This week marks a milestone for Disneyland fans—Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is finally making a splash on November 15th, swapping the briar patch for the bayou in a long-awaited new attraction. But that’s just the beginning! The merriest season of the year arrives as Christmastime festivities kick off the same day, filling the parks with twinkling lights, holiday treats, and festive entertainment.
Adding to the buzz, rapid progress is being made on key construction projects, including the new gardens in New Orleans Square and the expanded Haunted Mansion queue. And for savvy planners, Black Friday travel deals are here, offering big savings on theme park getaways. This update is packed with stunning photos, handy tips, and everything you need to enjoy the Merriest Place on Earth!
News From The Bayou
This is the big week… Tiana’s Bayou Adventure officially opens on Nov. 15, 2024. And while nearly every guest is going to want to ride the new attraction, note that there will be no standby queue. Instead, guests will need to make use of Disneyland’s Lightning Lane or Virtual Queue systems. But there has been a big change to the process. Unlike the Haunted Mansion and how the Bayou Adventure previews were handled, there will now be three daily opportunities to request to join a virtual queue instead of the previous 2.
Here’s what you need to know about the Bayou Virtual Queue:
- 7 a.m. – Guests must have a park reservation for Disneyland Park, but don’t need to be inside the park to attempt to book a Bayou Adventure Virtual Queue spot.
- 12 Noon – Guests inside Disney California Adventure Park with a Park Hopper ticket or inside Disneyland Park can request to join the virtual queue.
- 4 p.m. – Guests inside Disney California Adventure Park with a Park Hopper ticket or inside Disneyland Park can request to join the virtual queue
Guests with a Magic Key pass or Park Hopper ticket who start their day at California Adventure can hop to Disneyland beginning at 11 a.m. to redeem their boarding group, but the ability to visit a park is subject to the park’s capacity limitations, and a boarding group does not guarantee park admission.
Disneyland is also currently using a virtual queue for World of Color and Haunted Mansion Holiday, so guests need to enter those virtual queues one at a time, but can only enter a virtual queue for one attraction and one entertainment offering at the same time. In other words, you can attempt to ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure or Haunted Mansion Holiday, but not both at the same time.
You may be able to get quicker entry to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure by purchasing Lightning Lane Multi Pass, which provides the ability to book an arrival window or Lightning Lane Premier Pass, which allows you to ride at any time (both subject to availability). We have more info about Lightning Lane options (HERE).
Last week we finally got a look at the yellow and green Tiana’s Foods delivery truck that’s been hidden under tarps at the exit of the attraction.
Our photographer, Mike Kindrich, shared new photos of the Bayou Adventure ride from a Magic Key preview this week. Be sure to take a look:
MiceShots: Floating Through the Bayou on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Magic Keys Unlocked… For Now
Sales for new Magic Key annual passes opened once again on Nov. 6, 2024. In the past, at least one of the Magic Key types sold out (or Disney locked sales back up quickly), but this time around, all four keys – Inspire, Believe, Enchant, and Imagine – were all still available for purchase when we checked on Nov. 9, 2024.
However, if you’re considering making a purchase, act fast because you never know when the opportunity will disappear.
Here are the available Magic Key passes:
- Inspire Key – $1,749 or $130/month after a down payment of $189
- Believe Key – $1,374 or $98.75/month after a down payment of $189
- Enchant Key – $974 or $65.42/month after a down payment of $189
- Imagine Key (California Residents Only) – $599 or $34.17/month after a down payment of $189
Read our complete guide of all things Magic Key to help you figure out which one is best for you and how much each pass recently increased in price:
LOCKED! Disneyland Magic Key Sales Paused: Everything You Need To Know
Holiday Happenings
It’s not just Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opening this week… This is also the start of the Holiday season! At this point, most of the holiday decor is up throughout the resort… including on Sleeping Beauty Castle, with icicles, garlands, and wreaths (oh my!)
Festival of Holidays Booths
In California Adventure, the Festival of the Holidays food marketplaces have been rolled into place for another season of international holiday foods.
The Festival of Holidays stage in Hollywood Land is also ready to go.
