What's New at DisneyLand?

[blackcauldron85]

This is HUGE!!!!!! I'm so happy they'll be able to work again.

Theme park attendance will be limited to California residents.

That's interesting. But I guess since 15% is a small #, they want to try and make it more orderly...?

[Big Disney Fan]

BREAKING: Disneyland Resort Theme Parks and Universal Studios Hollywood Can Reopen April 1st, 2021

https://wdwnt.com/2021/03/breaking-disn ... -1st-2021/

Disneyland has not announced an official reopening date yet, but this is great news for cast members.

Given how it missed out on the alleged July reopening last year, I have to approach this with a little skepticism. It also does not help that the reopening can happen on or after April 1, which of course is April Fools Day.

[blackcauldron85]

Disneyland Will Reopen April 30th
https://wdwnt.com/2021/03/breaking-disn ... pril-30th/

Disneyland Resort Reopening Only to California Residents Until Further Notice, Implementing New Theme Park Reservation System
https://wdwnt.com/2021/03/disneyland-re ... on-system/

Snow White’s Enchanted Wish Will Open with Disneyland on April 30th
https://wdwnt.com/2021/03/snow-whites-e ... pril-30th/

[blackcauldron85]

Super exciting!

Disneyland Resort Announces Plans for Theme Park Expansions and More
by Tom Corless
https://wdwnt.com/2021/03/breaking-disn ... -and-more/

Originally, there was some confusion amongst news outlets at today’s announcement if this was a new park, but it appears they are actually large expansions of both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure.

The DisneylandForward.com website states that the lands could include Frozen, Peter Pan, and Tangled (already announced for Tokyo DisneySea’s Fantasy Springs), as well as Zootopia from Shanghai Disneyland, Toy Story Land from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and TRON Lightcycle/Run, currently under construction for Magic Kingdom.

The existing Toy Story parking lot on Harbor Blvd, just across the street from the Anaheim Convention Center, would be turned into a new shopping and dining district, much like Disney Springs at Walt Disney World or DisneyTown at Shanghai Disneyland.

https://disneylandforward.com/project/possibilities

We want to bring more Disney investment to Anaheim. However, this simply isn’t possible under current inflexible planning restrictions unless we remove and replace treasured rides and attractions in our Parks today. Without updates, new Disney experiences and placemaking, created from our beloved stories, will likely never find their way to the Disneyland Resort as they have to other parks throughout the world. With DisneylandForward and more flexibility within our existing properties, new lands and adventures like those underway at Tokyo DisneySea and Shanghai Disneyland could inspire new experiences here.

[UmbrellaFish]

It is exciting, although I’m still a wee bit confused as to what is happening. I know it is not a third park, but I have heard that it may be the first step towards getting a third park in the next 10 years. I can’t wait to visit Disneyland resort some day.

[blackcauldron85]

It is really confusing, and I don't have a full grasp on it. From what I gather (and I posted some info below), based on a "plan" from the '90s, there are districts-- like, only hotels can go in certain sections, maybe restaurants in others, etc. But with the new lands, like Star Wars and Toy Story and I suppose Marvel, and new ones that they are teasing us with, Disney thinks it's better for the Guests' experience if they don't have to closely follow this "Plan."


Per the DisneylandForward website (https://disneylandforward.com/):

Disneyland Resort is facing planning restrictions that limit its ability to bring new experiences to the Anaheim Resort.

With bold planning and leadership, Disneyland Resort could be poised to grow again, bringing jobs and new lands and adventures to Anaheim.

The existing Disneyland Resort Specific Plan, approved in the 1990s, created districts for growth and limited the types of uses allowed in each district. Approvals generally required new hotels to be located in the Hotel District and traditional theme park uses to be located in the Theme Park District. But guests now seek a more integrated experience for the entirety of their stay. From Cars Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to the new Pixar Pals parking structure, Disney has spent billions of dollars over the last two decades investing in theme park experiences and infrastructure. While Disney has the development rights and the desire to continue investing in Anaheim, the space to develop integrated offerings is severely limited. Without broadening the uses allowed within each district or demolishing and replacing many beloved theme park attractions, further integrated development and theme park investment are not possible.

We want to bring more Disney investment to Anaheim. However, this simply isn’t possible under current inflexible planning restrictions unless we remove and replace treasured rides and attractions in our Parks today. Without updates, new Disney experiences and placemaking, created from our beloved stories, will likely never find their way to the Disneyland Resort as they have to other parks throughout the world. With DisneylandForward and more flexibility within our existing properties, new lands and adventures like those underway at Tokyo DisneySea and Shanghai Disneyland could inspire new experiences here.

