DLR Picture Update

WDWNT on April 12, 2008

I just got back from 2 wonderful days at the Disneyland Resort! Let’s get straight to the pictures:


A new Kodak sign up on the Honey, I Shrunk the Audience entrance marque


The new Tinkertoy in the Pixar Play Parade


A wall up by Grizzly River Run. As reported earlier this week, the attraction is still open


The new emergency bridge from DCA to the Grand Californian


The Toontown room in the World of Disney store


A construction wall up by the Tomorrowland Terrace


The new Disneyland map front, that debuted today…


… And the DCA one


Today was the first day in this year’s California Food & Wine Festival


The Festival Welcome Center


Let’s take a look at the Festival Guide Booklet…


This year is the 3rd annual California Food & Wine Festival


A special restaurant has been set up in Pacific Wharf just for the Food & Wine Festival, in place of the old Lucky Fortune Cookery


The place to get Food & Wine merchandise. I got the pin!


The menu for this special restaurant, The Taste of California Marketplace


Construction on the ODV structures outside Toy Story Mania


The fountain outside of King Triton’s Carousel is working for once!


The sign for Seasons of the Vine has finally been removed. Weird how the attraction closed just as the Food & Wine Festival started


A new sign for the Year of a Million Dreams on the security tents


This could be DCA’s temporary entrance


Just to give you an idea where it actually is

Stay tuned tomorrow for bigger versions of these pictures & many more pictures in our Image Galleries!

A New Blue Arrival!

WDWNT on April 12, 2008

Sometime during the course of this week, the Disneyland Resort was welcomed with a new arrival. Monorail Blue was delivered this week. When the pics below were taken it was parked on flatbeds in the KCML (Katella Cast Member Lot) adjacent to the Buzz Lightyear lot used for overflow parking.

Pictures courtesy of Dateline Disneyland on MiceChat.

“A Long Time Ago, In a Studio of a Previous Name….”

WDWNT on April 11, 2008

Yesterland.com is offering up a great look and analysis at an opening day map from the Disney MGM Studios in 1989. Be sure to look at a current day map as you take this trip into the past, you will be surprised at how unbelievably different the park looks today from its very humble beginnings almost 20 years ago. To see the full article, go HERE.

Disney

WDWNT on April 10, 2008

I found a rather funny press release put out by Disney earlier this week and felt I should share it with our readers. This is probably the first time Disney has acknowledged that they have a huge number of attractions based on Pixar films:

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — It’s a Pixar palooza at Disney Parks! In family-friendly attractions and immersive experiences on both coasts of the United States, guests can do it all — find Nemo, zap Zurg and meddle with Monsters.

But the fun doesn’t stop there. Coming this summer to Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., and Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., is a whole new interactive adventure: Toy Story Mania!

Celebrating Disney-Pixar classics “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2,” this new ride-game experience combines delightful film characters with personality-matching games guests can play. Donning 3-D glasses, guests shrink to the size of a toy and hop fanciful ride vehicles following a midway-themed route. At each game booth, they aim for animated targets using special on-board spring-action shooters. And since games adapt to the skill level of each player, beginners and gamers alike have plenty of reasons to ride — and play — again and again.

Toy Story Mania! debuts at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida in late May and at Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim in late June. It joins these other experiences inspired by favorite Disney-Pixar characters and films.

At Walt Disney World Resort:

  • Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor — Guests find the power of laughter in an engaging and interactive adventure inspired by “Monsters, Inc.” as they match wits with the one-eyed hero Mike Wazowski and his friends. As Monster-of-Ceremonies, Mike recruits comedian wanna-bes whose humor delights audiences at a 400-seat theater in Magic Kingdom.
  • Finding Nemo-The Musical — The undersea world that charmed audiences in “Finding Nemo” comes to life in a musical stage show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The 30-minute Broadway-style production immerses guests in the story of Marlin and Nemo, an overprotective clownfish father and his curious son, with imaginative puppetry, dazzling special effects and an original musical score.
  • The Seas with Nemo & Friends — This whimsical and visually stunning attraction at Epcot picks up where the film “Finding Nemo” left off. Riding aboard “clamobiles” in a colorful coral reef setting, guests meet Mr. Ray and learn that Nemo has wandered off. The journey continues as Dory, Bruce, Marlin, Squirt and Crush help with the search. These deep-sea friends inhabit a variety of vibrant vignettes, including a huge aquarium that contains more than 65 species of marine life.
  • Block Party Bash — This high-energy extravaganza at Disney’s Hollywood Studios cranks the music and excitement to the max, putting guests in the middle of the wildest Disney spectacle ever — a non-stop musical block party that doubles as a fun-filled interactive street spectacular. Featuring characters from “Toy Story,” “A Bug’s Life,” “Monster’s, Inc.” and “The Incredibles,” “Block Party Bash” combines dancers, acrobats, stilt performers and a caravan of electric scooters to fill the performance area with awe-inspiring visual and sound sensations.

    •           At Disneyland Resort:

  • Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage — Guests embark on an underwater expedition where they discover Nemo and his finned friends from “Finding Nemo.” Thanks to cutting-edge imaging technology, characters such as Dory, Marlin, Crush, Bruce and, of course, Nemo, come to life before guests’ eyes in a brilliantly colored lagoon at Disneyland Park. 
  • a bug’s land — Designed especially for kids, this land at Disney’s California Adventure features Flik’s Fun Fair, which is full of attractions inspired by the film “A Bug’s Life.” Children can experience the world from a bug’s point of view by visiting Flik’s Flyers, Francis’ Ladybug Boogie, Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train, Princess Dot Puddle Park, and Tuck and Roll Drive’Em Buggies. Families can then cap off their adventures with a screening of the 3-D spectacular “It’s Tough to be a Bug.”
  • Monster’s Inc., Mike and Sulley to the Rescue — Disney’s California Adventure guests are in for a ride of “monstrous” proportion as they climb aboard taxis and hit the streets of Monstropolis with Mike, Sulley and Boo. Along the way they’ll encounter the super-sneaky Randall Boggs, the yellow-suited agents of the Child Detection Agency and other characters from the film.
  • Pixar Play Parade — Characters from Disney-Pixar films “Toy Story,” “A Bug’s Life,” “Monsters, Inc.,” “Finding Nemo,” “The Incredibles,” “Cars” and “Ratatouille” dance onto the parade route and invite guests of all ages to join in a whirling, spinning, fun-for-all animated playground. This daily spectacle at Disney’s California Adventure is brought to life in giant parade floats, puppetry, acrobatics and interactive surprises including bubble, fire and water effects.

    •           At both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort:

  • Turtle Talk With Crush — Crush from “Finding Nemo” has made a different kind of screen debut at Epcot and Disneyland Park — as a chatting, joking quipster who engages guests in conversation from his movie-screen undersea environment. The interactive show is a breakthrough experience in real-time animation using digital projection and sophisticated, voice-activated animation.
  • It’s Tough to be a Bug — Inside the massive trunk of Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life, and at the heart of Disney’s California Adventure’s “a bug’s land,” is “It’s Tough to be a Bug,” a humorous 3-D film and special effects show starring Earth’s least-known wild creatures — and a few familiar faces from “A Bug’s Life.” Guests will recognize friendly Flik and the villainous Hopper, but the rest of the show promises some “stingingly” surprising antics.
  • Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin (WDW) / Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters (DLR) — Armed with infrared lasers, guests join forces with Buzz Lightyear to defend Earth’s supply of batteries from the evil Emperor Zurg in a spinning, brought-to-life spin-off of the movie “Toy Story.” The shoot-’em-up fun at both Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Park triggers sight and sound gags, while a lighted display inside toy-spaceship vehicles allows guests to keep score.

    • For more information about Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort visit disneyworld.com and www.disneyland.com.

    Jingles II!

