Disneyland Diamond Celebration!

Disney Parks blog announced yesterday a flurry of sparkling events coming to Disneyland Park in honor of their Diamond Anniversary!

From the Disney Parks Blog:

As part of the celebration, the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland park and Carthay Circle Theatre in Disney California Adventure park will glisten and gleam, each with its own diamond medallion featuring the letter “D.” The entire resort will sparkle with Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration décor and festive banners in shades of Disneyland blue. Also bearing the diamond anniversary theme, creative merchandise and food items will be designed to complement the celebration. We’ll have more to share on those special items soon.

“As time has shown, Disneyland marked the beginning of something bigger than anyone could have imagined and this Diamond Celebration embraces its rich history while honoring Walt Disney’s commitment to pushing boundaries to create exciting and innovative new experiences for our guests,” said Staggs.

We’ll have more to share on the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration in the coming months, so keep an eye on the Disney Parks Blog and join the conversation with the hashtag #Disneyland60!

“Disneyland Forever” shows just how magical the Magic Kingdom can be, in a sky-high celebration featuring sparkling pyrotechnics, immersive projections, and other effects that transform Disneyland park right before your eyes!

“Disneyland Forever” envelops you in an enthralling, breathtaking journey like never before, leveraging the largest installation of projection mapping technology in a Disney park and surprising special effects. Main Street, U.S.A., and several other Disneyland park locations become a magical canvas taking us into a world of dreams, from flying above the London skyline from “Peter Pan” to a dance with King Louie in “The Jungle Book.”

“Disneyland Forever” also features two original songs, the theme “Live the Magic” and the inspiring closing song “Kiss Goodnight,” written by Disney Legend Richard Sherman.

Walt Disney once said, “Disneyland will never be completed, as long as there is imagination left in the world.” As “Disneyland Forever” caps off each evening of this once-in-a-lifetime celebration, we discover Walt’s inspiring words still hold true today. Disneyland will continue to be home to all our dreams and adventures … forever!

Tonight, we’ve announced the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration will include a special edition of the popular “World of Color” at Disney California Adventure park, plus an impressive new nighttime parade and a fully-immersive fireworks spectacular at Disneyland park.

Stay tuned, because Erin has one more exciting thing to share with you! And keep reading Disney Parks Blog over the next few months, as we share more details about these stunning new nighttime spectaculars and other surprises planned for the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration – all kicking off May 22, 2015!

The “Paint the Night” parade brings some of the most innovative floats, vibrant costumes, dazzling special effects, unforgettable music and energetic performances ever presented at Disneyland Resort. This new, state-of-the-art nighttime parade floods Main Street, U.S.A., with stunning color, fun surprises and more than 1.5 million brilliant LED lights.

Mickey Mouse uses his vivid imagination to harness the power of Tinker Bell’s pixie dust and “Paint the Night” in Disney dreams, bringing to light beloved characters and stories from “Monsters, Inc.,” “Cars,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Toy Story,” “Frozen” 

and more.

California Adventure will also feature a new World of Color show! Opening May 22, 2015, “World of Color – Celebrate! The Wonderful World of Walt Disney” illuminates the night in a contemporary and moving celebration of Walt and his dream of Disneyland, showing that anything is possible if we never give up on our dreams.

Mickey Mouse will take guests on a fun-filled and inspirational journey through the unparalleled imagination of Walt Disney, exploring his decades-long legacy of memorable animated moments and the dream of Disneyland park.

Both epic and intimate in scope, “World of Color – Celebrate! The Wonderful World of Walt Disney” brings to life the remarkable story of Walt and the Happiest Place on Earth in a first-of-its-kind spectacular, presented on the magic canvas of “World of Color” with compelling animated imagery, live-action footage, fountains, lasers, special effects and a stirring musical score.

45 Years of the Haunted Mansion - Poster 2

45 Years of the Haunted Mansion

The Haunted Mansion is celebrating 45 years of grim, grinning ghosts this year. We're celebrating with some posters I designed for funsies. What if the Muppets took over the Haunted Mansion? There are three in all, so check back! Eventually, I'd like to revisit these and do another round.

In fact, this past Saturday (August 9, 2014) Disneyland offered some special merchandise to help celebrate! The image below was featured on the popcorn buckets and available as limited prints in locations around the park.

Mickey as the Hatbox ghost and Minnie as The Bride design was on a souvenir travel mug.

Muppets Tower of Terror

10 Years of Terror and Drops!

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror celebrates its 10th anniversary this year at Disneyland Resort!

As the story goes, The Hollywood Tower opened in the bustle of the 1920s. It was a destination for the show business elite for 11 years. On October 31, 1939, the elevator was struck by lightning and the five guests riding it were never seen again. The hotel was abandoned and left to the ravages of time. But time cannot heal all wounds.

Many years later, the hotel opened its doors for tours- but not the elevator in which the lightning struck. The building remains the same, except for the elevator doors. Tour guests can walk the grounds now and visit the library to learn more about that fateful night.

Should you desire to see the other floors of the hotel, a service elevator remains in working order for you and your guests. 


We're celebrating this anniversary telling you 10 things you can find in the ride that are from classic Twilight Zone Episodes! I won't tell you where they are, you'll have to keep your eyes open!

1) The Invaders from "The Invaders"

2) Fortune Telling Machine from "Nick of Time"

3) Telephone from "Long Distance Call"

4) Mr. Bemis's Glasses from "Time Enough at Last"

5) Electric Razor and Typewriter from "A Thing About Machines"

6) Stopwatch from "A Kind of Stopwatch"

7) Ventriloquist Dummy from "Cesar and Me"

8) Trumpet from "A Passage for Trumpet"

9) Chalk Portal from "Little Girl Lost"

10) To Serve Man Book from "To Serve Man"

There are more references and easter eggs in the ride. These are just a few of my favorites. Now hurry up and get yourself to the the Hollywood Tower Hotel and check-in for the night . . . or forever.

