ANAHEIM, Calif. and LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (May 21, 2013) – Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts will kick off a Monstrous Summer by giving guests the chance to spend 24 magical hours inside three Disney theme parks.

From 6 a.m. May 24 to 6 a.m., May 25, 2013, on each coast, guests will experience unprecedented monster madness inside Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park at the Disneyland Resort, as well at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort – heading into Memorial Day Weekend, the traditional start of the family travel season.

The event features special entertainment, Monsters-themed merchandise and frightening food and boo-verages – one scary good time!

In California, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure guests will be treated to fireworks and live entertainment signaling the 6 a.m. PT opening.  Entertainment includes a dance floor at Disneyland Park, while Disney California Adventure offers the freshly-built Monsters University “dorms” in Hollywood Land, plus a new Monsters University-themed float leading the Pixar Play Parade.

In Florida, the festivities at the Magic Kingdom start at 6 a.m. ET with characters Mike Wazowski and best pal James P. Sullivan (“Sulley”) from the upcoming Disney•Pixar comedy adventure Monsters University joining other beloved Disney characters to help open the park with a Monstrous moment. Mike and Sulley also plan to take their turns as Grand Marshals of the “Celebrate a Dream Come True” parade.

JUST THE BEGINNING
The All-Nighter is just the beginning of the summer fun. In California, vacationers at “The Happiest Place on Earth” will see how Disneyland Resort “Just Got Happier” with dazzling new entertainment such as the “Mickey and the Magical Map” stage show. It also is the first summer for guests to experience the new Fantasy Faire with Disney Princesses at Disneyland, and guests continue to enjoy the exciting new offerings of Cars Land and Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure.

Walt Disney World “Monstrous Summer” includes new offerings and popular favorites in all four parks. This is the first summer for New Fantasyland, which has received rave reviews from guests since its December grand opening as the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history. Guests also will find new, engaging offerings for the entire family throughout the Walt Disney World Resort this summer such as an interactive “Pirates Adventure” game at Magic Kingdom, the newly re-imagined Test Track at Epcot, the new Disney Junior show, featuring Sofia The First and Doc McStuffins, as new additions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, plus Wilderness Explorers at Disney’s Animal Kingdom that will bring families together in exciting new ways. As part of Limited Time Magic – a year of surprise and delight moments – Cinderella Castle will be the canvas for a new, summer-long projection show celebrating the joys of the season. Guests will see Lilo and Stitch hit the beach, head “Under the Sea” with Ariel and get Goofy during scenes that pay homage to summer fun.

ABOUT “MONSTERS UNIVERSITY”
Ever since college-bound Mike Wazowski (voice of Billy Crystal) was a little monster, he has dreamed of becoming a Scarer—and he knows better than anyone that the best Scarers come from Monsters University (MU). But during his first semester at MU, Mike’s plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan, “Sulley” (voice of John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer.  The pair’s out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University’s elite Scare Program. To make matters worse, they realize they will have to work together, along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters, if they ever hope to make things right. Screaming with laughter and oozing with heart, Disney•Pixar’s “Monsters University” is directed by Dan Scanlon (“Cars,” “Mater and the Ghostlight,” “Tracy”), produced by Kori Rae (“Up,” “The Incredibles,” “Monsters, Inc.”) and features music from future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and award-winning composer Randy Newman (“Monsters, Inc.,” “Toy Story 3″). For more information, like us at facebook.com/PixarMonstersUniversity, and follow us on twitter.com/disneypixar. The film opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2013, and will be shown in 3D in select theaters. For more information, check out disney.com/MonstersU.

For more information on Monstrous Summer, check out http://www.disneyparks.com/MonstrousSummer

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About the Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and the newly reimagined Disney California Adventure Park – plus three hotels and the Downtown Disney District, comprised of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences.  The Resort’s hotels are the luxurious, 948-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, which also features 50 two-bedroom equivalent DVC units; the magical, newly renovated, 973-room Disneyland Hotel – both AAA Four Diamond properties -  and the 481-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel with its “day-at-the-beach” fun. For information on attractions and vacations at Disneyland Resort, visit www.disneyland.com, call (866) 43-DISNEY or contact local travel agents.

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Live Entertainment at Disney Parks
Kevin Eld, Head of Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment 

• How a Disney story is different: “We are obsessed storytellers and we are obsessive about detail. … We all share a deep-seated passion about creating emotional moments. We get to touch people at the very core of their emotions. We want people to get lost in the story of ‘Mickey and the Magical Map.’”

“Mickey and the Magical Map,” Disneyland Park
Michael Jung, Theatrical Development Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment

• Ties to Disney animation: “We wanted to take our guests on a magical journey that allowed them to visit beloved characters, songs and story lines that would really touch their hearts and remind them of some of their favorite moments in Disney animation, but in a whole new way – a very theatrical way that doesn’t replicate the films, but actually underscores and brings them to life in an adventurous way.”
• Mischievous Mickey: “We really wanted to bring back the kind of playful, energetic and slightly mischievous Mickey Mouse, to get in touch with the heart of this little rascal. Mickey picks up the paintbrush and he decides to try to paint the unfinished spot on the Map, which of course magically comes to life. There’s a wonderful story about the magic of the Map, and the fact that the unfinished spot is just like our imagination. As long there’s imagination left in the world, there are always new places to go, new dreams to have, new journeys to pursue.”
• Technology serves the story: “The technology of the map is very exciting, but we are doing everything we can to make it feel very painterly, to make sure that it blends into the atmosphere of Fantasyland in a magical way, and doesn’t feel very technological. The way it tells a story, and the way it activates the world of the show and appears interactive with the performance, will be very captivating. It will draw our audience into a magical, visual illusion.”
• Guest reaction: “I look forward to seeing our incredibly special audience respond to this. We know how important it is for them to find ways to spend time together, connecting and creating magical memories. We hope ‘Mickey and the Magical Map’ will do that for them … And we hope they take away the moral Mickey learns, the power of being yourself and seeing what’s in front of you.”

