This week we’re taking a look back on what the yearlong Diamond Celebration brought us as well as the attractions still in the park from opening day! We have big news on changes coming to Tower of Terror, and of course, the latest look at Star Wars Land. Let the rope drop!
| Diamond Celebration Winds Down |
On July 17, Disneyland celebrated its 61st birthday and Labor Day is the official end of the 15-month Diamond Celebration. Months of preparation went into the launch of the event with a 24-hour party, diamonds on the castle and new banners and bunting as far as the eye could see. Many of these additions are starting to show some wear and will likely come down as the part transforms to Halloween Time.
| Downtown Disney |
We begin our look at the Diamond Celebration with some of the views greeting park visitors as they arrive.
| Disneyland |
Preparations for the event began in January 2015 when Sleeping Beauty’s Castle went behind scaffolding to get bling’d out.
In May of 2015, new “Diamond D” logos were greeting guests at the gates and all down Main Street.
Disney expanded the Photopass program for Annual Passholders and added Diamond Anniversary Photo Spots.
With the Diamond Celebration, the park debuted the Paint The Night Parade.
| Disney California Adventure |
While not nearly as old as Disneyland, DCA joined the celebration. The center of the festivities on the other side of the Esplanade was Cathay Circle, which also got the bling treatment.
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The Diamond D’s and blue bunting stretched down Buena Vista Street as well.
DCA had it’s own Photo Spots added for the Celebration.
And the World of Color show was adapted for the Diamond Celebration.
61 AND COUNTING
Since we’re talking about the anniversary of Disneyland, how about a quick look at the attractions at the park on opening day that are still around Today?
Disneyland Railroad
Main Street Cinema
Jungle Cruise
Mark Twain Riverboat
Golden Horseshoe Stage
King Arthur Carousel
Mad Tea Party
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
Peter Pan’s Flight
Snow White’s Scary Adventures
Storybook Land Canal Boats
Autopia
| Starbucks Opens! |
There’s a second Starbuck’s now open in Downtown Disney. This location is across from the Monorail Station.
| Refurbishment Roundup |
Some new scaffolding went up this week around the New Orleans Square Train Station. You can still visit the trains and talk to the engineers.
And at the Fantasyland Train Station, work is going on as well.
On Tom Sawyer’s Island, some major work is underway while it’s closed for construction on Rivers Of America.
New Parking Garage Construction
East of Harbor Blvd., property acquired by Disney behind hotel row is being developed for a new Parking Structure. At some point, the Carousel Hotel will be demolished to build a walkway over Harbor to access the Esplanade.
| Star Wars Land Construction |
Below you will find an updated version of the MiceChat Star Wars construction map. The slider shows the current progress of Star Wars Land at Disneyland, with an overlay of where all the new buildings area going.
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[ View Map Large ]
Current Look at StarWars Land:
Don’t forget to check Friday’s Star Wars News for updated photos on the construction.
| Guardians of the Galaxy |
Last week’s MiceAge Update discussed the upcoming changes to convert the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror to Guardians of the Galaxy. Last weekend’s San Diego Comic Con confirmed the MiceAge rumor. The Twilight Zone Tower Of Terror will become Guardians Of The Galaxy: Mission Breakout next summer. Here’s the description from the Disney Parks Blog:
“Deep inside his fortress-like collection, the mysterious Taneleer Tivan (aka The Collector) is displaying his newest acquisitions, the Guardians of the Galaxy. They are trapped in customized display cases, suspended over a vast abyss. Unbeknownst to their unscrupulous captor, the intrepid Rocket has escaped and is enlisting the Collector’s VIP guests for help. Guests board a gantry lift, which launches them into a chaotic and hilarious adventure as they join Rocket in an attempt to break his fellow Guardians out of captivity.”
Twilight Zone Tower Of Terror is set to close in January and be open in the summer of 2017. The park will be celebrating the attraction with a final “drop day” for all the fans.
What’s also interesting is that part of the announcement was that this is the first step in creating a Marvel themed area in DCA. There’s more to come, be sure to follow MiceChat daily!
We REALLY want to know your thoughts. Are you a fan or a foe of Guardians taking over the tower?
Get Mouseaddict Here You can keep track of the wait times and even where in the park people are congregating by downloading the app for yourself (iPhone only at this time).
| Thank you ! | |
| All of us on the Disneyland Photo Update crew would like to thank you for joining us today. Each week we’ll feature different photographers and commentators (often more than one). Today’s MiceChat Disneyland Update contributor is Darth Daver. |
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That’s it for this week’s Update. Just one more thing…
Are you a photographer? Do you love the parks? Would you like to contribute to the Disneyland Update or other MiceChat columns? Contact Dusty Sage: [email protected]
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