Disneyland will kick off its 2013 summer season with a 24-hour “all-nighter” this Memorial Day holiday weekend. The 24-hour party will launch the Disney Parks “Monstrous Summer” marketing campaign, based on Disney-Pixar‘s upcoming animated film Monsters University which will bring some Monsters University-themed offerings to the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World in Florida. Also launching this Memorial Day weekend is Disneyland’s new Mickey and the Magical Map musical stage show. The show marks the return of the a full stage production to the Fantasyland Theatre in years and promises to be a great addition to the park. Meanwhile, Starbucks continues to move in on Main Street and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad‘s major refurbishment project presses on.
Get a closer look at today’s update! Click on any photo in today’s column for a large, high-resolution version of the image.
Welcome to Disneyland! |
Disneyland continues through its brief spring off-season with gorgeous weather and manageable crowds.
Monstrous Slumber Party |
The big news last week was Disney’s announcement of the much-rumored 24-hour party over the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend. The 24-hour party, drawing off the unprecedented popularity of last year’s “One More Disney Day” 24-hour Leap Day event, will mark the launch of Disney’s “Monstrous Summer” promotion.
The “Monstrous Summer All-Nighter” was announced at a Walt Disney World media event on Thursday night. Walt Disney World President George Kalogridis made the announcement with the help of “Monsters University” character Mike Wazowski, projected on Epcot’s iconic Spaceship Earth.
Below, a video of the announcement:
Below, a few details on what the All-Nighter will include:
Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort will kick off a Monstrous Summer by keeping three theme parks open for 24 hours nonstop on Memorial Day Weekend, the traditional start of the family travel season.
The Magic Kingdom Park in Florida and Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park in California will stay open from 6 a.m., May 24 to 6 a.m., May 25, 2013, local time marking the beginning of a summer of fun inspired by the upcoming Disney•Pixar comedy adventure Monsters University.
[ . . . ]
Mike and Sulley will take a break from collegiate life and their Scare studies at Monsters University to host the All-Nighter, dropping in to scare up some school spirit. Guests will scream and giggle with delight at the lineup of thrills and entertainment that promises to make this a day and night to be remembered for a lifetime.
In Florida, the Magic Kingdom will feature a Monsters University theme where Mike and Sulley will be the Grand Marshals of the “Celebrate a Dream Come True” day parade – complete with pomp and circumstance – and make appearances in Tomorrowland. Guests also will find extra entertainment throughout the day and night, including characters in their pajamas in Town Square during the late night and early morning, and late-night dance parties in and around the courtyard of Cinderella Castle.
In California, guests can party the night away at both parks with special entertainment, including a Monsters University “TLT Monstrous” Dance Club and Star Wars characters in Tomorrowland, and late-night Character Pajama Party in Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland. The new Fantasy Faire Royal Theatre at Disneyland will become a Royal Dance Hall late at night with a live band and dancing, and guests of Disney California Adventure will find Monstrous photo opportunities with new Monsters University “Dorms” in Hollywood Land and a new Monsters University float leading the Pixar Play Parade.
All three parks will feature limited-edition specialty merchandise and food and beverage offerings plus other surprises throughout the entire day.
The Monstrous Summer hasn’t started yet, but Monsters University merchandise is already available at Disney California Adventure.
The pop-up merchandise location is across from the location where the Monsters University “dorms” photo-op will be located this summer.
The photo op isn’t here yet, but will be located at this Hollywood Land facade.
Below, the concept rendering Disney released of the Monsters University “dorms” photo-op
The Pixar Play Parade will also have its lead float redressed to promote Monsters University:
Market House Makeover |
Meanwhile, in Disneyland, Starbucks continues to move in at the Market House and the former Disneyana shop.
A sign directs guests to the Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe for coffee and pastries but makes no mention of Starbucks moving in.
The facade is getting repainted and much of it is sanded down awaiting fresh paint.
Other portions of the facade have already been repainted and look nice
A new sign says Disneyana has relocated, next to Great Moments with Mr. Licoln, but it’s hard to tell since its merchandise has so far just been folded into the existing Disney Gallery offerings.
Speaking of Mr. Lincoln, the Main Street Opera House remains closed until later this week.
The exit lobby of the Opera House, which dumps into the Mad Hatter store is still curtained off
Refurbishment Round-Up |
“Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” isn’t the only refurbishment happening in Disneyland right now… The major 10-month Big Thunder Mountain Railroad refurbishment project continues in Frontierland.
In Tomorrowland, Space Mountain is still closed indefinitely following its recent DOSH citation-related closure.
Disney’s refurbishment schedule had it listed to reopen last week, but it was still closed on Sunday. Signs say the ride is down for refurbishment, but don’t let the sign fool you.
In Fantasyland, the Le Petit Chalet gift stand has reopened.
And the final lighting towers along Small World Mall are being repainted.
Setting the Stage |
Disneyland’s new musical stage production, “Mickey and the Magical Map” will debut Memorial Day weekend, but last week Disney gave a sneak peek behind the construction walls at the new stage for the show.
The impressive, newly refurbished stage features a huge “living map” made from a multi-tiered LED screen covering over 35,000 square inches with nearly 1 million pixels.
Below, excerpts from the latest press release detailing the new show:
Mickey Mouse and a cast of beloved Disney characters will embark on a series of musical adventures through the magical powers of a sorcerer’s map in “Mickey and the Magical Map,” the all-new live show coming to the Fantasyland Theatre in Disneyland Park May 25.
