Tis the season. . . for crowds, shopping, and holiday entertainment. And while all of that is true for Disneyland, it’s also the season for construction, new openings, and crackdowns. We have all of that for you today, as well as some exciting event announcements and lots of photos.
MiceChat Events
We have a slew of events coming right up that we don’t want you to miss out on:
Holiday Hoopla – December 18th – 7pm – Anaheim
Don’t miss our annual holiday book event. This year we feature the son of Disney Legend Buzz Price, who has a brand new book about his father written by some of the theme park industry’s top talent. The event will be hosted by celebrated author and MiceChat Favorite, David Koenig! Former Imagineer and artist, Terri Hardin Jackson, will also bring exciting items for sale and signing. This event will feature a panel discussion and an opportunity to purchase books and get them signed. The perfect customized Christmas present for yourself or the Disney person in your life!
New Year’s Eve
We should have tickets and details for you later today or tomorrow about our Southern California theme park New Year’s Eve event. Stay tuned. Add your name to the info list HERE for more information as soon as tickets become available.
Gumball Rally February 9th, 2019
Save the date! The world-famous Gumball Rally returns with some exciting twists which take the event back to its roots and celebrates the 50th anniversary of an iconic classic Disneyland attraction!!! Add your name to the info list HERE for more information about the Rally as soon as it becomes available.
MiceChat Anniversary Weekend February 8th through 10th, 2019
In addition to the iconic Gumball Rally, we’ll also have a weekend of events, receptions, panel discussions, celebrity meet and greets and much more. Add your name to the Info List HERE for more information and an exclusive discount on tickets and hotel rooms.
New For You
Nappolini reopens and brings build your own pizzas to Downtown Disney.
Prefab salads and side dishes in the cooler.
The pizzas are baked in a fire oven.
Coming Soon . . .
World Of Color Castmember in the Paradise Park area indicate that they are preparing for a possible Thursday return of DCA’s signature show. If all goes well, the holiday version of the show, World of Color Season of Light, will light up the night later this week.
UPDATED: Disney contacted us this morning to say that Thursday will not be the opening date. Please stay tuned.
UPDATED: Starbucks West Side NOW OPEN!
Remember what Downtown Disney’s west side looked like before Disney ended the leases of all the tenants to build a hotel that wouldn’t happen? . . . well, it’s well on its way to returning to pretty much the way you remembered it. The Starbucks near the Disneyland Hotel reopened this morning.
Tropical Hideaway
Also about ready to open is the Tropical Hideaway in Disneyland, which will very likely open next week. Training is set to begin on the 15th and we’ll see the facility open not long after that.
The tiki lamps and decorative fixtures have been lit. 
Our spy photos show that the area is a mix of Tiki, Jungle Cruise, and a dash of Aladdin.
Final details, such as tables, signs, and light fixtures have been installed. The entire facility is being cleaned up and readied for guests.
The front of the facility contains a series of bridges which span the stream that runs under the restaurant to the Jungle Cruise.
Disneyland
Now, let’s take a look at the various projects around a very busy Disneyland. It’s holiday time folks, and that means crowds, crowds, crowds . . .
Walkway Expansion Project
If you think it’s crowded now, just wait until Star Wars land opens next year. That’s a primary reason why Disneyland is expanding walkways, finding new places to position vending carts, and carving out spots for stroller parking.
Looking across the river you can see a big blue box in front of the Haunted Mansion. The garden across from the Mansion exit is being abridged a bit to make room for a vending cart.
It doesn’t take much for this walkway to get clogged up. The Mansion queue overflowing, guests waiting for their parties to exit the attraction, shoppers looking at the vending cart, or scooters and strollers stopping for a moment in the wrong spot can all bring this artery to a standstill.
Over in Tomorrowland, a spot is being carved out of a garden near Star Tours which will make room for strollers and Fastpass return queuing.
The current garden is being shaved back a bit. The new retaining walls are being framed up now.
