DISNEYLAND UPDATE: Fixing the Force, Festival Season & What’s Changing Now

It’s one of those weeks at Disneyland where a lot changed all at once.

The holiday decor is down, the 70th Anniversary look is back, and the parks are settling into that familiar post-holiday reset. On its own, that would have been plenty to talk about. But this week also brings genuinely big news out of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the start of Lunar New Year festivities later this week, visible movement in several construction zones, and a long list of smaller updates worth keeping an eye on.

Some of these changes are things fans have been asking for… loudly… for a long time. Others are quieter, but no less telling about where Disneyland is headed as we move deeper into the year.

As always, we want to hear what you think, especially as the parks continue to evolve in noticeable ways. Let’s take a look.

Fixing The Force: Big News From Batuu!

Longtime MiceChat readers already know where this is going… because we’ve been saying it for years.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is visually stunning, richly detailed, and packed with potential. But too often, it’s also felt oddly quiet and strangely disconnected from the Star Wars most guests actually grew up with. The strict timeline. The limited character pool. The near-total absence of iconic music. It all added up to a land that looked alive, but didn’t always feel alive.

That’s finally starting to change.

Beginning April 29, Disneyland will loosen Galaxy’s Edge’s ultra-narrow storyline and introduce several original trilogy characters into Batuu… a move that feels less like a temporary overlay and more like a long-overdue course correction.

Joining the land are:

Luke Skywalker, on the hunt for Jedi artifacts. We’ll also soon see Leia Organa and Han Solo, both appearing near the Millennium Falcon

And, perhaps most importantly, Darth Vader will join the land, accompanied by a squad of Imperial Stormtroopers… and very much in search of Luke Skywalker

These additions will expand the existing character lineup, which already includes R2-D2, Chewbacca, Rey, Ahsoka Tano, The Mandalorian, and Grogu. Importantly, Disneyland says this won’t turn Batuu into a free-for-all. Unlike Avengers Campus, where characters from wildly different timelines mingle freely, Galaxy’s Edge will still observe in-universe logic. Characters who wouldn’t realistically encounter one another won’t suddenly be sharing the same patch of pavement… but they will start sharing the same land!

It appears that Kylo Ren may be leaving Batuu. But don’t worry too much about this popular baddie, as he will be taking over Darth Vader’s duties at the Disney Visa cardholder photo op in Tomorrowland.

This big shift in the Force also opens the door to something fans have been requesting since day one: a stronger emotional connection to the land. More recognizable characters. More familiar story beats. And yes… more of the music people associate with Star Wars in the first place.

But for all the good news, Dusty summed up what’s still missing. We’re hoping this is just the beginning… and we’re very much on the same page:

 

For a land as large and elaborate as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, there’s still surprisingly little to do. Two attractions simply aren’t enough to carry a space of this scale, especially when large portions of the land are taken up by empty storefronts. It’s hard not to feel the absence of the more ambitious plans that were once discussed.

Early concepts for Galaxy’s Edge included a full dinner show and more robust entertainment offerings… neither of which ultimately made it into the finished land. Their absence is still felt today. 

What the land needs now, urgently, is streetmosphere. Roaming musicians. Live performers. Ambient storytelling. Droids moving through the space. The kind of kinetic energy that brings themed experiences to life… and exactly what Galaxy’s Edge has lacked since day one.

The good news is that this latest shift suggests Disneyland is finally willing to rethink some of the rigid choices made at launch. If that momentum continues, Galaxy’s Edge has the potential to become the immersive, bustling Star Wars land it was always meant to be. But beyond the new music and characters, there’s still work to do.

You can find all the details about Batuu’s expanded timeline here:

Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Timeline UNLOCKED at Disneyland: Characters, Music & More

And speaking of Galaxy’s Edge…

Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run now has both Single Rider and Double Rider. Similar to the Buddy Pass on the Monsters Inc. dark ride, Double Rider allows two people to ride together when they enter through the double rider queue on the left side of the attraction entrance. Expect to end up in the undesirable “Engineer” seats on the ride.  

Lunar New Year Kicks Off This Friday

The holiday season may have just wrapped up, but Disneyland doesn’t really do downtime. This Friday, January 23, Disney California Adventure rolls straight into its next seasonal event with the return of Lunar New Year, running daily through February 22, 2026.

This year celebrates the Year of the Horse, and while opening day is still a few days away, the signs of the festival are already everywhere. Booths are up, decor is going in, and based on past experience, don’t be surprised if some of the food offerings quietly soft-open a day or two early.

