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

WDWNT on June 11, 2012

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.

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

WDWNT on June 11, 2012

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:

 

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

WDWNT on June 11, 2012

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…

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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

Max Guggenheim’s 3/8/12 DCA Photo Report

WDWNT on June 11, 2012

DLNT Photographer Max Guggenheim was at Disney California Adventure a few days ago giving us some neat photos of both Cars Land and Buena Vista Street…

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Cars Land

So close….

Wow, this must be a first, reporting on Disneyland from DCA, the Matterhorn scaffolding is quickly coming down to the bottom half of the mountain

Pacific Wharf entrance to Cars Land

This guy is spending too much time in the Animation Academy

Moving on to Buena Vista Street

1…2…3.. Oohhh

Minnie’s Fly Girls is proving to be popular.

Yes, couldn’t go a month without a weather vane picture

First look at the North trolley station

May the force guide you back

Thanks for Reading!!!

D23 Reveals Some Great Unseen Photos Of Cars Land

WDWNT on June 11, 2012

D23 recently posted some really neat photos of Cars Land and Radiator Springs. Take a look…

From the D23 Website:

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. Across the way, Cars Land expands Disney California Adventure by 12 acres and immerses guests in the thrilling world of the Disney•Pixar blockbuster Cars. D23 takes a first look at this immense expansion through these stunning new photos:


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. 

The peaks of Ornament Valley rise up over the town of Radiator Springs.

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.

Cars-themed dining and shopping locations such as Flo’s V8 Cafe, Ramone’s House of Body Art, and Radiator Springs Curios dot the map of historic Route 66.

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.

World of Color NYE

WDWNT on May 31, 2012

Happy New Year everybody!!! Just got back from a few days at the Disneyland Resort, so I will start getting everybody caught up on the latest news from the Disneyland Resort. Starting off with a front a center video of the midnight showing of World of Color with the special new years tag at the beginning. It was a very foggy night in Anaheim so about halfway through the show, the fog and the smoke from the fireworks pretty much make the show invisible. Still fun to watch. Enjoy.

Hyeley Nance’s 3/16/12 DLR Photo Report

WDWNT on May 31, 2012

DLNT Reporter Hayley Nance was at the Disneyland Resort this past Friday, and has some newsworthy photos to share…

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Some filming in the hub

And more in Frontierland

Matterhorn looking great…

Oswald’s looking good

Bridge looks fantastic

Chocolate Factory behind tarps so we really cant track its progress

Cars Land

Grizzly River Run recently reopened with a new clean look

Gone is the rustic feel of the attraction

New items have been placed in the rafts to fit the new theme

Thanks for Reading

An Inside Look at the Music of Cars Land

WDWNT on May 31, 2012

From Valarie Sukovaty on the Disney Parks Blog:

The music you hear as you stroll around the Disneyland Resort or ride your favorite attraction is such an integral part of the Disney magic. Today we take you “behind the music” in North Hollywood with song writer and composer Bruno Coon and the band, “Billy Hill and the Hillbillies.” (Billy Hill and the Hillbillies have been entertaining at Disneyland park since the early 1990s.) In this recording session they performed the instrumental tracks for the songs heard on Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree. We have previously shown you a sneak peak of Larry the Cable Guy recording the vocals for these songs. In this video, Billy Hill and the Hillbillies are recording a variation of one of these songs – one that will be heard as background music throughout the town of Radiator Springs. Guests will be able to enjoy this in person as they explore the exciting new Cars Land when it opens June 15.

 

Hayley Nance’s 4/2/12 DLR Photo Report

WDWNT on May 31, 2012

Photo Report from Hayley’s recent trip to the Disneyland Resort

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Its a beautiful day

Upper scaffolding is gone. Matterhorn is looking pretty.

Love the new Cars themed Monorail Vinylmation

Such cute little Disney Ducks

Looking forward to Carnation Cafe reopening this summer

LaBrea’s refurb

 Clever new Donald T-shirt

Cinderella, Gus, & Jaq in Small World

Alice & the White Rabbit displayed on the chess table in the UK

The Three Amigos over in Mexico!

Ariel fits in so nicely, you hardly noticed the change

Nice to know they work so hard to keep the parks looking new & clean

Thanks for reading!

The Pixar Play Parade To Play Once Again At On June 15th

WDWNT on May 31, 2012

From Shawn Slater On The Disney Parks Blog:

After taking a break for the past year to accommodate the Disney California Adventure park expansion, all your favorite Pixar pals are getting ready to bring the party back to the streets with the return of the Pixar Play Parade.

The Pixar Play Parade brings to life the worlds of some of the most popular Disney●Pixar films, from “Toy Story” and “Cars” to “Finding Nemo” and “Monsters, Inc.” Along the way, the infectious soundtrack and energetic spirit of the performers get everyone into the fun of the show.

And when the Pixar Play Parade starts rolling again on June 15, fans of the procession will notice a few updates. “The biggest change that fans will see is that we reconfigured the Omnidroid float in ‘The Incredibles’ unit,” says Show Director Robin Trowbridge. “Jack Jack is now repositioned, and we are introducing Violet to the parade for the first time. It’s really cool!”

More people than ever will be able to “join in the party,” too, as the parade is presented up to twice daily along the new, longer Disney California Adventure park parade route, winding from the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror in Hollywood Pictures Backlot all the way to Silly Symphony Swings on Paradise Pier.

To prepare for the return of the Pixar Play Parade, “Pixar Pals! Monster Mayhem” and “Pixar Pals! The Incredibles: Heroes in Training” will come to a close April 29. “Our Pixar Pals have done a great job keeping guests entertained during the construction effort in the park,” said Robin. “Now, we’re excited to bring back the full parade, better than ever!”

Here’s a look at what went into the creation of the Pixar Play Parade, back when it was first introduced in 2008.