UPDATE: The reopening date for Haunted Mansion is INCORRECT in the new version of MouseWait. It is schedule to reopen later this year. We are working on a fix!
This week, Disneyland had to close the park early due to heavy rain, while “Magic Happens” returned. And, take a walk with me down memory lane as California Adventure celebrates its 23rd anniversary.
So, let’s forget about your worries and your strife, and dive into a world of magic with your favorite feel-good Disney Parks newsletter!
Thanks to jacdanfan for the real-time pics in the Lounge! See more real-time pics and post your pics here!
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Disneyland Resort Bite-Sized Snacks
Disneyland’s beloved “Magic Happens” parade made a grand return to the park on February 2, 2024, after a hiatus since October 2023. This whimsical parade, celebrated for its vibrant storytelling and dynamic performances, features two performance times at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with a variation in the schedule during the weekdays.
Check out our new and improved upNEXT feature on the home page of the MouseWait for Disneyland App and never miss another show!
This parade first debuted in 2020, marking the 65th anniversary of Disneyland’s opening. However, it ran for only two weeks before the park shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic and did not return until February 2023. The parade was temporarily replaced by the “A Christmas Fantasy Parade” during the holiday season before making its 2024 comeback.
At Disneyland Resort, there’s a delightful array of new treats to try that cater to a range of tastes and preferences. For those looking to indulge in something unique, the Mint Julep Bar in New Orleans Square is offering seasonal Mickey-shaped grape beignets. These treats, priced at $5.99 for a pack of three, are dusted with grape powdered sugar and offer a nostalgic flavor reminiscent of 1980s grape candy. While the taste might come off as slightly medicinal to some, it’s described as a nostalgic throwback for others, and the beignets are praised for being perfectly fried, light, and airy.
Try the Nebula-swirled Ricotta Pasta at Alien Pizza Planet, featuring wilted spinach and chimichurri-spiced ricotta in a blush bolognese sauce. The Vive Le Bacon! Burger at Red Rose Tavern offers a hearty option with a 1/3 lb Angus beef patty, bacon, and house-made signature sauce. For a twist on classic park fare, Refreshment Corner’s Chili-Cheese Potato Dog combines a baked potato with an all-beef hot dog, spicy chili, and cheese sauce.
Disney California Adventure is also introducing new items like the Pambazo Torta at Award Wieners, a guajillo-dipped toasted roll filled with a hot dog, chorizo con papas, and more. For those with a sweet tooth, the Upside-Down Pineapple Bread Pudding at Aunt Cass Cafe is a must-try, featuring pineapple chunks, cherries, and pineapple-flavored whipped topping
Valentine’s Day brings a special selection of treats across the Disneyland Resort, including at the Lamplight Lounge, where guests can enjoy themed cocktails like The Flame and Sour Blackberry Vodka Lemonade. The hotels of the Disneyland Resort are offering Valentine’s Day Linzer Cookies, Mickey-shaped Valentine’s Day Cookies, and various cookie shots with options for milk or liqueur.
Walt Disney World Bite-Sized Snacks
For those visiting Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, there’s an exciting lineup of new and delectable foods to try across the parks and Disney Springs. Here’s a taste of the best and newest offerings:
Celebrate Soulfully 2024 Highlights
- Fried Green Tomato BLT Sandwich at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe is a fresh take on the BLT, served with house-made chips.
- Peach Cobbler at Pinocchio Village Haus offers a sweet delight, featuring cinnamon panna cotta, peach cobbler, brown sugar streusel, whipped cream, and a Tiana chocolate piece, inspired by a cherished family tradition.
- Butter Pecan Praline Sundae at Plaza Ice Cream Parlor is a must-try dessert, combining butter pecan ice cream with praline sauce, spiced pecans, and whipped cream.
- Shrimp and Grits at Tiffins Restaurant, offering a flavorful dish with South African Mealie Pap, roasted corn, goat cheese, peri-peri shrimp, and green tomato-apple chutney.
Disney Springs Valentine’s Day Treats
- Amorette’s Patisserie presents chocolate-covered strawberries and strawberry cheesecake available for a limited time.
- The Ganachery features unique creations like the Puppy Love Chocolate Piñata, Mickey Chocolate Bites, and the Champagne-Strawberry Ganache Square.
- Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar introduces the Berry Lovely cocktail, a refreshing mix of Bacardí Dragonberry Rum with juices and watermelon syrup.
Disney Resort Hotels Valentine’s Day Offerings
- The Mara at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge offers a Zebra Mousse Cake, inspired by the iconic Zebra Domes.
