Swingin' Symphony, California Adventure construction, Captain EO progress, +MORE
Posted 01-31-2010 at 05:35 PM by Dateline Disneyland
Updated 02-01-2010 at 05:26 PM by Dateline Disneyland (Fixed Captain EO poster photo credit.)
Updated 02-01-2010 at 05:26 PM by Dateline Disneyland (Fixed Captain EO poster photo credit.)
The brief off-season continues at the Disneyland Resort, allowing on-going refurbishments and construction projects to press on before the Spring Break crowds descend on the theme parks. Last week saw the rapid progression of the Silly Symphony Swings project as the wave swinger attraction got all decked out with its new Mickey's Band Concert motif. Nearby, work continued on Disney's World of Color and Paradise Park. Over at Disneyland, work continues on the return of Captain EO and the major Rivers of America refurbishment.
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.
Many thanks to our photographers this week — MiceChat's scorsese and Fishbulb. Our column couldn't have happened without their help. We've got a full update, so let's get started!
WELCOME TO DISNEYLAND!
Disneyland's former stoller shop inside the park's main gate is now behind construction walls.
Down on Main Street, the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor is getting some TLC.
The Tomorrowland Terrace foodservice location is now closed until July for refurbishment.
The dining location is set to reopen July 2, but the stage will remain open throughout the refurbishment for regular Jedi Training Academy performances and evening concerts.
CAPTAIN EO GETS READY
Posters for the "Captain EO Tribute" were put up last week, only to covered up after photos of the poster made it to Twitter and the online fan community.
RIVERS OF REFURBISHMENT
Construction of the new bridge to Frontierland continues...
The major Rivers of America refurbishment continues as well.
CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTION
Construction continues throughout California Adventure as the park undergoes a multi-year $1 billion remodel and expansion.
DISNEY'S WORLD OF COLOR & PARADISE PARK
As work continues in Paradise Bay on Disney's World of Color...
...the Disney Parks Blog gave readers a preview of the soundtrack for the upcoming show with a sneak peek in the recording studio.
World of Color – Behind the H20 – The Abbey Road Sessions
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THE LITTLE MERMAID AND CARS LAND
The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure
Cars Land / Radiator Springs Racers
SILLY SYMPHONY SWINGS
Last week saw quite a bit of progress at the Silly Symphony Swings project as decorative new panels were installed as well as the new maestro Mickey topper. The swings have also been re-installed and reports of testing have made the rounds on the MiceChat boards.
The new Swings are looking quite nice, a definite improvement over the Orange Stinger. It is, however, disappointing that the lighting package and decorative panels are nothing more than off-the-shelf decorations for an off-the-shelf ride that Disney failed to include in the design the first time around.
RED CAR TROLLEY
Work continues on the Red Car Trolley tracks in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot.
THIS AND THAT
Work on a new private Disney's Vacation Club entrance to California Adventure is under construction.
Francis' Lady Bug Boogie in A Bug's Land is closed for refurbishment
The Grand Californian Hotel's pool refurbishment continues.
And the Disneyland Hotel's Dreams Tower continues its remodeling project.
AROUND THE PARKS
DISNEYLAND WEEKLY HOURS AND INFO
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.
Many thanks to our photographers this week — MiceChat's scorsese and Fishbulb. Our column couldn't have happened without their help. We've got a full update, so let's get started!
 Inside Dateline Disneyland |
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WELCOME TO DISNEYLAND!
Disneyland's former stoller shop inside the park's main gate is now behind construction walls.
Down on Main Street, the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor is getting some TLC.
The Tomorrowland Terrace foodservice location is now closed until July for refurbishment.
The dining location is set to reopen July 2, but the stage will remain open throughout the refurbishment for regular Jedi Training Academy performances and evening concerts.
CAPTAIN EO GETS READY
Posters for the "Captain EO Tribute" were put up last week, only to covered up after photos of the poster made it to Twitter and the online fan community.
RIVERS OF REFURBISHMENT
Construction of the new bridge to Frontierland continues...
The major Rivers of America refurbishment continues as well.
CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTION
Construction continues throughout California Adventure as the park undergoes a multi-year $1 billion remodel and expansion.
DISNEY'S WORLD OF COLOR & PARADISE PARK
As work continues in Paradise Bay on Disney's World of Color...
...the Disney Parks Blog gave readers a preview of the soundtrack for the upcoming show with a sneak peek in the recording studio.
World of Color – Behind the H20 – The Abbey Road Sessions
27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" width="550" height="354" id="viddler_41b10308">
THE LITTLE MERMAID AND CARS LAND
The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure
Cars Land / Radiator Springs Racers
SILLY SYMPHONY SWINGS
Last week saw quite a bit of progress at the Silly Symphony Swings project as decorative new panels were installed as well as the new maestro Mickey topper. The swings have also been re-installed and reports of testing have made the rounds on the MiceChat boards.
