It’s a big Update today folks. A major festival has launched, an entire land goes under the knife, New Orleans Square traffic is being streamlined, the wrecking ball is leveling part of Downtown Disney, and projects and refurbishments continue all over the resort. We’ll take a look at all that and more, including some inexcusable actions (and inaction) the Disney Company has taken which leave me feeling disappointed and deeply concerned.
Crowds & The Rerouting of Disneyland
It’s fake busy at Disneyland these days. That is to say that the park has a comfortable crowd capacity, but Genie has made lines so long that the park feels and looks more crowded than it should at various times and locations.
A major pinch-point in the park is the pathway from Red Rose Tavern toward Storybook Land. With stroller parking, several popular attractions, and outdoor vending cart lines blocking pathways, it can be a slow shuffle even on a moderately crowded day.
When the line for Teacups stretches to the parade route, you know it’s either an insanely busy day…. OR… an evil genie has upended everything we all know about how the park should really operate. This wasn’t a busy day, so we’re blaming that genie.
And Disneyland clearly knows these areas are an issue. The park has recently been sending surveys to guests asking where they have experienced overcrowding in the parks. Work will be conducted to help free up some of those spots.
One of the craziest examples of overcrowding is what happens in New Orleans Square. For years the Pirates of the Caribbean queue has been overflowing on busy days. When it does, the line is routed through New Orleans Square, blocking traffic in the land and generally making the area unpleasant. Unfortunately, it can now back up even on days that aren’t busy. Why? Because Lightning Lane has made it difficult for standby guests to enjoy most E-Ticket rides and that forces guests to look for non-Lighting Lane rides to visit instead. And Pirates is probably the most popular attraction in the park which doesn’t require you to pay extra for a short wait.
But with excessive lines now the norm, and Fantasmic set to return in May, something has to be done quickly to free up the area for a massive amount of guests to watch the big show.
Last week we told you about plans to flatten the Fantasmic viewing terraces in the area. A bit of preparation began this week… really just a test to see how crowds will be impacted when walls go up in the area.
We now know that the bulk of the work is planned to start when Pirates of the Caribbean closes for refurbishment on March 14th, and finish before Fantasmic debuts at the end of May. So the leveling will need to be completed quickly.
The good news is that trees, gardens, and shade are part of the project. So, as the raised platforms are lowered, new gardens and trees will be planted. A dedicated queuing area will also be set aside closer to the ride.
Obstructions like unnecessary stairs will be removed.
One additional thing that will need to be addressed is the replacement of the two large ficus trees in the Pirates queue garden. The trees are diseased and it’s general practice at Disneyland to replace trees which are either sick or which have become a safety hazard.
We’ll just have to rip the bandaid off on this one and see what the end result looks like. But, I still remember the days before Fantasmic when none of those platforms were in New Orleans Square at all. So, this isn’t a big shock to me. As I surveyed the area this week, trying to imagine what it would all look like in a couple of months, I did note that there’s quite a slope from the restaurants at the back of the land to the river, so views shouldn’t be negatively impacted too much. As it is now, only the people at the front of each section have a great view anyway, so this might actually be better (but I’m not sure about that just yet – stay tuned).
Montgomery Burns Land
We recently made a park reservation and received a survey shortly after asking a few very telling questions. It first wanted to know if we would be using free Genie, or adding Genie + or individual Lightning Lane (none of which we use). It also wanted to know if we were familiar with these expensive options at the resort: multi-room suites at the Grand Californian, private dining at Napa Rose, Club Level/Concierge at the hotels, dining at 21 Royal, VIP guide services, and Valet parking. Disney sends lots of surveys and this isn’t the first time they have asked about luxury services at the resort.
The resort is trying hard to lure a higher end customer to further increase per guest spending. After all, those huge increases in guest spending that Bob Chapek talks about at shareholder meetings can only be celebrated for a very short time… because once the numbers are reported they become the new normal. To further delight shareholders, they need to continue increasing revenue quarter after quarter. It’s all about growth, which is why no matter how much we hate Genie, the park would rather spend millions flattening planters than dialing back a troublesome genie.
