2/08: Toy Story Mania!, Valentine's Day merch, and odds and ends around the parks.
Posted 02-08-2008 at 12:37 AM by Dateline Disneyland
Updated 02-08-2008 at 12:42 AM by Dateline Disneyland
Updated 02-08-2008 at 12:42 AM by Dateline Disneyland
WELCOME TO DISNEYLAND!
The display windows at the World of Disney store have ditched their Year of a Million Dreams-themed designs and now sport a really cool new "hand drawn" theme.
In each window, an larger-than-life Mickey hand is drawing things on his animation table, and it is magically becoming 3D as he draws. This window shows Mickey drawing Disneyland's own Sleeping Beauty Castle.
In this window, Mickey is drawing his own home
Here, Minnie's house
And in this window, he's creating Tink's world of Disney Fairies.
INCREASINGLY OBNOXIOUS DREAMS
But while some Dreams decor goes away for some better-designed offerings, other Dreams decorations continue to pop up. Last week you saw the new decorations installed at the security tents... well, if these decorations weren't in-your-face enough, they now feature DreamSparkles, adding another layer to their obnoxiousness.
All of the security tents have these decorations.
Each one with a different "WhereSpeak" phrase.
Don't get me wrong. I think it's great that Disneyland is trying to get the message out there that the Year of a Million Dreams is going on. But I think the recent decor is a mis-guided effort. People still aren't getting a clear message on what, exactly, the campaign is. All they're seeing is a bunch of clouds and pixie dust and the Year of a Million Dreams logo. But still no clear-cut message on what the promotion is all about!
The Harbor Blvd pedestrian entrance marquee also got more DreamDecor as well, including DreamSparkles and a Tink figure similar to the one in the new Floral Mickey.
That's not Sleeping Beauty Castle!
TOY STORY MANIA!
Toy Story Mania work continues. New trees were recently added in front of the facade. This addition is another look at a change in DCA's creative design. Trees, save for palms, were almost unheard of on Paradise Pier prior to Toy Story Mania!, and the lack of shade is definitely a harsh reality during Anaheim's hot summer months.
New lighting fixtures are another step up from Paradise Pier's original design aesthetic.
VALENTINE'S DAY AND NEW DREAMS MERCH
Need a last-minute Valentine's Day gift for your someone special? Disneyland has a couple Valentine's Day themed offerings.
Plush - $10
Magnetic Photo Frame - $6
Chocolates - $2.75 / Sucker - $2.25
Mickeys and Hearts bracelet - $6
There are a few new Year of a Million Dreams merch offerings as well.
Men's t-shirt (with a strange red blur in the clouds) - $20
Magnet - $6
Light-up frame - $12
Shotglass/Toothpick holder - $6
Keychain - $10
Valentine's Day fudge - $10
The fudge is made in the park along with the hand-made heart-shaped candy canes
THIS AND THAT
A brief refurbishment of the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor ended this week.
It is now re-open for business
Work on the re-built Fort Wilderness continues.
[Photo: David "Darkbeer" Michael]
The place still looks underwhelming.
[Photo: David "Darkbeer" Michael]
And the outside of Space Mountain is still a mess
I thought they got rid of the 1998 paint scheme?
And finally, a Cold Stone Creamery is opening up across the street from the Harbor Blvd pedestrian entrance.
It'll be built into the Park Vue Inn.
The display windows at the World of Disney store have ditched their Year of a Million Dreams-themed designs and now sport a really cool new "hand drawn" theme.
In each window, an larger-than-life Mickey hand is drawing things on his animation table, and it is magically becoming 3D as he draws. This window shows Mickey drawing Disneyland's own Sleeping Beauty Castle.
In this window, Mickey is drawing his own home
Here, Minnie's house
And in this window, he's creating Tink's world of Disney Fairies.
INCREASINGLY OBNOXIOUS DREAMS
But while some Dreams decor goes away for some better-designed offerings, other Dreams decorations continue to pop up. Last week you saw the new decorations installed at the security tents... well, if these decorations weren't in-your-face enough, they now feature DreamSparkles, adding another layer to their obnoxiousness.
All of the security tents have these decorations.
Each one with a different "WhereSpeak" phrase.
Don't get me wrong. I think it's great that Disneyland is trying to get the message out there that the Year of a Million Dreams is going on. But I think the recent decor is a mis-guided effort. People still aren't getting a clear message on what, exactly, the campaign is. All they're seeing is a bunch of clouds and pixie dust and the Year of a Million Dreams logo. But still no clear-cut message on what the promotion is all about!
The Harbor Blvd pedestrian entrance marquee also got more DreamDecor as well, including DreamSparkles and a Tink figure similar to the one in the new Floral Mickey.
That's not Sleeping Beauty Castle!
TOY STORY MANIA!
Toy Story Mania work continues. New trees were recently added in front of the facade. This addition is another look at a change in DCA's creative design. Trees, save for palms, were almost unheard of on Paradise Pier prior to Toy Story Mania!, and the lack of shade is definitely a harsh reality during Anaheim's hot summer months.
New lighting fixtures are another step up from Paradise Pier's original design aesthetic.
VALENTINE'S DAY AND NEW DREAMS MERCH
Need a last-minute Valentine's Day gift for your someone special? Disneyland has a couple Valentine's Day themed offerings.
Plush - $10
Magnetic Photo Frame - $6
Chocolates - $2.75 / Sucker - $2.25
Mickeys and Hearts bracelet - $6
There are a few new Year of a Million Dreams merch offerings as well.
