In Disney News...

It's time for a roundup of the latest Disney news!

...This Friday, July 17th, is Disneyland's Diamond Anniversary! Catch up on the latest park news via the most recent updates from MousePlanet and MiceChat...and don't miss MiceChat's report of last week on the rehab of the newly reopened Peter Pan's Flight.

...The Summer 2015 issue of Disney Twenty-three magazine celebrates the Disneyland Diamond Anniversary. Additional topics covered in the issue include histories of the Disneyland Hotel and Disneyland Ambassadors. There's also a look at PINOCCHIO (1940) with J.B. Kaufman, author of the new book PINOCCHIO: THE MAKING OF THE DISNEY EPIC.

...The Little Golden Book LITTLE MAN OF DISNEYLAND, featuring Donald Duck, will be reissued this month in conjunction with the park's 60th anniversary. It's in my Amazon cart now! (Thanks to Brad Abbott.)

...Speaking of Donald Duck, here's a birthday tribute posted last month by Brandie at The Black Maria. Donald debuted on June 9, 1934.

...Check out the moment a little boy finds out he's headed for a week at Disney World and is overcome by emotion...so sweet!

...Inside the Magic has info on the updates to The Great Movie Ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios, which is now presented by Turner Classic Movies. For a look back at information on the Disney-TCM partnership, visit my post from November 2014.

...And here's a preview of the new Epcot ride, Frozen Ever After, which replaced the Maelstrom boat ride in the Norway section of the World Showcase.

...The most recent evening of Treasures From the Disney Vault on Turner Classic Movies took place on July 2nd. John McElwee has a very nice piece on one of the films shown, JOHNNY TREMAIN (1957), at his blog Greenbriar Picture Shows. It includes many great stills and posters so be sure to have a look, and while you're there also visit John's post on SUMMER MAGIC (1963).

...Here's a great page on the history of big bands performing at Disneyland.

...A recent study by Disney says that the Disneyland resort contributes $5.7 billion annually to the local economy.

...There are several new Disney history books coming from Disney Editions this fall. ALL ABOARD: THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY TRAINS is due out on September 1st. DISNEY MOVIE POSTERS: FROM STEAMBOAT WILLIE TO INSIDE OUT is due September 15th, and DALI AND DISNEY: DESTINO - THE STORY, ARTWORK, AND FRIENDSHIP BEHIND THE LEGENDARY FILM will be published October 20th.

...A Disney and Dali exhibit opened at the Walt Disney Family Museum on July 10th. It runs through January 3, 2016.

...Opening at the museum later this month: Tomorrowland: Walt's Vision for Today. It runs from July 22 through December 7, 2015.

...Another new Disney book, coming from the Walt Disney Family Foundation Press on October 6th: MICKEY MOUSE: EMBLEM OF THE AMERICAN SPIRIT by Gary Apgar.

...This year's version of CINDERELLA (2015), which I thoroughly enjoyed last March, comes to Blu-ray and DVD on September 15th. It's a "must buy" for me.

...Speaking of CINDERELLA, the new Cinderella window at Disneyland's Emporium, which celebrates the animated version of the story, is absolutely wonderful, as is the PETER PAN window. Looking forward to seeing the rest of them!

...The Los Angeles Times recently published an article by Todd Martens on visiting Disneyland solo. It was an enjoyable read, but speaking as someone who sometimes visits alone, I'd suggest Martens spend way more time focused on having fun and zero time focused on what people think of him being there alone. I mean, he feels a need to lie about why he's eating dinner alone? Tip: Most people in the park are concerned with their own visits and aren't thinking about you and whether or not you're there solo -- just have a good time!

...The D23 Expo is coming next month, and I'll be there with my oldest daughter for all three days, August 14th through 16th. I'm especially excited about Disney in Concert: A Silly Symphony Celebration, with Leonard Maltin hosting a 32-piece orchestra which will accompany Silly Symphony cartoons including THE THREE LITTLE PIGS (1933) and THE OLD MILL (1937). I'm also thrilled about Broadway's Best in Concert and glad it will take place twice to try to accommodate demand. Two of the announced singers, Ashley Brown and Josh Monroe, performed at the Broadway and Beyond concert I saw in 2013, which was fantastic. There will also be a Mickey Mouse Club Reunion, but although I dearly love the Mouseketeers, I may pick a competing event because I was very fortunate to meet them in 2010. Needless to say, as I have done in years past, I will provide extensive D23 Expo coverage.

...An amusing footnote: The exhibits will include a display of Pixar head John Lasseter's movie-themed Hawaiian shirt collection. They certainly have something for everybody!

...Exciting news just in today: The latest list of Disney Legends has been announced. Animator Andreas Deja, who I saw give a captivating presentation at the 2012 Destination D weekend, is now a Disney Legend. He's joined by Eyvind Earle, the designer of the look of SLEEPING BEAUTY (1959), and Disneyland's first ambassador, Julie Reihm, who is familiar to many from her appearance with Walt Disney in the TV celebration of Disneyland's 10th anniversary.

...Wonder what Disney's "envelope of protection" is? Check out how they test ride safety at Slashfilm.

...I recently attended the "Throwback Thursday" screening of THE ARISTOCATS (1970) at Disney's El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. The next Throwback Thursday screening will be THE INCREDIBLES (2004) on August 6th. The $10 ticket includes popcorn and a soda, along with a raffle ticket -- and don't forget the pre-movie organ concert!

...My tickets arrived today to see THE LION KING on stage at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts this October. It's going to be a great way to celebrate our daughter's birthday!

...JoAnn Dean Killingsworth, the very first Snow White at Disneyland, has passed on at the age of 91.

...I previously missed noting the passing of architect Michael Graves at the age of 80. Graves designed the Team Disney building at Walt Disney Studios and Disney resorts including the Swan and Dolphin in Orlando.

...Imagineer Blaine Gibson, a Disney animator and sculptor, has passed away at the age of 97. Gibson, a Disney Legend, had an amazing career working on Disney animated features and rides, with accomplishments almost too numerous to mention; his "Partners" statue of Walt and Mickey, featured at Disneyland's central Hub in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, is a favorite photographic subject on my visits to the park. According to his obituary, the day before his passing he watched one of the movies he worked on, ONE HUNDRED AND ONE DALMATIANS (1961), with his grandson.