Weekend Round-Up

WDWNT on July 19, 2008

It’s been a news filled past few days, & there’s been a few things that we haven’t reported, as well as some updates, that were covered in this week’s Monday in the Parks update on MiceAge. Let’s take a look through some of the news pieces brought up:

  • After going missing for a second time in a year, the Goat in Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has returned.
  • We here at Disneyland News Today reported earlier this week on the closing of the Vineyard Room at Disney’s California Adventure on August 31st. Well apparently, for the last few years, the restaurant has only been opening on weekends, & it seems that these last few weekends that it’s supposed to be opened… Well basically, it won’t be. Again, it’s not confirmed, but highly likely.
  • Last Friday, both the Green Army Men stand before the security check & the Honda Pilot display in the Esplanade were removed, & everything is back to normal in that general area.
  • Also, the All-American College Band had its last performance at Disneyland last Friday, due to the performers heading back to school.
  • The Magic Morning early entry to Disneyland Park for Disneyland Resort Hotel guests that is usually offered on Sundays, will not be offered Sunday August 31st due to the Disneyland Half Marathon. It will instead be offered Saturday August 30th.

And now a couple of pieces of news in pictures:


As we reported earlier this week, the Grand Marshall Pre-Parade to Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams no longer features the dancers, characters, or the Year of a Million Dreams banner at the beginning


Yesterday at 5:45pm, Ariel made her final ever exit from Ariel’s Grotto

Models, Concept, & Interviews of Beauty

WDWNT on July 19, 2008

Laughing Place attended the media event in the Disneyland Opera House announcing the return of the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough. Be sure to check out their latest LP Lotion for interviews with Tony Baxter & his fellow Imagineers, as well as pictures of models & concept art from the new & old version of this attraction.

New Bread ODV Cart in DCA

WDWNT on July 18, 2008

There is now a new ODV cart selling Boudin Bakery bread (obviously from the Bakery Tour in Pacific Wharf) under the Golden Gate Bridge in DCA. This is something I noticed on my last visit, but I forgot to take a picture of it. MouseTimes however did:

Be sure to check out the latest DLR Pictorial on MouseTimes for more coverage from through-out the Disneyland Resort, including the festivities for the 53rd anniversary!

Dateline Disneyland Picture Update

WDWNT on July 18, 2008

Let’s take a look at some various things going on through-out the Disneyland Resort from this week’s Dateline Disneyland on MiceAge:


A peek behind the construction walls outside the old Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough


For about a couple of weeks now, Power City in Innovention’s Project Tomorrow hasn’t been operating


And the Future Choice Stations seem to be “coming soon” again


The vintage ticket display in Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years has returned

I would like to advise everyone to check this article to see some of the lovely merchandise released for the 45th anniversary of the Enchanted Tiki Room (the link is at the top of the post).

It’s Back! And It’s Official!

WDWNT on July 17, 2008

July 17, 2008 – Anaheim, CA – The interior of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland will open in time for the December holiday season, offering guests a “reawakened” version of its classic walkthrough presentation kissed with vibrant scenes of Aurora, her charming prince, the evil Maleficent and other characters from the beloved fairy tale film.

“It is fitting that we are announcing the return of a classic on the 53rd anniversary of Disneyland,” said Tony Baxter, Senior Vice President of Creative Development for Walt Disney Imagineering, who unveiled a model of the castle on July 17, the birthday of Disneyland park.

Next year marks the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty,” and the excitement generated by the anniversary of the motion picture spurred interest in the return of the Disneyland attraction.

Also celebrating the milestone 50th Anniversary of “Sleeping Beauty” is Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, which will release a two-disc Platinum Blu-ray™ Hi-Def disc, making “Sleeping Beauty” the first Walt Disney animated classic title to be released in high definition, as well as on two-disc Platinum DVD. A bonus feature on the new release will be “The Original Sleeping Beauty Walk-Through Attraction With Walt Disney Imagineering,” an immersive experience recreating the original castle walkthrough.

On April 29, 1957, nearly two years before the premiere of Walt Disney’s animated feature “Sleeping Beauty,” the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough opened with an in-park ceremony featuring Walt Disney and actress Shirley Temple who, some 20 years earlier, had presented Disney with his special Academy Award – one Oscar and seven little ones – for “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”

The crafting of the 1957 walkthrough show fell to Walt Disney Imagineer Ken Anderson and animation art director and color stylist Eyvind Earle, credited with giving the motion picture “Sleeping Beauty” the distinctive and colorful look of storybook illustrations in medieval style. An entirely new look appeared in 1977 when the attraction’s redesign featured miniature dioramas, including moving figurines similar to the window displays in the shops on Main Street, U.S.A.