Tracy Halas, Show Director, ‘Mickey and the Magical Map’

• Special connection to Fantasyland Theatre: “The most exciting part for me is that I started here as a performer almost 22 years ago, and my first show was actually on this stage at the Fantasyland Theatre. Now, on my own journey, I’m able to bring this really exciting show to guests, and to give new performers who are coming up a start on their own journey. It’s really an honor for me to be a part of this whole thing.”
• Contemporary ‘I Wan’na Be Like You’ Number: “We really wanted to reinvigorate and find a contemporary sort of hipness in the music. We use a lot of the paint buckets as drums and it’s a new feeling, really high energy and fun, hip dancing.”

Fantasy Faire, Disneyland Park
Michel Den Dulk, Fantasy Faire Creative Director, Walt Disney Imagineering

• A natural addition: “My goal as the creative director was for the new Fantasy Faire to meld into the existing Fantasyland naturally, so that in a couple of years when people visit the park for the first time, they won’t notice that this is a much later addition to Fantasyland.”
• All in the details: “When guests walk in, I hope they will be amazed by the amount of detail we’ve put into Fantasy Faire – with Figaro (sleeping on a window ledge) and Clopin (Clopin’s Music Box) and the Tangled Tower – and I hope this will be a great new location at Disneyland.”
• Inspired by classics: “For the architecture, I took a lot of inspiration from the classic Disney movies like ‘Pinocchio.’ There are references in the architecture to the way the backgrounds of ‘Pinocchio’ are drawn. I also took inspiration from Sleeping Beauty Castle. You’ll see that there are a lot of gold finials and beautiful banners and turrets that are similar to the castle.”

Christopher Utley, Show Director, Disneyland Resort Entertainment

• Royal Theatre shows: “The stories are presented by two storytellers, Mr. Smythe and Mr. Jones, who have a Renaissance flair to them – they are men of the theater. At the same time, they are vaudevillians who perform their stories in a fast-paced, comedic and highly theatrical way. The Princesses, Belle and Rapunzel, are treated as royal guests and are invited to help Mr. Smythe and Mr. Jones tell their stories.”
• Stories that touch the heart: “I hope our guests experience a change of heart, whether through a hearty laugh or a tender tear. I love both of these stories because they tell tales of characters who take personal journeys; they follow their hearts. They experience adventure, fear, laughter and love. Perhaps our guests, like the Beast, will lean to be a little kinder or, like our Princesses, a little more adventurous, reaching for things that their hearts desire, following their dreams.”

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ANAHIEM, Calif. (May 20, 2013) Mickey Mouse and a cast of beloved Disney characters will embark on a series of musical adventures through the magical powers of a sorcerer’s map in “Mickey and the Magical Map,” the all-new live show coming to the Fantasyland Theatre in Disneyland Park May 25.

Created by Disney Creative Entertainment, “Mickey and the Magical Map” was conceived for children of all ages and represents the return of Disney storytelling to the newly refurbished Fantasyland Theatre, a venue that merges the tradition of live outdoor performances with theatrical technology.

“We’re very excited to welcome guests to the Disneyland Resort this summer to enjoy all the entertainment and attractions that make this a world-class, family vacation destination,” said Michael Colglazier, President of the Disneyland Resort. “We’re particularly thrilled to debut our captivating new show ‘Mickey and the Magical Map’ and to invite guests to experience Fantasy Faire, a new themed area with Disney Princess encounters and two live shows based on favorite princess stories.”

Performed in the most magical of lands, Fantasyland, the new show reveals a mischievous Mickey Mouse.

“Each new show we create is a chance to push storytelling in a new direction,” said Michael Jung, Theatrical Development Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment. “At Disney, we love the challenge of continuously looking at our classic tales and most recent stories to see how we can bring live entertainment and excitement to today’s audiences.”

“Mickey and the Magical Map” presents Mickey in his timeless role as the sorcerer’s apprentice. Wise sorcerer Yen Sid directs his Mapmakers, a singing-dancing ensemble cast that paints a wondrous map – capable of taking dreamers to any place imaginable and so large it spans the entire stage of the outdoor Fantasyland Theatre.

Apprentice Mickey lets his curiosity get the better of him and he stumbles upon the map’s magical powers, which take him, along with the audience, on a fantastic journey of imagination in the company of the Mapmakers. The journey, presented through theatrical stage wizardry, unveils wonderful worlds of music, color, adventure and beloved characters with each new direction – all set to an original song, “Journey of the Imagination,” and music from classic Disney films.

