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BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: HANNAH MONTANA'S MILEY CYRUS
ANAHEIM, CA (August 21, 2008)
When the world's most popular teenager turns
'Sweet 16,' it's cause to
celebrate. And when that teen is Miley Cyrus - star
of Disney's "Hannah Montana"
- there's no better place to celebrate than
at a Disney Park.
To honor the occasion and Miley's philanthropic
passion, Disneyland Resort in California has created
"Miley's Sweet 16 - Share The
Celebration," an unforgettable event for Miley and
her fans that also will serve to recognize Youth Service America
and help drive awareness of the need for youth volunteerism.
The Hollywood-style bash is planned for Sunday, Oct. 5, from 6
to 11 p.m., with ticket sales limited to 5,000 fans.
Tickets, priced at $250, go on sale at 9 a.m. PDT, Saturday,
Aug. 30, at www.disneyparks.com/miley.
For Miley, the birthday bash is a once-in-a-lifetime event and
she plans to make new Disney theme park memories during the
evening. "I only turn 16 once, so it's
going to be an awesome party with my favorite rides, hanging out
with friends, fireworks and more," she said.
"I'll even get to sing a couple
songs."
The evening will celebrate Miley's career as a
Hollywood Records solo musical artist and as the
"secret pop star" she portrays on the
wildly popular Disney Channel series, "Hannah
Montana."
Miley's Sweet 16 at Disneyland will feature a medley
of party elements, large and small, that will allow guests to
join in the celebration of Miley's magical milestone.
Special Party Zones will highlight the music and fun of Miley
and Hannah Montana with themed activities and entertainment.
Some of Miley's favorite attractions will be open in
each Party Zone, and the party will end with a bang as fireworks
fill the Disneyland sky.
Sharing the Celebration with Youth Service America
In addition to all the birthday fun, Miley's Sweet 16
will shine a spotlight on Youth Service America, an organization
that seeks to improve communities by increasing the number and
diversity of young people, ages 5 to 25, serving as volunteers.
(For more information, visit www.YSA.org.)
In keeping with Mile's passion for youth
volunteerism, Disney Parks will make a significant contribution
to Youth Service America.
With the organization's involvement in
"Miley's Sweet 16 - Share The
Celebration," Miley said she hopes that other young
Americans will be encouraged to volunteer in their own
hometowns.
"The best part of the party is we're going
to recognize some really cool kids from Youth Service America
who are giving back to their community," she said.
"That's so awesome because I think
it's really important for kids like us to
volunteer."
For More Party Information
For ongoing information about "Miley's
Sweet 16 - Share The Celebration" party at Disneyland
Park in California, as well as details on how to obtain tickets,
fans may go to www.disneyparks.com/miley for details.
DISNEYLAND PREPARES TO OPEN SLEEPING BEAUTY CASTLE WALKTHROUGH
July 17, 2008 -- ANAHEIM, CA The interior of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland will open in time for the December holiday season, offering guests a "reawakened" version of its classic walkthrough presentation kissed with vibrant scenes of Aurora, her charming prince, the evil Maleficent and other characters from the beloved fairy tale film. "It is fitting that we are announcing the return of a classic on the 53rd anniversary of Disneyland," said Tony Baxter, Senior Vice President of Creative Development for Walt Disney Imagineering, who unveiled a model of the castle on July 17, the birthday of Disneyland park. Next year marks the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney's "Sleeping Beauty," and the excitement generated by the anniversary of the motion picture spurred interest in the return of the Disneyland attraction. Also celebrating the milestone 50th Anniversary of "Sleeping Beauty" is Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, which will release a two-disc Platinum Blu-ray. Hi-Def disc, making "Sleeping Beauty" the first Walt Disney animated classic title to be released in high definition, as well as on two-disc Platinum DVD. A bonus feature on the new release will be "The Original Sleeping Beauty Walk-Through Attraction With Walt Disney Imagineering," an immersive experience recreating the original castle walkthrough. On April 29, 1957, nearly two years before the premiere of Walt Disney's animated feature "Sleeping Beauty," the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough opened with an in-park ceremony featuring Walt Disney and actress Shirley Temple who, some 20 years earlier, had presented Disney with his special Academy Award - one Oscar and seven little ones - for "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." The crafting of the 1957 walkthrough show fell to Walt Disney Imagineer Ken Anderson and animation art director and color stylist Eyvind Earle, credited with giving the motion picture "Sleeping Beauty" the distinctive and colorful look of storybook illustrations in medieval style. An entirely new look appeared in 1977 when the attraction's redesign featured miniature dioramas, including moving figurines similar to the window displays in the shops on Main Street, U.S.A. When the attraction is unveiled later this year, the "show" will differ from the dioramas of the 1980s and '90s, returning to the unique style of the original 1957 show and motion picture. Enhanced with new scenes and special effects magic, the re-Imagineered attraction will employ technology not available in the 1950s to represent scenes from the story of Sleeping Beauty, including the magic of good fairies Flora, Fauna and Merryweather, and the more sinister spells of the evil Maleficent. For the first time, guests who are unable to climb stairs or navigate the passageways of the Castle will be able to experience the walkthrough "virtually" in a special room on the ground floor of the Castle.
IT'S THE HOME OF YOUR DREAMS!! INNOVENTIONS DREAM HOME ANAHEIM, Calif. - June 16, 2008 -- Imagine a home so perfectly attuned to the needs of a family that it can anticipate and fulfill them, virtually without anyone lifting a finger. Now imagine that the home offers family members high-tech connectivity, not just with one another but with people, entertainment and information in the world at large. Guests at Disneyland can soon do more than imagine it. Beginning June 17, the Innoventions Dream Home in Tomorrowland is bringing that world to life as a limited number of guests have the opportunity to preview the home. The Innoventions Dream Home is both a show and a showcase, offering guests of all ages a hands-on experience with new in-home technologies, some that are practical and some that are astounding. Microsoft, HP, Life|ware and homebuilder Taylor Morrison have joined with Disneyland Resort to demonstrate how a connected digital lifestyle can simplify and enhance many aspects of daily family life. "We're thrilled to open the Innoventions Dream Home with the help of our partners," said Ed Grier, president of the Disneyland Resort. "We are confident our guests will find new ways to connect to their world in this immersive, entertaining experience." The experience includes guest interaction with the residents of the Dream Home - the fictional Elias family - who will be excited to welcome all guests into their new home at the end of June. Members of the family move from room to room, utilizing the technology as they prepare for a big celebration. Guests who enter the Dream Home can observe and play with all its comforts, including:
"It's both 'high-tech' and 'high-touch,'" said Greg Atkins, writer and director for the free-form Innoventions Dream Home experience. "We'll be showcasing technology that connects families to each other, their home, the surrounding community and the world. And many of the innovative things our guests will be playing with are actually available today." Also new in the Innoventions building are five Neighborhood Shows - educational entertainment presented in the ring area of the first floor. The interactive shows opening June 17 are presented by ABC Television, homebuilder Taylor Morrison and Yamaha Music. Honda and Southern California Edison will open shows later this summer. The user-friendly technology of the Innoventions Dream Home is on display from the moment guests approach the entrance to "360 Tomorrowland Way" (a whimsical reference to the circular "carousel" structure of the Innoventions building). Each room offers new experiences and surprises. Front Yard A member of the Elias family greets guests as they approach the front door of the Dream Home. Today, the family member announces, everyone is invited to visit as the family prepares a party to celebrate younger son Robbie's amazing soccer goal, which earned his team a victory in the Nationals and a spot at the International Soccer Championships in China. The Front Yard also introduces guests to the ease, function and connectivity of the Dream Home. With the touch of a button, the family can change the outside appearance of the Dream Home. Today, they'll be decorating for Robbie's celebration, but they can also easily decorate for the holidays. The Dream Home "recognizes" members of the Elias family as they enter the home. The dog door even recognizes the family dog! Foyer & Great Room Upon entering the Dream Home, guests may explore on their own in several directions. Whichever direction they choose, they will enter through the Foyer and Great Room, which showcases many of the connected personal features of the home. As the Dream Home notes the presence of individual members of the Elias family, the surroundings in the Great Room - pictures on the walls, music in the sound system - automatically adjust to the preferences of the family member who is in the room. At the Grand Piano in one corner, a would-be virtuoso can take a master class from a teacher on the other side of the country. Technology lets the teacher do a full demonstration, complete with technique, on the Dream Home piano. In the center of the room, next to the family's easy chairs and ottomans, is a "coffee table book" that is actually an interactive touch screen with content from the library. The book will display the original manuscript of "Alice in Wonderland." Guests and Elias family members can turn the pages of the book simply by touching the screen. Kitchen