Disney Chairman Josh D’Amaro teases he has a real-life Lightsaber

By

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April 10, 2021

When Disney Park’s chairmen Josh D’Amaro finished the virtual news conference the world took a collective gasp! The second it took for him to hold a lightsaber handle up, light it up and utter the words “It’s Real”. The Star Wars fan base as a whole took a breath in and held it! I am gonna go out on a limb and say this moment may be the 2021 version of “No. I am your Father!” That moment when Darth Vader announces his parentage to Luke in Cloud City after an epic lightsaber battle.

Disney has not released the footage. We do not know when or if they will. My guess is they will not, that way fanboys like myself, cannot dissect it shot by shot. Of course, something had to be dissected! So we found the schematics at the patent office and spent time trying to understand the engineering of this. Let me tell you, this may be cooler than anyone thought.

“Your eyes can deceive you, don’t trust them.” – Obi-Wan Kenobi

Disney Chairman Josh D’Amaro teases he has a real-life Lightsaber

In the Patent filled back in 2018 there is a lot of writing about mixed reality, augmented reality (AR), effects triggering other effects.

Mixed reality involves the merging of real and virtual components in a physical space such that digital and physical objects co-exist and interact.
Conventional mixed reality experiences are typically directed at a single participant viewing the mixed reality environment from a single perspective.
Moreover, in some implementations, system 100/300 may synchronize mixed-effects 112/312/612a/612b to support a group activity experienced by group 130 in mixed reality venue 110 and concurrently by group 140 in mixed reality venue 111 remotes from mixed reality venue 110. Thus, in some implementations of the present inventive concepts, each of observers 132a-132d and observers 142a-142d may participate in a shared mixed reality experience despite being located in distinct physical venues.
According to the exemplary implementation shown in FIG. 3, AR accessory 340 is depicted as a virtual sword, such as a virtual light sword, for example, having a virtual sword blade 341 with length 346, and having an activation zone 348. It is noted that, as used in the present application, the term “activation zone”, as applied to AR accessory 140a/140b/340, refers to a volumetric region of space in AR venue 126 in which AR accessory 140a/140b/340 can achieve scoring strikes or hits against a user or object within AR venue 126. For example, in the exemplary implementation shown in FIG. 3, activation zone 348 of AR accessory 140a/140b/340 may be a volumetric region surrounding a user of AR accessory 140a/140b/340 determined based on length 346 of virtual sword blade 341.

So what does this all mean? Where will this all be implemented? Is this going to be part of the new Star Wars Hotel at Walt Disney World Resort? Maybe something bigger as an expansion to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge? Without being able to use the Force, we have no way of knowing what is going on in the head of Josh D’Amaro. Let us remember Josh is the head of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products.

Disney Mickey Mouse x Keith Haring Collection From Levis

By

Danielle

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April 10, 2021

Disney Mickey Mouse x Keith Haring Collection From Levis

Levi’s has launched its exciting new Disney Mickey Mouse x Keith Haring collection! This collection features graphics from Haring’s eye-catching Disney Mickey Mouse art. The collection includes a range of customization options for Levi’s tees, hoodies, Trucker Jackets and Future Finish jeans.

This is a historic collection for both Levi’s and Disney! It not only celebrates the bold and expressive aesthetic of Haring’s art but of his personal style as well. Harring took inspiration from Pop Art and his idol Walt Disney. Now Leve’s is offering the artist’s iconic Disney Mickey Mouse images on a curated range of apparel that you can make your own.

Related: Disney x Levis

Streetwear with meets pop art studio when you begin your customizable journey! When you choose your apparel on Levi’s website you’ll be able to choose the color of the clothing item, Mickey image, and color of that image! You can create your own mix and match wardrobe of colorful designs featuring bold Mickey art!

Find the entire Mickey Mouse x Keith Haring Collection collection now at Levis.com!

Adorable Winnie The Pooh Cake Popsicles You Can Make At Home!

By

Ana Leal

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April 10, 2021

These Winnie the Pooh Cake Popsicles are too cute to eat!

