DISNEYLAND UPDATE: Haunted Mansion Shocker, New Celebrations & Massive Construction!

MiceChat readers will remember the exquisite Festival of Holidays gingerbread houses by Lady Fortunes; they are back with more unique treats! Sweet Enhancements, presented by Working to Give, which donates half of its profits to charity, will astound you with their amazing hand-drawn sugar art.

Other happenings in the park for Lunar New Year include musical acts at Sonoma Terrace during the weekend, and at the Paradise Garden Bandstand during the week. A Vietnamese pop band called New Tradition will hopefully become just that, because their mix of English and Vietnamese songs is a breath of fresh air!

Check out our ultimate Lunar New Year guide here:

Ultimate Guide to Disney California Adventure’s Lunar New Year Celebration!

There’s a bit more Lunar New Year that’s worth seeking out. Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa has gone all out to capture the spirit of Lunar New Year. Special treats are being sold, and a glorious 80 foot dragon kite floats above the lobby. Catch live performances Tuesday, Friday and Sunday evenings; or, story time with Mulan on Monday and Saturday afternoons. Dolls dressed in traditional Tet, Seollal and Chinese New Year outfits are on display. Hopefully this kind of immersive storytelling will be used in future projects around the resort. I think you’ll agree this is fabulous! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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DISNEYLAND FORWARD

Dusty shared news last week that DisneylandForward has taken the next steps toward the Resort’s future with the first of two workshops about the project for the city of Anaheim. If all goes well, Disney’s zoning change requests, environmental impact report, and development plan will be voted on by the city early THIS SPRING. It won’t take long after that before Disney starts sharing the specific projects they have planned. Read Dusty’s article below for more details and some likely first projects: 

IT’S APPROVED!!! DisneylandForward Moves Forward What You Need To Know

MORE DOWNTOWN DISNEY CHANGES!

Last week we chatted about the news that the popular Tortilla Jo’s would be shutting down on March 31 (the taqueria will remain open until April 13). But don’t fret too much. Tortilla Jo’s owners, the Patina Group, is soon to open upscale Mexican restaurants Paseo and Centrico on the spot of their previous Catal and Uva Bar… but now we know there will be a quick service option as well called Tiendita, which will serve Mexican street-food! 

There’s also some new concept art for the four Levy Group restaurants slated for the upcoming Parkside Market. 

The building will contain a Korean-fusion restaurant, a Caribbean eatery, a chicken shop, and a two story bar! 

And, finally, Earl of Sandwich is just about to be kicked out… again… this time into a portable food truck while a new permanent location is built on the west side of Downtown Disney. 

But here’s the good news for Earl… the permanent location, which has yet to break ground, will be two stories with a sandwich shop, table service option, and a bar.  

MAGIC HAPPENS… AGAIN 

Calling all dreamers, here’s what you came for! The off season parade drought is over as the high octane Magic Happens returns this Friday, February 2. It is currently scheduled to run twice a day Friday-Sunday, and once a day Monday-Thursday.

Are you a Magic Happens fan? 

And there are some events of the heart happening as well… 

SWEETHEARTS’ NITE

The first two of eight Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite happened last week. The offerings are similar to past years, except for the glaring omission of fireworks. The design of the merchandise is less generic, and the Magic Key gift is a patch. The remaining dates for the sold out Sweethearts’ Nite are January 30, February 1, 6, 8, 12 and 14. If you’re heading to the parks on any of those dates, keep in mind that Disneyland closes at 8pm, and DCA does not have extended hours and closes at 9pm. 

Here’s the Magic Key holder gift: 

CELEBRATE SOULFULLY

Starting February 1, Celebrate Soulfully returns for Black History Month. On two Saturdays – February 17 and 24 – the inspiring and uplifting Celebrate Gospel takes place from 2:30-7pm at the Fantasyland Theatre. Local gospel choirs perform, and renowned recording artists Marvin Sapp (17th) and Tasha Cobb Leonard (24th) close out the evening. Celebrate Soulfully food offerings will be available February 1-April 1 at River Belle Terrace and Cafe Orleans. New this year, Troubadour Tavern will have a sweet potato pie casserole Feb 16-18 and Feb 23-25. The recently reopened Lounge at the Disneyland Hotel will serve shrimp and grits, and sweet potato fries poutine.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

We have quite a few updates for you today from all over the resort. But we’ll start with the most shocking…

Haunted Mansion Spooky Deforestation 

Are these walls actually stretching, or is it your imagination, hmm? Walls for as far as the eye can see have gone up between Tiana’s Palace and the Haunted Mansion exit as the grounds around one of Disney’s most iconic attractions are reimagined.

From Tiana’s Palace all the way to the end of Critter Country it’s walls, walls, walls.

Instead of raising the dead, the area between the attraction and Tiana’s Palace has been razed. While many of the old trees have been chopped down, a few of the historic Magnolia Park trees remain on the side closest to the main walkway. Most of the items that adorn the mansion have been removed, but the hearse still stands at the ready.

