More Information on “What Will You Celebrate?”

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.

More “What Will You Celebrate?” News To Sink Your Teeth Into

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!!!

Myrna Litt’s 9/21 Photo Report

It’s once again time for a photo report from our very own Myrna Litt. She attended yesterday’s Pin Trading Night at the Paradise Pier Hotel, & got these lovely pictures for us (plus a couple from Downtown Disney):

The Pacific Ballroom was quite crowded.

These are add a name pins, where (as the name implies) you can add your name to the pin.

A look at some lovely pins coming out this Christmas.

People trading pins at the trading boards.

A kids zone was set up.

The kids trading board.

Concept art of next year’s Summer Pin Festival, the Haunted Mansion O-Pin House.

Construction seems to of wrapped up at Department 56 in Downtown Disney. We’re now just waiting for a new tenant to move in next door.

The beautiful Monorail Blue zipped by, & Myrna manged to get a quick shot of it.

Finally, Myrna captured a quick little video of the crowds & trading at this month’s Pin Trading Night:

Celebrate Pixies!

The great guys over at Orlando Attractions Magazine have scooped up some more concept art for “What Will You Celebrate?”, as well as new pictures of what the in-park Disney Fairies characters will look like at both Disneyland & Walt Disney World, that was shown off this morning at a “Business Behind the Magic” presentation by Disney:

This basically shows off the some general decorations that both Disneyland & Walt Disney World will get. I really like the way that the Habor Blvd. guest entrance will be re-done.

Some concept for the new “Celebrate Today!” show, as well as some weird bikes of some sort.

Here you can see the final costume designs for the Disney Fairies characters.

Orlando Attractions Magazine also has a video where Francois Leroux, vice president of Walt Disney World Entertainment, describes the new Pixie Hollow meet ‘n greets for Disneyland & Walt Disney World. For more information on all things shown off in this post, check out this blog post on OAM.

DLR Photo Report – 9/27/08

It’s once again time for a Disneyland Resort Photo Report, which is in fact our biggest ever, with nearly 200 photos! So let’s not dilly-dally, & get straight to it:

The banners at the Mickey & Friends Parking Stucture have been changed for Halloween Time.

New billboards at the Tram Station for Halloween Time. I wish they’d fix the third one already!

Some Halloween displays along the tram route.

Halloween Time banners through-out Downtown Disney.

The 50th anniversary of Sleeping Beauty being advertised in one of the World of Disney’s windows.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen this thing 100% accurate.

You’d think they’d advertise something related to Halloween.

The California letters have been given their Hallowen touch-up.

These are on the DCA turnstiles.

Halloween Time on the Golden Gate Bridge.

The times guide with all of the Hallowen Time entertainment.

The new DCA map cover.

Hmmm… Not everything here is for Halloween Time.

This is the first time that Disney has officially used the Blue Sky Cellar name for the new DCA Preview Center, that opens on October 20th. Pretty cool logo too.

Candy Corn Acres on the DCA map.

The Burger Invasion billboard near California Screamin’ has been removed.

I’m pretty sure this is a new menu.

Bye Bye Whoopi… Hello Ariel!

Where the banners used to hang from. I pressume the clip things will be removed (I hope!).

Oh boy… This sure isn’t a refurbishment!

All of the queue/waiting area for Golden Dreams is still in tact.

These lighting towers were set up through-out the park. Not sure why.

Burger Invasion is now completely walled off & behind tarps.

The restrooms are still open.

These tables are most likely the only McDonalds references left in the Resort.

Next door at the SS Rustworthy, the various McDonalds flags have been removed.

Bellow SS Trustworthy, there used to be a sign saying “Presented by McDonalds” (or was it sponsored?).

The Sun Wheel now remains open through October 12th.

Cast Members started to remove the extended queue for Toy Story Midway Mania at about 10:30am yesterday.

Another one of those lighting towers over by the entrance to A Bug’s Land.

Now let’s take a tour of Candy Corn Acres.

New displays on Toy Story & the Toy Story Zoetrope inside Character Closeup in the Disney Animation building.

Cinderella, Mickey, & Woody came into Disney Animation to do meet ‘n greets after Drawn to the Magic.

Banners for Halloween Time in Hollywood Pictures Backlot.

Muppet Vision 3D re-opened Thursday after a brief refurbishment. The film itself looks crystal clear now.

The clever Muppet movie posters in the Award Weiners seating area have been replaced with posters for upcoming Disney films.

Considering these posters were only put up about a week ago, this one is a little dated.

The Wall-E display over by the Hyperion Theater.

The Queen of Hearts & the Bowler Hat Guy doing meet ‘n greets… Two characters you don’t usually see out. Guess we should thank Hallowen Time for this opportunity.