Inspired by our favorite bear, these treats are light, fluffy and sweet! They are also super easy to make, we are sure everyone in your family will love them.

All you have to do is follow this recipe, have fun and enjoy them!

WINNIE THE POOH CAKE POPSICLES

INGREDIENTS:

Vanilla “Hunny” Cake

1 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp of salt
1 tsp of baking powder
1/4 tsp of baking soda
1/2 cup of unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup of honey
2 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp of pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup of whole milk
Golden yellow and red gel food coloring
Nonstick baking spray
Silicone popsicle baking mold with sticks
Piping bag or small zip-top bag
Scissors

Decorations

Small kitchen knife
Small, round piping tip or heart cookie cutter (optional)
1/4 cup of chocolate chips
1/4 cup of yellow candy melts
Toothpicks
Pink food marker

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 325F. Spray the silicone mold generously with baking spray and place on a baking sheet. Set aside.
In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
Place the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer, and beat on medium for 2 minutes until the butter becomes light and fluffy.
One at a time, add the honey, eggs, and vanilla, beating for about 1 minute on medium in between each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula, and beat all of the ingredients until fully combined (about 3 minutes).
Alternate between adding the flour mixture and the milk, a little at a time, using a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed, until all ingredients are just combined. Do not over mix. (It’s ok for the batter to be slightly lumpy at this stage because you will be mixing it further by hand when adding the colors).
Place 1/4 of the batter in a small bowl and add a tiny amount of the red food coloring. Stir until the coloring is completely incorporated into the batter. Transfer to a piping or zip-top bag.
Add a little golden yellow food coloring to the rest of the batter and stir to completely combine.
Use the golden yellow batter to fill each popsicle mold a little over 1/3 full (you can scoop the batter into the mold with a spoon).
Add a popsicle stick to all but 1 mild, and cover it as needed with more batter.

Cut a small corner off of your piping or zip-top bag, and use the red batter to add Pooh Bear’s shirt to all but 1 popsicle (you will want to leave 1 cavity all yellow in each batch that you bake for the hands, legs, and ears). You can also use a toothpick to draw the shape in the yellow batter before piping as a guide.
Bake the cake popsicles for 12-15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Allow the cake to cool in the mold for 10 minutes before carefully removing and transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Once the cake is cool, you can use the extra yellow pieces to cut out the hands, ears, and legs. A small round piping tip helps to cut the shapes out or you can use the top of a small heart cookie cutter (and then just use the knife to trim the sides and flatten the bottom). You will need 6 pieces per cake popsicle (the ears and hands are about the same size, and the legs are a little longer).
Melt the yellow candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl in 30 second intervals at 50% power, stirring in between each set, until the melts are smooth.

Use a toothpick to add a little of the melts to each piece, and then attach them to your cake popsicles.
Melt the chocolate chips in the same way that you did the candy melts, and use a toothpick to draw Pooh’s facial features onto the cake.
Add the blushing cheeks by gently dabbing the cake with the pink food maker.

Enjoy!

Credit: Disney Family

Win a trip to Disney World from Werther’s Original!

By

Kevin Koszola

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April 10, 2021

Win a trip to Disney World from Werther's Original!

Great news for Disney fans eager to visit the Orlando theme parks again. There’s a chance to win a trip to Disney World in a new contest. Werther’s Original National Caramel Day Sweepstakes runs until May 16th, 2021.

Click here to enter the contest!

Upload a Werther’s Original receipt for a chance to win

Buy any two Werther’s Original products and you could win a vacation to Walt Disney World_®Resort from Werther’s Original. Enter by May 16, 2021 for a chance to win.

Be sure to partake in the sweepstakes if you plan on buying Werther’s Original!

Check back here on Chip & Co. for the latest theme park and entertainment news updates!

Disney debuts new Iron Man Look! Is it coming to a park near you?

By

Kevin Koszola

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April 10, 2021

Disney debuts new Iron Man Look! Is it coming to a park near you?

