Dateline Disneyland Picture Update

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Let’s take a look at some various things going on through-out the Disneyland Resort from this week’s Dateline Disneyland on MiceAge:


The Harbor Blvd. entrance to the resort is closed due to electrical work for the DCA & Grand Californian expansions


The Pixar Play Parade sign at the Mickey & Friends Tram Station is getting some work done


A copy of the Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters mural has been added to the Segway Experience in Innoventions. Talk about originality!


Here’s a better look at the new Build Your Own Lightsaber stand inside Star Traders


The exit waterfall at the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is getting some extensive work done


The hot dog/turkey leg stand opposite Toy Story Midway Mania is to be known as Don Tomas

DisneyGeek DLR Update

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Let’s take a look at some various things going on through-out the Disneyland Resort from the latest Disneyland Resort Update on DisneyGeek:

A new banner up at the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure


One of the counters & some seating at the Bengal Barbecue are behind walls


Apparently this is new wood for the Pacific Wharf Bridge


One of the shop windows in Downtown Disney now displays Disney’s Fairytale Weddings


It’s Tough to be a Bug is closed until May 23rd


And Corn Dog Castle is closed until May 22nd


Finally, it seems the Carnation Cafe restrooms are getting some work done

Backstage Pass – Summer 2008

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Just an hour ago, the Summer Issue of the Disneyland AP Newsletter, Backstage Pass, arrived in my mailbox. Here are pictures showing what is in this edition. For bigger versions of the pictures, check out the DLR Image Gallery later today.

Outsource Animatronics???

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

From the OC Register:

The Walt Disney Co. will begin out-sourcing the manufacturing of Audio Animatronics because of too much demand on staff time, according to an Imagineering memo sent to the Orange County Register and Disney Imagingeering Spokeswoman Marilyn Waters.

Audio-Animatronics figures are basically moving and talking (or singing) robotic figures that were started by Walt Disney’s company. Today, Audio-Animatronics can be seen in several Disneyland attractions, which include: “it’s a small world,” Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones Adventure, Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! and the upcoming Toy Story Mania!.

The memo is dated June 12, 2008, and was sent to all Walt Disney Imagineering employees from Bruce Vaughn, chief creative executive, Craig Russell, chief development and delivery executive, and Kevin Eld, vice president of Disney Creative Production. The memo was sent to and received by the Orange County Register today. Imagineers is Disney’s a word for designers and engineers.

The memo states that after review manufacturing all Audio-Animatronics figures in-house is not feasible in terms of cost and staffing. Instead, Imagineering’s Manufacturing and Prototype Operations group based in North Hollywood will “build some select, highly complex” figures in-house.

Waters confirmed that the manufacturing of some Audio-Animatronics will be given to outside vendors. She said that over the past years Walt Disney Imagineering has begun to work with outside vendors on the talking and moving figures.

In one example, Waters said Disney employees worked with Chinese vendors to make some of the figures for the “It’s a Small World” attraction at the Hong Kong Disneyland.

“Our industry has generated quite a few heavily-skilled and proficient vendors who can supplement our teams with simple figures with significant oversight by our production team,” Waters said. “This will allow us to focus on creating more sophisticated and advanced figures.”

While Waters said Imagineering’s next step is to focus on the next-generation of Audio-Animatronics, an anniversary is coming for the oldest figures. June 22 is the 45th anniversary of the Enchanted Tiki Room in Disneyland’s Adventureland.

The Tiki Room includes 225 performers, including birds, flowers and tiki poles that spring to life. The attraction opened in 1963 and was the first attraction to function completely via the wonders of Audio-Animatronics technology.

DisneyGeek DLR Update

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Let’s take a look at the latest happenings from through-out the Disneyland Resort from the latest DLR Update on DisneyGeek:


Apparently a tram damaged this sign a little


This new feature in Project Tomorrow is basically the new finale to Epcot’s Spaceship Earth. Your picture is taken, embedded into the animated scene, & then you can send that scene to your email (much like in Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters)


A temporary stage has been put up in Paradise Pier for some event (anyone know what it is?)


