Everyone’s a Winner in the Tinker Bell Half Marathon at the Disneyland Resort
posted on February 20th, 2012 by Michele Himmelberg, Public Relations Director, Disneyland Resort
Participating in a runDisney half marathon or marathon is an amazing experience. Whether you run at Walt Disney World Resort or the Disneyland Resort, you get the unique opportunity to run through theme parks, see Disney characters, experience amazing entertainment and receive incredible finisher medals. After all, it’s all about the bling!
No matter whether you’re first place or last, accomplishing your goal is celebrated in grand fashion at runDisney races. At the Tinker Bell Half Marathon last month at the Disneyland Resort, best friends Krysta Rosner of Los Angeles and Christine Hanna of Phoenix found out that finishing last can be very rewarding at a runDisney event.
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New ‘Disneyland Explorer’ App for iPad: Take a Spin Around the Happiest App on Earth
posted on February 2nd, 2012 by Michele Himmelberg, Public Relations Director, Disneyland Resort
The magical sights and sounds of Disneyland Resort can now be discovered with “Disneyland Explorer,” the official Disney Parks app for iPad, available as a free download from the App Store. When you can’t get to the theme parks, the hotels or the Downtown Disney District, you can tap the photo-realistic carousel of this app to reveal photos, video and special activities inspired by the classic attractions and entertainment at the resort.
More than 100 exciting experiences are shared with beautiful images, animation and interactive touch points. With a simple swipe of your fingers, you can explore Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, the themed suites at the Disneyland Hotel and much more. Watch for animation and fun surprises as you scroll through the adventures.
Here are some of the fun activities you can experience with “Disneyland Explorer:”
- Create your own musical water show in “World of Color”
- Steer a Soarin’ hang glider over California while collecting and sharing personalized postcards
- Bring the iconic dolls of “it’s a small world” to life and hear the classic song in five different languages
- Snap photos of the elusive Yeti as he roams across the Matterhorn
- Take part in a raging sea battle in Pirates of the Caribbean
- Learn to draw your favorite Disney Characters at the Animation Academy
“Disneyland Explorer” is a free app, available for download exclusively from the App Store on iPad.
Meet the First Mom to Represent Disneyland Resort on the Walt Disney World Moms Panel
posted on January 30th, 2012 by Michele Himmelberg, Public Relations Director, Disneyland Resort
As a mom, I know moms rely on other parents to get information they can trust, especially when it comes to family fun. That’s why I’m so excited to introduce you to the first “Disneyland” mom on the Walt Disney World Moms Panel – Amanda Ficili. She and Ari Krell (you’ll meet him later) were selected to be the first panelists to answer guest questions about the Disneyland Resort.
You can tell by Amanda’s smile, this is a girl who likes to have fun – especially at Disney Parks. She grew up on the East Coast and frequently visited Walt Disney World Resort. Now she lives in Northern California and calls Disneyland Resort her “second home.”
Amanda usually visits with her husband and young daughter, a little princess who has inherited her parents’ fascination with Disney magic. She and her husband are self-proclaimed “Disney foodies” and, if you like to shop, Amanda’s your girl for discovering treasures at Downtown Disney.
Q: What’s it like to share your passion for Disneyland with visitors to the Moms Panel?
A: It’s an honor to represent the Disneyland Resort. I believe Disneyland is the ultimate vacation destination. When road-trip time rolls around, it’s a no-brainer … I’m going to Disneyland!
Q: What’s a tip for families visiting from outside Southern California?
A: Staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel keeps the magic alive for your entire visit. You don’t realize what a difference it makes until you’re there. And be sure to enjoy the new pools and spectacular Monorail slide at the Disneyland Hotel.
Q: How can I make a Disneyland vacation more affordable for my family?
A: I have been to Disney on almost every imaginable budget, and I’ve enjoyed every visit. Be sure to always check www.Disneyland.com/offers for current special offers and vacation package deals. Staying steps away from the magic can be more affordable than you may think.