Holiday Foodie Guides
The resort’s seasonal celebration officially kicks off Nov. 15, 2024, and along with the festive decorations and entertainment comes special holiday foods and beverages as well.
This year, there seem to be more new items than ever across Disneyland, California Adventure, and Downtown Disney – including super cute novelty popcorn buckets and sippers.
Check our guide for the complete menu of holiday-themed sweet treats and savory eats:
Candy Canes Are Back!
Disneyland’s hand-made candy canes are always popular, and this year, fans can grab the minty treat on 18 days across both parks (four more days than last year).
Here’s when they’re available for purchase:
- Candy Palace & Candy Kitchen in Disneyland: Nov. 29, Dec. 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, and 24
- Trolley Treats in California Adventure: Nov. 30, Dec. 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, and 25
If you think you can just sashay up to the counter and make a purchase, think again. To buy a candy cane, guests must get a wristband or sign up for a mobile waitlist (if available).
You can learn more about this iconic Disneyland holiday treat (and how to get one) in our handy dandy candy cane guide:
NEW Holiday Entertainment
Considering the loss of so much live entertainment across the resort this year, we are very happy to see that three new experiences are joining the holiday lineup.
“Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season” – Sing along to the beloved songs from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto” in a heartfelt musical presentation.
“A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland & Miguel!” – Join Miguel from “Coco” for a nighttime show featuring bilingual performances of favorite Christmas songs.
In Disneyland, Santa and “select Disney characters” will be meeting guests at the Fantasyland Theatre for “Holiday Fun with Santa and Friends!”
The live entertainment for the 2024 Festival of Holidays at California Adventure will also offer an “expanded rotation” of performers from mariachi, jazz, and klezmer to Latin pop, fusion, reggae, and polka. But each of the groups will actually perform fewer days than in the past.
New live bands and cultural performance groups include Joy, Rangoli Rhythms, Malaya Filipino American Dance Arts, and Keali’I O Nālani & Daniel Ho.
Plus, a new “Moana 2” short called “Boat Snack” will be shown before “World of Color” at Disney California Adventure Park
Check our guide for details about new and returning holiday entertainment:
Grand Californian Gingerbread Display
Disneyland bakers are busy creating their annual gingerbread replica of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, which will feature Chip ‘n’ Dale in their PJs (as seen in Mickey’s Holiday Pajama Party Breakfast and Brunch at Storytellers Cafe).
Here’s last year’s masterpiece, and we can’t wait to see the completed 2024 version.
When complete, the massive cookie creation will stand at 7 feet tall and 12 feet wide and pastry chefs will have used more than 600 pounds of gingerbread, 600 pounds of powdered sugar, and 250 pounds of fondant. There are also 25 hidden Mickeys to be found.
From Nov. 15, 2024, through Jan. 5, 2025, the following sweet treats will be available for purchase in the Grand Californian lobby:
- Gingerbread Cookie
- Christmas Cookie
- Mickey-shaped Poinsettia Cookie
- Holiday Crisped Rice Treat
- Sweet Potato Loaf Treat
- Holiday Cinnamon Bun
- Macaron Box
- Cookie Box
- Eggnog (also available with Bailey’s Original Irish Cream Liqueur)
Holidays around the Galaxy – Life Day at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Joining the winter celebrations represented during Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort is the Wookiee holiday of Life Day, which focuses on the sentiments of joy, harmony, love, and comradery. Wookiees dress in ceremonial red robes for the occasion.
While Life Day is traditionally celebrated on the Wookiee’s home planet of Kashyyyk, you’ll also find signs of the festivities at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Right now, merchandise for Life Day 2024 is sold in the Star Wars-based land and in Tomorrowland’s Star Traders.
