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Disneyland, California News
NOTE: News sources remove their articles rather quickly. If you receive a "File Not Found" error message, search the source's archives for the story. The source's URL is posted in its entirety to make it easier to track down the original article and avoid dead links. Be sure to copy and paste the entire URL in your web browser's address window. Certain news organizations require a free registration to view their articles online.
"Cinderella, Snow White, Tinkerbell and other fictional fixtures of modern-day
childhood were handcuffed, frisked and loaded into police vans Thursday at
the culmination of a labor protest that brought a touch of reality
to the Happiest Place on
Earth."
[Valerie Orleans] "has fond childhood memories of stagecoach robberies at
Knott's Berry
Farm."
DISNEYLAND 2009 ADMISSION PRICES See Disneyland's official site for more details.
1-Day Ticket: Must buy at the gate. $69 for adults; $59 for children (3-9).
No park hopping allowed.
Disney will close three McDonald's kiosks September 2 at its California
resort. The three eateries at Walt Disney World Florida will remain open.
The earthquake caused no damage at Disneyland, Universal Studios,
Six Flags, San Diego Zoo, or Joshua Tree National Park. Amtrak tracks were
unaffected. 300 Anaheim, a new upscale bowling center near Disney, features an executive chef and a full bar. (http://www.ocregister.com/articles/anaheim-bowling-alley-2102120-upscale-barkley)
New hotel opens near Disneyland: The Sheraton Garden Grove-Anaheim
South Hotel at 12221 Harbor Blvd. "includes 285 rooms and suites, a Club
Level with daily complimentary Hospitality Hour and breakfast for hotel club
members, an outdoor pool and Jacuzzi, a 24-hour gym, the Fusion Restaurant
and a lobby bar."
Disneyland Prepares To Open Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk Through Anaheim, CA - The interior of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland will open in time for the December holiday season, offering guests a "reawakened" version of its classic walkthrough presentation kissed with vibrant scenes of Aurora, her charming prince, the evil Maleficent and other characters from the beloved fairy tale film. "It is fitting that we are announcing the return of a classic on the 53rd anniversary of Disneyland," said Tony Baxter, Senior Vice President of Creative Development for Walt Disney Imagineering, who unveiled a model of the castle on July 17, the birthday of Disneyland park. Next year marks the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney’s "Sleeping Beauty," and the excitement generated by the anniversary of the motion picture spurred interest in the return of the Disneyland attraction. Also celebrating the milestone 50th Anniversary of "Sleeping Beauty" is Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, which will release a two-disc Platinum Blu-rayTM Hi-Def disc, making "Sleeping Beauty" the first Walt Disney animated classic title to be released in high definition, as well as on two-disc Platinum DVD. A bonus feature on the new release will be "The Original Sleeping Beauty Walk-Through Attraction With Walt Disney Imagineering," an immersive experience recreating the original castle walkthrough. On April 29, 1957, nearly two years before the premiere of Walt Disney’s animated feature "Sleeping Beauty," the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough opened with an in-park ceremony featuring Walt Disney and actress Shirley Temple who, some 20 years earlier, had presented Disney with his special Academy Award - one Oscar and seven little ones - for "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." The crafting of the 1957 walkthrough show fell to Walt Disney Imagineer Ken Anderson and animation art director and color stylist Eyvind Earle, credited with giving the motion picture "Sleeping Beauty" the distinctive and colorful look of storybook illustrations in medieval style. An entirely new look appeared in 1977 when the attraction’s redesign featured miniature dioramas, including moving figurines similar to the window displays in the shops on Main Street, U.S.A. When the attraction is unveiled later this year, the "show" will differ from the dioramas of the 1980s and ‘90s, returning to the unique style of the original 1957 show and motion picture. Enhanced with new scenes and special effects magic, the re-Imagineered attraction will employ technology not available in the 1950s to represent scenes from the story of Sleeping Beauty, including the magic of good fairies Flora, Fauna and Merryweather, and the more sinister spells of the evil Maleficent. For the first time, guests who are unable to climb stairs or navigate the passageways of the Castle will be able to experience the walkthrough "virtually" in a special room on the ground floor of the Castle. (Source: Press Release, 07/17/08) 
Disney is still working out the bugs in its new monorail cars. "Disneyland
guests will be whisked along the system's 2.5-mile route in even sleeker-looking
coaches complete with remodeled nose cones, seats facing outward toward the
windows and blue glass with shimmering red, blue or orange stripes."
"In an effort to make waiting in lines fair for all, Knott's Berry Farm
has adopted a new policy that no longer allows disabled park-goers to head
to the front."
"The Innoventions Dream Home, which opens late this month, is stocked
with the latest technology -- stuff that, in some cases, even that black
American Express card can't buy."
"It’s the home of your dreams!! Innoventions dream home invites
guests to experience the future today."
Disneyland Resort Welcomes Performers From Seoul, Korea, For The 2008 Cultural Arts Showcase June 9-15 The beauty of Korean culture will charm and entertain guests at the Disneyland Resort for one week this June as the Hi-Seoul Art Troupe from Seoul, Korea presents traditional and modern Korean music and dance. Songs, colorful fans, traditional Korean musical instruments and graceful choreography make up the all-new experience being presented in nine daily shows, performed from 10:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. at the Pacific Wharf International Stage at Disney’s California Adventure Park. The elegant event features performances rich in cultural tradition, such as Hwa Gwan Mu (Flower Crown Dance), Buchae-Chum (Fan Dance), Pan Gut, Samulnori (Sitting Pan Gut) and Beat Circle. During the Year of the Mouse, Disneyland Resort is proud to offer the stage to Hi-Seoul Art Troupe, an organization that seeks to convey the beauty of Korean culture to Koreans and audiences around the world. The 2008 Performing Arts Showcase will be Hi-Seoul Art Troupe’s first-ever performance at the Disneyland Resort and its only tour stop in the United States in 2008. All guests who visit Disney’s California Adventure Park June 9 through June 15 will enjoy these shows as part of the regular Park admission. Performed during the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Hwa Gwan Mu (Floral Crown Dance) originated as a royal court dance and became one of Korea’s representative folk dances that celebrate peace and prosperity. Dancers wear traditional costumes, including a floral crown (Hwa Gwan) and Hansam, which are long sleeves that cover the dancers’ hands. The Hansam and wide sleeves of the costume produce dramatic dance movements that represent the honor and grace of traditional Korean dance. Buchae-Chum, an example of modern Korean dance, features beautiful choreography and graceful performers in Hanbok (traditional Korean clothes) and Dang-Eui (traditional ceremonial dress). The performers glide around the stage waving colorful fans decorated with flowers and feathers. Pan Gut combines music, dance and traditional Korean games to express the joy and sorrow of hard work. Performances of Pan-Gut feature rhythmic drumming and the use of specially designed headpieces, which are decorated with long ribbons and are spun in dramatic fashion. Samulnori involves traditional percussion music that originated in farming villages. Salmulnori is always performed with four traditional Korean musical instruments: Quangari (small gong), Jing (larger gong), Jang-gu (hourglass-shaped drum), and buk (frame drum). The Hi-Seoul Art Troupe is an organization that aims to preserve and revive traditional Korean arts. The group consists of dance and instrumental music teams that showcase different genres of traditional Korean arts, ranging from royal court dance to traditional farm music. The Hi-Seoul Art Troupe also aims to further develop and revitalize traditional Korean arts through new repertories that combine newly composed traditional Korean music, dance and percussion music to integrate the beauty and elegance of both traditional and modern Korean culture. (Source: Press Release, 06/09/08)
"It’s one week until Toy Story Mania! and the House of the Future
open at the Disneyland Resort and on a visit today I was able to play on
the new Toy Story ride."
"Tourists got a mix of reality with their make-believe as the Universal Studios
theme park reopened Monday while investigators searched for the cause of
a huge fire that destroyed back-lot sets."
