What new since 2001!!

[lovebelle]

The last time we were in California was in 2001 and I was wonder if anything is new in disneyland or California parks.

 

[Sherry E]

The last time we were in California was in 2001 and I was wonder if anything is new in disneyland or California parks.

Oh wow! You have a lot in store for you when you return to Disneyland Resort (DLR)! I was like you - prior to making my big return in 2007, the last time I had been to Disneyland was 2001. California Adventure had just opened at that time, but I didn't go into it until 2007. It was a bit of a shock - in a way, it like coming to a whole new place I had never been because even Disneyland had changed a bit.

So where to begin......First of all, when you were last out here, did you go to Downtown Disney? If not, that will be new to you. Part of Disneyland Hotel (DLH) is gone because they had to make room for Downtown Disney and reconfigure parking so they lopped off a chunk of the DLH.

Did you have a chance to look around the beautiful Grand Californian Hotel (GCH) when you were last here? That is the upscale hotel of the three DLR hotels, and has a gorgeous, spacious lobby and an elegantly rustic kind of theme.

In Disneyland itself, well, the Finding Nemo Submarine has replaced what used to be the old sub rides. Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters is a great ride in Tomorrowland. It's a Small World has new Disney character doll additions to the ride. Was the Pooh ride open when you were here? That's there now in place of the old Country Bear Jamboree. Tom Sawyer's Island is now Pirate's Lair. Pirates of the Caribbean now has the addition of Jack Sparrow and Barbossa. They have also added the new Celebration BBQ with Woody from Toy Story at Big Thunder Ranch. Minnie and Friends at the Plaza Inn is the character meal inside DL.

California Adventure (DCA) is new in and of itself, and I don't know if you saw it back in 2001, but it now has the Monster's Inc. Ride, the GREAT GREAT GREAT Toy Story Midway Mania ride, Aladdin (it is not a ride but a musical and is really good), Soarin' over California (which you may have seen if you ever went into DCA), A Bug's Land, the Animation Building, all kinds of good stuff. Ariel's Grotto is the Princess character meal inside DCA.

Lilo and Stitch is the character meal at the Paradise Pier Hotel (PPH), and Storytellers Cafe Critter Breakfast (at the GCH) and Goofy's Kitchen (at the DLH) are still holding strong.

There are tons of things that are new!! I know I am skipping over a bunch of things. That is just a taste! Shops have come and gone; restaurants have come and gone; some attractions have even come and gone! You have a lot to see!

 

[WDW Princess 71]

That is really interesting, I had no idea that part of the DLH had to be cut off to make room for DTD! When was this, by the way (like how old is DTD)? And how old is the DLH? Just curious. And great summary by the way...I found it useful too since I havent been since 2007, can't wait!

 

[Sherry E]

That is really interesting, I had no idea that part of the DLH had to be cut off to make room for DTD! When was this, by the way (like how old is DTD)? And how old is the DLH? Just curious. And great summary by the way...I found it useful too since I havent been since 2007, can't wait!

Great! I am glad I was of some help - though I know I must have skipped over a bit.

Okay, let me think about when DTD was open. I remember being at DL and the DLH in like 1995 and everything was intact. Then, I was away from DLR until late 2000, and DTD was totally built but not yet open (this was New Year's Eve 2000). It didn't open until 2001. And we noticed that this whole section of DLH was GONE!!! The old location of Goofy's Kitchen was gone (they were relocated in the DLH), the Monorail Cafe and Stromboli's were GONE, several shops (like the toy shop, the sporting goods shop, the crystal place and the little gallery) were gone. The old Pavilion Lounge building is still there but the lounge is closed. The old Sgt. Preston's Yukon Saloon/Neon Cactus is gone!! They tore all of that down in the late '90s when they started work on DTD and had to rearrange certain parking issues. They did keep all the beautiful waterfalls and koi ponds intact, as well as put in some cute remote controlled mini-Jungle Cruise boats, but they changed the whole 'marina' area (with the old pedal boats) of the DLH to build a whole Peter Pan-themed pool area.

