Disneyland Skyway with Robbie Von Roll
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Show Notes for Episode 275
In this episode we welcome Robbie Von Roll to the show, Robbie's family goes way back with the skyway, as they are the people behind the Von Roll systems that ran at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and many others. We have a fun discussion with him about the Skyway. Check out his facebook pages
Also We are participating in the MiceChat Gumball Rally on Feb. 8, 2020 and would love if you could find a space on website for a link to that as well and also saying that we will be there participating.
Disneyland Resort Current Event
Review: Disneyland’s Star Tours realizes promise of screen-based rides with new ‘Rise of Skywalker’ scenes
Riders aboard Starspeeder 1000 spaceships surf massive waves on the Star Wars ocean moon Kef Bir and join a sprawling space battle to end all space battles in the new scenes introduced to Star Tours at Disneyland.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: December 20, 2019 at 3:00 pm
"Riders aboard Starspeeder 1000 spaceships surf massive waves on the Star Wars ocean moon Kef Bir and join a sprawling space battle to end all space battles in the new scenes introduced Friday, Dec. 20 to the venerable motion simulator attraction at the Anaheim theme park.
… "Fans cheered as Lando Calrissian (played by Billy Dee Williams) beamed in with an urgent transmission. ...
"Over the decades, the quality of the imagery in the 1987 Star Tours attraction has kept pace with the special effects wizardry in the movies. In 2011, the ride was updated with destinations from the middle “Star Wars” trilogy along with high-definition video and an improved motion simulator. In recent years, subsequent intergalactic stops were added from the current trilogy along with a jaunt to Batuu, the setting for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. ...
"For me, the biggest upside of digital effects and screen-based scenes has always been flexibility — particularly when it comes to storytelling. That variety and newness increases a ride’s repeatability. Which in turn increases repeat visits and revenue — the magic words that loosen purse-strings for new and updated theme park attractions.
"Star Tours now has more than 100 storytelling combinations. Which means it’s likely to never be the same ride twice. And for the next few months, Star Tours will be a completely new experience during the limited-time run of the all-new “Rise of Skywalker” scenes."
Orange County Register
‘Rise of Skywalker’ Star Tours update pays tribute to original 1987 Disneyland attraction
Walt Disney Imagineering added two new scenes to Star Tours inspired by “The Rise of Skywalker” that take riders aboard a Starspeeder 1000 spaceship to the Star Wars ocean moon Kef Bir and an epic space battle amid hundreds of Star Destroyers.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: December 22, 2019 at 7:50 am
“'We don’t know where Star Wars is going in the future,” Walt Disney Imagineering creative executive Tom Fitzgerald said. “Hopefully there will be episodes that fit in the timeline that will let us add more.'”
...
"In preparation for the Star Tours update, Fitzgerald traveled to Lucasfilm in Northern California to read “The Rise of Skywalker” script in a locked room."
...
"The latest Star Tours chapter makes a call back to the original attraction, with C-3PO repeating a line uttered by an RX-Series pilot droid known as Rex."
...
"The score for the updated Star Tours scenes by Star Wars composer John Williams was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London.
“'John Williams was so nice,' Fitzgerald said. 'He rearranged his scoring schedule so that he could do the sequences that we needed.'"
Orange County Register
Fri, December 20, 2019
Star Tours at Disney Parks Begins Service to New Destinations Inspired by Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
by Tom Fitzgerald
Disney Parks Blog
Star Tours: The Adventures Continue: Continues!
December 20, 2019
"Star Tours has been transporting guests to a Galaxy Far, Far Away since 1987, and was updated in 2011 to allow for random ride sequences. New scenes have been added with the release of each film in the new saga and this time around, Disney is expanding the destinations guests will see at Star Tours attractions in Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris."
MiceChat
Disneyland Update: Skywalker Surprise . . . THIS is the Droid You’re Looking For!
December 23, 2019
"Right now, Star Wars is all the rage. The new movie is playing everywhere, plus there’s new content featured prominently in Disneyland and Walt Disney World, such as . . .
"Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker"
MiceChat
When will Star Wars droids roam freely around Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge?
Jake the maintenance droid — aka J4-K3 — already knows his way around Disneyland. How long will it be before Jake and other autonomous droids start rolling around Batuu?
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: December 17, 2019 at 9:33 am
"An orange and white maintenance droid named Jake wowed Disneyland visitors in 2017 as he roamed freely around Tomorrowland posing for photos with curious onlookers, speaking droid with Star Wars fans and even pausing for hugs from adoring kids."
Orange County Register
Disneyland lets R2-D2 roam freely around Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in ‘play tests’
The droid's outings are part of an ongoing innovation process looking at new ways for guests to experience Disney parks, according to Disneyland officials.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: December 24, 2019 at 8:33 am
"The 'play tests' with R2-D2 in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge are part of an ongoing innovation process looking at new ways for guests to experience Disney parks, according to Disneyland officials. The experiences being tested may or may not end up as theme park offerings, officials said.
"R2-D2 has been seen rolling around Galaxy’s Edge near the entrance to the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run attraction on several occasions in recent days, according to MiceChat."
Orange County Register
Disneyland cast members will be the first to ride Rise of the Resistance
The ground-breaking new Rise of the Resistance attraction debuting Jan. 17 at Disneyland in the 14-acre Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge themed land combines four ride experiences into one.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: December 23, 2019 at 5:44 pm
"Disneyland cast members will preview the new Rise of the Resistance attraction on Jan. 8-17, according to Disney officials."
...
"Attraction previews along with free admission to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are among the perks of being an employee at the Disneyland Resort."
Orange County Register
Disneyland to use virtual queue for new Rise of the Resistance ride
The ground-breaking new Rise of the Resistance attraction in the 14-acre Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge themed land combines four ride experiences into one.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: December 23, 2019 at 5:05 pm
"Star Wars fans anxious to experience Rise of the Resistance will need to book a time to ride the highly anticipated new attraction just after they step foot in Disneyland.
"Disneyland plans to use the virtual queuing system when Rise of the Resistance opens to the public on Jan. 17, officials said."
...
"The Rise of the Resistance virtual queue at Disneyland may work differently than the system employed at Disney’s Hollywood Studios since the attraction debuted on Dec. 5, Disney officials said."
Orange County Register
Classic Space Mountain coaster to return soon after Disneyland removes Star Wars overlay
A fleet of X-Wings, TIE fighters and Star Destroyers will soon be departing Hyperspace Mountain after a limited-time run of the Star Wars overlay on the Tomorrowland roller coaster..
By Brady MacDonald | bmacdonald@scng.com |
PUBLISHED: December 21, 2019 at 6:56 am
"A fleet of X-Wings, TIE fighters and Star Destroyers will soon be departing Hyperspace Mountain as the often-extended limited-time run of the Star Wars overlay on the Tomorrowland roller coaster finally comes to an end.
"Hyperspace Mountain will close on Jan. 7 to remove the Star Wars overlay from the indoor roller coaster, Disneyland officials said. The classic Space Mountain attraction is expected to return a few days later, officials said."
Orange County Register
Disneyland closes gates as holiday crowds fill the park
Disneyland is currently at capacity, Disney officials said.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: December 27, 2019 at 1:04 pm | UPDATED: December 27, 2019 at 11:17 pm
"Disneyland temporarily shut its gates Friday, Dec. 27 as crowds filled the Anaheim theme park and new visitors were directed to Disney California Adventure across the esplanade until attendance levels declined." ...
"Disneyland closed its gates at 11:40 a.m., less than 4 hours after the park opened." ...
"The holiday week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day is typically one of the busiest times of the year at Disney’s Anaheim theme parks. The holiday break was stretched to two weeks this year with Christmas and New Year’s Day falling on Wednesdays. That meant the weekend between the two winter holidays was likely to be a busy one at the Anaheim theme parks."