Men's t-shirt (with a strange red blur in the clouds) - $20
Magnet - $6
Light-up frame - $12
Shotglass/Toothpick holder - $6
Keychain - $10
Valentine's Day fudge - $10
The fudge is made in the park along with the hand-made heart-shaped candy canes
THIS AND THAT
A brief refurbishment of the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor ended this week.
It is now re-open for business
Work on the re-built Fort Wilderness continues.
[Photo: David "Darkbeer" Michael]
The place still looks underwhelming.
[Photo: David "Darkbeer" Michael]
And the outside of Space Mountain is still a mess
I thought they got rid of the 1998 paint scheme?
And finally, a Cold Stone Creamery is opening up across the street from the Harbor Blvd pedestrian entrance.
It'll be built into the Park Vue Inn.
Alright, that's it for this week's Dateline Disneyland. Thanks again for reading, and be sure to leave your comments below.
See you at the parks!
- Andy
Total Comments 24
Comments
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Andy, I love the commentary and pictures!
You totally rock!
Thanks for finding these great new things and I wonder if the heart-shaped candy canes will be as popular (and tasty) as the regular ones?Posted 02-08-2008 at 06:44 AM by PEZZ Lightyear
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Heart shaped candy canes & Coldstone...mmmmmmmmmmmmPosted 02-08-2008 at 07:17 AM by RumRunner31 -
I really like the windows on World of Disney.
I was wondering the same thing about the candy cane hearts.Posted 02-08-2008 at 07:20 AM by Wendygirl - Great pictures!
I just don't understand what they are doing with the YoaMD promotion. I asked the last two people who I went to the parks with when I last visited, and the the closet answer I got was, "They give some people ears for free that they don't sell."
And about those quotes -- Where the clock never strikes midnight? I seem to remember on a date about a month ago (12/31) that the clock striking midnight at Disneyland was what it was all about.
Great window displays though!Posted 02-08-2008 at 08:03 AM by goatdan -
Great update, as always. I love the Disney window drawings!!Posted 02-08-2008 at 08:19 AM by xalesa -
If they had called it "Year of a Million Dreams Sweepstakes".....it may have made more sense to people. My question is, when will this thing end?Posted 02-08-2008 at 08:26 AM by HeyBaloo -
Great update Andy!!!
I also love the new display windows!
What are they working on now at the Fort? It looks like that was where the new restrooms were... are those being scraped or re-done?
Posted 02-08-2008 at 08:49 AM by peoplemover1 -
Thanks for the update: I really like the shop windows, and its always nice to see the progress being made in DCA.
The Year of a Million Dreams: all the taste, tact and appeal of a sleazy third string Las Vegas lounge act, complete with the stench of stale cigarette smoke, belched alcohol from the inebriated audience, and rancid sweat of the cheap painted show girls strutting their stuff up on the dimly lit stage in too tight costumes.Posted 02-08-2008 at 09:46 AM by wulfblat
Updated 02-08-2008 at 11:49 AM by wulfblat -
Like the pictures....hate the commentary. Thanks for the update.Posted 02-08-2008 at 10:16 AM by napamaninsocal - I don't see what all the fuss about Year of a Million Dreams is all about. My wife and I get a kick out of walking up to cast members and say "Do you have something to tell us?" The look of confussion on their faces is charming, especially management cast members ( the ones in ties )Posted 02-08-2008 at 10:42 AM by whoRU
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Loving the weekly updates. They really make MiceAge destination viewing each day, as opposed to "I wonder if there's an update today? Oh, darn".Posted 02-08-2008 at 11:11 AM by BC_DisneyGeek 
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Love the pictures! Wonder when the Toy Story Mania design elements will take over the whole boardwalk. That's my DREAM!Posted 02-08-2008 at 02:07 PM by Tikimoose -
excellent update! I enjoy having something like this every week.
no matter what anyone says, I enjoy your commentaryPosted 02-08-2008 at 05:30 PM by pianoman13 -
Love the update Andy!Posted 02-08-2008 at 09:00 PM by dsnylndmom -
No pics of the Chinese New Year photo op on Main Street? Thanks for the updates.Posted 02-08-2008 at 09:58 PM by filmfreak11 -
Photos yes; commentaries, not so much
I like the photos, but don't care for the negative commentaries. I have no reason to accept your authority on design, advertising, marketing... anything.Posted 02-09-2008 at 12:23 AM by Middlebrow -
Opinions are opinions. I don't expect anybody to agree with my opinion. But I do sing praises when I feel its appropriate, and call foul when I see something I don't like.Quote:Originally Posted by MiddlebrowPhotos yes; commentaries, not so much
I like the photos, but don't care for the negative commentaries. I have no reason to accept your authority on design, advertising, marketing... anything.
In any case, thanks for reading and I'm glad that you enjoyed the photos
-AndyPosted 02-09-2008 at 12:46 AM by MasterGracey -
Great update, but I highly disagree with you about the dream banners. It's not obnoxious at all. I'd rather have those then just plain tents.Posted 02-09-2008 at 01:02 AM by Kritter - I am grateful for the update, but do you have to be so negative about everything. I know there are things that need to be fixed and to be taken care of, but I just think that Disneyland is great and we should be building up the place rather than complaining all the time. I agree with KrItTeR, I like the banners also.Posted 02-09-2008 at 11:33 AM by Divine Diva
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good update.Posted 02-09-2008 at 12:39 PM by M@TTY