Off with their heads!!! 

New trees will be planted to help keep the new queue area shaded. But, as you can see from the concept art, there are sections that appear as though they have no large shade trees. 

The merchandise stand at the exit, and the usually busy churro cart across from it, remain open, but there’s very little foot traffic. Lenticular images like the ones in the portrait gallery, concept art and a QR code to access a Haunted Mansion filter on the Disneyland app are affixed to the construction walls. At the moment, guests cannot board or disembark at the New Orleans train station, so plan accordingly.

Construction walls have quotes from the ride on them…

Followed by portraits that morph… 

Here’s some video of the portraits changing: 

A QR code allows guests to turn themselves into a ghoul. But don’t bother trying this at home, the function only works if you are in the park.  

https://www.facebook.com/reel/346591291538325

 

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Tiana’s new ride continues to take shape now that the decorative water tower has been installed out front.

For those thinking this would be a light overlay reusing many old sets from Splash Mountain, we can assure you that nearly everything about this attraction is changing except for the flume itself. 

We noticed that the area just after the splashdown, where you make your turn along the Rivers of America, is under some heavy construction. Large holes have been punched into the hillside. 

Even the front of the queue is being resurfaced. Much of the front facade has been removed. 

Mark Twain Reborn

The finishing touches are being put on the extensively refurbished Mark Twain. Soon, you’ll once again be able to take a relaxing trip on the paddle-wheeler. She’s looking fantastic. 

Facade Refurbishments Galore

There are a lot of walls and scrims – some with nice replicas of the building behind it, some without – both inside and out of the parks.

The lockers, restrooms, and Guest Relations building outside the front gate are under wraps. 

So is City Hall at Disneyland…

The Astro Orbitor is slowly coming back together after having been completely disassembled. 

The queue area for the Hyperion Theater at DCA is behind walls… I’m wishing on Tinker Bell that this means 1) a proper lobby-style grand staircase and 2) a new show for the theater… But I’m prepared for massive disappointment. 

It’s seasonal refurb time for Grizzly River Run. But with 80°+ weather this past weekend, many guests probably wish it had been open. 

Construction continues around the mountain at the restrooms in Grizzly Peak Airfield. 

And along grizzly trail, a small platform, which has sometimes been used for characters or entertainment, is getting some new decking. 

Here are all of the current refurbishments as well as some additional ones coming soon…

Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar

• • Splash Mountain: Conversion to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: (May 31st, 2023-Late 2024)
  • Mark Twain Riverboat: (September 17th, 2023-February 9th, 2024)
  • Astro Orbitor: (November 27th, 2023-March 7th)
  • Grizzly River Run: (January 8th-February 29th)
  • Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind: (January 22nd-February 8th)
  • The Haunted Mansion: (January 22nd-TBA)

Upcoming Refurbishments

• • Radiator Springs Racers: (February 26th-March 1st)
  • Incredicoaster: (March 4th-TBA)
  • Redwood Creek Challenge Trail: (March 4th-TBA)

DISNEYLAND BLUES – LIGHTS OUT

It’s no secret that we place a lot of importance on the various elements of the parks actually working. And while the frequency of ride breakdowns has been increasing over the years, so too has the incidence of noticeably broken signage and burned out lighting. Following a spate of incidents in 2023 involving collapsing light posts, jungle cruise props becoming structurally unstable, the epic destruction of the Fantasmic Dragon, and other maintenance issues, we hope the park will refocus on maintenance to reassure guests. It’s not quite like having a section of a plane blow out in flight, but the constant drumbeat of issues at Disneyland will eventually take a toll if things don’t turn around soon. 

Today we turn our eye to some obvious burned out or broken signs. “Joli Ioliday” is one of them…

The Golden Horseshoe sign is only half lit. 

And the electric bill has also been cut in half on the Knick’s Knacks sign (it’s been this way for MONTHS). 

Not a sign, but the on again off again animated windows on Main Street were recently all working, but for the last few days (at least) the Cinderella Window is not just broken, but also unlit.  

There are plenty of other broken and burnt out things. Be sure to share the ones that stick out most to you below and we’ll add to a future update. 

THIS AND THAT

NEW ORLEANS FLAIR

Elements from Louisiana have been incorporated into New Orleans Square to draw guests further into the story connected to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. We found Princess Tiana visiting Eudora’s Chic Boutique, where a new chair designed by YAYA artists from New Orleans has been hung on a wall. 

Throughout New Orleans Square are all sorts of added details for Mardi Gras. Take a gander at the plethora of Mardi Gras beads, masks and figures (they give the Children of the Corn on Main Street a run for their money) draped on balconies, lampposts and trees.

 

The Mint Julep Bar even has a Mardi Gras grape beignet and green dipping sauce… couldn’t bring myself to try that combination. Let me know if you were brave enough and what you thought of grape beignets. 

