What’s On The Menu Down Route 66

From Pam Brandon on the Disney Parks Blog:

The food is just as fun at the rest of spectacular Cars Land, with Disneyland Resort chefs having fun in the test kitchens. Here’s a sneak peek at some of their delicious creations debuting this summer.

“Cherry
With design inspired by the kitschy roadside eateries along on Route 66, Flo’s V8 Café starts with old-fashioned, filling breakfast dishes like chicken tamale with scrambled eggs, salsa verde and pico de gallo; or brioche French toast served with salted caramel and bananas. For lunch, we get a taste of the delicious, filling veggie-tater casserole with roasted veggies, bulgur wheat, Boca Crumbles and smashed red skin potatoes topped with melted cheddar. But it’s the sweet pies everyone’s waiting for, including apple-cheddar and cherry.

“Chili
The adorable Cozy Cone Motel is a quick-service restaurant inspired by the quirky “wigwam” motels along Route 66. In the Cars Land version, each wigwam offers a different filled cone, such as “chili cone carne” or “cone on the cob.” Flavored popcorn is a fun offering at one of the five wigwams, including salt and vinegar, pickle, sweet and spicy, bacon and cheddar, and nacho cheese.

In the “Cars” movie, Fillmore is an advocate of natural products and makes his living by selling organic fuel, so Fillmore’s Taste-In is, appropriately, the spot for fresh fruit, bottled beverages and juices.

Stay tuned for more details – and the recipe for our favorite veggie-tater casserole.

Disney California Adventure Relaunches with Cars Land and Buena Vista Street on June 15th!

ANAHEIM, Calif. (March 7, 2012)  – The Happiest Place on Earth will get even happier June 15, 2012, with the grand opening of Cars LandBuena Vista Street and the Carthay Circle Theatre at Disney California Adventure park. The exciting, new additions will complete the five-year expansion ofDisneyland Resort, a premier, multi-day vacation destination in Southern California with two theme parks, three hotels and the Downtown Disney shopping and dining district.

With four new attractions opening at Disney California Adventure park, full day-to-night experiences at both parks, and the magical transformation of the Disneyland Hotel with new pools, themed suites and remodeled rooms, guests of all ages will enjoy more fun and adventure than ever before at the Disneyland Resort.

Cars Land expands Disney California Adventure by 12 acres and immerses guests in the thrilling world of the Disney•Pixar blockbuster “Cars.”  Guests will feel as if they have stepped into the town of Radiator Springs as they enjoy three family attractions showcasing characters and settings from the movie, plus “Cars”-themed dining and shopping locations such as Flo’s V8 Café, Ramone’s House of Body Art and Radiator Springs Curios.

One of the largest and most elaborate attractions ever created for a Disney park, Radiator Springs Racers is a twisting, turning, high-speed adventure through Ornament Valley and the town of Radiator Springs. Luigi’s Flying Tires invites guests to glide on air aboard special tires, whirling around with their pals. At Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, guests will whip around behind a baby tractor and enjoy tunes from a giant jukebox built from Mater’s most prized possessions.

Starting June 15, guests will enter Disney California Adventure along Buena Vista Street, a place that transports them to an era when Walt Disney arrived in California with new dreams:   1920s Los Angeles. Buena Vista Street features Red Car Trolleys, inspired by the transportation system that once served Southern California, and the Carthay Circle Theatre, modeled after the site of the 1937 world premiere of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” Carthay Circle Theatre will include a lounge and the elegant Carthay Circle Restaurant, designed to be the premier dining location in Disney California Adventure.

Adding to the fun at Disney California Adventure this summer will be the new Mad T Party in Hollywood Land, the return of Pixar Play Parade, and the new Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop at Pacific Wharf.  Mad T Party will feature nighttime, family fun inspired by the wild and whimsical world of Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland.”

The summer debuts of Cars Land, Buena Vista Street and Carthay Circle Theatre complement previous additions to the park, including the 4D fun ofToy Story Mania; the spectacular after-dark “World of Color” show; The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure; Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta and Paradise Garden Grill restaurantsplus the re-themed attractions Mickey’s Fun WheelSilly Symphony Swings and Goofy’s Sky School.

