Disney's California Adventure Project Tracker V

[MasterGracey]

THIS THREAD IS NOW CLOSED.
We've moved on to Disney's California Adventure Project Tracker VI!
Join us there - CLICK HERE!

Track the progress from the beginning! Browse the first four DCA Project Trackers here:

• Disney's California Adventure Project Tracker
• Disney's California Adventure Project Tracker II
• Disney's California Adventure Project Tracker III
• Disney's California Adventure Project Tracker IV

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Stay in the loop! Get Disneyland Project Tracker, DCA Project Tracker, and Dateline Disneyland updates instantly! Twitter.com/DatelineDisney

Information sources:

Disneyland Resort Press Releases, MiceAge.com, Blue Sky Disney, LA Times Funland Blog, OC Register Around Disney Blog, and special contributors.
If you have any new information, please reply and provide your source or send me a private message. Thanks.

Special Thanks:

• Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer at the LA Times Funland Blog.

Looking for Concept Art?

Galleries:
These handy galleries contain much of the various concept art that has been released and leaked.

• Buena Vista Street
• Paradise Pier
• Carsland
• Micellaneous

BUENA VISTA STREET

Overall Project: Retheming of Sunshine Plaza into Buena Vista Street (originally planned to be called Walt Disney Plaza). New park icon, the Carthay Circle Theatre, Red Car Trolley transportation system, and various shops and restaurants.
Project Status: Originally planned to begin Early 2009, the project was said to be scheduled to begin September 2011, but is now looking at a January 2010 start date.
Open Date: Summer 2012

New main entry turnstiles

Details: The current main entry turnstiles to Disney's California Adventure and the CALIFORNIA letters will be removed and new turnstiles/gate styled after Los Angeles' Pan Pacific Auditorium will be constructed in the current location of the CALIFORNIA letters.
Project Status: To begin January 2010
Open Date: Unknown

Carthay Theatre / Walt Disney Story

Details: The Walt Disney Story attraction is reportedly cancelled. Carthay Theatre building will be built, however, and is scheduled to house a relocated Resort Preview Center.
Project Status: To begin January 2010
Open Date: Unknown

Red Car Trolley transportation system

Project Status: To begin January 2010
Open Date: Unknown

New facades, shops and dining

Details: A new Main Street-esque street will house new shops and dining, replacing the tile murals, restrooms, lockers, and Guest Services/AP Processing buildings. The new shop facades will feature nods to Walt Disney's rich life history on shop windows, including "Elias & Co. Dept. Store" and "Oswald’s Gas & Oil." For more information, see this post.
Project Status: To begin January 2010
Open Date: Unknown

Disney's Electrical Parade enhancements

Details: A new Tinkerbell lead float will replace the Blue Fairy and Snow White and Pinocchio units will return to the parade along with an updated soundtrack and a new "pixie dust" lighting effects on all floats.
Project Status: Completed.
Open Date: June 12, 2009

High School Musical 3: Right Here! Right Now! show

Details: High School Musical 2 moving stage show cancelled. A new moving stage show based on High School Musical 3 will replace the old show.
Project Status: Now open.
Open Date: Debuted October 24

HOLLYWOODLAND

Overall Project: Utilizing Stage 17 as temporary entrance into theme park. Retheming of Hollywood Blvd, including facade enhancements and addition of Red Car Trolley route. Various expansion and re-theming projects. Land planned to be renamed as "Hollywoodland"
Project Status: Hollywood Land remodeling and enhancing will begin in Phase 2.
Open Date: Unknown

Hollywood Blvd placemaking and Red Car Trolley

Project Status: Unknown
Open Date: Unknown

Gone Hollywood store expansion and re-theme

Project Status: Unknown.
Open Date: 2009/2010

New show for Hyperion Theatre - Toy Story Musical

Project Status: Unknown
Open Date: Rumored for 2009, but likely delayed.

Teen Live Club - Outdoor Disney Channel venue

Project Status: Unknown
Open Date: Unknown

Muppet*Vision 3D replacement

Details: Various ideas have been considered for this venue ranging from Mickey's PhilharMagic from WDW, a "flex-theatre," etc. The current plan favors a Chronicles of Narnia special effects attraction.
Project Status: Unknown. Reports say Muppets will remain until 2010, at least.
Open Date: Unknown.

