Disneyland Resort Update for July 3, 2023

Disneyland Resort Update for July 3, 2023

News and Views

How to catch Rogers: The Musical at Disney California Adventure

It started out as a 2-minute gag from the Disney+ series Hawkeye, and now Rogers: The Musical is a full-blown theme park production at Disney California Adventure. The one-act show features Steve Rogers, Peggy Carter and a singing Nick Fury in an extremely compressed telling of Rogers' rise from zero to superhero. The show is the first new stage production at the park since Frozen – Live at the Hyperion.

Todd Pickering made a trip back to L.A. to catch the premiere last week and shared his review of the new musical, asking, “Can this musical spoof number be made into a legit show? “I'll refer the reader to Todd's article for a more detailed review of the piece, but from my standpoint, this show is definitely worth watching if you're a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and/or musical theater in general.

“Rogers: The Musical” is now playing at Disney California Adventure. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Rogers: The Musical marks the first time the Hyperion Theater has been open to the public since March 2020, and it was glaringly obvious on opening day that there's been a loss of institutional knowledge for how to load the 2,000-seat theater.

New technology only added to the confusion. Not only was this the first time Disney has used the virtual queue for the Hyperion Theater, but they operated the virtual queue in a different way than is used for attractions and for World of Color. Visitors were confused, cast members were confused, and the result was a traffic jam outside the theater and down Hollywood Blvd. The crowds made it impossible to run the Red Car Trolleys through Hollywood Land at times on Friday, and required cast members to blaze a clear path for the Five and Dime vehicle to drive to its scheduled performance on Buena Vista Street.

The 30-minute show runs Tuesday through Saturday, June 30 through August 31, 2023, with multiple performances scheduled each day. Based on opening day woes, and subsequent improvement on Saturday, here's what you need to know to see Rogers: The Musical.

Virtual Queue

On show days, Disney will open a virtual queue through the Disneyland app at 10:30 a.m. for Rogers: The Musical, then again at 2:00 p.m. The 10:30 a.m. release is for the first two performances of the day, while the afternoon release covers all remaining shows.

In order to join the virtual queue, you must already have entered Disney California Adventure, or have entered Disneyland with a park-hopper ticket.

The Disneyland app tells you only which show time you've been assigned to, but not an indication of your place in the boarding group. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The virtual queue doesn't let you pick your showtime; the app assigns it for you. Be sure to go through the steps to confirm your party before the virtual queue opens, so that you and your companions are assigned to the same show.

Once in the virtual queue, the Disneyland app sends you a push notification telling you when it's your turn to return to the Hyperion Theater and join the physical queue to get into the building. However, there is no transparency into which “boarding group” you are in, or when you might be called. For the first show on Friday, this resulted in a sizable crowd outside the theater waiting for the push notifications to begin.

There’s a crowd outside the Hyperion Theater waiting for direction on here to check in for the virtual queue or join the standby queue for the first performance of Rogers: The Musical at 12:30. pic.twitter.com/TuSL28Dpit

— MousePlanet (@MousePlanet) June 30, 2023

Cast members had not established a separate queue for people who had purchased the premium viewing experience package, and were giving conflicting information on where—or even if—the standby queue would be started for the first show.

The scene took a turn for the worse when the push notifications began, and people at the back of the crowd found themselves needing to force their way through to get to the scanners at the theater entrance. Nobody wanted to give way or make way.

There’s no clear direction yet about where the Standby line will form. They’ve started calling the virtual queue groups and frankly it’s a mess. pic.twitter.com/PUl7YPkljz

— MousePlanet (@MousePlanet) June 30, 2023

Before the second show, cast members tried forming a line down Hollywood Blvd. to keep the street clear for vehicle traffic. This worked only until people started getting push notifications to return to the theater. As soon as people began leaving the line, the queue dissolved into chaos. Cast members got it back under control, only to see it fall apart when the next wave of push notifications went out. There's no way to create a linear solution for a non-sequential structure.

