We have an exciting update for you today from Disneyland! Water is flowing through Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. A beloved Country Bear returns in an unexpected place. New restaurants open. Star Wars Day finally arrived. Pixar Fest is about to expand with a food booths. Halloween mega schedule. Countdown to Fantasmic! And don’t forget Mom… her big day is this coming weekend! You’ll want to stick around to the tail end of this one folks, there’s a lot to see and learn!
Construction Kingdom
Construction is the name of the game at the Disneyland Resort, and don’t expect things to change for at least the next decade. With Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and Haunted Mansion wrapping up later this year, new projects are on the horizon for a new Avatar land, and a new attraction for Avenger’s Campus. And, with DisneylandForward all but a certainty, new lands, and likely a whole new theme park will bring projects untold for the foreseeable future. Let’s take a look at the current projects and some smaller ones that have recently wrapped up. A few little surprises ahead… including a rushing river at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure!!!
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Things are really moving at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. So much so that Critter Country is now closed just past the entry to Hungry Bear. That leaves Winnie the Pooh and the shops and character meet and greets on the other side of the train tracks off limits to guests while the area is updated for the new attraction. The area is expected to reopen in early August.
You may have noticed that the walls look a little bit different. They still sport the Southern Dome Salt Company and Tiana’s Foods logos… but now they have a repeating Mardi Gras sign as well.
Once again, they’ve added signage which further confuses guests about what is happening beyond the walls. While the Haunted Mansion construction, just down the path, celebrates the attraction and shares images and history, the Bayou Adventure walls don’t really tell you anything that might excite you about what’s on the way…
And that’s a real shame because the animatronics, music, and adventure ahead are something worth sharing. They should put speakers along the walls and play some music from Princess and the Frog, show some key concept art, and perhaps even have photos of some of the characters. The one exciting thing on the entire stretch of construction walls is the lone image of Louis the Alligator. More of this please!
This would be a great time to share some information about the new characters joining the story… For example, meet Mondo. He’s one member of many critter bands who perform throughout the ride.
Each of the characters has crafted their instruments out of items found in the bayou… drums, winds, fiddles, and horns. The ride will be a musical treat. But from the construction walls, you’d think the ride is about employee rights and strip mining.
Can’t you just imagine these characters on the never-ending construction walls…
But if these character images don’t have you excited… perhaps this will… On Friday I noticed water running in the ride flume!!!
Here’s a bit of video of the running water (press play below):
In the last few months, Splash Mountain’s Chickapin Hill has become a green swamp. There aren’t many (or any) hills in the real bayou, but suspend your disbelief, it’s a theme park ride.
There is still a mess of scaffolding, but some of it is starting to come down. The 2nd lift hill still needs roofing, but there aren’t too many things left to do on the front exterior of the mountain.
On Friday, the water tower was scaffolded all the way around…
But by Sunday, it had emerged… And you can really get a sense for how much this show building has changed in the image below:
The Briar Patch shop is behind walls and in the process of becoming Ray’s Berets…
Haunted Mansion
We can’t show you much at Mansion, but progress has been slow on the exterior queue garden and new shop. A hill of dirt still sits on what will one day be a new fully-themed exterior queue.
While the area is behind barricades, the New Orleans Square Train Station is also getting a major refurbishment to fix the fire damage to part of the structure.
The hillside has been stripped. 
Heavy digging equipment is still on site.
And the area where the new gift shop will be built is just starting its transformation as well.
Just to give you an idea of how the Mansion construction walls get it right, here’s how they look. There’s concept art to show you ‘some’ of what’s coming…
There are sayings and images to remind you why you love the ride:
Lenticular images in the style of the changing portrait gallery…
Interactive Magicband elements…
And there’s some history as well that gives a fun look at early concept art for the attraction…
Now, wouldn’t something like that be great over at the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure construction site?!
Big Wheel Keep On Turning
Not really a new construction project, but we’re happy to see the water wheel and contraption at the Adventureland Treehouse working again!
Here’s the wheel in action…
Main Street Unwrapped
Another bit of good news… at long last, City Hall and the Fire Dept. in Town Square have been unwrapped… and looking exactly as they did before.
