Disneyland Resort – Page 26

PHOTO REPORT: Disneyland Resort 9/27/16 (Goodbye Tower, Star Wars Land, New Fantasmic!, ETC.)

WDWNT on October 5, 2016

Disneyland reporter Conner Purzycki brings us back to the Disneyland Resort for our latest photo update, looking at both parks as well as Downtown Disney. Let’s jump right in!

Star Wars Land Construction

Construction continues on the Star Wars themed land for Disneyland Park, visible from the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure.

Tram Lane ReconfigurationÂ

The tram route around the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure is currently being reconfigured.

Downtown Disney

World of Disney is open while the facade is being refurbished.

The space next door to Jamba Juice is currently vacant, rumored to be home to Sprinkles, which will open in November.

Naples has blocked off an area for needed outdoor seating for guests.

Some work happening at the former House of Blues space, rumored to be an west coast home to The Edison.

Some work also happening on the bridge area.

Still unsure what will happen to the space next door to this Starbucks.

Disneyland Monorail

Let’s take a ride aboard the Disneyland Monorail.

The Hollywood Tower Hotel sign is gone, visible from the Monorail.

Star Wars: Season of the Force Moves Out (For Now)

Even though Season of the Force is over, it should be returning in November, thus why all of the lighting and such was left up in Tomorrowland. Hyperspace Mountain will likely switch off with Ghost Galaxy until Star Wars land opens, so don’t expect to see regular Space Mountain anytime soon.

All of the Star Wars banners were changed over to generic Tomorrowland banners.

Some work is being done to the Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters FastPass area, which is also used for Star Tours FastPass.

A nifty, yet temporary, Tomorrowland sign replaces the one for the Season of the Force.

I’m honestly surprised that it isn’t flat.

Definitely prefer this to the 1998 signage.

This and That

Some work being done to the sidewalk on Main Street U.S.A.

Star Wars construction, as seen from Frontierland.

Work continues on the Rivers of America while its many attractions are closed.

The Columbia is getting ready to host the Pirates of the Caribbean in an updated Fantasmic!

A fangless, new-faced Mickey meets guests on Main Street.

The canon is missing…

Disney California Adventure

The old Millionaire soundstage now sits vacant, but has seen better days on its exterior.

After 6 years, the backlot stage is finally coming down.

It might actually be nice to see this area back to normal, as ugly as it is.

Hollywood Tower Hotel sign removed from Tower of Terror

As we reported last week, the Hollywood Tower Hotel sign is already gone from the Tower of Terror.

The attraction will close in January to become Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout.

To infinity and beyond!

A lot of guests are angry about this, personally, I still don’t think it actually matters, but to each his own.

Sprinkles Cupcakes Opening at Downtown Disney Anaheim in November

WDWNT on October 5, 2016

A visit to the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort will be even sweeter beginning in November when Sprinkles opens its newest location, serving up freshly baked cupcakes and cookies.

Touted as the world’s first cupcake bakery by Food Network, Sprinkles has been credited with inspiring the craze for gourmet cupcakes. The shop in Downtown Disney District will offer handcrafted cupcakes in flavors like banana, carrot, salty caramel, strawberry and a Sprinkles bestseller: red velvet. Signature cookies, including snickerdoodle, salted oatmeal cornflake and peanut butter pretzel chip are also on the Sprinkles bill of fare.

And Sprinkles considers customers’ special dietary needs, offering vegan, gluten-free and sugar-free cupcake, cookie and sorbet options.

The location will opening in November 2016 next door to the Starbucks location, in a space once occupied by Quicksilver.

Sprinkles already operates a location in the Town Center at Disney Springs in Orlando, Florida.

PHOTOS: Preview Amazing New Mugs Coming Soon to Disney Parks

WDWNT on October 5, 2016

It seems like we have been finding new mugs around Walt Disney World every time we do one of out photo reports. Well, Disney isn’t done yet. Today, they offered a sneak preview of even more new mugs coming soon to Disney Parks.

