The California Food and Wine Festival has begun and the Games of the Boardwalk are now open, so I think it’s time for one of my photo reports from the Disneyland Resort:
I have never seen the entrance to Mickey and Friends this busy!
This entrance to Mickey and Friends was busy also
Food and Wine banners in Downtown Disney
Earth banners at the AMC Theatre
Today, a lot of D23 members received their Summer 2009 edition of the Disney Twenty-Three magazine. The magazine, just like the first one, looks simply amazing this time featuring Donald Duck as he celebrates his 75th anniversary of Mischief, Mayhem, & Mirth! This edition of the D23 magazine includes a tour of the new Tokyo Disneyland attraction, Monster’s Inc Ride & Go Seek!, beautiful art from Disneyland’s Disney Gallery, a Q&A with the director for the all new movie Rapunzel, a documentary with the famous Sherman Brothers, an in-depth look at the future of Disney’s California Adventure Park, 75 of Donald Duck, and lots more!
Front Cover of the Summer 2009 D23 Magazine
Back Cover of the Summer 2009 D23 Magazine
Also, as a suprise for D23 members, from the Walt Disney Archives they have included a beautiful fan. The description reads as follow: “This reproduction of a 1955 ‘Acres of Fun’ Disneyland souvenir fan was made exclusively for D23 members by the Walt Disney Archives Collection. Capturing a simpler time, these paper fans featured original artwork depicting attractions from Park’s inaugural year.”
“Beat the Heat this Summer!”
The fan features some opening day attractions from Disneyland
Our next photo report comes to us from our very own Myrna Litt:
A random small construction wall in the Hub
Pirates of the Caribbean is closed for a short refurbishment through April 30th
I wonder what this camera on top of the Matterhorn is for?
The fountains at the former Cosmic Waves are being removed, however the big spinning ball in the middle will remain
According to the OC Register’s Around Disney blog:
Do you remember how you felt around 2 p.m. Easter Sunday when you were 10?
That’s kind of how you’d feel after touring Disneyland’s new central bakery off Ball Road in Anaheim with the park’s executive pastry chef, Jean-Marc Viallet.
Viallet, intensely proud of the new facility opened in March, will stuff you full of Mickey Mouse cookies, molten chocolate cake, cheese cakes, fresh-baked bread and a myriad of other sweets.
Disney processes hundreds of pounds of sugar, flour, chocolate, dairy products and fruit every day to distribute almost 9 million pastries and baked goods per year throughout Disneyland and the resort area, Viallet said.
And that huge, tasty effort just got a little more environmentally friendly.
THE FACILITY
David Lopez, the project manager who oversaw construction of the new central bakery, said that the building has many features that help save energy and water. The roof is filled with tubular skylights, mirrored inside, that direct sunlight into the building during the day, reducing the need for electric lighting — some rooms don’t even need any lights on.
Big, double-paned windows let still more light in while insulating the facility from heat.
Part of the parking lot is porous to allow rainwater to seep back into the water table, rather than running off into the ocean, and the building’s perimeter acts as an earthen sieve that filters most of the rest of the runoff into the ground.
Even the downspouts from the roof are filtered to remove trash or particles that might collect on the flat roof and wash onto the ground or into storm drains, Lopez said.
Much of the baking equipment sucks down a lot of energy, but the dishwashers are Energy Star appliances that conserve water and electricity.
With the new building, Disney has centralized most of its baking in the 10,000-square-foot facility. Park officials say Disneyland does 97 percent of its own baking, and the new facility handles 90 percent of that. Some specialty items for restaurants like The Napa Rose, for instance, will continue production in the localized bakeries in the park.
The bakeries had before been scattered throughout the resort’s hotels.
THE PROCESS
The production line is shaped like a “U” — in one end, trucks drop off hundreds of pounds of chocolate, cream, sugar, flour and other raw ingredients. They either go into the pantry, or the big walk-in freezer.
Accessible from the outside, the freezer is as big as the entire bakery in the Disneyland Hotel.
The center of the “U” is dominated by wide finishing tables, stove tops, huge industrial mixers capable of handling 350 pounds of dough, stone slab-lined bread and pastry ovens, ovens with rotators and baking spaces big enough for a man to walk in comfortably.
These handle 7-ft. racks holding dozens of trays of brownie batter or Mickey cookies — the bakery churns out 500-600 Mickey-face cookies a day, 365 days a year.
Off to the side is a specialty climate-controlled chamber that pastry chefs use to make any kind of cake — from a four-year-old’s standard birthday treat, to the most elaborate wedding or banquet cake imaginable.
A special temperature-controlled counter top in the cake room allows bakers to work with all different kinds of materials like fondant or milk chocolate at exactly the right temperature.
Gary Maggetti, the general manager of food and beverage at Disneyland, said that once the Celebrate promotion really ramps up, park goers will be able to call a restaurant in the park and order up a custom cake for any kind of occasion. The order will go to the cake room where bakers will whip it up to specifications post-haste and ship it off to the appropriate restaurant.
All the shipping out of the bakery comes through the opposite end of the “U” to trucks, where it’s distributed out to the park and hotels.
