Orange County News Blog

In yet another effort to make both meat eaters and vegetarians further dislike them, Ingrid Newkirk, president and co-founder of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), has issued an open letter to President Obama via the Huffington Post, pleading for him to send the traditional Thanksgiving pardoned turkey to a sanctuary--not Disneyland.

Flickr user rrriles

​Pardoning would-be Thanksgiving turkeys has been a presidential tradition since 1947, and since 2005, the turkeys have have been paraded down Main Street and spent the rest of their lives at Disneyland and Disney World.

The Register is reporting that this year's lucky birds will be featured in the 10 a.m. "Give a Day, Get a Day" parade today and will then be available for viewing by the public at Big Thunder Ranch.  

The letter suggests shipping the turkeys off to metropolitan Washington's Poplar Springs Farmed Animal Sanctuary, "where Sasha and Malia would be able to visit them, along with other rescued animals, and learn why it is important to be compassionate to animals."

Newkirk even invites Obama to open up the White House kitchen to a PETA-approved chef for a "delicious cruelty-free Thanksgiving meal... with all the trimmings, from corn bread to cranberries, and an all-American vegan apple pie with vanilla soy ice cream on top."

Something tells us PETA doesn't really advocate those giant roasted turkey legs being hawked all over the parks either.

After the jump: The full letter to President Obama.

It's Friday! Which can only mean one thing: Time for Tweets From the Park, where we gather all the worst, best, funniest, most disgusting and most confusing tweets from Disneyland Resort all in one convenient place for your reading pleasure. Our fave this week is most definitely the gal who said a certain Disney princess got thrown out of Disneyland... for sitting on Pinocchio's face. Sad. Face. Follow us on Twitter @OCWeekly!

Flickr user PocketEdward

Okay, so this whole Twilight thing might be going too far...

​
josclud: Disneyland has a faggot prade. Like I swear. Every guy in this shit is a flamer! Ahahaha

thatonebitch: I think I saw one of the Baldwin brothers at Disneyland. I couldn't tell which one, he was fat... Does that help narrow it down?

yo_MAYES: RT @WillWackit: Disneyland never gets old <-- why would it ?? there's a new batch of kids everyday for a sex offender like you !

BCBerrie: BreakingNews - Snowwhite has been thrown out of Disneyland after sittin on Pinocchio's face singing tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies.

TheDCFanProject: @MrsBieber69 I'm at Disneyland, which is my sex hotspot. #sorta

Flickr user Understated

​Ah, yes, it's Tweets From the Park, our weekly Friday feature where we round-up the funniest, weirdest, grossest, and usually, yes, most insulting, tweets from Disneyland Resort! Our favorite this week? The gal who wants to punch a little girl's face for wearing a Twilight shirt. Aw! Follow us on Twitter @OCWeekly!

Dark_Faerie89: Disneyland is awesome, France sucks ass!
edleenmarie: LOONNNGGG ASS WALK TO THE CAR FROM DISNEYLAND, FML.
tradevoorhees: Finally home from the land of Disney, Today's lesson kids? Even my white ass is too hood for Disneyland.
brycef: I saw a woman at Disneyland with her kid and her ass was sticking out of her shorts. Classy, really.
losmarkamos: Not even in Disneyland for half an hour and I've already bought a wookie backpack FTW.
mikecarano: Dear guy at Disneyland, Licking your fingers is rude and disgusting. Especially when you do it "dildo style".
SeanMertan: Today must be "bring your adorable baby to Disneyland" day because there are some freakin cute kids in the park!! I'm not a pedophile btw.
killakels: My flight is full of screaming children sad to be leaving disneyland & cage fighters with awesome frosted faux hawks. Fml.
ThatGirlSedonah: Haha wow. In the hidden restroom here at Disneyland, it stunk like weed xD 
alittletrendy: Little girl in Twilight shirt, I know your ass can't even read. I. Will. Punch. Your. Face #Disneyland
DillenDeww: Disneyland can suck my dick.
alltimedestinee: wow, disneyland can suuck my dick! 