Several mugs of various shapes and sizes make up the “Mickey’s Really Swell Coffee” collection. These mugs include stylized images of Mickey and Minnie Mouse enjoying an afternoon together. The four mugs with geometric patterns look like they were transported directly from the 1960s, while newlyweds will be delighted to find new “Mr” and “Mrs” mugs.

New character mugs include Humphrey the Bear, Kronk from Disney’s “The Emperor’s New Groove,” and the Fairy Godmother from Walt Disney’s “Cinderella.”

Disney is also releasing a double-sided mug inspired by the Mayor from “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.” The Mayor’s removable hat is made from silicone. The Mr. Potato Head mug is inspired by the Toy Story Mania attraction.

Two new mugs from the Twenty Eight & Main Collection are on the way: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the Adventurer’s Club.

PHOTO REPORT: Disneyland Resort 10/3/16 (Star Wars Land, Rogue One, Tower of Terror, ETC.)

WDWNT on October 5, 2016

Disneyland Reporter Conner Purzycki brings us back out to the Disneyland Resort in his latest photo report. Today, we check in on Star Wars Land, the “desecration” of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and a number of smaller projects taking place around the resort.

Star Wars Land

Work on the Star Wars themed land for Disneyland Park rolls on (as it will be a few years).

This looks familiar…

The tunnel above is likely the one that will greet guests at the entrance to the land. An X-Wing and assorted items will greet guests just outside on the passage from Critter Country and Frontierland.

Welcome to Disneyland

The cannon in Town Square is moving into a planter to make more walking space for guests, something much needed during parade and fireworks time.

Here is the new pedestal that the cannon will call home.

Work on the Market House facade has wrapped up.

The sidewalk work on Main Street has already wrapped up.

While the Diamond Celebration ended over a month ago, the castle decorations will remain until November.

The facades behind the New Orleans Square train station are being touched up.

Mickey’s Toontown is getting some TLC (and I don’t mean tables, ladders, and chairs).

Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon Spin is open while the facade is being fixed up.

Rogue One – A Star Wars Story Merchandise

On Friday, Disney Parks released dozens of new items inspired by the upcoming Rogue One – A Star Wars Story film.

This and That

The Crush sipper cup is now available on the West Coast at Award Weiners.

The Doctor Strange preview will be opening soon, but Disney is already stating that a Beauty and the Beast preview will occupy the space in the Spring.

The Mad T Party/Jammin’ on the Backlot/elecTRONica stage is finally coming down.

AP Days are rolling on through the Fall.

The Tower of Terror Enters Its Twilight

Scaffolding is now going up around the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Odds are that it won’t even look like the attraction by the time in closes in January.

The attraction is being replaced by Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission Breakout, opening Summer 2017.

Quicksilver is now closed as well… WILL THIS BE THE SPRINKLES LOCATION???

PHOTOS, VIDEO: Up Close Look at the Controversial Facade for Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout

WDWNT on October 5, 2016

Walt Disney Imagineering today shared an in-depth look at the model for the Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout attraction which will be replacing the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney California Adventure.

The model pictured here was created by Walt Disney Imagineering to guide the transformation currently taking place on the exterior of the attraction. Every shade and detail you see here will be replicated in full size, as designers, builders and artists work to bring The Collector’s realm to life here at the Disneyland Resort.

This “warehouse, fortress-like power plant” (as described here by Joe Rohde, Creative Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering) is designed to be intimidating and imposing, but also shimmering and regal. It will be the ideal location for The Collector to secure and show off his most prized acquisitions, the Guardians of the Galaxy.

It does seem odd that Disney is acknowledging that they are changing the facade while the Tower of Terror is still open, but it is happening (see our photos from earlier today of the current state of the facade). It also is strange to see Disney devoting so much publicity to a facade that so many have taken to social media to attack. Regardless, it should be interesting to watch the rest of this process unfold over the next several months.

