Winter Updates

Just a quick note on what's happening here at D Que Blog.

Updates are coming slow, as Winter is a slow time at the resort.  Now when I say "slow" it is all relative.  For those guests visiting the parks you will have less opportunity to ride some of the popular attractions. Right now rides like "a small world", Splash Mountain, Mad Tea Party, Grizzly River Rapids, Silly Symphony Swings, Mark Twain/Fantasmic and others are all down for annual refurbishment.  And of course, there is a big yellow crane hovering over Big Thunder Mountain as it continues its HUGE rebuilding. Fantasy Faire is nearing completion at the Hub area, and the Fantasyland Theater is still working toward it's new show this spring/summer. So what's left to do?

Well, if your like me, you could race through space at Space Mountain, race around the southwest at Radiator Springs Racers, take a plunge with Pirates of the Caribbean, or plunge into the depth of Tower of Terror. You could still take a break and watch Aladdin and Genie over at the Hyperion or sing along with Jose and the other birds at the Enchanted Tiki room.

Things around the resort will start slowly coming back to normal beginning later this month and into March.  So stay tuned as we get ready for the coming attractions.

For random updates or items be sure to follow me on Twitter or Facebook. See links at the right.

See you in the parks.

Happy New Year

Happy 2013

 

Welcome to another magical new year and another 365 chances to make magic and memories at the Disneyland Resort.  Be sure to visit this spot regularly for the latest news, photos, videos, and more from The Happiest Place On Earth.

Twas' The Weekend Before Christmas

Twas' The Weekend Before Christmas

 

Twas' the weekend before Christmas,

And all through the parks,

Every creature was stirring...

 

Because this is Disney, and it's getting Darn Busy!

 

 

For those who can't make it to the busiest place on earth this coming week, rest assured that many thousands of other park guests will be fighting the crowds just to be part of the holiday spirit.

 

For those who are bundled up by the fire,

or nestled safely in bed with visions of sugar plums ...

 

Oh never mind.  Here are a few fun links/videos about the resort.

 

Night Magic for Christmas at The Disneyland Resort

 

TV Spot for the Disneyland Holiday Season

 

For those of you who got to visit Disneyland over the summer and got the chance to experience The Voices of Liberty at the Main Street Opera House then you know how great they are. Click Here for my original post about The Voices of Liberty at Disneyland.  Below are videos, from WDW & Epcot, with the original Voices performing some holiday songs.

 

 

 

 

and finally,

 

The Disney Parks Christmas Parade

is coming to TV on Christmas Day.



Here are some clips to get you ready...

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Very Merry DCA Christmas

A Very Merry DCA Christmas

 

 

As we slowly close the book on Halloween, let's look forward to the next major holiday at the Disneyland Resort.  Christmas has always been one of the biggest and most magical times at Disneyland park. Over the past decade millions of park quests have been able to experience the Christmas Parade, attractions like Small World Holiday or Haunted Mansion Holiday, Reindeer Roundup at Big Thunder Ranch and the very popular "snow" on Main Street.  Disneyland has always commanded huge crowds to celebrate Christmas.

 

 

But this year The Merriest Place on Earth may just be making a move across the plaza. 

 

"This summer, the eagerly anticipated additions of Buena Vista Street and Cars Land opened to excited Guests as part of a major expansion at Disney California Adventure Park. Now, those popular areas will undergo a spectacular holiday makeover, meaning that The Happiest Place on Earth Just Got Merrier." - StichKingdom.com

It seems that Disneyland's sister park Disney California Adventure is beginning to come into its own. This past summer completed a Gazillion Dollar make-over, starting on Paradise Pier and ending with two new streets full of trolleys and race cars. The attendance numbers started shifting, and crowds that once packed the narrow walkways of Walt's original park suddenly shifted over to the wider corridors of the one time parking lot. So, it's not surprising that Disney is putting a lot of effort and money into making this newly popular park a rival for the title Merriest Place on Earth.

 

“For this first holiday celebration, we imagined that all the businesses on Buena Vista Street got together like a chamber of commerce to bring the community together,” explained David Caranci, Manager of Resort Enhancement. “It becomes a matter of civic pride to decorate the street and stores and to erect a huge, 50-foot-tall Christmas tree in the heart of the city as a spot for everyone to join in singing carols.  “Even Mickey and his friends will sport a retro look — how they appeared in the 1930s — to match the rest of the theming on Buena Vista Street. We’ll also have wonderful vintage toys for display under the huge Christmas tree. From a tin robot to a blimp — all sorts of hidden surprises from that time period.” - StichKingdom.com

 

It appears that Buena Vista Street will look just as jolly as Main Street.

