Get a Look at What’s New when Blue Sky Cellar Reopens

WDWNT on January 3, 2013

By Erin Glover on the Disney Parks Blog:

Savvy Disneyland Resort fans know the best place to get up-close with what’s coming up next at the Happiest Place on Earth is Blue Sky Cellar at Disney California Adventure park. Every so often, this exhibit space closes temporarily so Walt Disney Imagineering can add new items showing what they’re working on next at the Resort.

 

 

Walt Disney Imagineering Model for Fantasy Faire, Part of New Entertainment Experiences Coming to Fantasyland at Disneyland Park in 2013
Walt Disney Imagineering Model for Fantasy Faire, Part of New Entertainment Experiences Coming to Fantasyland at Disneyland Park in 2013
Blue Sky Cellar closed yesterday for its latest update and will reopen January 19 to feature artwork and models for our next experience, Fantasy Faire at Disneyland park. As we’ve told you here on the Disney Parks Blog, Fantasy Faire – which opens in spring 2013 – will be an enchanting village square where guests will be immersed in the stories of their favorite Disney princesses.

“‘Mickey
Also featured in this update will be the artwork that Shawn showed you in his announcement for “Mickey and the Magical Map,” that will open this summer in Fantasyland Theatre.

Be sure to stop by Blue Sky Cellar after it reopens on January 19 and get an up-close look at what is coming to Disneyland park in 2013!

Full Details Of What Is Inside Fantasy Faire Opening This Spring

WDWNT on January 3, 2013

Some details have emerged surrounding the new land set to open this spring in Fantasyland, Fantasy Faire.

Royal Hall

We have known that Fantasy Faire will contain the new princess meet and greet location for the park but we now know the location is called Royal Hall. This meet & greet is going to be very similar to what will be opening in Florida later this year, Princess Fairytale Hall.

The castle-like entrance will feature walls of stone and stained glass windows leading to a large, high-ceilinged room where portraits of the princesses adorn the walls. When summoned, Magic Kingdom guests will proceed to elegantly furnished chambers to meet the princesses.

Maurice’s Treats

We have also leaned the name of the food venue for the area, Maurice’s Treats. We don’t know any details at the moment, but we assume it will be similar in someway to Gaston’s Tavern at the Magic Kingdom. All I can say is I hope we get pork shanks in Disneyland.

 

Two New Stage Shows

Mickey And The Magical Map isn’t the only new stage show coming to Disneyland Park this year.

 Guests can enjoy one of two stage shows in a new theater fit for royalty.


We know very little about these two shows at the moment although there was a casting call sent out recently looking for performers for these two shows.

 These performers will play multiple roles as they present classic Disney tales in a fast-paced and fun-filled show! Crisp comedic timing is a must. Actors need to move well and be able to perform in a vaudeville style.

We do also know that one of these shows will be very similar to the storytelling experience that opened in Florida, Enchanted Tales With Belle. 

The Fantasy Faire Stage will be a new entertainment venue where the stories of Disney’s fairy tale heroes and heroines will be brought to life, letting guests become part of the story as well.

 

 

Also when Fantasy Faire was announced, it was made clear that the swing dancing and evening bands would be returning to the stage once it reopens.

Fairytale Treasures

The final bit of info we have received is that the merchandise location in Fantasy Faire is called Fairytale Treasures. All we know as of right now is that it is called Fairytale Treasures and nothing beyond that. Of course with New Fantasyland in Florida, we can assume is will be something like the newly opened Bonjour Village Gifts.

 

As we edge closer and closer to the opening, stay tuned to Disneyland News Today as more details arise.

 

‘Royal Hall’ Concept Art Revealed

WDWNT on January 3, 2013

Official concept art was released featuring Royal Hall which we posted about a few days ago.

From Shawn Slater on the Disney Parks Blog:

We’re rapidly approaching the opening of the all-new Fantasy Faire at Disneyland park, and if you’ve taken a walk by Sleeping Beauty Castle lately, you know that work is progressing nicely on this beautiful expansion of the park’s Fantasyland.

One of the main attractions in this quaint, storybook village will be the Royal Hall, where beloved Disney royalty eagerly await your visit. The Royal Hall promises to be a truly special place, filled with rich layers of detail.

“Royal
“After walking into our main entrance, you will first go through a garden-like setting before entering the reception hall,” said Michel Den Dulk, Creative Director of Fantasy Faire for Walt Disney Imagineering. “Once inside the Royal Hall, guests will discover a beautiful gothic interior with nice wallpaper, wall cresting, wood finishes and chandeliers.”

