When you think of Disney, what comes to mind? The castle? The resorts? Space Mountain? The princesses? The list could go on and on… There are so many icons, but do you really know the story behind them?

We recently put a poll up on our Instagram stories and asked you if you knew the story behind one of Disneyland’s famous park icons, and 60% of you didn’t! So, let’s dive into the secret behind Snow White Grotto in Disneyland!

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the film that really paved the way for the future of Disney films, as it was the first full-length animated feature film — it was a groundbreaking moment for the company. Rightfully so, it deserved a spot in Walt Disney’s debut park — Disneyland Park in California. Snow White Grotto is located on the hillside near Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland, and we’re here to talk about the story of this iconic spot.

In 1961 — six years after Disneyland opened — Walt Disney received a gift from an anonymous fan sent from Italy with no return address. The gift arrived at the Disney Studios in eight wooden crates, and inside were beautifully detailed statues of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, all carved out of pure-white Carrara marble.

The only problem with these figures was that Snow White was the same size as the dwarfs! Nonetheless, Walt Disney still wanted to display them somewhere in Disneyland, so he assigned the project to one of his most trusted and respected designers, John Hench. Hench knew there would be a design problem since all of the figures were the same size, but Walt simply told him to “figure it out.”

Hench went into some brainstorming, and he figured out that if he could stage the statues vertically and arrange them on a slope with Snow White on top, then he could solve the scale problem by using forced perspective, and that’s exactly what he did. The next step? Finding a place to put it. He found a landscaped hillside right next to Sleeping Beauty Castle that would work. He would place Snow White and an undersized deer sculpture at the top of the hill and put the dwarfs more toward the bottom.

Hench designed a waterfall that began at Snow White’s feet to be small at the top and grow wider as it descended the hill. He explained that the water increased the volume of flow the way down to create that forced-perspective effect. Overall, Walt loved this idea with the exception of one thing: People would be inclined to throw money into the waterfall. The solution? Build a wishing well next to the attraction!

Proceeds from the wishing well are donated to local children’s charities, like Make-A-Wish and Give Kids The World. The spot remains a popular photo spot, especially great for proposals, family photos, graduation pictures, and more!

The Snow White Grotto has been replicated at Tokyo Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland, so if you want to see it somewhere other than Disneyland Park, you can also visit one of the international parks. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney park deep dives!

The Disneyland Expansion Is Just Getting Started. Here’s What Might Come Next…

Did you know the history of Snow White Grotto? Let us know in the comments below!

If you run into this dining problem at Disneyland, don’t worry — you’re not alone.

Disneyland dining should be straightforward — in theory. Yet, during a recent visit, we encountered a problem that’ll surely blindside non-Disney experts and tourists alike. Let’s talk about it.

During our visit, we were on the hunt for a rare DOLE Whip dessert that had gone viral when Disney posted it online. Simple enough, right?

However, when we were verifying our order, we noticed that the treat wasn’t advertised in person, nor was it shown on the Disneyland app via mobile order.

Later that day, we went to review a seasonal dessert at Naples Ristorante and noticed that it wasn’t on the official online menu, nor the menu in person. Fortunately, there was a little table advertisement that did highlight it, but it’s still worth noting in case you didn’t know about the treat beforehand.

This highlighted an obvious dining pitfall: Not all Disneyland offerings will be obvious to the average guest.

This problem usually plagues seasonal items — which wouldn’t be as much of an issue if Disneyland really didn’t embrace seasonal items. But it does, and so if you don’t know where to look, you could EASILY miss out on some pretty incredible exclusive treats.

Ultimately, Disneyland has lots of secrets that you need to know before your trip in order to unlock the full potential of your stay.

Keeping up with the trends is a tough task. It requires knowing where to look and who to talk to. Luckily for you, we’re pros at that, and we’ve taken it upon ourselves to know every little bit of what’s going on at Disneyland — from the latest ride construction updates to where you can find rare drinks. When we say we keep up with everything, we mean everything.

10 Weeks When Disneyland Will Be Empty in 2027

If you want to stay in the loop without having to track down all the little details, make sure you check out our newsletter! We want to make sure you don’t miss out on all the special secret offerings at the Disneyland Resort, and this newsletter goes a long way in helping you get the best value out of your trip. When it comes to all the latest intel on Disneyland and ALL of the Disney theme parks around the world, we’ve got you covered!

Have you encountered this problem at Disneyland? Share your experiences in the comments below!

Disney recently came out with a massive souvenir collection featuring the Disneyland or Walt Disney World logos on dozens of items, so you can always rep your home park.

Disney’s logo lineup is expanding to have five brand-new colors for every item at both Disneyland and Disney World! This new collection is massive, so here’s EVERYTHING included so you’ll know exactly what to buy before it sells out at rope drop!

This beige “Storybook Soft Serve” color inspired by vanilla soft serve will be added to the Disney World and Disneyland merch lineup, featuring this tote bag…

…micro tote bag…

…and water bottle!

Disney is also bringing this new “Main Street, U.S.A.” red color to the lineup, featuring this water bottle…

And these tote bags and micro tote bags!

This new “Last Day of Trip Blues” is for the Disney fans already thinking about their next trip while on vacation. This round includes a water bottle…

…ear headband…

…fanny pack…

…sweatshirt and backpack…

… and a Mickey Mouse plush!

The “Tiki Tiki Tiki Room” collection features a natural Adventureland-inspired green and includes a sweatshirt, backpack, ear headband, tote bag, micro tote bag, water bottle, necklace, mug, and a Mickey Mouse plush.

The “Fantasyland Feels” collection is for fans who love twirling in whimsical teacups. This includes a water bottle, sweatshirt, Mickey Mouse plush, tote bag, micro tote bag, ear headband, and a candle!

These new merch collections will release at both Disneyland and Disney World on November 1st, 2026. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on more Disney World souvenirs as they’re announced. Stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for more Disney World news!

People Will Seriously Judge You If You Bring These 2 Things to Disney World

What do you think of this new merch collection? Comment below! 

A lot of Disney fans aren’t gonna be happy about this…

The Disneyland Resort is no stranger to construction and refurbishment projects. Over at Disneyland Park, the rides are generally well-maintained, but they sometimes need lengthy refurbishments to ensure everything runs properly. Those refurbishment projects sometimes include some of the park’s most popular attractions — one of which might be closed well into the fall.

Per the Disneyland closure calendar, the Indiana Jones Adventure thrill ride will close on September 8th, 2026, for refurbishment — and no reopening date has been announced as of this writing.

Indiana Jones Adventure is no stranger to closures. This ride is among the pantheon of best Disney Parks attractions thanks in part to its innovative ride system, exciting audio-animatronics, and immersive special effects. However, because the ride is technically complicated, it does often run into issues.

Daily stalls are common, and Disney must work extra hard to ensure the ride is at least operating in B-mode. The attraction itself features pyrotechnics, literal moving rooms, and a rolling boulder that is on a path to crushing jeeps. It’s really amazing when it works — but routine refurbishments are required to ensure that happens.