Q: Tell us some of your favorite food topics at Disneyland Resort.
A: There are so many! Romantic dinners at Napa Rose, character dining at the Resort hotels, birthday celebrations, Blue Bayou Restaurant – plus all the special treats.
Tell us what you would ask Amanda at DisneyWorldMoms.com.
Merry Holiday Hunt at the Disneyland Resort: How Many of These Festive Places Will You Find?
posted on December 14th, 2011 by Michele Himmelberg, Public Relations Director, Disneyland Resort
From Santa Claus and real reindeer to the biggest holiday lights you’ve probably ever seen, the Disneyland Resort is glimmering with holiday magic through January 8, 2012. If you’re bringing along friends and family to visit this season, you could treat them with a fun way to discover all the special cheer: A Merry Holiday Hunt!
Gather your group with this list, or break into teams for some competitive fun. For extra points, take photos at each location and share them with friends using Facebook or Twitter.
- The lively street show “Phineas and Ferb’s Rocking’ Rollin’ Dance Party” gets a merry twist at Disney California Adventure park, with holiday décor and songs. What’s the vehicle they arrive on for this interactive party?
- Decorators trim nearly 700 trees throughout the resort. Which character shape is represented on the ornaments of the large tree at Disney California Adventure park?
- What adorns the top of the 60-foot, Town Square Christmas tree in Disneyland park?
- Even in Southern California, it snows during the Holidays at Disneyland Resort. Where does this happen and what might you smell while you’re there?
- Where are two places you can see Toy Soldiers during the holidays?
- A wonderful transformation turns a classic attraction into “it’s a small world” Holiday. What three songs are heard as you ride through this world of laughter?
- Where can you find Santa in Disney California Adventure park?
- One of the most playful places at Disney California Adventure park is “a bug’s land.” What bright objects do you find here that make fun photo backdrops?
What item would you add to this Merry Holiday Hunt?
Note: Special thanks to our partners at the Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, who shared some of their pointers. Guests at those hotels can check in at the concierge desk and ask for a copy of their exclusive hunts to enjoy in the parks.
Click here for the answers to the Merry Holiday Hunt.
Before Star Tours, Guests Traveled to Inner Space on Another Adventure
posted on August 5th, 2011 by Michele Himmelberg, Public Relations Director, Disneyland Resort
As you enter Tomorrowland, just beyond the Astro Orbiter attraction, you come to a familiar building on the right side. It’s home to one of the most popular places at Disneyland park this summer, the new Star Tours – The Adventures Continue. The first Star Tours attraction opened in this spot in 1987, and two decades before that, another popular “adventure” occupied this location.
If you’re older than 30, I bet you know what it was: Adventure Thru Inner Space. (I’ll have a harder question for you at the end of this post.)
On August 5, 1967, Adventure Thru Inner Space was the Star Tours of its day – a futuristic journey to a place far, far away. Walt Disney partnered with experts from the Monsanto Company to develop an attraction that would take guests to inner space by traveling through a “mighty microscope” and into the realm of a snowflake. To make this daring journey, guests had to “shrink” to the size of a molecule. The concept of guests “shrinking” became the hallmark of the attraction.
Adventure Thru Inner Space remained popular with guests for nearly two decades. The experience that once was futuristic, however, became outdated as science and space travel advanced. So, on September 2, 1985, Adventure Thru Inner Space shrank its last guest to the size of a molecule, making way for a new, inter-galactic adventure.
In both the original and the new version of Star Tours, Imagineers paid homage to Adventure Thru Inner Space with a hidden reference to the “mighty microscope.” Have you found it?
Here’s your trivia question: When Imagineers first developed the new attraction for this location – Star Tours – what was it called?
Disney Parks Blog Readers Share Their Tips For Enjoying the Disneyland Resort
posted on August 2nd, 2011 by Michele Himmelberg, Public Relations Director, Disneyland Resort
Holly goes to the Animation Studio to see “Turtle Talk with Crush,” Suzanne takes her children for an ice cream cone at Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor and Mike heads for the shady benches on Tom Sawyer Island. Those are a few of the places at the Disneyland Resort that Disney Parks Blog readers named as great spots to relax on a summer day.
