Welcome to 2015! With no major new attractions, the loss of Billy Hill and the Hillbillies, controversial changes in New Orleans Square, and ugly safety changes at Sleeping Beauty Castle, it was a bit of a rough year for long-time Disneyland fans. It wasn’t all bad, though, and the year packed in a lot of smaller things worth celebrating as we head into Disneyland’s big 60th Anniversary this summer. Today we take a look back at Disneyland’s notable happenings — all the good and the bad, too — throughout 2014 with our annual Disneyland Year in Review!
Don’t miss your weekly Disneyland Resort crowd forecast — provided by our friends at MouseAddict — in the Weekly News and Information Roundup at the end of today’s update!
A big thank you to our guest photographers and In The Parks’ Norm Gidney for all the help in 2014. And of course, many thanks to all of you for reading!
We’ll return to our regular updates next week! Even with no major new attractions, it was an eventful year at Disneyland, so let’s get started!
| Ringing in 2014 |
Disneyland rang in 2014 with its traditionally huge New Year’s Eve crowds
California Adventure rang in 2014 with its annual fountains and fireworks show on Paradise Bay
Video of the full 2014 New Year’s Eve World of Color Countdown to Midnight show:
| Bye, bye Billy |
January 6 marked the end of Disneyland’s holiday season as well as the end of the 20+ year Disneyland career of fan-favorites Billy Hill and the Hillbillies.
The band’s regular 20-minute set stretched for nearly 45-minutes for their final performance, which was a combination of the group’s holiday show and favorites from their regular set.
Reasons for the Billies’ departure were varied, some claiming Billy Hill chose to leave, with others saying Disneyland’s entertainment department had been wanting to get rid of the Hillbillies for some time. Whatever the case, the loss of Billy Hill and the Hillbillies didn’t go unnoticed in 2014 as Disneyland struggled to find a replacement that resonated with guests.
Below, highlights from Billy Hill and the Hillbilly’s 45-minute farewell set.
Luckily, the Hillbillies didn’t hang up their guitars for good. Now performing as Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies, the group has found a new home at Knott’s Berry Farm and their performance schedule can be found on their official website, KirkWallandtheHillbillies.com.
Disneyland quickly tried to replace the Hillbillies with new entertainment, the first being “The Frontierland Troupe,” which consisted mostly of character meet-and-greets and live performers including a solo pianist.
Needless to say, the Frontierland Troupe failed to draw crowds comparable to Billy Hill.
By summer, the Frontierland Troupe was gone and made way for a show based on the music from the hit primetime ABC TV drama, Nashville.
The show featured live performances and some Nashville-related banter from The Kelly Rae Band, who really did a good job with a show that just wasn’t suited for Disneyland.
It was no Billy Hill and the audiences reflected that.
Well, mistakes happen.
| Re-Developed |
In February, Nikon Photo Spot signs began to appear in the parks. The Nikon sponsorship replaced the long-standing Kodak sponsorship which ended following that sponsorship in early 2013.
By May, signage appeared at the Main Street Photo Supply and the Kingswell Camera shop in California Adventure
The Nikon sponsorship also includes providing DSLRs and other camera equipment for Disney’s PhotoPass service.
| Marvelous |
In March, Captain America moved into an underutilized corner of Tomorrowland’s Innoventions building. The Captain America meet-and-greet is the latest in the string of Marvel-themed exhibits and meet-and-greets to be added to the fledgling Innoventions attraction, which has struggled to find an audience since opening in 1998.
The Captain America meet-and-greet is perhaps the least elaborate of the Marvel displays, but a popular addition nonetheless.
| Big Thunder Returns |
By mid-March, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad finally emerged from a very lengthy 14-month refurbishment that included a total replacement of its track, the rebuilding of the mining town of Rainbow Ridge, and an explosive new finale scene.
Rumors had originally circulated that Rainbow Ridge would be removed completely due to wood rot, without being replaced. Whether or not Disney had ever considered not rebuilding Rainbow Ridge, it’s great to have a fully-restored Rainbow Ridge at Big Thunder Mountain. It’s a great little piece of Disneyland history and it would have been a mistake to remove it completely.
The goat!
