DLNT News Roundup

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

I have a few things I wanted to let everyone know about that I’m wrapping up into this one post. Firstly, Disneyland is now offering a monthly payment plan for annual passports:

ANAHEIM, CALIF, December 15,  2008 – As Disneyland Resort celebrates the holiday gift-giving season, a newly launched Monthly Payment Program for Annual Passholders will make it easier for Southern California residents to have their own frequent Disneyland Resort celebrations in the year to come.

This new program lets Southern California residents enjoy the Disneyland Resort magic throughout the year with an Annual Passport, while paying in 12 monthly installments.   

By selecting the payment option, Guests will pay for the cost of a 1-Day, 1-Park  ticket upon purchase and will pay the remaining amount over the next 12  months, with no finance charges applied. For example, a Guest purchasing a Southern California Select Annual Passport for $134 would pay $69 at the time of purchase – with the remaining  balance of $65 spread out over the next 12 months.

“Annual Passports provide a great entertainment value and flexibility for our Guests who make frequent visits to our parks throughout the year,” said Jill Estorino, senior vice president of Marketing for the Disneyland Resort.  “Through this new program, Guests can literally turn a one-day ticket into an Annual Pass for less than $6 a month.  

“This  program was based on feedback from our current Annual Passholders – and we’re  excited to provide them with this new option just in time for the holidays,”  added Estorino.

The  Monthly Payment program for Annual Passports is offered only to Southern California residents within the 90000 and 93599 zip codes. All Annual Passport options are available through the program, including Premium, Deluxe, Southern California and Southern California Select Annual Passports. The  program is available only at the Resort’s ticket booths. Next  year, it will be offered for online purchases.

Secondly, Disney will soon be releasing a new merchandise set called Vinylmation, that looks to be very cool. A merchandise release has been planned for Walt Disney World, but there is nothing set for Disneyland just yet. Here’s a press release with information on this very nice looking merchandise set:

Vinylmation, the original vinyl collectible available exclusively at Disney Theme Parks has arrived! Be among the first to collect the newly released and highly anticipated Park 1 series that features art and designs inspired by the Disney Parks and available exclusively at select Disney Theme Park Merchandise locations. Vinymation is available in 3″ and 9″ sizes.

Packaged in blind packs, the 3″ Park 1 vinyls will feature designs such as Disney Design Group’s Monty Maldovan’s take on Kermit or Walt Disney Imagineer Kyle Price’s original Yeti design.
Also, check out the Limited Release 9″ Park Series 1 vinyls like the Safari Mickey created by Randy Noble of Disney Design Group. 

Each Vinylmation tray contains 24 packages randomly assorted with two complete sets of the Park Series One Collection, plus two mystery “chasers” per tray. Each package contains 1 of 12 different vinyl designs from one of our unique themed collections. 

Series 1

Bad Apple
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95 

Creepy Eyes
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95

Fireworks
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95

ELP Mickey
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95

Magical Stars
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95

SMRT-1
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95

Teacup
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95

Yeti Mickey
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95

Figmouse
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95

Monorail Red
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95

Kermit Mouse
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95

Finally, I just put up a video tour of the some-what new Pixie Hollow meet ‘n greet at Disneyland Park on to the WDWNTube. Click here to visit the site & download it!

Happy Birthday Uncle Walt

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

As I’m sure many of you are aware, today is Walt Disney’s 107th birthday, a day that really calls for celebration through-out the Disney online community. Of course with-out this man, none of the Disney parks, or our favorite Disney films would of been made. And if you’re reading this site, I’m sure you are a big fan of everything (or at least most things) created by this great man. Even though he died prematurely, I think it’s safe to say that his Imagineers & cast members have continued on his traditions since his death in 1966, & we still have the Disney parks around, more spectacular than ever. So I’d like to thank this great man for all that he’s done for me personally, as well as many people around the globe. You are my hero. Happy Birthday Uncle Walt!

Disney.com has redecorated itself for the day in honor of Walt & I think it’s worth checking out.

Some Very Interesting Rumors…

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

The latest Disneyland Update on MiceAge as always provides a great look at what could possibly be coming to the Disneyland Resort in the near future. Let’s take a look through some of the more interesting details brought up in this update:

  • Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln could very well be coming back in 2010, for Disneyland’s 55th anniversary, but with some very drastic changes. Some changes would be made to make the show very similar to the new version of the Hall of Presidents that will debut this July in Walt Disney World, that being the addition of George Washington & Barrack Obama with speaking roles, even though the attraction will still be just Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. The exit & entrance would be switched around so that guests can exit out into an expanded Disneyland/Walt Disney memorabilia exhibit. And the new location of the Disney Gallery is rumored to be connected next door in the current home of the Bank of Main Street, with the AP Processing center that is currently housed in the bank moving over to the Plaza Pavilion.
  • It’s a Small World Holiday will be opening officially this Friday, with soft openings planned to happen tomorrow & Thursday. The attraction will basically be the same overlay as it has been for the past 11 years, with-out the Disney characters or the new Americana room (that area will be covered in black drapes as always). The only change for this year’s holiday overlay will be the addition of the characters from the old Rainforest room to the South Seas room off in one corner of that room. The attraction will then close from January 5th to February 14th where the Americana scene will be unveiled & the Disney characters will be added. Apparently there are plans to incorporate these 2 new additions into next year’s holiday overlay.
  • Even though we here at Disneyland News Today have heard strong rumors that the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-through would be opening at the beginning of Holidays at the Disneyland Resort this Friday, it’s now more likely that it won’t open until Thanksgiving at the absolute earliest, maybe even later.
  • Disney is thinking of adding another parking structure to Resort on the site of the current Pumbaa parking lot, that will be desperately needed if attendance really does pick up at DCA. This structure is currently planned to open sometime in 2011, if all goes according to plan.
  • It seems Disney has finally nailed down a good plan on just how to refurbish the Disneyland Hotel. The plan at the moment is to first build a completely new 4th tower on a currently un-used site, & once that is complete, tear down 2 of the current towers & rebuild one from that, & then finally tear down & rebuild the 4th tower.
For more information on the topics above & plenty more, check out the Disneyland Update.

BREAKING NEWS: Disney Makes Huge Deal with Verizon Wireless

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Disney has just issued the following statement:

November 12, 2008 – Marking a first in both the travel and mobile industries, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and Verizon are teaming up for a multi-year relationship designed to enhance the guest experience – before, during and after guests arrive at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort.  This alignment allows guests to have a personal tour guide right in their wireless phones along with reliable new services at the parks. Early next year guests will also use Verizon Wireless’ technology when experiencing Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure, an ultra-interactive attraction coming to Epcot in Walt Disney World Resort.

“With more than 90 percent of families bringing a mobile phone into our Parks, our objective was to enhance the magical Disney experience through innovative wireless technology,” said Jay Rasulo, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.  “Imagine receiving up to the minute tips on special Park activities with just the touch of a button or receiving a call from Buzz Lightyear welcoming you to the Magic Kingdom.”

Beginning next year, guests will be able to access an array of features on their Verizon Wireless phones while at the Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort to help them make the most of their Disney experiences.  Planned services include an exclusive mobile application that will give guests with Verizon Wireless service the ability to easily locate shows, restaurants and the Disney characters anywhere inside the Parks; get real-time attraction availability information; access mobile games; receive messages from characters and more. Verizon Wireless is also continuing to invest in its wireless network from coast to coast, and the relationship with Disney means the wireless users will benefit from further enhancements to the Verizon Wireless network in the Parks. 

John Harrobin, senior vice president of digital media and marketing for Verizon, said, “All of our efforts focus on one goal: making the Disney experience even better for our customers.  There are few life experiences that are more memorable than visiting a Disney Park, and now guests with Verizon Wireless service will unlock even more magic from their visit – by navigating the Parks easier and faster with instant access to key information such as ‘Where’s Mickey now?’ and other special features – even when they travel home and share their experiences with family and friends.”

In addition, guests visiting Epcot in Walt Disney World Resort in early 2009 will be among the first to experience Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure.  An ultra-interactive attraction, Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure invites guests of all ages to team up with members of Team Possible to save the world from various comical villains and their mad inventions.  Armed with an official Verizon Wireless “Kimmunicator,” guests will use these handheld devices to help maneuver through the mission.  The interactive wireless theme park game was inspired by Disney Channel’s Emmy® Award-winning animated series, “Kim Possible.”  

While Verizon Wireless customers will have exclusive access to an array of enhanced features, Disney and Verizon are also working to ensure that some mobile information such as dining locations, show times and locations will be available to all Parks visitors, regardless of their wireless company.  

Additional details will be available next year as the companies expect to add a suite of services and functionalities to help guests at Disney Parks have the most magical experience.  For more information about Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, visit www.disney.com.  For more information about Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.  

Disney Parks and Resorts – Taking Guests to New Frontiers

The agreement between Disney and Verizon is another step in a series of new initiatives that highlight the latest technologies from Disney Parks and Resorts with a continued focus on improving guest experience and providing immersive entertainment. Disney Parks and Resorts continue to exemplify how technologies can be used to build new connections and redefine how guests plan and enjoy their vacations.  From the time guests begin planning their vacation using Walt Disney World Resort in 3D on Google Earth or tuning into Disney Travel on Demand, the experience is designed to make their lives easier.  Guests can take their vacation experience to a new level with Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure, an interactive wireless theme park game for families, and by personalizing and sharing their Disney experiences when they return home, using DisneyLink, a desktop application.

