Disneyland Resort has fallen into the leaf pile of Autumn as Mickey’s Halloween Party launches and Tower of Terror drops a few key details. There’s quite a bit to show you this week. Be sure to read all the way through to the end for photos of Mickey’s Halloween Party.

The Tower Named What?

09111895


The Tower of Terror at Disney California Adventure started its exterior changeover to Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout this week. Late Monday night the large sign on the building was removed and by Thursday the upper dome was gone too.

09223391
The changes begin, even as the ride remains in operation.

 

New last week, as part of the “Late Check Out” marketing campaign, the Silver Lake Sisters began making appearances in the Lobby of Hollywood Tower Hotel. They will continue to perform daily through the end of Halloween.

09222667

09222669

There are a few issues I personally have with the show: First off is the location and how hard it is to see the ladies for more than a few moments. To get to see the sisters sing, you must be in the Standby Line of Tower of Terror and you’ll pass right by them as you are loaded into the Library. Fastpass guests will hear the group in the lobby of the hotel, but will have a hard time seeing them. No guest will see the act for more than a few minutes as the length of time you are in the Lobby until you are loaded into the Library is very short. Show times are listed, but location and viewing instructions are not listed in the Entertainment Schedule. I love the idea of adding a great experience to an already iconic attraction, but this may not be the best location for the show.

My other problem is sound and lighting. The entire show is supported by existing infrastructure inside the lobby (with the addition of a small riser that the ladies stand on). Overhead lights, meant to illuminate props, are turned all the way up to light the stage. Speakers intended for background music are now being used to deliver live sound to a room that probably has fifty people in its queue at any given time. As a result, the show can be hard to hear, minimizing the tremendous effort of these great performers.

Finally, the show represents three “live” performers, which doesn’t fit the theme of the hotel. It seems oddly out of time and place that the performers are dressed so nicely to perform in a hotel that has been abandoned. Perhaps they should be dressed as ghostly versions of themselves so it all makes sense, and would fit better with not only the Twilight Zone theme but the Halloween promotion as well.

I would much rather see the Silver Lake Sisters perform in front of the attraction along Sunset Blvd. That would solve a lot of problems and still promote the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror in its final months of operation.

09244171
The crane is gone for now but may return in the near future

 

Let’s move on to less constructive news…

Disneyland

Welcome to the Not So Scariest Place on Earth

The pumpkins have returned atop of the turnstiles once again this year, although both sets had electrical problems when this update was shot.

Main Street

09223405

09223404
Donald looks very much like his actual character.
09223402
The pumpkins look great. But since the side booths don’t have pumpkins on top, would you like to see some new ones added? Chip and Dale, Oswald, etc? Or perhaps you’d like to see something new entirely?

 

The two cannons in Town Square have been removed. It looks like they will be relocated from the walkways into the gardens.

Update-Town-Square-7
Planter boxes have been placed on top of the circular concrete pads where the cannons are normally anchored.
Update-Town-Square-6
New brick pads have been installed in the nearby gardens. The cannons will likely be reinstalled soon and the old concrete pads removed.

Over at Market House, work on the building facade has completed and lights over Center Street have also returned.

09223729
Work finishing up earlier this week.

09243912

09243913
[Along Center Street] All the paint and the windows look fresh and clean
Further Down the street, over at the Crystal Arts, refurb continues on the exterior facade. All the shops remain open.

09223715

09223719 09223717 09223720

….but which door do I choose….

As we keep walking right down the middle of Main Street, U.S.A., refurb walls appear on both sides as sidewalk work occurs at the parade crossing. Curbs are being lowered to facilitate crowd flow. At this time, Disneyland has only two daytime Soundstational performances. Looking to this holiday season, and for the soon to return Main Street Electrical Parade this January, there will not be much downtime along the parade route.

09222579

09222581

09222583

09111877

09222591

09243914

09243896
The Disneyland Band are still in their 60th uniform. Hopefully new ones, or Holiday versions,  are on the way soon.

 

09244162

09244154

Jasmine in her new costume. It's very sparkly!
Jasmine in her new costume. It’s very sparkly!

 

09111879
Donald’s costume looks like something I would have been dressed up in as a kid. Very cute.

 

Tomorrowland

09111838

09111845

09111837
I love the way the Astro Orbitor looks at the front of Tomorrowland, but  it causes real crow flow problems for the entry of the land.

 

Ground repaving finished this week under the marque of Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

09244021
They removed the Star Command logo off the cement floor and replaced it with a star… Could this be one small step toward a New Tomorrowland 5.0?…

 

09244030

09192501
This sign has been added just to the right of the Star Tours Fastpass Distribution sign to help with getting more people to grab Fastpass for an attraction that looks just like the other attraction across the pathway.

