6/2/08 - Monday in the Parks - News, Photos and Tips
Well, my weekend schedule had me visiting Universal Studios Hollywood on Saturday, Six Flags Magic Morning on Sunday, and once again, USH on Monday. So it was somewhat of a surreal moment when I turned on the Morning TV news Sunday and seeing helicopter images of the park on fire.
We have a lot to get to today, but expect more columns later in the week, as we try and cover the Universal Studios story, and everything else that has happened over the last few days.
Universal Studios Hollywood Backlot Fire Update
Here are a couple of news links....
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...,5175136.story
http://www.knbc.com/news/16449640/de...l?dl=mainclick
A photo from Saturday afternoon, May 31st of the Backlot area that caught on fire.
A few points that I picked up, mainly by listening to KNX 1070 AM and KFWB 980 AM yesterday and this morning.
The fire was finally put out around 9 PM, after blazing for 16 hours.
Yesterday afternoon, around 2:30 PM, while a bulldozer was trying to help put out the fire, hit something, causing an explosion.
Fortunately only a few firefighters had minor injuries, and nobody was seriously hurt.
There was some Public Relations problems, as the Park came out around 7 AM yesterday claiming the park would open as scheduled at 9 AM. Well, the city stepped in and asked for a later opening. So around 9 AM, USH announced it would open at Noon, which was the pushed back, until the city, along with Universal decided to keep the park closed for the entire day, at about 2:30 PM. This left a lot of folks upset, as the media was reporting the park was going to open. In hindsight, it would have been better to just state that they were trying their best to open the park, but that the priority was needing to make sure the park was safe for guests.
The park is scheduled to open today at 10 AM, as originally scheduled, and that the entire park, with the Tram Tour operating. (Of course, avoiding the fire area).
I will be there to take photos of the park today, so hopefully late this evening, a photo album will be available of the current status of the park.
TUESDAY MORNING UPDATE
I have a new seperate article covering the USH fire, including the latest news and photos from Monday.
http://micechat.com/forums/blogs/in-the-parks/412-6-3-08-universal-studios-hollywood-backlot-fire-update-news-photos.html
Seventh Star unveiled at the Anaheim/OC Walk of Stars
http://ocresort.freedomblogging.com/...-anaheim-star/
The late Monsignor John Sammon was honored last Tuesday. Monsignor Sammon, worked in the Diocese of Orange as vicar to the bishops and chaplain to fire and police departments for 30 years.
More details can be found at the news link.
Anaheim GardenWalk opens it main mall area
Last Friday, the Anaheim GardenWalk opened up its main mall area, but only a few shops are currently open.
Ann Taylor's LOFT
The Body Shop
The Sketchers Store.
Of course, the six restaurants facing Katella Avenue are also open.
The current goal is too have most locations open by mid-June.
Cold Stone Creamery is now open
The first Anaheim location for the chain opened last Wednesday. It is located next to the Park Vue Inn Lobby on Harbor Boulevard.
This should be a popular place, as it is located right across the street from the Main Disneyland Resort Pedestrian Entrance.
Disneyland to offer a special "Summer Fun Pass", 3 days for $99
Disneyland has designed a special summer Southern Californian (and Baja California, Mexico) offer to be available if purchased in advance at selected locations, basically Southern California Grocery Stores. (Vons, Ralphs, Albertsons, Stater Bros., and Gelson's). Based on prior promotions, this offer will also be available at other locations and Disneyland.com.
Some key points.
These tickets go on sale June 16th, and not valid until that date.
The first day of use must be between June 16th and August 30th, 2008. The Summer Fun Pass is Blocked out July 4th (cannot use any of your three days on the 4th).
You then have 45 days to use the other two days. These tickets are ParkHoppers, so you can visit both parks on the same day.
The tickets are cleared marked that each person that uses a "Summer Fun Pass" must have proof of living in the Southern California/Baja California area. (Southern California residents within ZIP codes 90000-93599 and Northern Baja California residents within ZIP codes 21000-22999.)
This is one of the better Summer Discounts that Disney has offered to Southern Californians in a while. It is a 3 day ParkHopper with a longer window (45 days instead of the normal 13 days after first use) and you can apply the Summer Fun Pass to any Annual Pass (of course, the Annual Pass will be backdated to the first day of use of the Summer Fun Pass). But since the Southern California and Southern California Select Annual Passes are blocked out most of the summer. Somebody could buy the Summer Fun Pass, get three visits during the summer period, and then upgrade to a Southern California AP for the rest of the year.
CNET News reports that that ILM is planning to work on a redo of the Star Tours ride at Disneyland
In an article published on May 25th over at CNET, Hayden Landis, a senior employee at Industrial Light & Magic, in an article where he discusses his work on the new Indiana Jones movie let this slip out...