Like most kitchens, the Elias family Kitchen is more than just a place to prepare food. It's where the calendar is kept, and where family photos and works of art are displayed. New technology enables all of this, with a virtual bulletin board that posts all the latest messages about soccer schedules, along with digital photos and versions of the kids. hand-drawn creations. Since this Dream Home Kitchen is fully interconnected, appliances can "talk" to one another. So can the grocery items! If Mrs. Elias puts a bag of flour on the counter, the computer voice of "Lillian" will provide recipes and instructions to prepare the meals. If ingredients are missing or out-of-date, the interconnected pantry and refrigerator will share the information and create a shopping list on the virtual bulletin board. Dining Room Like most families, the Elias family gathers around the dinner table to discuss the day's events, and the day of Robbie's soccer victory has been a special one. The Dining Room table is a large interactive surface, inlayed with computers, and when the family sets down their mobile phones on the table, photos and videos spill across the screens. Then the family can interact with, view and enlarge the images with a simple touch. The Dining Room table can also be used to create art, do homework, and assemble video puzzles - with multiple family members all at once. A Dining Room memory cabinet displays photos and art appropriate to any occasion, triggered by objects placed on its shelf. Family Room/Home Office The entertainment center in the Dream Home Family Room is a movie lover's dream. With the touch of a button, the room transforms into a state-of-the-art home theater. The curtains close, the lights adjust, the 7.1 surround sound kicks in, and the 100-inch television screen comes to life with one of the movies stored in the Media Center. Across the room is the Home Office, with desk and chair inspired by the classic design of Walt Disney.s own Studio office. Here, Elias family members can attend to the business of the day, including communication with the Chinese soccer team that will meet Robbie's team when it arrives for the contest. A 3-D Printer enables the Chinese hosts to send a congratulatory three-dimensional gift directly to the Elias home. Teen Daughter's Room At her desk, the Elias family daughter can connect with friends or her favorite entertainment. As she develops new interests, she can easily change the photos and posters in her room. But she may be spending much of her time in front of the Magic Mirror, a virtual mirror that projects accessories, hairstyles and the clothes from her closet onto her reflection, fitting the styles to her body so that she can try out different "looks" as she prepares for her brother's party. Tip: Watch as she holds the dress up for consideration. The virtual skirt even sways as she twirls around! Younger Son's Room Robbie has a room that would be the envy of any adventurous kid. His bed is a pirate ship, complete with onboard cannon. In the manner of all great Disney attractions, the room combines the latest technology with classic storytelling. When a family member takes a seat by the bed and begins to tell the story of Peter Pan, the story jumps off the pages. Everyone in the room is immersed in the story with special effects, including video that appears on the ship's sail and the surrounding walls. Tinker Bell may even breeze past some of the room's fixtures, causing them to shake and tinkle. The bed-cannon can shoot holes through the virtual clouds, just like the cannon on Captain Hook's ship. Backyard, Courtyard & Party Tent When guests exit the house and make their way into the Courtyard and Backyard, they'll find that even the barbecue and outdoor decor feature the latest technology, including a flat-screen monitor that can dispense barbecuing instructions. Inside the Party Tent, guests who want to "build" their own virtual Dream Home can get even more hands-on experiences with the fascinating applications on display in the Innoventions Dream Home.
TO INFINITY AND BEYOND! DISNEY PARKS AND NASA SEND Cape Canaveral, Fla., May 31 2008 -- It's a dream come true for Buzz Lightyear as Disney Parks and NASA have launched the 12-inch-tall action figure "to infinity and beyond!" Buzz Lightyear blasted off aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-124 May 31. Liftoff from Kennedy Space Center was at 5:02 p.m. ET. With the spectacular launch, Buzz's dream of going "to infinity and beyond" finally became reality. With the help of the crew, he will fly in zero gravity inside the International Space Station as part of NASA's "Toys in Space" initiative. Through this program, Buzz will help introduce fun elements from space into science and math classrooms across the country. With Buzz launched the aspiration of millions of school children who dream of space travel. STS-124 coincides with the kickoff of the Space Ranger Education Series -- part of NASA's "Toys in Space," an educational program for teachers and students. The program builds on NASA's educational goals of encouraging students to pursue studies in science, technology and mathematics (STEM) subjects, which are vitally important in sustaining U.S. economic competitiveness and technological leadership. Developed by Disney and NASA, "Toys in Space" features materials for educators to download and integrate into their classroom curriculum as well as online, educational games linked to each key component of the mission. The series, hosted at www.nasa.gov, will be available throughout 2008. "NASA is excited to help students understand the science and engineering currently underway on the International Space Station," said Dr. Joyce Winterton, NASA assistant administrator for Education. "The educational games and resources from this partnership will allow students to explore the science and math behind space exploration with a beloved character." Buzz's groundbreaking mission into space also coincides with the launch of his latest debut on Earth in Toy Story Mania!, Disney Parks new attraction that opens May 31 at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and June 17 at Disneyland Resort in California. "The Space Ranger Education Series will give teachers an opportunity to incorporate a fun and engaging moment into the classroom with a character that children really love," said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "We're pleased to join NASA in creating a program that can help keep kids excited about math and science." Buzz's Space Itinerary Buzz will spend several months in space at the International Space Station (ISS) testing the limits of zero gravity before returning home to a hero's welcome at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida later this year. While in space, Buzz will participate in an experiment flying in zero gravity and appear in a video downlink from the ISS. The Space Shuttle Discovery mission STS-124 travels with seven astronauts to install Kibo's large Japanese Pressurized Module (JPM) and the lab's robotic arm system. For additional information about the educational series and NASA programs, guests may visit www.nasa.gov.
INDIANA JONESTM VENTURES TO DISNEYLAND PARK ANAHEIM, Calif. - May 21, 2008 -- After rescuing the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail from the forces of evil, returning the Sankara Stones to their rightful place, and battling sinister foreign agents to find a mysterious Crystal Skull, what's INDIANA JONES going to do next? He's going to Disneyland! Beginning May 22, deep in the heart of Adventureland - not far from the treacherous Temple of the Forbidden Eye, home to the heart-pounding Indiana Jones Adventure attraction - the daring Dr. Jones will take Disneyland Park guests on a thrilling series of exploits in the season-long INDIANA JONES SUMMER OF HIDDEN MYSTERIES. Guests will be invited to become archaeologists, to interact with Indy himself and to journey deep into exotic jungles to unscramble clues, all the while learning what life is like for one of the greatest adventure heroes of all time. Among the highlights of the INDIANA JONES SUMMER OF HIDDEN MYSTERIES, created by Disneyland Entertainment in partnership with Lucasfilm Ltd.:
Indiana Jones Attraction Redefined The "E-Ticket" Experience In addition to the special events offered throughout the INDIANA JONES SUMMER OF HIDDEN MYSTERIES, the Indiana Jones Adventure - Temple of the Forbidden Eye attraction continues to thrill guests daily - more than 95 million of them since its opening in 1995. The Indiana Jones Adventure comes to life in an expedition through the fabled Temple of the Forbidden Eye, mysteriously hidden deep within the dense jungles of India. Look for action and thrills around every corner in this Disneyland guest-favorite where guests, boarding well-worn WWII troop transports, embark on what appears to be a standard archaeological tour. Built long ago in tribute to the powerful deity Mara, the temple was rediscovered by Dr. Jones and his expedition team. According to temple lore, Mara could "look into your very soul," and then grant the "pure of heart" one of threemagical gifts: unlimited wealth, eternal youth or future knowledge. However, the ancient legend also issues a stern warning: "A terrible fate awaits those who gaze upon the eyes of Mara!" Dr. Jones would only say, "Records indicate that many have come... but few have returned." Prior to boarding, guests are instructed by Indy's longtime friend Sallah to look away from the eyes of Mara. He also asks them to keep an eye out for Indy, who entered the temple but has been missing from the expedition. For those who dare look into the eyes of Mara, their journey takes a perilous twist. Their vehicles encounter clouds of smoke, fire, bubbling lava pits, ominous steam vents, a crumbling ceiling - even an "up close" confrontation with Mara. Legend says that Mara vaporizes the "unworthy" with beams of fire and other horrors such as screaming mummies, horrible bugs and rodents, snakes and poisonous darts. Explorers discover even more surprises around every bend in this subterranean world where, just like in the blockbuster movies, escape is only temporary as they traverse a shaking suspension bridge, suffer an avalanche of creepy crawlies and face a gigantic rolling ball which threatens to flatten them and their vehicle. The journey is set apart by the fact that Disneyland Park guests never experience the same ride twice.
