Is Disney’s Aladdin Leaving?

WDWNT on July 10, 2008

From the OC Register:

Is Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular closed after July 21st?

The question above was asked on a MiceChat discussion board by someone identified as “moncho.” He said that he checked the Disneyland calendar and that the show is not scheduled after July 20.

Disney Spokesman John McClintock said the Disney’s California Adventure show will be closed between late September and early December. McClintock said the show will be down for rehabilitation and system upgrades. The show will then reopen in early December, McClintock said.

Indiana Jones May Get Crystal Skull References

WDWNT on July 10, 2008

From the OC Register:

Crystal skulls may be added to the Indiana Jones Adventure attraction in Disneyland, but the “Summer of Hidden Mysteries” will end after this summer.

Glenn Kelman, a Disney Entertainment Productions senior show producer, talked about the Indiana Jones touches added to Adventureland for the summer.

First, he said that the “Summer of Hidden Mysteries” will only last through the summer.

“There are no plans to keep this event running along past this summer,” Kelman said.

He also mentioned that “as the [Indiana Jones] franchise continues, the possibility may come up to add new things to the Indiana Jones Adventure attraction.”

He said that there are no plans to remake or change the Indiana ride at Disneyland. Kelman said Imagineers’ “imagination could run wild” with new things to add to the ride from the latest “Crystal Skull” Indiana Jones movie.

Imagineering Spokeswoman Marilyn Waters said she knows of no plans to add “Crystal Skull” touches to the attraction.

She added that “it doesn’t mean that in a couple of months we won’t say ‘hey, why don’t we add this.’

Our Slowest News Day Ever!

WDWNT on July 10, 2008

Today is a very slow news day:

Lindsay Lohan celebrated her 22nd birthday with a trip to Disneyland over the long Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Lohan climbed aboard the Alice in Wonderland dark ride with pal Samantha Ronson, according to paparazzi photos posted by TMZ. Accompanying LiLo and her BFF at the Anaheim theme park: brother Michael Jr. and sister Ali, reported the celebrity gossip website Just Jared.

The former Disney movie star and her DJ friend topped off the birthday fun with a party at Teddy’s nightclub in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, according to the U.K.’s Daily Mail.

— Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer


Photo from TMZ.com

DCA Expansion Rumors

WDWNT on July 8, 2008

Here’s a couple of rumors on the DCA expansion from Screamscape:

2011 – Walt Disney Plaza – Confirmed – (7/8/08) We’ve heard a bit more about the Walt Disney Plaza area, confirming that the Carthay Theater building will simply be an empty shell for the time being. However we have heard that the upstairs section may be used as another exclusive Club 33 style VIP Room. It was also mentioned that there may be some kind of Disneyland fireworks viewing area from here as well. We’ve also got a little more information about Hollywood Land, the new name likely to be used for the Hollywood Pictures Backlot. When the renovations are complete this area of the park is supposed to hold the majority of the track for the new Red Car Line trolley system, running guests from here to the new main gate area. The cars are said to hold only about 20 people each.

2012 – Cars Land – (7/8/08) We’ve got some new rumored details about the whole Cars Land area of the park, though keep in mind that as the last of the big projects set to go in, lots of changes can still be made before it opens. From what info is being leaked right now, there is a plan to make Flo’s V8 Café a functional quick service restaurant for the land and Fillmore’s Organic Fuels will likely end up being a drink and smoothie stand. While not much else has come to the front about the main Radiator Springs Racers ride, we did hear that Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree may be themed to fit the whole tractor tipping theme, so I’ve got to wonder if Frank will be involved somehow. I’m also not certain exactly what kind of ride this will be as some believe it will be another spinning flat ride while others thing it could be some kind of custom track ride.

2009/2010 – Goofy’s Sky School – In Development – (7/7/08) According to another source Disney will use the Goofy’s Sky School name and not “Flite School” as we had heard last week.

Monday in the Parks Picture Update

WDWNT on July 7, 2008

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


The 4th of July holiday weekend didn’t turn out that busy after all, as seen in the Wait Times Board on Sunday at 1pm


Those little things on top of Monorail Red are the air scoops to help cool down the cabins


The Orange County Health Department is now requiring Disneyland to post the Restaurant Inspection Notices at the entrance to all Disneyland Resort restaurants


Close-up of the Inspection Notice

The Transportation of the Future… Still Is!

