A Summer Of Transition: Why You Won't Be Riding Pirates Of The Caribbean Anytime Soon At Disneyland

If you are a Disney purist who considers a stroll through New Orleans Square an absolute necessity, you may want to brace yourself before booking your next trip out west.

Disneyland has officially shuttered its original, flagship Pirates of the Caribbean attraction for a massive, multi-month refurbishment. Because Disney left the return date completely blank on its official park calendar, the sudden move has left summer travelers facing an indefinite closure of the park's most legendary dark ride.

So, what is happening behind the construction walls in Anaheim, and how will it affect your summer vacation plans? Here is the breakdown on the temporary downfall of the original pirate crew.

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Why is Pirates of the Caribbean Closed Indefinitely?

The gates officially locked on May 4, 2026. While a sudden closure with an unannounced reopening date usually sparks panic among fans, the reality is a bit more practical: the nearly 60-year-old attraction is simply getting some overdue, heavy-duty structural TLC.

According to local building permit filings, Disney isn't planning a massive storyline overhaul or stripping out your favorite characters. Instead, the project is a deep dive into the attraction's aging infrastructure and mechanics:

• Infrastructure Overhauls: Crews are performing extensive maintenance on the ride's underwater channels and rockwork, alongside installing new service ladders and high-voltage electrical panels.


• Audio-Visual Tech Upgrades: The ride is receiving highly targeted tech modernizations, including brand-new, high-definition projectors and upgraded sound systems specifically earmarked for "Scene 11."


• Animatronic Care: With dozens of moving figures operating in a highly humid, watery environment, several of the iconic Audio-Animatronics are getting extensive mechanical refreshes and costuming updates.

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The Blue Bayou "Buyer Beware"

The closure of Pirates has also caused a major ripple effect for New Orleans Square's most famous dining destination: the Blue Bayou Restaurant.

Because the restaurant is physically located inside the same building as the ride's opening bayou scene, it initially went dark alongside the attraction in early May. While the Blue Bayou has since reopened to hungry guests, it currently features a heavily "modified dining experience."

If you score a highly coveted reservation this summer, keep in mind that those peaceful, atmospheric views of the fireflies and passing boats are currently blocked off by construction barriers. Guests have also noted that minor construction echoes can sometimes be heard during peak work hours, meaning your expensive Monte Cristo sandwich might come with a side of ambient maintenance noise.

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A Summer of Transition for New Orleans Square

With Pirates of the Caribbean entirely offline, the crowd dynamics at Disneyland are shifting dramatically. New Orleans Square—historically one of the most bottlenecked, densely packed pathways in the park—is experiencing a rare period of absolute tranquility.

Compounding the quiet atmosphere is the fact that the nearby Port Royal Curios and Curiosities shop has also vanished from the map, indicating that Disney is taking advantage of the lower foot traffic to completely revitalize this historic corner of the park.

Interestingly, this closure coincided briefly with a separate, short-term maintenance closure of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Disneyland Paris, which went offline in mid-June for its own standard routine maintenance. However, while Paris visitors have a clear reopening date of July 4, California guests will simply have to keep checking the Disneyland app for a surprise announcement.

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Will the closure of Pirates of the Caribbean impact your Disneyland plans this summer, or will you still be heading to New Orleans Square? Let us know in the comments below!

Travelore News: Disneyland Removes Iconic Statue Of Walt Disney And Mickey Mouse

Disneyland has been making a lot of changes recently. With scheduled refurbishments, ride closures, and park updates, things are always evolving. Now, it seems like another change is underway. Disneyland recently removed the iconic statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse from their theme park.

Disneyland Removes Iconic Statue

Inside The Magic shared that the iconic bronze statue was removed from Disneyland earlier this week. The statue is titled "Partners," and it features the iconic Walt Disney and his infamous creation, Mickey Mouse.

The statue is a Disney staple, and the outlet shared that it can be spotted at Disneyland Park, Magic Kingdom Park, Tokyo Disneyland, Walt Disney Studios Park, and the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California.

Disneyland California Park got their own version of the statue in 2012. Their statue was titled "Storytellers." The outlet shared that "the statue depicts Walt as he arrived in California from Missouri in 1923, with Mickey Mouse standing by his side on a trunk."

However, this week, when guests entered the park, they noticed that the famous Disneyland statue was no longer visible. Instead, beige-colored construction walls surrounded the statue's location.

Currently, Disneyland has not shared any details regarding the closing of this beloved statue. However, the outlet did share that bronze naturally oxidizes. Therefore, it could be safe to assume that the statue just needs some in-depth maintenance and cleaning.

With no "re-opening" day listed by Disney, guests can only hope and assume that the statue will be cared for and visible again soon. In addition to this statue, Disneyland has also shut down various other attractions for maintenance.

For example, their monorail system is currently down for refurbishment. Additionally, the beloved and infamous Jungle Cruise ride is getting a facelift as well. Although limited details have been provided on all of the closures. This leaves Disney fans wondering if there are just some minor mechanical updates or if they will notice any changes to rides and attractions once they reopen.

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Mickey Mouse Can Start Hugging Again At Disney Parks

For nearly two years, costumed characters at U.S. Disney parks have kept their distance from visitors because of the pandemic. They haven’t been able to give hugs, sign autographs or interact up close with fans.

That is about to change in a few weeks when the parks reintroduce traditional character greetings. As soon as mid-April, personal interaction between visitors and costumed characters will be allowed again at Disneyland in California, Walt Disney World in Florida and on Disney cruises, the company said late last week in a blog post.

The parks closed temporarily because of the coronavirus in spring 2020. After the parks reopened that summer, costumed characters could only be seen waving from a distance in the parks or in parades. Last fall, the parks allowed the costumed characters to return to locations around the parks for individualized meet-ups with visitors, but they were only allowed to greet visitors and have their photos taken from a distance.

“Very soon, you will once again be able to hug Mickey Mouse, get an autograph from Mulan, and share a laugh with Goofy,” the post said. “We know many of you have missed these special moments, and your Disney character friends have missed you, too!”

Not all the traditional locations for character greetings will be open right away, the company said. They will be reopened in phases.

Disneyland Reopening Marks California’s COVID-19 Turnaround

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Disneyland swung open its gates to cheering visitors donning sequined Minnie Mouse ears and snapping selfies Friday, marking a dramatic turnaround in a state so overwhelmed with coronavirus cases just four months ago that patients were being treated in outdoor tents.

California’s world-famous theme park, which reopened after an unprecedented 13-month closure, is admitting only state residents and operating under a limited capacity for now.

Once inside, guests decked in Disney gear waved excitedly at employees tidying up the park’s hallmark Main Street, which was lined with hand sanitizing stations and signs reminding people to wear face coverings.
After spending the year mostly teaching her third-grade class from a tent in her backyard, Libby Birmingham was thrilled to be there. The 38-year-old, who attended the park regularly before the pandemic
with an annual pass, took the day off work to make the trip down from Pasadena with friends.

“Disneyland is like my happiest place, to be totally honest,” she said. “It’s one of those places that I can always enjoy, and it lets me be the kid — not always be in charge of the kids.”

The reopening highlights a big shift for the nation’s most populous state from just months ago when COVID-19 cases were surging, hospitals were running out of ICU beds, and hundreds of people died from the virus each day.

Now, California boasts the country’s lowest rate of confirmed coronavirus infections and more than half of the population eligible for vaccination has received at least one dose. Children have been returning to in-person classes, shops and restaurants are expanding business, and Gov. Gavin Newsom set June 15 as a target date to further reopen the economy, albeit with some health-related restrictions.

“It has such a symbolic nature to really quantifying that we’re finally rolling out of COVID,” said Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of state tourism promoter Visit California.

Theme parks were among the last California businesses allowed to reopen, in contrast to states with fewer restrictions such as Florida, where Disney World’s Magic Kingdom resort has been up and running, though at lower-than-usual capacity, since July. Another major U.S. amusement park, Ohio’s Cedar Point, opened last summer and will do so again for the upcoming season — only this time, it won’t require masks on rides.

At Disneyland, visitors must wear masks and can remove them to eat only in designated areas. Hugs and handshakes with characters are off limits, and parades and fireworks shows have been shelved to limit crowding.

On Friday, an updated Snow White ride drew throngs of visitors who were methodically spaced out in a winding outdoor line to prevent congestion indoors. Other areas of the park had fewer people. In a section devoted to Star Wars, there was ample space for children to run freely, and visitors waved from a distance to Rey, who flashed a smile and waved from a platform overlooking the park.

Outside a popular boat ride, Allison Sanger and her 4-year-old daughter, Emily, stopped by a cordoned-off patio to chat with a parasol-twirling Mary Poppins and Bert. The 28-year-old said she was glad her daughter could get close enough to see the characters and snap photos even with the new rules.

“We honestly have so many memories here,” she said. “We missed our memories and our magic.”

There was even a marriage proposal.

Zach Bolger, 35, said he met his girlfriend, Mackenzie Brown, 26, some three years ago at Disneyland trading collectible pins. The couple returned to the park Friday, and Bolger pulled out a ring box near Snow White’s wishing well. Brown cried tears of joy.

While California continues to “strongly discourage” anyone from visiting the state as tourists, the travel industry is banking on pent-up demand from its own nearly 40 million residents for a comeback. An advertising campaign encourages Californians to travel within the state, mirroring a pitch made after 9/11.

In a state with so many people shut in for so long, even in-state tourism could be a huge boost. Disney’s California parks have long had a loyal local fan base while its Florida locations rely more heavily on international tourists, said Carissa Baker, assistant professor of theme park and attraction management at University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

Disneyland is a major economic engine in California, drawing nearly 19 million in attendance the year before the coronavirus struck, according to the Themed Entertainment Association. It and other such attractions were shuttered in March 2020 as Newsom imposed the nation’s first statewide shutdown order.

For now, the park and neighboring Disney California Adventure are restricted to operating at 25% capacity under state health rules. Disney is only taking reservations from state residents, though California also allows fully vaccinated out-of-state visitors to attend theme parks.

The reopening was also welcomed by park employees eager to get back to work and owners of hotels and shops in the surrounding city of Anaheim. The city’s convention center saw more than 300 cancellations since the pandemic and so far has rebooked a quarter of them, said Jay Burress, president of Visit Anaheim.

At an early morning flag ceremony, Disney chief executive Bob Chapek thanked the park’s employees, many who greeted each other with fist-bumps and bright-eyes, though their smiles were concealed by constellation face masks. He asked them to “bring the magic back” for visitors who were kept away during the 412-day closure.

“We’re not just another theme park,” Chapek said. “We’re something special, and we’re something special because of all of you, because you bring magic to the world.”

Disneyland Ends Annual Passes 10 Months After Virus Closure

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Disneyland is ending its annual pass program 10 months after the theme park shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic, the theme park said Thursday.

The park in Anaheim, California, said it would begin issuing pro-rated refunds to eligible passholders.

“Due to the continued uncertainty of the pandemic and limitations around the reopening of our California theme parks, we will be issuing appropriate refunds for eligible Disneyland Resort Annual Passports and sunsetting the current program,” Ken Potrock, president of Disneyland Resort, said in a statement. He said the park will develop new membership offerings for when it can reopen.

Disney officials would not say how many people hold these passes or how much the move will cost the company.

The announcement comes the same week that Disneyland allowed county health officials to use its parking lot for a large-scale coronavirus vaccination site.

Disneyland closed in March and has not reopened since because coronavirus metrics in the county where the park is located have not declined to the levels required by the state.

California health officials have said large amusement parks like Disneyland can only reopen once transmission reaches minimal levels, and then park capacity will be limited to 25% and reservations required.

California has seen a surge in coronavirus cases in recent months that has prompted a shutdown of many businesses and nighttime curfews in much of the state.

Disneyland Hotels Set New Summer Reservations Date

Barry King/WireImage

Disneyland in Anaheim, California.

The move comes the same week The Walt Disney Co. announced it would be reopening its first theme park since the coronavirus pandemic began.

The Disneyland Resort has set a new date for guests to begin making reservations at park hotels. 

The theme park's website was updated May 6, notifying would-be guests (and those who needed to change their plans since the park's closure) that reservations are available beginning July 1. 

The previous note on the website said the resort would be closed "until further notice," which has also been modified to read, "a reopening date has not been identified" and "we will continue to carefully evaluate the complex and fluid situation." 

The update comes the same week The Walt Disney Co. announced it would be reopening its first theme park since the coronavirus pandemic forced the company to shutter all parks around the globe. 

However, on Monday, Shanghai Disneyland Park will reopen; the sprawling Chinese destination was the first of the company's parks to go idle in late January because of the pandemic. 

For Shanghai, some of the new measures and procedures in place include: All guests are required to pre-purchase admission tickets, no walk-ups. Once in the park, all guests (and employees) must wear a mask, except when dining. Guests will also have their temperature checked before entry. Ride queues (wait lines), restaurants and ride vehicles will be structured to promote social distancing, among other measures. 

On a Tuesday earnings call, Disney CEO Bob Chapek said it was too soon to talk about the Anaheim and Orlando parks again welcoming guests. Yet Shanghai will be a blueprint as to how the domestic parks could operate. A Disneyland union president told The Hollywood Reporter he agreed with that notion, saying he saw Shanghai as a "test of what works and doesn't work, though some practices may not be applicable here in the U.S." 

"I also noted that attendance limits will play a role as certain revenue creation per site appears necessary to reopen," Workers United Local 50 president Christopher Duarte told THR. 

The Disney CEO made it clear during the Tuesday earnings call that no park would be reopened if it was forecasted to lose money, stating he believed there is plenty of "pent-up" demand. "If we open up 50 percent less (capacity), we won't have trouble selling that," said Chapek. "We will staff accordingly for whatever that level will be."

When it opens its doors Monday, the Shanghai park will allow fewer than 24,000 visitors a day, which is 30 percent of its 80,000 capacity. Under government restrictions, capacity must currently be capped at 30 percent, but Chapek noted that the park will allow fewer to start, and after a few weeks it would be increased to the 24,000-guest level.

Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com

14 Things You Probably Don't Know About Disneyland In California

BY NAHRAIN JOHN

 @karryontravel

“Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world”, and so it has from 160 acres featuring five ‘lands’ to two complete parks with over 120 attractions.

It’s a man-made wonder unlike any other in the world with just the right about of magic to turn dreams into reality, spark curiosity and joy among both adults and children and turn the harshest of critics into believers.

Disneyland in California is fun, it’s colourful, it’s romantic, it’s spectacular and it’s magical, but just like any sight as grand as Walt’s, it comes with a treasure chest of secrets.

On a recent visit to celebrate the 13 April launch of the park’s inaugural Pixar Fest – a five-month celebration of all things Pixar -, we spoke to not one, not two, but THREE experts about the many mysteries of the enchanting destination and found that the deeper you dig, the more irresistible Disneyland becomes.

Here are over a dozen rarely known facts about Disneyland in California:

1. It’s kind of like the world’s first reality show

Ever wondered why Disneyland staff are referred to as ‘cast members’? It’s because Walt Disney never considered the park to be an attraction, but rather a 3D show.

He (and everyone involved in Disneyland) referred to the park as a ‘studio’ and considered it to be a set of an ongoing movie or show featuring real reactions and real interactions – much like a reality TV series.

2. And the brick road is actually a red carpet

If you’re lucky enough to have visited the park, you may have noticed a red brick road running through the entrance and Main Street. This red brick road is actually designed to mimic a red carpet, which the stars of the 3D reality show walk day-to-day.

3. Indiana Jones was once a sound stage

The Indiana Jones Adventure ride is more than just a mysterious, soft water adventure, it was a game-changer for the park when it launched as it was the first to be built in a sound stage. This gave designers the chance to maximise effects using unique audio.

4. While ‘Pirates’ was Walt’s last ride

Pirates of the Caribbean isn’t just a well-detailed journey with scoundrels, it’s actually the last attraction to be supervised by Walt Disney before he passed away. For this reason, park staff describe the ride as being dear to them as you can see the animator’s special touches shining through.

5. And funeral flowers surround Haunted Mansion

From the outside, Haunted Mansion doesn’t appear to be all that… haunted, and there’s a reason for it. During early stages of planning, designer had pitched house concepts with eerie exteriors, which were all rejected because they didn’t fit with the Disney theme. Instead, they opted for a more subtle approach to the afterlife by selecting faded and weeping fauna that is also associated with funerals and death. This allowed them to save the scare for the inside.

6. Looking out for the Haunted Mansion pearls is a MUST

The attention to detail at Disneyland is absolutely astounding, such as the number of peals on the Black Widow Bride’s necklace. According to insiders, an extra strand of pearls is adding to her neck whenever one of her husband passes. By the end she has five strands laced around her neck.

7. As is looking out for the third yellow blink

First off, Cars Land is absolutely amazing! The recreation of ‘Radiator Springs’ is so incredibly accurate, but what’s more impressive is the detail taken from the movie. For example, remember when Filmore is convinced that “every third blink is slower” off Route 66? Well, they’ve added that to the set! Be sure to check out the set of lights alongside Fla’s Cafe and see if it blinks a little longer.

8. And the Mickey ears

As an added Disney touch, designers have carefully incorporated Mickey Mouse’s ears in unsuspecting locations around the park, including this one we found in Star Tours The Adventure Continues.

9. Authenticity is everywhere

Further on that attention to detail, a large tree was placed within Disneyland’s New Orleans area to mask Cars Land Mountain in order to replicate the city’s flat landscape.

10. And everything has a touch of history

On almost every attraction you’ll find some randomly placed numbers, these represent the year the attraction opened and/or the year it was last re-modelled. An example of this is HyperSpace Mountain, which features the numbers ’05’ – this is the year it was re-modelled from Space Mountain to the Star Wars-themed HyperSpace Mountain.

11. If you’re feeling motion sick, Monsters is the place to go

GOOD TO KNOW! If you’ve been on one too many rides and feeling overwhelmed by nausea, head to Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue where ginger fragrance is pumped into the air.

12. Cast members can be more than just human

You know those gorgeous horses riding around the park? Well, they’re cast members also! Their names can be found on tags attached to their carriage.

13. While Adventure Park has a very humane origin

Disneyland in California’s Adventure Park was given the name because it represents Walt’s adventure when he arrived in Los Angeles.

14. And finally, the Taj Mahal isn’t real

Well, the one in India IS real but the one featured in Disneyland’s Soarin’ Over the World ride has been digitally included as Disney couldn’t get the rights from the Indian government to fly past the heritage site at low altitude.

READ: Disneyland will receive its first new hotel in two decades

READ: What makes Disneyland in California the happiest place on Earth? We get to the bottom of it

Know any other juicy Disneyland secrets? Share them with us below.

Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa Unveils Magical, Hotel-Wide Renovation

An exciting, hotel-wide refurbishment brings new magic to the deluxe Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa at the Disneyland Resort, with completely redesigned guest rooms plus a refreshed lobby, pool area and concierge-level lounge. The most extensive refurbishment since the hotel's 2001 opening elevates the premium guest experience and brings a contemporary approach to the Arts & Crafts design style.

Named a AAA Four Diamond hotel by the Automobile Club of Southern California for the sixteenth year in a row, the 948-room Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is the first Disney resort hotel in the world to be located inside a theme park.

"Our renovation brings an even more upscale experience to this iconic Southern California hotel, while staying committed to its signature Arts & Crafts design," said Dan Coleman, General Manager of Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. "We want our guests to enjoy the unique experience of staying in a Disney hotel that's distinctly situated in beautiful California. The revitalized design helps convey this feeling and allows us to continue exceeding guest expectations."

Guest Rooms

Every single element in the redesigned guest rooms is new—from flooring and walls, to furnishings and bathrooms. Upon entry, guests will notice beautiful hardwood-inspired flooring transitioning into soft, bright-toned carpeting. Linens and pillows are restyled in a bright, white palette and upgraded bathrooms include new fixtures. The room decor features all-new furniture made of quarter-sawn oak, specially designed for each room, as well as California-inspired artwork.