Big Thunder’s beloved goat now acts as a perfect segue to the newly re-imagined finale. Gone are the shaking rocks in what used to be a mine shaft being rocked by an earthquake. In its place is a new projection-heavy scene in which a broken lamp has accidentally lit the fuse on explosives lining the tunnel.
The projections interact with fuses throughout the tunnel, and the lit fuses trigger loud blasts and smoke cannons throughout the tunnel that fill the mine shaft with smoke. Overall, the new special effects are surprisingly effective and when everything works, the effect is pretty spectacular.
Below, a ride-through of the reimagined Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Big Thunder also got a great, dramatic new nighttime lighting package.
| Starbucksland |
March also saw the opening of the third Starbucks location on Disneyland Resort property, this time in Downtown Disney. Previously a denim store by Wet Seal and before that, the flagship retail store for infant photographer Anne Geddes, the addition of Starbucks was long overdue for Downtown Disney, which hadn’t had a dedicated coffee bar since the closure of the Compass Books store and cafe in March 2012.
| 50 Years of Small World |
In April, “it’s a small world” celebrated its big 50th Anniversary with a special ceremony featuring Disney Legend and “It’s A Small World (After All)” songwriter Richard Sherman.
The event featured a live Google Hangout as well as a simple in-park sing-along down the parade route with the Mr. Sherman.
| The Little Refurbishment |
In May, Disney California Adventure’s Little Mermaid dark ride reopened following a two-month refurbishment that brought some significant changes to the relatively-new attraction.
The biggest change for the ride was the repainting of a majority of the attraction in black light paint, bringing it closer in line to some of the classic Fantasyland dark rides. The lighting and paint changes proved to be a huge aesthetic improvement to the ride, which has seen frequent tinkering since opening in 2011. Additional static figures were added throughout the ride, as well, helping fill in some gaps.
Rumors suggesting the “Under the Sea” Ariel figure would be changed ultimately didn’t pan out.
In the “Kiss the Girl” and finale scenes, the Ariel and Prince Eric animatronics got new “real” hair, replacing their original “plastic” hair.
While the changes weren’t major, they did help to improve the aesthetics and overall “feel” of the ride in a way that is better experienced in person, rather than in video and photos. It’s great to see WDI continue to revisit this attraction, which never seemed to hit its sweet spot. It still could use some work but it’s definitely getting closer.
| Guest Flow Corridors |
Work got underway in May on transforming backstage areas on either side of Main Street, U.S.A. into new themed Guest Flow Corridors for use during peak attendance when it is necessary to move guests past Main Street through backstage areas.
In July, walls went up around the former Hills Bros. Coffee Garden and American Egg House patio. The patio and the simple facade had, over the years, been the site of great promise for Disneyland, serving as a backdrop for never-realized expansions like Liberty Street.
Unfortunately, the construction brought no great expansion or even the heavily-themed versions of the back alleys that MiceAge’s Al Lutz had previously reported were coming.
By the end of October, the new Guest Flow Corridors had opened, allowing guest to pass through a new Town Square Livery facade like cattle into minimally-themed “Victorian”-style corridors lined with popcorn lights and attraction posters.
The corridors themselves turned out to be pretty simple affairs, a far cry from early plans for this backstage space and Disneyland Paris’ Main Street Arcades. A disappointing missed opportunity.
A look at the new Guest Flow Corridors behind Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland. MT @EarzUp: pic.twitter.com/MZkLUTU3eV
— Dateline Disneyland (@DatelineDisney) November 4, 2014
The Guest Flow Corridors project also included the slight relocating and remodeling of the Disneyland First Aid and Wish Lounge facilities.
The simple First Aid building as it existed, dated back to the 1960s and always appeared to be kind of temporary.