Disney/Pixar

​​Disney and Pixar have released a series of eight posters in celebration of the release of Up on DVD and Blu-ray this week--which we promptly purchased, of course. And then we cried while watching it. Again. (We defy you to not during the first 15 minutes of the film.) 

Flickr user Joe Penniston

Zazu disapproves of this tweeting nonsense.

​ Believe it or not, Twitter can actually be used for more than finding out what your friends are eating for lunch or what color socks they're wearing today: There are entire accounts dedicated to just making life easier for you, tweeting weather reports, traffic jams and accidents, where the Kogi truck is today... you know. Important stuff.

Some of our favorite accounts to follow (you know, besides our Twitter account, 'course), actually, are handy Twitter feeds to take a look at while visiting Disneyland. Take a look through our top picks--who'd we miss?

Chris Victorio

A United Worker Union protester outside D23 Expo.

​Disneyland's notorious for its ever revolving cast of employees--college kids running in and out between summers and classes, people who just move on... and then there are the Disneyland lifers, cast members who sign up and just never, ever leave.

The park's also notorious for its efforts to preserve "the magic" of Disney, going to extraordinary lengths to please guests and to keep workers in check, but, more often than not, going to extraordinary lengths just to hide the not-so-magic-like features of Disneyland Resort from them. The list of rules for cast members is incredibly long, covering everything from exactly how hot it has to be until they can drink water while working to how they have to something as minuscule as using two fingers when pointing out things for park guests.

So when a former Disneyland cast member volunteered to reveal some little known facts about the park, we, of course, were elated. Stoked even.

Before you venture forth: Some things shared, we admit, kinda ruin the Disney magic, so don't say we didn't warn you.

Everyone survive the week?

Flickr user NewYork808

​
Don't worry, it's almost over... which also means it's time for our weekly feature, Tweets From the Park, where we round up the funniest, best and most irreverent tweets from Disneyland. Gold star this week to all the gals who chose to wear slutty costumes to the Happiest Place on Earth Halloween weekend. Follow us on Twitter at @OCWeekly!

joshmattvander: Disneyland won't let my niece in because her costume looks too much like Alice in wonderland?!?! WTF
timeforlivin: "I'm going to Disneyland" or "God gave me a world series ring". Changing the channel.
jeremyturner: So emberrassed. Somebody else just showed up wearing my Overweight Tourist at Disneyland costume! His is real good too. Extra knee rolls.
BillyTatu: Shit. I just unexpectedly bought a $350 Disneyland pass
alittletrendy: Parking. At Disneyland. This shit feels crowded. I might slap someone. Or their child.
JayKneeAnne: There are so many sluts at Disneyland right now! I wanna yell, "hey lady ur costume is too slutty for little kids to see, cover up bitch!"
alexander247: @theRealEsthero its those fuckin harajuku asian girls! their fucking amazing-they all flock to disneyland! ill post my gallery of them soon

Courtesy Disney

MICKEY SMASH!: Don't worry, this is just a figurine from the cartoon short "Runaway Brain."

​
So first Dora the Explorer, then My Little Ponies and then Strawberry Shortcake were given brand new, "grown up," hipper looks for the too cool, tech-obsessed, short attention span of Gen-Y. But the next familiar cartoon character to receive an extreme makeover?
    
Mickey Mouse.

Yep.

Fearing that the Mouse has transmogrified into something more of a corporate icon than a cartoon character loved and sought after by generations and generations the world over, Disney has chosen to "re-imagine" him for the younger generations.

In this story published by the New York Times, Disney is said to be quietly kicking off the not-so-easy task of reconfiguring Mickey Mouse's image--which, apparently includes the way Mickey talks, the way he walks, his appearance... and even his house at the theme parks.

Flickr user Malingering

"Someone ran a stroller right into it. And I laughed."

​
Welcome to this week's Tweet's from the Park, our Friday feature where we gather the best and most interesting (and grossest. And weirdest. And most racist. And...) tweets from Disneyland Park for your reading pleasure. Our fave this week? The dude willing to exchange sex for Disneyland tickets--and he'll even sing "It's a Small World" during the act. Ew? Follow us on Twitter @OCWeekly!