Award Wieners dining area expansion

Project Status: Completed
Open Date: Opened June 2008.

Stage 17 temporary entrance

Project Status: Cancelled
Open Date: Cancelled. Originally planned to open by fall 2009.

PARADISE PIER

Overall Project: Retheming of Pier to Victorian-era theme. Addition of Toy Story Midway Mania attraction. Retheming of Games of the Boardwalk, Mullholland Madness, Sun Wheel. Removal of Maliboomer, Pizza Oom Mow Mow, Burger Invasion, Golden Dreams. Addition of Beer Garden, themed shops, and Voyage of the Little Mermaid & Mermaid Grotto.
Project Status: In Progress
Project Completion/Soft Open: First phase concluded with the opening of Toy Story Midway Mania! and the surrounding area's re-theming with soft-openings in April 2008 and a official opening in July 2008. Additional phases of this project are on-going.

Disney's World of Color Nighttime Spectacular

Details: A 25-minute nighttime show, World of Color will transform Paradise Bay into water spectacular, utilizing 1,200 individual fountains, showcasing the magic of Disney animation, from classic to contemporary. More details.
Project Status: In progress. Began November 3, 2008 with the draining of Paradise Bay. Construction began in Paradise Bay Monday, January 5, 2009.
Open Date: March 2010

Disney's World of Color Viewing Area

Details: A new viewing area for the upcoming World of Color show is being constructed where the former Golden State Amphitheater was located, along the northern shore of Paradise Bay. The new viewing area will be multi-leveled, similar to Disneyland's Fantasmic! viewing area, and large enough to accommodate 9,000 guests per show.
Project Status: In progress. Began Monday, January 5, 2009.
Open Date: December 12, 2009

Dinosaur Jack's Sunglass Shack removal

Details: Sunglass store scheduled to close permanently May 26, 2009. The retail location will be removed completely.
Project Status: Store closed May 26, 2009, construction walls went up May 27. Demolition originally scheduled to begin June 29, but began after park closing June 24, with visible progress to park guests on June 25.

The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Adventure and Mermaid Grotto (Includes Removal of Golden Dreams)

Project Status: In progress. Golden Dreams closed to the public September 7, with the attraction open to school groups only through Spring 2009. Construction walls went up around Golden Dreams May 27, 2009. Golden Dreams Theater demolition begins July 6, 2009.
Open Date: May 2011

Corn Dog Castle retheming

Project Status: In progress. Construction walls went up June 1, 2009
Open Date: Cast Member publications currently list it as returning June 2011, but that date may be in flux and can change.

Souvenir 66 retheming

Details: Project includes retheming and renaming retail location as Seaside Souvenirs
Project Status: In progress. Construction walls went up June 1, 2009
Open Date: Cast Member publications currently list it as returning June 2011, but that date may be in flux and can change.

Orange Stinger retheme to Silly Symphony Swings

Project Status: To begin July 27, 2009
Open Date: April 28, 2010

Paradise Pier shops re-theme.

Details: Point Mugu Tattoo, Man Hat N Beach, and Sideshow Shirts will close and be re-themed inside and out, including new facades.
Project Status: To begin Fall 2009.
Open Date: 2010

Mullholland Madness re-theme to Goofy's Sky Skool

Project Status: Starts early January 2010
Open Date: 2010

California Screamin' queue / Eastern Paradise Pier re-theming

Project Status: Delayed indefinitely.
Open Date: Unknown

Maliboomer removal

Project Status: To begin 2011, but may be delayed indefinitely.
Project Completion: Late 2011

S.S. rustworthy removal

Project Status: To begin September 2009
Open Date: Area to re-open as part of Beer Garden complex by 2010 opening of World of Color show

Burger Invasion refurbishment and removal of McDonald's menu/theming.

Project Status: In progress. Closed September 2, 2008.
Open Date: Restaurant listed as re-opening 5/26/2011 in Cast Member publications.

Removal of Pizza Oom Mow Mow and Burger Invasion, addition of Beer Garden.

