Yesterday at Disney California Adventure, a unique opportunity arose. As I made my way over to the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, I noticed it was down. I walked up to the front and I noticed they were letting a few people inside. As I approached the bellhop, she said “Come in”. Inside they let us explore the lobby and library. We could really get close to these wonderful details that you would never notice on a normal day. Besides the up close experience, the bellhops did a great job conducting their tours describing facts and secrets. For instance, did you know that the couch and two chairs represent the ghostly inhabitants of that fallen elevator? The following are some photos I took. Unfortunately, I only had my phone, so the quality of the photos aren’t as nice as I would have hoped. Enjoy!
The Hollywood Tower Hotel
Registration
An antique case of cigars left behind from that fateful night.
The Registry (Signed by Imagineers who created the Attraction)
1939 Newspaper Details
A unique point of view of the lobby’s centerpiece.
Items to represent the ghostly Mother.
An antique lamp on the dinner table.
The guests left in a rush after the incident occurred.
This person was enjoying a cup of tea that night.
This person had a feeling something bad was going to happen. The occurrence happened right in the middle of her sentence.
This cup of tea belongs to the setting representing the ghostly maid who looks after the young starlet.
The maid’s setting.
A Shirley Temple doll left behind by the ghostly child. She didn’t forget her Mickey Mouse doll however!
This represents the ghostly Father from that night in 1939.
Today marks the 10th anniversary of one of the most popular attractions in all of the Disneyland Resort: “The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror”!
Opening 10 years after its original counterpart, the Tower of Terror possesses all the things that make a great Disney attraction. From every cob web to every leaky pipe, the details are fantastic.
I would now like to share with you a few photographs we have taken over the years showcasing the grand hotel in all its eerie glory.
This is an issue of Disney News which premiered for the opening of “Pirates of the Caribbean”. Featured is the Auctioneer and Big Blue from “Pirates”, but they look a little different, don’t they? These are not audio animatronics, but life-size static models, which Walt actually got to see! Walt was around for this life-size mockup of the entire auction scene. Where are these full figures today, I wonder?
Here is a new thing we are going to try out. Over the years, I have collected tons and tons of Disney photos from the internet, books, thrift shops, antique stores, ebay… So I thought that every week, I would post a picture I have collected.
Ready for the first photo? Here we go!
It All Started With a Mouse.
If you want to request that we post a photo of a certain attraction, character, film, or what have you, please let us know and we’ll do our best to please you.
This year’s D23 Expo has come to a close and boy was it a wonderful time. There was plenty to see and do throughout the three days. In this post, I will break down my favorite things that I experienced.
JOURNEY INTO IMAGINEERING:
This was by far my favorite thing in the entire expo. Imagineering set up a replica of their headquarters in Glendale. Inside, they had areas showcasing every aspect of Imagineering.
The pavilion began with a preshow video that was just incredible. At one point, doors open to reveal the Hatbox Ghost from The Haunted Mansion! It was very exciting to see him. Once the preshow was over, a different set of doors opened and you were free to do whatever you want.
The Hatbox Ghost in the Preshow Video
The first highlight of the pavilion was getting to see the concept model for a scene from Western River Expedition.
This attraction was to be on the same scale as Pirates of the Caribbean and was to be featured at Walt Disney World. But alas it never happened. Fans demanded their own version of Pirates of the Caribbean instead. This is probably the best attraction to never happen and to see a model up close really shows you how incredible it would have been.
Then came the Imagineering Art Library which held the two most famous art pieces in Disneyland history. To see these originals in person is a real treat.
The first was the drawing that Herb Ryman created of Disneyland so Walt could bring it to the bankers to fund Disneyland.
By Herb Ryman
The second was the painting that Walt Disney showcased on his Disneyland television show when he announced Disneyland.
This photo is of a copy of the original. The Peter Ellenshaw original was on display at D23.
The painting was done by Peter Ellenshaw and this was the first time it was available for the public to see. But the best part by far was when the lights dimmed down and black lights came on to show Disneyland at night. Ellenshaw painted over all the windows, lanterns, and other things that give off light with special black light paint to give the feeling of night time at Disneyland. It was something I will never forget.
Then came the area about audio animatronics. The first thing one notices is a replica of the Hatbox Ghost from the Haunted Mansion!
He was built off of the same animatronic skeleton used for the Auctioneer in Pirates and he moved so fluently. He even breathed! Let’s hope one day they bring him back.
