2024 Disneyland Dining Guide: Reservations, Mobile Order and More
Between the two theme parks, three resort hotels and Downtown Disney District, there are more than 130 dining…
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.
One of the biggest (and costly) considerations you’ll make when planning a trip to the Disneyland Resort is where and what you’re going to eat.
Between the two theme parks, three resort hotels and Downtown Disney District, there are more than 130 dining options ranging from snack carts to fine dining establishments.
Additionally, there are aspects of Disney dining such as mobile order, mobile walk-up and dining reservations to consider.
Of course, you can save yourself a considerable amount of money by bringing your own food. Disney does allow you to bring snacks, cold sandwiches, fruit and the like into the park.
Just outside the Disneyland Park gate, behind tall greenery and underneath the Monorail track, is a private picnic area with tables and chairs that are free for all guests to use.
However, if you’re able to, I do recommend trying at least a couple of the resort’s restaurants. Some of which serve food you can’t get at most places and are actually VERY good.
So if you’re bringing kids, which restaurants have the biggest portions so you can split entrees? If you’re Disney adults, which restaurants serve cocktails? Which ones are the hardest to get into? I answer all of these questions and more below.
Let’s get into it.
*Quick Note: If you’re looking to book a vacation to the Disneyland Resort (or Disney World, Disney Cruise, Universal and more) consider tapping/clicking the above image to visit our partners at Get Away Today.. Going through them is the same as going directly through Disney only through them, you’ll receive personalized service by Disney experts and receive the absolute best price and any accompanying discounts. To see their amazing deals on Disneyland tickets, click/tap here.
Table-Service Restaurants
Disney’s table service restaurants are akin to the type you usually visit in your everyday life. You are greeted by a host/hostess, are seated, you place your order with the waiter/waitress and are brought your food.
Nearly all restaurants under this classification accept dining reservations, which you can make up to 60-days in advance and can do so on the Disneyland website or app. The following restaurants are table service AND accept reservations:
Disneyland Park
Blue Bayou
Cafe Orleans
Carnation Cafe
Oga’s Cantina
River Belle Terrace
Disney California Adventure
Carthay Circle
Carthay Circle Alfresco Dining
Lamplight Lounge
Magic Key Terrace (Magic Key holders and their guests only)
Wine Country Trattoria
Downtown Disney District
Naples
Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio
Splitsville Luxury Lanes
Tortilla Jo’s (permanently closes March 31st)
*This list will expand further with the opening of several new restaurants in Downtown Disney throughout 2024/2025
Disneyland Resort Hotels
GCH Craftsman Bar
Great Maple Modern American Eatery
Napa Rose
Palm Breeze Bar
Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar
As stated above, you can start making dining reservations 60-days in advance. You DO NOT need to have a theme park reservation in order to make one.
Many of the restaurants listed above are difficult to get into, even at the 60-day mark. It really boils down to the time of year you’re going. If you’re going in January - early March, it shouldn’t be too difficult to get your preferred date/time 60-days out.
Conversely, if you’re going in the summer or holiday seasons, the demand will be higher and thus, more competitive. When you’re 60-days out, be logged into your account on the Disneyland website or app as early as 6am (when reservations are rumored to be released).
A handful of the difficult-to-get reservations from the list above include; Lamplight Lounge, Napa Rose, Trader Sam’s, Blue Bayou and Carthay Circle.
If you’re unable to snag a reservation for one of those, you can typically always get a reservation at Wine Country Trattoria, River Belle Terrace, Cafe Orleans and GCH Craftsman Bar, all of which are solid options.
*NOTE: I discuss another detail about reservations at the end of this post. You DON’T want to skip it.
Another trick you can try if you weren’t able to get a reservation for your preferred restaurant is to try the mobile walk-up list. Just about every restaurant that accepts reservations offers this.
Lamplight Lounge, for example, has gone as far as to reserve an entire section of the restaurant for it. The boardwalk area of Lamplight, formally known and fondly remembered as ‘Cove Bar’ is reserved for mobile walk-up guests.
To do this, simply approach the restaurant and open the Disneyland app. Once the app detects you, you’ll be able to join the list. Keep in mind that, at least at Lamplight, you’re only able to join the walk-up list between the hours of 11:30am - 4:30pm.
Quick-Service Restaurants
Quick-service restaurants are comparable to fast causal places like Chipotle and MOD Pizza, in that they’re the type where you’ll walk up to the window, order/pay for your food and find yourself a seat.
They’re located throughout both theme parks and are typically the busiest as they’re built to serve thousands of people daily.
To make things even more convenient, many of these quick-service eateries offer mobile order, a feature in the Disneyland app that enables you to order and pay for your meals digitally.
While not all quick-service restaurants offer mobile order, many of them do. Especially the most popular ones. Those include:
Disneyland Park
Alien Pizza Planet
Bengal BBQ
Docking Bay 7
Galactic Grill
Gibson Girl Ice Cream
The Golden Horseshoe
Harbour Gallery
Hungry Bear
Jolly Holiday Bakery
Mint Julep Bar
Red Rose Taverne
Refreshment Corner
Ronto Roasters
Royal Street Veranda
Stage Door Cafe
Tiana’s Palace
Tiki Juice Bar
Troubadour Tavern
Disney California Adventure
Award Weiners
Flo’s V8 Cafe
Smokejumpers Grill
Bayside Brews
Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill
Rita’s Turbine Blenders
Sonoma Terrace
Aunt Cass Cafe
Corn Dog Castle
Hollywood Lounge
Lucky Fortune Cookery
Paradise Gardens Grill
Pym Test Kitchen
Schmoozies!
Studio Catering Co.
Disneyland Hotel
The Coffe House
Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill
As you can see, the list is extensive. Do note that currently, mobile order is not available at any restaurant in Downtown Disney, Pixar Place Hotel or the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa.
Using mobile order is quick and easy. First, make sure you have the Disneyland app downloaded to your device and create an account before going to the parks. You’ll also want to add a credit or gift card as your payment method.
When you’re ready to order yourself lunch, simply open the app and select, “order food”. Then you’ll scroll through the list and select the restaurant you want to order from.
Next, you’ll select your pick up window. Unless it’s a brand new restaurant or a particularly busy day, you shouldn’t have issues with pick up times being too far out. If so, you’ll need to think ahead and submit your order earlier in the day.
Once you’ve chosen your pick up window, you’ll then be presented with the restaurant’s menu and from there, make your selections and select your payment method. You can pay with credit/debit/gift cards or Apple Pay. Paying cash on pick up is not an option.
When your pick up window approaches, make your way to the restaurant, find yourself a seat and open the app. Select “I’m Here” and patiently wait while the cast members get to work.
When your order is ready, you’ll be notified by the app and given a numbered pick up window (I don’t know who needs to hear this, but there’s no need to clog up the pick up windows by waiting there). Simply head to your assigned numbered window and pick up your food when you’re called.
As stated above, you may need to think ahead a bit when using mobile order. If it’s a slow(ish) day, you should be able to get pick up windows within thirty minutes or so.
If it’s busy (think Halloween, summer, etc), you’d be better served by playing it safe and placing your order earlier in the day. For example, select your pick up window for lunch while everyone else is eating breakfast. This way, you’re not caught off guard.
If the pick up windows are too far out or you’re paying cash, then you’ll need to utilize the stand-by queue. I always recommend mobile order, though. Every time I use it, I always end up with my food long before those in stand-by do.
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Alcohol at the Disneyland Resort
If you’re a proud “Disney Adult” (or simply, a stressed out parent who wants to take the edge off), you’ll be happy to hear that alcohol is now served extensively throughout the resort.
Previously a mostly dry park, Disneyland Park now has a number of locations that serves beer, wine, cocktails or all the above. They are:
Blue Bayou
River Belle Terrace
Carnation Cafe
Cafe Orleans
Oga’s Cantina
Additionally, guests who can afford it and/or who’re members, can order drinks at 21 Royal and Club 33. At DCA, most restaurants, even quick-service locations, serve alcohol.
As far as the theme parks are concerned, the only two locations that could primarily be considered a bar/lounge would be Oga’s at Disneyland and Pym Test Lab at DCA. The former does sell small bites but is mostly a bar and the latter serves alcohol exclusively.
Essentially, every restaurant in the Downtown Disney District serves a combination of beer, wine and cocktails, and most locations in the three resort hotels do as well.
If you’re interested in having a drink at Oga’s, you’ll need to be on the ball by getting a reservation 60-days out as it’s a popular place. You could try getting on the mobile walk-up list, but securing a reservation would be preferable.
Other bars and lounges in the resort, such as Pym Test Lab in Avengers Campus and Hearthstone Lounge in the Grand Californian Hotel, do not offer reservations and are generally easy locations to get a seat at.
Specialty Dining
Specialty dining can mean many things at Disneyland but generally speaking, this includes things like character dining and dining packages for the nighttime shows such as Fantasmic and World of Color.
The following locations offer dining packages for Fantasmic! (returning May 24th):
Blue Bayou
River Belle Terrace
Hungry Bear Restaurant
I wrote an extensive post about my experience with the River Belle Terrace Fantasmic! dining package. You can read that here if you’re interested.
At Disney California Adventure, where World of Color show is shown, the following locations offer dining packages for that show:
Carthay Circle (temporarily unavailable)
Wine Country Trattoria
Magic Key Terrace (for Magic Key holders and their guests only)
Character dining has long been a favorite of Disneyland fans. If you don’t know, they’re experiences where some of your favorite Disney characters interact with you at your table while you dine. It’s a time-saver as you won’t have to queue up to meet them.
Character dining experiences are available at the following locations:
Minnie & Friends at Plaza Inn - Disneyland Park (breakfast only)
Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
Storytellers Cafe at the Grand Californian Hotel (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
Disney Princess Adventure at Napa Rose (breakfast only)
The first three are all buffet, all-you-care-to-eat style meals. Disney Princess Adventure, though, is a prix fixe menu in which your selections are brought to you.
The three traditional character dining options are usually priced between $35 - $60 for adults and $25 - $35 for kids. The Disney Princess Adventure breakfast, however, commands an eye-watering $135 per person (yes, even kids).
You’ll typically get to meet, on average, 3-5 characters during your meal, dependent upon how busy it is. I was at the Plaza Inn on a slow day once and was bombarded with characters, multiple times over.
Conversely, at Goofy’s Kitchen, we only had a few characters come to our table throughout the entire meal. So your milage may vary. Just be understanding that the characters have to work their way through the whole restaurant and some parties are larger than others.
Additional Information About Reservations
In the Table-Service section at the beginning of this post, I briefly discussed making reservations for the more popular restaurants 60-days out.
There is another aspect of the reservation system I feel you should be aware of - the cancellation policy. For the most part, the cancellation policy is the same within the theme park eateries, but it varies throughout the rest of the resort.
When making a reservation, you’ll be asked to submit a credit or debit card number as a guarantee. If you fail to show up for your reservation or cancel outside the specified timeframe, your card will be charged a certain amount, per person.
This is done in order to prevent people from hoarding reservations and holding them for other people. It helps to ensure that the person making the reservation actually shows up or cancels in time for someone else to have a chance at getting it.
Cancellation policies at the following restaurants are:
Restaurants with a TWO HOUR cancellation window/$10 per person no-show charge:
All restaurants inside Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure
GCH Craftsman Bar at the Grand Californian Hotel
Storytellers Cafe at the Grand Californian Hotel
Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel
Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at the Disneyland Hotel
Palm Breeze Bar at the Disneyland Hotel
Great Maple at the Pixar Place Hotel
Blue Bayou Fantasmic! Dining Package
Restaurants with a ONE DAY cancellation window/$10 per person no-show charge:
Naples
Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio
Tortilla Jo’s
Splitsville Luxury Lanes
River Belle Terrace Fantasmic! Dining Package
Restaurants with a ONE DAY cancellation window/varying per person no-show charge:
Napa Rose - $25 per person
Disney Princess Adventure - $135 per person (full charge)
World of Color Dessert Party - full, per person charge (starts at $89)
Restaurants with a TWO DAY cancellation window/varying per person no-show charge:
Tomorrowland Skyline Terrace - full per person charge (starts at $60)
As you can see, the penalties for no-showing or simply not cancelling within the specified window can be steep. If you find yourself in a situation where you’re going to miss your reservation and you’re within that window, there are two things you can try to avoid being charged:
Speak with the cast member and plead your case. I’ve heard of instances where after politely asking, people were able to cancel their reservation without being charged, despite being minutes away from their reservation time.
You can “modify” your reservation in the app or website to a date that’s further out and then cancel said reservation (note that this will NOT work if you’re close to your reservation time. Option #1 would be best in that instance).
There’s no guarantee of either working to your advantage, but it’s worth a shot. It’s understandable that things come up, but the best thing you can do is make it to your reservation.
Another thing to note is, say you’ve made a reservation for a party of six at Blue Bayou. Let’s assume that two of those six aren’t going to make it for one reason or another. You will not be penalized for that. As long as the person who's name is on the reservation is present, you’re good.
*PRO TIP: If the person who’s name is on the reservation cannot make it but you can, just give that person’s name to the host/hostess. They don’t check ID’s.
A Guide to Visiting Disneyland in June 2024
June is a magical time to visit Disneyland, where the transition phase of spring to summer is in full swing, offering
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.
June is a magical time to visit Disneyland, where the transition phase of spring to summer is in full swing, offering (mostly) comfortably warm weather and a chance of beat the insane crowds and heat that July often brings.
If you're planning a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth this summer, it's essential to be prepared for many factors that’ll have an impact on your park experience. Gone are the days where you could just show up to the parks. These days, it’s all about planning and research.
In this post, I’ll dive into the details of what you can expect during a June visit to Disneyland. Topics such as weather in Anaheim, how crowded Disneyland is, ticket prices, ride closures, and more will be covered.
June Weather at Disneyland
Daylight Hours:
In June, Anaheim experiences longer daylight hours, giving you ample time to explore the park. Expect approximately 14 hours of daylight each day, allowing you to make the most of your day.
Temperatures:
Average High Temperatures: As summer unfolds, Anaheim sees average high temperatures ranging from a comfortable 75°F to a warmer 84°F.
Average Low Temperatures: Evenings bring a touch of coolness, with lows ranging from 60°F to 66°F. Pack a light jacket or sweater for those cooler nights, especially if you plan to watch the evening fireworks show.
Rain or Shine:
June is typically a dry month in Anaheim, with minimal rainfall. You'll likely encounter little to no rain during your Disneyland trip, making it an ideal time for outdoor attractions, parades, and evening fireworks.
While rain is uncommon, it's always a good idea to check the weather forecast closer to your visit, as California weather, specifically that close to the coast, is known to surprise people from time to time. Bringing a packable umbrella wouldn’t be the worst thing.
What to Wear:
Dress comfortably in light clothing, but don't forget to bring a hat and sunscreen to shield yourself from the sun's rays. As temperatures drop in the evening, having a light jacket or sweater on hand is advisable.
Is Disneyland Crowded in June?
By June, the light(ish) crowds of spring make way for the incoming summer swell. The month as a whole sees above average crowds, with no day (weekend or weekday) being much worse than the next.
The recent Magic Key sale will likely drive up crowd levels, given how Disney sold out the higher three tiers in less than 12 hours, with the fourth completely selling out the next morning.
Additionally, there’s always the possibility that Disney could do another sale in the spring to drive summer business. If they do, it’ll likely only be the Inspire Key (possibly Believe Key as well) as they’re the only two not totally blocked for the summer.
UPDATE: Since the original publishing date of this post, Disney has seemingly reversed its stance on withholding Magic Keys from the masses and has kept them available for purchase on the Disneyland website since early March. All but the Imagine Key (SoCal only) are still available to purchase. With more Magic Key holders out there now, expect that to reflect in the crowd levels in the parks.
If they don’t do a spring sale, there’s still those newly minted Magic Key holders from the January sale that are eager to use their prized possession they waited hours in a virtual queue for.
The Inspire Key was one of the first to sell out, and it doesn’t have any blockout dates in the summer. The Believe Key, the second highest tier, is only blocked on the 29th. Given how quickly these keys sold out, I do expect them to have a major impact on June crowd levels.
Lastly, the Imagine and Enchant Keys will have little to no impact on crowds in June. The latter is blocked for all but four weekday dates in the beginning of the month while the former is blocked out entirely. So impact will be minimal.
The exception being those four dates in the beginning of June (3rd - 6th). Enchant Key holders will flock to the parks to get their fix before getting blocked for the summer and cause a spike in attendance in the process. Expect them to be busier than on a normal weekday - especially in the evening.
Normally, I would always recommend weekdays over weekends, but the crowds on those dates are likely going to be insufferable. The next two weeks likely won’t be much better as you’ll be dealing with Father’s Day crowds. People tend to book for the few days leading up to or proceeding a holiday.
Secondly, the summer months are typically when the tourist season begins. Disneyland is largely a locals park, but as schools let out for summer break and parents begin cashing in their PTO, out-of-area guests temporarily take over.
This causes a shift from the norm, where the crowds tend to be heavier in the morning and thin out in the evening. Generally, locals show up to the park en-mass in the evenings. With many of them blocked out, evenings in the parks will be slightly more tolerable over daytime.
Lastly, there are several special events occurring in June, all of which will impact crowds one way or another. However, the one I predict will have the greatest impact is Grad Nite - and particularly at Disney California Adventure (where they take place).
If you don’t know what Grad Nites are, they’re an extended field trip of sorts for California (and some neighboring states) high school seniors. It’s essentially an opportunity for them to blow off some steam, so-to-speak, and celebrate their hard-earned, milestone achievement.
As stated above, Grad Nites take place at DCA - after hours - but they’re given daytime access to BOTH parks. In June, Grad Nite dates are June 2, 5, 7, 9, 12 and 14. Avoid DCA on these dates, as the hordes of teenagers in the park have been known to rival peak summer crowds.
As a general rule, the crowds continue to get worse as the month progresses, usually peaking in the middle of July, and starts tapering off in August. While there generally isn’t a “great” time to visit in June, if I had to recommend a specific timeframe, it would be June 16th - 20th.
The reason, you ask? Well, after taking into account special event dates and the Magic Key blockout calendar, that seems to be the sweet-spot. They’re after Grad Nite dates, after blockouts take effect and are before the peak summer crowds arrive.
Of course, as stated above, there’s still the potential for heavy crowds on Father’s Day. However, it generally isn’t a holiday where people travel much. Most are gathering with their families at home, BBQ’ing. It’s worth the gamble over the sure-to-be crowded Grad Nites dates.
Perhaps the biggest impact on crowds this summer will be the recently announced three-day summer weekday ticket deal. With this ticket offer, kids will only cost $50 per day (paid in a $150 lump sum for a three-day ticket) and regular tickets (ages 10 and up) costing only $83 per day ($249 total).
These tickets go on-sale starting May 29 and are valid for use from June 10 through September 29. With the Halloween season kicking off in late August this year, this price point affordably puts you in a position to visit the parks during a portion of the ever-popular holiday season. Remember, these tickets are only good on weekdays (Monday - Thursday).
The savings you’ll get by purchasing these tickets are significant. Especially in the summer months, when one-day ticket prices for adults have been known to flirt with the $200 dollar mark. You’ll also be able to add Genie Plus to these tickets.
As stated above, these tickets don’t go on sale until May 29. You can purchase these official tickets through my partners are Get Away Today. Combine these tickets with a vacation package for even more savings, plus, use code “INKED10” during checkout for another $10 off your total. You can do so by following this link.
Single-Day Ticket Prices & Magic Key Blockout Dates
Buying a single day to Disneyland these days is similar to that of a plane ticket - you’re at the mercy of dynamic pricing. What is that, you ask? It means that, based on Disney’s historical data, if they predict a specific day will be busy, then it’ll command a higher price. Conversely, if they think it’ll be on the slow side, they’ll lower the price to entice you to come on that day.
This allows Disney to do two things (well…probably more than two, but these are ones I’m aware of):
It allows Disney to maximize profits by collecting more money on busy days.
It enables them to spread out the crowds a bit, while helping to boost sagging attendance on slower days.
Disney’s general belief is the more people they can pack in the park (within reason), the more Genie+ services, $7 churros and merchandise they can sell. And they’re not wrong. It’s a numbers game, really. Have you seen the queues for popcorn buckets lately?
June is the kick off month for Disney’s busy summer season, and the prices for single-day ticket reflect that. The least an adult will pay is $154, with a max price of $194. That $154 price is mostly on weekdays for the first three weeks, with the last week amping up to $169.
The majority of weekend dates have a range of $184 - $194, the sole exception being the first two Sundays, which are priced at $169. Child ticket prices follow the same general pattern, with a range of $146 - $183. Remember, these prices are for one park, per day. Adding park hopper will set you back another $65 per ticket.
If you’ve purchased the SoCal resident ticket, you have until June 2nd to use all the remaining days as that’s when they expire. Likewise, blockout dates for Magic Key holders start kicking in this month:
Inspire Key: No blockout dates.
Believe Key: ONLY blocked on the 29th (Saturday).
Enchant Key: Blocked on all days except for the 6th - 9th.
Imagine Key: Blocked for the entire month.
Special Events
Special events at Disneyland at still going strong in June with several happening all at once. The one exception being Star Wars: Season of the Force, as it ends on the 2nd. The special events happening in June at Disneyland are:
Grad Nites: June 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, & 14.
Pixar Fest: All month.
Pride Nites (Disney After Dark): June 18 & 20.
Season of the Force: June 1 & 2.
We’ve already discussed Grad Nites above but I’ll reiterate - avoid DCA on those dates! Ok? Moving on. Don’t expect Season of the Force to have too much of an impact on crowds, as it’s ending two days in and is mostly just a way for Disney to sell limited time food offerings and merch.
Pride Nites, as is the case with most Disney After Dark events, likely won’t have much an impact either. These events require a separate ticket and take place after park closing. While the majority of people who attend these are Magic Key holders, remember, two of the four keys are blocked on those dates. So don’t expect daytime crowds to be affected much.
However, After Dark attendees are allowed into the park three hours prior to start time. So DO expect an uptick in attendance in the evenings as these guests start arriving. If you’re not attending, I would make your reservation for DCA on those dates so you’ll get the most value for your money. Remember, you pay the same whether Disneyland closes early or not.
Pixar Fest, on the other hand, will be in full swing, and is the event that I predict will have the greatest impact on crowds. A new parade, rare character meet n’ greets, a Pixar-themed fireworks show, limited offering food and of course, special merch will surely drive attendance for one of Disney’s most popular brands.
Disneyland Ride Closures in June
If you somehow still haven’t heard, Splash Mountain closed last year in May to make way for its reimagining into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. This attraction is slated to open sometime in late 2024, so June is officially out and your only chance to get wet on a ride is at Grizzly River Run in DCA.
The other attraction that’ll likely be down is Haunted Mansion. Disney is completely revamping and expanding the grounds and queue area, in addition to adding a new gift shop at the exit and installing a more efficient ADA entrance/exit.
Haunted Mansion isn’t expected to reopen until the Halloween season. When it does, it’ll still be in its Nightmare Before Christmas overlay. This means that, for the first time since the attraction opened, the original Haunted Mansion won’t be open at all in 2024.
Another major closure hitting the June refurbishment calendar is the entirety of Critter Country, which makes sense considering all the work Disney still needs to do on that side of the upcoming Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
This closure was necessary so Disney could re-theme two of the lands current gift shops into those inspired by characters from the Princess and the Frog film. However, Disney is also taking the opportunity to improve the walkways and completing a refurbishment on the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction.
I originally predicted that this was going to be a quick closure to just re-theme the gift shops, as Disney is losing a lot of capacity right now between the three attractions being down in addition to an entire land with an incredibly popular IP attached to it.
While I originally was thinking it would reopen sometime in June, or early July at the latest, judging by how the land currently looks, I’m now anticipating this closure to last well throughout the summer or possibly not until Tiana’s itself is ready to open. June is definitely out of the realm of possibly, so prepare yourself for that.
While I do expect to see a splatter of additional attractions added to the refurb calendar here and there, I don’t think any of them them will be for an extended period given the fact that two popular attractions are already be down for the majority of the year.
Planning a trip to Disneyland? If so, stay on top of ride closures by consulting my 2024 Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar. Furthermore, learn about the various aspects of dining at Disneyland, such as mobile order and advance dining reservations, with my 2024 Disneyland Dining Guide. Additionally, see my top ten tips for purchasing Disneyland tickets by reading 10 Best Disney Tips: Park Tickets. Finally, for great deals on Disneyland, Disney World and Disney Cruise Line vacation packages, visit my partners at Get Away Today.
River Belle Terrace Fantasmic Dining Package
With Fantasmic returning soon, you may be interested in booking a dining package to secure a great spot to watch…
Last year in April, tragedy struck the Disneyland Resort when Murphy, the animatronic Maleficent dragon, caught fire during a live performance of Fantasmic!, forcing the fan-favorite show to go on an extended hiatus.
