8/22: Closed Grotto, Casey Jr. Circus Doors, small world, Walk of Stars, +MORE
Posted 08-21-2008 at 10:15 PM by Dateline Disneyland
Updated 08-22-2008 at 12:27 AM by Dateline Disneyland
Updated 08-22-2008 at 12:27 AM by Dateline Disneyland
Welcome to the August 22 mini-edition of Dateline Disneyland! First off, I'd like to thank David "Darkbeer" Michael for helping with the photos in this week's column. For more of his great Disneyland shots, please visit his Smugmug galleries at: darkbeer.smugmug.com
WELCOME TO DISNEYLAND!
Advertising for Toy Story (Midway) Mania! continues to be removed from the Main Entry Plaza. Darkbeer noted in his 8/18 Monday in the Parks column that the Honda Pilot promotion ended last week and along with the car, the Green Army Men booth at the Downtown Disney security checkpoint has been removed. Now, the billboard at the security tents has been changed from Toy Story (Midway) Mania! to an Annual Passport ad.
SEA YA LATER ARIEL!
After some 13 years, Ariel's Grotto off the Central Plaza on the border of Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, is going back under the sea.
The area with the Ariel meet-and-greet and Ariel and King Triton sculptures and fountains will make way for the new Pixie Hollow, a meet-and-greet area for Tinker Bell and her new pixie friends.
Al Lutz described the Pixie Hollow makeover in his August 5 column:
All points of access are walled off. It's a pity, though, that the construction work didn't include the removal of the Tomorrowland rocks.
CASEY JR'S NEW DOORS
After 53 years of chugging along with only chains and curtains on some train cars, the Casey Jr. Circus Train has been fitted with new lockable doors.
The new doors are appropriately themed and look like they could have been there all along.
A job well done.
"it's a small update"
A quick look at "it's a small world" progress...
WALK OF STARS
Out on Harbor Blvd, near the pedestrian entrance to the park, the City of Anaheim unveiled a new star on their Anaheim/OC Walk of Stars for restaurateur Bruno Serato, owner of the Anaheim White House restaurant.
Mr. Serato was on hand for the star unveiling.
Celebrity chef Jamie Gwen was at the event, also.
He wasn't around at Disneyland's modest 53rd Anniversary rededication, but Disneyland Resort President Ed Grier was present at the star ceremony.
AROUND THE PARK
And to wrap up, a few shots from around the park.
Alright, that should do it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and many thanks once again to David Michael for his great photos.
See you here again next week!
- Andy
WELCOME TO DISNEYLAND!
Advertising for Toy Story (Midway) Mania! continues to be removed from the Main Entry Plaza. Darkbeer noted in his 8/18 Monday in the Parks column that the Honda Pilot promotion ended last week and along with the car, the Green Army Men booth at the Downtown Disney security checkpoint has been removed. Now, the billboard at the security tents has been changed from Toy Story (Midway) Mania! to an Annual Passport ad.
SEA YA LATER ARIEL!
After some 13 years, Ariel's Grotto off the Central Plaza on the border of Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, is going back under the sea.
The area with the Ariel meet-and-greet and Ariel and King Triton sculptures and fountains will make way for the new Pixie Hollow, a meet-and-greet area for Tinker Bell and her new pixie friends.
Al Lutz described the Pixie Hollow makeover in his August 5 column:
[...] The rather uninspired shrubbery on that mound of earth will be replaced with a faux meadow made up of five foot tall blades of grass and wildflowers. Visitors to Pixie Hollow will walk along the path through this meadow as they meet each of the new fairies that make up this latest Disney franchise.
At the end of the path you'll finally get to have your picture taken with Tinker Bell, before you exit towards the Disney Fairies merchandise cart, of course.
All points of access are walled off. It's a pity, though, that the construction work didn't include the removal of the Tomorrowland rocks.
CASEY JR'S NEW DOORS
After 53 years of chugging along with only chains and curtains on some train cars, the Casey Jr. Circus Train has been fitted with new lockable doors.
The new doors are appropriately themed and look like they could have been there all along.
A job well done.
"it's a small update"
A quick look at "it's a small world" progress...
WALK OF STARS
Out on Harbor Blvd, near the pedestrian entrance to the park, the City of Anaheim unveiled a new star on their Anaheim/OC Walk of Stars for restaurateur Bruno Serato, owner of the Anaheim White House restaurant.
Mr. Serato was on hand for the star unveiling.
Celebrity chef Jamie Gwen was at the event, also.
He wasn't around at Disneyland's modest 53rd Anniversary rededication, but Disneyland Resort President Ed Grier was present at the star ceremony.
AROUND THE PARK
And to wrap up, a few shots from around the park.
Alright, that should do it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and many thanks once again to David Michael for his great photos.
See you here again next week!
