Did you know?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(c) Life Magazine

Mouseketeers at Disneyland

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

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

Disneyland Books

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

This Day In Disneyland History

Pirates of the Caribbean opens in 1967

Give A Day, Get A Day program has ended

“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

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

 

(c) Disney

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

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!

 

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

Disneyland as featured in Life

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

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

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.