The NEW DLNT Podcast Episode 8 (3/1/10) – Normal Edition

WDWNT on March 3, 2010

Join me, Sean Dickey, and a cast including Brian Martsolf, Jamie Nakagiri, Stephen Katherman, and Homan Hashemzadeh for a variety show dedicated to the Disneyland Resort and its many fans. Plenty of Disneyland information and fun awaits you on this edition of the Disneyland News Today Podcast!!!

On this week’s show, we’ll have the return of the weekly Disneyland Resort News & Rumor Report and This Week in Disneyland History where we discuss the opening of the Indiana Jones Adventure ride at Disneyland Park.

If you would like to contact us with any questions, suggestions, comments, or concerns you can email us at wdwnewstoday@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail message at (206)-666-2982.

Discuss this show, see our show notes, and vote for the segments you want to hear every week by going over to the WDWNT Network Community Forums at www.wdwnewstoday.com/forums.

Please visit the official “WDWNT: The Weekend” website and sign up for the WDWNT: The Weekend event newsletter at WDWNTtheWeekend.com. Be sure to visit often as event details are updated quite regularly.

Be sure to visit the entire WDWNT Network of Disney inspired websites and podcasts by visiting WDWNT.com, where “Anything is Possible!”

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The Silly Swings Gets Its Top

WDWNT on March 2, 2010

Silly Symphony Swings

From The Disney Parks Blog:

Many people have posted photos online of Silly Symphony Swings, a new attraction coming to Paradise Pier in Disney’s California Adventure park later this year. Today we’re giving you a chance to see how some of the magic happens behind the scenes. The photo above shows Walt Disney Imagineering Senior Dimensional Designer Steve Cotroneo sculpting a four-foot tall Mickey Mouse that you can now see at the very top of Silly Symphony Swings.

For those of you who many not be familiar with the attraction, Silly Symphony Swings is a classic swing attraction, and it’s themed to Walt Disney’s animated short, “The Band Concert” (1935). In the musical cartoon, Mickey Mouse is trying to conduct a presentation of the “William Tell Overture” by Gioachino Rossini, but Donald Duck interrupts him and chaos follows. When Mickey finally regains control of his orchestra, they are all swept up in a passing tornado.

In the attraction, guests will see Mickey conducting the barnyard orchestra, and as a tornado passes through the Park, the central tower begins to rise and spin, and Mickey’s band concert really swings into high gear.

Come Party With Some Imagineers!!

WDWNT on February 25, 2010

From D23:

02.24.10 – In addition to D23 Members — major stars in their own right! — the D23 First Anniversary Party, to be held March 10 inside Fantasyland at Disneyland, will play host to a number of VIPs who have contributed significantly to Disney’s legacy, including:

Bob Gurr. Named a Disney Legend in 2004 for his decades of innovative work at Walt Disney Imagineering, Bob specialized in vehicle design and worked on the designs of the Autopia automobiles and the antique cars and double-decker buses used on Main Street, U.S.A. He also played a lead role in the design of the Monorail, Matterhorn Bobsleds and Flying Saucers attractions and more.

Tony Baxter. A legendary Imagineer, Tony has played a key role in the design and creation of many Disney attractions and theme parks of the last 40 years, including Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, the Indiana Jones Adventure and the overall creative role for Disneyland Paris.

Kevin Corcoran. Named a Disney Legend in 2006, Kevin has enjoyed a long and distinguished acting career with Disney, starring in such classic films as Old Yeller, The Shaggy Dog, Swiss Family Robinson and more.

Bill Farmer. Named a Disney Legend at the inaugural D23 Expo in 2009, Bill’s voice is familiar to cartoon fans around the world as the voice of Goofy and Pluto. He has also lent his talents to a long list of Disney favorites, including Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Beauty and the Beast and such Disney·Pixar films as a bug’s life, Toy Story and Toy Story 2.

Margaret Kerry. Margaret was the original live-action model for Tinker Bell.

Dave Smith. Named a Disney Legend in 2007, Dave Smith, chief archivist, the Walt Disney Archives, founded the Disney Archives in 1970.

Dan Roebuck. For more than two decades Dan has enjoyed a successful acting career. He currently shines in the role of Dr. Leslie Arzt on the hit ABC series LOST.

David Stollery. Named a Disney Legend in 2006, David Stollery enjoyed a solid acting career before he came to the Walt Disney Studios but it was there that he made his biggest mark. He played Marty Markham, the spoiled rich boy, in The Adventures of Spin and Marty and Dan Thompson in Westward Ho The Wagons!

Denny Newell. A senior show director at Disneyland, Denny is a 24-year Disneyland Cast Member who has played a directorial role for Celebrate! A Street Party, Disney’s Electrical Parade, A Christmas Fantasy Parade, Drawn to the Magic and Pixie Hollow.

Tickets are still on sale for the Anniversary and you can find the link Here.

Several DLNT Staff Members will be attending the event so stay tuned to DLNT for video and a photo report from the event.

New Manager at Napa Rose

WDWNT on February 24, 2010

From the OC Register

Disney selected a manager of a steakhouse at the Bellagio in Las Vegas to head its upscale Napa Rose restaurant.

Philippe Tosques, who worked at the Prime Steakhouse in Las Vegas for about three years, is set to begin his job as general manager at the Disneyland Resort restaurant on March 1, Disney announced Wednesday on Twitter. The award-winning Napa Rose sits inside the Grand Californian Hotel.

Betsy Sanchez, a Disneyland Resort spokeswoman, said Tosques was unavailable for an interview Wednesday. Disney did not release further information about Tosques. The Prime Steakhouse could not be reached.

Tosques previously worked as a consultant and manager at other Las Vegas restaurants, as well as the Hotel Sofitel in Los Angeles and Chicago, according to his LinkedIn account. Tosques won restaurant awards in both Las Vegas and Chicago.

The previous Napa Rose general manager, Michael Jordan,  left his job at Disney in September. He now is the president of The Beachcomber restaurants in Crystal Cove and Malibu.

WDWNTube Upgrades Videos to Full High Definition

WDWNT on February 24, 2010

The WDWNTube video site recently added the capability to post videos in full High Definition (1080p resolution), so we thought we would share a few of the updated videos here and show you just how awesome these videos now look (trust me, you’ll agree if you watch some of them):

Disney’s Electrical Parade (2009) at Disney’s California Adventure

Disneyland’s Fantasmic! (2009)

Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade version 3 (January 2010)

Fantasy in the Sky fireworks (New Year’s Eve 2009)

WDWNTube Upgrades Videos to Full High Definition

WDWNT on February 24, 2010

The WDWNTube video site recently added the capability to post videos in full High Definition (1080p resolution), so we thought we would share a few of the updated videos here and show you just how awesome these videos now look (trust me, you’ll agree if you watch some of them):

Disney’s Electrical Parade (2009) at Disney’s California Adventure

Disneyland’s Fantasmic! (2009)

Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade version 3 (January 2010)

Fantasy in the Sky fireworks (New Year’s Eve 2009)