Strong winds and high temperatures hit the parks over the last week as guests continued to maneuver the on-going construction and refurbishment projects around the parks. Today we take a look at the continued work on Disneyland‘s Club 33 expansion, Alice in Wonderland safety upgrades, and the fantastic new color scheme and place-making at Disney California Adventure‘s Pacific Wharf. We also take a look at more new merchandise and take a side trip to the 2014 Fullerton Railroad Days where the Disneyland Railroad’s Ernest S. Marsh locomotive was on display and open for tours.

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at DisneylandDon’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 at today’s update! Click on any photo in today’s blog to see a larger, high-resolution version.

We’ve got a full update today, so let’s get started!


Welcome to Disneyland!

Strong winds knocked out power to 18,000 customers across Southern California last week and caused Disneyland and Disney California Adventure to close some attractions for safety.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

Horse-drawn carriages on Main Street were closed on Wednesday due to winds, along with Jumpin’ Jellyfish, Golden Zephyr, Silly Symphony Swings and the Sun Wheel in Disney California Adventure.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

By Friday the winds had died down but the heat had climbed to the 90s.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

Disneyland wait times Friday afternoon weren’t terrible. Did the heat help keep folks away?
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

California Adventure wait times Friday afternoon
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

Kingdom Closures

[center]Plaza Inn[/center]
Plaza Inn’s refurbishment continues through next week, reopening by the weekend.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

Would be nice to see the old “What Would You Celebrate?” campaign signage changed out.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

[center]Temple of the Forbidden Refurbishment[/center]
Indiana Jones Adventure is set to reopen by the end of this week following a much-needed refurbishment.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

[center]Yo Ho…[/center]
In New Orleans Square, Pirates of the Caribbean is now closed through May 22 for refurbishment. The Blue Bayou Restaurant remains open during the ride’s closure.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

[center]Members Only[/center]
Meanwhile, the Club 33 expansion project continues throughout New Orleans Square.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

The windows and doorway at the Le Bat en Rouge shop closest to the original Club 33 entrance have now been closed and blacked out as work on the Club 33 project seeps into the shop’s space.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

Walls inside the shop block off a small corner.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

The old Court of Angels entrance
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

Nice cardboard
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

On the backside of the French Market..
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

[center]Alice in Blunderland[/center]
Work on retrofitting the old “vine” portion of the Alice in Wonderland ride track with Cal/OSHA-approved safety upgrades is really starting to move along with major new steel additions.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

[center]“it’s a Cal/OSHA world”[/center]
“it’s a small world” remains closed through May 22 for its own Cal/OSHA safety enhancements.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

Nearby, Mickey and the Magical Map is dark while the Fantasyland Theater is closed for work.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

No showings today.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

[center]Toon-Ups[/center]
In Mickey’s Toon Town, the fountains are still dry and behind construction walls along with Gadget’s Go Coaster.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

Gadget’s Go Coaster behind walls
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

The Go Coaster’s refurbishment means the waterway around Donald’s Boat is dry.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

[center]Out to Dry[/center]
In Tomorrowland, the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is still closed through the fall for an extended refurbishment.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

[center]Refurbishment Wharf[/center]
In Disney California Adventure, the Pacific Wharf placemaking project is just about done with all of the newly-repainted facades uncovered and scaffolding up just around the Boudin Bakery’s grain silo.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

I really love the Wharf’s new color scheme and the new faux business logos added to the building. It really compliments the work they did in the Grizzly Peak, Paradise Pier and Hollywood Land when those areas got cosmetic makeovers as part of the larger California Adventure remodel project.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

Love the new details like this.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

It’s really great to see little placemaking and minor retheming projects like this take place around the park when areas go down for refurbishment. Kudos to Disney for continuing with these efforts, it looks great and really does make a difference.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

[center]The Little Refurbishment[/center]
Nearby, The Little Mermaid dark ride will reopen by the end of the week with some show enhancements.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

