Disney California Adventure Relaunches with Cars Land and Buena Vista Street on June 15th!

WDWNT on June 11, 2012

ANAHEIM, Calif. (March 7, 2012)  – The Happiest Place on Earth will get even happier June 15, 2012, with the grand opening of Cars Land, Buena Vista Street and the Carthay Circle Theatre at Disney California Adventure park. The exciting, new additions will complete the five-year expansion ofDisneyland Resort, a premier, multi-day vacation destination in Southern California with two theme parks, three hotels and the Downtown Disney shopping and dining district.

With four new attractions opening at Disney California Adventure park, full day-to-night experiences at both parks, and the magical transformation of the Disneyland Hotel with new pools, themed suites and remodeled rooms, guests of all ages will enjoy more fun and adventure than ever before at the Disneyland Resort.

Cars Land expands Disney California Adventure by 12 acres and immerses guests in the thrilling world of the Disney•Pixar blockbuster “Cars.”  Guests will feel as if they have stepped into the town of Radiator Springs as they enjoy three family attractions showcasing characters and settings from the movie, plus “Cars”-themed dining and shopping locations such as Flo’s V8 Café, Ramone’s House of Body Art and Radiator Springs Curios.

One of the largest and most elaborate attractions ever created for a Disney park, Radiator Springs Racers is a twisting, turning, high-speed adventure through Ornament Valley and the town of Radiator Springs. Luigi’s Flying Tires invites guests to glide on air aboard special tires, whirling around with their pals. At Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, guests will whip around behind a baby tractor and enjoy tunes from a giant jukebox built from Mater’s most prized possessions.

Starting June 15, guests will enter Disney California Adventure along Buena Vista Street, a place that transports them to an era when Walt Disney arrived in California with new dreams:   1920s Los Angeles. Buena Vista Street features Red Car Trolleys, inspired by the transportation system that once served Southern California, and the Carthay Circle Theatre, modeled after the site of the 1937 world premiere of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” Carthay Circle Theatre will include a lounge and the elegant Carthay Circle Restaurant, designed to be the premier dining location in Disney California Adventure.

Adding to the fun at Disney California Adventure this summer will be the new Mad T Party in Hollywood Land, the return of Pixar Play Parade, and the new Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop at Pacific Wharf.  Mad T Party will feature nighttime, family fun inspired by the wild and whimsical world of Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland.”

The summer debuts of Cars Land, Buena Vista Street and Carthay Circle Theatre complement previous additions to the park, including the 4D fun ofToy Story Mania; the spectacular after-dark “World of Color” show; The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure; Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta and Paradise Garden Grill restaurants, plus the re-themed attractions Mickey’s Fun Wheel, Silly Symphony Swings and Goofy’s Sky School.

To accommodate a media preview and make final preparations for the exciting debuts, Disney California Adventure will be closed June 14. The fun, new attractions, locations and entertainment will open to the public June 15.

Bob Iger Tours Last Pieces of DCA Expansion Concluding June 15th

WDWNT on June 11, 2012

From Tom Staggs on the Disney Parks Blog:

Yesterday, Disney President and CEO Bob Iger and I stepped behind the construction walls at Disney California Adventure park for a hard-hat tour of Buena Vista Street and Cars Land, two of the most significant elements that will cap off our multi-year expansion of the park. Led by the extraordinary team of Imagineers working on this project, Bob and I were completely blown away by the level of artistry, creativity and attention to detail of the work done so far and can’t wait for all of our Disneyland Resort guests to finally experience it firsthand.

Our day started on Buena Vista Street where we rode the iconic Red Car Trolley, explored the storefronts that line the street and then continued on to the Carthay Circle Theatre, the new icon of Disney California Adventure park. This new entrance to the park will transport guests to a romantic, idealized version of 1920s Hollywood when Walt and Roy Disney first arrived in California to begin their careers as filmmakers. Buena Vista Street will be the perfect place for guests to shop and eat, watch the parade, or just sit and soak up the atmosphere.

Then we headed to Cars Land, and when we got to the entrance of this all-new, 12-acre land, Bob and I both stopped to simply take in the stunning view before us. From the majesty of the Ornament Valley Mountain Range in the distance to the craftsmanship of each of the buildings in Radiator Springs, Cars Land is going to be a truly spectacular addition to the park.

