Welcome to an exciting week of big news and major developments at the Disneyland Resort! From enhancements announced across all three Disneyland hotels to long-awaited openings in Downtown Disney, there’s something new at every turn. Additionally, Magic Keys are back on sale, AND we have a new Disneyland Resort President leading into Disneyland’s 70th anniversary! There’s lots to dig into, so let’s explore all the latest happenings around the Disneyland Resort!
70th Surprise – A New Disneyland Resort President
This March, Thomas Mazloum will become the new president of the Disneyland Resort. Current president Ken Potrock will transition into a new corporate role overseeing major events such as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Thomas joins Disneyland at an interesting time. While the last D23 Expo focused on expansions for Walt Disney World, Disneyland’s big expansion is still in the planning stages and could include a doubling of the resort’s capacity and revenues… and even a potential 3rd park. Designing the Disneyland of the future will happen under Thomas Mazloum’s watch.
Thomas has a long background with the Disney Company, including at Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney, which both have excellent customer service and satisfaction ratings. So, we have high hopes he can address Disneyland’s current maintenance and guest experience woes.
Dusty welcomes Thomas and lays out a wish list in the article below…
New Disneyland President: What Needs to Change Under Mazloum
What do you think folks? Is the timing of Thomas’ arrival a sign that positive change is coming in time for Disneyland’s 70th anniversary? Or do you expect more of the same from Josh D’Amaro’s team of budget-starved parks leaders?
Downtown Disney Reinvention
Wonderful World of Sweets Opens!
The former Marceline’s Confectionery reopened on January 22nd as Disney Wonderful World of Sweets in a space at least twice the size of the old Confectionery.
The whimsical candy shop offers a tempting lineup of treats like churro toffee, caramel apples, sour balls, lollipops, packaged confections and, for the first time at Disneyland, freshly made Werther’s Original Caramel popcorn!
Look closely in the animated exterior windows and you’ll find an homage to the old store and Walt’s boyhood home in Marceline.
While the look of some treats has changed, other than the popcorn, there isn’t much new.
In fact, some of the items, like the hand pies, are now gone. And don’t even get us started on all the missing favorites like fudge, caramel bars, and cupcakes. This store is huge, time for Disney to expand the lineup!
To see more of the Wonderful World of Sweets, check out our video linked below!
Storyland Boutique Opens
Disney’s Dress Shop has been replaced by the Storyland Boutique, which features cute Kawaii-inspired items. If it’s cuddly, you’ll probably find it here. But not for long. This store is designed to change themes throughout the year. So if you see something you like, snap it up before the theme shifts.
Lots of items look like they’d be right at home in a Disney store in Japan. Fun!
Earl of Sandwich Goes Vertical
The Earl of Sandwich is finally going vertical. After being shuffled around Downtown Disney several times, the popular sandwich shop will soon take over the far end of the Downtown Disney expansion.
ESPN Zone Refresh
Across from all the fresh new buildings, the former ESPN Zone is in the middle of a remodel. When it re-opens, the building will house additional new shops.
The giant screen and scoreboard have been removed from above the front door, and scaffolds are up around the facade.
More changes are still coming to Downtown Disney. For all the details about the new openings and future expansions, check out our Downtown Disney article:
Sweet Surprise! Disney Wonderful World of Sweets Opens & Downtown Disney News
Magic Keys Unlocked
All four Magic Key levels (Inspire, Believe, Enchant, Imagine) are currently available for purchase. If you’ve been looking to get an annual pass, now is the time. Magic Key sales usually close quickly and unexpectedly as each level sells out.
At the time we published, all 4 keys were still available with no wait to purchase.
Check out our dedicated Magic Keys article for more information:
Disneyland Magic Key Sales & New Perks – Everything You Need To Know
Disney Resort Hotel Additions
Disneyland is planning new and enhanced offerings and experiences at all three on-property hotels, including new concierge lounges, themed suites, and refreshed guest rooms.
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Napa Rose restaurant will be remodeled with a new interior and patio celebrating California Craftsman design. The new decor will highlight California wine and winemaking, with details like reclaimed French oak flooring and columns (a type of wood used to make wine barrels), hand-pinged artisan metals, leathers, and a chandelier inspired by California’s Mission grapevines.
The restaurant will also expand the counters where guests can watch Napa Rose chefs in action, add more seating with two new fireplaces to the outdoor patio, and introduce a new menu.
Napa Rose will temporarily close in spring 2025 and is slated to reopen in fall 2025.
A second concierge lounge, The Veranda, will showcase columns and arches inspired by the existing lobby architecture, wrought iron branching details, and hand-crafted tile murals.
This new space is slated for completion in 2026.
All Grand Californian guest rooms, including the Disney Vacation Club Villas, will soon be refreshed with new décor, bedding and more.
The Disneyland Hotel
An all-new concierge lounge called High Key Club will pay tribute to the Disneyland Hotel circa 1955 and will feature a custom soundtrack and a mid-century modern aesthetic. High Key Club will nearly double the space of the previous club-level lounge in the hotel’s Adventure Tower.
The new High Key Club lounge is expected to open this summer.
Pixar Place Hotel
Two new, two-bedroom themed premium suites are being introduced to the Pixar Place Hotel. They will be inspired by “The Incredibles” and “Coco.”
The Incredibles Suite will feature a mid-century design with a “spy-fi” twist. The suite will have a primary bedroom inspired by the Parr parents, with a connecting Edna Mode themed room (designed by Edna herself). Guests can encounter super-inspired touches and special effects including a hand-scanning prop at the entryway, a spy phone, hidden messages, and a secret door.
