Disneyland officially announced plans for its big 60th Anniversary celebration last week in an after-hours media event on Main Street, U.S.A. The event officially announced a slew of new nighttime entertainment including a new take on the classic Main Street Electrical Parade, an all-new version of World of Color, and a new fireworks show that will transform Disneyland — from Main Street to the skies — into a giant canvas for Disney stories. Meanwhile, refurbishments continued in both theme parks, with Sleeping Beauty Castle disappearing behind scaffolding as work begins on its 60th Anniversary transformation. In Disney California Adventure, the Boudin Bakery Tour reopened with some great changes and a fresh new look.
Don’t miss your weekly Disneyland Resort crowd forecast — provided by our friends at MouseAddict — in the Weekly News and Information Roundup at the end of today’s update!
We’ve got a huge update for you today, so let’s get started!
| Welcome to Disneyland! |
The winter off-season continues with lovely weather and light crowds in the parks…
The new Disney-themed Starbucks merchandise we showed you last week quickly sold out in both parks but more will be on its way soon.
| Disneyland announces Diamond Celebration |
On Wednesday, Disneyland closed early for a special media event to announce its highly-anticipated 60th Anniversary plans. While last week’s announcement didn’t include every detail about the year-long celebration, Disney did confirm the Disneyland Diamond Celebration will officially kick off May 22 with new fireworks, a new nighttime parade, an all-new World of Color show, and special decorations in both theme parks.
The announcement included Disney Parks Chairman Tom Staggs and Imagineering’s Steve Davison previewing the new “Paint the Night” parade and the upcoming “Disneyland Forever” fireworks. Below, Disney-released video from the announcement.
http://youtu.be/z-YNlsdSswc
at Sleeping Beauty Castle & Carthay Circle Theatre
Below, concept art depicts Sleeping Beauty Castle with its 60th Anniversary overlay, featuring special diamond-themed decorations and banners in “shades of Disneyland blue.”
From the Disney Parks Blog announcement:
As part of the celebration, the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland park and Carthay Circle Theatre in Disney California Adventure park will glisten and gleam, each with its own diamond medallion featuring the letter “D.” The entire resort will sparkle with Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration décor and festive banners in shades of Disneyland blue.
Work is now underway to get the diamond overlay ready by May. Water is back in the moat after scaffolding went up around the Castle.
Below, concept art for the Carthay Circle Theatre, which will also get dressed up for the 60th with sparkling diamond decorations.
Diamonds coming soon…
New Electrical Parade
From the press release:
New technology and unleashed imagination permeate this after-dark parade, flooding Main Street, U.S.A., in Disneyland with vibrant color and more than 1.5 million, brilliant LED lights that flash and glow as they bring Disney stories to life. The luminescent parade introduces a new era of magical entertainment, as Mickey Mouse uses his imagination to harness the power of Tinker Bell’s pixie dust and “Paint the Night” in dazzling Disney dreams. Those dreams include special appearances by Mickey’s pals and beloved characters from tales such as “Monsters, Inc.,” “Cars,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Toy Story” and “Frozen.” The parade features special effects, unforgettable music, energetic performances, fun surprises and spectacular floats, with Mickey leading the grand finale.
The parade, which first debuted in Hong Kong Disneyland mostly looks like a great contemporary successor to the classic Main Street Electrical Parade, but was the semi-truck character from “Cars” really the best option for a parade float?
Fireworks Spectacular
The new “Disneyland Forever” fireworks replaces the fan-favorite “Remember… Dreams Come True” fireworks from Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary celebration. The new show appears to be heavy on movies and characters but will feature new projection and special effects throughout the park, making it the most immersive fireworks show in Disneyland history.
Details on the new show from the press release:
The Disneyland Resort tradition of creating big, dazzling fireworks shows will soar to new levels as “Disneyland Forever” immerses guests in stories from the tips of their toes to the sky high above. Thanks to the largest installation of projection mapping technology in a Disney park and surprising special effects, guests will find themselves transported into the worlds of beloved Disney and Disney●Pixar films, including a dance with King Louie from the “The Jungle Book” and a flight over London with characters from “Peter Pan.” Showing just how magical the Magic Kingdom can be, the fireworks “stage” will extend to Main Street, U.S.A., “it’s a small world,” Rivers of America and the Matterhorn as projections transform familiar park icons into stunning story scenes. Two original songs also will be featured, the theme “Live the Magic,” and the inspiring closing song “Kiss Goodnight,” written by Disney Legend Richard Sherman. “Disneyland Forever” will be visible from Main Street, U.S.A., and several Disneyland locations.
