DLNT Reporter Tim Alcoser was at the Disneyland Resort last night and captured some great photos of Buena Vista Street.
Trolley wire is set up down Buena Vista Street and Hollywoodland.
Fountain up and running on Buena Vista Street!
Beauty shots of Cars Land at night.
Enjoying some World of Color
Not the least bit crowded.
Thanks for reading!
From Jennifer Fickley-Baker at the Disney Parks Blog:
Earlier today, models of New Fantasyland, Cars Land and Buena Vista Street were shared with the media here atWalt Disney World Resort. Photographer Kent Phillips stopped by and snapped these fun shots of the models up close. Enjoy!
For the images of the WDW Fantasyland expansion, please visit the Disney Parks Blog.
Let’s have a grand welcome to Larry Delceg! Our newest member of the DLNT crew! He’s going to be helping get us all our photo reports.
This photo report covers DCA, Downtown Disney, and Disneyland. Larry provides images of parades in both parks, updates on the progress in DCA, and colorful shots from our favorite rides and attractions.
The Animation Academy is now displaying a schedule for drawing classes. If a park guest would like to learn how to create a specific Disney character, the time for each lesson is now conveniently displayed on an ‘A Frame’ at the entry.
The Red Car Trolley system will debut on June 15th and the overhead catenary has now been installed above the length of the tracks. High voltage electricity will travel through this catenary to be collected by a pantograph mounted on the roof of each Red Car, providing electricity to the traction motor. This technology not only powered the Trolley system of Los Angeles a century ago, but is also used today to power 200+ mph high speed bullet trains such as France’s TGV.
Overhead catenary in Hollywood Land
Merely a skeleton a year ago, the exterior of the Cathey Circle Theatre is now completed and visible for park guests to admire.
This professional painter was seen skillfully spraying a building on Buena Vista street above the DCA entrance turnstiles. This photo was taken moments before ‘the said photographer’ was ‘busted’ by a cast member and instructed that photos of visible construction workers were not permitted. The next day, the painting of the building and the trim was competed.
With a prolific daily schedule in Condor Flats, ‘Minnie’s Fly Girls’ are already performing a new routine.
The new Downtown Disney Lego Store is now on display for park guests and Anaheim residents to enjoy. An enormous model of a dragon most likely named ‘Murphy’ adorns the exterior – a new ‘must see’ stop for any Disneyland visitor.
Replicas of Buzz and Woody are among the impressive models displayed on the exterior of the new Lego store.
Although beautiful on the inside, the southern exterior wall of the Hyperion Theatre has always been thematically lacking. Currently being remedied, a new wall is under construction which will create an indoor lobby for the stairway and escalators. There is little doubt that the new wall will be themed with exceptional artistry and craftsmanship comparable to other new DCA renovations.
Since the opening of DCA, the front entry of Taste Pilots Grill has proudly displayed a replica of the rocket-jet ‘ X-1’ built by Bell Aircraft. Chuck Yeager made history when he piloted this experimental aircraft “Glamorous Glennis” and broke the sound barrier in 1947. In recognition of this accomplishment, Condor Flats was built to represent the proving ground at Edwards Air force Base and California’s significant contributions to aviation. The replica of the X-1 has recently been removed to be consistent with DCA’s new theme – an era before the sound barrier was broken. It will be interesting to see if a 1930’s vintage aircraft will be installed to replace it.
Fans of ‘Turtle Time with Crush’ know that the only seating in the pre-show vestibule has been the floor. Recently several ‘totally awesome’ couches have been added. These new couches are similar in design to the new couches located in the Animation Academy’s central foyer. Although still inadequate in quantity, this addition is clearly appreciated by Crush’s visitors. Dude!
Appearing periodically in front of the Hyperion Theatre, Monsters Inc. Mayhem is a live performance street show which provides the opportunity for DCA guests to meet their favorite monsters as well as provide electricity for Monstropolis.
An especially abundant quantity of wildlife can be found in Disneyland this spring.
May flowers are now in full bloom.
Soundsational pre-parade
One of the best Disneyland parades ever, Soundsational is scheduled to continue throughout this spring and summer.
Phenomenal attention to detail can be seen in the craftsmanship of the costumes created for Soundsational.
Hertz for Toddlers
Snowy Oasis in May
Silly Symphony of Swings is one vantage point to catch a quick overview of the current state of construction underway at DCA. However, it is easy to be distracted by the fact that “I can fly!”
Future in the Forest
Lift off!
California Scream’in is the only attraction in DCA which provides a view of construction underway… while inverted.