The new Swings are looking quite nice, a definite improvement over the Orange Stinger. It is, however, disappointing that the lighting package and decorative panels are nothing more than off-the-shelf decorations for an off-the-shelf ride that Disney failed to include in the design the first time around.
RED CAR TROLLEY
Work continues on the Red Car Trolley tracks in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot.
THIS AND THAT
Work on a new private Disney's Vacation Club entrance to California Adventure is under construction.
Francis' Lady Bug Boogie in A Bug's Land is closed for refurbishment
The Grand Californian Hotel's pool refurbishment continues.
And the Disneyland Hotel's Dreams Tower continues its remodeling project.
AROUND THE PARKS
DISNEYLAND WEEKLY HOURS AND INFO
THEME PARK HOURS FEBRUARY 1 — 7
For a complete listing of theme park hours, please visit the Disneyland.com Theme Park CalendarDisneyland Park
Monday - Thursday: 10 am - 8 pm
Friday: 9 am - 11 pm
Saturday - Sunday: 8 am - 12 midnight
Disney's California Adventure Park
Monday - Thursday: 10 am - 6 pm
Friday: 10 am - 8 pm
Saturday: 10 am - 9 pm
Sunday: 10 am - 10 pm
CURRENT ATTRACTION CLOSURES & REFURBISHMENTSDisneyland Park
- Starcade: Closed through February 1 for refurbishment.
- Matterhorn Bobsleds: Closed February 1 through March 11 for refurbishment.
- Le Petit Chalet Gifts: Closed through February 10 for refurbishment.
- "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience:" Closed. Captain EO is returning for a "special limited engagement" in February. It is unknown if "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" will return following Captain EO's run.
- Tomorrowland Terrace: Restaurant closed through July 2 for refurbishment. Stage will remain open for shows and performances during restaurant closure.
- 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
- Francis' Lady Bug Boogie: Closed through February 4.
- Golden Zephyr: Closed February 16 through April 2 for refurbishment.
- Award Wieners: Closed through April 18.
- Wine Country Trattoria: Closed through April 26.
- 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.
DISNEY LAUNCHES FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL WEBSITE
Disney launched the website for their 2010 Disney's California Food and Wine Festival last week. The Festival will run April 16 through May 31 this year and offer an array of complimentary and signature events. For more information, click here.
PRINCESS TIANA RETURNS IN NEW ORLEANS SQUARE THIS FRIDAY
With the Mark Twain Riverboat down for refurbishment during the Rivers of America closure, Tiana's Showboat Jubilee is closed. Fans of Tiana can see her in a new show called "Princess Tiana’s Mardi Gras Celebration" on the New Orleans Square mainland starting Friday.
Princess Tiana sings in New Orleans Square, joins royal court at DisneylandFor the full article, visit: LA Times Funland Blog: Princess Tiana sings in New Orleans Square, joins royal court at Disneyland
After a successful run in “Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee,” Princess Tiana from the animated movie musical “The Princess and the Frog” will disembark from the Mark Twain riverboat for a show on dry land starting next week at Disneyland.
Beginning Feb. 5, “Princess Tiana’s Mardi Gras Celebration” will feature Disney’s first African American princess singing with a live band in New Orleans Square. Backed by the Jambalaya Jazz Band, Tiana will perform songs from the animated movie during “atmosphere” shows occurring five to seven times daily.
Tiana’s tentative song list includes: “Down in New Orleans,” “Almost There,” “When We’re Human,” “Ma Belle Evangeline,” “Dig a Little Deeper” and “Gonna Take You There.”
DISNEY PARKS AND RESORTS CHAIR VISITS DISNEYLAND
New Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs visited Disneyland early last week with official photographers in tow, but Mr. Staggs declined interviews with local media.
New parks chair visits Disneyland ResortFor the full article, visit: Around Disney: New parks chair visits Disneyland Resort
Tom Staggs is making his first official visit to the Disneyland Resort as the new chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Staggs, who was previously the company’s chief financial officer, took over the new job at the beginning of the year.
Staggs declined an interview request during his two-day visit. But the Disneyland Resort supplied photos from his Tuesday tour.
Below, Staggs meets Oscar Martinez, the resort’s longest-serving active employee, who has been at the resort for more than 53 years.
| Alrighty, that finishes this week's edition of Dateline Disneyland. Thanks again to our photographers this week - scorsese and Fishbulb — and many thanks to all of you for reading! Be sure to discuss in the comments section below. See you here again next week! 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 over 5,700 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 |  Love reading Dateline Disneyland? If so, consider donating so the updates can keep coming through a quick and safe PayPal donation. Thanks for your support! |
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Comments
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Great update, loved the pictures from around the park. I'm glad construction on all the additions seems to be progressing nicely. it's hard for me to believe so much time has flown by, I mean, only three short weeks from this Tuesday and I will be on my annual Disneyland Resort Vacation. I can't wait.Posted 01-31-2010 at 11:15 PM by Harrison
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Great update! Thanks!!Posted 02-01-2010 at 12:42 AM by 4Apples4Disney - I'd like to know more about what the CMs thought about Staggs. Maybe his declining of interviews indicates he wasn't doing it just for superficial appearances. I hope he gets it that the theme parks are the company's interface with the customer, that great park experiences fuel the Disney fans' passion, which translates into dollars for the company. Hey, I'm perfectly ok with that.Posted 02-01-2010 at 12:51 AM by Disneykin Kid
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Great Update!Posted 02-01-2010 at 03:48 AM by Emmanuel_4 -
Great job Andy, Fishbulb and Scorsese!Posted 02-01-2010 at 06:18 AM by Mac Daddy -
So, that's the big top-secret poster design Disney didn't want to have leaked? The old Captain EO poster with "Tribute" tacked to the end of it?
