Innoventions Dream Home Now Open to the Public

WDWNT on July 2, 2008

From the OC Register:

The Innoventions Dream Home is open to the public starting today, according to Disney Spokesman John McClintock.

On June 17 Disney pulled back the curtain on the new Innoventions Dream Home, but the attraction was only open for limited hours and only to annual passholders. McClintock said the home was open to regular guests for some time over the weekend as a soft opening.

Last week the attraction was only open for limited hours as Disney workers made sure all the home’s technology worked properly.

Article Mania!

WDWNT on June 30, 2008

Here are 3 articles from the OC Register with information on the Innoventions Dream Home, Wall-E in the parks, & an incident in New Orleans Square:

The Innoventions Dream Home is still closed and will possibly open to the public next week, according to Disney Spokesman John McClintock.

Last week Disney pulled back the curtain on the new Innoventions Dream Home, but the attraction was only open for limited hours and only to annual passholders.

McClintock said today that Disney workers are “making sure that all the technology in the home is working perfectly” before opening the Dream Home to the public. He said that the goal is to open the home to the public next week.

Currently, the second floor of the Innoventions building is open. Just the first floor, the Dream Home level, is closed.

We’ll keep everyone updated on this blog about when the Dream Home will open to the public.

Disney’s Wall-E character debuted in theaters yesterday, but don’t expect the little robot in the Disneyland Resort any time soon.

A Disney Backstage Pass newsletter mailed to Disneyland Annual Passholders a few weeks ago included thata three-foot-tall Audio-Animatronic model of Wall-E would be visiting people in Disney’s California Adventure this summer

But, Disney Spokesman John McClintock said the robot is not expected to be in the park for a few months.

“We don’t expect Wall-E to be in the Disneyland Resort any time soon, especially during the summer,” McClintock said.

treebranchphoto2Update: New photo on the left sent in by someone who was in the park when the tree branch fell. Right click and click view image on either photo to see an enlarged image.

A tree branch broke and fell onto a pathway last night near the French Market restaurant in the New Orleans Square area of Disneyland.

A Disney spokeswoman said it was one branch and that it did not fall directly on anybody. She said that no more than five people were near the branch when it fell. She said those people had minor scrapes.

Irvine resident Vicki Munsell was at the park yesterday when the branch fell. She was there with her family celebrating her and her husband’s 14th wedding anniversary.

Munsell and her family were eating at the Cafe Orleans restaurant when they heard someone shout and she turned around in time to hear the branch cracking and see it fall on a pathway.

She said people ran over right away to help. While Disney said the tree did not fall on anyone, Munsell said people were pulled out from underneath the tree. Still, Munsell agreed that she did not see anyone injured with more than a few scratches.

branchfallsatdisneyland

Munsell took the photo that you see at right with her camera phone, and she sent it to The Orange County Register. After the branch fell, she said the area was blocked off by Disney cast members who removed the branch and checked on people nearby.

This is not the first time trees have fallen on people in theme parks. On Aug. 1, 1997, a large tree limb at Knott’s Berry Farm broke and fell onto four visitors near the Montezooma’s Revenge ride, causing minor injuries to three and leaving the fourth hospitalized. And on May 5, 2001, Jeanne Gill, 73 suffered a broken hip, and 27 others are injured when a 20-foot oak tree falls in Frontierland at Disneyland.

Win Your Own Dream Home!

WDWNT on June 29, 2008

From BizJournals:

Taylor Morrison Inc. is giving away a home inspired by the recently unveiled Innoventions Dream Home at Disneyland’s Tomorrowland.

The Scottsdale, Ariz.-based home builder has launched an online contest that runs through Aug. 20 with the winner able to choose a home in one of Taylor Morrison’s communities in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada and Texas. The home will include a custom technology package and furnishings. A vacation for four to the Disneyland Resort in California also is part of the package.

Participants can visit the entry Web site, www.tmdreamhomegiveaway.com, once a day to register. They also may visit any Taylor Morrison community and receive a special code that offers the maximum number of chances available to enter the contest.

The Innoventions Dream Home debuted June 16 and features what Walt Disney Co. calls a “high-tech, high-touch” experience within a 5,000-square-foot home. Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, Life|ware and Taylor Morrison were also involved in the Dream Home project.

The home showcases the latest in mobile devices, computers, digital music, entertainment and gaming technology in a connected environment that adjusts to the preferences of its occupants.

Magical Texting

WDWNT on June 28, 2008

Here are a couple of little tidbits from MousePlanet that I wanted to share with y’all:

Disney’s PhotoPass service is testing out a series of new “Magic Photos” at locations around Disneyland. Now you can duel with Darth Vader in Tomorrowland, or join the Hitchhiking Ghosts near the Haunted Mansion. Look for the PhotoPass cast members carrying sample photos like the one below.

The Disneyland Resort has begun a marketing campaign to promote Downtown Disney merchants. Text DTDFUN to 67463 to receive instant discounts and coupons for select Downtown Disney restaurants and shops. Current offers include 20 percent off meals at the La Brea Bakery Cafe, 20 percent off a meal at the House of Blues before 5:00pm, 15 percent off lunch at Catal and $5 off a purchase of $25 or more at Build-a-Bear.

A Softer Side of Indy

WDWNT on June 28, 2008

From the OC Register:

A softer side of Indiana Jones is coming to Disneyland.

During an interview this week, Glenn Kelman a Disney Entertainment Productions senior show director, said that direct hits choreographed into the “Secrets of the Stone Tiger” and the related Adventureland stunt show will be taken out. Kelman said there are three direct hits in the whole sequence that will be removed.

“We haven’t had a big negative response,” he said. “But there will be more pushes and shoves than direct hits.”