Thanks to everyone who shared their tips for making the most of their visits to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks. We offered a few of our own tips, and here are some of the responses from guests who know a lot about enjoying the parks.
- Felisha: “We have a family with small children and hit the park at 8 a.m. to get on the Storybook Land ride first thing, after getting my cup of coffee on Main Street, U.S.A. We … get a FASTPASS for Splash Mountain so we can get on around 2 or 3 p.m., when it seems hottest.”
- Craig takes a break in the late afternoon and heads back to the hotel with his family: “We can swim, rest and recover from the day … We always go early, break and then close the park down each day we go. This way really takes care of grumpy, overloaded kids (and adults).”
- Kim: “Eat meals at odd hours. The restaurants are less busy.”
- Christian: “Watch one of the 3-D shows. I enjoy ‘It’s Tough to be a Bug’ because it’s air-conditoned and the ‘acid’ spritzes are refreshing.”
- Katie: “Go see Billy Hill & The Hillbillies at the Golden Horseshoe. They are so talented musically and they are so funny, plus it is air-conditioned and they have the best chili-cheese fries.”
Tips for Visiting Disneyland Resort This Summer
posted on July 20th, 2011 by Michele Himmelberg, Public Relations Director, Disneyland Resort
My friends and family are always asking me for tips about the parks at Disneyland Resort, especially in the summer when guests come to town and want to play. I’ve been collecting some thoughts from parents who are wise enough to plan ahead and whimsical enough to go with the flow when little ones get weary.
I bet you have lots of tips from your visits on how to best enjoy the parks. Please share them with other readers in the comments below. This video has some cool tips from cast members and guests – and check out the list below to help you plan your visit this summer.
At the parks:
- Get a Dole Whip and then enjoy the show inside the Enchanted Tiki Room (more fun when you sing along with the birdies).
- Let the kids splash around at two fun water spots: in the queue area near Grizzly River Run and at Princess Dot Puddle Park (both at Disney California Adventure park).
- In the warm afternoons, head indoors to shop or take a cruise on “it’s a small world.”
- Two more cool, indoor spots: See “Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular” at Hyperion Theater and then tour the nearby Animation Academy, with fun artistic activities.
- New: Relax in the shade of the Paradise Garden Grill, a beautiful, 900-seat dining area in Disney California Adventure park. Enjoy the live “Italian-American” music.
Important basics (good reminders for out-of-town visitors):
- Head to your favorite attraction first thing in the morning and get a Disney FASTPASS ticket.
- Make reservations in advance if you want to dine at a specific, sit-down restaurant (714-781-DINE).
- Store items in a locker (less weight to lug around on a warm day).
Summer deals:
- Check out www.Disneyland.com/offers for special ticket and hotel offers, including special offers for Southern California residents.
OK, I know you’ve got lots more. Tell us your thoughts on making the most of your visits to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks.
Disneyland Celebrates 56 Years on July 17
posted on July 15th, 2011 by Michele Himmelberg, Public Relations Director, Disneyland Resort
Search July 17 as a famous historical date and the year 1955 often pops up as opening day for Disneyland park. The park’s anniversary ranks alongside prominent moments in history, such as great sports achievements and the birthdays of important political figures. Disneyland has become a cultural icon, and the park’s opening day marks a milestone in family entertainment.
This year, Disneyland celebrates its 56th anniversary on July 17. It’s a very special day for cast members as well as guests, and the resort has commemorated it over the years with a variety of slogans and salutes, with celebrations big and small. Here’s a brief look back:
1965: “Tencennial Re-Dedication Day” featured the “Disneyland Tencennial Celebration Parade.”
1980: “I Was There!” birthday buttons were given to guests who attended the 25-hour anniversary party. (Those buttons are now collector’s items.)