From November 15 through January 7, a variety of themed Life Day foods and drinks will be sold around Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge:
The Milk Stand:
Wookiee Ookiees: Pecan chocolate shortbread with salted caramel
Blue Milk with Golden Lichen paddy Frog Eggs: Blue Milk with strawberry puree lychee popping spheres
Kat Saka’s Kettle:
Life Day Cheese Branch with Kat Saka’s Secret Sauce: Croissant dough mixed with cream cheese, parmesan and cheddar, with spicy Alfredo dipping sauce
Sarjenn Snowcap: Coca-Cola and cinnamon slushy, sweet cream cheese, and Dalgona crisp
Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo:
Kashyyyk Cake: Brownie base, raspberry sauce, tiramisu, and dark chocolate mousse
Kublag Curry: Herb rice, curry-spiced shrimp, creamy chicken curry, cilantro, and feta crumbles
Oga’s Cantina:
Millaflower Toast: Cinnamon-swirl toast, whipped ricotta cream, cheesecake frosting, strawberries, lychee pearls, chocolate crumble, and matcha powder
Keshian Spiced Cream: Irish cream, white rum, spiced rum, ginger, and cinnamon syrups, topped with a chocolate spiced whipped cream
Finally, on November 17, a Life Day novelty bucket will join the menu at Kat Saka’s Kettle.
Disney Ultimate Toy Drive
The Disney Ultimate Toy Drive supporting the Marine Toys for Tots Program is already underway, and you can help.
Each holiday season, Disney VoluntEARS collect, sort, and distribute donated toys to kids in need – and this year, Mickey Mouse will be going on a never-been-done-before journey to help deliver toys.
There are two ways to donate:
- In-Person –Drop off a new, unwrapped toy at the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort, in select locations at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort, or a U.S. Disney Store location by Dec. 13, 2024. Toy collection will also take place during regular business hours at the Cotino Sales Studio in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
- Online – Visit DisneyStore.com/ToyDrive through Dec. 24, 2024.
FUN FACT: Walt Disney and his team of animators personally designed the Toys for Tots train logo that’s still used today.
Constructionland
A variety of projects are getting closer to completion. With Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opening and media attention focused on the resort for the new ride and the start of the holidays, Disneyland will try to remove as many scrims and construction walls as possible.
Train Stations
Main Street Station is getting closer to completion. Since the resort was expecting heavy winds, the printed scrims were rolled up.
The rolled-up scrim allowed us to peek at the progress. It appears to be almost completed, with only trim painting left. We expect this to be completed by the opening of the Holiday season later this week. The Candle Light Procession will look so much better with a freshly refurbished train station in the background.
New Orleans Square Gardens and Train Station
We took a trip around the Rivers of America and caught a glimpse of the nearly completed garden area between the Haunted Mansion and Tiana’s Palace. It appears that all heavy construction equipment has been cleared and only painting materials were left to clean up.
Expect the walls to come down this week and the train station to reopen. With all the returning ride capacity on the West side of the park, along with holiday crowds, the opening of this area will be a big relief.
Last week, the stage facing the garden from Tiana’s Palace was still under major construction. It’s now completed with the lights installed and turned on.
Haunted Mansion Expanded Queue & Shop
Big progress is also happening at the Haunted Mansion, where the disabled access elevator project is also wrapping up. The crypt-like building in the back is the elevator. A columned trellis extends from the entry to help shade guests.
Speaking of quick-moving construction, the shop at the exit of the Haunted Mansion is making significant progress. A lot of work was done in the three days we were there this week.
We did spot a minor deviation from the concept drawing. In the artwork, there is a planter below the window. But it appears that the space will actually hold the shop sign with lights above. There are also lanterns hanging from the eves instead of dried flowers.
Disney California Adventure Refurbishments
Over in DCA, there are two sets of construction walls up. The first one is at the Little Mermaid, and the other is a long-running project at The Cozy Cone in Cars Land.
The Cozy Cone project has been running for months. It doesn’t seem to be a simple re-paving. This project is not on the refurbishment list because the quick-serve cones remain open… thought it’s a very tight space.
The walls extend from behind the cones nearly to Avengers Campus.
Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar (updated 11/7/24)
There are no new projects on the calendar, but we’re going to see a few drop off at the end of this week, including Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (finally!) and the “it’s a small world,” which will open for the holidays.
