Summer Nightastic Announced!

This is last year's (2009) promo

Summer nights at Disneyland Resort will be brighter and more exciting than ever as Summer Nightastic! returns, bringing with it the most dazzling show of all: the new "World of Color."

Presented on Paradise Bay, "World of Color" is a major milestone in the multi-year expansion of Disney's California Adventure park. The show combines hundreds of versatile, performing fountains, popular Disney music and an all-new kaleidoscope of audio and visual effects, including both classic and new animation projected on giant screens of water. "World of Color" floods the senses and takes the audience on an imaginative, emotional journey into the colorful worlds of Disney classics such as "The Lion King" and "The Little Mermaid" along with Disney-Pixar films including "Toy Story" and "Finding Nemo."

"Nighttime is especially exciting during the summer at Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure parks," said George A. Kalogridis, president of Disneyland Resort. "The addition of 'World of Color' to our Summer Nightastic! entertainment program continues to raise the bar for the after-dark experience at Disneyland Resort."

The premiere of "World of Color" will add new sparkle to an already radiant lineup of favorite nighttime experiences in Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure. A formidable, fire-breathing dragon joined the cast of "Fantasmic!" last summer, and the "Magical" firework spectacular also debuted in 2009, sending Dumbo into the air over Sleeping Beauty Castle for the first time.

Summer Nightastic! 2010 premieres Friday, June 11, and continues nightly through Sunday, Aug. 29, at Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure. "Magical" fireworks continue through Labor Day weekend. "World of Color" and Fantasmic! will continue to entertain guests on select dates year-round.

MORE 'FANTASMIC!' THAN EVER: Guests will enjoy magical thrills in the popular "Fantasmic!" spectacular on the Rivers of America in Frontierland. Recent enhancements include the climactic transformation of the evil Maleficent from "Sleeping Beauty" into a fully animated 40-foot-tall dragon. The show has also added cutting-edge digital video technology and an appearance by Flotsam and Jetsam, the slithering eels who serve Ursula the Sea Witch in "The Little Mermaid."

'MAGICAL' CELEBRATION IN THE SKY: Now entering its second summer, "Magical" has proven that the Disneyland Resort continues to outdo itself when it comes to sensational fireworks shows. The familiar image of Tinker Bell lights up the show, now followed by another airborne Disney character, Dumbo the flying elephant, who dances across the night sky over Sleeping Beauty Castle. Acclaimed puppeteer Michael Curry, whose credits include Olympic opening ceremonies and "The Lion King" on Broadway, has created a Dumbo with lifelike movements that are accentuated by the show's marvelous melodies. Tink waves her wand to awaken a fantastic array of Disney's most magical characters: Pinocchio, Mary Poppins, Cinderella's Fairy Godmother, and the Three Good Fairies from "Sleeping Beauty."

NEW FACES IN TOY STORY MANIA: With the June 2010 release of the Disney-Pixar animated motion picture "Toy Story 3," a new game and some new characters from "Toy Story 3" will take their places in the "virtual midway" of the Toy Story Mania! attraction along Paradise Pier in Disney's California Adventure. Guests who experience the interactive ride-game attraction will encounter exciting, new challenges presented by fun, new faces this summer. In addition, there will be opportunities for up-close fun with an all-new character from "Toy Story 3" – Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear.

DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY IN TOMORROWLAND: Summer is a time for tweens, teens and families to hang out and dance the night away at the TLT Dance Club on Tomorrowland Terrace at Disneyland. Dazzling décor includes an illuminated DJ console where the TLT Dance Club DJ spins dance tunes guaranteed to keep Tomorrowland rockin' all night. Live bands and DJs from the hottest Southern California radio stations will appear on selected nights throughout the summer.

PIXIE HOLLOW ENCHANTMENT: Tucked into the glen near the entrance to Sleeping Beauty Castle, the Pixie Hollow home of Tinker Bell and her friends comes to life at night in iridescent light shows. Pixie dust cascades across the landscape and radiates into the pond. Even the water becomes enchanted as playful fountains spring to life, pop jets perform with whimsical precision and sparkling strobes shine throughout Pixie Hollow. As always, Tinker Bell herself is there to greet guests and welcome them into her magical realm.

