Luigi’s Flying Tires prepares to fly away as Disneyland continues to get ready for its Diamond Celebration

It may not be even three years old, but one of Cars Land‘s three attractions will fly away forever next week to make way for a new attraction. Luigi’s Flying Tires at Disney California Adventure struggled to find an audience after guests couldn’t figure out how to properly operate the ride and now Disney hopes to fix that problem with a new attraction that will be built on top of the exiting ride facility. Meanwhile, Disneyland continues to get ready for its 60th Anniversary with big refurbishments and enhancement projects in both theme parks.

Don’t miss your weekly Disneyland Resort crowd forecast — provided by our friends at MouseAddict — in the Weekly News and Information Roundup at the end of today’s update!

We’ve got a huge update for you today, so let’s get started!

Welcome to Disneyland!

It’s been a beautiful — and warm — winter in Southern California and guests are turning out to enjoy the parks despite the many closures and refurbishments underway in both parks. In Disneyland, Town Square is celebrating Valentine’s Day…

Partners in bloom

Meanwhile, Disney California Adventure quietly celebrated its 14th anniversary on Sunday, with not much more than a Tweet or two from Disney’s official social media accounts to mark the occasion.

Tired

In Disney California Adventure’s Cars Land, one of the land’s opening-day attractions is officially closing after just two and a half years of operation. MiceChat began reporting that Luigi’s Flying Tires would be leaving early this year to make way for a new ride back in the end of September. In January, Luigi’s Flying Tires popped up on internal refurbishment schedules with a closure date in early February and then quietly disappeared, leaving fans wondering what just was going on.

Disney has now officially announced the ride will close February 16 for a replacement that will “feature a new ride system and ride vehicles.”

No word yet on if changes will affect the queue.

Now is your last chance to fly with Luigi.

Take a look at the attraction after it first opened, when it still had giant beach balls

Pandora — The World of Jewelry

In New Orleans Square, the La Masquerade d’Orleans shop across from the new Club 33 front door has reopened a Pandora jewelry shop. It’s worth noting that this is the second overhaul this shop has received since Club 33’s entrance was moved directly across from the shop. The first change was mercifully ending the shop’s run as a Disney pin trading location, instead using it to sell pricey, but in-theme French, jazz, and New Orleans-themed music, cookbooks, trinkets and women’s clothing. This new change ups the price range for this shop even more with Pandora’s even pricer Danish charm bracelets, rings and other jewelry.

Club 33’s main entrance and the new Pandora shop sit directly across from each other in New Orleans Square

The view of the Pandora shop from the Club 33 front door. Could Disney’s priorities be any more obvious here?

Inside, the shop has mostly been stripped of its New Orleans theme in favor of a high-end white cube space to showcase the jewelry.

A Mardi Gras-themed mannequin head with projection effects is the shop’s new centerpiece, behind the main counter.

New lighting fixtures

Tile mosaics in the doorways

A look at the shop before:

And now:

Before:

Now… What a big difference.

Getting Ready…

The parks continue to get ready for the big 60th Anniversary before it kicks off in late-May.

Full Steam Ahead
The Disneyland Railroad’s closure continues, mostly to accommodate the “it’s a small world” facade refurbishment.

But the closure means the New Orleans Square station can get some TLC

Shine Bright Like A Diamond
Sleeping Beauty Castle remains behind tarps as it gets a top-to-bottom refurbishment before getting its big 60th Anniversary overlay.

Last week the basic beige tarps were covered with a scrim featuring Disney Legend Herb Ryman’s iconic concept drawing of Sleeping Beauty Castle.

What a great, nostalgic touch!

Snow White Grotto reopened last week, but still looks like its in the process of getting some work done. The waterfall is off and landscaping and rock work need some work.

The backside of the Castle just has a photo-style image

Fixing Up Fantasyland
In Fantasyland, Peter Pan’s Flight is now closed for a refurbishment and enhancements, similar to Alice in Wonderland’s recent overhaul. This should be an exciting project.

Meanwhile, the Matterhorn is still closed for refurbishment and enhancements, with rumors suggesting a big upgrade for the Abominable Snowman and ice caverns.

And in the back of Fantasyland, “it’s a small world” has reopened after the removal of its holiday overlay but its facade is still covered for refurbishment.

Hibernating…
On the other side of the park, Critter Country remains closed for refurbishment…

Hungry Bear Restaurant getting some work done

Recalibrating…
In Tomorrowland, the Magic Eye Theater still has its Big Hero 6 signage and the Starcade is still closed.

This signage needs to come down

Meanwhile, the Innoventions Dream Home closed this weekend — could the rumored exhibit for Disneyland’s 60th be on its way?

(January 2015 file photo)

Flatlined
In Disney California Adventure, Condor Flats continues to fade into Yesterland as work continues in transforming the land into the new Grizzly Peak Airfield.

Fewer trees in the area…

Bye bye rocks…

Views from the Monorail

Workers could be spotted on the back of the Soarin’ Over California on Saturday

Cafe Closure
On Pacific Wharf, the cafe has reopened after its brief refurbishment.

