Walt's Magic Kingdom - The Blog

Monday Quote from Walt Disney

2012-01-23T03:06:00.000-08:00

"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." -Walt Disney

Some Special Sights at Knott's from 1/12/2012

2012-01-13T11:24:00.000-08:00

Marion Knott and the Mayor of Calico at the re-dedication

A real live bandit

Marion, posing for press.

Backstage tour of the Calico Saloon stage, by "Fingers" himself.

Fantastic model trains on display this weekend only.

A roundhouse you can visit!

The Lone Boysenberry

2012-01-12T22:24:00.000-08:00

It's very unorthodox of me to put posts about Knott's up on this blog, but today I visited the park for the 60th re-dedication of the Calico Railroad and Ghost Town. I learned that there is only one known boysenberry bush remaining inside the park. It's located on the outside of the roundhouse but unless you are touring the building, you probably won't ever notice it. It seems the last of the known bushes were removed from the park when the Silver Bullet was installed over the lake. This current bush was transplanted from some of the other remaining bushes across Western Avenue several years ago.

Pulling An All-Nighter

2012-01-01T20:58:00.001-08:00

I was there! at the 60 hour party in 1986 for Captain Eo's premiere and again in 1987 when Star Tours opened at Disneyland. I remember lots of people sleeping on benches and a long line that stretched down to Main Street. I even still have my Captain Eo t-shirt given out to everyone who attended the party.

Disney announced early this morning that they will be holding a similar event at both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom on Feb 29th from 6am through March 1st at 6am. This time it's only 24 hours and not three days, but it's the same concept.

I must admit that I am intrigued over the idea of being at Disneyland and perhaps riding the Haunted Mansion at 3 in the morning. As for staying the full 24 hours, forget it. For me, it would likely end up causing an aversion to the park that could last for weeks. I'm not gonna take the chance.

Happy New Year from Walt's Magic Kingdom

2011-12-31T20:59:00.000-08:00

Original Cel from Steamboat Willie held by The Walt Disney Archives

Merry Christmas from Walt's Magic Kingdom!

2011-12-24T02:58:00.000-08:00

The Disney Archives Christmas Tree

Missing the Reindeer

2011-12-13T07:27:00.000-08:00

Photo from Flickr

The Christmas Fantasy Parade of the old days featured the tall, silly looking reindeer, with tongues that hung out farther than Pluto's. They were whimsical. The newer reindeer appear more feminine, in my opinion.

Breakfast with Leonard

2011-12-11T22:41:00.000-08:00

The man is a legend. I mean who knows more about movies than Leonard Maltin? I sourced a lot of material from him while working on my masters thesis, specifically on the topic of Disney films. When I found out I was going to get to interview him regarding his 2012 Movie Guide, I couldn't decide what not to ask him. I was only going to have 10 minutes and I had so much that I wanted and could discuss with him.

First off, I inquired why he is still printing a book version of his guides being that we live in this iPad/Kindle/digital age. Well he quickly informed me that the information is available as an App for your Ipod and iPad with more information than what could be put in the book. The other reason for the book is the target audience - older people. I even told him how as a kid, I used to go through his books and memorize stats like a sports fan memorizes baseball cards. The fact is that older generations are not necessarily interested in looking up information on the internet, they want a physical reference guide. And really, a book is just easier to use.

Maltin also explained that he too will use IMDB on occasion but it it not always the most effecient way to find or organize data. Sometimes you want the simplicity of a book, where you can look up the title and see if it's worth watching and who starred in it.

Since we share a love of Disney animation, I went on to discuss some concepts with him. One of my first questions was to name his favorite Disney short. He quickly and simply answered "The Band Concert." You'll recall that one. It's where Mickey is conducted the orchestra in the park as it gets picked up and carried away by a tornado. It was the first color Mickey Mouse cartoon and is considered by many to be one of the best. It even has it's own theme park attraction at DCA! It was no surprise that Maltin named it as his favorite.

I went on to discuss with him my actual thesis topic, which was the restoration of Disney's animated features and the loss of the animation art. I wish had this access to him about six years ago when I had first begun that project. He made a good point, which is that as much as they try, there is no way to completely reproduce on a DVD and television the look of those animated films which were recorded onto silver nitrate film and projected against a silver screen. They can come close but it won't look the same. There is also the slippery slope of "what were they trying to make it look like?" Akin to "What would Walt do?" He thinks the most recent restoration work done Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was excellent.

My time with Mr. Maltin went by all too fast, but I did get to ask one other fun question: Keaton or Lloyd? While he appreciated my slant on the old question of Keaton or Chaplin, he still refused to answer. He said it was pointless to try to say one is better than the other. While I admit I am a Harold Lloyd fan over Chaplin and Keaton, it is still silly to compare them against each other. Each was a master of comedy. The discussion ended when Tony Anselmo walked by the table and had some small talk with Maltin. That too was almost unbelievable.

Much like our conversation, the book is awesome. Maltin's 2012 Movie Guide has grown by another 300 entries since the 2010 edition with over 17,000 movies covered. He also has the Classic Film Guide with over 10,000 movies from the beginning of film through the 60s with even more detail given to each movie. These books would make great holiday gifts and are reasonably priced at Amazon. Get your 2012 Movie Guide now!

Lucky photo op!

2011-12-09T06:45:00.000-08:00


(c) Disney

On a recent studio visit by D23 for media, they just happened to also be taking a photo for an upcoming D23 magazine issue. After watching the initial photo being snapped, we were invited into the photo for the legends and luminaries. In addition to the media and family members of those special guests, were the following people:

Kathryn Beaumont - voice of Alice and Wendy
Alice Davis - Imagineer
Lisa Davis - voice of Anita in 101 Dalmatians
Joe Hale - animation producer
Dickie Jones - voice of Pinocchio
Margaret Kerry - model for Tinker Bell
Burny Mattinson - storyboard artist
Floyd Norman - animator
Richard Sherman - composer/lyricist
Ruthie Thompson - scene planner, ink and paint girl (101 years old!)
Tyrus Wong - background artist for Bambi (also 101 years old!)

Another visit to the Disney archive

2011-12-07T04:58:00.000-08:00

D23 hosted a media event recently to give a us a presentation of some of the upcoming D23 events. While at the Disney Studios, we were also given another chance to explore around the archives, including the mysterious second floor! Below are some items I found interesting:

Disneyland Barker Bird

Jug from Darby O'Gill and the Little People

This photo is just one of many bookshelves of random items. Above, you can see heads from Pirates and Haunted Mansion. There is also a small model of the multi-plane camera. The maquette on the right is from The Black Cauldron. The ships on the left were used for designing the ships for the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

Happy Birthday Uncle Walt!

