The 60th anniversary of Disneyland Park is fast approaching and the clock is tick, tick, ticking down toward Summer 2015. There is currently a mad scramble to refurbish all of the major attractions so that they are firing on all cylinders come next year for the nostalgia-heavy marketing campaign for Disneyland’s big birthday. That has also resulted in a hectic and rapidly changing refurbishment schedule. Today we share what we know as of this minute to give you the heads up for your next visit to the resort, and take a look at the status of current projects.

But first . . .

A spectacular evening: champagne cocktail reception and silent auction, complete with hors d’oeuvres and the opportunity to mingle with Disney legends. You’ll then be escorted into the beautiful ballroom of the Sheraton Park Anaheim (next to the Anaheim Convention Center) where more than a dozen Disney celebrities, legends, artists and Broadway stars will be in attendance. Every dinner table will contain at least one celebrity guest, which ensures that you won’t soon forget this wonderful event.

As dinner wraps up, some of Broadway’s brightest young stars will entertain us in a remarkable cabaret-style performance of Disney songs hosted by the fabulous Michael-Leon Wooley (Louis the Alligator from Disney’s Princess and the Frog). We’ll share a touching tribute to the beloved and recently departed Diane Disney-Miller by Imagineering Legend Marty Sklar. Diane’s daughters, Joanna Miller and Jennifer Miller-Goff, will accept the very first MiceChat Ryman Legend Award on their mother’s behalf. And we’ll wrap up the evening with the opportunity to bid on some rare and fun works of art and treasures in support of the Ryman Arts Foundation.

Please note that we’ve just added a special “VIP Experience” package for up to 8 people which grants early access to the event, exclusive wine tasting and private conversation with Bob Gurr, seating at Bob Gurr’s table at dinner and a special parting gift signed by all of the evening’s stars.

This is one of those once in a lifetime opportunities that you just can’t miss, an elegant evening with Disney’s finest which also supports a charity near and dear to many in the Disney community.

Support the arts and indulge in an evening of Disney delights!  MORE INFORMATION & SIGN UP FOR THE RYMAN CHARITY GALA HERE

 

IT’S BACK!!!!! Let’s find out who can ride the most attractions at Disneyland in a single day . . . it’s the MiceChat Gumball Rally.  Click HERE for more information and to sign up for the ultimate Disney fan event! 

 

Welcome to Disneyland.  While the rest of the country is still under a thick layer of ice, Spring is well underway at the resort with colorful blossoms everywhere.

Fortusity

The work on the façade of the Fortuosity shop on Main Street was finally completed this week.  Salmon and citrus tones adorn the bricks of the building and it has never looked better.

 Club 33 Refurbishment

The work continues on the Club 33 expansion above New Orleans Square.

Sailing Ship

The beloved Sailing Ship Columbia has returned to service.  Next up is the Mark Twian which will go down from February 24th to February 28th.

Splash Mountain

Our beloved Splash Mountain is down and is anticipated to remain under refurbishment until the end of February.  The cursory scaffolds are visible on the final drop and the area around it appears to be getting the required touch-ups, paint and repairs.

At the exit, there is more work being done.  Not anywhere as substantial as the previous overhaul though.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

The refurb schedule now lists Big Thunder Mountain as down at least until March 31st.  It appears that Disney is simply kicking the football further down the field until they are certain everything is just right.  This is a major inconvenience for those traveling from out of town. But we have to remember that unexpected things happen and it is far better for Disney to get everything perfect than to force an early opening at lowered capacity.   Believe us folks, they are literally working well into the nights to get this monster functioning as expected.

 it’s a small world

The refurb schedule for it’s a small world NOW stands as follows…

Closed for refurbishment January 21, 2014 to April 9, 2014, April 21, 2014 to May 29, 2014,

Okay so, HUH?  We are almost certain that this is a computer glitch or a typo here.  But if the above schedule is accurate, it is terribly confusing.

Space Mountain

Let’s take a look at the Space Mountain clean-up project.

 

 

Captain America

Work continues on the Captain America meet and greet inside Innoventions.  The experience will open on March 7th, but AP previews will be held on March 1st.

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

The water has finally begun to recede from the lagoon at the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage.  Wooden blocks hold the parked submarines in place near the load/unload dock.

 

Alice in Wonderland

We now know that Alice is set to close March 3rd with a return date of July 3rd, 2014.  The refurbishment is supposed to finally address the “temporary” OSHA solution that was installed on the ride’s outdoor section.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye

The temple is set to have substantial maintenance performed beginning mid-March from the 18th all the way to May 8th.

Today we stop by Downtown Disney and check out the progress made at the newest Starbucks location to the property.  Large glass panes have been installed, totally transforming the location and giving it an iconic entrance.

Refurbs

Below is a listing of the currently scheduled refurbishments in Disney California Adventure.  Please note that, while accurate at the time of this posting, schedules may change.

 

• It’s Tough to be a Bug will be down from April 21st to May 8th
• Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train – March 3rd -March 6th
• The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure • March 20th – May 9th

A Dress of a Different Color

After chatting with a few sources we have finally confirmed the reasoning behind the sudden wardrobe change for the titular Dime of the popular Five and Dime show.  It seems that entertainment considered her original clothing too fancy and way out of that character’s price range.  This is supposed to be a down on her luck chanteuse who’s trying to make a buck, not a well-to-do fashion plate.

Now, while the idea of “cheapening” her wardrobe makes a bit of sense, the execution is just oddball.  She looks like a back-up singer for the Orange Bird, not a struggling vocalist in 1920’s Los Angeles. But it’s just a dress and we still LOVE this show. Would be nice for them to have a larger variety of songs they were allowed to sing, but we love them none the less.

And with that, we’ll make our parting thanks. We hope you have a wonderful weekend. If you don’t have plans on Sunday, please stop by the Disneyana Show and Sale between 10am and 5pm and say hello to us. MiceChat will have a booth.  More Info HERE.