Orange County Register
Disneyland hits capacity, temporarily stops selling tickets
By Hugo MartínStaff Writer
Dec. 27, 2019
"Disneyland is the second-most-visited theme park in the world, behind Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Florida, according to an annual attendance study by the Los Angeles consulting firm Aecom and Themed Entertainment Assn., a trade group for theme park designers and producers. Disneyland drew 18.7 million visitors last year while the Magic Kingdom hosted 20.9 million visitors, both up 2% from the year before."
LA Times
Will high winds force Disneyland to cancel New Year’s Eve fireworks?
By Brady MacDonald
December 31, 2019
[Ken says: NO!]
Orange County Register
Disney+ recalls the ‘Small World War’ and the challenges of changing classic Disneyland rides
'The Imagineering Story' on Disney+ delves into the dilemma of updating cherished Disneyland attractions and the inevitable uproar from die-hard fans that accompanies any change to Walt Disney’s original theme park in Anaheim.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: December 19, 2019 at 6:34 am
"The fifth episode of “The Imagineering Story” on the new Disney+ streaming service delves into the dilemma of updating cherished Disneyland attractions and the inevitable uproar from diehard fans that accompanies any change to Walt Disney’s original theme park in Anaheim."
Orange County Register
Disneyland Express bus service to LAX and John Wayne airports ceases operation
Coach USA has announced that the last day of service for the Disneyland Resort Express airport shuttle bus service will be Jan. 7.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: December 18, 2019 at 6:36 am
"A bus shuttle service between Disneyland and airports in Orange County and Los Angeles that offered travelers an alternative to fighting freeway traffic and leaving their rental car in an expensive parking lot will cease operation in the new year.
"Coach USA announced that the last day of service for the Disneyland Resort Express airport shuttle bus service will be Jan. 7."
...
"Disneyland Express was a popular alternative to rental cars and ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft for families traveling with small children."
Orange County Register
Disneyland diver finds lost wedding rings, tossed turkey legs and mysterious sunken head under the sea
Disneyland diver Thomas Self is one of more than 70 Disney cast members featured in the new 'One Day at Disney' docuseries on the Disney+ streaming service and the accompanying coffee table book.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: December 19, 2019 at 10:01 am
"Disneyland diver Thomas Self has discovered a lot of strange things in the waters of the Anaheim theme park, but he’ll never forget what he found one night in the Jungle Cruise river.
"Self and his fellow divers were called out to investigate a mysterious banging sound after Jungle Cruise skippers repeatedly heard something thumping on the bottom of their boats in the temple ruins scene next to the Indiana Jones Adventure attraction."
...
"The divers work with Disneyland’s entertainment and decor teams on thematic installations and with the park’s engineering and operations teams to reduce maintenance times. Repairing the Jungle Cruise boats in the water and fixing the Small World launch system without draining the flume reduces dreaded down time and increases visitor satisfaction — top priorities for Disneyland’s top brass."
Orange County Register
Thu, January 2, 2020
Asian Street Eats Now Open in Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort
by Valerie Lee, Public Relations Manager, Disneyland Resort
"Be sure to check out Asian Street Eats by Chef Hung Huynh, a new concept from Earl Enterprises, which just opened in the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort!
"You’ll find this yummy take-out window on the west end of the district. On the menu is a flavorful variety of Asian dishes with plenty of options for the whole family. Grab a mixed bowl and customize it with your choice of either grilled chicken, braised beef short rib, or sautéed tofu. Your bowl can come with either royal purple rice or mixed greens and is topped with fire-roasted corn, cabbage, cucumbers, pickled carrots, caramelized onions, and your choice of sauce."
Disney Parks Blog
Asian Street Eats has opened in Anaheim’s Downtown Disney offering bowls, wraps, dumplings and more
By Anne Valdespino
PUBLISHED: January 3, 2020
"LA Chef Hung Huynh, a 'Top Chef' Season 3 winner, has opened Asian Street Eats, a new restaurant from Earl Enterprises, at Downtown Disney in Anaheim.