 

Cars Land is celebrating its first Christmas season as well, in an enchanted creative partnership between Resort Enhancement, Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering. “We all came up with some very imaginative answers to the question, ‘How would cars celebrate the holiday season?’” said David.  Look for Snowy the Snow Car, a brand-new automotive holiday friend. He’s the Cars Land version of a snowman. “We have all fallen in love with him already because he is just so endearing,” said David. A nice photo next to this whimsical, seven-foot fellow might be just the thing to include with your holiday cards this year! - StichKingdom.com

Even the residents of Radiator Springs will be getting into the act.

 

I can hardly wait for all of the new holiday additions to Disney California Adventure.  Not only will Buena Vista Street and Cars Land be decorated but we will also be able to celebrate in Hollywood Land, a bug land and special surprises on Paradise Pier.  Apparently the "little sister" across the plaza has more up her sleeve, and is ready to show off her new holiday outfit.  I've got my cameras ready.

 

For the complete article quoted in this post go here.

 

Look back here later next month for more articles on both

Disneyland and DCA for the holidays. Happy HoHoHolidays.

not so Frightening Fridays 3

not so Frightening Fridays

Let's continue looking at Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort.

Review part one here.

 Review part two here.

 This week in our Halloween Time journey we will take a "westward" turn at the Hub and venture into Frontierland.  You wouldn't think that Halloween would be found in the early frontier of this country, but Disney has found a way to incorporate it and make it work.

 

 

Just inside the gates of Frontierland we get our first glimpse of this Fall holiday.

 

 

The shops are lightly decorated with pumpkins and fall leaves.

Further along the wooden sidewalk, along side the Mercantile

 we come to a new tradition, The Haunted Tree.



The pumpkins light up at night - Spooky.
 

Inspired by Ray Bradbury, this tree came to Frontierland in 2007.

Just before we reach the riverboat dock, and positioned directly in front of both Thunder Mountain and Rancho Del Zocalo is Zocalo Park.  Here we get to celebrated Dia De Los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead.  This is a traditional Spanish holiday and does fit in well with the small space.
 

I must say, this is a great way to spice up this little spot.

I would love to see Disneyland use this space more during the year.
Perhaps, during non-holiday parts of the year we get a "Three Amigos" meet and greet.
Maybe we could have a mini Frontier Festival for July 4th.
 

 

There's even a not-so-hidden Mickey

 



The "original" Three Amigos?

 



Does this dress make my hips look big?

 



 

Face Painting for the kids.
 

Finally, as we continue around Thunder Mountain, to the northwest,

we begin to see signage for the newest entertainment offering this year.

 

 

Behind Thunder Mountain we find Big Thunder Ranch. This area is currently home to the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ and the Halloween Carnival.  Let's move in to take a closer look at each of these offerings.

 

Halloween Carnival

 

The Halloween Carnival is a fabulous addition to Frontierland.

 

The Ranch
 

As you enter the ranch it's all decked out in Autumn colors.

 

Even the goats have gotten "dressed up" for Fall.

 



The Scare-dy-crow Shack
 

The Pumpkin Folk have moved in...

 



Piano Lessons, anyone? Will we learn to play Grim Grinning Ghosts?

 



"Two Pumpkins walk into a bar... One says to the bartender..."

 

Bandit Bart and Sheriff Gourdy stop for some punch.

 



 

The shack has been appropriately decorated.

The Festival Arena
 

Show times are listed

 



Buy your "ticket" from the Pumpkin Master

 



Meet Chip or meet Dale dressed as Keystone Cops

 

Goofy is wearing his skeleton outfit while meeting fans

 

One of my favorite exhibits is the Pumpkin Carvers

 



Whoooooooo are youuuu?

 



Wipe that smile off your face.

 



Would you like to "Be part of her world".

 



Don't lose your head. It's just Ichabod.

 



Traditional Mickey

 



Thumper and pals

 



Don't let Donald spot this. He might get angry.

 



Look! Look! I Found Nemo!

 



Can you carve with all the colors of the wind?

 



Billy, Billy, Billy, and Billy invite you to sing along.

 

Games of chance and skill, all free to play, will challenge even adults.

 



A large tent at the rear of the Jamboree promises a visit from a Disney Villain.

Who will appear when we enter?

 

Ah, Captain! Welcome to the party. Let me shake your hook.

All that fun made me hungry. Vittles are available.

 

Big Thunder Barbecue - Halloween Roundup

For a more substantial meal maybe we should visit
the Big Thunder Barbecue - Halloween Roundup.
 

Music and Entertainment are on the menu.

 

Be sure to come back next Friday as we travel to New Orleans

and visit the attraction the inspired Halloween Time at Disneyland.