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Showing posts with label California. Show all posts
Showing posts with label California. Show all posts

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Sunday Spotlight - Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa


Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa® first opened at the Disneyland® Resort on February 8, 2001 along with Disney’s newest domestic theme park, Disney California Adventure Park.  The resort shares a boundary with the theme park, and can actually be considered to be “inside” the theme park It is the only hotel at the Disneyland® Resort with a wing featuring Disney Vacation Club® villas, opened in September 2009; as well as the only hotel at the resort designed and built by the Walt Disney Company. 

This AAA Four Diamond hotel was designed by famed architect Peter Dominick (the same architect who designed Disney’s Wilderness Lodge® and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge® at Walt Disney World®), and was designed in the Craftsman styling of the Arts and Crafts movement in California during the early 20th century.  The design incorporates wide sweeping roofs, projecting beams, exaggerated braces and an earth tone color palette.  The hotel’s sweeping six story lobby is an architectural masterpiece, which features a massive fireplace reminiscent of the oversized fireplaces of the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park, located in Northern California.     

Like other grand hotels within the Disney resort family, guests are both awed and impressed upon first entry into the hotel.  A sweeping porte cachere staffed with courteous bellmen greets each arriving vehicle.  The entry door is a grand wooden frame surrounding hand-cut stained glass with images representing the state of California. 

The hotel features 750 traditional guest rooms, and is the only hotel at the Disneyland® Resort with a wing featuring 50 Disney Vacation Club® villas, added to the hotel in September 2009; as well as the only hotel at the resort designed and built by the Walt Disney Company.  Many of the rooms and villas have views looking directly into Disney California Adventure® Park, or overlooking the Downtown Disney District.  A highlight of the hotel is the private entrance in to Disney California Adventure® Park, available only to guests of the three resort hotels of the Disneyland® Resort.

The hotel features 2 table service restaurants:  Storyteller’s CafĂ© and Napa Rose; and includes one quick-service restaurant: White Water Snacks; as well as 2 lounge/bar locations:  Hearthstone Lounge near the lobby, and Napa Rose Lounge adjacent to the Napa Rose restaurant.  The Mandara Spa is a full service, 4,000 square foot fully equipped workout facility and spa with massage service and saunas.  Pinocchio’s Workshop is a staffed children’s activity center.  The hotel features 3 pools and 2 hot tubs, as well as a 20,000 square foot Convention Center.

For more information and to reserve your next vacation, contact me at 855.776.1733 or via my websites:  www.neverlandadventurestravel.com or www.neverlandadventurescruises.com.  Be sure to follow me on Twitter, like my page on Facebook, and circle me on Google+.


Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Where in the World Wednesdays - Destinations to Explore Before Leaving this Life


DISNEYLAND RESORT – Anaheim, California

Disneyland, the theme park, first opened its’ gates to the public on July 17, 1955 (57 years ago next Tuesday), though Disneyland the idea, first started to percolate in the mind of its’ progenitor – Walt Disney, as early as the mid-1930’s.  It began as a dream of a magical little park, where parents and children could have fun together – as a father watched his little girls playing on the merry-go-round and other enticements at Griffith Park, not too far from Hollywood, where Walt would take his daughters on Sunday afternoons.

Through the years his magical little park grew in scope, and was placed on the back burner as a variety of events around the world played out throughout the late 1930’s and on through the 1940’s – most famous of all of course was World War II, when many activities at Walt’s studio were halted or at least temporarily ceased.  But after the war ended, the ideas began to bubble up once again to the surface of Walt’s imagination.  In the early 1950’s that magical little park was to be located across the street from the Studio complex in Burbank, CA.  But the ideas just kept getting bigger and grander, and Walt knew that there just wasn’t enough land available for what he wanted to do in his park.  So the search was on for a suitable location to build his dream – Walt’s Folly – as it came to be known throughout the entertainment industry. 

Concept Art for Sleeping Beauty Castle
by Herb Ryman - 1954
Walt invited Marvin Davis, Herb Ryman, Ken Anderson and a few select others to help him turn his dreams into concepts on paper.  Soon the park started to grow again as lands of fantasy, adventure, the American frontier and tomorrow began to appear.  And before long, Walt was selling the idea not just to those within the Studio, but to some outside the company. It was a rough beginning, and Walt put much of his own portfolio on the line in order to get the park built, but his persistence paid off. 