While many park pinch-points have been addressed in one way or another, there are still lots of problem spots. Which areas do you think most need a crowd-flow change and what would you like to see done? It’s a real catch 22 in many areas. Cut the gardens back too much and you destroy Disneyland’s charm. Don’t expand the walkways and they clog, eroding the guest experience. And more guests are going to be needed to help pay off the massive cost of Star Wars land, so lower attendance caps isn’t a likely option.
Mary Poppins Returns Gallery
Stop by the Opera House on your next visit to Main Street, there’s a nice little Mary Poppins display of movie props and art from the new film.
Guest Relations Cutback
Cast members no longer staff the celebration button distribution at City Hall and the wait time board on Main Street is also no longer being staffed by Guest Relations. That’s a cost savings of several staffed positions every hour. While the buttons could be distributed by just about anyone in the resort (Custodial, Merchandise, ODV), the wait time boards are a key spot for guests to get advice and information about the park. Guests are being referred to the Disneyland App for information about wait times and character meet and greets. While this is hardly a loss for APs and frequent visitors, we suspect that this change will mostly impact infrequent tourists who count on Guest Relations to recommend restaurants, point them in the right direction, assist them with figuring out how to use Fastpass, and helping them resolve issues which might be negatively impacting their visit. We hope to see the wait time board return soon.
Monstro’s Bath
Last week, poor Monstro was stained with hard water deposits. He’s been cleaned up and looks much better now.
Here’s what he looked like last week:
And after a quick scrubbing with a de-scaling solution, he now looks like this:
PatcheD
There’s a new product line in the pin stores . . . patches! Some really cute designs too. We are guessing that these will start showing up on jean jackets all over the place. Hey . . . where did I leave my denim . . .
Scroll through the slider below for images:
When rain and wind arrive, Disneyland fireworks almost always suffer. If you are unlucky, the show gets canceled. However, at the Holidays they generally still do the castle projections and snow as a consolation prize. But there’s a pergatory sort of a show that they also do. When the winds are just right, they’ll launch the low level fireworks but not the big aerial shells. Brian Pinsky visited on just such a night . . .
There were moments where the castle was perfectly framed. But the show mostly dragged. It’s the fireworks which are the main draw, not the projections or low-level pyrotechnics.
DCA
Disneyland doesn’t have all the projects. There are some big things happening at Disney California Adventure too.
Marvel Land
Progress is stepping up on Marvel Land, which is Disney’s big followup to Star Wars land next year. Bulldozers are making waste of what’s left in Bugs Land. Flik’s Flyers is in Imagineering’s hands as it transforms into an Inside Out attraction, which will be reinstalled on Pixar Pier next year. And the old Bugs Life Theater is under assault from Spider-Man, who has blown out a wall in preparation for a new family shooter-style dark ride.
Peppermint Bark Returns to Ghirardelli
Many of you love the peppermint bark squares at Ghirardelli. The give-away treats are back in stock and there are plenty for you to buy as well. These are a guilty pleasure of mine.
Festivals!
Disney wants you to spend as many days as possible at DCA instead of Disneyland, so they’ve been expanding their festival offerings at California Adventure. And it seems to be working too; on many days you’ll note that DCA feels more crowded than Disneyland itself. That’s because guests have been flocking to the festival of Holidays to eat, drink and be entertained (with an even bigger draw expected once World of Color returns).
Once the holidays depart, some of the infrastructures will be repurposed for Lunar New Year, which will be celebrated from January 25 through February 17th. The Three Little Pigs will be featured as next year is also the Year of the Pig. Oink.
And just after Mulan departs, Food & Wine Festival 2019 will take over with an expanded eight weeks this year – from March 1st through April 23rd.
DCA will have some sort of festival running for about half of the year. They end just in time for Summer and the likely return of Paint the Night and additional entertainment and enticements to help balance crowds when Star Wars land opens across the way.
And if all of that isn’t enough to get you to visit, Disney hopes you’ll be tempted by their ticket promotion for 2019 . . . Three days for $70 per day. Booking now through May 18, 2019.
This And That
Crackdown
The OC Register wrote about Disney’s crackdown on APs who abuse their passes to purchase items to resell on the internet. This isn’t actually a new thing, but rather an ongoing effort to prevent pass holders from using their pass discount on items used for reselling. It’s the same sort of thing that can get you fired from your employer for abusing your employee discount.
