It’s that time of year when pumpkins pop up, holiday merch sneaks in, and Disneyland prices go up. Historically, early October is when ticket hikes arrive (think October 8-ish), with Lightning Lane likely to follow. If you’ve been on the fence about tickets or a Magic Key renewal, consider this your friendly nudge before the numbers climb.
While the accountants sharpen their pencils, our cameras were busy. Our Spy in the Sky flew over Disney California Adventure to check on the massive new Avengers Campus show building. The steel is rising, the box is closing, and the scale is… substantial. Inside Disneyland, Tomorrowland’s “entry of the future” remains stuck in the past (green box and all), while Downtown Disney shuffles forward with windows, framing, and fresh gatework.
We’ll also look at festive character dining now booking up for spooky season and beyond, new English signage creeping into Batuu, a few “act fast” refurb notes, and a handful of small updates you’ll want on your radar. All that, plus MiceShots to wrap it up in seasonal style.
But First…
During the day, guests will hear “When Will My Life Begin?” playing from the tower, but at dusk, the song will change to “I See the Light,” from the scene where Rapunzel and Flynn watch the glowing lanterns drift into the night sky.
And now back to our regularly scheduled Monday update…
It’s A Great Big Beautiful 70th-Anniversary Year
For months, we’ve been sharing details about Disneyland’s 70th-anniversary celebration, which kicked off in May and will continue through Summer 2026, but did you know that The Mickey Mouse Club television show debuted the same year Disneyland opened?
Formatted like many classic variety show’s of the 50s, The Mickey Mouse Club premiered on October 3, 1955, featuring a troupe of kid performers called Mouseketeers. Along with song and dance numbers performed by the young cast, the show featured animated cartoon shorts and live-action serials like “Spin and Marty” starring popular child actor Tim Considine and “Adventures in Dairyland” featuring Mouseketeer (and Disney Legend) Annette Funicello.
A new retro-style merch collection commemorates the Mickey Mouse Club anniversary:
Mickey Mouse Club: 70 Years of Mouseketeers, Memories & a Circus Too!
Also celebrating its 70th-anniversary this year is the iconic Disneyland Hotel, which first opened its doors on Oct. 5, 1955, nearly three months after the July 17, 1955, grand opening of the theme park.
What Goes Up Will Go Up Again
Disneyland ticket prices traditionally go up in early October, which, if history repeats itself, would make October 8th (plus or minus a few days) the most likely time to expect an increase. It’s also likely Lightning Lane pricing will see a jump as well.
Bottom Line: If you’ve been debating about whether or not to buy park tickets, now’s the time to do it before the price hikes kick in.
And, lucky for you, MiceChat’s ticket partners at Get Away Today are running a sale on Disneyland tickets, giving adults tickets at the kids’ price.
3-Day and longer Disneyland and Walt Disney World Tickets will be on sale at the kids price through October 8, 2025. Lock the low rate in now before prices go up again: Get Away Today Disney Park Tickets – HERE (You can even use them next year)
And what about Magic Keys? They also went up in price on October 9th, 2024. So, if it’s time for you to renew, you might want to do that ASAP.
Two Magic Keys are currently on sale – the Enchant Key for $974 and the Imagine Key (SoCal residents only) for $599 – but, as always, Magic Key sales can stop at any time without notice, so if you’re considering making a purchase, act fast. At this time Inspire Key and Believe Key annual passes are available for renewal only.
If you’re not sure which Magic Key is right for you, check out our guide here:
Some Disneyland Magic Keys Are Unlocking Again – Everything You Need To Know
Festive Character Dining
Storytellers Cafe at the Grand Californian has plenty of opportunities to share a meal with your favorite Disney characters from Halloween through the holiday season. And the best part is, that you don’t have to be a hotel guests to celebrate the holidays with Mickey and his pals.
Clarabelle’s Enchanted Halloween Dinner (Now through Oct. 31).
Join Clarabelle Cow and her pals wearing Halloween attire for dinner from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The menu features hand-carved meats, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, grilled salmon, grilled pork, seasonal vegetables, bread pudding, sweets and confectionaries, ice cream, and more.
