Rain, rain, go away… but Disneyland’s crowds certainly didn’t. Despite several rounds of wet weather over the past week, the parks remained packed, proving once again that price hikes and precipitation aren’t enough to scare off eager guests.
Meanwhile, construction walls are multiplying across the resort as Disneyland races to spruce things up ahead of its 70th-anniversary celebration. From Downtown Disney transformations to long-overdue refurbishments, there’s plenty of change in the air.
And while the Food & Wine Festival continues to draw a crowd—even with its scaled-back menu—some seasonal favorites didn’t make the cut this year. St. Patrick’s Day barely got a nod, and a beloved Easter treat has vanished altogether. But first… a (very modest) toast to St. Patrick’s Day! 🍀
Less Green For Your Dollar
For years, Disneyland rolled out the green carpet for St. Patrick’s Day as part of its larger springtime celebrations. There were shamrock-shaped cookies, green cupcakes, corned beef hash at select restaurants, and plenty of festive eats and treats. Special merchandise—like themed t-shirts and accessories—would also pop up in stores.
But this year? Not so much.
As part of the ongoing cutbacks across the resort, St. Patrick’s Day was practically an afterthought. The only green treat we could find was The Green Stuff at Red Rose Tavern. And when it came to merchandise, just a single St. Paddy’s Day t-shirt made an appearance—featuring Kermit the Frog.
However, there is one very special way to celebrate the holiday at Disneyland… if you know where to look.
Tucked away near the Indiana Jones Adventure is the home of Patrick Begorra, an actual leprechaun who has “lived” at Disneyland since before Walt even put a shovel in the ground. For St. Patrick’s Day, his tiny treehouse received a festive upgrade, complete with a rainbow and a pot of gold.
Want to know the story behind Disneyland’s hidden leprechaun? Don’t miss our article on the Little Man of Disneyland:
Candy Crushed
In another bitter budget-cutting move, Disneyland has decided not to make its beloved chocolate Easter eggs at Candy Palace this year.
For years, these hand-crafted treats were a seasonal highlight, but like so many other in-house confections, they’ve fallen victim to cost-cutting measures. The candy shops across the resort have been hit hard—Candy Palace has seen a dwindling variety of offerings, while the Food & Wine Festival continues to shrink.
With St. Patrick’s Day offerings slashed and the Candy Kitchen scaling back, it’s time for guests to make their voices heard. If you’re frustrated by rising prices and shrinking offerings—whether it’s food, entertainment, or festivals—consider stopping by City Hall to let Disneyland know.
But maybe… just maybe… there’s hope on the horizon.
Changing of the Guard
Big changes are happening at Disneyland just as the resort gears up for its 70th anniversary. Last week, Ken Potrock stepped down as Disneyland Resort President, with Thomas Mazloum taking over the role.
Mazloum brings experience from Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, Disney Vacation Club, and EPCOT—some of the company’s top-tier guest experience operations. He joins Disneyland at a crucial time, as the park struggles with service cuts, declining cast training, and program changes that have chipped away at the guest experience.
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We hope someone shares today’s update with Thomas and asks him to take a hard look at who’s making the call to slash festivals, celebrations, and beloved seasonal treats. The current strategy of stripping down menus and offerings isn’t just disappointing—it’s bad business. Guests want to spend money on unique Disneyland experiences. Instead of cutting back, why not give people more of what they love?
And here’s another request: Don’t run Disneyland like Walt Disney World. The guest demographics are entirely different. Disneyland thrives on a large base of locals who visit frequently, while Disney World caters to once-in-a-lifetime vacationers. Disneyland’s overreliance on mobile-everything, reduced cast training, and the gutting of live entertainment have taken a toll.
This is a golden opportunity for Mazloum to make some easy, high-impact changes that fans and critics will notice. Let’s hope he’s up for the challenge.
Want to know what we expect from Disneyland’s new leader? Read more HERE.
Construction Kingdom
As Disneyland gears up for its 70th celebration, all sorts of construction projects are underway to help bring some luster back to the parks, as well as some longer term projects to bring new resturants and even rides to the resort.
