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Construction Updates at the Disneyland Resort

By Tyler Stover
Published: May 14, 2011 at 5:37 PM
As we enter the Summer theme park season, many of you are planning a trip to the Disneyland resort. While regular Theme Park Insider readers and the many Disneyland Annual Pass holders are aware of the impact of the various construction projects throughout the resort, less frequent visitors should be aware of what they'll encounter with DCA's great makeover and smaller projects at Disneyland.

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Don't be fooled by the construction walls. Disney California Adventure park is open. The entrance line starts at the center of the walls and travels around to the left.

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Once in the park you'll see a replica of the Carthay Circle Theater under construction near where the sun icon once stood. To the right a cinder block structure is being erected and a path between the walls leads to the Wharf and Paradise Pier. This narrowing of the path means there are no parades currently at DCA.

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To the left of the Carthay Circle Theater the center of the street is ripped up to extend the trolley tracks from the Hollywood Pictures Backlot into the entrance plaza. Follow the signs placed on the walls to choose the correct side for the attraction you want to get to.

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Back to the right Carsland continues to grow in the former farm area and the last segment of the old parking lot.

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The Little Mermaid building is just about finished and the attraction will open to the public at the beginning of June. Expect big crowds, but it should have a decently high ride capacity.

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The walls extend past the souvenir stand and to the dining area. The two restaurants here are receiving heavy makeovers, the souvenir and corn dog stands receive apparently minor refreshes, and Mulholland Madness is rethemed to Goofy's Sky School. According to the Disney Parks Blog this section of the pier will reopen July 1st.

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Back over at Disneyland park the big project is the Star Tours update. Construction walls pinch traffic through the already congested Tomorrowland entrance. When the attraction opens in early June the lines should be very long, but Fastpass will be available. Arrive early to snag a Fastpass if you want to ride with minimal wait.

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The mural on the Star Tours building has been updated to reflect the ride and story updates. Looks good.

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Star Tours' Fastpass capability comes at the expense of Buzz Lightyear. Fastpass is no longer offered at this attraction and the entrance has been updated.

Elsewhere in the park Splash Mountain is wrapping up an extended refurbishment which will bring Critter Country back up to full capacity. The Disneyland Hotel continues its extensive remodel and that maze of construction walls deserves its own update.

If you have any questions as you plan your summer visit to the Disneyland resort, head to the discussion section.

Readers' Opinions

From 70.173.45.101 on May 14, 2011 at 6:03 PM
I'm going there August 21-25. What should I expect the lines to be like at the Ariel and Star Tours attractions? How do you expect the entrance to be by then? Thanks.
From Dominick D on May 14, 2011 at 6:59 PM
Looking pretty good! I might have to fly from Florida to California just to see all this new stuff next year. And Ive never been to Disneyland before.
From Nick Markham on May 15, 2011 at 8:26 AM
Great report, I can't wait to see more of these kind of reports on TPI in the future.

EDIT: Also, Domenic, you should wait until next year when the entrance area and Cars Land are completed. That will be one different and awesome DCA.

From Dominick D on May 15, 2011 at 10:06 AM
Nick, I was gonna do that. What time of 2012 should Carsland open? And when will the new entrance be complete?
From Nick Markham on May 15, 2011 at 12:22 PM
^Here is a sort of timetable:

June 2-3: Star Tours II/Little Mermaid

Late June-Early July: Goofy's Sky School/Entrance (Gates Only)

June 2012: Cars Land/Entrance Plaza w/ trolley cars

From Dominick D on May 15, 2011 at 2:11 PM
Thanks Nick! Guess I might go in the fall of 2012, unless Disney convinces me with something new. But Ill also have Transformers at USH to look foward to.
From 214.3.138.234 on May 16, 2011 at 11:45 AM
Makes me wonder if Buzz may receive a "Surprise Fastpass" generated at some other attraction, similar to Mickey's Philharmagic and the Carousel of Progress over at MK.
From Bryan Fear on May 18, 2011 at 2:47 PM
I'm part of the group of about 1,200 people who get to see Star tours on May 20th. I'll send pics via Facebook or something similar. I suspect there will be so many there that it will be a moot point for me. All I know is that we're required to be at DL around 4am on 5/20 to get into line for a 9am opening.
From 168.184.220.4 on May 19, 2011 at 12:32 PM
I think they should made a tron world

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