Disney Pin Quest is Now Coming to Disneyland Park

WDWNT on August 5, 2016

Disneyland park will be the next location to roll out a “Disney PinQuest.” A few weeks ago, the first of these experiences was rolled out at the Magic Kingdom, so if you want all the details on how these Pin Quests work, be sure to read our extensive review.

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Guests at the Happiest Place on Earth can enjoy this new Disney pin adventure beginning August 4, 2016.

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The participating locations at Disneyland Park include:

  • Frontierland – Westward Ho Trading Co.
  • Main Street, U.S.A. – 20th Century Music Company
  • Fantasyland – “it’s a small world” Toy Shop
  • Critter Country – Pooh Corner
  • Tomorrowland – Little Green Men Store Command
  • New Orleans Square – The Pieces of Eight Shop

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At those locations, guests who have completed the entire Disneyland PinQuest are eligible to purchase a QuestEAR pin completer pin (shown above).

 

BREAKING: Original World of Color Show to Return September to Disney California Adventure

WDWNT on August 5, 2016

While it seems likely that Disneyland will de downgrading their nightly fireworks come September, a beloved show will be returning across the Esplanade…

'WORLD OF COLOR' -- Lights, water, music, fire and animation come together like never before in ÒWorld of ColorÓ at Disney California Adventure park in Anaheim, Calif. The show combines nearly 1,200 powerful fountains with heights that range from 30 feet to 200 feet in the air, dazzling colors and a kaleidoscope of audio and visual effects, including both classic and new animation projected on one of the worldÕs largest projected water screens Ñ a wall of water 380 feet wide by 50 feet high for a projection surface of 19,000 square feet . Presented on Paradise Bay in Disney California Adventure park, ÒWorld of ColorÓ is a major milestone in the multi-year expansion of the park. (Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland)

Disney today confirmed that the original World of Color (albeit the last version of the show) will return to California Adventure beginning September 6th, 2016. Wold of Color – Celebrate will have its final performance on September 5th.

The replacement show was never as well received as the original show, which has existed in a continuously modified form since 2010 before being completely replaced by Celebrate in 2015 for the Diamond Celebration.

BREAKING: Disneyland Officially Announces “Eastern Gateway” Project, New Parking Structure & Transportation Hub

WDWNT on August 5, 2016

Disneyland Resort announced today the Eastern Gateway project, which includes a new seven level, 6,800 space parking structure on the site of the Pumbaa parking lot and a transportation hub on the east side of Harbor Boulevard.

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In conjunction with the project, the Carousel Inn & Suites will close on October 17, 2016 to make way for an elevated pedestrian bridge to transport guests between the parking structure/ transportation hub and the existing Disneyland Resort. Any existing bookings for this hotel from that date on are being moved to other hotels.

The project is intended to improve overall guest circulation in the area, relieving congestion on Ball Road, Harbor Boulevard, Katella Avenue, and Disneyland Drive. It is part of an over $1 billion investment from Disney in Anaheim which includes the new Star Wars themed land for Disneyland Park.

The construction for the Eastern Gateway will begin in early 2017 and is scheduled to be completed in late-2018.

UPDATE: “Fantasy in the Sky” Fireworks Replacing More Expensive Disneyland Forever Show; Only On Weekends

WDWNT on August 5, 2016

We’ve been telling you for a few months now that the Disneyland Forever fireworks show would be going away come September 5th at Disneyland Park, well, Disney has finally confirmed that there will indeed be a regular fireworks show following that, the “classic” Fantasy in the Sky”.

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“Fantasy in the Sky” is a much smaller scale show, typically used as a filler show when new shows are being developed for the park, so the change is assumed to be mostly budgetary in nature. Also, the continuous attendance growth at Disneyland has made it a challenge to present fireworks nightly, especially with the large amount of construction happening in the back of the park currently.

“Fantasy in the Sky” will perform Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through November 2016, when the holiday-themed fireworks are slated to return.

Disney Introducing Add-On Star Wars Augmented Reality Game at Theme Parks

WDWNT on August 5, 2016

From the Disney Parks Blog:

Disney Floral & Gifts, in partnership with Lucasfilm, is happy to announce the launch of the newStar Wars Rebels Interactive Adventure. For those brave enough to answer the call for this mission, an adventure awaits. To help you get started, below are 4 mission details you’ll need to know to thwart the Empire!

Top Secret Mission Detail #1: The Mission

The Star Wars Rebels Interactive Adventure takes you from your resort room “barracks” on an interactive role-playing mission to the Star Tours Attraction. You’ll go “under cover” as an Imperial Security Officer, complete with rank bar, cap, satchel, and diversion tattoos. The Empire is always watching, so make sure they don’t identify you as the Rebel Spy!