Disney has made my job a little easier by putting up a pdf file of the free Annual Passholder newsletter, Backstage Pass, online. To view the summer edition of the newsletter, please click HERE.
As of today, Disneystore.com (formerly Disneyshopping.com before a quick name change took place just a few days ago) is now offering a large assortment of merchandise from the U.S. Disney Parks:
Among the Walt Disney World and Disneyland merchandise available are Mickey Mouse ear hats, character autograph books, photo albums, toys (including the monorail playset and some of its accessories), apparel, snowglobes, big figures, small statues, home decor, and much more. You can start shopping right now at this link.
D23 EXPO, THE ULTIMATE DISNEY FAN EXPERIENCE,
COMES TO THE ANAHEIM CONVENTION CENTER SEPT. 10-13
Four Extraordinary Days of Live Events, Interactive Pavilions and
One-of-a-Kind Entertainment Celebrate the Past, Present and Future of Disney
ANAHEIM and BURBANK, Calif. – June 3, 2009 – Disney fans will be given unprecedented access to never-before-seen movies, TV shows, park experiences, collectibles and more from Sept. 10 to Sept. 13 at the Anaheim Convention Center when Disney and D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans present the first-ever D23 EXPO.
Tickets to the D23 EXPO are available beginning today at http://www.D23Expo.com. Admission includes access to all experiences and entertainment at the D23 EXPO and can be purchased for single days or for the full four days of festivities. Admission is discounted for members of D23.
“We hope this will be the ultimate event for the multitude of fans who have been so instrumental in Disney’s success,” said Disney President and CEO Bob Iger. “The D23 Expo represents the finest in Disney entertainment from across our great company and will offer a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable experience for people of all ages to enjoy.”
Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle added, “The upcoming D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center will serve as an exciting opportunity to present Anaheim to the millions of Disney enthusiasts around the world. For the thousands of inaugural-year D23 Expo attendees who will visit our city in September, this will be a special and a memorable time in the birthplace of Walt Disney’s original theme park. It is a great honor for Anaheim and the Anaheim Convention Center to host this event.”
Among the centerpiece events of the D23 EXPO will be an extraordinary, exclusive opportunity to get early glimpses of several all-new Disney feature films. Only at the D23 EXPO will guests preview a wide range of upcoming movie events, including The Princess and the Frog, Rapunzel, Disney’s A Christmas Carol, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, TRON, Toy Story 3, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Walt Disney Pictures will present these special sneak peeks in a state-of-the-art cinema built especially for the D23 EXPO.
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts will take D23 EXPO guests behind the scenes to explore the rich legacy and exciting future of Disney’s theme parks and vacation destinations worldwide. Highlights will include a special look at what’s being imagineered for the future of Disney’s California Adventure, a peek behind closed doors at the amazing new technologies defining today’s and tomorrow’s Disney theme park experience, and the opportunity to meet and hear from the Imagineers, Cast Members and key Disney Parks and Resorts executives who create lasting memories for millions every year.
In many different ways, the D23 EXPO will explore the history and heritage of Walt Disney and the company he founded more than 80 years ago. The D23 EXPO will be home to the 2009 Disney Legends Awards – a 22-year tradition that pays tribute to the talented men and women who have made indelible contributions to Disney entertainment. This year’s recipients will be honored at a ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 12, marking the first time the prestigious event has been held off Disney property.
In an extraordinary exhibition designed especially for the D23 EXPO, an incredible collection of classic and contemporary Disney props, artifacts and costumes will be accessible to the public for the first time ever. “Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives” brings together such amazing pieces as the fully restored, 11-foot model of the Nautilus from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea; the stunning, jewel-encrusted book used in the opening moments of Sleeping Beauty; and other rare surprises from throughout Disney’s history. Ranging from the original Mickey Mouse Club and the musical classic Mary Poppins to recent hits like Pirates of the Caribbean and High School Musical, the “Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives” is a never-before-experienced exhibition that’s a D23 EXPO exclusive.
The D23 EXPO spotlight will also shine on Disney Channel’s brightest stars in a can’t miss-special event. There will also be an ESPN Sports Lounge, live broadcasts from Radio Disney, and a preview of ABC’s new fall primetime shows, details of which will be announced in the coming weeks at www.D23Expo.com.
For Disney fans who want to take home part of the magic, Disney Consumer Products will offer myriad opportunities to do just that. Only at the D23 EXPO will guests be able to walk through the eight-room “Disney Dream Home,” celebrate the holidays Disney-style, see fine art created before their eyes, learn about Disney Fairy Tale Weddings, experience Disney couture fashion shows, meet and hear from the authors of a dazzling array of Disney books, prepare for trick-or-treating with the latest Disney Store Halloween costumes, and more … all under one roof.
The D23 EXPO also will be home to the “Disney Dream Store,” where guests will find exclusive D23 EXPO merchandise and collectibles; the Disney pin-trading headquarters; and much more, including the chance to build your own Mouse ears.
