Hello, MiceChatters, and welcome to this week’s Disneyland Update! The past few days have been full of special events, preparation for even more events in the future, tons of lovely photos, and more. Let’s explore all the happenings around the Disneyland Resort before another round of rain hits us this week!
DisneylandForward Takes Another Baby Step Forward
Disney hosted a meeting with its Anaheim neighbors last Tuesday to discuss how DisneylandForward would improve the area’s pedestrian experience, reduce traffic through Disneyland Way, and other perceived benefits.
For those unfamiliar, DisneylandForward is an ambitious rethinking of the Disneyland Resort’s use of its property which could bring new entertainment zones and even a 3rd park. Unlike Walt Disney World (which has ample elbow room), Disneyland Resort is boxed in by commercial and residential buildings. Even with those geographical constraints, there are still changes that can be made to add new rides, hotels, restaurants, shopping and more. By re-zoning most of the property for general use (rather than specifically for shopping, hotels, theme parks, and so on), Disney has more wiggle room to build mixed-use projects (such as having an attraction running near or through a hotel or restaurant).
But re-zoning could have an impact on Disneyland’s neighbors, which brings us to last Tuesday’s meeting.
As part of DisneylandForward, Disney shared proposals for installing a pedestrian signal and crosswalk at Magic Way, plus limiting access between Magic Way and Walnut Street to pedestrians and emergency vehicles. Disney also brought up various contributions it would make to the community if the project moves forward.
Here is the flyer handed out at the meeting:
This brochure was distributed to residents in the Resort District, but residents can also expect door-to-door visits in the coming weeks to discuss any specific concerns they may have about the project and its implications on their neighborhood.
You can track the progress of DisneylandForward, learn more about its scope, and check out some areas we’d like to see included in our full coverage:
IT’S APPROVED!!! DisneylandForward Moves Forward What You Need To Know
Star Wars Nite’s New Ticket Sales System
Tickets for Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite began this past week, but this time around, Disney shook up the ticket-purchasing process by granting Magic Key holders access to a limited number of tickets in a multi-day pre-sale before opening up sales to the general public.
Ticket sales were available exclusively for Inspire Key holders on Feb. 20 and for all Magic Key holders on Feb. 21 and 22. General admission sales opened on Feb. 23. However, when we checked ticket availability for Magic Keys on the morning of Feb. 22, the pre-sale allotment had already sold out.
For the first time, Disney also added the option for buyers to be notified via email when it was their turn in the queue rather than wait in front of their screen the entire time. We tried the process shortly after the start of general admission ticket sales on Feb. 23 and it worked quite smoothly.
After entering our email in the form near the bottom of the queue, we received a confirmation email that informed us a second email would arrive when it was our turn to purchase tickets.
After receiving the second email and clicking the included link, we were directed back to the queue, which now had a pop-up with a link to the ticket store.
Since buyers have only ten minutes to complete their purchase, they do need to make sure to check their email (including the spam folder) or risk being booted to the back of the queue, but all in all, the process worked smoothly during our test.
OUR SUGGESTION TO DISNEY: We would appreciate an option to select text notifications rather than email in the future. It’s too easy to miss an email notification, but texts are easy to keep track of. We’re just glad to see Disneyland trying to tackle issues with their often frustrating ticketing system.
In Other Disneyland After Dark News…
Additional information was released about the entertainment and characters at Disney Channel Nite, which takes place at Disneyland Park on March 5 and 7.
As you would expect from the event title, the characters are all inspired by Disney Channel shows:
- Kim Possible
- Baloo, King Louie, and Don Karnage
- Lilo, Stitch, and Experiments
- Chip, Dale, and Monterey Jack
- Darkwing Duck and Launchpad McQuack
- Goofy and Max
- Rapunzel and Flynn Rider
- Huey, Dewey, Louie, and Scrooge McDuck
- Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse
In addition to character meet and greets, guests can also look forward to musical entertainment all around the park:
- Descendants Musical Journey at the Rivers of America – Ride the Sailing Ship Columbia while being serenaded by songs from all 3 Descendants movies
- DescenDance – A Descendants-themed dance show
- Disney Channel Rocks – A concert-syle show featuring a medley of music from a variety of Disney Channel programs
- High School Musical / Zombies Pep Rally – Wildcats clash with zombies in this musical mash-up at designated spots along the parade route
- Camp Rock Karaoke & Disney Channel Trivia Challenge in the Golden Horseshoe Saloon – Belt out your favorite Disney Channel tunes with your buddies or solo or take part in a lively trivia game
- Phineas and Ferb Dance Party at Tomorrowland Terrace – Bust a move to the many grooves from the world of Phineas and Ferb
- Fond Farewell – A special “good bye” from Disney friends at the end of the night in Town Square
How does Disney Channel Nite sound to you? Is there enough to capture your interest, or will you skip it?