For more details, see:
Indiana Jones Ventures To Disneyland Park For A Summer Of Hidden Mysteries ANAHEIM, Calif. - After rescuing the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail from the forces of evil, returning the Sankara Stones to their rightful place, and battling sinister foreign agents to find a mysterious Crystal Skull, what’s INDIANA JONES going to do next? He’s going to Disneyland! Beginning May 22, deep in the heart of Adventureland - not far from the treacherous Temple of the Forbidden Eye, home to the heart-pounding Indiana Jones Adventure attraction — the daring Dr. Jones will take Disneyland Park guests on a thrilling series of exploits in the season-long INDIANA JONES SUMMER OF HIDDEN MYSTERIES. Guests will be invited to become archaeologists, to interact with Indy himself and to journey deep into exotic jungles to unscramble clues, all the while learning what life is like for one of the greatest adventure heroes of all time. Among the highlights of the INDIANA JONES SUMMER OF HIDDEN MYSTERIES, created by Disneyland Entertainment in partnership with Lucasfilm Ltd.: * Random Acts of Indy - In the crowded streets of exotic Adventureland, guests never know when Indiana Jones might make an appearance. It could be in their midst, perhaps it will be high overhead, or even right next to them as Indy dashes by. But look fast, because Indy’s never in one place for long, especially when he’s being pursued by sinister villains! * Indiana Jones and the Secret of the Stone Tiger - In this intimate storytelling adventure presented multiple times each day at The Oasis, young Disneyland Park guests will uncover clues, decipher codes and embark on an archeological journey that culminates in an appearance by Indy himself! * Indiana Jones Adventure Map - Disneyland Park guests will explore just like Indy does when they pick up a collectible map filled with mysterious clues. Artifacts and symbols are hidden throughout Adventureland and once they are revealed guests will find a special code, which they can take home to claim exclusive Indiana Jones digital content courtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd. It’s all at www.disneyland.com/indy starting May 22. * Indiana Jones Meets the Jungle Cruise - One of the all-time classic Disneyland attractions takes on a distinctly Indiana Jones flavor this summer as guests are invited to find unexpected Indy-themed surprises along some of the most mysterious rivers of the world. * New Indy Photo Location - Guests can boast to their friends back home that they outran a giant rolling boulder just like Indy himself - and then they can prove it with photographic evidence. Indiana Jones Attraction Redefined The "E-Ticket" Experience In addition to the special events offered throughout the INDIANA JONES SUMMER OF HIDDEN MYSTERIES, the Indiana Jones Adventure - Temple of the Forbidden Eye attraction continues to thrill guests daily - more than 95 million of them since its opening in 1995. The Indiana Jones Adventure comes to life in an expedition through the fabled Temple of the Forbidden Eye, mysteriously hidden deep within the dense jungles of India. Look for action and thrills around every corner in this Disneyland guest-favorite where guests, boarding well-worn WWII troop transports, embark on what appears to be a standard archaeological tour. Built long ago in tribute to the powerful deity Mara, the temple was rediscovered by Dr. Jones and his expedition team. According to temple lore, Mara could "look into your very soul," and then grant the "pure of heart" one of threemagical gifts: unlimited wealth, eternal youth or future knowledge. However, the ancient legend also issues a stern warning: "A terrible fate awaits those who gaze upon the eyes of Mara!" Dr. Jones would only say, "Records indicate that many have come... but few have returned." Prior to boarding, guests are instructed by Indy’s longtime friend Sallah to look away from the eyes of Mara. He also asks them to keep an eye out for Indy, who entered the temple but has been missing from the expedition. For those who dare look into the eyes of Mara, their journey takes a perilous twist. Their vehicles encounter clouds of smoke, fire, bubbling lava pits, ominous steam vents, a crumbling ceiling - even an "up close" confrontation with Mara. Legend says that Mara vaporizes the "unworthy" with beams of fire and other horrors such as screaming mummies, horrible bugs and rodents, snakes and poisonous darts. Explorers discover even more surprises around every bend in this subterranean world where, just like in the blockbuster movies, escape is only temporary as they traverse a shaking suspension bridge, suffer an avalanche of creepy crawlies and face a gigantic rolling ball which threatens to flatten them and their vehicle. The journey is set apart by the fact that Disneyland Park guests never experience the same ride twice. (Source: Pres Release, 05/21/08)
"For Walt Disney Co., the task of opening a virtual version of
Disneyland on the Web was relatively easy. Closing it, though, is proving
to be quite a bit more difficult, thanks to the wrath of obsessive fans of
Disney's theme parks."
"A man believed to be in his 30s or 40s apparently jumped to his death
today from the 14th floor of the Disneyland Hotel’s Wonder Tower,
authorities said."
A Celebration Fit For A Princess - Disney Parks Celebrate Dream-Come-True Quinceañera For 15 Lucky Girls Pretty as princesses, 15 special young ladies from across the United States and Puerto Rico celebrated a Dream-Come-True Quinceañera on Thursday at Disneyland Resort, with a grand red-carpet entrance, an enchanting ceremony in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle and a pixie-dusted dinner party with family and friends. Royal and resplendent, these lucky girls marked their cultural milestone with a dash of Disney magic, as part of the Year of a Million Dreams celebration. A tradition in the Latin community, a Quinceañera is a young woman's celebration of her 15th birthday, which marks the transition from a child to a young woman. It is commemorated in a way that distinguishes it from her other birthdays. The royal evening ceremony at Disneyland Resort was filled with opulence, pageantry and tradition. It began with a dream-come-true moment for any teenage girl - a celebrity escort along a red carpet that led to the famous Sleeping Beauty Castle. The stellar lineup of stars included Cristina Saralegui, host of "The Cristina Show;" Andy Garcia, acclaimed actor and producer; pop singer Frankie J; actor-dancer Cristián De La Fuente of "Dancing with the Stars" and others. In the castle forecourt, each birthday girl was greeted by Disney characters and prepared for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration. Each young lady, elegant and enchanting in her ball gown, danced a special waltz with her father, stepped from her flat shoes into Cinderella-like glass slippers and received a beautiful bouquet of flowers from her mother. Following the official ceremony in the Castle Forecourt, each of the princesses joined her special guests at a private dinner party in Fantasyland Theater. The unforgettable party included the traditional Quinceañera cutting of the cake and doll ceremony, two important symbols of the transition from childhood to adulthood. The magic began on Tuesday when the girls arrived, ready to prepare for the grand gala with dress fittings, rehearsals, a princess etiquette seminar, an ice cream social at the Disneyland Dream Suite and plenty of photo opportunities. After two days of fun, bonding and magical anticipation, they were ready for the spotlight and the delightful Quinceañera celebration. The girls are from California, Florida, Arizona, New York, Texas, Illinois and Puerto Rico. Amethyst Lisa Cristina Martinez of Miami imagined this day for weeks and said, "Dreams aren’t impossible." Kassandra Hernandez of Sacramento, Ca., was thrilled to celebrate her coming-of-age with family, a welcome joy after several recent family hardships. And Brenda Prado of Fresno, Ca., said her parents, who are farm workers, were ecstatic that their daughter could enjoy a magical Quinceañera celebration. The bright lights will keep shining on these lucky young ladies, as their enchanting Disneyland Quinceañera is scheduled to be featured in a one-hour television special on Univision network’s "El Show de Cristina," (The Cristina Show). More than 40 international broadcast and news outlets covered the festivities. To make these dreams come true, Disney Parks launched a national search for prospective princesses in conjunction with selected Univision television news affiliates, Univision.com, Coca-Cola, David’s Bridal and "The Cristina Show." Together, they found these 15 special girls to celebrate their magical Quinceañeras at Disneyland Resort. All eligible princesses-to-be submitted essays explaining why they wanted to have their coming-of-age celebrations at "The Happiest Place on Earth." To ensure each Quinceañera girl was dressed as a true "belle of the ball," David’s Bridal, the nation’s leading bridal retailer, provided each of the 15 girls with a ball gown, tiara and shoes. Southwest Airlines provided flights for each young lady and up to seven guests to attend the sparkling soiree. Hewlett-Packard donated limited-edition entertainment notebook PCs to each Quinceañera princess to help her pursue her educational goals and stay connected with family and friends. Kodak provided specially created Quinceañera-themed cameras so that each girl could capture her unique and thrilling memories. Disney Parks, already a home to lavish ceremonies and magical milestone celebrations for guests visiting from around the globe every year, provides a castle-full of Quinceañera celebration options for young women and their families. Quinceañera celebrations at Disneyland Resort Hotels or Walt Disney World Resort can be traditional, spiritual, large or intimate. Up to 500 guests can enjoy a Quinceañera at Disney Parks, with popular themes including fairy tale treasures such as "Cinderella" and "Beauty & the Beast" celebrations. Other custom and lavish options include: * Disney character appearances, including Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, dressed in formal or elegant charro attire * Cinderella’s enchanted crystal coach, presented by a quartet of fanfare trumpeters * An artful cake adorned with Disney princesses or characters * A towering, 40-foot-wide castle facade creating a storybook setting for a formal dinner * The Quinceañera girl’s name spelled in lights or illuminated balloons * Intricate ice carvings * Ornate floral arrangements and table centerpieces For more information on Disney Parks’ Quinceañera product offerings and vacation packages, including the special Labor Day weekend Quinceañera at Walt Disney World Resort, guests may visit Disneyparks.com/quinceañera or Parquesdisney.com/quinceañera. For phone assistance about Quinceañeras at Walt Disney World, call 321-939-4555, and for Disneyland Resort in Southern California, call 866-55-DISNEY. (Source: Press Release, 04/24/08)
"Disneyland has updated its classic monorail train meandering through
the amusement park, adding a better seating arrangement and glass that changes
color in the sunlight."
Disney's Food and Wine Festival teaches visitors how to pair beers
with food selections.