2011-12-05T07:42:00.000-08:00

110 Years Young Today!

Meeting Richard Sherman

2011-12-05T04:39:00.000-08:00

I had the awesome opportunity to visit the archives as a D23 media guest. In addition to learning about all the fantastic D23 events coming up, I also was able to rub shoulders with several Disney legends and luminaries such as Alice Davis, Dickie Jones, Floyd Norman and Richard Sherman.

We all were fortunate to have Richard Sherman sit down at Walt's piano and play some tunes. This is the same piano that the Sherman Brothers used to showcase their new tunes for Walt in his working office. This piano for many years was seen inside the Opera House on Main Street at Disneyland.

Richard Sherman played for us the music to Feed the Birds, followed by a sing-along of Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Lastly, he played Chimpanzoo, a song cut from Mary Poppins prior to production.

After the performance and after many of the guests left, I approached him for a photo and some small talk. I told him how much I enjoyed the documentary "The Boys" about he and Robert's relationship. I also expressed my appreciation for the legendary music he created over years. He mentioned how special it was to work at the studio during Walt's time. "It felt like a family," he said. To say it was a magical moment is an understatement. All of the invited luminaries seemed truly happy to be recognized. Their group photo will appear in an upcoming issue of the D23 Magazine.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T08:29:00.001-07:00

Photo (c) Disney

Main Street Popcorn

2011-10-17T00:36:00.000-07:00

Fresh, hot golden popcorn. Freshly popped during a cool fall evening at Disneyland.

Main Street Cinema Ticket Taker

2011-10-03T00:20:00.000-07:00

Dressed in her finest fall fashion, Tilly, the Main Street ticket taker is always working!

Halloween Time descends on Disneyland

2011-09-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

Halloween Season is in full swing. I'm looking forward tonight to checking out Mickey's Halloween Party for 2011. I expect lots of people, long lines for Space Mtn and Haunted Mansion Holiday and hopefully generous candy distribution. The event is not scary, other than Space Mountain.

Mickey's Halloween Party
$49 per person for Advance price (September 30, October 3, 11, 18 & 25)
$59 per person for Day-of-Event price (September 30, October 3, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21 & 25)
$64 per person for Premium price (October 18 & 31)

Some unique features of this event include:

Halloween Screams fireworks spectacular (9:30 each night)
Photos with favorite Disney Villains
Special treat stations offering both candy and healthy goodies
Mickey's Costume Party Cavalcade (8:30 and 10:30 each night)
Piratepalooza in Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante, kick up your boots with Goofy and other swashbucklers
Buzz Lightyear's Intergalactic Space Jam -- a high-energy dance party that goes to infinity and beyond

Halloween Time at Disneyland

2011-09-14T09:09:00.000-07:00

In just a couple of days, Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain: Ghost Galaxy will open at Disneyland, kicking off the relatively new event of Halloween Time at Disneyland. I'd have to say that this is my favorite time of the year, not just for Halloween but also the weather cooling off and a slower pace after the busy summer.

As a kid, I became obsessed with Knott's Halloween Haunt beginning around 1987. I've been back every year since and it is probably the only time of year I ever visit Knott's. I can't recall the last time I visited during daylight. I've also had an annual pass to Disneyland since 1984. Disneyland always seemed to poo-poo the idea of doing anything remotely close to what Knott's has been doing for almost 40 years with Halloween. However, with the growing popularity of the Haunt, it was only a matter of time before Disneyland tried to cash in the holiday as well. Every year, Americans have been spending more and more on Halloween, making it a huge industry, so it's only expected that Disney is looking to get into that market too.

I've been enjoying the Halloween Time festivities at Disneyland and it was great to have Mickey's Trick or Treat return to Disneyland in 2010, now called Mickey's Halloween Party. I plan to visit this year and report back. Stay tuned.

Carthay Circle Club

2011-08-28T23:36:00.000-07:00

Disneyland has Club 33 and now it looks like DCA will have their own exclusive club as part of the makeover process. “The Carthay Circle Club”, or Triple C will be part of the new Carthay Circle replica being built in the main entry at California Adventure. There will be one or two lounges and a probably restaurant being built. One or more of these may be exclusive to the club.

At the D23 Expo, Disney execs again mentioned a teaser about extending the Club 33 program in some form, but no mention was made about whether or not the Carthay Circle Restaurant would be included in that effort.

Voices of the Parks, but mostly Disneyland at the D23 Expo

2011-08-22T23:19:00.000-07:00

One of the few panels was able to get into to see was the Voices of Parks presentation with a panel of actors who have recorded voices and soundtracks for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Below, I highlight some of my favorites.

Photo: Disney

In between the guy in purple and the guy with the glasses is Corey Burton, the voice of Haunted Mansion Holiday (doing a Paul Frees imitation) as well as the parking lot tram and many others. He confirmed that he declined the change to record the new safety warning in the Haunted Mansion that was added a couple of years ago. He did not want to add to Paul Free's original masterpiece. Burton described it as adding a mustache to the Mona Lisa.

Photo: Disney

In this photo is BJ Ward, who voiced the PeopleMover and to her left is Bill Rogers, the current voice of Disneyland.

Disneyland Fantasyland Additions - just announced!

2011-08-20T12:48:00.000-07:00

The Princess Fantasy Faire is moving from next to Small World to the Carnation Gardens. What will essentially become an expansion of Fantasyland, was announced yesterday at D23. Officially, called the Fantasy Faire.

"Guests will travel through a village square surrounded by fairytale cottages and pavilions to the heart of the square – Tangled Tower, inspired by the film. The village square will come alive with activities and entertainment, including a Royal Ribbon Parade where guests can dance and interact with Belle or Rapunzel. Guests can visit the their favorite Disney royalty from such films as “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Cinderella,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Tangled.”

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

This photo depicts Fantasy Faire stage (Carnation Gardens) to the left and Sleeping Beauty's Castle would be directly to the right of this image, out of frame.

D23 Expo has arrived!

2011-08-18T22:46:00.001-07:00

I will be attending and adding content through the weekend. This year is going to have some fantastic surprises. Follow me on Twitter at @no1here.

Disney Studio - Legends Plaza and the Archives

2011-08-16T23:28:00.000-07:00

The only other version of this is in the Magic Kingdom in WDW.

