Amusement Parks
How many times can a theme park open the same ride? Comments Off on How many times can a theme park open the same ride?
So when is a theme park attraction really open?
That would seem an easy question. A theme park ride or show is open if you can go on or in to see it. But less and less is easy about theme parks these days. Remember back before Fastpass and Maxpass, when all it took to get on a Disneyland ride was waiting in one line?
Universal Studios Florida in Orlando announced Monday that its new Fast & Furious ride is now open to the public. This is a stand-alone version of the 3D encounter at the end of the Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood, since there is no Studio Tour – or studio – at Universal’s Orlando property. But fans have been riding the Fast & Furious – Supercharged attraction in Florida for nearly two weeks, since it went into what Universal calls “technical rehearsals” earlier this month. Universal also has scheduled a big media event for the ride’s grand opening next week, on Wednesday, May 2.
So when did the ride actually open? Two weeks ago, this week or next week?
The Fast & Furious ride is getting three openings: its “soft” opening, its public opening, and its official, “grand” opening. That’s actually not uncommon in the theme park business, where technically advanced ride systems and complicated show effects might need weeks of testing and adjusting before they are ready for an “official” debut.
So-called soft openings allow parks to test their new attractions in front of the public before they invite reporters and launch advertising campaigns to promote the new ride or show. It’s the theme-park version of the “out of town” runs that Broadway shows make before they debut before critics and audiences in New York.
For major attractions, such as Fast & Furious, parks typically plan their media events weeks or even months in advance, leaving them scrambling when a ride still isn’t ready in time or opting to add a third, “public” opening when the attraction doesn’t require as much testing as anticipated, as appears to have happened this week in Orlando.
But even after a ride or show has its official grand opening for the press, being “open” can continue to be a relative term. Theme parks can adjust the capacity and even the content of their attractions, making the experience different from one day, or even hour, to the next. Disneyland’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, for example, might not feel as “open” when it is running just one train on its track and the line is backing up, versus when it runs its full five trains, giving the roller coaster the capacity to put through many more guests in a hour.
Did you know that Disney has multiple versions of the preshow for the Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout! ride at Disney California Adventure? If you saw Rocket Raccoon only on the video screen, you got the “B” version of the preshow, which features an animatronic version of the character in its regular operation. A “B” mode allow parks to keep attractions open when an important component fails, such as the Rocket animatronic. Going back to the Broadway analogy, sometimes you get the understudy playing the leading role.
On some rides, however, the “B” mode becomes normal operation, as has happened on the Expedition Everest roller coaster at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida, where its Yeti animatronic has been motionless for years, illuminated by strobe lights that prompted fans to nickname it the “Disco Yeti.”
Then there are the down times, the planned and unplanned closures that can keep “open” attractions unavailable at any time after their official debuts. Rain, tech glitches, even crying children can cause a ride to close unexpectedly.
So even if an attraction is “open,” is it really, fully open? You might not know until you ride – assuming you get the chance.
Disneyland fans stand in line to buy $20 popcorn buckets Comments Off on Disneyland fans stand in line to buy $20 popcorn buckets
It wouldn’t shock anyone to discover that people are standing in line at Disneyland, but what about waiting for hours to buy popcorn?
OK, OK, it’s not just popcorn, but rather the plastic popcorn bucket that’s the draw. It’s designed in the shape of the little green alien from the “Toy Story” movie franchise and is available for a limited time only.
For the tiny sum of $20, Disneyland annual passholders can buy this limited edition bucket and refill it as often as they like for $1 each until June 21. That’s why folks are waiting in line in front of the park’s 11 popcorn carts at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, because they’re afraid the supply of buckets will run out and then they’ll be left with … nothing.
“It appears to me that the marketing people at Disney, have latched onto a gold mine,” Disney annual passholder David Brock said in an email about the popcorn bucket lines, pointing out that the resort’s most avid fans simply can’t resist anything deemed as limited edition. Disneyland says the buckets will be on sale only until May 24.
