DISNEYLAND UPDATE: I Do or I Don’t? Lunar Fun & Building the Future!

Welcome to the Disneyland Update, and it’s a doozy! We’ve got a ghostly new bride floating into the Haunted Mansion, Lunar New Year festivities bringing flavor and flair to California Adventure, and plenty of construction chaos keeping things interesting. From new attractions in Avengers Campus to the ongoing saga of Adventureland’s men’s room mess (seriously, how is that still not fixed?), there’s a lot to unpack. Let’s dive in!

I Do! The Haunted Mansion’s New Bride

We were up bright and early on Saturday morning to get our first look at the Haunted Mansion’s ghostly new bride, and we’re happy to report that she’s a beauty!

We love the upgraded special effects and projection technology that makes it appear like she’s floating. And we’re also delighted to see the one-eyed cat by her side. Though we can’t stop joking about her being the afterlife’s ultimate cat lady with all the new cats popping up in the queue and ride.  

Take a quick look at the revised attic scene in the Haunted Mansion: 

The additional appearances of her candelabra in the endless hallway and inside a graveyard crypt give the impression she’s searching the entire Mansion for her lost love.

Throughout the ride, the audio and lighting have been vastly improved, particularly in the Graveyard, which has enhanced ghost projections throughout. Just about everywhere you look, ghosts are rising from the grave. 

To see more of the still-murderous bride plus a full ride through video, check out our DEADicated article here:

Haunted Mansion Returns With New Bride and Ghoulish Upgrades

Outside the mansion, the cemetery on the hill has finally been completed. Once the vegetation grows in this spring, it should look incredible. 

We look forward to your thoughts in the comments below. 

Lunar New Year Celebration Begins

The annual Lunar New Year celebration kicked off on Friday at California Adventure. Disney marks the Year of the Snake with live entertainment, festival marketplaces, Mulan’s Processional, and a special World of Color pre-show called “Hurry Home.”

Lunar New Year Food & Beverages

This year’s Lunar New Year event offers 74 exclusive festival menu items – 41 of which are new.

We attended an unannounced preview of the food booths on Thursday and share some images below. Then we returned for the full event the next day. 

The food for this event is fantastic and much more consistently good than other festivals at DCA.  

But what about the entertainment? We checked that out too…

Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession features dancers, acrobats, drummers, and Mulan, Mushu, Chip, and Dale. The mini parade happens daily at 12:45 p.m., 2:30 pm. and then again at 5 p.m., and 6:45 p.m.

NOTE: This year, all shows proceed from Hollywood Land to the Pixar Gate (the show does not alternate directions as in years past).

These flower costumes are amazing. 

One of the many live entertainment options at the festival is Vocal Seoul. The acapella singing group performs at the Sonoma Terrace stage. Check the festival guide for other cultural options. 

The day ends with World of Color, but during Lunar New Year, a cute short film called “Hurry Home” shows before the main event. 

Lunar New Year Merch

The merchandise collection for the Year of the Snake features a golden snake coiled in the shape of Mickey as well as a trio of lanterns that represent Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese culture.

At the Grand Californian, the treat booth in the lobby is offering Lunar New Year goodies. 

The green Mickey-shaped snake in the Grand lobby was also created by Disney pastry chefs using 40 pounds of white chocolate, 30 pounds of fondant, 10 pounds of crisped rice cereal, and 3 pounds of marshmallows.

Year of the Snake Magic Key Button

Magic Key holders can stop by a special area under the Silly Symphony Swings at Disney California Adventure Park during the Lunar New Year celebration to pick up a special Year of the Snake button designed by artist Ann Shen. 

Buttons can be picked up from Jan. 17 though Jan. 20, 2025, from 2 to 7 p.m. (while quantities last)

And speaking of Magic Keys…

Magic Keys Unlocking

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: When and how long Disneyland Magic Keys are unlocked continues to be a mystery, but if you’ve been considering buying into the resort’s annual pass program, you’ll get another chance beginning Jan. 22, 2025, no earlier than 9 a.m. PT.

The last time Magic Keys were available was November 2024, but sales were re-locked after only 6 days, so if you want one, we recommend buying as soon as possible. After all, “He [or she] who hesitates is lost.”

For everything you need to know about Disneyland Magic Keys, check out our comprehensive guide:

Disneyland Magic Key Sales & New Perks – Everything You Need To Know

Construction Kingdom

There’s always work to be done at the Happiest Place on Earth, including at the gates, where both parks are in the process of installing the new gates and removing the old outdated turnstiles. 

ESPN Zone

Work has finally started at the former ESPN Zone building in Downtown Disney. Construction walls went up a couple of weeks ago, and scaffolding went up on Friday with the old jumbo screens removed.

Disneyland hasn’t commented on what stores may be coming here. But we’ve long heard that Loungefly/Funko has been working with Disney on a possible space. 

Dress Shop Makeover

Continuing the ongoing game of musical chairs in Downtown Disney, the new Disney Storyland Boutique is replacing the Dress Shop next to Disney Home.

We hope the new sign is temporary. It’s just a cheap printed sign with no dimensionality, so it’s likely that this isn’t the final version. Hopefully the inside of the store has more detail. 

Wonderful World of Sweets

A lighted sign has been installed at Wonderful World of Sweets (formally Marceline’s), signaling that the new whimsical confectionery will be opening very soon.

Earl of Sandwich

Now that Parkside Market is up and running (you can read our review here), construction crews have turned their attention to the new two-story Earl of Sandwich location, which will hopefully be the Earl’s final destination.