Top Secret Mission Detail #2: The Tech

The adventure features unique technology exclusive to this experience. Through an augmented reality app on your smartphone, Ezra Bridger leads you on a mission to thwart the Empire. By scanning targets or “wayfinders” featured around your resort room and Star Tours, Ezra leads you to hidden information and gear needed to complete your mission.

The rebel tech on your phone allows you to experience the adventure again and again, even after returning home from the Disney Parks!

Top Secret Mission Detail #3: The Gear

With equipment to help on your adventure, the mission includes a disguise and your data card to transmit information to the rebels at Star Tours. Other collectibles include a Jedi holocron, lightsaber, Rebel journal, 4 Empire recruitment posters, and an Empire door banner.

Have multiple rebels in your party? You can add-on elements of this adventure for everyone to experience!

Top Secret Mission Detail #4: The Reward

Once you’ve completed your mission, you’ll be rewarded like any true hero with a Medal of Bravery. Presented in a rebel lock box wrapped with a Phoenix symbol, this medal can only be recovered upon completion of your mission. Like the one seen in the film Star Wars: A New Hope, the medal’s design features a lanyard, which can be personalized, to identify your victory.

Are you brave enough to answer the call and thwart the Empire’s efforts? Then enlist today by visiting the Disney Floral and Gifts at Walt Disney World, (407-WDW-GIFT) or Disney Floral and Gifts at Disneyland (714-781-GIFT). Delivery to Disney resorts begins August 15th.

The package is a bit pricey at $499.99, but includes the following:

  • (1) Empire Door Banner
  • (4) Empire Recruitment Posters
  • (1) Imperial Security Satchel
  • (1) Imperial Rank Bar
  • (1) Rebel Utility Blanket
  • (1) Medal of Bravery with box and fabric wrap
  • (1) Set of Rebel of Diversion Tattoos
  • (1) Rebel Data Card Lanyard
  • (1) Holocron
  • (1) Wayfinder set and Mission Briefing
  • (1) Imperial Security Cap
  • (1) Kanan’s Lightsaber
  • (1) Star Wars Rebel Journal

BREAKING: Paint the Night Parade at Disneyland Will End September 5th As Well

WDWNT on August 5, 2016

The Disneyland Today twitter account confirmed that the Paint the Night Parade at Disneyland will come to an end September 5th, along with Disneyland Forever fireworks and World of Color Celebrate.

Obviously, no reasoning was given for the cancellation as of yet and it is uncertain if this is continuing budget cuts or if the Paint the Night Parade is just going seasonal or being moved to another Disney Park, possibly the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

We will keep you updated on this breaking story as more becomes available.

RUMOR: The Great Mickey Ride Replacing Movie Ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios?

WDWNT on August 5, 2016

It has been a time for crazy rumors the last few months, and it seems there isn’t an end in sight under the Bob Chapek regime. The latest indicates that once the 3 year sponsorship deal between Turner Classic Movies and Disney is up, the Great Movie Ride would be replaced with something called “The Great Mickey Ride”.

A Theatrical Journey Ð Walt Disney World Resort guests can take a ride through the most famous film sets in silver screen history at The Great Movie Ride at DisneyÕs Hollywood Studios. Housed in a full-scale reproduction of HollywoodÕs world-famous Chinese Theater, the ride-through attraction travels through a soundstage tour of such memorable movie scenes as the ÒCasablancaÓ airport farewell, the Yellow Brick Road to Emerald City from ÒWizard of Oz,Ó the ÒRaiders of the Lost ArkÓ Well of Souls and many more. DisneyÕs Hollywood Studios is one of four theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Scott Miller, photographer)

While details are scarce at this point, rumors indicate the ride would be trackless and is also being developed to go somewhere at the Disneyland Resort simultaneously.

The latest trend in the parks seems to be Disney removing any connections to franchises that Disney does not own (Twilight Zone for example), and the Great Movie Ride is packed with a lot of films that Disney has absolutely no ownership over. The line of thinking here would be to feature the first ride ever devoted to Mickey Mouse (clearly the property of the Walt Disney Company), something that has been attempted many times over the last 60 years but never built in any Disney theme park.

If plans remained unchanged and Disney pulls the trigger on this project, the Great Movie Ride would close just after the opening of the Star Wars-themed land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. However, keep in mind that this project is very blue sky at this point and may never see the light of day, but the Great Movie Ride’s removal is still a likely target for the company at this time.

PHOTO REPORT: Disneyland Resort 7/7/16 (Star Wars Land Wreckage, Marvel in DCA, ETC.)