There’s a new look for Iron Man coming soon to Disney Parks! Tony Stark’s new armor made a grand debut at Shanghai Disney Resort for the 5th Anniversary Birthday Celebration. The armored Avenger will soon appear in California’s Avengers Campus.

Avengers Campus Will Take Place in a World Where Thanos’ Snap Never Happened. Marvel Fans are gearing up for an immersive experience like never before with the opening of the Avengers Campus, coming soon to Disneyland in Anaheim, CA. Recently, some fans have been wondering how characters such as Black Widow, Iron Man, and Captain America will be found in the new land after their departures in Avengers: Endgame.

Avengers Campus

Scott Drake (Portfolio Creative Executive for Walt Disney Imagineering) and Dan Fields shared insight on how Tony Stark and Iron Man truly are the heart of Avengers Campus.

“Tony Stark has influenced, from design, everything about Avengers Campus. So making sure that we can deliver on Iron Man, this is huge for us to not only deliver on such an iconic character, but designing it again with Ryan Meinerding and making it something that can walk among us, be right there. We’re going to be meeting him daily.

-Scott Drake, Portfolio Creative Executive for Walt Disney Imagineering

This is a Disney Parks exclusive suit from the Iron Man arsenal. This is the Mark 80. You will only find it here. And Iron Man will be waiting for you out front every day, in front of Avengers Headquarters for truly awesome heroic encounters.”

-Dan Fields, Executive Creative Director of Disney Parks Live Entertainment

Originally the Campus was set to open July 18th, but with the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, Disneyland and other Disney Parks around the world are currently closed “until further notice”. We can not wait to experience the Avengers Campus when it is up and running in, no matter the wait.

Are you excited for the opening of Avengers Campus in Disneyland? What attractions are you the most excited to see first? We would love to hear your thoughts and excitement in the comments. Be sure to check back here at Chip and Co. for all things Marvel!

Check back here on Chip & Co. for the latest theme park and entertainment news updates!

Learn More About the Beloved Brands that Partner with Disney

By

Allison Luna

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April 9, 2021

Anyone who has visited Disney Parks has probably noticed that they have relationships with other non-Disney entities. No one has ever drunk a Mickey-Cola or eaten a Donald Whip (those could either be delicious or frightening). We have however had lots of Coca-Cola products and DOLE pineapple desserts while visiting Disney Parks. These relationships are a huge part of the magic that we experience, but how much do you actually know about these partnerships?

Disney refers to these relationships as “alliances.” They have alliances with major companies such as Chevrolet at Test Track and Pandora in the souvenir shops. Nestlé helps to create those iconic Mickey’s premium ice cream bar while DOLE® provides our favorite DOLE Whips. For beverages, there’s Joffrey’s Coffee, Starbucks, or Coca-Cola for those who aren’t into coffee. Brands we are used to seeing in our everyday lives also vacation with us at Disney Parks!

In the early days, when Walt Disney was crafting the experiences we know and love today, he brought in brands that guests already knew and loved to build their trust in Disney. To name one example, in particular, Coca-Cola was involved in the Disneyland opening day in 1955. No one could have imagined at that time the ways that both brands would grow over the years. Refreshment Corner on Main Street, U.S.A. was the initial home to Coca-Cola beverages, but now, their products are available at dozens of locations at each Disney Park. They even star in immersive guest experiences, such as Black Spire Outpost at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Or the unforgettable Club Cool in Epcot, which will be reopening this summer.

Next time you’re on Disney property, keep your eyes peeled. You’ll probably notice a slew of alliances, many with brands you already know and love!

Photo courtesy of Disney

New Marvel x adidas Stark Industries Collection has Dropped

By

Danielle

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April 9, 2021

New Marvel x adidas Stark Industries sneakers have dropped! These epic new kicks are sure to get you moving like the hero you are!

Just like Stark Industries from Marvel’s Iron Man series. These adidas shoes combine real-life retro running tech with details inspired by Tony Stark’s fictional company. You’ll notice incredible details like glow in the dark soles, and even Iron Man mask detailing on the tongues!