The headboards are made of quarter-sawn oak, a hallmark of Craftsman design, which frame a blossoming orange tree mural overhead—with mischievous Chip n' Dale playing in the branches. When guests open the sleeper bed (available in select rooms), artwork of Bambi, along with other woodland creatures, bid them goodnight.

Countertops of the room's desk, dresser and coffee station incorporate pieces of green glass from wine bottles, creating a beautiful, unique surface. Above the coffee bar, textured copper detailing adds depth to the aesthetic of the room while enforcing the Craftsman story.

Lastly, all rooms are powered with the latest technological features and premium amenities, including 55-inch smart TVs, Keurig coffee makers and built-in USB chargers. In addition, many rooms offer breathtaking views of Disney California Adventure Park and Downtown Disney District, the lively avenue with unique restaurants, interesting shops and dynamic entertainment venues.

Great Hall Lobby

The already stunning six-story Great Hall lobby has been upgraded with new, stylish furnishings and design elements. To complement the existing Arts and Crafts motif, new contemporary designs can be found throughout the furniture pieces, upholstery, woodwork and carpeting.

Custom tete-a-tete chairs provide interesting design and function, while boldly upholstered sofa and chair pairings offer a comfortable, welcoming setting. Coffee tables and lamp fixtures nicely complement the space, and leather-topped stools showcase hidden Mickey details. The redesigned space is perfect for lounging with family, relaxing with a glass of wine from the Hearthstone Lounge, or simply admiring the lobby's focal point—the cavernous fireplace and its roaring fire.

The Veranda

The concierge-level lounge has a new name—The Veranda—and a new design that draws inspiration from the architectural and furniture designs of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a visionary of the Arts & Crafts movement in Glasgow, United Kingdom. New hardwood flooring, custom-designed rugs, finely-crafted artisanal furniture and specially-commissioned art adds to the sophisticated tone of the lounge. Club-level guests may enjoy complimentary refreshments, as well as views of park fireworks in this exclusive setting.

Pool Deck

Each of the three pools have been redesigned with a variety of natural stones and brick to not only create a warm and welcoming environment, but also define the distinct pool settings. In keeping with the Arts and Crafts style of the hotel, the stone work was hand-laid by master stone masons.

Disney's Grand California Hotel & Spa is located inside Disney California Adventure Park, providing guests with a special entrance to the theme park. Food and beverage options at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel include the award-winning Napa Rose, as well as character dining at Storytellers Cafe and the cozy Hearthstone Lounge. Guests staying at Disneyland Resort hotels also enjoy Extra Magic Hour*, which provides early entry to select Disneyland or Disney California Adventure attractions (valid theme park ticket and active hotel room key required).

*Extra Magic Hour valid for registered Disneyland® Resort Hotel Guests for admission to select attractions at either Disneyland® Park or Disney California Adventure® Park before the applicable Park opens to the general public. Check Disneyland.com for schedule of when each Park offers Extra Magic Hour. Applicable Theme Park, days and times of operation and attraction and service availability may vary and are subject to change without notice. Subject to capacity, cancellation and other restrictions.

About the Disneyland Resort

The Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney California Adventure Park – plus three hotels and the Downtown Disney District, comprising unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The Resort's hotels are the luxurious, 948-room Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, which also features 50 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club units; the magical, 973-room Disneyland Hotel – both AAA Four Diamond properties – and the 481-room Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel with its "day-at-the-beach" theme. For information on attractions and vacations at the Disneyland Resort, visit Disneyland.com, call (866) 43-DISNEY or contact local travel agents. Located in Anaheim, Calif., the Disneyland Resort opened July 17, 1955. Open daily, year-round.

Disney Increasing Park Tickets For Certain Times Of Year

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Walt Disney World and Disneyland are increasing single-day tickets at certain times of the year and setting expiration dates on tickets in hopes of preventing overcrowding during the theme parks' busiest times, company officials said.