Downtown Disney District
ESPN Transforms
Work is underway at the long-abandoned ESPN Zone. New shops and/or restaurants are on the way. While no details have been revealed, it shouldn’t be long before we hear about what’s coming.
Earl of Sandwich
Nearby, another location for Earl of Sandwich is finally going up.
Beyond it, a new shop will soon be under construction for Nectar Bath and Body shop (not yet confirmed by Disney).
For now, Earl continues to operate out of a food truck in the ESPN Zone courtyard as well as their temporary location near Disneyland’s esplanade. We’re still awaiting the timeline for Porto’s to take over that location.
Steakhouse and BBQ
Another major set of projects are now underway in the old Tortilla Jo’s location. Pearl’s Roadside BBQ and Arthur & Sons Steakhouse will transform the old building in a dramatic way…
Grand Californian Construction Projects
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa has several refurbishment projects in the works, including new entry gates to California Adventure, updates to two full-service restaurants, a new concierge lounge, and updates to the rooms.
From March 10 through mid-May, enhanced entry gates to California Adventure Park are being installed. During this time, guests can enter the park through the Pixar Place entrance located next to the hotel.
Storytellers Cafe is currently closed for a few weeks so work can be done on the restaurant’s kitchen. During the closure, Mickey’s Tales of Adventure Breakfast Buffet and Brunch will take place in the Trillium Ballroom.
Storyteller’s will be open in time for it’s popular Easter Brunch on April 20, 2025.
Napa Rose restaurant will also temporarily close in April for refurbishment and is slated to reopen in fall 2025. During the closure, Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures will be relocated to Trillium Room.
California Adventure Projects
Carthay and Buena Vista Street refurbishments
Exterior refurbishments continue on Buena Vista Street.
Avengers Rides
We can’t see any of the construction underway for the two new Avengers Campus attractions.
But you can read more about what’s on the way here:
DISNEY PARKS ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM SXSW: Avengers, Star Wars & A Tomorrowland Tease!
Grizzly Reopening
Grizzly River Run has reopened after its seasonal refurbishment.
Disneyland
Jolly Holiday reopening March 21
There’s still a lot of work left to be done at Jolly Holiday before it reopens later this week.
The popcorn lights on the sign have been covered with plastic. It looks really cheap compared to all the other signs on Main Street.
Men’s bathrooms Adventureland
It’s hard to imagine that it can take years to rebuild a themed wall, but it has. After the decorative rock wall concealing the men’s restroom in Adventureland was destroyed due to a burst pipe, Disney erected a wooden construction wall. And that wall has remained in place ever since. While it appears that some work is finally happening, all of Disneyland was built in less time that this one wall is taking.
Wishing Well
Snow White’s wishing well has been restored just in time for the opening of the new live action version of her film on March 21st.
The well was finished just in the nick of time for Gal Gadot’s photo shoot in the iconic location:
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Pixie Hollow
Tinker Bell’s meet and greet has been undergoing a lengthy refurbishment which has been pushed back multiple times. But the areas surrounding the meet and greet are really looking good. Everything has been restored and freshly painted.
Even the water features are running again.
But the main event is still behind walls…
It’s a Big Construction Project After All
“it’s a small world” won’t reopen until April 25th.
When the attraction reopens on April 25th, it will have some enhancements, including the addition of Miguel and Dante from Coco.
But it appears that the addition of a new final stanza to the classic song may wait for Disneyland’s actual birthday on July 17th.
Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar
- The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln adding “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” show: April 16, 2024 – July 16, 2025
- Pixie Hollow: September 16, 2024 – TBA
- Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe: January 7 – March 21
- it’s a small world: January 21 – April 24, 2025
- Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!: March 10 – 20
- Indiana Jones Adventure: March 17 – April 24
This And That
Live at 5
It was quite a week at Disneyland with crowds, rain, and lots of construction. Join Dusty, Suzanne and friends as we take a walk in the park and visit the Little Man of Disneyland.