Sleeping Beauty Castle - January 2012
 July 17, 1955 – Black Sunday – as it became known within the management ranks in Burbank – came and the park was flooded with guests.  Many more than they anticipated, thanks to some clever counterfeiting of tickets – thereby swelling the guest count by nearly double what was expected.  Despite negative publicity following a variety of concerns on Opening Day (non-working attractions, not enough drinking fountains, excessive heat, super-sized crowds, and more) the public quickly embraced “Walt’s Folly”, defying what the critics had to say.  And even though the park was closed two days each week, by the end of September 1955, more than one million guests had passed through the park’s gates.  What was anticipated to be a passing fancy that would quickly shut down – not only survived, but thrived!  And here we are, 57 years later, about to mark another July 17th and the much celebrated continued success of Walt’s magical little park. 

No other theme park venture has been the inspiration for not just one, but five sister Magic Kingdoms around the world… in Florida, Japan, France, Hong Kong and soon-to-be in mainland China – in Shanghai where the next Magic Kingdom is currently under construction.  No matter which park you visit – the original inspired design concept of the “Main Street” corridor leading up to the Central Hub is repeated time and again – all leading to that central structure – the castle – or the “wienie” as Walt liked to call it – beckoning guests forward to discover more delights that lie further in. 

But what IS Disneyland?  That question solicits a response that will be different from anyone that you ask.  To some, it is just an amusement park, like many others around the nation.  To others, it is a design inspiration.  Still to others it is a place where youth lives – and relives fond memories from the past – as well as allowing guests to dream about far off places, imagining themselves in different worlds or environments… much as they once did when in childhood playtime they let their imaginations run wild. 

As a theme park, Disneyland is comprised of 6 individual themed lands:  Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, New Orleans Square, Critter Country and Mickey’s ToonTown.  Be sure to check back next Wednesday for more individual information about Disneyland – the park.

As a Resort Destination, the Disneyland Resort is comprised of two theme parks:  Disneyland and Disney California Adventure (opened in 2001) – as well as a dining, shopping and entertainment district – Downtown Disney District – and three resort hotels: Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.

Disneyland Resort - Map art  © Disney
For the as yet Walt Disney World only guest - yes, of course the Disneyland Resort is small.  But that roughly 600 acres that it encompasses is jammed full of fun and excitement!  The resort itself just came off a 5-year expansion program that brought the all-new CARSLAND to Disney California Adventure, as well as a multitude of new and updated attractions, shows and other offerings at both parks, and at Downtown Disney and in the hotels.  It is a multi-day destination in itself, but also easily serves as a "home-base" for extended Southern California exploration.  

It is a resort destination that annually attracts more than 15 million visitors.  It is home to the original version of many beloved Disney theme park attractions now found in other Magic Kingdoms around the world, including:  Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Mark Twain Riverboat, Tom Sawyer IslandSplash Mountain, Peter Pan’s Flight, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, the Jungle Cruise, Star Tours, the Enchanted Tiki Room and more. 

Disneyland is located in the city of Anaheim in Orange County, and is about 26 miles southeast of Los Angeles.  It is just minutes away from miles and miles of famed Southern California beaches, and not far from three metropolitan airports:  Los Angeles International, Ontario International and John Wayne-Santa Ana – plus two smaller airports: Long Beach and Burbank.  Convenient shuttles and buses can transport air travelers to the resort in comfort.

For more information and to reserve your next vacation to the Disneyland Resort, contact me at 855.776.1733 or via my websites:  www.neverlandadventurestravel.com or www.neverlandadventurescruises.com.  Be sure to follow me on Twitter, like my page on Facebook, circle me on Google+, and pin me on Pinterest

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Tuesday Trivia - Disneyland Horticulture

A big part of the "living backdrop" for the stories being told throughout each of the Disney Parks around the globe - horticulture, or landscaping - plays a tremendous role in the various stories that come to life in such places as AdventurelandFantasyland and Frontierland.  When Disneyland was under construction in 1954, as Walt's dream was slowly rising from former orange groves in sleepy Anaheim, CA and becoming a reality - landscape architects began filling in the initial tropical jungles and pine forests of the themed lands.  They also had to dress Gay Nineties America with formal floral gardens, medieval countrysides and futuristic landscapes as well.  But the surrounding nurseries and landscape companies simply couldn't provide enough of what was needed, and as Hedda Hopper, noted Hollywood columnist of the day wrote, "Walt Disney depleted our nurseries from Santa Barbara to San Diego."  Not only did the Disney team procure needed plant items from the nurseries, but trees along the then-under construction I-5 freeway route were relocated to the Disneyland job-site as well.  Once in place, the Disney horticulturalists then had the task of providing massive doses of "TLC" in making the plant life look as if it had always been there.  

