Now that 2019 has come to a close, it’s time to look back on a year of spectacular growth for Disneyland. With a swirl of projects and construction this past year, it’s easy to forget just how much really happened. In the lead-up to the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, significant changes were made around Disneyland Park and throughout the Disneyland Resort as a whole. Let’s take a look at the top 6 projects at Disneyland Park in 2019. Nearly everything had at least something to do with Star Wars, a project that would change everything in one way or another.
6. Project “Stardust”
We can’t talk about 2019 without exploring Project Stardust. In anticipation of heightened crowds for the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Disneyland needed to deal with some traffic-prone areas of the park before the land opened in late May. So, Project Stardust was created. It was a massive budget and multi-phase series of construction projects around the Resort of varying scale.
Some of the major projects included building a new parking structure next to Mickey and Friends, creating the amazing Tropical Hideaway food court in Adventureland, turning some Adventureland shops into stroller parking, lowering the curbs around the central Hub of Disneyland, removing the Tomorrowland french fry rocks, and an extensive reshaping of many of Disneyland’s gardens. Other projects entailed replacing the cement along the center of Main Street with brickwork, a new less obstructive Adventureland sign, converting the Mark Twain River Boat dock into a multifunction attraction loading area AND dining space, creating a new Main Street digital information kiosk, and testing a new virtual fastpass system in Tomorrowland which will soon be rolled out across the Resort.
Many of the projects were to help resolve traffic choke-points around the park by widening walkways using space previously occupied by gardens, benches, and decor.
Several of the projects were hotly contested because expanding walkways meant clearing out large areas of Disneyland’s famed gardens. Countless trees, bushes and flowerbeds lost their homes as a result of the larger pedestrian walkways. But attention was given to creating aesthetically pleasing alternatives wherever possible.
Ultimately, these projects have made a significant difference in controlling traffic around Disneyland. This is especially noticeable at night with the uptick in attendance during the holiday nighttime spectaculars. So we can say that while Project Stardust was painful at times, it did achieve its goals in most areas of the park (though problem areas persist).
5. Mickey’s Mix Magic
The grand finale to a good Disneyland visit is spectacular fireworks. But in 2019, that changed a bit with the premiere of Mickey’s Mix Magic. To celebrate our favorite mice’s 90th birthdays (Mickey and Minnie’s birthday was observed in 2018, and celebrated throughout 2019), a new nighttime spectacular was created: Mickey’s Mix Magic. It was billed as “a high energy projection show” that features some of the most popular Disney tunes (from Frozen’s Let It Go, to the Haunted Mansion’s Grim Grinning Ghosts) remixed with a dance party beat.
This show created a revolution for Disneyland’s nighttime entertainment because it constrained fireworks solely to weekends and holidays instead of the nightly shows we had all become accustomed to since Disneyland’s 50th anniversary. During the week, Mix Magic would be displayed only with projection and lasers, and on the weekend it would be enhanced with fireworks.
The show initially ran from January through June, and returned as a filler show between seasonal program changes. It was a very interesting development for Disneyland’s nighttime spectaculars and definitely cost saving for the park. However, we aren’t sure that this is a long term solution for Disney as the projection-only version of the show did not prove to be popular with guests.
We think Mix Magic was cute enough, but its edgy vibe just didn’t jell with what guests expect from Disneyland. Once again, we find that whenever Disney strays too far from its nostalgic middle and treads on the hip and edgy side, they tend to fail. It’s why Remember Dreams Come True will be a classic for all time, but Mix Magic will eventually become a pale memory.
4. Sleeping Beauty’s Castle Refurbishment
Early in 2019, Disney cloaked the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle in construction scrims for an extensive refurbishment and new color scheme. Just a few weeks before the grand opening of Star Wars land, scrims began to come down around the castle, revealing its bold new colors.
The fairytale castle’s makeover was spearheaded by Imagineer Kim Irvine. This was her sixth castle refurbishment, and arguably one of the most important ones she’s done so far. Irvine chose to emphasize richer pinks and deeper blues, drawing back to Princess Aurora’s iconic dress (imagine the fairy godmothers shouting “make it pink!” and “make it blue!”), while honoring Herb Ryman’s original designs for the castle. Irvine also followed through with John Hench’s original vision of doing something more memorable than “everyday beige”.
Most striking are the vibrant cobalt turrets. Although, upon closer inspection, you’ll notice that the colors gradually lighten with the height of the castle. The change in colors is intended to make the castle appear taller. This effect is especially noticeable when viewing the castle from the far end of Main Street, as you can much more clearly see the castle now from the Train Station.
3. A New Destination on Star Tours
In mid-December, Star Tours added a sequence to the attraction inspired by the conclusion of the Star Wars Skywalker saga, Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker. Passengers will take a perilous journey to a new location, Kef Bir. The ocean moon contains the remains of the Death Star, which passengers will get to see before diving below the depths for an encounter with an iconic Star Wars monster. But it’s a special message from Lando Calrissian that provides an emotional punch to this version of Star Tours. For our thoughts about the newest Star Tours adventure, be sure to check out the article below.
With this addition, there are now more than 100 story combinations that guests can experience on this attraction, and remains one of the most popular rides in the park. Although Star Tours has been around since the 80s, people flock to it because it provides guests that “Star Wars feeling.
For an interesting afternoon read, check out the controversial editorial below on why we feel Star Tours is a superior Star Wars experience than the new Millennium Falcon ride in Galaxy’s Edge.
