The past week has been a flurry of excitement in theme park circles as World of Color nears its public opening.  We share video of late night testing of the show.  Everyone is getting ready for MiceChat's Gumball Rally, the family theme park competition which is designed to find out who can complete the most attractions at Disneyland in a single day - sign up your team today.  Rumors that Toy Story Midway Mania may be getting some new games in time for the release of the Toy Story 3 movie.  Photos, trip reports and news from around the Disney World.  Is Knott's really trying to compete with World of Color with its own night time spectacular?  And we share the results of an amazing Imagineering competition on MiceChat.  There's a little something for everyone this week.  Dive in and enjoy the fun!

View: MiceChat weekly Disney and theme park news, rumor, photo, and discussion digest

Imagine a portable Disneyland that could easily be shared with the world, traveling from port to port and spreading a bit of Disney magic in places otherwise too small to host their own permanent Disneyland.  That was the idea behind the S.S. Disney project which would have built an entire Disneyland inside of a super tanker at sea.  A crew of Imagineering's most creative talents toiled on this project, ultimately creating models and ride concepts which would have been truly inspiring.   In the end, the project was shelved in favor of building the Disney Cruise Line and parks in foreign lands.  But, the creativity which was left behind in this incomplete project is truly amazing.  Today, we share a legend which almost became a reality.

View: The Disneyland on a ship that almost came to be

Disneyland's Haunted Mansion has turned 40, and it has only grown in popularity over the years.  Our Disney and More Blogger, Alain Littaye, takes us behind the scenes at the Haunted Mansion with original Marc Davis renderings and a "tour" with Walt Disney Imagineers and Walt Disney himself thanks to great videos and photos.

View: Haunted Mansion At 40: A Behind The Scenes Tour

Dateline Disneyland is back with news on Sunday's big increase in Disneyland ticket prices.  But that's not all that went up, Disney's iconic ear hats have begun charging if you want your name embroidered on them.  Of course, not all the news is bad this week, there are also lots of positive changes at Disney's California Adventure as we can finally see progress for the World of Color seating which closely matches the plans seen in the Blue Sky Cellar.  And Walt Disney Parks and Resorts has released their ambitious plans for September's D23 Expo - Get ready to meet Lucky, Wall-E, and the Imagineers!

View: Dateline Disneyland News, Photos, And Information From The Disneyland Resort

Alain Littaye takes a look at two amazing "Space" themed attractions, the extinct Mission to Mars and the still flying, Mission: Space.  Then he takes us beyond the bounds of reality to the Space attraction which almost was, before great dreams were destroyed by Michael Eisner.  Photos, video, and concept art await you.

View: From Mission To Mars to Mission Space and Beyond

Andy Castro brings us another delicious Dateline Disneyland Blog update today with news and photos from the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim California.  Disneyland turns 54 years young.  Former head of Walt Disney Imagineering, Marty Sklar, receives his window on Main Street.  Blue Sky Cellar unveils new World of Color concept art and models.  The Orange Stinger begins to be unpeeled, and Golden Dreams finally starts to fade away.  There is a wealth of news, information, and sumputious photos for you today, get your red hot Disneyland news right here!

View: Dateline Disneyland News and Photo Blog HERE

Disney Imagineering said a fond farewell to their former boss, Marty Sklar, in an all star event this past Thursday.  Among the talented Disney notables in attendance were Alice Davis, Rolly Crump, Richard Sherman, Mickey Steinberg, Orlando Ferrante, Walt Peregoy, Julie Svendsen, Tony Baxter, Eric Jacobson, Eddie Sotto, Tom Morris, Bob Weis, Barbara Hastings (Marty's assistant for many years), Dave Smith, Dave Snyder, Nelson Meacham, Frank Armitage, Valerie Edwards, Kim Irvine, Craig Russell, Bruce Vaughn, Robert Coltrin, Stan Dodd, Kathy Mangum, Chris Runco, Greg Wilzbach, Paul Comstock, Dick Cook, Steve Anderson, and many more.  And to prove Marty's star power, Richard Sherman himself personally serenaded Marty and entertained the crowd on the "Big D Patio" at Imagineering.  We've got the scoop and photos from the Disney and More Blog.

View: Disney and More's All Star Salute To Marty Sklar

We rushed to California Adventure to bring you photos and information from the newly reopened Blue Sky Cellar.  Join us for photos and discussion about the new concept art, models, and information from the Imagineers bringing us the next generation of the California Adventure park!  Check back throughout the day as we update with additional photos and information.