We realize that in order to invest in a way that makes sense, not just for Disney but our entire community we need to seek out ways to create integrated experiences. In order to do that, we need updated development approvals from the city. The public review and approval process will take time. Starting today this process will allow us to take the first step forward.

This effort will be privately funded by Disney. Disney is not seeking any public funding as a part of DisneylandForward.

With DisneylandForward, we will have the opportunity to bring integrated and immersive development to the Anaheim Resort area that could include hotels, dining, entertainment and theme parks, all in one area.

as part of this process, the City will be updating the existing environmental impact report for The Disneyland Resort Project, which will include a thorough analysis of potential environmental impacts and will identify mitigation measures to address and reduce impacts.

Any development made possible because of DisneylandForward will in turn create jobs both during the construction phase, as well as during operations. We expect the impact of any development made possible by DisneylandForward to be far reaching.

In the 1990s, the City of Anaheim approved specific plans that would guide the growth of the Disneyland Resort and businesses in the newly formed Anaheim Resort area. These specific plans created districts or zones that largely specified what type of development could be built where. It also established strict guidelines regarding development size, height limits and streetscape standards.
The results were dramatic: a second Disney theme park, Anaheim’s first luxury hotel, a Downtown Disney District, a world-class Anaheim Resort with consistent signage and landscaping, an expanded and improved Convention Center, and transformative infrastructure, including parking areas, first responder services and utilities to accommodate future tourist-serving growth, and a comprehensive regional transportation plan.

the addition of more attractions and experiences in the future may be limited under current inflexible planning restrictions unless we remove and replace treasured rides and attractions in our parks today.

[blackcauldron85]

D23's Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products presentation:

*Walk-around characters of The Mandalorian and Grogu (in Mando's bag) (coming mid-November)

*Walk-around character of the Hulk, super huge, like 10 foot tall +? In a white armor suit, debuting next week!

*New Marvel Multiverse attraction, new character (King Thanos), all the Avengers fight him

*SAN FRANSOKYO!!!!!!! In the early phases, meet Baymax, eat/shop; at California Adventure

*Paradise Pier Hotel is changing its name to Pixar Place Hotel, will have a Finding Nemo splash pad

*Toontown: Mickey + Minnie's Runaway Railroad, Donald's Boat, Goofy's How To Play Yard

*New Orleans Square: Tiana's Bayou Adventure opening late 2024

*Late January for the 100 Years of Wonder celebration, new looks, Magic Happens parade, 2 new nighttime spectaculars, DCA: World of Color 1 will have a new story, concept art showed Encanto along with others (I wrote TLK down but there were 2 others); and Wonderous (all 60 animated films up to now will be included in this castle show), and they played the new song for it.

[blackcauldron85]

BREAKING: Tarzan’s Treehouse Becoming Swiss Family-Inspired Adventureland Treehouse at Disneyland Park
https://wdwnt.com/?p=810380

[blackcauldron85]

First Look at ‘World of Color – ONE,’ Star Wars Scenes Confirmed
https://wdwnt.com/?p=840378

[blackcauldron85]

‘Avatar’ Experience Coming to Disneyland Resort
https://wdwnt.com/?p=868577

[blackcauldron85]

*SAN FRANSOKYO!!!!!!! In the early phases, meet Baymax, eat/shop; at California Adventure

More concept art and info:
BREAKING: ‘Big Hero 6’-Inspired San Fransokyo Square Opening Summer 2023 in Disney California Adventure
https://wdwnt.com/2023/02/more-concept- ... adventure/

[Sotiris]

Disneyland Shuttering ‘Beast’s Library’ Attraction Next Month
https://deadline.com/2023/11/disneyland ... 235613386/

[UmbrellaFish]

PHOTOS, VIDEO: Guest Strips and Wades Through Water on “it’s a small world” at Disneyland

https://wdwnt.com/2023/11/photos-video- ... all-world/

[blackcauldron85]

I can't watch the video right now, but I sure hope he didn't damage anything on the ride. . I'm glad he got arrested; that behavior is not okay.

[UmbrellaFish]

I was so confused as to why they were bringing Turning Red to DCA as face characters… and not just Meilin in red panda form, but I have to say… I love the what they did with Meilin here… panda ears and tail, so cute!

https://wdwnt.com/2024/01/meilin-ming-l ... -new-year/

[PatchofBlue]

I'll acknowledge there is perhaps a greater societal purpose to allowing these characters to be portrayed by Asian performers, that said ... I still kinda want to greet Mei Lin as a giant fluffy panda.

