September 2015 – Disney News Today

Thanksgiving Day Dining Reservations at Disneyland Resort Open Today

It’s countdown to turkey time, and the Disneyland Resort chefs are planning some extra-special dining for Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26. Here’s where you’ll find the big bird in the theme parks and hotels. For reservations, visit Disneyland.com/dine or call 714-781-DINE.

The biggest celebration is from noon-5 p.m. at the Disneyland Hotel ballroom, where the annual fall harvest includes Thanksgiving favorites such as carved roasted breast of turkey and prime rib, served with homemade stuffing, sweet potato soufflé, fresh cranberry-orange relish and smashed potatoes and gravy. You’ll also find salads, artisan cheeses, smoked salmon and cured meats, poached shrimp and king crab legs. Desserts include pumpkin and pecan pies, tarts, cookies, chocolate mousse and a chocolate fountain. Fall harvest buffet is $76.99; also a special buffet just for ages 3 to 9, $27.99.

Here’s your guide to Thanksgiving Day dining throughout the Disneyland Resort:

Disneyland Park

Carnation Café: Slow-roasted turkey with turkey-bourbon gravy, mashed sweet potatoes, apple-cranberry stuffing, cranberry-orange relish, veggies and a dinner roll.
Plaza Inn: Slow-roasted turkey with traditional turkey gravy and sage dressing, mashed potatoes, veggies and a dinner roll.
River Belle Terrace “Fantasmic!” Dinner: Slow-roasted turkey breast with stuffing, roasted garlic-thyme mashed potatoes, home-style gravy, veggies, cornbread and cranberry relish.
French Market Restaurant: Slow-roasted turkey breast with andouille sausage stuffing, Market potatoes, home-style gravy, veggies, artisan bread and cranberry relish. Also pumpkin pie.
Blue Bayou Restaurant: Slow-roasted turkey roulade with focaccia stuffing, roasted garlic, Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, Cognac turkey gravy and cranberry relish.
Harbour Galley: Turkey tortilla soup simmered with roasted corn and black beans.
Café Orleans: Slow-roasted turkey breast with cornbread and giblet stuffing, red skin mashed potatoes, veggies, home-style gravy and cranberry relish.

Disney California Adventure Park

Mortimer’s Market: Turkey-shaped sourdough bread.
Carthay Circle Restaurant: Receive a voucher for “World of Color” preferred viewing with your choice of Carthay Circle Salad with heirloom apples, roasted walnuts, winter greens, bacon, dates and creamy citrus vinaigrette or Cinderella Pumpkin Broth with lemongrass-cilantro grilled chicken, caramelized onion and Tuscan kale. Entrée added: grilled Sierra free-range turkey with a Poblano chile and mushroom tamale, and creamed corn with turkey jus. Dessert, also a la carte, is crunchy butterscotch pie with cashews, holiday Chantilly and caramel.
Wine Country Trattoria: Herb-roasted turkey breast with Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, herb focaccia stuffing, seasonal vegetables and orange-cranberry sauce. Also pumpkin pie.
Boudin Bread Cart at Pacific Wharf: Turkey-shaped sourdough bread
Pacific Wharf Café: Turkey pot pie soup in a bread bowl; pumpkin spice bread pudding.
Flo’s V8 Café: Rotisserie-roasted turkey breast with mashed potatoes, stuffing, veggies and 0range-cranberry sauce.
Ariel’s Grotto: Slow-roasted turkey breast with turkey gravy, apple stuffing, orange-cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and veggies (includes voucher for “World of Color” preferred viewing).
Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta: Pumpkin pie.

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

Storytellers Café: Dinner buffet with salads and fresh fruit, roasted corn chowder, hand-carved turkey with gravy and cranberry sauce, hand-carved beef, pan-seared salmon, pork loin, candied yams, sourdough bread stuffing, Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, green beans. Also holiday desserts include pumpkin and pecan pies, bread pudding with vanilla sauce, chocolate pate, dulce de leche pot de crème.
Napa Rose: Chef Andrew Sutton’s Four-Course Wine Country Feast (wine flight also available); reservations and information, 714-300-7170.

Disneyland Hotel

Steakhouse 55: Starter course – butternut squash soup with crispy shredded skirt steak and maple clabbered cream; Entrée – roasted turkey Wellington, brioche stuffing, cranberry, Swiss chard, wild mushroom gravy; Dessert – trio of sweet potato mousse parfait, pecan cake pop and pumpkin whoopie pie. Wine pairings available. Also available in the Steakhouse 55 Lounge.
Goofy’s Kitchen: Turkey and herb stuffing will be added to the buffet brunch, along with turkey gravy, sweet potatoes and tortellini with pumpkin cream sauce.

Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel

Disney’s PCH Grill: Dinner Buffet – Cold selections include salads, heirloom tomato-mozzarella topped with creamy pesto & aged balsamic reduction, roasted potato salad with creamy mustard dressing. Hot selections include fried chicken, roasted sustainable fish, sausage and herb stuffing, roasted garden vegetables, mini smashed potatoes with cheddar cheese, spice-rubbed pork shoulder. On the carving station, herb-marinated roast and oven-roasted turkey breast are served with beef au jus, creamy horseradish, cranberry relish and brown gravy. Traditional holiday desserts include pumpkin pie, chocolate pecan pie, apple pie, chestnut-apricot flight, vanilla caramel and cranberry jelly, molten chocolate hazelnut crumb cake.

Note: Disney characters will not be in attendance for Thanksgiving meals served at Storytellers Café and Disney’s PCH Grill.

Napa Rose Executive Chef Andrew Sutton Wins ‘Chef of the Year’ in Golden Foodie Awards

Disneyland Resort is celebrating a big win at last night’s Golden Foodie Awards: Executive Chef of Disneyland Signature Restaurants Andrew Sutton won Chef of the Year!

The red carpet culinary awards show presented by the Orange County, California, Restaurant Association celebrates and honors chefs, bartenders and dishes in chef-driven and independent restaurants in Orange County.

Chef of the Year is one of three categories (out of 24) that are “Peer’s Choice”: Best New Restaurant, Chef of the Year and Pastry Chef of the Year.

“I am so honored to receive this award from my fellow culinarians,” said Sutton, “and give a big thank you to my supporting cast, and to Disney for their commitment to the highest culinary standards.”

Food Network personality Simon Majumdar hosted the event, and each winner was presented with the Golden Foodie Award statuette covered in 14-carat gold. For a list of all the winners, go to goldenfoodieawards.com.

‘Mr. Gold Pawnbroker & Antiquities Dealer’ Storefront Now “Open” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Missing a glass slipper?

In the market for a mermaid crown? How about love potion?

You may want to checkout the new storefront to Mr. Gold Pawnbroker & Antiquities Dealer in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

The items you’ll see are inspired by ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” are available for window shopping.

Disney Parks Salutes U.S. Military with Special Room Rates & Tickets for 2016

Disney Parks has announced new special pricing on theme park tickets and accommodations for active duty U.S. military personnel at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. Here’s a look at the details:

At Walt Disney World Resort – from September 25, 2015 through December 16, 2016, active and retired U.S. military personnel (including active and retired members of the United States Coast Guard, National Guard and Reservists) or their spouses can purchase:

Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets with Park Hopper Option for $196 each, plus tax
Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets with Water Park Fun and More Option for $196 each, plus tax
Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets with Park Hopper and Water Park Fun and More Options for $230 each, plus tax.

Walt Disney World Resort tickets may be used January 3, 2016, through December 19, 2016, except that the tickets may not be used March 20, 2016 – April 1, 2016.

Active and retired U.S. military personnel can purchase Disney Military Promotional Tickets for themselves and up to five additional family members or friends. No more than six Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased by any eligible member of the U.S. military (or spouse) pursuant to this offer. All tickets and options are non-transferable and must be used by December 19, 2016.

At the Disneyland Resort – from October 12, 2015 through December 16, 2016, active and retired U.S. military personnel (including active and retired members of the United States Coast Guard, National Guard and Reservists) or their spouses can purchase:

Disney Military Promotional 3-Day Park Hopper Tickets for $143 each

Disneyland tickets may be used January 3, 2016, through December 19, 2016, except that the tickets may not be used March 20, 2016– April 1, 2016.

Active and retired U.S. military personnel can also take advantage of specially priced rooms at select Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort hotels.* This offer is valid for stays most nights from January 3, 2016, through December 19, 2016, except for:

March 20, 2016 – April 1, 2016

For information on Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets for admission to Walt Disney World Resort, or to make room reservations at Walt Disney World Resort, military personnel may call 407-939-7830 or participating U.S. military base ticket offices. For information regarding Disney 3-Day Military Promotional Tickets for admission to the Disneyland Resort, or to make room reservations at the Disneyland Resort, military personnel may call 714-520-7088 or participating U.S. military base ticket offices. Information is also available at disneymilitaryoffers.com.

