Disneyland Park – Page 15

VIDEO: Disney Testing New Interactive Droid Characters in Preparation for Star Wars Land

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

Even though we are at least 2 years away from the Star Wars themed lands at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland Park, that doesn’t mean we will have to wait that long to see what Disney has in store for us in what they promise will be the most immersive theme park experience offered to date. Since all matter of droids will be roaming through the streets and markets of the remote outpost planet, we know Disney Imagineers will have to create impressive new interactive characters to fill those roles. Well, it seems the very first one is already roaming around Star Wars Launch Bay at Disneyland, perhaps as an early test of what’s to come…

The following video was taken by DAPs Magic and shared on YouTube:

The droid is known as Jake, and if you watch the video closely, you’ll notice he can interact with the environment inside of Launch Bay, turning on and off nearby items around him. Pretty impressive, huh?

If this is just a small sample of what is on the way in the Star Wars themed lands, I think we are in for something pretty special with this project…

Again, credit goes to DAPs Magic for the awesome find.

RUMOR: Disneyland Forever Fireworks To Be Discontinued for Budgetary Reasons

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

When the Disneyland Forever fireworks show was introduced as part of the Diamond Celebration in May 2015, we assumed it would stay beyond the anniversary event, just as “Remember, Dreams Come True” did ten years earlier during the 50th anniversary of Disneyland. Well, it seems the show will conclude along with the Diamond Celebration come September 5th, 2016.

Why discontinue Disneyland’s biggest fireworks show ever? It is drawing record crowds and has proven ever-so-popular. Well, the show is big and expensive and Disneyland doesn’t seem to think they need it anymore.

Now, Disneyland does have two seasonal shows that they can slot in following the departure of Forever in September, the preexisting Halloween and Christmas fireworks shows. Certainly these two shows could carry the burden on select nights until the beginning of 2017, but instead of bringing Forever back at that point, Disneyland may reinstate the Magical fireworks show or introduce a new, smaller scale show in comparison to the current offering.

Unfortunately, this cancellation is part of a trend at the Disneyland Resort. In addition to budget cuts that have closed various restaurants around the resort, the spending constraints have left the long-standing Mad T Party staging and such over the Hollywood Land area in place, simply because it would cost $200,000 to restore the area to its former state.

Hopefully the completion of Shanghai Disney Resort will lift these budget constraints for Disneyland Resort, otherwise it’s going to be a long road to Star Wars land…

Disneyland Celebrating 50 Years of “it’s a small world” on 5/26

WDWNT on June 7, 2016

Join Disneyland in celebrating 50 magical years of “it’s a small world” at Disneyland Park! On May 26, 2016 be sure to find special ”it’s a small world” Limited Edition pins at Pin Traders in the Downtown Disney District and Store Command in Tomorrowland inside Disneyland Park. Disney has not announced if they will be celebrating in any ways beyond this merchandise release.

VIDEO: Autopia to Feature Honda Vehicles, More Enhancements Coming

WDWNT on May 4, 2016

Are you ready to get behind the wheel again at Autopia? When the classic Disneyland park attraction returns tomorrow, April 29, it will be presented by Honda. This alliance brings a whole new look to this longtime guest favorite, with freshly painted cars, losing the “color changing” paint scheme. Check out the video below as we go behind-the-scenes to see how the cars have gotten a new look for their big return to the road.

Disney promises that more changes to the attraction will be rolled out later this year, but they did not say what those are as of yet.

“Star Wars Day” Event Announced For Disneyland; “May The Fourth Be With You”

WDWNT on May 4, 2016

The Disney Parks Blog just announced some special festivities that will occur at Disneyland on May 4th:

Are you a rebel looking for a place to commemorate May the 4th?

Disneyland park is the place to be on this special day as we celebrate Star Wars! You already know that Tomorrowland is filled with new galactic experiences like Star Wars Launch Bay and Hyperspace Mountain, and now on May 4, 2016, fans can join even more special celebrations!

Head over to Tomorrowland Theater for a special screening of an episode from the hit Disney XD animated series, Star Wars Rebels. In the fan-favorite episode, “Shroud of Darkness,” Kanan, Ezra and Ahsoka return to the Jedi Temple on Lothal to find out how the Inquisitors have continually been able to track the rebels. Seeking the advice of Yoda, voiced by Frank Oz, the three will experience powerful visions that reveal the future, the past and old friends long gone.

Jedi and Sith alike can find special commemorative merchandise and all-new Star Wars collector glasses. And be sure to capture your memories from the day at a unique, themed photo location.

Then the party jumps into lightspeed at 6 p.m. at the Galactic Grill Stage with a fan celebration, where Star Wars trivia and other special surprises will take place throughout the evening.

So join us, you will, for May the 4th and celebrate Star Wars at Disneyland park!

As of now, no event has been announced for Hollywood Studios, but we will inform you if and when they are.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Star Wars Souvenir Glass Set Coming to Food & Beverage Locations May 4th

WDWNT on May 4, 2016

Starting May 4th at select food and beverage locations at the Disneyland Resort, guests may purchase a Star Wars souvenir glass exclusive to Disney Parks. The glasses are $12.99 each with the purchase of any menu item.

