#Disneyland60.....Today In Disneyland History.....August 6, 1961

Flying Saucers Open in Tomorrowland

August 6, 1961

On August 6, 1961 one of my all time favorite attractions, The Flying Saucers opened in Disneyland's Tomorrowland.  The ride actually allowed guests to board their own personal flying saucers. The saucers flew several inches off of the 16,000 square foot arena floor on a cushion of air, similar to how an air hockey game works. Once in flight, the Flying Saucers were very much like bumper cars with guests ramming each other with their saucers.

At the beginning of the ride, saucers were subjected to a high volume of low-pressure air directed underneath them by means of a grid of circular valves. As the saucers floated and moved above the field, the valves would open and close in response to their proximity. As guests shifted their weight in any direction by leaning, the saucer movement would respond.  If the weight was centered, the saucer would begin to "hop" up and down as the air randomly escaped around the plenum. All that was required to regain control was for the guest to lean in any direction.

The ride consisted of two sets of saucers (approximately 14 each) on a semi-circular field and a mechanical boom that would sweep the arc of the field and corral one set of saucers in the loading area. As the boom moved, it would free the other set of saucers (with their new riders) from their loading area to roam the field while the other set was unloaded and loaded in-turn.  Sadly, the ride was expensive to operate, maintenance was intensive, and it did not fit the normal Disneyland "guest flow" in that a relatively small number of riders were able to participate on any given day. After only five years of flight, when the transition to the New Tomorrowland took place, the Flying Saucers did not survive. When New Tomorrowland opened in 1967, the space that The Flying Saucers had once occupied had been transformed into the Tomorrowland Stage.

On June 15, 2012, a new ride using similar technology opened in Cars Land inside Disneyland's sister park, Disney California Adventure. This ride is named Luigi's Flying Tires, and is themed on Luigi's Tire Shop from the film Cars This version holds two or three passengers per ride vehicle instead of one.  And that’s what happened today in Disneyland history, 

#Disneyland60.....Today In Disneyland History......August 2, 1995

Disney Executives Meet To Discuss New Anaheim Based Park

August 2, 1995

On August 2, 1995, in Aspen, Colorado, 36 Disney executives gathered together for the first of 3 days to brainstorm ideas for a second Anaheim-based theme park to be built next to Disneyland. The concept of a theme park dedicated to California, then called California Adventure, arose from this meeting, following the cancellation of the WestCOT project, a west coast version of what was then known as EPCOT Center, Construction of the park began in 1998, and was completed by early 2001. Originally the concept behind the 72-acre park was to make California into a theme park, hoping to create "precise reproductions of California landmarks, charming streets and gorgeous landscaping that stimulates the state's forests and farmlands" and celebrate the California dream. It was intended to appeal to adults while Disneyland was intended to appeal to children.  Sadly the initial concept garnered less than stellar reviews, with ironically, one of the major criticisms from guests in its first year were the lack of attractions appealing to children and the lack of a nighttime show or parade to keep visitors from leaving at nightfall. Within the first year of operation, Disney's Electrical Parade and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire – Play It!  were brought to the park, and several of its original rides and attractions were closed.  In October 2002 the Flik's Fun Fair area opened, which added attractions for children.May 2004  brought the newest E –Ticket Ride Twilight Zone Tower of Terror  where guests were to drop in.  

By 2007, Disney realized that the park was still not working and that something major needed to be done. Bob Iger said "Any time you do something mediocre with your brand, that's a withdrawal. California Adventure was a brand withdrawal." Iger briefly considered combining California Adventure and Disneyland Park into one large park, but the price would have cost as much as completely remodeling California Adventure. On October 17, 2007, The Walt Disney Company announced a multi-year, $1.1 billion redesign and expansion plan for Disney's California Adventure Park (against its initial $600 million price to build). Each district was reimagined to transform the park to an idealized version of the state, exploring specific time periods and historic settings. The project began in December 2007 and was completed in stages. Toy Story Midway Mania! opened on Paradise Pier in June 2008, in space formerly occupied by a store and restaurants. 

World of Color, a nighttime water and lights show on Paradise Bay, opened in June 2010. The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure  opened on the site formerly occupied by the Golden Dreams Theater in June 2011.  The most drastic changes to the park included a complete overhaul of the main entrance, Sunshine Plaza, and Paradise Pier, as well as an expansion into the last of the parking area originally designated as future growth space. The main entrance and Sunshine Plaza were turned from a "giant postcard" spoof of California into Buena Vista Street. A representation of Los Angeles as it appeared when Walt Disney moved there in the 1920s.  Paradise Pier was turned from the boardwalks of California into a Victorian seaside amusement park of the 1920s, and some of the areas rides now focusing Disney characters. 

The final transformation came with the addition of Cars Land, an area that simulates Radiator Springs from Disney· Pixar's Cars film franchise, was added to the southeast portion of the park, and includes three new rides including the wildly popular Radiator Springs Racers.  Construction was completed in 2012 and the park was "re-dedicated" on June 14, 2012.The Park received a modified name, Disney California Adventure.  Today Disney California Adventure Park has 8 exciting lands to explore bringing the magic of Disney and Pixar stories and characters to life through amazing attractions, entertainment and dining. It truly has something for every member of your family. And that’s what happened today in Disneyland’s history. 

Who Knew Healthy Could Taste So Good! The Disney TRYit! Campaign

Two Thumbs Up for the Disney TRYit! Campaign!

Anyone that knows me, and even those that may not know me, knows that the words “Healthy Eating” and “Gayle” are usually not two things associated together. As much as I hate to admit it, I live completely and totally on, well, not the healthiest of diets. All that has changed thanks to the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration held a few short weeks ago at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California and the Disney TRYit! campaign.  