Now, here’s the funny part: True popcorn bucket collectors can indeed get $1 refills until June. But “a lot of people don’t want popcorn in their buckets,” according to Navy wife Mary Meacham of Camp Pendleton, who collects them.
See, the popcorn is messy. And they want their buckets pristine. So, instead, they get the popcorn in a typical box like everyone else. However, in order to get their $1 refills, they still have to bring the original alien bucket with them on every trip.
And, for people who visit the park often, that can mean a lot of popcorn.
Now, skeptics might think, “Gee, microwave popcorn from Costco in a box costs a quarter a bag. Just pop it and bring it to the park. What’s the big deal?”
But, truly, friends, you just don’t understand. It wouldn’t be Disneyland popcorn. Which normally costs $4.50 per box, without the fancy container.
“We are crazy,” Mary Meacham said, laughing. “I really can’t explain it. Except this is something we have just for Disneyland. It’s not available anywhere else (outside of Anaheim).”
Disneyland officials won’t say how many buckets they plan to offer for sale, only that they’ll be available “while supplies last.” This kind of opaqueness is what drives the frenzy. Expect to find some buckets available on auction site such as Ebay within a few nanoseconds, for those who can’t make it into the park.
Mary’s daughter, Katie Meacham, 21, of Riverside spent the night at her grandmother’s house in Long Beach, the better to get up early Tuesday morning and get to the park by 8 a.m. This meant she was able to snag a bucket early, and then be on her way back home, newly acquired treasure carefully buckled into the passenger seat of her car.
Her mom, Mary Meacham, who grew up in Long Beach, now lives at Camp Pendleton with her Navy husband. Unfortunately, Katie Meacham couldn’t buy a bucket for her mom, because the sales were only one per annual passholder.
Lines to buy the buckets stretched down through the park Tuesday morning – the first day they were on sale – but that didn’t deter the devotees, who waited patiently, just as they may have done to buy handmade candy canes at Christmas or rose gold-colored Minnie Mouse ears earlier this year. Most recently, Disney heads lined up to buy special Dole Whip doughnuts.
Mary Meachum said she only started seriously collecting specially shaped buckets in October. So far, she has buckets in the shape of Cinderella, Dumbo, Oogie Boogie and Zero with his doghouse from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and Pluto. She made a special trip to the park to get the limited edition Sulley bucket from “Monsters Inc.” when it became available April 13, on the first day of the Pixar Fest celebration. Now, it’s currently sold out, though more are on order, Disney officials said.
“We’re just the weirdos who like this,” she said. “There’s a whole circle of us.”
You must do these 12 things at the Disneyland Pixar Fest Comments Off on You must do these 12 things at the Disneyland Pixar Fest
Starting Friday, April 13, Disneyland is launching a new summer festival featuring parades, a spectacular new fireworks show with state-of-the-art projections and other events during its first Pixar Fest, running all summer long until Sept. 3.
Both Anaheim theme parks – Disneyland and Disney California Adventure – will hold the festival, dedicated to classic Pixar movies such as “Toy Story,” “Up,” “Finding Nemo,” “The Incredibles” and “Cars.”
Here are the top things you need to do:
At Disneyland:
1 “Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular”: This is a fireworks show on steroids that can be viewed from four different areas of the park. It opens with the character Buzz Lightyear from the “Toy Story” movies flying 100 feet above Sleeping Beauty Castle, and continues with huge video projections as well as fireworks and other special effects. See this event from prime viewing locations on Main Street U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle, Rivers of America or at It’s A Small World. Each location will see the same projections and hear the same specially recorded music, but will have custom effects, such as lasers and fog. The house from the movie “Up” will fly overhead at one point. Fans of the movie “Coco” will want to look for 10 dancers simulating townspeople from the movie dancing on Main Street rooftops. The show starts at 9:30 p.m. and lasts around 12 minutes.
