Disneyland Updating Toontown

WDWNT on June 12, 2008

A New York Times article talks with Bob Iger about planned changes to Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland, among other things:

Mr. Iger talks about the need to balance “heritage and innovation.” For Mickey and other Disney characters, one method is to keep the core attributes of the characters the same, but to update the world in which they live. For instance, Disney is updating Toontown, the section of Disneyland that Mickey calls home. One plan features an old-fashioned trolley, but Mr. Iger is not sure that is a smart idea. Will modern children know what an old-fashioned trolley is?”

Finally Toontown is getting some needed attention and that probably explains the construction walls around Donald’s Boat, the gas station and the planned refurb for Gadget Go’s Coaster starting in September.

Korean Dance Troupe Performs at DCA

WDWNT on June 11, 2008

A Korean dance troupe visits Disney’s California Adventure this week for a series of daily performances as part of the Anaheim theme park’s Year of the Rat celebration.

Hi-Seoul Art Troupe from South Korea performs traditional and modern music and dance during nine shows daily today through Sunday, from 10:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. at the Pacific Wharf food court stage. The shows are included in the cost of admission.

Performances include: “Hwa Gwan Mu (Flower Crown Dance),” “Buchae-Chum (Fan Dance),” “Pan Gut,” “Samulnori (Sitting Pan Gut)” and “Beat Circle.”

The Seoul-based group aims to preserve and revive traditional Korean arts by showcasing genres ranging from royal court dance to traditional farm music.

— Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Toy Story Holiday Mania?

WDWNT on June 10, 2008

Here’s a little rumor brought up on WDW News Today for WDW’s Toy Story Midway Mania, that should also happen with ours:

Imagineering is already beginning to work on upgrades for Toy Story Mania, with holiday version of the ride planned to debut in 2009 and an updated Toy Story 3 inspired version around 2010 or 2011.

It’s Refurb Time Again!

WDWNT on June 10, 2008

We have quite a few new refurbishments to add to the Attractions Refurbishments list. First off, the French Market will be closed for one day on June 24th. The Mark Twain Riverboat will be closed from August 25th to the 27th. And the Haunted Mansion will be closed for it’s conversion to Haunted Mansion Holiday from September 8th to the 25th.

There’s also a couple of refurbs that we know when they’ll start, but not when they’ll finish. Gadget’s Go-Coaster’s refurbishment will start on September 8th, & the Hyperion Theater’s refurbishment will start on September 2nd, perhaps for a new show?

As always, stay tuned to our Attractions Refurbishments page for the latest attraction refurb info!

DLR/TSMM Update

WDWNT on June 10, 2008

MasterGracey on MiceChat has put up a lovely photo update, which mainly covers Toy Story Midway Mania, but also has a few other things in it. Also, Mouseketeer on MiceChat posted a TSMM update, with a few more pictures. So let’s start with the non-TSMM related pictures:


While the Guided Tour Garden is closed for refurbishment, tour groups will meet at the Guided Tours building


A signing for the new Mark VII Monorail poster was held this past Sunday at the Disneyana Shop


The It’s a Small World Top Shoppe is now also behind tarps


The fire truck has returned to Toontown, looking as bright & shinny as ever!

Now let’s move onto the Toy Story Midway Mania pictures:


A look inside the queue building


The loading area


The start of the ride


The end of the ride


The exit stairs

Finally, Mouseketeer has a few pictures inside the ride itself:


The layout of the ride as seen from a Cast Member computer… You can find a bigger version of this picture here!

Many more pictures are available at the 2 links in the beginning of this post!

