The magical sights and sounds of Disneyland Resort can now be discovered with “Disneyland Explorer,” the official Disney Parks app for iPad, available as a free download from the App Store. When you can’t get to the theme parks, the hotels or the Downtown Disney District, you can tap the photo-realistic carousel of this app to reveal photos, video and special activities inspired by the classic attractions and entertainment at the resort.

More than 100 exciting experiences are shared with beautiful images, animation and interactive touch points. With a simple swipe of your fingers, you can explore Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, the themed suites at the Disneyland Hotel and much more. Watch for animation and fun surprises as you scroll through the adventures.

Disneyland Explorer App

Here are some of the fun activities you can experience with “Disneyland Explorer:”

• Create your own musical water show in “World of Color”
• Steer a Soarin’ hang glider over California while collecting and sharing personalized postcards
• Bring the iconic dolls of “it’s a small world” to life and hear the classic song in five different languages
• Snap photos of the elusive Yeti as he roams across the Matterhorn
• Take part in a raging sea battle in Pirates of the Caribbean
• Learn to draw your favorite Disney Characters at the Animation Academy

“Disneyland Explorer” is a free app, available for download exclusively from the App Store on iPad.

On Monday, Jan. 9, the Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland park will close so Disneyland can ready the iconic mountain for a new fleet of bobsleds. Featuring a new, sleek design, the vehicles will have three seats in each bobsled with two bobsleds linked together for a total of six guests.

So get your last-minute bobsledding done this weekend and the attraction will re-open this summer.

Starting next Monday, January 9, guests strolling down Main Street, U.S.A., will be humming along to some new – and familiar – tunes. For the first time in 20 years, Disney is once again adding new music to the iconic entrance music of Disneyland park.

Though there have been many updates over the years, the last refresh of Disneyland’s Main Street’s musical score was back in 1992, when selections recorded for Disneyland Paris were brought back to Disneyland park in California.

This time around, over a dozen new tunes, arranged and recorded specifically for Main Street, U.S.A., will join many of the existing songs. Included in the new mix are such iconic period pieces as “Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis,” “In the Good Old Summer Time,” “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “Oh You Beautiful Doll,” Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag,” and a recent tune given a turn-of-the-last-century arrangement, Michael Giacchino’s “Married Life” from Disney•Pixar’s “UP.”

So the next time you’re ambling down Main Street, U.S.A., keep an ear out for some new – and old – classics!

Disneyland’s nightly holiday fireworks show “Believe in Holiday Magic” has been temporarily put on hold.

Disneyland canceled the display, Tuesday for the fifth time in the last week, according to the Orange County Register.

The show was first canceled on December 22 because of weather conditions and a technical issue. The same night a Disney employee was taken to a local hospital for a noise-related injury from the operation of the fireworks. The employee was treated and released.

The fireworks that were scheduled for December 23, 24, 26 and 27 also were canceled due to technical issues.

A Disney spokeswoman tells the Register they are “working diligently to resolve the situation” and will resume the fireworks as soon as possible. The seasonal display runs through Jan. 8.

We love it when our favorite spots expand, and there are some big changes coming for Main Street, U.S.A., in 2012. Here’s what you can look for:

The Blue Ribbon Bakery is moving and getting a new name: Jolly Holiday Bakery Café, from the “Mary Poppins” song, “Oh, it’s a jolly holiday with Mary …” The bakery moves to the Plaza Pavilion (at the top of Main Street, U.S.A.) with plans to open in early January. In addition to the bakery and espresso offerings, the new menu has some delicious new tastes, such as an Angus roast beef salad with blue cheese; a Caprese sandwich with tomatoes, Buffalo mozzarella, basil, butter lettuce and garlic aioli on toasted focaccia bread; and a classic pastrami reuben on rye.

Carnation Café is expanding with more indoor seating – the Blue Ribbon Bakery move is part of that expansion plan, as Carnation Café spreads out to take over the space and offer more air-conditioned seating. Work starts in January, and they’ll have a new menu that will showcase longtime favorites (and we’ve heard it includes milkshakes).

Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor is getting a little makeover, too, and adding root beer, Coca-Cola and orange cream floats to the menu. And the block makeover wraps up at Refreshment Corner – construction starts early next year. Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for details.