2. Pixar Play Parade: The returning parade has moved to Disneyland with new characters added. It will wend its way through Disneyland, led by a 14-foot-tall Pixar lamp and giant ball, with elements from “Toy Story,” “Monsters, Inc.” and “Cars.” Also look for a 12-foot-tall bird recognizable as “Kevin” from the movie “Up” and a new “Inside Out” element. If you buy a Plaza Inn meal package, you can get reserved seating. As you might guess, it’s not cheap. Start times vary on this parade, either 3:30 p.m. or 6 p.m. or both, depending on the date.
3. Like pizza?: “Toy Story” fans should stop by Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port in Tomorrowland, which has temporarily been turned into the Alien Pizza Planet from Pepperonia for Pixar Fest only. And note that there will be a new Pixar dance party on Tomorrowland Terrace starting June 8.
At Disney California Adventure:
4. Paint the Night Parade: At Disney California Adventure, this after-dark event has more than 1 million sources of light, according to DIsney. There are video screens, a “Monsters, Inc.” float with 17,000 lights, a “Cars” float with Lightning McQueen and a 54-foot-long Mack and a Slinky Dog float from “Toy Story.” Starting in June, an Incredibles float will be added. (Important note: There will be no World of Color show for the immediate future. It is closed for refurbishment.) This lighted parade runs at 8:45 p.m. nightly and some nights also at 10:45 p.m. You can get dining packages with reserved seating at two locations.
5. Special meet-and-greets: Head to Paradise Gardens to look for special character appearances such as Mike and Sulley, Woody and Buzz Lightyear, Russell and Dug, Flik and Atta, and Mr. and Mrs. Incredible.
6. Annual pass-holder swag: Pass-holders should head to the special AP Corner in Paradise Gardens at Disney California Adventure until June 8 for special swag with themes that change every two weeks, such as a removable decal. Note that crazy popcorn bucket collectors can buy special popcorn buckets between April 24 and May 24 and use them to get $1 refills until June 21 (until they sell out.)
7. Short flicks: See the collection of Pixar short films screening at the Sunset Showcase Theater, including “For the Birds” and “LAVA.” A great way to take a break and get off your aching feet.
8. New band: Check out the live music in Paradise Garden, where TripleDent Gum will be presenting the seven-piece Pixarmonic Orchestra. The band will be using cowbells, kazoos, whistles, duck calls and other offbeat instruments to play songs from Pixar movies.
At both parks:
9. Get there before the parks open: Really, you’ll want to be there when it’s still cool and not-yet-mobbed. And you can still get a place in the parking garage, which opens 90 minutes before the earliest park opening time. You need to do this. Seriously.
10. Eat weird stuff: If you’ve been yearning all your life to eat a cookie shaped and frosted like a green alien, here’s your chance. Also, check out the root beer float that comes in a souvenir Woody’s cowboy boot at the Golden Horseshoe in Disneyland, the Sulley premium popcorn bucket available at various carts or the Coco chocolate churro at the Frontierland churro cart. There’s also a noodle salad at Lucky Fortune Cookery that changes colors. Seriously.
11. Save money: Make sure to go before May 24. If you’re a local, and you don’t have an annual pass. You can buy a specially priced 2-day, 1 park per day, pass for Southern California residents only for $159, or a 3-day pass for $199. That’s a decent discount off the single-day price. Parkhoppers cost slightly more. But you have to use them by May 24. After that, the price goes up.
12. Buy more stuff: Don’t have enough junk … er … collectibles? There’s tons of limited-time swag for sale and also special annual-pass-holder-only stuff to buy at Disneyana, Kingswell Camera Shop and Knick’s Knacks so if you never have enough merchandise, check it out.
