The rain, rain, rain, came down, down, down, in rushing, rising riv’lets. ‘Til the river crept out of its bed and crept right into…my shoes. With heavy rains for nearly five days now, it’s been a soggy time at the Disneyland Resort and will likely remain so until tomorrow. Our very own Brian Pinsky braved the puddles to bring you this update of ongoing construction projects all over the resort, including the castle with its scrim temporarily removed, new merchandise, and stormy park conditions.
Ponchos and galoshes on . . .
Before we dive into the park, a quick reminder that Gumball Rally is this coming weekend. It’s a race through Disneyland to see who can ride the most attractions in a single day. It’s absolutely the most fun you’ll ever have in the park. Big changes to the competition this year in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Haunted Mansion. Don’t miss it, we’ve been dying to have you.
Gumball Rally Event Information HERE
Project Stardust
Work continues on Sleeping Beauty Castle, but the stormy weather this weekend forced Disney to pull down the huge sail-like scrims so the scaffolding wouldn’t come crashing down in the high winds.
If you look closely, you’ll see that some work has begun. I believe that’s a primer layer on this wall.
We don’t know what kind of paint they are using, but rain is’t a painter’s friend.
There’s also primer paint on the back of the castle.
Remember, this is what it should look like when it’s done:
The refurbishment of the castle required this merchandise cart to be moved back further into Fantasyland. It’s temporarily sitting where overflow stroller parking is near the exit of Pinocchio’s Daring Journey.
The castle scaffolding is interesting when bathed in purple and blue.
The walls are still up around Town Square in front of City Hall and the Emporium. Both are for sidewalk and wheelchair ramp improvements.
Construction Updates
Disneyland
There are a couple of ongoing construction projects around the resort right now. In New Orleans Square, the exterior work on the French Market continues while the restaurant remains open.
As is the custom this time of year, some of the Fantasmic fountains are getting worked on.
Dams allow the fountain pits to be drained while the rest of the river remains open.
The Columbia is staying dry under its plastic wrap.
The Frontierland dock had to remove its scrims and replace it with some plastic wrap.
If Tomorrowland feels differently right now, it’s because the Astro Orbitor has been removed for refurbishment…
California Adventure
The water is still drained around Pacific Wharf, although the rain filled in some puddles.
The fishnet photo op is wrapped up while refurbishment continues.
It also looks like the drainage tunnel is getting cleaned. This tunnel is tied to Grizzly River Rapids. The entire lagoon around Pacific Wharf is designed to hold ALL the water from Grizzly. So, when that attraction needs to be quickly drained, this is where the water goes. It’s then pumped back into the attraction when it reopens. However, during refurbishment, all the water has been drained.
Jessie’s Critter Carousel is partly unwrapped for the weather, revealing the cowskin wrap around the top!
Around the back, plastic wrap is over the mural to keep it protected.
It’s hard to see into the area around the Incredibles fountain, but it looks like they’re putting in some new grout and hopefully refreshing the fountain so it doesn’t get as moldy quickly.
Let’s take a ride on the Sun Wheel Fun Wheel Pal-A-Round to get an aerial view of Marvel Land and Inside Out construction areas.
Demolition seems to be progressing, the main area where the flat rides were located seems to still be an empty (mud) lot for the moment.
The upcoming site for the Inside Out ride has had some development as well. It looks like the foundation is nearing completion and the mount for the spinner is in place.
Grizzly River Run is still down for refurbishment.
The water is drained and some work is happening on the first lift hill.
The Coke Freestyle machine area across from Soarin’ is currently behind walls as well.
Parking Structure
Work on the parking structure has slowed during this stormy weather, but it has topped out and the escalators are going in. This project is rapidly nearing completion! Amazing how quickly this came together.
It looks as though most of the remaining work is just some cement work on the top levels.
It’s A Small World Returns
Back from its de-holiday treatment, Small World opened with a small change to FastPass. The scanners were moved back further into the queue to help with FastPass backup.
WAIT . . . There’s more! This update was so big we had to add a 2nd page.