The show will now only light up the skies above Disneyland, but it will also cover Main Street, U.S.A. and other locations in the park with immersive new projections. The preview of the projection technology looks promising and hopefully the final show will deliver some amazing visuals. There’s a ton of potential there and it’ll be exciting to see what Davison and his team do with it.
Below, Disney’s video of the fireworks projections previewed at the 60th Anniversary media event, which includes one of two new songs written for the show, “Live the Magic”
The Wonderful World of Walt Disney
While the Disneyland fireworks seem to focus heavily on characters and movies, the new version of the popular World of Color show at Disney California Adventure is getting a big dose of Walt Disney. The new show, hosted by Mickey Mouse, promises to be the 60th Anniversary’s big nostalgia-heavy show that Disneyland’s fireworks were for the 50th.
From the press release:
Mickey Mouse will entertain guests as mischievous host of this fun-filled new presentation of the popular, nighttime “World of Color” spectacular in Disney California Adventure. Illuminating the night in a contemporary and moving celebration of Walt Disney and his dream of Disneyland, Mickey Mouse will take guests on an inspirational journey through the unparalleled imagination of Walt Disney, exploring his decades-long legacy of memorable animated moments and the dream of Disneyland Park. Both epic and intimate in scope, “World of Color – Celebrate!” brings to life the remarkable story of Walt and The Happiest Place on Earth with animated imagery, live-action film, fountains, lasers, special effects and a stirring musical score, all on the magical water canvas of “World of Color.”
In the park, the World of Color platform is getting a lot of attention as the show infrastructure is refurbished and upgraded before the new show’s debut in May.
In addition to special decorations and a whole lot of new nighttime entertainment, Disney will of course have a ton of new merchandise and food options to commemorate the 60th anniversary, which they’ve started to tease already. But even with the new entertainment, decorations and food, there’s still more on the way…
In Fantasyland, Peter Pan is now closed as the ride continues the trend started with Snow White’s Scary Adventures and Alice in Wonderland for big technological upgrades that give the rides some contemporary shine while retaining their classic flavor.
The Matterhorn is also still closed as it gets some TLC along with some rumored enhancements to its classic ice caverns and Abominable Snowman.
Last week we showed you a strange new wall that materialized inside the Haunted Mansion following the removal of its holiday overlay. Fans speculated that the new addition was related to the long-rumored return of the fabled Hat Box Ghost, and Disney seemed to confirm the rumors after a vague Disney Parks Blog post that referenced that strange new wall in the Mansion.
From the blog post:
Now that Jack Skellington has given the Haunted Mansion back to its 999 happy haunts, the classic attraction is open once again for Disneyland park guests. And those with a keen eye will notice something strange when they leave the mansion and enter its spooky cemetery on their Doom Buggies … but what disquieting metamorphosis is happening in this space?
We shared video and photos of this strange new addition in last week’s blog. Below is a re-post of our video:
The Walt Disney Imagineering pavilion at the 2013 D23 Expo featured a Hat Box Ghost audio-animatronics figure much to the excitement of fans in attendance. At the time, WDI insisted the figure was made just for the Expo, but perhaps we’ll be seeing something similar inside the Mansion soon.
Video of the Hat Box Ghost figure from the 2013 D23 Expo:
And in Disney California Adventure, the former Condor Flats area is closed as it continues its transformation into the new Grizzly Peak Airfield. The re-imagined area will shed itself of its desert airfield theme, taking on more of the lush Grizzly Peak area National Parks-style aesthetic.
This project not only includes re-thinking the theme of an existing area of the park, but also includes a major upgrade for the area’s big E-Ticket attraction. Soarin’ Over California will return in time for the 60th with new crystal-clear HD projection and an updated fly-over of the Disneyland Resort.
Condor Flats desert-themed rock work is being removed…
Taste Pilot’s Grill’s facade is getting a new look
| Fresh Bread |
The 60th Anniversary news may have dominated Disney headlines last week, but there was plenty of other stuff happening. Last week we showed you the Boudin Bakery Tour’s refreshed exterior, a part of that attraction’s larger refurbishment and enhancement project. On Monday, the Bakery Tour reopened, giving guests a much nicer but far more casual experience — still with fresh Boudin sourdough samples.
