Big Day for Themepark Shopper

Today was a huge day for www.ThemeparkShopper.com. Today was a huge shipping day.  We officially shipped over 50 packages to customers. We had a huge boost in sales over the Thanksgiving weekend.  Laurie and I spent most of Friday at Disneyland shopping.  Now that we're in the Christmas periods, this is a great opportunity to shop our site and look for that special gift.

 

Themepark Shopper ships Disney products and collectibles to anywhere in the world.  We are now shipping more often so that your gift arrives just in time for Christmas.

 

Alan Ng

 

Herbalife - Weight Management and Nutrition Products

Disney Collectibles Store - www.themeparkshopper.com

Lose 16 pounds in a month. Free sample.

Alan Ng Home Page

 

TV and Big Brother

So I forgot to add Dirty Sexy Money to my Tivo Season Pass. Fortunately they are showing new episodes online at ABC.com. Really cool. They provide a HD version. Wish I had HD television.

In 2002, I attended a speech by the president of the Disney Internet Group. At the time DIG was one of only a few profitable divisions at Disney. One the coolest innovation at the time was instant video. It was the first time you came to a website and instantly video begins to play. Absolutely no delay in playing.

Disney has always been on the forefront of video technology I would definitely recommend going to abc.com to view any episode.

Why show episodes online for free. Answer is simple. TV episodes are constantly appearing on download sites like the old Napster and bit torrent. To curtail illegal piracy, Disney can provide high quality versions of their product to viewer and earn revenue by showing commercials (which is a sticking point to writers on the verge of a strike).

I'd rather watch a high quality image rather an a video shot off the TV screen.

Now onto Big Brother. I'm watching the show on the internet. I'm in San Diego early so I'm watching it at the theater on my computer. In the upper right hand corner of my screen is a graphic of ABC's affiliate channel 10. Big Brother knows where I am. Just because I'm plugged into the theater's internet.

I'm so scared.

Mickey's Halloween Time - 2007

If you've been reading my blog, you know that last year I attended Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.  This year Laurie and I went to Disney's California Adventure for Mickey's Halloween time.  Here's this year's report.

Laurie and I arrive at Disneyland dressed the same way we did last year.  Laurie dressed beautifully as Cinderella and I'm dressed as Disney Dork.  Basically a silk Goofy shirt with big floppy foam mouse ears.

We enter the park at 6:25 and the event starts at 6:30.  We need to go to guest relations to pick up an alternate entrance pass.  When then head to Candy Corn acres. We soon hear an announcement that the event has begun and everyone is released to the park and everyone heads directly to Hollywood backlot.We foolishly do the same thing.  One little tip.  Get a map and schedule and try to come with some plan.  We, of course, did not do this.

We spend a lot of time just trying to figure out what to do.In addition I have three friends to hook up with and they are arriving later in the night.  Laurie and I are walking to the Hyperion theater because there's a photo opportunity.  Hey everyone, it's the Little Einsteins. Yeah...sigh.  We move toward Monster's Inc and get in a candy line.  Then we head to the Animation building for more candy.  They had a candy trail through the animation workshop.

There's a new candy that I've never seen, called Kissable.  I'm not much of a candy person, but I think is just small hersey's kisses.  I also appreciate the fact the Disney is handing out apple chips, apple slices and raisins.

While going through the Animation Workshop, my friend calls me and I tell him to meet me in the building.  Lo and behold their he is.  We head immediately to Tower of Terror.  Found out that it really doesn't make a difference to use the alternate entrance pass for rides. The lines are so short tonight to everything.

As I'm walking through the park, you see a few touches of a Halloween event.  These touches are pretty portable.  Photo sets that are on wheels.  Ghost balloons that inflate quickly and lights shining spooky images. For example, Grizzly Mountain had a giant light shining a spider web on it.  Done.

Tower of Terror had a bellman's luggage rack with Mickey luggage on it sitting in front of the fountain. Done. That's it.  Anyways, I'll still take small lines.  We walk almost immediately to the library and then straight into a loading area.

