Looking back at Disneyland 2012 – Photo Update with Jay!

Exactly one year ago, the Disney Parks were teasing about a special event that was coming for 2012. That special event turned out to be “One More Disney Day,” which was celebrated on February 29th, 2012 in both Disneyland Park and the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Both parks stayed open for exactly 24 hours. From February 29th at 6am to March 1st at 6am.

This was the Leap Day crowd at around 2:17am!

As the sun started to rise, the guests made their way to various spots of the park to watch the sunrise. Others decided they were too tired and just went home.

Mickey and Minnie and the rest of their pals came out to say good morning to all the dedicated guests that made it until 6am!

April of 2012 marked the goodbye of Carnation Plaza Gardens. This beloved little area next to Sleeping Beauty Castle was home to Saturday Night Swing Dances. In 2013, this spot will be home to the new Princess Fantasy Faire.

In May, “Fantasmic!” celebrated it’s 20th anniversary. Annual Passholders were invited to select nights for a special presentation of the night time spectacular.

There were even a few surprises during the show, like some rare characters back on the Mark Twain for the finale scene. These characters, such as Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, Brer Bear, and Roger Rabbit, were among some of the first characters that ever appeared on the Mark Twain for the finale.

The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf were also among the rare characters aboard the Mark Twain.

At the end of the night, some of the stars of the show waved goodnight to the leaving guests.

June was the biggest month of the year because it was the month of the official relaunch of Disney California Adventure.

Disney California Adventure re-opened on June 15th with an all new entrance to the park called “Buena Vista Street,” which leads up to the Carthay Circle Theater. A replica of the real Los Angeles theater where “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” premiered in 1937.

Imagineers wanted to make guests feel just like Walt Disney did when he first arrived to Los Angeles in the 1920s. This new “Storytellers” statue depicts Walt and his best pal, Mickey Mouse, as though they just arrived with nothing but a suitcase and a dream.

Buena Vista Street is home to much new entertainment such as the Red Car Trolley News Boys! Even Mickey Mouse makes a special, musical, appearance.

Probably the most anticipated attraction for the Disneyland Resort, Cars Land, was finally opened in June 2012. This amazing extension to Disney California Adventure park brings guests into the world of Radiator Springs from the Disney and Pixar movie Cars. It is home to all new attractions and restaurants that everyone will love!

The amount of detail that Imagineers put into Cars Land is incredible. Everywhere you look, you will find an amazing amount of detail and hard work. Everyone can agree that Ornament Valley is one of the most beautiful spots in the entire park.

June 2012 also introduced a new technology that was built into the famous Mickey Mouse Ear Hats. The “Glow With the Show” ears light up and sync to the entire performance of World Of Color. Now guests wearing the ears are apart of the show! At first these ears only synced with World of Color, but now they can sync with Mad T Party, different spots in Cars Land, Fantasmic, and the Remember… Dreams Come True fireworks.

The Pixar Play parade also made its return this year with modified floats to fit under the trolley cart cables on Buena Vista Street.

This year we also said hello to an all new night time party where everyone is as “mad” as a hatter! The Mad T Party, based on TIm Burton’s Alice In Wonderland, is a night time dance party with a live band and DJ! There are even some very skillful dancers and stage performers in between sets.

In late September, the resort transformed into a Halloween town with pumpkins everywhere!

Christmas at Disneyland Resort is truly magical every year. And this year was no exception. There’s nothing like gazing at Sleeping Beauty Castle with its icicles and lights. It even looks more magical on rainy nights because you can see its reflection on the water in the ground.

The gingerbread smelling snow fall on Main Street U.S.A. is also a magical sight to see.

This holiday season was also Buena Vista Street’s first Christmas. All the decorations were unique to the 1920s era. It is as if we really were experiencing a 1920s Christmas.

Have you ever wondered how Cars like to celebrate Christmas? Step into Cars Land and you will find out! Seasons Speedings!