From Under the Sea to Galaxies Far, Far Away . . . Opening Dates Are Set For A Soundsational Summer at Disneyland Resort

'Mickey’s Soundsational Parade' Debuts May 27; The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure and Star Tours – The Adventures Continue Open June 3

ANAHEIM (Feb. 25, 2011) – As families prepare for their 2011 summer vacations, the Disneyland Resort announces grand opening dates for several, highly-anticipated new attractions and family experiences.

The all-new “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade” will bring a new beat to the streets of Disneyland Park beginning May 27. Also at Disneyland park, guests will once again visit galaxies far, far away with the opening of Star Tours, The Adventures Continue, on June 3.

 

At Disney California Adventure Park, the expansion continues with the June 3 grand opening of The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. Guests will also find some exciting changes at the Disneyland Hotel this spring.

URSULA PREPARES FOR ATTRACTION GRAND OPENING - Senior Show Animator Ethan Reed (left) and Senior Show Programmer Ken Swapp (right) of Walt Disney Imagineering work on the Audio-Animatronics® figure of Ursula prior to her installation in the new attraction, The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. The attraction, which invites guests to take a magical, musical journey under the sea, opens at Disney California Adventure park June 3, 2011.

May 27 premiere: All new for 2011, “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade” officially steps off for Memorial Day weekend with an explosive musical score, thrilling rhythms and bold percussion that will have guests dancing to many of their favorite Disney tunes. Live musicians will amplify the fun, and colorful dancers will entertain guests to the beat of a syncopated drum line, twinkling cymbals and steel drums. Mickey Mouse and his pals will be jamming like never before, riding down Main Street, U.S.A. on whimsical float units.

Grand opening June 3: At Disney California Adventure park, get ready for an all-new voyage with one of Disney’s most beloved characters, Ariel. The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure will invite guests to take a magical journey under the sea to experience all the fun and adventures in Ariel’s world. From the great songs to state-of-the-art animatronics and special effects, guests will become a part of her world in a way that’s never happened before.

The experience is a musical retelling of the classic motion picture as the best-loved songs come alive in magnificent scenes. Guests will sing along with Sebastian and Flounder, keep an eye out for the evil Ursula, and watch the Little Mermaid fall in love.

The Little Mermaid attraction represents the next big milestone in the expansion of Disney California Adventure park. “World of Color” debuted last year and continues to wow guests every night with magic that combines choreographed lights, lasers, music, animation and Disney storytelling. And beginning in 2012, guests will explore the new, 12-acre Cars Land.

GETTING READY FOR SPACE TRAVEL -- Actor Anthony Daniels, as C-3PO from the Star Wars saga, poses on the set of Star Tours: The Adventures Continue during a break in production of the upcoming updated attraction scheduled to debut this spring at the Disneyland Resort in Southern California and the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. (Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland)

Grand opening June 3:  For those who dare to venture into the deep, dark corners of the universe, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue officially launches in Tomorrowland at Disneyland park, taking guests on interstellar adventurers to Coruscant, Tatooine and other destinations in the “Star Wars” galaxy. With the return of favorite Star Wars characters and the addition of more familiar faces and destinations, guests will experience Starspeeder travel in an all-new way . . . in 3D!  This attraction also launches at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort on May 20.

Disneyland Hotel Enhancements: As part on an exciting renovation project, the Disneyland Hotel gets a retro theme with a contemporary twist. Along with beautiful new décor in the rooms, guests will enjoy historic and nostalgic elements of Disneyland park, circa the 1950s. In keeping with that spirit, the new Tangaroa Terrace restaurant will open this spring, along with the new bar called Trader Sam’s. The tiki-inspired design and storyline for this restaurant and bar tie in thematically with the mid-century modern architecture of the Disneyland Hotel and the adjacent Dream Tower, soon to be renamed Adventure Tower.

Guests will enjoy these exciting additions and more at the Disneyland Resort this summer.  To learn about the continuing expansion at Disney California Adventure park, guests can visit the Blue Sky Cellar preview center located within the park.  The Blue Sky Cellar houses concept drawings, models and other exhibits from Walt Disney Imagineering that allows guests a sneak peek of what’s coming next to Disney California Adventure.

About the Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney California Adventure park – plus the Downtown Disney District comprised of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences.  The Resort’s three hotels are the luxurious, 948-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the magical 969-room Disneyland Hotel and the 481-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel with its “day-at-the-beach” fun.  For information on new attractions and vacations at Disneyland Resort visit www.disneyland.com, call (866) 60-DISNEY or contact local travel agents.