Stormtroopers along with Duffy the Bear and Phineas and Ferb are ready to celebrate with guests at Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland.

This year, Stormtroopers from the “Star Wars” movies will take pictures with partiers in Tomorrowland.  Also, popular Walt Disney Channel brothers of Phineas and Ferb will be at Plaza Gardens Stage.  Duffy the Bear, dressed like a pumpkin, will greet guests at Town Square in Main Street, U.S.A.

A new dance party called “Piratepalooza” is scheduled to take place at Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante in Frontierland. “Buzz Lightyear’s Intergalactic Space Jam” will be returning to the Tomorrowland Terrace.

Along with the Halloween Parties, seasonal changes of Disneyland will include Mickey Mouse and other characters in Halloween costumes and the transformations of two rides.

The Haunted Mansion will be will get an overlay that mixes Halloween and Christmas and is inspired by the animated film “Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas.”

On the Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy, ghosts appear and reach out as if to grab riders; the ride is accompanied by a soundtrack of screams, sound effects and haunting music.

“Halloween Time has become an annual tradition for many of our guests,” said Disney spokeswoman Michele Himmelberg. “Mickey’s Halloween Party is fun for families who like to wear their costumes to the park and take photos with characters in their Halloween attire.

From The Disney Parks Blog…

I’m sure many readers have been to the Disneyland Resort multiple times. I’d even concede that you know much more about the Resort than even I do. But there are some things you might not know. I’ve recently found some interesting facts about the Disneyland Resort that I thought you might enjoy!

• Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955, with 18 major attractions. Today, there are more than 60 adventures and attractions at the Resort.
• When Mickey & Friends parking structure opened on June 27, 2000, it was the largest parking structure in North America.
• More than 5,000 gallons of paint are used each year to give the Disneyland Resort its better-than-new look.
• More than 800 species of plants from more than 40 nations are represented at the Disneyland Resort. The landscape panorama includes approximately 17,000 trees and 100,000 shrubs. Each year, about 1 million annuals are planted at the Disneyland Resort.
• Trees at the Disneyland Resort range in size from a one-foot dwarf spruce in Storybook Land to 80-foot-high eucalyptus trees.
• The Mickey Mouse floral “portrait” at the Disneyland park main entrance is planted six times a year.
• The Disneyland Resort uses 1,000 brooms, 500 dust pans and 3,000 mops a year.
• A new Disneyland Resort cast member costume takes from eight to 12 months to design and produce. The Operational Costume Division stocks 500,000 yards of material, covering 900 different fabrics.
• More than 300 different cast member costumes, comprised of more than 850 different styles of garment pieces, are issued from nine Costume Issue locations across the Disneyland Resort and Hotels.
• Approximately 300,000 buttons are replaced each year on cast member costumes.

G’day everyone, welcome to the Disney Traveller Website & Travel Blog. To compliment the Disney Vacations Website, we have created a brand new Disney travel information website and travel blog called “Disney Traveller”.

Friend the Disney Traveller Facebook Page today to get regular Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line and Adventures By Disney delivered to you as news, articles, specials and discounts break throughout the day.

We are committed to ensuring that all of our readers are kept up to date with the latest Disney travel information that will assist in reduce hassle, time and expense when booking your next Disney vacation.

As you know, we are passionate Disney Travellers that love the world of Disney and especially the Disney theme parks. Since 2001, we have regularly visited Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida  and the Disney Resorts have become our vacation of choice.

Over the past decade we have had the opportunity to experience these wonderful vacation destinations and along the way we have learnt many lessons on what to do and more importantly what not to do. We have traveled to Disney as a family, we have visited as solo travelers and have even been to Disney as business travellers.

The Disney Traveller Website and Travel Blog have been created to share these experiences and lessons with all Australian, New Zealand and other international travellers and to encourage all of our readers to visit the vacation wonderlands of Disneyland, Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line.

We are committed to bringing you the latest Disney travel news, advice, tips, travel specials and discounts. We have also developed a series of free international traveller information guides for the Disneyland Resort, the Walt Disney World Resort, the Disney Cruise Line and how to save time, money and hassle when booking your Disney Parks or Cruise Line vacation.