Even though Disney used a virtual queue for the show, the crowd filled Hollywood Blvd. and prevented the Red Car Trolley from operating at times on Friday. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Disney already has the tools to tell people which group they're in, and which group is currently boarding. I have no idea why they didn't use that method for this show. If I know that I'm in group D and they're currently calling group A, I'm much less likely to crowd the theater entrance waiting for my turn. Even better, Disney could set up a place for each group to wait, the same way they do for World of Color. It could be a simple queue down each side of Hollywood Blvd, and it would at least keep the street clear.

The entry process is further slowed by the need to show and scan your “boarding pass” at the entrance to the theater. A half-dozen cast members with hand-held devices were tasked to handle the crowd of hundreds. Your entire group must enter the queue together.

Once through the marquee doors, the physical queue is actually contained in the courtyard outside the theater. This is a sparsely shaded area, and you could be standing there for up to 30 minutes, so plan your sun protection accordingly. There are outdoor vending carts near the entrance to the area, and you can leave your group and go back to make a purchase if you want. Just be sure to grab a return pass from a nearby cast member before you leave the queue, so you can be readmitted.

So we’re now “filling in all available space” in the courtyard, which is sparsely shaded. If you’re coming to future shows, bring sunscreen and water. pic.twitter.com/ZIoRW8yZpP

— MousePlanet (@MousePlanet) June 30, 2023

People who purchased the premium viewing experience are the first to enter the theater once the doors open, ahead of those in the virtual queue. This group will largely fill the orchestra section of the theater, along with earlier members of the virtual queue. The majority of the virtual queue members will be directed to the mezzanine section of the theater, which requires walking up about 50 steps on the exterior of the building. If you can't walk up and down 50 steps, be sure to talk to a cast member as soon as your group is called for the virtual queue. There is elevator access to and wheelchair seating on all three levels of the theater.

Saving of seats is not permitted inside the theater, and cast members will work to fill in every seat, even those single seats left between parties.

Premium Viewing Experience

The premium viewing experience package is perfect for people who want a guaranteed orchestra-level seat, or who don't want to mess with the virtual queue.

For $29, customers receive a souvenir lanyard, a Rogers: The Musical souvenir popcorn bucket with themed kettle corn, a bottled soft drink, and access to a lounge area in front of Stage 12 to relax 90 minutes before the show. From there, buyers are the first to enter the theater 30 minutes before showtime, to choose seats before the members of the virtual queue enter. The package also includes “priority access” to a PhotoPass photo opportunity.

The “Rogers: The Musical” premium viewing experience sold out in under an hour on opening day. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Sold separately, the souvenir popcorn bucket is $12.25 and a bottle of Coke run $5, so this isn't an outrageous up-charge.

Disney originally said tickets would be sold at Studio Catering Co. in Hollywood Land, but on Friday moved sales to the adjacent Hollywood Lounge. Ticket sales begin at park opening, but keep in mind that guests of the three Disneyland Resort Hotels can enter the parks and get in line 30 minutes before day guests.

Your entire party must be present to purchase tickets—no sending someone in to buy tickets while everyone else sleeps in. Tickets are only sold for shows that same day. Disney is offering 100 packages per seating, which represents only about the first five rows of the lower orchestra section.

Standby

Any remaining seats in the theater will be filled by the standby queue on a first-come, first-serve basis, and on opening day I know if at least one MousePlanet reader who managed to catch all four shows via standby. However, you'll be the one filling in all the available space in the theater, and may not have much say over where and with whom you are seated.

Once again for the Magic Key holders

The limited run of Rogers: The Musical leaves some Magic Key holders with very few options for seeing the show. Unless the run is extended, here is when the Imagine and Enchant keys can see it:

• Imagine Key – August 22, 23, 24; August 29, 30, 31.
• Enchant Key – August 15, 16, 17; August 22, 23, 24; August 29, 30, 31.

Oogie Boogie Bust

Tickets were scheduled to go on sale last week for the Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure, and on Tuesday the limited presale for Magic Key holders began as expected. Also as expected, the limited number of tickets sold out, leaving unsuccessful buyers to try again during the public sale on Thursday.

Carthay Circle Theater serves as a projection surface during Oogie Boogie Bash, with animated decorations taking over the structure at intervals. MousePlanet file photo.

