Disney News for May 2011

New Pool Area Opening This Weekend at the Disneyland Hotel

posted on May 27th, 2011 by Erin Glover, Manager, Social Media and Print

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The enhancements at the Disneyland Hotel continue to take shape, and on Sunday, May 29, a new, immersive water play area will join Tangaroa Terrace and Trader Sam’s – Enchanted Tiki Bar, which opened earlier this week. 

As we first told you about last year, the centerpiece of the new pool area will call to mind past Disneyland park iconography. Classic Disneyland block signage will combine with replica Monorail trains to create an experience that is both fun and nostalgic.

Also coming to the Disneyland Hotel pool area will be a new D-Ticket themed pool. Guests will have fun finding the subtle D-Tickets in the pool, which are reminiscent of the ticket books that were used in the early days of Disneyland. This will be followed in late 2011 by an E-Ticket themed pool, in the area which previously featured the Never Land pool.

The new pool space will also include Mickey and Minnie themed spas located at opposite ends of the pool area. Also, when the pool area is completed, six new cabanas will be available, featuring flat-screen TVs, refrigerators, safes, phones and ceiling fans.

The New ‘Mickey’s Soundsational Parade’ Officially Starts Today at Disneyland Park

posted on May 27th, 2011 by Valarie Sukovaty, Disneyland Public Relations

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Starting today, guests can jam with Mickey Mouse as he leads “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade” down Main Street, U.S.A, at Disneyland park. The new parade runs daily and includes a syncopated drum line, nine whimsical floats and an array of musicians and favorite Disney characters. We give you a front row seat in the video below. Enjoy!

(“Mickey’s Soundsational Parade” is part of “Disney Soundsational Summer,” an exciting summer of offerings that kicks off June 3 and includes the premiere of The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure park, the debut of “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue” at Disneyland park and an unveiling of new enhancements to the Disneyland Hotel.)

‘Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular’ Will Take the Stage on the Disney Fantasy

posted on May 26th, 2011 by Jason Lasecki, Public Relations Director, Disney Cruise Line

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We hope you’ve been enjoying our updates about the exciting new elements you’ll find on the Disney Fantasy.

Today, I want to share some details that are sure to make you sing and dance with excitement…a new Broadway-style production will take the stage in the Walt Disney Theatre aboard the Disney Fantasy. This show brings to life the story from a classic animated Disney film – “Aladdin.” New to Disney Cruise Line, “Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular” is a fast-paced musical comedy where Aladdin, the “street rat” of Agrabah, meets a wise-cracking Genie who grants him three wishes.

Along the way, Aladdin battles the evil Jafar and falls in love with Princess Jasmine, who by the way is my daughter’s favorite Disney character. Kids and adults alike are all going to love this entertaining show!

If you’re hoping there will be a flying magic carpet scene, your wish is coming true. With the help of mechanical wizardry and state-of-the-art projections, Aladdin and Jasmine will perform “Whole New World” as they soar on a romantic magic carpet ride.

If only I could rub a magic lamp and have a Genie pop out – I would wish to be on a Disney cruise right now! Who’s with me?

Joe Perry from Aerosmith Rocks at Disney

Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry made a surprise visit to Disney's Hollywood Studios Rock 'n' Roller Coaster bearing his band’s famous name.

Joe Perry, who recalled riding Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith dozens of times with guests on its opening day in 1999, posed with Goofy in the attraction’s courtyard. Disney Parks photographer Gene Duncan, who took pictures of Perry and the rest of Aerosmith at the grand opening ceremony in 1999, also was on hand last week to shoot this photo of Goofy and his new rock-and-roll pal.

 Whitehead and Morgan McGaugn, visiting from Mississippi 

F U N    F A C T

During planning for Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Imagineers wanted to select one of the world's greatest bands around which to build the back story for the attraction. They decided Aerosmith would be the perfect fit. But initially Imagineers were unable to reach singer Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry. Why? Because they were vacationing with their families at the Disney-MGM Studios Park!

Star Tours II - The First Day

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UPDATE: Hi everyone, we’re now replaying today’s Star Tours grand opening ceremony. Also, be sure and check back later for images and highlights from the celebration.

Star Tours Meet-Up: Recap of our First Meet-Up at Walt Disney World

posted at the Official Disney Parks Blog on May 20th, 2011 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks

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Wow, what a first meet-up. Hundreds of Star Wars fans and Disney Parks Blog readers joined us at midnight for a first experience on “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue” at Walt Disney World Resort.