The Hyperion Theater is closed through December 11th I believe.

Moving over to Disneyland… The Fab 5 as pumpkins now loom over the turnstiles.

The Main Street Train Station is decked out for Halloween, however the floral Mickey remains in its Year of a Million Dreams form.

Beast is another character you don’t usually see out & about (except for in Parade of Dreams of course).

The new Disneyland Park map cover.

Now let’s take a look at some of the Halloween decorations on Main Street… The back of the Train Station.

The Main Street Opera House.

The giant pumpkin Mickey.

Construction on the Plaza Pavilion.

The front of South Seas Traders was walled off breifly last week, but is now open to guest flow.

The Sailing Ship Columbia is closed.

Haunted Mansion Holiday Fastpass distribution area.

Fastpass is only used during Haunted Mansion Holiday.

The New Orleans Square Train Station is closed & walled off through October 15th.

The new pavement around Haunted Mansion Holiday.

The French Market has re-opened after its refurbishment, with Halloween decorations up, that are very similar to the ones found next door at Haunted Mansion Holiday.

I believe this area was repaved also.

You have to go through the French Market to get out of this area.

I didn’t look, but I believe this is the Mint Julep Bar.

Now let’s take a look at this year’s Haunted Mansion Holiday.

This year’s Gingerbread House in the Ballroom scene is a coffin, with a gingerbread man rising out of it every few seconds.

No more McDonalds references at Habour Galley.

The Nightmare Before Christmas merchandise cart near the exit of Haunted Mansion Holiday.

A very small construction wall over at the River Bell Terrace.

Work being done to the top of the Frontierland Shooting Exposition.

An exhibit of sorts near Rancho Del Zocalo. I have absolutely no idea what it is for.

The Conostoga Wagon has now been completely removed.

Now let’s take a walk around Woody’s Halloween Roundup at Big Thunder Ranch.

A peek back at the Festival Arena.

Here you can decorate your Halloween cookie for a hefty price of $6.

I do not like that they have this goat out in the open, with no gate seperating people who don’t want to go near it, like myself.

The small scale Woody’s Roundup Adventure! show is basically an episode of the fictional TV show, Woody’s Roundup.

In the Hub, there are 7 pumpkins that have carvings of a character representing one of Disneyland’s many lands. For Adventureland you have Tarzan.

For New Orleans Square you have Jack Skellington.

For Frontierland you have Woody.

Winnie the Pooh represents Critter Country.

Tinker Bell represents Fantasyland.

For Mickey’s Toontown you have Roger Rabbit.

And for Tomorrowland you have Buzz Lightyear.

The Buzz Lightyear side of the main path in Tomorrowland is now being repaved. That means Fastpass is not being used for Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters.

There’s a small construction wall in front of the Star Trader main entrance. The store remains open however.

The third seagull has finally returned to the Submarine Lagoon after over a half year of absense.

The tarps have been removed from the It’s a Small World facade.

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

There was water in the flume, but no boats.

I once again went to the Princess Fantasy Faire to see if Ariel in her human form was there. First I got Belle.

Then I got Jasmine for the first time.

And then I got Ariel in her human form finally! I much prefer the mermaid form.

The Toontown Train Station was closed for some reason when I left the Princess Fantasy Faire at about 4:30/4:45.

The Ariel’s Grotto sign is still in place.

A circular structure has risen where Ariel’s turntable used to be. I’m guessing this will turn into the teapot that will be used for Pixie Hollow.

Can’t tell much of a difference just yet.

The Star Tours exetended queue is being used for Stroller parking for Star Tours, & maybe even Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters too.

New Halloween Time napkins.

This entrance to the Starcade was walled off for some reason. However I did notice some men doing some work on the roof of the building for some reason or another.

After 9 months of waiting, I finally got the chance to ride the beautiful Monorail Red!

The interior of Monorail Red is absolutely beautiful. The lighting is just amazing! However it did get very warm in there, considering I rode it at about 6:45.

The lighting really comes out well at night.

I managed to pick up the Sleeping Beauty 50th anniversary pins that were released last Saturday. I was amazed that they still had some!

To cap off this photo report, these Tinker Bell pins are the first to have “First Release” stamped on the backer card.

That’s going to do it for this ernomous photo report. Hopefully you could load it with-out too much trouble! Stay tuned later tonight, tomorrow, & Tuesday for these images plus many more to uploaded to our Image Gallery, as well as 2 vidcasts!

Myrna Litt’s 9/29 Photo Report

It’s once again time for a Disneyland Resort Photo Report from our very own Myrna Litt.  Even though I was just at the Resort, she still managed to find some neat tidbits.

