Five Years of Expansion at the Disneyland Resort

[sponono88]

The Disney Parks Blog has posted an interactive map that shows all the additions to the Disneyland Resort in a five-year span (2007-2012) ending with DCA's Relaunch this summer.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/06/five-years-of-expansion-at-the-disneyland-resort/

The following is a press release that lists everything that has opened since 2007. It's been a tremendous amount of work and effort and the time has finally come to enjoy everything. Only 8 days away from completion!

2007
On Oct. 17, Disneyland Resort announces expansion plans for Disney California Adventure, revealing some of the fun, upcoming additions: Toy Story Mania!, “World of Color,” The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, Carthay Circle Theatre, Cars Land and Radiator Springs Racers. (Additions noted below are at Disney California Adventure, except as noted.)

2008
Toy Story Mania! opens on Paradise Pier at Disney California Adventure. The interactive, multiplayer game is an instant hit with guests who vie for the highest scores.

Debuts in 2008:

Toy Story Mania!
“Pixar Play Parade”
New shows at “Playhouse Disney __- Live on Stage!”
Innoventions Dream Home (Disneyland Park)
Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough (Disneyland)
Mark VII Monorail

2009
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa completes an expansion with 203 new guest rooms, a new pool and 50 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club villas, the first Disney Vacation Club property on the West Coast.

Debuts in 2009:

“Magical” fireworks spectacular (Disneyland)
Mickey’s Fun Wheel
Blue Sky Cellar
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa expansion
First Disney Vacation Club villas on the West Coast
Pixie Hollow (Disneyland)
Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy (Disneyland)
Ridemakerz (Downtown Disney)
D Street (Downtown Disney)

2010
“World of Color” opens to rave reviews and enthusiastic crowds. The breathtaking, nighttime spectacular weaves water, color, fire and light into a kaleidoscope of fantasy and imagination. Work on Cars Land reaches a construction milestone with the “topping out” of the Ornament Valley Mountain Range.

Debuts in 2010:

“World of Color”
Silly Symphony Swings
Games of the Boardwalk
Glow Fest (nighttime, summer party for guests of all ages)
ElectTRONica (nighttime party with dancing and games replaces Glow Fest in October)
2011
The Little Mermaid ~Ariel’s Undersea Adventure opens to give Disney California Adventure a classic dark-ride attraction. At Disneyland, guests now enjoy more than 50 different adventures at Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.

Debuts in 2011:

The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
Goofy’s Sky School
“Phineas and Ferb Rockin’ Rollin’ Dance Party”
Paradise Garden Grill and Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta
New character shows at “Disney Junior – Live on Stage!”
“Mickey’s Soundsational Parade” (Disneyland)
Star Tours – The Adventures Continue (Disneyland)
Disneyland Hotel Renovation
Themed suites
New pool and water play area
Tangaroa Terrace restaurant and Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar
Sanuk (Downtown Disney)

2012
Cars Land, Buena Vista Street and Carthay Circle Theatre open June 15, part of the grand reopening of Disney California Adventure, now with eight themed lands. Guests are immersed in the story of the Disney●Pixar film “Cars” as they step into the town of Radiator Springs. Buena Vista Street offers a nostalgic step back in time to 1920s Los Angeles, with the Red Car Trolley, Carthay Circle Theatre and a tribute to Walt Disney.

Disneyland guests enjoy changes and enhancements along Main Street, U.S.A., including the opening of Jolly Holiday Bakery Café, filled with carefree scenes from the beloved movie, “Mary Poppins.” Other shops along Main Street, U.S.A. are also refreshed and the classic Matterhorn mountain glistens with new paint as riders enjoy new bobsleds. Also in 2012, Downtown Disney adds the WonderGround Gallery and Earl of Sandwich (late summer 2012) to its array of shops and restaurants.

