Two action-packed rumors have been winding their way through the Entertainment Department of your friendly neighborhood theme park:
First, factions within Entertainment are arguing that the perfect time is approaching to introduce walk-around Marvel superheroes at Disneyland. This fall, Mickey’s Halloween Party is returning to Disneyland, since the popularity of World of Color precludes continuing the hard-ticket trick-or-treat event at Disney California Adventure. Because the night-time water show is DCA’s primary focus and sole marketing focus, they couldn’t very well kick all the day guests out of the park a few hours before the show started.
During this year’s twice-weekly Halloween parties, all visitors will be allowed to wear costumes—normally a no-no for adults at Disneyland. So under the guise of a costume party/special event, Spider-Man and friends might not look so out of place at the Magic Kingdom. The park has always been uncomfortable with showcasing walk-around characters who aren’t readily identifiable with a park attraction or the Disney studio.
The one exception was Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, since its theme incorporated the entire spectrum of movies and television. The Power Rangers, for instance, have never gotten a gig at Disneyland, though they have been appearing at Disney’s Hollywood Studios since 2007 (a run that will end next month following the sale of the franchise back to their original owner). The Studios won’t have access to the Marvel characters for the foreseeable future, however, due to a licensing agreement with arch rival Universal.
Second, the rumor has resurfaced that this may be the last year that the Candlelight Procession is held at Disneyland. Entertainment is again pushing the idea of moving the holiday event from Town Square to DCA’s Hyperion Theater and charging tickets for it. To increase capacity (and revenue), Disney has in previous years tried holding the recital at the Fantasyland Theatre and selling seats as part of dining and VIP packages.
Both ideas still must be signed off on by resort president George Kalogridis.
Mystery Opening
Cast members continue grumbling over the inconvenience of having their Katella Avenue parking lot (KCML) butt up against and accommodate shuttles for the new Toy Story guest parking lot (see “Lot of Anger,” my column from April 28).
Over the July 4 weekend, management invited cast members to park in the closer Pumbaa Lot. “But,” noted one employee, “if you parked there, you had to walk to Harbor Pointe. There were not a lot of takers for that offer.”
What has mysteriously appeared is a second entrance connecting KCML to the Toy Story Lot. The opening in the fence, about two car lanes wide, appeared over a month ago in the southwest corner of KCML. When questioned about its purpose, managers have been evasive. For now, it sits unused.
The opening is unguarded, except by an imposing formation of orange cones. “We don’t know why this gate was put in, and we are not getting any answers,” said one concerned cast member. “When the Toy Story Lot is in use, guests could wander by foot into our lot. So much for security for us and our cars.”
Burger Flipped
Construction crews are in the process of refacing DCA’s Burger Invasion, which will include dismantling of its sesame-seed facade. Having lost its McDonald’s sponsorship, the restaurant will be remodeled, re-menued, and reopened as the Paradise Park Grill.
Fifty (Yawn) Five
Unlike in years past, no flag pins were distributed to cast members or park guests on the Fourth of July.
The penny-pinching will extend to a muted celebration for Disneyland’s 55th anniversary, this Saturday July 17. “Whatever is planned will be cheap, and cobbled together at the last minute,” admitted an Entertainment cast member.
Turns out the festivities will consist of the annual speeches and a re-dedication in Town Square and an afternoon park-wide sing-along of “Happy Birthday.” They’ve also begun handing out commemorative park maps and selling 55th anniversary merchandise and desserts (special mouse ears will be sold only on July 17.)
Outside of the park, a few other celebrations will mark the occasion. On the evening of July 17, the Disneyland Alumni Club holds its once-every-five-years banquet at the Disneyland Hotel, though this time one needn’t be an alumnus to attend.
The next day, Sunday July 18, is the NFFC Disneyana Club’s Show & Sale at the Crowne Plaza Resort Hotel in Garden Grove. As a twist, “FastPass” will be introduced for the most popular element of the show: the Imagineering store, Mickey’s of Glendale. Usually, guests can spend two hours or more just standing in line for WDI cast-offs, time they could better spend chatting with other Disney fans and personalities (such as yours truly) or shopping for delightful Disneyana (such as personalized copies of yours truly’s Realityland: True-Life Adventures at Walt Disney World.).
The same afternoon, at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco, Disney Legends Dick Nunis and Marty Sklar and WDI’s Craig Russell and Bruce Vaughn are speaking on “The Happiest Places on Earth: A Look at Disney Parks around the Globe.”
Then on September 24-25, D23 will hold Destination D, consisting of presentations, panels, screenings, an in-park scavenger hunt, and a Mouseketeer reunion, this year focusing on Disneyland 1955. If successful, the conference will be presented every other year, alternating with the massive D23 Expo.