It honestly looks like something a fan threw together on hearing the news EO would be back... rather than something official Disney would put in the parks.Posted 02-01-2010 at 06:22 AM by Disneyphenom -
Great update!Posted 02-01-2010 at 07:48 AM by WheresMickey -
Interesting about the behind the scenes for the music on World of Color.
Can Disney make a nighttime spectacular without using the music from Night on Bald Mountain??? It's such a HUGE part of Fantasmic, they didn't see any issues with it being in another show at the resort?Posted 02-01-2010 at 07:52 AM by sir clinksalot -
thanks andy!!Posted 02-01-2010 at 08:25 AM by cositaluvsmickey -
OMG Tom Staggs IS SO HOT! Can't wait to meet him in person IF he is out and about on my next trip to DL, whenever that might be.Posted 02-01-2010 at 01:08 PM by Micoofy Duck -
Wonderful UpdatePosted 02-01-2010 at 01:27 PM by MickeyMousePal - I was looking at the photos of all the walls up and all the attractions closed and feeling sorry for the poor tourists who made the mistake of choosing this time for their once-in-a-lifetime trip to the resort... only to find the River drained and the parks covered in barriers.
Which made me remember the one thing I really don't like about Disneyland: there is almost no perfect time to go there.
During the tourist season, everything is open, and events (parades, shows, fireworks) are frequent, but the place is so crowded that it's ridiculous just to try to walk around, let alone go on rides.
Then, during off-season, when the crowds lighten up, they suspend most of the events, and half the park is a mess with walls and refurbishment projects.
You just can't win most of the time. There doesn't seem to be an ideal time to visit. You always seem to be giving up something, one way or the other.
I've found that weekdays in the Spring seem to be the best bet for me, but even then it can depend on a number of unexpected x-factors such as nearby conventions, school schedules, and annual passholder blackout dates... Trying to calculate the perfect time to go there is like mapping out the Invasion of Normandy.Posted 02-01-2010 at 01:28 PM by FredSimmons -
Why is Disney using "A Night on Bald Mt" (scary music from fantasia) in one of their big shows again?!?! I mean it's in Fantasmic and Wishes at Magic Kingdom already; hopefully it will be great when watching the show, but it seems redundant having two nighttime shows with water fountains playing the same music! AH I need a coffee!Posted 02-01-2010 at 01:30 PM by richboi117 - I just wanted to say thanks to Andy and all my new friends at Mice Chat! Can't wait to get to know more of you and have the "BEST" time this weekend. Now I have to figure where I am hanging all my caledars!Posted 02-01-2010 at 02:14 PM by Momma Mouseketeer
- Nice update. Does anyone know what the staircase through the middle of Cars Land will be used for? I don't see it on any of the concept art.Posted 02-01-2010 at 02:15 PM by SafariRob
- I'm so disappointed with the changes made at DCA so far. The new swings look so ordinary compared to what was there before. I'm not seeing anything very impressive. I do appreciate TSM and I'm hopeful that WOC and the LMR will be nice additions, but the makeovers to Screamin, the Sun Wheel, The Orange Stinger and the amphitheater have been sadly disappointing to me. They lack the charm of Disneyland and come off looking cheap.Posted 02-01-2010 at 02:30 PM by Tinkbelle
- ^ do you mean the lack of a makeover for Screamin'? That new sign should not count as a makeover.
Very cool cool pic of Astro Orbitor, any more or bigger pics?Posted 02-01-2010 at 04:06 PM by mondo -
Personally, I'm excited that they're using Night on Bald Mountain again, because that means Chernabog will be making an appearance in World of Color. With the lighting and fire effects they have lined up for WoC, how can that not be awesome?
And I agree with mondo, any chance that we could get some links to download some of these awesome pics?Posted 02-01-2010 at 04:25 PM by oo_nrb -
The new Symphony swings look great. I personally LIKE the idea of using iconic and classic Disney themes. Just like the big Mickey on the wheel....it all looks perfectly "Disney". Be thankful it's not all STITCH-THEMED! That's what we had to endure back East.Posted 02-01-2010 at 05:53 PM by michael darling -
Beautiful photos, I am so glad that Tiana is back in a new show.
TimekeeperPosted 02-01-2010 at 07:20 PM by Timekeeper
