Disneyland Resort Update: November 2015 - June 2016

Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, CA

So, as you all know, we've been gone for a while.  I know, I know, you all missed us.  And you totally missed our local park updates.  And you definitely totally missed our in-depth, award-winning, pencil-pushing, corporate-shilling park updates from the Disneyland Resort.  But never fear!  We've compiled an update of the happenings of the past eight months or so.  Now, marvel as we condense said eight months into eight minutes of your reading and picture viewing pleasure!

Season of the Force

Last November, as part of the marketing effort for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Disneyland launched "Season of the Force," a Star Wars overlay in Tomorrowland that brought the Star Wars Universe ever deeper into the original Magic Kingdom.  New lighting and theming was brought in to liven the nighttime atmosphere, while attractions like Star Wars Launch Bay and Hyperspace Mountain were introduced.  Star Tours received a new scene featuring Jakku.  And most shockingly, the Orbitron--aka the old People Mover station, was utilized for the first time in years to provide a dramatic nighttime spotlighting display.

Season of the Force is basically "Star Wars" Land before actual Star Wars Land arrives.

Are you a part of the Resistance?

Or are you First Order?

Space Mountain has been transformed into Hyperspace Mountain (get it??).

The space flight has now been modified to send guests on a rocket ship to engage a Star Destroyer--which is really quite reckless, if you think about it.  I'm surprised no one has sued Disney over galactic negligence for this one.

There is also Star Wars Launch Bay.

Occupying the renamed "Tomorrowland Expo Center" (formerly Innoventions), the Launch Bay is basically a big museum exhibit to things Star Wars.

There are some cool props and models inside, though.

Definitely a fun target for Star Wars nerds.

Yoda is pretty great.

Full sized Darth Vader suit is awesome too.

And what's this?? They're using the Observatron???  Inconceivable!!

Big Thunder Ranch

Speaking of Star Wars, it was officially announced that Disneyland would be expanding at some point in the future with the addition of a new themed land devoted to the world of Star Wars.  This will be the largest addition in park history, and though specific details and an exact timeline have not been announced, work has already gotten underway with the removal of Big Thunder Ranch and the demolition of a large swath of backstage space behind Frontierland and beside Mickey's Toontown. 

The removal of the ranch means the loss of the BBQ (relocated to the River Belle Terrace) and the loss of the Disney goats.  That part was particularly painful, as the goats were just plain wonderful.  Fortunately, they were relocated to a rescue farm to live out the rest of their days in peace and frolicking fun (that's not a euphemism for a darker demise, honestly), but it's still a bummer to see them go.

My first time ever dining at the Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue was on one of its last days of operation, but the food was actually really good!

This view is no more.  A few months ago, the ranch was torn down to make way for Force things.

That also meant good-bye goats.

And they were so rad too!
 

They will be missed.  Baaaaaaadly.

Rivers of America

To the dismay of Disneyland uber-nerds who never realized that rerouting has happened before, the back half of the Rivers of America is currently reshaped to make room for "Star Wars" Land.  This means that the river itself is closed, and though the waterfront looks the same right now, the back half has been dammed up and drained, and the Columbia and Mark Twain are docked and not currently in operation. Ditto for the Davy Crockett Canoes and Tom Sawyer Island and FANTASMIC!

Damn, the river's dammed!

Guests who bother to look far can see a bit of "Star Wars" Land beyond.

But right now, this means any attraction or show that involves the River is off limits until next year, when this part of the "Star Wars" Land infrastructure project completes.

A couple of shots underneath the deck of the S.S. Columbia before it closed.

The maritime museum down there is actually kind of interesting if you've never been.

"Star Wars" Land Demolition

The park has wasted little time pretty much leveling the back northwest parcel of park property.  The views from Big Thunder Mountain and the Mickey and Friends parking structure are pretty dramatic.  Trees have been felled, buildings have been eliminated, and mounds up on mounds of dirt have been moved.

The Frontierland trail to Fantasyland is closed for the time being.

Those heading to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad won't be able to go much further before hitting a dead end.

They can glimpse dirt, though.

Lots and lots of dirt.

"Star Wars" Land. How exciting!!
 

The pretty waterfalls are now all hemmed in.

Looking from the Mickey and Friends parking structure a couple of months ago.

It's even more cleared today.

Zooming in closer to the "Star Wars" Land site.

Right behind Mickey's Toontown.

