7/18: Happy Birthday Disneyland!, Sleeping Beauty Walk-Through, +MORE!
Posted 07-18-2008 at 04:28 AM by Dateline Disneyland
Updated 07-18-2008 at 05:22 AM by Dateline Disneyland
Updated 07-18-2008 at 05:22 AM by Dateline Disneyland
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DISNEYLAND!
Signs announced Disneyland's small birthday festivities in Town Square.
The ceremony at 4:45 was small and simple featuring the Mayor of Main Street and the Fab 5. Unlike last year, Imagineering Ambassador Marty Sklar was not present and Disneyland Resort President Ed Grier was missing as well.
Despite the ceremony being small, crowds were big.
Cast Members had the traditional Anniversary button
WALK-THROUGH RETURNING
There's been very little visible progress at the construction walls surrounding the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-Through, but finally the rumors of the returning Walk-Through attraction have been confirmed by Disney in a press release issued yesterday, on Disneyland's birthday.
Signs announced Disneyland's small birthday festivities in Town Square.
The ceremony at 4:45 was small and simple featuring the Mayor of Main Street and the Fab 5. Unlike last year, Imagineering Ambassador Marty Sklar was not present and Disneyland Resort President Ed Grier was missing as well.
Despite the ceremony being small, crowds were big.
Cast Members had the traditional Anniversary button
WALK-THROUGH RETURNING
There's been very little visible progress at the construction walls surrounding the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-Through, but finally the rumors of the returning Walk-Through attraction have been confirmed by Disney in a press release issued yesterday, on Disneyland's birthday.
Disneyland prepares to open Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough
http://www.disneylandnews.com/articl...article_id=308
July 17, 2008 - Anaheim, CA - The interior of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland will open in time for the December holiday season, offering guests a “reawakened” version of its classic walkthrough presentation kissed with vibrant scenes of Aurora, her charming prince, the evil Maleficent and other characters from the beloved fairy tale film.
“It is fitting that we are announcing the return of a classic on the 53rd anniversary of Disneyland,” said Tony Baxter, Senior Vice President of Creative Development for Walt Disney Imagineering, who unveiled a model of the castle on July 17, the birthday of Disneyland park.
Next year marks the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty,” and the excitement generated by the anniversary of the motion picture spurred interest in the return of the Disneyland attraction.
Also celebrating the milestone 50th Anniversary of “Sleeping Beauty” is Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, which will release a two-disc Platinum Blu-ray™ Hi-Def disc, making “Sleeping Beauty” the first Walt Disney animated classic title to be released in high definition, as well as on two-disc Platinum DVD. A bonus feature on the new release will be “The Original Sleeping Beauty Walk-Through Attraction With Walt Disney Imagineering,” an immersive experience recreating the original castle walkthrough.
On April 29, 1957, nearly two years before the premiere of Walt Disney’s animated feature “Sleeping Beauty,” the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough opened with an in-park ceremony featuring Walt Disney and actress Shirley Temple who, some 20 years earlier, had presented Disney with his special Academy Award – one Oscar and seven little ones – for “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”
The crafting of the 1957 walkthrough show fell to Walt Disney Imagineer Ken Anderson and animation art director and color stylist Eyvind Earle, credited with giving the motion picture “Sleeping Beauty” the distinctive and colorful look of storybook illustrations in medieval style. An entirely new look appeared in 1977 when the attraction’s redesign featured miniature dioramas, including moving figurines similar to the window displays in the shops on Main Street, U.S.A.
When the attraction is unveiled later this year, the “show” will differ from the dioramas of the 1980s and ‘90s, returning to the unique style of the original 1957 show and motion picture. Enhanced with new scenes and special effects magic, the re-Imagineered attraction will employ technology not available in the 1950s to represent scenes from the story of Sleeping Beauty, including the magic of good fairies Flora, Fauna and Merryweather, and the more sinister spells of the evil Maleficent.
For the first time, guests who are unable to climb stairs or navigate the passageways of the Castle will be able to experience the walkthrough “virtually” in a special room on the ground floor of the Castle.
The Resort issued some old Eyvind Earle concept art of the original Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-Through, which according to the press release, the new walk-through will be modeled after.
Also of note in the press release is the "Sleeping Beauty Walk-Through Attraction With Walt Disney Imagineering" featurette to be included on the Sleeping Beauty 50th Anniversary two-disc Platinum Blu-ray set that was reported here first early last month.
small world toy shop
The "it's a small world" toy shoppe has emerged from behind tarps with a fresh coat of paint.
TOMORROWLAND
The Tomorrowland marquee got some minor TLC. The metal portion of the sign got repainted a lighter tan and dark brown scheme.
