Disney's Soundsational Summer is happening now!

The premiere of Disney Soundsational Summer 2011 happened June 2nd and 3rd, at Disneyland. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs invited guests on a journey to “fathoms below” and then to “a galaxy far, far away” as new attractions opened in both Disney California Adventure and Disneyland parks.

“Combining great storytelling with innovative technology has been a hallmark of The Walt Disney Company since the very beginning, and that spirit continues today with the opening of these two incredible attractions,” Staggs said. “Whether we’re taking guests ‘under the sea’ or to the farthest reaches of the galaxy, these new experiences will take them on an adventure they will never forget.”

The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure premiered on Thursday, June 2, in a ceremony highlighted by the appearance of Jodi Benson, the original voice of Ariel from the hit Disney animated film, “The Little Mermaid,” singing a contemporary version of the award-winning song “Part of Your World.” Representing the “dark side” of the mermaid tale was Sherie Renee Scott, star of Broadway’s “The Little Mermaid,” singing the anthem of Ursula the Sea Witch, “Poor Unfortunate Souls.”

The new Little Mermaid attraction takes guests into the world of Ariel and the cast of characters from the classic tale, immersing guests in the story and songs of the motion picture with a combination of Audio-Animatronics technology, special effects and Disney magic.

On Friday, June 3, new interplanetary journeys made their debuts at Disneyland park with the premiere of Star Tours – The Adventures Continue. Dark denizens of the “Star Wars” universe, including Darth Vader himself, blocked the entrance of the attraction early Friday until they were expelled by a group of Jedi Masters. Then Tom Staggs, wielding a light saber, performed the ribbon-cutting that opened the attraction. 

Guests will never know where the Force might take them as they embark on the thrilling new journeys of Star Tours – The Adventures Continue. Eager travelers board fully re-imagined Starspeeders for interstellar treks to Coruscant, Hoth, Naboo and other destinations in the “Star Wars” galaxy, encountering characters from the Star Wars movies, many of them making their first appearances in the attraction. Now in eye-popping Dolby 3-D, the new Star Tours journeys feature more than 50 different story combinations, bridging that “long time ago” between the two “Star Wars” trilogies.