Anaheim Resort Bus Bursts Into Flames at Orangewood and Harbor

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

According to the OC Register:

Flames from a resort district shuttle bus shot some 50 feet into the air while a bus driver was beginning her shift.

Just before 7 a.m., the driver had pulled out of the Coach America parking lot at the 2000 block of Manchester Avenue when she noticed smoke coming out of the front of the empty 28-passenger bus, Anaheim fire spokeswoman Maria Sabol said.

The propane natural gas-powered vehicle adorned with Disney logos quickly burst into flames at Orangewood Avenue, about a block east of Harbor Boulevard.

Fire authorities allowed the propane to burn out before extinguishing the flames, Sabol said.

Besides the driver, no one was onboard the bus. No one was injured.

Officials from Anaheim Transportation Network – the nonprofit organization that owns the buses – and the driver’s employer, Coach America, were on scene but refused to comment.

The bus transports passengers from resort destinations to area hotels.

No Room For One More

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

According the OC Register’s Around Disney blog:

Walt Disney Co. officials announced today that 1,900 salaried positions have been eliminated because of restructuring in part made necessary by the troubled economy.

Disney announced in mid-February that it had begun laying off employees after a round of voluntary buyouts, but the company did not release a figure on how many employees had lost their jobs until today.

Locally, some 200 people have been laid off at Anaheim’s Disneyland Resort and an additional 100 positions will not be filled there, Disney spokeswoman Suzi Brown said. The positions were executive, management and administrative jobs behind the scenes.

Most of the positions eliminated came from elsewhere in the company, including 900 layoffs in Florida. And 500 open positions will not be filled there. About 200 positions, from layoffs and the elimination of open spots, came from other Disney sites.

About 200 layoffs came from other Disney sites.

In total, it marks an 11-percent reduction in workforce in the executive/administrative segment, Brown said.

“These decisions were not made lightly, but are essential to maintaining our leadership in family tourism and reflect today’s economic realities,” Brown said. “We continue to work through our reorganization and manage our business based on demand.”

Few hourly employees have been affected by the layoffs. Disneyland announced last week that it will close Yamabuki restaurant at its Paradise Pier Hotel on April 11, which employees 39 cast members. Disney said it will work to find other positions for those employees.

Disney officials have said they will continue to evaluate staffing. In a previous statement, Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said: “The long-term success of Parks and Resorts depends upon our ability to adapt and innovate.”

Disney Third Anaheim Theme Park Report is a Hoax

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Don’t be fooled, a third theme park is NOT coming to Anaheim:

Everyone can calm down. There’s no third Disney theme park on the way to Anaheim.

The Orange County Metblog published a report today saying Disney officially announced it was building a water park patterned after the one in Japan.

The water park would have been built on the Fujishige farm property in Anaheim that Disney bought in the 1990s.

The idea of building a third park has been kicked around for years.

Suzi Brown, a Disneyland spokeswoman, confirmed this morning that the report was a hoax.

April Fool’s Day joke?

Around Disney is trying to get ahold of the blogger.

Disney Cruise Line Returns to the West Coast

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

At a press conference today at the El Capitan Theatre, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Geraldine Knatz, Ph.d, together announced that Disney Cruise Line plans to reposition the Disney Wonder cruise ship from its Florida base in Port Canaveral to the West Coast in 2011.  An agreement for two-years, with a three-year extension option is set to be considered by the Port of Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners on April 2, 2009.  The addition of a new homeport for Disney Cruise Line is part of the overall expansion plan for the company, which will provide Disney fans with opportunities to sail with Disney on both the East and West Coasts.

Shawn Hutchinson’s 3/27/09 “Celebrate! A Street Party” Photo Report

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Shawn was right next to me watching the Main Street stop of the second performance of “Celebrate! A Street Party” yesterday, and got some great photos while I was grabbing video (which is available in my photo report just bellow this report, or on the Disneyland News Today Podcast feed):

It was very busy at Disneyland yesterday.

A big crowd waiting for the 6:30 performance of the parade on Main Street.

And here comes the “parade”.

Read More about Shawn Hutchinson’s 3/27/09 “Celebrate! A Street Party” Photo Report

DLR Photo Report – 3/27/09 :: Featuring Video of Celebrate! A Street Party

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

I was at the Disneyland Resort yesterday to attend the second ever showing of the “Celebrate! A Street Party” parade, as well as to check out some other happenings around the Disneyland Resort. Let’s get to my photos:

You now can “Celebrate Today!” at the Disneyland Resort, as opposed to the place Where Dreams Come True.

They now list the parking price on the screens too.

A view over to Disneyland from Mickey & Friends.

The “Celebrate Today!” themed parking entrance signs.

A sign for D23 in the Downtown Disney entrance to the Grand Californian.

Read More about DLR Photo Report – 3/27/09 :: Featuring Video of Celebrate! A Street Party

Buy Three Nights, Get Two Nights and a New Fireworks Show Free!

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

A press release for an excellent new vacation deal holds more to it than just that deal:

Get Two More Days & Nights FREE, When You Buy Three at the Disneyland Resort

It’s an offer as exciting as summer itself! You can get two extra hotel nights — plus two extra days of Theme Park admission — FREE with the purchase of a 3-night or longer Walt Disney Travel Company package to the Disneyland® Resort. That gives you extra time to enjoy all the classic shows and attractions in both Parks by day, then see the night in a whole new light with this summer’s electrifying lineup of after-dark entertainment:

  • A bigger, brighter and bolder Fantasmic! ignites the night
  • Disney’s Electrical Parade, where a twinkling Tinker Bell brings new sparkle to a dazzling classic
  • Magical, the new fireworks spectacular, illuminates the sky with Disney magic

This offer is valid for travel April 1 through Sept. 26, 2009, but must be booked by Aug. 11, 2009.

Plus, book before May 31, 2009, and kids fly free on Alaska Airlines from select cities through June 15, 2009.

Hopefully you picked up on the last of the 3 entertainment offerings described, which is supposedly Disneyland’s new fireworks show, simply called Magical. The title is all that is known at this time, but stay tuned to Disneyland News Today as we get more in on this breaking news story.

Shawn Hutchinson’s 3/20/09 Photo Report

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

It’s once again time for a photo report from our very own Shawn Hutchinson:

Celebrate on Daisy’s Parking Level!

A sign has been put up at the Opera House advertising the soon to open Disneyland Story Featuring Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln.

Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years closed last Sunday.

The facade for the Round-up and Barbecue at Big Thunder Ranch has been revealed, and it looks great!

I don’t remember the Cheshire Cat being on the Storybook Land boats.

Read More about Shawn Hutchinson’s 3/20/09 Photo Report

Man Police Nabbed at Disneyland Found Guilty

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

According to the OC Register’s Around Disney blog:

A Monrovia man arrested last year in Disneyland’s parking lot after a day at the theme park was convicted today of 33 felonies for crimes he committed elsewhere.

Anthony Hislar, 27, faces life in prison for crimes including home-invasion robberies, carjackings and a shooting in the fall. A Los Angeles Superior Court jury did not reach a verdict on a charge of attempted murder and a mistrial was declared on that count.

Hislar was arrested on Sept. 24 in the Disneyland parking lot by Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department deputies and Anaheim police officers.

Deputies received a tip that Hislar was spending the day at Disneyland and apprehended him as he was leaving the park at about 6:30 p.m.

During the arrest, a stolen Mercedes-Benz linked to Hislar was recovered in the parking lot.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 7.