Created by Disney Creative Entertainment, “Mickey and the Magical Map” was conceived for children of all ages and represents the return of Disney storytelling to the newly refurbished Fantasyland Theatre, a venue that merges the tradition of live outdoor performances with theatrical technology.
[ . . . ]
“Mickey and the Magical Map” presents Mickey in his timeless role as the sorcerer’s apprentice. Wise sorcerer Yen Sid directs his Mapmakers, a singing-dancing ensemble cast that paints a wondrous map – capable of taking dreamers to any place imaginable and so large it spans the entire stage of the outdoor Fantasyland Theatre.
Apprentice Mickey lets his curiosity get the better of him and he stumbles upon the map’s magical powers, which take him, along with the audience, on a fantastic journey of imagination in the company of the Mapmakers. The journey, presented through theatrical stage wizardry, unveils wonderful worlds of music, color, adventure and beloved characters with each new direction, all set to an original song, “Journey of the Imagination,” and music from classic Disney films.
The show, scheduled for five daily performances this summer, comes alive with appearances and songs by King Louie from “The Jungle Book,” (“I Wanna Be Like You”), Pocahontas (“Just Around the Riverbend”), Mulan (“Reflection”), Rapunzel and Flynn Rider from “Tangled,” (“I See The Light”) Princess Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog” (“Dig a Little Deeper”), and Sebastian from “The Little Mermaid” (“Under the Sea”). Also included is the song “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” from “Lilo and Stitch.”
The show also sends Mickey Mouse on a theatrical adventure and takes the audience to India, China, Virginia, New Orleans, Hawaii, and “Under the Sea.”
Disney also gave a sneak peek at the making of the music for the new show last week. Looks like a great addition to the park.
New directional signage for handicapped guests has been installed at the Theatre
Welcome to California Adventure |
A new women’s Oswald the Lucky Rabbit shirt has joined the red men’s shirt on the shelves at Oswald’s.
In Cars Land, some more new Cars Land-specific merchandise is available (why can’t more lands and attractions get specific merchandise like this?)
Recently some new signs were added at the Cozy Cones to help guests getting in line at the food location
Limited Time Magic |
[center]May the 4th Be With You
at Disneyland Resort
May 4, 2013[/center]
Disney’s next “Limited Time Magic” offering is a half-hearted Star Wars-themed merchandise event on May the 4th. Limited magic, indeed. Here’s how Disney describes the Limited Time Magic:
The force is strong with Limited Time Magic! In honor of Star Wars day, Disneyland Resort is selling special edition Star Wars-themed pins and tees. With messages like “May the Fourth Be with You” and “Revenge of the Fifth”, you can wear all the hyperspace hilarity on your sleeve! So do, or do not‚Ķ but if you do, do so while supplies last at Disney Pin Traders in Downtown Disney District or Little Green Men Store Command in Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park. Only a Sith would miss this magic event!
This and That |
Back in Disneyland, the Blue Bayou Restaurant recently got a menu refresh with some dishes updated and some new options added, focusing on adding lighter, fresher options.
Lunch menu (click for larger size)
Dinner menu (click for larger size)
The famous Monte Cristo Sandwich from the lunch menu:
The Herb Panko-crusted Rack of Lamb from the dinner menu:
And the Portobello Mushroom Couscous Macque Choux, available at both lunch and dinner:
Back in Fantasyland, the old Kodak film booth (a repurposed Fantasyland ticket booth) remains empty and unused, but don’t worry, Disneyland continues to park ice cream and drink carts in front of it as if it’ll hide the empty structure. The best part of this is the popcorn cart just steps (which also sells drinks) is usually open and serving guests, but I rarely see the carts parked in front of the ticket booth being used.
|
Weekly News & Information Round-Up | ||
Weekly Theme Park Hours April 29 — May 5, 2013 |
||
[B]Disneyland Park[/B] | [B]California Adventure[/B] | |
Mon.-Thurs.: 10am – 8pm Friday: 9am – 12am Saturday: 9am – 11pm Sunday: 8am – 11pm |
Mon.-Thurs.: 10am – 9pm Friday: 9am – 11pm Saturday: 9am – 10pm Sunday: 8am – 10pm |
|
[CENTER]For a complete listing of theme park hours, visit the Disneyland.com Theme Park Calendar[/CENTER] |
||
[center]Closure and Refurbishment Schedule[/center] | ||
[b][center]Disneyland Park[/center][/b] | ||
|
||
[b][center]Disney California Adventure[/center][/b] | ||
|
||
[b][center]Downtown Disney and Disneyland Resort Hotels[/center][/b] | ||
|
||
[center]Headline Roundup A quick look at noteworthy Disney theme park headlines from around the web.[/center] |
||
|
OK, that should wrap up this week’s edition of Dateline Disneyland. Are you ready to pull another all-nighter in Disneyland or will you be staying home this time? Let us know in the comments section below!
We’re only here because of generous readers like you. Do you enjoy reading Dateline Disneyland every week? Consider helping us out by donating so we can pay the bills and keep the weekly updates coming! You can donate with a click of a button via PayPal, click here! For more Disneyland news, be sure to read MiceChat’s weekly In the Parks blog. And be sure to check out our sister blog, Dateline Disney World – a fantastic weekly photo blog covering Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida! Thanks for reading. See you at Disneyland! |
Support Dateline Disneyland |
[center]Follow Dateline Disneyland!
| | | | [/center]
FTC-Mandated Disclosure: Promotional consideration for this edition of Dateline Disneyland was provided by the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel & Water Playground. |