WDWNT on July 7, 2008

From the LA Times:

Those yearning to ride Disneyland’s long-awaited new monorail found they had to hang on a little longer Saturday. The Mark VII, which had appeared off and on late in the week, never made it out of its shelter, to the dismay of some visitors hoping to step aboard.

“I’m a little disappointed,” said Samantha Wakach, a vacationer from Los Angeles, who’d been told by the concierge at her hotel that the new train was operating. “That’s why we decided to come over here instead of walking.”

The Mark VII, otherwise known as Monorail Red, is the seventh generation of the ride that’s been entertaining visitors since 1959 when it made its entry as the nation’s first electric train system on a single rail.

Sleek and futuristic, it was promoted as a vision for public transportation.

On Saturday the long-awaited new train, the park’s only upgrade of the attraction in 21 years, failed to appear after several hours of on-again, off-again operation over the previous two days.

Disney officials attributed the glitches to the attraction’s normal “test and adjust” period, when mechanics and designers work out the bugs.

“We are working on solving them,” spokeswoman Betsy Sanchez said of the unspecified problems.

She would not predict when the ride would open full time.

Read More about The Transportation of the Future… Still Is!

Sting or Swing? Drive or Fly?

WDWNT on July 5, 2008

Screamscape has some details on the re-do’s of both Mullholand Madness & Orange Stinger:

2009/2010 – Silly Symphony Swings – In Development – (7/4/08) We’ve got a little more information to share today about the new Silly Symphony Swings restoration plans. According to our sources the remodeled attraction will have a Band Conductor Mickey on top of the tower who will move around to the music. The top will be remodeled to be more like a carousel to allow for the placement of scenes from the Silly Symphonies on the inside of each section.

2009/2010 – Goofy’s Flite School – In Development – (7/4/08) We’ve heard that plans for Goofy’s Flite School are moving forward, and yes that is the correct spelling. From the sound of things it may take on a similar look to Goofy’s Barnstormer in Florida as it will now look like an old giant barn has been converted by Goofy into a make-shift airplane hanger… while apparently leaving all the old chicken coops intact.

Celebrate America Canceled!

WDWNT on July 5, 2008

We have been hearing several reports that last nights 4th of July fireworks show, Disney’s Celebrate America, was canceled half-way due to winds (as with New Years).

UPDATE: Here’s a short video of the fireworks last night from inside Disneyland when the show was cut off & the cancellation announcement was made:

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=8i5V7aaYAGM[/youtube]

But for now, Orlando Attractions Magazine has a video of the complete Florida version (which I believe is exactly the same) that went off with-out a hitch. That version was recorded on July 2nd, so a test day. WDWNTube‘s John Corigliano was at the Magic Kingdom in WDW to see the show yesterday, & I’m sure he’ll be bringing back an excellent video for you all to enjoy!

Dateline Disneyland Picture Update

WDWNT on July 4, 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:


All of Innoventions, including the new Innoventions Dream Home, is now finally open!


Would you believe that Innoventions actually has a line!?


Tom Morrow still greets guests on video & as an animatronic…


… Not sure how this will work with all the new stuff


From Tom, you apparently go on to a mini-game show about ABC TV shows (no prizes awarded, of course)


The inner walls are lined with various murals featuring past & present Tomorrowland icons


From there you finally enter the Innoventions Dream Home! Check the Dateline Disneyland article for a full photo guide of the new Dream home (way too many pictures to share here). The link is at the top of this post


You exit the Dream Home through the Elias Family Party Tent…


… And then you go up the stairs that take you to the Segway Experience on the 2nd floor


Here’s a look at the placing of the new Wall-E meet ‘n greet in Hollywood Pictures Backlot


These sponsor themed ads are apparently new

Be sure to check the Dateline Disneyland article for, as I said, many more pictures of the Innoventions Dream Home, as well as a look at Toy Story Midway Mania, the Grand Californian Expansion, & new posters inside the Disneyland Hotel! The link is at the top of the post.