Legendary Actress And Esteemed Author Julie Andrews Honored At Disneyland Resort In beloved recognition and gratitude for her service as Honorary Ambassador of Disneyland’s 50th anniversary celebration, Disneyland Resort Cast Members today presented legendary star Julie Andrews with a unique dedication that will forever ensure her place in Disneyland’s storied history. This dedication shines in a most appropriate place, on King Arthur’s Carrousel in Fantasyland. The Carrousel was one of the 15 Disneyland attractions that were "goldenized" in 2005, in honor of the "Happiest Homecoming on Earth" celebration for Disneyland’s 50th anniversary. Jingles, the lead and most popular horse on the attraction, was painted gold for Disneyland’s special milestone and Julie was photographed with the horse during the festivities. To acknowledge Julie’s role as an honorary cast member, Disneyland Resort has given Jingles a magical makeover and is dedicating the cherished horse in her honor. Carrousels have a special meaning at Disneyland as Walt Disney had a fond appreciation for them and included carrousels in many of his biggest and most notable endeavors. As a father, he took his young daughters to ride merry-go-rounds on many weekends and those happy and memorable times were the seed of his dream called Disneyland. Julie Andrews’ association with carrousel horses dates back to the classic 1964 film, "Mary Poppins," and her lead role as the magical nanny. During one escapade, Mary Poppins embarks on a "horse race" with the two young children and her friend Bert. With a little bit of luck - and stunning visual effects - their carrousel ponies break free and gallop through the countryside. The movie won five Academy Awards - including one for Julie Andrews - spawned the cheerful song "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!," and left a sentimental spot forever in the hearts of movie-lovers worldwide. Since Jingles’ 2005 golden transformation, the popular carrousel horse now dons a new and hand-painted, colorful jewel-tone palette. Special features have been added to honor the screen legend, including embellishments of gold leaf horseshoes, flowers representing Julie’s love of gardening and Mary Poppins’ themeing on Jingles’ enhanced golden saddle. Hand-painted features on the saddle include Julie’s initials, the number "50" representing Disneyland’s 50th anniversary, Mary Poppins’ boots and a flying silhouette of the beloved Mary Poppins character. Golden, wooden jingle bells also adorn the horse’s body. Disneyland Cast Members also presented a miniature, one-of-kind replica of Jingles for Julie. The commissioned, hand-carved wood piece stands nearly 2 ½ feet tall and wears a special broach that is a replica of the custom-made Disneyland Ambassador pin that Julie received for being an Ambassador for Disneyland’s 50th anniversary. While at Disneyland for the unveiling ceremony of Jingles, Julie signed copies of her new autobiography "Home: A Memoir of My Early Years" for Cast Members and Guests. In her new book, the critically-acclaimed writer shares numerous personal photos and anecdotes of her time on Broadway, including stories of performing in "My Fair Lady" with Rex Harrison and in "Camelot" with Richard Burton; her first marriage to famed set and costume designer Tony Walton, with whom Julie gave birth to daughter Emma; her meeting with Walt Disney, and her departure for Hollywood. For more information, please contact Disneyland Resort public relations at 714-781-4500 or visit www.disneylandnews.com. (Source: Press Release, 04/08/08)
"A large crane this morning lowered fiberglass horses onto the tracks of a new Knott's Berry Farm ride, as the theme park works toward opening up the Pony Express just before Memorial Day." (http://www.ocregister.com/articles/ride-park-pony-2015526-theme-toward) "Developers have submitted plans for two hotels in the GardenWalk district... one at 300 Disney Way, and the other at 1775 South Clementine St." (http://www.ocregister.com/articles/hotels-disney-city-2016588-plans-rooms)
"Starting Friday, April 11 and running through May 5, Disney's California
Food and Wine Festival will feature a wide variety of culinary events."
Disney's California Adventure A Celebration Fit For A Princess - Disney Parks Offers Dream-Come-True Quinceañeras In Grand Style To 15 Lucky Girls Pixie-dusted dreams will come true April 24 for 15 young ladies from across the United States and Puerto Rico when they celebrate their Quinceañeras with an enchanted experience in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Resort in Southern California. Royal and resplendent, these lucky girls will mark this cultural milestone in true Disney Princess fashion as part of the Year of a Million Dreams celebration. A tradition in the Latin community, a Quinceañera is a young woman's celebration of her 15th birthday, which marks the transition from a child to a young woman. It is commemorated in a way that distinguishes it from her other birthdays. The royal evening ceremony at Disneyland Resort will be filled with opulence, pageantry and tradition. It begins with a dream-come-true moment for any teenage girl - a celebrity escort along a red carpet that leads to the famous Sleeping Beauty Castle. In the forecourt, she will be greeted by Disney characters and prepared for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration. Pretty as a princess in her ball gown, each young lady will share a special waltz with her father, step from her flat shoes into Cinderella-like glass slippers and receive a beautiful bouquet of flowers from her mother. But while the official Quinceañera ceremony may have concluded, the celebration will have just begun for the young ladies, their families and special guests. Following the Castle Forecourt ceremony, each celebrated young lady will be accompanied by her special guests to a private dinner party in Fantasyland Theater. The unforgettable fete will include the traditional Quinceañera cutting of the cake and doll ceremony, two aspects of the event that also mark the transition from childhood to adulthood. Even then, the celebration doesn’t stop! The bright lights will keep shining on these lucky young ladies, as their magical Disneyland Quinceañera is scheduled to be featured in a one-hour television special on Univision network’s "El Show de Cristina." To make these dreams come true, Disney Parks launched a national search for prospective princesses in conjunction with selected Univision news affiliates, Coca-Cola, David’s Bridal and The Cristina Show ("El Show de Cristina"). Together, they found these 15 special girls to celebrate their magical Quinceañeras at Disneyland Resort. All eligible princesses-to-be submitted essays explaining why they wanted to have their coming-of-age celebrations at "The Happiest Place on Earth." The deadline for submissions was March 24. To ensure each Quinceañera girl is dressed as a true "belle of the ball," David’s Bridal, the nation’s leading bridal retailer, will provide each of the 15 girls with a ball gown, tiara and shoes. Southwest Airlines will provide flights for each young lady and up to seven guests to attend the sparkling soiree. Hewlett Packard is donating laptop computers to provide support to each Quinceañera princess as she pursues her educational goals. Kodak is providing specially created Quinceañera-themed cameras so that each girl can capture her unique and thrilling memories. Disney Parks, already a home to lavish ceremonies and magical milestone celebrations for guests visiting from around the globe every year, provides a castle-full of Quinceañera celebration options for young women and their families. Quinceañera celebrations at Disneyland Resort Hotels or Walt Disney World Resort can be traditional, spiritual, large or intimate. Up to 500 guests can enjoy a Quinceañera at Disney Parks, with popular themes including fairy tale treasures like "Cinderella" and "Beauty & the Beast" celebration. Other custom and lavish options include: * Disney character appearances, including Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, dressed in formal or elegant charro attire * Cinderella’s enchanted crystal coach, presented by a quartet of fanfare trumpeters * An artful cake adorned with Disney princesses or characters * A towering, 40-foot-wide castle facade creating a storybook setting for a formal dinner * The Quinceañera girl’s name spelled in lights or illuminated balloons * Intricate ice carvings * Ornate floral arrangements and table centerpieces For more information on Disney Parks’ Quinceañera product offerings, including vacation packages, guests may visit Disneyparks.com/quinceañera or Parquesdisney.com/quinceañera. (Source: Press Release, 04/04/08)
Master Sommelier Michael Jordan Of Napa Rose Will Instruct Guests During Food & Wine Festival April 11 Through May 5 At Disneyland Resort Disney's California Food and Wine Festival presents the magic of cooking and the artistry of fine wine at the Disneyland Resort this spring, part of the Resort's celebration of the "Year of a Million Dreams." Disney’s California Food and Wine Festival Napa Rose, Steak House 55, and Yamabuki Restaurants Take Top Prize, A Golden Sceptre Napa Rose In Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa Showcases California Wine Country Cuisine Award-Winning Restaurants Offer Creative Menu Choices at Disneyland Resort Hotel Restaurants You'll Always Find These Classics on Disneyland Menus Now in its third year, Disney's California Food and Wine Festival will be held April 11 through May 5, 2008, with daily complimentary demonstrations and premiere ticketed events. The four-week festival will include the popular "Taste of California" Marketplace at Disney's California Adventure park, along with exclusive cooking courses at the Napa Rose restaurant and expert wine instruction from a master sommelier. Nearly 100 Disneyland Resort chefs will present cooking demonstrations and guests can learn more about their favorite beverages at the wine, beer and spirit tasting programs held throughout the festival. Many of the culinary demonstrations and seminars are complimentary. Guests can also purchase tickets for the signature events at Disney's California Food and Wine Festival, at www.disneyland.com/foodandwine. * Master Sommelier Michael Jordan, of the award-winning Napa Rose restaurant, will share his passion for wine in the "Taste Wine Like an Expert" class that introduces guests to the joys of wine tasting. For a fee and with advanced registration, each class will offer a basic training in the different types, varietals and blends, taste, structure, and characteristics found in wine servings. * "Festival Wine Receptions" will offer guests an opportunity to enjoy a beautiful sunset and evening under the stars on the patio of the Golden Vine Winery inside Disney’s California Adventure. While sampling from a variety of selected wines and enjoying hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, guests will also be treated to a sparkling way to end the evening - a special viewing of Disney’s Electrical Parade. * Disneyland Resort chefs will partner with premiere California Winemakers to prepare outstanding culinary delights at the exclusive "Winemaker Dinners." Each chef will prepare a Festival meal and pair it with award-winning vintages. * Executive Chef Andrew Sutton will lead the hands-on "Napa Rose Cooking School." Each class will create a themed meal paired with wines, and at the conclusion of the course, each guest will receive a Napa Rose Cooking School chef coat to commemorate the experience. Tickets for the cooking school and other signature events are limited and go on sale beginning Feb. 15. * At the "Taste of California Marketplace," guests will enjoy festival foods created especially for the event. Delicious tapas-sized tastings, along with expertly paired wines and beers, will be available in the Pacific Wharf area. * The new "Sparkling Bar," located in the upper terrace of Golden Vine Winery, will feature champagne and sparkling wines by the glass, paired with wine country tapas. * The Festival’s grand finale, "Taste - Food, Wine, Life," will be held Saturday, May 3, offering guests a delicious celebration of the culinary talents of numerous chefs. "Taste" will also feature specially selected beer, wine, and spirits, along with entertainment throughout the evening. Disney’s California Food and Wine Festival is part of Disneyland Resort’s "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration. Some events may require an additional fee and pre-registration. Events held in Disney's California Adventure Park require theme park admission, which is not included in the event. Disney's California Food and Wine Festival Event Offerings
Complimentary (all daily) "Taste - Food-Wine-Life" May 3, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Spectacular celebration of food and wine is a party for all the senses. Winemaker Dinners, April 11, 18, 25; May 2. Award-winning wines paired with delectable culinary creations, at Steakhouse 55 Festival Wine Receptions, Fridays and Saturdays April 11-26. An evening under the stars, sampling dozens of fine wines. "Taste Wine Like an Expert" April 13, 20, 27; May 4. Entertaining education with Master Sommelier Michael Jordan "Taste of California Marketplace" Daily. Food items specially prepared for the Festival, including Lobster Lollipops, Pepper Crusted Beef Tenderloin Slider, Wild Mushroom Risotto and more, available for sale with wine pairings, at selected food locations. "Napa Rose Cooking School" Saturdays (sold out). Executive chef Andrew Sutton of Napa Rose prepares a meal with 16 pupils, who go home with their own white chef’s coat. *Additional fee required. Advance registration recommended. Events held in Disney’s California Adventure® Park require Theme Park admission which is not included in the price of the event. For more information, go to www.disneyland.com/foodandwine (Source: Press Release)
See this article for some photos of the food:
Disney is going to add Disney characters to its "it's a Small World"
attraction. "The idea has sparked outrage among the family of the
attraction's original designer and prompted a preservation campaign for the
ride, which opened in 1966 and closed for renovations in January."
