Disneyland Updates

We are listing updates to The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland here. The author will submit information as needed. Please check back often for the latest, or subscribe to the Unofficial Guides newsletter to stay up-to-date on all the news for Disneyland, as well as other Disney parks.

The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2024 Updates

(as of 3/18/2024)

PART 1 PLANNING

8 Change all mentions of “San Fransokyo” to “San Fransokyo Square”

8-9  The “Disneyland Forward” proposal will invest $1.9 to $2.5 billion in the Anaheim Resort. Potential themed lands in the expansion may include Arendale from Frozen, Wakanda from Black Panther, and Pandora from Avatar. An environmental impact report for the Disneyland Proposal suggests that theme park expansions wrapping around the Pixar Place and Disneyland Hotels could potentially add two major outdoor thrill rides, several outdoor family rides, and over half a dozen indoor attractions, along with shows and other amenities. The parcel at Harbor and Katella could be filled in with multiple new hotels; restaurants, retail, and entertainment establishments; and even indoor theme park-style experiences, all connected to the main Disneyland campus with a monorail, PeopleMover, or Skyliner cable cars. To compensate for the lost parking spots, Disney would finally develop their lot along Disney Way east of the parks, with a terraced structure holding more than 17,000 cars, and add a pedestrian bridge over Harbor Boulevard to access the Esplanade. 

17 Add LMG Vids (youtube.com/@LMGVids) to the list of recommended YouTube channels for ride POV videos.

21 Disneyland ticket prices increased in October 2023. One day, one park adult tickets now range from $104-$194. Multiday tickets cost from $310 to $480. Park-hopping is now an additional $65-$75, depending on ticket length. Magic Key passes are now $499-$1,649.

23 Disneyland’s mandatory theme park reservation system now allows guests with single-day or multiday tickets to schedule their theme park visit up to 180 days in advance.

23 Variable prices have noticeably influenced attendance recently, greatly increasing crowds on Tier 0 days and depressing attendance on the most expensive dates.

25 Magic Key holders can make park reservations up to 90 days in advance.

25 Magic Key sales resumed on January 10, 2024, and were completely sold out again within a day. Magic Key sales restarted on March 5, 2024, and all levels are currently available for purchase except Imagine Key for SoCal residents (which can only be renewed). When Magic Keys or other limited availability tickets are released online, you can avoid hovering over your computer all day by registering for the “notify me” option. When your turn in the purchasing queue arrives, you’ll receive a link via email and have 10 minutes to log in and make your transaction, lest you lose your virtual place in line.

28-29 Attendance during Halloween has exceeded the once-supreme summer season and has begun to rival Christmas, making October one of the busiest months of the year at Disneyland.

30 Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort will run August 23 through October 31, 2024.

30-31 Merriest Nites after-hours parties did not return in 2023.

31 The D23 Expo fan convention returns to Anaheim on August 9-11, 2024, and will bring big crowds to the resort area.

32 RunDisney races return to the Disneyland Resort on January 11-14, 2024, and September 5-8, 2024.

32 Early Entry will be available each day at EITHER Disneyland or DCA (not both) as of January 20, 2024. Early entry is offered at Disneyland on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday; it’s offered at DCA on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

35 Capacity caps at John Wayne Airport have caused Southwest, Breeze, and other airlines to reduce their service at SNA, especially towards the end of the year.

39 Standard parking is now $35 ($40-$45 for oversize vehicles). Preferred parking is $55. 

40 Valet parking at the hotels for non-guests is $70 for the first hour, plus $10 per additional hour, up to $140 daily. Self-parking at the hotels is $40 for the first hour, plus $10 per additional hour, up to $80 daily ($45/$85 for oversize vehicles).

PART 2 ACCOMMODATIONS

46-47 Parking for registered resort guests at any of the Disney-owned hotels is $40 per night for self-parking ($45 for oversize vehicles; free for DVC members) or $70 per night for valet.

51 The Villas at Disneyand Hotel are rated 4 ½ stars.

51 The former Steakhouse 55 in the Disneyland Hotel has been converted into a flexible lounge space and seasonal bar called The Lounge at Disneyland Hotel, which serves upscale cocktails and small bites amid Eyvind Earle-esque enchanted-forest murals. The Palm Breeze pool bar is also now open at the Villas at Disneyland Hotel.

52-53 Pixar Place Hotel (rated 4 stars) is officially open, as of January 30, 2023. The 186-foot-long Crush’s Surfin’ Slide and Nemo’s Cove splash pad are also open at Pixar Place hotel. The renovation of the pool deck also added fire pits and a family play area. The lobby gift show is named STOR-E (after WALL-E). The modernist rooms feature Luxo Jr. table lamps and carpet patterns, Pixar logo ball bed bolsters and duvets, and Pixar character murals above the headboards.The hotel’s exclusive entrance into DCA opens shortly before early entry starts. The hotel’s concierge lounge is known as the Creator’s Club. Bing Bong greets guests on the pool deck, and Joe from Soul plays piano near the ground-floor staircase. 

PART 3 MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR TIME

95 Genie+ now costs $30 per person per day if purchased in advance, $30-$35 (or more) on the day of.

95 As of November 2023, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is part of Genie+, not Individual Lightning Lane. The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure now has Lightning Lane access through Genie+.

96 Individual Lightning Lane pricing varies between $15 and $28.

100 Multiple Experience Lightning Lane passes are no longer valid at most non-Lightning Lane attractions in Disneyland Park (but they are in DCA). Runaway Railway and Haunted Mansion Holiday are in the most valuable tier of Genie+ attractions for multiple experience passes.

101 The BG1 tool no longer helps with Genie+, but it can still secure Virtual Queue spots (see page 105-107).

PART 4 ESSENTIALS

119 As of September 12, 2023, alcohol—including beer, wine, and specialty cocktails—is served inside Disneyland at Carnation Cafe, River Belle Terrace, and Cafe Orleans.

PART 5 DISNEYLAND WITH KIDS

151 Rental strollers may be taken to Downtown Disney, but cannot exit the security checkpoints.

172 Asha from Wish greets guests outside in Disneyland’s Fantasy Faire. Mei Lee and 4*Town from Turning Red, plus Ember and Wade from Elemental, will join DCA’s character lineup for Pixar Fest starting April 26, 2024.

174 Goofy’s Kitchen costs $49 per adult ($29 per child) for breakfast; $55 per adult ($32 per child) for dinner. Plaza Inn costs $46 per adult ($27 per child) for breakfast. Storytellers Cafe costs $52 per adult ($31 per child) for breakfast or brunch.

PART 6 DISNEYLAND PARK

175 Disneyland Resort is installing new turnstiles with automated entry gates.

180 When rope-dropping towards Fantasyland, it is quicker to line up on the right side of the central hub (not the left) since most people on that side will be heading towards Tomorrowland.

