Welcome to a soggy Disneyland Resort photo report with bonus update from our rumor desk! This update will be a bit shorter than normal as we got washed out of the parks. But there’s a lot for you to enjoy and a bit to learn as well. Disneyland & Disney California Adventure both closed early on Sunday due to the heavy rain (DCA at 7 & Disneyland at 8 PM). The advantage was an empty park with no waits. The disadvantage was soggy feat and flooding throughout the resort. Lunar New Year has launched at DCA and Disneyland is about to get new-old fireworks.

The premiere of Main Street Electrical Parade was this weekend as well (an extra-charge event on Thursday and opening night for the public on Friday), which thankfully was not canceled due to weather, though the forecast had everyone worried it would be a washout.  Be sure to read all the way through today’s update for some interesting rumor updates and lots of interesting photos.

Disneyland

While there was rain off and on throughout the weekend, Sunday was an exceptionally wet day for Southern California. As a result, the parks were very, very empty. On our Facebook Group many reported that many of the rides throughout the parks were walk-on or very little wait.

Haunted Mansion Returns

Haunted Mansion has returned back to its original look. And much thanks to our newest contributor, Scott Attula, we have some great shots for you in this update.

  

Now that Mansion has returned, Small World will finally be able to shed its winter clothes as well.

Disneyland Photos and Updates

The Adventureland restrooms are under refurbishment.  

 

Meanwhile, Valentine’s Day colors are being planted around the Hub

Sleeping Beauty Castle’s faux Roof

Some of the 60th decor has returned in a slightly edited form on Sleeping Beauty Castle, all of the Silver has been updated to blue. Unfortunately the silver straps which hid the seams now look like blue painters tape.

I personally do not care for the faux roof added back onto the classic castle.The return of the diamond roof may be due to damage to the original roof caused by the installation and removal of the 60th and Holiday toppers since 2015.

 

Main Street Electrical Parade Returns

 

New merchandise for the parade is out in the stores.

 

The new treats inspired by the parade are adorable.

 

Everyone wants the light-up bottle toppers.

The parade itself looks great, but has suffered a few cuts. The parade is no longer led by the Blue Fairy. In her place, Casey Jr. pulls the title drum.

For more fantastic photos and information on the return of this classic Disneyland parade, including a full review, please click through to Andy Castro’s Full Electrical Parade Review HERE.

Fireworks Fix

Since Disneyland Forever fireworks ended with the 60th campaign, Disneyland has been showing the inferior 5 minute Fantasy in the Sky fireworks. Beginning in February, Disney is scheduled to revert back to the beloved Remember Dreams Come True fireworks which were first developed for Disneyland’s 50th anniversary.  Everything old is new again, and we couldn’t be happier about this one.

Star Wars Land Update

The Tomorrowland sign on the former Peoplemover track surprisingly changed back to the Season Of The Force this week. It had been “Tomorrowland” since September when Hyperspace Mountain changed to Ghost Galaxy for Halloween time. That sign and the addition of Rogue One banners along the PeopleMover track that bisects Tomorrowland are the only new items that are making this now the Season Of The Force (again). Seems like Disney is looking for a new rotating park promotion now that the holidays are over and there is no anniversary to celebrate.

Meanwhile, the Star Wars land construction project continues backstage at Disneyland and along the Rivers of America.

 

We have a full Star Wars update for you HERE from Darth Daver

Disney California Adventure

Below you will find a rainy day photo of Carsland as a ghost town, such a stark contrast from just a few weeks ago when the park was bursting at the seams with crowds! One thing to note is that all of the rides for this land close when it rains as most cannot run during wet weather. The Radiator Springs Racers are supposed to be watertight, but they still don’t run them in the rain for maintenance reasons. I personally would not want to be racing in a convertible with that much rain coming down anyway!

Lunar New Year

Now that Festival of the Holidays has moved out until next holiday season. Disney California Adventure is celebrating the Lunar New year, Year of the Rooster.

This event has special marketplace kiosks, new menu items at Paradise Garden Grill, a completely new “Hurry Home” World of Color water show and a Procession that features Mulan and Mushu! Reports are already in that the food booths have been very popular, signage was increased but pricing was decreased compared to Festival of the Holidays.

GOTG: Mission Breakout!

The construction scaffolding has been finished for a few weeks now to cover the entire face of the tower, by summer it will be a large piped filled monstrosity. Below you can read how the ride will play out.

Visitors will walk through a vault door to enter The Collector’s tower, where they will find all of the items Taneleer Tivan has “collected.” But your visit is to see his new prize is the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Next part of the show you will encounter Rocket Raccoon, who has escaped and needs your help. He can’t activate the security check to pass through the vault, so he asks everyone to raise their hands to open the next door into the ride.

From there, it’s into the elevators, where you’ll have to shut down the generators to help the Guardians escape. With a variable drop sequence, which includes maybe the doors opening or maybe not. With that unique mix-tape playing in the background.

A Quick Note From Our Rumor Desk

The plan to infuse Marvel into the Hollywood Land area this summer continues to evolve quickly after the holidays. Disney Jr. is still planned to close this April, but the plan to do a Marvel stage show and meet n’ greet in that venue has been scrapped. The stage show and meet n’ greet will now take over the Hollywood Backlot Stage, the venue used for hosting high school choirs and traveling talent groups. When Marvel takes over that stage, a temporary stage for school groups will be thrown up in front of Stage 12 nearby. Disney Jr. will be re-purposed into a new toddler stage show still hosted by the Disney Jr. cable channel when it reopens later in the year.