NEW FUN AND ADVENTURES ARRIVE AT DISNEYLAND RESORT FOR SPRING AND SUMMER OF THE YEAR OF A MILLION DREAMS Innovative new attractions and colorful, new live entertainment are coming to the Disneyland Resort this spring and summer to entertain guests during The Year of a Million Dreams. Friends from the lively and fun worlds of Disney/Pixar movies and Playhouse Disney television shows will bring two new entertainment acts to Disney’s California Adventure park beginning March 14, when both "Pixar Play Parade" and "Playhouse Disney Live on Stage!" premiere. Opening this summer are the new "Toy Story Mania!" attraction, a fun-filled adventure at Disney’s California Adventure, and the "Innoventions Dream Home" at Disneyland. Visitors will get to play along with Disney/Pixar characters in "Toy Story Mania!" - an amazing new attraction that features the next level of interactive technology. "Toy Story Mania!" is scheduled to open in June on the Paradise Pier midway, featuring a larger-than-life Audio-Animatronics Mr. Potato Head who will deliver a zany performance with the voice of famous comedian Don Rickles. Guests will don 3-D glasses and hop into fancifully decorated "Toy Story Mania!" vehicles. While riding along a colorful, midway-themed route, they will take aim at animated targets using their own spring-action shooters, scoring points in a series of energetic, fun gaming sequences featuring Woody, Bo Peep and the rest of the gang from Toy Story. Also in Disney’s California Adventure, characters from Disney/Pixar motion pictures such as Toy Story, a bug’s life, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars and Ratatouille will dance onto the parade route and invite guests of all ages to join in the "Pixar Play Parade," a whirling, spinning, fun-for-all animated playground, brought to life in giant parade floats, puppetry, acrobatics and interactive surprises including bubble and water effects. Over in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot area of Disney’s California Adventure, a cast of friends from the Disney Channel’s hit "Playhouse Disney" programs will appear in an all-new "Playhouse Disney Live on Stage!" show. As Mickey Mouse and his pals from "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" plan a birthday celebration for Minnie Mouse, they will encounter helpful characters from "Little Einsteins," "Handy Manny’ and more. "Playhouse Disney Live on Stage!" is an exciting combination of live performers, amazing puppetry, projections, moving scenery and special effects in which children and their parents will clap, dance and sing along. Also opening this summer will be the "Innoventions Dream Home" in Tomorrowland in Disneyland, an attraction that will remind fans of Walt Disney’s fondness for futuristic ideas. The latest in cutting-edge and inspiring home ideas will be showcased in the Innoventions Dream Home, a 5,000-plus square foot residence featuring integrated digital technology in an immersive "high-tech, high-touch" guest experience. Design and development of the "Innoventions Dream Home" sprang from an alliance between Disneyland Resort, Microsoft, HP, Life/ware and home builder Taylor Morrison. (Source: Press Release, 03/20/08)
Pixar Play Parade’ Will Bring Bubbling Interactive Fun To Disney’S California Adventure Beginning March 14, 2008 All the exciting and colorful worlds of the Disney/Pixar pals - from "Toy Story," "a bug’s life," "Monsters, Inc.," "Finding Nemo," "The Incredibles," "Cars" and "Ratatouille" - will come to life in the all-new "Pixar Play Parade," debuting March 14, 2008, in Disney’s California Adventure as part of the Year of a Million Dreams celebration at Disneyland Resort. Characters from every Disney/Pixar motion picture will appear in the magical immersive parade, which will invite guests of all ages to take part in the playfulness of a whirling, spinning, fun-for-all animated playground. The parade features acrobatics, bungees, high-energy choreography, interactive surprises and lively bubble and water effects. "Pixar Play Parade" features a dozen parade floats up to two stories tall, themed to Disney/Pixar movies and equipped with fun and surprising movement and effects. The cast and crew number more than 100, and behind the scenes is a creative team of top entertainment professionals including Emmy-nominated director Fred Tallaksen (a choreographer for Madonna and numerous television and stage productions), puppet designer Michael Curry (of "The Lion King" on Broadway), costume designer Mirena Rada ("Avenue Q") and composers Matthew Girard and Robbie Nevil ("High School Musical"). Girard and Nevil composed brand new tunes for Pixar Play Parade, including the "Countdown To Fun!" theme, which brings the show to life as it travels through Disney’s California Adventure. Encouraging everyone to dance, play and clap along, Mike, Sulley and their monster buddies from "Monsters, Inc." will lead the procession. Even sourpuss Roz will put in an appearance - and what an appearance! She’ll be the drum major, slithering her way down the parade route. Next up is a flowerbed of hopping, swinging bugs: the colony from "a bug’s life." Then "The Incredibles" will zoom into view, superhero style, aboard amazing hovercrafts. But watch out! The sinister Omnidroid is on the loose and baby Jack-Jack could burst into flames at any moment! From there it’s into the bubbling world of Dory, Marlin, Crush, Bloat and the colorful underwater friends from "Finding Nemo," who invite everyone to "play in schools" (schools of fish, that is). "Ratatouille’s" Remy and Emile are serving up fun, too, turning their kitchen into a super soapy pool of creativity with kids and families as the main ingredients. Woody and the "Toy Story" gang arrive next to encourage guests to kick up their heels, while Buzz Lightyear and the Little Green Aliens celebrate just how "universal" play can be, in any galaxy. Finally, after the parade has been revving up guests throughout the route, lovable Mater and his flashy buddy Lightning McQueen from "Cars" will bring up the rear. (Source: Press Release, 03/10/08)
An All-New 'Playhouse Disney Live On Stage!' Show Will Entertain Young Fans At Disney's California Adventure A whole new cast of friends from "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," "Little Einsteins," "Handy Manny" and more welcome children and their parents to the all-new "Playhouse Disney Live on Stage!" debuting March 14 at Disney’s California Adventure. An exciting combination of live performers, amazing puppetry, projections, moving scenery and marvelous special effects create a show where guests will clap, dance and sing along with some of the most popular characters in children’s television. In addition to the bubbly, breezy effects, music fills the air as youngsters join the gang in singing along with the catchy tunes that make "Playhouse Disney" such a fun place on morning television. During the Year of a Million Dreams celebration at the Disneyland Resort, young guests at "Playhouse Disney Live on Stage!" will be immersed in the interactive magic as their "Playhouse Disney" pals create the best birthday party ever for Minnie Mouse. The 23-minute stage show begins as Casey, the enthusiastic host of "Playhouse Disney," and Mickey Mouse bring the guests to visit the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, where everyone helps prepare for Minnie Mouse’s birthday celebration. The gang shares tales of friendship and teamwork as they encounter their favorite characters from the popular television shows that are big hits with preschool audiences. The stars of the entertaining new show at Disney’s California Adventure are characters from Disney Channel’s hit Playhouse Disney programming block: * "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" - The ever popular Disney characters - Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck and the ever-silly Goofy - pop out in new life-like animated puppetry for young audiences at the show. * "Little Einsteins" - Leo, Annie, Quincy and June use music - and the audience - to help their pal, Rocket, battle his friendly rival, Big Jet, in a high-speed rocket race to the finish line. * "Handy Manny" - From his first Hola, Handy Manny and his handyman tools are front and center for yet another busy day of helping his friends. When the bubble-making machine conks out on stage, Handy Manny and his animated tools save the day. "Playhouse Disney Live on Stage!" first premiered at Disney’s California Adventure in April 2003 and has been wildly successful ever since. New characters have been added over the years, but the show was completely revamped for this production. Hundreds of guests per show will be entertained by an all-new storyline presented with a skillful combination of live performers and puppetry. Performances will be presented several times daily in the park's Hollywood Pictures Backlot. (Source: Press Release, 03/10/08) |
"Disneyland's original "House of the Future," a pod-shaped, all-plastic dwelling, quickly seemed quaint and closed its doors after a decade, in 1967... Disney announced Wednesday that it will soon open a new dwelling in Tomorrowland -- this time in partnership with 21st century technology giants." (http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-disney14feb14) See Press Release below.