The guides can be found here:

Disneyland Resort International Travellers Guides

Walt Disney World Resort International Travellers Guides

Disney Cruise Line International Travellers Guides

Save Time, money and Hassle When Booking Your Disney Parks or Cruise Line Vacation

To be kept updated on all the latest Disney travel news, please bookmark our home page, subscribe to our site through our free email subscription service or place our RSS feed into your favourite reader program to have our information delivered to you every day.

You can also follow Disney Traveller on Twitter and Facebook to be immediately updated  as new Disney information is released.

About AJ the Webmaster of Disney Traveller

As a Disney fan for many years, I am a passionate member and contributer to the Disney online community. I have been involved in establishing, contributing to and marketing a number of high profile Disney related blogs, websites, forums and podcasts.

As a public relations, communications and social media professional, I love to create and share quality Disney information to help assist, educate and inform via the online community.

As Walt Disney once said, “I am interested in entertaining people, in bringing pleasure, particularly laughter, to others, rather than being concerned with ‘expressing’ myself with obscure creative impressions”.

I hope that you enjoy our site, learn about the wonders of the Disney Parks and use this information to explore and appreciate the wonderful world of the Disney.

AJ

To have the latest Disney travel news, discounts and articles sent directly to you, subscribe now to our Facebook and Twitter feeds and our email alerts. Or if you have a specific Disney travel question, please email Disney Traveller directly.

Contact our Recommended Disney Travel Agent

Search July 17 as a famous historical date and the year 1955 often pops up as opening day for Disneyland park. The park’s anniversary ranks alongside prominent moments in history, such as great sports achievements and the birthdays of important political figures. Disneyland has become a cultural icon, and the park’s opening day marks a milestone in family entertainment.

This year, Disneyland celebrates its 56th anniversary on July 17. It’s a very special day for cast members as well as guests, and the resort has commemorated it over the years with a variety of slogans and salutes, with celebrations big and small. Here’s a brief look back:

1965: “Tencennial Re-Dedication Day” featured the “Disneyland Tencennial Celebration Parade.”

1980: “I Was There!” birthday buttons were given to guests who attended the 25-hour anniversary party. (Those buttons are now collector’s items.)

1985: “Thirty years of Magic… the Best Has Just Begun” was the theme of a new parade. A theme song thanked Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck for “30 Happy Years.”

1990: Disneyland turned 35, “proof that the good things in life get only better.”

2005: “The Happiest Homecoming on Earth” paid tribute to the 50th anniversary, and the park handed out nearly 100,000 cupcakes during the huge celebration.

One of my favorite anniversary stories is from the park’s 10th Anniversary. Guests of an employee party said that Walt Disney congratulated them and offered this perspective: the first 10 years were a “dress rehearsal,” and anyone thinking about resting on their laurels could “just forget it.”

This year on July 17, a celebratory moment will be held at 2:30 p.m. to commemorate the 56th anniversary of opening day. An audio recording of Walt Disney’s original dedication speech will be heard throughout Disneyland park. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and a cast of characters will gather in Town Square to sing “Happy Birthday” to Disneyland with guests and cast members.

Were you here for any of the anniversary parties? What’s your favorite Disneyland anniversary memory?

From the Disney Parks Blog…

We’re celebrating July 4th in a very special way at the Disneyland Resort! From July 1-4, guests can experience special nighttime spectaculars celebrating America. At Disney California Adventure park, we’ve got an all-new Independence Day “World of Color” pre-show which will run prior to each showing of “World of Color” and will combine video, water effects, lighting and fireworks to create a spectacular celebration of American independence.

At Disneyland park, guests can commemorate Independence Day with “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky.” This special fireworks show combines patriotic music with bursts of red, white and blue to celebrate the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Be sure to check the Entertainment Schedule or the Entertainment Times Guide at each park for show times.

Are you celebrating Independence Day at the Disneyland Resort?

Betty Taylor, the longtime female star of Disneyland’s Golden Horseshoe Revue has passed away, one day following the passing of her beloved co-star, Wally Boag.

