Remember… Dreams Do Come True!

WDWNT on October 29, 2009

Some truly exciting news, Disneyland’s fireworks spectacular Remember Dreams Come True will be returning to Disneyland for a brief three day performance from Friday, November 6th to Sunday, November 8th. Remember Dreams Come True has been scheduled here to fill the one weekend gap between Halloween Screams (which ends Sunday, November 1st) and Believe in Holiday Magic (which begins Friday, November 13th). Now even though the show will likely return after Believe in Holiday Magic’s annual run, you can bet the many fans of this show will descend upon the Resort that weekend, so be prepared for large crowds at showtime.

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for the latest on Disneyland’s amazing slate of fireworks shows.

“Fantasmic” Halloween Screams!

WDWNT on October 28, 2009

According to the OC Register’s Around Disney blog:

For the last week of the Disneyland Halloween fireworks, guests can see the spooky projections that go along with the show on mist screens in the Rivers of America.

Previously, visitors could only see projected images and animated characters, including host Jack Skellington, on a 20-foot orb on top of Sleeping Beauty Castle. Guests in other parts of the park, besides Main Street U.S.A., could not see the projections. The characters do the narration and songs that go along with the plot of the “Halloween Screams” show.

Now, guests can also see the full effects on the mist screens that are usually used for the Fantasmic! show in Frontierland, said John McClintock, a Disneyland Resort spokesman.

The fireworks show is scheduled in between showings of Fantasmic! over the weekend, meaning Fantasmic! viewers can stay in one spot to see both shows. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, fireworks will be shot off at 9:25 p.m., while Fantasmic! appears at 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the fireworks show goes on at 8 p.m. Fantasmic! is only on weekends. The park is closed to the public tonight for a private party and there will be no fireworks.

Disneyland workers first showed the Rivers of America projections to the public on Thursday and decided to keep it through this weekend, McClintock said.

Light effects can be seen outside of the it’s a small world ride, but not the animated projections.

The last night of “Halloween Screams” is Sunday, when Halloween Time ends. This is the first year of the special Halloween fireworks show, which is expected to return next year.

First Look at Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee

WDWNT on October 27, 2009

The upcoming Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee, which debuts at Disneyland on November 6th, debuted at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom today. As the show will be the same on both coasts, I thought I’d share some press photos from today’s inaugural performance of the show:

Princess Tiana took part in a special “coronation” this morning at the Magic Kingdom, in which a cast of characters welcomed her to the Disney family

WDW News Today reporter Brandon Struve was at the Magic Kingdom this morning, and he’s captured a video of Tiana’s “coronation”, as well as the full Showboat Jubilee for us to enjoy, embedded via the WDWNTube Disney Parks Video Site:

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today the weekend of November 6th for complete coverage from the debut of our own version of Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee!

Pixie Hollow’s Newest Resident

WDWNT on October 26, 2009

Terence, a new dust-keeper fairy, is now greeting Guests at Pixie Hollow at Disneyland Park. Visitors will also discover that Autumn has arrived and has magically transformed the world around them with the deep greens, crimsons, oranges, golds, and browns of harvest time

Filler Up!

WDWNT on October 23, 2009

The D23 Twitter account today posted the news that the refilling of the Paradise Bay lagoon has well and truly begun. Here are two pictures from D23’s Twitter account showing the progress so far:

Show Times for Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee

WDWNT on October 16, 2009

Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee, a new show to promote the upcoming Disney animated movie “The Princess and the Frog”, debuts November 6th, 2009 at Disneyland Park. As previously reported, the show will start out in New Orleans Square, and then make its way on to the Mark Twain Riverboat, where pre-selected guests will be chosen to ride and participate in a meet ‘n greet with Prince Naveen, Princess Tiana, and Louis the Alligator.

The show will be performed four times a day, at 11:15am, 12:45pm, 2:45pm, and 4:15pm. Be sure see this show as soon as you can, as it will only be performing for a limited time. The show’s last performance will be on January 3rd, 2010.

Photo of Princess Tiana at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom

Refilling of Paradise Bay Soon to Be Underway!

WDWNT on October 15, 2009

According to the Disney Parks Blog:

If you’ve visited Disney’s California Adventure Park recently, you know the lagoon has been dry for many months as Walt Disney Imagineers install and test the newest and coolest water fountains at any Disney Park.

You can now see that the floor of Paradise Bay is a superstructure that’s nearly an acre in size and covered with a mass of metal, wiring, nozzles and gadgets. It’s all part of an intricate engineering feat to support “World of Color,” an exciting new nighttime water show that brings Disney animation to life with powerful fountains and amazing projection.

But, soon, water will be flowing back into the lagoon as part of a carefully planned environmental effort and the centerpiece of Paradise Pier will be reflecting the lights of Mickey’s Fun Wheel and California Screamin’. The lagoon will fill at a steady pace, and should be more than halfway full in about three days.

It’s actually a really interesting environmental story, and the Disneyland Resort was recently honored with the state of California’s highest environmental award for its efforts. To drain the lagoon, we worked with the Orange County Water District to send the water through its state-of-the-art Ground Water Replenishment System instead of releasing the water to the ocean through storm drains. After an extensive purification process, the water was stored in Orange County’s underground water basin and contributed to the County’s overall water reserves. Later this month, the lagoon will be filled with clean water from the aquifer.

“World of Color” makes it’s flashy splashy debut in Spring 2010. You can check out some cool renderings and video at www.DisneysCaliforniaAdventure.com.

Check back here in the coming months to see the progress at Paradise Bay lagoon, the future home for “World of Color.”

