Current Events 1/6/2023
Disneyland Resort Current Event
Disneyland announces virtual queue for ‘World of Color – One’ – What you need to know
Like many things at Disneyland now, you’ll need to have your smartphone handy and your itchy trigger finger ready if you want to land a coveted virtual queue spot for the new 'World of Color' show.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: January 5, 2023.
"You’ll have one or two chances a day to nab a virtual queue spot for 'World of Color – One' – depending on whether there are one or two shows each night. But you’ll need to move fast and make sure you’re poised to pounce once the starting gun is fired.
"Virtual queue spots will be distributed daily beginning at noon through the Disneyland app. On nights with multiple showtimes, virtual queue spots for the second show will be distributed immediately after the distribution ends for the first show.
“'World of Color – One' will be presented at 9 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. on Jan. 27-29 and the first two weekends in February. Weekday performances typically have one performance at 9 p.m. – but not always. The Wednesday, Feb. 1 show is at 7:30 p.m. and Valentine’s Day has two shows on Tuesday, Feb. 14."
Orange County Register
First Look Images and Video of “World of Color – ONE,” Debuting January 27th at Disney California Adventure
Jan 5, 2023
"The show will tell a new story of how one single action, like a drop of water, creates a ripple that can grow into a wave of change. It brings some of the most courageous, loving and inspiring characters to life in new ways.
"In fact, this is the first Disneyland Resort nighttime spectacular to feature characters, music and moments from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, the Avengers, and Star Wars in the same production.
"This spectrum of stories is set to a beautiful musical score comprised of 18 different compositions, including a new, original song “Start a Wave,” which was written by GRAMMY-nominated artist Cody Fry and features lead vocals performed by singer-songwriter and actress Loren Allred.
"Each musical moment is brought to life by mist screens and 1,200 dancing fountains, combined with brilliant lighting, projection, laser, fog and flame effects."
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"Your MagicBand+ will add to the experience with synchronized dancing lights and vibrations.
"World of Color – ONE will reportedly have a runtime of 24 minutes."
Laughing Place
Wed, December 21, 2022
Disneyland Resort Reveals New Details for ‘Wondrous Journeys’ Coming to Disneyland Park Beginning Jan. 27
by Kelsey Lynch, Public Relations Director, Disneyland Resort
"The Walt Disney Company will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2023. As we’ve previously announced, the heart of the celebration will be here at the Disneyland Resort, and begins on Jan. 27, 2023.
"The Disney100 celebration at Disneyland Resort will include many special limited-time offerings taking place around the resort all year long, and will kick off with one extremely special new nighttime spectacular: 'Wondrous Journeys,' created by Disney Live Entertainment.
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"The spectacular will also feature an original new song, 'It’s Wondrous,' that promises to capture your heart and spark your imagination."
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"State-of-the-art projection effects will surround you with blank pieces of paper, pencil sketches, and splashes of color, as the artistry of animators breathe life into beloved characters from Mickey Mouse and Bambi to Ariel and Mirabel. And in a thrilling moment of heroism, Baymax soars high above Sleeping Beauty Castle inspiring us all to fight for our dreams.
"Special lighting effects, projections, and more carry us on an adventure full of possibilities, excitement, heartache, and determination that help us realize we all face trials and triumphs along the way to making our dreams come true.
"Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle, the façade of “it’s a small world” and the Rivers of America will turn into an artist’s canvas and bring stories to life all around you. And on select nights, 'Wondrous Journeys' will go even bigger with the addition of sparkling fireworks in the sky above Disneyland park."
Disney Parks Blog
Disneyland files construction permits on $5 million Downtown Disney renovation
The commercial construction permits filed with the Anaheim Planning and Building Department call for a new 8,300-square-foot retail building with room for five shops.
By BRADY MACDONALD
UPDATED: December 19, 2022
"Disneyland filed building permits valued at $5.4 million in early December with the city of Anaheim for Downtown Disney construction, according to city records."
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"The commercial construction permits filed with the Anaheim Planning and Building Department call for a new 8,300-square-foot retail building with room for five shops. Also in the works: A new bathroom and employee break room.
