Welcome to another Disneyland Update. Whether you are a full-price ticket holder or one of the newly minted “Unfavorables,” we’re glad to have you with us! In today’s article, we’ll look at what on earth Disney was thinking when they used such disparaging language to describe their Magic Key holders, the rapid arrival of Halloween (which starts in two weeks), and some exciting construction images…
Are You Unfavorable?
Disney reported quarterly earnings last week and they were stronger than analysts had expected. Revenues for the company were up 26% over the same quarter last year. But it was Disney’s Parks and Resorts division that really out-performed. Disney Parks, Experiences and Products (DPEP) reported quarterly revenue of $7.4 billion, up from $4.3 billion a year earlier. (Much of that was because parks were still recovering from their long closures last year and the Disney Cruise Line hadn’t resumed operations yet at this time last year.)
And, thanks to increased revenue from Genie+ and Lightning Lane, guest spending is up as well, with as many as 50% of guests opting to buy the new service. But operating income was “partially offset by an unfavorable attendance mix at Disneyland Resort.”…
Official Unfavorable attendance mix shirthttps://t.co/HsOBAp19Po pic.twitter.com/bUaj1Hyw9U
— Store luxurioushirt (@SLuxurioushirt) August 14, 2022
And it was that phrase that set off a firestorm. Magic Key holders, who have been waiting for renewal information, took the “Unfavorable” phrase as a personal attack. There are now people selling “Unfavorable Attendance Mix” T-Shirts, and comments on Disney Parks Twitter posts are filled with “Unfavorable” comments.
It’s wild that we’ve gone from AP Celebration Parties and Previews to AP Corners to Unfavorable Attendance Mix in less than a decade.
— The Delane Event 🌻🌈 (@the_d_delane) August 15, 2022
It’s quite true that guests at Walt Disney World spend at a higher level with fewer pass holder visits, more hotel stays, and a much higher percentage of guests dining for 2 or more meals per day. And that makes Disneyland’s passholders a blessing and curse in Disney management’s eyes. Magic Keys help fill in the gaps on days that aren’t as popular with tourists, but they also don’t spend as much as a tourist. Hence the “unfavorable” comment.
But Disneyland is stuck with us unfavorables. As much as they’d like to be Walt Disney World, they aren’t. Disneyland is driven by a local market. There are far fewer tourist visits. There are only two parks here, not 4 (plus two water parks and multiple golf courses) as there are in Florida. So guests tend to make shorter stays, have easier access to food and beverage outside of the resort, and attendance is often driven by pass holder visits instead of out-of-town tourists.
My takeaway is that as more and more operations of the Disneyland Resort are merged with the combined Parks and Resorts unit being assembled in Florida, the traditional Disneyland operations and guest mix will be seen as increasingly problematic rather than just a different customer base with different expectations and needs. It’s why Walt Disney World was opened with its own unique management rather than run by the successful and well-established Disneyland. It’s why after nearly 70 years of Disney Parks, until recently, they were are all run separately to meet the needs and nuances of their unique audiences. Sure, running everything with a single team will save money in the short run, but you need only look at the uproar to see why it’s important not to piss off your core audience… Something Disney seems to be doing a lot more frequently lately.
Although Bob Chapek may not realize it fully, we unfavorables are also still necessary. If all the current Magic Keys decided to take offense and not renew, single and multi-day ticket holders wouldn’t come close to filling Disneyland up. At least not without heavy discounts and promotions in the off-seasons.
So don’t worry too much all you unfavorables out there… Disney still needs you… Eventually, some of these cost increases and forcing guests to spend more for every little thing will backfire and then it will be clear that it wasn’t the guest mix at Disneyland that was the problem, but rather an “Unfavorable management mix.”
UPDATED: We have all the info for you on MAGIC KEY RENEWALS and major changes to the program. The Dream Key is out… here’s what replaces it at a much higher cost. Plus, new perks, and a breakdown of passes, tickets, and price increases in recent years:
Disneyland Magic Key Renewals & Changes: Everything You Need To Know!
Halloween Moves In
Summer is now officially over for many local kids as schools resume classes. The ultra-hot weather (Disneyland reaching temps into the 90s on multiple days this past week) may have you thinking of the beach, but the parks are preparing for another type of season entirely. Halloween is starting to move in with pumpkins in windows and spooky merchandise in the stores. Although Halloween Time doesn’t officially begin until September 2, the mood is already shifting.
