Dizzy for Disneyland
By William Keck, USA TODAY
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mickey and Minnie Mouse welcomed some famous friends to their Disneyland home Wednesday to help the theme park kick off its Happiest Homecoming 50th anniversary celebration, which continues through the end of 2006.
Former Mouseketeer Christina Aguilera was spotted in the Haunted Mansion, wrapped in the arms of her fiancé, music exec Jordan Bratman.
Jim Belushi and his young son, Jared, occupied the special newly installed gold Dumbo on the famous flying elephant ride. (Many of the park's original attractions now feature a gilded vehicle — a Mr. Toad car, a Peter Pan pirate ship, a Mad Hatter teacup and a carousel horse.)
Over at the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, John Stamos cavorted with swashbucklers. Disney CEO Michael Eisner hinted that the Pirates ride would soon feature an animatronic character with the face of Johnny Depp, who plays Jack Sparrow in Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
An obsessive Disneyphile, Stamos paid $30,000 for the original Disneyland sign for his now ex-wife, Rebecca Romijn, after the two spent their first date at the park. Since their split, Romijn has been keeping the sign in storage until Stamos finds a new yard large enough to display it.
Pirates also is a favorite ride of Kelsey Grammer, who joked that he and his wife, Camille, sometimes re-enact the ride in the privacy of their bedroom. "Quite often," Grammer said, "I pretend to be one of the pirates, and she's my wench."
The Happiest Place on Earth
More Coverage:
· Bloggers Live on the Scene
· Photo Tour of Disneyland
· Guide to the Resort
Talk About It Chat | Post
Jon Voight recalled bringing daughter Angelina Jolie on the Pirates ride when she was a girl. Now estranged from Jolie, Voight had "no opinion" on the nature of her association with Brad Pitt, except to say, "I like Brad very much."
Art Linkletter, 92, who helped his close pal Walt Disney open the park back on July 17, 1955 — Linkletter's 43rd birthday — spent the day with his wife of 70 years, Lois, enjoying rides at the adjoining park, California Adventure. "We went on Soarin' Over California this afternoon," the spry senior said.
Tyra Banks, who remembered chickening out on Space Mountain as a girl, said she's looking forward to the ride, which reopens July 15 after a two-year renovation.
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Desperate Housewives stars Teri Hatcher and James Denton walked the gold carpet together while goofing around with Donald Duck and Pluto. Hatcher, a serious Disney collector, brought her 7-year-old daughter, Emerson, who brought a friend of her own, a stuffed Eeyore. Turns out the hapless donkey is Hatcher's favorite Disney character. She even keeps a giant stuffed Eeyore propped up on her bed.
Although she has been pretty much game for anything since accepting the role of honorary ambassador of Disneyland's anniversary promotion, Julie Andrews refused photographers' requests to don special gold mouse ears. Her concern: That the hat would harm the former Mary Poppins' practically perfect hair. Visitors can hear Andrews narrate the new parade and fireworks display, which Hatcher called "the best ever!"
By William Keck, USA TODAY
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mickey and Minnie Mouse welcomed some famous friends to their Disneyland home Wednesday to help the theme park kick off its Happiest Homecoming 50th anniversary celebration, which continues through the end of 2006.
Former Mouseketeer Christina Aguilera was spotted in the Haunted Mansion, wrapped in the arms of her fiancé, music exec Jordan Bratman.
Jim Belushi and his young son, Jared, occupied the special newly installed gold Dumbo on the famous flying elephant ride. (Many of the park's original attractions now feature a gilded vehicle — a Mr. Toad car, a Peter Pan pirate ship, a Mad Hatter teacup and a carousel horse.)
Over at the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, John Stamos cavorted with swashbucklers. Disney CEO Michael Eisner hinted that the Pirates ride would soon feature an animatronic character with the face of Johnny Depp, who plays Jack Sparrow in Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
An obsessive Disneyphile, Stamos paid $30,000 for the original Disneyland sign for his now ex-wife, Rebecca Romijn, after the two spent their first date at the park. Since their split, Romijn has been keeping the sign in storage until Stamos finds a new yard large enough to display it.
Pirates also is a favorite ride of Kelsey Grammer, who joked that he and his wife, Camille, sometimes re-enact the ride in the privacy of their bedroom. "Quite often," Grammer said, "I pretend to be one of the pirates, and she's my wench."
The Happiest Place on Earth
More Coverage:
· Bloggers Live on the Scene
· Photo Tour of Disneyland
· Guide to the Resort
Talk About It Chat | Post
Jon Voight recalled bringing daughter Angelina Jolie on the Pirates ride when she was a girl. Now estranged from Jolie, Voight had "no opinion" on the nature of her association with Brad Pitt, except to say, "I like Brad very much."
Art Linkletter, 92, who helped his close pal Walt Disney open the park back on July 17, 1955 — Linkletter's 43rd birthday — spent the day with his wife of 70 years, Lois, enjoying rides at the adjoining park, California Adventure. "We went on Soarin' Over California this afternoon," the spry senior said.
Tyra Banks, who remembered chickening out on Space Mountain as a girl, said she's looking forward to the ride, which reopens July 15 after a two-year renovation.
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Desperate Housewives stars Teri Hatcher and James Denton walked the gold carpet together while goofing around with Donald Duck and Pluto. Hatcher, a serious Disney collector, brought her 7-year-old daughter, Emerson, who brought a friend of her own, a stuffed Eeyore. Turns out the hapless donkey is Hatcher's favorite Disney character. She even keeps a giant stuffed Eeyore propped up on her bed.
Although she has been pretty much game for anything since accepting the role of honorary ambassador of Disneyland's anniversary promotion, Julie Andrews refused photographers' requests to don special gold mouse ears. Her concern: That the hat would harm the former Mary Poppins' practically perfect hair. Visitors can hear Andrews narrate the new parade and fireworks display, which Hatcher called "the best ever!"