You can find them now at adidas.com!

Fifth Barge is now in place in Epcot’s Harmonious

By

Greg Gately

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April 9, 2021

Epcot’s Harmonious barges are now all in place. We have been following the escapades of the barges since they started appearing on the World Showcase lagoon at Epcot back in December of 2020. So far what we know is the names of 3 of the 4 barges. Canada, France, and Mexico for those keeping up. The Central ring may or may not be the Stargate.

Harmonious will be one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created for a Disney park. It will celebrate the way Disney music inspires people the world over, carrying them away harmoniously on a stream of familiar songs reinterpreted by a culturally diverse group of artists from around the globe. “Harmonious” will feature massive floating set pieces, custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics, lasers, and more.

Below you can see an up-close photo of the final barge of Epcot’s Harmonious that was installed.

Fifth Barge is now in place in Epcot's Harmonious

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Create A Magical Garden With These Minnie Mouse Flower Pots!

By

Ana Leal

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April 9, 2021

This Spring add some magic to your garden with these Minnie Mouse Flower Pots!

Transform your garden with these beautiful flower pots inspired by Minnie! They are colorful and fun and a great activity to enjoy with your family. Making them is super easy, all you need is some terra-cotta pots and paint.

Follow this easy DIY from Disney Family and have fun!

MINNIE MOUSE FLOWER POTS

SUPPLIES:

Terra-cotta flower pot
White, red, yellow, black, light blue, blue, and pink acrylic paint.
Paintbrushes
Black felt-tip pen
Decoupage glue
Red and yellow craft foam
White paper
Hole punch
Scissors
Jewelry wire
Hot glue
Pencil

INSTRUCTIONS:

Use a rag to dust off the terra-cotta pot. Paint the pot with a coat of white paint. Let dry completely.

To create the light blue flower pot add a coat of light blue paint and let dry. Next, add Minnie’s profile, you can use a small paintbrush or a black felt-tip pen to add details. Seal the flower pot with a layer of decoupage glue. To make Minnie’s hat, cut out a small flower from yellow foam. Use the hole punch to punch out one white dot. Cut a short piece of jewelry wire to the back of the flower. Glue the other end to the back of the hat. Glue the hat and flower onto Minnie’s profile.

To create the bow pattern flower pot, add a second coat of white pain and let dry. Lightly sketch out a pattern of bows around the pot. You can cut a bow shape from a cardstock to use as a template if you’d like each bow to be identical in size. Paint the bows different colors, alternating between black, blue, pink, yellow and red. You can also add little dots of color in between the bows! Once dry, outline the bows wit the black felt-tip pen, or use a thin paintbrush and black paint to carefully paint the outlines. Fill in the space around the dots with black paint. Once the paint is completely dry, seal with a layer of decoupage glue.

To create the polka dot flower pot, add a second coat of white paint and let dry. Draw a polka dot pattern all over the pot with pencil. You can cut a circle from cardstock to use as a template if you’d like the polka dots to be identical in size. Fill in the space around the dots with black paint. Once the paint is completely dry, seal with a layer of decoupage glue. Cut a bow shape from red craft foam. Use the black felt top marker to create an edge outline and bow details. Hot glue the bow to the top of the pot.

To create the red flower pot, add a coat of red paint and let dry. Use a pencil to draw polka dots in various sizes all over the flower pot. Paint the polka dots with yellow, white, blue, and pink paint and let dry completely. Use a black permanent marker to draw daisies on each circle. On one circle, draw Minnie Mouse! Coat the entire flower pot with decoupage glue to seal your design.
Plant a flower into the pot, and voila!

Credit: Disney Family

Attractions and Entertainment coming to the Disneyland Resort Reopening

By

Sara

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April 9, 2021

Attractions and Entertainment coming to the Disneyland Resort Reopening

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are both opening at the end of this month. With the parks reopening, not everything will be available to guests. We do know which attractions and entertainment will be available upon opening. Take a look!

