While there wasn’t a lot of breaking news from the Disneyland Resort this past week, the resort has been really busy with crowded theme parks and holiday cheer. The largest crowds were at Disneyland Park this weekend for the annual candlelight processional, but Disney California Adventure Park was just as crowded with the Festival of the Holidays. Let’s take a look at the news from last week.
Candlelight Processional
The biggest news from this past week was the annual Disneyland Candlelight Processional. If you have never attended the processional, it is truly magical. Even though the few seats that are available are for invited guests only, you can get a pretty good spot to watch the processional if you don’t mind waiting around for a few hours before the event begins. Crowds are massive before, during and after each performance of the processional but if you don’t mind the crowds, the processional itself is definitely worth it.
Each year, a celebrity narrator reads the Christmas story but the narrator is never revealed until a few hours before the first processional on Saturday afternoon during a soundcheck rehearsal. This years’ celebrity narrator was none other than Captain Marvel herself, Brie Larson. Ken Potrock, the President of the Disneyland Resort, posted a few beautiful pictures of this years’ candlelight processional and Brie on Instagram thanking everyone who attended as well as Brie, the cast choir, orchestra and other performers.
The Candlelight Processional took place both Saturday and Sunday night at 5:30pm and 7:45pm. If you plan to attend next year, the second performance at 7:45pm is usually the easiest to get a good viewing spot. However, don’t let that last statement fool you. You will still have to wait around for a few hours to save a spot and deal with large crowds but the crowds are a little more manageable during the second performance.
Another Breakfast Option at DCA
On December 6, 2023, Disney California Adventure Park will finally have another dining location available for breakfast lovers like me. Smokejumpers Grill in Grizzly Peak will start serving breakfast from park opening to 11:00am. The location will only have three different entree options to choose from but at least guests will have another location available that will be serving breakfast.
To see the new breakfast options, you can read my post about the new location here. I plan to check out the location next week and try the Classic Breakfast Burrito and Breakfast Seasoned Fries. I admit that I am a little skeptical about the locations breakfast menu options but I’m willing to give it a shot. After all, I love the Breakfast Burrito at Galactic Grill so I’m curious if Smokejumpers Grill will have the same breakfast burrito or if it will be different. Also, the Breakfast Seasoned Fries look like the same French Fries that Smokejumpers Grill serves for Lunch and Dinner but with seasonings added so I’ll let you know my thoughts next week.
Pixar Place Hotel Room Tour
Disney Parks shared a brief room tour video of one of the new rooms coming to Pixar Place Hotel at the Disneyland Resort. The room features lots of Pixar movie pictures and decor around the room. The hotel officially becomes Pixar Place Hotel on January 30, 2024. Until then, the hotel is still open to guests and operating under the current name, Paradise Pier Hotel.
The Green Army Men from Toy Story take us on a tour in the Instagram post below.
Southern California Residents Ticket Offer
The Disneyland Resort announced this past week that the Southern California Residents Special Ticket Offer will be returning. Starting tomorrow, December 5th, So Cal residents will be able to purchase a 3-day, 1-park ticket for as low as $75 per day that will allow purchasers to visit either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park on select days from January 2 through June 2, 2024—subject to theme park reservation availability, which is not guaranteed. Two ticket options will be available for purchase:
- 3-Day, 1-Park Per Day Ticket for admission Monday through Thursday only for $225 ($75 per day)
- 3-Day, 1-Park Per Day Ticket for admission any day of the week for $275
Guests who purchase the So Cal resident offer will have the option to upgrade their ticket to a Park Hopper Ticket and to add the Disney Genie+ service for an additional fee at the time of ticket purchase.
For more details and to purchase a So Cal resident ticket starting tomorrow, visit the Disneyland website.
Wish Poster for Magic Key Holders
Starting today through Friday, December 8th, Magic Key Holders can pick up a special poster to commemorate Disney’s newest animated film Wish. The poster is only available this week to current Magic Key Holders at the below locations:
- Disneyana in Disneyland Park
- Studio Store in Disney California Adventure Park
- WonderGround Gallery in Downtown Disney District
I’m not sure why the availability window is so short, but hopefully all Magic Key Holders who want a poster will have the opportunity to visit one of the above locations this week.
See ya real soon!
That’s it for this weeks update but check back real soon for more Disneyland news!
