A look at the DCA expansion coming to an end. Really neat video! Check it out, everyone. Buena Vista Street and Cars Land will have a grand opening date of June 15! 3 months away!
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Take a look behind the scene’s at the Matterhorn Bobsleds 6 month long refurbishment. (via DisneyParks)
The crowds at Disneyland last night were INSANE. Worse than anything I’ve ever seen before.
If you are planning to visit Disneyland park for One More Disney Day – February 29 – be sure to stop by Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue from 11:45 p.m. – 12:45 a.m. :
- Delicious treats and hot beverages
- Meet & greets with Disney characters
- Live music by Denny Moynahan
- Other surprises to be announced
No RSVP required! Cast members will admit “Midnight Snack” guests into Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue at 11:45 p.m. based on capacity restrictions. Please note that the event is extremely limited and can only accommodate a small number of guests. Here are a few more things you should know:
- Park admission will not be provided for this event. Valid park admission is required in order to enter Disneyland park on February 29.
- Guests may begin lining up for the “Midnight Snack” no earlier than 10 p.m. on February 29.
- Entry will be granted based on capacity and is extremely limited to approximately 200 guests.
Here is the list of attraction closures for One More Disney Day: Rides that close before 6am
- Captain EO - Closes at Midnight
- Disneyland Opera House - Closes at 10pm
- Splash Mountain - Closes at 2am
- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage - Closes at 3am
- Autopia - Closes at 4am
- Jungle Cruise - Closes at 4am
- Buzz Lightyear - Closes at 5am
- Pirates of the Caribbean - Closes at 5am
- Tom Sawyer Island - Open 9am - 5pm
- Alice in Wonderland - Closed between 1am-4am
- Pinocchio’s Daring Journey - Closed between 1am - 4am
- Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon Spin - Open 7am - 10pm
- Main Street Vehicles - Open 8am - 2:45pm
- Innoventions - Open 10am - 9pm
- Sailing Ship Columbia - Open 11am - 4pm
In addition to commemorative ear hats for guests entering the park at 6 a.m. (limited to 2,000), special food items and regularly scheduled park entertainment that day, Disneyland park guests can look forward to:
- Dance party featuring KIIS DJs at Tomorrowland Terrace from 8:30 p.m. – 4 a.m.
- Second showing of Mickey’s Soundsational Parade at 10 p.m.
- Performances by Billy Hill & the Hillbillies at The Golden Horseshoe from 11:15 p.m. – 4:45 a.m.
- Special showing of “Fantasmic!” at 1 a.m.
- Character meet & greets throughout the night (subject to change):
- Mickey Mouse and friends in pajamas at Carnation Plaza Gardens
- Darth Vader and Stormtroopers in Tomorrowland
- Country Bears in Frontierland
Special Menu Items Day & Night
- French Market
11 a.m. to midnight: Shrimp pasta and red beans and rice.
Midnight — 3:30 a.m.:Chicken gumbo, corn chowder, French dip sandwich with N’Orleans chips, shrimp salad sandwich with carrot-citrus slaw, bananas Foster cheesecake - Blue Bayou
4 p.m. — 3:30 a.m.: Fancy roasted bourbon shrimp stuffed with Dungeness crab mousse, Prime eye of round with quail eggs. - Cafe Orleans
11 p.m. — 5 a.m.: Creole eggs benedict, three-cheese Monte Cristo French toast, lump crab quiche, bananas Foster French toast
Late-Night Snacks: 11 p.m. — 5 a.m.
- Refreshment Corner: All-beef mac ‘n cheese hot dog with bacon bits
- Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe:Creamy lobster bisque
- Plaza Inn: Pot roast and chicken sampler
- Bengal Barbecue: Brownie and krispy skewers
- The Golden Horseshoe:Cherry pie
- Stage Door Café: Chili cheese corn dog, fries and cherry pie
- Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante: Green chili cheese blue corn tamales
- Village Haus Restaurant:Chili cheeseburger with fries
- Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port:Chorizo and egg breakfast pizza
- Tomorrowland Terrace:Spicy chipotle chile turkey burger and onion rings
For those planning to spend One More Disney Day at Disneyland park on February 29! Guests entering the park when it opens at 6 a.m. will receive a limited-edition ear hat commemorating the event, while supplies last. Ear hats are limited to a supply of 2,000 for guests who enter through the designated turnstiles when Disneyland park opens at 6 a.m. on February 29.
Here are some things you should know if you are planning to be there when Disneyland park opens at 6 a.m. on February 29:
- Guests may begin lining up no earlier than 10 p.m. on Tuesday, February 28.