Friday, June 15, 2012

Today in Disney Parks and Resorts History: CARSLAND is FINALLY OPEN!!


JUNE 15, 2012:  DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE – Anaheim, CA

After a long 5 years of multiple parts of Disney California Adventure being being a myriad of construction walls, the long anticipated re-launch of the Disneyland Resort’s “second gate” is here!  It is the culmination of the park’s 5-year, $1.8 billion dollar “re-do”, which today sees the public Grand Opening of both CARSLAND and the all-new entrance land, BUENA VISTA STREET

Originally opened February 8, 2001, Disney’s California Adventure (as it was then known), was hoped to be a huge success at transforming Disneyland into a multi-day destination “Resort” as Walt Disney World is.  With more than a $1 billion investment to transform the old Disneyland parking lot into the new theme park, as well as build the Downtown Disney District and the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the company was excited about the prospects that the second gate would offer.  Unfortunately the projections did not bear out as company management had hoped, but the park did produce one of the most original and sought after attractions in a long time – Soaring Over California (which as a result produced a copy on the east coast and opened as Soarin’ at Epcot on May 5, 2005).  In order to boost attendance and turn what was quickly viewed as a marginal, half-day park into a more full-fledged stand-alone park, additions and modifications were quickly put on the agenda:  incorporating more Disney characters and entertainment, Twilight Zone Tower of TerrorTurtle Talk with Crusha bug’s land (the first new land added offering 4 new attractions designed specifically for young children:  Heimlich’s Chew Chew, Flik’s Flyers, Francis’ Lady Bug Boogie and Tuck and Rolls Drive ‘em Bugggies ), Monsters Inc: Mike & Sully to the Rescue and the Aladdin musical stage show all came between 2002 and 2005.  In addition the Block Party Bash, filled with Pixar characters debuted in 2005 and the Main Street Electrical Parade – re-christened Disney’s Electrical Parade was added in as nighttime entertainment in 2006.  After the Block Party Bash was moved to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida in 2009, the all-new Pixar Play Parade replaced it. In 2008 construction began on a number of new attractions to the Paradise Pier area, and in 2009 construction on Carsland began.
 New and re-themed attractions for Paradise Pier included Toy Story Midway Mania (originally conceived and designed for the Paradise Pier area of the park, and shortly after construction began in 2007 it was decided to be added in to Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida as well. Ultimately the Florida version opened just days prior to the California version as there was less construction needed in Florida than California, since the California version goes underneath the California Screamin' roller coaster (which was mildly re-themed for the redo) and the Florida version is housed completely inside a pre-existing soundstage structure at that park); Mickey’s Fun Wheel (formerly the Sun Wheel), Silly Symphony Swings (replaced the original Orange Stinger), Goofy’s Sky School (formerly Mulholland Madness), the beautiful nighttime water and laser spectacular World of Color, on Paradise Bay, and The Little Mermaid: Arial’s Undersea Adventures.  New shops and restaurants were also added to the mix, as well as various daytime entertainment offerings. 

BUENA VISTA STREET, the all-new park entrance land, transports park guests to Los Angeles and Hollywood of the 1920’s, when Walt Disney first moved to California from the Midwest.  It is completely new, offering a wide array of shops and dining locations – including the Fiddler, Fifer and Practical CafĂ©, which is the home of the very first Starbucks inside any Disney theme park ever.  (Starbucks will be opening locations in all other domestic Disney parks in the near future).  It was a massive undertaking for the theme park to completely shut-down and redo its’ entrance area – and the first time in Disney theme park history that the company ever made the decision to do so, but it was such a good decision.  The theming, landscaping and surroundings are simply gorgeous, and well-worth the wait and inconvenience caused to the guests throughout the construction process. With the addition of the Red Car Trolley, and numerous walk-about themed characters and musical acts, Buena Vista Street is now a charming complement to Main Street, U.S.A. across the esplanade in the original Disney theme park – Disneyland, and continues the story, if you will.  Whereas Main Street, U.S.A. represents the small-town charm of Walt’s boyhood home in Missouri, Buena Vista Street represents the optimism of the young man and his dreams as he and his brother Roy embarked on cranking out Mickey Mouse cartoons and turning the Disney Brothers Studio into the entertainment behemoth we all know and love today.