The new First Aid facility opened in October, and facade proved to be much nicer, a welcome addition to Disneyland’s Main Street.
| Higher Prices |
| Disneyland Resort Theme Park Ticket Price Increases Effective May 18, 2014 |
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| Ticket | New Price Age 10+ / Age 3-9 |
Old Price Age 10+ / Age 3-9 |
Price Increase Age 10+ / Age 3-9 |
| 5-Day Park Hopper |
$305 / $289 | $300 / $279 | + $5 / + $10 |
| 5-Day 1-Park Per Day |
$266 / $250 | $265 / $244 | + $1 / + $6 |
| 4-Day Park Hopper |
$289 / $274 | $285 / $265 | + $4 / + $9 |
| 4-Day 1-Park Per Day |
$250 / $235 | $250 / $230 | + $0 / + $5 |
| 3-Day Park Hopper |
$265 / $254 | $260 / $244 | + $5 / + $10 |
| 3-Day 1-Park Per Day |
$226 / $215 | $225 / $209 | + $1 / + $6 |
| 2-Day Park Hopper |
$217 / $204 | $210 / $197 | + $7 / + $7 |
| 2-Day 1-Park Per Day |
$178 / $165 | $175 / $162 | + $3 / + $3 |
| 1-Day Park Hopper |
$150 / $144 | $137 / $131 | + $13 / + $13 |
| 1-Day 1-Park |
$96 / $90 | $92 / $86 | + $4 / + $4 |
| Disneyland Resort Annual Passport Price Increases Effective May 18, 2014 |
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| Annual Passport | New Price | Old Price | Price Increase |
| Premier (Disneyland & Disney World) |
$1,029 | $979 | + $50 |
| Premium | $699 | $669 | + $30 |
| Deluxe | $519 | $499 | + $20 |
| Southern California NOT AVAILABLE |
$379 | $359 | + $20 |
| Southern California Select | $289 | $279 | + $10 |
| Auto Parking Increases Effective May 18, 2014 |
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| Parking | $17 | $16 | + $1 |
With prices just four dollars short of $100 for a single-day ticket, we asked our Twitter followers how much was too much. Will the inevitable 2015 price hikes finally be the breaking point for some people?
POLL: How high does Disneyland admission have to go before you and your family can no longer afford to visit?
— Dateline Disneyland (@DatelineDisney) May 18, 2014
@DatelineDisney with the cost of travel, it's already there. Over $5k to visit Disneyland for my family
— Jeff (@JalenJade) May 18, 2014
@DatelineDisney I wouldn't do a one day ticket at this point. Multi day tickets aren't that bad when you look at a 4 or 5 day ticket
— Lars Kappler (@superlarz) May 18, 2014
@DatelineDisney They're getting close…
— Mark D. (@RealMarkD) May 18, 2014
@DatelineDisney its there for us unfortunately.
— Albert Jauregui (@AlbertMJ1) May 18, 2014
@DatelineDisney I can afford a lot of things, but whether it's worth it anymore? No.
— Nathan (@BroncoTruck) May 19, 2014
| Rockin’ all Night |
At the end of May, Disneyland hosted another of its popular 24-hour parties to officially kick off the summer season. The party launched with a blast of fireworks and an appearance from the voice of Olaf, actor Josh Gad.
Guests were invited to “Rock their Disney Side” for the event and many turned out in costume for the 24-hour party
The event included a variety of special dining offerings and special character meet-and-greets including flapper Minnie on Buena Vista Street and a surprise visit from Maleficent.
Angelina Jolie’s version of Maleficent in a special midnight meet-and-greet.
It wasn’t until after the evening fireworks show that the party really started and the parks turned into giant dance parties. The nighttime entertainment dramatically changed the atmosphere in the parks and, at times, bordered on inappropriate with songs like “#SELFIE” blasting lyrics like “After we go to the bathroom, can we go smoke a cigarette? / I really need one / But first, let me take a selfie” in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. The atmosphere went from traditional Disney to a giant Grad Nite-like event for adults, turning the parks into surprisingly family-unfriendly places. With rumors circulating that Disneyland may be planning a 60-hour party to kick off its 60th Anniversary celebration, here’s hoping that the park can maintain its dignity as the party heats up.
| New Wonders in Wonderland |
Just before Independence Day, Disneyland’s classic Alice in Wonderland dark ride soft opened, showing off wonderful new enhancements and upgrades. The ride had been closed since mid-March to finally install a permanent fix for the outdoor portion of the ride track that had been covered in safety scaffolding and tarps since July 2010.