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NEW FUN AND ADVENTURES ARRIVE AT DISNEYLAND RESORT FOR ANAHEIM, Calif. - March 20, 2008 -- Innovative new attractions and colorful, new live entertainment are coming to the Disneyland Resort this spring and summer to entertain guests during The Year of a Million Dreams. Friends from the lively and fun worlds of Disney*Pixar movies and Playhouse Disney television shows will bring two new entertainment acts to Disney's California Adventure park beginning March 14, when both "Pixar Play Parade" and "Playhouse Disney Live on Stage!" premiere. Opening this summer are the new "Toy Story Mania!" attraction, a fun-filled adventure at Disney's California Adventure, and the "Innoventions Dream Home" at Disneyland. Visitors will get to play along with Disney*Pixar characters in "Toy Story Mania!" - an amazing new attraction that features the next level of interactive technology. "Toy Story Mania!" is scheduled to open in June on the Paradise Pier midway, featuring a larger-than-life Audio-Animatronics Mr. Potato Head who will deliver a zany performance with the voice of famous comedian Don Rickles. Guests will don 3-D glasses and hop into fancifully decorated "Toy Story Mania!" vehicles. While riding along a colorful, midway-themed route, they will take aim at animated targets using their own spring-action shooters, scoring points in a series of energetic, fun gaming sequences featuring Woody, Bo Peep and the rest of the gang from Toy Story. Also in Disney's California Adventure, characters from Disney*Pixar motion pictures such as Toy Story, a bug's life, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars and Ratatouille will dance onto the parade route and invite guests of all ages to join in the "Pixar Play Parade," a whirling, spinning, fun-for-all animated playground, brought to life in giant parade floats, puppetry, acrobatics and interactive surprises including bubble and water effects. Over in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot area of Disney's California Adventure, a cast of friends from the Disney Channel's hit "Playhouse Disney" programs will appear in an all-new "Playhouse Disney Live on Stage!" show. As Mickey Mouse and his pals from "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" plan a birthday celebration for Minnie Mouse, they will encounter helpful characters from "Little Einsteins," "Handy Manny" and more. "Playhouse Disney Live on Stage!" is an exciting combination of live performers, amazing puppetry, projections, moving scenery and special effects in which children and their parents will clap, dance and sing along. Also opening this summer will be the "Innoventions Dream Home" in Tomorrowland in Disneyland, an attraction that will remind fans of Walt Disney's fondness for futuristic ideas. The latest in cutting-edge and inspiring home ideas will be showcased in the Innoventions Dream Home, a 5,000-plus square foot residence featuring integrated digital technology in an immersive "high-tech, high-touch" guest experience. Design and development of the "Innoventions Dream Home" sprang from an alliance between Disneyland Resort, Microsoft, HP, Life/ware and home builder Taylor Morrison. The Year of a Million Dreams grants millions of "dream-come-true" experiences, large and small, to randomly selected guests at the Disneyland Resort, as well as offering immersive character encounters that include Disney Princess Fantasy Faire and Jedi Training Academy in Disneyland. The unique highlight of the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway is the unprecedented opportunity to stay overnight inside Disneyland in the Disneyland Dream Suite, originally conceived as a private apartment for Walt Disney himself. The suite of rooms above New Orleans Square has been restored based on the original drawings of deluxe living quarters created under Disney's direction. The Disneyland Dream Suite is the supreme addition to the catalog of dreams at Disneyland Resort. Every day the Disney Dream Squad surprises eligible guests, selected through a random process, with fun prizes. For information on how to enter by mail without visiting the parks, please see below. For information on new attractions, the Year of a Million Dreams celebration and vacations at Disneyland Resort, visit www.disneyland.com, call (866) 60-DISNEY or contact local travel agents.
"TOY STORY" CHARACTERS CHALLENGE GUESTS TO RIDE Disney Parks guests will don 3-D glasses and enter a wild and wooly 4-D world of Woody the Cowboy and Buzz Lightyear when Toy Story Mania! premieres this summer. The attraction will debut on both coasts: at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, and along the Paradise Pier midway in Disney's California Adventure at Disneyland Resort in California. Celebrating the Disney*Pixar classics "Toy Story" and "Toy Story II," Toy Story Mania! raises the bar for interactive ride-game attractions. It's a high energy, immersive adventure that makes guests a key part of the action as their game play triggers special effects that provide a fourth dimension of fun. "Toy Story Mania!" engages guests in a whole new way with the delightful characters of the films. Upon entering the attraction, guests will be welcomed by Mr. Potato Head, more than five feet tall and looking like he stepped right down from the movie screen. The state-of-the-art Audio-Animatronics Mr. Potato Head makes a perfect carnival barker for the immersive Toy Story Mania! experience, since he is the first attraction-based Audio-Animatronics figure who can engage guests in a two-way conversation. Everyone gets a front row seat when guests put on their 3-D glasses, "shrink" to the size of a toy, and board the Toy Story Mania! carnival tram ride vehicles, whose fast travel and spinning add a huge amount of fun to the interactive experience. The exciting and colorful route takes guests through "Andy's Bedroom" filled with oversized murals and toys. The vehicles spin to face Toy Story Mania! game booths - high-tech yet rooted in classic midway games of skill - and guests aim for 3-D animated targets using their own on-board "spring-action shooters." Players pair up and sit side-by-side for a friendly competition that delivers an ever-changing variety of targets and surprises. As they play, guests can actually see the "virtual" objects they've launched leave their "spring-action shooters" and hit the targets (or not). And thanks to 4-D special effects technology, they may sense objects whirring past them as they pop out of the 3-D scenes. The Toy Story Mania! games - five of them, plus an introductory practice round - are designed to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages and skills, from beginners to serious gamers. Play is energized by the spirit of the "Toy Story" characters cast in games that best suit their very animated personalities. First comes the "Pie Throw Practice" round in which guests can try splattering targets with "virtual" pies. Next Hamm the pig hosts a "Hamm & Eggs" booth in which players launch "plastic virtual eggs" at various barnyard targets. "Bo Peep's Baaa-loon Pop" presents a landscape full of balloon sheep, trees and other objects at which guests can launch virtual darts. But players had better be careful! A popped virtual water balloon might add an additional 4-D wet dimension to the game. From there it's on to "Green Army Men Shoot Camp" where the challenge is to break plates with baseballs. Next up is "Buzz Lightyear's Flying Tossers," a ring-toss game hosted by everyone's favorite space ranger, with Little Green Aliens as the targets. For the grand finale game, Toy Story Mania! players will ride through Wild West scenes launching virtual suction-cup darts at targets in "Woody's Rootin' Tootin' Shootin' Gallery." A final "Woody's Bonus Roundup" encourages guests to fire their "spring-action shooters" as rapidly as possible at one last super-target for extra points. When scores are tallied, players. skill levels are identified with the reward of an onscreen "virtual plush." The game play of Toy Story Mania! is accompanied by ingenious musical variations of Randy Newman's "You've Got A Friend in Me," arranged by veteran music editor Bruno Coon, a frequent Newman collaborator, to compliment the games - for example, a military brass band version for "Green Army Man Shoot Camp." No matter how many times guests return to ride and play, they can be sure every ride-through will be different.
AN ALL-NEW 'PLAYHOUSE DISNEY LIVE ON STAGE!' SHOW WILL ANAHEIM, Calif. - March 14, 2008 -- A whole new cast of friends from "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," "Little Einsteins," "Handy Manny" and more welcome children and their parents to the all-new "Playhouse Disney Live on Stage!" debuting March 14 at Disney's California Adventure. An exciting combination of live performers, amazing puppetry, projections, moving scenery and marvelous special effects create a show where guests will clap, dance and sing along with some of the most popular characters in children's television. In addition to the bubbly, breezy effects, music fills the air as youngsters join the gang in singing along with the catchy tunes that make "Playhouse Disney" such a fun place on morning television. During the Year of a Million Dreams celebration at the Disneyland Resort, young guests at "Playhouse Disney Live on Stage!" will be immersed in the interactive magic as their "Playhouse Disney" pals create the best birthday party ever for Minnie Mouse. The 23-minute stage show begins as Casey, the enthusiastic host of "Playhouse Disney," and Mickey Mouse bring the guests to visit the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, where everyone helps prepare for Minnie Mouse's birthday celebration. The gang shares tales of friendship and teamwork as they encounter their favorite characters from the popular television shows that are big hits with preschool audiences. The stars of the entertaining new show at Disney's California Adventure are characters from Disney Channel's hit Playhouse Disney programming block:
"Playhouse Disney Live on Stage!" first premiered at Disney's California Adventure in April 2003 and has been wildly successful ever since. New characters have been added over the years, but the show was completely revamped for this production. Hundreds of guests per show will be entertained by an all-new storyline presented with a skillful combination of live performers and puppetry. Performances will be presented several times daily in the park's Hollywood Pictures Backlot. "Playhouse Disney - Live on Stage" is part of the Year of a Million Dreams celebration at Disneyland Resort. The Resort features two theme parks - Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney's California Adventure - plus the Downtown Disney District comprised of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The Resort's three guest-welcoming hotels are the luxurious 745-room Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the magical 988-room Disneyland Hotel and the "day-at-the-beach" fun of the 489-room Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel. For information on new attractions, the Year of a Million Dreams celebration and vacations at Disneyland Resort, visit www.disneyland.com, call (866) 60-DISNEY or contact local travel agents.
