It’s been a magical three weeks at Disneyland, low crowds, easy park navigation, and just being back in the middle of the magic. But the window of opportunity to experience an uncrowded park is rapidly closing and about to slam shut. Disney has received some MAJOR news that will have the resort returning to nearly normal in just a few weeks! Plus, attractions and restaurants returning to operation, and a MARVELous new land just about to make a splashy debut.

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

We’ve been able to speak with some senior people in the theme park industry about what to expect in the days to come. This is an update you’ll want to read all the way through.   

 

Most Theme Park Restrictions Expire June 15th

When Disneyland Reopened in the Orange Tier of the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, the parks were restricted to 25% guest capacity, no more than 50% ride and shopping capacity, and NO indoor queuing. Of course, all the regular safety procedures were in place: 6′ distancing, masks, sanitation stations, extra cleaning, etc. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)
Although Disneyland could have allowed some out-of-state visitors, they’ve been waiting for June 15th.

While the park reopened well under that 25% capacity cap, they quickly ramped up to meet it. And just about the time the park reached its 25% goal, the county moved to the less restrictive Yellow Tier, allowing 35% guest capacity and 50% restaurant capacity (indoors, although Disney didn’t really take advantage of this), but no change in attraction capacity. 

Disney wasted no time bumping up park availability and you no doubt noticed that previously sold-out park days suddenly opened back up again, even for the very popular grand opening day of Avenger’s Campus. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)
This was Cars Land on Saturday afternoon

But all of that is a drop in the bucket for what will happen on June 15th. That’s the date that the state’s tier system expires and we move to a new phase that’s very close to normal operation. 

What will change on or after June 15th? 

In general, beginning June 15, all sectors listed in the current Blueprint may return to usual operations, with the limited exceptions noted below for “Mega Events.” While it was initially unclear if theme parks were considered “Mega Events,” a follow-up announcement from the state did confirm that all of the following would need to comply with some additional requirements post-June 15th: Mega events include conventions, shows, nightclubs, concerts, sporting events, theme parks, fairs, festivals, large races, and parades when attended by more than 5,000 participants or spectators indoors, or more than 10,000 participants or spectators outdoors. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

We spoke with the amazing Sabrina Demayo Lockhart, Executive Director of the California Attractions and Parks Association (CAPA). She wanted to share the following on the recent news: 

“The latest state guidance gives amusement parks a path to get more people back to work and provides visitors more options for safe family fun this summer. The safety of amusement park guests and our staff remain a top priority.  As the state economy reopens, amusement parks will update their own safe and responsible plans for operation based on state and local guidelines.“

While not all of the state guidance is crystal clear, we believe the following things will/won’t be allowed for the time being in theme parks (under the “Mega Events” category):

  • Out-of-State Guests – ALLOWED.  California will begin following the national CDC guidance on travel beginning June 15th. It is our understanding that out-of-state guests would be allowed after that date. Disneyland has NOT confirmed when they intend to start allowing guests from outside California, but we think it will be on the 15th or VERY shortly thereafter. Stay tuned for an official announcement which could come at any time. 
  • Vaccine VerificationREQUIRED. But it’s not as onerous as it sounds. Because mega venues like Disneyland frequently draw guests from outside the local community, and because we still haven’t reached heard immunity yet, the state wants to discourage those who haven’t been vaccinated from traveling. However, Disneyland will not be required to track vaccinations beyond having guests “self attest” that they have met the requirement. 
  • Park Capacity – UNLIMITED.  You may not be thrilled with this item. It means that the parks will be very busy on the most in-demand days.  However, there’s a flip side to this that’s also highly desirable…
  • Ride, Shop, and Restaurant Capacity – FULL CAPACITY.  So, while there will certainly be more guests than the current cap of 35%, rides, restaurants, etc. can increase to their full capacity.  That will certainly help soak up the extra bodies.  
  • Physical Distancing – NO RESTRICTION. This will come as a shock after being drummed into us all for well over a year, but parks will not be required to enforce 6′ physical distancing anymore. Expect Disneyland not to give up on distancing completely, but rather than strict 6′ distancing rules, we think they’ll follow Walt Disney World lead and simply use a generic “For Your Safety, Maintain Physical Distancing.” A general rule of thumb many parks across the country are following loosely is 3′ of distance between groups for the time being. But that’s not unlike a normal day in the parks. No touching strangers is a good rule of thumb.  
  • Indoor Queuing – ALLOWED.  This is HUGE news for Disneyland in particular, which has more indoor queues than most other parks in the state. The massive queuing issues with Indy should be resolved, and guests will be able to spend more time out of the sun on ride queues for Space Mountain, Roger Rabbit, Splash Mountain, Star Tours, etc. 
  • Indoor ShowsALLOWED.  But we don’t expect a quick return for big expensive shows. Mickey and the Magical Map and the Frozen musical in DCA were officially canceled during the height of the park closures when everything seemed so up in the air. That doesn’t mean the shows can’t be rebooted or replaced, but it will take some time.  