The patio of Walt’s apartment between the Fire Station and City Hall still has its wraps. The patio has been part of Walt’s Main Street Story tour; perhaps some customizations are being made for the tours.
Meanwhile, over in Disney California Adventure…
Disney Vacation Club Lounge Construction
The walls are still up all around the former Blue Sky Cellar, which is being converted into a new DVC lounge.
DVC #2
That’s not the only Vacation Club project. On Grizzly Trail, the small DVC shack has been expanded. By moving the lockers to a new location across from the exit of Grizzly River Run, DVC was able to take over the entire shack… with a little surprise!
As you can see from the image above, DVC doesn’t really need all this space. They have a single podium for a sales rep to stand behind. But they also have a really fun homage to the former Country Bear Jamboree, a carved Big Al statue. If you wave your MagicBand at him, he’ll say something clever.
While his placement in DCA isn’t a sign of things to come, we sure wish it was. A version of Country Bear Jamboree or a Country Bear overlay of Grizzly River would be very welcome in this area… don’t you think?!
Downtown Disney
I’ve got to tell you folks that the new restaurants for the far west end of Downtown Disney are one of the things I’m most looking forward to. And none of them more so than Disney’s new dumpling house…
Din Tai Fung
We believe the restaurant will open in early June. Hopefully, the construction fence will come down sooner.
Parkside Market
Directly across from Din Tai Fung is the new Parkside Market, which looks to be just about done on the outside. There are multiple establishments in the new building, all with the same owner.
New Security Gate
Also in this area is a new security entry to the shopping district. Once it opens, the current west side security tents will close and that end of Downtown Disney will be closed off in preparation for future DisneylandForward plans.
Earl of Sandwich Food Truck and Future Construction
And a sad future awaits Earl of Sandwich as the current location (which offers table service, pizzas, a bar, and quick-service sandwiches) will close and they will scale back to a smaller selection of sandwiches offered from a glorified food truck. They were supposed to have moved into this location well over a month ago. Tick tock tick tock.
Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar
There are a lot of things under the knife or soon to be. Of particular note today is Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, which Disneyland is spending $5 million on. That’s enough for a new animatronic and refreshed visuals and audio. But we’ll have to wait to hear more on that. For now, here are the current and upcoming projects to help you plan your travels:
Currently Under Refurbishment:
- Splash Mountain: Conversion to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: (May 31st, 2023-Late 2024)
- The Haunted Mansion: (January 22nd-TBA)
- Redwood Creek Challenge Trail: (March 4th-TBA)
- The Bakery Tour: (March 22nd-June 1st)
- The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln (April 16th-TBA)
- Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill: (April 29th-May 24th)
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: (May 1st-TBA)
- The Briar Patch – Remodel to Ray’s Berets: (May 1st-June 8th)
- Pooh Corner – Remodel to add Critter Club: (May 1st-June 8th)
- California Sole: (May 1st-TBA)
Upcoming Refurbishments:
- Disneyland Monorail: (May 8th)
- Sailing Ship Columbia: (May 12th-23rd)
Paseo, Centrico, Tiendita NOW OPEN!
Paseo, Centrico, and Tiendita from Michelin-starred Chef Carlos Gaytán officially opened at Downtown Disney on May 1st with an early-morning ribbon-cutting ceremony, during which the chef was joined by Mickey and Minnie.
The three Mexican restaurants showcase the Chef’s Mexican heritage, including updated recipes from his mother and grandmother and design elements from Mexican artists and craftsmen.
Although Paseo is fine dining, Centrico is casual dining, and Tiendita is quick-service, Paseo’s signature Mama’s Cochinita Pibil, his mother’s Guerrero-style pork shank served with black bean pureé, pickled red onion, and habanero salsa, can be ordered in tacos from Centrico and in a quesadilla, burrito, or nachos from Tiendita.
Let’s Peruse The Menus
Paseo definitely serves upscale Mexican cuisine, and while it may be pricey for “every day” theme park dining, it’s certainly worth making a reservation for a special occasion (or even just as a splurge).