Kylo Ren and Chewbacca are available at Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port, while BB-8 and the Stormtrooper may be found at Galactic Grill.

The glasses are also expected to be available at Walt Disney World, but no announcement has been made as of yet.

PHOTO REPORT: Disneyland Resort 5/2/16 (Star Wars Land, Autopia Returns, ETC.)

WDWNT on May 4, 2016

Disneyland Reporter Tim Alcoser visited the Resort over the weekend to check out the new Autopia presented by Honda and the latest progress on the Star Wars themed land coming to Disneyland Park, so let’s take a look at what he found along the way:

Work continues on the second Starbucks at Downtown Disney

Security lines continue to be long and slow-moving at the resort, hopefully a solution is coming

A lot of closures now, but Autopia is back

On to Disneyland

Main Street traffic bustling

MARVEL Super Hero HQ closed a few weeks back, Star Wars Launch Bay will be expanding

Autopia presented by Honda opened over the weekend

The new blue paint scheme is much easier on the eyes

The new logo can be found throughout the attraction

All of the cars sport real Honda paint colors and the Honda logo

The new attraction marquee

Obviously, the Disneyland Railroad is still closed for Star Wars Land construction

Autopia was experiencing some issues earlier in the day on Friday

Inside Launch Bay, you’ll find this sign

Is a Star Wars Land preview center coming, or just more meet and greets?

It’s that time of year… the ducklings are out!

Star Wars construction continues in the North of Frontierland and Critter Country

Getting a better look at Star Wars Land construction from the top of the parking structure

It has been over two decades since Disneyland has seen land clearing like this, and this is the largest size clearing in park history

As the land gets flatter, we get closer and closer to the first foundations being laid for the new attractions, stores, and restaurants

Wreckage from what has already been cleared

Disneyland Expanding Star Wars Launch Bay, Closing MARVEL Super Hero HQ

WDWNT on March 31, 2016

Just ahead of the opening of “Captain America: Civil War,” the First Avenger will return to the Disneyland Resort. Captain America will begin making appearances next month at Disney California Adventure park. Also swinging in to join Cap on his latest mission in Hollywood Land will be everyone’s favorite web slinger, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

With this move, Disney will shutter Super Hero HQ in Tomorrowland at Disneyland park on Saturday, April 2. The Iron Man Tech Presented by Stark Industries and encounter with the Mighty Avenger Thor will both be closing and not returning.

The closure is expected to have something to do with an expansion of Star Wars Launch Bay, likely to include more character meet and greet experiences with Star Wars characters.

REVIEW: River Belle Terrace Turns Table Service BBQ Joint at Disneyland

WDWNT on March 5, 2016

BY CONNER PURZYCKI

It was a rainy evening at the Disneyland Resort, so only the indoor seating area was being used. The space formerly held the ordering and pick-up area and some seating for the River Belle Terrace counter service restaurant that is now a thing of the past (but should come back in a few years).

I was able to get a reservation about an hour before and we were seated fairly quickly. The restaurant’s interior was barely even touched for the conversion to table service. All the stanchions were still in place forming the lines to the counters and display cases for bottled drinks and sides were still in place. The condiment stations just had covers over them.

None of the appetizers seemed appealing to us, so we just ordered our entrees. I got the ‘Fried Chicken Sandwich’ which was very good. It had a lot of different flavors mixed nicely, and gave a good kick thanks to the jalapenos. The sandwich was of a good size, so much so that I couldn’t finish it.

For a side you automatically get a small portion of baked beans (which were good), and you get to choose your second side. I went with the “seasoned” tater bites, which weren’t really seasoned and honestly were just ordinary baked tater tots. It seemed really odd to be served tater tots at a table service restaurant (or at Disney in general). We also tried the ‘Pulled Pork Sandwich’ which was very good. The meat was very tender and had a nice smoky flavor to it.

For desert we ordered the ‘Fried Cheesecake’, which I’m still deciding if I liked or not. It tasted like warm cheesecake, interesting nonetheless and should get points for being something you can’t order otherwise at the resort. We also had the ‘Butterscotch Pudding’ which was our personal favorite. For fans of Butterbeer in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, this pudding edges really close to the ‘Butterbeer Clotted Cream’ which is served at the Three Broomsticks, so obviously, it is highly recommended.

The service was good. There were an abundance of wait staff for the small seating area, and we were checked on constantly. The restaurant still was very clearly set-up to be a counter service location and will likely return to that someday, but for now it’s a pretty good little BBQ joint.

CONCEPT ART: Disney Reveals New Art and Details of Star Wars Land

WDWNT on March 5, 2016

For the first time since the 2015 D23 Expo, Disney shared new details (as promised during the Disneyland 60th TV special) on the Star Wars themed-lands coming to Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

I crudely took photos off of my television screen for now, we will share higher-res images as soon as we can:

A short video was shared of the Millennium Falcon ride, where guests will not only take the controls of the classic vessel, but control the guns as well. It will be fully interactive and guests will be in complete control.

A short video was also shared of the attraction where guests are racing against time in the midst of a battle between the First Order and the Resistance.

The special stated that guests will be transported to another world, where they can interact with roaming aliens and droids, peruse a huge marketplace, and even taste the local delicacies.