You can see more about Star Wars Nite and other upcoming events at the Disneyland Resort here:
The First Signs of Spring Have Sprung
The official start of Spring may not be until March 19, but that doesn’t stop Disney from getting a jump (or should we say “hop”?) on the bunny season.
Disneyland guests will find plenty of treats to pack into their Easter baskets this year, including the fan-favorite chocolate eggs (made in-house at Disneyland’s candy kitchen), which are already available. The purchase process for the eggs has changed a bit from prior years as these confections are now only for sale on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at Disneyland’s Candy Palace via Mobile Order on the Disneyland app. That should make it a bit less stressful if you are able to get a mobile order confirmation.
The eggs are generally made the day before they go on sale.
Other Spring-y sweets include cake pops shaped like bunnies and chicks and a bunny crispy cereal treat.
Even the park’s novelty goods have changed for the upcoming season with the recently released (and very popular) Donald Easter Egg Sipper. It was initially joined by an Easter basket-shaped popcorn bucket topped with Chip and Dale, but that is sold out, and we don’t know if it will be restocked.
Plaza Pointe hadn’t switched from Lunar New Year to Easter and Passover at the time we took our photos, but will very soon.
Goodbye, Lunar New Year, and Hello, Food & Wine!
Disney California Adventure’s Lunar New Year Celebration ended a mere week ago, but we are already seeing the bits and pieces of the Food & Wine Festival filling in the void.
Several of the marketplace booths that were initially used during the Lunar New Year have already had their signage and menus switched over for the next event. Let’s take a sneak peek…
Garlic Kissed
D-Lish
Golden Dreams
See anything that catches your interest?
You can find all of the festival’s delicious dishes in our food guide:
Eat This! Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival 2024 Food Guide
Several artists have also revealed the dates for their art signings during the festival:
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- Jerrod Maruyama – March 2, 3, 23 & 24, April 20 & 21
- Miss Mindy – March 16 & 17, April 20 & 21
- Steven Thompson – March 23 & 24
- Ann Shen – March 30 & 31
- Steph Laberis – March 30 & 31
- Ashley Taylor – March 30 & 31
- Joey Tsao – April 6 & 7
There will be two signings on each listed day: One at Downtown Disney’s Disney Home from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the other at Off the Page in Disney California Adventure from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Anaheim Ducks Days Return to DCA
For a two days last week, Disneyland’s photogenic fowl were joined by a duck of a different variety: the Anaheim Ducks hockey team!
During Anaheim Ducks Days, which took place on Feb. 22 and 23, Disney California Adventure hosted a number of activities, including a lively cavalcade between Hollywood Land and Paradise Gardens Park.
Guests could also enjoy a rousing game of air hockey, snap selfies at the many photo op spots (including with the iconic Stanley Cup), and even meet Ducks players.
Disney also offered themed merchandise for the occasion, but a good number of items had already sold out by the morning of the 23rd.
Constructionland
There is always work happening at the resort, and this is the time of year when we see the most refurbishments. While rain has undoubtedly made an impact on refurbishment and construction projects, there has still been plenty of progress.
Let’s take a look at what’s changed over the last week:
Disneyland Construction Projects…
City Hall
At the entry of Main Street, the City Hall facelift is still in progress. There has been a lot of painting, but combined with the rain we’ve had recently, it’s been slow going for this project. We hope to see the bell return to the top of the fire station when this project wraps up.
Astro Orbitor
At the entrance to Tomorrowland, the Astro Orbitor is slowly being put back together with fresh-looking parts and paint. Astro Orbitor currently has a projected reopening date of March 21st.
Haunted Mansion
Work also continues at the Haunted Mansion on the attraction’s brand new (and expanded) queue. It appears crews are still in the tear down and grading stage of this massive project that will completely reshape the landscape surrounding the mansion, New Orleans Square train station, and Tiana’s Palace.
While construction crews are hard at work outside, we know a lot of changes are also happening inside the mansion, including a new ADA elevator near the attraction’s exit, along with a new shop. That part of the project has yet to be visibly started.