    WDWNT on April 10, 2008

    ANAHEIM, Calif., April 8, 2008 — In beloved recognition and gratitude for her service as Honorary Ambassador of Disneyland’s 50th anniversary celebration, Disneyland Resort Cast Members today presented legendary star Julie Andrews with a unique dedication that will forever ensure her place in Disneyland’s storied history.

    This dedication shines in a most appropriate place, on King Arthur’s Carrousel in Fantasyland. The Carrousel was one of the 15 Disneyland attractions that were “goldenized” in 2005, in honor of the “Happiest Homecoming on Earth” celebration for Disneyland’s 50th anniversary. Jingles, the lead and most popular horse on the attraction, was painted gold for Disneyland’s special milestone and Julie was photographed with the horse during the festivities.  To acknowledge Julie’s role as an honorary cast member, Disneyland Resort has given Jingles a magical makeover and is dedicating the cherished horse in her honor.

    Carrousels have a special meaning at Disneyland as Walt Disney had a fond appreciation for them and included carrousels in many of his biggest and most notable endeavors.  As a father, he took his young daughters to ride merry-go-rounds on many weekends and those happy and memorable times were the seed of his dream called Disneyland.  Julie Andrews’ association with carrousel horses dates back to the classic 1964 film, “Mary Poppins,” and her lead role as the magical nanny.   During one escapade, Mary Poppins embarks on a “horse race” with the two young children and her friend Bert. With a little bit of luck – and stunning visual effects – their carrousel ponies break free and gallop through the countryside.  The movie won five Academy Awards – including one for Julie Andrews – spawned the cheerful song “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!,” and left a sentimental spot forever in the hearts of movie-lovers worldwide.

    Since Jingles’ 2005 golden transformation, the popular carrousel horse now dons a new and hand-painted, colorful jewel-tone palette.  Special features have been added to honor the screen legend, including embellishments of gold leaf horseshoes, flowers representing Julie’s love of gardening and Mary Poppins’ themeing on Jingles’ enhanced golden saddle. Hand-painted features on the saddle include Julie’s initials, the number “50” representing Disneyland’s 50th anniversary, Mary Poppins’ boots and a flying silhouette of the beloved Mary Poppins character.  Golden, wooden jingle bells also adorn the horse’s body.

    Disneyland Cast Members also presented a miniature, one-of-kind replica of Jingles for Julie.  The commissioned, hand-carved wood piece stands nearly 2 ½ feet tall and wears a special broach that is a replica of the custom-made Disneyland Ambassador pin that Julie received for being an Ambassador for Disneyland’s 50th anniversary.

    While at Disneyland for the unveiling ceremony of Jingles, Julie signed copies of her new autobiography “Home: A Memoir of My Early Years” for Cast Members and Guests.  In her new book, the critically-acclaimed writer shares numerous personal photos and anecdotes of her time on Broadway, including stories of performing in “My Fair Lady” with Rex Harrison and in “Camelot” with Richard Burton; her first marriage to famed set and costume designer Tony Walton, with whom Julie gave birth to daughter Emma; her meeting with Walt Disney, and her departure for Hollywood.

    WASH. RESIDENT FIRST IN THE NATION TO REDEEM HIS FREE DISNEY PAR

    WDWNT on April 9, 2008

    (JANUARY 1, 2009): Using an oversized park ticket created for the occasion, Seattle, Wash. resident Andrew DaCosta enters the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. on Jan. 1, 2009. DaCosta was honored this morning as the first person in the nation to receive free admission to a Disney theme park on his birthday as part of Disney’s “What Will You Celebrate?” campaign. DaCosta, who is celebrating his 49th birthday today, redeemed his “Free On Your Birthday” registration at the Magic Kingdom Guest Relations window at 7:31 a.m. Jan. 1 is the first day of the “What Will You Celebrate?” campaign at both Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California. In addition to offering everyone who visits a Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme park on their birthday in 2009 free admission, the “What Will You Celebrate?” campaign features new theme park entertainment, added celebration experiences and new ways for guests to customize their own “celebration vacation” at both vacation resorts. (Preston Mack, photographer)

    Animal Kingdom Anniversary Details

    WDWNT on April 9, 2008

    Here is a list of the special events that are scheduled for Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s tenth anniversary on April 22, 2008:

    -A rededication ceremony for the park will be held in front of the Tree of Life from 8:45-9:00am

    -Imagineer Joe Rohde will be giving a talk/question & answer session in the Theater in the Wild starting at 9:45am and lasting for about an hour. This will be very similar to the talk session that Imagineer Marty Sklar gave at Epcot’s 25th Anniversary back in October 2007.