The single-day ticket prices are either staying the same or increased no more than $5 under the new price structure that went into effect Sunday. Last year, Disney rolled out a pricing plan that allows visitors to view a planning calendar from eight to 11 months out to determine which days are considered "value," ''regular" or "peak" times. Visitors pay more on "peak" days, which are the busiest times as forecast by park officials.

Disney is hiking its prices following a 5 percent decline in attendance at its U.S. theme parks during its most recent quarter that included the holiday season.

The goal of the varied price structure is to give park visitors an incentive to come during times that are not "peak" so that the experience can be better enjoyed by all, officials said. There have been times during holiday and spring break where the crowds have been so large that Disney has had to stop selling tickets.

"Our pricing provides guests a range of options that allow us to better manage demand to maximize the guest experience and is reflective of the distinctly Disney offerings at all of our parks," said Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahler.

Starting Sunday, "value" days for Magic Kingdom cost $107 for adults and $101 for children, a $2 increase. During "regular" time, park visitors pay $5 more with prices jumping from $115 for adults to $109 for children. The "peak" prices remain the same at $124 for adults and $118 for children.

At Disneyland, prices for single-day tickets also increased by $2 to $5. The regular price of admission at the Anaheim, California, park rose to $110, up from $105, beginning Sunday. A single-day ticket during peak periods climbed to $124 from $119. And the value ticket costs $97, up from $95.

At Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, "value" one-day tickets are now $99 for adults and $93 for children, which is a $2 bump for both. "Regular" times for adults are $107 for adults and $101 for children, and "peak" tickets jumped to $119 and $113, respectively for adults and children. The new prices represent a $5 increase across the board during "regular" and "peak" seasons.

All tickets now have expiration dates. In the past, only one-day and Florida resident tickets had expiration dates. Also guests will be able to save $20 on multiday tickets when they purchase them in advance. Park visitors can purchase the multiday tickets online at any time prior to entering the park to receive the savings.

Contributed By TERRANCE HARRIS

Disneyland Resort Celebrates The Holidays With New Fun And Entertainment

Festival of Holidays invites guests to enjoy heartwarming festivities from many cultures with music, dance, food and more

It’s the season for celebrations as Holidays at the Disneyland Resort launches November 10, inviting family and friends to make magical memories together.

This year, guests will have even more to celebrate as they discover the new Festival of Holidays, with music, dance, food and heartwarming holiday festivities inspired by cultural traditions from around the world.

Also new for the season is the holiday-themed “World of Color—Season of Light,” a nighttime water spectacular that will inspire guests with cherished holiday music and treasured Disney animation. This fourth all-new production of “World of Color” creates a sparkling winter fantasy with magical storytelling, brilliant lights, lasers and high-definition projectors, along with fountains that shoot as high as 200 feet to create the giant screens of water.  Princess Elena of Avalor also makes her debut at the Disneyland Resort during Festival of Holidays, performing in a colorful cavalcade.

Holidays at the Disneyland Resort is a time many guests celebrate as an annual tradition, visiting the parks for Disney-themed treats, snowfall on Main Street U.S.A., the glistening décor and holiday entertainment. This year, guests will find Santa Claus in a fun, new location at Disney California Adventure Park, at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, and guests at Disneyland Park will enjoy the one-of-a-kind transformations that create “it’s a small world” Holiday, Jingle Cruise and Haunted Mansion Holiday. Now celebrating its 20th holiday season, “it’s a small world” Holiday has added some “Hidden 20s” for guests to discover on their voyage.

At Disney California Adventure Park

• The new Festival of Holidays celebrates holiday festivities of diverse cultures with music, dance and craft-making, plus food at the Festive Foods Marketplace. The daily lineup of entertainment includes nearly 50 performances of nine unique shows, with special Disney characters, street parties, cavalcades, musical ensembles and dance performances. The celebrations include Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas/Navidad and Three Kings Day. Guests can look for performances of traditional Indian dance that builds to a Bollywood party, a Klezmer band with a new global sound, the Mariachi Divas and an a cappella vocal group that puts an R&B spin on holiday songs.

