It’s been a hot minute since we’ve been able to do our regular Pictorial Updates. With holiday madness, Signature blockouts, and a two week vacation, we’ve been busy little mice! Today, we had the chance to squeeze in a quick visit to the Resort to check out the goings on since the last time we dropped in.

Now that the busy Disney Holiday season has completed, we find ourselves at a new “Low Season” in which the Disneyland Resort kicks off new refurbishments and projects to give the park some TLC.

With the debut of the Main Street Electrical Parade later this week, there’s a lot going on to have the park look its best during its return. Sleeping Beauty Castle has reverted back to using the 60th Anniversary diamond toppers to cover the damaged original roofs underneath.

The Star Wars themed land continues to plow along and the Frontierland facing rockwork and new train track continue to speed along on an aggressive pace to open later this year.

We also take a look at the now-closed Tower of Terror as it begins its transformation into Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!. Peeking through the entrance window, we could see that the entire backwall of the distinctive lobby has been torn out as work is underway to get the attraction turned around for its debut this summer.

Of course, we’ll also have a merchandise update that takes a look at even more 2017 merchandise amongst other goodies.

All of this and more in our latest pictorial update! ENJOY!

Upcharge To the Max

Disney recently unveiled plans for the new Disney MaxPass service which will cost $10 a day and allow guests (and AP holders) the ability to use a new digital version of the current FastPass system.

Hotel Perked

Guests staying at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disneyland Hotel, and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel can enjoy access to a limited number of reservations for select dining venues and for makeover transformations at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and Anna & Elsa’s Boutique.

Green Desert

A few weeks ago, Disney completed work to make the desert landscape of Cars Land a little more “green.” Disney created a 40,000-square-foot solar array system atop the Radiator Springs Racers attraction. Harnessing the the power of the sun, the panels generate enough for use in the park to power the equivalent of 100 Anaheim homes for a year!

Tower Breakout

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction is now a part of Disney history after closing at the beginning of the year for its transformation into Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT.

Work-lights on in the lobby afforded us the view of the entire back wall which had been almost completely torn out, revealing conduit and piping. The walls on the side for now still have their art deco theming.

Red tags can be seen around the attraction.

Looks like they are salvage tags for pieces that will be preserved.

FastPass machines covered up.

Re-blinged

Sleeping Beauty Castle is now free of snow but it’s not quite done with its former 60th Anniversary decorations. The original roof toops on Sleeping Beauty Castle have various amounts of damage from the 60th anniversary decorations.

To have a nice shiny castle for this week’s debut of the Main Street Electrical Parade, the blinged out diamond roof toppers are going back on the castle until the original roofs can be repaired.

The current visage is one of visual crisis with half-on half-off decor and unfinished thematic pieces.

Re-Forced

The Star Wars theme overlay has returned once more to Tomorrowland with SEASON OF THE FORCE banners returning to the land. They now feature updated characters including those from ROGUE ONE.

Meanwhile, inside of the STAR WARS LAUNCH BAY, we also have updated displays featuring props and costumes from ROGUE ONE…

There’s a great big cabbage of tomorrow!

Walt was known to love Swiss Grapefruits.

Star Wars Land

There’s still A LOT to do to bring the yet unnamed new Star Wars themed land to life at Disneyland. At the quickest pace is all the work in Frontierland which Disney is aiming to get back into serviceable operation by this summer. This includes finishing up refubs, Tom Sawyer Island, Fantasmic, and more.

Shacking Up

A new little shack is quickly going up in the former location of the McDonald’s Conestoga Fry Wagon. For the past several years the location has been extra space for benches and is now finding new life with a yet un-announced new building.

Tom Sawyer Island

Meanwhile, more work continues on the island with a seemingly large new structure going on on the Fantasmic! stage in front of the old mill on the southern tip of the island.

Sightlines inside

Soarin’ Over Star Wars

From the Mickey and Friends parking structure, you can get an overall view of all the work going on.

Living wall to block views.

Around the Parks

Lots going on around the whole resort…

Disneyland

So great to walk freely through the Esplanade!

Winter decorations still up.

No more photo ops and clog here.

Melting Away the Holidays

De-jingling the Jungle Cruise.

Not sure why Tarzan is in there but I guess that’s what our jungle explorer is looking for with those binoculars?

Haunted Mansion is not open today.

Trimming back those Sandy Claws.

Don’t worry little guy, we’re almost there!

The back of the line for “it’s a small world” Holiday. Yikes!

“it’s a small world” will close for the removal of its holiday decorations once Haunted Mansion returns.

More Disneyland

Walls are finally down on the New Orleans Square facades.

Exiting this tunnel will soon be unlike before.

Unky Walt.

Snow White Grotto is down for the count.

No restrooms in the wiles of Adventureland.

Bengal BBQ veggie skewer and the Moana special skewer with Shrimp, Sausage, and Pineapple.

Apple Crostata at Plaza Inn.

Apparently these have been around for a few months now but we just realized that there’s now SPICY and SOUR pickles available at various (but not ALL) Disneyland Fruit Carts!

A 360 of the Moana souvenir sipper.

A fun design on the Disneyland souvenir mugs.

Pirates of the Caribbean popcorn buckets.

Carthay Circle Theater design on the DCA souvenir mugs.

The real signage was finally returned at the Fantasyland Theatre.

The Toon Town Train Depot also saw the return of its signage.

Looks like work is completed for now in Mickey’s Toon Town.

Busy day! A 100 minute wait at Star Tours. >.<

I know a man with a wooden leg named Smith.

What’s the name of his other leg?

Bilge Rats!

Moana had quite a line. Switch backs outside the Oasis then ventured to switch backs INSIDE the Oasis before doing final loop in the little courtyard on the side. Woof!

Disney California Adventure

Carthay Circle Theatre is back to its regular vanilla seasoning. No special decorations.

Grizzly River Run gets some TLC.

Yours to enjoy soon.

Downtown Disney and Hotels

House of Blues is no more. It will soon be replaced by a brand new Splitsville location; the first in California!

No Curl Surf yet.

No swimming at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.

No special decorations in the Grand lobby!

Mickey and Friends Parking Structure

You can’t really see these from ground level any more.

New tram route seems to be going smoothly enough.

Up-charged Premium Parking continues to appear widely ignored by Disneylanders.

Safety cones help discourage wrong-way left turns and also help prevent cars from unsafely plowing through the exit lines without stopping.

Merch Run

Main Street Electrical Parade

The newest hand-painted Ink & Paint cel is available to order beginning January 19, 2017, at Disneyana on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland® park. Titled “Mickey’s Dragon”, this limited edition 350 cel, will be available in a variety of formats including Unframed, Framed, Framed Cel with Pin, and Framed Cel with Postcard and Pin.

If you are unable to make it into the store, take advantage of an online purchase opportunity, while supplies last, now through February 19, 2017. Applicable tax and shipping fees apply. Discounts available on framing only.

The The “Mickey’s Dragon” pin shown below limited to an edition size of 300 and only available with framed options.

Purchase with Purchase

A new Mickey Mouse tote bag or Disneyland Sleeping Beauty Castle fireworks throw are available now for $19.95 when you make certain merchandise purchases.