Dateline Disneyland

Disneyland may have celebrated the Thanksgiving weekend without the arrival of the Presidentially-pardoned turkeys, but with the crowds and construction you'd never know the difference. Now, as November ends Disneyland is getting ready for its annual Candlelight processional, which traditionally takes place the first weekend of December. Over in Tomorrowland, the Astro Orbiter has halted flights while some unexpected mechanical issues are addressed. Meanwhile, it's business as usual in Disney California Adventure as construction continues with little regard to the crowds or holidays.

Thanks Fishbulb for his help with photos this week.

As always, more information on the construction projects featured in today's update can be found in the MiceChat Project Tracker threads — just look for a Project Tracker watermark and click that photo for more information and to join the on-going discussion.

Hopefully all of you reading in the States had an excellent Thanksgiving! Now, let's get started!

Inside Dateline Disneyland

Welcome to Disneyland! Town Square gets ready for Candlelight, Astro Orbiter goes dark California Construction A look at the park's on-going $1 billion expansion and remodel. Sunshine Plaza Red Car Trolley Cars Land The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure Goofy's Sky School & Paradise Garden dining area Disneyland Hotel Remodel A look at the Disneyland Hotel remodel This & That Guided tour garden refurbed, Toon Town goes Vacation Club Weekly News and Information Round-Up Weekly theme park hours, closures and refurbishments, Candy canes return to Main Street, Original Disneyland employee dies

WELCOME TO DISNEYLAND!
Disneyland is getting Town Square ready for this weekend's Candlelight event. This year's event will take place December 4 & 5, with performances at 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. both nights. Actor Tom Skerrit will be this year's guest narrator.


Disney is not offering dining packages with reserved seating for this year's event.





Over in Tomorrowland, the Astro Orbiter has quietly stopped spinning. Mechanical issues are reportedly an issue and the attraction is closed indefinitely while the problem is addressed.











CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTION
A look at California Adventure's ongoing $1 billion remodel and expansion...

SUNSHINE PLAZA
Work continues dismantling the entrance of California Adventure, despite holiday crowds pouring through park gates.















RED CAR TROLLEY
The end of Hollywood Boulevard in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot is once again open after work wrapped up on the installation of the Red Car Trolley track and the Hyperion Theater facade refurbishment.


The new trolley tracks are here ready for the Red Cars, coming 2012.




New street and parade lighting installed along the street


Work continues behind walls between the Tower of Terror and Hyperion Theater outdoor queue. The main thoroughfare is open for guests though; no more accessing Tower of Terror through A Bug's Land.


The Kellogg's truck that was previously located in the Bountiful Valley Farm area has been relocated near the forced perspective sky mural.


Not sure if this really fits the area...



CARS LAND
















THE LITTLE MERMAID:
ARIEL'S UNDERSEA ADVENTURE
New framework went up for a covered walkway canopy in front of the upcoming Little Mermaid attraction.











GOOFY'S SKY SCHOOL & PARADISE GARDEN DINING AREA





DISNEYLAND HOTEL REMODEL
A quick look at Disneyland Hotel construction















THIS & THAT
Back in Disneyland, the Guided Tour Garden has finished its brief refurbishment







And back in Toon Town, the old Jolly Trolley station has been converted into another tacky Disney Vacation Club kiosk. Luckily the Trolley is still sitting out front for photo-ops, but wouldn't it be nice to have the Trolley station actually be a pick-up location for a functioning trolley?






Promoting the new Hawaiian Vacation Club resort

Dateline Disneyland is sponsored by our good friends at the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel - Anaheim Resort. A short walk from the park, HoJo Anaheim is conveniently located next to Disneyland with nearby dining and freeway access. For more information on HoJo Anaheim, room rates, or to book your stay today, visit HoJoAnaheim.com/MiceChat. Rooms now available for as low as $59 per night! The HoJo Anaheim is now offering deeper discounts for Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders! On select nights, Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders can get rooms for as low as $59 per night, plus tax. For more information visit the HoJo Anaheim Innsider Boards which features an up-to-date listing of available nights, or call (714) 776-6120 and ask for In-House Reservations to book. If your date isn't listed, the HoJo Anaheim still offers rooms for 20% off their best available rate if you call (714) 776-6120.