Now I can’t say we haven’t discussed some of these ideas for a while, but we weren’t always expecting Disney to align with Verizon for this content. Be sure to stay tuned to Disneyland News Today as we gather more information on this breaking news.

DLR Photo Report – 11/8/08

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Yesterday I visited the Disneyland Resort for a day that included the filming of the 2008 Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade, & much more… So let’s get to it:

During the transition period from Halloween to Christmas, the Toy Story Mania billboards are back up at the Mickey & Friends Tram Station.

The attraction closure board.

Candy canes now adorn the CALIFORNIA letters.

The pumpkin Fab 5 are down from the turnstiles.

As noted in the picture, the Jonas Brothers & Jose Feliciano were at Disneyland, as well as Ryan Seacrest.

Read More about DLR Photo Report – 11/8/08

The Mouse is Mad Over Governor’s Plan to Tax Tickets

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

According to the OC Register’s Around Disney Blog:

Disneyland is predictably angry about Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plan to tax theme park tickets and tickets to sporting events to reduce state revenue shortfalls. (At-a-glance fact sheet of the proposal IS HERE.)

“We oppose the Governor’s proposed theme park tax because it unfairly targets the tourism industry and may deter new visitors to the Golden State at a time we need them most,” said resort spokeswoman Lisa Haines in an e-mail statement. “This tax is not worth the risk to an industry that is a proven job creator and economic engine for California’s growth.”

Schwarzenegger today announced a financial rescue package for the state government that includes a 1.5 percentage point hike in the state retail tax that would take Orange County’s sales tax rate to 9.25%. (The state would get 6.5%.) The fresh cash is needed to backfill an $11 billion deficit in this year’s budget.

DLR Photo Report – 10/26/08

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Although a tad delayed due to my computer crashing, through the magic of an external harddrive, I bring to you my Disneyland Resort photo report from Sunday, October 26th 2008:

The 3rd billboard at the Mickey & Friends Tram Station has finally been fixed!

Window display for Tinker Bell over at the World of Disney store.

The West Esplanade Information Booth was where guests picked up their tickets, as well as a free pin & sticker, for Tinker Bell.

Sailing Ship Columbia was supposed to of re-opened on October 25th, but it seems that the refurbishment might of been extended.

My ticket for the Tinker Bell movie screening.

Before the screening, I quickly jolted over to Space Mountain to grab a Fastpass. On the way back I noticed that this door into the Star Tours extended queue has been repainted.

Goofy in his Halloween costume.

The Tinker Bell screening was held in the Main Street Opera House.

Before the movie started, they showed various trivia questions & advertising related to the Disney Fairies.

After the movie ended, the director & another member of the Tinker Bell production team came out to speak to the guests about the movie.

Following that, Denny Newell, Senior Show Director of Disney Entertainment Productions came out to talk about Pixie Hollow, the new Disney Fairies meet ‘n greet area that replaced Ariel’s Grotto next to Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters.

Various photos & concept art were displayed on the screen as Denny talked.

A map of Pixie Hollow.

Concept art of the 5 Fairy statues that line the queue of Pixie Hollow.

Pixie Hollow as it now appears.

Pictures of the actual Fairy statues.

A model of the area where you meet with Tink & the other Fairies.

Concept art of that same area.

A short video of a live action Tink in Pixie Hollow then played.

Pixie Hollow’s logo.

Here’s Denny with one of the Disneyland Resort Ambassadors.

A poster for Tinker Bell outside the Penny Arcade on Main Street.

A very nice, but pricey retro Disneyland shirt.

The New Orleans Square Train Station has re-opened after its repaving project.

Here are a couple of shots from Haunted Mansion Holiday.

Not much visible progress at the Harbour Galley.

Now we begin our in-depth tour of Pixie Hollow.

The entrance sign.

Tink’s statue is on top of the entrance sign.

You could see the tubing in the lake.

Fawn’s statue.

Silvermist’s statue.

Some tiny houses down by the lake on the left.

Rosetta’s statue.

Iridessa’s statue.

The Matterhorn looming over the giant grass blades creates a great sense of you being the size of a pixie.

I spy with my little eye… Tinker Bell!

The line, while it may not of looked long, was about an hour.

The first 2 Fairies I got were Iridessa & Rosetta (my personal favorite).

Then I got to meet the lovely Tinker Bell.

The teapot looks absolutely stunning.

An obligatory merchandise cart is at the exit of Pixie Hollow.

The Pixie Hollow Cast Member costumes are pretty neat too.

A look back at the Pixie Hollow exit.

A peak through the grass blades at Rosetta & Iridessa.

A look at the new Tinker Bell area of the World of Disney store.

Exclusive Disney merchandise is available at the Build-a-Bear Workshop.

