“Re-Imagineering” Disney’s California Adventure

WDWNT on March 17, 2009

The latest sign of expansion and “re-Imagineering” in Disney’s California Adventure park is the new illuminated “Paradise Pier” sign on the “California Screamin'” roller coaster. Installed overnight between Thursday and Friday, March 12 and 13, the sign reflects the “vintage Disney” themeing that is part of the Disney’s California Adventure expansion. It was designed in the style of beachfront amusement park signs from the 1920s and ’30s, the era when Walt Disney first arrived in Hollywood and begin producing animated cartoons. As the “re-Imagineering” continues at Disney’s California Adventure this spring, the ferris wheel attraction will reopen as “Mickey’s Fun Wheel” and the Games of the Boardwalk will reopen in completely new versions featuring Disney characters.

Celebrate a Festival

WDWNT on March 15, 2009

Disney recently released a video previewing this year’s California Food and Wine Festival, which runs from April 24 to June 7, 2009. This six-week festival showcases California’s rich fusion of flavors. Enjoy cooking demonstrations, seminars and recipes that reflect the Golden State’s regional and culinary diversity at the Fourth Annual Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival. Presented by Vanity Fair® Premium Napkins and Plates. Learn more at www.disneyland.com/foodandwine.

Disneyland Resort Restaurants Win 15 Awards At Southern California Restaurant Writers Banquet

WDWNT on March 13, 2009

ANAHEIM, Calif., March 12, 2009 – Disneyland Resort celebrates 15 new awards for its restaurants and chefs as it prepares to launch the 2009 Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival, a six-week “World Celebration” that features delicious food and wine from Disneyland chefs and celebrity chefs and winemakers.

The 2008-09 awards were presented to Disneyland Resort restaurants and chefs at the recent Southern California Restaurant Writers Awards Banquet at the Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace in Yorba Linda, California. A highlight for Resort restaurants was the recognition of Alex Flores and Francisco Origel, sous chefs at the perennially popular Napa Rose in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, as co-winners of the “Sous Chef of the Year” award.

Napa Rose was honored further with a Golden Bacchus Wine Award and a Golden Sceptre (Five Star) award, the highest, in the continental category. Steakhouse 55 at the Disneyland Hotel also received highest honors, with a Golden Bacchus Wine Award and a Golden Sceptre (Five Star) award in the American category. The awards reflect Disneyland Resort’s commitment to guest service, which has been enhanced under the guidance of Master Sommelier Michael Jordan and his wine education program. The Resort has 300 certified sommeliers who assist guests with the pairing of wine and food.

Andrew Sutton, the executive chef who has helped guide the culinary success of Napa Rose since it opened in 2001, lauded the success of his sous chefs, saying, “This is a tribute to their hard work and dedication to the Napa Rose. Alex and Francisco have been instrumental in the restaurant’s success, contributing to the culinary vision with their expertise, dedication, talent and integrity.”

Francisco Origel worked with Sutton for five years at Auberge du Soleil in the California wine country. He was promoted to sous chef at Auberge du Soleil in 1997 following a rigorous selection process. He joined the Napa Rose culinary team in fall of 2002. “Francisco has amazing plating and cooking skills that he loves to share with his fellow chefs,” Sutton said.

Alex Flores was part of the opening culinary team for Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel in 2001, working in Storytellers Café. He moved to Napa Rose in June 2002 and worked his way through the culinary training program at all stations in the restaurant, being promoted to sous chef in 2007. “Alex is a self-starter and dedicated to his craft,” Sutton said. “He is incredibly imaginative and has the culinary disciplines to back it up with sound cooking and flavor combinations.”

Napa Rose showcases California wine country cuisine with menu options that change seasonally to follow the holistic dining philosophy of Executive Chef Sutton.  The restaurant features a 16,000-bottle wine cellar, more than 1,000 vintages and 80 wines available by the glass. At Steakhouse 55, which also earned top honors for the Disneyland Resort, guests experience classic and delectable American fare while enjoying the feel of vintage Hollywood through the restaurant’s retro décor.  The restaurant is also home to the posh Lounge at Steakhouse 55 that features an extensive wine list and light menu of new and old American classics.

With a total of 15 awards going to 12 restaurants – seven in Disneyland Resort hotels, two in Disneyland, two in Downtown Disney and one in Disney’s California Adventure – Disneyland Resort guests have a vast array of outstanding dining options.

