Also at the Disneyland Resort yesterday was Shawn Hutchinson, and he delivered a wealth of photos for us:
Shawn started off with a walk around the Disneyland Hotel.
A relatively new sign I believe.
The lovely Sorcerer’s Hat, which works much better than it’s big brother in Orlando.
Croc’s Bits ‘n Bites is still closed for refurbishment.
The California Food and Wine Festival has begun and the Games of the Boardwalk are now open, so I think it’s time for one of my photo reports from the Disneyland Resort:
I have never seen the entrance to Mickey and Friends this busy!
This entrance to Mickey and Friends was busy also
Food and Wine banners in Downtown Disney
Earth banners at the AMC Theatre
It’s now time for my latest photo report from the Disneyland Resort:
Some of the pieces have started being put back up on the Astro Orbitor
This shade of purple, as well as a dark gold and dark blue will be the new color scheme for the Astro Orbitor
Read More about DLR Photo Report – 5/17/09 :: Featuring Video of Mickey’s Fun Wheel
As Summer Nightastic! lights up the night this summer at Disneyland Resort, more exciting Disney attractions and experiences are on the horizon.
GET A DISNEY STUDIO STAR MAKEOVER AT STUDIO DISNEY 365
Opening Friday, June 26, in Downtown Disney, Studio Disney 365 offers aspiring stars, age 3 and up, makeover transformations and an opportunity to walk the carpet for a grand, show-business-style entrance. Girls and boys can choose from a range of “rock star” hair, makeup and costume options for their own scene-stealing experience, inspired by the characters from “Hannah Montana.”
HOT AND COLD RUNNING CHILLS
The summer-long celebration of a Disneyland landmark, Haunted Mansion, begins in June with the roll-out of new Haunted Mansion-themed additions to the popular Disney pin-trading program. On Sunday, Aug. 9, the 40th anniversary of the Haunted Mansion opening, the popular artist Shag will be in the Disneyana shop on Main Street, U.S.A. signing his new Haunted Mansion artwork. www.artofdisney.com
DISNEY UP CLOSE AND BEHIND THE SCENES AT D23 EXPO
D23, the official community for Disney fans, will present its first-ever D23 Expo Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 10-13, at the Anaheim Convention Center near Disneyland Resort. D23 Expo will offer fans unprecedented access to never-before-seen movies, TV shows, theme park experiences, collectibles and more. Early glimpses of upcoming new Disney movies, a look ahead to new vacation destinations and theme park attractions (including the expansion of Disney’s California Adventure) and an extraordinary exhibition of classic and contemporary Disney artifacts will be among the highlights of D23 Expo. In addition, D23 Expo will be the home for the 2009 Disney Legend Awards, a 22-year tradition that pays tribute to the talented men and women who have made indelible contributions to Disney entertainment. For more information, visit www.D23EXPO.com.
DISNEY VACATION CLUB COMES WEST
Disney Vacation Club’s first accommodations on the West Coast will welcome its first occupants on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. The 50 two-bedroom-equivalent vacation villas are part of a Grand Californian expansion that also includes 200 new hotel rooms, a new swimming pool and underground parking. Bookings begin in June for the first Disney Vacation Club on the West Coast.
THE RETURN OF DISNEY GALLERY AND MR. LINCOLN
Long a favorite of Disney fans and collectors of Disney art, the Disney Gallery will reopen this fall in a new home next to the Main Street Opera House at Disneyland in the space originally occupied by the Bank of Main Street. Later in the year, the Opera House next door will reopen with the inspiring and newly refurbished The Disneyland Story featuring Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln. Opening dates will be determined later this year.
HOLIDAY FAVORITES
Of course, Disneyland Resort will also celebrate the fall and winter holidays this year. Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort returns beginning Friday, Sept. 25, with Haunted Mansion Holiday, Candy Corn Acres, Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Party and some new, scary surprises. Beginning in late November, Holidays at Disneyland Resort will bring back “A Christmas Fantasy” parade,” it’s a small world Holiday” and all the special holiday décor that transforms Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure parks into a holiday wonderland.
