Welcome back to the Disneyland Resort! Today we take you to Liquid Space as the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage returns from its long refurbishment, additionally, we’ll take a look at Magic Key renewals, explore the latest construction and refurbishments, plus a whole lot more.
Disneyland Submarines Return Today!
As you read this very article, the Nautical Exploration and Marine Observation Institute (N.E.M.O.) has begun research expeditions again from the Tomorrowland dock through liquid space to explore an erupting undersea volcano. The Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage returns today after being closed for nearly two and a half years.
All the Subs have received a much-needed overhaul. Their vibrant color is simply bursting across the lagoon.
Let’s take a dip below the water’s surface…
The Submarine Lagoon is more than just the location of an attraction; it’s a visual break from the hard landscape of Tomorrowland. It adds motion, whimsy, beauty, and a sense of wonder to this back corner of Disneyland.
Magic Key Renewals
Magic Keys, Disneyland’s answer for its Annual Passholder Program replacement, has almost reached the end of its first year, meaning many Key Holders need to renew their Passes. Disney had originally told Key Holders they could renew their Passes 45 days prior to their expiration date. Disneyland began to sell Magic Keys on August 26th last year and we are just shy of 30 days remaining for those who purchased on Launch Day. Obviously, there’s something going on as Disney has not yet turned on renewals, and that has many Key Holders worried.
The Disneyland website currently sends its Key Holders to a dead end when they attempt to renew. You can find a button on your Disneyland Profile Page if your pass is within the 45-day window.
From there, that button directs you to the Magic Key Landing page where a nice big button prompts you to View Magic Key Passes.
Finally, Disney drops Passholders on the Magic Key Selection Page for the four different Magic Keys which all say Currently Unavailable.
The good news is that the 4 keys still exist on the site at all, but as Passholders enter into the final month of their passes, many are starting to feel anxious about the renewal process and why Disneyland is delaying.
All Dream and Believe Keys are completely blocked out for the last two weeks of August as Keyholders try to make final use of their passes before expiration…
Because of Block-Out dates and high demand, Enchant and Imagine Keys have no reservations available for the whole month of August!
But that’s not the whole story. Disneyland DOES have availability… if you are willing to pay full price. Day ticket holders have wide availability for the month of August. You’ll likely see some of this availability shift to Key Holders as the dates approach, but many folks resent being seat-fillers for Disneyland on days they can’t find full-price day ticket holders to take the spots first.
Trolley Troubles
Over on Buena Vista Street, Red Car 623 has restarted its regular route traveling the wire from Buena Vista Street, around Carthey Circle, and through Hollywood Land to the Hyperion Theater. The Trolley line has been shortened just a bit as it used to extend into what is now Avengers Campus.
The 623 Trolley debuted last Sunday but has had maintenance issues in its first week. On the other hand, the 717 Trolley has not returned to the line at all, and may not do so for some time. We have heard reports the 717 is currently being sourced as parts for the 623 and is not “Show Ready” at this time and has no current return date.
With the return of the Trolley, we wonder when the Red Car News Boys show will return to the park? Live entertainment is the heart and soul of a theme park and California Adventure could use a little more of that energy.
Pepto Pink Jungle Cruise
On Monday last week, Disney had to implement a daytime chemical cleaning of the Jungle Cruise waterways for unknown reasons. The chemical process turned the artificially green water a bright Pink color. The attraction remained closed to guests during the treatment process and reopened once the color returned to normal.
@vennessarojasWelcome to the Red jungle♬ original sound – Vennessa Rojas
Here is a view of the waterway as it appears after the chemical cleaning later in the week:
Rancho Del Mobile
Over in Frontierland, Disney has installed yet another Mobile Order location in the park, this time at Rancho Del Zocalo. In a blow for those who avoid mobile order, Disneyland has removed the menu boards off the middle serving station inside the restaurant and has added Mobile Order Windows signage where the menus once hung.
The restaurant looks like it may be ready to turn on Mobile Order sometime this week.
Is the switch of Rancho Zocalo to 50% Mobile Order good news or bad for you? Do you prefer to just walk up and get in line to order, or have you made the switch to mobile?
Disneyland Resort Construction and Refurbishments
There are a great number of projects taking place around the parks, and some new ones are expected in the near future…
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail: (August 1st-19th)
We are just a few days away from the closure of the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail for the installation of Villian Grove, a major component of the sold-out Oogie Boogie Bash special event. Halloween is coming fast this year and Villains Grove will be haunting us before you know it.
Haunted Mansion Holiday Install (August 15th-September 1st)
There are only a few weeks left until Jack Skellington wrecks the halls once again, so be sure to “Hurry back, hurry back!” before the classic version is modified holly-fied. And once The Nightmare Before Christmas takes over the Mansion, you won’t be seeing the standard version of the attraction again until next year.
Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue! (August 15th-September 2nd)
The crew from Monstropolis will be taking a quick break in the upcoming weeks as Monsters Inc. is taking a two-week refurbishment starting August 15th and returning September 3rd.
Matterhorn Bobsleds (August 8th-TBA)
The world’s most famous bobsled run is scheduled to take refurbishment near the beginning of next month. We are unsure what the Yeti will do while the work crews bang around his abode, but it may be better than all those screaming guests.
Mickey’s Toontown (March 2022-TBA)
The Wacky World of Mickey’s Toontown continues its overhaul. We have a hard time checking in on this project regularly but we do know that crews are hard at work getting Mickey’s Home back into tip-top Technicolor.
If you’re curious about what’s happening behind those construction walls, take a look below for a glimpse at the future of ToonTown:
Tarzan’s Treehouse (September 2021-TBA)
Another project that is hard to track is the Disneydendron Semperflorens Grandis… aka the Adventureland Treehouse. We have heard very little information about this project over the last year during its downtime; we are hoping to see hints at the upcoming D23 Expo in a few weeks.
Speaking of D23 Expo 2022, tickets have officially sold out! For more information about this year’s event, take a look at the article below.
D23 Expo 2022 News: Tickets, Panels, Exhibits, Merchandise and Essential Info!
Big Thunder’s Old FastPass Distribution
Construction walls came down this week around the old FastPass distribution location for Big Thunder Mountain. The cement has been repaved around where the old machines were once installed; it appears the plot of land will be used as stroller parking for the time being.
Downtown Disney Tram Station
Outside the park, a repaving project is occurring on the Downtown Tram Station. Guests cannot walk straight to the Esplanade from Tram Zones 3 and 4 but must divert towards World of Disney to get around the blockage.
Jazz Kitchen
Over the past several weeks, Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen has received a repaint as part of the updated look coming to Downtown Disney. The restaurant now sports a very plain white color with grey trims around most of the restaurant’s exterior. The exterior underneath the balcony still sports a playful orange color as well as the restaurant’s courtyard. Though, according to the concept art for the renovated restaurant, the orange will be going away.
Downtown Disney Cast Parking
Out in the old Stitch parking lot of Downtown Disney (now used as Cast Member parking), repaving and replanting work continues. New tree planter forms now dot the lot.
This and That
Here’s the grab bag of miscellaneous stories from around the Disneyland Resort.
Post-It Problem
If you’ve been looking for a fortune told by the fashionable pirate in New Orleans Square lately, you’ve likely had to look elsewhere. Located at 21 Royal Street, Fortune Red had been out of commission for the last few weeks.
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While Fortune Red wasn’t operating, an odd Post-It note was taped to the coin slot.
On a similar Post-It-inspired note (get it?), we saw another reminder plastered at the Tomorrowland Monorail station. The note was placed on the control console for the Monorail, in plain view for guests. How on earth did Disneyland operate before the invention of the Post-It-Note?
Not-So-Incredible Fountain
Over at Pixar Pier, the Incredibles Fountain location between the Incredicoaster and Jessie’s Critter Carousel has once again turned from white to a discolored yellow. The fountain has been known to do this in the past, but looks like it is in need of a deep cleaning.
The fountain has also begun to rust from the water exposure.
Light ’em Up!
Over in DCA, the entire parade route has been upgraded in the last two weeks to sport all-new LED parade lights. Previously, just a small section near Paradise Garden Grill and Goofy’s Sky School had been upgraded last year for the Holidays. We can’t wait to see the new lights at use during Oogie Boogie Bash! On our visit to DCA this week, we could see that a few lights still had some loose wires hanging from them and two poles on Buena Vista Street had no lights on them at all yet.
This move now matches Disneyland’s parade route upgrade that occurred during the park’s closure last year with both routes now able to cover the complete RGB gamut. With the Frightfully Fun Parade (exclusive to Oogie Boogie Bash) returning in the coming weeks it is nice to see DCA upgrade their parade infrastructure.
Wait Time Board
Blank screens no more! The would-be FastPass distribution center for Spider-Man and Radiator Springs Racers now has a new purpose… Disney has decided to utilize the display screens as a wait-time monitor for DCA’s top attractions. This is a welcome change since it’s better than seeing empty, plus it saves time for guests who don’t want to hike over to Carthay Circle to see the posted wait time board at Guest Information.
Sunset Around the Park
To finish out today’s Disneyland Update, I wanted to share a few photos of mine from around the park.
Nothing is quite like the Golden Hour around the parks.
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Thank You For Reading!
That’s it for this week, folks! Are you waiting to renew your Magic Key passes? Looking for a Magic Key reservation this August? Ready to experience Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage again? What do you think of Post-It notes being used in plain view of guests? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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