To our readers in the United States, here's hoping you had a great Thanksgiving. To our readers outside the United States, here's hoping you had a great Thansgiving, though how good could it have been since you probably still had to go to work?
In a move that will help improve the dire situation for anybody wanting to eat a full breakfast at Disneyland (as opposed to grabbing a pastry and a coffee), Cafe Orleans in New Orleans Square is now serving breakfast.
The restaurant will now open with the park and continue serving breakfast through a final seating at 10:50 a.m. and lunch will then be served from 11:30 a.m. onward. The menu isn't extensive but provides the standards (except pancakes) with a little Creole flair.
Here's the menu as it exists for now:
I can't believe that I failed to include this in last week's park update when it was new news, but the celebrity narrators for this year's Candlelight Processional have been announced. The two shows this Saturday, December 2, will be hosted by veteran character (and frequent Disney) actor Hector Elizondo. The Sunday performances will be read by actor Andy Garcia.
Hector Elizondo, with Mickey Mouse, at the 2005 premiere of The Princess Diaries 2 in Downtown Disney. Photo by Alex Stroup.
Andy Garcia and child at the premiere of Snow White - An Enchanting Musical in 2004. Photo by Alex Stroup.
Disneyland was in the national news last Wednesday and Thursday for what is apparently to become a new annual tradition similar to "I'm going to Disneyland" at the end of the Super Bowl. Though the sign that has been posted outside their pen in Big Thunder Ranch implies a longer span, for the second Thanksgiving in a row, the two turkeys pardoned by the President have taken up residence at the park.
The names choses for these turkeys, in an online vote, are Fryer and Flyer. Fryer is the official pardonee, while Flyer was an alternate backup in case Fryer was unable to fulfill the responsibilities and duties of his title.
Flyer serves as grand marshall during the Thanksgiving parade. Photo by David Michael.
In a ceremony at the White House last Wednesday, President Bush continued a tradition begun in the 1950s by President Truman and pardoned the turkeys. In the new part of the tradition, they were then given a police escort to Dulles International Airport and flown first class from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles International airport by United Airlines. There was some benefit for other passengers who found their Thanksgiving travel made much better by the presence of two turkeys in the passenger cabin: a visit from Mickey and Minnie as they boarded and free tickets to Disneyland.
On Thanksgiving, the 36-pound Flyer served as grand marshal of the Thanksgiving Dreams Come True parade down Main Street and then both turkeys were installed in their pen at Big Thunder Ranch where they will live out the rest of their lives.
The natural lifespan of a wild turkey is about 10 years, but if this tradition continues into the future it is obvious that it assumes much shorter lives for the pardonees or else the pen would have to be drastically expanded to house upwards of twenty 30-pound turkeys.
Flyer and Fryer in their new home. Photo by David Michael.
Yam and Marshmallow in the same home last year. People who only visit once a year probably won't even realize they are different birds. Photo by David Michael.
Indeed, as with last year's pardonees, Yam and Marshmallow, it is unlikely that either Flyer or Fryer will have to worry about making friends with new roommates next year. Modern domestic turkeys have been bred to grow large and grow fast, and since they are to be processed for consumption well before their first birthdays it doesn't really matter if there are health affects. Neither Yam nor Marshmallow made it even nine months after their pardons last year.
So Flyer and Fryer are already on borrowed time and here's hoping that they defy the odds and in a few years crowding becomes a problem at Big Thunder Ranch.
Over in Hollywood Pictures Backlot the new look of that small gap between the Studio Catering Company seating area and the Monsters, Inc., facade has been revealed. There has been a construction wall there for a while since the gap had allowed certain hijinks in cutting in line and damage was being done to the decorations. To fill the hole, a new photo spot has been installed. You can now take a group photo in a Monsters, Inc., ride vehicle (not actually one of the real ride vehicles as there are subtle differences).
A new photospot has been installed outside of Monsters, Inc., at DCA. Photo by David Michael.
Last week we showed you that the front facade of Strips, Dips, 'n' Chips had been mostly removed.
Last week's photo showed building demolition having started. Photo by David Michael.
And this week pretty much that entire section of building is gone, to make room for what will eventually be Toy Story Midway Mania's entrance.
Mostly gone. Photo by David Michael.
This week, it is pretty much completely gone.
In another week-to-week comparison, the construction forms we showed last week have now been given their first coat of covering on the way to becoming a reef as part of the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage facade.
The understructure was the only thing in place last week. Photo by David Michael.
The first layer of fill is now in place. Photo by David Michael.
Whether you're ready for it or not, come January Rockin' Space Mountain will finally make its big appearance at Disneyland. A version of the Space Mountain makeover was presented to Grad Night attendees last May and June, to generally indifferent reviews and the concept was shelved until January. Hopefully in the intervening time some more work has been snuck in to bring it up to snuff. And don't forget that it won't just be Rockin' Space Mountain but Rockin' California Screamin' as well. Though there really isn't much that can be done to the Paradise Pier roller coaster to make it a new experience, a new soundtrack will played for riders.
Quite a few people would simply prefer to see this idea fade away into the vast category of things that almost were but never came to be. Signs have begun to appear, though, promoting the upcoming changes, so for better or worse it seems to be locked in.
Disneyland has begun advertising the changes to the roller coasters, hoping it will bring in some extra post-holiday crowds. Photo by David Michael.
If you know of any events, official or unofficial, that should be listed here, let us know.
This section is taking a week off (just one this time, we promise!) while we get it current again.
DL: Disneyland
DCA: Disney's California Adventure
Annual Pass blockout dates:
| 11/12 | 11/13 | 11/14 | 11/15 | 11/16 | 11/17 | 11/18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL: 8a–Mid |
DL: 10a–8p |
DL: 10a-8p |
DL: 10a-8p |
DL: 10a-8p |
DL: 8a–Mid |
DL: 8a–Mid |
| 11/19 | 11/20 | 11/21 | 11/22 | 11/23 | 11/24 | 11/25 |
| DL: 8a–Mid |
DL: 8a–Mid |
DL: 8a–Mid |
DL: 8a–Mid |
DL: 8a–Mid |
DL: 8a–Mid |
DL: 8a–Mid |
| 11/26 | 11/27 | 11/28 | 11/29 | 11/30 | 12/1 | 12/2 |
| DL: 8a–Mid |
DL: 10a–8p |
DL: 10a-8p |
DL: 10a-8p |
DL: 10a-8p |
DL: 8a–Mid |
DL: 8a–Mid |
Visit our Annual Passholders Blockout Dates 2006 page to see more dates. You can see future calendar schedules at Disneyland. As always, specifics are subject to change without notice (or occasionally, without us noticing) so when information conflicts between what is presented here and that presented by Disney, it is best to assume Disney's information is correct.
Entertainment schedule: Go directly to the Disneyland Resort schedule for this week at Disneyland.com here.
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