We have some exciting news to share this holiday weekend. Starting tomorrow morning, Sunday, July 4, the Disney California Adventure park gate at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa will open at 9:00 a.m. exclusively for Disneyland Resort Hotel guests so they can get in line for Disney’s FASTPASS tickets to each evening’s performances of “World of Color.” The Disneyland Resort hotels include the Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.‬ The main entrance will open, as scheduled, at 9:30 a.m. for all other day guests.

While Park hours may vary, please check disneyland.com for the most up-to-date schedule. The early access for Disneyland Resort Hotel guests at the Disney California Adventure park gate at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa will be 30 minutes earlier than the opening listed for main entrance.

This is a great benefit for guests staying at Disneyland Resort Hotels, but guests not staying at the hotels will still have access to Disney’s FASTPASS tickets for “World of Color.

Tagged: DLR, World of Color

Filed: Disney California Adventure Park, Disneyland Resort, Hotels & Resorts

Today, we’re taking you behind the scenes and going inside the control room that allows Disney cast members to run “World of Color” every night.

The production uses one of the biggest show control systems ever built. More than 18,000 active points of control are precisely managed by a single system.

In this video, Disneyland Resort Ambassador Danielle DuBois takes us into this technological marvel and speaks with Chuck Davis, Senior Technical Director.

Enjoy!

Tagged: BtS, DCA, DLR, Video, World of Color

Filed: Behind the Scenes, Disney California Adventure Park, Disneyland Resort

Have you had a chance to see “World of Color” at Disney California Adventure park?

While there’s no substitute for that nighttime spectacular, special colorful and animated changes will come to California icons in cities across the state in the “World of Color” Road Show this July. You’ll have the chance to see these cool transformations online at www.WorldofColorRoadShow.com.

Don’t forget – get the scoop and follow us online at www.WorldofColorRoadShow.com.

Tagged: DCA, DLR, World of Color

Filed: Disney California Adventure Park, Disneyland Resort

Hey Disney and Vinylmation Fans!

I know how much you all like to see what it takes to make the magic happen. That’s why I’m excited to show you some of the footage we gathered while we were celebrating the world premiere of “World of Color,” our new nighttime water spectacular. Take a look as Southern California artist Noah puts the finishing touches on a one-of-a-kind “World of Color”-inspired 5-foot-tall Vinyl, and talks about how you can create your own Vinyl, turning blank canvas into an amazing piece of art.

Enjoy the clip!

Tagged: DLR, Video, Vinylmation, World of Color

Filed: Disneyland Resort

If you had the chance to see ‘World of Color‘ this past weekend, there’s no argument – the stars of this technical spectacular are definitely the fountains. There are almost 1,200 of them. Did you know the fountains have different roles they perform in the show?

Butterfly Fountains
This delicate quartet creates a serene effect, fluttering just above the water’s surface. With butterfly-like wings, they deliver smooth, yet stunning patterns – evoking pathos and drama with ballet–like grace.

Chaser Fountains
More than 400 Chaser Fountains create lightning-fast effects that“chase” each other in rapid-fire succession. Like the action stars they are, these fountains allow booming beads of water to be projected up to 80 feet high.

Dancer Fountains
These six co-stars create swirling dual nozzles that intertwine streams of water. Like a dancing couple from a classic Hollywood musical, their ease and grace create unforgettable moments of choreographed dancing water magic.

Dual Water Whip Fountains
Their repertory includes not only vertical patterns but also wider, fan-like designs. In theatre parlance, these 65 fountains can “change costumes” and become the ultimate 19,000 sq ft. water screen cyclorama on Paradise Bay.

Flower Spout Fountains
Here are a dozen actors with dramatic range. These fountains can shoot high-velocity streams of big, frothy water and then easily transition the shape of those streams into a “blooming” 60-foot-wide flower petal.

Geyser Fountains
With Diva-like attitude they can launch 40 gallons of water at once, announcing their presence with a distinct authority. These 10 fountains live up to their name (and reputation) by being the most powerful; each Geyser can shoot huge bursts of water more than 200 feet into the sky.