182 At the Main Street Opera House, a screen in the gallery shows the “Once Upon a Studio” animated short created to celebrate Disney’s 100th anniversary.

183 The Adventureland Treehouse is now open. The kitchen and art studio on the ground floor are fully accessible and feature an animatronic ostrich named “Jane,” in honor of the tree’s previous occupants.

186 The Disneyland Railroad’s New Orleans station will be closed for most of 2024 due to construction on the Haunted Mansion’s new queue.

186-187 186 Haunted Mansion will be closed starting January 22, 2024, and will likely not reopen until the Halloween season begins in August 2024. During the closure, a new elevator will be added for ADA guests exiting the attraction. The Haunted Mansion is also scheduled to receive an extended outdoor queue (inspired by Master Gracey and the one-eyed cat), along with a new carriage-house gift shop themed to Madame Leota at the exit.

187 Pirates of the Caribbean will offer Lightning Lane access through Genie+ during most of 2024, while Haunted Mansion and the former Splash Mountain are closed for renovations.

191 Asoka now also appears around Black Spire Outpost.

197 Disney’s posted wait for Rise of the Resistance only represents your time until arriving at the first briefing room; there are 15 minutes of preshow until you reach the final ride vehicle. The attraction stops new guests from entering its queue one hour before park closing, or at 10 p.m. on nights when the park is open later than 11 p.m. If you aren’t at the head of the rope drop herd, look for the wait time to drop sharply around 60-90 minutes after park opening. 

203 Tale of the Lion King will close in early January 2024. No new long-term production for the Fantasyland Theatre has been announced yet. During February, gospel music tribute concerts starring headliners with local choirs will be performed inside the Fantasyland Theatre. During Pixar Fest, the Fantasyland Theater will host a temporary Pixar Pals Playtime Party where kids can play games, take photos, and watch Pixar shorts on the big screen.

214 Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway now offers Lightning Lane through Genie+, not Individual Lightning Lane.

219 The first monorail of the morning arrives in Tomorrowland about 5 minutes behind the crowd walking through the main entrance, making it inefficient for rope-dropping. Remove reference to riding with the monorail pilot.

222 Starting April 5, 2024, Star Tours will feature new characters and scenes from the Disney+ series Andor, The Mandalorian, and Ahsoka, including potential encounters with Grogu and to the planet Peridea (populated by space whales). With the new segments in rotation, the ride now offers over 250 possible combinations.

224 Fantasmic returns May 24, 2024, with a new battle between Mickey and Maleficent (minus the animatronic dragon), as well as the return of the Peter Pan scene aboard the Sailing Ship Columbia. In the meantime, a limited-time musical projection show called “The Heartbeat of New Orleans—A Living Mural” will be performed on select evenings during fall 2023, and nightly throughout the holiday season. A raft-borne Dixieland jazz band also entertains the riverfront on select evenings.

“Heartbeat of New Orleans” is a 5-minute fountain show on the Rivers of America featuring a music-loving frog. It is followed by Queenie and the Jambalaya Jazz Band, who perform 15-minute sets of Bourbon Street standards from aboard a floating raft. The fountain show is skippable, but the jazz band is worth catching in Fantasmic’s absence.

226-227 The Magic Happens parade resumes performance on February 2, 2024. The Christmas Fantasy parade runs from November 10, 2023, through January 7, 2024.

228 Wondrous Journeys will return for a special encore presentation on March 22-April 14, 2024. Mickey’s Mix Magic will be performed January 8-March 21 and April 15-25, 2024. Mickey’s Mix Magic (★★★★ with fireworks; ★★★ without) is an evening spectacular launched to celebrate Mickey Mouse’s 90th birthday that relies on modern music and video projections more than pyrotechnics.

DJ Mickey spins a techno-heavy soundtrack featuring catchy dubstep remixes of classic cuts like “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat” and “Grim Grinning Ghosts,” along with a pulse-pounding EDM version of “Let It Go,” while dancing guests are doused with bubbles and artificial snow. And we guarantee the “It’s a Good Time” theme song by The DeeKompressors will have you belting “everybody get your ears on” for days to come.

Fireworks are only used in Mickey’s Mix Magic during select weekend and peak-season performances; the presence or absence of pyro will be noted in the Disneyland app. Even when pyrotechnics are employed, they aren’t quite as impressive as in other shows, with no dramatic launches from the castle itself.

229 During the Season of the Force celebration (April 5 through June 2, 2024) a symphonic soundtrack of “galactic” music will play exclusively inside Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge to accompany the regular fireworks.

230 During Pixar Fest from April 26 through Aug 4, 2024, Disneyland will revive 2018’s Together Forever—A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular, which features projections of characters like the Little Green Men on the castle, giant inflatable skeletons from Coco atop Main Street’s buildings, and an aerial appearance by Buzz Lightyear. The new version will have some updated scenes; the original show had its highlights—a lyrical ballet of shooting stars based on WALL-E and Carl’s balloon-buoyed floating house chief among them—but it wasn’t the most emotionally engaging fireworks show in Disney’s catalog, coming across as a cut-and-paste assemblage of clips featuring plenty of familiar faces but no coherent narrative arc.

230 Halloween Screams will return with Halloween Time at Disneyland, from August 23 through October 31, 2024.

232 A number of Disneyland After Dark-themed nighttime events are scheduled on select nights throughout 2024. The Disneyland After Dark 2024 event themes will be Sweethearts Nite, held in late January and early February; Disney Channel Nite, held in early March; Star Wars Nite, held in late April and early May; and Pride Nite in June. Sweethearts Nite sold out by early January. Star Wars Nite will allow adult guests to come in costume (which is normally not allowed) and offer lightsaber instruction sessions. 

232-234 Merriest Nites parties did not return in 2023.

233 Hyperspace Mountain will be offered daily in Disneyland from April 5 through early June 2, 2024.

234 Disneyland After Dark event tickets start at $139 to $159, then top out at $169. In comparison, a standard one-day/one-park ticket costs between $104 and $194, with the average price on dates near the Disneyland After Dark events running around $169.

245 A Disneyland one-day touring plan for families with tweens is available here: https://touringplans.com/plans/5090158

PART 7 DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE

232 Monsters After Dark is typically available to all DCA visitors September through October after 3 p.m.

246 Fresh candy canes will only be available on 14 select days in December 2023, and you’ll need to join a virtual queue to buy one.

253 San Fransokyo Square is situated along a kidney-shaped lake and can be accessed by following the Performance Corridor, a pathway emanating from the hub at 7 o’clock and winding around Grizzly Peak.

256 The Beast’s Library inside Disney Animation’s Sorcerer’s Workshop walk-through is now closed to guests, leaving only the zoetropes in the first room accessible.

262 After 3 p.m. during the Halloween season, a special Monsters After Dark overlay is offered; during this time the attraction will temporarily close from 2 to 3 p.m. daily to make the changeover.

