“What Will You Celebrate?” II: Give a Day, Get a Disney Day starring The Muppets

WDWNT on September 29, 2009

This morning on ABC’s Good Morning America program, the “Disney Parks” announced their new promotion for all of 2010, a second year of “What Will You Celebrate?” subtitled “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day”. As was rumored, the promotion will give a free day of admission to Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park for a day of community service. Through the updated “What Will You Celebrate?” website beginning January 1st, guests can search for an approved volunteer opportunity in their area, get involved in their community for a day, and then enjoy the reward of a day at the place “Where Dreams Come True”. The campaign is aiming to give away one million one-day tickets for one million days of community service from January through December of 2010.

NOTE: If WDW/DLR annual passholders or valid multi-day ticket holders participate, they can choose from one of the following special rewards:
• Special Fastpass cards for certain attractions for up to five additional members of your party
• A collectible Ear Hat figurine with exclusive trading pins
• Donate the free ticket to a non-profit organization designated by Disney

Here is more informtaion on the promotion that was posted today on the Disney Parks Blog:

Breaking news…as we just announced on Good Morning America, if you give a day of volunteer service to a participating organization, you’ll get one day of free admission to a Disney Park. It’s a first-of-its-kind program we’re calling “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day.”

And yes, it’s that simple — a free one-day ticket to a Disneyland or Walt Disney World theme park for guests who volunteer a day of service to a participating organization. We’re celebrating you and the good things you do for your communities.

Our program officially begins on January 1, 2010. When it’s live, you’ll be able to visit www.DisneyParks.com or www.DisneyParks.ca and search for an eligible volunteer project. After completing the volunteer work, an e-mail will be sent from Disney with a link to print out a certificate to redeem at a theme park for a free one-day, one-park admission. And if you’re unable to use the ticket, it can be donated to a charity designated by Disney.

With this announcement, we’re looking for 1 million people with a passion to make a difference. And we’re working with HandsOn Network to do it. They’re helping make sure you find the perfect volunteer work. And many of the program’s volunteer opportunities will be for the family.

Also, you’ll notice that we’re raising awareness for grass-roots community volunteerism in more cities than just Chicago. Disney VoluntEARS are joining local volunteers in cities across the United States and Canada today. Work projects involving more than 1,000 volunteers are happening in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami and across Canada — Toronto, Montreal, Halifax and Vancouver.

We’ll be posting more details about the program and how it may involve your city on the @DisneyParks Twitter account and right here.

Of course, there are some official details you should know about: Must pre-register and sign up for eligible volunteer opportunity at disneyparks.com. Ticket quantities for this program are limited. Must be at least age 6 to participate. Other terms and conditions apply. For details, see disneyparks.com in the United States and Puerto Rico. In Canada, see disneyparks.ca.

The campaign website also finally explains why we saw so much in-park filming with The Muppets at Disneyland a few weeks ago. The Muppets are the stars of the marketing for 2010, you’ll be seeing the Jim Henson creations on a special North America tour and on nationally televised ads. The website for the tour (sponsored by Southwest Airlines) is definitely worth checking out for all the Muppet insanity and free downloads you can currently enjoy. Soon the site will have more details on the tour (including dates) that will run throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada to spread the word about helping you community. The promotion has even garnered some star power beyond the beloved Muppets. Commercials featuring James Denton, Taye Diggs, and Teri Hatcher working along with their furry friends to help the community are also available on the official site and will probably begin airing on Disney-owned television networks starting this week.

Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as we get more information on the 2010 promotion, “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day!”.

“Disney Parks” Launches New Blog On Eve of Major Announcement

WDWNT on September 29, 2009

The Disney Parks public relations team really shocked the online fan community earlier today with the introduction of it’s own blog site, The Disney Parks Blog. The blog already features a few posts and will feature videos, photos, and articles about the Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, the Disney Cruise Line, and Disney Vacation Club categorized by various topics, all under a rotating picture banner (sounds familiar).

Picture 2

While the blog matches the look of the WDW website, it looks like it will offer visitors a more “inside” look at the Parks and Resorts division

The launch of the blog comes just 24 hours before the “Disney Parks” division is set to unveil their marketing campaign for 2010. Rumors indicate that we may not be in for any BIG changes next year, but the free admission on your birthday promotion will most likely not be coming back after December 31st. Instead, the “Disney Parks” may be offering free admission only to those who perform community service for a certain amount of hours. Whatever the campaign may be, we’ll know for sure early tomorrow morning as Disney is set to make the announcement on ABC’s Good Morning America program. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as we get more information on this story as it develops.

Everybody Scream!

WDWNT on September 28, 2009

Disney’s new Disney Parks Blog, which launched this morning, has two great videos up providing a quick glimpse at Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Halloween Screams:

Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy

Halloween Screams

The OC Register’s Around Disney blog also has a video up about Halloween Screams, featuring an interview with senior show director, John Addis:

“Disney Parks” Launches New Blog On Eve of Major Announcement

WDWNT on September 28, 2009

The Disney Parks public relations team really shocked the online fan community earlier today with the introduction of it’s own blog site, The Disney Parks Blog. The blog already features a few posts and will feature videos, photos, and articles about the Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, the Disney Cruise Line, and Disney Vacation Club categorized by various topics, all under a rotating picture banner (sounds familiar).

While the blog matches the look of the Walt Disney World website, it looks like it will offer visitors a more “inside” look at the Parks and Resorts division

The launch of the blog comes just 24 hours before the “Disney Parks” division is set to unveil their marketing campaign for 2010. Rumors indicate that we may not be in for any big changes next year, but the free admission on your birthday promotion will most likely not be coming back after December 31st. Instead, the “Disney Parks” may be offering free admission only to those who perform community service for a certain amount of hours. Whatever the campaign may be, we’ll know for sure early tomorrow morning as Disney is set to make the announcement on ABC’s Good Morning America program. Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today as we get more information on this story as it develops.

Screams in the Sky and in Space

WDWNT on September 25, 2009

Happy Halloween everyone! Today is the first day of Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort, and we have some more pictures and information on the new additions to Halloween Time this year, Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Halloween Screams. Firstly, more information on Ghost Galaxy from the OC Register’s Around Disney blog:

Space Mountain visitors will know something’s gone awry right after they begin their ascent in the Disneyland ride.

The climb through a tunnel starts normally with stars drifting past the rocket and a swirling galaxy awaiting at the top. But about half way through the tunnel, white stars turn orange and red, swirling into a skull-like face and skeletal arms extend. Spiny hands grab out, shooting crackling lightning past riders. The creature roars.

This is just the beginning of the new Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy that debuts to the public today at Disneyland.

The seasonal makeover of the roller-coaster marks the first time that Disneyland has redone Space Mountain for Halloween Time, which begins today.

“It’s classic Space Mountain with a whole new look,” said Steve Roach, the ride’s show producer.

Disneyland Resort usually tries to keep the mood light for the Halloween season, but this ride is slightly different.

“For the first time, it’s something actually very frightening for Halloween,” Roach said. “I don’t think we’ve done anything this scary before.”

A sign will warn guests that the ride may be too scary for young children, Roach said.

Ghost Galaxy’s back story is that Disney wants recruits to explore unknown phenomena during a deep-space research trip, but then something goes wrong. Guests are detoured into an unknown galaxy with cosmic phenomena at every turn, Roach said.

Throughout the ride, guests can see morphing ghosts reaching out toward guests. One arm grabs above riders. Another ghost chases riders alongside the carriage. A creepy eye blinks in front. And one final surprise ghost pops out at the very end. (We know because we got to ride it early.)

Roach said upgrades completed on the ride four years ago made it easier for workers to transform the attraction into a Halloween spectacle. With the new additions, workers were able to swap out projection images that go on screens inside the dome. New lighting was added, especially at the entrance and exit.

Also, a sound system was built into every seat with the 2005 upgrades. The new soundtrack of creepy music, wailing and occasional roars was put in for the occasion. It was composed by Ed Kalnins, who also did the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage ride.

About 12 workers, called Imagineers, have been installing the overlay since the ride was temporarily closed about two and a half weeks ago. But workers will be able to turn the ride back to its original form overnight when the Halloween season is over in about five weeks, Roach said.

Ghost Galaxy was originally done at the Hong Kong park in 2007, said Ric Turner, a show designer who also worked on the Hong Kong attraction. There, Imagineers added the features in a short period with low expectations, but it “blew everybody away,” Turner said.

Anaheim’s Ghost Galaxy has more scenes, including the chasing ghosts, he said. Also, Imagineers were able to create more of a 3D effect with the grabbing monsters.

Both Roach and Turner have worked at lower-level jobs in Disneyland, so they were excited to work on Space Mountain. Roach, who lives in Rancho Santa Margarita, used to be a ride operator on Space Mountain itself, while Turner worked in food service.

Disneyland invited employees to ride Ghost Galaxy on Thursday, a day before the public is allowed in. Some employees gave the ride high marks.