Also in that area, they had the barker bird from Walt Disney World’s Pirates of the Caribbean and guests were able to control his movements!
The other highlight for me from this area was the animatronic heads of two different Pirates of the Caribbean. Can you tell which Pirates they are?
The next highlight for me was seeing the original statues from Snow White’s Grotto at Disneyland.
The statues were replaced with replicas in 1982 as weather conditions started to take its toll on the originals. It was really great seeing these up close.
Next came my favorite piece in the pavilion. They had Abraham Lincoln’s animatronic head from Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
This is one of the current heads being used, which has more lifelike functions than any animatronic ever created. And the head would even talk!
But then there is El Fortuno!
El Fortuno is the most sophisticated and realistic audio animatronic ever created. Not only does he move more realistically than any other animatronic ever created, but he makes eye contact with you also! He is performed by a live actor and his movements are being copied in real time. I was in awe looking at him.
Other things throughout the pavilion I loved seeing were concept models for The Land and Spaceship Earth.
Concept Model of The Land Pavilion at Epcot.
The interior of The Land concept model.
Concept model for Spaceship Earth at Epcot.
Another fun thing that they did inside the pavilion was a scavenger hunt called the Adventure Trading Co. It was all Adventureland themed, and you would get a telegram with instructions on it. You had to go throughout the expo (and even at one point to Trader Sam’s) and finish the tasks given. Afterwards you would be given a trinket called a juju. All the juju’s look really neat and many of them reference different Disney attractions. The game was there to be tested to see if it would do well at Disneyland. I think it would do well. It was awfully fun and very addicting.
The jujus we collected.
PANELS:
The first panel that I saw at D23 this year was about the creation of Mystic Manor at Hong Kong Disneyland.
Albert the Monkey from Mystic Manor was on Display!
They went over every scene from the attraction and showed video on how they created it. For those that don’t know, Mystic Manor is Hong Kong Disneyland’s own version of the Haunted Mansion. It opened this year, and I’m in love with it. Let’s hope one day I will be able to see it in person.
The next panel I saw of the Voices of the Parks, which is always my favorite panel.
Corey Burton and Mark Silverman meet fans after the panel.
This year featured the return of voice actors Mark Silverman (Rod Serling in the Tower of Terror), Corey Burton (Your Ghost Host in the Haunted Mansion Holiday), BJ Ward (The voice of the Peoplemover), and Bill Rogers (The Voice of Disneyland). Along with them, we got a few new voice actors including a couple of the spanish speaking spiel voices! They were all really great and funny. But as we only had one hour with these voice actors, it seemed too short. Where other panels seem to drag, the voice panel always seems to not have enough time.
The final panel that I saw was called Working with Walt. This panel featured Imagineers, Marty Sklar, Bob Gurr, Alice Davis, and X. Atencio. It was a real joy to hear their personal stories about working with Walt Disney and creating the best attractions known to man. My favorite part was when Atencio sang Yo Ho. X. Atencio wrote the entire script for Pirates and Haunted Mansion. I’d say he’s a real talent!
Alice Davis and X. Atencio
IN THE ARENA:
Saturday night I saw something really special. They put on a live concert featuring Richard Sherman and Alan Menken.
It was incredible seeing these two legends perform all their classic Disney hits. Richard Sherman had the moment of the night for me, when he played Feed the Birds. He got a huge standing ovation after that one. Also, when Sherman performed Spoonful of Sugar, BJ Novak and Jason Schwartzman came out to sing along. They play the Sherman Brothers in the upcoming film Saving Mr. Banks.
The night was capped off by Sherman and Menken performing A Whole New World and it’s a small world together. It was a night I will never forget.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Overall, it was a very successful D23. I did think the layout was a bit odd and more confusing than it was in years past and I wasn’t too impressed with anything besides the Imagineering pavilion. But even though, it was still worth it. Also it sure was crowded the entire time. The biggest lines being to shop at the stores inside. I heard people waited 6 hours to go to the Disney store! What could one possibly need that bad?
But the 2013 D23 Expo really was special, as it is every year. They do an excellent job by letting you in to the creating process of their work and it is something you can’t take for granted. I never thought in a million years I would be able to see some of the stuff that I saw this year. Thank you Disney for putting all of this together.