We wandered down Route 66 looking at all of the familiar hot spots from the films that are just about complete – Ramone’s House of Body Art, Flo’s V8 Café, the Cozy Cone Motel and Luigi’s Casa della Tires, just to name a few. We ended the tour with a test ride on two of the new attractions in Cars Land, Luigi’s Flying Tires and Radiator Springs Racers, which are both going to be huge hits with our guests.

As we approach the finish line of our expansion of Disney California Adventure park, I am extremely proud of the passion, creativity and innovation that have gone into this entire project over the last several years. When we’re done, this park will be a testament to what we at Disney Parks do best – connect our guests to the iconic stories, characters and music they love…making memories that will last a lifetime.

And now for some big news – I’m pleased to officially announce that the grand opening of Cars Land, Buena Vista Street and Carthay Circle Theatre will take place on June 15, 2012! Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for more details.

New Video Give Us First Look At Red Car Trolley, Radiator Springs Racers, and Much More…

WDWNT on June 11, 2012

From Erin Glover on the Disney Parks Blog:

This afternoon, Tom Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, announced that the five-year expansion of Disney California Adventure park will be complete on June 15 with the opening of Cars Land, Buena Vista Street and Carthay Circle Theatre!

Flo’s V8 Café Coming to Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park
The Happiest Place on Earth will get even happier with four new attractions – Radiator Springs Racers, Luigi’s Flying Tires, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree and the Red Car Trolley – as well as new dining and shopping locations such as Flo’s V8 Café, Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream, Elias & Co. and Los Feliz Five & Dime. Disney California Adventure park will offer guests even more new experiences in addition to the attractions that have been added since the expansion began in 2007.

To accommodate a media preview and make final preparations for the opening, Disney California Adventure park will be closed for one day on June 14. Disneyland park, Downtown Disney District and the Disneyland Resort hotels will remain open for our guests on that day.

Take a look back at all the additions to Disney California Adventure park and a look ahead at all the new things to come this summer:

 

Hayley Nance’s DLR Photo Report 3/4/12

WDWNT on June 11, 2012

DLR Photographer Hayley Nance was at the Disneyland Resort a few days ago and has some newsworthy pictures to share of the Matterhorn, Buena Vista Street, and much more…

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Matterhorn refurbishment continues

On Main Street, the Carnation Cafe expansion continues

Coke Corner reopened a while back

In Downtown Disney, The Lego Store has moved into its temporary space next to D street as the original Lego Store is refurbished

Over in DCA, work on the Parade route has completed in front of Mermaid

The Pacific Wharf lagoon has been filled again and bridge has reopened.

Cars Land

A look around the new Blue Sky Cellar exhibit

Over in the backlot, the facade next to the animation building is behind tarps

Yup, still here

Buena Vista Street

You can see that the Glendale Hyperion bridge framwork has gone up

Wrapping up the report is the first look at new signage installed at the bus loading area

Max Guggenheim’s 3/8/12 DCA Photo Report

WDWNT on June 11, 2012

DLNT Photographer Max Guggenheim was at Disney California Adventure a few days ago giving us some neat photos of both Cars Land and Buena Vista Street…

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Cars Land

So close….

Wow, this must be a first, reporting on Disneyland from DCA, the Matterhorn scaffolding is quickly coming down to the bottom half of the mountain

Pacific Wharf entrance to Cars Land

This guy is spending too much time in the Animation Academy

Moving on to Buena Vista Street

1…2…3.. Oohhh

Minnie’s Fly Girls is proving to be popular.

Yes, couldn’t go a month without a weather vane picture

First look at the North trolley station

May the force guide you back

Thanks for Reading!!!

D23 Reveals Some Great Unseen Photos Of Cars Land

WDWNT on June 11, 2012

D23 recently posted some really neat photos of Cars Land and Radiator Springs. Take a look…

From the D23 Website:

Starting June 15, guests will enter Disney California Adventure along Buena Vista Street, a place that transports them to an era when Walt Disney arrived in California with new dreams: 1920s Los Angeles. Across the way, Cars Land expands Disney California Adventure by 12 acres and immerses guests in the thrilling world of the Disney•Pixar blockbuster Cars. D23 takes a first look at this immense expansion through these stunning new photos:


Buena Vista Street features Red Car Trolleys, inspired by the transportation system that once served Southern California, and the Carthay Circle Theatre, modeled after the site of the 1937 world premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. 

