It was another busy week for Disney’s returning CEO Bob Iger. Iger kicked off the week with a Town Hall meeting for all Disney employees, answering wide-ranging questions from staff from around the Walt Disney Company. Throughout the week, Iger continued his early restructuring of the company, clearing the way for a creative-led future for the company and undoing some of the damage left by outgoing CEO Bob Chapek. By week’s end, Iger was touring Disneyland and watching the park’s iconic annual Candlelight processional and ceremony. Meanwhile, the holidays are in full swing at the Disneyland Resort, hotel projects continue, and some new critters join Princess Tiana as she prepares to move into Critter Country.
Today is Walt Disney’s birthday. Do Disney’s current leaders live up to his standards? Do the parks offer the carefree magic, adventure, cleanliness, and sense of comfort he intended for them? Let’s keep that in mind as we visit the parks today…
Welcome to Disneyland!
The first weekend of December traditionally turns out big crowds at Disneyland. Between holiday offerings in full swing and the annual Candlelight Processional, the first weekend of December is typically a wild one for the Resort.
The threat of rain, however, seemed to temper crowds a bit this year and the parks were largely a breeze to navigate. Friday saw very reasonable wait times, as seen below late Friday afternoon. Light showers Friday and Sunday helped thin crowds, leading to plenty of viewing space for Sunday night’s Candlelight ceremony.
Pretty manageable wait times at California Adventure on Friday afternoon as well. 
Bob Iger returns to Disneyland for Candlelight magic
New-again Disney CEO Bob Iger returned to Disneyland in his first public appearance in the park since he resumed his role as chief executive. Iger toured the parks throughout the day Saturday with Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro before watching the evening’s Candlelight Processional.
Reports of Iger and D’Amaro in the park spread on social media quickly, with some Twitter users sharing video of Iger being spotted and cheered by park guests.
The crowd went WILD when they saw Bob Iger walking in Town Square at Disneyland just now. pic.twitter.com/ZwiuxjDEBa
— jaytasmic (@jaysquivel) December 3, 2022
The return of Iger has given hope to many Disney fans and Cast Members alike. Iger’s return comes following a couple years of sharp decline in quality and morale under outgoing CEO Bob Chapek’s leadership. With just a couple weeks since his surprise return, time will tell if Iger still has it in him to lead Disney to success or if his folly of selecting Chapek as his successor will be his lasting legacy.
Bob Iger and Josh D’Amaro visiting Avengers Campus at #Disneyland resort pic.twitter.com/ZWE9JYs3IY
— Jennifer Ann (@jnifferann) December 4, 2022
We’re cautiously optimistic, especially with Iger taking immediate steps to restructure the company in favor of creatives. His early moves to put power back in the hands of Disney’s creative talent on the studio side of the business have most in the company feeling pretty good about Iger’s return so far.
The company-wide town hall last Monday touched on a number of topics and rumors. Iger denied rumors that Disney was seeking a merger with Apple, calling the rumor “pure speculation.” He did, however, confirm the hiring freeze Chapek put in place would remain for the time being. Iger did side-step some key theme park-related issues, including a question asked about the theme park reservation system. He simply said that he hadn’t used the system and needed to learn more from Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro on the topic before speaking about it.
More than D’Amaro explaining the system to Iger, we hope Bob actually sits down and tries to utilize the park reservation system on his own, along with buying and booking Genie+ ride reservations, mobile order, and attempting to navigate the parks without a VIP host. Hands-on experience will be critical if Iger and other executives are to truly understand why fixing these broken systems is about more than profit and loss on a spreadsheet. Guest satisfaction MUST once again be elevated in the parks as a primary responsibility for park operators. It doesn’t matter how much money you can wring out of guest pockets if they resent you for it or end up having a bad day in the parks.
One of Disneyland’s most beloved former President’s doesn’t think the park is on the right track. Responding to former Imagineer Eddie Sotto on Linked in, Matt Ouimet affirms what we are all feeling “There comes a point where the required effort and cost creates a shadow over the pure pleasure of a day at Disneyland.” Amen. Is it time to bring Matt back to consult on how to fix the parks? He saved Disneyland once, we think he can do it again.
Regardless of the immediate outcome of Iger’s Town Hall or his Saturday tour of the parks, we’re glad to see him talking with employees and walking the parks. Here’s hoping Iger continues on this path into the next year as Disney begins its big 100th-anniversary celebration.
Filled with gratitude and excitement to be back @WaltDisneyCo! pic.twitter.com/HJYs0FAOVR
— Robert Iger (@RobertIger) November 28, 2022
The Glory of Candlelight
Iger and D’Amaro capped off their tour of the parks on Saturday with a viewing of Disneyland’s iconic and traditional Candlelight Processional ceremony.
Candlelight Processional @disneyland tonight. So nice to be back and such a wonderful show! pic.twitter.com/kVHhOwOMAS
— Robert Iger (@RobertIger) December 4, 2022
This year’s surprise guest celebrity narrator was actress Viola Davis. Davis’ was the star of ABC’s hit drama “How To Get Away with Murder” from 2014 to 2020. We caught a glimpse of her during soundcheck before the show and shared to our social accounts:
View this post on Instagram
The Candlelight show was, aside from guest narrator and guest solo vocalists, was unchanged from recent years. But without a doubt, still absolutely one of Disneyland’s most beautiful productions and treasured traditions.