Disneyland Resort and Four Parnters will open Innoventions Dream Home in May The Disneyland Resort today announced a five-year alliance with Microsoft, HP, Life|ware and home builder Taylor Morrison to showcase integrated digital technologies for the home in the immersive, story-telling experiences for which Disney is known. The alliance includes the design and development of the new Innoventions Dream Home attraction, a 5,000+ sq. ft. home belonging to the fictional Elias family, scheduled to open in May in Tomorrowland at the Disneyland Resort. Keeping with Walt’s vision of bringing cutting-edge and inspiring ideas to Tomorrowland, the Innoventions Dream Home will introduce Disneyland guests to newly available technology from the participating companies that will enhance their lives today, while providing them a glimpse of the emerging digital advances they may find in their homes in the future. The attraction will provide guests with a "high-tech, high-touch" opportunity to experience technology in an entertaining, low-risk environment showing them how the power of technology can connect them to the people and things they care most about. "We’re thrilled that Disney has chosen Microsoft to bring digital entertainment to life at Disneyland," said Joe Belfiore, Corporate Vice President, Entertainment and Devices eHome Division at Microsoft. "Together, we’re showcasing innovative technology that is both attainable and inspiring, offering park guests the opportunity to see, touch and feel digital home experiences in a simple, fun and interactive environment." "This exciting alliance gives each of our partners a forum to inspire our guests’ imaginations and motivate them to incorporate and enjoy the new technologies that are available today," said Ed Grier, president of Disneyland Resort. "Consistent with the Disney heritage of growth through innovation, the Innoventions Dream Home is just another example of how we are committed to investing in and developing exciting projects that keep our guests returning again." The technology companies will showcase a wide range of technologies and products in the exhibit, including the latest in mobile phones, PCs, digital music and gaming. The Innoventions Dream Home demonstrates how home technology can be simple, intuitive and fun while helping guests understand how to seamlessly interconnect their home, the surrounding community and the world, helping consumers stay closer to the people, places and entertainment that are most important to them. The alliances also help ensure that the Innoventions Dream Home remains on the forefront of technology with the newest devices and products as part of the exhibit. Guests will actively engage in this experience as they help members of the fictional Elias family prepare for a trip to World Soccer Championships in China, where their son is competing. Elias family members rotate throughout the house, randomly interacting with guests in the various rooms. Upon exiting the house, guests can learn more about the companies that collaborated to create the Innoventions Dream House, exploring the technologies for themselves first-hand. The notion of a Dream Home has deep roots at the Disneyland Resort. Walt Disney was fascinated with the concept of a futuristic home and he introduced concepts at World’s Fairs that led to the first "House of Tomorrow" exhibit in Disneyland (1967). Those early versions featured modern conveniences for housewives, but the story line always focused on progress that led to a better way of living. In 1998, Disneyland opened Innoventions, an interactive pavilion featuring what was then considered breakthrough technology: voice-activated computers, high-definition TVs, smart-cars and satellite broadcasting. The intent was not to predict the future, but to let people play with emerging technologies and imagine how those technologies might enhance everyday life. The precursors to the Dream Home enabled people of all ages to experiment with interactive devices, games and exhibits, demonstrating both the fun and the significance of modern innovations. Now comes the Dream Home, a convergence of five companies and their fascination with technology. The combination of Disney’s strong storytelling heritage, cutting-edge technology expertise from Microsoft, HP and Life|ware, and Taylor Morrison’s talent for building an environment that will bring it to life, will inspire Disneyland guests’ imaginations for years to come. (Source: Press Release, 02/13/08)
Mickey And Minnie Mouse Invite Families To Celebrate The ’Year Of The Mouse’ At Disneyland Resort It’s a celebration that has Mickey Mouse’s name written all over it - well, half of his name, anyway. The most famous Mouse of all is inviting families to celebrate the Lunar New Year and Year of the Mouse at Disneyland Resort, the place "Where Dreams Come True." From February 5 to February 29 at Disneyland Park, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will mark the Year of the Mouse by appearing in festive Asian attire to greet guests and pose for photos near Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A. Families can also celebrate with Mickey Mouse in Chinatown, Los Angeles, as Mickey serves as the Grand Marshal of the 109th Annual Golden Dragon Parade and Festival February 9. A limited number of magnetic photo frames and traditional red envelopes including a special ticker offer information will be given to festival-goers. (Source: Press Release, 02/05/08)
A new name and face are joining the ranks of those infamous pirates whose images appear inside the entrance to "Pirates of the Caribbean" in Disneyland. Alongside such legends of the high seas as Captain Jack Sparrow and Barbossa, a specially created portrait of Jenifer Greenwell of St. Petersburg, Florida, now appears along the wall where queuing guests approach the dock to board the attraction. Jenifer was selected at random as the grand prize winner from hundreds of thousands of entries in the "Become a Disney Pirate" sweepstakes conducted in connection with the DVD release of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. Her likeness as "Mademoiselle Greenwell" in pirate costume will stand alongside the others and be viewed by millions of Disneyland guests. Jenifer’s pirate journey, following the news of her big win, took her to the headquarters of Walt Disney Imagineering in Glendale, California. There, in May 2007, she was sketched as a pirate in full costume by Imagineer artist Jim Crouch. She also was given a tour of Imagineering, which few non-Imagineers ever get to experience. Jenifer returned to California in July where, in the Pirate Suite of the Disneyland Hotel, Jim Crouch and other Imagineers showed her the original artwork that he would paint as a four-foot-tall mural on the wall of the attraction. (The other notable pirates in this Pirates of the Caribbean rogues gallery were also painted by Crouch.) The art was unveiled the morning of Tuesday, January 29, in a special presentation featuring Jenifer and some of the pirate denizens of New Orleans Square in Disneyland. "Mademoiselle Greenwell" will remain on view in "Pirates of the Caribbean" through June 2009. In addition, Jenifer was given a VIP tour of Disneyland Resort during her January 29 visit. She met and posed for photos with Disneyland pirates, and took home the original "Mademoiselle Greenwell" artwork developed for the attraction. (Source: Press Release, 01/30/08)
Disneyland Dream Suite Will Be Awarded To A Lucky Guest Most Nights During Year Of A Million Dreams, Starting Jan. 31 For the first time in history, lucky guests will have the chance to spend an unforgettable night inside Disneyland Park during the Year of a Million Dreams, most nights starting January 31, 2008, as part of the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway. A guest will be escorted on the same day awarded into the most extraordinary accommodations at Disneyland Resort: the Disneyland Dream Suite, an in-park apartment with special-effects surprises and vintage design elements in each room. The overnight stay in the Disneyland Dream Suite will be a highlight among the more than a million "dream come true" experiences awarded through random process to eligible Disneyland Resort guests and mail-in participants in the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway. Mail-in winners of prizes that require use on day awarded, such as the Disneyland Dream Suite, will receive a prize of comparable value. Disney Imagineers have devoted months of hard work toward remodeling the suite of rooms above New Orleans Square in the Park, conceived by Walt Disney as a private apartment for his family and closest friends. The rooms, which most recently housed The Disney Gallery, have been restored to Disney’s original vision of deluxe living quarters. Vintage design illustrations, created under Disney’s personal direction, were recovered and used as inspiration for the look, furnishings and other décor elements in the Suite. Special design touches have been incorporated to evoke memories of Disney’s diverse interests and the rich heritage of Disneyland. The guests chosen through a random process to enjoy a "dream stay" in the Disneyland Dream Suite will be following in the footsteps of Walt Disney. His dedication to the constant growth and development of Disneyland Park resulted in frequent overnight stays in a small private apartment which remains today above the Fire House on Main Street, U.S.A. In the 1960s, as plans were developed for the New Orleans Square area, Disney brought in illustrator and designer Dorothea Redmond (Gone with the Wind) and set decorator Emile Kuri (Mary Poppins, It’s a Wonderful Life) to help him create a larger, more lavish apartment where he could entertain friends, family, VIP guests and dignitaries. Unfortunately, Disney passed away before the Suite was completed. Over the years, the rooms were used as offices and to entertain visiting business associates until, in 1987, the space became The Disney Gallery, a unique venue displaying artwork originally created during the development of various Disney movies and theme park attractions. Only now, 40 years later, is Disney’s dream being fulfilled. The rooms have been returned to their original intended purpose and, as Disney wished, the Disneyland Dream Suite will be occupied by overnight guests. "Our plan has been to use the renderings that Walt worked on with Dorothea Redmond and to replicate those as exactly as we can," said Walt Disney Imagineering Art Director Kim Irvine. "Her illustrations were very specific, with a color and style for each room. "But to make it special for the guests, we want it to be more than just a beautiful suite. We want it to be filled with things that might have inspired Walt as he dreamed of Disneyland." Located above Pirates of the Caribbean in the New Orleans Square section of Disneyland Park, the 2,600-square-foot Disneyland Dream Suite includes a living room, open-air patio, two bedrooms and two bathrooms. In addition to that night’s lodging in the Disneyland Dream Suite, each selected 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway winner of the Disneyland Dream Suite will also be celebrated as the Honorary Grand Marshal in that day’s Disneyland parade. The winner and their guests will enjoy dinner, late-night snacks and beverages, and the dazzling view overlooking New Orleans Square and the Rivers of America, where a private balcony provides an ideal vantage point on nights when fireworks or the "Fantasmic!" spectacular are presented. Guests may enter the Dream Suite by climbing the grand staircase outside the entrance to the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. An elevator will be available to accommodate guests with disabilities. Through the doorway at the top of the stairs is the Living Room, designed in a French Provincial style reflecting the New Orleans Square setting. Unusual decorative items like a full-size carousel horse, a mechanical songbird and original wall paintings of European castles will conjure up memories of Walt Disney and the inspirations that went into creating the magical world of Disneyland. The Suite features not one, but two Master Bedrooms. In one, the spirit of early 20th century innovation and the American frontier are summoned with an earthy color scheme, leather furniture, a cast-iron stove, an electric train and vintage mechanical toys. The other Master Bedroom is on the side of the residence nearest Adventureland, and its lush décor and atmosphere evoke the exotic flavor of jungle adventure stories as told in the Victorian era. The Bayou-themed Patio, central to the Disneyland Dream Suite and open to the sky above, is filled with tropical vegetation, furnished with comfortable chaises and illuminated by Chinese lanterns. Using a type of Disney magic familiar to guests on Pirates of the Caribbean, the Patio is also visited by fireflies. As guests settle in for a stay in the Disneyland Dream Suite, they’ll discover special effects surprises in each room. It could be a special tune in a striking clock, a sunset or a starscape that appears when the lights go down, subtle audio enhancements, or something totally unexpected. The Disneyland Dream Suite will be the supreme addition to the catalog of "dreams come true" at the Disneyland Resort during the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway as the Disney Dream Squad delivers dreams, large and small, to eligible guests selected through a random process. For information on how to enter by mail without visiting the parks, please see below. The 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway is part of the Year of a Million Dreams at Disney Parks. At Disneyland Park, the popular immersive entertainment experiences will continue to thrill guests at Disney Princess Fantasy Faire, Jedi Training Academy and Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island. And at Disney’s California Adventure Park, guests young and old will be dancing to the beat of the new High School Musical 2: School’s Out! street show, inspired by the megahit Disney Channel original movie. For information on new attractions, the Year of a Million Dreams celebration and vacations at Disneyland Resort visit www.disneyland.com, call (866) 60-DISNEY or contact local travel agents. Disneyland Dream Suite stay will be awarded most nights beginning 1/31/08. Must stay the same night awarded. Subject to Official Rules/Complete Terms and Conditions (available in English and Spanish) at disneyparks.com/2008rules, which contains information on how to enter by mail. Mail-in winners of prizes that require use on day awarded will receive a prize of comparable value. Open to legal residents of 50 U.S., D.C., Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Japan & UK. Void where prohibited. (Source: Press Release, 01/29/08)
"In honor of the Year of the Rat, Mickey and Minnie Mouse will ring in the
Lunar New Year at Disneyland with traditional red and gold Chinese attire
Feb. 5-29.". They will also appear in the Golden Dragon Parade February
9 in LA's Chinatown.