270 The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure now offers Lightning Lane through Genie+.

271 Silly Symphony Swings will close during World of Color performances.

274 Pacific Wharf is now San Fransokyo Square. The winery, Blue Sky Cellar, and restaurant are now part of the Performance Corridor. Replace Tori with Torii. The Blue Sky Cellar is becoming a lounge for Disney Vacation Club members.

274 Before lining up for his meet and greet, be warned that Baymax frequently experiences “battery issues” that postpone his appearances. Baymax meet & greets are currently suspended but should resume in April after upgrades to his suit are completed, but his human friend Hiro makes appearances in his stead.

275 Boudin’s cart sells Baymax-shaped sourdough loaves.

275 Grizzly River Run is about 5 ½ minutes from the bottom of the lift hill to unload, for a total ride time of over 6 minutes.

276 Redwood Creek Challenge Trail’s meet and greet with Raya is seasonal during the Lunar New Year celebration.

278 World of Color ONE returned with some minor edits to the show that improve the pacing. The show is rated 4 ½ stars.

280 Word of Color dining packages are also available at Magic Key Terrace (see page 327). The viewing areas for World of Color Dining Packages at Storyteller Cafe, Wine Country Trattoria, and Magic Key Terrace are marked with white illuminated signs.

282 A new “Better Together” daytime parade will debut on April 26, 2024, as part of Pixar Fest. 

284 DCA will celebrate the Lunar New Year from January 23 through February 18, 2024. During DCA’s Lunar New Year celebration, Turning Red’s Mei Lee (in partial panda form) and her mother, Ming, greet guests in Paradise Gardens. DCA’s Food & Wine Festival will run March 1-April 22, 2024.

285 During Pixar Fest (April 26-August 4, 2024) Hollywood Land will host Club Pixar interactive dance parties with live music, games, and specialty cocktails. Pixar film-inspired food booths will be found in the park, along with an installation that MagicBand+ wearers can activate.The new Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration! Parade is performed twice daily, and highlights characters from recent films like Soul, Luca, and Turning Red, along with a finale full of old friends from Toy Story, Monsters Inc, and The Incredibles.

285 Halloween celebrations will be held from August 23 through October 31, 2024.

286 LAMPLIGHT LOUNGE IS A RESTAURANT on the span connecting Pixar Pier to the Performance Corridor near San Fransokyo Square.

289 A Disney California Adventure one-day touring plan for families with tweens is available here: https://touringplans.com/plans/5094128

PART 8 DINING AND SHOPPING

286 In honor of Day of the Dead, the “Plaza de la Familia” festival returned to Paradise Garden Grill from September 1 through November 1, 2023, with performances of A Musical Celebration of Coco featuring the Mariachi Divas.

301 Replace Chili-lime corn on the cob with bratwurst at Edelweiss Snacks. Beignets Expressed sells fancy beignets but no gumbo or chicory coffee.

303 Harbour Galley’s warm chocolate chip cookies (sold in freshly baked 6-packs and baker’s dozens) are a big hit.

308 Cocina Cucamonga has added street tacos with togarashi mayo.

309 Change “Lucky Cat Cafe” to “Aunt Cass Cafe.” New items include a curry beef bread bowl, vegan soba noodle salad, shrimp katsu salad, and fluffy Japanese-style cheesecake. The clam chowder is now made with bacon and white miso. The Chinese chicken salad and broccoli-and-cheese soup are no longer offered.

309 Lucky Fortune Cookery has added a karaage-style crispy chicken sandwich, beef birria ramen (replacing the pork ramen), and vegan yaki udon. The vegan bahn mi and Japanese mule are no longer offered.

316 Cafe Orleans now offers a fixe prix seafood boil dinner for $45+tax. The shrimp pasta is now a pasta jambalaya with sausage and chicken. Braised short rib and ahi tartare have been added to the menu, and alcoholic beverages are now available.

316 Carnation Cafe: Delete “and fried chicken.” Bloody Marys, margaritas, and California wines are now served here.

319 Reservations at Jazz Kitchen are available via Opentable. Jazz Kitchen’s express window only has regular coffee, not chicory.

321 Reservations at Naples Ristorante are available via Opentable.

323 River Belle Terrace now serves brunch until 4 p.m., featuring pancakes, bacon, and biscuits and gravy, along with fried chicken and Cuban sandwiches. At dinner, pulled pork is replaced by a pork chop, and barbecue burnt ends come in pappardelle pasta instead of grilled cheese. Cobb salad and barbecue tofu are replaced by plant-based meatballs and roasted squash. Blackberry vodka mules and craft beers are now available.

326 Tiana’s Palace is open as of September 7, 2024. Entrées range $14-$20. The menu features a roasted half chicken with Cajun spices, roast beef po’boy sandwich, muffuletta sandwich, shrimp and grits, and traditional or “7 greens” gumbo. For dessert, a beignet with lemon “ice box” pie filling, and chicory cold brew with sweet cream. 

326 Tortilla Jo’s restaurant closes March 31, 2024, in Downtown Disney; the attached to-go window will close April 13.

327 Magic Key Terrace offers a World of Color package dinner for $62 ($37 for kids).

339 The new outdoor stage and surrounding artificial lawn are now open on the west side of Downtown Disney. The Parkside Market food hall (which is being built atop the former AMC movie theater) will include Seol Sister Korean bibimbap rice bowls; Sip & Sonder Caribbean food and frozen drinks; and GG’s Chicken Shop, as well as a second-story bar with views of the district.  

Earl of Sandwich will receive a new two-story location at Downtown Disney, with quick-service sandwiches on the ground floor and full-service dining upstairs. Until it opens, a temporary Earl of Sandwich take-out will be located near Star Wars Trading Post.

Paseo and Centrico will be accompanied by a quick-service window called Tiendita. Menu items will include esquites (off-the-cob elote), pork tacos al pastor, and arroz con leche (a nostalgic treat from Chef Gaytán’s childhood).

340 Anaheim GardenWalk has a Ridemakerz remote control car building store, but the VR games have closed, along with several more shops and eateries.

PART 9 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD

343 Universal has officially confirmed that their Fast & Furious launch coaster will feature 16-passenger trains with rotating ride cars that can “drift” around curves. 

343 For guests with disabilities who need the Attractions Assistance Pass, Universal has partnered with International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) on an online Accessibility Card registration process, which guests requesting accommodations (or their guardians) should complete at least 48 hours prior to visiting the park. Go to accessibilitycard.com and fill out the registration form, which requires providing the contact information for a healthcare or education professional who will verify your needs and uploading supporting documentation such as a doctor’s statement or Individualized Education Plan. Once your application is approved, you can download your digital IBCCES Accessibility Card (IAC), and a Universal employee will contact you regarding your needs. They’ll give you a case number that you can take to Guest Services upon arrival and pick up your accommodation pass. Unlike Disney’s app-based accommodation services, Universal’s uses a paper pass that the registered guest with special needs must present at the attraction every time a return time is received or redeemed. If an attraction wait time is 45 minutes or less, USH’s attractions assistance pass offers users immediate access to the Express entrance.