Guests will be able to meet some of the Disney chefs and enjoy hundreds of complimentary demonstrations at Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival, which runs April 24 through June 7 inside Disney’s California Adventure. For details and information, go to www.disneyland.com/foodandwine.

The complete list of Disneyland Resort awards:

Special Award Category
•    Sous Chef of the Year:  Alex Flores/Francisco Origel (Napa Rose, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel)

Golden Bacchus Wine Award
•    Napa Rose (Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel)
•    Steakhouse 55 (Disneyland Hotel)

Golden Sceptre (Five Star):
•    Napa Rose (Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel)
•    Steakhouse 55 (Disneyland Hotel)

Gold (Four Star)
•    Ariel’s Grotto (Paradise Pier, Disney’s California Adventure park)
•    Blue Bayou (New Orleans Square, Disneyland)
•    Café Orleans (New Orleans Square, Disneyland)
•    Hook’s Pointe & Wine Cellar (Disneyland Hotel)
•    Storyteller’s Café (Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel)
•    Yamabuki (Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel)

Sterling (Three Star)
•    Goofy’s Kitchen (Disneyland Hotel)
•    Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen Downtown Disney)
•    Tortilla Jo’s (Downtown Disney)

Silver (Two Star)
•    PCH Grill (Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel)

The Southern California Restaurant Writers, Inc. has operated for 35 years as a non-profit seeking to improve the quality of restaurants in the region.  Award winners are chosen from Santa Barbara south to the Mexican border.

Walls Under the Sea

WDWNT on March 3, 2009

Well, we’ve know about this refurbishment for a while, but now we finally have solid dates. King Triton’s Carousel will be closed from March 9th to May 20th. While there are no official details on what will be done to this attraction, models in the Blue Sky Cellar show that a covered structure will be added, as well as similar architecture to Toy Story Midway Mania and the Games of the Boardwalk.

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for more information on this upcoming refurbishment.

The World is a Carousel of Color

WDWNT on February 28, 2009

Honor over at Blue Sky Disney has posted some new information on the upcoming World of Color show at Disney’s California Advenutre. Among the things he’s mentioned include the pretty obvious opening of the show being very colorful opening just like the opening to the original Wonderful World of Color TV show. The show surprisingly will be themed to emotions, such as love, anger, happiness, sadness, etc. An example he gave is that you will see Simba watching his father die. Sounds like some very powerful and emotional stuff. The highlight of the show sounds to be the giant Chernabog figure that will rise from the lagoon presumably for the “fear segment”. Finally, the only bad thing about the show will be that the Silly Symphony Swings, California Screamin’, Mickey’s Fun Wheel, and the Golden Zephyr will all close early due to the show, which will truly make World of Color a great end to your day at Disney’s California Adventure!

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for more information as we get closer to the debut of World of Color.

Disney’s California Food and Wine Festival Celebrates Flavors of the World in 2009

WDWNT on February 24, 2009

Tickets for Premier Events Go On Sale Beginning Feb. 24;
 Hundreds of Culinary and Tasting Experiences Are Complimentary 

ANAHEIM, Calif., February 19, 2009 — Disney’s California Food and Wine Festival will celebrate the international cultures, people, food and traditions that have made California one of the most diverse culinary destinations in the world. With a theme of “World Celebration,” the Festival expands to six weeks in 2009 – April 24 through June 7 – featuring daily complimentary demonstrations and premier ticketed events at Disney’s California Adventure park and throughout the Resort.

Tickets for the premier events – which include unique opportunities to go “Behind the Scenes With …” celebrity chefs and winemakers – go on sale beginning Tuesday, Feb. 24, at www.disneyland.com/foodandwine.

More than 600 complimentary experiences will be available at the fourth annual Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival, including culinary demonstrations, children’s programs and wine and spirits seminars. In addition, food and wine aficionados will get tips from Disneyland Resort chefs, mingle with noted winemakers and celebrate at the spectacular ticketed events, including the gala Festival finale “Taste Food-Wine-Life.”

“The 2009 Disney’s California Food and Wine Festival will take guests on a delicious journey around the globe,” said Gary Maggetti, director of food and beverage for Disneyland Resort theme parks. “We invite guests to celebrate their favorite foods and wines with our great variety of events, and to explore new tastes and flavors with our outstanding chefs and wine experts.”

Food & Wine Festival events held in Disney’s California Adventure require park admission, which is not included in the event price. Some events may require an additional fee and pre-registration.

