Twas the Update before Christmas, when all through the park, Disney’s plans for the New Year were making their mark. New shows and parades, with a bang and a zoom, From Magic Happens to fireworks that light up the gloom.
Yet some favorites we miss, like Paint the Night’s glow, And we ponder what’s next as the cold winds blow. Hoax alarms ring and construction unfurls, with questions and changes in Disney’s strange world.
So read on for our tales of delight and dismay, As we share the magic of Disney’s holiday array.
(Note: Since I’m up on Christmas Eve writing this Update, please indulge me in having a little fun. You’ll find some silly original poems and holiday-style images to help put us in the holiday mood. Merry Christmas, we are so thankful for you.)
Entertainment Hits Ahead
We’ve got some exciting news about Disneyland’s entertainment plans for 2024. Last week, we learned about all of the festivals and celebrations Disneyland is planning for the new year. Now we know about some of the big shows and parades as well.
Big Entertainment for 2024:
- “Magic Happens” makes its return on Feb. 2, featuring moments from Disney and Pixar films.
- “Mickey’s Mix Magic” is back from January 8th through March 21 and April 15th through 25th.
- “Wondrous Journeys” returns briefly from March 22-April 14. Disney’s 100th-anniversary fireworks spectacular was a big hit. We’re just sorry it isn’t staying longer.
- “Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular” returns from April 26-Aug 4th as part of the Resort’s Pixar Fest. The returning show will add new scenes. It’s a very good show. Not as strong as Wondrous Journeys, but it’s nice that Disneyland is able to change things up so frequently.
- The NEW “Better Together” Parade will Debut on April 26 at Disney California Adventure, also part of Pixar Fest.
- “Fantasmic!” is finally set to return starting May 24. While the dragon isn’t expected to return, the Peter Pan segment will return and will replace the Pirates of the Caribbean section!
You can read more about the confirmed entertainment for 2024 here:
New & Returning Favorites at Disneyland: 2024 Entertainment Lineup for the New Year!
And for the full list of celebrations and events for 2024, don’t miss this:
Missing Entertainment
As excited as we are about what’s headed to Disneyland in the new year, there are still some big things missing. Not all of these will be important to you… but we feel that one of the big things missing at the resort are major shows to soak up the crowds.
Top of our list would be filling the resort’s two big theaters. Once Tale of the Lion King ends on Jan 7th, there will be no major stage shows at the resort. DCA’s massive Hyperion Theater is dark and the Fantasyland Theater will be as well. There’s no excuse for this. The Resort needs shows that guests can attend with minimal waits. Not everything should require a long line and/or Lightning Lane.
Another big thing we’d like to see is a nighttime parade for Disney California Adventure. They have an amazing one in storage… “Paint the Night.”
And we’d like to see a refreshed Main Street Electrical parade return for summer.
Finally, once Disney is officially done with “World of Color: One,” we’d like to see a new show that perhaps tells more of a story and has more heart and emotion. World of Color has always operated as a clip show, but Disney is a story-telling company and it would be nice to see what real story-tellers could do using the World of Color technology.
DISNEYLAND LIVE!
Have you gotten hooked on our Friday Disneyland walkthrough videos? It’s a Ho Ho Ho from Dusty and Nathan as we visit Disneyland on Friday night to look at the holiday crowds, discuss the latest news, and share some gossip and good times. Don’t miss it…
Snow-Where to Go? Check that List Twice!
All of Disneyland’s Magic Keys annual passes are blocked out until at least January 3rd. And no new passes have been sold for months. That has left a lot of loyal Disneyland fans locked out of the parks. If you are looking for local theme park alternatives, we have guides for Knott’s Merry Farm and Universal Studios Hollywood for you. It’s not Disneyland, but you might just find yourself enjoying the change of pace Disneyland is forcing on you!
A Calico Christmastime: Your Guide to Knott’s Merry Farm 2023
A Magical & Grinchy Christmas at Universal Studios Hollywood!
Construction Kingdom
Even with the holidays upon us, construction has been roaring at a fever pitch at the Disneyland Resort. We have some photos and info to share.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
The reshaping of the old Splash Mountain building continues. And while there’s little new to see this week, it appears they are getting ready to install the signature Tiana’s Foods water tower soon. The area where it will be bolted in place has been prepped (approximately where you see the tall work lights).
Here’s what the tower looked like when it was installed in the Walt Disney World version of the attraction:
Astro Orbitor
It certainly looks odd to see the entry of Tomorrowland without the Astro Orbitor rockets. At the moment, the ride has been mostly disassembled. Planets and rockets have been removed for refurbishment and the entire area is boarded up.
But don’t get too excited about a removal or relocation… this is just a normal refurbishment for this poorly-placed attraction.
Images on the construction walls remind us where the rockets should really be located… high atop the People Mover platform…
Downtown Disney
The West Side of Downtown Disney is coming together quickly now. Every week the upcoming Parkside Market building and Din Tai Fung restaurant look closer to the concept art.
Across from Parkside Market is Din Tai Fung. All sorts of interior work is now happening.
In the back of the new performance lawn, we expect the new, new, new location of Earl of Sandwich to begin construction soon.
Meanwhile, a large new temporary food service location is being set up across from the old ESPN Zone. We believe this will be the temporary location of Earl of Sandwich while they are between locations. Their current home is soon to be torn down and become a Porto’s Bakery.
