Halloween Time launched at Disneyland late last month, but the summer heat hit a high of 108°F over the weekend. Now that’s scary! Despite the scorching heat, the parks remained operational with some adjustments, and guests savoring the last bit of summer (while enjoying the fall decorations at the resort) were joined by runners attending the runDisney event that took place over the weekend.
Follow along as we take a walk through the resort to see what’s changed over the last week.
Hot! Hot! Hot! Empty! Empty! Empty!
Attendance took a hit due to the intense heat, even with the runDisney event over the weekend crowds were low. And with lighter attendance, those who did brave the heat were rewarded with remarkably low wait times. Let’s see how the high temps took their toll on the parks – and check out the best ways to cool off.
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As we headed to the parks on Friday, our vehicle thermometer read 106 degrees, and it certainly felt every bit of that as we walked from the tram to the Disneyland entrance. And entering the park, the impact of the heat was already evident.
No matter where we walked, we noticed guests trying to stay in the shade as much as possible. There were also plenty of red faces, grumpy guests, and overheated tourists.
On a typical Friday during lunch, finding a place to sit at any of the outdoor quick-serve locations would be tough, but over the weekend, guests were definitely staying inside.
Guests who wanted to escape the heat (and still have a good meal) were clustered at Bengal BBQ in Adventureland, Red Rose Tavern in Fantasyland, or Galactic Grill in Tomorrowland since all three offer indoor dining or at least a lot of shade.
Over in Frontierland, it didn’t seem like any of the “Encanto” characters were available for meet and greets (see more information about them below). This is one of the areas where visitors and characters are more exposed to the heat.
Wait times were also incredibly low with several attractions closed for a good portion of the day.
One of the most noticeable operational changes came when the Mickey and Friends Cavalcade rolled down Main Street. There were no performers on foot nor any rope holders at the end of the cavalcade. It felt very basic, but also was very necessary for the safety of the performers.
We also visited DCA. Where you saw shade; you saw most of the guests.
No surprise, the busiest spot in Disney California Adventure was Grizzly Peak as it’s easily the most shaded area in the park, if not the entire resort. Grizzly River Run was also one of the longer wait times, ranging from 10 to 40 minutes, which is still a far cry from the typical 100-minute wait on a warmer day.
Radiator Springs Racers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Toy Story all had fairly long waits, but still shorter than a typical summer Friday.
Now that we’ve looked at the impact of this heat wave, let’s run down the list of some of our favorite places (and ways) to cool off at Disneyland:
Keeping Your Cool at the Disneyland Resort
It might surprise you to hear that there really aren’t a lot of air conditioned indoor spaces at the Disneyland Resort. Knowing where to go when the weather gets bad can really save your comfort… and your trip…
1. Animation Building
Perhaps the best place to go in the heat (or during a rain shower) is the Animation Building in Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure. Not only does it hold a lot of guests, but there’s a lot to do. You can watch iconic moments from Disney animation on giant screens surrounding the lobby, learn to draw a favorite character at the Animation Academy, visit Anna and Elsa at the Character Closeup, explore animation at (what’s left of) the Sorcerer’s Workshop, interact with Crush during one of his Turtle Talks, or shop in the wonderful Off the Page (which has plenty of high end collectibles worth perusing). We really hope this space survives the construction of Avatar Land as the Disneyland Resort needs these sorts of escapes that don’t require baking in the sun.
2. Main St. Cinema
An out of the way gem, the Main Street Cinema showcases Mickey’s earliest films. If it weren’t for these black and white shorts, there wouldn’t be a Disney Company today. If you’re overheated, pick a film to watch. Still need a breather? Just keep moving from screen to screen until you’re ready to brave the elements. Mickey was quite the scoundrel back in the day, it’s well worth your time to get to know him and the early cast of characters better.
3. Pizza Planet’s Back Patio
Stop inside for a cool drink and then settle into the huge covered patio tucked between Pizza Planet and the entry to Space Mountain. It’s mostly air conditioned here and quite a bit cooler than outside.
4. The Shops on Main Street
Shopping is a double edge sword… while it’s definitely cooler in the shops, it can also be hectic and crowded with few places to sit and relax. So this is really an emergency option when you feel like you just can’t take another moment in the sun.
5. The Enchanted Tiki Room
Typically short waits with a lengthy show in air conditioning… and there are seats to relax and enjoy the vintage spectacle.