As always, Lunar New Year remains one of DCA’s strongest seasonal festivals. The menus tend to be more focused, the flavors more interesting, and the overall experience more relaxed than some of the park’s other food-centric events. Expect a mix of new items and returning favorites, a celebratory cavalcade, and a solid lineup of character meet-and-greets.

Garlic noodles and the popcorn chicken… what’s not to like?! 

New for this year is a Lunar New Year horse-shaped bread, available in San Fransokyo.

There’s also a new character greeting to look forward to. Red Panda Mei from Turning Red will be making appearances during the festival, adding another popular Pixar face to the Lunar New Year mix.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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If you’re planning a visit during the festival, this one is usually well worth your time, whether you’re there specifically for the food or just want to enjoy a bit of seasonal atmosphere without the intensity of the major holiday overlays.

Check out our complete guide to Lunar New Year here:

Ultimate Guide to Disney California Adventure’s Lunar New Year Celebration 2026

 

Post-Holiday Recovery

It didn’t take Disneyland long to shift gears once the holidays wrapped up. Most of the seasonal décor has already come down, and the parks are firmly back in their “regular season” look… with a few holiday leftovers still lingering here and there when we took these photos

On Main Street, U.S.A., the garlands and ornaments are gone, and Sleeping Beauty Castle has shed its winter finery. When we took photos, there was still a bit of snow clinging to the turrets, though that’s since melted away, returning the castle to its familiar, storybook look.

With the icicles gone, Walt’s castle feels like itself again. That said, it does raise an interesting question. With Magic Kingdom reportedly planning to revert Cinderella Castle closer to its original color palette, should Disneyland ever consider doing the same? (We’ll let the comments section take that one.)

Icicles and snow have melted away, revealing Walt’s castle as we know and love it. (Did you hear that Magic Kingdom’s castle will soon revert to its original colors, should Disneyland do the same?).  

Over in Disney California Adventure, seasonal décor has also been removed along Buena Vista Street, making way for a cleaner, more neutral look as the park transitions into festival season.

At the same time, 70th Anniversary elements are beginning to reappear around the resort, including at Carthay Circle, signaling that Disneyland is once again leaning into its milestone celebration after the holiday pause.

One of the biggest visual resets can be found in Cars Land. After months of Halloween and Christmas overlays, the land has finally returned to its classic look. No purple lights, no snowflakes… just Radiator Springs as it normally appears, which somehow always feels like a small relief.

Even Downtown Disney is in transition mode, with flower beds stripped back and prepped for spring planting. It’s not the most glamorous phase, but it’s a sure sign that the resort is already looking ahead to the next seasonal shift.

Magic Key Sales

All four Magic Key passes briefly returned to availability on January 13, including the new Explore Key. As usual, new pass sales are available online only.

• Inspire Key = $1,899 per year
• Believe Key = $1,474 per year
• Explore Key = $999 per year
• Imagine Key (Southern California Residents Only) = $599 per year

Monthly payment plans are available for all four Keys after a $99 initial payment.

Disney’s website continues to note that new Magic Key sales may pause overnight beginning at 10 p.m. PT, with sales resuming no earlier than 9 a.m. PT the following day. Guests in the queue can remain in line overnight as long as they stay connected and keep their browser open, or they can opt in for an email notification to return later.

That said, when we checked availability last night, there was no wait at all to purchase any of the four Magic Keys… And while the initial rush may be over…  say it with us… Magic Key sales can lock up again at any time and without notice.

So we’ll ask the question… have you purchased or renewed your Magic Key yet? And if not, is it a matter of price, blockout dates, availability, or something else entirely? We’re genuinely curious where our readers are landing on Magic Keys right now.

For a full breakdown of blockout calendars, discounts, and benefits across all four Keys, here’s our complete guide:

Disneyland Magic Keys Program Changes – Everything You Need To Know

Magic Key Extras

Magic Key holders get a few extra perks to kick off the new year, with limited-time offers running through January and February.

New Refillable Popcorn Buckets

Magic Key holders can purchase two new Magic Key popcorn buckets for $15.25 and get $2.25 refills from January 13 through February 24, 2026.

The Disney California Adventure Park 25th Anniversary bucket is available in California Adventure and the Disneyland Park 70th Celebration bucket is available in Disneyland (Limit one bucket per Magic Key holder per transaction, while supplies last).

 

• Refills only apply to Magic Key refillable popcorn buckets purchased and refilled between January 13 and February 24, 2026.
• One standard refill at a time per bucket.
• Flavored popcorn not included in this offer.
• Valid at participating popcorn carts only.

Magic Key Lunar New Year Fun

Magic Key Holders can purchase a specially priced six-coupon Sip and Savor pass (featuring one of three unique designs) as well as enjoy a semi-secluded dining area and photo opportunity during the Lunar New Year celebration. 