    WDW News Today will have full coverage of Animal Kingdom’s 10th anniversary on April 22, as we will be part of WDWCelebrations “A Wild Decade” commemorative event. Stay tuned for coverage in just two weeks!!!

    Jingles!

    WDWNT on April 9, 2008

    From the OC Register:

    Thousands of Disneyland park guests gathered around King Arthur’s Carousel on Tuesday morning to watch Disney’s top brass dedicate a special carousel horse to legendary performer Julie Andrews.

    The gesture recognizes Andrews’ service as the theme park’s ambassador during its 50th anniversary, as well as her contributions to the company over the past 44 years.

    The carousel horse is decorated with emblems and logos that recall some of Andrews’ most well-known roles. Its name is ‘Jingles.’

    Andrews achieved icon status after the 1964 debut of Mary Poppins, in which she played the title role. In the movie, she rode cartoon carousel horses and used one to win a horse race.

    On Tuesday, Andrews told the gathering of resort officials and theme park employees: “I hope this horse is here for a long time.”

    MiceAge DLR Rumor Update

    WDWNT on April 9, 2008

    The plans for the DCA renovations always keep changing, & the latest changes were reported today in Al Lutz’s latest column on MiceAge. We’ll also take a look at some other new stuff supposedly coming to Disneyland, & the resort as a whole:

    • The Walt Disney Story show that was supposed to of gone into the new Walt Disney Plaza has been dropped from the plans. Team Disney Anaheim’s idea behind this is that DCA already has too many shows, & too little good rides. So the last thing DCA needs is another new show! But the extravagant Carthay Circle Theater will still be built, but will only be a facade.
    • With the Walt Disney Story not happening, this now may have Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln being re-installed into the Opera House on Main Street.
    • When Sunshine Plaza is under refurbishment, the temporary entrance may now be the big gate right by Soarin’ Over California, instead of the Millionaire building. You can see exactly where this is by viewing this picture.
    • A water play area themed to King Triton is now planned to be put right next to the new Little Mermaid attraction.
    • The Ariels Grotto restaurant may be re-themed a general Princess restaurant, Princess Palace. The more modern sections of the current exterior of the restaurant would be made more “Princessy”.
    • Originally, the renovation plans for the Disneyland Hotel was to of had each building extensively refurbished, one at a time. Well now, TDA & WDI are looking to completely rip down the current Disneyland Hotel, & re-build it all from scratch!
    • This summer, a Indiana Jones stunt show should take place in Adventureland. We’re not sure if it will last past the summer though.
    • No new attractions are currently planned for the resort in 2009, except for the new It’s a Small World. So Disneyland Park will have a major entertainment themed ad campaign, which will include the proposed new Wonder day-time parade, a new ending to Remember… Dreams Come True, new effects added to Fantasmic, & get this… the return of the Main Street Electrical Parade!

    For complete details on all of the things mentioned above & more, check out this MiceAge article!

    “Saw This Comin’!” for The Kingdom

    WDWNT on April 8, 2008

    In an announcement we have been expecting for a long time, Disney’s Virtual Magic Kingdom online game is finally shutting down forever next month. As stated on the VMK website, the game was only meant to run throughout the Happiest Celebration on Earth in 2005-06 and has lasted well beyond that. The Virtual Magic Kingdom did make it to the real-life Magic Kingdom during that time, gaining space over in the Main Street Cinema at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom from early 2005 until the Fall of 2007.

    The game will open for one final day of operation on May 21, 2008 before becoming the first virtual member of Yesterland.