Panning southward.

Behind Fantasyland Theater.

Still behind the theater.

TAKE THE TUNNEL!!!

Moving to the area of the former Big Thunder Ranch.

Pretty dramatic.

Behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

The south-most end of "Star Wars" Land.

The Jungle Cruise

The Jungle Cruise closed for the first part of this year to allow an extensive refurbishment.  Animatronics were fixed up, and the dock was modified to eliminate the need to tie up and run the throttle full for loading and unloading.  As a result, this process is now much more stable.  Part of the refurbishment also removed the added guardrail netting that had been installed on the boats, restoring the old viewlines. 

While the Jungle Cruise was down, the skippers did a hilarious "Land Cruise," basically a play version of the Jungle Cruise, but with 100% more land!  It was actually ridiculously great.  Or ridiculous, and great.

Goodbye Mad Tea, and Other Hollywood Land Backlot Things

The Mad Tea Party finally said goodbye for good,  much to the depression of hundreds of people who loved it for some reason.  It had run its course.  It will be missed.  By some people, I guess.  And it was quietly replaced by a generic summertime nighttime dance party overlay.  One gets the feeling this may be the last year they keep the Hollywood Land club stuff going on, given how little effort was apparently put into this "Jammin' on the Backlot" theme.

Goodbye, Alice and company.

They just floated away, because [insert something about Alice in Wonderland and being high joke here].

A week after the end of Mad Tea, the backlot had been stripped back to generic structure.

Spider-Man has joined the meet-and-greet crowd.  He's here when Captain America is not.

For the summer, the nighttime dance club thing is something called "Jammin' in the Backlot."

It's basically a DJ on the old Mad Tea (and Electronica) stage.

I haven't even heard this marketed, so clearly, there's not a lot of effort here.  And the execution is pretty much generic everything.  Though visually, it's colorful at night.

Food and Wine Festival

In much more important and delicious news, 2016 saw the return of the Food and Wine Festival at Disney California Adventure!  Though smaller than its EPCOT counterpart, this was the largest Food and Wine Festival at DCA yet.  And most significantly, it meant the return of CHOUUUUUP!!!

It was great to have the Food and Wine Festival back again after a five year hiatus.

The Backlot area was used for special culinary events during the festival.

Also for cooking demonstrations.

It was also fantastic to have CHOUUUUUP!  (Choup = Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup)

Poke (all the rage these days) and pork belly bao.

A crab chowder from Pacific Wharf--a seasonal full sized entree as part of the event.

Some delicious mac 'n' cheese and fried artichokes.

A mango lychee tapioca dessert, a shrimp and snow crab cocktail, and CHOUP!!!

But mostly Choup.

Springtime

Flowers bloomed and things got super pretty during the first quarter of this year around the parks.  This season's El Niño was nowhere near what the hype predicted for Southern California, but the rain we did get led to some spectacular blooms.

The Disneyland Railroad is also closed long term, but guests can actually go up at Main Street and New Orleans Square and walk around and explore the steam engines and cars parked there.

Springtime at The Hub.

The tabebuia blooms were even and spectacularly vivid this year!

Walt would probably approve.

The roses in Paradise Park turned out exquisitely too.

Just stop and smell...

Marvel Superhero HQ

Um, it closed down.  Soon to be replaced with more Star Wars stuff.

R.I.P. evicted Marvel place.

Luigi's Return

After nearly a year down, Luigi's Flying Tires reopened as the transformed Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters.  Instead of the old flying saucers bumper vehicles type ride, it is now a radio controlled attraction similar to Tokyo Disney Sea's Aquatopia, where riders cruise, twirl, and swing through pre-programmed "dance" sequences.

Luigi's is back with new ride vehicles.  They're pretty cute!

Doing a long exposure spin.

It's not the most thrilling ride, and probably not worth anywhere near an extensive wait, but it's a fun family ride and playfully entertaining.

Never Let It Go

And finally, the Hyperion Theater kicked out the long-running Aladdin stage show and replaced it with something from Frozen.  Yup, now you can hear Anna and Elsa sing on a proper theater stage, with full effects and Broadway-style production.  Will Frozen ever go away?  No.  No it will not.

It is with us. Always.

And that's Disneyland and DCA in a nutshell over the past few months!  We'll do this again in another eight?  Yeah?  Alright.  Cool.  Goo brah!  (Sorry, I don't do that as well as Jim.)