Inside Buena Vista Street



The new turnstiles for the park have been completed.

If you are an avid Disney fan such as myself, I am sure that you have probably been keeping a pretty close eye on whats been going on at Disney California Adventure. From the premiere of World of Color, to a new Little Mermaid dark ride, the park is getting a HUGE makeover infusing it with just more... well, Disney. The magic that the park has always seemed to lack is now being created all around guests. With phase 1 of the expansion scheduled to finish next summer (2012) with the completion of Cars Land and Buena Vista Street, construction is really starting to ramp-up. 

This week, Disney (via their Disneyparks Blog) released some new photos of what we can expect to see inside the stores and shops of Buena Vista Street. The new park entrance, modeled after the California Walt Disney himself encountered when he ventured to the Golden State, is set in 1920's and 30's. It is expected to be quite a spectacle, as Imagineers are paying excruciating attention to detail. Disney is getting their second shot at the park, and they want to get it right. Lynne Itamura, Senior Principal Interior Designer at Walt Disney Imagineering, says her team worked closely with the creative directors behind the project to make sure that the attention given to the outside of the street, translates to the inside of the shops as well. “Color is a very important design element,” Lynne says as she explains how design elements can help create separate spaces . “It creates mood and volume.” Elias & Co ( a Main Street Emporium style store) will have four seperate departments, each with different design and color. The accessories area (pins anyone?) will feature more soft, earth tones. Meanwhile, the jewelry section of the store will sparkle like the inside of a jewelry box.

Whats a trip to Disneyland without a stop for ice-cream? Disney has brought this aspect of Main Street USA into Buena Vista Street. Trolley Treats and Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream will be the place to stop for a quick snack as you rush to grab that fastpass for World of Color, or on your way out of the park after a day filled with magic. “We had a great time talking about what would make this place say ‘ice cream,’” Lynne said, adding that guests will find the decor very “lickable... Although we really don’t encourage that,” Disney Imagineers seem to be having a ball doing what they do best. Having free reign on their creativity.

World of Color Date Premire

The day you have all been waiting for is coming soon! Disneyland Resort in California said today that June 11, 2010 will be the official beginning of Summer Nightastic at Disneyland Resort as well as the first official viewing of World of Color at Disney's California Adventure. This is a big milestone in the multiyear rehaul of the park that will include a redesigned entrence to the park called "Buena Vista Street," as well as an entire new land called Cars Land as well as a new little mermaid attraction (which will aslsobe put in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida as part of the Fantasyland expansion). Some things already seen in the expansion of Disney's California adventure is Mickey's Fun Wheel, Silly Symphony Swings, and Toy Story Midway Mania (also found it Disney's Hollywood Studios).

We have kept you updated throughout the process of World of Color and intend to do so if any more news should become available! Check back soon!

Lack of Posts

We didn't want you to think that we forgot about you, but due to lack of new Disney Information, we have a lack of stories to report. Later this week however, we will give you a post about Animal Kingdom's Birthday and sometime next week will be the interview with a Disney Cast Member! Stay Tuned.

Hang 10 at "Surfs Up" Breakfast with Mickey

Are you ready to hang 10 with Mickey Mouse? More like 10 in the morning for a late Breakfast! The Disneyland Resort in California recently opened a new dining experience called "Surfs-Up with Mickey Mouse and Friends." This is a brand new character breakfast at Disneyland with a surfing theme. Guests have the chance to east food such as pancakes, waffles and bacon. Though everyone loves these common breakfast items, Disney did not forget the adults with more upper-scale food including breakfast flatbreads from the wood-burning oven, grilled breast of chicken with roasted garlic sauce, and the signature chilaquiles with shredded beef, salsa verde and queso fresco.

But aside from the food, it is the only dining experience where kids can learn how to ride a wave and practice hula hooping and its the only dining experience at Disneyland for guests to dine with Mickey Mouse.