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

But Fireworks are something the park would love to relaunch (at least for the busy seasons). And World of Color is a very cost effective show for the resort and likely to return after repairs are made to the show infrastructure (which deteriorated during the shutdown). 

  • Masks – Required.  This one is a little bit complicated. While most sectors of the economy will NOT require vaccinated individuals to wear a mask outdoors (including shopping districts such as Downtown Disney), they will still be required indoors in crowded places. However, it does appear that “Mega Events” such as Disneyland WILL need to continue requiring masks both indoors and outdoors. We are waiting to see how Disneyland will implement this one. While they could probably get away with not requiring masks outdoors at Downtown Disney, it might be easier to explain and get guest compliance if they simply have a single rule for the entire resort. 

Keep in mind that everything above is simply the new guidance. This is what theme parks will/won’t be allowed to do, but they will need to communicate their actual new policies with guests prior to the 15th of June.  Disneyland, for example, has already made one change to its policy that was never required by the state – temperature screenings will be discontinued on June 15th.  

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

What Do The New Theme Park Rules Mean For You?

It’s mostly good news folks. Your trip will be easier, there will be more capacity, it will be very easy to get park reservations, more workers will return to the resort, more restaurants and rides will reopen, and things will feel very much like normal again other than continued use of masks.  

We DO expect Disney to continue using the theme park reservation system for quite some time. Not only does it allow Disney to keep the park from becoming too overcrowded, it also lets them know exactly how many guests will be in the parks so they can be properly staffed (something which was just guesswork in the past).  It’s a huge asset to the resort, and now that Disneyland has made buying tickets and getting a reservation MUCH easier, we think guests will benefit from reservations sticking around. 

Your Essential Guide to Disneyland Tickets, Park Reservations, Tips, and Planning!

But that doesn’t mean that everything is suddenly going to be perfect on the 15th, there will be many bumps on the road to normal. First, getting the park fully staffed will be a challenge. Every cast member in attractions and some other departments are expected to be called back to work. But with an approximate 20+% of cast not taking Disney up on the offer to return, there’s a lot of brand new workers that will need to be hired. A job listing for for part-time attractions positions was even briefly posted to the Disney Careers site already  

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)
Cast Members wave to guests on Disneyland’s reopening morning

Another issue is dining. While the social distancing of tables will likely be reduced, there still aren’t enough tables for everyone wanting to drink a bottle of water, have a snack, down that ice cream sundae, or crunch on that delicious (and addictive) Disneyland popcorn. With masks still required outside for now, every bench and curb is likely to remain a designated dining area for some time to come. So Disney will simply have to get every restaurant open and create additional seating areas to meet the need. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse) , Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

Expect little things to start reopening on or after 15th. And while you may not think much of these attractions and services, they do make a difference in the overall scheme of things. The Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-through, Star Wars Launch Bay, Mickey and Minnie’s houses, Animation Academy, etc. will all provide escape from the sun and additional attraction capacity. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

But the thing we are most longing for, and which Disneyland currently feels the lesser for not having, is music and entertainment. As wonderful as it has been just to be back in the original Magic Kingdom, the loss of entertainment and joyful live music has been a huge loss to the experience. We hope Disneyland can get back to that important part of the magic soon.  

Disneyland Crowds

Last time we updated you on Disneyland attendance the park had just increased daily capacity to 15,000. Last week, that number had jumped to 25,000 (a little less on Sunday). As you’ll see from the photos below, we felt the increase. But, even though it looks terrible at times, the actual waits at Disneyland really weren’t too bad compared to days of old. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)
That line on the right along the buildings is for Starbucks

Main Street is deceptive. Mid-day it’s mostly empty. There was a long line for Starbucks, but the street was otherwise mostly uncrowded. Until evening when everything gets busier.  With the park closing at 9pm, expect Main Street to be busiest in the last two hours of operation. 

The Guest Relations reader board showed waits of 20 minutes to an hour. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

But waits of that length mean very long-looking lines right now due to social distancing. The star Tours line started near the front of the land and then switchbacked a few times outdoors near StarTrader. Of course, once inside, you breeze right on through to your star speeder. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse) , Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

New Orleans Square became the usual mess of exterior queues and roped off pathways. So many guests complaining about crowds. Sadly, it all looks much worse than it really is.  

Through traffic has just two options: 1) navigate along river’s edge, or 2) take the narrow path along the back of the land near French Market. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse) , Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

This conga line stretched back and forth several times from Pirates of the Caribbean to nearly Haunted Mansion. We can’t say it enough, the park really needs to get a handle on this. It’s a terrible impact on the land and on guests. All for an attraction that should have the highest capacity in the park. We think the virtual queue should move from Indy (which won’t need it after June 15th) to Pirates.  

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

Of course the Millennium Falcon also suffers from crowds since there’s no indoor queuing. We caught the line in front of Ogas Cantina. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

It’s a little hard to see in the photo below, but there’s a huge switchback of guests behind the Falcon and snaking backstage. But, again, you are simply seeing a line which has been displaced from inside to outside.  

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

Fantasyland also had its share of views that made things feel much more crowded than they really were. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)
Where did all these people come from?

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

A massive line for Small World which filled the parade route in front of the attraction. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

This is by far the biggest line we’ve seen for this attraction since the parks reopened.  Hundreds of guests.  

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse) , Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

In the heart of the land you’ll find some pinch-points for crowd-flow and lots of strollers in the way. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

Peter Pan continues to draw big crowds. This line stretched in front of the castle and along the parade route. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

And the beautiful carrousel garden was nearly completely obstructed with a makeshift stroller parking lot.  

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

The 30+ minute queue for the Carrousel stretched all the way around the attraction and then some.  

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)
The cast member with the sign is on the 2nd ring of this line!

The virtual queue test at Indy isn’t going well. In our opinion, a virtual queue should have you wait in line away from the attraction so that when you return you don’t have to wait in a long line. Here at Indy, they’ve made it so you’ll wait in the virtual queue, and then in a crazy extended physical queue for the attraction as well. That’s making folks wait twice! In the case of a good friend of ours, it was a two hour wait in the virtual queue and another 40 minutes in the physical queue. It should be easier than this. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse) , Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

And parts of Adventureland similarly felt like the old days. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)But all those lines at Disneyland really didn’t result in many waits over 30-40 minutes. Though the big rides could easily hit 60 minutes at times, there were other times when their waits would drop by as much as half. Big Thunder can be an hour wait, or as little as 15 minutes. Keep an eye on wait times and know that they are often over-inflated. 

Over in DCA it was much worse. The small park doesn’t offer enough variety for guests to be spread out. So, Soarin’, Grizzly, Guardians of the Galaxy, and sometimes Midway Mania and Incredicoaster will hit the hour mark. And, yes, that’s a 120 minute wait for Radiator Springs Racers: 

As at Disneyland, many rides have lines that start quite far from the actual attraction. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

The queue for Radiator Springs Racers is all outdoors, and with the reduced ride capacity, it moves verrrrrrryy slowly. Disney should absolutely make this attraction FastPass only (without standby) or implement a virtual queue to keep the wait under 30 minutes. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse) , Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

Soarin’ had an hour long wait, but once inside, you’ll feel all alone. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse) , Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