At the end of Buena Vista Street, you’ll find the Carthay Circle Theatre, a full-scale recreation of the West Los Angeles theatre that was the site of the World Premiere of Walt Disney’s 1937 classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – the first full-length animated motion picture.  This Carthay Circle Theatre doesn’t show films, but is an exquisite table-service restaurant, filled with tributes to the film and the original structure. Upstairs there is an additional dining location, open only to the membership of the newly expanded Club 33, Disneyland’s private, members-only club conceived of by Walt himself as a way to entertain various VIP’s and their guests over in New Orleans Square, on the second level of that land.  The Club has a waiting list several years long, with hundreds of people still waiting to be asked to join, but with the inclusion of the Carthay Circle’s lounge as part of the Club, several hundred new members were added to the Club’s roster. 

CARSLAND, the all-new 12 acre land recreating the Route 66 town of Radiator Springs from the Disney-Pixar CARS films is the home of 3 exciting new attractions, plus a myriad of shops and restaurants based on locations and characters from the films.
  • Flo’s V8 CafĂ© is themed 
  • dining location open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and is one of the largest restaurants in the entire Disneyland Resort, full of beautiful and intricate details that help to tell the story of Radiator Springs.
  • Cozy Cone Motel is a series of quick-service counter locations, selling things such as ice cream, popcorn, churros, beverages, including beer, and other snack items.  Limited table seating is available in the courtyard.
  • Fillmore’s Taste In is a fruit and juice stand.
  • Sarge’s Surplus Shop is filled with all kinds of clothing and toys. Several unique Carsland inspired items can be found here. 
  • Ramone’s House of Body Art is full of adult clothing and car accessories, many of which are uniquely themed to the land and not available anywhere else. 
  • Lizzie’s Curios Shop was designed to be an eclectic shop filled with unique and fun trinkets and finds just as people would have found when stopping along the famed Route 66 during their cross country treks, but sadly that fun concept was discarded by management, and so this shop just sells standard Disney souvenirs available in practically every other location throughout both of the parks and Downtown Disney at the Disneyland Resort. It is the official Pin Trading location for the land, and the Vinylmation center as well. 
  • Luigi’s Flying Tires is a tire-inspired attraction that allows guests to hover above the air table as they move around the floor turning and bumping into each other.  It is a 21st century updated version of the “Flying Saucers” attraction that once lived in Tomorrowland at Disneyland in the mid-1960’s.  The imagineers worked hard to bring this attraction to Carsland, but from all initial testing and reports, it’s a very slow loading, low capacity attraction.  Waits will be long for just a couple of moments of air time.
  • Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree is the sleeper hit of the land!  It is a fun musical spinner attraction where guests sit in the “tow” portion of the vehicle, behind Mater and enjoy several moments of spinning fun!  With 8 regular musical tracks playing as they spin, and lots of funny interjections from Mater along the way, guests are sure to enjoy this experience.
  • Radiator Springs Racers is by far the “star” attraction of the land.  This attraction takes guests on a thrilling journey through 6 acres of this new land!  Both indoors and outdoors, guests will find all sorts of stunning views of the new land as they interact with numerous characters from the films, and ultimately race another ride vehicle to the finish line! The theming is rock solid, the indoors sets are expansive and very well done, and the desert inspired landscaping is lush and very appropriate. The concept behind the attraction was based on the original Test Track at Epcot, but goes way beyond that in design, theme, technology and execution.  The attraction itself offers Fastpass and Standby lines, as well as a Single Rider line.

Disney California Adventure certainly has been transformed since what premiered back in February 2001.  It has been a long and interesting process to watch – but in the end, I believe that the park, and the Disneyland Resort is much better for it.   Personally I was very disappointed in the original park – with its' "hip & edgy" vibe, and very lackluster, non-Disney feel but I have and have been thrilled with each new addition. Just as Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly Disney-MGM Studios) was a half-day park when it first opened in 1989, that park and now this park have both grown and expanded into full-day adventures.  I used to take my son there as a “daddy-son” afternoon for an hour or two when the park first opened.  Our family has been many times through the years since we moved from Southern California to the Midwest.  We can’t wait to get back and experience it all together once more – now that the re-do has been completed.   After so long – and so many additions - the park has finally come into its’ own, and can finally be called a full-day, stand-along adventure, as the other parks in the Disney pantheon are.  