The show, scheduled for five daily performances this summer, comes alive with appearances and songs by King Louie from “The Jungle Book” (“I Wan’na Be Like You”), Pocahontas (“Just Around the Riverbend”), Mulan (“Reflection”), Rapunzel and Flynn Rider from “Tangled,” (“I See The Light”) Princess Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog” (“Dig a Little Deeper”), and Sebastian from “The Little Mermaid” (“Under the Sea”). Also included is the song “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” from “Lilo and Stitch.”

“Mickey and the Magical Map,” which can be experienced only at Disneyland, where the magic began, will be a highlight of 2013 at the Disneyland Resort, which also features recent additions such as princess encounters in the new Fantasy Faire in Disneyland, and the spectacular new Cars Land and Buena Vista Street in the expanded Disney California Adventure Park.

The exciting show also complements the variety of theatrical and live entertainment found at Disneyland Resort that includes these: “World of Color,”  ”Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular,” the Mariachi Divas and “Disney Junior – Live on Stage!” at Disney California Adventure, and “Fantasmic!,”  “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade,” the Laughing Stock Company at Golden Horseshoe Saloon, the Dapper Dans and Disneyland Band on Main Street, U.S.A., and the nightly summer fireworks show “Magical” at Disneyland.

Guests also enjoy nightly dancing to live bands at Tomorrowland Terrace at Disneyland and the “Mad T Party” on the Hollywood Backlot at Disney California Adventure, which also features live street performances with Five & Dime and the Red Car News Boys at Carthay Circle on Buena Vista Street, the “Pixar Play Parade,” “Phineas and Ferb’s Rockin’ Rollin’ Dance Party” at Paradise Pier, “DJ’s Dance ‘n Drive at Cars Land” – and more!

Fantasyland Theatre, a classic Disneyland venue, was inspired by the original Fantasyland Theater (former spelling) which showed Disney cartoons and Mouseketeer footage from 1955 to 1964.  The current theatre debuted in 1985 as Videopolis, a dance location, which quickly drew crowds for stage productions including “One Man’s Dream,” “Dick Tracy Starring in Diamond Double Cross,” “Mickey’s Nutcracker,” and one of Disney’s first stage productions of “Beauty and the Beast.”

In 1995, the venue was renamed Fantasyland Theatre with the debut of “The Spirit of Pocahontas.”  “Animazement – The Musical” enjoyed a popular three-year run and “Snow White—An Enchanting Musical” played for two years. The theatre was then converted to an area where guests could meet Disney Princesses.

“Mickey and the Magical Map” has writing by Carolyn Gardner and is directed by Tracy Halas.  The production designer is Steve Bass; the creative director is Sylvia Hase; the music is produced by Bruce Healey, supervised and arranged by Timothy Williams and supervised by Matt Walker.  The show producer is Ray Coble.

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About the Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and the newly reimagined Disney California Adventure Park – plus three hotels and the Downtown Disney District, comprised of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences.  The Resort’s hotels are the luxurious, 948-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, which also features 50 two-bedroom equivalent DVC units; the magical, newly renovated, 973-room Disneyland Hotel – both AAA Four Diamond properties -  and the 481-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel with its “day-at-the-beach” fun. For information on attractions and vacations at Disneyland Resort, visit www.disneyland.com, call (866) 43-DISNEY or contact local travel agents.

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Disneyland Resort Public Relations
714-781-4500
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Mickey and the Magical Map

• The show stars Mickey Mouse as the curious and slightly mischievous apprentice to sorcerer Yen Sid. Yen Sid (“Disney” spelled backwards) first appeared in the Disney animated classic “Fantasia.”
• Yen Sid sets his mapmakers to work painting an enormous map, so large that it covers the width of the Fantasyland Theatre stage. The Map has the power to take dreamers to any place imaginable. When Mickey attempts to paint the one unfinished spot on the map, his adventures begin, taking him into fantastic worlds of music, color, excitement and beloved Disney characters.
• Mickey’s adventures include scenes with King Louie from “The Jungle Book,” Rapunzel and Flynn Rider from “Tangled,” Sebastian from “The Little Mermaid,” Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog,” Pocahontas, Mulan and an on-screen visit with Stitch from “Lilo and Stitch.”
• “Mickey and the Magical Map” runs approximately 22 minutes and includes six Disney production numbers, featuring classic songs and an original number, “Journey to Imagination” written especially for the show.
• The show is scheduled to run five times per day, seven days a week, during the summer. Show schedules will adjust in the fall.
• By opening day, May 25, the cast for “Mickey and the Magical Map” will have spent more than 40 days of rehearsal and training.
• More than 900 hopefuls auditioned for the show and the final company includes more than 50 dancers and singers.
• “Mickey and the Magical Map” can be seen only in the Fantasyland Theatre in Disneyland.
• The innovative Map features nearly 1 million pixels and more than 35,000 square inches of LED screen surface.
• Sections of the Map are moved on wagons that weigh more than 9,000 pounds each. The total weight of scenery installed is approximately 71,000 pounds.
• Tiana’s showboat in the finale reaches 18 feet tall, stretches 11 feet wide and weighs nearly 1,200 pounds.
• More than six miles of cable serve as communications pathways between the lighting, show control, audio and video systems.
• Audio for “Mickey and the Magical Map” features 9.1 surround sound from more than 60 speakers. The production’s magical soundtrack was recorded at major Los Angeles recording studios, by nearly 100 musicians and vocalists.

