anaheim Travel Guide
Tags: Celeb Travel / Susan Boyle / Disneyland / → All Tags
Susan Boyle Trades 'Wild Horses' For Flying Elephants
Susan Boyle, the former frumpy songbird from Scotland, has finally made her way to California and where did she go first? That's right, Disneyland. But unlike Rihanna, she didn't get too crazy with her ride choices.
TMZ snapped Boyle riding on the Dumbo ride, which is best known as a kiddie pleaser but is also an original ride from 1955 when the park first opened. TMZ also reports that Boyle enjoyed the revamped It's a Small World ride as well. Guess she's happy with those somewhat controversial renovations.
Boyle is set to sing her cover version of the Rolling Stones song, "Wild Horses," on the finale of America's Got Talent tomorrow night. Her debut album, "I Dream a Dream," will be released on November 23.
Related Stories
· Dumbo Ride, Disneyland [Official Site]
· Susan Boyle coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: 3am]
Tags: Celeb Travel / Disney / Theme Parks / Amusement Parks / Disneyland / Johnny Depp / → All Tags
Disney Expo Surprises Include Johnny Depp And New Rides
While most were firmly planted on the couch watching Sunday’s football games, things were wrapping up at the D23 Expo in Anaheim. Disney hopes that this year’s expo—which is much like Comic Con for Disney fans—is just the first of many for years to come. If they announce as much as they did during this year’s edition, then we’ll definitely be intrigued year after year. However, we did know about a lot of their new projects already, including a revamp of the Star Tours attraction, thanks to the ol’ rumor mill.
One big surprise was to see Johnny Depp himself step onto the stage in full Captain Jack Sparrow regalia. He was in character and playfully going back and forth with one of the Disney suits on stage; he even commented about what poor Kermit the Frog tasted like. Depp was there to confirm that he will be returning in 2011 to star in the fourth edition of the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise.
Tags: Disneyland / Disney / Theme Parks / Roller Coasters / Amusement Parks / Halloween / → All Tags
Disneyland Is Already Thinking About Pumpkins And Candy
With Independence Day barely in the rear view mirror, another theme park is already prepping their offerings for Halloween. Hoping to build the excitement for the autumn amusement season, Disneyland in California has announced its plans for the spookiest of all holidays. Halloween Time will run from September 25 through November 1, just in time to take down all the pumpkins and put up all the Christmas trees.
Space Mountain will be getting a special holiday-themed overlay to spice things up for those looking to celebrate all things black and orange. The Ghost Galaxy idea premiered at Hong Kong Disneyland, but the folks in Anaheim will borrow this concept to add some new music and ghostly images to the walls of the roller coaster—sounds spooky awesome.
Tags: Disneyland / Theme Parks / Disney / Roller Coasters / → All Tags
Play A Pickup Game Of B-Ball With Mickey Inside The Matterhorn
When you visit Disneyland, you’re supposed to be immersed in the magic and theme, and not walking around wondering what’s behind each and every ride. Well the folks over at the OC Register probably have visited the theme park more times than most, and they wanted a closer look at what makes the Matterhorn tick.
For the ride’s fiftieth anniversary, they've managed to reveal much of the secret and inner workings of the park’s famous attraction. Did you know that the “mountain” rises to 147 feet above the park? That’s also where Tinkerbell “flies” off during her starring role in the nightly fireworks. There’s also a basketball court within the mountain, just in case Mickey and Minnie want to spend some time shooting hoops during their break.
In the 1990s the mountain was patched up to fill in the holes made for the Skyway attraction, which once dangled tourists above Disneyland from a wire. The bobsleds that twist and turn around the ride actually only use the bottom 80 feet of the Matterhorn, and the top is just a place to stick the engines that make the whole thing work. Finally, no matter how hard your scream, you’re still only going about 18 mph during your trip.
Related Stories: [Photo: Eccentric Scholar]
·Matterhorn Turns 50 [OC Register]
·Rumors Confirmed! Star Tours 2 In The Works At Disneyland [Jaunted]
·Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]
Tags: Baseball Travel / Contests / JetBlue / Sports / Baseball / → All Tags
JetBlue To Giveaway 300 Or So Tickets Today In Anaheim
If you’re hanging around the OC today and have nothing to do, try to swing over to Angels Stadium this afternoon in Anaheim. JetBlue is now the official and exclusive airline of Angles Baseball, so of course, they are throwing a little party to kick things off.
Today’s “FANtastic” giveaway will take place at noon at the main entrance to the stadium, where the airline will give away some certificates for free roundtrip air travel. All you need to do is show up in some Angels gear along with a children’s book to donate to the team’s Adopt-A-School Program. You'll be rewarded for being a good fan and a good person, it's win-win.
JetBlue looks to continue their partnership with the Angels through the 2011 season, so expect some more promotions in the future. Just hurry up and get out to the stadium, as the free tickets are only for the first 346 fans in line—that’s the number of Angels hits through last Sunday. Hopefully they'll have some peanuts and Cracker Jacks for those that aren't big winners.
Related Stories: [Photo of Angels Satdium: bossco / Photo of JetBlue Plane: Pylon757]
·JetBlue Airways Becomes The Official And Exclusive Airline of Angels Baseball [PR Newswire]
·Guitar Hero Showdown: These Are Your Airlines On Twitter [Jaunted]
·JetBlue coverage [Jaunted]
Tags: Theme Parks / Amusement Parks / Disneyland / Star Tours / Star Wars Travel / Frank Oz / → All Tags
Rumors Confirmed! Star Tours 2 In The Works At Disneyland
It's apparently going to be a good summer for theme park rides and theme park ride rumors. After half a decade of teasing, it looks like the Star Tours attraction at Disneyland might finally get an face lift.
