DLR Photo Report – 8/5 & 8/6

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

I’m back from a lovely 2 day trip to the Disneyland Resort for my birthday & guess what that means… A photo report! There’s lots of images today, so let’s get to it:


The theme park information sign is back out by all bag search booths


When DCA opens, there’s 2 paths to go, Midway Mania’s line & the Princess Breakfast at Ariel’s Grotto


Guess this sign will have to be changed soon


My score this time wasn’t as good as my last trip


Now let’s take a tour of the Sun Wheel, as it is now (as it will be made into Mickey’s Fun Wheel this fall)


Non-swinging gondolas


Swinging gondolas


I’m Missing It… NOT!


There was some kind of convention in the Grand Californian Hotel


Department 56 in Downtown Disney is having some work done


There will be a Mardi Gras “extravaganza” at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen on September 6th


I ate at Rainforest Cafe for my birthday


The Build Your Own Lightsaber stand in Star Traders


A couple of shots here of Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams… Plenty will be available in the Image Gallery tomorrow


The It’s a Small World Top Shop is out from behind tarps… Notice the missing dolls in the boat?


New colors on the Small World attraction sign I believe


New Century Timepieces is a thing of the past


A nice new painting available, with a hefty price tag of $1,500!


Some nice Tiki Room merchandise that was released for the attraction’s 45th anniversary… You’ll be able to see all of it in the Image Gallery tomorrow


I want to get this lovely poster of Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle


Surprised they’re still selling this one… I still want it!


Saw the tribute band Tomasina at the Tomorrowland Terrace Tuesday night


WOOOO!


Here are a few (blurry) shots of Fantasmic!


Moving on to Wednesday, a little look at the Midway Games, which should be changed this fall


ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD!?


The Midway Stores, which I presume will be changed too


Mr. Potato Head was covered up this morning


Construction on the soon to re-open Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-through


An ad for The Little Mermaid III on Main Street


And the Sleeping Beauty Platinum Edition DVD


Classic Ariel picture in Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years


Space chick & astronaut


Characters from Captain EO


Watch makers in the Art of Disneyland on Main Street


An awesome Small World poster


A product release & signing with Robet Olszewski on Saturday August 28th at the Disneyana Shop from 9am to 11am


Now I know this tent wasn’t in the Esplanade on the 5th


Another ad for The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning


And to end off this photo report, me with Ariel… My favorite character picture ever!

Be sure to keep an eye on all of our Image Galleries tomorrow for full size versions of these pictures & many more (over 400 in total)!

Disney US Postage Stamps Event, and More

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

There was an event held today in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle for the 2008 series of Disney US postage stamps. Just my luck that I missed the event by a day, but David “Darkbeer” Michael did however attend, so here are a few of his pictures:


So this is what the tent I saw in the Esplanade yesterday is for


This year’s stamps are of Steamboat Willie, 101 Dalmatians, the Jungle Book, & Sleeping Beauty… Marty Sklar was in attendance for the event (like he his for most events that the Disney company hold)

And now a few non-event related pictures from outside the parks:


It might just be me, or is this a new stand in Downtown Disney


Some construction going on in the Disneyland Hotel

Be sure to check out Darkbeer’s SmugMug page for plenty more pictures from around the Disneyland Resort today!

32 Picketers Arrested Outside Disneyland

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

ANAHEIM, California – Cinderella, Snow White, Tinkerbell and other fictional fixtures of modern-day childhood were handcuffed, frisked and loaded into police vans Thursday at the culmination of a labor protest that brought a touch of reality to the Happiest Place on Earth.

The arrest of the 32 protesters, many of whom wore costumes representing famous Disney characters, came at the end of an hour-long march to Disneyland’s gates from one of three Disney-owned hotels at the center of a labor dispute.

Those who were arrested sat in a circle on a busy intersection outside the park holding hands until they were placed in plastic handcuffs and led to two police vans while hundreds of hotel workers cheered and chanted.

The protesters were arrested on a misdemeanor count of failure to obey a police officer and two traffic infractions, and were expected to be booked and released later Thursday, said Sgt. Rick Martinez of the Anaheim police.

Bewildered tourists in Disney T-shirts and caps, some pushing strollers, filed past the commotion and gawked at the costumed picketers getting hauled away. The protest shut down a major thoroughfare outside Disneyland and California Adventure for nearly an hour.

Read More about 32 Picketers Arrested Outside Disneyland

Picketing Pictures

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

The ever useful David “Darkbeer” Michael of MiceAge.com was on the scene outside the Disneyland Resort yesterday, as Unite HERE held their protest against the Walt Disney Company. Here are a few of his pictures showing this unfortunate event (and plenty more can be found on his SmugMug page):


They marched from the Paradise Pier hotel, all the way down to the Timon parking lot entrance


Once there, 32 picketers joined arms in the middle of the road, blocking traffic on all sides!