"The popular chef, who recently founded Warrior on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, will offer bowls, wraps, pot stickers and more from a takeout window."
Orange County Register
There’s a hidden bar just for Disneyland annual passholders at Disney California Adventure
The secret patio has the feel of an intimate, private and exclusive hideaway that only a few people know about.
By Brady MacDonald
PUBLISHED: January 3, 2020 at 1:15 pm
"Disney California Adventure is about to open a hidden outdoor patio cocktail bar overlooking Cars Land and Avengers Campus that’s available only to Disneyland annual passholders.
"The Alfresco Tasting Terrace opens Sunday, Jan. 5 on the second floor of the Golden Vine Winery as an exclusive bar just for passholders and their guests.
…
"Currently, the underused DCA wine bar offers a quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of the theme park below and provides a perfect roost for people watching or a romantic cocktail. The hidden patio has the feel of an intimate, private and exclusive hideaway that only a few people know about.
"Located above the Mendocino Terrace, the new Alfresco AP bar sits next to the former Mondavi Vineyard Room fine dining restaurant that few Disney visitors ever get to see. The beautiful spot with spectacular views of the park is occasionally used for World of Color dining package seating or media events."
Orange County Register
Wed, December 25, 2019
Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park to Begin Recruiting Super Heroes in Summer 2020
by Gabriel Gibaldi, Public Relations Director
"We’re excited to officially announce that you will be able to team up with some of your favorite Avengers at Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure park beginning summer of 2020!
"As we’ve previously shared, this campus is set up by the Avengers to recruit the next generation of Super Heroes."
Disney Parks Blog
Disneyland Update – Holiday Bomb Hits & Gazing into 2020
By Logan Collins
December 16, 2019
"After a few weeks of winter rain (as close to winter as it gets in Southern California), the trademark California clear skies and sunshine have returned. And with the fortunate weather, the year and a whole decade rapidly come to an end. The Disneyland Resort is thriving at the moment with a boom in holiday crowds, and the new decade will start with the opening of Disneyland’s biggest attraction ever, which is likely to send attendance through the roof. But there are all sorts of big projects for the next year, including construction in both parks. Let’s take a look at the surge in attendance, updates on Avengers Campus construction, what to expect for Disneyland in 2020, and other news from around the Disneyland Resort!"
MiceChat
Last Disneyland Update of the Decade – Ringing in 2020 with Massive Crowds
By Dusty Sage
December 30, 2019
"I hate to admit it, but the holidays are coming to a close, and a whole decade with it! But right now, Disneyland is seeing traffic unlike anything else this year. People are flocking from all over the world to experience the last few days of the holiday season at the Disneyland Resort. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t news from Disneyland. The parks are getting ready for a big new year with tons of construction and updates around the Resort for new attractions and a whole new land! And there’s a little green alien who took us by surprise this week. Plus, we have a guide for those of you thinking about spending New Year’s Eve at the Resort. Let’s take a look around the parks in the last Disneyland Update of the decade!"
MiceChat
Big Dreams for Disneyland: What’s New for 2020!
By Chloé Ferreira
January 1, 2020
"2020 will be a year to remember at the Disneyland Resort. There’s stormtroopers, a vibrant new parade, and some favorite superheroes, and that’s just the beginning. Let’s take a peek at what’s coming soon to the happiest place on earth!"
MiceChat
Disneyland 2019 Year in Review: The Force That Changed EVERYTHING
January 3, 2020
"Now that 2019 has come to a close, it’s time to look back on a year of spectacular growth for Disneyland. With a swirl of projects and construction this past year, it’s easy to forget just how much really happened. In the lead-up to the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, significant changes were made around Disneyland Park and throughout the Disneyland Resort as a whole. Let’s take a look at the top 6 projects at Disneyland Park in 2019. Nearly everything had at least something to do with Star Wars, a project that would change everything in one way or another."
You can listen to show 275 on iTunes or go to Libsyn service here.