- Andy
Total Comments 30
Comments
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I'm an east coaster and have grown up with Disney World, not Disneyland, therefore I'm biased. But when I look at photographs of Disneyland, I always come away thinking some parts of it look old and cheesy. I know this is heresy, but the matterhorn, especially the waterfall, just looks corny and dated to me. I enjoyed the ride itself when I was young, but on more recent visits it seemed rough and old.Posted 08-22-2008 at 06:48 AM by spawnof65
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Great report!Posted 08-22-2008 at 07:44 AM by WheresMickey -
Great update!Posted 08-22-2008 at 08:50 AM by SouthHrbrBlvd -
I must be the only person in the world who doesn't hate the Tomorrowland rocks.Posted 08-22-2008 at 09:28 AM by pussnboots - Love the Photos from around the park.Posted 08-22-2008 at 09:30 AM by Todd R
- Nope, I like the Tomorrowland rocks, too. Most fans don't like them because they weren't personally sculpted by Walt himself. To me, they kind of evoke Golden Age sci-fi - a lot of the cover art from that era had elements like those rocks. The "old" Tomorrowland was a bit too Leave it to Beaver sterile for me; I *like* the new "alien spaceport" sort of theme.Posted 08-22-2008 at 10:00 AM by swrdfghtr
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Nice update. A problem I noticed with the new doors when the daughter and I rode Casey Jr. yesterday (Thursday 8-21). When fully opened they cut the walking area of the station platform in half as they open outwards.
Thanks again.Posted 08-22-2008 at 10:58 AM by ttrocc7007 -
Great report Andy!!
Love the pictures from around the park! Beautiful as usual!
Posted 08-22-2008 at 11:11 AM by peoplemover1 -
cool pics!! have a fab weekend everyone!!
Posted 08-22-2008 at 11:35 AM by wdwnut4life -
Thanks for the report.Posted 08-22-2008 at 11:51 AM by b236en -
Thanks for a great update, as always.
Add me to the (very?) short list of people who like the Tomorrowland rocks.Posted 08-22-2008 at 12:09 PM by Nancy Carey -
Another nice report!Posted 08-22-2008 at 01:07 PM by DonDuck -
Great update and pics as always. I'm glad to see they did such a good job on the doors of the Casey Jr train. I was worried on how they were going to look.Posted 08-22-2008 at 01:46 PM by Craigroy8287 -
Those TL rocks are hideous, they are completely out of place entering the hub, and they block the pathways for no reason. I agree with Andy, I wish they were removing them too.Posted 08-22-2008 at 02:30 PM by Uncle Bob 
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Walt's involvement is not an issue with the rocks. The point is that they look bad, especially with the new paint scheme that has been introduced to Tomorrowland within the last couple years, and the rocks take up too much space on the walkway, congesting traffic in the area. I also think the Astro Orbitor is also out of place and congests the area.Quote:Originally Posted by swrdfghtrNope, I like the Tomorrowland rocks, too. Most fans don't like them because they weren't personally sculpted by Walt himself. To me, they kind of evoke Golden Age sci-fi - a lot of the cover art from that era had elements like those rocks. The "old" Tomorrowland was a bit too Leave it to Beaver sterile for me; I *like* the new "alien spaceport" sort of theme.
Also, what "Alien Spaceport" theme? I don't think that was ever part of the theming of the Tomorrowland 98 remodel -- I think it was planned for Tony Baxter's Tomorrowland 2055 re-model, but that was ditched in favor of the cheaper Jules Verne/Da Vinci-inspired bronzed Agri-Future theme.Posted 08-22-2008 at 03:12 PM by MasterGracey -
Where's the picture w/ the elephant's head taken from?Posted 08-22-2008 at 04:50 PM by Orcatime - Penny Arcade on Main Street, U.S.A.Quote:Originally Posted by OrcatimeWhere's the picture w/ the elephant's head taken from?Posted 08-22-2008 at 04:52 PM by MasterGracey
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I have to say I don't like the rocks, other than that another great report. As for the east coast gentleman who thinks Disneyland looks "dated" I humbly disagree. It is after all the Happiest palce on Earth and there's no place I'd rather bePosted 08-22-2008 at 08:29 PM by hadesthecat -
I Think Disneyland is supposed to be "dated"....To sometime around the 1930's. And the Matterhorn is older than that! DUH!
All in all, It is one of the best and quaintest theme parks in the world.Posted 08-22-2008 at 11:49 PM by Tikimoose - Dated? I couldn't help but wonder, what exactly about the Matterhorn and its waterfall (BTW, which water fall, there are several) its corney and out dated? Disneyland, honestly, looks much younger to me then the Magic Kingdom. You want dated.... I give you WDW's Space Mountain, and I would definately say its exit has become corny too. Lets not even start on Fantasyland at MK, which can't decide what it wants to be. Pinocchio's Village Haus is done in a German Village Motif, not unlike Disneyland's, while Snow White is old school Mid Evil Times Fair theme, and then Peter Pan takes on both of these personalities of theme. What does an old and out date water fall look like vs. an modern one?
That said, you will always love MK more the DL. you've clearly made up your mind about that, and honestly, there is nothing wrong with that.Posted 08-23-2008 at 12:21 AM by Kidgenie