Tiana’s New Critters
On Friday, Disney revealed new concept art for a show scene for the upcoming Tiana’s Bayou Adventure attraction, which will replace Splash Mountain. The new rendering details the first scene guests will experience in the attraction after splashing into the bayou. Fireflies will light the way and zydeco music will fill the air.
The concept art shows Tiana’s in her new look, which Disney has teased previously. The princess’s new outfit was created specifically for this attraction and its storyline.
Of course, the focus of this new piece of concept art is the critter zydeco band. The Disney Parks Blog described the band as “full of adorable critters, including an otter, a rabbit, a raccoon, a beaver, a turtle, and others. The band members sing and play instruments made of natural materials they found in the bayou.” The Blog teased that the critter band will play a bigger role later on in the ride’s storyline.
Frogs look on from across the water. 
Of course, the emphasis here on the critters reassures us that the attraction’s new Princess and the Frog theme will carry on the mountain’s legacy of being a big Audio-Animatronics spectacle. We’re thrilled with that and are excited to see Tiana and all of her friends in full Animatronic form when this opens.
Speaking of the opening, Disney has announced Splash Mountain will permanently close starting January 23, 2023 at Walt Disney World. While Disneyland’s version of the attraction doesn’t have a closing date yet, we would expect it to close fairly soon thereafter — after all, the attraction is supposed to open on both coasts in “late 2024.”
It’ll be interesting to see just how much of a change Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will bring to this corner of the park. Will Critter Country remain the name of the land, or will it transform into Critter Bayou or be absorbed into New Orleans Square altogether?
What will happen to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh?
Will the Hungry Bear Restaurant eventually become Tiana’s Palace restaurant? We’re not sure but we sure are excited to see what happens!
For additional Tiana’s Bayou Adventure coverage, please check out our comprehensive article below which more than 2 million of you have already turned to for information about this transformation:
NEW: Concept Art and Story for the Princess and the Frog Ride at Disneyland & WDW
Hotel Happenings
Over at the Disneyland Hotel, construction continues on the new Disney Vacation Club tower.
You can just make out through the scrims that the blue windows are installed on all but the top two levels.
Meanwhile, the Paradise Pier Hotel continues its transformation into the upcoming Pixar Place Hotel. More white paint is going up on the exterior of the hotel, with facade elements being removed from the lower portion of the hotel.
Are these stripes of color enough to make this ugly hotel tower look like a quality Disney property?
Refurbishment Mania
The season for refurbishments is coming up fast. Disneyland generally takes the opportunity of the end of the holiday season to launch refurbs and projects, and January 2023 will be no different.
January 9th will launch refurbishments for:
- “it’s a small world” (January 9th – TBA) will remove its holiday overlay and likely make a few more fixes to some lingering mechanical issues.
- Indiana Jones Adventure (January 9th – TBA) – We await word on how extensive this refurb will be. This is likely the most broken attraction in the resort.
- The Disneyland Story Presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln (January 9th – TBA) likely to install a Disney100 exhibit
- The Disney Gallery (January 9th – TBA)
- Grizzly River Run (January 9th – TBA)
But here’s a bit of good news, Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure was supposed to close on the 9th as well, but has been removed from the refurb list for now!
This and That
Work continues on transforming Tarzan’s Treehouse into the upcoming Adventureland Treehouse. With the Santa Ana winds having died down this week, tarps once again covered the scaffolding.
In Disney California Adventure, the plane in Grizzly Peak Airfield has returned following refurbishment. It looks great!
In Downtown Disney, the late-to-arrive Christmas decorations are having some issues in the evening. Many trees throughout the shopping district simply aren’t lighting up properly. Hopefully, this can be fixed soon, Christmas is just 3 weeks away!
A Sad Note
We were incredibly saddened to learn some tragic news that came from the Disneyland Resort Saturday night. Guests leaving the Resort after Candlelight may have noticed tram service to the parking structures had been suspended and all guests were directed to walk to the parking structure. The early end to tram service was due to a fatal incident that occurred at the Mickey and Friends parking structure. (The OC Register has profiled the incident, we have opted not to cover the tragic details here). The entire MiceChat family extends our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of the deceased. If you or someone you know are in crisis and need help, please visit 988lifeline.org or call 988. You are loved and you are important.
Around the Parks
We’ll wrap up this week’s update with some holiday photos from around the resort!
And finally — today, December 5, marks Walt Disney’s 121st birthday! Thank you for bringing so much joy and magic to the world! We hope the executives who walk in your shadow today take a moment or two to relearn so many of the lessons that made the Disneyland experience so much more magical in the early decades. They have a lot of work to do.
The Wonderful World of Walt – A Birthday Tribute to Walt Disney
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Let’s Hear From You!
Alright, that wraps up this edition of Dateline Disneyland and our weekly Disneyland news update. What do you think of Bob Iger’s early first moves as returning CEO? Did you visit this weekend to enjoy Candlelight? Any early thoughts about the direction the Pixar hotel project is taking? And what about Matt Ouimet’s comments? Is the required effort and cost casting a shadow over the pure pleasure of a day at Disneyland? Is it time for him to return to Disney? Be sure to join the discussion in the comments section below!
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