While Tom and our crew are out in Anahiem covering everything Expo for you we hope you are enjoying our new Expo Central Site. We figured we would take a moment to share with you this video from Disney for a quick look inside the Expo. Stay tuned for a full report from Tom and our team direct from the Expo soon.
From Erin Glover on the Disney Parks Blog:
Tomorrow marks the start of very exciting expansion projects on Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland park. We’re getting ready to welcome a new bakery and looking forward to expanded space in some of our existing eateries.
The expansion kicks off with the all-new Jolly Holiday Bakery Café. The bakery will be located on the current site of the Plaza Pavilion, which recently hosted the Annual Passport Processing Center. The new location will feature an expanded menu, as well as outdoor seating. When Jolly Holiday Bakery Café opens in January 2012, the Blue Ribbon Bakery will close to make way for the next step in the Main Street, U.S.A., project.
We’re also excited to announce that, for the first time in decades, Carnation Café will once again offer indoor seating to Disneyland park guests, increasing the total number of seats and giving guests more options for experiencing this iconic restaurant year-round. Carnation Café will close for this refurbishment at the beginning of 2012 and re-open in the summer.
Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor and the Candy Palace display kitchen will also be gaining additional space. The newly reconfigured ice cream parlor will create more room for guests purchasing the extremely popular hand-dipped cones, and a larger Candy Palace kitchen will allow even more guests to view magical sweet treats as they are created. These locations will close in January 2012 and re-open in the spring.
Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog – we’ll have more details on this project as it develops.
I was at The Disneyland Resort yesterday and was able to grab some quick newsworthy photos from around the resort.
The Bank of Main Street window that used to house the Disney Rewards Information Kiosk has been removed from the building
Read More about Conner Purzycki’s 8/14/11 Mini DLR Photo Report
WDWNT Reporter Brandon Struve visited The Magic Kingdom on Sunday to catch the soft-opening of Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room. Let’s take a look at the “new” attraction:
Read More about Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room Soft Opening Photo Report
From the Disney Parks Blog:
Fashionistas of all ages will have a hot new shopping spot at Downtown Disney as Apricot Lane Boutique opens its doors today. The stylish store will offer one-of-a-kind gifts, trendy accessories and all the latest fashions for moms and daughters. My soon to be 13-year-old already has it on her radar for a birthday shopping spree. Good thing the collections are affordable.
Apricot Lane carries a nice mix of celebrity-inspired brands – the kind you would usually find at upscale department stores or fancy shops – including Miss Me, Lucky Brand, Vintage Havana and Chaser. It will be the go to place for fun and unusual trinkets and gifts, while also offering punk rock t-shirts, contemporary sportswear, chic dresses, plus handbags and jewelry for the perfect night out.
The boutique recently opened a location at Downtown Disney in Disneyland Resort in Anaheim with huge fanfare. It will be great for visitors to Orlando and for locals who want to avoid the mall.
MARVEL MAKES INAUGURAL APPEARANCE AT DISNEY’S D23 EXPO!
NEW YORK, NY –August 11, 2011 – Marvel is coming to Anaheim this year to make its historic debut at D23, the ultimate Disney fan event, and we’re pulling out all the stops!
On Sunday, August 21, at 10:15 a.m. in the Arena, join us for Marvel: The House of Ideas, an exclusive and unprecedented experience that will take you through the evolution of Marvel from its first comic book in 1939 to its current position as one of the most important creative forces in the world. During this presentation, which will include interactive Q&A segments, you will not only get an inside glimpse of the history of Marvel and its iconic Super Heroes but also discover why Marvel truly is the House of Ideas. This session will be hosted by Joe Quesada, Marvel’s Chief Creative Officer and one of the most respected and sought-after writers and artists in the entertainment industry.
“We’re thrilled to be a part of the one-of-a-kind show that is Disney’s D23,” said Quesada. “Whether attendees are new to the world of Marvel or longtime fans, they’re going to love what we’ve planned for them!”
Also, be sure not to miss Marvel’s own President of Production Kevin Feige as he joins some of the top names in film on Saturday, August 20 at 10:30 a.m. at the Walt Disney Studios panel to discuss Marvel Studios’ plans for 2012, including the hotly anticipated Marvel’s The Avengers!
MARVEL MAKES INAUGURAL APPEARANCE AT DISNEY’S D23 EXPO!
NEW YORK, NY –August 11, 2011 – Marvel is coming to Anaheim this year to make its historic debut at D23, the ultimate Disney fan event, and we’re pulling out all the stops!
On Sunday, August 21, at 10:15 a.m. in the Arena, join us for Marvel: The House of Ideas, an exclusive and unprecedented experience that will take you through the evolution of Marvel from its first comic book in 1939 to its current position as one of the most important creative forces in the world. During this presentation, which will include interactive Q&A segments, you will not only get an inside glimpse of the history of Marvel and its iconic Super Heroes but also discover why Marvel truly is the House of Ideas. This session will be hosted by Joe Quesada, Marvel’s Chief Creative Officer and one of the most respected and sought-after writers and artists in the entertainment industry.
“We’re thrilled to be a part of the one-of-a-kind show that is Disney’s D23,” said Quesada. “Whether attendees are new to the world of Marvel or longtime fans, they’re going to love what we’ve planned for them!”
Also, be sure not to miss Marvel’s own President of Production Kevin Feige as he joins some of the top names in film on Saturday, August 20 at 10:30 a.m. at the Walt Disney Studios panel to discuss Marvel Studios’ plans for 2012, including the hotly anticipated Marvel’s The Avengers!
From Jennifer Fickley-Baker on the Disney Parks Blog:
Who’s up for another inside look at the construction of the New Fantasyland?
In the video below, Walt Disney Imagineering takes you onto the construction site to learn more about the innovative technology the Imagineers are using to build the new attractions, restaurants and other guest areas that will make up the expansion.
As you’ll see, this visualization technology allows the team to identify any potential challenges before construction begins. Tablet computers also allow Imagineers to take the program onsite to see how work is progressing.
If you look closely enough at the video, you’ll catch some pretty unique views inside Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid and the Be Our Guest Restaurant.
From Betsy Sanchez on the Disney Parks Blog:
I’m excited to share with you a very special donation that we recently made to Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, California.
As part of the expansion of Disney California Adventure park, the main entrance is changing and the cab of the California Zephyr train that most recently served as the location for Bur-r-Bank Ice Cream and Baker’s Field Bakery has been donated to the museum.
The train and related artifacts arrived at their new home August 6 and will become part of the museum’s Zephyr Project collection. Plans for a gallery dedicated to sharing the legacy of the California Zephyr are underway.
Visitors to the museum will learn about the history of the famous 1950s passenger train through the donated artifacts, while the recreated locomotive will offer the chance to experience what it was like for engineers to guide the stainless steel Zephyr trains through California’s Feather River canyon.
Fun Facts:
- The cab once operated as a real locomotive.
- It is an authentic rendition of the Western Pacific Railroad – one of the three railroads that operated the California Zephyr between Chicago and San Francisco from 1949 to 1970.
- It wears the same number as the last locomotive to lead a westbound California Zephyr into Oakland, Calif. on March 20, 1970.
- The California Zephyr is one of the most celebrated “name trains” of the 1950s and 60s.
Check out the video below to watch as the Zephyr begins to make its way to its new home.
Brandon Struve was kind enough to send us some photos from a recent trip over to Disney’s Pop Century Resort, taking a look at the current state of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort now under construction. Let’s take a look:
In we go…
Read More about 8/6/11 Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Update
