Disney fun with Sorcerer Tink

Photo Report: New Years at Disneyland

2012-01-03T11:21:00.000-08:00

A little foggy for the fireworks, but still fun

The Party begins

Happy New Year!!!

Harry Potter coming to California?

2011-12-01T11:42:00.001-08:00

The Wall Street Journal recently reported news that Universal Studios will be adding the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to their Hollywood park. It is to be a replica of the Orlando park at Universal's Islands of Adventure. This is very exciting news for those of us who cannot make the trip to Florida to see the current Wizarding World but are Harry Potter fans! It's nice to see Universal Studios expanding and making changes to keep interest in their parks.

The question that comes with this news is....what does this mean for the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim? Will this be a gauntlet thrown at the feet of Team Anaheim to continue the improvement of the Disneyland Resort as we have already seen, maybe with our own expansion of Fantasyland, refurbishement of Toontown, addition of E-ticket rides to Frontierland and/or Tomorrowland. Or maybe Team Anaheim will imagine bigger things for those of us that have supported the park where it all began and give us a third gate. Something that has been long rumored with Disney slowly acquiring land around the current resort property. This could be the one thing needed to finally push this idea to fruition. We have seen a lot of investment in the Anaheim property in the last few years, and the improvements were sorely needed, but hopefully they won't stop there.

Book Report: Theme Park Build: Behind the Scenes with an Engineer

2011-11-22T10:09:00.000-08:00

Theme Park Build, by Steve Alcorn, is a fun book for anyone interested in how a theme parks work and all the people involved.
The author was a engineer at Epcot during its construction, working on the American Adventure attraction and has his own theme park attraction design company so he knows what he's talking about.
The book does not get very technical at all so it does not require an engineering degree to read. He basically lists off all the people involved in designing and building an attraction and tells us what they do. We even get to follow along in the designing of a hypothetical attraction.
While I wish there was a little more detail into the design process, this book gives you a basic understanding of attraction design, all the people involved, an how their jobs are all intertwined.
All together a must read for anyone interested in learning some behind the scenes information about theme parks.

The Magic, the Memories, and You - Disneyland Premiere

2011-01-31T10:23:00.000-08:00

From insidethemagic.net, the premiere of "The Magic, the Memories, and You" on It's a Small World at Disneyland Park

Animated map of Disney California Adventure

2011-01-31T09:54:00.000-08:00

From Disney Parks Blog, an new animated map of Disney California Adventure Park on display in the Blue Sky Cellar

The Magic, The Memories, and You

2011-01-30T16:23:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of disboards.com, here is the premiere of "The Magic, The Memories, and You" on Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort's Magic Kingdom Park on January 18, 2011

500th Performance of World of Color Tonight!!!

2011-01-25T18:43:00.000-08:00

Tonight is the 500th performance of World of Color in Disney California Adventure's Paradise Bay, which according to Disney Parks Blog, over 2 million guests have seen since it opened June 11th, 2010

Disney Dream Christening Ceremony

2011-01-20T23:42:00.000-08:00

Ariel's Underseas Adventure preview

2011-01-20T23:36:00.000-08:00

The Disney Parks Blog released this behind the scenes look at the highly anticipated "Little Mermaid - Ariel's Undersea Adventure" at Disney California Adventure.

Mickey's Christmas Party coming to DLR?

2010-11-12T17:11:00.000-08:00

Al Lutz from Miceage recently reported what we have already suspected. Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland Park was a huge success. A lot of local annual passholders were upset at the increased cost associated with the hard ticket party, especially with it being the only way to view the wildly popular Halloween Screams fireworks show. But with the decreased crowds, especially on Main Street for the fireworks, where a lot of past traffic flow problems have occurred, Disney has shown that the party works. Having gone to one of the parties this year myself, I can say that while of course the cost is an issue, it is worth it for the trick or treating, atmosphere, and the ability to see Halloween Screams without being trampled.

Which of course begs the question: How long until they bring Mickey's Christmas Party to Disneyland Park? For the past 11 years, Disneyland has had the Believe in Holiday Magic fireworks. The past 16 years, they have had the Christmas Fantasy Parade. Both have been free with admision to the park, including the snow on Main Street after the fireworks. All hugely popular.

How hard would it be to create a hard ticket party including all these things. I guarantee they would be as popular, if not more so, than the Halloween parties. And let's not forget, Disney World has been having hard ticket Christmas parties at the Magic Kingdom for years involving pretty much all the things Disneyland has been giving away essentially for free: Fireworks, parade, snow on Main Street. It was bound to happen, and I wouldn't be surprised if we see a ticketed Christmas Party at Disneyland Park next year.

Disney Dream's Aquaduck

2010-11-09T22:04:00.000-08:00

Here is an animated video of the Disney Dream's new Aquaduck water-coaster

Neil Patrick Harris on California Screamin?

2010-11-08T20:30:00.000-08:00

Disney Parks Blog confirmed today that Neil Patrick Harris is the new voice on DCA's California Screamin'. He speaks like a boardwalk barker. First of all, umm...random...why Neil Patrick Harris? It isn't even his normal voice. Anyone could do that voice. And second, what was wrong with the "old" voice?

Disney Wedding Reception Decorations

2010-11-07T15:59:00.000-08:00

Thought we'd share some of the Disney-themed decorations from our recent wedding reception

Here is the guest book table. The guest book is a Disneyland autograph book. There was a camera for each guest to take a picture of themselves to put with their "autograph"

This is the Cinderella centerpiece

Beauty and the Beast centerpiece

Little Mermaid centerpiece

And for an added bonus...we found a hidden mickey in the chapel!!!

