Source: Disney Wiki
October 2008 – September 2013
LOCATION
Golden State & Pacific Wharf – From 2008 to 2012, this attraction was considered part of the Golden State massive area in California Adventure. When that land split up into smaller pieces in 2012, the Cellar fell into Pacific Wharf’s territory. To find the building in either land, guests followed the main path from the park’s entrance toward the pier/bay. The building was on the right, just after the vineyard.
BACKGROUND
With California Adventure announcing dramatic changes to the park in the mid 2000s, many fans were curious to see what was coming next. With the Seasons of the Vine show closing in 2008, the park had a perfect space to show these previews with detailed models, preview videos, and concept art. The Blue Sky Cellar opened approximately one year into California Adventure’s major refurbishment project.
EXPERIENCE
The experience in the Blue Sky Cellar varied depending on what previews were being shown. In most cases, each preview included scale models for attractions/land components/new buildings, concept art, and video previews of construction and planned attractions. Exhibits during its run included the following:
- Mickey’s Fun Wheel
- Silly Symphony Swings
- World of Color
- The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
- Goofy’s Sky School
- Buena Vista Street
- Cars Land
- Disney Princess Fantasy Faire
- Mickey & the Magical Map
- Market House
In 2018, the Blue Sky Cellar briefly reopened to preview Pixar Pier as well.
Source: MousePad
CLOSURE
As the refurbishment project wound down in 2012, Imagineering no longer had a steady stream of new attractions rolling in to preview at the Blue Sky Cellar. The space closed officially in 2013, and aside from a brief reopening to promote Pixar Pier in 2018, has remained vacant ever since. As of writing this post, there is still no word as to a possible replacement attraction, shop, or any use of the space in the future.
TRIVIA
The “blue sky” in the attraction’s name stems from a common Imagineering phrase. In Walt Disney Imagineering, “blue sky” means the brainstorming phase of a project, where any constraints like budget, physical space, practicality, etc. are irrelevant and all ideas are on the table. The “cellar” component of the name comes from its environment – the preview room is designed as a wine cellar.
Strangely, this attraction is still listed on the Disneyland website as active (just “temporarily unavailable”), even though it has not had any previews since 2018.
Source: Theme Parks and Entertainment