If you like Disney music, fountains, and lots of colorful lighting, you’ll be delighted to know that the World of Color nighttime spectacular is set to return TONIGHT (February 22). There is also quite a bit of construction in the park and in Downtown Disney, where there’s a new Mickey themed exhibit on the way. Let’s take a stroll . . .
The park map now devotes two full pages to the Disneyland App including use of MaxPass and Mobile Order. Try as I might, I just can’t get into the swing of this. I still find myself using regular Fastpass instead of MaxPass (even through it is available on my pass), and I only use Mobile Order when someone at the restaurant lets me know it’s quicker to order by phone than wait in line. I’m curious what percentage of you now use the app for Fastpass and Mobile Order . . . and all the other little things this swiss army knife of technology does?
World of Color Returns!
At long last, Disney’s wonderful world of water returns to Paradise Bay tonight (Friday, February 22nd). Don’t expect anything new for now, this is the old show. But DCA has been lacking a nighttime spectacular, and this fits the bill.
You can see that 4 tall towers have been erected in the World of Color stadium. These are to hold a shade tarp for Food and Wine Festival next month. They won’t block too much of the view for World of Color guests.
The fountain platforms themselves aren’t pretty. When they surface you see the extensive rust covering everything.
Jessie’s Critter Carousel
No official date has been set yet for Pixar Pier’s Carousel, but some of the figures are in place and most of the painting has been completed. We hope it won’t be too much longer, unfortunately the Disney website still doesn’t show an opening date.
Poor Luxo
Sadly, Luxo Jr. just hasn’t been feeling well. He wasn’t moving at all on my visit. Stuck in this position. . .
Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival
March 01 – April 23, 2019
I’m SO ready for this next item. Food and Wine Festival has become one of my favorite times of the year at the Disneyland Resort. Some of the Festival decor will be popping up through the end of the month for a March 1st return. This year’s festival will run for eight weeks! The booths are prepped behind Cars Land and will begin taking their place on the Parade Route and Hollywood Land shortly.
Aside from the entertainment, food and wine you’ll find throughout the festival, there are also some up-charge events which you can purchase tickets for:
Guy Fieri – March 9, 2019 – 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM – $120 (Includes 60 minute demonstration and after party with tasting)
Beer, Wine, and Mixology seminars – $20.00
Dinner with the Disney Chefs – $225.00 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Carthay Circle Winemaker Receptions – $99.00
In the Kitchen With & Sweet Sundays ($110 per person, plus $4.25 tax and $9.90 gratuities for servers) Sundays – 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
- Fabio Viviani (Top Chef) – Sunday, March 3, 2019
- Jean-Marc Viallet (Disneyland Resort Executive Pastry Chef) – Sunday, March 10, 2019
- Richard Blais (Top Chef All Stars) – Sunday, March 17, 2019
- Matt Lewis (Baked) – Sunday, March 24, 2019
- Graham Elliot (Top Chef, MasterChef) – Sunday, March 31, 2019
- Emily Ellyn (Food Network Star) – Sunday, April 7, 2019
- Claudia Sandoval (MasterChef) – Sunday, April 14, 2019
- Keegan Gerhard (Food Network Challenge) – Sunday, April 21, 2019
Do you do the up-charge events? Which are your favorites?
Food & Wine commemorative merchandise
There are some new merchandise items headed to Food and Wine this year as well.
Grizzly River Rapids Refurbishment
The central attraction in the park will remain closed for its winter refurbihsment through March 28th.
It appears that they’ve done some work on the emergency exit at the base of the lift hill. Some construction is also going on near the bridge by the exit of the Fastpass building.
Related to the Grizzly, the lagoon at the Pacific Wharf is empty because this is the Grizzly holding tank. This lagoon has been cleaned up a bit. All the garbage has been removed.
Blue Sky Cellar
The plan was to install a Star Wars preview in the Blue Sky Cellar near the beginning of the year. But the old Pixar Pier stuff is still on display. Don’t know what the holdup is, but at this point, they might be better off waiting and installing a Marvel Land preview instead.
Speaking of Marvel Land . . . it’s just across from the Blue Sky Cellar and I’m sure many guests walk by this huge construction wall and wonder what’s going on.
Mickey Mouse Photo Ops
The old ESPN Zone will soon become a pop-up museum offering Instagram photo opportunities, artwork and a history of Mickey Mouse. The Pop-Up Disney: A Mickey Celebration will be a separate ticket experience.
We understand that the exhibition will be based upon the Mickey: The True Original Exhibition which recently closed in New York.
Here’s a bit of promo from that show:
If you are an Instagrammer who has run out of walls and ears to take photos of, this should make you very happy.
Disneyland Hotel
Work is still ongoing at the E-ticket pool at the Disneyland Hotel. Last year they redid the main pool. This year they are doing the smaller pools and slides.
Tangaroa Terrace
We stopped by early in the morning to try the newly re-opened Tangaroa Terrace breakfast menu.
Pinapple upside-down pancakes! These are legit. Seriously ready to go back for more.
Yes, that’s the kids Tangaroa Toast below. If you are fans of the Polynesian Resort (WDW) Tonga Toast, you’ll find these similar. They make the toast for adults as well . . . but it isn’t Mickey shaped.
Merch Madness
New merchandise seems to come in like the rain lately. These Minnie Mouse buckets are popular but don’t seem to be selling quite as fast as the Steamboat Willie Mickey Mouse ones.
Pinocchio now has a limited edition knitted plush.
Easter is already starting to hop into the parks. Note that Easter is on April 21st this year, that’s full two months away!
If they want to do a real Easter/Spring celebration, they should look to Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris who both do park decor, parades, and special entertainment for the season.
These princess pillows have each character’s autograph on the back. On another note, they should work on the lighting of Big Top Toys, it’s far too dark.
Let’s take a look around the World of Disney.
Purple everything is still happening. With so much else going on, we realize this isn’t big news, but it is eye catching.
Small World Tsum Tsums come packaged in the Small World facade. It’s super cute.
There’s all sorts of Small World stuff right now. cups, snow globes, note pads, plush, magnets and more.
Even more bubble wands for the kids, this time it’s Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey themed. With how many wands there are now, I’m surprised the whole resort isn’t covered in a thin film of bubble liquid.
Disney has gotten into the patch game.
I was complaining about the lack of men’s merchandise last week, so for today we decided to check out some of the ties that are available at the Dress Shop. Many of them match the dresses for sale, which is great if you want to match.
At $39.99 they aren’t cheap.
Of course, this is the Dress Shop and there are plenty of adorable dresses to look at. Here’s a closer look at the Trader Sam’s dress while we’re waiting on the bag to come back into stock.
There are even matching mother and daughter dresses.
For those who feel the need to accessorize, there are plenty of new(ish) mouse ear headbands to choose from.
Did today’s update make you want to visit the resort? We’ve got two special offers which might help you out.
The Hotel Indigo is offering a special MiceChatrate of $105/night for 2-23-19 through 2-28-19. To claim the deal, please email the hotel manager at [email protected] and ask for the MiceChat deal.
And if you need discount tickets to the parks, MiceChat’s Disneyland discount ticket partner has you covered.
MiceChat has partnered with Get Away Today to provide you with discount tickets to Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knott’s Berry Farm and other southern California attractions. Click through and find yourself a deal – HERE.
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