Inside, the pre-show room has been completely opened up. A shorter two-minute version of the Rosie O’Donnell and Colin Mochrie video is now presented, playing on a loop.
New informative displays on Boudin’s history are included in the preshow room. Guests can linger as long as they want here to check out the displays or watch the introduction video, or they can bypass it entirely and head straight into the bakery.
(You can click on any image for a larger version!)
The video is a shortened version of the same Rosie and Colin video that’s always played here, but instead of following Rosie and Colin along through the rest of the tour this is is the only place you’ll hear from them.
Meet the Boudin family
The bakery observation area remains much as it always has been, now with added informational signage and displays and without overhead video screens.
A new interactive True or False game on Boudin Bread is featured. A fun little addition that looks quite nice.
New signage allows for a self-guided reading tour of the bakery.
The step-by-step signage is broken up by “Ask a Baker” signs that feature fun facts about making sourdough.
A big new wall display showcases more of the history and heritage of Boudin.
Previously space used for a window display on Monterey, California’s historic Cannery Row is now opened up on the inside of the Bakery Tour with tables. The added indoor seating will be a nice addition for folks eating bread bowls from the Pacific Wharf Cafe next door.
No more window display!
Overall, the changes here are very nice. Much of the dated Rosie O’Donnell and Colin Mochrie-hosted tour video is gone, but Disney has gone in and added a lot of great new displays and signage ensuring the attraction is still an interesting and informative experience. Nice work!
| It’s Tough to be a Princess |
Over in A Bug’s Land, the Bug’s Life Theater is currently hosting a special sneak preview of Disney’s upcoming live action remake of “Cinderella.”
The extended preview is not in 3D but features some in-theater special effects. “Cinderella” hits theaters March 13.
| Refurbishment Round-Up |
Work continues in both theme parks as the May launch of Disneyland’s 60th Anniversary inches closer. Disneyland is expected to host a media announcement detailing the 60th Anniversary plans this Wednesday. We’ll fill you in on all of the official announcements and plans in next week’s update.
The Disneyland Railroad is now closed for refurbishment and will reopen on February 13.
The New Orleans Square train station is now behind tarps for refurbishment.
In Fantasyland, “it’s a small world” reopens this weekend after its holiday overlay is removed. The attraction’s iconic facade will stay behind its tarps, however, while work continues on its refurbishment.
Critter Country remains closed while Splash Mountain and Hungry Bear Restaurant get refurbishments.
In Tomorrowland, the Magic Eye Theatre is still closed with all of its Big Hero 6 signage.
But nearby, the Starcade is now completely closed…
Is “Tomorrowland” moving in?
Back in DCA, Grizzly River Run is dry for refurbishment…
The nearby Redwood Creek Challenge Trail is also closed for some work
The Pacific Wharf Cafe will reopen this weekend following its refurbishment.
Over at the Disneyland Hotel, fall safety work continues…
The hotel’s Monorail pool will reopen this weekend.
| They’re Going to Disneyland! |
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman and cornerback Malcolm Butler will celebrate their Super Bowl XLIX win today at Disneyland. The Super Bowl champion cavalcade will step off from Town Square and head toward “it’s a small world” starting at noon.
Update 2/2/15, 12:45 pm: We’ve added this year’s version of the iconic “We’re Going to Disneyland!” Super Bowl commercial below.
| Meet the HoJo! Presented by the Howard Johnson Hotel & Water Playground |
After looking at Howard Johnson Anaheim’s history, recent upgrades, and spectacular location, we continue our special series on the hotel with a look at the people behind the magic. The Howard Johnson Anaheim’s spectacular 50 year reputation doesn’t come solely from its rich history and location — a big reason why folks love HoJo is because of its people. The HoJo is well-known for its friendly staff that goes above and beyond to make your stay as fun and relaxing as possible — you’re on vacation after all, and the HoJo staff is here to help you make the most of that vacation!
Today we’re introducing you to four of HoJo’s longtime staffers with their own vacation tips and stories to tell from behind the HoJo front desk!
Meet Paula, a Front Office Manager at Howard Johnson for 26 years!
- What’s the best part of working at the iconic Howard Johnson?
Besides working alongside the friendliest and best group of people any hotel could ever have, it is so wonderful to hear firsthand from all of our guests that our customer service far exceeds their expectations. We have so many repeat hotel guests, and that is the number one reason why people keep coming back. Our first-time guests are thoroughly impressed as well and so happy that they chose our hotel. Our hotel strives to make people feel welcome, special, and genuinely cared for. Howard Johnson is the second happiest place on earth!