To accommodate a media preview and make final preparations for the exciting debuts, Disney California Adventure will be closed June 14. The fun, new attractions, locations and entertainment will open to the public June 15.

Park 10 Explained

Park 10 Explained
Release Date: July 11, 2012 at Disneyland Paris (no US release date yet)
Price: 
Details: Park 10 is dedicated to all Disneyland Paris designs.

Update 7/26/12 Park 10 will be available at the Orlando and Anaheim D-Streets on August 3.
Update 7/19/12 Updated with HQ photos from @DLPWonderful.
Update 7/9/12 July 11 is the rumored released date for Park 10 at Disneyland Paris. No announcement of a US release date. This date comes 2 days before the US release of Park 9. @VM_Paris just put out this tweet: “Release date for #Vniylmation Park 10 is july 11th for #disneylandparis”

 

Big Thunder Mountain RailroadLike the Magic Kingdom train in Park 9, this version has a smoke stack on top of the head.

 

Aladdin’s Enchanted Passage

A really cool look to this one with Aladdin’s shadow at the bottom and the colorful stars in the ears.

 

Indiana Jones and the Temple of PerilA thrill ride in Adventureland at Disneyland Paris, this coaster takes guests on a journey through the world of Indiana Jones. The figure has a nice look to it with snakes in the ears.

 

 

Phantom Manor MayorThanks to my friend Adam over at DisneyBrit.com for confirming this one. This guy is found inside the Disneyland Paris equivalent to the Haunted Mansion and removes his head as guests pass by. Can anyone confirm the internet rumor I found that his head is or is modeled after Dreamfinder from Journey Into Imagination? It does resemble him.

 

 

OrbitronThere are many rides like this throughout the various Tommorowland’s at the Disney parks. It is a high flying orbiting attraction similar to WDW’s Astro Orbiter.

 

 

Tower of TerrorOpened in 2007, Paris’s La Tour de la Terreur is located in the Walt Disney Studios Park.  It is nearly identical to the TOT building at Disney’s California Adventure, except for minor differences in interior room locations and the Paris version is a half meter taller. At 183 feet, it is the second tallest attraction at DLP (Big Thunder Mountain is 197 feet). The figure itself is a more literal interpretation of the Tower of Terror than we have seen in the past.

 

Toy Soldiers Parachute DropOne of the newer rides in Paris it is located in the Walt Disney Studios Park. The design is just a perfect fit with the parachute taking up Mickey’s head, then the base of the ride taking up the body.

 

 

Moteurs… Action Stunt Show SpectacularLocated in Walt Disney Studios Park, this was the original, before it was brought to Orlando’s DHS. This is a brilliant use of mold here. Putting the car on the head like it is jumping the flames below… simply perfect.

 

 

It’s a Small WorldA colorful representation of an attraction seen in all the Disney parks, the artist chooses the sun as the focal point with some of the flags and shrubbery. More of a representation than a part of the ride.

 

 

Skull RockThis cave can be found in the Adventure Isle part of Adventureland. Guests can venture inside and look out through the giant eyes. The artist did a great job of representing both the rock skull and the water below.

 

 

Swiss Family Tree HouseLa Cabane des Robinson looms high over the Disneyland Paris park, and this colorful looking figure seems to take it’s design cues from concept art such as this sign. It is a more idealistic look at the tree house than any real picture of it I can find.

 

 

Mystery Chaser

Click image to reveal the chaser.

Bob Iger Tours Last Pieces of DCA Expansion Concluding June 15th

From Tom Staggs on the Disney Parks Blog:

Yesterday, Disney President and CEO Bob Iger and I stepped behind the construction walls at Disney California Adventure park for a hard-hat tour of Buena Vista Street and Cars Land, two of the most significant elements that will cap off our multi-year expansion of the park. Led by the extraordinary team of Imagineers working on this project, Bob and I were completely blown away by the level of artistry, creativity and attention to detail of the work done so far and can’t wait for all of our Disneyland Resort guests to finally experience it firsthand.