Loading was interesting. They can seat two parties in the front of each glider (with a plexiglass panel between) and in the 3rd row. They appear to leave the middle row empty. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

Another long line at Guardians of the Galaxy. But indoors, you quickly move through all the pre-shows (no stopping), with just a brief wait at the elevator door for your vehicle to arrive. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

Similar to many other attractions, a row is left empty between guests. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse) , Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

When the doors open at the top of the attraction, you can see Avengers Campus below (for a brief moment before your big drop). 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

The gift shop has been cleared of many displays to make exiting easier. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

Even the Starbucks (Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe) had a long line for the first time we’ve noticed since the parks reopened. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)
This line actually stretched almost to Soarin’. There was a confusing spot where the Starbucks, Smoke Jumpers, and Soarin’ queues all meet.  

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

Expanded Hours

The parks just expanded their hours from 10 hour days (9am to 7pm) to 12 hour days (9am to 9pm). Starting July 1 Disneyland will stay open two hours longer (8am to 10pm). On July 1 DCA will also open an hour earlier (8am), but it will close at 9pm. This does have us wondering if there might be 4th of July fireworks after all (the park usually launches fireworks around 9:30 pm).  

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

Choo-Choo Where Are You? 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

Due to the staffing crunch, the Disneyland Railroad operates only until about 2:30 pm each day. Additionally, they have been loading only from ToonTown. The train still stops at other stations, where you can exit, but only the one loading zone. 

Hungry Bear Patio Open for Seating Only 

Well, we think so. We had some trouble finding seating on Friday last afternoon and were told to walk from French Market to Hungry Bear. When we got there, the seating area had been closed. We don’t know why they don’t just keep it open all the time. The park has a general shortage of available seating. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)
So close, and yet so far away

Dining at peak hours is seriously lacking in capacity. We do hope they can get Hungry Bear, Pizza Planet, and Docking Bay open by June 15th.  All those extra people is just going to make the dining woes worse unless dining keeps up. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)
Pizza Planet may look open with so many guests sitting at the tables out front, but it’s not.

The large back patio of Pizza Planet has already been prepped for reopening. Tables are 6′ apart and every other booth has a sign saying that it is unavailable.  

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

Returning to Orbit

There are two big rides which previously had no firm return date which are now officially scheduled.

  • Buzz Lightyear Returns June 26

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

  • Matterhorn Returns July 2

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

The park really needs the capacity of another major attraction, so these two can’t return soon enough. 

Before we head over to Avengers Campus, Matt Bumgardner and I take you on an hour and a half tour of Disneyland. Along the way, we discuss the latest theme park guidance and how crowds currently look in the park:  

Avengers Assemble

Leave it to Disney to figure out a way to get you to pay extra to ride an attraction. While not required, new premium priced web shooters will help power up your game play: 

Disneyland News: Avengers Campus Spider-Man Ride Goes Pay-to-Play

But that’s not all for the new Spider-Man attraction. When the land opens, the attraction will have a virtual queue system similar to Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Virtual queue enrollment for a boarding group opens twice a day at 7am and 12pm. There will be no standby for Web Slingers, so best of luck getting a boarding pass!

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

Speaking of Avengers Campus, Google Earth has updated the satellite photos of the Disneyland Resort to include the brand new land. Here are a few shots of the land (that were clearly taken before the parks reopened).

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse) , Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse) , Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse) , Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse) , Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

If it’s a little hard to make sense of where everything goes, that’s ok! Disney shared the map of Avengers Campus and loaded it into the Disneyland app. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

Last week we speculated that they’d be using the Hyperion Theater patio for PYM Test Kitchen overflow dining. Looks like we were correct. The patio is now labeled as PYM dining: 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

Legacy Passholder Tasting Terrace

This week we took a trip to the Legacy Passholder Alfresco Tasting Terrace on the upper patio of the winery. This location is exclusively available to Legacy Passholders and their guests. The Alfresco Tasting Terrace is an oasis from the rest of the park with glorious views and a relaxing vibe. Perfect for grabbing a drink or two and sharing some hearty snacks (you can easily make a meal of it). 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