“It was amazing,” said Tory Asher, 33, a manager for Adventureland attractions. “That’s definitely my favorite holiday offering we’ve ever had.”

Kelly Murphy, 26, also an Adventureland manager, said she was worried about the fright factor.

“I’m a little chicken,” Murphy said. “I think Disney does a good job of just the right level of scary.”

Secondly, Disney released some photos from a test performance Tuesday night of the new Halloween Screams fireworks show:

Pumpkins are projected onto Sleeping Beauty Castle

An inflatable Jack Skellington head

Jack’s “head” is also used to cast Oogie Boogie’s shadow

Spider webs on Sleeping Beauty Castle

Using the same system as Dumbo did in Magical, Zero takes flight during Halloween Screams

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for more coverage on both Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Halloween Screams.

Space Ghost at the Spooky Mountain!

WDWNT on September 25, 2009

According to D23:

While happy haunts have long greeted guests at Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion, some new scary spooks are taking up temporary residence this Halloween season in Tomorrowland at one of the park’s signature attractions. Starting Friday, September 25, Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy will add a spine-tingling new layer to the already-thrilling ride.

The chilling seasonal event has been happening in Hong Kong Disneyland since 2007, when, show producer Steve Roach explains, “they had the idea that there’s a new life form that’s been discovered in space, and we want to recruit the guests to explore this new life force. Upon going into Space Mountain guests discover the ‘life forces’ are a little more than we thought.” Steve says the ride begins like your typical Space Mountain voyage, but — as these things do — something goes awry. “It’s a galaxy where haunted star clusters and supernovas threaten you at every turn. It’s one close call after another until you finally reach the end of your space flight — and we hope you make it home safely!” jokes Steve, who’s worked on numerous park projects including the Disneyland Dream Suite and the Sleeping Beauty Castle walkthrough.

During the evening, park-goers strolling through Tomorrowland will instantly notice a change in the attraction when every 6–8 minutes a ghostly new effect will take place. “While you are in the concourse queue outside, we are going to have events on the exterior of Space Mountain,” Steve reveals. “Some of these unknown life forces might be trying to escape the mountain.”

Guests who have traveled through Hong Kong’s Ghost Galaxy will recognize composer Ed Kalnin’s appropriately creepy score, and the audio has been completely remixed for the Disneyland version.

Visitors to Disneyland with an eagle eye may have already spotted one of Ghost Galaxy’s signature spooks (nicknamed “Bob”) on the Space Mountain refurbishment poster that’s been outside the attraction the past few weeks. Bob plays a more obvious role in the attraction’s new artwork.

The effects themselves are enough to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up at attention. Seventeen “encounters” await guests on this tumultuous trek. “The encounters start on your launch sequence and continue until you return,” Steve notes. The magic is achieved through startling projections. “In some cases we’re projecting onto the dome and in some cases onto screens.”

The encounters are set off by “triggers” that each rocket sets off as it passes by. Interesting for Disneyphiles is that while an elaborate lighting system was installed inside the attraction for Rockin’ Space Mountain back in 2006, Ghost Galaxy utilizes all new lights.

Steve, who is also working on the Disney Gallery and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, says Ghost Galaxy, which runs through Halloween, could return for another eerie engagement in the future. But it’s his link to the attraction’s past that really means the most to the Imagineer who’s been with Disney for more than 20 years. As with many Disney Cast Members, he started his career at Disneyland as a ride operator. “I was a lead at Space Mountain,” he remembers. “So to get to go back to one of my favorite attractions has been so much fun — an unbelievable experience.”

Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy, along with the rest of Halloween Time, opens tomorrow at the Disneyland Resort!

The Making of World of Color

WDWNT on September 24, 2009

We have yet another pair of videos for you from the D23 Expo recorded and edited by our own Matt Paul. The first video is “The Making of World of Color” presentation with Imagineer Steven Davison (walking us through the entire new nighttime spectacular for Disney’s California Adventure) and the accompanying video is of the World of Color press conference that directly followed. We hope you enjoy this inside look at Disney’s World of Color embedded via the WDWNTube:

A Wonderful “World of Color” Coming to California

WDWNT on September 24, 2009

While it doesn’t really pertain to Walt Disney World, we thought you would enjoy another pair of videos from the D23 Expo recorded and edited by our own Matt Paul. The first video is “The Making of World of Color” presentation with Imagineer Steven Davison (walking us through the entire new nighttime spectacular for Disney’s California Adventure) and the accompanying video is of the World of Color press conference that directly followed. We hope you enjoy this inside look at Disney’s World of Color embedded via the WDWNTube: