HE’S BACK! Video courtesy of Disney Hipsters on Instagram:
Using projection mapping technology, Disney has successfully brought the Hatbox Ghost back to the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland starting today. The original effect installed in 1969 never quite worked properly and was removed a few weeks later. 45 years later, he has returned just in time for the Diamond Celebration at Disneyland.
Hat Box Ghost
The infamous Hatbox Ghost returned to Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion over the weekend, revealing the classic concept brought to life with new magic. Just how did Imagineers make this happen? Take a look:
THE WALT DISNEY ARCHIVES RETURNS TO D23 EXPO WITH “DISNEYLAND: THE EXHIBIT”
More Than 300 Classic and Contemporary Objects Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Walt’s First Theme Park Will Be on Display
BURBANK, Calif. – May 12, 2015 – The Walt Disney Archives today announced it will celebrate the 60th anniversary of Disneyland at D23 EXPO 2015 with an exhibit of more than 300 pieces from the park’s incredible history. “Walt Disney Archives Presents—Disneyland: The Exhibit” will be the largest display the Disney Archives has ever showcased at D23 EXPO. The event, presented by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, will take place August 14–16 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
The 12,000-square-foot exhibit, which will be located on the Expo show floor for the first time, will include themed areas that honor the park’s history, attractions, parades, and entertainment over the past six decades, including the construction of Disneyland, Pirates of the Caribbean, Mickey Mouse Club at Disneyland, Club 33, and collectible merchandise, as well as the park’s iconic lands: Main Street, U.S.A., Fantasyland, Frontierland, New Orleans Square, Tomorrowland, and Critter Country/Bear Country. Each area will contain items from Disneyland’s past, including attraction vehicles, costumes, props, and even Audio-Animatronics® figures.
Among the more-than-300 items on exhibit, guests will be able to see Ticket No. 1, purchased by Roy O. Disney on July 18, 1955, the first day the park was open to the general public. Guests will see many pieces shown by the Archives for the first time, including early surveying equipment from the 1950s used in the construction of Disneyland, a prototype vehicle for the belovedAlice in Wonderland attraction, dancingmonkey costumes used in the nighttime spectacular Fantasmic!, an early Autopia car, original artwork from Mickey Mouse Club Circus, the Abominable Snowman from the Matterhorn Bobsleds, which was replaced during the attraction’s recent enhancement, and an original pitch book full of colorful artwork that was used to sell Disneyland to prospective sponsors on the East Coast.
Tickets for D23 EXPO 2015 are available at a discounted price for a limited time. Through June 30, 2015, tickets are $67 for a one-day adult admission and $48 for children 3–12. Tickets for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club are $58 for a one-day adult admission and $42 for children. Multi-day money-saving tickets are also available. D23 Members can save as much as $188 off the price of admission, based on the purchase of four three-day tickets at the D23 Member rate. For more information on tickets and the ticket pricing structure for D23 Members and general admission, visit D23EXPO.com.
For those who felt FastPass+ and MyMagic+ were failing at Walt Disney World, you may want to start re-thinking your theories.
As most of the major bugs in the system have been worked out over the last few months, it seems Disney is ready to launch the system globally. The Disneyland Resort in California will be conducting their very first tests for FastPass+ in August 2015. Hong Kong Disneyland will officially launch their system with the opening of the Iron Man Experience in 2016.
FastPass+ takes the FastPass ticketing system into the digital age, removing the paper FastPass distribution points at attractions with a system guests can use to book a FastPass online, in an app, or at one of several designated kiosks within the parks and have it linked to their ticket/MagicBand. Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland still use the original FastPass system currently.
There are over 500 new items for sale at the Disneyland Resort as part of the 60th Anniversary Diamond Celebration, so we thought it would be smart to make a post showing you all of the items currently available during this once-in-a-lifetime event:
BALLOONS!!!
Yes, they are selling big diamonds…
The leather jacket retails for $395.00
Shoe ornament
Pin bag
Precious Moments statue
Lenox tea cup and saucer
Jumbo pin
The back of the t-shirt has the opening dates of every current attraction
So… what are you buying?
