Big crowds returned to Disneyland this week, along with super high ticket prices and less-than-perfect show conditions. We’ll take a look at the crowds, prices, construction, maintenance issues, and everything new going on.
I would like to preface this article with a reminder. While I’m pointing out some issues, big and small, there’s actually quite a bit of progress the Resort has made lately as well. I enjoyed my visit this week… but I also have a pass and don’t have the same pressures or expenses that an occasional tourist has. It’s important for us to not only look at the good stuff but make sure the issues are being addressed for the betterment of the resort and the enjoyment of all guests. Yes… that means there’s a bit of ranting below… but as my 100-year-old grandmother reminds me every time she complains that I’m getting too fat… it comes from a place of love.
BREAKING NEWS UPDATE: we have some new info for you on the Baymax-themed land coming to Disney California Adventure. See below.
Holiday Crunch
Disneyland was super packed this past weekend (and likely will be today as well) for the 3-day Presidents Day holiday weekend. At the recent Disney shareholder meeting, Bob Iger admitted that the parks may be too expensive. But busy weekends like this one prove that there seems to be no stopping the demand. It was $179 for a one-day/one-park ticket yesterday (that’s $244 for a one-day park-hopper ticket), and yet the extremely high ticket prices did little to keep the crowds at bay. However, on Thursday, the parks felt quite easy to navigate… the difference between a holiday weekend and a regular off-season week-day.
A few times over the weekend Matterhorn hit 2-hour waits. (which can be caused when one side goes down or there is a backup of Lightning Lane guests who must be accommodated). But it certainly wasn’t the only busy attraction.
The pinch-points in the park were pinching again. Even on busy weekends since the holidays, the walkways have remained fairly open. However, it appears Disneyland increased their attendance limit for this weekend, which you feel right away in Disneyland’s tightest spots.
Nearly an hour wait for Buzz Lightyear when we walked by. We’d never wait that long for this ride… but many, many guests did!
We’ve marveled at how Disneyland’s attendance caps have kept the tight walkways of Fantasyland from gridlocking, even during the holidays, but this weekend felt much more crowded than Christmas did.
And, once again, New Orleans Square was back to its maze of queue lines and confusing navigation.
Of course, it doesn’t help that a number of attractions are currently closed or under refurbishment. More on that in our refurb section below. But, park reservations allow Disneyland to know EXACTLY how many guests will be visiting, and they also know how much ride and restaurant capacity they have… so this level of crowding really is unacceptable. At $244 for a park-hopper ticket, guests should demand better than this.
I’ll say that Magic Keyholders such as myself benefit on days like this because we can take it easy and do the smaller attractions (river boats, train, walk-throughs, shows, and experiences) which don’t generate massive lines. But at nearly $250 for a day ticket, expectations are higher.
More Disneyland After Dark Events
The first set of Disneylands after-hours events for 2023 have wrapped up. Sweethearts’ Nite (which ran for 7 select nights starting January 31 through February 16) has finished its run, with the brand new Princess Nite (that only runs for 2 nights) debuting in March. This week, the next set of Disneyland After Dark events were confirmed: Throwback Nite and Star Wars Nite.
Throwback Nite
Wish you visited Disneyland in its first decade of opening? That ship has sailed… but the next best thing is a retro throwback to the 50s and 60s with nods to Disney’s history in an after-hours event. Throwback Nite (almost) coincides with this year’s Spring Dapper Day Expo (April 15-16), and it’s very likely trying to convince the dappers to spend an extra few days at the Disneyland Resort. Here’s what Throwback Nite features:
- “Fantasy in the Sky” nighttime spectacular (a tribute to the first fireworks show at Disneyland in 1957)
- DJs and live music around the park inspired by the 50s and 60s
- Event-exclusive food inspired by treats offered in the park’s early days
- Vintage-inspired backdrops of attractions, posters, and Disney films with PhotoPass photographers
- After-hours access to classic Disneyland attractions like Peter Pan’s Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise and more
- Mickey and friends in retro outfits, plus “nostalgic” characters during the party
Throwback Nite runs April 18 & 20 at Disneyland Park
Star Wars Nite
The fan-favorite Star Wars after-hours event returns with four nights in May. Star Wars-minded people have raved about this event for years, and we’re sure that this year will likely be a success as well. Timed perfectly for Star Wars Day (May the 4th), there’s also a few extra days available for a variety of schedules. Here’s what’s offered at this year’s Star Wars Nite:
- “Star Wars: Celebrate the Nite” fireworks spectacular set to the iconic music of Star Wars
- Captain Phasma and Stormtroopers out in Tomorrowland for the March of the First Order
- Special characters like Tusken Raiders and Jawas
- A Lightsaber Instructional demonstration to learn “elite moves”
- Photo ops with Star Wars characters
- Specially-created snacks like galactic churros and other treats
Star Wars Nite will be offered on May 2, 4, 8, & 11 at Disneyland Park
For more information about the Disneyland After Dark events, including info on purchasing a ticket for these recently announced events, take a look at the article below:
Disneyland After Dark Events Continue with Throwback Nite and Star Wars Nite
Are Disneyland’s After-Hours Events Worth it?