The peaks of Ornament Valley rise up over the town of Radiator Springs.

Guests will feel as if they have stepped into the town of Radiator Springs as they enjoy three family attractions showcasing characters and settings from the movie.

Cars-themed dining and shopping locations such as Flo’s V8 Cafe, Ramone’s House of Body Art, and Radiator Springs Curios dot the map of historic Route 66.

One of the largest and most elaborate attractions ever created for a Disney park, Radiator Springs Racers is a twisting, turning, high-speed adventure through Ornament Valley and the town of Radiator Springs.

VIDEO: Mermaids Swim Into Pirates of the Caribbean at the Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on May 31, 2012

After many months of speculation and Disney teasing us that something from “On Stranger Tides” would be added to Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at the Magic Kingdom, the mermaids have arrived. A new projection effect has been added making it appear that the mermaids are in the water, accompanied by a physical effect that pushes water up to simulate the fin moving just beneath the water’s surface. A lot of this can’t be seen in out video, but you can get a good idea of what to expect:

The projection effect is joined by mermaid singing and a new mermaid skeleton on the beach.

What do you think of this addition to Pirates of the Caribbean?

Map Released for 2012 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

WDWNT on May 31, 2012

It may be Halloween, but we have a first-look at the Very Merry Christmas Party guide for 2012 (Click image twice for full size):

Not too much new this year, but note there will be a special Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom card just like there was at the Halloween Party. Merry Christmas! I mean Happy Halloween!

Dirk Wallen’s 10/25-26/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on May 31, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and a few of the resort hotels last week and has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip:

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

It’s Autumn

Pins available for Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak has a pin

Holiday pins are out

Walls still up near the Haunted Mansion

Tarps up on Columbia Harbor House

The Yankee Trader is still behind tarps

Work continues on the new restrooms in Fantasyland

The Village Haus balcony is still closed, but tarps have started coming down

Looks nice

The souvenir cups from Gaston’s Tavern are also at Village Haus

Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction continues

Wow…

Fun “character” apples

Storybook Circus has its own specialty cupcakes

Pete’s Silly Sideshow

Finishing touches keep being added, the eyes on the snakes now have a spinning effect

There is some large construction happening between the TTC and the Magic Kingdom bus loop

At the All-Star Resorts, the lobby has been redecorated with large pictures to replace the old small ones

All-Star Sports

All-Star Music

The game cards at most of the arcades are now Wreck-It Ralph themed

Moving over to Animal Kingdom

Enjoy Camp Minnie-Mickey while you can

Pocohontas and Her Forrest Friends has been closed since September 2008 and is now being used for stroller parking

Beastly Bazaar is closed as it is being turned into a character meet and greet

That’s why we are here…

NO ZEBRAS!

They weren’t out at the time…

Test Track is coming along nicely (as seen from the monorail)

You can see the outline of the two Ts on the canopy

Digging the spot where the sign will go

Not much visible progress by the exit

The Epcot Character Spot is being refurbished

Work continues on the new IBM exhibit in Innoventions

Some Epcot 30th merchandise remains

Christmas merchandise in abundance

Neat…

Haunted Mansion and Toy Story Midway Mania Test New Child-Rider Policy

WDWNT on May 31, 2012

There may be no windows and no doors, but Disney believes those under the age of seven should have an older guest sitting with them when they ride the Haunted Mansion or Toy Story Midway Mania. From TouringPlans.com:

Beginning Monday November 5, 2012 the Haunted Mansion and Toy Story Midway Mania attractions in both Walt Disney World and Disneyland will temporarily testing a new seating policy for the rest of the month and gauge guest reactions.

According to the new policy, children under 7 years of age must ride with someone over the age of 14 in the same row. The previous Toy Story Mania policy was that an adult must be in the same vehicle. There will be a sign near the entrance informing guests of the new policy. There will also be Cast Members at the ride exit surveying guests about how they feel about the policy.