Legends Plaza at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, features this statue of Roy Disney, the Walt Disney and Mickey Partners statue and the hand prints of all the Disney Legends to date.

Absent Minded Professor Miniature prop

I am really looking forward to the Archives exhibit this year at the D23 Expo. It was big crowd pleaser in 2009 and this year is going to be even bigger. My photo of the Absent Minded Professor prop was taken on my recent studio visit when we stopped by the Archives for a visit. The D23 Expo opens this Friday!

Walt Disney's former office at the Disney Studio

2011-08-14T22:14:00.000-07:00

Walt's former office at the studio

On my recent visit to the Studio for the D23 Expo preview, I was able to take this shot of the exterior of Walt's office. The current occupant is Shaun Cassidy and his production company. This is the same office that you once could seen in the lobby to the Walt Disney Story and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. It used to exhibit his working office and formal office.

D23 will feature presentation on new attractions, movies and products coming the The Walt Disney Company all debuting in the near future. Members of D23 also get opportunities such as a tour of the Disney Studios throughout the years. You do not need to be a member of D23 to attend the Expo.

Golden Horseshoe Visit

2011-08-12T01:40:00.000-07:00

Just a few days after the passing of Wally Boag and Judy Taylor (one day apart), I stopped by to take this photo. It was a bit eerie that day staring at the empty stage with an empty house.

D23 Expo is almost here!

2011-08-09T23:53:00.000-07:00

On my recent visit to the Disney Studios for the D23 Expo preview, I was also fortunate enough to meet Bill Farmer - the voice of Goofy for over 25 years. But did you also know that he also voices Pluto and Horace Horsecollar? He was made a Disney Legend in 2009, an award presented to him at the first D23 Expo.

This year the Disney Awards will presented to other voice actors like Jodi Benson, Paige O'Hara, Lea Salonga, Linda Larkin and Anika Noni Rose among others. The Expo is August 19-21, 2011.

Pixar Panels at D23

2011-08-09T14:56:00.000-07:00

For the 25th Anniversay of Pixar, the following panels will be taking place at D23, next weekend:

A Conversation with the Pixar Creative Team
Enjoy a rare opportunity to spend some time with the key figures responsible for Pixar's unprecedented success, including John Lasseter (chief creative officer, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios), Jim Morris (general manager, Pixar Animation Studios), Pete Docter (director, Monsters, Inc.,Up), Andrew Stanton (director, Finding Nemo,WALL-E), Bob Peterson (co-director, Up), Lee Unkrich (director, Toy Story 3), Mark Andrews (director, Brave), and Dan Scanlon (director,Monsters University).
The Characters of Monsters University
Director Dan Scanlon and Production Designer Ricky Nierva discuss how they combine hair, horns, and a lot of heart to bring the wonderful Monsters University characters to life.
Michael Giacchino's Music of Pixar
In this musical presentation, award-winning composer Michael Giacchino explores his early influences through the creation of modern-day classic scores from Ratatouille, Up and Cars 2.
The Art of Brave
Production designer Steve Pilcher and shading art director Tia Kratter show how they and their team put paint to canvas and fingers to computer keys to create the stunning visuals of Scotland for Disney•Pixar's upcoming film Brave.
Pixar Shorts
Hosted by Tim O'Day, this retrospective screening of the animation studio's legendary short films will be followed by a panel discussion with several of the filmmakers, including Ralph Eggleston (director, For the Birds), Andy Jimenez (director,One Man Band), Angus MacLane (director, BURN-E), Pete Sohn (director,Partly Cloudy), Teddy Newton (director, Day & Night), and Enrico Casarosa (director, La Luna).

Expo attendees will also have access to advance screenings of an all-new 3D version of The Lion King, presented by RealD 3D. This should top the screenings given last time of Toy Story 1 and 3 in 3D.

A Recent Disney Studio Visit

2011-08-07T21:52:00.000-07:00

I normally only post about things related to Disneyland only, but this is related since much of Disneyland was originally built here. I was recently invited up to attend a preview for the D23 Expo coming up later this month at the Anaheim Convention Center, August 19-21.

The Studio water tower that no longer has water.

Studio Back Lot Bike

Walt's Office

Nature's Wonderland, how we miss thee...

2011-06-27T00:01:00.000-07:00

Wally Boag gone to the Golden Horseshoe in the sky

2011-06-03T19:57:00.000-07:00

Wally Boag passed away today at the age of 91. He opened with the Golden Horseshoe Revue in 1955 and later went on to open the Diamond Horseshoe Revue at the Magic Kingdom in Florida. He's a beloved Disney icon who will be missed.

Happy Disneyland Star Tours : The Adventures Continue Day!

2011-06-03T08:10:00.000-07:00

This morning is the big day that Star Tours 2.0 opens officially. I was able to hitch a ride last week during an annual passholder preview. The refreshed queue was eye-catching. It's nice to see the mix of familiar with the new. I obsessed over every detail of this ride in 1987 when it first opened. The new show is the kind of thing we all dreamed of, "What if there were multiple destinations each time?" Now, the dream is a reality.

My only criticism, is that just like the new Star Wars films, the new movies are done all CGI. There was something special about making films that required miniatures, albeit now you can anywhere and do anything with computers. The new film is super clear, having the latest technology, and most people won't notice the fact of how flat the old film was.

Make Shift Movie Theater

2011-05-16T01:19:00.000-07:00

The amazing set up for the Pirates 4 premiere at Disneyland, May 7, 2011at the edge of the Rivers of America.

Main Street Moment

2011-04-11T01:20:00.000-07:00

Disneyland en español

2011-04-08T08:13:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for information on Disneyland, WDW or anything Disney in general in Spanish, check out DisneylandiaAlDia.com. There are also regular giveaways held there with good odds of winning something.

Main Street Bakery on the Move and Annual Pass Changes

2011-04-04T01:24:00.000-07:00

The latest word is that the Blue Ribbon Bakery will soon be relocating to the Plaza Pavilion. The popularity of the bakery can be seen on any given night with lines that often wrap outside the door. The move will also allow the Carnation Cafe to expand back indoors as it once did.

This is also the reason why new annual passes will no longer carry the picture of the card owner on the card. The entrance gate will still flash your picture on a screen for the cast member scanning the passes. Your picture will now be taken at the ticket booth or else a prior photo will just be placed onto renewed passes, such as what is done when renewing by mail. The downside is that you can expect to be asked to show ID whenever using your pass for discounts.

Tiltshift Castle

2011-03-04T09:48:00.000-08:00

An attempt at a tiltshift treatment of my favorite castle photograph of my personal collection.

Star Tours - The Adventure Continues

2011-02-25T14:32:00.000-08:00

Star Tours 2.0 on it's way

It's now official! Star Tours - The Adventure Continues will open to the public on June 3, 2011. For those that love Disneyland parades, Mickey's Soundsational Parade, will debut Memorial Day weekend. In an unsual move, Disney has also decided to premiere The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure on the same day as Star Tours. It should make for one busy media event.

Small World Towers

2011-01-17T01:54:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered about the square towers located along the plaza in front of it's a small world?

These towers were built for Light Magic, the parade-esque show that made its debut at Disneyland in 1997. Light Magic was originally designed to replace the irreplaceable 24-year-old Main Street Electrical Parade, which had left for Tokyo Disneyland and then onto the Magic Kingdom at WDW. However, after receiving very unfavorable reviews in May 1997, it was abruptly ended four months later. The company announced that the show would return in 2000 but that never materialized, nor do I think it ever will.

Despite the short-term show, long-term infrastructure improvements made specifically for Light Magic - especially in Fantasyland are still used today.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-12T01:22:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-05T01:18:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year

2011-01-03T09:05:00.000-08:00

A new year is a upon us and the parks are a buzz with activity. In case you did not get over to Disneyland during this busy Christmas season, small world holiday will still be open through January 17th before going down for about 10 days to revert to the regular ride. Check it out while you can.

Did you know?

2010-11-28T20:44:00.000-08:00

Did you know that Disneyland's Main Street USA was home to a pharmacy from 1955 to 1970? Upjohn Pharmacy was located where now we find "The Fortuosity Shop." This same site has also been a watch shop for brands including New Century, Seiko and Timex.

In the original Upjohn Pharmacy, visitors could find old medical paraphernalia, period glassware, patented medicine powders, scales, books and pharmaceuticals. Free samples of vitamins were offered up to visitors.

Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland

2010-10-01T10:32:00.000-07:00

Mickey's Halloween Party kicks off tonight. It's back at Disneyland, which is exciting. I'll be attending with Daytrippingmom and kids in tow.

The nights of the event are October 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29, 31. Tickets are to the general public via Disneyland.com. This event has been selling out at DCA in the past years.

New Star Tours 2.0 Information

2010-08-12T14:15:00.000-07:00

From the Disney Parks blog, here is a look at the new film that will run in the queue for Star Tours 2.0 when it reopens next spring. The blog notes that there is no guarantee these destinations will be part of the ride, but we have already heard that there will be multiple options on each ride. We'll have to wait and see.

Disneyland Price Increase

2010-08-09T11:05:00.000-07:00

reposted from MousePlanet:

Schedule of Disneyland Ticket Prices
Ticket	New Adult Price (Ages 10 and up)	New Child Price (Ages 3-9)
One day, one park	$76 ($4 increase)	$68 ($6 increase)
One-day Parkhopper	$101 ($4 increase)	$91 ($4 increase)
Two-day, single park	$151 (new pass type!)	$136 (new pass type!)
Two-day Parkhopper	$161 ($10 increase)	$146 ($15 increase)
Three-day Parkhopper	$206 ($2 increase)	$185 ($11 increase)

Annual Passports increased in price by $15-$30:
• Southern California Select: $184 ($20 increase)
• Southern California: $239 ($30 increase)
• Deluxe: $329 ($30 increase)
• Premium: $459 ($15 increase)
• Premiere: $700 (No increase)
• Parking Add On: $99 ($20 increase but still included as part of the Premium and Premiere passes)

Parking has also increased to $15 for a car.

A few thoughts on Star Tours 1.0

2010-07-31T08:59:00.000-07:00

Disneyland had two incredible years to Tomorrowland back in the 80s. 1986 brought us the enclosure of the Tomorrowland Stage and the creation of the Magic Eye Theater. "Magic Journey's" had played in the outdoor theater at night. It began playing inside the Magic Eye Theater while production wrapped up on Captain Eo, which opened early 1986. The premiere was held with a 60 hour party - where the park stayed open for 60 hours straight. I remember stopping by late on the Friday night opening. The line at that time was running down to Main Street.

The next year, Disneyland again held a 60 hour party for the premiere of Star Tours. Adventure through Inner Space closed in September 1985. Almost a full year went by before it was actually revealed that a Star Wars themed attraction was replacing it. I remember imagining what the ride would be like, wrongly assuming the omni mover system would still used. Ride simulators had just come on the scene. Small self-enclosed units were beginning to pop up around amusement parks at that time. Disney made sure to take advantage of the new technology and make it their own.

Star Tours opened to much fan fair and long lines. Four ride cabins kept the line moving but during the first few years, the line often exceeded 2 hours on most days.

While these days, E-ticket attractions often open in Florida first and are later brought to Disneyland or co-debuted, Star Tours did not open up a travel hub in Florida until the opening of the Disney/MGM studios in 1989.

For the reboot, I imagine the ride mechanism will remain the same. Hopefully the queue area is only mildly plussed. The concept of multiple destinations is intriguing. We'll have to see what the new 3D attraction experience when it returns in 2011.

Alice in Wonderland blues

2010-07-21T08:21:00.000-07:00

As reported by Al Lutz at Miceage.com, Alice in Wonderland has been closed at the behest of Cal OSHA for a safety violation. The outdoor leaf portion of the ride (where I actually proposed to my wife!) has no safety handrails in the event of a loss of electricity and/or evacuation of the ride. Disney now must come up with a solution that fits the aesthetics as well as complying with the legal safety issues. This could take awhile...

Happy 55th Birthday Disneyland

2010-07-17T03:38:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's been here that long!

Today's special events:
July 17 – 55th Anniversary Product release from 9-11am at The Disney Gallery with Dave Avanzino, Jody Daily, Kevin Kidney and Noah.

July 17 – Special Disneyland park 55th Anniversary collection of Dooney & Bourke handbags revealed at the Disney Vault 28 at Downtown Disney.

July 17 – Celebrate the 55th Anniversary of Disneyland by heading to a headwear location at the park where premium embroidery will be offered on standard Mickey Mouse ear hats. The embroidery will read “D 55th – July 17, 2010.”

A re-dedication event is also planned.

Rainy Disneyland means Character Cavalcade

2010-07-16T22:36:00.000-07:00

When the rains come down, the parades get canceled and the "Character Cavalcade" rolls out. It's the double decker bus with about 8 characters on it, staying dry. A nice cool thought after a day like today with 100 degree it hitting the park.