Andy_Mackenzie: At Disneyland for my girl's 4th bday. The happiest place on earth. Fuck yeah.
jonpauldoerr: Fuck you hipster couples at Disneyland. Stop making me remember I'm lonely.
HeyShawnHey: Beef Jerky and drunk Disneyland. FTW!
katieperoxide: has Ryan Ross really just said "The Beatles are nature's Disneyland. Don't let me forget" ? SHUT THE FUCK UP ABOUT THE BEATLES. YOU COCK
junksack: I'd have sex for Disneyland tickets. And I'd even let you sing "It's a Small World" during.
HelloHayden: Holy shit the fatest fuckin bitch in disneyland just sat in front of us. R boats gonna sink. 

Flickr user StartedByAMouse

​
In celebration of the annual Nightmare Before Christmas holiday layover, Disneyland has released this video of the history behind the Haunted Mansion--Walt's vision for the project, how the whole thing started started out and where it is today. Check out the video after the jump.

...And, by the way, if you haven't yet had the pleasure of visiting the Mansion for the Halloween/Christmas season, you're missing out--it's easily the best treat from the park for the holidays. (Though, we'll admit, the new Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy is a pretty close second.) 

Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland

​ Ah, Friday: It signifies not only the coming of the weekend but our totally awesome weekly feature Tweets From the Park, where we gather up the best of the worst of irreverent/weird/hilarious tweets from Disneyland Park. Fave this week? The dude that refers to children as "crotch fruit." Ew? Follow us on Twitter @OCWeekly! 

ALIASman09: I saw a mother with all four of herkidson leashes at disneyland. Fucking ridiculous -PuDgE-
Gabe___: Theres a whole bunch of fat emo kids here at disneyland
MissiGirl: Disneyland sex isn't for amateurs....they've got crazy security, which just makes it hotter and more forbidden!!! YUM!!! Double dog dare ;)

Flickr user Andrew Huff!

​Hellooo and welcome to another edition of Tweets from the Park, where we round-up the funniest and the most irreverent tweets from Disneyland Resort all for you in one convenient space. Gather 'round and witness the questioning of the hygiene (and odor) of Disneyland visitors and kids getting caught drunk at the park. Faaaantastic. Follow us on Twitter @OCWeekly!

MrMKing: @OXTRAVAGANZA. When I went to disneyland all I saw was fucking china men walking around talking in droping fork and spoon talk.

TVsMatt: Disneyland lesson: there are a lot of people who walk around literally smelling like shit who apparently don't know so.

Missfit_Justyne: I just got denied into Disneyland not just because my sweatshirt said "fucking" but also because my t-shirt was flipping the bird.

littleliaa: Disneyland is way toooooo busy. And over populated by fucking asians!

RutlesMudaFucka: Guy applying to Disneyland and wearing a Disneyland polo shirt, fucking suck up

While browsing the very latest in cute cat videos from Japan (you think I'm joking, I'm sadly not), I couldn't help but notice the "Promoted Videos" sidebar on YouTube repeatedly featuring a handful of creepy ghost sighting videos from Disneyland. Three have been released so far, all by the same user, ghostsatdisneyland: A strange apparition wandering the grounds of the Haunted Mansion, riding Space Mountain and California Adventures' Tower of Terror.

Most of the comments left by fellow YouTube users are pretty skeptical, attributing the spooky images to glares and whatever else, but no one's really seemed to notice user ghostsatdisneyland just joined on September 15 of this year. Juuust in time for the Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort shenanigans. Also? Whoever's pasting together these vids seems to have access to security tapes and whatever else.

All signs seem to point to a creative, fun viral marketing campaign. Good on you, Disney. (Of course, if you're looking for some real accounts of ghostly encounters at the park, just check out our post on five ghostly urban legends at Disneyland right here.)

After the jump: The last two of the ghost sighting videos. 

