What’s the boiling point of Disneyland? We may have just found out. It was so hot this past weekend that even the crowds melted away. There’s a lot to get to today, but don’t sweat it, we’ve got you covered.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

It’s Hot, Hot, Hot!

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
You know it’s going to be an uncrowded day in the park when there is no one waiting to get on the parking lot tram.

Friday temperatures at the Happiest Place on Earth reached 115 degrees. That might not seem like much to you folks in Florida or Arizona, but by Anaheim standards it’s extreme, smashing the previous record and leaving cast and guests of the Disneyland Resort sweltering. Disneyland first aid staff responded to back to back calls for overheated guests and Outdoor Vending and Entertainment staff struggled to serve the few guests still wandering the parks.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

Of course, Disney did take every opportunity to remind guests to drink plenty of water. At the parking structure, security passed out Wild About Safety Cards “Don’t wait too late to hydrate.”

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
More cards at the park turnstiles

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

Inside Disneyland we found the park nearly empty during the day. Just a reminder, this was a Friday in July, the park would normally be very busy.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
Friday 11:45am
, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
You know it a slow day when Peter Pan is less than a 30 minute wait

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
I wouldn’t throw a rock . . . but if you did . . . you probably wouldn’t have hit anyone.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

And then, out of a bad good dream, the Disney online servers crashed, which caused a miracle, wait time across the park suddenly dropped.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
Friday 2:20pm. In the middle of the server blackout

Since the app was down, Guest Relations staff had to call the attractions to get updated wait times. Which also meant that the times weren’t accurate. Splash had just reopened after a 2-hour breakdown, the board had the wait time listed as 75 minutes . . . but the actual wait was only 45 minutes.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

Plaids were also issuing handwritten passes for guests who had purchased MaxPass – but since there was no way of proving who had bought MaxPass, they were just issuing them to anyone who asked.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It



The park also had to revert back to handwritten guest assistance cards during the blackout.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

Some attractions were able to turn off their Fastpass signs, other could not, but wait times dropped to almost walk-on conditions in the middle part of the day.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
10 minutes is essentially how long it takes you to navigate the empty Indy queue.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

With FastPass essentially down, most guests were in standby lines with very few guests using handwritten passes. That and the low attendance resulted in quick moving queues. It reminded me of the 90’s, before Fastpass, and how easy it was to traverse the park and get on rides. If it weren’t for the ridiculous heat, it would have been the perfect day.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

The heat may have also been the cause of an epic number of attractions all breaking down on the 6th.  At one point or another all of the following attractions were down, some for most of the day: Golden Zephyr, Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, Matterhorn, Pinocchio’s Daring Journey, The Little Mermaid, Incredicoaster, Midway Mania, Roger Rabbit, and even the Disneyland Railroad (and those were just the ones we happened upon, so there may have been more).

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
You can see guests walking off the logs on Splash Mountain

Our thanks to reader Christopher Bright for sharing some images from the day:

It was so hot that some of the cast in Disney California Adventure were allowed to ride Grizzly to cool off . . . in their costumes . . .

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
Highly unusual, but a great way for managers to show the cast that their efforts on this extremely hot day were appreciated.

Falling leaves in the middle of summer?! One of the trees at the Carthay Circle fountain suddenly suffered stress at the hottest point of the day and began shedding its leaves.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It , Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

Did you visit the parks over this sizzling weekend? The heat had us wondering how hot is too hot to visit the parks?

Play Disney Parks App

Last Thursday, June 28th, Disney launched their new in-park app called Play Disney Parks. What’s the point? It offers you and your kids a little extra entertainment in the parks, especially while waiting in lines. There are a series of games and trivia and even some physical things to find in the park.

Disney California Adventure:

Space Mountain’s game is a teamwork style game:

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It , Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

Those codes are spread all around the outside queue for Space Mountain and the Space Mountain Disabled Queue/Restroom Area. There are 20 codes to find.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
Signage for the game as you enter the queue for the app. Pay no attention if you have a Fastpass as you’ll miss some of the codes.