Our day started on Buena Vista Street where we rode the iconic Red Car Trolley, explored the storefronts that line the street and then continued on to the Carthay Circle Theatre, the new icon of Disney California Adventure park. This new entrance to the park will transport guests to a romantic, idealized version of 1920s Hollywood when Walt and Roy Disney first arrived in California to begin their careers as filmmakers. Buena Vista Street will be the perfect place for guests to shop and eat, watch the parade, or just sit and soak up the atmosphere.

Then we headed to Cars Land, and when we got to the entrance of this all-new, 12-acre land, Bob and I both stopped to simply take in the stunning view before us. From the majesty of the Ornament Valley Mountain Range in the distance to the craftsmanship of each of the buildings in Radiator Springs, Cars Land is going to be a truly spectacular addition to the park.

We wandered down Route 66 looking at all of the familiar hot spots from the films that are just about complete – Ramone’s House of Body Art, Flo’s V8 Café, the Cozy Cone Motel and Luigi’s Casa della Tires, just to name a few. We ended the tour with a test ride on two of the new attractions in Cars Land, Luigi’s Flying Tires and Radiator Springs Racers, which are both going to be huge hits with our guests.

As we approach the finish line of our expansion of Disney California Adventure park, I am extremely proud of the passion, creativity and innovation that have gone into this entire project over the last several years. When we’re done, this park will be a testament to what we at Disney Parks do best – connect our guests to the iconic stories, characters and music they love…making memories that will last a lifetime.

And now for some big news – I’m pleased to officially announce that the grand opening of Cars Land, Buena Vista Street and Carthay Circle Theatre will take place on June 15, 2012! Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for more details.

Wonderground Gallery Opens Today

Zoe is at the Grand Opening of the Wonderground Gallery and is sending in pictures throughout the day…

Update 12:30pm PST

“A Bug’s Life” Vinylmation 95
Artist: Calef Brown
$900

“Boo Peep”
Artist: Miss Mindy
$3800

“Midway” Vinylmation 95
Artist: Miss Mindy
$2000
“Showtime”
Artist: Miss Mindy
$3800

Today, June 9, is the opening of the Wonderground Gallery at Downtown Disney California. It is an art gallery full of amazing paintings and various collectibles and will be the showcase for the new Vinylmation 95.

Noah and a few other artists will be the first to present their customs to the public for purchase, then a Create Your Own will go on sale on June 15 at D-Streets.

Late yesterday, our own Zoe took a peak inside the store.

You can see (besides Zoe’s reflection) Cast Members still setting up inside.

If you would like to get a custom Vinylmation 95 at the Wondergallery, Disney has posted the following information:
“Guests may line up for the Grand Opening of the WonderGround Gallery on June 9, 2012 behind the Rainforest Cafe. In addition, beginning at 7am, wristbands will be distributed for the Vinylmation™ 95 releases in conjunction with the WonderGround Gallery Grand Opening.  We ask that you please not line up prior to 6am.  Wristbands are limited.  Limits will apply.  Merchandise not guaranteed.  All information subject to change without notice.”

In addition to the Lightning mold customs, the Disney Vinylmation Blog gave us all a peak at a Mickey mold custom designed by Miss Mindy that will be available.

If you are just interested to go browse, or meet the artists, here is a schedule of today’s events:

The following artists will take part in a special appearance and signing on
Saturday, June 9, 2012 at WonderGround Gallery in the Downtown Disney District.

11 am – 1pm
Brigette Barrager, J. Scott Campbell, Martin Hsu, Amy Mebberson, Miss Mindy,
Noah, Genevieve Santos and Lyla Warren

3 pm – 5pm
Stacey Aoyama, Sean Chao, Sean D’Anconia, Danny Handke, Jerrod Maruyama, Michelle Romo,
Jared Andrew Schorr and Frank Svengsouk

If you attend, please send pictures… especially if you purchase one of the Vinylmation 95 customs!

