Happy end of June Disneylanders! If you’ve been keeping up with Disney news at all this month, you know June marked quite a few major events for the Happiest Place on Earth. Anniversaries, AP policy changes, the arrival of new characters…and the grand opening of a brand new land. Let’s dive right in!
NEW PIRATE ADVENTURES
Pirates of the Caribbean finally reopened this month with the new auction scene, introducing a new pirate: Redd. Instead of auctioning off wenches, Redd now leads an auction for goods, standing in the spotlight, pistol in hand. And yes, you can still hear “We Wants The Redhead!” But the best surprise came outside of the attraction. Redd wanders New Orleans Square, meeting guests as they explore the alleyways.
ADVENTURE AWAITS IN PIXAR PIER
The biggest event of all this month happened just a few days ago: the grand debut of Pixar Pier in California Adventure.
On the land’s opening day, it unfortunately wasn’t 100% finished. But visitors had access to the Lamplighter Lounge, Incredicoaster, Toy Story Midway Mania, Pixar Pal-Around, and a bunch of new snack stands.
As you walk through the pier, you pass through different Pixar “neighborhoods”: The Incredibles, Toy Story, Pixar Promenade (general Pixar), and Inside Out.
In 2019, the Pier will add two new attractions: Jessie’s Critter Carousel, and a ride called the “Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind”. The Inside Out attraction appears to be a re-theming of Flik’s Flyers, which will leave A Bug’s Land at the end of the summer.
Opinions on Pixar Pier seem split about 50/50 on social media. Some love the addition of characters and theming, while others feel it’s a haphazard overlay that looks and feels tempoorary. As for me, I’m doing my best to reserve judgment until I get to experience it in person.
OTHER UPDATES
Over in Disneyland, the Enchanted Tiki Room quietly celebrated it’s 55th anniversary. The park will be selling limited edition merchandise commemorating the anniversary through the end of the summer.
Heads up to annual passholders – block out dates are now park-specific. In the past, if you had a block out date, you couldn’t get into either park at the resort. Now, you may only be blocked from Disneyland, but still get access to California Adventure. Double check your park availablility before booking your next trip.
ESPN Zone, Rainforest Café, and the Earl of Sandwich are all now officially closed. Construction on the 4th Disneyland Resort hotel is definitely on its way!
And finally, Pinocchio fans were overjoyed to see the arrival of a brand new character in Fantasyland this month: the Blue Fairy herself. I know I’ve said it before, but Disneyland character interactions are so unique. Unlike many Disney parks around the world, Disneyland characters roam with guests, and are out and about all the time. I’ve seen them ride the carousel, walk around Fantasyland with little ones, and even race up and down the Matterhorn pathway (looking at you Peter Pan). I’m thrilled to see another character added into the mix!