Disney’s California Food And Wine Festival Set To Showcase Flavors Of The Golden State ANAHEIM, Calif., Jan. 25, 2008 - Disney's California Food and Wine Festival presents the magic of cooking and the artistry of fine wine at the Disneyland Resort this spring, part of the Resort's celebration of the "Year of a Million Dreams." Now in its third year, Disney's California Food and Wine Festival will be held April 11 through May 5, 2008, with daily complimentary demonstrations and premiere ticketed events. The four-week festival will include the popular "Taste of California" Marketplace at Disney's California Adventure park, along with exclusive cooking courses at the Napa Rose restaurant and expert wine instruction from a master sommelier. Nearly 100 Disneyland Resort chefs will present cooking demonstrations and guests can learn more about their favorite beverages at the wine, beer and spirit tasting programs held throughout the festival. Culinary demonstrations and seminars are included with admission to Disney's California Adventure park. Guests can also experience a dash of magic at these Disney's California Food and Wine Festival events: * Master Sommelier Michael Jordan, of the award-winning Napa Rose restaurant, will share his passion for wine in the "Taste Wine Like an Expert" class that introduces guests to the joys of wine tasting. For a fee and with advanced registration, each class will offer a basic training in the different types, varietals and blends, taste, structure, and characteristics found in wine servings. * "Festival Wine Receptions" will offer guests an opportunity to enjoy a beautiful sunset and evening under the stars on the patio of the Golden Vine Winery inside Disney’s California Adventure. While sampling from a variety of selected wines and enjoying hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, guests will also be treated to a sparkling way to end the evening - a special viewing of Disney’s Electrical Parade. * Disneyland Resort chefs will partner with premiere California Winemakers to prepare outstanding culinary delights at the exclusive "Winemaker Dinners." Each chef will prepare a Festival meal and pair it with award-winning vintages. * Executive Chef Andrew Sutton will lead the hands-on "Napa Rose Cooking School." Each class will create a themed meal paired with wines, and at the conclusion of the course, each guest will receive a Napa Rose Cooking School chef coat to commemorate the experience. Tickets for the cooking school and other signature events are limited and go on sale beginning Feb. 15, at www.disneyland.com/foodandwine. * At the "Taste of California Marketplace," guests will enjoy festival foods created especially for the event. Delicious tapas-sized tastings, along with expertly paired wines and beers, will be available in the Pacific Wharf area. * The new "Sparkling Bar," located in the upper terrace of Golden Vine Winery, will feature champagne and sparkling wines by the glass, paired with wine country tapas. * The Festival’s grand finale, "Taste - Food, Wine, Life," will be held Saturday, May 3, offering guests a delicious celebration of the culinary talents of numerous chefs. "Taste" will also feature specially selected beer, wine, and spirits, along with entertainment throughout the evening. (Source: Press Release)
"The first new monorail car in two decades slid onto the Disneyland
track on Thursday as the theme park prepares for guests to ride it starting
in late February." The new cars will sport blue and purple glass and window
seating that gives riders a view of the parks, Disneyland Hotel and Downtown
Disney as they travel.
The park is going to offer tours of Walt Disney's secret apartment
during Disney's 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway.
For a review of the Steakhouse 55 restaurant in the Disneyland Hotel,
see:
"Disneyland's 'Small World' attraction to get upgrade: Disneyland
insists fat tourists aren't to blame, but the park's upgrade of its 41-year-old
attraction will include deepening the waterway and making its boats more
buoyant."
‘The Fairest One Of All’ Celebrates 70 Enchanting Years Newly Recovered Priceless Art From ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’Joins Amazing Three-Dimensional ‘Toy Story’ Zoetrope at the Disneyland Resort ANAHEIM, Calif. (November 7, 2007) - Unique celebrations of two motion picture icons will be on view beginning Saturday, Nov. 17, exclusively at the Disney Animation attraction in Disney’s California Adventure park at the Disneyland Resort. The Walt Disney Animation Research Library has spent more than seven months creating "The Fairest One of All," a stunning and rare collection of more than 120 pieces of concept art, story sketches, animation drawings, backgrounds and cels created during the development and production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Disney recently acquired many of the pieces from a private collection including several that have never been publicly displayed. The exhibition, which provides an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look into the creation of this motion picture classic, will take over the Courtyard Gallery entrance hall of the Disney Animation pavilion at Disney’s California Adventure. Meanwhile, in an adjoining gallery, visitors can explore the principles of animation itself as they marvel at the new Toy Story Zoetrope, an amazing three-dimensional 21st century variation on the Victorian novelty device which presented early "moving pictures." Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, celebrating the 70th Anniversary of its original 1937 release, was Walt Disney’s first feature-length animated film and earned him a special Academy Award: one full-size Oscar and seven little ones. Toy Story, produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures in 1995, was the first feature-length computer-animated film and won an Academy Special Achievement Award for its director, John Lasseter, now Chief Creative Officer of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. Separated by nearly 60 years of animation history, Snow White and Toy Story are the only two animated motion pictures on the most recent American Film Institute list of the top 100 films of all time, and they represent a continuing legacy of animation excellence at The Walt Disney Company. "The Fairest One of All" exhibition includes a never-before-seen collection of priceless art used in the creation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs created by such Disney animation "legends" as Joe Grant, Eric Larson, Art Babbitt and Milt Kahl. Among the rare items presented in the exhibition are visualizations of such early concepts as a panther companion for the story’s Evil Queen, redheaded and blonde versions of Snow White, various story gags not used in the film, and depictions of the Queen based on actresses Joan Crawford and Katharine Hepburn. The Toy Story Zoetrope is unique in its own way. Originally created for the "20 Years of Pixar Production Art Show" at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Zoetrope creates the illusion of movement by presenting a rapidly changing sequence of images - actual three-dimensional models - of characters from both Toy Story films: Woody, Buzz Lightyear, cowgirl Jessie, horse Bullseye and even the little green Aliens. The figures are mounted on a spinning disk and lit with a strobe which creates a sense of continuous motion, as if the characters have actually come to life before your eyes. Both "The Fairest One of All" exhibition and the Toy Story Zoetrope can be found, beginning Nov. 17, in the Disney Animation pavilion, located in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot area of Disney’s California Adventure park. Admission to Disney Animation is free with general admission to Disney’s California Adventure. (Source: Press Release)
Snow Blankets Sleeping Beauty Castle, Creating New Look For The Holidays At Disneyland Resort New enchantment arrives in Disneyland as the holiday season finds "Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle" covered in freshly fallen snow. With its exciting new look, the Castle will serve as a shimmering centerpiece for a daytime holiday celebration, and as a snow-capped stage for the new music, lighting and special effects that will precede the legendary "Believe ... in Holiday Magic" nighttime fireworks spectacular. The Castle will create a magical sense of wintertime enchantment throughout the holidays at Disneyland, adding to the many delights that traditionally welcome guests when Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure parks are transformed into dazzling holiday wonderlands. By day, "Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle" will be a sparkling Disneyland landmark and photo location for holiday visitors from around the world. As evening arrives, the Castle will undergo a transformation as special lighting effects and a new musical score take guests on a journey that dramatizes a young child’s dream for snow! This magical spell will build to the highlight of the evening: the fireworks spectacular, "Believe ... in Holiday Magic," which will take guests on a journey of sights and sounds of the season and will end with a touching rendition of "White Christmas" and one of Disneyland’s most beloved holiday traditions: a climactic snowfall that swirls down on Main Street, U.S.A., small world mall and New Orleans Square. To top it all off, the beautiful blanket of snow on the Castle will begin to shimmer like never before! Such holiday magic may be found throughout the day in both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure during the holiday season. Themed entertainment, sparkling decorations, tasty treats and the annual holiday transformations of "it’s a small world" and the Haunted Mansion will add festive seasonal fun and warmth to Disneyland Resort visits from November 16 through January 6. The transformation at the Resort will come during Disney Parks’ ongoing Year of a Million Dreams celebration where guests’ dreams, large and small, are coming true through the Disney Dreams Giveaway. Upon entering Main Street, U.S.A, in Disneyland, holiday guests will find the traditional 60-foot-tall evergreen Disneyland Christmas tree that is grandly decorated with 10,000 ornaments and holiday lights. "Santa’s Reindeer Round-up" will return to Big Thunder Ranch in Frontierland, with the ranch transformed into a "West Pole" getaway where Santa can unwind with Mrs. Claus and his team of reindeer. Kids and their families can chat with St. Nick, see real reindeer grazing in a corral, play some reindeer games, create take-home Yuletide souvenirs and join in holiday line dances with music from a Western trio. The Resort’s annual holiday parade, "A Christmas Fantasy," will be presented November 16 through January 6 on Main Street, U.S.A. This ever-popular procession depicts an enchanting collection of holiday scenes, music and a cast of Disney characters and performers in Yuletide vignettes. Toy soldiers march in cadence, friendly snowmen dance and Santa waves from a soaring sleigh as his reindeer prance