Presidents Day weekend brought massive crowds to the Happiest Place on Earth amidst a flurry of on-going construction, refurbishment, and other projects all around the property. We’ll get sights on Avengers Campus, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Fantasyland refurbishments, new FASTPASS offerings, and some tastes from around the parks just to name a few. We’ll also check in on the brand-new Jamba and scope a pop-up activation in Downtown Disney for ABC’s The Conners.
We have massive merch run this week awaiting those who make it all the way to end plus so much more in this latest park pictorial. ENJOY!
Rise of the Admission
The Disneyland Resort has continued its yearly tradition of raising prices at the start of the year; it will now cost you more than ever to get into the Happiest Place on Earth with price increases on tickets, annual passes, MaxPass, and more.
MORE INFO: YIKES! 2020 Disneyland price increases now in effect – higher cost, more tiers
The FastPass Ship in the Galaxy
Disney confirmed that Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Disneyland will soon be enabled with Disney FASTPASS (and Disney MaxPass) service. An exact date has not yet been announced other than “soon.”
MORE INFO: FALCON confirmed for FastPass ‘soon’ at Disneyland plus MONSTERS and AUTOPIA begin FP/MP service
Early RISErs
We mentioned it last week too but the hour and a half before park opening continues to be very busy at the Disneyland Resort. Expect lots gridlock on the streets, in the parking lots and with the lines once you get off your car. Fans are still very eager to experience the brand new groundbreaking STAR WARS: RISE OF THE RESISTANCE attraction so crowds are very heavy to secure those very limited numbers of Boarding Group numbers.
We still strongly advise on aiming to be parked no later than 7am if you want to try to secure a boarding group.
City Hall lines are also long in the mornings due to the boarding group situation.
The Conners Pop-Up
On Saturday, ABC held a fun little pop-up for THE CONNERS with a photo-op recreation of their living room and a Lanford Lunchbox food truck serving pie and stew with root beer. The hours of operation were 10am – 4pm.
The photo-activation generates a shareable videos of your photos. You can see the gallery here: https://t.co/KIhS7idhPl #TheConners #DowntownDisney pic.twitter.com/kyUhXwrC0K
— MouseInfo (@MouseInfo) February 16, 2020
Jamba Returns
Jamba reopened its doors on Wednesday at Downtown Disney.
Here’s a look at the full menu for the location.
Celebrate Gospel
We unfortunately did not have a chance to pop-in this year but CELEBRATE GOSPEL took place on Saturday and at the Hyperion Theater for the first time in its 11 years.
MORE INFO: CELEBRATE GOSPEL 2020 coming to Hyperion Theatre at Disney California Adventure
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
We heard unsubstantiated rumors that progress may be pausing on the new Toontown attraction in light of coronavirus closures in China as a means of minimizing the fiscal costs for the division.
MORE INFO: News and information about Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Avengers Campus
MORE INFO: News and information about AVENGERS CAMPUS Marvel themed land
You can see a bunch of scaffolding on the Hyperion Theater in Hollywood Land.
Backstage support building still under way behind Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters.
Around Disneyland
A royal welcome from Snow White!
Tulip Time!
In the afternoon sun they opened up to soak in the rays.
Valentine’s photo-op is up all weekend.
The Autopia is now enabled with FASTPASS / MaxPass.
To get a physical return time without MaxPass you need to go to the Tomorrowland FASTPASS distribution center.
The marquee itself is unchanged but there is a small umbrella visible in the distance, that’s the new merge point.
There is a small digital sign at the entrance.
This is later in the day, definitely not a 5-minute wait.
Walls are down on the new stairs in front of Space Mountain.
They aren’t quite ready yet.
Snow White’s Scary Adventures continues on with its refurbishment.
King Arthur Carrousel also moves along.
It looks like “it’s a small world” is undergoing a rolling refurbishment with upgrades and fixes while the attraction remains open.
Oh, Peter. pic.twitter.com/3hxGfKNavK
— MouseInfo (@MouseInfo) February 12, 2020
Breakfast at the Red Rose Taverne.
Beast’s Breakfast Burger ($10.99) is a 1/3 Lb Angus Patty with Rosemary-Maple Cream Cheese, Hickory-smoked Bacon, Scrambled Eggs, and Seasoned Waffle-cut Fries packed together on a Toasted Roll. Pretty good but cream cheese flavors don’t come through; might order extra side of it next time.
I also would have preferred fries on the side instead of inside but the whole thing comes wrapped and ready for eating on the go if that’s your MO. Plus, you can mobile order it.
Black Spire Hot Chocolate is regular hot chocolate topped with purple whipped cream and a sprinkling of shimmery sugar that tasted to us a little like butterscotch.
Canoes only running from 10am to 4pm, not sure if that’s normal schedule.
TLC on the island.
Haunted Mansion remains closed for its extended refurbishment.
Stroller parking isn’t necessary while the attraction is down.
Mark Twain is out of dry dock and returned to operation.
Around Disney California Adventure
Starbucks was super busy on Saturday.
Scaffolding is up on the Hyperion Theatre.