The actual DLH itself is pretty old. Mechurchlady just posted a link to some old pictures of it from the '50s or '60s, I think they were. I guess the DLH has changed a lot over the years, but it was a shock to me to go there in 2000, after being away from it for 5 years, and see that so much of what I remembered was gone and this whole new DTD place was open (and now several of the old DTD shops are gone as well, so that is constantly changing!).

 

[DLR29]

In Disneyland itself, well, the Finding Nemo Submarine has replaced what used to be the old sub rides. Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters is a great ride in Tomorrowland. It's a Small World has new Disney character doll additions to the ride. Was the Pooh ride open when you were here? That's there now in place of the old Country Bear Jamboree. Tom Sawyer's Island is now Pirate's Lair. Pirates of the Caribbean now has the addition of Jack Sparrow and Barbossa. They have also added the new Celebration BBQ with Woody from Toy Story at Big Thunder Ranch. Minnie and Friends at the Plaza Inn is the character meal inside DL.

California Adventure (DCA) is new in and of itself, and I don't know if you saw it back in 2001, but it now has the Monster's Inc. Ride, the GREAT GREAT GREAT Toy Story Midway Mania ride, Aladdin (it is not a ride but a musical and is really good), Soarin' over California (which you may have seen if you ever went into DCA), A Bug's Land, the Animation Building, all kinds of good stuff. Ariel's Grotto is the Princess character meal inside DCA.

Along with this:
-Space Mountain has completely changed with a new soundtrack, queue, and it's much smoother
-Tiki Room and Jungle Cruise have new effects from the 50th Anniversary
-Innoventions has a new exhibit "Dream Home", which has a lot of new technological inventions
-Pixie Hollow and Princess Fantasy Faire have opened. Both are new character meet and greet areas.
-New monorails
-Sleeping Beauty's Castle Walkthrough
-New fireworks, parades, and this summer Fantasmic! is getting new effects
-No more Mike Fink Keel Boats or Rocket Rods

And in DCA:
-Mickey's Fun Wheel has replaced the Sun Wheel
-There are so many construction walls around Paradise Bay for the construction of the new show World of Color, premiering next year. Also walls around Golden Dreams (closed) for the construction of the new Little Mermaid ride opening in 2011.
-The Animation buiding has Turtle Talk with Crush, an interactive show
-The Tower of Terror!
-A new parade
-Many of the restaurants have closed since DCA's opening
-Brother Bear show in the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
-Playhouse Disney Live! replaced ABC Soap Bistro

 

[WDW Princess 71]

Along with this:
-Space Mountain has completely changed with a new soundtrack, queue, and it's much smoother
-Tiki Room and Jungle Cruise have new effects from the 50th Anniversary
-Innoventions has a new exhibit "Dream Home", which has a lot of new technological inventions
-Pixie Hollow and Princess Fantasy Faire have opened. Both are new character meet and greet areas.
-New monorails
-Sleeping Beauty's Castle Walkthrough
-New fireworks, parades, and this summer Fantasmic! is getting new effects
-No more Mike Fink Keel Boats or Rocket Rods

And in DCA:
-Mickey's Fun Wheel has replaced the Sun Wheel
-There are so many construction walls around Paradise Bay for the construction of the new show World of Color, premiering next year. Also walls around Golden Dreams (closed) for the construction of the new Little Mermaid ride opening in 2011.
-The Animation buiding has Turtle Talk with Crush, an interactive show
-The Tower of Terror!
-A new parade
-Many of the restaurants have closed since DCA's opening
-Brother Bear show in the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
-Playhouse Disney Live! replaced ABC Commissary

Good additions! How could I forget the refurbishment of Space Mountain! The wait was long but so worth it with the soundtrack and smoother ride. Like you said many of the DCA restaurants have come/gone...I especially miss the ABC Soap Opera Bistro! I love All My Children so it was so cool having lunch in Adam's "living room" replica set from the show! But all in all, most changes over the years have been good.

 

[lovebelle]

Wow! I have got a lot to see that has come and gone since I was last there and I can't wait. Thanks guys!

 

[darph nader]

The above forgot to mention is that admission prices went up juuuust a tad.