The never used extended queue for MuppetVision 3D is being converted in to seating for Award Wieners


The Snow White exhibit has been removed. It’s much nicer now, isn’t it?

DisneyGeek DLR Picture Update

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Let’s take a look at some various things going on through-out the Disneyland Resort from the latest DLR Update on DisneyGeek:


A sign for the Adventure Roadmaps


Some Downtown Disney coupon thing


The popularity of Toy Story Midway Mania is rubbing off on the rest of the Pier


A pin trading cart for the upcoming Mickey’s Pin Odyssey


DCA or Bust!! Some people would prefer to bust…


Haven’t seen this before… Sure is funny!


New Wall-E merchandise


The tarps from Donald’s Boat are down, but the walls are still up


Club Penguin has been added to the games you can play in Innoventions

Mickey’s Pin Odyssey Update

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

We are well into this year’s summer pin event, Mickey’s Pin Odyssey. As predicted, pins are being added to the line up all of the time, & we have been keeping up to date on the pins in a thread on the WDWNT Community Forums. This really is a quality event as the 2 upcoming releases pictured bellow will show:

So be sure to check by the Mickey’s Pin Odyssey Guide on the WDWNT Community Forums for up to date information on Mickey’s Pin Odyssey!

Dateline Disneyland Picture Update

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Let’s take a look at some of the various things going on through-out the Disneyland Resort from this week’s Dateline Disneyland on MiceAge:


This sign for Disneyland’s 53rd Anniversary was up just before the tunnels yesterday


Signs were also up at the Main Street Train Station


At 4:45pm, there was a small ceremony with the Mayor of Main Street & the Fab Five (the Dateline Disneyland article, linked at the beginning of the post, has plenty of pictures from this ceremony)


Cast members wore this anniversary button


The It’s a Small World Toy Shop has come out from behind tarps with a fresh coat of paint, but is still closed to guests


The metal portion of the Tomorrowland marque got repainted a lighter tan & dark brown scheme


The back of this globe used to be blue


The Indiana Jones Summer of Hidden Mysteries photo-op now has a sign, just in case people aren’t aware that the boulder is to take photos with


This lovely painting by Manny Hernandez was released yesterday to commemorate Disneyland’s 53rd Anniversary (more info on this painting can be found at DisneyGallery.com)

To cap this Dateline Disneyland update off, Andy (the writer of Dateline Disneyland) managed to get some concept art for the new Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough:

Disneyland Raises Ticket Prices

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

According the OC Register, Disneyland will be raising it’s ticket prices once again, from $66 to $69 for adults & $56 to $59 for children.

“We offer great values for guess who enter our world class resort and enjoy up to 16 hours a day of fun including attractions, parade and other entertaining spectaculars,” said Disneyland Resort Spokeswoman Lisa Haines. “We periodically analyze our pricing to make sure it reflects the entertainment value and quality that we deliver to our guests.”

Here is the current pricing for all tickets available at the Disneyland Resort:

Single-day, one park:
Adults: $69 (was $66)
Children: $59 (was $56)

One-day park hopper:
Adults: $93 (was $91)
Children: $84 (was $81)

Two-day park hopper:
Adults: $143 (was $132)
Children: $123 (was $112)

Three-day park hopper:
Adults: $199 (was $189)
Children: $169 (was $159)

Four-day park hopper:
Adults: $224 (was $214)
Children: $194 (was $184)

Five-day park hopper:
Adults: $244 (was $234)
Children: $214 (was $204)

ANNUAL PASSES:
Southern California Select:
$134 (was $129)

Southern California:
$174 (was $169)

Deluxe:
$269 (was $259)

Premium:
$389 (was $379)

The OC Register has also put up a very interesting graph showing how ticket prices have increased since 1955. Be sure to check it out!