These charts show how 5,000 Disney workers feel about their jobs Comments Off on These charts show how 5,000 Disney workers feel about their jobs
Are Disneyland Resort employees whistling while they work? While nearly 80 percent say they are proud of the work they do, the majority say they are not fairly compensated and struggle to afford the necessities of life, such as food and health care, according to a survey of 5,000 union employees commissioned by a coalition of Disneyland unions. A Disneyland spokeswoman said the survey is unrepresentative of the resort’s 30,000 workers. “While we recognize that socio-economic challenges exist for many people living in Southern California, we take pride in our employment experience,” she added. The Walt Disney Co. continues to post record profits.
Sources: U.S.census, Occidental College Urban and Environmental Policy Institute, the Economics Roundtable and The Coalition of Resort Labor Unions,
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These charts show how 5,000 Disney workers feel about their jobs Comments Off on These charts show how 5,000 Disney workers feel about their jobs
Are Disneyland Resort employees whistling while they work? While nearly 80 percent are proud of the work they do, the majority feel they are not fairly compensated and struggle to afford the necessities of life, such as food and health care, according to a survey of 5,000 union employees. The Disney Co. continues to post record profits.
Sources: U.S.census, The Coalition of Resort Labor Unions, Occidental College Urban and Environmental Policy Institute, UCLA Labor Center and the Economics Roundtable
The horses are back to pull the trolley on Main Street USA at Disneyland Comments Off on The horses are back to pull the trolley on Main Street USA at Disneyland
Clip clop. Clip clop. In case you’ve been missing the sound of hooves on pavement, the horses are back at Disneyland.
The horse-drawn trolley is one of the few Disneyland attractions that’s been operating since opening day in 1955, carrying park visitors up and down Main Street USA nearly every day for more than 60 years. That was until Jan. 8, when they went on hiatus while Disney workers repaired the tracks.
People who are particular fans of the Disneyland horses were on hand Thursday to greet the animals as they once more began their route up and down Main Street, shuttling passengers slowly up to Sleeping Beauty Castle, and then back again.
“It’s excellent, everyone’s super-excited to have them back,” said Lisa Gleim, a Disneyland employee who oversees the streetcars and the horse barn. She was out helping load passengers Thursday morning, and making sure all was well.
Disneyland annual passholder Vickie Coleman of Long Beach even called her boss and asked for the day off, when she got a text at 7:30 a.m. that the streetcars would begin operating again. “I called my boss and said, ‘Do you mind if I take a vacation day? I’m sorry it’s short notice.'”
Coleman and her husband, Michael Deluca, are particular fans of the 18 Disneyland horses whose job it is to pull the trolleys. They know all their names, breeds and markings.
The horse-drawn trolley was important to park founder Walt Disney as a symbol of small-town, turn-of-the-century America that he wanted to replicate on Main Street USA. But the animals are also a huge draw, especially for children.
“They had a horse out for petting the other day, and it had longer lines than Mickey Mouse,” Deluca said. “They’re incredibly good with children.”
Disney workers spent nearly three months renovating the elderly rail track system that the trolleys use along the pavement, repairing them for safety reasons and adding a ribbon of 50,000 bricks, which are not only decorative but also are better for the horses’ hooves to walk on. During the renovations, visitors saw wooden barriers lining the middle of Main Street. The renovations also put a temporarily halt to the nightly parades.
No one’s allowed to pet the steeds while they’re working, but they seemed content to be back on the job, trudging 3,500 feet – about two-thirds of a mile –while hauling up to 24 visitors at a time.
Disneyland also operates other vintage vehicles, including a fire engine, omnibus and horseless carriage, which have also returned to operation. But the horses have a special appeal.
Tim and Cheryl Daniel of Sanger were riding the trolley Thursday morning, unaware that they were among the first visitors to experience the new tracks. Cheryl Daniel said they like the horses because she and her husband were raised on farms, and they enjoy seeing the children respond to them, knowing that some may never have seen a live horse.
