Midway Mania Olympics

WDWNT on August 1, 2008

Days before heading to Bejing for the Olympic Games, members of the USA volleyball team tested their competitive skills at Toy Story Mania! — a new attraction at Disney’s California Adventure, in Anaheim.

Teammates Ryan Millar, a BYU graduate from Palmdale, CA., and Scott Touzinsky, from Long Beach State and St. Louis, Mo., rode the attraction on July 29, racking up points with their spring action shooters. They each surpassed 135,000 points, but Touzinsky outscored Millar in a close contest.

Team USA, which trains at the American Sports Centers in Anaheim, CA., aims to score many more points as they shoot for a medal at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, which begin Aug. 8. The U.S. men won their first FIVB World League title this summer, defeating Serbia in the gold-medal match in Rio de Janeiro.

Mega DLR Update

WDWNT on July 30, 2008

David “Darkbeer” Michael visited the Disneyland Resort today, & saw some of the effects of the earthquake, as well as attending a lot of different events & exhibits in Downtown Disney (of which I don’t have a clue what any of them are, but I have my duty to report them!). Let’s dive on in this mega update:


The Disneyland Monorail was closed due to the earthquake


This Anaheim Ducks exhibit of sorts seems to of replaced the very similar High School Musical: Get in the Picture “exhibit”


The “ducks” are still alive?


Think this is something to do with the earthquake?


A signing of some kind… Maybe it wasn’t to do with the earthquake?


Then inside the ESPN Zone, there was something to do with the Anaheim Arsenal (which I’m guessing is a sports team of some kind)


Some kind of presentation in the ESPN Zone, which judging by the background of the picture, has to do with the NBA


Finally going inside the parks to see the effects of the earthquake… Here we see the Abandoned Tiki Room


And a rare site… NO LINE FOR INDY!


By this point, I’m guessing Pirates of the Caribbean had re-opened, unless everyone stayed in the line


Most attractions had re-opened, but apparently Indy was closed all day!


New Century Timepieces is a thing of the past, as previously reported, Fortuosity Shoppe will open up in that space this October


Toy Story Midway Mania re-opened by 12:30PM along with most of DCA… Seems Mr. Potato Head grew back his ear!


Finally, the Maliboomer was closed all day, as it can’t test when the park is open for some reason

Due credit goes to Mr. Darkbeer & his lovely SmugMug page! Be sure to check out his gallery from today, at this link.

Monday in the Parks Update

WDWNT on July 28, 2008

The latest Monday in the Parks update on MiceAge covers a lot of new happenings at the Disneyland Resort. Here are a few of the more prominent ones:

  • Various members of the USA Olympic Team will be appearing in Downtown Disney this Tuesday Afternoon, from 2:30 to 5 PM at the ESPN Zone.
  • As previously reported, Monorail Red is still operating at limited capacity (15 people per car as opposed to the normal 22). According to the article:Disney is looking at bringing out Mark VII Monorail Blue this week, but only if the Mark V Purple or Mark VII Red cannot run. Mark VII Blue is not yet approved to carry guests, but needs hours of proven operation to get that approval. Disney also does not want 3 trains on the track at one time, so only if there is an available space on the track will you see it, and once again, it is not available to guests.
  • The previously reported Pirates of the Caribbean refurbishment that will start on October 13th, is planned to last for just over a month, & should be open in time for the Christmas season which starts on November 21st.
  • Either this fall or early 2009, the Matterhorn will be getting new bobsleds cars. They will have the same seating arrangement, & the only major difference will be new seat-belts, which will be similar to the ones found in the Indiana Jones Adventure, Star Tours, & Soarin’ Over California.
And now a couple of Darkbeer’s pictures:

The emptiness of the It’s a Small World Toy Shop
Where’s his ear!?

I’m Lovin’ It!

WDWNT on July 24, 2008

A whole load of new refurbishments during September & October have been announced. There’s so many, that I’m just gonna bullet them bellow:

  • French Market – 9/2/08-9/19/08
  • Sailing Ship Columbia – 9/2/08-10/25/08
  • Conostoga Wagon – 9/2/08-????
  • Fantasmic – 9/2/08-????
  • Harbour Galley – 9/2/08-????
  • Big Thunder Ranch – 9/15/08-9/27/08
  • Pirates of the Caribbean – 10/13/08-????
  • Jungle Cruise – 10/20/08-10/22/08
  • Gadget’s Go-Coaster – 10/20/08-????
  • Burger Invasion – 9/2/08-????

It’s interesting to note that all 3 McDonalds locations in the Resort (Conostoga Wagon, Harbour Galley, & Burger Invasion) will be closed starting September 2nd, for an undetermined amount of time. Could this be the end for McDonalds at the Disneyland Resort?

Also, the Hyperion Theater refurbishment has been pushed back to start on September 29th, instead of September 2nd. We still have no information on when it will end, but it should be in time for the Christmas season.

Finally, I just want to remind everyone of the already announced refurbs:

  • Plaza Pavilion – 1/11/08-10/10/08
  • It’s a Small World – 1/22/08-11/28/08
  • Mark Twain Riverboat – 8/25/08-8/27/08
  • The Haunted Mansion – 9/8/08-9/25/08
  • Flik’s Flyers – 9/2/08-9/12/08
  • Sun Wheel – 9/11/08-????

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for updates on all attraction refurbishments. And for up-to-the-minute information on the various refurbishments, be sure to check our Attraction Refurbishments page!

Possible Parade of Dreams “Hiatus”

WDWNT on July 24, 2008

According to Screamscape:

Park News – (7/22/08) According to Screamscape sources the Disneyland Parade of Dreams will go on hiatus sometime this fall to allow for the Main Street USA area to be resurfaced. The plan right now is to make up for this by holding Fantasmic offered nightly, with one performance on Mondays – Thursdays along with two shows on Friday – Sundays.

Now, this is just pure speculation, but if this does happen around September or October, they will need a good deal of time to do the resurfacing of Main Street, so when it’s done, it will probably be time for a Christmas Fantasy Parade. So this “hiatus” could be the end for Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams, as it’s due to head off to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom next year.

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for all the latest updates on Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams!

Little Mermaid & World of Color Rumors

WDWNT on July 24, 2008

Here are a few juicy rumors concerning the Little Mermaid attraction & World of Color:

  • The Paradise Pier lagoon will be drained at the end of the year in preparation for World of Color.
  • Some of the fountains that will be used for World of Color reportedly will be able to shoot higher than the Maliboomer! Because of this, is the Cove Bar at Ariel’s Grotto may be have to be enclosed.
  • The control booth for World of Color will be on top level of the Little Mermaid building, which will be 3 stories tall.
  • Underneath the Little Mermaid will be the Parade Guest Control offices, as well as offices for the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail.
  • And speaking of Redwood Creek, it will be cut almost in half for an expansion to the building that will become the Little Mermaid attraction.

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for updates on these & any rumors involving the DCA Expansion!

Fake or Real?

WDWNT on July 23, 2008

We have been hearing various reports that during Christmas this year, Disney will use a fake Christmas Tree on Main Street, as opposed to a real one, which they have used all years past. The decision for this is unknown, but I’m going to guess it’s either to save money, or for safety.

Again, this is not confirmed, but stay tuned to Disneyland News Today to find out if this will be happening.

Whole New Perfomers

WDWNT on July 22, 2008

According to the OC Register, Disney is looking for new performers in the Aladdin stage show at DCA. This Wednesday there will be an auditon at 2pm, as listed on the Disney Auditions website. Similar auditions will be held in New York City on July 29th.

Again, as previously reported, the Hyperion Theater will be closed from September 2nd through early December for “rehabilitation & system upgrades”. Aladdin will then return in time for Christmas!

Let The Good Times Roll!

WDWNT on July 21, 2008

Construction is about to begin at Disney’s California Adventure, according to Blue Sky Disney. Come this August, construction walls will be up all through-out Paradise Pier & other area of the park will follow.

Also while construction is underway in Paradise Pier, the parade route will be shortened & will only run from Sunshine Plaza to the gate in between the Mission Tortilla Factory & the Bountiful Valley Farmers Market.

Let The Good Times Roll!

The Goat Is Gone Again!

WDWNT on July 21, 2008

According to various reports, the Goat is once again missing from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I’m guessing again it’s just for regular maintenance, & he should return soon.