Disneyland’s spring break might have been washed out with lingering winter weather but that didn’t stop the news from rolling in. Tickets for this year’s D23 Expo went on sale but the messy rollout left many fans frustrated and without tickets. Meanwhile, Imagineering legend Joe Rohde has returned to Disney, sparking big hopes in the fan community. At Disneyland, work continues on major projects in New Orleans Square and Critter Country, and Downtown Disney’s reimagining ramps up. We’ve got a big update for you today, so let’s get started!
Welcome to Disneyland!
Spring Break is here at Disneyland but you wouldn’t know it with the wet weather and light crowds over the holiday weekend.
The Easter Bunny made his seasonal appearance last week. The elusive rabbit could be found in Town Square over the holiday weekend but the rain made him extra hard to spot this year.
He’s so cute!
Much of the weekend was gloomy and wet but there were a few times the sun broke through and created spectacular spring scenes.
Looks like Magic Key sales have finally plateaued for Disneyland. For the first time since the Magic Key program replaced the Annual Passport program, Magic Keys haven’t quickly sold out — and Disneyland is now posting signs to encourage guests visiting with tickets to upgrade. Have Magic Key prices finally outpaced demand?
The Magic Key upgrade sign is currently posted at the entrance to both theme parks.
Buena Vista Street looks as lovely as ever this spring.
The trees in Carthay Circle are in bloom and are quite a sight! 
Soaked Break
Don’t let our colorful springtime photos from this weekend fool you. Rainy weather washed out spring break crowds over the normally busy holiday weekend, brining lots of gloom and plenty of wet weather to the Resort. The rain storms dampened crowds and prompted Disneyland to cut park hours on both Saturday and Sunday, closing at 11 p.m. instead of midnight.
The silver lining to all that rainy weather was manageable wait times at Disneyland.
Several Disneyland classics close in the rain, including the Mad Tea Party and Alice in Wonderland.
Rainy days in California Adventure…
The rainy weather brought several attractions across Disney California Adventure to a halt. Those closures combined with the impact of Lightning Lane at other attractions meant some long lines at DCA, even with much lighter crowds during the wet weather.
D23 Sells Out
Last week, Disney rolled out tickets for the big 2024 “D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event” formerly known as the D23 Expo. The rollout was less than ideal, however. Ticketing systems stalled and crashed, causing major frustrations for fans looking to secure tickets. And even though the D23 website said the two days of presales (for D23 Gold Members and CHASE VISA cardholders) would offer only a limited number of tickets, nearly all the tickets sold out before the first day of regular public sales.
As such, all three-day passes to the event had sold out by 1 p.m. on Wednesday, well before tickets could go on sale to the general public on Thursday. By Friday afternoon, every level of D23 ticket had sold out — from the $79 single-day Gold Member tickets, all the way to the highest-tier $2,599 D23 Ultimate Preferred Fan Passes.
This marks the first year D23 has sold out of every ticket level so quickly — usually tickets are available for weeks, if not months leading up to the event. With so much demand this year, we’re hoping Disney really delivers and gives us some industry-shaking announcements — from theme parks, to TV and film, and beyond. Were you able to get your D23 tickets? Let us know what your experience with buying tickets was like in the comments section of today’s article.
Joe Rohde Returns to Imagineering
In an unexpected turn of events and another sign of a shifting tide at Walt Disney Imagineering — Joe Rohde has returned to Disney. Last week was a big one for Joe — not only did D23 announce he would be named a Disney Legend this year but early last week Rohde announced he was returning to Walt Disney Imagineering to “do a bit of work at the old farm.”
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Walt Disney Imagineering’s official Instagram account also shared details of his return, noting Rohde was back to lead “master class” seminars for current Imagineers. While the handing down of institutional knowledge is a critical practice at Imagineering and we’re excited to see Rohde back to do these sessions, we’re holding out hope that’s not all he is back for.
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The creative juggernaut with the eccentric earring is best known for his work in overseeing Disney’s Animal Kingdom for its first 25 years at Walt Disney World. Rohde also oversaw the design of Disney’s Aulani resort in Hawaii. Some of Rohde’s most recent work before his 2021 retirement included Pandora — The World of Avatar at Walt Disney World and Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout! at Disney California Adventure.
With an Avatar-themed expansion planned for Disney California Adventure, a long-delayed Avengers-themed E-Ticket at Disney California Adventure, plus rumors of major changes coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World — we really, really hope Rohde will have some significant influence in shaping these (and other) projects as Disney looks to aggressively invest in its theme park division in the coming years.