Buena Vista Street

Buena Vista Street’s facelift appears to be pretty extensive – dare we say Kardashian-level? This week the scrims were removed because of high winds, which gave us a chance to see the progress so far. All the big storefront signs have been removed, and speaker covers have been removed as well. 

Grizzly River

Grizzly River Run is getting a big makeover as well. All that rock work installed last year to conceal new pipes has already been ripped out, and workers with jackhammers were busy on Thursday demolishing the attraction’s faux granite walls. We hope this means a more elegant fix for the geysers. 

Disneyland Railroad

Riding on the wave of progress from the last refurbishment, crews are working to replace the remaining track from Tomorrowland Station to New Orleans Square. The attraction is expected to be back up and running for the park’s 70th celebration in mid-May.

Avengers Campus

Work has begun on the expansion of Avengers Campus, which will add two all-new attractions to the Marvel-themed land: Avengers: Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab.

So far, all the work is going on behind the scenes (as in behind Avengers Headquarters and Mission Breakout), but we sadly expect the Red Car Trolley to close for good on February 8th and become just a decorative element on Buena Vista Street.

You’ll find all the details about the Avengers Campus expansion (plus info about more new attractions coming to California Adventure) here:

BREAKING NEWS: New Attractions and Surprises Announced for Disneyland

Tiki Room

At the Tiki Room, the large archway sign that usually greets guests has been removed, and the footings are covered with more trash cans. It isn’t clear if this work is similar to the light posts, but we look forward to seeing the archway return. 

Disneyland Blues

New year; same sad song. The men’s bathroom in Adventureland is STILL hidden behind construction walls, A pipe burst in July of 2023, requiring the ground in front of the men’s restroom to be ripped up, including the decorative rock wall and fountain that concealed the door.

Since this is the first thing guests see as they enter the land, we’d expected Disneyland to prioritize a better fix than an ugly wooden wall… but more than a year and a half later, they’ve done nothing.

In New Orleans Square, River Belle Terrace has also seen better days. Many of the popcorn lights that line the roof are burned out. 

Refurbishment Calendar (updated 1/16/25)

Currently Under Refurbishment:

• The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln adding “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” show: April 16, 2024 – May 15, 2025
• Pixie Hollow – Sept. 16, 2024 – TBA
• Disneyland Monorail: Jan. 6 – TBA
• Grizzly River Run: Jan. 6 – March 13
• Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind: Jan. 6 – 23
• Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe: Jan. 7 – TBA
• Disneyland Railroad: Jan. 13 – Spring 2025

Upcoming Refurbishments:

• it’s a small world: Jan. 21 – Spring 2025
• Redwood Creek Challenge Trail: Feb. 17 – TBA

This & That

As the title says, we have a little of this and a little of that still to share in today’s Disneyland Update…

Live at Five

Last Thursday, Dusty, Julie, Suzanne, Mike and friends took a tour of the parks, including Lunar New Year celebration in California Adventure. Don’t miss this one, it’s loads of fun.

Fire Update & Disney’s Response

The Los Angeles-area fires may be out of the main stream news, but they’re not out. Many residents have tragically lost their homes, and many more are still displaced due to extensive damage or lack of utilities. And with Santa Ana winds expected to kick up again this week, there may be renewed danger.

Disney’s response has included a $15M donation to local disaster recovery organizations, but the company knows it can do more. Bob Iger wats the company to help with the rebuilding of Los Angeles…

Ducks Day (Jan. 24)

Anaheim Ducks Day will take place in California Adventure and Downtown Disney on Jan. 24, 2025.

Inside the park, the annual event celebrating the Anaheim Ducks hockey club will include a cavalcade, appearances by select Anaheim Ducks players, themed games, and more. Downtown Disney’s Anaheim Ducks Day Overtime fan zone will feature entertainment, activities, and photo ops.

Disney Jr. Casting Call

Remember when we told you Bluey is coming to Disneyland? Well, it looks like Disney is casting a new show for California Adventure, which is where we’re likely to see Bluey’s Anaheim debut.

Big Hero 6 Sipper

A new two-sided Big Hero Six Megabot sipper is available in California Adventure. We spotted this one at Cocina Cucamonga in San Fransokyo Square, but we also saw them at the Boudin Bread Cart outside Aunt Cass Cafe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Red Rose Taverne Folds

Red Rose Taverne in Fantasyland has introduced three new folds (available at dinner only)… which, let’s be honest, are basically flattened wraps. We’re not sure about these, they just don’t look appetizing. 

Plant-Based Veggie Fantasyland Fair Fold ($13.00) – Flour tortilla filled with cauliflower, quinoa, arugula, hash browns, cheese, and chili-lime aioli

Burger Fantasyland Fold ($14.99) – Flour tortilla filled with seasoned ground beef, hash browns, cheese, white cheese sauce, and burger sauce

Spicy Chicken Fantasyland Fair Fold ($13.99) – Flour tortilla filled with a four-chili spiced chicken patty, hash browns, cheese, white cheese sauce, and pickle aioli

Also new is a Salted Caramel Butter Cake Sundae ($8.49) topped with vanilla ice cream, salted caramel, and pretzel sticks (available at lunch and dinner).

Jolly Holiday Treats

Jolly Holiday Cafe and Bakery may be behind construction walls, but some of their sweet treats are now available at Gibson Girl and Refreshment Corner (breakfast is also being served at Refreshment Corner).

Valentine’s Day Treats

We’ve haven’t even had time to work off the calories from all the delicious holiday treats we sampled, and Valentine’s Day treats are already available at various locations around the resort. 

The Grand Californian lobby snack counter has even split its counter space between Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day.

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