View: Photos and Discussions From California Adventure's Blue Sky Cellar

We have two big updates to feature for you today.  Don't miss either of them. First up, "Dateline Disneyland."  The new Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar has opened at Disney's California Adventure Park in Anaheim, and has sparked interest and conversation on the boards.  Andy Castro has added details and new views of the center and what we can expect to see in the years to come.  In addition, Pixie Hollow is finally starting to look like a finished product.  We have a room by room walk through of the new Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-Through for you (SPOILER ALERT). View Andy's Dateline Disneyland Column HERE [1] We also have a BIG update from David Michael today.  The first signs of Christmas have started to pop-up at the Disneyland Resort.  Paving project progress.  Thoughts on the changes coming to Disney's California Adventure.  Garden Walk updates.  And select shots of the resort from the masterful lens of Darkbeer himself! Dive in to David's Monday in the Parks blog HERE [2] [3] _______________________________ Join the MiceChat Daily Email Update - Enter your email address Here: Delivered by FeedBurner [4] _______________________________ [1] http://micechat.com/forums/blogs/dateline-disneyland/784-10-17-blue-sky-cellar-pixie-hollow-court-des-merch-bakery-holiday-merch-more.html [2] http://micechat.com/forums/blogs/monday-in-the-parks/792-10-20-08-monday-parks-news-photos-tips.html [3] http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php [4] http://www.feedburner.com

View: Two Big Disneyland Updates! Monday in the Parks and Dateline Disneyland. Christmas, Halloween, Changes, Updates.

The new Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar at Disney's California Adventure park was previewed for the Media this morning.  Below, you'll find a sneak peak at the extensive plans Disney has to fix this ailing park, and make it a 2nd gate worth of its beloved sister, Disneyland.   . "Blue Sky" is a creative term referring to the dream stage of the design process.  Though the new preview center has "Blue Sky" in its name, the projects you will see below have reached far beyond the Blue Sky stage and are well on their way to actual development.  However, by using the term, Disney gives themselves an excuse in the event a project is changed or canceled.   . We will let the pictures do most of the talking and will begin with shots of the opening dedication and ceremony featuring Mickey Mouse, Ed Grier and Bob Weiss. Mickey Mouse, Ed Grier, and Bob Weiss at the dedication and opening . INTO THE CELLAR: Entering the cellar   Overview of new DCA Park Map . ENTRY PLAZA New entry gates . . . The new Entry area where the big postcard murals are now . New Hub area for DCA in the spot of the old Sunshine Plaza .    Model of the new Red Car system going into the front of the park . HOLLYWOOD BACKLOT not much change in this area yet . CARS LAND . . The entrance to Cars Land jutting out between the Pacific Wharf and Bug's Land where Backstage access is now . Entrance to Cars Land Close up of the Mater ride Further along the Entrance to Cars Land The new Cars Land E-Ticket featuring an indoor/outdoor track . PARADISE PIER . A Scale model of the New Paradise Pier area . The intricate rock work for a portion of California Screamin's track . Bye Bye Mickey head . Redone Sun Wheel, Mickey's FUN Wheel . Maliboomer replaced with a parachute drop . The new Silly Symphonies Swings . Rethemed Mullholland Madness . . New Games for the Boardwalk . .   The new Victorian facades . Disney's World of Color nighttime lagoon show New viewing area for the World of Color . . . And that's the preview center as it was opened today.  But more is in store.  Disney plans to switch out segments of the preview center to focus on current areas of construction.  All in all, the new center gives much cause for hope and optimism for the future of the California Adventure theme park.   . The press release and discussion thread for the new Blue Sky Cellar has been posted HERE [1] [1] http://micechat.com/forums/industry-press-releases/105810-blue-sky-cellar-unveils-exciting-new-magic-coming-disneys-california-adventure.html#post3194884

View: California Adventure preview center opens and ushers in new era

Weekend Update's comin' down the tracks, Weekend Update's back! Weekend Update's back! Just the thought of the Weekend Update makes us burst into song. This week is just fantastic with a tour of the Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Imagineers and Dreams in California, and Va Va Va Zoom at Cedar Point! Don't miss this weekend's update of fun and frivolity HERE! [1] [1] http://micechat.com/forums/blog.php?b=531

View: MiceChat's Weekend Update Of Theme Park And Attractions World Wide

The cute little animated robot WALL•E has made a real world debut. Walt Disney Imagineers have created a self contained version of the adorable cube of cuteness. Lucky for us, our good friend and partner Chuck Oberleitner of O-Meon.com [1] has video of WALL•E coming down the brown carpet for the first time. And if you are looking for a way to kill a hot summer evening, Sword in the Stone is back on DVD in a special edition. Chuck has a review that pretty much sums it up. In short, it is an average film which offers some beautiful animation and enough gems to keep the young ones watching. Chuck's Sword in the Stone review can be found HERE. [2] [1] http://www.o-meon.com [2] http://www.o-meon.com/pages/reviews/2008/06-24_Sword.htm

View: