The parks are still revenue behemoths, a potty emergency, and all the Disneyland news to care about this week
It's August 9th. Here's what Disneyland fans should know.
It’s good to know that all that money I’m putting in Disney’s pocket is definitely being counted.
While I’ve been focused on the low crowd ratings this summer (Since June 9, Touring Plans has rated Disneyland wait times at a 5 or above only 4 times), apparently that hasn’t affected park revenue or overall attendance.
Attendance at domestic parks was up 3%, compared to an expected 0.5%.
The fiscal quarter ended near the end of June, so maybe fiscal Q2 will reflect the slower park days — or maybe people are coming to Disneyland and just spending lots of cash without riding attractions? Either way, it’s a bellweather result for new CEO Josh D’Amaro.
Here’s the rest of the Disneyland news to care about this week.
🚽 About Those Bathrooms
Were you there the evening of July 28? Had you just had a burrito and a milkshake and three chili dogs?
That was the night that four of Anaheim’s 14 municipal groundwater wells failed simultaneously — a city infrastructure problem that had nothing to do with Disney, although I’m sure plenty of blame went their way.
The sudden pressure drop shut down every restroom at Disneyland Resort for roughly two hours during peak summer hours. Restaurants closed too. Cast members were stationed outside bathroom doors turning people away, in what I can only assume was pure chaos.
Once the city resolved the issue around 8 p.m., restrooms and restaurants started coming back online. And by most accounts, cast members on the ground handled it as gracefully as anyone could. Still — two hours without a bathroom at a packed summer theme park with families in the heat of late July is a pretty rough evening.
🎢 August Closures: Know Before You Go
It’s a busy month for refurbishments, so if you’re heading to the parks anytime soon, here’s the damage report.
The big one: Haunted Mansion closes August 8 through August 20 for its annual transformation into Haunted Mansion Holiday. That’s a nearly two-week window where the ride is simply gone, so if you haven’t ridden it yet this season, you’ve got through August 7. And if you want to see it in the increasingly limited time it’s in classic mode, well you better hurry.
It reopens August 21 as Haunted Mansion Holiday, right as Halloween Time kicks off. People go nuts for this, so it’s also the last time the wait times are going to be reasonable for awhile.
Also closing: Main Street Cinema shuts August 10 and reopens August 28. Not a ride, but worth knowing. I’m assuming this will be to switch things back from the mini-doc about the new Small World verse that’s been showing, and go back to classic cartoons.
Over at DCA, Silly Symphony Swings has been dark since April 27 with no announced return date, although frankly I didn’t even notice.
Looking further out: Indiana Jones Adventure closes September 8 with no return date announced yet. That one’s worth flagging now if a fall trip is in your plans.
🦹 The Villains Collection Is Here and It Will Make You Want to Buy It
Speaking of spending $$$ at the parks…
A new Disney Villains merchandise collection dropped August 3 at Disney Parks and DisneyStore.com, and it’s genuinely one of the better Halloween merchandise releases in recent memory. Highlights include a Villains Spirit Jersey with Hades, the Evil Queen, Maleficent, and Jafar hidden in the iridescent lettering on the back; Maleficent and Headless Horseman football jerseys; a Maleficent castle tower mug; and a Special Edition Vanessa doll — that’s Ursula’s human disguise, for those who need the reminder — in a purple satin gown. There are also four villain-themed costume capes for adults, which feels overdue.
At Disneyland specifically, Port Royal in New Orleans Square has reopened as a shop to house the majority of the collection. Worth a stop if you’re in that part of the park.
🔍 Rumor Check
Will D23’s Disney Experiences Showcase drop a major Disneyland announcement on August 15?
This is the session where the parks team historically swings big. The 2024 version gave us the Villains Land reveal for Walt Disney World. With the 70th Celebration wrapping and Disneyland heading into a new chapter, there’s real expectation that Disney uses this stage to announce what comes next — whether that’s a new land, a major attraction, or something else entirely. D23 is basically the only venue where Disney does this kind of reveal, and they know how to use the moment.
My hopes and dreams: Something about PeopleMover (Josh has been teasing us with this for a bit); a pivot for the Avatar-themed land; me being announced as a permanent resident of Main Street.
Likelihood: 7/10 — expect something significant. What, exactly, nobody outside of D’Amaro and his dwarves knows yet.
⚡ Quick Hits
Hatbox Ghost popcorn bucket drops August 13 — Debuts on D23 Day at Harbour Galley, Hungry Bear, and select popcorn carts in both parks. Limit of two per person. It’ll go fast.
D23 Day is August 13 — All guests with valid admission get free unlimited PhotoPass downloads. Free Mickey ears while supplies last. Expect a very full park.
70th Celebration ends August 9 — Paint the Night and Wondrous Journeys extended through August 20. Genuinely the last, last, final, for real, last call.
World of Color — ONE starts August 10 — Right as Happiness! wraps. Halloween season is your window if you missed it.
Halloween Time officially starts August 21 — Oogie Boogie Bash kicks off August 18. October dates are selling out.