The spunky leader of a troupe of western dance hall girls, in Disneyland’s popular Golden Horseshoe Revue, Betty Taylor passed away this morning at her home in Washington State. Betty was 91. She became the darling of nearly 10 million guests, who, over the years, visited the saloon to see the world’s longest-running stage show in the history of entertainment. In the nearly 45,000 performances that she appeared in, the charming, vivacious blonde never lost her girlish enthusiasm for playing the role of Pecos Bill’s sweetheart.

“Betty Taylor must have been born to become Slue Foot Sue in Disneyland’s Golden Horseshoe Revue,” says Disney Legend Marty Sklar, about the way Betty owned the role and perfermored every show as if it was her first. “She knew how to belt out a tune, in the storied tradition an old western saloon, and she held her own on a stage with the wild and wacky antics of Pecos Bill (comedian Wally Boag), the brogue of an Irish tenor (Fulton Burley) and a chorus line of can-can dancers. Imagine doing that five times a day for 31 years and 45,000 performances! Betty was a true trooper who loved playing the part in the show, and loved performing for Disneyland audiences.”

As former Disneyland magic shop cast member, comedian Steve Martin wrote in Betty’s autograph book, “How come I’m the only one who grows old around here (Disneyland)?”

From The Disney Parks Blog…

Combining great storytelling with the latest technology has been a hallmark of The Walt Disney Company from the very beginning, and that spirit continues with the opening of two fantastic new attractions at the Disneyland Resort. Over the last two days, we officially launched Star Tours – The Adventures Continue at Disneyland park and The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure park.

The force is now strong with us on both coasts as Star Tours opened at Disneyland park this week and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando just a few weeks ago. Working closely with our partners at Lucasfilm, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue combines the latest in digital 3D technology with new characters and locales from all six of the Star Wars films. With more than 50 different story combinations, guests will never know just where the Force may take them. I’ve ridden in it a dozen times already and have yet to experience the same ride twice.

With the addition of The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, Disney California Adventure park continues to generate new energy as we take another big step forward in our expansion of the park. This all-new attraction mixes the latest Audio-Animatronics technology with classic Disney storytelling to bring the undersea world of Ariel, Sebastian and Flounder to life like never before. And we will see another Little Mermaid-themed attraction at Magic Kingdom Park in a few years when our Fantasyland expansion at Walt Disney World Resort is complete.

Of course, if you’ve been to Disney California Adventure park lately, you’ve seen that we have a lot more still in the works. From the newly imagined entry point of Buena Vista Street to the stunning new Cars Land, all of our teams are hard at work as we head into the home stretch of our multi-year expansion effort.

As if all of this weren’t enough, last week we premiered “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade,” an all-new parade at Disneyland Resort that is proving to be another great addition to the resort’s live entertainment offerings.

So whether you choose to hop in a Starspeeder 1000 and head for the stars, take a journey to “fathoms below” or just sit on a curb and watch the parade go by, there truly is something for everyone at the Disneyland Resort this summer. I’m tremendously proud of all of the Imagineers and cast members who have worked so hard to make these new experiences a reality and can’t wait for all of you to have a chance to enjoy them.

Disneyland’s longtime Golden Horseshoe Revue entertainer and the voice of Jose in the Enchanted Tiki Room passed away today at the age of 91.

Wally Boag, a longtime leading man at Disneyland’s Golden Horseshoe Revue and television and film actor, passed away today. He was 91 years old. Wally entertained Disneyland park guests five days a week, three times a day, for nearly 27 years. By the time he retired, in 1982, from his role as the outrageous Pecos Bill, Wally had performed in nearly 40,000 productions of the popular Revue.

Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running stage production in show business history, Disneyland’s Golden Horseshoe Revue proved to be good steady work for the former vaudeville performer, who recalled, “My longest job before the Golden Horseshoe Revue was 54 weeks. And to think it all began with a two-week contract I signed with Walt Disney when the park opened [in 1955].”

Wallace Vincent Boag let out his first “yaa-hoo!” September 9, 1920, in Portland, Oregon. At age nine, he joined a professional dance team; by 16, he was running his own dance school; and by 19, he had turned to comedy, performing in nightclubs and theaters across the country and around the world. Among them, Wally played Radio City Music Hall, moving on to such theaters as the Palladium in London and the Tivoli Theatres in Australia and New Zealand.