Newsflash: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Opening May 28 and more!

Lots of news from Disney Parks, mostly coming from Walt Disney World Resort. Let's get going!

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train opening May 28.

Fantasyland's new centerpiece, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, is opening on May 28. 

From the Disney Parks Blog: 
The family-style coaster features an innovative new ride system that allows cars to swing back and forth as they travel down the track. The cars are even designed to reflect similar vehicles that appear in the film, handmade of wood by the Dwarfs, shaped by an axe, and used to haul rocks and jewels. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train also uses the latest in technology featuring some of the most advanced and charming Audio-Animatronics figures we’ve ever created. Adding to the fun, the journey will be accompanied by music from the film classic and scenes filled with Snow White, the Seven Dwarfs and playful forest critters.

Sadly, I'll be just missing the opening by days! Let's see if I can get the Evil Queen to help me open it sooner.

Rivers of Light concept art.

Animal Kingdom is getting a huge expansion. The Lion King Show is moving to its rightful home in Africa and will be opening in June, as well as other wild goodies! 

A nighttime spectacular, currently being called "Rivers of Light," will combine live music, floating lanterns, water screens and swirling animal imagery. The show will magically come to life on the broad, natural stage of the Discovery River, between Discovery Island and Expedition Everest. 

This is a welcome addition to the park and to the Walt Disney World Resort. None of the parks have a show comparable to "World of Color" at Disneyland Resort. Animal Kingdom is quickly becoming an all-day destination.

Concept of name change for Disney's Polynesian.

My favorite resort, Disney's Polynesian, is going to get a little bit of a renovation. The name will be changing back to its original, Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, as well as getting a new food and beverage location - Trader Sam's from Disneyland Hotel. Also, it appears that the Mahalo Man (that's what I call him) will be featured as a centerpiece on the lobby.

Lots of things are happening at the Disney Parks, so we'll keep you updated. I'll be at the Walt Disney World Resort in a few short weeks, so I'll come back with pictures and more information! 

Anniversary of Hollywood Studios

Disney's Hollywood Studios, better known to some as MGM Studios from 1989 until 2008, is celebrating 25 years of movie magic! The Disney Parks Blog has been celebrating all week with fantastic images of the parks history as well as this nifty wallpaper for desktops and phones. This wallpaper features the Disney gang as the stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood. 

Let's take a quick look at some of the attractions that make this park a star of its own!

The Muppet*Vision area.

Muppet*Vision 3D opened in 1991. Easily one of the best attractions (Birnbaum Guides would agree!). The 4D show recreates the Muppet Theatre in amazing detail, including Statler and Waldorf heckling from their balcony. The show includes live effects, such as a Penguin orchestra, bubbles, fireworks, Sweetums, and canons! This attraction holds a special place in my heart as being that last time Jim Henson and Richard Hunt would perform their characters.

The Hollywood Tower Hotel main lobby.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror opened on Sunset Boulevard on in 1994. I'm a huge fan of the Twilight Zone series and love seeing the lobby, the library, and the basement filled with replicas of props from episodes. In the attraction, guests are treated to a ride on an infamous elevator in which five people mysteriously disappeared in during the 1930s. The technology to drop the elevator and for cabs to move through rooms and elevators was designed specifically for Disney.

The Ewok village outside the attraction.

Star Tours: The Adventures Continue opened in 2011, replacing the original Star Tours. The original attraction featured events after Return of the Jedi. The new iteration, which is in 3D and features C-3PO, occurs between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. The ride features eleven random segments, showcasing planets like Kashyyyk, Hoth, Naboo, and Coruscant and characters like Master Yoda, Darth Vader, and Admiral Ackbar. I am particularly fond of the Hoth sequence and the Otah Gunga sequence (in which the 3D gags really shine). A very fun element is the audience (unknowingly) participating in the Rebel plans.

The Great Movie Ride premiered with the park. Guests are whisked away in what is basically a moving movie theatre to experience classic films brought to life by audio-animatronics. Scenes include Singin' in the Rain, Alien, and The Wizard of Oz. The Wicked Witch is equipped with the Sarcos animatronic technology, allowing for more fluid and faster movements, creating a more realistic and natural performance. At one point, when Disney was courting the Muppets and Jim Henson, there were plans for a parody ride called The Great Muppet Movie Ride in an area called MuppetMovie land.

Toy Story Midway Mania! opened at Pixar Place in 2008. The ride is a fun spin through carnival-like games featuring the Toy Story characters. Throw rings around the Little Green Men, pop balloons, and hit targets to reach the highest score. At the end you are rewarded with a digital pin. Besides being a ton of fun, the whole thing is in 3D. The queue is also amazing, as guests are shrunk down to the size of a toy and can interact with Mr. Potato Head.

These are but a few of the amazing attractions. The park also has live stage shows like Beauty and the Beast and Voyage of the Little Mermaid, the thrilling Rock 'n' Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith, the Backlot tour, and so much more! So celebrate Hollywood this May 1!

The World you have entered was created by The Walt Disney Company and is dedicated to Hollywood—not a place on a map, but a state of mind that exists wherever people dream and wonder and imagine, a place where illusion and reality are fused by technological magic. We welcome you to a Hollywood that never was—and always will be.

—Michael Eisner, May 1, 1989

Today in History April 18

1983 — Disney Channel goes on the air

2002 — Primeval Whirl opens at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

Today in History April 16

April 16
2001 — Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge opens at the Walt Disney World Resort

2007 — Disneyland Resort announces the entire Disneyland Railroad fleet has been converted to run on biofuel instead of diesel