Amazing New DCA Concept Art

WDWNT on October 14, 2008

Posters with some lovely concept art have sprung up on the back side of the Blue Sky Cellar building, & there are some lovely pictures up on the DCA Project Tracker on MiceChat. There are 3 posters, one for Buena Vista Street, one for Paradise Pier, & one for Cars Land. At least one piece of new concept art is revealed on each poster, like an overall map of Cars Land, an amazing overview map of the park as of 2012 (much like the original map for Disneyland), & much more. There are also descriptions of the lands on the posters. And what may be the new logo for the park is revealed on the overall map, which actually uses Walt Disney’s real handwriting.

Be sure to check it out, you won’t be dissapointed!

New DCA Concept Art

WDWNT on October 11, 2008

Here are 2 new pieces of DCA related concept art, plus the logo for the Blue Sky Cellar, released by Disney:

Blue Sky Cellar logo.

Concept art for the inside of the Blue Sky Cellar.

New concept art for the Silly Symphony Swings, the re-theme of the Orange Stinger.

MiceAge Disneyland Update

WDWNT on October 8, 2008

A treat I look forward to every other month is a Disneyland Update from MiceAge‘s Al Lutz. Al knows his stuff very well, & the articles always feature interesting information that usually comes to pass. Let’s take a look through some of the things spoken about in today’s update:

  • DCA’s upcoming re-do has been split in to 4 phases of sorts. Here’s how the phases pan out:

    World of Color, Paradise Pier     makeover, completed spring 2010
    Main Entrance     makeover, Red Car trolley, initial Hollywood work, completed mid 2011
    Little Mermaid     pavilion and E-Ticket attraction, completed late 2011
    Cars Land     attractions, shops, restaurants, completed mid 2012

    Al says that the current financial crisis in this country shouldn’t have any affect on DCA’s re-do. The first phase will actually start in just 2 weeks, with the closing of the Sun Wheel. Around Thanksgiving, the Paradise Pier lagoon will be drained in preparation for the World of Color nighttime show.

  • Plans just keep expanding for The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Adventure. This attraction is going to be so extravagant, that Ariel’s hair will actually be a seperate animatronic from Ariel herself, due to her hair flowing, as we are supposed to be “Under the Sea”. The various Ariel animatronics in the attraction are said to be some of the most sosphicated ever produced by WDI.
  • While it’s too much to explain in a short recap, Al does have a complete listing of what you will be able to find in the Blue Sky Cellar once it officially opens on October 20th. Check the second page of the linked article for that.
  • Get ready for the controversy to start. The Disney characters & the American scene (this scene replaces the old Rainforest scene before the Grand Finale scene)have both been installed in It’s a Small World. But don’t expect to see them when the attraction re-opens as It’s a Small World Holiday on November 21st. For they will both be hidden from view until the original version of the attraction debuts sometime in February (yes, there will be a 1 month long refurbishment in January, beginning January 5th).
  • Sometime this winter, all 3 Mark VII Monorails will go under the knife to fix the horrible problems that they are currently faced with. The windows will be completely ripped out, & replaced with windows like those seen on the Mark V’s.
  • An idea being thrown around for next year’s What Will You Celebrate? campaign is to “plus” a couple of attractions in the Resort, with some Celebration themed things. One such idea is for some new elements added to the Many Adventure of Winnie the Pooh attraction, with similar decor around Critter Country.

There’s plenty more to be found in this article, including Disney possibly buying both the Anaheim GardenWalk & SeaWorld San Diego (of all places). Be sure to check it out.

The Lounge at the Golden Vine Winery

WDWNT on October 7, 2008

In a unexpected turn of events, a new dining concept, The Lounge at the Golden Vine Winery, recently opened replacing the Vineyard Room. This new lounge serves only a selection of wine & apetizers to guests. It opens daily at noon.

We will have more information, including pictures & The Lounge’s menu soon, so stay tuned…

Preview the Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar Before It Opens to the Public

WDWNT on October 4, 2008

Get a glimpse into the future of Disney’s California Adventure® Park through the eyes of Walt Disney Imagineers. Take advantage of a special Passholder privilege by visiting the Blue Sky Cellar on October 16, 17, 18 and 19, 2008 before it opens to the public.*

Marvel at the creative process used to develop current ideas into future attractions. Imagineers have revealed an abundance of materials in the Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar where innovative concepts are cultivated:

  • Sketches, concept art, models and maquettes
  • Note cards describing plans for new attractions, shops, shows and restaurants
  • A video journal featuring the Imagineer’s creative progress displayed on a spectacular 103-inch plasma television.

