Contributing photographer Jason of disneygeek.com sends us these photos from his trip to the parks on Friday, June 1, 2012. Rapid change continues – in addition to construction shots, this week’s update features the soft opening of the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop, the newly re-modeled Cove Bar, and the return of the Pixar Play Parade.

The cover is on the outdoor seating at La Brea Bakery Cafe. It was not open yet, but looked ready to go (note: it was open for dinner).

Only two weeks till the official openings at DCA and now the final details are being applied.

Noticed new costumes for the outdoor vending cast members around the park.

New signs, they are popping up everywhere.

The Red Car Trolley signage.

Chains up to mark the entrance for the Red Car… can you picture it stopped there waiting for you to board?

The new Carthay Circle signage.

The Elias & Co sign where the old Candy Shop used to be.

A new billboard on the roof.

The “It’s Tough to be a Bug” theater is still behind scaffolding/tarps.

Cars Land is alive with activity today. Plenty of cast members and workers moving around.

Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop was in a soft opening mode today, the official opening is next Thursday, June 7. Not very many tables outside and on the left is the extended queue to enter. The menu is HERE.

As you enter you are handed a menu and a chocolate sample then guided to a register to place your order.

The counter to pick up your order.

The walls have some pictures/artwork on them.

Behind the counter is a large mural. It was not working on this first pass through but it lights up and is animated (pictures and video on my second trip through in the evening).

Outside there are a half dozen or so tables that line the building. No indoor seating.

The Cove Bar reopened last Saturday.

There are Paradise Pier inspired signs up now.

Thought the Minors sign was fun.

Some fun photos showing the workers creating the Paradises Pier.

Time for a spin on the Fun Wheel. Nothing visible happening in Cars Land.

A flag pole and flag are up in front of Sarge’s Surplus.

More fence painting/staining going on in Flik’s Fun Fair.

Signage for the Red Car Trolley at the Hollywood Tower Hotel stop.

Signage for the Red Car Trolley stop near the Animation Building on Hollywood Blvd.

While waiting for the Pixar Play Parade saw Minnie’s Fly Girls heading over to Condor Flats to perform.

Lights rising into position on the roof of the Carthay for the parade.

A vendor selling popcorn while you wait for the parade.

And the usual parade of vendors a few minutes before the real parade.

Time for the Pixar Play Parade! It is returning after a long hiatus due to construction along the parade route. The parade route is now longer, and starts next to the Tower of Terror and proceeds all the way down Hollywood Blvd before heading out to Paradise Pier.

One big change is Jack Jack was moved lower on the Incredibles float to fit under the Red Car lines and he no longer shoots flames out of his head.

Is Violet new on the back side? I do not remember her from before, but it has been a while.

A video clip of the Bugs Life unit passing by.

Ratatouille has not returned, so the Toy Story unit follows the Finding Nemo unit.

The Cars gang rounds out the parade, including both Lightning McQueen and Mater. Nothing substantial besides the Incredibles unit modifications jumped out to me.

Time to head to Disneyland. The facade has been stripped down to the plywood behind Plaza Gardens.

A quick look at Buena Vista Street from the Monorail. The Red Car stop looks ready to go.

All the signage looks in and the area cleaned up.

Brave banners are up around the AMC Theater in Downtown Disney.

Not much visible progress on the sandwich shop.

No signage on the Fantasia gift shop in the Disneyland Hotel yet. Seems odd..

The large Disneyland map when you enter the Fantasy Tower now has some animations that cycle through.

Jungle Cruise…

Tomorrowland…

Here are some video clips of it. Some music to go with it would have been nice, to help direct you to where the next one would be.

The Sunglass Icon shop in Downtown Disney has opened.

A quick look inside.

La Brea Bakery dining was open for dinner and plenty of guests enjoying the newly covered patio.

A look at DCA from the Esplanade.A closer look at one of the billboards.

And the one on the other side.

Stepped on to Main Street just as Soundsational was ending.

Elvis – Scot Bruce at the Tomorrowland Terrace.

Back to DCA… the Carthay Marquee was lit up this evening.

Time to check in on the Mad T Party.

The Tweedles out front interacting with the crowd. I did not notice their platform shoes last week.

The band was performing on the main stage.

A clip from their performance.

Another clip of the Mad T Party Band.

Last week I forgot to post a picture of the Mad T Party cups that were for sale.

They had all the street lights off or reduced on Sunset and Hollywood Blvds.

Route 66 was quiet this evening..

Then all of a sudden some headlights appeared.. and of course I had the wrong lens…

Re-adjusted and got this picture of Lightning making his way toward the Cozy Cones.. guessing for a photo shoot this evening.

A few minutes later Mater followed the same path.

Made a second pass by Ghirardelli

The sign/mural on the back wall was lit up and moving this evening.

Some video of the sign.

There are some costumes from the show Once Upon a Time on display in the Off the Page windows.

Hope you enjoyed this highlight tour of the Disneyland Resort. For additional photos and details from this trip you can check out the full Disneyland Update I posted on my site, http://disneygeek.com Also be sure to follow me on twitter @disneygeekcom for pictures from the parks.

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