In Disney News...

...Dumbo the Flying Elephant opened 55 years ago today at Disneyland. The organ which plays behind the ride will be a century old in 2015.

...Photos of the new guardrails at Disneyland's Alice in Wonderland are now up...eeek. I can't tell, is there still a good view of the park from the exterior section of the ride? The ride has always been a favorite of mine -- and the outside track is the best part. (Background on the issue is here.) The ride has reopened.

...The Disney Parks Blog ran a nice piece last Friday on the tribute windows at Disney World's Magic Kingdom, with a handful of excellent photos.

...Speaking of Disney World, the "People Mover" name has returned to Florida's Tomorrowland, as the Tomorrowland Transit Authority (TTA) is now the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover. (We're still waiting for a PeopleMover by any name to return to Disneyland...someday, we hope!)

...Yesterland recently ran a good story on Jack Wrather, the man behind the Disneyland Hotel. The story includes a great photo of actress Bonita Granville, Wrather's wife, breaking ground for the hotel. Granville's Steakhouse and the Bonita Tower at the hotel were both named for Granville; within the last few years Granville's became Steakhouse 55 and the Bonita Tower was renamed the Wonder Tower. DISNEYLAND HOTEL: THE EARLY YEARS by Donald Ballard is a terrific book on the subject.

...Yesterland also recently provided a brief history of Katella Avenue, one of the streets bordering Disneyland.

...This new Star Tours video is interesting. (Alderaan is the safest planet in the galaxy?!)

...Does anyone else remember the Mulan Parade in the late '90s? I think it was Disneyland's best parade ever...loved the soldiers and the dragon with the Great Wall of China on its back. And the plate spinners! The parade had amazing atmosphere. Wish they'd bring it back for an encore someday.

...MONSTERS INC. 2's release date, originally scheduled for November 16, 2012, has been changed. It's now due in theaters on November 2, 2012. It kind of amazes me they're setting precise release dates well over two years in advance.

...The release of a 3D version of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST has been pushed back indefinitely.

...DisneyNature's THE CRIMSON WING: MYSTERY OF THE FLAMINGOS (2008) will be released on DVD October 19th, 2010.

...Ticket prices have gone up again. Sigh.

...There's lots of Disneyland and California Adventure news in Al Lutz's last MiceAge update of August 3rd.

Have a great week!

August 17th Update: A very notable Disney passing: Harrison "Buzz" Price, the man who helped Walt Disney select the Anaheim and Orlando locations for Disney theme parks, has passed away at the age of 89. Price was named a Disney Legend in 2003.