Summer Savings at the Disneyland Resort

2010-07-06T14:36:00.000-07:00

Now through August 29th, Southern Californians can get a 3 day ticket (non-park hopper) for $108 or $36 per day. That's a great way to get in to see World of Color if you don't have an annual passport and would like to go on the less crowded weekends.

The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2010 (Unofficial Guides)

World of Color

2010-06-09T08:07:00.000-07:00

No, it's not at Disneyland, it opens Friday, June 11th at Disney California Adventure. That wasn't a typo either. The new name of DCA is "Disney California Adventure."

If you are going to be there in the evenings this weekend, it might get kind of crowded. I will take advantage of this and hopefully find a less crowded Disneyland at night!

Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland 2010

2010-06-04T16:24:00.000-07:00

Big news as the prices were released today for Mickey's Halloween Party. Currently only Annual Passholders are able to purchase tickets. They will be released to the public on July 16th.

The dates of the party are: October 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29, 31

Opening night and all Tuesdays are a special AP discounted price of $44. The 29th and 31st st are $59. The remaining Fridays are $54.

This year they've moved the party over to Disneyland Park after holding it in California Adventure for several years. They will have most of the park open and the Halloween fireworks will be exclusive this season to the special event.

Splash Mountain Single Rider Line

2010-05-12T09:11:00.000-07:00

I just tried this out for the first time last week. With the new log configuration, there is now an ever-present single rider line that starts from the exit. Just walk all the way through until you see an attendant right where the logs unload. Tell them you are a single rider and you will be directed over the bridge and into a third line feeding in to the loading area.

In my case, I was placed in a log with a single family. Since they did not follow directions correctly, I ended up seated behind the father in the front of the log, instead of the rear seat, where I had been intended to sit.

Summer Nightastic Returns to Disneyland

2010-05-03T09:37:00.000-07:00

Summer Nightastic June 11 through August 29 and will feature:

“Fantasmic!” – The classic show on the Rivers of America was just enhanced last year with a fully animated 40-foot-tall dragon, cutting-edge digital video technology and an appearance by Flotsam and Jetsam, the slithering eels who serve Ursula the Sea Witch in “The Little Mermaid.”
“Magical” – The fireworks show over Sleeping Beauty Castle features a host of characters, including Tinker Bell and an airborne Dumbo.
TLT Dance Club – Dance the night away at this dance club in Tomorrowland Terrace in Disneyland park, where live bands and DJs from the hottest Southern California radio stations will appear on selected nights throughout the summer.
Pixie Hollow Enchantment – For a pixie-dusted evening, check out the light show at Pixie Hollow and see Tinker Bell and her friends come to life at night.

World of Color at DCA is also part of the event, debuting June 11, 2010!

Disneyland is Green

2010-04-19T17:48:00.000-07:00

Last year more than 43,000 tons of material was diverted from landfills through recycling and donations at Disneyland Resort which is enough trash to nearly fill Space Mountain! Imagine that.

:from Disney Parks Blog

Mouseketeers at Disneyland

2010-04-06T15:07:00.000-07:00

Here is a rare photo of the original Mouseketeers at Disneyland's opening day festivities from the Disney Parks Blog.

Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room

2010-04-01T17:50:00.000-07:00

In honor of spring and the new month of April...

Disneyland Books

2010-03-22T10:26:00.000-07:00

I've read just about all of them. I'm not much of a reader but when it comes to a new book about Disneyland, I am using known to swallow it up in one day. When David Koenig's Mouse Tales first came out, I read it within just a few hours. His follow up, More Mouse Tales was also a quick read for me. Both books follow a balance between TMZ-style gossip and some interesting facts of people that were there to experience it.

For historical purposes, The Disneyland Encyclopedia features a book of all the shops, shows and attractions at Disneyland. It is very similar to my website, WaltsMagicKingdom.com in that it provides a one stop place for dates. It's loaded with great information.

If you are a Disneyland freak, Kevin Yee's book 101 Things You Never Knew About Disneyland might have an inaccurate title, but I'll be darned if you don't find a few things in there that you did not know or had maybe forgotten.

Check em out.

In Memory of Fess Parker, Davy Crockett, who passed away yesterday

2010-03-19T14:28:00.000-07:00

This Day In Disneyland History

2010-03-18T08:51:00.000-07:00

Pirates of the Caribbean opens in 1967

Give A Day, Get A Day program has ended

2010-03-11T07:32:00.000-08:00

“Give a Day, Get a Disney Day,” had been an opportunity to earn Disney theme park tickets by doing local volunteer work in North America. Well, on the night March 9, just 68 days into 2010, this program hit 1,000,000 volunteers, which effectively ended the program.

Basically, if you did not already sign up for your volunteer date, it's too late.

Happy Birthday Indiana Jones Adventure

2010-03-03T11:09:00.000-08:00

Yes, it turns 15 years old today! Where has the time gone?

Here are some fun things to look for, thanks to the Disney Parks blog:
* While you’re waiting for your adventure, look for Mickey Mouse’s initials in “Maraglyphics,” the language created by Imagineers.
* In the film room, check out an original well-known publication from 1936 with Mickey Mouse on the cover. (Hint: it’s underneath a coat.)
* Don’t miss the palm tree in Disney’s FastPass distribution area. It’s named after Ron Dominguez, who lived on the property that is now Disneyland park when he was a young boy. He later became a Disneyland vice president.

Captain Eo Merchandise on sale Feb 23rd

2010-02-22T13:09:00.000-08:00

From Disney.com

Disney enthusiasts will be excited to find special Captain EO inspired merchandise created in celebration of the re-opening of the attraction. Merchandise will include, ladies and men's tees, fleece, military and beanie style hats, posters and souvenir items. In early March, be on the lookout for a specially created Captain EO embroidered nylon jacket. See merchandise and prices listed below.

Captain EO Logo Ladies Tee - $26.95

Captain EO Logo Men's Tee - $24.95

Captain EO Poster Men's Tee- $ 26.95

Captain EO Logo Crew Fleece - $42.95

Captain EO Logo Military Cap � $24.95

Captain EO Logo Beanie Hat - $24.95

Poster - $7.95

Captain EO Logo Button - $3.95

Captain EO Embroidered Nylon Jacket - Coming in early to mid-March!

Merchandise will be available at the following Disneyland® park locations and other select locations:

Emporium on Main Street, U.S.A.
Star Trader in Tomorrowland
Tomorrowlanding in Tomorrowland

Captain Eo to return to the planet on Feb 23rd!

2010-02-19T16:17:00.000-08:00

Photo: (c)Disney

It was officially announced today that Captain Eo returns for a limited engagement to Disneyland, this Tuesday, February 23rd.

From the official Disney Parks Blog: "While it’s not possible to replicate some special effects elements from the original presentation, it will boast a new 70mm print of the film, and it will sound better than ever thanks to acoustic enhancements made to the theater since the film last played there in 1997." There are no plans for it to return to any other Disney park, at this point.

Rumor has it that the moving floor system from HISTA will be implemented. No word on whether the lasers, fog or pinwheel will be back too. For now, the run is open-ended with no set ending date set for the movie.

Here is the original commercial from 1986 to enjoy:

Disneyland update

2010-02-12T16:11:00.000-08:00

Captain Eo is in cast member previews today! Quite exciting. This mean a strong likelyhood for it opening in the coming week. I am curious to see if they hold out just a little longer so that some kind of wide promotion can be made of it.

Also, expect a busy holiday weekend at the park with extended hours to accommodate the crowds.

President's Holiday Weekends

2010-02-05T15:54:00.000-08:00

Disneyland's hours for Monday Feb 8th is from 9 AM to 11 PM, instead of the normal 10 AM to 8 PM, and the park closes an hour later than normal on Sunday Feb 7th, as it is a three day weekend. Crowds will be a bit heavier than expected however, with the rain, it is likely to get a weekend free of lines.

Where did Tiana go?

2010-02-02T14:37:00.000-08:00

In case you were wondering, Princess Tiana will be seen over at the Princess Fantasy Faire in Fantasyland for the coming months. Once the Rivers of America refills, Tiana's Riverboat Jubilee will return to the Mark Twain in May. This will also coincide with the DVD release.

Today in Disneyland History - 1957

2010-01-25T21:35:00.000-08:00

Film and television actress Jenifer Lewis, the voice of Mama Odie in Disney's The Princess and the Frog, is born in Missouri.

Back in 1987, Lewis was hired as the preshow announcer on the Star Tours ride at Disneyland. She's the one that looks like she has something growing on the side of head.

Disneyland Early Closures

2010-01-21T14:59:00.001-08:00

Well, this past Monday, Disneyland and California Adventure had their closing times moved up by several hours. On Monday, Disneyland closed at 8 PM instead of the 11 PM scheduled close time. Today, the park will once again close early, instead of the normal hour of 8 PM it will be closing at 6 PM with DCA closing at 5.

Right now it's about 3 PM and the sun has broke through and the rain has stopped but more is expected later tonight.

Wet Disneyland

2010-01-18T20:08:00.000-08:00

The weatherman has a favorite saying, 'Into every life a little rain must fall,' and it looks as though today is our day." Of my hundreds of visits to Disneyland, today my daughter and I experienced one of the most enjoyable times ever..and it was all with cold California rain.

You haven't experienced Storybook Land until you tried it in the pouring rain!

Character Cavalcade!

Backyard Disneyland railroad from OC Register

2010-01-12T00:13:00.000-08:00

Disneyland as featured in Life

2010-01-11T11:27:00.000-08:00

Life Magazine's archives can be found on Google at http://images.google.com/hosted/life

Here are some awesome Disneyland photos off their site!

Changes ahead at Disneyland

2010-01-04T11:03:00.000-08:00

Look for the following in your visits the next couple of months to Disneyland:

Return of Captain Eo in February!
Drained Rivers of America through May 6th - which means no river traffic and no Tom Sawyers Island
Tomorrowland Terrace closed through May
Haunted Mansion is closed for two weeks to return to it's "normal" state
it's a small world will close mid-January to remove the holiday theme for two weeks
The Sherman Brothers Main Street window dedication will happen sometime this month too

End of the Holiday Season at Disneyland

2010-01-03T21:23:00.000-08:00

Crowds were heavy on the last day of Christmas celebrations at Disneyland. I made the trek over to experience the new Great Moment's with Mr. Lincoln, which was wonderful. I also went through Haunted Mansion Holiday for my only visit this season.

New Years Eve at Disneyland

2009-12-28T09:34:00.000-08:00

This Thursday is what was once one of the busiest nights at Disneyland, although with the blackout dates in effect for all but the premium annual passes, it does not get quite as crazy as it once was. The park typically hands out party favors and noise makers in the evening hours. There have been DJs playing different kinds of dance music set up in various locations throughout the park. Just before midnight, the countdown is projected up onto the side of the Matterhorn. It's a really fun and safe way to spend New Years Eve, especially knowing that within the walls of Disneyland, there is no alcohol consumption going on around you.

Have a Magical Merry Christmas from Walt's Magic Kingdom

2009-12-23T18:16:00.000-08:00

Roy Disney will be missed

2009-12-16T22:22:00.000-08:00

For all the mud slinged at Roy E. Disney, there is an awful lot of good that he was often not awknowledged for accomplishing. Let us not forget, that without the actions taken Roy in the 80s, The Walt Disney Company of today would not exist. The company likely would have been broken up into pieces.

The vast library would have gone to one company, perhaps Ted Turner! The theme parks would have been purchased by another company, perhaps Six Flags or Cedar Fair! The studio operations would have probably been wound down and the lot sold off to a foreign company. Somebody that had the rights to the Disney name would have made some half hearted attempts at continuing animation, although those likely would have ended in a similar fate to The Black Calderon.

The Walt Disney Company would probably look like something similar to today's MGM, once great but now not much more than a footnote.

Roy E. Disney was the most important person for the Walt Disney Company, save Walt and Roy O. Disney.

RIP Roy E. Disney

2009-12-16T15:47:00.000-08:00

Monday Quote from Mr. Disney

2009-12-14T08:58:00.000-08:00

I would rather entertain and hope that people learned something than educate people and hope they were entertained.

-Walt Disney

Snow seen at Disneyland

2009-12-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

Disneyland Candlelight Procession

2009-12-07T14:15:00.000-08:00

The annual tradition of the Candlelight Procession has occurred at Disneyland since 1958. Walt Disney World has a more elaborate version that plays nightly throughout December. At Disneyland it runs one weekend with two performances each night. Did you know that it is actually considered a private event that just happens to be held publicly in the park? Walt Disney himself, initiated the tradition.

2009's guest narrator was Jon Voight, who is Jewish, as seen by his appearances in the annual Chabad telethon. The candlelight procession is a celebration of the holiday season for all.

Disneyland Freshly Made Candy Canes

2009-12-03T14:58:00.000-08:00

Homemade candy canes are just one part of the fun holiday traditions at Disneyland. They have become so popular over the years that you now have to pick up a reserve ticket ahead of time.

According to the OC Register:

This year, the Candy Palace on Disneyland’s Main Street is issuing tickets so park guests can reserve candy canes ahead of time, avoiding the massive lines that mark candy cane day at the Palace every Christmas.

photo (c) LA Times

Disneyland-goers can find out when candy canes are being made by calling a special phone number, updated each Sunday with information about what kind of candy is being made each day that week. The Candy Kitchen Menu line is 714-781-0112.

Monday Quote from Mr. Disney

2009-11-30T09:22:00.000-08:00

"I can never stand still. I must explore and experiment. I am never satisfied with my work. I resent the limitations of my own imagination." - Walt Disney

Happy Thanksgiving from Walt's Magic Kingdom

2009-11-26T00:15:00.000-08:00

Disneyland holiday celebrations are in full swing and so are the crowds.

2009-11-25T17:50:00.000-08:00

How busy is Thanksgiving weekend at Disneyland, you ask? Thanksgiving weekend is typically a busy time of the year to visit. Blackout dates apply to all of the passes below Premium for Thursday-Thanksgiving, Friday and Saturday (11/26 - 11/28). Monday through Wednesday of this week have see huge turnouts as the APers try to get in the holiday magic during this time of the year. Especially a day like today, the day before Thanksgiving. On the other hand, this means quite manageable crowds the next three days as all the local annual passholders are blocked. Just one more reason to go for the Premium upgrade.

Monday Quote from Mr. Disney

2009-11-23T14:13:00.000-08:00

We are not trying to entertain the critics. I'll take my chances with the public. - Walt Disney

Annual pass history - part one

2009-11-18T10:14:00.000-08:00

When the gates to Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955, visitors paid a mere $1 to get into the park. This fee, however, did not include attractions and rides. Those additional tickets, roughly $2.50 for eight attractions, could be purchased in books, with the prices depending on which attractions you wanted to attend.

Those books ranged in classes from A to D. A few years later, an "E" class was added, which was for all of the big thrill rides. This style of tickets continued until 1982, when Disneyland officials abandoned the books and charged a single price ticket to each patron entering the park, a price that included all rides and attractions, with the exception of the arcades and the Shooting Galleries.

I first got an annual pass in 1984. If I recall, it was $99 for adults and $69 for children. We would go to the park every Friday from around 4 PM until closing at 6 PM. With rare exception, I have continued to have an annual pass to Disneyland every year since that time. Many people don't believe me, but it's true. The first year, we had to enter at the first turnstile on the left where are a 3 ring binder was kept. Each pass was then hand recorded into the book before allowing entry. About a year or so later the first bar code was attached with a pen scanner. This was eventually embedded in the lamination when you had your photo taken at Guest Relations when initially purchased the pass.

The prices always rose slowly, usually coinciding with the regular ticket price increases. One major exception was in 2000, when a dual premium pass that would allow entrance to DCA, once it opened in 2001 and Disneyland, cost a whopping $299. This price dropped back to $199 the following year but has steadily increased since that time.

The convenience now for SoCal resident's to pay their pass over time has been a huge plus. I can still get the premium pass, which allows me to visit on any whim and only pay around $30 per month, instead of having to fork over almost $400 per pass for everyone in my family.

**Disneyland Adult Ticket Prices (Since 1982)**
Year	Prices	Year	Prices
1982	$12	1996	No increase
1983	No increase	1997	No increase
1984	$14	1998	No increase
1985	$17.95	1999	$39
1986	$18	2000	$41/$43 (two increases)
1987	$21.50	2001	No increase
1988	no increase	2002	$45
1989	no increase	2003	$47
1990	$25.50	2004	$49.75
1991	$27.50	2005	$53/$56
1992	no increase	2006	$59/$63
1993	$28.50	2007	$66
1994	$31	2008	$69
1995	no increase	2009	$73

A Monday Quote from Mr. Disney

2009-11-16T11:27:00.000-08:00

(photo (c) Disney)

"Disneyland is the star, everything else is in the supporting role." - Walt Disney

Holidays At Disneyland

2009-11-13T08:41:00.000-08:00

Today is Friday the 13th, of November. That means Holidaytime at Disneyland kicks off today. Go and see the enormous Chrimstmas tree in town square, the Christmas Parade running twice daily, fireworks, snow flurries and more! For many, this is the best time of the year to visit Disneyland.

Crowds are expected to particularly heavy this weekend due to the cheerleader conference in town. Be prepared for lots of people but also lots of holiday magic.

Disneyland Ticket offers for 2010

2009-11-11T19:56:00.000-08:00

The year is almost over and we can already look to the New Year of fun waiting at Disneyland! Disney has just released the ticket packages for next year.

The Buy 3, Get 2 Free deal gives you 2 free nights at a Disneyland Resort Hotel when you book three nights AND purchase a 5-day promotional park hopper ticket. The offer is valid for arrivals through April 29, 2010 with travel completed by May 4, 2010, and you must book by April 1, 2010 to receive this discount.

This promotional park hopper ticket, offers a discount of $5-$11 off the already discounted advance purchase price, which will end up saving you $25 - $51 per person, depending on the type of ticket you purchase. The promotional Park Hopper ticket is valid January 5, 2010 thru April 29, 2010, and must be purchased in advance of your trip - this discount is not available at the ticket booths .

If you already have an annual pass, the alternative offer gives you up to 30% off at Disneyland Resort hotels. The discount is valid on a minimum two night stay, with arrivals between January 5 to April 29, 2010. Rates start at $165 (plus taxes and fees) at the Paradise Pier Hotel, which is also a terrific place to stay.

Free Annual Passes to Disneyland? *

2009-11-09T16:37:00.000-08:00

To commemorate the opening of Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the Disney Vacation Club's new Castle to Castle promotion offers DVC members who purchase 100 vacation points at Disneyland's newest hotel four complimentary annual passes to the Disney Parks.

The Castle to Castle promotion gives DVC members the chance to enjoy the best of both worlds, Disney style. Current DVC members who purchase 100 vacation points at The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel will receive two annual passes to Disneyland and two annual passes to Walt Disney World.

The Grand Californian is the only DVC property located at Disneyland.

The DVC villas are Disney's version of a timeshare, with vacation homes featuring spacious accommodations and full kitchens. DVC members are allotted a certain number of vacation points each year, and they can redeem the points at any DVC property at Disneyland, Disney World, or at select DVC resorts across the globe. DVC points can also be applied to a Disney cruise or Adventures by Disney vacation.

