One of the characteristics that distinguishes a Disney Parks attraction is storytelling. When developing a new land or attraction, Walt Disney always challenged his Imagineers to create a unique story that guests could only experience at Disneyland, and to transport them into that story – an idea that has lived on at Disney parks around the world. This new Disney Parks Blog series will take us inside these stories – giving you the story behind each attraction and maybe even some details you haven’t noticed before.

Pirates of the Caribbean marked its 46th anniversary last month, and so, as one of the classic examples of original Disney Parks storytelling, it’s the perfect place to begin this series. And as the pirate skull warns: “Ye come seeking adventure and salty old pirates, aye? Sure ye’ve come to the proper place.”

The story begins …

After boarding a small boat at Lafitte’s Landing on the outskirts of New Orleans, you pass an old shack with an elderly man playing a banjo on his porch. The strums of the banjo are intended to give a feeling of isolation in this remote backwater area. Soon, your boat plunges down two waterfalls – the second taking you back in time.

You enter Dead Man’s Cove, where you meet pirates who died long ago and seem to be frozen in time. Your boat then journeys into the Ghostly Grotto, where you are transported further back in time to the days when the very pirates you met in Dead Man’s Cove are invading a small Caribbean seaport village in search of the town’s treasure and the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow. As you wind through the town, you find Captain Jack lurking around in search of the treasure himself. The boat passes an auction, where the pirates bid for a bride (go ahead – you know the line), as more pirates ransack every nook and cranny of the village just around the corner.

To escape the burning village, you float past the town jail and into the arsenal where pirates take target practice all around your boat, completely oblivious to the dangers all around them (including the barrels of gunpowder). When you find Captain Jack Sparrow at the town’s treasure vault, he offers you – his shipmates – a share of the booty (after he takes his cut … of course).

As you venture up the waterfall at the end of your voyage, you return to the time and place where your journey began, but with some words of warning in case you decide to visit again …

If you love the story of Pirates of the Caribbean as much as I do, let me know your favorite detail in the comments. Ye get bonus doubloons if ye leave yer comment in pirate speak, me hearties!

Read more about Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland park in the post below:

• Things You Might Not Know About Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland Park
• Hear the Tale ’a Pirates of the Caribbean from the Captain Himself
• Take a Voyage Around the World to Celebrate the 45th Anniversary of Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland Park

Tagged: DL, DLR

Filed: Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort

Although I don’t have a green thumb, there is a guided tour at Disneyland park that really grew on me. It’s called “Cultivating the Magic.” During the two-hour tour, guests learn how the Disneyland Resort horticulture team uses flowers, plants and trees to help create the stories of each land. Tour guides also tell tidbits about Imagineer Bill Evans, the original creator of Disneyland’s landscape.

I brought the camera crew on the tour with me and spoke with one of the tour’s developers, cast member Tyler Slater, to give you a glimpse.

 
To experience the tour for yourself, call 714-781-TOUR(8687) or visit Disneyland Guest Relations. Tickets are available up to one month in advance and the tour begins Saturdays and Sundays at 9 a.m. and Mondays at 10 a.m.

Tagged: DL, DLR, Video

Filed: Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort

Yesterday, seven-time Grammy-winning trio Lady Antebellum gave a special performance at Disneyland park to celebrate the May 7 release of their upcoming album, “Golden.” Appropriately enough, this special performance occurred on the stage of the legendary Golden Horseshoe Saloon.

From the stage of the Golden Horseshoe, the band mentioned how exciting it was to be here at Disneyland, and then, Hillary Scott, who is expecting her first baby in July, joked that she and her husband, drummer Chris Tyrrell, have just taken their daughter to Disneyland for the first time! “We’ll be back, of course,” she said.

The lucky audience for this exclusive event was limited to contest winners from all over the country, but now you can watch this amazing show yourself, here.

Tagged: DL, DLR

Filed: Celebrity Visits, Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort

We had a very exciting week at both the Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort. Have you heard that three of our parks will be open for 24 hours on May 24? Mike Wazowski, one of the stars of “Monsters University,” appeared at Epcot to make the announcement.

And speaking of Monsters, one of our Monorails showed up full of character this week in support of the upcoming debut of “Monsters University.”

We also shared new looks at Mickey’s Magical Map (coming soon to Disneyland park), and a rendering of Princess Fairytale Hall, which will open at Magic Kingdom Park this fall.

And who could forget the 15th anniversary of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which we celebrated this past Monday at the park?

Be sure to check out this gallery of images to entire week’s excitement.

Tagged: DAK, DL, DLR, Gallery, MK, WDW

Filed: Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort

There’s still a lot of work to be done to get ready for “Mickey and the Magical Map” to open May 25, but we wanted to give you a sneak peek at the newly refurbished stage inside the Fantasyland Theatre at Disneyland park. The theatre will be the setting for this all-new show, featuring a cast of live performers along with some of your favorite Disney friends – all interacting with the huge magical map which takes center stage throughout the performance. This first photo shows the opening title for the show, which is revealed during the first sequence.