345 Single-day adult gate admission price to Universal Studios Hollywood is now $159.

347 The USH VIP tour lunch is now a buffet that is good but not “gourmet.”

348 Standard parking is now $32 at Universal Studios Hollywood.

351 DreamWorks Theater’s scale is Major Attraction

353 The Simpsons Ride is rated ★★★½, and its scale is Headliner.

354 The Studio Tour’s scale is Super Headliner.

355 WaterWorld’s scale is Headliner.

356 Zonko’s Joke Shop in USH’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter is being converted into a Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream extension of Honeydukes, offering a variety of soft-serve flavors (including Butterbeer).

359 Ollivaders’ scale is Minor attraction

365 Virtual Line is only required to enter Super Nintendo World on days of peak attendance.

367 Toad has joined Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach for meet and greets in Super Nintendo World.

367 Showtimes for live performances in the Wizarding World are now listed in the Universal Studios Hollywood app.

367 THE NIGHTTIME LIGHTS AT HOGWARTS CASTLE (★★★½) returned to USH on select nights in spring 2024. The show brings the Forbidden Journey facade to life with colorful spells and magical creatures cavorting to John Williams’s stirring film score, all thanks to the Muggle miracle of digital projection mapping. While the Sorting Hat narrates, each of the school’s four

houses gets a chance to unfurl its banners and show off its mascot; watch out for Slytherin’s snapping snake. The brief 5-minute celebration is capped with a quick burst of pyrotechnics. The Dark Arts and Magic of Christmas projection shows should continue to run seasonally.

368 Wait times at Toadstool Cafe have improved, but even with a reservation it still takes at least 30 minutes to order and receive your food. The mushroom soup, short rib, and Luigi chicken sandwich are all excellent, but the tart lemon drink with chewy boba is an acquired taste. Jurassic Cafe no longer serves mojo pork. Power Up Cafe on the upper lot serves Nintendo-inspired calzones and beverages with less of a wait than at Toadstool Cafe.

371 Knott’s offers single-use fast lane passes starting at around $8.

Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2023 Updates

(archived as of 8/3/2023)

PART 1 PLANNING

18 Disneyland Mobile App

After “review your park and dining reservations,” insert “compliment exceptional cast members,”

20 Ticket Prices

Admission prices have increased as of October 2022:

One Day One Park $104-$179 ($98-$169 kids)

One Day Parkhopper $169-$244 ($163-$234 kids)

Two Day One Park $285 ($270 kids) +$60 with Parkhopper

Three Day One Park $360 ($340 kids) +$60 with Parkhopper

Four Day One Park $395 ($370 kids) +$60 with Parkhopper

Five Day One Park $415 ($390 kids) +$60 with Parkhopper

Prices for Magic Key annual passes increased in August 2022:

New prices are $1,599 for Inspire (replaces Dream), $1,099 for Believe, $699 for Enchant, and $449 for Imagine.

23 Disney now offers seven seasonal tiers for all single-day tickets. The price difference between a Tier 0 (cheapest) and Tier 6 (most expensive) single day is currently $75.

24 The Park Hopper premium on a single-day admission is currently $65. As of February 4, 2023, park hopping is permitted beginning at 11 a.m. (instead of 1 p.m.)

24 Ticket purchases can only be applied towards a new Magic Key (when available) not a renewal.

24-25 Park-hopping is prohibited until exactly 11 a.m., you may not enter the opposite park 5 minutes early.

25-26 Magic Keys:

25 after “Unwanted reservations must be canceled” insert “(or rescheduled for a later available date)”

Replace “Dream Key Pass” with:

The Inspire Key pass, which replaced the Dream Key pass, is the top-tier annual pass with the fewest blockout dates, although it is invalid during the two weeks around Christmas and New Years. (Disneyland no longer offers any annual pass valid 365 days a year). The Inspire Key, which costs $1,599, includes admission to both parks during normal operating hours, free self-parking in the theme park garages and lots, and unlimited PhotoPass downloads. The pass also provides up to 15% discounts at most resort dining locations, 20% off the daily Genie+ fee, and 20% off most merchandise. Inspire Key passholders may hold up to six theme park reservations at one time.

All Key levels now include 20% off the daily Genie+ fee.

Believe Key now includes unlimited PhotoPass downloads.

Enchant Key and Imagine Key now include 25% off self-parking at the Toy Story lot only.

25 Sales of new Magic Key passes briefly resumed in November 2022, on January 17, 2023, and April 11, 2023. However, all levels except Inspire are currently sold out. Existing Key holders may still renew their expiring passes.

26 before Rides and Shows Closed for Repairs insert:

TICKETS AND MAGICBAND+

We’ve to describe that thing you carry around as proof of your admission to the park. In fact, Disney admission media come in three forms.

The latest admission option is a rubber wristband called a MagicBand+. MagicBands have been available for several years at Walt Disney World, and will be introduced at Disneyland Resort in late 2022. About the size and shape of a small wristwatch, it contains a tiny radio frequency identification (RFID) chip, on which is stored a link to the record of your admission purchase in Disney’s computers. Your MagicBand+ gives you access to the park turnstiles and Lightning Lanes you’ve reserved, tracks PhotoPass images you’ve collected, and can also function as your Disney hotel-room key. MagicBand+ also includes motion sensors, haptic vibrations, and multi-colored lights that synchronize with select nighttime spectaculars, and allow you to play interactive games like Batuu Bounty Hunters using the PlayDisney app.

MagicBand+s are available for purchase in a variety of styles for about $35-$55, with modest discounts for Magic Keyholders and on-site hotel guests.Each member of your family gets his or her own MagicBand, each with a unique serial number. The wristbands are removable, resizable, and waterproof, and they have ventilation holes for cooling. Their built-in batteries will need to be charged before first use, and recharged every couple days; a USB charging cable is included in the box, but not a wall plug. When drained of power, you’ll still be able to use the band to end the park or your hotel room, but interactive features won’t work.

A MagicBand+ from Walt Disney World may also be linked to a Disneyland account (or vice versa) without first being deactivated, but you may need to reset your Bluetooth connection by holding down the button the band’s back for 8 seconds.

Some guests, particularly those with hand- or wrist-mobility issues, find using the MagicBand physically challenging. To help with this, the center portion of the band (essentially a puck the size of a quarter) is removable. The puck can then be placed on a lanyard or clipped on a bag, making it easier to maneuver.

If you don’t want a MagicBand+, your second option is a credit card-sized piece of paper with a barcode, which will be handed to you for free the first time you enter the park. Your third option is to use the Disneyland app on your smartphone. This option allows you to scan your smartphone for admission at park entrances.

