Welcome to Original D's latest Disneyland Resort Mini-Update!
This marks the third mini-update update in an eight day span. Why so many updates? Because, as was described last week, things are changing at such a rapid pace that triweekly, biweekly, or even weekly updates just don't cut the mustard these days. Construction is progressing in DCA, and Disneyland is hurtling towards a June 12th "Summer Nightastic" kickoff. Not a day is being wasted, and we're committed to keeping you up to date with everything! But more than that, we also hope that you can make some discoveries of your own with what we present to you. Sure other sites have pictures, but what are they really telling you? Albert von Szent-Gyorgi once told about discovery, "Discovery consists of seeing what everybody else has seen, and thinking what nobody has thought." We hope that you make some discoveries of your own through our photographic presentation today, and through our future updates.
Once again this mini-update comes via the camera of Mr. Ryan Moody and the keyboard of myself, PeoplemoverMatt. We did say to look for a full-sized update, but unfortunately my schedule did not allow for me to do that. We will have a full-sized update sometime in the hopefully near future, however one could be weeks away. So once again we enlist the talented and observant photography of Ryan to bring us our visuals for today. And now, if you're ready, let's go to the photos!
Today's one page only mini-update starts off in California Adventure's Paradise Pier, which sports some spiffy new exterior lighting effects on its most-visual attractions.
The recently-opened Mickey's Fun Wheel especially shimmers much more brightly than its on-the-cheap predecessor. If the purpose here is to draw people towards it, looks like it'll succeed pretty handily. What kid wouldn't want to ride on "the Mickey wheel"?
Our World of Color construction overview shot for today comes from the top of Maliboomer where lots of projects can be seen. There's new fountain & stage construction progress, lighting tower construction progress, viewing area construction progress, and if you look sharp underneath the bridge to Paradise Pier you'll spot the construction of the well-hidden World of Color control booth.
Here's a closer look of the viewing area progress. Some dirt has been moved, and nearly all the concrete that used to make up the Bay's skate park-style floor has disappeared.
Here we can see some of the new fountain mechanisms on the stage have been unwrapped, and the major concrete work for what will eventually be lighting towers and an extension of the viewing area slightly into the Bay continues.
Someday this will look nice. For now it's a half-done bunch of dirt & concrete, which means it bears a striking resemblance to any L.A.-area freeway.
"Yes I know its been 90+ degrees here lately. I'd like to dunk my head in here, but dry ice gives me terrible split ends."
As we told you last month, the eastern side of Paradise Pier is next on the list for the backhoes and construction walls, part of includes this large green dinosaur making an exit. So in one of the more naked attempts at upselling I've ever seen in a theme park, Disney has signs encouraging you & yours to get your last pictures with this green shade-sporting reptile while you can.
"If I'm getting kicked out of here because Disney's going to build something much nicer in my place, why would you want our picture together? All I'll be is a lasting reminder of how you saw this park in its initial highly-flawed state. Besides, why would a dinosaur wear sunglasses anyway?"
Wave goodbye to the dino, and to DCA for this update. *Flips open communicator, beeps* "Scotty, beam us over to Disneyland NOW!" *transporter whirs*
*transporter whirs, stops* What better place to beam to than Tomorrowland's entrance where Astro Orbitor unfortunately continues to rebuild itself.
A small portion sticking out of its wrapping shows no changes in Oribtor's color scheme thus far. That and the lack of change in the Tomorrowland entrance marquee shown in the previous picture have me worried here.
How many tragedies can you count in this picture? It's all just so very sad...
Cosmic Waves work continues...
A bunch of gravel has been dumped that'll serve some purpose...I guess...
Over here, mystery concrete remains a mystery...
A few updates ago, we showed you how Pixie Hollow had been surrounded by work walls. Then, Disney announced why - new nighttime effects were being installed, and this area will finally be able to be open later than 5pm. Given that the average closing time in summer is 11pm, it's not hard to understand the timing of this particular project.
With the walls down, the fountain is once again visible, and once again doesn't look any different than a general City Park-style fountain.
However upon closer inspection we find the new here - new lights installed at the bottom of the small lagoon formerly known as Triton Gardens.
One last note for this time out - the Hungry Bear Restaurant went under tarps for a quick refurb.
Hungry Bear Restaurant reopens Friday May 15th.
So that was a nice & quick way to be caught up right? Hope you enjoyed it. That'll do it for this time. Please check us out next time. In the meantime, please enjoy our Original D Podcast, Attraction Info pages, Hidden Mickey pages and of course the Discussion Forums!