I, along with Tom Corless, Kenny Siegel, Scott Smith, and Matt Paul spent plenty of time at Disneyland during the D23 Expo, and we got some pictures of new happenings around the Resort. Here is our shared photo report:
During the D23 Expo, Disney set up a special tram service running from across the street from the Anaheim Convention Center, to the old Lion King Tram loading area near Harbor Blvd.
Read More about DLR Photo Report From The WDWNT Crew (9/9-9/14/09)
I visited the Disneyland Resort yesterday to check out all of the new Halloween offerings, as well as the newly re-opened Disney Gallery. Here is my photo report:
The Fab 5 pumpkins are once again on the turnstiles this year
After coming back from the Disneyland Resort on Friday, Myrna Litt returned Saturday morning to spend the weekend there so she could participate in the CHOC Walk in the Park today. Here’s her photo report from the CHOC Walk, as well as other happenings around the Disneyland Resort:
An old-fashioned Disney Vacation Club car stationed outside the entrance to the Grand Californian Hotel
Read More about Myrna Litt’s 10/17-10/18/09 Disneyland Resort and CHOC Walk Photo Report
From the Disney Parks Blog:
Big news…Today we’re sharing details and concept art that will give the Disneyland Hotel a fun, fresh makeover. The pool area is getting a whole new look, including a brand-new pool, all-new immersive water play area and a complete redesign of the Never Land Pool. Plans also call for a new restaurant and bar, and re-theming of the hotel’s three guest room towers.
The biggest transformation (and what I’m most looking forward to) are the changes coming to the pool area. With a nod to the iconic original park signage, “Disneyland” will be spelled out in familiar blocks atop a platform supporting two huge water slides (the larger slide will be 26 feet high and will stretch 187 feet before it plunges into a splash pool below). Reminiscent of the original Monorail station at the Disneyland Hotel, at each slide’s entrance will sit a replica Monorail Car that guests will glide through as they twist and turn their way to the pool below. The pool will also feature a third, two-lane mini slide, perfect for little ones, which is just 3 1/2 feet high and is 19 feet long.
The Never Land Pool will receive a complete cosmetic makeover but will retain its unique shape. A new, four-foot deep pool will be built between the Never Land Pool and the water play area. A footbridge will stretch over this new pool, connecting both sides of the courtyard area and giving easy access across the property. Six new cabanas will also be added. To help you visualize all these exciting, new changes, here’s a rendering from an aerial view.
And that’s not all! Two new dining locations will be introduced in the current location of Hook’s Pointe, Croc’s Bites and Bits, the Wine Cellar and the Lost Bar. A new “smart casual” dining concept will feature Tahitian architecture that is reminiscent of the ’50s and ’60s era of the hotel and the original Tahitian Terrace restaurant in Disneyland park. A new bar will draw on the adventure theme from the Jungle Cruise attraction.
The new water play area, pool and dining locations are scheduled to be completed by summer 2011, and the remodeled Never Land Pool is slated to be completed by summer 2012.
The hotel’s three guest room towers will be renamed to reflect Disneyland park’s distinctive lands. The Dreams Tower, currently under renovation and scheduled to be completed in 2010, will become the Adventure Tower. The Wonder Tower, next to undergo transformation and slated for completion in 2011, will be the Frontier Tower, and the Magic Tower, which will be finished in 2012, will become the Fantasy Tower. A large marquee featuring classic artwork for Adventureland, Frontierland and Fantasyland will identify each tower.
As if Star Tours wasn’t enough news for one weekend out team is attending Destination D as well. One of the biggest annoucments today of course is the return of the Enchanted Tiki Room, which will feature a new show according to the Disney Parks Blog which is “reminiscent of the original show”. Here is a quick photo report from the team at Destination D thus far. Sorry for the quality but we wanted to get them to you as soon as we could. Stay tuned for a full report from Tom and the team when they return next week from all the events.
New Logo…Very Retro
-A recap of some Star Tours concept art and pre-show was covered with Imagineer Jason Surell. Surell commented that he didn’t want the Hoth battle in Star Tours since it didn’t fit the story but Lucas’s reaction was “who cares”.
The presentation continued with the Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Read More about Return to the Enchanted Tiki Room and More From D23’s Destination D
