Disneyland Resort

[Wesker69]

Halloween Time has begun at Disneyland.... and it seems that this year, they do NOT have the festive Halloween fun within Big Thunder Ranch like they did last year (which makes me wonder if this will be the case for the Holiday season as well). You can find Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Chip/Dale, & Pluto dressed in their Halloween costumes roaming Main Street.

Kinda makes you wonder if they're already prepping for Big Thunder Ranch's removal for Star Wars Land. The Big Thunder BBQ area still seems to be "open" & decorated for Halloween/Fall though, so you've got time to get one last round of noms in before that goes along with the ranch.

 

[Allen The Actor]

*slowly returns to thread after Aladdin controversy eases down*

I personally can't WAIT for them to start ripping apart Bog Thunder Ranch and that whole corner of the park! There have been so many rumors for that chunk of lands over this last half of the decade that I'm just happy they're finally replacing it with something amazing. I never got to do the BBQ, only because to get your money's worth, you have to pig out, which I'm not willing to do on limited time and also wouldn't settle well with big rides.

Personally I liked the idea of Big Thunder Ranch being replaced by a gorgeous and timeless Land of Oz with a gleaming Emerald City weenie. Would've been a perfect fit between Fantasyland and Frontierland, but alas Disney's priorities are with Star Wars and any other money machines. I hope that Disney eventually gives us a Land of Oz land or attraction, as Disney has deep roots with "Oz" and with Oz being popular in one form or another all over the world.

In general I'd love to see more whimsical worlds to explore in Disney Parks. That's why the thought of Pandora gets me excited. All that exotic alien plant life and locations. A full land devoted to the Land of Oz or Wonderland would be so gorgeous.

 

[Ryan]

Didn't USJ have a Wicked-themed-land at one point? I think it was where Potter is now.

I think Oz in theme parks is a curious one, because there are just a wealth of things that either were never built, or never lasted. The only Oz-themed thing that really has lasted was "The Great Movie Ride".

The brand is arguably popular as hell, and it's public domain which is mind-blowing to me even to this day. Literally ANYBODY can make their own intrepretation of Oz as long as it doesn't trend on the grounds of the films. Granted, the Oz things that didn't work out are pretty obvious to why they don't exist anymore, and most people are attached to the 1939 film to the point of many being bullish about even trying to do their own intrepretation. (one of the reasons why I dislike "Wicked" was its cloying, dumb and overtly obnoxious 'tributes' to the '39 film without actually being related in the second act just to elicit a cheap laugh)

I'm still shocked that Eisner didn't try to eke out more with the Oz rights and build upon the GMR segment, even if their own Oz sequel was a failure. (which makes it even MORE surprising since Return to Oz was one of the last films greenlit by Ron Miller) But it goes even MORE insane as MGM, furious with the way Disney used their name, builds the theme park in Vegas, but instead of making it based on Oz (which they could do, as the rights for the Oz scenes were only for that specific ride and every scene cost money, which is why there's only two scenes instead of the originally intended four), they take the Oz theme and apply it to the casino. The CASINO. The theme park had literally zero Oz at all.

Needless to say, MGM probably wasn't thinking that fully through, as the park was so haphazard as well, but now we're really getting off-topic. 

 

[Alexshow.]

Didn't USJ have a Wicked-themed-land at one point? I think it was where Potter is now.


I think Oz in theme parks is a curious one, because there are just a wealth of things that either were never built, or never lasted. The only Oz-themed thing that really has lasted was "The Great Movie Ride".


The brand is arguably popular as hell, and it's public domain which is mind-blowing to me even to this day. Literally ANYBODY can make their own intrepretation of Oz as long as it doesn't trend on the grounds of the films. Granted, the Oz things that didn't work out are pretty obvious to why they don't exist anymore, and most people are attached to the 1939 film to the point of many being bullish about even trying to do their own intrepretation. (one of the reasons why I dislike "Wicked" was its cloying, dumb and overtly obnoxious 'tributes' to the '39 film without actually being related in the second act just to elicit a cheap laugh)


I'm still shocked that Eisner didn't try to eke out more with the Oz rights and build upon the GMR segment, even if their own Oz sequel was a failure. (which makes it even MORE surprising since Return to Oz was one of the last films greenlit by Ron Miller) But it goes even MORE insane as MGM, furious with the way Disney used their name, builds the theme park in Vegas, but instead of making it based on Oz (which they could do, as the rights for the Oz scenes were only for that specific ride and every scene cost money, which is why there's only two scenes instead of the originally intended four), they take the Oz theme and apply it to the casino. The CASINO. The theme park had literally zero Oz at all.


Needless to say, MGM probably wasn't thinking that fully through, as the park was so haphazard as well, but now we're really getting off-topic. 

There was, but then it got replaced with Universals Wonderland.

 

[Allen The Actor]

Doing Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion Holiday yesterday really opened my eyes again as to how silly it is that Disney's temporary overlays are better than some Universal attractions.

If Universal used the tech Disney uses in Ghost Galaxy but in Mummy, we'd have an amazing ride.

 

[Alexshow.]

Seasons of the Force will be launching Nov. 16th.


https://d23.com/breaking-news-season-of-the-force-details-revealed/

 

[Allen The Actor]

Was just gonna post that! Great to hear that they pushed the start of the event to this November instead of next year as originally announced. Very excited for Hyperspace Mountain!

Also, they'll be temporarily closing the Disneyland Railroad and all Rivers of America attractions in preparation for the new Star Wars Land. Also Big Thunder Ranch will be closing permanently the same day. Both the permanent and temporary closures are happening end of operating day January 10th.

Nice to see this project happening so fast!

Still ridiculously bitter about losing Soarin' Over California and Aladdin

 

[Ryan]

Apparently the temp closures will be at least a YEAR. Most of them are understandable but man, no railroad throughout nearly the entirety of 2016? That's just nuts.

I hope they feed a bit of money into upgrades so that when they reopen they can be a bit more of an event.

 

[Allen The Actor]

Yeah, a year without Fantasmic and the Railroad really sucks, especially since it'll be a continuation of the Diamond Celebration until next September. I'm surprised no Fantasmic though. I wonder how extensively Star Wars land will affect the Rivers of America. Interesting that they didn't plan an alternative version of Fantasmic for one year where both the Peter Pan scene and finale use the main stage. But I guess that means they couldn't use the character barges either, hu?

I guess they gotta do what they gotta do. I'm happy they're starting Star Wars Land construction almost immediately!

 

[k_peek_2000]

Yeah, a year without Fantasmic and the Railroad really sucks, especially since it'll be a continuation of the Diamond Celebration until next September. I'm surprised no Fantasmic though. I wonder how extensively Star Wars land will affect the Rivers of America. Interesting that they didn't plan an alternative version of Fantasmic for one year where both the Peter Pan scene and finale use the main stage. But I guess that means they couldn't use the character barges either, hu?

I guess they gotta do what they gotta do. I'm happy they're starting Star Wars Land construction almost immediately!

It's not just the peter pan and finale, but the 3 barges as well that make multiple appearances. Since Construction is starting so early I think we could be looking at 2019 at the earliest for Disneyland.

To be completely honest, I am more excited about what Tomorrowland will become after Star Wars Land opens. It'll finally be able to refocus itself into a high-tech, digital futuristic looking land. Star Wars Land not replacing Tomorrowland (as originally planned) is the best thing that could have ever happened to DL.

 

[Ryan]

So... (kicks the dynamite out into the field)

...thoughts on the new MiceChat rumors about the curtailing of RoA and the DLRR?

I'm hearing that it's more fact than fiction, although not as drastic. In other words, they will be shortened, but it won't be gigantic. Think Jungle Cruise being eaten up slightly by Indy.

 

[Allen The Actor]

Well, most of it kinda makes sense, but of course not as over dramatic or over the top as they make everything out to be. Would explain the 1+ years of closures though. I hate their reporting so much though. They've been getting 90% of everything wrong the past 3 or so years, and then their explanations and excuses of why things changed are beyond ridiculous.

The closure is inconvenient and I'll miss the Mark Twain and especially Fantasmic, but it's temporary, and I'm super excited about the long overdue expansion of Disneyland. I'm all for progress, especially when I'm not attached to something like the Rivers of America.

I REALLY wish that they can simultaneously (and slowly) start to update Tomorrowland and Hollywoodland as well.

 

[Ryan]

I had a pretty good hearty laugh at supposedly TDA being upset about the capacity loss with Autopia/Subs (like that was ever, EVER a factor into this), but apparently they're all hunky-dory with losing the HUNDREDS of people that the Fantasyland Theatre can swallow every hour. Do they ever actually think about the way they write their updates to fit their narrative, whether true or false?

 

[Alexshow.]

From what it seems; its somewhat correct. DisneylandToday (One of the DL Twitter accounts) has confirmed that ROA will be having a new route.

 

[Ryan]

And the freakout has been, predictably, insane.

 

[Allen The Actor]

I sincerely don't think it's a big deal. It's an underutilized area of the park, no matter how gorgeous it is. It's still STAYING, just gonna be altered and possibly improved even if it'll be shorter! For me, it's 100% a win/win. Huge new Star Wars Land that I hope will be extraordinary, and we still keep ToonTown, RoA, Fantasmic, and the Submarines. Anyone who isn't a fan of this is just bitter and stuck in the past too much, especially since we're not 100% losing anything significant.