Mickey’s Autumn Adventures Breakfast Buffet (Now through Nov. 16)
Breakfast is served from 7 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. The buffet features pastries and baked goods, seasonal fresh fruits and berries, Mickey waffles, Bananas Foster french toast, pork carnitas chilaquiles, hand-carved meats, custom-made omelets, and more.
Mickey’s Autumn Adventures Brunch Buffet (Now through Nov. 16)
Brunch is served from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. The buffet features Mickey waffles, macaroni and cheese, assorted flatbreads, bread pudding, pork carnitas chilaquiles, hand-carved meats, assorted salads, beignets, sweets, confectionaries, and more.
Donald’s Tales of Adventure Dinner Buffet (Nov 1 through Nov. 16)
The campfire-style barbecue buffet served from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and includes baby back spareribs, slowroasted prime rib with creamy horseradish, fried chicken, creamed corn, a variety of vegetables and salads, S’mores bread pudding, sweets, confectionaries, and more.
Thanksgiving Day Brunch and Dinner (Nov. 27, 2025)
The Thanksgiving brunch buffet is served from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.. It includes an assortment of baked goods, fresh berries and seasonal sliced fruits, Mickey waffles, made-to-order omelets, macaroni and cheese, miso-glazed salmon with butternut squash cream sauce, ancho chile pozole, a carving station featuring herb-crusted prime rib with creamy horseradish and au jus, an assortment of holiday pies, special holiday desserts, and more.
The Thanksgiving dinner buffet is served 1:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and includes popcorn shrimp with lemon aioli, lobster ravioli with tomato cream sauce, macaroni and cheese, chicken tenders and french fries, miso-glazed salmon with butternut squash cream sauce, braised beef brisket, roasted turkey with sourdough apple stuffing and cranberry sauce, a carving station featuring herb-crusted prime rib with creamy horseradish and au jus, an assortment of holiday pies, special holiday desserts, and more.
The price for Thanksgiving brunch is $69 plus tax per adult (ages 10 and older) and $39 plus tax per child (ages 3 to 9). The price for Thanksgiving dinner is $89 plus tax per adult (ages 10 and older) and $42 plus tax per child (ages 3 to 9). Prices do not include gratuities.
Daisy’s Holiday Pajama Party (Nov. 17 through Jan. 6)
Daisy invites guests to celebrate in their merriest, coziest fashion—even pajamas!
The Breakfast buffet is served from 7 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.. It includes an assortment of baked goods, fresh berries and seasonal sliced fruits, Mickey waffles with maple syrup and Chantilly cream, made-to-order omelets, pork carnitas chilaquiles, a carving station featuring grilled tri-tip steak with chimichurri and creamy horseradish, and pineapple-glazed Nueske spiral ham, an assortment of desserts, and more.
The Brunch buffet is served from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. and includes all the menu items available for breakfast, plus cinnamon bread French toast, macaroni and cheese, bread pudding, and more.
The price for Daisy’s pajama breakfast is $69 plus tax per adult (ages 10 and older) and $39 plus tax per child (ages 3 to 9). The price for Daisy’s pajama brunch is $74 plus tax per adult (ages 10 and older) and $39 plus tax per child (ages 3 to 9). Prices do not include gratuities.
Daisy’s Holiday Pajama Party will not be available on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
Mickey’s Christmas Carol Feast (Nov. 17 through Jan. 6)
Join Mickey Mouse and Scrooge McDuck to celebrate the holidays with a yuletide dinner buffet served from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., including butternut squash ravioli with brown butter and candied pepitas, macaroni and cheese, baked salmon with lemon-pistachio chimichurri, braised short rib with creamy polenta, all-spice glazed pork belly with sautéed vegetables, bread pudding, and more.
The price for Mickey’s Christmas Carol Dinner is $79 plus tax per adult (ages 10 and older) and $42 plus tax per child (ages 3 to 9). Prices do not include gratuities.
Mickey’s Christmas Carol Feast will not be available on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
For everything happening at the Merriest Place on earth this holiday season, check out our guide here:
Disneyland Construction Update
The Disneyland Resort is in a constant state of change, with many long-term projects still in progress. Let’s check on the status of some of them…
Downtown Disney
The exterior refurbishment of the LEGO store is still plodding along at a glacial pace.