Kelman said that the crowd enjoys when Indiana Jones is beat up on, but the bad response is when he hits the show’s female character, playing Col. Dr. Irina Spalko, in the face.

“There are things that can happen in a movie that just shouldn’t happen in a theme park,” Kelman said.

Dateline Disneyland Picture Update

WDWNT on June 28, 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:


The information sign that’s been missing for well over a year now has returned to the security tents, with the only change being the “new DCA logo”


While New Century Timepieces is closed, New Century Jewelry is remaining open


The Three Magic Fairies crystal shop in Sleeping Beauty Castle has been closed, & will be converted into the disabled room for the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-through


Monorail Blue has finally started daytime testing! No guests yet unfortunately


As previously reported, the Department 56 store in Downtown Disney has been cut in half, & a new store is expected to take over the currently closed half

Be sure to take a look at the Dateline Disneyland article (the link is at the top of the post) for more news & information from through-out the Resort, including a look at all 3 McDonald’s locations in the Resort, which will soon be a thing of the past!

MintCrocodile’s 6/26 DLR Update

WDWNT on June 28, 2008

Staff Photographer MintCrocodile was also at the Disneyland Resort yesterday, & he managed to find a few things that I didn’t snap:


The golden apple is back at the entrance to Snow White’s Scary Adventures


The new menu at the French Market


A new wait time sign outside Pirates of the Caribbean


First High School Musical, now this!

More of Mint’s pictures from yesterday can be found here!

DLR Pictorial – Part 1: 6/23

WDWNT on June 27, 2008

I’m back from a wonderful 4 day trip to the Disneyland Resort, which included checking out the Indiana Jones Summer of Hidden Mysteries, & of course Toy Story Midway Mania. Let’s start this pictorial off with my pictures from Monday:

Sign for Toy Story “Midway” Mania in the Esplanade


The Adventure Roadmap was handed out at both Mickey & Friends as well as Timon (more on this tomorrow)


The latest DCA maps


Now on to my first ever ride on Toy Story Midway Mania!


The amazing Mr. Potato Head


He can remove his ear (if you didn’t already know)!


A few of the posters in the queue for TSMM, giving tips on game-play & the individual games


Here’s where you pick up your 3D glasses


The start of the ride


The ride vehicles


The back of Mr. Potato Head’s toy box


My score on my first ride… Contrary to what Tom Corless says, I don’t think it’s that bad of a score!


Top scores from Monday & the month


A lovely little display thingy at the exit of the attraction


The new seating for Award Wieners


The Honda Pilot display outside of the entrance to DCA


Over to Disneyland with the new Disneyland Park map cover


Still not much visible progress at Small World


Donald’s Boat has returned from its refurbishment


As of today (Thursday 6/26) the Innoventions Dream Home is still closed


The walls are down however, so I managed to snap a few pictures


Club Penguin has joined Toontown & Pirates of the Caribbean Online in Innoventions


The bungee rats are back in the Ratatouille float in the Pixar Play Parade


Also back is the back end of the a Bug’s Life float


Also worthy to note is that the Ratatouille & a Bug’s Life floats have switched around with each other


And the acrobats are back on the Toy Story float


The new, & amazingly themed Churro cart across from Toy Story Midway Mania


A look at the queue for Toy Story Midway Mania


The new Hot Dog Hut (also quite nicely themed)


Clever


Banners advertising Toy Story “Midway” Mania in Downtown Disney


And to end off Part 1 of my pictorial, me with Cinderella

Stay tuned tomorrow for the rest of my DLR Pictorial, covering Tuesday through Thursday. Also tomorrow, we’ll have bigger versions of the pictures from this post in the Image Galleries!

Pixie’s Anyone? Or How About an Arabian Adventure?

WDWNT on June 25, 2008

After speculation on the net arose stating that Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular would not be returning after the 3 month Hyperion refurb starting in Sept, I found auditions for the show on the Disney Auditions website.

There are 3 listed.

One for singers, actors and puppeteers on July 21, 2008 at 10am at the Screenland Studios in N. Hollywood.

One for dancers on July 23, 2008 at 2pm at Screenland Studios

And one for Singers and Actors on July 29, 2008 at 10am at the Chelsea Studios-New York, NY

Now we all know about the new Tinker Bell Meet N’ Greet that will be taking over and replacing Ariels Grotto at Disneyland Park, but I have found an audition for Disney Fairies listed on the same site.

Face Character Look-alikes – Disney Fairies
For: Disneyland Resort
Audition Location: Disneyland Resort – Anaheim, CA
Looking For: Face Characters		 August 17, 2008
09:00 AM
Pacific Time (US & Canada)

Seeking females with engaging personalities to portray Disney Fairies, the newest members of our character family. Face Character Look-alikes perform before thousands of guests each day in “meet and greets”, parades and stage shows across the Disneyland® Resort. We are actively seeking performers of all ethnicities!

Roles:

Tinker Bell: 4’11”–5’2”
Iridessa, Rosetta, Silvermist, Fawn: 5’2”–5’5”

Requirements:

  • Must be at least 17 years of age and a graduating senior
  • Wear non-restrictive clothing; tennis or dance shoes are required
  • Current Disneyland® Resort Cast Members should bring a completed and approved transfer application
  • New applicants are encouraged to complete a job application prior to the audition date by visiting the Casting Center at Team Disney Anaheim
  • This audition may last a full day; bring snacks or money for vending

Location:

Disneyland Resort – Team Disney Anaheim
700 W. Ball Rd.
Anaheim, CA 92802

Park in the Team Disney parking structure off Ball Road and Cast Place, and proceed to the Security area. Bring a picture ID to be admitted backstage.