SR-91 at rush hour…
The ‘Finding Nemo’ submarine ‘Explorer’ was seen penetrating the back side of water and descending into the lagoon below. All passengers survived.
‘Wildest Ride in the Wilderness’ near dusk
Egress of the Mark Twain during ‘Fantasmic’, moments before traveling off stage – into the darkness of the west side of the Rivers of America.
A peaceful and quiet view from the ‘Mickey & Friends’ parking structure – as cast members prepare the parks for another day.
Thanks for reading!
“If Main Street, U.S.A., is the romanticized version of Walt Disney’s hometown, Buena Vista Street is the next chapter of Walt’s life when he came to California,” says Ray Spencer of Walt Disney Imagineering. “It’s an extension of where we started at Disneyland park . . . and now our guests can step across the plaza and get the rest of the story.”
A big part of that story was the premier of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” in 1937 at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles, and that landmark building is the inspiration for the spectacular Carthay Circle Theatre that anchors Buena Vista Street. This new landmark for Disney California Adventure park becomes one of the premier dining locations at Disneyland Resort, the Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge.
Celebrating “opening night at the movies” during the Golden Age of Hollywood, Carthay Circle Theatre is a spectacular new landmark at Disney California Adventure park. The historic design will draw guests inside to discover Carthay Circle Restaurant upstairs, with a menu created by award-winning Executive Chef Andrew Sutton, and a lounge downstairs, with each telling the story of Disney movie-making through the years.
“Carthay Circle Theatre is the perfect building to visually anchor Buena Vista Street,” says Ray Spencer, the creative director for Buena Vista Street for Walt Disney Imagineering. ”Stately, identifiable and quite spectacular.”
Couple the design with a seasonal menu that celebrates California’s diverse cuisine, toss in the flair of Disney theming, and it’s a winning combination for a casual and fun dining experience at the end of Buena Vista Street.
“The iconic central tower is the heart and soul of Carthay Circle Theatre,” Spencer says. “There’s a lot of ornate, custom woodwork – probably more details than the original theater. It’s full of textures and materials, custom tiles and plaster; very elegant, warm and rich.”
The building is modeled on the original Spanish Revival architecture of the 1920s, but not an exact duplicate. In the first-floor foyer, the décor tells the story of the relationship of Carthay Circle Theatre to the Walt Disney Company, with photos and artifacts from the 1937 premier of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” Disney’s first feature-length animated film.
The first-floor lounge features an artifact case with treasures from the Disney Archives that periodically will be changed. “You’ll see pieces you’d never have the opportunity to see, except at the archives,” Spencer said. “And we won’t stop the clock in 1937, but will pay tribute to the studios and its achievements through the decades.”
The interior of the 68-seat bar and wine lounge is reminiscent of the grand palace movie days.
The upstairs dining room and terrace feature elegant, custom woodwork and millwork in rich tones, artwork and a beautiful center atrium skylight. Photos show Walt Disney and wife Lillian in formal attire at movie premieres and celebrations of accomplishments by The Walt Disney Company. It creates the feeling of a premiere after-party and “It’s as though you’re invited to the party,” Spencer said. The 200-seat dining room is divided into small rooms for a more intimate experience, including a terrace with seating for 56.
While the interior evokes the grand elegance of a classic movie premiere, the ambiance of the restaurant and lounge is warm and family friendly. “We’ve created a sanctuary to escape from the bustle of the park,” says Andrew Sutton, the executive chef. The design and theme are social and informal – a place where guests enjoy beautifully prepared seasonal cuisine. Servers jauntily attired in slacks and bolero-style jackets interact with guests in a friendly manner, guiding them through the inventive menus in the restaurant and lounge.
“Upon arrival, guests are greeted downstairs and escorted up the graceful staircase or by elevator to the restaurant,” says Joy Cushing, restaurant manager. The Carthay Circle Restaurant features tabletops with handsome artwork, dinnerware with the restaurant’s logo and Italian linen napkins – an upscale-casual ambiance.
Downstairs, the Carthay Circle Lounge is the place for a quick meal, shared plates and a glass of wine, craft beer or handcrafted seltzer soda.
In each place, historic photographs and artifacts create a sense of place and tell the story of the Walt Disney Studios. Disney continues its tradition of legendary service in this comfortable, relaxing atmosphere.
While Walt Disney’s animation was a hit at the original Carthay Circle Theatre in the 1900s, the cuisine is the star of this modern-day rendition of the famed movie house. Acclaimed chef Andrew Sutton, executive chef at Napa Rose restaurant at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, also is executive chef of Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge. Gloria Tae, Sutton’s protégé at Napa Rose, is chef de cuisine.