Also, answer a variety of trivia questions on one of four interactive video screens to learn more about Walt Disney’s adventures in California and how they inspired shows and attractions at Disney’s California Adventure® Park.

Additional Information

  • Wheelchair Access: Enter through the standard queue.
  • Preview times are Oct. 16 – Oct 19 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.

* Previews are on a first-come, first-serve basis and may involve long wait times. Each Guest must show a valid Annual Passport to be permitted entry during these specific preview times. Blockout days apply.

Sun Wheel Refurbishment Pushed Back Once Again

WDWNT on September 13, 2008

It’s appears that the Sun Wheel did not in fact close down on September 11th. We had announced that the refurbishment was pushed back to start on September 29th, 2008, however the start & end date this time have both been pushed back. The refurbishment will now start on October 13rd, & last all the way through May 13th, 2009.

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today as things start happening over at the Sun Wheel, or should I say Mickey’s Fun Wheel…

Myrna Litt’s 9/11 Photo Report

WDWNT on September 12, 2008

Myrna Litt is back with another excellent, yet small photo report. Here are a few updates from the Resort on September 11th:

The Town Square flag was held at half mast to honor the tragic events of September 11th, 2001.

A look at some of the Halloween merchandise & displays inside Frontier Mercantile.

The Golden Dreams banners have been removed from the Palace of Fine Arts.

Walls up for some reason at Carnation Plaza Gardens.

The smallest construction wall I’ve ever seen outside River Belle Terrace.

Myrna however did pass on some interesting information to me that she received from various Cast Members around the Resort. Here’s what she had to say:

They are currently testing the new boats at It’s a Small World. The Pirates of the Caribbean are not testing the new boats with the public. They may start using them in November and they are lighter boats. The concrete is being replaced in front of the Haunted Mansion (I tried to take a picture but was stopped). Also they are testing a new guest interactive exit at the Haunted Mansion. The ghosts will mimic what the guest does and react to them. We were told there will be a lot of new surprises.

Thanks again Myrna!

Goodbye Golden Dreams! Good Riddance HSM2!

WDWNT on September 9, 2008

Let’s take a look at some of the lovely photos of David “Darkbeer” Michael from yesterday, that include the last showing of both Golden Dreams & High School Musical 2: School’s Out, among other things:

The Hyperion Theater is now listed as closed on the DLR Information Board near at the security check-points (albeit being spelled wrong).

The Information Board at the Downtown Disney Monorail Station has a much more precise listing of the closed attractions in Disneyland Park.

You gotta love pins with purchase.

The area surrounding Fowler’s Harbor, the place where the Sailing Ship Columbia is docked, has walls up.

The latest Backstage Pass, Annual Pasholder newsletter offers you a free pair of sunglasses, which you can pick up at at the exit of Innoventions.

Filming of some sort going on in Paradise Pier.

Yesterday had the last ever performance of High School Musical 2: School’s Out!. There will be no High School Musical show until late October, when High School Musical 3: Right Here! Right Now! debuts.

Goodbye Golden Dreams, We Will Miss You!

Bye Bye HSM 2, Hello HSM 3

WDWNT on September 7, 2008

According to the OC Register:

On Tuesday, Sept. 9, Disneyland will hold auditions for performers to be in a new street show titled High School Musical 3: Right Here! Right Now!. The show is based on the upcoming movie “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”, which is set to release in theaters on October 24.

Disney says they are seeking energetic male and female parade performers with strong dancing skills for a brand new street show inspired by Walt Disney Pictures High School Musical 3: Senior Year. Auditions are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Team Disney Anaheim.

The current High School Musical show titled “High School Musical 2: School’s Out!” has no scheduled performances after Sunday, September 7.

DCA Preview Center Opening Pushed Back

WDWNT on September 7, 2008

According to MiceAge, the opening of the DCA Preview Center has been pushed back 1 month. There are a couple of factors as to why the date was pushed back. Firstly, Jay Rasulo should be announcing Magical Celebrations, the follow-up promotion to the Year of a Million Dreams on September 18th in New York. Secondly, the Miley Cyrus Sweet 16 event that is happening on October 5th. Basically, Disney don’t want the “DCA message” to be lost in-between these 2 events.

So if everything goes according to plan, Cast Member & Annual Passholder previews should be held around the second week of October, with a grand opening planned to happen on October 20th. The good news in this however, is that the exhibits, as well as the 7 minute video that will play on the screen that used to play the Seasons of the Vine movie are both ready. Marketing however isn’t…