Hello Folks, it's Fishbulb filling in for Andy Castro this week on Dateline Disneyland, Andy will be back next week, but thanks to Dan Rutherford (Tron5150) and Armadillo4, we have lots of great photos and news to share with you today!
To say a lot is going on at the Disneyland Resort this week would be a severe understatment. Christmas has arrived in a big way at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Before the last pumpkin was removed from Main Street, snow was already on the Castle. This past weekend was also the taping of the "LIVE" ABC Disney Parks Christmas parade which will be aired on Christmas morning. Park goers were invited to be participants in crowd shots on Saturday and lucky guests were able to do a little star watching this weekend. Stevie Wonder performed in front of the Castle on Sunday.
In New Orleans Square park goers lined up to take their first pictures with the newest royal couple, Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen from The Princess and the Frog. The royal couple also performs an interactive riverboat show several times a day. Tiana's Showboat Jubilee began performances on Friday November 6th to a pretty positive crowd response.
Of course, there are quite a few ongoing refurbishment and construction projects going on around the resort that we will also take a look at today - from Casey Jr. Train and Storybookland Canal boats in Fantasyland to the never ending construction of World of Color, Silly Symphony Swings, The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure and Cars Land at Disney's California Adventure.
More information and ongoing discussion on many of the various construction projects featured in today's update can be found in the Project Tracker threads on MiceChat. Alright kids, let's get ready to roll:
Hello Princess Tiana!
The newly refurbished Court of Angels area inside New Orleans Square is host to a new meet and greet with the stars of Disney's Latest film, The Princess and the Frog.
Along with the meet and greet is a new processional along the waterfront of the Rivers of America and right onto the Mark Twain itself. Lucky guests can join in on the jazzy fun and become part of the show. Tiana's riverboat review is performed on the Mark Twain and can be viewed from the banks of the River. The riverboat stops center stage (just in front of the center tower for Fantasmic!).
The Disney Parks Christmas Special
Camera equipment and stages were in place for the weekend-long filming of the Disney Parks Christmas Special to be aired on Christmas Day. Park guests were asked to dance and clap to a rockin' version of Let It Snow while the first half of the parade passed in front of them.
Passage through the castle has been blocked off
And on Sunday Anika Noni Rose, the voice of Tiana, filmed her own segment along the rivers of America.
Ms. Rose sits for a post taping interview
Christmas continues to spread.
As mentioned, the Holiday is continuing to take over the resort well ahead of the official November 13th starting date.
Toon Town's fanciful decorations are up and are certainly the most colorful and fun.
Small World is getting ready for it's Holiday overlay - which opens November 13th
Holiday merchandise fills the shelves of the Main Street shops.
Please Santa, don't leave any coal
The Gates Of Both Parks Are Already In The Spirit
Disneyland turnstiles have received the ice and snow treatment
DCA has it's candy cane lettering up
DCA's Christmas tree
The Construction Status Quo
The Casey Jr. Circus Train and Storybook land Canal boats continue their extensive refurbishment.
The new structure for stroller and wheelchair rentals is still soldiering on.
Over in Disney's California Adventure, the construction progress is coming along slowly but surely. Paradise Bay continues it's waterlogged working conditions as the final touches get put on the World of Color fountain platform. Paradise Bay's fountain landmark gets a new metal topper and the last vestiges of the Orange Stinger are finally gone forever.
The Paradise Bay Amphitheater is taking shape.
Some are not too fond of the metal topper.
We'll have to see what the final version looks like.
Little Mermaid's pit has bottomed out
The World of Color Platform is coming along nicely
Notice the size of the domes compared to the workers around them
The filters are working overtime as all the soot from the months of construction is washed away by the new water
The Orange Stinger's elevator has no more bees on it and has been stripped down for a new theme
Lastly, the first foundations for Cars Land have been laid:
This and That.
Photos from around the parks.