New Disneyland Resort 6 Figure Set

Last year, Walt Disney World got an 8 figure set (6 regulars, 2 variants) celebrating the 40th anniversary. WDW then had two full Park sets dedicated to it. This summer however, there is a windfall of Disneyland figures. It started with a bunch of figures celebrating DCA. Now, on June 22nd, a set of 6 Disneyland figures will be available at D-Street California. Like the earlier WDW set, they represent the parks, establishing date and resort logo. These figures appeared in the Vault section of Disney’s Vinylmation website. So there were no details available. But it seems as if two of the figures might be Cast Member Trader Variants… similar to the way WDW had two variants that could only be found through trading with CMs.

Disneyland

A red and yellow design that has Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in the head, “Disneyland” in the body and “1955” on the feet. It reads “The Happiest Place on Earth” on the back.

Disney’s California Adventure

A mostly yellow and blue figure with the retro style Mickey head found on the Ferris Wheel on the head. 

 

Disneyland ’55

Very similar to the WDW version, it has the established date on the head, the same Mickey design on the body and a banner with “Disneyland” on the back.

Disneyland ’55 Silver Variant
Cast Member Trader?

Same as above, but silver.

Disneyland Classic D

The Classic D Disneyland logo on the head of a mostly yellow and blue figure. There are stars painted all around with Tinker Bell in the left ear.

Disneyland Classic D Silver Variant
Cast Member Trader?


Same as above, but silver.

Next Free WDW Trading Night Announced

Looks like the every other month trend will continue. Walt Disney World’s Contemporary Resort will host a free trading night for Vinylmation and Pin collectors on the night of July 6 in the Fantasia G ballroom from 6p-9p. This will probably be the last free event until the ticketed Mickey’s Circus trading event.

New Video Give Us First Look At Red Car Trolley, Radiator Springs Racers, and Much More…

From Erin Glover on the Disney Parks Blog:

This afternoon, Tom Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, announced that the five-year expansion of Disney California Adventure park will be complete on June 15 with the opening of Cars Land, Buena Vista Street and Carthay Circle Theatre!

Flo’s V8 Café Coming to Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park
The Happiest Place on Earth will get even happier with four new attractions – Radiator Springs Racers, Luigi’s Flying Tires, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree and the Red Car Trolley – as well as new dining and shopping locations such as Flo’s V8 Café, Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream, Elias & Co. and Los Feliz Five & Dime. Disney California Adventure park will offer guests even more new experiences in addition to the attractions that have been added since the expansion began in 2007.

To accommodate a media preview and make final preparations for the opening, Disney California Adventure park will be closed for one day on June 14. Disneyland park, Downtown Disney District and the Disneyland Resort hotels will remain open for our guests on that day.

Take a look back at all the additions to Disney California Adventure park and a look ahead at all the new things to come this summer:

 

Traffic Jam at Contemporary Monorail Station

Our friend, and soon to be contributor, Don Sawyer sent us this picture and caption:

My visit to D Street today in Orlando to purchase the 9″ Contemporary Motel and the 3″ Gold Monorail was especially exciting for me! I knew that I would get the chance to bring it home and display all of my other 3″ Monorails together as a set. They really look great together on my mantle. I am hoping that Disney will continue to release more monorail vinylmations in future park series because it one of my favorite collections!

Hayley Nance’s DLR Photo Report 3/4/12

DLR Photographer Hayley Nance was at the Disneyland Resort a few days ago and has some newsworthy pictures to share of the Matterhorn, Buena Vista Street, and much more…

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Matterhorn refurbishment continues

On Main Street, the Carnation Cafe expansion continues

Coke Corner reopened a while back

In Downtown Disney, The Lego Store has moved into its temporary space next to D street as the original Lego Store is refurbished

Over in DCA, work on the Parade route has completed in front of Mermaid

The Pacific Wharf lagoon has been filled again and bridge has reopened.

Cars Land

A look around the new Blue Sky Cellar exhibit

Over in the backlot, the facade next to the animation building is behind tarps

Yup, still here

Buena Vista Street

You can see that the Glendale Hyperion bridge framwork has gone up

Wrapping up the report is the first look at new signage installed at the bus loading area