This amazing, living map is created with an enormous, multi-tiered LED screen, which helps tell the story and allows for the inclusion of fantastic animation and visual effects, taking Mickey Mouse into the lands of his imagination. This wondrous map spans the entire length of the stage, covering 35,000+ square inches with nearly 1 million pixels. The second sneak-peek photo we have for you features the wise sorcerer Yen Sid, whose magical map is the centerpiece of the show.

Keep an eye on the Disney Parks Blog in the coming weeks as we reveal more behind-the-scenes looks and sneak peeks of “Mickey and the Magical Map,” leading up to the May 25 opening at Disneyland park.


Check out these past posts about “Mickey and the Magical Map”:

• Making Music for ‘Mickey and the Magical Map’ at Disneyland Park
• Explore the Musical Worlds of Disney When ‘Mickey and the Magical Map’ Opens at Disneyland Park May 25
• Go on an Adventure with Mickey Mouse and the Mapmakers When ‘Mickey and the Magical Map’ Comes to Disneyland Park This Summer

Tagged: DL, DLR

Filed: Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort

Just seconds ago, a 180-foot-tall Mike Wazowski from the upcoming Disney●Pixar film “Monsters University” made the official announcement that we’re keeping three theme parks open for 24 hours on Memorial Day Weekend, the traditional start of the family travel season, to kick off a Monstrous Summer on both coasts. Wazowski, the loveable green-bodied, one-eyed monster, joins best pal James P. Sullivan (“Sulley”) in the prequel to “Monsters, Inc.”, this summer as college students with hopes of becoming Scarers.

Our first-ever, three-park all-night party is happening at the Magic Kingdom Park in Florida and Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure park in California. The parks will stay open from 6 a.m., May 24 to 6 a.m., May 25, 2013, local time.

• In Florida, Magic Kingdom Park will feature a “Monsters University” theme where Mike and Sulley will be the Grand Marshals of the “Celebrate a Dream Come True” day parade and make appearances in Tomorrowland. There will be extra entertainment throughout the day and night, including characters in their pajamas in Town Square during the late night and early morning, and late-night dance parties in and around the courtyard of Cinderella Castle.
• In California, you’ll be able to party the night away at both parks with special entertainment including: a “Monsters University” “TLT Monstrous” Dance Club and Star Wars characters in Tomorrowland and late-night Character Pajama Party in Mickey’s ToonTown at Disneyland park. The new Fantasy Faire Royal Theatre at Disneyland park will become a Royal Dance Hall late at night with a live band and dancing; and guests of Disney California Adventure park will find Monstrous photo opportunities with new “Monsters University” “Dorms” in Hollywood Land and a new “Monsters University” float leading the Pixar Play Parade.

Tonight, the huge sphere of Spaceship Earth was transformed from Disney Parks icon to Disney●Pixar “Eye-con” for the announcement.

Walt Disney World Resort President George Kalogridis joined Mike to share the news of the Monstrous Summer. “This summer, Disney Parks are bursting with a monstrous lineup of new thrills, shows and happenings,” he said. “Guests can start Memorial Day Weekend with a 24-hour-marathon of memory-making as three parks stay open all day and all night to celebrate the bi-coastal kick-off of our Disney Parks Monstrous Summer.”

All three parks will feature limited-edition specialty merchandise and food and beverage offerings plus other surprises throughout the entire day. Keep an eye on the Disney Parks Blog and the Monstrous Summer site for more details in coming weeks.

Tagged: DCA, DL, DLR, Limited Time Magic, MK, Video, WDW

Filed: Disneyland Resort, Special Events, Walt Disney World Resort

We’re just one month away from the May 25 opening of the new live show spectacular, “Mickey and the Magical Map,” in the Fantasyland Theatre at Disneyland park! I’ve mentioned before that “Mickey and the Magical Map” is a musical extravaganza, and today I’m thrilled to offer you a little taste of what you’ll hear in the show.

Creative Entertainment Executive Producer Doug McIntyre and Music Director Bruce Healey recently oversaw the recording of the show’s soundtrack, with a full orchestra on a Hollywood scoring stage. Have a listen!

In addition to a sumptuous, motion picture-quality score and classic Disney tunes, I can also tell you “Mickey and the Magical Map” will feature an original song written just for this show. The song, entitled “Journey to Imagination,” is inspired by Mickey’s journey in the show. It’s about letting go and believing in the world of dreams and imagination.

Composers Adam Watts and Andy Dodd, whose credits include everything from Disney productions like “High School Musical” to writing for artists like Kelly Clarkson and Jesse McCartney, wrote the music and lyrics for “Journey to Imagination,” with orchestration by Timothy Williams.

“We’ve written numerous songs for various Disney TV and film projects,” said Adam and Andy. “’Journey To Imagination’ was particularly unique and special in that it was an opportunity to work on a song specifically for a feature at the park that includes so many classic songs and characters. Being Southern-California natives, we grew up loving Disneyland, and to be a part of it on the creative side is truly an honor. It’s exciting to know that people from all over the world will hear our song in the show every single day. We thoroughly enjoyed the process, as well as working with such a talented team.”

I can’t wait to hear the song performed live and see all the magical things that happen onstage! What are you most excited for in “Mickey and the Magical Map”? Let us know in the comments!

Tagged: BtS, DL, DLR, Video

Filed: Behind the Scenes, Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort