COVID is finally, completely over at Disneyland. Also, Ka-chow (popcorn style)
Plus, weekends are not poppin' in a good way, and all the other Disneyland news to care about this week.
Summer at Disneyland is officially getting underway, and there’s plenty to get excited for this week. Let’s get into it.
🎟️ The Last COVID Rule Is Dead. Park Hop Whenever You Want.
As of Tuesday June 9, the 11 a.m. park-hopping restriction is gone. For the first time in six years, you can move freely between Disneyland and California Adventure from the moment the parks open. No more watching the clock, no more sprinting to tap into your starting park before heading across the esplanade.
It was the last significant operational relic of the COVID-19 era at Disneyland, and honestly, there’s something really freeing thinking about this. My shoulders relaxed just a tiny bit.
A couple of things worth knowing: you still need to select a starting park on your reservation, and hopping remains subject to park availability — if a park hits capacity, you may not be able to get in. But that’s a rare edge case. For the overwhelming majority of visits, you now have total freedom to plan your day however you want.
As for me, I missed this on our last trip by about one day. Brutal.
Weekends Are Apparently the Best Time to Visit Right Now
Close your ears if you’re a Magic Key holder who has to deal with blackouts, but it sure seems like so far this summer weekends are the best time to visit Disneyland.
After a scorching start to the month (my best guess is due to the lowest tier days running their course), the first weekend in June was ranked a quite manageable 3 out of 10 by TouringPlans across Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Which was ideal since that happened to coincide with my latest trip to the parks.
Then on Tuesday it jumped up to a 7 out of 10, before leveling off a bit. We’ll see if this trend continues, but contrary to what would be the typical advice, weekends might be the best time to hit up Disneyland Resort this summer.
🏚️ The New Orleans Square Train Station Is Getting Fixed. Finally.
A fire tore through the radio house at the New Orleans Square train station on December 28, 2022. Nobody was hurt, but the building was irrevocably damaged — and then it just sat there, surrounded by scrim and scaffolding, for years. Disney finally tore it down in 2025.
Now, a permit has been filed to rebuild it. The new structure will be a 357 square foot cast member break room with a restroom. The same practical function as the original (I always thought there were secret bathrooms like this!). Not the most glamorous news cycle, but anyone who’s noticed that sad empty corner near the station will be glad to see it getting addressed.
The history here is actually kind of cool: the building’s design was inspired by a set from Disney’s 1948 film So Dear to My Heart. Walt had originally hoped to use the actual movie set, but animator Ward Kimball — a fellow railroad enthusiast and possibly the person most responsible for getting Walt obsessed with trains — had been gifted it and kept it, so Disney built a replica instead. That replica is what’s coming back.
🍿 Popcorn Bucket Season Is Heating Up
Two buckets worth knowing about right now:
The Lightning McQueen bucket dropped June 9 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Cars. It’s designed to look like McQueen in full racing livery — number 95, Rust-eze decals, Lightyear tires — and it lights up and actually rolls.
There’s a limit of two per transaction. It sold out within hours at Hollywood Studios at WDW, so if you’re heading to Cars Land anytime soon, go straight there first. I saw a kid wearing one around his neck at Downtown Disney before we had to leave earlier this week, so hey, at least he got one.
Coming up: a Muppets Sam Eagle popcorn bucket celebrating America’s 250th anniversary is on the way to both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, arriving later this summer. It was originally supposed to drop May 21 but got delayed. No new date yet, but it’s officially coming.
⚡ Quick Hits
If you’re a California resident, you might soon get the chance to get a Disneyland-themed license plate.
Tom Hanks and Conan O’Brien stopped by Pixar Pier for some fun photo ops to help promote Toy Story 5. Hopefully they can help get the word out on this little-known movie.
Blog Mickey reports that a staff parking garage will close later this month in anticipation of DisneylandForward construction. If confirmed, this will be a major step forward in the project.
Soarin’ switchover this month — Going over California ends June 30, Across America starts July 2. Your last couple weeks for the California version start now.
Oogie Boogie Bash presale this week — Magic Key holders: June 16 (Inspire) and June 17 (all others). General public: June 18. Dates sell out fast.
Bullseye popcorn bucket coming June 18 — Timed to Toy Story 5, it’s a full 3D sculpt of Woody’s horse with a Toy Story crossbody strap. So many buckets, so little space for me to carry them all.
King Arthur Carrousel closing July 6 — Right after 4th of July weekend. No return date posted yet. Someone out there will care, I assume.
Pirates still dark — Queue repainting was spotted last week, which is a great sign. It’s honestly just not the same park without this attraction.
Buzz still dark — Listed into July, for whatever that’s worth, but the mural was recently spotted as back.