Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge looms ever closer and this week we’ll take you all around the happiest place on Earth as it gears up for the debut of the new land. This week, we’ll check in on Sleeping Beauty Castle which is starting to emerge from its Project Stardust refurbishment. Meanwhile, all around Disneyland walkways continue to widen, planters to shrink, and shade to cover.
We’ll check out the brand-new Rinse store in Downtown Disney, ever-continuing progress on Pixar Pier and its attraction evolutions, and continuing updates Pixar Pals Parking Structure. Of course, a merch run awaits you at the end plus much, much, more in our latest park pictorial. ENJOY!
Flexible?
In the ever-evolving world of Disney ticket levels, packages, and options the Disneyland Resort has added a new Annual Pass to the lineup: Disney Flex Passport. Priced at $599, this pass is different than the one you might have in your wallet today as it introduces a reservation system that effectively guarantees your visit (and potentially limits how many times you can come) with a flexible new system.
MORE INFO: DISNEY FLEX PASSPORT: Everything you need to know about Disneyland’s new Annual Passport option
Roaring Soon
Tale of the Lion King is coming to Disney California Adventure and this this imaginative story-theatre production is bringing with it not just the iconic songs from the upcoming live-action reboot of the film but also scenic, prop and costume designs celebrate the spirit of Africa.
The Galaxy’s Edging Closer
The in-park views of the land haven’t changed much considering that in just over a month the land will be welcoming its first guests!
MORE INFO: News and Information about STAR WARS: GALAXY’S EDGE
May the Force Be With You
With grand opening so close, the Star Was: Galaxy’s Edge expansion (or unofficially Star Wars Land for the uninitiated) has unleashed tons of details about what guests can expect once they step foot in a galaxy far, far away.
- PHOTOS: A look at the food, merch, and rides coming to STAR WARS: GALAXY’S EDGE!
- Every single alcoholic drink and specialty beverage you can enjoy in Disney’s new STAR WARS: GALAXY’S EDGE
- Even more merchandise that will drain your credits in STAR WARS: GALAXY’S EDGE
- PhotoPass confirmed in STAR WARS: GALAXY’S EDGE, no FastPass/MaxPass “when it first opens”
Now Soapin’
The new Rinse shop has opened in Downtown Disney. The location is hard to find and a little out of the way. It’s OUTSIDE of Downtown Disney’s secure zone located to the right of the security screening area near the Disneyland Hotel.
It doesn’t seem like this location gets a lot of foot traffic and having it outside of the secure zone makes it just a little more challenging to go in and browse.
Marvel-Themed Land
The walls are being removed from the restrooms, one of the only remaining structures from the former “a bug’s land.”
Around Disney California Adventure
Without a Red Car the News Boys perform in front of Carthay Circle.
Pixar Pier continues to see a flurry of activity as we move into the first year anniversary of the re-imagined land.
The Silly Symphony Swings should be swirling soon.
Not much visible progress on the transformation taking pace at the fountain near the IncrediCoaster.
Don’t think I ever noticed this information booth in Pixar Pier before.
Little Zurg is off terrorizing other Poultry Palace fun meals.
The INSIDE OUT: EMOTIONAL WHIRLWIND should be stirring feelings soon. It was confirmed to be opening this summer.
Looks like new railings will be coming soon near the attraction.
Disney teased the attraction with some posters that will presumably be visible in the queue once the attraction opens this summer.
Almost weird to see no celebrations in Paradise Gardens. This covered area gets major uses from the park’s various festivals from Dia de los Muertos to Festival of Holidays to Lunar New Year and Food & Wine, it’s a busy little piece of real estate.
Without any festivals, the boring and over-priced regular menu has returned to the Paradise Garden Grill. As much we we love good Mediterranean, this location has always felt sub-bar with its offerings compared to its ever-increasing price point.
This is where you can expect to see the new LION KING show this summer.
Warming Cabin Watch 2019 has thus far provided no visual clues.
I love this area in the morning!
Send your thirst flying at this little pleasure cove of sugary delights.
Fancy Nancy has made her debut at Disney California Adventure. You can meet the character in Hollywood Land. She will likely be added to the Disney Junior show next year during her second season.
A slew of Marvel characters can be found in Hollywood Land this summer!
Thor!!!
(And Loki)
Captain Marvel and Hawkeye.
Black Widow.
Black Panther and the Dora Milage.
Mickey Cat?
Enjoying the Carthay Circle patio lounge.