Heather Hust Rivera, an employee at Disneyland Resort, says "my favorite dishes were the egg white frittata with ricotta cheese, fresh basil, spinach and tomatoes, and the indulgent chocolate-peanut butter-banana French toast."

This dining experience is at PCH Grill at the Paradise Pier Hotel from 7am-11am. This breakfast buffet costs about $15.99 for kids and $29.99 for adults.

Though you may want to rush out and book this dining experience, remember that Disneyland has many more to offer at Goofy and his pals at Goofy’s Kitchen, and look for Chip ‘n’ Dale at Storytellers Cafe in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. You will also find character dining experiences in the parks.

Have you done any of the dining experiences? Tell us what it was and if you enjoyed it. Just comment to this post. I am sure everyone would love to hear your about your Disney experience!

Animators Palate Fly-through on the Disney Dream

If you remember last week, we release a quick update about Animators Palate, Disney Cruise Line's signature resteraunt.  Today, Walt Disney Imagineering has released a flythrough of  the resteraunt onboard the ship. Tell us what you think! Will you be heading onboard anytime soom? Have you eaten at Animators Palate on any of the other ships?

D-Street Opening

If you are one of those that have caught onto the latest craze of Disney or, Vinylmation, then I have some good news for you. A brand new store is opening at Downtown Disney West-side in Flordia, D Street. This store is the place for all things Vinylmation and will feature other products such as the Vinylmation –- 3” and 9” figures, apparel, accessories, and a brand new Create-Your-Own-Vinylmation Experience, the “Vinylmation Creation Station.”

This new store itself will have a very unfinished, warehouse, industrialised look...sort of what Vinylmation is. I am sure all of you Vinylmation fans are looking forward to your next Florida trip to see this place for yourself.

Grand Opening

D-Street will be opening this Friday, April 16th with "Grand Opening"
ceremonies beginning at around 9:45am according to Dara Trujillo, a Disney Spokeswoman. The grand opening will kick off with a live performance artist turning a blank canvas into a wonderful work of art before your eyes and a "D"-Jay will be at D-Street the entire day spinning tracks and playing music. Plus, what would a grand opening at Disney be without Mickey Mouse? He is sure to make a special appearance as well.

Disney is excited to see you there.

We at Inside Disney will keep you updated with more information as it becomes available and will post any updates about D-Street once we get the information.

What do you think about this new store at Downtown Disney? Are you into the Vinylmation Craze? Will you be attending the grand opening? We are excited to hear from you!

Fantasyland Expansion Update

Original Post: Apr 9, 2010 8:50 AM

Many of you know that at the Magic Kingdom park at Walt Disney World in Florida is about to get a big expansion to its fantasyland. In fact, it has already begun. Several people have reported seeing construction walls surrounding Toon Town. But as the transformation takes place, some attractions will have to close. Beginning April 12, Ariels Grotto, Scuttle’s Landing snack location, as well as Pooh’s Playful Spot. Ariel will still be seen in the parks and able to greet guests in other areas and will still be featured at other parks such as Disney’s Hollywood Studios and will still be featured in parades. Stay tuned for updates.

Making World of Color

Original Post: Apr 8, 2010 11:26 AM
If you have been following recent information on Disney’s California Adventure, you know that the park itself is in for a huge makeover. In fact, it has already started with the opening of Toy Story Midway Mania last year! So what is next? A new water show that the imagineers have been hard at work on since 2005. This show entitled “World of Color” will take place in Paradise Bay at Paradise Pier in the California Adventure Park. The show is described on Disney.com as “Disney characters and music will flood your senses and take you on a journey through animated classics like Alice in Wonderland, The Lion King, Pocahontas, Disney·Pixar's Toy Story and WALL-E — and the upcoming The Princess and the Frog.” The video in this post is a collection of video clips found on the internet of emptying Paradise Bay, building the fountain superstructure, as well as sneak peaks of testing and some of the animation featured in the show. World of color will be approximately 25minutes long and will open in spring 2010.

