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News and Views
Notes on the 50th
Disneyland Resort Ambassador Becky Murphy has been busy this month, making
the rounds of community groups and Disney enthusiasts to spread the word
about the park’s 50th anniversary celebration. Last week, Murphy met with
Downtown Anaheim Association members to share the official “external”
presentation about the event. She also shared details of events planned
for 2006. Some highlights:
- The Wonderful World of Disney television show celebrates its
50th anniversary this October. The show introduced Disneyland to millions
of viewers in 1954, generating excitement for Walt’s new venture.
- The official media event launches the celebration May 3 to 5, 2005.
- Colorful banners hung inside LAX and John Wayne International airports
will greet travelers as soon as the enter the terminals.
- Disney is working to “re-engineer Tinker Bell’s flight”
for the new Remember fireworks show planned for the 50th anniversary.
An entertainment source tells us that show designers are “desperately”
trying to perfect a technique which would allow a human Tinker Bell
to fly over and around Sleeping Beauty Castle before the fireworks
begin, just as the animated character does at the begining of The
Wonderful World of Disney television shows. The concept art for
the fireworks also shows multiple launch sites all around Disneyland,
similar to the 360-degree effect in use at Walt Disney World.
- A gala charity event benefitting the Boys & Girls Club will be
held on board the Disney Wonder on July 17, 2005, while it is
docked in the port of Long Beach.
- Murphy showed some possible uses for the photos being collected in
the “The Happiest Faces on Earth… a Disney Family Album”
program launched at Disneyland’s 49th birthday celebration last weekend.
A series of photo montage images will be placed around the resort, coordinating
with the décor of the surrounding land. Examples shown included
a Sorcerer Mickey image near the Rivers of America, (the stage for Fantasmic!),
an Alice in Wonderland scene placed in Fantasyland, and a black-and-white
Mickey Mouse image painted on a Main Street gate. Disney expects to
recieve over 1 million photo submissions during this promotion.
- A 50th anniversary party for The Mickey Mouse Club is scheduled for
2005.
- Space Mountain is still scheduled to reopen in November 2005.
- 2006 will begin with a “What’s Next” promotion at Disneyland
during Super Bowl weekend. The event will be a “homecoming”
of sorts for the dozens of athletes who have yelled, “I’m going
to Disneyland” after a championship game.
- In Spring 2006, the Tower of Terror at Disney’s California Adventure
park will be reprogrammed to incorporating the random drop sequences
currently in use at Walt Disney World.
Sleeping Beauty Castle Refurb
Sleeping Beauty Castle closed last Monday for its long-awaited refurbishment.
The Castle will be closed through November 23 while workers repair and
repaint the Castle. The scaffolding will come down for the holiday season,
and work will resume in the spring to complete the transformation for
the 50th anniversary.
Scaffolding now obscures the turrets on Sleeping Beauty Castle. Photo
by David Michael.
Long-Awaited Rehab
The following three items are reported by David Koenig.
Beginning Friday, July 30, the Enchanted Tiki Room, the Plaza Pavilion
and Aladdin’s Oasis will be shuttered for a major, seven-month rehab.
One source claims all three structures will be gutted and the interiors
rebuilt.
Most in need of attention is the oft-neglected, termite-infested Tiki
Room. “The Tiki Room interior will be completely rebuilt with the audio-animatronics
sporting new technology,” a cast member reported. “The show will NOT change
to the one like Walt Disney World. Our Tiki Room will retain the original
music and show.”
The last few years Plaza Pavilion has served as an Annual Pass processing
center, currently handling overflow with primary operations transferred
two months ago to the Bank at Town Square. It will eventually be replaced
by a permanent AP processing center in the San Francisco District at DCA.
One rumor is that the Plaza Pavilion will get new kitchens and return
from the rehab as a restaurant once again. Others claim the facility will
be converted into a giant pin store/trading center.
The possibility of new kitchens will also determine the fate of Aladdin’s
Oasis, which had common food prep areas. Some speculate the area, now
used as a storytelling venue, may again become the Tahitian Terrace.
Scheduled completion date is March 12, 2005.
Line Down
The queue of the Matterhorn has been changed from the traditional chains
and poles to white striping on the ground.
The striping follows the same path around the mountain.
As for why, ride operators all seem to have their own theories. Among
them:
- The striping is temporary, until permanent metal railings can be installed.
- The vehicles on the graveyard shift often strike the poles, destroying
the poles and the bases. - Guests often trip over the chains when trying to jump over them.
- Cast members spend too much putting the guest control lines up and
taking them down.
Bug Town
Big Thunder Trail has earned a new nickname, “Mosquito Alley.” Around
dusk, swarms of the insects invade the path between Frontierland and Fantasyland.
Some cast members claim the pond along the trail is the culprit.
Park visitors may serious consider wearing insect repellant (such as
those containing DEET); West Nile virus has not only made its appearance
through numerous counties in California, but the first fatality was reported
in Orange County last month.
Got any interesting news or rumors? Contact us here.
Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures
Disneyland
Note: Disneyland is progressively closing more and more attractions as
the park readies for its 50th anniversary celebration in 2005.
- Sleeping Beauty Castle closed through November 23.
- Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-through closed indefinitely. (No
longer listed on park maps or the Disneyland Web site)
- Space Mountain closed through 2005.
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed indefinitely, pending
results of the DOSH inspection.
Disney’s California Adventure
- Superstar Limo closed indefinitely. (No longer listed on park
maps or the Disneyland Web site)
Future Closures
- Aladdin’s Oasis closes July 30 – March 12, 2005.
- Plaza Pavilion closes July 30 – March 12, 2005.
- Enchanted Tiki Room closes July 30 – March 12, 2005.
- Snow White’s Scary Adventures closes August 23 – September
11.
- Star Tours reduces capacity, as each of the four cabins rotate
through refurbishment September 7–22.
- Haunted Mansion closes September 7 – October 1 for installation
of Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay. Closed January 10–25, 2005
for removal of Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay.
- Maliboomer reduced capacity (2 of 3 towers operating) November
1–25, January 3–22, 31, 2005 – March 12, 2005.
- Matterhorn Bobsleds closes September 13 – November 24.
- Jumpin’ Jellyfish reduces capacity January 21, 2005 –
March 5, 2005.
Disneyland Resort Hotels
- Disneyland Hotel Convention Center lobby, upper level &
lower level closed through September 1.
