Disneyland Update – Disneyland Takes a Bath & Halloween Screams!

What a week! After a historic hurricane/tropical storm and even an earthquake, it’s been a wild few days. But aside from the rare weather phenomenon, there are lots of things happening at Disneyland. Summer is coming to a close as kids head back to school and the Halloween season is just days away. Disneyland is preparing to open a new mini-land and a new restaurant. And we have photos from a drenched and empty Disneyland, news and construction from every corner of the resort, a mess of an event for kids, and lots more.  Let’s get you up to speed with everything going on around Disneyland…

HurriQuake! 

It’s been an interesting 24 hours! Not only is California experiencing its first Tropical Storm (the remnants of Hurricane Hillary) in eight decades, but a 5.1 quake hit the region just as the big storms arrived. Thankfully, Anaheim didn’t feel the impact of the quake, and the wind and rain from Hillary blew much more toward the inland desert areas than the coastal region. But it was still a very rainy and blustery day. 

For most of Sunday, Anaheim was under a rare Tropical Storm Warning for Southern California. 

In preparation for the storm, Disneyland cleaned storm drains, rolled up construction scrims, removed some unsecured umbrellas, and announced they’d close a couple of hours early on Sunday. Other than Universal Studios, all the other local theme parks and most outdoor entertainment was closed on Sunday out of an abundance of caution.

Yet, Disneyland still decided to remain open.

By the time Disneyland employees went home for the night, the roads were littered with accidents, flooded underpasses, and mayors across the region calling for residents to remain home and off the freeways. Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency one day before the remains of Hillary hit Disneyland.

By the time the hard rains and winds showed up in the early afternoon, most guests had given up on a day of inclement weather.  These afternoon waits are the lowest we can remember. 

What did Disneyland get out of remaining open on a day such as this? 

Even Disneyland’s newest ride, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, was a walk-on. 

Thankfully, the worst-case weather scenarios didn’t materialize for Anaheim. Should Disneyland have done a better job of protecting cast and guests from potentially dangerous weather and road conditions by closing for the day? Or do you think it was smart for them to remain open even though the parks were practically empty? 

Prepare for a Busy Week! 

Once the clouds clear, Disneyland is likely in for a busy few weeks. All 4 levels of Magic Key annual passes are now unblocked until Thanksgiving (each pass has a calendar with different blockout dates – For example, the bottom two passes block most weekends and holidays). Pent-up demand to see the Disney100 spectaculars, Rogers Musical, and new restaurants and attractions about to open ensure that passholders will be out in force. Add to that Disneyland’s lowest price for one-day park tickets ($104/day), and you should prepare for some very busy days ahead. 

If you can afford a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, they are generally less busy than those $104 days!

Disneyland Walkthrough

We took a trip around Disneyland on Friday to prepare for today’s Update. Follow along in our live video to see new Halloween details in Cars Land, San Fransokyo’s final steps before opening at the end of the month, major construction at Disneyland, and the latest crowd conditions. It’s worth a view, and a great way to give yourself a little Disney magic from home or work: 

You can tune in to our Live @ 5 videos every Friday on our Facebook and YouTube pages!

Coming Soon! 

There are at least two new offerings opening around the Disneyland Resort next month. Here’s what you need to know:

Tiana’s Palace Opens September 7th

We’re sooooo close we can almost taste all the New Orleans fare at Tiana’s Palace, the reimagined French Market Restaurant. The original restaurant closed back in February, and the reinvigorated restaurant is just about to open. Tiana’s Palace will feature all sorts of nods to Princess & the Frog, including motifs of frogs, lilies, and cookbooks. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwGFYBbRPas/?img_index=1

At this time, the menu for Tiana’s Palace hasn’t been revealed. Though, we expect that we’ll have a better idea of what’ll be offered very soon. 

