FindingMickey.com

One of the pardoned turkeys from 2008. Photo © FindingMickey.com

On Wednesday, November 25, 2009, the White House and Disney Thanksgiving tradition continues, as turkeys Courage & Carolina will be pardoned. A formal ceremony will take place at 11:30am, in the White House's Rose Garden, where President Barack Obama will grant the turkeys their official presidential pardons.

The turkeys will be flown to Anaheim, California, where Courage will act as Grand Marshal of Disneyland's Thanksgiving Day Parade. After the festivites, the pair will be sent to Disneyland's Big Thunder Ranch, to live out their days as celebrity turkeys.

Although Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Harry S. Truman & John F. Kennedy have famously spared the live turkeys presented to them, none granted official presidential pardons.

Official Presidential turkey pardons were not granted until 1989, when President George H.W. Bush pardoned the tom turkey that was gifted by the National Turkey Federation and the Poultry and Egg National Board. The board traditionally presents the White House with a few dressed turkeys and one live one. The idea for pardoning a turkey supposedly came from President Ronald Reagan, who joked about pardoning the live gift. However, it was President Bush who finally followed through on the idea, creating a new American tradition.

Though the official tradition started in 1989, the pardoned turkeys did not come to Disneyland until 2005 where the official turkey (and alternate) were flown to California to act as Grand Marshall in the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Since 2005, the pardoned turkeys have been invited to become lifelong Disney residents.

Courage & Carolina will join last year's alternate, Pecan, who currently lives at the ranch in Frontierland. 2008's primary turkey, Pumpkin, died at the end of this past summer. May and Flower, who were pardoned in 2007, are currently alive and gobbling at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Photo © FindingMickey.com

The Disney Gallery Reopens in a New Location; 'Enchanting the Classics' is the Theme of the Inaugural Show in Former Bank of Main Street

ANAHEIM, Calif. (Oct. 2, 2009) - The Disney Gallery reopens Oct. 2 in its new home near Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland. The first art exhibit, 'Enchanting the Classics,' will focus on how the artists of Walt Disney Imagineering have kept beloved Disneyland attractions, such as Jungle Cruise, Submarine Voyage and Pirates of the Caribbean, fresh and exciting over the years with enhancements and surprises.

NEW GALLERY LOCATION: The relocated Disney Gallery is now in the former Bank of Main Street. The design maintains elements of the bank - select pieces will be displayed inside the vault - while building on the charming turn-of-the-century atmosphere of Main Street, U.S.A. Kim Irvine, director of Concept & Show Design for Walt Disney Imagineering, Anaheim, notes that the gallery now features an elegant Victorian interior with chandeliers, fancy moldings and hand-woven carpets.

THREE ROOMS: In addition to the bank vault with its special highlighted artwork, The Disney Gallery on Main Street, U.S.A. will feature three large display rooms.

• One room will feature historic Walt Disney Imagineering conceptual art created during the development and enhancement of attractions.
• One room will showcase Disney-inspired art by current and former Disney artists and Imagineers.
• One room will feature prints (including on-the-spot Print on Demand), sculpture, booksand other items for sale to guests and collectors.

"It's great to be able to exhibit the work of our Imagineers and new artists," Irvine said. "Many of them are still working in traditional media - water color, oils, sculpture - and I think it's wonderful to showcase all of their talents."

'ENCHANTING THE CLASSICS': The inaugural show in The Disney Gallery will focus on the enhancements that keep classic Disneyland attractions fresh and surprising. Irvine explains: "When we temporarily close one of our popular attractions for refurbishment, our guests expect that there will be some 'new magic' added. In the past five years, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, the Enchanted Tiki Room and "it's a small world" have all undergone planned enhancements, which our guests have really enjoyed."

UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE DISNEY GALLERY: Two special events for guests and collectors are planned for The Disney Gallery in October. Both are free with park admission.

• Disney artists and Imagineers whose commissioned work appears in 'Enchanting the Classics' will appear in a Disney Gallery signing event on Saturday, Oct. 10.
• An event showcasing art that celebrates Haunted Mansion Holiday and "Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas" will take place in The Disney Gallery on Saturday, Oct. 17.

'ART HISTORY' OF THE DISNEY GALLERY:

• The Disney Gallery originally opened on July 11, 1987, in the rooms above the entrance to Pirates of the Caribbean.
• The rooms were originally designed as a private apartment for Walt Disney, who passed away before the work was completed.
• The first show in The Disney Gallery in 1987 was "The Art of Disneyland." It featured many one-of-a-kind pieces created in planning Disneyland attractions. Highlights included Herb Ryman's iconic paintings (created before construction began) of the proposed Sleeping Beauty Castle and a bird's-eye view of the lands of Disneyland, along with Mary Blair's concept art for "it's a small world," Sam McKim's ghostly Haunted Mansion exterior and Eyvind Earle's elegant paintings of scenes for the Sleeping Beauty Castle walkthrough.
• In the ensuing years, exhibits in The Disney Gallery included concept art for proposed attractions that were never built ("The Disneyland That Never Was"); art, props and costumes from the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction and films; and an offbeat display of illustrations originally created for Little Golden Book versions of classic Disney tales.
• The Disney Gallery in New Orleans Square closed on Aug. 7, 2007, to make way for the Disneyland Dream Suite, a realization of Walt Disney's original concept of a private apartment in New Orleans Square.
• On Main Street, U.S.A. The Disney Gallery will have a new neighbor: President Lincoln. When the refreshed "Disneyland Story featuring Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln" opens in December, guests will be able to enter The Disney Gallery from the lobby of the Main Street Opera House, and vice versa. 

