Napa Rose’s New Cocktails

WDWNT on July 10, 2012

From Pam Brandon on Disney Parks Blog:

“We asked our bartenders to come up with 20 cocktails to feature at Napa Rose,” says Philippe Tosques, general manager of the restaurant at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Philippe and restaurant manager Eric Quezada challenged bartenders Matt Ellingson, Ryland Brown and Joe Monje to come up with incredible libations, featuring all sorts of unusual combinations.

“Eric and I both were pleasantly surprised by the complexity and flavor profiles,” says Philippe. How about the British Spitfire with VeeV Acai, Domaine de Canton Ginger and fresh lemon honey syrup? Or the Equinox, with Calvados, Liquor 43, Goldschlager, Cherry Heering and fresh lime juice. There’s also a classic Old Fashioned and a Manhattan, and the signature Napa Rose with Beefeater gin, Campari, Drambouie, fresh lemon juice and Peychaud bitters.

Below is the recipe for the Bitter Storm. “I think this is a really good reflection of what we’re doing at the Napa Rose bar,” says Philippe.

Bitter Storm
Serves 1

¾ ounce Bulleit Bourbon
¾ ounce Fernet-Branca
½ ounce Cherry Heering liqueur
½ ounce Poire William brandy
½ ounce Orgeat syrup
¾ ounce lemon juice
Grapefruit peel, for garnish

  1. Pour all ingredients into a shaker; fill with ice and vigorously shake for 30 seconds.
  2. Strain into a tall chilled classed filled with ice. Garnish with grapefruit peel.

Tim Alcoser’s DLR Photo Report 4/9/12

WDWNT on July 10, 2012

DLNT Reporter Tim Alcoser was at the Disneyland Resort last night and captured some great photos of Buena Vista Street.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Trolley wire is set up down Buena Vista Street and Hollywoodland.

Fountain up and running on Buena Vista Street.

Fountain up and running on Buena Vista Street.
Fountain up and running on Buena Vista Street!

Beauty shots of Cars Land at night.

Enjoying some World of Color

Not the least bit crowded.

Thanks for reading!

Collectors Beware: Capturing Yeti Comes at a High Price

WDWNT on July 10, 2012

On June 29th, the 9″ Yeti from Park 8 will be released as an online exclusive. With an edition size of 1000, it will retail for $74.95. (Park 8 LE Explained page)

This is the second time we have seen the outrageous price tag of 75 bucks for a single 9″ figure. Price aside, let’s talk about the creature it is based on.

Expedition Everest opened on April 7, 2006 at Disney Animal Kingdom park at Walt Disney World. When completed, the mountain of steel beams and imagineered rock work stood nearly 200 feet tall. Here is a great article from Popular Mechanics Magazine with a peak inside the mountain. To me, the best part about this ride is the most detailed queue line at the Disney parks. Every inch of the path onto the train is fulled with treasures and artifacts from a journey into the Himalayas. It may be a bit of a stretch to say this, but I don’t mind avoiding the Fast Pass line now and then to check it all out.

Inside the Everest queue. Picture from our Urban 8 photoshoot
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Once on the train, guests are sent up a hill offering one of the best views of the rest of the resort… if one is brave enough to take a breath and look around. The downhills are great and the ride backwards is a thrill, but the star of the attraction is the Yeti… the protector of the imagineered “Forbidden Mountain.”

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The Yeti, standing at 22 feet tall, is the largest animatronic the Imagineers ever built. The story of the Yeti is a much publicized one. Dubbed “Disco Yeti”, he now stands motionless with a strobe light on him to simulate movement. Here is an Orlando Sentinel article from 2010 highlighting the issue.

Park 1 Yeti
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We have a Park 1 Yeti and a Park Starz version, but none seem to capture the Yeti’s ferocity as depicted in the Exhibition Everest attraction as the new 9″ Park 8 does.

Park Starz Yeti
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This Park 8 version has the straggly fur, glowing red eyes and big dangerous teeth. Where as the other versions depict a more cartoonish Yeti.

The 9″ figure looks to take inspiration from both the animatronic Yeti himself as well as some of the artwork in the queue.

Photo from Jim Hill
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Photo from Mouse Planet
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But the big question still remains… will the Vinylmaiton Yeti’s arms move?

New Email Dining Reservation System For The Disneyland Resort

WDWNT on July 10, 2012

From Erin Glover on the Disney Parks Blog:

“Dining
As you may know, Disneyland Resort guests may book dining reservations through the Disney Dine Line (714-781-DINE) but, beginning today, we’re offering a new way to request a dining reservation at the resort.