PHOTOS BY ALLIE DANE
When Disneyland’s Diamond Celebration kicks off next month, Mickey and Minnie Mouse will be stepping out in style for the event…
If you want to meet the pair in their 60th anniversary costumes, you’ll have to head out to Disneyland Resort for the Diamond Celebration beginning May 22, 2015. They will be appearing in Town Square at Disneyland Park along with Goofy, Pluto, Donald duck, Daisy, Chip, and Dale who will also have special costumes during the event’s run.
In addition to the giveaways and new character costumes announced earlier today, the Disneyland Resort continues to roll-out new information of the 60th anniversary Diamond Celebration beginning May 22nd. Here’s what we have learned so far today:
Tinker Bell leads the procession in a magical, musical overture, closely followed by a float reminiscent of the giant bass drum that led the “Main Street Electrical Parade.” Lightning McQueen races in with his buddy Mack Truck, who makes a hefty impression at 54-feet long, covered from headlights to tail pipe in gleaming light. Anna and Elsa from “Frozen” glide through the night in a shimmering palace of ice and snow, the tallest float in the new parade. Guests also will be delighted to see Cinderella, Rapunzel and beloved characters from tales such as “Monsters, Inc.,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Toy Story,” with Mickey and his pals creating a breathtaking grand finale.
Guests will be surrounded by the worlds of timeless Disney tales, from the tips of their toes to the sky high above, thanks to the largest installation of projection mapping technology in a Disney park and surprising special effects. One minute they will be standing on Main Street, U.S.A., and the next they could be stampeding across Simba’s Pride Lands, dancing with King Louie from “The Jungle Book,” traveling “Under the Sea” with the Little Mermaid, flying over London with Peter Pan, dripping in honey with Pooh in a whimsical dream of heffalumps and woozles, or quivering as Queen Elsa brings a glimmering blanket of snow over Disneyland.
Similar to Tinker Bell, Dumbo, and Zero, Nemo from the Disney-Pixar animated film “Finding Nemo,” Nemo will swim through the skies above Sleeping Beauty Castle in this new show, as the Matterhorn is transformed into the fiery peak of Mt. Wannahockaloogie.
The “Made with Magic” paintbrush available in hong Kong, allowing guests to paint performer costumes during the nighttime parade
During the Diamond Celebration, guests will be invited to become part of the musical magic, singing, dancing and marching along with resort performers such as the Disneyland Band, Dapper Dans, Red Car News Boys, Straw Hatters and Five & Dime. The after-dark “Mad T Party” will return to Disney California Adventure as a dazzling new “Diamond Mad T Party,” featuring sparkling new decor, interactive fun, dancing and delectable food and drink.
Guests may join a daily Diamond March-Along up Main Street, U.S.A., with the Disneyland Band and Disney characters in their sparkling, new Diamond Celebration costumes. The cavalcade concludes with a Diamond Sing-Along at Town Square in Disneyland Park. Also on Main Street, U.S.A., the Dapper Dans quartet will invite guests to join Diamond Sing-Alongs, while the Straw Hatters band will encourage Diamond Dance-Alongs.
Guests may Dream-Along with Mickey Mouse and the Red Car News Boys, as Mickey shares a whole new song about his vision for the Happiest Place on Earth. When the Five & Dime arrive on Buena Vista Street, guests will be immersed in a joyous Dance-Along with Dime, Goofy and the boys.
Mad T Party returns to Disney California Adventure beginning May 22, as guests are invited down the rabbit hole to experience the Diamond Mad T Party, a nighttime entertainment party inspired by Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” motion picture. The Mad T Party main stage will feature a live band, performing contemporary and classic rock favorites as well as newly mashed-up Disney tunes given a rare Mad T Party twist. When the band isn’t onstage, the White Rabbit DJ takes over and plays the latest, hottest dance tunes.
Also for Mad T Party, the Hottest Deck in Town dance crew will perform their high-energy show with a new look at a new location, the Hollywood Backlot Stage. Diamond Mad T Party guests will also play interactive games, take photos or just chill out with a cold drink from the Drink Me Bar or Chiller truck. A new photo location combines the fantastical spirit of the Mad T Party with a tribute to Disney’s past.