New D23 Member Only Events

WDWNT on October 8, 2009

Today, D23 announced 3 new member events, 2 of which are taking place in California. The first event is D23’s Candlelight Spectacular at Disneyland:

For more than 50 years, Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional and Ceremony has heralded in the Christmas season at “The Merriest Place on Earth.” This year, Candlelight serves as the centerpiece of D23’s first holiday season celebration during a magical day of festivities created exclusively for our members and their guests.

The day begins at 10 a.m. when guests can begin checking in. Theme park admission is included so you can enjoy all the holiday splendor and merriment of Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure at your own pace. You’ll enjoy reserved seating at Disneyland’s perennial favorite, A Christmas Fantasy Parade, and expect a few more surprises as well!

As night falls, you’ll gather inside Stage 17 at Disney’s California Adventure where a winter wonderland awaits. Make sure you don’t eat too many holiday treats during the day, because Disneyland’s Executive Chef has prepared a dazzling, sumptuous holiday feast for you to enjoy with your fellow D23 members. As you dine, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Pluto and their pals — all decked out in their holiday finery — will keep you in the highest of holiday spirits with special entertainment that will have you humming and singing along!

Following dinner, you’ll be escorted to your reserved seats for the Candlelight Processional and Ceremony, where you’ll experience the breathtaking majesty of this retelling of the Christmas story. Hosted by a celebrity narrator and performed by the Disneyland Orchestra, the Disney Employee Choir (which makes up the ceremony’s iconic living Christmas tree), bell choirs, trumpeters and a chorus of hundreds, the ceremony’s powerful music, traditional carols and poignant words will leave you with an even greater appreciation for the true meaning of Christmas.

At the conclusion of Candlelight, the evening continues as you are escorted back at Stage 17 for more holiday merriment. As you enjoy a sweet treat and some warm cocoa, the magic-makers at Disneyland will offer our guests a very special “behind-the-candles” look at the history of holiday traditions at Disneyland, as well as the special care and work that goes into making the parks look their best for the season. The team responsible for producing the Candlelight Ceremony will also join us to share their experiences and a surprise or two, and the Disney Employee Choir will entertain you with a rousing sing-along of your favorite carols in a toe-tapping medley that will close the evening on the right note. As you depart from this truly wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime experience, remember that D23 members never go home empty-handed, especially during the holidays! ‘Tis better to give!

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Sunday, December 6, 2009
Time: Check in begins at 10 a.m.
Location: Disneyland, Anaheim, Calif.
Tickets: Tickets will be available Thursday, October 15 at 10 a.m. PST. Members may bring up to three guests.
Cost: $275 per person

Included with the cost of your ticket:

  • A one-day Disneyland park hopper ticket. (Ticket is good only for use on December 6, 2009 and must be used by ticket purchaser.)
  • Private dinner and dessert inside Stage 17
  • Exclusive holiday show featuring your favorite Disney characters
  • Reserved seating for Candlelight Processional and Ceremony
  • Behind-the-scenes presentation about Candlelight and Disneyland at the holidays — with a “sweet treat”
  • Special gift for all guests from your friends at D23!

The second event, Disney and Dickens, will be held at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood:

Join Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim and your fellow D23 members for an evening of Dickensian delights as you meet at the historic El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood to experience the new Robert Zemeckis film Disney’s A Christmas Carol, starring Jim Carey, Bob Hoskins and an all-star cast in this new retelling of Charles Dickens’ timeless holiday favorite. As you settle into your reserved VIP seat, enjoying tunes from the mighty Wurlitzer, the festive holiday pre-show and the film itself, make sure you don’t get too full from the complimentary popcorn and soda because following the movie, you’ll re-join the group for a holiday feast at the classic Los Angeles eatery, the Tam O’Shanter in the city’s Los Feliz area.

The Tam O’Shanter was a favorite restaurant for Walt Disney and his animators, and was often referred to as the Studio Commissary when Walt’s fledgling company was located in the neighborhood. From the moment you pull up to this quaint, cottage-like Scottish establishment, you will be transported to another time and place. Decked out in its holiday finest, the Tam is a cozy, traditional Scottish restaurant where Christmas goose and succulent prime rib await. As you dine with your fellow D23 members and their guests, you’ll have the opportunity to see Walt’s table, take a look at the wonderful artwork created by Disney animators for the Tam, and be entertained by Dickens Carolers, as well as an ensemble from the Disney Employee Choir, who will sing their favorite Disney Christmas songs.

So come with your appetite and warm up your vocal chords, because this will be anything but a silent night. Oh, and don’t forget that Christmas is a time of giving and your friends at D23 would never let you leave without a special holiday gift to commemorate the evening!

EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Thursday, December 10, 2009
Location: El Capitan Theatre and Tam O’Shanter Restaurant
Time: Check-in begins at the El Capitan at 6 p.m.; Screening begins at 7 p.m.
Tickets: Tickets will be available Thursday, October 15 at 10 a.m. PST. Members may bring up to three guests.
Cost: $95 per person

Included with the cost of your ticket:

  • VIP seating for the 7 p.m. showing of Disney’s A Christmas Carol
  • Popcorn bucket and soda
  • Three-course dinner at the Tam O’Shanter (includes soft drinks, coffee, and tea)
  • Valet parking at the Tam O’Shanter
  • Special presentation including a performance by the restaurant’s Dickens Carolers
  • Surprise gift for all guests from your friends at D23!

The final new event announced isn’t for California, so I’m not going to put it up here, but here’s the link to it just in case you’re interested. Be sure to keep an eye on the D23 Expo and Events page for when tickets go on sale October 15th.