Unfortunately for them, but luckily for Disneyland Resort guests, all 32 picketers were arrested

UPDATE: The OC Register has put up a couple of videos showing the picketers march, & then them getting arrested. Check ’em out HERE.

Goodbye Ariel, Hello Doors?

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

We now official confirmation, in the form of pictures of construction walls, that Ariel’s Grotto is indeed closed. Here are a few pictures of construction, as well as a couple of other things from around the Disneyland Resort, off of the lovely SmugMug page of David “Darkbeer” Michael:


Not sure how well you can tell in this picture, but the King Triton & Ariel figurines have already been removed


The walls start by, & run right along with the line for Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters


On the path towards the Matterhorn


The Ariel’s Grotto sign is still in place as of yesterday


And here’s where you originally got in line to meet with Ariel… This is obviously where the walls end


Moving away from Ariel’s Grotto… The cars on the Casey Junior Circus Train that originally had just a cloth coverings as opposed to doors now have real functioning doors


A ceremony was held yesterday, giving Bruno Serato, the owner of the Anaheim White House restaurant, the eighth star in the Orange County Walk of Stars, which is located in the path next to the 15 minute parking lot on Harbor Boulevard

Monday in the Parks DLR Update

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Let’s take a look through some of the latest happenings through-out the Disneyland Resort, brought up in both pictures & words in this week’s Monday in the Parks on MiceAge:

  • A couple updates for you on the Miley Cyrus Sweet 16 event that is being held on October 5th. Turns out that regular Disneyland guests from normal operation that day may be able to stay for the stars parading up the red carpet, much like was done with all 3 Pirates of the Caribbean movie premieres. When all stars & guests for the event are in the park, the regular guests will be escorted out. It also seems that bleachers may be put up along the banks of the Rivers of America, for a maximum amount of guests to be able to see Miley perform.
  • Disney is in the process recording new television commercials for next year’s promotion, which will either be called Magical Celebrations or What Will You Celebrate? Many stars, including Johny Depp were at the park/will be at the park to film these commercials alongside “guests”.
  • 2009 ParkHopper tickets are starting to become available on Disneyland.com. The Early Bird ticket special for 2009 will have everyone at kid’s prices for 3 day or more ParkHopper tickets. This special will last from January through to April 2009.


Traffic is going to be severely effected due to the Disneyland Half Marathon this upcoming Sunday… For information & tips on how to beat the traffic, check the Monday in Parks article


Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Party being advertised at both the Disneyland turnstiles…


… And DCA’s turnstiles


A water pump has been added to the It’s a Small World flume


Over at Ariel’s Grotto, this is what has become of the turntable of sorts where you would meet Ariel


According to the Monday in the Parks article, Ariel has replaced Pocahontas over at the Princess Fantasy Faire. No word if you’ll still be able to greet with Pocahontas anywhere… The picture shows that Ariel is in the same dress as used in the Ariel’s Grotto restaurant in DCA

Week In Review

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Here are a few of the more interesting happenings from the week, that have popped up on the internet while I was in Las Vegas:

  • Halloween merchandise has started rolling out in Disneyland Park, & Dateline Disneyland on MiceAge has complete coverage of merchandise.
  • According to the OC Register, two Cast Member “heroes” were honored in the Grand Marshal Pre-Parade yesterday afternoon. “Robert Olvera, an ager & painter at the Disneyland paint shop, & Juan Morales, a server at Hook’s Pointe, have both been called heroes for saving the lives of two different men.”
  • Also according to the OC Register, Auditions for the ABC show Wipeout are to be held at the ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney tomorrow from 10am ’til 2pm. Applicants should be “fun, strong-willed, outgoing & have a great sense of humor,” & must be able to swim. For additional information, shoot an email to wipeoutcasting@gmail.com.
  • The OC Register also has a complete listing of what roads will be closed when this Sunday due to the Disneyland Half Marathon.
  • Finally, a permit was filed this week by Disneyland to build a so-called “giant teapot” as part of Pixie Hollow. You can see the permit for yourself here.

Be sure to check back tomorrow, as we still have tons more catching up to do!