In 1945, he won a contract with Metro-Goldwyn Mayer (MGM), appearing in such films as Without Love, starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, and The Thrill of Romance, with Esther Williams.

In 1955, a friend told him about auditions for Disneyland’s Golden Horseshoe Revue. Wally won the role and quickly became one of Walt’s favorite comedic actors, appearing on such television shows as the original Mickey Mouse Club, Disneyland and Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color, as well as motion pictures, including The Absent-Minded Professor, Son of Flubber and The Love Bug.

At Disneyland, Wally also provided the voice of the Audio-Animatronics® parrot, Jose, in theEnchanted Tiki Room, and later, opened the Diamond Horseshoe Revue at Walt Disney World, in 1971. His original act in the Golden Horseshoe Revue was also featured in a Danny Kaye television special celebrating the 25th anniversary of Disneyland, in 1980.

Wally often toured and consulted on special projects and promotions for The Walt Disney Company. In 1980, he entertained audiences across the country during a 28-day, 20-city tour promoting the re-release of Disney’s animated classic Lady and the Tramp. He later traveled to Japan to help translate material for the opening of Tokyo Disneyland in 1983.

Disney Parks has put out this video to go with the opening of Star Tours – The Adventure Continues in Disneyland…

Darth Vader Goes to Disneyland

Originally published on The Disney Parks Blog…

There’s been a lot of speculation among runners about a new finisher’s medal at this year’s Disneyland Half Marathon during Labor Day Weekend. Well, there’s no need to speculate anymore.

Here’s your first look at the newly-created medal that will await the thousands of runners who are able to complete the 13.1-mile race on Sunday, Sept. 4, that goes through Disneyland park, Disney California Adventurepark and Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The medal is noticeably different from previous years and just as distinctive as last year’s commemorative 5th anniversary medal.

If you haven’t signed up to run in the race yet, it might be tough to get your hands on this new medal. Individual race registrations are already sold out (approx 15,000). Still, there might be a few spots left through one of our travel or charity groups. Just go to runDisney.com for details.

If you can’t get into the race, there’s no need to worry. There will be several other opportunities coming soon to earn cool new medals at runDisney events.

The Mlle. Antoinette’s Parfumerie reopened after being gone for many years at the Disneyland Resort.  The distinctive luxury boutique features a range of classic fragrances including Givenchy, Guerlain, Christian Dior, Acqua di Parma and Emilio Pucci.

Many long-time Disneyland guests might remember that the store was a popular part of the Disneyland Resort for many years and closed in the early 1990′s after Disney redesigned many of the shops.

Michelle Harker, Merchandise Marketing & Communications Project Manager for the Disneyland Resort shared a picture of the new store opening, which drew considerable interest during the reopening ceremony on Saturday morning.

One of the signature aspects of the original Mlle. Antoinette’s Parfumerie was the ability for guests to mix their own fragrances.  While it doesn’t sound like this is a feature of the new store, guest that were at the ribbon cutting ceremony were told there will be two fragrances exclusive to Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

From The Disney Parks Blog…

Disney has a summer line-up of great things “in store” for you! From the release of “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” to the launch of exciting new attractions like “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue” and The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, to new stores in Disney California Adventure park including Embarcadero Gifts and Seaside Souvenirs to, my favorite, merchandise.

Here’s a quick look around the Disneyland Resort at some of the new offerings you won’t want to miss!

Studio Disney 365 is right on trend with a new makeover package for girls themed to what else…Pirate Rockers. While most girls will probably choose to “rock” the side braid style bun complete with color streaks, I can tell you, adding the pirate-themed hat and costume finishes the look. Arrgghh ya ready??

Also making a splash this summer is a Little Mermaid-inspired transformation at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Your little princesses will surely dive in for some fun as they are transformed from head to toe or…fin!

Both transformation packages are available for a limited time only, so if your little one is looking to switch up her summer style, then you know the place to go. Reservations are available now. Call 714-781-STYLE.

G’day everyone, have you had a chance to check out our new Disney travel websites yet. We are receiving great feedback from our subscribers and visitors and we would like all of our good friends that enjoy the Travelears to come by and have a look at all of our new ventures.