Truth be told, I had no idea that eating right and eating healthy could taste this good! Thanks to the magic of the Happiest Place on Earth and the TRYit! Campaign, all of the attendees and our families were treated each day to a wide variety of healthy and mouth-watering food.

 Each day from the opening night dinner for ourselves and our families at Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree to the closing breakfast on Sunday morning in Cars Land, the magical people at Disney went out of their way to show all of us just how easy it is to eat meals that are both delicious and nutritious. Through the Magic of Healthy Living and their new TRYit! Campaign, the good folks at Disney are looking out for each of us by encouraging families to try a variety of new foods and fun moves in an effort to teach everyone that living a healthier lifestyle is easily obtainable.  Throughout  the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, we found ourselves with incredible food choices that would satisfy even the pickiest of eaters, yes even me, and it wasn’t just the grown ups filling up their plates with salads, main entrees and scrumptious desserts  (even the s’mores were healthy) –kids were going back for seconds and thirds as well.   

 Not only did the magical people at Disney have us eating healthier, but they had us up and out of our seats and moving, whether it was to the band playing at the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree to the DJ spinning for us in Toontown on Saturday Night to our very own Disney Fun Run on Sunday morning, it was all about learning a better way of  living.

One of the ways Disney has already implemented their healthy eating initiative into the Parks and into our lives is with their Mickey Check seal of approval. What is the Mickey Check?  The Mickey Check is a tool that makes it easier to identify nutritious choices in stores, online, and while on vacation at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. The Mickey Check can be found on select kids’ meals and fruit carts throughout Walt Disney World® and Disneyland® Resorts, on various Disney-licensed food products sold at grocery stores across the country, and on qualifying recipes at Disney.com/tryit and Spoonful.com. To receive the Mickey Check, foods must meet Disney Nutrition Guidelines developed by health experts and align to federal dietary guideline recommendations.  Now all families can keep a healthier lifestyle and still enjoy all the fabulous food you’ve come to know and expect when visiting any of the Disney Parks. 

You don’t have to be at the Disney 
Social Media Moms Celebration to eat healthy at the Disney Parks.  Trying a variety of new foods and fun moves is part of living healthy. That’s the message of Disney’s TRYit! Campaign. From inspirational messages on-air and online to a special TRYathlon event and road tour, kids and families are being encouraged to take action to be their best.

The TRYit! Campaign is not just for inside the Disney Parks. Any Disney fan already has seen this plan come into our own homes though the Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior and Radio Disney in the form of storytelling and short-form programming. In August, a TRYathlon TV Special on Disney XD and Disney Channel will bring together real kids and Disney talent to demonstrate how good for you can be fun too! Kids will compete in a one-of-a-kind TRYathlon that tests their skills, fosters teamwork, and allows them to discover new ways to challenge themselves.

The TV special will kick off a road tour – hosted by Radio Disney – to bring the TRYit! Campaign to 10 cities across the U.S. Go to www.Disney.com/TRYit to find inspiration to be your best or to stay up to date on local events, contests, and other ways to participate in TRYit!

So let’s review-great food, delicious and nutritional selections that are easy to make and bring about a healthier and happier you-sign me up!  For more information of the Magic of Healthy Living or the Disney TRYit! Campaign, or for great recipes and suggestions on how easy it is to implement these quick and simple changes into your own family’s day to day life, be sure to check out http://citizenship.disney.com/try-it  or go to Spoonful.com for a wide variety of activities and recipes and ideas the whole family will love.  If I can do it-anyone can!

Disclaimer: I was invited to the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration at Disneyland and have offered a special discounted rate that was offered to all attendees and their families. In addition, I have received products to help make my experience even more magical.  I will be sharing the unique things I learn throughout the Celebration however these are my own personal thoughts and opinions, not those of the Walt Disney Company.

Gayle is a lifelong educator by day and avid blogger by night and is the owner and cofounder of the Disney Gals, one of the most popular Disney blogs around! Proud mommy to 5, Grammy to 4 she is blessed to share her life with amazing family and friends who encourage her to chase her dreams no matter where they may lead.  When not in the classroom, she can be found following her son as he dances his way through life, or working with young performers in free nationally recognized after school children’s theater program that she founded 13 years ago. On any given day you will find Gayle skipping her way through life with a giggle and a smile knowing that today is meant to be lived and enjoyed. To learn more about Gayle, click here.

Hakuna Matata Monday--Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my 1^st Born

Happy Birthday Heather

 

     36 years ago today all my dreams came true when I became a mommy for the first time.  Heather is our Princess, the first, best and only girl of the Turner clan and the glue that holds us all together. She has taught us all how to believe and follow your dreams and that to fight for what you believe in. I cannot imagine my life without her, as she is not just my daughter; she is my hero and my best friend. And so, happy birthday to my wonderful, incredible daughter.  

I know I say it a lot but I can’t help myself-I love you and there is nothing in the world I would not do for you. I am so proud of the young woman you have become.

Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop-Nighttime Magic

No matter what time of day it is, there's just something even more magical about nighttime at Disney. Whether it's the fireworks over the castle, or the Neon Lighting Ceremony in Cars Land, it's Disney at it's best. Join us on a journey of a nighttime Fantasmic as we travel on the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop. 

Gayle: The World is a Carousel of Color-need a reason to head west to where it all started-World of Color. This amazing combination of water, lasers and Disney magic is Imagineering at it's best! And yes-to answer the age old question, if you sit at water's edge, and where else would you sit, you do need a poncho. Need another reason-Ka Chow-Cars Land! Make sure you out in the middle of the street at dusk for the Neon lighting ceremony and get ready to be floored!