This week brings a mix of goodbyes, hellos, and plenty of exciting updates—and that’s just the beginning! From Downtown Disney buzzing with new tenants (including a unique bath and body care boutique) to the latest construction projects and upcoming Star Wars Nite, there’s no shortage of excitement and change around the Disneyland Resort… Plus, Universal is raising the bar with an “Epic” new theme park and hotel that are sure to cause a ripple in the themed entertainment industry.
That’s Entertainment (or… Dance ‘Til You Drop)
Hot on the heels of the sad news that the Avengers Assemble show and Disney Jr. Dance Party were ending, is something to celebrate: Three new and returning shows plus a new character meet-and-greet.
Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! – Beginning May 16th
The all-new show will make its debut at the Disney Theatre in Disney California Adventure Park as Mickey and Minnie welcome guests for a fun-filled party featuring original songs, interactive fun, and appearances by plenty of Disney characters.
Pixar Pals Playtime Party – Beginning May 23rd
The family-friendly show that debuted during Pixar Fest will return to the Fantasyland Theatre in Disneyland Park. Families can dance and play while enjoying interactive games, activities, and photo locations inspired by fan-favorite Pixar films.
And if all that isn’t enough dancing for you…
Stitch’s Interplanetary Beach Party Blast – Beginning May 23rd
The fan-favorite dance party returns to Tomorrowland Terrace, where Stitch throws a space adventure filled with his favorite tunes, dance moves and surprises for all to enjoy (available most nights).
Meet Rex – Beginning June 1st
Over at Pixar Pier, the lovable dino from the Toy Story movies will make his debut to meet guests for a limited time.
Downtown Disney News
In the ongoing expansion and transformation of Downtown Disney, comes news of three new tenants moving into the district.
Lululemon
A second sports-themed shop is heading to Downtown Disney, and this time, it’s Lululemon! Known for its popular yoga and activewear, Lululemon may not be a soccer shop, but it’s definitely got you covered when it comes to stylish gear for outdoor activities.
Read all about Disney’s collaboration with Lululemon here:
Disney’s Magical 2024 Merchandise Collaborations & Our 2025 Wishlist
Bopo Go
Created by the team behind the beloved Bopomofo Café, Bopo Go! is set to bring something fresh to Downtown Disney. This new spot will serve premium boba teas made with real fruit, top-tier matcha, and no artificial ingredients. It’s a perfect opportunity to level up from that familiar green drink you might grab at Starbucks!
Nectar Life
A new bath and body care boutique is coming to Downtown Disney and will be located next to D-Lander. The shop will feature custom skincare products and whimsical soaps, all made with cruelty-free ingredients.
“At Nectar Life, our mission is clear— to spread happiness and positivity through our range of clean, safe, and effective bath and beauty essentials.”
More Downtown Disney Dining Updates
We also got a look at some new concept art for the interiors of Arthur & Sons and Pearl’s Roadside BBQ. The design appears to be somewhat similar to The Polite Pig at Disney Springs, with a modern and casual atmosphere that evokes a similar vibe to the popular Florida BBQ establishment.
For all the comings and goings at Downtown Disney, check out our guide:
Constructionland
There’s no shortage of construction buzz around the Disneyland Resort this week! From attraction refurbishments to a brand-new building rising and another slowly disappearing—brick by brick—there’s a lot happening behind those construction walls. Let’s take a stroll around the resort and check in on all the major projects. With all the changes underway, some corners of the park might be nearly unrecognizable before long!
Downtown Disney
As the Downtown Disney transformation rolls on, we’re finally seeing some exciting signs of progress! One of the standout projects is the future home of Earl of Sandwich, and it’s really starting to take shape. Just a few weeks ago, all we could see were a few lonely steel beams poking up behind the construction walls. But this past week brought some serious action—a crane has been hard at work hoisting new beams into place, while crews busily bolt and weld the structure together. Earl’s new digs are rising quickly, and it’s great to see this corner of Downtown Disney coming to life!
Just across from the Parkside Market, the former ESPN Zone building remains quiet with no visible signs of progress. However, that’s expected to change soon.
The big story in Downtown Disney this week is the start of a major demolition project: the former Tortilla Joe’s building is coming down (at least in part)! Construction walls went up a few weeks ago, and since then, Disney has been slowly adding concept art to the panels. Interestingly, some of that art suggests that parts of the original structure may remain.
According to permits filed with the City of Anaheim, the entire first and second floors are slated for demolition, with only the basement left intact and utilities capped. What exactly will be left standing is still unclear—but we won’t have to wait long to find out. Demolition tends to move fast once it’s underway.