- Guests planning to line up before Disneyland park opens must park in the Pumbaa Parking Lot on Disney Way between 10 p.m. on Tuesday, February 28 and 6 a.m. on February 29. Please note that the Pumbaa Lot will not begin to offer shuttle service to the East Esplanade until 6 a.m. on February 29. Click here for a map ofDisneyland Resort parking areas.
- Restrooms will be available for guests who line up before Disneyland park opens.
- A special ticket booth will be available prior to Disneyland park opening for guests needing to purchase park admission for February 29. Valid park admission is required in order to enter Disneyland park and to receive the commemorative ear hat.
- Commemorative ear hats will be distributed, while supplies last, to guests who enter through the designated turnstiles beginning at 6 a.m. on February 29, when Disneyland park officially opens. Limit one ear hat per person, and you must be present at the time of distribution.
- Please remember that being in line and entering the park does not guarantee that you will receive a commemorative ear hat. Ear hats are limited to a supply of 2,000 for guests who enter through the designated turnstiles when Disneyland park opens at 6 a.m. on February 29.
- Be sure to check the list of items that are not permitted inside Disneyland park as you plan what you will bring with you that day. Admission to the park is subject to capacity restrictions.
See you at One More Disney Day – February 29!
![Yesterday we were sad to learn of the loss of Ernie McLean, the legendary guitar player who performed atDisneyland park for more than 30 years. Known for his warm smile and amazing jazz guitar, Ernie was an original member of the Royal Street Bachelors – now a guest favorite in New Orleans Square.
“Ernie was the last of his breed here at Disneyland,” remembered Stan Freese, Disneyland Resort talent booking director and friend of Ernie’s. “He was a blues and rock legend. He was a kind, classy gentleman who never spoke badly about anyone or anything. He loved his job, and we all loved him. His presence will be sorely missed.”
The best person to tell Ernie’s story is Ernie himself. Below is a recent interview with the man Disneyland guests would often see sitting on a wooden stool just outside Pirates of the Caribbean, playing jazz tunes on his guitar.
Did you have a musical family?My father taught me how to play the guitar. I started playing at the age of 11, but don’t ask me what I was playing back then because I couldn’t tell you. My father had a job playing in a government concert band in New Orleans. They told him the banjo player needed to double on guitar. When he started to learn the guitar he taught me too.
Did you continue your musical training after high school?After high school, my father said, “Look you’re not gonna be running around like you’re crazy, this is World War II.” So I joined the Navy. When I auditioned for their band, they put music in front of me to audition and I messed it up something terrible. Then they told me I did okay. They taught me everything I needed to know about music. I played for four-and-a-half years in the Navy.
What did you do after your military service?After I got out of the service, I decided I wanted to continue playing music for a living. When I played with Dave Bartholomew things really took off. We recorded with Fats Domino, Nancy Wilson, Little Richard, Sonny and Cher, and even did Chrysler commercials.
How did you end up working at the Disneyland Resort?I auditioned as a guitar player for a tour. I didn’t think I was going to get the job. Then they started to talk about rehearsals and going to the studio, so I stopped them and said, “You haven’t offered me the job,” and they replied, “Why do you think we are telling you this if you didn’t get the job?” Once the tour ended, [Walt] Disney eventually called me to sub for the banjo player at Disneyland. That is when I became permanent at Disneyland.
We will miss Ernie and the joy that his talent brought to millions of guests in one of the most unique locations in any Disney park. (via DisneyParks)](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzxmydHaW91qcu75zo1_500.jpg)
Yesterday we were sad to learn of the loss of Ernie McLean, the legendary guitar player who performed atDisneyland park for more than 30 years. Known for his warm smile and amazing jazz guitar, Ernie was an original member of the Royal Street Bachelors – now a guest favorite in New Orleans Square.
“Ernie was the last of his breed here at Disneyland,” remembered Stan Freese, Disneyland Resort talent booking director and friend of Ernie’s. “He was a blues and rock legend. He was a kind, classy gentleman who never spoke badly about anyone or anything. He loved his job, and we all loved him. His presence will be sorely missed.”
The best person to tell Ernie’s story is Ernie himself. Below is a recent interview with the man Disneyland guests would often see sitting on a wooden stool just outside Pirates of the Caribbean, playing jazz tunes on his guitar.
Did you have a musical family?
My father taught me how to play the guitar. I started playing at the age of 11, but don’t ask me what I was playing back then because I couldn’t tell you. My father had a job playing in a government concert band in New Orleans. They told him the banjo player needed to double on guitar. When he started to learn the guitar he taught me too.
Did you continue your musical training after high school?