The Coco Suite inspired by the Rivera family hacienda, will feature Oaxacan-style architecture, terracotta tiling, Mexican artisan quilted and woven pieces, a fireplace, unique handcrafted wooden furniture, hand-painted art, and many Rivera family photos and mementos.
The new premium suites will debut this summer.
Anaheim Ducks Day
At the Downtown Disney Live stage area, the event went into overtime – there you could learn to draw Ducks mascot Wild Wing, get a sticker for doing a scavenger hunt, and meet former Ducks.
Former Ducks players took the stage in Downtown Disney!
This event is a highlight of the new year, and a fun time for the whole family.
Celebrate Soulfully
Celebrate Gospel concerts will return to the Fantasyland Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, and Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, bringing together award-winning artists and community choirs from across Southern California.
The first performance will be headlined by 6-time Grammy-nominated, 2-time Dove Award-winning singer-songwriter-musician DOE.
The second week will be headlined by Grammy Award-nominated gospel singer Melvin Crispell, III.
For a limited time, guests can also enjoy specialty dishes, including a catfish po’boy with black-eyed pea stew and hot water cornbread from Tiana’s Palace (available Jan. 31-March 2) and a fried chicken bowl at Troubadour Tavern (Fridays through Sundays, Jan. 31-Feb. 23).
Disneyland Half Marathon
The Disneyland Half Marathon weekend is Jan. 30 – Feb. 2, 2025. Runners (and walkers) will be able to make their way through Disneyland Resort and the surrounding Anaheim area during themed races of varying lengths (all races are sold out).
Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend Events:
- Heroic 5K
- Star Wars 10K
- Mickey Mouse and Friends Half Marathon
- The Dumbo Double Dare – A 19.3-mile challenge dares runners to complete both the Disneyland 10K and the Disneyland Half Marathon on pace.
Constructionland
Refurbishments are taking place all around the resort. One of the larger projects affecting guest flow is the refurbishment of the storefronts on Buena Vista Street in DCA. With the heavy wind lately, we had a chance to see the repainting progress.
Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar
Currently Under Refurbishment:
- The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln – adding “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” show to theater (April 16th, 2024-May 15th, 2025)
- Pixie Hollow: (September 16th, 2024-TBA)
- Disneyland Monorail: (January 6th-March 5th)
- Grizzly River Run: (January 6th-March 13th)
- The Little Mermaid-Ariel’s Undersea Adventure: While this attraction remains open, the outdoor queue has been under construction with an expanded queue being created.
- Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind: (January 6th-23rd)
- Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe: (January 7th-TBA)
- Disneyland Railroad: (January 13th-March 6th)
- It’s a small world: (January 21st-Spring 2025)
Upcoming Refurbishments
- Redwood Creek Challenge Trail (February 17th-TBA)
Disneyland After Dark
Sweethearts Night
Disneyland began hosting the first Disneyland After Dark event of the year, Sweethearts Night. On select nights, the park closes at 8pm for event guests to enjoy a night celebrating love.
If you’re planning on visiting on a Sweethearts Nite, be aware that the park gets very busy before the event starts and California Adventure becomes much busier after 8pm.
While Sweetheart’s Nite has a special popcorn bucket, the item is not exclusive to being sold during the event. Nearly every popcorn cart in both parks is selling the heart-shaped bucket.
Star Wars Nite
Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite returns to Disneyland Park on select nights, April 8 through May 6, 2025, featuring special entertainment and character sightings, themed snacks, unique merch, a galactic dance party zone, a light saber instructional, and the opportunity for guests to don their favorite Star Wars-inspired outfits to join the Fans of the Force Costume Cavalcade down Main Street, U.S.A.
Magic Key annual pass holders can take advantage of exclusive pre-sale opportunities:
- Jan 28 , 2025 (no earlier than 9 a.m. PT) – A select amount of pre-sale tickets available for Inspire Magic Key holders
- Jan. 29 (no earlier than 9 a.m. PT) – A select amount of pre-sale tickets available for all Magic Key holders
Tickets for the after-hours events go on sale to the public no earlier than 9 a.m. PT on Thursday, Jan. 30.
Event tickets include admission to Disneyland Park three hours before the party begins, unlimited downloads of Disney PhotoPass digital photos taken during the party, plus a commemorative credential and guide map.
Thursday Live at 5
Last Thursday, Dusty, Mike, and Suzanne and friends took a tour of the parks, starting with all the construction happening in Downtown Disney. See the Wonderful World of Sweets, Parkside Market and more…
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MiceShots
There was much to cover this week, and we have made it to the end! Let’s look at some of the more photogenic sides of the parks as we round out this week’s update.
Lunar New Year Festival runs through February
Kayla’s Cakes is selling eclairs at the Lunar New Year festival.
We’ve been slowly eating our way through the festival.
Let’s Hear From You!
That brings us to the end of a very busy week here at Disneyland. Let’s hear from you. Do any of the new Downtown Disney shops speak to you? What’s on your list of things the new resort president needs to accomplish? Don’t forget to sign up for the world-famous MiceChat Gumball Rally (February 8th).
Gumball Rally – A California Adventure Mystery!
The world’s most thrilling Disney fan event is back, and this time, it’s personal. On February 8th, the MiceChat Gumball Rally takes over Disney California Adventure for a race like no other. Your mission: form a team of 2 to 4, ride every attraction, and solve a mystery.
Every ride is a clue. Every moment counts. Can you outwit the clock and outplay the competition? Or will the case remain unsolved?
Don’t just watch the story unfold—be part of it. Visit MiceChat.com/Rally to register your team and secure your spot.
This is your chance to step into the shadows, crack the case, and prove you’re the ultimate Disney detective. The adventure of a lifetime starts here: MiceChat Gumball Rally