Happy Friday, everyone! We made it to the end of yet another busy week around the Disney theme parks. It was a jam-packed week all around, but especially at Disneyland Resort.
Both Walt Disney World and Disneyland saw temporary attraction closures this week, with one being a noteworthy end to a long-running show in Magic Kingdom. Between that and all of the festivals and limited-time events kicking off this week and next week, there has been a lot to keep up with lately. 2024 is certainly off to an exciting start at the Disney theme parks!
Lunar New Year Begins at Disney California Adventure
It’s Lunar New Year time at Disneyland Resort! The annual month-long festival kicked off on January 23, running through February 18. 2024 marks the Year of the Dragon, so Disneyland is pulling all the stops to make this Lunar New Year festival one to remember.
Enjoy limited-time food and beverage items across California Adventure, Downtown Disney, and the hotels. Disney debuted a new design to its Sip and Savor Pass, which allows you to pre-purchase six “entitlements” to redeem for food and nonalcoholic beverages. Instead of the tear-away tabs, everything is scannable – just scan your pass when redeeming! In addition to food, the festival is filled with entertainment, activities, and merchandise.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL DINING GUIDE TO THIS YEAR’S LUNAR NEW YEAR
Disneyland After Dark Kicks Off 2024 Lineup With First Sweethearts’ Nite
Apparently there is no rest for the weary at Disneyland this week. Following the start of Lunar New Year was the debut of this year’s lineup of Disneyland After Dark events. These after-hour soirees, taking place at Disneyland Park, take place on select nights through June. The first themed event this year is Sweethearts’ Nite, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
The first two Sweethearts’ Nites took place this week. The full lineup of dates for 2024 are January 23, 25, 30; February 1, 6, 8, 12, and 14. Sweethearts’ Nite is filled with unique character meet-and-greets, exclusive snacks, photo ops, and more. After the conclusion of Sweethearts’ Nite, Disneyland fans are looking forward to the remaining lineup of Disneyland After Dark events: Disney Channel Nite in March, Star Wars Nite in April and May, and Pride Nite in June.
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT DISNEYLAND’S FULL LINEUP OF FESTIVALS AND SEASONAL EVENTS IN 2024.
Country Bear Jamboree Plays Its Final Performance
The big event of the week at Walt Disney World is the closure of Country Bear Jamboree. The long-running attraction plays its final performance on January 26, after which it will close for several months as it transforms into its new version: Country Bear Musical Jamboree.
Opening this summer, Country Bear Musical Jamboree will feature the same cast of bears. Last year at Destination D23, it was announced that “the bears will reinterpret their favorite Disney songs in different genres of country music.”
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT HOW A DISNEY WORLD VACATION WILL LOOK DIFFERENT IN 2024
Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion is Closed For Extended Outdoor Refurbishment
If you’re heading to Disneyland Resort this year, you’ll want to be prepared to plan your park days without Haunted Mansion. The classic dark ride concluded its annual run of Haunted Mansion Holiday earlier this week, with the O.G. version not returning for an undetermined amount of time.
That is because construction has begun on the exterior of the ride, with a newly re-imagined outdoor queue set to debut when work is complete. Not only that, but a new retail shop near the attraction’s exit will be built, and some internal work will be done to construct a new elevator exit for the ride. At this time, Disneyland has not said when the work will be complete, but it is estimated that it will go on for several months.
CLICK HERE TO START PLANNING YOUR 2024 DISNEYLAND VACATION.
Pirates of the Caribbean Added to Genie+ at Disneyland
If you’re familiar with the layout of Disneyland Park, then you’re probably well aware of how prone New Orleans Square is to bottleneck. And with construction walls surrounding Haunted Mansion and its outdoor queue, there may be additional strain on the area this year. In order to accommodate the foot traffic, Pirates of the Caribbean has been temporarily added to Genie+.
With Genie+, guests must now purchase the digital service in order to book a return time to use Pirates of the Caribbean’s expedited queue – a new feature for a ride that hasn’t had one up until now. Fans are skeptical as to how “temporary” this arrangement will wind up being, but only time will tell.
CLICK HERE FOR THE ULTIMATE DISNEY PACKING LIST (WITH A FREE PDF)
Downtown Disney Concept Art and Opening Timeline Revealed
There are a lot of exciting developments happening around Downtown Disney. The dining and shopping district has been undergoing an extensive re-imagining, with new restaurants on the way.
Concept art was revealed this week for Parkside Market, which will be home to four unique dining destinations: Seoul Sister, Sip and Sonder, GG’s Chicken Shop, and a second-story bar.
Later this spring, the center of Downtown Disney — previously home to UVA Bar and Catal – will welcome a trio of restaurants: Paseo, Céntrico, and a newly-announced Tiendita. All three will feature menus by Michelin-starred Chef Carlos Gaytán and are scheduled to arrive at Downtown Disney later this spring.
In addition, Downtown Disney is preparing to welcome even more restaurants, including Southern California chain Porto’s (Side Note: I LOVED Porto’s when I lived in California. I cannot wait for their Potato Balls to be on Disneyland property), world-renowned Chinese restaurant Din Tai Fung, and a brand-new two-story home for Earl of Sandwich.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL VALENTINE’S DAY DINING GUIDE AT DISNEY WORLD AND DISNEYLAND.
Foodie Guide Released For Celebrate Soulfully
With February right around the corner, Disney unveiled its full Foodie Guide for Celebrate Soulfully, the month-long culinary celebration in conjunction with Black History Month. Guests at Disney World and Disneyland can find limited-time food and beverage items around the parks and resorts, ranging from sweet treats to full meals.
Everyone was a-buzz when this particular Foodie Guide came out because it was revealed that beignets will be available in Magic Kingdom during Celebrate Soulfully. Specifically, guests can order Tiana’s Famous Beignets at Golden Oak Outpost in Frontierland. It’s a plate of light, sweet, and fluffy beignets served with a strawberry dipping sauce. Most of the Celebrate Soulfully selections will be available from February 1 through 29.
