Today we’re excited to share two new images by Annie Leibovitz from our ongoing Disney Dream Portrait series. All the portraits feature well-known celebrities transformed into the roles of famous Disney characters, and now, in a first for the series, we’re featuring characters who originated in our parks!

But first, Russell Brand stars as Peter Pan’s arch nemesis, Captain Hook, narrowly escaping the jaws of the hungry crocodile who has chased him for years. The caption reads, “Where every moment leaves you hungry for more.” Looking at this one, can’t you almost hear the “tick-tock?”

“There’s a little matter I forgot to mention…beware of hitchhiking ghosts!”

From the Haunted Mansion attraction, Jack Black, Will Ferrell and Jason Segel star as Phineas, Ezra and Gus, better known to millions around the world as the Hitchhiking Ghosts. The caption reads, “Where you can go on the ride of your afterlife.” If you’re not careful, one of them may follow you home!

You’ll find these amazing images and more as part of a special insert in fall issues of GQ, O – The Oprah Magazine, People, People En Español, Vanity Fair, Real Simple, Essence, and InStyle.

Check back tomorrow and I’ll be your host — your ghost host — as we go behind the scenes of the Hitchhiking Ghosts photo shoot with three of the funniest guys around.

Hurry baaa-aaack…

Tagged: Art of Disney, DLR, WDW

Filed: Art of Disney, Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort

Tomorrow we will unveil two spectacular new images from Annie Leibovitz for Disney Parks. Until then, the only clue I can offer is from the cover of the special magazine insert to feature the images in select magazines this fall: “Where wickedly good times await.”

Be sure to check back on Wednesday!

Tagged: Art of Disney, DLR, WDW

Filed: Art of Disney, Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort

It was nine years ago next month that I first met Lucky the Dinosaur. We were at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles to introduce Lucky, and the innovative technology from Walt Disney Imagineering that makes him possible, to the world. If you’re not familiar with Lucky, he’s a free-roaming, people-loving, 12-foot-long, 450-pound dinosaur who has occasionally appeared at Disney Parks. I last saw him at the D23 Expo in 2009.

We snapped this picture of Lucky roaming Disney California Adventure park during his very first visit in September 2003.

So, put on your pre-historic thinking caps and … “Caption This!”

Tagged: DCA, DLR

Filed: Disney California Adventure Park, Disney History, Disneyland Resort

As we prepare to celebrate the USA Volleyball Team at Disneyland park on Tuesday, we look back at some other great Olympians who have visited us over the years.

As you might imagine, the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics were a pretty big deal for us here at the Disneyland Resort. In addition to a big fundraiser event for the U.S. Olympic Team that May (which included pyrotechnic Olympic rings suspended from a helicopter!), we hosted thousands of athletes, officials and dignitaries from more than 140 nations during the games themselves.

In 1988, we hosted a send-off for Team USA as they prepared to leave for the Olympics in Seoul, Korea. Following the games, we saluted our returning Olympians with an event featuring then-Vice President George H.W. Bush.

This video, produced before the most recent games, features archival photography from these events as well as individual visits from some of our Olympic heroes over the last four decades.

Read more about the history of Disneyland park in these posts:

• The Disney Gallery: A Hidden Treasure Celebrates 25 Years at Disneyland Park
• Scaling the Majestic Matterhorn at Disneyland Park
• Celebrating 35 Years of Space Mountain at Disneyland Park

Tagged: DL, DLR, Video

Filed: Disney History, Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort

You never know who you’re going to run into in Radiator Springs. We recently followed Mater over to the Cozy Cone Motel where none other than Larry the Cable Guy was having a look around Cars Land.

Can you just imagine the conversation these two were having?

Tagged: Cars Land, DCA, DLR

Filed: Celebrity Visits, Disney California Adventure Park, Disneyland Resort

To celebrate her daughter’s twelfth birthday, Vanessa Williams brought her and some friends to Disneyland park. It happened to be the very first day that Merida, the adventurous heroine from the upcoming Disney•Pixar film “Brave,” was greeting guests in Fantasyland. While her daughter was practicing archery at this delightful new location near “it’s a small world,” Vanessa posed with Merida for this fun photo.

Can you remember Vanessa’s connection to another Disney film featuring a brave heroine?

Check out these other posts about celebrities visiting the Disneyland Resort:

• Sophia Grace and Rosie Get a Sneak Peek of Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park
• Exclusive Sneak Peek of ‘Modern Family’ at the Disneyland Resort, Plus a Tune-In Surprise
• Joey Lawrence Celebrates his Birthday with his Brothers at the Disneyland Resort

Tagged: DL, DLR

Filed: Celebrity Visits, Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort

Today marks the 35th anniversary of the landmark Tomorrowland attraction that became an instant classic when it opened on May 27, 1977.

A variation of a concept Walt Disney developed in the 1960s, Space Mountain first opened at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in 1975. Construction on Space Mountain at Disneyland park began soon after.

In this rare photo, construction continues on Space Mountain in 1976.

I remember riding Space Mountain the week it opened. That day, and in the years that followed, I was fascinated by the “com chat” in the queue. What’s your favorite memory from Space Mountain?

Tagged: DL, DLR

Filed: Disney History, Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort