Extreme Makeover: Disney Edition

Since its opening in 2001, Disney's California Adventure has paled in comparison to its next-door neighbor, the original Disneyland. But all that is going to change over the next couple of years, as the Burbank suits have green lit a multi-million dollar do-over for the struggling Anaheim theme park.

The biggest news (and one that just entered the rumor mill within the past week) is a new dark ride based on The Little Mermaid. This particular project has been on the drawing boards for years, creating so much interest amongst fans that a "virtual" mock-up of this "ride that never was" (and now will be) was included on the movie's Platinum Edition DVD last year. The attraction will be located in Paradise Pier, where the new Toy Story ride is currently under construction. More Pixar-based amusements will be featured in a new 12-acre area dubbed "Cars Land", which will be the home of a new "E-ticket" thrill ride and more.

Also announced is a Fantasmic!-like nighttime spectacular called "Disney's World of Color" (concept art above, click to enlarge) and a total revamping of the entry plaza. This is where the main focus of this "re-branding" of the park as Walt Disney's California Adventure will be found. Sort of another Main Street, depicting old Hollywood (circa the 1920's) as it was at the time that Walt himself first arrived to live out his silver screen dreams, the primary icon of this area will be a recreation of the historic Carthay Circle Theatre. Longtime Disneyphiles know this is the Los Angeles cinema where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs had its world premiere almost 70 years ago. Showing within will be an all-new version of The Walt Disney Story.

And that's just phase one of this extreme makeover. Phase two is in the works as we speak.

UPDATE: Here's the video of the virtual Little Mermaid ride mentioned above.

Click here to purchase The Little MermaidPlatinum Edition DVD from Amazon.com.
Links via Wikipedia.org, LaughingPlace.com, CinemaTreasures.org, BlueSkyDisney.blogspot.com and YouTube.com.