Below, an underutilized corner of Hollywood Land that will likely become the future home of a new Avatar Land at the Disneyland Resort — hopefully under Joe Rohde’s guidance.
Crescent City Construction
Work continues on the big projects underway in New Orleans Square and Critter Country. The Haunted Mansion will be able to better handle its long queues later this year, thanks to a new and expanded outdoor queue. Meanwhile, Tiana will make a splash with the new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure attraction in Critter Country.
Haunted Mansion expansion
The Haunted Mansion is closed as work is well underway on reimagining and expanding the attraction’s outdoor queue. The new queue will feature new gardens and expand into space formerly occupied by large old magnolia trees and a charming fountain. Additionally, an all-new gift shop is being constructed at the attraction’s exit.
Concept art of the expanded queue, which could open later this summer.
Views from the top deck of the Mark Twain show there’s quite a bit of work left to be done in rebuilding — and expanding — the attraction’s queue. All this wet weather will certainly slow the progress down.
The former Magnolia Park area is mostly cleared, including several old trees in the area.
The Magnolia Park area will be redesigned, with a smaller footprint, after the Mansion takes over some of its space.
The Haunted Mansion’s outdoor queue is totally gone now. A new, expanded outdoor queue will be built here.
What’s left of the old queue…
A new gift shop themed as the Mansion’s carriage house will be built next to the attractions exit.
Concept art for the new gift shop:
Space is now being cleared for the new gift shop building…
Louis joins the party
Over at Tiana’s Palace, a new statuette of Louis the Alligator has been added near the restaurant’s entrance.
He’s very cute and a wonderfully whimsical touch!
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure progress
Work continues on transforming the former Splash Mountain attraction into the new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The new ride will take guests on a bayou adventure with Princess Tiana. As part of the new attraction, an all-new band of bayou critters will help create the music for your adventure…
Last week, we got a closer look at the critters in the band. Each critter has their own name and features their own instrument, made up of things found in the bayou
Below Disney Imagineer Laura West introduces you to the critter band coming to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
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A closer look at the concept art showing the critters in action.
Outside if the attraction, lots of new faux foliage has been added to the exterior of the salt dome.
New faux bayou trees are currently being installed…
Riders will splash down into a bayou, complete with trees emerging from the swamp. A big change from the thorny briar patch!
The main entrance to the attraction is now completely behind scaffolding and tarps as it begins its transformation into Tiana’s Foods.
The exit area of the attraction…
A newly-enclosed portion of the flume will add additional show scene space…
Critter Country Changes
As Tiana arrives in Critter Country, two shops in the area will be reimagined to fit the bayou theme, inspired by characters from The Princess and the Frog. Below, the former Briar Patch shop will become Ray’s Berets, a hat shop named after the firefly from the film.
Looks like the shop will lose one of its windows in the retheming.
Some of the old Song of the South characters had already been removed from the interior of the shop and temporarily replaced with generic critter art.
Below, half of the existing Pooh Corner shop will become Louis’ Critter Club, named after the musical alligator from the movie. The candy kitchen side of the shop, closer to the exit of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh will remain themed as Pooh Corner.
While the shop remains open as Pooh Corner, the doorway which will be the entrance to Louis’ Critter Club in the future is behind construction walls.
Mr. Sanders will have to relocate soon.
No word yet on how much of this older Critter Country theming will remain. Will the nod to the Country Bears remain?
The side of Pooh Corner that the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride exits towards will remain as-is.
A look inside…
Construction Kingdom & Refurbishment Roundup
Let’s take a look at some of the other refurbishments and construction projects around the Disneyland Resort…
City Hall refurbishment
In Disneyland, the big City Hall exterior refurbishment project lingers on. This includes the Guided Tours building, City Hall, the Main Street Fire Department.
The bell that had been missing for some time from atop the fire station is finally back. 
Astro Orbitor prepares to launch
Astro Orbitor’s refurbishment is wrapping up, with the attraction set to reopen this Friday.
Sailing Ship Columbia rained out
The Sailing Ship Columbia was scheduled to reopen on Saturday after a quick refurbishment but the rain kept the ship in Fowler’s Harbor through the weekend.
Fantasmic! gets ready
Work is underway on Fantasmic! infrastructure around the front of Tom Sawyer Island.
Gatekeeping
The first set of next generation park gates can be seen at the entrance of Disney California Adventure. Testing of the new gates over the weekend revealed that new facial recognition technology for the gates won’t be as quick as we all hoped. While it will likely save Disney some labor costs, guests have to look into a screen and line their face up while the system attempts to match them with their photo on file. On the whole, it’s a longer process than a cast member quickly scanning your ticket and acting as gatekeeper.