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9951772-7.html
Next up for Landis is another nostalgia-oriented project--a redo of the Star Tours ride at Disneyland.
Of course, this is not an official announcement, and ILM might only be working on a storyboard for Blue Sky planning, but it is nice to hear that at least the project is still being thought about.
Toy Story Mania! advertsing, is it Misleading?
While this has been discussed on MiceChat for a few weeks, a couple of other reporters have spoken up with their opinions.
Honor Hunter over at Blue Sky Disney said this...
http://blueskydisney.blogspot.com/20...ay-rasulo.html
Not to mention the billboards all around the Southland that feature misleading wording which makes it appear as if the attraction is in Disneyland.
And Brady MacDonald over at the Los Angeles Times also responds...
http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/?p=1969
Might Mickey be a bit embarrassed of DCA?
Sings up up this week in the Downtown Disney area, and the Main Entrance Plaza. These signs use the "Toy Story Mania!" logo, and a mention of DCA, but in small print.
Knott's Soak City Orange County opens for the summer
Knott's Soak City in Buena Park, across the street from Knott's Berry Farm has opened for the summer.
A few minor changes, the newly remodeled changing rooms are nice. They added 6 new Cabana's, and now Soak City offers Beer for sale. A limit of 2 beers per person (and they keep track of it by recording your Drivers License) and that you must remain in the small "Beer Garden" area, or in the Cabana area.
A look at the current Grand Californian/DVC expansion work
Well, that should do it for now, will mention more about my trips to USH and SFMM later, but I was very impressed with both the Simpons Ride and "X2"
And good luck to all of you that entered the Annual Passholder drawing for a preview of "Toy Story Mania", hopefully you will get an e-mail telling you that you won today.
We have a lot to get to today, but expect more columns later in the week, as we try and cover the Universal Studios story, and everything else that has happened over the last few days.
Universal Studios Hollywood Backlot Fire Update
Here are a couple of news links....
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...,5175136.story
http://www.knbc.com/news/16449640/de...l?dl=mainclick
A photo from Saturday afternoon, May 31st of the Backlot area that caught on fire.
A few points that I picked up, mainly by listening to KNX 1070 AM and KFWB 980 AM yesterday and this morning.
The fire was finally put out around 9 PM, after blazing for 16 hours.
Yesterday afternoon, around 2:30 PM, while a bulldozer was trying to help put out the fire, hit something, causing an explosion.
Fortunately only a few firefighters had minor injuries, and nobody was seriously hurt.
There was some Public Relations problems, as the Park came out around 7 AM yesterday claiming the park would open as scheduled at 9 AM. Well, the city stepped in and asked for a later opening. So around 9 AM, USH announced it would open at Noon, which was the pushed back, until the city, along with Universal decided to keep the park closed for the entire day, at about 2:30 PM. This left a lot of folks upset, as the media was reporting the park was going to open. In hindsight, it would have been better to just state that they were trying their best to open the park, but that the priority was needing to make sure the park was safe for guests.
The park is scheduled to open today at 10 AM, as originally scheduled, and that the entire park, with the Tram Tour operating. (Of course, avoiding the fire area).
I will be there to take photos of the park today, so hopefully late this evening, a photo album will be available of the current status of the park.
TUESDAY MORNING UPDATE
I have a new seperate article covering the USH fire, including the latest news and photos from Monday.
http://micechat.com/forums/blogs/in-the-parks/412-6-3-08-universal-studios-hollywood-backlot-fire-update-news-photos.html
Seventh Star unveiled at the Anaheim/OC Walk of Stars
http://ocresort.freedomblogging.com/...-anaheim-star/
The late Monsignor John Sammon was honored last Tuesday. Monsignor Sammon, worked in the Diocese of Orange as vicar to the bishops and chaplain to fire and police departments for 30 years.
More details can be found at the news link.
Anaheim GardenWalk opens it main mall area
Last Friday, the Anaheim GardenWalk opened up its main mall area, but only a few shops are currently open.
Ann Taylor's LOFT
The Body Shop
The Sketchers Store.
Of course, the six restaurants facing Katella Avenue are also open.
The current goal is too have most locations open by mid-June.
Cold Stone Creamery is now open
The first Anaheim location for the chain opened last Wednesday. It is located next to the Park Vue Inn Lobby on Harbor Boulevard.
This should be a popular place, as it is located right across the street from the Main Disneyland Resort Pedestrian Entrance.