When you stop and think about it, there really aren’t that many places where you can just walk in and get air conditioning at the Disneyland Resort. We asked our readers how they cool off in the MiceChat Facebook group. Let’s take a look at what they said:
Answers ranged from staying home to hanging out in one of the few air-conditioned locations.
It seems like most people had the same great ideas; however, managing the heat is not only about where you are but also about taking advantage of some of the items the parks sell that help keep guests cool.
Plenty of water and good nutrition is another essential part of managing heat and heat exhaustion. Did you know all Disney dining locations will give you cups of cold water for free?
Thankfully, temperatures are dropping slightly this week, but more hot weather may still be in store before we finally cool down for the fall season. Our best advice is to pay attention to your body and know your limits. Keep hydrated and take frequent breaks throughout your visit.
Disneyland Live
Dusty takes us through the parks on a scorching day to show us what’s new, but also to point out the ways he is keeping himself safe and cool at the sunniest place on earth…
MiceChat’s Live at Five will transition from Fridays to Thursdays for the Halloween season to accommodate Dusty’s tours at Walt Disney’s Storybook Mansion.
Speaking of the Disney Mansion, you can take a tour with Dusty on select dates in September and October. Here’s a little tease:
And for more information and tickets, visit Haunted OC Tickets (HERE)
Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon Weekend
While it has been an unbearably hot Halloween season so far in Southern California, that didn’t stop hoards of runners from hitting the streets for runDisney’s all-new Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon Weekend on Sept. 5-8, 2024.
The sold-out four-day event featured early morning Disneyland Yoga at the castle (hosted by Goofy) plus 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, and Kids Races.
The (ironically named) Chills & Thrills Challenge hosted by Jack Skellington, Sally, and Zero dared extra-ambitious runners to complete both the 10K and the Half Marathon (19.3 miles), earning extra bling for the feat in addition to their 5K and Half Marathon medals.
While we weren’t up before dawn to run any of the races, our pal @michaeldoesdiz ran the 5K, 10K, and half marathon. He shared his thoughts throughout the weekend about the weather, the course, and how Disney managed to keep all those runners happy and hydrated.
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One weather-related adjustment we were very happy to see is that Saturday’s Kids Races started extra early to keep the littlest runners out of the midday sun.
BBQ Watch
We’re anxiously expecting Hungry Bear Barbecue to open very soon, and we can’t wait to try the new regional barbecue dishes on the menu.
For a look at the full Hungry bear Barbecue Jamboree menu, check out our article here:
Halloween Treats A-Plenty
Halloween Time is well underway at the Disneyland Resort (continuing through Oct. 31) offering seasonal entertainment, themed eats, and Halloween treats to celebrate the spooky season.
The resort also boasts four Halloween attraction overlays: Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween and Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree in Cars Land, Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark in Avengers Campus, and of course, Haunted Mansion Holiday in New Orleans Square (this year available via Virtual Queue only).
The one big element missing is the Ghost Galaxy overlay to Space Mountain. We really miss it, what about you?
Read our complete guide to Halloween Time at Disneyland here:
UPDATED! Disneyland Halloween Time Arrives: All the Not-So-Scary Details
California Adventure is hosting the sold-out after-hours Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disneyland Halloween Party on select dates through Oct. 31, 2024, but The Happiest Place on Earth isn’t the only SoCal theme park with after-hours events to celebrate the spooky season, though it’s certainly the least scary.
Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights
Universal Hollywood’s popular Halloween event kicked off on Sept. 5 and takes place on select nights through Nov. 3. This year, the separately ticketed event features 8 all-new haunted houses, 4 scare zones, 2 live shows, and the Hollywood-exclusive Terror Tram… not to mention spellbinding eats and treats. We had a FANTASTIC time on opening night, even though it was still near 100° at midnight!
Check out our guide for all things HHN…that is, if you dare:
Unlock the Secrets of Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights 2024: Your Ultimate Guide
Knott’s Scary Farm
The annual Knott’s Halloween Haunt runs from Sept. 19 to Nov. 2, offering 31 nights of scares for its 51st season. This year’s event features 5 scare zones, 2 new mazes (10 total), new and returning shows, epic merchandise, and frightful food offerings.