A cutting torch is used to remove the old patio cover structure.
If you look through the second-story windows, you can see blue sky. That roof is gone!
We could feel the impact in our feet as we stood on the ground floor watching a large piece of the patio cover fall. Check out the video below.
And, by Sunday, the whole back wall was gone. You can see that the entire interior is gutted. You can also see from the photo below by our pal @Coheteboy that the restaurant sits atop a parking and facilities garage. That’s one reason why this demolition has been happening so slowly.
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Disney California Adventure
The major project in DCA remains the Carthay Circle restaurant. Walls went up around the downstairs patio last week.
Disneyland
There are quite a few projects underway inside Disneyland right now. While some are making visible progress, others remain a bit of a mystery with no noticeable changes just yet. So, let’s start with the ones where we can see some movement and take a closer look at what’s shaping up around the park.
Over in Frontierland, the exterior refurbishment of the Golden Horseshoe is coming along nicely and already starting to look a bit more refreshed. On Thursday, we spotted a couple of painters carefully touching up the large painted sign above the entrance—always a good sign (pun intended) that this Frontierland favorite is getting the attention it deserves.
The wishing well in Snow White’s Grotto had been closed off in the mornings over the last week. It appeared to be completed on Thursday afternoon with a fresh granite look.
Work continues on Indiana Jones Adventure, which is scheduled to reopen on April 25th.
Pixie Hollow seems to have hit a snag in its refurbishment. The completion date looks more like a moving target, with no new end date announced.
Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar (updated 04/03/25)
Currently Under Refurbishment
- The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln adding “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” show to theater: April 16, 2024 – July 16, 2025
- Pixie Hollow: September 16, 2024 – TBA
- it’s a small world:January 21 – April 24
- Indiana Jones Adventure: March 17 – April 24
- Redwood Creek Challenge Trail: March 24 – April 10
Upcoming Refurbishments
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant: April 22 – 23
- Matterhorn Bobsleds: April 28 – TBA
- Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room: April 28 – TBA
- Soarin’ Around the World: April 28 – May 1
- Sorcerer’s Workshop: April 28 – May 12
- Anna & Elsa’s Royal Welcome: April 28 – May 12
- Mad Tea Party: May 5 – 6
- King Arthur Carrousel: May 7 – 8
This & That
Disneyland Live at 5
On Thursday, Suzanne and I took a stroll through Disneyland and Downtown Disney to check out all the latest changes and updates. Join the fun, and be sure to leave comments on the videos so we can hear your thoughts: MiceChat Facebook and MiceChat Twitter Every Thursday at 5pm (Pacific).
A First Look at Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary Merchandise Collections
As the countdown to Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary Celebration begins, the Disney Parks Blog has unveiled the first wave of merchandise collections set to debut when the festivities kick off on May 16, 2025. The celebration will run through summer 2026, bringing with it a wide range of new items designed to capture the magic, nostalgia, and spirit of the Happiest Place on Earth.
Among the highlights is the all-new Key to Disneyland, part of the aptly named Celebration Collection. This interactive collectible allows guests to “unlock” special features across the nine themed lands of Disneyland Park. Each lock station reveals something new, and guests who complete the full tour will be rewarded with one of nine commemorative trading pins hidden inside the key itself.
Also joining the lineup is the Castle Collection, a more refined offering featuring elegant apparel, jewelry, and accessories that pay tribute to the park’s iconic castle and royal legacy.
For those who appreciate a good throwback, the Vault Collection brings nostalgic charm to the party. Inspired by vintage Disneyland designs, this series will roll out in multiple waves throughout the anniversary window.
And finally, the Walt Disney Nostalgia Collection takes a more reverent approach, celebrating the visionary behind the magic with collectibles and apparel that reflect both the man and the original spirit of Disneyland Resort.
While these collections will be available in-park, select items will also launch later this year on DisneyStore.com—perfect for those looking to bring home a piece of the celebration without booking a park reservation. Keep an eye out for official release dates and more sneak peeks in the coming months.
Two New Dessert Parties Join Disneyland’s 70th Celebration Offerings
As part of the growing list of offerings for Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary Celebration, @DisneyEats has announced that reservations will open on April 10 for two new dining experiences—both designed to enhance viewing for upcoming entertainment.
The World of Color – Happiness! Dessert Party will provide guests with a selection of sweets and snacks, along with preferred seating for the new nighttime spectacular debuting as part of the celebration. Each guest will also receive a keepsake box to take home.
Also available is the Better Together Dessert Party, tied to the daytime parade Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!. This offering features a similar spread of desserts and snacks, served in a dedicated viewing area with a keepsake box included.