Showcasing Disney’s appeal to fans of every generation, the D23 EXPO has created a multi-layered experience: Avid Disney enthusiasts can attend dozens of specially created panels and celebrity-speaker events, details of which will be announced over the next several weeks. Younger Disney fans, meanwhile, will be able to experience special interactive play areas, meet their favorite Radio Disney DJs broadcasting live, watch “Princess makeover” demos from the Bibbidi-Bobbidi Boutique, and have fun in the Baby Einstein play area. Together, families can enjoy the Disney Crafts Center and learn about scrapbooking, Disney-style.
The D23 Collectors’ Forum will present a wide range of options for collectors to show and sell their Disney memorabilia, and those interested in exhibiting can visit www.D23Expo.com for more information.
Fans also will be able to view and even take part in the first-ever Disney Fan Art Gallery, which will include the finalists in the Donald Duck 75th Anniversary Portrait Contest, as well as a one-of-a-kind fan art show. Full details and contest rules can be found at www.D23Expo.com or www.disney.com/D23.
All activities at the D23 EXPO are included in single- and four-day admissions, including the “50 and Fabulous Film Festival,” which honors three classic Disney movies that are celebrating their golden anniversaries this year. Sleeping Beauty, The Shaggy Dog and Darby O’Gill and the Little People, all originally released in 1959, will be presented on the big screen, one movie each evening, for Disney fans of all ages to enjoy together. Also featured at the D23 EXPO will be a special screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ upcoming Tinker Bell: Lost Treasure, along with an in-depth exploration of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Diamond Edition, which will be released this fall by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.
Tickets to the D23 EXPO, which go on sale today, are $37 for a one-day adult admission and $27 for children 3-12. To experience every bit of entertainment and excitement at the D23 EXPO, four-day passes are also available at $111 for adults and $81 for children. Members of D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans will receive a discount on up to four same-day admissions, as well as early entry to each day of the D23 EXPO for themselves and their guests.
Special vacation packages are available at the D23 EXPO website, from both the Walt Disney Travel Company (including Disneyland Resort hotel accommodations, D23 EXPO tickets and theme park admission), and the Anaheim Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, which is offering a limited number of area hotel rooms at special rates to those attending the D23 EXPO.
Many more details about the entertainment, events and special guests that will be part of the first-ever D23 EXPO will be announced in the coming weeks. Fans can keep up with all of the announcements by visiting www.D23EXPO.com, as well as by following “Disney D23” at Twitter and on Facebook.
As an Orlando Magic fan, I can’t wait to see Ed Grier walking right down the middle of Main Street U.S.A. at Disneyland park in shame:
ANAHEIM, Calif./LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (June 3, 2009) – Walt Disney World President Meg Crofton and Disneyland President Ed Grier are squaring off – all in fun – as their local teams, the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers, head for the NBA Finals. With both Disney parks asking guests “What Will You Celebrate?” in 2009, Grier and Crofton are getting in the act, making a celebratory wager on the outcome of the NBA Finals:
If the Magic win, Grier will walk down Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland park wearing a pair of specially made Mickey Mouse ears in Magic blue and silver. If the Lakers win, Crofton will don a pair of Lakers’ purple and gold mouse ears and walk down Main Street, U.S.A. at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom.
“The Lakers are going to make your team very Grumpy this week,” predicted Grier to Crofton.
“But we have ‘Magic’ on our side,” countered Crofton. “And isn’t that what Disney is all about?”
Crofton and Grier went through their respective parks Wednesday looking for supporters. Grier shot some hoops with Donald and Pluto in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, while Crofton (along with Minnie, Goofy, Chip and Dale) drummed up Orlando Magic support in front of Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort. The park presidents even pledged to turn the lights of their respective castles to their team colors in celebration of the historic pairing.
It’s now time for my latest photo report from the Disneyland Resort:
Some of the pieces have started being put back up on the Astro Orbitor
This shade of purple, as well as a dark gold and dark blue will be the new color scheme for the Astro Orbitor
Read More about DLR Photo Report – 5/17/09 :: Featuring Video of Mickey’s Fun Wheel
While there has been no confirmation from the Walt Disney Company as of yet, a number of credible sources have reported that the voice of Mickey Mouse for over 25 years, Wayne Allwine, passed away over the weekend. Allwine was only 62 years old and has been the voice of the world’s most famous animated character in movies, television shows, theme park attractions, parades, and stage shows since the 1983 film “Mickey’s Christmas Carol”. Wayne’s voice can also be heard in a few obscure roles in Disney feature length animated films such as “The Black Cauldron” and “The Great Mouse Detective” and was also a sound effects editor and foley artist for the Walt Disney Studios. In more recent history, Wayne has been the voice of Mickey on each and every episode the Playhouse Disney show, “The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse”. Interestingly enough, he was married to Russi Taylor, who has been the voice of Minnie Mouse since 1986. Wayne was Mickey’s voice longer than anyone else before him and I don’t think I could ever get used to Mickey with another voice. You can still enjoy Wayne’s work while at the Disneyland Resort in “Fantasmic!”, “Celebrate! A Street Party”, “MuppetVision 3D”, and “Playhouse Disney: Live on Stage”.
Wayne Allwine 1947-2009