The Marvel entertainment plans will include daytime dance parties and interactive street theater in another band-aid attempt to breathe life into that dying corner of DCA. TDA is also now considering bouncing Mickey’s Soundsational over to DCA this summer to replace the aging Pixar Play Parade, and let Paint The Night and an all-new Fantasmic! have the spotlight at Disneyland. While TDA dabbles in temporary entertainment, WDI continues to push ahead with plans for a big budget Marvel E Ticket expansion of DCA to open in 2020.

YOU Are Invited To The MiceChat Anniversary Weekend Events
Jan 27-29th at the Disneyland Resort

MiceChat Anniversary is coming your way January 27th through 29th at the Disneyland Resort. We’ve got some great surprises for you this year, including Disney Legend Bob Gurr, beloved author David Koenig, The ORIGINAL Disneylanders, meet-ups, meals, contests, friendship and a whole lot of fun!!!

Friday Evening January 27th – cocktail party with Bob Gurr

8pm Anaheim Plaza Hotel. (including a teaser screening of his documentary, panel discussion, and a screening of his celebrity roast!) Bob is a treasure and a big fan of MiceChat.com. Don’t miss this amazing event. Tickets For Bob Gurr Event HERE.

 

Saturday morning January 28th – “Walt’s Disneyland” breakfast and panel with David Koenig and the Original Disneylanders at the ESPN Zone.

David is leading a discussion with three original Disneylanders about their days in the park and their interactions with Walt Disney. These are stories which have never been heard before. This NOT-TO-BE-MISSED opportunity will warm your heart and make you feel thankful toward the generation which created the Disney magic we love so much today. Breakfast Event Tickets HERE

In addition to the two ticketed events above, we have a full schedule for the weekend, these activities are free to join in! We love to see all of our MiceChat fans join us in celebrating twelve years of magic!

Saturday, January 28, 2017 — Our Annual DCA Day of Play

• Noon – Let’s do lunch at the Paradise Garden Grill & Lunar New Year celebration
• 1:30pm – FREE Eye Spy Game – Meet in World of Color stadium – REGISTER HERE
• 2:50pm – Group Photo at World of Color Stadium
• 3:30pm – Frozen Musical meet-up
• 4:25pm – DCA Animated Experience – Meet in the Animation building to learn how to draw a character, ride some animated attractions and enjoy the park.
• 5:30pm – Drink-Up and relax with your MicePals at the Wine Country patio
• 7:00pm – Monorail Man Trivia Night at the Hearthstone. Have a drink, share your trivia knowledge, and you might even win a prize or two (outside patio)

Sunday, January 29, 2017 — Disneyland Day of Play

There’s been a disturbance in the Force and our traditional spots are currently closed. That means new opportunities and new magic to be made.

• 9:00AM — This Is The Breakfast You Are Looking For, Galactic Grill
• 10:30AM — Storm the Galaxy Meet-Up & rides
• NOON — MEET up in the central Hub of Disneyland (by the Walt and Mickey statue)
• 12:30 PM — Photo in front of the Castle
• 1:00 PM — Head West! Lunch at Stagedoor Café (grab food from anywhere and bring it back to the outdoor patio at Stagedoor)
• 2:30 PM — West Side Wonder Meet-Up – Meet at Magnolia Gardens (the round garden next to the Mansion) where we will then venture on to ride Haunted Mansion (Then Pirates & Tiki Room)
• 4:00 PM — Great Moments Meet-up (Lincoln)
• 7:30 PM — BONUS EVENT – Electrical Parade viewing (Small World Mall)

RSVP for the the weekend activities to receive the latest information and meet locations!

 

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With any Event, keep in mind weather and other factors could change our schedule. Keep up to date with MiceChat by following us on Twitter and Facebook!

Refurbishment Round Up

Below are current and upcoming refurbishments for the Disneyland Resort, and are always subject to change without notice.

Disneyland Refurbishments

• Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes – Summer 2017
• Disneyland Railroad Main Street Station – Summer 2017
• Disneyland Railroad Mickey’s Toontown – Summer 2017
• Disneyland Railroad New Orleans Square Station – Summer 2017
• Disneyland Railroad Tomorrowland Station – Summer 2017
• Fantasmic! – Summer 2017
• Fantasmic! FASTPASS Kiosk – Summer 2017
• Mark Twain Riverboat – Summer 2017
• Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island – Summer 2017
• Sailing Ship Columbia – Summer 2017
• Jungle Cruise – 01/09/17 to 02/03/17
• it’s a small world – 01/22/17 to 02/03/17
• Pirates of the Caribbean – 02/03/17 to 03/16/17
• Matterhorn Bobsleds – 02/06/17 to 04/27/17

California Adventure Refurbishments

• Grizzly River Run – 01/11/17 to 02/24/17
• Redwood Creek Challenge Trail – 01/11/17 to 02/24/17

Get Disneyland Wait Times with Mouseaddict

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).

Thank you !

All of us on the Disneyland Photo Update crew would like to 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 assembled by CakvalaSC with photo contributions from DustySage, Darth Daver, Brian Pinksy. We’d also like to welcome Scott Attula‎ to the update crew. You’ll see many of his BEAUTIFUL photos in today’s column.

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:

That’s it for this week’s short and sweet update thank you for visiting!

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]

 

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