Thursday was a totally different story. Very shortly after tickets went on sale, Disney posted an announcement stating ticket sales were “paused” and would resume “soon.” “Soon” became “not today,” after Disney posted an update saying the queue to buy tickets was closed.

Those who were able to get tickets despite the technical challenges were assured their purchase will be honored. Disney told everyone else to check back on Thursday, July 6 at 9:00 a.m. for an update. That update “may include the date and time when new sales resume.” Disney promises there will be advance notice before resuming ticket sales, so I would not expect them to go on sale on Thursday. Rather, I imagine sales will resume the following week, giving people time to make plans.

And ticket sales are still paused. Oh Disney. Must we always? #OogieBoogieBash pic.twitter.com/V9z9GdrI5p

— MousePlanet (@MousePlanet) June 29, 2023

When the outage began on Thursday I jokingly asked, “Oh Disney. Must we always?” This actually isn't funny at all, and it should be embarrassing to Josh D'Amaro to have a ticketing platform that's less reliable than a McDonald's ice cream machine.

Customers should not need to give up a part of their day, or multiple days, to make a simple ticket purchase. The company needs to make the investment to build or buy the infrastructure required to support ticketing, and spend the money on the staff to keep it running.

San Fransokyo Square construction

With the rolling transformation of the Pacific Wharf area into San Fransokyo Square progressing, I popped over to get a look at the construction.

More bilingual signage has been unveiled around the waterfront. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The Pacific Wharf Distribution Co.—better known to some as the location of the former Karl Strauss beer truck—is walled off and will become the Hamada Bot Shop, home to a new meet-and-greet featuring Baymax and Hiro.

The Hamada Bot Shop will host a new meet-and-greet with Baymax and Hiro. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Cocina Cucamonga is the site of two new locations. On one side, near the Baymax meet-and-greet, the San Fransokyo Maker’s Market will offer Baymax collectibles. The patio on the opposite side of the building will become the Port of San Fransokyo Cervecería.

San Fransokyo Maker’s Market will occupy a former seating and staging area outside Cocina Cucamonga. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The Port of San Fransokyo Cervecería is under construction next to Cocina Cucamonga. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The second set of uprights were added to the San Fransokyo Gate Bridge last week. If you look closely at the crosspieces, you can see where Disney cast members wrote their names and messages on the steel. This will all be covered when the bridge is eventually painted, but it's a nice touch.

The upright additions to the San Fransokyo Gate Bridge are in place. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

Disney cast members added their autographs to the San Fransokyo Gate Bridge before they were installed. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

A Word from our Sponsor

Looking to visit the DISNEYLAND® Resort in 2023?

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This limited-time special is valid for travel from June 12, 2023 – September 28, 2023.* Choose from 3-Day Park Hopper or 1-Park per Day tickets, with or without Disney Genie+ Service for use Monday – Thursday or Monday – Sunday.

HERE'S JUST SOME OF WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT THIS SUMMER:

• Disney100 Celebration – limited-time merchandise, food, and more!
• “World of Color – One” at Disney California Adventure Park.
• “Wondrous Journeys” nighttime spectacular at Disneyland Park – catch it before it leaves on August 31, 2023.
• “Magic Happens” Parade at Disneyland Park.
• Rogers: the Musical debuts at the Hyperion Theater on June 30, 2023 for a limited time.
• Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort returns starting September 1, 2023.

Book now at Get Away Today or call 1-855-GET-AWAY, and be sure to mention you saw them on MousePlanet.

This and That

…To commemorate the premiere of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Disneyland visitors may be able to spot the young explorer himself in Adventureland for a limited time.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Disney Parks (@disneyparks)

…Alice in Wonderland and the Disneyland Monorail close Wednesday, July 5 for refurbishment. Alice in Wonderland reopens July 22, but the Disney has not shared a reopening date for the Monorail. That attraction will be closed at least through August 13.

…Soarin' Around the World is also closed July 5–14 for refurbishment.

