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.

Bagless in Disneyland

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Taking a cue from Walt Disney World, Disneyland is now testing out a bagless line at the security checkpoints, which basically means that if you do not have a bag, you don’t have to wait in the bag search line. I personally think this is a great idea, & I hope that it becomes more than just a test, & becomes permanent.

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for more information.

2008 Halloween Time Tour

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Just an FYI for everyone, that the Halloween Time Tour is being offered once again this year, from September 26th through October 31st. 2 tours will be held daily, dispersing at 5:15pm & 5:30pm, with 20 people per group. The cost of the tour is $59 per person (Annual Passholders get a discount which takes the price down to $47.50), not including admission. The tour includes rides on The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Haunted Mansion Holiday, & new for this year, Snow White’s Scary Adventures.

To book a tour, & for more information, you can call 714-481-4400.

Miley Cyrus Sweet 16 Tickets Sold Out

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

According to the OC Register:

You probably figured it was going to happen sooner rather than later, but Disney spokesman John McClintock confirmed today that tickets for Miley Cyrus’ birthday bash at Disneyland sold out this week.

Five thousand fans — or their parents — forked over $250 for the privilege of hanging out with Cyrus in the park Oct. 5, which will be closed to other visitors that evening.

Cyrus, wildly popular among elementary schoolers and pre-teens as a singer and Disney Channel sitcom star, will celebrate her birthday at the park from 6 to 11 p.m. The park closes that night at 5 p.m., and only ticketholders are allowed in during the party. Tickets went on sale at 9 a.m. Aug. 30.

About time in my opinion. Even though I couldn’t care for the event…

Yey, Anniversary Pins!

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

John Rick of the Central Jersey Disney Pin Traders & The Disney Pincast attended the Pin Trading University event at Epcot in Walt Disney World this past weekend, & took a couple of pictures of some interesting upcoming pins at the Disneyland Resort. Let’s take a look at them:

Pins for the 15th anniversary of Nightmare Before Christmas, which are being released sometime this month.

Very nice pins for Sleeping Beauty’s 50th anniversary, that I’ll definitely be picking up when they’re released on September 20th.

And some even better pins being released next March for the 20th anniversary of my favorite animated movie, The Little Mermaid.

It was announced at the event that next year’s Summer Pin Festival will be themed to the Haunted Mansion, for its 40th anniversary.

Concept for some of those Haunted Mansion 40th anniversary pins.

Be sure to check out this post on WDW News Today for plenty more pictures from the Pin Trading University event, as well as many more from Walt Disney World this past weekend.

Tuesday Got a Little Less Fun

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Some sad news from the OC Register:

Hundreds of Disney cast members are spending their first Tuesday at work without a beloved and perennial guest.

Nicki Fotia, 26, of Anaheim, a former cast member at Disneyland, called Around Disney this afternoon to report that Timothy Storms, 48, of Huntington Beach – known around Disneyland as “Mr. Tuesday” – killed himself over the weekend.

Storms spent every Tuesday for years up until this week at the park said Fotia, who worked at Disneyland from late 2002 through 2006. He visited with cast members, took their photos and passed on the photos to the cast members.

“I saw that man hundreds of times,” Fotia said. “Even when I was pregnant and not in costume, he recognized me. I wish I knew why he committed suicide, he was always so friendly and happy.”

Orange County Deputy Coroner Mitchell Sigal confirmed this afternoon that Storms’ body was found Saturday with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

More details to come.

DLR Photo Report – 9/2/08

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

I had a lovely day at the Disneyland Resort yesterday, & there is tons of stuff going on around the Resort. Let’s delve into this enormous photo report:

All of the attractions closed. The Mark Twain wasn’t closed by the way!

The lovely new DCA map cover.

Not a lot of entertainment going on at DCA during the off season.

Not really a lot at Disneyland either.

Halloween Time returns September 26th!

The McDonalds logo is still in the Burger Invasion poster near California Screamin’s entrance.

Mr. Potato Head was broken down when I went to ride Toy Story Midway Mania.

SS Rustworthy is still the same as it has always been.

The big McDonalds logo has been removed from the Burger Invasion facade.

A look at the old menu.

The McDonalds logo is still on the main part of SS Rustworthy.

The Vineyard Room has already been removed from all Golden Vine Winery signs.

I hate deserted buildings.

This sign is in front of the upcoming DCA Preview Center.

Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Party advertised at the exit turnstiles of DCA…

… And also the exit turnstiles of Disneyland.

The lovely new Disneyland Park map cover.

Halloween merchandise on sale in the Emporium.

I love that 15th anniversary of Nightmare Before Christmas shirt!

The whole Star Tours outside queue is under construction walls, to be repaved.

What a lovely term!

The walls spread all the way from the entrance of Star Tours to the main entrance of the Star Trader.

What an amazing wait time for Space Mountain, especially as this was around 2pm!

I have never seen Space Mountain’s wait this short, this late in the day!

While waiting in line for the Matterhorn, I saw Monorail Purple being towed off the track. It returned to the tracks later in the day.

New color scheme on the It’s a Small World attraction sign.

A peek through a whole in the construction wall.

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

I went to the Princess Fantasy Faire to see if Ariel in her human form was there. While in line for the Princesses, I heard her being announced as part of the Royal Coronation Ceremony. Oh well, better luck next time!

One track of the Matterhorn was not being used all day.

Now a look at construction on Ariel’s Grotto/Pixie Hollow.

The Ariel’s Grotto sign is still in place.

A peek through a whole in the construction wall.

I spy with my little eye- Disney Executives!

You should be able to see a fountain still running just above the construction wall.

Yep, definitely Disney executives!

You cant see it all that well in this picture, but there is some sort of image planted in the ground.

It’s construction wall chaos in New Orleans Square right now!

To get to Critter Country, you have to use the lower walkway right along the Rivers of America.

The whole area from the French Market, past the New Orleans Square Railroad Station, & through to the Haunted Mansion is completely walled off to guest access!

There’s that beautification term once again.

After one day, the French Market is already covered in scaffolding.

I don’t think anything has yet changed over at Harbor Galley.

The Secret of the Stone Tiger show sign has already been removed.

I’m not completely sure, but I think someone was taken ill here right outside Aladdin’s Oasis.

Now let’s take a mini tour of Golden Dreams, which closes permanently to the public this upcoming Sunday.

A look at construction on the Grand Californian DVC expansion.

DCA closed at 6pm yesterday. That’s crazy early if you ask me.

The stores at the Disneyland Resort have special offers on the 2 newest Disney DVD releases, The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning…

… And the amazing new Nightmare Before Christmas special edition DVD.

Halloween decor inside Marceline’s Confectionery at Downtown Disney.

A look at the Halloween decorations in the Toontown room of the World of Disney store.

The horrible looking Beverly Hills Chihuahua movie being advertised on the exterior of the World of Disney.

It seriously can’t take this long to fix a billboard!

That’s going to wrap it up for this gigantic photo report. Be sure to check back later today as I’ll be uploading bigger versions of these pictures, plus many more to our lovely Image Galleries.