- Give us an insider tip for a Disneyland first-timer
Take the time to carefully plan your trip and get as much information you can before your trip begins, so you can best utilize your time while staying in the Anaheim Resort. There is so much information publicized now with websites, Disney blogs, and social media, you should have no trouble getting most of the information you need at your fingertips. But when in doubt, give us a call directly at the hotel or send us an email — there is always someone here who is friendly, knowledgeable, and patient to answer all your questions!
- Tell us about a time you made some extra “magic” for a guest
Because I have worked here for so many years, there have been many instances where I have provided some extra “magic”. I should have written all of them down! The one that comes to mind is when one of our guests returned from a local mall. Once she returned to her room and was unpacking what she purchased that evening, she realized that one of the department stores failed to take off the sensor tag when she purchased it. Unfortunately, the mall had already closed for the evening. She was departing the next evening on a flight back home to Australia and she already had an LA/Hollywood tour booked for her last day here. I did not want her to have to cancel her tour just to go back to the mall and get the sensor removed. So I told her I would go to the mall and take care of it for her while she was on her tour. At that moment when I assured her that I would take care of it she started to cry! She said she simply couldn’t believe I would actually do that for her. She was very grateful and appreciative for me handling a problem of hers even though it was completely unrelated to our hotel.
Meet Rafael, a Front Office Supervisor at Howard Johnson for 12 years!
- What’s the best part of working at the iconic Howard Johnson?
The best part of working here at the HoJo is being a part of a great team and interacting with our amazing guests. The staff here cares about our guests like family. When guests have questions or problems or need personalized recommendations, we are able to assist and give them peace of mind.
- Give us an insider tip for a Disneyland first-timer
I always remind first timers not to be afraid to ask questions, especially with our front desk staff. We can help guide them to have a better experience at the theme parks and offer tips on how to relax while they are here; like a local!
- Tell us about a time you made some extra “magic” for a guest
I remember a time when a family arrived after a delayed flight and their luggage, money, and credit cards had all been flown to a different country. I told them not to worry and took them to Target so they could have some fresh clothes for a couple days. We were also able to cover their first day to Disneyland and their meals until they were better situated. They could not thank the staff enough and said they felt like part of the family at the HoJo. That is how we make lasting friendships, and customers for life.
Meet Greg, a Front Office Supervisor at Howard Johnson for 10 years!
- What’s the best part of working at the iconic Howard Johnson?
My favorite part of working at the Howard Johnson has to be our amazing staff. Everyday that I work at the front desk, it is as if I get to hang out with three good friends for eight hours. Everyone is so nice, good natured, and funny that it makes it easy to have a great day at work. That positive attitude is infectious, and our guests feel it too.
- Give us an insider tip for a Disneyland first-timer
My best tip for first timers is to go EARLY, and this is coming from a night person! The lines are the shortest at the beginning of the day, so hit the big attractions like Star Tours, Indiana Jones and California Screamin’ at opening. Plus, HoJo sells multi-day Park Hopper tickets so you can avoid another line if you buy your tickets at the front desk before you head into the parks! If the day ever gets too long, just get your hand stamped for re-entry and take the quick 8-minute walk back to the hotel for a quick nap or a splash at our Castaway Cove water playground.
- Tell us about a time you made some extra “magic” for a guest
While some of our guests were out shopping at a nearby mall, a member of their party suffered a heart attack. I found this out when one member of the family stopped by the front desk – visibly upset – and said she wanted a cab so she could visit her brother at UCI Medical Center. I immediately organized a town-car to take her there and bring her back to the hotel. While we were waiting for the car, she mentioned how she was worried about catching their return flight which was fast approaching. I was able to contact Qantas and get them a credit on their account for a future flight. I then obtained the request forms needed for her brother to be able to fly home. I filled out these medical forms for her then faxed them to the doctor’s office. Once everything was signed by the doctor I contacted Qantas again and was able to change their flight. Thankfully, they were able to change their itinerary without a change fee! I also arranged for special transportation for them back to the airport. The family was so grateful they sent us a little care package of Aussie snacks, a family photo, and an update of the patient’s status. I am glad to report that he is doing well! I look so forward to having them return and enjoy a full Disneyland holiday WITHOUT any health issues.