Now another friend has arrived and we eat over at the Taste Pilots grill.  Yum.  Here we decide to come up with a plane.  Basically, we go into all candy lines and then watch the parade.

After dinner, we head over to Soarin'.  We walk directly onto Soarin.  For the first time, I'm sitting on the top row center.  Awesome, definitely the best place.  I will say I got a little queasy on the Los Angeles section.  The film is very shaky.

Sitting in the same row as us is a high school girl who is dressed exactly as Laurie is.  She's not happy.  Awkward.

Now we head to candy lines.  There's one by Soarin'.  We head to Grizzly Rapid and there's a candy path with 5 stops.  We then head to Redwood Creek and there's another path with 6 stops.

Again, I'm not a huge candy person, after I'm done with Grizzly, I really don't want anymore candy.  Will that stop my wife? No.  She continues to collect more candy and collect candy for me.  That's OK, I'm content just shooting video and pictures.  I hope to have this up soon on my website.

Now we head over to Paradise Pier.  There's a lot of action at the Golden Screams theatre with a Villains photo op.  We continue to Ariel's Grotto and find a princess photo area.  Cinderella leaves for break and the line is huge, so we pass.

I then try to get Laurie to go on California Screamin'.  No dice, Laurie wants candy.  Hey, the midway games are free. So we play a few.  No prizes are handed out, just more stinkin' candy.  Paradise pier is running all of its ride except for the Maliboomer.

There are about 3 candy spots. Ugh.  We swing around toward the Zerphyr and I spot a hat stand.  I need to pick some up for themeparkshopper.com.  Laurie heads ahead to get more candy.  Once I'm done with the hats, the parade begins.

There's a few clear areas and I stand with my camera and I'm up front.  The parade comes by with a song that kind of cute.  Just as good as "boo to you" from WDW.

There are three float elements to this parade.  The beginning banner. Center float with the Fab Five and the Ending banners.  There's a few characters, dancers, fab five.  Not bad, but not great.

As the end of the parade passes and I see the Disneyland security, I decide to follow the parade until I see Laurie.  I march about 50 ft and there's Laurie, so I'm pretending to be a part of the parade.

As we're talking I notice that the parade is stopping in front for the Paradise pier. I bet their going to have a little show.  I'm right.  The parade stops for a little dance party.  The characters are pulling kids onto the parade route.  Flick is in front of me trying to get a kid to dance, but nothing doing.

I'll have this on video soon.

So the parade passes and we head over the Pirate's Wharf.  We get a picture with Chip and Dale.  There's a craft area for kids and a dance area.  I get on the dance floor and Laurie video tapes me.  Maybe you'll see this.

We then head to Bug's land and there's two talking scarecrows.  Very funny and then back to the entrance where the parade made it's third stop.

We take my friend back to the Hollywood backlot because Laurie wants to get more candy at the Animation Building.  I decide to get more pictures and video.

We then ride Monster's for the last time and head back to candy corn acres for final photo ops.  When we get back on the tram to get to our parking spot, we sit with a redneck family complaining about the quality of candy.

That was our night.  Here's few random thoughts.

The majority of costumes worn were either Disney or Star Wars related.  We did see a lot of Wizard of Oz as well.

I have way too much candy.  Maybe it's because it was the last night, but Disney was incredibly generous with candy.  I can't possibly eat all of this, nor do I want to.  We measured the candy at 10 pounds.

Overall the event was fun.  It's worth the $27 that I paid for it to get onto rides fast and have a unique experience.  It's nothing compared to WDW.  They have a better parade, fireworks shows and more rides.  My hope is that this gradually grows from year to year.

Alan Ng

Herbalife - Weight Management and Nutrition Products

Disney Collectibles Store - www.themeparkshopper.com

Lose 16 pounds in a month. Free sample.

Alan Ng Home Page

 

Disney's California Adventure is Getting a Makeover

This just in.  A press release about California Adventure.

