Mickey’s Circus- Aulani Resort
Two new figures for the Aulani Hawaiian Resort. These two are by Maria Clapsis and the expected release is December 2012.
An Aerial View of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Construction – April 2012
Courtesy of Scott Keating and scottkeating.net, we once again have some fantastic aerial photos of the construction of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort:
Animation Hall nears completion… looks like the paint stroke is the last thing that needs to be done
The Finding Nemo wings look ready to go
The Lion King wings coming along nicely
The Cozy Cones around the Cars pool taking shape, along with Sarge’s Surplus hut
We can finally see some details emerging at the Little Mermaid wings
The first wings (Finding Nemo) open May 31st! Who’s excited?
Park 11 Explained
Park 11
October 19
$12.95
12 figure blind box series based on Disney’s California Adventure Park.
Update 10/13/12 All of set list revealed including combo topper. Pictures of all figures added.
Update 10/10/12 DCA themed Mickey Combo Topper will also be released on 10/19 for $24.95 along with the blind boxes. Park 11 will also get an online release on this same day.
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Minnie’s Fly Girls 2012 Song and dance show at Condor Flats.  photo from mydisneyblog.com |
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King Triton’s Carousel of the Sea 2001 The otter is just one of many sea creatures guests can ride on this aquatic themed carousel.  |
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California Screamin’ 2001 This represents the original attraction vehicles on this DCA roller coaster.  photo by Express Monorail on Flickr |
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Disney’s Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular 2003 The plot of this musical is based on the move, but the Genie steals the show with his present day reference comedy routine.  photo by Disney Cruise Line |
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Monster’s Inc. Mike & Sully to the Rescue! 2006 A dark ride where guests board taxi ride vehicles for an adventure around Monstropolis.  photo from justacarguy.com |
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World of Color 2010 The World of Color nighttime water spectacular weaves water, color, fire and light into a kaleidoscope of fantasy and imagination.  photo by Disney |
photo from Vinylmation Exchange
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Francis’s Lady Bug Boogie 2002 A tea cup like ride at A Bugs Land in DCA.  |
photo from Vinylmation Exchange
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Man Hat ‘n Beach 2001 A former store in the Paradise Pier section.  |
photo from Vinylmation Exchange
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Mickey’s Fun Wheel 2001 (Sun Wheel from 01-08) 160 foot tall Ferris wheel.  |
photo from Vinylmation Exchange
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Turtle talk with Crush 2004 Interactive attraction with Crush from Finding Nemo.  |
photo from Vinylmation Exchange
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DJ Dance ‘n Drive 2012 A new character in Cars Land that plays music for guests.  |
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Mystery Chaser |
photo from Vinylmation Exchange
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Combo Topper Sunshine Plaza Mickey 2001 This was Mickey’s meet ‘n greet character in the area that is now Buena Vista Street.  |
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9″ Grizzly Peak 2001 LE 800 The centerpiece of DCA is a man-made, 110-foot mountain in the shape of a grizzly bear, which represents California’s state animal. 
photo from laughingplace.com
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Fantasyland Inspired Art – Product Release & Signing
Immerse yourself in the magic of Fantasyland with new artwork from Disney Parks created by Walt Disney Imagineers, Brian Crosby, Jim Crouch and Jeremy Fulton, along with Disney inspired artists, Steve Adams, Jody Daily, Jeff Granito, Katie Kelly, Maggie Parr, Jimmy Pickering, George Scribner, Darren Wilson and Yakovetic. Artwork will be available in a various formats, including original art, limited edition giclee and deluxe print. Prices vary.
On November 10th from 9:00 am to 11:00 am at The Disney Gallery on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland park, meet the following Walt Disney Imagineers, Brian Crosby, Jim Crouch and Jeremy Fulton and Disney inspired artists, Steve Adams, Jody Daily, Jeff Granito and George Scribner.
Landscape of Flavor at Art of Animation Sketches An Exciting Menu
From Pam Brandon on the Disney Parks Blog:
We got a chance to talk with Michelle Clegg, food & beverage operations manager for the soon-to-open Landscape of Flavors food court at the new Disney’s Art of Animation Resort that debuts next month at Walt Disney World Resort.
They’re still tweaking the menu, but all sorts of creative new items make this the next generation of Disney food courts. Even burgers are “create your own”; you can start with a beef, chicken or veggie burger, and then the kitchen will pile on your favorite toppings (say, pepperjack cheese, pickles, tomatoes, onions and lettuce). But most fun are the four onstage tandoor ovens where chefs will bake bread and roast chicken, shrimp, sausage and acorn squash and other veggies – Michelle says that the roasted acorn squash is her favorite dish at the new restaurant. Tandoors are cylindrical ovens that reach very high temperatures and quickly bake, so it should be a grand onstage show for diners. The real treat is naan, a delicious Indian bread that’s slapped directly onto the oven’s walls and left to bake until puffy and lightly browned, perfect for wrapping all sorts of delicious food.
Mongolian Grill Beef Stir Fry
And the restaurant’s Mongolian grill is another new touch – 3 feet in diameter, the chefs will make everything onstage, from challah bread French toast for breakfast to grilled beef and fish for lunch and dinner.
Shrimp Pasta
Make-Your-Own Yogurt Parfait
Mickey Fruit Tart
Egg White Frittata
Chocolate Chip Pancakes
There’s lot of attention on “better-for-you” options, so you’ll find buckwheat waffles and pasta, multigrain rice, low-fat smoothies, egg white frittatas and make-your-own yogurt parfaits. But it’s all about choices, so there are still pizzas and fries (and chocolate chip pancakes).