When the attraction is unveiled later this year, the “show” will differ from the dioramas of the 1980s and ‘90s, returning to the unique style of the original 1957 show and motion picture. Enhanced with new scenes and special effects magic, the re-Imagineered attraction will employ technology not available in the 1950s to represent scenes from the story of Sleeping Beauty, including the magic of good fairies Flora, Fauna and Merryweather, and the more sinister spells of the evil Maleficent.

For the first time, guests who are unable to climb stairs or navigate the passageways of the Castle will be able to experience the walkthrough “virtually” in a special room on the ground floor of the Castle.

Happy 53rd Birthday Disneyland!

WDWNT on July 17, 2008

Today is one of those special days in the Disney fan community, for today is Disneyland’s 53rd anniversary! While the 53rd anniversary isn’t a landmark anniversary, Disneyland are still celebrating it with a small ceremony today at 4:45PM, which will basically be a replaying of Walt’s Dedication of Disneyland, along with the Mayor of Main Street & some characters.

So Happy 53rd Birthday Disneyland, & Roll on the 55th!

DLR Photo Report – 7/13/08

WDWNT on July 14, 2008

Yesterday I had a wonderful trip to the Disneyland Resort. Apart from the Innoventions Dream Home, there wasn’t that much else going on, so included in this picture report are some lovely scenery shots. Now then, let’s hop to it:


The monorail stopped right by Soarin’ Over California for some reason


I got to the Resort for DCA’s opening so I could go straight to Toy Story Midway Mania


We stopped here for about 10 minutes, & then preceded to the actual queue for the attraction, which was about 20 minutes long


My gun wasn’t working properly on my first ride, so I went Single Rider afterwards & got this score


The Grizzly River Run waterwheel is now out from behind walls & scaffolding


When this picture was taken (about 10:45am PST), Grizzly River Run had broken down


Now we’re going to venture into Innoventions, for a look around the brand new Innoventions Dream Home!


The fictional soccer team in the Dream Home is the Astro Blasters (wonder where they got the name from?)


Taylor Morrison is holding sweepstakes where you can enter to win your own Dream Home!


Bambi was showing in this room


The entrance into the Dream Home


In this room, a cast member was telling the story of Peter Pan (very futuristic)


Me with my brother in the background


A very cool, fountain bubbly thing that actually changes colors


The Tree of Tomorrow


The Dream Banners have returned to Sleeping Beauty’s Castle


One of Disneyland’s many bands heading towards the Castle


A nice panoramic shot down Main Street USA


Flowers in bloom at the entrance to Frontierland


Pins, Pins, & More Pins!!!


This picture is kinda dark (I didn’t want to use flash), but you should be able to see that one of the Pirates in the Jail scene of Pirates of the Caribbean is missing


The Trash Can Trio entertaining crowds waiting for Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams


And speaking of Parade of Dreams, here are some select shots from many that I took of the parade (all will soon be available in the Image Gallery)


The Little Mermaid float features my favorite costumes/performers


Three lovely ladies


A new sign up for the Art of Disneyland at the exit of Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years


I spotted these Mickey’s Pin Odyssey signs by the entrance to DCA from the Grand Californian… No idea what they were doing so far away from any of the Pin Trading carts


Mr. Potato Head is already starting to get a little dirty


Back in line for Toy Story Midway Mania


The 3rd ride of the day (my score is on the left)


And my fourth ride gives me my all time record


The fountains in between King Triton’s Carousel & Midway Mercantile were working for once


I met a total of 6 Princesses yesterday… Belle


Aurora


Cinderella


Aurora again (luck of the draw I suppose)


Pocahontas


And Ariel

That’s going to do it for this Disneyland Resort Photo Report (hey, that rhymed!). Stay tuned to the Image Galleries (once we get them working) for bigger versions of these pictures, as well as many others.

Until my next trip folks!

Makes You Wish The Electrical Parade Was Goin’ By

WDWNT on July 11, 2008

Our sister site, WDW News Today, reported the following news about the High School Musical 2: School’s Out show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

The popular High School Musical 2: School’s Out roaming stage show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is now scheduled to make its final performance at the park on September 13, 2008. However, don’t get too happy if you’re not a fan of the Disney Channel’s mega-hit movie series. On October 24, just around the time the new film in the series is released in theaters everywhere, a new roaming stage show themed to High School Musical 3: Senior Year will be hitting the streets at Hollywood Studios. Stay tuned for more details on the new show as they become available.

With this news, we can expect a High School Musical 3 version of the roaming stage show at Disney’s California Adventure sometime this fall. Although no concrete details have been leaked about the DCA version yet.

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for up to date information on the High School Musical show.

Dateline Disneyland Picture Update

WDWNT on July 11, 2008

Let’s take a look at some of the various things going on through-out the Disneyland Resort from this week’s Dateline Disneyland on MiceAge:


Billboards around SoCal for Toy Story Mania have been changed to say “Take aim and ride” as opposed to “Opening June 17th”


Some ground work has been done at Goofy’s Gas in Toontown


Goofy’s car has returned outside Goofy’s House