Lightbulb Gate
While we were shooting this week’s Update, we just happened to notice that the famous half red/half white lightbulb at Refreshment Corner (aka Coke Corner) had been replaced with a solid red bulb. We posted to Twitter and received an overwhelming response:
Most people would just walk right on by never knowing. But the famous red/white bulb at #Disneyland’s Refreshment Corner has been replaced with a simple solid red bulb, so there are now two red in a row. Who cares? Perfectionists do. pic.twitter.com/O6N72t50pM
— MiceChat (@MiceChat) March 2, 2022
Disney must have taken note, because they quickly replaced the red bulb with a suitable half and half bulb. They even produced a little video (on the Disneyland Ambassadors Instagram Account) to show a maintenance worker screwing it in… which answers the question, “How many people does it take to screw in a lightbulb at Disneyland?” Well, one blogger to complain about the light bulb, a team of people forwarding panicked messages to various departments, one maintenance worker to screw it in, a camera crew to record it, and a social media team to prove that standard maintenance had been completed. Simple!
We’re just having some fun with Disney. There’s no doubt they would have eventually installed the correct bulb. But this was an important exercise for all involved in how important Disneyland’s history and unique character is to those who love the park. As major changes have come to Disneyland operations this year, tension has been building in the fan community, there are certain things that remain important to the Disney story that folks just aren’t willing to let go of. In other words, when is a lightbulb not a lightbulb? When it becomes a symbol of a fan community reaching the end of its rope.
Food & Wine Festival
The premier food festival of the year has kicked off at Disney California Adventure. The California Food & Wine Festival is always a big deal at DCA, and this is the first full return of Food & Wine Fest since 2020 (there was a much stripped down “Touch of Disney” event last year), and they’ve made a lot of changes for this year. With over 90% new food items to choose from across 12 booths, there’s a lot to look forward to. Food & Wine runs through April 26. Here’s a brief rundown of what’s happening at California Adventure Food & Wine:
Eats and Treats
What’s a food festival without, well, food? So we invited our team to come help us eat our way through all the booths. While the booths are familiar from the last festival in 2020, the majority of the items are actually new.
We were there on both the soft-opening as well as the official opening day and were able to try a good portion of the selections. We liked almost everything here are a few of our favorites and one to avoid:
- Next Level Crackers & Cheese (available at Nuts About Cheese): House-made herb crackers with white cheddar-infused fromage blanc, spicy prosciutto spread, and cherry jam (available with Sip & Savor Pass) (New) – The cheese is very creamy and the prosciutto spread has a bit of a kick. This is definitely made to pair with one of the wines available at this marketplace
- French Onion Grilled Beef Tenderloin Slider (available at Cluck-A-Doodle-Moo): This will likely be the runaway hit of the festival. Grilled beef tenderloin topped with a Gruyère cheese sauce and caramelized onions served on an onion roll (available with Sip & Savor Pass) – Tenderloin Sliders are traditional at the festival. This year’s version with the French Onion is a showstopper.
- IPA Sausage Dog (available at California Craft Brews): IPA-beer infused sausage served on a soft pretzel roll with onion-pepper Jardinière, cheddar cheese sauce, and malt vinegar-jalapeño crunch (available with Sip & Savor Pass) (New) – Lots of complex flavors. Great with a beer!
- Blueberry-Buttermilk Pie (available at Berry Patch): (available with Sip & Savor Pass) (New) – Creamy, not overly sweet, and just the right amount of crust. You’re not going to want to share this one!
- Peanut Butter & Jelly Mac with brown sugar streusel and strawberry crackle (available with Sip & Savor Pass) (New) – This one may sound good folks, but none of us like it. And all the oil at the bottom of the dish just leaks right out.
We were NOT fans of this dish. While the flavors themselves were fine, the textural elements of the macaroni and pop rocks were unsettling. 
By the time we had decided we’d had enough of it, the oil was completely soaked through the container and left a grease slick on the table!
Of course, this was just a small handful of the foods available— we didn’t even touch on the drinks! If you have a party of two or more (or plan to visit more than once) a Sip & Savor pass is likely your best bet. For $57 (before Magic Keyholder discount), you can purchase a lanyard with 8 tabs that can be redeemed for food and non-alcoholic beverages from festival marketplace and participating food locations at DCA.
Don’t just buy that Sip and Savor pass at the first place you see. LONG lines developed near Carthay Circle, when the merchandise cart just up the way was practically empty.
Also returning is the ability to order all of your festival food all at once at any of the marketplaces. So instead of repeatedly waiting in line to both order and pick up food, you can wait once, order all your food, and then go and pick up your food as desired. This is a great way to save on time since the lines can be pretty long!
If you’re planning on visiting Food & Wine soon, be sure to bring lots of patience with you. This event can draw very long lines at times, so be sure to take a look at what food is available and decide what’s on your to-try list before you arrive.
