California Adventure construction, Bye-bye Aladdin, Stroller Rental Center, +MORE

Inside Dateline Disneyland

Welcome to Disneyland! Stroller Central construction California Construction New photos of California Adventure's on-going $1 billion remodel and expansion World of Color and Paradise Park Viewing Area Silly Symphony Swings The Little Mermaid & Cars Land Hollywood/Bug's Land Walkway Bye-bye Aladdin Disney announces a replacement for the popular Aladdin musical at DCA This and That Troubadour Tavern gets signage, Corn Dog Cart gets refurbished Around the Parks Photos from around the parks. Weekly News and Information Weekly theme park hours, closures and refurbishments, Disneyland closes early Monday and Tuesday, Napa Rose chef wins award, Candy canes return to Disneyland.

WELCOME TO DISNEYLAND
Construction continues on the new central stroller and wheel chair rental location in the Disneyland Resort Main Entrance Plaza, next to the Disneyland main entrance.


The new rental center is set to open in February, and will replace the current in-park rental locations.





CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTION
A current look at the on-going $1 billion remodel and expansion at Disney's California Adventure park.

WORLD OF COLOR & PARADISE PARK VIEWING AREA
Paradise Bay is finally fully refilled as final installation is finished and testing and programming gets underway on the massive World of Color show platform.


A sign explains Disney's environmentally-conscious approach taken with Paradise Bay during World of Color construction.


















The themed equipment boxes they added in the water really blend in seamlessly. Great theming work here.




The lighting towers, on the other hand, still seem a bit awkward.







The new Paradise Park viewing area is coming along. Lampposts are being installed and more and more concrete is being poured.
































I'm not sold on the dark green.



SILLY SYMPHONY SWINGS
Work continues on the new wooden boardwalk queue for the Silly Symphony Swings.






The pit that the tail end of the S.S. rustworthy left when it was removed recently has been filled in.



THE LITTLE MERMAID AND CARS LAND
Work in the Little Mermaid pit is progressing...







Meanwhile, in the former Timon Parking Lot, construction on the huge new Cars Land is moving along...









HOLLYWOOD/BUG'S LAND WALKWAY
Construction began last week on a new guest walkway connecting the Hollywood Pictures Backlot and A Bug's Land. The path will take guests between the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror courtyard and Flik's Fun Fair and is expected to alleviate congestion when work on Buena Vista Street and the Red Car Trolley tracks in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot get underway.


The trail will run from the Tower of Terror courtyard's current backstage gate....


...And enter in Flik's Fun Fair in A Bug's Land, between Flik's Flyers and Francis' Lady Bug Boogie


The new guest walkway is expected to open in January.



BYE-BYE ALADDIN
Disney announced on Thursday, December 3 that California Adventure's long-running "Aladdin — A Musical Spectacular" will close permanently on August 15, 2010 to make way for "Toy Story — The Musical," which is currently running on the Disney Cruise Line.

Announcement: “Toy Story –The Musical” Coming to Disney’s California Adventure Park Early 2011
“Toy Story – The Musical” will take over Hyperion Theatre in Disney’s California Adventure park in early 2011.

The characters and playful plot from the original Disney•Pixar film, Toy Story, will come to life before your eyes in this dazzling, musical stage spectacular where you’ll be treated to a unique “toys’ eye view” of life in Andy’s room. The stage show will feature larger-than-life set design, new songs, vivid projected backgrounds and elaborate costumes.

The 50-minute musical will preserve the humor and heart of the original film and will explore the true meaning of friendship as Buzz Lightyear and Woody transform from jealous adversaries to best friends with an unbreakable bond.

To make way for this exciting addition to Disney’s California Adventure park, “Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular” will close August 15, 2010. If you’re visiting the Disneyland Resort this holiday season, don’t miss your chance to catch this great show. [ FULL ARTICLE ]

The news hasn't been well-recieved by the MiceChat community. The fan-favorite Aladdin musical is still popular and it seems plenty of MiceChatters are growing weary of too much Toy Story in the parks. We'll see how the show goes over with the general public in 2011.