Disneyland Merchandise
New merchandise has been popping up lately, mostly kitschy stuff targeted to Millennials.
Disney is also capitalizing on their own iconic “What are you doing next?” marketing campaign with a set of shirts and hats. Nice Super Bowl tie-in as well.
There is a food theme going on right now in merchandise as well …
…with some that actually look like food.
These plushies actually smell like sweets. There’s a donut that smells like vanilla, Mickey Bar that smells like chocolate, and ice cream cone that smells like strawberry.
The AP exclusive Steamboat Willie popcorn bucket commanded some crazy lines when it released on Friday.
Disneyland has introduced a couple of reusable shopping bags to reduce plastic waste. Surprisingly, the three sizes are positively cheap by Disney pricing standards. This one isn’t a cash grab, they really want you to bring reusable bags with you going forward. Would you do this?
While I’m not sure I’d bring my own bag to Disneyland, I likely will buy some of the bigger bags to use at the grocery store.
There are Disneyland and California Adventure prints.
Rainy Day
It’s not often we get a really hard rain, especially for nearly a week.
When it’s raining hard the entire resort basically turns into a giant puddle. While rain is a normal everyday thing at Walt Disney World that barely slows down the masses, it really does change the dynamic at Disneyland. No chance of keeping your shoes from getting soaked on a rainy Disneyland day.
Main Street has a tendency to get the worst of it. The drains can’t push out all the water fast enough.
The night cruise on the Mark Twain I featured on Friday was tranquil, but during the rain, you get the backside of water…
When it rains this hard, Mickey and other characters move indoors, the arcade on Buena Vista Street is a great spot.
Space Mountain Incident
Early last week we reported on an incident at Space Mountain, where a guest with cognitive limitations forced his way out of a ride vehicle during the lift hill. The attraction reopened on Friday after an investigation and safety procedure review. Thankfully, the guest was not injured.
This and That
Disneyland
Tomorrowland Terrace’s slippery dance floor was closed during the rain, but an interesting change is the removal of Star Wars typography from signs around the terrace.
This sign is still in Star Wars font.
These ones are not.
It was easy to find a good spot for Mickey’s Mix Magic last Wednesday, you’d expect folks not to wait around outside on a rainy day for the show. But, in general, the crowds are really only lining up on fireworks nights for the show.
The bulk of the images in the show are from the new series of Mickey Mouse shorts.
Do you like the new style of Mickey and Minnie?
While it’s raining, indoor attractions are always the best. Why not stop off at the Enchanted Tiki Room and sing like the birdies sing?
Or maybe take a tour of the Haunted Mansion?
California Adventure
Vampirina was added to the Disney Junior Dance Party in Hollywood Land.
Brian caught Luxo Jr. working again, he had been stuck for a while.
Lunar New Year continues until the 18th. Just try to keep the rain out of your food ?.
Downtown Disney, Hotels, Etc.
It’s been a month and no new promotional banners for either of the three current promotions have been placed in the tram area at Mickey and Friends.
Salt and Straw released a new menu for February and it’s all chocolate for your Valentine’s Day date.
Tangaroa Terrace is adding a subtitle “Tropical Bar and Grill” to its name as it prepares to reopen to guests.
We posted on social media about a dish coming soon to the restaurant that we tried, most people will just recognize it as fried musubi.
It looks like the fireplace area outside of Trader Sam’s has new furniture to match the new set at the terrace.
The Disneyland Hotel pool refurbishment is still ongoing.
The monorail slides are also included.
Guests can still use parts of the pool, though.
MICECHAT ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND & GUMBALL RALLY IS THIS COMING WEEKEND!!!
Our big events are Feb 8 through 10th. It’s not too late to sign up!!!
MiceChat Anniversary weekend is February 8, 9, & 10th! Join us for three days of events and activities. Don’t miss the Friday evening cocktail reception celebrating Disney super legend Buzz Price, our Sunday morning breakfast with David Koenig and the very first Disneyland tour guide, and our most affordable Gumball Rally ever, making this the PERFECT year for you to give it a roll. And please don’t miss the MiceChat Sunday meetup at Disneyland on February 10th . . . the event that started it all. All of the amazing events are listed below. Please help us spread the word. We can’t wait to see you!