We often get asked by fans and parkgoers if attending one of Disneyland’s after-hours events is worth it. Our answer to that question depends on what you’re hoping to get out of it. At $129+ per person, the event carries a hefty price for a 4-hour party (the event officially starts at 9pm and ends at 1am; event mix-in starts at 6pm). Here are our thoughts about attending a Disneyland After Dark event.
If you’re all about character meet & greets, themed photo ops, and exclusive merchandise, then a Disneyland After Dark event will be right up your alley. These events have essentially become a Disneyland content creator’s dream; you’ll see lots of influencers attending these parties to show off to their audience. However, if you’re more like us and don’t necessarily need to see every character, eat themed food locked behind an event pay-wall, or don’t need social media content, then you may not feel like you got your money’s worth. For an event that costs more than a theme park ticket (and doesn’t include parking), these parties are really for the select few.
Although Disney clearly finds these events to be successful (or at least, profitable), we’re wondering if the popularity is declining. Sweethearts’ Nite was shown as SOLD-OUT on Disneyland’s website, but on both Valentine’s Day and the last night of the party, there were tickets still available for walk-up guests. There were signs in the Esplanade, in the tunnels to Town Square, in front of the Starcade, and in other locations informing guests that tickets to the event could still be purchased in person.
We stopped to ask about ticket availability, and we were told that there were still plenty of tickets for anyone interested. However, the tickets would still be sold at full cost, which was $139 per person on Valentine’s Day!
In a similar vein, there are tickets for the upcoming Princess Nite (an entirely new event this year) that are still available, despite having been on sale since December 2022 and only offered on two nights. So what’s happening with the light sales for these events? Is it that the popularity is declining or are people unwilling to pay the price for entry?
Something that we would love to see are many of these things rolled out for all guests (possibly with the option of a half price after 6pm ticket). For instance, instead of keeping Valentine’s offerings behind a paywall, we think that Disney could still extend the same party offerings (photo ops, special food, limited-time characters, etc.) but offer it to all guests. That way, the exclusive merchandise is marketed to a wider audience, more event food can be purchased, and a greater reach on social media with specialty photo ops geared towards content creators (not unlike the popular Lunar New Year festival at DCA). The events would become a draw to pull guests into the parks during the slow season with extra offerings and longer hours at a time of the year when attendance is generally lower and hours shorter.
Disneyland Blues
This busy holiday weekend was hit and miss for those paying those sky-high ticket prices we told you about above. On the one hand, there are some stunning new fireworks at Disneyland (weekends only), there have been more characters out in the parks, the decorations and entertainment have us feeling more like 2019 again. But, there are also some huge maintenance and poor show conditions that are hard to ignore. The brand new Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, which we absolutely LOVE, has been suffering frequent extended breakdowns. Add to that an increase in breakdowns for Big Thunder recently (which has been going down for hours at a time), Indy being closed for refurbishment, and unacceptable show conditions for Splash Mountain and other attractions.
“Good enough” isn’t good enough when you are charging guests $244 for a single day park-hopper, plus $35 for parking, $25+ for Genie+, and the highest prices you’ll ever pay for fast food (which rarely lives up to the expectation of food at that price). Disney is supposed to be about magic and perfection. Yes, always a bit more expensive, but also well-maintained, freshly painted, properly lit, and as friendly as you’ve ever experienced. Unfortunately, the Pressler and Chapek eras have all but drowned that mentality, and shareholders have become addicted to profits above quality. This MUST change!
Famed top Imagineer and frequent MiceChat event guest, Marty Sklar, had 10 commandments for the design and running of the Disney parks:
How many of those 10 commandments are being followed today? But let’s highlight just one of them… The 10th commandment is, “KEEP IT UP (MAINTAIN IT)!”