Details: The 4/17 Blue Sky Disney update reports that the Beer Garden will actually be a new food service location described as a "grill" instead of the "Beer Garden" previously planned. Plans still include for the entire area to be Victorian-themed and in-line with the rest of the Pier's new theming.
Project Status: To begin Fall 2009
Open Date: By 2010 opening of World of Color

Jumpin' Jellyfish removal

Project Status: To be removed prior to premiere of World of Color show. Begin date unknown.
Completion Date: To be completed before World of Color premiere in Spring 2010.

Ariel's Grotto Restaurant - Retheming and conversion to "Princess Palace" dining location

Project Status: Unknown
Open Date: June 2011.

King Triton's Carousel plussing

Details: Previous plans to build new Victorian-styled roof structure over carousel have been delayed due to cost. Rumors suggested that the carousel would get a minor re-theming and "plussing" including new paint job and new canopy cover while attraction undergoes refurbishment and technical upgrades, but current photos of the attraction say otherwise.
Project Status: Completed May 22, 2009. Began March 9, 2009.
Open Date: May 22, 2009

San Francisco Street restroom construction.

Details: New restrooms will be built in the East San Francisco Street facades so that the current restrooms in the West San Francisco Street facades can be removed to make space for The Little Mermaid attraction.
Project Status: Now open. Opened May 15, 2009. Began January 26, 2009.
Open Date: May 15, 2009.

Sun Wheel/Mickey's Fun Wheel re-theme

Project Status: Completed. Now open.
Open Date: Originally scheduled to open April 24, opened May 4, 2009.

California Screamin' loop re-dressing

Details: The Mickey Mouse icon will be removed and replaced with a new sunburst icon and Paradise Pier logo.
Project Status: Completed. Now open. Began January 2009.
Completion Date: April 15, 2009.

Games of the Boardwalk re-theme.

Project Status: Now open. Began Monday, October 27, 2008, opened April 7, 2009.
Open Date: Originally scheduled to open April 24, 2009, then rumored to be delayed to May. New information says the Games of the Boardwalk are ahead schedule and will open April 7, 2009.

Toy Story Midway Mania!

Project Status: Completed. Attraction now open.
Open Date: June 17, 2008

GOLDEN STATE

Lucky Fortune Cookery/Cocina Cucamonga expanded Pacific Wharf dining facility

Details: The long-closed Lucky Fortune Cookery will be converted into an expanded Cocina Cucamonga. Cocina Cucamonga will be converted into a new, smaller Asian dining location.
Project Status: In progress. Construction walls went up week of January 12.
Open Date: June 18, 2009

New Asian-style dining facility, replacing former Cocina Cucamonga facility

Details: The old Cocina Cucamonga dining facility will close and be rethemed and receive a new Asian-style menu. A final name for the dining location is unknown at this time.
Project Status: Closes June 18, 2009 when new, larger Cocina Cucamonga opens.
Open Date: September 15, 2009.

Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar: Imagineering the Future - New Exhibit

Details: Blue Sky Cellar preview center will close to remove Midway Mania, Games of the Boardwalk, etc., exhibits and replace them with new exhibits focusing on upcoming projects.
Project Status: Closes July 10, 2009 to update exhibits.
Open Date: Reopens July 16.

Condor Flats retheme

Project Status: Unknown
Open Date: Unknown

Soarin' Over California - New film - "Soarin' Over the World"

Project Status: Unknown
Open Date: 2013

Temporary Park Entrance

Details: The temporary park entrance location was changed after the Stage 17 Entrance was cancelled. Temporary entrance expected to be at the Golden State utility gate between Soarin' Over California and the Grand Californian Hotel. Guest access to this temporary park entrance will be via Downtown Disney. Temporary entrance only expected to be used for 6-8 months during entry plaza construction.
Project Status: Cancelled. The temporary entrance idea has reportedly been scrapped. Guests will enter through the park's main entrance as it is remodeled one side at a time.
Open Date: Cancelled

Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar: Imagineering the Future (Resort Preview Center)

Details: Originally planned for the San Francisco Street buildings, the Blue Sky Cellar replaced the Seasons of the Vine Theater. Exhibits planned to rotate every 6-8 months.
Project Status: Now open.
Open Date: Annual Passholder Previews October 16-19. Open to public October 20, 2008.