The future of the show was in doubt as fans were unsure of when, if ever, it would return and if it did, would it be changed so significantly that it would no longer be the same…
Disney finally answered those questions in November 2023, confirming that Fantasmic would indeed be returning on May 24th, 2024. With it, there’s expected to be a new battle scene between Sorcerer Mickey and Maleficent, new floats and the return of Peter Pan and Captain Hook.
With Fantasmic returning soon, you may be interested in booking a dining package to secure a reserved spot to watch the show. Gone are the days where you can camp out at the waterfront to save yourself a spot. If you want to sit up close, you’ll need to book a dining package.
There are three Disneyland restaurants that offer these. They are:
Blue Bayou
River Belle Terrace
Hungry Bear Restaurant
While this post will focus on the standard package offered at the River Belle Terrace, I will also discuss the other two restaurants as well. Full disclosure, I have not personally purchased dining packages with Blue Bayou or Hungry Bear - only River Belle Terrace.
*Quick Note: If you’re looking to book a vacation to the Disneyland Resort (or Disney World, Disney Cruise, Universal and more) consider tapping/clicking the above image to visit our partners at Get Away Today. Going through them is the same as going directly through Disney only through them, you’ll receive personalized service by Disney experts and receive the absolute best price and any accompanying discounts. By going through Get Away Today, you’ll be getting the best price on your vacation and support our website at the same time.
To see their amazing deals on your favorite destinations, click/tap here (and tell them we said “hi”
River Belle Terrace Fantasmic Dining Experience
The Fantasmic (standard) dining package at the River Belle Terrace is a three-course meal offered at both lunch and dinner. The price for this package in 2024 is:
$55 per adult
$32 per child (ages 3 - 9)
Each person will receive one starter, one entree and one dessert. Regular drinks such as soda, juices and coffee are also included in the price. What isn’t included are alcoholic drinks, tip and tax.
Note that there are two versions of the dining package at River Belle Terrace - the standard and premium. The differences between the two are:
Standard: You make a normal reservation for River Belle and at the time of your meal and inform your waitress that you want the Fantasmic dining package. At the conclusion of your meal, each person will receive a voucher to return to the viewing area prior to showtime.
Premium: You’ll make a reservation for this package specifically at this link 60-days in advance. This package is only available during dinner and you’ll watch Fantasmic from your table. The cost for this package is $75 (adult) and $45 (child).
The River Belle Terrace Fantasmic! menu has a number of tasty offerings. Our table of four had no problem making our selections. I don’t know this first hand, but I’ve read numerous reviews of this location being flexible with substitutions. If you don’t see something you like on the Fantasmic menu, ask for the normal one.
On our visit, some of the menu items our party ordered were:
Red Beans & Rice cup w/ Andouille Sausage
Burnt Ends Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich
Pimento Mac and Cheese Skillet
Cookies n’ Cream Cheesecake
Housemade Pudding
The Seasonal Cobbler
No one at our table had a single negative thing to say about the food. All of it was presented well, was delicious and the portions were more than sufficient. Additionally, despite being a busy day, the service from our waitress was top notch.
*PRO TIP: If you’re just looking for somewhere to eat and looking to save money, dine here and split entrees. Disney allows this (from the regular menu, NOT the package). The portions here are enough for even two adults to split, let alone two children.
At the end of our meal, we were asked which of the two showings that night we wanted the voucher for. We booked a lunch reservation, so there were plenty of vouchers left. The danger of booking a dinner reservation is you may not be able to choose as they could have run out of one.
We chose the 10:30 showing and were advised to head over to Harbor Gallery/Pelican’s Landing (across from Haunted Mansion) about thirty minutes prior to showtime.
After everything was said and done, I paid about $260 for the four of us (all adults, inclusive of tax and tip). While I was really paying for a great view of the show, the food being as good as it was helped ease the pain of the final bill a bit.
The Viewing Area
Regardless of which restaurant you purchased your dining package, the check-in area is the same. Again, it’s located adjacent to Harbor Gallery/Pelican’s Landing. You’ll see cast members holding up signs in rows with each restaurant’s name on them. Simply line up in the row of your restaurant.
Shortly prior to showtime, the cast members will begin escorting you to your assigned viewing area. Blue Bayou guests will be seated (mostly) dead center to the stage, followed by River Belle guests, who’ll be seated to the right. Lastly, Hungry Bear guests will be to the left.
As you can see in the photo above, we were seated right up front. We weren’t directly center to the stage (we would’ve needed to dine at Blue Bayou for that) but it was a great view regardless. Not too shabby if you ask me.
If you want a chance at being seated in the front row, you’ll need to arrive at the check-in area early. It’ll state on your voucher to arrive thirty minutes prior to showtime. However, if you wait until then a rather large queue would’ve already formed.
Instead, I would suggest arriving closer to one hour early. When we first arrived, there were no cast members guiding the way, so we just hung around until they showed up. So if you do the same, don’t be alarmed. As long as you’re next to Harbor’s Gallery, you’ll be fine.
Also keep in mind that there are no actual seats included with the price of these dining packages and thus, you’ll be sitting on the ground (bringing a waterproof outdoor blanket to sit on, like this one, would be wise. Just think about how many people have walked over that spot).
The only exception to this is the premium package offered at the River Belle Terrace. You’ll enjoy the show from the comfort of your table on the restaurant’s patio. The downside is you’ll have the walkway and the Genie+ viewing area in front of you with little elevation.
All Fantasmic Dining Packages
There are three dining locations that offer a total of four Fantasmic! dining packages. They all vary in price and offerings, but the seating is generally the same. All of them are on the waterfront of the Rivers of America and form a horseshoe of sorts around the stage. Here is the information for all packages in 2024:
Blue Bayou: Price is $89 (adult) and $35 (child), lunch or dinner. Each person receives an entree of choice, a non-alcoholic specialty drink and a Fantasmic! speciality dessert. Cocktails are separate. The viewing area is located center, or near-center, of the performance stage.
River Belle Terrace Premium: Price is $75 (adult) and $45 (child). Each person receives a three-course meal from the Fantasmic! menu (though you CAN order from the regular menu if you wish). Cocktails are separate. You’ll watch the performance from your table on the outdoor patio of the River Belle. *Dinner only.
River Belle Terrace Standard: Price is $55 (adult) and $32 (child), lunch or dinner. Each person receives a three-course meal (starter, entree and dessert), plus cold drinks. The viewing area is located to the right of the performance stage.
Hungry Bear Restaurant: Price is $38 (adult) and $27 (child), lunch or dinner. Pick-up times are between 3pm and 8:30pm on most days. Each person will receive their choice of entree and side, in addition to a fountain beverage and Fantasmic! themed dessert. The viewing area is located to the right of the performance stage. *You cannot mobile order this package.
Clearly, Blue Bayou is the high end choice, followed by River Belle in the middle with Hungry Bear being the budget-friendly option. If seeing Fantasmic up close is important to you and your group, you really can’t go wrong with any of these as the view is essentially the same.
What it boils down to from there is your food preference. Blue Bayou and River Belle offer a traditional sit-down meal versus Hungry Bear’s grab-n-go style. Blue Bayou arguably has the best atmosphere, as it’s located inside of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. My recommendation, though, is River Belle. The viewing area is great and the food is satisfying. All for a middle-of-the-road price point.
To recap, if you want to book for the Blue Bayou or the premium option at River Belle, you’ll book a reservation through this link. Conversely, if you want to go with Hungry Bear, you’ll need to book through this link. If you’d rather do the standard option at the River Belle, then you just need to make a standard brunch or dinner reservation and inform the host when you arrive.
A Guide to Visiting Disneyland in May 2024
Memorial Day weekend is a three-day’er for many people and the crowds reflect it. Expect dense crowds that weekend and…
Are you planning a trip to the Disneyland Resort for May 2024? Whether you’re still deciding or you’ve already booked and are looking for more information, I have you covered.
In this post, I’ll discuss what the weather is typically like in May, how crowded it is or isn’t, which attractions are going to be closed, ticket prices and more.
*Quick Note: If you’re looking to book a vacation to the Disneyland Resort (or Disney World, Disney Cruise, Universal and more) consider tapping/clicking the above image to visit our partners at Get Away Today. Going through them is the same as going directly through Disney only through them, you’ll receive personalized service by Disney experts and receive the absolute best price and any accompanying discounts. By going through Get Away Today, you’ll be getting the best price on your vacation and support our website at the same time.
To see their amazing deals on your favorite destinations, click/tap here (and tell them we said “hi”)
Anaheim Weather in May
As May unfolds, Disneyland basks in pleasant weather, creating an ideal atmosphere for a magical adventure.
Temperatures range from a delightful 55 to 75 degrees, providing both a comfortable warmth during the day and tolerable chill in the evenings.
As the month progresses, the nightly lows will begin to increase, capping off at around 60 degrees by the end of May.
Be sure to pack sunscreen for the warm days and a light jacket or sweater for the evenings. An umbrella is unnecessary, as Anaheim sees very little, if any, rain in May.
May also brings an explosion of color to Disneyland as flowers bloom, transforming the parks into a floral spectacle. The meticulously landscaped gardens, iconic topiaries and vibrant floral arrangements add an extra layer of beauty to the already magical surroundings.
Is Disneyland Crowded in May?
Generally speaking, May (or part of it, anyway) is a great time to visit Disneyland. It’s in that sweet spot between spring break and summer crowds and as mentioned above, the weather is pleasant.
Two major caveats to that are Grad Nites (discussed below) and of course, Memorial Day and the weekend leading into it.
While there will be one Grad Nite on the 10th of the month (a Friday), the events mostly begin to ramp up in the second half of the month, leading well into June.
Memorial Day weekend is a three-day’er for many people and the crowds reflect that. Expect dense crowds that weekend and on the holiday itself.
Another wildcard that can affect crowds is if Disney will resume Magic Key sales in April, much like they did in 2023. On January 10 this year, Magic Keys went on sale and mostly sold out in the first day.
With that much pent-up demand, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Disney do another round of sales in the spring to pad the books for the next earnings call.
Additionally, special events such as Star Wars Nites, Season of the Force and Pixar Fest will be in high gear. May 4th (May the Fourth - be with you) being an unofficial, fan-driven event day that’ll surely increase crowds, particularly inside Galaxy’s Edge.
Lastly, Disney confirmed back in November that Fantasmic would be making its highly anticipated return to the Rivers of America on May 24th! The devastating fire last year caused an abrupt pause on this fan-favorite spectacular, so the demand for it, especially for the first few performances, will draw hoards of locals and tourists alike.
These are my recommendations for avoiding crowds in May:
Avoid Memorial Day weekend at all costs.
Book for the first week of May, but be mindful of Star Wars After Dark dates (see below).
Keep to weekdays as much as possible.
Avoid Grad Nite dates (see below).
May Ticket Prices & Magic Key Blockouts
Similar to airlines and hotels, Disney utilizes a dynamic pricing structure to price its single-day tickets. Meaning demand will dictate the price you’ll pay on the particular day you want to visit.
The high end of the price range for single-day, one-park tickets can flirt with $200 on many days, especially as summer approaches and on weekends. This is why I always recommend planning a multi-day trip.
Multi-day ticket prices are not affected by demand. Those have a set price, and the more days on your ticket, the less you’ll pay per day. Unless you’re hopelessly restricted to one day, try to plan for at least three to get the full experience and most value for your money.
May 2024 single-day ticket prices are as follows:
Single-Day Adult: $119 - $194
Single-Day Child: $112 - $183
If you’re planning to visit during Memorial Day weekend, expect to pay the highest price (currently $194). As of the publishing of this post, May 8th is the only date listed at the lowest price ($119). Every other weekday date is at least $134, with most weekend dates topping out at $184.
Of course, this could always change as dates approach (remember, they’re subject to demand). The price you see for a particular date today could jump later that afternoon. So if you’re keen on going for one day, secure your ticket while the price is right.
Fellow Magic Key holders - like it or not - we’re beholden to the reservation calendar. As you all know, depending on which key you hold, the day you want to visit could be unavailable to you (blocked or no available reservations).
The blockout dates for Magic Key holders for the month of May 2024 are:
Imagine Key: Blocked on all Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Enchant Key: Blocked on all Saturdays, 5/19 (Sunday), 5/26 (Sunday) and 5/31 (Friday).
Believe Key: Blocked only on 5/4 (Saturday) and 5/25 (Saturday).
Inspire Key: No blockout dates.
May Special Events & Showings
There’s going to be a broad spectrum of special events throughout the month of May. There will literally be something for everybody!
The two big draws for the month will be the two official Star Wars related events; Season of the Force and Star Wars Nite events. The former is a seasonal celebration of Star Wars, available to all ticket holders, while the latter is a hard ticket event requiring a separate purchase. (read about Disneyland After Dark events here.)
The other major draw this month will be Pixar Fest, a summer long celebration of all things Pixar. Showings include a new parade at DCA, Pixar themed food and drink offerings, a new fire work show at Disneyland Park, rare character sightings, and more!
Keep in mind that Pixar Fest runs throughout the summer into late August, and begins in the last week of April. So if you’re a huge Pixar fan and can’t make it in May, you’ll have three additional months to make it out.
Lastly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t discuss the return of everybody’s favorite nighttime spectacular - Fantasmic. Last year, the show abruptly ended after a devastating fire destroyed Murphy, the Maleficent animatronic, during a live performance.
It’s been absent from the schedule ever since and there was serious doubt over its future. Alas, Disney announced last November that it would make its grand return to entertain audiences on May 24th. (read about Fantasmic! dining packages here.)
While not confirmed, Murphy is rumored to have been repaired and will make his return to the show. Confirmed to return is the pirate ship Peter Pan/Captain Hook battle scene. Additionally, new floats are expected to debut, along with a new battle scene between Sorcerer Mickey and Maleficent.
May 2024 special event dates are as follows:
Season of the Force: All month.
Star Wars Nite: May 5th, 7th and 9th.
Pixar Fest: All month.
Grad Nites: May 10th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 19th, 22nd, 23rd, 28th and 31st.
Fantasmic Return: May 24th
Memorial Day Weekend: May 25th - 27th.
Mother’s Day: May 12th
Disneyland Ride Closures in May
At the time of this post’s publishing, attraction refurb information for the month of May hasn’t yet been released. Disney typically releases this info 45-days ahead of time.
That said, we do know of two attractions that will definitely be down all month; Haunted Mansion and Splash Mountain. The former is currently going through a remodel of its queue and exit while the latter is being reimagined into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
While I don’t expect too many extended refurbs this year due to the aforementioned reason, don’t be surprised to see short term refurbs on a few additional attractions pop up on the calendar.
*UPDATE: Disney has recently announced the impending (temporary) closure of Critter County beginning May 1. No official reopening date was announced with the closure announcement. The purpose of this closure is to convert two of the land’s gift shops into themes for two supporting characters from Princess and the Frog - Raymond the Firefly and Louis the trumpet-playing Gator.
Disney will also take this opportunity to take down the land’s sole operating attraction, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, for a refurbishment, though I don’t foresee it being a long one. My guess is they’ll reopen the Pooh attraction within three weeks or less, while keeping the rest of the land behind construction walls. As mentioned above, no reopening date for Critter Country has been released, but I’m predicting it’ll reopen by July or August. You can read a more in depth analysis about it here.
The following attractions will be down for refurbishment in the month of May 2024:
Critter Country: May 1 - TBD
Haunted Mansion: January 21 - TBD (I expect it to be down until the start of the Halloween season)
Splash Mountain: Permanently closed in May 2023 (expected to open as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in late 2024)
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: May 1 - TBD
To stay updated on Disneyland attraction refurbishments and park projects, read and save my 2024 Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar post.
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All Disneyland After Dark Events in 2024
Disneyland After Dark events have grown in popularity over the last few years - and for good reason. They’re filled…
Disneyland After Dark events have grown in popularity over the last few years - and for good reason. They’re filled to the brim with photo opps, meet and greets with rare characters, special food offerings, unique nighttime entertainment and best of all, lower than usual crowds.
The caveat? These events are separate ticketed. Meaning your regular Disneyland ticket will NOT get you access. Depending on the event and date, ticket prices are typically between $139 - $169 (even higher for Oogie Boogie Bash).
As the name implies, they take place at night, after the park closes to regular ticket holders, between the hours of 9pm and 1am. As an added bonus, your ticket permits you to enter the park three hours prior to the event’s start time. Additionally, there’s no need to worry about reservations as your ticket is all you’ll need.
Tickets to these events are sold exclusively through the Disneyland website (not the app) and generally sell out quickly. They’ll go on sale no sooner than 9am on the sales date and depending on the specific event’s popularity, you’ll likely wait in an hours-long virtual queue.
The good news, is Disney sells far fewer of these tickets than regular ones, so the crowds are generally lite. Though many of the special attractions of the night (i.e - a rare character or show) can have massive queues, all of the rides remain open, often with low wait times.
In this post, I’ll list all of the Disneyland After Dark events in 2024 - including their dates, ticket prices and more. Additionally, I’ll discuss Oogie Boogie Bash and what the future may hold for these fan-favorites. Let’s get into it.
*Quick Note: If you’re looking to book a vacation to the Disneyland Resort (or Disney World, Disney Cruise, Universal and more) consider tapping/clicking the above image to visit our partners at Get Away Today. Going through them is the same as going directly through Disney only through them, you’ll receive personalized service by Disney experts and receive the absolute best price and any accompanying discounts. By going through Get Away Today, you’ll be getting the best price on your vacation and support our website at the same time.
To see their amazing deals on your favorite destinations, click/tap here (and tell them we said “hi”)
Sweethearts’ Nite
Sweethearts’ Nite proved to be a hit with After Dark attendees in 2023, so it only made sense to bring it back for another go - this time with expanded dates.
This year, some of the offerings include:
A “royal ball” with Disney princes and princesses.
A royal cavalcade parading through the streets of Disneyland featuring Disney royals.
A dance party on the Tomorrowland stage featuring Stitch and Angel.
Photo opportunities throughout the park with backdrops themed after “Lady and the Tramp”, “Tangled” and more.
Unique lighting, music and projections throughout the park - including on Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Special food offerings - including a shortbread cookie churro with strawberry cheesecake dipping sauce and Cafe Daisy’s fried heart-shaped ravioli.
Plus, special dining packages at River Belle Terrace, Cafe Orleans and Plaza Inn.
Last year, the event was held on only one day in January, with the remaining dates held in February. Due to its popularity, Disney expanded the dates in 2024, holding several event dates in both months. They are:
January 23, 25 and 30
February 1, 6, 8, 12 and 14
Like most After Dark events, Sweethearts’ Nite takes place at Disneyland Park. Its hours are 9pm to 1am. Ticket sales begin no earlier than 9am on the dates below and are priced $139 - $169, based on date. Demand will likely be high, so be sure to be logged in prior to 9am:
December 12, 2023 (Magic Key holder pre sale)
December 14, 2023 (general public)
*EDIT: Tickets for all Sweetheart Nite dates are now sold out
Disney Channel Night
Disney Channel Night is the newcomer in 2024, as it’s the only After Dark event this year that wasn’t held in 2023. In fact, the After Dark event that was held on identical dates last year was Princess Nite (which isn’t happening at all this year).
According to the Disneyland website, some of the offerings include:
A “High School Musical” pep rally featuring characters and music from the popular franchise.
A dance party featuring Phineas and Ferb at the Tomorrowland stage.
“Camp Rock” karaoke at The Golden Horseshoe.
Enjoy music from “Descendants” as you sail along the Rivers of America on the Sailing Ship Columbia.
Photo opportunities with backdrops themed after “Lizzy McGuire”, “The Cheetah Girls” and “Teen Beach Movie”.
Special food offerings at Cafe Daisy and Red Rose Taverne, as well as dining packages at select table-service restaurants.
The description on the Disneyland website doesn’t specify character meet and greets, but I imagine there will be as these events typically feature characters you don’t normally see. Even if they have nothing to do with the general theme of the event.
Disney Channel Nite takes place on only two nights in March (5th & 7th), also between the hours of 9pm and 1am. They’re priced at $139 and go on sale on the same date and time as Sweethearts’ Nite above.
*EDIT: Tickets for the March 7th event have sold out. As of January 27th, there is still availability for the March 5th event.
Check out my post, Visiting Disneyland in March, if you plan to visit in March for this event.
Star Wars Nite
Stars Wars Nite is another repeat from 2023, a popular one at that. Aside from dates, not much is known about the offerings and prices for 2024, but we can speculate by going off last year’s information.
In 2023, some of the offerings included:
Unique character experiences.
A galactic dance party in Tomorrowland.
Themed Star Wars treats and dining.
A special nighttime fireworks spectacular - Star Wars: Celebrate the Night
In 2023, prices ranged from $149 - $169, depending on the date. The Star Wars brand proved to be as popular as it has ever been, as nearly all dates sold out in the first day. Despite having expanded dates this year, I expect the same to happen in 2024, in addition to price increases.
The 2024 Star Wars Nite dates are as follows:
April 16, 18, 23, 24 & 30
May 2, 7 & 9
At the time of this posts’ publishing, there hasn’t been word from Disney as to when tickets will go on sale but if they follow the same formula as last year, I would expect it to happen sometime in February.
If you’re planning to attend this event in April, be sure to read my posts, “Visiting Disneyland in April”. and, “Visiting Disneyland in May”.
Pride Nite
After YEARS of unofficial fan events formally known as “Gay Days”, Disney finally threw their support behind the LGTBQIA+ community by adding the officially sanctioned “Pride Nite” to the After Dark calendar.
Similar to Star Wars Nite, there hasn’t been any information from Disney as to how much the tickets or what the offerings during the event will be. All we do know is, much like last year, Pride Nite will take place on only two nights - June 18 & 20.
In 2023, some of the offerings included:
Rare character appearances and experiences.
Unique lighting, music and projections throughout the park (including on Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Ohana Dance Party featuring Stitch.
Exclusive food and drink offerings, dining packages and merchandise.
In 2023, tickets to this event were priced at $139 for both nights. While it was popular, it didn’t sell out as quickly as Sweethearts’ and Star Wars did, so I expect the price to either remain the same or see only a slight increase.
I will update this post as more information about Pride Nite becomes available.
Oogie Boogie Bash
No After Dark post would be complete without discussing the GOAT of events done in the dark - Oogie Boogie Bash. While it isn’t presented with the “After Dark” banner, it is an event that requires a separate ticket to attend and features many of the same general offerings the others do.
Oogie Boogie Bash is the spiritual successor of Mickey’s Not-so-Scary Halloween party and is held on select nights in September and October at Disney California Adventure. Though with Halloween season now kicking off in August at the resort, I wouldn’t be surprised to see one or two August dates added this year.
Information such as dates, ticket prices and offerings for 2024 haven’t yet been released, as Disney typically announces that information in June. In 2023, ticket prices were date specific and started at $134 and topping out at $189. Those prices were up $5 — $10 from 2022.
This year will likely see another increase, as the event completely sold out in just one day last year, strongly demonstrating its popularity. Disney will likely meet this demand by adding more dates and as stated above, increase the price. It wouldn’t shock me to see prices hit $200 at the top end.
While we don’t yet know what the exact offerings will be, in general, they’ve been mostly the same since its inception (albeit with some minor changes). These include:
Villains Grove: A walk-through attraction with special effects, lighting and music themed to classic Disney villains.
Villain Treat Trails: Villains featured in past events included Ernesto de la Cruz (Coco), Cruella (live-action version), Sid (Toy Story) and Judge Doom (Who Framed Roger Rabbit?).
The Frightfully Fun Parade.
Various character meet and greets.
A dessert party with a great view of the parade.
Specialty food and drink offerings and dining packages.
I’ll be sure to update this post once Disney releases more information about the 2024 event. To read more about Oogie Boogie Bash, read my post about it here.
What The Future Holds for After Dark Events
This is purely speculative on my part, but I love blue-skying ideas. The future of After Dark events definitely looks bright as due to their proven popularity, it is evident they’re not going anywhere. It’s just a matter of which themes will stick around.
Disney seems to be trying to iron out the perfect line up. In 2023, they held two events that are not happening this year - Princess Nite and Throwback Nite. I honestly don’t know why they decided against holding another Throwback Nite as it seemed to receive generally positive reviews online.
Princess Nite is sort of a given. While plenty of “Disney Adults” attended it, let’s face it, Disney princesses mainly appeal to one niche - small children. Given the fact that these events go well past midnight and children are typically sleeping at those times, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why it isn’t on the repeat list.
Sweethearts, Pride and Star Wars Nites all seem to be a lock, but that fourth slot still appears to be in question. This year, they’re giving Disney Channel Nite a try. Tickets for Disney Channel went on sale on the same date and time as Sweethearts’. While the latter sold out quickly, the former still has tickets available for one of the dates.
I’m not saying Disney Channel Nite is poised for failure, but Disney prefers that tickets to events like these sell out quickly. It creates a, “I have to have it”, mindset (much like they did for Magic Keys), driving up demand and in turn, allowing them to keep prices high (along with raising them).