Disneyland Half Marathon Coverage

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

This weekend is the weekend for the Disneyland Half Marathon, & tons of preperation work has been going on through-out the Disneyland Resort, & a couple of smaller events were held yesterday morning. So here are pictures of the preparation & events (plus a few other things) as taken by David “Darkbeer” Michael:


Special park hours are in effect today


The Health & Fitness Expo was held in one of the ballrooms at the Disneyland Hotel


This is where you would of signed in for the various races


Concept art for the DVC Villas coming to the Grand Californian, as seen at the Health & Fitness Expo


The starting point for the Half Marathon


And the finish point


A few smaller races were held yesterday morning


They made use of the old Green Army Men stand that used to be outside the Esplanade promoting Toy Story Midway Mania


The starting point for most of these smaller races was the Timon parking lot


One of the few times that Heelys are welcome in Disney parks


Signs directing people to each of the different races inside DCA


The finish point in Paradise Pier


The Toy Story characters were there to celebrate


This basically looks like a crawling race for very young kids… A bit stupid if you ask me!


Now moving away from the Half Marathon… Halloween Time is now being promoted before the security tents


Filming of some sort going on in New Orleans Square


Construction walls in front of the old Fantasyland Skyway Station


This sign is up in front of the upcoming DCA Preview Center


Finally, auditions were held yesterday at the ESPN Zone, for the ABC show Wipeout

More Half Marathon, & Half Pavement Dug Up!

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Let’s take a look at a couple of the latest happenings through-out the Disneyland Resort, brought up in this week’s Monday in the Parks article on MiceAge:

  • Contrary to what we reported yesterday, Darkbeer is reporting that the area around Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters will be repaved, not the area around Star Tours. This would require the Fastpass machines to be temporarily shut down.
  • For complete coverage of the Disneyland Half Marathon yesterday, I would check out Darkbeer’s SmugMug page. On there he has many excellent pictures covering the whole length of the course, including many of the performers from the Pixar Play Parade (including the stilt chefs) cheering on the runners.

Finally, here is a press release released yesterday by Disney on the Half Marathon:

John Lucas of Eugene, Oregon, Wins Third Annual Disneyland Half Marathon, Setting New Record

ANAHEIM, Calif. (Aug. 31, 2008) – Course records were broken in Men’s, Women’s and Master’s divisions in the third annual Disneyland Half Marathon, Sunday at Disneyland Resort.

John Lucas, a marketing specialist for a sports apparel company in Eugene, Oregon, crossed the finish line first with a Disneyland Half Marathon record time of 1:08:05 (exactly two minutes faster than the 2007 winning time), leading the field of an estimated 13,500 participants.

“It’s a very meaningful place for me,” Lucas said of Disneyland. After qualifying for the Olympic trials in the 2006 Los Angeles Marathon, Lucas took his girlfriend Molly to Disneyland and proposed to her in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. The couple also honeymooned at the Resort after their wedding in 2007.

“My favorite moment (in today’s race) was coming back through Disney’s California Adventure and seeing Mrs. Incredible and Sully cheering us on,” Lucas said, referring to Disney•Pixar characters who lined the course.

Lucas said he liked the competitive field and “the flat course really helped me keep a rhythm.”

Placing second overall was Mark Batres, 23, of Rowland Heights, Calif., with a time of 1:09:55. Chokri Dhaouadi, 36, a Tunisian runner who trains in Las Cruces, New Mexico, finished third with a time of 1:12:14.

Mary Akor, 31, of Gardena, Calif, was the women’s half marathon champion. Akor finished with a Disneyland Half Marathon women’s record time of 1:19:24, despite losing her race chip and having to start from the back of the pack. She caught up with the women’s leader at approximately the five mile mark, in the 13.1-mile event.

“I had to make my way through all the other runners,” she said. “But it was a great race with so many people out there cheering us on. That really made it special.”

The women’s second place finisher was Mary Kate Bailey, 33, of San Diego, Calif., with a time of 1:19.33. Suzy Schumacher, 39, of Phoenix, Arix. – last year’s winner of the women’s Disneyland Half Marathon – took third place with a time of 1:25:12.

Kevin Broady, 45, of Brea, Calif., who finished first overall in the 2007 Disneyland Half Marathon, earned a notable Master’s Division (age 40+) victory this year with a division record time of 1:13.26 and a fourth place overall ranking.

Edith Martinez, 40, of Brea, Calif., was the top women’s Master’s finisher with a division record time of 1:28:29.

In the men’s Half Marathon wheelchair division, Ralph Pieplenbos, 55, of Monrovia, Calif., crossed the finish line with a time of 1:19:27.

Last year’s winner of the women’s half marathon wheelchair division, Kristen Messer, 21, of Austin, Texas, repeated this year with a winning time of 1:37:42.