French Vanilla Coffee
And we’re excited to see real gelato on the menu, the Italian version of ice cream with less butterfat but bigger flavor. That and a whole menu of coffee drinks, including iced French vanilla, iced mocha, cappuccino, espresso and mochachino. We’ll carpool to the new resort for our 3 p.m. break!
Episode 088 Adventurers Club Colonel Chaser – Mickey’s Circus
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Ep. 088 Adventurers Club Colonel Chaser – Mickey’s Circus This is our huge recap of Mickey’s Circus, the largest Vinylmation event of the year. We review the event and talk about each and every Vinylmation Preview we saw all weekend long. We also have a special interview with Disney Design Group artists Thomas Scott, Eric Caszatt, Maria Clapsis and Caley Hicks. |
Earl of Sandwich Officially Opens November 2nd!
From Janet Knox on the Disney Parks Blog:
Earlier this year, I shared that we soon will welcome Earl of Sandwich to the Downtown Disney District at theDisneyland Resort. I know many of you will share my excitement that official Grand Opening Ceremony is set for November 2! We are thrilled since this is the only Earl of Sandwich location in California, and we have many guests eagerly anticipating this new location.
Construction is almost complete, and then comes the fun part – testing out all those delicious sandwiches. Known as the “World’s Greatest Hot Sandwich,” the Earl of Sandwich was created by a direct descendent of John Montague, the earl who invented the sandwich in 1792. Each day, the restaurant bakes fresh artisan bread and roasts meats using traditional family recipes. The restaurant will offer 14 different sandwiches, all priced at $6.99, including The Original 1792, pictured here, with roast beef, sharp cheddar cheese and creamy horseradish. Stay tuned for more details about the restaurant and the grand opening, and be sure to stop by on your next visit!
Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar Opening Next to Tutto Italia This May
From Pam Brandon on the Disney Parks Blog:
With an opening set for early May, here’s a sneak peek at Tutto Gusto, the new wine bar adjacent to Tutto Italia Ristorante in the Italy Pavilion at Epcot that’s sure to be a new World Showcase hot spot.
Gusto takes over the former lobby space of Tutto Italia and extends back toward Via Napoli. The 96-seat Tutto Gusto will be a more intimate space, with décor inspired by an Italian wine cellar with stone walls and floors, and vaulted ceilings and a fireplace in the dining room. Hours will be 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The chefs have created a small-plate menu that takes guests on a fabulous culinary tour of Italy. There are six sections and all sorts of wonderful tastes: Affettati (cured, sliced meats); Formaggi (Italian cheeses); Panini(sandwiches); Piccoli Piatti (small plates); Cavatappi (a type of pasta), and Dolci (sweets).
With more than two dozen small plates with everything from a taste of prosciutto de Parma to creamy burrata cheese and mussels with white wine, we can’t wait for a taste. The pasta dishes all are made with cavatappi, a corkscrew-shaped pasta, and include three versions: tomato and bufala mozzarella; shrimp, chilis, garlic and tomato; and arugula, potato, pancetta, tomatoes and asiago cheese. Classic Italian!
More than 200 Italian wines, including sparkling, reds and whites, and beers such as La Rossa, Moretti and Menabrea will be offered. Grappas – a distilled drink made from what remains of grapes after they have been pressed for winemaking – will be another specialty, or just sip an espresso or cappuccino.
Tutto Gusto is part of the Disney Dining Plan.
Cars Land Float in 124th Rose Parade
From Erin Glover of Disney Parks Blog:
We’re bringing the excitement of the newly expanded Disney California Adventure park to Pasadena, Calif., with a Cars Land-inspired float in the 124th Rose Parade on January 1, 2013! This year’s parade theme is “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” – which is perfect for a story like “Cars,” in which the journey is as much a part of the experience as the destination.
The float will feature floral representations of the stars of “Cars” – like Lightning McQueen, Sally, Luigi and Guido – along with familiar sights from the new Cars Land, including Ornament Valley, Radiator Springs Racers, the Cozy Cone Motel and more.
My favorite thing about Tournament of Roses Parade floats are all the moving pieces, and this float will have plenty! Our Cars Land float will come to life with a bouncing tire from Luigi’s Flying Tires, a bubbling “Original Radiator Spring,” real waterfalls and smoke-puffing baby tractors – you have to tune in to the parade to see all the amazing features for yourself!
The first Rose Parade was held on January 1, 1890, as a way for the city of Pasadena to show off its abundance of fresh flowers; parade entrants would decorate their carriages with hundreds of blooms. Today, the Rose Parade floats feature high-tech animation and natural materials from around the world.
Be sure to watch the 124th Rose Parade – either in person on January 1, 2013, in Pasadena or live on ABC-TV.
Wreck-It Ralph Coming Oct 26th
From Shawn Slater of Disney Parks Blog:
Meet Ralph, the “bad guy” who really wants to be a “good guy” in Disney’s newest animated adventure comedy “Wreck-It Ralph.” In the movie, Ralph goes game jumping across the arcade to prove he’s got what it takes to be a hero.
Now, Ralph’s set to do some park hopping, too! Ralph will be taking the train from Game Central Station to the Tomorrowland Starcade at Disneyland park, where you’ll be able to meet him starting this Friday, October 26.
Beginning October 28, Ralph will also be stopping in at The Magic of Disney Animation attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where part of the candy-coated cart racing game “Sugar Rush” is being recreated right now. So race on over to Disney Parks this fall to say “Hi!” to Ralph and his pal, Vanellope, and be sure to catch “Wreck-It Ralph” in theaters in 3D November 2.