Easter Eats
Despite the recent rainy weather, spring is just about here, and starting today, you can find a modest selection of new Easter-themed eats and treats across the resort.
Red Rose Taverne in Disneyland (available Mar. 17 through May 15; mobile order available) – Spring Stuff: Shortbread cookie, red velvet cake, raspberry, and pastel-colored sprinkles
At the Disneyland Hotel: Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates Springtime Brunch (available April 3 through May 9; reservations recommended)
At Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa: Storytellers Cafe Easter Buffet (available April 20 only; advanced reservations recommended)
At Pixar Place Hotel: Great Maple Modern American Eatery (available April 1 through 20)
- Chocolate Easter Egg Pancakes: Chocolate eggs, berry whipped cream, and maple syrup
- Truffled Deviled Eggs with Parmesan lace
New Thumper Spring Bucket, includes popcorn at time of purchase (available starting March 20; limit two per person, per transaction)
- Disneyland Park: Alien Pizza Planet, Popcorn near Central Plaza, ToonTown Popcorn, Popcorn near City Hall, Popcorn near Fantasyland Theatre, Popcorn near Haunted Mansion, Popcorn near Mark Twain Riverboat, Popcorn at small world Promenade, Popcorn near Star Trader
- Disney California Adventure Park: Popcorn near Carthay Circle Restaurant, Cozy Cone Motel 5 – Popcorn Scoop, Popcorn at Grizzly Peak Airfield, Popcorn at Pixar Pier, select outdoor vending locations
Springtime treats can also be found at candy locations throughout the resort, including Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff, Candy Palace, Disney Wonderful World of Sweets, Pooh Corner, and Trolley Treats (availability TBD):
- Bunny Cereal Treat: Cereal treat dipped in white chocolate and decorated with a coconut-covered marshmallow tail and white and pink-colored white chocolate for the bunny feet
- Chick Cake Pop: Vanilla cake pop dipped in yellow-colored chocolate and decorated with orange M&M’S Milk Chocolate candy feet, marshmallow wings, dark chocolate eyes, and orange-colored beak (not available at Disney Wonderful World of Sweets)
- Pink Minnie Caramel Apple: Granny Smith apple dipped in caramel with two Minnie marshmallow ears covered in milk chocolate, pink sanding sugar dress, and white M&M’S Milk Chocolate Candies with a white polka-dotted chocolate bow
- Strawberry Shortcake Mickey Mallow: Mickey-shaped marshmallow dipped in white chocolate and rolled in crushed graham cracker and strawberry crisps (not available at Disney Wonderful World of Sweets)
Anyone else getting tired of the same old rice crispy treats, apples, and cake pops for every season?
Full Circle Moment
Costumes worn by Rachel Zegler (Snow White) and Gal Gadot (Evil Queen) in the live-action “Snow White” are on display inside the Carthay Circle restaurant in California Adventure.
The original “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (Disney’s first animated feature film) premiered at the iconic Carthay Circle Theater in Los Angeles on December 21, 1937. So it’s appropriate for the costumes to be on display here. We hear even more costumes were shipped, but haven’t been placed on display yet.
The center door has finally been reopened at World of Disney
When Downtown Disney’s biggest store reopened in 2022 with limited capacity, they had one set of doors as an entry and the doors on the opposite end of the store as an exit. The doors in the middle of the store were kept shut. This week we noticed them reopened again.
MiceShots: It’s Not Easy Being Green
There’s an interesting spring floral display at the Grand Californian.
The Mardi Gras display on the Disneyland Railroad has returned.
The seasonal firefly jar at Ray’s Berets in Critter Country has been updated for springtime.
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Let’s Hear From You!
Disneyland is heading into its 70th year with big changes on the horizon—but not all of them are for the better. With seasonal offerings disappearing, festivals shrinking, and budgets tightening, are you feeling the pinch? Or do you think the resort is making all the right moves?
What do you think of the latest cutbacks, the leadership shakeup, and all the construction happening around the parks? Let us know in the comments below!
And if you’re missing your favorite treats or traditions, we want to hear about it.