Moving over to Peter Pans Flight. . . This Game starts with a group quiz game followed by an object seek game. The game ends with the activation of Tinkerbell’s lantern.

The nice surprise for this one is an actual prop added to the queue. Tink’s lantern can be activated by the end of the game. There is a 2nd lantern near the disabled access queue for those guests as well.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
The glass is opaque when the lanterns are not activated

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

My final opinion on the app is that the games are fun and a good diversion for families with antsy kids. But the games don’t seem to be good for guests to play alone. Also, the games for Space Mountain and Midway Mania have no requirement to be played in the park. You can play most of these games in the comfort of your home. In the future, I would hope for more games that have real queue interactions that actually require me to do something in the queue, also games that follow different plot lines. And hopefully, someday the app won’t kill my battery. If you’ve had a chance to play, let us know your thoughts.

Pixar Dance Party

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

As a surprise, Disney has added a Family Dance party to the Tomorrowland Terrace. Pixar Pals Dance Party features DJ Wendy as she dances the night away with Pixar Characters – now through September 3rd. Each night a rotation of three character groups come out. Visiting on two different night we had rotations of Monster Inc., Toy Story, and Green Army Men; and on the other night (as it was Friday with temperatures over the 95 degrees still after sunset) Sully, Doug & Russel, and Emile.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
You don’t see Emile out that much

When each group of characters comes out, DJ Wendy teaches each group the special dance.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

Surprisingly, I loved the dance party as its very small scale and allows guests to interact with rare characters in the park. Don’t expect anything elaborate, this is just characters dancing . . .  but you can dance with them, which lots of kids will love.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

Castle Toppers Fix

Welcome to the good news section folks . . .

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

Also this week, Disney has finally reinstalled the castle roof toppers which were damaged by the 60th anniversary castle overlay three years ago.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
It’s nice to have the full set
, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
Now only if they could fix that dent from the 50th celebration.

On the back of the castle, we can still see many things that can break the fantasy.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
Nice Junction Box
, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
I spy a wire dangling from the middle of the roof
, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
Fall safety on the rooftop
, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
Could use a paint touchup
, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
But overall, it looks much better with all the finery returned.

Star Wars Land

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

This week in Star Wars Land construction we spotted a lot heavy equipment in use.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
That’s supposed to be a large petrified tree in the background.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

We are getting close to major construction being finished on the back side of the land as Disney has begun to plant trees to help hide the show building from the parking structure.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

Inside the park, we can see new drywall has been installed over the marketplace outside the attractions, keep an open eye for the spots of yellow peeking through the treeline.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

Unfortunately, you can see the steel supports in the unfinished backside of the center rock formation from Toontown. Hopefully, they’ll find a way to cover those up before the land opens.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

Over on the Critter Country side of the land, we can see bulldozers pushing dirt along the newly extended park berm.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

Small World

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

This week Disney finally installed the new fence panels on the relocated Parade Gate at Small World mall. But the gate still looks unfinished as the wall only extends a short distance on each side. Disney has left a temporary fence in place to hide the back side of the old Motor Boat Cruise waterway

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
I see you shed
, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
There is still a bit of construction fencing at the employee gate. This will likely be finished at some point as well.
, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
Unsure why they continue to leave this green fencing up. That’s the Motorboat Cruise Dock on the other side. There’s nothing to hide.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

As we move closer to the front of the Small World queue we can see Disney trying to cover the gaps in the facade itself with tarps.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
The old CM entrance gate

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

Over at the small world attraction itself, the clock tower has finally been fixed after months of being down for refurbishment.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

The numbers inside the clock have been replaced and the children of the world sculptures that parade around the base of the clock tower have been spruced up.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

Star Tours-Flights To the Same Destinations, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

As we enter the second room we can find something not working on the three major props as you ascend the walkway.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
Bags carousel not working but the projector is.
, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
Screen Off
, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
Camera not working

Interesting that Gate C had these Testing: Do Not Disturb signs. CMs said it was just being refurbished; it must require a long period of testing as we have seen these signs on the bay doors for over a week now.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
The Empire is watching…

The main reason we wanted to ride was to see if the destinations were unlocked. Disney locked the simulator to its two newest destinations: Jakku and Crait/Batuu (Batuu is the planet that Star Wars Land is placed into). Disney made this lock back in December for then-upcoming movie The Last Jedi. We are looking forward to the program being unlocked again so we can experience the multiple destinations. 