Meet-up attendees got the red carpet treatment at Disney’s Hollywood Studios before a galactic welcome by Bree Starlighter and other favorite Star Wars characters.

There were also a few extra-special opportunities, including a discussion and Q&A with Walt Disney Imagineers Steven Speigel and Kathy Rogers. Both answered questions about the attraction and shared behind-the-scenes details on how it was created. Senior Character Artist Casey Jones and Senior Design Manager Jonathan Bishop also signed special posters. 

Sure, there were some unique experiences but it was you who really made our meet-up extra special. We made many new friends, including Adam Pitzer and Stephanie Weis, who traveled here from Jersey City. Both are getting married on Saturday and decided a Star Tours Meet-Up was the perfect way to kick off a special weekend. 

Kevin and Jennifer Thomas also traveled from Illinois for the experience and during the night, their daughter Zoey learned the ways of a Jedi Knight. Of course, we met too many people to name in this post but take a look at who else joined in the party.

Thank you to everyone for an amazing meet-up. If you attended this morning, please let us know what you thought. Did you meet someone new? 

The Force is Strong at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

posted at the Official Disney Parks Blog on May 20th, 2011 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager

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Anyone who has been lucky enough to witness the opening of a major Disney attraction isn’t likely to forget the experience anytime soon. This was exactly the case for the Disney Parks Blog team and thousands of spectators earlier today when “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue” debuted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – in a way that was truly out of this galaxy.

The celebration kicked off with a procession of Star Wars characters through the park. Bree Starlighter, host of the ceremony, welcomed the crowd and introduced actor Anthony Daniels, who portrayed C-3P0 in the films.

The fun was suddenly interrupted by a team of stormtroopers, followed by Darth Vader, who vowed to stop the opening at all costs by placing a force field over the attraction. Two brave Jedi Knights stepped in to fight back – and later revealed themselves as Walt Disney Company President and CEO Bob Iger and Star Wars creator George Lucas.

With some help from R2-D2, the forcefield was removed and the attraction opened to all guests.

Based on the Star Wars film franchise, the attraction takes guests on a wild 3-D adventure to multiple Star Wars destinations where they interact with famous faces from the film series.

Disney Parks Blog Readers Among First to Experience Star Tours at Disneyland Park

posted at the Official Disney Parks Blog on May 20th, 2011 by Erin Glover, Manager, Social Media and Print

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We had a great turnout early this morning as Disney Parks Blog fans gathered for the “Star Tours Early Departure” at Disneyland park. As we announced earlier this month, 1,200 randomly selected readers had the opportunity to bring a guest for the special event to celebrate the upcoming Star Tours relaunch on June 3.

As you can see, hundreds of fans lined up to be among the first guests to experience the new 3-D attraction. They sipped coffee and hot chocolate in the early morning hours, then made their way into the park and the attraction queue.

Just before 3 a.m., Samantha and her father, Ramon (pictured above) were the very first guests to arrive at the event. Samantha was excited to be the very first guest to experience Star Tours this morning, and she said her father was the reason she became a Star Wars fan.

Just behind Samantha and Ramon was another Star Wars fan, Joel (also pictured above, right) who traveled from Flagstaff, Ariz., for this event. Joel’s older sister kindly agreed that he should be the one to attend the event with their mother, since he was such a huge fan and so excited to experience the attraction.

Miki, from Covina, Ca., truly arrived “in character” – wearing an Ewok costume that she made herself. Beverly and Steve traveled from Vancouver, Wa., to celebrate their anniversary (and Steve’s birthday) at the “Star Tours Early Departure.” They were encouraged to attend the event by their daughter, Jessica – Disney fan and loyal Disney Parks Blog reader. (Hi Jessica – thanks for reading!)

Check out the video below for even more highlights from this morning’s “Star Tours Early Departure” at Disneyland park.

Flashback to the 80s: Walt Disney Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald Recalls How Star Tours Began

posted at the Disney Parks Blog on May 22nd, 2011 by Gary Buchanan, Social Media Managing Editor

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In the final episode of her series of inside-look videos featuring “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue,” Star Wars: The Clone Wars star Ashley Eckstein sits down for an interview with Walt Disney Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald. As he has outlined throughout the year with his posts on the Disney Parks Blog, Tom worked closely with Star Wars creator George Lucas on the original Star Tours attraction. And he’s been working since that time with George and the talented teams at Imagineering and Lucasfilm Ltd. to create the new 3-D, multi-sensory attraction for Guests visiting Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

Join us as Ashley takes Tom on a trip back in time to recall the original idea for Star Tours and how the “galaxy far, far away…” came to life.