Featured celebrity chefs, including Guy Fieri of the Food Network, along with nearly 100 Disneyland Resort chefs will conduct cooking demonstrations that showcase their talents and an international mix of delectable dishes. Guests will collect cooking tips while they watch the pros in action, discovering new twists on timeless classics and sampling the festival cuisine. Guests will also taste delicious festival-inspired dishes at the Wine Country Trattoria, Pacific Wharf Café, Farmer’s Market and other eateries inside Disney’s California Adventure park. 

New Events for 2009

Guests will enjoy several new signature events this year.

  • Behind the Scenes With… – Unique opportunities to share food, wine and conversation with cooking personalities from popular television programs and celebrity winemakers. The stars include Guy Fieri (“Guy’s Big Bite”), Keegan Geerhard (“Food Network Challenge), Tommy Lasorda (Lasorda Wines), and John and Nancy Lasseter (Lasseter Family Winery). The evenings begin with tasty appetizers and exquisite wines, followed by question-and-answer sessions hosted by Chef Jamie Gwen.
  • Sweet Sundays – The sweetest of all events features a light buffet breakfast and sparkling wine at the Golden Vine Winery at Disney’s California Adventure. Guests will see demonstrations and taste three signature desserts created by acclaimed pastry chefs, including chefs from Sweet Cheeks Baking Co. in San Diego and Cake Monkey Bakery in Los Angeles.
  • Festival Wine Walks – Guests will explore wines of the world, or a single region, when they purchase a tasting passport and select up to four tastes of spectacular wines. A tasting tour that features craft brews will also be available. Delicious wine country tapas that complement the beer and wine will be available at The Lounge at the Golden Vine Winery.
  • World Celebration Dinners – Disneyland Resort chefs will create an elegant menu that blends the food, wine and celebrations of regions around the world. France, Japan, Korea, Italy and Spain will be featured.
  • Master Sommelier Michael Jordan, of the award-winning Napa Rose restaurant, will add a new class to his “Introduction to Wine Tasting.” The “Advanced Wine Class” includes three two-hour sessions that take guests to the next level in their knowledge of wine regions, varietals, growing and harvesting style. Both entertaining classes will offer training as well as a blind tasting to test the participants’ skills. 

Popular Returning Events
Events returning for 2009 feature Disneyland Resort chefs and premier winemakers.

  • Winemaker Dinners – Disneyland Resort chefs will partner with premier California winemakers to prepare outstanding culinary delights at six exclusive “Winemaker Dinners,” on selected Friday nights. Each Festival meal will be paired with award-winning vintages and served at Steakhouse 55, inside the Disneyland Hotel.
  • Napa Rose Cooking School – Disney Executive Chef Andrew Sutton will once again lead this hands-on course that sells out quickly. Each class will create and enjoy a themed meal paired with wines and each class member will go home with an official chef’s coat to commemorate the experience. This amazing opportunity takes place in the show kitchen of the renowned Napa Rose restaurant at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Guests must be at least 18 years of age and advance reservations are required.
  • Festival Wine Receptions – Guests will have an opportunity to enjoy a beautiful sunset and weekend evening under the stars, on the patio of the Golden Vine Winery inside Disney’s California Adventure park. While sampling from a variety of selected wines and enjoying hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, guests will meet fellow wine enthusiasts, make new friends and discover new favorite wines. 

For more details and pricing information, visit www.disneyland.com/foodandwine

Myrna Litt’s 2/19/09 Photo Report

WDWNT on February 21, 2009

After about a month away from the parks, Myrna Litt finally returns with a new photo report:

After taking a break off for Presidents Day weekend, the Main Street repaving project returned this week in full force!

New, similar signs, replacing the old birthday ones at the Plaza Inn.

The windows have been temporarily covered over with a fake view outside due to tarps around the building.

If you couldn’t tell they’re fake, then these old signs will prove it to you.

Now for a few pictures from the newly re-opened It’s a Small World.

Read More about Myrna Litt’s 2/19/09 Photo Report

Chris Lastrapes’ 2/14/09 Photo Report

WDWNT on February 14, 2009

WDWNT’s very own Chris Lastrapes was at the Disneyland Resort celebrating his birthday this past Thursday, and shares with us a few photos of the latest happenings around the Resort:

Workers were working outside the gates of The Haunted Mansion up to it’s soft re-opening Thursday afternoon.

The attraction was closed early in the day.

The painting of Mickey’s Fun Wheel is pretty much done. Just a little bit left to do on the stars.

Lots of work going on in the Paradise Pier lagoon.

We’ll end this short photo report with the new covering for Mr. Potato Head.