Sutton describes the menu as “Southern California cuisine – breezy, light and fresh.” The menu offers five varieties of sustainable fish, both wild and farmed, in dishes such as sushi-grade yellowtail grilled with jerk spice, topped with a tropical salsa of pineapple, mango, black beans and lime, and Sierra Golden trout roasted with couscous, lemon and oil. The lunch menu includes an udon noodle bowl with red Thai curry broth, and an Angus burger with Tillamook cheddar cheese.
Vegetables are hand selected by staff who visit the Santa Monica market and local farms seeking the best of the best local produce. With a nod to the heyday of the Carthay Circle Theatre, old-fashioned dishes such as “liver and onions” get a modern twist, with crispy fried chicken livers served with a salad with buttermilk dressing, bacon and onions.
Desserts, too, honor the seasons, with summer desserts including “Peaches In All Their Glory” and seasonal county pie with whipped brown sugar sour cream.
“Its modern cuisine that pays tribute to the bold and diverse flavors of Southern California,” says Sutton. “We live in the ‘salad basket of America,’ with farmers, artisans and ranchers.”
A friendly wine program includes both Old and New World wines, with a focus on California vintages. All of the servers have wine training.
Kids can choose from fun creations such as sloppy joes with house-made slaw, pasta and mini crispy tacos, or a beef filet or fish for dinner.
Each guest who orders an appetizer and entrée or an entrée and dessert will receive complimentary, center-stage viewing for the “World of Color” nighttime, water spectacular on Paradise Pier Bay. Lunch guests and guests who have dinner before 7 p.m. will receive tickets to the first “World of Color” show; guess who dine after 7 p.m. will receive tickets to the second show.
The Lounge menu is divided into Bites, Rolls, Snacks, Small Plates and Finger Desserts, served in a place to “relax, share and have fun,” Sutton says. Tastes range from hot shrimp with a chilled spicy tomato shooter to duck confit sliders with apricot conserve, watercress, crisp onions and Taleggio cheese.
Appetizers are paired with hand-crafted classic cocktails, California craft beers and world-class wines. Handcrafted purified seltzer sodas dispensed from antique seltzer bottles and meddled with seasonal fresh fruit are a specialty.
The Carthay Circle Restaurant will be open daily from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. For reservations: 714-781-DINE or email dine@disneyland.com with date, time and contact information. “World of Color” packages are available to each guest who orders an appetizer and entrée or an entrée and dessert. They will receive complimentary, center-stage viewing for the nighttime, water spectacular.
Buena Vista Street also offers three spots for quick bites: Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe; Mortimer’s Market andClarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream.
The 178-seat Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe (134 inside, 44 outside) offers Starbucks coffee drinks; signature sandwiches such as a turkey Rueben, paneer and roasted vegetable and salami with olive tapenade, and roast beef and cheddar, as well as savory soups including vegetarian cream spinach, chicken tortilla, classic chicken noodle and cheesy enchilada. Sweet rolls, pastries and breakfast sandwiches are on the morning menu along with specialty coffees.
Mortimer’s Market will offer whole and cut fruits, bottled water, juices and soft drinks. (According to Disney legend, Mortimer Mouse is the name Walt Disney gave his new creation in 1928. He later changed it to Mickey.)
Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream features Dreyer’s ice cream, including bars dipped in milk or dark chocolate that guests can finish with sprinkles, pop rocks and other fun toppings. Hot fudge and strawberry sundaes and other frozen delights round out the sweet offerings.
Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for continuing coverage of Buena Vista Street leading up to it’s Hollywood premiere during the media festivities taking place June 13-15, 2012.
It’s a few days late, but we figured we would still show you some photos from DLNT Reporter Max Guggenheim that he took on his last trip to the Disneyland Resort:
The Carthay Circle Theater is coming along nicely
An over the walls shot into Buena Vista Street, and we didn’t even stand on a garbage can!
Pavement going in in front of the Carthay Circle Theater
Time lapse camera installed
This construction shot is brought to you by California Sanitation
Mandatory Jolly Holiday Bakery pics
Display case inside
The weathervane of controversy…
Photo Report from Hayley’s recent trip to the Disneyland Resort
Its a beautiful day
Upper scaffolding is gone. Matterhorn is looking pretty.
Love the new Cars themed Monorail Vinylmation
Such cute little Disney Ducks
Looking forward to Carnation Cafe reopening this summer
LaBrea’s refurb
 Clever new Donald T-shirt
Cinderella, Gus, & Jaq in Small World
Alice & the White Rabbit displayed on the chess table in the UK
The Three Amigos over in Mexico!