• Sip & Savor Pass with Commemorative Magic Key Lanyard (Sip & Savor Pass and all associated coupons expire February 22, 2026; Valid Magic Key pass and photo ID must be shown upon purchase of the Sip and Savor Pass to receive the special price and lanyard)
• Semi-Secluded Dining and Photo-Op Area located under Silly Symphony Swings
• Magic Key Festival Merchandise – Special Magic Key-branded, Lunar New Year-themed T-shirt and pin, available for purchase at Elias & Co and Festival Gifts (while supplies last). A Magic Key holder must present a valid Magic Key pass to purchase.

Magic Key holders can also pick up a special Year of the Horse Magic Key button at Silly Symphony Swings from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. from January 23-26, 2026 (Limit one per Magic Key holder, while supplies last). Magic Key holder must present a valid Magic key pass to participate and must be present at time of redemption.

California Adventure Anniversary Event

A special Magic Key holder event will celebrate 25 years of California Adventure with nostalgic photo ops meet-and-greets. As a party favor, Magic Key holders will receive a specially designed magnet set celebrating the milestone anniversary (limit one per Magic Key holder, while supplies last).

The event will take place daily in the Hyperion Theater Courtyard from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on February 5-15 (no event on February 9). Magic Key holders must join a Virtual Queue at 12 p.m. to attend on that day. You’ll receive a push notification when your boarding group is called with the designated return window for you to check in at the Hyperion Theater courtyard.

Know Before You Go:

• Limit one virtual queue entry and one keepsake per Magic Key holder.
• Magic Key holder must be present at time of virtual queue redemption and show their valid Magic Key pass to participate.
• Both a park reservation and valid admission are required for park entry. A
• Applicable Magic Key blockout dates apply.
• Virtual queues are limited and subject to availability
• Joining a virtual queue does not guarantee participation in this offering.
• Boarding groups for a virtual queue are limited, subject to availability and are not guaranteed.
• Not all boarding groups may be called to return, based on availability.

Sweethearts’ Nite Eats & Treats

The first Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite of the season kicks off January 22, and Disneyland has rolled out a slate of themed food and beverage offerings exclusive to this year’s after-hours events. There are a few returning favorites in the mix, but most of the focus this year is on new desserts and sharable items…

• New Duo of Hearts mini cakes at River Belle Terrace
• New Cupid’s Pillow dessert at Blue Bayou
• New Honeymoon Funnel Cake Fries at Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree
• New Loaded Nachos Locos at Rancho Zocalo Restaurante
• New Chocolate Heart-Shaped Beignets at Tiana’s Palace and the Mint Julep Bar
• New Berry Panna Cotta at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe
• New Strawberry Mocha Cold Brew at Jolly Holiday and Harbour Galley
• New Perfect Pairing Combo at Plaza Inn

In addition to the event-exclusive snacks, three table-service restaurants will offer special three-course Sweethearts’ Nite menus during the event:

• Blue Bayou – 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.
• Carnation Cafe – 7:05 to 10 p.m.

• River Belle Terrace – 8 to 11 p.m.

Constructionland

There’s no shortage of construction walls around the Disneyland Resort right now, and while some projects continue to inch forward quietly, others still look very much like a waiting game.

Downtown Disney

Over in Downtown Disney, work continues behind the walls at the future steakhouse and barbecue restaurant locations. Unfortunately, from the guest side of the fences, there’s still very little visible progress to report.

The Porto’s project is underway. Two ticket booths have been removed and some work is being done to prepare the old La Brea Bakery/Earl of Sandwich building for demolition. But this is one project which is sure to make an impact on guest flow at some point. The long construction wall stretches from the entry to DCA all the way to World of Disney. 

And if you’re wondering where Earl of Sandwich has gone… their new two-story establishment on the far west side of Downtown Disney is fully enclosed and moving quickly now. 

But little work seems to be going on behind the walls at the future steakhouse and barbecue restaurant in the center of Downtown Disney. This project has been stalled for months while awaiting city permits. 

Disneyland 

There isn’t a lot to see at Disneyland right now, other than holiday removals. One noticeable refurbishment is on the facade of the Tomorrowland Grill, not a flashy project. But hard to miss. The restaurant remains open. 

California Adventure

Construction activity is far more apparent in Disney California Adventure, particularly around Avengers Campus, where walls, staging areas, and heavy equipment remain a familiar sight. While progress is visible, there’s still no clear indication of how soon guests will see this project completed.

Nearby, the former FastPass distribution area for Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout is behind construction walls. We believe this will become a food service/vending location.

