Disneyland Weekly Update—Critter Country & Haunted Mansion Updates, Security Entrance Closed, Party Over, and More

There are many big projects in the works at Disneyland right now between the ongoing transformation of Downtown Disney, the addition of a new Disney Vacation Club location to Disney California Adventure, and new additions to Critter Country and the Haunted Mansion.

We are at the parks weekly to share with you the latest updates from across the Disneyland Resort.

This week, we have several updates including the closure of the old security checkpoint at Downtown Disney, the closure of a couple of entertainment experiences, construction updates for Haunted Mansion and Critter Country, and more. Keep reading for details on what is new at Disneyland this week!

Pride Month Decor at the Disneyland Hotel

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Disneyland is celebrating Pride Month this June and has added a Pride heart to the floral decor near the pool area to celebrate. In our update last week, we shared a look at the new Pride merchandise at the World of Disney store. See everything you need to know about celebrating Pride Month at Disneyland and the Disneyland After Dark Pride Nites that will be taking place soon!

Old Security Checkpoint Near Disneyland Hotel Closed

After the opening of the new security entrance on the west side of Downtown Disney last week, the old entrance has now closed. See our recent coverage of the new Downtown Disney security entrance and plaza that is now open!

This old security entrance will become a private security checkpoint for Disneyland Hotel guests, which was previously shared with us as part of planned changes to the onsite Disneyland Hotels.

Construction Continues on Din Tai Fung 

From what we can see behind the construction walls, it looks like Din Tai Fung is making great progress and work appears to be approaching its final stages. The restaurant is slated for an opening in summer 2024, though Disney didn't specify an exact date.

We're really excited for this as you can see in our guide to Din Tai Fung at Downtown Disney—this is going to be a super popular new addition!

Paintings on Construction Walls in Downtown Disney

The Downtown Disney paintings depicting Mei from Turning Red in her red panda form and Ember and Wade from Elemental, which we previously saw in progress on the ground, are now being displayed along the construction walls near the Disneyland Hotel.

These look absolutely amazing and are a beautiful way to celebrate Pixar Fest! The Turning Red painting was created by artist Pei Jun Tang and the Elemental painting by artist Marcella Swett.

Construction Walls Near Star Wars Trading Post Taken Down

There has been a lot of construction happening in Downtown Disney, but more and more construction walls have been taken down recently including the ones near Star Wars Trading Post. See everything you need to know about Downtown Disney's larger reimagining in our full guide to the Downtown Disney expansion!

WonderGround Gallery Now Where California Sole Was

In a previous update, we shared that California Sole had closed in Downtown Disney. Now, the WonderGround Gallery has been moved to the footwear store's former location. Downtown Disney did clarify on their Instagram when sharing the announcement that this is a “temporary location.”

New Disney Vacation Club Lounge Entrance Visible

At Disney California Adventure, the entrance for the new Disney Vacation Club location in progress is now visible in the space that was formerly Blue Sky Cellar. This space will become a new Disney Vacation Club Welcome Home Center.

Redwood Creek Challenge Trail Construction

Construction continues on the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail ahead of its reopening later this month. See our full guide to Disneyland refurbishments to stay up to date on the closures happening at the parks!

New Construction Wall In Paradise Gardens Area

There is a new construction wall up in the Paradise Gardens area of Disney California Adventure, but we're not sure what this is for.

Dr. Strange Show Closing at Avengers Campus

Disneyland officials say that the show Dr. Strange: Mysteries of the Mystic Arts show at Avengers Campus will have its final performance this month on June 30, according to The Orange County Register. The show's closure was announced after the recent vote for the unionization of the Disneyland Entertainment Cast Members.

Dr. Strange will continue to meet guests throughout Avengers Campus after the closure according to Disneyland officials.

Club Pixar Performance Offerings Now Ended

A Pixar Fest offering is ending earlier than planned as Club Pixar will no longer have the DJ and dancers. This change is due to guest feedback and operational considerations, according to Disneyland officials.

The other offerings here like the Pixar games, photo ops, themed food, etc. will remain available from 4:30-8:30 pm every day.

Haunted Mansion Construction

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Construction for the Haunted Mansion grounds expansion continues at Disneyland Park. There doesn't look to be a ton of visible progress since the last construction update we shared, but they seem to be transplanting a tree into the queue area. You can read about the Haunted Mansion construction and when we expect it to open in our Haunted Mansion closure guide.

Critter Country Construction Disneyland

Critter Country construction is underway at Disneyland to make improvements to the area and add two new retail shops inspired by Princess and the Frog. This is still in the early stages of construction, but we imagine that the reopening of this area will at least roughly align with the opening of Tiana's Bayou Adventure later this year. Disney has not yet shared an opening date for the attraction at Disneyland (though we do have our predictions you can read about). You can see our guide to Critter Country closures at Disneyland for more information on some of the recent closures that were announced and how they may impact your visit.

In the photo below, you can see the construction taking place next to the Hungry Bear Restaurant, which will soon be closing for refurbishment on July 8.

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