Disneyland to offer a special "Summer Fun Pass", 3 days for $99
Disneyland has designed a special summer Southern Californian (and Baja California, Mexico) offer to be available if purchased in advance at selected locations, basically Southern California Grocery Stores. (Vons, Ralphs, Albertsons, Stater Bros., and Gelson's). Based on prior promotions, this offer will also be available at other locations and Disneyland.com.
Some key points.
These tickets go on sale June 16th, and not valid until that date.
The first day of use must be between June 16th and August 30th, 2008. The Summer Fun Pass is Blocked out July 4th (cannot use any of your three days on the 4th).
You then have 45 days to use the other two days. These tickets are ParkHoppers, so you can visit both parks on the same day.
The tickets are cleared marked that each person that uses a "Summer Fun Pass" must have proof of living in the Southern California/Baja California area. (Southern California residents within ZIP codes 90000-93599 and Northern Baja California residents within ZIP codes 21000-22999.)
This is one of the better Summer Discounts that Disney has offered to Southern Californians in a while. It is a 3 day ParkHopper with a longer window (45 days instead of the normal 13 days after first use) and you can apply the Summer Fun Pass to any Annual Pass (of course, the Annual Pass will be backdated to the first day of use of the Summer Fun Pass). But since the Southern California and Southern California Select Annual Passes are blocked out most of the summer. Somebody could buy the Summer Fun Pass, get three visits during the summer period, and then upgrade to a Southern California AP for the rest of the year.
CNET News reports that that ILM is planning to work on a redo of the Star Tours ride at Disneyland
In an article published on May 25th over at CNET, Hayden Landis, a senior employee at Industrial Light & Magic, in an article where he discusses his work on the new Indiana Jones movie let this slip out...
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9951772-7.html
Quote:
Next up for Landis is another nostalgia-oriented project--a redo of the Star Tours ride at Disneyland.
Toy Story Mania! advertsing, is it Misleading?
While this has been discussed on MiceChat for a few weeks, a couple of other reporters have spoken up with their opinions.
Honor Hunter over at Blue Sky Disney said this...
http://blueskydisney.blogspot.com/20...ay-rasulo.html
Quote:
Not to mention the billboards all around the Southland that feature misleading wording which makes it appear as if the attraction is in Disneyland.
http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/?p=1969
Quote:
Might Mickey be a bit embarrassed of DCA?
Knott's Soak City Orange County opens for the summer
Knott's Soak City in Buena Park, across the street from Knott's Berry Farm has opened for the summer.
A few minor changes, the newly remodeled changing rooms are nice. They added 6 new Cabana's, and now Soak City offers Beer for sale. A limit of 2 beers per person (and they keep track of it by recording your Drivers License) and that you must remain in the small "Beer Garden" area, or in the Cabana area.
A look at the current Grand Californian/DVC expansion work
Well, that should do it for now, will mention more about my trips to USH and SFMM later, but I was very impressed with both the Simpons Ride and "X2"
And good luck to all of you that entered the Annual Passholder drawing for a preview of "Toy Story Mania", hopefully you will get an e-mail telling you that you won today.
Total Comments 17
Comments
-
Nice update! Can't wait to see pictures from USH.Posted 06-02-2008 at 07:51 AM by WheresMickey
-
Thanks for the update, Darkbeer. I live out of state, and for me the only reason to visit southern CA has been Disneyland, and so it is sometimes easy to forget that for most park visitors, this area is their home, and news of local events other than Disney are of prime interest.Posted 06-02-2008 at 08:10 AM by wulfblat - nice pictures.
i foudn this sentence funny though
"Sings up up this week in the Downtown Disney area, and the Main Entrance Plaza. These signs use the "Toy Story Mania!" logo, and a mention of DCA, but in small print."
how much bigger do you want the print to be. Looks like its quite legible.Posted 06-02-2008 at 11:15 AM by Baloo - Thanks for the update as usual Darkbeer! You must spend a ton on fuel going back and forth to all these different parks, I for one really appreciate it.Posted 06-02-2008 at 12:19 PM by philosofy
-
thanks 4 the update!!Posted 06-02-2008 at 12:37 PM by wdwnut4life -
I was at the Universal Subway Station yesterday before noon on my way back home. It was really a mess around the area. People still heading into the tram area as if nothing was wrong, even though Lankershim was closed, Fire Trucks were being staged all over the closed portion, the freeway was backed up, Ventura was a mess, they just kept crossing the street and running to the tram. You could see the huge billowing smoke even from outside the Park. It was a real sad sight. There were no buses at all in the Universal Station lot and when I looked around I saw them backed up on the overpass. Once they got in the drivers ran to use the bathroom and then got right back in and started their bus and I was able to catch one out right away with no layover time. The traffic on Ventura was fine past the Park going West. I could still see the smoke at Van Nuys and Ventura, but once I got home there was no smoke visible.Posted 06-02-2008 at 01:37 PM by Lost Boy -
At least the Midway Mania signs at the resort mention DCA (although small letters). The billboards up all over town just say "Disneyland" (in HUGE letters) with a tiny little "Resort" under it. No mention of DCA at all.