Related – Disneyland Resort Ticket Prices Revealed

The remote planet of Batuu is waiting for travelers like you to live your own Star Wars adventure! While you explore Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, experience a climactic battle between the Resistance and the First Order on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance or take control of the most famous ship in the galaxy aboard Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.

Upon reopening, Disney will continue leveraging a virtual queue system for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. The attraction’s virtual queue is only accessible via the Disneyland mobile app, and you may only experience the attraction by joining the virtual queue. Distribution times for virtual queue enrollment will be twice daily, one in the morning, and one later in the day. Specific times and details will be shared at a later date on Disneyland.com.

Guests with a valid ticket and theme park reservation who will start their day at Disneyland park will be able to access the virtual queue system and check for an available boarding group in the morning on the day of their park reservation. Guests will need to have their park tickets linked to their Disney account.
To access the second virtual queue opportunity for later that day, guests must have a valid ticket and park reservation, and have entered Disneyland park, or Disney California Adventure park with a Park Hopper ticket by the second enrollment time. Guests beginning their day at Disney California Adventure Park may then enter Disneyland park with their Park Hopper ticket after 1 p.m. for their boarding group.

You may also come across some familiar faces as you wander Black Spire Outpost, including Rey, Chewbacca and Vi Moradi. They may be spotted above the speeder garage at Black Spire Station. Watch out for Stormtroopers, along with Kylo Ren himself, patrolling a platform where a TIE Echelon starfighter looms.

Hop aboard the wildest ride in the wilderness on the high-speed Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – a Disneyland park favorite – taking you past spires and buttes, and into tunnels and shafts of a dark and mysterious mine. If you prefer to rock out with Rocket, grove along to the tunes (and rollin’ drops) on Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! in Disney California Adventure park.

For a dose of nostalgia in Disneyland park, check out the newly reimagined Snow White’s Enchanted Wish and freshly fancified King Arthur Carrousel in Fantasyland. Then visit the Haunted Mansion in New Orleans Square, home to 999 happy haunts and a few more spirited enhancements.

Favorite characters may be spotted throughout the day waving to visiting friends, posing in the background of photos and having fun playing in the parks. At Disneyland park, you may see Mickey Mouse and some of his pals from the steps of the Main Street, U.S.A. railroad station. Or perhaps they may be found outside their homes in Mickey’s Toontown, waving a friendly welcome to visitors of all ages.

You may also see Disney Princesses like Mulan or Belle at the Royal Theatre in Fantasyland or look to the beautiful balconies of New Orleans Square to catch sight of Captain Jack Sparrow. At Rancho del Zocolo in Frontierland, you might also catch intermittent appearances by Miguel from Disney and Pixar’s “Coco.”

Character sightings at Disney California Adventure park may include friends appearing at Carthay Circle and the Pixar Pier bandshell. Disney Junior stars, from Vampirina to Doc McStuffins, may say hello from the stage of the Disney Theater in Hollywood Land.

Zoom through Cars Land in Disney California Adventure park, and brake when you see Lightning McQueen, Mater and Red for photos along Route 66. Afterward, it’s time for high-octane fun on Radiator Springs Racers to see who is the fastest racer in Ornament Valley!

Over at Pixar Pier, you’ll discover a whimsical boardwalk. Grab a pair of 3D glasses and join Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie and the rest of the gang for an exhilarating spin on Toy Story Midway Mania. You can also join the Parr family for an incredible, high-speed adventure on the Incredicoaster. Pixar Pier is also the perfect place to spot some Pixar pals!

Throughout the day in Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure park, cheer for some of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Black Widow, Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Black Panther and the Dora Milaje, as they strike heroic poses from the Hollywood Backlot Stage. These Super Heroes will then be regular visitors at Avengers Campus, when the new land opens on June 4.

Both a theme park reservation and valid admission ticket for the same park on the same date are required for guests ages 3 and up. Guests must have a valid theme park admission ticket in order to make a reservation. Theme park reservations will be limited and subject to availability and, until further notice, only California residents may visit the parks, and in groups no larger than 3 households, in line with current state guidelines.