Read our full guide to Knott’s Scary Farm here:
Six Flags Fright Fest
Magic Mountain is celebrating the spooky season with Six Flags Fright Fest Extreme, which runs on select Thursdays through Sundays from Sept. 7 through Nov. 3. Featuring 6 new mazes, 11 haunted houses, and 9 scare zones, it’s a noteworthy spooky season destination. They’ve really stepped things up this year, take a look.
For the full rundown on Halloween at Magic Mountain, check out our recent article:
Fright Fest 2024: SoCal’s Biggest Haunt Unleashes Horror Icons
Constructionland: Disneyland Will Never Be Complete
… at least at this pace. Let’s see what’s happening this week.
Haunted Mansion
Work on the new Haunted Mansion queue is progressing as walls are being completed, and more of the decorative and mood-setting items are being installed. Over the last couple of weeks we’ve shown you the progress of the decorative wrought iron fencing and gates.
Work on Madame Leota’s shop has also been moving along since last week and, at this point, we can actually see the new structure taking shape.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure has been running – and sometimes even with people on board (though not guests). It appears most of the work left to complete is external. And this week, we noticed the walls around the turn at the end of the big drop have been removed, which is a great sign.
Lights are also being strung up where we had hoped to see some shade.
Disneyland Railroad
The Disneyland Railroad has been down for several weeks. While there’s no exact reopening date yet, we’ve been told a large portion of the track is being replaced between Toontown and the Main Street Station.
On the Rivers of America, we can see scrims covering parts of the bridges built during Galaxy’s Edge’s construction.
Disneyland Esplanade
In the Esplanade between the parks, work continues on the brick walkway in front of the Disneyland main entrance. This area has been a work in progress for the last several weeks. Trees in the construction zones have been replanted.
Disneyland Hotel Security Gate
The Downtown Disney gate directly across from the Disneyland Hotel has reopened.
This new gate is much simpler than the more stylish entrance on the South side of Din Tai Fung. It feels temporary and will be something cheap and easy to replace when necessary.
Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar
Currently Under Refurbishment
- Splash Mountain – Conversion to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: May 31, 2023 – Nov. 15, 2024
- The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln (adding “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” show: April 16, 2024 – 2025)
- The Briar Patch (Remodel to Ray’s Berets): May 1 – TBA
- Hungry Bear Restaurant (Remodel to Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree): July 8 -TBA
- Critter Country Fruit Cart: July 8 – TBA
- Disneyland Railroad: Aug. 5 – TBA
- Disneyland Monorail: Aug. 12 – Sept. 12th
Upcoming Refurbishments
- Indiana Jones Adventure: Sept. 9 – 13
- World of Color – One: Sept. 9 – TBA
- Jungle Cruise: Sept. 16 – Oct. 3
- it’s a small world (holiday overlay installation): Sept. 16 – Nov. 14; Jan. 2 – Spring 2025
- Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island: Sept. 16 – 18
- Sailing Ship Columbia: Sept. 23 – 26
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant: Oct. 1
Read more about the Jungle Cruise and Small World refurbishments here:
This & That
WAIT… There’s more! Hang on for some fun news bites and also some gorgeous photos…
Mirabel’s Sisters Arrive in El Zocalo Park
Disneyland guests are now able to meet even more members of the Magical Madrigal Family from “Encanto” for a limited time at El Zocalo Park in Frontierland.
Mirabel’s super-strong sister Luisa arrived in Disneyland on Sept. 1, and the third sister Isabela brought her flower power to the park on Sept. 3.
As we mentioned, Luisa and Isabel were not meeting guests on Friday (most likely because of the heat), so check the Disneyland app for their appearance times.
Mickey’s Autumn Adventures Debuts at Storyteller’s Cafe
Storyteller’s new breakfast and brunch, Mickey’s Autumn Adventures, kicked off at the Grand Californian on Sept. 3 and runs through Nov. 18.
The dining room has been decked out in seasonal decor and Mickey and Friends are sporting festive fall attire – and although the weather isn’t participating yet, their outfits will be perfect when temps cool down.
We haven’t had a chance to check it out yet, if you have please share your thoughts below.
Dia De Los Muertos Ofrendas
There have been some new additions to the Dia De Los Muertos display in Frontierland. A close inspection will show some small ofrendas honoring the pets of Disneyland cast members. It’s a sweet gesture that we really appreciate.
