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 2025 Updates

(as of 10/15/2024)

Replace all references to “Genie+” with “Lightning Lane Multi Pass”. Replace all references to “Individual Lightning Lane” with “Lightning Lane Single Pass”. There are no other changes to the system at Disneyland Resort, other than the name.

Replace all references to “Critter Country” with “Bayou Country”

INTRODUCTION

12 Disneyland vs WDW chart:

• Change “Genie+ can be purchased after midnight on the morning of your visit.” to “Lightning Lanes can be purchased from 7 a.m. starting 7 days before your visit for on-site resort guests, or 3 days before for all others.”
• Change “Make first Genie+ reservation at 7 a.m. from outside the park. On-site guests can buy
• individual Lightning Lane at 7 a.m., off-site at park opening.” to “Can pre-arrange 3 Multi Pass reservations and 1 Single Pass when purchasing Lightning Lane.”
• Add: “DL: Lightning Lane Multi Pass attractions are not divided into tiers./WDW: Must select one attraction from Tier 1 and two from Tier 2 when prearranging Multi Pass reservations.”
• Add: “DL: Can use ‘two hour rule’ to stack multiple Lightning Lane reservations./WDW: Maximum of 3 simultaneous Multi Pass reservations.”
• Add: “DL: 15 minute grace period for Lightning Lane reservations./WDW: 59 minute grace period for Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservations.”
• Add: “DL: Lightning Lane Premier Pass covers both parks, can be purchased by all guests up to 2 days in advance./ WDW: LLPP covers one park, can only be purchased by select onsite guests up to 7 days in advance.”

20 Admission Options chart (adult/child):

• One-Day, One Park (depending on season) $104–$206 $98–$196
• One-Day Park Hopper (depending on season) $169–$281 $163–$271
• Two-Day, One Park Per Day $330 $310
• Two-Day Park Hopper $415 $395
• Three-Day, One Park Per Day $415 $390
• Three-Day Park Hopper $505 $480
• Four-Day, One Park Per Day $474 $444
• Four-Day Park Hopper $569 $539
• Five-Day, One Park Per Day $511 $476
• Five-Day Park Hopper $616 $581
• Imagine Key annual pass $599 $599
• Enchant Key annual pass $974 $974
• Believe Key annual pass $1,374 $1,374
• Inspire Key annual pass $1,749 $1,749

PART 2 ACCOMMODATIONS

21 Disneyland is offering kids tickets for as little as $50 per day for use between January 7 and March 20, 2025.

22 Admission prices increase from time to time, often in early October.

25 Magic Key sales were suspended in June 2024 but will resume late in the year.

29 Top 10 Theme Parks chart

2023 Rank	THEME PARK	2023 Attendance	AVG DAILY ATTENDANCE
1	Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom	17.720	48,548
2	Disneyland Park	17.250	47,260
3	Walt Disney World’s EPCOT	11.980	32,822
4	Disney’s Hollywood Studios	10.300	28,219
5	Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure	10.000	27,397
6	Disney California Adventure	10.000	27,397
7	Universal Studios Florida	9.750	26,712
8	Universal Studios Hollywood	9.660	26,466
9	Disney’s Animal Kingdom	8.770	24,027
10	SeaWorld Orlando	4.342	11,896

42 ART buses offer frequent service in the mornings but too few departures at night. The app can be confusing, with buses often late or missing from the tracking map.

PART 1 PLANNING

47 The Art of the Craft tour, held on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday at 2 p.m.,  is only for registered guests of Disneyland Resort on-site hotels.

51 The Lounge at Disneyland Hotel is open Wednesdays-Sundays, with live jazz music on Thurs-Sun.

69-70 Anaheim Majestic Garden has a vintage school bus style shuttle which often has a long wait..

82 Hilton Universal has a nice koi pond that was recently refurbished.

PART 3 MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR TIME

86 Security is set up to the east of the Esplanade between the two parks for guests entering from Harbor Boulevard, and on Downtown Disney’s west end (for Disneyland Hotel guests) and south side (for those coming from Pixar Place or off-site hotels). 

The checkpoints for guests from the Disneyland and Pixar Place Hotels are usually far less crowded.

In the evenings, locals arriving after work can sometimes balloon the wait for security at Harbor Boulevard to 20 minutes or more. 

97-98 As of October 23, 2024, Disneyland Resort is offering an additional option called Lightning Lane Premier Pass (LLPP), which provides one-time access to each attraction with Lightning Lane Multipass or Single Pass without needing to schedule a return window. LLPP can be used once per day at each participating attraction in both parks, and may be redeemed at any time during operating hours. LLPP costs $300-$400 per person per day, and can be purchased up to 2 days before your visit, starting at 7 a.m. PT. Quantities are limited; the pass can be purchased by on-site and off-site guests, but you must already have admission and a park reservation.