Over at Pixar Pier, work on Incredicoaster remains underway, with the attraction currently down for refurbishment. This appears to be more than a cosmetic touch-up, and we’ll be watching closely as its reopening approaches.

Grizzly River Run is also still offline, with visible work taking place throughout the attraction area. No return date has been announced, leaving this one firmly in “when it’s ready” territory.

Napa Rose

Finally, over at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, work continues on Napa Rose. Lights are on inside the restaurant, and nighttime views show visible activity, but Disney has yet to announce an official reopening timeline.

Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar

A couple of familiar favorites are returning just as others head behind the walls. Lamplight Lounge and the Mark Twain Riverboat are both back in operation, while Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Oga’s Cantina are set to close starting Tuesday.

New to the refurbishment list this week is Jumpin’ Jellyfish.

And in news that probably won’t surprise anyone, Jungle Cruise has once again lost its listed completion date. 

Currently Under Refurbishment

• Grizzly River Run: January 5 – TBA
• Incredicoaster: January 5 – February 5
• Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind: January 5 – 22
• Haunted Mansion (holiday overlay removal): January 12 – 22

Upcoming Refurbishments

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance: January 20 – TBA
• Oga’s Cantina: January 20 – TBA
• Jat Kaa’s Coolers: J1-KC at Resistance Clearing: January 20 – February 12
• it’s a small world (holiday overlay removal): January 26 – TBA
• Sailing Ship Columbia: January 26 – 29
• Jungle Cruise: February 17 – TBA
• Jumpin’ Jellyfish: February 23 – TBA

This & That

There’s more… here are some of the smaller items you won’t want to miss…

MiceChat Live @ 5

Mike took us on another Live @ 5 walk through Walt Disney World (actually 8pm his time), this time exploring Disney’s Hollywood Studios. These casual walkthroughs are a great snapshot of what the parks actually look and feel like on a regular day… crowds, construction, and all.

Lights Out

A number of areas around the resort are having lighting troubles, particularly noticeable in Pixar Pier. 

DTD 25

In honor of its 25th anniversary, Downtown Disney debuted a new retro-style logo. A mural of the new design is located on the ground behind the Downtown Disney stage.

A new limited-edition 25th-anniversary pin is also available at World of Disney (while supplies last).

Too Soon?

Believe it or not, there’s less than a month before Valentine’s Day, and Disney wasted no time stocking the shelves in the parks (and the virtual shelves at DisneyStore.com) with V-Day gear.

 

Pixar Day

Last Tuesday, January 13, was Pixar Day. The date (1/13) references the classroom number used by graphic design and character animation students at CalArts… A113. That number has since become one of Pixar’s most enduring Easter eggs, appearing in every Pixar film.

You can spot A113 in places like:

• Andy’s mom’s minivan license plate in Toy Story
• A camera model used by a scuba diver in Finding Nemo
• The conference room at Syndrome’s lair in The Incredibles
• Mater’s license plate in Cars
• A lecture hall in Monsters University
• The Bureau of Family Grievances door in Coco

Fun fact: Notable filmmakers who studied in classroom A113 include Pete Docter, John Lasseter, Brad Bird, and Tim Burton.

And if you missed Pixar Day, don’t worry… there are plenty more fake theme park holidays still ahead this year:

Let’s Talk About Fake Theme Park Holidays

Disneyland After Dark Ticket Tracker

Both dates are still available for Disneyland After Dark: 70 Years of Favorites on March 3 and 5.

Disney Cruise News

Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, The Disney Adventure, stopped at Port Canaveral in Florida on her way to Singapore for her maiden voyage March 10, 2026. 

Disney Adventure features several “firsts” for Disney Cruise Line, including three new Marvel-themed attractions (featuring the longest roller coaster at sea) and an all-new Broadway-style musical starring the characters of WALL-E.

Adventure will leave Florida on January 27th and head on the long journey through the Panama Canal, across the Pacific, and into Singapore, where she will home port.

Did You Know?

Each week, Dusty recaps all the biggest headlines from the Monday Disneyland Update in a quick-hit Disneyland Minute video. It’s an easy way to stay caught up if you don’t have time to read the full update… or if you just want the highlights straight from Dusty.

Be sure to subscribe to MiceChat’s YouTube channel and TikTok so you don’t miss it!

Here’s our latest video:

MiceShots

We’ll wrap things up this week with a look around the parks, capturing some of the quieter moments between all the changes. From familiar icons at sunset to small details you might otherwise walk right past, these shots are a reminder that even during weeks packed with news, Disneyland still has plenty of moments worth slowing down for.

 

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