What to Expect Spring 2018 At Disneyland

By Jennifer Stuart

Planning a visit to Disneyland Resort in the spring.  Find out what to expect to help you plan your visit.

Lunar New Year Festival

Celebrate the Year of the Dog! The Lunar New Year Festival runs from January 26 to February 18.  It will feature specialty Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cuisine. Festival food booths will be located throughout the north side of Paradise Pier between Little Mermaid and Paradise Gardens. Guests can enjoy multicultural performances, activities and food. Themed merchandise will also be available.  Highlights include the “Hurry Home—Lunar New Year Celebration” prior to “World of Color,” “Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession,”  and a Lucky Wishing Wall. 

Construction on Main Street

Look for construction walls to dominate Town Square, Main Street and the Hub throughout the spring.  There is a construction project to replace all of the horse-drawn trolley tracks.  Over the years, parts of the tracks have been replaced but others are original to park opening.  Sections that are still original will be saved but other sections will be recycled.  This construction means that the Main Street vehicles will not be running for the duration of the construction and walls will block off areas.  The Town Square and around the Hub are the two areas that have already been blocked off and Main Street will follow.  Construction is scheduled to be completed by "late winter" which should translate as before spring break. (Currently they are shown as returning March 16).  This also means no parade or fireworks for February and the beginning of March.  "Remember Dreams Come True" are first listed as returning on March  15.
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Food and Wine Festival

The popular culinary festival expands to six weeks this year.  It will run from March 2 to April 12.   Food marketplace booths will stretch from just past Carthay Circle all the way to Paradise Gardens.  Food is billed as "California-inspired".  Based on past years, this event will be very popular and a lot of fun. There will be food inspired entertainment and demonstrations with celebrity chefs such as Robert Irvine and Alexandra Guarnaschelli.  As far as we know "tasting passports" should be available to annual passholders.

Pixar Pier

This summer, during Pixar Fest, this permanent transformation of the Paradise Pier area will open, featuring four Pixar-themed neighborhoods, plus the new Incredicoaster (a transformed California Screamin’) and a new Pixar-themed lounge and grill that will replace the Cove Bar and Ariel's Grotto). Pixar Pier will feature a brand-new look for the area previously known as Paradise Pier.   As part of the transformation The Cove Bar, Ariel's Grotto, California Screamin' and Games of the Boardwalk all closed at the beginning of January.  King Trition's Carosel will close on March 2.  Mickey's Fun Wheel is also closed for refurbishment but is expected to remain and retain the iconic Mickey Head.  Toy Story Midway Mania remains open during construction, but Fastpass Tickets are now being distributed beside Ariel's Undersea Adventure.  Check out this Video about what to expect for the changes to Pixar Pier.

Closure of Cove Bar and Ariel's Grotto

​Guest favourite the Cove Bar and Ariel's Grotto  have already closed to begin the transformation into a new Pixar themed lounge and grill.  Exact themeing is still to be announced.  Projected re-opening is listed as "Summer2018." In the meantime popular Cove Bar drinks such as the Mickey Fun Wheel can be found at Alfresco Tasting Terrace.

Easter

There are a few special offerings if you are going to be at Disneyland for Easter. One popular and fun thing to do is the  Easter Egg-stravaganza egg hunt throughout the parks. Pick up maps at locations throughout the parks  for a small fee and then use the included stickers when you find the hidden character eggs to earn an easter themed prize. This year running from  March 16 through April 1. This is a time when you are more likely to meet rabbit characters such as Thumper and don't forget the legendary Candy Palace Fudge Eggs! For more information read our post about Easter at Disneyland.

Paint the Night Parade

Paint the Night Parade will be returning to the parks after more than a year long absence starting on April 13. This time the parade will run through Disney California Adventure.  This is a  very popular parade.  It is high energy and a really beautiful show.  We highly recommend that you make time to see it.  Stay tuned for details of the parade route but we expect it to follow the route previously taken by Pixar Play Parade between Paradise/Pixar Pier and Buena Vista Street.

Pixar Fest 

Pixar Fest (first announced at D23) will start April 13 and run through the summer.  Highlights will include a new Fireworks show at Disneyland. The new ‘Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular’ will celebrate friendship as seen in Pixar films.  As part of this there will be projections on the buildings on Main Street and Sleeping Beauty Castle. Also Buzz Lightyear will even fly over the castle instead of Tinkerbell.  Pixar Fest will include the return of both the Pixar Play Parade and Paint the Night Parade. Pixar Fest will include new Pixar experiences, entertainment, characters, fun décor and limited-edition merchandise.

Pixar Play Parade

Pixar Fest will mark the return of Pixar P​lay Parade. Starting  April 13, this daytime parade will replace Mickey's Soundsational Parade and run through Disneyland.  Three new story elements will be added to the parade.

Queue Changes

There are significant queue changes being made to both Dumbo and It's a Small World. These should ease congestion and hopefully add some more shade.  You will just notice some construction near Small World but Dumbo and Casey Jr Circus Train will both be closed for Dumbo construction. Casey Jr. will return March 2nd and Dumbo is scheduled to re-open in "early spring".

Photos by Jennifer Stuart and Kim Stuart

Questions? Comments? We would love to hear from you!