Currently, the Disneyland schedule shows the ride closed through October 15th — which is as far out as the calendar goes when this was written.

Essentially, that means the ride’s reopening date isn’t ready to be revealed. It could be closed throughout October, or open on short notice at any moment. This is not uncommon for Disneyland’s bigger refurbishment projects, but they usually give a few days’ notice, so we can let you know that specific reopening date as soon as it’s announced.

Looking to keep up with all the most recent Disneyland Resort news before your upcoming visit? Check out our posts below!

The refurbishment schedule changes all the time, so make sure you keep it posted right here at DFB for all the latest updates!

I’ve Been Going to Disneyland for 30 Years and I Finally Went to Oogie Boogie Bash. These 3 Things Shocked Me the Most.

How will this ride closure affect your next Disneyland trip? Let us know in the comments!

Disneyland offers so many amazing perks to Magic Key Holders, but unfortunately, some things are so limited-edition that not everyone who wants them can take advantage.

Disney released some Magic Key Holder-exclusive swag a few months ago, and in case you missed the first drop, Disney is rereleasing it – but there’s a catch! They’re available for only eight days this month!

Magic Key Holders will have another chance to pick up both the Disney California Adventure Park Billboard Magnet Set and Magic Key License Plate Frame on select dates from September 14th through September 26th, 2026, with each item available during its own pickup window, while supplies last.

You can get the Disney California Adventure Park Billboard Magnet Set at the Hyperion Theater Courtyard in Disney California Adventure from 2 PM to 8 PM on the following dates:

• Monday, September 14th
• Wednesday, September 16th
• Friday, September 18th
• Saturday, September 19th

And you can grab the Magic Key License Plate Frame at the Hyperion Theater Courtyard in Disney California Adventure from 2 PM to 8 PM on the following dates:

• Monday, September 21st
• Wednesday, September 23rd
• Friday, September 25th
• Saturday, September 26th

To get the exclusive swag, you’ll need a Disneyland or Disney California Adventure park reservation and can join the virtual queue in the Disneyland app at noon. You’ll receive a push notification when your boarding group is called with a designated return window to check in at the Hyperion Theater Courtyard.

We’ll be sure to keep you updated on more Magic Key Holder perks. Stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for more Disneyland news!

Do You Qualify For These NEW Magic Key Perks and Discounts?

Which Magic Key Holder extra are you most excited to get your hands on? Comment below!

One thing remains constant: Disney likes to take its sweet time with its theme park projects.

We’ve been visiting the Disneyland Resort each week and tracking the progress of the expansion happening over at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure! This project will double the size of the land and will introduce two NEW rides — and construction has been well underway all year. While progress has been apparent, it seems there’s still A TON of work to be done.

Expansion plans were initially announced at 2024’s D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, and the land was once again talked about two years later at this year’s D23 expo in Anaheim.

During the Disney Experiences Showcase, it was revealed that the expansion will be completed in 2028 — FOUR YEARS after its initial reveal. That has us scratching our heads a little…

The land itself opened in 2021, and construction on the expansion project really began in early 2025. Over a year later, the work being done has been obvious, and it’s already looking fairly far along.

That got us thinking that — ideally — the land might be ready by late 2027. HOWEVER, the reveal of a 2028 opening date (only the year was announced, and not an official date or seasonal timeline) tells us that we were being overly optimistic. While it seems that progress is moving at a good pace, it’s not nearly close to being done.

So far, we know the land will have two new attractions — the bigger being Avengers Infinity Defense. This new ride will take you on an adventure through the multiverse as you join the Avengers to take on King Thanos (a version of Thanos that won). According to Disney, “Technology that allows the Avengers to jump between worlds has gone missing, and King Thanos is using it to wreak havoc everywhere. Recruits will travel to iconic locations like Asgard, Wakanda, and New York City alongside the likes of big and small heroes… You also just might find yourself face-to-face with King Thanos, too.”

Disney teased the use of both massive practical set pieces and screen-based mechanics, as well as the ride vehicles — giving us the idea that this ride will function similarly to the Transformers and Spider-Man rides at the Universal theme parks.

We also know the ride will feature several known Avengers and their movie actors — including Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man.

This is supposed to be the big e-ticket attraction the land has promised since it opened back in 2021. So far, that title is still held by Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT.

Adjacent to the ride will be Stark Flight Lab. This ride will take you on a simulated flight journey so you can feel what it’s like to be Iron Man.

You’ll be seated in a two-person “gyro-kinetic pod” that will roll along a track and then connect to a robot arm that will sling you around.

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Again, this will feature Downey Jr. as Iron Man — as well as other cameos, like Brie Larson as Captain Marvel and Anthony Mackie as the Falcon!

This will be a ride that isn’t so friendly for folks prone to motion sickness, so you’ll want to keep that in mind.

We’re disappointed that the wait for these new rides is longer than expected, but you can trust us to bring you all the latest developments over the coming years! Follow us at the Disney Food Blog for more!

CONFIRMED: Disney Drops 19 Park Expansion Announcements

Do you think this expansion will be worth the wait? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

When it comes to Disney souvenirs, food and beverage-related novelties like popcorn buckets, sippers, and the like have become some of the most in-demand keepsakes at the company’s resorts.

In early September, not one but two new novelty items dropped at the Disneyland Resort, just in time for the start of fall celebration season!

Let’s begin with the Coco Lantern Sipper!

The new sipper is designed to resemble a multi-colored lantern featuring Miguel, Mama Coco, Héctor Rivera, and Dante the dog, each of which spins, and the center carousel lights up in three glow patterns: slow pulse, quick pulse, and constant glow. The color explosion continues with a yellow straw and a vibrant lanyard. This $30.99 sipper includes a Coca-Cola bottled beverage at the time of purchase.

This sipper is limited to two per person, per transaction, and no discounts can be applied. It can be found at Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante & Ship to Shore Marketplace at Disneyland Park, and at Paradise Garden Grill at Disney California Adventure Park.

Height Requirement REVEALED For Disneyland’s ‘Coco’ Ride

Next, we have the Hades Glow Cube

This near full-body glow-cube captures the look of the Hercules antagonist perfectly. It costs $11.69 and includes a choice of a fountain beverage at the time of purchase. The Hades glow cube is available at select locations in Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure

Disneyland Park

• Galactic Grill
• Harbour Galley
• Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree
• Jolly Holiday Bakery
• Mint Julep Bar
• Red Rose Taverne
• Refreshment Corner
• Stage Door Café
• The Golden Horseshoe
• Troubadour Tavern

Disney California Adventure

• Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta
• Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream
• Paradise Garden Grill
• Studio Catering Co.

Two NEW novelties celebrating Día de los Muertos and Halloween, respectively, just debuted at the “Happiest Place on Earth”! Stay tuned to DFB for more on Disneyland’s latest offerings!

REVIEW: Wait! Did We Love ALL 11 Of These Disneyland Halloween Treats?

Which of these novelties is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.

The 2026 D23 Ultimate Fan Event was chock-full of major Disney theme park announcements, ranging from details on major projects and prospective opening timelines to shock teaser announcements that fans have waited years for. One of those teasers was for the long-awaited redo of Disneyland’s Tomorrowland, which has long been afflicted by the “Tomorrowland Problem” of a futuristic land quickly becoming outdated. 

However, while that announcement was predictably well received, there was little detail on what the new Tomorrowland will specifically entail, and how much is changing. That’s gotten us wondering just how many of Tomorrowland’s older rides, attractions, and structures are going to survive into Disney’s latest take on the future.

Space Mountain

Let’s begin with the biggest ride on our list, both in size and legacy: Space Mountain. While it may seem unimaginable, there has been a stream of rumors that Space Mountain may be replaced. Some point to a version of TRON: Lightcycle/Run coming to the West Coast…

… while others think that the mountain could be rebuilt like the upcoming Space Mountain: Earthrise that’s coming to Tokyo Disneyland (and maybe Magic Kingdom one day as well, but that’s for a separate rumor deep dive).

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However, we’re not sure how much stock to put in the idea of Space Mountain being fully replaced, unless the Tomorrowland project is a full teardown of the land. That said, it wouldn’t be surprising if a TLC refurbishment project was in the cards.

Star Tours

Speaking of groundbreaking attractions, let’s move over to Star Tours: The Adventure Continues. While a simulator experience set in a galaxy far, far away has been a Tomorrowland staple for 40 years, the reality is that having a Star Wars-themed ride in the land seems a bit redundant with Galaxy’s Edge on the other side of the park. Plus, the version of Star Tours currently operating is the early 2010s Adventure Continues version, which doesn’t elicit the same nostalgia.

It’s hard to say that removing Star Tours is “likely,” but it may be tempting for Disney given the large plot of land that the ride’s show building (which was once home to Adventure Thru Inner Space) takes up.

Autopia

Perhaps no existing Tomorrowland attraction was thrown into flux by the D23 announcement more than Autopia. The ride is scheduled to replace its fleet of gas-powered vehicles by February 1st of next year. Is that still happening? Has it been canceled and the ride condemned to closure, or will the electric Autopia be the first element of the New Tomorrowland?

Tomorrowland Theater

Over the years, the space currently known as the Tomorrowland Theater has gone by several names — including the Magic Eye Theater — and incarnations while serving as the home of Magic Journeys, Captain EO, and Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. These days, the theater is only sporadically used for showings of things like the Pixar Short Film Festival, making it, perhaps, a prime candidate to be demolished for some of the “open spaces” Disney promised for the new Tomorrowland.

Tomorrowland Expo Center

Similar to the theater, the space currently known as the Tomorrowland Expo Center was once a hub of the land. The once-rotating building has hosted the Carousel of Progress, America Sings, Innoventions, and Star Wars: Launch Bay over the years. However, its current barely used state likely makes it a target for removal during a refurbishment.

It remains to be seen how many, if any, of these rides, attractions, and structures are lost during the upcoming Disneyland Tomorrowland refurbishment. Stay tuned to DFB as more information is released on the project.

Disney Fans Are Sharing the Park “Myths” They Believed for Way Too Long, and My Mind Is Blown

What do you hope the Tomorrowland project entails? Let us know in the comments below.

Even after all this time, the Disneyland Resort continues to find ways to surprise me.

I’ve been going to Disneyland for 30 years — yes, THIRTY YEARS — but that doesn’t mean I’ve explored every nook and cranny. In fact, I just attended my very FIRST Oogie Boogie Bash this year! I know. I know. If you’re a Disneyland regular, you’re probably wondering how I managed to avoid one of the biggest Halloween events at the Disneyland Resort for THIS long. Well, I reckoned it was time to finally experience this huge Disney California Adventure party, and I went in with pretty reasonable expectations. Suffice it to say, I walked away with some shocking discoveries.

I figured there would be Halloween decorations, some characters, candy, special entertainment, and maybe a few shorter ride waits. What I wasn’t expecting was just how much I would feel both during and after the event. After finally experiencing Oogie Boogie Bash for myself, there are three things that genuinely shocked me.

1. The Value Is WAY Better Than I Expected

Let’s get one thing out of the way first: Oogie Boogie Bash tickets are not cheap. Tickets range between $139 and $199 per person, and they don’t include all-day access or park-hopping capabilities. But when you actually look at what you’re getting, the value is surprisingly good.

The ticket price can be comparable to what you might pay for a regular one-day, one-park Disneyland ticket. But Oogie Boogie Bash gives you something that a normal park day doesn’t necessarily provide: a significantly different experience with a much emptier-feeling Disney California Adventure.

And you get more time than you’d initially think! The party officially gets going in the evening at 6 PM, but guests can enter Disney California Adventure as early as 3 PM. The party doesn’t end until 11 PM — so that gives you a whopping eight hours in DCA.

And during the party itself, you have access to experiences and offerings that you simply aren’t going to get on a normal day. There are shorter waits for many attractions, tons of characters, Halloween entertainment, themed areas, special treats, and — perhaps most importantly — candy. Lots and lots of candy.

Yes, you are essentially paying Disney to let you walk around California Adventure collecting candy. And honestly? It’s worth it. My bag alone still isn’t empty, and I walked away with A BUCNH of goodies. Still, the biggest thing for me was how much more manageable the park felt. You aren’t trying to cram all of this into a normal, packed Disney day while it’s 90 degrees out. The event gives you a different rhythm.

The flexibility offered is unique to this event, and I wasn’t quite ready for it.

2. The Atmosphere Is WAY More Immersive Than I Expected

I expected Oogie Boogie Bash to look like Halloween, and I was ready for the cuteness and Disney showmanship, but I didn’t necessarily expect it to feel like Halloween. Events like Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights can really embrace the holiday — no holds barred because it caters to an older audience. Disney still has to be family-friendly, and it was, but there was a bit more theming that toed the line of being very spooky that really impressed me.

Once the party gets going, the atmosphere becomes a huge part of the experience. Disney creates different themed areas throughout the park, and some of them are surprisingly elaborate. Villains Grove is probably the most obvious example.

This isn’t just “Hey, there are some Halloween decorations over here.” It feels like you’ve stepped into a completely different environment. There are lights, sounds, projections, effects, music, and an overall atmosphere that makes you slow down and actually take in your surroundings.

And then there are the characters. They are EVERYWHERE. There are so many opportunities to see characters throughout the event that it can start to feel like you’re constantly choosing between things you want to do.

I’m personally not much of a character fanatic, but I still enjoyed them nevertheless! You get to see a bunch of villains with this event, and those characters can often be sassy, extra-creative, and quite funny.

With that said, if your priority is character interactions, get ready to wait in long lines. Those eight hours can fly by fast, and it’s easy to miss opportunities to ride attractions, grab snacks, check out a street show, or revisit a treat trail.

Let’s talk about the music for a minute. Disney goes HARD on the Halloween soundtrack. You’re going to hear a LOT of Halloween music during Oogie Boogie Bash — and it really does immerse you in this manufactured Halloween realm.

