The DisGeek Podcast

Your Guide to the Happiest Place on Earth

Blackbeard Comes Aboard at Disneyland Park and Magic Kingdom Park May 20

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From The Disney Parks Blog:

On February 11, actor Ian McShane appeared on a soundstage in Los Angeles for a very special “head shot” – one that will soon be featured in the Pirates of the Caribbean attractions at Disneyland park and Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort.

Captain Blackbeard will make his appearance on the ghostly waterfall in the grotto scenes of the park attractions beginning May 20, coinciding with the release of the new film, “Pirates of the Caribbean – On Stranger Tides,” in which McShane plays a starring role.

Walt Disney Imagineering writer Michael Sprout (who wrote the script for Bill Nighy as Davy Jones several years ago) was on hand to direct the special shoot with Ian McShane. Michael said, “He came in wearing his complete Blackbeard costume, including the sword, saying it helped him stay in character!” Look for Blackbeard soon in this classic attraction, and the return of Davy Jones later this year.

 

Here is the effect on YouTube:

Episode 14 – Ka-CHOW!

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Paul and Daniel take a look at what's on the Drawing Board.  This time it's Carsland! We also visit the Main Street News Stand and as always our Tip of the Week.  Click MORE for full show notes.

News

Disneyland Closes some attractions due to Pirates Premiere –

The closed features are: Sailing Ship Columbia, Mark Twain Riverboat, Tom Sawyer’s Island, Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes and the Fantasmic! show. The attractions are set to reopen May 12.

Other Attractions shops closed in may are: 

DL – Star Tours, Splash Mountain, Star Trader store, Gadget's Go Coaster ride, Stage Door Cafe and The Golden Horseshoe restaurant.

DCA – Mulholland Madness (Reopening as Goofy’s Sky School), and crews are converting a dining and shopping complex in the Paradise Pier area, which is expected to open this summer

http://ocresort.ocregister.com/2011/04/28/disneyland-closes-attractions-for-pirates-premiere/76491/

 

Disney sets up some new crowd control measures in Adventureland, NOS, and Frontierland due to pirate premiere.

 

The bridge over the Pirates of the Caribbean queue is divided for easier crowd flow.

 

Disney Blog gives us a look at Ariel’s Wedding Dress (probably to coincide with the Royal Wedding)

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/04/first-look-at-the-royal-wedding-dress-ariels-that-is/

 

Soundsational Sneak Peak – Last week disney filmed a commercial for Mickey’s Soundsational Parade and we got a little sneak peak of two floats

http://www.ocregister.com/news/parade-297831-disneyland-new.html

 

http://micechat.com/forums/blogs/dateline-disneyland/1814-soundsational-sneak-peek-mermaid-lights-signs-bye-bye-brother-bear-more.html

 

Mary Blair Tribute at Disney Gallery – The Art of Mary Blair celebrating 45 years of it’s a small world

http://psc.disney.go.com/eventservices/artofdisneyparks/event/dlr_thedisneygallery.html

 

Nighttime Entertainment Boosts DCA attendence

http://ocresort.ocregister.com/2011/04/19/nighttime-entertainment-boosts-disney-business/75417/

 

Marvel wants IN at Disneyland – “It’s the biggest dream of all” (keep dreaming)

http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/116/1162758p1.html

 

Quick Hits

Main Street Building refurbishments done and look brand spanking new.

Tomorrowland Star Tours Neon now glow a purpleish blue to match the new marquee (used to be orange and red) Buzz has Purple and Green

The Star Tours Mural has been updated to include the Starspeeder 1000

Little Mermaid Marquee up (but covered) & Little mermaid building lights are now on at night (looks amazing)

In DTD Kitson Kids Closed (I never knew it was there!)

Celebrity Spotting in DL over the last few weeks: 

Matt Damon, Hugh Hefner and his wives (he was riding around in an old man scooter) Paris Hilton, Tom Brady

 

Feature

On The Drawing Board – Cars Land

 

Luigi's Flying Tires

http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/cars-radiator-spring-7392/

 

Tip of the Week

Fireworks Viewing – @tommypix

Episode 13 – Hurry Baaaack..

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In this episode it's Us vs. Them Haunted Mansion style! We also visit the Main Street News Stand and as always our Tip of the Week.  Click MORE for full show notes.
 

Destinations Officially Announced for Star Tours: The Adventures Continue

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From Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald on the Disney Parks Blog:

It won’t be long now before Star Tours re-launches and “The Adventures Continue” at both Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California! But where in the galaxy are we going?

We know a lot of you have been wondering and asking, and today we are happy to reveal the final destinations you can expect to visit when Star Tours resumes service. You already know we’re going to Tatooine for the Boonta Eve Podrace and to Coruscant.

Additional destinations include a visit to the beautiful planet of Naboo, a rare tour of the Wookiee planet of Kashyyyk, and a trip to the icy planet Hoth (seen above in a still image fromStar Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back).

Of course, no Star Tours adventure would be complete without an unexpected visit to the Death Star, this time above the planet Geonosis.

In addition, we’ll be departing from a spectacular new Spaceport, created just for the new Star Tours voyages.

As revealed earlier, these destinations will be combined in more than 50 different story adventures, so you’ll never know where the Force will take you!

It appears that our speculation was correct with the exception of Bespin which was not mentioned above, but may still be in the attraction. Regardless, the possibility of “50 different story adventures” sounds like we’ll be riding this attraction a lot once it opens on May 20th at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Who knows, maybe we’ll be blasting off before then…