7/10: Monorail Red, Toon Town, Bye-bye Sun Wheel, +MORE
Posted 07-10-2008 at 09:18 PM by Dateline Disneyland
WELCOME TO DISNEYLAND!
Billboards in Southern California were updated in Southern California shortly after Toy Story (Midway) Mania opened with the "Take Aim and Ride" tagline in place of the opening date. Interesting, though, that the attraction logo couldn't have been switched out to include "Midway."
MONORAIL RED TAKES FLIGHT
The first train in the latest generation of Disneyland Monorail is now regularly taking park guests now that its issues have mostly been worked out.
David "Darkbeer" Michael mentioned in his July 7 "Monday in the Parks" column that newly-installed air scoops on top of the non-air conditioned passenger cabins address the temperature issue aboard the new Monorails. However, you can ditch the summer heat on the new Monorail by requesting the front driver's cabin or the rear cabins - as they are both air conditioned.
The new Mark VII is really beautiful and is sleek and futuristic in all the right ways.
Colored LEDs light Red's cabins in a cool blue glow and the new Monorail Mark VII logo is proudly displayed inside.
TOON TOWN
The Donalds Boat refurbishment Goofy's Gas projects have been completed for a couple weeks already, but we hadn't been able to get around to covering it. Not much to say, just some refurbishment work.
Goofy's Gas didn't get painted, but got some outside groundwork done where the outdoor vending carts are located.
Across the street at Goofy's Playhouse, Goofy's car is parked back outside after getting re-painted.
BYE-BYE SUN WHEEL
It's been long-rumored that the second phase of the Paradise Pier makeover would start at the end of this summer, but a date has finally firmed up, and the first thing to go will be the Sun Wheel come September 11 when the attraction closes.
The attraction itself actually isn't going anywhere, but the Sun face is. The attraction will be re-themed as "Mickey's Fun Wheel" and will feature an over-sized Mickey Mouse face and new Victorian-era boardwalk queue theming replacing the cement walls of the current queue.
Artist rendering copyright Disney
But what about the Mickey head that California Screamin' loops around? That's moving on to YesterDCA, too in favor of a sunburst and Paradise Pier logo.
Artist rendering copyright Disney
MOUSELLANEOUS
Mr. Potato Head drops his ear, he freezes up and doesn't move until a technician comes to save the day.
Hooray!
The summer flowers in Frontierland and Fantasyland are quite nice.
Roses in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle
And when it's too hot outside, the Main Street Opera House is a great place to cool off and offers a great opportunity to see some great concept art, models, and items from Disneyland's first 50 years.
The amazing opening-day model of the park is still a treat to behold.
Billboards in Southern California were updated in Southern California shortly after Toy Story (Midway) Mania opened with the "Take Aim and Ride" tagline in place of the opening date. Interesting, though, that the attraction logo couldn't have been switched out to include "Midway."
MONORAIL RED TAKES FLIGHT
The first train in the latest generation of Disneyland Monorail is now regularly taking park guests now that its issues have mostly been worked out.
David "Darkbeer" Michael mentioned in his July 7 "Monday in the Parks" column that newly-installed air scoops on top of the non-air conditioned passenger cabins address the temperature issue aboard the new Monorails. However, you can ditch the summer heat on the new Monorail by requesting the front driver's cabin or the rear cabins - as they are both air conditioned.
The new Mark VII is really beautiful and is sleek and futuristic in all the right ways.
Colored LEDs light Red's cabins in a cool blue glow and the new Monorail Mark VII logo is proudly displayed inside.
TOON TOWN
The Donalds Boat refurbishment Goofy's Gas projects have been completed for a couple weeks already, but we hadn't been able to get around to covering it. Not much to say, just some refurbishment work.
Goofy's Gas didn't get painted, but got some outside groundwork done where the outdoor vending carts are located.
Across the street at Goofy's Playhouse, Goofy's car is parked back outside after getting re-painted.
BYE-BYE SUN WHEEL
It's been long-rumored that the second phase of the Paradise Pier makeover would start at the end of this summer, but a date has finally firmed up, and the first thing to go will be the Sun Wheel come September 11 when the attraction closes.
The attraction itself actually isn't going anywhere, but the Sun face is. The attraction will be re-themed as "Mickey's Fun Wheel" and will feature an over-sized Mickey Mouse face and new Victorian-era boardwalk queue theming replacing the cement walls of the current queue.
Artist rendering copyright Disney
But what about the Mickey head that California Screamin' loops around? That's moving on to YesterDCA, too in favor of a sunburst and Paradise Pier logo.
Artist rendering copyright Disney
MOUSELLANEOUS
Mr. Potato Head drops his ear, he freezes up and doesn't move until a technician comes to save the day.
Hooray!
The summer flowers in Frontierland and Fantasyland are quite nice.
Roses in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle
And when it's too hot outside, the Main Street Opera House is a great place to cool off and offers a great opportunity to see some great concept art, models, and items from Disneyland's first 50 years.
The amazing opening-day model of the park is still a treat to behold.
Alright, that should wrap it up for this week. Thanks for reading, and see you back here again next week!
- Andy
Total Comments 38
Comments
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Out of curiosity, the roses in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, are those Briar Rose(')s.
Sorry, couldn't resist.