“For Disney, it’s not just the cleanliness of the streets and walkways. It’s thousands and thousands of things that work every hour of every day… The cardinal principle is this: When things do not work, your experience as a guest is negatively impacted. Poor maintenance is poor show. And poor show is unacceptable in the Disney experience.”
Someone needs to print out that quote and put it on every desk in Team Disney Anaheim, Walt Disney Imagineering, and the Disney Company executive suite in Burbank. They really need to learn all 10 commandments… but if it has to be just one, please let it be this one.
Just Close It Already!
Splash Mountain is currently Disney’s prime example of poor show. Yes, the attraction will be closing at some unknown date in the near future for a major retheme to Princess and the Frog, but it’s still open for guests to experience completely darkened sets, broken animatronics, and missing figures… the bad show that Marty warned us about in his 10th commandment.
The photos you see below actually make these scenes look better than they really do. But large portions of Splash Mountain are currently in darkness. Essentially a ride in the darkness with a few things highlighted. So, it’s all of the wet clothes and shoes with little of the payoff right now.
The Fox pulling Br’er Bear’s rope is in total darkness with just one spot and a few ambient lights still working for this scene.
There’s a rabbit somewhere in the photo below…
If you had never been on this ride before you’d have no idea what was going on with random legs sticking out in the darkness…
Someone must be trying to do something to the scene below… there’s a yellow ladder in the background, but the rest of the scene is poorly lit.
I’m not even sure what this is…
Perhaps it’s the darkness that scares these mamas the most…
The riverboat is the only decently lit scene in the ride right now. But even here, individual character spots aren’t working… Let’s just call it a sunset cruise…
Just past the riverboat, Br’er Fox can’t even be seen because there is no light on him. And we think the bluebird is missing… but we’d need night vision to know for sure.
The photo owl is back and is talking, but his eyes are not lit and the picture he is trying to show you can’t be seen because there is no screen. And when we returned the next day, his head was turned all the way around and he wasn’t functioning (but the audio was still going).
As much as I hate to say it, if they aren’t willing to keep the attraction in excellent condition, they should just close it. It’s unfair to guests to make them wait and subject them to drenching conditions in the middle of winter for an attraction this poorly maintained! This isn’t “good enough” for a Disneyland experience and certainly doesn’t meet the 10th commandment.
Dropped off, Burned Out, and Forgotten
Guests attending the Super Bowl cavalcade for the Kansas City Chiefs were told to witness the spectacle from “Main Stret.” Yes, it’s clear that the interns have been set loose on signs this year without anyone checking anything before they go to the expense of printing them. We’ve covered a litany of sign errors this year. It’s almost comical at this point. (Yes, we make errors all the time. But we aren’t charging you $104+ to read this). This is an example of Disney losing money by trying to save on extra labor. How did this even make it into the park without someone noticing… or is this another case of “it’s good enough.” Marty wouldn’t be happy.
And this poor “El Ca” Theater sign in Disney California Adventure would look so much better if it was just turned off (should read El Capitan)…
The poor decades-long abandoned PeopleMover tracks are a sad reminder of what should be. Aside from the short portion at the front of the land, the rest of the winding track is filled with rust and peeling paint.
In busy Cars Land, the curio shop has never reopened. Instead, they sell bracelets from a kiosk in front of the door?! Just open the doors and have that poor cast member work from inside for goodness sake!
There’s so much more folks, but that’s as much as I can stomach for one day. Keep your eye out for attraction breakdowns, burnt-out lightbulbs, and poor show conditions and share below or send us a message.
As Disney prepares to cut 700 million from expenditures in the parks to pay for the dismal performance of Disney+, we want to make sure that show conditions don’t get even worse. High prices AND poor show conditions may seem to be working for Disney now, but the math doesn’t add up long term. Serious damage is being done to the Disney brand. Rather than a $700 million cut, we urge Bob Iger to reverse course and spend more to keep the Disney Parks goose laying those golden eggs (and bonuses for himself and the other executives).
OK, let’s lift the mood…
CosTOONs for Toontown Revealed
Get ready for some creative costumes ahead of the March 19th opening of Toontown. Last week, Disneyland’s Cast & Community shared a sneak peek at the costumes the Toontown cast members will be wearing.