Personally, I would love to see Throwback Nite return, but with a 90’s overlay. I don’t speak for all of us, but I do believe Disney millennials would converge onto the park en masse for something like this. Imagine - a performance on the Tomorrowland stage featuring Powerline! That alone would sell the event for me, personally.
Another addition I would love to see is for DCA to get their own After Dark events. Currently, the only one they feature is Oogie Boogie Bash, but it technically isn’t an After Dark event. Their main drivers are festivals such as Lunar New Year, Food and Wine, and Festival of Holidays, but I think there’s room for an After Dark event (or two).
The two biggest brands that DCA features are Pixar and Marvel. With Pixar receiving its own summer long promotion this year (and if it’s successful, it’ll likely become an annual thing) that leaves Marvel as the only Disney brand without its own special, annual event.
Would Marvel Nite be too far fetched? Is there enough demand? Clearly, Marvel is a successful brand. Otherwise, Disney wouldn’t have plopped down $4 billion for it. Lately, though, the once bullet-proof Marvel movies have dwindled, both in the box office and on the Disney+ streaming service. That could lend credence as to why Disney has yet to pull the trigger on anything Marvel related at the parks since the underwhelming debut of Avengers Campus in 2021.
Whatever the future holds for specific After Dark events, the concept as a whole is here to stay. They’ve become a great way for Disney to boost profits during their slower season. They sell an additional ticket to guests who’ve already purchased regular tickets AND to people who wouldn’t have purchased a ticket otherwise - Magic Key holders.
These events have become largely character driven, as they often feature those who’re rarely, if ever, seen in the parks any other time. They can also sell exclusive food offerings and merchandise during the event, boosting profits even higher. And Disney adults (whom I believe are the main target niche for these events), love spending money on exclusive items.
The prices may be high, with some exceeding the highest price of a one day ticket. But you know what? I’m here for it. Admit it, you are too.
Disneyland in One Day: 8 Tips to Maximize Your Time
Most people choose Disneyland Park over DCA but what you should know is Disneyland has nearly 50 attractions to…
Attempting to do it all at Disneyland is a daunting task. There are nearly fifty attractions in Disneyland Park alone. That doesn’t even include the attractions at California Adventure.
Despite there being so much to see and do, many people decide to go to Disneyland for only one day for one reason or another. You may one of them.
While it’s impossible to do everything in just one day, if you have a strategy in place, it’s entirely possible to enjoy many attractions and experiences.
In this post, I’ll offer eight tips that’ll help you maximize your time if you only have one day to spend. If your goal is to ride as many attractions as possible, you’ve come to the right blog.
*Quick Note: If you’re looking to book a vacation to the Disneyland Resort (or Disney World, Disney Cruise, Universal and more) consider tapping/clicking the above image to visit our partners at Get Away Today. Going through them is the same as going directly through Disney only through them, you’ll receive personalized service by Disney experts and receive the absolute best price and any accompanying discounts. By going through Get Away Today, you’ll be getting the best price on your vacation and support our website at the same time.
To see their amazing deals on your favorite destinations, click/tap here (and tell them we said “hi”
1) Choose Your Park Wisely
The resort consists of two theme parks - Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. When deciding to only spend one day at one park, you need to decide which one is most important to you because it isn’t worth the extra money to park hop on a single-day ticket.
Most people choose Disneyland Park over DCA but what you should know is Disneyland has nearly 50 attractions to DCA’s 20. Keep in mind that Disney uses the word “attractions” as a catch-all for their offerings. I’m only counting attractions you can actually ride.
With that wide of a gap between the two, you need to decide which park’s attractions appeal to you the most. They each have an equal amount of “thrill” rides whereas Disneyland has more of the traditional, easy-going dark rides than DCA does.
Getting DCA done in a single day is entirely doable. Disneyland - not so much. Disneyland is generally busier and has more than double the attractions than its sister park. So choose wisely. Remember, a single-day ticket costs the same no matter which park you choose.
2) Make a List of “Must-Do” Attractions
Once you’ve decided which park you’re going to visit, research that park’s attractions and make a list of the top ten you want do most. Ten attractions in one day is realistic and a great starting point. Anything after that is a bonus.
Avoid trying to do everything. There’s too many variables for that. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but chances are you’ll just wind up disappointed. Also, come up with plan b’s on your list in case your first choice is closed or temporarily unavailable.
If you’re looking to hit the popular attractions and are choosing DCA, some you’ll want to consider are Mission Breakout, Radiator Springs Racers, WEB Slingers, Incredicoaster and Soarin’.
Across the esplanade at Disneyland, a few of the most popular attractions include Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, Rise of the Resistance, Indiana Jones Adventure and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
3) Rope Drop, Rope Drop, Rope Drop
Prior to the official park opening time - usually around thirty minutes - Disney allows guests to access the hub area of the park but has the individual lands “roped off”. Then, when the park officially opens, they drop the rope (hence, rope drop) and you’re off to the races.
The reason I recommend rope drop so much is because the first two hours of park opening (especially at Disneyland) are the prime hours to get many attractions done. It may seem like a lot of people are there to rope drop as well but once they spread out, the wait times on most rides are minimal.
If you’re there for thrills, always start rope drop at Tomorrowland and go straight to Space Mountain. The worst I’ve waited for Space at rope drop was five minutes, but it’s usually a walk-on. If you’re there for the kiddie rides, head straight for the castle into Fantasyland and ride Peter Pan, first thing.
For context, the photo above was taken of the Space Mountain loading station just three minutes after rope drop. As you can see, it was a walk-on.
4) Buy Genie+
Disney introduced its Genie+ service back in 2021 as the replacement for FastPass/MaxPass. Each day, you’re given a certain number of allotments (one per attraction), allowing you to bypass the stand-by queue. As a result, you often end up with a minimal wait.
Genie+ isn’t cheap, though. Buying this service is going to cost you, at least, another $30 per ticket. Where you lose monetarily, you gain in time. If your goal is to indeed ride as many attractions as you possibly can, then it’s a wise investment.
*PRO TIP: Purchase Genie+ for $30 ahead of time, when you purchase your ticket. If you do it day-of your visit, you’re subject to dynamic pricing and could end up paying up to $10 more.
Remember, you can only redeem ONE Genie+ allotment per attraction, per day. So use it in conjunction with rope drop and resist the temptation to use it before 10:00am. This way, you can use Genie+ to ride some of your favorites a second time.
5) Purchase Individual Lightning Lanes
One downfall to Genie+ is not all attractions are on the service. What’s worse is that two mega-popular attractions, Radiator Springs Racers and Rise of the Resistance, are not only NOT on the service, but you’re forced to pay extra to bypass the often hefty stand-by queue.
These attractions often see 60-70 minute (or more) stand-by queues. Wait times like that will put a serious damper on your day when you only have one. If “Rise” or “Racers” is on your list as a must-ride, then bite the bullet.
Pricing for Individual Lightning Lanes are dynamic (meaning they’re based on demand). The following prices are typical:
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance: $23 - $30
Radiator Springs Racers: $7 - $19
I’ve seen both at every end of the spectrum. Rise NEVER drops below $23. If you’re visiting in the winter or spring, it’ll probably be around that. Conversely, if you’re visiting in the summer or during the holidays, expect to see it at the $30 mark, possibly higher.
Racers is a craft shoot as I’ve seen it as low as $7, as high as $19 and around the middle at $12. Again, demand in the biggest driver, and that could occur even on the slowest of days. So as always, prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
*PRO TIP: You can negate having to pay for ILL for Radiator Springs Racers by following the tip below.
6) Take Advantage of Single Rider Queues
The single rider queue can save Disney-goers a significant amount of time. In fact, I recommend using it, whenever possible, during rope drop to save even more time. Disney uses single rider as a way to fill empty space in the ride vehicles. They get higher capacity rates and you get on the attraction faster. It’s a win-win.
While not all attractions have single rider queues, many do. They are:
Disneyland Park
Matterhorn Bobsleds
Millennial Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
Space Mountain
Disney California Adventure
Grizzly River Run
Goofy’s Sky School
Incredicoaster
Radiator Springs Racers
Soarin’ Around the World
WEB Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure
Even if you’re not a solo rider, you can still take advantage of this. Keep in mind, though, that you and your party will likely be split up into separate ride vehicles. DON’T be that person that argues with the cast member about your party getting split up. If it’s important for your group to ride together, then don’t get in the single rider queue.
This mostly works if it’s just you, or you and one other person who doesn’t mind riding alone. Using single rider with small children isn’t a good idea. The cast members may have you exit and get into the stand-by queue if they’re too young.
7) Buy Your Ticket Ahead of Time
Everything is digital these days, and the Disneyland Resort is no different. Buying your tickets through the Disneyland app or website is quick and easy. The cast member will scan the ticket on your phone and send you on your way, saving you a boat load of time.
If you’re sticking with just one day at the park, the last thing you’ll want to do is waste time at the ticket booths, waiting in line to buy your ticket. Those lines get long, and it isn’t unheard of to spend upwards of an hour waiting. That’s an hour that you do not have.
8) Choose Quick Service & Utilize Mobile Order for Dining
You’re going to burn a ton of calories walking around the parks all day, so it’s important to replenish those calories and keep yourself hydrated. For the latter, I recommend bringing a refillable bottle so you can refill on the go (and save money in the process). For the former, utilize mobile order and quick service dining.
Mobile order allows you to save time by placing a food oder for your favorite restaurants through the Disneyland app ahead of time. You can make your food selections, choose your pick-up time and pay, all through the app.
In the past, Disney’s quick service restaurants weren’t known for their delicious fare. While some still remain in that realm (lookin’ at you, Pizza Planet), many have made the leap into culinary delights, offering flavorful food that rival some of the traditional ones.
Quick service restaurants have it right in the name; they’re quick. Combine that with Disney’s mobile order service and you can enjoy a fast, scrumptious meal before getting back to the attractions. Some of my favorite quick service eateries include:
Lucky Fortune Cookery (DCA)
Bengal BBQ (Disneyland)
Cocina Cucamonga Grill (DCA)
Jolly Holiday Bakery (Disneyland)
Tiana’s Palace (Disneyland)
A Guide to Visiting Disneyland in April 2024
April brings a welcoming change in weather to Disneyland. With temperatures ranging from 60°F to 75°F (15°C to 24°C), you…
Planning a trip to Disneyland in April? You're in for a treat! April offers a unique blend of enchanting experiences and pleasant weather that will make your visit a truly magical experience.
April is one of the best months to visit the Disneyland Resort! Crowds are typically lite (outside of the first week), the rainy season has passed and there’s many special events happening to help make your visit even more memorable.
Let's dive into what you can expect during your Disneyland adventure in April.
*Quick Note: If you’re looking to book a vacation to the Disneyland Resort (or Disney World, Disney Cruise, Universal and more) consider tapping/clicking the above image to visit our partners at Get Away Today. Going through them is the same as going directly through Disney only through them, you’ll receive personalized service by Disney experts and receive the absolute best price and any accompanying discounts. By going through Get Away Today, you’ll be getting the best price on your vacation and support our website at the same time.
To see their amazing deals on your favorite destinations, click/tap here (and tell them we said “hi”)
April Weather in Anaheim
April brings a welcoming change in weather to Disneyland. With temperatures ranging from 60°F to 75°F (15°C to 24°C), you can enjoy the parks without the scorching heat of summer or the frigid chill of winter.
You’ll definitely need to pack a light jacket or sweater for the cooler evenings, but overall, you'll find the weather just right for enjoying the attractions or taking in the night time ambiance.
Don’t be one of those visitors who thinks it’s always warm in California, though. Anaheim is near the coast. So when that evening chill blows in, it catches many off-guard.
Another highlight of visiting Disneyland in April is the explosion of color as flowers bloom throughout the parks. Particularly the tabebuia trees that surround the Partners statue near the castle. The vibrant pinks and purples from these trees are an amazing contrast to the blues and grays of Sleeping Beauty Castle.
If you’re not a fan of rain, you’re in luck. April marks the official end of the rainy season in Anaheim. While it’s always possible you’ll see a spatter of rain here and there, the chances are low.
April is generally a sunny month and the hours of daylight you’ll get each day progresses with it. The first half of the month sees about 12.5 hours of daylight while the second half creeps up to 13.5 hours.
Disneyland Crowd Levels in April
By April, the 100 Years of Wonder Celebration would have come to an end. That said, Disney will likely roll out another promotion in order to entice people to visit.
The winter kid ticket deal expires on March 10th, but the SoCal resident offer, which lowers the per day cost to either $75 or $92 will continue to run through the beginning of June.
There’s also the January 10th sale of Magic Keys that’ll likely impact crowd levels as newly minted key holders converge onto the parks.
Thousands of people waited in an hours-long virtual queue for the chance of purchasing one. All but one tier sold out in less than 12 hours, while the final tier sold out the next morning.
There hasn’t been any announcements regarding the return of Fantasmic (other than it’ll return in the spring). If that return does occur in April, I would expect an uptick in visitation. There’s also a rumor that the Paint the Night parade could be returning in the spring as well.
*EDIT: Disney confirmed that Fantasmic will return on May 24th.
Generally, crowds aren’t much of a problem in April. The sole exception being the first week. Many schools are still on break at this point, but since Easter falls on March 31st this year, it’ll help soften the blow a bit.
Through the remaining three weeks, the heavy crowds start tapering off. If your trip falls within that first week, prepare yourself. If your dates are still open, I recommend booking in the second half of the month so you’re well out of dodge.
That said, there are a handful of special events taking place in April which, depending on their popularity, can have an impact on crowd levels (we’ll discuss those below).
Ticket Prices & Magic Key Blockout Dates
Single-day tickets are priced according to demand on a particular day. For instance, you’re likely to pay much higher on a Saturday than you would for a Tuesday because generally, the parks are busier on weekends.
That is why I always recommend purchasing a multi-day ticket. The more days on your ticket, the less you’ll pay per day. However, if you must purchase a single-day, here is the price range for April:
Single Day Adult: $134 - $194. In the first week of April, you’re going to pay at the high end of the spectrum. This is due to many schools still being on break. As the month progresses, though, you’ll pay less, with weekdays costing the least.
Single Day Child: $127 - $183.
There’s also the SoCal resident promotion that Disney is currently running. Depending on which variation you choose, this three-day ticket lowers the per day price to just $75 and $92, respectively. You can read more about this promotion and others in my post here.
If you’re a Magic Key holder, you’ll need to be cognizant of the blockout calendar before planning a visit. The blockout dates are as follows:
Imagine Key: This key is blocked on all Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in the month.
Enchant Key: This key is blocked on April 5th (Friday) and all Saturdays throughout the month.
Believe Key: This key is only blocked on April 6th (Saturday).
Inspire Key: This key has no blockout dates in the month of April.
April Special Events & Showings
As with most months at the Disneyland Resort lately, there are a handful of special events taking place in April. Some are getting to the end of their run while others are getting their start. These events are as follows:
DCA Food & Wine Festival: Taking place March 1st - April 22nd
Wondrous Journeys: Running through April 14th
Season of the Force: April 5th - June 2nd
Star Wars Nights After Dark Events: April 16th, 18th, 23rd, 25th and 30th
Pixar Fest: Begins April 26th
The Food and Wine Festival will continue its run into the third week of April. The locals love this event, so expect the crowds to swell around late afternoon and throughout the day on weekends.
The event with the biggest impact on park guests will be Star Wars Nights. While they don’t have a direct impact on crowds during the day, they will impact you if you don’t have a ticket.
These events are hard ticketed, separate from normal park tickets. Additionally, the park closes early (8pm) to those guests with regular day tickets. To make matters worse, DCA will likely be closing at 9pm or 10pm in April. So you’ll have little, if any, time to park hop.
It’s a big if, but IF DCA does remain open until 11pm on those nights and you decide to park hop, there will be a max exodus of many others doing the same.
Pixar Fest kicks off at the end of the month. I see it being a huge draw eith the locals, especially during the first few days when every Disney YouTuber, Influencer, and Instagrammer jocking for position to the first to document it.
Disneyland Ride Closures in April
Disney releases attraction closure (also know as, refurbishment) information roughly 45 days ahead of time. Though last minute refurbs do happen from time to time.
Right now, the only attractions confirmed to be down in April are Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain (currently being reimagined into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure) and Incredicoaster.
What’s interesting about Incredicoaster going down on is it is/was going/gone through a ten day refurbishment in March. It’s likely they couldn’t get a part on time for the first refurbishment, so they’re taking it down a second time to complete whatever it is they’re working on.
While it’s currently unclear how long it’ll be down for, considering it’s one of the major Pixar related attractions in the park, I believe Disney will move mountains to ensure it’s operational in time for the start of Pixar Fest later this month.
While I expect refurbs to be minimal this year due to the two aforementioned attractions being down for the majority of the year, don’t be surprised if two or three more pop up on the calendar, if only for a few days.
The following attractions will be closed in all or part of April 2024:
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln: Closed April 16 - TBD
Haunted Mansion: Closed January 21 - TBD (it’ll likely be down until the Halloween season).
Incredicoaster: Closed April 8 - April 18
Matterhorn Bobsleds: April 15 - April 25
Splash Mountain: Permanently closed in May 2023 and being reimagined into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Currently projected to open in late 2024.
To see all the latest updates on Disneyland ride closures and upcoming projects, read and save my 2024 Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar post.
A Guide to Visiting Disneyland in March 2024
March brings the promise of spring, and what better way to celebrate the season than by visiting the enchanting world…
March brings the promise of spring, and what better way to celebrate the season than by visiting Disneyland, the happiest place on earth.
This post will guide you through the magic that awaits at the resort during the month of March. A time when crowds are mostly moderate and the weather pleasant.
We’ll explore everything you need to know to make the most of your Disneyland experience. Whether it’s your first time or just haven’t been in a while.
Let’s get into the benefits (and negatives) to visiting Disneyland in March 2024.
*Quick Note: If you’re looking to book a vacation to the Disneyland Resort (or Disney World, Disney Cruise, Universal and more) consider tapping/clicking the above image to visit our partners at Get Away Today. Going through them is the same as going directly through Disney only through them, you’ll receive personalized service by Disney experts and receive the absolute best price and any accompanying discounts. By going through Get Away Today, you’ll be getting the best price on your vacation and support our website at the same time.
To see their amazing deals on your favorite destinations, click/tap here (and tell them we said “hi”)
Weather in Anaheim
March is when Anaheim emerges from its winter slumber and begins transitioning into spring, offering fairly pleasant weather. Here's a breakdown of the average weather conditions throughout the month:
Daytime Temperatures: Expect daytime highs ranging from 65°F to 75°F. The weather is comfortably mild, providing a perfect atmosphere for a day in the park.
Nighttime Temperatures: Nighttime lows typically range from 48°F to 55°F. While it can be cooler in the evenings, a light jacket or sweater should keep you comfortable.
Rainfall: March sees a minimal amount of rainfall in Anaheim. On average, there are about two to three rainy days during the month.
The weather is the main reason why I love going to the parks in March. Especially the prospect of rainy days. Rain scares away a lot of guests, often leading to lower wait times.
Since there are so few rainy days, though, it isn’t something you should concern yourself with if you’re not a fan of rain. Chances are you’ll experience plenty of clear, cool days.
Is Disneyland Crowded in March?
A major concern for those venturing to Disneyland is how busy the parks will be during their visit. Disneyland is the second most visited theme park in the world. Consequently, you’ll never avoid crowds completely, but there are ways to soften the blow, so-to-speak.
Post covid, crowd patterns and guest trends have changed so significantly that it’s become a craft shoot as to how busy the parks will be. Times of year that were once considered slow periods, are now even busier than summer (lookin’ at you, Halloween).
Other factors, like magic key sales, local ticket offers and promotions have also been big draws. Despite continuing to raise the price of entry (and everything else, for that matter), the demand for Disney is there and doesn’t appear to be slowing down.
That said, there are still certain crowd patterns that hold true to this day, despite the insanity of a post-covid world. I don’t guarantee anything, but I’m confident in the advice you’ll find below.
The first half of the month will start slow. As the weather improves and spring breakers begin their vacations in the second half of the month, though, the difference will be noticeable.
When the final week of the month arrives, when SoCal, Nevada, and Utah students have begun their spring break, the crowds get heavy.
Additionally, Easter falls on March 31 this year. As with any holiday at Disneyland, expect the crowd levels at the resort to be colossal. In short, avoid the final week of the month, if at all possible.
Another monkey wrench to be conscience of is the fact that two major attractions, Splash Mountain and Haunted Mansion, will be down for the majority of the year (one of which will never, as we know it to be, return).
These attractions have high rider capacities, with Splash capable of handling 1,500 riders per hour and mansion having a colossal capacity of 3,500 riders per hour.
Without these attractions operating, those 5,000 combined riders per hour will be absorbed into the other attractions, causing their wait times to swell more than normal for this time of year.
Additionally, there are two promotions Disney’s currently running that may impact crowds. They are the $50 per day kids and SoCal resident ticket offers. The former of which expires on March 10th, while the latter runs through June 2nd.
Of the two, the $50 kids ticket offer is the one I see having the biggest impact, for obvious reasons. The SoCal ticket very well may increase crowds but because its dates are spread further out and there’s an additional two months left in that promotion, it’ll likely be minimal.
*NOTE: If you want to take advantage of either of these offers (and save even more on them), head over to our partners, Get Away Today!
If your goal is to enjoy the parks without having to fight through a dense crowd, I would suggest booking dates between March 4th and March 7th (weekdays) to maximize your time. The second best dates would be between March 11th and March 14th (also weekdays).
After the 14th, crowd levels will likely rise sharply and with it, single-day ticket and Genie+ prices. Do yourself (and your sanity) a favor and adhere to the following:
Don’t book dates for the second half of the month (especially the final week).
Do book dates early in the month, preferably weekdays.
Don’t, under any circumstance, go on Easter.
Do have a blast and make the best of it, no matter which days you decide to go.
March 4, 2024 UPDATE: On the morning of March 4, Disney made the surprising announcement that Magic Keys would be going on sale again on March 5. Seeing as to how Magic Keys sold out in record time during the January 10 sale, I fully expect it to happen again and thus, I can state with full confidence that it’ll have a large effect on crowds, post-sale. Look for the first few days after the conclusion of the sale to have larger than usual crowds for this time of year.
Ticket Prices & Magic Key Blockout Dates
Due to their dynamic pricing structure, single-day tickets prices are based on predictive demand. Essentially, if, based on their proprietary data, Disney thinks a particular day will be busy, that day is going to command a higher price.
Conversely, if it looks like it’ll be a “slow” day, they’ll cut you a break on the price to entice you to visit on that day over another one that’s busier.
This strategy may appear to be price gouging on the surface, but it’s actually smart business. It helps Disney to regulate crowds by encouraging guests to go on a slower day by offering a lower priced ticket and allows them to maximize profits off those willing to pay, no matter what.
In March, single-day ticket prices are as follows:
Single Day Adult: $134 - $194.
Single Day Child: $127 - $174 ($50 for the first ten days).
The 4th through the 7th are the only days priced at the lower amount of $134. The highest price, $194, only appears on a few Saturday and Sundays. The rest of the month, with the exception of the final week, appears to be mostly in the middle of the spectrum.
You have until March 10th to purchase and use the $50 child ticket. If you’re visiting during the first ten days of March, definitely take advantage of that offer. After that, dynamic pricing kicks in and mirrors the pattern of the adult ticket.
*NOTE: Keep in mind that these prices are for single-day, ONE park tickets. The price is the same for both Disneyland Park and DCA. If you want to park hop, you’ll have to pay an additional $65, per ticket.
SoCal residents can take advantage of a promotion that, dependent upon which version they buy, can lower the per day price to $75 or $92, respectively. You can read my comprehensive guide on this and other discount ticket offers here.
Magic Key holders will need to consider the blackout calendar for their particular key. Blockouts for Magic Keys are as follows:
Imagine Key: This key is blocked on all Saturday and Sundays, the last three Fridays, and the entire final week.
Enchant Key: This key is blocked on all Saturdays and the entire final week.
Believe Key: This key is blocked on the last three Saturdays and the entire final week.
Inspire Key: No blockout dates.
Special Events in March
March is a busy month at the resort with numerous special events, showings and a holiday taking place. Those events are as follows:
Disney Channel Night (After Dark Event): Taking place on March 5th and March 7th
DCA Food & Wine Festival: Taking place March 1st - April 22nd
Wondrous Journeys: Taking place March 22nd - April 14th
Spring Break: Starting in the second half of March
Easter: March 31st
Disney’s hosting only one of the many after dark events this year in March. On March 5th and 7th, Disneyland Park will host Disney Channel Night.
These after dark events are hard-ticketed. Meaning your regular park ticket won’t be valid. Consequently, the park closes to regular park guests at 8pm on both these nights.
While these events don’t have a direct impact on day-time crowds - as they take place after park closing - ticket holders of this event will be allowed into the park starting at 6pm. So for the those final few hours, expect an uptick.
