Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the Oscar-winning 1988 animated/live-action film that inspired Disneyland's Toontown attractions, is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary. A special screening is being held in the movie's honor tonight at Disneyland's Downtown Disney AMC 12 theater, and all Annual Passholders are invited to attend for free.

Wristbands are being distributed on a first come/first served basis at the theater beginning at 12 noon today for tonight's 7pm presentation. The evening will begin with a screening for the film, followed by a panel discussion hosted by Don Hahn (Associate Producer of Who Framed Roger Rabbit) and scheduled to include Dave Bossert (Visual Effects Animator on Who Framed Roger Rabbit) and Charles Fleischer (voice of “Roger Rabbit”).

All attendees must recieve their own wristband, and a valid Annual Pass (any level, blackouts do not apply) is required for everyone age 3 and over. See Disneyland's website here for all the details.

Free Passholder “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” Event Tonight at Disneyland AMC Theater is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Ever since Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter proved by Butterbeer sales how insanely profitable themed snacks can be, Disney has been introducing its own specialty foods tied to different park areas. Many of these new offerings have met with mixed responses, with frozen fruit slushies topped by flavored foam proving less universally popular than their Potter equivalents.

But one snack that has gained some traction is the ginormous roasted pork shank served at Gaston’s Tavern in Walt Disney World’s New Fantasyland. This double-fisted chunk of pig leg is now coming to Disneyland’s Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree in a tangy new form for the summer as a showcased snack at Woody’s All-American Roundup.

If you haven’t tried the shank yet, picture a porcine version of the beloved turkey leg, only with more gelatinous fatty goodness. The original Orlando version is seasoned simply with salt and pepper, but it arrives in Anaheim with a barbeque glaze that promises to give it an extra “kick.”

The shank is officially only availablagin Frontierland through the summer season, but since it’s already been stealthily added to the menu of Fantasyland’s Edelweiss snacks, we wouldn’t be surprised to see it stick around permanently. Note that this is a vendor offering (priced at $9.99), not an addition to the Big Thunder all-you-can-eat barbeque menu.

A final word of warning: the USDA recommended adult portion of meat protein is 3oz (about the size of a bar of soap) while the shank weighs in around 22oz, so you may want to recruit six or so friends before sampling it.

Have you tried the pork shank yet? Tell us what you thought in the comments!

Pork Shank Available All Summer at Disneyland is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Photos by Seth Kubersky

Ask the average tourist which top attractions they are planning their Disneyland Resort visit around, and she’ll probably name-check modern marvels like Radiator Springs Racers or vintage E-tickets like Space Mountain. Tom Sawyer Island, on the other hand, isn’t the kind of headliner anyone heads towards at rope drop. Yet Frontierland’s immersive playground environment is essential enough to the Disney theme park formula that a version appears in each of the first three Magic Kingdom parks (Anaheim, Orlando, and Tokyo), with Adventureland-based close cousins constructed in Paris and Hong Kong.

Lately, two of the Islands have been the subject of intense Internet scrutiny. The “escape tunnel” leading from the fort on Walt Disney World’s TSI was recently unceremoniously sealed off, leading to speculation that this popular feature might be permanently off-limits. And rumors are circulating that Tokyo Disneyland’s entire Rivers of America region, including Tom Sawyer Island, could be replaced with a copy of DCA’s Cars Land.

Luckily, Disneyland’s original Tom Sawyer Island (whose shoreline was sketched out by Walt himself) doesn’t seem in any imminent danger. A “Pirates Lair” overlay installed last decade to cash in on the Jack Sparrow craze added some cheerfully gruesome effects without doing any serious damage, and the fort was unfortunately commandeered by the Fantasmic! crew long ago. But despite these changes, TSI still feels like an untamed oasis amid Disneyland’s overstimulating delights. Whether or not you have children in tow, a raft ride to the time of Tom and Huck can be a heavenly refreshing pause during the peak afternoon hours of any touring plan.

Of course, the most memorable elements of TSI are inanimate, like the spooky caves and floating barrel bridge. But if you’ve followed my blogs before, you know I have an inordinate affection for the fauna found around Disneyland. They might not be as affectionate as the animals at Big Thunder Ranch petting zoo, but TSI is the best place in the park to get up close and personal with the Disney ducks — and I don’t mean Donald or Daisy.