Posted 07-11-2008 at 11:59 AM by Orcatime
- Anything special at DLand for the 18th? (DL birthday)Posted 07-11-2008 at 12:04 PM by whamo
- What comes down in September?Posted 07-11-2008 at 12:05 PM by whamo
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Pics are awesome. thanksPosted 07-11-2008 at 12:30 PM by aurora1729 -
Fantastic photos, thank you!
Posted 07-11-2008 at 03:48 PM by SusieP. -
Love the photos of the 50th model! Thanks Andy!Posted 07-11-2008 at 03:59 PM by pixie chick -
The photos in this update were captured with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi.Quote:Originally Posted by MouseLouseAndy - I'm fairly new to your updates - what kind of camera do you use to capture those stunning pictures?
From the update:Quote:Originally Posted by whamoWhat comes down in September?
So, in short: the sun face on the Sun Wheel is being removed. It will be replaced with a Mickey Mouse face, and the attraction queue will be getting re-themed.It's been long-rumored that the second phase of the Paradise Pier makeover would start at the end of this summer, but a date has finally firmed up, and the first thing to go will be the Sun Wheel come September 11 when the attraction closes.
The attraction itself actually isn't going anywhere, but the Sun face is. The attraction will be re-themed as "Mickey's Fun Wheel" and will feature an over-sized Mickey Mouse face and new Victorian-era boardwalk queue theming replacing the cement walls of the current queue.
- Andy
Dateline DisneylandPosted 07-11-2008 at 06:02 PM by MasterGracey -
As always, the best pics on MiceChat can be found in your weekly update Andy. Thank you!
I'm especially fond of the pictures from of the Disneyland model.Posted 07-11-2008 at 10:20 PM by RonNYC -
I RODE THE RED MONORAIL YESTERDAY!!!
See a quick movie I made on my blog (link).
Thanks for the awesome pictures!Posted 07-11-2008 at 10:52 PM by Disneyland Tickets -
Andy, this is a stellar update! Your photography is simply amazing. I love your floral shots as well as the Astro Orbitor against the beautiful sky. Simply amazing.Posted 07-12-2008 at 01:08 AM by Armadillo4 - I got to Ride Monorail Red, Twice on my recent trip to Disneyland. One in the regular cabs, and one in the nose cone with the pilot. She shared that while it is not running much better, they typically don't run it in the afternoon because it gets too hot in the cars, even with the new vents. So they run it in the morning and in the evening, and until they can get a fix, they'll stay in "soft open" operations. Fun to look on the underside of the train as she passes overhead, you'll see make shift yellow flex tubing, not unlike what connects your dryer to your lint chimney. Anyway, the pilot shared that by design, the new train carrys only 22 passengers per car. Due to ventilation concerns, they are only loading 15 per car. Good Old Purple carries 24. Here what I don't get. They say the AC units would make the train too heavy for Disneyland's small beamway. Where are they buying theses AC units? 1959? The cars already carry two less passengers per person, Even if these two passengers are children or young adults coming in at a very low 75lbs each.... there are plenty of AC units that can weigh less then that. I am sure with some WDI know how, and some extra $$$, which is likely the real issue not the beamway, they could retrofit the cars with enough AC to make them comfortable. Also if I recall correctly, the Marks 1-3 were far heavier per car then then the next generations of trains. They wouldn't even have to be cold, just comfortable. Its a beautiful train to look at. And the days I was there it was only in the 80's. but man, if it goes into the 90's? Also I suspect that water will seep in all over the place when its raining. Those air catching vents look plenty capable of catching water running down the roof line as the train moves.Posted 07-12-2008 at 03:52 AM by Kidgenie
- The monorail is a cool way to enter or exit the park if you're an annual passholder, except when there are long lines.Posted 07-12-2008 at 08:47 AM by whamo
- So.... they're taking a sun down and replacing it with a Mickey.. they're taking a Mickey down and replacing it with a sun??Posted 07-12-2008 at 10:01 AM by Rainfully
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Me and Mr. Potato Head
Well got an email this weekend from a buddy saying "your on Miceage!!!!" took me a while but there I was saving the day and putting Mr. Potato ear back in place. I hope you all enjoy Toy Story and Mr. Potato Head. I was on the opening team and installed most of the special FX's and ride systems.Posted 07-12-2008 at 10:48 AM by hammersdr -
Wow! Thanks hammersdr...it's a great attraction!
Beautiful pictures and great update as usual, Andy.
Like others have voiced...subtract a sun, add a mickey, but subtract a mickey, add a sun?
I like the concept art for the Mickey head for the Sun Wheel, but I really don't want to see the (dare I say it?) iconic Mickey head on California Screamin'.Posted 07-12-2008 at 01:32 PM by pineapplewhipaddict -
According some people the new sun on the California Screamin' loop will interact with the trains more than the current Mickey head with new lighting effects.Posted 07-13-2008 at 03:27 PM by BassBone -
OMG!!! these have been the best pictures I have seen in a long time on MiceChat. amazing amazing job with the detailsPosted 07-13-2008 at 11:49 PM by SplashMoun10 -
urgh. that bites. i love that sun face thing even though some might say it doesn't make sense. as for the mickey on CA screamin, i like it, and it looks cool and pretty and night, but the paradise pier thing might be neater. alls i'm saying is i'm open to that change. but as of now the Sun Wheel change saddens me...
it seems too cheesy....Posted 07-15-2008 at 02:43 AM by boingofan33
