In-Depth Look: The Matterhorn Bobsleds

The Matterhorn Bobsleds for the past 6 months underwent an extensive refurbishment to replace much of the aging rock work and ride track. Along with the refurbishment came the long rumored new ride vehicles. The new 3 seat sleds change the ride quite more than you would think. If you would like to hear our review of the new bobsleds, you can listen to this weeks DLNT Podcast where we talk in-depth about the new Matterhorn Bobsleds. Big thanks to Tim Alcoser for the photos.

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A look at the new bobsleds

Smile for the camera of a random stranger!

Everything looking fresh around the mountain

3 seats per car, no lap sitting

Into the abyss.

Now a photo ride through the mountain

That's a nice, steep little drop.

I haven’t seen this waterfall work in years, good to see it flowing again.

Glad the logo was kept on the bobsleds

And now a video from the very first day it soft-opened, enjoy.

Conner Purzycki’s 6/13/12 – 6/22/12 DLR Photo Report

Lost in the shuffle of everything else happening over the past few weeks, here is a photo report of some news not previously covered.

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New Churro Cart in Carthay Circle

November, 18th, 1928, The date that Steamboat Willie premiered

Taste Pilots Grill minus the rocket blasting out of the front is pretty plain

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Dancin With Disney is a cute experience in Hollywoodland.

Basically a giant dance party with a DJ and characters

Lots of strange characters in here

Clarabell cow

Clara Cluck and Clarice

The Disney Channel Rocks Sets are being used

The All American College Band is back this year and they are doing a set in DCA probably because they lost their usual once a day venue in Carnation Gardens.

Cars Land Bus

New Signage in the Bus Area

The ugly frozen drink cart was finally replaced with something themed

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Carnation Gardens reopened recently and here is a look at some of the new entrees. Here is the Chicken Fried Chicken which was absolutely Delicious.

The Meatloaf I was told is very delicious

Here is a PBJ soda…. Yup. I thought it was gross but some seem to like it.

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Earl of Sandwich is finally under construction

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Wrapping up this report is pictures of the Pixar Play Parade which just returned to DCA. Big thanks to Tim Alcoser for the photos.

Thank for reading

Tim Alcoser’s 4th Of July Disneyland Photo Report

DLNT Reporter Tim Alcoser was at the Disneyland Resort for the 4th of July and grabbed some photos of the special festivities as well as the huge crowds that came to the resort on Independence Day. Take a look…

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This sign has Sam the Eagle and Ollie Owl from America Sings on it. Neat.

A new gallery has opened up on Main Street, replacing the Disneyland Railroad gallery.

The new exhibit Crowning Achievements has opened in the Disney Galley.

Packed crowds hours before the fireworks.

Busy day on Main Street

The All American College Band starts off the festivities before the parade.

The All-Star American College Band out before the parade

The 3rd Division Marine Aircraft Wing Band makes it's way down Main Street USA.

A Gunnery-Sergeant leads the team.

The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band marching down Main Street

Even cast members pause a moment to cheer on the band.

The Marine Band played at the Big Thunder Jamboree.

More crowds than Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree has ever seen.

The Marine on the far left is not wearing a white belt because he is an officer, and they wear different belts.

Two female Marines play the

We will have video up tomorrow of the performance

I take a brief pause from the hustle and bustle of The Hub.

One of the busiest days of the year for Disneyland.

Crowds waiting for Celebrate America

Everyone is crammed in tight.  But being a single viewer, I am able to just barely squeeze in a small spot.

I duck into the Main Street Theater to escape the crowds. Thanks for reading!

Thanks for reading

Disney Parks To Host “One More Disney Day”

Anaheim, Calif. and Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Jan. 1, 2012) – Disney Parks guests can get the most out of February 29 when Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California celebrate Leap Year by keeping a theme park on each coast open for 24 hours of nonstop memory-making fun.