Aside from the food, there’s also an abundance of entertainment happening around Paradise Bay and Paradise Gardens. And if you’re feeling like learning about food and drinks, you can purchase tickets to seminars to learn from industry experts. But look into tickets right away, most dates for March are already booked solid and much of April as well – DCA Food and Wine Festival Seminar and Reception Tickets
The highlight of the event for us was the return of Soarin’ Over California. In my opinion, this is the far superior version of the attraction, and well worth a visit. Unfortunately, it will only be available through the duration of the Festival (April 26).
The ride was very popular on the opening day of the festival. At one point the line stretched almost to Carthay Circle fountain.
For more about this year’s Food & Wine Festival at DCA, take a look at our coverage below:
https://www.micechat.com/314139-disney-california-adventure-food-wine-festival-2022/
Restaurant News
Carnation Cafe reopened for lunch and dinner last week (it was already serving breakfast). However, the full menu has yet to arrive. Currently there are only three main entrées (hamburger, mac and cheese, or fried chicken) available for lunch and dinner. A fairly uninspired lineup
Red Rose Taverne, which was already open for lunch and dinner, is now open for breakfast… also with a small selection.
Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta reopened recently (as covered last week). The addition was much needed for restaurant capacity in the park.
We can’t think of any other big restaurants which are still closed. So this week really does bring Disneyland back to almost regular operation (there are a few small attractions and shops still closed).
Main Street Painting
At 9am on Saturday morning, workers were spray painting the exterior of one of the Main Street Buildings. Due to high winds, the protective scrims were rolled up. Many guests were complaining about the fumes, which could not be avoided unless guests went into one of the shops and bypassed the street. We know Disneyland is trying to get ready for a very busy summer and the return of the Main Street Electrical Parade, but we don’t know why they need to impact guests with things like paint fumes while the park is open. These sorts of things are what the 3rd shift (after hours) is all about.
At the end of the street, the Royal Theater is still under wraps.
Finding Nemo Subs
The “Resurfacing Winter 2022” signs have been removed from the construction walls surrounding the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage lagoon. We do not know when the attraction will reopen.
We hope this doesn’t signal a long delay. With ToonTown closing this week, the park needs the extra ride capacity!
Fantasmic!: There is quite a bit of refurbishment happening for the return of our favorite show in May. Fountain pits are drained, mist-screens are being refurbished, and props are being maintained or replaced.
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway:
This is one construction project that we will loose sight of as of the 9th of March. Toontown will be closing it’s gates for a much needed face-lift and we will see the gates re-opened sometime in 2023.
The El CapiTOON Theater facade is will well on the way now.
We’ll have a bit more for you from ToonTown later this week.
Refurbishments
There’s a lot of work about to wrap up and some big things which will soon go into refurbishment.
Currently Under Refurbishment:
- Tarzan’s Treehouse: (September 1st, 2021-TBA) – Still closed with no returning date announced.
- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage: (July 12th, 2021-Spring 2022)
- Sailing Ship Columbia: (January 9th-March 25th)
- Splash Mountain: (January 10th-March 7th). REOPENS TODAY!!! Cast Members had been cycling the attraction without guests for a few days.
- Grizzly River Run: (January 24th-March 30th)
- Disneyland Monorail: (February 14th-March 6th) – Should be back. we saw it running without guests when we took our photos.
- Indiana Jones Adventure: (March 8th-11th) – It will only be down for a few days, but could still impact park waits at other attractions this week.
- Mickey’s Toontown (March 9th, 2022-2023) – A biggie. An entire land closed for a year. Chew on that for a minute. But when the land reopens, a brand new E-Ticket will be open to guests, old attractions will be freshened up
- Pirates of the Caribbean: (March 14th-TBD)
- Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters: (April 11th-TBD)
Downtown Disney Construction
This is the slowest demolition we can remember. They seem to be working hard. But they only seem to be removing a few feet of the old AMC Theater building every day. The Starbucks is now gone.
Every movement is doused with a stream of water to keep dust particles to a minimum.
From behind we see that the part of the building guests can’t see from Downtown Disney is a little further ahead in demolition than the front.
This & That
With so much covered today, we’re still got a bit more for you from the Disneyland Resort and beyond.
Celebrate Her Story at Disneyland
March is Women’s History Month, and Disneyland is celebrating “Her-Story” in a brand new way: for the first time ever, there is a floral portrait of Minnie Mouse at the front gate of Disneyland. We love it.