Work of Color
In Paradise Bay, work continues on the World of Color platform for the new “World of Color: Celebrate!” show, coming for Disneyland’s 60th.

Scaffolding up along the shoreline…

Dry Run
In Grizzly Peak, Grizzly River Run is still closed for refurbishment…

We spotted this new-to-us Grizzly River Run merchandise in the gift shop

Nearby, the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail’s refurbishment continues. Note its entry arch has been removed.

Hotel Happenings
Storytellers Cafe at the Grand Californian Hotel has reopened after a quick refurbishment

And work was wrapping up on the Disneyland Hotel’s Monorail water slide pool over the weekend, with Monorail Blue now Monorail Yellow

Meanwhile, work continues on the new fall safety changes at the Disneyland Hotel…

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Weekly News & Information Round-Up
Weekly Theme Park Hours February 9-15, 2015
[B]Disneyland Park[/B]	[B]California Adventure[/B]
Monday: 9 am – 9 pm Tue.-Wed.: 10 am – 8 pm Thursday: 10 am – 9 am Fri.-Sun.: 8 am – 12 am	Monday: 9 am – 8 pm Tue.-Thu: 10 am – 8 pm Fri.-Sun.: 8 am – 10 pm
[CENTER]For a complete listing of theme park hours, visit the Disneyland.com Theme Park Calendar[/CENTER]
[center]Closure and Refurbishment Schedule[/center]
[b][center]Disneyland Park[/center][/b]
Matterhorn Bobsleds: Closed for refurbishment, reopens May 16. Snow White Grotto and Wishing Well: Closed for refurbishment. Reopens May 1. Critter Country, including Splash Mountain: All Critter Country attractions, stores and restaurants are closed for refurbishment and will reopen April 3, 2015. Sleeping Beauty Castle: Castle will be closed for refurbishments and installation of 60th Anniversary overlay. The Enchanted Chamber gift shop and Walk-Through attraction are scheduled to reopen March 3. Castle overlay will debut May 22, 2015. Disneyland Railroad: Closed for refurbishment. Reopens February 13. “it’s a small world”: Closed to remove holiday overlay. Reopens February 6. Peter Pan’s Flight: Closed for refurbishment and enhancements. Reopens May 8. Magic Eye Theatre: Closed indefinitely.
[b][center]Disney California Adventure[/center][/b]
Ariel’s Grotto Restaurant: Closed for refurbishment. Reopens February 28. Soarin’ Over California: Closed for refurbishment and enhancements. Reopens May 15. Taste Pilot’s Grill: Closed refurbishment and enhancements. Reopens March 13. World of Color: Dark for refurbishment and to upgrade infrastructure for new show. Reopens March 13. Redwood Creek Challenge Trail: Closed for refurbishment. Reopens March 3. Grizzly River Run: Closed for refurbishment. Reopens March 20. Ariel’s Grotto: Closed for refurbishment. Reopens May 28. Luigi’s Flying Tires: Originally scheduled to close in early 2015 for conversion into a new attraction, this attraction has since dropped off official closure schedules but is still rumored to be replaced. It’s Tough to be a Bug!: Dark while theater is used for “Cinderella” sneak peek. Muppet*Vision 3D: Dark indefinitely while theater is used for Frozen-themed show. [B]Blue Sky Cellar:[/B] Closed indefinitely.
[b][center]Downtown Disney and Disneyland Resort Hotels[/center][/b]
Grand Californian Hotel – Mariposa Spa: Closed for refurbishment February 9-11.
February 9 – 15 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Get ready for a perfect storm this coming weekend — it’s President’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and the last chance to soar on Luigi’s Flying Tires. We’re crunching numbers and doing the math to help you see into the future. Plan your upcoming Disneyland trip with Tomorrowplan crowd projections, only in the Mouseaddict app. The free Mouseaddict app for iPhone and iPad features more than five dozen categories of searchable resort information, weather forecasts, park and show schedules, the latest news and articles from MiceChat, and more. Download free on the App Store or at mouseaddict.com.
[center]Headline Roundup A quick look at noteworthy Disney theme park headlines from around the web.[/center]
Disneyland Annual Passholders can attend special screenings and panel discussions on Pinocchio and One Hundred and One Dalmations on February 10 and 11. (DLR AP Facebook page)

OK — that’s it for this week’s Dateline Disneyland. What do you think of the closure of Luigi’s Flying Tires? What about the new Pandora shop in New Orleans Square? Let us know in the comments section below! Your donations really do help keep Dateline Disneyland alive! We’re still here because of your help. If you enjoy getting your weekly Disneyland fix from Dateline Disneyland, please consider helping us with a safe and fast PayPal donation — click here! For more Disneyland news, be sure to read MiceChat’s weekly In the Parks blog. And be sure to check out our sister blog, Dateline Disney World – a fantastic weekly photo blog covering Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida! Thanks for reading. See you at Disneyland! [B]- Andy[/B]

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FTC-Mandated Disclosure: Promotional consideration for this edition of Dateline Disneyland was provided by the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel & Water Playground.