Main Street Halloween Decorations
Along Main Street, many of the window displays have been transitioned over to Halloween décor. In the Emporium windows, you can find classic jack-o-lanterns amidst the currently available merchandise.
Some windows are scarier than others, but they’re still pretty lighthearted.
The main room of Disney Showcase has been converted to Halloween apparel. You can’t miss it… it says so right on the wall…
Plaza Point has added a few more Halloween decorations among their eclectic mix of Victorian-inspired knick-knacks on the upper shelves of the store.
We asked a cast member what the scary Children of the Corn Victorian dolls were supposed to be dressed as and we were told they’re “adorable fairies!” We think of them more as nightmare fuel but love them nonetheless.
There’s still quite a bit more Halloween décor coming to Main Street and beyond. For instance, we’re still waiting to see the Emporium’s mannequins get their costumes, the tree in China Closet with fall leaves, bats in Fortuosity, vintage decorations in Candy Palace, and of course, you can’t forget the fall bunting and the giant Mickey Pumpkin on Main Street.
Speaking of that Mickey Pumpkin, the miniature version (that’s still quite sizable!) is absolutely the hot-ticket item for the season. We’ve heard varying reports that the Mickey Pumpkin is selling out as quick as they can put them on the shelves. If this new decoration is a must-have for you, our recommendation is for you to check all the main shops first thing in the morning on your Disney day.
For more about the Halloween merchandise available at Disneyland, be sure to take a look at our coverage below!
Buena Vista Street Halloween
Across the way at DCA’s Buena Vista Street, Halloween is also making an appearance.
Some of the windows on Buena Vista Street have been dressed for Halloween. We’re still waiting to see Five & Dime’s Silly Symphony Skeleton Dance windows.
Trolley Treats has decorated its candy mountain display with miniature jack-o-lanterns and Halloween-colored lollipops.
You can find jack-o-lanterns in various spots along the buildings, and there’s plenty of Halloween merchandise in the shops.
Further down in Hollywoodland, the Gone Hollywood store has been converted to Halloween merchandise, complete with new window decorations.
There’s still quite a bit more coming to BVS in the next few weeks for Halloween, including bunting and additional window displays. And of course, the bats flying out of Carthay Circle; those little guys are a favorite of ours. Here’s a quick picture to jog your memory:
The other main area that gets decorated for Halloween in DCA is Cars Land. The first step toward Halloween here is always the installation of extra wooden posts across from the street lights. Halloween banners will be stretched across the street.
Haunted Mansion Closes for Holiday Overlay
The Haunted Mansion sure looks good for turning 53 last week. While the mansion may have been open for its birthday on August 9, as of today, the Doom Buggies are taking a break from their haunted halls with doorless chambers until September 2nd. Jack Skellington and his crew of merry misfits will be busy wrecking the halls.
For those of you who weren’t able to ride the mansion one last time before the holiday makeover, don’t worry! Some of the MiceChat photographers captured the Haunted Mansion in its normal, corruptible state. Peruse the photos below if you dare.
Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit Coming to Downtown Disney
Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit, the popular hidden character pumpkins in Downtown Disney, is returning in September.
From September 9 through October 31, you can search for specially decorated pumpkins around Downtown Disney. And if you opt to purchase a game board for $9.99, you’ll be entitled to a “spooky surprise.” Last year’s prize was a choice of a few designs of plastic tumblers.
This is a fun activity that doesn’t necessarily need to cost anything— you can participate in finding all the themed pumpkins even without purchasing a gameboard.
MagicBand+ Coming to Disneyland
Well, this isn’t necessarily something new from this week. We just wanted to remind you to put this on your radar. While MagicBand+ (an upgraded version of MagicBands with special lights, vibration, and interactive elements found around the parks) launched on July 27 at Walt Disney World.
Laura, one of our Walt Disney World contributors, recently tested out MagicBand+ functions with her adorable son Johnny. This included trying their hand at the Batuu Bounty Hunters game in the Disney Play app— which is currently under construction at Disneyland’s version of Galaxy’s Edge (we’ll get to that later in today’s Update). Here’s a quick preview of the Batuu Bounty Hunters experience:
But her main question about MagicBand+ was whether it was a necessity or a nuisance. Find out her thoughts in her write-up below!