Automated gates, complete with park logo. 
Screens and touchpoints for mobile phone tickets and Magic Bands. The top of the screen has a small camera embedded in it.
If the test is satisfactory, these new turnstiles will take over all of the gates at California Adventure and Disneyland later this year.
Disney Vacation Club takeover
Work continues in Disney California Adventure on expanded Disney Vacation Club locations. The former Blue Sky Cellar preview center is becoming an in-park Vacation Club lounge and sales location.
A look at the patio area in front of the former Blue Sky Cellar. Could this become exclusive parade viewing space for DVC Members?
The DVC kiosk by Grizzly River Run seems to be expanding. The kiosk formerly occupied the front side of the Grizzly River Run locker station but the lockers have been relocated and it looks like DVC is taking over the whole structure now.
Relocated lockers. 
Redwood Creek Construction
Nearby, the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail is closed for refurbishment.
Bakery Tour touchup
The Boudin Bakery Tour in San Fransokyo Square is closed through April 17 for refurbishment.
Little Mermaid queue changes
Over at The Little Mermaid attraction, it looks like the front portion of the queue is being reworked, hopefully to better accommodate Lightning Lane. Currently, the addition of Lightning Lane caused the attraction’s entrance to be relocated from the rotunda all the way to a side area on the other side of the building. It’s confusing and looks temporary, so hopefully the work underway will incorporate Lightning Lane in a much better way.
Reinventing Downtown Disney
Downtown Disney’s multi-phase reinvention project continues. Earl of Sandwich’s temporary location in the former Boudin Bakery seems to be getting closer to closing…
…as decals have been added to the sandwich shop’s pop-up trailer location on the west end of Downtown Disney. This temporary location will serve a limited menu while an all-new, permanent Earl of Sandwich location is built. The current location in the former La Brea Bakery space will be demolished to make way for a brand new Porto’s Bakery and Cafe.
In the heart of Downtown Disney, the new Paseo, Centrico, and Tiendita locations continue to make progress. The three locations are all part of new Mexican dining concept by celebrity chef Carlos Gaytan. Paseo will be a table service location in the former home of Catal, with the Centrico bar and outdoor lounge moving in where the Uva Bar previously was. Tiendita will offer grab-and-go and quick service options.
Lighting fixtures, thematic touches, and new signage for all three dining locations has been installed as this project moves quickly toward the finish line.
dining tables have been added to Paseo’s dining room, an indication that things are pretty far along.
We’re looking forward to seeing this project open up — these three options will be welcome additions to Downtown Disney.
Over on the west side of Downtown Disney, the new mid century modern area is progressing nicely. Work continues on the new Parkside Market, with steel framework expanding the footprint of the larger market building that is already pretty far along.
The new mid century-styled entry gates for Downtown Disney at the backside of the Downtown Disney LIVE lawn area will serve as the security checkpoint and entry point for guests entering from the main Downtown Disney parking lot.
You can get a better look at the new entry gate taking shape from the Grand Californian Hotel’s valet parking lot.
Next to the Downtown Disney LIVE lawn and across it from the Parkside Market building, the new Din Tai Fung restaurant is under construction.
Repaving of the area continues, with just a couple final sections left to go.
Over the weekend, Downtown Disney offered some special Hulu on Disney+ activations. Live entertainment at night and some photo backdrops themed to some favorite Hulu TV shows…
A big promo backdrop was added to the former ESPN Zone building. Funny enough, the building already serves as a huge billboard for Disney+… It’s a shame they don’t do more with this building for regular guests. 
MiceChat LIVE
In this week’s MiceChat LIVE, Dusty, Mike and Suzanne take us on a journey through the Downtown Disney construction and into Disneyland to see the latest changes at the Haunted Mansion and Splash Mountain, as well as that cute new Louis the Alligator statue at Tiana’s Palace. It’s a great way to see the park and enjoy a Disney adventure from home, follow along:
Around the Parks
Let’s wrap up this week’s update with some springtime views from around the parks…
Season of the Force is returning to Disneyland starting this Friday! Special Star Wars-themed entertainment, attraction enhancements, merchandise, food, and more will be available in Disneyland April 5—June 2.
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Let’s Hear From You!
Alright, that wraps up this week’s Disneyland update. Were you able to get D23 tickets? Are you hopeful for Joe Rohde’s future at Imagineering? Are you excited to meet the new critters at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure? Let us know your thoughts on all of the news in this week’s update in the comments section below!
And don’t miss today’s other big news from La Ztul (definitely not Al Lutz):