Here’s how it works:

  • Guests may now email their dining reservation requests to dine@disneyland.com
  • Requests will be reviewed the same day, when received during the hours of 7 a.m. – 9 p.m., 7 days a week
  • Requests received after hours will be reviewed the next day
  • Guests may request Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and Studio Disney 365 reservations through this email address as well
  • Email requests should include the following information:
    • Name of the restaurant or experience you’d like to book
    • Requested reservation date and meal period (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
    • Total number of guests in your party
    • Your name and phone number
  • Remember: Your request is not confirmed until you’ve received a confirmation number

For a list of Disneyland Resort restaurants that accept reservations, click here.

We know that Disneyland Resort guests are very excited about the upcoming opening of Carthay Circle Restaurant at Disney California Adventure park on June 15. Dining reservations are not available at this time, but keep an eye on the Disney Parks Blog and @Disneyland on Twitter for updates on when the booking window for this brand-new restaurant will open.

First look at Popcorns Vinylmation Variant

WDWNT on July 10, 2012

Update: 6/27/12 Box added.

 

Over at the vinylmation Facebook page they just posted a first look at a figure from the Popcorns Vinylmation line. As we found out last week, they will be selling a special variant from the Popcorns line at Comic-Con next month. Today we got a first look at the full figure of Mickey. It’s black and white AND pie-eyed, so this is the variant they will be selling at Comic-Con. What do you think? Do you like this series?

Update: 6/27/12 Today Disney put up a picture of the box that the Popcorns series will come in. If anything, it helps explain the name. It really does look like a popcorn box. What do you think?

And here’s a look at the back and side of the figure. Nothing really new to see though…

Color Blocks Explained

WDWNT on July 10, 2012

Color Blocks 

Release Date: June 29th, 2012
Where: D-Streets and Hong Kong Disney
Price: $12.95 US, $75 HK
Details: 3″ Open Window

The Color Block series is basically a bigger version of the highly popular Juniors 2 Series.

 Buzz

Woody

Donald

Goofy
Mickey

Minnie

Nemo

Cheshire Cat

Is Cars Land Revving-Up Some Live Entertainment?

WDWNT on July 10, 2012

Two new posts have gone up on the Disney Auditions Website both looking for performers for a new show coming to Cars Land. Here are the postings:

Disney Parks Talent Casting is seeking males with physical comedy and improv skills for a new act in Cars Land.

Entertainers for this show are covered under the terms and conditions of a collective bargaining agreement with the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA).

Role

Males with strong physical comedy and improv skills. All ages, body types and ethnicities are encouraged to attend, including deaf performers (translator will be provided). This is a mostly non-verbal role (think Charlie Chaplin meets Cirque clown.)

 

And here is the second posting:

 

Disney Parks Talent Casting is seeking female Dancer/Hosts to play the role of “Spinner” in an all-new, interactive dance party that travels the streets of Cars Land.

Entertainers for this show are covered under the terms and conditions of a collective bargaining agreement with the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA).

Role

Spinner: Female, youthful, all heights and ethnicities, leads a small dance crew. Must be able to interact with Guests as well as a character from the Disney feature film Cars.

These postings are a little more vague than the ones that came out for the Buena Vista Street Performers. The top role is interesting as it is a ” non-verbal role.” The second audition though is labeled as a “interactive dance party” that is hosted by a performer called “Spinner.”

UPDATE:

We’ve got confirmation and more information officially from Disney on these new entertainment offerings coming to Cars Land.

Small-town hospitality flows from Radiator Springs and brings good times to you!

  • Red the Fire Truck brings impromptu water fun at the Courthouse in Cars Land.
  • DJ gets you hip-hoppin’ with bass beats that are pumpin’ through his neon-blazin’, thumpin’ subwoofers and sweet speakers.
  • Don’t miss the transformation of Radiator Springs at sunset when the streets shimmer from sparkling lights and music pulses through the night air.

It looks like Red the Fire Truck will be bringing some “impromptu water fun” to Cars Land. It isn’t really clear if this is a show or just a water play area as it is listed under entertainment.

The “interactive dance party” that was mentioned early is being hosted by Spinner, and the music supplied by DJ. I’m thinking this will be similar to Phineas and Ferb’s Rockin’ Rollin’ Dance Party.

And last but certainty not least, Disney has finally announced the nightly transformation of Cars Land when the Neon is switched on. It is rumored just like the movie that “Sh-Boom” (or Life Could Be a Dream as it is also known) will be played through the land as the buildings are lit.

http://www.disneylandnewstoday.com/wp-content/themes/journalcrunch/journalcrunch/timthumb.php?src=http://www.disneylandnewstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/031312_NF_FS_CarsLandFirstLook_4.jpg&h=370&w=800&zc=1
 

New Magic Around the World Figure Released

WDWNT on July 10, 2012

We were pointed to a Facebook post by Disney Character Central today:

“Picked this up just now at a UK store (not London!). The info on the back more or less confirms the others will come soon too.”