PIXAR PLAY PARADE. WILL BRING BUBBLING INTERACTIVE FUN TO ANAHEIM, Calif - March 14, 2008 - All the exciting and colorful worlds of the Disney/Pixar pals - from "Toy Story," "a bug's life," "Monsters, Inc.," "Finding Nemo," "The Incredibles," "Cars" and "Ratatouille" - will come to life in the all-new "Pixar Play Parade," debuting March 14, 2008, in Disney's California Adventure as part of the Year of a Million Dreams celebration at Disneyland Resort. Characters from every Disney/Pixar motion picture will appear in the magical immersive parade, which will invite guests of all ages to take part in the playfulness of a whirling, spinning, fun-for-all animated playground. The parade features acrobatics, bungees, high-energy choreography, interactive surprises and lively bubble and water effects. "Pixar Play Parade" features a dozen parade floats up to two stories tall, themed to Disney/Pixar movies and equipped with fun and surprising movement and effects. The cast and crew number more than 100, and behind the scenes is a creative team of top entertainment professionals including Emmy-nominated director Fred Tallaksen (a choreographer for Madonna and numerous television and stage productions), puppet designer Michael Curry (of "The Lion King" on Broadway), costume designer Mirena Rada ("Avenue Q") and composers Matthew Girard and Robbie Nevil ("High School Musical"). Girard and Nevil composed brand new tunes for Pixar Play Parade, including the "Countdown To Fun!" theme, which brings the show to life as it travels through Disney's California Adventure. Encouraging everyone to dance, play and clap along, Mike, Sulley and their monster buddies from "Monsters, Inc." will lead the procession. Even sourpuss Roz will put in an appearance - and what an appearance! She'll be the drum major, slithering her way down the parade route. Next up is a flowerbed of hopping, swinging bugs: the colony from "a bug's life." Then "The Incredibles" will zoom into view, superhero style, aboard amazing hovercrafts. But watch out! The sinister Omnidroid is on the loose and baby Jack-Jack could burst into flames at any moment! From there it's into the bubbling world of Dory, Marlin, Crush, Bloat and the colorful underwater friends from "Finding Nemo," who invite everyone to "play in schools" (schools of fish, that is). "Ratatouille's" Remy and Emile are serving up fun, too, turning their kitchen into a super soapy pool of creativity with kids and families as the main ingredients. Woody and the "Toy Story" gang arrive next to encourage guests to kick up their heels, while Buzz Lightyear and the Little Green Aliens celebrate just how "universal" play can be, in any galaxy. Finally, after the parade has been revving up guests throughout the route, lovable Mater and his flashy buddy Lightning McQueen from "Cars" will bring up the rear. "Pixar Play Parade" will be presented daily in Disney's California Adventure as part of Disney's Year of a Million Dreams celebration at Disneyland Resort. The Resort features two spectacular theme parks - Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney's California Adventure - plus the Downtown Disney District comprised of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The Resort's three guest-welcoming hotels are the luxurious 745-room Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the magical 988-room Disneyland Hotel and the "day-at-the-beach" fun of the 489-room Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel. For information on new attractions, the Year of a Million Dreams celebration and vacations at Disneyland Resort, visit www.disneyland.com, call (866) 60-DISNEY or contact local travel agents.
MICKEY AND MINNIE MOUSE INVITE FAMILIES TO CELEBRATE ANAHEIM, Calif. - February 5, 2008 -- It's a celebration that has Mickey Mouse's name written all over it...well, half of his name, anyway. The most famous Mouse of all is inviting families to celebrate the Lunar New Year and Year of the Mouse at Disneyland Resort, the place "Where Dreams Come True." From February 5 to February 29 at Disneyland Park, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will mark the Year of the Mouse by appearing in festive Asian attire to greet guests and pose for photos near Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A. Families can also celebrate with Mickey Mouse in Chinatown, Los Angeles, as Mickey serves as the Grand Marshal of the 109th Annual Golden Dragon Parade and Festival February 9. A limited number of magnetic photo frames and traditional red envelopes including a special ticker offer information will be given to festival-goers. The Resort features two theme parks - Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney's California Adventure park - plus the Downtown Disney District comprised of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The Resort's three guest-welcoming hotels are the luxurious 745-room Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the magical 988-room Disneyland Hotel and the "day-at-the-beach" fun of the 489-room Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel. For more information about Disneyland Resort, guests may visit www.disneyland.com, call (866) 60-DISNEY or visit local travel agents.
DISNEYLAND DREAM SUITE WILL BE AWARDED TO A LUCKY GUEST MOST Link: Dream Suite Photo Gallery ANAHEIM, Calif. (January 29, 2008) -- For the first time in history, lucky guests will have the chance to spend an unforgettable night inside Disneyland Park during the Year of a Million Dreams, most nights starting January 31, 2008 as part of the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway. A guest will be escorted on the same day awarded into the most extraordinary accommodations at Disneyland Resort: the Disneyland Dream Suite, an in-park apartment with special-effects surprises and vintage design elements in each room. The overnight stay in the Disneyland Dream Suite will be a highlight among the more than a million "dream come true" experiences awarded through random process to eligible Disneyland Resort guests and mail-in participants in the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway. Mail-in winners of prizes that require use on day awarded, such as the Disneyland Dream Suite, will receive a prize of comparable value. Disney Imagineers have devoted months of hard work toward remodeling the suite of rooms above New Orleans Square in the Park, conceived by Walt Disney as a private apartment for his family and closest friends. The rooms, which most recently housed The Disney Gallery, have been restored to Disney's original vision of deluxe living quarters. Vintage design illustrations, created under Disney's personal direction, were recovered and used as inspiration for the look, furnishings and other decor elements in the Suite. Special design touches have been incorporated to evoke memories of Disney's diverse interests and the rich heritage of Disneyland. The guests chosen through a random process to enjoy a "dream stay" in the Disneyland Dream Suite will be following in the footsteps of Walt Disney. His dedication to the constant growth and development of Disneyland Park resulted in frequent overnight stays in a small private apartment which remains today above the Fire House on Main Street, U.S.A. In the 1960s, as plans were developed for the New Orleans Square area, Disney brought in illustrator and designer Dorothea Redmond (Gone with the Wind) and set decorator Emile Kuri (Mary Poppins, It's a Wonderful Life) to help him create a larger, more lavish apartment where he could entertain friends, family, VIP guests and dignitaries. Unfortunately, Disney passed away before the Suite was completed. Over the years, the rooms were used as offices and to entertain visiting business associates until, in 1987, the space became The Disney Gallery, a unique venue displaying artwork originally created during the development of various Disney movies and theme park attractions. Only now, 40 years later, is Disney's dream being fulfilled. The rooms have been returned to their original intended purpose and, as Disney wished, the Disneyland Dream Suite will be occupied by overnight guests. "Our plan has been to use the renderings that Walt worked on with Dorothea Redmond and to replicate those as exactly as we can," said Walt Disney Imagineering Art Director Kim Irvine. "Her illustrations were very specific, with a color and style for each room. "But to make it special for the guests, we want it to be more than just a beautiful suite. We want it to be filled with things that might have inspired Walt as he dreamed of Disneyland." Located above Pirates of the Caribbean in the New Orleans Square section of Disneyland Park, the 2,600-square-foot Disneyland Dream Suite includes a living room, open-air patio, two bedrooms and two bathrooms. In addition to that night's lodging in the Disneyland Dream Suite, each selected 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway winner of the Disneyland Dream Suite will also be celebrated as the Honorary Grand Marshal in that day's Disneyland parade. The winner and their guests will enjoy dinner, late-night snacks and beverages, and the dazzling view overlooking New Orleans Square and the Rivers of America, where a private balcony provides an ideal vantage point on nights when fireworks or the "Fantasmic!" spectacular are presented. Guests may enter the Dream Suite by climbing the grand staircase outside the entrance to the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. An elevator will be available to accommodate guests with disabilities. Through the doorway at the top of the stairs is the Living Room, designed in a French Provincial style reflecting the New Orleans Square setting. Unusual decorative items like a full-size carousel horse, a mechanical songbird and original wall paintings of European castles will conjure up memories of Walt Disney and the inspirations that went into creating the magical world of Disneyland. The Suite features not one, but two Master Bedrooms. In one, the spirit of early 20th century innovation and the American frontier are summoned with an earthy color scheme, leather furniture, a cast-iron stove, an electric train and vintage mechanical toys. The other Master Bedroom is on the side of the residence nearest Adventureland, and its lush decor and atmosphere evoke the exotic flavor of jungle adventure stories as told in the Victorian era. The Bayou-themed Patio, central to the Disneyland Dream Suite and open to the sky above, is filled with tropical vegetation, furnished with comfortable chaises and illuminated by Chinese lanterns. Using a type of Disney magic familiar to guests on Pirates of the Caribbean, the Patio is also visited by fireflies. As guests settle in for a stay in the Disneyland Dream Suite, they'll discover special effects surprises in each