It’s one of the wildest times of year at the Disneyland Resort. The moment Halloween season comes to a close, the holiday season swings right in without much of a breath in between. Let’s take a look back at October at the happiest place on Earth.
HALLOWEEN CONCLUDES
As I mentioned above, the Halloween season officially came to an end last night, both in the parks and in Downtown Disney. And already, signs of the holidays are creeping in. This brief transition always reminds me of the Nightmare Before Christmas, with Halloween and Christmas colliding resort-wide. I think this picture from MiceChat captures what I’m describing perfectly:
Source: MiceChat
MAGICBAND+ LAUNCHES
Last month, Disneyland officially debuted the MagicBand+ system, which is a wristband that guests can use to access their park tickets, redeem Lightning Lanes, and more.
Source: Fresh Baked Disney
To date, the Disneyland Resort does not have those updated MagicBand+ stands (not sure what to call them), where you hold your band up and it glows green if you’re good to go. For now, cast members still scan your band like they would scan a ticket. I’m hoping those stands are on the way; I thought in Disney World they really helped speed things up – especially at the park gates.
For more information about the launch and current MagicBand+ features, check out my previous post here.
DISNEY100 DETAILS EMERGE
Starting January 27, Disneyland will participate in Disney100, a global celebration marking the Walt Disney Company’s 100-year anniversary. And in October, we finally got some more details about the event. In addition to the expected limited edition merchandise, the resort will also have a number of other offerings. First and foremost, the castle will get some glamorous decor, including two new fountains in the moat and appearances by the Flora, Fauna, and Merriweather.
Source: Disney Parks Blog
And second, both World of Color and the fireworks will transform into celebratory shows. Here are the descriptions as provided by the Disney Parks Blog:
World of Color: One – One will celebrate the storytelling legacy started by Walt Disney a century ago. It will tell a new story of how a 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. The show will also feature a new original song, “Start a Wave.”
Fireworks: Wondrous Journeys – Wondrous Journeys will feature nods to every Walt Disney Animation Studios film to date, taking us on a journey filled with artistry, music, storytelling and heart. It will continue to build upon the park’s state-of-the-art projection effects, turning Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle, the façade of “it’s a small world” and the Rivers of America into an artist’s canvas that brings characters to life all around you. On select nights, “Wondrous Journeys” will go even bigger with the addition of sparkling fireworks in the sky above Disneyland. This spectacular will also feature an incredible new song, “It’s Wondrous.”
Source: Disney Parks Blog
And finally, the short-lived Magic Happens parade will return to the park and run daily.
OTHER UPDATES
We now have a date for the debut of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. The new attraction will open January 27, roughly two months ahead of the rest of Toontown.
Black Panther fans have much reason to celebrate. For the next few weeks, Avengers Campus will be celebrating the release of Wakanda Forever with Black Panther meet and greets, and the arrival of M’Baku for the first time in the parks. Disney Parks Blog has teased other special entertainment as part of the celebration, but for now that remains a mystery.
In not-so-great news, the cost of Genie+ continues to go up. Starting in October, Genie+ is now $25 per person, per day. And that assumes you purchase ahead of time – same day pricing fluctuates based on demand.
And finally, Trader Sam’s launched a new Haunted Mansion inspired tiki mug this week. I want one – I’m so bummed I won’t be there this week because it will definitely sell out fast!
Source: Disney Parks