Mid-Downtown Disney is the other major construction project in the shopping district. Paseo and Centrico are well on their way now. Duct work is going into Paseo. 
And the much simpler Centrico is looking very much like the concept art.
We watched workers atop the new Centrico roof on Friday.
Pixar Place Hotel
We are just a month away from the official opening of the Pixar Place Hotel. This entire renovation of the old Paradise Pier Hotel was done while the hotel remained open and with few guest services.
And while many of the creative details have yet to show up…
The main restaurant, Great Maple, is now open. We tried it again this week and really enjoyed our chicken and maple doughnuts!
Great Maple will also run The Sketch Pad Cafe. Equipment is now in and the menu has been installed. The venue could open as soon as this week.
The lobby of the hotel previously had concept art, but has swapped it out for Pixar images.
And, if you are curious what the Pixar Place hotel rooms will look like… Disney has posted a preview of the new rooms…
Disneyland Resort Refurbishments
Currently Under Refurbishment at Disneyland
- Splash Mountain – Conversion to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: (May 31st, 2023-Late 2024)
- Mark Twain Riverboat: (September 17th, 2023-February 2nd, 2024)
- Astro Orbitor: (November 27th-TBA)
Upcoming Disneyland Resort Refurbishments
- Blue Bayou Restaurant: (January 7th-19th)
- “it’s a small world” – Holiday Takedown: (January 8th-19th)
- Sailing Ship Columbia: (January 8th-11th)
- Grizzly River Run: (January 8th-TBA)
- World of Color: (January 8th-TBA) Paradise Gardens Park: (January 8th-TBA)
- The Haunted Mansion: (January 22nd-TBA)
- Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind: (January 22nd-TBA)
This & That
Discounts at Disney
It doesn’t happen often, but there are a wide variety of items heavily discounted at Disneyland right now (you can find many of them in Downtown Disney even if you are blocked out of the park). Most Disney100 items are now 30% off, some additional Christmas items are as much as 50% off.
This holiday train set is 50% off!
The Hot New Cookie
Harbor Galley in Disneyland has a new fresh-baked cookie, which is served hot. While not quite as good as the Cookie Num Nums at DCA, these sharable-sized cookies are served in a 6-pack and are quite delicious.
A Horrible Hoax
An active Shooter hoax disrupted the Disneyland Hotel on Thursday evening. Just after 6 p.m., Anaheim PD responded to the hotel with guns drawn. The Fantasy Tower, which contains the front desk, restaurants, and valet, was evacuated. Guests headed toward the hotel were turned away, and guests at the hotel were not allowed to go to their cars.
Unfortunately, the incident created a great deal of confusion among guests who were not told what was going on or how to protect themselves. Even while some guests were being told to evacuate the hotel, others were being told to go back inside. One guest caught up in the situation posted the following video and information to Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1JSvjXrLuJ/?igsh=amt1dG9jYzNuYnZo
Thank goodness this situation was a hoax. But we hope Disneyland and the Anaheim PD will take this opportunity to reevaluate strategy and training regarding situations such as this and how they might better inform and protect guests in the event of an actual emergency.
Disney Parks Ticket & Travel Offers!
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MiceShots
Much of last week was rainy at Disneyland. While many guests were put off by the weather, it made for some very enjoyable crowd conditions and some beautiful views.
By Friday afternoon, the sky had cleared and the crowds slowly returned.
When it rains, the area around the terrazzo compass in the esplanade is blocked off to foot-traffic. But perhaps it’s time for it to be removed entirely. The terrazzo is falling apart.
It sure would be nice if Disneyland built the fountain that was originally planned for this spot. And if that’s completely out of the cards, We’d take a simple planter with a big tree and built-in seating. The esplanade is full sun and no seating. It’s time for an upgrade. Here’s how the area looks at Hong Kong Disneyland:
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released 86 years ago. The holiday release was Walt Disney’s first feature-length animated film and a triumph even by today’s standards. You’ll still find Snow White in the parks.
The post-rain sky made for some dramatic sunset views on Friday.
Let’s Hear From You!
I think I just heard the clatter of reindeer hooves on my roof. I’d best wrap this up. I do hope you enjoyed our little holiday update today. A friend helped with some fun computer-generated section headers, and we always love to share what’s happening in the parks. It’s just a shame that both Christmas and New Year’s Day will be on Monday this year… So I’m working through both holidays. It’s not the magical holiday of a Hallmark movie, but sharing a special moment with all of you is still rewarding.
For you Magic Key holders, what have you been doing instead of Disneyland? Are you glad to hear that Magic Happens will return? Looking forward to seeing Wondrous Journeys one last time? How does the Pixar Fest entertainment sound? Are there any entertainment offerings still missing that you think are important for the resort? Let us know. And please share your thoughts about any of the stories in today’s Update!
As the year winds down with a festive cheer,
We’ve journeyed through Disney, with memories so dear.
From parades to refurbishments, some things old and new,
Here’s to magical moments and dreams coming true.
So as fireworks burst in the night sky so bright,
Happy holidays to all, and to Dusty… good night!
My thanks to the MiceChat Crew and to Adam Kent for help with today’s Update. I couldn’t have finished this one without your help. And to each and every one of you who tune in every week to read these updates, we can’t thank you enough. Have a happy holiday, and I’ll be back with you again on New Year’s Day!