98 Lightning Lane Multi Pass costs $32 in advance or $32-$36 on the day of.

115 At the conclusion of a VIP tour, you may have the opportunity to purchase limited edition merchandise featuring the guides’ signature plaid.

PART 4 ESSENTIALS

122 Fuel Rods cost $38 each. FuelRods can also be found in airports and malls for

about $30, or two for $40 on Amazon. The new models have higher capacity and USB-C ports.

127 DAS enrolment is valid for 240 days.

PART 5 DISNEYLAND WITH KIDS

176 Goofy’s Kitchen and Storytellers Cafe both offer autumn-themed character brunches starting in early September. Goofy’s Kitchen Breakfast costs $55 for adults ($33 kids), while dinner costs $64 ($37 kids), although around holidays like Easter and Halloween it can be as much as $75 ($39 kids).

PART 6 DISNEYLAND PARK

178 To prepare for the deployment of new turnstiles, the trees that inhibited queues from forming at gate 14 & 19 have been moved.

188-189 Haunted Mansion (featuring its Holiday overlay) reopened on July 29, 2024 with Virtual Queue access only. Standby and Lightning Lane options will return when construction is complete on the new exterior queue. The hitchhiking ghosts’ mirrors at the end now use digital projections, and a new animatronic Bride is expected to materialize in the attic when the classic version returns in 2025.

190-191 Tiana’s Bayou Adventure officially opens November 15, 2024, in the newly renamed Bayou Country (formerly known as Critter Country).

198 A single rider queue has been added to Rise of the Resistance in Walt Disney World, but not in Disneyland.

219 As of September 2024, guests can once again request to sit with the monorail pilot in the nose cone cockpit on a first-come/first-served basis.

225 Fantasmic dining package Blue Bayou diners sit just to the right of center stage, with standard River Belle package-holders farther to the right along the shoreline. Rancho del Zocalo diners get the section in front of Cafe Orleans; standby guests are sometimes admitted into any remaining space on the far left end once the show starts.

230 Star Wars music is now played inside Batuu every night that fireworks are scheduled, not ust during Season of the Force. A “Fire of the Rising Moons” fireworks dining package with dinner at Docking Bay 7 and reserved viewing will be offered starting in November 2024 (price TBA).

PART 7 DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE

253 The Red Car Trolley will be closing in early 2025 for the expansion of Avengers Campus.

281 Deadpool and Wolverine are appearing in Avengers Campus during summer 2025, performing a storytelling show outside Hyperion Theatre, and participating in the Avengers Assemble and Awesome Dance Off show.

284 The Frightfully Fun parade runs twice each night during the Oogie Boogie Bash parties. The Trick or Treat stage show has been moved to the daytime instead. For more information see https://theunofficialguides.com/2024/09/24/unofficial-guide-to-oogie-boogie-bash-2024-at-disney-california-adventure/

PART 8 DINING AND SHOPPING

302 Hungry Bear Restaurant is becoming the Hungry Bear Barbeque Jamboree, featuring regional BBQ dishes and background music paying tribute to the Country Bears. Hungry Bear Barbeque Jamboree’s menu features house-smoked spareribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, and sausage links, served with slaw and baked beans; plant-based corn “ribs”, beer-battered fries topped with pork and queso. Banana pudding and funnel cake fries for dessert. Flavored lemonades in a souvenir mason jar.

317 Goofy’s Kitchen: $55-$75 ($33-39 kids ages 3-9)

322 Construction on Porto’s should begin in early 2025.

323 Splitsville now has an outdoor bar called “The Alley” and late-night happy hour discounts after 9 p.m. on Sundays-Thursdays.

324 Tangaroa Terrace has a new menu. Entree range is now $17-$29. Breakfast has coconut French toast with candied pineapple, vegan avocado toast, and scrambled eggs with kalbi short rib. Lunch and dinner feature poke bowls, tropical salads with chicken or salmon, and a Wagyu Hawaiian cheeseburger with bacon and caramelized pineapple with sweet potato fries. The delicious macaroni salad was replaced by stir-fried vegetables.

335-336 Downtown Disney

The two-story Earl of Sandwich will feature the Carnaby Tavern table service restaurant upstairs, themed to the British swinging 1960s.

Michelin-starred Chef Joe Isidori will oversee the unnamed table service steakhouse and quick service barbecue restaurants replacing Tortilla Joes’s.

New stores coming to Downtown Disney’s Parkside Market area include the Avengers Reserve super hero shop, and D-Lander fashion boutique. Merceline’s has been expanded and reimagined as Disney Wonderful World of Sweets.   

