Halloween Time is upon us. Well, not officially until September 6, but you you’d be hard-pressed to tell since the park is well underway with its annual late summer transformation.
On this trip, we’ll take a look at on-going projects around the park including the Marvel-themed land which, we now know, is called Avengers Campus. DCA also has a Marvel 80th Anniversary celebration going on although you’ll not find a single one of those trademark red logos anywhere. We’ll also check in on the new entrance for Mickey’s Philharmagic at the Sunset Showcase Theater.
Plus, get sights on Project Stardust and the removal of the Tomorrowland entrance rock work and the Adventureland entrance which sees on-going work on the riverway. We’ll try to avoid melting into a puddle on Main Street with a refreshing glass of Blackberry Midnight Julep and wash it down while enjoying the Ghost Mariner’s Shrimp Boil at the Harbour Galley, both in celebration of the Haunted Mansion 50th Anniversary. The 50-year old mansion is currently closed as it makes its annual transformation into the Haunted Mansion Holiday but by outwardly appearances, it seems all but ready to open any day now. In years past, the attraction has been known to soft-open ahead of schedule.
Of course, a merch run for you at the end and much more in this pictorial. You know the drill. ENJOY!
TSA-approved
If you missed it, there was quite the brouhaha across social media over the past few days following reporting that the TSA had permanently banned the specialty Coca-Cola bottles sold at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort in the new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge expansion. Following the social media storm and national news attention, the TSA has revised their stance on the bottles.
MORE INFO: Yes, it’s OK to fly with your ‘Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge’ Coca-Cola bottles per TSA
D23 Expo-sed!
It’s hard to believe that another D23 Expo has come and gone but for three brief days, the Anaheim Convention Center was home to Disney’s Ultimate Fan Event! It’s literally impossible to see it all over the course of the three days but we hit some of the biggest highlights, sights, and sounds to bring you be best of all the info from the mouse.
MORE INFO: #D23Expo: MouseInfo’s Complete Recap of Disney’s Ultimate Fan Event, D23 Expo 2019!
Disney Parks Announcements
The amount of projects going on at Disney Parks right now has our heads reeling. From new Avengers attractions to Cruise Ships, Private Islands, and and SPACE CRUISERS, Disney Parks are literally taking us around the entire galaxy over the next few years.
MORE INFO: FULL RECAP: Disney Parks unload news and info on future projects
Magic Happens, parade
Set for a Spring 2020 debut, the new Magic Happens parade will course its way through Disneyland Park bringing with it a dazzling new daytime spectacle with all-new floats and magic to encounter. Plus, singer-songwriter Todrick Hall collaborated with Disney to create a high-energy song that interweaves with classic Disney tunes in a fun contemporary style.
MORE INFO: #D23Expo: MAGIC HAPPENS at Disneyland with new parade announced for Spring 2020
Cosplay Overload!
Cosplay is such a wonderful expression of fandom and at the D23 Expo, Disney fandom ran high with tons and tons of creative costumes, cosplay, and bounds bringing to life various fandoms from far reaches of the company. From Disney Parks and Disney Animation to Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars. All geekdom was represented.
MORE INFO: 2019 COSPLAY ROUNDUP — Eye-catching looks from all realms of Disney fandoms!
Mickey’s Runaway Railway
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is coming to both Disneyland park in California and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida but both their exteriors will vary pretty significantly.
Unlike the Chinese Theater in Florida, at Disneyland park, the attraction will be opening in Mickey’s Toontown in 2022 so it’s exterior takes a different approach. The action takes place at the El CapiTOON Theater, where Mickey and Minnie are premiering their newest short, “Perfect Picnic.” Before you enter the cinema, you’ll experience a special exhibit created by the Toontown Hysterical Society featuring costumes and props from the toon world.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway puts you inside the wacky and unpredictable world of Disney Channel’s Emmy® Award-winning “Mickey Mouse” cartoon shorts! Once you step into the cartoon world of Mickey and Minnie, you’ll board a train with Goofy as the engineer. Then, one magical moment after the next leads you to a zany, out-of-control adventure filled with surprising twists and turns.
With an original story and lovable theme song, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway uses state-of-the-art technologies and dazzling visual effects to transform the cartoon world into an incredible and immersive multidimensional experience.
Avengers Campus
Coming to both Disney California Adventure at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris, the new Marvel-themed lands will bring new rides, dining, shopping, and entertainment opportunities.
Construction on the entirety of the Avengers Campus Marvel-themed land is well underway with projected opening next year.
The new Spider-Man attraction continues to take shape.
We now have confirmation of a Spider-Man gift shop in this location near the restrooms. Likely called W.E.B. Suppliers.
Pym Test Kitchen is currently going up right next to Mission: Breakout!.
Vertical construction has started on the new Avengers headquarters building which will eventually serve as the entrance for the Phase-2 Quinjet E-ticket attraction.
The site next to the Tower will be where the new Avengers E-ticket will go.
Marvel 80
Guests visiting DCA were handed 80 Years celebration buttons. No Marvel logo, of course.
Photo-Op used at the D23 Expo.
Character greets all day long with Captain Marvel, Black Panther, Thor and Loki, Captain America, and Spider-Man.
You can also spot Mickey/Minnie, Goofy/Pluto, Chip/Dale, and Donald/Daisy in their Marvel Disney Bounds. Thanks to Dinah Garcia for sending over these great pics!
The sightlines here will be quite different once the new Marvel E-ticket for Phase 2 is added.
Celebratory Funnel Cake Fries with a smear of green… stuff.
Mickey and Friends
Early morning procedure is unfortunately still to park guests on the roof. It seems they completely fill Pixar Pals roof then backfill every other row on Minnie. Later in the evening guests are directed back to the roof to find parking.
