to watch over him while children played with him.

It was there, less than two weeks after being adopted, that the dog lunged at Lena Dickerson, biting her face several times, permanently scarring the girl, the lawsuit alleges. Her family lived in Valencia at the time but recently moved to Illinois.

“It is atrocious what Disney did, and the public needed to be warned,” said Michael Bishay, the attorney representing the family, who declined to comment. “You don’t invite kids to pet stray dogs.”

On the afternoon of Oct. 3, 2006, Lena Dickerson, her parents and two siblings walked up to Hemmingway. Anna, her 9-year-old sister, began petting the dog’s head, her 5-year-old brother Eli stroked his back and Lena, 2 at the time, stroked near his rear.

The family continued to play with the dog – who Disney also used in parades as fireworks exploded overhead, the suit alleges – for a few minutes before Lena’s parents decided to leave. Lena leaned in to say goodbye when the dog lunged at her, knocking Eli in the chest and biting Lena’s face several times.

Hemmingway finally locked his jaws underneath her right eye before her father, Shane Dickerson, pried the animal loose, according to the suit.

Lena is now 4, and the family is seeking unspecified punitive damages as well as reimbursement for their medical cost and trauma imposed by the incident.

“She is doing better than we had all hoped,” Bishay said.

Celebrate Pixies!

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

The great guys over at Orlando Attractions Magazine have scooped up some more concept art for “What Will You Celebrate?”, as well as new pictures of what the in-park Disney Fairies characters will look like at both Disneyland & Walt Disney World, that was shown off this morning at a “Business Behind the Magic” presentation by Disney:

This basically shows off the some general decorations that both Disneyland & Walt Disney World will get. I really like the way that the Habor Blvd. guest entrance will be re-done.

Some concept for the new “Celebrate Today!” show, as well as some weird bikes of some sort.

Here you can see the final costume designs for the Disney Fairies characters.

Orlando Attractions Magazine also has a video where Francois Leroux, vice president of Walt Disney World Entertainment, describes the new Pixie Hollow meet ‘n greets for Disneyland & Walt Disney World. For more information on all things shown off in this post, check out this blog post on OAM.

Myrna Litt’s 9/21 Photo Report

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

It’s once again time for a photo report from our very own Myrna Litt. She attended yesterday’s Pin Trading Night at the Paradise Pier Hotel, & got these lovely pictures for us (plus a couple from Downtown Disney):

The Pacific Ballroom was quite crowded.

These are add a name pins, where (as the name implies) you can add your name to the pin.

A look at some lovely pins coming out this Christmas.

People trading pins at the trading boards.

A kids zone was set up.

The kids trading board.

Concept art of next year’s Summer Pin Festival, the Haunted Mansion O-Pin House.

Construction seems to of wrapped up at Department 56 in Downtown Disney. We’re now just waiting for a new tenant to move in next door.

The beautiful Monorail Blue zipped by, & Myrna manged to get a quick shot of it.

Finally, Myrna captured a quick little video of the crowds & trading at this month’s Pin Trading Night:

Key to the Land

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Often when guests visit the Disneyland Resort, they are asked by Cast Members when entering the park if they’d like to take an online survey about their day at the park, & how the whole Resort experience can be improved. My family is asked to take this survey quite often, & in a recent survey, this possible idea was brought up:

One card does it all!
 Load spending money directly onto your Annual Pass for flexibility, convenience and added benefits:

• Flexible – use your card to dine and shop anywhere at the Disneyland® Resort
• Convenient – one card is all you need for your admission and purchases during your visit
• Safe – a Passport photo keeps your spending dollars secure
• Customizable – reload your card at any Disneyland® Resort location or online
• Family Friendly – add an allowance to your teen’s Passport to let them explore the Resort without worrying about cash

If you’re familiar with staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, then think of this as being some what similar to a Key to the World card. I personally think this is an absolutely fantastic idea & hope it comes to pass.