338 Anaheim GardenWalk has been showing some signs of life, with many storefronts marked coming soon. Heat Nightclub is still open, and Odyssey Virtual Reality is opening.

PART 9 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD

341 Preregistering with IBCCES is not mandatory to receive an Attractions Assistance Pass at USH, but guests with an IAC can use a special expedited queue. 

345 USH now sells an Express Pass add-on without admission for $80-$165.

346 Universal’s CityWalk is getting an Escapology (https://www.escapology.com/en/citywalk-ca) escape room complex with seven different themes, including Scooby-Doo and Batman.

347  Prices for some USH annual passes have changed, see https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/web/en/us/pass-members/pass-types-and-benefits

353 Universal Studios Hollywood’s special 60th anniversary offerings ended on August 11, 2024.

366 During Halloween Horror Nights 2024, the DreamWorks Theater hosted a live talk show with Chucky.

368 A Hello Kitty cafe has opened at Universal CityWalk, and Dongpo Kitchen has closed.

The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2024 Updates

(archived as of 7/5/2024)

As of July 24, 2024, replace all references to “Genie+” with “Lightning Lane Multi Pass”. Replace all references to “Individual Lightning Lane” with “Lightning Lane Single Pass”. There are no other changes to the system at Disneyland Resort, other than the name.

INTRODUCTION

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. 

PART 1 PLANNING

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 are currently suspended for all levels. 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.

35-38 change “checkpoint between Downtown Disney and the Disneyland Hotel” to “checkpoint between Downtown Disney and the Pixar Place Hotel”

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

44 change “cut through the hotel parking lot across from the Grand Californian to Downtown Disney’s security checkpoint” to “past the Pixar Place Hotel through the security checkpoint on Downtown Disney’s western end.” 

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.

94 add breakout note: “As of July 2024, Genie+ was renamed to Lightning Lane Multi Pass, and Individual Lightning Lane is now Lightning Lane Single Pass” There are no other changes to the system at Disneyland Resort, other than the name.

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.

104 replace “Using Lightning Lane with Lines” with:

The Lines app will automatically recommend the best Genie+ selections for your touring plan. To enable this feature, select the “I plan to buy Genie+” option when you create your plan, and before you click the “Optimize” button.  If you’d prefer to choose your own Lightning Lane reservations and estimate their return times manually when following a personalized plan, do this:Inside the Disneyland Lines app, you must have a custom plan (or a copy of a premium plan) for the current day, and select it as active. Click “edit plan,” then click “add reservation” under Lightning Lane. A drop-down box will appear; select the attraction and return time, then click “submit” at the bottom. Repeat as you make more reservations. Now, the optimizer will accommodate your manually-entered Lightning Lane reservation(s), as long as it predicts doing so will save time over waiting standby. (If Lines ignores your reservation after optimizing your plan, return to “edit plan” and select “force Optimize to use Lightning Lane” to compare the results.)

113 change “ONLY ONE GROUP TOUR is offered year-round” to “Several group tours are offered year-round”

change “Disneyland Resort tours can be booked up to 30 days in advance by calling” to “Disneyland Resort tours can be booked up to 60 days in advance online at disneyland.disney.go.com/events-tours; or by calling”

114 before HOLIDAY TIME AT DISNEYLAND RESORT insert:

CULTIVATING THE MAGIC TOUR 

This 2-hour introduction to the resort’s horticultural treasures features an insider’s peek at the park’s remarkable landscaping efforts. You’ll also get express entry only the Jungle Cruise, with exclusive narration pointing out its often-overlooked agricultural elements. The tour is a photographer’s paradise, and even if you don’t have a green thumb, we think this is one of the most entertaining and educational ways to experience a unique aspect of Disneyland Park. The tour is offered daily, with six hourly departures from 8:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.; the cost is $110 per guest, and includes a souvenir pin and seed packet.

DISNEYLAND RAILROAD GUIDED TOUR 

If you love steam trains as much as Walt did, this 2-hour tour is made for you. It begins with a brief breakfast snack and walking tour of Disneyland Park, followed by a look inside the maintenance roundhouse, before the main event: a round-trip journey on the Disneyland Railroad inside the Lilly Belle, a private parlor car named for Mrs. Disney that isn’t ordinarily open to the public. The $135 fee includes a collectible railroad map, and the tour is offered six times each day, between 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

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. The Mr. Lincoln show is closed for a $5 million refurbishment, which will update the stage with a new turntable and upgrades to the lighting and audio effects.

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.