Disney fans are split on whether they love or hate the new costumes, but it will be up to the Cast Members to style themselves with a mix-and-match approach similar to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. That’s a fun and clever idea. And with the available colors and styles, none of these cast members is going to be accidentally mistaken for a guest.
According to Disney, the Costuming Design team “prioritized the inclusion of cast members in the development journey, ensuring the new look was as comfortable and functional as it was fashionable.”
What do you think about the new CosTOONs for Toontown? Fun to have the cast all have unique outfits, but in the same color scheme, or would you rather they all have the same uniform?
Mickey Returns to Town Square
Last week, the Disney100 platinum Mickey Mouse statue in Town Square was suddenly removed. The statue prominently displayed an incorrect version of a famous Walt Disney quote. This week, the statue has been returned to its spot in Town Square— and with the quote corrected (are you sensing a recurring theme).
French Market Closes for Tiana’s Palace Retheme
If you were hoping to get a serving of beef stew in a bread bowl at French Market on your next Disneyland trip, we’ve got some bad news for you. As of this past Friday, the quick-serve establishment (plus the Mint Julep Bar) have closed for its retheme to Tiana’s Palace. Right now, there’s no official reopening date for this overhaul. However, the good news is that Mint Juleps and Mickey Beignets have been moved to an alternate location.
Tiana’s Palace is expected to be a simple retheme of the French Market Restaurant to include some nods to The Princess and the Frog. Here’s the concept art for Tiana’s Palace. The visible change on the exterior is mostly signage, lights, and smokestacks. The building isn’t being significantly altered. Even the layout of the patio and service station remain the same.
Get more information about the changes ahead to Tiana’s Palace in the article below.
Tiana’s Palace to Replace New Orleans Square Classic in Disneyland
We mentioned that Mickey Beignets and Mint Juleps are still available. For the time being, these treats can be found at Royal Street Veranda. We’re very curious to see how traffic patterns will affect this little eatery. This has previously been our go-to spot for a quick bite since people tend to overlook it.
When we visited the Mint Julep Bar on its last day of operation, February 17, the line stretched out into Magnolia Gardens! This kind of traffic was not unique just for its last day; you could frequently find a long queue for Beignets and Mint Juleps at any time.
For now, the Royal Street Veranda has set up an extended queue in front of Pieces of Eight with a Cast Member helping to herd the line. Considering how crazy the line can be for Beignets (both Mobile Order and standby), we hope that Royal Street Veranda is well-equipped to handle the increase in traffic.
There was no signage letting guests know what the line was for, so there is a bit of confusion for those who are trying to enter the store or looking for the disabled access for Pirates of the Caribbean. We watched multiple guests asking guests in the line if they were waiting for the shop.
Haunted Mansion Returns
After 5 looooooong months in holiday mode, Haunted Mansion has returned and mostly looks good. Though there are some interesting notes. When the attraction reopened, a mysterious new birdcage with a bat in it was perched next to the spooky chair in the endless hallway scene. But it was quickly removed. The bat was inspired by the concept art below from the legendary Imagineer Marc Davis. (For a time before his death, Marc and Alice Davis sold this print among other concept drawings. I have several signed prints the Davis’ gave us on various visits to their home):
Refreshed props and gardens look perfectly macabre.
Lighting and effects are on point.
The only obvious flaw is that Madame Leota isn’t floating. But she is still reciting her incantations from her crystal ball. You can see a complete walk through the queue and ride I recorded on Saturday:
(RUMOR CONTROL: For those of you who have written to find out if the Doombuggies have been replaced with a newer model, they haven’t. Vehicles are constantly being refurbished and swapped in and out of the ride, but they aren’t being replaced with a new design.)
Magic Re-Happens This Friday
At long last, Disney’s practically brand new Magic Happens Parade will return February 24th. The show made its debut in February of 2020 and promptly shut down with the rest of the resort just a few weeks later. It hasn’t been seen since. Guests will be able to enjoy this new-old parade daily starting this coming weekend! (The parade is currently scheduled for 3:30 and 6:30pm daily, but check the Disneyland app before your visit just to be sure).
This parade is filled with color and whimsy, catchy music, and a fun mix of characters old and new.
Yes, it’s Merlin!
Some stunning float designs as well.
We can’t wait to see the fantastically ridiculous costumes and hair again soon…
Super Hero News
There’s been a bit of a whirlwind in regard to Super Heroes around DCA. Let’s get you up to speed.
Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
This past weekend, the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe kicked off with Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania.