 

09223598

Refurb work occurring at the base of the Moonliner.

09223645
Coke-Cola the beverage of the future…

 

09223642

New banners have replaced the Star Wars: Seasons of the Force banners. Nothing says “future” like generic Tomorrowland banners. Sorry for the sarcasm, but I just don’t feel these.

09223687

09223686

With the Season of the Force ending for now, the marque sign at the back of Tomorrowland has been removed completely, with only a paint scuff on the monorail beam where it was located.

09244039

09244035
This is the only decoration left up from Season of the Force… should they change it back to Tomorrowland Terrace again? Or do you like Tomorrowland’s restaurant being Star Wars themed?

 

09244049

And now onto the main attraction….

09223649

09192379
No need to fear the ghost inside when there’s that Exclamation mark! Actually, this sign should be a warning to parents with small children that this attraction may in fact scare your child. Probably not more than Snow White’s Scary Adventure, but it is frightening.

 

I love the projections on the dome of Space Mountain during Ghost Galaxy’s run.

09192399

09192390

09192396

09223671
My lucky number!

 

09192441
GET OUT…I’m sorry, that was rude. Please, get out!

 

09192452

09192451

I really enjoy Space Mountain: Ghost Galaxy, I really do, but I wish that they would find new ways to enhance this experience which originally came over from Hong Kong Disneyland. New images, better projection and queue enhancements would all be appreciated. Perhaps even random chase sequences. Soon enough, Hyperspace Mountain will be returning.

Fantasyland

09111665

In the happiest land of them all, refurb work continues on Peter Pan’s Flight facade.

09243925

09243928

09243917
I actually don’t mind the leftover 60th decorations on the castle. It does not distract much and should disappear as Christmas decorations are installed at the end of next month.

 

09243929

 Frontierland

Heading into Frontierland, Cast Members inside the retail shops have recently switched to new costumes. They look nice.

09244758

09244763

09243930

09243947
Work Continues on Tom Sawyer’s Island as well. With the Island down until next summer, they have lots of time to fix things up.

 

New Orleans Square

09223712

 

The Dock for the Rafts to Tom Sawyer’s Island is being torn up for wood replacement.

09243966

09243958

09243963

 

At the New Orleans Square Train Station, the refurbishment work is now completed on the Water Tower but not on the building facade on the far side of the station.

09244086
Maybe it works again? They stopped using the tower after the CalOSHA park-wide refurbishments a couple of years ago. They were filling up the trains with a hose. Safety first after all!

 

09244094

 

Over at the Mint Julep Bar, they have changed the line configuration and have the line now feeding through the area just at the edge of the French Market dinning patio.

09243978

I’m sure diners in the area aren’t thrilled with having a long line of guests hovering over them while they eat.

09243983

They have moved some of the displaced tables along the pathway on Front Street.

09243985

 

Onto the Haunted Mansion Holiday

09244097

09243974

 

09244477

09244482

09244490

09244524

09244533

09244535

 

09223465
With that hammer in his hand I would respect that tag.
09223517
I love the new Sally figure. My only problem with her is that she is completely mute. I wish she would sigh or something…

 

09244737
I be done seen ’bout ev’rything, when I see a skeleton reindeer fly!

 

09244747
I don’t want to play his game…I think it has too many bugs in it.

 

Ok. Ok, you have all waited long enough for your photos from the construction site for Star Wars Land,

Star Wars Land

09233767

09233772
You can see the new Train overpasses above the Fantasyland and Frontierland entries into the new land.
09233772
Hey look a new basement for one of the attractions in Star Wars Land… what a perfect place to hide Pee Wee’s bicycle… 😉

09233790

09233840

09233819

09244112
shhh… don’t scare away the vary rare crane.
09244136
Blasting…just wait until the Tie Fighters come in…  Big Thunder is a fun spot for you to spy the new Star Wars construction.

 

SW-Sep 23-Cover
We have lots more Star Wars photos and news for you in last Friday’s MiceChat Star Wars News column – HERE

Nighttime Craptacular?

Disneyland is known for its nightly fireworks, but calling it “Fantasy In The Sky, Firework Spectacular” might be a little much of a stretch. The show is only a four and a half minutes long and often results in guests actually booing at its conclusion.

09244239

09244339

09244393

Have you watched Fantasy In The Sky? Are you in the camp who love it, tolerate it, or hate it?

09223742

Time to jump parks… see you the other side of the banner…

Disney California Adventure

It was an easy walk. For you Disney World folks, that’s about one whole Sapceship Earth distance from gate to gate, no buses required.

Buena Vista Street

09244166

Signage problems this week on Carthay Circle Restaurant.  The two side marque signs have their proper lettering up, but there is just a poorly hung banner that hides the main marque.

