In the wake of Disneyland opening to the public in 1955, Walt Disney stated, “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” The Disneyland of yesteryear is far different from the Disneyland of today. This vibrant and energetic happy place remains relevant and on the cutting edge through its love of bringing stories to life through technological magic. Here’s a sample of some of the new offerings debuting at Disneyland Resort throughout this fall.
Tiana’s Palace and more come alive in New Orleans Square
While Disney Parks & Resorts currently reimagines a former attraction to become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (debuting in 2024 at both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World), Disneyland opened its long awaited quick-service restaurant Tiana’s Palace within its New Orleans Square on September 7. Inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios film, The Princess and the Frog, Tiana’s Palace immerses its guests with direct contextual references from the animated feature that focused on Princess Tiana. Once diners make their menu selections, they will have the opportunity to enjoy their meals beneath expansive yellow and gold awnings that are accented by unique bistro lighting, all reminiscent of the restaurant in the animated feature.
Tiana’s Palace cuisine
House Gumbo with Buttermilk Cornbread and Chicory Cold Brew Coffee; Gulf Shrimp & Cheesy Grits, Lemon Ice Box Pie house-filled Beignets, and Chicory Cold Brew coffee
With the opening of Tiana’s Palace, Disneyland has officially turned into a destination dining tour de force! The bold flavors coming from the New Orleans-inspired dishes of Tiana’s Palace are very authentic, with various regional dishes utilizing select ingredients sourced directly from Louisiana when available. Rich Creole flavors come alive in the three different types of gumbos that are offered: A flavorful House Gumbo that includes braised chicken, Andouille sausage, and heirloom rice, as well as the plant-based 7 Greens Gumbo that is a mélange of white beans, okra, yams, sweet onions, and heirloom rice. This can be adjusted to the 7 Greens Gumbo with Chicken and Andouille Sausage if you would like to include meat-based protein with the latter. (Tip: Be sure to add on the delicious buttermilk cornbread.) And taking the NOLA authenticity further, Tiana’s Palace also offers a deliciously rich Gulf Shrimp & Cheesy Grits and a Muffuletta Sandwich that’s served with red beans and rice, all of which will satiate your appetite. And as recommended by Arielle Harris who is a Disneyland Food & Beverage project manager, order the Chicory Cold Brew coffee along with the Lemon Ice Box Pie house-filled beignets to complete your dining journey. One additional note: The Mint Julep Bar reopened alongside Tiana’s Palace and it has resumed offering its famous mint juleps and eternally-popular Mickey beignets.
Continuing with the New Orleans-centric lens, a new limited nighttime entertainment on the Rivers of America will delight Disneyland guests. Beginning September 29, The Heartbeat of New Orleans – A Living Mural will tell a short tale about a mischievous little frog from the bayou that leaps to New Orleans, as it listens to the jazzy beats it hears in the distance. This lively jazz score will play in sync with unique art installations as they are projected onto the Rivers of America.
Celebrate Hispanic & Latin-American traditions along with characters from Coco!
Disneyland guests can also look forward to celebrating Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month between September 15 and October 15, with arts and crafts for all ages to enjoy, specialty food and beverage offerings, and live entertainment across the resort. However, September 1 through November 2, Plaza de la Familia at Disney California Adventure Park commemorates the love of family through culturally rich experiences. As Disneyland Resort’s mission is all about family togetherness and making memories with loved ones, guests are encouraged to leave a memorial message in honor of their departed loved ones within a specially designated pavilion. Inspired by the Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), this celebration features characters and music from Disney and Pixar’s Academy Award-winning film Coco. It includes a lively show with the Mariachi Divas called “A Musical Celebration of Coco,” which showcases Miguel and his dream of participating in a live musical performance.
Additionally, the dining offerings within the adjacent Paradise Garden Grill are equally exciting. According to Esteban Valerio, a guest relations host at Disneyland Resort, “The Chile Verde Chicken Flautas are very delicious and very authentic, and they taste just like my mom’s Flautas! I’ve been telling everyone to get them!” After enjoying the delicious Flautas, Valerio also encourages guests to try the Horchata Cheesecake.