Ariel fits in so nicely, you hardly noticed the change
Nice to know they work so hard to keep the parks looking new & clean
Thanks for reading!
Cold, Rainy day at the resort today (April, Friday the 13th, 2012), which always makes for the best days in terms of crowds. We start in Downtown Disney. It’s pretty obvious what is being covered up at the lego store. Maybe it will be a Murphy V. Mickey if we are lucky. New Lightening McQueen/Tow Mater RC Cars for sale in Downtown Disney. A sunglass icon store is in the works just steps away from World of Disney. The aircraft crashing out of Taste Pilot’s Grill is now missing. Rumour has it, it was removed to improve the upcoming experience of Buena Vista Street and Cathay Circle. Additonal improvements to the trolley wire. Alright, work is over, on to the fun stuff. Another California Screamin’ (literally) picture before I surf over to a rainy Disneyland. Matterhorn update pics, work being done on Fantasmic, “THE KING” playing rock n’ roll at Tomorrowland Terrace and some pictures of the quaint and quiet Toon Town. When was the last time you were at Toon Town?
Enjoy!
Mickey vs. Murphy? Just a guess/hope.
Main Street in the afternoon on a Friday! Can’t beat rainy days.
Beautiful Matterhorn
This would be a challenging climb
Fantasmic Maintenance
Ladies and gentleman, Elvis has left the building…because he knows Disneyland is where it’s at!
When was the last time you visited the quaint town of toon?
Jolly Trolley
View of Mickey & Minnie’s houses.
Shot taken from Donald’s boat, Daisy.
Donald’s Level at 0100 hours.
Thanks for reading!
From Kathy Mangum of the Disney Parks Blog:
I’ve already told you about the neon signs and merchandise location signs we’ve installed at Cars Land, but I’m back today to show you the marquees that have been installed at each of our three attractions. What I love about these marquees is that they are so varied from each other while perfectly capturing the essence of the attraction they represent. From Luigi’s exuberant hand-painted window sign for Luigi’s Flying Tires, to Mater’s unique take on how he’s adapted his home to host Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, to the archway that guests will pass under to enter Radiator Springs Racers, our Walt Disney Imagineering graphics team has outdone itself!
With a nod to landmark diners along America’s historic Route 66, guests will feel as if they have stepped into the town of Radiator Springs at Cars Land, with a contemporary spin on classic tastes from the 1950s. “We started working nearly four years ago on the concepts,” says Disneyland Chef Chris Maggetti. “For Cars Land, we’ve developed fast-casual restaurants with lots of fun tastes, from dill pickle popcorn to chili and cheese – we call it chili cone queso – in an edible bread cone.”
Cars Land has three spots for guest to fuel up: Flo’s V8 Cafe, Cozy Cone Motel and Fillmore’s Taste-In. Each location has a story, of course.
Flo’s V8 Cafe
Flo’s V8 Cafe will be a indoor/outdoor counter service location offering unique breakfast, lunch, and dinner with seating for up to 300 guests. Inspired by vintage roadside restaurants along historic Route 66, specialties include rotisserie pork loin, citrus turkey and New York strip loin. Signature “veggie-tater bake” is Chef Sean Layne’s vegetarian version of classic shepherd’s pie. For dessert, house-made, single-serving pies are offered including apple-cheddar, strawberry-rhubarb (pictured below), chocolate mud, blueberry-peach and cherry, created by Disneyland Pastry Chef Jean-Marc Viallet. If you’re looking for an alcoholic beverage, beers served are Racer 5 IPA and Red Rocket Ale from Bear Republic Brewing Co. in Healdsburg, Calif. There’s even California wines by the glass, including Fess Parker Riesling, Silverado Chardonnay, Chappellet Mountain Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon and Eppa Superfruit Red Sangria.
Boasting “the finest fuel in the 50 states,” Flo’s caters to the growing number of Route 66 visitors and race fans coming to Radiator Springs since Lightning McQueen made it his home. Flo’s even has a “showroom” dining area that overlooks the Radiator Springs Racers attraction. Personal memorabilia collected by Flo during her glamorous career as a singer with the Motorama Girls will adorn many of the restaurant’s walls. Flo’s “Motorama Girls” backstory was cut from the original Cars for time, but will play a major role in her story at Cars Land.
The Cozy Cone Motel
The Cozy Cone will also serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but outdoors where it offers 56 seats. A lot of the food offered is easy to carry, so don’t worry about finding a seat. Originally inspired by vintage “wigwam” hotels along Route 66, each of the five teepees offers cone-themed treats rather than lodging in Cars Land:
As the story goes, the Cozy Cone Motel becomes home to Sally’s Snack Cone-anza when all the fans flock to Radiator Springs for the big races.