If your visit coincides with one or both of these dates and you’re not attending the event, I suggest securing a reservation for DCA and spending your day there to get the most bang for your buck.
Remember, you’re paying the full price of the ticket whether the park closes at 8pm or midnight. Unless you’re springing for the park hopper, opt for DCA on those days to avoid getting shortchanged.
The other noteworthy event is the Food and Wine Festival at California Adventure. This event kicks off on March 1st and runs through the entirety of the month, bleeding over into April.
I don’t see this event having too big of an impact on crowds in the first two weeks (aside from bringing in more locals after 5pm), but it’ll definitely add to the spring break swell.
Attraction Refurbishments (Closures)
Refurbishments are an important aspect of park operations. They’re needed for safety improvements, new additions, routine maintenance and more.
In 2024, I don’t foresee an abundance of attractions going down for refurb since there’s already two massively popular ones, Haunted Mansion and Splash Mountain, going down for the majority of the year.
At DCA, it’s possible that Grizzly River Run, which is currently in its winter refurb, will still be down for part of the month. I don’t see it missing the onslaught of spring breakers towards the middle of the month, though.
*Edit: Grizzly River Run reopens from its winter slumber on March 1st!
Another major refurb in DCA that’ll occur in March is Radiator Springs Racers. Thankfully, the refurb begins in late February and is for less than a week. So unless you’re planning to visit only on March 1st, you won’t miss it.
The following attractions will be closed in all or part of March 2024:
Astro Orbitor: November 17, 2023 - March 20
Disneyland Monorail: March 15 only
Haunted Mansion: January 21 - TBD (likely until the Halloween season)
Incredicoaster: March 4 - March 14
Radiator Springs Racers: February 26 - March 1
Redwood Creek Challenge: March 4 - TBD
Splash Mountain: Permanently closed in May 2023 (currently being reimagined into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure)
To keep up to date with Disneyland and DCA attraction closures, read and save my 2024 Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar. It is constantly updated.
Disneyland Rider Switch Hack (2024 Update)
Rider Switch is a little known perk at the Disneyland Resort (and other Disney parks) that allow those with small children…
This post contains affiliate links.
Rider Switch is a little known perk at the Disneyland Resort (and other Disney parks) that allow those with small children or adults in need of supervision the chance to ride a particular attraction without having to wait in line twice. (Updated January 23rd, 2024.)
This service is also referred to as baby switch, child swap, and parent swap as it’s mostly used by parents with small children who are unable to ride an attraction due to the height requirement or if they simply don’t want to.
This guide is going to cover how to use rider switch, which attractions offer it, specific rules you’ll need to know and a whole lot more. So let’s get into it.
*Quick Note: If you’re looking to book a vacation to the Disneyland Resort (or Disney World, Disney Cruise, Universal and more) consider tapping/clicking the above image to visit our partners at Get Away Today. Going through them is the same as going directly through Disney only through them, you’ll receive personalized service by Disney experts and receive the absolute best price and any accompanying discounts. By going through Get Away Today, you’ll be getting the best price on your vacation and support our website at the same time.
To see their amazing deals on your favorite destinations, click/tap here (and tell them we said “hi”)
Side Note: Since Rider Switch is directly related to attractions, you’ll want to check Disneyland’s refurbishment schedule before heading to the parks. Read my 2024 Disneyland Refurbishment Guide here.
Who Can Use Rider Switch?
Rider Switch can be used by any and all guests with small children or adults in need of supervision who’re unable (or unwilling) to ride particular attractions. In other words, if you’re a group of able-bodied adults or a couple, you won’t be able to use it.
The next question on your mind is probably, ‘How much does it cost’? Ready for this? NOTHING! That’s right, the Rider Switch benefit is included with your ticket and costs nothing extra.
To give some context, let’s go over a brief explanation and scenario. Let’s assume you’re the parents of two children. One of them is 14 who likes thrill rides and the other is 8 who doesn’t and isn’t tall enough to ride them anyway.
Here’s what you do…
How To Use Rider Switch
So your 14 year old has made it clear he wants to ride Space Mountain and your 8 year old isn’t tall enough to ride it. To make matters worse, both you and your husband also want to ride it and you can’t exactly leave your 8 year old to frolic around Tomorrowland on their own.
Here’s what you do…
As a group, you’ll approach the attraction as if you’re going to queue up for it and look out for a Cast Member.
Go up to said Cast Member and explain to them you wish to use Rider Switch.
At this point, your tickets will be scanned by the CM and you’ll be split into two parties; Party A and Party B.
Party A will move on to get into the queue of the attraction. Party B (must consist of a supervising adult) will be directed to a waiting area (likely near the exit).
When Party A is finished riding the attraction, they’ll proceed to where Party B is. The supervising adult from Party B will then be able to proceed up the exit (or Lightening Lane) and enjoy the attraction with a minimal wait (must have their ticket).
Note that the supervising adult from Party B will be able to bring ONE other person to ride the attraction with them. This other person can be from Party A if they wish to ride again.
Which Attractions Feature Rider Switch
There are a number of attractions at the Disneyland Resort that allow you to take advantage of Rider Switch and we’ve broken them up into their respective parks below. Keep in mind that Disney may suspend or eliminate Rider Switch from a particular attraction at any time.
Disneyland Park
Autopia
Alice in Wonderland
Astro Orbitor
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Casey Jr. Circus Train
Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster
Davey Crockett’s Explorer Canoes
Disneyland Monorail
Disneyland Railroad
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Haunted Mansion
Indiana Jones Adventure
it’s a small world
Jungle Cruise
King Arthur Carousel
Mad Tea Party
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Matterhorn Bobsleds
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
Peter Pan’s Flight
Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
Pirates of the Caribbean
Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
Snow White’s Enchanted Wish
Space Mountain
Star Tours - The Adventure Continues
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Storybook Land Canal Boats
Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
Disney California Adventure
Goofy’s Sky School
Golden Zephyr
Grizzly River Run
Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT!
Incredicoaster
Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind
Jumpin’ Jellyfish
Jessie’s Critter Carousel
The Little Mermaid - Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters
Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree
Monsters Inc: Mike and Sulley to the Rescue!
Pixar Pal Around
Radiator Springs Racers
Silly Symphony Swings
Soarin’ Around the World
Toy Story Midway Mania
WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure
Rider Switch Controversy
As with most of Disney’s policies, there seems to be a point of contention between park-goers as it pertains to the Rider Switch benefit and whether it’s considered legal line cutting or not.
While we understand how some may feel this way (we don’t have children but we have no issue going to the parks as adults), the general consnsus is that this policy pertains to such a small percentage of guests that it rarely causes problems.
In fact, we would argue that Disney’s policy of allowing celebrities to literally shut attractions down - and sometimes even kick everyone out of the queue who’ve been waiting - is far more of a problem than a mother or father who simply want to enjoy the ride with their child.
That said, give some people an inch and they’ll take a mile. With the advent of social media, Disney centric Youtube channels, and websites offering hacks to Disney park-goers, it’s really only a matter of time before it’s abused and Disney takes it away.
Recently, for example, a woman on TikTok publicized a hack to get a free t-shirt from Disney. She advertised that if you show up with a shirt with inappropriate wording or graphics (or was too revealing), Disney would provide you with a shirt to cover it up. For the most part, this worked.
That particular TikTok blew up and made headlines across the internet. Before long, everyone was eyeing a free shirt. Disney, however, caught onto this and ended this policy. Now if you arrive in something inappropriate, you’re told to either change or leave. No more free shirts.
Hopefully this benefit won’t be abused as it enables everyone in their respective parties to ride the attraction they wish to ride. Out of all the times we’ve visited the park, we can’t think of a single time that we’ve even noticed somebody utilizing this service.
So how do we feel about it?
We’re all for it. As stated, it pertains to such a small percentage of guests that you barely even notice it. It would be unfortunate if one party were forced to wait in the same line twice. That would certainly put a damper on the amount of attractions you could ride in a day.
The downside to those who use it, especially for those with more than two children, is the person cashing in the Rider Switch can bring only one other person with them while the adult in the first party can ride it with as many as they wish.
So if Party A had two kids in the group, the adult in Party B would either need to ride the attraction solo or will have to decide which kid to ride with and explain to the other why they can’t go a second time. We can sympathize with this dilemma, but it's done, in part, to prevent abuse.
*TIP: Refer to my 2024 Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar post with the latest on ride closures, upcoming projects, and more.
2024 Disneyland Refurbishment Schedule
Between Walt Disney’s original Disneyland Park and its sister park, Disney California Adventure, the Disneyland…
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Between Walt Disney’s original Disneyland Park and its sister park, Disney California Adventure, the Disneyland Resort offers its guests more than 90 rides and attractions.
Some were designed and built recently, like Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, which opened in 2023. Others, like Jungle Cruise, opened with the park all the way back in 1955.
The Disneyland Resort is open all year long and serves thousands of guests on a daily basis. Maintaining and updating these attractions is essential for guest safety and keeping them relevant.
To achieve this, Disney will periodically close attractions throughout the year. It could be for safety improvements, adding new scenes, installing new special effects, or to re-theme the attraction all together.
While these refurbishments are necessary, there’s nothing more disappointing than showing up to the park expecting to jump on your favorite attraction, all to be caught off guard with a closure.
To prevent this disappointment, Disney releases refurbishment related closures 45 days in advance (though there are instances where they occur at the last minute). In this post, I relentlessly keep track of all that information so you don’t have to.
Below, you’ll find the 2024 refurbishment calendar for both parks at the Disneyland Resort. I’ll also sprinkle in information about new restaurant openings in Downtown Disney and information on known projects.
*Pro Tip: Be sure to bookmark/save this post to your device so you can refer to it later. I’m constantly updating it as Disney releases new information.
*Quick Note: If you’re looking to book a vacation to the Disneyland Resort (or Disney World, Disney Cruise, Universal and more) consider tapping/clicking the above image to visit our partners at Get Away Today. Going through them is the same as going directly through Disney only through them, you’ll receive personalized service by Disney experts and receive the absolute best price and any accompanying discounts. By going through Get Away Today, you’ll be getting the best price on your vacation and support our website at the same time.
To see their amazing deals on your favorite destinations, click/tap here (and tell them we said “hi”)
*ALSO…
Knowing which rides are closed is only one part of the equation when planning a trip to Disneyland. Below, we’ve listed a few more of our Disneyland related posts that we think you’d find useful:
“Disneyland Rider Switch: How To Take Advantage of This Little Known Perk”
“Oogie Boogie Bash: Ticket Prices, Event Dates, Villains Grove, and More”
“Disneyland Dining Guide: Mobile Order, Reservations, and More”
Disneyland Park Attraction Closures
Astro Orbitor: Closed November 27th, 2023 - March 28th
Blue Bayou Restaurant: January 7th - January 19th
Davey Crockett’s Explorer Canoes: July 8 - August 20
Disneyland Monorail: March 15th only
Disneyland Railroad: September 1 - TBD
Fantasmic: Returning May 24th
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln: April 16 - TBD
Haunted Mansion: January 21st - August 22 (Virtual Queue access only when it reopens)
It’s A Small World: September 16 - TBD
Jungle Cruise: September 16 - October 3
Magic Happens Parade: Returning February 2nd
Mark Twain Riverboat: September 17th, 2023 - February 24th
Matterhorn Bobsleds: April 15th - April 25
Matterhorn Bobsleds: April 29th - May 2nd
New Orleans Square Train Station: January 28 - TBD
Sailing Ship Columbia: January 8th - January 11th
Space Mountain: August 5 - September 5
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: May 1 - September 9
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: Opens November 15
Wondrous Journeys: Returning March 22nd
As far as Disneyland goes, there are a few usual suspects that receive the annual refurb treatment. At the top of that list is Matterhorn Mountain. While nothing has been announced yet, I do expect it to happen at some point.
Another expectation is for Disney to take it easy on refurbs this year, given the fact that both Haunted Mansion and Splash Mountain/Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, two massively popular attractions, will be down for the majority of the year.
The former will be going through a huge refresh on its queue and exit areas (in addition to a new gift shop) while the latter is being reimagined into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Fantasyland attractions are workhorses with very minimal downtime (2023 being the exception). Rise of the Resistance and Smuggler’s Run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge have yet to see a major refurb since opening in 2019 and I don’t expect that to change in 2024.
Indiana Jones Adventure went through two refurbs in 2023. One for about three months and another for just a few days. I doubt it’ll go through another one this year. A lengthy one, anyway.
So in 2024, I predict just a few, if any, major refurbs on any other attractions. Especially the popular ones. Crowd management has been a major concern of Disney’s top brass in recent years, so I doubt they’ll take another attraction down unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Disney California Adventure Attraction Closures
Anna & Elsa’s Royal Welcome: August 5 - August 15
Animation Academy: August 5 - August 15
Beast’s Library: Permanently closed as of December 10, 2023
Grizzly River Run: January 8th - February 29th
Incredicoaster: March 4th - March 14th
Incredicoaster: April 8th - April 18th
Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind: January 22nd - February 8th
Paradise Garden Grill: January 8th - January 21st
Radiator Springs Racers: February 26th - March 1st
Redwood Creek Challenge: March 4 - July 22
Rogers: The Musical: Rumored to return Summer 2024
Soarin’ Over CALIFORNIA: Returning March 1st - April 22nd
The Little Mermaid - Ariel’s Undersea Adventure: November 4 - TBD
Turtle Talk with Crush: August 5 - August 15
World of Color: September 1 - TBD
On the DCA side of things, there were quite a few major refurbs in 2023 that I think will have an impact on 2024 operations. For instance, Radiator Springs Racers, which hadn’t seen a major refurb since opening in 2012, went down in 2023.
I initially didn’t have Radiator Springs Racers on my 2024 refurb bingo card but lone and behold, it was added to the calendar on January 15th. On February 26th, for a - thus far - undetermined amount of time, this fan favorite attraction will go down for a refurb.
This is likely Disney learning its lesson from last year’s debacle, when a few of the ride vehicles starting smoking and catching fire. This lead them to closing the attraction for a semi-lengthy refurb to address the issues that snowballed during its eleven year run without any real downtime.
I predict it’ll be a quick one, likely only two or three days. It may not be in the same park, but there are already TWO mega-popular attractions down at Disneyland Park. Adding another to the list, for an extended amount of time, isn’t something they’re keen on doing unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Grizzly River Run, the park’s sole water-based attraction, is going down for its annual winter refresh. I expect to reopen either at the end of February or sometime in March.
*Edit: Grizzly River Run will reopen on March 1st
In early 2023, WEB Slingers, the Spider-Man attraction in Avengers Campus, was scheduled for a short refurb but was quickly canceled due to the need to take Radiator Springs Racers down. It’s possible we could see it pop up on the 2024 calendar.
There are fewer attractions in DCA versus Disneyland Park, so refurbishments on this side of the resort don’t occur as often. This is partially due to crowd management concerns, but also because the attractions in DCA are newer than those at Disneyland, so they don’t require as much TLC.
Downtown Disney Restaurant Openings + Closures
Clyde’s Hot Chicken: Opening date TBD (they’ve opened a temporary kiosk near the Monorail station)
Din Tai Fung: Opened July 1, 2024
GG’s Chicken Shop: Opening date TBD
Great Maple: Opened November 15th, 2023
Paseo & Centrico: Opened May 3, 2024
Porto’s Bakery & Cafe: Opening date TBD
Seoul Sister: Opening date TBD
Sip and Sonder: Opening date TBD
Tortilla Jo’s: Permanently closed March 31, 2024
The only new closure in Downtown Disney that is likely in 2024 is Tortilla Jo’s. There’s been no confirmation, but there’s a strong rumor claiming it’ll close sometime in March.
The location Tortilla Jo’s is in now will be the likely new home for Earl of Sandwich (Porto’s Bakery is taking over the space EOS is in now).
When it does close, Disney will likely bulldoze the Tortilla Jo’s building, as it wouldn’t make sense, thematically, for EOS to move into the current space. This way, Earl will finally have its own, custom space.
January Update: Disney announced on January 10th that Tortilla Jo’s will permanently close on March 31st. The attached Taqueria closes April 13th.
Ongoing/Future Projects
In 2024, construction at the resort is expected to be lite. Thus far, there have been no major announcements outside of what we already know.
However, there will be another D23 event this year, where big park project announcements are often made (unless you’re talking about the 2022 event).
The 2022 event was held during the Bob Cheapskate...sorry…Chapek era. It was lackluster, at best. The only real surprise from that event was San Fransokyo in California Adventure.
With Bob Iger back at the helm, I’m holding out hope for bigger announcements at this year’s event. With all that aside, let’s get to the projects we already know about.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
If you haven’t heard of this yet, you must’ve been under a rock. Last May, Splash Mountain was permanently closed to make way for its reimagining into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Construction is well underway, with the former mountain (now resembling more of a hill) adorned in scaffolding and high-visibility vests. The once burnt orange exterior is slowly being overtaken in greenery resembling moss.
Disney still claims a late 2024 opening but honestly, I’m doubtful. The Florida version definitely will, as they’re further along in the process due to closing months sooner than Disneyland’s.
Im not saying it’s impossible. To their credit, they have beefed up the amount of contractors on the project, but it still looks far behind. Hopefully I’m wrong, but an early 2025 opening seems more realistic.
Haunted Mansion Queue
The other major project in Disneyland Park is the expansion of the Haunted Mansion grounds (queue space) and the addition of a mansion-themed gift shop at the attraction’s exit.
The existing queue has become ineffective at containing guests, as it regularly backs into the already congested Magnolia Park (the tree-covered space between mansion and Tiana’s Palace).
To address this issue, Disney plans to expand the queue area in the space formally occupied by the attraction’s FastPass distribution stations. There will be multiple gardens, each themed after Master Gracey, Madame Leota and the one-eyed cat.
Another reason for this expansion is to make the attraction more ADA compliant. Currently, it’s quite inconvenient for those with disabilities to get on and off the attraction.
After the stretching room, you’re forced to squeeze into a small space on the side of the hallway leading to the Doom Buggies. Additionally, you don’t exit the normal way. You’re sent back to the loading station, where you’ll again squeeze through that small space in the hallway and go out again through the congested stretching room.
During the expansion, an ADA elevator is going to be installed near the loading station, allowing guests with mobility issues to enter and exit the attraction through their own entrance/exit, currently known as, ‘The Tomb’. It is located to the side of the current queue area, near the train tracks.
It remains to be seen how they plan to fit a gift shop into the exit area, as it’s a fairly small space. I’m assuming it’ll expand into that small enclave between Haunted Mansion and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Avengers Campus Expansion
I’m beginning to feel like a broken record with this topic, as it’s the third year in a row that I’ve included this on my refurbishment posts and there has been zero progress on this attraction.
The attraction I’m referring to is the highly anticipated Avengers themed simulator. While not confirmed, small details about the attraction were given during the lackluster 2022 D23 parks panel presentation.
It was said that guests would team up with their favorite Avengers to do battle with a new version of Thanos (King Thanos). They even shared art concepts of both King Thanos and the ride vehicle.
Based on the concepts of the ride vehicle and the attractions storyline, this has simulator written all over it. Despite these details, there has been no new construction on it or even a loose idea of when construction would begin.
Personally, I think the reason for the delay is because they keep changing their minds. Disney badly wants to do a simulator, as they’re much easier and cheaper to build than a traditional, highly-themed ride.
Fans, however, are clamoring for an Avengers version of EPCOT’s Guardians of the Galaxy - Cosmic Rewind attraction. It has been proven by many Disney sleuths that there is indeed enough space back there to make it happen.
That said, I do predict that we’ll get a formal announcement about this attraction at D23. From there, I don’t expect ground to break until at least early 2025 and given their current pace on projects, an opening date sometime in 2029, at the earliest, seems likely.
Avatar Experience
This is another project you can classify as, “probably happening, but definitely not for a long time”. Nearly one year ago during an earnings call, Disney CEO Bob Iger made the out-of-nowhere statement that an Avatar “experience” would be coming to the Disneyland Resort.
There were no details provided and when pressed, Iger wouldn’t clarify what he meant by, “experience”. A few days later, an additional statement by Disney stated that this experience would be, “as amazing”, as Animal Kingdom’s ‘Pandora: World of Avatar’.
Since that statement, there hasn’t been any official word from Disney about the subject, nor do I expect to hear one anytime soon. We may get teaser concepts at D23 in August, but that’s about it.
The big question is what, exactly, will it be? Notice the word, “experience”. Iger didn’t use “attraction” or “land”. This tells me that we may be getting some kind of walk-through attraction or something akin to a broadway-style show.
However, if they’re being truthful in their statement that it’ll be, “as amazing”, as Pandora in Florida, then they have to be downplaying it and are planning a Galaxy’s Edge-sized land, right? That’s the hope. In my opinion, anything less just wouldn’t do this franchise justice.
The other burning question is…where? Galaxy’s Edge took up a large chunk of the last of the unused real estate in Disneyland and just by looking at an arial photo of the park, there doesn’t seem to be anything close to that size remaining.
California Adventure is in an even worse predicament as it pertains to space. In that park, the only thing that would make sense is if they re-themed the Grizzly Peak area of the park into Pandora. That would likely mean both the Grizzly River Run and Soarin’ attractions would either need to be outright replaced or receive an awkward re-skin.
In my opinion, this project likely won’t see the light of day unless Disney’s rezoning plans in their DisneylandForward campaign are approved by Anaheim officials. If so, they’ll have a size-able chunk of space across Disneyland Drive to expand both DCA and Disneyland Park (as well as Downtown Disney).
This is the only way I can see them bringing a Pandora-style land to the resort. Without getting these zoning plans approved, we’re likely going to have to settle for a re-themed Grizzly Peak in DCA or a walk-through attraction in the Innovations building in Tomorrowland.
Downtown Disney + Resort Hotel Projects
In addition to the parks, Disney is currently in the midst of bringing new dining and entertainment options to their on-property hotels and Downtown Disney district.
For starters, the former Paradise Pier Hotel will complete its transition into Pixar Place Hotel on January 30th. This transition includes a brand new restaurant, Great Maple, which has already opened.
A few months ago, Disney opened another new eatery called The Palm Springs Bar, which is located on the ground level of the hotel’s new The Villas Tower. This is in addition to a new lounge in the space formally occupied by the shuttered Steakhouse 55.
Throughout Downtown Disney, construction is still well underway. A number of new restaurants are coming to the district in 2024. These include:
A food hall style building called, “Parkside Market”. The restaurants that’ll make-up this market are, “Seoul Sister”, “Sip and Sonder”, “GG’s Chicken Shop”, and a yet-to-be-named second story bar.
“Din Tai Fung”
“Paseo”
“Centrico”
“Clyde’s Hot Chicken”
“Porto’s Bakery and Cafe”
There hasn’t been official word from Disney but based purely on the description of the upcoming Parkside Market, it sounds like they’ve finally found a use for the former ESPN building.
While their permanent location hasn’t opened yet, Clyde’s Hot Chicken has opened a kiosk near the Monorail station. During our last visit we tried their “Hot as Cluck” fried chicken and it was so, so good. They’ll for sure be a popular spot.
As far as when all this construction will be complete, late 2024 is the current favorite timeline. Although I can see some of it bleeding over into early 2025 (namely the food hall).
Oogie Boogie Bash 2023: Ticket Prices, Event Dates, Villains Grove, Characters, and More!
In October 2022, we finally attended our very first Oogie Boogie Bash and let me tell you, it did not disappoint…
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In October 2022, we attended our very first Oogie Boogie Bash and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. We had a blast!
Recently, Disney released the dates and prices for 2023 and we’re so excited to go again! If you’re considering going this year, this guide is for you.
We’ll go over when Oogie Boogie Bash tickets go on sale, what they cost, which characters were out last year and which ones we’d like to see this year, and more. (Updated May 31st, 2023.)
Let’s get into it!
*Quick Note: If you’re looking to book a vacation to the Disneyland Resort (or Disney World, Disney Cruise, Universal and more) consider tapping/clicking the above image to visit our partners at Get Away Today. Going through them is the same as going directly through Disney only through them, you’ll receive personalized service by Disney experts and receive the absolute best price and any accompanying discounts. By going through Get Away Today, you’ll be getting the best price on your vacation and support our website at the same time.
What Is Oogie Boogie Bash?
Oogie Boogie Bash is an annual Halloween event that’s been held at Disney California Adventure (DCA) every year since 2019.
It’s a separate, hard-ticket event not included with regular admission. On Oogie Boogie days, DCA closes early to day guests.
Prior to Oogie Boogie, the annual Halloween event was Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and was held at Disneyland Park proper.
Like its predecessor, Oogie Boogie Bash features treat trails with Disney villains, rare character meet and greets, a parade, Villain’s Grove (more on that later) and more.
Oogie Boogie Bash Ticket Prices
As stated above, Oogie Boogie Bash is a hard ticket, after-hours event. Meaning, your regular one-day or multi-day pass won’t suffice.
After checking in, you’ll be given a wristband with that days specific color. You’ll be asked to produce this wristband periodically.
At 6pm when the park closes to day guests, cast members create borders to filter out non-Oogie Boogie guests. Simply show your wristband to pass through.
Oogie Boogie’s hours are 6pm and 11pm. However, party-goers are permitted entry into DCA beginning at 3:00pm on the day of the event.
If you’re already in the park by this time, simply stop by one of the check-in stations to receive your wristband and treat bag.
If you’re just arriving, you can enter through the main gate or through the private entrances for the Grand Californian or Paradise Pier Hotel Pixar Place Hotel guests.
Like years prior, the event doesn’t run every night and tends to have a gap of 1-3 days between each party. For example, we attended on October 18th and the next event didn’t occur until October 20th.
In 2022, prices ranged from $129 to $179 per person. In essence, the closer to Halloween you get, the higher the price (with a few exceptions).
In 2023, the lowest priced ticket is $134 and the highest is priced at $189 (though only for two of the twenty-five nights).
Below is a list of Oogie Boogie Bash nights and their corresponding prices for nights in September 2023:
September 5, 2023 - $134
September 7, 2023 - $144
September 10, 2023 - $159
September 12, 2023 - $134
September 14, 2023 - $144
September 17, 2023 - $159
September 19, 2023 - $134
September 21, 2023 - $144
September 24, 2023 - $159
September 26, 2023 - $144
September 28, 2023 - $144
October 2023 dates and prices are:
October 1, 2023 - $169
October 3, 2023 - $159
October 5, 2023 - $159
October 8, 2023 - $169
October 10, 2023 - $159
October 12, 2023 - $159
October 15, 2023 - $169
October 17, 2023 - $159
October 19, 2023 - $159
October 22, 2023 - $169
October 24, 2023 - $169
October 26, 2023 - $169
October 29th, 2023 - $189
October 31, 2023 - $189
When Do Oogie Boogie Bash Tickets Go On Sale?
Disney has finally announced when Oogie Boogie Bash 2023 tickets will go on-sale. They are:
June 27th, 2023: Pre-sale for Magic Key holders
June 29th, 2023: On sale to the general public
There is no special pre-sale for D23 members this year, as there won’t be another convention until next year (and I’d imagine 2024 will have one).
The sales on each day will begin no earlier than 9am through the Disneyland website. You will NOT be able to purchase Oogie Boogie Bash tickets through the app.
Be sure you have an account set up and ready to go. In 2022, the event sold out in two days and there isn’t a doubt in my mind that 2023 will break that record.
You’ll likely be waiting in a virtual queue that could take hours to get through. Ensure your internet connection is spot on and DO NOT hit refresh or the back button while in the queue. If you do, you’ll lose your spot.
Event Attractions
Throughout the event, all attractions in Disney California Adventure are operational (unless they’re under refurbishment).
However, with the exception of the few rides with special Halloween overlays (Mission Breakout and Mater’s), the real fun is in the attractions only offered during the bash itself.
Our advice…don’t waste your time with rides. If you’re keen to, you can spend the first three hours of your permitted entry doing so.
You’re allowed entry at 3pm and the party itself doesn’t begin until 6pm. Spend those first few hours getting rides out of the way.
Once the party begins, though, it’s time to explore everything Oogie Boogie Bash has to offer. We’ll list a few of those below:
Villains Treat Trails
These are the highlight of the event. When you check in and receive your wristband, you’ll be given a trick or treat bag to use at these stations.
*Pro Tip: The bags they give you are small and fill QUICKLY. Bring your own larger bag for trick or treating. No one will judge you.
In these treat trails, cast members stationed throughout the queue pass out handfuls of candy and other treats. The best part of the treat trails? Each one features one of Disney’s most beloved villains.
These characters interact with guests and will pose for pictures, but they are not traditional meet and greets where you pose with them.
Treat trail queues get long so to avoid a lengthy wait, cast members keep the line moving by waiving you through and enticing you with candy.
While you can’t spend too much time with each villain, you're allowed to go through the queue as many times as you wish.
Here are the names of the treat trail villains and their locations in 2022:
Ernesto de la Cruz (near the main entrance to Avengers Campus)
Dr. Facilier (across from Corn Dog Castle)
Mother Gothel (near Grizzly River Run)
Mad Madam Mim (near Hyperion Theatre)
Hagatha Harkness (in Avengers Campus)
Cruella (across from the Monsters Inc. ride)
Sid (in Pixar Pier)
Maleficent (adjacent to the Soarin’ building)
Oogie Boogie (in the Art of Animation building)
This was our favorite feature of the bash. Especially Ernesto de la Cruz. He was arguably the most popular character this year and his queue reflected that.
The singing and guitar playing is actually being performed by the actor himself. There’s no sound loop involved. It was an incredible performance.
Don’t let the queue discourage you, by the way. Ernesto, Oogie Boogie and Cruella had the longest queues but we never waited longer than fifteen minutes or so.
Each treat trail will have one or two candy stations prior to the character and another two to three after. This is done to keep the line flowing. Cast members will begin waiving you through if it gets too clustered.
Do keep in mind that there’s a chance the character won’t be there when you arrive. The actors take breaks from time to time. Especially Ernesto. We nearly missed him, but thankfully he came back out right as we neared the stage.
Lastly, these characters may or may not appear at future parties. Oogie Boogie is a given (it’s his event, after-all) and I would predict a return for Ernest de la Cruz given his massive popularity.
This is Sid’s second bash, so he’ll likely remain a regular in 2023 considering he’s Pixar’s original baddie. The remaining may be swapped out for different villains, though.
Special Character Meet n’ Greets
Also featured during Oogie Boogie Bash are special (traditional) character meet and greets, with a Photopass photographer present at most of them.
*PRO TIP: The cost of your Oogie Boogie Bash ticket includes all PhotoPass photos taken during the event. The scan code will be on your wristband.
The biggest draw of the bunch was Minnie, Daisy and Clarabelle dressed as the Sanderson Sisters (Hocus Pocus). They were stationed behind Hollywood Lounge near the Monsters Inc. attraction.
Their queue was an hour wait or more throughout the night and even closed a couple times. If they return next year and you really want a photo with them, we recommend heading to their queue first thing.
Another popular character meet and greet was Bruno, who made his Oogie Boogie Bash debut this year. He was located near the sawmill at Grizzly River Run.
Other characters spotted throughout the night included Ratatouille, The Incredibles, The Blue Fairy, Merlin, Smee, The Wicked Step Sisters and the “Kingdom Hearts” versions of Mickey, Goofy and Donald.
Again, these were standard meet and greets, NOT treat trails. So incidentally, these lines moved slower than the treat trails (and there’s no candy). Keep this in mind when prioritizing.
The Frightfully Fun Parade
This parade first made its debut during the party’s run at Disneyland Park proper and has since made its way to Oogie Boogie Bash.
It runs twice nightly during the event and is one of the shortest, most underwhelming Disney parades we’ve seen. It wasn’t bad, we just feel they’ve could’ve done more with it.
For viewing, you’ll have three options. The first and most obvious would be the traditional way; settle on a spot along the parade route and enjoy the show.
The other two options will set you back some extra coin, but may be worth it to you as you won’t have to camp out for a spot. They are:
Three course dinner at Wine Country Trattoria (comes with a Fastpass style return ticket to a viewing area in front of the Grizzly Peak Waterfall - standing room only).
Sonoma Terrace Dessert Party (comes with a table and seat along the parade route).
There are a few differences between the two (aside from price) you should be aware of before making a decision:
Wine Country Trattoria Dinner: For this, you eat dinner prior to the parade and be given a Fastpass to return to the viewing area later. This is standing-room only. The price was $60 per person and includes your choice of starter, entree, a dessert and non-alcoholic drinks. While checking in, you must state that you want the three-course dinner for the parade.
Sonoma Terrace Dessert Party: For the desert party, you’re assigned an actual table and chair to use during the parade. To top it off, you’re served an array of desserts just before and during the parade in an “all-you-can-eat” setting. The price for the dessert party is $89 per person.
Let’s face it, most people (including us) go with these options mostly for the guaranteed spot on the parade route. The food is almost always a distant second. So if you’re trying to decide, it really comes down to your priorities.
The dinner is the least expensive option and includes an actual meal with the price, but you’ll have to settle for a standing-room only viewing area to watch the parade from.
Alternatively, the dessert party includes a table and seat DURING the parade (which is the reason for the $30 difference), but includes just a variety of deserts. Not an actual meal.
So are you willing to pay more to have an actual place to sit? Or would you rather have the meal and pay less but have to stand/sit along the parade route?
We selected the three course dinner. The food was great (we’ve always enjoyed Wine Country Trattoria) and the view of the parade was great, but if we could do it over again, we would’ve gone with the dessert party. For the actual seat if nothing else.
No complaints about the viewing area, though. There was plenty of elbow room and no one was fighting for a spot (or trying to hijack one at the last minute).
Villains Grove
You’ve undoubtedly heard of Villains Grove. It’s arguably the most popular attraction at the party and because of that, it has consistently long queues throughout the evening.
The grove takes over the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail and transforms it with special lighting, sound, smell and projection affects representing several Disney villains.
There are multiple scenes along the trail and Cast Members are stationed throughout to help guide you through (there’s a couple spots where the trail splits).
Some villains represented throughout the grove include; Scar (Lion King), The Queen of Hearts and Cheshire Cat (Alice in Wonderland) and the Evil Queen (Snow White).
It’s something you truly have to experience to fully appreciate. We took many pictures/video and none of them does it justice.
As stated above, however, it has consistently long lines. We do have a few tips for you, though.
Many people will rush to Villains Grove first thing and for the first two or three hours, its queue often stretches beyond the private entrance to the Grand Californian.
Don’t do this. Wait until later in the night, perhaps within a half hour to an hour of park closing, and chances are good that you’ll arrive to a queue with a minimal-to-no wait.
Another strategy you could implement is arriving during the second showing of the parade. We arrived just before it started and only waited ten minutes or so.
When we exited the grove the parade was in full swing and the queue was non-existent. So we took the opportunity and jumped in for second go.
In short, there’s no reason to wait in a long queue for Villains Grove (though it is worth it, in my opinion). Just make sure you experience it.
Changes We Would Like To See
As awesome as Oogie Boogie Bash was, there were a few things we noticed or thought of that we wish Disney would’ve done differently. They are:
Longer event time: The hours for Oogie Boogie Bash are 6pm - 11pm. While five hours may seem like enough, trust me, it isn't . An extra hour would’ve made all the difference.
More rare villains: We really enjoyed the villains at the treat trails so of course, we’d love to see more. Villains such as the Old Hag, Thanos, Stinky Pete and Lotso come to mind.
A better parade: It’s time for an update. We loved certain elements of the current parade (like the Hitchhiking Ghosts float), but let’s mix it up a bit.
An Oogie Boogie exclusive dining experience: A three-course dinner at Carthay Circle hosted by the Evil Queen, a villains only character buffet, the possibilities are endless and it would undoubtedly be a nightly sell-out.
These are just a few of our ideas but honestly, the bash is a great time and even if they never change a single thing about it, you’re sure to have a great time.
Your Thoughts On Oogie Boogie Bash
Have you attended Oogie Boogie Bash before? If not, does it sound like something you and your family would enjoy? Let us know in the comments below! We love hearing from our readers.
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Visiting Disneyland In July: Weather, Crowd Levels, Ride Closures and More!
Disneyland, a beloved destination for families and Disney enthusiasts alike, offers an enchanting experience like…
3 minute read | contains affiliate links
Disneyland, a beloved destination for families and Disney enthusiasts alike, offers an enchanting experience like no other.
In this post, we’ll focus on visiting Disneyland in July, a month filled with summer fun and excitement. Join us as we explore the best tips, tricks and must-see attractions to make your trip to Disneyland an unforgettable adventure.
Whether you’re planning a family vacation or simply craving some Disney magic, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive in and discover the wonders that await you at Disneyland in July!
*Quick Note: If you’re looking to book a vacation to the Disneyland Resort (or Disney World, Disney Cruise, Universal and more) consider visiting our partners at Get Away Today. Going through them is the same as going directly through Disney only through them, you’ll receive personalized service by Disney experts and receive the absolute best price and any accompanying discounts. By going through Get Away Today, you’ll be getting the best price on your vacation and you’ll be supporting our website at the same time.
To see their amazing deals on your favorite destinations, click/tap here
Weather
No doubt about it, Southern California is warm all year long. It’s one of the aspects of the region that its citizens and visitors love so much. Every day is a beach day.
Some months, however, are warmer than others, and while you may think that July would be miserably hot, for the most part, that isn’t the case.
While July is definitely warmer than the prior six months of the year, the average high in Anaheim is 84 degrees. Most people would describe that temperature as pleasantly warm or comfortable as opposed to miserable.
Additionally, you still get those chilly, cool coastal mornings and evenings Orange County is known for. So a light jacket or hoodie is still a must-pack item for most.
Another benefit, weather wise, to visiting Disneyland in July is the lack of rainy days. July, on average, is the month with the fewest days of rainfall (a whooping 0.2 days, to be exact).
While rainy days typically mean lower crowds, they also mean potential attraction closures. Fan favorites such as Big Thunder, Incredicoaster and Radiator Springs Racers have been known to close if there’s enough rainfall.
Also, it isn’t exceptionally windy in July. In fact, it’s the second, least windiest month of the year (behind August). This means the chances of the firework show getting canceled are lower.
All told, going to Disneyland in July, weather wise, is a great month!
Crowd Levels
Traditionally, July has always been a busy month at the Disneyland Resort. However, ever since the advent of dynamic pricing for one-day tickets and especially in the post-covid era, that isn’t necessarily the case anymore.
It’ll definitely be busier than say February or March, but the current title of busiest time of year currently resides with the Halloween/Christmas season.
That said, July is still considered peak travel season for the parks, so you’ll need to prepare yourself for potentially heavy crowds, especially the week of the 4th of July holiday.
As a general rule, avoid going to the park on weekends. Stick with weekdays, rope drop everyday of your trip and purchase Genie Plus, if possible. If you want to maximize your park time, that’s how you do it.
Ticket Prices/Magic Key Availability
One-Day Ticket Prices
If you’re purchasing multi-day tickets, the price won’t fluctuate like one-day tickets do. However, Disney often raises its ticket prices in the months of February and/or June. So if you’re for sure going in July, the sooner you purchase your tickets, the better.
One-day ticket prices fluctuate on a dynamic tier based system (think purchasing a plane ticket) and depend on Disney’s forecasted demand for that particular day.
Current one-day ticket prices start at $104 (one-park) and top out at $179 (one-park). In July, you can forget spending anything less than $159 per ticket. Slightly more than half the month (16 days) is at that price and those are all middle-of-the-week dates.
All Saturdays are at the top end at $179 and all Sundays are in the middle at $169. Of course, these prices can always change. So again, get those tickets ASAP if you haven’t already.
At the time of this writing, park reservation availability for both one-day and multi-day tickets are wide open.
Magic Key Availability
If you’re a Magic Key holder (or planning to be one by July), you should check the “blocked-out” calendar for your particular key.
The only key with wide open availability (and the only one currently for sale) for the month of July is the Inspire Key. Believe Key holders are blocked out on July 4th and every Saturday, but have access otherwise.
If you’re an Enchant or Imagine Key holder, sorry to say, but you’re blocked out entirely for the month of July. Your only option would be to purchase tickets out-of-pocket.
As always, keep your ears open to any deals Disney may announce in the coming weeks. Like most corporations, Disney has been slowly preparing for the looming economic slow-down and may churn out good deals on tickets.
July Specific Entertainment
Disney doesn’t do a whole lot in July as it pertains to special entertainment. You’ll definitely see minor decorating around Main Street and possibly special outfits worn by Mickey and friends.
There will be a flag retreat ceremony in Town Square. Though these are done daily at Disneyland, this one will have a little something extra. If you want a good view for this, arrive EARLY.
Something Disney has done in the past is a concert at the Fantasyland Theatre featuring the 1st Marine Division Band. No word yet on if this will be happening this year or not.
Normally, Disney would do a little extra during the fireworks show on the 4th of July as well but interestingly, there are no firework shows scheduled for any day in July on the Disneyland website. We’ll update this as more information becomes available.
Attraction Closures & Refurbishments
Attraction closures are an unfortunate, but essential part of Disneyland’s operations. They’re done to implement new technology, install safety improvements, conduct regular maintenance and more.
I have an extensive post where every refurbishment between both parks is listed throughout the year. It also discusses upcoming projects and rumors. Be sure to check it out and save it to your phone as I’m constantly updating it.
These are the attraction refurbs in July for Disneyland Park:
Adventureland Treehouse: Opening date TBD
Alice in Wonderland: Closed July 5th - TBD
Disneyland Monorail: Closed July 5th - TBD
Dumbo the Flying Elephant: Closed July 3rd (single-day closure)
French Market Restaurant: Permanently closed as of February 17th
Fantasmic: On pause until at least Labor Day
Mint Julep Bar: Closed February 17th - TBD
Splash Mountain: Permanently closed as of May 31st
If you haven’t heard, Splash Mountain has closed and is being re-themed to, “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure”. However, it isn't set to open until late 2024. If you’re looking to cool down on a warm July day, your only option is Grizzly River Run across the esplanade in DCA.
The French Market Restaurant and Mint Julep Bar closed in order to be transformed into, “Tiana’s Place”, which is set to open in late 2023. If you want beignets or a Mint Julep, you can get them both at Royal Street Veranda. Beignets can also be purchased at Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney.
Fantasmic, Disneyland’s riverside nighttime spectacular is currently on hiatus due to fire damage to the Maleficent animatronic, “Murphy”. Severe damage was also done to the stage, preventing Disney from staging the show.
It was announced that teams are working on bringing nighttime entertainment to the park this summer, sparking rumors of a return of the Main Street Electrical or Paint the Night parades.
Attraction refurbs for Disney California Adventure in July include:
Boudin Bread Cart: Closed July 1st (opens July 2nd)
Pacific Wharf Distribution Co: Closed May 31st - TBD
Soarin’ Around The World: Closed July 5th - July 14th
Toy Story Midway Mania: Closed July 17th - TBD
In DCA, construction on the transformation of The Wharf into San Fransokio Square is still ongoing. You’ll still be able to access the area, but a completion date is currently unknown.
Aside from Soarin’ Around The World, there are no major attractions scheduled for refurbishment. Of course, that could always change, so be sure to read and save our refurbishment guide to stay updated.
Additional Tips
Below, I’ll give you a few additional tips to help make your trip to Disneyland in July go as smoothly as possible:
Rope drop every day of your trip to maximize your park time.
Purchase Genie Plus ahead of time. This saves both time and money and allows you to ride multiple rides with minimal wait times.
Go during the week instead of the weekends.
Keep an eye on Disney’s refurbishment calendar to stay up to date
Download the Disneyland App to keep digital copies of your tickets.
Take mid-day breaks back at your hotel. This is when the park is the most crowded and hot.
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Thank you for reading.
Disneyland Dining Guide 2023: Mobile Order, Dining Reservations and More
Between Downtown Disney, Disney California Adventure, and their classic, namesake park, the Disneyland Resort offers a plethora…
5 minute read | contains affiliate links
Between Downtown Disney, Disney California Adventure and the classic namesake park, the Disneyland Resort offers a plethora of popular dining options.
Due to their popularity, Disney has implemented many methods in which to enjoy them, including; traditional reservations, mobile ordering and a mobile walk-up list.
If you don’t know what these are or how to navigate them, it could mean disappointment for you and your party if you’ve had your hearts set on a particular place.
In this guide, we’ll cover all the information you’ll need to hopefully avoid that disappointment and make you the ultimate Disney dining insider.
We’ll also go over the varying dining options, such as quick service, table service and character dining. (Updated April 19th, 2023.)
Mobile Ordering
The first thing you’ll want to do is download the Disneyland app and create an account. At most mobile order locations, you’ll see signage at the entrance presenting a QR code to scan.
Scanning this code will just take you to a section of the Disneyland website and will eventually prompt you to download the app anyway.
Disneyland Wifi is notoriously slow, so it’s best to do this before arriving at the parks. Trust us, it’ll save you valuable time.
Mobile Order Locations
Mobile ordering is available at most counter-service locations and at a handful of snack carts as well. You will NOT be able to mobile order for any table-service location.
Below, we broke down each mobile order restaurant by name and where they’re located on property:
Disneyland Park
Alien Pizza Planet
Bengal BBQ
Docking Bay 7 Food & Cargo
Edelweiss Snacks
French Market Restaurant
Galactic Grill
Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor
The Golden Horseshoe
Harbor Galley
Hungry Bear Restaurant
Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe
Milk Stand
Mint Julep Bar
Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante
Red Rose Taverne
Refreshment Corner
Ronto Roasters
Royal Street Veranda
Stage Door Cafe
Tiki Juice Bar
Troubadour Taverne
Disney California Adventure
Award Weiners
Bayside Brews
Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream
Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill
Corn Dog Castle
Cozy Cone Motel
Flo’s V8 Cafe
Hollywood Lounge
Lucky Fortune Cookery
Pacific Wharf Cafe
Pacific Wharf Distribution Co.
Paradise Garden Grill
Pym Tasting Lab
Pym Tasting Kitchen
Rita’s Baja Blenders
Schmoozies!
Smokejumper’s Grill
Sonoma Terrace
Studio Catering Co.
Disneyland Resort Hotels
The Coffee House (Disneyland Hotel)
GCH Craftsmans Grill (Disney’s Grand Californian)
Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill (Disneyland Hotel)
As you can see, there’s a lot of locations accepting mobile orders. Restaurants in Downtown Disney currently don’t accept mobile orders through the Disneyland app.
Most, though, offer their own version of it (including Starbucks and Jamba). In front of those locations are signs with QR codes on them providing instructions on how to utilize their systems.
How To Use Disneyland Mobile Order
Using this feature to order your lunch or dinner is straight forward and easy. Below, we laid out step-by-step instructions, with screenshots, to describe the process.
Step One
The first thing you’re going to want to do is download the Disneyland app and create an account (if you haven’t done so already).
To begin an order, tap on the plus sign at the bottom center of your screen. On the menu that pops up, select, “Order Food”.
Step Two
On the next screen, you’ll be shown a list of open restaurants to order from and their next available pick-up window. If that time doesn’t work for you, select “More Times”.
On that screen, you’ll not only see additional pick-up times, but you can also see where that restaurant is on the digital park map and also browse its menu.
Step Three
As an example, we selected Bengal BBQ. It’s one of our favorites. As you can see in the image below, this is where you’ll make your selections.
With each item you’ll choose your desired quantity, select any additional add-ons, and even customize it to your liking. Then, you’ll add each item to your cart.
Step Four
Once you’re happy with your selections, tap, “View My Order”, then, “Review Order Summery”. Here, you’ll see your total and select your payment method.
Currently, you can pay for mobile orders with:
Disney Gift Cards
Disney Rewards Redemption Cards
Credit or Debit Card (Including American Express and Discover)
Apple Pay
If you’re a Magic Key holder or member of the Disney Vacation Club, your applicable discount will automatically be applied provided your pass and/or membership is linked to your account.
Step Five
After submitting your oder, you’ll be shown your selected arrival window. From here, you simply go about enjoying an attraction or shop until you’re summoned.
If you need to change your arrival time or even cancel your order outright, you can still do so without incurring any charges.
Step Six
When your arrival window comes, you’ll head over to your selected restaurant. Once there, pull up your order on the app and select, “I’m Here. Prepare My Order”.
At this point, your selected payment will be charged and you will no longer be able to make any changes to your order.
Step Seven
When your order is ready, you’ll receive a notification (be sure to turn those on) and will be given instructions as to which pick-up window to go to.
Then, simply show the Cast Member your order (or provide them with your name) and you’ll be off with your food. It’s that easy.
Mobile Walk-Up
If there’s a particular table-service restaurant you really want to dine at but don’t have a reservation (more on that later), you can try adding your name to the mobile walk-up list.
While reservations are highly recommended and mobile walk-up shouldn’t be depended on, it’s your final Hail Mary if tables are booked.
How Mobile Walk-Up Works
First, like making a mobile order, you’ll need the Disneyland app and an account. There’s no need to speak with a cast member, but you will need to be near the desired restaurant to use it.
To add your name to the mobile walk-up list:
Tap the “+” symbol at the bottom center of the app.
Tap, “Check Dining Availability”.
Select your party size.
In the calendar, select the current date then tap, “Now”.
A list of restaurants will appear. If there’s no availability, it’ll say so.
If there’s room and you’re not near the restaurant, it’ll ask you to move closer before continuing.
Once you’re near the restaurant, you’ll add your name to the walk-up list.
When your table is ready, you’ll receive a notification.
Your entire party must be present when you arrive to the restaurant.