The safety modifications included permanently widening the outdoor portion of the track and adding safety railing along portions of the widened track.
Inside, new projected animation effects were integrated seamlessly, really invigorating the classic ride.
Cards fly up behind an angry Red Queen
Outside, riders experience the new, wider vine.
The wider track puts an end to the mild thrill riders used to get zipping along the track, feeling like their caterpillar might fly off at any moment. The mild, but madcap thrill was pretty much eliminated but the unique charm of emerging from the dark ride for a few moments is still there and still a treat.
Below and after ride-throughs:
Alice in Wonderland — Before:
Alice in Wonderland — Now:
| Legendary |
In July, Disneyland began a large-scale play-test of a new interactive experience called Legends of Frontierland. In short, the experience was a roleplaying game that invited guests to join in a Frontierland land feud by choosing a side and partcipate on a variety of activities to help their side gain land and win the land battle.
The game very quickly gained a very dedicated following of players that spent the summer building relationships with Disneyland Cast Members and other players alike in a unique, ever-evolving game experience.
The game certainly wasn’t for everyone, and whether you were a fan or not, it was hard to dispute that the game was unsightly for Frontierland.
With such a dedicated following and intense passion from many of the Legends of Frontierland players, it’ll be interesting to see if Disney pushes this interactive game concept any further in the future.
| Disneyland celebrates 59 |
Disneyland celebrated its 59th Anniversary on July 17 with a special rededication moment in Town Square and a special “preview” for its 60th Anniversary for invited guests.
The Mayor of Main Street welcomed guests and started the festivities by bringing the Dapper Dans up to perform a medley of songs from Disneyland attractions, including “Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room,” “Yo Ho, A Pirate’s Life for Me,” “it’s a small world (after all),” “Miracles from Molecules” and “A Great, Big, Beautiful Tomorrow.”
Then, 59 Disney characters and Cast Members came out to really kick off the celebration
The Mayor of Main Street then revealed Disneyland’s 60th Anniversary logo and announced a photo contest for the occasion.
Disney Parks Blog readers and invited media were then treated to what was promised to be a special “preview” event in the Main Street Opera House. Unfortunately, the event didn’t reveal anything and amounted to a couple character meet-and-greets and cupcakes.
Attendees were given a special glass “diamond” etched with the Disneyland 60th logo, a cookie and a special FASTPASS ticket book.
| Clubbed |
As Disneyland celebrated its 59th Anniversary, the park wrapped up its big six-month remodel and expansion of Club 33 that first got started with the closing of the beloved Court of Angels in late 2013.
Below, the original club entrance on the left is now a merchandise store room for the Le Bat en Rouge store next door.
The Club 33 expansion brought significant architectural changes to New Orleans Square and major changes to the interiors and many historical features of Club 33, which we detailed in full in July. Below, a series of before-and-after photos we ran in early August shows just how dramatic some of the changes were.
Before: Front of Cafe Orleans and Club 33 main dining room:
After: Front of Cafe Orleans and Club 33 main dining room with new window
Before: Upstairs Club 33 hallway facade
After: Upstairs Club 33 hallways facade with larger windows and new bridge
Before: Looking down Orleans Street toward the Court of Angels
After: Looking down Orleans Street toward the Court of Angels with expanded Club 33 hallway above and closed off Court of Angels.
Before: Looking down Orleans Street at night
After: Looking down Orleans Street at night with new bridge overhead
Before: The side entrance to the Court of Angels
After: The side entrance to the Court of Angels, now closed with “stained glass” gate
Before: The French lift inside of Club 33 that Walt Disney had built based on one he saw while traveling abroad.
After: The French lift, decommissioned and repurposed as a booth-for-one in the new jazz lounge area of Club 33.
Before: Interior of hallway leading to Club 33’s main dining room
After: Interior of remodeled and expanded hallway leading to Club 33’s main dining room
Before: Club 33 china
After: New Club 33 china with new club logo
I expressed my personal opinions on the Club 33 remodel and New Orleans Square changes here on this blog numerous times. Below is some of my thoughts from the July 21 edition of Dateline Disneyland, which I believe are still a good reflection of my feelings on what I believe to be Disneyland’s biggest mistake in the last 20 years.