Christmas decorations have started going up at Disneyland Park

2010-11-04T22:22:00.000-07:00

No Food and Wine Festival at DCA

2010-11-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

Of course when we decided that we wanted to go to the Food and Wine Festival next year, DCA announces they are not going to have it in 2011 or 2012. Figures.
Disney Parks Blog announced today that, because of the expansion and construction coming to the entry and hub area, they will not have a Food and Wine Festival at least until Carsland opens in 2012. While, it is disappointing, it is nice to know they are not just going to cram it all in somewhere.

Talking Mickey dances hip hop

2010-10-31T22:34:00.000-07:00

Disney Dance Crew show debuted at DCA. Mickey makes an appearance in the show to bring together two "rival" dance crews, preforming a hip hop dance.

Not only is it strange to see Mickey dancing in his warmup suit, but it is not just any Mickey. It is the new talking Mickey, part of the Living Character Initiative, which can talk and blink just like a real-life character. I don't know about anyone else, but this seems like a waste of this incredible technology to stick it in this rediculous show, hidden in the back, mostly dead area of Hollywood Backlot at DCA. And from what I've heard, the talking Mickey isn't even used for the Meet and Greet after the show. He is switched out for a regular Mickey which is dressed the same.

I have seen the Mickey when he hosted the debut of World of Color at the media event. He is incredible! It's like Mickey is real. I realize Disney is trying to draw people to the Backlot are, but I don't see how Disney could not find a show for him that could highlight his new abilities. Just seems to be a waste to me.

Tron joins World of Color

2010-10-31T17:14:00.000-07:00

World of Color at DCA has started soft openings for its not-so-secret Tron encore. Videos have already been released. It looks awesome! And shows just how far they can go with the technology of the show, incorporating California Screaming, and how quickly it seems they were able to get it all together. I wouldn't be surprised to see more of these Encores in the future.

Disney Jack-o-Lanterns

2010-10-29T00:05:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share these awesome pumpkin carvings found in Big Thunder Ranch Halloween Roundup at Disneyland Park.

Yoda

Boo from Monster's Inc

Nemo and Dory from Finding Nemo

Woody from Toy Story

Evil Queen from Snow White

Dug and Carl from Up

Jack Jack and Dash From The Incredibles

Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland

Dumbo

Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty

Duffy the Disney Bear

2010-10-28T21:50:00.000-07:00

Duffy the Disney Bear is Mickey's stuffed bear. Minnie gave him to Mickey before he left for a long voyage. Duffy first made an appearance in the US at WDW, but failed to meet disney's expectations. When he was brought to Tokyo and Hong Kong, he became a major hit, prompting Disney to try him out in the US once again. Duffy can now be found at Epcot in WDW and Disney California Adventure in Anaheim with an assortment of costumes in the spirit of Build-a-Bear. He also has his own meet-and-greet in each park. The bears are sure to be hit with kids in both resorts, and I'll probably snatch one up when I visit WDW in a month.

C-3PO to pilot Starspeeder 1000!!!

2010-10-26T16:02:00.000-07:00

Tom Fitzgerald of Walt Disney Imagineering just announced that while Ace is supposed to be the pilot of the Starspeeder 1000, "by the time we actually take off, the droid sitting in the pilot's seat is none other than...C-3PO!"

Halloween Time at Disney Parks

2010-10-26T14:40:00.000-07:00

Halloween is one of those holidays, along with Christmas, that people
love to celebrate. A lot of people don't even know what the holiday
represents, but they like the fun that comes with decorating, dressing
up, and handing out and collecting candy.
Disney is no exception. This month they have been hosting Halloween
Time at the parks including Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland Park
and Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park.

At the parties, guests can dress up like on Halloween and go trick or

treating in the park. My family attended one of these parties at Disneyland Park and
absolutely loved it. We watched the Halloween Screams fireworks from a
great spot right in front of the castle. It was awesome! There were
characters everywhere to take pictures with, a lot of villains that
don't normally make an appearance.

And just the idea of going trick or treating in Disneyland made the night complete.

The one thing we were slightly concerned with was the costume choices
of some of the guests. The special event tickets specifically said the
costumes must be appropriate. The question becomes: What is
appropriate? One would assume that, Disneyland being what it is, a
family park, it would not be appropriate to where a skimpy costume
that barely covers anything. Yet we saw far too many Disney Princesses
with skirts so short their butts were hanging out and tops so low
their chests were hanging out. With kids all around and 2 young boys
with us, we were pretty appalled by some of the costumes. And cast
members didn't seem to care.

Star Tours 2 update

2010-10-26T14:30:00.000-07:00

The Disney Parks Blog recently released some pictures from April of
2009 when presumably the preride video was recorded. The pictures show
C-3PO and other Star Tours workers preparing the Starspeeder 1000 for
the upcoming trip.

Anthony Daniels was brought in to perform the scenes as C-3PO

Disney has previously released information about the new backstory of
the ride. It will take place between Episodes III and IV. With this
new timeline, we get an older version of the Starspeeder, the
Starspeeder 1000. Also, since it was Rex's first flight and was still
getting used to his programming, we get a new pilot, Ace.

We've also learned of a new droid, Aly San San, voiced by Allison Janney, who will presumably be the new flight attendant droid in the preboard informational video.

The other big news is the the new ride will have 54 different
variations. With different destinations, and different beginnings,
middles, and ends, it will truely be a different ride every time.

And of course, just like everything nowadays, the new ride will be in
3-D.

While I don't necessarily think the ride needs to be in 3-D, I love
that there are multiple variations and destinations, and the new
droids look awesome. I can't wait for Star Tours 2 to open and
definately plan on being there for the opening at Disneyland.

Welcome to the World of Disney!

2010-10-24T22:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the blog full of fun information, news, rumors, and of
course lots of opinions about all things Disney.

As a huge fan of Disney, I hope to share some insight into the world
of Disney with all of you...and have a little fun along the way.