Debuts in 2012

Cars Land
Radiator Springs Racers
Luigi’s Flying Tires
Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree
Flo’s V8 Café
Cozy Cone Motel (food location)
Fillmore’s Taste-In (food location)
Radiator Springs Curios (merchandise)
Sarge’s Surplus Hut (merchandise)
Ramone’s House of Body Art (merchandise)
Buena Vista Street
Red Car Trolley
Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge
Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream
Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Café
Mortimers Market (food location)
Trolley Treats (food location)
Atwater Ink & Paint (merchandise)
Big Top Toys (merchandise)
Elias & Co. (merchandise)
Los Feliz Five & Dime (merchandise)
Julius Katz & Sons (merchandise)
Oswald’s (merchandise)
Mad T Party
“Dancin’ with Disney” interactive character show
Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop
Jolly Holiday Bakery Café (Disneyland)
Meet and Greet with Merida from Disney●Pixar film “Brave” (Disneyland)
WonderGround Gallery (Downtown Disney)
Earl of Sandwich (opens late summer, Downtown Disney)
La Brea Bakery expansion (Downtown Disney)
LEGO Store, newly remodeled (Downtown Disney)
“World of Color” new segment from Disney●Pixar film “Brave” and daytime fountain show

 

[Californian Elitist]

This is the best list ever! This is bigger than the 50th Anniversary. I don't think I've ever witnessed something like this, something this huge going on at the resort. Witnessing everything take place has been great for the past five years! Tomorrow, it will be exactly one week left. Wow.

 

[sponono88]

New video features a park overview of the DCA expansion, with Imagineer interviews for Cars Land and Buena Vista Street

We’re in the final countdown – in less than 24 hours, Cars Land and Buena Vista Street will be open for Disney California Adventure park guests! It’s the end of a five-year expansion for the Disneyland Resort, and cast members and Imagineers are putting the final touches on these amazing new experiences. The video below is a follow-up to the the first “What Guests Can Expect” piece we posted the day we announced the June 15 opening date back in March. Check it out and see what you can expect when you visit Cars Land and Buena Vista Street!

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...n-expect-at-cars-land-and-buena-vista-street/

 

[TP2000]

So... all of this online frenzy got the better of me and I just checked in to the Fairfield Hotel on Harbor Blvd. for the weekend!

I couldn't stand it, I just wanted to be a part of it all. I only live 20 minutes away from Disneyland in Villa Park, but I figured I'd need a crash pad for naps if I wanted to do a marathon day for the 15th. (And I wanted to boost my Marriott points before an upcoming trip, hee hee)

I'm up on the 8th floor of the hotel with a FABULOUS view of all of DCA and the Carthay Circle Theater spire, and there's a line waiting for DCA that fills the Esplanade and spills down Harbor Blvd. right now at Midnight, but I think I'm going to sleep and head out to the park first thing in the morning. I don't need to be at the front of the line, I just need to visit DCA at some point on its Grand Re-Opening and Gala Re-Dedication Day of June 15th, 2012. And I'm happy to crash in this Pirates of the Caribbean themed hotel room here at the Fairfield instead of the hard sidewalk of Harbor Blvd.

Honestly, how could any Disneyland fan worth their mouse ears miss June 15th, 2012?!?

 

[Californian Elitist]

So... all of this online frenzy got the better of me and I just checked in to the Fairfield Hotel on Harbor Blvd. for the weekend!

I couldn't stand it, I just wanted to be a part of it all. I only live 20 minutes away from Disneyland in Villa Park, but I figured I'd need a crash pad for naps if I wanted to do a marathon day for the 15th. (And I wanted to boost my Marriott points before an upcoming trip, hee hee)

I'm up on the 8th floor of the hotel with a FABULOUS view of all of DCA and the Carthay Circle Theater spire, and there's a line waiting for DCA that fills the Esplanade and spills down Harbor Blvd. right now at Midnight, but I think I'm going to sleep and head out to the park first thing in the morning. I don't need to be at the front of the line, I just need to visit DCA at some point on its Grand Re-Opening and Gala Re-Dedication Day of June 15th, 2012. And I'm happy to crash in this Pirates of the Caribbean themed hotel room here at the Fairfield instead of the hard sidewalk of Harbor Blvd.

Honestly, how could any Disneyland fan worth their mouse ears miss June 15th, 2012?!?

TP, have an AMAZING time! As much as I'd love love LOVE to be there, I can't. I had plans of going but I can't now and now thats I'm thinking about it, I'm kinda happy. Those crowds are going to be MASSIVE. Still fun though, but for now I'll leave everything to the foreigners and the tourists. I have plans to go for Halloween and Christmas though. Enjoy and don't forget us! I want to hear everything!