Passing through a series of spaces, including the Grand Hall, you’ll have the opportunity to meet as many as three Disney princesses, from classic stories such as “Cinderella” and “Sleeping Beauty.”

“Royal
“The favorite aspect of the project for me personally would be that it’s right in the heart of Disneyland,” added Michel. “It’s going to be very charming, with a lot of detail and great new experiences for the park.”

We’ll all be able to see for ourselves when Fantasy Faire opens this spring.

Conner Purzycki’s 1/17/13 DLR Photo Report

WDWNT on January 3, 2013

I was at the Disneyland Resort this afternoon and captured some newsworthy photos from all around the resort to share.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug
A giant crane is in place right over Big Thunder.




It looks bigger in person 

Work on the center Fantasmic fountain is underway 

New Orleans Bayou Bash has already been setup getting ready for the event kickoff tomorrow 

Very temporary looking speaker setup 




Mark Twain still in dry dock for its annual refurbishment 

Christmas decorations still coming down in New Orleans Square 

Blue sky and no more snow on the castle 

Now for the juicy stuff, Fantasy Faire 

A new structure has sprung up where previously a path led to Fantasyland 








A closer look at that new structure 


Over in DCA, it seems the Hyperion Bridge which crosses over Buena Vista Street was painted overnight to a new darker beige color 






I don’t particularly mind the color change, I’m just curious why? 

Over in Cars Land, one side of Mater’s is being resurfaced 



Over in Flo’s the giant rotisserie out front has been removed

Odd to see this in the middle of the day 

Thanks for reading
 

Mores Images of New Fantasy Faire

WDWNT on August 30, 2012

From Shawn Slater of Disney Parks Blog:

Last week, I told you we would have more to share about the all-new Fantasy Faire coming to Disneyland park, so here’s another treat for you. These pieces of concept art, just released by Walt Disney Imagineering, offer a first glimpse inside the Royal Hall at Fantasy Faire, where you’ll be able to spend time meeting some of your favorite Disney Princesses.

The art gives you a sense of the rich detail and beauty coming to this new corner of Fantasyland. Of course, concept art being just that, some aspects may be subject to change, such as the specific Disney Princesses visiting the Royal Hall on any given day.

The new Fantasy Faire opens in spring 2013. Until then, you can meet Disney Royalty elsewhere in Fantasyland, along the path to “it’s a small world.” Be sure to stop by The Disneyland Story inside the Main Street Opera House at Disneyland park to see this concept art in person, in the “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” section of the exhibit, beginning August 10.

Max Guggenheim’s 9/9/12 DLR Photo Report

WDWNT on March 31, 2012

DLNT reporter Max Guggenheim was at the Disneyland Resort a few days ago and got some pictures of some construction around the resort.

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Quite a crowd at DCA for rope drop

In Disneyland,

The Fire Station and City Hall are behind tarps

Indy is Closed

Pirates League

New Orleans Square is dressed up for the season

Haunted Mansion Holiday opens tomorrow

Casey Jr. is closed through November 15th

The former Princess Fantasy Faire will open next spring with a new stage show

The meet and greet backdrops have been demolished

Over in Tommorowland, Pizza Port is still closed

Fantasy Faire

The Snow White Grotto is being cleaned

The little displays are back on the Mickey and Friends tram route

 

The Princess and The Parks

WDWNT on August 7, 2009

Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose (left), who provides the voice of Disney’s newest princess, Tiana, in the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures animated feature film “The Princess and the Frog,” poses with the new Princess Tiana character (right) as she will soon appear at the Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.  Princess Tiana, made her very first public appearance Aug. 6, 2009 at the 2009 National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Convention in Tampa, Fla. This fall, Disneyland guests will see Tiana in a colorful, jazz-filled live show, “Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee,” November 6 through January 3, 2010, in New Orleans Square at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. “The Princess and the Frog” will premiere in theaters nationwide Dec. 11, 2009.

Humbug Made Official

WDWNT on December 30, 2008

Disneyland has now officially announced the entertainment cutbacks for 2009:

As The Year of a Million Dreams celebration comes to a close and the Disneyland® Resort heads into 2009, entertainment offerings and show times are being updated for the kick-off of “What will you celebrate?” 