After more than 60 years of walking the same route, up Main Street to the hub in front of the castle and then looping around for the return, the horses now walk a figure-8, with a new track design. This means that they make the same number of turns on their left side as right, saving wear and tear on the trolley and the harnesses, and also providing a more balanced amount of exercises for the animals themselves.
“They pull from their shoulders, and we wanted them to start pulling left (as well as right),” Gleim said. “For their health, to balance them out.”
The horses, which are large, beautiful draft breeds such as Percheron, Shire and Brabant have been practicing their new route early in the morning, before the park opens.
She said that the horses – mostly geldings – typically work three hours per day, three days per week, during the daytime. When it’s too hot, the horses retire and the streetcar doesn’t run. The horses were formerly stabled at the park, but now that area is under construction to become Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge land, so they have a new home at Circle D Ranch in Norco.
“They had to retrain them to teach them to go in this new pattern,” Coleman said. “Some were more stubborn than others.”
Here’s what’s closing at Downtown Disney to make way for a new hotel Comments Off on Here’s what’s closing at Downtown Disney to make way for a new hotel
Several businesses that have anchored Anaheim’s Downtown Disney since it opened in 2001 will be demolished this summer, including the popular ESPN Zone, Rainforest Cafe and AMC 12 Theatres, to make room for a new 700-room hotel that will expand lodging at the Disneyland Resort.
This is the largest renovation of the major shopping-and-entertainment district, which was created to accompany the expansion of Disneyland with a second theme park and the new Grand Californian hotel. The announcement marks a turning point as the destination moves from its former emphasis on attracting local residents to courting out-of-town visitors willing to spend money on a four-diamond hotel, experts said.
Disney officials announced that the businesses would close by June 30, with demolition slated to begin in early July to clear the site for the new and as-yet-unnamed hotel, which will occupy 17 acres. It’s unknown at this point if any of the closed businesses will reopen elsewhere in Anaheim, though talks are ongoing about one or more reopening inside the new hotel complex.
Here’s what is being demolished:
- AMC 12 Theatres
- Rainforest Cafe
- ESPN Zone
- Earl of Sandwich
- Alamo Rent-a-Car
- Starbucks (only the west side location)
- Two Disney businesses – Disney Vacation Club and Walt Disney Travel – will continue to operate in other resort locations.
Essentially, everything on the Downtown Disney property west of the Lego store and Disneyland Drive will be demolished, until the boundary of the Disneyland Hotel is reached.
Employees of the businesses were being notified of the impending closures on Tuesday, officials said.
Gavin Doyle, author of “Disneyland Secrets,” said he was glad they weren’t waiting until the end of the summer to begin demolition.
“People seem to be the most sad about losing the Earl of Sandwich (quick service restaurant), because it’s probably the least expensive and best tasting meal in Downtown Disney,” Doyle said.
Although all the businesses are expected to close by June 30, some may close earlier, officials said. No date for the start of demolition has yet been set. Disney has yet to receive expected final approvals from the city of Anaheim for the new hotel, which is slated to include a monorail stop and a new restaurant-lounge that offers viewing of the Disneyland fireworks.
Some 200 employees at the Disney-owned ESPN Zone sports bar will be offered bonuses starting at $500 if they remain on the job until the June closing date, and will also be offered severance packages and the chance to seek other jobs at the resort, Disney spokeswoman Suzi Brown said.
“We appreciate their contributions and we’re working with them individually to explore opportunities at this resort,” Brown said.
Disneyland Resort currently has three properties in Anaheim: The Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian and Disney’s Paradise Pier.
Building a new hotel on the popular Disneyland Resort entertainment zone adjacent to the theme parks is “a no-brainer,” said David Koenig, unofficial Disneyland historian and author of “Mouse Tales.”
“Everything they’ve built ‘inside the magic’ (entertainment area) is a guaranteed hit,” Koenig said. “If they could start opening up hotel rooms inside the (Disneyland Sleeping Beauty) castle, they’d do it.”