 

[sponono88]

Inside The Magic posted this preview of this morning's festivities - the full video of the ceremony will be posted later today



A plaque was installed below the flagpole to commemorate the new DCA, featuring a new dedication speech by Bob Iger

http://t.co/pmMlzBqV

 

[Californian Elitist]

I've never seen the park that crowded before. This is great! I want DCA so badly to succeed and I have no doubt in my mind it will from now on. Congratulations to everyone at TDA, Imagineering, and the Walt Disney Company for this and many thanks!!!

 

[sponono88]

Full video of the Re-Opening Ceremony on June 15th:



"Welcome to the new Disney California Adventure!"

 

[grunter]

Although Cars-land looks well done, I can't help but think how spectacular a "Nightmare Before Christmas" themed Halloweentown would have been. If DLR wants a Potter-swatter for the West Coast, NBC is the answer.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Although Cars-land looks well done, I can't help but think how spectacular a "Nightmare Before Christmas" themed Halloweentown would have been. If DLR wants a Potter-swatter for the West Coast, NBC is the answer.

Technically we've already got Nightmare, with the Mansion overlay and the Halloween fireworks. An entire land with an NBC/Halloween theme would be kind of overkill. It would definitely be interesting but at the same time too much, I think.

 

[grunter]

Technically we've already got Nightmare, with the Mansion overlay and the Halloween fireworks. An entire land with an NBC/Halloween theme would be kind of overkill. It would definitely be interesting but at the same time too much, I think.

And an entire land devoted to life-sized talking cars is not overkill? Give me a break.

 

[Californian Elitist]

And an entire land devoted to life-sized talking cars is not overkill? Give me a break.

Actually, it's not. Like I've said, we've already got Nightmare going on in the park. There was no sign of Cars in the parks, not that it really matters anyway. Nightmare is already being used. Should we get something new, let the theme be new too. That's all I'm saying, not to mention it would be Halloween/Christmas all year. What would make the Halloween and Christmas seasons at the parks special if it would be Halloween and Christmas all year?

 

[grunter]

Actually, it's not. Like I've said, we've already got Nightmare going on in the park. There was no sign of Cars in the parks, not that it really matters anyway. Nightmare is already being used. Should we get something new, let the theme be new too. That's all I'm saying, not to mention it would be Halloween/Christmas all year. What would make the Halloween and Christmas seasons at the parks special if it would be Halloween and Christmas all year?

Oh, right. If Disney were to create an entire self-sufficient land devoted to NBC, it would clearly be too stupid not to remove the NBC overlay at the Haunted Mansion; thus creating a redundancy.

Although I suppose you have a point about Disney's redundancy, considering that Radiator Springs Racers is just an overgrown Tomorrowland Speedway with animatronic upgrades. Using your logic, since we already have a race car themed attraction at the resort, Carsland is merely "overkill" on a theme with extremely limited interest outside the 5 to 9 year old boy demographic.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Oh, right. If Disney were to create an entire self-sufficient land devoted to NBC, it would clearly be too stupid not to remove the NBC overlay at the Haunted Mansion; thus creating a redundancy.

Although I suppose you have a point about Disney's redundancy, considering that Radiator Springs Racers is just an overgrown Tomorrowland Speedway with animatronic upgrades. Using your logic, since we already have a race car themed attraction at the resort, Carsland is merely "overkill" on a theme with extremely limited interest outside the 5 to 9 year old boy demographic.

That's my point. Why remove Nightmare from the Haunted Mansion if it's already going steady? There's really no need for a Nightmare land. Like I said, the idea is definitely interesting, but unnecesary. Haunted Mansion Holiday is too popular to be removed. Tomorrowland Speedway and Cars Land shouldn't and can't be compared. I think we should just agree to disagree, based on your comment about Speedway/Cars Land. Cars Land doesn't even compare to Autopia, and I've heard from plenty of people that Autopia is better than Speedway.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

If people were worried about Carsland being too hot, imagine what an all black land with only leafless, Tim Burton-y trees for shade would feel like!

 

[Californian Elitist]

If people were worried about Carsland being too hot, imagine what an all black land with only leafless, Tim Burton-y trees for shade would feel like!

Exactly! It just wouldn't work. The land would have to stay true to the story and it would have to be dark, unless there was a Christmas section of the land too. Still though...

 

[grunter]

It never fails to amaze me just how little imagination many of the folks have who profess to be Disney's biggest fans.

