Monorails Blue, Orange, and Red have been given eyes and mouths, transforming them into three new characters, making their way around the beam that spans Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, and Downtown Disney. Blue (Mandy) and Orange (Mona) are currently out while Red (Manny) is coming soon.

(Photos from the Disney Parks Blog)

Disneyland does have a history of “wrapping” their monorails in promotion of new attractions, having re-themed a monorail as a yellow submarine when the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage opened nearly five years ago. In Orlando, Walt Disney World more recently promoted “Tron: Legacy” with the “Tronorail” and “Marvel’s The Avengers” with the “Avengerail.”

But these new “Cars”-themed monorails are more than just wraps, but entirely new characters, voices of which are heard while riding on them as “Manny, Mandy and Mona Monorails are taking charge of the overhead announcements themselves.”

YouTube user magnapurpleboy has already uploaded this video featuring Mandy Monorail’s friendly voice:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeDKs8Bc0cc

The new narration is fairly standard for Disneyland Resort, but with a personalized twist featuring lines such as “My name is Mandy Monorail. For your safety, remain seated with hands, arms, feet, and legs inside my cabin” and “Along the way, we’ll catch a monorail’s-eye view of the Downtown Disney District, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, and Disney California Adventure, soon to be home of Cars Land and my favorite four-wheeled friends,” ending with “Thanks for traveling with me. Your company had me gliding happily down the track. Have a magical stay here at Disneyland!” And yes, Mandy and the other monorails do speak Spanish too.

Meanwhile an anonymous Disney fan has already set up mock Twitter accounts, giving each of the three character monorails their own unique, often funny, but not always family-friendly personalities at @MandyMonorail, @MonaMonorail, and @MannyMonorail. I stress that these accounts are unofficial and not created, endorsed, or monitored by Disney.

The new monorail designs are sure to do wonders for keeping “Cars” on the minds of everyone who visits the Disneyland Resort in the coming months, though there’s no word as to how long the eyes, mouths, and voices will remain on this classic mode of theme park transportation.

On June 9 & 10, 2012 at select times, separately-ticketed events are being offered, giving D23 members and Disneyland annual passholders the opportunity to spend a few hours wandering the newest additions to the Disney California Adventure theme park, which officially open on June 15.

The prices for these events range from $50 for 4 hours of freedom inside the new areas up to $500 for an after-hours dining experience that includes a first-ever three-course dinner inside the Carthay Circle Restaurant and a private viewing of World of Color.

The prices may seem steep considering all of these areas will be open to all ticket holders just a few days later, but in association with these events Disneyland Resort will be donating $500,000 to Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) and the Anaheim Community Foundation.

Tickets are available now for Disneyland annual passholders and will be available for D23 members at the D23 web site on May 18 at 10 a.m. PT.

All four turtles will be at Nick Hotel beginning Memorial Day weekend, giving hotel guests a chance to meet Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo.

In addition to meet-and-greets, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will be part of themed dinner shows along with shows in Studio Nick, and the hotel will sell exclusive Ninja Turtle merchandise.

The heroes in a half-shell will also be returning to television on Nickelodeon in the fall, in a new half-hour CG animated comedy-action series simply entitled “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuhOuANcZlY

Much like “Double Dare” was formerly seen at Universal Studios years ago, this isn’t the first time the Ninja Turtles have called Orlando home, once appearing at the Disney-MGM Studios theme park (long before it was renamed Disney’s Hollywood Studios). Later this month, turtle power makes its triumphant return to Orlando, leaving fans everywhere shouting, “Cowabunga!”

The show is set between original “TRON” film and the newer “TRON: Legacy,” with visual and musical styles straight out of the latter, though adapted for by Disney Television Animation. The 30-minute “Beck’s Beginning” sets Beck on his journey to save programs from the tyrannical rule of Clu and his second-in-command, General Tesler.

But it would be a crime worthy of immediate de-resolution to spoil any more about the show, particularly because the prelude episode is available for viewing via YouTube now in 720p HD. So read no further and just watch it below, program.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjbwVzJR8w4

“TRON: Uprising” stars Elijah Wood in the lead role of Beck, with an all-star cast of supporting voice actors including Lance Henriksen, Mandy Moore, Paul Reubens, and Tron himself, Bruce Boxleitner. While Boxleitner’s voice is instantly recognizable, the rest of the actors rounds out cast of characters well as the show retains a mostly serious tone, treating the material with the same sense of sci-fi intrigue the films possessed.

