Disneyland has decorated construction walls along the Rivers of America with posters honoring the park’s history as construction gets underway on the major 14-acre Star Wars project. With Star Wars popularity at an all-time high, the massive expansion project has been placed on the fast track and Harrison Ford will help unveil new details on the new land in an upcoming special on Disneyland’s ongoing 60th Anniversary Celebration. Meanwhile, refurbishments continue in both parks as tons of new merchandise hit store shelves.

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Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

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

Get a closer look! Don’t forget that you can always click on any photo in Dateline Disneyland for a closer look with a larger, higher resolution version of the image!

There’s a lot going on as Disneyland undergoes plenty of change… let’s get started!

Welcome to Disneyland!

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

20th Century Music is closed for refurbishment
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Esmeralda recently received new fortune cards. The new fortunes cleverly reference attractions and areas of Disneyland.
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Below, a look at a few of the new cards. (Click to enlarge)
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

China Closet is missing a door while it gets some work done. The shop remains open.
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway




The Frontier Awakens

Disneyland’s new Star Wars project will be unprecedented in terms of scale for the park, dedicating 14 acres to a single property with massive new facades, rock work, and massive E-Ticket attractions that dwarf even Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones Adventure. Below, a map showing how the new land is expected to impact Disneyland’s landscape once completed in late 2018.
[beforeafter]StarWarsExpansion-BeforeStarWarsExpansion-After[/beforeafter]

[ View Map Large ]

Rivers of America

In Critter Country, views of the River recently disappeared behind construction walls and now classic Disneyland attraction posters decorate the walls.
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

MiceChat forum member TFN5459 recently sparked debate when they noticed the Nature’s Wonderland poster (the only extinct attraction poster on the construction walls) had swapped “via the Mine Train Thru Rainbow Caverns” with “via the Disneyland Railroad.” Could the edit to the original poster be hinting at something Disney has yet to announce?
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Signage lets guests know the Hungry Bear restrooms are open during construction
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

The construction walls along the walkway to the Hungry Bear’s lower level have been replaced with higher walls
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

With the Hungry Bear’s downstairs dining area completely enclosed in construction walls, Disney has added posters with the backstory of the Rivers of America, along with the Mark Twain’s attraction poster and travel posters depicting the River’s different regions.
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Upstairs, you can kind of see through the scrims that enclose the dining areas.
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Over at the Frontier Landing, new signage with historical information on the Mark Twain Riverboat has been added.
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

It’s great to see signage like this and the Rivers of America signage at the Hungry Bear paying tribute to the park’s rich history as it undergoes controversial changes. Hopefully it’s a sincere indication that the changes to the River and Frontierland are being taken seriously and with care.
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Big Thunder Trail

Nearby, construction walls have expanded on Big Thunder Trail, blocking views of the old Mine Train thru Nature’s Wonderland tunnel, preventing views of construction from around the wall.
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Our friend Foxxy from the excellent Passport to Dreams Old and New blog recorded this point-of-view video of the old Mine Train tunnel and lake, just days before the walls expanded, blocking the view.

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

You can catch glimpses of the work near Big Thunder Mountain…
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Refurbishment Round-Up

In addition to the Disneyland Railroad and the Rivers of America, several other attractions in both parks closed over the weekend.

Defrosting

Disney recently announced the “Frozen” show in Fantasy Faire’s Royal Theatre will soon glow away. The “Frozen” show will end its run when the “Beauty and the Beast” show returns later this spring.
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Detour to Adventure

The bridge to Adventureland reopened last week after a brief refurbishment.
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Nearby, Jungle Cruise remains closed until early May.
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

End of Season

In Fantasyland, “it’s a small world” is closed to remove its holiday overlay. While the ride is down, some repaving around the queue is underway.
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Honk for Honda

In Tomorrowland, Autopia remains closed through late April for refurbishment as it prepares to welcome its new sponsor, Honda.
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Some of the rock work in Autopia’s off-roading area is now a darker brown
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Rollickin’ Along…

In Disney California Adventure, the repeatedly-delayed Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters attraction is still behind walls.
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

No official announcement date has been announced and training for attraction Cast Members has been scheduled and canceled multiple times.
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Across from Cars Land’s main entrance, the Blue Sky Cellar continues to get some work done. The facility, which has been closed since Disney California Adventure’s successful relaunch in 2012, will play host to Annual Passholder events this month.
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Merch Madness

Around the parks, new merchandise continues to hit the shelves. New seasonal holiday plush are available now.
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Easter
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

St. Patrick’s Day
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

In the China Closet, new Alice in Wonderland-themed garden items are available just in time for the spring.
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