28 Themed Entertainment Association 2021 Theme Park attendance report: https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2021.pdf

28-29 Selecting the Time of Year: In 2022, the busiest time of all was Spring Break and Easter (April 9-17), followed closely by Christmas Week through New Year’s Day. The week of Presidents Day (Feb 17-24), the first week of summer (June 13-22), fall break and Columbus Day (October 3-16), and Thanksgiving Week (November 19-25) were also extremely busy.

The slowest period of the year is from early August through late September, especially the first two weeks in September. The next slowest times are early January through mid-February, early March, the week following Easter until Memorial Day weekend, and after Thanksgiving weekend until the week before Christmas. Traditionally, Disneyland saw large summer crowds from Memorial Day through Labor Day, but recently attendance has been moderate during the hottest weeks of late June and July.

31 Selecting the Day of Week: In 2022, the majority of the busiest days fell on weekdays rather than weekends, likely due to restrictions on local Magic Key holders. 

31 The Spoiler

After Dapper Day insert “or Bats Day (May; batsday.net), or RunDisney footraces, which will resume in 2024 (rundisney.com)”

32 Early Entry

Peter Pan’s Flight is included in early entry. Details on included attractions can be found at https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/early-admission-options/.

33 Security checkpoints open 30 minutes before early entry begins. Park turnstiles will open 10 minutes before early entry starts.

38 Preferred Parking costs $50 (or a $20 upgrade if prepaid)

38 The Toy Story parking lot security checkpoint only operates during the peak morning arrival period. If entering later in the day, you may pass through security after being bussed to the Esplanade.

39 Valet parking may not be available at the Grand Californian for guests without hotel or dining reservations during peak seasons. When available, valet parking at resort hotels is $65 plus $10 per hour, up to $135 daily for nonguests.

41 The ART bus stops at Disneyland’s esplanade have digital displays with destinations and time until next departure.

PART 2 ACCOMMODATIONS

45 The Villas at Disneyland Hotel will open September 28, 2023. Rooms in the new Disney Vacation Club property are currently available for rental by the general public, or for sale to DVC members. The Villas’ new Palette Pool includes a Steamboat Willie-themed splash pad that changes from monochrome to color under nighttime lighting.

46 Guests at all Disney-owned hotels can charge dining and shopping within the resort to their room, using the Disneyland mobile app. Third-party vendors (including most Downtown Disney restaurants) are excluded, and you’ll need to show the Room Charging Barcode found in the app’s My Hotel Reservations screen.

46 Valet parking at resort hotels is $65 per night for guests.

46 The free Wi-Fi in Disneyland resort hotels is capable of over 100Mbps, fast enough to stream HD video or upload your vacation photos.

46 The Grand Californian’s Art of the Craft tour has not returned.

48 The GCH’s Tenaya Spa holds sunrise yoga sessions inside Disneyland or DCA for $30. Boot camp and power walking also cost $30 now.

48 Free guided walking tours of the Disneyland Hotel are held on Saturdays at 1 p.m., departing from Guest Services in the Fantasy Tower’s lobby.

50 The former Steakhouse 55 in the Disneyland Hotel is being converted into a flexible lounge space and seasonal bar.

51 Paradise Pier Hotel: Paradise Pier Hotel will be renamed Pixar Place Hotel, and will sport new artwork in the common areas and guest rooms, along with a Finding Nemo-themed splash pad near the pool. The Pixar Place Hotel will feature a Great Maple restaurant, a local chain specializing in upscale fried chicken and waffles. The 186-foot-long Crush’s Surfin’ Slide and Nemo’s Cove splash pad is now open at Pixar Place hotel. The renovation of the pool deck also added fire pits and a family play area.

56 Travel package collectible lanyards can be picked up inside Disneyland at 20th Century Music on Main St or Little Green Men Store Command in Tomorrowland; in Disney California Adventure Park at Julius Katz & Sons on Buena Vista Street; or in Downtown Disney at World of Disney or Disney’s Pin Traders near the Monorail Station. 

67 The Candy Cane Inn has reopened.

74 Radisson Blu Anaheim has been renamed The Viv Hotel Anaheim, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel. Blu SkyBar is now Top of the V.

PART 3 MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR TIME

92 Usually, all guests are held outside the turnstiles until 40 minutes prior to official park opening (10 minutes before early entry).

92 Early entry-eligible guests must show their hotel reservation in the Disneyland app to a cast member after entering the park in order to access a special holding area, from which they’ll be released 30 minutes prior to the regular rope drop.

93 The price for Genie+ has increased to $25 if purchased in advance when buy park admission, or $25-$30 (depending on demand) if purchased the day of your visit.

WEB SLINGERS is now included in Genie+ instead of being an Individual Lightning Lane.

94 On very busy days (such as during Christmas Week in 2022), Genie+ may sell out entirely within hours after park opening.

94 Individual Lightning Lanes now cost $15-$20 for Radiator Springs Racers and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and $20-$25 for Rise of the Resistance.

97 Lightning Lane

Change “However, you may retrieve Lightning Lane return times for the opposite park before 1 p.m., when park hopping is permitted. In that case, you’ll automatically be assigned a return time after 1 p.m., regardless of what times are currently being distributed to guests already inside the park.” to “However, you may retrieve Lightning Lane return times for the opposite park before 11 a.m. (when park hopping is permitted) as long as the requested ride is already distributing return times later than 11 a.m. If the current return times are still before 11 a.m., you’ll be told to try that reservation again later.”

97 Disney’s Genie+ app now allows you to modify an existing Lightning Lane reservation by picking a different time (if available) instead of having to cancel and rebook. Try reserving your desired ride even if the return window is too late, then refresh the app repeatedly until an earlier return time appears.  Modifying a Lightning Lane return time (instead of canceling and rebooking) doesn’t reset the 2 hour time before another return time can be retrieved, which facilitates stacking multiple Lightning Lanes later in the day.

97 The most valuable tier of Genie+ attractions for Multiple Experiences Lightning Lane passes are Space Mountain, Indiana Jones Adventure, and Matterhorn in Disneyland; and WEB Slingers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Toy Story Midway Mania in DCA. 

99 Genie+

Change “Genie+ includes access to “Audio Tales” inside the Disneyland app” to “Genie+ includes access to Snapchat-style photo filters and “Audio Tales” inside the Disneyland app”

99 PhotoPass attraction picture downloads will soon be included in Genie+ at Walt Disney World.

102 Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway no longer offers Virtual Queue; it has standard Standby, and paid Individual Lightning Lane. Virtual Queue is currently only distributed for World of Color at noon.

104 The single rider line at Soarin’ is available again.

109-110 Guided tours have resumed at Disneyland Resort. 