 

DISNEY ANNOUNCES SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION PLAN FOR THE DISNEYLAND RESORT

Multi-Year Build-out Plan Includes Major Attractions and a New “ Cars Land” at Disney’s California Adventure

GLENDALE , Calif.,October 17, 2007 -- The Walt Disney Company today unveiled a significant multi-year expansion plan for the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim that continues its growth as a multi-day, world-class tourist destination.

Announced by Disney President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger and Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo at a press conference at Walt Disney Imagineering’s Glendale headquarters, the expansion will bring new entertainment and major family-oriented attractions to Disney’s California Adventure, including an entirely new Cars Land inspired by the hit Disney• Pixar animated film Cars.

“ The success of the Disneyland Resort over the past few years provides us with both the opportunity and  the need to invest for growth, to enhance and expand the experience for our guests and attract new visitors, while at the same time delivering attra ctive returns on the investment, ” said Iger. “This plan is a reflection of our belief in the bright future of the Disneyland Resort and our continuing commitment to grow the Anaheim Resort Area as a world class tourist destination.”

Disney Imagineers will be bringing more of Walt Disney into Disney’s California Adventure, celebrating the hope and optimism of California that attracted Walt to this land of opportunity in the 1920s.  Guests entering the new Plaza will be instantly immersed in the world that inspired Walt during his early days as an animation pioneer. The new, interactive Walt Disney Story attraction will set the stage for the unfolding story of Walt that will permeate the park.

The expansive program reaches throughout Disney’s California Adventure, with an amazing Little Mermaid attraction, a groundbreaking, signature nighttime spectacular and new viewing area for 9,000, and the addition of the 12-acre Cars Land featuring the world of Radiator Springs with three new attractions. Extensive landscaping, new retail and dining will create an even richer environment throughout the park in ways that reinforce Guests’ connection with Walt.

“Our Disneyland Guests have a deep emotional connection with Walt Disney, whose life story really captures the pioneering spirit of California in the 1920s,” said Rasulo. “The creative evolution of Disney’s California Adventure will connect guests to Walt’s own California adventure and reflect the place that he found when he first arrived with a cardboard suitcase in his hand and a head full of dreams.”

The expansion is part of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts’ overall growth strategy of continuing to invest in its core business of existing parks and resorts around the world, while exploring new opportunities to capture more of the growing family vacation market. This announcement follows Disney’s ground-breaking last month for a 250-room expansion of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, including 50 rooms dedicated to the West Coast debut of Disney Vacation Club, the company’s growing time share business.

Multi-day, World-Class Tourist Destination

Today’s announced expansion builds upon the transformation of the Disneyland park into a multi-day destination resort that began in 2001 with the creation of the Disneyland Resort and the opening of Disney’s California Adventure Park, Downtown Disney and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.

Since then, the Disneyland Resort has continued to grow with the addition of popular attractions and shows, including: Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror,Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!, Block Party Bash, High School Musical 2: Schools Out!, Disney Princess Fantasy Faire, and Jedi Training Academy, along with the re-Imagineering of Space Mountain and enhancements to Pirates of the Caribbean.

“This expansion builds on a commitment we made more than a decade ago to create and grow the Anaheim Resort Area as a world-class tourist destination where guests would want to stay for more than one day,” said Disneyland Resort President Ed Grier. “That investment has become a success for Disney, the Anaheim community and for the economy of Southern California.”

According to the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau, Anaheim is one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in the country, enjoying some of the highest hotel occupancy rates in the nation and attracting millions of visitors each year who spend billions of dollars.

Coming to Disney’s California Adventure Over the Next Several Years

In addition to the new themeing and attractions, Disney’s California Adventure will receive new restaurant and retail innovations, landscaping to enrich the placemaking, facade and graphics enhancements, and an extensive menu of entertainment and events.   