FAREWELL DISNEY 100

Disney 101 is upon us and the last bastions of Disney 100 have been removed from Downtown Disney. Gone are the oversized medallions and the giant platinum Mickey statue. At Disneyland, the Minnie Mouse “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” statue is but a memory. Sleeping Beauty Castle is sporting its pre-Disney 100 color scheme and finials. The fountains in the moat are the only holdover; but I’m very happy that they’re keeping them to add extra sparkle and color.

It’s too bad they didn’t keep the Mickey and Minnie statues. They were great photo opps and felt like evergreen sort of decorations (especially if repainted).  

The Mickey spot now sports this vintage-inspired Downtown Disney sign.  It’s a mash-up of the Disneyland sign from the early years of the park and the new tower next to the Downtown Disney stage (which is itself similar to the mid-century structures in early Tomorrowland).  What’s strange is that the “isney” is just in a generic font and not custom. 

The original Disneyland sign used as inspiration had more of a calligraphy look to it similar to this bit of merchandise: 

I’ve got to say that I’m happy to see those oversized Disney100 dinner plate things go. Looks so much more open and inviting now.  But do you think this fountain will survive the changes to Downtown Disney, including the demolition of Earl of Sandwich and building of a large Porto’s?  I have a feeling that this decorative element from the original organic-inspired version of Downtown Disney will likely be lost to enable better crowd flow during construction and support the new look of the area once Porto’s opens.  

LIGHTNING LANE FOR PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN

Pirates of the Caribbean has temporarily added Lightning Lane while Haunted Mansion is closed. Unfortunately it’s being done solely for monetary reasons to get people to buy Genie+ and not because this attraction needs a skip-the-line. Pirates was always one of the fastest moving lines in the park.  Oh how we wish there were still people in high places at Disneyland not afraid to say “OH HELL NO!”

HUNGRY BEAR ON-THE-GO PACKAGE      

The former Fantasmic reserved viewing meal options are once again being offered at Hungry Bear, even though there’s no show. These meals are packaged to go and include entrees not on the regular menu, drink and choice of ice cream bar.

They should just put these items on the menu and reduce the confusion of all the items which only exist on temporary signage held by cast members or sitting on the top of registers. 

PIXAR PLACE HOTEL

The former Pan Pacific/Paradise Pier Hotel begins its new chapter tomorrow when it gets rededicated as Pixar Place Hotel. Be sure to follow along with MiceChat on all of our socials as we report from the Pixar Place grand opening on January 30.

The change to the hotel is dramatic. It feels quite different and has a solid connection to the Pixar films on the inside. 

Unfortunately, it’s just an ugly old building that is going to look like a children’s hospital no matter what they do to it. But at 40 years old, this hotel won’t be around forever. Disney is eventually going to want to do a proper reboot of this corner of the resort (Disney owns the hotel but has a long term lease on the land).  

Ahsoka Tano Day

Did you know January 29th is an important day for Star Wars? One of the most popular recent characters, Ahsoka Tano, was introduced to the galaxy on this date in 2008 in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

MiceChat contributor, Scott Solo, tells us how Disney marked the occasion. This past weekend both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort debuted a new line of apparel and accessories titled “I am no Jedi,” after the famous phrase spoken by Ahsoka Tano to Darth Vader.

 

The collection is designed by Ashely Eckstein, who voiced and originated the character of Ahsoka Tano, and Bret Iwan, voice of Mickey Mouse and graphic artist. Take a look at the pieces that were at Star Wars Trading Post in Downtown Disney.

Disneyland Resort also organized a couple events on Sunday 1/28/24 for the occasion: A meet and greet event with Ashley Eckstein at Star Wars Trading post; and an Ahsoka Tano lightsaber meet up in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge in the evening.

Ashley Eckstein is always in high demand from her fans. Her meet and greet from 1pm-3:30pm was limited to guests who arrived first and made a purchase from the new collection. Approximately 110 wristbands were given out and were all distributed by 8:15am.

The lightsaber meet up on Batuu was heavily attended. Guests were queued in the overflow area and broken into smaller groups for photo ops led by Ashely Eckstein & Bret Iwan and all were invited to stay for one large group photo.

Both of these events were organized and executed better than we have seen in past years. Were you able to attend? We’d love to hear your thoughts. 

Well folks, that brings us to the end of another MiceChat Disneyland Update. Are you looking forward to the return of Magic Happens? Have you visited Lunar New Year yet? What do you think about the dramatic changes around the Haunted Mansion? With so much change on the way to Downtown Disney through the end of this year, there’s still Porto’s and whatever will replace Tortilla Jo’s still to come.  

Here’s a little farewell kiss for you from our friend Sarahanne_imagery. She shares some images from the Lunar New year pre-show to World of Color. Hurry Home little lantern…