Somehow, we nerds survived both the Battle of Winterfell and Avengers: Endgame this weekend! But not to be outdone, the Disneyland Resort kept our attention with tons of announcements, new attractions, and one unfortunate boat tipping incident. Let’s take a look back at April in the happiest place on earth.
THE AVENGERS LAUNCH CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL INITIATIVE
Many of the stars of the Marvel Cinematic Universe assembled in California Adventure to mark the launch of a new initiative. Avengers Universe Unites announced the donation of $5 million to nonprofits supporting children with critical illnesses, including $1 million to the Starlight Children’s Foundation. Disney CEO Robert Iger announced the launch and initial donation, alongside:
- Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man)
- Chris Hemsworth (Thor)
- Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow)
- Brie Larson (Captain Marvel)
- Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye)
- Paul Rudd (Ant Man)
The heroes also visited Downtown Disney, building with LEGOs alongside kids from local Boys & Girls clubs.
For more information about the Avengers Universe Unites initiative, visit the official announcement page here.
DAPPER DAY
This month also marked the Disneyland Resort’s most popular event on the spring calendar: Dapper Day! Fans turned out in amazing and creative outfits, most drawing inspiration from classic Disney characters. Here are a few of my favorite outfits I saw on Twitter.
Upper & lower left: OC Register, Right: MousePlanet
GRAND OPENINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
If you visited the resort in April, you may have noticed a few new attractions over in California Adventure. In Pixar Pier, Jessie’s Critter Carousel opened its gates to visitors, officially re-launching the park’s only carousel. Riders can choose from a variety of critters to ride, enjoying turns around the pier between a giant western mural and a watchful Jessie by the entrance.
And in Hollywood Land, Mickey’s Philarmagic made its grand debut on the west coast. The show, a longstanding staple in the Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland, now gives Disneyland Resort visitors the chance to travel on a musical journey through some of Disney Animation’s most famous scenes.
In addition to these two openings, the Disneyland Resort also announced some upcoming attractions and events.
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway – You may have heard this attraction is coming to Hollywood Studios in Orlando, and now it’s coming to Mickey’s Toontown in Disneyland! This train ride will take visitors on a journey through an immersive cartoon world, with Goofy serving as the engineer. The Runaway Railway will replace the Gag Factory and some backstage area, so Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin will not be impacted by this change.
- Bo Peep Meet & Greet – This summer, another toy will join Woody, Buzz, and Jessie in Pixar Pier. Bo Peep will now be available for meet & greets, for the first time!
- Carthay Circle Lounge – Expect to see some walls up around Carthay Circle. The lounge will be going through an expansion, allowing for more guests to enjoy the dining spot without advanced reservations.
- Halloween – And finally, though it’s only April, Disneyland has already announced this year’s Halloween offerings and parties. The most notable change – Mickey’s Halloween Party will move over to California Adventure this year and will be called the Oogie Boogie Bash. I can’t bring myself to write a Halloween post before it’s even summer, but if you’re itching to learn more about the fall offerings (or buy early Halloween party tickets!), check out the official page here.
OTHER UPDATES
On April 8, the Storybook Land Canal Boats temporarily closed after one of the boats began taking on water. 10 guests were evacuated onto another boat, and though some had wet clothes and shoes, no one fell into the water or sustained any injuries.
You may notice a missing marquee over the next few weeks. The iconic Adventureland sign is going through restoration but will be back on the pathway soon. In the meantime, Disneyland put up an old Adventureland sign, once posted above the Tahitian Terrace.
MaxPass recently added shows to the fast pass system for the first time. In addition to selecting fast passes for attractions, users can now book fast passes for Fantasmic! and World of Color too.
And finally, a Disneyland legend has announced his retirement. Farley the Fiddler, a wonderful entertainer in Frontierland, will retire Memorial Day weekend. If you have the chance to see Farley before his retirement, I can’t recommend it enough. He’s talented, so kind, and always happy to pose for a picture.