- Contempo Café at Disney’s Contemporary Resort has a Sweet Heart Cookie, combining sugar cookie with cream cheese buttercream, red velvet cake pieces, and a drizzle of dark chocolate.
- Le Petit Café at Disney’s Riviera Resort delights with Trois Macarons, featuring raspberry ganache, strawberry jam, and milk chocolate ganache.
MouseWait Updates
We pushed a new version of MouseWait this week with real time REFURB reopening dates. Check the release notes for all the details!
Updates from the Lounge
Brighten your day with a grand circle tour through the MouseWait Lounge! You’ll find incredible posts like these:
ALL-ACCESS Member Update:
I enhanced the priority support option for ALL-ACCESS members in the app. Due to the inefficiency of our live chat, we have transitioned to a priority email system to provide you with better service.
If you’re an ALL-ACCESS member, you can also reply to this email and I’ll help you out!
Our newest app, Nashville Top Five, is in the App Store and can be unlocked with your ALL-ACCESS membership! You might need to force close and reopen once you see the paywall. If that doesn’t work, just reply to this email and I’ll help! Grab the new app here.
With ALL-ACCESS, one subscription unlocks ALL of our apps! Subscribe once in MouseWait for Disneyland or Disney World and unlock everything!
Next up, Fort Wilderness! Which apps do you think we should add to ALL-ACCESS? Hit reply and let me know!
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Upcoming Events at Disneyland & Disney World
Here is our updated list of upcoming events and refurbishments for both Disneyland and Disney World:
For a larger view, visit this page. You can also access it from the “Home” tab of the MouseWait for Disneyland and Disney World.
And now, let’s take a look at Walt Disney World:
VOYAGEERS: Finding Hidden Treasures in the Parks
It’s hard to believe that nearly 23 years have passed since Disney’s California Adventure opened its gates on February 8, 2001. I still vividly remember the excitement of watching the park’s construction from the monorail. I would show my kids the emerging Grand Californian Hotel and dream of the day we would stay there, right in the heart of the new park.
California Adventure took the place of the old parking lot where my grandpa used to park his huge Oldsmobile for my first trips to the park. It was the same parking lot where my parents would park for our late summer trips before we had to go back to school. It was also the same place my wife and I parked while walking across the street to the Disneyland Hotel to plan our wedding (yes there was a time when you could park near the front gate and walk across the street to the hotel! It took 5 minutes!).
Transforming the Disneyland parking lot into California Adventure presented unique challenges for the Imagineers. The flat and expansive lot offered a blank canvas, but it required imaginative planning and innovative design to create the illusion of natural landscapes and elevation changes within the park. The construction of Grizzly Peak, in particular, involved sculpting the land to create the park’s central mountain, around which the area’s attractions, including Grizzly River Run, were designed. This attraction uses water sourced from the mountain to simulate a thrilling whitewater rafting experience, further immersing guests in the wilderness theme.
The inception of Grizzly Peak was a daring endeavor to capture the essence of California’s majestic wilderness and national parks, resonating with the adventurous spirit of its guests. Inspired by iconic Sierra Nevada landmarks like Half Dome and El Capitan in Yosemite, Grizzly Peak emerged as a symbol of the natural beauty and rugged landscapes that define California. The mountain’s design, particularly its resemblance to a grizzly bear, paid tribute to the state animal of California and represented the protective and enduring nature of the wilderness.
Integrating the Grand Californian Hotel into this narrative was a masterstroke, allowing guests to seamlessly transition from the rustic elegance of the hotel to the wilds of Grizzly Peak. The hotel, with its Craftsman-style architecture, complements the theme of Grizzly Peak, offering guests an exclusive entrance to California Adventure through this land.
Observing the transformation of the original Disneyland parking lot into the marvel that is California Adventure was a poignant reminder of the enduring spirit of Walt’s vision. It was a testament to the fact that his Imagineers continue to weave magic from the mundane, crafting experiences that captivate and amaze.
What’s even more amazing is that my family would create numerous new memories in that old parking lot, where we already had so many cherished moments with our parents and grandparents. We celebrated birthdays, got soaked on Grizzly River Run, listened to bedtime stories, watched movies, met new friends, and spent precious time with our friends and family. It was also where we celebrated MouseWait’s first birthday!
We had so many firsts and lasts in that old parking lot in Anaheim thanks to Walt’s ability to dream big dreams.
And that’s the magic of Disney.
I officially launched Legend of the VOYAGEERS in the ChatGPT App Store! At this time, you need a pro account to play it, but it’s a lot of fun, and full of surprises. Give it a try and let me know how it works for you!