Fantasyland Theatre

• For “Mickey and the Magical Map,” the Fantasyland Theatre has been thoroughly refurbished and remodeled, with new lighting and audio systems, a new tech booth, enhanced wheelchair access and improved guest flow.
• New benches provide seating for more than 1,800 guests.
• The Theatre stage has been built up to support the spectacular Map for “Mickey and the Magical Map.”
• Today’s Fantasyland Theatre originally was called “Videopolis.” It debuted in 1985 as a dance location featuring a 5,000-square-foot dance floor and 70 TV monitors showing music videos.
• Even in its earliest days, “Videopolis” hosted live daytime stage shows such as a “Mickey Mouse Club Reunion” show and “The Magic of Christmas” holiday show.
• Large scale stage productions in “Videopolis” included “One Man’s Dream,” “Dick Tracy in Diamond Double-Cross,” “Mickey’s Nutcracker” and “Beauty and the Beast.”
• In 1995 the name of the venue changed to Fantasyland Theater with the opening of “The Spirit of Pocahontas,” followed by “Animazement – The Musical,” “Mickey’s Detective School” and “Snow White: An Enchanting New Musical,” which opened in 2004.
• When “Snow White” closed in 2006, Fantasyland Theatre became the home of “Princess Fantasy Faire.”
• Fans of Disneyland history will know that the Theatre’s name was inspired by the original Fantasyland Theater (different spelling), which, from 1956 to 1981 screened Disney cartoons and short films featuring the Mouseketeers of “The Mickey Mouse Club.” The original theater stood on the site of what is now the Pinocchio’s Daring Journey attraction in Fantasyland.

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The March 12 opening of Fantasy Faire, near Sleeping Beauty Castle, brought the premieres of two other live shows to Disneyland: “Beauty and the Beast” and “Tangled,” presented in the Royal Theatre in Fantasy Faire.

Throughout Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, guests encounter parades, dance parties, street performances, musical groups and live shows virtually at every turn.  A full list of entertainment is available each day at the park entrances and may include the following:

At Disneyland

• “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade” - Presented daily, it features beloved Disney characters performing to a variety of rhythms and musical styles.
• “Fantasmic!” – The spectacular long-running show features Disney characters and magical images projected on water, presented on the Rivers of America in Frontierland.
• “Jedi Training Academy” at Tomorrowland Terrace
• “Magical,” the summer fireworks show over Sleeping Beauty Castle

At  Disney California Adventure

• “World of Color” – The innovative and immersive nighttime spectacular presented on Paradise Bay combines water, color, fire, music and animation.
• “Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular” - The thrilling, live stage adaptation of “Aladdin,” is presented in the Hyperion Theater.
• “Pixar Play Parade” – The lively playtime parade performs daily, with favorite Disney•Pixar pals.
• “Mad T Party” – A hip, high-energy nighttime experience filled with music, games and dancing happens in Hollywood Land.
• “Disney Junior – Live on Stage!”  - Mickey Mouse is joined by favorite Disney Junior show characters, now including Doc McStuffins and Sofia the First.

Parade routes and theatrical venues aren’t the only places where Disneyland Resort guests encounter live entertainment.  There are magical encounters with live Disney and Disney•Pixar characters, and the parks are filled with many other energetic and talented performers.

At Disneyland, the Disneyland Band, the Dapper Dans quartet and the Refreshment Corner Piano Player are all on view on Main Street, U.S.A. In New Orleans Square, the toe-tapping shows star the rowdy piratical Bootstrappers, the Jambalaya Jazz Band and the mellow Royal Street Bachelors. At the entrance to the Golden Horseshoe in Frontierland, guests may encounter the goofy Laughing Stock Company while, down the trail in Big Thunder Ranch, Billy Hill and the Hillbillies perform on the Jamboree stage and Miss Chris and her friends entertain at Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue. Each summer, guest bands play popular music for dancing at the Tomorrowland Terrace stage, and the gifted musicians of the All American College Band appear on Main Street, U.S.A.

At Disney California Adventure, Buena Vista Street comes alive with the Red Car News Boys and the outgoing, improvisational Citizens of Buena Vista Street. The swinging jazz combo Five & Dime travels through the park on a makeshift jalopy, and Goofy makes his own kind of music in “Instant Concert! …Just Add Water” on Paradise Bay. Minnie’s Fly Girls Charter Airline in Condor Flats features Minnie Mouse and her crew in a tune-filled “travelogue” of song and dance.

The fun and inventive world of Phineas & Ferb comes to life in “Phineas & Ferb’s Rockin’ Rollin’ Dance Party” along the walkway of Paradise Pier. On the nearby Paradise Garden Bandstand, musical acts reflecting a variety of diverse cultures and nationalities share their unique talents. Green Army Men from “Toy Story” patrol the park with “Operation: Playtime!” and the Grammy-winning Mariachi Divas perform regularly in the outdoor dining area of Pacific Wharf.

At Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, the wilderness recreation area in Grizzly Peak, guests may encounter The Happy Camper or view the daily Wilderness Explorer Ceremony in the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail amphitheatre.