In Downtown Disney, the stage is set up with a collection of “Celebrate Her Story” banners. Throughout the month, there will be several female musical groups featured.
We think that the new floral design and featuring female groups is great, but we’re also hoping that there will be more announced for Women’s History Month. Epcot has done some things in the past celebrating Disney’s incredible female Imagineers and artists that perhaps the Disneyland Resort can borrow from. And it sure would be great if they’d also do a cavalcade of Disney’s empowered female characters such as Merida, Mulan, Tiana, Mirabel, Elsa, etc.
Disney Junior Fun Fest
There’s a one-day festival coming to DCA next month geared towards the younger Disney fans. From 10am to 4pm on April 26, guests at DCA will get sneak peeks at upcoming Disney Junior series, a “Doc McStuffins” show that highlights 10 years of the series, and appearances from Disney Junior characters. This event is planned for just one day, and for a pretty short window of time at that. So if there’s a preschooler in your life with a softspot for Disney Junior, you should book your reservations now.
Magic Key Terrace Transformation
A few weeks ago we reported that the Magic Key Terrace at Disney California Adventure was going through a remodel to update the space. When we visited this week, we were surprised to see it open already. We learned that many of the items ordered are stuck in the supply chain. Disney completed what they could and reopened with many of the old booths, tables, etc. So, the rest of the renovation will happen as items arrive. But we do like the direction of the elegant new vibe.
We were told that the menu at the Magic Key Terrace would be gaining some new additions soon. On our visit, it was still the classic menu of drinks and small plates.
Here’s a look at the new mural in the lounge area. Many of the decorative motifs of the retheme are based around peacocks, including stained glass windows and tiles.
The furniture will soon be replaced.
It’s a great start. We’ll be checking back soon to share the updates and we are certainly looking forward to new menu items as well.
Passion Fruit Mint Julep
We’d never want the original Disneyland mint julep to go to Yesterland, but the new passion fruit mint julep is a wonderful, albeit limited-time, addition. It has a very subtle fruity flavor that goes very well with the citrus and mint. It was quite refreshing and the perfect treat after walking around the park.
Bollards on the Boulevard
A few weeks ago construction began to add bollards at the Disneyland crosswalk on Harbor Blvd. The bollards will prevent cars from driving into pedestrians waiting to cross the street. The area directly outside of Disneyland is complete and they are now working on the area directly across the street in front of the IHOP.
An Abundance of Photos
A little bit of this and that…
The Briar Patch in Critter Country has a wide assortment of mittens. So, if you need mittens because your fingers are cold, or your kittens lost theirs, now you know where to go.
We’ve still got a few weeks left of winter according to the calendar, but at Disneyland, spring is in season! Between all the gorgeous flowers in the gardens and the Pink Trumpet Flower Trees, the parks are resplendent with springtime blooms. Much thanks to PhotoMatt and Mike Kindrich for their help with photos this week. One driving in from Vegas to help and the other rushing to take photos so he could get to Vegas (we need that bullet train!).
And while the flowers show that it’s spring, we’re still getting a taste of winter weather here in SoCal. Even though the days are perfectly temperate, you’re still going to want to bring a jacket with you into the park if you’re staying late. That said, the crazy weather this week granted us the chance to take some gorgeous “Golden Hour” photos of some of our favorite attractions. We hope you enjoy these!
Helping or Harming?
I’m stepping up on my soapbox here. And, having written about Disney since the Michael Eisner era, I’ve earned the right to do that from time to time.
There’s been a lot of talk from Disney in the last few years about diversity and inclusion. And we’ve seen them trying to do the right things in the parks, in their movies and television shows, and also in their corporate HR policies. It’s been a snowballing effort that we’ve been very happy about (for the most part).
Just this past weekend, Disney was selling rainbow colored pins to guests attending Mini Gay Days (the main event is in the fall).
The parks are currently celebrating Women’s History Month. A stage in Downtown Disney has a bright yellow banner exclaiming “Reimagine Tomorrow” and “Celebrate Her Story.”
Last month was celebrate Soulfully in honor of Black History Month.
So, it would be hard to imagine that a company with such robust support for all of its customers and employees would actually be funding politicians who are actively trying to harm these very same people. And yet, that’s what the Disney Company is doing. They are saying one thing and actively doing another.
You may have heard that Florida has proposed what is being called a “Don’t say gay” bill, and it looks like it could become state law. But what does that have to do with Disney? More than you might think… as Disney has donated to every single sponsor and co-sponsor of this bigoted and hurtful legislation!!!