New windows are going into the upcoming Lululemon.
It may not look like it, but the Earl of Sandwich is making good progress, according to some folks we know associated with the company.
The building is fully framed and enclosed. Here’s a view from the back.
Work on the bag check tents near the Disneyland Hotel is just about complete. Gates have been installed that allow the location to be completely closed off after hours.
Disneyland
There aren’t as many projects happening inside Disneyland at the moment. The Storybook Land/Casey Jr. project is starting to wrap up. We can once again see a bit of Monstro.
And, of course, there’s no progress whatsoever on the Tomorrowland entry. This work has been stalled since 2020.
Will the retro-modern entry gardens ever happen? We’d like to see ANYTHING hide the ugly green box at the entry to the land.
Disney California Adventure
The most exciting projects at the resort are in DCA, where an Avatar land, Coco ride, and new Avengers Campus attractions are all on the way. But the only construction you can actually see in progress are the two Avengers rides, which share a space behind the Avengers HQ.
And, thanks to our Spy in the Sky, we can see how large the show building is and that it is just about ready to be enclosed. We suspect the ride system may be installed before the building is entirely enclosed.
Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar
We’ve got a whole lot of TBA on the refurb calendar this week. That’s always disconcerting, as it doesn’t allow travelers much clarity when planning trips to the resort.
Currently Under Refurbishment
- Storybook Land Canal Boats: July 28 – TBA
- Casey Jr. Circus Train: July 28 – TBA
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: September 2 – TBA
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic: October 4 – 30
Upcoming Refurbishments
- it’s a small world – Holiday overlay installation: October 30 – November 13
- Redwood Creek Challenge Trail – Holiday Changeover: Nov 1 – 13th
The Ultimate Halloween Party 🎃
On Halloween night, step inside Walt Disney’s private storybook mansion in the Hollywood Hills for an evening unlike any other.
This adults-only (18+) experience is no ordinary Halloween party; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime haunted experience at Walt’s own home. Attendance is strictly limited to 30 guests.
Begin with cocktails and heavy appetizers on the back patio as dusk settles over the city. Then, in the grand living room where Hollywood royalty once gathered, enjoy an early performance by Jonathan Regier — guitarist, singer, and animation voice artist — whose spooky melodies and remarkable vocal range bring extra spooktacle to the night. 🎶👻
Meet the “Merry Murderess of the Mansion,” Julie Tremaine, the “Martha Stewart of Murder,” as she presents devilishly delicious creations from her Disney Villains Cookbook. 🍸🩸
Next, guests are escorted into Walt’s private screening room for a rare showing of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow — the Headless Horseman short film that Walt himself worked on in this very space.
By candlelight, ascend the staircase for a ghost tour of the mansion’s haunted halls, led by our Ghost Host, Dusty Sage. His chilling tales of the neighborhood’s shadowy past will keep you spellbound… and perhaps even terrified. 😱
As the witching hour approaches, return to the living room for a final spectacle — a haunting performance of Halloween jazz by Ben Bromfield and Libby Ward, joined by the bewitching burlesque pin-up DeeDee Cupcake, whose mesmerizing finale will leave you dazzled. 💋🎷✨
Guests will depart at midnight with exclusive gift bags inspired by their haunted evening.
This adults-only experience features libations, heavy appetizers, live entertainment, and eerie elegance. Costumes are encouraged — with extra magic for those inspired by the glamorous 1930s and ’40s.
🕷️ A VIP option is available for 10 guests, which includes an extra hour in the home, a tasting of the Disney family of wines, plus a special collectible signed by Disney Legend Bob Gurr.
The one-night-only event will take place on Friday, October 31st, from 8 p.m. to Midnight. You can find all the devilish details and reserve your spot HERE.
Walt Disney’s Storybook Mansion History Tours
If the Halloween happenings sound too scary, Dusty also gives daytime history tours of this historic home where Walt Disney raised his family and launched an empire. But you’ll have to act fast. Only two dates remain, and most tickets have already been spoken for. Don’t miss your opportunity to walk in Walt’s most glamorous footsteps.