Across the bay, the gazebo structure near Toy Story Midway Mania is still behind walls while Disney works to replace sections of rotted wood.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

[center]Dry Run[/center]
Meanwhile, Grizzly River Run is closed for its ongoing refurbishment which will run through mid-June. If you’re looking to beat the recent heat with a water ride, Splash Mountain will be your only option for a while.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

More Merchandise

Nearby at Rushin’ River Outfitters, some nice new Grizzly River Run items hit store shelves recently. I really like the t-shirt design, which is available for men and women.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

Hoodie
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

Longsleeve shirt
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

On Buena Vista Street, the Atwater Ink and Paint shop has a new line of ceramic mugs and plastic plates (not microwave safe and dishwasher safe on top rack only) that are based on Disney candy/treats.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

Candy Cauldron is a reference specific to Walt Disney World.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

Nearby, Clarabelle’s Ice Cream has lost its unique Red Car Trolley ice cream dish for a strange “kitchen sink”-style ice cream dish modeled after Mickey Mouse’s pants. Apparently this same dish is now being used at locations at Walt Disney World, so sorry if you wanted that souvenir Red Car – Disney’s more interested in saving a few bucks by cutting the location-specific dishes and using the same one at locations on both coasts.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

Back in Disneyland, a few more new items in the retro and Adventureland lines that we showed you last week are now in stores.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

I really love this new glassware.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

New Enchanted Tiki Room bamboo coasters are available as part of the new Adventureland line. $12.95/set of four
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

Throw blanket
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

Pillow
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

If the retro or Adventureland lines don’t catch your eye, maybe the new black-and-white chalkboard line will.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

Looks like this was designed for the Be Our Guest Restaurant fans at Walt Disney World…
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

New patriotic Mickey and Duffy plush are also available now
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

The popularity of Frozen remains strong and along with Olaf caramel apples, new Olaf marshmallow treats are now available at Candy Palace and Trolley Treats. And yes, they’re as terrifying in person as they look in the photo below.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

This month’s gourmet candy apple is now available – it’s covered in peanut butter cups.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

Fullerton Railroad Days

Over the weekend just a few miles up Harbor Boulevard from Disneyland, the Southern California Railway Association held its annual Railroad Days event at the Downtown Fullerton train station. The two-day event had numerous model trains on display as well as tours of Disneyland Railroad’s Ernest S. Marsh Locomotive #4, opportunities to have your photo taken on the Kalamazoo handcar, and an up-close look at the now-retired boiler for Disneyland’s Engine #2.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

The event is small but always a fun outing for Disneyland and train fans alike.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

You could climb up into the cab, take a look inside, ring the bell and pull the steam whistle. A really fun and unique experience.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

The Kalamazoo handcar, which is usually on display at Main Street Station. Guests could climb on the handcar and take a photo as part of Railroad Days.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

This year the now-retired boiler for engine #2 was on display and Disneyland Railroad engineers explained how the whole thing worked to interested guests.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

The Carolwood Pacific organization had a booth, promoting the wonderful Walt’s Barn in Griffith Park.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

Scale model of Walt’s Barn
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

Some swag for sale.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

A big draw of Railroad Days includes lots of working model trains on display.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

LEGO trains
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

This and That

Back in Disneyland, the Main Street Photo Supply has received its new Nikon signage, now that the camera company has taken over the photography sponsorship of U.S. Disney parks.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

Inside, most Kodak references have been removed, but a couple remain for sharp-eyed guests.
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

The signage has been updated at Buena Vista Street’s Kingswell Camera Shop as well
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

And finally, don’t miss the latest MiceChat podcast, where the MiceChat team takes a walk through Disneyland. Enjoy!

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland
Dateline Disneyland is sponsored by our good friends at the

Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel & Water Playground.