If you have not yet made a trip to the Disneyland Resort - now is definitely the time to start planning!  I'd be thrilled to help you with that process too.  If you need more information, don't hesitate to visit my website for more info. 
  


Featured Foto Friday - Disneyland - Adventureland panorama

Adventureland Bazaar

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Where in the World Wednesdays - Destinations to Explore Before Leaving this Life


Redwoods National & State Parks – California

Located along the northern coast of California, between the city of Eureka and the Oregon border, the Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP) – comprised of Redwood National Park  and California's Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith, and Prairie Creek Redwoods state parks, the combined RNSP contain 133,000 acres and are located entirely within Del Norte and Humboldt Counties.  Together the four parks protect about 45% of all remaining old-growth coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). These trees are the tallest and one of the most massive tree species on Earth.

Found within the ecosystem of the RNSP, a number of threatened plant and animal species are preserved – species such as the Brown Pelican, Tidewater Goby, Bald Eagle, Chinook Salmon, Northern Spotted Owl, and Steller's Sea Lion.  In 1980 the park was designated as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations.  The National Park itself is located about 260 miles north of the city of San Francisco, and about 300 miles south of Portland, Oregon.

It has been estimated that old-growth redwood forest once covered nearly 2,000,000 acres of coastal northern California, but unfortunately through decades of unchecked logging throughout the latter 1800’s, more than 96% of all old-growth redwoods have been removed.  Nearly half of the redwoods that remain are found in Redwood National and State Parks. The parks protect 38,982 acres of old-growth forest.  While you might not yet have personally visited the natural wonders of the RNSP, more than likely you have encountered these majestic trees on tv or on film.  The RNSP has been the featured backdrop in many major motion pictures, including “Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi” where it played a major role as the forest home of those lovable Ewoks, who lived on the Forest Moon of Endor.  Additionally it was featured in films such as “Jurassic Park: The Lost World”, “Time of the Titans”, “Dinosaurs Alive!” and most recently in “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”

While the state parks have front country campsites that can be driven to, the federal sections of the park do not.  Hiking is the only way to reach back country campsites within the national park portion.  Front country campsites are found at Mill Creek campground in Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park; in Jedediah Smith campground in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park;  in Elk Prairie campground and Gold Bluffs Beach campground in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.  Combined there are a total of 351 campsites available. Other than camping facilities, lodging is not directly available within the borders of the RNSP, but nearby communities to the south, north and east provide ample accommodations.

While the parks are more sedate than other national parks, RSNP does provide various recreational opportunities.  Back country camping is by permit only and is only allowed in designated sites, but access to the back country is highly regulated to prevent overuse. Therefore camping in the back country is limited to five consecutive nights, and 15 nights in any single year. As with any habitat that is home to bears, proper food storage is strongly enforced, and hikers and backpackers are required to take out any trash they generate.

With nearly 200 miles of hiking trails in the parks, park guests will find an abundance of up close and personal opportunities to discover these natural wonders.  But be forewarned, some temporary footbridges are removed during the rainy season since they would be destroyed by high streams. Throughout the year, trails are often wet and hikers need to be well prepared for rainy weather. Additionally, mountain biking and horseback riding are popular but only allowed on certain trails. Kayaking is popular along the seacoast and in the various rivers and streams, and both kayakers and canoeists frequently travel the Smith River, the longest remaining undammed river left in the state of California.  

Fishing is a favorite pastime in the parks and is best in the Klamath and Smith rivers.  Salmon and steelhead, a highly prized species of rainbow trout are common catches in the parks.  A California sport fishing license is required to fish any of the rivers and streams.  Hunting is not permitted anywhere in the parks, but is allowed in nearby National Forests.

The RNSP offers three different visitor centers where park guests can obtain general information, as well as guided nature walks.   For more information about the RNSP area, or to explore the possibility of creating your own vacation memories in or near this majestic playground in America’s portfolio of National Parks, don’t hesitate to visit my website, or call 855.776.1733.  

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Where in the World Wednesdays - Destinations to Explore Before Leaving This Life


Yosemite National Park – California

Yosemite was established as a National Park back in 1890, though parts of it were set aside for preservation and protection as far back as the 1860’s when Abraham Lincoln was residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.  The park itself contains more than 800 miles of hiking trails and 300 miles of paved roads within the approximately 1,189 square mile park (about the size of the state of Rhode Island) – and about 95% of the park is designated wilderness. 