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
But not currently

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

Nemo: I cannot see you

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
All the subs have paint and rust damage

Dusty tipped me off that he and his family rode Nemo for his birthday and were disappointed that the ride looked dingy, with peeling paint, and dim projectors in foggy water. So I decided to check it out for myself . . . he was right, the ride is in really rough shape. You’ll notice the wear and tear right away. As the ride starts, you enter the lagoon, all of the figures, seaweeds, and rocks have become sun-bleached. The previous bright colors all just appear blueish today.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

As we enter the show building other problems become apparent as the guys who work on the projectors clearly don’t seem to be visiting this attraction very often.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
The eels are working but that crab is not.

Scenes such as the East Australian Current (the EAC dudes), the sunken boat and the jellyfish have projections that are so faint they can barely be seen. It’s a real shame as this ride is a super slow loader with long waits. It’s quite the disappointment to wait so long only to see broken props and dimly lit projections.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
You’ll also notice the dual problem of peeling paint and algae throughout the ride.

And did we even mention the inside of the sub being so dirty and worn?

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
Yuck

The Subs need a complete refurb . . . drain the swamp, paint the coral, replace the projector bulbs, refurbish the subs themselves, and give the ride a tune up. They never did get those Anglerfish working, now would be the time to do it.  Meanwhile, Legoland just opened a brand new sub ride which includes real fish.

Downtown Disney

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

On Tuesday last week, I erroneously reported the closure of the Downtown Disney Parking Lot. It isn’t closed just yet.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
Do these weeds count as Landscaping?

As we walk over to Downtown Disney from the parking structure we can clearly see the lot is still open.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

According to CMs, the parking lot will remain open for at least another month. Construction trailers are still being installed on the Downtown Disney lot.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
Those yellow buildings are for construction management.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
Construction notes. This one has to do with the sewer.

Moving into Downtown Disney, scrims now cover the upper floor of the Naples building.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
Poor Sanuk, in the middle of the two construction zones

Napolini is now behind constructions walls as it is being refurbished to look like the rest of Naples.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
The building extension is almost complete on the back side of the Naples building

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

This and That

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

Construction work continues on the Tropical Hideaway as Disney has cleared the old steps and is just about ready to redevelop the land.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

Over at Mint Julep Bar, Disney is redeveloping the space to have two outside podium registers to help speed up service times. The lead at the French Market compared it to remodel of the Red Wagon Corn Dog Stand or Corn Dog Castle in DCA.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
Maybe they add Mobile ordering?

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

Over in Frontierland, Disney is taking their time repainting the Fireworks cast gate.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
I guess the press penny machines are on Windows 10.

Over in Starbucks on Main Street, the new Starbucks You Are Here Mugs have been released. This time the theme is New Orleans Square (featuring Pirates and Haunted Mansion). The color scheme is orange, green and purple . . . I’m surprised they didn’t hold these for the Halloween season.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

Back in Toontown, Disney has covered the cast gate near Minnie’s house in polka-dots.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It
This will likely become the next trendy Instagram wall?

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It , Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

What’s new in Launch Bay? Absolutely nothing.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

There was a big update for The Last Jedi, but SOLO seems to have been as ignored by the Imagineers as it was by audiences (too soon?).

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

Launch Bay still has a piece of the Star Wars Land Model but I want to see the full model again in the parks somewhere . . . what about upstairs in the unused space?!

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It , Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It , Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It


You can Mice Chat all around the web:

 

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

That’s it from Disneyland for now. But we’ll be back later this week with more coverage from California Adventure. Would you visit Disneyland when it is 115 degrees like I did this week? Tell us down in the comments section below.

, Disneyland Photo Update: Don’t Sweat It

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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.