There are going to be a lot of upset people thinking that they are going to Disneyland when instead they will have to go to DCA if they want to ride the new attraction. Which is probably what Marketing was trying to accomplish all along.Posted 06-02-2008 at 01:38 PM by Dustysage - There is an error in your report about Universal Studios.
The tram tour is NOT avoiding the fire-damaged area, as you reported. The tram tour is going right through that area!!
Read about it here:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...,3641150.storyPosted 06-02-2008 at 05:38 PM by Mark Dewd -
I live in Northern California (Bay Area) and there are many billboards advertising Midway Mania and they do all say Disneyland, not DCA. Which I can kind of understand from the perspective that most people up here just call the whole resort Disneyland, not DL the park and DCA along with DD and the hotels. It would be confusing to the visitor who has not been to the resort in many years or at all.Posted 06-02-2008 at 05:38 PM by Ms. Daisy Duck - Mark,
The Tram Tour is NOT driving through the burned areas. However, it is getting very close. We had two different MiceChatters ride the tram today and both report that they got good views and got within 20 feet or so, but not directly into the burned areas.
Pictures are on MiceChat's front page: http://micechat.com/2008/06/universa...use-destroyed/
The media doesn't always get these things right. For example, yesterday they were saying that an attraction called "Cyclone" was destroyed. Universal doesn't have an attraction called "Cyclone".
That is one of the reasons that we sent people out to check on the situation and see what really happened. That is also how we were about to confirm that the Courthouse did NOT burn down as the media reported yesterday. It is damaged but still standing. However, we only saw it from a distance, as the trams are not driving through the burned areas - yet at least.Posted 06-02-2008 at 06:44 PM by Dustysage - As Dustysage said, I spent most of the day at USH, and the Trams went "Around" the Fire Damaged area, but not "through" it. I talked to multiple Tram Tour Operators, the tour is slightly shorter curently, but that is due to the fact that the Desperate Housewife Show is on Hiatus (they are building a new house on Wisteria Lane!). So our tour was around 40 minutes, and the average tour was around 45 minutes prior to the fire. It is expected that when Desperate Housewifes filming returns (and trams are not allowed to drive through the area), the weekday tours will be closer to 35 minutes.
My Photos will be available tomorrow morning....Posted 06-02-2008 at 10:08 PM by In the Parks -
The Midway Mania boards are definitely misleading. I had to correct my father multiple times in that the ride is at DCA rather than Disneyland, particularly since, when driving on the freeway, Disneyland is in fairly obvious print with resort in the tiniest letters possible--impossible to view if focusing on the road.Posted 06-03-2008 at 12:17 AM by TwilitWings - Just added a link to a seperate article with photos of USH from Monday...
http://micechat.com/forums/blog.php?b=412Posted 06-03-2008 at 09:05 AM by In the Parks -
"Six Flags Magic Morning on Sunday,"
ROFL. I think you are on a little bit of a reporting overload these days, DB
Posted 06-03-2008 at 09:43 AM by SpectroMan -
I am so thrilled about the special summer pass that some grocery stores will be offering! That's three park-hopper passes for 33 bucks each! When could you even go to Disneyland for $33? And you can have the option of upgrading it to an AP? That's like putting a down payment on an AP and then paying for the rest no later than 45 days afterwards. So what if they count the day you bought the pass as the start date for your AP. If you were intending on purchasing an AP anyway, you can just count those days as part of your useage.
Disney is genius! I get to go back! Hooray!Posted 06-04-2008 at 05:20 PM by AliKzam - Nice to get on here to chat. I grew up on the big four SoCal theme parks but have been absent for over 20 years at them all. Finally got back to SFMM last Sunday as part of an 'in' group and had the best time ever! Am hitting the Disney parks for three days in October and Knott's and Universal hopefully aren't far behind. Glad to find all these discussion forums with experts and naive novices like me.Posted 06-05-2008 at 06:57 PM by JimBeach
- Me again, while this is a Disney chat, someone already spoke about SFMM and X2. I was there Sunday and rode it six times, three in daylight and three times at night. It cannot be described. Love it or loath it, there is no way to describe it. You have no knowledge of what way you're going or what's coming next. You ride backwards and most of the time you're upside down or at a 90 degree angle. You just have to do it, especially at night.Posted 06-05-2008 at 07:03 PM by JimBeach
