TLT Renovation

D23 has put up a couple of interesting things today that I want to share with everyone. First up, a great look at the Disney’s California Adventure renovation is provided in the Summer issue of Disney twenty-three magazine:

In the summer issue of twenty-three, Steven Clark and Jeffrey Epstein take readers on an exciting walk into the future of Disney’s California Adventure, revealing what Imagineers have in mind for park over the next four years. As you might expect, spectacular plans are unfolding — everything from a brand-new entryway and the majestic Carthay Circle Theatre to the spectacular World of Color nighttime extravaganza, the calypso under-the-sea beat of the new Little Mermaid attraction and an entirely new themed land that will be home to Lightning McQueen and his four-wheeled friends! Happy browsing!

Secondly, they have an interview with Disneyland Entertainment Productions Senior Show Director John Addis about the upcoming TLT Dance Club coming to the Tomorrowland Terrace this summer as part of Summer Nightastic:

If a hot nightspot inside Disneyland featuring today’s most popular music sounds like a familiar concept, you have something in common with Disneyland Entertainment Productions Senior Show Director John Addis.

“I opened Videopolis back in ’85,” John says, referring to the vibrant video dance club that once stood where the Princess Fantasy Faire now resides. “They packed the place. Kids would go and learn dances together.” John says they wanted to bring the concept into 2009, and the Tomorrowland Terrace, which has frequently featured contemporary performances throughout the years, was the perfect spot for the new TLT Dance Club (skywalkers-in-training, have no fear, Jedi Training Academy will continue during the day — TLT will heat up nightly from 7–11 p.m. starting June 12). “We’re going to have plasma screens in the venue, and you can actually text and your text messages will go up on the screen… I’m not quite sure how they’re going to police that,” he says with a laugh. Guests will also be able to text in their favorite song to a posted number. “At 8 o’clock at night they do ‘Celebrate at 8,’ and they will take all of the songs that everyone wants to hear and they’ll do a countdown to the No. 1 song.”

John also notes there will be a host who will keep the night grooving with games, trivia and trademarked Disney fun. Music, of course, will be the heart of TLT, with DJs from Southern California radio stations and local bands keeping things lively. “The asks are out, as they say,” jokes John about possible performers and DJs. “But I haven’t heard anything definite. I’m excited about the live music. Friday through Sunday we’re going to have live bands.”

The bands, notes Disney Entertainment Productions Producer Ray Coble, may be familiar to Disneyland-ers. “We’re welcoming bands that we use and know are very successful like the 80z All Stars and also looking at some new ones.”

Adds John, “I’d love to expose people to new groups. It’s great to have a new group come in, people follow them and suddenly… they’re Rascal Flatts!”

Does that mean Miley may turn up at TLT? “We’re looking into Hollywood Records and Disney Channel emerging artists — and maybe even some established recording artists — coming down during that Friday to Sunday time,” John hints. “What we’ve done is taken an area that needed to have some fun, and I think it’s going to!”

Tomorrowland Mess-Up

The final article dealing with the New Tomorrowland of 1998 is going to be an overview of all the changes made, not involving an entirely new attraction or exhibit. This one’s going to be quite big, so let’s get straight to it:


A look at the 1998 Tomorrowland sign (the Disneyland logo has since been removed)


The out-of-place, yet beautiful Astro Orbitor


Walt Disney’s Dedication of Tomorrowland


Star Tours received new decorations on its sign…


… And exterior. But that’s about it for Star Tours


All the Star Trader got was a gold trim


The Starcade remained pretty much the same (the upper floor has since been walled off to guest use)


The 1998 Tomorrowland Terrace Stage


In 2000, it was changed to Club Buzz, & then returned to the original Tomorrowland Terrace design in 2006


Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port replaced Mission to Mars (in the right-hand corner, you can see the 98 Space Mountain sign)


A look inside the restaurant


A new version of the Moonliner adorns the entrance to Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port


Cosmic Waves, the run-around water playground…


The spraying water was removed due to the seats in Honey, I Shrunk the Audience getting slightly damaged after wet visitors coming in


Space Mountain got a rather ugly new color scheme


The Autopia got a temporary new sign, before it was completely re-done into the version we have today in 2000


The Tomorrowland Train Station also got a new design

I truly hope you enjoyed the past week’s series on the New Tomorrowland of 1998. We’ll definitely be doing something like this again the next time a big anniversary comes around!