Disneyland Park 

  • A Christmas Fantasy Parade and “Believe In Holiday Magic” Fireworks Spectacular will run through Sunday, Jan. 4 to close out the holiday season.
  • Disney’s Princess Fantasy Faire will have its last showings of the Royal Coronation Ceremony and Disney Princess Storytelling on Sunday, Jan. 4. Disney Princess Meet & Greet will continue to remain at the Fantasyland Theatre.
  • “Remember Dreams Come True” Fireworks Spectacular will return to the skies above Disneyland® on Jan. 17-19 (Martin Luther King Jr. weekend) and Feb. 13-16 (President’s Day weekend). The show is scheduled to make a full return in March 2009. 
  • Fantasmic! will continue to run daily through most of January and February. 
  • Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams will not return to Disneyland® Park after the holidays. There will be no parades at Disneyland® Park after the holidays due to track work being done on Main Street, U.S.A. 
  • Celebrate! A Street Party will make its debut down Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland® Park on March 27. 

Disney’s California Adventure Park 

  • Disney’s Electrical Parade will have its final run on Sunday, Jan. 4 at Disney’s California Adventure® Park and will not return until June 12 for the summer season. 

Beginning Monday January 5th:

  • Pixar Play Parade at Disney’s California Adventure® Park will be dark on Mondays and Tuesdays. 
  • High School Musical 3: Right Here! Right Now! will be dark on Mondays through Thursdays. 
  • Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular will be dark on Wednesdays and Thursdays. 

All entertainment offerings are subject to change without notice.

News & Rumor Round-up

WDWNT on December 20, 2008

I have been informed of some very interesting news & rumors of what could be happening (or is going to happen) at the Disneyland Resort in the very near future:

  • Construction should be beginning on World of Color sometime during the upcoming week, weather permitting of course. The first signs of work will be near the California Screamin’ launch area. Along with that, the change-over from the Orange Stinger to Silly Symphony Swings should start in January 2009, & construction on the The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Adventure will finally begin in April 2009. Also, the Maliboomer will now be removed next year, with nothing replacing it at the moment, except for a nicely designed seating area on the current tower platforms. The “refurbishment” of Burger Invasion seems to be of been pushed along a whole another year, with it supposedly lasting through May 26th, 2011. The building will sit dormant for a while, until work begins on the Beer Garden.
  • Originally the plans for a new parade route in DCA called for it to go through Cars Land, & then up onto the parade route as it is today. Well now the plan is for parades to start at the gate right by the Tower of Terror, go through the Hollywood Pictures Backlot, through Buena Vista Street, & up along the rest of the regular parade route, which would make it the longest parade route in Disney history! This would prompt the removal of the Hollywood Pictures Backlot arch, however the two giant elephants would stay.
  • New restrooms will be installed opposite the current ones next to Golden Dreams in the San Francisco style buildings, with work beginning on January 5th 2009, to allow for the current ones to be removed for extra space needed for The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Adventure. The supposed completion day is March 30th 2009, which makes sense if Little Mermaid construction is expected to begin in April.
  • It’s rumored that a fruit cart will be installed in the former home of the Conestoga Wagon McDonalds fry cart in Frontierland. The only concrete details we have is that it should be opened by late May 2009.
  • In a rather interesting turn of events, it seems the Royal Coronation Ceremony & Disney Princess Storytelling Shows at the Princess Fantasy Faire will no longer be performed after January 4th 2009. This is yet another sign of how bad the New Year could end up being for Disney. Of course, the Princess Meet ‘n Greets, Princess merchandise area, & Enchanted Cottage food stand will remain open.
  • Finally, rumors keep persisting that Disney’s Electrical Parade will be returning to Disneyland. But now it seems that a return would cause for quite a few changes. The parade is going to have to get an entirely new name for it to be able to move back to Disneyland, due to the marketing campaign they had in 1996, legally saying that the Main Street Electrical Parade would never return to Disneyland. We however have no idea on what the new name could be just yet. A new version of the Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade: Dreamlights soundtrack could be replacing the classic Electrical Parade soundtrack we know & love. And as we’ve said before, the Pinocchio & Snow White Dwarf Mine floats will be returning to the parade. In fact, we have proof…

The black sort of curtain like structure is the Snow White Dwarf Mine. The Pinocchio Cigar Factory is in the blue draped crate next to the parade storage warehouse. The Pleasure Island float has reportedly already been pieced together.

Well that wraps up this interesting news & rumor report. Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for the latest developments on these, & all other news & rumors.

PS) Posts may be a little sporadic over the week week, as I’ll be in England from tomorrow through the 29th. I will try to get some stuff to you guys though. Definitely don’t forget to tune into the Christmas Podcast Parade, being released Christmas Day on all WDWNT Podcast feeds!