The new Cars Land in Disney California Adventure offers in-person greetings by Lightning McQueen, tow truck Mater, fire engine Red (who waters the flowers and cleans up the streets) and “DJ’s Dance ‘n’ Drive,” a spontaneous street party designed to get everyone dancing with the vehicular music maker DJ.

Speaking of dancing, little ones who like to dance can enjoy “Dancin’ with Disney,” which returns to Stage 17 in Hollywood Land beginning Friday, June 14. The show features both Disney and contemporary tunes and guests may find a Disney character as their dance partner. The characters include some that are rarely-seen, such as Clarabelle Cow and Mr. Smee.

The live entertainment experience at Disneyland Resort extends beyond the borders of the parks, with character meals and occasional musical entertainment at the Disneyland Resort hotels, and multiple live musical performances along the walkways of the Downtown Disney dining, shopping and entertainment district. Downtown Disney also offers live entertainment at the House of Blues and Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen.

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About the Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and the newly reimagined Disney California Adventure Park – plus three hotels and the Downtown Disney District, comprised of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences.  The Resort’s hotels are the luxurious, 948-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, which also features 50 two-bedroom equivalent DVC units; the magical, newly renovated, 973-room Disneyland Hotel – both AAA Four Diamond properties -  and the 481-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel with its “day-at-the-beach” fun. For information on attractions and vacations at Disneyland Resort, visit www.disneyland.com, call (866) 43-DISNEY or contact local travel agents.

Media Contact:
Disneyland Resort Public Relations
714-781-4500
www.disneylandnews.com
www.disneyparksblog.com
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ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Happiest Place on Earth is now even happier with the addition of Cars Land, the largest piece of a five-year expansion at Disney California Adventure Park. Cars Land, which opened in June, 2012, features 12 acres of immersive excitement and freewheeling fun for everyone as it brings the town of Radiator Springs to life, just as guests remember it from the Disney●Pixar movie “Cars.”
The thrilling additions of Cars Land, Buena Vista Street and the Carthay Circle Theatre, home of the Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge at Disney California Adventure add to the storytelling magic of the Disneyland Resort, a world-class, family  vacation destination in Southern California with two theme parks, three hotels and the Downtown Disney shopping and dining district.

“The crown jewel of our Disney California Adventure expansion, Cars Land is the extraordinary result of a close collaboration between the gifted filmmakers at Pixar Animation Studios and our talented Imagineers and cast members,” said Bob Iger, chairman and chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company. “It’s also a spectacular example of our ability to take our characters and stories and bring them to life in new and unexpected ways.”

“We embarked on a journey to realize Bob Iger’s vision of transforming Disney California Adventure with new attractions featuring our most iconic characters, including Mater, Lightning McQueen and the residents of Radiator Springs,” said Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “Cars Land immerses guests in the world of ‘Cars’ like never before and combines the imagination of Pixar with the creativity, innovation and legendary storytelling that are the hallmarks of a Disney Parks experience.”

Cars Land invites guests to take the off ramp right into Radiator Springs, “the cutest little town in Carburetor County,” where they will enjoy three family attractions showcasing places and characters from the movie: Luigi’s Flying Tires, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree and Radiator Springs Racers, one of the largest and most elaborate attractions created for a Disney theme park.

Themed shops and restaurants also look familiar to fans of the movie, including Flo’s V8 Café, Cozy Cone Motel and Ramone’s House of Body Art. The Radiator Springs locals are at home, so Lightning McQueen and Mater make appearances and pose for photos near the Cozy Cone Motel.

“We want guests to think they are on this great road trip and, in a way, almost like they are going home,” said Kathy Mangum, executive producer of Cars Land. “Cars Land will feel very familiar in so many different ways. I can’t tell you how many people have seen it and said ‘I can’t believe I am in Anaheim.”

Each attraction and facility has its own personality, allowing guests to get to know more about the characters who live in Radiator Springs.

“A lot of the places you will find only inside Cars Land, so we took the theming and storytelling all the way through, in a way that guests will really feel as if the shops, restaurants and attractions are being operated by  that character,” Mangum said. “Everywhere you look there is a funny little car nod. After all, it is a land built by cars.”

Many of the automotive winks were inspired by a research trip Imagineers took along Route 66. Others were inspired by working with the animators from Pixar.

“While I love all of the movies we’ve made at Pixar, the ‘Cars’ films are particularly close to my heart, so seeing Radiator Springs come to life at Disney California Adventure is a dream come true,” said John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer, Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. “The artistry and attention to detail throughout Cars Land is absolutely incredible, and I couldn’t be more proud of the teams at Pixar and Walt Disney Imagineering who worked side-by-side to make this project a reality.”

The “Cars” gang gathers to prepare visitors for the big race in Radiator Springs Racers, the high-octane, indoor/outdoor adventure that revs through the beautiful mountains of Ornament Valley. Guests board cars, each with their own personality, for a scenic road trip that takes them through Radiator Springs, with a stop at either Luigi’s Casa Della Tires or Ramone’s House of Body Art. After getting some final racing tips from Doc Hudson, the cars zoom over the roadways in a nose-to-nose, high-speed race, never knowing which car may win.