In celebration of the film’s premiere, there are two things offered at Avengers Campus. The first is the Ooze Cauldron sipper that can be found at Pym’s Test Kitchen. We’re not sure of the popularity of this item; based on previous sipper releases, we should see hordes of people wearing sippers around their necks or in their hands. However, this time around on the first day, there was no long line to buy them at PYM’s Test Kitchen. We didn’t even see any guests carrying them around the land.
We’re also surprised that Disney didn’t create a new limited-time menu item for the restaurant since the PYM Test Kitchen is themed to Ant-Man to begin with. Strange missed opportunity.
The other Ant-Man offering in Avengers Campus is a new character, Kang the Conqueror. He is the primary antagonist of Ant-Man and The Wasp and can be found in the main area of Avengers Campus, closest to the Ancient Sanctum. Kang was announced to be coming to Avengers Campus the day of the film’s release. Disney was fairly tight-lipped about the in-park promo for this new movie.
It is a little frustrating trying to wait for a specific character in Avengers Campus. The Cast Members there try to give “in-universe” explanations as to why they can’t announce a particular character’s schedule. When we visited on Friday, we were told that Kang might be out in a few minutes. They also wouldn’t give us a location to find him. We wandered for over an hour in the cold looking for this character. I know that this is intentional to add to the spontaneous feel of the land, but not getting a straight answer when talking to an employee is frustrating. More so because once the character appeared, the cast quickly set up a line for guests to take photos with him! So, even though we were there for over an hour, by the time we found him, there were already 20 people in line waiting to meet him. I don’t know about you, but it takes all the fun out of it for me. If they are going to set up a line anyway, just tell guests where they can line up!
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur
Another Super Hero has arrived at DCA. Moon Girl, of the new Marvel animated series Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (now playing on Disney Channel and streaming on Disney+), is now meeting guests in the Hollywood Backlot.
For her theme park debut on February 15, there was a special one-day-only cavalcade and stage show featuring the talent from the show.
You can meet Moon Girl for a limited time just across the way from the restrooms at the Hollywood Backlot.
Super Store Reopens
After a brief closure early in the week, the Super Store in Hollywood Backlot has returned. When we visited this weekend, we didn’t notice anything particularly new or unusual. We did find it odd that there weren’t any props or costumes from the new Ant-Man movie.
Celebrations and Festivals
There are several concurrent special events taking place across the Disneyland Resort right now. So many that it might be hard to keep track of what’s happening. Here’s a quick look at what is going on around the resort for all these celebrations.
Now Ended – Lunar New Year Celebration
As of February 15, the Lunar New Year Celebration at DCA has come to an end. This festival is always a highlight of the year. While some of the food offered this time around were a miss for us, we still loved seeing the colorful procession and there were quite a few delicious items to enjoy.
As of this week, the festival marketplaces have been removed from the parade route. We’re surprised that the booths left their places at all, especially since the next festival starts in just over a week. We did notice that the archway along the parade route was still up on our visit to the park this weekend.
The merchandise booth is still standing, but the contents for sale have switched to Disney100 merch for the time being. You’ll start seeing Food & Wine items in the near future.
Paradise Garden Grill has closed temporarily and had its Lunar New Year theming and menu stripped away. We think it’s unfortunate that this location ever closes, especially since it is one of the few quick-serve locations that has abundant seating. We would love to see this eatery used as a “festival favorites” marketplace that sells some popular items from the previous festival while waiting for the next one to begin.
Over in Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, the Raya character meet & greet will be sticking around for a while longer. The princess from Raya and the Last Dragon has been touted as a limited-time offering, but we were told that she would remain in her meet & greet location until further notice. Last year, she stayed until she was booted out to prepare for Halloween!
Food & Wine Festival Begins March 3
The next major festival at DCA starts in just a handful of days. Starting March 3, guests will be able to experience a culinary adventure across a variety of marketplaces. Additionally, there are seminars about food and beverage that will inform participants of all things epicurean. We’re still waiting for the food guide to be released for this year. Is there anything you’re hoping will be back?
Here’s a reminder of how things were for Food & Wine last year:
Celebrate Soulfully
Black History Month at the Disneyland Resort continues! This past Saturday, there was a special Gospel music showcase, “Celebrate Gospel,” at the Fantasyland Theater.
Local Gospel choirs were featured throughout the day.
The music showcase ended with an incredible performance from Grammy-nominated artist Jekalyn Carr.