For more about the big Haunted Mansion Project, be sure to read our dedicated article:
UPDATED! Haunted Mansion Reopens With Surprises & Virtual Queue
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
As we move through New Orleans Square and into Critter Country, we must recognize the significant changes to the former Splash Mountain. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is making big strides with exterior changes (and we’re sure to the interior as well). Last week, we saw rebar where there used to be natural plants; this week, we noticed concrete had been poured and supporting structures for the exterior landscape had been installed.
Mark Twain
The Mark Twain project was originally supposed to have wrapped up shortly after the holidays. But it’s been extended and extended again. She’s finally back on the water for pleasure cruises around the Rivers of America. We expect to see the Sailing Ship Columbia in dry-dock for a refurbishment any day now; however, that ship underwent major refurbishment recently, so that project is scheduled to last only a few days.
Various Small Refurbishment Projects
Meanwhile, Stage Door Cafe’s facade is still under refurbishment.
And the Golden Horseshoe facade is in need of refurbishment next.
Construction is also underway along the riverfront as the park prepares for the return of Fantasmic on May 24.
Breaking News: Disneyland’s Fantasmic Gets A Reopening Date!
Over near Small World, more light tower construction is taking place along the parade route.
Disney California Adventure Projects
Grizzly Area
There’s a large swath of Grizzly Peak behind walls for various different refurbishments. Grizzly River Run and the restrooms and shop in Grizzly Airfield are all getting some work done. And, directly across from the Rushin’ River Outfitters, new lockers are being constructed.
The old lockers appear to have been removed to make more room for the DVC kiosk which was located in the same approximate space.
The attraction itself gets a healthy refurbishment every year around this time.
The water wheel refurbishment appears to be complete, with all scaffolding removed.
On the opposite end of Grizzly Peak, work continues on the restrooms and Humphrey’s, with the building still covered in scaffolding and scrims.
Cars Land
In Cars Land, Radiator Springs Racers is closed for a rare refurbishment (scheduled to be completed by March 1). Last year, the attraction received new materials on the track to improve traction in wet weather. Other improvements were made in the show building.
Other Disneyland Resort Projects
Between the two parks, the Lost and Found building is still behind construction walls.
Upcoming Refurbishments
- Incredicoaster: March 4 – 14
- Redwood Creek Challenge Trail: March 4 – TBA
This & That
As the title suggests, there’s still a little bit of this and a little bit of that to discuss.
Disney100 Leftovers
Remember those metallic character statues that debuted for the Disney100 Celebration? Well, it looks like a few friends are still lingering after the party. You’ll find Miguel still strumming his guitar over at Elias & Co. on Disney California Adventure’s Buena Vista Street, joined by several other characters.
Celebrate Soulfully
As part of Disney’s Celebrate Soulfully event to honor Black History Month, a portion of Downtown Disney’s walkway was decorated with a colorful mural by Marcella Swett, a Chalk Muralist and Senior Production Artisan of Disney Live Entertainment.
The mural depicts Edmond Albius, a horticulturist who revolutionized vanilla cultivation by developing a hand-pollination technique to quickly pollinate vanilla orchids. Edmond is shown surrounded by a vanilla orchid flower, a bottle of vanilla extract, and a variety of desserts that feature vanilla as an ingredient.
Celebrate Gospel
Celebrate Gospel wrapped up over the weekend at the Fantasyland Theater, with a performance by community choirs and headlined by Grammy winner Tasha Cobbs Leonard.
Lorcana
Feb. 23, also marked the launch of the next expansion of the popular trading card game Disney Lorcana, “Into the Inklands,” at Downtown Disney’s Pin Traders. Starter decks, booster packs, deck boxes, gift boxes, and Illumineer’s Troves were sold at the location, the latter two selling out by the afternoon.
MiceChat Live
While we were shooting this week’s Update, we took an hour, as we do every week, to show you what’s new at Disneyland. There’s also a surprise from the Islands as Dusty drops in from the Caribbean.
Be sure to catch our Disneyland LIVE every Friday at 5pm (Pacific) on our Facebook Page and YouTube.
MiceShots
Since Disneyland has already begun its Spring festivities, it seems only fitting this week’s MiceShots section honors the resort’s flora and fauna.
It was a holiday week, and that brought some big crowds at times.
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Let’s Hear from You!
That’s it for this week’s Disneyland Update! Did you purchase a ticket for Star Wars Nite? If so, did the changes to the process (and the addition of the “notify me” feature) impact your experience either positively or negatively? Are you planning to make a trip to the resort for the Disney California Food & Wine Festival? And are you looking forward to DisneylandForward? Let us know in the comments below!
Dusty will be back from his island vacation next week (more on that in the MiceChat LIVE video above)!
Then again, he looks pretty happy in paradise…