Walk In Walt’s Disneyland Footsteps has been replaced by Walt’s Main Street Tour. This 90 minute walking tour still offers a historical perspective on both Disneyland Park and the man who created it, but now focuses only on Main Street U.S.A., and doesn’t include rides on any attractions. The tour’s highlight is a visit to Walt’s private apartment above the Main Street firehouse – including a photo op, and snack on the second-story patio overlooking Town Square – which is a bucket-list experience for any die-hard Disney devotee.

Cost is $160 for all ages, and the tour is offered multiple times in the morning and early afternoon. (The tour is considered inappropriate for younger children, who will likely be bored; guests under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult.) Walt’s Main Street tours depart hourly from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., daily.

Holiday Time at Disneyland Resort is a 2 ½ hour guided walking tour highlighting seasonal traditions in both theme parks, from “it’s a small world”’s holiday overlay to the Christmas Fantasy Parade. The tour costs $110 for all guests ages 3 and up; guests under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Tours run from mid-November through early January, and depart daily around 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

PART 4 ESSENTIALS

116 Guest service (or guest experience) kiosks inside the parks are staffed by blue-clad (not plaid) cast members. DAS passes can be redeemed up to 5 minutes before the stated return time (like Genie+). DAS users cannot get a return time for an attraction that is temporarily closed through the app, but they can by visiting a guest services cast member. If a ride is closed when your DAS redeem time arrives, it should automatically convert to a Multiple Experiences pass. If the ride breaks down after your DAS becomes valid (but before you use it), the pass will still be good for that attraction until closing, but you’ll need to cancel and rebook if you’d rather ride something else. 

118 The Merchants Guild in Disneyland has closed, and package delivery is no longer offered to day guests in the park. You can still check purchases at most major stores and retrieve them later in the day.

118 As of September 12, 2023, alcohol – including beer, wine, and specialty cocktails – will be served inside Disneyland at Carnation Cafe, River Belle Terrace, and Cafe Orleans.

121 Disable low per mode on your phone when using the Star Wars Datapad in the Disney Play app.

122 As of February 4, 2023, PhotoPass attraction picture downloads are free for all guests throughout the Disney100 celebration. Currently, all guests using the Disneyland app can get on-ride photos at select attractions for free, but not character or scenic photos; Genie+ still includes all PhotoPass locations.

PART 5 DISNEYLAND WITH KIDS

172 Mickey’s old nemesis Pete now greets in Toontown.

PART 6 DISNEYLAND PARK

180 Space Mountain’s single rider line has reopened.   

180 Park Opening Procedures

C(1) change “If you are going to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run” to “If you are going to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge”

C(2) delete “or Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance”

If rope-dropping Rise of the Resistance, use the Frontierland entrance instead of going through Adventureland. Guests may make it to the attraction entrance slightly faster by sprinting through Critter Country, but they’ll be forced to join the queue behind folks coming from Frontierland. Early-entry guests coming from Fantasyland along Big Thunder Trail have a slight edge over everyone coming from the hub.

182 The Disney Gallery currently features an expanded exhibit honoring the company’s 100th anniversary, displaying over 100 artworks documenting the connections between Disney’s films and theme park attractions, along with artifacts like a multiplane animation camera, and the long-lost Old Hag figure from Main Street’s Jewelry Shop. Before seeing Mr. Lincoln, also stop to watch the screen showing footage from the 1955 Disneyland television show documenting the park’s creation.

183 A new 9 minute video preshow to Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, produced by National Geographic and narrated by ABC News’ Robin Roberts, shares the story of the President’s friendship with abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln starts shows every 20 minutes, with the Fredrick Douglas preshow film beginning 15 minutes prior.

184 Indiana Jones Adventure was be closed from January 9 through March 2023, and reopened with new and enhanced effects.

187 Haunted Mansion

The Hat Box Ghost animatronic, which was previously exclusive to Disneyland, will be added to Walt Disney World’s Haunted Mansion in 2023.

190 Splash Mountain

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is a sequel to the film The Princess and the Frog, set in 1927. Guests will visit the old salt mine that Tiana has turned into her new business, and help her find the missing ingredient for her special recipe. The revamped ride will include new animatronics, elaborate lighting effects, and songs and dialogue recorded by the original voice actors, including Anika Noni Rose.

194 Lightsabers at Savi’s Workshop have returned to $220, after a brief increase to $250 during the 2022 holiday season.

197 If you are participating in the Datapad game, make sure your Bluetooth is on and your low power mode is off in order to receive credit for your mission.

198 Rise of the Resistance: Don’t try to beat the Rise of the Resistance rope drop crowd by going through Critter Country; you’ll be forced to queue behind the crowd coming from Frontierland. Rise of the Resistance has become more reliable; if you are among the first few dozen to enter the queue, you should exit in about 25 minutes.

211 Royal Theatre usually presents three shows of Tangled and three of Beauty and the Beast, rotating daily which one goes in the morning and which in the afternoon.

213 Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will open on January 27, 2023. The rest of Mickey’s Toontown will open on March 8, 2023.

214 Toontown attractions, including Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, will close from 90 minutes before fireworks shows start, until up to 30 minutes after the performance. A “kiss goodnight” light display illuminates CenTOONial park prior to the show.

214-215 Runaway Railway: change “enhanced with three additional show scenes not seen in the Walt Disney World version” to “enhanced with an expanded queue which doubles as a museum of Mickey Mouse memorabilia from across the decades”

215 Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway no longer offers Virtual Queue; it has standard Standby, and paid Individual Lightning Lane.

217 Toontown Playground: Donald’s Boat will reopen with Mickey’s Toontown as Donald Duck’s Pond, and include some new water play features.

217 The Toontoon coaster is now called Chip & Dale’s Gadget Coaster.

218 Toontown Playhouse: Goofy’s Playhouse will reopen with Mickey’s Toontown, and will feature an expanded “How To Play Yard” with fully accessible equipment for children with disabilities. 

218 Tomorrowland

After “retro-future” add: Disney Vacation Club members can visit the Star View Station on the second floor of Star Wars Launch Bay, starting in early 2023. The lounge offers phone charging stations, WiFi, and air conditioning, along with murals referencing extinct attractions like Monsanto’s Adventure Thru Inner Space. Tomorrowland’s DVC lounge opens April 19, 2023. It features artwork by Mary Blair and John Hench, along with displays of Disneyland artifacts like the 1950s-era K7 Space Suit, as well as complimentary soft drinks.

220 Monorail: Delete “At press time, the monorail was closing daily at 7 p.m., even when the park was open late.” (the monorail has resumed running until closing). If only one monorail train is operating, expect a minimum of a 30 minute wait.

222 Space Mountain’s single-rider queue has reopened; look for signs at the attraction’s exit. Hyperspace Mountain returns May 1-June 4, 2023.

