More Details Emerge For DCA Entrance Makeover

From the LA Times:

An intense, 16-month construction project designed to transform the Disney California Adventure entryway from a nondescript strip mall into a circa-1920s Los Angeles streetscape will begin in earnest Jan. 4.

As part of an ongoing, $1.1 billion makeover, the sweeping and extensive reimagineering will wall off 4 acres of the main entrance between the C-A-L-I-F-O-R-N-I-A letters, Sunshine Plaza, Grizzly Peak and Hollywood Studios Backlot. The remade entryway, dubbed Buena Vista Street, will be designed to evoke the era when a young Walt Disney first arrived in Los Angeles.

After the winter holiday season ends, construction walls will go up around the iconic C-A-L-I-F-O-R-N-I-A letters Jan. 4 so that crews can turn the plaza area into Streamline Moderne turnstiles modeled after the former Pan-Pacific Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Read on over at the LA Times Website…

Myrna Litt’s 11/5 Photo Report

It’s once again time for a photo report from Mrs. Myrna Litt. She visited the Disneyland Resort yesterday as Christmas decorations have started to be put up:

Anyone know why there was a conductor in this restaurant’s train?

 Christmas decorations have started to be put up in Sunshine Plaza.

Scaff-holding is up around the Sun Wheel.

I absolutely love these construction walls at the bottom of the picture! An absolutely fantastic design choice.

Read More about Myrna Litt’s 11/5 Photo Report

Let The Good Times Roll!

Construction is about to begin at Disney’s California Adventure, according to Blue Sky Disney. Come this August, construction walls will be up all through-out Paradise Pier & other area of the park will follow.

Also while construction is underway in Paradise Pier, the parade route will be shortened & will only run from Sunshine Plaza to the gate in between the Mission Tortilla Factory & the Bountiful Valley Farmers Market.

Let The Good Times Roll!

MintCrocodile’s DLR Update

Our friend MintCrocodile has some great pictures of the Indiana Jones Summer of Hidden Mysteries (which debuted today), & a couple of things from DCA that I want to highlight here:


A look at the special guide-map for this event


Various “hidden secrets” in the Jungle Cruise & the Indiana Jones Adventure


A special picture opportunity has been set up


The Secret of the Stone Tiger show has replaced Aladdin’s Oasis


Another show with Indy & some bad guy takes place in the streets of Adventureland


Quickly moving over to DCA… The Sunshine Plaza Fountain is now back in operation


The second food stand by Toy Story Midway Mania is the be the Hot Dog Hut

You can find plenty more of MintCrocodile’s wonderful pictures at his SmugMug page!

MiceAge Picture Update

Let’s take a look at some various things going on through-out the Disneyland Resort from this week’s Dateline Disneyland, plus a special Friday edition of Monday in Parks on MiceAge:


The new railings for the Sunshine Plaza Fountain have been installed


A new sign has been installed at the Tomorrowland Monorail Station


A look at the drivers seat for the Mark VII Monorail


The exit waterfall rock work at the Subs is almost finished


Also, the green water hoses feeding the entry waterfall have been half-camouflaged with a covering that is similar to the cavern rock work

MitP Update

Here’s a few images from this week’s Monday in the Parks article on MiceAge:


The Small World facade is starting to go under tarps


Club 33 has re-opened from a short refurbishment


Half of the Bug’s Life float has returned to the Pixar Play Parade. This is all of the float!


The Sunshine Plaza fountain has gotten further in it’s refurbishment. It’s planned to be ready for the summer

I also wanted to note that the Innoventions Dream Home, which was originally supposed to open this month, has been pushed back due to construction issues. The open date is “To Be Determined”.

MiceAge DLR Rumor Update

The plans for the DCA renovations always keep changing, & the latest changes were reported today in Al Lutz’s latest column on MiceAge. We’ll also take a look at some other new stuff supposedly coming to Disneyland, & the resort as a whole:

  • The Walt Disney Story show that was supposed to of gone into the new Walt Disney Plaza has been dropped from the plans. Team Disney Anaheim’s idea behind this is that DCA already has too many shows, & too little good rides. So the last thing DCA needs is another new show! But the extravagant Carthay Circle Theater will still be built, but will only be a facade.
  • With the Walt Disney Story not happening, this now may have Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln being re-installed into the Opera House on Main Street.
  • When Sunshine Plaza is under refurbishment, the temporary entrance may now be the big gate right by Soarin’ Over California, instead of the Millionaire building. You can see exactly where this is by viewing this picture.
  • A water play area themed to King Triton is now planned to be put right next to the new Little Mermaid attraction.
  • The Ariels Grotto restaurant may be re-themed a general Princess restaurant, Princess Palace. The more modern sections of the current exterior of the restaurant would be made more “Princessy”.
  • Originally, the renovation plans for the Disneyland Hotel was to of had each building extensively refurbished, one at a time. Well now, TDA & WDI are looking to completely rip down the current Disneyland Hotel, & re-build it all from scratch!
  • This summer, a Indiana Jones stunt show should take place in Adventureland. We’re not sure if it will last past the summer though.
  • No new attractions are currently planned for the resort in 2009, except for the new It’s a Small World. So Disneyland Park will have a major entertainment themed ad campaign, which will include the proposed new Wonder day-time parade, a new ending to Remember… Dreams Come True, new effects added to Fantasmic, & get this… the return of the Main Street Electrical Parade!

For complete details on all of the things mentioned above & more, check out this MiceAge article!