WEEKLY NEWS AND INFORMATION ROUND-UP

Weekly Theme Park Hours NOVEMBER 29 — DECEMBER 5, 2010
Disneyland Park	Disney California Adventure
Monday - Thursday: 9am - 8pm Friday - Sunday: 8am - 12midnight	Monday - Thursday: 10am - 8pm Friday - Sunday: 10am - 10pm
For a complete listing of theme park hours, visit the Disneyland.com Theme Park Calendar
Closures and Refurbishment Schedule
Disneyland Park
Astro Orbiter: Closed through December 16 for refurbishment. Roger Rabbit Car Toon Spin: Closed through December 16 for refurbishment. Village Haus Restaurant: Closed until December 19 for refurbishment. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride: Closed November 29 through December 2 for refurbishment. Star Tours: Closed for Star Tours 2 overhaul. Reopens May 2011.
Disney California Adventure
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail: Closed November 29 - December 16 for refurbishment Muppet*Vision 3D: Closed December 9 Maliboomer: Removed. Space will become new park-like area. Mullholland Madness: Closed to be rethemed. Reopens May 2011 as Goofy's Sky School. Pizza Oom Mow Mow: Closed for retheme to Boardwalk Pasta and Pizza Burger Invasion: Closed for retheme to Paradise Garden Grill. Reopens May 2011. The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure: Under construction. Opens Spring 2011. Souvenir 66 and Corn Dog Castle: Store and dining location closed for remodeling through May 2011. Red Car Trolley: Track under construction in Hollywood Pictures Backlot. Attraction set to open spring 2012.
Downtown Disney & Hotels of the Disneyland Resort
Arcade, Jungle Cruise Remote Control Boats, Hook's Pointe, The Wine Cellar, The Lost Bar, and Croc's Bits & Bites (Disneyland Hotel): Closed permanently for removal as part of Disneyland Hotel remodel.

POPULAR HANDMADE HOLIDAY CANDY CANES RETURN TO DISNEYLAND From Around Disney:

Disneyland begins fresh candy cane sales For three decades, candy makers have concocted the sweets on the spot at the Candy Palace and Candy Kitchen on Main Street U.S.A. in Disneyland. This year, the palace plans to make the hooked treats on eight days through December. The newly made goodies are so in demand that visitors often line up early to buy them, while others crowd around the windows to watch the process. See a slideshow, right, of the candy making in 2008. Tickets will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis to potential buyers, who can return later to pick up their candies. A stand-by line will begin at 3:30 p.m. Any leftovers will be sold to those in the stand-by line after 4 p.m., said Tina Horwich, candy production manager of the Disneyland Resort, in an e-mail. Each visitor can buy a maximum of two candy canes for $9.95 each. Fresh candy canes are scheduled to be made: Dec. 9, 11, 13, 17, 21 and 29. The schedule is subject to change, based on temperature and staffing changes, Horwich said.

For the full story, visit: Around Disney: Disneyland begins fresh candy canes

1955 DISNEYLAND EMPLOYEE DIES News from the Around Disney blog:

Original Disneyland employee dies Rima Bruce, one of the original Disneyland employees on the park’s opening day, died last month of a stroke. She was 85. With the passing of Bruce, just 19 employees from Disneyland’s opening day are still alive, said Bob Penfield, also an original Disneyland employee. Those employees are members of Club 55 — named after 1955, the year the park opened. Bruce worked at Disneyland for 32 years, starting the day before Disneyland opened as a secretary to the food liaison and ending as an executive assistant to the vice president. She retired in 1987, said Vicki Hoff, the wife of Bruce’s nephew. Bruce decided to apply for a job at Disneyland one day when she and her mother were looking for a place to picnic as they drove along Harbor Boulevard. She noticed a wood frame, which ended up being the Disneyland train station, and knew it was the theme park. Bruce decided to apply at Disneyland. She was called in for an interview July 15, 1955; she started her job the next day and Disneyland opened the following day, Hoff said. Later, she met her future husband, Bob Bruce, at Disneyland.

For the full story, visit: Around Disney: Original Disneyland employee dies

Okay! That ends this week's edition of Dateline Disneyland! Thanks for reading and please be sure to discuss in the comments section below! Please remember that we're only here because of your support. If you enjoy Dateline Disneyland every week please consider helping us out by donating a buck or two so we can pay the bills and keep the updates coming! You can donate with a click of a button via PayPal — click here! Thanks again to Fishbulb for photos this week. Also, remember that MiceChat has tons of new content all week long! For even more Disneyland news, photos and information check out the In the Parks column on Fridays. And MiceChat's Weekend Update, tours the world of Disney theme parks and other worldly sights and landmarks! | Join us on Twitter and Facebook for great Disneyland news and information throughout the week! See you at the parks! - Andy

Dateline Disneyland