PHOTO: The Hollywood Tower Hotel Sign Already Removed from Tower of Terror

WDWNT on September 26, 2016

While the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney California Adventure still has a few months left until it closes in January to make way for the Guardians for the Galaxy – Mission Breakout attraction, Disney has already removed the trademark Hollywood Tower Hotel signage from the attraction overnight.

Courtesy of the HoJo Anaheim Mattercam

It is a little strange to remove the sign with so much time still left for the current ride to operate, but likely work like this will continue to be done to make the transition into the new ride a much quicker process.

Here is what the sign once looked like on opening day…

PHOTOS, VIDEO: New Parade, Updated Fireworks Debut at Disneyland’s “Mickey’s Halloween Party”

WDWNT on September 26, 2016

Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland Park kicked off on Friday night, bringing with it a new parade, updated fireworks, and more to the Disneyland Resort for the Halloween Time season. Our own Conner Purzycki was on the scene to bring you a look at some of the new offerings for this year.

Mickey’s Halloween Party

Frightfully Fun Parade

New for 2016 is the Frightfully Fun Parade, replacing the rather lackluster cavalcade that has been presented at the party over the last several years.

While a nice addition, the Headless Horseman still moved painstakingly slow, just as it has been at Walt Disney World over the last several years since one of the horses fell while performing. At Disneyland, the Horseman did have 4 escorts, which definitely took away some of the coolness from the Florida version.

The parade is a clear improvement over the former offering, but hopefully will be expanded upon year to year with new floats. It is a solid start to what could be a really fantastic parade at the park.

Halloween Screams Fireworks

Halloween Screams fireworks have returned for the 2016 parties, upgraded with new projection and lighting effects that really add to the show.

Treat Trails

Treat trails are plentiful at this years party, although many are bunched very close together.

The coolest Treat Trails in our opinion are those that go through the Golden Horseshoe and Pinocchio’s Village Haus. The quality of the candy is the same as it has been, offering a number of respected name brand candies.

There is an Annual Passholder exclusive treat trail where APs can get a free tote bag and lots of treats as well.

This and Bat… I Mean, That

The atmosphere around the park for the party is pretty fantastic, enhanced this year with some new effects.

Much of the infrastructure installed for the now-defunct Disneyland Forever fireworks show was utilized to decorate the Main Street facades, Sleeping Beauty Castle, and the facade of “it’s a small world” even.

PHOTOS: Projectors Installed for New Pirates of the Caribbean Segment in Fantasmic!

WDWNT on September 26, 2016

A few weeks ago, we told you that Disney is developing a new version of Fantasmic! for when it returns to Disneyland Park in the Summer of 2017. Well, the revolutionary projectors for the Pirates of the Caribbean sequence in this updated show have already been installed along the Rivers of America.

New projectors in stalled for Updated Fantasmic at Disneyland Park

If you are unfamiliar with the rumor, here is some information from our previous post:

When Fantasmic returns to Disneyland Park in 2017, guests will find a number of upgrades to the show on the technical side. A brand new HD projection system, lighting upgrades, and a completely new sound system (which wasn’t replaced in the 2009 overhaul) are expected in the change-over.

In addition, the show will be sporting a few new segments, including one for Pirates of the Caribbean, which would replace the Peter Pan segment which has been in the show since it debuted in 1992. Using projection mapping technology, the plan will be to turn the Sailing Ship Columbia into the Black Pearl. The ship will host a large fight between Jack Sparrow’s crew and that of Captain Barbossa. Of course, The Columbia will be re-rigged for all new stunt work featuring Captain Jack Sparrow and his pirate friends. The truly amazing part (if true) is that the projection mapping technology will follow the ship around the river, also projecting onto the performers on the boat. This effect would allow performers to change in appearance, jumping between a skeleton and human form just like the characters in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

Other new segments are expected to replace some of the older ones when Fantasmic! returns to Disneyland next year. Sadly, we have no solid information on these at this time. Work on the Sailing Ship Columbia to prepare it for these new show elements are already underway.

