7 big things happening at Disneyland Resort in April 2022
The return of traditional character greetings, fireworks, parades, a special overlay of a popular attraction, a first-ever event and the closing for refurbishment of a popular restaurant are all taking place in April at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
Here’s a closer look:
1. Traditional character greetings – Return April 18: Instead of having to stand in front of a rope or a few feet away from characters, guests will again be able to hug Mickey Mouse, get an autograph from a Princess and get a high five from Goofy at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. No specific dates or the lineup of when it is happening to which characters has been announced. Not all locations will be available immediately, and this will be reopening in phases throughout the spring and early summer.
2. Blue Bayou Restaurant closing for refurbishment – April 21: The Blue Bayou Restaurant at New Orleans Square in Disneyland will be closing on April 21, 2022, for an unknown length of time for refurbishment. The restaurant is next to the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, which is currently closed for refurbishment and would remain in early summer. It is not know if the two closures are related. Disney has not announced any details about the Blue Bayou Restaurant refurbishment.
3. Main Street Electrical Parade – Returns April 22: A guest favorite since its debut in 1972, “Main Street Electrical Parade” features cherished floats such as the classic train and drum unit and Elliot the Dragon. With an electronic musical score based on “Baroque Hoedown” by Jean-Jacques Perrey and Gershon Kingsley, this parade was the first to play unique musical arrangements synchronized to each float unit. The lineup of floats has changed over the years, and Disney parks around the world have presented evolving versions of this iconic parade.
To honor the milestone 50th anniversary of “Main Street Electrical Parade,” Disney Live Entertainment will introduce a grand finale that celebrates the theme of togetherness in an all-new float. The seven-segment float stretches 118 feet in length and brings to life more than a dozen Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios films, making it one of the longest and grandest sequences in the parade’s history.
Guests along each side of the parade route will see different stylized scenes from classic and contemporary favorite stories such as “Encanto,” “The Jungle Book,” “Raya and the Last Dragon,” “Aladdin,” “Coco,” “Mulan,” “Brave,” “The Princess and the Frog” and more. The finale also pays tribute to the parade’s heritage with the return of the Blue Fairy character from “Pinocchio” and a unique, 19-foot-tall representation of Sleeping Beauty Castle.
4. World of Color – Returns April 22: Disney California Adventure brings animation to life with powerful fountains that create an immense screen of water. Combining music, fire, fog and laser effects with memorable animated sequences, “World of Color” floods the senses and immerses audiences in some favorite Disney and Pixar stories, including scenes like WALL-E and Eve zipping through the cosmos, Pocahontas exploring just around the riverbend and Jack Sparrow battling on the sea.
5. Disneyland Forever – Returns April 22: The fireworks spectacular is a street-to-sky celebration filled with sparkling pyrotechnics and immersive projections that envelop guests with surprising special effects. Main Street, U.S.A., and a few other spots in Disneyland become a magical canvas, transporting guests from an Anaheim orange grove into the worlds of timeless Disney and Pixar stories. “Disneyland Forever” also features two original songs: the theme “Live the Magic” and the inspiring closing song “Kiss Goodnight,” written by Disney Legend Richard B. Sherman.
“Main Street Electrical Parade” and “Disneyland Forever” will be available for a limited time at Disneyland. From April 22 to late spring, “Disneyland Forever” will perform Fridays through Sundays, and the “Mickey’s Mix Magic” projections-only show is scheduled Mondays through Thursdays. “Disneyland Forever” fireworks will then run nightly in the summer. “World of Color” will return to its regular schedule upon reopening.
6. Hyperspace Mountain – Returns April 29: Space Mountain in Disneyland is transformed into Hyperspace Mountain and launches riders into their own high-speed Star Wars adventure. The attraction will close on April 28 and reopen on April 29 as Hyperspace Mountain where for a limited time guests can fend off crossfire from swarms of Rebel X-wing starfighters and Imperial TIE fighters amidst an intergalactic onslaught.
7. Disney Junior Fun Fest – April 29: The first-ever Disney Junior Fun Fest, a one-day event celebrating the stories and characters from the television network’s hit series is coming to Disney California Adventure park at the Disneyland Resort for one day only – April 29, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT The event will include sneak peeks at upcoming Disney Junior series, special announcements, surprise appearances, a “Doc McStuffins” stage show highlighting 10 years of the series, plus the “Alice’s Wonderland Bakery Unbirthday Party,” a hands-on cupcake decorating course inspired by the new Disney Junior series.
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