One thing that we’re not crazy about seeing is the return of Mobile Order to the establishment. Mobile Order integration at French Market was often a nightmare since there is such limited seating in the courtyard. Because guests tend to find a spot to hang out until their food is ready, that means guests without food are taking up spots from guests holding trays of food looking for a seat. Because French Market had two buffeteria-style lines, shutting down half the restaurant for Mobile Order significantly slowed standby service. We hope that the Mobile Order integration for Tiana’s Palace is more effective than it was for French Market. But we don’t think it’s helpful in this sure-to-be-popular location with limited seating. 

Construction on the location is just about done. The patio has been set, signage is up, and even the lighting is now in place. 

New Avengers Campus Store to Open in September

Last week, we learned that the new Avengers Campus store (called “Avengers Vault”) will be opening sometime in mid-September. This store will offer a selection of Infinity Saga relics. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cv7sbgLuHa9/?img_index=1

We’re curious how large of a footprint this store will have. Its entrance is located off the side of Avengers HQ and leads into the building. Considering that other merchandise locations in the land are the tiny Web-Slingers store and the open-air merch cart, we’re hoping the new shop will be more substantial.

There’s only a tiny bit of evidence of the new store off to the side of the Avengers HQ building. 

Halloween Screaming Soon

Ready or not, Halloween is less than two weeks away. Disneyland Resort kicks off the spooky season on September 1st this year. With the wild weather this weekend, crews will have to work extra hard to get it all done in time. But we can already see substantial progress…

Cars Land Halloween

Have a honkin’ Haul-O-Ween in Radiator Springs. I just love the Halloween decor in Cars Land. So much whimsy and creativity. This is what Disney is all about for me, fun, humor, and creativity. 

The spiders at Sarge’s are amazing. Still waiting for the pumpkin patch. 

And Tow Mater’s graveyard is worth taking a little time to explore. 

The Cozy Cone is undergoing its big transformation now. Some orange bunting is up, but we’re still waiting on the Jack-o-lantern faces applied to the cones. The neon sign is currently under refurbishment, though, we don’t believe has anything to do with the holidays. 

DCA also gets an annual sprinkling of purple lights on Buena Vista street, a headless horseman statue, and some creepy decor, such as the bats flying from Carthy Circle. 

Halloween at Disneyland

Now that Cars Land is near ready for the holiday, expect to see the giant Mickey pumpkin replace the Disney100 Mickey statue on Main Street. Giant Mickey has already arrived backstage, along with some other major props which are stored off-site. More windows on Main Street will be redecorated for Halloween this week. But Disneyland’s biggest offering is Haunted Mansion Holiday, which is getting installed now: 

Missing for the last few Halloween seasons is Ghost Galaxy at Space Mountain. The overlay costs Disneyland next to nothing to switch over. We sure would like to see it return, what about you?

Halloween Nighttime Spectacular

While we’re on the subject, Halloween Screams starts on September 1st, which means two things. 1) You only have until the end of this month to enjoy the delightful Wondrous Journeys fireworks (it’s possible it could return after Christmas, but that has not been confirmed). And 2) Halloween Screams is only presented with fireworks on “Select Nights,” mostly weekends. If you visit mid-week, you’ll get projects and music only. While the fireworks are amazing, the projection-only version is disappointing. 

More Disneyland Halloween Resources for 2023:

We’ve got a guide to Halloween at Disneyland with all sorts of essential info:

Halloween Headquarters: Disney Parks Halloween Events, Menus, Tickets & More

We have a guide to Disneyland’s Halloween food. Be sure to take a look and let us know what’s on your must-try list. 

Disneyland Halloween 2023 Food Guide – Tons of Treats to Try!

And merchandise has been in stores for weeks now. Natalie rounds it up for you: 

MiceMerch: Disney Halloween Merchandise Guide 2023 🎃

Magic Key Experience + Giveaway

If you’re a Magic Keyholder, you’ve got until next Thursday to enjoy a limited-time Magic Key-exclusive experience. Located in the Disney Junior Theater until August 31, you can meet some of your favorite characters, take a picture with special photo ops, and also pick up a souvenir magnet.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cv0LR6BpoRI/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

When the experience is open, you can expect to find a lot of dancing and characters wearing special outfits.

