A Whole New World, 2015

Thanks to the miracle of Adobe Lightroom, I have been able to go back to some of my earlier photos and reprocess them, bringing out more details and enhancing the lighting. In so doing, I discovered I had an entire stash of unprocessed shots from the December 13, 2015 performance of “Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular” at the Hyperion Theatre in Disney California Adventure. Over 250 images to be exact! This condensed 45 minute version of the 1992 animated Disney classic was included in the price of admission for the Park. This was back in the day when value-added at the Disney Parks went above and beyond. Truly worthy of a Broadway stage, this musical delighted audiences daily for almost thirteen years. It never failed to impress guests with its musical talent, innovative set design, and breathtaking special effects.



Ushers assisted guests into their seats (which was pretty much a free-for-all; none were assigned) before the purple curtain rose.



This was one of my favorite sets; truly impressive. The show began with the narrator in front of yet another poor soul who lost his life in an attempt to get the evil Jafar the magic lamp.



We first meet Aladdin on a cart in the market. The one negative I could say about this show is the wigs. They were awful; we know the budget didn’t cover those! A small quibble, especially when to most eyes in the audience they went unnoticed.



Aladdin returns to the Cave of Wonders, with Iago the parrot at left. The show used puppeteers to work the animals in the show. Very effective!



The Genie was the true star of the show. Ad libs were part of the attraction to guests returning, as the jokes stayed topical and were rarely the same.



The musical numbers were expertly staged and wow…the sets and lighting!



Other than during mechanical mishaps, the magic carpet actually flew over the audience!



A gigantic serpent scared the kiddies:



Naturally, a large production number with the entire cast was part of the happy ending/grand finale.



If you never got a chance to see it, this YouTube video does a good job of showing what you missed:



See more “Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular” photos at my main website.

“A” is for Aladdin

Today I focus on all things “Aladdin” at Disneyland. Can you guess the era of pic #1? The hairstyles and clothing should be a dead giveaway that we are now in the 90s. Specifically October 1993, about a year after the Disney animated feature was first released. Princess Jasmine and Jafar are hanging out in Town Square. Below is a February 2006 shot from Aladdin’s Oasis in Adventureland, where you could see a “live” show featuring your favorite characters from “Aladdin.”



I have always enjoyed seeing the displays in the Main Street Emporium windows, including this June 2008 one featuring Princess Jasmine and Aladdin:



Soundsational is one of my favorite Disneyland parades. A bouncy soundtrack with all the favorite Disney tunes, colorful floats, and a lively show that included characters from “Aladdin,” as seen in this August 2012 photo.



The Genie was also part of Soundsational, circa October 2011:



A July 2012 image from a meet & greet opportunity back at Aladdin’s Oasis:



“Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular” ran at DCA’s Hyperion Theatre from January 16, 2003-January 11, 2016. I never tired of watching this mini-Broadway show that has to be one of the best shows ever mounted inside the Disney Parks.



From May 2004:





November 2010:



The set design did an excellent job of bringing the animated film to life, as you can see from this September 2011 photo:



A happy ending, every show (November 2010):



Curtain call from a September 2011 show:



Last one that I can think of is Storybook Land. You can see the lamp:



…and the village of Agrabah:



Did I miss anything else Aladdin from Disneyland?

See more DCA “Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular” photos at my main website.

Disneyland Half Marathon Trip Report, Pt. 2

Dough and I headed to the corrals at 5:15am; mercifully, the weather cooperated this year and the temperatures were fairly cool. I was very relieved!

The start of the race is really out of this world. If the loud, thumping music doesn't get you geared up, the fireworks, DJ, characters, and palpable adrenalin in the air should do it. If not...you might want to check your pulse. Disney starts the race right on the dot every year, and thanks to being in Corral A for the first time, I had a good idea of how much time to subtract from the clocks shown at every mile.

AND THEY'RE OFF!



I don't know where I was at this point, but I can tell I was having an "oh #$%^ am I going to make it" moment. Thanks to the music, dancers, and crowds along the route, it is much easier to stay focused and positive about the situation.



Running through the stadium is always a thrill; being able to see yourself on the huge TV there is a nice little boost at mile 9.



And the moment I had been training for...the finish line. My final chip time was 1:53.49; I'd finally achieved my goal! It was a real rush to see the clock and know that I'd made it (AND I got to hear my name being called over the loudspeaker as I crossed the finish line). Drew Carey beat me by about 3 minutes. If only I'd run a bit faster!



When it comes to race day bling, Disney also does a great job. Here, Dough & I show off the gold. He has run all 6 of the Disneyland Half Marathons.



Meanwhile, Walt and Dottie also completed the race; can you believe that this sweat-free photo was taken just moments after they triumphantly crossed the finish line?!?



I got cleaned up first and headed over to DCA to get some construction shots (no rest for the weary). Inside the new DCA entrance, there are plenty of concept renderings showing what next summer will look like when all gets unveiled.











You'll also see a number of new attraction posters:







Despite the temporary entrance through Condor Flats, Disney has done a great job of theming and special touches to make it very welcoming.



Even when you exit, you get the Disney message of top-notch service.



The Carthay Circle and fountain continue to make progress:







More progress at Cars Land, the main area of interest in the billion-dollar DCA renovation:



While waiting for the rest of the gang to assemble for a celebratory lunch, the best spot to relax seemed to be this quiet park in New Orleans Square. The shade of the trees and the sound of the water fountain made this my new favorite spot at Disneyland.









Did I mention the smooth jazz playing nearby?



Noontime finally arrived and we all assembled for lunch at Club 33; where better to chow down after a Half Marathon? Stacy drove up from SD to join us.



A toast to victory and good friends; it just doesn't get better than this.



Mickey and Pluto made the rounds to each table:









Lunch was delish...



and the atmosphere and service were impeccable:





It didn't take long for this Hidden Mickey to disappear:



After lunch, we waddled over to DCA and honed our artistic skills at the Animation Academy by drawing Winnie the Pooh:







The finished product:



Dottie loved the Toy Story Zoetrope nearby:



While waiting for our Tower of Terror fast pass to kick in, we savored the music (and air conditioning) of "Aladdin - The Musical":







Without hesitation, Dottie joined us on the Tower. It's her favorite ride at DCA!



So how do you finish the perfect weekend? With breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen, featuring Peanut Butter and Jelly Pizza! So much for all the weight I lost!



See more vintage & current Disneyland Club 33 photos on my Club 33 web page.