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California Grill Construction Time Lapse Video

With sweeping views of Magic Kingdom fireworks from atop Disney's Contemporary Resort, the re-imagined California Grill also features a new design inspired by mid-century modern California, and a new menu showcasing seasonal ingredients and a lighter touch.

With sweeping views of Magic Kingdom fireworks from atop Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the re-imagined California Grill also features a new design inspired by mid-century modern California, and a new menu showcasing seasonal ingredients and a lighter touch.

The California Grill has always been my restaurant of choice when I wanted to celebrate a big event, so I was a bit nervous when they announced a major makeover for the space. But I needn’t have worried. The space is beautiful and the food still wonderful. If anything, I think they were a bit conservative in their vision.

You can now get your first look at the re-imagined California Grill as it is now open for dining, or drinks and a snack in the lounge (they serve the full menu there too), but the transformation didn’t happen overnight. Since the signature restaurant at Disney’s Contemporary Resort closed to guests in January, the space has been humming with activity. The wood-burning oven is just about the only thing that stayed in place as the kitchen and dining rooms got major makeovers.

Shortly after the installation of new floor-to-ceiling windows, a time-lapse camera went into place on the fifteenth floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, capturing all the construction and remodeling between June 2013 and the last test meals before opening to guests September 9th. I have a cameo during the 1:44 mark. But don’t blink!

Below the jump is a video featuring General Manager Michael Scheifler discussing the changes:
Read More »California Grill Construction Time Lapse Video

Crystal Arts, Talented Glass Artists in Latest Expressions Video

I appear to have started a series of short-form Expressions videos looking at some of the Walt Disney World resort’s overlooked attractions. Sometimes there’s a theme right in front of you, you just have to grab it. Here the talented glass artists of Crystal Arts… Read More »Crystal Arts, Talented Glass Artists in Latest Expressions Video

Videopolis: Rewind The Magic – A Magic Kingdom Day in Reverse

Nicole says: Have you ever had such an amazing day at Disney that you wished you could hit rewind and do it all over again? This video was inspired by many happy memories at the Happiest Place On Earth. I knew exactly what I wanted… Read More »Videopolis: Rewind The Magic – A Magic Kingdom Day in Reverse

Disneyland Home Videos from 1955 – Spectacular New Video

Major kudos to the Disney History Institute for their latest contribution to our knowledge of early Disneyland. They’ve compiled a video of color footage from 1955. The video is more than just home movies edited together, it reveals how the park would have looked to… Read More »Disneyland Home Videos from 1955 – Spectacular New Video

Orlando in a Spin – A Very Unique Video Tour of the Attractions

Felipe Bottrel hopped a plane from Brazil to tour a few of Orlando’s world famous attractions. Like most tourists he filmed it all, but he put his own spin on the trip. Give it a watch and you’ll see what I mean: Now that’s a… Read More »Orlando in a Spin – A Very Unique Video Tour of the Attractions

Welcome to Oz: The Opening Sequence

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One of my favorite moments in Disney’s Oz the Great and Powerful was the opening sequence (which isn’t a knock on the film). Danny Elfman’s music was perfect as always, and the graphics set the old timey mood nicely for the transition into the wonderful… Read More »Welcome to Oz: The Opening Sequence

Disney Topiary Featured In Surprise Viral Video

Disney has pulled off a great bit of video fun with their latest viral marketing effort for the Flower & Garden Festival at EPCOT. They created a ‘topiary’ of Captain Hook to advertise the festival then set it up in various spots around town. Next… Read More »Disney Topiary Featured In Surprise Viral Video

Videopolis: Cup Songs

Okay, so this is a thing.

I was out searching for something amazing to share as our latest Videopolis, our series featuring YouTube talent with a Disney twist, when I spotted this:

and I thought… how unique! When I thought of cup song before I usually thought of this. But then I saw on the side there were lots of other cup songs… most of them of the same song “You’re Gonna Miss Me.” A little research and I realized that this was a cover of a song from the audition scene in “Pitch Perfect” (clip here) that’s been covered over 10,000 times on Youtube so far. So I thought, if there is one Disney themed “Cup Song” there there has to be more… and I was right!Read More »Videopolis: Cup Songs