Centrico, on the other hand, is perfect for a mid-day lunch break from the parks or post-theme park/pre-fireworks dinner, especially in the summer when the weather is nice. We dined at Centrico shortly before the official grand opening and loved it! The food and service were both excellent (our server said she worked at Tortilla Jo’s for 13 years, and we were glad to hear Patina retained the employees when that restaurant closed).
Tiendita’s menu consists of tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, ceviches, and salads (both meat and vegetarian options are available).
Since it’s considered “grab-and-go, there’s NO DEDICATED SEATING for Tiendita (at least not yet). Currently, guests have to find available bench seating around the district or walk to the grassy area by the Downtown Disney stage, but we’re hoping tables and chairs will be added soon… especially since most of these items aren’t the sort of thing you can eat while walking around and it isn’t fun to hunt for seating in the busy Downtown Disney district.
Check out our complete guide for all the details about the grand opening:
NEW DISNEYLAND DINING: Paseo, Centrico & Tiendita Now Open in Downtown Disney!
(My thanks to Samantha Davis-Friedman for assembling the Paseo/Centrico/Tiendita section of today’s Update)
Pixar Fest Food Booths Open This Week
When Pixar Fest opened on April 26, guests were introduced to a huge menu of nibbles and sips inspired by our favorite Pixar characters. Starting next week on May 10, the offerings expand even further with the opening of six food booths dubbed “Pixar Fest Marketplace.” These booths are rethemed versions of some of the same stations used during the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, which wrapped up on April 22.
Each booth is themed to a different Pixar movie and serves a unique, themed menu:
- 4*Town Fav*4*ites, inspired by “Turning Red”
- The Spark, inspired by “Soul
- Gusteau’s To-Go, inspired by “Ratatouille”
- Portorosso Pasta, inspired by “Luca”
- Elemental Table, inspired by “Elemental”
- Hanger Management, inspired by “Inside Out”
To see the menus for each booth, along with the other dishes, drinks, and adorable novelty collectibles created for Pixar Fest, check out our food guide:
UPDATED: Cuisine with Character! Disneyland Resort Pixar Fest Food Guide
And you can learn the in’s and out’s of this character-filled celebration in our extensive Pixar Fest guide:
If you have kids, be sure to check out our family guide to Pixar Fest:
Pixar Fest for Families and Kids – Does It Hit the Mark – A Mom’s Review
(Much thanks to Natalie Kipper for assembling our Pixar Food Fest update)
Supersized Halloween Time
Disneyland Resort starts celebrating the spooky season at the end of August this year! But that’s not all, there will be 27 spine-chilling nights for Oogie Boogie Bash in 2024. If you had trouble scaring up tickets last year, we hope it’s easier this time around. Nearly half the days in October have a party night!
Oogie Boogie Bash will be returning on 27 select nights:
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- AUGUST 25, 27, 29
- SEPTEMBER 3, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29
- OCTOBER 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 31
Disney has yet to share when the tickets will go on sale.
Mother’s Day Is This Weekend!
Have you gotten Mom something for her special day? Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 12th, and if she’s a Disney fan, she might be interested in some of the events, eats, and treats the Resort is offering this year. Although the options are not as extravagant as in times past, perhaps there’s something on the menu that Mom would enjoy? Let’s check out the lineup!
Disneyland Park: Brunch Buffet + Special Treats Available Across the Resort
The iconic Plaza Inn is offering a Mother’s Day brunch buffet from May 10th – 12th this year, hosted by Minnie and friends! After being greeted with a photo op and a flower, Mom will be treated to a delicious meal, with options ranging from a carving station to fried chicken, assorted desserts, and more. Brunch will be offered from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM for $79 per guest (ages 10 and up) and $39 per child (ages 3 to 9). If you’re interested, be sure to plan ahead and grab a reservation for Plaza Inn & a park reservation. (NOTE: There were very few spots left at the time we wrote this!)
In addition to brunch, guests can indulge in two special treats from May 5th through 12th: the Tulip Cake Pop (New), and the Pink Minnie Caramel Apple. You’ll find them at various candy locations around the Resort like Candy Palace and Candy Kitchen (DL), and Trolley Treats (DCA).