BARGAINS AND SPECIAL EXPERIENCES FOR THE COST-CONSCIOUS TRAVELER: Guests looking for a Disneyland Resort getaway on a budget will find great savings this summer at any of the three on-site resort hotels. Through September 1, savings options include up to 40 percent off the room rates at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa; up to 35 percent off at the Disneyland Hotel; or up to 30 percent off at Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel. These hotel room offers require a two-night minimum stay. Guests staying at any one of the Disneyland Resort hotels are within easy walking distance of both theme parks and the exciting shopping, dining and entertainment of the Downtown Disney District. Other resort hotel benefits include Disney character wake-up calls, easy access to Character Dining locations, and a "Key to the Magic" card – a pass that allows guests to charge meals and merchandise to their hotel accounts. And of course, staying in a Disneyland Resort hotel entitles guests to legendary Disney service from the moment of check-in. For guests in search of a complete package for a longer vacation, Disneyland Resort offers "2 More Nights Free." Guests who book by September 1 can receive two extra nights of hotel accommodations and two more days of admission added to their theme park tickets for free, when they book a three-night, three-day

Disneyland Resort vacation package. The special vacation package provides guests five days and nights of magical Disneyland Resort experiences, for the price of three. Guests who book "2 More Nights Free" and hotel guests with admission tickets will enjoy the additional benefits of one Magic Morning early admission to Disneyland and select attractions.

Source: PR Newswire

Disney's California Adventure Weekly Update: May 3, 2010

Last week Mouseplanet reported that "Toy Story Midway Mania opened two hours after park opening at Disney's California Adventure park several days in late April—and now we know why. Taking advantage of the inherent flexibility of a video-based attraction, Disney Parks announced that both the West Coast and East Coast versions of Toy Story Midway Mania will be updated in May with an new game featuring characters from the upcoming Toy Story 3 film. The new game, called "Rex and Trixie’s Dino Darts," replaces the current Bo Peep’s Baaa-loon Pop game. Trixie, the new triceratops toy from the upcoming movie, is just one of many Toy Story 3 characters who will make an appearance in the attraction. Toy unicorn Buttercup joins Hamm in the opening Hamm & Eggs game, and five Toy Story 3 characters join Woody and Jessie in the prize scene. Disney has not given an exact debut date for the updated attraction; a cast member speculates that Disney might not publicize it at all, and just open the attraction one morning with the new game in place as a way to spark viral publicity.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Rex and Trixie's Dino Darts will join Toy Story Midway Mania in May. Image © Disney.

The cross-promotion with the new Pixar film won't end at the attraction's exit/gift shop. A new character meet and greet will let visitors pose with Lots-O’-Huggin’ Bear inside an oversized toy "blister card." A Toy Story 3 "pre-parade" featuring Lots-O’-Huggin’ Bear will be added to the Pixar Play Parade starting Sunday, May 9.

A Toy Story 3-related video appeared on You Tube last week, purporting to be an original 1980s-era commercial for Lots-O’-Huggin’ Bear.


DCA Construction Update

Another week, another story to the Little Mermaid show building. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The "Voyage of the Little Mermaid" construction site was quiet Saturday morning. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix

An aerial view of the "Voyage of the Little Mermaid" construction site. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The Silly Symphony Swings also sees some progress. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

More progress on the attraction queue. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

A new walkway and planter have replaced the front half of the S.S. Rustworthy. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

A peek into the Cars Land construction site, which will shortly be blocked from view by the screening wall. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The Blue Sky Cellar closes June 3–9 to remove the current World of Color exhibit and to install a new exhibit focusing on the Little Mermaid attraction.

The ongoing Red Car construction zone in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot, which includes a construction wall in the middle of Hollywood Blvd. and the closure of the connector between a bug's land and the Tower of Terror areas, is creating a traffic flow problem through the area. On busy weekend days, the crowd standing in line for Award Wieners block the sidewalk in front of the restaurant and overflow into the narrow street, bringing traffic to a halt. With no alternate entrance into the area, the crowding will only be relieved when the construction walls come down later this month."

Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix


Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Seasonal refurbishments:

• Redwood Creek Challenge Trail – closed through May 20 for refurbishment.
• Blue Sky Cellar – closed June 3 - 9 to install a new exhibit.

Construction-related closures:

• Golden Dreams– closed. The building that once house this film-based attraction has been demolished, and will eventually be replaced with the new Little Mermaid ride.
• Burger Invasion – closed. No announcement has been made about a potential replacement for this former McDonald's location, but an employee publication lists May 24, 2011 as the return date.
• Paradise Pier Lagoon – work continues on the World of Color installation.
• Paradise Park – area closed for construction of new viewing area for Disney's World of Color water show.
• Corn Dog Castle – closed due to construction in the area. An employee publication lists March 24, 2011 as its return date. During the renovation, corn dogs are available at Bountiful Valley Farmer's Market.
• Souvenir 66 – closed due to construction in the area. An employee publication lists March 24, 2011 as its return date, and "Seaside Souvenirs" as the new name of the store.
• Orange Stinger – closed through May 28 for refurbishment and renovation into the Silly Symphonies Swings.
• Golden Vine Trattoria – closed through June 9; will be renamed "Wine Country Trattoria."
• Tower of Terror Fastpass – not offered through August 15 due to construction of the connector between Bug's Land and Tower of Terror.
• Bug's Land / Tower of Terror connector – the temporary connector path will be closed through August 15 to allow construction of a more permanent route between the two lands.

Disclaimer: this blog does not claim own these photos or this information.
They were borrowed from Mouse Planet

Disneyland Weekly Update: May 3, 2010

This and That

...The Themed Entertainment Association reports that Disneyland park attendance increased by 8% in 2009, while attendance at most other Southern California parks, including Universal Studios and Knott's Berry Farm, dropped as much as 6.5%. The association estimates that overall 2009 North American theme park attendance dropped nearly 2% compared to 2008. Disney does not comment on attendance figures, and would not confirm the findings.

Workers prepare to refill the Rivers of America. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

...The Rivers of America were scheduled to be refilled starting last Friday, but as of Sunday afternoon workers were still hard at work inside the construction zone. The Sailing Ship Columbia has been lowered from its support frame in preparation for water returning to the Rivers. As of this writing, the published refurbishment schedule has not been altered to reflect a delay in reopening the Columbia, Tom Sawyer Island or the canoes, all of which are expected to be open next weekend.

Workers prepare to refill the Rivers of America. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

• Rivers of America – closed through May 6 for major refurbishment. This also closes all attractions requiring use of the river: Sailing Ship Columbia, Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island and Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes, Mark Twain Riverboat (closed until May 14), as well as the Fantasmic! nighttime show (closed until May 27).
• Little Red Wagon (Corn Dog Wagon) – closed through May 4 for refurbishment.
• Tomorrowland Terrace – closed through July 2 for refurbishment. The Jedi Training Academy show is still offered while the restaurant is closed.
• Newsstand – closed April 26 through May 20 for refurbishment. Package check service may not be offered on Main Street during this refurbishment.
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – closed April 26 through May 13 for refurbishment.
• Disney Showcase Annex – closed May 5 & 6 for refurbishment.
• Splash Mountain – closed May 17 through 27 for refurbishment.
• Indiana Jones Adventure – closed June 1 & 2 for refurbishment

Source: Mouseplanet Disneyland Resort Update

Disneyland - A History

“To all who come to this happy place; welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past...and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America...with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.”

Walt Disney opened Disneyland on July 17, 1955. When we all think of Disneyland we think of a fun place, but on opening day it was a chaotic.

According to Disneyland history:

•Local police dubbed the seven-mile freeway backup the worst mess they had ever seen.
•Rides and attractions broke down under the unslaught of guests, opening and closing periodically to make way for television crews.
•Fantasyland closed temporarily due to a gas leak.
•Main Street's freshly-poured asphalt softened in the heat. Women wearing high heels sometimes left a shoe behind, stuck in black goo.
•Because of a plumber's strike, both restrooms and drinking fountains could not be ready by opening day. Walt opted for restrooms, leaving visitors hot and thirsty.

It seems that Disneyland has got all the kinks worked out and is constantly creating new ideas.