For the first time ever, both the Magic Kingdom Park and Disneyland Park will stay open for 24 hours straight as part of a bi-coastal salute called “One More Disney Day.” From 6 a.m., February 29 to 6 a.m., March 1, 2012, local time, guests can fill the extra day of leap year with a marathon of Disney magic and fun.*

And for 60 days straight – from Jan. 1, 2012 to Feb. 29, 2012 – a daily winner will be chosen in the “Disney Parks One More Disney Day Sweepstakes” to receive a Disney Parks vacation.  One entrant each day will win a vacation for four to make memories at either Disneyland Resort in California or Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.**

For the past year, Disney Parks has invited guests to “let the memories begin,” noted Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

“We’re honored that so many guests have shared their Disney memories with us as part of ‘Let the Memories Begin’, and I’m pleased to announce that the campaign will continue throughout 2012,” Staggs said. “To celebrate, for the first time ever, the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Parks will remain open for 24 hours on Leap Day, so that our guests can take advantage of every minute of their extra day to make memories with friends and family.”

In addition to the extra time, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California will feature a special offer:

  • Guests get one more day and night of memory making, free when they buy a 3-night/3-day non-discounted Walt Disney Travel Co. room and ticket package at select Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort hotels.  The package offer is good for arrivals most nights Feb. 26 – March 10, 2012 and must be booked by Jan. 31, 2012. ***

In 2011, Disney Parks has encouraged families to “Let the Memories Begin,” with guests celebrating their only-at-Disney memories by sharing their vacation stories, photos and videos online at DisneyParks.com/memories.

For more information on One More Disney Day, you can visit the offical website at OneMoreDisneyDay.com

Carnation Cafe Closing Tomorrow For Refurbishment

From Pam Brandon on the Disney Parks Blog:

A Disneyland park favorite will close its doors this week – but only until summer, when Carnation Café will re-open with more seating (adding the indoor seating that disappeared in the 1990s) and a spruced-up menu.

And no worries – if you’re looking for cast member favorite Oscar Martinez, you’ll find him over at the Jolly Holiday Bakery Café opening this month, but only until Carnation Café re-opens. Then you’ll find Oscar back at Carnation Café.

When Carnation Café re-opens, look for breakfast, lunch and dinner favorites, along with new dishes and some Walt Disney favorites.

So, ‘til the doors open this summer, here’s the recipe for the decadent Loaded Baked Potato Soup just in case you have a hankering.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup from Carnation Café at Disneyland Park
Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Serves 6

1 pound bacon, roughly chopped
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 large carrot, peeled and diced
3/4 cup diced celery
4 large Russet potatoes, peeled and diced
4 medium red potatoes, diced
1/4 cup flour
2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
Coarse salt, freshly ground pepper, to taste
4 cups heavy whipping cream
Optional garnishes: chopped chives, bacon bits, sour cream, shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese

  1. In a 6- to 8-quart stockpot over medium heat, fry bacon until crisp.
  2. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels, reserving half for garnish. In bacon fat, cook onions, carrots, and celery until the onions are translucent. Add potatoes and cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Whisk in flour and stir constantly over low heat until the flour is cooked and the mixture has thickened slightly, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add chicken stock and half of the bacon. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Over medium-high heat, bring the soup to a simmer and cook for 25 minutes or until the potatoes are soft. Mash some of the potatoes for thicker, creamier texture. Add whipping cream and simmer for 5 minutes.
  5. Adjust thickness by adding water or stock. Soup should have a creamy consistency.
  6. Season to taste, and garnish with toppings.

Cooks’ notes: Soak diced potatoes in cold water until ready to use to keep them from turning brown. To make bacon easier to chop, lightly freeze.

Jolly Holiday Bakery Opening This Saturday

From Erin Glover on the Disney Parks Blog:

Jolly Holiday Bakery Café and Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland Park
As we told you last August, some exciting changes are coming for Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland park – and the first of those changes is almost here! On Saturday, January 7, Jolly Holiday Bakery Café will officially open its doors. The new bakery, located at the top of Main Street, U.S.A., will feature your favorite bakery and coffee items in addition to a new menu of sandwiches and salads.

And tomorrow, January 5, we will begin the next phase in the transformation of the area when Carnation Café, Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor and the Candy Palace will close temporarily to receive their own expansions and updates. Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor and the Candy Palace will re-open in the spring, both with expanded indoor space. Carnation Café will re-open in the summer, when it will once again offer indoor seating to Disneyland park guests.

We’ll keep you updated here on the Disney Parks Blog as these expansions continue to take shape.

 

Tom Corless’ 12/31/11 – 1/5/12 DLR Photo Report

Owner of the network, Tom Corless took a trip to Disneyland for new years and captured some newsworthy photos to share including Cars land, Buena Vista Street, and Jolly Holiday Bakery…

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Trader Sam’s had some neat additions for the Holidays

Tom had a Mele Kaliki-Mocha.

