Leap Day 2012 at Disneyland

Starting at 6 AM tomorrow morning, Disneyland (and the Magic Kingdom at WDW) will open for 24 hours straight.  I plan to hit the park around 1 AM on March 1st to experience some after hours magic.  Here are something unique happenings at the park during the late night hours:

• Performances by Billy Hill & the Hillbillies at The Golden Horseshoe from 11:15 p.m. – 4:45 a.m.
• A Special showing of “Fantasmic!” at 1 a.m.
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• Character meet & greets throughout the night (subject to change):
• Mickey Mouse and friends in pajamas at Carnation Plaza Gardens
• Darth Vader and Stormtroopers in Tomorrowland
• Country Bears in Frontierland

Pulling An All-Nighter

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.

Missing the Reindeer

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.

Main Street Popcorn

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

Main Street Cinema Ticket Taker

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

Halloween Time descends on Disneyland

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

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.

Walt Disney's former office at the Disney Studio

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.

Happy Disneyland Star Tours : The Adventures Continue Day!

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

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

Happy New Year

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.

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.

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.

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 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!

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.