Mobile Walk-Up Locations
The following is a list of restaurants currently participating in mobile walk-up:
Blue Bayou (Disneyland)
Cafe Orleans (Disneyland)
Carthay Circle - Alfresco Dining (DCA)
GCH Craftsmans Bar (Grand Californian)
Lamplight Lounge - Boardwalk Dining (DCA)
Magic Key Terrace (DCA)
Oga’s Cantina (Disneyland)
River Belle Terrace (Disneyland)
Storyteller’s Cafe (Grand California)
Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar (Disneyland Hotel)
Wine Country Trattoria (DCA)
Disneyland Dining Reservations
The Disneyland Resort has come a long way as it pertains to food. For the longest time, theme park staples like burgers and hot dogs ran supreme.
In recent years, though, Disney has been setting standards for theme park food at not only their table-service restaurants, but at quick-service spots as well.
Many of them have become so immensely popular that if you don’t have a reservation, your odds of scoring a table are slim (baring a lucky last-minute cancellation).
A few examples of those restaurants that you can have a difficult time scoring a table include Lamplight Lounge, Napa Rose and Carthay Circle.
If your must-do restaurant is one of those (or others), you’ll want to make a reservation by following the directions below.
How To Make A Dining Reservation
Disneyland Dining Reservations Phone Number
The phone number is 714-956-6425. A recording about vacation packages will come up. Press “4” when prompted and let them know you want to make a dining reservation.
Going this route is slow going. Depending on call volume (which is often high), it could take a significant amount of time to reach someone.
It may only be a few minutes, but those few minutes could mean the difference in whether or not you’re successful.
Mobile or Online Reservations
The best way, in our opinions, is to do it through the Disneyland app or Disneyland.com. If you ask us, the app is the simplest of the two.
To make a dining reservation through the app:
Tap the “+” symbol and select, “Check Dining Availability”.
Select your party size, date (reservations can be made 60-days in advance), and time preference.
You’ll then see a list of available restaurants and meal times.
If you don’t see the restaurant you want, that means it isn’t available. Keep checking daily as cancellations often happen.
If you do see one you like, select your meal time and complete the reservation.
You will be asked to provide a credit card guarantee to hold your table. You will NOT be charged unless you fail to cancel within 24 hours of your reservation (more on this below).
Locations Accepting Reservations
Blue Bayou (Disneyland)
Cafe Orleans (Disneyland)
Carnation Cafe (Disneyland)
Carthay Circle (DCA)
Catal Restaurant (DTD)
Disney Princess Breakfast Adventure (Grand Californian)
GCH Craftsman Bar (Grand Californian)
Goofy’s Kitchen (Disneyland Hotel)
La Brea Bakery Cafe (DTD)
Lamplight Lounge (DCA)
Napa Rose (Grand Californian)
Naples Ristorante (DTD)
Oga’s Cantina (Disneyland)
Plaza Inn (Disneyland)
Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen (DTD)
River Belle Terrace (Disneyland)
Splitsville Luxury Lanes - Dining (DTD)
Storyteller’s Cafe (Grand Californian)
Tortilla Joe’s (DTD)
Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar (Disneyland Hotel)
Uva Bar & Cafe (DTD)
Wine Country Trattoria (DCA)
What If You Can’t Get A Reservation
Reservations can be made up to 60-days in advance and most often, you’ll need to be on the ball right at that timeframe to have a chance. So be ready!
If you checked at exactly 60-days out and still couldn’t get a table, don’t give up. There’s a few things you can try:
Check often, daily if you have to. Cancellations happen often as no one wants to get hit with the no-show fee. So keep checking. We couldn’t get a reservation for Lamplight Lounge but we kept checking and ended up scoring a table two days out. DON’T GIVE UP!
Check the day before. If you weren’t able to get one but still have your heart set, check the app the day before your desired date. That’s when people will be cancelling reservations to avoid that no-show fee. Check in the evening or even early morning on the day-of.
Try going through the Disneyland website instead of the app. There’s been a couple times where we couldn’t get a reservation for a restaurant through the app but when we checked on the website, there was an open spot.
Take advantage of mobile walk-up. If the restaurant you couldn’t get also accepts the mobile walk-up list, try that! There’s no guarantees, though, so you should have a back-up in mind, just in case.
Cancelling Reservations
As stated above, when making a dining reservation, Disney requires a credit card guarantee to hold your table.
This was implemented in response to people hoarding reservations and never cancelling them, leaving people out in the cold and Disney with empty tables.
It’s important to note that when making the reservation, your credit card will NOT be charged unless you fail to cancel within 24 hours of your selected date.
No-Show Fee
If you no-show a reservation, your credit card will be charged $10 per person (the number of people in your party).
If you arrive on-time but your entire party isn’t present, that’s ok. As long as the person who made the reservation is present, you’re fine.
*TIp: They don’t check ID’s when checking in. So if the person who made the reservation is running late or can’t make it, just use that name when the cast member asks.
Another noteworthy piece of information is the 15-minute grace period offered by Disney. We’ve never tested this but if you’re running a bit late, you won’t be penalized before that grace period.
Avoiding The No-Show Fee
The best way to avoid the no-show fee is to show up to your reservation but hey, things happen. Kids don’t always cooperate, queue lines take longer than expected or you just simply forget.
Once you’re within that 24-hour period of your reservation, you cannot cancel. You can try calling and pleading your case, but there’s no guarantee.
So say you’ve forgotten about your reservation and it’s the day of. You can’t cancel, so what do you do? Our tip is to modify your reservation.
Modifying Your Reservation
Again, you cannot cancel a reservation once you’re within that 24-hour window. However, Disney does allow you to make modifications.
You can modify aspects such as party size, dining time and date. So if you find yourself in this predicament, simply change the date to one further out. Then you can cancel without penalty.
While we obviously don’t recommend you rely on this hack every time, it is something you can fall back on in order to avoid paying the no-show fee when all other options fail.
Disneyland Dining Categories
At Disneyland, there are three main categories restaurants fall under; quick-service, table-service and character dining.
Below, we’ll briefly discuss the difference between them and give you a few examples of restaurants in each category.
Table-Service
These restaurants are traditional sit-down eateries where you’ll be seated, order through a server and the food is delivered to your table.
These restaurants range from casual to fine dining. Some examples of these include:
Casual Table Service: River Belle Terrace, Cafe Orleans, Lamplight Lounge and Wine Country Trattoria
Fine Dining: Carthay Circle, Napa Rose and Club 33
Price-wise, the later will be at the top of the scale and the former, while not as pricy, will still come with a higher price tag than quick-service eateries.
Quick-Service
Quick-service restaurants make up the majority at the Disneyland Resort. Aside from price, the biggest difference from table-service is the lack of a server.
Whether you choose mobile-order or stand-by, you’ll collect your order at the window and take it to your table (if you can find one) yourself.
*Pro Tip: Have someone in your party search for a seat while you order/wait for your food. It’ll save you a lot of time and hassle.
A few examples of quick-service restaurants throughout the resort include; Red Rose Tavern, Cocina Cucamonga, Flo’s V8 Cafe, Hungry Bear and Bengal BBQ.
Prices are higher than what you’ll find at fast-food chains, but they’re a deal compared to table-service restaurants.
The portion sizes heavily depend on where you go but typically, we’d rate them medium to large at most spots. Saving money by splitting plates is possible at many locations.
For example, if you’re looking to split, we recommend avoiding Bengal BBQ. Each kabob has only three pieces of meat (sometimes four) on it.
At Alien Pizza Planet, however, you can get a slice of pizza that’s much bigger than a usual slice. So splitting that between two small kids is possible.
Character Dining
Character dining is arguably one of Disney’s greatest ideas. The concept is simple; You enjoy a delicious meal (usually a buffet) while some of Disney’s most beloved characters visit you at your table.
It’s an awesome experience for anyone - not just kids - who enjoy interacting with characters. You get more time with them and you’re not having to queue up in the sun.
At most locations, you’re typically guaranteed at least three character experiences during your meal. We usually manage to enjoy much more than that, though (except at Storyteller’s Cafe).
The following is a list of character dining locations:
Plaza Inn: Located in Disneyland Park, character dining is currently only offered during breakfast. The characters you’ll typically see here are; Minnie Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Coco, Rafiki and Tiger. This one is our favorite.
Goofy’s Kitchen: Located in the Disneyland Hotel, character dining is offered here for breakfast and dinner. Typical characters include; Goofy, Pluto, Chip n’ Dale and More!
Storyteller’s Cafe: Located in the Grand Californian Hotel, character dining is offered during breakfast, brunch, and dinner. Typical characters include; Chip n’ Dale, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. This was our LEAST favorite of the four.
Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures: Located inside the Napa Rose restaurant at the Grand Californian Hotel, this premium character dining option is only available for breakfast and on select days. Typical characters include; Snow White, Jasmine, Tiana and Cinderella.
Prices for the first three tend to vary between $35 - $60 per adult and $15 - $35 per child. Final price depends on time of year, meal type, etc.
Princess Breakfast Adventures is another story. This one comes with an eye-watering price tag of $125 per person. Notice the word person. That’s right, even children are at that price.
Our Thoughts…
It’s no secret, dining at the Disneyland Resort can be an expensive, and often times confusing, endeavor. It’s no longer as simple as showing up to any restaurant and ordering your food.
The advent of mobile ordering, while convenient in many ways, has made the process of dining at the park something you need to plan out.
By that, I don’t mean just making a list of where you want to eat. I mean choosing where, what, and at which time you want to eat.
During our recent visit, I attempted to mobile order a black caf cold brew at Docking Bay 7 in Galaxy’s Edge. The closest window I could choose was in 45-minutes.
I arrived at docking bay to see if I could just do stand-by but found the line was so huge it easily would’ve taken that long before I got it anyway.
On another morning, at around 9am (two hours before it opened), I mobile ordered my lunch from Cocina Cucamonga in DCA.
By the time I arrived to pick up my meal (which was fast, by the way), the stand-by line was already an easy 20-30 wait.
I got curious and checked the mobile-order pick up times at that moment and thay were already two hours out (around 1pm). It was insane.
So while mobile-ordering has improved the park experience in some aspects, it’s also ruined it even more so for those who don’t want to plan every aspect of their visit.
Unfortunately, this is the world we live in. Disney has gone all-in on digital payments and is showing absolutely no signs of turning back. All we can do is learn, adapt and excel.
Your Thoughts…
What are your thoughts on mobile ordering and having to make reservations so far out? Let us know in the comments below. We love hearing from readers!
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2023 Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar + Future Projects and Rumors
Between the Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks, the Disneyland Resort boasts more than 90 rides…
3 minute read | contains affiliate links
*Note: You’ve accidentally landed on the 2023 refurb calendar, click/tap here to see the updated, 2024 calendar.
Between the Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks, the Disneyland Resort boasts more than 90 rides and attractions.
Some of these have opened as recently as 2023 while some have been operating since the park first opened in 1955.
Due to the age of some of the attractions, they need to close from time to time for a variety of reasons. These can include:
Safety upgrades
Technology & effects improvements
Re-themes
Changes to the overall appearance
and more
While these ride closures are a necessity for park operations, there’s nothing more frustrating than arriving at the park and finding your favorite attraction closed.
To help with this, Disney releases the dates for planned ride closures on a calendar that you can view 45-days in advance. This way, you can plan your trip accordingly.
Since it can be time consuming to keep track of it all, we put this post together to help you stay on top of ride closures, future projects and more.
This post will be updated constantly, throughout the year, as information is released by Disney. So keep coming back for updates!
Without further delay, let’s get into it. We’ll begin with a list of the current refurbishments, followed by details about upcoming projects.
*Pro Tip: Be sure to bookmark this post to your phone/computer. Disney constantly updates their refurbishment calendar and we work diligently to keep up. By bookmarking this post, you can remain as up to date as possible.
*Quick Note: If you’re looking to book a vacation to the Disneyland Resort (or Disney World, Disney Cruise, Universal and more) consider tapping/clicking the above image to visit our partners at Get Away Today. Going through them is the same as going directly through Disney only through them, you’ll receive personalized service by Disney experts and receive the absolute best price and any accompanying discounts. By going through Get Away Today, you’ll be getting the best price on your vacation and support our website at the same time.
To see their amazing deals on your favorite destinations, click/tap here (and tell them we said “hi”)
*ALSO…
Knowing which rides are closed is only one part of the equation when planning a trip to Disneyland. Below, we’ve listed a few more of our Disneyland related posts that we think you’d find useful:
“Oogie Boogie Bash 2023: Ticket Prices, Villains Groove, Characters, Our Experience and More”
“Disneyland Dining Guide: Mobile Order, Dining Reservations and More”
“Disneyland Rider Switch: How To Take Advantage Of This Little Known Perk”
“Genie+ At Disneyland: How It Works, What It Cost and More!”
Disneyland Resort Refurbishment Calendar
Disneyland Park
Adventureland Treehouse: Opened November 10th
Alice in Wonderland: June 5th - June 15th
Alice in Wonderland: July 5th - July 20th
Astro Orbitor: November 27th - TBD
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: April 3rd - April 13th
Blue Bayou Restaurant: January 7th, 2024 - January 19th, 2024
CenTOONial Park: September 11th - October 29th
Disneyland Monorail: March 20th - March 23rd
Donald’s Boat: Re-opening March 19th
Disneyland Monorail: July 5th - August 31st
Dumbo the Flying Elephant: July 3rd (single day closure)
French Market Restaurant: Permenantly closed February 17th (reopening as ‘Tiana’s Palace’ on September 7th)
Fantasmic: Paused through Spring 2024
Gadget Coaster: Re-opening March 19th
Goofy’s How-to-Play Yard: October 23rd - November 9th
Goofy’s Playhouse: Re-opening March 19th
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln: January 9th - January 25th
Haunted Mansion: August 14th - August 31st (for the ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ overlay installation)
Haunted Mansion: January 21st, 2024 - TBD
Indiana Jones Adventure: January 9th, 2023 - March 16th
Indiana Jones Adventure: November 27th - November 30th
it’s a small world: January 9th - January 19th
it’s a small world: October 23rd - November 9th
Matterhorn Mountain: April 18th - June 2nd
Mark Twain Riverboat: March 6th - March 9th
Mark Twain Riverboat: September 17th - February 2nd, 2024
Mickey’s House: Re-opening March 19th
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway: Opening January 27th
Minnie’s House: Re-opening March 19th
Mint Julep Bar: February 17th - September 6th
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride: June 5th - June 15th
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride: July 24th - August 10th
Peter Pan’s Flight: June 5th - June 29th
Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer’s Island: September 6th & September 7th
Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin: Re-opening March 19th
Splash Mountain: Permanently closed as of May 31st (will reopen as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in late 2024)
Sailing Ship Columbia: September 11th - September 14th
Space Mountain: September 18th - October 26th
Tiana’s Palace: Grand opening on September 7th
Wondrous Journeys: Permanently ending August 31st
By now, you’ve undoubtedly heard of the unfortunate fire that occurred during an April showing of Fantasmic involving the Maleficent (Murphy) animatronic.
If you’ve been under a rock and haven’t heard, i’m sorry to be the one to break it to you. The animatronic and lift system experienced significant damage.
Due to this, Disney announced a pause on all pyro effects in Disney parks worldwide. As far as the future of the show is concerned, all Disney would say is it’s, “on pause”, until at least May 14th.
For those wondering, the reason the troubled animatronic was given the name, “Murphy”, by cast members as a reference to the infamous theory, Murphy’s Law - anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.
Murphy has an extensive history of breakdowns and malfunctions. It would often freeze during performances and sometimes, outright refuse to work in the first place.
As a precautionary measure to Murphy’s mood swings, Disney has a “B” show in place. It’s nowhere near as impressive, but it allows Disney to move forward with the show.
However, with the additional damage done to the platform, Disney hasn’t been able to stage the show at all. Unfortunately, due to this, the pause has now been extended to at least Labor Day.
Disney has stated that, “Teams are actively exploring alternate entertainment offerings for guests this summer”. What could those be? The Main Street Electrical Parade would be a no-brainer.
Update: Disney has recently announced that Fantasmic is now being pushed to Spring 2024. Read my article about it for more information.
Disney California Adventure
Beast’s Library: Permanently closed December 10th
Boudin Bread Cart: May 31st - July 1st
Fairfax Market: January 22nd - February 10th
Grizzly River Run: January 9th - March 16th
Grizzly River Run: January 8th, 2024 - TBD
Golden Zephyr: August 28th - September 28th
Incredicoaster: November 27th - December 1st
Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind: January 30th - February 9th
Mickey’s PhilharMagic: January 24th - February 3rd
Midway Mercantile: July 26th - August 18th
Paradise Garden Grill: August 24th - August 26th
Pacific Wharf Distribution Co: May 31st - July 23rd
Redwood Creek Challenge: July 31st - August 14th
Redwood Creek Challenge: November 1st - November 9th
Radiator Springs Racers: August 18th - August 26th
Rogers: The Musical (Hyperion Theatre): Ending August 31st
Soarin’ Around The World: July 5th - July 14th
Sorcerer’s Workshop: August 28th - September 6th
Silly Symphony Swings: February 27th - May 18th
The Little Mermaid - Ariel’s Undersea Adventure: June 5th - June 7th
Toy Story Midway Mania: July 17th - August 17th
WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure: January 9th - January 12th
WEB Slingers was added and then quickly removed from the refurbishment schedule. This will likely be rescheduled for different dates.
No way to know for sure why it was removed, but it could have something to do with Radiator Springs Racers being added.
Even during slow times (Jan/Feb are traditionally slow months) Disney can’t afford to have too many E-ticket attractions down (that’s assuming you count WEB Slingers as an E-ticket).
There’s been zero indication of Frozen (or any other theme) returning to the Hyperion Theatre. It’s been closed since the 2020 park closures.
Once it does return, it’ll likely be a different theme given its proximity to Avenger’s Campus. Personally, i’m holding out hope for an Avengers broadway show.
(Psst - that’s exactly what happened, by the way)
Downtown Disney
AMC Theatres: Permanently closed as of June 17th, 2018
Catal: Permanently closed as of April 10th, 2023
ESPN Zone: Permanently closed as of June 2nd, 2018
La Brea Bakery: Permanently closed as of January 9th, 2023
Sprinkles Cupcakes: Permanently closed as of April 20th, 2023
UVA Bar & Restaurant: Permanently closed as of April 10th, 2023
Future Projects
Refurbishments aren’t the only aspect of a trip to Disneyland you’ll need to consider. You should also know about future projects.
The Disneyland Resort has many projects in the pipeline. Some are close to fruition while others have yet to break ground.
Below, we’re going to discuss a handful of them.
Disneyland Park
‘Tiana’s Palace’ Restaurant Coming To New Orleans Square
Slowly but surely, Princess Tiana (from the animated film Princess and the Frog) is taking over News Orleans Square.
In 2022, Disney opened a new shop, Eudora’s Chic Boutique, which sells merchandise heavily inspired by Tiana.
In 2024, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, will take Splash Mountains’ place. This year, though, Tiana will finally get her own restaurant.
French Market Restaurant (and subsequently, Mint Julep Bar) will make way for, Tiana’s Palace, later this year.
Disney animators actually took inspiration from French Market when designing Tiana’s Palace for the movie, making this a homecoming of sorts.
Disney says the menu will expand on the restaurant’s current one, offering “current favorites, seasonal flavors and, of course, new New Orleans classics”.
While French Market itself will be no more, Mint Julep Bar will reopen with their infamous mint juleps and Mickey beignets in late 2023.
Construction began with French Market’s closing on February 17th and is expected to be finished in late 2023. Stay tuned.
July Update: Based on recent photos i’ve seen of the exterior, Tiana’s Palace is looking great and coming along nicely. Still looking like a late 2023 opening.
August Update: As announced by Disney on August 18th, Tiana’s Palace will makes its grand debut on September 7th.
The Adventureland Treehouse
Earlier this year, we finally received news on what the former Tarzan’s Treehouse would become. It’s going back to its Swiss Family Robinson roots.
Recently, the Disneyland website announced an opening date of February 11th, 2023. However, that has since been removed.
If you look at the refurbishment calendar as far out as you can go, it’s still not showing an opening date. As always, we’ll keep you updated.
April Update: The scrim has come down to expose the upper portion of the treehouse and thus far it’s looking fantastic. The bottom half is still covered up. Based on current rumors, the treehouse is on track to open some time in June.
July Update: There’s scrim and scaffolding all over the treehouse…still. Most of the rooms and elements at the top of the tree appear to be finished or nearly finished, but crews are still working around the base of the tree. While not confirmed as it’s still covered in a tarp, but the water wheel appears to have been installed. Still no update (or even a guess) as to when it’ll reopen.
November Update: Disney has announced that the long awaited reopening of the Adventureland Treehouse will be on November 10th.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (Splash Mountain Replacement)
Announced all the way back in 2020, the beloved classic attraction, Splash Mountain, will close and make way for, ‘Tiana’s Bayou Adventure’.
The Disney World version of Splash will close on January 23rd but thus far, no closing date for the Disneyland version has been announced.
This is likely due to the current closures of many other attractions. Disney is likely waiting for ToonTown to be complete and reopened.
ToonTown is reopening on March 8th, 2023. So if I were to wager a guess, i’d say don’t expect Splash to go down until AT LEAST March 9th.
April Update: The folks at Disney have recently (finally) announced Splash’s closing date. May 30th will be its final day of operation.
July Update: Construction is off to a fast start at the mountain formally known as Splash. The stump at the top of the mountain has already been dismantled and there’s scaffolding everywhere. I’m hearing rumors that we should be seeing the water tower installed in the coming months.
ToonTown Reimagining
A newly re-imagined ToonTown will be making its long-awaited debut on March 8th, 2023. It’s been closed since March of 2022.
*NOTE: It was announced on February 11th that ToonTown will now open on March 19th. This is due to construction delays resulting from the winter storms.
The park will re-open with fresh paint, new interactive features and tons of new green space. I almost forgot, it’s also getting a new attraction!
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway was a hit at Disney World, so Disney decided to bring a version of it to the west coast.
Runaway Railway opened prior to the rest of ToonTown on January 27th.
March Update: Disney is again utilizing virtual queues in place of a traditional stand-by line. The only other option is to purchase a premium Lighting Lane. Be sure to read our posts on both below so you’re prepared!
READ: “The Ultimate Guide To Virtual Queues At Disneyland”
READ: “Genie Plus Now Live At Disneyland: How It Works, Cost and More!”
April Update: Well that sure was quick. ‘Runaway Railway’ is no longer utilizing virtual queue. Your two options are either traditional stand-by or purchasing a premium lighting lane.
July Update: While ToonTown’s in full swing, there have been persistent issues with the faux grass and the newly installed interactive elements (think fake tree roots children can climb on). Many of these have already been uninstalled, painted, and installed again several times. The faux grass was closed off for a period so crews could work on it. Recently, the pool around Donald’s Boat was walled off for unknown reasons. If you’re going soon, prepare for the possibility of certain areas of the land being closed off.
The Avatar Experience
I debated with myself over whether or not to include the speculation over Bob Iger’s recent announcement of an Avatar project coming to the resort as there isn’t much known about it, but I’ll give it a go.
For starters, Iger referred to it as, “a version of Avatar” and called it an “experience” rather than an attraction or land. These are important distinctions as Iger is known to be precise with his words.
A day later, however, a D23 blog post was quoted as saying the upcoming project will be, “as amazing”, as Animal Kingdom’s Pandora - The World of Avatar. That’s interesting, to say the least.
With Avatar and its sequel, Way of Water, commanding two of the top three slots of highest grossing films of all time, Disney is firmly in the Avatar business and undoubtedly wants to inject as much of the franchise as they can into the parks. Where, in Disneyland, is the question.
Provided Disney gets their way with their plans for the DisneylandForward project, I can see the Disneyland half of the available space being utilized for a west coast version of Pandora. This would make the most sense since that space is a blank canvas and would provide the imagineers with the most flexibility.
I can also see the Grizzly Peak area of DCA receiving a Pandora overlay if push came to shove. It’s a heavily forested area with a couple attractions that could be converted to an Avatar theme with a little creativity.
These options, though, wouldn’t be indicative of Iger’s statement about it being an experience. An experience would indicate something like a walk-through exhibit, a virtual reality attraction, or perhaps an Avatar themed restaurant/bar? Who knows.
Whatever this “experience” is going to look like, it’ll undoubtedly go through multiple revisions before its final form is revealed. For what it’s worth, given how profitable the Avatar franchise has been, I doubt this project will be anything short of spectacular.
I believe Iger’s statement of it being an experience was just him being cautious with his words. Under promising and over delivering is better than the alternative. I’m calling it now - this Avatar “experience” will be the main event announcement at D23 2024 and will blow away all expectations.
Disney California Adventure
Avengers Campus Expansion
At the 2022 D23 fan expo, then Disney CEO Bob Chapek announced an Avengers themed attraction will be coming to Avengers Campus in the future.
