DLNT Reporter Chris Lastrapes brings Disneyland News Today into a new era with the first of what we are calling a “2nd generation photo report”. You can click the photos to see larger images and captions, you can also use your arrow keys to go forward and back through photos in the report. We hope you enjoy this new way to enjoy our photo reports from the parks and resorts!
More big news to share today…a new game with new faces is being added to Toy Story Mania! at Disney’s California Adventure and Disney’s Hollywood Studios as part of the celebration of the soon-to-be-released Disney*Pixar film, “Toy Story 3.” We’re also introducing a new character that you’ll have a chance to see and greet at both locations –- and it’s all happening in May.
The new Toy Story Mania! game, called “Rex and Trixie’s Dino Darts,” will involve shooting virtual darts at all new balloon targets in a primeval world filled with volcanoes and lava balloons. You’ll be cheered on by Rex (the nervous Tyrannosaurus rex) and his new friend Trixie (a blue Triceratops, one of the toy characters from the new film) beginning in late May. Walt Disney Imagineering has also added some hidden surprises to the game that will be replacing “Bo Peep’s Baaa-loon Pop.”
And starting May 9, you’ll also get a chance to see “Lotso” (short for Lots-O’-Huggin Bear) at both parks. He’ll be greeting Guests in the meet-and-greet area inside The Magic of Disney Animation and be part of the “Block Party Bash” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The new character will also join “Disney’s Pixar Play Parade” at Disney’s California Adventure and guests will be able to pose alongside the “Toy Story” gang inside a life-sized “blister pack” as if they themselves are toys.
Lights, water, fire, music and animation will come together like never before on June 11 when “World of Color” makes its dazzling debut at Disney’s California Adventure park. You will get to experience some of your favorite Disney stories – from the charming to the adventurous – in a magical, new way.
Many of you, as readers of the Disney Parks Blog, have been following our documentation of the development of this playful, nighttime water spectacular. I’ve loved reading your comments and sharing in the enthusiasm for this highly anticipated show, and we want you to be among the first to see some up-close footage we recently captured during a rehearsal.
Enjoy the video and a special introduction from the man behind the magic, Steve Davison from Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment.
As you saw in the video, the show is brilliantly choreographed as it combines nearly 1,200 powerful fountains, popular Disney music, larger-than-life projections, lasers, fire, fog, surround sound and stunning images. On top of that, the magnificent, moving fountains are capable of reaching enormous heights — from 30 to 200 feet -– while maintaining their dazzling colors.
As I’m sure you know from reading the Disney Parks Blog, “World of Color” is a major milestone in the multi-year expansion of Disney’s California Adventure park.
“World of Color” debuts this year as part of Summer Nightastic! –- a lineup of exciting, after-dark entertainment at the Disneyland Resort. Summer Nightastic! will run from June 11 through August 29, and you’ll be able to catch “World of Color” year-round at Paradise Bay.
DLNT Podcaster Jaime Nakagiri visited the Disneyland Resort on Saturday to say goodbye to the Main Street Electrical Parade and hello to the California Food & Wine Festival:
DLNT Reporter Chris Lastrapes took a quick trip to Disney’s California Adventure to catch a glimpse of the unveiled Paradise Park viewing area for World of Color and has plenty of photos to share with us:
DLNT Reporter Chris Lastrapes was able to catch some “World of Color” fountain testing on his latest trip to Disney’s Californai Adventure, and he even recorded a short video to share with us:
Paper and water don’t seem like an ideal match, but throw in animation and it works in a very cool way. One type of art form being considered for “World of Color” is paper animation. Local Glendale, California artist Megan Brain has created 3-dimentional paper sculptures of Disney characters that are turned into models or puppets with computer animation. The result is very fun and very unique when it is projected onto a giant water screen. Heather Hust Rivera will give a more in depth update on “World of Color” next week, but in the mean time, take a look at this video and see for yourself.
Beginning June 11, “Summer Nightastic!” returns to the Disneyland Resort, featuring exciting evening events that will electrify the night. “Summer Nightastic!” runs through Aug. 29 at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure theme parks.
Headlining the entertainment is the new nighttime water spectacular – “World of Color” – at Disney’s California Adventure park. Surpassing all previous water productions, “World of Color” brings Disney animation to life with powerful fountains that are the stars of the show, forming the world’s largest projected water screen. In the making since 2005, “World of Color” combines hundreds of magnificent fountains, LED-produced dazzling colors, and an all-new kaleidoscope of audio and visual effects to take water-infused entertainment to a new level of artistry.
Located in Paradise Bay, Disney’s newest production features an unprecedented infrastructure of water effects, larger-than-life projections, lasers, fire, fog, surround sound and stunning images. This technical wizardry, combined with classic, animated Disney and Disney•Pixar film sequences, creates an emotional experience for guests as jaw-dropping effects sweep across the lagoon and soar into the sky.
Meanwhile, at Disneyland park, “Fantasmic!” ignites the night with thrills, life-like creatures including a fire-breathing dragon, and spine-tingling adventures for Sorcerer Mickey. Also, in the skies above Sleeping Beauty Castle, “Magical”sparks to life with a dazzling fireworks spectacular in which colorful choreographed pyrotechnics burst and soar to a soundtrack of celebratory Disney songs. “Magical,” which premiered in summer 2009, features both Tinker Bell and Dumbo in flight over the castle.
