Disney Food Blog Guidebook
Click here to plan your Disney Dining with ease.Tour the Parks
Buy from Garden Grocer
Get the scoop on Disney Food
Our web guys
Category Archives: Refurbishments
Disney’s California Grill to Close for Refurbishment?
Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli from Disney's California Grill
According to disneycontemporary.com, the California Grill may be closing for a lengthy refurbishment in 2013. The restaurant would close on January 1, 2013 for a 4 to 6 month refurbishment. Rumors have been circulating about roof work but it seems the restaurant may be getting a face lift.
I visited the California Grill for the first time in January and had an amazing meal. I didn’t see any signs of wear and tear but I may have been too preoccupied with my food! If you have an upcoming trip to Walt Disney World you may want to go ahead and make a reservation at the California Grill just in case the refurbishment rumor is true.
Stay tuned to Chip & Co for the latest details about the possible refurbishment.
Related articles
- 100 Disney Foods to Eat Before you Die Challenge (chipandco.com)
- Disney World Refurbishment Schedule for April 2012 (chipandco.com)
- Disney Restaurant Review – California Grill (disneyonwheelsblog.com)
Carnation Plaza Gardens Closing to Begin Transformation to New Fantasy Faire Experience on April 30
Carnation Plaza Gardens at Disneyland park is being reimagined into the new Fantasy Faire – an enchanting village square that will immerse guests in the stories of their favorite princesses. Carnation Plaza Gardens Stage will become the Fantasy Faire Stage, where the tales of Disney’s fairy tale heroes and heroines will be brought to life each day.
This transformation will begin with the closing of Carnation Plaza Gardens at the end of the Disneyland park operating day on April 30. There are three more chances for Disneyland park guests to enjoy the Jump, Jive, Boogie Swing Party at Carnation Plaza Gardens before it closes:
- April 14 – featuring Doc Anello & the Swing Machine
- April 21 – featuring Stompy Jones
- April 28 – featuring Swingtown
And starting May 5, Disneyland Resort guests can keep on dancing each Saturday night when the Jump, Jive, Boogie Swing Party continues at the Westside Stage in the Downtown Disney District.
Related articles
- Disneyland Refurbishment Schedule for April 2012 (chipandco.com)
- Disneyland Resort Dining: Fun Facts (chipandco.com)
Disneyland Refurbishment Schedule for April 2012
If your heading to Disneyland soon be sure to check out the Refurb/Closure list below. Refurbishment information is subject to change without notice and should be confirmed just prior to visiting. Updated information is available on the Disneyland website.
Current
- Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor (Disneyland) closed until Spring 2012 for renovation.
- Candy Palace (Disneyland) closed until Spring 2012 for renovation.
- Pacific Wharf-Ghiradelli (DCA) closed through 6/1/12 for refurbishment.
- Matterhorn Bobsleds (Disneyland) closed through 6/14/12 for refurbishment.
- Blue Ribbon Bakery (Disneyland) closed through 7/13/12 for refurbishments.
- Carnation Cafe (Disneyland) closed until Summer 2012 for renovation/expansion.
Upcoming
- Ariel’s Grotto-Cove Bar (DCA) closed 4/9/12-5/30/12 for refurbishment.
- Goofy’s Sky School (DCA) closed 4/9/12-6/1/12 for refurbishment.
- Ariel’s Grotto-Restaurant (DCA) closed 4/30/12-5/3/12 for refurbishment.
- Frontierland Shooting Exposition (Disneyland) closed 4/30/12-5/25/12 for refurbishment.
- Enchanted Tiki Room (Disneyland) closed 5/7/12-5/10/12 for refurbishment.
- Disney California Adventure will be closed 6/14/12 to make final preparations for the grand opening of Cars Land and Buena Vista Street.
Source Mousesavers Newsletter
Related articles
- Disneyland Refurbishment Schedule March 2012 (chipandco.com)
- Behind the Tarps: Matterhorn Bobsled Refurbishment (chipandco.com)
Disney World Refurbishment Schedule for April 2012
Here is the Refurb and Closure Schedule for Walt Disney World for March 2012 and beyond. Refurbishment/closure information is subject to change without notice and should be confirmed just prior to visiting. Updated information is available at the Disney World Website.
Current
- Bay Cove Pool Slide (Bay Lake Tower at Contemporary Resort) closed through 3/16/12 for refurbishment. The pool will remain open.
- Typhoon Lagoon closed through 3/17/12 for annual refurbishment.
- Piano Pool (All-Star Music Resort) closed through 3/23/12 for refurbishment. The Calypso Pool will remain open.
- Plaza Ice Cream Parlor (Magic Kingdom) closed through 3/27/12 for refurbishment.
- Feature Pool Slide (Contemporary Resort) closed through 3/30/12 for refurbishment. The pool will remain open.
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant (Magic Kingdom) closed through 3/31/12 for refurbishment.
