It was a wet Thanksgiving here in Southern California. But, for traditionally dry SoCal, there’s nothing quite as magical as a cloudburst, especially rain at Disneyland. Even with the holiday, there are a lot of projects announced and upcoming for the foreseeable future. So, here’s a little Black Friday surprise Disneyland Update for you . . .
Disneyland Holiday Crowds
When we visited the day before Thanksgiving, our weather apps told us to dress for rain. Although that ended up being mostly wrong, the showers hit with force for Thanksgiving day, washing out the expected holiday crowds. The parks were even closed an hour early:
We are adjusting our park hours by one hour tomorrow and Thursday for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, but that doesn’t mean the magic will be any less! Grab your rain gear and join us for some fun! pic.twitter.com/mcBVCTyODA
— Disneyland Today (@DisneylandToday) November 27, 2019
Although many kids are out of school for Thanksgiving, that didn’t result in big crowds for the Resort.
For intrepid fans, the rains bring the gift of a beautifully reflective park and short waits.
One interesting side-effect of rain is that the folks who are in the parks gravitate to indoor attractions and restaurants. On rainy days, Plaza Inn will sometimes assign seats to patrons.
But if you could stand a day of soggy shoes, you were rewarded with waits like this one at Pirates:
Fantasyland
The big news out of Fantasyland is the upcoming update to Snow White’s “Scary” Adventures. At the first of the year, the attraction will close to update the attraction to give it a happy ending and also to generally brighten various scenes.
Here’s our coverage of the news:
NEWS – Snow White’s Adventures to Be Less Scary at Disneyland
Tomorrowland
All sorts of projects continue in Tomorrowland . . .
The gardens have all been fenced in at the entry to the land of Tomorrow.
But bigger changes are on the way. A vintage version of the land will be crafted in this area around the first of the year.
Nearby, the entry murals have been under wraps for months. They don’t seem to have progressed much in weeks. The weather required the scrims to be rolled down briefly, exposing the project in the same exact condition it was in a few weeks ago during the Santa Ana winds:
A new emergency exit stairwell continues construction near Space Mountain, But it also appears to have stalled. We haven’t noticed any appreciable change in this project in weeks.
Did you catch David Koenig’s article about pressures to replace Autopia?
David Koenig: Proposals to Replace the Disneyland Autopia Are Misguided
Toontown
Something BIG is coming to ToonTown. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway construction continues to level backstage buildings in preparation for major vertical construction in 2020.
But just behind Mickey and Minnie’s houses, construction crews continue to remove backstage facilities and prep the area for a huge new show building.
Star Wars Land
We couldn’t wait to get our first looks at Star Wars land in the rain. While there weren’t many crowds, folks still lined up for Oga’s Cantina.
But Oga’s was still hopping . . .
I heard someone yell out “Oh look, Baby Yoda.” So I ran over to see. Sadly, it’s just regular Yoda merchandise that looks like Baby Yoda (The Child) from a distance. Still cute, though these aren’t new.
Mickey & Friends
It’s been a bit since we visited Mickey and Friends for a look at the construction and place-making there. The new Mickey icon ball has been installed to make it easier for guests to find the right escalators. There’s a Pixar ball near the escalator to the Pixar garage.
New signs mark the levels and tell you which garage you are parked in.
Giant mesh panels have been installed on the facade of Mickey and Friends near the escalators to bring it more in line with the look of the new Pixar Pals structure.
And the new Elevator bank STILL isn’t complete.
Thanksgiving Turkey
It was a messy Thanksgiving for those dining at Tortilla Jo’s in Downtown Disney as guests were evacuated from the restaurant into the rain for a fire alarm.
Gumball Rally 2020
Well, folks, it’s that time of year for you to schedule time off and make travel arrangements for the upcoming world-famous Gumball Rally! It’s a full day adventure at Disneyland to see who can ride the most attractions in a single day. It is set for February 8, 2020, and the ticket store is open! So grab a friend (or two, or three) and set up a team today.
If you attended D23 Expo this year, you may have seen our glorious first-place trophy featuring three attractions that turned 60 this year: the Matterhorn, the Subs, and the Monorail. Feast your eyes on the prize!
Act fast, our early-bird ticket price must go up on Monday!
You can find more info about Gumball Rally and purchase tickets HERE.
!!!Black Friday Disneyland Tickets and Travel Specials!!!
MiceChat and Get Away Today bring you the best theme park travel deals. Don’t miss our current Disney holiday travel deals from Get Away Today – HERE
This year, give the gift of travel and save even more with MiceChat. Be sure to use our links (or mention MiceChat when you call) for the lowest prices. AND – Here’s a special MiceChat extra. Use promo code MCD23 for an extra $10 off 2+ night rooms/tickets.
Let’s hear from you!
Does a Thanksgiving in the rain at Disneyland sound like a blessing or a curse to you? Do you like the new look for Tomorrowland? Is a lighter tone for Snow White needed or unnecessary?
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