room. It could be a special tune in a striking clock, a sunset or a starscape that appears when the lights go down, subtle audio enhancements, or something totally unexpected. The Disneyland Dream Suite will be the supreme addition to the catalog of "dreams come true" at the Disneyland Resort during the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway as the Disney Dream Squad delivers dreams, large and small, to eligible guests selected through a random process. For information on how to enter by mail without visiting the parks, please see below. The 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway is part of the Year of a Million Dreams at Disney Parks. At Disneyland Park, the popular immersive entertainment experiences will continue to thrill guests at Disney Princess Fantasy Faire, Jedi Training Academy and Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island. And at Disney's California Adventure Park, guests young and old will be dancing to the beat of the new High School Musical 2: School's Out! street show, inspired by the megahit Disney Channel original movie. For information on new attractions, the Year of a Million Dreams celebration and vacations at Disneyland Resort visit www.disneyland.com, call (866) 60-DISNEY or contact local travel agents. # # # *NO PURCHASE NECESSARY to enter or win in the Disney Dreams Giveaway. A purchase will not increase your chances of winning. Open only to legal residents of 50 U.S., D.C., Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Japan & U.K. Void elsewhere and where prohibited. Giveaway runs January 1, 2008 - December 31, 2008 (Mail-in entries must be postmarked on or between December 19, 2007 & December 31, 2008 & received by January 14, 2009 on a piece of paper or postcard with complete name, address, daytime phone#, birth date and proper postage sent to PO Box 8650, Elmhurst, IL 60126 USA). U.K. residents only mail to 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway, 483 Green Lanes, Suite 200, London N13 4BS, England. Approximate retail value of Disneyland Dream Suite stay US $594. Prizes range in value from US $4.76 to US $87,361. All prize awards are subject to verification. Odds of winning on a given day depend on the number of eligible participants at a selected location or within the mail-in entry pool for the time or date (as applicable) selected. Sponsor: Magic Kingdom Productions, Inc., PO Box 10000, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830. For residents of Canada, a mathematical skill-testing question must be correctly answered to win any prize. Disneyland Dream Suite stay will be awarded most nights beginning 1/31/08. Must stay the same night awarded. Subject to Official Rules/Complete Terms and Conditions (available in English and Spanish) at disneyparks.com/2008rules, which contains information on how to enter by mail. Mail-in winners of prizes that require use on day awarded will receive a prize of comparable value. Open to legal residents of 50 U.S., D.C., Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Japan & UK. Void where prohibited.
DISNEY'S CALIFORNIA FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL SET TO SHOWCASE ANAHEIM, Calif. (January 25, 2008) -- Disney's California Food and Wine Festival presents the magic of cooking and the artistry of fine wine at the Disneyland Resort this spring, part of the Resort's celebration of the "Year of a Million Dreams." Now in its third year, Disney's California Food and Wine Festival will be held April 11 through May 5, 2008, with daily complimentary demonstrations and premiere ticketed events. The four-week festival will include the popular "Taste of California" Marketplace at Disney's California Adventure park, along with exclusive cooking courses at the Napa Rose restaurant and expert wine instruction from a master sommelier. Nearly 100 Disneyland Resort chefs will present cooking demonstrations and guests can learn more about their favorite beverages at the wine, beer and spirit tasting programs held throughout the festival. Culinary demonstrations and seminars are included with admission to Disney's California Adventure park. Guests can also experience a dash of magic at these Disney's California Food and Wine Festival events:
Disney's California Food and Wine Festival is part of Disneyland Resort's "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration. The Resort features two theme parks - Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney's California Adventure park - plus the Downtown Disney District comprised of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The Resort's three guest-welcoming hotels are the luxurious 745-room Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the magical 988-room Disneyland Hotel and the "day-at-the-beach" fun of the 489-room Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel. For information on new attractions, the Year of a Million Dreams celebration and vacations at Disneyland Resort, visit www.disneyland.com, call 866-60-DISNEY or contact local travel agents. For more information about Disney's California Food and Wine Festival, visit www.disneyland.com/foodandwine.
DISNEYLAND RESORT GUESTS RECEIVE
A Fourth Night Free and the Magic of the Season Await Guests ANAHEIM, Calif. (October 15, 2007) -- In traditional holiday spirit, Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure parks will become dazzling winter wonderlands featuring spectacular entertainment, amazing decorations, festive foods and favorite adventures and attractions during the season that runs Nov. 16 through Jan. 6. This year, Disneyland Resort offers vacation guests the gift of more time with a fourth night free added to the purchase of a three-night vacation package. One additional night provides more time to explore the many holiday happenings. Disneyland Resort theme park hours are also extended for much of the season, and the Downtown Disney District and three Disneyland Resort hotels join in the merriment with special entertainment and holiday dining. The festive transformation at the Resort will come during Disney Parks. ongoing Year of a Million Dreams celebration where guests' dreams, large and small, are coming true through the Disney Dreams Giveaway. Disneyland will present a seasonal array of holiday shows, attractions and lively entertainment. Guests entering Main Street, U.S.A. will find the traditional 60-foot-tall evergreen Christmas tree in Town Square, grandly decorated with 10,000 ornaments and holiday lights. The park's annual holiday parade, "A Christmas Fantasy," will run daily during the season. "Santa's Reindeer Round-up" will come back to Big Thunder Ranch in Frontierland. Kids and their families can chat with St. Nick, see real reindeer grazing in a corral and join in holiday line dances with music from a Western trio. The popular "Haunted Mansion Holiday" features the collision of Halloween and Christmas themes. Jack Skellington from Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas transforms the Haunted Mansion to match his odd vision of the holidays. And in Fantasyland, the classic "it's a small world" becomes "it's a small world Holiday" with a seasonal overlay of over 300,000 colorful twinkling lights. The legendary fireworks spectacular, "Believe.In Holiday Magic," will return with new surprises. The highlight of the evening, this enchanting show will take guests on a magical journey of sights and sounds of the season that will feature a new musical score, special effects, a series of dazzling snowfall sequences and the park's signature Sleeping Beauty Castle glistening with a blanket of freshly-fallen snow. The nighttime spectacular will end with a touching rendition of "White Christmas" and one of the park's most beloved holiday traditions: a climatic snowfall that swirls down on Main Street, U.S.A., small world mall and New Orleans Square. Disney's California Adventure will celebrate the season with park-wide decorations and lively entertainment. Inside "a bug's land," Flik and his bug buddies have spread giant Christmas lights, oversized ornaments and towering candy canes throughout their realm. Alongside Paradise Bay, a resplendent Christmas tree provides a dazzling sight as other nearby trees sparkle with hundreds of lights and wreathes adorn lampposts. Sunshine Plaza will become "Santa's Beach Blast," where the Disney characters blend classic holiday images with the California beach lifestyle. Santa the Surfer greets guests near a Woody wagon sleigh, and the area is filled with seaside-style holiday decorations. For travel completed by December 12, 2007, guests receive one additional night with the purchase of a three-night stay vacation package at any one of the three Disneyland Resort hotels - The Disneyland Hotel, Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. The offer is also available to guests at one of any participating Anaheim-area Good Neighbor Hotels when traveling by December 16, 2007. Packages including the fourth-night-free offer start at $315 per adult for Disneyland Resort hotels and $227 per adult for Good Neighbor Hotels based on quad occupancy. The packages include Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Tickets, Early Entry access to select attractions at Disneyland park including Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, entrance to Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness - an interactive guest and character experience available before Disneyland opens to the general public - and preferred viewing for select shows at Disney's California Adventure. On designated mornings, the Early Entry program allows guests who have purchased a vacation package with a three-day Park hopper ticket to enter Disneyland park up to one hour before it opens to regular guests. In addition to enjoying Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, guests can visit other popular attractions in the adjacent Fantasyland. This lets guests experience these attractions first, then spend the rest of the day exploring the park and going on adventures to exciting new places such as Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island. Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks - Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney's California Adventure park - plus the Downtown Disney District comprised of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The Resort's three guest-welcoming hotels are the luxurious 745-room Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the magical 988-room Disneyland Hotel and the "day-at-the-beach" fun of the 489-room Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel. For information on new attractions, the Year of a Million Dreams celebration and vacations at Disneyland Resort visit www.disneyland.com, call (866) 60-DISNEY or contact local travel agents.
