Mickey Mouse has been chosen to serve as the Grand Marshal for the 2005 Tournament of Roses parade. The 2005 parade theme is “Celebrate Family.” The announcement was made at a ceremony at Tournament House in Pasadena on November 16, where Julie Andrews congratulated Mickey on the honor. Andrews is the Honorary Disneyland Ambassador for the park's 50th anniversary celebration.
Mickey Mouse serves as the Grand Marshal for the 2005 Tournament of Roses
parade. Photo © Disney.
Mickey starts off Disneyland's 50th anniversary year by riding in the 116th Tournament of Roses parade on New Year's Day. Later that day, he tosses the coin to start the 91st Rose Bowl game. The Disneyland Resort is also entering a float in the 2005 Tournament of Roses parade.
Tournament of Roses President Dave Davis, Mickey Mouse, and Julie Andrews
at the announcement ceremony. Photo © Disney.
For additional information about the Tournament of Roses parade or the Rose Bowl, please call the Tournament of Roses Association at 626-449-ROSE (626-449-7673), or visit their official Web site at Tournamentofroses.com (link).
The annual “Holiday Time at Disneyland” tour began spreading seasonal joy this past Friday night. Although the tour has followed a similar format the past few years, this time around tour-goers receive a special tour-exclusive “Holiday Time” trading pin. All three Saturday night tour groups were at full capacity, with shouts of “Happy Holidays” heard from New Orleans Square to Toontown.
Disneyland's Christmas tree sparkles after sunset. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
One major improvement this year is the addition of blue lights to the tops of the tour jockey riding crops, making it much easier to follow the guides through the crowds of people (and there is a chance that one or more of the children in your group might get to play “tour leader” for a bit.)
The Main Street Train Station sports festive holiday trim. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
During the Hanukkah portion of the trip, tour groups visited the Main Street door of Dr. Benjamin Silverstein. We are happy to report that the dark brown mezuzah that disappeared several weeks ago has been replaced by a shiny silver mezuzah.
As promised, a new mezuzah—posted in a slant as is Jewish custom—is
up on Dr. Silverstein's door in time for Hanukkah. Photo by Shoshana Lewin.
The “A Christmas Fantasy Parade” is also back in its full holiday glory and can be seen twice nightly (unless otherwise noted in the daily schedule). No new floats (or characters) have been added this year, to the disappointment of several people who kept looking for characters from Finding Nemo and The Incredibles.
Sleeping Beauty Castle gets dressed for the holidays. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Stitch of Lilo and Stitch and Flounder from The Little Mermaid are both back in “it's a small world holiday.” Flounder is in a stocking near the “Jingle Shells” mermaid area, while a mini-Stitch rides surfboard in the Hawaii section.
Annual passholders receive a $10 discount for the Holiday Time at Disneyland tour. Call 714-781-4400 to make reservations. Before you go, be sure to read Shoshana Lewin's review of last year's tour (link).
Disney's recently acquired characters, Kermit the Frog and the Muppets gang, appear on a new series of 11 U.S. postage stamps in March 2005. The stamps honor the late Jim Henson, and feature Miss Piggy, Statler and Waldorf, the Swedish Chef, and Dr. Bunson Honeydew and Beaker. The U.S. Postal Service plans to sell the stamps at local post offices and through its Web site.
…The Briar Patch store in Critter Country has reopened as a hat shop. The store has the usual selection of hats, along with cameras and autograph books.
Critter Country has a new hat shop, as The Briar Patch reopens. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
…The Fastpass machines for Pirates of the Caribbean have been removed.
The Pirates of the Caribbean Fastpass machines are history. Photo by Adrienne
Vincent-Phoenix.
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The renovation of the front of Sleeping Beauty Castle is finished. Photo
by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The signage for Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters was installed, along with
the FastPass headers. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
A peek behind the tarps surrounding the Sailing Ship Columbia.
Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
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