Waterfowl can be found almost anywhere in Disneyland that there is a body of water; ducks can sometimes be spotted waddling along the castle canal near the hub, for example. But Tom Sawyer Island, particularly along the southern shoreline near the mill, seems to most consistently draw a crowd of quackers. Stop by and say hello to them on your visit; just beware that as wild animals they should not be touched, and don’t do well on a diet of popcorn and corn dogs.

Photo Gallery: Feathered Friends of Disneyland’s Tom Sawyer Island is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Image copyright Disney

The Lone Ranger, Disney’s latest big-screen collaboration between Jerry Bruckheimer and Johnny Depp, rides into American cinemas on July 3, 2013, but the masked hero will be making an early appearance at Disney California Adventure for an exclusive audience. On June 22 the film will have its red carpet premiere inside the second Anaheim theme park in a charity event benefiting the American Indian College Fund.

In past years, premieres for the Pirates of the Caribbean films have been held along Disneyland’s Rivers of America, necessitating the closure of parts of Frontierland and New Orleans Square to regular guests. The Lone Ranger premier will be held inside DCA’s Hyperion Theater and should have minimal impact on guests outside of the Hollywood Land area. A limited number of tickets to the premiere are available online for $1000 each. Regular guests will not be able to attend the private screening, but will be able to see celebrities (including the Lone Ranger’s horse, Silver) parade down Hollywood Boulevard, and a life-sized train engine from the film will be on display.

We’ll bring more details of the event, and any anticipated effect on visitors, as they become available. In the meantime, here is the complete press release about the premiere:

BURBANK, Calif. (May 29, 2013) — Walt Disney Studios Chairman, Alan Horn, announced today that ticket sales from the highly anticipated World Premiere of Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ “The Lone Ranger” will benefit the American Indian College Fund. The event will take place on Saturday, June 22, at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California. A giant red carpet down the Park’s iconic Hollywood Boulevard will be lined with thousands of park guests cheering for the film’s stars, filmmakers and the many Hollywood celebrities in attendance. The Lone Ranger’s horse Silver will make an appearance and an actual train engine built for the film will be on display.

“We’ve had a terrific collaboration with the Native American community throughout the production of Disney’s ‘The Lone Ranger,’” said Alan Horn, Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. “With the world premiere of this exciting film at hand, we are pleased to commemorate the occasion by supporting the American Indian College Fund.”

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Academy Award® winner Gore Verbinski, “The Lone Ranger” is a thrilling adventure infused with action and humor, in which the famed masked hero is brought to life through new eyes. Johnny Depp stars as a newly imagined Tonto and Armie Hammer plays the masked lawman himself—the Lone Ranger.

Tickets for the premiere event have been donated by Disney to the American Indian College Fund, which will offer them for sale to the public; tickets will be available for purchase at https://community.collegefund.org/the-lone-ranger, starting today. Because Disney is also underwriting the entire cost of the premiere, 100% of the revenues received by the American Indian College Fund for the tickets will be used for scholarships and other support for Native American students. Tickets are priced at $1000.

Fund President, Cheryl Crazy Bull, stated: “The Fund is pleased to be the beneficiary of this event because our scholarships are an investment in a healthier, more prosperous future for tribal students and their families. We are poised to serve over 20,000 American Indian and Alaska Native students attending the tribal colleges across this country. Currently our scholarships serve less than 21% of those students so we appreciate any opportunity to bring resources into our scholarship program.”

Disney California Adventure Park will be hosting the premiere and sponsors will be offering opportunities for the guests in conjunction with the event. Commenting on the premiere event, Tom Staggs, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said, “All of us at Disney Parks are thrilled to host the world premiere of ‘The Lone Ranger’ at Disney California Adventure. Disney brings unforgettable stories and characters to life in our movies and in our parks and resorts, so there’s no better place than Disney California Adventure to start this trailblazing film on its journey.”

Time Warner Cable, a title sponsor of the world premiere of Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ “The Lone Ranger,” will stream the event LIVE from Disney California Adventure Park.

Visa Signature, a premiere sponsor, will have a fan pen on the red carpet for the first 50 Visa Signature cardholders who show their card.