Though “Beck’s Beginning” features a quick nod to Flynn’s Arcade in its opening shot, the entirety of “TRON: Uprising” will be set on the Grid, following the adventures of this group of programs prior to the events of “TRON: Legacy.” Fans of the films know how it all ends, but don’t know how Tron and the rest get there.

Though it does not feature the music of Daft Punk, its musical style is quite similar, obviously inspired by the popular soundtrack to “TRON: Legacy.” Featuring plenty of light vehicles - cycles, tanks, even helicopters - and identity disc battles, the show is sure to please any “TRON” fan.

“Beck’s Beginning” will air on Disney Channel on May 18 and the full “TRON: Uprising” series will debut on Disney XD on June 7, 2012.

Though not officially open until next week, the new Walt Disney World play-and-greet experience is located just to the right of Cinderella Castle inside Fairytale Garden, not only featuring a photo opportunity with Merida and the baby bears but also a chance to learn a few archery skills and color.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6uoUbPmtdM

With bagpipe music playing, guests enter Fairytale Garden on the border between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland and make a choice between two lines, one wrapping around to meet Merida and the three bears and the other passing around a large table for coloring, followed by a quick archery lesson taught by kilt-wearing Walt Disney World cast members.

The meet-and-greet side takes guests past artwork, tapestries, and artifacts reminiscent of the movie “Brave,” featuring characters that fans will soon meet on the big screen.

With a not-so-thick Scottish accent, vibrant curly red hair, and a flowing green dress, Merida greets each guest with a smile, though her bow is never far away.

Behind her, animated bear cubs try their best to become the center of attention, smiling for photos, turning their heads, blinking, and audibly laughing. Though Merida is always quick to pose for a photo, the cubs are indeed mischievous and occasionally look away or close their eyes instead of smiling big for the camera.

Before and/or after the meet-and-greet, guests can use crayons to color a picture of Merida riding her horse.

Afterward, an archery lesson gives guests of all ages a chance to learn Merida’s best skill, shooting a soft, padded arrow at a large bullseye target a few feet away, with guidance from a cast member.

The cast member asks which hand is the guest’s “coloring hand” and then instructs on how to properly hold the bow. It’s rare Disney theme park guests are encouraged to shoot a projectile within the parks, but this experience is perfectly safe, with young kids becoming quite proficient at shooting arrows after just a short lesson.

Naturally, outside Fairytale Garden, a merchandise cart has been set up selling plenty of items from “Brave,” including plush characters and, yes, bow-and-arrow sets.

The new Merida meet-and-greet officially opens on Friday, May 18, 2012, at the Magic Kingdom, though unscheduled soft openings are set to continue between now and then. Disney/Pixar’s “Brave” hits U.S. theaters June 22, 2012.

More photos from the “Brave” Merida meet-and-greet at the Magic Kingdom:

Flo’s V8 Cafe

Inspired by roadside diners, Flo has really expanded her Radiator Springs dive with a new “showroom” dining area, part of a 300-seat dining room. Chef Sean Layne developed the menu for this eatery as well as the rest found throughout Cars Land.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served at Flo’s with an eye-catching rotisserie grilling meats and grabbing guests’ attention. Menu items to be served include New York strip loin, citrus-marinated turkey breast and pork loin flavored with Coca-Cola barbecue sauce. For breakfast, specials include brioche French toast with salted caramel and bananas and chicken tamales with scrambled eggs.

But it wouldn’t be a diner without pie and Disneyland Pastry Chef Jean-Marc Viallet created single-serving varieties including strawberry-rhubarb, Apple-Cheddar, chocolate mud, cherry and blueberry-peach, among many others.

Craft beers from Bear Republic Brewing Co. in Healdsburg, Calif., and California wines also are on the menu.

Cozy Cone Motel

The “wigwam” motels of Route 66 was worked into the world of “Cars” with the Cozy Cone Motel, now a restaurant in Cars Land. Each of five teepees feature handheld, cone-themed cuisine:

Fillmore’s Taste-In

In addition to the two restaurants listed above, Fillmore’s Taste-In will feature “natural fuels” including whole and cut fruits, bottled water and juices, and soft drinks. It all ties in with the resident hippie of Radiator Springs, Fillmore, complete with a tie-dyed dome overhead.

