Disneyland's 60th Birthday: Rumors, Speculation and News

[mharrington]

This is probably not the best place to post this, I'll admit, but I need to get this off my chest...

Having read the article about Bob Iger's plans to give the parks a bigger Star Wars presence (http://variety.com/2014/biz/news/st...-to-be-based-on-new-films-not-old-1201376154/), I'm starting to wonder what is going to happen. He said that they wanted to do it big and to do it right, which takes time. However, that was as far as he went. He did not specify what parks would have a Star Wars presence, much less where at the Disneyland Resort the stuff would go.

All I know is I really hope that it is not in Toontown.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

It's a mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an enigma.

 

[mharrington]

It's a mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an enigma.

Was that supposed to be a joke?

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I mean, no one knows.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

This is probably not the best place to post this, I'll admit, but I need to get this off my chest...

Having read the article about Bob Iger's plans to give the parks a bigger Star Wars presence (http://variety.com/2014/biz/news/st...-to-be-based-on-new-films-not-old-1201376154/), I'm starting to wonder what is going to happen. He said that they wanted to do it big and to do it right, which takes time. However, that was as far as he went. He did not specify what parks would have a Star Wars presence, much less where at the Disneyland Resort the stuff would go.

All I know is I really hope that it is not in Toontown.

It is Toontown, and construction is currently scheduled to start before the 60th celebration closes out. Of course - it can all change, just as it already has multiple times.

 

[mharrington]

It is Toontown, and construction is currently scheduled to start before the 60th celebration closes out. Of course - it can all change, just as it already has multiple times.

Iger never said anything about where it would go. He also mentioned that it's going to be themed to the newest movie coming out next year and beyond. And Toontown is really not all that big a location. The fireworks launch area is back there, and it has to close for the fireworks. I doubt they would want to shut down the Star Wars Land just for the fireworks like they do with Toontown.

And there's always the idea that the new movies may or may not do well at the box office.

 

[Nland316]

I was also told to expect a pretty thorough Castle refurbishment while the Wishing Well is closed - repainting and the like to prep for the 60th decor overlay.

Any chance of getting the original castle color scheme back?

 

[TP2000]

Any chance of getting the original castle color scheme back?

This idea comes up from time to time. I'm not sure it would translate well to 21st century audiences who are now used to HD ultracolor lit by bright LED's. Here's what the Castle looked like around 1957. A bit too washed out for my tastes, even as someone who remembers the 20th century fondly. The monochrome grey color scheme also seems to make the Castle look smaller and closer, but that may just be the photographer.

Versus the look in 2014.

A lot of that gold accent and trim is left over from the big rehab it had in early '05 getting reading for the 50th Golden Anniversary. If there's another big Castle rehab coming in preparation for the 60th, it wouldn't upset me to lose most of that gold trim.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I would imagine the gold trimmings would be replaced with something that matched the look of diamonds, or at least somewhat matched, like silver or something. Not saying they should replace the gold with silver.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Iger never said anything about where it would go. He also mentioned that it's going to be themed to the newest movie coming out next year and beyond. And Toontown is really not all that big a location. The fireworks launch area is back there, and it has to close for the fireworks. I doubt they would want to shut down the Star Wars Land just for the fireworks like they do with Toontown.

And there's always the idea that the new movies may or may not do well at the box office.

Areas could be protected from fallout or the launch areas reworked to remove the need to close the area. Keeping down operational costs also probably plays a nice role in the decision to open Mickey's ToonTown late and close it early.

 

[Twilight_Roxas]

Maybe there going to add new destinations from VII for Star Tours.

 

[Californian Elitist]

This is probably not the best place to post this, I'll admit, but I need to get this off my chest...

Having read the article about Bob Iger's plans to give the parks a bigger Star Wars presence (http://variety.com/2014/biz/news/st...-to-be-based-on-new-films-not-old-1201376154/), I'm starting to wonder what is going to happen. He said that they wanted to do it big and to do it right, which takes time. However, that was as far as he went. He did not specify what parks would have a Star Wars presence, much less where at the Disneyland Resort the stuff would go.

All I know is I really hope that it is not in Toontown.

There's a "Star Wars Land in Toontown" thread on the first page of the DL forums.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

Iger never said anything about where it would go. He also mentioned that it's going to be themed to the newest movie coming out next year and beyond. And Toontown is really not all that big a location. The fireworks launch area is back there, and it has to close for the fireworks. I doubt they would want to shut down the Star Wars Land just for the fireworks like they do with Toontown.

And there's always the idea that the new movies may or may not do well at the box office.

Iger didn't say anything about where it would go, because that's not public information yet. That doesn't change the fact that right now the plan is for Toontown to be removed. It's not just Toontown - using that plot allows them to reach backstage as well as take over areas of the ranch and northern unused Frontierland area (think the site once slated for Discovery Bay).

The Star Wars expansion will be ginormous - probably the biggest at Disneyland in decades. Obviously they are aware of fireworks issues and are planning accordingly.

Again this could all change - not too long ago the plan was to supplant most of Tomorrowland, but at present, the plans to remove Toontown are moving forward. There is absolutely zero chance that Episode VII doesn't make a billion dollars at the box office. The pent up demand is there.

That said, this is the wrong thread for this discussion - other than that construction will start (meaning Toontown will likely close completely) before the 60th wraps up.

 

[mharrington]

Iger didn't say anything about where it would go, because that's not public information yet.

And yet Miceage, a site with little credibility, I'm told, insists that this is public information.

The Star Wars expansion will be ginormous - probably the biggest at Disneyland in decades. Obviously they are aware of fireworks issues and are planning accordingly.

How do you know they are planning around fireworks?

There's a "Star Wars Land in Toontown" thread on the first page of the DL forums.

I posted in there the very same article by Iger, but nobody has responded.

 

[JediMasterMatt]

...And Toontown is really not all that big a location. The fireworks launch area is back there, and it has to close for the fireworks. I doubt they would want to shut down the Star Wars Land just for the fireworks like they do with Toontown.

Anaheim's Star Wars Land environments will likely be mostly interiors with guests protected from fallout since they will be in the show buildings. <cough Death Star-esque /cough>

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

To be fair, the most significant thing occurring around the "60th" thing is the development of Star Wars attractions, even if they don't appear for several years. I know that there's a new parade and fireworks show (and whatever else), but nothing has been this huge since the overhaul of DCA.

 

[Disneysea05]

I would really like some horticulture work to be done around the castle/hub to restore some of the castles scale in the hub area. Those trees are beautiful, but they have changed the scale of the buildings and the Matterhorn.

In the early 2000s two tall trees right behind Snow Whites Wishing Well were removed and it made a huge difference in the castles appearance.

 

[nemofinder22]

Forgot to post this back when the article came out but since its relates directly to the 60th. David that they refer to is David Caranci who is part of the Resort Enhancement Team.

https://cdn.media.d23.com/html/stampd23/23days/day06/day06.html

David is also the producer of the décor package for Disneyland's 60th anniversary celebration so stay tuned for more to come from this very talented Walt Disney Imagineer!

More on what David does-

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

Announcement date is set...so keep your eyes peeled later this month.

 

[jrh1985]

Announcement date is set...so keep your eyes peeled later this month.

AWESOME! Are you able to give a clue about the date? Maybe the week?