Monday in the Parks Update

WDWNT on June 10, 2008

Quite a few interesting pieces of news were posted in this week’s Monday in the Parks column on MiceAge, & I want to take the time to go through some of them here:

  • For the whole summer, Disneyland will be open from 8AM to Midnight, but due to Grad Nites, Disneyland will close at 9PM this Wednesday & Thursday, & then next Thursday as well. DCA will close at 7PM those nights for the Grad Nite Blast Off event.
  • The Magic Morning opportunity, that gets hotel guests into Disneyland one hour early, will be conducted on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, & Saturday this week.
  • Over at Pacific Wharf, the Hi Seoul Korea performance troupe will be performing a variety of different shows through Sunday, June 15th. Be sure to check the Times Guide for show times.

  • This Sunday, DCA will hold its first ever triathlons, with swimmers actually swimming in the Paradise Pier lagoon! Contestants will enter & exit the lagoon by using the boat ramp near the launch of California Screamin’.

  • The smoking location for the Tomorrowland side of Disneyland will be moved from the entrance to the Tomorrowland Railroad station, to the former Motor Boat Cruise loading station, which is now known as Fantasia Gardens.


Current Smoking Area


New Smoking Area


The clock tower itself from the Small World facade is out from tarps… Bit early if you ask me!

Animatronic Wall-E Coming to Disney’s California Adventure

WDWNT on June 9, 2008

A real-world mobile audio-animatronic Wall-E robot will roam around Disney’s California Adventure and interact with theme park visitors later this year, according to the monthly newsletter mailed to Disneyland Annual Passholders.

“Be sure to keep your Visual Input Devices (also known as ‘eyes’) peeled as you play in the park this summer,” reported the Backstage Pass newsletter. “You might just catch a glimpse of the newest Pixar pal mingling with our human guests. Of course, Wall-E’s in-park appearances are subject to change without notice.”

The adorable remote-controlled, 3-foot-tall robot built by Walt Disney Imagineering has been spotted on the streets of Los Angeles and at a Philadelphia science center, but the Mouse House has remained mum on future theme park visits by Wall-E.

According to video of the real-world robot, the animatronic Wall-E rolls on his tread feet, moves his arms and hands, tilts his head, blinks his eyes and responds to questions in his own E.T.-like language.

Don’t expect to see Wall-E at California Adventure until long after the Disney-Pixar computer-animated movie opens in theaters June 27. The animatronic robot’s schedule becomes more booked every day with television interviews and a planned world tour.

— Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

MintCrocodile’s Midway Mania Update

WDWNT on June 8, 2008

I’d like to welcome MintCrocodile to Disneyland News Today as our new Official Photographer. Whenever I’m not at Disneyland to cover the latest happenings, I’m sure Mint will be!

His first update for us shows a little bit more of Toy Story Midway Mania:


As previously reported, the attraction is now out from behind walls, & is open to Cast Members only


A lovely detailed (but walled-off) area on the exit balcony of the attraction


A close up of the miniature Midway Games play-set (the entrance to the actual ride itself, in full size of course)


And Mr. Potato Head came in this box


Some lovely merchandise featuring this graphic is available in the Midway Mercantile


While the queue might look a little plain in comparison to the WDW version, it still is amazingly detailed!


These posters are in the queue for the attraction


They advertise each of the separate games in the ride


This isn’t a game, but rather a clever hinting at surprise points you can score on the ride


The following couple of posters show other hints at game-play


Mint had a chance to the to ride the attraction…


… And he got the top score of the day!

For more pictures of Toy Story Midway Mania, check out MintCrocodile’s SmugMug page!

And the Walls Came Down!!

WDWNT on June 6, 2008

Late last night the walls covering Toy Story Midway Mania came down. The new attraction at Disney’s California Adventure is now visible. Mr Potato Head is also uncovered and is operating. We should have pictures later tonight or tomorrow.

Stay tuned for more information regarding Toy Story Midway Mania!!

Midway Mania Walls Coming Down Completely?

WDWNT on June 3, 2008

According to some of our sources, the Toy Story Midway Mania construction walls will be coming down completely this upcoming Wednesday, revealing the queue, loading area, & Mr. Potato Head to everyone. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the attraction will be open, or open to all guests, but the walls should be down on Wednesday!