Yosemite ranges in elevation from 2,127 to 13,114 feet and boasts five major vegetation zones: chaparral/oak woodland, lower montane forest, upper montane forest, subalpine zone, and alpine.  Of California's 7,000 plant species, about 50% occur in the Sierra Nevada and more than 20% within Yosemite, and Yosemite boasts about 160 rare plant species.

Highlights within Yosemite Valley, the parks central area where the majority of the park’s established camping and lodging facilities are located include numerous waterfalls (Yosemite Falls being the highest waterfall in the nation), as well as a variety of well-known mountain formations popularly documented in famed photographs by noted photographer Ansel Adams, such as Half Dome, and El Capitan – the largest single granite rock on the planet.

Activities abound within the park, for naturalists and adventurists alike. Hundreds of miles of hiking trails, as well as nearly 20 miles of scenic Class IV rapids for white water rapids enthusiasts. The moderately strenuous Mist Trail offers a close-up look at Vernal Falls, a 317-foot waterfall on the John Muir Trail, as well as Bridalveil Fall, a 620-foot waterfall.  The John Muir Trail itself works its’ way through 211 miles, and up to 11,000 feet in elevation.

Lodging within the Yosemite Valley includes hotel accommodations, tent-cabins and traditional campsites.  The beautiful and majestic Ahwahnee hotel, constructed in 1927, is a master showpiece of stone and native timber, with heart-stopping views and breathtaking public spaces.  Winters at the Ahwahnee are a glorious experience, especially during the holiday season when the lodge features its’ beloved, traditional, Bracebridge Dinner, which dates back to the 1930’s, and features Old English Yuletide cheer. 

For more information about Yosemite, or to explore the possibility of creating your own vacation memories in or near this crown jewel in America’s portfolio of National Parks, don’t hesitate to visit my website, or call 855.776.1733. 


Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Tuesday Trivia - Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse

Disneyland opened an all-new adventure in 1962, the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, in honor of the 1961 live-action film, "Swiss Family Robinson."  The tree stood over 80 feet high, and was created with over 6 tons of reinforced steel, over 100 cubic yards of concrete, and covered with over 300,000 handmade vinyl leaves and blossoms.

Friday, May 25, 2012

This Day in Disney Parks and Resorts History - Disneyland


May 25, 1983 - Disneyland

As part of the New Fantasyland renovations, Disneyland adds Pinocchio's Daring Journey, which officially opens to guests.  It is the first Disneyland attraction added to the park that first debuted at Tokyo Disneyland (opening a month earlier in April 1983) and the first attraction created by the Imagineers to use holographic material. The dark ride is based on Walt Disney’s 1940 animated classic, and Jiminy Cricket guides guests through various scenes from the film.


May 25, 2007 - Disneyland

In conjunction with the continued success of Walt Disney Pictures “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy (the newest film, “At World’s End” recently had its World Premiere on the Rivers of America at Disneyland), the long-time Frontierland attraction Tom Sawyer Island is rededicated as Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island.  An artificial island surrounded by the Rivers of America, originally left vacant during the park’s opening year, became Tom Sawyer Island in the summer of 1956. The network of intricate caves and caverns now contain to the Pirates of the Caribbean films, as well as the traditional Mark Twain characters from the novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Tuesday Trivia - New Orleans Square

New Orleans Square opened at Disneyland in July 1966 as the park's first new "land" since opening day in July 1955.  The grand opening dedication was given by Walt Disney, with New Orleans Mayor Victor Schiro accompanying him.  This three-acre land cost approximately $18 Million to build - $1 Million more than the park's original construction cost!  This land authentically captures the winding streets, iron-laced balconies, and the intimate shops and courtyards of the city of more than a century ago.  It was the first time Disney Imagineers used one single location - and one real city - as inspiration for the land, instead of using an amalgam of design concepts to create the overall feeling of time and place such as is found in Main Street, USA, Adventureland, Frontierland or Fantasyland - each drawing their inspiration from multiple sources.  

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Tuesday Trivia - Grand Canyon Diorama

Disneyland's Grand Canyon Diorama, the world's longest diorama, situated along the section of track between Disneyland Railroad's Tomorrowland and Main Street, U.S.A. stations, opened in 1958.  At the dedication ceremony, 96 year old Hopi Indian Chief Nevangnewa blessed the trains that would transport visitors past the dramatic scenes.  The Diorama was expanded in 1966 with the addition of Primeval World, taking guests back in time to the age of the dinosaur.  The dinos found in the diorama originally debuted at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair, and at its' conclusion, were relocated to Anaheim.  