WALT DISNEY'S OWN DISNEYLAND DREAM SUITE ANAHEIM, Calif. - October 1, 2007 -- For the first time in history, lucky guests will have the chance to spend an unforgettable night inside Disneyland Park during the Year of a Million Dreams most nights starting January 31, 2008 during the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway. A guest will be escorted on the same day awarded into the most extraordinary accommodations at Disneyland Resort: the Disneyland Dream Suite, an in-park apartment originally planned for Walt Disney himself. The overnight stay in the Disneyland Dream Suite will be a highlight among the more than a million "dream come true" experiences awarded through random process to eligible Disneyland Resort guests and mail-in participants in the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway. Mail-in winners of prizes that require use on day awarded, such as the Disneyland Dream Suite, will receive a prize of comparable value. Disney Imagineers are hard at work remodeling a suite of rooms above New Orleans Square in the Park, conceived by Walt Disney as a private apartment for his family and closest friends. The rooms, which most recently housed The Disney Gallery, will be restored to Disney's original vision of deluxe living quarters. Vintage design illustrations, created under Disney's personal direction, have been recovered and are being used as inspiration for the look, furnishings and other dicor elements in the Suite. Special design touches are being incorporated to evoke memories of Disney's diverse interests and the rich heritage of Disneyland. The guests chosen through a random process to enjoy a "dream stay" in the Disneyland Dream Suite will be following in the footsteps of Walt Disney. His dedication to the constant growth and development of Disneyland resulted in frequent overnight stays in a small private apartment which remains today above the Fire House on Main Street, U.S.A. In the 1960s, as plans were developed for the New Orleans Square area, Disney brought in illustrator and designer Dorothea Redmond (Gone with the Wind) and set decorator Emile Kuri (Mary Poppins, It's a Wonderful Life) to help him create a larger, more lavish apartment where he could entertain friends, family, VIP guests and dignitaries. Unfortunately, Disney passed away before the Suite was completed. Over the years, the rooms were used as offices and to entertain visiting business associates until, in 1987, the space became The Disney Gallery, a unique venue displaying artwork originally created during the development of various Disney movies and theme park attractions. Only now, 40 years later, is Disney's dream being fulfilled. The rooms are being returned to their original intended purpose and, as Disney wished, the Disneyland Dream Suite will be occupied by overnight guests. "Our plan has been to use the renderings that Walt worked on with Dorothea Redmond and to replicate those as exactly as we can," said Walt Disney Imagineering Art Director Kim Irvine. "Her illustrations were very specific, with a color and style for each room. "But to make it special for the guests, we want it to be more than just a beautiful suite. We want it to be filled with things that might have inspired Walt as he dreamed of Disneyland." Located above Pirates of the Caribbean in the New Orleans Square section of Disneyland, the 2,600-square-foot Disneyland Dream Suite includes a living room, open-air patio, two bedrooms and two bathrooms. In addition to that night's lodging in the Disneyland Dream Suite, each selected 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway winner of the Disneyland Dream Suite will also be celebrated as the Honorary Grand Marshal in that day's Disneyland parade. The winner and their guests will enjoy dinner, late-night snacks and beverages, and the dazzling view overlooking New Orleans Square and the Rivers of America, where a private balcony provides an ideal vantage point on nights when fireworks or the "Fantasmic!" spectacular are presented. Guests may enter the Dream Suite by climbing the grand staircase outside the entrance to the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. An elevator will be available to accommodate guests with disabilities. Through the doorway at the top of the stairs is the Living Room, to be designed in a French Provincial style reflecting the New Orleans Square setting. Unusual decorative items like a full-size carousel horse, a mechanical songbird and original wall paintings of European castles will conjure up memories of Walt Disney and the inspirations that went into creating the magical world of Disneyland. The Suite features not one, but two Master Bedrooms. In one, the spirit of early 20th century innovation and the American frontier will be summoned with an earthy color scheme, leather furniture, a cast-iron stove, an electric train and vintage mechanical toys. The other Master Bedroom is on the side of the residence nearest Adventureland, and its lush decor and atmosphere will evoke the exotic flavor of jungle adventure stories as told in the Victorian era. The Bayou-themed Patio, central to the Disneyland Dream Suite and open to the sky above, will be filled with tropical vegetation, furnished with comfortable chaises and illuminated by Chinese lanterns. Using a type of Disney magic familiar to guests on Pirates of the Caribbean, the Patio will also be visited by fireflies. As guests settle in for a stay in the Disneyland Dream Suite, they'll discover special effects surprises in each room. It could be a special tune in a striking clock, a sunset or a starscape that appears when the lights go down, subtle audio enhancements, or something totally unexpected. The Disneyland Dream Suite will be the supreme addition to the catalog of "dreams come true" at the Disneyland Resort during the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway as the Disney Dream Squad delivers dreams, large and small, to eligible guests selected through a random process. For information on how to enter by mail without visiting the parks, please see below. The 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway is part of the Year of a Million Dreams at Disney Parks. At Disneyland, the popular immersive entertainment experiences will continue to thrill guests at Disney Princess Fantasy Faire, Jedi Training Academy and Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island. And at Disney's California Adventure, guests young and old will be dancing to the beat of the new High School Musical 2: School's Out! street show, inspired by the megahit Disney Channel original movie. For information on new attractions, the Year of a Million Dreams celebration and vacations at Disneyland Resort visit www.disneyland.com, call (866) 60-DISNEY or contact local travel agents. THE ONE CATALOG OF DREAMS THAT MONEY CAN'T BUY (Oct. 1, 2007) -- As the holidays approach with a deluge of gift catalogs landing in mailboxes everywhere, Disney Parks today released an online catalog filled with amazing experiences that money can't buy. To announce the extension through 2008 of the successful "Year of a Million Dreams," Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida teamed to create the first-ever Disney Dreams Catalog showcasing fabulous dreams that will be awarded in the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway. Guests may browse the catalog online at DisneyParks.com/DreamCatalog.