The Utah Office of Tourism and Film, a premiere sponsor, will provide an opportunity for guests of the park to enter to win a trip to Utah and premiere guests will enjoy a photo opportunity provided by the sponsor. Many of the movie’s memorable scenes were filmed in the Monument Valley area of southern Utah.

Christie Digital, a global visual technologies company with expertise in film projection since 1929, is providing all the projection for “The Lone Ranger” premiere.

A one-of-a-kind Lone Ranger Ninja motorcycle from Kawasaki, a sponsor of the premiere, will be displayed at the event and will be available for the stars in attendance to autograph. The bike will be auctioned off at a later date, with all proceeds going to the American Indian College Fund.

Subway is providing sandwiches for the premiere guests.

Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ “The Lone Ranger” opens in theaters July 3, 2013.

Red Carpet Premiere for “The Lone Ranger” Scheduled at Disney California Adventure is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Photo courtesy Orange County Register

The “early entry” hours offered to select ticket-holders and resort hotel guests at Disneyland are a wonderful way to experience the magic of the Happiest Place on Earth with minimal wait times. But what if you've been on every Fantasyland and Tomorrorland ride a million times, and are looking for a new way to spend the early A.M. inside Disneyland Park?

The brand-new “Mysteries of Magic” experience is now being offered during Tuesday and Thursday “Extra Magic Hours” exclusively to registered guests of the three Disneyland Resort on-site hotels. Participating guests will get to participate in a private workshop inside the Main Street Magic Shop, where they will “be amazed, mystified, and intrigued” as they are introduced to the world of performing prestidigitation.

Participants (who must be 5 years old or older) in the hour-long program will recieve personal instruction on performing several magic tricks, training materials, and a 10% discount on any items purchased from the Magic Shop during the session. The experience costs $10 per person (plus valid park admission) and space is limited. This may be a temporary or seasonal event, but no closing date is announced. See the concierge or front desk at your hotel for more information or to sign up.

This program is so new that we have not had a chance to try it yet. If you've experienced the new “Mysteries of Magic” event, please leave your impressions in the comments below.

New “Mysteries of Magic” Experience Available to Disneyland Hotel Guests is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Photo copyright Disney

With heavy lifting recently completed on the reconstruction of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad‘s track, the construction crane near Disneyland’s Big Thunder Trail has been removed, reopening the pathway between Fantasyland and Frontierland full-time and returning the Big Thunder Ranch to daily operation. That’s good news, because that area can expect to see much higher attendance next month when the Toy Story team arrives.

Similar to the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree held last summer at Big Thunder’s festival arena, Woody’s All-American Roundup will include character meet & greets, carnival games, kids crafts, and specialty snacks. New this year is “Talent Roundup” stage show, featuring Jessie the Cowgirl’s slingshot skills, Woody’s lasso tricks, and the musical stylings of Buckaroo Bob.

Between character shows, Billy Hill and the Hillbillies will perform their “Red, White and Bluegrass!” show on the outdoor stage. Billy was also moved here from their Golden Horseshoe home last summer, with mixed results (read here for more on the controversy). Hopefully the Hillbillies will get a better reception this time.

The Roundup begins on June 14 and runs through the summer season. No ending date is announced yet.

Woody’s All-American Roundup Arriving at Disneyland This Summer is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Photo copyright Disney

As we shared back in March, Disneyland Resort is planning to celebrate Greek culture with an Opa! festival later this month. The event be held at both Disneyland Resort parks over the weekend of May 25 to 27.

This week Disneyland released details on the food and entertainment that will feature at this event. Activities will take place daily from 10am to 6pm in the small world mall area of Disneyland Park and Paradise Gardens at Disney California Adventure. You’ll find line dancing, wine seminars, and food tastings at Disney California Adventure; Hercules will conduct “Olympic training” games at Disneyland Park.

The above events (excluding food and drinks) are included in regular park admission. In addition, Executive Chef Christine Weissman, Greek celebrity Chef Argiro Barbarigou, and Greek winemaker Christina Boutari will present “Celebrate Greece: A Culinary Experience,” a 4-course dinner at DCA’s Golden Valley Winery on May 26 at 8pm. Tickets are $150, including tax, gratuity, and reserved World of Color viewing (park admission separate); click here for reservations and tickets.