Here are some other details you should know about:

Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased at participating U.S. military sales outlets ONLY by Eligible Service Members (defined below) or their spouses (but not both), for use by themselves and other family members and friends, as provided herein. These Tickets may not be otherwise transferred, distributed or resold.
“Eligible Service Members” are active or retired members of the U.S. military, including the National Guard, Reservists and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The actual prices charged at the individual U.S. military base ticket offices for Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be less than the prices set forth above.
Participating military sales outlets must require that Eligible Service Members (or their spouses) present valid military identification to purchase Disney Military Promotional Tickets.
Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets for admission to the Walt Disney World Resort are not valid until activated by the Eligible Service Members (or their spouses) at Walt Disney World theme park ticket windows. Tickets and options expire and may not be used after December 19, 2016. Valid military identification will be required for purchase and use.
Disney 3-Day Military Promotional Tickets for admission to the Disneyland Resort expire and may not be used after December 19, 2016. Valid military identification will be required for purchase and use.
No more than six (6) Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased and (if applicable) activated by any Eligible Service Member or spouse (regardless of the place of purchase and whether purchased by that person or that person’s spouse). In addition, one of the six (6) Tickets purchased must be used by the Eligible Service Member or his/her spouse.
Each Disney Military Promotional Ticket must be used by the same person on any and all days.

*The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Minimum length of stay requirements may apply. Valid Military ID will be required upon check-in, and military member (or spouse) must stay in the room. No group rates or other discounts apply. Advance reservations required. Additional per-adult charges apply at the Walt Disney World Resort if there are more than two adults per room. Other restrictions apply.

Disneyland Closing Attractions Temporarily to Make Room for ‘Star Wars’ Land

To make room for construction of a 14-acre “Star Wars” themed land, Disneyland Resort officials announced today several popular attractions will close for a year at Disneyland, including the railroad, Fantasmic! and most everything along the Rivers of America.

And, the Big Thunder Ranch, which houses a barbecue restaurant, petting zoo and the Jamboree stage, will close permanently on Jan. 10, Disneyland officials said on their parks blog.

On the same day, all four train stations along the Disneyland Railroad, the nightly Fantasmic! show, the Mark Twain Riverboat, the Sailing Ship Columbia, the Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes and the Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer Island will close temporarily. Disneyland officials said work is expected to take a year, but did not set a date for when these attractions will return to action.

Cast members will be offered other roles during the temporary closures.

News of the closings comes on the heels of The Walt Disney Co. Chief Operating Officer Tom Staggs’s announcement last month that construction of the “Star Wars” land in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World will begin in 2016.

Disneyland’s expansion is part of a $1 billion investment agreement made with the city of Anaheim in July in exchange for a continued ban on collecting a gate tax. Disneyland officials said it will also build a 5,000-spot parking structure nearby.

As part of the deal, construction must begin no later than the end of 2017, and additions be completed by December 2024.

Disney officials previously said the new “Star Wars” land at Disneyland will be built in the northern part of Frontierland and will encompass the Big Thunder Ranch, some backstage areas and the Circle D Ranch, where the horses are stabled. Disneyland officials said the ranch and horses will be moved to a nearby off-property location.

The Big Thunder Ranch area is mostly a way station for people passing through Fantasyland and Frontierland. The Jamboree is typically closed except when it is used for special Disney events or is rented for corporate parties or by celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, who recently used the space for a birthday party for their daughter. Disneyland officials did not say what would become of the goats, horses and cow that sometimes appear in the petting zoo.

The “Star Wars” area will be the largest single-themed land expansion at Disneyland, and will be the most “immersive,” Staggs said last month.

The land is described as a remote trading outpost on a never-before-seen “Star Wars” planet populated by humanoids, aliens and droids. It will feature two signature attractions: one will put riders at the controls of the Millennium Falcon spaceship, and the other will drop visitors into the middle of a battle between the First Order and the Resistance.

Visitors will also be able to eat and drink at a cantina similar to the famed Mos Eisley Cantina from the films.

From the Orange County Register

Season of the Force Coming to Disneyland on November 16th

Disney Parks is preparing to celebrate the excitement around all things Star Wars with brand-new themed experiences. Guests in Tomorrowland at Disneyland park in Southern California will soon be able to experience their favorite Star Wars stories when Season of the Force begins November 16. We’ll have opening dates to share for these new Star Wars experiences at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida soon.

Season of the Force at Disneyland park will take guests to a galaxy far, far away with these special experiences:

Star Wars Launch Bay

This new area will offer opportunities to visit with favorite Star Wars characters, special exhibits, peeks at the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens and much more. Here’s a look inside!