If you are a California resident and would like help planning your next Disneyland trip, contact me today for a free, no-obligation vacation quote!

Disney World Theme Park Hours have been released through June 26th

By

Sara

-

April 9, 2021

Disney World Theme Park Hours have been released through June 26th

Walt Disney World theme park hours are now available through June 26, 2021! Take a look at park hours for June 20-26.

Magic Kingdom will be open daily from 8 am to 9 pm.

Epcot will be open every day from 11 am to 9 pm.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be open from 9 am to 8 pm every day.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will operate from 8 am to 7 pm daily.

Park hours have also been extended for the parks for almost every day through June. From April 25 to June 19 the park hours will be:

Magic Kingdom: 8 am to 9 pm
Epcot: 11 am to 10 pm through May 8th. Then 11 am to 9 pm
Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 9 am to 8 pm
Disney’s Animal Kingdom: 8 am to 8 pm through May 1. Then 8 am to 7 pm

Will you be visiting Walt Disney World between now and June 26? There’s plenty of time to still plan your trip! Contact me today for a free, no-obligation vacation quote.

Disneyland Resort Ticket Prices Revealed

By

Chip

-

April 9, 2021

Disneyland has just releveled ticket prices for the Grand Reopening on April 30th!

Ticket sales will resume online beginning April 15, 2021. You will need a Disney account to purchase a ticket, and the 1-Day ticket calendar with validity dates will appear during your purchase to help you make your decision.

Related – Disneyland Ticket & Reopening Details

Ticket Pricing
Disneyland Resort will reopen with the tiered ticket pricing structure that was introduced in February 2020.

Tickets	Adult	Child
1-Day Tier 1 Ticket with Admission to 1 Park Per Day	$104	$98
1-Day Tier 2 Ticket with Admission to 1 Park Per Day	$114	$108
1-Day Tier 3 Ticket with Admission to 1 Park Per Day	$124	$117
1-Day Tier 4 Ticket with Admission to 1 Park Per Day	$139	$132
1-Day Tier 5 Ticket with Admission to 1 Park Per Day	$154	$146
2-Day Ticket with Admission to 1 Park Per Day	$235	$220
3-Day Ticket with Admission to 1 Park Per Day	$310	$290
4-Day Ticket with Admission to 1 Park Per Day	$340	$320
5-Day Ticket with Admission to 1 Park Per Day	$360	$340
1-Day Tier 1 Park Hopper Ticket	$159	$153
1-Day Tier 2 Park Hopper Ticket	$169	$163
1-Day Tier 3 Park Hopper Ticket	$179	$172
1-Day Tier 4 Park Hopper Ticket	$194	$187
1-Day Tier 5 Park Hopper Ticket	$209	$201
2-Day Park Hopper Ticket	$290	$275
3-Day Park Hopper Ticket	$365	$345
4-Day Park Hopper Ticket	$395	$375
5-Day Park Hopper Ticket	$415	$395

The theme park reservation system will open no earlier than 8:00 AM Pacific Time on April 12, 2021, and Guests who already have valid theme park tickets may begin making park reservations.

Theme park ticket sales will resume no earlier than 8:00 AM Pacific Time on April 15, 2021, and Guests without park tickets may begin purchasing tickets and making park reservations.

Prior to purchasing tickets, be sure to view theme park reservation availability.

Guests with 1-Day tickets can view the Ticket Availability Calendar for when they can enjoy a visit.

Related – Avengers Campus Set to Open on June 4th!

Guests who purchase or have a Park Hopper ticket and an appropriate park reservation may visit the second park on the same day beginning at 1 PM. Please check the Park Hours calendar and the Disneyland app for the most up-to-date Park Hopper hours, as they could start earlier at a later date, depending on the day and park. Guests with Park Hopper tickets must make a park reservation for the first park they plan to visit AND enter that first park prior to visiting the other park. At this time, a park reservation is not required after the first park, however, reservation requirements are subject to change. Please note that the ability to visit the other park will be subject to that park’s capacity limitations.

For more information on Disneyland Tickets click here.