DISNEYLAND UPDATE: Crowd Crush, Festival Feasts & Disneyland Delays

Once upon a time, February was theme park’s best-kept secret—the so-called “secret season” nestled between the holiday chaos and spring break. But my friends, that secret is long gone. So much so that Disneyland briefly hit capacity on Thursday night. That’s a rarity in the era of park reservations, but it suggests that many parkhopping guests from DCA flocked to Disneyland in the evening. 

Between sunny SoCal weather, the three-day President’s Day weekend, and the “ski week” school break, crowds have been swelling—and so have the wait times. Now, with the DCA Food & Wine Festival underway through April 21st, it looks like the parks won’t be slowing down anytime soon.

Sadly, weekdays seem to be just as busy as weekends… sometimes even more so since prices are lower during the week! We snapped this photo of the crazy queues for security at Mickey and Friends parking structure on Thursday morning…

…and this is what the queues for security on the parking shuttle side looked like Friday afternoon.

But don’t worry, we also have plenty of non crowd-related news to share about current and upcoming projects as the parks prepare for Disneyland’s big 70th-anniversary celebration in May.

But first, get your Sip & Savor passes ready for the DCA Food & Wine Festival…

DCA Food & Wine Festival

We hit the streets of California Adventure on the first day of this year’s California Food & Wine Festival to check out all the new bites and sips.

Here are a few of our favorites:

Corn Chip Chili Pie made with Impossible Meat ($8) and Shrimp Papas Locas ($9.25) at Peppers Cali-Ente both have a little kick and lots of flavor.  

Musabi Fried Rice ($8.50) at Golden Dreams is savory and delicious. 

Birria Mac & Cheese ($9) at Mercado De Antojos is likely to be the festival favorite this year. Combining two of Disneyland’s favorite items in one dish.  

The Mini LA Street Dog ($8) and Western BBQ Burger Bao ($9.50) at LA Style. Did someone say bacon?

And, of course, the Mickey-Shaped Macaron with Snickers pieces ($8.50) at Uncork California is likely the longest running item at the festival for good reason, it’s an iconic treat. If they ever decide to remove it from the festival, it can just become a regular item at the resort bakery locations. 

We even got to see how Disney pastry chefs create this perfect dessert!

We did notice that for a festival showcasing California, there was a noticeable lack of fruits and vegetables. Plus, the festival marketplaces offered only two vegetarian items, the Corn Chip Chili Pie and Sloppy Joe Slider (both made with Impossible meat but containing cheese, so they are not vegan-friendly) and only one completely plant-based item, the Cherry Cobbler Pot de Creme.

The colorful merchandise collection for this year’s festival features a mosiac-style design with “tiles” depicting iconic Disney foods, including Dole Whip, Mickey waffles, and Mickey ice cream bars.

This year, guests who purchase a Sip & Savor Pass receive a cute picnic plate. Sip & Savor passes are $63 for 8 entitlements ($58 with Magic Key discount) or $32 for 4 entitlements (no discounts apply), and while the lines at festival marketplaces to purchase and pick up food seemed a little shorter than we’ve seen on opening days in the past, the line to purchase Sip & Savor passes at the kiosk by Carthay Circle was noticeably long.

But the biggest bummer for the festival’s opening day was that its “hot ticket” experience – the return of Soarin’ Over California – was down for much of the day. Once it finally opened, there was only one theater available, making for very long waits. But, thankfully, we were finally able to ride in the evening.

Take a look at our video below and then let us know which version of Soarin’ is your favorite. 

For our complete DCA Food & Wine coverage, check out our guide:

Eat This! Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival 2025 Guide

And read our tips for making the most of your Sip & Savor Pass:

Make the Most of Your Sip & Savor Pass at California Adventure Food & Wine Festival 2025

Season of the Force

The DCA Food & Wine Festival isn’t the only seasonal event taking place this month, the Star Wars-themed Season of the Force starts March 28 and continues through May 11, including the return of the popular Hyper Space Mountain Space Mountain overlay, plus a new projection show in Galaxy’s Edge and limited-time Star Wars-themed food, drinks, and merch.

