2011 and 2012 Food and Wine Festival Canceled

WDWNT Author on November 3, 2010

Sad news today from the Disney Parks Blog:

As many of you know, we are in the midst of a multi-year expansion of Disney California Adventure park. Our first key milestone occurred this past June with the premiere of “World of Color,” and next year, we’ll open The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. As we shared with you last Friday, Cars Land is well on its way to opening in 2012, and we’ll continue to share news and take you behind the scenes throughout the expansion here on the Disney Parks Blog.

While we are extremely excited with all of the progress to date, we have had to make some changes to accommodate our growth, and today we want to let you know we will not be hosting the 2011 and 2012 Disney’s California Food & Wine Festivals in Disney California Adventure park. This was not an easy decision, but expansion work over the next two years in some areas of the park present significant logistical challenges around scheduling the hundreds of festival offerings. This work includes transforming the park’s entry plaza as well as the hub area where the event main stage has been located. When the work is completed, it will be reminiscent of the Los Angeles that Walt found when he arrived in the 1920s, complete with Red Car Trolleys. Below is a rendering that we’ve not yet released on the Blog that shows what the area will look like when completed.

Rendering of Los Angeles in the 1920s

We realize the festival has been a guest favorite but feel it’s most important to ensure our park experience is the best it can be during this exciting time. After the expansion is completed and we open Cars Land in 2012, we will continue to look at opportunities for special events and festivals. Please stay tuned to the Blog for the most up-to-date information.

“Topping Out” Cars Land

WDWNT Author on October 29, 2010

From the Disney Parks Blog:

Topping Out Ceremony

I witnessed a milestone in the multi-year expansion of Disney California Adventure park today. I joined some media and watched the “topping out” ceremony for the Cadillac Mountain Range’s tallest peak. At 125 feet, it’s the most visible part of the new 12-acre Cars Land, which is scheduled to open in 2012.

At the base of this mountain range will be the entrance to Radiator Springs Racers, the E-ticket thrill ride which will headline Cars Land along with other attractions, food and merchandise shops all based on the Disney-Pixar blockbuster, “Cars.”

Aerial Map of Cars Land

“Topping out” is a traditional construction event among construction workers and engineers that takes place when the highest piece of steel is installed on the frame of a building. Today, we were privileged to observe this ceremony, which marked a major milestone in the construction of this new and exciting land.

As part of the tradition, the final beam is painted white and signed by the ironworkers, steel design engineer and construction management. This piece of steel will be part of the Pinnacle of the Cadillac Range, representing a 1959 Cadillac, whose tail fin was also known as the Pinnacle.

Several key people were on hand to explain the significance of this milestone, including Vice President of Disney California Adventure park, Mary Niven, Walt Disney Imagineer Kathy Mangum, and Walt Disney Imagineer Jim Kearns.

Mary Niven described the event as a huge milestone for Disney California Adventure park. “Literally and metaphorically, we’ve reached the other side of the mountain,” she said.

And there’s more exciting news about Disney California Adventure. World of Color, the nighttime spectacular which opened this past June, has now been seen by more than 1 million guests! And for those of you who have been in the park recently, you’ve seen Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure rising along the parade route. When Little Mermaid opens in 2011, along with Goofy’s Sky School and some brand new restaurants, we will have completed our work in the Paradise Pier section of the park. Whew – time flies!

Check back on the Blog later today to see video from today’s “topping-out” ceremony and time-lapse footage that shows the mountain range coming to life!

World of Color TRON: Legacy Encore Testing

WDWNT Author on October 29, 2010

Walt Disney Imagineering was programming the TRON encore for World of Color last Wednesday and I was fortunate enough to get a view of it from the Grand Californian. The encore was announced today to premier on October 31st with soft opening tonight during the second showing.

C-3P0 to Pilot the Starspeeder 1000, Captain Rex will Return!

WDWNT Author on October 28, 2010

From Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald on the Disney Parks Blog:

It was great to read your comments about the pilots of Star Tours on my last post. Some people really want to see Rex again in the new show. Others are excited about the introduction of the new character “Ace.” And then there are those who are speculating about a bigger role for Threepio. So, I thought it was time we set the story straight about just who will be in the cockpit in the new show. And guess what? You’re all right!