Flickr user ParanoidMonk

​Aw, fuckshitgoddammit, people. There was nothing more depressing that scrolling through the Disneyland tweets from last week and seeing all the awful things being tweeted about people just trying to have a good time. Look at that. You made Mickey sad. From the tweets about "shielding" kids from the coooontagious gays to the general ewwwwws, thanks for the most depressing round-up of Tweets From the Park yet! Try to enjoy this extra long edition of super special tweets. Follow us on Twitter @OCWeekly!

WhitYvonne: I'm still trippin that it was" GAY DAY" @ Disneyland... Like wtf!? I have no prob with gays.. But @ Disneyland!? There's lil kids there ...

silverpaperclip: gay day at disneyland? out of all the places...

mrjeff2u: Gay days at Disneyland ended yesterday but the park today suffered from residual faggotry.

The Princess and the Frog - First 5 Minutes Preview
by theanimationblog

Though it's been since removed from YouTube by Disney, the first five minutes of the forthcoming The Princess and the Frog has been released--and luckily for you, The Animation Blog still has it available. Verdict? We're pleasantly surprised: Interracial friendships! Father figures! Kittens! The film, which marks the return of hand-drawn animation for Disney, will hit theaters on Dec. 11, 2009. 

It was also announced that for the first time ever, Walt Disney Studios in Burbank is opening their gates to the public for some special screenings of The Princess and the Frog, from Nov. 25 to Dec. 13. After watching the movie on a state-of-the-art theater right on the lot, attendees are treated to meet-and-greets with their fave Disney princesses, an exhibition of props and costumes from the Disney archives, an obstacle course and more. For more info, call 1-800-DISNEY6 or visit www.princessandfrogtickets.com.   

Flickr user BriBerry

​It's Friday and that means it's time for our weekly round-up of the best and worst tweets from Disneyland park--this time, it's the "No Filter" Edition. Inspired by the very first account we heard just this week of someone getting fired over something not-so-smart that they tweeted. Ah, technology. Follow us on Twitter @OCWeekly!
 
heyyymandii: hah im going to disneyland to fuck mickey.. wait i mean minnie=) ...
alovething: I JUST STARTED MY FUCKING PERIOD THE FUCKING DAY BEFORE I FUCKING LEAVE FOR DISNEYLAND. NOT PLEASED.
leestewboo: why do u shit faces have a problem with me going to disneyland on a day off?? suck balls
pornomike86: at disneyland and of all people i see wierd al yankovic what a shit man

David Roark/Disney

​

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

​Perhaps in an effort to curb all the crazy rumor mongering (heh) being slung around by the squillion Disney fan blogs out there, the House of Mouse has decided to launch an official blog to document all the latest (official) happenings at their theme parks.

The blog will cover Disneyland Resort, Disney World Resort, the cruise line and the Disney "vacation experiences worldwide." Chief blogger and social media director Thomas Smith promises readers exclusive behind-the-scenes news in addition to features from "imagineers, horticulturists chefs and other interesting cast members."

Awesome. But not nearly as fun as heedless rumor mongering. C'mon.

They've already got several entries up today, including some posts on Disney autonomatronics (wha?) and a closer look at the Halloween festivities at the parks nationwide. Here's the link! 

After the jump: A fun video posted on the Disney Parks Blog of the much anticipated Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy.

Flickr user QueenOfNancyLand

​Friday! Time for our weekly round-up of our favorite irreverent, strange tweets from Disneyland Park. Gold star this week goes to the dude who said being drunk at Disneyland makes it thaaaat much more magical of an experience. Suhweeet. Follow us on Twitter @OCWeekly!

seanfabulous: Fat America's body odor is making my Disneyland experience less magical.
mikecarano: Dear Disneyland, I appreciate your new crowd management ideas Pre-fireworks show. Too bad it sucks. Fuck you.
nevershouteden: writing a forced essay for my MOM on trust and respect for ditching the fam bam at disneyland. all to get my palm back. FUCK YOU.
Scender: @bobatl nah, I was 10 at Disneyland and a bird shit on my hand and my ice cream.... :-(

Flickr user Jeff Tabaco

​Get those red shirts ready: Gay Days at Disneyland is returning this October 2-4.