THIS AND THAT
The corn dog cart on Main Street has been moved off stage as it undergoes a standard refurbishment.

CORRECTION 12/7 4:00 PM: The Corn Dog Cart closes for a standard refurbishment in January 2010. It was moved off stage over the weekend to accommodate the annual Candlelight Processional event. — Andy

And back in Fantasyland, the new Troubadour Tavern food stand has gotten signage with its name


Works well with the dining location's medieval tournament theme.



AROUND THE PARKS
And finally, a few shots from around the parks...












DISNEYLAND WEEKLY HOURS AND INFO

THEME PARK HOURS DECEMBER 7 — 13
Disneyland Park closes early on Monday and Tuesday for the annual Cast Member Holiday Party. Disney's California Adventure will remain open later for guests. For a complete listing of theme park hours, please visit the Disneyland.com Theme Park Calendar

Disneyland Park
Monday - Tuesday: 8 am - 6 pm
Wednesday - Thursday: 9 am - 11 pm
Friday - Sunday: 8 am - 12 midnight

Disney's California Adventure Park
Monday - Tuesday: 10 am - 9 pm
Wednesday - Thursday: 10 am - 7 pm
Friday: 10 am - 10 pm
Saturday - Sunday: 10 am - 9 pm

CURRENT ATTRACTION CLOSURES & REFURBISHMENTS

Disneyland Park

• King Arthur Carrousel: Closed December 8 - 10.
• Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years/Main Street Opera House: Closed. Reopens as The Disneyland Story: Featuring Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln December 17, 2009.
• Haunted Mansion: Closed January 4 - 14 to remove holiday overlay.
• Big Thunder Ranch: Closed January 4 - 12 to remove holiday overlay.
• Main Street Cinema: Closed January 4 through February 1 for refurbishment.
• Starcade: Closed January 4 through February 1 for refurbishment.
• Le Petit Chalet Gifts: Closed January 4 through February 10 for refurbishment.
• Corn Dog Wagon: Closed January 4 through May 4 for refurbishment.
• Tomorrowland Terrace: Closed January 4 through May 4 for refurbishment.
• Rivers of America: Closed January 4 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 January 4 - May 6
  • Mark Twain Riverboat: Closed January 4 - May 6
  • Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes: Closed January 4 - May 6
  • Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island: Closed January 4 - May 14

Disney's California Adventure Park

• Grizzly River Run: Closed January 4 - 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.
• Orange Stinger: Closed for retheming. Reopens Spring 2010
• 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.
• Paradise Bay: Drained for construction of upcoming Disney's World of Color show. Expected to be refilled mid-October 2009.
• Disney's World of Color Nighttime Spectacular: New show under construction. Debuts Spring 2010.
• Golden State Park and Amphitheater: Closed. 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.

DISNEYLAND CLOSES EARLY MONDAY & TUESDAY FOR EMPLOYEE PARTIES
The OC Register Around Disney blog has details on park hours being affected by the annual Cast Member holiday parties today and Tuesday:

Disneyland set to close early Monday, Tuesday
Disneyland is closing early on two days so that Disney employees can play there themselves.

Disneyland is set to shut down to the public at 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. It opens at 8 a.m., according to the Disneyland Resort Web site’s schedule.

Afterward, Disney employee holiday parties will be held at the park on both nights, said John McClintock, a Disneyland Resort spokesman.

For the full article, visit: Around Disney: Disneyland set to close early Monday, Tuesday

NAPA ROSE CHEF WINS TOP AWARD
Also from Around Disney, Napa Rose Executive Chef Andrew Sutton has been awarded the Antonin Careme Medal from the Chefs Association of the Pacific Coast. Congrats to Mr. Sutton and the Napa Rose team!