Headwear will include a Diamond Celebration ear hat, Minnie Mouse rhinestone-embellished headband, and youth and adult baseball hats. Also being introduced from the Diamond Collection is a crystal-encrusted Minnie Mouse headband and Mickey Mouse ear hat.
Home Décor items will include frames, snow globes, mugs, a dinner plate, dessert plate, trivet, napkin, drinkware and bottle topper, as well as a beach towel, throws and pillow.
Toys will include an array of plush, a fashion doll, a Diamond Celebration truck hauler, train set, playing cards, puzzles, Sleeping Beauty Castle playset and more.
Open and limited edition pins, trading accessories, boxed pin sets and framed pin sets will be available.
Collectors also will be interested in limited release, limited edition and crystal embellished Vinylmation.
Art & Collectibles will include notable brands such as Precious Moments, Lenox, Highland Mint and Arribas Bros. Over the course of the celebration, fans will find artwork by Dave Avanzino, Disney Design Group (Costa Alavezos, Tyler Dumas, Susan Foy, Caley Hicks, Alex Maher, Randy Noble), Liana Hee, Ink & Paint artists, Brian Jowers, Lisa Keene, Jerrod Maruyama, Kurt Raymond, Tim Rogerson, SHAG, Javier Soto and The Thomas Kinkade Studios and Gregg Visintainer, among others.
The Disneyland Resort is filled with a variety of popular dining options. For the Diamond Celebration, some new specialties will join the classic favorites, served in colorful Diamond Celebration souvenir containers.
Special Diamond Celebration Cupcakes will be found at the Jolly Holiday Bakery Café (lemon flavored) in Disneyland and the Fiddler, Fifer and Practical Café (orange flavored) in Disney California Adventure.
Appropriately sparkling for the Diamond Celebration, a Pomegranate Silver Sparkler, topped with lemon-lime foam and garnished with silver flakes, will be served at the Jolly Holiday Bakery Café on Main Street, U.S.A., in Disneyland.
At the Lucky Fortune Cookery in Disney California Adventure, a special Lucky Fortune Tea will feature mango, pineapple and passion fruit flavoring.
Exotic new Diamond Celebration beverages will also be available at Disneyland Resort hotel locations: a Longboard Lemonade at the PCH Grill in Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, and a Wild Raspberry Rapids Lemonade at White Water Snacks in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.
Diamond Celebration Crisped Rice Treats, Caramel Corn and Cotton Candy will be available at select locations in the parks.
All of these newly announced items come in addition to already revealed offerings such World of Color – Celebrate!, the Hatbox Ghost returning to the Haunted Mansion, Matterhorn Bobsleds enhancements, Peter Pan’s flight enhancements, Soarin’ enhancements, and the decorative overlays of the park icons.
BURBANK, Calif., April 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — The eighth release from The Legacy Collection celebrates the 60th anniversary of Disneyland Resort with a 3-disc set, which features classic music from attractions. The set was produced and compiled by Grammy®-winning producer Randy Thornton.
This release coincides with the Diamond Celebration and will be available exclusively at Disneyland Resort beginning May 20th, with a wide release set for August 21.
The Legacy Collection Disneyland explores the rich past behind songs and attractions past and present. Beginning with the recordings from the opening day of Disneyland in 1955, the collection guides the listener down Main Street U.S.A., through the greatest attractions, shows and lands that exist today and those that are a happy memory.
Discs One and Two cover the lands beginning with Main Street U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, New Orleans Square, Critter Country, Fantasyland, Mickey’s Toontown and Tomorrowland, plus 5 songs from Disney California Adventure Park. Disc Three features an additional 12 songs from Disney California Adventure Park, plus music from “The Main Street Electrical Parade” and “Fantasmic!”
The liner notes provide extensive historical background by writer Stacia Martin, a 37-year veteran of the Walt Disney Company and Disney Historian, who oversees special projects for many divisions of the company including Walt Disney World, Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Records.