During the Celebrate Gospel performance, there was some special food available at the Troubador Tavern adjacent to the Fantasyland Theater. Guests could enjoy a Fried Chicken Bowl and a Red Velvet Bundt Cake. These items are only available during Celebrate Gospel Days, February 18 and 25.
If Celebrate Gospel sounds like your idea of a good time, it happens one more time: this upcoming Saturday, February 25. You’re free to watch one, several, or all of the featured musical acts throughout the day at the Fantasyland Theater. And the best part is, it’s included with admission!
The celebration of soulful music also continues at Downtown Disney and at the Grand Californian Hotel. Through the end of the month, you can find an eclectic mix of Jazz, Rock, Reggae, and more performed nightly. We spotted Mel Collins and The Mood Indigo Group performing in the Grand Hall (lobby) of the Grand Californian. If you can, stop by and watch them perform, you’ll be glad you did.
Mel is an accomplished local performer and has appeared in many Disneyland productions over the years.
There’s also a special Magic Key gift available at Disneyana in Disneyland and the temporary Wonderground Gallery in Downtown Disney. Pick up a set of stickers that plays on the theme of “Celebrate Soulfully.”
For more about Disneyland’s Celebrate Soulfully, check out the article below:
NEW: Marvel’s Moon Girl Arrives at Disneyland & Celebrate Soulfully!
Mardi Gras
Let the good times roll! Tomorrow, February 21, is officially Mardi Gras. While Disneyland’s New Orleans Square is decorated for the occasion… they don’t do anything in particular to celebrate. Some performers on the balconies and on the Mark Twain would fit the bill. How about a few Mardi Gras items in the restaurants? If Disney needs a bit of inspiration, Universal Orlando Mardi Gras is epic.
We’ll have more pretty pictures of NOS for you at the end of today’s article.
Disney100
To top off all the celebrating, there’s also the overarching Disney100 Celebration taking place across the resort. We’ve largely profiled everything about the celebration in detail so far. The next major component is the return of Magic Happens mentioned above. For a comprehensive look at all-things Disney100 at Disneyland, please see the article below.
UPDATES! Disneyland’s 100 Years of Wonder Celebration Details
Construction-palooza
It may seem annoying to run into construction walls all over the place… and it is… but it’s also exciting that so much is happening at the Disneyland Resort. Downtown Disney is in a state of slow transformation, Disneyland is retheming a restaurant and an attraction, and DCA is transforming a mini-land to add more character…
Adventureland Treehouse
Fans seem pretty excited for the upcoming Adventureland Treehouse inspired but the Swiss Family Robinson. But there’s still no indication when this attraction will open.
BREAKING NEWS: Disneyland’s NEW Adventureland Treehouse Revealed!
San Fransokyo Square
The transformation of Pacific Wharf into San Fransokyo Square from Big Hero 6 will happen MUCH quicker than you may expect. Starting today, the bridge into the land will be blocked off to guests as the tall towers are constructed. The construction should wrap up by THIS SUMMER. Very fast by Disney standards.
The four footers have been framed up and are ready for the beams to be placed.
The lagoon has a number of piles of construction equipment and materials.
When it’s done, the area will look like this:
As you can tell from the image above, there’s not much to this overlay. The bridge is the major structural element. The rest is cosmetic (signs, lanterns, lighting). And a Meet and Greet area will be created somewhere in the land (we hear it may be located near or where the beer truck is currently situated).
We have new concept art and information for you about Baymax, food, and construction today:
Disneyland News: San Fransokyo Square Coming Soon to Disney California Adventure
Grizzly River Run
Not too far away, Grizzly is under its seasonal refurbishment.
One of our photographers, Mike Kindrich, had noted that the water wheel was in terrible shape with extreme rust that had made it inoperable. It appears that a complete restoration is underway:
PhilharMagic
Mickey and Donald’s 3D attraction is also closed for a short refurbishment to replace some worn-out carpet.
Mortimer’s Market
One-quarter of Hollywood Blvd is behind scaffolds for facade refurbishment.
Cosmetic surgery is expected in Hollywood 😉
Luigi’s
Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters is still open even though it may look otherwise at first glance.
The Guido figure at the base of the tire tower has been removed. We hope it’s just temporary. He’s super cute.
Downtown Disney West Side Expansion
The big dirt lot where AMC Theater once stood is… still a big dirt lot.