Disney has yet to announce the changes to the show.

Trader Sam’s Celebrates Mahalloween 2016 with The Haunted Mansion Themed Tiki Mug

WDWNT on September 17, 2016

Trader Sam’s at the Disneyland Hotel will be celebrating “Mahalloween 2016” with a special mug and drink…

Trader Sam’s MaHalloween 2016 Haunted Mansion Mug

The mug looks like a tiki totem featuring the Hitchhiking Ghosts from The Haunted Mansion. The mug will be released as a part of Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort sometime in the next few days.

PHOTO REPORT: Disneyland Resort 9/7/16 (Tower of Terror Farewell, Star Wars Land, AP Days, New Character Heads)

WDWNT on September 17, 2016

Conner Purzycki brings us a fairly news-heavy photo report from the Disneyland Resort on the first day of its transition from the Diamond Celebration into HalloweenTime. Heavy promotion has started for the Tower of Terror final check-in, Star Wars land continues to rise from the dirt, Mickey and Minnie are getting an entirely new look, and the popular AP Days promotion has returned. See, I told you there was a lot going on! Let’s get started, because there is so much to see:

Tower of Terror Final Check-In

Banners around the resort promote HalloweenTime and the Tower of Terror send off events.

Billboard by the tram station don’t even mention Halloween Time, it’s all Twilight Zone Tower of Terror promotion. Halloween Time is a pretty big deal at the Disneyland Resort, so giving Tower of Terror the headline billing for this season is kind of a big deal.

Star Wars Land Construction

Construction of the Star Wars themed land continues in the back of Disneyland Park.

While it may appear that this project is ahead in schedule compared to Hollywood Studios, this version of the land features more tunnels and an elaborate mountain range to separate the area from Frontierland and Critter Country.

The Tower of Terror off in the distance, making this an interesting snapshot in Disneyland history.

Some of the Paint the Night floats are visible just beyond the Star Wars site. The parade is set to return for the holiday season at the Disneyland Resort before the finale run of the Main Street Electrical Parade begins.

The Diamond Celebration Slowly Vanishes

Promotional signs for AP Days out in force at the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure.

The Diamond Celebration still lingers at the Disneyland Resort, including the Diamond Days promotion, which is still going for some reason.

Halloween Time and the Diamond celebration decorations clash on Main Street.

Some work being done outside of the Disneyland Railroad station.

Some tarps still up on the Market House, but Starbucks remains open through it.

Some other Main Street facades are now also behind tarps.

The hub Jack-O-Lanterns are back.

While the “60” came down overnight, the rest of Sleeping Beauty Castle is still sporting the 60th decorations.

New Mickey & Minnie Costumes Arrive

The heavily discussed new look heads for Mickey and Minnie Mouse debuted at the Disneyland Resort yesterday.

These style heads also appear in Mickey’s Royal Friendship Fair at the Magic Kingdom and at the Shanghai Disney Resort.

Rivers of America

Work continues on the Rivers of America as it prepares for a Summer 2017 reopening, including a newly enhanced Fantasmic show.

The Columbia is being re-rigged for a new segment in Fantasmic, themed to Pirates of the Caribbean.

Haunted Mansion Holiday

The Haunted Mansion is currently closed for its Haunted Mansion Holiday makeover.

A new cemetery has been placed up on the hill in the queue, featuring some fo the more famous tombstones from the attraction lore.

The Halloween Tree

The Halloween Tree honoring Ray Bradbury is back in Frontierland.

Peter Pan Facade Refurbishment

Even though it was worked on extensively in 2015, the Peter Pan’s Flight facade is once again behind tarps in Fantasyland. The attraction is open.

Space Mountain – Ghost Galaxy

Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy will be replacing Hyperspace Mountain until November. Hyperspace Mountain is expected to return and run until the opening of Star Wars land (only bowing our for Ghost Galaxy every year).