223 Look for additional scenes featuring some never-before-seen destinations to join the Star Tours rotation in 2024.

223-224 Star Wars Launch Bay remains closed, but a meet and greet with a Star Wars character (often Darth Vader) is held just outside the entrance. The photo op is reserved for Disney Visa card holders in the afternoon.

226 Fantasmic will remain closed until Spring 2024, and Murphy the dragon will no longer be part of the show when it reopens (due to damage from a malfunctioning flamethrower). In the meantime, a raft-borne Dixieland jazz band entertains the riverfront on select evenings. Our favorite Fantasmic standby viewing section is by Harbour Galley, because you can enter later and and exit easier.

228-229 Parades

The Main Street Electrical Parade has been retired again as of September 2022. The Magic Happens parade resumes performances on February 24, 2023, and will typically run twice each day.

229 The Plaza Inn parade lunch package costs $45 for adults ($25 for kids ages 3-9; tax and gratuity not included), and includes viewing of the second Magic Happens parade. Magic Happens dining packages include reserved parade viewing for the second performance on Main Street across from the train station. 

230 Wondrous Journeys, a new fireworks show celebrating Disney’s 100th anniversary, debuted on January 27, 2023, replacing Disneyland Forever. The new show includes references to all 60 Walt Disney animated features, and features immersive projections like the previous production set to an original theme song, “It’s Wondrous.”

231 The Encanto preshow temporarily returned to It’s a Small World starting February 17, 2023.

233-235 Seasonal Events: Merriest Nites parties were not held in 2022, and will not return in 2023. Disneyland After Dark 2023 events include Sweethearts Nite (Jan 31-Feb 16); and Princess Nite (March 7 & 9).

237 Halloween Screams will be performed nightly throughout September and October 2023, preempting Wondrous Journeys.

248 Check out the primitive coin-operated amusements in the Penny Arcade. (The antique 3-D movie viewers have been removed.)

248 Silhouette cutters have returned to Main Street USA. Portraits cost $11.99 per subject)

PART 7 DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE

255 Six attractions at DCA now offer single-rider lines, including Soarin’.

256 Buena Vista Street: Red Car Trolley transports guests from the park entrance to the Hyperion Theater and back again.

257 Red Car Trolley: Replace “Guardians of the Galaxy—Mission: Breakout!” with “the Hyperion Theater”

259 Disney Junior Dance Party is 15 minutes long, and no longer features The Lion Guard.

262 Avengers Campus

Replace “(The planned Avengers-themed E-Ticket, which promised to allow guests to participate in a massive battle above Wakanda, has been placed on hold.)” with “A third ride was announced at the 2023 D23 Expo that will allow guests to participate in a battle against a victorious variant of Thanos alongside Avengers from across the entire multiverse. Details on the attraction – including an anticipated opening year – are scarce, but concept art appears to depict an indoor ride utilizing screens.”

265 The WEB Slingers single-rider wait can be as little as 10 minutes or less.

266 Pixar Pal-A-Round and Jessie’s Critter Carousel close early for World of Color performances, but Incredicoaster, Toy Story Midway Mania!, and Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind remain operational. 

269 Pixar Pal-a-Round: change “in the hour before the park closes.” to “in the hour before the ride closes.”

276 Pacific Wharf: DCA’s Pacific Wharf area will be transformed into San Fransokyo Square from Big Hero 6. The bridge to the area will be redecorated as Japanese-style Golden Gate Bridge, and a new meet & greet with Baymax will be added. The area’s dining options will get a makeover, but no major additions have been announced.

279 Soarin’: single rider line available.

280 World of Color

The current World of Color will be replaced on January 27, 2023 by World of Color – One, a new show featuring characters from classics like Mulan and The Lion King, along with newer films such as Encanto, Coco, Moana, and Soul. It will also include a new song, “Start A Wave,” inspired by the concept of creating change through a single action.

281 Villainous! Will not return to DCA’s Halloween celebrations in 2023.

283 The Pixar Pier bridge is available for non-ticketed standby viewing during World of Color. It is not part of the Blue ticketed section.

284 New Marvel characters appearing for a limited time at Avengers Campus in 2023 included Kang the Conqueror and Cassie Lang from Quantumania.

284 After his flight, the Amazing Spider-Man briefly reappears to give his fans high-fives. He takes photos with guests in the evenings after his stunt shows end for the day. 

284 The cast of Avengers Assemble rotates frequently; a special Christmas edition featuring Hawkeye is the most fun.

286 The DCA Food & Wine Festival returns on March 3-April 25, 2023.

287 Villains Nite will not return in 2023.

PART 8 DINING AND SHOPPING

294 The free Touring Plans Dining Reservations Finder (https://touringplans.com/disneyland-resort/reservation-finder) can help you secure in-demand restaurants by alerting you via text if your desired table is temporarily available. 

300 The Disneyland app’s Mobile Order page will display a list of participating restaurants and the wait until their soonest available pickup time. Tap on a restaurant to see the full list of time slots. After making your order, you can modify your time to be later (if you’re running behind schedule) or earlier (if a sooner slot becomes available).

302 Alien Pizza Planet: change “The cafeteria-style setup usually means less waiting.” to “You must now order and pay before picking up your food, which defeats the cafeteria-style setup, resulting in more waiting.” Alien Pizza Planet’s cafeteria-style setup used to mean less waiting, but changes in the cashier process have resulted in chaos, so use Mobile Ordering or eat elsewhere.

303 Disneyland Snacks: Corn dog (Stage Door Cafe)

304 Daisy’s Diner in Toontown reopened as Cafe Daisy. It serves pepperoni and cheese pizza “flop-overs,” foot-long hot-dogs (with or without chili mac & cheese), and fresh mini-donuts. The house-made potato chips might be the best thing on the kid-friendly menu.

304 Harbour Galley’s seasonal bread bowl with vegan farro stew is a reliable choice. 

306 Market House: Starbucks loyalty cards are valid for payment at in-park locations, but you can only earn and redeem rewards or use Mobile Ordering at the Downtown Disney location.

306 Oga’s Cantina can often accommodate walk-ups from rope drop until around 10 a.m. Edamame and an oversized soft pretzel have been added to the snack menu.

307 Red Rose Taverne replaced the breakfast burger with an excellent gourmet breakfast sandwich, with egg and bacon on english muffin.

308 While French Market is closed for its makeover, Royal Street Veranda is serving Mickey beignets and mint juleps instead of its usual fritters.

308 Stage Door Cafe: change “The corn dogs are nearly as good as those from the Main Street cart” to “The corn dogs are better here than those from Main Street’s Little Red Wagon cart (which no longer cooks them fresh)”

308 Tropical Hideaway serves lumpia with pineapple and cream cheese (not banana and jackfruit) and bao with roasted pork (not Loco Moco with ham egg and beef). 

