In the Parks

Good Day, well, we are basically half way through the 2008 year (and that means just 6 more months of the 27 months of over 2.25 Million Prizes at the Disney Parks in the USA!), but also the fact that this Friday is July the 4th, which brings in lots of folks. SeaWorld San Diego and Disneyland usually have to shut its gates early due to all the guests that want to see the Fireworks show. If you plan to go to a park this Friday, get there early and be prepared for large crowds while you celebrate the 232nd Anniversary of the United States of America.

Another Day, Another contest at the Disneyland Resort.

Last week, we talked about the Honda Pilot Sweepstakes being held at the DLR. They hand out a map with 8 questions, but there is NO need to answer the questions, just enter once a day. You can do it online at this link.

http://disney.go.com/partners/pilotadventuresweeps/

(Note the name of the new attraction at this link, including what Tom Fitzgerald of WDI says in the video at the link above....)


And of course, I have talked about how to win one of those "Million Dreams" by mail back in late 2006. The current 2008 steps to enter and win can be found here....

2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway - Step by Step instructions on how to enter by mail

And now there is a chance to win a new Home from Taylor Morrison in regards to the new Innoventions Dream Home at Disneyland.

http://www.tmdreamhomegiveaway.com/

Now, here is one contest where I am suggesting you wait to enter if you plan to visit Disneyland in the near future, but prior to August 20th. The rules allow you to enter once a day, BUT if you stop by the Dream Home at Disneyland after it opens to the public, but prior to August 20th, you can get an "Entry Code" that will give you a full set of 61 entries, one for each day the contest is open to eligible folks. (You can also get the special code if you visit a designated Taylor Morrison Sales Center). This will let you just enter and register once, and avoid the need to enter daily. Of course, for those of you who won't get a chance to grab a special Promotional Code, time to start entering the contest every day from now until August 20th.


Innoventions Dream Home, home of the Digital Frames! (Digital Frames not par of the "27 months of the over 2.25 Million Prizes!)



The Innoventions Dream Home is still having problems, you can read more about them at the following link from the Orange County Register...

http://ocresort.freedomblogging.com/...pen-next-week/

Bob Iger, no need to win a contest, he is currently the fourth highest-paid CEO in the western U.S.

http://ocresort.freedomblogging.com/...in-western-us/

The Associated Press examined 2007 CEO pay data from the 410 companies in the S&P 500 that filed compensation disclosures with federal regulators in the first six months of this year. The following are the top earners in the West.

1. Richard Adkerson of Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold: $65.3 million
2. Glenn Murphy of Gap Inc.: $39 million
3. Ray Irani of Occidental Petroleum Corp.: $34.2 million
4. Robert Iger of Walt Disney Co.: $27.7 million
5. Chase Carey of DirecTV Group Inc.: $26.4 million

The AP’s formula includes salary, perks, bonuses, above-market interest on pay set aside for later, and company estimates for the value of stock options and stock awards on the day they were granted.

As always, everything at Disney is ALWAYS subject to change.

Well, many of you got the latest Disneyland Annual Passport Newsletter, well, don't get your hopes up...

http://ocresort.freedomblogging.com/...t-this-summer/

A Disney Backstage Pass newsletter mailed to Disneyland Annual Passholders a few weeks ago included that a three-foot-tall Audio-Animatronic model of Wall-E would be visiting people in Disney’s California Adventure this summer

But, Disney Spokesman John McClintock said the robot is not expected to be in the park for a few months.

“We don’t expect Wall-E to be in the Disneyland Resort any time soon, especially during the summer,” McClintock said.

It is amazing what the Walt Disney Company releases in announcements and Press Releases, while this is an Orlando item, it is amazing to read the wording of the Press Release, which was sent out late on Friday Evening....

http://micechat.com/forums/showthrea...ils-99200.html

Can't wait for that Design your own Hanes T-Shirt shop to open....

Minor incident in New Orleans Square Friday

http://ocresort.freedomblogging.com/...at-disneyland/

Irvine resident Vicki Munsell was at the park yesterday when the branch fell. She was there with her family celebrating her and her husband’s 14th wedding anniversary.

Munsell and her family were eating at the Cafe Orleans restaurant when they heard someone shout and she turned around in time to hear the branch cracking and see it fall on a pathway.

She said people ran over right away to help. While Disney said the tree did not fall on anyone, Munsell said people were pulled out from underneath the tree. Still, Munsell agreed that she did not see anyone injured with more than a few scratches.

Knott's makes changes to its Special Assistance Policy

Last week, I posted a story regarding changes at ValleyFair, a Cedar Fair Entertainment Company park had made in regards to is handling of folks who need special assistance to enjoy many of the park attractions.

Well, Knott's Berry Farm, another Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, has also made some adjustments to their policy....

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/l...183-knott-wait

Medieval Times to unveil a new show starting July 8th.

Medieval Times, which is located just north of Knott's Berry Farm on Beach Boulevard in Buena Park (near the other interactive Dinner Show, Pirate's Dinner Adventure).

Brady MacDonald has a fun look at the changes in his article...

http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal...al-times-2125/

Selected Photos from Darkbeer.Smugmug.Com











A look at the new Castaway Cove addition to the Howard Johnson's Anaheim Plaza Hotel from the Monorail, expected to open in late July/early August.



The All-American College Band is back for the summer at Disneyland, if you have a chance, definitely worth stopping and listening!














That should do it for this week, I hope everyone has a great first week of July, and will be smart, sane and safe on the 4th. Go have a GREAT time, but please don't be stupid!