The plaza inbetween Mickey and Friends and Pixar Pals continues to see additional pavers around all the new trees.
The new elevator is also coming along.
The new bridge is looking neat and pretty.
Foliage is being planted which is a positive sign that things will be rocking and rolling very very soon. You can see the flattened earth is also ready to be paved, likely for new parking spots. Or maybe a new Ride-Share drop-off?
Disney’s latest addition will also feature SCREENZ!
Looks like the Downtown Disney sign has been removed on the corner of Magic Way and Disneyland Dr.
This sign threatens no tram-access but it goes to the first floor.
Barricades and signage do little to prevent jay-walking. This issue should be going away soon as this passage will close once the bridge is ready.
New wheelchair accessible ramp is going up in the plaza.
‘Member when? Halloween Time decorations.
Around Disney California Adventure
DCA is feeling a little batty lately.
Walls remain up around the Red Car Trolley station. Many are hoping the track will be extended to take us up through Avengers Campus.
Window displays are all ready for Halloween Time.
There’s two moods for Halloween Time. ^ “I was born for this.” and…
…Here we go again.
The Sunset Showcase Theater finally got its new marquee. Now with digital signage that should be easier — read: cheaper — to replace for this flex-space theater.
A new sloped curb was added in front to make it easier for wheel-bound folk to advance.
The floor was painted to look like a red carpet. A nice touch marred by the ugly temporary look of virtually all the rest of the original 2001 themeing that remains. Velvet rope stantchions and a patterend step and repeat along the left wall to establish a red carpet premiere vibe would go a long way to help distract from an otherwise very ugly forecourt into the theater. Plus, boom instant new insta-ready Disney Wall.
The new entrance for the theater doesn’t cut you off from accessing the dining area which remains, along with a new stroller parking area.
The posts were only half-painted.
Division of food and entertainment.
The walkway here was widened. I believe a larger tree was removed to make this possible.
The old marquee entrance is still in place for now. A little confusing since you can’t directly get into the theater through here anymore.
Posts have been added to the right side of the street in Cars Land to prepare for the Ho’kin Haul-O-Ween decorations that will be strung across the street.
The third window finally arrived at Lamplight Lounge. Not sure how long it’s been there but it was not immediately there when the first two windows arrived.
Still no Mickey on the Silly Symphony Swings. Why?
Golden Zephyr returns from a short refurbishment this weekend.
Villains Grove setup for Oogie Boogie Bash.
Hmm, lots removed from the menus at Craftsman Bar & Grill.
They just finally replaced this banner with a non-holiday one a few weeks ago and it’s now time to switch back again.
Around Disneyland
Orange bunting has returned to Main Street, USA.
Something missing though.
Awaiting the Great Pumpkin!
The murder of crows (or the unkindness of ravens?) is back once again at Fortuosity.
Rock-work removal seems to be going well.
By all accounts, it seems to have been completely removed. The curb re-sloping should be speeding along, as well.
Mattehorn still not ready to remove scaffolding on the waterfall.
Can’t wait for the filtration system to get back in order. This sludgy water is just NOT cutting it.
We heard running water behind the walls, sounded like the little waterfalls back here were running again.
Blackberry Midnight Julep is a delightful tangy sweet variation on the Disneyland classic and it’s just around for a limited time for the #HauntedMansion50 celebration.
Also in celebration of Haunted Mansion 50th Anniversary is this incredibly yummy Ghost Mariner Shrimp Boil from the Harbour Galley. It’s $14.99 but it packs in the flavor with the rich and well seasoned buttery sauce. A piece of sour-dough bread thrown in to soak up the butter. It’s magical.
You get a bunch of potatoes, three pieces of corn, three jumbo shrimp, and a bunch of slices of sausage along with the small piece of sourdough bread.
The Halloween Tree has some lights. We suspect pumpkins should start sprouting soon!
Back to Batuu (west)!
The Single-Rider line practically came out to the main entrance. That’s a huge “No, Thank You.” At that point, you would likely be better off going through the regular queue.
Don’t remember seeing a little white strip above the door near Salju’s repair shop. It’s probably not new but seemed oddly out of place.
I wonder if we’ll ever get to meet Salju.
Reminds me of Tattooine.
Minor echoes of Naboo.
RIP Takodana Castle.
Now that the land is open on both coasts, it seems a bunch of long-sold-out merch has been released at Disneyland!
All colors of Kyber Crystals available. We forgot to ask if they still require purchase of a Holocron.
Love these patches!
Around the Resort
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa lobby is once again amassing a giant Krispy Treat figure, this year of Oogie Boogie in a cauldron!
Mood.
Here’s last year’s confection…
The Halloween Pump-cake Patch at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel is a super random edible confection. The Oogie Boogie pumpkin is more than 4 ft tall! #HalloweenTime🎃 https://t.co/YAbcpwmo6o pic.twitter.com/0tbbPQeYlN
— MouseInfo (@MouseInfo) September 30, 2018
Unsurprisingly, the former Info Booth has been turned into a DVC kiosk.
Chip and Dale as Frankenstein and his monster this year is killing me. So cute!!
A clash of holidays backstage with both Main Street Pumpkins and Sleeping Beauty Castle snow roofs awaiting placement.
Hey, there’s the Great Pumpkin!
Merch Run
Back to School!
Shag Tiki Room Ear Hat from the Disney Parks Designer Collection.
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. 17Sept. 19Sept. 22Sept. 24Sept. 26
Sept. 29- Oct. 1
Oct. 3- Oct. 6
Oct. 8
Oct. 10Oct. 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
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.
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.
THE END!