It’s another big week for the Disneyland Resort as the all new Grizzly Peak Airfield and the spiffed-up Soarin’ Over California debuted on Friday.  With its all-new, hi-def projection and brand new screens, does the ride benefit from the attention given to it?  That is, of course, not to mention the re-themed land that came along with it.  All the bling is up and in place in both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure with the media kick off slated for this coming weekend.  There are still walls around Peter Pan’s Flight, and the façade of Pinocchio’s Daring Journey in Fantasyland, but the walls have been removed around the Matterhorn Bobsleds which opens this Friday.  Let’s get into the parks and see what is left to be done before the big 60th Anniversary weekend.

Programming note: Andy Castro is taking some personal time off. Never fear though, Dateline Disneyland will return in time to cover the 60th Anniversary celebration for you.

 

May 22nd is the kick-off to the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration! Looming ever closer, this Friday will also mark the first performances of the “Paint the Night” parade, “World of Color – Celebrate! The Wonderful World of Walt Disney” and “Disneyland Forever” fireworks.  6am Friday will also be the beginning of the huge 24 hour kick-off party.  The stage is set, the decorations are up and the cupcakes are being made as we speak.

 

 Disneyland 24-hour Event Merchandise

Created especially for the 24-hour party, there will be new cupcakes and shirts with the “Up All Night” logo.

Tees and pins will be available at:
• Disneyland park – Emporium and Little Green Men Store Command
• Disney California Adventure park- Elias & Co.
• Downtown Disney District – World of Disney Store

Cupcakes can be found at:
• Disneyland park – Candy Palace
• Disney California Adventure park – Trolley Treats
• Downtown Disney District – Marceline’s Confectionery

Kelly and Michael “LIVE” Taping

Yesterday, the popular morning talk show, LIVE with Kelly and Michael, began taping episodes that will air this week. Filming will continue through Tuesday morning with two episodes being shot Monday morning at 7:30am and 10:30am with a final episode being taped in Main Street’s Town Square at 10:30am Tuesday.

Fantasyland

Here is a rundown of the projects going on in Fantasyland.

Peter Pan’s Flight

As we know, Peter Pan’s Flight will not reopen with the park’s 60th celebration kick off.  Instead they are taking the time to do the project right and it is now set to return on July 1st.

Pinocchio’s Daring Journey

Work forges ahead with the work on the façade of Pinocchio’s Daring Journey.

Village Haus

Meanwhile the scaffolds have disappeared from the exterior of the Village Haus restaurant.

 

Matterhorn Bobsleds

Walls have vanished and bobsleds have been testing as the Matterhorn prepares to send riders down the icy slopes of the majestic Matterhorn once again on Friday.

Innoventions

Outside the Innoventions building we see that they have decided to use the walls as decorative billboards for the new Tomorrowland film that opens this Friday as well.

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

The façade work on Buzz Lightyear has finished, leaving a lovely, shiny, new, toy-like appearance to the entrance.

 

Buena Vista Bling

More 60th Bunting has been rushed in to Buena Vista Street with awkward results. Using the same bunting that is used on Main Street’s taller buildings, the more intimate structures of Buena Vista Street seem clothed in over-sized fabrics.

Grizzly Peak Airefield

Friday, the all newly re-themed area, Grizzly Peak Airfield, laid to rest another of the nasty remnants of Pressler-era themeing in the park.  While nothing is innovative here, it finally adds a cohesive look to the Grizzly Peak area of the park.  We also got to enjoy the newly digital Soarin Over California with the snazzy hi-def projection, screens, and sound.  Lets explore.

 

Certainly nothing elaborate, but it’s appropriate to theme.

 

 

 

The retail location is now called Humphrey’s.  Nice.

 

Now on to Soarin’ Over California.  It’s great to have this attraction back and looking good again.  The ride film, while totally unchanged, has enjoyed a full upgrade to hi definition digital projection, an all new screen, and an all new sound system.

The FastPass kiosks received an overhaul as well.

Now we enter the show building.  The big sign on the top of the building has been completely removed with only a small “Soarin'” sign above the entrance under the canopy.

Once inside the building everything is just as it was, only cleaned up.

The ride begins with a slightly different profile that some may take issue with.  Instead of going totally dark, riders are now lifted up into the lit, blue screen.  Then the projection fades in as the blue fades out.  A subtle difference, but one that seemed to take the mystery and the reveal of sudden flight away.  There is no WOW moment as if you are suddenly hundreds of feet in the air.  You see yourself lift off the ground, into the screen and BAM the cloud projections appear.  I personally think this cheapens the jaw-dropping moment when you are at once gliding through the clouds.

The big question; Is the digital projection better?  Overall, yes.  The film was originally shot on large format film, with a high frame rate to simulate more realistic movement.  This transfers wonderfully to digital as a natural translation of the high frame rate is what digital is made for.  The problem lies however, not in the motion, but in the clarity and colors.  We seemed to lose the rich blacks and tonal shades that are hallmarks of film.  The colors of the hot air balloons pop against the blue Napa sky, but the trees along the river in the beginning of the ride become muddy in tones of brown, green and grey.  We also have major issues that pop up in the more subdues moments in Malibu and the Disneyland finale.  Here the calming orange tones that faded into magenta and cobalt blue are now just a burnt umber color.

Yes, the sound is ear-blastingly good.  We also still have the orange-scented pine trees, the pine-scented orange trees, and the crisp, Forrest smell of the crashing waves of Malibu.  Yes it’s still a wonderful glide over lovely vistas.  With a few lighting queue tweaks at the beginning they could have everything just fine here.

One note, we rode both theaters and the one on the right seems to be having some minor projection problems with a noticeable darkened area in the center of the screen, with the color balance all wonky. We would recommend asking to wait for the theater on the left if you have the time until they get these projection problems sorted out.

Overall, the upgrades to Soarin’ should end up being very good for the ride once the kinks are worked out. The image should remain sharp and without dust particles. The projectors won’t require as much maintenance or break down as often. This is a much needed technology upgrade.

 

 

Mad T Party

The Mad T Party continues its return to the hodgepodge theme that is Hollywood Land.

 

Luigi’s

Construction continues at Luigi’s.  But at least now they are letting the kids play checkers out front.

Embarcadero

Closing the article we share the nice work on the Embarcadero façade,  It looks great!

 

 

 

Take care and we will see you In The Parks.  

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Weekly News & Information Round-Up
[center]Closure and Refurbishment Schedule[/center]
[b][center]Disneyland Park[/center][/b]
Matterhorn Bobsleds: Closed for refurbishment, reopens May 22. Peter Pan’s Flight: Closed through July 1 for refurbishment and enhancements. Innoventions: Closed. Rumored to reopen in May with new exhibit for Disneyland’s 60th Anniversary.
[b][center]Disney California Adventure[/center][/b]
Luigi’s Flying Tires: Closed for re-Imagineering into new attraction. Reopening not yet announced. Muppet*Vision 3D: Dark indefinitely while theater is used for Frozen-themed show. [B]Blue Sky Cellar:[/B] Closed indefinitely.

There you have it folks.  We really hope that you enjoyed In The Parks on Mondays.  Andy will be back this Friday in full force with a complete guide to the 60th Anniversary celebration and then he will also deliver a full update one week from today!Are you planning to attend the 24 hour party this weekend?

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Promotional consideration for this edition of Dateline Disneyland was provided by the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel & Water Playground.