The Castle to Castle offer is good through January 31, 2010.

For more information, contact a DVC representative at 800-500-3990.

Princess Tiana Arrives Today at Disneyland

2009-11-06T00:28:00.000-08:00

Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen and other characters from the motion picture star in “Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee!,” a fun-filled procession with a jazz-filled Mardi Gras theme. Not quite a parade, but still exciting. The good times will roll as festively dressed, bead-tossing revelers lead Disneyland guests to the Mark Twain Riverboat dock. The party will then move onboard the Mark Twain as it makes its way along the river with performers singing, dancing and all that jazz.

And beginning Nov. 6, little princesses can enjoy a new Princess Tiana makeover in Disneyland at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Fantasyland.

Holiday Magic is on it's way for Christmas at Disneyland

2009-11-03T20:02:00.000-08:00

Celebrate the Holidays at the Disneyland Resort. From November 13, 2009 through January 4, 2010, the Disneyland Resort in transforms into a Christmas Wonderland with special entertainment to be enjoyed by all who visit the original Magic Kingdom.

One of this season's highlights is Sleeping Beauty's Winter Castle and the three part show which takes place each day. This park icon is covered in freshly fallen snow. Twilight brings the start of 'When you Wish'. You'll hear the wind blowing and hear a little child wishing for snow. The mother responds with 'in order for your wishes to come true, you must believe.' With that, snowflakes fill the air and the castle begins to sparkle.

In the evening is the "Believe...in Holiday Magic Fireworks Spectacular." As the child again wishes for snow, magic and icicles, the snow falls again and Sleeping Beauty Castle becomes more illuminated. The grand finale follows the "When you Believe" fireworks. As White Christmas is performed, icicles appear on the castle as snow falls on Main Street, New Orleans Square, and small world mall.

Back again is the 60 foot Christmas tree located in Town Square. Children can decorate cookies on Main Street and New Orleans Square . Tasty holiday treats will also be available around the park.

Disneyland News for November

2009-11-02T09:15:00.000-08:00

We are awaiting the official announcement any day now of a return of Captain Eo to Disneyland, which could land in time for the holiday season.

This coming weekend, the “Remember … Dreams Come True” fireworks show will come back for just three nights: Nov. 6, 7 and 8, according to the Disneyland Web site. A flying Tinker Bell will not join the show this weekend, said John McClintock, a Disneyland spokesman. "Believe...in Holiday Magic Fireworks Spectacular," the holiday fireworks show, will then roll in on November 13th.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T01:48:00.000-07:00

Breakfast at Disneyland

2009-10-28T20:55:00.000-07:00

Over at daveland today, he posted some old pics from Aunt Jemima's Pancake House. You can still visit this restaurant, although now it is known as Liberty Belle Terrace. Earlier this month, I was at the park early enough that I was able to get breakfast. I'm sure it's the Disney magic because I had three of the fluffiest pancakes around. I enjoyed sitting inside and looking out at the Rivers of America while the crowds were only trickling by. It was a wonderful experience. It's been 8 years since I last took the time for breakfast at Disneyland, but I don't plan on waiting another 8 years before doing it again.

Disneyland Hours Today

2009-10-27T16:02:00.000-07:00

In case you were wondering, Disneyland closes at 5 PM today for a private party. Tomorrow, it goes back to the normal 10-9 PM hours during Monday through Thursday nights.

Around Disneyland

2009-10-26T21:02:00.000-07:00

All the excitement lately has been the water going into Paradise Bay at DCA but over at Disneyland there is news too!

it's a small world closed today for the small world Holiday makeover. Space Mountain will close on November 2nd to strip out Ghost Galaxy, only to reopen the very next day on November 3 as plain-old Space Mountain. Christmas decorations will be going up right away, at least on Main Street where it is prepped for the taping of the Disneyland portions of the Walt Disney World Christmas special November 7 through 9.

The first performance of "A Christmas Fantasy" Parade is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Friday, November 13, 2009 and again at 6:30 p.m. "Believe...In Holiday Magic" Fireworks Spectacular is scheduled to start 9:25 p.m. that night.

For brand spankin' new entertainment at Disneyland, check out "Tiana's Showboat Jubilee!" which premieres on Friday, November 6, 2009 at 11:15 a.m. Additional show times are 12:45 p.m. 2:45 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.

Halloween Treats at Disneyland

2009-10-22T16:52:00.001-07:00

Besides all of the entertainment, there is also specially crafted edible treats this month at Disneyland.

Don't miss the Jack Skellington Coffin Dessert, Jack Skellington in the Box Cheesecake and Haunted Mansion Spoon Dessert at the French Market in New Orleans Square.

Cafe Orleans and Blue Bayou have a Hazelnut Tiramisu topped with pumpkin mousse.

Aroudn the park, also look for the chocolate Mickey Halloween cookie, cream topped pumpkin muffin, sliced pumpkin pie and pumpkin cheesecake. There are also beverages like pumpkin spice latte and caramel apple cider!

Yum!

Holiday Time filming dates at Disneyland

2009-10-20T08:05:00.001-07:00

Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort kicks off November 13, 2009. Like every year, filming for Disneyland portions of the Walt Disney World Christmas special will again occur early at Disneyland. It's expected that Saturday, November 7th and/or Sunday, November 8th should be the days.

If you come during that time, you will see the early Christmas decorations up around Main Street and a shorter version of the Holiday parade.

Disneyland Candlelight Procession Dinner Details

2009-10-16T01:20:00.000-07:00

I know we are still into Halloween mode, but this is worth noting right away.

This year, the Candlelight Procession Dinner has become a D23 member exclusive event. That means, no reserved seats without joining D23 and purchasing a ticket to the event. You can still get to Disneyland early that day and stake out a seat for you and your loved ones.

EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Sunday, December 6, 2009
Time: Check in begins at 10 a.m.
Location: Disneyland, Anaheim, Calif.
Tickets: Click here for tickets.
Cost: $275 per person

Included with the cost of your ticket:

A one-day Disneyland park hopper ticket. (Ticket is good only for use on December 6, 2009 and must be used by ticket purchaser.)
Private dinner and dessert inside Stage 17
Exclusive holiday show featuring your favorite Disney characters
Reserved seating for Candlelight Processional and Ceremony
Behind-the-scenes presentation about Candlelight and Disneyland at the holidays — with a "sweet treat"
Special gift for all guests from your friends at D23!