The clock is ticking for your chance to see this for yourself!

You Can’t Do This All Day – Countdown To Closure

If you haven’t seen “Rogers: The Musical” yet, time is quickly running out— and no Time Stone will be able to help you! The limited-time musical is set to wrap up its theatrical run at DCA’s Hyperion Theater on Thursday, August 31. 

At this time, there’s been no announcement for what (if anything) will be taking Rogers’ place at the Hyperion. We really hope that the massive theater doesn’t get neglected until something eventually moves in.

We’ve heard some rumors that “Rogers: The Musical” might be making a return after the holiday season comes to a close in January. We’ve also heard some more wild rumors about where the show might pop up in the future… such as a Vegas dinner-show experience or even on the Disney Cruise ships for Marvel Days at Sea. Of course, Disney hasn’t made any announcements, but it’s fun to think about!

Ahsoka Coming to Galaxy’s Edge

It goes without saying that Disney loves synergy. In the latest edition of in-park promotion, there’s a new character coming to Galaxy’s Edge fresh from Disney+. Ahsoka Tano, the main character of the upcoming Ahsoka series, will make her Disneyland debut this week. Starting August 23, you may be able to find the elegant Jedi-turned-Rebel Leader strolling around Galaxy’s Edge (akin to the Mandalorian and Grogu).

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwGZnnou8s_/

We were able to see a special 2-episode preview of the new show and we think that people are going to really enjoy it! We’ll have a review with our thoughts later this week.

🚧 Constructionland 🚧

Adventureland Bathrooms

Walls shifted over the weekend at the entry to Adventureland, revealing new pavement and reopened restrooms! However, the old fountain has not yet been rebuilt and the narrow pathway guests had to squeeze through last week is now behind walls to get some matching pavement with the rest of the area. 

Adventureland Treehouse

This is a project that we are anxiously awaiting an opening date for. The major set pieces are all now in place, and the scrims and most of the scaffolds have been removed. 

The intricate water wheel and delivery system has been installed and looks amazing. 

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster

Buzz was behind curtains in the queue of his attraction over the weekend. For weeks, his face projections have been out of sync with the audio. We hope they’re able to fixt it.  

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Lots of changes are on the way to the former Splash Mountain. 

If you look closely at the images below, you’ll see “X” marks the spot on this rockwork to the side of the drop. 

And all sorts of chalk lines and a request to “Demo,” are in this spot

Royal Hall/Fantasy Faire

Rain and wind forced Disney to roll up the construction scrims at Princess Fantasy Faire. It doesn’t reveal much, other than the facade work will be extensive.

Pixar Pier Billboards

In Pixar Pier, the billboards along the boardwalk are getting a little touchup: 

San Fransokyo

Disney has a little over a week to wrap up the work in San Fransokyo. 

The most visible element is the San Fransokyo Gate Bridge. 

Large pieces are now being installed on the supports for the bridge towers. 

Signage has been installed for the new shop. 

New Karl Strauss signage has been painted near the Cerveceria window. 

And the Boudin bread tour silo has been painted with new lettering. 

Monorail Station

The repainting of the Downtown Disney Monorail station continues. It has adopted the same blue color scheme of the 3 older Disneyland Hotel towers. 

Downtown Disney West End

Din Tai Fung dumpling restaurant is under construction on the spot of the old AMC Theater. But there will eventually be an Earl of Sandwich and other establishments in this zone as well. 

Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar

There is always another project or refurbishment on the horizon at Disneyland. Here’s the refurbishment schedule for the foreseeable future.