A short walk from the park, HoJo Anaheim is conveniently located next to Matterhorn Mountain at Disneyland with nearby dining, freeway access, FREE parking and FREE Wi-Fi. For more information on HoJo Anaheim, room rates, or to book your stay today, visit HoJoAnaheim.com/MiceChat

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Weekly News & Information Round-Up
Weekly Theme Park Hours
May 5 — May 11, 2014
[B]Disneyland Park[/B] [B]California Adventure[/B]
Mon.-Thu.: 10 am – 9 pm
Fri.-Sat.: 9 am – 12 am
Sunday: 8 am – 12 am
Mon.-Thu.: 10 am – 8 pm
Fri.-Sat.: 9 am – 10 pm
Sunday: 8 am – 10 pm
[CENTER]For a complete listing of theme park hours,
visit the Disneyland.com Theme Park Calendar
[/CENTER]
[center]Closure and Refurbishment Schedule[/center]
[b][center]Disneyland Park[/center][/b]
  • [B]Indiana Jones Adventure:[/B] Closed through May 8, 2014 for refurbishment.
  • [B]Plaza Inn Restaurant:[/B] Closed through May 15, 2014 for refurbishment.
  • [B]Gadget’s Go Coaster:[/B] Closed through May 15, 2014 for refurbishment.
  • [B]”it’s a small world”:[/B] Closed through May 22 for fall safety equipment installation
  • [B]Pirates of the Caribbean:[/B] Closed April 28 through May 22, 2014 for refurbishment.
  • [B]Space Mountain:[/B] Closed May 12 through June 26 for refurbishment.
  • [B]Alice in Wonderland:[/B] Closed through July 3, 2014 for enhancements and safety redesign of outdoor portion of ride track.
  • [B]Matterhorn Bobsleds:[/B] Closed August 25-November 13 for refurbishment.
  • [B]Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage:[/B] Closed through September 26, 2014 for major refurbishment.
[b][center]Disney California Adventure[/center][/b]
  • [B]The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure:[/B] Closed through May 9, 2014 for refurbishment and rumored enhancements.
  • [B]Grizzly River Run:[/B] Closed through June 19, 2014 for refurbishment.
[b][center]Downtown Disney and Disneyland Resort Hotels[/center][/b]
    None.
[center]closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland
A weekly look at projected crowd levels at the Disneyland Resort.[/center]

May 5-11, 2014

MON
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland
TUE
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland
WED
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland
THU
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland
FRI
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland
SAT
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland
SUN
closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

  • We’re over the peak of attraction closures, and they’ll start reopening slowly now. Indy and the Little Mermaid return in time for Mother’s Day this weekend.
  • Hotel rooms are sold out at the beginning of the week but there’s still some high-end hotel rooms left for the weekend. (Peak summer prices are now in effect!)
  • This week looks to be in the sunny 70s and 80s, but get ready for 90s by the end of the weekend.
  • To ensure accurate and up-to-date wait times and crowd estimates, don’t forget to report your wait times in Mouseaddict by tapping on the attraction’s wait bar. Thank you!

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.

closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

[center]Headline Roundup
A quick look at noteworthy Disney theme park headlines from around the web.[/center]
  • Disney announced an additional $800 million investment in its Shanghai Disney project, promising it will go toward additional attractions for the park and isn’t prompted by cost overruns. (New York Times)
OK — That’s it for this week’s Dateline Disneyland! Congrats to all of the MiceChat Gumball Rally teams that competed over the weekend! It was great seeing all of your thoughts on the new merchandise offerings in last week’s comments section! Thanks for reading again this week and please be sure to join in the discussion below!

Dateline Disneyland is only here because of you. We’ve been able to bring Dateline Disneyland to you each week because of your generous donations. Consider helping us out by donating via PayPal, click here!

For more Disneyland news, be sure to read MiceChat’s weekly In the Parks blog. And be sure to check out our sister blog, Dateline Disney World – a fantastic weekly photo blog covering Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida!

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

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closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

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closures, High temperatures hit as crowds maneuver closures at Disneyland

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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.