TIP: Sign up for the Rally, then add the Combo Ticket Package for the best deal on Anniversary weekend. If you aren’t doing the Rally, the Combo Ticket Package (listed below) is your golden ticket to Anniversary Weekend magic!
The Buzz Way Cocktail Reception
Feb 8th, 7:30 – 9:30 PM – Wyndham Garden Hotel
A panel discussion and cocktail reception celebrating the great Buzz Price, the Disney super-legend who helped create the business model for Disneyland (and Walt Disney World) and discovered the land that the Happiest Place on Earth was built on. Joining us will be David Price, Buzz Price’s son and a themed entertainment star in his own right. David will have copies of his new book about his dad, which contains chapters written by theme park industry luminaries who worked with and were inspired by Buzz Price. The event will feature never-before-seen videos of Buzz and his thoughts on theme parks which will leave you wishing there were more men like him around today. We will also have a unique opportunity to pick up a copy of the book Buzz himself wrote which is now long out of print! Plus, Disney Imagineer Terri Hardin Jackson will be joining us!
The Hotel Indigo (the sister hotel to the Wyndham and immediately next door) is offering a special rate of $109 per night (for the nights of the 8th and 9th) with complimentary WiFi, Parking, and amenity gift. Contact [email protected] and request the MiceChat Anniversary rate.
Buzz event info and tickets HERE
Gumball Rally!
February 9th – 7am until 8pm
The world-famous Gumball Rally is rolling your way on Saturday, February 9th. Do you have what it takes to ride the most attractions at Disneyland in a single day?
Gather together a team of 2, 3, or 4 friends or family members and enjoy the most fun you’ve ever had at the Happiest Place on Earth.
This year’s Rally is inspired by the 50th anniversary of the Haunted Mansion. We’ve been dying to have you.
Gumball Rally Links:
The First Tour Guide
Breakfast
Feb 10th, 8:30 AM – The Anaheim Hotel
Disneyland author, David Koenig, introduces us to the man who was Disneyland’s very first tour guide in the months before Disneyland even opened to guests. David will interview Bob D’Arcy and we’ll see images of Disneyland that no one has seen before. We’ll also have a chat with David about his own new book coming out and books will be available from Bob & David as well as some additional surprises!
Enjoy a traditional American breakfast of Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Seasoned Breakfast Potatoes, Assorted Pastries, Whole Fruit Display, Trinidad Regular & Decaf Coffee, Evolution Herbal Teas, and Water Station
This event will also serve as the Gumball Rally Award Party. The winning teams and special awards will be given out at this event.
Breakfast event info and tickets HERE SPECIAL
MICECHAT ANNIVERSARY TICKET COMBOS – (YOUR BEST VALUE)
Add both MiceChat Anniversary events and save $10 off our already low rates (buy the General Admission Combo Ticket). OR – Get VIP seating at both events and a special signed gift for just $20 more (buy the VIP Combo Ticket). We are happy to add that holders of the Combo and VIP tickets will receive free parking on Rally day at the Howard Johnson Anaheim Resort.
MiceChat Anniversary events Combo Tickets HERE
MiceChat Anniversary Noon Mega Meet
Sunday, February 10th
Disneyland
Don’t miss the event that started it all so many years ago. Join us for a classic noon meet up in the central hub of Disneyland. We’ll have lunch, then head off to experience what we call the “West Side Wonders”. This year is the 50th Anniversary of the Haunted Mansion, so we’ll be sure to do that. And if time allows, we’ll also ride the Mark Twain, Pirates, see the Tiki Birds and much more. Disneyland is fun in a group (even if it’s a busy day). Chat, make friends, and have a wonderful time celebrating 16 years of MiceAge/MiceChat.
That’s it from the Disneyland Resort for today, we’re going to go dry off. How’s the castle shaping up? Are you a Mickey’s Mix Magic fan? Is this your year to take home the Rally gold?
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