The off-season at Disneyland is a world of walls. In an attempt to keep you from seeing magic in process, Disney has erected an epic number of construction walls throughout the resort. Main Street, Small World, Dumbo, Paradise Pier, parts of Downtown Disney. While it’s impressive to think about the amount of work going on, the parks do look less than their best at the moment.
Might I suggest that you hit play below and listen to the latest MiceChat Podcast while reading today’s update:
It’s A Wall World
Main Street feels a bit like the Twilight Zone these days. It’s so strange to walk down the street with towering walls surrounding the Hub and Town Square. Get accustomed to the feeling. This project will last through the winter while the trolley tracks are replaced and the cracked street repaved.
All those walls are a great place to put information. And that’s just what Disney has done here. In various places, you’ll find little bits of historical information about what’s hidden behind the walls.
Up On The Rooftops
While looking at all those walls, I couldn’t help but notice that there’s still snow on the rooftops of the castle. The original roofs are still damaged and Disney will either need to fix them or put the diamond rooftops back up. It is winter, and the remaining Christmas decorations have been removed from the castle so they can get away with this look for a little while longer.
It’s A Small Holiday
Small World is the last bit of holiday time left at the resort. As soon as Haunted Mansion returns from its short refurbishment and holiday overlay removal, Small World will close to do the same.
Due to Main Street construction, there are no parades currently running at Disneyland. And that has allowed for another long-delayed project to commence. The parade gate at Small World Mall is being repositioned to allow the Small World switchback queue to be expanded. Perhaps they can find a way to give it a bit of shade too. This queue can be brutal in the summer.
Yesterday, the old gate was demolished.
While Small World Holiday is still running, you can get a Fastpass for it at the Matterhorn Fastpass Distribution area.
Attraction Refurbs
Tis the season. Every year, after the holidays wrap up, Disneyland has to return some attractions back to their former selves and uses the normally lower crowd levels to justify major projects and refurbishments. Splash will be down until mid-April.
Disneyland Refurbishments (as best we know)
Attraction |
Closure |
Reopens |
Casey Jr. Circus Train |
2/5/18 |
Unknown |
Dumbo the Flying Elephant |
1/8/18 |
4/27/18 |
Haunted Mansion |
1/8/18 |
1/19/18 |
it’s a small world |
1/22/18 |
2/2/18 |
Main Street Vehicles |
1/8/18 |
3/15/18 |
Splash Mountain |
1/2/18 |
4/14/18 |
Storybook Land Canal Boats |
2/5/18 |
2/16/18 |
Star Wars
Have you seen this? A Star Wars fan figures out how to make a math equation sound like the cantina theme. That’s got me trying to type out this update to Vader’s theme.
Speaking of Star Wars. Things are really looking impressive in the new land far, far away.
You can see the new mountains clearly from ToonTown.
Here they don’t fit as well since all of the hills in ToonTown are cartoon in color and design.
And from Big Thunder you can REALLY see the scale of this project.
If you are careful as you walk the Big Thunder trail, you might just spy a bit of the project through a crack in the walls.
From the parking structure, you can see that the two show buildings are nearly fully enclosed at this point and have been painted as well.
This and That
We still don’t know exactly when the Redhead will become a pirate herself. Some of her merchandise had been removed from the parks due to public backlash to the announcement of the plans to sanitize the attraction. However, this shirt has popped back up in stores and symbolizes how many of you feel. (Personally, I think the change is necessary to adapt to the times.)
New pressed penny portfolios have arrived. I really like this whimsical design.
Meanwhile, over in Tomorrowland . . .
Last Jedi and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge have taken over Launch Bay.
A small piece of the Star Wars land model has made its way to the Launch Bay. But it’s glorious to ponder.
New Orleans Square is ready for Mardi Gras.
And poor ToonTown looks like it’s been sprayed with “The Dip.” Those hills are really looking bad. Not Tough to be a Bug theater mural bad . . . but not good.
It’s time to celebrate MiceChat/MiceAge Anniversary (our 15th) with another AMAZING evening of food, wine, celebrities and Disney history!
Join us on the evening of February 2nd at The Anaheim Hotel (across the street from Disneyland)
Featured Panels
Welcome To The Jungle:
David Koenig presents a panel of original Jungle Cruise skippers! The jokes will be corny and the history will be heartfelt.
First Lady of the Haunted Mansion:
Garner Holt, legendary creator of the world’s best animatronics, presents one of the original female Imagineers, Tanya Norris, who worked with Walt Disney and all the early Disneyland creatives. Tanya joined Imagineering to help design New Orleans Square and the Haunted Mansion! You are going to LOVE her story!!!
Amazing Disney Authors:
Meet award-winning Disney authors David Koenig, Mindy Johnson, and Dave Bossert as they discuss their latest releases. Get your signed copies of:
- Mouse Tales
- Oswald the Lucky Rabbit: The Search for the Lost Disney Cartoons
- Ink & Paint – The Women of Walt Disney’s Animation
PLUS: We’ll have delightful hors d oeuvres, a bar, and an opportunity for you to meet with our special guests and authors.
EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITY: If you are also competing in the Gumball Rally the next day, you can early register at this event.
Sign up for the MiceChat Anniversary Kick-off Event today – HERE
And that’s not all folks!
MiceChat Gumball Rally – Feb 3rd
Join us for the world-famous Gumball Rally on February 3rd, 2018. It’s a competition to see who can ride the most attractions at Disneyland in a single day. It’s the most fun you’ll ever have in the parks. For more information please visit the Gumball Rally Page HERE.
MiceChat Anniversary Mega Meetup – Feb 4th
And on February 4th, we’ll meet at Disneyland for a full day of meets, events, meals and fun. To be notivied of the full schedule of events, please enter your email below:
Sponsored By:
Have a great week! |
All of us on the Disneyland Photo Update crew would like to thank you for joining us today.
Did you catch our DCA and Downtown Disney Update on Monday? 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:
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