While it's not officially endorsed by Disney (who doesn't endorse any group entering the park), Gay Days organizers say that Disney is "wonderfully supportive" of the event and are involved in all official aspects of the event, including hotel room blocks.

Last year, Disney cash cow Miley Cyrus made headlines when plans for her 16th birthday party interrupted the already organized Gay Days weekend--the park was shut down for the Hannah Montana starlet's celebration. Luckily, and here's where that "wonderfully supportive" thing kicks in, Disney only closed the park after 5 p.m. and accommodated Gay Days guests at California Adventure, which had extended its hours to 11 p.m. Aw. (Kind of.) 

Similar Gay Days events are celebrated all around the world at Disney parks, including Paris, Orlando and Hong Kong. The groups choose to wear red (there's even an official shirt available right here) to identify participants, a tradition started by Florida's Gay Days.

After the jump: A rundown of the weekend's schedule, a look at the hilarious haters of Gay Days and a super cute promo video from Gay Days Anaheim.

Flickr user Joe Penniston

​You know, being a ghost stuck at Disneyland doesn't sound all that bad. It's better than haunting some family in Texas, right?

Like any place with a rich history, Disneyland's got its fair share of urban legends and myths surrounding it--take the cryogenically frozen head of Unky Walt for an example--but cast members and guests alike have reported over the years certain encounters with certain ghouls that might've escaped being the 1,000th happy haunt of the 999 at the Haunted Mansion. There's the hooded, faceless dude who resides in the hidden basketball court inside the Matterhorn. Or there's also the spirit of the teenager who was crushed by oncoming cars of the People Mover who's been said to violently grab at the hair of blonde riders... when he fell to his death (after attempting to exit the ride while it was still in progress), he was said to have desperately grabbed at his blonde girlfriend's long hair.   

Read through our compiled stories of sightings of spirits--some amusing, some creepy (unsettled child souls! Sad face!). Leave a comment if you've got a story of your own!

Flickr user ralichte

​Ah, yes, it's Friday and that means it's time for our round-up of the funniest and most irreverent tweets from Disneyland of the week. Our fave? We can't decide: Either the guy still pissed off that Erik Estrada wouldn't say hello to him two years ago at Disneyland or the other guy who overheard someone refer to Princess Jasmine from Aladdin as a terrorist. Huuuhm. Follow us on Twitter @OCWeekly!

BerlingKenneth: Fuck Erik Estrada, every time I see that erik estrada glasses I just want to shoot him, shoulda said hi to me at disneyland 2 years ago
RobertoSiacunco: Why is disneyland smelling like jizz?
sanvonzombie: I would love to finish my mouse ears for disneyland on tuesday. but it seems my bitch of a mom has moved all my shit.
emmiepwns: Just saw some guy at Disneyland sucking his girlfriend's finger...wtf?

​

Duck-on-duck violence.

​

Sunday at the D23 Expo: a day promised to be filled with cartoons, Muppets and Disney Channel sitcom stars. A day I looked forward to like few others. I am 26 years old.

Paul Hiffmeyer/Disney

​D23: It's all over! On September 10-13, the massive D23 Expo converged all things Disney--films, theme parks, merch--into one convenient building. And to be honest? We were kinda bored. Sure, some major announcements were made (stay tuned for that) and we got to see some cool things (Nightmare Before Christmas! In 3D!) but we found it a bit slow for our liking.

The Convention Center was split into three floors: The first brought us the main exhibition hall, full of booths showing off the latest toys and licensed Disney goodies; The second and third featured theaters and auditoriums, along with several rooms of all sorts of crap to look at--"Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives," "ABC House Screening Room," etc.

All that was okay. While the crazed Disneyana fanatic would have appreciated the rows upon rows of Disney collectibles on the first floor--along with the Pin Traders Area, of course--it was really the exclusive announcements the Disney camp chose to reveal during the weekend that made it really worth it.