Approximately 13,500 runners from 50 states and 16 countries registered for the magical 13.1 mile Disneyland Half Marathon this year. The field included first-time half marathoners as well as veteran runners. The course traveled through two Disneyland Resort theme parks and along Anaheim streets with landmarks such as Angels Stadium and Honda Center, while colorful Disney characters and festive music inspired them along the way.

Runners who completed the half marathon received a commemorative Sleeping Beauty Castle medal, the signature medal of the Disneyland Half Marathon and one in the Disney endurance series collection.

The Coast-to-Coast medal, a new award, was presented to nearly 1,000 runners who completed either the Walt Disney World Marathon or Walt Disney World Half Marathon in January and then completed Sunday’s Disneyland Half Marathon. The Coast-to-Coast medal showcases the iconic “Partners Statue,” of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse.

The 2009 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend will be held Sept. 4-6, with the Half Marathon being held on Sunday, Sept. 6. Registration for the 2009 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend opens on Monday, September 1, 2008.

For more information and to view complete searchable race results visit www.disneylandhalfmarathon.com.

DLR Photo Report – 9/2/08

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

I had a lovely day at the Disneyland Resort yesterday, & there is tons of stuff going on around the Resort. Let’s delve into this enormous photo report:

All of the attractions closed. The Mark Twain wasn’t closed by the way!

The lovely new DCA map cover.

Not a lot of entertainment going on at DCA during the off season.

Not really a lot at Disneyland either.

Halloween Time returns September 26th!

The McDonalds logo is still in the Burger Invasion poster near California Screamin’s entrance.

Mr. Potato Head was broken down when I went to ride Toy Story Midway Mania.

SS Rustworthy is still the same as it has always been.

The big McDonalds logo has been removed from the Burger Invasion facade.

A look at the old menu.

The McDonalds logo is still on the main part of SS Rustworthy.

The Vineyard Room has already been removed from all Golden Vine Winery signs.

I hate deserted buildings.

This sign is in front of the upcoming DCA Preview Center.

Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Party advertised at the exit turnstiles of DCA…

… And also the exit turnstiles of Disneyland.

The lovely new Disneyland Park map cover.

Halloween merchandise on sale in the Emporium.

I love that 15th anniversary of Nightmare Before Christmas shirt!

The whole Star Tours outside queue is under construction walls, to be repaved.

What a lovely term!

The walls spread all the way from the entrance of Star Tours to the main entrance of the Star Trader.

What an amazing wait time for Space Mountain, especially as this was around 2pm!

I have never seen Space Mountain’s wait this short, this late in the day!

While waiting in line for the Matterhorn, I saw Monorail Purple being towed off the track. It returned to the tracks later in the day.

New color scheme on the It’s a Small World attraction sign.

A peek through a whole in the construction wall.

A peek inside the It’s a Small World Toy Shop.

I went to the Princess Fantasy Faire to see if Ariel in her human form was there. While in line for the Princesses, I heard her being announced as part of the Royal Coronation Ceremony. Oh well, better luck next time!

One track of the Matterhorn was not being used all day.

Now a look at construction on Ariel’s Grotto/Pixie Hollow.

The Ariel’s Grotto sign is still in place.

A peek through a whole in the construction wall.

I spy with my little eye- Disney Executives!

You should be able to see a fountain still running just above the construction wall.

Yep, definitely Disney executives!

You cant see it all that well in this picture, but there is some sort of image planted in the ground.

It’s construction wall chaos in New Orleans Square right now!

To get to Critter Country, you have to use the lower walkway right along the Rivers of America.

The whole area from the French Market, past the New Orleans Square Railroad Station, & through to the Haunted Mansion is completely walled off to guest access!

There’s that beautification term once again.

After one day, the French Market is already covered in scaffolding.

I don’t think anything has yet changed over at Harbor Galley.

The Secret of the Stone Tiger show sign has already been removed.

I’m not completely sure, but I think someone was taken ill here right outside Aladdin’s Oasis.

Now let’s take a mini tour of Golden Dreams, which closes permanently to the public this upcoming Sunday.

A look at construction on the Grand Californian DVC expansion.

DCA closed at 6pm yesterday. That’s crazy early if you ask me.

The stores at the Disneyland Resort have special offers on the 2 newest Disney DVD releases, The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning…

… And the amazing new Nightmare Before Christmas special edition DVD.

Halloween decor inside Marceline’s Confectionery at Downtown Disney.

A look at the Halloween decorations in the Toontown room of the World of Disney store.

The horrible looking Beverly Hills Chihuahua movie being advertised on the exterior of the World of Disney.

It seriously can’t take this long to fix a billboard!

That’s going to wrap it up for this gigantic photo report. Be sure to check back later today as I’ll be uploading bigger versions of these pictures, plus many more to our lovely Image Galleries.