Already they have Disney Fairies merchandise at the store.

Hopefully a new tenant will move in here soon.

And now begins our very in-depth tour of the Blue Sky Cellar!

This poster hangs in the entrance hallway of the Blue Sky Cellar.

Various concept art for the Silly Symphony Swings.

One piece of concept art for The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Adventure.

And one piece of concept art for Goofy’s Sky School.

Now some amazing concept art of some of the scenes for World of Color.

The current, very Microsoft like, World of Color logo.

Concept art for the World of Color viewing area.

Now some of the concept in the Toy Story Midway Mania section.

A maquette of the Toy Story Midway Mania vehicles.

A look around the stunning Paradise Pier model, circa 2012.

This parachute ride looks set to replace the Maliboomer.

The Mickey head will be removed from California Screamin’, & the Paradise Pier logo will be added.

King Triton’s Carousel will get a new cover & probably a new theme as well.

The queue & loading area for California Screamin’ is set to be enclosed.

Ariel’s Grotto will be re-themed to Princess Palace.

New rock features will be added to the lagoon at Screamin’s launch.

And now a look at the Games of the Boardwalk model.

Goofy About Fishin’.

Dumbo Bucket Brigade.

Bullseye’s Stallion Stampede.

Casey at the Bat.

Model of the Red Car Trolley.

An amazing overview map of Cars Land. The mountain range in the back is the whole show building for Radiator Springs Racers!

A diagram of the Red Car Trolley.

Concept art of the re-done entrance area, Buena Vista Street.

A photo of various Imagineers in a meeting at the Blue Sky Cellar Screening Room.

Close-ups of the amazing, cartoony DCA map that hangs in the Screening Room. Paradise Pier.

Golden State.

Buena Vista Street.

Hollywood Pictures Backlot, or Hollywood Land.

The Tower of Terror & A Bug’s Land.

Cars Land.

More concept art for Mickey’s Fun Wheel, the Games of the Boardwalk, Toy Story Midway Mania, & other parts of Paradise Pier.

The sign for Mickey’s Fun Wheel.

Posters outside on the wall of the Blue Sky Cellar.

The entrance to the Golden Vine Winery has been decked over with some Blue Sky Cellar decor.

A lighting tower for Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Parties.

All of the gondolas have been removed from the Sun Wheel, soon to be Mickey’s Fun Wheel.

The old Burger Invasion billboard is still being worked on.

Mr. Potato Head was behind the curtains when I went on Toy Story Midway Mania.

A new Toy Story Mania! towel.

This shirt has been updated with a different design of Mr. Potato Head, in his boardwalk barker outfit.

A couple of shots from the back of the new High School Musical 3: Right Here! Right Now! show.

It seems the Lounge at the Golden Vine Winery that we reported on a couple of week’s ago was only used on the day of the Miley Cyrus Sweet 16 event.

One of the 2 Halloween displays along the Mickey & Friends Tram route.

That’s finally gonna do it for this incredibly hard to put up photo report. It’s going to take me a while to get up all of the photos in the Image Galleries, so stick with me on that. My computer is completely dead, so I will be using other computers around the house until I hopefully get a MacBook next week. I will try though to get up my videos from Pixie Hollow & the Blue Sky Cellar. So stay tuned!

Myrna Litt’s 10/19 Choc Walk Photo Report

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Myrna Litt was at the Disneyland Resort today to participate in the annual Choc Walk. Now I’m not really an expert on this event, so before we get to the pictures, here is Myrna’s description of what happened:

I did the Choc Walk at Disneyland this morning. It was an early morning for me with the day starting at 4am and arriving at the Mickey and Friends parking lot at 5:30am.

We walked from the parking structure to the main entrance. The Disney Voluntears had a group picture taken at 6am in front of the train station  and the walk started at 7:15. This was the 18th walk in the park.

It was a fun morning starting on Main Street and through Frontierland. Up past Woody’s Halloween Round, up to Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. Then we went backstage though the cast member security and fire department area coming out at Main Street again. We then crossed over to DCA and wrapped around the the backside towards the back lot and behind the Tower of Terror for cast members only. Back into the park through Bugs Land and down to Paradise Pier to the Grand Californian Hotel. We entered Downtown Disney though a cast member walkway and ended the walk just past Department 56.

It was a lot of fun and for a great cause. You also have a rare opportunity to see the backside of Disneyland. All the cast members and characters cheering you along the way.

Now on to the pictures:

Cast Members and Disney Voluntears helped out the event along the way.

As Myrna said, the walk started in Town Square.

A security car behind Space Mountain.

Some of the Voluntears posing with security CM’s.

If I’m not mistaken, this shot was taken from backstage.

What do you know… It’s The Incredibles float from the Pixar Play Parade!

The walk ended in Downtown Disney by Department 56.