New wind chime
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Hummingbird feeder
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

New line of blue Mickey paisley/pattern merchandise
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

New apron
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

More of the new 28 & Main line for men has made its way to California.
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Leather wallet
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Duffel bag
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Carry-on bag
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

The huge line of 2016 merchandise is also available now…
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway
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Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway
Weekly News & Information Round-Up
Weekly Theme Park Hours
February 1-7, 2016
Disneyland Park California Adventure
Mon.-Thu.: 10 am – 8 pm
Fri.-Sun.: 8 am – 12 am
Monday: 10 am – 8 pm
Tuesday: 10 am – 6 pm
Wed.-Thu.: 10 am – 8 pm
Fri.-Sun.: 8 am – 10 pm
For a complete listing of theme park hours,
visit the Disneyland.com Theme Park Calendar
Closure and Refurbishment Schedule
Disneyland Park
  • Disneyland Railroad: Closed for over a year starting January 11 while the Railroad path is rerouted for Star Wars Land.
  • Rivers of America: All River traffic and attractions are closed for over a year starting on January 11 while Star Wars Land construction reduces and reroutes the northern portion of the River. The extended closure includes:
    • Mark Twain Riverboat
    • Sailing Ship Columbia
    • Rafts to Tom Sawyer Island
    • Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
    • Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes
    • Fantasmic!
  • Haunted Mansion Holiday: Closed January 11-21 to remove holiday overlay.
  • Jungle Cruise: Closed January 11-May 5 to remove holiday overlay and for extended refurbishment.
  • Autopia: Closed January 11-April 28 for refurbishment.
  • “it’s a small world”: Closed January 25-February 4 to remove holiday overlay.
Disney California Adventure
  • Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters: New attraction opens early 2016.
  • Soarin’ Over California: Closed January 25-28, February 1-4 to install new Soarin’ Over the World attraction.
  • Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular: Closed permanently starting January 11. A “Frozen”-inspired musical stage show will take its place.
  • Grizzly River Run: Closed January 11-14 for refurbishment.
  • World of Color: Closed January 19-February 1 for refurbishment.
  • [B]Blue Sky Cellar:[/B] Closed indefinitely.
Downtown Disney and Disneyland Resort Hotels
    None.
Tomorrowplan Crowd Estimates for Disneyland Resort from Mouseaddict

February 1-7

Mon
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway
Tue
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway
Wed
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway
Thu
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway
Fri
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway
Sat
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway
Sun
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

  • We expect a sunny week at the parks, with temperatures into the high 70s by the weekend — so expect crowds to tick up a bit. However, there are a lot of empty hotel rooms this week.
  • Enjoy the return of “it’s a small world” on Tuesday, and the Happy Lunar New Year Celebration starting Saturday at California Adventure’s Paradise Garden.
  • Have an Apple Watch? Use the premium Wait Watcher feature in Mouseaddict! Get notifications on your wrist when your favorite attraction wait times fall to a time you set. Lose wait now. Only in Mouseaddict.

The free Mouseaddict app for iPhone and iPad features more than five dozen categories of searchable resort information, weather forecasts, park and show schedules, the latest news and articles from MiceChat, and more. Download free on the App Store or at mouseaddict.com.

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

Headline Roundup

A quick look at noteworthy Disney theme park headlines from around the web.
  • Harrison Ford will unveil new details about Disneyland’s Star Wars expansion during “Wonderful World of Disney: Disneyland 60” (EW)
  • Disneyland recently relocated its oldest building, the Pope House, to a new backstage location. (OC Register)
  • Disneyland honored the real-life hero behind Disney’s “The Finest Hours” recently in the park. (Disney Parks Blog)
  • ACT Anaheim honored as Disneyland’s latest Million Dollar Dazzle recipient. (OC Register)
  • An armed man with a Quran was recently arrested at Disneyland Paris. (New York Times)
  • China’s poor air quality may result in ban on Shanghai Disneyland’s fireworks shows. (Shanghaist)
That wraps up this week’s Dateline Disneyland. Thanks for reading and please join the discussion below!

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Thanks for reading. See you at Disneyland!
[B]- Andy[/B]

Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway
Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway

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Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway Disneyland, Disneyland honors its history as Star Wars construction gets underway
FTC-Mandated Disclosure: Promotional consideration for this edition of Dateline Disneyland was provided by the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel & Water Playground.
Andy Castro
Andy is a Southern California native and a life-long fan of Disney theme parks and animation. From 2007-2016, Andy wrote the weekly Dateline Disneyland photo, news and opinion blog here on MiceChat. Today, Andy continues to produce occasional Dateline Disneyland articles and additional special guest content for MiceChat.