More than 55 years ago, Walt Disney unveiled a groundbreaking new concept in entertainment and called it Disneyland.  With 18 major attractions and a goal of being a place where families and friends of all ages could have fun together, Walt’s dream has become a national treasure.  Today, renowned as “The Happiest Place on Earth,” the magic continues with Walt’s dream in a constant state of “becoming.” New adventures and attractions are always on the drawing boards and as such, it’s easy to understand why the Disneyland Resort is the number one family resort destination in the western United States, providing guests unforgettable Disney magic on a daily basis.

Travel “Under the Sea” and Meet Ariel & Friends

Kicking off the latest magical dream at the Happiest Place on Earth is the grand opening of The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure park. It marks a key development in the multiyear expansion at Disneyland Resort.

The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure is an archetypal Disney “dark ride” (think of Peter Pan’s Flight and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride) that immerses guests in classic scenes from the movie, along with mind-boggling technological innovations. Set in and around Ariel’s underwater world and located on Paradise Pier, guests can really go under the sea, one of the special effects that take this “dark ride” to a new level of sophistication. 

This whimsical adventure begins when guests board pastel-colored clamshell vehicles on the shore with Scuttle the sea gull. Suddenly you quickly turn, go backwards and submerge, descending below the ocean’s surface. As you start to feel yourself go under, you’ll see the waterline rise up on the vehicle in front of you. Get ready… you’ll hold your breath in that moment.  Next, you’ll feel the cold around you, you’ll see bubbles starting to swirl, and you’ll feel the submersion.

Once “under the sea,” guests find themselves immersed in the classic story of “The Little Mermaid,” sharing Ariel’s adventure through advanced Audio-Animatronics technology, a magical cast of characters, and a captivating musical score that will entice everyone to sing along. Then, as they travel through the attraction, guests will see the familiar characters performing  much loved musical numbers in exquisitely designed animated scenes, including “Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl,” and Ursula the Sea Witch’s darkly persuasive “Poor Unfortunate Souls.”

As in the motion picture, songs like “Part of Your World” and “Poor Unfortunate Souls” illuminate key “Little Mermaid” characters and drive the emotional content of the show. “I like to think the characters are the heart of our attraction, but music is really the soul. It brings everything to life and makes the story so special,” observes Larry Nikolai, Imagineering creative director and show designer for the Little Mermaid attraction.

Despite the warnings, Ariel is determined to visit the Sea Witch to find a way to become human. Ursula’s lair is a stunning scene, featuring her slithering henchmen, Flotsam and Jetsam, and Ursula herself – 7½-feet tall and 12-feet wide, from tentacle tip to tentacle tip.

As Ariel’s wish to be human is granted, guests follow her up to the ocean surface, where they witness her friends encouraging Prince Eric to “Kiss the Girl.” This inspires a stormy response from the villainous Ursula and leads to the finale, which holds some surprises – even for those who know and love the motion picture. It takes us beyond the ending of the film, but we won’t spoil that surprise for you!

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For Walt Disney Imagineers, technology serves to enhance the magic and fun of The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure story, including

‘Star Tours – The Adventures Continue’ Brings Star Wars™ Thrills in 3-D

The power of the Force and the magic of Disney have combined to create Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, a thrilling new 3-D attraction at Disneyland park. Based on the Star Wars™ films, Star Tours takes guests to numerous Star Wars destinations where they interact with characters from the Saga. In a new twist, guests can enjoy the attraction multiple times without ever experiencing the same adventure. More than 50 story combinations are possible to experience aboard Star Tours.

Just as the Star Wars films immerse movie-goers in storylines that keep them on the edge of their seats, Star Tours features many stories and scenarios that hurtle park guests throughout the Star Wars galaxy. And all of the storyline’s twists and turns will be random, affording guests many new experiences.

With a digital presentation leveraging Dolby 3-D to deliver a vivid and realistic experience, a dramatic musical score and motion simulator-based technology, guests will be immersed in the Star Wars galaxy like never before. Whether it’s a battle with Darth Vader and his legion of stormtroopers or a plea from Princess Leia to help her save the Rebellion, guests find themselves in the middle of the action – literally – in the 3-D, multi-sensory attraction.

Entering the attraction, Star Tours guests walk into a bustling spaceport. The famous Star Wars droid duo, C-3PO and R2-D2, greet them as the Starspeeder 1000 is prepped for service. After winding through the spaceport, guests board the Starspeeder 1000 spacecraft and prepare for Star Tours Flight #1401. Through a series of mishaps, however, C-3PO finds himself in the pilot’s seat instead of hotshot droid pilot Ace, and it’s up to C-3PO and R2-D2 to navigate their passengers through the galaxy. However, the tyrannical Empire is out to stop the Starspeeder at all costs. C-3PO and R2-D2 take the controls and try to outwit and outrun the Imperial forces, and a galactic bounty hunter hired to pursue the spaceship and its passengers.