Yet Another “What Will You Celebrate?” Website

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

While there are still 3 months remaining in the long running Year of a Million Dreams at the Disney Parks, the marketing campaign for “What Will You Celebrate?” is already in full swing. If you head over to Disneyland.com, you can plainly see that the mouse-ear balloons have already taken over the place. More interestingly, there is now a Disneyland Resort specific page for the 2009 celebration that focuses only on what guests of the Anaheim Vacation Kingdom will be able to see or do when they are invited to “Celebrate Everyday!” beginning January 1st, 2009. The website features an overview of what you can get if you visit the Disneyland Resort for your birthday, anniversary, a reunion, etc. There’s also links to a page for the new entertainment in the parks, as well as the “kick-off” for the promotion, Miley Cyrus’ Sweet 16 event. You can see the new website & all of its features by clicking here.

This banner on the front page of the website is a horrible photo-shopped picture of the Magic Kingdom’s new Liberty Square bridge, with Sleeping Beauty Castle in its old color scheme.

More “What Will You Celebrate?” News To Sink Your Teeth Into

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

As was stated yesterday, news (big & small) is continuing to come out about 2009’s “What will you Celebrate?” campaign at the Disney Parks. Here are some more details we have been able to gather:

Disney will be stressing the idea of getting specially made cakes for your celebrations next year.

Disneyland will begin selling Birthday buckets that will include small cakes, gifts, birthday cards, & a collectible pin.

We should have a video of the New York City press event up on Disneyland News Today & WDW News Today a little later this evening. Stay tuned for more!!!

How Many Details Will We Get?

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

A couple more small details have come in for the new “What Will You Celebrate?” promotion:

*Based on ticket prices at the Main Entrance ticket booth. Adults receive a birthday fun card in the amount of an adult ticket. Children ages 3-9 receive a birthday fun card in the amount of a child ticket. See terms and conditions of the birthday fun card and details on participating locations.

**The number of birthday FASTPASS® tickets issued is limited and may not be available after 11am. Valid Theme Park admission is required. Use of birthday FASTPASS® ticket is restricted to the celebrant and up to 5 members of his/her party.

Also be sure to check out the official page for “What Will You Celebrate?”, that has yet another version of the “Time of Your Life” theme.

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today as more details come in on 2009’s new promotion.

More Information on “What Will You Celebrate?”

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

The details for the 2009 “What Will You Celebrate?” events at the Disney Parks are continuing to pour in:

  • The Disney Parks website has been updated with information about the new celebration already. You can view the altered website by going HERE. There is also a website devoted to just the 2009 celebration that you can see HERE.
  • Here are two versions of the logo for “What Will You Celebrate?”:
  • If you want to receive a free 1-day pass on your birthday, you can register online at the website we listed above or fill out paperwork when you arrive at one of the Disneyland parks on that same day. To clarify a rumor posted yesterday, here are the prizes that can be accepted as an alternative to the 1-day park birthday pass:

    A birthday fun card in an amount equal to the price of a 1-day Magic Your Way base ticket* for you to use on your birthday for merchandise, recreation or fun activities at select participating locations at the Disneyland® Resort; or a special birthday FASTPASS® badge+ for certain attractions at the Theme Park you visit on your birthday; or a 1-day Magic Your Way base ticket for you to use any time until your next birthday.

  • You can see two promotional videos for “What will you Celebrate?” by viewing them below:

    These two videos reveal that Disney will be keeping the “Where Dreams Come True” tag-line beyond the Year of a Million Dreams and the castle in the clouds logo in some shape or form. The two videos also feature what will be the theme song for “What Will You Celebrate?”.

  • You can get details about a road tour that Disney is making to promote this special celebration by going HERE.
  • While we have already previewed a few of the pins coming out to commemorate this event in 2009, here is yet another that will be released:

Celebrate!

As we are sure there will be more details on the way, be sure to stay tuned to Disneyland News Today as more information becomes public on 2009’s “What Will You Celebrate?” campaign at the Disneyland Resort.

“What Will You Celebrate?” Now Official

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Here is a press release from earlier today on all the details for next year’s new “Disney Parks” celebration:

NEW YORK (Sept. 18, 2008) – Everyone who visits a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park on their birthday in 2009 can get in free, as Disney Parks embraces a newly identified family travel trend called “celebration vacations.”