For the most part, this is pretty cool. HOWEVER, I’m not necessarily the biggest fan of every single Halloween song that Disney has chosen to blast throughout the park, and the songs do repeat over and over again. While there were some bops, I did get tired of some songs.

All in all, the music does make the event feel like an actual party rather than a normal day at Disney California Adventure with a Halloween overlay. That distinction surprised me.

3. There Really IS Something for Everyone

I typically budget my Disney days to regular park days, and my Magic Key annual pass rather than splurging on after-hours events, and my aversion to character meet-and-greets typically keeps me away from events that really focus on these kinds of experiences. But I was fairly surprised by how much fun I had.

Oogie Boogie Bash isn’t really one experience. It’s a bunch of different experiences happening at the same time — which means you can make the event whatever you want it to be.

Love characters? You can go all-in on character meet-and-greets and treat trails. Love candy? Congratulations. You have found your Olympics. Obsessed with rides? You can spend your night taking advantage of shorter wait times and enjoying attractions. Craving some exclusive eats? There are special Halloween treats and food offerings to hunt down. Ready to take in some spooky entertainment? There are special shows and entertainment throughout the event.

What you CAN’T do is everything. There is simply too much happening. If you try to experience every character meet-and-greet and every attraction, you’re probably going to spend the entire evening running around and wondering where your time went.

Instead, I think the trick is to figure out what YOUR thing is. But keep in mind — I think it’s totally possible to do a little bit of everything in eight hours. In my 30 years of visiting Disneyland, that’s not a sentence I was able to utter. I’ve experienced plenty of Halloween at the Disneyland Resort over the years. But Oogie Boogie Bash feels different because it gives you the opportunity to make your own version of the event. And honestly, I wish I’d tried it sooner.

So, if you’ve been putting off Oogie Boogie Bash because the ticket price seems high or because you’re wondering whether there’s enough to actually do, I’d say it’s worth taking another look. We’ve covered the event thoroughly so you can know what you’re getting into and plan before your visit (game-planning certainly helped me!).

FULL Guide to Oogie Boogie Bash Treat Trails

Do you plan on hitting up Oogie Boogie Bash this year? Let us know in the comments!

As we continue deeper into the 21st Century, it’s not hyperbole to suggest that the Disney Parks have reached their most important crossroads of the last 20-plus years. Coming out of a pandemic that shut the theme park industry — and the world — down temporarily, life has moved back into a familiar rhythm that includes elevated theme park expectations. Disney has attempted to answer the call with new offerings and innovations, and we’re on the precipice of its biggest stateside undertaking since the 1990s.

Over the last several years, The Walt Disney Company has made strides to elevate its parks worldwide, with the most recent advances coming in the highly touted Fantasy Springs expansion at Tokyo DisneySea. Stateside, we’ve seen the additions of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure, new attractions, lodging options, shows, and more. However, Disney is in the midst of what could be its biggest domestic undertaking since it opened Disney California Adventure in 2001, and there are plenty of questions that need to be answered.

The undertaking, of course, is DisneylandForward. This nearly $2 BILLION development investment was approved back in May 2024 and will be a major priority for The Walt Disney Company over the next decade. Before we examine the immediate impact of the plan, it’s important to lay out the specifics.

Initially proposed in 2021, the DisneylandForward project is a partnership with the City of Anaheim, where specific parts of the Disneyland Resort property would be re-zoned for expansion that would allow new lands, attractions, lodging, dining options, and experiences. In this proposal, Disney wants to reassign specific zones already being allocated for parking lots, hotels, etc., for new projects.

To put it simply: DisneylandForward is a multi-decade-long, multi-billion-dollar plan that gives Disney flexibility to do what it wants with the Disneyland Resort.

Mickey and Goofy in Disneyland!

When looking at the Disney Parks through the lens of historical context, Disneyland has been one of the most restricted Disney resorts in the world. When Walt Disney opened the theme park in 1955, he already understood that expansion was necessary, but would be limited due to the residential and metropolitan area surrounding his resort. This led to his desire to open Disney World in Florida — a resort that not only dwarfs Disneyland, but is the size of San Francisco.

©Disney

By pulling on older plans from the 1990s and presenting a case that passed unanimously by the Anaheim City Council, Disney is now on track to add a “mix of theme park, hotel, retail, dining and entertainment on the eastern and western edges of the Disneyland resort.”

The current “DisneylandForward conceptual development plan stays within Disney’s existing 500-acre property in Anaheim with no physical expansion or additional acreage,” and according to the Orange County Register, Anaheim spokesman Mike Lyster explained that development could include things like entertainment and lodging in the same space.

©Disney

While Disneyland plans to use the $1.9 billion investment towards expanding lodging, retail, parking, dining, and theme park entertainment over the next decade, the now-approved plan is ultimately in effect for 40 years as the resort transforms into a unified entertainment center.

With teases such as new hotels, hotel lands inspired by Avatar, Coco, Black Panther, Tangled, Frozen, Zootopia, Peter Pan, Tron, and/or Toy Story, and new transportation, the future of the Disneyland Resort is intriguing, to say the least.

Avatar land at Disneyland ©Disney

In fact, over the past couple of years — including the previous TWO D23 fan events, Disney has revealed details of BIG expansions/projects coming to both parks.

For starters, Avengers Campus is doubling in size to include two new attractions — Avengers: Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab.

Avengers Campus ©Disney

Avengers: Infinity Defense will have riders join the Avengers in an epic battle against Thanos. The ride will feature familiar Marvel characters and will even feature Robert Downey Jr. reprising his role as Iron Man. It will be set between different worlds with settings including Wakanda, Asgard, and New York.

Avengers: Infinity Defense ©Disney

Stark Flight Lab will also feature the return of Downey Jr. and will let you fly like Iron Man, sporting a robotic arm that attaches to your vehicle for a more dynamic simulated flight.

©Disney

The total expansion is now OFFICIALLY slated to be completed by 2028.

©Disney

Disney also announced a new Coco boat ride coming to the Pixar Pier area! Occupying a new space that will also expand the park’s footprint, this boat ride looks like it will go in the area south of Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta and behind Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind.

©Disney

When Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro announced the new attraction in August 2024, he shared that “Walt Disney Imagineering will draw inspiration for the attraction from beloved classics, like Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. We’re bringing our skeletal cast of characters to life in a big way through the latest Audio-Animatronics technology. These figures will appear in ways you’ll have to see to believe.”

©Disney

At 2026’s D3, it was revealed that riders will enter the attraction via a museum dedicated to the music of Héctor Rivera. Once onboard the boat, they’ll travel through Miguel’s memories of his time in the land of the dead

©Disney

We also learned that this ride will have NO height requirement. Like the Avengers expansion, construction on this project has already begun.

©Disney

Back in 2024, Disney also revealed a new Avatar land coming to Disney California Adventure!

