Hello everyone!

Friday was another unseasonably cold day in Southern California. Highs topped out around 60 and by the time World of Color started it was getting close to 40 out. On the positive side the sun was out and no rain so better than many days over the past few weeks. The parks both felt very crowded for a non holiday Friday in February. Wait times were well over an hour for many attractions. It felt almost like a summer crowd, not quite holiday but busier than I would have expected for this time of year.

Thoughts and Observations:

• Parking was a fairly smooth process today. The overpass was closed already but I lucked out with the light. Only a couple cars in front of me at the toll booth and only minor slowing heading up to a floor and into a spot. So overall it was nearly optimal.
  
  
• The new parking structure continues to move quickly toward completion. The roof of the escalator structure was assembled and a crane on site to lift it into place in the next few days. Most forms and supports for the structure itself facing the tram stop are gone as work has shifted to finishing details in this area. Concrete is still being poured in the back sections nearest Magic Way and Walnut Street, but that should be nearing completion too.
  
  
• On the Star Wars front not much is visible now a days. Some more scaffolding has been removed as they finish the last elements you can see. All indications/rumors are pointing to a June opening (about 4 months), but no official date has been announced for the grand opening or previews yet.
  
  
• Started off my visit at the Disneyland Hotel. Noticed the large hat at the entrance from Downtown Disney has Mickey and Minnie on the logo now. There is also a Get Your Ears On Photo op near the Fantasy Tower. I thought the placement was a little odd and the sun in the after was a challenge, but it is a high traffic area. The Monorail Slides are under refurbishment so that area of the pool is walled off. The Tangaroa Terrace reopened several weeks ago and this was my first walk through. They have added a take out window with Dole Whips, an outdoor bar, and a new configure inside to go with a new menu. Overall I thought it looked nice and offered many more options than the old configuration. I thought it was interesting there was only a single register inside. I guess they are expecting more mobile orders now a days? The new menu did not interest me that much and seemed more at premium pricing than it used to be. It was on par with the new White Water Snacks menu in terms of price point though. I still don't understand why everything has to be at a premium point and options. For example the $15 burger with a bunch of toppings. You can get it plain but you still have to pay $15. Why not have a regular burger too? It always bothers me that you have to pay the same for a plain burger as a cheese burger for example. Some people do not like or cannot eat cheese but they still have to pay for it.
  
  
• The big news of the day was the return of the World of Color at Disney California Adventure. Disney waited until the last minute to put it on the schedule, I did not see it listed Thursday but it did show up Friday morning and was on the printed times guide on Friday. FastPasses went fairly quickly with the distribution concluded by 1:30ish. I was disappointed with the show time for weekends. They have gone with a single 10pm show. That is really late for families and those of us that do not like the cold! Weeknights they have it at 8:00 or 8:15 most nights. Seems they could run two shows on weekends to give guests more options. No signs of a MaxPass choice yet either, seems the night time shows would be a nice addition to the service. I was in Hollywood Land sitting on a bench and a woman offered us FastPasses for World of Color as they were leaving the park. I think it is great that this still happens. You cannot do it with regular FastPasses anymore (since they are tied to your ticket and just a reminder) but for the night time shows you can.
  
  
• The Blue Sky Cellar has reopened. It seems to be open most afternoons now a days. The exhibit is still Pixar Pier though with only a couple minor changes. The coaster model demo model is gone and a Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge board has replaced the one by the exit door. Also interesting on Friday when we visited there were no cast members to been seen, inside or outside the area. I would have liked to have seen this updated to talk more about the two attractions under construction for Pixar Pier. Or more about the Marvel Project. A Galaxy's Edge preview would have been interesting but I think it would be a better fit in the Launch Bay than DCA.
  
  
• Over at Disneyland the walls on Main Street have migrated from the west to the east side. The curb has been smoothed out/removed for a large/smooth transition from the street to the sidewalk on the corner by the Emporium. Assuming they doing the same thing on the other side. It looks ok but means a little less seating now. On the plus side those with wheels will be able to more easily navigate and others less likely to stumble.
  
  
• A few weeks ago a new photo op/Instagram opportunity was added to the gate near Minnie's house in Toontown. The old dots were removed and a new scene added. We saw several guests stop for a picture but hard to tell if they sought out the wall or were doing it because the line for Minnie's house stretched out to that point.
  
  
• The Frontierland boat dock queue is still under renovation so the Mark Twain queue turns into a narrow line along the Rivers of America. It stretched around quite a ways on Friday due to being only 1-2 people wide and spaced out. If you see a long line odds are it is not that many guests and you should not have an issue making it onto the boat. It looks worse than it is.
  
  
• I picked up the next story cards from Esmeralda and Fortune Red. Up to Chapter 6 & 7 now. Both machines worked first try this visit, but Red decided not to spit the card out. Seems with the cold it arched and got stuck. We had to reach into the slot and dislodge it.
  
  
• Used Mobile order at the Stage Door Cafe and it worked smoothly as has been the experience on past visits. Overall the system has been reliable for us and saved some time. It still has quirks that are a little annoying. For example at Stage Door it still requires you to select a sauce even if you do not want or need one and there is no option to get a plain burger at places that sell them. You can say no cheese or sauce but nothing about the lettuce/tomato and other toppings. Seems like a simple plain option would be an easy addition.
  
  
• Throughout the parks there are now earth friendly straws available. They are in generic wrappers with US flags and sporting Made in America logos. I am not a fan of paper straws. They tend to alter the taste and barely last through the drink.
  
  
• Arrived at the Golden Horseshoe for the finale minutes of a Laughingstock Co performance. It reminded me how much I miss the Billys and the original show. And to top it off the volume was so high it seemed like they were yelling.
  
  
• Someone seems to be taking note of seating around the Disneyland Resort. There were several benches set up for the Pixarmonic Orchestra which made it more comfortable for those who got a seat and made it easier for more guests to see the show since those standing could see over the first rows that were seated. It was a win win. Also there are benches inside the Main Street Cinema (these arrived a while ago but I had not stopped by to see them). As usual on a cold evening the Cinema was popular with guests filling the benches and much of the floor space enjoying the films and the warmth inside.
  
  
• Some of the group had not seen the two dance parties so we stopped by the Backlot Dance Party first and it was the most crowded I have seen it so far. Not sure if that was because the parks were busy or because it is growing in popularity. We then stopped by the Get Your Ears On Dance Party in Tomorrowland and was busy and lively as usual. The feel between the two are very different and it was interesting seeing them back to back. Disneyland features the characters and is much brighter. DCA is much darker with more light effects and louder music.
  
  
• As the cold set in we looked at the entertainment choices and after the 6pm hour there is almost nothing anymore. Just a couple final sets and the two dance parties. Downtown Disney has a couple acts but the parks had nothing. At DCA this seemed like a long time considering World of Color was not until 10pm. At Disneyland Mix Magic was at 9:30 so slightly better.
  
  
• Decided to watch Mickey's Mix Magic from Main Street Friday. The show has improved slightly from my last viewing. There are now projections on the castle scaffolding scrim and they were really clear thanks to the large flat surface. Also lasers have returned but are fired from the Train Station vs the castle. The effect is not nearly as strong as when they came from the Castle but it was much better than nothing like my previous viewing.
  
  
• After Mix Magic I walked quickly over to DCA and out to Paradise Park. I looked and had the choice of 3rd row stand by or try and go down and use the yellow FastPass I received. I opted for Stand by. The area was very busy this evening since it was the first show in nearly a year. I thought maybe the low temps would drive guests away but it appeared not many left. The viewing area options were slightly changed. The area in front of stand by in the back of blue near the obelisk that used to be for wheelchairs and their parties was being used as a regular area. So the view from standby was not as good as it used to be. There were a handful of rows of guests standing at nearly the same level now.
  
  
• It was great to see the World of Color show again. I always enjoy the show and having it gone for nearly a year left a hole in the DCA night time entertainment choices that went unfilled for a good portion of the year (they had Paint the Night running for several months). From my vantage point I did not notice any substantial changes to the show. Everything looked about the same as before. There were some little technical issues still such as lights that stayed on or fountains that did not look 100% correct, but overall it was a good first performance.
  
  
• It appears the tram queue tests have concluded. Friday as we left everything was normal with no queues. I choose wisely and was able to walk right onto a waiting tram grabbing some of the last seats before they called final boarding.
  
  

Here are some recent posts to the Geek's Blog:

• 02/22/19 - Disneyland Resort Pictures Live from the park
  • Disneyland Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Construction Pictures (2/22/19)
  • Disneyland New Parking Structure Construction Pictures (2/22/19)
  • Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival Marketplace Menu Preview
  • World of Color – Finale (Picture & Video)
  • Projections on Castle scrim during Mickey’s Mix Magic
• 02/19/19 - Review: Ralph Breaks the Internet Home Video Release
• 02/18/19 - Disney The Little Mermaid 30th Anniversary Walt Disney Signature Collection Release Review
• 02/15/19 - Disney Legend Dave Smith Passes Away at Age 78
• 02/14/19 - Sleeping Beauty Castle – Renovation/Scaffolding Scrim Pictures (2004, 2015 & 2019)
• 02/12/19 - Little Mermaid 30th Anniversary Walt Disney Signature Edition Blu-ray Giveaway
• 02/05/19 - 2019 Upcoming Disney Book List

Geek’s Blog Postings Recap January 25 - February 6, 2019

Disney Related Press Releases

• 02/21/19 - New Play Pavilion Coming to Epcot as Part of Theme Park’s Historic Multi-Year Transformation
• 02/20/19 - Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns On Digital 4K Ultra HD and Movies Anywhere March 12 and on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray March 19
• 02/20/19 - Marvel Games adds Captain Marvel Content
• 02/18/19 - Hong Kong Disneyland Resort Achieves Record Revenue and EBITDA
• 02/15/19 - Disney Legend Dave Smith Passes Away at Age 78
• 02/15/19 - Frozen Fan Fest & Star Wars Triple Force Friday Taking Place October 4th
• 02/14/19 - D23 Disney Twenty-Three Spring Issue Details
• 02/13/19 - Frozen 2: Teaser Trailer, Stills & Poster
• 02/12/19 - Marvel Studios’ “Captain Marvel” to be Released in ScreenX
• 02/11/19 - D23 Expo Design Challenge and Mousequerade Now Accepting Submissions
• 02/11/19 - Disney's Aladdin - Live Action - TV Spot and New Still
• 02/10/19 - Dumbo Sneak Peek & Character Posters

Be sure to check out the picture update that goes with this Geekspeak column, it can be found in our Disneyland Resort Pictorial Update section

Trip logs and mileage reports are in the Park Miles section.

Send comments, questions, any other email to: disneygeek@disneygeek.com