below. Haunted Mansion Holiday returns with a madcap celebration where the traditions of Halloween and Christmas collide. The ghoulish but well-meaning Jack Skellington from the film Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas has come to the Haunted Mansion to transform it with his skewed vision of the holidays. In Fantasyland, the classic "it’s a small world" again will become "it’s a small world Holiday" with a popular seasonal overlay that transforms this classic Disneyland attraction into a holiday trip around the world. More than 300,000 glittery lights will adorn the attraction’s façade. Disney’s California Adventure will celebrate the season with fanciful park-wide decorations and lively entertainment. Guests approaching the park will immediately get in the holiday mood as the iconic entrance-way letters that spell "CALIFORNIA" will be transformed to appear as swirling red and white peppermint sticks. Inside "a bug’s land," Flik and his bug buddies will spread giant Christmas lights, oversized ornaments and towering candy canes throughout their realm. Alongside Paradise Bay, a beautifully decorated Christmas tree will provide a dazzling sight as other nearby trees sparkle with hundreds of lights and the lampposts are decorated with seasonal wreathes. Sunshine Plaza becomes "Santa’s Beach Blast," where the Disney characters playfully blend classic holiday images with the California beach lifestyle. Santa the Surfer greets guests near a Woody wagon sleigh, and the area is filled with seaside-style holiday decorations. During the holidays, the fun will be extended with expanded park hours for both Disneyland Resort theme parks for much of the season. Downtown Disney District and the Disneyland Resort hotels will join in the merriment with twinkling lights and ornaments, special entertainment and holiday dining. Also contributing to the holiday fun will be the continuation of the Disney Dreams Giveaway and the immersive entertainment experiences of the Year of a Million Dreams at Disney Parks. At Disneyland, guests can meet and interact with Disney Princesses at Disney Princess Fantasy Faire, with Jedi Knights at the Jedi Training Academy and with Captain Jack Sparrow and his crew at Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island. At Disney’s California Adventure, guests young and old will be dancing to the beat of the new High School Musical 2: School’s Out! street show, inspired by the megahit Disney Channel original movie. (Source: Press Release)
Theme Parks in Fire Zones: "Disneyland and California Adventure in
Anaheim were open, said Bob Tucker, spokesman for Disneyland Resort. He said
Disney hotels were waiving penalty fees for guests who canceled stays because
of the fires." "The Anaheim Resort Transit has started hourly service from the Amtrak station to Disneyland and area hotels. Now, visitors can take the train from places such as Santa Barbara, Los Angeles or San Diego, then zip over to the theme parks or hotels and back on a $3-a-day shuttle or trolley." (http://www.ocregister.com/news/art-transit-service-1893446-city-area)
Disney Announces Significant Expansion Plan For The Disneyland Resort Multi-Year Build-out Plan Includes Major Attractions and a New "Cars Land" at Disney’s California Adventure The Walt Disney Company today unveiled a significant multi-year expansion plan for the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim that continues its growth as a multi-day, world-class tourist destination. Announced by Disney President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger and Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo at a press conference at Walt Disney Imagineering’s Glendale headquarters, the expansion will bring new entertainment and major family-oriented attractions to Disney’s California Adventure, including an entirely new Cars Land inspired by the hit Disney/Pixar animated film Cars. "The success of the Disneyland Resort over the past few years provides us with both the opportunity and the need to invest for growth, to enhance and expand the experience for our guests and attract new visitors, while at the same time delivering attractive returns on the investment," said Iger. "This plan is a reflection of our belief in the bright future of the Disneyland Resort and our continuing commitment to grow the Anaheim Resort Area as a world class tourist destination." Disney Imagineers will be bringing more of Walt Disney into Disney’s California Adventure, celebrating the hope and optimism of California that attracted Walt to this land of opportunity in the 1920s. Guests entering the new Plaza will be instantly immersed in the world that inspired Walt during his early days as an animation pioneer. The new, interactive Walt Disney Story attraction will set the stage for the unfolding story of Walt that will permeate the park. The expansive program reaches throughout Disney’s California Adventure, with an amazing Little Mermaid attraction, a groundbreaking, signature nighttime spectacular and new viewing area for 9,000, and the addition of the 12-acre Cars Land featuring the world of Radiator Springs with three new attractions. Extensive landscaping, new retail and dining will create an even richer environment throughout the park in ways that reinforce Guests’ connection with Walt. "Our Disneyland Guests have a deep emotional connection with Walt Disney, whose life story really captures the pioneering spirit of California in the 1920s," said Rasulo. "The creative evolution of Disney’s California Adventure will connect guests to Walt’s own California adventure and reflect the place that he found when he first arrived with a cardboard suitcase in his hand and a head full of dreams." The expansion is part of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts’ overall growth strategy of continuing to invest in its core business of existing parks and resorts around the world, while exploring new opportunities to capture more of the growing family vacation market. This announcement follows Disney’s ground-breaking last month for a 250-room expansion of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, including 50 rooms dedicated to the West Coast debut of Disney Vacation Club, the company’s growing time share business. Multi-day, World-Class Tourist Destination Today’s announced expansion builds upon the transformation of the Disneyland park into a multi-day destination resort that began in 2001 with the creation of the Disneyland Resort and the opening of Disney’s California Adventure Park, Downtown Disney and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Since then, the Disneyland Resort has continued to grow with the addition of popular attractions and shows, including: Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!, Block Party Bash, High School Musical 2: Schools Out!, Disney Princess Fantasy Faire, and Jedi Training Academy, along with the re-Imagineering of Space Mountain and enhancements to Pirates of the Caribbean. "This expansion builds on a commitment we made more than a decade ago to create and grow the Anaheim Resort Area as a world-class tourist destination where guests would want to stay for more than one day," said Disneyland Resort President Ed Grier. "That investment has become a success for Disney, the Anaheim community and for the economy of Southern California." According to the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau, Anaheim is one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in the country, enjoying some of the highest hotel occupancy rates in the nation and attracting millions of visitors each year who spend billions of dollars. Coming to Disney’s California Adventure Over the Next Several Years In addition to the new themeing and attractions, Disney’s California Adventure will receive new restaurant and retail innovations, landscaping to enrich the placemaking, facade and graphics enhancements, and an extensive menu of entertainment and events. Disney’s California Adventure is already home to some of the Disneyland Resort’s highest-rated attractions and shows, including: Soarin’ Over California, California Screamin’, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and the Broadway-caliber show, Disney’s Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular. Cars Land The expansion will culminate with an entirely new, 12-acre addition: Cars Land, immersing guests into a world inspired by the hit Disney/Pixar movie, Cars, playing to America’s love affair with automobiles. Radiator Springs Racers, a major "E-ticket" attraction, places guests right in the middle of the amazingly detailed, dimensional Cars world of Mater, Lightning McQueen, Doc and Sally. Guests get a quick race briefing from Doc and Lightning, and suddenly find themselves in the midst of a race around hairpin turns and steep banks. Cars Land increases capacity to the park with two additional immersive family rides, featuring Luigi and Mater from the movie. Cars Land represents an unprecedented level of collaboration between Pixar Animation Studios and Disney Imagineering to create this extensive new area. The new land will substantially extend the total area of Disney’s California Adventure park. Paradise Pier Paradise Pier will host major new attractions beginning next summer with the opening of Toy Story Mania!, a ride-through, interactive adventure where Guests ride into a high-energy 4-D carnival midway hosted by Toy Story characters. Woody, Jessie, Buzz, Hamm and the gang come to life in amazing ways, immersing guests in the rich stories of the Pixar blockbuster Toy Story films. A major ride based on Disney’s classic The Little Mermaid comes to the park’s Paradise Pier with leading-edge animation and special effects. Guests will dive into the magnificent scenes and magical songs from the movie. A Mermaid Grotto area with a fountain and sand castle will offer new play experiences for children. Unique Nighttime Spectacular The dramatic and unique Disney’s World of Color will bring new nighttime excitement to Paradise Pier. This nightly panorama of spectacular water effects, colorful lighting and music will bring Disney animation to life with an entirely new creative and technical approach. The 9,000 person viewing area offers prime waterside viewing of the show - and provides a site for live entertainment, music festivals, and outdoor film premieres. Entry Plaza and Gateway The totally new gateway to Disney’s California Adventure welcomes guests into an immersive world of historic California streets as Walt experienced them as a young artist arriving with big dreams. A new visual icon in the tradition of Los Angeles, California’s great entertainment palaces will draw guests into the heart of the attractions. This new facility, which was inspired by Los Angeles’ historic Carthay Circle Theatre that premiered Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937, will house a next generation Walt Disney Story featuring an interactive tribute to Walt’s California experiences, and his entertainment legacy that continues world-wide today. Red Car trolleys reminiscent of the old Pacific Electric Railway will travel up and down the main street. New dining and shopping experiences and a slate of unique, live entertainment will bring energy to the Walt Disney Plaza. Hollywood Pictures Backlot Hollywood Pictures Backlot will be a new home for a slate of special ticketed events and chances to hear first hand from innovative directors, writers and animators. An update of the popular family show "Playhouse Disney" will provide an experience for younger children. Golden State The "Golden State" area of the park will see the addition of numerous new dining opportunities tied to the incredible bounty of California’s farmland and its rich ethnically diverse food heritage. Food and wine festivals that celebrate the seasons, tastes and cultures of the dynamic communities of the Golden State will entertain guests, bringing unique one-of-a-kind experiences. Preview Center A Preview Center located on San Francisco Street in the Golden State region of the park will feature models, Imagineering concepts - giving park guests a sneak peek at the excitement that lies ahead. The Preview Center is scheduled to open in late 2008. (Source: Press release)
