It’s hard to believe this month doesn’t just end the year…it ends the decade! Disneyland is finishing out the 2010s the same way it started them – with tons of change and construction. Let’s take a quick look back at November at the Disneyland Resort.
THE HOLIDAYS BEGIN
The resort officially kicked off the Holiday Season this month, complete with snowy castle and massive trees. California Adventure also launched the annual Festival of the Holidays in Paradise Gardens Park. Visitors enjoyed new and returning food carts, live entertainment, and the chance to meet Santa in Grizzly Peak.
Source: Disneyland Resort
Festival of the Holidays runs through January 2020. For more information about this year’s offerings, see my previous post here.
TOMORROWLAND ENTRYWAY PROGRESS
By now you’ve probably seen that Tomorrowland’s jagged rocks at the entryway are gone. None of us knew what the new entryway would eventually look like – until Imagineering released concept art for the new look.
Source: Disneyland Today
Right now, the beds are in place, but they’re missing the bright blue and orange plants and details. Instead, you’ll just find some grass.
Source: Guy Selga
I for one love this change – the rocks blocked a wonderful view of the castle and caused so much congestion.
MAJOR OVERHAULS IN THE NEW YEAR
Starting next year, two of the resort’s most popular attractions will be going through major overhauls. In Adventureland, Indiana Jones will close for an “extensive refurb”. The announcement did not come with too many specific details, aside from specific work to replace the bridge (the “collapsing” bridge in the middle of the attraction). While the ride is down, I would imagine they will also make other small updates and repairs as well.
Source: Disneyland Resort
And over in Fantasyland, Snow White’s Scary Adventures will receive a desperately needed update. In addition to new projections and effects, the ride will finally have an ending that makes sense! Though we don’t know what existing scenes will disappear, shorten, or move, the attraction will add the famous kiss and a scene depicting Snow White arriving at the castle.
Source: Disney Parks Blog
Neither project has an official timeline or start date, but I imagine Disney will release those details in the coming weeks.
OTHER UPDATES
Tarzan’s Treehouse had a bit of a mishap this month. Apparently, a child was afraid to cross the swinging bridge, so dad jumped up and down on it to show it was safe. When he did, one of the planks snapped and fell to the ground! Thankfully no one was injured, and the Treehouse reopened in less than a day.
New Disneyland After Dark events are coming to the resort in 2020. I’ll have a more detailed post on the events soon, but for now, check out the official announcement page here.
And finally, two special cast members retired from the Disneyland Resort this month. After 11 years on Main Street, Brother and Reggie officially retired, and have been adopted by a cast member.
Source: Marcy Carriker Smothers