Experience Big Hero 6 in living color at Disney California Adventure Park
Inspired by the thriving metropolis in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Academy Award-winning film, Big Hero 6, San Fransokyo Square at Disney California Adventure Park transports guests into the world of the film that features distinctive artwork and environs, diverse food and beverages, unique shopping opportunities, and much more. After crossing over the iconic San Fransokyo Gate Bridge and into the square, hungry diners can choose from Aunt Cass Café, Rita’s Turbine Blenders, and the Port of San Fransokyo Cervecería, in addition to, new selections at Lucky Fortune Cookery and Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill. The featured menu offerings of San Fransokyo Square include: Curry Beef in a sourdough bread bowl, plant-based Soba Noodle Salad, Honey Lemon-Ade, the Baymax Macaron, and much more. While here, guests can also interact with boy genius Hiro Hamada and his huggable healthcare companion robot Baymax outside their workshop.
Halloween time at the Disneyland Resort
The whole family will enjoy the comforts of home in two-bedroom villas in The Villas at Disneyland Hotel at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., which will sleep up to nine guests. With the magical touch from “Fantasia,” each villa will make you feel at home with a washer and dryer, spacious living areas, and a full-size kitchen.
The whole family will enjoy the comforts of home in two-bedroom villas in The Villas at Disneyland Hotel at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., which will sleep up to nine guests. With the magical touch from “Fantasia,” each villa will make you feel at home with a washer and dryer, spacious living areas, and a full-size kitchen.
Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion is transformed to Haunted Mansion Holiday; experience Haul-O- Ween within Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park; and this year’s Gingerbread House within Haunted Mansion Holiday
Halloween Time!
Mickey, Minnie, and some of their pals welcome guests in their seasonal attire now through October 31 for Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort. Catch Jack Skellington and his friends from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas “wrecking the halls” of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion Holiday once again. The supernatural Halloween Screams nighttime spectacular summons projections, special effects, and music on Main Street, USA, Sleeping Beauty Castle, Rivers of America, and in front of “it’s a small world.” Over at Disney California Adventure, the family-friendly Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree in Cars Land opts for a happily hair-raising soundtrack to become Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree, while literally just down the road, Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters takes guests on a wicked whirl as Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween. And as day turns into night, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! in Avengers Campus transforms into Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark, which is scream-worthy adventure to save Groot from creatures running wild in The Collector’s Fortress.
Sneak peek at the new Adventureland Treehouse
Spacious deluxe studios in The Villas at Disneyland Hotel sleep up to four guests, and include a kitchenette, a split bathroom, and two queen-sized beds—one of which folds into the wall to reveal a couch. Each room was inspired by either “Sleeping Beauty” or “The Princess and the Frog”, and features regal theming throughout.
Spacious deluxe studios in The Villas at Disneyland Hotel sleep up to four guests, and include a kitchenette, a split bathroom, and two queen-sized beds—one of which folds into the wall to reveal a couch. Each room was inspired by either “Sleeping Beauty” or “The Princess and the Frog”, and features regal theming throughout.
Adventureland Treehouse coming this Fall to Disneyland (artist rendering); Mother’s Music Den within the Adventureland Treehouse (artist rendering)
Time to Climb a Tree!
Inspired by Walt Disney’s Swiss Family Robinson, Disneyland welcomes guests to channel their inner-adventurer by taking a journey through a giant tree to explore the fascinating spaces of the Adventureland Treehouse. Opening this fall, this new story captures the spirit of the original treehouse that Walt Disney and his Imagineers created in 1962, and it encourages its visitors to explore and roam throughout this creative and immersive experience.
As you can see, Disneyland Resort continues to flourish, and it will never rest on its laurels. Walt Disney would be extremely proud to see how the happy place he built continues to adapt to the needs of every generation, while not forgetting its past. Providing immersive experiences that seamlessly coexist with its historic heritage, Disneyland Resort will continue to be nothing short of an ever-thriving time capsule to dreams and creativity.