…The Anaheim Hilton is among a group of hotels in Los Angeles and Orange County being picketed by members of a Unite Here Local 11. The union represents 15,000 workers at more than 60 properties in Southern California. The strike does not impact the three Disneyland Resort Hotels, whose workers are covered under a separate agreement with the union.

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Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Attraction, restaurants, and stores that are closed for refurbishment are noted below. All other closures should be presumed to be due to COVID protocols, and are subject to change at any time without notice as the state of California issues new guidance.

All information was current as of this article's publication date. MousePlanet does not edit past Updates; for the most up-to-date refurbishment calendar, check the most recent Disneyland Resort Update, visit Disneyland.com or use the Disneyland smartphone application on your iOS or Android device.

View the different areas of the Resort by scrolling horizontally and selecting the one you want to read about.

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Resort Events

Check here to see if a large convention, competition, or park event might fall during your next trip to the Disneyland Resort. If you know of any in-park events, official or unofficial, that should be listed here, please send us an e-mail.

New! Just click the year you want to expand (or close).

2023

We also recommend checking the convention calendar at the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau website. When looking at that site, remember to note both the number of people and the number of rooms resulting from each convention. A gathering of 25,000 people booking few room nights (indicating most will be driving in to the area for their meeting) can impact traffic around the resort much more than a crowd of 25,000 staying in area hotels. Of course, that second group is going to make finding a hotel room more difficult (and possibly more expensive), so it's best to book your own room as early as possible if you see that a big convention is in town during your trip.

Non-Disney Resort Events

Notable events at parks and attractions around Southern California. If you know of an event that should be listed here, please send us an e-mail.

Current Discounts and Promotions

Disneyland prices as of October 11, 2022.

Note: MousePlanet does not edit past Updates to reflect price increases; for up-to-date prices, check the most recent Disneyland Resort Update. Several current promotions offer discounted admission to the Disneyland Resort. For your convenience, we have grouped the discount offers based on the number of days the tickets are valid. Check out the category that best matches the amount of time you plan to spend at the resort, and pick the offer that works best for you. And keep those tips coming—let us know if you find a better or different offer, so we can share it with other readers!

This first section is a list of discounts on ticket-only purchases. Though it has become more common in recent years, Disneyland tickets are rarely offered at deep discounts unless you are a resident of Southern California or Northern Mexico. For residents outside that area, the best discounts available tend to be simple advance purchase discounts. If you know of any additional discounts, offers, promotions, or contests that should be listed in this section, drop us a line. Note, we are no longer listing offers from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau, as their convenience fee negates any savings.

Don't get scammed! Never buy tickets from an unofficial or secondary outlet, such as through eBay or Craigslist. Never rent or purchase tickets from people approaching you outside the gates stating they have remaining days or leftover tickets. This practice is against the terms of use for Disneyland admission, and may result in denial of entry. It is also common for criminals to shoplift inactivated Disney theme park tickets from supermarkets to resell them. There is no way to determine if these tickets are valid until you try to use them to enter the parks. Only purchase Disney theme park tickets directly from Disney, an authorized seller, or travel agency like MousePlanet travel partner Get Away Today.

Ticket Prices and Promotions

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Additional Discounts

Did we miss an offer? If you know of an authorized discount on Disneyland Resort tickets, standing offers for Annual Passholders from non-Disney vendors, or other promotions which might interest our readers, please drop us a note!

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Everyone

Magic Key Holders

Disney Rewards VISA Credit Card Holders

Southern California Residents

Disney Vacation Club Members

Service Members

Hotel & Travel Packages

If you can't see the categories, please let us know!

Park Schedule/Blockout Dates

• DL – Disneyland
• DCA – Disney California Adventure
• DCA – Downtown Disney

Early Admission – full description available on the Disneyland website:

• MM – (Not currently offered) Magic Mornings for 3-plus day ticket holders and promotional “bonus” tickets.
• EMH – (Not currently offered) Extra Magic Hour for Disneyland Resort Hotel guests.

Disneyland Resort Special Events:

• LNY – Lunar New Year
• F&W – Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival
• GN – Grad Nite.
• OBB – Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure.
• DaD – Disneyland After Dark

The Ticket Tier calendar is published on the Disneyland website for the next eight to 11 months.

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