Please “friend” our fan pages on facebook and subscribe to our twitter feeds to be kept up to date with the latest Disney travel news, articles, advice, discounts and travel deals as they break.

We would really appreciate your support to get the word out there about our new Disney travel websites and blogs and you can find all the links to our new sites and social media pages here:

DISNEY TRAVELLER

Disney Traveller Website and Blog

Disney Traveller Facebook Page

Disney Traveller Twitter Feed

DISNEY TRAVEL CANADA

Disney Travel Canada Website

Disney Travel Canada Facebook Page

Disney Travel Canada Twitter Feed

DISNEY VACATIONS AUSTRALIA

Disney Vacations Australia Website and The DisneyOz Blog

Disney Vacations Australia Facebook Page

Disney Vacations Australia Twitter Feed

Thanks to you all and we really appreciate your support!

AJ & CHRIS

Great Deal for Canadians!

For every adult that flies, one child flies FREE when you book a WestJet Vacations package to the Disneyland Resort in California by May 31 for travel from April 21 to June 29 and September 7 to October 31, 2011.* Plus, with WestJet’s daily flights to Los Angeles and NEW Orange County – Anaheim, California, the happiest place on earth just got happier.

Read More here

Originally posted on The Disney Parks Blog…

If you’re one of the many runners who have been waiting anxiously to find out about a new race Disney is creating for 2012, I’m going to let you in on the secret a little early. Today at a news conference at Disneyland Resort, we are announcing our newest runDisney event – the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend at Disneyland Resort.

This new race weekend, which will debut Jan. 27-29, will be specifically geared toward women much like our popular Princess Half Marathon Weekend at Walt Disney World and will feature a 5K, kids’ races and a health and fitness expo with merchandise, apparel and fitness tips from leading endurance experts – all tailored for women runners.

More than 10,000 runners are expected to sign up for the inaugural race following today’s announcement involving Elisabeth Hasselbeck, co-host of ABC’s “The View” and Megyn Price, star of the hit TV sitcom “Rules of Engagement.” Hasselbeck is talking about the race during a series of TV interviews and Price, who has already signed up to run the race, is attending the press conference today at Disneyland along with Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait and Disney California Adventure park Vice President Mary Niven.

The Disneyland Merchandise Events team has just confirmed that Disney Legend Jack Lindquist, the first president of Disneyland park, will appear for a special book signing on Sunday, May 1, at The Disney Gallery. This is the first time Jack has appeared for a signing inside the park since his tenure as President. Jack’s memoir, In Service To The Mouse, which debuted in December 2010, has become an instant hit among Disney fans. It recounts his many experiences over a 38-year tenure working for The Walt Disney Company and, of course, his unexpected journey to becoming the first president of Disneyland park.

One of the favorite excerpts from the book comes from Chapter 7, as Jack recounts his favorite time to be in the park (and mine, too), and how he came across a family visiting the park on Christmas Eve 1955, which ultimately led him to the realization of what Disneyland Resort means to people.

This memoir is a definite must-read for any Disney fan! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. For those of you interested in picking up the book and meeting Disney Legend Jack Lindquist, he’ll be at The Disney Gallery on May 1 from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Disney Parks Blog

Disneyland released details about it’s new musical parade, Mickey’s Soundsational Parad that will feature floats and performers from films ranging from “Mary Poppins” to “Tangled”.  The parade officially premieres May 27.

Highlights of the parade include:

Mickey Mouse drum float: Mickey will be on a float, pounding on a drum. The float will be surrounded by drummers, including Goofy on the cymbals. The “Mickey Mouse Club Theme Song” will introduce the parade.

“The Little Mermaid” float: An octopus sits atop the float, and other elements, including a shrimp, move. Marimbas and steel drums will be part of the music.

Disney Heroine: Princess characters, including Snow White and Rapunzel, will ride on their own float. Dancers in princess costumes will surround it.

“The Princess and the Frog” float: The bayou-themed float will carry Princess Tiana, Louis and Dr. Facilier. Elements, including flowers and a boat, move.