Disney’s California Adventure is already home to some of the Disneyland Resort’s highest-rated attractions and shows, including: Soarin’ Over California, California Screamin’, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and the Broadway-caliber show, Disney’s Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular.

Cars Land

The expansion will culminate with an entirely new, 12-acre addition: Cars Land, immersing guests into a world inspired by the hit Disney/Pixar movie, Cars, playing to America’s love affair with automobiles.

Radiator Springs Racers, a major “E-ticket” attraction, places guests right in the middle of the amazingly detailed, dimensional Cars world of Mater, Lightning McQueen, Doc and Sally. Guests get a quick race briefing from Doc and Lightning, and suddenly find themselves in the midst of a race around hairpin turns and steep banks.

Cars Land increases capacity to the park with two additional immersive family rides, featuring Luigi and Mater from the movie.   Cars Land represents an unprecedented level of collaboration between Pixar Animation Studios and Disney Imagineering to create this extensive new area. The new land will substantially extend the total area of Disney’s California Adventure park.

Paradise Pier

Paradise Pier will host major new attractions beginning next summer with the opening of Toy Story Mania!, a ride-through, interactive adventure where Guests ride into a high-energy 4-D carnival midway hosted by Toy Story characters. Woody, Jessie, Buzz, Hamm and the gang come to life in amazing ways, immersing guests in the rich stories of the Pixar blockbuster Toy Story films.

A major ride based on Disney’s classic The Little Mermaid comes to the park’s Paradise Pier with leading-edge animation and special effects. Guests will dive into the magnificent scenes and magical songs from the movie. A Mermaid Grotto area with a fountain and sand castle will offer new play experiences for children.

Unique Nighttime Spectacular

The dramatic and unique Disney’s World of Color will bring new nighttime excitement to Paradise Pier. This nightly panorama of spectacular water effects, colorful lighting and music will bring Disney animation to life with an entirely new creative and technical approach. The 9,000 person viewing area offers prime waterside viewing of the show – and provides a site for live entertainment, music festivals, and outdoor film premieres.
Entry Plaza and Gateway

The totally new gateway to Disney’s California Adventure welcomes guests into an immersive world of historic California streets as Walt experienced them as a young artist arriving with big dreams.

A new visual icon in the tradition of Los Angeles, California’s great entertainment palaces will draw guests into the heart of the attractions. This new facility, which was inspired by Los Angeles’ historic Carthay Circle Theatre that premiered Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937, will house a next generation Walt Disney Story featuring an interactive tribute to Walt’s California experiences, and his entertainment legacy that continues world-wide today. Red Car trolleys reminiscent of the old Pacific Electric Railway will travel up and down the main street. New dining and shopping experiences and a slate of unique, live entertainment will bring energy to the Walt Disney Plaza.

Hollywood Pictures Backlot

Hollywood Pictures Backlot will be a new home for a slate of special ticketed events and chances to hear first hand from innovative directors, writers and animators. An update of the popular family show “Playhouse Disney” will provide an experience for younger children.

Golden State

The “ Golden State” area of the park will see the addition of numerous new dining opportunities tied to the incredible bounty of California’s farmland and its rich ethnically diverse food heritage. Food and wine festivals that celebrate the seasons, tastes and cultures of the dynamic communities of the Golden State will entertain guests, bringing unique one-of-a-kind experiences.

Preview Center

A Preview Center located on San Francisco Street in the Golden State region of the park will feature models, Imagineering concepts – giving park guests a sneak peek at the excitement that lies ahead. The Preview Center is scheduled to open in late 2008.

 

Olszewski Signing for Plaza Gardens and Frontierland entrance

Today I'm at Disneyland for the Bob Olszewski signing. Today is the release of the Disneyland Main Street pieces Adventureland and Frontierland entrances and Plaza Gardens.

8:20 - I'm currently at Disneyland on the tram. Dland opens at 9:00 am, so I'm early. The tram took about 10 minutes to arrive. The weather is gloomy with intermittent rain.