C-3PO and ACE

As explained earlier, all Star Tours Starspeeder 1000s are flown using the latest AC-series Tour Droids. And in fact, our initial plans were for our flight to be piloted by AC-38 better known as “Ace.” However, in discussions with George Lucas during the course of our production, we decided to take the story in a very different direction.

So…while AC-38 is supposed to be our pilot, by the time we actually take off, the droid sitting in the pilot’s seat will be none other than…C-3PO!

It’s one of the biggest changes and surprises in the new show. “Professional grit stopped me from yelling the glorious new storyline from the rooftops,” said Anthony Daniels recently. “It’s fun having secrets like this, waiting to share them at the right time.”

You’ll see just how Threepio becomes our pilot when the adventures continue next year.

This week, our Imagineering team begins installation of the Audio-Animatronics figures into the Starspeeder cabins at Disneyland park, and next month at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Oh, and for all you Rex fans, don’t worry – we have a spot for him in the new show!

Disney Channel Rocks! To Debut On November 26th

WDWNT Author on October 24, 2010

WDWNTube Vice-President Banks Lee was at Disney’s Hollywood Studios yesterday to see the debut of Disney Channel Rocks! The same show will debut at DCA on November 26th.  This live, rock-concert style show blasts popular music from a variety of Disney Channel hits, including the “High School Musical” series, “Camp Rock” and “StarStruck.”

Disney Dance Crew Preview Video

WDWNT Author on October 22, 2010

It seems Disneyland Entertainment has done it again, and not in a good way. The Disney Dance Crew held a preview showing at the Backlot stage. Take a look for your self…

Disney Parks Blog to Host ElecTRONica Meet-up

WDWNT Author on October 19, 2010

From the Disney Parks Blog:

ElecTRONica at Disney California Adventure Park

We’ve had a lot of fun with meet-ups for Toy Story Mania and “World of Color,” and we’ve received some great comments from fans who liked the events. I’ve spoken with many of you and the one request I’ve heard over and over is: “Do more and include more people!” I’ve also noticed that a lot of you are excited about the upcoming Disney film, “TRON: Legacy” and the new ElecTRONica experience at Disney California Adventure park.

So, today, I’m announcing a meet-up on October 28, 2010, for 3000 people at ElecTRONica (that’s 1500 RSVPs each valid for 2 people). Given the large amount of attendees, this will certainly be different from the first two.

Here are some of the highlights:

  • Access to Disney California Adventure park at 4 p.m. and exclusive access to an after-hours ElecTRONica experience from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on October 28. (The Park closes at 8 p.m. on October 28, and ElecTRONica normally runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays each week).
  • Opportunity to come decked out in your best TRON or TRON-inspired costume at this special event.
  • Signing opportunity with screenwriters for “TRON: Legacy,” Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz. (This will be limited to 200 people. You may sign up for this opportunity when you check-in for the event on October 28).
  • Opportunity to view select props and concept art from “TRON: Legacy.”
  • Commemorative Flynn’s Arcade coin made just for attendees of this meet-up.

To attend, RSVP to meetups@disney.go.com and follow these directions carefully:

  • All guests who RSVP for the event must be 18 years or older, but your guest does not need to be 18.
  • Valid RSVPs must include 1) “ElecTRONica Meet-Up RSVP” in the subject line and 2) your name in the body of the email. All RSVPs will be for the person who responds plus one guest.
  • Valid photo I.D. will be required at check-in.

We will send an email to those who send their valid RSVP before we reach capacity to confirm their attendance for October 28. Depending on your email settings, you may not receive the confirmation email, so we recommend that you also check the list of attendees on the Disney Parks Blog. We will give an update at the top of this post that will include a link to the list of names of all confirmed attendees. If you do not receive an email from us confirming your reservation and your name does not appear on the list of attendees, your RSVP was not accepted.

Please note the event is subject to change or cancellation.

I’m really excited about the event, and I look forward to meeting a lot more of you on October 28.

Note that this event is already full. Emails will be sent out to the attendees