Happy 20th anniversary to Disney California Adventure! If you were a time traveler who last saw the park in 2001, you wouldn’t recognize the place today! Today’s update celebrates Valentines Day, Lunar New Year, the return of dining in California Adventure, and some operations changes as the resort. Plus, the first “Legacy Passholder” opportunity launched on Friday, we’ll show you what you are (or aren’t) really missing . . .
DCA 20th Anniversary
Major attractions don’t normally open in the dead of winter . . . but Disney California Adventure did. And although greatness was promised, the park landed with a thud heard around the world. Instead of guests being turned away due to limited capacity, the park was practically empty on opening day. And it stayed that way for years. . . until . . .
Let’s take a look at 20 years of constant change, in which a park derided as “UniversalBerryFlags” was turned into a park worthy of the Disney name. Our own Andy Castro, who covered the transformation of the park on a week to week basis has created the ultimate retrospective. You’ve forgotten what you thought you knew:
Legacy Passholder Opportunities
Friday started Disneyland’s first “Legacy Passholder” opportunity. If you had a Disneyland Annual Pass which was valid on or after March 13th, 2020, you will continue to receive passholder discounts (up to 30% Monday through Thursday and the regular rates on the weekends). There will also be periodic opportunities or events. The first of these is a WandaVision photo opportunity at Mickey’s PhilharMagic in Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure.
Enter next to Award Wieners.
Cast Members will check to see that you have a pass at the entry to PhilharMagic. You’ll then be directed around the outside of the building to a photo backdrop with a couch in front of it.
Disney staff can’t take a photo for you right now, so be prepared to have someone take a photo for you, take a selfie, or use a little stand they have placed just in front of the TVs and set the timer on your camera.
There was also a limited supply of WandaVision posters being given away.
Disney Dining Returns
Also returning last week was dining to select locations in Disney California Adventure. Carthay Circle is now offering outdoor table service. Reservations definitely ately required here. You can book a spot on Disneyland.com or in the Disneyland app.
Also reopening are Award Wieners and Smokejumpers.
Award Wieners also has a Mickey bowl of apple pie funnel cake fries. They might look like dog food, but they taste delicious.
Outdoor vending has reopened as well. Popcorn, churros, frozen treats, hot dogs and more can now be found.
A little alcove on the side of Avengers Campus has the largest concentration of carts.
This is the spot for specialty sippers and popcorn buckets.
Seating to consume your purchases is available just across the way in front of the Grizzly Peak waterfall.
The Hollywood Land Churro cart has been moved to a spot close to where the Red Car Trolley was last week.
The Red Car has moved to the Trolley stop near the entry of the park.
Some of the outdoor merchandise carts have also been moved. A group of them have been lined up next to Carthay Circle with a single entry and exit.
Until the state allows regular theme park operations, what sorts of activities would you like to see the Disneyland Resort add next? More shopping and dining in other places in the resort? A food and wine festival? Socially distanced tours of Disneyland? Be creative and let us know what you think they could do within their current constraints.
UPDATE: Disney has confirmed that a special ticketed Food and Beverage event will be returning to California Adventure in March! Read more:
Breaking News – Food & Beverage Event Planned for Disney California Adventure
Star Wars Store Clutters Up
Last week we shared that a new sign and some Star Wars details had been added to the outside of the old Rainforest Cafe. The space is being converted into a new Star Wars Trading Post. Here’s what it looked like:
Since then they’ve added a whole bunch more stuff, camouflage, antenna, Rey’s speeder, a crate, and other items. . .
They’ve also draped clusters of wire and cables.
Not too much longer to wait. The new Star Wars Trading Post opens on February 19th.
California Adventure and Downtown Disney Walkthrough
Dusty takes you with him on a walk around California Adventure, shows you the WandaVision photo opp, the reopened restaurants, new ODV garden, and then through Downtown Disney to the upcoming Star Wars Trading Post. It’s a beautiful clear morning at DCA . . .
Theme Park Reopening Legislation Proposed
Things are starting to move in California. As Disney and other mega-sites race to vaccinate the most vulnerable populations, a bipartisan group of state legislators are looking at moving theme parks from the Yellow Tier for reopening to the much more attainable Orange Tier (though that could still take months).
For more about this bill, take a look at the article linked below:
California Legislators Chart Course for Earlier Theme Park Reopenings
Meanwhile, local zoos, museums, aquariums, family fun centers, and restaurants have already reopened outdoor activities. Knott’s is working hard on an upcoming Boysenberry Festival which should be announced very soon for an opening hopefully at the end of this month.
Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom said that he sees a light at the end of the tunnel. His tone has definitely changed since the height of the pandemic over the holidays. Now, with so much already open and reopening, calls will come for theme parks to be treated like other businesses in the state.
We do think that as concern about vulnerable groups wanes, and ICU capacity increases, reopening tiers will get adjusted whether or not the new legislation passes.
Which tier do you think theme parks should reopen?
Will You Be Our Valentine?
We asked the MiceChat Facebook group to share what they thought was the most romantic spot at the Disneyland Resort in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, and we certainly got a lot of responses! Y’all really love the Valentine’s heart in Town Square at Disneyland— and for good reason, it’s so cute! We also had some creative interpretations of the theme too. Let’s take a look at a few of the submissions this week . . .
What’s the most romantic spot in Disneyland? Share your photo(s) and we might just select them to be featured in our Monday Disneyland Update!
Posted by MiceChat.com | The Happiest Place in Cyberspace… on Saturday, February 6, 2021
Starting things off right, with the flower garden in front of Main Street Station at the front of the park. Although the pink heart outline is a simple addition, it certainly sets the stage for a romantic Disneyland.
Once on Main Street, you’ll find an eclectic collection of Valentine’s decor and merchandise. It’s one part Victorian antique and one part modern.
As we’ve noted before, the best part of going to a shop at the Disneyland Resort is looking up! You never know what you’ll see during any of the holidays, and Valentine’s is no exception.
And there’s ALWAYS something to buy.
Love doesn’t always have to be romantic. Platonic love is a real thing! And there’s no better way to enjoy a day with your friend(s) than a trip to Disneyland.
There are also little out of the way spots in the parks that are romantic spots.
Thank you to everyone who shared a photo with us this week! We always love seeing your photos, and this week sparked the love for Disneyland in us. This was only a handful of photos that were submitted, so to see the full selection, be sure to stop by the MiceChat Facebook group!
We’ve also got a little special something for you! We recently featured Lunar New Year photos from our readers, and we’ve got something extra. One of our readers shared this beautiful video of Lunar New Year from the Year of the Dog, and we thought you’d like to see it too. Without further ado, enjoy:
AND, congratulations to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on their big Super Bowl win. Disney World celebrated by lighting the castle in Buccaneer colors, alternating with a tribute to first responders:
Super Bowl LV Champions! ? ❤️? Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park lights up in honor of the Tampa Bay @Buccaneers winning the big game tonight and then turns blue in recognition of the nation’s health care heroes. ? https://t.co/5lLGvhUp7T #DisneyMagicMoments #SBLV pic.twitter.com/9AeelxUvbi
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) February 8, 2021
AND . . . of course . . . Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski want you to know they’re going to Disney World . . .
Hey, @TomBrady and @RobGronkowski, you and the @Buccaneers just won the Super Bowl. ? What are you going to do next? https://t.co/63Gbfs61ct #WaltDisneyWorld #SBLV pic.twitter.com/A8aaiZWMEp
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) February 8, 2021
Disney Travel Deals
(Discount Theme Park Tickets and Travel Packages)
It’s time to give the family something to look forward to. Our travel partners at Get Away Today are here to help you with that by planning a future theme park vacation. There are all sorts of new theme park tickets and travel deals, including a 2 free days offer at Walt Disney World, hotel discounts, ticket deals to various theme parks: More details and to get a quote (HERE)
NEW VACATION SAVINGS PLAN WITH PERKS!!! Want to start saving for a big family vacation but aren’t sure where or when you’ll be ready to go? Get Away Today has created a plan which rewards you for saving up for your trip now. Place as little as $200 down and get free travel protection, travel credits, and more! Learn more and start saving now HERE!
Let’s Hear From You
Well, you made it to the end! Between the 20th anniversary of DCA and remembering what Disneyland was like for Valentine’s Day, we sure are missing the parks. How does the new Star Wars shop look to you? Were you one of the Legacy Passholders who took a picture at the WandaVision photo op? Do you think that the legislation will pass to allow theme parks to operate in a more reachable tier? We’d love to hear your thoughts below.
But don’t stop reading now . . . we have an EPIC look at 20 years of DCA. From Steps in Time to Golden Dreams, every original attraction in Disney California Adventure was either replaced, rethemed, or updated in some way. Remember with us here . . .
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