Darkbeer DLR Picture Update

WDWNT on June 18, 2008

Let’s take a look at the preparations for today’s opening ceremonies, with pictures taken yesterday from David “Darkbeer” Michael:


Signs were up through-out Tomorrowland directing guests to the attractions while the Innoventions Dream Home opening ceremony was taking place


A couple of attractions were closed as well


I presume the train was still operating, but just went straight pass the Tomorrowland Train Station


Moving over to Toy Story Midway Mania’s opening ceremony preparations


I think this is where the ceremony stage went up


A second stage was also up right by the attraction


Filming by Mr. Potato Head

And now a couple of non-ceremony related pictures:


The temporary stage in Pacific Wharf is gone


The It’s a Small World sign is now behind tarps too

Orange Stinger To Get New Disney Theme

WDWNT on June 17, 2008

The Orange Stinger swing ride will get a new Disney theme and back story as part of the planned $1.1-billion Disney’s California Adventure makeover, Walt Disney Imagineering officials confirmed.

Gone will be the 40-foot-tall orange peel that surrounds the 48-seat spinning swing set and the Disney-free buzzing bumble bee theme, Imagineering officials said.

In its place: a Victorian architectural style more akin to the remade Paradise Pier section of the Anaheim theme park represented by the new Toy Story Mania attraction.

Imagineering officials declined to elaborate on the new “Disney theme.”

The Blue Sky Disney fan site reported the Orange Stinger will be redubbed…… “The Silly Symphonies Swings,” with a theme based on “The Band Concert” 1935 cartoon short featuring the first colorized Mickey Mouse.

The made-over 1 1/2-minute ride would feature a twirling tornado mast with smoke-spewing special effects, an orchestral score and a “Conductor Mickey” on top, according to Blue Sky.

— Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Drop On In The Midway

WDWNT on June 16, 2008

According to Blue Sky Disney:

Those of you that attend the grand opening of “Toy Story Midway Mania” on June 17th will get to see a great celebration of what could be the beginning of the Second Gate we always wanted.

Watch the skies while you’re there. You may see some real Green Army Men parachuting into the pier…

DisneyGeek DCA Picture Update

WDWNT on June 12, 2008

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


The 2008 Hi Seoul Korea Performing Arts Showcase


On either side of the stage were monitors that showed the name of what the group was performing, & between shows played a video


Check out the DisneyGeek DLR Update (linked above) for more pictures from 3 of the performances on June 9th


For some reason, this section of Paradise Pier is blocked off


More scaffolding is up on the Grizzly River Run waterwheel


Here are a few pictures from inside Toy Story Midway Mania


Again, more pictures from TSMM are in the DisneyGeek DLR Update

Monday in the Parks Update

WDWNT on June 10, 2008

Quite a few interesting pieces of news were posted in this week’s Monday in the Parks column on MiceAge, & I want to take the time to go through some of them here:

  • For the whole summer, Disneyland will be open from 8AM to Midnight, but due to Grad Nites, Disneyland will close at 9PM this Wednesday & Thursday, & then next Thursday as well. DCA will close at 7PM those nights for the Grad Nite Blast Off event.
  • The Magic Morning opportunity, that gets hotel guests into Disneyland one hour early, will be conducted on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, & Saturday this week.
  • Over at Pacific Wharf, the Hi Seoul Korea performance troupe will be performing a variety of different shows through Sunday, June 15th. Be sure to check the Times Guide for show times.

  • This Sunday, DCA will hold its first ever triathlons, with swimmers actually swimming in the Paradise Pier lagoon! Contestants will enter & exit the lagoon by using the boat ramp near the launch of California Screamin’.

  • The smoking location for the Tomorrowland side of Disneyland will be moved from the entrance to the Tomorrowland Railroad station, to the former Motor Boat Cruise loading station, which is now known as Fantasia Gardens.


Current Smoking Area


New Smoking Area


The clock tower itself from the Small World facade is out from tarps… Bit early if you ask me!

MouseTimes DCA Picture Update

WDWNT on May 29, 2008

Let’s take a look at some various things going on at Disney’s California Adventure from the latest DLR Update on MouseTimes:


The Hot Dog Hut by the Sun Wheel is now open


“We Have the Best of the Wurst!”


A look at the Toy Story Midway Mania queue


A look inside the attraction’s exit


The new Paradise Pier/Toy Story Midway Mania cast member costumes

Chernabog

WDWNT on April 29, 2008

I advise you to check out the latest Blue Sky Alert over on Blue Sky Disney. This latest update talks a bit more in depth on World of Color & the Little Mermaid ride, both of which are going into Paradise Pier. The picture below should give you a clue as to what could be a big feature in World of Color:

I’m Into Nuggets Y’all

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Rumors are abound that McDonalds may be pulling out as a Disneyland sponsor. McDonald’s currently operate 2 fry carts over in Frontierland & New Orleans Sqaure, & the Burger Invasion restaurant over in Paradise Pier. Each restaurant sells a limited McDonalds menu, so I think it’s safe to say that they wont be missed.

Another company ready to butt out of a sponsorship deal is Carnation. Carnation has been involved with Disney pretty much since the opening of Disneyland. Back in 1984, Nestle acquired Carnation, & it’s become one of their lesser known brands. As Al Lutz of MiceAge explains it…

… Nestle’ contract as a whole is on the rocks, after meeting up with legal headaches regarding some of the beverages it sells that compete directly with Coca-Cola’s expanding reach into coffee and beverages besides soft drinks. As it stands now, Coca-Cola wants to have a sponsorship presence at Disneyland and other Disney parks more desperately than Nestle’ does, and as push comes to shove with the lawyers it looks like it is Nestle’ and its family of different brands who will likely leave the park.

Just so long as Coca-Cola makes it financially lucrative, Disneyland may even be removing decades old signage around the park like that found at Carnation Plaza Gardens, the sight of a long gone snack bar that served up its last milkshake a decade ago.

Myrna Litt’s 10/16 Photo Report – Part #2

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

As promised, here is the second part of Myrna Litt’s 10/16 photo report:

Earlier than expected, the Paradise Pier lagoon has started to be drained. And as you can tell from the picture, another testing barge for World of Color is in the lagoon.

The Sun Wheel is now closed for its conversion over to Mickey’s Fun Wheel.

Ray Bradbury’s Halloween Tree in Frontierland all lit up at night.

The Halloween Tree’s dedication plaque.

A couple of shots of Haunted Mansion Holiday at nighttime.

Pumpkin Mickey winks you goodbye as you exit Disneyland.

To cap off this photo report, the 3rd billboard at the Mickey & Friends Tram Station has FINALLY returned! It took 4 months!

DLR Photo Report – 7/6/09

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

I’m back from a wonderful evening trip yesterday to the Disneyland Resort. Even though I visited both parks, this photo report only covers Mickey and Friends and Disney’s California Adventure. So let’s get to this photo report:

Some work going on at the Mickey and Friends Tram Station. The tram only loads on the right side at the moment

As I got into DCA, the Pixar Play Parade started, so here are some photos

The Ratatouile unit has finally returned to the parade

Read More about DLR Photo Report – 7/6/09