After high school, my father said, “Look you’re not gonna be running around like you’re crazy, this is World War II.” So I joined the Navy. When I auditioned for their band, they put music in front of me to audition and I messed it up something terrible. Then they told me I did okay. They taught me everything I needed to know about music. I played for four-and-a-half years in the Navy.
What did you do after your military service?
After I got out of the service, I decided I wanted to continue playing music for a living. When I played with Dave Bartholomew things really took off. We recorded with Fats Domino, Nancy Wilson, Little Richard, Sonny and Cher, and even did Chrysler commercials.
How did you end up working at the Disneyland Resort?
I auditioned as a guitar player for a tour. I didn’t think I was going to get the job. Then they started to talk about rehearsals and going to the studio, so I stopped them and said, “You haven’t offered me the job,” and they replied, “Why do you think we are telling you this if you didn’t get the job?” Once the tour ended, [Walt] Disney eventually called me to sub for the banjo player at Disneyland. That is when I became permanent at Disneyland.
We will miss Ernie and the joy that his talent brought to millions of guests in one of the most unique locations in any Disney park. (via DisneyParks)
Happy 11th Birthday, Disney California Adventure!!! Click here to check out the new renamed Lands that will go into effect in the summer for the opening of Cars Land and Buena Vista Street.
The dates for DCA’s grand re-opening event have finally been chosen. June 14th will be the media day and private celebrity party, and June 15th will be the official first day of operation for customers. There will only be a handful of days for AP Previews and soft openings for Cars Land in early June, and those dates aren’t confirmed yet. June 15th will also kick off DCA’s new operating schedule of daily 8AM to 11PM hours through the summer. (via MICECHAT)
It is End of Line for fans of ElecTRONica, the almost-nightly dance party at the Disneyland Resort as Disney has announced its replacement: Mad T Party. The new Disney California Adventure nighttime event will begin in summer 2012, inspired by Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” movie.
The Mad T Party will include a live band, a DJ, entertainment, games and lots of dancing. Familiar characters will be “re-imagined” to immerse guests into the environment in the park’s Hollywood Pictures Backlot. It will include unique food, drinks and merchandise. Guests will enter the party through the “rabbit hole.”
Artwork released by Disney shows a stage with characters, including a Mad Hatter and White Rabbit of sorts, as well as a House of Cards lounge with card-themed dancers:
It appears the stage will be set up in front of the Monsters, Inc. ride facade while the House of Cards will exist within the current sound stage holding Flynn’s Arcade.
Auditions are currently scheduled for early February for musicians to play in the Mad T Party Band, including singers, guitarists, bassists, drummers, keyboardists. Audition details can be found on DisneyAuditions.com. Those who audition are asked to have a knowledge of popular rock and pop music, particularly songs from the following list:
I Gotta Feelin’ (Black Eyed Peas)
Sir Duke (Stevie Wonder)
Don’t Stop Believin’ (Journey)
Shout (The Isley Brothers)
Hot Hot Hot (Buster Poindexter)
We Will Rock You (Queen)
Please Don’t Stop The Music (Rhianna)
Locomotion (Little Eva)
Call Me (Blondie)
Get The Party Started (Pink)
Dancing Queen (ABBA)
American Woman (Lenny Kravitz)
This list is an indication of the type and variety of music that the live band will be playing during the parties.
ElecTRONica will give users their final trips into the Grid in April 2012 with the Mad T Party replacing it some time this summer. (via itm)
Starting tomorrow, Monday January 9, guests strolling down Main Street, U.S.A., will be humming along to some new – and familiar – tunes. For the first time in 20 years, new music will be added to the iconic entrance music of Disneyland park.
Though there have been many updates over the years, the last refresh of Disneyland’s Main Street’s musical score was back in 1992, when selections recorded for Disneyland Paris were brought back to Disneyland park in California.
This time around, over a dozen new tunes, arranged and recorded specifically for Main Street, U.S.A., will join many of the existing songs. Included in the new mix are such iconic period pieces as “Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis,” “In the Good Old Summer Time,” “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “Oh You Beautiful Doll,” Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag,” and a recent tune given a turn-of-the-last-century arrangement, Michael Giacchino’s “Married Life” from Disney•Pixar’s “UP.”
So the next time you’re ambling down Main Street, U.S.A., keep an ear out for some new – and old – classics! (via DisneyParks)
This morning the Mary Poppins themed, Jolly Holiday bakery opened its doors for the first time. The bright white and yellow tones and detailed archway sign are a welcome addition to the detailed Main Street surroundings. (viaMICEChat)
New Year’s Eve celebration at Disneyland Resort. (via21royalstreet)