The only thing I'm sad about is the temporary closure in general, but it makes me more excited than anything.

However, I'm still EXTREMELY bitter about losing Aladdin and Soarin' Over California. They're irreplaceable in my eyes.

One rumor from MC that u hope is true is that the Fantasyland Theatre goes away. I love theatre but this theatre takes up way too much precious space inside Disneyland in a key part of the park, and I genuinely hope it'll be replaced with a new mini Fantasyland expansion, along with the neighboring old Motor boat cruise area. A grand new Frozen, Tangled, or Beauty and the Beast ride would be amazing.

 

[disneyversal]

Abso-freaking-lutely. The hypocrisy is damning when Season of the Force is announced with a Star Wars-overlay of Space Mountain along with the upcoming SWL, and everybody is thrilled across the board. Because Star Wars isn't "new", and with it being a nearly 40-year-old property, everyone agrees with "oh it's a major thing so many people love and is not a fad and is worthy of these things." (and trust me, I'm super stoked for all the Star Wars stuff)

But because Frozen is less than two years (and is slightly polarizing in the theme park community), dear god how dare Disney replace a 13-year-old stage show based on a 23-year-old animated movie with something based on their biggest hit in years in an obvious attempt at making a permanent Frozen attraction rather than keep trying the dopey temporary events that literally once had Olaf on popsicle sticks. It's a hit, it's not a fad, and it's something that general audiences love and flock to. It's easily as deserving of attention as much as Star Wars is and that's because it's popular. Star Wars is popular, Frozen is popular. Welcome to the new normal, everybody.

The thing is HyperSpace Mountain is not permanent and we get the Space Mountain we know and love after a while

 

[Ryan]

One rumor from MC that u hope is true is that the Fantasyland Theatre goes away. I love theatre but this theatre takes up way too much precious space inside Disneyland in a key part of the park, and I genuinely hope it'll be replaced with a new mini Fantasyland expansion, along with the neighboring old Motor boat cruise area. A grand new Frozen, Tangled, or Beauty and the Beast ride would be amazing.

I don't mind if it leaves, however I don't see whatever would replace it being that great. It's a smaller area than you'd think, and the biggest problem is Small World mall in the way. I would laugh pretty hard if the replacements end up being the Be Our Guest restaurant (FL theater space) and Seven Dwarves Mine Train (with no 360 walkaround) in the Motor Boat Cruise area.

The thing is HyperSpace Mountain is not permanent and we get the Space Mountain we know and love after a while

Um ok. You're still getting a huge chunk of the year (in addition to the month-and-a-half of GG) of original Space Mountain taken away. And you should see the amount of people defending the RoA/DLRR shortage against Aladdin. The amount of people that are fine with it are way more.

And yes, I'm FINE with people like Allen who are upset specifically because Aladdin is leaving, but I just roll my eyes at people who are upset because it's "Frozen". Uh, no, sorry kids you have no excuse to use that as a defense mechanism because it's "cool to hate Frozen", it makes sense and just let the damn thing be a lightning rod for the property. You can either have a bunch of dopey temporary things, or you can have your permanent Frozen Epcot/Norway Frankenstein monster pavilion and your lavish Frozen show at DCA.

Frozen isn't going away permanently and you just have to deal. I don't personally get people that don't want to lose Aladdin, but at least they're owning up to that rather than going, "Well it isn't Aladdin, it's that no-good Frozen! That makes my argument make more sense, right?"

No. Be mad something you love is going away, that's sensible. But Frozen is a very popular franchise that is here to stay and y'all need to suck it up.

 

[Allen The Actor]

My two biggest worries for the Frozen show is that kids will be singing along obnoxiously during the entire show, just as they do during every other Frozen show or show that features Frozen. For actors that will be singing live. I know they're kids and all that, but a big budget big scale show in the Hyperion deserves some theatre etiquette and respect. I hope Disney will have the balls to make an announcement before the show.

My other concern is that the show won't be as fresh and repeatable as Aladdin, unless they can make Olaf spew some fresh jokes all the time.

Still wish the replacement was Hercules or Mulan. Not because it's cool to hate Frozen, but because I'm simply tired of it, and feel the other two films are underrepresented and would've made for amazing stage shows AND have characters that can naturally make modern references like the Genie, etc.

 

[RyanTTD]

Disneyland has raised its Annual Pass prices, and its a HUGE increase!.

- Premier Pass (Disneyland and Disneyworld Pass) - $1,349 plus FL sales tax.

-Disney Signature Plus- $1,049

- Disney Signature- $849

- Premium -  No longer available., now the Disney Signature Plus pass.

- Deluxe- $599

- SoCal- $439 (Renewals Only)

- SoCal Select- $329

-Parking Add-on- $199  (Renewals Only)

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/passes/

Single day tickets remain the same...for now.