Summer is heating up… and not just the temperature. Despite $200+ tickets and blocked-out Magic Keys, the holiday weekend saw Disneyland Resort packed to the gills. Over in Fantasyland, Mr. Toad’s got more than a wild ride — a falling roof tile injured a guest and prompted a patchwork fix that’s… not exactly show-ready. Meanwhile, Avengers Campus quietly clears ground for its next big thing (eventually), Pixie Hollow’s long-delayed project limps toward its maybe-hopefully reopening, and Stitch gears up for his big 626 Day takeover. Oh — and if the heat doesn’t drive you to drink, Trader Sam’s $179 mixology class might. Buckle up, folks… it’s time for your weekly dose of Disney news, rumors, and head-scratchers.
Dusty, Mike, and Samantha bring you the latest…
Back in Busy-ness
The crowd levels on Thursday were high, mostly due to many people having the day off (or even a four-day weekend) for the Juneteenth holiday. And this was with the two lowest tier Magic Keys blocked out and prices in the $200 a day range for one day tickets. Park reservations help keep the situation from getting even more packed, but we wouldn’t want to see the park more crowded than this…
At noon on Thursday, the lines for Disneyland and California Adventure met at the 70th anniversary sculpture in the Esplanade and cars backed up onto the freeway near park opening.
Not only were the queues extra long, but the app showed 95-minute wait times for Guardians, Radiator Springs, and Soarin’, plus 70 minutes for Grizzly River Run. It’s going to be rough when Disney shuts Monsters Inc down to build Avatar Land. The park just doesn’t have enough capacity for a people-eating ride to disappear… especially with NO BIG SHOW in the Hyperion Theater. Time for someone at Disney to risk their career to state the obvious… MAJOR THEATERS SHOULD NOT SIT EMPTY FOR YEARS WHEN GUESTS ARE PAYING $200 A DAY!!!
Disneyland felt just as busy as DCA, but lines rarely get as long because Disneyland is loaded with attractions… which helps spread the crowds out.
Mr. Toad’s Wild Roof
Last week we reported on a guest injury in the queue of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride after a slate roof tile came loose and struck a visitor. This week, the aftermath is clearly visible — and it’s not exactly reassuring.
Maintenance teams have stripped dozens of slate tiles from both sides of the ride’s entry, presumably removing anything they suspect might be unstable. But rather than fully address the problem, they’ve installed a quick wooden guardrail along the roofline — a makeshift catcher that resembles a gutter but isn’t. If another tile slips, the hope seems to be that this temporary fix will catch it before gravity allows it to hit another guest.
Let’s be blunt: this is a patch, not a solution. At some point, this entire roof is going to need a proper rebuild to meet both safety standards and Disneyland’s usual show expectations.
Avengers Campus: Phase 2
Last Monday, we talked about the upcoming Coco and Avatar additions to California Adventure, but what about the Avengers Campus Phase 2 expansion, which led to the demise of the charming Red Car Trolley back in February?
Following a long-unfulfilled promise from D23 2019 for an additional ride in the Marvel-themed land, D23 2024 brought the announcement of two new attractions:
Avengers: Infinity Defense – guests will embark on a mission through MCU locations like Asgard, Wakanda, and New York City alongside Iron Man, Ant-Man, Black Panther, and The Hulk. The mission, as is so often the case, is to defeat King Thanos.
Stark Flight Lab – Recruits will test out new flight tech being developed by Tony Stark, coming face-to-face with different MCU heroes on every ride.
So, when will these two new attractions be ready? That’s the million-dollar question.
But the beginnings of the new attractions are happening back stage. Our spy in the sky recorded this shot last week which shows the area behind the Avengers HQ building has been completely cleared and some excavation has begun as well.
Constructionland
It just wouldn’t be Disneyland without construction projects. Welcome to this week’s edition of the wonderful world of walls…
The Enchanted Tiki Room
While construction walls and scrims surround the Tiki Room, some of the projects which ere previously wrapped in the courtyard of Polynesian gods have been revealed. Everything looks freshly painted and ready for guests. But we may need to wait until the expected opening date of July 2nd… though early openings aren’t unheard of.
Pixie Hollow Progress (or Lack Thereof)
Tinker Bell and her fairy friends are supposed to return June 28th — assuming nothing else goes sideways. This long-delayed refurbishment has dragged on for nearly six months, and unfortunately, the results so far aren’t exactly reassuring.
Yes, a few familiar elements have returned: some of the fairy statues are back in place, the lagoon has been repainted (for the second time, after the first job began peeling almost immediately), and portions of the walkway have been repaired. But even those fixes raise eyebrows. The path work was finished with mismatched grout and sloppy seams — more “crime scene” than “storybook forest.” And as of Thursday, the main meet-and-greet area still hadn’t been repainted at all.
The real issue here isn’t just the slow pace — it’s the shoddy workmanship that keeps creeping back into these projects. When cost-cutting wins out over qualified contractors, you end up paying for the same work twice… or three times… while guests stare at faded scenery and blocked-off pathways. With reopening day fast approaching (again), we’ll be watching closely to see if they can pull it together in time.
DCA Winery
The extended closure of the Mendocino Terrace wine bar is finally over. Does it look the same to you? Well, it is… mostly… The project was to remove a tree that had damaged the concrete in the area. A new smaller tree has been planted… which also makes for a smaller amount of shade. Other than that, things have returned to normal here.
Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar (updated 06/20/25)
You’d think the summer season (and Disneyland’s 70th anniversary, no less) would mean everything is up and running. But with high summer prices expected to soften demand, Disney seems increasingly comfortable knocking out refurbishments now rather than waiting for the busier (and cheaper) fall and winter seasons. New this week: Casey Jr. Circus Train and Incredicoaster join the list, while Pixie Hollow’s long-delayed reopening is still (allegedly) on track for later this week.
Maybe marketing should just lean into it and call this summer “The Happiest Refurbishments on Earth.”
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 – June 28, 2025
- Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room: April 28 – July 2
- Matterhorn Bobsleds: May 5 – TBA
Upcoming Refurbishments
- Star Tours – The Adventures Continue: June 30 – TBA
- Pixar Pal-A-Round: July 14 – 24
- Main Street Cinema: July 15 & 16
- Storybook Land Canal Boats: July 21 – TBA
- Redwood Creek Challenge Trail – Villains Grove installation: July 21 – August 2025
- Casey Jr. Circus Train: July 28 – TBA
- Incredicoaster: July 28 – TBA
This & That
There’s more folks. Join us for a few more items we think you’ll want to know…
MiceChat Live at 5 From Disneyland
Dusty, Mike, and Eric head into the crowds to bring you the latest news from Disneyland. Be sure to watch this one for a description of the Mr. Toad incident, a closer look at Pixie Hollow, construction projects, news and more.
Dusty Sage & Bob Gurr: A Conversation of Coincidences
Did you know Bob Gurr has his own YouTube show? Well, he does! And it’s as amazing as he is. Bob recently invited Dusty to be his guest, and the conversation for both of them started at the very beginning of it all. We may be biased, but you won’t want to miss this one.
626 Day
June 26th is coming up fast — which means it’s almost time for everyone’s favorite little blue experiment to steal the spotlight for 626 Day. We caught up with Stitch (and a few of his fellow experiments) during Disneyland After Dark: Pride Night, but sadly, they’re not part of the regular daily lineup… even with the new Lilo & Stitch live-action movie now out.
For ways to celebrate Stitch Day (and other unofficial “IP holidays”) check out our guide:
Happy Star Wars Day! Let’s Talk About Fake Theme Park Holidays
And for a look at the Lilo and Stitch merchandise found in the parks, online, and in retail stores, don’t miss our guide:
Elio Lands at Pixar Place
A new “Elio” photo op has landed in the lobby of the Pixar Place Hotel.
In addition, The Art of Pixar Gallery in the hotel’s second-floor atrium is currently featuring drawings, paintings, and sculptures from Pixar’s newest release.
If you haven’t seen “Elio” yet, check out our review here… it may surprised you as much as it did us:
It’s Tiki Time!
The Trader Sam’s Mixology Seminar is returning on July 21, 2025. You can book this event starting June 26 (subject to availability).
Trader Sam’s Mixology Seminar includes:
- Hands-on mixology class where you’ll learn how to craft 2 beverages, one alcoholic and one nonalcoholic, from a Trader Sam’s bartender (45 minutes)
- Fireside reception with one cocktail served (nonalcoholic option available on request), hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment
- A special mug, not yet released to the public
Event Details:
- Location: Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar in the Disneyland Hotel
- Date: Monday, July 21, 2025
- Times: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 4 p.m. (you must choose a time when you book)
- Cost: $179 per adult (not including tax and gratuity; discounts do not apply)
Know Before You Go:
- All guests must be age 21 or older (valid ID required)
- Advance reservations are highly recommended and full payment is due when booking. Same-day reservations can be made on a limited basis and are subject to availability
- Check-in begins 15 minutes before the event time
- Your party may be seated at a table with other guests
- The credit card provided at booking will automatically be charged a per-person fee if you don’t show up or fail to cancel in accordance with the cancellation policy (policy details will provided when you make your reservation and in your confirmation email)
Upcoming Events
Knott’s Bear-y Tales 50th Anniversary Jam-BEAR-ee.
Come celebrate Rolly Crump’s artistic masterpiece attraction, Knott’s Bear-y Tales, with us on July 5th. Knott’s park tickets, buffet, lights-on attracton walk-through, and presentations are all included in the price. Act quick on this one folks. There were only a dozen tickets left last night! (TICKETS HERE)
Want to hear more about the event? Here’s what Bob Gurr and Dusty had to say:
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MiceShots
Now, relax for a moment and imagine you are with us in the parks. Let’s go…
The billboards in the Hyperion Theater courtyard have been updated with 1920 style graphics promoting things in DCA.
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Let’s Hear From You!
That’s the latest from Disneyland Resort this week — packed parks, falling tiles, construction zones, Stitch sightings, and an expensive drink or two. What stood out to you? Are you feeling ready for summer crowds… or more in need of Trader Sam’s mixology therapy? Drop into the comments and let us know what you’re seeing, hearing, and thinking — we love hearing from you!
And don’t forget — there are just a handful of tickets left for MiceChat’s Knott’s Bear-y Tales 50th Anniversary Jam-BEAR-ee! Don’t get left out… join us for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of Rolly Crump’s whimsical masterpiece. (Seriously folks, this one’s almost gone!)