CARS LAND

Overall Project: Utilizing 12 acres of the Timon Parking Lot, this is new land will feature three new attractions, and a major dining complex themed to Disney-Pixar's Cars
Project Status: Project in development. Cars Land foundation work to begin late 2009.
Open Date: 2012

Radiator Springs Racers

Project Status: Unknown
Open Date: By 2012

Tow Mater's Junkyard Jamboree

Project Status: Unknown
Open Date: By 2012

Luigi's Roamin' Tires

Project Status: Unknown
Open Date: By 2012

Flo's Restaurant

Project Status: Unknown
Open Date: By 2012

Fillmore's Organic Foods

Project Status: Unknown
Open Date: By 2012

Radiator Springs Curios

Project Status: Unknown
Open Date: By 2012

Cars Land Drive-In Restaurant

Project Status: On indefinite hold. Possibly to be built in Phase 2 expansion.
Open Date: Unknown

[MrPotatoHead]

Another Project Tracker! Wow, were going to be going thru a lot of these in the next 3 years!

[flynnibus]

Maybe Dusty should do what some other sites have done. Create a whole forum just for the DCA expansion. It makes sense.. and prevents the need for these massive threads that get mashed up with everything.

[Wally]

::whistles:: Dang, lookit all those Paradise Pier projects.

[ICe101]

Man are we pathetic? What a bunch of chatters about a stupid mouse :P

[BRodgers]

I know this blog posting is old, but it has some concept art that I haven't seen before for Cars Land:

Disney Cars ride: thrills, sticker shock - Travel - LATimes.com

The most anticipated ride in Disney’s $1.1-billion California Adventure makeover — Radiator Springs Racers — also carries the biggest price tag.

Based on the animated “Cars” movie, the indoor-outdoor attraction combines a leisurely dark ride prelude with a dueling side-by-side race car finale akin to Epcot’s Test Track in Orlando, Fla.

According to MiceAge, the $200-million E-ticket promises to bring to bear virtually all of the classic Disney ride components: theme, technology, animatronics, special effects, interactivity, story line and thrills. The ride starts with a race briefing from the movie’s star, Lightning McQueen, and concludes at the Wheel Well Motel scene from the movie.

According to artist storyboards, the ride includes:
* Switchbacks
* Tunnels
* Bridges
* Waterfalls
* Buttes
* Banked turns

See more concept sketches after the jump.

Beginning construction in late 2009, the Racers thrill ride will serve as the anchor attraction for the new 12-acre Cars Land being carved out of the existing Timon parking lot. The summer 2012 opening is timed to a “Cars 2” sequel, according to MiceAge.

[KAN]

Did I not just comment on how fast DCAPTIV has come up a couple of months ago? Wow! I am throughly amazed The California Adventure thread has come along... I often follow this thread.


My final words, GREAT JOB, PEOPLE!!!!!


--KAN

[DCAfanatic]

Originally Posted by KAN

Did I not just comment on how fast DCAPTIV has come up a couple of months ago? Wow! I am throughly amazed The California Adventure thread has come along... I often follow this thread.


My final words, GREAT JOB, PEOPLE!!!!!


--KAN

Oh No not again

[DisneyPro]

In two weeks we'll be on Project Tracker VI, and by the end of Phase 1 we'll be at Project Tracker XXV

[TrevorD]

I am still sold on the fact those new foundation pillars are for the rocks. Alas we will have to see.

Does anybody else think that it will be wierd to start Cali' Screamin inside and not see daylight until you pull out onto the water?

[MarkTwain]

What's this? Another Project Tracker???

I hope this one lasts longer than two weeks. DCA PT IV got to the point where I could no longer check the newest pages every day... too many new pages!

[thermo648]

I think that starting Screamin' inside would actually add a really nice feel to the rollercoaster. I would so want them to do that.

[TrevorD]

Upon further review, those new piles extend after the launch of Screamin' not beside it so it's not going to hold up rockwork. Way to rain on my parade

[DL2006]

ok so does anyone know or want to guess how tall the rock work for carsland will be?

[Donald1980]

Originally Posted by flynnibus

Maybe Dusty should do what some other sites have done. Create a whole forum just for the DCA expansion. It makes sense.. and prevents the need for these massive threads that get mashed up with everything.

I kind of like that idea. That way I wouldn't have to search through as many pages to look for the conversations that I want to be a part of.