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Over in DCA now, a look at the carthay circle

Looks good…

Now over in Cars Land, the meet and greet has been removed in front of the work walls giving us some angles of the street we weren’t able to see before.

Back to Buena Vista Street

The backside of the theater was uncovered

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Over in Disneyland, the Jolly Holiday Bakery opened and Tom was one of the first costumers

Love the detail

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Over in DCA, work has begun on fixing the second half of the shops on the boardwalk

Rip that stucco out!

YEAH

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It was so good…. That tom decided to come back for lunch

A nod to the old Stouffers mural 😉

Spoonful of sugar please

The Jolly Holiday Combo, a cheese sandwich and tomato and basil soup… and of course the Practically Perfect Punch which I have been told is very Delicious

Quite a line all day

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Since Jolly Holiday is now open, Carnation cafe and the Blue Ribbon bakery have been closed for refurbishment

Coke Corner has also shut its doors for its refurbishment

Along with the Penny arcade

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Neat picture

Thanks for reading

Main Street Has A New Beat

After a few weeks of rumors, today, the Main Street background loop has been updated to a new selection of songs. Some old songs you may recognize but they have been re-composed and sound wonderful.

From Erin Glover on the Disney Parks Blog:

New Sounds Come to Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Park
Starting next Monday, January 9, guests strolling down Main Street, U.S.A., will be humming along to some new – and familiar – tunes. For the first time in 20 years, we are once again adding new music to the iconic entrance music of Disneyland park.

Though there have been many updates over the years, the last refresh of Disneyland’s Main Street’s musical score was back in 1992, when selections recorded for Disneyland Paris were brought back to Disneyland park in California.

This time around, over a dozen new tunes, arranged and recorded specifically for Main Street, U.S.A., will join many of the existing songs. Included in the new mix are such iconic period pieces as “Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis,” “In the Good Old Summer Time,” “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “Oh You Beautiful Doll,” Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag,” and a recent tune given a turn-of-the-last-century arrangement, Michael Giacchino’s “Married Life” from Disney•Pixar’s “UP.”

So the next time you’re ambling down Main Street, U.S.A., keep an ear out for some new – and old – classics!

If you would like to hear a full recording of the new loop, you can head on over to a spectacular podcast, Window To The Magic. Paul was able to get a full binural recording of the new loop.

Conner Purzycki’s 12/31/11 – 1/3/12 DLR Photo Report

For New Years Eve, I spent the day and the following few days at the Disneyland Resort and captured quite a bit of photos to share of all the festivities and much more…

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Starting off this New Year celebration with a ride on the Fun Wheel but it was strangely down

YAY! An actual use for Maliboomer Park

Stage set up for NYE

Balloons in Paradise Gardens for NYE

Holy Corn Dogs!!!

Ohh, Pretty

Was playing with my camera so here are some nifty photos of this pretty bridge

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Double the spotlights, double the celebration

It was a very foggy new years evening and the fog made for some really good pictures

Some neat foggy WOC shots

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In our spot for midnight WOC, the fog kept rolling in

Now on our way out to the other park

WOWZA

Awesome

The castle looks huge for some odd reason

Dance party still hopping by Small World

This is one of my favorite photos taken that night

Happy New Year, hoping on the monorail

Buena Vista Street pics from the monorail

New nerdy shirts in World of Disney

Though an awful hat, bleh

I wonder why Monsters doesn’t use the flick cards like all the other nice attractions.

How about some Cars Land Pics From The Fun Wheel

Disney Channel Rocks set pieces behind Screamin, unknown if the show is coming back

Random shot backstage

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Bountiful valley cows celebrating the holidays

The junkyard jukebox

Look at that WDI stuff, How about the WDI stuff

Yikes, kinda faded

The Bugs Land bridge needs a little tlc

Besides the part that was smashed last summer

Cool wrought iron on the Carthay Circle Theater

Wonder how long these are staying

I hope this is gone soon

Over in Innoventions, a new exhibit has debuted, Nanooze

Here you can discover how to make real little stuff, look like big stuff with magnifying thingys

In all seriousness, it is a neat exhibit learning about atoms and molecules

Just look at how much fun Tom is having!

The Xbox 360 area also got a major facelift

Disneyland Kinect Adventures. Awesome

The stupid circle seat things are gone

The Honda exhibit is back

Down in the dream house, the walls have been turned into a giant screen where you can play…..