A Better Oogie Boogie
It appears that the back of the large Oogie Boogie display on top of the DCA entrance has been cleaned (well, they cleaned as high as the mop on a stick could reach). At least there are no more smiley faces drawn in the dust. Such a shame that they didn’t clean it BEFORE they installed it.
Batuu Seating
Though most guests probably didn’t notice, tables and seating in the Batuu marketplace across from Ronto Roasters have changed from metal to a wooden look. This makes at least the third change to the seating here since the land opened.
New Novelties We Noticed
Novelty items, like popcorn buckets and sippers, are popular among Disneyana collectors and a bunch of new ones have arrived at (or are on their way to) the Disneyland Resort.
Available Now:
The Tomorrowland Skyline Terrace has switched their menu from hot packaged meals to chilled ones. And rather than offering several entrees to choose from, there’s just one. The dining package now comes with a new two-tiered souvenir bento box and still offers the same access to the Terrace for fireworks viewing and lounging from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The $89 per person price tag seems pretty steep (and it is!), but the World of Color Dessert Party costs the same amount and offers less food (although that one includes alcohol).
For those interested, the dinner consists of the following:
- Cold Charcuterie-style Sandwich
- Waldorf Salad
- Pimento Cheese and Crackers
- Seasonal Fruit
- Seasonal Desserts and Chocolate
- Unlimited soft drinks, bottled water coffee, hot tea or hot chocolate
- Specialty-themed nonalcoholic beverage
Does that sound like a $90 meal to you? You do get a strange sideways view of the fireworks (but the projections are not visible from this location).
Reservations to partake in the Tomorrowland Skyline Terrace’s new menu are in effect and available now.
Next, let’s hop over to the Carthay Circle Lounge in Disney California Adventure, where their Spooky Tree Flight returned for this Halloween Time as a second edition. The Snow White-inspired novelty item includes three poison apple cups and a spooky tree to hold them.
For $89, the Carthay Circle Spooky Tree Flight is served with a Halloween Apple-tini, made of Crown Royal Regal Apple Flavored Whiskey, Apple Pucker Schnapps, and cranberry juice.
Since this item is exclusive to a highly sought-after restaurant, reservations are recommended.
Coming Soon:
Starting on Sept. 12, two novelties will make their way to the Disneyland Resort: a Vampire Stitch bucket and a Halloween Alien sipper. The Stitch bucket has its opening at the alien’s toothy grin rather than a latch on his back or a lid on the top. And the wings on the Alien sipper’s Buzz Lightyear Halloween costume pop out with the push of a button.
A popcorn bucket modeled after Scary Teddy from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” was released last week at Walt Disney World, where it is sold exclusively during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, but the bucket is also coming to the Disneyland Resort at a not-yet-announced date.
Just like the Vampire Stitch bucket, the popcorn is stored in Scary Teddy’s stomach, which is accessed by opening up his mouth and sticking your hand down his throat. The toothy guy features jointed legs, glow-in-the-dark teeth and eyes, and a flowing cape on his back.
At Walt Disney World, the Scary Teddy Premium Popcorn Bucket cost $26 dollars and included an order of popcorn with the purchase. The price at Disneyland is still unknown.
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MiceShots
That was a lot to cover! Now, we can shift our focus to enjoying our favorite photos from this week at the resort – and although it was super hot this weekend, many characters still greeted guests.
Reader Photo Submissions
Check out these great photos from some of our readers. If you’d like to see more photos like this, be sure to check out our MiceShots Facebook group.
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Let’s Hear From You!
We’ve had an incredibly hot start to the Halloween season! Have you braved the parks during the scorching temperatures, or are you waiting for cooler days to enjoy the festivities? And what’s your favorite way to beat the heat while still having fun at Disneyland? Is there a construction project that’s captured your attention? Share your thoughts, tips, and experiences in the comments below!
And don’t miss our updated Disneyland Halloween Merchandise guide… that has bewitched our wallets…
UPDATED! Disneyland Halloween 2024 Merchandise Puts a Spell… On Our Wallets!
And don’t miss this tribute to DCA’s Cars Land as we hit the road to compare Radiator Springs to actual locations on Route 66:
Get Your Kicks on Route 66: From the Original Real Mother Road to Disney’s Cars Land
My deepest thanks to today’s Update crew: Christy Weinberg, Samantha Davis Friedman, and Natalie Kipper. Thank you ladies!