But that’s not all…

For the first time (and long overdue, in our opinion), Luke Skywalker will make an appearance in Galaxy’s Edge for Season of the Force.

To celebrate Luke’s arrival, the new projection show, called Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga, will tell “the legendary story of the Skywalkers,” and while it will debut for Season of the Force on March 28, the show will continue after May 11.

The existing Galaxy’s Edge projection show, Fire of the Rising Moons, will still be presented alongside the new show.

Tickets are also still available for Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite on April 8, 10, 22, 24, and 29 and May 1 and 6. Tickets are $169 or $179 per person ages 3+ depending on the date.

For all the details about Season of the Force, check out our guide:

Season of the Force: Your Complete Guide to Disneyland’s Intergalactic Extravaganza

How is Disney Countering Universal?

It’s a tale as old as time. Disney builds something and then Universal builds something, and so on. But these days, it seems like Universal is working overtime with new parks in Orlando and Texas, a new year-round horror experience in Las Vegas, a new high-speed roller coaster in Hollywood, and plans for another new theme park in the UK. So what’s Disney doing in response? While it might be something major, they haven’t announced much yet. 

When DisneylandForward was approved in May 2024, then-Disneyland President Ken Potrock hinted that Frozen, Zootopia, and Tangled were all stories that may come to Anaheim. At D23 in August 2024, Josh D’Amaro announced a land themed to Avatar plus a Coco-themed boat ride, and Avengers Campus expansion – all apparently coming to California Adventure – but at this point, we haven’t seen them put their money where their mouth is. Unless you count the closure of the Red Car Trolley, which has been attributed to impending Avengers Campus construction.

So, what’s the holdup? One possibility is that some of the attractions originally intended to be shoehorned into California Adventure have been shifted into the DisneylandForward column, meaning they’ll likely be built outside the two existing parks.

We get it. Disneyland is very small compared to Walt Disney World, so adding new lands and attractions is a tricky game of Tetris, but why announce projects with great fanfare and then go radio silent? We’re going to give Disneyland the benefit of the doubt (temporarily) and hope this lull is due to Disneyland’s leadership change from Ken Potrock to Thomas Mazloum (formally head of Disney Signature Experiences, which oversees Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, National Geographic, and Disney Vacation Club).

Read our article for our “Wish List” of fixes for the new Disneyland President:

New Disneyland President: What Needs to Change Under Mazloum

But even in Orlando, Disney is only building a handful of new attractions while Universal launches a whole new park. What would you like to see Disney do or say to counter Universal’s epic momentum? 

Compare Walt Disney World’s latest projects with Universal’s…

WDW UPDATE: River Removal, Queue Shakeups & Villains Rising!

Universal’s EPIC UNIVERSE: The Ultimate Guide (Rides, Lands, & More!)

Construction Kingdom

It would be unusual if there wasn’t construction, but it seems like the work takes longer and longer (we’re looking at you Downtown Disney). Still, with spring just around the corner and (hopefully) most of the rainy days behind us, we’re hoping many construction projects will be wrapping up soon, especially with Disneyland’s 70th anniversary kicking off in a little over 2 months.

A Missing Building in NOS

For over two years, we’ve speculated about when work might begin on the New Orleans Square train station building that burned down in late December 2022, and the latest round of construction on the Disneyland Railroad provided the perfect opportunity to finally start the project.

The construction walls around the train station queue came down midway through last week, but the walls surrounding the burned-out building on the far side of the tracks remain. But, from what we can see, the building itself is now gone. The big question now is: what will take its place?

Not only have the walls come down from the train stations, but the trains have also been testing and we should see them return VERY soon. 

Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond:

The last-minute construction to install a new drain across the front of the Haunted Mansion merchandise shop is now complete, and the shop’s main entrance is once again accessible. Hopefully, this will resolve the flooding issue once and for all.

Carthay Circle Refurbishment

Scaffolding has gone up around the entire facade of Carthay Circle Restaurant. While scaffolding is normal, the heavy “I” beams under the large marquis seem a little excessive for normal work, so we’re wondering if there’s more work to be done than just a paint job.

Across the way, much of Buena Vista Street is also currently under the knife.

Downtown Disney Construction

Last week, fences went up in two separate places in Downtown Disney. On Thursday, the scrims were lifted to reveal some concrete had been replaced, but as of Saturday evening, the fences were still up. We don’t know whether the job is complete or not, but the scrims may only be up due to expected winds and weather changes this week.

Work also continues on the Monorail station, where a new updated gate system is being installed.

Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar

While a completion date has once again been listed for Pixie Hollow, we’ve fallen for that a few times already, so we’ll believe it when we see it.

Currently Under Refurbishment:

• The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln adding “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” show: April 16, 2024 – July 16, 2025
• Pixie Hollow: Sept. 16, 2024 – April 5, 2025
• Disneyland Monorail: Jan. 6 – March 6
• Grizzly River Run: Jan. 6 – March 13
• Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe: Jan. 7 – March 21
• Disneyland Railroad: Jan. 13 – March 6
• it’s a small world: Jan. 21 – Spring 2025

Upcoming Refurbishments:

• Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!: March 10 – 20
• Indiana Jones Adventure: March 17 – April 24

This & That

Wait… There’s more…

Disneyland Live at 5

Dusty, Mike and Suzanne started their weekly live video at the Disney California Food and Wine Festival this week. Then they headed across the Esplanade to see the construction and crowds at Disneyland.  

Women’s History Month at Disneyland

Disneyland is celebrating Women’s History Month, which showcases women’s contributions to history and culture, by showcasing Minnie Mouse in the flowerbed at the entrance to Disneyland Park.

It’s easy to turn the Mickey floral into Minnie… just add a bow…

All Aboard!

The fan-favorite separately ticketed Disneyland Railroad Guided Tour will return March 21, 2025. The 90-minute experience includes the opportunity to enjoy a ride aboard Disneyland Railroad’s iconic Lilly Belle, catch a glimpse of the Disneyland Park Roundhouse, and take home a special memento commemorating the experience. 

Tours are available at 8:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m., and 11:15 a.m. Tickets are $145 per person (ages 3+). Disney Visa discount applies.

New Drink at Kat Saka’s Kettle

Kat Saka is serving a new Dathomir Sprint Slush ($7.99) – Watermelon and Lemon-Lime slushy with Yogurt Popping Spheres and Strawberry Cream.

Powerline Max

A new Powerline Max popcorn bucket will debut during Disneyland After Hours: 90s Nite on March 4 and 6, 2025, but will be released at Disneyland later this spring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by MiceMerch (@micemerch)

MiceShots

This week, Mike and @SarahAnne_Imagery toured the parks together, capturing some of their favorite Disneyland Resort subjects. Let’s take a look at the parks through their lenses.

The California Food and Wine Festival is one of our favorite times of the year, and it comes just as the trees begin to bloom, the spring flowers burst into full color, and the sunsets are shockingly beautiful. 

We decided to watch the fireworks from the far side of the submarine lagoon. It makes for some stunning views. 

As the sky on Friday night turned purple, we ran to Paradise Lagoon for this shot: 

Can you guess where this photos was taken (answer in the image caption)…

It’s still hard for us to imagine Walt Disney World deciding to fill in their Rivers of America. Can we all just agree to chain ourselves to every tree on the Island if they decided to do the same here?!

---

Follow MiceChat on social: MiceChat Facebook Page, MiceChat Facebook Group, MiceChat Instagram, MiceChat Threads, MiceChat X, MiceChat YouTube

Discount Disney Tickets and Travel