Elsewhere in Cars Land, Luigi invites guests to test-drive his new shipment of Fettuccini-brand “Cuscino D’Aria” tires – which are just like riding on air (or being on an enormous air hockey table).  At this festival of flying tires, riders lean left and right aboard Luigi’s Flying Tires, floating and bumping along in a 21^st century attraction reminiscent of the classic Disneyland Flying Saucers attraction. Festive music adds to the fun.

Mater provides his own unique siren song, courtesy of a Junkyard Jukebox that has lured baby tractors into Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree. There, the tractors dance to Mater’s hoedown tune, swinging guests around in trailers they are pulling behind them. It’s a “tow-si-do” square dance to a playlist of seven songs sung by Mater himself.

The streets of Radiator Springs are humming with entertainment, too. DJ, the ultimate party car — a big road-trippin’ mobile boom box with giant speakers and built-in disc changer – invites his crew to “DJ’s Dance ‘n Drive,” a spontaneous, interactive dance party. And Red the Fire Truck recruits guests of all ages to join “Red to the Rescue!” – helping water the flowers and clean up the town of Radiator Springs. (Prepare to get wet!)

The road leading into Cars Land is dotted with large animated neon signs reminiscent of the ’50s era of cross-country travel along Route 66. As with other aspects of the land, the neon signs are three-dimensional representations of recognizable landmarks from the movie “Cars,” and they come to life each night at sundown when it’s cruisin’ time along the boulevard.

“Cars” fans and other interested shoppers will find a great selection of Cars Land and other Disney and Disney●Pixar gifts and souvenirs at the “local” retail shops in Radiator Springs.  Although the interiors of most of these locales weren’t seen in the movie, they were created for Cars Land by Walt Disney Imagineers with their characteristic attention to detail, drawing on inspiration from vintage stops along historic Route 66.

Sarge’s Surplus Hut offers a broad selection of merchandise – kids clothing, costumes, hats, toys and plush – featuring Lightning McQueen, Mater and other “Cars” characters. Radiator Springs Curios is a country-style mercantile with special appeal for collectors of pins themed to all things “Cars.” The shop also stocks magnets, antenna toppers and license plate frames. Ramone’s House of Body Art features the signature items of the Low ‘n Slow Car Club and Champions Custom Speed Shop collections in t-shirts, work shirts, hats and accessories.

Dining options in Cars Land include Flo’s V8 Café, modeled on the quirky roadside eateries along old Route 66. The café serves full meals from a quick-service counter. A windowed “showroom” dining area and adjoining outdoor patio offer a breathtaking view of Cadillac Mountain Range and the vehicles zooming by in Radiator Springs Racers. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at Flo’s, and specialties include chicken tamale with scrambled eggs, brioche French toast with salted caramel and bananas, home-style rotisserie classics such as pork loin or New York strip loin, plus the house-made Pie-O-Rama for dessert.

The distinctive, orange “cone” architecture of Sally’s Cozy Cone Motel offers quick service cone-themed snacks from five different cones, including ice cream cones, chile “cone” queso, pop “cone” and other “cone”-coctions. Fillmore’s Taste-in celebrates the Cars Land “new age” hippie-van-in-residence. His food and beverage kiosk offers the “high-octane” natural health benefits of fresh fruits, bottled water and juices.

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About the Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney California Adventure Park – plus three hotels and the Downtown Disney District, comprised of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences.  The Resort’s hotels are the luxurious, 948-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, which also features 50 two-bedroom equivalent DVC units; the magical, newly renovated, 973-room Disneyland Hotel – both AAA Four Diamond properties -  and the 481-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel with its “day-at-the-beach” fun. For information on attractions and vacations at Disneyland Resort, visit www.disneyland.com, call (866) 43-DISNEY or contact local travel agents.

Media Contact:
Disneyland Resort Public Relations
714-781-4500
www.disneylandnews.com
www.disneyparksblog.com
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Today’s Fantasyland Theatre was known as Videopolis when it opened in 1985. Long before “Mad T Party” and similar nighttime events at Disneyland Resort, Videopolis was a rockin’ music club with DJs, a 5,000-square-foot dance floor and 70 TV monitors showing music videos and live cut-in shots of guests as they danced.

Even then, stage shows were presented in Videopolis by day, including the “The Magic of Christmas,” “Singin’, Dancin’, Heigh Ho”(a 50^th Anniversary celebration of the release of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”), and a Mickey Mouse Club Reunion show. The venue also presented the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon from 1982 to 1993 and the annual Candlelight holiday celebration from 1999 to 2002.

Among the musical acts that appeared on the Videopolis stage over the years – in guest concerts, as telethon participants, at Grad Nites or in private concerts – were: No Doubt, New Kids on the Block, Wang Chung, Mr. Mister, Miami Sound Machine, Buster Poindexter, Lou Rawls, the Pointer Sisters, Oingo Boingo, The Wiggles, The Turtles, Frankie Avalon, Roy Orbison, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Chubby Checker, Herman’s Hermits and The Spinners.