After the jump: Find out what's coming to--and leaving--Disneyland and why Johnny Depp paid a visit to Anaheim. And? More photos in addition to photog Chris Victorio's slideshow here!

Flickr user Miehana

​Wow, it's Friday already? When's the next holiday again? Here's this week's Tweets From the Park, where we round-up our favorite tweets involving the park that's only sometimes the happiest place on earth. Our pick o' the week goes to the guy celebrating his first new job in over a year... and is putting on his three keyboard cat moon shirt and going to Disneyland. Yep. Follow us on Twitter at @OCWeekly! 

lesliexxx: fuck, I love disneyland. never disappoint..except when old ladies try to start shit...crazy bitch.  
trickstermac: Just booked a commercial. 1st job in over a year! I'm puttin' on my 3 keyboard-cat-moon shirt, grabbing my wife and going to Disneyland!  
jenskiii: At the happiest place on earth (hooters) fuck disneyland!

​
It was announced this morning during day one of the FOUR DAY DISNEY EXTRAVAGANZA THAT IS D23 EXPO! that former pop star (and current wife of alt-country rocker Ryan Adams) Mandy Moore will lend her voice to the title character in the 3D-animated Rapunzel. Directed by Byron Howard (Pocahontas, Mulan, Lilo & Stitch, Bolt, Chicken Little, Brother Bear) and Nathan Greno, Rapunzel is inspired by the Brothers Grimm fairy tale.

With Moore now in the mix, Rapunzel seems to be following in the footsteps of recent insanely popular animated films like Shrek, drawing attention and publicity by replacing your traditional voice actors with well, famous ones: David Schwimmer will voice Father Sam; Zachary Levi will voice Prince Flynn; Peter Sallis the voice of Grandpa Franklin.

Another fun fact? Rapunzel's visual style is inspired by the painting "The Swing," by Rococo artist Jean-Honoré Fragonard, according to Animation World Network. Goooor-juhs!

Flickr user PhoenixFlameAmy

​The new Fantasmic! dragon--his name's Murphy, seriously--might have premiered this week, but we're still more interested with you people out there broadcasting hilarious(ly inappropriate) shit all over Twitter. Our favorite this week goes to the dude stoked over the Disney/Marvel union announced Monday--"X-MEN RIDE WITH FUCKING LASERS AND SHIT!" Follow us on Twitter @OCWeekly!

touj0urspur: fuck you fireworks @ disneyland. stop exploding through my apartment with your happy faces and colours  

hellfish_family: Really bare fucking feet at disneyland!?! Come on people.  

mylungs: i got paid more for my last week than i thought i would. huzzah! fuck it, i'm going to disneyland! or buying a mac, whatever.  

homemadeheroes: wait...I'm curious how this will affect Disneyland. X-MEN RIDE WITH FUCKING LASERS AND SHIT. HELL YEAH.  

ibleedbloo: @JamieLight Thought of you today on Splash Mountain at Disneyland when the D-bag behind me threw up the "shocker" during the drop photo.

Courtesy of Flickr user armadillo444

​

So on Wednesday night, the new Fantasmic! dragon at Disneyland had its first fully successful run and the geeks rejoiced. It was supposed to be up Monday, but was delayed due to technical difficulties. And on Tuesday, it had its first run but was not spitting fire.

As for Wednesday, when I actually went . . . well, let's just say that it's been years since I've seen the show so I don't remember what the old model looks like but . . . let me get this out of the way now.

Oh my God! That thing is so freakin' awesome! I want to take one home!

More pictures, responses, and video after the jump.

The actual House of Mouse, Toontown, Disneyland

​
Ever wanted to visit any Disney park you wanted to, whenever you wanted to? Ever wanted to own a piece of Disney real estate? Well, now you can, kind of: A Disneyland insider tells us that the park has plans to sell timeshare residences at the Grand Californian Hotel to the public in the future.

While the Florida Walt Disney World Resort is already partaking in a similar system, the timeshare program has plans to expand globally soon--Hawaii is also in the works, apparently.

After the jump: The standout amenities offered at the forthcoming California Disney timeshares.