In this new national trend, American families are hitting the road to mark life’s special occasions – birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, reunions and more – with a “celebration vacation.” In 2009, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts will lead this growing trend with new entertainment and services that allow guests to turn their personal milestones into magical Disney experiences.

And to kick it all off – a first-ever opportunity for guests to receive a free ticket to one of the Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme parks on their birthday in 2009.

“Birthdays are the one occasion that we all share every year,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, at an announcement event today in New York. “We thought a free birthday ticket would be the icing on the cake as we extend this new ‘celebration vacation’ trend to Disney Parks.”

Disney parks provide the perfect setting for this new style of vacation that celebrates the special occasions in life, Rasulo added.

Whether a guest is celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, Quinceañera or any special occasion, Disney parks already are filled with favorite characters, world-class attractions and entertainment, and legendary guest service – exactly the “something for everyone” that trend-watchers say families look for in a “celebration vacation.”

“The special moments in your life become truly magical when you celebrate at a Disney park,” Rasulo said. “Sharing a milestone at Disney connects families, friends and generations.”

Nationwide Survey Reveals ‘Celebration Vacation’ Trend

A nationwide survey of nearly 4,600 adults conducted by Ypartnership – co-author of the influential National Travel Monitor – showed that 70 percent of U.S. leisure travelers have taken a vacation with the primary purpose of marking a special occasion in their lives – a “celebration vacation,” as Ypartnership President and CEO Peter Yesawich termed it.

Respondents mentioned a broad range of events worth celebrating with a special vacation – not just birthdays and anniversaries but a first vacation with children, a job promotion or recovery from an illness.

Whenever something positive happens in their lives, people seek out ways to make them more special, Yesawich said, and vacations are clearly perceived as both an appropriate and desirable way to do so.

“Time does pass quickly and there is a growing trend to slow down our frenetic lifestyles and stop to rejoice around the things that matter,” he said. “Families on ‘celebration vacations’ are looking to truly commemorate moments in their lives – in special places everyone can enjoy.”

Research showed that when they take that “celebration vacation,” families are looking for destinations that provide activities for children and – better yet – activities adults and children can enjoy together.

“Given these findings, it’s not surprising that Disney Parks topped the list of destinations where families would most like to celebrate these special occasions,” Yesawich said.

Turning Life’s Special Moments Into a Personal Disney Celebration

“We see our parks as the ideal setting for a personal celebration,” Rasulo said. “Guests can immerse themselves in their favorite stories and their favorite characters, creating a visit they’ll never forget.

“And when our cast members get involved, it feels as if the entire park is celebrating along with you.”

At Walt Disney World Resort, guests can add on to the fun, choosing from more than 200 experiences ranging from breathtaking (magical fireworks cruises, sunrise safaris, diving the depths with undersea creatures) to mirth-making (Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, character dining, kids’ pirate adventures). At Disneyland Resort, celebrants can book more than 50 magical experiences, including “My Disneyland Birthday Party” and unique Disneyland guided tours.

With all there is to do in Disney parks, guests can tailor their celebration with favorite attractions, favorite characters and special experiences. Maybe they have a “princess” day with themed meals, shows, attractions and perfectly princess merchandise at Disneyland. Or they turn Walt Disney World “wild” with trail riding, bass fishing and water skiing.
Even before the Ypartnership findings, Disney noticed the celebration trend happening in its parks, Rasulo noted. For instance, guests have visited the parks to propose marriage, celebrate a child’s passage into high school, or pull the whole family together for the golden anniversary of their parents. “But Walt Disney World and Disneyland are now poised to champion milestone vacations for families and friends in a breakthrough way,” he said.

“We’re asking our guests, ‘What will YOU celebrate?’

“Part of the celebration is all the firsts that magically happen at Disney Parks,” Rasulo said.

“Guests become the star of their own celebration. It could be a first trip to Disney or a first family vacation without the stroller. We want to make a first visit – and every visit – even more memorable.”

Even if they’re not celebrating, Rasulo said, guests will be immersed in a “Celebrate Today!” spirit, making every day a party.