[UmbrellaFish]

Deadpool is coming to Disney California Adventure (and Disneyland Paris): https://ew.com/disneyland-deadpool-expe ... ie-8682211

Wild!

[UmbrellaFish]

Announcements from D23 so far:

Disney California Adventure is getting an Avatar land with a new attraction based on the second, third, and future installments in the series

A Coco ride is coming to DCA as well

Walt Disney audio animatronic confirmed, coming to Main Street Opry House in new show to rotate alongside Great Moments with Mr Lincoln

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opening 11/15

New Mandalorian and Grogu storyline coming to Millennium Falcon

Name for new Marvel ride coming to Avengers Campus: Avengers Infinity Defense

4th ride coming to Avengers Campus: Stark’s Flight Lab (appears to be a Kuka arm ride). Riders can have different flight experiences.

Robert Downey Jr is reprising his Tony Stark role in the new attractions

My thoughts on these announcements:

Previously, I assumed Disneyland’s Avatar expansion would just be a clone of DAK’s Valley of Mo’ara, so I’m pleased that it is not that. And the ride looks really impressive. I love Flight of Passage, but I’m so glad this ride is not going to be that. Most people are speculating that they will utilize the tech from Shanghai’s Pirates of the Caribbean. Of course I’ve never ridden that ride, but I’ve watched ride throughs and it looks amazing. And getting to Anaheim one day is much more feasible for me than Shanghai!

So the Tony Stark Kuka ride looks like it will be a B attraction for this land. I think I’ve only done one Kuka arm attraction (Forbidden Journey @ Universal), but I love it. This Disney/Marvel version looks much less themed than the Harry Potter attraction, though. Still, it’s a very unique ride experience and I’m actually looking forward to it. Since the arm isn’t going to be hidden (I think?) it will be fun to watch riders go up and down.

Now I am imagining a Mary Poppins ride using a Kuka arm…

Does anybody feel weird about the Walt Disney AA coming? Everybody seems to be very excited about it, but idk. I don’t mind making AA’s of real people— I’ve seen the Hall of Presidents more than most sane people. I feel uncomfortable with Disney turning Walt into a character. They’ve done that a lot over the years, and arguably Walt himself started that in his lifetime. But it’s always weirded me out. Secondly, they are really going to have to nail the likeness. It’s one thing to make an off-looking AA of Donald Trump or Joe Biden, but it’s another thing to make a bad looking animatronic of your founder and the father of modern AA’s. Especially with fans like Disney fans who will scrutinize every detail. He’s gotta look perfect.

[PatchofBlue]

I guess I had thought that Tiana's ride had already opened at Disneyland. Or is it just at Disney World presently?

I could have lived with them just dropping Animal Kingdom's Avatar Land at DCA since I don't know when I'll be making it to the East Coast next, but I'll happily take this too.

The COCO ride has me excited, but I'm not sure where they'd put it. Not that it really matters. DCA was never their strongest themed park, and that has only deteriorated even further in the last five years.

The Star Wars and Marvel developments don't move the needle much for me. I've been to DL a think two or three times since Galaxy's edge opened and I've only ridden the Millennium Falcon ride once. I think it's nice that Downey is returning to contribute to the rides, though. That's the kind of long-term enthusiasm I like to see when these guys sign their name to a character or a brand, and a much more fitting expenditure on Downey's part than returning back to the Marvel films to play a whole new character after he's already made his exit.

[UmbrellaFish]

I guess I had thought that Tiana's ride had already opened at Disneyland. Or is it just at Disney World presently?

Yes, that’s correct. WDW’s reopened in June IIRC, but Disneyland’s is still under construction. I think WDW’s Splash Mountain closed first.

The COCO ride has me excited, but I'm not sure where they'd put it. Not that it really matters. DCA was never their strongest themed park, and that has only deteriorated even further in the last five years.

I’ve read lots of people are puzzled by where Coco’s going to go. I’m not familiar with the layout of the CA parks, but I’m glad we’re getting a Coco ride. People have been saying the ride in the Mexico pavilion at Epcot should be rethemed to Coco, but the queue system would never work without a virtual queue.

The Star Wars and Marvel developments don't move the needle much for me. I've been to DL a think two or three times since Galaxy's edge opened and I've only ridden the Millennium Falcon ride once.

Have you done Rise of the Resistance, though??? If not, you must!! I agree with you about Milennium Falcon. I’ve only been to WDW once since it opened but for me it’s not a lot of fun. I never played video games growing up so I’m lost at the controls. I’d do it again for my Dad, though, since he’s a big Star Wars fan. But I much rather go for a ride on Star Tours than the Milennium Falcon.