The whole space has been redressed. The artwork and murals are all inspired by Disney California Adventure. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse) , Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse) , Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

Space is very limited, so if you’re interested in visiting the Alfresco Tasting Terrace, it is very important that you make reservations! If you haven’t linked your Legacy Passholder status with your Disneyland App, use the customer service chat function to contact guest services and they’ll help you. It’s good to have all that taken care of before your Disneyland visit anyway, but you’ll need to have that status to make a reservation here. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

At the Alfresco Tasting Terrace, there is a selection of specially created cocktails themed to attractions at DCA. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)
The “Ultra Flight” is a trio of gin drinks. Start with the sweet and work your way to the herbal. Lovely. And for the trivia minded, “Ultra Flight” was the code name for the Soarin’ attraction when it was being designed!
, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)
The 5-4-3-2-1 is a Tiki-esque drink inspired by California Screamin’

There’s even a pizza-flavored Bloody Mary – The Pizza Oom Mow Wow

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)
Pizza Oom Mow Wow Bloody Mary is part drink and part meal!

There’s also a very refreshing, and not overly sweet, non-alcoholic drink inspired by Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)
A Bug’s Drink is a delightful watermelon and apple concoction

Now that we’ve looked at the drinks, let’s move onto the snacks. A trip to the Tasting Terrace is really supposed to be a quick break before heading back into the parks or onto a more substantial meal. The eats here are snack sized. If you are making this your meal, you’ll want to order a couple of items. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)
Charcuterie plate
, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)
Cauliflower ceviche. It’s got a strong lime kick to it. Delicious, and all veggie, no fish here.
, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)
The meatballs are stuffed with mozzarella. Delish!
, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)
Flatbread with duck. I didn’t even realize it was duck until after, or I may not have eaten it. But I’m so glad I did.

Everything we had was delicious. It was the perfect pick-me-up for a long weekend in the parks. If you’re a Legacy Passholder and there’s space available, the Alfresco Tasting Terrace is a neat retreat to recoup and plan out the rest of your day over some well-crafted cocktails and an array of appetizers. 

Downtown Disney

Although most of our attention has reverted back to the theme parks, there’s a bit of Downtown Disney news today as well.

With the uptick in capacity at the Disneyland Resort theme parks, we’ve noticed that Downtown Disney has felt busier as a result, especially at the end of the day when all the table service restaurants fill up.  

Marceline’s Confectionary continues to be popular. To help move things along quicker, there’s a new “menu” to see what candied goods you can buy before you make it into the storefront. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)
Sold-out items for the day are covered with a Mickey icon. It’s a useful idea, but you’d think that Disney would find a way to make a webpage version that updates as items are sold out/replenished rather than relying on a laminated paper sheet

At long last, Sprinkles Cupcakes has returned to Downtown Disney! Although the shop still had Christmas decorations in it last week, the cupcakery is open for business again starting today, May 24. For those of us that would like to get a cupcake while at Disneyland (or for some of us, in and out of the park), this is great news. And just a tip for those of you who just want a little sweet treat and not a whole cupcake, Sprinkles offers Frosting shots! 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

Mysterious work continues at the old location of The VOID. We’re not quite sure what is happening behind the newly installed door, but we’re definitely curious. It’s quite possible that this locating is being divided, as a new door was added to what was a display window before. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

.

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

This & That

We’re not done quite yet! There are still a few more stories about Disneyland and other theme parks that we wanted to include in today’s article.

Welcome Back!

Disneyland has officially been open for nearly a month now, and we’re still pretty emotional about it. For many of us, returning to Disneyland after over a year has been like a homecoming— coming back to our place of magic and memories. Our videographer, Trevor Perez, has captured those feelings in his new video highlighting the moment guests returned to the park for the first time in over a year. Take two and a half minutes to watch this short video, you’ll be so glad you did: 

https://youtu.be/GXJLz4PzMv8https://youtu.be/GXJLz4PzMv8

Disneyland Hotel & Trader Sam’s/Tongaroa Terrace Reopening July 2nd

The Disneyland Hotel will be partially reopening July 2nd. It will be the last of the Disneyland Resort hotels to reopen. The Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is already open and the Paradise Pier Hotel will reopen on June 15. When the Disneyland Hotel reopens, there are some new upgrades to enjoy. Rooms have been updated with new platform beds, plus there is new upholstery and carpeting with a fireworks pattern. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