This first-ever Disney Dreams Catalog is a sky's-the-limit showcase
brimming with amazing dreams that only Disney can make come true, such
as: And that's just for starters. But the one thing guests won't see when browsing the online catalog? Pricetags. That's because the Disney Dreams Catalog is priceless - literally. "These dreams can't be bought anywhere, or by anyone," said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "The Disney Dreams Catalog is an unprecedented collection of over-the-top experiences that only Disney can bring to life." The dreams detailed in the catalog, and hundreds of thousands more dreams, will be awarded through a random process to eligible guests at Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts throughout 2008, as well as eligible mail-in participants. The Disney Dreams Catalog features some of the biggest dreams Disney has ever imagined - all of which will be awarded in 2008 - including:
"During 'The Year of a Million Dreams,' we heard loud and clear from our guests that they wanted to keep dreaming even longer," Rasulo said. "We're pleased to be able to announce the continuation of the celebration today and introduce this catalog of fantastic new dreams to be awarded in the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway." The 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway is part of "The Year of a Million Dreams," a pull-out-all-the-stops Disney Parks celebration that includes incredible new attractions, parades and interactive entertainment - with even more on the way. The Toys are Back in Town in a New Disney-Pixar-inspired Attraction: Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts will open Toy Story Mania! a cutting-edge and interactive ride-through attraction that combines the fun of a video game, whiz-bang 3-D technology created by Walt Disney Imagineering and favorite characters from the smash-hit Disney-Pixar films "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2." Interactive Entertainment Brings Dreams to Life for Guests of All Ages The unique Disney Parks brand of entertainment that makes guests the stars of the show - literally - will share the spotlight at Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts during "The Year of a Million Dreams," with expanded offerings that feature be-bopping, toe-tapping, lightsaber-wielding and pirate-plundering fun. It's this type of interactivity that allows guests to live out the fanciful dreams of their imagination. Some of the highlights for 2008:
For more information about "The Year of a Million Dreams" celebration, visit disneyparks.com. For more specific information about the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway, visit disneyparks.com/2008rules. To browse the new Disney Dreams Catalog, visit DisneyParks.com/DreamCatalog. ### NO PURCHASE NECESSARY to enter or win the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway. A purchase will not increase your chances of winning. Certain prizes are limited in number and may be depleted at any time during the giveaway. Open only to legal residents of 50 U.S., D.C., Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Japan & UK. Void elsewhere and where prohibited. Giveaway runs January 1, 2008 . December 31, 2008 (mail-in entries must be postmarked on or between December 19, 2007 & December 31, 2008, & received by January 14, 2009, on a piece of paper or postcard with complete name, address, daytime phone #, birth date and proper postage sent to P.O. Box 8650, Elmhurst, IL 60126 USA; UK residents only mail entries to 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway, 483 Green Lanes, Suite 200, London N13 4BS, England). Disneyland Dream Suite stay will be awarded most days starting January 31, 2008. It will likely be awarded early in the day, will be for a stay that night and is only available to eligible participants at the parks, common areas of Disneyland® Resort hotels and Downtown Disney® area, all in California. Mail-in winners of prizes that require use on day awarded, such as Disneyland Dream Suite stay, will receive a prize of comparable value. Approximate retail value of prizes advertised: Disneyland Dream Suite stay US $594; Disney's Private Island prize US $42,250; High School Musical 3 and Walt Disney World® Vacation prize US $8,710; High School Musical 3 and Disneyland® Vacation prize US $7,800 - $8,640, depending on location of premiere; Ultimate New Year's Eve trip US $6,925; Disney Parks - Global Grand Marshal prize US $36,881; Character Breakfasts Extraordinaire trip US $7,200; Sorcerer's Apprentice for a Day prize US $4,063. Prizes range in value from US $4.76 to US $87,361. All prize awards are subject to verification. Odds of winning on a given day depend on the number of eligible participants at a selected location or within the mail-in entry pool for the time or date (as applicable) selected. Subject to Official Rules (see disneyparks.com/2008rules). Sponsor: Magic Kingdom Productions, Inc., P.O. Box 10000, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830.
For residents of Canada, a mathematical skill-testing question must be
correctly answered to win any prize.
DISNEYLAND RESORT EXPANDING First
West Coast Disney vacation villas planned ANAHEIM,
Calif. Sept 18, 2007 --
Responding to a growing demand for guest accommodations in Anaheim, the
Disneyland Resort today celebrated an expansion of Disney's Grand
Californian Hotel & Spa that will increase accommodations by more than
30 percent and will include the first Disney Vacation Club villas in
Anaheim.
This expansion, scheduled for completion in late 2009, will involve 300
union construction jobs and result in 100 new hotel jobs. It underscores
Disney's long-term commitment to growing and investing in Anaheim. The
expansion also marks the latest in a series of major additions to the
Resort that include the newly launched Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at
Disneyland and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney's California
Adventure.
"This expansion underscores our commitment to growing and investing in
both the Disneyland Resort and the Anaheim Resort Area," said Ed Grier,
president of the Disneyland Resort. "These new hotel rooms and villas
will give more people the opportunity to enjoy the immersive vacation
experience Disney is known for. We know that our guests value being
able to stay in the middle of the magic with our world-class theme
parks, shopping and dining just steps away."
The 2.5-acre expansion on the hotel's south side will add more than 200
new hotel rooms and 50 two-bedroom equivalent vacation villas. Those
vacation villas, to include kitchens, living and dining areas and other
home-like amenities, will mark the West Coast debut of Disney Vacation
Club, Disney's innovative vacation-ownership program.
"For more than 50 years, the Disneyland Resort has been investing in our
community and they have helped us build a world class resort destination
in which all of Anaheim can be proud," Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle said.
"Thanks to Disneyland and the Anaheim Resort Area, Anaheim boasts one of
the fastest growing markets in the country for hotel occupancy."
Other elements planned for the project include a rooftop deck for
viewing fireworks, a new swimming pool and about 300 underground parking
spaces. Peter Dominick of 4240, architect for Disney's Grand Californian
Hotel & Spa as well as Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Disney's Animal
Kingdom Lodge at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is designing
the ambitious expansion. It will reflect the same California Arts &
Crafts architecture of the existing hotel, which immerses guests in a
turn-of-the-20th-century California experience.
Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa currently features 745 guest
rooms, including 44 suites. Upon completion of the expansion project,
the hotel will feature 945 guest rooms, including 44 guest suites, and
50 Disney Vacation Club two-bedroom equivalent vacation villas.
Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is an architectural and artistic
celebration of California's renowned Arts & Crafts style of the late
19th and early 20th centuries.
One of three hotels at the Disneyland Resort (others include Disney's
Paradise Pier Hotel and the Disneyland Hotel), Disney's Grand
Californian Hotel & Spa is home to the nationally renowned and
award-winning Napa Rose restaurant, where Wine Country cuisine tempts
taste buds and expert sommeliers help guests make selections from one of
the world's finest collections of California wines. The nearby
Storytellers Cafe lets kids and adults alike enjoy a dining experience
that only Disney can do, complete with an array of popular Disney
characters.
These dining experiences, coupled with a luxury spa, onsite shopping and
other amenities, helped the hotel earn the No. 3 spot on Travel &
Leisure Family magazine's list of the top family-friendly resort
destinations.
Disney Vacation Club
The development of 50 two-bedroom equivalent vacation villas at Disney's
Grand Californian Hotel & Spa represents the first dedicated Disney
Vacation Club accommodations on the West Coast. Disney Vacation Club is
a vacation-ownership program that helps families enjoy flexibility and
savings on vacations for decades to come. By purchasing a real estate
interest in a Disney Vacation Club resort, families enjoy flexible
vacations at Disney destinations worldwide as well as more than 500
other popular Member Getaways vacation locations around the globe.
Disney Vacation Club, currently celebrating its milestone 15th
anniversary, has grown to serve more than 350,000 individual members
from more than 100 countries and all 50 U.S. states.
"We are excited to bring our hugely popular Disney Vacation Club to the
West Coast for the first time," said Jim Lewis, president of Disney
Vacation Club. "Our member community has more than doubled since 2003,
which illustrates families. deep desires to enjoy quality vacations for
years to come. Like most Disney fans, our members have great affection
for the original Disney vacation destination, and we're thrilled that
this expansion project will allow our members to call the Disneyland
Resort 'home' for the first time."
The expansion project marks the latest growth for Disney Vacation Club,
which recently opened the first phases of Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas
at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The new Disney Vacation Club
resort, located at the popular Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, is
scheduled to open in phases through early 2009.
Construction is already underway on the new Kidani Village building and
amenities, with completion scheduled for late 2009.
About the Disneyland Resort:
Located on approximately 500 acres in Anaheim, Calif., the Disneyland
Resort includes the Disneyland® and Disney's California Adventure®
Parks, three hotels with a total of 2,224 rooms and the 310,000 square
foot retail, restaurant and entertainment Downtown Disney® District.
With 20,000 employees, the Disneyland Resort is Orange County's largest
single-site employer and a $3.6 billion annual contributor to the local
economy. In January 2004, the Resort welcomed its 500 millionth guest
since opening on July 17, 1955.
About Disney Vacation Club:
The Disney Vacation Club family of resorts also includes five other Walt
Disney World properties as well as resorts in Vero Beach, Fla., and
Hilton Head Island, S.C. Disney Vacation Club has sold out of inventory
at its first six resorts, and sales remain ahead of schedule at its
seventh property, Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, which opened
in May 2004 near the Downtown Disney area at the Walt Disney World
Resort, as well as at the aforementioned Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas.
A FAMILY-FRIENDLY HALLOWEEN TRADITION RETURNS AS Halloween
Dreams Come True Beginning Sept 21 ANAHEIM,
Calif. (July 13, 2007) --
Following up on the success of its inaugural season last year,
Disney's HalloweenTime will return to the Disneyland Resort
this fall with a lively mix of Disney characters in seasonal
costumes, whimsical decor, decked-out attractions, themed
shows and tasty treats designed with the whole family in mind.
This inviting interactive Halloween experience at Disneyland
and Disney's California Adventure will begin a week earlier
this year starting Friday, Sept. 21, and continuing through
Wednesday, Oct. 31. HalloweenTime at the Resort is part of the
Year of a Million Dreams celebration at Disney Parks.