Other units: “Aladdin,” “The Three Caballeros” “Peter Pan,” “Mary Poppins” and a jungle-themed unit with “The Lion King” and “Jungle Book” will be in between larger floats. Mary and Burt from “Mary Poppins” will bob up and down on carousel horses along the unit.

Disney has started rehearsals for the parade, which includes a drum line and 90 performers. About 1,000 people, including 100 drummers.

Mickey’s Soundsational Parade is designed to replace Celebrate, which ended its run in November.

As families prepare for their 2011 summer vacations, the Disneyland Resort announces grand opening dates for several, highly-anticipated new attractions and family experiences.

The all-new “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade” will bring a new beat to the streets of Disneyland Park beginning May 27. Also at Disneyland park, guests will once again visit galaxies far, far away with the opening of Star Tours, The Adventures Continue, on June 3.

At Disney California Adventure Park, the expansion continues with the June 3 grand opening of The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. Guests will also find some exciting changes at the Disneyland Hotel this spring.

May 27 premiere: All new for 2011, “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade” officially steps off for Memorial Day weekend with an explosive musical score, thrilling rhythms and bold percussion that will have guests dancing to many of their favorite Disney tunes. Live musicians will amplify the fun, and colorful dancers will entertain guests to the beat of a syncopated drum line, twinkling cymbals and steel drums. Mickey Mouse and his pals will be jamming like never before, riding down Main Street, U.S.A. on whimsical float units.

Grand opening June 3: At Disney California Adventure park, get ready for an all-new voyage with one of Disney’s most beloved characters, Ariel. The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure will invite guests to take a magical journey under the sea to experience all the fun and adventures in Ariel’s world. From the great songs to state-of-the-art animatronics and special effects, guests will become a part of her world in a way that’s never happened before.

The experience is a musical retelling of the classic motion picture as the best-loved songs come alive in magnificent scenes. Guests will sing along with Sebastian and Flounder, keep an eye out for the evil Ursula, and watch the Little Mermaid fall in love.

The Little Mermaid attraction represents the next big milestone in the expansion of Disney California Adventure park. “World of Color” debuted last year and continues to wow guests every night with magic that combines choreographed lights, lasers, music, animation and Disney storytelling. And beginning in 2012, guests will explore the new, 12-acre Cars Land.

Grand opening June 3:  For those who dare to venture into the deep, dark corners of the universe, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue officially launches in Tomorrowland at Disneyland park, taking guests on interstellar adventurers to Coruscant, Tatooine and other destinations in the “Star Wars” galaxy. With the return of favorite Star Wars characters and the addition of more familiar faces and destinations, guests will experience Starspeeder travel in an all-new way . . . in 3D!  This attraction also launches at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort on May 20.

Disneyland Hotel Enhancements: As part on an exciting renovation project, the Disneyland Hotel gets a retro theme with a contemporary twist. Along with beautiful new décor in the rooms, guests will enjoy historic and nostalgic elements of Disneyland park, circa the 1950s. In keeping with that spirit, the new Tangaroa Terrace restaurant will open this spring, along with the new bar called Trader Sam’s. The tiki-inspired design and storyline for this restaurant and bar tie in thematically with the mid-century modern architecture of the Disneyland Hotel and the adjacent Dream Tower, soon to be renamed Adventure Tower.

Guests will enjoy these exciting additions and more at the Disneyland Resort this summer.  To learn about the continuing expansion at Disney California Adventure park, guests can visit the Blue Sky Cellar preview center located within the park.  The Blue Sky Cellar houses concept drawings, models and other exhibits from Walt Disney Imagineering that allows guests a sneak peek of what’s coming next to Disney California Adventure.

Future visitors to Walt Disney World and Disneyland may be able to reserve ride times from their home computers and bypass hotel check-in desks once they arrive at the resort, said Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs, at an investors conference.  Those advances are among of a series of technological initiatives Disney is developing in hopes of making visits to its increasingly crowded theme parks easier to plan and less intimidating to navigate.