©Disney

Based on the Avatar sequels and different from Pandora — The World of AVATAR located in Disney World’s Animal Kingdom, this new destination will feature an innovative boat ride that’ll let passengers explore new areas of Pandora in a “thrilling excursion that will bring all the action, excitement, and wonder of Avatar, taking guests all the way to the wide-open seas of Pandora.” Disney further stated that “This is going to be a dynamic, intense and emotional experience on a grand scale that we know our guests will love.”

©Disney

Taking over a portion of the current Hollywood Backlot area in Disney California Adventure, this new land may still expand the park, but it will also mean the closure of existing dining options, attractions, and shops.

©Disney

We got sme more concept art regarding the ride and the land at 2026 D23, but news on the experience was omitted from the showcases. However, via a model on display, it does appear the ride will have an outdoor section. It also gives a glimpse of how the Disneyland Monorail will function alongside the land.

Avatar Expansion Model at D23 2026

To make way for this new experience, Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! will close at some point in 2027. It was initially supposed to close in early 2026, but those plans were delayed at least one year.

Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!

The most recent project announcement happened at the very end of the Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase at 2026 D23. It was revealed that Tomorrowland in Disneyland Park will be getting a much-needed retouching/reimaging!

Disneyland’s Tomorrowland!

This updated Tomorrowland will honor the original land’s history “while reimagining its future.” You can expect staples like Space Mountain to remain, but Disney did tease “new experiences and possibilities for the next generation of fans.”

One thing that was emphasized was more open space — something Disneyland Park could definitely use more of. Other than that, specifics — including a timeline — were not announced.

©Disney

While maybe not as sexy on the surface, it’s also worth noting that Disneyland has now moved forward with a new parking structure and transportation hub on the east side of the resort. Part of the Manchester Cast Member parking will be used to provide around 6,000 parking spaces for guests, as well as a location for shuttle and rideshare services, additional security screening, and dedicated access for traffic off Disney Way. There also seems to be a pedestrian bridge over Harbor Boulevard on the way. Disney has already started demolition of the ticket booths as this project gets underway.

©Disney

Here at the DisneyFoodBlog, we’ve had reporters cover DisneylandForward’s progress since its announcement. We viewed Anaheim City Council meetings, took notes during official Disney pitches, met with city and Disney representatives in person, and spoke with Imagineers at the fan expos and other events — and it’s clear that a lot more is still in the works.

While these announced projects are at the top of the priority list early in these expansion plans, what comes next is anyone’s guess. In fact, it’s possible we see several more projects announced before the Avatar expansion is even installed — given it already seems like it’s on the back burner. We’ll just have to wait and see…

DisneylandForward Parking Concept Art ©Disney

It’s fun to think about a brand-new Disneyland Resort that cements it as the crown jewel of the theme park experience.

Alas, the reality of development is sobering — massive change is not going to happen overnight. Each blue sky idea will likely require years of R&D and construction, and the likelihood of simultaneous development is probable. Issues are going to pop up before the first parking lot or dark ride ever opens.

In an effort to analyze how initial construction and overall development will influence the economics and tourism experience of the Disneyland Resort, we looked at the history of Disneyland expansion, considered modern examples from other expanding Disney Parks, and spoke to experts.

Disneyland

When considering the ramifications of the major Disneyland expansion, the year 2001 is an important footnote. It was in 2001 when the resort opened the Downtown Disney District and Disney California Adventure. While expansions like Galaxy’s Edge have transformed Disneyland since then, these two MAJOR Disneyland additions have yet to be rivaled at the Anaheim theme park resort.

So let’s begin our contextual study of what DisneylandForward could look like in the early years based on the transformations and reception of Downtown Disney and California Adventure.

Downtown Disney

Occupying 20 acres, this mall-like shopping and dining district occupies 300,000 square feet and connects Disney’s theme parks to the resort’s hotels. Still expanding and evolving to this day, Downtown Disney could reflect other retail and entertainment options coming to the resort in the future.

Downtown Disney could also serve as a warning. For the most part, the outdoor entertainment/retail/dining center is warmly received by locals and tourists alike for its diverse offerings and California-vibe atmosphere. HOWEVER, a modern problem plagues the district that could potentially carry over to new plans.

Naples Ristorante E Bar

Disney is not shy about announcing blue sky ideas — plans that are so fresh they don’t have realistic limitations like budget or size. Downtown Disney is currently suffering the effects of the failed realization of blue sky ideas — particularly close to its two entrances near Pixar Place Hotel and the Disneyland Hotel.

Over here, you’ll find the small Star Wars Trading Post occupying what once was a booming Rainforest Cafe, in addition to the shell of a mega ESPN Zone that is now partially occupied by a Lululemon store. Similarly, an AMC Theaters cinema was also removed. 

The Lululemon store is open!

All three spots were removed in 2018 to make way for a 700-room luxury hotel that was ultimately canceled the same year. According to the Los Angeles Times, Disney canceled the project due to Anaheim’s “elimination of a tax rebate agreement that would have saved the media giant $267 million over 20 years.”

The fallout is still being felt, despite the district’s evolution in 2023 and 2024. While a city dispute seems less likely this go-around, wrenches can still be thrown in the mix, and failed development can remain a reminder of empty promises. Star Wars Trading Post is a nice little shop, but it is hardly a good use of the spacious (and “wildly” thematic) restaurant, while the ESPN Zone still has some wasted potential despite the Lululemon addition. The AMC theater’s plot was replaced by Parkside Market, a stage, a park area, new shops, and restaurants — and they have absolutely elevated the area. But it had to go through some rough years first.

Star Wars Trading Post

Disney California Expansion could provide another fascinating look at the pressures surrounding DisneylandForward. Debuting in February 2001, shortly after the opening of Downtown Disney, the 55-acre and $1.4 billion theme park is still the most ambitious expansion project in Disneyland Resort history.

The Orange County Register was there on day 1, reporting on the scene, and it’s astonishing how the pros and cons of the project are similar to this day.

“The Anaheim resort — featuring revamped roads, freeways and landscaping, the new 751-room Grand Californian Hotel and the glitzy Downtown Disney retail/entertainment strip — has been waiting years for this day,” wrote Bernard J. Wolfson of The Orange County Register back in 2001.

Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure

Opening day, according to Wolfson, was underwhelming both in experience and attendance. Regarding the latter, “city officials said a fear of delays and congestion nightmares might have caused the unusually light traffic on streets surrounding the Anaheim Resort.” Several Anaheim departments were preparing for a large volume of traffic that never arrived.

Ironically, traffic was a major concern among Anaheim locals during the city meetings we attended for DisneylandForward. Could worries be exaggerated? It’s impossible to say until DisneylandForward comes to fruition, but it’s worth noting that the first traffic scare came and went, becoming even less than an afterthought.

Disney California Adventure

As for reception, Disney California Adventure remains one of the most controversial Disney Parks on the planet. Back in 2001, Wolfson wrote, “The crowd’s response was mostly mixed, with some people loving it and others saying it wasn’t worth the $43 admission price. Small children seemed to like it, most nodding big yeses to questions about whether they enjoyed it.”

