Disneyland Resort Update for April 17, 2023

Disneyland Resort Update for April 17, 2023

News and Views

Author's note:

As often happens, Disneyland made two major announcements last Monday after we published last week's Disneyland Update. For those who read this piece before we were able to add the then-breaking news, I've included them below.

Rogers: The Musical opens limited run June 30

Rogers: The Musical begins its limited run at Disney California Adventure on Friday, June 30, Disney announced last Monday.

The fictional musical from the first episode of the Disney+ series Hawkeye will become “a real-life, all-new short one-act musical theater production to be performed during a limited-time engagement at the Hyperion Theatre in DCA. Fans who attended the 2022 D23 Expo were treated to a surprise live performance of “Save the City” during the Marvel Studios panel—and in February, Disney confirmed that the stage show was under development after a casting notice appeared on the Disney Auditions website.

Rogers: The Musical opens June 30 at Disney California Adventure. Photo courtesy Disney.

We now know the show will feature Steve Rogers, Peggy Carter and a singing Nick Fury, plus “select members of the Avengers.” In addition to “Save the City” from Hawkeye and “Star Spangled Man” from “Captain America: The First Avenger,” Rogers: The Musical will feature five new original songs written for the Disneyland Resort production.

In the week following the announcement, reader JDLazo noticed that at least two performers took to social media to share the news that they'd been cast in the new production, including the roll of Captain America.

@mattytoddvitus

Dreams do come true! You can just call me.. Captain America. 😊🇺🇸✨ Can’t wait to return to the Hyperion in Rogers: The Musical! #disney #rogersthemusical #disneyland #captainamerica #steverogers #marvel #fyp

♬ Save The City (From “Hawkeye”) – Geek Music

@slayleebays

Ill be returning to Disneyland this summer to dance in “Rogers The Musical” in my wheels. I would not at all be dancing or be in this position if not for my community. Thank you to my spoonies and wheelies and zebras and all of my friends and future friends for always seeing me when no one else could. Im also beyond amazed at the support and freedom Disney is giving me in bringing my wheels to the HYPERION. Were just One step closer to becoming a wheelchair avenger.

♬ original sound – Kaylee Bays

Disney says the show will be performed Tuesday through Saturday, and will run about 30 minutes long. Naturally, special merchandise and food offerings are being planned around the promotion, with details still to come.

One Magic Key still available for new purchase

The Disneyland Resort resumed new sales of Magic Key passes last Tuesday, April 11. As of press time, however, only the top-tier Inspire Key was still available.

Disneyland announced on Monday morning that sales would resume on Tuesday. When the sale began, the wait in the virtual queue topped four hours. Initially, all four levels of Magic Keys were available, marking the first time the Enchant Key had been offered for new sale. The Believe and Enchant keys both sold out within about 8 hours, and the Southern California resident-exclusive Imagine Key sold out a few days later. As of press time, the top-tier Inspire Key is still available at $1,599. Visit the Magic Key access calendar to see the blockout dates which apply to each pass type.

If you missed your chance to purchase a new Magic Key this week, keep watching for future opportunities. Disney last opened new purchases in January, just after Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, announced that the company would be “making Magic Key passes available for sale more times during the year as inventory becomes available.”

Disneyland rolled out a new Magic Key program in August 2022. Magic Key 2.0 marked the end of the all-access annual passport at any price level, by replacing the Dream Key (which was valid 365 days a year) with a new top-tier Inspire Key, which blocks out December 21 to January 1 each year. All four of the Magic Keys require members to make advance reservations before visiting the parks, and the company has given no sign of ending that requirement.

Inspire Key

Price: $1,599, or $133.25 per month after down-payment.

Details

• Blocked out December 21 to January 1 each year.
• Can hold 6 reservations at a time
• 20% merchandise discount
• 15% food & beverage discount
• Parking included (excludes blockout dates)
• Unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital downloads
• 20% off Disney Genie+ service

Believe Key [Renewal only]

Price: $1099, or $91.59 per month after down-payment.

Details

• Can hold 6 reservations at a time
• 10% merchandise discount
• 10% food & beverage discount
• 50% parking discount
• Unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital downloads
• 20% off Disney Genie+ service

Enchant Key [Renewal only]

Price: $699, or $58.25 per month after down payment.

Details

• ~ 150 blockout dates
• Can hold 4 reservations at a time
• Can make reservations 90 days in advance
• 10% merchandise discount
• 10% food & beverage discount
• 25% parking discount in Toy Story lots
• 20% off Disney Genie+ service

Imagine Key – Exclusive to Southern California Residents [Renewal only]

Price: $449, or $37.42 per month after down-payment.

Details

• Can hold 2 reservations at a time
• 10% merchandise discount
• 10% food & beverage discount
• 25% off parking in the Toy Story lots
• 20% off Disney Genie+ service

Magic Key holders also have access to various Magic Key offerings throughout the resort, including the Magic Key Terrace, photo opportunities and periodic giveaways.