Grid Fountains
These performers comprise a network of grids that create a vast “ensemble cast.” Positioned eight-feet apart, these vertical fountains are capable of firing water up to 40 feet in the air. Their specialty is creating massive, three-dimensional designs, like a whale moving through the Paradise Bay.

Single Water Whip Fountains
Our 75 star ballerinas are the most elegant and graceful featured in World of Color and perform a mesmerizing ballet. With independently moving heads that can sway in any direction and project water more than 100 feet in a vertical pattern.

Which fountain do you think is the biggest “star” in the show? Which one do you like best?

Tagged: DCA, DLR, World of Color

Filed: Disney California Adventure Park, Disneyland Resort

It was an amazing week of Disney magic with the World Premiere of “World of Color,” a reimagined attraction, Silly Symphony Swings and the start of Summer Nightastic! at the Disneyland Resort. Heather has some great coverage in Saturday’s recap post. There were also a few posts out of Walt Disney World Resort this week you may have missed, including new details and a first peek at menus for the new La Hacienda de San Angel and the adjacent La Cantina de San Angel at Epcot.

The new 250-seat La Hacienda will only be open for dinner and expands the South-of-the Border offerings. Pam has more in her dining update. And here’s the list of the week’s other posts:

And now, here’s our weekly list of most popular posts:

French Open Champ Rafael Nadal Celebrates at Disneyland Paris — Tennis superstar Rafael Nadal went from the red clay at Roland Garros to the red carpet at Disneyland Paris after winning his fifth French Open

‘What’s Next’ at the Disneyland Resort — Friday morning we hosted an event called “What’s Next” and shared a look at what’s coming to Southern California in the next few months and years. Check out the post for some of the headlines.

New Fantasyland? Unlimited Passport? Gift Giver Extraordinaire? What do You Think was Most Interesting About 1981-1985 at Disneyland Park? — We went back … waaay back to 1981 through 1985 in this week’s countdown to the 55th anniversary of Disneyland park.

Star Wars Weekends – Week 3 — Got a favorite Star Wars character? If so, it’s likely at Disney’s Hollywood Studios during Star Wars Weekends.

Wine Country Trattoria Re-Opens At Disney California Adventure — With a new menu and redesigned interior, Wine County Trattoria at the Golden Vine Winery at Disney California Adventure Park debuted this week.

Silly Symphony Swings – A Second Look — We shared some photos and fun facts of the new attraction in Paradise Pier, Silly Symphony Swings.

The ‘Characters’ of Main Street, U.S.A. – A Dynamic Disney Duo Captured ‘At Work’ — You will hear them before you see them. Seriously. They are the larger-than-life Mayor of Main Street, U.S.A. and his “right-hand man.” the Chief of the Main Street Volunteer Fire Department.

Tagged: DHS, DLR, Epcot, WDW, World of Color

Filed: Disneyland Resort, Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort

Talk about creating magical memories! The premiere of ‘World of Color‘ last night was one of those great Disney moments that I will remember for a lifetime. It was a thrill to see the look on the faces of our Guests (including my wife and boys) as Paradise Bay was transformed into a rainbow symphony of our best Disney music, animation and stunning water effects. It’s a show unlike any other, and it represents the finest of what makes Disney, Disney.

Of course, it takes a whole lot to create a show as big as ‘World of Color.’ This spectacular is the result of a great collaborative effort that has drawn on every part of The Walt Disney Company. Making magic requires teamwork, and I’m honored to be working with such talented teammates.

‘World of Color’ is the quintessential Disney celebration-one that builds on Walt’s legacy of using creativity, technology and innovation to bring our most beloved characters and stories to life in a whole new way. And I think it’s a satisfying first taste of what’s to come at Disney California Adventure and at our parks and resorts around the world. We’ve got a pretty amazing lineup of new experiences opening over the next few years: Our “Little Mermaid” attraction and “Cars Land” at Disney California Adventure park; two new Disney cruise ships; a new stand-alone resort in Hawaii; and major expansions of Hong Kong Disneyland and Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.

We’ll be giving you updates here on the Disney Parks blog as these projects progress, so stay tuned. And enjoy ‘World of Color.’

Tagged: DCA, DLR, MK, World of Color

Filed: Disney California Adventure Park, Disneyland Resort