The Court of Angels was a very important part of Disneyland for me. As a whole, New Orleans Square is the part of Disneyland that took me from being a casual fan of Disneyland to someone obsessed with the park and themed design. New Orleans Square’s various elements — the architecture, Disney Gallery, the Court of Angels — were where I formed deep, emotional connections to the park. These spaces were where I had what I call my a-ha! moment, where I really gained an understanding of what themed entertainment was and that Disneyland was far more than just a collection of rides and shops. I was very lucky to have enjoyed several meals at Club 33 over the years and long before my first visit, I was fascinated with the history the place contained. The exclusivity played into it, but more than anything its connection to Walt Disney was what appealed to me the most. So, when I was invited to dine and tour the new club over the weekend by a very generous and gracious member, I jumped at the opportunity. I had to see first-hand what had become of these spaces that had played such important roles in my Disneyland fandom.
[ . . . ] it’s that French lift that, more than anything else, really defines the entire Club 33 project for me. I can complain endlessly about the exterior changes or rave forever about the impossibly stellar new menu. But throughout my entire experience up in the club, I was perhaps most affected by what really appeared to be a wholesale wiping of the Club’s history. Sure, a few items were retained as “tribute” objects, but the club itself is largely unrecognizable from what it was previously and the club’s most historic elements have been almost totally eradicated. If you look through the glass above the club’s original door, you’ll see a glimpse of the original lobby, which is now stripped of all theming and fitted with with chain link fencing and shelving for merchandise storage. Inside the club, Walt Disney’s trophy room is completely gone, now converted into kitchen space. New Orleans Square was the last theme park land that Walt Disney personally oversaw, and that included Club 33. The Club had changed over the years, sure, but his personal touches could still be seen throughout. All of that is pretty much gone now.
I had a great time in the club and I am very lucky to have been able to see it again. Unfortunately, Club 33′s appeal no longer comes from that very real magic that Disneyland has: its history. Instead, it comes from its incredible new menu and sometimes over-designed, kind of gimmicky things like animated paintings, color-changing stained glass ceilings, or pianos that can live-stream performances. These sorts of things are nice and probably have a place in Disney theme parks, but they should never come at the expense of things that are so entrenched in history and company lore. If things that Walt Disney personally commissioned for Disneyland must be cut out of a need for expansion, then they shouldn’t be converted into such regrettable things such as a restaurant booth. Move it somewhere else, donate it to the Walt Disney Family Museum, give it to the Disney Archives. Don’t dismantle it and turn it into a half-hearted nod to your past that you are so aggressively removing.
As Disneyland approaches its 60th Anniversary, it is — more than ever — imperative that Disney really takes the time to take a look at its history and realize that it is the company’s most valuable asset. What was passed down to today’s Walt Disney Company from Walt Disney and his brilliant team is a legacy other companies could only dream of having. What was done to New Orleans Square and Club 33 is largely a very unfortunate purging of that that rich history and legacy.
There are plenty that disagreed with me in July and plenty more will disagree with me now, but I very strongly feel that the Club 33 expansion and all of its related elements will go down as one of Disneyland’s biggest missteps of the 2010s. Walt Disney quote that “Disneyland isn’t a museum” is trotted out a lot, but Disneyland’s place in American history and culture is worth noting here. Whether the Walt Disney Company likes it or not, the park’s place in our collective American culture and psyche is important and a lot of that revolved around Walt Disney’s personal connection to the place. Disneyland might not be a museum, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t parts of it worth preserving.
Club 33 reopened in July but the member’s-only restaurant continues to expand into the new year. In September, work got underway in the Royal Courtyard between the Port Royal and Pieces of Eight gift shops.
The space was most recently used as overflow Pirates of the Caribbean retail and was originally just an open-air courtyard for guests to discover and explore. It would have also served as the private entrance to Walt Disney’s Royal Suite above New Orleans Square. Below, the Royal Courtyard in September after the retail infrastructure was removed.
Work quickly got underway, however, and the stairs were removed entirely.
Original 1960s Disney concept art for the courtyard.