Cars Land and all its inventive cuisine will make a public debut at Disney California Adventure on June 15, 2012.

The best bet for making a reservation at the Carthay Circle Restaurant is via e-mail, sending a quick message to dine@disneyland.com with a name, phone number, date, time, and number of adults and children. It took just 10 minutes for me to receive a reply back confirming my June 16 dinner reservation, one day after the restaurant officially debuts to the public and capping off my upcoming trip to attend the grand press event showing off the new restaurant, Cars Land, Buena Vista Street, and more.

The Carthay Circle Theatre first-floor foyer tells the story of the relationship of Carthay Circle Theatre to the Walt Disney Company, with photos and artifacts from the 1937 premier of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” Disney’s first feature-length animated film. “You’ll see pieces you’d never have the opportunity to see, except at the archives,” Spencer said. “And we won’t stop the clock in 1937, but will pay tribute to the studios and its achievements through the decades.”

But it’s the upstairs dining room that will have everyone hungry, featuring a menu developed by award-winning Executive Chef Andrew Sutton, executive chef at the nearby Napa Rose restaurant at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. The 200-seat dining room is divided into small rooms for a more intimate experience, including a terrace with seating for 56.

“Upon arrival, guests are greeted downstairs and escorted up the graceful staircase or by elevator to the restaurant,” says Joy Cushing, restaurant manager. The Carthay Circle Restaurant features tabletops with handsome artwork, dinnerware with the restaurant’s logo and Italian linen napkins – an upscale-casual ambience.

Diners downstairs can also enjoy the Carthay Circle Lounge for a quick meal, shared plates and a glass of wine, craft beer or handcrafted seltzer soda. The Lounge menu is divided into Bites, Rolls, Snacks, Small Plates and Finger Desserts.

In addition to opening up reservations, Disneyland has revealed details of what will be on the menu at the Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge. Sutton describes the restaurant’s menu as “Southern California cuisine – breezy, light and fresh.”

Dinner prices for the full menu at the Carthay Circle Restaurant have not yet been released, but are estimated at around $48 per person.

The menu offers five varieties of sustainable fish, both wild and farmed, in dishes such as sushi-grade yellowtail grilled with jerk spice, topped with a tropical salsa of pineapple, mango, black beans and lime, and Sierra Golden trout roasted with couscous, lemon and oil. The lunch menu includes an udon noodle bowl with red Thai curry broth, and an Angus burger with Tillamook cheddar cheese.

Vegetables are hand selected by staff who visit the Santa Monica market and local farms seeking the best of the best local produce. With a nod to the heyday of the Carthay Circle Theatre, old-fashioned dishes such as “liver and onions” get a modern twist, with crispy fried chicken livers served with a salad with buttermilk dressing, bacon and onions.

Seasonal desserts will include toasted lemon pound cake with fresh marinated blueberries, lemon curd cream and Tahitian vanilla chantilly, “Peaches In All Their Glory” with peach and white chocolate cannolis with fresh grilled peaches and peach sorbet, and a fried banana split Monte Cristo sundae with raspberry and chocolate fudge ice creams, toffee nuts and warm caramel rum bananas.

A wine program includes both Old and New World wines, with a focus on California vintages. All of the servers have wine training.

World of Color viewing packages are also available for everyone who dines at the Carthay Circle Restaurant. Each guest who orders an appetizer and entrée or an entrée and dessert will receive complimentary, center-stage viewing for the nighttime, water spectacular on Paradise Pier Bay. Lunch guests and guests who have dinner before 7 p.m. will receive tickets to the first “World of Color” show; guess who dine after 7 p.m. will receive tickets to the second show.

When it opens on June 15, 2012, the Carthay Circle Restaurant hours will be 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. In addition to the email method mentioned above, reservations can be made by calling 714-781-DINE.

Indeed this week Universal Orlando debuted two new experiences as part of its ongoing “Year to Be Here,” that previously also welcomed an HD upgrade to their popular Spider-Man ride. In addition to the park’s new lagoon show, Universal’s Superstar Parade now offers guests a chance to cap off each day with a character-filled street party on-the-go, spotlighting four specific franchises: Despicable Me, SpongeBob SquarePants, Hop, and Dora & Diego. And throughout the day, these characters emerge, along with their parade units and floats, to meet and greet with guests, pose for pictures, and perform individual dance routines and other interactive forms of entertainment.