Choose Your Destiny with Special Character Experiences
- Dark Side – Encounter one of the most iconic villains from Star Wars, Darth Vader.
- Light Side – Fly casual at this makeshift Rebel base, and meet the most famous co-pilot in the galaxy, Chewbacca.
Explore the Dark and the Light in Themed Galleries
- Dark Side Gallery – Get a look at authentic pieces of stormtrooper armor as well as famous Sith lightsabers once wielded by masters of the dark side.
- Light Side Gallery – Explore a gallery filled with Rebel flight helmets and lightsabers once wielded by Jedi Knights.
- Preview Gallery – See props from the upcoming film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
- Starship Gallery – Discover models of famous starships and their pilots from throughout the Star Warssaga.
Join the Battle in the Star Wars Game Center – Play the latest games from the Star Wars galaxy, including Disney Infinity 3.0 – featuring park-exclusive Toy Box levels.

Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple

Coming in December, experience a twist on the Jedi Training experience when you will encounter new characters and a new villain from the popular Disney XD series, Star Wars Rebels.

Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

This popular attraction will feature a new scene inspired by the upcoming film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Limited-Time Experiences

Hyperspace Mountain – Climb aboard a reimagined Space Mountain attraction, in which guests will join an X-wing starfighter battle.
Revisit favorite scenes from classic Star Wars films at Tomorrowland Theater.
Try new themed food.

Choose your side during Season of the Force, beginning November 16 at Disneyland park in California. And keep an eye on the Disney Parks Blog for dates and details on these new Star Wars experiences coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida.

Duffy Character Meet and Greet Leaving Epcot

The days of Duffy the Disney Bear greeting guests at Epcot according to Walt Disney World officials are numbered.

The last day of the Duffy character will have meet and greet at his World Showcase stop will be October 3rd. Duffy will be replaced in that area by Daisy Duck, beginning on October 4th.

The change is part of Disney World’s regular review of its entertainment options, according to a Disney spokesperson. Duffy-related merchandise, including stuffed bears, will continue to be sold at various locations at Disney World, she said.

Duffy, who typically is decked out in sailor gear, was introduced to Epcot in October 2010 after being a hit with guests at Tokyo DisneySea. Duffy’s backstory: He was hand-sewn by Minnie Mouse as a gift to Mickey Mouse. He was designed to be Mickey’s companion during his travels.

When Duffy moved into Epcot, Disney said that the bear’s travel experience made him a good fit for Epcot and World Showcase, which is “all about discovery,” said Dan Cockerell, then the vice president of Epcot.

Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Officially Becomes Disney Springs Next Week

It looks as though the rebranding of Downtown Disney to Disney Springs will become official next week.

Disney has organized a press event on September 29th which will include a name change moment.

It isn’t yet clear as to how extensive the name change will be by that point, but it certainly seems that with the near-completion of The Landing, Disney has enough of a new product to announce the name change to the press.

The Landing has recently seen the opening of The BOATHOUSE, Erin McKenna’s Bakery, Chapel Hats, Sanuk, Sound Lion, Erwin Pearl, Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, Art of Shaving, Tea Traders Cafe, Haviana Flip Flops, APEX Sunglasses, and Vivoli Gelato. Morimoto Asia will be opening on September 30th.

Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration to Continue Until September 2016

For the past few months, Disneyland has been celebrating sixty years of the Happiest Place on Earth with the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration. Featuring the all-new “Paint the Night” parade, “Disneyland Forever” fireworks and “World of Color – Celebrate!” as well as special food and merchandise, the celebration has also brought a special sparkle throughout the Disneyland Resort – including a diamond-encrusted Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Today, Disneyland announced that the celebration will continue to dazzle guests through September 5, 2016. That means you’ve still got time to experience all the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration has to offer!

There have been countless moments of happiness here at the Disneyland Resort through the past sixty years … take a look at sixty seconds of happiness we’ve captured in the video below.

Disney Parks to Unveil New Marketing Campaign – ‘Unforgettable Happens Here’

Disney is going to begin a major new national marketing campaign for both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort.

‘Unforgettable Happens Here’ is the main message, and will make extensive use of Social Media, highlighting moments that families and friends share together in the parks.

Look out for the first commercials airing this week on Disney’s TV channels, including ABC and Disney Channel.

The new campaign will be replacing the ‘Disney Side’ message from the past few years.

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Star Wars Launch Bay

Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple

Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

Limited-Time Experiences

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