Beginning in 1989, nightly dancing was discontinued and Videopolis became a full-time theatre. Productions presented on the Videopolis stage included:

• 1989 –  ”One Man’s Dream,” a celebration of Walt Disney
• 1990 – “Dick Tracy in Diamond Double-Cross”
• 1991 – “Plane Crazy,” featuring characters from “Tale Spin” and other “Disney Afternoon” animated television series.
• 1991 – Mickey’s Nutcracker (televised on the Disney Channel for the holidays, and revived in 1992)
• 1992-1994 – “Beauty and the Beast”
• 1995-1997 – “The Spirit of Pocahontas”

In 1998, the location was renamed the Fantasyland Theatre and presented:

• 1998-2001 – “Disney’s Animazement – The Musical,” a revue focusing on contemporary animated features such as “The Lion King,” “Hercules,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin” and “Pocahontas”
• 2001 – “Minnie’s Christmas Party” (revived for the 2002 holiday season)
• 2002-2003 – “Mickey’s Detective School,” in which detective Mickey recruited the audience for help in locating the missing Pluto
• 2004-2006 – “Snow White – An Enchanting New Musical”

From 2006 to 2012, Disney Princesses greeted guests at “Princess Fantasy Faire” in the Fantasyland Theatre. In March 2013, Disney Princesses began gathering in a new Fantasy Faire located near the entrance to Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Fans of Disneyland history will know there was another Fantasyland Theater (different spelling) in Fantasyland on the site of what is now Pinocchio’s Daring Journey. From 1956 to 1981, the original Fantasyland Theater screened Disney cartoons and short films featuring the Mouseketeers of “The Mickey Mouse Club.”

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About the Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and the newly reimagined Disney California Adventure Park – plus three hotels and the Downtown Disney District, comprised of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences.  The Resort’s hotels are the luxurious, 948-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, which also features 50 two-bedroom equivalent DVC units; the magical, newly renovated, 973-room Disneyland Hotel – both AAA Four Diamond properties -  and the 481-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel with its “day-at-the-beach” fun. For information on attractions and vacations at Disneyland Resort, visit www.disneyland.com, call (866) 43-DISNEY or contact local travel agents.

Media Contact:
Disneyland Resort Public Relations
714-781-4500
www.disneylandnews.com
www.disneyparksblog.com
www.twitter.com/disneyland

Located on the south end of the Fantasy Faire courtyard, the Royal Theatre is an open-air structure in the style of a tent at a medieval fair. The décor is punctuated with crowns, which appear on the roof and around the tent’s center spire. The Theatre accommodates more than 300 guests per show. Additional guests may view from the standing room around the perimeter of the Theatre.

The Theatre’s inaugural program offers two different shows: the stories of Belle (“Beauty and the Beast”) and Rapunzel (“Tangled”) as presented by the stage’s Master Thespians, Mr. Smythe and Mr. Jones.  This pair of Medieval-style vaudevillians sing, dance, clown and narrate the stories, playing many roles in support of visiting princesses, Belle and Rapunzel. Flynn Rider joins the fun in the “Tangled” presentation.

The shows also feature a live piano player who punctuates the action in the style of a silent movie accompanist. To keep the fun going at the conclusion of the story, Belle, Rapunzel and Flynn Rider remain in the Theatre to greet audience members.

The shows feature familiar songs from the Disney animated motion pictures, plus a razzle-dazzle original song for Mr. Smythe and Mr. Jones entitled “Hap’ly Ever After at the End.” In addition to Mr. Smythe, Mr. Jones and the Princesses, the shows are supported by four Faire Maidens.

The design of Royal Theatre recalls the Carnation Plaza Gardens stage, which stood on this location for more than 50 years, serving as a venue for performances by school groups, big band greats and others. Among the headliners who appeared in Plaza Gardens were Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Cab Calloway, Les Brown, Buddy Rich, Tommy Dorsey, Stan Kenton and The Osmonds.

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Media Contact:
Disneyland Resort Public Relations
714-781-4500
www.disneylandnews.com
www.disneyparksblog.com
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ANAHEIM, Calif. – Since opening day at Disneyland in 1955, Disney Princesses have appeared in the park, parades, shows and personal encounters in and near Fantasyland. Through the years, park guests have expressed their affection and admiration for these special Disney characters. Today, as part of the recent transformation of the Disneyland Resort, guests are enjoying a special, new place to visit the Princesses and experience even more stories – at Fantasy Faire.

Visitors to Disneyland Park – young girls, in particular – love the Princesses. Though each Princess has her own distinctive personality and characteristics – adventurous, determined, thoughtful and kind – they are all beautiful, inside and out, as well as friendly and charming to everyone they meet.

An encounter with a Princess at Disneyland can be a dream come true for a child or parent, and almost every visitor has seen a little girl wearing a Princess costume or carrying a Princess doll for her day in Disneyland. Some children even get their own Princess makeovers in the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Fantasyland.

Guests may test their knowledge of Disney Princesses with a bit of enchanting trivia.