Though some work has been done, nothing has gone vertical yet.
The corridor between the big dirt lot and the Monorail station is pretty tight as extensive pavement work and some garden removal is completed.
Disney Home Store/Wonderground Gallery
The dramatic construction at the Disney Home Store and Wonderground Gallery is getting curious and curiouser. the 2-story atrium sections are being closed in. Beams have gone in where the 2nd floor would be. It appears that additional seating may be going in for the new restaurant which is replacing Catal. Windows and even parts of the roof have been removed.
Earl of Sandwich Tavern
Not only has the Earl of Sandwich returned… a new experience will soon be added. In addition to the traditional quick-service sandwiches, wraps, and salads, a sit-down “Tavern” will soon open as well. It’s just about ready to open and the restaurant has been busy interviewing new servers.
The quick service side has been quite popular.
Silly Symphony Swings
Silly Symphony Swings is undergoing its annual refurbishment.
Refurbishment Calendar
Going hand in hand with the above section, here are the current and planned refurbishments around the resort.
Currently Under Refurbishment:
- Tarzan’s Treehouse Transformation: (September 1st, 2021-2023)
- Mickey’s Toontown (March 9th, 2022-March 19th, 2023)
- Indiana Jones Adventure: (January 9th-Spring 2023)
- Grizzly River Run: (January 9th-March 16th)
- Fairfax Market: (January 9th-March 4th)
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic: (February 13th-23rd)
- French Market remodel to Tiana’s Palace: (February 17th-TBA)
- Mint Julep Bar: (February 17th-TBA)
- Silly Symphony Swings: (February 17th-TBA)
Upcoming Refurbishments:
- Mark Twain Riverboat: (March 6th-9th)
- Ship to Shore Marketplace: (March 13th-TBA)
- Disneyland Monorail: (March 20th-23rd)
This & That
This has been a news-filled Disneyland Update already. To round it off, here are the smaller stories that came up on our radar this week.
Hercules at Hyperion?
A few weeks ago, we took a look at the casting calls that have been put out for an upcoming limited-run musical coming to the Hyperion Theater. We’re hearing from more and more people in the orbit of the theater that Hercules is going in. However, we have a friend in entertainment who insists that “Rogers: The Musical” is running for a short stint this summer. Could both be true? Might Hercules being coming as the next major show after a promotional run of Rogers this summer? We shouldn’t have to wait too much longer, we hear an announcement is in the works.
But there are lots of Disney casting calls right now for all sorts of roles at the Disneyland Resort and beyond:
Disneyland Flagpole Plaque Readable Again
Last month in a Disneyland Update, PhotoMatt remarked that the plaque at the base of Disneyland’s flagpole was completely unreadable.
This week, we noticed that the plaque has either been replaced or gotten a very thorough cleaning. Now the words are easy to read and appreciate once again.
runDisney’s Return to Disneyland Sells Out
The first runDisney event to be held at Disneyland since 2017 has already proven to be a major success— and the event doesn’t even take place until January 2024! Tickets for the race through Disneyland went on sale on Valentine’s Day and sold out instantly.
We hope to see more runDisney events offered at Disneyland in the future. Did you score a ticket to runDisney’s return to Anaheim? I’ll be cheering you on… from my couch.
Steakhouse 55 Good News/Bad News
First the good news. The Steakhouse 55 bar, next to Goofy’s Kitchen, will be reopening soon with a new menu.
Some of the couches have been removed from the lounge area, leaving the bar feeling more open to the lobby.
It does look like they’ll need more seating.
Sadly, there are no immediate plans to bring the restaurant back. If you stay at the Disneyland Hotel, be sure to lodge a complaint with the front desk that you aren’t happy with the current food and beverage options with Steakhouse 55 closed. A Tiki Bar, barely edible quick service food, and a kiddie restaurant aren’t sufficient for a luxury-priced hotel such as this. If the upcoming Pixar Hotel can get a new table service restaurant, surely the “Disneyland” branded hotel deserves equal or better options. A whole new tower full of guests will soon open, the current options at the hotel are already overloaded. It’s time Disney figures this out because DVC members are a lot savvier than the tourists who book Disneyland’s namesake hotel.
New Oswald Merchandise
While Oswald was the center character for the Lunar New Year Celebration this year, the Lucky Rabbit also has a starring role in Disney’s 100th celebration. A brand new merchandise line features Mickey’s older brother. The items in this collection are proving to be quite popular.