Queso Fundido with Chorizo and Brussel Sprouts are some of the noshables on the menu.
The inside Lounge is a lovely respite.
The restaurant remains as gorgeous as ever.
Around Disneyland
Main Street Mad Hatter continues its exterior refurbishment.
The mural by the Firehouse is almost complete.
Cue the Twilight Zone theme.
Walls are still up inbetween Jolly Holiday and the Refreshment Corner. Wheelchair accessible ramp? Smaller planters? Both? Neither? TBD…
Walls continue moving around the hub.
Curbs have been removed in front of Adventureland and Frontierland.
New on the left vs. old on the right.
Donut/Coffee Cart is gone.
Railings are appearing on the recently-downsized planters in front of Plaza Inn.
Brickwork complete near the Info Booth.
Frontierland entrance remains lined with walls.
Adventureland entrance remains partially blocked.
The pond between Frontierland and Adventureland is half drained and a little sludgy.
Not much visible progress on the new marquee for Adventureland, it should be arriving before end of month.
Bengal Barbecue Mobile Order. Clutch.
Sleeping Beauty Castle creeping over the top of the scaffolding.
Oh, hey.
Benches continue getting paint.
The amount of lighting/sunlight on the castle really changes its appearance. You can see the lower level stones right now are still mostly covered in prime layer. The top-most are the final look with speckling.
Crest on the side entrance awaiting placement.
Tiny planter has tiny plants.
Scaffolding coming down all around the castle.
Street rat!
Permanent rails have been added around the former planter area dashing hopes for the beautiful windows in the wall providing a new Disney Wall for selfie-taking.
The Fantasyland Info Booth located near Dumbo.
Casey Jr. Circus Train has left town. It should be back on track soon.
Cruises along Storybook Land Canal Boats have also been suspended temporarily. I REALLY hope they are addressing the blue wall behind Dumbo.
Fantasy Arts has been vacated (temporarily?).
Walls have come down around Bonanza Outfitters and… well, it doesn’t look entirely different than it did before.
It seems unclear if the planters were actually made any smaller.
The Halloween Tree remains.
Fancy a relaxing river cruise?
The turnstiles were removed at the former entrance for the loading docks for the Sailing Ship Columbia and the Mark Twain.
The turnstiles have now been moved closer to the dock and the former awaiting area has now become a seating area. The back wall on the right has been removed so people at the adjacent vending location have a proper place to sit and enjoy their snacks.
The new seating area is great but the holding pen for people wanting to board the watercraft is a little awkward in its current state. Right now, everybody comes through the turnstiles and stops right in front of them instead of moving left or right to make room for people behind them. Some stanchions or railing like they do at the Train Stations would make a huge difference here.
Cafe Orleans is currently down for refurbishment. The #CenterWindow has scaffolding around it. Curious to see what happens here.
New foliage still has a ways to go to block out Mickey and Friends but it’s hardly noticeable during the day.
The formerly un-shaded extended dining patio for Hungry Bear seems to be getting shade structures.
Don’t know why I even noticed but the random crate that seemed temporary last week in front of the Briar Patch is now gone. History’s mysteries.
Path of the Jedi remains behind walls.
Alien Pizza Planet will be closing briefly for permanent changeover from Red Rockett’s Pizza Port. Unlike the Red Rose Tavern, the temporary changeover for this location left a lot to be desired. Should be interesting to see what they achieve here during its brief downtime.
New railings were added at the Autopia to separate it from the stroller parking area.
The exit now forces you to go around the newly-downsized planter. The lightblue flooring around it has also been speckled with stones.
It seems top-heavy double-wide strollers with small bases fit within Disney’s new stroller restrictions which measure a stroller only on whether or not its base and wheels fit into the rectangular outline on the ground and not necessarily how wide it gets above that.
Around the Resort
Progress at the new dining area at the Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa pool.
Looks like access to this wing of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is currently unavailable.
Digital signs are going up at Mickey and Friends with counters to indicate the number of available parking spots.
Pixar Pals Parking Structure continues moving along.
Unsurprisingly, the WHITE stickers on the floor are not taking well to the foot traffic of thousands of daily guests.
The new structure is really coming along.
Signage is starting to appear on the new Pixar Pals Parking Structure.
They’re adding sidewalks on the other side of Magic Way and will soon be removing the sidewalk from where this picture was taken.