Currently Under Refurbishment

• • Tarzan’s Treehouse Transformation: (September 1st, 2021-2023)
  • French Market – Remodel to Tiana’s Palace: (February 17th-September 6th)
  • Mint Julep Bar: (February 17th-September 6th)
  • Splash Mountain – Conversion to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: (May 31st, 2023-Late 2024)
  • Disneyland Monorail: (July 5th-August 31st)
  • Schmoozies!: (July 30th-September 7th)
  • Haunted Mansion – Holiday Install: (August 14th-31st)
  • Radiator Springs Racers: (August 18th-26th)
  • Dumbo the Flying Elephant: (August 21st)

Upcoming Refurbishments

• • Sorcerer’s Workshop: (August 28st-September 6th)
  • Golden Zephyr: (August 28th-September 28th)
  • Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island: (September 6th & 7th)
  • Sailing Ship Columbia: (September 11th-14th)
  • Mark Twain Riverboat: (September 17th-TBA)
  • Space Moutain: (September 18th-Fall 2023)

This & That 

Let’s wrap things up with a few other stories around Disneyland to keep on your radar.

Disneyland on Sale?

If you know anything about Disney, you likely know that Disney is not a fan of lowering prices. But this week, we saw some major sales at a couple locations in the park. Get your shopping bags ready!

Eudora’s Chic Boutique

The Tiana store in New Orleans Squared has a slew of items available for 40% off! There are select New Orleans-themed decor, apparel, and home goods that are marked down. 

We’re curious to see if there will be new merchandise taking this collection’s place or if they’re doing a flash sale. Do you frequent Eudora’s Chic Boutique?

Dok Ondar/Star Wars Trading Post

Lightsabers are really awesome collectibles, but the high-end ones often come with an equally high price. However, if there’s a hilt (or several) you’ve been eying, now’s your chance to bring it home. For a limited time, all hilts are 30% off! This promotion runs through October 18.

Sipper Bonanza

Disney fans love their collectible items, and few objects are capable of creating a stir than the latest popcorn buckets and sippers. There are a few new sippers that you might want to be aware of.

Belle is looking a little confused on this new sipper:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwD85yLSUq0/?img_index=1

Magic Keyholders have a special sipper exclusive to them that arrives in the park on the 22nd:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwD0idnR2e2/

 

And this Minnie (as Winnifred Sanderson) will likely be a huge hit when she debuts in the park on September 5:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwDWnkWrDhs/

There are a bunch more Halloween-themed sippers and popcorn buckets coming very soon, and you can get the details in the article below:

Disneyland Halloween 2023 Food Guide – Tons of Treats to Try!

Disney Junior Playdate

This weekend, there was a special Disney Junior experience in DCA. The limited-time offering included a little parade, a hands-on cupcake decorating class, and special characters. Here’s a look at the parade:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwGM8G6ur3O/

And while the contents were really fun and perfectly geared towards its intended audience, many parents were left very frustrated. Here’s the experience of our MiceChat Disney Mom Expert Rebekah Kellaway of @Multiplythemagic.

This was the most unorganized Disney Parks special event I have ever been to, which was especially disappointing because it was targeted to parents of young kids.

(1) None of the cast members could answer any questions. They didn’t know the schedule, location of things, anything. Even the leads. There were a ton of cast members just standing there, unable to answer questions and with no understanding of the event. I’ve never experienced anything like it.

(2) Everything looked all pretty and done up, but the actual execution was a mess. They were filming, so it seemed like Disney production (Hulu, ABC, etc.) had planned the visuals but no one connected with the parks staff to execute or plan how it would go.

(3) The events were supposed to start at 11:00. At 11 exactly, the background music came on at the Hollywood Stage, and then nothing happened. No characters came out. The craft tables were out with a sign but the cast members were standing there with the supplies still boxed up and looking confused. When I asked when it would be open, every cast member I asked said “I have no idea” and “We have no idea what’s happening.”

They finally started passing out paper fans to color at the craft station but no crayons, so you couldn’t do the craft. Parents were asking and all the cast members were shrugging and telling them they didn’t know what was happening.

(4) We came back at 12:15 to check in for the Alice’s Bakery cupcake decorating event. We’ve done it before at the Food and Wine Festival and the experience for this event was nothing like F&W. We arrived and no one, even the lead, could tell us where to line up and check in. There was no plan like the rest of the event.

Finally, they opened the line and we happened to be standing nearby. However, other families who were told to wait in another area and had been waiting since 11, didn’t get wristbands in time because a mob rushed over. They were tons of furious parents. It was not a good look for Disney.