The simulator ride debuted at the Anaheim park's Tomorrowland all the way back on January 9, 1987. For the next decade and a half it was one of one of Disneyland's most popular attractions, with long lines that stretched well beyond the physical building.
Once visitors got inside they stood in line some more, albeit within the shinier and more entertaining environment of the mock spaceport. Finally they got to tour the galaxy with a lovable - if frustratingly incompetent - little android.
Tags: Travel Photos / Disneyland / Flashing / → All Tags
'Flash' Mountain Not as Popular As It Used to Be
Remember that time 10 years ago when you and your best friend visited an amusement and you had your picture taken just as the roller coaster you were on began its "death-defying" descent? And remember when you bought it afterwards and laughed so hard, not only your faces but the faces of the random people who were crowded in the log-shaped cart behind you?
Now just imagine if that memorable picture also featured someone flashing? Wouldn't it be even funnier?
Apparently, folk used to flash these roller-coaster ride cameras pretty frequently. So frequently that Disneyland used to employ a "ride photo moderator" to weed out the flashers and anyone else doing anything lewd. That way, when passengers queued up at the photo purchase booth near the ride's exit, they wouldn't be subjected to seeing these scandalous photos.
Ah yes, "used to" is the key word here a The OC Register reports that Disneyland has removed the ride photo moderator position because "actual inappropriate behaviors by guests are rare." However, a warning: photos will still be monitored lest you think this is now an opening to resume your ride flashing behavior.
Related Stories:
· Disney responds to “Flash” Mountain concerns in the blogoshpere [OC Register]
[Photo: Miss Shari]
Tags: Theme Parks / Disney / Disneyland / Amusement Parks / → All Tags
New And Improved 'Small World' Opens At Disneyland
There was much uproar among theme park junkies last March, when Disney announced that it would revamp the “it’s a small world” attraction at Disneyland. In addition to the new paint, improved soundtrack, and fancy lighting, they were going to—gasp—add Disney characters to the attraction. The ride has remained pretty much unchanged since its debut in 1966, so the concern was somewhat warranted.
Tags: Holiday Creep Travel / Disneyland / Jonas Brothers / Celeb Travel / → All Tags
Christmas Coming To Disneyland Early
Fear not, Tiny Tim: Christmas is coming to Disneyland even if the bank repossesses all of Disney's coal on Christmas Eve. The Jonas Brothers--aka What The Kids Are Listening To These Days--get caught taping the Disneyland Christmas Day Parade
Christmas will continue for Disney, but will anyone be there to see it? Stock plummeted Friday after CEO Robert Iger announced that earnings were down at the American entertainment juggernaut. Maybe the company's hoping that "staycating" families will chip in and subscribe to Disney on cable once they've seen the JoBro and Miley Cyrus gallivanting about for an early Christmas.
Related Stories:
· Old Celeb Travel: MTV's VMA Moon Man Turns 25 [Jaunted]
· The Jonas Brothers Hit Up The Bryant Park Hotel [HC]
· Disney Shares Fall After Iger Says Theme-Park Bookings Decline [Bloomberg]
· As Disney Goes, So Goes The Nation [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Just Jared]
Tags: Theme Parks / Amusement Parks / Disney / Disneyland / → All Tags
Exteme Makeover Travel: Disney Theme Park Edition
Next door to Disneyland is Disney's California Adventure. It's been around for awhile, but has really never caught on with tourists--or locals. Critics have often been quick to call-out its shortcomings and criticize where Disney officials cut corners and wasted money.
But Disney flung open the doors on the new preview center at the park this week so everyone could check out what's to come.
Tags: Miley Cyrus / Hannah Montana / Celeb Travel / Disneyland / → All Tags
Miley Cyrus Planning Sweet 16 at Disneyland
Mark your calendars, tweens! Miley Cyrus is selling tickets to her birthday bash at Disneyland for $250 a pop, starting at noon (Eastern) on August 30, though exactly *where* you can buy 'em hasn't yet been revealed.
The sheet-wearing sensation tells ET that she plans to have the rides in full effect:
It's gonna be an awesome party with more than seven things I like!
She'll also be sharing the spotlight with some youngsters from Youth Service America to up the feel-good quotient. Miley's actual birthday is November 23, but ET says the party is scheduled for October 5.
Related Stories:
· Miley Cyrus' Sweet 16 at Disneyland [ET]
· Miley Cyrus Selling $250 Tickets to Her Sweet 16 [US Weekly]
· Miley Cyrus coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: PopCrunch]
Tags: Disney / Disneyland / Summer Travel / Amusement Parks / Theme Parks / Videos / → All Tags
One Track Travel: Take a Spin on Mickey's New Ride
It's certainly not a complete renovation of Space Mountain, but nonetheless, it's pretty noteworthy. After months of delays and countless modifications, the latest version of the Disneyland Monorail is set to take guests for a ride.
Constructed away from the Disneyland Resort, the monorail was doomed on arrival. It seemed that there was some miscommunication between two sets of engineers, as the train didn't fit too well on the track. Then there were scratches, screeches and no air conditioning--not exactly a welcome addition in Southern California. But now it's ready for action.
The "soft opening" began last week, which means you usually have to be in the right place at the right time to take a ride on this retro-inspired beauty. However, if you do get a chance to see it in action, ask to take a ride in the front where you can hit up the pilot for the answers to all your monorailing questions.
Related Stories:
·Disneyland Monorail Red Debuts Tonight [LAT]
·Disney coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: uncatigger]