This looks like a fun figure to celebrate the World Showcase at Epcot. With the Mickey head flags, it is very similar to the ornaments on the Christmas tree from the Holidays Around the World figure released a few years back. I would have liked a tiny more character to this figure instead of just a black background. Found at a UK Disney Store, it is an interesting universal figure seemingly meant to represent all the countries with Disney Stores perhaps? This is as opposed to those figures meant to represent specific cities.

Comic Con 2012 Vinylmation Explained

WDWNT on July 10, 2012

Update: 7/10/12

Disney Store will release two (2) of these very limited-edition figures during each day of Comic Con. For the lucky few attending “Preview Day” tomorrow (Wednesday 7/11/12), the head chef will showcase his street side buffet you can purchase all eight (8) figures on the same day! Be sure to stop by the Funko booth (#4829/4928) to pick them up. Each figure retails for $10.00. 250/each available per design.

Update: 7/6/12 Queen and King of Hearts shown at the WDW Trade Show. Also saw Park Starz Pink Squid Variant.

San Diego Comic Con is on July 12-15 in California and Disney has announced several Vinylmation releases spread through out the event. According to the Vinylmation blog, they will be available for purchase online. (But we assume they will also be at the event)

 July 11

Comic Con Boy and Girl

Two 3″ Combo

LE 2000

$34.95A part of the Comic Con celebration Disney is releasing this two pack set of two kids dressed up in costumes (much like what many of the people who attend the event do). I like the girl’s use of a accessories, both a cape and glasses. Very cool.
The boy is a little more Robin themed. he’s got a mask and a little hat. He’s got the costume and a utility belt (which just happens to hold vinylmation).

This is a great set, although we had hoped this might have been the introduction of Marvel by having the kids dress up as Marvel characters.
July 12

Pixar’s Up Young Carl and Ellie

Two 3″ Combo

LE 2000

$26.95Amazing. Spot on. Perfect use of ears. Grape Soda cap!!!
July 13

Park Starz Squid Variant

LE 1954

$24.95We first saw this as part of Thomas Scott’s John Carter vinylmation interview video on 3/7/12. This will be the fourth variant to the Park Starz 1 series, I love the color. Prefect.
July 14

Alice in Wonderland Queen and King

3″ and Jr Combo

LE 2500

$24.95Inspired by the the size difference of the King and Queen, this set will portray the Queen at a full 3 inches and the King in a mini Junior. This will be the third Queen of Hearts 3″. The first one was with the Alice set and the second will be in the Villains 3 set.
July 15

Popcorns Mickey Mouse Pie Eye Variant

LE 5000

$24.95In celebration of the upcoming Popcorns series, Disney is releasing a black and white variant of the Mickey design. (Similar to Funko’s Metal Mickey from Comic Con last year)

Spotlight On: Custom Vinylmation Artist Ryan Marella

WDWNT on July 10, 2012

 

Destination Vinylmation: The Brave 9″ is just remarkable. It looks almost like a chalk painting to me. The shading is beautiful. Can you talk to us about the creation process on this piece?

Ryan Marella: Creating the Brave 9″ custom starts with some research into the character  pics, then a  simple sketch of the character.I was surprised that it took me only one sketch to get the correct expression on Merida .I usually sketch a character out 3 to 4 times before getting the right expression.From the sketch It’s all about painting the right colors and the right  shade.

DV: That is one of the most beautifully draw Meridas I have seen. How long does it take you to get a character down? Have you sketched her a few times before putting her down onto the vinyl canvas?

RM: Achieving the correct textures is all about  trial and error, you have to test all types of brushes on a practice canvas just to see how it translates on to it.It may take some time,but it’s fun to see how each different texture brings life to your art.

DV: The Masters of the Universe triple set is just plain cool. How did you decide to do this set?

RM: I’ve been meaning to create a He-Man set, then in  a forum I go to see many amazing artist post customs, some one asked  if any one has created a he-man custom before……that’s when I decided that  it’s time to create He-Man and the Masters of the Universe customs.

DV: Are any of these available for purchase?

RM: The Brave custom is still for sale, please contact me if you’re interested. The He-Man set in the pic shown has already been sold, but I can always create another,my customs are available for purchase. Please contact me via email jerai022@yahoo.com and visit www.ryactiv.sketchlab7.com.