This week, DisneylandForward moves… forward, a giant new addition to the Grand Californian for Lunar New Year, a new treat at Rancho del Zocalo, Haunted Mansion construction shocker, we talk about our trip to the Disney100 Exhibition in Chicago, and more! Please support the show if you can by going to https://www.dlweekly.net/support/. Check out all of our current partners and exclusive discounts at https://www.dlweekly.net/promos. News: The future of the Disneyland Resort has taken another step forward last week. DisneylandForward had a workshop with the Anaheim City Council where some more details were laid out. Disney proposes to invest $1.9 billion on attractions, entertainment, lodging, and retail within 10 years of approval, along with up to $90 million to update city streets and improve streets near the parks. $30 million will be used over five years for affordable housing, $8 million for Anaheim park improvements in the first year, and funding of worker education, development, and recruiting programs. The next steps are a planning commission workshop in February, with a hearing in March, and a City Council hearing in May. – DisneylandForward ➡ Charting The Course For Future Adventures! (micechat.com) For new things to happen, we have to say goodbye to some old things. Over at the Haunted Mansion, walls are up from Tiana’s Palace all the way to Critter Country for construction of the expanded queue and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Trees have been cut down in front of the New Orleans Square train station, between Tiana’s Palace and the Haunted Mansion. This is to make way for the reimagined queue and park space that will be located in this space when construction is complete. – DISNEYLAND UPDATE: Haunted Mansion Shocker, New Celebrations & Massive Construction! (micechat.com) The Year of the Dragon is upon us and the Lunar New Year festival has some merch for this year. Of course there are some Lunar New Year Minnie Ears for $34.99, a Lunar New Year Spirit Jersey for $79.99 for adults, and a child size for $64.99. Other items include a pull over sweatshirt, t-shirt, Mickey plush, cards, and more. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2024/01/24/all-the-2024-lunar-new-year-festival-merchandise-at-disneyland-resort/ The Grand Californian goes all out for the holidays, adding some new touches for Lunar New Year. A new, giant dragon kite, spanning 80 feet long, has been hung in the lobby. A smaller Lunar New Year display is also there with different dolls reminiscent of the dolls in “it’s a small world.” There is also an area for a photo op. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2024/01/28/this-80-foot-long-dragon-is-the-best-disney-hotel-decoration-weve-ever-seen/ https://www.micechat.com/378728-disneyland-update-haunted-mansion-shocker-new-celebrations-massive-construction/ January 29th is Ahsoka Tano Day. To celebrate, Ashley Eckstein, the voice of the character, along with Bret Ewan, the voice of Mickey Mouse and graphic artist, were on hand for the launch of the new “I am no Jedi” collection the duo created together. There was a meet and greet event and then a lightsaber meetup in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge in the evening. – DISNEYLAND UPDATE: Haunted Mansion Shocker, New Celebrations & Massive Construction! (micechat.com) A new treat has come to Rancho del Zocalo. The Mickey-shaped Churro Cream Puff is a cream puff filled with cinnamon pastry cream, and topped with cinnamon craquelin and cinnamon sugar. It tastes like a churro and is pretty light even with all the cream inside. If this sounds tasty to you, pick one up for $7.99. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2024/01/27/review-we-tried-a-mickey-shaped-churro-cream-puff-and-well-never-look-at-pastries-the-same-way-again/ Apparently the Disney100 celebration at Disneyland has concluded. All of the Disney100 decorations in Downtown Disney have been removed. Over by the old ESPN Zone building, a new retro Downtown Disney photo op has been setup. – https://www.micechat.com/378728-disneyland-update-haunted-mansion-shocker-new-celebrations-massive-construction/ The Pixar Place Hotel had it’s grand reopening the day we record the podcast. The new lobby icon of the Pixar Ball with Luxo Jr. on top looks great, along with the other touches scattered about the hotel. Outside, a new lighting package has been installed that give the hotel a pop of Pixar color at night! – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2024/01/30/disneys-new-pixar-place-hotel-is-now-open/ Snack Chat: February is Black History Month, which can only mean one thing: Celebrate Soulfully is back at Disneyland! The Disney Parks Blog released the Foodie Guide for the event. – https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2024/01/disney-eats-foodie-guide-to-celebrate-soulfully-2024/ Did you know that January is National Soup Month? How about that February 4th is National Homemade Soup Day? Well, the Disney Parks Blog posted 7 soup recipes that you can make at home from the parks, hotels, and cruise line. – https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2024/01/disney-eats-warm-up-with-7-soup-recipes/ Discussion Topic: Disney100 Exhibit in Chicago – https://disney100exhibit.com/chicago/