Captain America meet and greet has been usurped.
He’s moved over just a little near the Captain Marvel meet and greet.
Stage 17 seems to be getting some new paint.
Monster’s Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue is also now offering FASTPASS / MaxPass.
A mobile distribution kiosk is where you get your paper FASTPASS.
The queue splits into FastPass and Standby right after the entrance.
There seems to be two different merge points depending on how busy the attraction is.
Surprised the Disney Visa exclusive character meet and greet still exists at DCA. Such a great little perk.
The clouds made two horns on Mission: Breakout. Walls are still up in front of it for the track re-route of the Red Car Trolley.
Now that Alfresco Tasting Terrace is an AP-exclusive location it seems to be consistently busy, even during the week.
Charcuterie and Cheese Board ($12) features Prosciutto di Parma, Spanish-style Chorizo, Gorgonzola Blue Cheese, Chèvre, Fontina, Green Olives, Marinated Mushrooms, Walnuts, and Dry-cured Black Beldi Olives. The 5… 4… 3… 2… 1 ($15) is made with Spiced Rum, Blue Curaçao, House-made Simple Syrup, fresh Lime Juice, and a Tropical Juice Blend.
Stopped at the Lucky Fortune Cookery for a bowl of Pork Ramen ($14.49). It includes the Chashu-style Pork in a Broth with Nori, Roasted Corn and Green Onion. There’s additional toppings but they cost $3.49 for the bundle and that includes spicy Miso, a Soft-boiled Egg, and Sautéed Mushrooms. This $17.98 bowl of ramen is absolutely not worth the price.
The Lunar New Year celebration is over at DCA but they were still serving the fried Dessert Bao ($6.49) bun at Lucky Fortune Cookery this past week. It’s filled with seasonal fruit, sweet cream, and strawberry puree and topped with powdered sugar. It’s magical.
We got a Mulan button from the Mobile Order.
When Grizzly River Run is down — like it has been the past few weeks — the water is drained into the Pacific Wharf effectively creating a high-tide that fills up the lagoon.
The Boudin Bakery Tour is back after its brief refurbishment. As far as we could tell it remains unchanged.
Don't worry everyone! @Rosie and @colinmochrie are still part of the @BoudinBakery Tour at DCA! 🥖 pic.twitter.com/vLhtMtJhCK
— MouseInfo (@MouseInfo) February 16, 2020
Yes, there’s still free samples of Boudin’s best.
Grizzly River Run has also returned from its refurbishment although it had a late start on Saturday morning.
One of the binoculars is still missing.
The back trail remains off limits.
The proliferation of these ugly unthemed carts is truly unfortunate in a place that prides itself on story and place-making.
The Incredicoaster also had a late start Saturday morning, too.
Although it just opened last year, Jessie’s Critter Carousel is going down for refurbishment soon.
Around the Resort
Work continues on the ground floor near the soon-to-open elevator at Mickey and Friends.
Merch Run
Minnie Mouse, The Main Attraction: Pirates of the Caribbean
Fantasia 80th Anniversary
Disney Parks Designer Collection Ears
These Dave Perillo ears are musical and will set you back $58.
Disney Ink & Paint
We shared a bunch of items from this collection last week, here’s a few more this week.
Ink & Paint ears are super cute.
Spirit Jersey.
These magnetic… toothpick holders… should hold about 2 oz. worth… of toothpicks. The magnetic palatte makes a get serving tray… for your toothpicks.
These paint jar mugs are pretty fun, too.
Gorgeous plates.
Haunted Mansion Loungefly
Mandalorian – The Child
Star Wars
Tattooine and Hoth spirit jerseys.
Disney Game Night
Fantastic 5 Collection
More in Store
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
Tasting Soon
The 2020 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival returns once more to the Disneyland Resort bringing its fun blend of California-inspired festivities with classic Disney twists.
Resistance Ready?
When it comes to the STAR WARS: RISE OF THE RESISTANCE Virtual Queue / Boarding Group process at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, no result is typical but we were equipped with an understanding for how the process worked from this earlier info guide. There are as many suggestions for securing a Boarding Group as there are twinkles on Cinderella’s dress so ultimately you’ll want to follow the steps that feel right for you.
If you like to live vicariously through other people’s experiences, we invite you now to follow along on our process for enjoying STAR WARS: RISE OF THE RESISTANCE on its first official Saturday of operation at Disneyland!
MORE INFO: TIPS AND INFO: How we got our Boarding Group for STAR WARS: RISE OF THE RESISTANCE at Disneyland
Dark Days Ahead
Disneyland After Dark season is here and while 80s Nite has already come and gone, there’s still more opportunities to rock the night away in special after-hours parks experiences at the happiest place on earth. Each event offers a different theme complemented by unique entertainment, specialty food, collectible merchandise and more!
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.
- Spring 2020 Discounts for for tickets and hotels: Disneyland Resort. Through 5/21/20. (MORE INFO)
- 2020 US Military discounts for tickets and hotels; Disneyland, Walt Disney World. Through 2020. (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!