Following a single sneak preview performance, two more days of rained-out public rehearsals, an a grand opening evening that had wet weather delaying the festivities well into the night, Universal’s Superstar Parade finally made its official debut after dark - an unusual sight for a parade that will normally be turning during daylight.

Fortunately, prior to Saturday’s public sneak preview, Universal’s Entertainment team had already been rehearsing the parade after park hours for several months, so its floats were already lit and ready for this unusual occasion. And in the end, those who stayed past the deluge were treated to a rare nighttime sight.

But whether it’s performed during the day or at night, Universal’s Superstar Parade features extremely popular characters and movie franchises - and a few that are not quite as instantly recognizable. So why has Universal chosen these properties to feature in their new daily entertainment offering?

In an interview prior to the downpour on opening night, show director Lora Wallace explained to me what went into the creation of Universal’s Superstar Parade and why she feels lesser known characters like E.B. from “Hop” will still resonate with all who watch.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3btQKNima0

In addition to showing off all the new entertainment, Universal Orlando brought out a select few characters during the grand opening event, representing each of the new parade’s units.

Fans of SpongeBob SquarePants and Despicable Me will soon have even more opportunities immerse themselves in those worlds at Universal Studios Florida, with the Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem ride opening this summer as well as a SpongeBob-dedicated store in the park’s KidZone.

Meanwhile Universal’s Entertainment team is still deciding how to integrate their new parade into the yearly routine of the park. On opening night, Senior VP of Entertainment Jim Timon said firm decisions had not yet been made regarding how Universal’s Superstar Parade will work into the demanding schedule of Macy’s Holiday Parade when it returns for Christmas time later this year. The same goes for when Mardi Gras rolls around again next year. But all that is still several months away.

For the immediate future, guests visiting Universal Studios Florida can count on both Universal’s Superstar Parade and Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular to provide exciting and colorful entertainment to cap off each day at the movie-based theme park, summarizing the character greetings, shows, and rides experienced throughout a visit. While some may find the characters in the parade not as instantly recognizable as those featured in a few other major theme parks in town, the new show’s acrobats, musicians, and dancers - no matter who they are or portray - certainly add new life into the park’s streets, giving whole families a chance to have a good time together.

You can watch the the first public performance of Universal’s Superstar Parade in our preview article, along with my personal thoughts.

Though the exhibit featuring more than 500 pieces of Disney history from theme parks, movies, and beyond will officially open July 6, 2012, head of D23 Steven Clark has revealed that D23 members will be given a chance to see it all the weekend prior. Details of that preview are still forthcoming.

In addition, this week’s Disney Geek episode featured several of the instantly-recognizable props and characters that will be featured in the exhibit.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5ga2LPl9uM

Among the historic items are Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter hat from “Alice in Wonderland” and compass from “Pirates of the Caribbean,” Julie Andrews’ “Mary Poppins” hat and scarf, and an animatronic bear from the former Country Bears attraction at Disneyland.

But the show stopper of this episode is the Colonel puppet from the Adventurers Club at Walt Disney World, who carries on a conversation with Clark in the Disney Geek episode, complete with a hearty “Kungaloosh!” and rousing rendition of “Drop Your Drawers.”

The Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit and its many iconic pieces of Disney history will soon be on display at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, through April 2013.

The Osaka theme park will open its Wizarding World a couple years in advance of the recently-announced version in the works for Universal Studios Hollywood in California, where Transformers: The Ride 3D is gearing up for official launch in just a couple weeks. The small footprint of the Hollywood park requires some areas to be demolished to make way for Potter and pals, preventing pushing back completion of the project until some time around 2016. But Universal Studios Japan expects to begin construction almost immediately, wrapping up in roughly two years’ time.

Meanwhile at the Islands of Adventure theme park at Universal Orlando in Florida, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is consistently drawing big crowds as it nears its 2-year anniversary. And a confirmed Harry Potter expansion is on the way for Universal Orlando, though details for that have yet to be revealed.

The Los Angeles times offers more information about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter addition to Universal Studios Japan and the surrounding culture of the country.