World of Color

Opening Spring 2010 at Disney's California Adventure

at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Califonia

Space Shuttle Over Disney. "The Dreams that Come True"

 

Original Post: Apr 5, 2010 10:09 PM

This Morning, the Space Shuttle Disco very was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and waiting inside the Magic Kingdom was photographer Kent Phillips to get this amazing shot. After everything that Disney does to theme everything, there are just a few things that they can not touch. But for some reason, this image of the space shuttle soaring high above the castle fits the theming of Disney on the spot. One might say that it would fit the theming better in Tomorrowland, but as similar as Tomorrowland and the Space shuttle are (it actually fits into the theme of Tomorrowland) I feel that it goes much better with the castle. But why is this? Well, what does Disney Stand for? Making your dreams come true! Walt Disney once said "If you can DREAM it, you can DO it." And what is the success of the space shuttle based on... also peoples dreams coming true! The dream of going into space and exploringwhat so few people have seen. The castle, I feel, is the icon of Disney and as far as I see, the icon of working in order to reach your dreams. The space shuttle is the work of dreams coming true. The Symbolism in the picture is how "if you can Dream it" as represented by the castle, "you can DO it" as represented by Space Shuttle Discovery. You can reach for the stars "literally."


This picture has shown me just how many amazing sights are offerd at Disney and this picture inspired me to open up a new page within the website, Fan Photos! If you have any pictures you would like to submit, email them to me (email can be found on the site administration tab) with your name and a title. Please make sure to put Fan Photos in the subject line.

The Disney Magic

Original Post: Apr 4, 2010 10:54 PM

The Disney Cruise line currently has a fleet of two ships, the Disney Wonder, and the Disney Magic, but not for long. A new ship is taking Disney by storm on January 26, 2011. So what is the name of this fantastic new addition to the fleet? The Disney Dream! What can one possibly do on this new ship? Right now, maybe a bit of welding, but next January, you can take a relaxing cruise to the Bahamas. However, you’re not here for me to convince you to open your pocketbook and shell out (get it? Shell??? Beach Pun) a wad of cash in return for tickets, but to go inside of Disney and see what it really takes to build this behemoth of a ship. So in order to do so, we need to travel all the way to Germany where the ship is currently being built. This ship is so massive that it actually has to be built in different pieces and put together like a puzzle. When completed this ship will have 14 decks, 1,250 staterooms and hold up to 4,000 guests. Over 66 million pounds of steal will have to be cut to make the ships and 37,000 pipes must be produced as well as 5,000 miles of cabling installed. Just to put that into perspective, San Francisco is 2,905 miles from New York and you would need at least 2,640 school buses to equal the weight of the steal.

Tom Staggs chairman of parks and resorts visits Germany to see the building of the Disney Dream

The Aquaduck water ride on the Disney Dream. You can see where you shoot out over the water by the smokestack in the back of the image.

So what will this boat contain?

Let’s start off with the big water ride…the Aquaduck. The Aquaduck is a water tube, water roller coaster that with aid of high speed water jets, pushes you up hill and down through clear tubing all over the top deck of the Disney Dream. Does that Sound fun? That’s just getting started. One of the very first elements of this ride is jetting out 13 feet over the side of the ship to look 150 feet below at the ocean water. The ride is a whopping 765 feet long (more than two and a half times

the length of a football field) and the water jets that push you through the ride can push guests up at a rate of twenty feet per second. You can see a picture of this attraction above.

What else is contained in this ship?

Disney Cruise Lines signature restaurant “Animators Palate” will start off with the image seen to the left and transform throughout the meal to the image on the right. As you can see, the big theme for this restaurant will be from the movie finding Nemo. As you dine, you may get a visit from crush the turtle and have a brief conversation with him at your table about your experiences aboard the boat. You may also be lucky enough to find a few other characters such as Nemo, Marlin, squirt, Bruce, and the ever beloved Dory.


This is just the beginning of what’s to come of this marvelous ship. Stay tuned and we will keep you updated