November marks a dramatic shift at the Disneyland Resort; the spooky cobwebs and pumpkins slowly vanish in favor of holiday displays, tinsel, and snowflakes. Despite being a crowded day at the resort, Thanksgiving is largely a non-event for Disneyland. Sure, there are some turkeys and cornucopias around, but the parks tend to jump from Halloween to Christmas. Main Street USA is already in full holiday swing, complete with icicles and snowflakes at the main gate.
California Adventure is also in full Christmas mode, and ornaments and wreaths adorn virtually every landscape. Even Cars Land has holiday spirit:
SEASON OF THE FORCE
The only major event of November was the official launch of Season of the Force: a celebration of Star Wars in Tomorrowland that will run through the spring. Season of the Force brings new energy, tons of new merchandise, and an increased presence of Stormtroopers to Disneyland, and fans are all the more excited for The Force Awakens.
Season of the Force is an ongoing event in Tomorrowland, but some attractions are not participating. Here are the rides, restaurants, and galleries unique to Season of the Force:
- HyperSpace Mountain – Space Mountain has a new overlay, offering guests the chance to fly through a galaxy far, far away. Riders accidentally stumble into battle, and must race through the chaos in order to return safely to their home planet.
- Galactic Grill – Tomorrowland Terrace, Tomorrowland’s most popular restaurant, has transformed into the Galactic Grill. The Grill features virtually the same menu, but has added Star Wars desserts and souvenirs.
- Path of the Jedi – The Magic Eye Theater, which sits between Space Mountain and the Star Trader Gift shop, is now showing a 10-minute feature called Path of the Jedi. The film guides viewers on a nostalgic journey through various moments from the saga, but does not include any footage from the new film.
- Launch Bay – The Star Wars Launch Bay has officially replaced Innoventions, and is a miniature Star Wars Expo within the park. Guests can check out models of ships, costumes from the films, and props used in filming. The Launch Bay eventually splits into two sides – the Light Side and the Dark Side, where guests can meet Chewbacca and Darth Vader, depending on which side of the force they align with!
OTHER UPDATES
Disney has announced that select restaurants in the park will soon offer Paint the Night Parade dining packages. The Paint the Night packages guarantee participants access to preferred viewing areas for the parade and fireworks, much like the World of Color dining system. So far, Aladdin’s Oasis and Blue Bayou are the only restaurants that have announced participation, and they will start offering the packages in early January.
And finally, keep your eyes out for a special character to meet in the parks: Santa Claus! Santa will be conducting meet and greets now through Christmas Day. You can track Santa’s whereabouts on the Disneyland App, or ask a cast member on Buena Vista Street when he’ll be visiting.