When they called my child’s group, I was shocked at how disorganized things were. They usually take the kids early and watch them carefully. It was chaotic and no one made sure my three-year-old made it to his table like they typically do. They don’t let parents come along, so it was appalling to witness the lack of safety measures being applied. This was nothing like the wonderful experience we had last April, where I felt like my child was being watched and safe the entire time.

Basically, it seemed like they just cared about getting some good footage for TV rather than the actual experience for the kids. And get this…they had waivers they wanted everyone to sign to be filmed but they RAN OUT! And they went ahead and filmed anyway!

(5) The major positive of the event was that the parade was great. For a one-day parade, I was impressed. It was a step up from a cavalcade and really fun!

All in all, it was a great concept and my toddler had a blast. We hope they do it again but do a better job training the cast members who work the event so that the execution runs smoother next time.

Princess Week

This week, Disneyland is celebrating its storied princesses and their heroism. This is a minor event at Disneyland, but the intent behind it is very thoughtful. You can learn about how Disney Parks are sharing the festivities for Princess Week in the article below:

The Royal Rundown: What to Expect from Disneyland’s World Princess Week 2023

CHOC Walk Makes a Splash

On Sunday, the MiceChat team participated in a 5k walk through the Disneyland Resort for charity — and it was one to remember! The MiceChat team raised nearly $6k in support of the Children’s Hospital of Orange County— and the entire event raised over $2 million! The highlight of CHOC Walk is getting to view the Disneyland Resort in the wee hours of the morning. Here’s a little recap of this year’s CHOC Walk:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwMFR15KobD/

Due to the expected storm, most of the event attendees stayed home this year. CHOC gets to keep the money raised no matter what. But, since the heavy showers weren’t expected until the afternoon, and this event wraps up by 9am, we put on our raincoats and headed to Disneyland at 4:30 AM!  Dusty wanted to share the experience with our followers, so he live-streamed the first half hour of the event. You can walk along with him in the video below:

We always love these events, and this is the first one since 2019. If you can’t tell, we had a lot of fun! Out of 32 registered team members, about half were able to join us in the rain. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwMGZ5prF7U/?img_index=1

For more about CHOC and to support the MiceChat team’s efforts, you can visit the MiceChat CHOC WALK Fundraising Page (HERE)

MiceChat Meetup

MiceChat events are always a great way to make new friends and meet fellow Disney fans. There’s an upcoming opportunity to get to know your MiceChat pals with a MiceChat noon meet-up on September 24 (the last Sunday of September). We meet in the central hub of Disneyland (next to the Walt and Mickey statue), as we have for over 20 years. Make your reservations now because we’d love to see you there.

MiceChat Parking Offer at The Anaheim Hotel

Our popular parking deal with The Anaheim Hotel has returned! Located directly across the street from Disneyland on Harbor Blvd, the hotel offers MiceChat readers discounted parking for the day (when space is available). Make sure you are following MiceChat on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, and bring a printout of this offer with you. 

Disneyland Photo Fun

Now, as a farewell treat, just a few more photos from the week…

Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride has reopened from refurbishment looking like brand new inside and out. 

Head off on one final adventure with us today as Dusty takes you into a brighter and more colorful Mr. Toad…

Let’s Hear From You

What a weird week! It was exciting to see Halloween items being installed. The change of seasons is always a thrill. But the unprecedented SoCal hurricane threat was a real challenge for the area. While we escaped major damage near Disneyland, just a bit inland in Palm Springs (where Disney is building their new Story Living housing development), the desert and mountain communities received more than a year of rain in just one day! Significant flooding, mudslides, and property damage have severely impacted many communities.

Let us know what you think about Disneyland’s decision to remain open when nearly all other outdoor entertainment venues closed. Were you surprised, as we were, that the Disney Jr. Playdate event was a visual treat but an organizational mess? Are you excited to visit Tiana’s Palace and San Fransokyo, both just weeks away? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!