November saw significant changes in various projects around the Disneyland Resort. While Star Wars Land continued at a steady pace (despite rain and high winds), a couple of other projects were surprisingly put into action right in the midst of the Resort’s busy holiday season.
While the Star Wars Land site appeared, at first glance, to have moved little beyond dirt and concrete, a closer look revealed some significant signs that things appear to be right on schedule. Rock work has been started along the new course of the Rivers of America, and by the end of the month there was even the appearance of a trestle for the Disneyland Railroad’s new right-of-way. Behind the scenes more buildings are going up, and a new backstage access road is coming together.
The announcement that the Resort was building new security points at the Mickey and Friends parking structure tram loading, as well as access points to Downtown Disney caught many by surprise, though not LaughingPlace readers, who first read about it here in September. What is surprising is that work has moved forward during one of the Resort’s busier times of the year. Work on the Downtown Disney security areas has curtailed some of the offerings that guests have come to expect, not the least of which the skating rink, which has not appeared.
The Eastern Gateway project is moving along more quietly. So far nothing obvious has happened at the site of the announced new parking structure, and only massive mounds of dirt have appeared at the new security area. The Carousel Motel, which has closed, is yet to be demolished to make way for the Harbor Boulevard overcrossing.
This month’s update includes a few other odds and ends as well. General refurbishing has been taking place at Downtown Disney; a new Preferred Parking program was initiated at the Mickey and Friends parking structure; the floats for the return of the Main Street Electrical Parade have been seen (but just in storage); and the new Sprinkles Cupcake shop opened in mid-month at Downtown Disney.
That's all for now, but come back soon for more from the Disneyland Resort.