Changes at DCA

Honor Hunter of Blue Sky Disney writes about the changes being made at DCA.

Link

Mr. Potato Head Debuts

Slow news day today, however, I have a really neat link to the interactive Mr. Potato audio animatronic over at Disney's California Adventure. He has started his interactive bit as the parks get ready to allow the public to see their first glimpse of Toy Story Mania. This AA is interactive, think Crush or Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor and interacts with the audience getting ready for the ride. Here is the link.

Thanks to WDW News Today for the video.

Saturday is the last day for Stars and Motorcars Parade and Introducing Pixar Play Parade at Disney's California Adventure

The Stars and Motorcars parade is leaving Hollywood Studios. This Saturday the long running parade will be taking a final bow. It will be replaced by Block Party Bash which has been playing at Disney's California Adventure. I had a chance to see Block Party Bash last summer and it is fun. It is not a traditional parade as it rolls out and then stops with a dance party in the street. The little ones love it and it has a lot of energy, for the older audience they may not enjoy it as much as a traditional parade.

Speaking of parades, there has been a lot of artwork coming out the last few days for the Pixar Play Parade that is replacing Block Party Bash at DCA. You can see sketches here, here and finally here.

Article on Toy Story Mania and Updating a Theme Park for the 21st Century

BlueRidgeNow.com which is the site for Times-News Online has a really interesting article on DCA's refurb, which is old news, but it also discusses some details that I haven't seen before on the new Toy Story Mania Ride, particularly the queue. Queue, you ask? Why would someone write about the queue? Well, apparently Disney is continuing to make waits for guests part of the ride. There will be animatronic characters in the queue as well as the characters that you can meet and greet while waiting. The author, Brooks Barnes, discusses how Disney is trying to reinvent the theme park attraction for the next generation of park goers. The article is a little long but I highly recommend it for those who want a glimpse of the bigger picture and possibly the future. Here is a little teaser quote, "Bigger and more expensive is not necessarily the answer," Mr. Rasulo said. "You want people leaving thinking, `Wow, only Disney could do that.'" Food for thought for sure!

Link

Quiet News Day - The End of an Era

Not much news today folks, most of the information is on Disney's financials. If you are craving more information I would check out any major news site they all seem to be talking about how wrong that analyst was last week.

I did want to report on a small news item that was in the LA Times today. February 12th will be the last day to enjoy the current incarnation of Playhouse Disney at Disney's California Adventure. The version that is going in at DCA has already opened at the Hollywood Studios Florida. This makes me a little nostalgic as we took our daughter to see this on her first birthday, not that she will remember it, but I will. The New Playhouse Disney will include Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Handy Manny and the Little Einsteins and will lose Stanley, JoJo the Clown and Bear in the Big Blue House. The new show is scheduled to open March 14.

LA Times has Concept Art for Radiator Springs Racers

Want a sneak peek at the concept art for the Radiator Springs Racers ride proposed for the "re-imagination" of Disney's California Adventure? Check out the above link. They are billing it as a dueling Test Track attraction...Sounds Dangerous!