189-190 Tiana’s Bayou Adventure offers Virtual Queue or Genie+ Lightning Lane. No standard standby queue is currently available.

191 Ahsoka 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 add: Fortunately, Disney has promised to replace the Autopia fleet with zero-emission electric vehicles by Fall 2026.

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 a visit to the planet Seatos (populated by space whales). With the new segments, 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.

Fantasmic dining packages at River Belle Terrace cost $55 ($30 kids) for standard seating, or $89 ($45 kids) for premium seating at the restaurant. Instead of Hungry Bear, Rancho Del Zocalo has a special menu (riblet, shrimp taco,  potato tacos, or carne asada) for $35 ($25 kids). Guests may not claim standby viewing spots along the waterfront more than 2 hours before the first showtime.

225 delete references to Fantasmic On-The-Go package at Hungry Bear (discontinued)

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

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.

PART 7 DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE

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. The free short term lockers have been moved across the pathway from the ride’s exit gift shop.

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. Dessert parties begin about an hour before the performance; check in by the Eureka water wheel (near Redwood Creek Challenge Trail) at the time on your reservation.

282 A new “Better Together” daytime parade debuted on April 26, 2024, as part of Pixar Fest. With a running time under 15 minutes, and several elements (like the Luxo Jr. lamp that leads the procession) that were recycled from the old Pixar Play Parade, this isn’t among Disney’s most impressive entertainment efforts, but it is effective at drawing guests away from the other attractions. If you watch the parade near the gate where it exits, you can see a special dance finale dance. Dining packages with reserved parade viewing at Sonoma Terrace, and a buffet of light snacks and soft drinks, cost $69 per person (including tax and tip); parties start 45 minutes prior to each parade.

 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. 285 Oogie Boogie Bash is held on select nights in late August, September, and October. Event tickets are nonrefundable, and can’t be resold or transferred.

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.

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

301 Replace Chili-lime corn on the cob with bratwurst at Edelweiss Snacks. Beignets Expressed sells fancy beignets but no gumbo or chicory coffee. Change “Panko-crusted long beans” to “Tempura-fried green beans.” delete Red’s Apple Freeze

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

303 Hungry Bear: delete “Fantasmic! dining packages are available with boxed entrées that are superior to the standard fare; see page 225 for details.”

308 Cocina Cucamonga has added street corn with togarashi mayo.

308 delete “Red’s Apple Freeze, a curiously addictive blend of tart frozen apple juice and sweet toasted marshmallow”

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 Rancho Del Zocalo’s menu has changed to burritos, street tacos, and sonora bowls with beef or chicken. Enchiladas, tortilla bowls, and cauliflower tacos are gone; soy chorizo and potato tacos are available. Most entrees now come with a side of tortilla chips and salsa instead of rice and beans. A separate Fantasmic! dining package menu with riblets, carne asada, or shrimp tacos is available for $35 ($25 ages 3-9) on show nights, including admission to the reserved viewing section. 

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. River Belle Terrace Fantasmic package costs $55 ($30 for kids) or $89 ($45 for kids) with premium seating at 7:15pm. Brunch and standard dinner includes regular menu items like hot chicken, brisket mac & cheese, or pork chop; premium dinner offers special times like pork belly burnt ends and pot roast.

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.

326 Trader Sam’s: change “Panko-crusted long beans” to “Tempura-fried green beans”

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).

339 Din Tai Fung is now open. Reservations are Recommended (via Yelp). Limited reservations are booked one month out, but critics claim the walk-up wait-list is worth it. 

339 The Dress Shop has displaced WonderGround Gallery at Downtown Disney until Winter 2025. Wonderground Gallery has moved into the former California Sole shop.

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 $164.

346 Ollivanders: change “Not frightening in any way.” to “Loud bells and lightning may bother sensitive kids.”

347  Prices for some USH annual passes have changed, see https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/web/en/us/pass-members/pass-types-and-benefits

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 Starting later in 2024, HOGWARTS ALWAYS (★★★½) brings the Forbidden Journey facade to life on select evenings throughout the year with colorful spells and magical creatures, all thanks to the Muggle miracle of digital projection mapping. The images evoke iconic milestones from a year in the life of a Hogwarts student, from shopping for school supplies in Diagon Alley, to celebrating the winner of the House Cup; with four different rotating endings, each house gets its chance to shine. The show, which also features vocal cameos from Dumbledore and Hagrid, is capped with a quick burst of pyrotechnics.

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.

368 change “Jurassic Cafe on the Lower Lot serves Costa Rican–inspired entrées like chicken adobo and empanadas” to  “Jurassic Cafe on the Lower Lot serves barbecued ribs, burgers, smoked brisket, and ‘raptor’ legs”

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