The rocks could use some paint, too. Or a bulldozer.
The back of the globe used to be blue.
Across the hub, the Plaza Inn is still under tarps.
INDY PHOTO OP
The Indiana Jones Summer of Hidden Mysteries photo-op now has a sign, just in case people weren't aware that the boulder was to take photos with.
WATER WHEEL UNCOVERED
Over at Disney's California Adventure, the water wheel at Grizzly River Run is finally out from behind tarps, but is still not running.
MISCELLANEOUS
"The Happiest Street on Earth" painting by Manny Hernandez was released yesterday to commemorate the 53rd Anniversary. Two canvas editions and a framed general edition are available at Disneyana. More info can be found at DisneyGallery.com
The new Rocket to the Moon Olszewski miniature is also available at Disneyana.
And a limited edition 53rd Anniversary artisan watch is available at New Century Timepieces
And finally, some shots from around the park on its 53rd birthday.
Alright, that should do it for this Anniversary Edition of Dateline Disneyland.
Happy Birthday, Disneyland!
See you at the parks!
-Andy
Total Comments 35
Comments
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I loved this report.
Looking forward, looking back.
Thanks, Andy!Posted 07-18-2008 at 07:23 AM by PEZZ Lightyear
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Nice report. Loved the pics, especially that last one. Nice way to go out!Posted 07-18-2008 at 07:50 AM by danyoung -
Great pictures!Posted 07-18-2008 at 08:04 AM by WheresMickey - Loved this report! Best one to date.
Posted 07-18-2008 at 08:17 AM by Alchimedes -
This was one of your best reports ever Andy. Thank you!Posted 07-18-2008 at 08:26 AM by Dustysage -
Nice piics of a lovely afternoon! Here's hoping Darkbeer got some shoth of the dove release as well.
It was a real pleasure meeting you all!Posted 07-18-2008 at 09:00 AM by ttrocc7007 -
Excellent job capturing the birthday celebration. I love all your photos, but the bird photos are really stunning this time.
Thanks, as always.Posted 07-18-2008 at 09:25 AM by xalesa -
Awesome trip report!! I love all the pics of things that we sometimes just walk quickly by on our way to the next ride or activity. Disneyland has so many great details. Thanks for letting us take the time to enjoy them up close. Great job!! Thanks!Posted 07-18-2008 at 09:42 AM by a-goofy -
Just awesome! I agree that it may have been one of your best report yet!Posted 07-18-2008 at 10:18 AM by Legally Brunette -
Great Dateline, Great Pictures, Great Reporting, Great Day at Disneyland!!!!!!
Thanks for all your hard work and lack of sleep Andy!!
Posted 07-18-2008 at 10:48 AM by peoplemover1 -
Great set of photos today Andy!!Posted 07-18-2008 at 10:54 AM by Darkwing -
Now My Friday is complete!!! Its not Friday without your report Andy!
Thanks!Posted 07-18-2008 at 11:06 AM by Jgooss -
Happy b-day Disneyland!! fab pics!Posted 07-18-2008 at 11:49 AM by wdwnut4life -
Great cover of the birthday celebration, thanks! Happy Birthday, Disneyland!
Posted 07-18-2008 at 12:03 PM by DinahDoxie -
Shame on Ed Grier...this is now HIS park...shouldn't he be there for this kind of a celebration?
Otherwise great report with exceptionally great pics...thanks!!Posted 07-18-2008 at 12:19 PM by Circa1966
Updated 07-18-2008 at 12:27 PM by Circa1966 -
happy birthday disneyland!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Posted 07-18-2008 at 12:22 PM by lovedisney33 -
It was a pleasure to celebrate Disneyland's birthday with you Andy! (& peoplemover1 haha) See you next year!Posted 07-18-2008 at 12:28 PM by 2DieFR -
Nice photo's throughout! I was at the birthday event standing near the flag circle area and was amazed that there was NO Disney mangement representation in the brief program.
And can't they give the "mayor of Main Street" a name other than the Mayor of Main Street!?Posted 07-18-2008 at 01:10 PM by LarrySubs -
Now, I really do have to get to Disneyland at Christmastime. Thanks for all the updates, and the great photos.Posted 07-18-2008 at 01:32 PM by Barbaraann 
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Thanks for the great update! I was so far from the ceremony that I mainly got to hear it so I appreciate the photos.
It was a great day for the park and a great day for all of us Disney Fans. Thanks for the warm welcome at the Hub. Now I have some faces to go with the screen names.Posted 07-18-2008 at 03:15 PM by gawama