- Walt Disney Storybook Mansion October Tickets – HERE
- November dates have just been added as well – HERE
This & That
Live @ 5
With Dusty busy at the Disney Mansion, Mike Kindrich headed to Disneyland on Thursday for your weekly Disneyland live at 5. Mike shares the latest Disneyland news and views with a photographer’s eye. Press play to enjoy our latest visit to Disneyland…
Walt Disney Legacy Awards
Five Disneyland cast members have been recognized with the prestigious Walt Disney Legacy Award, which only 1% of Disney cast members receive.
- Jim Campbell – Entertainment
- Steve Finley – Attractions Host, Main Street Attractions
- Carol Vincent – Merchandise Hostess, Company D
- Alondra Chavez Castaneda – Main Gate Reception
- Hank Ameen – Firefighter
How do you know if a Disneyland Cast Member has received this honor? Just look for the blue name tag! 💙
- Jim Campbell
- Steve Finley
- Carol Vincent
- Alondra Chavez Castaneda
- Hank Ameen
Napa Rose Delayed
Napa Rose at the Grand Californian Hotel is currently undergoing a major refurbishment and expansion, which was scheduled to be complete this fall, but the reopening date has now been pushed back to early 2026.
When it reopens next year, Disneyland’s fine dining restaurant will feature an updated interior and new outdoor patio.
LEGO Store News
The 60+ non-management workers at Downtown Disney’s LEGO Store (AKA “brick specialists”) are looking to join the United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW).
Disneyland Resort Cast Members are currently represented by 27 different unions across the resort, and while LEGO employees do not work directly for Disney, UFCW says they’re still covered under a December settlement that guarantees a living wage under Measure L, because the store is located in the Downtown Disney District.
“Thousands of our friends and coworkers at Disneyland are already members of a union, we just want the same rights they enjoy,” said Hunter Gulino, a LEGO Store brick specialist, in the union statement. “To us, having a union is about being treated fairly.”
New Signage in Galaxy’s Edge
Disney seems to be stepping back from the immersive storytelling (which, by the way was their main selling point for not putting Galaxy’s Edge in the existing Star Wars universe) by integrating English signage into the previously all-Aurebesh land.
While some digital signage said “Docking Bay” in the past…
The building now has a few more mentions of its name and offerings.
Jack Skellington Sipper
There’s another seasonal sipper some of you may want to add to your collection, this time featuring the one and only Pumpkin King himself.
Party With Rex
Rex is meeting guests at Pixar Pier in California Adventure in his look from the 2012 animated short “Toy Story Toons: Partysaurus Rex.”
Josh Mans The Mansion
Disney Legend (and Disneyland Cast Member wannabe) Josh Gad shared his newest role at the Haunted Mansion.
You may recall Josh’s previous gig as a Jungle Cruise skipper.
MiceShots
And now for our favorite section of the Update… the last one…
We start with a photo of the pumpkins around the Walt and Mickey statue in Disneyland’s central hub. The Adventureland pumpkin has been updated from Tarzan to a Tiki Bird.
Follow MiceChat on social: MiceChat Facebook Page, MiceChat Facebook Group, MiceChat Instagram, MiceChat Threads, MiceChat X, MiceChat YouTube
Discount Disney Tickets and Travel
🚨 DEAL ALERT: Snag the latest Disney travel deals from our partners at Get Away Today!
Check out the latest offers for Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Knott’s Berry Farm, and Disney Cruise Line, including new low hotel rates, extra days and nights for free, special perks, and limited-time opportunities…
(MiceChat works with Get Away Today to provide you with the best theme park travel deals. When you purchase from our travel partner, you not only get great rates and service, you also help support MiceChat. We sincerely thank you for your support!)
Let’s Hear From You!
Prices look ready to climb again… so what’s your move? Grabbing tickets now before the hike or waiting it out (and risking the sting)? If you’re a Magic Key holder, are you renewing early or sitting this one out?
What do you make of our Spy in the Sky shots over Avengers Campus? Excited by the sheer size or worried about another big box joining the skyline? And on the ground: are you booking the holiday character dining, or saving those Disney dollars for merch and snacks?
Tell us your strategy, your hot takes, and what you want to see Disney prioritize next. Drop us a note in the comments below.
Looking for more fun?
Don’t miss our coverage of Zootopia 2. Trailer, merchandise, and more…