• Princess Elena, the first Disney Princess inspired by diverse Latin American cultures, will make her Disneyland Resort debut as part of the Festival of Holidays. She will perform a song in “Princess Elena’s Musical Grand Arrival,” and she will appear at a character greeting location. Guests will recognize this brave and adventurous teenager from the Disney Channel series “Elena of Avalor.”

• The popular Disney ¡Viva Navidad! also returns as part of the fun at Festival of Holidays, with a wonderful finale to celebrate Three Kings Day (Dia de los Reyes). The special festivities for Three Kings Day will run Jan. 5-8, 2017, including music and storytelling in Paradise Garden. Treats for this holiday will include traditional Rosca de Reyes bread.

• “World of Color – Season of Light” brings the warmth and heartfelt spirit of the holidays to this stunning, nighttime water spectacular, with its 1,200 powerful fountains shooting water as high as 200 feet to help tell the story. The show’s musical soundtrack features some well-known musical artists performing popular holiday tunes, including “Let it Snow” by Dean Martin and “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” by Michael Buble and Idina Menzel. With classic holiday music, humor and memorable moments from Disney animated films, this becomes an ideal way for guests to conclude their holiday visit.

• Jolly old St. Nick arrives at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail for Santa’s Holiday Visit. His joyful elves have transformed the trail into a magical playground of holiday fun and games, including opportunities for guests to join the ranks of Santa’s elves.

• The residents of Cars Land decorate for the holidays, beginning with a whimsical “snowcar” that greets guests on the road to Radiator Springs. Each address along Route 66–from Flo’s V-8 Café to Luigi’s Casa della Tires–features holiday décor that reflects the personality of the “Cars” character who lives there.

• “a bug’s land” transforms for the holidays, too, as Flik and his bug friends deck their land with oversized lights and ornaments.

• A dazzling, 50-foot Christmas tree adorns Carthay Circle, drawing guests into the holiday magic along Buena Vista Street. The tree and surrounding buildings, inspired by Los Angeles as it appeared when Walt Disney arrived in the 1920s, create scenes of another era with vintage-style décor.

At Disneyland Park

• Disney characters celebrate the season in “A Christmas Fantasy” parade, a daily procession with floats, music, marching “tin soldiers” and holiday cheer. Santa, who makes a jolly appearance in the parade, also will be found welcoming guests at his special location in Critter Country while he visits Disneyland.

• The classic Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle brightens the park nightly with magical snowfall moments along Main Street, U.S.A., concluding with “Believe … in Holiday Magic” fireworks and its stirring snowfall finale.

• Twinkling lights, festive holiday garland and nearly 1,800 ornaments decorate the soaring Christmas tree in Town Square, Main Street, U.S.A., an ideal place for guests to begin their holiday traditions. The Christmas tree becomes an enchanting place for guests to take their holiday photos, up close or with all 60 feet of the shimmering tree.

• On Friday, Nov. 18, guests and cast members in Disneyland will celebrate the birthday of Mickey Mouse, applauding him as he appears in a special birthday cavalcade preceding “A Christmas Fantasy” parade.

• Disneyland guests definitely will want to experience the popular seasonal transformations of these park attractions:

o “it’s a small world” becomes “it’s a small world” Holiday for the 20th time, celebrating children around the world and the distinctive holiday traditions of their nations. (The Holiday theme debuted in 1997.)

o Haunted Mansion becomes Haunted Mansion Holiday, with Jack Skellington and his friends from Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” causing a collision between Christmas and Halloween.

o Jungle Cruise is transformed into Jingle Cruise, as the jungle skippers gather jettisoned holiday gifts and decorations to brighten the rugged landscapes surrounding their riverboats.

The Downtown Disney shopping, dining and entertainment district and the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort join in the holiday festivities with twinkling lights and ornaments, holiday displays, special entertainment and holiday dining with themed menus. One highlight is the gingerbread house in the lobby of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Designed to resemble the exterior of the hotel itself, the gingerbread house stands 7 feet six inches tall and 12 feet wide. Holiday snacks, cider and hot chocolate are sold from a window in the gingerbread house.

Haunted Mansion Holiday inspired by “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.”