For a complete listing of theme park hours, please visit the Disneyland.com Theme Park Calendar
CURRENT ATTRACTION CLOSURES & REFURBISHMENTS
Disneyland Park
Big Thunder Ranch: Closed through November 12 to install winter holiday overlay.
Jungle Cruise: Closed November 16 - 19
Storybook Land Canal Boats: Closed through November 19.
Casey Jr. Circus Train: Closed through November 19.
The Enchanted Cottage: Snack stand closed through November 4.
"it's a small world": Closed through November 12 to install holiday overlay.
King Arthur Carrousel: Closed December 8 - 10.
Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years/Main Street Opera House: Closed.
Reopens as The Disneyland Story: Featuring Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln December 17, 2009.
Disney's California Adventure ParkJungle Cruise: Closed November 16 - 19
Storybook Land Canal Boats: Closed through November 19.
Casey Jr. Circus Train: Closed through November 19.
The Enchanted Cottage: Snack stand closed through November 4.
"it's a small world": Closed through November 12 to install holiday overlay.
King Arthur Carrousel: Closed December 8 - 10.
Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years/Main Street Opera House: Closed.
Reopens as The Disneyland Story: Featuring Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln December 17, 2009.
Orange Stinger: Closed for retheming. Reopens Spring 2010
Jumpin' Jellyfish: Attraction remains open while towers rotate through
refurbishment.
The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure: Under construction.
Souvenir 66 and Corn Dog Castle: Store and dining location closed for
remodeling through May 2011.
Paradise Bay: Drained for construction of upcoming Disney's World of Color show. Expected to be refilled mid-October 2009. Disney's World of Color Nighttime Spectacular: New show under construction.
Debuts Spring 2010.
Golden State Park and Amphitheater: Closed. New, larger viewing area for Disney's World of Color viewing under construction in same location. The new viewing area is scheduled to open February 2010 as Paradise Park.
Okay, that about does it for the November 9th edition of Dateline Disneyland. Huge thanks to Dan Rutherford (Tron5150) and Armadillo4 for helping us with photos of the new Princess and the Frog festivities.Jumpin' Jellyfish: Attraction remains open while towers rotate through
refurbishment.
The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure: Under construction.
Souvenir 66 and Corn Dog Castle: Store and dining location closed for
remodeling through May 2011.
Paradise Bay: Drained for construction of upcoming Disney's World of Color show. Expected to be refilled mid-October 2009. Disney's World of Color Nighttime Spectacular: New show under construction.
Debuts Spring 2010.
Golden State Park and Amphitheater: Closed. New, larger viewing area for Disney's World of Color viewing under construction in same location. The new viewing area is scheduled to open February 2010 as Paradise Park.
Be sure to come back next week for the "official" launch of Christmas at the Disneyland resort and continuing coverage of construction projects and refurbishments at the resort.
Your support keeps these updates coming!
Thank you for your support!
Love reading Dateline Disneyland?
Please consider donating to help keep the updates coming through. Thank you for your support!
Dateline Disneyland is on Twitter! Twitter.com/DatelineDisney
Have a wonderful week and thank you for stopping by Dateline Disneyland. We'll see you again next week!
-Fishbulb
One fun fact: As the show ended, I got up, turned to my right, and found out that I'd been watching the show next to John Lasseter. Talk about your moments of zen!
Regarding the topper, I think commenting on it now is like saying a movie's going to be great or awful based on the first day's filming. Without more built up around it to give it context, saying "yea" or "nay" at this point is jumping the gun.
At that, I liked the comparison that a previous poster made to the background art and how it does seem to resemble it. Given that a lot of Paradise Pier seems to be changing to match the time frame and look of that cartoon, using it as a reference guide is a good way to go.
Almost want revise the lyric of "Under the Sea" to that, and considering the old restrooms used to be located their
Life is the ****, here in the pit, yada yada yada
(sorry about that)
World of Color is looking even more intriguing!!!!
And I Can't wait to see Tiana's Showboat Jubilee in person!!!