Doyle said it makes sense for the AMC 12 Theatres to close, as the emphasis shifts from attracting local users to out-of-towners who spend money in hotels and on food.
“A movie theater in general is just not anyone’s priority of top things to do at Disneyland,” Doyle said. “It’s smart for them to get rid of it.”
A spokeswoman for the Downtown Disney location of the Rainforest Cafe chain was not immediately able to comment.
The Earl of Sandwich shop opened in 2012 and has been a hit ever since, spokeswoman Amy Sadowsky said. She declined to comment on speculation that a new hotel might contain an Earl of Sandwich location when it opens, slated for three years from now.
“We’re sad this is happening, but it’s progress,” Sadowsky said. “It’s a great new development that Disney is building.”
Sadowsky said that the Earl of Sandwich plans to operate until the June 30 deadline, and its 69 employees will have the chance to be considered for jobs at Buca di Beppo, which is also owned by parent company Planet Hollywood International.
“We’re hoping to keep people by encouraging them with pay,” Sadowsky said.
Two job fairs are scheduled, including a Disneyland Resort Culinary Job Fair on April 16 at the Grand Californian and a Resort area job fair on May 3 at the Disneyland Pacific Hotel. They are open to the public.
Disneyland just added a second ‘Star Wars Nite’ after the first sold out quickly Comments Off on Disneyland just added a second ‘Star Wars Nite’ after the first sold out quickly
by Marla Jo Fisher • Real Estate News • Tags: Amusement Parks, Disneyland, The OC Register, Things To Do, Top Stories Breeze, top stories ivdb, Top Stories LADN, Top Stories LBPT, Top Stories OCR, Top Stories PE, Top Stories PSN, top stories rdf, Top Stories SGVT, top stories sun, Top Stories WDN on April 25, 2018
If you found yourself sobbing uncontrollably because the popular “Star Wars Nite” scheduled for May 3 sold out so quickly at Disneyland, dry your tears. Because the park has accomodated the bereft fans by adding a second night. And tickets will go on sale Tuesday, May 1.
As you might guess, this promotes the next movie in the Disney Star Wars franchise, “Solo: A Star Wars Story” that opens May 25, plus of course the anticipated opening of the new land Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in July 2019
Here’s what you need to know:
The second “Star Wars Nite” for 2018 is scheduled for Wednesday, May 9. You have to buy a special $99 ticket for admission to the party, and you can arrive as early as 6 p.m. The party itself will run from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m.
Note that the earlier version of this event on May 3 sold out in a flash, so Disneyland added a second. If you want to go, you should buy tickets when they become available on Tuesday, May 1.
This new night will add some additional elements, including the chance to buy special “Solo: A Star Wars Story” pins, one extra Star Wars-themed photo opportunity and an artist showcase and book signing.
You can buy eight tickets per person. No discount for annual passholders and parking is not included. Kids under 3 don’t need a ticket.
Normally, Disneyland doesn’t allow adults to wear costumes in the park, but they bend the rules for this event. No masks for adults, though. Kids under 14 can wear masks if their eyes are visible. Don’t wear costumes that touch the ground. If your costume is too voluminous, you’ll be subject to special security screening and maybe you can’t go on rides anyway, so why would you? You can’t pose for pictures or sign autographs and you can’t be too nasty or violent in appearance or wear sharp objects.
What’s free? Well, you get a lanyard, credential and free digital photos via Photopass. You also get to say hi to the Rey character from Star Wars. And ride Hyperspace Mountain! Some other rides will be open including Star Tours, It’s a Small World, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Matterhorn and Jungle Cruise.
If you get there early enough, you can enjoy some of the fun from the Pixar Fest that’s running at the parks right now.
Want to go? Buy online beginning May 1, 2018 or in person at any Disneyland Resort Ticket Booth. You can also call 714-781-INFO or 714-781-4636. Click here to learn more about the second Disneyland After Darks Star Wars Nite.