Utilizing the 50+ random story combinations, the Starspeeder embarks on a wild trip through the galaxy, visiting several planets made famous in the Star Wars films. Among the locations that might provide haven from the Empire’s pursuit are the icy planet of Hoth, the lush jungles of Kashyyyk and the underwater Gungan world of Naboo. And along the way guests may encounter Star Wars characters who offer to help (or hinder) their journey, including Yoda, Admiral Ackbar, Darth Vader and Boba Fett. “Skytroopers,” a legion of stormtroopers created just for the Star Tours attraction story, might even join in the chase.

With multiple ways to experience each flight, guests will never know where the Force will take them.

‘Mickey’s Soundsational Parade’ Celebrates Music in Motion

Rhythm is king when the magic of Disney music takes to the streets in the new “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade.” Favorite Disney characters including Aladdin, Ariel, Cinderella, and Peter Pan follow “the leader of the club,” Mickey Mouse, as they lead guests on a journey of sound and story that has a whole new beat this summer.

“Mickey’s Soundsational Parade” comes alive with Disney characters, performers and nine new parade floats, each designed in the style of a children’s “pop-up” story book. Each parade unit is brought to life through the fun and lively rhythms of drumlines, percussion teams and jazz horns. Images of musical instruments and oversized drums decorate the parade lineup.

Mickey Mouse leads all the performers onto the Disneyland parade route and demonstrates his own rhythmic prowess sitting atop the first float and playing an acoustic drum set.  Just ahead of Mickey’s float are six live drumline musicians who drive the beat and set the tone for the entire parade.  The drumline performers lightheartedly interact with guests as they make their way down the parade route.  Keep your eyes out for Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Chip ‘n’ Dale, and Goofy.

Next, the Genie from “Aladdin” takes over the street, brandishing a drum major’s baton and leading six Cymbal Dancers who set a new rhythm.  Aladdin himself commands the top of this float as he strikes a large gong and greets guests.  Bringing up the rear is an animated version of Aladdin’s pet monkey, Abu, who claps and plays cymbals of his own.

From there, “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade” takes guests “Under the Sea,” accompanied by a distinctively Caribbean sound including steel drums and marimbas.  The world’s favorite mermaid, Ariel, “floats” above this whimsical parade unit while a humorous octopus shows off a multi-armed talent for music making.

Next The Three Caballeros introduce the spirited sounds of Latin America.  Flower dancers and piñata dancers complete the scene around this rhythmic parade unit where Donald Duck dangles a piñata overhead for Jose and Panchito, Donald’s friends from the 1944 classic film, “The Three Caballeros.”

Disney’s newest heroine, Rapunzel, leads a royal procession including Belle, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Snow White on a float dominated by Rapunzel’s tower. This “Heroines” unit also features graceful court dancers in a lyrical tribute to the timeless tales of Disney princesses.

Jungle drums sound the arrival of Disney jungle inhabitants, including Simba perched majestically atop Pride Rock.  The unit’s music includes nods to such Disney melodies as “I Wanna Be Like You,” “Trashin’ The Camp” and the score from “The Lion King.”

Next guests are transported to New Orleans and the world of Princess Tiana, with jazz rhythms bursting from a classic Mississippi riverboat rolling down the parade route.  Mardi Gras dancers beat tambourines in celebration as they surround Tiana’s riverboat.

Adventure waits in Neverland as Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Mr. Smee and some bumbling pirates appear with the next float, locked in a comical battle. Above them, Tinker Bell plays on mushrooms as if they were drums while three butterflies flutter below her.

Mary Poppins and her friend Bert bring “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade” to a close riding astride two carousel horses that appear to have just leaped from their perches in search of a musical adventure.  This grand finale includes a moving, musical carousel and a “rooftop unit,” suggesting the rooftops of London.  Eleven chimney sweeps complete the parade with a high-energy broom dance.

“Mickey’s Soundsational Parade” is presented daily along the Disneyland parade route between Main Street, U.S.A., and “it’s a small world” in Fantasyland.

Goofy’s Sky School Helps Complete Paradise Pier Transformation

This summer, guests can enjoy wild, hilarious flying lessons at Goofy’s Sky School, one of several new attractions and restaurants opening in Paradise Pier at Disney California Adventure park. Along with the debut of The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, these new experiences will complete the transformation of Paradise Pier, a section of the park reminiscent of a seaside amusement park of the 1930s.

This coaster attraction invites guests to enroll in Goofy’s Sky School, an adventure filled with zany dips, twists and family thrills. Inspired by the classic Goofy “How-to” shorts of the 1940s and 1950s as well as the cartoon short, “Goofy’s Glider,” the attraction takes “novice pilots” on a flying lesson through the wild, blue yonder. Zipping over and through the clouds, the flight path rises three stories high with plenty of wacky antics and instruction from Goofy via whimsically animated billboards.

With the opening of The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, one of several attractions that have debuted the past few years in Disney California Adventure, Walt Disney Imagineers head into the home stretch of the five-year project that started with Toy Story Mania! in 2008. “The openings of these fantastic attractions mark another milestone in our Disney California Adventure expansion and reinforce our commitment to evolving Disneyland Resort into a world-class, multiday destination,” said Disneyland Resort President George A. Kalogridis.