All new this Halloween season, the Sunshine Plaza in
California Adventure will become the site of "Candy Corn
Acres," where Mickey Mouse's pal Goofy will set out to grow
the West's biggest and most unusual candy corn: candy corn
coconuts, candy corn carrots and candy corn pumpkins, among
other delicious produce offerings. The Plaza will be overgrown
with the "fruits" of Goofy's labor.
Also expanded will be Mickey's HalloweenTreat, a
separate-ticket nighttime event which gives kids and their
families the opportunity to dress in their Halloween costumes
and trick-or-treat throughout Disney's California Adventure
after it has closed to day guests. This year's HalloweenTreat
will offer tricksters of all ages more treat locations along
with fun character encounters (including an all-new nightly
cavalcade), interactive games, and spirited music with DJ
Mickey. Older kids and parents will want to experience the
heart-dropping Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. and meet the
hotel's ghostly staff members who materialize only during the
Halloween season.
This year, additional nights have been scheduled for Mickey's
HalloweenTreat: Thursdays and Fridays beginning October 4 plus
Monday-Wednesday, October 29-31. Tickets go on sale August 1.
During regular park hours at Disneyland and Disney's
California Adventure, Disney's HalloweenTime will offer
parents and children lots of not-so-scary fun in addition to
the parks' many popular Year of a Million Dreams adventures.
HalloweenTime experiences will include special Halloween
shows, meet-and-greets with Disneyland characters in their
Halloween costumes and spooky-silly holiday themed decorations
which guests begin to spot as soon as they reach the entrances
to the parks.
Jack-o'-lantern creations resembling Mickey Mouse, Minnie
Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto and Goofy will adorn the top of the
Main Entrance to Disneyland park. Across the Esplanade, at the
entrance to Disney's California Adventure park, guests will
see the iconic 11-foot-tall CALIFORNIA letters transformed
into giant pieces of candy corn.
Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland will once again be decked
out for the Main Street Pumpkin Festival. Guests will be
greeted there by Miss Cobbler, Queen of the Pumpkin Festival,
and Constable Jackie O'Leary. More than 300 jack-o'-lanterns
will peek out of shop windows, while festive orange and yellow
bunting will grace the quaint Victorian buildings. The
whimsical 12-foot tall Mickey Mouse jack-o'-lantern, complete
with pumpkin ears, will return to highlight Town Square,
smiling at guests as they enter Main Street and giving them a
playful wink when they depart.
The Central Plaza of Disneyland, near Sleeping Beauty Castle,
will also be specially decorated with Disney
character-inspired jack-o'-lanterns surrounding the famous
"Partners" statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse.
Additionally, the Disney characters themselves will get into
the "spirit" of the occasion, wearing their favorite Halloween
costumes, while meeting and greeting guests.
"Woody's Halloween Roundup" once again will take over Big
Thunder Ranch in Frontierland. The Roundup fun will include a
visit with the animals in the "Petting Boo," crafts and
musical activities including a Halloween Hoedown and a spooky
interactive sing-along version of "Old McDonald Had a Farm"
featuring black cats, ghosts and werewolves. Woody, Jessie and
Bullseye from the Disney*Pixar Toy Story movies will appear
throughout the day on stage in comic adventure tales hosted by
a guitar playing, storytelling cowboy. The Roundup will also
feature an array of tasty treats to satisfy the most monstrous
of appetites, including cotton candy in Halloween colors and
Creepy Cookie Critters that guests create themselves.
Returning to Disney's California Adventure will be the spooky
Hollywood Tower Hotel staff members who haunt the Twilight
Zone Tower of Terror during the Halloween season, and "Golden
Screams," where Disney villains roll out the black carpet for
an awards ceremony - "Best Scream," "Best Act of Villainy" -
held daily inside the Golden Dreams Theatre.
Favorite Disney villains, including Cruella De Vil from 101
Dalmatians, the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland,
Captain Hook from Peter Pan and others, will roam both
Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure for HalloweenTime
meet-and-greets with park guests.
Throughout the Disneyland Resort during Disney's
HalloweenTime, families can enjoy unique Halloween-themed food
items including Zero's Ghostly Ghoulash, a favorite of Jack
Skellington's pet in "Haunted Mansion Holiday," and
merchandise including Disney costumes, collectible pins and
coins, and a special set of Halloween-themed Mickey Mouse ears
resembling a Mickey jack-o'-lantern.
And no Halloween celebration at Disneyland would be complete
without the return of Jack Skellington and his friends to
transform the Haunted Mansion in New Orleans Square into the
popular seasonal "Haunted Mansion Holiday." Inspired by the
innovative animated film Tim Burton's Nightmare Before
Christmas, "Haunted Mansion Holiday" depicts the holiday
mayhem that occurs when Halloween and Christmas traditions
collide.
Disney's HalloweenTime will be presented throughout the
Disneyland Resort from Sept. 21 . Oct. 31, 2007 as part of the
Year of a Million Dreams celebration at the Resort. For more
information about new attractions, the Year of a Million
Dreams, and vacations at Disneyland Resort visit
www.disneyland.com, call (866) 60-DISNEY or visit local travel
agents. The Official Disneyland Resort Audio and Video
Podcasts can be found at www.disneyland.com/podcast.
HEIGH-HO HEIGH-HO, IT'S OFF TO WORK WE GO! Their
Magical Day as Honorary Disney Parks Cast Members ANAHEIM,
Calif. June 12, 2007 --
They've lived their Disney Dream "Jobs" and played "starring
roles" at the Disneyland Resort for a day. Now, their moments in Disney
Parks' Year of a Million Dreams spotlight are available for all to see
online at www.careerbuilder.com/disneydreamjobs. Full-time moms, small business owners and teachers were
magically turned into swashbuckling Pirates and graceful Princesses,
among other dream roles, at Disneyland Resort yesterday as the 25
CareerBuilder.com - Disney Parks Dream "Job" winners fulfilled their
honorary "jobs." The Dream "Job" winners were: William Betts, Fresno, Calif. - Honorary Jungle Cruise Skipper
In January, Disney Parks and CareerBuilder.com kicked off the
nationwide Disney Dream "Job" search by inviting consumers to submit a
video entry explaining why they should be chosen for a Disney Dream
"Job" in one of five categories: Honorary Jungle Cruise Skipper,
Honorary Pirate, Honorary Haunted Mansion Butler or Maid, Honorary
Princess-in-Waiting or Honorary Parade Performer. Nearly one million
votes were cast on Careerbuilder.com, giving five winners in each "job"
category the chance to live their dream this weekend. The "Honorary Disney Cast Members," enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime weekend
at Disneyland Resort with costume fittings and hair and make-up to help
them look the part, a class in "Disney Traditions" training, rehearsals,
participating in interviews with media from around the country and
on-the-job training that included learning the perfect curtsey, or tips
on getting giggles from the crowd as a Jungle Cruise Skipper. On Monday, the Disney Dream "Job" winners got to live out their dream,
filling five of Disney.s most popular positions: Jungle Cruise Skipper,
Pirate, Haunted Mansion Butler and Maid, Princess-in-Waiting and Parade
Performer. Dream Job winners putting their skills to work at Disneyland Resort are
featured in new videos online at www.careerbuilder.com/disneydreamjobs.
About CareerBuilder.com and the Disney Parks Dream Job Search Launched in January 2007, hundreds of Disney Dream Job hopefuls
submitted online video resumes showcasing their most original and
creative attributes, including reasons for wanting to work at a Disney
Park, qualifications and skills for their desired position and why this
is their Disney Parks Dream Job. America voted for their favorite
Pirates, Princesses-in-Waiting, Jungle Cruise Skippers, Haunted Mansion
Butlers and Maids and Parade Performers and sent 25 lucky entrants to
Disneyland Resort for the opportunity to live out their Disney Dream Job
for a day. For more information about CareerBuilder.com products and
services, visit www.careerbuilder.com. About Disney Parks' Year of a Million Dreams During Disney Parks. Year of a Million Dreams celebration, Disneyland
Resort is celebrating its "Dreams Come True" heritage by making
literally millions of dreams, large and small, come true for eligible
guests. Many money-can't-buy experiences -- from exclusive Dream FASTPASSES
for popular Disney attractions to around-the-world vacations or a stay
in the special Mickey Mouse Penthouse at the Disneyland Hotel -- are being
awarded at random. In addition to meeting and playing with Disney
Princesses at Disney Princess Fantasy Faire and creating mayhem with the
denizens of Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island, guests can also take
part in other "Dreams Come True" opportunities such as dueling with
Darth Vader at Jedi Training Academy and |