Staggs’ comments provided the first detailed glimpse at a secretive initiative dubbed “Next Generation Experience,” or “NextGen,” that Walt Disney Parks and Resorts has been working on for more than a year.  In his remarks Thursday, Staggs described a “version of Fast Pass for an entire Disney vacation.” Future guests, he said, will be able to reserve specific ride times for popular attractions, secure seating for shows, make restaurant reservations and pre-book other experiences before they leave their homes on vacation.

They will also be able to obtain their room keys in advance, eliminating the need to check into hotels and allowing them to proceed immediately to their rooms or a theme park once they arrive on Disney property.

For more information…please go to the Daily Disney Blog by Jason Garcia

What do you get when you combine themed dance parties, a fireworks spectacular and your favorite Disney attractions? Disney Grad Nite! And today, we’re officially announcing the dates for both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort.

Disneyland Resort 2011 Event Dates:
5/12, 5/19, 5/26, 6/2, 6/8, 6/9, 6/16

Walt Disney World Resort 2011 Event Dates:
4/29, 4/30, 5/6, 5/7

Celebrating its 50th year at Disneyland Resort and its 40th year at Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Grad Nite is an exclusive high school graduation celebration offered on both the East and West Coasts.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts recalled roughly 1,200 watches that were manufactured by Time Industrial Manufactory Ltd. of Hong Kong and sold in recent months in Disney’s U.S. theme parks.

The recall involves light-up watches featuring one of three animated characters — Buzz Lightyear of the Toy Story films, Tinker Bell, and Lightning McQueen of Cars, that were sold between November 2010 and January 2011 in stores at Walt Disney World and Disneyland, aboard Disney Cruise Line ships, and in Disney stores at Orlando International Airport.

According to a joint announcement, the batteries used in the watches can interact with their stainless-steel backs to cause skin irritation or burning sensations on children’s wrists. Disney has received six complaints about the watches, the announcement said.

Disneyland  will be kicking off its final theme of a series of weekend events Friday with Mardi Gras celebrations.

The Mardi Gras events will be held on Fridays through Sundays for the next three weekends, ending March 6, according to the Disney Parks blog. The celebrations are part of Family Fun Weekends — a series of entertainment experiences that Disneyland began hosting since last month.

The Mardi Gras features will run in New Orleans Square.

The features include:

* Princess Tiana’s Mardi Gras Celebration, including characters from “The Princess and the Frog,” is an interactive street party.

* Jambalaya Jazz Cavalcade will feature a jazz band and Disney characters in Mardi Gras costumes.

* Dressed-up Disney characters will meet visitors in the Court of Angels.

* Special food, including Mickey King Cake and Mardi Gras cupcakes, will be for sale.

* The Royal Street Bachelors will perform on the French Market Stage.

Mardi Gras begins at 10:30 a.m. and the final cavalcade starts at 5 p.m., concluding the days’ events. Visitors should check the park guide for performance times.

According to Brady MacDonald of the Los Angeles times, the new Maleficent dragon won’t make her scheduled debut this weekend at Disneyland in the upgraded Fantasmic show due to “technical issues.”

Disneyland officials say that those “technical issues” do not include the rumor that the 40-foot-tall dragon’s neck snapped during testing and that the head fell off!

The show will go on sans the dragon — with the new Fantasmic making its official debut on reportedly June 12th with the new Flotsam and Jetsam eels and high-definition video projections on the mist screens.

Greg McNaughten

Armed with my new Canon 5D Mark II I headed off to Disneyland for the first time in a while. In fact the first time since I was laid off the first week of May.

Both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure have construction updates.

First of Great Moments with Mr Lincoln has a new attraction poster announcing the attractions return in time to celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s 200th Birthday.

At Disney’s California Adventure many construction fences are still up while construction is feverishly carrying on.  The movie Golden Dreams has been closed for some time. A sign announcing the arrival Disney’s Little Mermaid attraction is up at the Palace of Fine Arts building in the Bay Area of Golden State.

In the Paradise Pier area some of the construction is complete such as the Midway Games. As I mentioned in the previous update the Paradise Pier logo has been added to California Screamin’. The new paint scheme and Mickey head have been finished at the Sun Wheel. I did not notice if the name has changed. Certainly with the removal of the “sun” from the wheel it cannot be a sun wheel.

The Wonderful World of Color construction continues to show progress.