Trader Sam’s and Tangaroa Terrace, plus the Coffeehouse will also be returning starting July 2nd. Trader Sam’s will be a very nice addition to the mix of restaurants and bars around Downtown Disney, and Tongaroa Terrace will serve as the primary quick-serve food location for the Disneyland Hotel. However, there is no news regarding the reopening of Steakhouse 55 or Goofy’s Kitchen yet.

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

For more about the Disneyland Hotel’s reopening and refurbishment, take a look at the article below.

Disneyland Hotel Reopening July 2nd Including Trader Sam’s & Other Hotel News

Disneyland Grad Nite Returning 2022

Many things were disrupted between 2020 and now, and one of the casualties was grad night events. The last time Disneyland hosted a Grad Nite was back in 2019. Boy, time really flies when you’ve stayed at home for over a year! But starting 2022, the popular Grad Nite events will be returning to the Disneyland Resort. 

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)

Knott’s Kicks Off Its 100th Anniversary

Knott’s Berry Farm has been a longstanding icon of SoCal history. The theme park marked its 100th anniversary quietly last year over the course of its shutdown, but the official celebration is finally underway! This whole summer is going to be one long party for Knott’s. With the unveiling of a brand new attraction, Knott’s Bear-y Tales: Return to the Fair, plus the return of the popular Summer Nights event, there are a lot of ways to enjoy a day at the Farm. We were at Knott’s for the kickoff of their 100th anniversary, and we’re so excited to be planning our return trip soon. Take a look at all the ways Knott’s has cooked up some fun in the article below.

Knott’s Berry Farm 100th Anniversary Harvests Music and Nostalgic Fun


NEW Disneyland Tickets and Hotel Discounts JUST FOR YOU!

Disneyland has reopened and there’s never been a better time to visit the Happiest Place on Earth. With reduced crowds, it honestly feels like a dream come true for a theme park fan. Our partners at Get Away Today have worked tirelessly to create the BEST theme park and hotel deals for our readers. You can purchase theme park tickets (that are good through 2022!) HERE and book a hotel/ticket package for your family vacation HERE!

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)
Click the image for more information on Disneyland tickets!

ANAHEIM HOTELS PROMOTION

In an effort to promote local tourism, Get Away Today has a special promotion for select Anaheim hotels. Get a $100 Booking Bonus ($50 Disney Gift Card + $50 South Coast Plaza Gift Card), plus free ART Transportation when you book a 4-night or longer Anaheim hotel + at least two 2-day or longer theme park tickets for travel May-August, 2021. Use promo code: VISITANAHEIM to book today!

, Disneyland Update – Very Nearly Normal (for Better or Worse)
Click the image for more details about the $100 booking bonus!

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, in addition to TICKETS TO DISNEYLAND: More details and to get a quote (HERE)


Let’s Hear From You

As we head towards the lifting of most theme park restrictions, the park experience we’ve been documenting over these last few weeks will significantly change. We’ll be here to document that for you and provide you with tips, info, and news. Are you ready for the June 4th opening of Avengers Campus? Looking forward to an escape to the Alfresco Tasting Terrace? We’d love to hear your thoughts on today’s article in the comments below.

More Theme Park Reading

Disneyland Update – Less is More, More or Less

Disneyland Update Part 2: CODE YELLOW!!!

Is Disneyland Good for Kids Right Now?

Sharing is caring!

Dusty Sage
Dusty is the founder and CEO of MiceChat.com. When he's not visiting theme parks and writing, editing or speaking about Disney and theme parks worldwide, Dusty is involved in multiple Disney related projects and charities. He helped save and restore the charming Walt Disney Birthplace in Chicago, launched the Dick Van Dyke Foundation, and is the curator of Walt Disney's historic 1930's estate in Hollywood. If you've got news or photos to share with the MiceChat community, or would like to book Dusty for an upcoming event, please contact [email protected]