8:30 - in line for purchase. It's raining real heavy and I'm trying to find cover. It appears as is that the park is officially open due to the rain.

8:43 - have not moved in the line at all. Not sure if they've started selling or not. The signing is at Disneyana. The line is long. I'm standing at the Photo store near the hub.

8:51 - I've moved forward in front of the China Closet. The rain has stopped hopefully for good.

For Disneyland Park Hours on your mobile phone @ www.dinseytown.com

9:15 - We've moved for the second time. Crystal Arts is quite Beautiful at this time of the morning. Thank God I have my iPod. I just watched the Inside the Magic videos of WDW Haunted Mansion (cool) and O Canada.

9:30 - have not moved. Last time I was done at this point. Oh well. The park is starting to get crowded. I wish I was on a ride right now.

9:40 - still haven't moved. A horse pulling the carriage has just pooped in front of me and it stinks.

9:43 - Disney Custodian picked up most of the poop. There was too much poop and it filled his recepticle. There still some left and it still stinks. The omnibus was very careful not to run over it.

9:50 - the poop is gone. Still not moving.

10:03 - still haven't moved. A tour just walked by. It was interesting. All of the tour participants had headphones on. The guide had a headset with mic. She wasn't saying anything. Curious.

10:05 - Things are picking up. I just took a few step. Now I'm in front of the Castle Bros entrance. I love my iPod.

10:10 - An employee just walked by finding out how many sets people want. Apparently they did not anticipate the demand. I was told that all of the presigns will be sold before I get to Disneyana. It's going to be a long day.

Also only one of the two accessory pieces is here.

10:24 - horse just pooped in front of me again. Cast member was there when it happened and is picking it up as I write.

10:31 - part of the reason the line is moving slow is due to the line crossing between Disney Clothiers and the Market house. Hopefully after moving past the crossing I will feel like I'm actually getting somewhere. People around me are getting annoyed.

They are complaining primarily about the two cash registers and the packing and unpacking for inspection and then the second line to get the piece signed.

11:14 - just crossed the street to the Market House. I was told its another half hour from here. Sigh.

11:25 - I was handed a preorder form. Was told that I'm guaranteed to purchase the main pieces. I might be able to purchase the accessory pack. I'm 16 people away.

11:39 - they are officially sold out of the ticket gate accessory pack. They expect more later this week, but it won't be signed. 9 people away from going inside.

11:53 - being in line I notice things I didn't know happened here. Dapper dans are performing on the Horse and Carriage. Horse and carriage moves pretty fast. The drivers are constantly warning pedestrians that they are on the way. I'm standing next to a broken gas lamp and a cast member is trying to fix it.

Best I can tell is the end of the line is at the China Closet. Travis has the main street in a covered base to show off the electrical lighting.

I was just aske how many sets I'm buying. I'm glad I didn't show up an hour later than I did. 4 people away.

12:00 pm - 1 person away.

12:05 - just paid for it. Next the inspection table. I'm notified that I can only have one set signed by Bob. this really stinks.

12:28 - signed. Spoke briefly to Bob. He said to order the electrical kit now.

12:30 - done. My long morning is over and I get to carry four boxes in the rain. Nuff blogging for today.

It's Halloween at Disneyland

Last year Laurie and I were at Walt Disney World for Halloween. This year we're staying at home and we want to take part in the local magic.

Our goals:
Attend Golden Screams. This is at DCA and replaces the Whoopi Goldberg show.
Get photos. I want to take more photos of Halloween. I'm hoping to publish everything at dinseytown.com.
Attend not so scary Halloween. Our tickets are bought and we're ready to go.

More to come.

2007 Disney Halloween Decorations and Collectibles

Just wanted to let you know that our online store ThemeparkShopper.com has the Halloween line ready to go.  Please take a moment and visit our site for your Halloween purchases.

 

http://www.themeparkshopper.com

 

Alan Ng

 

Alan Ng Home Page

Disney Collectibles Store - www.themeparkshopper.com