Thats right, Kinect Disneyland Adventures

Innoventions is still loading through the top floor, so that means Tom Morrow is no where to be found which is a shame because he was a very good AA.

Over at the Disneyland Hotel, some quick pictures around the grounds

WANT!!!

Finally wrapping this up, it looks like the Soundsational Drummer were getting into the Holiday spirit

Thanks for reading

“Mad T Party” Coming To The Hollywood Pictures Backlot

From Erin Glover on the Disney Parks Blog:

Artist Rendering of the Mad T Party Coming to Disney California Adventure Park in Summer 2012
ElecTRONica is still powering up the nights at Disney California Adventure park into the spring, and soon guests will be able to experience an all-new nighttime family celebration when Mad T Party starts to stir up fun in summer 2012!

This psychedelic soiree will be filled with surprises and new takes on some familiar characters from the world of Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland.” Join us for a party like no other as you fall into the rabbit hole and land in a wild and whimsical world where up is down, this is that and nothing is what it seems. A live band, unique entertainment, fun-filled games and plenty of dancing all await guests seeking an escape into a bright and vivid alternate reality.

Throughout the Mad T Party, we will “tip our hats” to the world of Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” with wild and fabulous imagery and imagination. Familiar faces will be re-imagined in fresh, new ways, all combining to immerse guests in a captivating world that’s filled with exclusive signature foods, beverages and merchandise offerings.

So get ready to step through the rabbit hole and into Mad T Party at Disney California Adventure park, coming summer 2012!

And from the D23 website, more photos were released of this new hip dance party…

01.11.12 – Inspired by the world of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, the all-new nighttime family celebration will feature a live band, unique entertainment, fun-filled games, and plenty of dancing.

This psychedelic soiree will be filled with surprises and new takes on some familiar characters from the world of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland.

Beginning summer 2012, Disney California Adventure park guests will fall into the rabbit hole and land in a wild and whimsical world at Mad T Party. Inspired by the world of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, the all-new nighttime family celebration will feature a live band, unique entertainment, fun-filled games, and plenty of dancing. Familiar faces from the story will be re-imagined in new ways to immerse guests in a captivating world that’s filled with exclusive signature foods, beverages, and merchandise offerings.

 

Get ready to step through the rabbit hole and into Mad T Party at Disney California Adventure.

And finally, The Disney Auditions Website has put out a casting call for the Mad T Party Band and with the posting we get a closer look at the cast costumes and a song list of songs that will be played at the Mad T Party.

Disney Parks Talent Casting is seeking Vocalists and Rock Instrumentalists to perform as a one-of-a-kind, five-piece band at The Mad T Party, a hip, trippy, psychedelic Mad nighttime party to be performed outdoors at Disney® California Adventure park. Guests are invited to “take a trip” down the rabbit hole as we tip our hats to Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. Live music, unique entertainment, games and dancing all await guests seeking an escape into a fantastic world.

Invitational callbacks will be held Saturday, February 11. Rehearsals are tentatively scheduled to begin early May; performances are tentatively scheduled to begin late May.

The Lead Vocalist/Host for this show is covered under the terms and conditions of a collective bargaining agreement with the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA).

Role:
Seeking strong musical performers with outgoing personalities. If cast, wigs and costumes inspired by Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland will be provided.

LEAD VOCALIST/HOST: Male, charismatic front man with ability to excite and energize an audience, strong Pop/Rock lead singer with an affinity for, and experience in, singing classic rock material such as “Don’t Stop Believin’” (Journey), “Shout” (The Isley Brothers), “Hot Hot Hot” (Buster Poindexter), “We Will Rock You” (Queen), and more. Will also sing backup vocals.

Requirements:

  • Please prepare 16 bars from one or two selections in the list below
  • Must be at least 18 years of age to audition
  • Bring a picture and résumé

Song List:
I Gotta Feelin’ (Black Eyed Peas)
Sir Duke (Stevie Wonder)
Don’t Stop Believin’ (Journey)
Shout (The Isley Brothers)
Hot Hot Hot (Buster Poindexter)
We Will Rock You (Queen)
Please Don’t Stop The Music (Rhianna)
Locomotion (Little Eva)
Call Me (Blondie)
Get The Party Started (Pink)
Dancing Queen (ABBA)
American Woman (Lenny Kravitz)