- Splash Mountain conversion to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: May 31, 2023 – Nov. 14, 2024
- The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln adding “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” show: April 16, 2024 – 2025
- it’s a small world holiday install: Sept. 16 – Nov. 14
- Pixie Hollow: Sept. 16 – Nov. 30
- The LEGO Store: Oct. 7 – Nov. 30
- Redwood Creek Challenge Trail: Nov. 2 – 14
- The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure: Nov. 4 – 22
Upcoming Refurbishments
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: Nov. 18 – Dec. 12
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant: Nov. 19
- Storybook Land Canal Boats: Dec. 2 – 5
- Casey Jr. Circus Train: Dec. 2 – 6
- it’s a small world: Jan. 21 – Spring 2025
This & That
MiceChat Disneyland LIVE
On Thursday, Dusty and Mike were joined by Werner Weiss of Yesterland. If you missed the fun, you can watch it here. The video starts with a ride into Monstropolis:
Does Disney Provide The Best Customer Service?
The answer is yes and no. Newsweek and global data research firm Statista ranked brands that provide the best customer service based on quality of communication, professional competence, range of services, customer focus, and accessibility.
It may come as a surprise that Dollywood, a relative underdog in the theme park world, topped the Amusement Park Experiences category with a score of 93.22, followed by Disney, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, and Universal. (Do the results below seem correct to you?)
However, in the category of Cruise Operators, Disney scored 93.17, followed by Viking, Oceania, Royal Caribbean, and Princess.
The research was based on an independent survey of over 28,000 U.S. customers who have made purchases, used services, or gathered information about products or services in the past three years.
To find out what’s new for Disney Cruise Line, check out our comprehensive guide:
UPDATED! Disney Cruise News: A Whole New Kind Of Disney Ship & More
MiceDeals
Get Away Today’s Black Friday Sale Has Started!
Act fast! From now until Dec. 4, 2024, adults can get theme park tickets for Disney and Universal parks in California and Florida at kids’ prices!
See the details below or click here to take advantage of theme park savings!
$50 Disneyland Kids’ Tickets
Back in October, we told you about a Disneyland Ticket Deal for for 1-Day, 1-Park kids’ tickets (for visits between Jan. 7 and March 20, 2025).
In case you missed it, tickets for kids ages 3 through 9 are priced as low as $50 per child. Upgrades to 2-day or 3-day park tickets, Park Hopper, and Lightning Lane are also available (reservations are required and subject to availability).
Here’s all the info:
DISNEYLAND DEAL ALERT: $50 Kids Tickets & Hotel Discounts Return!
MiceShots
With the news out of the way, let’s take a look at what our photographers captured this week while they were out and about.
Radiator Springs looks beautiful on a nightly basis with all of the colorful neon. It looks even more beautiful during the holidays, with the added lighting adding to the ambiance.
The Christmas tree in DCA went up on Thursday night after the park closed. It’s amazing how something so huge can be added in just a few hours.
The Disneyland Main Entrance and Main Street look a lot (more) like Christmas.
While Christmas Tree Point was empty on our visit, we should see Disneyland’s grand tree arrive as soon as today.
While we were wandering the parks, we thought it would be a nice break to take a ride down the icy slopes of the Matterhorn.
The jolly old elf will be appearing here soon…
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Black Friday Travel Deals Are HERE!
From now until December 4, 2024, get Adults at Kids’ Prices on theme park tickets for both coasts.
California:
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Florida:
- Walt Disney World Resort: 3-Day and longer tickets
- Universal Orlando Resort: 2-Day and longer tickets
The Black Friday sale deals can even be used with get Away Today’s layaway plans – hold your vacations for just $200 down. It’s the perfect time to plan a trip over the holidays, or for 2025.
With the holidays right around the corner, consider giving the gift of unforgettable memories with a theme park vacation!
(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!)
Let’s Hear From You!
As Disneyland kicks off the holiday season with the grand opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure on November 15th, we want your thoughts:
Are you excited for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, or nostalgic for Splash Mountain? What’s at the top of your holiday must-do list this year? With virtual queues in use for both Haunted Mansion and Bayou Adventure, should Haunted Mansion return to regular standby and ditch the virtual queue? And now that Pirates of the Caribbean no longer needs to cover for the two big closures on the west side, should it continue to offer Lightning Lane or revert to its old standby mode?
Happy Bayou Christmas! Share your thoughts below!