We’ve been complaining for quite some time about resellers who snap up all the limited edition merchandise, making it hard for a collector to get their hands on anything at all without taking a day off work mid-week and getting in a long line at the park. Something really does need to be done beyond revoking their annual passes.
Those of you who have participated in the pass holder giveaways in the past will recall that the park often uses scanners to track whether or not you’ve already picked up a giveaway item. This is to prevent you from getting multiple pins, posters, or whatever else they are tracking. We’d like to see this done with limited edition merchandise as well. Perhaps limit guests to 2 items during the initial craze. If additional merchandise is left over after the initial push, then make it unlimited.
What are your thoughts folks? Do you side with the resellers, the collectors, or somewhere in between?
Magical Mystical Rainfall
The weatherman has a favorite saying… “Into every life, a little rain must fall. And it looks as though today is our day.” Still, we say, welcome to this happy place called Disneyland!
We’ve been having a bit of rain these past two weeks. It’s been truly enchanting in many ways. We spoke a lot about crowds above, but on rainy days they are usually washed away. The parks look extra magical in the rain as well. That glorious reflective look of the pavement, the dewy sparkle of the rooftops, the clean fresh air. Yes, if you can brave soggy shoes and the chill, a wet day in wonderland may just be one of the most special times to visit the happiest place on earth.
Empty pathways throughout the park.
The reflective look of the park is just stunning . . . especially if you can hold out until nightfall.
But there are a few negatives other than the wet clothing and winter chill.
Not all attractions operate in the rain.
And the rain has a way of getting through in many of Disneyland’s older buildings . . . such as the Disneyland Hotel.
KOST FM had an after-hours event in the pouring rain.
And this couple wins the rainy day award from MiceChat.com for their fabulous raingear and sunny smiles on a dreary day.
Toys for Tots
Disney had a single day of toy collection with Toys for Tots on the 8th. We’re not sure why they’d limit the collection to just one day when they benefit from increased toy sales when Toys for Tots is on the property.
Disneyland set up a pop-up shop so guests could buy a toy to donate.
#HondaAtDisneyland
A holiday wrapped Honda is on display near the tram loading. But there’s no signage to explain why the vehicle is parked here.
90th Ears
Mickey’s 90th birthday ears are unique. The bow comes off so it can be worn separately in your hair or even as a men’s bow tie.
Disneyland Hotel Gets Merry
Santa is meeting guests in his mod living room set at the Disneyland Hotel.
They’ve also hung a holiday banner on the pool bridge.
Star Wars & Parking Structure Construction Continues
Not much new to be seen from the outside. . .
But from the inside, there are all sorts of advancement. The Millennium Falcon is approaching completion. Here’s a great teaser from Disney of this advanced simulator attraction.
https://youtu.be/ssgGCjpFP4Q
This video was shot inside the Rise of the Resistance attraction:
https://youtu.be/TSxE-b2YDAQ
And some great construction images in this music teaser:
The Parking Expansion Is Rising
3D Fun
Facebook is doing a new thing with 3D images. I wanted to test and see how it looked on MiceChat. Let me know if this works for you. If so, I’ll try to include more for you in the future. (tilt your phone on mobile or mouse over the image on desktop)
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MiceShop Returns! Fun fan merchandise . . . such as this attraction vehicle ugly sweater:
Discount tickets! We have discount theme park tickets for you folks. Before you head to the parks, check here for the best deals!
Discount Disneyland and Attractions Tickets HERE
The Anaheim Hotel offers special MiceChat rates. Located just across the street from Disneyland, the Anaheim Hotel has the largest pool in the city and newly remodeled rooms, public spaces, restaurant, and lounge. To save 20% or more, visit The Anaheim Hotel Reservations HERE or Call reservations at 714-772-5900 and ask for the “MiceChat Rate.”
And that’s our update for today folks. There’s a lot to take in. What are your thoughts on the progress of the myriad of construction projects around the park? And what steps should Disney take to deal with the folks who abuse their pass discounts and snap up more than their fair share of limited edition merchandise? Let us know in the comments below!