09223398
Something looks off with the sign from a distance.

 

09223400
The sides look fine.

 

IMG_2
But up close you can see that a poorly hung vinyl printed sign now covers the marquee
IMG_1
Elegantly mounted with twine.

Hollywood Land

Moving to the Backlot, where nothing makes sense anymore…

Arches and stopwatch at the front (on Thursday)…

09111888

By the weekend, the round screen had been removed:

Update-Hollywood5

We still have a stage with nothing on it…

Update-hollywood8
Though, the lights and screens have been removed. Perhaps the scaffolds will soon come down as well.
Update-Hollywood4
Lights have been removed from the “A” frame as well.

A beverage stand that is now mixing four different overlays on it… including, the FINALLY departed Jammin’ on the Backlot signage.

09191971
This monster has a DCA1.0 white and blue wall and Coke sign, Mad T Party cards register dividers, Electronica black panel on the roof, and Jammin’ signs and color scheme on the lower half.
09111892
Seriously, how hard is it to remove that Jammin’ signage?
09222598
If you don’t know what’s going on in this photo, scroll back to the top of the page and reread the first section…there will be a test on it later.

 

09244177

Time to take a break and walk into Frozen, which now no longer needs a Fastpass to see during most shows…

09222760
Hang In there Joan!
09222826
….it would be totally strange

09222794

09222804
…Did I just say that out loud?…Oopsy…

09222846

09192042

09223161
Yoo-hoo!

09223177

09223223

09223237
Selfie

09192066

09223288
Arendelle is in deep, deep, deep, deep, snow…
09223389
Love is an open door, with you, with you…?

09223299

09223360

Frozen: Live at the Hyperion is a much better show now that the cast are more comfortable with their roles. The script is also becoming more flexible. Anna changes up various lines from show to show and technical issues that plagued the show when it opened have almost all been resolved.

Moving across the park…

Cars Land

09192134
DJ Dance N’ Drive seems like a silly little show but the young ones love it.

09244178

09192180
Nice Butte!
09192184
My third favorite Mexican restaurant on property…

Paradise Pier

09192187

09192195

Trees have been removed from around the light tower at the front of Paradise Park.

09192185

09192208

 

09192213

Heading down the Boardwalk, refurb work is being conducted in the garden section just to the right of Mr. Potato Head. A bit of the main walkway is blocked as a result, but it does not impact the main queue for Toy Story: Midway Mania.

09192218

09192223

 

Just past the launch of Screamin’, Hot Dog Hut is closed for refurbishment.

09192219

09192225

Paper product containers have been switched over to Halloween logos. A few 60th cups and plates are still around, but across the resort the change has been made to Orange and Black.

09192227

09192233

Heading over to Paradise Gardens dining area . . .  with the park closing around 8 on the weekdays, they seem to be closing off sections of the dinning area to prevent guests from sitting at clean tables.

09192236

09192234

The Original World of Color has returned (void of most movie add-ons they have inserted over the years. Except the part with Pirates of the Caribbean 4, that section plays a lot better than the original).

09192268

09192337

09192352

 

Downtown Disney and Resort

Mickey and Friends Parking Structure

Additional spots in the Pinocchio Parking lot (the surface lot next to the structure) as the area nearest to the tram route are being removed. The fence for the tram route is being pushed out (probably for more tram parking or other tram services)

09191910 09191923

The walkway from the crosswalk to the street has now been closed and guests walking to park have to walk all the way around the Tram Maintenance building to head to the parks.

09191921

09233806
It’s not polite to point
09243856
A few weeks ago the screens at the Toll Booths were updated with new imagery. (It reminds me of the 2009 dream logo)

 

Along the Tram route, plant removal has commenced as a more water-wise plan is implemented.

09191947

09191950

09243859

The entrance of the World of Disney store on the east-facing doors is under refurbishment.

09191955

09191960
Signage from earlier during the week

09222546

 

09222545

09222547

Just one last look at the Halloween figures along the Tram route before the sun sets on me.

09233808

09233813

09233849

09233843

 

Downtown Disney

Welcome to Downtown Disney after dark! The place to shop and eat, and eat, and eat….

09223752 .

As we’ve shown you before, Naples has now taken over the walkway next to their front door. This allows them to seat many more guests.

09223749

09223754
Soon this building will be knocked down (except for the parking garage underneath it) for whatever is coming next

Looking at the pedestrian bridge across Downtown Disney the garden and utilities refresh has finished on the left side, but work continues on the right.

09223755
There was filming the night I came through. It looks to be for the Spring Disneyland advertisements. (They often shoot them months in advance)

09223756

09223757

The Disney Vacation Club Showcase Rooms are continuing their refurb work.

.09223760

09223761
Filming continuing
09223765
Sets of chairs and tables have popped up at the far end of Downtown Disney in the grass section between Earl of Sandwich, ESPN Zone, and the Disneyland Hotel.

The new Disneyland Main Transportation Center

No visible work is being done on the new Main Transportation Center construction site. Disney must be waiting until the closing of the Carousel Inn next month before continuing with the ground work.

09243851

09243855

09243854
It looks like some of the trees might be saved for future use. Many of them have been boxed up.

 

Mickey’s Halloween Party

This weekend the ever popular Mickey’s Halloween Party started with all the tricks and treats you’ve come to expect. Our thanks to MiceChat columnist, Beth Castles, for these photos.

09233800
Time for you and 10,000 other of your closest friends just trying to park all at once. And beware, the “Trick” this holiday season is that parking is no longer included with your event ticket.

09233805

Here is Disney Parks guidelines for costumes:

https://youtu.be/UJDVFaQfKv8

train station
Main Street Train Station is used as a Villain Meet-and-Greet during the party

malificent

malificent poses

evil queue
“So you say your mirror won’t talk to you”
Cruella
“Your costume needs more dog fur on it…”

 

pumpkin photos
It’s $80+ to get into the event. Would you spend your valuable time waiting to take a picture with a giant pumpkin?
Mickey-Halloween-Party-Pumpkins1
The Disneyland Forever digital mapping projectors are being put to good use during Mickey’s Halloween Party. These happy jack-o-lanterns were dancing the night away on the Main Street facades. They look magical.
castle
Go to the light . . . for candy and treats.
mark twain
Ghostly waters
cadaver dans
The Cadaver Dans slowly drifting on the river. SPOOKTACULAR.

 

There’s a new Halloween parade this year called the Frightfully Fun Parade. Its has three sections: Halloween Town, Haunted Mansion, and Villains, with the Headless Horseman running down the parade route before the parade.

parade marque

parade dancers

mayor happy
Happy Mayor
mayor scard
Scary Mayor

HM float

parade vudu

Parade villans

parade villians float

In addition to what we’ve shown you above, there is a great fireworks show, trick or treating and all sorts of entertainment and creepy atmosphere. Plus, the attractions remain open, and with so many people out enjoying the Halloween festivities, lines are typically very short for the rides.

Upcoming MiceChat Events

October 1st – MiceChat Knott’s Scary Farm Halloween Haunt Event (close to sold out, get your tickets now)

Knotts-Haunt-2016

Join us in the fog for a night of spooky treats and VIP experiences. For one low price, you’ll get an all you can eat BOO-ffet dinner, early entry into the event, tours, meet and greets with Knott’s creatives, front of line for the mazes, VIP seating for shows, Skeleton Key access and a night of fun with your mice pals at the haunt which started it all. We have a VERY limited number of tickets available this year, SIGN UP NOW – HERE

October 10th – Mickey’s Halloween Party @ Disneyland

MiceChat-Mickey-Party-Event

Join the MiceChatters for a not so scary Halloween event on Monday October 10th. Please buy your own tickets directly from Disney for the October 10th Halloween Party. Then sign up for MiceChat’s event list HERE to be notified about event meeting times and locations. It promises to be a night filled with candy, friendship, headless horsemen, scary parades and fireworks!

November 3rd and 4th – New York Meet-ups and events

The MiceChatters invade NYC in November before their New York to Puerto Rico cruise. We’ll be seeing Aladdin and Cirque Du Soleil Paramour as well as taking a city tour. If you are interested in any or all of these activities, please contact [email protected] for more information.

Get Mouseaddict Here You can keep track of the wait times and even where in the park people are congregating by downloading the app (iPhone only at this time).

See Ya Real Soon

Thank you for joining us today. Each week we’ll feature different photographers and commentators (often more than one). Today’s MiceChat Disneyland Update was shot and assembled by Brian Pinsky, with additional photos from Beth Castles (Halloween) and Dusty Sage.


Are you a member of the MiceChat Sunday Meet-up Facebook group? If you are interested in meeting up with fellow theme park lovers in the parks, please be sure to follow this group: MiceChat Sundays in the Park. And please follow the MiceChat Facebook Page for news and updates from the Disneyland Resort and beyond:

MiceChat.com | The Happiest Place in Cyberspace…

That’s it for this week’s Update. Are you a photographer? Do you love the parks? Would you like to contribute to the Disneyland Update or other MiceChat columns? Contact Dusty Sage: [email protected]

09223706

Brian Pinsky
Brian is an avid visitor of Disneyland and has been a Passholder for over 20 years. He is currently studying Civil Engineering and loves to map out the parks in his free time.