How far into the future, exactly? We don’t know. All we know is the story will be centered around the Avengers battling a different version of Marvel’s big baddie, Thanos.
Lots of people, myself included, are holding out hope for an Avengers version of EPCOT’s Cosmic Rewind coaster.
How likely is it given the limited availability of space? There’s a great video by Offhand Disney breaking down whether it could fit or not. Give it a watch.
April Update: There hasn’t been much of anything said about this e-ticket since last year’s D23 event, but there has been some movement regarding the Avengers HQ building.
Soon, construction walls will surround the building as Disney prepares to install a gift shop inside.
The gift shop was planned from the start, as it was intended to be where guests would exit after riding the Avengers e-ticket, but was temporarily scrapped.
While this may not be the news we’ve been waiting for, this is at least the first step towards it.
July Update: Still no movement on just about anything having to do with this expansion. Months ago, a gift shop was announced for the interior of the Avengers building but to date, there hasn’t been much of any news about it. To be fair, they very well could be close to completion on the gift shop itself and we wouldn’t know it due to there being no visibility from the outside.
August Update: While an exact date hasn’t been revealed, Disney did announce that the “long awaited” (can you sense the sarcasm?) new Marvel-themed gift shop called, “Avengers Vault”, will open in mid-September.
San Fransokyo Square
One of the only legit surprises coming out of the D23 2022 parks panel, the wharf area of DCA is getting re-themed to San Fransokyo from the animated film, Big Hero 6.
Like with most of last year’s announcements, no real details were given other than the area receiving a Baymax meet and greet.
Based on the concept art, most of the current eateries will remain, with Godiva being the likely casualty (to make way for the meet and greet).
It seems that most of the change will be mostly cosmetic, with the biggest addition being the arches from the Golden Gate Bridge.
Work has yet to begin on this and there’s no word on when it will start, let alone when it’ll be finished.
January Update: On January 12th, work had official begun on this project with the lagoon around Pacific Wharf getting drained. Currently, the land and its restaurants are still open but that could soon change. While details still haven’t been publicly made, Dave, from the YouTube channel, Fresh Baked, has revealed some information he’s received from a source within Disney. They are:
Changes will be minimal and mostly cosmetic (with the exception of the Baymax meet and greet and the bridge makeover.
The Baymax meet and greet will be to the left of Cocina Cucamonga, right where the beer cart currently is.
A “beer only” window will be added to Cocina Cucamonga.
The Pacific Wharf Cafe will be renamed, ‘Lucky Cat Cafe’ (from the movie) and given an updated menu
Rita’s Baja Blenders will remain, but will be renamed, ‘Turbine Blenders’.
Both Ghirardelli’s, Lucky Fortune Cookery, Cocina Cucamonga and Boudin Bakery will remain as is with only soft changes to their exteriors.
Japanese lettering will be added to the exterior of most buildings throughout the land.
An outdoor gift shop will be added adjacent to the Baymax meet and greet.
Signage adjacent to the bridge stating, “Port of San Fransokyo”, will be added.
And of course, converting the bridge to a Japanese version of the Golden Gate Bridge.
July Update: Disney has been unveiling varying new elements to San Fransokyo piece by piece and it’s all looking great! However, they’ve recently announced that the new(ish) land will be fully completed and open on August 31st!
Resort Hotels & Downtown Disney
Pixar Place Hotel
Another exciting addition coming to the Disneyland Resort is the remodel and re-theme of Paradise Pier Hotel Pixar Place Hotel.
Along with a new name and fresh paint, the pool area will receive a Finding Nemo theme and a new flagship restaurant from local favorite, Great Maple, will be added.
Changes are ongoing and the hotel will remain operational during the transformation. Slight room discounts are currently available as a result.
No word has been given as to when the project will be completed. Based on the current progress, we’re thinking late 2023/early 2024.
July Update: Progress is slow going, but the new paint job is nearly finished (and looking great, by the way), most of the newly refurbished lobby has reopened, and the Finding Nemo Splash Pad is near completion. No word on the new restaurants or when it’ll fully open, but i’m still holding to my previous prediction of late 2023/early 2024.
Disneyland Hotel DVC Tower
Construction is nearing completion on the new Disney Vacation Club (DVC) tower at the Disneyland Hotel.
Based on progress, it’ll likely be finished sometime in the middle of the year, if not before then. Like with most of these, though, no official word has been given.
March Update: Disney recently announced that the Villas at Disneyland Hotel will open to guests on September 28th, 2023.
The new tower will feature 344 themed rooms, including duo studios, deluxe studios, one- & two-bedroom suites and grand villas. Each will be themed after some of Disney’s most classical animated features like “Fantasia”, “The Jungle Book”, “Sleeping Beauty” and more.
If you’re interested in making a reservation, here are some dates to be aware of:
March 15: Disney Vacation Club Members can begin making reservations by calling member services at (800) 800-9800
March 16: Disneyland Magic Key Holders can begin making reservations by calling (714) 956-6425
March 17: All guests can begin making reservations through the Disneyland website or by calling (714) 956-6425
New Downtown Disney Restaurants
This is for the foodies out there. There’s a slew of new eateries coming to the property (and a couple of refreshed ones).
We’ve already covered Great Maple coming to the Pixar Place Hotel, but Downtown Disney is also getting some new additions.
First off, some existing restaurants are getting a refresh. Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen is getting a modern color scheme, refreshed menu and a new name; Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio.
Additionally, the spaces currently occupied by Catal and Uva Bar are going to be converted to an upscale Mexican restaurant called, “Paseo and Centrico”.
Two more highly anticipated restaurants will be making their debuts in the future. Din Tai Fung will likely be built in the space where AMC previously occupied.
A local favorite, Ponto’s, will be taking over the space formally occupied by La Brea Bakery. On January 10th, La Brea Bakery closed for good.
In the interim, Earl of Sandwich will move into the space beginning in February. This is only temporary until their permanent location is built.
April Update: Work is seemingly close to completion on the exterior at the newly minted Jazz Kitchen Coastal Kitchen & Patio. The interior work is still ongoing.
Uva Bar has closed to make way for its conversion to, “Paseo and Centrico”. If you’re visiting soon you’ll need to navigate the construction walls in the center of the walkway.
“Clyde’s Hot Chicken”, recently announced their newest location will be at Downtown Disney in the space formally occupied by “Sprinkles”.
August Update: Construction is moving nicely at the west end of Downtown Disney. Now that they’re finally vertical, the buildings, while still shells, are starting to take shape. Judging by the shape of one particular building, I can confirm that it’ll definitely be the location of the highly anticipated Din Tai Fung restaurant. Construction of the area is expected to be completed in late 2024. Likely before Thanksgiving.
Our Thoughts On Refurbishments
In short, they’re a necessary evil. We’re sure that Disney would love to keep every attraction running all year long but for the most part, that just isn’t feasible.
It’s unfortunate that some people who don’t often visit the parks face the disappointment of their favorite ride being closed when they do go.
That’s why Disney (and bloggers such as myself) create posts and/or a calendar to inform people of expected ride closures prior to their trip.
Of course, closures can happen at any time despite what the calendar says. So even while you’re there, it’s best to keep an eye on this post.
You can view the refurbishment calendar up to 45-days in advance. So check that against your vacation dates as soon as that window opens.
If an attraction is closed during your dates and it’s a deal breaker, see about changing your dates. If you can't, at least you’ll get the disappointment out of the way.
Your Thoughts…
What’re your thoughts on refurbishments? Have you ever showed up to the park only to find your favorite attraction closed?
Tell us about it in the comments below! We love hearing from our readers.
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Magic Band Plus Coming To Disneyland October 26th, 2022
This fall, the Disneyland Resort will be bringing a feature long enjoyed by Walt Disney World park-goers; Magic Bands…
3 minute read | contains affiliate links
On October 26th, 2022, the Disneyland Resort will be debuting a service long enjoyed by Walt Disney World park-goers; Magic Bands. Specifically, Magic Band Plus.
These watch-like bands are intended to make your visit to Disneyland easier by removing the need to use your phone seemingly at every turn during your park visit.
In this post, we’re going to discuss topics such as; the purpose of Magic Bands, how to use them, our thoughts on them and more.
Let’s get into it!
*Quick Note - If you’ve been thinking about a trip to Disneyland for you and your family, consider going through our partners at Get Away Today. They’ve been in the Disney vacation business for years and offer great deals on vacation packages, nearby hotels and park tickets.
They’re an authorized Disney ticket seller and going through them wouldn’t cost you anything more than booking through Disney (or anyone else) directly. In fact, with all their local connections and deals, you’ll likely SAVE a considerable amount.
So head over to Get Away Today and receive a free, instant quote and compare it to what you’re already going to spend. You’ll be supporting a great company and us while getting a great deal at the same time!
What Are Magic Bands For?
Magic Bands were originally launched at Walt Disney World in 2013 and now, nine years later, Disneyland park-goers will have to chance to purchase and use them at their home park.
Magic Bands+, the most recent version, is what now serves Walt Disney World and is what we’ll be getting as well (we’ll cover the differences below).
Essentially, Magic Bands are wearables and are reminiscent of a watch. They’re adjustable, water-proof, and contain a small radio frequency (RF) chip inside of them.
This chip, when aligned with your Disney account, will contain nearly every aspect of your vacation, right there on your wrist. Some examples of they’re use include:
Stores your park ticket or Magic Key to make entry faster
Stores your Genie Plus and Lightening Lane selections
Stores your credit/debit card to make purchases faster and easier
Can be used as your hotel room key
Stores Disney PhotoPass photos
Play virtual games at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
And more
Now that Magic Band+ is live, we know that these bands light up during certain parades and shows, respond to such shows through haptic vibrations and even have gesture recognition.
Using them is simple. At the entrances to the gate and Lightening Lanes, simply hold your band up to the Mickey Mouse shaped scanner. If it lights up green, you’re good to go.
Magic Band vs. Magic Band+
Though nearly the exact same in appearence and how you wear them, Magic Band Plus does have a few key differences from its predecessor.
Let’s begin with the similarities. They both:
Are waterproof
Unlock hotel room door
Have tap to pay for purchases
Link theme park ticket/Magic Key, Lightening Lane selections and PhotoPass photos
The biggest distinctions between the two are that Magic Bands+ have interactive elements built into the device and also, they come with a built-in, rechargeable battery.
Aside from those two things, they both look identical and (nearly) have all the same features.
Where You Can Purchase Magic Bands
At their initial launch, Magic Bands were free to those staying on Walt Disney World property and who booked their vacation through Disney.
You would receive a basic, fairly plain Magic Band with the option to purchase bands with better designs or limited editions. Those not staying on property paid, no matter what.
As of a few years ago, though, Disney did away with the freebies. Now, no matter where you’re staying or who you booked through, Magic Bands now have a cost attached to them.
You can purchase your Magic Band through ShopDisney or at one of the theme parks at Disneyland and Disney World. You could also check sites like Amazon, Ebay and others for second hand bands.
There are dozens of band designs to choose from with many different characters represented from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars.
The average price seems to be set at around $45 per band. However, we did find some for as low as $19.99 and some as high as $75.
Our Thoughts On Magic Bands
Honestly, the jury is still out as it pertains to how we feel about it. We get how these can be useful on the east coast, but we have to question their desirebility here.
The difference between Disneyland and Disney World is night and day. The World sees mostly out of state/international guests while Disneyland is largely a local’s park.
While you can use these bands at Disneyland for everything you can use them for at Disney World, we can’t help but wonder whether or not locals will take to them and if they’ll just over-complicate an arguably already complicated park experience.
Additionally, for the longest time, Disney seemed hell bent on getting all of us to use the Disneyland app for everything under the sun. Now, they’re trying to steer us away from it. Why, you ask?
It’s simple, really. These bands were designed for one thing and one thing only, to make it easier for us to part with our money. That’s it. Every other feature is a diversion from that fact.
That $100 jersey is easier to buy when you just tap your band and go. Holding and swiping your credit/debit card, at minimum, makes you cognizant of what you’re doing. By eliminating this step, you don’t think too much about it.
Or at least, that’s what Disney hopes will happen. Admittedly, they’re probably correct in that prognosis. They poses nine years of data from its run at Disney World to base their decisions on.
That said, we’ll give it a fair shake. It seems as though we’ll be able to use them during our upcoming visit. So we’ll more than likely pick up a band and take it for a test-run.
Once we’ve done that, we’ll be able to give a more experienced opinion on it. Until then, we’ll just have to wait and see.
Your Thoughts…
Are you an east coaster with experience using Magic Bands? How do/did you like them? If you’re Disneylander, what’re your thoughts on them? Let us know in the comments below. We love hearing from our readers!
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Pixar Place Hotel Coming To The Disneyland Resort
Earlier this year, Disney fans were treated with exciting news that Disney would be giving the Paradise Pier Hotel a Pixar…
3 minute read | contains affiliate links
In early 2022, Disney fans were treated with exciting news that Disney would be giving the Paradise Pier Hotel a Pixar-themed makeover.
Despite details not being released at the time, it was great to hear that this was happening. This was something Disney fans hoped for back in 2018 when Paradise Pier was changed to Pixar Pier.
Fast forward a few months to D23 Expo and we now have more details regarding this transformation (though we still don’t have a completion date).
In this post, we’ll cover topics such as; changes/additions coming to the hotel, how this effects you if you’ve made a reservation for Paradise Pier Hotel and more.
Let’s get into it!
*Quick Note - If you’ve been thinking about a trip to Disneyland for you and your family, consider going through our partners at Get Away Today. They’ve been in the Disney vacation business for years and offer great deals on vacation packages, nearby hotels and park tickets.
They’re an authorized Disney ticket seller and going through them wouldn’t cost you anything more than booking through Disney (or anyone else) directly. In fact, with all their local connections and deals, you’ll likely SAVE a considerable amount.
So head over to Get Away Today and receive a free, instant quote and compare it to what you’re already going to spend. You’ll be supporting a great company and us while getting a great deal at the same time!
Pixar Place Hotel
At the 2022 D23 Expo, chairman Josh D’Amaro announced the hotel’s new name; Pixar Place Hotel and described it as a place where guests could immerse themselves into the world of Pixar.
New interpretations of fan-favorite Pixar characters in art form will appear throughout the property, including those from Cars, Monsters Inc, Soul, The Incredibles, Inside Out and more!
Of course, Luxo the lamp will also be featured prominently as shown in the concept art below.
So far, there hasn’t been any details or concept art related to the look of the hotel rooms, but we’re willing to bet there will be subtle touches of the Pixar Pals throughout the room.
New Additions
With the announcement of the new name, we were also given details on a couple new additions coming to the property.
For starters, the hotel’s pool will be reimagined into Finding Nemo’s Splash Pad. It’ll heavily feature characters from both Finding Nemo and its sequel, Finding Dory.
Also announced would be the addition of Southern California favorite, Great Maple, and their new, flagship restaurant coming to the hotel.
Great Maple tailors its menu to elevated comfort foods, all made from scratch, using high quality seasonal ingredients in a stylish and comfortable setting.
This is a fantastic addition to the property as the prior food offerings at Paradise Pier Hotel were always, shall we say, abysmal. As foodies, we’re incredibly exited about this.
Expected Completion Date
In short, we don’t have one just yet. Not even an estimate. One thing we can say for sure is that work has commenced on the property.
References and signage of the property’s former name have been removed from the side of the building itself, though the entrance sign remains (for now).
We were able to confirm with Disney that the hotel WILL NOT close for the transformation. The hotel will remain operational.
So if you’ve already booked here prior to the announcement, don’t fret, your reservation is still good. Do note, though, that construction will likely affect your stay in some capacity.
Our Thoughts On Pixar Place Hotel
We see this as a great addition to the resort. The Paradise Pier Hotel was always seen as subpar by most, despite the hefty nightly rate to stay there.
It stood out (not in a good way) even more so when the reimagining of Paradise Pier into Pixar was completed in 2018.
*Tip: If you haven’t booked a room yet, we would advise you to consider another hotel as the ongoing changes will likely mean reduced amenities. While Disney has lowered the nightly rate to counteract this, their asking price is still high considering all the hotels surrounding the property that offer far more.
That said, if you have your heart set on this property, wait until they’ve finished the transformation.
Pixar is known for their quality and standards. They’ve made several thought-provoking, tear-inducing, high quality movies enjoyed by the young and mature alike.
By all accounts, Disney seems to be striving to keep those theatrical standards cohesive with the overall look and vibe of this new(ish) hotel.
The skepticism is there, though. As we’ve recently seen with other projects that practically scream, “we did this as cheaply as possible”, one can’t help but be fearful of a similar outcome here.
We’re holding out hope that Disney will do right by this once in a lifetime company, though. Pixar deserves it, the characters deserve it and us fans deserve it.
Your Thoughts…
What’re your thoughts about the Pixar Place Hotel? Do you think it’ll be done right or do you think Disney will take the road with the least amount of resistant possible? Let us know in the comments below. We love hearing from our readers!
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Disneyland PhotoPass: What Is It And Why You Should Use It
At the Disneyland Resort, un astronomical amount of photographs are taken each day. I mean, for a lot of people, a trip to…
Contains affiliate links
At the Disneyland Resort, an astronomical amount of photographs are taken each day. After all, for a lot of people, a trip to a Disney park is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. So of course you’d want to capture as many memories as you can.
There’s a problem to this, though. Unless you’re alright with trusting your expensive cell phone or camera with a complete stranger, there’s usually one person left out of the family pictures. It isn’t until you get home that you realize you’re not in a single photo.
Thankfully, Disney figured out a way around this by introducing the PhotoPass service in the early 2000’s. This (kinda) free service solves the problem by placing Disney photographers at key locations around the parks and take your family photos for you.
In this guide, we’re going to cover all the details of both PhotoPass and PhotoPass+, what they cost, how to use them, and much more. Let’s get into it!
*Quick Note: If you’re looking to book the perfect hotel for your trip to Disneyland, looking to save on Disneyland tickets, or book a full-blown vacation package, look no further than our friends at Get Away Today. We’ve partnered up with them for one simple reason; they’re the BEST Disney vacation planners out there! To view the various vacation packages offered through Get Away Today, go here.
What Is Disney PhotoPass and How Do You Use It?
Simply put, PhotoPass is a free(ish) service provided by Disney in which photographers placed at key locations throughout the parks take your family photos for you.
To make the process more streamlined and convenient, it’s best to download the Disneyland app before your visit. This is the fastest and easiest way to receive, view, and download your photos.
Inside the app:
Tap the + symbol at the bottom of the screen
Tap, “Link PhotoPass Photos”
Slide over to and tap, “Show PhotoPass Code”
You’ll then see a QR code on your screen.
This is the code Disney photographers will scan with their device when they take your photos. This ensures the right person receives the right pictures.
*PRO TIP: Take a screenshot of this QR code and save it as the wallpaper to your phone. This way you won’t have to pull up the app every time you get a picture taken. This saves you precious battery life and time.
It’s a straightforward process, really. Locate a Disney Photographer (don’t worry, they stand out), ask him/her to take your photo, they’ll take 4-5 photos in various poses, then they’ll scan your code and off you go.
*Note, getting pictures taken by PhotoPass Photographers is 100% free
If you haven’t downloaded the app or simply don’t want to, you can ask the photographer for a physical card with a code on it (we’ll cover this in more detail further into the post).
Disney states that you should allow up to 24 hours for your photos to appear in the app. That said, in our experience, it has never taken more than an hour or so to show up.
Disney PhotoPass+ Cost & What’s Included
While getting your picture taken is the free part of the service, if you actually want to download or print them, you will need to pay. That’s where PhotoPass+ comes in.
Purchasing PhotoPass+ gives you all the photos taken of you by Disney Photographers, select attraction photos, and character dining photos.
The following are the costs associated with PhotoPass+:
PhotoPass One Photo: $14.99
PhotoPass One Day without Genie+: $19.99
PhotoPass One Day with Genie+: $20.00
PhotoPass One Week: $78.00
Expiration Extension: $15.00
As you can see, unless there’s only one photo that you really like, it makes sense to just spend the extra $5 bucks for the one day package instead of spending nearly $15 for just one photo.
Also, if you’ll be going to the parks for four days, it makes even more sense to purchase the one week-package. If you’re going for five or more, then it’s a no brainer.
Our favorite deal, though, is the Genie+ option. If you don’t know what Genie+ is, you should check out our article about it, because it’s a major time saver at the parks.
Essentially, it’s the successor of Disney’s hugely popular FastPass service that allows you to save your place in line at select attractions so you don’t have to wait as long.
Currently, Genie+ costs $20 per person/per day and included with that price are all of your PhotoPass photos for each day you have it. So if you’re already considering one of the PhotoPass packages, you may as well get Genie+ with it to get the most value.
Magic Shots
Another reason to use PhotoPass are Magic Shots. These fun, magical additions make your photos stand out with an assortment of characters and other elements added into the photo.
You usually don’t need to ask as the photographer will typically include at least one into your set but if you want to be sure, it doesn’t hurt to mention it.
Some examples include the addition of “The Child” (aka, Baby Yoda) in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Tinkerbell in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle.
PhotoPass Locations
PhotoPass photographers can be found throughout the parks at key locations. These include some of the most iconic backdrops in the park as well as character meet and greets.
Typically, you can expect to find photographers at the following locations (though they aren’t limited to these):
Disneyland Park
Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Locations: Millennium Falcon, The Garrison, and “The Child” magic shot near the entrance.
Floral Mickey at the park entrance
Sleeping Beauty Castle (there are numerous photographers here throughout the day)
Walt & Mickey Partners Statue
Various Character Meet n’ Greet
Tomorrowland Locations: Bob Fett Throne photo opp, Mandalorian photo opp, and Star Wars Launch Bay
Mickey Pumpkin and Christmas Tree during holiday events
Disney California Adventure
Walt and Mickey Storyteller’s Statue
Throughout Buena Vista Street
Pixar Pier Bridge
Grizzly Peak Waterfall
Avengers Campus Entrance
Throughout Cars Land
Various Character Meet n’ Greets
You’ll also receive on-ride photos from select attractions throughout both parks. These include:
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission BREAKOUT!
Incredicoaster
Radiator Springs Racers
PhotoPass Without The Disneyland App
For those of you who either don’t posses a smart phone or you just don’t want to bother with the Disneyland app, there is another option. Just be warned, though, that it is neither convenient or time efficient.
As mentioned near the beginning of this post, if you don’t have/want the app, simply ask the PhotoPass photographer for a card with a QR code on it. You can use this card as many times as you like throughout your trip.
If you forget it in your hotel room, simply ask a photographer for another one. Do keep in mind that if you loose your card, there is no way to recover the photos.
At the end of your trip (or whenever you’re ready) simply take your card(s) to the PhotoPass Concierge located on the left side of the Disneyland Park entrance gate.
PhotoPass Expiration Dates
One important aspect to remember is that these photos do not last forever. Whether you decide to purchase them or not, your photos will expire (be deleted) 45-days after the date they were taken.
If you need more time to decide if you want to purchase them all and you’re near the expiration date, you can pay $19.95 for a 15-day extension.
‘Capture Your Moment’ Option
Love using PhotoPass but feel 4-5 photos just isn’t enough? You can book a personalized 20-minute photo session with a Disney photographer.
During those 20-minutes, your photographer will take as many photos of you and your group (up to 8 people total) as possible and in as many poses as you’d like.
Another benefit of this is you’ll be able to take your photos in at least two locations. The only location that is confirmed to be unavailable is Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
There are a few things about this service you should know first. They are:
The cost to book this service is $99 per group.
This price DOES NOT include your photos. Just the time with the photographer.
Your group can include up to 8 people.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is not available as a location choice.
Arrive 15-minutes prior to your scheduled time at ‘Mad Hatter’ on Main Street.
If 20-minutes isn’t enough, you can book two back-to-back sessions for a total of 40-minutes.
‘Capture Your Moment’ is only offered at Disneyland Park. It is NOT available at Disney California Adventure as of this writing.
A valid park ticket and park reservation is required.
Wedding attire or gowns are not allowed.
If you must cancel, do so within 24-hours. Otherwise, you’ll be charged for the full session.
If you’re late, you may not be accommodated. If you are, your session time will likely be reduced.
Since your photos are not included in the price of a session, you’ll have three options to obtain your photos. They are:
Purchase each photo individually. With each photo costing around $15 bucks, this would likely be your most expensive option.
Purchase Genie+ for the day of your session. Purchasing Genie+ gives you quicker access to select attractions and also includes PhotoPass photos for that day.
Purchase a PhotoPass package. As mentioned above, you can purchase a one-day or one-week package.
Is It Worth It?
Some may balk at the price, especially considering it doesn’t include your photos. However, this used to be a common practice in the photography industry.
Many photographers charged you an up front fee (for their time, location, sitting fee, etc) and from there, you’d purchase your photos a la carte or in a separate package.
While most photographers today have adopted the all-in-one package approach, it isn’t exactly unheard of for some to still practice this.
