“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!” I can hear the classic holiday tune in my head as I watch the video below. The Christmas tree at Disneyland park is now up at Christmas Tree point. An amazing team of people made it happen and we were there with our Disney Parks Blog camera. It’s not an easy task. The artificial evergreen is 60 feet tall and decked out with more than 1,800 ornaments and glistens with 70,000 lights. Now that it’s up, we invite our guests to help “light” the tree every evening (one year, the legendary Bob Hope was invited to swing a golf club to “tee off” the lights). It’s another magical Disneyland park moment that you want to make sure to see when you visit during the holiday season.
It’s time to pull out your boxes from the attic and dig out your holiday decorations. We do that here at the Disneyland Resort, too. Only our attic is a warehouse in Anaheim and we have hundreds of boxes full of colorful bulbs, wreaths and ornaments. I should actually clarify when I say, “we.” I mean David Caranci, manager of resort enhancement for the Disneyland Resort, and his amazing team. In this video, I take you to the warehouse where these busy little “elves” are creating lots of holiday magic for all of us to enjoy inside the park.
He’s baaack! Last May, one of our African bull elephants from the Jungle Cruise needed a “check-up.” (This happens once every 7-10 years.) Our special elephant, however, can’t be removed by boat or car. This is Disneyland Resort, where elephants fly! So our popular pachyderm was hoisted into the air by a helicopter and flown backstage, where a team waited to refurbish him. Now he’s gone back to the jungle.
Recently, he “flew” over Disneyland park back to his spot on the classic attraction. He wasn’t, however, the only elephant to fly that day. Take a look at this fun video. Enjoy!
Grab your hot glue gun and put on your creative cap! David Caranci, manager of Resort Enhancement here at the Disneyland Resort, is going to give you some simple decorating tips you can use in your home. For example, I bet you haven’t heard of a pumpkin bat. David will show you! He’ll also demonstrate how you can use the Disney Halloween pumpkin templates – found right here on the Disney Parks Blog to transform your pumpkins into your favorite Disney characters.
“The Disneyland Resort All-American College Band Presented by Yamaha” has been a summer tradition at the park since 1971. The 11-week program gives students, who are selected from auditions from around the country, an opportunity to perform in the park and attend daily clinics. A recent guest musician at one of these clinics was jazz legend Arturo Sandoval. It was an exciting day for these talented college kids as they learned from one of the best. Check it out in the video below. Enjoy!
The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure park has some amazing special effects. One of those effects is one of the most important: the underwater effect. Imagineers created the illusion that you are gradually submerged “under the sea.” In the video below, you can see for yourself how advanced technology and Disney magic help guests become part of Ariel’s world.
Alan Menken is a big deal in showbiz. He’s as big as Brad Pitt – really. If you don’t recognize the name, I can tell you with 100-percent certainty you know his music. The legendary composer is the man who created scores for “Beauty and Beast,” “Aladdin,” “Pocahontas,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “Hercules,” “Tangled” and yes, “The Little Mermaid.” (He’s actually composed many, many more, but I only have so much writing space.) He has also won eight Oscars and he’s been nominated 19 times! Like I said, he’s a very big deal.
At our opening ceremony for The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure on June 2 at Disney California Adventure park, Mr. Menken was invited on stage. He talked about how much he loved seeing the movie and his music come to life in a Disney Parks attraction. He also shared that the celebration was a little bittersweet, as he wished that Howard Ashman – his composing partner on “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin”- was at the opening with him. Ashman passed away in 1991.
In the video below, you’ll see Mr. Menken on stage and in his one-on-one interview with the Disney Parks Blog. He’s such a humble man whose music plays as big of a role in “The Little Mermaid” movie and attraction as the colorful characters. He gives credit to everyone, except himself. But, Mr. Menken, you deserve credit and a standing ovation for creating music that has allowed us to become a part of so many worlds.
What an exciting moment! Jodi Benson and Pat Carroll, the familiar voices behind Ariel and Ursula from 1989’s animated hit, “The Little Mermaid,” reunited and rode the new attraction, The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure park yesterday. They’ve obviously remained good friends, because they greeted each other with warm hugs and hellos outside the attraction. As Pat said before she boarded one of the clam shells, “This is an exciting day!” For guests and fans of their movie, “The Little Mermaid,” it’s been 22 years of waiting for a Little Mermaid attraction. For Jodi and Pat, it’s been 25 years! They began working on the film in 1986. It was so much fun to see their reactions to the characters they helped bring to life. It’s also fun to hear Pat laugh, because you can hear Ursula in her wonderful laugh. Check out this video and see for yourself this special moment.
Starting today, guests can jam with Mickey Mouse as he leads “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade” down Main Street, U.S.A, at Disneyland park. The new parade runs daily and includes a syncopated drum line, nine whimsical floats and an array of musicians and favorite Disney characters. We give you a front row seat in the video below. Enjoy!
Over at Disneyland park, you’ll take off to a galaxy far, far away with more than 50 different 3D adventures on Star Tours. You’ll be transported to many Star Wars destinations where you’ll come face to face with characters throughout the Saga. Buckle up!
And if that’s not enough, I’m really excited to see “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade.” This exciting parade brings a new beat to the streets of Disneyland park, as guests go on a journey of sound, with an exciting musical score, thrilling rhythms and bold percussion.
And over at the Disneyland Hotel, recent renovations and enhancements include a brand new pool and water play area, new restaurants and some amazing signature suites. But enough talk! Take a look at this video and see for yourself what’s new this summer here at the Disneyland Resort.
What are you most looking forward to as we kick off Disney Soundsational Summer?
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