Around the Resort & News from the Week
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaB5s4LlQWU
DJ’s Dance ‘N Drive Brings Music and Dancing to Cars Land
DJ, the tune spinning low rider from the Disney / Pixar move Cars is now making daily appearances in Cars Land at Disney California Adventure in “DJ’s Dance ‘N Drive”. DJ is literally a boom box on wheels, complete with neon lights, several sub-woofers and even simulated hydraulics. His CD changer, visible on the rear of the vehicle, plays a variety of songs such as, “Car Wash”, “Life is A Highway” and “Rock this Town” while dancers instruct the crowd in dance moves such as the Overdrive, the Reverse and the Hairpin Turn.
Disneyland released the dates and details for the 2012 Halloween Time Celebration, which will include “The Art of Frankenweenie Exhibition” at Disney California Adventure
Halloween Time Returns to the Disneyland Resort on September 14th
Disney Villanis, Mickey Mouse, and his friends will soon roam Disneyland in their Halloween costumes when Halloween Time returns to the Disneyland Resort starting September 14th. Over 300 unique pumpkins and a giant “Mickey” inspired jack-o-lantern will grace Main Street USA. Big Thunder Ranch will feature artistic pumpkin carvers and special activities, and two popular attractions will be transformed for the holiday.
Ghosts will once again take over Space Mountain, as the space adventure attraction in Tomorrowland will hurl riders into a haunted corner of the galaxy in Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy. In New Orleans Square, Jack Skellington will move back into the Haunted Mansion where guests can see what happens when Christmas and Halloween collide. The traditional Halloween and Christmas gingerbread house will return to the ballroom scene as well. Haunted Mansion Holiday will remain open through the Holiday’s and the first of the year. The current schedule has the Haunted Mansion closing on August 27th to begin the installation process.
Guests of Disney California Adventure will be treated to “The Art of Frankenweenie Exhibition” which will feature sketches, props, sets, and puppets from Tim Burton’s “Frankenweenie”, his latest animated film opening in theaters on October 5, 2012. The exhibit will also include a sneak peek of the movie.
It is incredible the level of detail that has gone into Cars Land and Buena Vista Street.
Just as you walk into Disney California Adventure and step foot onto Buena Vista Street you’ll find Oswald’s, an old time gas station. Inside of the shop, atop a shef, sits a small vintage radio. Walt Disney Imagineering wrote and recorded an old-time radio show which plays on that radio.
This past week, Disney released a behind-the-scenes video showing the production of the radio show.
Walt Disney Imagineering is testing out a new automated service for Disneyland! Guests can call 714-520-7090 and ask Otto about wait times, show times and Resort dining info. I have briefly tried this new service and for me it has worked great! When I called it asked me “What Can I Do For You” and I replied, “What is the wait time for Radiator Springs Racers”. The service came back almost immediately with a description of the ride, the current wait time (120 minutes) and it also told me “Fastpasses are no longer available”.
I was able to stump it with a character question and it transferred me to a Guest Service Cast Member for further assistance.
Over all, this seems like it has the potential to be an amazing service of the Disneyland Resort
Got a Disneyland Resort Question? Just ‘Ask Otto!’
From the Disney Parks Blog:
This summer, Disneyland Resort guests have a new way to get answers to many of their questions: Ask Otto! You can reach Ask Otto! at 714-520-7090*.
A test program by Walt Disney Imagineering, Ask Otto! is a voice-based guest service designed to answer frequently asked in-park questions, such as:
- Attraction locations, wait times**, and Disney’s FASTPASS Service return times**
- Park operating hours
- Parade, fireworks, “Fantasmic!”, “World of Color” show times
- Park food and beverage options, restaurant locations, and general dining information
Ask Otto! can also connect you to cast members in Disneyland Guest Information & Ticket Sales, Disney Dining (for dining reservations), Walt Disney Travel Company/Hotel Reservations, as well as the Disneyland Hotel Operator.
Disneyland also sent off the men’s and women’s USA Volleyball teams on the day they celebrated 57 years of magic!
USA Volleyball Teams Celebrated in Magical Send-Off at Disneyland Resort
From the Disney Parks Blog:
The place “where dreams come true” proved to be the perfect backdrop for the Anaheim-based men’s and women’s USA Volleyball teams, as they set out to make their dreams come true in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Showered in red, white and blue confetti, the athletes and coaches traveled down Main Street, U.S.A., in a cavalcade with Mickey and his pals. Park guests and Disneyland cast members cheered as the Disneyland Resort All-American College Band played “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes.”
We wish you luck, USA Volleyball, as you go for gold!
That’s going to do it for this week’s update. You can see the past updates here.
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