What makes this all worse is that so many LGBTQ+ employees are being forced to move from their Disney jobs in safe and supportive California to this painfully hurtful environment in Florida… OR LOSE THEIR JOBS! Disney leaders Bob Chapek and Josh D’Amaro were quite vocal on political issues in California that kept the parks closed during a pandemic, hurting their profits. It ignited their passion to move as many jobs out of California as possible. The company is well into the process of moving almost all of the Parks, Experiences and Products division jobs out of California to a new development in Lake Nona Florida as we speak. Thousands of employees have already lost their jobs as a result. All to save some money on labor and get a tax break from Florida.
Where does the company stand in all of this? Have they demanded their money back from the bigots who so clearly violate every principle Disney pretends to stand for these days? Has Bob Chapek stood up on his platform of power to call upon Florida to respect all people? NO!
Instead, Disney has put out statements simply acknowledging the hurt, reiterating their policies, but not addressing the fact that they are enabling these hurtful actions through their donations. They claim that they give to both sides. It’s pay for play. They are essentially bribing politicians to get a tax break. In criminal law, if you aid someone in a crime you implicate yourself as well. So doing something wrong just to make more money is still doing something wrong. Leaders of public companies often times get so wrapped up in making money for demanding (and often morally bankrupt) shareholders and board members, that they forget that they also have a duty to their customers AND employees as well!
Disney is trying to claim that Bob Chapek doesn’t comment on political issues. But that is simply hogwash. He trashed Californian publicly simply because they were trying to save lives, and yet he seems just fine donating millions to bigots in a state he’d like a tax break from. He also just pulled his company’s movies from Russia on political grounds (which we applaud). So the Florida decision is clearly his preference. He has directed the company to say that they support their gay and lesbian guests and employees, but then put money directly into the pockets of politicians who want to harm those very same people. AND, mind you, FORCE gay employees to move to Florida in the middle of this terrible time.
Where is the compassion, Bob? Where is the outrage, Josh? Where are the demands that Florida do the right thing or you’ll move your jobs out of the state (as you did in California)?
Here is the public comment Disney is willing to share, the same they gave to ABC News:
“We understand how important this issue is to our LGBTQ+ employees and many others. For nearly a century, Disney has been a unifying force that brings people together. We are determined that it remains a place where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. The biggest impact we can have in creating a more inclusive world is through the inspiring content we produce, the welcoming culture we create here, and the diverse community organizations we support, including those representing the LGBTQ+ community.”
If we are to take Disney at their word, and given the current situation and the precarious position so many Disney employees are in, we think it’s only right that Disney put its money where its mouth is and do the right thing: 1) Make a public statement rebuking Florida’s hateful legislation. 2) Demand donations be returned from those supporting the bill. 3) Allow LGBQ+ employees to remain in Californian and not force employees to move to Florida under this hostile environment. We believe the company’s own HR policies can also be used to justify allowing employees to stay here anyway, and we encourage all of Disney’s employees who feel uncomfortable moving to Florida to file HR complaints on the grounds that it’s a hostile environment.
This is more than a political issue, it’s a moral one. Is Disney going to live by the principles and policies they claim guide them, or are they going to say all the right things in public, but then use their money to empower evil?
Disney is a big company, it can take them a while to act, and I really thought they were working themselves toward doing the right thing. But they seem to be doubling down on doublespeak and deception, using empty words while stuffing the pockets of bigots. Keep that in mind as you read future statements from Disney that profess to care about the pain and suffering their employees are feeling. Because until Disney actually demands that money back, draws a line in the sand for Florida, and provides a safe alternative for their LGBTQ+ employees, Disney is just as much at fault as the hate-mongers in the Florida legislature they are so warmly embracing.
I’ll be closely watching the Disney shareholder meeting this week for any sign that a single board member had a spine, or a conscience. I suspect they are all driven solely by money and have no concern whatsoever about ethics or even the company’s own written principles. But I hope I’m wrong.
Let’s Hear From You
Okay folks, that does it for today. Have you visited Disney California Adventure’s Food and Wine Festival in the past? How does this year’s event look to you? How do you feel about the flattening of the New Orleans Square walkways. If they still have trees and gardens and aid crowd flow, does that reassure you? Are you sad to see ToonTown close for a year? And should Disney’s top executives be expected to live by the very rules and policies they set for the company and their own employees?