Both experiences are expected to have limited availability, and reservations are recommended as soon as they become available on April 10.
Star Wars Nite News
Star Wars Nite is approaching at lightspeed… but ticket sales? Not so much. In years past, this After Dark event would sell out within hours—but over the last couple of years, demand has been noticeably slowing. With prices ranging from $169 to $179, it lands in the mid-tier for a one-day, one-park ticket—but the party itself only lasts four hours. Yes, mix-in starts three hours early, but that still only gives guests seven hours in the park.
As of this weekend, the only night that has officially sold out is the big one: May the 4th. All other dates remain available—including the first event night, which kicks off tomorrow.
Ticket sales have been so slow, signs with QR codes that link to Star Wars Nite ticket sales have been seen in some odd places.
New foods have also been added to the lineup for Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nites:
Pineapple and ube crescent sundae at The Tropical Hideaway: DOLE Whip pineapple and mango swirl topped with tapioca pearls and red fruit
Loaded Tatooine toast at Stage Door Cafe: Texas-style garlic toast topped with buffalo ranch chicken tenders and cheese sauce garnished with spicy blue and red rolled tortilla chips
Nevarro Lava Canyon bread at Edelweiss Snacks: BBQ smoked burnt ends stuffed cheesy pretzel bread (also available with creamy slaw)
Poola Blossom Delight at Kat Saka’s Kettle with strawberry cream filling
Star Wars characters scheduled to appear during the after hours event include Queen Amidala, Jawas, Anakin Skywalker, Darth Vader, Sabine Wren, and more.
Are there any characters or food that you would like to see at one of the Star Wars Nites? Be sure to let us know in the comments!
Penguin Photo Op
To celebrate the April 20 debut of National Geographic’s “Secrets of the Penguins” on Disney+ and Hulu, a cute photo op has popped up in California Adventure.
This Is Gonna Be EPIC!
This past weekend, our fearless leader, Dusty Sage, stepped foot inside the not-yet-open Universal theme park, Epic Universe—and folks, it’s a game-changer. With five immersive lands to explore, Universal isn’t just building a park, they’re throwing down the gauntlet. Think walk-around dragons, a land dedicated to classic monsters, wild new ride systems, cutting-edge tech, an absurd amount of theme, and what may be the best theme park attraction ever built. The park is stunning now… and it’s not even finished.
Dusty reports that nearly every inch of the park is richly themed, beautifully detailed, and brimming with creativity, risk-taking, and fresh ideas. It’s not just pretty—it’s ambitious, especially in its ride systems and storytelling tech. If you’re wondering whether Disney will respond with bold new experiences of their own… they’ll have to.
While Epic Universe may not directly hit Disney’s bottom line, it’s already shifting the conversation. Fans are noticing. Expectations are rising. And for guests over the age of 10, Disney’s “slow and steady” approach is starting to look a little sleepy. Walt Disney World will need more than what’s currently on the books. And as for DisneylandForward—well, it’s going to need to be a whole lot more forward if it wants to keep pace.
The theme park wars are heating up. And frankly, that’s good news for fans. If you’ve been hoping Disney would start thinking bigger, Universal may have just lit the fuse.
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Check out all of MiceChat’s exclusive coverage of the Epic Universe preview—this is just the beginning:
MiceShots
Welcome to MiceShots, where our photographers share their unique perspectives of the parks through their lenses. While we’re always keeping you up to date on the latest news, our favorite moments are when we get to share the stunning photos we’ve captured along the way. We hope you enjoy this special look at the parks as much as we do!
With another Women’s History Month now behind us, we’re ushering in a new month filled with fresh blooms and a fresh look for Tilly. After celebrating the vibrant Minnie Floral Garden, the iconic Mickey Mouse design has made its return, bringing a familiar touch of classic magic to the scene.
Did someone say giant Rice Krispie Treat!?
This past Thursday brought a special guest to the Hollywood Backlot Stage. The United States Air Force’s Max Impact performed three evening shows, featuring music for several genres.
Let’s Hear From You
We certainly covered a lot in just a few words! What do you think? Are you unimpressed with the Star Wars Nite offerings? What is more important to you? The price point or the offerings? Are you looking forward to the new shops coming to Downtown Disney? Let us know in the comments.
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Let’s Hear From You
What caught your attention this week—new shows, new shops, or new reasons to grumble about After Dark event pricing? Are you excited for Rex’s meet-and-greet or still mourning Tortilla Joe’s? And what do you think about Epic Universe potentially giving Disney some serious reasons to build more ambitiously? Share your thoughts in the comments below—we’re all ears (and maybe a few lightsabers).