- Nanea Volcano Pool Slide (Polynesian Resort) closed through 4/1/12 for refurbishment. The pool will remain open.
- Tutto Italia Restaurant (Epcot) closed through 4/27/12 for refurbishment.
- Liberty Square Riverboat (Magic Kingdom) closed through 5/20/12 for refurbishment.
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Magic Kingdom) closed through 5/27/12 for refurbishment.
- Innoventions: House of Innoventions exhibit closed through late April 2012 for refurbishment.
- Grand Floridian Spa (Grand Floridian Resort) closed through mid-2013 due to construction at the resort. The Grand Floridian Fitness Center will remain open and guests may use The Spa at Saratoga Springs Resort.
Upcoming
- Boardwalk Inn leisure pool closed 3/19/12-3/22/12 for refurbishment. The feature pool and villas leisure pools will remain open.
- Test Track (Epcot) closed April 2012-September 2012 for transformation to the Chevrolet Design Center.
- Stormalong Bay Pool (Yacht & Beach Club Resorts) and slide closed 4/9/12-4/23/12 for refurbishment. Only a portion of the pool will be closed. Guests may use the open parts of the pool and the pool and slide at BoardWalk Inn Resort.
- Liberty Square Riverboat (Magic Kingdom) closed 4/16/12-5/20/12 for refurbishment.
- Lights! Motors! Action! Extreme Stunt Show (Hollywood Studios) closed 4/29/12-5/2/12 for refurbishment.
- Lake Buena Vista Golf Course closed 5/7/12-5/17/12 for refurbishment.
- Magnolia Golf Course closed 5/14/12-5/23/12 for refurbishment.
- Palm Golf Course closed 5/29/12-6/8/12 for refurbishment.
- Oak Trail Golf Course closed 5/29/12-9/28/12 for refurbishment.
- Cape May Cafe (Yacht & Beach Club Resorts) closed 7/9/12-8/3/12 for refurbishment.
- Hoop Dee Doo Review closed 8/5/12-12/31/12 for refurbishment.
- Yachtsman Steakhouse (Yacht & Beach Club Resorts) closed 8/27/12-9/14/12 for refurbishment.
Source Mousesavers Newsletter
Related articles
- Disney World Refurbishment Schedule March 2012 (chipandco.com)
- Disney Confidential – Magic Kingdom Monorail Loop Closing (chipandco.com)
Storybook Circus ‘soft-opens’ at Magic Kingdom Park Photos
This week was a big day for the Magic Kingdom! The first phase of the new Storybook Circus area of Fantasyland “soft” opened to guests including:
- The first part of “Dumbo, the Flying Elephant,” with Dumbo spinning clockwise for the first time in Magic Kingdom history
- “The Barnstormer, Starring The Great Goofini,” a family coaster attraction featuring Mickey’s best pal and
- “The Fantasyland Train Station,” one of the three stops for The Walt Disney World Railroad.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
“The Storybook Circus area pays tribute to the traveling circuses of the 1950s and 1960s – the setting for Walt Disney’s Dumbo – and we’ve put a lot of signature Imagineer details into every nook and cranny” said Chris Beatty, Creative Director, Fantasyland Expansion for Walt Disney Imagineering.
Dumbo, one of the circus’ most famed acts, flies guests around the Big Top area – featuring shiny new red and gold colors (inspired by ‘50s- and ‘60s-era tin toys), newly-created signature illustrations from one of the animators of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” and a beautiful new water feature circling the base of the attraction – a first for the Magic Kingdom Park attraction.
“We were truly honored to be asked to design the new Dumbo,” Beatty said. “Every time a new piece of it came in, it would get us excited all over again.”
The Storybook Circus has just set up shop and peanuts, hoof and paw prints can be seen in the walkways – remnants of the circus animals and guests milling about the area.
The Great Goofini, the circus’ stuntman, presents for guests one of his most daring stunts – The Barnstormer – which features an amazing array of aerial acrobatics. Some of the Great Goofini’s other stunts can be seen in posters around the circus area including “Bear Wrasslin” and “Aquamaniac.” The stunts and posters are a tip of the hat to some of the great Goofy short subjects of the ‘50s and ‘60s.
And the Fantasyland Train Station design pays homage to both the elegant train travel of America’s past and Disney history, complete with a Casey-Junior-inspired weather vane and Carolwood Park sign, with “Fair Weather Place,” a nod to “Fair Weather Route,” Walt’s tag line for the Carolwood Pacific Railroad, the steam engine Walt Disney had running through his backyard.
The attractions are in what we, in the biz, call “soft opening,” which means that they will be open at certain times and not at others.
This is just the first phase in what will become the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom Park history – nearly doubling the size of Fantasyland.
Related articles
- Fantasyland’s Storybook Circus Will Open By Late March, Snow White Closing May 31st (chipandco.com)
- Soft Opening of Storybook Circus and New Buses Coming to Walt Disney World (chipandco.com)