Disney California Adventure

First of all, can we take a second to acknowledge the $43 tickets?! Currently, an adult ticket for just one park STARTS at slightly above $100 and can really get up there in cost. Price-for-product debate still rages on among California Adventure parkgoers, as does ride offering (or lack thereof) controversy.

California Adventure has undergone tons of retheming, new draws such as Cars Land and Avengers Campus, and more to justify its existence. Without a doubt, from an offerings standpoint, it’s in a better position now than it was back in 2001. However, as it moves away from its original California theming towards a more IP-centric mindset, controversy has once again reared its ugly head.

Make sure to watch that traffic light!

Former Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed all future theme park projects will be IP-based, drawing mixed reactions, to say the least. As the once-original California Adventure moves away from the California aspect in favor of IPs like Pixar and Avatar, one has to wonder what kind of approval the new project will garner. That question becomes even more prevalent given that there’s a new CEO (Josh D’Amaro) in charge.

San Fransokyo Square

Approval was a major topic of conversation during our interview with Dr. Andi Stein, a California State University, Fullerton professor and former Graduate Program Coordinator in the CSUF Department of Communications. Dr. Stein is a respected voice when it comes to research on Walt Disney and The Walt Disney Company, as well as other topics related to entertainment and tourism. Having visited every Disney theme park in addition to her expertise, she provided valuable insight into what the advent of DisneylandForward could yield.

©California State University, Fullerton

When discussing challenges the Disneyland Resort has faced and will continue to face regarding expansion, Dr. Stein mentioned the local community’s resistance.  “We saw that with the idea of putting what eventually became Tokyo DisneySea in Long Beach (Calif.). There was going to be a park that focused on waterways of the world, and the original plan was to have that in Long Beach. The residents of Long Beach didn’t want that, so it ended up in Tokyo.” She also brought up that a West Coast version of EPCOT was supposed to make its way to Anaheim, but once again, locals stopped that until the idea eventually morphed into what is now Disney California Adventure.

As for DisneylandForward, Dr. Stein feels the expansion will face a similar challenge with locals and that it might be difficult to develop without creating “havoc” for people in the area. “Ultimately, it might be great for everybody, but in the meantime, it could be a mess.” She cited that the California Adventure and Downtown Disney projects could help provide a blueprint since this new project is facing similar challenges, but noted that it’ll still be difficult due to the simple fact that different people are involved nearly 25 years later.

Spaceship Earth at EPCOT

Focusing on the tourism side, Dr. Stein commended the Disney Parks for minimizing construction eyesores with the use of walls and strong hiding tactics. When asked if construction would dissuade tourists from visiting Disneyland, Dr. Stein said, “I think a lot of it depends on what they have to close in order to expand. People get upset when they’ve paid top dollar to go to the park, and half the rides aren’t open.”

Jungle Cruise construction

Dr. Stein suggested alternating closing the right attractions (making sure a good amount of E-Ticket attractions are always open) to appease fans, and really leaning into press and marketing could save tourism during the nitty-gritty early stages of development. She talked about how good Disney is at selling the magic of hyping up the future of the parks, and if they nail that aspect, the resort could be in good shape.

The Avengers Campus expansion seems to be the immediate play for Disney, but it’s worth monitoring all the new lands and attractions being installed at other Disney Parks all over the world, as they could be the blueprint for what’s coming to Disneyland soon.

World of Frozen at Disney Adventure World in Paris

All in all, we can only speculate based on what history has shown us and the little information Disney has revealed up to this point. We’ll continue to keep you in the loop with every Disneyland expansion update, so stay tuned right here at the Disney Food Blog for all the latest!

A Full List of New Theme Park Land Expansions Disney Is Planning

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Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

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Are you excited or nervous about Disneyland’s expansion? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

In 2021, Disneyland announced a new initiative to expand its theme parks and resort with the DisneylandForward initiative. Fast forward to now, in 2026, and we’re starting to see some of that expansion happening, with Avengers Campus getting two new rides, a new Coco ride in the works, and an entirely new Avatar land announced.

However, in order for those big expansions to work, Disneyland needs other changes, too, including a pedestrian bridge over Harbor Boulevard. Well, plans are already in place for that bridge, and according to The Orange County Register, work will begin this week with the demolition of four ticket booths.

Demolition work will begin this week, starting with the eastern ticket booths on the esplanade between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Permits have been filed to demolish the four ticket booths closest to Harbor Boulevard. Those permits list that the foundations will be removed and utilities capped at each of those booths.

Disney has plans for a new parking structure and transportation hub on the east side of the resort. Part of the Manchester Cast member parking lot will be used for part of that project, which will provide around 6,000 parking spaces, shuttle and rideshare services, additional security screening, and dedicated access for traffic off Disney Way. From concept art of the project, this transportation hub will also feature a pedestrian bridge over Harbor Boulevard. The ticket booths are being demolished ahead of constructing that pedestrian bridge.

The pedestrian bridge would span over the monorail with pedestrians passing between the Tropicana Inn and Camelot Inn hotels on Harbor Boulevard’s east side, connecting the existing Disney bus area to the Manchester employee parking lot, where the new Disneyland bus drop-off and pick-up area will be. The new parking garage and bridge are necessary steps as Disneyland builds new lands and attractions over the next five years as part of DisneylandForward.

We’ll keep an eye out for more Disneyland updates, so stay tuned to DFB for more.

Solving Riddles and Looking at Disneyland Maps? We’re Weirdly Invested in Disney’s New Digital Scavenger Hunt

Looking to plan the perfect trip to the Happiest Place on Earth in 2027?! Now is your chance!

Disney vacation packages and Disneyland Resort Hotel room reservations for 2027 will be available as of August 25th, 2026. If you haven’t already started thinking about your trip to Disneyland Resort next year, this is definitely the time to start — and we know exactly who can help you do it.

These packages will be valid for arrivals from January 1st through December 31st, 2027, and full details will be released tomorrow. Visits to Disneyland this fall and winter are already available to book, so if you’re trying to visit the parks sooner, go ahead and book your trip!

Next year is a great time to visit Disneyland, especially because Disney just announced that three beloved shows are returning in 2027!

“Remember…Dreams Come True”, “World of Color” and “Magic Happens” parade will all be returning to Disneyland next year!

“Remember…Dreams Come True” will light up Disneyland Park once again. This nighttime spectacular will return in February 2027. In addition to projections on Sleeping Beauty Castle, the show will feature new projections at Rivers of America, the facade of “it’s a small world,” and all the way down Main Street, U.S.A. On select nights, the show will also be enhanced with fireworks.

The original “World of Color” will return to Disney California Adventure Park in February 2027 with an updated take…

…and the “Magic Happens” Parade will return to Disneyland in summer 2027. The parade will feature “stunning floats, artistic costumes, and imaginative music.” We can’t wait to see all of these fan-favorite shows return to Disneyland next year!

If you’re looking for help booking your 2027 trip to Disneyland Resort, make sure you check out our friends over at Small World Vacations! They’re Disney travel agents who know their stuff, and they can help you plan your visit from start to finish — and even make sure you’re getting the best deals and discounts on your trip.