310 Cocina Cucamonga has added street corn with togarashi mayo, and potato tacos.

311 Pacific Wharf Cafe was renamed to Aunt Cass Cafe. New items include a curry beef bread bowl, vegan soba noodle salad, shrimp katsu salad, and fluffy Japanese-style cheesecake. The clam chowder is now made with bacon and white miso. The Chinese chicken salad and broccoli-and-cheese soup are no longer offered.

311 Lucky Fortune Cookery has added a karaage-style crispy chicken sandwich, beef birria ramen (replacing the pork ramen), and vegan yaki udon. The vegan bahn mi and Japanese mule are no longer offered.

311-312 During the spring Food P& Wine Festival, Paradise Garden Grill serves a seasonal plant-based menu, with bulgogi rice and gyro fries using Impossible meat substitute.  

312 Angry Dogs on Pixar Pier is the park’s only hot dog vendor offering spicy brown mustard.

317 La Brea Bakery Cafe has permanently closed. It will temporarily reopen as Earl of Sandwich, before being demolished and replaced with Porto’s Bakery.

318 Cafe Orleans now offers a fixe prix seafood boil dinner for $45+tax.

320 The French Market restaurant is being transformed into Tiana’s Palace, featuring a similar New Orleans menu and atmosphere. It will not be a character dining location. The popular Mint Julep window serving Mickey beignets will also return when the restaurant reopens in 2024.

325 Rancho Del Zocalo has discontinued Mobile Ordering.

325 Ralph Brennan’s is closed for renovations, and will reopen as Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio. The Jazz Kitchen Express will be called Beignets Expressed.

325 Rancho Del Zocalo now offers Mobile Ordering.

328 Trader Sam’s interior is restricted to adults 21 and over after 8 p.m.

334 BluSky Restaurant and Bar is now called Top of the V, serving the same Spanish menu.

339 Mobile checkout is now available in most large stores inside the parks.

340 Downtown Disney: When renovations are completed, Downtown Disney will have over 12 new venues, including Porto’s Cuban bakery.

341 #11 Sprinkles has closed at Downtown Disney. A Clyde’s Hot Chicken kiosk has been added near #19

342 WonderGround Gallery is moving into the former ESPN Zone.

PART 9 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD

345 Universal Studios Hollywood has filed permits to construct two new on-site hotels, although opening dates and themes have not been announced.

348 1-day adult tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood cost $159 at the gate.

348 Universal Hollywood Annual Passes price increase

Silver Annual Pass $239 ($229 online)

Gold Annual Pass $329 ($319 online)

Platinum Annual Pass $629 ($619 online)

California Neighbor Pass $189 ($179 online) per 9 months

348 Express Passes are not accepted at Mario Kart, but do provide expedited entry into Super Nintendo World when Virtual Line is being used to restrict access to the land. 

349 One hour of early admission to Super Nintendo World is available for an additional $20-$30 per person; Express access to the Studio Tour before 11 a.m. is also included. Mario Kart is not guaranteed to operate, but it may still be worthwhile even without the ride if you’re playing with the interactive Power-Up bands. 

350-351 Preferred Parking at Universal Studios Hollywood cost $50, $70 for even closer front-gate parking. Valet parking ($25 for the first 2 hours, $50 for more than 2 hours) is located on the ground floor of the Jurassic Park garage, steps from the center of CityWalk. Drop-off and pickup for rideshare services is inside the Frankenstein garage outside the park gates, or between the Jurassic Park and E.T. garages in CityWalk.

351 When early entry is offered, Universal’s gates open up to 90 minutes before the official opening time, and eligible guests are allowed down the escalator and into Super Nintendo World fifteen minutes before the bonus hour begins. Everyone else is held near the upper lot’s central plaza until regular operating hours begin.

352-353 Despicable Me Minion Mayhem: This attraction may open 30-60 minutes after the rest of the park during days of low attendance.

353-354 Secret Life of Pets may open 30-60 minutes later than the rest of the park during days of low attendance. Look for the interactive animatronic Snowball who periodically heckles guests from a balcony across from the attraction’s entrance.

355 The Special Effects Show has permanently closed at Universal Studios Hollywood as of 1/8/2023.

357 Animal Actors has permanently closed at Universal Studios Hollywood as of 1/8/2023.

356 Studio Tour: Universal has reconstructed the Jupiter’s Claim sets seen in Jordan Peele’s film NOPE near the end of the tour, where spooky sound effects assault trams as they pass by wild west storefronts. Live actors may invade the sets for the Terror Tram during Halloween Horror Nights.

358 WaterWorld cast members usually hang out at the exit greeting guests after a show.

359 Cold and frozen Butterbeer are now available with vegan topping upon request.

364 Ollivanders original wands ($63) are now available in 13 new styles (including one exclusive to Universal Studios Hollywood) that include an explanation of the wand’s lore

367 Mario Kart offers a single rider queue, but no Express at press time. Guests with waist sizes over 40” will want to test the vehicle restraints outside the attraction before entering the queue. Although the best time to ride Mario Kart is during early entry or shortly before closing, be warned that the ride may open late or close early due to maintenance.

367-368 Ask inside the 1UP gift shop for a free security sleeve to prevent your Power-Up band from flying off when you fling your fists.

370 Toad has joined the other characters for meet and greets in Super Nintendo World.

370 Showtimes for live performances in the Wizarding World are now listed in the Universal Studios Hollywood app.

371 Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle (with aerial drone effects) is performed year-round; the Nighttime Lights show has been retired.

371 Universal Hollywood has begun testing mobile ordering and restaurant reservations inside its app.

371 To eat at Toadstool Cafe in Super Nintendo World, secure a free reservation through Zomato by scanning the QR code outside the restaurant, but be prepared to still wait an hour or more once your time arrives.

373 Beetle House has relocated to 7080 Hollywood Blvd.

373 Bob Baker’s Marionettes are once again performing seasonally at Knott’s Berry Farm.

373 THE RMS QUEEN MARY (1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach; ☎ 877-342-0738; queenmary.com) has been moored in California for more than 50 years, longer than it sailed the Atlantic, but history buffs and ghost hunters alike should enjoy a visit to the vintage vessel, which is larger than the legendary Titanic. The ship was off-limits to visits for several years, but reopened to the public in Spring 2023. Three different one-hour guided tours are offered for $10 each; a “Glory Days” historical tour of the opulent public areas, a “Steam & Steel” visit to the engine room; and a “Haunted Encounters” ghost walk. Despite ambitious ongoing restoration efforts, the old girl has seen better days—as a night in one of the dingy cabins will demonstrate—but you can still appreciate its once-peerless glory beneath the rust and duct tape.

374 Palm Springs: After the SHAG Store, insert “You can see Walt Disney’s personal Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I airplane (a.k.a. “Mickey Mouse One”), which has been restored and placed on exhibit at the Palm Springs Air Museum (745 North Gene Autry; <#>760-778-6262; palmspringsairmuseum.org).”