In December, rumors began circulating that the construction was to make way for the entrance to a new restaurant under construction upstairs in New Orleans Square. The rumors quickly died down after others said construction was to accommodate the construction of a new banquet room for Club 33. Currently, rumors suggest that the Royal Courtyard may reopen as originally designed and once again open to guests without retail cluttering the space. Whatever happens, we just hope that any changes are in good taste and not poorly executed like the rest of the New Orleans Square changes.
| Adventure Trading Company |
In August, Disneyland launched another interactive game experience but in Adventureland. Much different than the Legend of Frontierland, the Adventure Trading Co. consisted of mini-missions that Guests could pay to participate in, earning them collective “jujus.”
Overall, the Adventure Trading Company was a lot more streamlined and polished than the Legends of Frontierland but perhaps less rewarding than Legends for those who invested the time. Still, as someone who simply could never get into Legends, Adventure Trading Co. was a fun diversion that included a fun souvenir for a small fee.
| Haunted Mansion turns 45 |
The Haunted Mansion turned 45 in August, an event marked by a special exhibit at Disneyana and a whole lot of merchandise.
| Oswald Arrives |
At Disney California Adventure, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit rolled into town in September, making his U.S. theme park debut.
It’s really great having Oswald on Buena Vista Street.
| Resurfaced |
In late September, the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage resurfaced after a major nine-month closure that was rumored to be a cost-savings measure that could have lead to a permanent closure had certain Star Wars-themed projects been approved. Whether the rumors were true or not, the Subs resurfaced without any major changes and are plying the waters once again or the foreseeable future.
Take a ride:
| Safe-D Land |
Throughout the year, various fall safety enhancements continued to pop up around Disneyland. From some new railings inside attractions, to railings along the rooftops of New Orleans Square, Disneyland is now possibly the happiest and safest place on Earth. While a lot of the railing blends in well enough, the two biggest changes are also the most unfortunate. In Tomorrowland, Space Mountain was looking filthy as the 2013 started after not being cleaned since a 2012 accident.
By May, a new “ring” had been added to the top of Space Mountain to allow for proper usage of safety equipment when cleaning the exterior.
In early October, several weeks of work at Sleeping Beauty Castle wrapped up. The work included a new drawbridge with permanent safety rails that now prevent the Castle drawbridge from being lifted, the removal of the bench seating on the bridge, and the addition of new safety railing along the bridge parapet. Below, Sleeping Beauty Castle before the safety changes.
New drawbridge with permanent safety railing.
Sleeping Beauty Castle with all of its new safety changes:
The changes here are all pretty unfortunate. They seem like needless overkill on structures that have been safe for nearly 60 years, but if Disneyland is being forced to make these changes, so be it. But is stripping the charm from iconic locations to quickly safety-proof the park really the best solution?
| Movieland |
Throughout the year, the parks promoted Disney releases or offered extended sneak peeks in special limited time offerings.
In March, Muppet*Vision 3D updated added posters and updated its preshow to promote the “Muppets Most Wanted” film.
In late April, the It’s Tough to be a Bug! theater hosted a special 3D sneak peek of Maleficent.
In Tomorrowland, guests could preview Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy starting in July
And starting in September, guests could preview Disney Animation’s latest, Big Hero 6 in Tomorrowland’s Magic Eye Theater.
And in November, guests could head to the Starcade to meet Hiro and Baymax from the film.
| Fantasmic Fastpass |
In December, the 20+ year-old Fantasmic show finally got Fastpass, allowing guests to reserve their spot without having to camp out for hours ahead of showtime.
Fantasmic Fastpass debuted along with several dining options. So far, the service has been met with mixed reviews, with some saying its making the Fantasmic viewing process much more complicated than before, with others claiming just the opposite. Of course, early kinks in the system are surely being worked out and the experience should hopefully improve with time.
| Holiday Happenings |
Of course, special seasonal and holiday offerings returned throughout the year, with most offerings remaining the same as in 2013, with the biggest changes seen in Disneyland’s Christmas festivities.
The first weekend of January saw the return of the Three Kings Day celebration, but integrated into Disney California Adventure’s new Viva Navidad celebration.
Lunar New Year returned to Disney California Adventure in February, this time taking over Paradise Garden.