Disneyland Reveals Details of Opa! A Celebration of Greek Culture is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

As we reported late last month, the Disneyland Resort recent shuttered some major E-Ticket attractions following inspections from California’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA). Most of the rides, including Soarin’ Over California and California Screamin’, swiftly returned to service, but the iconic Space Mountain remained off-limits to guests for the past 3 weeks.

Happily, Space Mountian returned to service on Friday night (May 3) and resumed normal operating hours as of Saturday, May 4. To clarify earlier coverage, Disney was fined $234,850 after a contract employee was injured in a fall last November while cleaning the exterior of Space Mountain, but the current closure was a voluntary action (not mandated by Cal/OSHA) intended to ameliorate related safety issues that had previously been “grandfathered” approval. Disneyland has not yet announced whether it will appeal the fines, or if further safety modifications to Disneyland attractions (or similar rides at Walt Disney World) will be made.

In a related note, similar employee fall protection issues have led Disneyland to change watering procedures for the Disneyland Railroad. The steam-powered locomotives are currently receiving water on every trip using a firehose, instead of the overhead watering systems used for the past six decades. Guest rides in the tender car have also been suspended for the time being. The impact on most visitors who aren’t steam-engine authenticity experts should be minimal.

Space Mountain Reopens but Disneyland Still Faces OSHA Issues is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Earlier this week, the final puzzle piece in Universal Studios Hollywood’s ambitious “Evolution Plan” clicked into place, as the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors gave final approval to the expansion of the famous movie studio and theme park.

Over the next few years, the Evolution Plan calls for radical changes at Universal Studios Hollywood, including the addition of parking garages, new CityWalk dining and retail venues, and two on-site hotels. Inside the theme park, the Special Effects Stage, WaterWorld stunt show, and Gibson Amphitheater will all be shuttered in the coming months for new attractions, and three additional points of interest will eventually be added along the Studio Tram Tour.

The most visible element of the expansion will be the addition of a west coast version of Orlando’s über-popular Wizarding World of Harry Potter. While details on what portions of the Islands of Adventure area will migrate to California are unknown, a copy of Hogwarts Castle complete with the Forbidden Journey dark ride is expected, along with shopping and eating opportunities.

In order to begin construction on Hollywood’s Harry Potter land, Universal has announced that its Adventures of Curious George playground will close at the end of the summer season. A similar kids attraction at Universal Studios Florida continues to operate. So if your kids love getting sprayed with reclaimed water and wading through plastic balls, get out to USH before September to bid farewell to Curious George.

Here is the complete official press release direct from Universal:

UNIVERSAL CITY, California, April 23, 2013 – NBCUniversal announced today plans to begin construction of the first projects of its 25-year Evolution Plan. The Evolution Plan represents a $1.6 billion investment in tourism and production. This long-term investment in two industries that are vital to Los Angeles will create more than 30,000 jobs and generate $2 billion of economic activity during operations for the region.

“After nearly a decade of work on the Evolution Plan, today’s vote sets the stage for our next 100 years in Los Angeles,” said Ron Meyer, president and COO of Universal Studios. “We are thankful for the support and leadership we have received from both the County and City of Los Angeles and are ready to get started investing in these important tourism and production projects in the next few months.”

Starting in late summer, NBCUniversal will begin construction of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter themed land at Universal Studios Hollywood theme park, as well as new and upgraded television production facilities, office space and infrastructure on the Universal Studios lot. These projects represent a nearly $500 million investment in the Los Angeles economy and the creation of more than 2,000 construction jobs alone.

“We thank Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, the entire Board of Supervisors, and County staff for providing us the path to bring much needed jobs and investment to Los Angeles,” said Corinne Verdery, Chief Real Estate Development and Planning Officer, NBCUniversal. “The working relationship we have built with the community was invaluable in developing our future plan and we are grateful to our nearly 7,500 supporters and union partners who have been with us every step of the way. We look forward to bringing The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Hollywood, forever changing the face of tourism in Los Angeles.”

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood will be a fully immersive experience for the entire family designed to bring the Harry Potter fiction and films to life with impeccable detail and authenticity. Similar to the dynamic Universal Orlando Resort themed land that opened in 2010, the Hollywood experience will be faithful to the visual landscape of the fiction and films, including Hogwarts castle that will serve as the centerpiece of the impressively themed environment. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a collaboration between Warner Bros. Entertainment and Universal Parks and Resorts.