The CD cover and 24-page booklet feature newly created artwork inspired by Disneyland from Lorelay Bove, a visual development artist at Walt Disney Animation Studios (“Big Hero 6,” “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Tangled”). Bove was recently named one of ’10 Animators to Watch’ by Variety (March 3, 2015).
Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection Disneyland 3-disc set will be available exclusively at Disneyland Resort beginning May 20and on August 21 at Disney Music Emporium: disneymusicemporium.com.
Just in time for Disneyland’s 60th anniversary, when the Matterhorn Bobsleds and Peter Pan’s Flight attractions return in May, there will be plenty of brand new magic for guests to see!
Disney has promised that guests will see the abominable snowman of the Matterhorn like never before. The new yeti look will replace the figures that have been in the attraction since the 1970’s.
The nursery scene and more in Peter Pan’s Flight will receive it’s first major overhaul since 1983. The new nursery scene will see all of the Darling children take flight with Peter Pan for the first time-ever! Other major scene changes are expected as well.
We will provide more details as they become available on these two exciting projects.
Walt Disney Studios announced today an unprecedented collaboration between the Studio, Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort to offer park guests a 12-minute sneak peek of Disney’s upcoming thrilling, mystery-adventure film, “Tomorrowland,” opening in U.S. theaters on May 22. Guests will also enjoy an impressive exhibit that features the making of the movie with props, concept artwork and photos from the filming of the movie plus exclusive images from the Disney Archives. The sneak peek and exhibit will open April 17 in Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park and on April 18 in Future World at Epcot and will be available to the public for a limited time. There will be an annual passholder preview at Walt Disney World on April 17th, but no details have been provided on that offering yet.
The must-see event marks the first time that a sneak peek has been offered at Epcot in Walt Disney World and the first time Walt Disney Studios has teamed up with both parks to showcase an upcoming Disney film with footage and an in-depth look at the making of the film. Sure to spark the imagination and curiosity of all, the special exhibit details the process of bringing director Brad Bird’s vision to life and will show how filmmakers created the world of Tomorrowland, along with archival images of iconic Disneyland attractions featured in the movie.
In the movie, the premise that the futuristic city of Tomorrowland could actually exist pays homage to Walt Disney’s vision for both Tomorrowland at Disneyland Resort and Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort where ever-evolving technologies are showcased along with ideas to make the world a better place for all.
Commenting on the exclusive “Tomorrowland” sneak peek event, Brad Bird, the film’s two-time Oscar® winning director, says, “We are excited that park guests will be the first to get an extended look at ‘Tomorrowland’ in the part of Disneyland that inspired the film. Tomorrowland is the one section of the park that Walt Disney himself designed to be tied inexorably to constant change. After all, the future is always in motion, continually shifting as humankind’s choices of the present remake the world ahead of us. ‘Tomorrowland’ is a state of mind. My hope is that the exhibit will convey some of the magic that went into bringing this land… and this movie, to life.”
“Tomorrowland,” a riveting mystery adventure starring Academy Award® winner George Clooney, tells the story of former boy-genius Frank (Clooney), jaded by disillusionment, and Casey (Britt Robertson), a bright, optimistic teen bursting with scientific curiosity, who are bound by a shared destiny and embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space known only as “Tomorrowland.” What they must do there changes the world—and them—forever.
Featuring a screenplay by “Lost” writer and co-creator Damon Lindelof and Brad Bird, from a story by Lindelof & Bird & Jeff Jensen, “Tomorrowland” promises to take audiences on a thrill ride of nonstop adventures through new dimensions that have only been dreamed of.
The film also stars Hugh Laurie as brilliant scientist David Nix, Raffey Cassidy, Tim McGraw, Kathryn Hahn, Keegan-Michael Key and Thomas Robinson.
“Tomorrowland” is produced by Damon Lindelof, Brad Bird and Jeffrey Chernov and directed by Brad Bird, with John Walker, Bernard Bellew, Jeff Jensen and Brigham Taylor serving as executive producers.