Necessity or Nuisance: MagicBand+ Lights Up at Walt Disney World
The same technology will be implemented at Disneyland sometime later this year. Disneyland resisted the temptation of MagicBands for years… but not for much longer. We’ll soon be able to tap to enter the parks, tap to enter a Lightning Lane, tap to enter a Disneyland hotel room, and tap to pay at shops and restaurants. And the new technology will allow guests to interact with shows & attractions, and play new interactive games.
Disneyland Updates
There are lots of projects in the works at Disneyland…
Astroturf on Main Street
Last week we noticed that there is some artificial grass that has been installed in two of the gardens in Town Square. We actually like how it looks, especially considering that it won’t die if it gets too hot or is under-watered. Last week, we walked past this area multiple times before noticing that the grass was too good to be true. We’re curious to see if this is some kind of a test for horticulture. What do you think?
Monorail Expands Hours
The Monorail has expanded its operating hours. Now, the transportation system/attraction will operate until park closing instead of the previous 7pm. That said, the Monorail will still close down once it reaches approximately 80º F inside the cabin and may also close to accommodate fireworks at night.
Disneyland Attractions Update
Some of our MiceChat staff members visited two of Disneyland’s iconic attractions because our readers reported lots of broken effects and figures. Let’s take a look at it’s a small world and Pirates of the Caribbean which are in less than perfect condition.
Pirates of the Caribbean
Several weeks after a months-long refurb, Pirates is still in rough shape. While many smaller effects (gunshot lights, etc) aren’t working properly, it’s the major ones that are hurting the experience. The glaringly obvious ones are two broken turntables in the chase scene. The pirates look like the village women are chasing them, but they aren’t moving. It’s jarring.
On a positive note, we can say that after quite a long time of poor Jack not working well in the treasure room at the final lift hill, he now works properly and looks great again.
it’s a small world
Small World is full of hundreds of dancing and singing dolls. It’s always been hard for Disney to keep this attraction in full working order. Currently, there seem to be quite a few rough spots. There are many missing dolls (an entire turntable is missing in one room), and some are either partially broken or not moving at all.
Regardless, missing dolls usually means maintenance is actively working to repair the enormous cast. Disney only has about two months until the attraction is pulled down for holiday install, where hopefully major issues can be resolved while the decorators bring in the jolly.
Disneyland Construction and Refurbs
Now we turn our attention to the construction taking place around Disneyland. There’s definitely no shortage of construction projects going on right now. While much of it remains the same from week to week, we’re keeping an eye on everything. And there are some interesting progress notes.
ToonTown
We have a great image of the El CapiTOON Theater facade (the future entrance to Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway) and the new hillside mural hiding the show building. How do you like the new color scheme.
Catch up on ToonTown construction from last week’s Disneyland Update:
Disneyland Update Part 2 – Flying High Over ToonTown, Construction, Sweet Treats
Rivers of America
There are several small construction projects going on around the Rivers of America. The most visible from the guest perspective are the rocks that make up the old Mine Train ride. There’s an obvious tarp that has been put up, blocking a view through the abandoned mine.
Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters
As mentioned earlier, Batuu Bounty Hunters, the MagicBand+ interactive experience is coming to Disneyland. The building right next to the speeder garage across from Droid Depot has a small section of construction walls up. Many of the little data ports in the land, and other items which were enabled for the Data Pad in the Disney Play App will be interactive via MagicBand+.
Tarzan Treehouse
You are tired of this one, so are we. Enjoy these green scrims for a while longer. We should be hearing all about the new theme and backstory at the upcoming D23 Expo.
Matterhorn Construction
It’s that time of year for the Matterhorn’s annual checkup. The mountain is currently walled off with plenty of construction scrims in place. It’s unfortunate that this refurb takes place in the middle of summer when the loss of one major attraction is felt by the rest of the attractions in the park.
Some of the walls are adorned with posters about the attraction’s history.
The old FastPass distribution center is also currently walled up.
A Walk Through Disneyland with Dusty
Photos only tell part of the story. Join Dusty Sage as he walks through Disneyland and discusses crowds, Magic Keys, Halloween moving in, attraction problems and more…
DCA Construction and Refurbs
It was a pretty light news week for Disney California Adventure, so we’re going to skip straight into the various projects taking place around the park.