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Today in Disney Parks & Resorts History - Ride Photos



January 31, 1992 - Disneyland


Professor Barnaby Owl's Photographic Art Studio, located at the end of Splash Mountain in Critter Country, opens and offers ride photos of guests as they exit the attraction.  It is the first installation of on-board ride photography in a Disney park. The idea was suggested by Walt Disney Company CEO Michael Eisner. 

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Today in Disney Parks & Resorts History - Rose Parade


January 1, 1966 - Pasadena, CA

Walt Disney presided over the 77th annual Tournament of Roses Parade as Grand Marshall, riding alongside Mickey Mouse in a  white Chrysler Imperial as they drive down Colorado Boulevard accompanied by numerous costumed characters walking alongside and behind the vehicle.  

January 2, 2012 - Pasadena, CA - The 123rd annual Tournament of Roses Parade will kick off at 8am PST (the parade never runs on the 1st when the 1st falls on a Sunday).  Be sure to watch this beloved tradition starting at 8am PST!  It is a wonderful parade - like Disneyland is to theme parks, the Rose Parade is the "granddaddy" of all parades.

Celebrate One More Disney Day!


ONE MORE DAY AND NIGHT OF DISNEY MAGIC, FREE!


You can enjoy one more day and night of Disney magic FREE when you buy a 3-night, 3-day non-discounted room and ticket package at select Walt Disney World® Resort or Disneyland® Resort hotels before Jan. 31, 2012 (for arrivals most nights Feb. 26 – March 10, 2012). Call me at 855.776.1733 or visit the website for more info.  I'd love to help you enjoy this special Disney offer!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Today in Disney Parks & Resorts History - Walt Disney Passes Away

December 15, 1966 - Burbank, California - St. Joseph's Hospital

Walter Elias Disney:  Dec 5, 1901 - Dec 15, 1966


Just 10 days following his 65th birthday, Walter Elias Disney passes away at St. Joseph's Hospital in Burbank, California - across the street from the Walt Disney Studios. His death comes from acute circulatory collapse, as a result of lung cancer.  Walt's older brother Roy immediately postpones his imminent retirement.

When the news of Walt's death reaches Disneyland in Anaheim, consideration is given to closing the park for the day, but just as Walt would have wanted, the park remains open and the flags on Main Street USA are lowered to half-mast.  That evening Disneyland's Fantasy on Parade, the park's Christmas parade, steps off for the first time of the season.  Being an unusually cold night for Anaheim, a very light snow falls over a somber Disneyland.

On the "CBS Evening News With Walter Cronkite" that evening, commentator Eric Sevareid states this about Mr. Disney:

"It would take more time than anybody has around the daily news shops to think of the right thing to say about Walt Disney.

He was an original; not just an American original, but an original, period. He was a happy accident; one of the happiest this century has experienced; and judging by the way it's been behaving in spite of all Disney tried to tell it about laughter, love, children, puppies and sunrises, the century hardly deserved him.

He probably did more to heal or at least to soothe troubled human spirits than all the psychiatrists in the world. There can't be many adults in the allegedly civilized parts of the globe who did not inhabit Disney's mind and imagination at least for a few hours and feel better for the visitation.

It may be true, as somebody said, that while there is no highbrow in a lowbrow, there is some lowbrow in every highbrow.

But what Walt Disney seemed to know was that while there is very little grown-up in a child, there is a lot of child in every grown-up. To a child this weary world is brand new, gift wrapped; Disney tried to keep it that way for adults.

By the conventional wisdom, mighty mice, flying elephants, Snow White and Happy, Grumpy, Sneezy and Dopey - all these were fantasy, escapism from reality. It's a question of whether they are any less real, any more fantastic than intercontinental missiles, poisoned air, defoliated forests, and scraps from the moon. This is the age of fantasy, however you look at it, but Disney's fantasy wasn't lethal.  People are saying we'll never see his like again."



  

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Tuesday Trivia - Haunted Mansion / Carousel of Progress

Did you know that the Carousel of Progress and The Haunted Mansion are connected?  Not literally, but they do share "someone" in common. The ghostly figure of a woman rocking in a chair during the ballroom sequence in The Haunted Mansion was created using the same mold as the grandmother from Carousel of Progress.