"An event space with a 1,250-square-foot stage, shade structure and 21 lights are also in the plans, according to the permits.
"The former AMC Theaters along with Starbucks West, Earl of Sandwich and Sugarboo & Co. were demolished in February as part of a multiyear project that will reimagine the Downtown Disney outdoor shopping center. Work had slowed in recent months on the leveled dirt lot surrounded by colorful construction walls where the AMC Theaters once stood."
Orange County Register
Disneyland has longer lines, wait times during holiday passholder ban, data shows
The 2022 Christmas holiday season offered a glimpse of what a passholder-free Disneyland could look and feel like during what is traditionally the busiest time of the year at the parks.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: January 6, 2023
"Disneyland attraction lines were longer this Christmas season during an annual passholder ban compared to 2021 when Magic Keyholders packed the Anaheim theme park, according to wait time data released by Disney.
"Disneyland and Disney California Adventure average wait times rose 10% during the busy holiday period while Magic Key annual passholders were prohibited from entering the parks, according to an analysis of Thrill Data metrics.
"Thrill Data scrapes wait times released through the Disneyland mobile app and uses data analytics to track trends and generate charts about the visitor experience at the parks. Disneyland does not release daily attendance figures or discuss crowd levels.
"For the first time in decades, Disneyland and DCA blocked all annual passholders from visiting the parks from Dec. 21 through Jan. 1."
Orange County Register
Disneyland issues ‘Courtesy’ warning after increase in fights at Disney theme parks
The new 'Courtesy' sections on the Disneyland and Disney World websites explicitly spell out the expected visitor behaviors that had been previously implied at the vacation playgrounds billed as happy and magical escapes from reality.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: December 27, 2022
"The Disneyland website added a new Courtesy section during the Christmas holiday season after a similar advisory was added to the Disney World website in mid-December.
"The new Courtesy sections on the Disneyland and Disney World 'Know Before You Go' pages explicitly spell out the expected visitor behaviors that had been previously implied at the vacation playgrounds billed as happy and magical escapes from reality."
Orange County Register
Disneyland takes delivery of 10-foot-tall animatronic snake for Indiana Jones Adventure
A 10-foot-tall audio-animatronic king cobra that hisses and strikes at riders in Indiana Jones Adventure has arrived at Disneyland ahead of an extensive attraction refurbishment scheduled to begin on Jan. 9.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: December 29, 2022
"A 10-foot-tall audio-animatronic king cobra that hisses and strikes at riders in Indiana Jones Adventure has arrived at Disneyland ahead of an extensive attraction refurbishment scheduled to begin on Jan. 9. The popular Genie+ attraction will reopen in spring 2023."
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"The refurbished ride is expected to reopen with behind-the-scenes and guest-facing updates to audio-animatronics like the attacking snake and other special effects — but not any significant changes from a story standpoint.
"The Indiana Jones Adventure dark ride in the crumbling Temple of the Forbidden Eye at Disneyland has been showing its age in recent years.
"Every major special effect in the Indiana Jones Adventure attraction at the Anaheim theme park is currently broken, according to MiceChat."
Orange County Register
Disneyland fire partially damages New Orleans Square train station
The flames damaged the train station radio house used by Disneyland employees as a staff break room.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: December 30, 2022
"The Anaheim Fire Department received a call at 3:29 a.m. on Thursday morning of a structure fire in the radio house of the New Orleans Square train station at Disneyland, according to Anaheim Police and Fire spokesperson Sgt. Jacob Gallacher. The Anaheim Fire Department and the on-site Disneyland Fire Department crews fought the small fire for 15 minutes.
"The flames damaged the train station radio house building between the New Orleans Square depot and a water tower used to refill the steam engines. The radio house is used by Disneyland employees as a staff break room.
"Disneyland erected white construction walls and a 20-foot-tall beige scrim to shield the fire-damaged building from visitors while the Disneyland Railroad continued to take riders on a 'Grand Circle Tour' around the park."
Orange County Register
Small Fire Damages Disneyland’s New Orleans Square Train Depot
Dec 30, 2022
Laughing Place
Disneyland Incident: Fire in New Orleans Square
By Nathan Villamor -December 29, 2022
MiceChat
RunDisney half marathon returns to Disneyland for first time since 2017
The Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend featuring a 5K, 10K, half marathon and challenge race will be held on Jan. 11-14 in 2024 at the Anaheim theme park.
By BRADY MACDONALD
PUBLISHED: January 3, 2023
"The Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend featuring a 5K, 10K, half marathon and challenge race will be held on Jan. 11-14 in 2024 at the Anaheim theme park.
"The challenge race combines the 10K and the half marathon – or roughly three-quarters the distance of a full marathon.
"Runners dressed in princess tutus, Maleficent horns or their favorite Disneybounding attire will enjoy music, live entertainment and Disney character sightings as they race through Disney’s Anaheim theme parks. All participants receive a Disney-designed race medal."
Orange County Register
runDisney Sets Dates for 2023-24 Events, Including Return of Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend
Jan 3, 2023
"With race weekends on both coasts, runDisney is bringing back the runDisney Coast to Coast Race Challenge in 2024, which awards medals to runners who participate in select races on both coasts."
Laughing Place
runDisney’s Disneyland Half Marathon to Return January 2024
By Natalie Kipper -January 3, 2023
"Registration for the 2024 Disneyland Half Marathon will be available on runDisney’s website. If you are a Club runDisney Gold or Platinum member, you can begin registering on February 7, 2023. And the general public can register on February 14, 2023. Virtual event registration begins on February 17, 2023."
MiceChat
Disneyland News & Photo Update – What Could be Worse than Chapek?
By Dusty Sage -December 12, 2022
"The holidays at Disneyland are usually a time of mirth and merriness, but this year there’s a little bit of disappointment in the air. For the first time ever, all levels of new or renewed passes are fully blocked out for the end of the year. Many Magic Keyholders are trying to get their last dose of Disneyland holiday magic before getting locked out. We’ll take a look at the crowd conditions around the park, plus news about Lightning Lane changes, refurbishments around the resort, and a few neat Disney events in the near future. We also share a warning about a potential heir to Bob Iger, who would likely result in a return to the same dismal policies of Bob Chapek (or worse). Stick around, this is an important Disneyland Update with some Disneyland holiday highs and lows!"
MiceChat
Update - Magic Meter, Locked Out & Christmas CutbacksBy Dusty Sage -December 19, 2022
"It’s t-minus six days until Christmas! And if you’re an Inspire or Believe Magic Keyholder, there’s another countdown you’re keeping track of as well: how many days you have left before getting blocked out for the rest of the year. And lots of folks are wondering if Disneyland will be mostly empty this holiday season without all those passholders in the parks. We’ll take a look at the clues. Plus, why Christmas doesn’t feel as magical at Disneyland this year, high hopes for the Disney100 celebration in January, and all the latest happenings and construction around the Disneyland Resort. And be sure to read all the way to the bottom to cast your vote for the Disneyland Magic Meter."
MiceChat
Disneyland Update – And The Verdict Is…
By Nathan Villamor -December 26, 2022
"Even though yesterday was Christmas, we knew that we still had to write a Disneyland Update for our readers who expect one every Monday, rain or shine— or holiday! There’s a lot of great info in today’s article. We take a look at how the parks feel with Key Holders blocked out for the season, peeking ahead to Disney100, and we finish with some photos from around the park. Join Dusty and me for the last Disneyland Update of 2022!"
MiceChat
Disneyland Update – Don’t Let The Door Hit You On The Way Out!
By Dusty Sage -January 2, 2023
"Welcome to the first Disneyland Update of 2023! Last year was a difficult one for the Disneyland Resort and its fans, but this year looks like it could be an exciting one. We’ll be right here with you through all the highs and lows ahead. Last week, Magic Keys were blocked out of the parks, which provided some interesting info on how Disneyland operates with (nearly) all tourists and few passholders in attendance. We’ll also look at a VERY soggy New Year’s Eve, some exciting news about shops in transition, and even a fire in the park! And don’t miss the videos and special polls we have for you today below."
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