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See our Disney Art Gallery photo set at flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/findingmickey/sets/72157622642040689/

September 25, 2009

The new Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy takes residence this Halloween season in Tomorrowland! This spooky layer will allow guests to discover and explore new "life forces" in the signature attraction.

The ride begins like your typical Space Mountain voyage, but things go awry. Haunted star clusters and supernovas threaten you at every turn!

Park guests strolling through Tomorrowland will also notice a change outside the attraction. Every 6-8 minutes a ghostly effect will take place.

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01 September 2009

Chilling Halloween Changes at Space Mountain, Spooky New Fireworks Plush Favorite Halloween Traditions Create Fun for Everyone at Disneyland Resort

Halloween Time Returns September 25 as Mickey and Pals and Disney Villains Transform the Parks for the Season 

ANAHEIM, Calif. (Sept. 1, 2009) – Spooky new fireworks and ghoulish screams at Space Mountain add to the fun when Halloween Time returns to Disneyland Resort Sept. 25-Nov. 1.  Halloween Time offers families a chance to celebrate the season as they interact with some of Disney’s most beloved characters decked out in seasonal costumes at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure parks.  Guests will also enjoy a unique opportunity to experience some spooky fun with Disney’s more sinister characters, the Disney villains.  In addition, Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Party returns for 12 special nights in October.

For older kids and adults, Halloween Time offers a new attraction: Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy in Tomorrowland at Disneyland.  The scary new experience will begin as a typical Space Mountain adventure, but will suddenly launch voyagers into an uncharted and haunted section of the universe.  Ghosts appear out of the starry darkness and swirling galaxies of Space Mountain, reaching out as if to grab guests as they speed through space.  The exhilarating drops and curves of the journey are punctuated by piercing screams, creepy sound effects and haunting music.  The Halloween transformation occurs outside the mountain as well, as frightening images, audio and lights illuminate the Space Mountain exterior.

Also new this year is “Halloween Screams - A Villainous Surprise in the Skies.”  The new fireworks spectacular will haunt the nighttime sky throughout the Halloween season.  To start the show, “Master of Scare-omonies” Jack Skellington appears in a flash of fire above Sleeping Beauty Castle.  Thanks to Jack’s ghoulish charm, haunting melodies fill the air and a Halloween pyrotechnics extravaganza explodes into the night.  Such classic Disney villains as Maleficent, Ursula the Sea Witch and Oogie Boogie join in the “spirit” of the celebration, and even Zero, Jack’s faithful ghost dog, will make an appearance.  Spectators in Disneyland are encouraged to participate in a bone-chilling Halloween Scream-Along during the show.

Jack Skellington also returns to take over the Haunted Mansion and bring back Haunted Mansion Holiday to New Orleans Square in Disneyland.  Transformed to a mix of Halloween spookiness and Christmas tradition, Haunted Mansion Holiday is inspired by the classic animated film “Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas.”  Jack and his friends provide plenty of havoc and surprises as they celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Haunted Mansion in their unusual style.  Jack’s return to the Haunted Mansion includes the traditional Halloween/Christmas gingerbread house in the Mansion Ballroom, with some special spooky surprises in this year’s design.

More spine-tingling fun can be found in Disney’s California Adventure at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, where a “supernatural” event happened on Halloween evening, 1939, forever haunting the building.

Also at Disney’s California Adventure, Sunshine Plaza becomes Candy Corn Acres, with Mickey’s pal Goofy up to his tricks again – attempting to wow the world with his unusual candy corn treats.  Candy corn carrots, candy corn pumpkins and candy corn grapes are just a few of the candy corn items Goofy is harvesting.

Back by popular demand is Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Party, a one-of-a-kind celebration that returns to Disney’s California Adventure for 12 nights in October (2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 and 31). Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Party lets adults and children alike dress up and trick-or-treat in the ultimate Disney neighborhood.  Highlights this year will include:

• 25 Treat Stops located throughout Disney’s California Adventure
• All your favorite Disney’s California Adventure rides and attractions
• A Hollywood Bat-Lot Bash in Hollywood Pictures Backlot
• A nightly “Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat on the Street” cavalcade
• Character photo locations featuring Disney villains, princesses and other favorites
• Pirate’s Wharf, a transformation of the Pacific Wharf area into an entertainment area, photo location, craft area and games area 

This separate-ticket nighttime event gives children and their families a chance to dress as their favorite princesses, goblins or heroes and trick-or-treat throughout the park.  Tickets purchased in advance are $32 most days, while tickets purchased on the event day are $39.  For Oct. 30 and 31, all tickets to Mickey’s Trick or Treat Party are $42. Favorite Disney characters, including Mickey himself, will be in attendance in their favorite costumes.  It’s the ideal environment to have fun, eat special holiday treats, play interactive games, listen to “spirited” music and watch a nightly character cavalcade that celebrates the season.

For more information about Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort, see disneyland.com/halloween.  This site will be updated as frightfully fun details become available.

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