With the D23 Expo 2013 only two days away, I wanted to give some advice and recommendations about how to enjoy your time at the Anaheim Convention Center.
First off, arrive early. If there is a panel that you are interested in seeing, make sure you are there early. Be there maybe 2 hours early. If you are interested in the Walt Disney Studios presentation which is Saturday at 10:30am, I recommend getting in line as early as possible. Lines will begin to form at 5am and that’s when you should be there if you want to see this one.
Now I know I get a bit overwhelmed with the whole event because there is so much I want to see and do, but just take a breath and have fun. Just know you can’t see everything, but you’ll still have a wonderful time. There will be plenty of exhibits and vendors to enjoy for hours on end and you will be sure to get into a panel or two.
The following are panels and presentations that I would like to see:
1. Mayhem, Mischief, and Monkeys: The Magic of Mystic Manor – A panel discussion about Hong Kong Disneyland’s newest attraction inspired by the Haunted Mansion. – Friday August 9th at 10:30am
2. Undiscovered Disneyland – Tony Baxter and Josh Shipley will present never before seen footage from Disneyland dating back to the 1950s. – Friday August 9th at 12:30pm
3. Voices of the Disney Parks – The people that bring Disney Parks to life with their voices will be there to discuss and share stories. – Saturday August 10th at 2:00pm
4. Richard M. Sherman and Alan Menken: The Disney Songbook – These two Disney Legends will be performing many of their classic pieces. – Saturday August 10th at 6:30pm
5. Walt Disney Imagineering’s 60th: Working with Walt – Disney Imagineers from Walt’s era will discuss what it was like to work with the man himself. – Sunday August 11th at 9:30am
6. Walt Disney Imagineering’s 60th: Craft of Creativity – CurrentDisney Imagineers will discuss what it is like to work as an Imagineer. – Sunday August 11th at 1:00pm
Those are all the panels I am going to try and see this upcoming weekend. For a full schedule of events, click the link below:
A week ago, the all new Disney California Adventure opened its gates to the public!
Waiting for the Gates to Open!
We decided to make our way down to the park around 1am to get in line for the opening. Along with many others, we slept all night in between Disneyland and DCA. What fun is that! A Disneyland sleep over! There was a huge screen which displayed promos for the upcoming Buena Vista Street and Cars Land.
Sleeping Over
Our Big Screen Nightlight
Around 8am, they finally let us in! Upon entering its gates on an overcast morning, we were treated to an incredible sight. The all new Buena Vista Street!
It’s Open!
Buena Vista Street is a beautiful addition to Disney California Adventure with details around every corner. Whether it’s the Five & Dime store, Elias & Company, or the Chamber of Commerce building, you will be in awe.
Five & Dime
Mortimer’s Market
Oswald’s Gas
Of course, motion is in effect in the new DCA. The Red Car Trolley made its way down the street complete with newsies singing their song. It was so fun to finally see the trolleys in action.
All Aboard the Red Car!
Clank, clank, clank with the Trolley!
Near the end of Buena Vista Street, the new Storytellers statue featuring a young Walt and Mickey was finally unveiled. It’s an incredible work of art. Make sure you look all the way around the statue for the subtile details, especially on the suitcase!
Storytellers
Partners Forever!
Buena Vista Street ends with the new Carthay Circle Theatre which is a restaurant and lounge. Inside, I was shocked to see the amount of elegance and history. It was as if I had gone back in time to the 1930s and I was in high society, dining with the Hollywood elite. Entering Carthay Circle Theatre is one of the best examples of time travel Disney has ever given.
Carthay Circle Theatre at Night!
Food and Drinks in the Lounge!
After walking down Buena Vista Street, we headed for Cars Land. Wow. I can’t believe the amount of detail the imagineers put into this place. It’s incredible. The best part about the new land is the mountain range. It’s shocking to believe you are in the middle of Anaheim, California with this beautiful huge mountain range. I was so surprised by the shear size and beauty of the range. I must admit that I was a bit worried that it was looking a bit flat from the areas that you could see while under construction. But boy was I wrong. I really can’t wait to go back and just look at everything.
We are in Radiator Springs!
Beautiful Landscaping
Some of the Best Rock Work I Have Ever Seen
The Waterfall is a Great Highlight!
Walking down the main street in Radiator Springs brings back memories from Disney/Pixar’s Cars. Every detail is here. Ramone’s is here. Luigi’s is here. Flo’s Cafe is here. It looks exactly like the movie and not one detail is missing.
Ramone’s!
Luigi’s!
Flo’s!
At the end of the land is the grand new attraction, Radiator Springs Racers. This ride has the same vehicle as the cars in Epcot’s Test Track, but that’s the only similarity. You begin your journey by taking a cruise through the incredible mountain range and coming right up along side a beautiful waterfall. Soon you are in doors and parts of your favorite “Cars” moments are brought to life through the wonders of audio-animatronics. These are some of the best animatronics to date. The way they move is so fluent and natural. I couldn’t believe it. I never would have thought that bringing an animated film to life could be accomplished this well. Near the end of the interior section, you line up with another car and get ready to race. After a countdown, you are off! You are zooming through that great mountain range, making your way to the finish line. It’s awfully fun to see who is going to win. You never know who it will be. Finally, you enter Taillight Caverns and you exit your vehicle.
Radiator Springs Racers
The Race is On!
Radiator Springs Racers is a great E Ticket attraction. It combines thrill with detail only Disney knows how to do. The only thing that didn’t meet my expectations was Taillight Caverns. I had hoped that there would be lots of detailed caves with waterfalls that we would see on our journey. Unfortunately, the caves are only at the ride’s exit. Still, it’s a wonderful ride.
Part of the Excellent Interior
At night, a new sort of magic is in the air in Cars Land. Just like in the movie, 1950s music plays and each building’s lights come on, one at a time. It’s a special moment and the neon is remarkable. They do this every night, so be sure to be in Cars Land at dusk, right before they turn the lights on!
Cozy Cone at Night
Ramone’s at Night
Flo’s at Night
This is just the beginning of what’s new at Disney California Adventure. In part two, we will discuss the other new Cars Land Attractions, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree and Luigi’s Flying Tires, we will discuss a sit down dining experience at Carthay Circle Theatre, and we will also talk about the interiors of all the Buena Vista Street buildings, among other things.
Part Two will include a review of Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree!
And a Review for Luigi’s Flying Tires!
Disney California Adventure has always been a great park to me. It did have its problems, but now those problems have been fixed. It is an excellent park that Disney should be proud of. Just think of the great things you can do there now. Walk down Buena Vista Street and see what Los Angeles was like to a young Walt Disney. Enjoy a delicious meal at Carthay Circle Theatre. Take flight on Luigi’s Flying Tires. Zoom through the mountains of Radiator Springs. These are just some of the things you can do at the all new DCA. I can’t wait to go back and experience it for years to come.
Remember: Keep an eye open for Part Two of our DCA Grand Re-Opening Coverage!
After a lengthy refurbishment, the Matterhorn as returned to thrill guests of the Magic Kingdom!
The Mountain is Back!
The biggest change were the bobsleds themselves. No longer will passengers be able to sit in the lap of a loved one. Each seat is individual now. Unfortunately, the single seats are very small. I’m only 5’10” and I had a hard time being comfortable inside. With the old bobsleds, I could extend my legs all the way. But I assume the bobsleds are safer now which is always a good thing.
The All New Bobsleds
Once inside the Mighty Matterhorn, you will notice an updated audio system. The roar of the abominable snowman is booming now. It really makes you fear for what you know is coming. The abominable snowman for the first time really scared me. I loved it. Also, since the audio is so loud, we can once again hear the roar throughout Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. I have always loved hearing that while walking through the park. When we see the abominable snowman himself, you will notice some lighting changes to really amplify his presence. He looks great.
The Abominable Snowman
Now we all know that the Matterhorn was repainted during this refurbishment and it looks amazing. This is the best I have ever seen the Matterhorn look. There are wonderful contrasts and details of snow throughout the mountain.
Looks Great!
Now for a blast from the past! Once again, there are people scaling the mountain! It is a great sight to see these people swinging down the majestic peak. To go along with the Matterhorn climbers, there is also a yodeler! A man stands on the edge of the mountain and yodels while playing an accordion! At one point, I also saw him blow that giant horn that swiss people do. RICOLA!
Preparing for their Descent
Can You Find the Yodeler?
How about now?
So while the new bobsleds themselves are a bit of a let down, the attraction looks better than ever. It is a classic Disney attraction in every sense of the word and it really deserved this lengthy refurbishment. With the return of the climbers and yodelers, the Matterhorn is really back as the king of the Disneyland Mountain Range!