Editorial: Why Star Tours is a Better Star Wars Attraction Than Millennium Falcon
2. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
On May 31st, 2019, Disneyland gave Star Wars fans an experience they’d only been able to dream about before, visiting an actual Star Wars city. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge brought the world of Star Wars within reach of human hands with a 14-acre expansion to Disneyland (the most expensive expansion in the park’s history). Guests can now visit a weathered spaceport on the edge of the galaxy itself.
Unfortunately, those huge crowds we spoke about in the Project Stardust section never materialized. The land opened with only one attraction (with the second one coming later this month on January 17th, 2020), a couple of quick-service eateries, a small shopping marketplace, and the first publicly available bar at Disneyland (granted, you need to make reservations to get in). So, for its massive amount of land, there just doesn’t feel like there’s much to do in all that space.
The planet of Batuu is home to a cast of characters, both familiar (specifically from the Star Wars Episodes 7-9) and new faces. The land is split into three distinct areas, with bases for the First Order on one side and the Resistance on the other end. In the middle are the Marketplace and the Millennium Falcon attraction.
Despite this land’s heightened level of theming and detail, it opened to mixed reviews. We are unsure if guests were just waiting for Rise of the Resistance to open, were scared away by talk of expected massive crowds, or if perhaps the majority of guests just don’t think of a scary spaceport when they think of the Happiest Place on Earth. Perhaps it’s a mix of those things. But we do think that Disney will eventually figure it out and add the entertainment, music, and life that will bring the land more in line with what theme park guests expect and demand. The first test of that will come in just two weeks when Disney’s most ambitious-ever attraction opens in the land’s Resistance Outpost at Disneyland (Rise of the Resistance is already operational at the identical Star Wars land in Walt Disney World).
While impressive in detail and scale, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge left us feeling disappointed. It lacks the charm, repeatability, energy, music, and “Star Wars feeling” of the original films. The Star Wars we grew up with was nowhere to be found. The only recognizable thing was the Millennium Falcon. This is Disney’s first land to exist in a specific moment in time, so fixing the problems will likely require Disney loosening up its time constraints to allow beloved characters, places, and themes to make their way into this land.
With all that said, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is an incredible display of Imagineering’s ability to create an immersive experience at a virtually unparalleled level of theming. The premier attraction of the land, Rise of the Resistance, opens this month on the 17th, and it’s a groundbreaking, state-of-the-art attraction that redefines the theme park experience. Star Wars land is full of potential, and we’re hoping that in the near future all the amazing things promised by Disney over the years will actually make their way into the land. Free-roaming droids, walk-around aliens, character stunt shows, interactive entertainment, a 3rd attraction, and a dinner theater were all cut before opening and their loss is clearly felt and would go a very long way toward fixing the major issues with Disney’s biggest disappointment in years.
To see all of our coverage from the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge last year and the most current info, click HERE.
1. Return of the Main Street Electrical Parade
Surprise! Our biggest news item of the year wasn’t Star Wars . . . Instead, it’s the one thing that turned Disney’s dismal attendance around . . . In dazzling lights, and electro-synthe-magnetic musical sound. . .
The true star of 2019 summer season was the return of a longstanding Disneyland fan-favorite spectacular, the Main Street Electrical Parade. When the summer of Star Wars failed to bring in the expected crowds, something drastic and nostalgic was called on to hook Disney fans and reel them back into the park. So, the ancient and technologically outdated Main Street Electrical Parade was trotted out of retirement to the shocking delight of Disneyland fans everywhere.
The Main Street Electrical Parade had its first limited return back in 2017 (returning to Disneyland for the first time since 1996), but there was no immediate word of bringing the parade out of retirement after it returned to storage in 2017. With its return in 2019, Disney described it as their “perennial parade,” and it worked like a charm to bring massive crowds into the park on a nightly basis.
Although it left almost as quickly as it arrived (the MSEP was only scheduled from August 2 through September 30, 2019), it drew crowds that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge could not. The park would frequently fill to capacity at night so guests could watch the parade, along with the other nighttime spectaculars, Mickey’s Mix Magic and Fantasmic. Meanwhile, the attraction in Galaxy’s Edge continued to languished with minimal waits.
For now, we don’t know when, or if, the parade will return again. Although, the very definition of “perennial” implies it will be back eventually. But what we were wondering about is . . . WHAT HAPPENED TO PAINT THE NIGHT?! Was it just too expensive to bring back? Too difficult to turn around on short notice? Or did Disney realize that they needed something truly nostalgic to bring a balance to the force?
Are You Ready for a Disney Getaway?
One of the best things that happened to us in 2019 was meeting Get Away Today, who provides our readers with discounted Disneyland tickets and travel packages. For Discounted theme park tickets and travel, always start HERE(Get Away Today) (When calling, always mention MiceChat so you’ll get your special rates and deals!)
Let’s Hear From You
What were your top Disneyland projects of 2019? Was it a good year in spite of the attendance issues (or perhaps even because of them for those of you who took advantage of a summer of low wait times). Was Galaxy’s Edge a stand out for you or a disappointment? Let us know in the comments below.
We’ll have a look back at Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney for you soon.
Happy New Year to all of our readers. We hope you’ve noticed our expanded coverage in 2019. It was our biggest year ever, and we have you to thank for it. As a special thank you gift, we are giving away a series of prizes this week and next. The Thomas Kinkade paintings have been claimed, but today we have a well-crafted hand puppet inspired by Dug the dog from Disney/PIXAR’s Up:
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