Get your exclusive 'Passport to Disney's California Adventure'

Tuesday, December 5th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Cindy Crawford hosts an exclusive online "first look" at the newest Disney theme park -- Disney's California Adventure park next to Disneyland in Southern California -- at www.disneyland.com.

Disney.com, a division of Walt Disney Internet Group (NYSE:DIG), in collaboration with the Disneyland Resort, is rolling out the red carpet for "Passport to Disney's California Adventure," an online preview of the first new Disney theme park in Southern California since the opening of Disneyland park 45 years ago. Disney's California Adventure park officially opens to the public on Feb. 8, 2001.

By logging on to http://www.disneyland.com and clicking on the Disney's California Adventure graphic, guests can join Crawford for an official VIP "welcome" and QuickTime video tours of six exciting, never-before-seen attractions. The attraction tours will be individually introduced at two-week intervals.

In addition, guests can learn inside stories about the creation of Disney's California Adventure park from Executive Producer Barry Braverman and other Walt Disney Imagineers.

"`Passport to Disney's California Adventure' brings our newest park to life for our guests, allowing them to experience the Disney magic before the park even opens," said Susan Kirch, vice president of Lifestyles Content Development for Disney Online, a division of the Walt Disney Internet Group.

"Together with the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney Imagineering, we are giving our guests a behind-the-scenes peek at how we create the magic at our parks."

"Disneyland has played a role in the lives of millions of families, now here we are 45 years later with Passport to Disney's California Adventure park's Web site, where guests are able to see and hear what they will be experiencing ahead of time, and I'm thrilled to be part of that experience," said Cindy Crawford.

"Throughout the next couple of months I will be giving future guests a glimpse into the best of California -- its diversity, fun and adventures. This will eventually become a Disney legacy online, introducing kids and families to Disney magic, entertainment and attractions in a whole new way."

"The all-new Disney's California Adventure park, is an extension of Walt Disney's dream that we would continue to create new things at the Disneyland Resort," noted Cynthia Harriss, president of the Disneyland Resort in Southern California. "It's a new, complete vacation destination, a place where our guests can explore the sights and experiences unique to California -- with a splash of Disney magic."

Online Passport for Disney's California Adventure VIP Visitors

Guests visiting the Web site can register for a "virtual passport" for their online tours of new Disney's California Adventure attractions. (Registered members of Walt Disney Internet Group-related sites can use their registration information to activate this feature.)

As the guests return to the Web site to see each new attraction, their virtual passports are "stamped" in recognition of their return visit. Once all six stamps are collected, guests are eligible to receive a special prize to commemorate the opening of Disney's California Adventure park -- available only to online virtual passport holders.

Today guests can preview two of the new park's unique attractions:

Superstar Limo, where they are whisked away, celebrity style, in their own Disney Superstar Limo to a re-creation of a Hollywood movie premiere; and
Soarin' Over California, an exhilarating airborne adventure over the diverse wonders of California.
Attractions featured in future previews include:

California Screamin', a truly state-of-the-art roller coaster that accelerates from zero to 50 mph in less than six seconds;
It's Tough to Be a Bug, an animated look at the perilous adventures of the insect world with Flik and Hopper from Disney/Pixar's "A Bug's Life";
Disney's Animation, where the magic of Disney animation comes to life before your very eyes; and
Grizzly River Run, an exciting (and very wet) white-water ride through scenery inspired by Yosemite and the California Redwoods.
More in-depth information about the attractions and themed lands (The Golden State, Hollywood Pictures Backlot, Paradise Pier) of Disney's California Adventure is available within the "Discover more" sections of the Web site. Here, guests can explore how the attractions are created, the folklore behind the attractions, and the California history that inspired them.

Although Disney's California Adventure park is still months from its grand opening, vacationers can make their travel plans now at disneyland.com by clicking on the "Book Your Vacation" icon. Reservations are already being taken for the magnificent new Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, immediately adjoining and overlooking Disney's California Adventure. The Web site enables guests or their travel agents to review the price quote and billing information before booking the vacation. Confirmations are provided in seconds and reservations established immediately in the Disneyland reservation system.

Online visitors to Disneyland.com will find a newly designed, enhanced, and easy-to-use Web site with enhanced booking capabilities and extensive resort and theme park information, plus new printable autographed Disney Character photos, maps that guide guests to specific lands in the park, and more.

For more information about Disney.com, log onto www.disney.com/press. All attractions, entertainment & special offers are subject to change without notice.