Welcome to 2010! The new year is off to a quick start at the Disneyland Resort as new projects such as the return of Captain EO get underway and on-going construction projects throughout the Resort continue at full speed. Disneyland is also getting ready to celebrate its 55th Anniversary and new commemorative merchandise for the occasion is already hitting the shelves in retail locations throughout the parks. Many thanks today for the help of MiceChat's Fishbulb for lending his help with the photos in today's column.
More information and ongoing discussion on many of the various construction projects featured in today's update can be found in the Project Tracker threads on MiceChat. Simply click on a photo with a Project Tracker watermark and you'll be linked up to the latest news and discussion on the various projects underway at the Resort.
We've got a full update today, so let's get to it.
Happiest Merch on Earth New 55th Anniversary merchandise hits the shelves, Christmas merchandise goes on sale
This and That Captain EO moves in, Disneyland Hotel construction progress
Weekly News and Information Weekly theme park hours, closures and refurbishments, MiceChat celebrates 5 years, Disneyland tests express ticket line, The Board Factory opens in Downtown Disney.
WELCOME TO DISNEYLAND
The Disneyland Resort theme parks rang in the New Year as they typically do on Thursday night with extended park hours, midnight fireworks, and dance parties throughout both parks.
The inside of the park maps have recently been updated with new attractions and features in both parks. Disneyland's map now lists The Disneyland Story featuring Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln as a NEW! attraction. The Disney Gallery, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, and Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue are also listed as new offerings.
The California Adventure map now labels the former Golden State Amphitheatre area with its new Paradise Park name, and the new lighthouse structure has been added to the map.
PROCESSING...
Disneyland has started the new year off with hour-long waits at the Annual Passport Processing Center at the Plaza Pavilion on Main Street.
The huge demand for AP processing has necessitated the opening of a new facility in Disney's California Adventure in the former Hollywood & Dine foodservice location, which opened officially on Sunday.
David "Darkbeer" Michael noted in his January 1 In the Parks column that the new central stroller and wheelchair rental location in the Main Entrance Plaza will include a new main Annual Passport processing facility as well. The new AP, stroller, and wheelchair center is scheduled to open in February, and the two new AP processing locations will free up the Plaza Pavilion on Main Street to reopen as a dining facility once again.
HAPPIEST MERCH ON EARTH
Disneyland's 55th Anniversary isn't until July, but merch commemorating the milestone is already lining store shelves in both theme parks.
As new 55th Anniversary merch hits the shelves, the remaining holiday merchandise has gone on sale throughout the Resort, with select holiday offerings discounted by 50 percent.
THIS AND THAT Honey, I Shrunk the Audience is now closed as the theatre undergoes necessary changes for the return of Captain EO, which is set to open in February.
Over at the Disneyland Hotel, half of the Dreams Tower has received the new reflective blue glass look which will continue to the rest of the Hotel towers in the coming months and years.
Disneyland Park
Monday - Thursday: 10 am - 8 pm
Friday - Sunday: 9 am - 11 pm
Disney's California Adventure Park
Monday - Thursday: 10 am - 6 pm
Friday - Sunday: 10 am - 8 pm
CURRENT ATTRACTION CLOSURES & REFURBISHMENTS
Disneyland Park
Haunted Mansion: Closed through January 14 to remove holiday overlay.
Big Thunder Ranch: Closed through January 12 to remove holiday overlay.
Main Street Cinema: Closed through February 1 for refurbishment.
Starcade: Closed through February 1 for refurbishment.
Le Petit Chalet Gifts: Closed through February 10 for refurbishment.
"Honey, I Shrunk the Audience:" Closed. Captain EO is returning in a "special limited engagement" in February. It is unknown if "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" will return following Captain EO's run.
Corn Dog Wagon: Closed through May 4 for refurbishment.
Tomorrowland Terrace: Closed through May 4 for refurbishment.
Rivers of America: Closed through May 6 for a major refurbishment. The closure of the river will result in the necessary closure of the following attractions:
Sailing Ship Columbia: Closed through May 6
Mark Twain Riverboat: Closed through May 6
Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes: Closed through May 6
Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island: Closed through May 14
Disney's California Adventure Park
Grizzly River Run: Closed through January 8 for refurbishment.
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail: Closed January 11 through February 19 for refurbishment.
It's Tough To Be A Bug!: Closed January 20 - 21.
Francis' Lady Bug Boogie: Closed January 25 through February 4.
Silly Symphony Swings: Orange Stinger is now closed for retheming. Reopens as the Silly Symphony Swings late April.
The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure: Under construction.
Souvenir 66 and Corn Dog Castle: Store and dining location closed for remodeling through May 2011.
Disney's World of Color Nighttime Spectacular: New show under construction. Debuts Spring 2010.
Paradise Park: Former Golden State Amphitheater area is closed and a new, larger viewing area for Disney's World of Color viewing under construction in same location. The new viewing area is scheduled to open February 2010 as Paradise Park.
MICECHAT CELEBRATES 5 YEARS!
Come join us as we celebrate 5 years of friendship, community, and fun at our favorite place on earth! Whether you've been with us from the beginning or just found us today, we hope you'll join the fun of a MiceChat anniversary meet.
DISNEYLAND TESTS NEW EXPRESS TICKET LINE
The OC Register's Around Disney blog reported on a new express ticket line Disneyland is testing that allows guests to skip the ticket booths and go straight to the main gate, purchasing tickets with credit card.
Visitors simply swipe their credit card and get a ticket printed out for them at the gate.
Tickets available at the Express Ticket Purchase line are the one-day Disneyland ticket for adults ($72), children ($62) and seniors; the one-day Park Hopper ticket for adults ($97) and children ($87); and the two-day Park Hopper ticket for adults ($151) and children ($131).
BUILD-YOUR-OWN SKATEBOARD KIOSK OPENS IN DOWNTOWN DISNEY
Also from the Around Disney blog, a look at the new design-your-own skateboard kiosk in Downtown Disney:
Shoppers start by picking out the various pieces of their skateboard, including wheels, trucks, decks. [ . . . ]
Shoppers get to watch their skateboards as they are made — which takes about 10 minutes. The deck (which is the design underneath the skateboard) is placed on via heat-transfer through equipment that heats to about 280 degrees.
Alrighty, that's it for this week's Dateline Disneyland! Many thanks to Fishbulb for his help with photos this week, and thanks to you for reading. Be sure to discuss this week's column in the comments section below!
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Don't forget that MiceAge and MiceChat has loads of new content weekly! If Dateline Disneyland isn't enough to satisfy your Disneyland itch, then don't miss David "Darkbeer" Michael'sIn the Parks column which runs here every Friday and is packed full of Southern California theme park news, photos, and gossip. And if you want even more Disney theme park goodness, don't miss MiceChat's Weekend Update, which takes a look at Disney theme parks and other international landmarks, curiosities, and oddities every Saturday!
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See you here again soon! -Andy
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