More Halloween Time banners at the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure.

They were loading on both sides of the tram station, which appeared to confused some people.

Signs are all over the Resort showing the special hours this Sunday due to the Miley Cyrus Sweet 16 event.

Seems like a pretty long line for Toy Story Midway Mania on an off season Monday.

Myrna’s score is on the left.

Halloween Time popcorn buckets.

Myrna gave a helpful tip on getting prizes from the Dream Cast Members: “When you see a cast member with the Million Dreams bag, just start asking a lot of questions. We have won front row seats to shows, pins, hats and other goodies. They will not offer them to you, but if you ask they may have something cool.”

The outside eating area was closed for the Wine Country Trattoria.

Here are a couple of pictures of exterior decorations for Haunted Mansion Holiday.

Pumpkin carving at Woody’s Halloween Roundup.

This area of Sleeping Beauty Castle is walled off in preparation for the re-opening of the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough.

A crane has moved into the Pixie Hollow construction zone. It also looks like the Ariel’s Grotto sign has finally been removed.

It seems Carnation Cafe was closed for some reason.

Two Cast Members Honored as 2009 Disneyland Resort Ambassadors

ANAHEIM, Calif., Oct. 17, 2008 –- Before an audience of more than 1,000 Cast Members, media and former Ambassadors, Disneyland Resort President Ed Grier announced the 2009 Disneyland Resort Ambassador Team at Disneyland today. Cast Members Danielle DuBois and Quinn Shurian will serve as the 44th team to represent the resort and its Cast as the 2009 Disneyland Resort Ambassadors.

“Being chosen to represent 20,000 Disneyland Resort Cast Members is an incredible honor and one of the highest achievements of a Disney Cast Member. This program is a unique and important part of our company’s heritage,” said Disneyland Resort President Ed Grier.  “These two Cast Members will take the magic and good will of Disneyland throughout our community and beyond in the coming year.”

The prestigious honor of being selected as a Disney Ambassador began during the 10th anniversary of Disneyland, when Walt Disney realized the need for an additional representative to help fulfill the many media, public appearance and VIP hosting requests he received. He selected the very first Ambassador in 1965 and the tradition has continued ever since.

Today, the Ambassador selection process involves months of preparation and interviews with fellow Cast Members and executives where candidates have the opportunity to demonstrate the depth of their Disney knowledge and their passion about being a Disney Cast Member.

The new Ambassador team will represent the company during the recently announced “What Will You Celebrate?” campaign. The celebration runs through 2009 and invites all guests to mark their special occasions at a Disney park in a way only Disney can provide. Their full-time duties include participating in more than 200 events from – Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2009 – including Cast Member recognition ceremonies, grand openings, marketing events, special promotions and media interviews. They will also host dignitaries and other VIPs at Disneyland Resort.

In 2006, DuBois began her career at the Disneyland Resort as a lead and trainer in the imaging department. Prior to that, DuBois lived in Yokohama, Japan and served as an English teacher to students that ranged in age from 3 to 80 years old. After attending California State University, Chico, where she received a degree in communication design, DuBois participated in the Up With People Worldsmart program – an international community service youth group. For one year, DuBois dedicated her time to giving back through performances and activities in 18 countries. DuBois attended College Park High School in Pleasant Hill and currently resides in Irvine, Calif.

Shurian began his career at Disneyland in attractions in 1994 and had roles in Guest Relations and Guest Communications before reaching his current position as a communications specialist in Cast Communications. He also is an Adventure Guide for Adventures by Disney – traveling around the world sharing his passion for Disney with families on vacation. Shurian has been a Disney VoluntEAR for nearly 10 years – dedicating time to various projects around the community. Two of those years he has held spots on the Disney VountEARS Leadership Council. Shurian attended Newbury Park High School and currently resides in Orange, Calif.

Myrna Litt’s 10/16 Photo Report – Part #2

As promised, here is the second part of Myrna Litt’s 10/16 photo report:

Earlier than expected, the Paradise Pier lagoon has started to be drained. And as you can tell from the picture, another testing barge for World of Color is in the lagoon.

The Sun Wheel is now closed for its conversion over to Mickey’s Fun Wheel.

Ray Bradbury’s Halloween Tree in Frontierland all lit up at night.

The Halloween Tree’s dedication plaque.

A couple of shots of Haunted Mansion Holiday at nighttime.

Pumpkin Mickey winks you goodbye as you exit Disneyland.

To cap off this photo report, the 3rd billboard at the Mickey & Friends Tram Station has FINALLY returned! It took 4 months!

Myrna Litt’s 10/19 Choc Walk Photo Report

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.

DLR Photo Report – 10/26/08

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!