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa: Brunch & Dinner Buffet + Special Treats Available
The ever-charming Storytellers Cafe, located at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is offering both a brunch and dinner buffet for Mom on May 12th this year. Brunch is the more affordable option, at $60 per guest (ages 10 and up) and $32 per child (ages 3 to 9). The first portion of the all-you-care-to-eat affair will run from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The dinner buffet is next, running from 3:00 PM through 9:00 PM for $85 per guest (ages 10 and up), and $35 per child (ages 3 to 9). Among the menu items are prime rib, turkey breast, and as usual, plenty of desserts! As always, reservations are highly recommended (Hopefully there are still some left). Characters will be out and about, enabling you to grab special photos to commemorate the occasion. If you’re not too full from the buffet and want to pick up a quick gift, head to the Grand Californian Great Hall Cart (which is really two tables and not a cart at all) nearby for a Mickey-shaped Mother’s Day Cookie, or Box of Assorted Cookies. These will be available from May 3rd through 13th.
Note: Goofy’s Kitchen is not offering a Mother’s Day buffet this year, but the Sensational Springtime Buffet is still in effect through May 12th and would be a fitting place to celebrate mom. For more details, click here.
Don’t Forget About Dad!
Father’s Day is just around the corner, occurring on Sunday, June 16th this year, and a little birdie told us that reservations just opened for brunch at the Plaza Inn for June 15th and 16th! Check Disneyland’s website or app for more details or to make a reservation.
(Much thanks to Christy Weinberg for assembling our Mother’s/Father’s Day section)
Disneyland Entertainment News
We have a few entertainment updates for you that you should make note of.
Fantasmic Returning May 24th!
Our friend and host, Mickey Mouse, will once again use his vivid imagination to create magical imagery for all to enjoy starting May 24th (see what I did there?). But, due to the fiery demise of the climactic animatronic dragon, there will be significant changes to the show to write her off of the stage. But there’s a silver lining here with the return of a popular segment which had been replaced by Jack Sparrow:
“The popular production will introduce a new climactic battle sequence between Sorcerer Mickey and Maleficent, brought to life with updated special effects, plus the return of the thrilling shipboard confrontation between Peter Pan and Captain Hook from “Peter Pan.”
One of the best ways to see the show and get a great spot is to purchase a dining package. But we’ve learned that, at least for now, the dining packages will only be available at River Bell and Blue Bayou. The less expensive Hungry Bear To Go is not expected to be offered, at least while riverside viewing is impacted by Haunted Mansion construction.
Golden Horseshoe Bummer
It’s been years since there was a real show in the Golden Horseshoe, but they have at least offered piano performances to help entertain diners. Sadly, the last live piano performances occurred over the weekend. There is nothing officially announced to replace it… but we hope this means that a bigger production is being planned. If not, it’s time to express your concern that yet another stage is being left empty at the resort.
Downtown Disney Stage Entertainment Schedule
One stage at the resort, which seems to be offering a continually changing list of performers, is the fancy new Downtown Disney West Side stage. 
Star Wars Day/Season of the Force
We’ve been celebrating Star Wars at the Disneyland Resort since April, but the big day was May the 4th. Unfortunately, Disneyland had no special plans to mark the occasion other than what is already underway with Season of the Force. But record numbers of Star Wars Fandom flooded Batuu (Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge) and Disneyland Park all day on Saturday.
The land was so busy that even at 11pm, when Batuu usually looks like a ghost town, it was more crowded than it normally is at midday. R2-D2 was out roaming Batuu and the new BDX droids made short appearances, both of which delighted guests. But other than that it was a normal day on Batuu… except for the crowds.
The lightsaber meet-up at 7pm had more guests and lightsabers than Batuu has ever seen! And all of the viewing areas for ‘Fire of the Rising Moons’ (Star Wars music played with the Pixar Fireworks) were at or over capacity. And the Force was strong with them as the cheers and lightsabers were both held high throughout the show.