No, no, we couldn't possibly have an NBC themed "land" because: "leafless black & white trees?" Seriously? Are you that short on imagination that you seriously fear Tim Burton-esque scenery in the California sunshine wouldn't work? You must have serious qualms about the Haunted Mansion, then, given the fact that it sits right there out in the open during the daytime, not looking spooky at all. *makes that face*

Clearly, raven24, you weren't around during all those threads years ago that absolutely swore up and down that a Harry Potter themed land wouldn't work. It wasn't "Disney." It was too dark. It had too small of a fanbase. It's just a fad. It was a flawed concept. They can't create a ride based on 7 books. On and on and on the soccer moms complained that Disney might actually add J.K. Rowling's wizarding world to their Florida parks.

Then Universal hit a flippin' home run with the design and ride mechanics, creating a legitimate contender for best dark ride that's not on a Disney property and goodness sake, how wrong these people turned out to be.

NBC is the perfect Potter anti-dote. It has broad age appeal. It sells a ridiculous amount of merchandise in the parks. It has an incredibly devoted hardcore fanbase; and it's a Disney property that's nearly 20 years old. The continued resistance to the idea just smacks of those same know-it-all's from before the WWofHP was a reality who insisted Harry Potter in a Disney park would not work.

We all know it would have. And those of us with any taste, know perfectly well that an NBC themed land or ride or specially devoted corner of the park would go over like gangbusters.

But you're right. Why bother? Leafless black trees. *shakes head*

 

[TP2000]

I've always found the Tim Burton stuff to be kind of creepy and weird. I once watched about 10 minutes of Nightmare Before Christmas, and then I turned it off. Just not my scene.

But... I really enjoy the NBC Mansion Holiday thing. It's such a clever way to update and twist an aging E Ticket! I always ride NBC Mansion at least once in October for Halloween, and then again in December when the Christmas spirit hits me. It's fun, even though I have no emotional attachment to the NBC franchise. I've never been a huge fan of Haunted Mansion in general, and only ride it if it has a short line and I'm with out of town guests. But the NBC overlay is so well done and so detailed that it's enjoyable once or twice per year.

I'm not sure Anaheim would need an entire NBC land, since it already has a popular NBC E TIcket attraction. Tokyo Disneyland is in the same boat with their NBC Mansion overlay.

 

[Mike K]

I've always found the Tim Burton stuff to be kind of creepy and weird. I once watched about 10 minutes of Nightmare Before Christmas, and then I turned it off. Just not my scene.

But... I really enjoy the NBC Mansion Holiday thing. It's such a clever way to update and twist an aging E Ticket! I always ride NBC Mansion at least once in October for Halloween, and then again in December when the Christmas spirit hits me. It's fun, even though I have no emotional attachment to the NBC franchise. I've never been a huge fan of Haunted Mansion in general, and only ride it if it has a short line and I'm with out of town guests. But the NBC overlay is so well done and so detailed that it's enjoyable once or twice per year.

I'm not sure Anaheim would need an entire NBC land, since it already has a popular NBC E TIcket attraction. Tokyo Disneyland is in the same boat with their NBC Mansion overlay.

Sorry to hear you turned Nightmare Before Christmas off so quickly. I really urge you to give it another go-around, the animation is stunning in it and the worlds that film takes you to are truly immersive and would look stunning if brought into our world. That said, I've always been fully in support of seeing a full-on "Halloweentown" created for the Disney parks. The town that Jack, Sally, Zero and the rest of the gang reside in is pure Burton but that's not to say it doesn't feel Disneyesque. Disney has utilized Burton on several projects now for his own unique vision that many in the company must feel fits in with there sensibilities as well as bringing in his own dedicated fanbase that love to see his imagination unfold on the silver screen. I love the fact that Disney has had such a positive relationship with Burton over the years because when watching a Burton/Disney collaboration, it allows Burton to spread his wings and just be himself when in return it allows Disney to branch into darker territories that still have wide appeal to people of all ages. Burton's Alice in Wonderland, for better or worse, was one of Disney's most profitable films grossing $1 billion which I'm sure has exceeded that now with home video sales. I actually am quite surprised that Disney hasn't made more of an attempt bringing Burton's characters and worlds into the parks considering how well his films have done for the company.