WDWNT on July 20, 2016

Disneyland Reporter Conner Purzycki is back to bring us the very latest from the Disneyland Resort in our first photo report from the west coast in some time. Let’s see what’s new and exciting:

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We begin by looking at the continuing work on Star Wars land

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The Fort on Tom Sawyer Island is in the construction zone

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Foundation work has begun

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Toontown in the distance

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The Fantasyland Skyway station was finally removed recently

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Walt seems excited about it… *ducks to avoid projectiles*

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In Downtown Disney, work continues on the second Starbucks location near Earl of Sandwich

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The House of Blues closed and moved to Garden Walk nearby, no announcement yet on what will replace it

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Chapel Hats, which has a store at Disney Springs, now has a shop at Downtown Disney Anaheim

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New recycling bins have appeared around the resort, allowing guests to dump out the liquid first and then throw away the cup or bottle

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The Star Trader is now selling rubber Star Wars weaponry…

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No visible changes to be seen inside Star Wars Launch Bay since Super Hero HQ was closed

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Autopia reopened a while ago, but more changes are still expected over the coming months

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Star Wars construction has made a visible dent in the treeline near the Fantasyland Theater

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Where trees and the Skyway station once were is now nothing

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The Big Thunder Trail will remain closed until the completion of the project

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The construction is quite visible while riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

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The view from just outside Big Thunder

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The tunnel lives…

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Looking out at the Rivers of America

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The Mark Twain isn’t moving, but you can still enjoy it

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A deserted Tom Sawyer Island

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Moving over to DCA, Soarin’ Around the World is now open

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Lines have been noticeably longer for the new attraction

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You can now get a bacon mac and cheese cone at the Cozy Cone Motel in Cars Land

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Big crowds still showing up for Frozen: Live at the Hyperion

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Spider-Man and Captain America enjoying their new home in Hollywood Land

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If you don’t get here early, this is a pretty common sight

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The ads for the Stark Expo are a nice touch given the New York backdrop for both characters

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Rather than bring back Mad T Party or tear this down, Disneyland Resort opted to turn the backlot area into “Jammin’ on the Backlot”

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There’s still a fountain under this stage…

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The sneak peek of Pete’s Dragon is happening now in Sunset Showcase, former home of Muppetvision 3-D

BREAKING: Disneyland Releases New Star Wars Land Concept Art

WDWNT on July 20, 2016

Disney today released the first Disneyland-specific concept art for the Star Wars themed land coming to the park. The art depicts the land in a slightly different layout, nestled just behind the shores of the Rivers of America.

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Click for larger image

We can now assume that the original art was a depiction of the Hollywood Studios version of the land for the Walt Disney World Resort.

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Original art

Headless Horseman is Coming to Disneyland; Fireworks Will Happen at Mickey’s Halloween Party

WDWNT on July 20, 2016

Mickey’s Halloween Party returns September 9 through October 31 at Disneyland, bringing an east coast favorite with it.

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Mickey’s Halloween Party guests can enjoy trick-or-treating, the exclusive “Halloween Screams” fireworks (which will happen despite the rumored demise of Disneyland Froever) and more. New this year, the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow (from Disney’s animated feature, “The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad”) will make his spooky ride through the heart of Disneyland park each night of the party, just like at Walt Disney World.

Below is video of the old full-speed gallop the Headless Horseman once did before the parade at Walt Disney World (he now travels at just a trot typically):

Be sure to purchase your Mickey’s Halloween Party tickets early and mark your calendars for the following dates:

  • July 21: Tickets on sale to Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders, Disney Rewards Visa card holders and Disney Vacation Club members
  • July 28: Tickets on sale to general public
  • Mickey’s Halloween Party 2016 dates: Friday, Sept. 23; Monday, Sept. 26; Wednesday, Sept. 28; Friday, Sept. 30; Monday, Oct. 3; Wednesday, Oct. 5; Friday, Oct. 7; Monday, Oct. 10; Wednesday, Oct. 12; Friday, Oct. 14; Monday, Oct. 17; Wednesday, Oct. 19; Friday, Oct. 21; Monday, Oct. 24; Wednesday, Oct. 26; Saturday, Oct. 29; and Monday, Oct. 31

Mickey’s Halloween Party tickets are subject to availability and are valid only for specific event dates and hours. Space is limited and event dates may sell out. Limit eight (8) tickets per person, per event date. Tickets are nonrefundable and may not be resold. Tickets are not required for Guests ages 2 and under. Costumes subject to Disney guidelines and should not be obstructive or offensive. Parking is not included. Subject to restrictions and change without notice. Entertainment may be cancelled due to inclement weather or otherwise.