• Given their consistent popularity, Disney Princesses have found many places to greet their admirers through the years. What is the name of the location inside Fantasy Faire where guests can visit with the royal characters?  (The Royal Hall, near the forecourt of Sleeping Beauty Castle)
• Which princess may sometimes be found by her Wishing Well, near Sleeping Beauty Castle?  (Snow White)
• Which princess would you find in New Orleans Square, usually singing a lively tune?
  (Tiana, from “The Princess and the Frog”)
• Which princesses can you see in the Royal Theatre, onstage and then greeting guests after their shows at Fantasy Faire? (Rapunzel and Belle)
• Which princesses are you most likely to meet in the Royal Hall? (Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel)
• Disney Princesses have many beautiful traits. Some are especially kind, some are determined and some are bold. Which princess can you meet at Disneyland who is known for her adventurous spirit and red hair?  (Merida)
• Which princess may often be found in Adventureland, in a special location near the Jungle Cruise? (Princess Jasmine in Aladdin’s Oasis)
• History question:  Which were the only princesses who appeared as characters in Disneyland on its opening day in 1955? (Snow White, Cinderella)
• Which princess had a “home” in Disneyland before she had even appeared in a Disney animated feature? (Aurora or Sleeping Beauty – with Sleeping Beauty Castle in 1955. The motion picture “Sleeping Beauty” was released in 1959.)

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About the Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney California Adventure Park – plus three hotels and the Downtown Disney District, comprised of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences.  The Resort’s hotels are the luxurious, 948-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, which also features 50 two-bedroom equivalent DVC units; the magical, newly renovated, 973-room Disneyland Hotel – both AAA Four Diamond properties -  and the 481-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel with its “day-at-the-beach” fun. For information on attractions and vacations at Disneyland Resort, visit www.disneyland.com, call (866) 43-DISNEY or contact local travel agents.

 
Media Contact:
Disneyland Resort Public Relations
714-781-4500
www.disneylandnews.com
www.disneyparksblog.com
www.twitter.com/disneyland

• Like the design of Fantasyland itself, the architecture in Fantasy Faire transports guests to a charming European fairytale village, a place where characters and stories from Disney animated features come to life. Design highlights include timbered and stone walls, chimney vents, arched windows and tiled rooftops with steeply pitched gables.

• Fantasy Faire extends the boundaries of Fantasyland to the southwest side of the Sleeping Beauty Castle drawbridge in the center of Disneyland.

• The most prominent tower in the Fantasy Faire village is Troubadour Tower. It features a staircase (not open to guests) with a carved wooden owl on the newel post.

• On a window ledge next to Troubadour Tower, guests may spot Figaro, the mischievous cat from “Pinocchio,” dozing near a bird in a cage.  From time to time, Figaro stirs awake when the bird sings.

• In the center of Fantasy Faire, a 16-foot-high stone sculpture pays tribute to Rapunzel’s tower in the Disney animated feature “Tangled.” Rapunzel can be seen peeking out a tower window. After dark, her hair, twisting around the tower sculpture, comes to life with twinkling lights.

The Royal Hall

• The Royal Hall is where Disney Princesses gather each day to meet their guests. To the left of the Royal Hall entrance is Clopin’s Music Box. When guests turn the crank at the base of the box, they set in motion a scene in which Clopin, leader of the gypsies in the animated “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” joins other characters from the film in a music-box version of the song “Topsy Turvy.”

• Guests entering the Royal Hall discover individual meeting spaces for three different Princesses.  In addition, Belle (from “Beauty and the Beast”), Rapunzel and Flynn Rider (from “Tangled”) greet guests following their shows in the Royal Theatre.

The Royal Theatre

• Like the Royal Hall, the Royal Theatre offers guests a fun, more personal experience with the Disney Princesses. Audience members sit on benches or on the carpet at the foot of the stage as the magical tales of “Beauty and the Beast” or “Tangled” unfold, full of music, humor and audience participation.

• Along with beloved tunes from their respective stories, the “Beauty and the Beast” and  “Tangled” presentations also feature Mr. Smythe and Mr. Jones singing an original song – “Happ’ly Ever After at the End” – composed especially for the Royal Theatre shows.

• Capacity for the Royal Theatre, including guests on benches, on carpets, and children seated on laps, is approximately 300 per show. Additional guests may view from the standing room around the perimeter of the Theatre.

• Mr. Smythe and Mr. Jones – Master Thespians of the Royal Theatre – represent a Renaissance version of classic vaudeville comedy teams.

• The Royal Theatre is a multi-purpose venue, with seating that can be removed or reconfigured. The Theatre utilizes elements from the Carnation Plaza Gardens stage, which stood in this location from the earliest days of Disneyland and hosted school and community music groups and headliners such as Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Cab Calloway, Les Brown, Buddy Rich, Tommy Dorsey, Stan Kenton and The Osmonds.

• In a tribute to the historic Carnation Plaza Gardens, a shield over the archway leading from Fantasy Faire to Rancho del Zocalo in Frontierland displays the letters “CPG.”

• Between the Royal Theatre and the Royal Hall, guests will discover Fairy Tale Treasures, offering Princess-themed gifts and souvenirs. Details in the woodwork  feature acorns and sculpted squirrels, with some squirrels holding up acorns as if they were jewels.

• Maurice, Belle’s inventor father from “Beauty and the Beast,” sets up his food wagon, Maurice’s Treats, across from the Royal Theatre, selling his culinary “inventions”: marvelous bread twists in a choice of either chocolate, strawberry or cheddar cheese garlic. Maurice’s wagon also offers a signature beverage – a blend of 100 percent apple juice and wild berry flavor producing a “Boysen Apple Freeze.”

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Media Contact:
Disneyland Resort Public Relations
714-781-4500
www.disneylandnews.com
www.disneyparksblog.com
www.twitter.com/disneyland