Fillmore’s Taste-In
This is dimply a fruit and beverage kiosk with fresh whole and cut fruits, bottled water and juices, and soft drinks. Radiator Springs’ resident hippie, Fillmore, offers a variety of healthy snacks to visitors at this tie-dyed geodesic dome.
For full coverage of all of these delicious Cars Land pit stops, stat tuned to Disneyland News Today as we provide continuing coverage of the re-opening of Disney California Adventure, as well as the special media event June 13-15, 2012.
If you have any appreciation for Walt Disney and his success story, you’re most likely going to fall in love with Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure. Not only does it evoke nostalgia for the long gone Los Angeles, but it brings to life the story of Walt Disney and the people who affected his life and company. Let’s take a walk around this charming new entrance to California Adventure:
Looking Towards Elias and Company
We already covered the Carthay Circle in a previous post, but it is still beautiful…
The front of Fiddler, Fifer, & Practical, Clarabelle’s and Trolley Treats
Buena Vista Street is charming during the day, but just like Main Street, it takes on a whole new persona at night
Fiddler, Fifer, and Practical Cafe Seating Area
The backstory says the restaurant is owned by three singing sisters who performed all over the country
Clarabelle’s
Trolley Treats
Rock Candy Mountain is in the window display
Love the little trolleys running through it
Train models is the window next door. Fun fact, the store in this space previously (Engines, Ears, Toys) originally sold model trains.
Rock Candy Mountain from the outside
LIGHT UP SIDEWALKS!
These were to allow light into basements
The old Candy sign from Greetings From California has moved across the street
Candy kitchen
The next store is Atwater Art Supply
And sells mostly cooking accessories, more-so just mugs…
A lot of detail in the shelving
This is a neat bulletin board behind the check in counter
Firehouse Five is the Firemen on Main Street, at this time they were the Firehouse Four…
The Three Caballeros are referenced here
WDP, Walt Disney Productions
4651 Kingswell was Walt and Roy’s original studio
S. White…
Roger Rabbit?
4409 Kingswell is where Walt and Roy stayed in Los Feliz when they first went to Hollywood. They lived with their uncle Robert Disney. That’s why it says to “See Robert.”
Lots of fun references in this one. First Flower Street is home of Imagineering. Also the Hyperion Theater at the very bottom.
The next store is Julius Katz and Sons and sells various collectibles including these great new big figures
This store is themed to an electricians shop. A bunch of fun appliances are up on the shelf.
They had a little fun with the tags
“Sew What?”
Julius Katz and Sons
Haha….
A little blurry, but an Epcot reference? Really?
The photo shop is very nice
Even the lockers facade is incredible….
Morimer’s Market is a fruit stand on the corner
Love the old style coolers
On to the other side of the street now, This is Los Feliz Five & Dime
Buena Vista Steet has it’s own Baseball Team, The Buena Vista Stars
Red car Trolley making a stop
Another window in Los Feliz has a few storybooks that inspired Disney films
Grizzly Peak appears behind Davy Crockett
The top of the shelves in Los Feliz have merchandise that actually would have been sold in the store at the time
The store sells hats and generic DCA merchandise
The next store is Big Top Toys and is a toy shop. The music loop in this room is actually from Storybook Circus which just opened over at The Magic Kingdom.
Yes the stores stay closed as part of a green initiative
This is the first section of Elias & Company, the children’s department
Cow jumping over the moon
Here is the main entrance
Chandeliers imported from Italy
This appears to be the men’s department
The Rocketeer!
And the last area of Elias and Company sells jewelry and other accessories
This is the old Candy Shop from Greetings From California, but it has been painted and refurnished nicely
The Storytellers statue
There is a small park outside of Elias and Company
Los Feliz window
Eddie Valiant, Roger Rabbit reference
Officer Percival PEabody from Hollywood Studios?
Oswald’s sells hats, sunscreen, and other things of that sort.
The new Guest Relations building
If those photos weren’t enough, you can take an in-depth video tour of Buena Vista Street at night:
Buena Vista Street has a lot of heart and is certainly going to be endearing to any Disney fan. There is a sense of real community up and down the street, much like Main Street U.S.A. and I think guests will connect to Buena Vista Street just as they have to Disneyland’s entrance for over 57 years now. This is a fantastic change for the park and a wonderful area to just meander around for a few hours. It may have all started with a mouse, but for California Adventure, it all starts with a man, a suitcase, and a dream.