On the Universal Studios lot, NBCUniversal will upgrade existing production facilities and add new capabilities to better respond to the needs of television production. In addition, NBCUniversal is looking to create modern offices that will house everything from post-production services to traditional office space.

Universal Studios Hollywood Evolution Plan Approved: Curious George Out, Harry Potter In is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

In recent weeks, I’ve shared some my favorite ways to begin my day at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, as well as top picks for finishing a DCA visit, and even places to pause at mid-day around the Resort.

Today, I’m concluding this series with a look at the best options for ending your evening at Disneyland Park. While Disneyland is magical at any time of day, there is something particularly special about those final hours before closing at the original Magic Kingdom. Any one of the following activities (or combination thereof) should guarantee a fitting finale to your day at the Happiest Place on Earth.

Fireworks and Fantasmic!

No one does explosive spectaculars better than Disney, and there is no better one-two punch among theme park pageants than Disneyland’s fireworks and Fantasmic! Whether the show is Remeber…Dreams Come True, Magical, or one of the special seasonal displays, Disneyland’s pyrotechnics are not-to-be-missed. And Disneyland’s Fantasmic! is the ultimate assemblage of animated characters, action stunts, and enormous animatronics. On nights when both shows are performed,first watch the fireworks from the hub near Frontierland, the head immediately towards the river for a seat. Alternatively, stake out a spot early for Fantasmic and you’ll still have a fine view of the overhead sky bursts (though not effects on the castle or Tinker Bell’s flight).

Ride One Last Roller Coaster

Unofficial Guide readers know that the first and last hours of operation are the best time to experience a theme park’s top attractions with minimal waiting. At Disneyland, the end of the day is a great time to get a in a few re-rides on your favorite E-Ticket. A great choice to finish your night is one of the parks outdoor roller coasters. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which is currently under an extensive refurbishment, is a different (and scarier) experience after sunset. So are the Matterhorn Bobsleds, which offer a single rider line that may let you walk on without waiting (provided you can fold your legs into the redesigned cars), making them my personal top pick for a late-night lap.

Window Shop along Main Street, U.S.A.

The shops along Disneyland’s entrance corridor stay open an hour past the park’s official closing time for your “shopping convenience.” But even if you don’t want to drop a dime, you can stretch out your day with a stroll past their entertaining wares. I alway make a point of perusing the collectibles in the Disney Gallery (currently being augmented with items from the shuttered Disneyana store) and staring into the spinning optical illusion outside the magic shop (try it!). The candy shop (also home to the remnants of the penny arcade), music shop, and Emporium are also ideal for browsing before you say bye-bye.

Take a Load Off

At the end of a full day at Disneyland, you’ve probably walked five miles or more. Wouldn’t it feel good to just sit down and put your feet up? The are a number of areas around the park where you can find a seat to rest and people-watch, including the Fantasyland motorboat dock and Tommorrowland Terrace. My favorite place to pause while the park is emptying is the “Wizard of Bras” porch on Main Street, U.S.A. You’ll recognize it as the elevated facade with several wooden chairs, located on the left side of the street as you exit. From this vantage point you can reminisce about your day while watching guests from around the world walk towards the front gates. Just be warned, this is a popular spot and you are likely to find all seats occupied — perhaps by me!

Party On at Trader Sam’s

If too much is never enough for you, don’t let your Disneyland adventure end just because the park is closing. Head to Tomorrowland as the clock counts down and hop the last Monorail of the night to Downtown Disney, then take a short stroll to the Disneyland Hotel. Near the recently reimagined pool complex you’ll find a little slice of Adventureland that stays open long past its in-park cousin. Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Room combines the lore of several fabled Disney attractions, including the Jungle Cruise, Indiana Jones Adventure, and WDW’s Adventurers Club with a kooky-kitschy tiki bar and restaurant. The drinks are potent, the Polynesian-inspired food is tasty, and there are surprise effects in store for the unwary (to be explored in an upcoming blog posting). Best of all, at the end of your exhausting evening, you are only steps away from your bed (if staying on-site) or the taxi stand (if not).

What is your ideal way to end a day at Disneyland Park? Let us know in the comments below!

Top Five Ways to End Your Day at Disneyland Park is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.