Speaking as a photographer, I can confidently say that $99 for your own photographer at a hugely popular place like Disneyland isn’t that bad of a deal. Especially considering the following example:
$99 for the personal session + $19.99 for the PhotoPass One-Day package = $118.99 (without tax)
Rounded up, that’s $120 for your own photographer and ALL of the photos they take in digital format. If you hired me for a photo session at Disneyland and wanted all the photos included, trust me, it would be A LOT more than $120 bucks. So this is actually a great deal, in my opinion.
For more information or to book a session, visit Disneyland’s official website.
Our Thoughts On PhotoPass
As you can clearly see in the photos throughout this post, we’re big fans of this service and we utilize it just about every time we go. Even if we just take a handful of photos.
As the photographer between us, I’m usually behind the camera and unless it’s a selfie, I show up in very few vacation photos. So being able to take advantage of a service like this is priceless to me.
It makes even more sense if you’re a holder of the Inspire or Believe Magic Keys because as of now, PhotoPass photos are included in the price of those passes.
As far as whether or not you should get it, well, that’s entirely how you perceive the value of it. If you’re not into taking pictures, then this clearly isn’t for you. If you or someone in your group are rarely in the family pictures, then it’s a no-brainer.
If you’re planning on purchasing Genie+ then it makes it even more of a value because they’re included in that cost. You’ll have it anyway so you may as well take advantage of it.
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Early Entry (Formally Magic Mornings) Returns For Disneyland Resort Hotel Guests
If you’ve been a longtime park-goer at the Disneyland Resort, you’ll no doubt remember that little perk select guests used…
If you’ve been a longtime park-goer at the Disneyland Resort, you’ll no doubt remember that little perk select guests used to receive called, “Magic Mornings” or “Extra Magic Hour”.
This perk allowed certain guests to access either Disneyland or Disney California Adventure (whichever had it that day) an hour prior to the official park opening. Not all attractions were available, but a lot were.
Generally, guests who possessed a three-day or longer ticket would receive this benefit. It was immensely popular but for obvious reasons, it didn’t return after the parks re-opened from the covid closure.
That’s all about to change, though. Beginning August 8th, 2022, this benefit, under a new, somewhat bland name, is returning. Aside from the name change, there is a key difference you should be aware of.
*Here’s a few more of our Disneyland articles we think you’d find useful (these links open a new window so you can finish this one first):
“Disneyland Dining Guide: Mobile Order, Walk-Up, and Reservations”
“Disneyland Rider Switch: How To Take Advantage Of This Little Known Perk”
“Genie Plus Now Live at Disneyland: How It Works, Cost, and More!”
“Disneyland Resort 2022 Attraction Refurbishment Calendar (Updated - July)”
Who Is Early Entry For?
As stated above, the Disneyland Resort is bringing early entry back, but with one caveat; it’s now exclusively for guests of Disneyland Resort hotels.
That’s right, unless you’re staying at one of Disneyland’s three on-site hotels, you cannot take advantage of early entry. If you don’t know which hotels I’m referring to, they are:
The Grand Californian Hotel
The Disneyland Hotel
Paradise Pier Hotel (soon to be Pixar themed)
The other change to this perk you should know about is it now grants you an extra 30-minutes of extra park time instead of one hour. Why? We don’t know for sure, but it’s probably staffing related.
What’s Included In Early Entry?
Another aspect of this you should know about is not all attractions are going to be available during these extra 30-minutes. The following is a list of what you can expect to be operational on a typical day:
Disneyland Park Attractions
Alice in Wonderland
Astro Orbitor
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Disneyland Monorail
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
King Arthur Carousel
Mad Tea Party
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
Peter Pan’s Flight
Pinnochio’s Daring Journey
Snow White’s Enchanted Wish
Space Mountain
Star Tours - The Adventures Continue
Disneyland Park Dining and Shopping
Fantasyland Fruit Cart
Galactic Grill
Guide II
Esplanade Stroller Shop
The Mad Hatter in Fantasyland
Market House
Plaza Inn
Disney California Adventure Attractions
Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission BREAKOUT!
Incredicoaster
The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree
Monster’s Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue
Soarin’ Around The World
WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure
Disney California Adventure Dining and Shopping
Cappuccino Cart
The Collector’s Warehouse
Corn Dog Castle
Esplanade Stroller Shop
Fiddler, Fifer, and Practical Cafe
Fillmore’s Taste-In
Seaside Souvenirs
Oswald’s
WEB Supplies
As you can see, as far as Disneyland Park attractions are concerned, you only have access to Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. With Space Mountain being the sole E-ticket attraction available.
DCA, in my opinion, has the better offering with three E-tickets (four if you count Soarin’). However, they’re much more spread out in DCA so you would only be able to ride one, MAYBE two during that 30-minute window.
As usual, all of these are subject to change. Throughout the year, park officials add select attractions to the park refurbishment calendar. It would be a good idea to check it against the dates you’ll be going.
Important Information
The requirements to take advantage of this perk are; You must be a registered guest of one of the three Disneyland Resort Hotels, have a valid theme park ticket, and have a valid reservation for the park/day you wish to enter.
You may enter the park 30-minutes prior to the official park opening time.
While you will be able to make Genie Plus selections, you will not be able to redeem any until the official park opening time. Lightening Lane premiums will also NOT be available during this time.
Early Entry is NOT available to the general public.
Both Disneyland Park and DCA offer this perk DAILY and you can use it everyday of your trip as long as you remain a Disneyland Resort hotel guest.
Members of your group who are NOT on the hotel registration will NOT be able to join you during Early Entry.
Main Street U.S.A, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland are the only lands at Disneyland accessible during Early Entry. DCA has more E-ticket attractions on the list but they’re much more spread out.
Guests of the Paradise Pier hotel can utilize either the main entrance to DCA or the private one across from the hotel.
Guests of the Grand Californian can utilize the main entrance to DCA or the private one inside the hotel.
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Disneyland Offering Limited Time Summer Ticket For California Residents
It isn’t often that Disneyland offers value deals to park-goers. Demand is so high for their parks that, simply put, they don’t have to offer…
It isn’t often that Disneyland offers value deals to park-goers. Demand is so high for their parks that, simply put, they don’t have to offer deals. So when one comes along, it’s best to jump on it while you can.
The Disneyland Resort is currently offering a great deal on 3-day park hoppers or 1-park-per-day tickets. For a limited-time, California residents can save as much as $86 per ticket!
What Do They Cost and What’s The Catch?
The money you’ll save with these tickets add up to significant savings. Especially if you’re traveling with a large group. However, there are a few things about these tickets you’ll need to know before buying them.
They are for California residents ONLY.
If you’re out-of-state and wish to take advantage of this deal, a California resident will need to purchase ALL of the tickets for your group and they’ll need to be present on the first day with their California ID.
Both adult and child prices are the same.
There are Monday - Thursday tickets and Monday - Sunday tickets. The biggest savings come with the Monday - Thursday option.
These tickets can be single park per-day or park hoppers.
Genie+ can be added
The ticket is ONLY valid between June 13th, 2022 and September 15th, 2022.
You do not need to visit on three consecutive days.
You WILL need to use all three days by September 15th, 2022 (It’s essentially use them or lose them).
As far as cost is concerned, we’ll use two ticket options as examples in this post. To see the full list of ticket options and their cost/savings, visit our partners and official Disney ticket vendor, “Get Away Today”.
Through Get Away Today, a 3-day 1-park-per-day (Mon - Thur) ticket without Genie+ is $330 $234 per ticket! That’s a savings of $96 off the usual adult price and only $78 per day!
Also through Get Away Today, a 3-day park hopper (Mon - Thur) ticket without Genie+ is $390 $291 per ticket! That’s a huge savings of $99 off the usual adult price and only $97 per day for both parks!
As you can see, these savings are huge and even though the child prices are the same, consider that you’re still saving $76 and $79 off the usual child price for the above examples. Still massive savings!
To add Genie+, Disney’s paid service that enables guests to save time by holding their place in line at select attractions, it’s $57 per ticket. That comes out to $19 per day ($1 off the usual per day price). Not a huge discount but at Disney, every little bit counts.
*Side Note: If you do add Genie+ to your tickets, all of your PhotoPass photos from Disney Photographers are included in that as well. This adds up to great additional savings as the usual cost for one day’s worth of PhotoPass photos is $39 (or $69 for a week).
Summer Offerings At Disneyland
There’s a lot going on throughout the summer season at the Disneyland Resort. Which makes this offer that much more enticing as it gives you a lot of bang for your buck.
A few examples of the current offerings at the Disneyland Resort include:
Main Street Electrical Parade (ending September 1st, 2022)
Disneyland Forever Fireworks (ending September 1st, 2022)
The return of Fantasmic at Disneyland Park
The return of World of Color at Disney California Adventure
Tale of the Lion King stage show in Fantasyland
New characters at Avengers Campus!
New characters at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!
And so much more!
Why Use Get Away Today?
There are many travel agencies and Disney ticket vendors we considered partnering up with but we ultimately decided on Get away Today.
They’ve been in business since 1990 and have helped over six million people book vacations to Disneyland and beyond. Booking through them is the same as if you booked through Disney, though with a few differences…
They have a flexible cancellation/change policy
365-day refundable Disneyland tickets (currently the ONLY ticket vendor offering refundable tickets)
They’re experts in Disney travel (Parks, Cruises, Resorts, etc)
They offer a flexible layaway plan (even for just tickets)
For every vacation booked they donate a portion to local charities
Best price guarantee on tickets
Amazing customer service
And best of all, you receive discounts by booking through them via our link using our discount code, “INKED10”
By going through Get Away Today, you get all the above PLUS you help support this website. By using our affiliate link, we receive a small commission from Get Away Today and it doesn’t cost you anything extra.
To purchase your California resident summer tickets or to book a vacation package with Get Away Today, go here or call them at 1-855-GET-AWAY (If you call, do us a favor and tell them Inked with Wanderlust sent you).
Should You Take Advantage Of This Offer?
In short…absolutely! As stated at the beginning of this article, Disney doesn’t run deals like this very often. So deeply discounted tickets are hard to come by. As long as you’re a California resident and the last day of your vacation will be on or before September 15th, these tickets are a no-brainer.
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Disneyland Resort 2022 Attraction Refurbishment Calendar
Every year, Disney schedules certain attractions to go down for a variety of reasons. These reasons usually include regular maintenance…
*NOTE: This post is for the refurbishments from 2022. To see the current refurbishments for 2024, click or tap here.
Every year, Disney schedules certain attractions to go down for a variety of reasons. These reasons usually include regular maintenance, a reimagining, safety improvements, and more.
Going to Disneyland and finding out your favorite attraction is closed is a horrible feeling. This is why Disney releases this calendar. This way, you can schedule your trip around those closures.
Keep in mind, though, that these dates are not set in stone. They can be changed, delayed, or extended at any time and for any reason. So keep this in mind when you’re deciding on a date.
Additionally, closures can happen suddenly (known as, unscheduled downtime). Unless something major occurred, these unexpected closures typically only last a few hours or less.
Below is the current refurbishment schedule for both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. We’ll also cover shows and upcoming projects.
*Side Note…
Knowing the refurbishment schedule is only one part of planning a trip to Disneyland. Below are links to more of our guides we think you’ll find useful:
“Disneyland Dining Guide: Mobile Order, Walk-Up, and Reservations”
“11 Common Mistakes People Make at Disneyland and How to Avoid Them”
“6 Reasons Why You Need The Disneyland App”
“Genie Plus at Disneyland: How it Works, What it Costs, and More!”
“Disneyland Rider Switch: How To Take Advantage Of This Little Known Perk”
Tapping or clicking those links will open up a new window. This way, you can open them now, finish this article, and come back to them. With that out of the way, let’s get to it.
Disneyland Resort Refurbishment Calendar
Disneyland Park
Adventureland Treehouse: Opening 2023
Donald’s Boat: Opening March 8th, 2023
Gadget’s Coaster: Opening March 8th, 2023
Goofy’s Playhouse: Opening March 8th, 2023
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln: Closed January 9th - unknown
Indiana Jones Adventure: Closed January 9th, 2023 - unknown
“it’s a small world”: Closed January 9th, 2023 - January 19th, 2023
Mickey’s House: Opening March 8th, 2023
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway: Opening January 27th, 2023
Minnie’s House: Opening March 8th, 2023
Roger Rabit’s Car Toon Spin: Opening March 8th, 2023
Sailing Ship Columbia - Closed October 24th - October 27th
Disney California Adventure
Frozen: Live at the Hyperion - Closed. Unknown return date
Grizzly River Run: Closed January 9th, 2023 - unknown
Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! - Closed November 1st - November 18th
Radiator Springs Racers: Closed January 17th, 2023 - unknown
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail - Closed November 1st - November 10th
As you can see, there are quite a few unknowns on these lists. Most of them having to do with staffing issues, budget constraints, etc. Others have either a specific return date or just a general timeframe. A specific date precludes the attraction is going down for regular maintenance or “plussing”.
A general timeframe is usually indicative of extensive reworks to the attraction and Disney not being able to put pen to paper on a return date due to the work involved.
Lets take a look at a few of those.
Matterhorn Bobsleds
On July 18th, Disney (seemingly out of left field) announced that the beloved, chiropractor favorite Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction would close for an indefinite amount of time. At the time of this writing, no reason has been given as to why.
As always, we will continue to update you as more information gets released.
Update (August): While there still hasn’t been anything official released by Disney, word on Main Street is this closure is due to the never-ending battle of keeping Matterhorn Bobsleds in working order. It’s an old attraction (opened in 1959) and has “severe” infrastructure issues. So this refurbishment is intended to address that.
Update (September): According to the Disneyland website, Matterhorn Bobsleds will re-open on October 14th, 2022. No news on what exactly was worked on, but there is tons of scaffolding around the waterfall sections of the mountain. Also, we have received word that while some parts of the track was worked on, it was not a track replacement as originally predicted.
Update (October): We just got back from our recent visit and rode the Matterhorn to see if there were any significant changes. Aside from a higher quality projection screen during the lift hill, there were none. Also, the ride was as rough as it has ever been. So no improvement there.
Frozen: Live at the Hyperion
This one is in limbo at the moment. It was originally shut down due to the covid-related issues. As a result, the entire cast was let go and haven’t been brought back.
Since then, DCA’s newest land, Avenger’s Campus, has opened. Since the theatre that houses the show is adjacent to the new land, it puts it in an awkward position.
Sure, Hollywoodland is also adjacent to it, so it still makes some sense. Though rumors indicate potential future plans for Hollywoodland to be folded into Avenger’s Campus.
If you’ve seen the Hawkeye series on Disney+, you’ll remember the Avengers Broadway play scene. If folding Hollywoodland into Avenger’s Campus is indeed the plan, bringing that show in (or something similar) would be the perfect fit.
Update (October): I asked a cast member about the future of this building and while they couldn’t get into any major details with me, they did all but confirm that Disney has no plans to bring back the Frozen stage show. As to what they do have in mind, though, is still up in the air.
Pirates of the Caribbean
This one is the biggest mystery at the moment, so all we can do is speculate. Disney closed POTC in mid-march and all they would say is it’s closed, “indefinitely”.
With the ongoing legal issues and domestic violence claims still looming over POTC actor, Johnny Depp, the big rumor is Disney may be taking this time to remove all references to the actor.
Another reason for the closure that i’ve heard is the trees inside the queue area have become dangerously diseased and need to be taken down.
Update (July): POTC re-opened on July 1st, 2022 and as expected, the trees in the outside queue area were indeed removed. However, Disney planted younger trees in their place and updated other aspects of the queue as well. Furthermore, the expected removal of Jack Sparrow did NOT happen. He is still heavily featured in the attraction.
Indiana Jones Adventure
A late addition to the refurbishment calendar is Indiana Jones Adventure. Despite being one of the most popular attractions in the park since its opening in 1995, it’s been seriously neglected for years.
Many of the attraction’s effects and animatronics no longer work, putting a serious damper on the rider experience. During our ONE ride through, we noticed:
The snake no longer moves (it used to strike at the ride vehicle as it passed by)
The projection scene where rats drop into your ride vehicle doesn’t work. Now you just go through a non-sensical dark tunnel.
Mara no longer shots a laser at the ride vehicle as it crossed the bridge (this hasn’t worked, consistently, in many years).
The boulder no longer moves. At the end, a giant boulder would move towards your ride vehicle from above, indicating you’ll be crushed. Now, they just use flashing lights to indicate movement.
The ride is way jerkier and rougher than it used to be.
So when we heard the ride was going down for refurbishment, we were cautiously optimistic that these issues would be addressed. Though as it turns out, that refurbishment is for only two days.
What’s going to happen in two days? Not a whole lot, unfortunately. The projection could possibly get fixed in that timeframe, but I can’t see much more than that getting done.
It’s understandable to a degree. The Christmas season at Disneyland is their busiest of the year, so having a major attraction down during that timeframe would mean extra long lines at the other attractions.
Still, the current state of Indy is, bluntly put, embarrassing and we likely won’t see any action being taken on it until ToonToon and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is complete. So we’re probably looking at late 2024, at the earliest.
Here’s hoping that Indy will soon get the refurbishment is so badly needs and deserves.
Upcoming Projects
In addition to maintenance reasons, some attractions are down or will go down due to what Disney calls, “reimagining” or “plussing”.
These could include a single attraction or even an entire land. Below, we’ll discuss a few of the confirmed ones.
Pacific Wharf Re-theme To San Fransokyo (From ‘Big Hero 6’)
A legit surprise manifested itself from D23 Expo in the form of one of the last original “lands” from the 2001 opening of California Adventure, Pacific Wharf, being transformed into, “San Fransokyo”, from the animated movie, Big Hero 6.
Chairperson of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, Josh D’Amaro, stated they were still in the very early stages of this, but did confirm that the land would feature new restaurants, shops and a Baymax meet and greet.
Don’t hold out hope for a Big Hero 6 attraction in this space because simply put, there’s no room (unless Disney has some hidden magic up their sleeves).
Tarzan’s Treehouse
Tarzan’s Treehouse has been closed since September 2021 with no reason given. Disney recently announced, though, that it will be given a re-theme.
No official information as to what the new theme will be has been given, but there are a couple theories. The most obvious being an Encanto theme. The movie’s song, ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’, is a mega hit and the movie itself has been well received.
Disney is undoubtedly dying to get more Encanto into the park and with a little bit of creativity (and cash), this could be the way they do it.
Update (July): While we still haven’t received word on the re-theme and will likely have to wait until the parks panel at D23 in September, Disney has made some progress. The second tree that connected to the main tree via a bridge has been completely removed. This was likely done to free up walking space as this area of the park is notorious for bottlenecks.
Update (September): Shockingly, there was no mention of the treehouse during the D23 Parks Panel. We’ll continue to keep our ears open for any new information in the future.
Update (October): The newest rumor of the treehouse’s new theme is S.E.A (Society of Explorers and Adventurers). S.E.A was initially created at Tokyo DisneySea in 2001, where its headquarters is still located, and has since branched out throughout several Disney parks in different forms. On top of that, it’s rumored to be getting its own series on Disney+ in the near future.
Honestly, as much as we were hoping for an Encanto theme, this makes way more sense, thematically, and on top of that, it’s an ORIGINAL idea and NOT another IP insert. Which is something us park fans have been clamoring for more of. Due to the themes being similar, there will no doubt be references to Tarzan and Swiss Family Robinson scattered throughout. As always, only time will tell. Hopefully Disney will make an announcement regarding the treehouse soon.
Avengers Campus Expansion
On September 9th, 2022, during the Lengends Ceremony at D23 Expo, Disney CEO Bob Chapek hit the stage and announced the long rumored mutliverse expansion for Avengers Campus.
Specific details weren't given, but Chapek did say that more details would be announced at a future date.
This is almost certainly going to be the Quinjet e-ticket attraction that was originally supposed to open with the new land. The currently empty Avengers building is expected to house the queue.
The only details confirmed during D23 were that this new attraction would, “bring guests into battle alongside their favorite super heroes”, in an, “epic family adventure”.
Another confirmed detail for the attraction is, “King Thanos”, a new villain specifically created for the new ride, will be who guests and the super heroes will be battling in an alternate universe where Thanos won.
New Character Meet & Greets
A couple new meet and greets have been announced for each park at the Disneyland Resort. First, you’ll be able to meet Mandaolorian and Grogu at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge starting in mid-November.
Also announced is a Incredible Hulk meet and greet for Avengers Campus. He will be dressed in his Quantum Suit. Hulk arrives in mid-September and runs for a limited time.
Toontown Reimagining + “Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway”
A couple years ago, Disney announced that the Walt Disney World ride, “Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway”, is coming to Disneyland in Toontown.
Construction was already underway when Disney (seemingly) suddenly decided a new ride wasn’t enough. So they announced that as of March 9th, Toontown, in its entirety, would close for an extensive makeover.
There hasn’t been anything official from Disney about it, but word is they’ll be removing this attraction in order to add a new pathway that will connect Toontown with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. I predict more information will be released at D23.
Update (Sept): At D23 Expo, Disney revealed a few more details about the upcoming reimagining of Toon Town. For starters, Gadget’s Go Coaster will be renamed, “Chip n’ Dale’s Gadget Coaster”. Other details included new grassy areas, the return of Donald’s Boat, an new interactive play yard with a Goofy theme and more! Toon Town is still on track to reopen in spring, 2023.
Update (Oct): It was recently announced that Disney will open Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway on January 27th, 2023, to kick off the celebration for the Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary. However, the rest of ToonTown will remain closed until spring 2023.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Announced all the way back in 2020, Disney announced that the classic attraction, Splash Mountain, would be reimagined with a Princess and the Frog theme. Since then, there hasn’t been much movement. No work was done during the park closure and nothing noticeable was done during the ride’s downtime earlier this year.
There also hasn’t been any further statements from Disney about it. Rumor has it that this is potentially due to the penny-pinching tendencies of Disney’s newest CEO, Bob Chapek. We’ve heard that if this actually happens, Disneyland will get it first and that it could happen in late 2022 or early 2023.
Update (July): In a recent, exciting update, Disney finally released some new information. First, not only is this re-theme still a “go”, but they’ve revealed its new name. That’s right. Splash Mountain will no longer be called, ‘Splash Mountain’. It’ll be re-named, “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure”. Additionally, Disney stated that we can expect this to be completed by late 2024.
Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG
Update (September): Disney revealed a scale model of what Tiana’s Bayou Adventure’s exterior will look like. The model shows the iconic tree at the top of Splash Mountain and the briar patch surrounding the drop completely removed. Still no update as to when it’ll close to begin construction but rumors indicate January 2023 being the end of Splash Mountain as we know it.
Parades and Live Entertainment
The Magic Happens Parade, which was new and already critically adored just prior to the closure, still hasn’t been given a return date. Summer 2022 is a possibility but again, nothing official.
Main Street Electrical Parade, Disney’s go-to for sinking park attendance, ended its current run on September 1st, 2022. As did the Disneyland Forever fireworks show.
Fantasmic!, the beloved waterfront spectacular, returned just in time for the summer crowds in late May and will continue to run until Disney needs to take it down for refurbishment.
*Note - New and returning shows were recently announced at the D23 Expo. See below for additional info!
Update (Sept): It was announced at D23 Expo that the critically acclaimed Magic Happens Parade will return to Disneyland Park in spring, 2023.
Update (Sept): Also announced at D23 Expo, a new firework & projection show called, “Wondrous Journeys”, will debut at Disneyland Park in 2023. This nighttime spectacular will celebrate 100 years of the Walt Disney Company and features characters from all 60 animated films.
Update (Sept): A new version of DCA’s hit nighttime water show, World of Color, will debut in 2023. This version will celebrate a century of storytelling by the Walt Disney Company. A new original song, “Start a Wave”, will be featured on the show.
Our Thoughts About Refurbishments
Refurbishments are an unfortunate, but necessary aspect of Disneyland’s operations. We’re sure they would love to keep everything running non-stop, but it isn’t feasible.
In order to keep the attractions safe and appealing, Disney must close them from time to time. They don’t want to disappoint guests if they can help it, which is why they release this information.
We’re all for refurbishments as they usually result in the attraction becoming even better. Whether that’s new additions, smoother tracks, better ride vehicles, upgraded technology, etc.
That being said, there’s a lot more on these lists than there would normally be. The closure of Toontown, staffing issues, and covid-era closings make up the majority.
Our advice is to do your best to schedule your vacation around the closure if your favorite attraction is on this list. But do keep in mind that Disney is notorious for changing their minds.
They try not to, but they’re known for extending downtime, delaying it, or adding new attractions to the list with as little as a few days notice.
It’s fairly rare, as they’re pretty good at keeping to the schedule, but just know that this is a possibility. Even if you can’t avoid a ride closure, there’s plenty of other amazing attractions to enjoy.
Your Thoughts…
What are your thoughts on attraction refurbishments? Tell us about it in the comment section below. We love hearing from our readers!
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