Those crowds everyone has been so eager to see assemble at the Disneyland Resort materialized this weekend in such large number that it prompted the temporary closure of the Mickey and Friends parking structure for the first time –as far as we can gather — since the opening of the Pixar Pals extension. Beautiful temperatures in the high 70s made for a lovely day despite the familiar crush of humanity that descended upon the Happiest Place on Earth.
In this week’s pictorial, we’ll take a look at the bleed-over of Halloween Time merch and decorations already showing up plus the return of Project Stardust as Tomorrowland appears to be losing its entrance rock work sooner than later. We’ll take a look at the construction of the new Marvel-themed land plus scope out other projects all around the parks. We’ve got another huge merch run primarily consisting of all the new must-haves for Halloween plus a few other fun things to drain your wallet.
All of this and more in out latest park pictorial. ENJOY!
Ticket Appreciation
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Winning a ticket to Disneyland ranks up there as one of the most coveted freebies from a contest or sweepstakes but if you’re Tamia Richardson of Edington, Alberta Canada, visiting Disneyland isn’t an opportunity that presents itself all too often; much less winning your way in. And yet, she was able to visit Disneyland recently with a park ticket that she won… in 1985!! That’s like so totally rad, right?!
MORE INFO: Canadian woman visits Disneyland using ticket she won more than 30 years ago!
Halloween Merch Creeps In
We may still have few solid weeks of Summer but Halloween is already top of mind at the Happiest Place on Earth and store shelves around the entire resort are bringing out the best for the 2019 Disney Halloween Time celebration!
There’s 75 days left until Halloween but here we go!
Halloween Time Plush
Dia de los Muertos
Hats and Ears
Apparel and Accessories
New Halloween Time spirit jersey is catching eyes.
Check out their shadows, so cute!
Trinkets and Toys
Snacks and Candy
Nightmare Before Christmas
Haunted Mansion
More in Store
These boxes in Five and Dime were just for display, kinda odd, kinda fun.
Marvel-Themed Land
Spider-Man attraction continues to see vertical construction to retrofit the former “bug’s land” theater.
Vertical construction has started on the upcoming Ant-Man themed microbrewery, it will sit conveniently next to the Mission: Breakout for those needing some liquid courage before boarding the attraction.
Around Disney California Adventure
A crane is poking up over the DCA skyline as construction continues on the Marvel-themed land.
Walls are still up at the Red Car Trolley loading station.
Scaffolding came down on the Award Wieners dining area facade but there’s still plenty of work needed.
Mission Breakout continues to be impacted by Marvel-themed land construction.
Gyro Fries ($12.99) at the Paradise Garden Grill start with a bed of crispy French Fries topped with Beef Gyro, Tzatziki Sauce, Tomatoes, Onion, Sliced Pepperoncini, Kalamata Olives, Feta Cheese, Cucumber Salad, and a side of Pita Bread. Super solid and satisfying.
My jeans ALWAYS hook onto these two stupid ornamental swirls on the Paradise Gardens chairs.
Riley imagined up some umbrellas for the new seating area in her head. It should cover the people sitting there in the event of brain storms, too.
Not much visibly different at the upcoming Villain Grove for Oogie Boogie Bash parties.
Around Disneyland
The mid-afternoon crowds on Main Street were deceptive as to the status of crowd levels in the parks. The Mickey and Friends / Pixar Pals parking structure reached capacity on Saturday evening for — as far as we can tell — the first time since the Pixar Pals structure opened. This does not bode well for the upcoming Halloween Time season when most Annual Pass types will not be blocked out.
PARKING UPDATE: Disneyland Resort Mickey & Friends parking structure and Pixar Pals parking structure are currently full. As of 7:20 PM Disneyland Resort parking is available at Toy Story parking lot. Updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/B2Y0d8E71p
— Disneyland AP (@DisneylandAP) August 18, 2019
Although Project Stardust was intended to refresh and plus up the park ahead of the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, there’s still more projects to complete as part of this initiative including the removal of the rock work at the entrance to Tomorrowland.
The often maligned rock work has constantly been looked to as a way to free-up walkways and viewing area space for parades and fireworks.
Over the coming weeks, we should start to see the vistas here open up.
Since the refurb walls at Tomorrowland’s entrance block the loading area for the Omnibus it seems that the Horseless Carriages are pulling double duty to make up for the lost capacity.
The rock work takes up a significant amount of space in the Central Plaza hub of the park and constricts the entrance and exit for Tomorrowland.
The Tomorrowland rock work blends into the rock work for the garden area that leads up to the Pixie Hollow character meet and greet. This space has not seen substantial usage since the House of the Future was removed in 1967.
Work progresses quickly on patching up the hole in the Matterhorn that opened up after a sizable chunk of the crag literally fell off of the mountain while the park was closed.
Huge crowds in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Walls are still up around the pump area in-between Adventureland and Frontierland entrance.
Is it just me or is Jack Skellington grinning at me?
First Halloween decorations start to land.
Seems like this entire area in front of Space Mountain could really benefit from a refresh in concept.
I liked how the clouds make it look like the sun is harnessing its energy from Space Mountain. That or a massive cloud flare has touched down behind it.
This part of Tomorrowland (including the outside dining area for Pizza Planet) has always felt like a delightfully absurd worm hole rip completely unchanged by the passage of time.
But then time seems to be catching up with the space. What’s going on in here?
And why is there an active cash register up here?
Time for a signage update.
Supper along the river. Love the classic feel of this menu for the Cafe Orleans.
Seasonal Soup right now is chicken gumbo ($7) with andouille sausage and tasso ham topped with rice.
Can’t go wrong with a classic Monte Cristo ($21)!
This Swinging Wake Cake ($10) is a delightful concoction of layered chocolate and vanilla sponge cake with caramel-banana filling and a banana-flavored buttercream frosting.
Preparations for Fantasmic!
Never know what kind of wildlife you’ll encounter aboard the Disneyland Railroad.
Get Your Ears On Celebration brings out all kinds of characters. On Saturday we saw both Tweedles, Stitch, Mickey, Pluto, Goofy, and Max.
The options are: we stan OR we go home. pic.twitter.com/mKYcV9n6Wh
— MouseInfo (@MouseInfo) August 18, 2019
Remember those crowds we were telling you about?
The Alien Pizza Planet facade leaves a little to be desired after dark.
Mickey didn’t poof from the roof on Saturday. =(
Near-midnight run to Batuu!
Around the Resort
The elevator is coming along at Mickey and Friends parking structure as is the new plaza connecting it to Pixar Pals parking structure.
The new unloading area is coming along.
Have never seen the security screening stations backed up so much. This was our first sign that the parks would be busier than normal.
Construction continues on the new bridge and walkways that connect the parking structure to Downtown Disney.
The currently awkward transition period makes guests walk a long way around to get across the street which has prompted many guests to jay-walk the more direct route. We’ve often seen police cars parked here to help mitigate this problem. Once the bridge opens this problem should go away.
Downtown Disney parking remains completely unavailable to the public.
Pop-up Disney is closing its doors September 2, 2019.
Progress seemingly at a dead stop on this info booth.
Ticket lines in the morning were so long that they spilled outside of the switchbacks and out into Esplanade. The AP Bring-A-Friend tickets cannot be purchased online which may be caasuing higher-than-normal crowds.
We thought the PIZZA PORT sign in Tomorrowland was really bad but this Downtown Disney braille map (aside from having bird poop all over it) still lists Build-A-Bear, Ridemakerz, and Chapel Hats amongst many other out-dated offerings. At least everything west of the monorail beam has simply been covered over but woof is this a bad look.
Merch Run
It looks like Disneyland finally updated the design for its standard “Disneyland” logo magnet. The previous design was a classic and literally decades old. The new one is also nice using in its pattern and colors familiar blocking of favorite Disney characters.
Curl Surf still has a wide selection of the STAR WARS X TOMS collection shoes and you can use your AP discount to save 10%.
Star Wars X TOMS
If you’re at Curl Surf in Downtown Disney, you can pick yourself up one of several different kinds of STAR WARS X TOMS shoes. The kind folks at TOMS sent us some shoes in return for sharing it with our readers here on MouseInfo. After we got them in the mail, we couldn’t help but to take them with us straight to Batuu!
MORE INFO: The Force is strong with the new #StarWarsxTOMS collaboration
Protect the Pride
These special edition Nala and Simba plush support The Lion King Protect the Pride campaign. They are also available at certain Disney stores, on shopDisney.com, and in select U.S. Disney Parks and Resorts locations
MORE INFO: Disney to raise up to $3 million for conservation with new The Lion King PROTECT THE PRIDE campaign
Starbucks Exclusives
If a stop to Disneyland’s Market House Starbucks is usually in your itinerary, then you might be excited to know that two Disneyland exclusive drinks — crafted by Cast Members at the location — will be available through the run of the Main Street Electrical Parade (September 30, 2019)!
The two concoctions are the Neverland Sunset (lemonade, peach juice and passion fruit tea) and the Wonderland Frappuccino (mocha frapuccino with a swirl of strawberry puree) paying tribute to iconic floats from the twinkling spectacle of nighttime magic and imagination!
This Old Mansion
On Friday August 9, the Haunted Mansion turned 50 years old and Disneyland didn’t let the anniversary go un-noticed. A bunch of special food and merchandise options debuted in celebration but that’s not the whole of it! There was a swinging wake up-charge party ahead of its anniversary and also Midsummer Scream which kicked off celebrations with a Grim Grinning Gala and several events through-out the weekend.
We spent a whole week looking into the Haunted Mansion’s history and legacy, check out the articles below in case you missed any!
- History and legacy of Disneyland’s classic HAUNTED MANSION
- A ‘By The Numbers’ look at the humble home of Disneyland’s happy haunts
- Spotlight on the happy haunts that materialize inside Disneyland’s HAUNTED MANSION
- Behind the Scenes at Disneyland’s classic HAUNTED MANSION
- #HauntedMansion50: Shh, Listen! The voices of Disneyland’s HAUNTED MANSION!
Halloween Early
Disney released a bunch of new information, teasers, and pictures of what we can expect for the upcoming Halloween Time season at Disney California Adventure. From villainous new entertainment to first-time arrivals of Disney characters plus food, merch, and more… there’s a whole lot more treats than tricks this year for Disney’s Halloween Time!
Oogie Boogie Bash
Disney California Adventure will take up the mantel of hosting Disneyland’s Halloween Party this year and the whole event gets a whole new name and focus with the upcoming debut of OOGIE BOOGIE BASH – A DISNEY HALLOWEEN PARTY!
Most event nights typically sell out each year. Dates that are crossed out below are sold out as of the last update of this page. Check the official site for the most updated listings.
- Sept. 17
Sept. 19- Sept. 22
Sept. 24Sept. 26
Sept. 29- Oct. 1
- Oct. 3
- Oct. 6
- Oct. 8
Oct. 10- Oct. 13
- Oct. 15
- Oct. 17
- Oct. 20
- Oct. 22
Oct. 24- Oct. 27
- Oct. 29
Oct. 31
Tickets may be purchased online, at the Disneyland Resort main gate, and by phone at 714-781-4636.
MORE INFO: OOGIE BOOGIE BASH brings new World of Color, Mickey show, Villain trail, and more to DCA in 2019
California Soarin’ Away
Are you ready to go Soarin’ Over California again? You can charter your own flight now! Due to popular demand, the attraction’s return has been extended! ENDS August 31, 2019.
MORE INFO: SOARIN’ OVER CALIFORNIA to return to Disney California Adventure for limited time this summer
Popping Out
Pop-up Disney! A Mickey Celebration at Downtown Disney is delightful and bright space ripe with literally countless photographic opportunities. If you haven’t seen it yet your window of opportunity is closing! ENDS September 2, 2019.
MORE INFO: Inside and In-Depth: POP-UP DISNEY! A MICKEY CELEBRATION at Downtown Disney
Glowing Again
The Main Street Electrical Parade is back for a special summer encore and it brings with it special treats and merch options but enjoy it while you can! ENDS September 30, 2019.
Imagineer That!
Many people are fascinated by Disney Imagineering and now Khan Academy is giving you a peek behind the storied walls and processes with Imagineering in a Box. This free online educational curriculum compiles expertise of Disney Imagineers from hundreds of career disciplines around the world and shares with learners of all ages. As part of the 35 educational videos, the curriculum features project-based exercises that apply science, technology, engineering, art and math that allow learners to create themed experiences.
MORE INFO: WATCH: Disney’s ‘Imagineering in a Box’ launches offering hours of instructional curriculum
Magical Savings on Admission
It’s one of the questions we get asked the most, how can you save a little money on Disneyland tickets? Below is what’s available now.
- AP PERK: Summer Bring-A-Friend ticket offer, $99 for 1-day Hoppers. 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 and apparel, you can also find stickers, phone & laptop cases, mugs, and more!
SHOP NOW: Find more designs and products at our store: mouseinfo.com/tees.
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