Disney chef wins food award
The chef of an upscale Disneyland Resort restaurant won a prestigious culinary award earlier this month.

Andrew Sutton, the executive chef of Napa Rose in the Grand Californian Hotel, was one of four recipients of the Antonin Careme Medal, which is given by the Chefs Association of the Pacific Coast.

The medal honors Sutton for his achievements, including Napa Rose’s menu that has ingredients from throughout California. Sutton helped launch the five-star restaurant when it opened about nine years ago, according to a Disneyland Resort press release.

“This medal means so much to me,” Sutton said in a prepared statement. “It is truly humbling to be recognized for outstanding and lasting contributions. For me, what it’s really about are the people I work with and the guests we serve.”
Sutton accepted the award on Nov. 16 in San Francisco.

For the full article, visit: Around Disney: Disney chef wins food award

POPULAR HOMEMADE CANDY CANES RETURN TO DISNEYLAND
The Around Disney blog reported on the return of Disneyland's high-demand homemade candy canes last week. The first batch sold out immediately on Friday morning, December 4. For more information on Disneyland's popular candy canes and to find out when you can get one, call the number in the Around Disney article below:

Disneyland’s fresh candy canes return
Disneyland guests often line up for the chance to buy a limited number of the newly made sweets. Others crowd around the windows to watch teams of candy makers stretch the liquid-like sugar into hook shapes.

The canes are in such high demand that Disneyland workers plan to hand out tickets on a first-come, first-served basis so guests can return at fixed times to buy a maximum of two canes each, said John McClintock, a Disneyland Resort spokesman. There will be a stand-by line in case guests with tickets don’t come back.

Canes cost $9.95 each.

Makers usually create up to 135 canes, prepared in three batches, in a day at the Candy Palace and Candy Kitchen on Main Street U.S.A. Each cane is wrapped in bubble wrap.

The canes are about the length of a forearm.
Disneyland-goers can find out when candy canes are being made by calling a special phone number, updated each Sunday with information about what kind of candy is being made each day that week. The Candy Kitchen Menu line is 714-781-0112.

For the full article, visit: Around Disney: Disneyland's fresh candy canes return

DISNEYLAND HOLIDAY TREATS FEATURED ON FOOD NETWORK SPECIAL
Food Network's popular "Diners, Drive-ins & Dives" show focused on Disneyland in an hour-long special, which premiered Friday. The show reairs throughout the week on Food Network. Below is an episode synopsis and some upcoming air dates and times.

Guy's Disney Holiday
In this one hour special, Guy Fieri explores the amazing holiday destination that is Disneyland - the fun, the experience, the added holiday excitement and charm, all wrapped around his focus on the park's holiday themed meals and treats. Guy, along with various members of his family, will highlight (and participate in the making of) a variety of food including baked goods (such as a gingerbread house and Yule log), candy (such as candy canes), and Christmas Eve dinner (featuring items served at the Napa Rose restaurant).

Dec 11, 2009 — 8:00 PM ET/PT
Dec 12, 2009 — 3:00 AM ET/PT
Dec 12, 2009 — 7:00 PM ET/PT

For more information, visit: Food Network: Guy's Disney Holiday

Alrighty, that should wrap up this week's edition of Dateline Disneyland. Thanks to all of you for reading, be sure to discuss this week's update in the comments section below! Your support keeps these updates coming! Money and time goes into these weekly updates and without you they couldn't happen. We all know that times are tough, so any amount of support helps. If you can donate to Dateline Disneyland please consider doing so via a safe and quick PayPal donation. To donate, click here. 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's In 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! Dateline Disneyland is on Twitter! We now have 5,400 followers! If you still haven't checked us out on Twitter, head over there now for updates throughout the week with links to breaking news, mini updates, photos, and links to newsworthy MiceChat discussions. Visit Twitter.com/DatelineDisney, or check out the widget to the right to follow us! See you here again soon! -Andy

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