A portion of cypress trees has been removed on the Downtown Disney side of the street to make way for the new Sky Bridge coming over Magic Way from the Pixar Pals structure. This will remove the need for guests to cross over vehicular traffic ways to get between the parks and parking on foot.
The northern-most portion of Downtown Disney parking lot is now a construction site for the new bridge.
Black Tap is ready and open for business.
Sugarboo & Co. will mark the newest addition in Downtown Disney.
Rainforest Cafe and AMC remain the largest still-unused portions in Downtown Disney.
The Downtown Disney Braille Map is woefully inaccurate and still marks locations such as D-Street which closed January 2018.
Merch Run
Aladdin Merchandise
With the theatrical release just around the corner the new live action film has a bunch of new merch out.
Patriotic Pride
With Memorial Day and Fourth of July just around the bend, a slew of merch in red, white, and blue.
More in Store
Build Your Own Gauntlet
AVENGERS ENDGAME might have shown a fearsome gauntlet capable of blinking out existence with a single snap but at Disney California Adventure, Marvel and Disney have a different idea with what they hope will become the latest toy craze: Avengers Gauntlets. And this should only blink a few twenties out of your wallet, tops.
MORE INFO: Disneyland Resort’s latest customizable toy: Build Your Own Gauntlet
Double Strollers Debut
Last week, Disneyland Resort launched a series of new policies as the Happiest Place on Earth prepares for unprecedented crowds for the STAR WARS: GALAXY’S EDGE expansion. Amongst those new changes were new restrictions on the kinds and sizes of strollers allowed into the parks. The new changes potentially make visits harder for those with more than one child in tow and so Disneyland Resort now offers a rental Double Stroller ($35 per day) in addition to their Single Stroller ($15 per day).
MORE INFO: FIRST LOOK: Disneyland’s new rentable double strollers which fit new size restrictions
Black Tap Craft Burgers and Shakes
It’s finally here. After several months of construction, the new Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes has opened its doors at Downtown Disney in Anaheim. The location brings with it a signature collection of CrazyShake dessert beverages, a tantalizing assortment of craft burgers, and even wine, beer, and cocktails.
Pop-Up Disney!
We had the opportunity as guests of a Disney Parks Blog event to check out Pop-up Disney! A Mickey Celebration at Downtown Disney. On our voyage into the former ESPN Zone, we found a delightful and bright space ripe with literally countless photographic opportunities.
MORE INFO: Inside and In-Depth: POP-UP DISNEY! A MICKEY CELEBRATION at Downtown Disney
Fireworks Forever!
As we gear up for a busy summer with the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Disney will be bringing back fan-favorite fireworks spectacular DISNEYLAND FOREVER. The popular fireworks show will replace the current MICKEY’S MIX MAGIC show that kicked off in January as part of the Get Your Ears On – A Mickey and Minnie Celebration.
“Mickey’s Mix Magic” runs at Disneyland daily through June 6, 2019. “Disneyland Forever” fireworks spectacular returns to Disneyland on June 7, 2019.
MORE INFO: DISNEYLAND FOREVER fireworks returning, MICKEY’S MIX MAGIC confirms end date
GET YOUR EARS ON
GET YOUR EARS ON – A Mickey and Minnie Celebration is a new festival at the Disneyland Resort to celebrate the 90th Anniversary of everyone’s favorite mouse duo. The #Mickey90 celebration comes to an end on June 6, 2019.
MORE INFO: PICTORIAL: Disneyland celebration invites you to GET YOUR EARS ON with new offerings
Hungry for More Mickey?
With the June 6, 2019 end-date in sight, there’s not much time left to enjoy the limited eats, treats, and sweets celebrating Mickey’s 90th birthday!
MORE INFO: FIRST TASTE: Disneyland’s festive menu for ‘Get Your Ears On’ Mickey 90th celebration
Magical Savings on Admission
Disneyland is currently offering several ways to save a little money and visit the Happiest Place on Earth. Each have various restrictions so you’ll want to find the one that works best for you.
- $60/day; Disneyland Resort. MORE INFO
- $70 ticket offer, hotel discounts; Disneyland Resort. MORE INFO
- US military discounts for tickets and hotels; Disneyland, Walt Disney World. MORE INFO
Tee Time!
If you are looking for a way to help support the site so we can continue to bring you more info about the mouse, feel free to browse our TeePublic Store! Aside from tees, you can also find coffee mugs, phone & laptop cases, and more!
SHOP NOW: Find more designs and products at our store: mouseinfo.com/tees.
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