Radiator Springs Racers
There are some strange scaffolds installed along the mountaintops of Radiator Springs Racers. You can barely see the tops of the scaffolds from inside the park…
However, based on the aerial images below, it appears to be more extensive. Note how the back side of the mountain facade is completely covered in scrims (nearest the Incredicoaster in the back)
Hollywood Lounge
The bar in the Hollywood Backlot area of Hollywoodland has now been fully wrapped by scrims. We were told that this is just a regular refurb that should be wrapping up in the next few days.
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
There’s not a whole lot to report on here since the vast majority of the area is closed off and away from view. That said, there is active work taking place to bring Halloween magic into the recreational area. Villains Grove is something that we’re really looking forward to seeing again at Oogie Boogie Bash this year.
Storage bins filled with props and elements for Villains Grove are being held in the camp circle area (where Raya was doing her meet and greets).
The whole area was quite active when we walked by on Friday. We saw workers adjusting lights throughout the project.
Hyperion Theater
As we’ve note for months, half of the Hyperion Theater marquee is still missing. It looks so strange just boarded up on one side, but with the lights on the other.
Grizzly Peak Airfield
The other construction project that has us a bit confounded is the airplane located near Soarin’. The plane has been behind barricades and then construction walls for a few weeks now, and there doesn’t really appear to be any changes from week to week.
Disneyland Resort Refurb Schedule
Here is the full list of refurbishments taking place around the Disneyland Resort (as of 8/13/2022).
Currently Under Refurbishment:
- Tarzan’s Treehouse: (September 1st, 2021-TBA)
- Mickey’s Toontown (March 9th, 2022-2023)
- Redwood Creek Challenge Trail: (August 1st-19th)
- Hollywood Lounge: (August 1st-16th)
- Matterhorn Bobsleds: (August 8th-TBA)
- Hunted Mansion Holiday Install: (August 15th-September 1st)
- Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! : (August 15th-September 2nd)
Upcoming Refurbishments:
- Paradise Garden Grill: (August 27th-31st)
- Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island: (September 6th-8th)
- Sailing Ship Columbia: (September 12th-15th)
- Mark Twain Riverboat:( September 19th-22nd)
This & That
A few more smaller news bites for you.
Mickey Floral Replanted
The floral portrait of Mickey has recently been redone… making the big cheese look almost invisibe. We visited on days when the new plants hadn’t produced any blooms yet, so Mickey was essentially a study in monochrome (aside from his open mouth). Mickey will be looking like his normal self in the next few days as the buds begin to open and fill in.
Main Street Electrical Parade Medallions
If you’re a fan of the Main Street Electrical Parade, there’s a new item that may catch your eye. Right in the front of Candy Palace, you’ll find a dispenser that vends collectible medallions of iconic MSEP floats, including the bee, Elliott, the opening drum float, and the snail. These metal coins are $5 each or $15 for all four. Are these something you’re interested in:
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Now Accepting Reservations
Although the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique magical transformations don’t begin until Aug 25, you can now start booking appointments for the in-park salon. This will be the first time that the boutique has done makeovers since the park reopened.
For more information about Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique’s reopening, take a look at the article below.
Summer Entertainment Winds Down
One of the saddest aspects of summer at Disneyland is the fact that so much seasonal entertainment will be going away. This is true on multiple fronts at Disneyland this year. Both the Main Street Electrical Parade and the current nightly fireworks spectacular, Disneyland Forever, will be ending their summer run on September 1. If seeing either of these nighttime spectacles is important to you, try to book a visit sooner than later!
But another bit of entertainment seems to be ending as well. The stage show at the Fantasyland Theater, The Tale of the Lion King, has its last scheduled performance on August 27. We are curious about this since the show hadn’t originally been mentioned as short-term.
Parting Shots…
We’ve made it to the end of today’s Disneyland Update! As a reward, we’ve got a few unique and beautiful photos to share with you. We hope that you enjoy these!
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Let’s Hear From You
Does Disney’s “unfavorable attendance mix” still rub you the wrong way? How likely are you to renew your Magic Key when they become available? Are there any particular construction projects you’ve been closely following? Ready for Halloween in just about two weeks? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Today’s Update was brought to you by Dusty Sage, Mike Kindrich, and Nathan Villamor.
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