The North Orange County Harry Potter Meetup Group is holding the second annual Unofficial Harry Potter Day at Disneyland in California on November 2nd.  There will be pictures, games, costumes, scavenger hunts and more all day.

Check out the event MySpace page for all the details!

Hat tip to Wired for this story.

Image: Flickr

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Pre-party interview and clips from the purple carpet, etc.

ABC News Footage at the Party

Purple carpet, performance, Mickey Mouse and 5,000 guests sing Happy Birthday to Miley Cyrus and fireworks

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The official launch of the Halloween Haunted Mansion and the other Halloween events at Disneyland will happen on Friday, September 26, 2008. Here’s an overview of what’s going on at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure for Halloween this year:

• Redecorated Haunted Mansion
• Ghostly guests at the Hollywood Tower of Terror
• Woody’s Halloween Roundup where kids can hear spooky stories, create Halloween arts, crafts and cookies, and more.
• Candy Corn Acres at Disney’s California Adventure where giant candy corn grows wild.
• Special Halloween treats throughout the Disney theme park stores.
• Special Halloween Time pins and merchandise

Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Party is also being held this year, which is a special event and requires a special ticket to enter. Entrance is limited only to guests who purchase the special party ticket.

The party includes candy treat stations for trick-or-treating, music, crafts, activities, a Character cavalcade, and free parking. Tickets are $29 (except for Halloween night when tickets are $37), and children under 2 are free. Guests are encouraged to dress in their Halloween costumes and really get into the spirit of the holiday.

Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Party will be held this year on October 3, 10, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30 and 31st. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the party goes from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., and on Friday, the party goes from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. To purchase tickets, call 714-781-4400.

Read more about Halloween 2008 at Disney destinations around the world on The Disney Traveler:

• Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Decorates for Halloween – Part 1
• Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Decorates for Halloween – Part 2
• Disneyland Paris and Halloween – A Great Combination
• Halloween at Hong Kong Disneyland

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It’s always been known as the magical kingdom.

But can it also be called the green kingdom?

According to Frank Dela Vara, technical directory of Disneyland Environmental Affairs, it’s something that they are definitely working on.

These days, the cars of Main Street run on compressed natural gas, the train runs on soybean oil, and there are over 300 recycling containers to be found around the park. One of Disneyland’s oldest attractions, the submarine ride, was re-launched last year as the Finding Nemo attraction, with all eight of the original submarines now powered by clean and quiet magnetic coils.

Want to know more?

Check out Disney Going Green, a video report from MSNBC, on the opening of the Finding Nemo attraction last year.

And also this video report Disneyland May Be Greener Than You Think from KTLA Green.

Turns out that Disneyland is a green, green world after all…

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• New scenes
• Special effects
• New technology
• A special room providing a virtual experience of the walkthrough attraction for guests in wheelchairs or unable to climb stairs.

Each of the enhancements should make well-known scenes from the original Sleeping Beauty animated movie come to life with special attention given to the creation of the magic of the fairy godmothers and spells of Maleficent.

Should be great and naturally, is timed perfectly to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty movie next year.  A special platinum DVD re-release of Sleeping Beauty is scheduled for 2009.  What do you think?

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A fictional family will take guests through the home as they prepare for a party.  Along the way, they’ll demonstrating the various high-tech gadgets and features and even letting guests try some!  Guests will visit the front yard, kitchen, dining room, family room/home office, teen daughter’s room, younger son’s room, backyard, courtyard and party tent.

Check out the Disney press release for all the details about the technology used in the home!

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This page will be updated on a regular basis when Disney announces planned closings and refurbishments on Disney property that might affect your vacation.  If you have a favorite ride or show that you don’t want to miss during your Disney vacation, be sure to check the Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure Closings and Refurbishments page before you book your trip.

For Walt Disney World updates, check out the Walt Disney World Closings and Refurbishments page.

If you don’t want to miss any Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure closings and refurbishment announcements, subscribe to The Disney Traveler.

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The ride is schedule to open in Walt Disney World at the end of this month.  I can’t wait.  Passholders can go to a Passholder Preview on May 10th-12th from 9 am to 7 pm each day and when they show their Annual Passes and Photo IDs, they can ride Toy Story Mania before it opens to the public.  I did this for Expedition Everest, and frankly, the line was longer than if I had just waited a couple of weeks after it opened to try it.  But that’s another story entirely.

Here are the Toy Story Mania tips revealed in “Mickey Monitor”:

• Each guests spring-action shooter has an unlimited supply of “virtual projectiles”, so you can keep shooting at targets without having to reload.  In other words, don’t stop shooting if you want a high score!
• There are many higher value targets hidden in out of the way spots such as at the top, bottom and sides of each booth.  Shoot in all different directions to increase your score!
• There are special targets called “two-stage” and “multiple-stage” targets.  If you hit one of those targets, they trigger higher value targets.
• “Easter eggs” are “extra-special two-stage targets”.  These sound like they offer the ultimate payout!

I can’t wait to try Toy Story Mania and look for some of the special targets, especially those Easter Eggs!

You can read more about Toy Story Mania in these posts on The Disney Traveler:

• Mr. Potato Head Makes a Surprise Appearance at Walt Disney World and Disneyland
• Disney’s Toy Story Mania Ride Sneak Peaks and News
• Sneak Peak at Toy Story Mania Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• A New Toy Story Ride is Coming to Walt Disney World

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Sound good?  Then check out the Disneyland summer vacation special.  Two adults and two children can stay two nights and three days for $77 per person, per day from June 20, 2008 through August 31, 2008.  The package includes a standard room at the Jolly Roger Hotel and Disneyland Park Hopper Theme Park Tickets.

This is a great deal for a family looking for an inexpensive way to visit Disneyland this summer!  You can follow the link to get all the details about this discount Disneyland vacation package.

Photo source: Flickr

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What do you think?  Will it be nice to have the Main Street Electrical Parade back at Disneyland or do you prefer it at Disney’s California Adventure?

Photo source: Flickr

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