Walt Disney’S Own Disneyland Dream Suite Will Open Its Doors To Lucky Guests For An Overnight Stay Inside Disneyland Park For the first time in history, lucky guests will have the chance to spend an unforgettable night inside Disneyland Park during the Year of a Million Dreams most nights starting January 31, 2008 during the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway. A guest will be escorted on the same day awarded into the most extraordinary accommodations at Disneyland Resort: the Disneyland Dream Suite, an in-park apartment originally planned for Walt Disney himself. The overnight stay in the Disneyland Dream Suite will be a highlight among the more than a million "dream come true" experiences awarded through random process to eligible Disneyland Resort guests and mail-in participants in the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway. Mail-in winners of prizes that require use on day awarded, such as the Disneyland Dream Suite, will receive a prize of comparable value. Disney Imagineers are hard at work remodeling a suite of rooms above New Orleans Square in the Park, conceived by Walt Disney as a private apartment for his family and closest friends. The rooms, which most recently housed The Disney Gallery, will be restored to Disney’s original vision of deluxe living quarters. Vintage design illustrations, created under Disney’s personal direction, have been recovered and are being used as inspiration for the look, furnishings and other décor elements in the Suite. Special design touches are being incorporated to evoke memories of Disney’s diverse interests and the rich heritage of Disneyland. The guests chosen through a random process to enjoy a "dream stay" in the Disneyland Dream Suite will be following in the footsteps of Walt Disney. His dedication to the constant growth and development of Disneyland resulted in frequent overnight stays in a small private apartment which remains today above the Fire House on Main Street, U.S.A. In the 1960s, as plans were developed for the New Orleans Square area, Disney brought in illustrator and designer Dorothea Redmond (Gone with the Wind) and set decorator Emile Kuri (Mary Poppins, It’s a Wonderful Life) to help him create a larger, more lavish apartment where he could entertain friends, family, VIP guests and dignitaries. Unfortunately, Disney passed away before the Suite was completed. Over the years, the rooms were used as offices and to entertain visiting business associates until, in 1987, the space became The Disney Gallery, a unique venue displaying artwork originally created during the development of various Disney movies and theme park attractions. Only now, 40 years later, is Disney’s dream being fulfilled. The rooms are being returned to their original intended purpose and, as Disney wished, the Disneyland Dream Suite will be occupied by overnight guests. "Our plan has been to use the renderings that Walt worked on with Dorothea Redmond and to replicate those as exactly as we can," said Walt Disney Imagineering Art Director Kim Irvine. Her illustrations were very specific, with a color and style for each room. "But to make it special for the guests, we want it to be more than just a beautiful suite. We want it to be filled with things that might have inspired Walt as he dreamed of Disneyland." Located above Pirates of the Caribbean in the New Orleans Square section of Disneyland, the 2,600-square-foot Disneyland Dream Suite includes a living room, open-air patio, two bedrooms and two bathrooms. In addition to that night’s lodging in the Disneyland Dream Suite, each selected 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway winner of the Disneyland Dream Suite will also be celebrated as the Honorary Grand Marshal in that day’s Disneyland parade. The winner and their guests will enjoy dinner, late-night snacks and beverages, and the dazzling view overlooking New Orleans Square and the Rivers of America, where a private balcony provides an ideal vantage point on nights when fireworks or the "Fantasmic!" spectacular are presented. Guests may enter the Dream Suite by climbing the grand staircase outside the entrance to the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. An elevator will be available to accommodate guests with disabilities. Through the doorway at the top of the stairs is the Living Room, to be designed in a French Provincial style reflecting the New Orleans Square setting. Unusual decorative items like a full-size carousel horse, a mechanical songbird and original wall paintings of European castles will conjure up memories of Walt Disney and the inspirations that went into creating the magical world of Disneyland. The Suite features not one, but two Master Bedrooms. In one, the spirit of early 20th century innovation and the American frontier will be summoned with an earthy color scheme, leather furniture, a cast-iron stove, an electric train and vintage mechanical toys. The other Master Bedroom is on the side of the residence nearest Adventureland, and its lush décor and atmosphere will evoke the exotic flavor of jungle adventure stories as told in the Victorian era. The Bayou-themed Patio, central to the Disneyland Dream Suite and open to the sky above, will be filled with tropical vegetation, furnished with comfortable chaises and illuminated by Chinese lanterns. Using a type of Disney magic familiar to guests on Pirates of the Caribbean, the Patio will also be visited by fireflies. As guests settle in for a stay in the Disneyland Dream Suite, they’ll discover special effects surprises in each room. It could be a special tune in a striking clock, a sunset or a starscape that appears when the lights go down, subtle audio enhancements, or something totally unexpected. The Disneyland Dream Suite will be the supreme addition to the catalog of dreams come true at the Disneyland Resort during the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway as the Disney Dream Squad delivers dreams, large and small, to eligible guests selected through a random process. (Source: Press Release)
"Since its 2001 debut, the Walt Disney Co. theme park Disney's California
Adventure has floundered in the shadow of its legendary neighbor, Disneyland.
To fix it, Disney is now planning a $1.1 billion overhaul -- the most extensive
makeover the company has ever given to a theme park."
Alain writes: "Hi John, I will be purchasing my Disney admission tickets this week. I was reading the latest edition of Affordable Disney book and it says that a Hopper pass with no expiry can be used for entry at the Disney parks in California too (but not the other way around)." Disneyland writes:
"A full-size carousel horse, a mechanical songbird and original wall paintings
of European castles will be among the decorations in a private living
suite under construction at Disneyland... A stay in the suite is among
the prizes to be awarded in 2008 through Disney's Year of A Million Dreams
promotion. Disney's HalloweenTime is now in full swing. "Candy corn will sprout from a plaza at Disney's California Adventure. Villains, incuding Cruella De Vil and Captain Hook, will roam theme park lanes..." (Source: ocregister.com, 09/20/07) "Beginning September 21 through January 6, 2008, Ariel's Grotto, in Disney's California Adventure, will be available as a Character Breakfast dining experience. Breakfast will be served from 8:30 - 11 a.m. for $25.99 for adults and $13.99 for children and priority seating can be made, through Disney Dining (714-781-DINE)" (Source: laughingplace.com, 09/14/07) "Disney, owner of about 26,000 hotel rooms nationwide, also announced Tuesday that it will expand its Grand Californian Hotel & Spa in Anaheim to increase the accommodations there by more than 30 percent. The expansion, expected to be completed in late 2009, will add more than 200 hotel rooms and 50 vacation villas with kitchens, Disney said." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 09/19/07) "Midway Games near California Screamin' roller coaster have shut down to clear space for the under-construction Toy Story Mania! ride - based on the animated movie "Toy Story" - which is scheduled to open in summer 2008. A firm date has yet to be announced." (Source: ocregister.com, 09/13/07)
Disneyland Resort Expanding Disney’S Grand Californian Hotel & Spa First West Coast Disney vacation villas planned Responding to a growing demand for guest accommodations in Anaheim, the Disneyland Resort today celebrated an expansion of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa that will increase accommodations by more than 30 percent and will include the first Disney Vacation Club villas in Anaheim. This expansion, scheduled for completion in late 2009, will involve 300 union construction jobs and result in 100 new hotel jobs. It underscores Disney’s long-term commitment to growing and investing in Anaheim. The expansion also marks the latest in a series of major additions to the Resort that include the newly launched Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at Disneyland and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney’s California Adventure. "This expansion underscores our commitment to growing and investing in both the Disneyland Resort and the Anaheim Resort Area," said Ed Grier, president of the Disneyland Resort. "These new hotel rooms and villas will give more people the opportunity to enjoy the immersive vacation experience Disney is known for. We know that our guests value being able to stay in the middle of the magic with our world-class theme parks, shopping and dining just steps away." The 2.5-acre expansion on the hotel’s south side will add more than 200 new hotel rooms and 50 two-bedroom equivalent vacation villas. Those vacation villas, to include kitchens, living and dining areas and other home-like amenities, will mark the West Coast debut of Disney Vacation Club, Disney’s innovative vacation-ownership program. "For more than 50 years, the Disneyland Resort has been investing in our community and they have helped us bui |