1985: “Thirty years of Magic… the Best Has Just Begun” was the theme of a new parade. A theme song thanked Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck for “30 Happy Years.”
1990: Disneyland turned 35, “proof that the good things in life get only better.”
2005: “The Happiest Homecoming on Earth” paid tribute to the 50th anniversary, and the park handed out nearly 100,000 cupcakes during the huge celebration.
One of my favorite anniversary stories is from the park’s 10th Anniversary. Guests of an employee party said that Walt Disney congratulated them and offered this perspective: the first 10 years were a “dress rehearsal,” and anyone thinking about resting on their laurels could “just forget it.”
This year on July 17, a celebratory moment will be held at 2:30 p.m. to commemorate the 56th anniversary of opening day. An audio recording of Walt Disney’s original dedication speech will be heard throughout Disneyland park. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and a cast of characters will gather in Town Square to sing “Happy Birthday” to Disneyland with guests and cast members.
Were you here for any of the anniversary parties? What’s your favorite Disneyland anniversary memory?
Peek Inside the Life of a Walt Disney Imagineer: California’s Kevin Rafferty
posted on June 9th, 2011 by Michele Himmelberg, Public Relations Director, Disneyland Resort
Wouldn’t it be fun to take a peek inside the life of a Disney Imagineer? California’s tourism commission thinks so and it suspects a lot of you do, too.
This week, the tourism group is featuring the “Blue Sky” creative role of Kevin Rafferty, Walt Disney Imagineering Senior Concept Writer/Director. Kevin, who has worked on many attractions at the Disneyland Resort, is one of eight Californians highlighted in the California Travel & Tourism Commission’s current campaign – Live Like a Californian.
The campaign promotes tourism to California with some creative travel packages, each inspired by a California innovator or icon. Since Kevin’s work reflects the innovative spirit of California, this week you can take a quiz about his role as a DIsney Imagineer.
Did you know Kevin worked on the attractions Toy Story Mania! and Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage? His latest project is Cars Land – opening in 2012 at Disney California Adventure park.
A Disneyland Resort Summer Ticket Deal for Southern California Residents: 3 Days for $139 (1 Park per Day)
posted on June 1st, 2011 by Michele Himmelberg, Public Relations Director, Disneyland Resort
If you’re planning a summer visit to the Disneyland Resort, here’s a great, new deal for local residents starting June 3. Just in time to experience “Disney Soundsational Summer,” the Resort is offering a new ticket for residents of Southern California and Northern Baja.
Here are the details:
Southern California resident ticket: This offer is good for three park visits to either Disneyland park or Disney California Adventure park (one park per day) within a 45-day period, for residents residing in ZIP codes 90000 through 93599, and 21000- 22999. For $139, guests will enjoy three fun-filled summer days and nights at the Disneyland Resort. This offer is subject to restrictions and change without notice.
Yes, you can upgrade: For an additional $15, local residents can upgrade to a 3-day Park Hopper ticket that allows guests to visit both parks on the same day.
When you can get it: This offer is available for use June 3 through Sept. 5 and is blocked out from July 2-4, 2011, and August 21-22, 2011.
Where you can get it: The summer ticket can be purchased at www.disneyland.com/summer, the Disneyland Resort box office, Disney Stores, Disneyland Resort hotels and a variety of southern California supermarkets and retail chains, including Vons, Albertsons, Ralphs, Stater Bros., Food 4 Less, Gelson’s and Deardens. Resident ID is required.
Thinking about a getaway? Visitors can turn this ticket into a multiday getaway with special rates at Disneyland Resort hotels.
What’s new: At Disney California Adventure park, expansion continues with the enchanting new attraction, The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. It opens June 3, along with Star Tours, now in eye-popping 3-D at Disneyland park. On Main Street, U.S.A., rhythm is king as the magic of Disney music takes to the streets daily in the new “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade.”
For more information about the this summer value – and new entertainment from “under the sea” to a galaxy far, far away – go to www.disneyland.com/summer.
With this kind of deal, I bet I’ll see you in the parks this summer!