Making it Easier than Ever to Plan

Planning any event can be a challenge. With Disney’s new celebration planning tools, it’s easier than ever for guests to plan celebrations large and small, customizing and personalizing each experience and tending to all the details, from a special cake to an elaborate one-of-a-kind celebration that only Disney could create.
Thanks to new Web tools, guests can discover magical experiences, unique events, dining enhancements and more.

Disney’s planning services allow guests to stay focused on what really matters – the people closest to them. And vacation packages make celebrating at Disney right for any budget.

Customizing Your Celebration

Depending on the Disney park they are headed to, guests can order everything from special dining to princess tea parties, from yacht cruises to treasure hunting on a pirate sailing adventure, from a quiet trail ride to parasailing thrills. Or they can opt for magical experiences for their group – from dessert parties to a Magic Kingdom fireworks cruise to special entertainment.

Among add-on experiences guests can choose to customize their “celebration vacation”:

  • Custom Bakery Cakes and Signature Desserts: Disney chefs create an unforgettable finale to a special dinner with a beautifully decorated cake themed to any occasion or a new line of celebration desserts.
  • For Lovebirds: Sweetheart dinners for two in which couples can clink “Celebrate Today!” champagne flutes.
  • Family Portraits: Capture the memory with a portrait session with Walt Disney World photographers. Build a custom photo album with Disney’s PhotoPass.
  • Personalized Souvenirs: Mark your occasion with personalized Mouse ears, character T-shirts and collectible pins.
  • Decorate Your Disney Guest Room: Step into a resort room decorated to fit your celebration theme with confetti, banners, surprises and more.
  • Stay Inside a Dream Theme: Book a themed guest room at either destination – princess-themed or Mickey-inspired at Disneyland or – coming in 2009 – pirate-themed at Walt Disney World Resort.
  • Set Sail: Book a private romantic cruise on a yacht or set your party afloat on a shared magical fireworks voyage.
  • Go Inside the Magic: Behind-the-scenes tours take you inside the storytelling, adventure and history of Disney Parks.
  • Disney Story Book Experiences: Choose from pirate adventures, tea parties, princess makeovers and more – all with the magic of Disney.
  • Disneyland Parties: “Celebration Roundup and Barbecue at Big Thunder Ranch,” all-new, is a full-blown party complete with frontier entertainment, goodie bags and a surprise treat for everyone – no matter what they’re celebrating. “My Disneyland Birthday Party” features cake decorating, party hats and even Mickey and Minnie pay a visit.

Celebrating in the Parks

Disney is unwrapping all-new entertainment with memory-makers in mind, allowing guests to focus their celebration on favorite characters, favorite attractions and favorite stories to create a custom celebration in the park. New park experiences coming in 2009 for all park guests to enjoy:

  • Street Parties: Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Park come to life with interactive street parties. The call to “Celebrate Today!” goes out to guests, music floods the streets, dancing kicks into high gear and the parks become “the happiest party on Earth.”
  • Tomorrowland Party: A high-energy, retro-futuristic music video dance party features Stitch, an interactive dance troupe, and a DJ celebration host who’s inviting all Walt Disney World guests to come party, dance and celebrate.
  • Park Décor: The parks will be decorated with colorful banners, balloons and festive party hats – as if awaiting your celebration.
  • Buttons: Complimentary celebration buttons will help Disney cast members and fellow guests recognize you and your celebration.

Memories to Last a Lifetime

Disney parks are the ultimate setting for any celebration, turning a special occasion into a magical Disney experience.  And with the opportunity of free admission to a Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort theme park on your birthday in 2009, it’s even more special.  All it takes is a valid ID including proof of birth date.  Guests can get more details and start the process by registering their birthdays at www.disneyparks.com.

“We believe Disney parks are uniquely positioned for any celebration and offer the ultimate setting for marking a cherished milestone,” Rasulo said.  “People trust Disney to make an occasion truly magical.  And now more than ever, Disney will help guests seize those special moments and turn them into memories that will live forever in their hearts.”

For more information or to book a Disney “celebration vacation,” guests can visit www.disneyparks.com, call 407/W-DISNEY or contact their local travel agent.