May the Fourth at the Disneyland Resort did have some new merchandise and apparel items released for the 25th Anniversary of the movie ‘Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.’ In this collection were a baseball cap, zip-up hoodie, t-shirt, and enamel pin, very similar to what was offered in the ‘May the Fourth’ collection that was released at the beginning of Season of the Force on April 5th.
Stand out items were the Storm Trooper Helmet popcorn bucket ($31.25) and the Jar Jar Binks baseball cap. And Forcewielders out there should visit Dok Ondar’s to see the new kyber crystals and holocrons and stop by the creature stall to see the new Nexu ($54.99).
Here’s a deeper look at all the Star Wars merch, including the popular new Loth-Cat mug at Oga’s Cantina:
Disneyland Summer Ticket Offer
Disneyland has revealed a new summer offer, and this time around, not just SoCal residents qualify for the deal. The 3-day tickets start at just $50/day for kids and $83/day for adults. That’s a great savings. The tickets are valid for travel between June 10th and September 26th (well into the Halloween season). They go on sale May 29th, and you’ll be able to buy them right here from MiceChat on any of our Get Away Today links.
Like recent offers, there are lots of options. Weekday tickets (Monday through Thursday) are the cheapest. Tickets good for any day are more expensive. And, of course, you can add park-hopping and Genie+ for an additional fee. Here’s how the ticket prices break out:
Disneyland Summer Ticket (Monday – Thursday):
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- 3-Day, 1-Park: ADULT – $249: CHILD – $149
- 3-Day, Park Hopper: ADULT – $319: CHILD – $219
- 3-Day, 1-Park w/ Genie+: ADULT – $339: CHILD $239
- 3-Day, Park Hopper w/ Genie+: ADULT – $409: CHILD – $309
Disneyland Summer Ticket (Good Any Day):
-
- 3-Day, 1-Park: ADULT – $299: CHILD – $199
- 3-Day, Park Hopper: ADULT – $369: CHILD – $269
- 3-Day, 1-Park w/ Genie+: ADULT – $389: CHILD $289
- 3-Day, Park Hopper w/ Genie+: ADULT – $459: CHILD: $359
Discount Disney Tickets & Travel
Meanwhile…
You can snag the latest Disney travel deals from our partners at Get Away Today!
Check out the latest offers for Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Knott’s Berry Farm, and Disney Cruise Line, including new low hotel rates, extra days and nights for free, special perks, and limited-time opportunities…
(MiceChat works with Get Away Today to provide you with the best theme park travel deals. When you purchase from our travel partner, you not only get great rates and service, you also help support MiceChat. We sincerely thank you for your support!)
MiceShots
And now it’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy some pretty photos from the parks…
It’s duck season…
Peach beignets and mango and peach mint julep at the Mint Julep bar behind Tiana’s Palace. The flavored-sugar on the beignet is delicious but very strong. The Mint Julep is very mild in comparison,
The Lego Store was swamped with activity and customers during a two-day festival of deals, build opportunities, and a really cool mural that the guests themselves pieced together.
Day one…
And finished the next day…
It’s Disneyland Rose season as well. They are in full bloom in New Orleans Square. It’s also a great time of year to buy and plant them. Mother’s Day marks flower planting season in much of the United States. Armstrong Gardens sells this popular rose. I have two in my garden, and they delight me with their changing colors and fragrance.
Disneyland Live
Not ready to leave Disneyland? You don’t have to! I’ve got an hour of Disneyland news, info, and views for you in our latest LIVE. This week, Suzanne and I start our adventure at the new Big Al statue, wander through the Hollywood Back Lot, visit the new restaurants in Downtown Disney, and take you to the big Disneyland construction projects. It’s a really fun one this week, I hope you’ll press play below:
Let’s Hear From You
Well, folks, this concludes our Update. Thanks for bearing with us to the bear end. And please take a moment to share your thoughts about the numerous projects and news from the Disneyland Resort. Water flowing through Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, a new Big Al sculpture, the temporary closure of Critter Country, Star Wars Day, the pending arrival of a Pixar food fest, Halloween and Pixar Fest expansions, new summer ticket offer, and whatever else jumped out at you!
you all come back, ya hear?