You can find an assortment of apparel, home goods, and even rabbit ear hats and headbands. We saw an unbelievable number of people wearing the Oswald ears out in the park since the release of the collection.
Keeping on theme, there is also a DCA-exclusive Oswald caramel apple with rice crispy ears. We hear this may be a very limited-time option, so it may not even still be available. But it’s too cute to go away so soon.
Merchandise News
The Disney merchandise never stops. To help stay up to date, we’ve launched a new social account we call “MiceMerch” on Instagram and Facebook that exclusively covers Disney merchandise news.
Be sure to follow MiceMerch for more merchandise coverage!
Super Nintendo World Opens to Huge Demand
Okay, this isn’t a Disneyland story, but we’d be remiss not to mention this amazing new land at Universal Studios Hollywood. After a month of previews, Super Nintendo World officially opened to the public on February 17 with a tremendous amount of interest. We were able to watch the dedication ceremony featuring a number of celebrities and the creator of Mario, Shigeru Miyamoto.
Super Nintendo World is an exceptional addition to Universal Hollywood. In terms of repeatability and interactivity, it gives Disney a run for the money. Don’t believe us? Take a look at the video below:
For a complete rundown of Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood, check out the article below:
Essential Guide To Universal Studios Hollywood Super Nintendo World
And don’t miss the best new themed restaurant around, Toothsome Chocolate Emporium in Universal CityWalk. Oh how we miss Downtown Disney having actual themed restaurants instead of all the mall-style establishments which have been shoehorned in lately. How would you like to have something like this at Disneyland?
Toothsome Chocolate Emporium at Universal Studios Hollywood Is a Sweet Surprise!
Yes, I Love Disneyland
Now, before we leave you for this week, let’s end on a high note. Here are some things that caught my eye on my three trips to the parks for this update. I’ll share a few notes along with the photos.
The daytime temperatures have been just about perfect recently, with chilly nights.
We noticed a few standing tables have been added near the droid washing station (near the bathrooms). You won’t find many places to sit in Galaxy’s Edge… they don’t want you to be too comfortable for some reason.
I continue my love affair with the new castle fountains. Mirror, mirror on the wall…
The beautiful statue above has replaced the statue we affectionately called Derp. We’d like to know what happened to Derp and would love to give them a home in our garden.
This area below was once called Carnation Gardens. Folks were pretty upset when it went away… but this view has really grown on me.
Do you recognize this spot?
I’m so glad to have this old favorite back. As much as I appreciate the whimsy of Haunted Mansion Holiday, it just lingers for too long. I’ll take classic Mansion any day… but you could twist my arm for a limited-run Muppets Haunted Mansion overlay instead of Holiday.
What’s scarier than the Haunted Mansion? The children of the corn (in the Holiday Shop on Main Street) of course! The creepy toddlers have been dressed for the annual rite of spring. I’m not sure, but I think they are planning to sacrifice that bunny.
The shop has swapped out Lunar New Year decorations for Easter eggs and spring floral.
Oswald has an elevated position during Disney’s 100th. Even custodial is sharing his image in water art.
I was leaving Disneyland on Thursday just as Wondrous Journeys projection-only show was starting. I was amazed to see Main Street totally filled with guests… even without fireworks!
I do wish they’d wrap the projections around to the Town Square-facing facades. Note how many guests are trying to see the projections from this large area.
Our friend Photomatt took some dazzling 4K video of the fireworks version of the show that you’ve got to see. This show has hooked me. I love the music and it’s emotional for me that it starts with the classic 1920s characters and works its way all the way through to today in a way that doesn’t feel too choppy or pandering.
Dusty Live From Disneyland
Every Friday at 5pm (Pacific) I go live from Disneyland (or whatever park I’m at) on our Facebook Page and our YouTube. Be sure to follow along on this week’s adventure. You’ll be glad you did:
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Let’s Hear From You
And that dear friends brings us to the end of another Disneyland Update. It really wasn’t a horrible week in the parks. Darn right magical at times. But the thought of a massive cut to capital expenditures in the parks on top of the current issues and high prices rings a lot of alarm bells for me. If they can’t get Splash Mountain back up to show standard, should it just be closed? Do you think park attendance caps should be set lower when prices are set higher? Are you looking forward to any of the current construction projects or attraction overlays (Princess and the Frog, Adventureland Treehouse, or San Fransokyo)?
Let’s hear from you below…
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