Halloween Time returned in the fall, with the usual offerings.
A new magic show replaced the Billy Hill and the Hillbillies show during the Halloween Carnival at Big Thunder Ranch
The holidays returned in early November with a couple notable changes.
In Adventureland, the Jingle Cruise got a significant re-think, adding a new storyline to the ride and a ton of new decorations throughout.
Oh my.
No.
Back in Frontierland, the Jingle Jangle Jamboree got a new stage show now that the Billies are gone.
The new show, “The Plight Before Christmas” was actually pretty fun.
“it’s a small world” holiday got a couple notable enhancement including a new belltower in the South America room
| Frozenland |
With the popularity of Disney’s “Frozen” unwavering, the parks continue to add new, but unfortunately cheap, Frozen offerings…
In June, a new Frozen pre-parade float debuted in front of Mickey’s Soundsational Parade. The pre-parade was a simple repurposing of an existing float from the “A Christmas Fantasy” parade.
The float was later added back to A Christmas Fantasy Parade and retained its new Frozen theme.
After some delays, Anna and Elsa’s Boutique opened in October after a quick two-week remodel in Downtown Disney’s former Disney Studio 365. The new Frozen store offers Frozen-inspired makeovers for children and plenty of Frozen merchandise.
In December, Storybook Land reopened after a brief closure that brought the kingdom of Arendelle to the shores of the Storybook Land canals.
Next week we’ll have a full look at the new Frozen Fun offerings that are officially debuting this week at Disney California Adventure. Frozen Fun has been in previews since December 20, with a new sing-along show, a snow playground, character meet-and-greets and a nighttime dance party all being offered as part of the promotion that is currently set to run through mid-May.
What a year. What an exhausting year. For this lifelong Disneyland fan, 2014 was a rough year. As we head into Disneyland’s 60th Anniversary I hope that the nostalgia-driven marketing doesn’t fall on deaf ears at Disney. It’s time to pioneer a new future for the theme parks while embracing and celebrating Disneyland’s unique heritage and history. Stop exploiting the company’s history while simultaneously destroying it. The parks will always evolve but that doesn’t mean the history can’t be respected and embraced. Disney’s history is a powerful asset but it won’t last forever if it continues to be chipped away at. Additionally, devolving the parks even further into Franchiseland might seem like the right investment but there are so many other possibilities. A revival of new and original theme park experiences that don’t rely on the safe success of existing intellectual properties would be a great place to start. With Universal bringing the boy wizard to Hollywood, and Knott’s Berry Farm restoring its classics and debuting a new original attraction in 2015, it’s time for Disney to once again push the boundaries and wow us. Here’s to 60!
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| Weekly News & Information Round-Up | ||
| Weekly Theme Park Hours January 5-11, 2015 |
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| [B]Disneyland Park[/B] | [B]California Adventure[/B] | |
| Monday: 8 am – 11 pm Tuesday: 8 am – 10 pm Wed.-Thu.: 9 am – 9 pm Fri.-Sun.: 9 am – 11 pm |
Monday: 8 am – 10 pm Tuesday: 9 am – 9 pm Wed.-Thu.: 9 am – 8 am Friday: 9 am – 10 pm Saturday: 9 am – 9 pm Sunday: 9 am – 10 pm |
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| [CENTER]For a complete listing of theme park hours, visit the Disneyland.com Theme Park Calendar[/CENTER] |
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| [center]Closure and Refurbishment Schedule[/center] | ||
| [b][center]Disneyland Park[/center][/b] | ||
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| [b][center]Disney California Adventure[/center][/b] | ||
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| [b][center]Downtown Disney and Disneyland Resort Hotels[/center][/b] | ||
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January 5-11
The free Mouseaddict app for iPhone and iPad features more than five dozen categories of searchable resort information, weather forecasts, park and show schedules, the latest news and articles from MiceChat, and more. Download free on the App Store or at mouseaddict.com.
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| [center]Headline Roundup A quick look at noteworthy Disney theme park headlines from around the web.[/center] |
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| And that wraps up this week’s edition of Dateline Disneyland. What did you think of 2014? Am I wrong? Was 2014 a great year after all? Let me know in the comments section below!
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