Are you ready to buy? Magic Keys can be purchased only via Disneyland.com. We compiled a list of top questions and answers when Magic Key 2.0 went on sale in August, so if you encounter any problems check there to see if we have an answer for you.

Disney notes that “passes are subject to availability, and passes or a pass type may not be available from time to time or at any given time,” so if your budget permits it's best to buy your new Magic Key as soon as possible, and activate it when you're ready to visit.

Remember that your Magic Key is not activated until you use it to enter a park or to obtain free parking (Inspire Key only), and you have a year from the date of purchase to activate the pass.

Splash Mountain to close May 31

Disney has a habit of hiding potentially disappointing news at the bottom of press releases, so the TL;DR (“too long; didn't read”) cohort may have missed the announcement that Disneyland's Splash Mountain is closing on May 31. The date was tucked at the end of a recent Disney Parks Blog post providing a look at the Mama Odie animatronic which will be featured in Tiana's Bayou Adventure when the ride opens in 2024.

Riders will see Mama Odie on Tiana's Bayou Adventure in 2024. Photo courtesy Disney.

Disney says that this image depicts Mama Odie joking with riders “after a special display of her magic.” Actress Jenifer Lewis will reprise her role as Mama Odie from The Princess and the Frog for the attraction.

The blog post provided some additional details about the ride, including the addition of “dozens of entirely new Audio-Animatronic figures.” Disney fans may know that a number of the animatronic figures used in Splash Mountain were repurposed from Disneyland's American Sings attraction, which closed one year before originally Splash Mountain opened. Disney's post doesn't say anything about the fate of these legacy figures, but it would be sad to think that some of them couldn't find a new home down in the bayou.

Location of ALL America Sings Animatronics in Splash Mountain. YouTube video by Disneyland Musician.

Disneyland to host first-ever Pride Nite

Tickets go on sale this week for a brand-new Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite event in June. These after-hours private parties are scheduled for June 13 and 15, and take place at Disneyland park.

As with other Disneyland After Dark events, Pride Nite will feature special entertainment, photo opportunities, character appearances, themed food offerings, and event merchandise. While full details will likely be released closer to the event, Disney has already announced there will be a Pride Nite Cavalcade featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Clarabelle, Donald, Daisy and Goofy. There will be several opportunities to dance, with a family-friendly Ohana Dance Party with characters in Tomorrowland, country line dancing at the Golden Horseshoe, and a Pride Nite Dance Club around the Rivers of America.

The majority of Disneyland park will remain open during the event, with the exception of Mickey's Toontown and three attractions—Mark Twain Riverboat, Peter Pan's Flight, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. The events run from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., but event guests can enter Disneyland as early as 6:00 p.m. to enjoy the park before it closes to day guests. Arriving early is the best way to ensure you get to experience rides and areas that will close with the park.

Concept art shows Pride Nite costume ideas for Mickey and Friends. Image courtesy Disney.

Tickets are $139 for either June 13 or 15. Magic Key holders can purchase a limited number of tickets during a pre-sale opportunity starting Tuesday, April 18 (no earlier than 9:00 a.m. Pacific). General admission tickets go on sale no earlier than 9:00 a.m. Pacific on Thursday, April 20. Purchase tickets via the event website.

The Disneyland Resort is a host and sponsor of the unofficial Gay Days Anaheim event, and in recent years the company has worked with Gay Days organizers to offer specialty merchandise, souvenirs and food and beverage items for attendees. In 2018 the domestic theme parks released the first cohesive collection of rainbow apparel and accessories just in time for Pride month. In 2021 the “Rainbow Collection” hit ShopDisney, and by 2022 the offering was officially renamed the Pride Collection.

Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite marks the first time a domestic Disney theme park will host an official Pride party, but it's not the first company-sponsored event. In 2019, Disneyland Paris became the first Disney resort to host its own Gay Day event, the Magical Pride Party. The event is now known as Disneyland Paris Pride, with the 2023 event scheduled for June 17.

A Word from our Sponsor

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As a Disneyland Resort Hotel guest, you’ll be able to enter Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park 30 minutes prior to park opening with Early Entry Access. This means you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite attractions before the parks officially open every day of your stay. Theme park reservations are available now for this offer, so don’t wait to book!

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This and That

…Tickets are still available for two Disneyland After Dark: Throwback Nite events taking place this week on April 18 and 20. Tickets on sale now via the event website.

…The Matterhorn Bobsleds close today, April 17 for refurbishment. Reopening date not published, but this is expected to be a long refurbishment.

…We previously shared that Catal Restaurant and Uva Bar would close last Friday to make way for two new Downtown Disney eateries, but we didn't know that the adjacent Sprinkles cupcake bakery would also close to make room for the new restaurants. Disney confirmed last week that the location would close, and by Sunday the entrance was behind the same construction wall which surrounds the former Uva Bar and entrance to Catal.

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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.

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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

New! Just click the number of days or ticket type you want to view.

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!

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

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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