We’ll be on the lookout for even more Disneyland planning updates you need to know about and more. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and beyond!

Are you ready? Halloween is a BIG deal in Disneyland, like even bigger than in Disney World, and when it arrives, all the spookiness hits Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, and Downtown Disney in a HUGE way. And don’t even get us started on Oogie Boogie Bash, one of the BEST Disney Halloween parties.

It’s called Halloween Time, and Disneyland goes all out with decor, characters in Halloween outfits, special food and snacks, and so much more. Well, Halloween Time has officially kicked off in Disneyland, and we’re there getting spooky with it.

Halloween Time runs from August 21st through October 31st, and the first sign you’ll see of it is at the park entrances. The Disneyland entrance gets some fun character pumpkins on top of its gates.

Once you make your way into Disneyland, you’ll see a giant Mickey pumpkin that folks are probably standing in line for to get a photo with — it’s pretty epic.

Be sure to take some time to visit with characters — they’ve all dressed up just for the occasion! Check out Minnie’s sweet Halloween outfit!

Goofy is sporting his best Halloween gear, too!

You’ll also see other Halloween decor throughout the park.

Over in Frontierland, in front of the Golden Horseshoe, you’ll see the Halloween Tree, which is a tribute to legendary sci-fi author Ray Bradbury, who also just happened to be friends with Walt Disney.

In New Orleans Square, Haunted Mansion has been given a Nightmare Before Christmas overlay, turning it into Haunted Mansion Holiday. This overlay will last throughout the Halloween and holiday seasons.

Inside, you’ll see an impressive gingerbread house in the ballroom scene, and this year’s gingerbread house is a brand NEW design.

Disney California Adventure’s entrance gets an Oogie Boogie theme, and listen up, because you’ll HEAR Oogie Boogie speaking from time to time.

Meanwhile, Carthay Circle Restaurant has been infested by a cloud of “bats” overhead.

Be sure to stop and get a photo with the Headless Horseman statue on Buena Vista Street, too.

Cars Land becomes Radiator Screams (instead of Radiator Springs…get it?).

The land gets a ton of spooky decor, including some of your favorite Cars characters dressed in costumes. You’ll also be able to get a ride on Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree and Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween.

In the late afternoon each day, Guardians of the Galaxy closes briefly and then reopens as Guardians of the Galaxy — Monsters After Dark. Yep, the ride gets an all-new scary story and scenes.

Plaza de la Familia has also returned to California Adventure. This is a celebration of Día de los Muertos, and includes special entertainment, arts and crafts, special decor, and a memory wall where you can add your own memories.

Did we mention the food? There are HUNDREDS of Halloween menu snacks and drinks to bite into during Halloween Time. You can see the full list of Halloween and fall snacks in Disneyland here. Yes, there are A LOT.

Of course, we had to try one of these special treats, the Rest in Chocolate, which is available at Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlour for $12.79. It comes with Chocolate Cookie Crumbles, Gummy Worms, and a Chocolate Tombstone. First, you get a lot of snack for your money! It’s two HUGE scoops of ice cream (you choose the flavor), so it’s easily shareable. And let’s just say…it not only looks SWEET, but it tastes pretty nice, too. It’s got a very cookies and cream-inspired flavor that just about anyone is going to love.

Also, don’t miss out on Halloween shopping in both parks and Downtown Disney. You might just find that perfect spook-tacular souvenir. That includes clothing and a Halloween Mickey bubble wand…

…new Coco apparel…

…ears, bags, accessories…

…a SWEET Haunted Mansion Holiday varsity jacket…

…a Hatbox Ghost sling bag, and more!

Other places you can find Halloween in Disneyland include the Disneyland Hotel, which will have a Haunted Mansion decor theme this year, while Pixar Place Hotel is going with a Monsters, Inc. theme for the occasion. Meanwhile, at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, the culinary team has created a MONSTROUS creation to be admired in the hotel’s lobby. Be sure to visit the snack cart there, too, for some faBOOlous treats.

Don’t forget that character dining at the hotels is also getting fall and Halloween experiences. Storytellers Cafe hosts Mickey’s Autumn Adventures for breakfast and brunch, while Clarabelle’s Enchanted Halloween Dinner takes over for dinner. Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates Halloween will be available at Disneyland Hotel.

If you want a Halloween glow-up, visit the Disney stylists at Tenaya Stone Spa at the Grand Californian for a special Halloween look with hair, makeup, or nails. You can even indulge in the Wicked to the Core foot treatment.

Over in Downtown Disney, you can watch some of your favorite Disney Halloween movies (like Hocus Pocus) at The Downtown Disney LIVE! stage and lawn on select nights.

Also, be sure to play Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit, a scavenger hunt where you’re tasked to find character pumpkins hidden throughout Downtown Disney. All you have to do is buy a map at select stores, find the pumpkins, and turn them in for a cool prize. This year’s prize is your choice of these cute little character bags!

Like we said, Disneyland does NOT come to play when it comes to Halloween, and if you get a chance to visit for the spooky season, you should check it out.

We’ll continue to cover even more Disney news, so stay tuned to DFB for more.

This Is NOT A Drill! We Know All The Halloween Treats Coming To Disneyland

It’s officially Halloween season at Disneyland Resort, and that comes with quite a bit of excitement!

There are new snacks, new merchandise, and lots of exclusive entertainment options. But of course, one of the highlights of the season is a major ride overlay at Disneyland Park.

It’s official, folks — Haunted Mansion Holiday is BACK at Disneyland Park, and we are hyped! This ride overlay happens each year throughout the fall and winter, mainly the Halloween and Christmas seasons. Why so long? Because it’s themed to The Nightmare Before Christmas!

This ride gets incredibly popular during the overlay season, and the Lightning Lanes book up quickly. You may be looking at a long wait if you want to check it out. Of course, the overlay starts on the outside, so you’ll have some awesome decor to take in while you wait!

Throughout the ride, you‘ll spot characters from the film, including Jack Skellington, Sally, Zero, and Oogie Boogie. Wave hello to your friends!

They’ve also updated some of the ride gags and scenes to fit with the Nightmare Before Christmas motif. In terms of holiday ride overlays, this one is particularly impressive.

Of course, one of the most iconic parts of this overlay is the gingerbread display in the ballroom scene. Each year, there’s a new gingerbread creation, and they are MASSIVE. Check out this year’s version!

This overlay typically runs through early January before the ride closes to be turned back into the regular Haunted Mansion. If you want to check it out, you have a few months to stop by!

It’s important to note, too, that this isn’t the only Halloween ride overlay at Disneyland Resort. At Disney California Adventure, Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree and Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween come to life in Cars Land, and in the afternoons and evenings each day, you can ride Guardians of the Galaxy — Monsters After Dark.

We’ll keep you in the loop with any more Halloween and seasonal fun at Disneyland, so subscribe to our newsletter for the latest.

Here’s Your Guide to Halloween at Disneyland!

Are you going to check out this ride in 2026? Tell us in the comments!

Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disneyland Resort to attend their media preview of Halloweentime offerings. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ

We have to admit it…there are some really great restaurants in Downtown Disney, and a lot of them are still pretty new. We’ve found some of our favorite new places to eat with all the updates the shopping and dining district has made…and even MORE restaurants are still on the way.

Now, we were most excited about Gordon Ramsay at the Carnaby, which recently opened in Downtown Disney. Well, now there’s a NEW reason to get excited about this restaurant: it’s now serving lunch seven days a week!

That’s right, you can now have lunch at Downtown Disney’s newest restaurant from 11 A.M. to 3 P.M. AND here’s the most exciting part: the lunch menu features some brand NEW menu items. YES! The two new dishes are:

• The Idiot Sandwich (yes, Ramsay fans will immediately recognize the reference) — thrice-fried chicken breast, G.F.C. sauce and dill pickle on a brioche bun, served with choice of fries or salad

• The Prawn Cocktail Roll — layers of poached prawns with Marie Rose sauce, avocado purée, American caviar and malt vinegar crisps

Of course, you’ll also still be able to get many of the restaurant’s signature dishes, including Beef Wellington, Fish & Chips with fries, Cottage Pie, Bangers & Mash, The Carnaby Wagyu Burger, and Sticky Toffee Pudding. Yes, in case you didn’t notice, the restaurant has a very British theme and is inspired by London’s Carnaby Street during the 1960s.

“There is something particularly exciting about bringing The Carnaby’s music, color, and unmistakable sense of fun into the middle of the day,” said Robert Earl, Founder of Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby. “Lunch gives guests another way to make The Carnaby part of their Downtown Disney District experience, with new dishes that add a distinct daytime expression to the menu.”

We’ll keep an eye out for more Disney restaurant news, so stay tuned to DFB for more.

What Eating at 24 Disney Restaurants Taught Us Last Month

What do you think about this news? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Not EVERYTHING is worth paying for in Disneyland…

We’re gonna show you the BIGGEST money-wasters across the park – today on DFB Guide.

Check out our new video: 10 Things at Disneyland That Are a TOTAL Waste of Money

Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes!

And stay tuned for more theme park news!

What video do you want to see from DFB next? Let us know in the comments!

It’s Halloween, Lo-ween, everybody (if you know, you know). Halloween Time has arrived in Disneyland, and you know what that means: it’s also Oogie Boogie Bash time!

Oogie Boogie Bash is a special ticketed event in Disney California Adventure held on select nights from August 18th through October 31st. It’s like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party…but a little spookier, as one might expect from a party hosted by Oogie Boogie. The party features exclusive entertainment, food and drinks, character meet and greets, and more. You can also trick-or-treat at treat trails throughout the park, and we’re going to give you the full rundown of every treat trail available this year.

Treat trails are set up throughout California Adventure. These are trails that you walk through to go trick-or-treating in the park, and yes, even adults can trick-or-treat during party hours. You’ll get LOADS of candy, including some full-sized treats, and you can even visit treat trails more than once if you want to REALLY stock up on candy.

But what makes Oogie Boogie Bash’s treat trails so special is that some of them have exclusive characters, including some of your favorite villains, like Agatha Harkness, Sid from Toy Story, Oogie Boogie, Yokai from Big Hero 6, and more. So let’s take a look at those treat trails first. The newest character to have a treat trail this year is Yzma — you’ll find her treat trail in Grizzly Peak.

Can’t have an Oogie Boogie Bash without Oogie Boogie, and you’ll find his treat trail at the Disney Animation building in Hollywood Land.

Dr. Doofenshmirtz from Phineas and Ferb is back again this year with a treat trail at the Disney Junior Theater in Hollywood Land.

Ernesto de la Cruz is serenading trick-or-treaters at the treat trail located just outside Avengers Campus in Hollywood Land.

Syndrome is still plotting against The Incredibles at the treat trail in Pixar Pier near Pixar Pal-Around.

You’ll find Agatha Harkness casting some dark spells over in Avengers Campus at the Sanctum.

The Mistress of Evil herself, Maleficent, is guarding a treat trail in Grizzly Peak.

Hades is lurking at a Treat Trail near Monsters, Inc.: Mike & Sulley to the Rescue.

Judge Doom from Who Framed Roger Rabbit can be found near Hollywood Lounge in Hollywood Land.

Of course, other treat trails are just ALL about the candy, and you can check those out, too. Be sure to look in your guidebook or on the Disneyland app to find them all!

We’ve discovered that you can really get a LOT of candy in Disneyland if you visit the treat trails (the Cast Members are VERY generous and throw handfuls into your bag). That’s why we recommend not using the free treat bag they give you at the beginning of the party. Instead, bring a larger one from home…trust us, you’ll need it.

We’re covering EVERYTHING about Halloween in Disneyland, so stay tuned to DFB for more.

This Is NOT A Drill! We Know All The Halloween Treats Coming To Disneyland

A massive update is coming to Disneyland Park’s Tomorrowland!

An opening-day land from 1955, Tomorrowland was created by Walt Disney to give guests glimpses of the future. Slowly evolving over the decades, the land now holds half of Matterhorn Bobsleds, Finding Nemo Voyage Submarine, Autopia, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Astro Orbitor, a Disneyland Railroad station, Star Tours — The Adventures Continue, a couple of Quick Service restaurants, and a lack of identity.

You see, Disney’s vision of the future has come and gone, and now Tomorrowland is left reeling for an updated identity. Well, Disney decided to answer the call with a new Tomorrowland project.

According to Disney, the update to Tomorrowland will honor the original land’s history “while reimagining its future.” But don’t worry, Disneyland is promising to keep what guests love most about Tomorrowland, “while also introducing new experiences and possibilities for the next generation of fans.” So exciting!

Imagineers are currently in the process of figuring out what that NEW Tomorrowland might look like, including new attractions, as well as more open spaces and “new places for Disneyland guests to dream about the future.” Disney ended its announcement by saying that the new Tomorrowland “will restore the spirit of optimism, innovation and possibility that inspired Walt Disney to create ‘a vista into a world of wondrous ideas…’ in 1955 and have defined this land for decades.”

Tomorrowland’s update is a major step forward as Disneyland dives into its decade-long DisneylandForward expansion. Disney has not yet discussed a timeline or further details about the Tomorrowland revamp, but as always, we’ll keep you posted on updates and expansion plans at the resort, so stay tuned right here at DFB for all the latest!

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE UPDATES FROM DISNEY’S MASSIVE FAN EVENT!

How do you feel about the Tomorrowland changes? Let us know in the comments!

In a surprise announcement at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026’s Disney Experiences Showcase, Disney revealed that an all-new Tomorrowland is in development for Disneyland!  The thrilling announcement came as part of the big Disney Horizons: A Carousel of Progress Disney Experiences Showcase at the Honda Center.  Here’s what was announced and what we know: […]

The post D23 2026: BREAKING – NEW Tomorrowland announced for Disneyland!!! appeared first on MiceChat.