A Look Inside ‘Star Tours – The Adventures Continue’ with Ashley Eckstein and Some Star Wars Friends

posted at the Disney Parks blog on May 21st, 2011 by Gary Buchanan, Social Media Managing Editor

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Our good friend and former Disney’s Hollywood Studios Cast Member Ashley Eckstein returns today to take us on a quick video tour behind the scenes of “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.”

Ashley, the voice of Anakin Skywalker’s eager Padawan Ashoka Tano on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, has had quite a busy and exciting week in the Walt Disney World Resort galaxy. In addition to shooting a series of “Star Tours” sneak peek videos for you and other Disney Parks Blog readers (keep a lookout for the next one, an interview with Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald), on Friday she stood alongside fellow Star Wars celebrities and characters, Star Wars creator George Lucas and Walt Disney Co. president and CEO Bob Iger Friday for the gala Grand Opening Ceremony. Then she began her month-long duties as Celebrity Host of Star Wars Weekends 2011 and prepped for the premiere of the newest designs from her popular “Her Universe” line of Star Wars-themed fangirl fashion (she’s debuting new designs that will be available exclusively for a limited time for Star Wars Weekends Guests).

Let’s join Ashley inside the attraction as she talks about some of the exciting new additions to the Star Tours Spaceport. And look for some cameos by some of your favorite Star Wars characters. 

Disneyland Resort Sounds

posted on May 17th, 2011 by Michele Himmelberg, Public Relations Director, Disneyland Resort

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Recognize these sounds?

Since the opening of Disneyland park in 1955, the strategic and clever use of sound has transported guests from frontier America to the jungles of Africa; from turn-of-the-century America to edge-of-the-galaxy Tatooine. We’ve been haunted, romanced, humored, enchanted, and sung to, with the many and varied sounds of the theme parks. And it’s not just about music.

Joe Herrington is a Principal Media Designer for Walt Disney Imagineering and a big advocate of sound, as was Walt Disney. According to Joe, the role of sound at the Disneyland Resort, or any Disney park for that matter, tells half the story of any land, attraction or entertainment you experience.

“Walt understood that,” says Joe in a Disneyland Podcast interview. “Walt incorporated sound and always tried to find new ways to use it. He was so proactive in sound technology, and in all kinds of ways, to utilize sound.”

Which distinctive Disneyland Resort sound transports you to another place?

New Disney California Adventure Updates Coming to Blue Sky Cellar

posted at the Official Disney Parks blog on May 16th, 2011 by Erin Glover, Manager, Social Media and Print

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On this week there are a lot of updates coming to the Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar.

Starting May 18, additions will include a new aerial view of the park, above. In this photo, you can see the incredible progress being made in Cars Land (bottom right) as well as the soon-to-be complete Paradise Pier (bottom left). At the top, you can also see the park’s new entrance taking shape.

Also set to debut this week at Blue Sky Cellar are new attraction posters for The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, Goofy’s Sky School and Grizzly River Run. Designed in the style of the traditional Disney theme park attraction posters, these three are sure to become instant classics. 

I’m sure many of you are anxious to add these to your attraction poster collection, along with previously released images for California Screamin’, Mickey’s Fun Wheel and Silly Symphony Swings, so look for many of these attraction posters and much more when they become available in Spring 2012. 

There is so much to see at Blue Sky Cellar, from models and artist renderings to concept drawings and more, all crafted by Walt Disney Imagineers.

Which changes at Disney California Adventure park are you most excited about?

May the Fourth by Tom Fitzgerald

May the Fourth Be With You!

posted on May 4th, 2011 by Tom Fitzgerald, Executive VP & Senior Creative Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering

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Today, May 4, we unveiled a stunning new piece of Star Tours art which serves as the attraction poster at Disneyland park and the marquee at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Designed by Imagineer Scot Drake, the piece features the new Starspeeder 1000 surrounded by many of the planets, vehicles and characters from the show. Look for Darth Vader lurking in the shadows.

The photo below shows the new marquee as it was being installed just this morning at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

The Adventures Continue – only weeks away!