Meet Rick, a Front Office Supervisor at Howard Johnson for 6 years!
- What’s the best part of working at the iconic Howard Johnson?
The HoJo has an awesome reputation when it comes to family hotels near Disneyland. It is always great to be a part of the “winning team”! For example, the HoJo at Disneyland is a household name across Canada, Australia and New Zealand. But the best part of working here is when you see the faces of both the kids and parents light up when they call HoJo home. We see family groups of up to four generations stay with us and we could not be happier.
- Give us an insider tip for a Disneyland first-timer
Leave all your stress and problems behind — it’s time to be a kid again.
- Tell us about a time you made some extra “magic” for a guest
Nowadays, a family vacation can be very costly. We see a lot of hard working families that save up for years for their visit. Unfortunately a lot of them are not seasoned travelers. I recently had a family of four staying with us for a week and they were just so excited to be at the HoJo and to be so close to Disneyland. Their hotel booking was made directly with us and I noticed they were paying the full commercial rate for their room. While talking to them during the check-in process I found out that they have been planning this vacation for over four years and had no set plans and no pre-paid tickets. I knew very quickly that this family was about to realize the cold truth of just how much it costs for a Disneyland getaway. To help them out, I was able to locate a better rate that was available for their reservation, and eventually saved them 20% on their rooms. These savings not only paid for one of their Disney tickets but also allowed them to book an extra tour for the whole family. The parents were very appreciative and the family stopped by the front desk every day to share what they did and how much fun they had. The smile and the twinkle in the kids’ eyes was priceless, and THAT is where the magic is!
 Enjoy retro fun just steps away from Disneyland at Howard Johnson Hotel & Water Playground A short walk from the park, HoJo Anaheim is conveniently located next to Matterhorn Mountain at Disneyland with nearby dining, freeway access, FREE parking and FREE Wi-Fi. For more information on HoJo Anaheim, room rates, or to book your stay today, visit HoJoAnaheim.com/MiceChat Save with MiceChat & Passholder Discounts Every Day! The HoJo Anaheim is now offering daily discounts for MiceChat members and even DEEPER discounts for Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders! For more information visit the HoJo Anaheim Innsider Boards which features an up-to-date listing of available nights, or call (714) 776-6120 and ask for In-House Reservations to book. If your date isn’t listed, the HoJo Anaheim still offers rooms for 20% off their best available rate if you call (714) 776-6120.  |
| Weekly News & Information Round-Up | ||
| Weekly Theme Park Hours February 2-8, 2015 |
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| [B]Disneyland Park[/B] | [B]California Adventure[/B] | |
| Mon.-Thu.: 10 am – 8 pm Friday: 9 am – 12 am Sat.-Sun.: 8 am – 12 am |
Mon.-Tue.: 10 am – 8 pm Wednesday: 10am – 6pm Thursday: 10 am – 8 pm Friday: 9 am – 10 pm Sat.-Sun.: 8 am – 10 pm |
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| [CENTER]For a complete listing of theme park hours, visit the Disneyland.com Theme Park Calendar[/CENTER] |
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| [center]Closure and Refurbishment Schedule[/center] | ||
| [b][center]Disneyland Park[/center][/b] | ||
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| [b][center]Disney California Adventure[/center][/b] | ||
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| [b][center]Downtown Disney and Disneyland Resort Hotels[/center][/b] | ||
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February 2 – 8
The free Mouseaddict app for iPhone and iPad features more than five dozen categories of searchable resort information, weather forecasts, park and show schedules, the latest news and articles from MiceChat, and more. Download free on the App Store or at mouseaddict.com.
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| [center]Headline Roundup A quick look at noteworthy Disney theme park headlines from around the web.[/center] |
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| Alright, that wraps up this week’s super-sized Dateline Disneyland. Are you excited for Disneyland’s 60th Anniversary? Let us know what you’re most excited about in the comments section below!
Your donations really do help keep Dateline Disneyland alive! We’re still here because of your help. If you enjoy getting your weekly Disneyland fix from Dateline Disneyland, please consider helping us with a safe and fast PayPal donation — click here! For more Disneyland news, be sure to read MiceChat’s weekly In the Parks blog. And be sure to check out our sister blog, Dateline Disney World – a fantastic weekly photo blog covering Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida! Thanks for reading. See you at Disneyland! |
   
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| FTC-Mandated Disclosure: Promotional consideration for this edition of Dateline Disneyland was provided by the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel & Water Playground. |